1202 Sycamore Ave
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
I got a pretty big seafood craving over the break, so I asked the boys if they wanted to go closer to home or further. This is where we ended up, gleefully!
My sons were interested in the kids' menu, but we convinced them to split an order of lobster mac and cheese. They devoured it! My husband raved about his shrimp fajitas, and while I was nervous about the "small plate" of Pan Seared Scallops, it was the perfect size for my smaller appetite.
I liked the atmosphere of Woody's, and the food was interesting, different, and delicious!
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Ray's Bistro
440 W Union Ave
Bound Brook NJ
I get my car serviced in the area, and while waiting for my car to be ready, I noted a delicious smell. It inspired us to go out to eat, and after some searching, we decided to visit Ray's. It wasn't meant to be, because they were closed for a private party on that day, so we decided to return over our spring break.
What an absolute treat it was. The food was outstanding, and there was SO MUCH! We ordered a fried calamari appetizer, and probably shouldn't have because so much more food came. It was great!
My sons shared a ravioli and loved it. My husband raved about his chicken marsala, and my dinner was great too (I ordered a Pasta Pomodoro, but I'm pretty sure I received Pasta Primavera). We were treated to bruschetta and garlic knots while we waited, and then a great salad came with our meals--so often these treats are no longer part of the meal so these were great surprises!
We were so full that we practically rolled back to the car. The food was delicious and, as I said, there was a LOT of it. Well worth our money!
Bound Brook NJ
I get my car serviced in the area, and while waiting for my car to be ready, I noted a delicious smell. It inspired us to go out to eat, and after some searching, we decided to visit Ray's. It wasn't meant to be, because they were closed for a private party on that day, so we decided to return over our spring break.
What an absolute treat it was. The food was outstanding, and there was SO MUCH! We ordered a fried calamari appetizer, and probably shouldn't have because so much more food came. It was great!
My sons shared a ravioli and loved it. My husband raved about his chicken marsala, and my dinner was great too (I ordered a Pasta Pomodoro, but I'm pretty sure I received Pasta Primavera). We were treated to bruschetta and garlic knots while we waited, and then a great salad came with our meals--so often these treats are no longer part of the meal so these were great surprises!
We were so full that we practically rolled back to the car. The food was delicious and, as I said, there was a LOT of it. Well worth our money!
Updating!
Oh this poor, neglected, blog!
We've eaten so much great food lately, and I haven't recorded thoughts ANYWHERE. Shame.
I'm also including park reviews. I haven't been great about taking photos, but my son came up with the idea of making a bracket for parks, so I've developed one--I took parks we've visited and enjoyed and put them up against parks we've never visited, then sorted them by region of the state (Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Somerset County, and elsewhere).
We've eaten so much great food lately, and I haven't recorded thoughts ANYWHERE. Shame.
I'm also including park reviews. I haven't been great about taking photos, but my son came up with the idea of making a bracket for parks, so I've developed one--I took parks we've visited and enjoyed and put them up against parks we've never visited, then sorted them by region of the state (Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Somerset County, and elsewhere).
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Jozanna's
My whole family loves Jozanna's. My sons (4 and 7) love love love the pasta e fagioli soup and share a grown up spaghetti and meatballs. My husband and I have been thrilled with our meals, having tried both specials and the regular menu. We've also gotten pizza to go and it's a standout in an area filled with varying quality of pie. We really like this one, but pizza is one of those personal preference kind of dishes. Service is always phenomenal, and despite having months between our first and second visit, we were remembered. Amazing.
Oh, and on our last visit, we tried the desserts. Outstanding and delicious and rich...save room.
Al Dente
The food here is amazing. The service is fast and friendly, and the place is really cute, but oh wow, the food.
I could not get their burrata out of my head the first time a photo was posted on facebook, and it does not disappoint. It is creamy and smooth and has such great flavor. It is the star of the Taglieri course options, but the other favorite of mine is the eggplant rollatini appetizer. The eggplant is so soft and delicious that you'll forget it's that purple fruit from your garden.
My husband had something from the specials menu, Lobster Ravioli Fantasia. He made our sons try it, saying "your face is going to explode because this is so good."
Finally, my sons (ages 5 and 7) shared a pasta e fagioli soup and a gnocchi dinner. They loved both and said they were full when they finished the plate.
We love that Al Dente is BYOB, but I really love that burrata!
Mockingbird Cafe
We took a Good Friday hike up to Basking Ridge to try this joint. When my husband worked in Basking Ridge, he had heard people will wait for an hour on the weekends.
Our breakfast was great. Service was good, the place is cozy, and the food was interesting and tasty.
My husband and I shared a Dutch Baby and Ricotta Lemon pancakes while the boys shared Bananas Foster french toast. All super tasty, though the Dutch baby wasn't really filling.
Worth the drive!
