billpitcher's Profile
The Fresh Market coming to Montvale - Thoughts?
Worth noting: The Demarests took farmland preservation money — $3 million or so — in exchange for development rights, so even if it's sold, it's not like it's going to become a Home Depot.
South City Grill - Mountain Lakes
The sign on one side appears to have ripped off in the rainstorm this morning. It was danging this morning. Perhaps another storm can finish the job.
I've been told it will be a sort-of "best of" the South City places -- some from SCG, some from Fire & Oak, some from Bistro 55.
Can anyone please recommend a place for a post rehearsal dinner in the Whippany, NJ area (preferably Italian)
Panevino, on Route 10 east, just over the county line in Livingston, three, maybe four miles from Birchwood Manor. It's fun and festive, and I've never had a bad experience there.
Morris Country Restaurants
Origin and the Grand Cafe are among Morristown's best. On the other side of 287, Copeland at the Westin is probably the most creative restaurant in town.
kevin's thyme?
It's being reviewed in Friday's Record. It serves traditional dinners only Friday and Saturday. Off the top of my head, appetizers were about $10 and entrees about $20, with the occasional $30 steak. Even with dessert, a table of two can get out of there for about $75.
The Village Inn in Wayne
If you're fortunate enough to visit when there are no parties, banquets or special events, you'll probably be pretty content. As Wayne restaurants go, it's pretty good.
But it's a catering venue first, the chef-owner said, and he's not kidding. Service and execution all spiral out of control when you're not the priority. I've avoided it because of that unpredictability.
North Jersey: best place to eat outside?
Kevin's Thyme in Ho-Ho-Kus. Only open a few nights a week, though.
Northern New Jersey Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans
Marra's in Denville roasts its own beans, as does, I believe, Cafe Amici in Wyckoff and Ho-Ho-Kus. But neither is completely convenient for the towns you've mentioned, I'm afraid.
-----
Cafe Amici
315 Franklin Ave, Wyckoff, NJ 07481
Pompton Lakes restaurant?
I'll echo Berta's Chateau, where the experience is throwback, and Rosemary & Sage, where it's classic. I enjoy both.
I'll add Portobello Feasts up in Oakland for its gorgeous decor ($10 million building opened a year or so ago). Food can be hit or miss, but when the place is firing, it's pretty cool.
In Pompton Lakes proper, your best bets are Dee's Thai, a fairly traditional Thai restaurant, and Thatcher McGee's, an Irish pub with decent pub grub. Neither would really be considered a "nice" place, though. A friend swears by Monica's, an Italian restaurant, but it strikes me as no better than the Italian restaurants you probably have in your neighborhood.
-----
Berta's Chateau
7 Grove St, Wanaque, NJ 07465
Portobello Feasts
175 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436
BYOs in Bergen county
Rutherford is actually dry, but it's pretty arid. There are a handful of consumption liquor licenses, but they're restricted to a boundary that I think follows routes 17 and 3.
So CK's Steakhouse has one, and I'm sure there was a Chili's or something on Route 17 that had another once upon a time. The borough has another license up for bid, and the clerk was hoping somebody could use it in a spot east of Route 17.
Distribution licenses are permitted downtown, however, which is why you have wine shops as part of After Athens, Cafe Matisse and Village Gourmet.
Oh, and I second the suggestion for Sabor Peru. Coolest restaurant in town and a good value, too.
Good Restaurant in Wayne, NJ?
You'll go right past Burger DeLuxe, which is a few steps beyond your usual burger joint. Think duck burgers with five-spice powder and hoisin, cucumber lemonade, etc. www.theburgerdeluxe.com.
The best restaurant in the vicinity is Rosemary & Sage in Riverdale, about a mile out of your way. www.rosemaryandsage.com.
Best Bakery in Northwest Bergen County (i.e. Ridgewood area)
One not yet mentioned: Reinholds' Quality Bakery in Waldwick (reinholdbakeshop.com).
And in Ramsey, I believe there is a pastry shop being constructed in the little shopping center next to Brady's At The Station.
filipino food in north jersey
Mama Fina's is now in a smaller space at 95 Broadway (Route 4 west) in Elmwood Park.
Bamboo, Northvale
Well yeah, it could use a renovation, but the food is still quite good (based on a visit two years ago). It reminds me of Beijing Duck House in Bergenfield, both in terms of the good food and the worn-out decor.
I was trying to stay close to Northvale with those suggestions, but yes, Saigon R is excellent, and always has been. Also, Wild Ginger and Akai. My favorite in town, Typhoon, closed last year.
Post baptism dinner for eight in Bergen County
Two suggestions that quickly come to mind:
Axia Taverna in Tenafly, which serves contemporary Greek food, has a nice private loft that overlooks the dining room. (www.axiataverna.com)
Harvest Bistro in Closter has some wonderful French bistro dishes and a lovely setting, both inside and out (www.harvestbistro.com). Until mid-afternoon, it has a great brunch menu, and then it begins serving dinner at 5 p.m.
Bamboo, Northvale
It got an OK review in The Record last June. Presumably, service has improved.
