jerseybill52's Profile
Le Castagne
It is five years – five years since the last time we ate here. I was unhappy for the most part with that last meal looking back on my restaurant diary. Which explains why it’s been five years since we last ate here. So, it will likely be five more years before I come back again, if ever. Now, as for myself I have only myself to blame for the items which I ordered and I won’t discuss them much here. I had a shredded chicken over mixed greens salad. I thought the chicken would be room temp or warm – it was straight from the frig. That’s my fault, I should have realized they would prep the chicken well before service and keep it in the frig. I’m just not accustomed to cold chicken in a salad. Second was my poor choice on entrée for lunch. Tagliatelli with braised boar cheek. Didn’t like it. My bad pick. So, my mea culpa’s out of the way here are the things I have a bone to pick about.
Wine service - $12 a glass for the house Cab and they give you about 150mm. That’s $120 for a 1.5 liter bottle that likely costs them $14 or $15. That’s an outrageous mark-up. Now my wife’s meal is what really ticked me off. She got a lunch special – Tilapia served over mashed potatoes with sautéed Swiss chard. The slice of Tilapia was not as big as a pack for poker cards. I mean, it was less than the size of my palm. And the Swiss chard – and this is not a high cost item – but there were no more than two small forkfuls at most! It was pitiful how little Swiss chard there was! It was a joke! I used to think of this as one of the better restaurants in Philly. It is definitely off my list of any spot I would go to eat ever again. Overpriced wine, ridiculously small servings on the specials, and not worth the price. $60 for 5 wines and $68 for two apps and two entrees at lunch. And small portions to boot.
Very Disgusted.
Belgian Restaurants in Central NJ
You are SOL pal - No Belgian in Central Jersey I ever heard of.
Trenton Tomato Pies
I must give thumbs down to Wildflowers. I live next town over in Ewing and I don't think the pizza is worth the trip.
Trenton Tomato Pies
I will be out voted here - no doubt. But my vote goes to La Villa across the river in Morrisville, PA. They have excellent thin crust Sicilian style tomato pies. I love it. An Italian buddy of mine took me here for the first time a few years back. It's a BYOB. Unlike Hudson (which I loved in the 1980's) I find that having a bathroom at a restaurant can be a plus. Delorenzo's on Hudson St is covered by an ancient grandfather clause which exempts them from providing a toilet for customers. One last item you may want to consider is that La Villa has some of the MOST beautiful wait staff you will ever find in a pizza joint. “Did you see that waitress.” is a common comment when we have lunch there. Over the summer I had lunch with a friend brought his 20 year old female summer intern to lunch with him. Neither of us made any comment about our waitress in deference to the young lady with us - but before the meal was over she commented "Did you notice that the waitress is gorgeous?"
Additionally, my wife loves the thin crust Sicilian here. It really is great.
http://lavilla-restaurant.com/
Ferry House in Princeton - Big Let Down
Need I say it – a disappointment. Well, Princeton has never been known for fine dining, much as some spots might try. We had dinner last night with friends who have been patrons here for years. One of the first things they said when we arrived was “It’s not as good as it used to be.” Well, the Chowhound reviews are right. It is not that good. We were given our menus. Shortly our waiter came to the table ready to announce the specials. We had to ask that he open the wine first. So, wine opened and specials recited, we next had to ask for bread. And here they do not give you a basket of bread. Each slice is served – and must be asked for – individually. And the bread was not that good. My wife would not even finish her piece and a dining partner who asked for a second slice asked if it was fresh because it felt state. The answer she was given was that “oh, it’s toasted.” I’ve seen toast – this was not toasted. Fresh or state, the bread was not much more than a slice out of a steak roll. One of the appetizer specials was a jumbo crab and avocado martini. At least that is what I recall the waiter saying. It was just shredded crab over an avocado salsa in a bourbon glass. Big disappointment. For the main course I had breast of duck, duck leg confit with risotto and asparagus. My understanding of risotto is that it should be smooth and creamy, not thick and glutinous. Well, you be the judge, but if you can stick a duck leg in risotto that is so thick and pasty that the leg is held straight upright, well that’s not my idea of a good risotto. Overall a big disappointment, but then again, not really. My wife and I went here for dinner about 8 or 9 years ago. I was so unhappy with the meal we never went back. We only went last night because our dining partners had picked it and we knew it to be a place they liked – or at least they used to like. So, you be the judge, if you want to risk it.
