jerseyeats's Profile
Good entree salads at the Shore
I never know what to call that restaurant--in Ursula Plaza, right? We love it but have only had the greek salad that comes with a souvlaki platter, and it was good. I think they took down Niko's sign are now just "Greek Grill." Whatever. Food is great.
Good entree salads at the Shore
My partner loves entree -sized salads but they seem to be out of style or something, so she ends up ordering some kind of salad (8-11 range, not big) and an appetizer. Anybody know of a shore restaurant (we live in Long Branch) restaurant that has good entree salads?
Best Ethnic BYO's in or around Somerset County
Pooja/Poojan (?), on Easton Ave in a strip mall down the street from Rutgers Prep. Excellent northern Indian food. Buffet at lunch.
Recent service experiences at Copper Canyon?
I read such mixed reviews of the service at Copper Canyon (some described it as fine; some as snotty/inattentive) that it scared me off of going there. Now I see CC referenced a number of times on the "5 best dishes in Monmouth County" thread. Should I take my partner there for her birthday on Friday? NB: she doesn't eat steak.
Ruth Reich's "The New Gourmet" Cookbook
Saw this yesterday in B&N...looks REALLY good. Anybody have it yet?
Over 1,000 recipes. I love making soup and there are like 40 soup recipes, and I wanted to go home and make like 5 of them them, right away! It's a big book, no pictures. $40 at b&n but I bet cheaper on Amazon, etc. I just put it on my list for Santa.
Indian takeout in West Long Branch
Yes, it's the one in the 7-11 plaza. It DOES always seem to be empty, which would usually scare me off, but that night I was desperate for Indian food and decided to be brave. Maybe they do mostly take out. The decor is a bit "off" for an Indian rest...red and white checked tablecloths like an Italian place, but not cozy. I went again last night and got mixed veg. jalfrezi...vegs were meh but sauce was wonderful. I do think it's the same family as the Ocean restaurant (tandoori 1?).
Indian takeout in West Long Branch
We ordered takeout last night and wanted something other than Chinese, so gave Tandoori 2 in WLB a shot. When I'd stopped by there, long ago, to check it out as a place to eat, it was very minimal so I just picked up a menu for ordering takeout someday, and then forgot about it.
Anyway, we got naan, aloo paratha, saag paneer and raita, and it was all delicious. You have to order $20 minimum for them to deliver. Really good food. So this is a shout-out for Tandoori 2 is WLB for takeout. Like, I said, haven't been to the actual restaurant in a while so don't know if they've made it more of a place you want to stay and eat.
Also, anybody know of other good Indian places in Monmouth county? I'm puzzled why have so few.
Stewarts Drive-Ins
There used to be one on 71 in Brielle when I was a kid...long gone. Only open in summer. There's one in Pier Village in LB but it just looks like a tourist trap. No tray service!
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Pier Village
30 Laird St, Long Branch, NJ
The Mixx: good food, weird portions
We went to the Mixx last night for the first time. Good service, nice atmosphere. Our friend ordered fried calamari appetizer--tasty. All the food we ordered was good. But portion sizes were odd.
Our friend ordered one of the specials, a lamb stew with a topping like their lobster pot pie. It was $18 or so, but tiny! Served in a cute but very small skillet. My partner ordered an arugala salad which I think (not sure) was the same cost as my green salad with blue cheese, but for some reason it was like half the size of mine. Her side of butternut squash with goat cheese was served in the same tiny skillet as our friend's entree.
I was the only one who ordered a "big plate" (normal entree size and price) of pork tenderloin with cherries and garlic mashed potatoes, and it was excellent.
Food and service very good, but they need to figure out portion sizes...anyone else have this experience?
Any good places in Bradley Beach?
Ditto on Citricio's. Used to better when it was...I'm blanking on the name but it was owned by a husband-wife team and suddenly closed b/c of family circumstances (there was a story about it in the paper). The food was okay but they threw onions all over the salads when we'd asked for no onions. The waitress was nice, but was a space cadet with the worst timing...just an odd experience.
