- Toscana's--Bridgewater
- Thai Kitchen--Bridgewater
- Tapastre--Somerville
- Sublime--Peapack (hahahahh, yeah, right)
- Store--Basking Ridge
- Spain 92--Raritan
- Sophie's Bistro--Somerset
- Scampi's--Somerville
- Origin--Somerville
- Louka's Last American Diner--Branchburg
- Grub Hut--Manville
- Green Knoll Grille--Bridgewater
- Grain House--Basking Ridge
- Char--Raritan
- Broadway Burgers--Somerville
- Bella'--Basking Ridge
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Restaurants I want to try-Somerset County
Restaurants I want to try-Middlesex County
I can never remember which restaurants are on my to try list, because said list is a mental one and my mind is full of swiss cheese.
- Buon Appetito--Edison
- Catherine Lombardi--New Brunswick (hahaha, someday we'll have money.)
- Cereal Bowl--New Brunswick
- Costa Chica--New Brunswick
- Delta's--New Brunswick
- Due Mari--New Brunswick
- Evelyn's--New Brunswick
- Kona Grill--Iselin
- Little Spain--Edison
- Main Street Trattoria--Edison
- Makeda--New Brunswick
- Panico's--New Brunswick
- Portuguese Fisherman--South River
- Tula--New Brunswick
Whew!!
I just noticed that I'm the number one blog on urbanspoon again! This is a totally meaningless win, but I'm a little too competitive. I was very nervous because the blog that was beating mine for a while (I don't know how long because I haven't looked) was rising really quickly. For whatever reason, though, I'm back at number one!
So, thank you for clicking on my blog links at urbanspoon!
So, thank you for clicking on my blog links at urbanspoon!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Orange Smoke Burgers Giveaway WINNER!!
The original winner has passed on her prize, so I drew another name using random.org.
Samara is the winner!
So, please email me your full name so I can tell the folks at Orange Smoke. You will need to show ID to claim your prize.
Samara is the winner!
-
Samara (SIBride9405) said... - I liked Orange Smoke Burgers on Facebook!
So, please email me your full name so I can tell the folks at Orange Smoke. You will need to show ID to claim your prize.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Orange Smoke Burgers Giveaway WINNER!!
I used random.org to select the winning comment, and it was number 18:
Tara said...
Follow your blog publicly with GFC
sweetpeonies07 at gmail
Hooray! I'll be sending you an email!
Tara said...
Follow your blog publicly with GFC
sweetpeonies07 at gmail
Hooray! I'll be sending you an email!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Stuff Yer Face
49 Easton Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
www.stuffyerface.com
How is it even possible that I've never posted about Stuff Yer Face? Before we were married, we loved hanging out on the patio on warm spring/summer days, just people watching. Our lives have changed, but we still love Stuff Yer Face.
First is the food. Their bolis are great, and you can get pretty much anything you want on them. You'd think a place like this wouldn't have veggies to lull you into thinking it's on the healthy side, but they do. My favorite is the Laura Boli, with all kinds of veg. I also like that you can get a boli in any size to fit your appetizer--the baby boli is very small (think kids' sized) but comes with soup or salad for the same price as a regular boli. One thing we've tried that is really interesting is the Potachos--essentially, it's nachos using potato chips instead of tortillas. It's pretty good, in a very weird sort of way. On our most recent visit, we tried the Broccoli Melts appetizer, which was a pretty good substitute for the now defunct Bennigan's Broccoli Bites we loved so much.
We also love to go to SYF for the beer. I love that I can try beers I never would have thought of, and we both joined their Beer Club, which (I think) gives you a SYF gift certificate after trying a certain (large) number of beers. Sorry my details are fuzzy, we signed up on a day we added a large number to our cards.
Finally, this is the ultimate in kid friendly. If you have a lot of kids, it's ok that you're loud. The food served is definitely on the "something for everyone" side, and I know my kid likes when he can get exactly what he wants, so the build your own boli is great for him. The only thing that isn't on the kid friendly side is that they don't (to my recollection) have changing tables, though it's sort of hard for a parent to expect to find one in a college bar, so don't hold that against SYF too much!!
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
www.stuffyerface.com
How is it even possible that I've never posted about Stuff Yer Face? Before we were married, we loved hanging out on the patio on warm spring/summer days, just people watching. Our lives have changed, but we still love Stuff Yer Face.
