Main Street Somerville, NJ maintains most of its early historical buildings, although many are now diverse retail stores, restaurants, eateries and bars. Somerville has a large range of restaurants that draw people in. Anywhere from the locals, people of the surrounding areas, and way beyond. Plus, it is no secret that Somerville has a fun, consistently growing, up-and-coming downtown vibe.
One thing that makes dining in Somerville so great is that it features cuisine from all around the globe. Whether you’re in the mood for Greek, Filipino, Mexican, Cuban, Thai, Japanese, French, Italian, Irish, or simply American, there is surely something for everyone and every palette!
Join us as we take a look at some of the top destinations to get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert within the downtown. After this article, your mouth will surely be watering, so be sure to put some of these local businesses on your to-do list to check out ASAP!
Plus, if you use Central Jersey inMotion’s website to explore the area and our “Eat Local” and “Drink Local” sections of our website, you already know we love to highlight Central Jersey’s local businesses. After all, without all of these unique eateries, restaurants, and shops our towns would lose what makes them so special!
Lastly, be sure to download the Locals InMotion™ app, where you can receive even more exclusive offers and discounts for restaurants and eateries within Central Jersey! Please visit us in the iTunes store.
Both by definition and design, The Farmer & The Chickpea is an artisan food restaurant. They strive to make high quality and distinctive products, always by hand, using traditional cooking methods. They believe in the simplicity of real, whole food and to never stray from the belief that fresh is best. With these principles in mind, they have curated an amazing breakfast menu that you can view here. Everything is made-to-order and $12 or less. 3523 US Highway 22, (908)-635-1684, www.farmerandthechickpea.com
Conlin’s Cafe & Bakery is just that! The space has two distinctive components. First, there is a traditional café that offers both breakfast and lunch, specialty coffees, teas, juices, and desserts, such as milkshakes, hand-made ice creams, and gelatos. The second, the bakery department, features artisanal breads, baguettes, hand rolled bagels, donuts, beignets, croissants, pastries, and other specialty baked goods. Locals especially love the “create your own breakfast sandwich” for less than $5 which includes 2 organic eggs, choice of bread, choice of meat, and choice of cheese. 53 West Main Street, (908)-725-1700, www.conlinscafebakery.com
Everyone loves their morning “cup of joe”, and Dragonfly Music & Coffee Cafe has special delights to intrigue any coffee drinker. They serve fresh coffee with beans that are locally roasted by Kobrick Coffee Company in Jersey City, NJ. Their menu also features cappuccinos, chai tea and regular lattes, cafe mochas, macchiatos, americanos – you name it! They serve great breakfast and lunch specials, as well. Plus, if you’re on the run, they make super filling protein shakes with whey protein and fresh seasonal fruit for less than $6! It’s the perfect way to start your day. 14 East Main Street, (908)-393-4993, www.dragonflymusicandcoffee.com
I know what you’re thinking…Tiki Bar?…for breakfast? Yup! Fresh Tiki Bar has delicious smoothie bowls with a smoothie blend of your choice over a fresh cut pineapple ring, and topped with granola. They also have all fruit smoothies with an additional fresh fruit kabob on top! It’s 5:00 somewhere, and at this tiki bar, you’ll be feeling like you’re on a tropical vacation! (All while staying in Somerville, NJ). 15c Division Street, (908)-307-6002, Follow them on Instagram: @freshtikibar!
Our first stop on our list for lunch, Kyma supports local vendors as well as outside sourcing to bring the freshest fish from Greece, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Morocco to their customers. They even have a fish display right when you walk in so that you can actually chose your own fish! They offer a wide lunch menu at irresistible prices for such fresh seafood. Definitely make them one of your go-to’s next time you are in Somerville! 24 East Main Street, (908)-864-4730, www.kymacuisine.com
Pinoy is well known for their sit down lunch buffet to feed even the hungriest of customers! With authentic, classic Filipino pork, beef, chicken entrees, salads, noodles, and rice- you’ll love being able to try authentic Filipino food 11:30am – 2:30pm Tuesday through Sunday. Besides lunch, they offer great dinner specials including a yummy crispy pata that has locals raving! So, let’s Pinoy, and enjoy! 18 Division Street, (908)-450-9878, www.pinoyfilipinorestaurant.com
Eating lunch out can sometimes be a luxury, and Casa Luna Mexican Grill gets it! They offer an “In and Out” lunch where you can have a seat immediately in their spacious dining room and their cooks will be ready for you. Whether you have 30 mins or 3 hours, they can satisfy anyone. With a huge menu that you can view here, they offer range of authentic Mexican dishes as well as unique salads, soups, and their take on classic seafood and meat dishes. 30 South Doughty Avenue, (908)-526-3300, www.casalunamexican.com
