Grist Mill ---> The Falls ---> MJ's ?? (Tinton Falls NJ)

I went with my husband and daughter this afternoon, and I pretty much agree with you, Mark. I had the special clams on the half shell appetizer, which was ok, but can be much more wonderful on a hot afternoon. They were nicely chilled, but a little gritty, and came without lemon or one of those little forks that makes them so easy to handle. They tasted fresh, but a little, I don't know, mushy?. It's hard to fault a restaurant for such a variable natural product, though. I had the crabcake appetizer as a main course, and your description is accurate. I could have used a little more remoulade, and I thought the Corn Salsa was a little bland, but I rarely order crabcakes because they usually disappoint, and this one was really tasty. My daughter almost always orders lobster mac and cheese if it's on a menu, and this one was a winner, full of flavor, and whole claws. My husband's sausage and pepper pizza was just ok, much the way you described it.My daughter's tiramisu was kind of a standard pre-fab dessert. Our waitress was a total sweetheart, and I would definitely return to try some of their other choices.

igrove in New Jersey

Synaxis~Asbury Park, NJ

I know that it's open, because my husband and daughter have been to the bar area for Joe Harvard's "Lost Weekend," a very unusual musician's jam session, which takes place on Monday nights. I don't know how the restaurant is doing, except that it's open.

igrove in New Jersey

Ibby's Falafel Freehold

Thanks for the replies. I stuck with Ibby's, because there was so much I wanted to try, and I don't often get a chance to have this kind of food. So, the other day I ordered the sampler, which was way too much food for me, but I figured I wouldn't soon be back. Turns out, I've been assigned to a case which may run for a few weeks, so I shouldn't have worried! So, I'll definitely explore your suggestions. OK, Angelina, go ahead and laugh (: !

igrove in New Jersey

Ibby's Falafel Freehold

I also have jury duty, and was thrilled to spot this place today on lunch break. I had the falafel and baba ganoush platter, which was really excellent, and one of the desserts (it looks like shredded wheat, with pistachios and honey-if someone knows the name please tell me) which I walked along the street with.

My question: should I go back tomorrow, or is there some place in that area that I should not miss? I really do want to try some of the other items, so I'm kind of hoping that there are no other contenders.

igrove in New Jersey

At The Table, Asbury Park, NJ

Yesterday, my daughter and I were ravenous after spending the afternoon at the NJ Premium Outlets. We almost wound up at Ruby Tuesdays (did I say we were ravenous?) but wisely decided to head to Asbury Park instead. I remembered this thread, but I couldn't remember the address, but some kind people on Cookman Ave. gave us directions.

What a lovely little place! We were the only diners at 4:00 PM, which is a strange time to eat. We had the dinner menu, and I ordered the fried chicken, mac and cheese, and greens. I ordered the sweet tea, mostly to get in the spirit of things because: wow is that sweet! Water is my usual when I'm not having wine or beer. My daughter had the fried shrimp, with the mac and cheese and grilled asparagus. The cornbread was great, the food was homey and delicious, and the service was friendly. We may have had Larry Lg's "almost shy" waitress, but I didn't see her that way. I wouldn't say that it was polished service, but we were made to feel right at home, and that was just fine with us.

We had to bring home some of the chicken and macaroni, but we decided to take home three pieces of the coconut cake for later. I didn't realize until later what a huge "hunk of cake" (to quote Beaver Cleaver) they give you, so we should have ordered some different desserts to try.

I asked our waitress if it would more crowded later on, and she said yes, but I worry that they are on a relatively boring stretch of Bond Street, rather than the jazzier Cookman Ave. She was aware of the reviews on Chowhound. I will encourage my friends to give it a try.

igrove in New Jersey

Lunch in or very near Hasbrouck Heights

Thanks, Curlz! This woman is a true angel of mercy. She pretty much saved my life, and I try to show my gratitude even 3 years later. She never treats herself; any money goes straight to Jamaica.

igrove in General Tristate Archive

Lunch in or very near Hasbrouck Heights

This Saturday, I am taking a special friend out to lunch. She was my mom's live-in caregiver, and she's moved on to another "client" since my mom passed away. Her client's daughter will be minding her mom while we go out, so we don't really have hours to spend driving to a restaurant. I'm not sure how much time she have, but I'm figuring on 2-2 1/2 hours. My friend is an older Jamaican lady, who likes fish but not shellfish, no pork, but eats chicken and some beef. She'd be ok with Italian or American, but I'm not sure about other types of cuisine.

