50 Best American Restaurants near Carteret

“Tried it today first time since I moved to Carteret. Food was great and the owner was so nice. He prepared the food while telling the story and history of this town and his hot dog stand. Honestly this was the best food experience I had in Carteret, would definitely visit again whenever I get a chance. Tommy you rock 🙌“

“Best waitresses around! Great Greek burger Gyros excellent Great fries Eggs fast and perfect The cooks can make anything And make it perfect!! Dessert are the best around!! Cakes are to die for“

“Great food and service, has been coming here almost daily lately! Definitely recommend the zinger sandwich 🙏🏻“

“This place is right next to the Hamptonn Inn in Elizabeth which is pretty convenient. It wasn't super busy and they sit you down quickly with some good drinks. Our server seemed newer at her job, or perhaps not very good but the food was pretty tasty we had no complaints. \n\nIt's not fine dining but unless you want to eat at the food court at Jersey Mills or IHOP, this was the best option we found.“

“Excellent service, super friendly and caring staff...best customer service experience I've had and the fries are fresh cut, great freshly made daily sides and toppings....hot dogs are absolutely amazing as well...would highly recommend!!“

“So excited I finally got to taste the chefs version of Kare Kare! All the flavors of traditional Kare with the flair of pasta!!! No wonder it’s there popular dish! The Mango Sticky (pan dan) rice had the tastes of being Filipino. Highly recommend!!! Took my Pa for Father’s Day and we had a great meal!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the excellent service to the delicious food!“

“I just had the BEST beef gyro! Beef was so tender and tasty and the tzatziki sauce was delicious! I will be back again!“

“Great atmosphere for a delicious steak dinner & crab cakes! # 1 steak dinner. Good music & great service!!!“

“Sat at the bar and CT was serving. She provided awesome service !“

“Just a damn good down home restaurant with good food good prices and good people .“

“Delicious food. Great service by Sydney! It started with amazing honey bread at the table. Flatbreads yum, especially the one with fig topping. Muscles, tuna tartare, noodle flush, brussel sprouts, calamari salad, and more! All yum! Would absolutely go there again. We had 8-10 people and the service was excellent.“

“Stopped be for a preflight bite and a mimosa. Both breakfasts were delicious. Coffee was great. Prosecco is n top. Rosemary was behind the bar, so friendly.“

“Outstanding craft cocktails and delicious food! I only wish I had found them on my first night in Rahway rather than my last. I would have been here every night…“

“1st time ordering from here. We tried the Cobb Salad to go. Owner ran out of Blue Cheese but asked if we wanted an alternate cheese. Was still delicious! Very fresh and tasty! Portion size was good. Owner was also very friendly. Even though Keansburg is desolate due to the season, this restaurant is still open and it's worth the trip to either eat in or order out from here. I recommend giving them a try if you haven't already.“

“Perfect for kids, Plus the food is great!!“

“Love it…..try it soongtreat menu“

“This is one of the best airport restaurants I've experienced. The prices are reasonable, especially at an airport, The food and drinks are varied and excellent. Service is very good as well. It's best to enjoy in a leisurely easy if you have plenty of time before your flight boards.“

“Wonderful place excellent staff and food was amazing“

“Nice spot with great vintage atmosphere and good burgers and shakes.“

“Loved the place overall.amazing menu .“

“Visited a restaurant for the birthday party in May 2022. Clean, welcomed staff, good service, a lot of parking on the street. We placed an order. It was not too long, which is good because the reservation was for 6:30 pm and everybody was hungry. Appetizers were delicious especially both types of calmers. 3 people ordered NYS trip stakes. OMG! All 3 stakes were stingy. Nobody finished the stake. Medium and well done came up the same. Black color even tongue was black after eating the steak. It's because when cooked the steak did not clean the grail. Also, I recommend checking your receipt. We found 3 items that we did not get on the table for a total of almost $80. One of them we never ordered, and two newer ones were delivered to the table.“

“Unbeatable Service – Quinn Keeps Us Coming Back! This bar lounge has become our favorite spot, and it’s all because of the incredible service! Every week, we’re welcomed like family, and Quinn always makes sure we have an unforgettable experience. Quinn is an absolute pro behind the bar—crafting amazing cocktails with precision and personality, always knowing exactly what we’ll love. The drinks are always perfect, the atmosphere is unbeatable, and the service is what keeps us coming back week after week. Huge shoutout to Quinn for making this place feel like home. If you haven’t been yet, you’re missing out! Highly recommend!“

