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!
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
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!
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!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The Dish Cafe Does Dinner!
I love supporting local restaurants, and I love looking for restaurants that are just a little bit different. In NJ, going to a diner for breakfast is good, but pretty standard. But not at the Dish Cafe. Their quirkiness, great food, welcoming atmosphere (go ahead and pick your own seat always makes me happy), and great prices, have made them one of my favorite breakfast spots in the area.
So, I was really excited when I saw they were going to start serving dinner. I didn't know what to expect; would it be typical diner fare for dinner?
The answer to that is a resounding no. The regular menu is available all day, so you can get breakfast stuff or lunch stuff (my husband had a panini and my son had a cheeseburger) but there's a small dinner menu. It's small, but I still felt like there were so many options that I'd happily choose (rather than so many places where I feel like I'm settling. The menu had steak, chicken, pasta, and seafood options. In all of those except steak, there were about five options.
In addition, they had a TRUE specials board--not like a "featured" item that's on the menu all the time anyway.
As I said, my family all had lunch items, but I got a pasta dish, a vegetarian one too. It came with a lovely salad--what made it lovely? It had mixed greens and no iceberg lettuce. It came with a great balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My pasta dish was $8.95 and was HUGE. I will no doubt get two or three lunches our of this. I was sort of in the mood for steak, so checked that out--I think the more expensive steak option was $18.95... still pretty reasonable!
So, if for some reason, you haven't yet checked out Dish Cafe, you absolutely have no excuse. Yum!!
So, I was really excited when I saw they were going to start serving dinner. I didn't know what to expect; would it be typical diner fare for dinner?
The answer to that is a resounding no. The regular menu is available all day, so you can get breakfast stuff or lunch stuff (my husband had a panini and my son had a cheeseburger) but there's a small dinner menu. It's small, but I still felt like there were so many options that I'd happily choose (rather than so many places where I feel like I'm settling. The menu had steak, chicken, pasta, and seafood options. In all of those except steak, there were about five options.
In addition, they had a TRUE specials board--not like a "featured" item that's on the menu all the time anyway.
As I said, my family all had lunch items, but I got a pasta dish, a vegetarian one too. It came with a lovely salad--what made it lovely? It had mixed greens and no iceberg lettuce. It came with a great balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My pasta dish was $8.95 and was HUGE. I will no doubt get two or three lunches our of this. I was sort of in the mood for steak, so checked that out--I think the more expensive steak option was $18.95... still pretty reasonable!
So, if for some reason, you haven't yet checked out Dish Cafe, you absolutely have no excuse. Yum!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Willie's Taverne
285 Us Hwy 202
Bedminster, NJ 07921
http://www.williestaverne.com
I was meeting with a friend for dinner and drinks, and we chose Willie's as a halfway point. She'd been there before and liked it, and I'd heard of it and was curious to try it. I got there awhile before she did, so hung out in a little bar area on the side of the actual restaurant (it's called Legends Sports Bar). In that bar area, there were lots of tvs, and everyone seemed to know each other; I felt really weird and self conscious, but that's probably just me.
Anyway, my friend arrived and we sat down in the actual restaurant and I discovered there is ANOTHER bar area. Our food was very good, and our server was excellent; we were there to chat and he was very respectful of that and I never felt pressured to clear the table.
It's been awhile, so I don't recall specifically what we ate, but the prices are reasonable. You'll pay about the same you would if you went to your favorite American chain restaurant.
Check out Willie's!
Bedminster, NJ 07921
http://www.williestaverne.com
I was meeting with a friend for dinner and drinks, and we chose Willie's as a halfway point. She'd been there before and liked it, and I'd heard of it and was curious to try it. I got there awhile before she did, so hung out in a little bar area on the side of the actual restaurant (it's called Legends Sports Bar). In that bar area, there were lots of tvs, and everyone seemed to know each other; I felt really weird and self conscious, but that's probably just me.
Anyway, my friend arrived and we sat down in the actual restaurant and I discovered there is ANOTHER bar area. Our food was very good, and our server was excellent; we were there to chat and he was very respectful of that and I never felt pressured to clear the table.
It's been awhile, so I don't recall specifically what we ate, but the prices are reasonable. You'll pay about the same you would if you went to your favorite American chain restaurant.
Check out Willie's!
Thatcher McGee's
8 Wanaque Ave
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
http://thatchermcghees.com
Hubby grew up in Pompton Lakes, so it was with excitement that we watched this place go up. We heard really cool things about it (like that they had real Irish thatchers come in to make the roof), and were very curious. We tried on a few occasions to go there on weekend nights, only to be discouraged by the very long wait due to the curiosity of others.
Then life happened and we just didn't get there.
One day we were in the area all day and needed something to eat. We decided to swing by, and were thrilled that the parking lot on that Saturday was fairly empty at 5pm.
Since we had our young kids with us, we chose the restaurant side over the bar side. We were happy with the food and the service. The atmosphere was pretty cool too, and there are fun quotes on the bathroom walls. We had the very awesome Thatch Fries, hubby was very happy to find a Pastrami Reuben on the menu, and I enjoyed my chicken pot pie.
Prices are reasonable. So, if you want what seems to be a true Irish experience in North Jersey, go check out Thatcher McGees!
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
http://thatchermcghees.com
Hubby grew up in Pompton Lakes, so it was with excitement that we watched this place go up. We heard really cool things about it (like that they had real Irish thatchers come in to make the roof), and were very curious. We tried on a few occasions to go there on weekend nights, only to be discouraged by the very long wait due to the curiosity of others.
Then life happened and we just didn't get there.
One day we were in the area all day and needed something to eat. We decided to swing by, and were thrilled that the parking lot on that Saturday was fairly empty at 5pm.
Since we had our young kids with us, we chose the restaurant side over the bar side. We were happy with the food and the service. The atmosphere was pretty cool too, and there are fun quotes on the bathroom walls. We had the very awesome Thatch Fries, hubby was very happy to find a Pastrami Reuben on the menu, and I enjoyed my chicken pot pie.
