Best Restaurants in Sussex County, NJ: 65 Picks Across 7 Towns

Looking for the best restaurants in Sussex County, NJ? Our team has published town-by-town restaurant guides for seven Sussex County towns, with 65 picks in all, from the Wine Spectator Grand Award wine cellar at Crystal Springs to Texas-style barbecue on Main Street in Sussex, a German inn serving since 1978 and lakeside decks on Lake Hopatcong, Lake Mohawk and Swartswood Lake. This page is the map. Pick a town, then click through to the full guide for addresses, phone numbers and hours, which we pulled from each restaurant’s own website or social pages.

Quick Picks by Craving

• Special occasion: Restaurant Latour at the Crystal Springs Clubhouse in Hamburg, with a three-course menu or a seven-course Chef’s Tasting. See the Hamburg guide.
• Dinner with a lake view: The Beacon on Lake Hopatcong, Blue Heron Tavern on Swartswood Lake, Angeloni’s on the Lake Mohawk boardwalk and the waterfront deck at Freddy’s Lake House Bar and Grill.
• Barbecue: Bearded Baby Que for Texas-style barbecue in Sussex, and house-smoked wings and baby back ribs at Hef’s Hut Bar and Grill in Vernon.
• Breakfast: Granny’s Pancake House & Grill in Hamburg, Old Stone in Sussex, The Crystal Cafe in Vernon and Spring Diner in Newton.
• Late night: O’Reilly’s Pub and Grill in Newton serves food until midnight every day, and Shakey Jakes Cafe in Stanhope is the late-night stop off Route 80.
• Pizza: Dominick’s in Newton, which calls itself the town’s first and oldest pizza restaurant, Frank’s Pizza in Hopatcong (since 1998) and Frank’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in Wantage (since 1985).
• A meal with history: Early American Tavern in Sussex, in a building dating to 1843, and The George Inn in Vernon, which carries the year 1872 in its name.

Newton: 13 Restaurants

The county seat has the deepest bench. Spring Street alone covers farm-to-table dining at The Farmer’s Daughter, Thai Lao cooking at Poy’s Kitchen, Indian Masala, Mi Rancho Mexican Grill, Colombian family recipes at Raíces Colombianas and breakfast at Spring Diner. Outside downtown, Sheridan’s Restaurant & Tavern has lakefront views and a patio, and Blue Heron Tavern looks out over Swartswood Lake.

See all 13 best restaurants in Newton, NJ

Vernon: 11 Restaurants

Vernon runs from resort dining to roadside delis. Kites at Crystal Springs Resort serves contemporary American food with mountain views, The George Inn pairs a restaurant with a tap room, and The Glenwood adds weekend brunch with golf simulators downstairs. For a casual stop, try Tomato Garden, Sushi Ya 2, Wings Asian Bistro or The Tracks Deli, which opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays.

See all 11 best restaurants in Vernon, NJ

Hopatcong: 9 Restaurants

Most of Hopatcong’s picks sit along Lakeside Boulevard, River Styx Road and Hopatchung Road. Start with The Beacon’s covered deck over Lake Hopatcong or Mexican plates at Chapala Grill 4, then work through Twist On Thai Cafe, Sicilian pies at The Grotto, Tex-Mex at Rustic Tavern & Sports Bar and breakfast at the Hopatcong Diner.

See all 9 best restaurants in Hopatcong, NJ

Stanhope: 9 Restaurants

Stanhope punches above its size. Bell’s Mansion on Main Street serves American fare with produce from its own garden, the Black Forest Inn has served German and Continental cooking since 1978, and Stonewood Tavern brings New American plates to Route 206. Mini’s Cafe covers Latin breakfast downtown, and Leggo My Bagel makes 16 bagel varieties.

See all 9 best restaurants in Stanhope, NJ

Sussex: 9 Restaurants

Main Street in Sussex Borough makes a compact food crawl: Early American Tavern, Bearded Baby Que and The Sussex Saloon, with seven pool tables, are all within a short walk, and Old Stone covers breakfast and lunch on Mill Street. A few minutes away in Wantage, Cow Patty’s flame grills Certified Angus burgers with beef from nearby Green Valley Farms.

See all 9 best restaurants in Sussex, NJ

Hamburg: 9 Restaurants

Hamburg and Hardyston pair the Crystal Springs dining rooms, Crystal Tavern and Restaurant Latour, with an easy Route 94 strip where Blue Spice Kitchen, Pomodoro Italiano, Tony’s Pizza & Pasta and LiBre Dessert Cafe share one stretch. Cravin Thai has cooked on Main Street since 2011.

See all 9 best restaurants in Hamburg, NJ

Sparta: 5 Lake Mohawk Picks

Sparta’s dining centers on Lake Mohawk. Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub on White Deer Plaza pours handcrafted beer, St. Moritz Grill & Bar runs a seasonal biergarten, and Angeloni’s sits right on the boardwalk. Industry Kitchen + Bar and Casa Bellisima, with homemade pasta and wood-fired pizza, round out the list.

See where to eat and drink in Sparta, NJ

More Food Guides From Our Team

Hungry for fall flavors? See our guide to fall food in Sussex County, then plan the rest of the day with things to do in Sussex County this weekend. We add new town guides regularly, and every one lands in our Eat & Drink section first.

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Featured photo: the Tap Room bar at Bell’s Mansion, Stanhope. Photo credit: Bell’s Mansion.