“Went in for some dinner last week at this location, and Kevin the bartender was really nice! He helped me out with choosing what to eat as he recommended me to get the wonton tacos and I really enjoyed the sauce on them, they were really good! The perfect strawberry margarita he made for me was top tier and if you are looking for someone that is very friendly and very attentive, you should ask if he's around!“

“Highly recommend! We had our wedding at Galloping Hill Golf Course in the summer of 2025. The day was everything we could have hoped for and everything went so smooth! We worked with Emily throughout the process and she was great to communicate with. Any questions were answered right away. We wanted a venue that had both inside and outdoor options and loved that it had a covered patio for use all night. Ellis was our day of coordinator and both of our bridal attendants made the day run so smooth. Our guests loved cocktail hour and dinner. There was a great amount of food we went with the seafood station, pasta, Brazilian, and Chinese. We also did the breakfast sandwiches to go for the end of the night! The golf course made great photo backgrounds as well. We had the best time and would do it all over again if we could!“

“My daughter had her engagement party here a few weeks ago. Everyone- and I mean everyone - was wonderful and truly a pleasure to work with. From Mike who sat with her to get it all on the calendar and get the ball rolling to all the individuals who were preparing the room when we arrived to start getting all the decorations up and all. Tara supervised all the servers and made sure they were on top of everything - and they were. Shout out to server Madison (sweet girl). And, the food was *absolutely* delicious!
Thank you Mike, Laurie, Cindy and Josephine. All of you made her party a success. You were all a pleasure to deal with and she was very happy with how it all went. She sends you many thanks!
Anyone thinking of hosting a party should definitely consider The Historic Old Bermuda Inn. You'll be happy you did.“

“Went for a dinner with a family and everything was great. The place is big with outdoor seating, kids friendly. Attentive service, and the food was so good! Fresh, juicy, rich flavors. And the drinks - mocktail, cocktails and beer - so many options and everything was amazing. Highly recommend“

“It was our first time dinning at Kona grill and we loved it. We were treated like valuable guests and our food was brought quick. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend the flight margarita, it was amazing and perfect amount of alcohol. We loved it.“

“Review the menus. You are in for a treat. I will share with you both the dinner and today, a delicious luncheon experience. Chef Eddie is to be praised for professional cooking talents. Delicious!
The warm and helpful approach of the entire staff by phone and in person is refreshing. Old Staten Island is still with us. Thank you, Chef Eddie Canlon and staff. Loretta DePalo“

“Coolest place ever - def check it out.“

“Westayed at the Holiday Inn before our cruise and liked the convenience of an on-site bar/restaurant. We were greeted by the friendly hostess. The restaurant had great modern vibe with good music & decor. The service was on point and our food & drinks were really good! Portions were generous & prices were reasonable especially for an airport near New York. We ordered the calamari to share which was my husband's favorite. Then he ordered the Nashville chicken sandwich and I ordered the Mediterranean salad added falafel & house made blue cheese dressing & they also brought the vinaigrette which I am glad they did as it really made the dish. We enjoyed all of it! Would highly recommend this place!“

“Cute local spot to visit! Needless to say the Highlight of their menu was the dessert! Some baked goodies and options to choose from, went with the pumpkin roll and it was delicious and very tasty not too sweet so you can tell it’s homemade! The panini sandwiches were great had the pesto & smoky chicken both were great! Fries were a bit too greasy for my liking. Also, the Tex salad was just ok so could skip on it next time but the place overall is worth the try! You can’t go there in a hurry as they take a bit of time to prep the food so patient is a must! Staff is super friendly and helpful.“

“Always the best food- staff is great and for being a neighborhood bar…love the ‘all is welcome’ type atmosphere. Some of the best pup food on island“

“I had such a wonderful time at Applebee's with my family. Our waitress Mikaila was wonderful and sweet. The assistant manager Derek also came by to ask us if everything was well. I love they were both attentive and gave us a great time. Good was well cooked despite the busy hour I came in. Would recommend 10/10“

