A well-regarded New Jersey restaurant just made Yelp’s new list of the Top 100 U.S. restaurants of 2023.
Jessica’s Café, a popular eatery in Plainfield inspired by French and Italian cooking techniques, ranked No. 40 on the list, with Yelp praising its “branzino filets with crispy skin (and) plump Prince Edward Island mussels in a buttery sauce with applewood-smoked bacon and fresh herbs.
“Many reviewers advise saving room for dessert—the signature apricot bread pudding has the perfect ‘creamy custardy consistency,’” the entry continued.
Chef Ermelin Saqe, an Albanian immigrant, opened the restaurant named for his wife in 2019.
Jessica’s is also known for their wood-fired pizza, with both classic and innovative takes like the margarita, meatball ricotta and wood-roasted vegetables pizzas.
Popular starters include the Spanish octopus and the crispy duck confit salad, while main courses range from Australian grass-fed ribeye to milk-fed pork chops and faroe island salmon.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessica’s Café became a valuable part of the Plainfield community, offering delivery, takeout, and curbside pickup.
The restaurant also did its part to give back to the community by collecting donations to provide meals for overworked nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers at Overlook and Morristown hospitals during the pandemic.
Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Ad Choices