First is the food. Their bolis are great, and you can get pretty much anything you want on them. You'd think a place like this wouldn't have veggies to lull you into thinking it's on the healthy side, but they do. My favorite is the Laura Boli, with all kinds of veg. I also like that you can get a boli in any size to fit your appetizer--the baby boli is very small (think kids' sized) but comes with soup or salad for the same price as a regular boli. One thing we've tried that is really interesting is the Potachos--essentially, it's nachos using potato chips instead of tortillas. It's pretty good, in a very weird sort of way. On our most recent visit, we tried the Broccoli Melts appetizer, which was a pretty good substitute for the now defunct Bennigan's Broccoli Bites we loved so much.
We also love to go to SYF for the beer. I love that I can try beers I never would have thought of, and we both joined their Beer Club, which (I think) gives you a SYF gift certificate after trying a certain (large) number of beers. Sorry my details are fuzzy, we signed up on a day we added a large number to our cards.
Finally, this is the ultimate in kid friendly. If you have a lot of kids, it's ok that you're loud. The food served is definitely on the "something for everyone" side, and I know my kid likes when he can get exactly what he wants, so the build your own boli is great for him. The only thing that isn't on the kid friendly side is that they don't (to my recollection) have changing tables, though it's sort of hard for a parent to expect to find one in a college bar, so don't hold that against SYF too much!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Orange Smoke Burgers, a review and a GIVEAWAY!!
1314 Centennial Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
If you're jonesing for a burger in the Stelton Rd. area of Piscataway, you have a ton of choices: fast food abounds, as does lots of chain casual restaurants and a steak chain restaurant, plus Five Guys Burgers and Fries. With all this competition, a small locally owned burger place has to be something special.
This is certainly the case with Orange Smoke, which is located in the Shop Rite shopping plaza. At first, you'd think that they're much like Five Guys--simple menu of burgers and fries, and you can build your burger the way you'd like it (though you have no choice in how the meat is cooked; their wall states they only prepare the burger well done, but it's not at all overcooked for this "medium" orderer). But when you take a second glance, you'll see it's a lot different from Five Guys. First, and most important for my family (my husband will not eat beef), is that you don't HAVE to get a burger. You can get chicken, grilled or fried, or even a portabella burger. Second thing I noticed is that, unlike Five Guys, they have shakes. Oh yeah, shakes!! The next difference is the service. Yeah, it's counter service, but at Five Guys, I noticed people standing around the counter, waiting for their food (both restaurants prepare the food to order, so there's a small wait). It sort of looked like a McDonald's at dinner rush. That wasn't the case at Orange Smoke because they bring your prepared food to your table... this was a really nice touch for me. Along these same lines, I felt the decor and the whole atmosphere of Orange Smoke was classier. Like I said, it's counter service and it's a burger joint, but it just feels nicer than the competition.
Now, let's talk food. My burger was really delicious. Like I said, I thought the meat was cooked really nicely, and I love being able to build my own burger with the toppings I like. The food was just slightly more than the perfect amount for me. My husband chose the grilled chicken, and he thought it was really good too; he also loves building his own sandwich with the toppings he likes. My 3 year old loves his cheeseburger, and he's been on a kick of refusing to eat his meat, so this is pretty huge. He was really excited about building his own burger too, and surprised me by ordering then devouring the pickles on his. (A note: they have a smaller burger, called the Lightweight burger. We didn't order this, and still the 3 year old at 3/4 of an XL.)
Finally, the price is right here. They have a weekday "happy hour" sort of special, which is an XL burger (or chicken sandwich), small fries, and large soda for $5.99. It works out to about the same price as the XL burger, so that was a no brainer for us.
So, our family gives two thumbs up to Orange Smoke Burgers. If you check them out, definitely tell them you heard about them at Pizza & Bagels!!
On to the giveaway! This giveaway has ended!
Want to try what we tried tonight? This giveaway is for just that: an XL burger or equivalent chicken sandwich or veggie sandwich, small fries/onion rings and large soda.
Mandatory entry: In order for any of your other entries to count, you must do this step first!
Go to Orange Smoke's website, and take a look at the menu. In the comments on this post, tell me what kind of burger you would make, and what toppings you would get too.
For a few more entries, do any or all of the following, and leave a comment about each one. **Note** comments are your entries, so doing the steps without telling me you did won't count
- Like Orange Smoke on Facebook
- Follow Pizza & Bagels publicly, using Google Friend Connect
- Post about this giveaway, with a link to this post, on your facebook wall
- My competitive nature has gotten the best of me. For a long time, this blog has been number 1 on urbanspoon, but I was recently passed by another blogger. For another entry, please click here, then click on "full post by Pizza and Bagels" for any review and leave a comment telling me which restaurant review you clicked on. Thanks!
