This story is part of a new NJ.com series: “Black in New Jersey,” which celebrates Black culture in the Garden State and seeks to further discussion about issues facing New Jersey’s Black community.
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In African-American culture, the simple act of dining out can mean so many things, from Southern comfort food to international options like Ethiopian and Caribbean cuisines.
And here in New Jersey, Black-owned restaurants check just about every box, from traditional foods to dishes outside the box.
Here are 20 local eateries you should try this year, broken down by the different styles. Dig in!
Soul Food/BBQ
Delta’s (New Brunswick)
Over the last 20 years, Delta’s has become a soul food landmark in Central Jersey. Our own food dude Pete Genovese calls the restaurant one that “isn’t your ordinary soul food” joint.
Delta’s is one of the O.G. Black-owned restaurants in the Garden State — ask anyone what soul food restaurant you should try, and this is often the first name you’ll hear.
Their menu boasts everything from fried chicken to seafood to gumbo. On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, its hard not to get up and dance, when Delta’s has live jazz and R&B music bringing the house down.
What to try: The smothered pork chops, soul folks dumplings and fried gator (seasonal).
Vonda's Kitchen, Newark. (Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger) SL
Vonda’s Kitchen (Newark)
Chef-owner Vonda McPherson’s motto is “healthy soul food" and it’s evident when glancing over the menu, which offers a wide array of dishes: black-eye pea dip, vegetable soul rolls and oxtails over rice and beans all caught my eye. McPherson doesn’t use much salt, sugar or grease in her food, she says. The Newark hotspot opened in 2011 and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is a fan. Even the NFL has tried Vondas; when the Super Bowl invaded New Jersey in 2014, Vonda’s Kitchen was asked to cater food for the VIP tailgate party. Vonda’s Kitchen also serves breakfast all day.
What to try: The beef short ribs.
Corinne's Place in Camden. (Tennyson Donnie Coleman | NJ Advance Media)
Corrine’s Place (Camden)
Corinne Bradley Powers’ intimate restaurant experience has been a Camden staple for 30 years. The atmosphere feels like you’re eating at someone’s home — not at a restaurant. It’s a go-to spot for soul food in South Jersey (especially if you don’t want to cross the Delaware to Philly).
What to try: The cajun turkey wings.
Jameson's Southern Cooking in Neptune. (Tennyson Donnie Coleman | NJ Advance Media)
Jameson’s Southern Cooking (Neptune)
Founded by U.S. Marine veteran Bob Jameson, Jameson’s Southern Cooking is a solid soul food choice in Monmouth County. The ribs and mac and cheese are tasty options and they serve different cakes and pies to satisfy your sweet tooth. We’ve previously named it one of the best places in New Jersey to order fried chicken.
What to try: The fried chicken and ribs combo.
Simply Southern Cuisine in Belmar. (Tennyson Donnie Coleman | NJ Advance Media)
Simply Southern Cuisine (Belmar)
The brainchild of former New York Giants player Rasheed Simmons and his mom, Rita Simmons, Simply Southern Cuisine offers an array of Southern comfort foods.
If you like country music and fried chicken, then this quaint establishment is a must. In 2018, we also named this restaurant one of the best in the state for fried chicken. There are also plenty of options for seafood lovers, including the seafood gumbo, made with tiny shrimp and crab leg clusters. They also make a pretty mean meatloaf.
“One of our mottos here that we really pride ourselves in is serving our Southern food as eloquently and as top notch as we can,” Rasheed Simmons tells NJ Advance Media.
What to try: The fried chicken, the peach mango tea and the seafood gumbo.
Kelsey’s (Atlantic City)
Husband and wife team Kim and Kelsey Jackson are the masterminds behind the popular Atlantic City restaurant. Kelsey’s opened in 2012 and offers soul food five days a week (they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).
On the weekends, the restaurant transforms into a miniature concert venue, featuring live musicians who get the place jumping. The Jackson’s also own Kelsey’s Soul Food Cafe in Atlantic City. It’s open seven days a week.
What to try: The bang bang shrimp and the jumbo lump crab cakes.
Rick’s Backyard Barbecue and Grill (Hamilton)
Rick’s Backyard Barbecue and Grill (formerly Uncle Dewey’s BBQ Pavillion) is a seasonal outdoor barbecue restaurant in Atlantic County.