Can any of you suggest any nice places for us? A nice atmosphere is important to me, because I'd like to give her a little break from her tough job. I'd like to be able to give her some choices.

igrove in General Tristate Archive

Lunch in Hasbrouck Heights

Thanks, jethro. I always wondered why NJ didn't have its own board.

igrove in Mid-Atlantic

Lunch in Hasbrouck Heights

This Saturday, I am taking a special friend out to lunch. She was my mom's live-in caregiver, and she's moved on to another "client" since my mom passed away. Her client's daughter will be minding her mom while we go out, so we don't really have hours to spend driving to a restaurant. I'm not sure how much time she have, but I'm figuring on 2-2 1/2 hours. My friend is an older Jamaican lady, who likes fish but not shellfish, no pork, but eats chicken and some beef. She'd be ok with Italian or American, but I'm not sure about other types of cuisine.

Can any of you suggest any nice places for us? A nice atmosphere is important to me, because I'd like to give her a little break from her tough job. I'd like to be able to give her some choices.

igrove in Mid-Atlantic

D'Jeet (Middletown / Red Bank)

I stopped in yesterday, after birthday present shopping at the Grove. I had the heirloom tomato grilled cheese, which was really tasty. It came with a side salad of nicely dressed baby greens, which impressed me, because I often avoid salads for fear that the dressing will be overpowering. I'll definitely return, because I'm interested in almost everything on the menu. I'd mostly go for lunch, but dinner looks great.

igrove in New Jersey

She's Leaving Home

Well, she's been gone for a week now, and she's still alive! Thanks for the Woody's recommendation. My husband and I ate there a couple of times when we came to move her furniture and clean the apartment, as it's right around the corner. My daughter and son also enjoyed it. I'm pretty sure that she's tried Pad Thai near the school, plus she's eaten once at the school dining hall, and said it wasn't bad. I want her to give that a couple more tries, and if it works for her, we'll pay for a limited meal plan.It's a great place to socialize.

Her new roommate is a sweetheart, and her parents are great. They stayed on after we went home, and bought a huge store of food for the girls. The only problem is that much of it is overly processed and/or not to my daughter's taste (think cup of noodles and orange drink instead of orange juice. She's trying to tactfully buy herself some "real" food this week, so a trip to Trader Joe's or Shaw's is coming this week. Roommates parents did supply a rice cooker, though. It's all about adjusting to different people, and they are really caring parents. They were shocked by the high prices at Whole Foods, but if you're tiny like my daughter, and you are shopping for just what you will actually eat, you can get good value. No, you can't feed a family of four, but one little girl can get a nutritious meal or two.

Again, thanks for all your help. I really feel that she's not alone in the city.

igrove in Greater Boston Area

She's Leaving Home

Thanks for all the really helpful responses! I'm printing this out for my daughter to take with her, along with some favorite recipes.I'd like to make up a little "survival folder", with some of the life skills I may have neglected to teach her when she was home. She's been reading this thread, and getting more and more excited to start her new life (as if she needed an excuse). We've passed by a number of the places you suggested, so it's nice to know that they're worth a try. Thanks for the links,BostonZest. And, RoxyB, you're absolutely right about it being harder on the parents. Besides missing her, I'm actually a little jealous of her, for all the great new adventures ahead. Thanks for the good wishes.

igrove in Greater Boston Area

She's Leaving Home

My daughter will be moving into an apartment near Berklee College of Music (her school) in a few weeks. We just came back from a lovely week in Boston, where we signed the lease on her apartment and checked out the neighborhood. She will have only a tiny kitchen, and even though she has some kitchen skills, I don't think there will be a lot of time to cook. There's a Whole Foods across the street, and a Trader Joe's on Boylston Street, and I saw some Thai and Korean places, which she would go for, and of course pizza. She eats a variety of foods, but gravitates towards asian flavors, and although she hasn't had much experience with it, I think Indian would really work for her. She's adventurous when it comes to "exotic" foods. She's less inclined to eat hearty "normal" foods. For instance, she loves burgers at home when I make them, but never orders them out, and avoids cold cuts, although she'll eat turkey subs (grinders?). She loves pasta, sushi, sweets, bread, and fish, and eats most vegetables and salads.

She's never been away from home before, a tiny girl who weighs all of 95 lbs. And, she will be on a student's budget. We walked through the food stores and read a lot of menus, but if any of you kind people could give us some tips on cheap eats, great products that the food stores sell (including frozen prepared stuff), or any other food related advice, we would surely use it.I don't want my little girl to get any skinnier!

igrove in Greater Boston Area

Why do many people still think going out on Valentine's Day is a good idea?

I love cheese in all its forms!

igrove in Not About Food

Why do many people still think going out on Valentine's Day is a good idea?

