We who love NJ restaurants are a fickle bunch. We have our favorites, of course; those spots we go back to again and again. But like fashion mavens at a mall, we're always on the lookout for something new, something different.

Autumn promises to be a boon for adventurous North Jersey diners, when a slew of restaurants are set to open — from low-end to high-end to everything in between. Whether you've got a hankering for a Thai rotisserie chicken, a spicy miso soup, a re-imagined Peruvian stir-fry lomo saltado, or a hyper-seasonal crostata, your culinary cravings can be satisfied. Here are 10 highly anticipated NJ restaurants expected to open in North Jersey this fall.

1. Felina Restaurant and Bar, Ridgewood

Acclaimed four-star chef Anthony Bucco expects to open his eagerly anticipated contemporary Italian restaurant in November. Felina is the first collaboration between Bucco and Frank Cretella, who owns and manages, among other venerated New Jersey restaurants, the Ryland Inn. In 2012, Bucco garnered a four-star review in New Jersey Monthly for his cooking at the Ryland Inn when he was its executive chef. He went on to become the executive chef of legendary Restaurant Latour.

Cooking at his side will be Martyna Krowicka, a "Chopped" champion, who was also chef of Restaurant Latour and Bucco's sous chef at the Ryland Inn. The Polish-born chef began her career with Bucco at well-received Uproot in Warren.

On the duo's menu (that Bucco emphasized is subject to change according to the season and what looks especially good in the market at any given time) are such dishes as Berkshire sausage pizza with kale and roasted garlic; gnocci stuffed with delicata squash; day-boat scallops served with gigante beans; and peach crostata with blueberry ice cream. The restaurants seats around 70. It has a bar. Actually two bars, one on its roof, the first rooftop bar in Bergen.

Where: 54 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood; 201-761-0025, Ext. 55, felinarestaurant.com.

2. Somos, North Arlington

Fans of CIA-trained chef Juan Placencia's Peruvian restaurant Costanera in Montclair (count me in) can soon enjoy his cooking at Latin American restaurant Somos. Placencia, who hails from Lima, Peru, has been busy transforming the 6,000-square-foot space that once housed Euro Lounge. Yes, the place is big but so are the celebrated chef's flavors.

At this Latin fusion restaurant, he plans to "mash up" the foods and flavors of Brazil, Mexico, the Caribbean island and so on with those of Italy, Asia and other parts of the world. And it's not just the food that has us excited: multiple-award winning mixologist Carlos Ruiz is the beverage director. Expect some profoundly creative cocktails.

Go: 185 River Road, North Arlington; 201-621-0899 somosnj.com.

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3. Fables, Oak Ridge

Miss Christine Nunn's famous lobster roll or her well-loved duck roast? Come early November, you can enjoy both at Fables, a family-friendly restaurant where Nunn will be overseeing the kitchen, located next door to theme park Fairy Tale Forest.

The former chef-owner of Picnic in Fair Lawn and Picnic on the Square in Ridgewood (and an occasional writer for this newspaper) is turning what used to be the park's gift shop and casual hot dog and ice cream spot into a true restaurant. The theme park closed in 2005 and is being brought back by the theme park's granddaughter, Christine Vander Ploeg.

"It's going to be casual during the day with burgers, bowls, crepes and homemade ice cream desserts and such," Nunn said. There will also be an organic juice bar. Dinner will be more formal, but still family-friendly. "It's going to be fun. It's whimsical with a copper ceiling, mismatched plates, antique chairs. It's got a real fun feel."

Vander Ploeg has been restoring the park for the past five years. The park, which opened in 1957 and was founded by German immigrant Paul Woehle, was dedicated to European fairy tales, such as Pinocchio, Cinderella and Mother Goose. It has a faux castle, a house shaped as a shoe and life-size gingerbread houses.

Where: 140 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge; 973-697-5656, fairytaleforest.com.

4. Celtic Corner, Hawthorne

Love to wash down rich, bold, no-holds-barred dishes with a pint or two of beer — or wine? Consider visiting this gastropub that is set to open this month on Lafayette Avenue in the space that once housed Brigatine Seafood restaurant. Heading the kitchen is Fair Lawn resident and chef Christine Nunn, who penned "The Preppy Cookbook" and occasionally writes for this paper. (Yes, Nunn is chef for both this restaurant and Fables.)

The dining room seats 80 and the bar 45. There's also a private room. As for food? "It's going to be a fun twist on Irish food," Nunn said, "with some healthy options." She wasn't referring to the Irish Poutine dish (hand-cut crispy fries soaked in slow-cooked baked beans with crisp pork belly, Dubliner cheese and Irish mustard) as one of those good-for-your-health options. She described them as "Irish disco fries." Nor, for that matter, would she try to pass off as healthy the "Banger Burger," a sausage burger topped with Irish bacon, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce; or, for that matter, her Shepherd’s Pie made with braised lamb shank. Deliciousness is what she's after. And fun. Ergo, lots of beer and wine.

Where: 312 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne. No phone or web yet.