In 2019, after 25 years, Uncle Dewey’s changed ownership. The original owners, Dewey and Sharon Hazard Johnson, reportedly sold the company to longtime friend, Rick Gray. Uncle Dewey’s was a BBQ favorite for many regulars and a staple for summertime dining.
We will have to wait and see what changes will be made when Rick’s opens for its first season this spring. It’s set to open May 2, according to the company’s Facebook page.
What to try: The ribs.
International
Chef Claude Lewis of Freetown Road Project in Jersey City, with braised oxtail (top right) and macaroni and cheese (bottom right). The restaurant opened in January, and is serves West Indian food miles from where Lewis grew up. (Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media) Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Freetown Road Project (Jersey City)
This new restaurant located in the Jersey City Heights is a tribute to owner, Claude Lewis’ home island of Antigua. You’ll find at authentic West Indian cuisine at Freetown Road Project, which may remind restaurant-goers of American soul food, with with plenty of stews, fish and potatoes.
Before Lewis opened his own restaurant, he was the executive chef at Downtown Jersey City’s Porta.
What to try: The braised oxtail and rice and the homemade ginger beer.
Taste of Flava (Union)
After trying Ancestry’s DNA kit recently, I learned that my ancestors were most likely brought to the U.S. from parts of Nigeria. Since then, I’ve been on a quest to embrace the culture, including learning about the food.
Although I’ve eaten my fair share of African dishes, Taste of Flava was my first-ever experience at an authentic African restaurant. What makes this place special is that you’ll find West African options like fufu, suya chicken and jollof rice. But the restaurant also offers its take on soul food and Southern comfort cuisine.
To boot, the killer crab cakes are enough to make Taste of Flava a reliable seafood option in North Jersey.
What to try: The fufu with peanut soup, mac and cheese and jollof rice.
Saveur Creole (Montclair)
People come to Saveur Creole for a fine dining experience mixed with authentic Haitian-Creole cuisine.
Chef Ronald Mompoint, who is originally from Haiti, has been in business for more than 25 years. He calls the food served at Saveur Creole a fusion of foods influenced by French, Dutch, and Spanish-Portuguese cuisines.
Saveur Creole also offers catering and delivery.
What to try: Haitian caviar
Opened in 2013, by five friends who met at Kean University, First Republic Lounge brings a taste of Haiti to Elizabeth. (Tennyson Donnie Coleman | NJ Advance Media)
First Republic Lounge (Elizabeth)
Opened in 2013 by five friends who met at Kean University, First Republic Lounge brings a taste of Haiti to Downtown Elizabeth. Diners are immersed in Haitian culture from the minute they walk in: it’s decked out with paintings by Haitian artists, konpa music is blaring from the speakers and names of Haitian revolutionaries are written on the walls.
You’ll love the Caribbean take on seafood offered here and the black mushroom rice is the perfect complement to any dish.
The drinks are stellar, too, making it a solid choice for happy hour and the restaurant turns into a lounge at night. Some evenings there’s a comedy show happening and on others a DJ has the dance floor bumping. Part of the restaurant’s profits go toward humanitarian efforts in Haiti, owner Stanley Neron says.
What to try: The kreyol shrimp and fried red snapper (which comes on a fish-shaped plate).
Olaide’s Kitchen (Parlin)
Olaide Tella immigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1998, her family tells NJ Advance Media. In 2017, Tella opened Olaide’s Kitchen after years of catering from her home. Olaide’s Kitchen specializes in West African food — mainly from Ghana and Nigeria.
The menu is pretty robust, and some of the highlights include grilled tilapia, peppered snail, and of course, jollof rice. They make two types of jollof rice: one from Ghana and one from Nigeria.
What to try: Both styles of jollof rice.
Mesob Ethiopian (Montclair)
Mesob Restaurant serves authentic Ethiopian food for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans.
The menu is made up of traditional dishes made fresh with Ethiopian spices. For all the coffee enthusiasts, Mesob also serves organic Ethiopian coffee called Bunna out of traditional coffee pots.
Diners are encouraged to eat with their hands, which is custom.
NJ Advance Media has named it one of the New Jersey restaurants to try before you die.
What to try: The injera (traditional Ethiopian bread), ingudai tibs and gomen.