The contest will end on March 9, 2011 at 11:59pm (according to blogger's timestamp). Winner will be chosen using a randomizer on Thursday. Make sure you leave contact information, if it's not linked to your Google profile, so I can get in touch with you when you win!
Full disclosure: Orange Smoke is sponsoring the giveaway. My family paid for our meal, and these thoughts are my own.
Full disclosure: Orange Smoke is sponsoring the giveaway. My family paid for our meal, and these thoughts are my own.
George Street Ale House
378 George Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
www.gsalehouse.com
I received a promo coupon in the mail announcing the grand opening of the George Street Ale House, so when a friend and I decided to meet for dinner and drinks, it was a natural choice.
In speaking with our very friendly bartenders, we learned that the restaurant had recently changed names/style, going from a sports bar to a more upscale atmosphere. The many tvs, however, remained. This is great when you're sitting at the bar, and the rest of the place is really nice, almost swanky. The bar and a small dining area are on the street level, and there is more seating downstairs. At the bar, you'll find potato chips, which weren't as addictive as bar snacks typically are for me; I didn't have any trouble not mindlessly snacking on them.
The food is pretty tasty, though the prices seemed to be on the high side. We both went with sandwiches, which were around $10 each. Entrees were closer to $20 each. The sandwiches were good, but there weren't any surprises on the menu, with the exception of the enormous "Oozenburger," 2- 8oz burgers topped with a fried egg, bacon, gouda, among other things. My waistline is expanding just to think of it. We also shared a crab cake appetizer, which was quite delicious.
Now, the reason we chose the ale house over all the area's other spots: the beer. We chose to stick with drafts over bottles, and were told the one beer they always have is PBR. That's right, Pabst Blue Ribbon. We decided to skip the Pabst, but to hit all the other drafts on the list. One thing that's cool is that the beers do change as stock runs out, so you're getting a changing menu and fresh beer. In fact, in our time there, the menu did change, and a new beer was added. The thing was that there didn't seem to be a beer that I really enjoyed on the menu. I'm certainly no beer connoisseur, but the drafts they had weren't to my taste. There were a few that were ok, and I certainly didn't not finish any of my pints, but nothing that makes me want to recommend the George Street Ale House as THE place in the George Street area to go for beer.
Our servers were awesome; they chatted us up, offered suggestions for beers, and were very welcoming.
So, the short of it is, if you've been through the beers over at the Harvest Moon and are looking for something different, certainly check out GSAH, but don't expect to be blown away by the restaurant or its beers.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
www.gsalehouse.com
I received a promo coupon in the mail announcing the grand opening of the George Street Ale House, so when a friend and I decided to meet for dinner and drinks, it was a natural choice.
In speaking with our very friendly bartenders, we learned that the restaurant had recently changed names/style, going from a sports bar to a more upscale atmosphere. The many tvs, however, remained. This is great when you're sitting at the bar, and the rest of the place is really nice, almost swanky. The bar and a small dining area are on the street level, and there is more seating downstairs. At the bar, you'll find potato chips, which weren't as addictive as bar snacks typically are for me; I didn't have any trouble not mindlessly snacking on them.
The food is pretty tasty, though the prices seemed to be on the high side. We both went with sandwiches, which were around $10 each. Entrees were closer to $20 each. The sandwiches were good, but there weren't any surprises on the menu, with the exception of the enormous "Oozenburger," 2- 8oz burgers topped with a fried egg, bacon, gouda, among other things. My waistline is expanding just to think of it. We also shared a crab cake appetizer, which was quite delicious.
Now, the reason we chose the ale house over all the area's other spots: the beer. We chose to stick with drafts over bottles, and were told the one beer they always have is PBR. That's right, Pabst Blue Ribbon. We decided to skip the Pabst, but to hit all the other drafts on the list. One thing that's cool is that the beers do change as stock runs out, so you're getting a changing menu and fresh beer. In fact, in our time there, the menu did change, and a new beer was added. The thing was that there didn't seem to be a beer that I really enjoyed on the menu. I'm certainly no beer connoisseur, but the drafts they had weren't to my taste. There were a few that were ok, and I certainly didn't not finish any of my pints, but nothing that makes me want to recommend the George Street Ale House as THE place in the George Street area to go for beer.