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Paragon Tap and Table
Coworkers of mine visited this one Friday for happy hour and just raved, so when my husband and I had a rare date night, we trekked out to Clark.
The vibe of the place is very nice; you certainly forget that you are sitting inside a suburban strip mall with exposed brick, fireplaces, and lots of chalkboards around.
We both chose flights, and neither one of us really hit the mark on our choices. My coworkers probably sat at the bar, and if I'd done that I would have tried samples until I nailed the right one and then ordering a pint; this was a disappointment but not at all the restaurant's fault.
We each had ravioli, but different types. I chose to go outside of my comfort zone by choosing Butternut Squash ravioli, and they were outstanding. My husband chose Pear and Pork Ravioli and he was pretty excited about them.
Since we visited on Valentine's Day weekend, we also opted for a special dessert option. It involved three different treats, and all were fantastic.
A super nice touch was the chef walking around and checking in on everyone as they ate. I know he has several locations, so the kitchen probably runs itself, so this was a really nice touch for him.
In short, we had a very good meal and a nice time, but we probably wouldn't make the trek to Clark if it's just the two of us. But for those in the Clark area, this is like living close to New Brunswick.
We did not have our children this time, but there were many families there, so I'd have to give it a kid friendly rating!
The vibe of the place is very nice; you certainly forget that you are sitting inside a suburban strip mall with exposed brick, fireplaces, and lots of chalkboards around.
We both chose flights, and neither one of us really hit the mark on our choices. My coworkers probably sat at the bar, and if I'd done that I would have tried samples until I nailed the right one and then ordering a pint; this was a disappointment but not at all the restaurant's fault.
We each had ravioli, but different types. I chose to go outside of my comfort zone by choosing Butternut Squash ravioli, and they were outstanding. My husband chose Pear and Pork Ravioli and he was pretty excited about them.
Since we visited on Valentine's Day weekend, we also opted for a special dessert option. It involved three different treats, and all were fantastic.
A super nice touch was the chef walking around and checking in on everyone as they ate. I know he has several locations, so the kitchen probably runs itself, so this was a really nice touch for him.
In short, we had a very good meal and a nice time, but we probably wouldn't make the trek to Clark if it's just the two of us. But for those in the Clark area, this is like living close to New Brunswick.
We did not have our children this time, but there were many families there, so I'd have to give it a kid friendly rating!
Hailey's Harp and Pub
I have not blogged in forever, possibly the result of having too many blogs. So it's time to just start writing.
My family paid our second visit to Hailey's Harp and Pub in Metuchen the other night. My kids LOVE this place, simply because of the shuffleboard table. Yes, my children love bar games.
My husband and I though, love the food. The first time we visited, they had a special Oktoberfest menu and the food was great, and this time we both ordered from the regular menu. He chose and entree I was eyeing, "Hailey's Hooley," which was tasty but out of season tomatoes really brought it down a smidge. My husband raved about the eggplant in the dish, though. I tried the Guinness Stew. Despite not being a fan of the beer, this stew was so good. My 4 year old tried it, and he did a "watch me fall out of my seat to show you how much I love this!" I had leftovers the next day and the meat was still incredibly flavorful and tender.
As of this post, Hailey's is on restaurant.com; stop at ebates first to get up to to 10% cash back on your shopping there!
My family paid our second visit to Hailey's Harp and Pub in Metuchen the other night. My kids LOVE this place, simply because of the shuffleboard table. Yes, my children love bar games.
My husband and I though, love the food. The first time we visited, they had a special Oktoberfest menu and the food was great, and this time we both ordered from the regular menu. He chose and entree I was eyeing, "Hailey's Hooley," which was tasty but out of season tomatoes really brought it down a smidge. My husband raved about the eggplant in the dish, though. I tried the Guinness Stew. Despite not being a fan of the beer, this stew was so good. My 4 year old tried it, and he did a "watch me fall out of my seat to show you how much I love this!" I had leftovers the next day and the meat was still incredibly flavorful and tender.
As of this post, Hailey's is on restaurant.com; stop at ebates first to get up to to 10% cash back on your shopping there!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Warren Deli and Grill
It's typical for us to want hoagies on Sunday, when many delis are closed, so we took the opportunity of Martin Luther King, Jr. day to try a new place out. My husband wanted specialty sandwiches, so I found this place online. A littler further than we'd normally travel, but this place was great. I had a Roma Panning (breaded eggplant, roasted peppers, pesto, and mozzarella) while my husband had an enormous daily special sandwich. The place is nice and clean, and has a wide variety of chips and drinks. We also tried the macaroni salad and the pasta salad. My husband exclaimed that the macaroni was perfect, while I enjoyed the pasta salad more with its black olives, green peppers, and yellow squash.