For over 25 years, Martino’s Cuban Restaurant was a local favorite in Somerville, NJ. After a short hiatus, Chef Martino returns with the opening of De Martino, A Cuban Restaurant on April 1, 2019! Now customers will enjoy authentic Cuban cuisine in a new and intimate dining setting. Every Tuesday through Friday from 11:00am – 2:00pm they will be serving their revamped lunch buffet full of delicious and authentic items. Keep posted with them on social media for news as they officially open doors again! 9 Davenport Street, (908)-722-8602, www.martinoscuba.com
A great, cost effective way to enjoy a big, filling lunch is to take advantage of an awesome lunch special! Yokohama Sushi Restaurant has a tasty lunch special menu for you to enjoy Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am – 3:00pm. Choose from list of hibachi lunch entrees served with miso soup, salad, vegetables, and fried rice, teriyaki boxes served with shumai, a California roll, white rice, soup, and a salad, or choose from a list of sushi rolls served with soup and salad (2 for $8.45 or 3 for $11.45). Talk about some amazing deals! 164 West Main Street, (908)-707-1700, www.sushiyokohamanj.com
A strong staple in the town of Somerville, JP’s Deli & Catering, specializes in both American and Spanish cuisine for either breakfast or lunch. They create daily specials that have locals always stopping back to see what’s new, and “out-of-towners” amazed at how delicious and extensive their menu really is, which you can view here. They also have gluten-free options to serve almost any eater. Stop by and visit owner Jesus Parisaca and his wife, Rosa, at JP’s Deli & Catering today! 27 Union Avenue, (908)-526-5550, www.jpsdeliandcateringnj.com
Winner of OpenTable’s “Diner Choice Award for 2016”, Boulevard Seafood Company, features both a seafood-driven restaurant and a retail seafood market that offers fresh fish, shellfish, and prepared seafood items. Their fishmonger hand selects all species on a nightly visit to the market, returning with the best available product. They believe this commitment to freshness is why they are one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Somerset County. Come and see why they are worthy of their award. While you’re there, try their unique daily specials in the dining area, their raw bar Happy Hour which includes $1 little neck clams and $2 select oysters from 4:00pm – 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, or their fresh fish market catches of the day. 49 West Main Street, (908)-722-3300, www.boulevardseafood.com/somerville
One easy way to keep lunch simple is to have a fresh, filling salad! The Salad House of Somerville is a fast, casual restaurant specializing in freshly-prepared customized and signature salad creations handmade-to-order from quality, wholesome, delicious ingredients, offering the perfect health-conscious choice. Whether your ideal salad is hearty, low-calorie, vegetarian, meaty, gluten-free, or reduced sugar…they have what it takes to build your personal best bowl. But, they don’t just do salads! Sandwiches, wraps, soups, flatbreads, and smoothies also make up their menu! Make The Salad House your next lunch destination. 58 West Main Street, (908)-203-5252, www.thesaladhouse.com
Savor in these amazing choices for dinner in Somerville, including Savor itself! Voted the #1 BYOB fine dining restaurant in town, they serve delicious American and Italian dishes to pair with your drinks of choice. With a menu full of appetizers, salads, soups, hearty entrees, and homemade pastas, you will want to try them all! They also offer catering for your next big event. 18 West Main Street, (908)-685-1975, www.savornjrestaurant.com
Executive chef, Michele Deluca came to Somerville to bring the authentic taste of Italia to the New Jersey town. Michele’s says his creations “reflect Picasso’s unique style”, hence the name of the cafe. Along with the traditional dinner menu, Cafe Picasso offers 1/2 price pasta every Monday and Tuesday and 1/2 price chicken dishes on Wednesday! Plus, they feature the ONLY authentic Italian-Style Espresso Bar in the Somerville area. Not staying for dinner? Still be sure to stop by and enjoy a cup of espresso or gourmet Italian coffee, along with their daily assortment of fresh Italian pastries and desserts. 81 West Main Street, (908)-429-8850, www.cafe-picasso.com
At Origin French Thai, authenticity meets real life. It is where Manop Sutipayakul, chef and owner, along with his family, delight you with the best Thai food around. Manop takes his third generation knowledge of food and the restaurant business, his interest in French techniques, and his notion of global cuisine and applies it to everything from soup to tea. His philosophy is that “cooking is not just cooking, it’s an art”. It truly goes to show when his menu creations include those such as grilled platters of your choice of meat wrapped in banana leaves, served with steamed sticky rice, grilled vegetables, and a trio of dipping sauces. 25 Division Street, (908)-685-1344, www.originthai.com
Vegetarian, gluten-free, food allergy, or restriction-free, Kuay Tiew’s Noodles & More has something delicious for you! Dumplings, noodle soups, salads, or rice specials, everything they create is purely authentic Thai, and just another tasty reason that makes Somerville so unique! Be sure to reserve your table online, before they book out for the night. Also, bring along your favorite drink, for they are B.Y.O.B! 42 West Main Street, (908)-393-9555, www.ktsomerville.com
