So...where'd you eat this week?

[E.L.A.]

I am hoping everyone is done with left-overs...LOL.

 

I am a bit behind in some of my postings, but like many of you I've been busy -- holiday, short week, etc.

 

And of course I was busy eating left-overs. LOL.

 

Hope everyone had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday...and looking forward to more posts here...thank you in advance.

[prasantrin]

Gotta say, this is one of my favourite threads. It makes me want to visit New Jersey and just eat my way around.

[E.L.A.]

Gotta say, this is one of my favourite threads. It makes me want to visit New Jersey and just eat my way around.

 

Thanks...some very good places to eat in and around NJ...I laugh when people who live in very Northern NJ say they "exclusively" go into and have to go into NYC to eat. I am sure there are some people who do in fact exclusively go into NYC -- but -- 3 meals a day? Or even 1? Doesn't matter. So there are people who do that.

 

That's fine, to each their own. But it doesn't mean NJ doesn't have very good restaurants...it just means that that person doesn't like them...not one of them. LOL.

 

Had lunch at Dinallo's early last week -- a casual business lunch -- and yes, ordered the cheeseburger. Still a very good burger. Prepared and executed just as ordered, served with some fries...but a very good cheeseburger. Hope Dinallo's stays open and things work out OK for him.

[E.L.A.]

Going to be in New City, Blauvelt, Nyack, and other parts of Rockland this week...so on my list is Bailey's and Velo...

 

Any other ideas?

In the recent past, I've been at the Mason Jar, Matthew's Diner (HoHoKus), and a few others...

 

Anyone else enjoying eating out?

[ngatti]

Steak and Shake.

 

What can I say? I was at Paramus Park doing some Xmas Shopping. Not bad. Better than Smashburger. Different AND better than Bobby's. Not as good as BUCU.

 

I had an organic grass-fed classic steakburger. I wouldn't be able to tell what I was eating for all the stuff that comes on it. But it was tasty enuf.

 

I noticed a small Mexican cafe at the old Pacific Grill location. I would have liked to try it. I've been to Tommy's Coal Pizza. Very skippable..

[E.L.A.]

Steak and Shake.

 

What can I say? I was at Paramus Park doing some Xmas Shopping. Not bad. Better than Smashburger. Different AND better than Bobby's. Not as good as BUCU.

 

I had an organic grass-fed classic steakburger. I wouldn't be able to tell what I was eating for all the stuff that comes on it. But it was tasty enuf.

 

I noticed a small Mexican cafe at the old Pacific Grill location. I would have liked to try it. I've been to Tommy's Coal Pizza. Very skippable..

 

Cool. I would agree -- better than Smashburger, not as good as BuCu, but for me they are not as good as Bobby's either.

 

So what did you have on it? "all the stuff that comes on it" -- please, do tell. Thanks.

[ngatti]

Mayo, Mustard, Catsup, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, I think Onion. Maybe even more stuff. I don't remember. The staff was very polite and friendly. Everyone places their order and gets a vibrator. When it goes off; you return to the counter to pick up your food.

 

The fries looked hand cut with a fry-maker. Skin on 60 count Idahos if I had to hazard a guess. In between shoestring and regular size. A little soggy, but I don't suppose they get a 24 hour soak and a low/high temperature double fry either. Still, they were seasoned nicely. Tasted fine.

 

Bobby's? Been twice. I've gotten a glimpse of the kitchen. No thanks. Though quite a few friends really like it there.

[E.L.A.]

Mayo, Mustard, Catsup, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, I think Onion. Maybe even more stuff. I don't remember. The staff was very polite and friendly. Everyone places their order and gets a vibrator. When it goes off; you return to the counter to pick up your food.

 

The fries looked hand cut with a fry-maker. Skin on 60 count Idahos if I had to hazard a guess. In between shoestring and regular size. A little soggy, but I don't suppose they get a 24 hour soak and a low/high temperature double fry either. Still, they were seasoned nicely. Tasted fine.

 

Bobby's? Been twice. I've gotten a glimpse of the kitchen. No thanks. Though quite a few friends really like it there.

 

Yes, that's a lot. I don't like my burgers over-loaded. Sure, I'll take a bacon-cheeseburger, or something of the like -- and on a rare occasion, if I am in the mood, I might have lettuce, tomato, and onion on it. But depending on the burger, I don't want what I am getting to be over-loaded or overwhelmed by catsup, mustard (no, thank you), pickes, mayo, and so on. Just depends on what I am getting and my mood. LOL.

 

I think really good fries are getting tougher to come by these days. Maybe it's one of the easiest places to cut corners or save money, etc.; I don't know. As far as Bobby's -- I actually was taken on a tour, inside the kitchen, before/when they first opened. I was invited to a grand opening event and all I can say is back then, before they opened...the kitchen was very clean! LOL. Just kidding. I can't speak to the kitchen now, and that's your area of expertise...but I like the finished product very much. I guess it's like they say...everyone enjoys the sausage...they just don't want to see how it's made. LOL.

[E.L.A.]

Lunch this week...sandwiches...one day from Dante's and another day from Jerry's...both excellent!

[picnicchef]

Did you all read that Bucu Burger closed? A shame, I liked those burgers!

[Rail Paul]

Did you all read that Bucu Burger closed? A shame, I liked those burgers!

 

That's very interesting. I hadn't read that, so thanks for sharing.

[E.L.A.]

Did you all read that Bucu Burger closed? A shame, I liked those burgers!

 

I was told they were closing, but no, I didn't read it until it was posted. Busy time of year for me so I didn't get a chance to hunt down what was in the news. I too liked BuCu. They weren't my top/favorite, but I did like them and went there very often.

 

Thanks for posting.

[E.L.A.]

Had to visit a friend at Morristown Medical Center...decided to have dinner at GK's Red Dog Tavern (at the Madison Hotel, home of Rod's Steakhouse)...just wanted a burger, some pub grub type food, etc.

 

Started with a bowl of the shrimp gumbo...not bad. It was OK. They didn't have oyster crackers or crackers of any kind, so they gave me some of those "everything" flat bread type things. Not really applicable for gumbo, but maybe add some more flavor, LOL. It was OK, not a boatload of flavor, but certainly not bland.

 

On to the burgers -- very, very good. I had the GK Prime Burger -- smoked cheddar cheese and carmelized onions. Cooked perfectly, as ordered. The cheese was very good, nice flavor and complimented the onions -- which were very flavorful and carmelized very well, not too much and not too little. They served the burger with their french fries -- crispy but not over-done. Overall very good. They also serve the burger with perfectly cut pieces of iceberg lettuce and a hearty slice of tomato, and a slice of pickle (which I happened to like). It was a half-sour type in that it was crunchy, and it was good. The burger is served on a hearty kaiser type roll. It wasn't too small where the burger fell apart, and it wasn't too big where it lost and overpowered the burger. It was just right. The burger was very, very good.

[menton1]

Anyone been to the new Vale in River Vale? Seems to be getting some positive buzz...

[double 0]

I've been. Nothing special in the food dept, but they seem to have a good cheaters bar scene. Personally I'd go to Davy's to get the same kind of food and in the case of the burgers, better, for 2/3 of the price.