The review is no longer on northjersey.com but you can get a cached one here, while it lasts: http://bit.ly/MkQ92
There is some really good Asian food in Closter, including Midam for Korean, Peking Duck House for Chinese and Mount Kisko for Japanese. Korea Palace is there, too, now that I think about it.
Columbia County-Farm raised products?
You might want to try the Berry Patch, which is on Route 203 about three miles from the village of Chatham.
northern NJ with vegan options
Su in Edgewater is the best of the vegetarian restaurants in Bergen County. Probably half of the menu is vegan (if not more).
Park & Orchard in East Rutherford seems to be the most lifestyle-conscious restaurant in Bergen County, with options for vegan, gluten-free and other diets, even though its menu is still geared for the masses.
Any good restaurants near Ringwood, Oakland, Greenwood Lake?
About a mile from the south shore of Greenwood Lake in West Milford is a nice family-run Thai restaurant called Khun Thon.
In Oakland, Cenzino serves a great upscale Italian menu. Portobello Feasts has both Italian and New American menus in an expertly crafted new building. Lots to look at there.
Pettie SooChow- Cliffside Park-Closed?
The Health Department allowed them to reopen shortly afterward.
The Stable Restaurant - Ridgewood, NJ
Here is The Record's review from February:
http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/restaurants/dine021909.html
I visited a few months ago and found it to be good, but not great. It was crowded and loud, although you can call it festive. The rodizio was good, but not perfect. Individual portions that were slid off skewers tended to be on the dry side; whole pieces that were sliced were uneven, with some char outside yet pink spots inside. That's good for rib-eye. For pork, not so much.
But it's still rodizio, and there isn't a lot in Bergen County (the other I know of is in Hackensack). The owner is a pleasant guy who has been a fixture in Ridgewood dining for years, and he'll do everything he can to make your comfortable..
A few caveats:
-- Reservations generally aren't accepted. The restaurant says that's because they can't control when parties leave since it's all-you-can-eat.
-- The entryway is small, so if your party is three or more, you'll feel like you're in the way while waiting for a table.
-- You WILL smell like smoke when you leave, like some Korean barbecue joints.
-- It's a BYO. Super Cellars is a block away, though.
BYOB - North Jersey (preferably Bergen Counyy)
Third it. Outstanding food, service that makes you feel special, and an exciting decor.
The only other special-occasion BYO its its league is the Saddle River Inn.
Organic/Farm oriented restaurants like Blue Hill at Stone Barns near north eastern NJ
I can think of two Bergen County restaurants that meet a few of your requirements.
At Cafe Panache in Ramsey, chef-owner Kevin Kohler picks his ingredients from Abma's Farm in Wyckoff, where he essentially has free reign. Obviously this isn't the best time of year, but you probably can still find an Abma's Farm pork chop on the menu.
Also, in season, Campania Restaurant in Fair Lawn sources most of its produce from Farms View, a farm in Wayne.
They're not the only ones who buy local, but they seem to be the most diligent about it.
Lippera's at Chatham House
There's some great history here. Butch Lippera used to have an Italian restaurant in Ghent (the Italian Delight), which he sold in the early 1980s. It wasn't until he opened the Chatham House after years of renovation and restoration that the locals could enjoy his food again. And what a beautiful job he did. The Chatham House was an eyesore for 40 or 50 years. Now, it's the focal point of the village.
Romantic Inn with Great Restaurant - any recs.?
My wife and I used to do an annual trip to Friend's Lake Inn, but the overall quality seems to have declined over the last few years. The restaurant is still excellent, although our breakfast on our last visit was rather pedestrian. Just not worth the four-hour trip.
Romantic Inn with Great Restaurant - any recs.?
Hotel Fauchere in Milford, Pa., where New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania meet.
It's a fully restored boutique hotel with an excellent restaurant and a really cool bar. It opened about two years ago.
The town and surrounding towns are full of antique shops, hiking trails and waterfalls.
Bergen County Italian
North Bergen is a mile from Cliffside Park, if that. And DiPalma Brothers is only two or three blocks removed from Bergen County.
Mignon Steakhouse Rutherford, N.J.
Mignon is a perfectly find place. There are better steakhouses, but you'll pay more.
For comparison purposes, I'd say it's better than more inexpensive steakhouses, such as Steve's Sizzling Steaks or the former Arthur's Tavern, but it's not quite in the same league as The River Palm, Cliffs of The Park. And as restaurants on that part of Park Avenue are concerned, it's among the best.
Mignon will likely be relocating to Essex County in the future. The owner feels crippled without a liquor license and he has a point. Can you think of another BYO steakhouse? (More on that here: http://www.northjersey.com/food/dining/In_a_recession_how_can_restaurants_survive.html)
Fill Ya Belly Deli Edgewater NJ
There used to be one, somewhere on the waterfront. But it's long gone.
There was also a BellyFull in town, which was a Caribbean storefront restaurant, but that, too, is gone.
noteworthy places to stop at on road trip upstate?
2. Palatine Valley Dairy, also known as the Palatine Cheese Company, on Route 5 in Nelliston, maybe two miles from the Canajoharie exit on the Thruway.
http://www.palatinecheese.com
4. Smokehouse of the Catskills, off the Saugerties exit of the Thruway. A traditional German smokehouse and butcher shop.