Prices are reasonable. So, if you want what seems to be a true Irish experience in North Jersey, go check out Thatcher McGees!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Carpaccio Ristorante
651 Bound Brook Rd
Middlesex, NJ 08846
http://www.carpaccioristorante.com
When I was searching for a restaurant at which to hold my son's baptism party, I kept hearing wonderful things about Carpaccio's as a place for a small private party. So, when we decided to go out for dinner tonight, that's where I chose to go.
Somehow, my son caught wind of the word pizza, and that was all he could talk about. We told him that it's an Italian restaurant so they *might* have pizza, but that they might not too.
So, they didn't have pizza. They didn't have a kids menu at all. Nevertheless, we were able to convince him to order ravioli, and they did give him a smaller portion. Ok, they were flexible with our needs; they also had two high chairs (one that was probably from the time I was an infant) that made feeding our infant much easier. There's also no changing table, though they were great about offering me alternatives.
So, maybe I was a little stressed about the lack of family friendliness, but I wasn't really impressed by Carpaccio. The food was decent. I had Chicken Scarpariello, which had a great sauce and the chicken was VERY tender and cooked so well but the kind of sausage they chose was definitely weird (I wasn't sure if it was breakfast sausage or not), and BAJ had Chicken Valdostano, which he thought was pretty good too! We split a hot antipasto--not a clam liker, they made them taste delicious.
But, there really wasn't anything that would bring me back. Something I can't really put my finger on... even if we didn't have the kidlets, I don't think I'd want to go back.
Ah well, to keep looking!
Middlesex, NJ 08846
http://www.carpaccioristorante.com
When I was searching for a restaurant at which to hold my son's baptism party, I kept hearing wonderful things about Carpaccio's as a place for a small private party. So, when we decided to go out for dinner tonight, that's where I chose to go.
Somehow, my son caught wind of the word pizza, and that was all he could talk about. We told him that it's an Italian restaurant so they *might* have pizza, but that they might not too.
So, they didn't have pizza. They didn't have a kids menu at all. Nevertheless, we were able to convince him to order ravioli, and they did give him a smaller portion. Ok, they were flexible with our needs; they also had two high chairs (one that was probably from the time I was an infant) that made feeding our infant much easier. There's also no changing table, though they were great about offering me alternatives.
So, maybe I was a little stressed about the lack of family friendliness, but I wasn't really impressed by Carpaccio. The food was decent. I had Chicken Scarpariello, which had a great sauce and the chicken was VERY tender and cooked so well but the kind of sausage they chose was definitely weird (I wasn't sure if it was breakfast sausage or not), and BAJ had Chicken Valdostano, which he thought was pretty good too! We split a hot antipasto--not a clam liker, they made them taste delicious.
But, there really wasn't anything that would bring me back. Something I can't really put my finger on... even if we didn't have the kidlets, I don't think I'd want to go back.
Ah well, to keep looking!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Noa Noa
114 French St
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Menu
We've been looking for a really great "hole in the wall" Mexican place for a long time. For some reason, Noa Noa came to my attention as a possible score (highly recommended on Google Local).
So, we went for takeout last night. BAJ ordered a chicken burrito, which he said was fine, but that we should keep looking. I ordered the Noa Noa 2. I didn't tell them what kind of meat, so it appeared they used all the choices. The first bite I had of my Taco dorado was fabulous--I think it was beef inside. As I continued through it, I had chicken and then pork. The pork was tasty, but had lots of pockets of fat inside. The same experience with my burrito--it was great on the chicken side, but the pork was kind of icky.
Their prices are pretty good, at least compared to our neighborhood On the Border... You'll also find a much more authentic Mexican taste here. I'd never had prickley pear before, yet found it to be pretty tasty and definitely interesting!
So, our search continues for a great hole in the wall Mexican place. We KNOW it's out there, especially with such a large Hispanic population in New Brunswick and Bound Brook...
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Menu
We've been looking for a really great "hole in the wall" Mexican place for a long time. For some reason, Noa Noa came to my attention as a possible score (highly recommended on Google Local).
So, we went for takeout last night. BAJ ordered a chicken burrito, which he said was fine, but that we should keep looking. I ordered the Noa Noa 2. I didn't tell them what kind of meat, so it appeared they used all the choices. The first bite I had of my Taco dorado was fabulous--I think it was beef inside. As I continued through it, I had chicken and then pork. The pork was tasty, but had lots of pockets of fat inside. The same experience with my burrito--it was great on the chicken side, but the pork was kind of icky.
Their prices are pretty good, at least compared to our neighborhood On the Border... You'll also find a much more authentic Mexican taste here. I'd never had prickley pear before, yet found it to be pretty tasty and definitely interesting!
So, our search continues for a great hole in the wall Mexican place. We KNOW it's out there, especially with such a large Hispanic population in New Brunswick and Bound Brook...
Monday, May 3, 2010
Verve
18 E Main St
Somerville, NJ 08876
www.vervestyle.com
My mother was with us in anticipation of our new baby coming, and so offered to watch the toddler so we could go out to dinner; our last as the parents of one. It was so spur of the moment, we really didn't have a plan. My suggestion was that we go into Somerville to try something new, since Somerville has not yet let us down. We decided to go to Origin for some Thai food and try to get my labor going, but they are closed on Mondays. We had passed Verve on the way there, so decided that was the winner. I was afraid we were underdressed (as I said, I was in labor and we didn't plan on going to eat, let alone to a really nice place) in jeans and a sweatshirt, but they said it was no problem (not surprising, though, because on a Monday evening, they were pretty empty).
BAJ started with a Manhattan, and I took a taste. It was by far the best Manhattan either of us has ever had (we're not really whiskey drinkers, and this was the smoothest whiskey you can imagine--it could convert us!). We also started with an appetizer of duck cake. It was outstanding, although it seemed a little more of a fall menu choice than a spring one.
For dinner, I had Mama Verve's Crabcakes. Delicious. The best part was the corn salsa that came along with it. I had to stop myself from continuing to eat because it was so good, but I wanted to savor it for lunch the next day. BAJ had a dinner portion of Wild Mushroom Ravioli, and it was also outstanding (although I liked mine just a little bit better!)