Planning Vienna trip... Narrowing choices
My personnel favorite in Wien is the Gösser Bierklinik. They serve excellent Tafelspitz - a Viennese specialty loved by Emperor Franz Josef. And the building is from 1406 according to the history given. Sure looked that old when we were there!
http://www.goesser-bierklinik.at/
Which Philly Chinatown Spot?
Myself and about 5 or 6 other guys will be making a trip down to Philly next week and we would like to try a Chinatown restaurant for lunch after seeing the Cleopatra exhibit at ther Franklin Inst.
Most of the guys are retired, so they are not looking for cutting edge Chinese cuisine. Can anyone reccommend a good buffet spot so that they can pick and choose what they want?
Palate in Newtown
Heard about this place - so since we go to Newtown often we checked it out. The window menu really turned me off. Nothing I would want to eat. So, since I have not eaten here I can not comment on the food - just that a sidewalk cruise by to look at the menu ensures I won' t be eating here.
good eats in Newtown?
I agree - La Villa has the best thin crust pizza around. Went there with some buddies for lunch April '10. Took my wife about a week later for an early saturday dinner. Now I have to stay late at work twice a month to bring home pizza for her she loves it so much.
AS for Rouget, I have been there many times. It is good food. Problem is there menu is not on the internet and since I have diet restrictions I follow many times I find they have only one item I will order. My wife likes the menu and so do my family who I have brought there for my birthday dinner more than once. Plus we go there the night after Thanksgiving. Can be crowded at times. We usually go in the fall and winter. Although the glassed in porch looks very attractive we avoid it for two reasosn - In cold weather you really feal the cold and it can be noisy as hell. One night we sat there and there was a party of six women with too much wine and too much to talk about at the top of their lungs. We have never sat in that section again. The food is good.
Philly Chinatown Dim Sum
This may be a good alternate - again - any web link? Reviews? We may be a bit older - be we are not less savvy. We want links and input if available.
Philly Chinatown Dim Sum
Where is Dim Sum Garden? We are not locals. We are really Dim Sum rookies. We could use advice.
Any webpage links?
Philly Chinatown Dim Sum
Yeah, I know there are 8,000,000 answers to this question, But what do poeple think is good now? Me and about 10-11 buds are planning a road trip to Chinatown for Dim Sum. Lunch.
I read that Ocean Harbor is the 2009 Philly Best for Dim Sum but I have also read bad stuff on the service.
So - Chinatown - lunch-time - 12 guys - Dim Sum. Where to go?
Ristorante Battibecco, Ewing NJ
Good for you - personally I don't like the bread which is, as you say, “slathered with olive oil, salt and cheese"
Good bread does not need all that.
Good, cheap, interesting places to eat in Vienna
I can't give you any advice on Ethiopian, Iranian, or Afghan in Wien, but for good, traditional Viennese fare try the Gösser Bierklinik. I highly recommend the Tafelspitz.
http://www.goesser-bierklinik.at/
Princeton area BYOB
I like La Mezzaluna.
http://www.lamezzaluna.com/
Outside Princeton I vote for ZA. I go there regular.
As for Enzos, last time I went it was a) crowded, it is small and tables are cheek by jowl and b) had a really lousy meal. I emailed a complaint and they offered me a 1/2 on discount on a meal the next time. Well who wants a lousy meal for 1/2 price. I've not gone back for the last two years.
Quick Sat. lunch in Lawrenceville area?
Have not been to Fedora in several years. U was a regular some years back. It will likely fit your needs, but it can be busy. It is VERY popular, at least it was when I used to go. It is right on 206 just a mile (maybe) north of the 295 exit for Lawrenceville.
Ristorante Battibecco, Ewing NJ
Yeah - I agree about the dinner menu. I've not been impressed with what I get. Been there twice - only because it is very, very local for me. Got grilled veal once and a grilled chicken with mushrooms the second time. I do NOT like the bread they sevre, which is covered with melted cheese.