Langosta Lounge: really full of itself
Hey Jake, we went there totally ready to have a good time. The negative vibe WASN'T coming from us, but our horribly unfriendly waitress. I don't know why you assume we were the problem.
And when I order a shrimp dish in a nice restaurant, I don't expect bait shrimp.
Copper Canyon in Atlantic Highlands
Thanks, white light. I'm having difficulty learning the protocol on Chowhound...seems sometimes a conversation is considered "new" although a place has been discussed before, while at other times it seems you need to add to an old thread--but would anybody see that? Does it re-post?
Copper Canyon in Atlantic Highlands
I just came across a refence to "5 Star Copper Canyon Restaurant"--never been there, never heard of it. I looked on their website and the menu and dining room look wonderful. They don't list prices, though. Anybody been there?
Bagel Recommendations in Central NJ?
International Bagels, Main Street/71 in Bradley Beach. Bagels as big as your head! Cash only.
Langosta Lounge: really full of itself
So finally my partner and I try LL for dinner. Had been there for drinks once--v. good margaritas and fun atmosphere. Tried to go for dinner last week. Called for a reservation around noon but host practically laughed out loud at the idea of us thinking we could actually get a Sat. nite reservation "that late." Made a reservation this week, on Friday, for Sat nite.
So partly it's all the hype and build up, but boy was I disappointed. Table for two was tiny and we sat about a foot away from the next two-top. Then our waitress...my question was, could we get her to crack a smile? Nope. I had narrowed my choice down to 2 entrees and asked for a recc. I don't eat shellfish, so I don't know, was her first reply. Then I asked which was more popular. No joy there, either. I figured she hates people and/or her job and just ignored her after that, noting also that our neighbors got exactly the same treatment. But when neighbors left and fashionable couple replaced them, the woman self-importantly ordering a bottle of wine, the waitress transformed: chatting, joking, and--yes--making menu recommendations. I sat there slack-jawed, watching this. I guess she wrote us and first neighbors off as nobodies. After this--though it was check and tip-calculating time--we didn't see her much. She was too enthralled with new neighbors and I guess other, cooler people. But my favorite moment of all was, when she came to take the check, I tried to tell her, "we don't need change" but she just snatched it out of my hand and wouldn't even make eye contact. Wow.
My dish was problem #2. Can't remember the name but thai-inspired with green and red curry, over black rice, and I chose shrimp. Well, the shrimp was "bait shrimp" or, if you can picture this, much like the shrimp you buy in a little bag at shop rite for $5 and make shrimp salad sandwiches with. I couldn't believe it. The sauce was EXTREMELY heavy and rich...I swear there was a full can of coconut milk in there and I don't know what else. I couldn't finish it and, as I said to my partner, when Ieave rice and potatoes on the plate, you know something's wrong. At the risk of TMIing you, my stomach was in a state of shock and awe all night. My partner was happy with her salad (arugula, goat cheese), and sushi roll, but I tried them and they weren't special in any way.
At some point--maybe in warm weather when we can sit outside--I might go back and try the lobster enchiladas. But really a big let-down.
best sushi in Monmouth county?
Thanks to all for the tips. We'll be going to Kanji for sure. I went on their website and the menu looks great.
best sushi in Monmouth county?
Where is Kanji??
We've been meaning to try the Sawa in Eatontown, and Yumi.
best sushi in Monmouth county?
We went to Taka in Asbury Park last night. Hadn't been there for a while; it used to be our favorite but we were disappointed...the rolls were just not as wonderful as they used to be.
I hear good things about Yumi in Sea Bright...any fans? We like the sushi at Sawa in Pier Village but the service can be odd there.
Happy hour at The Avenue, Long Branch
Wow, The Avenue has gotten a ton of bad reviews here for the service/attitude. I haven't been there for dinner (too pricey) but the happy hour is fabulous. You cannot beat $5 excellent martinis (there's a choice of about 8-10) right on the ocean, and the price is right on the raw bar, too. It's 4-7 every day, not just weekends (including summer). Posters here have made me very wary about dinner...but go there for the happy hour and then go somewhere you like for dinner.
The service was fine, too.
