Enjoying Food from Around the World in Somerville, NJ!

May 13, 2019 newjerseyisntboring

If you haven’t been to Somerville in a while or have never checked out this fun downtown area, it’s undergone a food renaissance in the last few years! The areas boasts about 50 downtown restaurants representing every corner of the world, from South Korea to Costa Rica.

Jersey Girls Food Tours which hosts food tours in Jersey City, Red Bank, East Rutherford, and Princeton added Somerville as a culinary destination with help from Somerville resident and MyCentralJersey.com, Courier News and Home News Tribune staff writer Jenna Intersimone.

Jenna was our guide for this three-hour narrated walking tour throughout the downtown area and her restaurant picks. We started the tour on Division St, one of New Jersey’s few pedestrian malls.

Stop # 1- Pinoy (18 Division St), a Filipino Restaurant established in 2012. While we dined we spoke with Executive Chef Cynthia Conshue who gave us the run down on all the delicious food we were about to eat.

We sampled three things of their menu, Lumpiang Shanghai (fried pork rolls with chili sauce), Pansit noodles, and Chicken curry with coconut milk and curry powder. Our wine pairings came from Discover Wine (66 W Main St), a fantastic liquor store in town whose wine is arranged by taste not from where they come from. At Discover Wine one of the store owners is always there to offer you personal attention.

Stop #2- Division Cafe (8 Division St) is a fantastic restaurant which features their award winning empanadas & classic Costa Rican plates.

We enjoyed beef and chicken empanadas & their awesome tostones.

Stop #3 – Fresh Tiki Bar (15C Division St) is a cool spot that specializse in making the freshest and healthiest Acaí & Pitaya Bowls, as well as Vegan and Dairy Artisanal Ice Cream, and additional food items like their bubble waffles.

We sampled their popular acai bowls made with pure açaí that they blend in house and top with fresh fruit and healthy granola.

We also got to sample their fresh coconut water and their pocket grilled cheese. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any more delicious we got a sample of their chocolate chip bubble waffle.

Stop #4 – Cheech’s Own (37 W. Main St) is a great spot for a caffeine fix.

They are known for their popular cold brew coffee which you can get there on tap flat or nitro style.

They also have kombucha on tap! I tried the “Bees Knees” which is made with honey and chamomile.

Stop #5 – Verve (18 E Main St) one of Somerville’s hotspots which has been opened for 22 years. This contemporary French infused New American restaurant and bar is owned by Rick St. Pierre, the unofficial mayor and chairman of Somerville Downtown Alliance.

The building was a former speakeasy which dates back to 1901. Their landmark bar was the very spot where the first drink was served in Somerville after Prohibition.

We sampled two appetizers of their menu: Grilled Octopus and their Baked Brie which came with Spiced Cashew, Stewed Fig, and Crostini.

Verve has a full bar that offers wine, beer, spirits and unique cocktails. For my cocktail choice I got the “Dancing in the Rain” (Tequila, Pamplemousse, Ancho Reyes Verde, Ginger, & Lime).

Last but not least we had to-go treats from The Dessert Plate (34 E Main St) which opened in 2001. Their desserts are made from scratch the old-fashioned way with butter, flour, sugar, and eggs – no shortenings, no mixes, no preservatives. They gave us their delicious chocolate chip, sugar cookies, and oatmeal raisin.