mountebank's Profile
Luna Restaurant in Three Bridges (Pizza)
This pizza place has been mentioned a couple of times recently so I stopped in during a recent trip to Flemington (Three Bridges is a little to the east of Flemington along Route 202).
The sausage pizza was recommended in a recent review so that's what I had. It really was excellent, perhaps not the best pizza I've ever had but right up there in the top ten. It was crisp and not undercooked, like so many pizzas I've had recently. I will definitely be going back here!
Georgian Street Scene in Watchung
I had the misfortune to stop at this place a couple of weeks ago. It's a Georgian restaurant on Route 22 westbound in Watchung.
It was a little before noon so I wasn't surprised that I was the only one in the restaurant. However, during the next 30 minutes not one other person came in. And now I know why!
Things started well when I received a nice hot basket of bread. The first piece wasn't bad at all but by the time I got to the second all the pieces were tough and chewy. Can you spell microwave?
My lamb stew arrived and it was truly awful. It was a bowl full of fatty, greyish meat with a greasy sauce poured over it. It might have been mutton but it definitely was not lamb. I am convinced that it was mastadon meat. I ate about a third of this concoction, paid my bill and left. Since I was now really hungry, I stopped at a burger joint on the way home.
Service was very good throughout my half hour experience but nothing will get me back to this place.
Lo-Fatt Chow nr. Flemington, NJ
Ambrose, I finally made it to this place last week and my experience mirrors yours. I had the sesame chicken with brown rice and I have to say it was the blandest chicken dish I've ever had. The brown rice was really strange, virtually tasteless. I have no idea how it was prepared but they really need to find another supplier.
The spring roll was so hot that I could not eat it for almost 10 minutes. As a result, I have no idea whether its taste changed as it cooled down. I have to say though that it did not seem greasy, as yours did.
I was in the restaurant for almost 40 minutes and during that time not one other person came in. The fellow who took my order was very pleasant but after I got my lunch he spent the entire time working on his laptop at one of the adjoining tables.
I really don't understand how this place has survived. I can only assume that it does a fair amount of take out business in the evening. Even more astonishing is that there is soon to be a second Lo-Fatt-Chow farther north near Clinton.
anyone been to artisan kitchen in lebanon central jersey?
Chefty, welcome to chowhound! I see this is your first posting.
I drove by this place on the weekend. I don't know anything about the food or service but the location is somewhat different from the Ryland Inn's. LOL.
I checked out the restaurant's web site but couldn't find anything about the chef and his team. It sounds like you have some background information. Where did the chef come from? Local or outside the county? Even though the restaurant is in a shopping center, it looks nice from the outside. I do think though that the name is unfortunate. When I first heard it, I thought it was a kitchen design place!
Harold's New York Deli in East Brunswick, NJ
Wow, this is great news! I hate the drive to Harold's in Edison. I always seem to get lost. This new location is probably the same distance for me but a much easier drive.
Thanks.
kirsten's in lebanon?
We were at Kirsten's about four months ago. Do I love it? No, but I've always found it to be pretty reliable and you get decent value for your money. I much prefer it to La Casa Bianca in Whitehouse Station and it's much better than Capo in Flemington or Bensi's, also in Whitehouse Station.
Hands Down- Best BYOB in Central Jersey?
I see you like restaurants in Hopewell! If you're in the area, you should really try Za in Pennington. Food is excellent though somewhat expensive. They don't take reservations so that can be a problem on weekends.
Aikou in Flemington
Thanks for coming back and commenting on your experience at this new place. I am going there for lunch later this week and will most likely opt for the sushi. From the menu, it looks like Japanese is the way to go.
Thai Chef, Somerville - Closed?
I was in Somerville early this morning and it looks like Thai Chef on Main St. has closed. I was never a great fan of this restaurant but others seemed to like it. While it's a shame to see a restaurant disappear from the landscape, Somerville still has many Thai places to choose from - four that I can think of.
Anyone know what happened at Thai Chef?
Gabriela's in Somerville -- A brief review
Ambrose, I'm glad there's at least one other person out there who enjoyed Gabriela's! I don't come on the forum all that much but it sure seems there aren't many foodies out here in the western part of the state.
For what it's worth, I was looking at Gabriela's on-line menu over the weekend and it seems to me that it's changed somewhat. We'll be going there in the near future so I'll let you know how things turn out.
PS I agree with you 100% about Caesar salads. We've had some truly strange "Caesars" in the last few years. There was an interesting discussion about Caesars on the Manhattan board if you're interested.
Gabriela's in Somerville -- A brief review
Ah c'mon! You are going to avoid a restaurant because of a single negative review, by someone you don't know, on an on-line forum? Where's your spirit of adventure?
Things change at restaurants but I am here to tell you that my husband and I enjoyed a very good dinner at Gabriela's. It was almost a year ago though so it's of course possible that the restaurant has gone downhill since then. Or, perhaps it was just an off night when the OP visited. I cannot remember exactly what we had (except that my hubby had seafood) but I still have fond memories of the desserts. They were outstanding.
Hopefully, others will comment on their opinions of this Somerville restaurant. I feel the need to go back to see if the OP's comments have merit.
Nicholas Redux
ROFL, though I must say that I'm surprised the CH moderators haven't deleted or at least edited part of your message.
