Jenna Intersimone

@JIntersimone

We received over 1,000 mouthwatering responses.

The restaurants in the poll included those from Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex and Union counties.

There is no shortage of fantastic restaurants in Central Jersey.

Here in Central Jersey, we certainly have no shortage of mouthwatering restaurants — throughout Somerset, Hunterdon, Union and Middlesex counties you can find eateries pulling inspiration from every corner of the world, sure to satisfy any taste bud.

However, the Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com recently asked you to do the impossible — choose three.

From mid-January to mid-February, we ran a poll on MyCentralJersey.com asking readers to tell us what their top three favorite restaurants in Central Jersey are.

We received more than 1,000 responses, but the results are finally in, and we are presenting them today, in no particular order. Read on to find out what you and your neighbors voted as the hottest restaurants in the region.

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Osteria Morini

Bernardsville residents have their New York City counterparts to thank for the opening of Osteria Morini — after the successful launch of the restaurant in SoHo, a Bernardsville location opened in 2012.

At Osteria Morini, "guests can enjoy a rustic, family style dinner featuring all the signature classics from Bolgona, Moderno, and Parma, coined 'the bread basket of Italy,'" said Mona Carbona, general manager. Plus, with the Nicoletta Pizzeria opening up adjacent to the restaurant in the beginning of last year, guests can now also enjoy specialty pizzas, small bites and soft-serve gelato at Osteria Morini.

Besides being an ideal spot for a romantic evening out, Osteria Morini also has a large main dining room and private dining space, fitting for large events and parties.

Where: 107 Morristown Road, Bernardsville

Cost Range: $11 appetizers to $30 entrees

Don't Miss: The tagliatelle, or pasta ribbons with ragù antica and parmigiano reggiano as well as the cappelletti, or truffled ricotta-stuffed pasta hats with prosciutto di parma and melted butter ($11 to $24)

Contact: 908-221-0040, osteriamorini.com

The Frog and the Peach

Chefs who have fine-dining restaurants in small cities can usually be found at their newer, sexier destinations such as in Singapore or Palm Springs, but at The Frog and the Peach, which has consistently been recognized as one of the best eateries in the state, you'll always be able to find Chef Bruce Lefebvre in the New Brunswick kitchen.

"With our long history of 34 years, we are sometimes thought of as lodged in the past," said aid Jim Mullen, general manager and wine director at The Frog and the Peach. "On the contrary, like many of the best restaurants in the country, we have become much less formal over the years — without sacrificing the quality of the food and service."

At the American eatery, duck dishes tend to reign supreme — currently, customers can try the Long Island duck breast on the winter menu, which includes cassoulet bean ragout, garlic pork, sausage and breadcrumbs for $35.

Where: 29 Dennis St., New Brunswick

Cost Range: $18 appetizers to $56 entrees

Don't Miss: The roasted bone marrow appetizer, which includes roast beef and herb salad, crispy onions and horseradish vinaigrette ($24)

Contact: 732-846-3216, frogandpeach.com

Uncle Vinnie's Clam Bar

Uncle Vinnie's Clam Bar of Raritan might be quite a drive away from the Jersey Shore, but if you order one of their seafood entrees with an Italian slant, you may think that you are there — the seafood, delivered everyday, is made-to-order and is as fresh as it gets.

In this no-frills eatery which features a large center bar and an open-view kitchen, you're bound to see a full restaurant every night of the week. This local staple is extremely popular due to the scrumptious seafood and friendly owner Lou Malenchek, who seems to somehow know every customer in the eatery.

Next door to the Clam Bar visitors can also find Uncle Vinnie's Market, which serves fresh-seafood lunches and dinners, and also allows visitors to purchase their own seafood to cook at home.

