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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Alex Remnick
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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