stack_c's Profile
Scalini Fedeli -Chatham
I'm sorry to say but we were more than a little under impressed by our experience at Scalini last Friday night. The food was - good but nothing spectacular. I found the presentation to be sloppy and the amuse bouche was a bizarre combo of ingredients from other dishes on the menu. Over all I'd say the pasta dishes from the first course were far better than the meat dishes we ordered for the second course. But the worst part was the dessert course - my DH ordered the souffle and it came out looking and tasting like a shriveled up microwave brownie. I made the mistake of ordering the cheese plate and what a mistake it was - I think I must've been the only one in the history of the restaurant to order it - because they certainly were not prepared. It was described as a selection of domestic and international cheeses with warmed bread. Well what I got was a vision in white. The plate consisted of Swiss, mozzarellA, gruyere, fontina and parmigiana and the " warmed bread" was 2 hunks of cold crusty dinner bread. It was really a disgrace. It was like they jjust took hunks of cheese from the kitchen that were being used in other dishes. I should've sent it back but the service was so slow that by the time dessert came it was close to 11 pm. This brings me to my other point. The service was embarrassingly awful. We ordered 2 bottles of expensive wines. The pouring was sloppy, they kept mixing up who was having red and white and we had the remind them to taste it prior to pouring. One member of our group does not drink and was drinking sparkling water instead. They kept trying to pour her wine multiple times. There is a ritual and a process that comes with ordering wines ( especially expensive bottles) and I'd like to say that someone young and inexperienced would perhaps be naive to this but our waiter, an older gentleman had mentioned later on in the evening he'd been working there for many years. I'd have to say that we will probably not go back and or recommend it as a fine dining establishment.
Jersey Shore Food Truck Wars
Super excited. Especially for Red Hook Lobster. Here's the updated list:
Ahh! La Cart
Wafels & Dinges
Burger Box
Max's Hot Dogs
Red Hook Lobster
Pudgy's Street Food
Rickshaw Dumplings
Kona Ice
The Taco Truck
Lil Dans Gourmet
Deliano's Food Service
The French Quarter - A Taste of New Orleans LLC
Mustache Mobile
Cupcake Carnivale
Thai Elephant Truck
Fork in the Road
Gozen Yogurt
Local Food Blog from the APP
Long gone are the days of the infamous Andrea Clurfield! Lol
Scalini Fedeli -Chatham
Hi All
Some relatives are taking us out to dinner this Friday night at Scalini Fedeli in Chatham. We do not travel to that part of Jersey often- so I don't know much about the dining scene in that part off the state. They rave about it - say its amazing ( i know its a Michael Cetrulo resto) but I can not seem to find many reviews on here at all. Their website does not seem to give me much info about the menu either. Anybody been recently or have any thoughts on the place?
Best Breakfast Monmouth County
Franks Deli - Asbury Park - #1 breakfast overall. Atmosphere food ambiance service. Corned beef hash is outstanding! Fresh OJ is worth the price!!
The Buttered Biscuit - Bradley Beach - tied for first place with Franks for food but different type of menu. Much better biscuit than My Kitchen Witch. Service is a bit wacky. Can be slow. Good baked goods!!!
Colonels kissing booth - fun atmosphere. Good daily specials. SLOW service
Sunset Landing - Asbury Park - stay away from the omlettes here. Pancakes and waffles are delish. deck in the summer with a cup of coffee is perfection
My Kitchen Witch - Monmouth Beach - excellent thick cut bacon and pancakes. Her biscuits and strawberry butter have gone downhill lately.
In Between Cafe - Red Bank - great omlettes Local vibe fast service
River Front Cafe - Sea Bright - excellent soda bread
DON'T bother with Toast in AP - food is mediocre, service is shotty and pricey menu IMO
West village group dinner- good drinks a must!
Looking for a good suggestion for small group (7-8 people) for dinner in West Village on a SaturdY night. All cuisines welcome. Upbeat, lively young environment. Good drinks selection. Price point around 40-50$ pp. thanks!!
It's that time of the year again....
The warm weather is coming and my DH and I have found ourselves in the annual conundrum of where the heck do we go for good seafood in Monmouth/Ocean county!? Some place casual where you can sit with a couple of beers al fresco perhaps and enjoy some nice fresh seafood. We've exhausted all the possibilities and everything is over priced and mediocre at best I know I'm preaching tithe choir but why oh why is it so hard to find fresh seafood at the jersey shore!? . Anyone have a favorite they'd like to throw out there?
