gastrophysicist's Profile
best thai restaurants in northrern new jersey
I second that. My friend introduced me to Brookside Thai recently. Went back the same week and craved the food since. Perhaps the best Thai I have tasted in this country so far! The family that runs it are very warm too.
best middle eastern/lebanese in NYC?
Moustache - best bang for the buck - wonderful lemony hummus, smoky eggplant, freshest pitas arrive fluffed and steaming. very vegetarian friendly.
Great Northern NJ restaurant needed!
After hiking out to Brooklyn from Fort Lee to Luger's for years simply because I simply refused to believe anything could compare I decided to give River Palm a go after trying their burger for lunch which was the best burger ever and discovered that the same cut was equal to (if not better than) Luger's and the service and atmosphere is a step up too (no surly gruff waiters and beerhall vibe) so I will save myself a lot of traveling from now on.
Lunch, Edgewater, NJ
River Palm Terrace has one of the best deals around for lunch. Perhaps the best burger or cheeseburger I've ever had in my life for just 9.95 or 10.05 respectively. I've heard their lunchtime steak sandwich is amazing. The fries that come with the burger are also perfect. I used to head out to Peter Lugers in Brooklyn for steak as theirs was the best I've ever experienced ! ( they won best steakhouse 17 years in a row) but after having steak at RPT I won't bother - every bit as good. Had the lobster there once too - exquisite but there may be cheaper places around.
THE STONY HILL INN
Went there due to reputation and recommendation, but the wine was the best art of the meal. Yes, it is a nice place for a special occasion - attractive dining room, attentive service, good cutlery etc. BUT I found the food to be so STALE. Ordered Chateaubriand which arrived overcooked, the vegetables that came with it were bland and overdone, the mashed potatoes were definitely not fresh, and the bernaise sauce was thick and heavy. I think the place must have had better days and the food has not grown with the times. The food should have been much better for the prices charged.
Pettie (sic) Soo Chow in Cliffside Park - authentic Chinese
Aside from the really authentic (occasionally uncommon) and tasty food PSC is one of the few Chinese restaurants that actually has an atmosphere. The staff are friendly and courteous and I have experienced and witnessed customers that were strangers discussing and sharing food to try. That is a phenomenon. All over NJ today Chinese sitdown restaurants are dying out to be replaced with Japanese or Korean or Asian 'Fusion'. I hope Petite Soochow can remain in business for a long time to come. Best Chinese cuisine for miles and worth the trip if you are making it.
Chef's Table, Franklin Lake, NJ
Compared to Latour Chef's Table is slightly more expensive BUT the food is far superior and the extra $20 or more is well worth it! Perhaps one of the best French meal's I have had in this country.
Going to Latour in Ridgewood...suggestions?
Just ate there tonight for my own mother's b'day. Checked Zagat and it seemed appropriate. I have to say that while everything was good (I had the 5 course prix fixe) it was not transformative, and dare I say needed salt - and I am not one who normally reaches for condiments. The crab strudel, lobster bisque and spinach/goat cheese salad were all adequate - well prepared with good quality ingredients - but lacked the essential je ne sais quois that have the palate dancing with joy. The steak medallion au poivre was actually cooked to perfection (so tender) but the au poivre was lacking too - the peppercorns were just not pungeant - nothing like the best at Raoul's in Soho, NYC. My mother felt the food was a just touch 'over done' - the escargots had just a little too much going on - and the grouper which was almost perfect was masked by the tomato confit which overpowered it. Overall, it was good but I would not return - many others to try in NJ like Chez Catherine, Pour Quois Pas,
For a superlative experience I recommend Chef's Table in Franklin Lakes. I ate there and after sampling their complimentary pate, perfectly garlicky escargots, and sublime duck I actually felt like getting up from my chair and moonwalking backwards through the dining room while exclaiming "OW!"