Our service was fantastic. Our meal was definitely pricier than we usually go for, but it was fantastic, and well worth it. BAJ continues to rave about this place, and I thought it was fantastic too!!
Somerville, NJ 08876
www.vervestyle.com
My mother was with us in anticipation of our new baby coming, and so offered to watch the toddler so we could go out to dinner; our last as the parents of one. It was so spur of the moment, we really didn't have a plan. My suggestion was that we go into Somerville to try something new, since Somerville has not yet let us down. We decided to go to Origin for some Thai food and try to get my labor going, but they are closed on Mondays. We had passed Verve on the way there, so decided that was the winner. I was afraid we were underdressed (as I said, I was in labor and we didn't plan on going to eat, let alone to a really nice place) in jeans and a sweatshirt, but they said it was no problem (not surprising, though, because on a Monday evening, they were pretty empty).
BAJ started with a Manhattan, and I took a taste. It was by far the best Manhattan either of us has ever had (we're not really whiskey drinkers, and this was the smoothest whiskey you can imagine--it could convert us!). We also started with an appetizer of duck cake. It was outstanding, although it seemed a little more of a fall menu choice than a spring one.
For dinner, I had Mama Verve's Crabcakes. Delicious. The best part was the corn salsa that came along with it. I had to stop myself from continuing to eat because it was so good, but I wanted to savor it for lunch the next day. BAJ had a dinner portion of Wild Mushroom Ravioli, and it was also outstanding (although I liked mine just a little bit better!)
Our service was fantastic. Our meal was definitely pricier than we usually go for, but it was fantastic, and well worth it. BAJ continues to rave about this place, and I thought it was fantastic too!!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The Shannon Rose
St. George's Crossing : Route 35 & US 1/9
Woodbridge, NJ
Phone 732.636.6100
http://www.theshannonrose.com/woodbridge/home.html
We met up with a friend for dinner tonight at The Shannon Rose in Woodbridge. I have to admit, my hopes weren't particularly high--I'd looked at the menu, and there wasn't really a whole lot that jumped out at me.
I walked in, though, and it really had a great vibe and the decor was definitely one in which I could imagine myself spending some happy hours and just hanging out. If only it had been around in my early-mid twenties! (A quick note on decor--it's like a library, so I ended up on a sofa rather than in a chair!)
We were running late, so our friend had ordered a drink before we got there. She had an "Irish margarita," and she said it was outstanding. BAJ ordered a beer, The Shannon Rose Amber Ale, and it was really good. We decided on an appetizer of Golden Ale Cheddar Dip, which was topped with a bruschetta like thing and came with toast. Yummy! We were concerned when it arrived that there was way more dip than bread, but just as we were going to ask for more bread, our server offered it to us. Hooray!
I ordered the Shepherd's Pie, and it was outstanding. It came with Irish soda bread, which was also quite good. BAJ ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and was quite pleased with it as well. Our friend ordered fish and chips, and she said it was great too. Finally, The Boy went to town on his mac and cheese. I wasn't really all that hungry, but just couldn't stop eating because it was really THAT good.
We then ordered a dessert (rare for us to get both dessert AND appetizer, but it happened); Apple Bread pudding. Yet another really tasty dish!
Our server was really attentive, and asked if we wanted The Boy's dinner with our appetizer or with our dinners... surprisingly few servers do this! They seem to have a lot of food runners, and we were very pleased with how quickly each course came out after ordering.
We were really pleased with our meals; everything was delicious! It's really kid friendly but seems like a great place to drink the night away too.
Woodbridge, NJ
Phone 732.636.6100
http://www.theshannonrose.com/woodbridge/home.html
We met up with a friend for dinner tonight at The Shannon Rose in Woodbridge. I have to admit, my hopes weren't particularly high--I'd looked at the menu, and there wasn't really a whole lot that jumped out at me.
I walked in, though, and it really had a great vibe and the decor was definitely one in which I could imagine myself spending some happy hours and just hanging out. If only it had been around in my early-mid twenties! (A quick note on decor--it's like a library, so I ended up on a sofa rather than in a chair!)
We were running late, so our friend had ordered a drink before we got there. She had an "Irish margarita," and she said it was outstanding. BAJ ordered a beer, The Shannon Rose Amber Ale, and it was really good. We decided on an appetizer of Golden Ale Cheddar Dip, which was topped with a bruschetta like thing and came with toast. Yummy! We were concerned when it arrived that there was way more dip than bread, but just as we were going to ask for more bread, our server offered it to us. Hooray!
I ordered the Shepherd's Pie, and it was outstanding. It came with Irish soda bread, which was also quite good. BAJ ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and was quite pleased with it as well. Our friend ordered fish and chips, and she said it was great too. Finally, The Boy went to town on his mac and cheese. I wasn't really all that hungry, but just couldn't stop eating because it was really THAT good.
We then ordered a dessert (rare for us to get both dessert AND appetizer, but it happened); Apple Bread pudding. Yet another really tasty dish!
Our server was really attentive, and asked if we wanted The Boy's dinner with our appetizer or with our dinners... surprisingly few servers do this! They seem to have a lot of food runners, and we were very pleased with how quickly each course came out after ordering.
We were really pleased with our meals; everything was delicious! It's really kid friendly but seems like a great place to drink the night away too.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Joe's Crab Shack
4901 Stelton Road - Hadley Center
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
I don't think I have ever before complained to a manager about the service at a restaurant.
My expectations for the new Joe's Crab Shack were high--we LOVED the Joe's in Lawrenceville, and I've been trying to persuade my husband to make the 45 minute drive... pretty much since we moved from 25 minutes away to 45.
This location has been jamming fairly constantly since it opened a few weeks ago. As a result, I called before we left the house to see if there was a wait, and if there was, to put our name on the list. I was told there was no wait.... sweet! Away we went. Ten minutes later, we arrived to a fairly full parking lot and people standing outside. Any number of variables for those two, so in we went. We were told there was a 20-30 minute wait. Um, ok... not sure how, in ten minutes, they went from no wait to 20-30, but ok.
