steakas

eGForums NJ - Best Steak in NJ & Mignon Steakhouse

My top 7 list for "NJ Restaurants I Want To Try This Year" in 2004: Saddle River Inn Moonstruck, Asbury Park Mignon, Rutherford (1/31/04) Frankie and Johnnie's, Hoboken Kinchley's Tavern, Ramsey (1/11/04) Whispers, Spring Lake Rat's, Hamilton My second stop was Mignon Steakhouse in Rutherford. We arrived without a reservation and filled a no-show seat. Thank god, because it would have been over a 1 & 1/2 hour wait! It started off with a great intro: bread served with Steak Tartare ($0)! The six oysters on the 1/2 shell started the meal off on the right foot ($7). They were fresh and served in their own liquor which provided a pleasant "oceany" flavor. All were extremely fresh. The "Lump" Crab Cakes ($8) lacked. They were somewhat bready, had a strange flavor and the "lump" part was missing. Also its crabmeat tasted pasteurized. The mustard & pecan crusted lamb chops ($9) gave me the biggest eyebrow raise so far this year. The lamb wasn't that frozen New Zealand garbage which restaurants try to pawn off on people nowadays. The chops were cooked perfectly and served over some sort of reduction sauce, which tasted like it contained cooking droppings from the chops. They were served with mashed potatoes, which almost made for a meal in itself. The chops were simply delicious! I must have looked like a cannibal; I ripped ever last smidgen of lamb off with my teeth and left the plate looking like it came out of a dishwasher! What an appetizer – I bet they'd satisfy old man Cutlets. Danielle ordered a Chicken Special ($18) which I didn't taste. It was a generous portion and she seemed to enjoy it. One side dish was creamed spinach ($5), which was made with too much onion. The other side dish was sweet French fries ($4); they were okay, just reminded us of something we'd eat at Jenkinson's Boardwalk in July. Being the carnivorous slob I am, I got the porterhouse for 2 ($45) - what a great deal. I ordered it without any questions to the server, which Danielle thought was odd. Besides, the waiter looked and spoke like a maroon. The steak was cooked per spec. However it lacked characteristics of dry aging. The meat was soft, soggy and didn't have the mineral flavor that comes with proper dry aging. Much of the beef tissue hadn't broken down, which made it less tender than expected. In fact, at times it was challenging to cut. Additionally, the beef wasn't the top prime. One of the characteristics of top prime is a fine-textured marbling of fat, consistently dispersed throughout. This steak had discrete chunks of fat in some spots and was deep red throughout. After it was all said and done, I asked our waiter how their steaks are aged – just for clarification purposes (which is something I usually do before I order a steak). He went into the kitchen, came back and indicated it was wet aged. He noted the steaks arrive in cryovac bags from an off-site supplier. My aged conclusion therefore had basis. All in all, the steak was tasty and is a great bang for the buck. The steak isn't the best in NJ. Better steaks in Jersey are served at River Palm Terrace, Strip House, Pete Lorenzo's Café, Sammy's Cider Mill, Morton's and the Old Homestead. Mignon Steakhouse is a great place to eat meat and enjoy multi-couple dining. It was a good experience overall. Just next time I'll get the lamb chops for an appetizer, dinner and dessert! PS: "maroon" is lingo my coworkers and I sometimes use for the term moron. Just didn't want you to think I was the moron .

I just came back from a late lunch at Palumbo Pizza in Holmdel. I sampled the plain Sicilian and regular. Their pizza is not doughy, as compared to typical Jersey pizzerias. The sauce is flavorful, chunky and doesn't taste like tin. Also the dough is very good. I'm happy because this place is in my area and, IMHO, they stand above all the local pizza joints! I must add, however, I've not had the same favorable experience with their take-out pies. Go there for a "pizza by the slice!" Palumbo Restaurant & Pizza Holmdel Towne Center Route 35 Holmdel, NJ 07733 732-671-8820/8933 This place is added as one of my favorites. Keep eatin'!! :Dave

Well ... I just made a reservation for March. We'll be there at 7:00PM so, my question is, will my fiancée and I still be able to enjoy the grounds after dinner in the dark? Or should we visit the grounds before the dinner? What do you recommend? Thanks :Dave

Scalini Fedeli in Chatham - definitely one of my finest dining experiences. I think their corkage fee is $15. I've also heard great things about Whispers in Spring Lake and Saddle River Inn – I don't know if they have a corkage fee, you may want to call. I know Saddle River Inn had over a month wait when I called one time, so I wrote them off.

