These are the 10 biggest restaurants coming to North Jersey in 2024 (so far)

North Jersey restaurants had a great 2023. We saw the rise of an Indian food sports bar in Parsippany, a 20-course omakase sushi spot in Westwood and a Michelin-quality fast food joint in Montclair. From Essex to Bergen to Morris counties and beyond, outrageous eats in innovative digs were the name of the game.

So what will 2024 bring? The local bites are going to get even better.

And it's already started.

We've already got wind of a mozzarella bar, a trendy Japanese Izakaya concept and the first official brick and mortar from our favorite Garden State baker — all coming soon. There are also rumors of a wok-to-walk to-go noodle restaurant, and a possible home for Nutley's secret ramen ghost kitchen (more on the latter in a future article).

Curious what else is on the horizon for the area's culinary scene?

These are the 10 North Jersey restaurant openings that we're most excited about in 2024.

Casano's Pizza Parlor, Rutherford

Fans who mourned the loss of Wallington's Tavolino Pizzeria in 2022 can dry their eyes — former owner Dave Ligas has officially announced he's making a comeback.

And this time? He'll be in bustling downtown Rutherford.

"New name, same staple pies with a couple of different options that are going to be available," Ligas said of the new spot's offerings. The only thing that will change is the real estate (of course), and the restaurant's name.

If you didn't have a chance to visit Tavolino while it was open, the neighborhood-favorite pizzeria was known for serving incredible square pies with tiny, charred pepperoni cups and other artisan toppings. To many, Ligas' chef-crafted pizza was considered some of the best in the state.

We're counting down the days until early February, then, when the talented pizziaolo plans to open his doors.

When/where: February at 8 Highland Cross in Rutherford.

Updates: @theskinnypizzaguy on Instagram.

Osteria LK, Maplewood

Those who live near Montclair (or are real-deal Jersey foodies), have already heard Laboratorio Kitchen; chef James De Sisto's hidden culinary paradise on Bloomfield Avenue. Serving novel, inventive dishes inspired by the seasons, the spot is nothing short of a North Jersey Italian food gem.

And now it's getting a sister.

Slated to open in spring of 2024, Osteria LK will be the trailblazing chef's next big restaurant endeavor. Like its Essex County predecessor, it will be committed to serving innovative eats — all locally sourced — with a distinct focus on Italian cuisine.

"Osteria LK is set to captivate palates with a curated menu, featuring seasonal brick oven pizzas, house-made pasta dishes that pay homage to regional traditions, delectable sharable plates, and indulgent house-made desserts," the team told us over email. "Each item on the menu serves as a testament to Chef De Sisto’s unparalleled culinary prowess."

The cozy, fine-yet-relaxed spot will be a great option for anything from family dinners to celebrations, and will be located in Maplewood.

When/where: Spring 2024 at 180 Maplewood Ave. in Maplewood.

Updates: @laboratoriokitchen on Instagram, or visit facebook.com/LaboratorioNJ.

Let's Noodle, Morristown

A fast-casual Chinese spot serving nothing but made-to-order noodles bowls (and some dumplings), this concept is easily the most simple on the list.

That doesn't stop it, though, from being the one we want to hit first.

To be located in Morristown, Let's Noodle will boast a menu of five Szechuan noodle creations, each tossed fresh with flavorful herbs, seasonings and toppings. The Dan Dan Noodles, for example, feature a chili broth with minced pork and scallions, while the Scallion Signature Noodles include bok choy, carrots, scallion pesto and Yibin spices. There will also be an option to create your own bowl, allowing diners to select their choice of protein, base, mix-ins and sauces.

No-frills, nothing fancy; as soon as this Morris County hole-in-the-wall opens — in the old Tito's Burritos and Wings location — we're hitting it for lunch.

When/where: Jan. 3 at 26 Washington Street in Morristown.

Updates: @lets_noodle_ on Instagram, or visit letsnoodles.com.

Bar Mutz, Westwood

Chef Robbie Felice already owns three of the top restaurants in Jersey, so, why not add a fourth?

Well, and a fifth. But more on that later.

Opening this year in Westwood is the restaurateur's newest concept; Bar Mutz — a trendy Italian spot next door to his locally acclaimed fine dining destination, Osteria Crescendo.

According to Felice, Bar Mutz will be a "hip Italian trattoria and mozzarella bar" by the "teams behind Viaggio and Osteria" (two of his other restaurants).

And, though that's about all we know about the concept right now, the James Beard-nominated chef's track record of launching top Jersey dining spots (with fun vibes) ensures that it's probably going to be great.

When/where: Westwood, date TBD.

Updates: @bar.mutz on Instagram.

