gwh912's Profile
30 Acres, Jersey City
Had a great lunch here today. Fluke with carrot, cilantro, and tobasco was reminiscent of the raw preps at Ssam bar and had a great unique flavor combination. Cavatelli with chicken liver was also delicious (and spicy!) beef tongue sandwich with pickled shallots and mustard on rye was really tasty albeit a tad messy.
Dessert at $3 a piece are DELICIOUS must have lemon bars.
Being BYOB , and with incredibly reasonable prices, and delicious food, I can't wait to return for dinner
Klein's in Belmar AND Colts Neck Inn- Need options on BRUNCH and PRIVATE PARTIES, please!
Avoid Colts Neck Inn. When we had a supposedly "fancy" event there, the passed appetizers resembled microwaveable food from the freezer section in wegmans (and we were pretty sure they actually served pizza bagels straight from box
Empellon Cocina Review
The Mezcal cured trout was served to us in one of the monthly regional dinners Stupak hosted for awhile. Absolutely raveworthy!
Due Terre, Bernardsville to become Osteria Morini
This would be great news if it is like Osteria Morini in NYC as the menu really appeals to me there. Just hope they don't tone down ingredients to appease the NJ crowd ( like Due Mare seemed to do when they took the Fusili with Octopus off the menu...)
Excited to try it as the Due Terre menu never appealed to me enough to make the trip, though we do enjoy Due Mare for an Italian fix.
My annual request for help...anniversary dinner...
Please don't do dovetail. Huge Disappointment. Tacky atmosphere (my wife likened it to dining on a cruise ship) and the food didn't warrant the 1 Michelin star. Service was eh, too.
Out of your options, Marea is good if not entirely exciting. I'd prefer Cafe Boulud, or like RGR, Tocqueville for well executed French Fine dining.
Or - for what I think is quite exciting, Jungsik- a great and super different addition to NYC dining scene.
As per Marc Forgione, we frequent it but only for Sunday Supper (which is great deal) - not necessarily in the same league as rest though if cost not kept in mind (though still better than Dovetail, which again, was one of my most disappointing meals in 2011)
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Cafe Boulud
20 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021
Tocqueville
1 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
Dovetail
103 West 77th Street, New York, NY 10024
Marc Forgione
134 Reade Street, New York, NY 10013
Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
Jung Sik
2 Harrison St, New York, NY 10013
Foie Gras in Old Bridge!?! New "JUST Restaurant" opens on Route 9
Update
So with the inlaws about to leave for FL and last minute dinner reservations in need for something close and casual, we ended up deciding to explore more of the menu.
Just Sliders: filet of beef and foie gras on bun, with matchstick French fries- tasty - burger was Cooked to a perfect medium and juicy. Only issue for me was foie needed to be slightly bigger to be more prominent flavor (unlike the version at L'Atelier) . This dish screams fun bistro food to me though. I prefer the other foie prep more though it is a good burger nonetheless
Amuse Bouche - scallops with some accompaniments - quite good as was the bread
Caesar Salad- cutesy presentation but pretty standard salad with really nice brioche croutons
Entrees
Wagyu Beef with Bone Marrow Bone- beef was flavorful and tasty , cooked to requested medium rare. The presentation isn't really "fine dining" but again more bistro style with a wad of matchstick fries on side. Liked the addition of using the small spoon provided to enjoy none narrow
Chilean Sea Bass with agave glaze- this was DELICIOUS and beautifully cooked and seasoned- and I never order fish. Flavors interesting and the simple prep was fantastic. Definitely a dish to order
Lobster Duet: whole lobster (out of shell) and open face lobster ravioli: not our favorite. Ravioli was ok , nothing special but did not enjoy whole lobster. Like the quail, the only unsuccessful dish of night
Desserts
We opted to go for desserts this time and both were delicious . Just Chocolate was a nice chocolate cake with frozen chocolate mousse ice cream and a shot of steaming hot chocolate. Tasty and nice contrast of textures and temperatures
Cranberry - apple "strudel" - I don't remember the specifics but this was quite good. Father in law raved about it
Overall, everyone enjoyed their meal despite the isolated lobster issue. I would avoid the lobster and quail on the menu but everything else we have tried was tasty and in some cases absolutely delicious. I really hope the restaurant succeeds as everyone is so nice and you can tell the passion from the cooks to the host to who appears to be owner
Keep in mind, they are not Nicholas nor do they appear to be trying to be. They strike a nice balance between a nice dinner out while still remaining casual in dress and even bistro like in some of their presentations, while more fancy in others. With promises for a changing menu, and already seeing different amuses, I believe as they refine the menu further and make a few adjustments, only good things are to come. I would strongly recommend trying for yourself. We are heavily rooting for this restaurants success and hope to include it with Peacock Inn, Elements, Nicholas, Cafe Matisse, drews bayshore bistro, lorenas, Pluckemin Inn and others in our NJ rotation
Foie Gras in Old Bridge!?! New "JUST Restaurant" opens on Route 9
Again, didn't take a look inside the next door "emporium" but made a guess (albeit wrong!).