Our servers were awesome; they chatted us up, offered suggestions for beers, and were very welcoming.
So, the short of it is, if you've been through the beers over at the Harvest Moon and are looking for something different, certainly check out GSAH, but don't expect to be blown away by the restaurant or its beers.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Kiku Hibachi
2085 Burnt Mills Rd
Bedminster, NJ 07921
http://www.kikuhibachi.com/
For my father in law's 60th birthday, we decided we wanted to go someplace he would enjoy but that we could also keep our boys (3 and under 1) entertained enough for us to socialize. My husband believed hibachi would be a great way to go, so we set out looking for a place that was different, highly rated, and between our two locations. By checking out urbanspoon, I stumbled upon Kiku, which happens to be around the corner from where my husband works. When he started telling people there where we were going, they started raving about how wonderful it is.
We got there early, for our kids' sake, and this worked out because the reviews suggested it was very important to get there early--this proved to be the case as we left, and the lobby was very crowded!
First, we all got a salad, which was outstanding (many times, I don't like the ginger dressing, but this was awesome) and Miso soup (which I was not really crazy about, but my husband liked very much). The hibachi "show" was pretty typical, but the food was delicious. I couldn't tell you what was different from other hibachi restaurants, but the meat were fantastic. My husband felt the noodles weren't cooked perfectly, but I thought they were very good.
We felt the prices were a little bit higher than other hibachi restaurants, but for a special treat, this was a delicious restaurant!
Bedminster, NJ 07921
http://www.kikuhibachi.com/
For my father in law's 60th birthday, we decided we wanted to go someplace he would enjoy but that we could also keep our boys (3 and under 1) entertained enough for us to socialize. My husband believed hibachi would be a great way to go, so we set out looking for a place that was different, highly rated, and between our two locations. By checking out urbanspoon, I stumbled upon Kiku, which happens to be around the corner from where my husband works. When he started telling people there where we were going, they started raving about how wonderful it is.
We got there early, for our kids' sake, and this worked out because the reviews suggested it was very important to get there early--this proved to be the case as we left, and the lobby was very crowded!
First, we all got a salad, which was outstanding (many times, I don't like the ginger dressing, but this was awesome) and Miso soup (which I was not really crazy about, but my husband liked very much). The hibachi "show" was pretty typical, but the food was delicious. I couldn't tell you what was different from other hibachi restaurants, but the meat were fantastic. My husband felt the noodles weren't cooked perfectly, but I thought they were very good.
We felt the prices were a little bit higher than other hibachi restaurants, but for a special treat, this was a delicious restaurant!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Crystal Diner
2009 Us Hwy 1
Trenton, NJ 08648
A hectic day of visiting my grandmother and running errands for her had us unexpectedly out for dinner. Since it was just me and my two boys, I wanted something fast, easy, and where they'd be welcome. Since it was unexpected, and therefore not in the budget, I wanted something cheap as well. As we passed the diner, I figured it would meet all the criteria.
The boys were certainly welcome; we were not the only family with small kids in at the time. The hostess did a great job of trying to help me out as I juggled a baby in one arm, a diaper bag, putting on my 3 year old's jacket, and all the other stuff in my arms. Our server was accommodating of our requests, though she did seem a bit impatient that we took so long to turn over our table (though the place was pretty empty).
It was fast as well; our meals came out very quickly, in typical diner style.
I'm not sure I'd consider it cheap, per se. For my burger and fries, a kid's burger and veggies, and a side of veggies (we drank water), it came to $15 plus tip. While this is certainly fairly cheap, I could have gone to Burger King or Five Guys for much cheaper (though I wouldn't have been able to get the veggies for the kiddos). That said, both our burgers were really large; I couldn't finish mine. The burger was "fine," but not really "good."
So, in short, it served its purpose for us. If you're looking for something fast and easy, and don't want to go to one of the chain restaurants in the area, this will suffice. But it's not a place we'll be going back to if we're in a similar situation again.
Trenton, NJ 08648
A hectic day of visiting my grandmother and running errands for her had us unexpectedly out for dinner. Since it was just me and my two boys, I wanted something fast, easy, and where they'd be welcome. Since it was unexpected, and therefore not in the budget, I wanted something cheap as well. As we passed the diner, I figured it would meet all the criteria.
The boys were certainly welcome; we were not the only family with small kids in at the time. The hostess did a great job of trying to help me out as I juggled a baby in one arm, a diaper bag, putting on my 3 year old's jacket, and all the other stuff in my arms. Our server was accommodating of our requests, though she did seem a bit impatient that we took so long to turn over our table (though the place was pretty empty).
