Katrina Hauser 
Maplewood has rapidly been turning into one of North Jersey’s most enticing foodie hotspots. Numerous businesses are feeling the love from their community, and even more are coming to the area, including an expansion of one of Montclair’s most beloved coffee shops, Paper Plane, opening in Maplewood this July. So, here is a definitive round-up of the go-to spots in Maplewood, whether you’re looking for a nice night out on the town or just grabbing a bite to eat. Read on for the full list of the best restaurants in Maplewood NJ.
The Able Baker | 187 Maplewood Avenue
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This popular pastry shop began as a web-based business before opening a storefront in 2011, and then expanding in 2016. Now, the business is in the process of opening another location on Valley Street in South Orange. It serves an extensive variety of local and international coffees and teas to pair with the fresh pastries. Scones, breads, quiche, cakes, cookies, and pies are available for order online with in-store pickup. The options for cake and pie change weekly on Sunday nights, and hand-decorated cookie designs change seasonally.
Open: 7:30AM-5PM daily
Read More: New Italian Restaurant, Clementina, Opening in Montclair This Spring
Artie’s | 15 Newark Way
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This Maplewood mainstay is a fusion of Arturo’s, a restaurant that previously operated downtown, and The Bread Stand, the bakery that called 15 Newark Way home. Now together under one roof as Artie’s, a more casual spot that’s open throughout the day, a pastry counter and cafe serves guests from 8AM until close. The kitchen also offers an array of pizzas, sandwiches, and small bites all day, with just a quick break from meals made-to-order.
From 3PM to 5PM, small bites like Ceci, a seasoned chickpea dish, and a soup of the day, are available. Although the inside of the restaurant is spacious, it can get busy on the weekends, and it does not take reservations. The ambiance can be enjoyed at a table or in the outside seating area, but food and cafe drinks are also available to go. Artie’s serves beer, wine, and cocktails from an evolving drink menu, as well as pastas made daily and developed into seasonally appropriate dishes. The bakery counter has pastries and hearty breads for sweet and savory lovers alike.
Open: 8AM-4PM daily; 5PM-9PM Sunday-Thursday; 5PM-10PM Friday + Saturday
Barn Bird Kitchen | 147 Maplewood Avenue
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This country-chic spot boasts that its fried chicken is the best in the state. The food and tables are available first come, first serve. Guests come from all over to snack on the menu developed by Chef Emeka Onugha, a Nigerian culinary enthusiast local to the area. After previously introducing restaurant concepts elsewhere in Maplewood, the chef sought to elevate traditional South American flavors with Nigerian-inspired spices called Yaji at a new fried chicken destination. The menu is straightforward, allowing patrons to choose their spice level from naked to ‘burn fire,’ and the menu has fried cauliflower for those who don’t eat meat.
Open: 11AM-9PM Sunday-Thursday; 11AM-11PM Friday & Saturday
Coda Kitchen and Bar | 177 Maplewood Avenue
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This downtown cocktail bar has been a mainstay of the Maplewood dining scene for many years. It aims to create a city vibe in our small town by presenting a solid collection of classic and original cocktails, craft draft beers, and locally inspired dishes. The kitchen’s goal is to use as much locally sourced and organic produce as possible. The dinner menu is well-rounded, including many pescatarian options, but their lunch menu also has some standout choices, including a salmon Nicoise and beer cheese burger.
Open: 11:30AM-9PM Sunday-Thursday; 11:30AM-10PM Friday & Saturday
Cornbread Maplewood | 1565 Springfield Avenue
This women-owned modern soul food eatery cooks up unique and heartfelt flavors. With locations in Montclair, Brooklyn, and Newark, co-founders Elzadie (Zadie) Smith and Adenah Bayoh have clearly perfected the cornbread, as well as everything that deserves to be eaten alongside it: fried chicken, catfish po’boys, oxtail, baked turkey wings, mac and cheese, black-eyed peas, and so much more. With all-day specials and high-quality ingredients, this spot has everything you want from a soul food kitchen, plus more.