It's a little out of our way, but we were really pleased with our trip to Warren Deli!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Zeppelin Hall
88 Liberty View Drive
Jersey City, NJ
Somehow I haven't reviewed this place. It came onto my radar several years ago when a coworker who lived in Jersey City mentioned it. I knew it was a place I'd enjoy, and suggested going with some friends. These friends mentioned their preference for the Beer Garden in Hoboken, so my visit here was delayed some time. But over the summer, and then again in the fall, some of my work friends were able to get together for a night out here.
Over the summer, we were able to sit outside. This was lovely, especially since we could see the skyline of Manhattan. The crowd was strange though; it was mostly folks coming home from work and they were young and very well paid (if judgments can be made from the quality and style of their clothing). But feeling extremely out of place did not put a damper on our fun. We had a great time, enjoying all kinds of food and drink.
I was super enthused to see that they serve Currywurst, something I discovered in Berlin. But during the week, they apparently don't serve the kind I know. I went ahead and tried this different kind of wurst and while it was good, it wasn't what I remembered and loved.
On our second visit, I WAS able to get Berliner style and it was fantastic. Not what I remembered, but still good. We also tried the pretzels on the second trip, and it was fantabulous. The second trip was on a Saturday night, and the crowd was much more family oriented than it was on a random summer Wednesday evening.
We had a great time at Zeppelin Hall!
Somehow I haven't reviewed this place. It came onto my radar several years ago when a coworker who lived in Jersey City mentioned it. I knew it was a place I'd enjoy, and suggested going with some friends. These friends mentioned their preference for the Beer Garden in Hoboken, so my visit here was delayed some time. But over the summer, and then again in the fall, some of my work friends were able to get together for a night out here.
Over the summer, we were able to sit outside. This was lovely, especially since we could see the skyline of Manhattan. The crowd was strange though; it was mostly folks coming home from work and they were young and very well paid (if judgments can be made from the quality and style of their clothing). But feeling extremely out of place did not put a damper on our fun. We had a great time, enjoying all kinds of food and drink.
I was super enthused to see that they serve Currywurst, something I discovered in Berlin. But during the week, they apparently don't serve the kind I know. I went ahead and tried this different kind of wurst and while it was good, it wasn't what I remembered and loved.
On our second visit, I WAS able to get Berliner style and it was fantastic. Not what I remembered, but still good. We also tried the pretzels on the second trip, and it was fantabulous. The second trip was on a Saturday night, and the crowd was much more family oriented than it was on a random summer Wednesday evening.
We had a great time at Zeppelin Hall!
Pithari
28 Woodbridge Ave
Highland Park, NJ
http://www.thepithari.com/
Pithari has been on my restaurant list for a very long time; their restaurant looks super inviting and interesting and Greek food is always delicious; they have the added welcoming benefit of my favorite shade of blue as the main color scheme.
My husband and I had a day off without the kids and decided to go to a movie and a nice lunch. We chose Pithari and what a treat it was. The weather was still nice, so we were able to dine al fresco on their nice patio, which overlooks the neighborhood side of the restaurant rather than the busy traffic-y side. Since it was a day when most people were at work, we pretty much had the restaurant to ourselves, so service was especially awesome.
When we sat down, we were given some of the most delicious pita I've had in my life. I could have made a meal on it, and it's inspired me to try to make my own one day. We were also given an olive plate which was a nice touch.
Since we were there for lunch, we intentionally chose smaller plates. I selected the Chicken Souvlaki platter, and oh my word it was so good. The tzatziki sauce was unbelievable, and scooping it up with that amazing pita was pure heaven. The chicken was slightly overdone for my liking, but the rest of the dish more than made up for this. I can't remember what my husband had, but he was a pretty happy camper.
Great meal and I can't wait to try it one day for dinner!
http://www.thepithari.com/
Pithari has been on my restaurant list for a very long time; their restaurant looks super inviting and interesting and Greek food is always delicious; they have the added welcoming benefit of my favorite shade of blue as the main color scheme.
My husband and I had a day off without the kids and decided to go to a movie and a nice lunch. We chose Pithari and what a treat it was. The weather was still nice, so we were able to dine al fresco on their nice patio, which overlooks the neighborhood side of the restaurant rather than the busy traffic-y side. Since it was a day when most people were at work, we pretty much had the restaurant to ourselves, so service was especially awesome.
When we sat down, we were given some of the most delicious pita I've had in my life. I could have made a meal on it, and it's inspired me to try to make my own one day. We were also given an olive plate which was a nice touch.
Since we were there for lunch, we intentionally chose smaller plates. I selected the Chicken Souvlaki platter, and oh my word it was so good. The tzatziki sauce was unbelievable, and scooping it up with that amazing pita was pure heaven. The chicken was slightly overdone for my liking, but the rest of the dish more than made up for this. I can't remember what my husband had, but he was a pretty happy camper.
