Openings:
A Cup of Literature, Asbury Park
Cofounded by Gen Z entrepreneurs Aubrey Chesna and Julia Cangelosi, this Asbury Park café triples as a cozy bookstore and fitness studio. Guests can grab a sweet treat, pick out a new read and squeeze in a workout—all in one spot.
The menu features coffee, tea and fresh pastries, with signature drinks like the Chai Gatsby, Green Gables Matcha and Maple Mockingbird.
La Cuchara, Englewood
Enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine at this sleek, elegant BYOB, offering everything from paella to coquelet chicken to cachopo asturiano.
Running Latte Cafe, Bergenfield
With a Colombian-inspired, gluten-free-friendly menu, this North Jersey café could be your new go-to spot for caffeinating, catching up with friends or tackling work deadlines.
Gimjang, Northvale
Celebrate local kimchi artisans at this specialized Korean eatery. The menu features handcrafted, seasonal fermented vegetable dishes.
Eteri Cafe, Edgewater
Menswear meets espresso at this boutique’s in-house café. The cozy, masculine space offers standout pastries—especially the macarons—alongside caffeinated beverages.
Closings:
Spring House, Tenafly
This vibrant neighborhood restaurant, bar and social club has closed its doors. In a social media post, Spring House teased a yet-to-be-announced new chapter.
Lola Latin Bistro, Metuchen
After more than a decade in business, this Central Jersey eatery has closed. It specialized in authentic dishes from Mexico, Central America and South America, made with vibrant, fresh ingredients.
Pineapple Express Barbecue, Montclair
This BBQ spot and beer garden at Montclair’s historic Lackawanna Station has closed. In a candid social media post, the owner wrote that “running restaurants is brutal right now.”
Nino’s Family Restaurant, Cape May Court House
After 30 years in business, this family-owned Italian restaurant has unexpectedly closed. “This was not an easy decision,” the owners wrote in a social media post, “and it is one we fought hard to avoid.”
Kitchen 519, Glendora
After a decade in business, Kitchen 519 in Glendora has closed. Its Philadelphia location remains open, and gift certificates purchased at the New Jersey location will be honored there.
Dining news:
The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) has named Eva’s Village in Paterson as one of its Winter 2026 Grant Awardees. Eva’s Village provides culinary and vocational training, along with job placement services, to North Jersey residents facing poverty, homelessness, addiction recovery or involvement with the justice system.
Since 2019, the JPF has awarded nearly $2 million to culinary training programs that help individuals overcome barriers to employment. Eva’s Village will use its grant to host networking and professional development events, with a focus on mentorship and connecting trainees to meaningful job opportunities.
Plus: A Monmouth County spot makes Yelp’s latest Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list, and Delran’s Castle Harbor Drive-In reopens.
“Produce Pete” was known in households across the tri-state area for his popular food segment that aired on NBC 4 New York for 33 years.