It was fast as well; our meals came out very quickly, in typical diner style.
I'm not sure I'd consider it cheap, per se. For my burger and fries, a kid's burger and veggies, and a side of veggies (we drank water), it came to $15 plus tip. While this is certainly fairly cheap, I could have gone to Burger King or Five Guys for much cheaper (though I wouldn't have been able to get the veggies for the kiddos). That said, both our burgers were really large; I couldn't finish mine. The burger was "fine," but not really "good."
So, in short, it served its purpose for us. If you're looking for something fast and easy, and don't want to go to one of the chain restaurants in the area, this will suffice. But it's not a place we'll be going back to if we're in a similar situation again.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Red Hot and Blue Bar b Que
2175 Marlton Pike West
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
We met friends at Red Hot and Blue in Cherry Hill the other day for lunch. When deciding where to go, BAJ chose this from the list our friends gave us because, as he said, "I'm always up for some Bar Bee Que!" It turns out, he had a conference at the attached Holiday Inn, and had eaten here before.
For a hotel restaurant, it definitely doesn't have that hotel restaurant vibe. It feels much like any chain restaurant or sports bar (lots of tvs, in fact, a lot of people were there to watch the big football game on that day). Yet, because it was so early, the restaurant was nearly empty. Perhaps this was the reason we had such good service, but it's worth mentioning that our server was very attentive, helpful, and smiled saying "it's no problem, really!!" when I apologized for my young son's mess.
It's hard to comment on the kid-friendliness of a restaurant when there really aren't many people there, but they do have a kids' menu as well as coloring and crayons for the kiddos.
As far as the food--it's pretty middle of the road. It's not something I'd rave about, and it's not something I'd complain about either. We all enjoyed our meals, but my husband and I like the chain BBQ place down the street better. We were so happy when we saw a variety of BBQ sauces on the table, but no one in our party thought they were so exceptional. Again, if you're stuck in the Holiday Inn or at a conference and have to eat quickly, Red Hot and Blue is quite serviceable, but in an area with a ton of dining choices, this is definitely not a place I'd choose to go to when you can go elsewhere.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
We met friends at Red Hot and Blue in Cherry Hill the other day for lunch. When deciding where to go, BAJ chose this from the list our friends gave us because, as he said, "I'm always up for some Bar Bee Que!" It turns out, he had a conference at the attached Holiday Inn, and had eaten here before.
For a hotel restaurant, it definitely doesn't have that hotel restaurant vibe. It feels much like any chain restaurant or sports bar (lots of tvs, in fact, a lot of people were there to watch the big football game on that day). Yet, because it was so early, the restaurant was nearly empty. Perhaps this was the reason we had such good service, but it's worth mentioning that our server was very attentive, helpful, and smiled saying "it's no problem, really!!" when I apologized for my young son's mess.
It's hard to comment on the kid-friendliness of a restaurant when there really aren't many people there, but they do have a kids' menu as well as coloring and crayons for the kiddos.
As far as the food--it's pretty middle of the road. It's not something I'd rave about, and it's not something I'd complain about either. We all enjoyed our meals, but my husband and I like the chain BBQ place down the street better. We were so happy when we saw a variety of BBQ sauces on the table, but no one in our party thought they were so exceptional. Again, if you're stuck in the Holiday Inn or at a conference and have to eat quickly, Red Hot and Blue is quite serviceable, but in an area with a ton of dining choices, this is definitely not a place I'd choose to go to when you can go elsewhere.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
(908) 756-7770
5020 Hadley Center Dr
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Like so many others, I've heard wonderful things about Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and so wanted to give them a try. Alas, a look at their menu shows they really only serve what the name says--burgers and fries. With a husband who doesn't like the taste of beef, I knew I wouldn't be bringing him here.
So, he's working late and I took a different kind of date to Five Guys; two little boys under the age of four. My three year old and I split a cheeseburger; Five Guys has two sizes of burger: "Burger" and "Little Burger." The difference is that the Burger has two roughly 3oz patties while the Little Burger has one. I chose a Cheeseburger for the two of us to share. It was just the right size for the two of us, especially considering how badly the little guy wanted to dig into that cup of fries. I'll turn to the fries in a minute.
I really like restaurants like this; ones that allow you unlimited toppings. I went pretty typical: mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, relish, and I requested sauteed mushrooms on the side (though Little Man went for those too).
