steakas

well i'd certainly hope they were just plucked from the water! ← It's funny you quoted that. I read that before and laughed too. It's almost as funny as those signs you see at stores which state "live lobsters." Well, I hope they're alive. I guess all others are dead. Don't go to places that don't say "live" in front of the word lobsters. And make sure you do get live lobsters that are plucked from the water; don't take the ones walking around in a cage. I like Sammy's. I'm going there this weekend and am looking forward to the atmosphere and the shrimp scampi.

Does anyone know about the new place that's taking over the old Poor Billy's in Woodbridge? I heard it's currently being renovated and there's some sort of sign indicating something like "new upscale steakhouse coming soon." Thanks, :Dave

The baked goods at Delicious Orchards are very good. The baked goods at Wemrock Orchards in Freehold are great! Try them out... http://www.wemrockorchards.net/ All in all, Delicious Orchards typically has any ingredients the American homecook is seeking (fresh). However, the typical things you can purchase from a supermarket are at much better price in the supermarket.

FYI: This past weekend I spoke to the manager of John's Market in Scotch Plans. All their boneless steaks are wet aged. Only bone-in strips, rib steaks and TBone/Porterhouses are dry aged.

I think Frankie and Johnnie's in Hoboken comes close....don't know if they dry age though. ← Yes...I forgot about F&J's. I've only been there once. They do dry age their beef and their steak is excellent. I just hate driving in Hoboken. I'd rather drive to Williamsburg

As far as steak restaurants go, I’ve found fantastic dry aged prime beef at River Palm Terrace Pete Lorenzo’s Café in Trenton, though neither is as good as Peter Luger’s. Manhattan Steakhouse in Ocean Township has Manhattan prices but their steak does nothing for me - their steak is mediocre at best and certainly not worth the prime price. I feel the same way about Sammy’s, whose steak is overrated. What makes Sammy’s great is their food and unique ambiance. So far, I’ve found John’s Meat Market in Scotch Plains to have the best prime beef in NJ. I like my own salt & pepper seasoning and a charcoal-fired Weber grill for cooking. So, in conclusion, the best steak in NJ is served at a privately owned dwelling in Middletown. Reservations are required and dress is casual. Seriously, the best steakhouse in the area is not in this state.

Hi: The restaurant is not upscale, but the food is. They serve what I consider the "best" Shrimp Scampi anywhere and the Vodka Pasta is better that what I've had in any Italian Restaurant. Are the Fornaro's Italian? Me personally find sitting at a bar before dinner very relaxing. Unique and great restaurant!

SH's double strip is around +/-3.5" thick... it would be a challenge for any steakhouse to cook something so thick to an exact specification (which is no excuse). I always order steak rare, which is pretty hard to screw up, and it's probably why I always got what I ordered. Good test you gave them.

Sono Sushi, Hwy 35 & New Monmouth Rd, Middletown. A significant amount of Sono's turnover is takeout... I'm yet to be served any sushi that was anything short of fresh. We take out at least twice a month. Great place.

I can see a ban doing both bad and good. Me being a smoker don't like smokers around me when I dine. I never smoke at a dinner table; I just think it's poor manners. However, when I do go to a bar (e.g., waiting for a table) I do like a smoke while sipping a drink. If a ban does happen I will have no desire to sit at a bar again. Maybe when I do quit one day I'll feel differently. I feel a ban will hurt the bar scene. People will walk outside to get their nicotine fix, but if a night-out consists of 4 hours, while spending 1 hour outside, that's three hours of drinking. So, it will hurt bar owners. Me... I haven't hung out at a bar in NYC since the ban, simply for the reason I cannot drink, smoke, sit and relax at the same time. It's simply not enjoyable for me. The good thing: people will smoke less. I suppose the ban is helping me to be a healthier person.

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I've been to SH 4 times. Two times I got the double strip for dinner and the other two times I got the single for lunch. Each meal was thoroughly satisfying. Their drinks are on the pricier side. The creamed spinach is uniquely flavorful which I like very much. The sides are very good too. Strip house gets an A in my grade book.

I finally went to Conte's in Princeton; their pizzas are excellent. I still prefer DeLorenzo’s Hudson St however it is unfair to compare them because each restaurant serves a different pie. Hats off to Conte’s, great place!!

Restaurant Nicholas, Middletown Sono Sushi, Middletown

SH is one of the best steakhouses in NJ Below is a picture of their strip, with the black truffle creamed spinace behind it Double Strip website http://theglaziergroup.com/

I went to Assembly once. The steak they serve is okay but it's choice. However their prices are prime.

Keens to me serves one of the best steaks in Manhattan. I go for nothing else.

I heard that White House doesn't put vinegar on their subs... I cannot imagine a sub having significant taste without vinegar. Is this true? I was at Chef Vola's once... it is a "Peter Luger experience" overall and the food was excellent! I was also referred to a "dive" on Tennessee Ave called Pic-A-Lilli. They have great wings (apparently what they're known for). I was told that a place called Boat House in Belmar has excellent wings.... any suggestions?

I thought Scalini Fedeli was excellent, but I've only been there once. I look forward to going back.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this recipe http://www.eatturkey.com/recipe/recipe.cgi/2/11293? Any other good recipes out there? THANKS!!!

Buena Sera was one of my favorites in Red Bank. The last (and probably final) time I dined there was on a Saturday night. I got the bum's rush when the bar area "club" (in the new addition) began getting crowded. What about Villa Edwardo? Anyone been? Thnx!

thanks for the heads-up. I almost went there this weekend. I guess It'll be RPT, if it's my decision (and if I "out-vote" my friends). I'm happy you gave this review!

I can't understand how anyone likes Kinchleys. The crust is good, like matzah or something, but the quality of the sauce is so can like. Hunts, i suspect? The cheese is not good either...well to each his own I have to agree that Brooklyn coal burning in hackensack and ridgewood is the BEST . The freshest ingredients make a real big difference. I don't even think Kinchleys knows what fresh basil is? Its 5 minutes from my house and i wouldn't ever go there... By the way, if you keep driving up Franklin turnpike a bit on the left side there's a new restaurant used to be the famous 'Nobodys inn" Now its Roxanne's and they have great brick oven pizza as well as decent food for that area....much better than kinchleys ← As I was once told Kinchley's serves bar pies. Don't go there expecting a gourmet Lombardi's or DeLorenzo's pie. After I was smacked and enlightnened that Kinchley's serves bar pies, I then realized that, all in all, Kinchley's serves great bar pies.

I went last night and it was fantastic. Food and service is simply extraordinary.

Where are the good places to go out on July 4, and watch fireworks? Thanks