Family owned and operated by the Verdicchio family since 1955, Central Pizzeria brings fine Italian cuisine in a casual, family-friendly setting. They have a new extended menu with wide selection of gourmet and traditional pizza, pasta and al forno dishes, steak, seafood and much more. Plus, they offer a full bar with a large selection of cocktails, beer, an extensive wine selection and specialty drinks. Stop in for a bite to eat and enjoy one of their monthly comedy shows or live music nights. 126 West Main Street, (908)-722-8272, www.centralpizzerianj.com
The idea of master chef Filippo Russo is to bring Italian culture he was exposed to in Sicily to Da Filippo’s Ristorante in Somerville. Filippo Russo presents a level of authenticity through his dishes, even replicating some of his mother’s recipes. Stop by any night of the week besides Sunday (reserved for private events), or on Friday and Saturday specifically, to hear live piano music starting at 9:00 pm while you enjoy your meal. Bon appetit! 132 East Main Street, (908)-218-0110, www.dafilippos.com
A Latin-inspired concept influenced by Central and Southern America all within a casual, lighthearted, and fun atmosphere, the Salted Lime Bar & Kitchen will be your newest go-to for a fun night out! Their guests have been raving about their baja fish tacos ($12 for two) and lechon tacos with garlic and citrus-marinated pork, pickled white onions, spicy avocado sauce and fresh cilantro ($12 for two). Plus, stop by and try their Happy Hour menu from 4:00pm – 7:00pm served Monday through Friday at the bar. Lastly, don’t forget the dessert with their take on the popular churro fried dough pastry, served with Mexican chocolat pot de crème and warm cinnamon sugar and finish with passion fruit ($10). Yum! 46 East Main Street, (908)-864-4403, www.saltedlimerestaurant.com
The Spanish term “tapas” describes not so much a type of food, but a tradition of eating small appetizers accompanied with a favorite wine, beer, aperitif or cocktail. Tapastre provides a casual, lounge-like atmosphere where you can do exactly that! Their newly revised all-day menu offers selections of tapas to please everyone’s taste. Guests are encouraged to order a number of items and share them “family style”. This gives everyone the opportunity to savor and sample a number of different flavors. Plates range from $7-$14 and come in numerous varieties. Check out their menu here and while you’re there, be sure to try their delicious sangria! 1 West High Street, (908)-526-0505, www.tapastre.com
Arusuvai offers a unique menu, bringing together different regional cuisines of India. Within India, there are 28 states each with a unique, distinct regional spice palette. Arusuvai strives to bring those flavors to their guests, and they even indicate which region of India every single menu item derives from. Plus, they have such a HUGE menu, featuring separate Vegetarian and Vegan section, as well, that you may want to try numerous at the same time! Whether you love Indian food, or have never tried it before, Arusavi is a must-try for all. 30 East Main Street, (732)-200-2787, www.arusaviusa.com
An interesting twist on Japanese dining, Kumo Asian Bistro is a buffet-style Japanese restaurant with sushi, hot dishes, and more! A great option for dinner are their dinner bento boxes ranging from $14-17 where you get to choose a meat or fish (chicken, beef, salmon, or shrimp), that comes with miso soup, a seaweed salad, 6 piece shumai, 6 piece California roll, and steamed rice. One thing for sure – you will never leave here hungry! 69 West Main Street, (908)-252-1777, Facebook: Kumo Asian Bistro
Last, but certainly not least on our list, be sure to stop by Sarah Jane’s for dinner! It is a family owned and operated restaurant since January 1979. Since then, they’ve been keeping with the family tradition that every dining experience with them is a pleasurable one. It’s an American bar and lounge with classics like chicken fingers, burgers, sandwiches, seafood platters, and even low fat specials, it has something for everyone. They even have a fresh salad bar to add to your meal before, and nightly dessert specials for after. 33 Route 206 North, (908)-722-5454, www.sarahjanesrestaurant.com
It’s summer ALL year ’round at Summer Ville Homemade Ice Cream! They serve up natural and unique homemade flavors for you to enjoy with your loved ones and build family memories. Plus, their Facebook reviews say it all – almost every customer has loved stopping by and gives their ice cream a “thumbs up”! They also rotate their flavors with exclusive spring and summer creations as well. View their full menu here to choose your ice cream/topping/cone/cup of choice before you go! 144 East Main Street, (908)-203-4081, www.summerville-homemade-ice-cream.com
Grumpy Bobas is certainly nothing to be grumpy about. They were the first bubble tea pop-up store in New Jersey to specialize in taking bubble tea to the next level with whole and quality ingredients. From organic matcha lattes to caffeine-free child friendly options – they have something for everyone. If you love both savory and sweet things, be sure to try their milk cloud drinks! It’s a savory and sweet blend of whipped cream cheese foam on top of any one of their teas and is so tasty, you’ll be addicted! Stop by today! 72 West Main Street, (908)-450-7100, Facebook: Grumpy Bobas
Somerville, NJ has such an extensive and amazing list of choices to eat and drink derived from cuisines all around the globe.
For more information about downtown Somerville, please visit their website and for more of the best places to dine throughout Central Jersey, please check out our website. If you think we’ve missed someone, please shoot us an email at info@localsinmotion.com.
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