The 25 most expensive restaurants in N.J.

The 25 most expensive restaurants in N.J.

Who says New York City is the only place where you can blow a small fortune on dinner?

We've scoured the menus of New Jersey's fanciest restaurants to determine which offer the costliest night out. Our ranking is based on the estimated cost of a dinner for two consisting of two appetizers, two entrees, a shared dessert, and two drinks, before tax and tip. It goes without saying, of course, that you can spend much, much more at these places.

In cases where the restaurants only offer tasting menus, the estimated cost is based on the average tasting menu price, plus two drinks.

Time to call for a reservation — and break out the credit card.

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Anthony Venutolo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No. 25: NINETY ACRES (PEAPACK AND GLADSTONE)

Cuisine: New American

Most expensive dish: $68; wood-fired 28 oz. dry-aged Niman Ranch Cowboy Ribeye for two.

Most expensive spirit: Port, Colheitas 1937, Quinta do Noval $76

Expect to pay: Around $110

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Cathy Miller

No. 24: AGRICOLA EATERY, (PRINCETON)

Cuisine: Creative farm-to-table American

Most expensive dish: $48, Niman Ranch Prime Ribeye Steak with roasted potatoes, rosemary, demi-glace

Most expensive spirit: Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Opus One, Napa Valley, CA, 2011, $290

Expect to pay: Around $120

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No. 23: RAT'S, (HAMILTON TOWNSHIP)

Cuisine: Country-style French

Most expensive dish: $49, Contre Filet dry aged sirloin, creamed spinach, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, bone marrow butter

Most expensive spirit: Champagne, Nicholas Feuillatte Brut, France, $85

Expect to pay: Around $123

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Cathy Miller

No. 22: THE SADDLE RIVER INN, (SADDLE RIVER)

Cuisine: French

Most expensive dish: $48, Creekstone Farm Prime-Dry-Aged Sirloin

Most expensive wine: BYOB

Expect to pay: Around $137

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Anthony Venutolo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No. 21: CHEZ CATHERINE, (WESTFIELD)

Cuisine: French

Most expensive dish: Tasting menus only, ranging from $70 - $85

Most expensive wine: Margaux, Château Pétrus (Pomerol), 2002, $3000

Expect to pay: Around $140 for the lower tasting menu for two.

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Anthony Venutolo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No. 20: DINO & HARRY'S STEAKHOUSE (HOBOKEN)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $108, 48-ounce Porterhouse for two

Most expensive wine: The U.S Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Screaming Eagle, Napa, 2011, $1800

Expect to pay: Around $140

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Alex Remnick

No. 19: VARKA, (RAMSEY)

Cuisine: Seafood

Most expensive dish: $59 lb. for Langoustines (Mediterranean) shellfish

Most expensive wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shafer, Hillside Select, Napa Valley, 2009 and 2008, $495.

Expect to pay: Around $140.

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Kaspar, Kelsey

No. 18: ROOTS STEAKHOUSE, (MORRISTOWN)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $85.95, 48-oz. dry-aged Porterhouse for two

Most expensive wine: $2000 for Vin Perdu, Napa '09 (5 liters)

Expect to pay: Around $142

* Additional locations in Summit and Ridgewood

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Saed Hindash

No. 17: PLUCKEMIN INN (BEDMINSTER)

Cuisine: American

Most expensive dish: $38, Cervena venison, chestnut, farro, gruyere, cabbage and black truffle

Most expensive spirit: Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1934 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti, $25000

Expect to pay: Around $143

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RICH KRAUSS

No. 16: THE RIVER PALM TERRACE, (EDGEWATER)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $89 for the Prime Porter House Steak for Two

Most expensive wine: Caymus, Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Selection, Napa Valley, CA, 1.5L, 2008, $465.

Expect to pay: Around $148

* Additional locations in Fair Lawn and Mahwah

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No. 15: RESTAURANT SERENADE, (CHATHAM)

Cuisine: French

Most expensive dish: $40, roasted rack of lamb

Most expensive spirit: Château Haut-Brion 1995 Graves, $899

Expect to pay: Around $150

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No. 14: THE HIGHLAWN PAVILION, (WEST ORANGE)

Cuisine: New American

Most expensive dish: $46; 6-ounce prime sirloin

Most expensive spirit: Moët Chandon Impérial, Brut (France, Champagne) $18.50 (glass)

Expect to pay: Around $151

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No. 13: THE OLD HOMESTEAD, (ATLANTIC CITY)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $110 for the Porterhouse steak for two.

