E.L.A. Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 That would likely be Lan Sheng. Haven't been there yet, but the Yelpers like it. Continued good marks from many people. I'm delighted as that may be an opportunity for other older industrial towns awash in bar and restaurant licenses to attract good chefs / owners at a reasonable price. That's good for the business all around. Yes, that's it...I haven't been either, but I am hoping to go next week. I agree with you -- it might be an opportunity as I think it's hard to attract "good chefs" at a reasonable price, and that can make it hard for the small, local, every day kind of place. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Quick dinner at Gotham City Diner (Fair Lawn) -- very good as usual. In my opinion, the best diner in the area. Also, repeat dinners at Oceanos, Sakura Bana, A Mano, and repeat lunches at Finnegan's (Westwood), Capital Grille (Paramus), and Kosher Nosh (we didn't have enough time to go to Eppes Essen, LOL). All very good as always.Got a few new places I'll be hitting this week and next week...Craft House!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Bamboo House...Ridgewood... Listen, you have to get past the "looks" of this place as looks are deceiving. However, as far as ambiance, aesthetics, and the like -- don't expect much, because you ain't gonna get it. LOL. This is a very small place, with very few tables, and depending on how many tables they have out and are seating for, it might even be a touched cramped. This time I went and there were 4 tables set up. They do a massive take-out business -- very busy and very popular. Bottom line -- you are going here for the food, and it's very good. Everything I had was very good, excellent -- a lot of flavor, tastes, authentic dishes. They have a diverse and in-depth offering on the menu -- and very good size portions. While I've eaten here several times, it's never actually been a specific trip here to go out for dinner, spend time, enjoy an evening, etc. Every time, it's been a few of us meeting for a bite to eat before another meeting or something of the like. This time, I had a meeting at a law firm's office in Ridgewood, and me, another attorney and a CPA had about an hour or so and we decided to meet for a "quick bite" so to speak. That said, in cases like this, I tend to order what I know, like, etc. It's not always conducive to try new things, experiment, etc. -- and often, I am not in that mood. Sometimes, I am a "narrow" eater -- sticking with things I like, dishes I like, etc. However, I do enjoy going, experimenting, ordering different dishes, sharing, etc. Anyway, I've had dumplings here on more than one occasion -- and they are some of the best I've had in the area. I've also had ginger chicken and sesame chicken. both of which were prepared perfectly and tasted very good -- excellent balance between flavors, sauce, etc. I've had other appetizers, various rices, and other entrees -- and everything has always been very good to excellent.Give this place a chance if you want very good food. But don't go for the ambiance. It's all about the food. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 Some other threads addressed some of this already...but...here goes a few... Craft House, in Suffern...see the thread...excellent. A Mano...again, as always, the pizza is the focal point here and it's very good. Pig & Prince, in Montclair, located inside the old Lackawana Train Station Terminal -- see my post/review, good food, service a work in progress... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meredith380 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Ruth's Chris in Parsippany. The prices are a bit out of control- they are more than Roots and Rods. My steak wasn't cooked to temperature. The loaded baked potato was raw. For $300 I expected more. The service was fantastic, the wine list over priced and the raw potato cut in half was served upside down. Added to that, the potato was so cold I unfortunately mistook what I thought was a piece of potato and turned out to be a pat of butter. I almost threw up on the spot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share Posted February 15, 2015 I was just at Roots (Ridgewood) and once again -- excellent all around. For me personally, if the prices at a Ruth's Chris is equal to, yet alone more than Roots, I would probably never go to Ruth's Chris again. A blip on the radar, a little hiccup, or something of the like -- I get that. Things happen. It's not a deal/experience breaker. I've had steaks not prepared/cooked as ordered, however, usually it's close. Occasionally it's way off, but that usually happens at a lower end or "sub-par" type of place. At nicer, high end, quality place, I've never experienced that. However, a series of missteps -- that type of situation should not be the norm. Not at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share Posted February 15, 2015 Stopped at Benny's (Fair Lawn) for a few breakfast items. First, I needed bagels, so stopped at Fair Lawn Bagels, which is just down the road from Benny's, right on Saddle River Road. These are excellent bagels! That's all they do -- no salads, no sandwiches, nothing...just bagels, and again, they are excellent. One of the more popular and well known bagel places in the area. Then on to Benny's -- excellent service from (what I think was) the owner. She was a young woman working behind the counter, but seemed to be in charge and supervising everything that was going on. She was very