I have lived in Bergen County for almost my entire life. I have also moved around a bit (Arizona, Philadelphia and now Georgia) and I can honestly say I always miss home. I love where I was raised and think it’s extremely underrated. Am I probably biased? Absolutely. Before I start, I just wanted to mention that I am no professional food critic and I have no background in fashion. Have I eaten a little too much and shopped a little too much? Definitely. I just really love exploring, trying new restaurants and shopping. I am so lucky that I was exposed to so many genres of food growing up. I have been able to explore so many different restaurants that I might have never been willing to try if I had not been raised eating the food of so many different cultures. (Thanks mom!)
***This entire post is based on my opinion!
Here are some of my favorite places to eat, shop and some fun experiences I have enjoyed in Bergen County!
Things to do:
The Ramapo Valley Reservation, Mahwah
Whether you’re looking to take a stroll with your dog, have a picnic or hike a mountain, the Ramapo Reservation has all of it. You will see so many dogs here and if you hike to the top, the views are amazing.
Monster Mini Golf, Paramus
This is the perfect place for kids or just a fun date! This mini golf is glow in the dark and monster themed. There are also some arcade games!
Demarest Farms, Hillsdale
This is my favorite place to come during the fall! They have pumpkin and apple picking, hay rides, a petting zoo, a haunted farm during Halloween time and a farm store where they sell seasonal foods like apple cider donuts.
Bergen County has plenty of noteworthy parks and nature reserves. Some others I recommend are Van Saun Park in Paramus, Tenafly Nature Center in Tenafly, Saddle River County Park in Saddle Brook and the Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine.
My favorite places to eat by genre:
Italian: Savini Restaurant, Allendale, NJ
Anyone who knows me knows that Italian food is my favorite. I have been to way too many Italian restaurants and even traveled to five cities in Italy. After all the Italian food I have experienced, Savini is still my first choice (and probably always will be.) My family and I have spent Christmas Eve here every year since I was a kid. I have spent plenty of my Birthday’s here and even had them cater for my college graduation party. I truly will never get enough of this place!
Mexican: Jalapeno’s, Glen Rock
This place is everything you could want in a Mexican restaurant. Their guacamole is amazing and you can’t go wrong with any of their taco’s. I’m a burrito girl, so I always order their skirt steak burrito!
Cuban: Casual Habana, Hackensack
I remember the first time my parents discovered this little hidden gem in Hackensack and came home raving about it. They dragged my brother and I all the way to Hackensack to try it for ourselves and we have been regular’s ever since. Every time we go we order what seems like a lifetime supply of empanadas. They also have some of the best entrees I have ever seen on a menu!
Indian: Nirvana Indian Kitchen, Allendale
If you are looking for classic and authentic Indian food, Nirvana is the place! This restaurant is incredible. For appetizer’s I always make sure to order samosa and garlic naan. I also almost always order the Chicken Korma but force someone in my family to order the Chili Chicken so I can have some.
Asian: P.F. Chang’s, Hackensack
Although I have almost never been able to get in here without waiting for at least an hour, I have never left P.F. Chang’s feeling anything but satisfied. I order their lettuce wraps every single time I go because they are consistently good. I also love their chicken and beef dishes!
Greek: Varka Restaurant, Ramsey
Varka is a Greek restaurant with a huge variety of seafood. Although they have other things on the menu, I highly recommend taking advantage of their seafood options!
Bagel shop: Bagel Nosh, Waldwick
Bagels are another weakness of mine, so I have tried quite a few. Bagel Nosh is my favorite because of how thick the bagels are. You haven’t fully lived until you’ve had a Bagel Nosh Taylor ham, egg and cheese on a plain bagel with salt, pepper, ketchup. (Yes, I said Taylor ham. No, it is not pork roll.)
Deli: Italian Riviera, Waldwick
I am crying a little writing this because I really miss this place that much. Italian Riviera has been around since way before I was born and it has been a part of my life since before I can remember. Whether it’s coming in for a small roll with prosciutto and mozzarella, a grilled vegetable sandwich, or just some rice balls, this place never disappoints. Every time I visit home this is the first place I make my mom bring me to. It will always hold a special place in my heart!
Pizza: Kinchleys Tavern, Mahwah
Do I really need to explain this one? Best thin crust pizza for sure. I will always stand by this!
Burgers: White Manna, Hackensack
This place is never what anyone expects. To some it might just look like another fast food joint, but it’s way more than that. White Manna has been featured on the Food Network for their delicious burgers. The food god himself, Guy Fieri, has literally been here.
Cafés:
I’m a huge fan of cafes and can’t choose just one so here is a list:
Albert’s Café Amici, Ho Ho Kus
Rolling Pin Café, Westwood
Giovanna’s, Ramsey
Café Angelique, Tenafly
Patisserie Florentine, Englewood
Coffee shop: Ridgewood Coffee Company, Ridgewood
The cutest little coffee shop with high quality coffee, pastries and specialty lattes. I just really love this place.
Dessert: Benny’s Bakery & Ice Cream Shoppe, Fair Lawn
This place has some of the largest, most unique milkshakes I have ever seen!
My favorite places to shop:
Suite 201, Ridgewood
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Also, yes. This is my favorite store in not just Bergen County, but pretty much anywhere. Moving to Georgia has been a killer because I miss this place so much. The owner, Alina, and her employees will literally be your personal stylists. Whether you are looking for an outfit for a wedding, interview or even just a comfy night at home, they have you covered. They also have a bridal suite, where I am getting my bridesmaids dresses from!
Hazel Boutique (North), Ramsey
I love this boutique. They have some of the cutest clothes and one of the owners, Kim, is always super helpful. Hazel has a bunch of custom apparel options to take advantage of which are great for college game day. They have everything from apparel, jewelry, accessories and even custom pillows and signs for your bedroom. And if you can’t make it to their store in person, you can just do what I always do and shop online. https://hazelboutique.com/.
Vanilla Sky, Montvale
If you aren’t looking to spend too much money, this is the place to shop! Besides being very affordable, they have a wide variety of styles to choose from! I also get almost all my pajamas from here because they are adorable and soooo comfy.
South Moon Under, Montvale
I am forever obsessed with this store. I don’t think I have ever walked in without leaving with something. They have a lot of my favorite brands. Free people, Project Social T, and Z Supply just to name a few. Their shoes are also always a huge weakness of mine.
If you aren’t a huge boutique person, some of my favorite malls are Garden State Plaza in Paramus, Paramus Park in Paramus, and The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack.
I hope you love all of these places as much as I do!
XOXO, Lacey ♥
Lacey Kratz 
Ramapo reservation is a must!
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