Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Essex

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Essex? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bivio Pizza Napoletana

4.9

4.9 (218)

$31 to $50

Pizzeria

Montclair

About the restaurant

At Bivio our passion is authentic Neapolitan pizza.
Napoli... our love of the city, its cuisine, and in particular, its pizza is where our story began. We heard time and time again “It’s all about the dough.” True to Neapolitan tradition, and the passion of the pizzaioli, we construct our pizza using “00” flour from Naples, San Marzano DOP tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, fior di latte or bufala mozzarella, and sea salt. Our dough is gently mixed using a 28 year old “lieveto madre” (natural yeast culture) then with intense heat is baked in our wood burning il forno. At Bivio all of our dishes are made with the freshest and highest quality ingredients.

Top review

andrewVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Absolutely amazing!!!!! Pizza and salads are incredibly

Giorgio's Ristorante - South Orange

4.9

4.9 (525)

$31 to $50

Italian

South Orange

About the restaurant

Giorgio's of South Orange has always been one of the landmarks in the area. Specializing in fine Italian cuisine and catering, we have a wide range of signature soups, salads and of course, our special, main-course, all-time favorite items.

Top review

LarryVIP

Dined on Jul 1, 2025

Delicious meal! I had the Chicken Portofino. So good! Loved hearing the live jazz featuring Kate Baker too!

Seoul Bistro

4.9

4.9 (15)

$30 and under

Korean

Montclair

About the restaurant

Seoul Bistro
Authentic Korean flavors to Korean street food, modern vibes. Experience the taste of Seoul: where tradition meets innovation with rice, banchan (side dishes), and more! Located on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair NJ

Top review

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

My family enjoyed a graduation celebration lunch at Seoul Bistro yesterday. Overall, we enjoyed the experience. The restaurant is nicely decorated with a comfortable ambience. Most importantly, it was clean. The waitress was friendly and communicative, and the dishes were excellent. Since we are not Koreans, we cannot vouch for its authenticity. But they were delicious. We will surely visit again in the future.

Zeugma

4.9

4.9 (1568)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Montclair

About the restaurant

**Only Fridays and Saturdays ( Only Adults ) We do not accommodate kids after 5pm

**We don't guarantee the location of the table, but we try our best to accommodate. We gladly hold the table for 15 minutes grace period.

** Outdoor sitting first come first serve.

Zeugma Grill offers a distinct menu for its customers that is sure to please the palate. The Mediterranean fusion and modern menu includes mezzes, special entrees, salads, desserts and much more. Try our fresh made and our creations BEET FALAFEL, MANTI(Handmade Mushroom dumpling). Domenico winery also sells their California wines out our restaurant so no need to stop on your way for a bottle.
We look forward to serving you. Mediterranean inspired cuisine mixed with all Mediterranean Cities Flavorful herbs and spices combine textures to appease broad-based palates.Our r attentive staff ensures that your entire dining experience at ZEUGMA is stellar from beginning to end.

Top review

AlisonVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Delicious food and great service! Beautiful ambiance!

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4.8

4.8 (2058)

$30 and under

American

Newark

About the restaurant

Ever since Tops Diner was established in 1942, our focus has always been to serve what our customers want, exactly when and how they want it. As the American dining culture shifts, we recognize we must strive to recreate the 1920’s renaissance that birthed the diner as we know it today, all the while preserving the historical and cultural identity that made Tops Diner the model all others hope to emulate.

By constantly evolving, we ensure our ability to provide a diverse menu of high quality options with the speed of service we’ve all become accustomed to, providing the uniquely satisfying experience synonymous with the Tops Diner name. Our hope is that we can grow as our clients do, and continue to serve both our Newark family, and our community at large.

Top review

Mildred

Dined 6 days ago

Sky was very sweet and so pleasant and our food was super yummy it’s my new favorite spot

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4.8

4.8 (650)

$30 and under

Italian

Roseland

About the restaurant

La Cucina Piccola is an Italian restaurant in Roseland, NJ. We offer classic cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients daily. Join us for dinner and you'll feel welcomed and well taken care of.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Remains our favorite local spot and is one of the best Italian restaurants in NJ. Food is consistently delicious. They always have great specials in addition to the regular menu and service is always excellent.

LuNello Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1181)

$31 to $50

Italian

Cedar Grove

About the restaurant

Since 1990, Chef Seger's use of unique ingredients, homemade pastas, and innovative specials has created a loyal following. His modern flair mixed with traditional culinary skills has created a whirlwind of praise. You will not see seafood options on the regular menu for one reason; All our Seafood is wild not farm raised and we carry ONLY what is available and offer them as our daily specials.
General Manager Stephanie Voulgaris
Floor Manager Henry Calderon
Sommelier Stephanie Voulgaris
LuNello has gone right to the source when purchasing ingredients and each dish reflects the attention placed into its preparation. All our meats in our menu have grown and purchased from meat purveyors that there is no use of antibiotics or hormones. Enticing presentation and courteous and professional staff are integral to LuNello's success. We are also excited to offer Wine Dinners and special events hosted in our private event spaces. We look forward to making your experience with us a special one!

Top review

Joseph Galasso

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful service- beet salad excellent-pasta course very good- filet of sole with long hots - delicious - espresso could be better- nice dish of biscotti

Lumis

4.8

4.8 (431)

$30 and under

Italian

Fairfield, New Jersey

About the restaurant

Lumis is dedicated to delivering the finest Italian cuisine with one of the most innovative and interesting menus. Our extensive ala carte menu is sure to appeal to even the finest of palates, as well as a wide variety of fine imported and domestic wines and cocktails in a beautiful multi-room venue. Great for intimate or large parties for lunch or dinner being served by professional old school waiters in the heart of Fairfield.

Top review

StevenVIP

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Another really good dinner,great food and service

Samba - Montclair

4.8

4.8 (966)

$30 and under

Brazilian

Montclair

About the restaurant

Homestyle Brazilian fare served in a stylish, rustic space with antique pots & vintage tableware.

Samba is now the only restaurant certified as a gluten-free restaurant in New Jersey from the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). @glutendotorg . We are not conforming to a trend. Due to personal experience, gluten
sensitivity is a very serious matter. For the safety of others who are gluten-free, no outside food or cakes will be allowed in the restaurant.

Top review

Melissa

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent Food and Excellent Service! Very good Brazilian food and beautifully decorated restaurant. . Highly Recommend!

DelMonico

4.8

4.8 (620)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Cedar Grove

About the restaurant

DelMonico is not your average steakhouse. We offer an affordable casual dining experience with a wide variety of food options.