🔥Cozy Up! Discover NJ’s Best Fireplace Restaurants This Winter ❄️🍽️**

It’s Wednesday, New Jersey!

If your Monmouth County tap water is tasting a little salty this week, you’re not imagining it. The recent road salt runoff and low water levels are to blame. New Jersey American Water assures us it’s safe to drink—though it might not be your first choice for a refreshing glass. They’re working on fixing it, but until then, you might want to stick with bottled water if you’re not into that ocean breeze flavor.

Weather: ☀️ Wednesday: Bundle up, because winter isn’t letting go just yet! Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 31°F, but wind chills between 5-15°F will have you reaching for that extra layer. ☁️ Thursday: A 30 percent chance of snow after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30°F. No major accumulation is expected but it’s the perfect excuse for a cozy day indoors! ☕❄️

What’s on tap today:

• Our favorite fireplace restaurants

• How inflation is impacting retirees in 2025

• Get free tax help at the library

Up first…

🔥 Cozy & Warm: NJ Restaurants with Fireplaces You’ll Love! 🔥

Outdoor dining may be on pause, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a great view! ❄️🍽️ Escape the chill and indulge in delicious cuisine by the glow of a crackling fireplace. 🔥✨

Here are 15 must-visit New Jersey restaurants where you can enjoy a warm, inviting ambiance and an unforgettable dining experience. From charming inns to elegant steakhouses, these cozy spots span every region of the state. 🏡🍷

Ready to turn up the heat on your next meal? 🔥🔥 Check out our top picks now! ⬇️

North Jersey

Carpe Diem
1405 Grand Street, Hoboken
You’ll want to seize the day (or night!) to take in a meal at this self-proclaimed “neighborhood joint.” Discover where the locals have long enjoyed great gastro-pub fare (including award-winning chicken wings) nestled by the dining room’s fireplace.

Ivy Inn
268 Terrace Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights
This restaurant has lived many lives. First as an 1870s stagecoach inn. Then as a Prohibition speakeasy. Now as a completely restored fine dining establishment with cozy fireplaces that has been the scene for too many marriage proposals and anniversary celebrations to count.

The Lafayette House
The Shoppes at Lafayette (Between Routes 94 & 15), Lafayette
Whether you want to exchange wedding vows or simply tuck into a comforting dinner, The Lafayette House has multiple dining and event spaces – many warmed by fireplaces – just for you. Check out their website for special events throughout the year too!

Luciano’s Italian Ristorante & Lounge
1579 Main Street, Rahway
As the fireplace stirs your soul, the classic gourmet Italian cuisine will wow your tastebuds. This chic eatery’s Fall/Winter menu showcases everything from housemade pastas – including Orecchiette & Sausage and Ricotta Gnocchi – to mouthwatering steaks and chops.

Tabor Road Tavern
510 Tabor Road, Morris Plains
The double-sided fireplace is just one of the awe-inspiring architectural details in this American bistro. You’ll also be charmed by its multiple gables, vaulted ceilings and flying buttresses. Tabor Road Tavern celebrates food and wine every day with a seasonally changing menu.

Central Jersey

Blooming Grove Inn
234 W. Upper Ferry Road, Ewing
With a long and storied history comes…friendly apparitions. Yes, the ambiance at Blooming Grove Inn is so cozy even the ghosts want to linger. That’s ok. There’s still plenty of room for you to come and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner by the fire with family or friends.

The Clinton House
2 West Main Street, Clinton
A regular Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, this circa-1743 building oozes period charm which includes a massive stone fireplace and exposed wooden beams. Standouts from the tavern menu include Burger-Wine Pairings, Beef Wellington and Sauerbraten. 

Metuchen Inn
424 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen
This upscale eatery has been serving generations of diners in the heart of Metuchen, a Jersey’s Best 2024 Destination of the Year and 2023 Winner of the Great American Main Street Award. Cozy up by the hearth for creative cuisine made from locally-sourced ingredients.

The Pluckemin Inn
10 Pluckemin Way, Bedminster 
The Village of Pluckemin was a regular haunt for George Washington. Make it yours too! Here at the inn, you’ll be wrapped in warmth from the reclaimed French Oak walls to the cavernous fireplaces as you savor fresh flavors and fine wines.