My husband and I aren't romantic types, at least as far as dates on a calendar are concerned (we've both forgotten our wedding anniversary a number of times, for instance). One year, we went to a local pub for a hamburger, but were surprised to realize that it was V.D., and there was a huge crowd and a "special" menu. I think that it was filet mignon and shrimp cocktail or something, and they had candles on the tables,one glass of complementary champagne, and each "lady" got a single rose. It was corny as hell, and you know what? It was great fun. I guess it was mostly because we had no expectations, but Valentine's Day IS a really cheesy holiday, and sometimes it's best to embrace the cheese.

igrove in Not About Food

Esca

I wanted to reply in this thread to report on Le Madeleine.Dd and I had a lovely lunch there thanks to you good people. Unfortunately, due to traffic issues, we arrived much later than expected, and the kitchen was about to close for lunch, but the waitstaff was kind and accomodating, and we were truly made to feel welcome. I had the braised lamb shank pasta and dd had the goat cheese pasta . I was interested in the skate wing, but the waiter encouraged me toward the lamb shank pasta. I wasn't sure if our lateness was the reason for his recommendation, but I went with it, and was very satisfied. The atmosphere was relaxing,even though everyone was setting up for dinner. My daughter enjoyed her dish. We met a lovely man at the next table who was finishing up a business lunch alone, after his associate had left,and when we were ready for dessert, I went along with his suggestion of creme brulee. Now, I really shouldn't have done this, because I make a pretty good creme brulee at home, and I wanted to try something different;particularly something with fruit. But the man was so charming, and wanted to share his pleasure with this, that I felt sort of obligated. It was very good, and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I would have ordered.But meeting this man, and our fascinating conversation,was really part of the whole experience. He was travelling to NY on business, but makes a point to eat at Le Madeleine whenever he gets the chance. He's more or less a regular, and the staff treated him as such. My daughter ordered the caramel chocolate mousse, and enjoyed it, but it was awfully rich, and she's a little bitty thing, and she had a singing lesson ahead of her, so she didn't finish. I did what I could to help,good mother that I am :).
My overall impression was that Le Madeleine is a place with warm service and fresh, lovely food. I'm sorry that we didn't arrive earlier, as I would have liked to try some appetizers (Nobody said we couldn't order them, but I felt a little awkward). We'll definately go back again, but not untl we try Esca. And we will. Because it's there. And I have to find out for myself.Dd's singing teacher loves the place, and recommends the uni and crabmeat pasta.What do you think of that particular dish?

igrove in Manhattan

Another great meal at Shipwreck Grill~Brielle

Thanks! I think that's definintely the next place we hit.

igrove in Mid-Atlantic

Another great meal at Shipwreck Grill~Brielle

I've been wanting to try this place, but my husband is not a seafood eater. Do they have good non-fish entrees? I tried to pull up their menu on their website, but it won't come up for me.

igrove in Mid-Atlantic

Bakeries - 'down the shore'

I was wondering about this myself. I go to Freedman's all the time for bread and rolls, and the last time I went, the girl was saying that all of the other locations have closed except for Ocean Grove, and that pretty soon Belmar would be the only location left. So where will I go if Belmar closes? And where does everybody else go? Wegmans? I know what you mean about sickeningly sweet pastries, so I rarely buy them anymore, and Freedman's is better with bread than sweets IMHO. So, is there any place that makes a good crumb bun, for example?

igrove in Mid-Atlantic

Fratello'sa

We went there (party of 9) for mother's day, and everyone loved it. I remember seeing Chicken Murphy, Prime Rib,both Flounder and Chicken Francaise, and Penne something or other. I had the Scallops stuffed with crabmeat,and it was, as you said, real tasty. My husband and I have eaten there many times, and what we like about it is that, while they have many of the same things on their menu that everybody else makes, they do them well.

igrove in Mid-Atlantic

Esca

Thanks for the suggestions. I noticed Le Madeleine at the same time I spotted Esca, and I've been peering into Marseille's window for months now, as it looks so inviting. It's good to know that they are both recommended. We'll probably both go to Le Madeleine first, because I'd hate to miss out on the experience if they're indeed forced to move. For some reason, Marseille I'd save until the fall or winter. It just looks so cozy inside on a winter's night.

But, it's not really an either/or situation for us, because we are making regular trips to this area. I can't help it; I'm intrigued by the menu at Esca. It's that whole concentration on fish thing. And I've never tried anything like that raw fish with olive oil deal,unless you count sashimi. I was a little worried about reports of rudeness, but the truth is, I've rarely encountered rudeness in any NY restaurant. Maybe, coming from NJ, I have a higher tolerance for occasional abrupt behavior. I've found the service at most places to be very gracious.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. And to steve h. and Dave W, thanks for the specific info. We'll probably do this after my daughter is out of school in June, and (because she doesn't want to be left out of anything) she'll be my dining companion. I'll report back, on both Le Madeleine and Esca, when we do this. Thanks again.

igrove in Manhattan