Restaurants in Hopatcong

Bensi co-owner Genci Previzi helms an immense menu of classic Italian cuisine, including hearty homestyle dishes with roots in Calabria, Italy. Entrees, joined by a house salad or cup of comforting housemade soup, range from spaghetti and meatballs to gluten-free grilled chicken in a lemon-garlic marinade served over a veggie medley. The chefs also prepare an array of specials such as pignoli-crusted goat cheese and arugula salad, barolo-braised veal osso buco, pan-seared Chilean sea bass with eggplant caponata, and nutella chocolate pizza with fresh strawberries. The dishes are served in a modern dining atmosphere where minimal table settings and simple dark-wood furniture keep the focus on the vibrant cuisine.

Though Loving Hut is part of an international group of restaurants spearheaded by Buddhist Supreme Master Ching Hai, each franchise, including the Ledgewood location, cultivates its menu according to local tastes. The result is a menu of thoughtfully crafted vegan fare. For instance, the cheese sauce that smothers macaroni and burgers is made in-house without dairy, and soy protein adds substance to a selection of sandwiches and noodle and rice dishes. All of this is served in a clean white interior lit by ornate golden chandeliers. On the walls hang floral paintings and a fish tank whose bubbles spell out "Thank you for not eating me".

Until earthquakes manage to bring New Jersey closer to Texas, The Rib Shack brings the unique flavors of Memphis barbecue here instead. In true homestyle fashion, cooks prepare every menu item from scratch, from the salads, sauces, and sides to the pulled pork slow-cooked for 12 hours every night. Other entrees include racks of slow-cooked ribs, dry-rub beef brisket, and the Texas meatloaf wrapped in bacon and slathered in house-made barbecue sauce. Cutting fresh meat rather than corners, the staff also carves cheesesteaks straight from rib-eyes and serves special platters of Tex-Mex on the weekends.