Rat’s Restaurant
16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton Township
Named one of “The 50 Most Beautiful Restaurants in America” by People Magazine, Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds For Sculpture knows how to turn on the charm. Wondering about the unusual name? It actually honors Ratty from the children’s classic The Wind in the Willows.

South Jersey

Beacon 70
799 Route 70, Brick
Just as boats seek a beacon when returning from sea, diners seek out this eatery overlooking a marina. The industrial modern steampunk aesthetic with a 10-foot see-through glass fireplace offers a true feast for the eyes while the extensive menu serves as a feast for your tastebuds.

The Blue Pig Tavern
200 Congress Place, Cape May
Tucked inside the traveler-favorite Congress Hall, The Blue Pig Tavern serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner in a rustic atmosphere where, back in the 1700s, whalers dined on this very site. Its cozy fireplace takes a place of honor under the restaurant’s framed namesake.

Hearthside
801 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood
There are restaurants with a fireplace, then there’s Hearthside which is all about the fireplace. Because it’s not only the focal point, it’s where your food is cooked in a custom wood-fired hearth. Just one of the ten most craveable Collingswood things to do!

Knife & Fork Inn
3600 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City
As a stop along the Anthony Bourdain Food Trail, you know you’re in for an exemplary experience. Of course, Bourdain wasn’t the only legend to dine here. During Prohibition, the restaurant was a private club where political boss Nucky Johnson ate (and drank!) Ask to be seated in the Hearth Room to enjoy the original fireplace.

Rode’s Fireside Restaurant & Tavern
533 Kings Highway, Woolwich Township
Eating beside a roaring fire was definitely not an afterthought here. This longtime neighborhood eatery boasts not one but two fireplaces. Make it a perfect night by savoring their #1 seller, Broiled Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes.

Aging News Roundup

How to Maximize Social Security with Spousal Benefits: U.S. News & World Report, Feb. 12.

How Inflation Is Impacting Retirees in 2025: January’s CPI report shows inflation is running hotter than the Fed would like, at 3%. That’s hard on retirees. Is Social Security keeping up? Kiplinger, Feb. 12.

What Cancer Screenings Do You Need? A Quick Guide: With an estimated 2 million new cancer cases expected in 2025, regular screenings are more important than ever, according to the American Cancer Society. HealthDay News, Feb. 15.

The Best Places to Retire in the World: When it comes to the best places to retire in the world, which country is at the top of the list? And where does the U.S. feature on the leaderboard? We investigate. Kiplinger, Feb. 11.

Dating Again? Nine Rules for Older Singles: Don’t be afraid of dating when you’re older. But do be careful. We have some dos and don’ts for senior daters. Kiplinger, Feb. 10.

Best Caregiver Support Groups: Feeling stressed, drained or stretched thin while caring for a loved one? Caregiver support groups offer relief for those in caregiving roles. U.S. News & World Report, Feb. 13.

How Technology Can Help Retirees Age in Place: Tech has solutions to enable people to safely stay in their homes at a time when few want to enter nursing homes. Kiplinger, Feb. 11.

📅 Upcoming Monmouth County Library Events

📍 In-Person Events:
🔹 AARP Tax-Aide (Tax Year 2024) – Free tax prep by trained AARP volunteers.
📆 Feb. 18, 9 AM – 5 PM | Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
📆 Feb. 18, 1 PM – 4 PM | Wall Township Branch
📆 Feb. 19, 10 AM – 12 PM | Marlboro Branch

🔹 Learn to Play Duplicate Bridge – Fun and interactive game for all skill levels.
📆 Feb. 19, 12 PM – 4:30 PM | Headquarters, Manalapan

🔹 Yarn Works: Crochet & Knit Drop-In – Casual crafting & socializing.
📆 Feb. 19, 1 PM – 3 PM | Allentown Branch

💻 Virtual Event:
📖 Author Talk with Lee Hawkins – Pulitzer Prize finalist discusses I Am Nobody’s Slave.
📆 Feb. 18, 2 PM – 4 PM | Online

🎬 In-Person Events:
📽️ Movie Matinee: When Harry Met Sally… (1989, R) – Classic rom-com with Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal.
📆 Feb. 19, 2 PM – 4 PM | Hazlet Township Branch

🃏 Learn to Play Bridge – Develop your skills in a fun, social setting.
📆 Feb. 20, 9:30 AM – 12 PM | Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury

