Dining Suggestions Near the Prudential Center

[Evelyn]

Any thoughts? 

[rozrapp]

Casa Vasca, in the Ironbound section of Newark, is not far from the Prudential Center. We haven’t been there in ages, but the food was always excellent. 

 

 

[Evelyn]

Thank you, @rozrapp

[rozrapp]

@Evelyn, I’m curious to know if Casa Vasca is still excellent. So, if you do go there, I hope you will post about your experience.

[splinky]

You pretty much have to go to the Ironbound section unless you want Chipotle

[Evelyn]

In its infinite wisdom, the NCAA doesn't tell you where your team hotel is for the Regionals until you've made that part of the Tournament. In our case that would be sometime Sunday postgame. So, I have no idea how far that could be. Usually the hotels are very close to the arena. But, I appreciate the heads up.

[Anthony Bonner]

Are you there for first weekend or second weekend? Ironbound will be good for groups. More interesting stuff in Jersey City.

Let us know when you know the hotel and we can sort you out.  

I wouldn't totally assume the team hotel is in Newark. 

Edited March 19 by Anthony Bonner

[bloviatrix]

2 hours ago, Anthony Bonner said:

I wouldn't totally assume the team hotel is in Newark.

There's a good chance you're going to be staying in the Meadowlands near MetLife Stadium.

[Anthony Bonner]

Let me be the five millionth person to make this joke. Gonna be tough beating duke at home in the regional finals. 

 

[bloviatrix]

8 minutes ago, Anthony Bonner said:

Let me be the five millionth person to make this joke. Gonna be tough beating duke at home in the regional finals. 

 

Speaking of Duke - one night last week the boy asked us what a douchebag was. I bit my tongue and did not say a Duke alum.

[Evelyn]

2nd week.

Normally the hotels are no more than 20 minutes from wherever the arena is. If we make the Sweet 16, hopefully that hotel will be in a better location than this week’s. The hotel itself is great. But, it is located across the street from the Cleveland Clinic. And its emergency room. I gave up counting sirens after the 5th one some time around 2:30 am. Add in Life Flights landing, and it is not a restful environment 😱

I appreciate the help. And will update as things become clearer.

When the bracket was announced I thought I would have fewer “asks” for tickets. I was wrong. Of course lots from Bama people. And a surprising number of Dukies. Especially those I’ve met in the finance world. Ummmmm, not happening for those in blue and white.

[Anthony Bonner]

One of the guys I work with closely is a born and bred Jersey guy who went to Bama, loved it but then came home.  I wonder if he got tix. 

One of my closest childhood friends (Duke Lax Bro) oldest daughter was picking between Climpson and Bama. Was all excited to do an embarrassing dad's trip down to Tuscaloosa, but she chose poorly. Bama rapidly becoming a destination school for kids from the fancy burbs who historically would have gone to Michigan, Wisconsin other big ten school.

The issue is Newark just doesn't have many hotels. 

 

 

Edited March 20 by Anthony Bonner

[Anthony Bonner]

Double

 

 

Edited March 20 by Anthony Bonner

[Evelyn]

We are about to have more out of state/country students than Alabamians. Great for the bottom line. But not for legacies. Kids pretty much need a 4.0 to get in.

In other news-while I don’t know exactly which hotel we’ll have. I do know that all the teams are staying at hotels na/at EWR.

[Evelyn]

Re your friend and tix. Probably not through UA, unless he is a basketball season ticket holder. Or a very large donor. But the secondary market still has some. 

[Evelyn]

On 3/19/2025 at 2:58 PM, Anthony Bonner said:

Are you there for first weekend or second weekend? Ironbound will be good for groups. More interesting stuff in Jersey City.

Let us know when you know the hotel and we can sort you out.  

I wouldn't totally assume the team hotel is in Newark. 

2nd weekend. Will do. Thanks!

The team eats at the hotel. But we have a few different groups that want to go out. Players’ families, donors and higher up University personnel.
 

Cleveland right now. Playing Friday morning (here-11:40 am). And hopefully Sunday. We won’t even know our Sunday tip time until late Friday night after all the games for the day are (done if we win our game). If not, back to Tuscaloosa as soon as our charter company can send a plane.

The hotels are usually no more than 20 minutes from the arena. Normally a Marriott or an Intercontinental (our hotel here). If we win both games here, we are going straight to Newark Sunday night. Presuming no weather issues, charter issues or FBO issues.
 

I always feel so sorry for our travel person. It is very stressful not being able to plan everything until “the last minute”.