I sat and waited for our table (this location has more waiting area seating than the Lawrenceville one, which is a big plus) while the boys went to check out the playground area in the back. My husband texted me that there were tons of empty tables...weird, but ok.
Thirty five minutes later and we were seated. Hooray! (We ended up being seated at one of the empty tables my husband had seen 10 minutes before)
We waited a good give minutes before anyone said, "I'll be right with you," and then another good five minutes before she came again to take our drink order (we also placed our food order at that time). It probably took 10 minutes from there to get our drinks, none of which came from the bar. She came back to tell us they did not have milk as she said they did, and that the kid's meal comes with a side... about 10 minutes after taking our order. To her credit, somewhere in there, she had to do a dance.
Luckily for us, our two year old was in great spirits, was enthralled by the dancing, and was entertained by a shark that came with one of our fellow diners' drink.
When our food arrived, it looked really good. We had no silverware, and waited for it for several minutes. Ahh, the food was outstanding! The Boy DEVOURED his mac and cheese--clearly, someone was hungry.
As my husband finished his bucket of crabs, I asked for the check. Again, a really long wait.
Every step of the service took an extraordinarily long time. We finally left the restaurant 2 hours after arriving. I'm not saying I expect the food to be McDonald's fast, but am hour and a half of sitting at a table, for two fast eaters and a hungry little boy, is pretty long. There's no doubt about it--the food at Joe's Crab Shack is very good. It's not, however, so good to be worth the poor service as they're working out the new restaurant kinks.
So, our trip to Joe's was disappointing, although perhaps it was just a one off...maybe they were understaffed (although it appeared that they had bus people as well as runners, so the servers' responsibilities seemed to be drinks, orders, bills, and performing the dances) or it was just a bad night. But, we probably won't be going back to Joe's until it's clear the lines have died down a LOT.
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
I don't think I have ever before complained to a manager about the service at a restaurant.
My expectations for the new Joe's Crab Shack were high--we LOVED the Joe's in Lawrenceville, and I've been trying to persuade my husband to make the 45 minute drive... pretty much since we moved from 25 minutes away to 45.
This location has been jamming fairly constantly since it opened a few weeks ago. As a result, I called before we left the house to see if there was a wait, and if there was, to put our name on the list. I was told there was no wait.... sweet! Away we went. Ten minutes later, we arrived to a fairly full parking lot and people standing outside. Any number of variables for those two, so in we went. We were told there was a 20-30 minute wait. Um, ok... not sure how, in ten minutes, they went from no wait to 20-30, but ok.
I sat and waited for our table (this location has more waiting area seating than the Lawrenceville one, which is a big plus) while the boys went to check out the playground area in the back. My husband texted me that there were tons of empty tables...weird, but ok.
Thirty five minutes later and we were seated. Hooray! (We ended up being seated at one of the empty tables my husband had seen 10 minutes before)
We waited a good give minutes before anyone said, "I'll be right with you," and then another good five minutes before she came again to take our drink order (we also placed our food order at that time). It probably took 10 minutes from there to get our drinks, none of which came from the bar. She came back to tell us they did not have milk as she said they did, and that the kid's meal comes with a side... about 10 minutes after taking our order. To her credit, somewhere in there, she had to do a dance.
Luckily for us, our two year old was in great spirits, was enthralled by the dancing, and was entertained by a shark that came with one of our fellow diners' drink.
When our food arrived, it looked really good. We had no silverware, and waited for it for several minutes. Ahh, the food was outstanding! The Boy DEVOURED his mac and cheese--clearly, someone was hungry.
As my husband finished his bucket of crabs, I asked for the check. Again, a really long wait.
Every step of the service took an extraordinarily long time. We finally left the restaurant 2 hours after arriving. I'm not saying I expect the food to be McDonald's fast, but am hour and a half of sitting at a table, for two fast eaters and a hungry little boy, is pretty long. There's no doubt about it--the food at Joe's Crab Shack is very good. It's not, however, so good to be worth the poor service as they're working out the new restaurant kinks.
So, our trip to Joe's was disappointing, although perhaps it was just a one off...maybe they were understaffed (although it appeared that they had bus people as well as runners, so the servers' responsibilities seemed to be drinks, orders, bills, and performing the dances) or it was just a bad night. But, we probably won't be going back to Joe's until it's clear the lines have died down a LOT.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Brick House Tavern + Tap
4901 Stelton Road
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Menu here
We've been watching the old Bennigan's and Pizzeria Uno locations for a long time, wondering what was going to replace them. Since we were watching them, it became clear they were opening soon, so as I drove by today, I checked out the situation, and it was clear that they were open. This coincided perfectly with my cold causing me no desire to cook, so I called up Joe's Crab Shack and learned they were in fact open. We were unable to find a phone number for The Brick House, but figured it was no sweat to drive by. Clearly, they were open too, so that's the choice we made.
It has a really nice decor; definitely cozy vibe, caused by the central fireplace, sofas, and armchairs. Their website describes them as "Bachelor pad, meet man cave," and it definitely is true. After a trip to the men's room, BAJ said, "Now I'm saying this as a man, but there is absolutely no reason for a woman to be at this restaurant." This after seeing the pinup calendar type posters hanging the walls on the way to the restrooms (side note, I found the "one scantily clad man" in the place--in the women's room. Nice touch). But yeah, it's very much a place for men as far as decor goes. It happens, though, that I dig that kind of vibe. I'm weird.
So, it's for men. The only jobs for men here appear to be in the kitchen, as busboys, or as managers. The bartenders, the hostesses, the servers--they're all women... women in short shorts and showing their belly rings.
BUT, we got into a conversation with our server. BAJ and I like to ask questions, and it was clear that she felt like chatting--maybe that was true, but she said that's the atmosphere they are trying to set; the servers are supposed to be about hospitality, so they will sit down and chat, a group of them will come over to your table to have a conversation (and they did--we had four ladies around our table, talking to our 2 year old), and you are the guest of all of them... so you won't get that "I need a fork and I feel bad asking this waitress who just happens to be walking by my table." I wonder if it will continue to be like that a year from now, but I definitely like the sound of that.