Great meal and I can't wait to try it one day for dinner!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Catherine Lombardi
3 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
http://www.catherinelombardi.com/sle/cl/
Wow, it's been such a long time since I've posted. Life. We have, however, continued to try new restaurants and have continued our quest for the best pizza and bagels in NJ.
For our anniversary, the universe, the school district, and my parents gave us the best anniversary gift possible--school was closed for our kids while open for us (teachers) so my parents took the boys for a few nights that coincided with our anniversary. So we wanted someplace special that would not be good to take the kids and decided on Catherine Lombardi, a long time wishlist holder.
We arrived too early (darn teachers) and they were still having a staff meeting, but we were seated at the bar. As is our way, we chatted with the bartender, who suggested this amazing champagne based cocktail. We were having a great time and they left us alone until it was official opening time (props for serving us in the bar despite not quite being open).
My husband wasn't feeling great so we skipped the appetizer course and ordered dinner. I tried the waiter's suggestion of a wild board ravioli and my husband had something he raved about. I appreciated the wild board ravioli's extravagance but wasn't a super huge fan.
As I said, we were celebrating our anniversary so it was super nice when the waiter brought out a special dessert for us. It was a really nice, really thoughtful gift.
We had a great time at Catherine Lombardi, and could go on and on about how great the service was. The restaurant was really cozy with two fires blazing and the swanky decor.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
http://www.catherinelombardi.com/sle/cl/
Wow, it's been such a long time since I've posted. Life. We have, however, continued to try new restaurants and have continued our quest for the best pizza and bagels in NJ.
For our anniversary, the universe, the school district, and my parents gave us the best anniversary gift possible--school was closed for our kids while open for us (teachers) so my parents took the boys for a few nights that coincided with our anniversary. So we wanted someplace special that would not be good to take the kids and decided on Catherine Lombardi, a long time wishlist holder.
We arrived too early (darn teachers) and they were still having a staff meeting, but we were seated at the bar. As is our way, we chatted with the bartender, who suggested this amazing champagne based cocktail. We were having a great time and they left us alone until it was official opening time (props for serving us in the bar despite not quite being open).
My husband wasn't feeling great so we skipped the appetizer course and ordered dinner. I tried the waiter's suggestion of a wild board ravioli and my husband had something he raved about. I appreciated the wild board ravioli's extravagance but wasn't a super huge fan.
As I said, we were celebrating our anniversary so it was super nice when the waiter brought out a special dessert for us. It was a really nice, really thoughtful gift.
We had a great time at Catherine Lombardi, and could go on and on about how great the service was. The restaurant was really cozy with two fires blazing and the swanky decor.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Bringmethat.com
I was offered the opportunity to try out Bringmethat.com, a website that allows you to place an order from a huge variety of take out restaurants in your area, ONLINE. They're new to NJ and looking to expand.
I was intrigued, and signed up to participate. First, I entered my zip code. I then realized that I needed to enter my specific address, since I'm on the other side of town from the "center of town," and would have far better options with my exact address.
I decided to go for a pizza place; we had a visitor we were looking to feed, so pizza made the most sense. I selected one with a lower delivery charge (listed right on the main page, which is really helpful), and was excited to see a whole menu (it's so hard to find menus online, even through a place like allmenus). I placed my order and waited for confirmation.
About ten minutes later, I received a phone call. It turns out that the location I'd selected does not deliver to my area, but rather only provides catering. I was disappointed because not only did I waste about 10 minutes (at rush hour, waiting for delivery, with two kids to feed and keep on a schedule), but it seems that the website wasn't as updated as I'd hoped. Still today, ten days later, the website does not indicate the restaurant is catering only.
The man who called suggested a similar restaurant to which he knew an order had been successfully placed, so I turned to that restaurant next. I was now really disappointed, because it was a higher delivery charge and the site had no prices or menu on the site. Since my family and our guest were waiting, I went ahead and placed the order anyway.
The ordering experience was fairly easy--you input it and go; in this case, I ordered two pies and mentioned in the comments we wanted one plain and one mushroom. We got an email about 10 minutes later confirming the order and telling me that the order would be delivered in about 40 minutes (and THIS is why I so infrequently order delivery, but I digress).
The bell rang about 25 minutes later, sweet!
The delivery man was very confused, though, because the order was placed using a different card than the one I'd used to place the order. It was also at this point that I found out how much I was actually paying for my order. Hopefully this is something that will be resolved moving forward and as the company expands.
This service is definitely one I'd have loved when I first moved to the area; it's nice to have a one-stop-shop for which restaurants deliver to my address (aside from the catering only snafu) with menus too. If we hadn't been in this particular situation (looking for something cheap to feed 5 people), it would have opened up a quick meal option for us beyond our typical Chinese or pizza routine, which is something I'm always happy to do; there's been a ton of times we order from the less-than-favorite pizza place around the corner because it's, well, around the corner and traffic around here around dinnertime is ridiculous. I really like that you can see everything, from delivery charge to will they deliver to me, all in one place.