The Cheese Cave, Red Bank
Has anyone tried the specialty sandwiches the cheese cave is now serving? I saw last weeks selection ( I think it changes weekly) and it made my mouth water. I have never been but am planning on heading over there this week. Im also wondering if it's just take out or if there's a place to sit down and eat these gooey cheesy pieces of heaven?!
Dinner near Kleinfeld's (Chelsea/Flatiron)
Hi
Last minute request, did not have time to do my usual research and did a quick search on the board couldnt find anything - going to Kleinfeld's this evening and we are in need of a place for dinner after the dress appointment. Nothing too elaborate or fancy perhaps someplace with tapas or small plates. All price points and cuisines. Preferably within walkin distance of the salon, which is on W. 20th Street b/w 6th and 7th Ave.....
Thanks so much in advance...
The Buttered Biscuit - Bradley Beach
This place is JUST what this area needed!! 2 thumbs way up. - Have been there a handlful of times now and have probably had or tasted the majority of breakfast AND lunch items on the menu. There hasnt been one thing i havent liked. Pancakes are absolutely fabulous - they put fresh berries or bananas in them if you want. As their name implies they make a mean griddled breakfast biscuit, they serve it with a cinammon butter and strawberry jam that is just out of this world (as is their griddled crumb cake - i just love a breakfast appetizer)
The french toast and house scramble with goat cheese, herbs de provence and cherry tomatoes is also fantastic. They also do a personal favorite a BLET - a BLT with a fried egg on it on toasted multigrain which is perfect for both breakfast and lunch - if im doing lunch i am sometimes inclined to ask for avocado on it as well ( i guess that makes it a BLEAT!)
As far as lunch is concerned the crabcake sandwich, Cobb Salad, and Cajun Shrimp wrap are all very yummy!
Service is very friendly and efficient and prices are incredibly reasonable. cant say enough good things about this place - wish them the best of luck!
Toast - Asbury Park
I have family up in Montclair and this is their favorite breakfast/lunch place...they say the pancakes are out of this world! _ glad to hear that they have brought the same standard down to AP with them...looking forward to trying it out!
When MIM closed down it left a major hole in the brunch scene in AP and surrounding towns...although I have to say The Buttered Biscuit in Bradley Beach is quickly becoming a new brunch fav ...but I will leave that review for another thread!
Moderately priced dinner near Shrewsbury?
do a search for Red Bank...its only a stone's throw from Shrewsbury...good variety of cusiine and price points....
Caterer in southern monmouth county
not sure what type of food you're looking for but Jersey Shore BBQ in Belmar has amazing catering at VERY reasonable pricing. Just did a graduation party with them and we had zero leftovers - people were licking their plates. We did the St Louis Ribs, Pulled Pork w/ slider buns, coleslaw, baked beans and mac n cheese for about 25 people and I believe it came to around $200. They even threw in some cornbread for free!
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Jersey Shore BBQ
811 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, NJ 07719
July 4th Restaurant musings - new BYOB in Rumson; nightmare in west end
if there is such thing as over friendly service you will find it at Cinco de Mayo...not necessarily a bad thing but we had to laugh when it seemed like every server in the restaurant came over to ask us if we wanted more salsa and chips or how we were enjoying our meal. Even the owner came over and thanked us for coming. We were also given complimentary quesedilla to start. A nice touch. Food was overall good but not great. The reasonable pricing, fun atmosphere and friendly service are enough for me to go back
Local Smoke BBQ neptune
wow...could not have had more of an opposite experience. We did take out from there last night. Got one order of the popper "turds", full rack of ribs and pint of mac n cheese. Ribs were excellent, IMO better htan Jersey Shore BBQ in Belmar - incredibly flavorful, moist and fall of the bone, we were fighting over the last "turd" and wished we had ordered another batch, Mac n cheese was not the best i've had but better than a few of the other Southern/BBQ places in the area. We go to JerseyShore BBQ religiously for their ribs and i have to say Local Smoke may have won us over.
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Jersey Shore BBQ
811 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, NJ 07719
Looking for best "All-You-Can-Eat" in Monmouth County, NJ
+1 for Tandoor e India in Oakhurst. Food is always fresh and delicious. Often times they will bring fresh items out for the buffet while you are there. They are incredibly friendly, generous and accomodating. Also excellent value for $$
Saturday lunch reco needed for both serious foodie and picky eater
Hello RGR (fellow NJ Chow!)