“This was the first time we had just an average experience. I was taking a friend out to celebrate her birthday because we always love the excellent service and food. Yesterday things worked out in the end (through a manager) but several negative things occurred. For one thing, the filet mignon/lobster tail combination was not cooked properly. One order was for “medium” and it was totally rare. Had to get manager because server was busy bartending and waitressing. The manager took the meat back and had it recooked. Also, the lobster tail was extremely tiny. We have had this dish before, and the tail was always small but not tiny small. Ok, so now I am eating by myself while my friend is waiting for her dinner. BTW! It came out very rare again. The manager offered my friend a soup or salad so she could eat something while waiting. The Caesar salad was chosen. The croutons were stale. A new piece of meat was cooked up...finally to perfection. Took three tries! The birthday desserts were delicious and the chicken pesto appetizer was perfect. We do not think the service was up to par since we have always had such friendly servers. Another waitress came out to us because we felt like she was avoiding us. As I said, it worked out because the meals were taken care of, but i hope we do not experience this again. Seasons 52 has been one of my favorite restaurant and of course, I will give it another try!“

“Great lunch! Love the building!“

“I had the pleasure of dining at Estime Cafe today, it was an outstanding experience! From the moment we walked in, the customer service was phenomenal, warm, attentive, and truly welcoming. This is the first Haitian restaurant I’ve visited that delivered such impeccable service, and it made all the difference. The atmosphere was inviting, and the food was authentic, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish was prepared with care, bringing out the rich, bold flavors of Haitian cuisine. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Haitian food or trying it for the first time, this place is a must-visit. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a fantastic meal and a top-tier dining experience. My husband and I will definitely be returning!“

“Great hotdogs in Keansburg at the boardwalk. Nothing fancy just cold beer great dogs and crinkle cut fries. A summertime favorite.“

“Food is decent for a place such that but once you look inside hygiene of the place isn’t inviting 🥴 so if you order your food not leaning into window you will enjoy it but if you glance a bit condition of kitchen you might think twice“

“Food is great! They are the nicest and kindest kindest people ♥️🙏“

“Cover charge on Saturdays $10 for women and $20 for men. Lovely atmosphere and they really know how to put on a good show! I like how it feels like you’re just partying with your friends yet surrounding by everyone else. $20 for parking.

Valentina was a wonderful bartender! She provided really fast service even though it was packed and was really nice!!!“

“it was perfect my fiance took me the food was great the atmosphere was perfect the staff was great“

“We ate at the Point Tavern this past Saturday night after reading other reviews. We were seated promptly. Ordered two appetizers; hush puppies & street corn shrimp. The bang bang sauce was very tasty on everything. I loved that they were served on car iron pans (nice touch). Then came out roast beef sandwiches, one with a pretzel bun, other the ciabatta. OMG. The best, savory, melt in your mouth flavor bomb roast beef we have ever had. We will definitely be going back!!!“

“Great food, great people and staff“

“Many, many years ago, the foot long hot dog was the best to be found. The brand of weiner that's used now and longer than the bun tastes terrible. My visit to Nanny's while in the area was for the hot dog; so disappointed.
The service was good, and the owner was very nice.“

“great menu...especially of you're plant based and gluten free. service was excellent“

“From the moment Drew opened his doors in his original location we quickly became fans. This creative Chef who works magic with food has turned Drew’s Bayshore Bistro into one of the most popular restaurants to eat at. People come from all over to enjoy and will take any time slot available to do so. We have eaten here more times than I can count and have had many group dinners and celebrations. Drew’s new location is beyond beautiful and only a stone’s throw from his prior place. We just love the feel of the new home and the beautiful ambiance. it’s absolutely gorgeous from street view and fits perfectly into Keyport’s historic vibe. The food is also over the top insanely incredible. Oh yes I have favorites. The scallops are perfectly sautéed, tender juicy and was served with pesto risotto. A true explosion of flavor. Broiled oysters are one of the most incredible thing I’ve ever tasted and honestly could eat two portions for my main, but haven’t done that yet as there are so many things to try. Pork chops, steaks, soft shell crabs, voodoo shrimp, homemade ice cream and all his special makes it hard to choose what to order. Incredible list of specials are always offered. Menu changes for seasonal favorites. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I look at the menu. We are very thankful to Drew for sharing his vision and providing all of us with a delectable dinning experience each time we eat here. Five stars are not enough!“

“buena atencion y rica comida mexicana“

“#1 restaurant to take the kids! We always feel welcome and well taken care of. This time was special because we had Daniella as our server. She greeted us with a warm welcome that was genuine, knew how to expedite the meal so the kids were taken care of but we didn’t feel rushed. Thank you!“

“Cozy and fun great beers great jukebox music. And never overly crowded ever. Love the entire menu. Great homemade chips. Delicious burghers.“