They are running a promotion right now; like Bringmethat on facebook to get $5 off your order, which isn't a bad deal at all! Give them a try and let me know what you think!
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| Image Source: http://bringmethatinc.tumblr.com/post/65358943049/bring-me-that |
I was intrigued, and signed up to participate. First, I entered my zip code. I then realized that I needed to enter my specific address, since I'm on the other side of town from the "center of town," and would have far better options with my exact address.
I decided to go for a pizza place; we had a visitor we were looking to feed, so pizza made the most sense. I selected one with a lower delivery charge (listed right on the main page, which is really helpful), and was excited to see a whole menu (it's so hard to find menus online, even through a place like allmenus). I placed my order and waited for confirmation.
About ten minutes later, I received a phone call. It turns out that the location I'd selected does not deliver to my area, but rather only provides catering. I was disappointed because not only did I waste about 10 minutes (at rush hour, waiting for delivery, with two kids to feed and keep on a schedule), but it seems that the website wasn't as updated as I'd hoped. Still today, ten days later, the website does not indicate the restaurant is catering only.
The man who called suggested a similar restaurant to which he knew an order had been successfully placed, so I turned to that restaurant next. I was now really disappointed, because it was a higher delivery charge and the site had no prices or menu on the site. Since my family and our guest were waiting, I went ahead and placed the order anyway.
The ordering experience was fairly easy--you input it and go; in this case, I ordered two pies and mentioned in the comments we wanted one plain and one mushroom. We got an email about 10 minutes later confirming the order and telling me that the order would be delivered in about 40 minutes (and THIS is why I so infrequently order delivery, but I digress).
The bell rang about 25 minutes later, sweet!
The delivery man was very confused, though, because the order was placed using a different card than the one I'd used to place the order. It was also at this point that I found out how much I was actually paying for my order. Hopefully this is something that will be resolved moving forward and as the company expands.
This service is definitely one I'd have loved when I first moved to the area; it's nice to have a one-stop-shop for which restaurants deliver to my address (aside from the catering only snafu) with menus too. If we hadn't been in this particular situation (looking for something cheap to feed 5 people), it would have opened up a quick meal option for us beyond our typical Chinese or pizza routine, which is something I'm always happy to do; there's been a ton of times we order from the less-than-favorite pizza place around the corner because it's, well, around the corner and traffic around here around dinnertime is ridiculous. I really like that you can see everything, from delivery charge to will they deliver to me, all in one place.
They are running a promotion right now; like Bringmethat on facebook to get $5 off your order, which isn't a bad deal at all! Give them a try and let me know what you think!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Silver Diner
2131 New Jersey 38
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002http://www.silverdiner.com/menu
We were in the area, after a visit to The Garden State Discovery Museum (which rocked, by the way!), and wanted something new for dinner. It just so happened that The Silver Diner, as sponsor of the museum, had a whole play area that piqued our interest and had us pulling out the phones to look them up. We decided to give it a go after finding coupons for kids eat free there!
This place is awesome! I loved that the kids menu didn't really have standard kids menu fare. Rather, they had "Chicken Pizza Quesadilla," which my kids chose and enjoyed, which came with a side of strawberries instead of fries. Sweet!
I love the atmosphere... they have real personal table jukeboxes, though the music plays for the whole restaurant (we didn't hear any of our picks in the time we were there).
My husband and I were really happy with our food. My husband was thrilled since he found something he's always sought from restaurants--the ability to have the burger replaced with chicken. This place has it! I chose something very different, something from the under 600 calories menu, the mango vegetarian stir fry. I really enjoyed it, and was super thrilled to see a diner menu that has healthful choices, gluten free choices, vegetarian and vegan choices! We also splurged on a shake (they have healthier options for these too!) and it was so good too.
You have to check out the Silver Diner when you are in Cherry Hill!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Pheasant's Landing
311 Amwell Rd Ste A
Hillsborough, NJ
(908) 281-1288
http://www.pheasantslanding.com/
I've been eyeing Pheasant's Landing for some time; I was considering it for my son's baptism but it's a little far from home to make a regular place. So when they offered a Groupon, I jumped on it hoping to give it a try.
We went on a random Lenten Friday, in the midst of trying to get the almost three year old to learn how to use the potty. So he was pretty cranky. Not knowing what we were doing, we headed to the main dining room. Due to his crankiness, it was *suggested* that we instead move downstairs where he would be more comfortable. (Although it was certainly... probably...not meant THAT way, we were embarrassed that our kid was THAT kid who can't behave in a restaurant.
