Somerset County is in central New Jersey and consists of 22 municipalities spread over 305 square miles of land. For tourists, Somerset County features attractions like the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster, Van Fleet Gardens in Somerville and the Boro Kid Zone in Hillsborough. Visitors to Somerset County have numerous dining options to chose from, including upscale and casual Italian restaurants.
Established in 1988, da Filippo's Autentica Cucina is in the Somerset County town of Somerville. The restaurant holds Zagat dining guide ratings of "very good to excellent" for its food and service and "good to very good" for its decor. The menu begins with 10 appetizers, such as the lumache gratinate, baked snails in a garlic and herb sauce. A featured pasta is the ravioli al filetto di pomodoro e basilico, ricotta-filled ravioli in a plum tomato sauce. Among the entrees is the spezzatino di manzo, a beef stew made with red wine and dried porcini mushrooms. Although the restaurant does not sell liquor, it permits guests to bring their own beer or wine to enjoy with the meal. Filippo's Autentica Cucina serves lunch Mondays through Fridays and dinner Mondays through Saturdays. The restaurant closes every Sunday. Reservations are highly suggested. Business casual attire is appropriate.
da Filippo's Autentica Cucina
132 East Main St.
Somerville, NJ 08876
908-218-0110
dafilippos.com
Cafe Graziella is in the Cost Cutters Shopping Center in Hillsborough, and has served Somerset County since 1994. The Zagat dining guide rates it "very good to excellent" for its food, "good to very good" for its service and "fair to good" for its decor. Ten appetizers lead the menu, such as the fried calamari, the baked clams casino and the tomato and mozzarella caprese salad. A pasta dish, the capellini sinatra consists of shrimp, scallops and clams in a sauce made from white wine and tomatoes. Other entrees include chicken parmigiana and veal piccata. The restaurant has a bring-your-own alcohol policy. Cafe Graziella is open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not required. Casual attire is acceptable. Outdoor dining is available on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, weather permitting.
Cafe Graziella
390 Route 206
Hillsborough, NJ 07931
908-281-0700
cafegraziella.com
Trattoria Mediterranea opened for business in 1994 and features family-style Italian cuisine, in which the portion size of most dishes is large enough for sharing. To start the meal, the restaurant serves eight appetizers like the tomato and basil bruschetta and the salad made from three types of field greens and topped with balsamic vinaigrette. One of the specialty pastas is the fettuccine alla nonna, house-made noodles topped with jumbo shrimp and peas in a vodka cream sauce. The restaurant does not serve alcohol and has a bring-your-own policy. Trattoria Mediterranea serves lunch Tuesdays through Fridays and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays. The restaurant closes every Monday. Reservations are suggested. Business casual attire is the norm.
Trattoria Mediterranea
2472 Lamington Road
Bedminster, NJ 07921
908-781-7131
trattoriamediterranea.com
