joechartreuse Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Can anyone here share thoughts and opinions on Bat Barry's in Westwood? I have been asked about it in regard to a friend's luncheon, but haven't had the experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meredith380 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Tomorrow I am considering Slamwich Scratch Kitchen in Madison for lunch-- http://www.yelp.com/biz/slamwich-scratch-kitchen-madison And Osteria Trevi for dinner- http://www.yelp.com/biz/osteria-trevi-madison No idea why these places have yet to be mentioned in the local media. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 Dinner at Park West last night...a couple of distinct differences from previous visits... The food was very good as always -- nothing new or different there. This is one of my favorite "everyday" type restaurants. I had the smoked chicken tacos appetizer and the hanger steak sandwich -- both of which I've had several times before. The first distinct difference was the portion size -- the chicken tacos were smaller portions, getting close to a bite-size portion, but larger. I wouldn't complain about the price or anything, but smaller sized tacos are going to be more difficult to eat, and enjoy IMO. They came in a rack, with a small amount of a sauce -- difficult to handle the two and get sauce on the tacos. Also, the steak sandwich was a smaller portion as well. Not nearly as much "value" as in the past. I could finished each half of the sandwich with four reasonable bites. Just a smaller sandwich, size wise, and portion/amount of steak wise as well. Personal gripe/side note -- the fries. I like their fries. They're good. However, just a personal gripe -- they serve fries that are small, short, broken, whatever pieces. I don't know if this is because they serve them in a basket and this is how they get them to fit into the basket or what -- but when you get small, short, broken pieces of fries, it's very hard to eat them and enjoy them. That's just my personal take, like, dislike, etc. The second difference -- for the first time, the service was poor. My friend had to wait quite a long time for his drink. I actually had to go and ask for it. Then the waiter somewhat disappeared. Now, we were in a corner, nice table, and the waiter was taking care of the table next to us as well, and I don't know what other tables were his. But his appearance and existence was scarce at best. We wanted more bread (the flat bread with the parmesan cheese) -- but he was nowhere to be found, and for quite some time. Then our appetizers came. Still didn't see him. After we were done with our appetizers, the bread was moot. Then -- major pet peeve -- we finished our appetizers, sat there, talked, and waited...and...NO ONE CLEARED OUR DISHES AWAY! They were both empty, just sitting there. No waiter, no bus-person, nothing. No one approached the table -- my friend's drink had been sitting empty as was mine. So, when the entrees come out, now the server (it wasn't the waiter who brought the entrees) was scrambling. He can't do both -- serve and clear -- at once. This is very amateurish. This guy's job is to bring the entree? What about another drink? More, new, silverware? More bread? It turns out when they took my appetizer plate away, they took away the fork and knife -- now, no silverware. My friend needed a fork as well. Anyway, we finished our entrees, and then felt a bit rushed. Maybe that was just me, I don't know. That wasn't a big deal. I am going to chalk the service up to an isolated incident as the service has always been very good. As far as the portion size -- I am not sure what to think. I'll see next time I go. Thanks and have a great weekend everyone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 Dinner this past weekend at Rudy's (Cliffside Park)...and I am glad to report...all is the same!!! Thankfully. Very good. Rudy's is an "old school" type Italian/Seafood place -- been there a long time, with a strong, local and wider area following. The couple seated on one side of us is from Fort Lee, and another couple was from over 30 minutes away in Essex County, both couples being regulars. That said, Rudy's has, in my opinion, the best calamari in Northern NJ. Don't look for Asian this, Thai that, or anything of the like -- it's simple, quality, fresh, calamari, but most importantly, it is done right!!! You can get mild, medium, sweet or spicy sauce. That's it. For my likes, it's the best. Not overly fried, not overdone, not inconsistent, just excellent execution. Period. I also had a small seafood salad -- simple, reliable, and very good. For the entree, I had the sauteed scungilli -- was itching a bit for scungilli as I hadn't had it in a while. It was very good, served with your choice of sauce and penne. In a sea of average, red sauce, pizza-type places, and a shortage of quality Italian/Seafood places in Bergen County...Rudy's is a classic, small, intimate, reliable place -- and they have very good food. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Lunch at the Ho Ho Kus Inn...sat in the bar area...very nice... Very good food, excellent service...certainly a return, reliable, go to spot for me when I am in the area. Side note -- good burger! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 Quick bite at Sakura Bana -- same same, very good sushi as always. I wanted to go to Wasabi -- change of pace, hadn't been there in a long time, etc. -- but my friend insisted on SB. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 Burger at Jack's in Westwood...excellent!!! Quick bite at Callahan's in Norwood...excellent!!! Also, had a casual dinner with some friends at the Blind Boar in Norwood. Hadn't eaten there is quite some time -- and the food was good. I enjoyed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 Had dinner at the Craft House (Suffern) last Saturday night...had drinks at the bar first...bartender was nice, but not a seasoned professional...drinks were fair...I had a martini, which was OK, although I asked for it dirty and it wasn't, perhaps very slightly. I didn't watch it being made, but it wasn't a "tasty" or "good" tasting martini. I also asked for it painfully ice cold and it wasn't. Not major knocks. My friend had a mojito, which really wasn't good at all. Once seated, service started off OK -- and while they brought menus very quickly, one knock -- no one offered or brought water, or bread. We had to ask for water and it wasn't brought right over. I was a bit surprised that there were no specials (off the menu). But that's OK. We ordered -- a flatbread and the seafood salad for appetizers, both very good. However, we had to wait quite a while for them. The place wasn't mobbed, the bar was relatively empty, and there were 4 empty tables in the main dining room, and only half filled in the smaller, more private dining area. Once done, again, then we waited a long time for our entrees. I was a bit surprised it was taking so long, so when I finally saw our waiter -- he seemed a bit inaccessible and not regularly visible -- I asked about our entrees. He didn't even break stride and looked at me as if it were almost a stupid question, and smiled, and said "it's coming" -- yes, I am sure they were, but so is Labor Day! LOL. They didn't come right out as we waited almost another 10 minutes. No one offered/asked if we wanted another drink. We had to get someone's attention there as well. The entrees were very good -- chicken focaccia sandwich and the farfalle with grilled shrimp, asparagus, pesto, etc. Both done/prepared very well. The chicken sandwich was a nice blend of grilled chicken, avocado, smoked bacon, swiss and a herbed mayo. Nice flavor and taste. The farfalle was good too -- just the right amount of a basil pesto sauce, blended well. Came together nicely. So, drinks and service were a bit off -- but I will go back. I will call it an off-night, because my other times there have been excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rail Paul Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 I've noticed the service at Craft House has definitely slipped in my 4-5 visits over the past few months. from really good when I was with important people like you and Nick and Dee, to disinterested in a largely empty room. Food has been good, but not as good as it was. My sense is the reviews are in, the initial response last year was good, and they're milking it. The A team has moved on, and the B team is holding the fort. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 I've noticed the service at Craft House has definitely slipped in my 4-5 visits over the past few months. from really good when I was with important people like you and Nick and Dee, to disinterested in a largely empty room. Food has been good, but not as good as it was. My sense is the reviews are in, the initial response last year was good, and they're milking it. The A team has moved on, and the B team is holding the fort. Interesting...and agreed...my friend no longer works there. I agree with all of your comments. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Had a quick lunch at the Rolling Pin (Cafe) in Westwood...anyone know it, has anyone been? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
double 0 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Sure, been there many times. The wife loves the "cuteness" of it, I find it it a little tight. Always a good place to go for lunch(soup and sandwich). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Sure, been there many times. The wife loves the "cuteness" of it, I find it it a little tight. Always a good place to go for lunch(soup and sandwich). Thank you. So, I've passed by the place maybe a thousand times, and never went. I recently went to Jack's (a few stores down) for a burger -- and as I commented prior, they have an excellent burger -- but a friend who I was meeting said Jack's was closed for vacation, so let's go to the Rolling Pin. Anyway, yes, it is tight. There was a line/waiting list. I don't know if that's normal. Nice little "cafe" type place, focuses on sandwiches, soup, salads, etc. We had a quick bite, we each had a sandwich -- and they were good! Interesting toppings -- a cranberry mayo, caramelized onion spread, a horseradish cheddar, and a garlic hummus just to name a few. Some interesting breads as well. The food was good and I'd have no problem going back if I were in the mood, in Westwood, wanted a quick, lite bite. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rail Paul Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I've meant to stop by the little diner by the railroad tracks on W Madison Avenue in Dumont for years. Have never gotten around to it, although the place has been there for decades. Have to put it higher on the list. Dumont iseems like a nice walking town, with interesting stores. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I've meant to stop by the little diner by the railroad tracks on W Madison Avenue in Dumont for years. Have never gotten around to it, although the place has been there for decades. Have to put it higher on the list. Dumont iseems like a nice walking town, with interesting stores. What's the name of it Paul? I am heading to the Brick House tonight...wasn't going to eat, but who knows. LOL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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