Duck Sauce – Newtown, PA
Busy place for a Thursday night. Good sign. Our first app, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, was enough for two and very good. We will get this again. Our second app, the steamed veggie dumplings were made with great skill and care, you could tell by lightness of the dough, but had no taste. Fine workmanship in the making of the dumplings, just no taste. Bad pick by me. I should have got the pork dumplings, but I was trying to be healthy with the veggie dumps. On the waitress’s recommendation, and because I wanted to try the fish, I got the grilled halibut with soy garlic ginger sauce. It was not grilled. It was pan seared. That is not grilled. I did not like it. It was not what I expected. It was not as described. Grilled is grilled. Cooked in a sauté skillet or on a cook top is not grilled. As my wife later said to me “Why did you order fish in a Chinese place?” Good question. I must say "don’t do it " after last night. My wife did get a Chinese item – garlic Chicken – which she did like very much. So – a 50-50 review for Duck Sauce.
Harini lunch report
Well, it is just a store front type operation - nothing fancy inside - one of many stores in what is really just a strip mall on Route 1 anchored by an Olive Garden, which is the biggest problem about going here on a weekend night because it means you will fight the tasteless crowds who adore chain food fake italian bread sticks when they could have real food.
German-style Döner Kebab in Philly?
I've been to Germany on 5 trips totaling over 13 weeks in the past 10 years. Döner IS the German Fastfood, - it's everywhere -but it does not have any real niche here in the USA. I remember a spot just down the street from my hotel on Koblenz that was yummy. And I did notice last summer in Dresden that there were no Döner kebabs in Altstadt that I could see. I think it is a more West German item due to the 1950's Guest worker program that brought in Turks to the West and so is not as much a part of the culinary culture of the old East.
All that aside, it's a young mans food as it is packed full of meat, fat, dairy (yogurt) and a smidgen of vegie in lettuce, but tasty none-the-less. I recall a place on Leipzigstrasse in Berlin that looked realy good, but it was just 9:00 am and I was looking for a fruit market. Still, the Döner was on the grill - ready to go.
German-style Döner Kebab in Philly?
Here's a link to Divan. Ate there in the summer and had a good meal.
http://www.divanturkishkitchen.com/
Here is the link to Konak. Also had lunch there last summer, just before the menu changed. It was a disappointment at that time as many items listed on the web page were not on the menu. However, I expect to give it another try with this new menu.
http://www.konakturkishrestaurant.com/
Ristorante Battibecco, Ewing NJ
This is the old Antonio's. It has just opened under new management. Anyone know anything about it?
Dinner between Jackson NJ and Yardley PA
If Princeton is an option try La Mezzaluna. It's a BYOB. For a Fri-Sat-Sun night I'd suggest a reservation.
http://www.lamezzaluna.com/
Harini lunch report
I've been going here for over a year and a half - not for the buffet but for dinner. My wife and I get the Onion & Chilli Masala Dosa, the Dal of the day, and a garlic Naan. We learned the hard way after our first few visits that you should not order too much, as the dishes can be big and filling. I'd alos reccomend the Chicken Haryali Kabab. FYI - It's a BYOB for those who want a drink.
http://www.harinirestaurant.com/
Sebastian's Schnitzel Haus - Wrightstown NJ
TOOO MUCH KITSCH for me! I went several times 8 or 9 years ago. It is just too much schlock.
Restaurants Near Academy of Music
Another vote for Estia. They have a pre-show prix fixe menu I believe, or go after the show.
http://www.estiarestaurant.com/home.asp
Don't let the Greek music on the web page turn you off, it's really a good restaurant. I first went in Jan 2006, My wife and I drive down from Titusville just to eat here. We just went for lunch one Saturday this past September. With wine it can be expensive. Our Lunch was $125 before tip.
Also a second vote for Branzino, BYOB, but not a close as Estia.
http://www.branzinophilly.com/
It's about four blocks walk from the Academy
Princeton-area BYOB (lunch)
Yeah, I'll second Za. If you have been to Brothers Moon it's in the same "general" area. Pennington vs Hopewell. And in summer they have a great outdoor patio space covered by wysteria.
Looking for a Very Special Lunch, Downtown PHilly, on a Friday
I rather enjoy Branzino, a BYOB.
http://www.branzinophilly.com/menu.html