This burger is deserving of the hype. It was really really tasty, not at all fatty or tough, and very messy. And the price of around $6.50 certainly beats any of the chain restaurants, which would also charge you extra for additional toppings.
The fries were really delicious too. I do wish they had a smaller size than their small because we threw away about half the container. Definitely enough fries, though, for my fry loving self and my little buddy. I chose to dip mine into bbq sauce, which was a great choice, but they also have malt vinegar around because these fries are the kind I just know malt vinegar would be great on as well.
For some reason, I thought they also had shakes here, and sort of jazzed myself up for a strawberry shake. I guess I was thinking it was Cheeburger Cheeburger or something. At any rate, I really like Five Guys, and hope to twist hubby's arm into starting to like beef.
5020 Hadley Center Dr
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Like so many others, I've heard wonderful things about Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and so wanted to give them a try. Alas, a look at their menu shows they really only serve what the name says--burgers and fries. With a husband who doesn't like the taste of beef, I knew I wouldn't be bringing him here.
So, he's working late and I took a different kind of date to Five Guys; two little boys under the age of four. My three year old and I split a cheeseburger; Five Guys has two sizes of burger: "Burger" and "Little Burger." The difference is that the Burger has two roughly 3oz patties while the Little Burger has one. I chose a Cheeseburger for the two of us to share. It was just the right size for the two of us, especially considering how badly the little guy wanted to dig into that cup of fries. I'll turn to the fries in a minute.
I really like restaurants like this; ones that allow you unlimited toppings. I went pretty typical: mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, relish, and I requested sauteed mushrooms on the side (though Little Man went for those too).
This burger is deserving of the hype. It was really really tasty, not at all fatty or tough, and very messy. And the price of around $6.50 certainly beats any of the chain restaurants, which would also charge you extra for additional toppings.
The fries were really delicious too. I do wish they had a smaller size than their small because we threw away about half the container. Definitely enough fries, though, for my fry loving self and my little buddy. I chose to dip mine into bbq sauce, which was a great choice, but they also have malt vinegar around because these fries are the kind I just know malt vinegar would be great on as well.
For some reason, I thought they also had shakes here, and sort of jazzed myself up for a strawberry shake. I guess I was thinking it was Cheeburger Cheeburger or something. At any rate, I really like Five Guys, and hope to twist hubby's arm into starting to like beef.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Cici's pizza
We are not in the Cici's Pizza "zone"--the closest one (until recently, that is) is two hours away. But yet we see their commercials ALL the time. We were curious. So, when we were visiting friends and they threw out the idea of going here for dinner, we jumped all over the idea.
The good is that it's VERY family friendly (we went on Tuesday, which was kids eat free night) and very cheap (all you can eat for less than $6 per person plus drink, and college students with ID are like $3.99). There are claw games and video games to entertain the kids. I love variety--we had spinach pizza, mac n cheese pizza, buffalo chicken pizza, among others. The desserts were pretty tasty too.
That said, the pizza isn't good. It reminded me of Little Caesar's. Maybe living in NJ has me totally spoiled and those who don't know good pizza place pizza will think it's totally great, but we both proclaimed, "Well, we've tried Cici's and now we don't need to go back." While the desserts were tasty, you can certainly find better in the freezer section of your local grocery store. The salad was pretty disappointing, and the pasta with sauce reminded me of... I can't even think of what. I guess the closest comparison is Chef Boyardee.
The good is that it's VERY family friendly (we went on Tuesday, which was kids eat free night) and very cheap (all you can eat for less than $6 per person plus drink, and college students with ID are like $3.99). There are claw games and video games to entertain the kids. I love variety--we had spinach pizza, mac n cheese pizza, buffalo chicken pizza, among others. The desserts were pretty tasty too.
That said, the pizza isn't good. It reminded me of Little Caesar's. Maybe living in NJ has me totally spoiled and those who don't know good pizza place pizza will think it's totally great, but we both proclaimed, "Well, we've tried Cici's and now we don't need to go back." While the desserts were tasty, you can certainly find better in the freezer section of your local grocery store. The salad was pretty disappointing, and the pasta with sauce reminded me of... I can't even think of what. I guess the closest comparison is Chef Boyardee.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Dunellen Hotel
120 N Washington Ave
Dunellen, NJ 08812
http://www.dunellenhotel.com/
I had heard wonderful things about the Dunellen Hotel, so when a 4:45pm stop to Joe's Crab Shack meant a 2 hour wait, we decided to go here instead.
