Restaurants in Middlesex

At South Fin Grill, the ocean breeze mingles with a menu of upscale seafood and steakhouse dishes praised by New York magazine. Amid what critic Ethan Wolff describes as a "priceless" ocean view, servers roll out lobster, crab, swordfish, and salmon incarnated as pasta, soup, and sushi dishes. The "turf" portion of the menu showcases grilled new york sirloin, filet mignon, and barbecued pork, but the focus once again turns seaside at a raw bar that features clams and oysters kept fresh by pearl-shaped breath mints.

Beams of purple, blue, and yellow lighting hover above the interior dining tables, each blanketed with a white tablecloth and centered with a flickering candle. Outside, the ocean deck's sea-blue umbrellas shelter views of the boardwalk, ocean, and seagull beach volleyball tourneys. The restaurant bolsters its elegantly plated cuisine with occasional entertainment acts, which have included DJs and ballroom dancing lessons.

Restaurateur Tim McLoone has left his mark all over the culinary maps of New Jersey and Maryland with his numerous gourmet grills, which distinguish themselves from one another with unique menus and ambiances that hew to the same level of upscale elegance. Most of Tim’s restaurants set a lovely spread for Sunday brunch with made-to-order omelets, waffles, and a carving station with plump, tender hams. The network of eateries regularly lures hungry passersby during the evening with the aroma of grilled steaks and seafood, and a winning lotto ticket attached to a fishing line. Select locations are also visited by nightly entertainment. The decor at each dining hall is inspired by its surroundings: naval themes prevail at the coastal locations in National Harbor, Sea Bright, and Long Branch, while McLoone’s racing-themed restaurants are located within the off-track facilities in Fords and Bayonne.

Look out the window of Zinna's Bistro and you'll spot a lush, vibrant garden from which the BYOB restaurant's chefs cull freshly grown produce to fuel their salads, pastas, and pizzas. An ample dinner menu showcases the Italian-American bistro's veggies: arugula, cherry tomatoes, and red onion make a bed for strips of succulent steak grown from the garden's steak trees. For a closer look at the flowering garden, patrons can sit outside on a patio while dining on ravioli stuffed with four cheeses or breaded chicken smothered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, all the while listening to live acoustic music on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

With its amber and red tones, bronze waterfall, and pebble stone accents, Arisu immerses diners in an elegant, easygoing atmosphere. The restaurant's tranquil vibe reflects the meaning behind its name, "Great River," as well as the contemporary Japanese cuisine that it plates up daily. Upon sinking into Arisu's oversized banquet chairs, diners may fill up on an extensive menu that includes Japanese standards, such as sushi and sashimi, along with Korean barbecue ribs marinated in a sweet soy sauce and lobster teriyaki served with assorted veggies.

Mexican Post posts a classic menu of quesadillas, nachos, and burritos. Complimentary chips and salsa begin meals by blowing tiny tortilla trumpets, heralding the quesadilla fiesta of cheese, homemade salsa, and a choice of veggies, tofu, or chicken ($6.45). Diners can chomp down on two custom-stuffed tacos ($4.95) or devour an edible tortilla bowl brimming with taco salad ($6.95). Bottles of Mexican soda cool down mouths with flavors such as mango, guava, and strawberry ($2.50), and churros ($1.50) are sure to remind jaded taste buds why they're in the business.

Against walls of pure white and an ornate carpet laced with swirling embroidered flora, statuettes of horses rear up over steaming trays, hinting at unbridled fistfuls of spices. From the kitchen emerge golden knots of samosas alongside korma dishes and halal meats, and Punjabi and Mughlai influences gleam through in some concoctions. When the buffet is in action, more than 60 items fill the gleaming banquet table, which billows hot steam that foretells of fresh-from-the-oven tandoori dishes and goat biryani. A chandelier illuminates the perimeter of Shahnawaz Palace's banquet space, which staff configures for a variety of events, whether it is the large head table for a joyful wedding or the heaps of folding chairs for a wedding between professional wrestlers.