Openings
Toast City Diner, Montclair
When Toast opened its Montclair doors in 2007, its motto was simple: “Peace, Love & Pancakes.” Nearly 20 years later, the woman-owned brand has expanded to Asbury Park, Cranford, Manalapan and Red Bank. Most recently, its Montclair flagship underwent a complete refresh, now featuring a renovated interior and updated aesthetic—all while continuing to serve the breakfast, brunch and lunch menu that patrons have come to know and love.
GroundHouse, Caldwell
This new coffee lounge in Essex County, featuring a sauna and a cold plunge, is slated to open later this spring. GroundHouse is the brainchild of Danielle and Brian Kermizian, who also own the Compound Coffee Company in Verona. The menu will feature organic coffee and espresso, smoothies, pastries and more.
The Gyro Project, Northvale
Dig into vibrant Mediterranean flavors made with fresh, wholesome ingredients at the Gyro Project, which recently opened a location in Northvale. The fast-fine concept has quickly grown from its Fort Lee flagship into a nine-location brand across New Jersey and New York.
Rita’s Italian Ice, Garwood
The chain is set to open a Garwood location on March 1, taking over the former Frosty Freeze site, which closed in 2017 after a 50-year run. To celebrate the first day of spring, the new location will offer free Italian ice all day on March 20.
Closings
Brandon’s Pancake House & Ice Cream Parlor, Wildwood Crest
This family-owned spot in Wildwood Crest announced its closure on February 19. Brandon’s, named after the owners’ son with autism, opened in 2023 for breakfast, lunch and dessert, with a mission to make dining out comfortable for families with neurodivergent members. The restaurant featured sensory-friendly touches, including noise-canceling headphones, sensory toys and picture-based menus.
Old Glory Kitchen + Spirits, Keyport
This local watering hole in the heart of Keyport’s business district announced its sudden closure on February 23. Gift cards and “Old Glory Bucks” for the restaurant will be honored at nearby McDonagh’s Pub, which has added “many members from Old Glory to their staff,” noted a social media post announcing the closure.
Dining news
This week, DoorDash and Grubhub enacted severe weather protocols in the Northeast after an overnight blizzard dropped more than a foot of snow across the Garden State. The safety measures triggered widespread delivery disruptions on February 23, with many restaurants and grocery stores pausing third-party orders or closing operations for the day. Some platforms did not resume service until February 24 as road conditions improved. With more snow expected this week, it remains unclear whether additional delivery suspensions will follow.
Plus: NYC’s top-rated bagel spot is coming to Jersey, and Millburn Deli in Morristown temporarily closes for a relocation.
Jersey chefs, bartenders and mead makers are turning to local beekeepers—or even starting colonies of their own.