Open: 11AM-10PM Daily
Corner Slice | 419 Boyden Avenue
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Corner Slice, which began at Gotham West Market at 45th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan, now serves its classic New York Style square pies for the Maplewood community. New flavors and creative pizza toppings are frequently introduced, like a clam pie with cream that recently earned a shoutout in the New York Times. The garlic knots are absolutely huge and a must-try for an Italian food lover, but be careful: those square pies are deceptively filling, and don’t blame us if your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
Open: Daily 12PM-8PM
Luna Stella | 5 Highland Place
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This Italian eatery, owned and run by a mother-daughter duo, blends creativity and New American cuisine to feature an inventive menu of cocktails and dinner plates. This petite spot has limited hours which makes snagging a table even more exciting.
An upshot of this setup is that the passionate team is able to focus its efforts on making sure each and every guest has the best experience possible. The menu puts an elegant spin on popular foods, including a dry-aged double burger and their signature chicken milanese, which comes cleverly with a lemon caper sauce and will change the way you want the dish prepared forever. Last but not least, it has an impressive dessert selection, including baked Alaska and a rotating cheesecake of the day, making it a great pick for a date night or girls’ night out.
Open: 5PM-9PM Tuesday-Thursday; 5PM-10PM Friday + Saturday
Osteria LK | 180 Maplewood Avenue
It’s hard to imagine a round-up of Maplewood restaurants without a BYOB spot on the list, and this one stands out as a recommendation. This Italian gem comes from the team behind Laboratorio Kitchen in Montclair, which has been serving the community for over a decade. Chef James De Sisto, committed to quality ingredients and simplicity, aims to allow the natural flavors of every dish to shine. If that isn’t enough to draw you in, just take a look at the pasta options, which include bucatini cacio e pepe and spaghetti with lump crab. This cozy Italian kitchen has become a popular dining location in Maplewood.
Open: Tuesday-Wednesday 5PM-9PM; Thursday/Friday/Saturday 11:30AM-3:30PM + 5PM-10PM; Sunday 11AM-2PM + 4PM-8PM
Perch Home | 89 Baker Street
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This home goods and gift store isn’t just a shopping destination; tucked inside, there’s a small cafe with a coffee and mocktail bar, a gelato window, and pastries. There’s a brunch menu from Wednesdays to Sundays, which can be enjoyed on the garden patio. The shop features ‘fancy’ goods like jewelry, kitchenware, elegant candles, and ceramic dishes.
Open: 9AM-6PM Sunday-Wednesday and 9AM-8PM Thursday-Saturday
Perla Oyster Bar | 415 Boyden Avenue
This walk-in-only oyster and seafood bar is one of Maplewood’s best locations for an upscale and cozy dinner. The restaurant is intimate, so diners get the unique benefit of focused service at Perla, which serves fresh seafood from a tapas-style menu. The business got its start when Chef Matthew Choppina began selling oysters from a mobile food cart at local events. The enterprise soon became a full-fledged restaurant with a bar and seating area. The menu encourages guests to share with each other and continuously order, which creates a dining experience that flows organically and pleasantly. Some unique dinner items include the smoked bluefish spread, kanpachi crudo, and chicken liver mousse.
Open: 5PM-9PM Thursday-Saturday; 12PM-4PM Sundays
Porta Rossa Pasta and Provisions | 160 Jacoby Street
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This Italian lunch spot, helmed by Chef Matthew Rugza and supported by his team of ‘pasta enthusiasts,’ serves up delicious homemade pasta from a rotating seasonal menu. Recent additions have included porchetta panzotti with charred rapini, semi-secchi pomodori, and lemon, as well as toasted farro garganelli in a beef and liver ragu. Shareables like burrata and gigante beans remain on the menu throughout the year, as do the sandwiches. Recently, the restaurant, which also serves as a destination for buying sauces and other Italian cooking staples, has introduced a float combining homemade Vanilla Bean Gelato with Stappi, an Italian soda, to create a Euro-American-inspired summer sweet treat.
Open: 9:30AM-4PM Sunday-Thursday; 9:30AM-6PM Friday & Saturday
Restaurant Lorena’s | 160 Maplewood Avenue
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This modern French restaurant is located in the heart of Maplewood’s downtown village, where, spoiler alert: there are honestly too many great places to name in one article. However, if you’ve exhausted yourself after a day shopping in the neighborhood and want to enjoy an indulgent, classy meal, look no further than Lorena’s. This town staple relocated from just down the street in 2021 to its current space with an upscale interior and a bright patio. To keep valued patrons returning, Lorena’s offers live music on Thursday nights and during jazz brunch on weekends. On Wednesday nights, guests can enjoy 50% off a bottle of wine.