 

and now we’ve had a change of plans-we will be at the Teaneck Marriott if we win tomorrow 

[bloviatrix]

I know that hotel very well. I pass it on my way to the rink a minimum of 3x/week. It's actually pretty nice. Some of the best bagels around are to be found nearby on Teaneck Road - Teaneck Road Hot Bagels.

Edited March 23 by bloviatrix

[bloviatrix]

On 3/20/2025 at 4:20 PM, Anthony Bonner said:

 Bama rapidly becoming a destination school for kids from the fancy burbs who historically would have gone to Michigan, Wisconsin other big ten school.

The timing of this is spot on - one of my friends from college is visiting Bama with her boys this weekend. They're also considering U of Florida.

[bloviatrix]

I can share my opinion of most of the kosher eateries in Teaneck, but I have a feeling that won't be of much interest to you. That said, Patis on Cedar Lane is part of a small chain and everyone I take there enjoys it. Pastries, sandwiches, soup, etc.

[bloviatrix]

BTW, the NY Giants stay at that hotel before all home games.

[Evelyn]

Thank you @bloviatrix. All information is greatly appreciated!
 

Do you know of any fine dining options nearby? The kids and coaches will eat at the hotel. That way our nutritionist can make sure each player gets the diet he needs. It would be great to have good info for our donors. They appreciate good food and wine.

[Evelyn]

PS-I hope their visit to Bama is a good one

[Anthony Bonner]

1) Obviously Florida is the better choce. 

2) Man - Teaneck is like the worst of all possible places for fine dining - its so close to Manhattan that it just makes sense for most people just to drive into the city. I believe there are some chain steak house places in Paramus.  For similar reasons I really never eat around there. When i am around there its usually for sports (Teaneck has a huge armory that is the big indoor soccer facitlity for north jersey, and the park your hotel overlooks is the home of one of the big youth soccer clubs) and so when i go to eat its usually kbbq in Fort Lee ish area - which Korean food will really be your best option around there, but not really fine dining.   There are some reasonably well thought of places in northern Bergen county - but I haven't been to any of them as it would take me just as long to get to the city.   Will you have a car or relying on Uber (not great but ok)

Ridgewood might have some options - Felina is Italian, reasonably good. I've only been to the summit location but that feels like a place the fine dining folks would feel correct in. Roots is an ok local steak chain. Again they'll be happy.  but like if you have a car service you can be in manhattan in almost the same amout of time as getting to ridgewood if you are going against traffic (which you would be)

Sorry wish I could be more helpful. my world is mostly a little further south and west. And everyone i know who lives near teaneck is orthodox jewish. 

Edited March 24 by Anthony Bonner

[Evelyn]

1 hour ago, Anthony Bonner said:

1) Obviously Florida is the better choce. 

2) Man - Teaneck is like the worst of all possible places for fine dining - its so close to Manhattan that it just makes sense for most people just to drive into the city. I believe there are some chain steak house places in Paramus.  For similar reasons I really never eat around there. When i am around there its usually for sports (Teaneck has a huge armory that is the big indoor soccer facitlity for north jersey, and the park your hotel overlooks is the home of one of the big youth soccer clubs) and so when i go to eat its usually kbbq in Fort Lee ish area - which Korean food will really be your best option around there, but not really fine dining.   There are some reasonably well thought of places in northern Bergen county - but I haven't been to any of them as it would take me just as long to get to the city.   Will you have a car or relying on Uber (not great but ok)

Ridgewood might have some options - Felina is Italian, reasonably good. I've only been to the summit location but that feels like a place the fine dining folks would feel correct in. Roots is an ok local steak chain. Again they'll be happy.  but like if you have a car service you can be in manhattan in almost the same amout of time as getting to ridgewood if you are going against traffic (which you would be)

Sorry wish I could be more helpful. my world is mostly a little further south and west. And everyone i know who lives near teaneck is orthodox jewish. 

On 3/19/2025 at 2:58 PM, Anthony Bonner said:

Are you there for first weekend or second weekend? Ironbound will be good for groups. More interesting stuff in Jersey City.

Let us know when you know the hotel and we can sort you out.  

I wouldn't totally assume the team hotel is in Newark. 

1. On some things we’ll just have to disagree .

2. Figures. This crew is very picky. So it sounds like we’ll have to do car service into the city. Unless they’ll give us one of our busses (that sound you heard was hell freezing over 😱😅)

I appreciate the guidance.

[bloviatrix]

I can only comment on kosher places in Bergen County. There is a huge Korean community in Fort Lee so there are probably some good places there.

As Bonner says, you're really close to Manhattan - it takes me 17 minutes to get to Ice House (4-rink complex in Hackensack aka our home away from home) from my apartment on the UWS when there is no traffic. Which means about 12 minutes from my place to your hotel.