Now, let's talk food. As I said, I'm fighting a cold tonight, so went for a bowl of chili. It was super, and I bet it would've been awesome on the chili dog on the menu that I had my eye on. BAJ had a Yard Bird chicken sandwich, which he liked a lot. So, the food is good--definitely pub fare.
Finally, let's talk kid friendly. It's not. Sort of. When we walked in, I was alone so asked for a kid's menu. They don't have one. Looking at the menu, I was really hesitant about staying, because the only thing I'd really order for The Boy was White Meat Chicken Bites, but at almost 8 bucks, I wasn't really that interested. But, we stayed and we ordered it. It is definitely worth the 8 bucks, and he LOVED having three different dipping sauces. I also grabbed his fries to complete my meal--we were unable to replace them with veggies and would have had to pay extra for them. That said, they were most definitely accommodating and tried everything to make him happy--they gave us his drink in a smaller juice glass rather than an enormous adult sized one. I gotta tell you--he loved the place. He was able to watch sports on tv, he had pretty girls fawning all over him, he got to dip his chicken (ranch, bbq, honey mustard, plus the standards of ketchup and mustard), and he got to run around.
In short, we were really happy with our trip to Brick House, and look forward to going back. I especially am looking forward to going back and having an enormous beer on their patio when warm weather comes.
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Menu here
We've been watching the old Bennigan's and Pizzeria Uno locations for a long time, wondering what was going to replace them. Since we were watching them, it became clear they were opening soon, so as I drove by today, I checked out the situation, and it was clear that they were open. This coincided perfectly with my cold causing me no desire to cook, so I called up Joe's Crab Shack and learned they were in fact open. We were unable to find a phone number for The Brick House, but figured it was no sweat to drive by. Clearly, they were open too, so that's the choice we made.
It has a really nice decor; definitely cozy vibe, caused by the central fireplace, sofas, and armchairs. Their website describes them as "Bachelor pad, meet man cave," and it definitely is true. After a trip to the men's room, BAJ said, "Now I'm saying this as a man, but there is absolutely no reason for a woman to be at this restaurant." This after seeing the pinup calendar type posters hanging the walls on the way to the restrooms (side note, I found the "one scantily clad man" in the place--in the women's room. Nice touch). But yeah, it's very much a place for men as far as decor goes. It happens, though, that I dig that kind of vibe. I'm weird.
So, it's for men. The only jobs for men here appear to be in the kitchen, as busboys, or as managers. The bartenders, the hostesses, the servers--they're all women... women in short shorts and showing their belly rings.
BUT, we got into a conversation with our server. BAJ and I like to ask questions, and it was clear that she felt like chatting--maybe that was true, but she said that's the atmosphere they are trying to set; the servers are supposed to be about hospitality, so they will sit down and chat, a group of them will come over to your table to have a conversation (and they did--we had four ladies around our table, talking to our 2 year old), and you are the guest of all of them... so you won't get that "I need a fork and I feel bad asking this waitress who just happens to be walking by my table." I wonder if it will continue to be like that a year from now, but I definitely like the sound of that.
Now, let's talk food. As I said, I'm fighting a cold tonight, so went for a bowl of chili. It was super, and I bet it would've been awesome on the chili dog on the menu that I had my eye on. BAJ had a Yard Bird chicken sandwich, which he liked a lot. So, the food is good--definitely pub fare.
Finally, let's talk kid friendly. It's not. Sort of. When we walked in, I was alone so asked for a kid's menu. They don't have one. Looking at the menu, I was really hesitant about staying, because the only thing I'd really order for The Boy was White Meat Chicken Bites, but at almost 8 bucks, I wasn't really that interested. But, we stayed and we ordered it. It is definitely worth the 8 bucks, and he LOVED having three different dipping sauces. I also grabbed his fries to complete my meal--we were unable to replace them with veggies and would have had to pay extra for them. That said, they were most definitely accommodating and tried everything to make him happy--they gave us his drink in a smaller juice glass rather than an enormous adult sized one. I gotta tell you--he loved the place. He was able to watch sports on tv, he had pretty girls fawning all over him, he got to dip his chicken (ranch, bbq, honey mustard, plus the standards of ketchup and mustard), and he got to run around.
In short, we were really happy with our trip to Brick House, and look forward to going back. I especially am looking forward to going back and having an enormous beer on their patio when warm weather comes.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Il Pomodoro
41 N Bridge St
Somerville, NJ 08876
www.ilpomodoro.com
To celebrate the first Friday of Lent, I really didn't feel like cooking. I suggested going out to dinner, and BAJ agreed. We decided to check out something new, and Il Pomodoro seemed like a good place for us to try. With our two year old along for the ride, it may not have been the best place for us to try, but it was not that busy and he was really well behaved.
When we pulled up, I commented on how pretty the building is. Inside, it was really pretty too; I thought it was really cozy. We sat down and listened to the specials (many sounded great), and I chose to order off the regular menu. We received a bruschetta toast, which was different from the bruschetta I've had before... I couldn't decide what was different about it, but it was tasty. We also had a bread basket with olive oil; it was also really tasty.
BAJ had duck ravioli, which was a special and he really enjoyed. He commented that the marsala sauce that accompanied it was spectacular. I ordered Aragosta Gnocchi. It was really tasty. We were both pleased with our meals, although we felt like the portions were a little bit on the small side, but the delicious flavor made it worth it.
We then got dessert, the Chocolate Lava cake. I let BAJ order dessert, and was a little disappointed with his choice (there were a ton of things that looked a little better to me, and I was thinking along the lines of those desserts one gets at a chain restaurant). This, however, was no chain restaurant Lava cake. The cake itself was so fresh and delicious, there was strawberry and chocolate drizzle on the plate, and the vanilla ice cream was wonderful too.
We were really pleased with our meal at Il Pomodoro. The price tag wasn't as outrageous as we might have thought, especially considering the place sure does seem fancy. Yum!!! Someday, we'll be back....