Directions by dimka448 are spot on.
Asian Food Market coming soon in Marlboro
It was packed this morning. Everything from dumpling skins, to barbecued duck, to a great selection of produce and fish
In fact, the fresh whole fish selection and the meats were the most exciting. Snails, salmon head, offal, cuttlefish ; some unique selections that warrant the once a month trip up to Mitsuwa almost unnecessary....except...
Hot food selection looks pretty limited and unexciting (except for the assortment of barbecued birds) - and a quick once over didn't turn up any sashimi quality fish. Could be behind the seafood counter, but we'll see
Definitely will make this a weekly stop
Foie Gras in Old Bridge!?! New "JUST Restaurant" opens on Route 9
This is a new restaurant that opened in Old Bridge on Route 9 South ; and since my wife and I got lazy on our way to the city and didn't feel like continuing our trek up the Turnpike, we stumbled on this find, which is tucked off Route 9 behind a gas station next to what appeared to be an Asian marketplace
Though mostly invisible to passing traffic on Route 9, once we entered, the modern decor more than compensated for the lackluster location. We were brought the wine list but a pleasant, competent, but obviously nervous staff. While it is not a huge list by any stretch of the imagination, it had some well priced, well chosen options to enjoy. We initially selected a Crozes-Hermitage but as it was not available (distributor had brought a white Crozes-Hermitage and not the red we had selected), we kept with our Rhone Ranger mentality and selected a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
We were told the chef whose name escapes me, has a long career in restaurants, traning under Wolfgang Puck and a few others, and having opened restaurants in the Boston area.
Bread was brought and was a promising start. Warm Naan Bread that was truly addictive - only issue was that the herb butter presented was served right out of the fridge and too hard.
Amuse Bouche was an Oyster Shooter with Asian Flavors - which provided a briny and flavorful beginning to the meal. This was quite tasty and set the stage for the quality of cuisine to come
The appetizers had a few interesting choices (including Foie Gras sliders that sounded similar to what L'Ateiier de Robuchon serves) but we settled on the Seared Foie Gras with Apple Tartin and Riesling Gelee, the Steak Tartare, and the Duck Risotto with Mango.
Surprised to see such sophisticated offerings behind a gas station, I thoroughly enjoyed the seared foie gras, which came presented on top of three small wrapped pastries (apple tartin) and the flavors all worked together while not overpowering each other. The gelee prep was not the best I've seen but the overall dish was interesting and delicious, and an indication of successes to come. The ratio of pastry to foie gras showed a balance of flavors and techniques that to me, demonstrates a chef committed to thoughtful and flavor combinations
The beef tartare was tasty but nothing earth-shattering. The meat was of high quality but I had hoped for a better flavor overall and found myself overusing the mustard provided as an accompaniment. Maybe a little salt? A good, but not great , dish.
The duck risotto with mango was much better, cooked al dente, and full of herbs and gaminess, counteracted by the sweet and tart mango. My wife loved this and I shared her enthusiasm though kept to myself and finished my foie gras.
We then went to the entree side of the menu, and despite the urge to order the steak with bone marrow (at $45 we opted to be more conservative), we went for the "Quail with Hen of the Wood Mushrooms and Foie Gras" and the "Braised Veal Cheeks."