We had a hard time picking, and ended up with an appetizer, a soup, plus entrees. Oink.
M chose the Triple Onion Soup, and thought it was pretty good. I liked it when I had a taste too. We also had the Hot Crab Dip, and it was good.
M had the Lobster Reuben and went on and on about how much he wanted to just keep eating but that he was too full from all the appetizers. I had a special; I think it was pot roast. I had to hold myself back so I would have leftovers. It was one of those, "I'm not hungry, but this is so good, I can't stop eating," kind of meals.
So, we had a great meal at the Dunellen Hotel!!
Dunellen, NJ 08812
http://www.dunellenhotel.com/
I had heard wonderful things about the Dunellen Hotel, so when a 4:45pm stop to Joe's Crab Shack meant a 2 hour wait, we decided to go here instead.
We had a hard time picking, and ended up with an appetizer, a soup, plus entrees. Oink.
M chose the Triple Onion Soup, and thought it was pretty good. I liked it when I had a taste too. We also had the Hot Crab Dip, and it was good.
M had the Lobster Reuben and went on and on about how much he wanted to just keep eating but that he was too full from all the appetizers. I had a special; I think it was pot roast. I had to hold myself back so I would have leftovers. It was one of those, "I'm not hungry, but this is so good, I can't stop eating," kind of meals.
So, we had a great meal at the Dunellen Hotel!!
Pop Shoppe
729 Haddon Ave
Collingswood, NJ 08108
www.thepopshopusa.com
Grilled cheese. Soda jerks. Enormous sundaes.
We were meeting up with some friends from Delaware, and decided to check out the Pop Shoppe. What a great choice for people who like to have some fun and bring the kids, or just act like one! We discovered after making this choice that they had been featured on Bobby Flay's Challenge for making the best grilled cheese. The four of us decided we would each choose a different grilled cheese and share them. I, unfortunately, can't remember all four of the sandwiches we had, but they were all good. Each of us had our own favorite of the four.
I really liked how much they cater to families. My 3 year old had a great time; he was given a soda jerk hat to wear, and there were books and coloring books he could look at while we adults tried to hang out. Moreover, there are three different kids' menus: Big Squirts, Little Squirts, and Baby Squirts. It was so convenient that they gave us a mashed banana to feed our baby.
We decided we next have to meet here for breakfast.
Collingswood, NJ 08108
www.thepopshopusa.com
Grilled cheese. Soda jerks. Enormous sundaes.
We were meeting up with some friends from Delaware, and decided to check out the Pop Shoppe. What a great choice for people who like to have some fun and bring the kids, or just act like one! We discovered after making this choice that they had been featured on Bobby Flay's Challenge for making the best grilled cheese. The four of us decided we would each choose a different grilled cheese and share them. I, unfortunately, can't remember all four of the sandwiches we had, but they were all good. Each of us had our own favorite of the four.
I really liked how much they cater to families. My 3 year old had a great time; he was given a soda jerk hat to wear, and there were books and coloring books he could look at while we adults tried to hang out. Moreover, there are three different kids' menus: Big Squirts, Little Squirts, and Baby Squirts. It was so convenient that they gave us a mashed banana to feed our baby.
We decided we next have to meet here for breakfast.
Ecco Bistro
458 Elizabeth Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-271-5700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 732-271-5700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
http://www.eccobistropizza.com/index.html
Lots of running around yesterday had us choosing to go out to eat. Since we were so pleased with a recent pizza experience here, we decided to try their restaurant side as well. We were really pleased with our meals. The decor of this restaurant is very nice; the three year old and I sat on a wall length bench with decorative pillows. It was really pretty, though getting the three year old to NOT lay on said pillow proved difficult. The bathrooms were beautiful, and even my husband commented that they are really nice.
Our food was very good. It turned out that (for the first time in our relationship, I believe) my husband ordered first, and chose what I had decided on. I ordered my second pick, which he said he was considering too. So, we split them. We both liked his better (Ecco Madeira Chicken), but both meals were outstanding (I had the Brandy Fettucine). We received your standard bread with oil and basil, but it was particularly tasty and much thicker--we actually spooned it on top of the bread rather than dipping the bread into the oil like we normally would. I was very pleased with the salad that came with our meals; I thought the dressing was very different and outstandingly good.
We agreed on two problems with the restaurant: first, their menu is pretty limited, though it seems that there are many more choices when one looks at the menus posted online. Second, there's no changing table in either bathroom (that we saw).
