Taste the Best: Top Places to Eat During 2026 New Jersey Restaurant Weeks

What Sets Restaurant Weeks in New Jersey Apart?

New Jersey’s Restaurant Weeks are known for a few standout reasons:

• The state is extremely diverse, so you’ll find a huge mix of cuisines. From Italian and Indian to Korean BBQ, Portuguese, and Dominican meals, locals get to sample food from all over the world, often in one neighborhood.
• Most participating restaurants are small, independent spots that are family owned. Restaurant Week gives people a simple way to support these businesses and try new favorites nearby. 
• These events aren’t only about eating. Some feature live music, art displays, cooking demos, or a chance to meet chefs. It feels like a community party centered on food. 
• Restaurants serve prix fixe menus at lower prices than normal, so you can treat yourself to a nicer meal without breaking the bank. 
• Chefs highlight New Jersey’s local produce, seafood, and meats, showing off what’s fresh from the area’s farms and shores.

Since many towns and counties host their own events, the vibe and restaurant choices can change a lot depending on where you go.

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New Jersey Restaurant Week Highlights

Pier Village (Long Branch) Restaurant Week

Tuesday, February 24 – Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Guests can expect lunch and dinner many spots featuring multi course prix fixe menus designed dishes, coastal flavors, and chef favorites. Prices typically range from budget friendly casual bites to value driven, three, families, and food loving explorers or revisit beloved waterfront staples. lunch typically–$25 and dinner from $30–$45, giving guests an easy way dishes from some of the Shore's most popular spots. It for families, date night diners, and food lovers eager to enjoy coastal the summer crowds.

Taste Atlantic City

A month-long culinary celebration happening in March 2026.
Expect elevated multi select venues featuring premium dishes and best bites at wallet friendly prices. Guests can expect $20–$25 lunch specials at high end tasting restaurants for splurge. Whether or discovering hidden neighborhood gems affordable—to savor at a time.

7th Annual Haddenfield Restaurant Week

Tuesday, March 3 - Sunday, March 8, 2026
This culinary scene features specially priced lunch and dinner offerings. Guests can expect wallet friendly lunch prix fixe menus typically ranging from $15–$25, featuring sandwiches, salads, seasonal bowls, and chef crafted midday plates perfect for a casual outing or quick workday treat. Dinner menus, usually priced between $30–$45, showcase elevated multi course experiences—from comforting classics to creative, locally inspired dishes—ideal for date nights, family meals, or an evening of culinary exploration. With each restaurant highlighting its signature flavors, the week offers a delicious way to sample Haddonfield’s vibrant dining scene.

Princeton Restaurant Week

Thursday, March 5 - Sunday, March 8, 2026
Guests can expect tempting lunch prix fixe menus starting around $20–$25, featuring seasonal soups, fresh salads, sandwiches, and chef crafted midday entrées perfect for a relaxed break in town. Dinner menus, typically priced between $35–$45, showcase heartier, signature dishes—think creative pastas, locally inspired mains, and indulgent desserts—designed to highlight each restaurant’s best flavors. Whether you’re planning a cozy date night, a family outing, or a weekend tasting adventure, Princeton’s Restaurant Week delivers an accessible, delicious way to experience the community’s standout dining.

Belmar Dine & Discover Restaurant Tour

Sunday, March 8, 2025: 11:30AM - 3:30PM
Diners can stroll from restaurant to restaurant, enjoying chef crafted lunch and dinner–style tastings that showcase each venue's signature flavors—think warm coastal comfort dishes, creative small plates, fresh seafood bites, and seasonal specialties. Participating restaurants will offer lunch tastings for $25 and dinner style tastings for $35, giving visitors an affordable way to sample multiple menus in one afternoon. It's a relaxed, self guided culinary adventure perfect for food lovers, day trippers, and anyone eager to discover new favorites along Belmar's lively streets.

Jersey City Winter Restaurant Fest

Saturday, March 14th - Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Guests can expect comforting seasonal dishes, creative chef driven plates, and a chance to sample new spots without stretching the budget. Lunch offerings typically range from $15–$25, featuring two course combos or hearty signature plates, while dinner menus run $30–$45, often including multi course tastings or elevated evening specials. It's a warm, community minded celebration of local dining—perfect for food lovers eager to savor Jersey City's flavors as winter winds down.

Glassboro Restaurant Week

Sunday, March 15 - Saturday, March 21, 2026
Diners can expect inviting lunch specials priced around $12–$20, often featuring sandwiches, salads, soups, and chef crafted midday plates perfect for a casual bite or quick meet up. Evening visitors will find $25–$40 dinner menus, with multi course options that showcase each restaurant’s signature flavors—think seasonal entrées, comfort food favorites, and indulgent desserts. It’s a warm, hometown celebration designed to make exploring local restaurants fun, affordable, and delicious as spring approaches.

West Orange Restaurant Week

Saturday, March 21st - Sunday, March 29th, 2026
Participating spots will be serving prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus so you can try signature dishes without ordering a full spread. Lunch and dinner prices haven't been announced, and can vary by restaurant, so check each restaurant's Restaurant Week listing for the exact pricing before you book.

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week

Friday, April 10th thru Sunday, April 19th, 2026
This 10 day event features more than 60 Monmouth and Ocean county restaurants serving lunch and dinner prix fixe menus for $3Guests can expect relaxed midday meals with two course lunch offerings typically priced around $20–$25, perfect for sampling local favorites without the splurge. Evenings bring elevated three course dinner menus ranging from $30–$45, giving food lovers a chance to enjoy chef crafted dishes, seasonal ingredients, and creative coastal flavors at an exceptional value. Whether you’re planning a casual afternoon bite or a memorable night out, this 10 day celebration makes it easy to savor the best of the Jersey Shore

New Jersey African Restaurant Festival

Saturday, Sunday October 17, 18, 2026
Experience the rich cultural tapestry of the diaspora during the New Jersey African Restaurant Festival. This vibrant community celebration invites diners to explore an array of authentic flavors from across the continent and beyond, featuring everything from spicy West African jollof rice and grilled suya to fragrant Ethiopian injera platters and North African couscous.
Diners can expect:
For Lunch: Expect a lively, market-style atmosphere perfect for sampling diverse "street food" bites, savory pastries, and refreshing traditional beverages.
For Dinner: The evenings shift toward a more immersive celebration with live music, DJ sets playing Afrobeats and Amapiano, and larger communal platters designed for sharing with friends and family.
Activities: Beyond the food, you can browse local artisan vendors, enjoy chef demonstrations, and participate in popular events like the "Jollof Rice Tasting Contest."
Pricing: The festival is designed to be accessible, offering a range of price points to suit every budget:
Admission to the main festival grounds is typically Free (with registration), allowing you to soak in the music and culture.
Meal Offerings: Individual food vendors generally offer plates and small bites ranging from $5 to $25.
During the broader Restaurant Week surrounding the festival, participating local eateries often provide special prix-fixe menus starting at approximately $10 to $30 for lunch and $25 to $50 for multi-course dinner experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore NJ dining venues with private rooms perfect for gatherings of 10–175 people