Pimento Grill (Maplewood)
Described by the owners as “peculiarly trendy cuisine”, Pimento Grill offers authentic Jamaican cuisine infused with natural herbs and spices.
Here you’ll find Jamaican staples like jerk chicken, oxtail, rice and peas, sweet plantain and more.
If you like seafood, try the jerk lobster tail or the brown stew red snapper.
What to try: The brown stew chicken.
Ada’s Gojjo (Asbury Park)
Ada’s Gojjo is one of the best places in New Jersey to get empanadas. This Jersey Shore BYOB spot offers both Ethiopian and Dominican cuisine. Just like at Mesob Restaurant, bread is used as a utensil for Ethiopian dishes.
People seem to really like the tostones, too, which are double-fried sweet plantains commonly found in Latin American cuisine.
Chef Adanech Asghedom grew up in the the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, and that’s where she learned to perfect her native country’s cuisine. She added Latin food to her repertoire after opening a restaurant in Long Branch that was formerly a Dominican shop.
What to try: The chicken or veggie empanadas.
Cafes
Black Swan Espresso in Newark. (Tennyson Donnie Coleman | NJ Advance Media)
Black Swan Espresso (Newark)
Nestled in Downtown Newark, Black Swan Espresso is a popular stop for professionals looking for a cup of joe. The small coffee bar is a hole-in-the-wall type of shop that gets crowded especially around lunch time. Aside from standard coffee options, Black Swan Espresso also offers specialty drinks, including nutella latte, white hot chocolate and egg nog latte. There aren’t many food options, but the doughnuts are pretty tasty and the staff is friendly.
What to try: The egg nog latte.
Coffee and Cornbread in Teaneck. (Tennyson Donnie Coleman | NJ Advance Media)
Coffee and Cornbread (Teaneck)
This place is one of North Jersey’s best kept secrets. People come here for the cornbread and coffee, but stay for their delectable breakfast and lunch options. Coffee and Cornbread offers organic and vegan food at an affordable price. Their vegan grilled cheese sandwich is amazing and melts in your mouth and the sourdough bread is toasted to perfection. The waffle sandwich is the perfect blend of savory and sweet. This place is heaven on earth.
What to try: The waffle sandwich, vegan grilled cheese and, of course, the cornbread.
Blueberry Cafe Juice Bar and Vegan Grill (Newark)
Blueberry Cafe is one of the more unique food options in Brick City. Found in the University Heights neighborhood, it’s great for trying things outside of your comfort zone like power smoothies, soups and vegan pastas, wraps and more. When we stopped in, the small shop was packed, with a steady flow of traffic coming in and leaving out. There are a few tables available if you want to dine in.
The menu at this vegan grill changes depending on the day of the week. For example, on Thursdays they serve wild black rice with black beans and fried mushrooms, mushroom hoagies, squash cactus soup and kamut pasta. Kamut is a protein-rich wheat product.
What to try: The squash cactus soup.
Food Trucks
Jarid Thomas prepares burritos in the "Bro-ritos" food truck. (Jesse Bair | For NJ Advance Media) SJN
Bro-Ritos
Founders, Marcus Crawford and Jonathan Gibbs and operations manager, Jarid Thomas serve burritos, tacos and quesadillas out of their lime green truck, which you can see coming from a mile away. Opened in 2016, Bro-Ritos has been featured on TLC’s “Cake Boss” and NJ Advance Media’s food truck expert Pete Genovese has named it a Top 40 Food Truck in Jersey. Some days they may be in Woodbridge, others they may be in Hoboken. Their “Bro-Calendar” lists which city or town the truck will stop in next. They’re also available for catering private events such as weddings, birthday parties and more.
What to try: All of it.
2 Much Sauce
Based in Plainfield, 2 Much Sauce offers fried food with a kick to it. You can choose from 13 different sauces to smother your choice of protein (chicken, shrimp or fish). The company’s motto is “where the right amount of sauce is too much sauce.”
Customers are also invited to “make it a combo” by trying the seasoned french fries.
The food truck is open from Wednesday to Sunday.
What to try: The chicken with “Litty Sauce” and shrimp with buttered Old Bay seasoning.
What other Black-owned restaurants in New Jersey should we feature? Let us know by filling out this form.
Tennyson Donnie Coleman may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TennysonTV. Find him on Facebook. Have a tip? Let us know at nj.com/tips.
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