of course you are my favorite: 100 Steps

I am often asked to name “my favorite restaurant” in New Jersey. Lucky, I love pondering this question, and love the inevitable debate that follows even more.

Naturally, the answer is “it depends”. Sounds like a cop-out, but really, it does. What’s the occasion? Who are my dining partners? What am I in the mood to eat? It gets even more complicated when I’m asked for a recommendation for someone else. What’s their price point? Are you seeking a certain type of ambience? The factors and options that one must consider are plenty.

photo used with permission by @localrootscranford

But it is food with a view, and I don’t slouch on my responsibility. I need to pick a favorite. And while this will inevitably change over time, for now, my number one, all-around favorite is 100 Steps Supper Club and Raw Bar in Cranford, NJ.

100 Steps, or “OHS” as it is sometimes known, is my most frequently recommended restaurant for a number of reasons. Here’s my view.

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photo used with permission by @localrootscranford

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First and, of course, foremost: the food. While there are dishes I am particularly passionate about, and a few I wouldn’t necessarily order again, I have enjoyed every dish I have tried. The menu rotates with the seasons and availability of the best ingredients, so I cannot claim to have tried them all, but I have tried a lot – and they never [truly] disappoint.

The casually elegant atmosphere. In the evenings, the room glows from the flickering light of candles scattered around the tables, most of which are small and clearly meant for two. The corner tables encourage cozying up with a glass of wine, and the menu structure encourages sharing. It’s casual with a dash of sexy elegance – you can wear your favorite jeans, but something about the place makes you want to add heels and pearls.

photo by jenn kosar

The consistent and welcoming service. I don’t know how they do it, but starting with our second visit, they remembered us. Not in a contrived way, but a genuine “I know I’ve seen you here before”. It works, because with a small service staff and the regular presence of the owner, we recognize everyone as well. They all make you feel right at home.

Flexible price point for everyone. It’s BYO, which means you can spend as much or as little as you want on your pairing of choice. The menu is well suited for sharing, and a couple could easily have a four-course meal for around $75. For this quality of food, grace of service, and beautiful surroundings, this is a bargain.

photo used with permission by @localrootscranford

Some really, really memorable dishes. Did I mention the food? I have a running list of “best things I ever ate”, should the cooking channel ask. The simply titled “shrimp” from OHS would be one of those things. The little guys are good, but the smoky paprika and cilantro butter and white wine-spiked tomato sauce they are swimming in is out of this world. Save those garlic parker house rolls, because you will need them to sop up every last drop.

A runner-up, only because it is seasonal and not always on the menu, is the lobster crostini. Essentially a deconstructed lobster roll, it is perfectly poached lobster atop a butter soaked slice of crusty, chewy bread. If you are lucky enough to visit when they are both on the menu, order both and then share an entrée. These two are worth it.

photo used with permission by @localrootscranford

100 Steps Supper Club + Raw Bar

215 Centennial Avenue ⋅ Cranford, NJ ⋅ (908) 276-6600 ⋅ www.100stepsrawbar.com ⋅ book it on opentable

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What seasonal item do you look forward to at 100 Steps?  Leave a comment and let us know what you’re craving.  Follow me on Facebook or my dining out board on Pinterest to see more of my restaurant recommendations!