So we went downstairs. Not only was the two year old more comfortable, but so were my husband and I! The downstairs feels like you're in someone's basement, which might be a turn off to many, but we were happier there. There were tvs, a foosball table that entertained the boys so my husband and I could chat, and folks were playing pool kindly letting the boys watch (and even let them take a shot each). WAY more low key!
The menu is slightly different; I'd been eyeing something on the menu in the dining room that didn't appear on the menu downstairs, but it was still pretty similar. The food was good, though I can't remember what we specifically had. I know my husband had a sandwich of some kind and was really happy with it, while I had an entree that was large and delicious-- I definitely got at least two days of lunches from the leftovers.
The prices seem to be a little on the high side; if it wasn't for the deal, we probably would have complained to each other about the prices. They ARE on restaurant.com, which you can buy through Ebates for even greater savings.
Overall, we were very happy with Pheasant's Landing and if they weren't so far from home, we'd probably be regular visitors. I do plan to go back to sample some of their Oktoberfest offerings one day!
Hillsborough, NJ
(908) 281-1288
http://www.pheasantslanding.com/
I've been eyeing Pheasant's Landing for some time; I was considering it for my son's baptism but it's a little far from home to make a regular place. So when they offered a Groupon, I jumped on it hoping to give it a try.
We went on a random Lenten Friday, in the midst of trying to get the almost three year old to learn how to use the potty. So he was pretty cranky. Not knowing what we were doing, we headed to the main dining room. Due to his crankiness, it was *suggested* that we instead move downstairs where he would be more comfortable. (Although it was certainly... probably...not meant THAT way, we were embarrassed that our kid was THAT kid who can't behave in a restaurant.
So we went downstairs. Not only was the two year old more comfortable, but so were my husband and I! The downstairs feels like you're in someone's basement, which might be a turn off to many, but we were happier there. There were tvs, a foosball table that entertained the boys so my husband and I could chat, and folks were playing pool kindly letting the boys watch (and even let them take a shot each). WAY more low key!
The menu is slightly different; I'd been eyeing something on the menu in the dining room that didn't appear on the menu downstairs, but it was still pretty similar. The food was good, though I can't remember what we specifically had. I know my husband had a sandwich of some kind and was really happy with it, while I had an entree that was large and delicious-- I definitely got at least two days of lunches from the leftovers.
The prices seem to be a little on the high side; if it wasn't for the deal, we probably would have complained to each other about the prices. They ARE on restaurant.com, which you can buy through Ebates for even greater savings.
Overall, we were very happy with Pheasant's Landing and if they weren't so far from home, we'd probably be regular visitors. I do plan to go back to sample some of their Oktoberfest offerings one day!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Smokehouse Barbecue
45 West Main St
Somerville, NJ 08876
smokehousebbqnj.com
I've had a hankering for barbecue ever since I started reading Gone with the Wind a few weeks ago, so when I saw a Living Social deal for this place, it went onto the radar. Alas, I missed the deal but snagged a restaurant.com coupon via ebates (for 15% cash back!) and off we went.
The reviews I read online were mixed, but I was very impressed that the owner responds to each negative criticism on both yelp and urbanspoon, so thought it was worth a try.
I liked the decor of the place; it's small and homey with a southwestern theme going on. Plus, the walls are lined with empty bottles (some of which are signed, sort of like those first few dollars on the wall at small establishments) of their private label root beer, sasparilla, lemonade, etc. Pretty neat. Also cool was that there was a wall of children's coloring; my sons thought this was so neat that THEIR work would hang on the wall at the restaurant!
So the food, which, of course is what you want to know. My husband ordered a Cowboy Burrito and LOVED it. He actually mentioned how good it was the next day. He mentioned that he liked that there wasn't that much sauce because he could customize it to his liking and it wasn't as messy that way. He was pleased. Ever indecisive, I chose a 1/2 chicken and pulled pork. The pulled pork was very tasty, though I'd say it was a little bit dry. Still good though, and I enjoyed it the next day---the serving was HUGE. The chicken was delicious, though I was not a fan of peeling the skin off (though this is my own problem since who gets skinless chicken barbecue?) and I thought the baked beans side was perfect and just what I was looking for in my barbecue craving. The boys both had mac and cheese, and my husband said a few times that he was impressed that it seemed to be homemade. Our server was super accommodating of our request to sub veggies for the fries, which always gets high marks in my book.
Overall, a good meal and we will be back!
Somerville, NJ 08876
smokehousebbqnj.com
I've had a hankering for barbecue ever since I started reading Gone with the Wind a few weeks ago, so when I saw a Living Social deal for this place, it went onto the radar. Alas, I missed the deal but snagged a restaurant.com coupon via ebates (for 15% cash back!) and off we went.
The reviews I read online were mixed, but I was very impressed that the owner responds to each negative criticism on both yelp and urbanspoon, so thought it was worth a try.