Otherwise, this was a great meal, great atmosphere, and great prices. Definitely a great Italian place!
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-271-5700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 732-271-5700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
http://www.eccobistropizza.com/index.html
Lots of running around yesterday had us choosing to go out to eat. Since we were so pleased with a recent pizza experience here, we decided to try their restaurant side as well. We were really pleased with our meals. The decor of this restaurant is very nice; the three year old and I sat on a wall length bench with decorative pillows. It was really pretty, though getting the three year old to NOT lay on said pillow proved difficult. The bathrooms were beautiful, and even my husband commented that they are really nice.
Our food was very good. It turned out that (for the first time in our relationship, I believe) my husband ordered first, and chose what I had decided on. I ordered my second pick, which he said he was considering too. So, we split them. We both liked his better (Ecco Madeira Chicken), but both meals were outstanding (I had the Brandy Fettucine). We received your standard bread with oil and basil, but it was particularly tasty and much thicker--we actually spooned it on top of the bread rather than dipping the bread into the oil like we normally would. I was very pleased with the salad that came with our meals; I thought the dressing was very different and outstandingly good.
We agreed on two problems with the restaurant: first, their menu is pretty limited, though it seems that there are many more choices when one looks at the menus posted online. Second, there's no changing table in either bathroom (that we saw).
Otherwise, this was a great meal, great atmosphere, and great prices. Definitely a great Italian place!
Pizza Ecco
458 Elizabeth Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-271-5700
http://www.eccobistropizza.com/index.html
We saw this place opened recently, and decided to give it a try. M said this could be dangerous, we're breaking my cardinal rule of not going to a pizza place in the first month after they've opened.
Nonetheless, this was a really tasty pizza. The crust was way thinner than I typically enjoy, but the flavors of the pizza were outstanding. We got the Four Cheese pizza, and were both really happy. Additionally, the large pie was $15, which is way less than we pay at a much closer pizza place for a regular mushroom pie.
Definitely good pizza at Ecco!
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-271-5700
http://www.eccobistropizza.com/index.html
We saw this place opened recently, and decided to give it a try. M said this could be dangerous, we're breaking my cardinal rule of not going to a pizza place in the first month after they've opened.
Nonetheless, this was a really tasty pizza. The crust was way thinner than I typically enjoy, but the flavors of the pizza were outstanding. We got the Four Cheese pizza, and were both really happy. Additionally, the large pie was $15, which is way less than we pay at a much closer pizza place for a regular mushroom pie.
Definitely good pizza at Ecco!
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!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
342 George St
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
We have been on the hunt for non chain Mexican food that's outstanding. I've had a hunch for a long time that New Brunswick would be a great place to find that. We've had some missteps, but I turned to an internet message board, and Fiesta was suggested as very good.
So, off we went, with the two kids in tow. Hey, I've passed this place a bunch of times! First, I really liked their salsa. It had a little bit of spice, and a nice cilantro flavor too. It was perfect. BAJ ordered a chicken chimi, and said it was good. The Boy got a chicken taco, and they were really accommodating and offered no spice, no onion, no peppers and put the peppers on the side for us. I had a Fiesta Platter, which (I think) was an enchilada, a taco, and a flauta. I really enjoyed mine, although I wasn't nuts about the rice that came with it (though I don't typically like rice anyway). It had a "salad" (a few pieces of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and some dressing) and some black beans too.
Hard to judge service--ours was great, but we were the only patrons in the place!
Overall, we were pleased, but aren't sure if it will become a go to Mexican place for us or not.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
We have been on the hunt for non chain Mexican food that's outstanding. I've had a hunch for a long time that New Brunswick would be a great place to find that. We've had some missteps, but I turned to an internet message board, and Fiesta was suggested as very good.
So, off we went, with the two kids in tow. Hey, I've passed this place a bunch of times! First, I really liked their salsa. It had a little bit of spice, and a nice cilantro flavor too. It was perfect. BAJ ordered a chicken chimi, and said it was good. The Boy got a chicken taco, and they were really accommodating and offered no spice, no onion, no peppers and put the peppers on the side for us. I had a Fiesta Platter, which (I think) was an enchilada, a taco, and a flauta. I really enjoyed mine, although I wasn't nuts about the rice that came with it (though I don't typically like rice anyway). It had a "salad" (a few pieces of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and some dressing) and some black beans too.
Hard to judge service--ours was great, but we were the only patrons in the place!
Overall, we were pleased, but aren't sure if it will become a go to Mexican place for us or not.
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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
