# New Jersey culinary recognition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/new-jersey-culinary-recognition
> Updated: 2026-09-25T21:05:52.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

New Jersey dining establishments have gained attention through local voting and national culinary rankings.

Initially, residents participated in a vote to identify the state’s best plain pizza slices, naming Maruca’s Seaside Boardwalk, Star Tavern, and Roma Pizza as the top three establishments. 

Subsequently, the state’s culinary reputation expanded to a national level. USA Today ranked Brooklyn Square and Bucky’s Pizza among the best pizza shops in the United States. Furthermore, the region’s Italian dining scene received recognition, specifically highlighting Luca’s Ristorante in Somerset for its authentic Ischian cuisine and Catherine Lombardi in New Brunswick as a top destination for Italian dining.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-25: New Jersey restaurants receive national culinary recognition

New Jersey eateries are gaining national attention, with Brooklyn Square and Bucky's Pizza named among America's best pizzerias, alongside top-rated Italian restaurants in Central Jersey.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-jersey-restaurants-receive-national-culinary-recognition

### 2026-09-03: New Jersey residents vote for state's best plain pizza slices

New Jersey residents have voted to name Maruca's Seaside Boardwalk as the state's best pizzeria for plain slices, followed by Star Tavern and Roma Pizza.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-jersey-residents-vote-for-states-best-plain-pizza-slices

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Cite as: New Jersey culinary recognition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/new-jersey-culinary-recognition