We can't wait for these Central Jersey restaurants to open in 2024

Between inflated food costs, high rent, an ever-changing dining scene and a lack of downtown office workers, it isn't easy to run a restaurant these days.

But to our delight, local restaurateurs are still opening creative eateries in Central Jersey, ranging from a Pan-Latin spot inspired by a Peruvian goddess to a breakfast joint in a retro gas station.

Here are the restaurants we can't wait to try in 2024.

D'Serve, Flemington

In Hunterdon County, Chef Andrew Mercado has co-owned a taco restaurant in a former railyard and hosted pop-up dinner asado experiences — always prepared outdoors around a wood-burning fire — in offbeat, rustic destinations.

But now, the chef, who owns food and event company F.E.D. By Andrew, is bringing his cooking to Main Street in Flemington alongside his wife, Shannon Mercado, owner of Suga'Pie Bakehouse.

The pair will open D'Serve, an intimate bistro with about 25 seats, at 32 Main St., Flemington, the former home of Garden State Salad.

Once the eatery opens in early spring, it will feature French, Latin and Caribbean cuisine in a menu that will change every two weeks. During the day, it will also offer artisan donuts and pastries made by Shannon.

Go: 32 Main St., Flemington; opening early spring; instagram.com/dserveonmain.

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FiNNBAR, Frenchtown

The Frenchtown Inn, housed in a building that is more than two centuries old, closed in March 2022. But after nearly two years, it will reopen its doors in January with an acclaimed chef, dedicated social endeavor and a re-imagined ambiance.

A vegetable-driven Italian and Mediterranean restaurant, FiNNBAR will be led by Cal Peternell, cookbook author and former head chef at Alice Water's Chez Panisse, who grew up on an 80-acre farm in Readington. The eatery will also have a full bar, and continue to feature the Frenchtown Inn's views of the Delaware River.

But it will also have a higher purpose.

A "majority," according to a release, of FiNNBAR's profits will go to Studio Route 29, a Frenchtown arts center for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The restaurant will also display artwork by the artists, and have an ADA-accessible bar and side ramp.

FiNNBAR was co-founded by Jill Kearney, founder of ArtYard, a Frenchtown center for art exhibition and performance. Studio Route 29 maintains exhibition spaces at ArtYard, and it is housed in the former home of ArtYard.

Go: 7 Bridge St., Frenchtown; opening in January; instagram.com/finnbarjersey.

La Colina Mexican Cantina, Cranford

Brothers Sonny and Johnny Gjuvakj, who also own nearby Lukas' Seafood & Grille, opened La Colina Mexican Cantina in Warren last December. Since then, the kitchen has been run by Eduardo Cabrera, who was born in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Now, the brothers are turning Sonny G's Brick Oven and Italian Cucina at 2 South Ave. West in Cranford — known for its wood-fired, brick-oven pizzas — into the second home of La Colina Mexican Cantina.

Opening in early 2024, La Colina will feature authentic Mexican dishes, as well as a full bar, in a vibrant, colorful space.

Go: 2 South Ave. West, Cranford; opening in early 2024; lacolinanj.com.

Ocean Prime Tavern, Cranford

The Gjuvakjs are also transforming their restaurant Romola's Seafood & Grille, also at 2 South Ave. West in Cranford, into the Ocean Prime Tavern, a modern, chic spot for steak, seafood and cocktails. It will open in early 2024.

Go: 2 South Avenue West, Cranford; opening early 2024; instagram.com/oceanprimetavern.

Millie's Bruncheonette, Flemington

For years, 144 Main St. in Flemington was an eyesore for the borough as an abandoned Hineline gas station it acquired through a tax foreclosure. It briefly experienced success when it was transformed into a seasonal beer garden in 2016, but the borough continued to have difficulty selling the property due to environmental problems.

It was sold in 2020, and will become a restaurant in mid-to-late 2024. Millie's Bruncheonette, owned by local restaurateurs Skylar Bird and Kate Attinello, will offer coffee, pastries, breakfast and lunch, with a hint of their family's Pennsylvania Dutch and German heritage.

Millie's is the namesake of Bird and Attinello's maternal grandmothers, who both went by the same nickname, according to the restaurant's website.

The space is under a complete "retro-vation," the website said, to transform it into a vintage-style filling station inspired by post-war gas stations that were once viewed as symbols of modernization and renewal.

Go: 144 Main St., Flemington; opening mid-to-late 2024; milliesbrunch.com.

Pachamama, Green Brook

Pachamama is the Peruvian goddess of nature, and restaurant group Driven Hospitality hopes that her essence will inspire the new Latin-American Pachamama restaurant opening at 215 Route 22 in Green Brook, the former home of Tacos El Tio.

Pachamama will be led by Chef José Luis Chavez, who hails from Mission Ceviche in New York City. It will offer elevated Pan-Latin cuisine and cocktails in a space adorned with greenery and natural details once it opens in January.

Go: 215 Route 22, Green Brook; opening in January; instagram.com/pachamamagreenbrook.

Taco De Ojo Taqueria, Westfield

Driven Hospitality is known for its eye candy at its Inspiration Roll restaurants, which feature bursting, colorful sushi burritos.

The restaurant group's newest eatery Taco De Ojo Taqueria, which is slang for eye candy in Spanish, will do the same in early 2024 with Mexican eats at 106 Central Ave.

Inspiration Roll, which is currently at 106 Central Ave., will move to 35 Elm St.

Taco de Ojo will be headed by an Oaxacan-born chef, and it will feature homemade masa, a dough used for tortillas, and tamales made from ground corn.

Go: 106 Central Ave., Westfield; opening early 2024; instagram.com/tacodeojotaqueria.

Teaberry's, Flemington

After nearly 20 years at 2 Main St. in Flemington, Teaberry's shut its doors in August to move a half mile down the block to a three-story Victorian home at 171 Main St.

In spring of 2024, Teaberry's — known for its array of colorful dishware, comfort fare and afternoon tea parties — will open at the 3,400-square-foot home that dates to 1890. While it's been a law office for 30 years, the space has also been a bank, a private residence, and a doll museum and doll hospital.

Renovations are taking place both inside and outside, including the addition of a kitchen, stairs and powder room, and cosmetic work. Once it’s complete, it will look almost exactly like the former Teaberry’s, down to the same themed rooms, displayed tea sets and other memorabilia.

One of the few changes is that the new space will be able to seat 25 people with its larger porch.

“People seem very nervous that we will be changing the décor, but everything that we have up is going to come with us and be displayed. Everything will feel the same inside,” said co-owner Sara Peterson, who owns Teaberry's alongside her mother, Susan Peterson.

“Customers just want to make sure that when they enter, it’s the same experience. And it will be,” Susan added.

Go: 171 Main St., Flemington; teaberrys.com; opening in spring

More: After nearly 20 years, Teaberry's in Flemington is moving. Here's what's coming

Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com

Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ restaurants opening in 2024