paryzer Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 It's only about 20 minutes away from us. Montclair is much closer to us than Tenafly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rozrapp Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Shows how little I sometimes know about NJ geography despite having lived here for more than 50 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tubbs Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 The Tenafly location is really random on a side street nowhere near the main downtown. Rent must be dirt cheap or maybe they own the building. I think they also own a place in Dumont or Bergenfield with a different name. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 I don't know the place -- either location -- so thanks for the heads up everyone. I'm not a real estate expert, but Tenafly is a "high end" town, so whenever I think Tenafly, I always think real estate is expensive (which of course is a relative term). Montclair gets a lot more foot-traffic, more dense and higher population, however, I still don't think Tenafly has any "cheap" rent deals. Of course I could be completely wrong, and if they own the building, that can make a major difference. Thanks again for the heads up everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 Lunch at -- Capital Grille (Parmaus), Mantra (Paramus), E&V (Paterson)... Dinner at -- Brick House (Wyckoff), 103 Prime at Valentino's (Park Ridge), Sear (Closter), Dimora (Norwood)... And a few more...but it turns out to be mostly some of the "regular" spots...details to follow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 Bacari Grill (dinner -- excellent as usual!), Oceanos (dinner, also excellent as usual), an off the radar Jack's Cafe (Westwood -- diner vibe and aesthetics, but very good food -- from crab bisque and 4 or 5 other types of soup, including French onion, to steak sandwiches, to jambalaya, to crab cakes, pastas, grilled shrimp, various chicken dishes, and more); looks are deceiving because this is a "foodie's place to go". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tubbs Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Cafe Matisse was the most disappointing dining experience I've had in years. There was nothing good about it except the wine I brought, although even that didn't show great in the shitty catering glasses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paryzer Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 We finally made it to Mezza in Westwood and had an excellent dinner Sunday night. Thanks for the recommendation Tubbs and E.L.A.! The service was much better here than in their Livingston location. We started off with several appetizers of delicious Moroccan cigars which were braised short ribs wrapped in crispy phyllo dough with an herb infused tahini dipping sauce. We also shared Israeli fish tacos with branzino, Israeli salad, yogurt spread, and Dukkah nut mixture. Our third appetizer was crispy cauliflower with raisins, toasted pine nuts, and scallions, in a lemon and parsley infused tahini sauce. For entrees Mrs. P had an almond crusted grouper with sautéed spinach, tomato, lemon and brown butter sauce and cauliflower puree. Mrs. P asked for the sauces and purees on the side to keep the fish nice and crispy. It was delicious, but the presentation doesn’t look too good since everything was on the side. I had a sweet and savory Moroccan chicken tagine with Goffle Farm braised chicken, couscous, eggplant, preserved lemon, apricots, raisins, and currants. It all went great with a 2016 Cooper and Thief red blend aged in bourbon barrels for 3 months. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tubbs Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Trattoria carpaccio in Englewood. Never disappoints. Small, cozy spot. Good service. You order off the blackboard specials, but if you really want a menu they have that too, or they'll make whatever you want...marsala, parmigiana, you get the point. Everything cooked well, portions aren't nj-sized but plenty big for me. The wine glasses are certainly not zaltos but they are perfectly acceptable. With shared app (great clams) and dessert check barely breaks 100 per couple. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paryzer Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 We had a sensational dinner at newly opened French / Korean inspired restaurant Bloom. Chefs and owners Woo and Joann are true artists. They both have graduated from the French Culinary Institute. Chef Woo has worked at some of the more renowned restaurants as Jean-Georges, Daniel, and Morimoto. I highly recommend this tiny little restaurant that sits a little over 20 people. Everything was bursting with flavor. The servers were very friendly. We have to add this to our regular rotation. Rich, I think that you & Peggy would like this restaurant.We shared a couple of appetizers of excellent filet mignon beef tartare with Asian pear, crispy farro, quail egg, and a spicy Korean chili paste. This was unlike any beef tartare I have ever had. The same can be said for the awesome grilled Spanish Octopus with salsa verde, quinoa, and cauliflower puree.For entrees Mrs. P had the amazing crispy monkfish with ginger soy brown butter and saffron risotto. I had the melt in your mouth short ribs with carrot puree and potatoes. It all went great with Le Plan Cotes Du Rhone.The portions are a little small, (as is the restaurant which barely seats over 20), and you won’t get any leftovers, but I would rather have quality over quantity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
