Peter Candia

1 week ago | thedigestonline.com | Peter Candia

If it's not the sliced raw beef dressed with briny olive and blood orange segments at the newly opened Hartley, then it might just be the crisp-and-tender octopus set atop a bed of smoked pork-infused beans-cassoulet-style-that hooks you. Tucked away off Greenwood Ave in Madison, The Hartley is Morris County's newest hidden gem. It's a culinary dynamo that looks to fit the many careful intricacies of fine dining into the outfit of an accessible, neighborhood restaurant.

2 weeks ago | thedigestonline.com | Peter Candia

New legislation was introduced on Friday, April 4 that would eliminate New Jersey's tip credit system. A vote for the bill is poised to take place on Thursday, April 10. NJ A5433 would require restaurant owners to pay all workers the full state minimum wage ($15.49 per hour), regardless of the tips they receive. Currently, employers may count a portion of tips toward that wage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson of District 15.

2 weeks ago | thedigestonline.com | Peter Candia

There are restaurants with a view, and then there's Molos in Weehawken, which drapes over the Hudson River with a pristine sight of Manhattan. It is so close to the skyline that you can see the models of cars driving up and down the West Side Highway. Floor-to-ceiling windows envelop the dining room, ensuring the marvel is seen from anywhere within the restaurant. Molos is all about that, but it's hardly the only thing the riverfront restaurant has going for it.

2 weeks ago | thedigestonline.com | Peter Candia

At Corto in Jersey City, diners enjoy the comforting Angry Chicken, stewed pork, salumi plates, seasonal-inspired appetizers and an assemblage of fresh and extruded plates of pasta, all within their cozy, quaint dining room or on the homey outdoor patio. This isn't a secret. Corto is still one of the best restaurants in New Jersey. Cucina Povera, AKA poverty cooking, is central to their concept.

3 weeks ago | thedigestonline.com | Peter Candia

It's not every day you see pizza on wheels, but today is that day. When I first caught wind of this concept-a completely mobile Neapolitan pizzeria-I was obsessed with the idea. Culo Grosso is dishing out authentic Neapolitan pizza. Better yet? They're bringing it right to you. Culo Grosso is not the first mobile pizzeria I've seen, but it's definitely the most polished. Owners Anthony Cardinale and Joseph Pisano started their pizza journey way back in the beginning of the pandemic.