At the end of the long day, the last thing you may want to do is whip up a three-course dinner. When you live in Bridgewater, you don’t have to survive on cereal or microwave pizza when you just can’t summon the energy to cook. The area is home to a variety of restaurants that serve everything from down-home favorites to more sophisticated cuisine.  Here are a few eateries you’ll want to check out.

22 West Tap and Grill

1601 Route 22

22 West Tap and Grill is a fairly new entry in the Bridgewater restaurant scene, but it’s quickly become a favorite for many residents. The sports bar and grill is large enough to hold 180 diners, yet never feels crowded. The menu is heavy on casual, time-tested favorites, such as beef brisket sandwiches, steaks, flatbreads, baby back ribs and burgers. In addition to beer, the restaurant offers a variety of inventive cocktails and drinks, including the Watermelon Cosmopolitan and the Whiskey Smash. If you’re not quite up to a night out, 22 West Tap and Grill also offers a takeout menu.

Café Emilia

705 Highway 202

When you’re in the mood for Italian, there’s no place better than Café Emilia. The restaurant prides itself on fresh ingredients and excellent service and adds its own take on classic shrimp, fish, chicken, veal and steak dishes. The wine list can be a little overwhelming, but the Café Emilia staff is glad to help you choose the perfect wine to complement your meal.

Booker & Zinc

Bridgewater Marriott

700 Commons Way

If you’re a local resident, you may have never considered dropping by the Marriott for a meal. After all, hotel restaurants typically serve uninspiring food to guests who value convenience over quality. That’s not the case at Booker & Zinc. Chefs use local produce to create inventive dishes sure to satisfy your taste buds. In addition to classic dishes, like wood-fired chicken, seared diver sea scallops and braised short ribs, the restaurant also offers wood-grilled flatbreads, filling bar snacks and hand-crafted cocktails. If you visit during breakfast hours, you’ll want to try the breakfast taco or the cornflake-crusted crunchy French toast.

Carnitas Taco Factory

574 Union Avenue

Carnitas Taco Factory offers a twist on the usual fast food experience. Their tacos, burritos, quesadillas and quesurritos are made with the freshest ingredients and are stuffed with your choice of chicken, beef brisket, shredded pork, Key Lime mahimahi or shrimp. There’s even a meatless selection for vegetarians. Hot sauce aficionados will love the large selection of hot sauces at Carnitas Taco Factory. Want to save a little money? Visit on Taco Tuesday when prices are reduced. Whether you choose to dine at the restaurant or take your taco back to your apartment, you’ll be glad you made the trip to Carnitas Taco Factory.

Thai Kitchen

1351 Prince Roger Avenue

Is Thai food normally too spicy for you? At Thai Kitchen, you get to choose the heat factor for your dish. In addition to Pad Thai, the Thai fusion restaurant serves a variety of tasty menu items you’ll want to try, like Squid in Love, which features sauteed squid, shrimp and chicken, or Gang Ped Yang, a tasty combination of roasted duck, red curry, bamboo shoots, coconut milk and pineapples. When you have limited time for a workday lunch, Thai Kitchen is an excellent option. Your appetizers and entrees will arrive quickly, enabling you to fill your stomach and get back to work in about an hour.

Top O’ Th’ Hill Tavern

1182 U.S. Highway 202/206

This old-fashioned neighborhood eatery offers classic comfort food. It’s the place to go to satisfy your urge for a thick slab of homemade meat loaf or a classic burger and fries. You’ll be glad you gave this no-frills tavern a try when you have a cold beer in your hand and a hearty steak in front of you. Top O’ Th’ Hill Tavern serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers live music on Saturday nights.

Are you looking for a new home close to Bridgewater’s many restaurants? Why not pay a visit to Fairway – 28, a Country Classics Rental Community. We offer brand new 1- and 2-bedroom luxury apartments that offer all the features you need, including in-unit washers and dryers, large tiled bathrooms, modern kitchens with silestone counters, your own private balcony and garages for an extra fee.