With plenty of entree options, the menu has something for everyone.
My veal cheeks were (almost too) tender, melting in my mouth and covered with a nice Cabernet based sauce (if I remember correctly???) All in all, a toast to the winter stews I love in the wintertime. It was paired with a polenta that served to mop up the remaining sauce. I would have loved the addition of some more root vegetables or something to that nature, but overall, it was good.
Unfortunately, my wife's quail was overcooked for my liking, and I could not find the foie gras advertised on the menu. In my opinion, the only unsuccessful dish of the night.
Before dessert, we were presented with chocolate truffles which were very tasty. We didn't go for a true dessert, but decided to try the Malted Milk Ball ice cream (which we were told comes from Ciao Bella) which brought the meal to a fitting close. Absolutely delicious!
All in all, this was only their second night in operation, and we were very impressed at the new addition to the Monmouth County food scene. It is easily the most ambitious restaurant on Route 9 from Howell to Sayreville, and has a talented chef and team that promises innovative and exciting cuisine. I'm looking forward to the restaurant as it evolves, and hope its location doesn't impede its success.
Meredith's New Orleans Cuisine ~ Manalapan
I agree. I dont think the food is bad but I wasn't impressed.
I enjoyed fried green tomatoes and the gumbo was decent. But nothing blew me out of the
Water, and the pulled pork sandwich was so poorly seasoned and entirely overwhelmed by
Cinnamon.
The owners and staff seem nice and well intentioned - but passing it off as traditional NOLA cuisine may be a stretch...
Monthly Tasting Dinners at Empellon
In a word, great! (and you will see based on the following review, I'm overly picky)
I usually wouldn't go to Empellon as a destination - I always enjoy the food, but never "blown away". These monthly tasting events change all of this based on my last meal here for "Oaxaca" month.
(This review is a few weeks late and as such, some of the details may be slightly unclear. Hopefully, I'll capture the overall vibe well enough to encourage the masses to give the next dinner a try)
So, Stupak is hosting monthly, region specific tasting dinners with 6 courses w/ wine pairings (or non alcoholic pairings) for $75, a steal INHO after attending. I don't have the wine pairings handy, though it was lighter on the wine and heavier on mezcal, sherry and the like.
1. MEZCAL CURED OCEAN TROUT WITH TROUT ROE AND SAL DE RUSANOS 5/5
Really well balanced. The smokiness of the mezcal cured trout, combined with the briny trout roe, was a perfect combination - the strong flavors really elevated the fish to the next level. A brilliant start.
2. DUCK EGG WITH SWEET POTATO AND HOJA SANTA LEAF 4.5/5
A lesson in umami, I could have eaten this all day. Granted, I am a sucker for egg based dishes but to have the oozing yolk combined with the textural components of the sweet potato (and an additional, undisclosed "crunchy" component), the flavors were spot on and everybody licked their plates clean.
3. FROG LEGS WITH ALUBIA BLANCA BEANS AND MOLE VERDE 3.75/5
My least favorite dish of the night, not because it tasted bad, but because I don't see the allure in frog legs. While I always order sweetbreads and frog legs when available, I am usually disappointed in the overall execution. In relative terms, the frog legs were tasty, and the dish was bettered by the white beans and verde combination, which had a nice kick to it. The dish was screaming for a bit more balance in the mole verde sauce though, as it felt a little too acidic, especially with the wine pairing. A more balanced verde sauce....and a different protein (for me)....and this is a slam dunk.
4. WILD BOAR WITH TAMALES DE CAMBRAY 4.5/5
We were presented with a beautiful wild boar pork chop with an incredible layer of fat that we were advised to eat (and eat, we did!) The flavors of the pork chop were incredible - and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the fat- and it was paired with a beautiful tamale bursting with herbs and flavor. The two components didn't compete with one another but rather, combined to form a cohesive dish. A nice portion of both too, considering the high quality and price point
5. GUAVA CHEESE CAKE WITH ROSE PETAL SORBET 4.5 / 5
I can't comment on its authenticity but I'll be candid. This was awesome. The textures of the cheese cake combined with the rose petal sorbet (which was surprisingly flavorful) was fantastic. As someone who does not usually enjoy cheesecake, this was a great surprise.