YES! I saw your post regarding your recent meal @ USC and it solidified my decision to make the reservation. Hoping we have as equally as good as an experience
Saturday lunch reco needed for both serious foodie and picky eater
thanks everyone...unfortunately, lunch is for this Saturday and the majority of the above recco's are all booked up. We decided to go with Union Square Cafe....perhaps a little "outdated" in the foodie scene but it was one of the only places that fit our requirements and had availability at such late notice.
Saturday lunch reco needed for both serious foodie and picky eater
I'm desperately trying to find a place for a Saturday lunch that will please both a serious foodie visiting from London and a picky eater. Picky eater doesn't necessarily have restrictions on certain foods but needs simple preparation (has intense fear of dishes with too many ingredients or ingredients he can't pronounce) - there are no price restrictions or certain neighborhood we need to stick to. Cuisines that would be acceptable would include Ameircan (both traditional and nouveau), Italian, French, European, Seafood. Thanks in advance!
30th Bday Dinner for serious foodies...Daniel's Bistro, Bistro 44, Belford Bistro or Nicholas?
I too absolutely love BAT but one of our fellow diners really dislikes the ambiance...he cant get past the fact that the bathrooms are practically in the middle of the dining room...I however can easily get past that fact every time i have the duck!
30th Bday Dinner for serious foodies...Daniel's Bistro, Bistro 44, Belford Bistro or Nicholas?
excellent! reservation made! Thanks everyone. Very excited...will report back
30th Bday Dinner for serious foodies...Daniel's Bistro, Bistro 44, Belford Bistro or Nicholas?
WOW! Looks like Bistro 44 by a land slide! anyone know where I can get my hands on a more recent menu for Bistro 44....the website seems to be outdated....
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Bistro 44
44 Washington St Ste 2C, Toms River, NJ 08753
30th Bday Dinner for serious foodies...Daniel's Bistro, Bistro 44, Belford Bistro or Nicholas?
Hi All
had mentioned something about this on the Daniel's Bistro thread but decided to start a new one...need to make reservations for a 30th bday dinner...4 people on a Sat night in late Feb. These people are serious foodies. Have been to Nicholas and Belford Bistro before...wanting to try something new...was thinking either Daniel's or Bistro 44 but don't want to be dissapointed with either food or service for this special dinner...also I can not find a recent menu for either of the latter 2 restaurants...Im looking for overall the best experience from starters to dessert. Thanks!
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Belford Bistro
870 Main Street, Belford, NJ 07718
Bistro 44
44 Washington St Ste 2C, Toms River, NJ 08753
Daniel's Bistro
115 Broadway, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Daniel's Bistro, Point Pleasant Beach NJ
Has anyone been recently...need to make reservations for a special 30th bday dinner with serious foodies and was thinking may go here....id love a more recent review...seems to be unanimous that the food is fantastic but Id hate for a bday celebration to be ruined by rude service....any help would be much appreciated
Trinity and The Pope - Asbury Park
i have to say just like the rest of Marilyn's restos i find Trinity to be very hit or miss...food and service incredibly inconsistent....i have on a couple of instances had to send our food back...drinks however are very good....honestly, i'd go sit at the bar for a good martini and nibble on the potato chips and then go across the street to Taka!
Adams rib BBQ Neptune NJ
sorry Mark...wish i had read this post earlier..i drive past this place everyday on my way home...its been closed for weeks (maybe even months!) in fact we think that they were never actually open for business!
Any place serve fried pickles?
Bond Street in Asbury does fried pickle spears...they serve them with a tasty chipolte dipping sauce
La Cantina
yes same owners...they also own Brennan's steakhouse (across from the original location of La Cantina)
La Cantina
went there last night...very, VERY dissapointing....this is glorified chain style tex mex..everything from the chips and salsa to the guacamole and refried beans tasted like they were out of a can, jar or bag. Ordered the fajitas...they were SWIMMING in oil and came out cool (not served sizzling tableside as one expects with fajitas). Mother ordered the street style tacos that were just drenched in melted processed cheese. I have to say it was hard for us to even eat our food but the place was PACKED, service was SLOW and we were starving so we choked it down. Bottom Line: Chilli's has better food than this place ( and thats saying something coming from a person who would rather skip a meal than set foot in a chain restaurant). VERY VERY dissapointing...