Many thanks for the complete description of your apps and entrees. I have not had any of these at Nicholas so I will make a note for future reference. By any chance, do you remember the wines that were recommended by the sommelier?
Martine's in New Hope
Four of us were planning to go to Martine's for dinner but I recently heard some negative comments, mainly to the effect that the restaurant had gone downhill since relocating nearer the river. We always enjoyed our visits to the old location so I'm wondering if something else has happened. New owner, new chef or ???
I'd certainly appreciate any comments from hounds who may have eaten there recently.
Something Similar to La Bonne Soupe
I live in NJ but travel into the city fairly often. I always seem to end up at La Bonne Soupe for lunch, probably because (1) it's convenient as I'm usually in the mid-town area, (2) the food is good and the prices reasonable, and (3) it's great for solo eating when I'm on my own.
Are there some similar restaurants meeting the above criteria? They need not be French as I basically love all types of food.
Lambertville/New Hope
RGR, I must just as vociferously take issue with your comments about the Harvest Moon. We have been going there for years and continue to enjoy the food, the service and the overall ambience of this restaurant.
I just find it astonishing that you would base your opinion on a single visit that you made some ten years ago (the Moon opened in late 1995). I know you have stated elsewhere that a restaurant has but one chance to get your attention but I think this is extraordinarily short sighted. Considering that the chef at the time had just come over from the Frog and the Peach in New Brunswick and was indeed receiving rave reviews, I would have thought you might have gone back at least once more to see if your first impression was correct.
Regarding the decor of the dining room, please remember that this restaurant is housed in a 19th century building and the owners have tried to capture the building's period. What would you have them do - decorate the interior in teak and chrome? Yes, it's dated - it's meant to be! Drab it is not.
Finally, I think it is rather disingenuous to include a review that states right at the beginning that it is of the tavern and not the dining room. The food that you say was o.k. was actually described by the reviewer as ranging from imaginative to routine - pretty much what you'd experience in any fine restaurant. The reviewer also states that the service was polished and the desserts elegant and tasty.
Finally, I should note that we have been to La Bonne Auberge many times and thoroughly enjoy it. On this one, you are correct.
Update on Ryland Inn (NJ)
I was in Oldwick today (having lunch, of course!) and detoured down to Route 22 to see what was going on. I saw only one sign but the number doesn't really matter.
When I got home, I checked the Richard Ellis web site but couldn't find anything about the sale. Seems odd but perhaps these things go on behind closed doors.
Really sad.
That One Restaurant in Hoboken
Thanks much for your help. I checked out the link and got lots of good recs.
Larison's Turkey Farm is now....
You're right, but the circumstances were these..
We had guests from out of town and we were looking for a good lunch or brunch spot. I was all for going in but was outvoted 3-1. I must say it was very discouraging to see so few cars in the parking lot at that time of day.
Larison's Turkey Farm is now....
We went by this place on Sunday around lunch time. There was a big sign in front advertising their Sunday brunch. We drove into the parking lot where we counted exactly 8 cars. Not exactly a resounding endorsement so we pressed on to another restaurant.
I really want this place to succeed but the signs are not good. Very disappointing.
That One Restaurant in Hoboken
I will be in Hoboken in the next couple of weeks (week night) and would like to have dinner there. I would like to know that one place you would recommend, and why.
As far as type of food is concerned, I would like to stay away from Italian, only because there are lots of good Italian restaurants where I live. I'm wide open to other suggestions.
Two requirements are: the place must have a liquor license and must take reservations. I don't want to be cooling my heels for an hour or more, thus making for a very late arrival home.
Shark Fin Inn - Forked River
Well, yes, but-----
I suspect that people who check out restaurant web sities before going are in a distinct minority (I happen to be in that minority). Most people I know go to a new restaurant because of a review they read or because they heard about it from someone who ate there. These people have computers, they're just not as anal as I am!! (Yes, someone said that to me).
The other thing is that some restaurants just don't bother with web sites. We were invited by friends to an Italian restaurant and I looked and looked for a web site. Turns out they don't have one because they feel they don't need it. Also turned out that I had one of the best meals I had had in a long time.
Lo-Fatt Chow nr. Flemington, NJ
I cannot believe anyone would name their restaurant Lo-Fatt Chow but there it was just south of Flemington on Route 31 (can't remember if it's north or south of Ringoes).
Has anyone eaten at this place? It's in a tiny strip mall on the southbound lane.
Update on Ryland Inn (NJ)
Avidcook, I believe you used to work for Craig Shelton. Unfortunately, Americans love to kick people when they're down and we're seeing this in the numerous negative comments on this site and others about Shelton. The one from dawnfawn is relatively mild.
Shelton had told many people, and at least two publications, that he is hoping to reopen and I think he will. I just hope he is not so consumed by pride that he is making a huge mistake.
By the way, I agree with your previous comment about Nicholas!
Larison's Turkey Farm is now....
Viperlush, couldn't agree more! These bogus, positive reviews are an insult. If the owner of the restaurant has anything to do with them, she should be ashamed of herself.
I know several people who have gone here (and don't post on chowhound) and none of them are going back.
Too bad as Chester really needs a good restaurant.
