Restaurants in Englewood

In a way, Kilo is much like kindergarten. It teaches one to share, and there are plenty of blocks to play with—they're just stuck in the walls and called bricks. With an ever-evolving seasonal menu, the tapas restaurant allows guests to dine socially on small, shareable plates of marinated mixed olives, goat-cheese crostini, and ceviche tacos. Whenever possible, Kilo sources its ingredients from local farms and artisans.

The space is small, but the ambiance is carefully cultivated to welcome an upscale crowd. The decor falls somewhere between minimalist and well appointed, with racks of wine hanging from one exposed brick wall and framed photos lining an adjacent painted one. A rustic yet finely sanded wood-grain bar looks up to a galaxy of wineglasses, and a modicum of natural sunlight crawls from the all-glass façade to the back of the space. The kitchen begins to serve small plates at 4:30 p.m., and reds and whites from the wine menu fill glasses until the restaurant closes at midnight.

In the summer of 2011, Zagat-rated Umberto's Clam House delighted patrons of the arts with its signature dish of short-rib ragu over penne at the sixth annual Hoboken International Film Festival. Inside the eatery, an open kitchen offers diners views of pasta-twirling chefs frying up fresh squid and hot red-clam sauce simmering in fish tanks, and a custom built bar doles out libations.

Mac 'n' cheese. Crispy bacon. 100% Angus beef burger. To purists, these might seem like three separate meals, but at Mel's Burger Bar, these three treats come together to form the Widowmaker burger. The chefs at Mel's don't believe in scrimping, as evidenced by their signature burgers, which they crown with rich toppings such as onion rings and whole fried eggs. The menu on the weekend and comfort staples such as barbecue brisket, grouper sandwiches, and bacon mac 'n cheese all week long.

Bugatti Café fully embraces the warm, charming connotations of an Italian eatery with its earthy cuisine and rich mahogany hues. Originally from Parma, Italy, chef Camillo recreates familiar Old World flavors by importing cheeses and cured meats and relying on time-honored techniques for boiling water on a stovetop. His menu includes slow-cooked lamb shanks, veal- and spinach-stuffed ravioli, and grilled Portuguese octopus in red-wine-vinegar emulsion.

Although the eclectically decorated dining room draws eyes to yellow walls and a pair of turquoise doors, poplar floorboards, custom-designed wooden tables, and exposed brickwork keep the space rooted in rustic tones. A mural fuses the two disparate color schemes with a soft depiction of an urban scene, which includes towering skyscrapers, vintage automobiles, and New York's iconic aqueducts.

The sweeping tangles of the Cyrillic alphabet spill across the glassy ranks of 200 distinct vodkas at Nasha Rasha. Surrounded by the cool bottles and people in fur caps, guests can almost feel Russia’s famous chill. The bar’s name even translates to “our Russia,” and shareable plates of dumplings, pickled watermelon, baltic herring, and caviar help cement the sense of shared heritage. Bartenders clad in red scarves or Russian military caps slip among colorful nesting dolls, pouring shots of vodka infused with jalapeño, bacon and honey, or pineapple and pepper. At tables, slabs of rye bread soak up rivulets of steaming borscht, a traditional, stunningly crimson soup of cabbage and beets. A relief map of Russia on the wall flanks a collage of historical figures from the country, pleasantly distracting diners from their meals, unlike a cowboy writing a ballad about how you eat.