Most expensive spirit: Bordeaux Blend, Chateau Petrus, Pomerol, Bordeaux 1998, six-liter, $30,000

Expect to pay: Around $155

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ORIGINs: Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen from Jake Block on Vimeo

No. 12: THE DINING ROOM AT JOCKEY HOLLOW BAR & KITCHEN, (MORRISTOWN)

Cuisine: Farm-to-table American

Most expensive dish: $45, Dry-aged prime sirloin

Most expensive wine: 1985 Château L'Angelus Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux $1200

Expect to pay: Around $158

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No. 11: THE OCEANAIRE, (HACKENSACK)

Cuisine: Seafood

Most expensive dish: $55, 20 oz. bone-in ribeye steak

Most expensive wine: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, "S.L.V.," Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $239

Expect to pay: Around $160

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No. 10: BOBBY FLAY STEAK, (ATLANTIC CITY)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $54; Blackened prime rib, bèarnaise butter.

Most expensive wine: Bordeaux, Chateau Petrus, Pomerol, France, 1998 - $30000 (Imperial, six-liter)

Expect to pay: Around $161

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Cathy Miller

No. 9: THE STRIP HOUSE, (LIVINGSTON)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $98 for the porterhouse for two

Most expensive spirit: Johnnie Walker Blue, $45

Expect to pay: Around $162

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Anthony Venutolo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No. 8: THE RAVEN & THE PEACH, (FAIR HAVEN)

Cuisine: American

Most expensive dish: $55, Shellfish Share Tasting

Most expensive wine: Wine list changes regularly; among the premium selections are Opus One Overture

Expect to pay: Around $163

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No. 7: THE MANOR, (WEST ORANGE)

Cuisine: American

Most expensive dish: $85, California Osetra (Caviar with your choice of vodka)

Most expensive wine: Château Cos d'Estournel, St. Estèphe, Bordeaux 1995, $135

Expect to pay: Around $165.90

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No. 6: THE PALM, (ATLANTIC CITY)

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Most expensive dish: $99.50 for the prime double cut New York Strip for 2-3

Most expensive spirit: Single-barrel aged Manhattan, $18

Expect to pay: Around $176

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David Handschuh

No. 5: THE BERNARDS INN, (BERNARDSVILLE)

Cuisine: American

Most expensive dish: $54, Dry-aged sirloin

Most expensive wine: Château Mouton Rothschild Premier Grand Cru Classé 1959 100RP, $7555.

Expect to pay: Around $184

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Cathy Miller

No. 4: CAFE MATISSE, (RUTHERFORD)

Cusine: New American

Most expensive dish: Tasting menus only, ranging from $68 - $108

Most expensive wine: BYOB

Expect to pay: $176 for the middle priced tasting menu for two

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Anthony Venutolo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No. 3: RESTAURANT NICHOLAS, (RED BANK)

Cuisine: American

Most expensive dish: Tasting menus only, ranging from $70 - $90

Most expensive wine: 2010 Napa Valley, Proprietary Blend, Harlan Estate, $1700 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc)

Expect to pay: Around $190

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Anthony Venutolo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No. 2: ELEMENTS, (PRINCETON)

Cuisine: New American

Most expensive dish: Tasting menus only, $99 - $185

Most expensive spirit: Domaine Romanée-Conti 2002 romanée-st-vivant, $2800

Expect to pay:  $275 (cost of middle range tasting menu plus two drinks)

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David Handschuh

No. 1: RESTAURANT LATOUR, (HARDYSTON TOWNSHIP)

Cuisine: New American

Most expensive dish: Tasting menus only, $115 - $145; wine pairings $55 - $65

Most expensive wine: Get the wallet. Named a Best Wine restaurant from Wine Enthusiast, the 140-page red wine list includes a the Bordeaux Château Latour, Pauillac, 1900, for $57,600

Expect to pay:  $300 (average cost of two tasting menus, plus two drinks

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