friendly, accommodating, and very much wanting to make sure everything ordered was prepared correctly. Excellent breakfast sandwiches and a lot of the other items looked very good as well. Also got a yogurt dish with fruit and granola -- prepared in-store -- it was very good. I remember Benny's years ago -- under the original owner, Benny. It was always very good. Well, it hasn't changed. When I am in the area, needing a quick bite, breakfast, etc. -- I'm going back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 Had lunch at the Kosher Nosh...I was in the area, in the mood, and that was the call. LOL. Had some kasha varnishkes, with the gravy -- good KV, nice flavor and taste, but the gravy was a bit "thin" and bland. Added some flavor, but minimal. Also had a combo sandwich -- pastrami and brisket -- nice size/serving. Good sandwich. I rank the pastrami and the sandwich itself well below Eppes Essen. Below Hobby's as well. I've tried others in Bergen County, but in my opinion, the Kosher Nosh is the best kosher deli you'll find (in Bergen County). I also don't know of a better pastrami sandwich in Bergen County either. Just my opinion. LOL. The potato pancakes were good -- nice size, big, thick, but good balance. Main dish came with three. I don't know how many the "side dish" comes with, but I think they are much smaller as well. Overall, nice lunch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Where is everybody? Vacation? Trapped in the house? LOL. Anyway -- not a busy weekend eating out as I was out of town at a bar mitzvah, stayed over and avoided having to drive back in the snow, and went to a nice brunch hosted by the family on Sunday. But, it was a nice hot dog week/weekend -- stopped at Johnny & Hanges...and then...Hiram's. Also had dinner at Peppercorn's...good food. Enjoyed it. Good scope on the menu, and each time I went, good food. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picnicchef Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I can't stand it! J and H, Bennies, and Kosher Nosh. I did all three the past two weeks! We must be missing each other, or standing on the same line! Try Riverview East next time for a good dog. I prefer it to J and H, but I am spoiled from my high school days of late night all the way still taste it the next day, in Paterson! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 I can't stand it! J and H, Bennies, and Kosher Nosh. I did all three the past two weeks! We must be missing each other, or standing on the same line! Try Riverview East next time for a good dog. I prefer it to J and H, but I am spoiled from my high school days of late night all the way still taste it the next day, in Paterson! LOL...our paths are crossing, and constantly. LOL. Actually, I have been so remiss in coming to Picnic, and for that I apologize. I've been to Riverview East -- not in a while, but yes, it's a good dog. J & H has never been my first choice for dogs, but it's close, convenient, etc., and it's "good" dog. I prefer -- those that are currently open/available, and certainly not in order, LOL -- Hiram's, Rutt's Hut, Callahan's, and Jimmy Buff's. Last time I went to Kosher Nosh, it was good. I went with a combo sandwich -- change of pace for me. It was good, but I can't help but compare any visit to the Kosher Nosh with Eppes Essen, LOL. The kasha varnishkes, as I said, were good, but the gravy was a bit bland. I am not an "add salt" kind of person, but it was OK. I'd order it again, but that's because I like kasha varnishkes. LOL. Like I've always said, I think the Kosher Nosh is the best you'll find in Bergen County, but I've itching for a trip to Eppes Essen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picnicchef Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Last week I had the pastrami, and ordered a third of a pound of tongue to add to it. A little thousand Island, a little Swiss cheese, a little kraut, and a few minutes in a saute pan with butter, absolute heaven! Dutch House burger as well, black and blue... Oh, and a nice liverwurst and onion from the Swiss Pork Store...Fair Lawn has some real winners! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 Fair Lawn does -- just between those three, you are in good shape; deli, burgers, sandwiches, etc. LOL. Add Benny's into the mix, and to top it all off...Oceanos...all done! LOL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Where is everybody??? Is everyone not eating? You must be starving. LOL. Had dinner last night at the Brick House (Wyckoff)...excellent...wedge salad (I know what you must be thinking -- "it's a salad, what could they possibly do with a salad to make it excellent, it's just a salad, etc.") and the skirt steak. Aldo has been doing his thing for a very long time, both at the Brick House and at Aldo's, and he does it very, very well. I've never had a sub-par experience, and never not had a very, very good meal at either of his restaurants. Been there for lunch, dinner, drinks, late night/bite to eat, a repass luncheon, etc. -- always excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rail Paul Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Sounds like you've been dining in interesting places. It's a blessing that we have so many good choices in such a small area. I'm back from the southern Caribbean and Florida, so I'll be filling in content on those areas soon. And, trying to figure how to shed a few pounds... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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