Somerville, NJ 08876
www.ilpomodoro.com
To celebrate the first Friday of Lent, I really didn't feel like cooking. I suggested going out to dinner, and BAJ agreed. We decided to check out something new, and Il Pomodoro seemed like a good place for us to try. With our two year old along for the ride, it may not have been the best place for us to try, but it was not that busy and he was really well behaved.
When we pulled up, I commented on how pretty the building is. Inside, it was really pretty too; I thought it was really cozy. We sat down and listened to the specials (many sounded great), and I chose to order off the regular menu. We received a bruschetta toast, which was different from the bruschetta I've had before... I couldn't decide what was different about it, but it was tasty. We also had a bread basket with olive oil; it was also really tasty.
BAJ had duck ravioli, which was a special and he really enjoyed. He commented that the marsala sauce that accompanied it was spectacular. I ordered Aragosta Gnocchi. It was really tasty. We were both pleased with our meals, although we felt like the portions were a little bit on the small side, but the delicious flavor made it worth it.
We then got dessert, the Chocolate Lava cake. I let BAJ order dessert, and was a little disappointed with his choice (there were a ton of things that looked a little better to me, and I was thinking along the lines of those desserts one gets at a chain restaurant). This, however, was no chain restaurant Lava cake. The cake itself was so fresh and delicious, there was strawberry and chocolate drizzle on the plate, and the vanilla ice cream was wonderful too.
We were really pleased with our meal at Il Pomodoro. The price tag wasn't as outrageous as we might have thought, especially considering the place sure does seem fancy. Yum!!! Someday, we'll be back....
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Zinna's Bistro by Luca
1275 South River Road
Cranbury, NJ 08512
Formerly known (as of 12/26, it still was!) Rolly's Bistro, we went to Zinna's tonight to use the restaurant.com certificate we had purchased back on December 26. We went with friends and met relatively early, so the restaurant was fairly empty.
Most of our party was enticed by the very attractive early bird menu. Alas, we were told this could not be used with the restaurant.com certificate. Half our party ordered from the regular menu and the other half ordered from the special menu (appetizer, entree, and dessert for $13.99? GOOD deal.) We also got an appetizer of bistro boats (or something similar), which was a fancy potato skin dish and very very good. We also shared the two appetizers from the early bird menu, bruschetta. It was really tasty.
I ordered penne with meat sauce. The penne was really not that special, but boy was that meat sauce delicious. BAJ ordered lobster something or other (something like a lobster ravioli) and said it was really good, but a bit on the small side. My friend ordered cheese ravioli, and her husband had meatloaf. Everyone said their meals were delicious (and the sauce for the lobster was quite good!). The Boy had a grilled cheese with french fries; he seemed to enjoy it, as he seems to enjoy all grilled cheese....
Then, we shared a vanilla gelato and a black cherry New York cheesecake. Both were quite good.
Our food was all pretty good, which is what ultimately matters. Our bill wasn't bad, especially after the restaurant.com certificate dropped the price by $25. The service was a little on the...not so attentive side. It wasn't particularly slow, I suppose, but we did sit for a while with empty glasses. The restaurant itself was nice inside; it had a nice feel to its decor, for lack of a better word.
Zinna's is a great restaurant, and if we lived closer, we'd probably visit them a lot more often. I'm glad we finally got there, after hearing so many glowing reviews of Rolly's. I was a little hesitant to try Zinna's, but this is a good place!
Cranbury, NJ 08512
Formerly known (as of 12/26, it still was!) Rolly's Bistro, we went to Zinna's tonight to use the restaurant.com certificate we had purchased back on December 26. We went with friends and met relatively early, so the restaurant was fairly empty.
Most of our party was enticed by the very attractive early bird menu. Alas, we were told this could not be used with the restaurant.com certificate. Half our party ordered from the regular menu and the other half ordered from the special menu (appetizer, entree, and dessert for $13.99? GOOD deal.) We also got an appetizer of bistro boats (or something similar), which was a fancy potato skin dish and very very good. We also shared the two appetizers from the early bird menu, bruschetta. It was really tasty.
I ordered penne with meat sauce. The penne was really not that special, but boy was that meat sauce delicious. BAJ ordered lobster something or other (something like a lobster ravioli) and said it was really good, but a bit on the small side. My friend ordered cheese ravioli, and her husband had meatloaf. Everyone said their meals were delicious (and the sauce for the lobster was quite good!). The Boy had a grilled cheese with french fries; he seemed to enjoy it, as he seems to enjoy all grilled cheese....
Then, we shared a vanilla gelato and a black cherry New York cheesecake. Both were quite good.
Our food was all pretty good, which is what ultimately matters. Our bill wasn't bad, especially after the restaurant.com certificate dropped the price by $25. The service was a little on the...not so attentive side. It wasn't particularly slow, I suppose, but we did sit for a while with empty glasses. The restaurant itself was nice inside; it had a nice feel to its decor, for lack of a better word.
Zinna's is a great restaurant, and if we lived closer, we'd probably visit them a lot more often. I'm glad we finally got there, after hearing so many glowing reviews of Rolly's. I was a little hesitant to try Zinna's, but this is a good place!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Ovations
295 Canal Rd
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880
Ovations has been on my list for a long time. I've heard they have excellent sushi, and they're frequently recommended by people on a message board I frequent. Tonight, I had a hankering for PF Chang's, but their "wait" was essentially 3.5 hours. Not happening. So, we turned to the "wishlist" on urbanspoon, and I suggested this one, since my husband made a comment yesterday about wanting sushi. Not sure if this was the place for our toddler, I called them up. I was told he would be fine (because of their dining room), and that they don't have a kids menu but could make him "kid friendly" food like pasta with sauce or butter, hamburger, chicken fingers. Final question, did they have a wait? No, they didn't.
We arrived, and the parking lot was empty. Score!! The ambiance was pretty nice; they had balloons on each table that said Happy New Year, and a zen sort of atmosphere.
I was pleasantly surprised when our waiter arrived with a specials list; these aren't offered at many places we frequent. Unable to eat sushi, I ended up getting a special of Penne Pasta, which was billed as Pasta Primavera with some chicken. I wouldn't quite describe it as that, but it was quite good and VERY large.
