Saturday, October 30, 2010

Dunellen Hotel

120 N Washington Ave
Dunellen, NJ 08812

http://www.dunellenhotel.com/

I had heard wonderful things about the Dunellen Hotel, so when a 4:45pm stop to Joe's Crab Shack meant a 2 hour wait, we decided to go here instead.


We had a hard time picking, and ended up with an appetizer, a soup, plus entrees.  Oink.
M chose the Triple Onion Soup, and thought it was pretty good.  I liked it when I had a taste too.  We also had the Hot Crab Dip, and it was good.
M had the Lobster Reuben and went on and on about how much he wanted to just keep eating but that he was too full from all the appetizers.  I had a special; I think it was pot roast.  I had to hold myself back so I would have leftovers.  It was one of those, "I'm not hungry, but this is so good, I can't stop eating," kind of meals.


So, we had a great meal at the Dunellen Hotel!!





Dunellen Hotel on Urbanspoon

Pop Shoppe

729 Haddon Ave
Collingswood, NJ 08108
www.thepopshopusa.com

Grilled cheese.  Soda jerks.  Enormous sundaes.

We were meeting up with some friends from Delaware, and decided to check out the Pop Shoppe.  What a great choice for people who like to have some fun and bring the kids, or just act like one!  We discovered after making this choice that they had been featured on Bobby Flay's Challenge for making the best grilled cheese.  The four of us decided we would each choose a different grilled cheese and share them.  I, unfortunately, can't remember all four of the sandwiches we had, but they were all good.  Each of us had our own favorite of the four.

I really liked how much they cater to families.  My 3 year old had a great time; he was given a soda jerk hat to wear, and there were books and coloring books he could look at while we adults tried to hang out.  Moreover, there are three different kids' menus:  Big Squirts, Little Squirts, and Baby Squirts.  It was so convenient that they gave us a mashed banana to feed our baby.

We decided we next have to meet here for breakfast.

Pop Shop on Urbanspoon

Ecco Bistro

458 Elizabeth Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-271-5700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              732-271-5700      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
http://www.eccobistropizza.com/index.html

Lots of running around yesterday had us choosing to go out to eat.  Since we were so pleased with a recent pizza experience here, we decided to try their restaurant side as well.  We were really pleased with our meals.  The decor of this restaurant is very nice; the three year old and I sat on a wall length bench with decorative pillows.  It was really pretty, though getting the three year old to NOT lay on said pillow proved difficult.  The bathrooms were beautiful, and even my husband commented that they are really nice.

Our food was very good.  It turned out that (for the first time in our relationship, I believe) my husband ordered first, and chose what I had decided on.  I ordered my second pick, which he said he was considering too.  So, we split them.  We both liked his better (Ecco Madeira Chicken), but both meals were outstanding (I had the Brandy Fettucine).  We received your standard bread with oil and basil, but it was particularly tasty and much thicker--we actually spooned it on top of the bread rather than dipping the bread into the oil like we normally would.  I was very pleased with the salad that came with our meals; I thought the dressing was very different and outstandingly good.

We agreed on two problems with the restaurant:  first, their menu is pretty limited, though it seems that there are many more choices when one looks at the menus posted online.  Second, there's no changing table in either bathroom (that we saw). 

Otherwise, this was a great meal, great atmosphere, and great prices.  Definitely a great Italian place!

Ecco Bistro on Urbanspoon

Pizza Ecco

458 Elizabeth Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-271-5700
http://www.eccobistropizza.com/index.html

We saw this place opened recently, and decided to give it a try.  M said this could be dangerous, we're breaking my cardinal rule of not going to a pizza place in the first month after they've opened.
Nonetheless, this was a really tasty pizza.  The crust was way thinner than I typically enjoy, but the flavors of the pizza were outstanding.  We got the Four Cheese pizza, and were both really happy.  Additionally, the large pie was $15, which is way less than we pay at a much closer pizza place for a regular mushroom pie.

Definitely good pizza at Ecco!

Pizza Ecco on Urbanspoon