The menu boasts a wide variety of modern takes on French classics, including Miso Glazed Butternut Squash and Grilled Chicken Paillard. There is an option to add 30 grams of organic caviar to any dish. A flexible lunch pre-fixe menu gives diners the choice of having a starter and an entrée or an entrée followed by dessert. On Mondays through Thursdays, there is a three-course dinner menu for only $49 a person. Last year, Lorena’s received the DiRōNA Award of Excellence, a recognition of its success as a restaurant.
Open: 5PM-9:30PM Mondays; 11AM-11PM Tuesday-Saturday; 11AM-9:30PM Sunday
St. James’s Gate Publick House | 167 Maplewood Avenue
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This pub, or ‘publick house,’ offers classic Irish foods such as an Irish Breakfast, Bangers and Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, and, of course, Fish and Chips. With a wide selection of draft beers, this neighborhood spot gathers crowds for sports games and holidays beyond just St. Patrick’s Day. It offers darts, Guinness, and a no-frills pub experience. This bar is a popular spot in the warmer months due to the outside seating options and prime location in the heart of Maplewood’s downtown. Not only does ‘the Gate’ offer comfort and consistency, but there is always someone interesting to chat with at the bar.
Open: Monday-Friday 11:30AM-2AM; Saturday + Sunday 11AM-2AM
True Salvage Kitchen | 292 Elmwood Avenue
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This cafe and kitchen made the switch to a fully gluten free menu in April 2025. This spot is run by Maplewood native Chef Signe Heffernan, and her husband Silver, who leads the front-of-house operations. The space has become a neighborhood favorite known for its diverse menu and friendly staff. With a mission to prove that gluten free food can be delicious, its house-made seed bread and vegan options—like a chickpea wrap—make this dining location accessible to many diets. Daily offerings include a standard frittata as well as a dairy-free frittata, and a variety of sweet treats, such as strawberry chocolate brownies and Brunsinger, a Danish coffee cake. The kitchen occasionally closes early so the restaurant can set up for a pop-up tapas night in the evenings. Menus for tapas are posted on social media, as well as weekly ready-to-eat family dinners and pantry staples that are available for purchase and pickup.
Open: 10AM-5PM Wednesday & Thursday; 8AM-3PM Friday; and 9AM-2PM Saturday & Sunday
Village Trattoria | 2 Inwood Place
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This pizza restaurant has been serving the Maplewood community for over 30 years. Pizza here is served promptly, deliciously, and with ease. The Village Trattoria offers a variety of styles: an original hand-tossed pie, the grandma pie, the Sicilian square, and thin crust. The menu also has pretty much every Italian favorite you could think of including calzones, stromboli, and much more. With a ‘create your own pasta’ option, this pizzeria is a great casual option for families with picky eaters or anyone who loves to grab some good hot pizza on the go — aka, all of us. There is a second location in South Orange.
Open: 11AM-9PM Sunday-Thursday; 11AM-9:30PM Friday + Saturday
See More: Old School Bakeries In Northern New Jersey
Wheelhouse Cheese and More | 417 Boyden Avenue
Wheelhouse Cheese & More is a cheese market and specialty cafe that opened in Maplewood in Spring 2025. Previously, it operated out of the Co-Lab in South Orange, a nonprofit space that supports the growth of small local businesses. The Wheelhouse offers both a dining and shopping experience, as it is stocked with unique cheeses, meats, tinned fish, jams, crackers, and other snacks to build your dream charcuterie table. The cheese experts at the shop can even make platters for parties when given advance notice. The restaurant, which is BYOB, is constantly looking to introduce new and fun ideas for their customers through both the kitchen and the atmosphere, such as their recent ‘Butter Board Nights,’ perfect for dairy lovers. And, fun fact: the butter boards are served with bread from Artie’s!
Open: 11AM-6PM Monday-Wednesday; 11AM-8PM Friday-Sunday
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