I liked the decor of the place; it's small and homey with a southwestern theme going on. Plus, the walls are lined with empty bottles (some of which are signed, sort of like those first few dollars on the wall at small establishments) of their private label root beer, sasparilla, lemonade, etc. Pretty neat. Also cool was that there was a wall of children's coloring; my sons thought this was so neat that THEIR work would hang on the wall at the restaurant!
So the food, which, of course is what you want to know. My husband ordered a Cowboy Burrito and LOVED it. He actually mentioned how good it was the next day. He mentioned that he liked that there wasn't that much sauce because he could customize it to his liking and it wasn't as messy that way. He was pleased. Ever indecisive, I chose a 1/2 chicken and pulled pork. The pulled pork was very tasty, though I'd say it was a little bit dry. Still good though, and I enjoyed it the next day---the serving was HUGE. The chicken was delicious, though I was not a fan of peeling the skin off (though this is my own problem since who gets skinless chicken barbecue?) and I thought the baked beans side was perfect and just what I was looking for in my barbecue craving. The boys both had mac and cheese, and my husband said a few times that he was impressed that it seemed to be homemade. Our server was super accommodating of our request to sub veggies for the fries, which always gets high marks in my book.
Overall, a good meal and we will be back!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Green Knoll Grille
645 Us Hwy 202/206
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
www.greenknollgrille.com
The Green Knoll Grille was a place that had caught my eye on the way to another place. I'd heard of it from browsing various online dining reviews, but didn't formally have it on my list. But when we drove by, "happy hour spot" came to mind and I'm always looking for ways to at least mentally relive my youth.
After two visits, the Green Knoll Grille is one of my favorite places in the area to take my family. We've been in the summer when the outdoor patio was hopping and in the fall when everything outside was closed up, but the little playground area is a parent's dream. My kids had a great time climbing while we waited for our food to arrive (so much better for the two year old than even crayons!) and I was happy to people watch folks at the outdoor bar area and soak up some sun. We enjoyed this area on our fall visit too, because the play area was still open even though the bar area was not.
The food is pretty sports bar typical; burgers, fries, dominate, though there are some entrees that are good too. We particularly like choosing our kids' dinners and an appetizer from the $3.99 happy hour menu, but we tend to eat dinner at 5 when such specials are available.
We have always had FUN and a good meal at the Green Knoll Grille!
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
www.greenknollgrille.com
The Green Knoll Grille was a place that had caught my eye on the way to another place. I'd heard of it from browsing various online dining reviews, but didn't formally have it on my list. But when we drove by, "happy hour spot" came to mind and I'm always looking for ways to at least mentally relive my youth.
After two visits, the Green Knoll Grille is one of my favorite places in the area to take my family. We've been in the summer when the outdoor patio was hopping and in the fall when everything outside was closed up, but the little playground area is a parent's dream. My kids had a great time climbing while we waited for our food to arrive (so much better for the two year old than even crayons!) and I was happy to people watch folks at the outdoor bar area and soak up some sun. We enjoyed this area on our fall visit too, because the play area was still open even though the bar area was not.
The food is pretty sports bar typical; burgers, fries, dominate, though there are some entrees that are good too. We particularly like choosing our kids' dinners and an appetizer from the $3.99 happy hour menu, but we tend to eat dinner at 5 when such specials are available.
We have always had FUN and a good meal at the Green Knoll Grille!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Scampi's Seafood Restaurant
198 W Main St
Somerville, NJ 08876
http://www.scampisseafood.com/
Scampi's has been on my mental list for a very long time, so I jumped when a Living Social deal there appeared. We ended up going with another couple and were very thankful for the deal because after everything we ordered, it was a very expensive meal!
My husband and I were hesitant to try here because so much of our dining is with our kids in tow, and I wasn't super certain that our kids (particularly the two year old) would do well here. With that said, there was another table that had two couples and six kids between them and they seemed to do just fine. With that said, it's more on the upscale side and while kids would surely be welcomed, it's probably only a place you'd take them in the very early evening so as to not disturb someone's romantic dinner. The restaurant has two areas, a dimly lit bar area with some tables (we walked through and I didn't really make much note of the area) and a more typical dining area that has better lighting; the whole place was very classy and felt sophisticated.
Our food was really good. As someone who loves variety, especially at a seafood restaurant, I went for the Fisherman's combo, which allowed me my beloved crab cakes as well as shrimp, tilapia, and scallops. It was very good and very fresh, if on the pricey side (though what else can one expect when one is going for good seafood). Our friends ordered an oyster plate appetizer and they enjoyed it very much, and everyone enjoyed their dinners.
We had a really great, if expensive, time at Scampi's.
Somerville, NJ 08876
http://www.scampisseafood.com/
Scampi's has been on my mental list for a very long time, so I jumped when a Living Social deal there appeared. We ended up going with another couple and were very thankful for the deal because after everything we ordered, it was a very expensive meal!