The Hudson Rose, Nutley

Last summer, Brian Neiman and his father-in-law Bruce Fischer opened Pop's Corner in Point Pleasant Beach. Now, less than a year later, the family duo is back at it again with their newest concept The Hudson Rose — a modern American restaurant and even space — in Nutley.

Inspired by the pair's favorite restaurants in New York, the upscale spot will serve fresh fish, dry aged steaks, burgers and more. So, while those down the shore are munching on the father and sons' decadent brunches, us up North can enjoy high-end dishes like Chicken Under a Brick, and a savory bone marrow appetizer.

When/where: Early spring at 238 Franklin Ave. in Nutley.

Updates: Visit thehudsonrose.com.

Raising Canes, multiple locations

Raising Cane's is opening its first four Jersey locations this year.

And, though none of them are north north — per se — we are absolutely going to be driving to Burlington for America's best fast food chicken tenders.

When/where: four locations (Burlington is the closest), various dates (Burlington opening January 17).

Updates: Monitor raisingcanes.com/locations.

Fatto Con Amore, Montclair

Back to that Robbie Felice discussion: in addition to Bar Mutz, the chef will also be opening Fatto Con Amore, an Italian sandwich concept where "everything is made with love."

Featuring a menu of artisan panini, the Montclair Hospitality Group spot promises to make use of the best ingredients around. From fresh local breads to imported meats, cheese, vinegars and olive oils, Felice and his team are dedicated to crafting high quality sandwiches down to the tiniest details.

Though the full list of sandwiches has not yet been revealed, early Instagram posts hint at a Ciccioli Panino (juicy pork, orange, fontina and garlic crema), an Italian Beef Panino and a pistachio and mortadella combination on focaccia, to name a few.

When/where: Early 2024 at 349 Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair.

Updates: @fattoconamorebymhg on Instagram, or visit fattoconamore.com.

BYRD, Hoboken

Just over a month ago, Nadine and Ehren Ryan — the culinary duo behind Millburn's sophisticated dining destination Common Lot — delighted local fans with the announcement of the opening of their second restaurant, BYRD. On Instagram, Ehren Ryan described the concept as "globally-inspired."

In an interview with us, Ryan elaborated more on the upcoming spot.

"We are going for a much more casual, family friendly community restaurant with BYRD," he said. "We are still going to have influences from Common Lot, but we're also going to have some burgers, steaks and pasta. We'll even have a kids' menu."

And, even better, the restaurant will also have a liquor license — something the team has worked tirelessly for at Common Lot, but has yet to receive.

So, if you want to indulge in some top-notch fare while also enjoying some fantastic wine or creative cocktails? The Ehrens' new eatery is going to be the place to do it.

When/where: Early 2024 ("hopefully March") at 800 Jackson Street in Hoboken.

Updates: @byrd.nj on Instagram.

Black Magic Bakehouse, Ridgewood

On Nov. 3, Deanne Veliky — owner of our favorite hidden bakery Black Magic Bakehouse — took to Instagram to announce some exciting news: the cottage kitchen concept (which she ran out of her Ho-Ho-Kus home for years) would officially be getting a brick and mortar home.

To be located in Ridgewood, the upcoming spot will serve all of Veliky's famous treats, but without the wait time, sell-outs and complicated ordering process. Some desserts we've enjoyed in the past include Pistachio Honey Rose Doughnuts, Raspberry Bearclaws and Peach Galettes; all of which we can't wait to be able to get on a daily basis.

If you haven't tried any of the baker's creations yet, we suggest visiting her brick and mortar specifically for the incredible doughnuts. Probably the best version of the treat in Jersey, each one is filled to the brim with cool, thick pastry cream, and will blow you away with its thin, melt-in-your-mouth sourdough shell.

When/where: February at 19 West Ridgewood Ave. in Ridgewood.

Updates: @blackmagicbakehouse on Instagram, or monitor blackmagicbakehouse.com.

Fat Buddha Izakaya, North Caldwell

Rounding out our 2024 hype list is Fat Buddha; an Izakaya dining concept by the team behind Umai Sushi. In Japanese, Izakaya translates to "stay-drink-place," and a restaurant of the genre generally serves small plates in place of large entrées.

This format is exactly what we predict for Fat Buddha.

Teasers of the spot's menu include crispy rice, crudos and various bao buns; each supporting the above hypothesis. Assuming the team gets a liquor license, we'd expect to see endlessly flowing sake — another characteristic of Izakaya restaurants — as well.

Though we don't know when reservations for the restaurant will go live, early social media buzz (and the growing popularity of trendy Asian restaurants) suggests they're going to go fast.

When/where: January 2024 at an undisclosed location on Bloomfield Ave. in North Caldwell.

Updates: @fatbuddhanj on Instagram, or monitor fatbuddhanj.com.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey restaurants are set to have a big 2024