Review
The Landmark is one of those Jersey spot’s that’s very familiar. Inside the seemingly small, red-shingled house with a white picket fence alongside Route 10, there is enough room for a full bar, wooden booths and tables, at least eight television screens, and a snug kitchen serving solid bar food. The waitresses are friendly, the bartenders know people’s names, and the locals are happy. You might have eaten there growing up. If you haven’t been recently, it’s time to go back.
A very good blue-collar burger
Go for the pub-style burgers and bar-pie pizzas. Neither is the best available in New Jersey, but both are better than most. The Landmark’s burger is recommended by many in the know around Essex County and it is the reason the restaurant has been on my burger list of places to try. The half-pound “Jersey Giant” burger is cooked to order with barely a crust to it, and served on a soft sesame seed bun. A little too much bun for my taste, but it’s a very good blue-collar burger. Not too fancy, with plenty of toppings to choose from. My choice: jalapenos and cheddar cheese.
Cheeseburger Pizza
I didn’t expect The Landmark’s pizza to make EthnicNJ’s list. In fact, I was scared when my daughter ordered a Cheeseburger Pizza. Normally, that kind of frou-frou pizza topping is forbidden in my family. To my pleasant surprise, The Landmark makes very good thin crust bar pies. They pass the fold test, are not too greasy, and the crust has some flavor. No char on the bottom, but altogether tasty. Don’t tell anyone, but I like the Cheeseburger Pizza. It is essentially a regular cheese pie with little meatballs, and a hint of cheddar on top of the mozzarella and tomato sauce. The pizza here is not quite as good as Star Tavern‘s thin crust, but The Landmark is not as crowded either.
I will definitely go back the The Landmark for the pizza, the burgers, and of course, the Jersey atmosphere.