🔹 AARP Tax-Aide (Tax Year 2024) – Free tax prep assistance.
📆 Feb. 20, 9 AM – 5 PM | Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
📆 Feb. 20, 10 AM – 12 PM | Marlboro Branch

🃏 Bridge Interest Group Meeting – Looking for intermediate & advanced players!
📆 Feb. 20, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Holmdel Branch

📱 Getting to Know Your Smartphone – Learn essential features & security settings.
📆 Feb. 20, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury

💻 Virtual Events:
🖥️ Bereavement Support Group – Live Zoom session for those coping with loss.
📆 Feb. 19, 6:45 PM – 8 PM | Online

🎨 Virtual Library Crafternoons – Get crafty with fellow crafters via Zoom.
📆 Feb. 20, 1:30 PM – 3 PM | Online

For more details, visit Monmouth County Library Events. 📚✨

Monmouth County 55+ Real Estate Update

🏠🪴Here is a sampling of homes for sale this week in 55+ communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Contact your local real estate agent for more information.

1. Shadow Lake Village in Red Bank, priced between the low $300,000s and mid $500,000s. This community has 7 homes for sale as of the latest update.

2. Covered Bridge in Manalapan, with prices ranging from the high $100,000s to high $300,000s. There are currently 10 homes available in this community.

3. Greenbriar at Marlboro, priced between the mid $500,000s and mid $600,000s. This community has 2 homes for sale.

4. Four Seasons at Manalapan, with prices ranging from the high $600,000s to high $700,000s. There are 2 homes available in this community.

5. Rosemont Estates in Marlboro, priced between the mid $700,000s and low $1 millions. This community has 1 home for sale.

🎉 Happy Birthday, Kim Alvarez! 🎉 Wishing you a fantastic day filled with joy, laughter, and all the things that make you happiest! 🥳🎂 May this year bring you great memories, wonderful adventures, and lots of love! 💖🎈 Enjoy your special day in Atlantic Highlands! 🌊☀️

A few other notable people sharing a birthday today with Kim include actor Jeff Daniels, 69; singer Seal, 61, and singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson, 84.

Upcoming Events in New Jersey - Feb. 19–23

February 19 – Bell Works FRESH 🛍️
Holmdel, Monmouth County
Enjoy a fresh, local experience with a variety of vendors at Bell Works!
Learn More

February 20–22 – The SpongeBob Musical 🎭
Lakewood, Ocean County
Take the grandkids! Catch the hilarious and heartwarming musical featuring everyone's favorite sponge!
Get Tickets

February 21 – Chilly Chili Cook Off 🌶️
Highlands, Monmouth County
Warm up with some spicy chili at this fun cook-off. Who will win the golden ladle?
Event Info

February 21 – Art of Indian Music with Rashika Ranchan 🎶
Princeton Junction, Mercer County
Experience the rich sounds and rhythms of Indian classical music.
More Details

February 21 – Folk Musician Joseph Alton Miller LIVE 🎸
Barron Arts Center, Woodbridge, Middlesex County
Enjoy an evening of live folk music in a cozy venue.
Buy Tickets

February 22 – 1st Annual Farminary Seed Swap 🌱
Princeton, Mercer County
Swap seeds and gardening tips with fellow green thumbs at this unique event.
Join the Swap

February 22 – Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge 🏊‍♂️❄️
Seaside Heights, Ocean County
Brave the cold and take a plunge for charity!
Register Now

February 22 & 23 – Maple Sugaring at the Environmental Education Center 🍁
Basking Ridge, Somerset County
Learn the sweet art of maple sugaring and sample fresh syrup!
More Info

February 23 – Winter FRESH ❄️🛒
Ocean Grove, Monmouth County
Celebrate winter with fresh, local goods and treats at this vibrant market.
Event Details

February 23 – Art on Screen – Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers 🎨
West Long Branch, Monmouth County
Discover the emotional side of Van Gogh through this stunning film.
Get Tickets

Enjoy the events and stay cozy, no matter what you're attending! 🌟

Thanks for reading!

A warm shoutout today goes to all those fantastic New Jersey restaurants for keeping the fires burning—both in their hearths and in our hearts! 🔥🍽️✨

Questions, comments or news to share? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

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☺️See you next week!