E.L.A. Posted August 29, 2019 Author Share Posted August 29, 2019 Over the last couple of weeks...River Palm, Savini, No. 12, Rudy's (Cliffside Park), Bacari Grill, Oceanos, Varka, AB&G (for lunch while running errands), St. Eve's, Mantra (lunch), Sangria (Mahwah), Jack's Cafe (Westwood, for lunch), Mezza (Westwood)...and Callahan's...and Hiram's... Yes, I know, I go to a lot of the same places over and over again, LOL. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tubbs Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Ate at River Palm (Edgewater) for the first time. Food was decent enough, I appreciate that they have a wine list that is more than supermarket junk and Opus One. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paryzer Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Over the last couple of weeks...River Palm, Savini, No. 12, Rudy's (Cliffside Park), Bacari Grill, Oceanos, Varka, AB&G (for lunch while running errands), St. Eve's, Mantra (lunch), Sangria (Mahwah), Jack's Cafe (Westwood, for lunch), Mezza (Westwood)...and Callahan's...and Hiram's... Yes, I know, I go to a lot of the same places over and over again, LOL. Sounds like a nice lineup of restaurants. I haven't been to St. Eve's in a while. There is nothing to be ashamed of going to the same restaurants over and over again. We have at least 6 or 7 restaurants that we go to on a monthly basis. If you find a restaurant with great food and service, that treats you like family, why wouldn't you want to return on a regular basis? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paryzer Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 We had an outstanding dinner at SLA Thai in Upper Montclair. It was our first, but certainly not last, time there. Everything was bursting with flavor. The servers were all very friendly. It is a tiny little restaurant in the middle of a hidden strip mall. We started off with some appetizers of excellent crispy duck salad with pineapple, apple, cashew nuts and fresh herbs; awesome spicy fish cakes with cucumber and vinegar. They had an herbal and spicy flavor that left your tongue tingling. Our last appetizer was Moo Ping - Thai grilled pork with jaew dipping sauce. For entrees Mrs. P had a branzino arugula salad with mango, tomatoes, strawberries, in a vinaigrette dressing. I had Chu Chee Kung- shrimp in homemade curry paste, creamy coconut, carrots, string beans, and kaffir lime leaves. We had a refreshing purple yam ice cream for dessert. It all went great with an Italian primitivo wine. Mrs' P already wants to return next Friday just for the duck salad alone, and to try a few new things. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chambolle Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 If the weather is nice (eta - and it’s looking nice), I’m definitely going (back) to Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township. This seems to have been decided for me and quite frankly I’m perfectly fine with it. I have been led to believe that lunch there at Rats (never been) is delightful … not sure if that’s just due to the setting or if the food is actually reasonably good (you know, for this sort of place) If anyone is familiar with the food at Rats, I’m happy to hear what’s good … or what’s not good I also want a backup plan / option B … in case of bad weather, for example, or ensuing visits This will be for a NJ weekend lunch with a nice setting / view (cuz Mom likes that ! and so I do … I mean who doesn’t). I’m NOT talking “fancy” or “formal” cuz that’s NOT what we’re looking for … we want “nice”. For example, last visit I took Mother Dear to Wine and Water in Watchung, at her request, which has a very nice view (for New Joisy) and she loved it. I thought the food was pretty much New Joisy food but Mother Dear loved it so Chambo absolutely adored the place. So bonus points for a view. But I don’t want to limit myself by requiring a nice view, of course. For example, to calibrate NJ people, Eno Terra’s dining room is fine and comfortable and you feel pretty good in there (not great but pretty good) … Elements is NOT what we want as it is too serious, too gastro, no interesting view, not a very interesting room IMHO, and yes I’m talking about their new location … A bullseye would have been 90 Acres but they no longer do lunch or even their Sunday brunch-lunch which I recall enjoying a few years ago. And a place that you can BYOB gets a bonus point because Chambo always likes to show off his stuff as you well know but, again, not required. Voila ! Now the most important thing … the location. We are meeting a lovely, older couple from Summit … Mother Dear is located east of Duke Farms in Hillsborough … I want the place to be geographically between us and Summit. If it’s closer to Summit, that’s perfectly fine since I am happy to drive all the way towards Summit and have the others drive less … hence the prior Princeton places are NOT a good GEO for this need whereas Wine and Water is very good … and I really don’t want to drive more than 40 minutes so don't tempt me with stuff east of Summit. Oh yeah, if possible, good food doesn’t hurt either … Let’s see if this yields some dead-on, on-target strikes … and if I don’t use these suggestions this time then my Mom and this couple could use them in the future … Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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