6. CREPAS DE CAJETA WITH WALNUT ICE CREAM
4/5
It wasn't bad - I actually really enjoyed the walnut ice cream though my wife didn't care for it. I just don't think it hit on all cylinders like the dish prior.
All in all, I think the food was top notch, the menu interesting, and the flavors bold and fun. For $75, this may be one of the best deals in NYC, especially if he continues to keep it fresh and new each month.
Get on the mailing list and go next month!
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Empellon Taqueria
230 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014
Ristorante Giorgia in Rumson
Okay, some of the following may be attributed to how new the restaurant is. I usually give places some extra slack in the service department when they are new- though in a pretty small dining room with maybe 12 - 15 tables, some of it still screams inexcusable .
Starting with ambience, it is LOUD in here. The tables are pretty close together and it's not a "romantic date" spot by any stretch of the word. It looks inside like an old Italian barn , verging on being slightly gimmicky but my wife liked it. Everyone last night appeared to know one another which lent for a seemingly welcomingly atmosphere outside of the noise.
When we get there for our 9pm reservation, we were told they are running about 20 min behind. No worries - on a cool night, it was nice to sit outside for a few minutes, and only about ten minutes later were my wife and I seated at a table .
Then begins the fun - we received wine glasses for what we brought, empty water glasses and were explained specials. We didn't see our waiter again for about 30 minutes. With our menu closed and quite hungry at this point, I flagged down a busboy and asked him to bring us bread to gnaw at while we waited. We were about to leave when without much apology , our waiter realized he had forgotten about us and took our order.
On to the food.....
Stuffed Zucchini (appetizer) - pleasant enough - but could have really used some salt ( Which I added) - pretty average over all- 5/10
Bruschetta - this was nice- toasted country bread charred on outside and the addition of eggplant made it a different rendition than most 7/10
For entrees I had ravioli special which was supposed to be with veal and Roquefort - they had ran out of all but two I was told about 20 min after ordering , but they had others with walnuts and what I gathered was a mixed Italian cheese inside that I could sub. Fine. The waiter was quite nice and told me (without me asking) he will bring the remaining two out with my meal for me to try
My meal came and it was four medium sized , definitely homemade ravioli. The flavors were quite good but... The outsides were almost oily which lent a slightly unpleasant textural component . I don't know if it was run of from an oil base to sauce, or what. All in all , however, they were tasty but not spectacular. I also never saw the two other ravioli (Which would have been fine if he didnt tell me they were coming) In reality, I remained hungry with portion size
7/10
My wife had bucatini a la matriciana (sp?) - Which had a nice kick to it and featured al dente , seemingly homemade pasta. IMHO, the better dish of the night and a nice break from the overbooked red sauce places we are inundated with in NJ
8/10
Good cannoli and expresso to finish . Prices quite reasonable (about $70 plus tax and tip) but mixed feelings. Outside of service, nothing was bad but nothing great either. For my dollar, I'll still go to other Italian places before returning here
Joel Robuchon or e by Jose Andres?
I don't know if this will help but here are my thoughts on both from a different perspective. Robuchon is delicious and an experience of sorts but if you have the opportunity as it sounds to have those 2 and 3 star dinners in the country, I don't think you will lose sleep over missing Robuchon as , despite how delicious the meal will be, it also is overpriced in true Las Vegas style.
E by Jose Andres is another experience altogether. I know you have done minibar in DC but it's still very different. My wife and I did the wine pairings and we were comfortable but not stuffed at the end of the meal. Had some great conversation with chefs, fellow diners and felt it was a truly original experience. Food was better overall at Robuchon but e will keep you talking for days.
Your top CNJ restaurants by cuisine
Night & Day. Shumi is best and most traditional in NJ by long shot
Otherwise, a trip to 15 East in NYC will do the trick
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Shumi Restaurant
30 S. Doughty Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876
Anniversary Weekend in Napa for NYC chow
My wife and I are spending a four day weekend in Napa for our first anniversary and have reservationsnat the following and would love critIque and help for choosing a final dinner reservation. Unfortunately no luck at this point for TFL but so far...