As for The Boy, we got him an appetizer of chicken quesadilla. He didn't end up eating it, but it was also quite large for the price. Hopefully, despite only eating the sour cream, he'll have it for a nice lunch tomorrow.
I convinced BAJ to get the Sushi Dinner. It was a nice plate of a variety of sushi. I did taste the California Roll, and it was excellent. He agreed that all the sushi was really good and very fresh. Hooray! He also indulged in that which I could not and ordered a martini. Again, he said it was very good.
In all, we were pleased with our meal. It was WAY closer than either PF Chang's, and we had a great meal. YAY!
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880
Ovations has been on my list for a long time. I've heard they have excellent sushi, and they're frequently recommended by people on a message board I frequent. Tonight, I had a hankering for PF Chang's, but their "wait" was essentially 3.5 hours. Not happening. So, we turned to the "wishlist" on urbanspoon, and I suggested this one, since my husband made a comment yesterday about wanting sushi. Not sure if this was the place for our toddler, I called them up. I was told he would be fine (because of their dining room), and that they don't have a kids menu but could make him "kid friendly" food like pasta with sauce or butter, hamburger, chicken fingers. Final question, did they have a wait? No, they didn't.
We arrived, and the parking lot was empty. Score!! The ambiance was pretty nice; they had balloons on each table that said Happy New Year, and a zen sort of atmosphere.
I was pleasantly surprised when our waiter arrived with a specials list; these aren't offered at many places we frequent. Unable to eat sushi, I ended up getting a special of Penne Pasta, which was billed as Pasta Primavera with some chicken. I wouldn't quite describe it as that, but it was quite good and VERY large.
As for The Boy, we got him an appetizer of chicken quesadilla. He didn't end up eating it, but it was also quite large for the price. Hopefully, despite only eating the sour cream, he'll have it for a nice lunch tomorrow.
I convinced BAJ to get the Sushi Dinner. It was a nice plate of a variety of sushi. I did taste the California Roll, and it was excellent. He agreed that all the sushi was really good and very fresh. Hooray! He also indulged in that which I could not and ordered a martini. Again, he said it was very good.
In all, we were pleased with our meal. It was WAY closer than either PF Chang's, and we had a great meal. YAY!
Monday, December 28, 2009
El Meson
40 W Main St
Freehold, NJ 07728
You know when there is a restaurant that you've heard so much about that you just can't wait to try it? And you go and try it, like it, but then realize it's so far away it's not really worth it? Yeah, this is that story. I know, it's not that great of a story.
Anyway, I had heard about El Meson since planning my wedding in 2005. We got married in the area, and were searching for a restaurant in which to hold our rehearsal dinner. This came up in a discussion with a friend, and she said she had heard it was the best Mexican food around. In a quick google search, I discovered others agreed. It wasn't at all what I expected, and I don't know if I'd consider it the best Mexican food in the state, but it was pretty darn good.
As far as being "authentic," I don't know if that's true or not. What part of Mexico this style of cuisine is from, no idea on that either. I do know that their menu consisted of nothing one couldn't find at a typical Mexican food restaurant a la On the Border. But it tasted way better... the one exception, I'd say, was my chile relleno. There was just something about it that disappointed me. I was a little bit saddened to see they didn't have mole sauce on the menu; it's something I really enjoy but have a hard time finding. Each entree gave you a choice of salsa--the waiter asked if we wanted hot, medium, or mild, but having read the menu, I requested salsa verde; it was excellent!!!
Freehold, NJ 07728
You know when there is a restaurant that you've heard so much about that you just can't wait to try it? And you go and try it, like it, but then realize it's so far away it's not really worth it? Yeah, this is that story. I know, it's not that great of a story.
Anyway, I had heard about El Meson since planning my wedding in 2005. We got married in the area, and were searching for a restaurant in which to hold our rehearsal dinner. This came up in a discussion with a friend, and she said she had heard it was the best Mexican food around. In a quick google search, I discovered others agreed. It wasn't at all what I expected, and I don't know if I'd consider it the best Mexican food in the state, but it was pretty darn good.
As far as being "authentic," I don't know if that's true or not. What part of Mexico this style of cuisine is from, no idea on that either. I do know that their menu consisted of nothing one couldn't find at a typical Mexican food restaurant a la On the Border. But it tasted way better... the one exception, I'd say, was my chile relleno. There was just something about it that disappointed me. I was a little bit saddened to see they didn't have mole sauce on the menu; it's something I really enjoy but have a hard time finding. Each entree gave you a choice of salsa--the waiter asked if we wanted hot, medium, or mild, but having read the menu, I requested salsa verde; it was excellent!!!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Famished Frog
18 Washington St
Morristown, NJ 07960
I had been here once before to meet a friend, but took my husband there a few weeks ago to meet some friends. First, we were really disappointed that they would not seat us (to a hungry, morning sick pregnant woman, this was not exactly acceptable) until our entire party was there, despite our promise that we would be ordering an appetizer for the table.
Anyway.
We started with two appetizers--Baked Brie and Spinach Artichoke Dip. The Spinach dip was much like any other you'd get at any restaurant. The Brie, however, was outstanding. So rich and gooey and delicious.
On my previous visit, I had the Lobster Grill, which I recommended to my friend, who devoured it. Guess it was a good recommendation. BAJ got the Bermuda Chicken Sandwich, which also got devoured. I don't remember what my other friend got, but she enjoyed it. As for me, I got Vodka Penne with chicken. As I said before, I was not feeling well, so I had a hard time eating my meal--no fault of the restaurant or the food, I just couldn't eat it.
We were really pleased with our meal. I love a place that recognizes that folks like to go out to each with small children--they have not only a coloring placemat, but also gives kids a little Froggie finger puppet, in keeping with their theme.
Morristown, NJ 07960
I had been here once before to meet a friend, but took my husband there a few weeks ago to meet some friends. First, we were really disappointed that they would not seat us (to a hungry, morning sick pregnant woman, this was not exactly acceptable) until our entire party was there, despite our promise that we would be ordering an appetizer for the table.