Where: 5 E Somerset St., Raritan

Cost Range: $6.50 appetizers to $38.95 entrees

Don't Miss: The seafood salad, a medley of fresh shellfish including mussels, littleneck clams, calamari, scungilli and shrimp, steamed and chilled down and tossed in a light lemon and garlic vinaigrette over a bed of field greens with diced peppers, onions and tomatoes ($19.50 to $22.50)

Contact: 908-526-9887, unclevinniesclambar.com

Clydz

These days, speakeasy-style restaurants and bars are all the rage, but Clydz, a New Brunswick underground restaurant featuring exotic meats, has been utilizing the theme with exposed brick, fireplaces, stamped ceilings, and 1920's décor since it opened 20 years ago.

Patrons enter Clydz by going down steps covered in fresh rose petals daily, where they are greeted by a menu of more than 100 different artisan and classic cocktails as well as international meats such as alligator, python, kangaroo, antelope, elk and more.

With an extremely cozy and comfortable atmosphere, Clydz is a great destination for a chilly evening out as well as a dinner featuring dishes that don't have much in common with what you can find at your local American eatery.

Where: 55 Paterson St., New Brunswick

Cost Range: $8 appetizers to $46 entrees

Don't Miss: The game tasting, a rotating tasting of exotic meats usually consisting of kangaroo, antelope, elk, wild boar or quail. Each meat comes with accompaniments such as guacamole whipped potatoes, truffle and bacon mac 'n cheese and seasonal vegetables (market price, $46 at press time)

Contact: 732-846-6521, clydz.com

Ninety Acres

Farm-to-table is a new dining trend that has swept the nation. However, Ninety Acres, which is situated on the Somerset County Natirar estate, is literally a table at the farm thanks to Natirar's 12-acre sustainable farm located right outside the door of the restored carriage house.

Guests perusing the menu will take comfort in knowing that the meats and sausages are house-cured from the pigs raised on the farm, seasonal menus drive the ever-changing menu and the farm also influences Ninety Acres’ bar program, where fresh herbs are used to make infusions, syrups and tonic.

If guests want to take their table-at-the-farm experience to the next level, they can also utilize the Bring Me Food experience, where they can opt for a seat located near the open kitchen and instead of reviewing a conventional menu, patrons view a list of the night’s fresh-from-the-farm ingredients, discuss their likes and dislikes with their server and are treated to a five- to seven-course menu created on the spot by the culinary team.

Where: 2 Main St., Peapack-Gladstone

Cost Range: $14 appetizers to $40 entrees

Don't Miss: Pork belly pizza, which features farm eggs, chilies, and fontina, gorgonzola and asiago cheeses ($16)

Contact: 908-901-9500, natirar.com/ninety_acres

​ Verve Restaurant

When Verve Restaurant, a cozy bistro offering a French-American menu in a white-tablecloth dining room and a sidewalk-seating area, opened its doors in Somerville in 1996, the New York Times said, "As goes Verve, as goes Somerville."

The quote holds true today. As the town was growing and changing, the Times knew that if a French-American bistro could make it in the borough, Somerville was surely turning around, and that it has. "We are uniquely special because of our customers and the Somerville community," said Rick St. Pierre, owner. "We are that place for the community where leaders of our area can meet to relax and discuss the needs and topics of importance in an atmosphere that is open and engaging."

Verve believes in what St. Pierre calls the "slow-cook process," which means that the restaurant takes great care in the preparation of their food and keeps a thorough knowledge of cooking techniques in mind and strives to preserve the natural textures and taste of items as to not disturb their uniqueness.

Where: 18 East Main St, Somerville

Cost Range: $14 appetizers to $25 entrees

Don't Miss: Mama Verve's Maryland-style crabcake, a crabcake appetizer with frisée, apple and truffle vinaigrette ($17 to $34)

Contact: 908-707-8655, vervestyle.com

The Greek on Main

Today's restaurant industry may be inundated with eateries claiming a sub-par allegiance to a specific cuisine, but The Greek on Main, which opened in June of last year in Metuchen, immerses its guests in the rich familial culture of its native country with a delectable and expansive selection of classic and modern Greek delicacies.

"We believe every dish should be made with the same passion and authenticity as the last," said Theodore Kappas, owner and chef. "Remaining faithful to our roots, we import the freshest ingredients from various Greek regions and the surrounding Ionian and Agean seas."

