Restaurants in Short Hills

Ido Sushi owner and chef Tora Yi marries edible and aural art by pairing inventive sushi and sashimi dishes alongside live piano and opera performances, building an atmosphere that the New York Times described as “Cheers – dunked in the melting pot.” Like Genghis Khan’s personal Mongolian barbecue, the dining area is ornamented with wall-mounted swords that gleam under soft lighting. Sushi chefs carve fresh salmon, tuna, and vegetables before rolling them on planks behind an open-air bar. Between bites and sing-along sessions, bartenders sling sake, draft beers, and mixed drinks.

Burrito Joint's meal maestros stuff traditional Mexican fare with the freshest fillings available. The cooks steadfastly refuse to employ reheated or frozen ingredients, banning microwave ovens and outlawing Mr. Freeze from the kitchen. The Joint's nine varieties of burrito wrap a whole-wheat or white-flour tortilla around a choice of protein such as steak, tofu, or carnitas pork, with additional fillings including black or pinto beans and lime cilantro. Burrito Joint's menu fills out with Kick Ass fajitas, Bravas enchiladas, and Bumpin' tacos such as the original baja fish, a creation that nestles grilled or breaded tilapia inside soft corn tortillas, all crowned with chopped cabbage, mild salsa roja, and chipotle-ranch sauce.

Teppan Bar & Grill's owner and chef cut his culinary teeth in Japan, and then practiced as a sushi chef in Manhattan. His talents pervade the kitchen, which prepares fresh cuts of filet mignon, lobster tails, and Chilean sea bass. To promote aesthetic appeal, the decor in which he and his team operate features large, clean windows and absolutely no waiters dressed as clowns. Within, an upscale atmosphere spreads across two stories, where plush leather bar seats provide up-close views to sushi making and drink mixing. In the dining area, the same seats offer access to table-embedded grills, while outside, cars sit idly in the restaurant's free parking area.

The party professionals at Biny Karaoke Bar thrill guests with karaoke, rotating drink specials, and Japanese fusion fare. Diners situated in one of seven private karaoke rooms or the restaurant's fluorescently decorated main lounge can choose one of more than 20,000 songs to sing while munching on sushi rolls, indulging in innovative Japanese entrees such as salmon teriyaki or tonkatsu, or air-drumming with chopsticks. Karaoke songs span from 1960 to present day and are available in multiple languages.

Nature’s Grill’s three locations in Bay Ridge, Cobble Hill, and Caesar’s Bay aim to create a healthier community by crafting fresh, made-to-order dishes from original recipes, natural foods, and high-quality ingredients. The restaurant’s health-first approach includes an aversion to microwaves, preservatives, and puddles of melted mercury, which is evident on its expansive menu, which fills bellies with smoothies, protein shakes, and savory wraps packed with grilled chicken, salmon, and tofu. Nature’s Grill’s inviting interior includes dark hardwood floors, exposed-brick walls, and bright glass cases used to display toppings.

Framed photographs of Italy and gleaming mirrors surround a fleet of tables covered in white linens, plates of salmon, steak, and pastas at Michael Gibson's cozy eatery. Plates laden with options from a prix fixe brunch menu parade past chattering sleepy-eyed guests, and chef Juan Rodriquez keeps a careful eye upon an oven loaded with mac 'n' cheese and turkey burgers. Outside, glasses of wine clink together beneath chocolate-hued awnings shading seats constructed from mahogany planks and metal rods from a UFO.