Lunch
* bouchon
* ubuntu
* bottega
* bistro jeanty
Dinner
Auberge du Soleil
Ad Hoc
Redd
For the 4th night, we were thinking of either The Restaurant at Meadowwood but have heard mixed reviews, Cyrus in SF proper, or whatever suggestions everyone here has. I'd also be interested in any serious wine and food experiences at a winery
Thanks!
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Ad Hoc
6476 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599
Soleil Restaurant
625 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Life After Tomo
Haven't made it to Shumi in a few months as its a hike for me - but I found it to be different, albeit in our opinion, a bit better , than Tomo. Shumi is in Somerville and although the place is dying for an update, food is great. Otherwise make the trip to 15 East in NYC , grab a seat at the bar, and mourn Tomo there!
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Shumi Restaurant
30 S. Doughty Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876
Celebratory Dinner in D.C for NJ/NYC hound....and more
Ended up at CityZen. Enjoyed the food but not sure I'd return , though it served it's purpose
As everyone we dined with loved it. Definitely some hits and misses and for the price, I don't know if it's worth it.
Also ate at Cafe Atlantico ( which was really disappointing - im glad you steered me away for group dinner .
Made reservations for Komi for next time
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Cafe Atlantico
405 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
CityZen Restaurant
1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036
Celebratory Dinner in D.C for NJ/NYC hound....and more
So far we have made a couple changes , based on recommendations and obviously availability
My wife and I are going to do Cafe Atlantico on Friday alone. We have two sets of reservations for Saturday - one for CityZen at 8pm, and one at Blue Duck Tavern at 10pm (haven't confirmed with other couple if they want to eat that late) and Marcel's on Sunday.
Thanks for all of your help - we are going to book Komi and Minibar for our return in a few months.
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Cafe Atlantico
405 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
CityZen Restaurant
1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036
Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Celebratory Dinner in D.C for NJ/NYC hound....and more
I have spent some time perusing the boards here to look for the perfect restaurant for a celebratory dinner Saturday (albeit a bit late) and have mixed feelings and thoughts and hoped some of the locals can help me out
My wife and I are driving to DC to meet with some of our friends to celebrate their recent engagement. I'm looking for a restaurant that while price is not an object , is not too fancy or pretentious as I don't think that would come off well. Still, I want the food and atmosphere to be appropriate for the occasion.
We are all in our 20s and 30s, and I've looked at Citronelle (too fancy for this occasion, but definitely a must try in the future), Vidalia, Komi, etc....and even went as far to book Cafe Atlantico in case. I know I'm looking late, but if I'm looking for a celebratory, laid back place with fantastic food and drink, restaurant in DC on somewhat short notice, am I looking the in the right way or is there a better restaurant to choose
Also, if you had to choose 1 or 2 tasting menus or extremely fine dining in D.C (for a different event - I'd prefer no extremely long tastings for the dinner on Saturday) where would you recommend? I have to be in the same area for a wedding later this year and would love to set one or two reservations as we will be down there for a few days
Thanks for all of your help!
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Cafe Atlantico
405 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Citronelle
3000 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036
Vidalia
1990 M Street, Washington, DC 20036
IS there any Good Sushi?
Shumi by a mile.
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Shumi Restaurant
30 S. Doughty Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876
Atlantic City Steak Dinner - Tuesday Night
Most of the folks with us found their cocktails extremely watered down. I'd be hard pressed to name specifics, but remember being entirely underwhelmed. In particular, I do remember my friend's whiskey sour (I know - but I didn't order it.... :-) ) had so much sour mix it was borderline undrinkable.
Atlantic City Steak Dinner - Tuesday Night
can't agree on Knife and Fork. Thought the meal was terrible (and the cocktails worse)...Stick with Dock's Oyster House. THE BEST in Atlantic City, though the vibe a bit stuffy
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Dock's Oyster House
2405 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Atlantic City No-no's?