Anyway.
We started with two appetizers--Baked Brie and Spinach Artichoke Dip. The Spinach dip was much like any other you'd get at any restaurant. The Brie, however, was outstanding. So rich and gooey and delicious.
On my previous visit, I had the Lobster Grill, which I recommended to my friend, who devoured it. Guess it was a good recommendation. BAJ got the Bermuda Chicken Sandwich, which also got devoured. I don't remember what my other friend got, but she enjoyed it. As for me, I got Vodka Penne with chicken. As I said before, I was not feeling well, so I had a hard time eating my meal--no fault of the restaurant or the food, I just couldn't eat it.
We were really pleased with our meal. I love a place that recognizes that folks like to go out to each with small children--they have not only a coloring placemat, but also gives kids a little Froggie finger puppet, in keeping with their theme.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Yutaka
90 West Main Street
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: (908) 218-5523
Fax: (908) 218-5110
http://www.yutakanj.com/
BAJ and I were afraid of taking The Boy for hibachi. Although we love it, we didn't know how our infant and then toddler would respond. Then, there was a discussion on a message board of which I am a member of this very thing. I read the responses to BAJ, and he then fixated on going.
Since Somerville has yet to let us down, that's where we headed for hibachi, and Yutaka didn't disappoint. I really liked the ambiance of their restaurant. I saw this little room with a low table and you have to take off your shoes; it looked so cool!
The food was pretty good, although not the best hibachi either of us has had. I felt the prices to be a little bit on the high side, even for hibachi. The sushi looked awesome, something we definitely want to return and try! The show was pretty good, contrary to some other reviews I've read. They do this funny thing where they shoot people with saki; it was a competition between our table and another as to who could get those most. Our chef was very kind to our 2 year old, letting him know when scarier things might be happening.
Speaking of which, the 2 year old did really well. He was scared for the big flames, but really enjoyed the show and the meal. He even ate with chopsticks (granted, by scooping, but nonetheless...)
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: (908) 218-5523
Fax: (908) 218-5110
http://www.yutakanj.com/
BAJ and I were afraid of taking The Boy for hibachi. Although we love it, we didn't know how our infant and then toddler would respond. Then, there was a discussion on a message board of which I am a member of this very thing. I read the responses to BAJ, and he then fixated on going.
Since Somerville has yet to let us down, that's where we headed for hibachi, and Yutaka didn't disappoint. I really liked the ambiance of their restaurant. I saw this little room with a low table and you have to take off your shoes; it looked so cool!
The food was pretty good, although not the best hibachi either of us has had. I felt the prices to be a little bit on the high side, even for hibachi. The sushi looked awesome, something we definitely want to return and try! The show was pretty good, contrary to some other reviews I've read. They do this funny thing where they shoot people with saki; it was a competition between our table and another as to who could get those most. Our chef was very kind to our 2 year old, letting him know when scarier things might be happening.
Speaking of which, the 2 year old did really well. He was scared for the big flames, but really enjoyed the show and the meal. He even ate with chopsticks (granted, by scooping, but nonetheless...)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Pizza Man
(973) 835-3383
574 Newark Pompton Tpke
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
This is my father in law's favorite restaurant. And he is a man who.... let's say he knows what he likes. I'm more of a try lots of new places kind of person, but I do have to say I've never had a bad meal at Pizza Man. It probably wouldn't be the place I would take company, but the meals are solidly good, and the prices are reasonable.
It gets moved down a bit in my "book" because they are so very cramped. As a result, you will often feel like you are right on top of the diners to your side. As a result of their small dining room and very good food, any time after 5:30, there will be a line to get in the door.
If you don't mind feeling claustrophobic, definitely try Pizza Man; their food is excellent.
574 Newark Pompton Tpke
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
This is my father in law's favorite restaurant. And he is a man who.... let's say he knows what he likes. I'm more of a try lots of new places kind of person, but I do have to say I've never had a bad meal at Pizza Man. It probably wouldn't be the place I would take company, but the meals are solidly good, and the prices are reasonable.
It gets moved down a bit in my "book" because they are so very cramped. As a result, you will often feel like you are right on top of the diners to your side. As a result of their small dining room and very good food, any time after 5:30, there will be a line to get in the door.
If you don't mind feeling claustrophobic, definitely try Pizza Man; their food is excellent.
Mannion's Irish Pub
(908) 203-0700
150 W Main StSomerville, NJ 08876
We decided to go out (again) for dinner. Cooking has been, um, not happening so much around here. BAJ said he was sort of in the mood for "fried stuff with cheese" (that's a Friends reference for those not paying attention) and really wanted Broccoli Bites (that's an appetizer from the now defunct Bennigans). He also seemed to be interested in going to Somerville, and asked where in Somerville would be ok for our 2 year old. So, to urban spoon I turned and came across Mannion's. I checked the menu and they had food that looked good, appetizers that were fried and had cheese, and seemed to be kid friendly.
We got there around 6, and he was surprised that it was DEAD EMPTY. I told him that it was Saturday and normal people (that would be both those who are not teachers AND those who are not parents) usually go out to dinner later than that. As a result of their being so empty, we had great service and our food came out very quickly. I very much liked that our server asked if she should bring out The Boy's food when it was ready or with ours, although I also know this is due to the server rather than the establishment.
No appetizers, unless you count a round of Harp. $5 for a pint seems a little on the high side to me, but there are few places in which I've found Harp on tap.
Our meals came with a salad, and it was a good one--romaine lettuce (instead of iceberg), black olives, carrots, grape tomatoes, and cucumbers. I do like a good salad.
I got the Irish stew, and was very pleased. It was so good, and the meat was REALLY tender. Yum; I took what was left home. BAJ got Shrimp Wellington, which was a little bit disappointing... he said it was "fine," and I thought it tasted really fishy.
In short, they are a pretty reasonably priced restaurant (although NJ Monthly's website rated them as inexpensive... I suppose that's true if you stick to the sandwiches, but not for dinner...
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