If you want to take a little bit of Greece home to your own kitchen, The Greek on Main also offers a "restaurant marketplace,'" which sells many ingredients used in The Greek's own signature dishes.

Where: 419 Main St., Metuchen

Cost Range: $5 small plates to $30 entrees

Don't Miss: The oktapodi sta karvouna, a guest favorite, which is an appetizer of grilled octopus, fennel, capers, revithia, kale, fresh herbs and latholemono ($19)

Contact: 732-515-9457, thegreekonmain.com

La Tavola Cucina

This South River eatery, which is a family-owned, neighborhood restaurant and bar that provides traditional Italian meals in an intimate atmosphere, does much more than just serve dinner — true to form as a local hotspot, La Tavola Cucina always has something going on.

The husband-and-wife team — Jill Rafano Sullivan and Steven Marino Sullivan — opened their restaurant about six and a half years ago. Since then, they have hosted 'Mussel Madness' in March where they offer a mussel menu all month long, a risotto balls special in June where they offer a different recipe each week, Wednesday Parmesan Nights where they feature eggplant, chicken, veal or meatball Parmesan at a discounted price and Thirsty Thursdays, where they offer a half-price martini menu. Plus, they frequently host wine pairing dinners, painting parties and special events.

When it comes to dinner, though, guests flock any night of the week for their fried or sauteed calamari, osso bucco, risotto and their cannellini bean spread, which is served to every table with bread, flatbreads and breadsticks.

Where: 700 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River

Cost Range: $6.90 appetizers to $22.90 entrees

Don't Miss: The calamari, which is crispy fried with creamy imperial sauce or sauteed with garlic and white wine ($12.90 appetizer)

Contact: 732-238-2111, latavolacucinanj.com

Stage House Tavern

The Stage House Tavern, an eatery with locations in Somerset and Scotch Plains, offers rustic American fare to clientele that flocks to their tavern for their classic dishes and beautiful setting — including one of the most accommodating outdoor patios in the state.

Fred Austin, general manager of the Somerset location which opened in 2011, said that he believes that the restaurant's high-quality food and service, tremendous value and idyllic backdrop are what sets the Stage House Tavern apart from other restaurants.

However, it also transforms into a bustling party spot on Saturday and Sunday — there's live entertainment every weekend and with televisions inside and outside and people flock to the Stage House Tavern for football on Sundays where they can also order from a tailgate food menu, take home giveaways, enjoy happy hour specials and grab entrees, steaks and burgers from the very-popular wood fire grill.

Where: 1719 Amwell Road, Somerset section of Franklin

Cost Range: $6 snacks to $29.95 entrees

Don't Miss: The housemade ravioli, made with your choice of sauce ($9.95 or $16.95)

Contact: 908-322-4224, stagehousetavern.com

Sophie's Bistro

Sophie's Bistro, which has offered French comfort foods in a country antiques-adorned space with outdoor seating for the last 15 years, may be situated in Somerset, but if you visit this cozy eatery, you may start to believe for a bit that you're in France. Modeled after classic French bistros, Sophie's Bistro is filled with French country antiques, large open shuttered windows, dark woods, soft pastel colors and walls covered with family pictures to make for an intimate environment.

On the Sophie's Bistro menu, all of the seafood is fresh and the poultry and specialty items come from top-notch food purveyors such as D'Artagnan. Plus, all of the meat is certified "Black Angus," assuring top quality.

To bring the eatery's menu to larger gatherings, Sophie's Bistro is currently working on opening a banquet area to offer guests space for larger private parties such as weddings and birthday and anniversary celebrations.

Where: 700 Hamilton St., Somerset section of Franklin

Cost Range: $6.50 appetizers to $29.95 entrees

Don't Miss: The mussels in white wine, butter and garlic sauce appetizer ($15.50)

Contact: 732-545-7778, sophiesbistro.net

Staff Writer Jenna Intersimone: 908-801-4853, JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com