My husband and I were hesitant to try here because so much of our dining is with our kids in tow, and I wasn't super certain that our kids (particularly the two year old) would do well here. With that said, there was another table that had two couples and six kids between them and they seemed to do just fine. With that said, it's more on the upscale side and while kids would surely be welcomed, it's probably only a place you'd take them in the very early evening so as to not disturb someone's romantic dinner. The restaurant has two areas, a dimly lit bar area with some tables (we walked through and I didn't really make much note of the area) and a more typical dining area that has better lighting; the whole place was very classy and felt sophisticated.
Our food was really good. As someone who loves variety, especially at a seafood restaurant, I went for the Fisherman's combo, which allowed me my beloved crab cakes as well as shrimp, tilapia, and scallops. It was very good and very fresh, if on the pricey side (though what else can one expect when one is going for good seafood). Our friends ordered an oyster plate appetizer and they enjoyed it very much, and everyone enjoyed their dinners.
We had a really great, if expensive, time at Scampi's.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Teppanyaki
275 Route 18 South,
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
http://www.teppybuffetnj18.com/
On New Year's Day, we were out on a family adventure to the aquarium. Fish plus fun equaled sushi in my mind, so we did some quick googling and headed to a recommended sushi place. On our way there, we saw the new buffet had opened and decided to give it a go.
Luckily, we arrived around 5 because the lobby was full of diners waiting to sit when we left! On New Year's Day, they had an incredible special for the buffet and the price couldn't have been beat if I had made dinner at home. It's not clear at this moment what their regular prices are, though.
The buffet was pretty good. There's a wide range of Asian dishes to choose (as well as chicken fingers, fries, etc too) as well as Asian barbecue with a duck carving station, a hibachi station, and a sushi bar. Since I wanted sushi, that's where I focused my attention. They had some really interesting sushi rolls and the variety changed over the course of the time we were there too. It wasn't the freshest sushi I've ever had, but for the super cheap price we paid, I was satisfied and my husband agreed.
We really enjoyed our meal at this buffet.
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
http://www.teppybuffetnj18.com/
On New Year's Day, we were out on a family adventure to the aquarium. Fish plus fun equaled sushi in my mind, so we did some quick googling and headed to a recommended sushi place. On our way there, we saw the new buffet had opened and decided to give it a go.
Luckily, we arrived around 5 because the lobby was full of diners waiting to sit when we left! On New Year's Day, they had an incredible special for the buffet and the price couldn't have been beat if I had made dinner at home. It's not clear at this moment what their regular prices are, though.
The buffet was pretty good. There's a wide range of Asian dishes to choose (as well as chicken fingers, fries, etc too) as well as Asian barbecue with a duck carving station, a hibachi station, and a sushi bar. Since I wanted sushi, that's where I focused my attention. They had some really interesting sushi rolls and the variety changed over the course of the time we were there too. It wasn't the freshest sushi I've ever had, but for the super cheap price we paid, I was satisfied and my husband agreed.
We really enjoyed our meal at this buffet.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Cafe Paris
441 Main St
Metuchen, NJ 08840
(732) 603-9200
After a recent doctor's appointment, I was starving on my sick day, so wanted to pick up something easy for lunch. I looked on the internet for places that serve soup, trying to stay away from the old standby of Panera, and Cafe Paris came up as highly rated. Folks mostly commented on their crepes, so I was super excited to try one.
After a quick glance at the menu, I didn't see any crepes (I later saw that they only have dessert crepes, and they seemed on the pricey side to me, but I digress), so I ordered a lunch special of soup and sandwich. I received a chicken breast sandwich on delicious bread with a roasted yellow pepper, tomato, lettuce, and mozzarella cheese that was pressed and the silkiest butternut squash soup I've ever had.
Since I ordered takeout (and was the only customer in the place on a random Tuesday), the service was super fast. The atmosphere is very cafe cute, and I told my husband we need to go there together sometime.
Metuchen, NJ 08840
(732) 603-9200
After a recent doctor's appointment, I was starving on my sick day, so wanted to pick up something easy for lunch. I looked on the internet for places that serve soup, trying to stay away from the old standby of Panera, and Cafe Paris came up as highly rated. Folks mostly commented on their crepes, so I was super excited to try one.
After a quick glance at the menu, I didn't see any crepes (I later saw that they only have dessert crepes, and they seemed on the pricey side to me, but I digress), so I ordered a lunch special of soup and sandwich. I received a chicken breast sandwich on delicious bread with a roasted yellow pepper, tomato, lettuce, and mozzarella cheese that was pressed and the silkiest butternut squash soup I've ever had.
Since I ordered takeout (and was the only customer in the place on a random Tuesday), the service was super fast. The atmosphere is very cafe cute, and I told my husband we need to go there together sometime.
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