5. Kai Yang, Montclair

Restaurateur and Bloomfield resident Sheree Sarabhaya, who recently closed Spice II in Montclair, plans to open later this month on Bloomfield Avenue Kai Yang, a casual Thai rotisserie chicken joint. The 1,100-square-foot, 40-seat space is named for the dish it will be offering: kai yang, a popular Thai grilled chicken dish accompanied by traditional papaya salad, sticky rice sides and two dipping sauces

"Everybody has to have kai yang in my country," Sarabhaya said. "It's a very popular street food." Half of a chicken with all the fixings costs $17. Kai Yang is BYO.

Where: 345 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 973-509-2110, facebook.com/kaiyangnj.

6. Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria, Paramus

Carlitos, Jersey City's popular taco truck, is set to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Westfield Garden State Plaza. Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria, an 800-square-foot space that used to house a sneaker store and is right next door to Bar Louie, is scheduled to open at the end of October. Carlitos smokes its meats for up to 12 hours with hard oak wood and hand-makes its tortillas and salsas.

The menu is admittedly limited. Four taco choices are offered: brisket ("Our number one bestseller," said Carlos Castillo, chef and owner), smoked pulled pork, chicken and sweet plantain and mozzarella. Mexican street corn, jicama slaw and guac and chips are the sides offerings. For dessert, there will be chocolate-filled and also caramel churros. For $10, customers can choose any three items.

Where: 1 Garden State Plaza; no phone yet, westfield.com/gardenstateplaza.

7. Lefkes, Englewood Cliffs

Anytime now, modern Greek restaurant Lefkes is set to open its doors to the 10,000-square foot space that had housed much-ballyhooed but short-lived American Cut & Grill and before that longtime steak and sushi restaurant Assembly Steak House. Lefkes will be the eighth restaurant of Fort Lee resident Stavros Aktipis, founder and owner of Kellari Hospitality Group, which owns seven restaurants, including the popular Upper West Side Italian spot 'Cesca and midtown Greek restaurant Kellari. Lefkes has two sister restaurants in Greece.

The two-story space will include a Raw Bar Lounge on the second floor, an outdoor patio with a fire pit and private rooms for events It will serve modern Greek and Mediterranean dishes and will be open for lunch and dinner and Sunday brunch.

Where: 495 Sylvan Avenue (Route 9W), Englewood Cliffs; 201-408-4444. No web yet.

8. Brownstone Pancake Factory, Englewood Cliffs

Bid your diet adieu. Come November, the Brownstone Pancake Factory, known for its huge portions and over-the-top pancakes, is scheduled to open in the space that had housed Central Kitchen. The American restaurant is keeping the spot's liquor license. Brownstone has locations in Edgewater and Jersey City.

Just some of what you have to look forward to: pancakes baked with Oreo cookies; salted caramel pretzel pancakes; and chocolate chip/peanut butter pancakes topped with bananas, whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauce (pancakes cost from $6 to $14). Plus burgers (the "Brownstone Supreme" includes onion rings, bacon, cheddar cheese and a bleu cheese dressing, $13.95); flatbreads (the "Triple Crown" features grilled chicken with Swiss and cheddar, topped with bacon and buttermilk ranch dressing, $14.95); and breakfast sandwiches (the "NJ Turnpike" stuffs a brioche bun with Taylor ham, scrambled eggs and American cheese, $7.95). Wash it all down with the Brownstone's "ultimate insane" milkshakes, such as the Brownie Explosion, a chocolate milkshake with decorated chocolate frosted rim topped with our homemade brownie, drizzled with chocolate sauce and whipped cream ($14).

Go: 717 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood Cliffs. No phone yet.

9. No. 12, Ridgewood

Set in a former village frame shop on East Ridgewood Avenue, No.12 is the new culinary playground for chefs Heather and Ted Rozzi, the wife-husband team who run the kitchen at Stella Artisan Italian next door. The Rozzis — she, a celebrated pastry chef; he a skilled executive chef — will cook dinners at No. 12 a few nights a week: Friday and Saturday at first; Thursday nights may be added, if there's a demand, said co-owner Timothy Hanley. "The object is to change the way people eat around here," said Heather, explaining that No. 12 won't be tied-down to any one cuisine or way of cooking.

"We're not drawing inspiration from any cuisine, or from any region for our concept. The menu will rotate weekly," Hanley said. The Rozzis will cook, he said, whatever they feel like cooking. "We're not going to even have printed menus"; diners can check the restaurant's Instagram page to find out what's cooking.

The 50-seat BYO will have a "complete" oyster bar, according to Hanley.

The space has been transformed into what Hanley described as a "speakeasy oyster bar/chef's table spot with a very cool vibe." The dining room sports wallpaper with Madagascar lemurs ("Lemurs are just fun," Hanley said), black marble tables and faux-ostrich leather booths. The original marble and trim details were retained. The restaurant is set to open sometime in September.

As for Stella? Hanley assures that it will remain as is, with the Rozzis cooking for both restaurants.

Where: 12 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood; 201-857-2677, dineat12.com.

10. Ani Ramen, Maplewood

Yes, we know, it's not exactly opening this fall — it's set for early 2019 — but we thought we'd give you a heads up. After all, we know how popular this ramen restaurant is, with locations in Jersey City and Montclair. They're both often packed. As one Yelper put it: "Yelp!! Can I give this place 10 stars out of 5. They are by far the best ramen restaurants I have ever been to." So be ready to slurp — and drink; the Maplewood location will have a bar.

Where: 149 Maplewood Ave., Maplewood aniramen.com.