AVOID Fork & Knife Inn ( I think that is the name ) we had a pretty unsatisfactory meal there not long ago
Go to Docks Oyster House - I think its the best in AC all around for food. Never been to Chef Vola's though.
My daughter turning 21-Need great place near Lawrenceville or Princeton to Celebrate
Without question, Elements is your spot. Great cocktails too!
Mini Review : Doughnut Plant coconut cream doughnut
Recently went for the first time, and with the exception of the Creme Brulee option (which was fantastic and really addictive), we thought the jelly was overglazed and just okay (I know I'm in the minority here) and the orange glazed donuts were disgusting.
Still would go back to try other flavors and the CB doughnut. Wish I could get that delivered to NJ minus the 30 min line and close quarters
Wd-50 or Degustation?
I know I'm in the small minority here - but IMHO , avoid both. I found wd-50 to be one of the most disappointing meals I've had ( considering my anticipation) - I didn't find a single dish to be overly exciting and most were downright meh.
Degustacion is a "value" food wise, I suppose. The menu looks so good but in reality, nothing stood out when I had gone a few years ago ( except for an above average squid ink risotto) truthfully, if I had to choose, degustacion would get the chance at a second opportunity first , but at the price point, there is so many better options
best tapas in manhattan
Txikito is my personal favorite now having tried it over the weekend, though it had its ups and downs- the canape style sandwich with chorizo, saffron, and fried quail egg was excellent (I could have eaten five more) -, the morcilla pouches (described by our server as a blood sausage egg roll) was interesting and tasty but nowhere near the best rendition I've had - the mussels and white bean dish was incredibly addictive and definitely the highlight (I think we had to order a second round of bread to finish the rich sauce) - the squid ribbons interesting (a bit strange for me but my wife loved it) and the fries with spicy cod roe sauce was the perfect side. With a Coney Island Pilsner and a glass of red, it was a great meal.
Casa Mono was such a disappointment last time I went. Oversalted and Overdone. There was no delicate hand with the flavors and everything seemed in competition. Outside of the interesting menu with exotic offals and ingredients, this is a waste of time and money. The service was terrible too
I do also like Boqueria; since its right near where I get my suits made, I head over there often to enjoy some of their less ambitious, but still downright tasty, tapas and some vino.
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Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003
Boqueria
53 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011
Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001
NJ best wedding catering halls
We got married at Crystal Springs Grand Cascades lodge - the venue is beautiful, the food outstanding during the meal and cocktail hour, and you can also have your rehearsal dinner at Latour or in their wine cellar (the latter was incredible)
It is pricey however - I believe we spent around 250 a head after all upgrades...
Lame Meal at Wd-50
Having dined at Alinea in Chicago, I have been waiting to try Wd-50 and have unfortunately, ignored many of the bad reviews in favor of the good, simply assuming the naysayers did not appreciate the molecular gastronomy movement. Boy was I wrong...
It is not to say anything was bad. We started with the corned duck and rye combination which was actually tasty, but somewhat one dimensional, especially for what I came to expect. We had the peeky toe crab roll which didn't strike me as exceptionally tasty - nor did it have much depth to it either.
Knowing the craze over the "Everything Bagel", we asked the kitchen to allow us to try it a la carte. I know this is probably blasphemy but - it just wasn't as mind blowing conceptually as I thought. Yes - it is in ice cream form; but again, I think the form over function argument is a huge issue here. I didn't find the taste to be as promising as I had hoped so the playfulness of the forms and textures did not work for me.
The entrees provided some comfort - with the Bass itself very good (though the fried forbidden rice sloppy and dense) and the duck flavorful (though I didn't care for the "cheddar cheese broth" and I think the duck needed some more time to render down the huge layer of fat beneath the skin)...
I'm upsets I didn't try the desserts before Stupak left, but my desert of "Milk Chocolate, Black Beans, Plaintains, Peanuts, Soy" was very tasty and the flavors worked. My dining companion's Coffee Ice Cream on the other hand, seemed bland.
The cocktails were tasty, but nothing spectacular. Besides the addicting sesame seem paper thin bread, I'm left confused over the hype....