The only place I've seen a menu without prices was Beacon Hill CC in Middletown. The menu was distributed to the ladies at the table. However their food is mediocre and that's why we're no longer a member there.

This place has my favorite NJ pizza by the slice. I always stop by when I'm in the area. Tony's Pizzeria 78 Main St, Farmingdale, NJ 07727 (732) 938-7707

Why is it that people in this state are so fucking contrary? Honestly, I didn't like living there nor do I like talking here. I will cease all of my discussion here, indefinitely. Or ... should it be "I shall cease?"

Why is it that people in this state are so fucking contrary? Honestly, I didn't like living there nor do I like talking here. I will cease all of my discussion here, indefinitely.

Okay, I'll bite. What's the protocol on this? I'm perfectly used to tipping after the staff has done me a solid, but this edges up on proper old-world bribery/baksheesh, and I've got no idea how to approach it. Hand the guy a 20 outright as you're asking if there's a table available? Try to casually put the bill down on his table? Hold it up and wiggle it significantly as you ask? Eye contact? No eye contact? Try to hide it from the people in line behind you? Make a big show? Obviously, I lack proper High Rolling Bastard skillz. :) Why is it that people in this state are so fucking contrary?

Marlene, there's no need for a reservation. I've always gone there without notice, always on Saturday Nights (~7:00). I typically slip the host a $10 and I'm usually seated within 45 minutes. I've done this for parties of 2, 4 & 6 (that time we gave $20). Request not to be seated upstairs - it's a dungen up there . Note there was one time I walked in and didn't tip the guy and, yes, I did wait over 2 hours. Needless to say I was pretty drunk by the time I ate .

I went to DeLorenzo's tonight. Their pizza is simply my favorite. If you've never been there, I suggest you give it a try … at least once. We waited 1/2 hour outside, and another 20 minutes inside. Be prepared.

OH MY! Sounds great! It's been years in the making (4 years of Rutgers)... I can't wait to go. This is the #2 place on my list to visit this year :) :dave

My top 7 list for "NJ Restaurants I Want To Try This Year" in 2004: Saddle River Inn Moonstruck, Asbury Park Mignon, Rutherford Frankie and Johnnie's, Hoboken Kinchley's Tavern, Ramsey Whispers, Spring Lake Rat's, Hamilton My first stop was Kinchley's. I was so excited during the 1hour-&-15min trek to Ramsey. Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! The appetizer: Muscles. They came in a bland marinara and one was bad - I ended up spitting it on my plate. No big deal... shit happens, it wasn't the first time. What a way to start my new year … then the pizzas came, which completely and thoroughly disappointed me. My latest thing is I order pizza with sausage and garlic. I typically always a second plain so I can savor the true meaning of the pizza they produce. Then it arrived, with sliced sausage! I dipped my head in shame and said, "What the hell is that?" The garlic is the first thing sprinkled onto the sauce, and then the cheese. The cheese therefore cooks and the garlic doesn't. The result is a garlic taste whose flavor isn't cooked nor spread throughout the pie. Instead one just eats raw crunchy garlic. It looked and tasted like the minced garlic you buy in the big glass jar at price club, which isn't fresh. The plain pizza just added to my disappointment... I was now able to taste an authentic tin flavor in the sauce. I guess the quality would reflect in anyplace that serves $7.99 all-you-can eat meals. I'm not going to drag this out - it's only pizza I know everybody has their own reasons on where the best pizza is, Kinchley's isn't mine; their pizza just sucks. I'll continue trekking to Trenton.

That would be me :-)

Lobel's is fantastic, without argument. But I feel that one who makes purchases from Lobel's is a fool (or just a rich idiot, who'd I love to be) I'd much rather go to Luger's ... it's cheaper without the hassle.

Crown Palace Chinese take-out ... worked great for me!

No. One MC case in the US? I drive every day and, my feelings are, I stand more of a chance of getting messed up from driving.

Saddle River Inn Moonstruck, Asbury Park Mignon, Rutherford Frankie and Johnnie's, Hoboken Kinchley's Tavern, Ramsey Whispers, Spring Lake Rat's, Hamilton Happy new year everybody! (edit: I forgot Rat's)

it's your anniversary have a freaking wonderful good time and ENJOY. you will be so into each other who cares what the environment is like. he can take you out to a "fancy" place for valentines day or your birthday. if you are lucky the kids will be asleep when you get home(truism #1 let sleeping children alone) but if not make sure you have a good bottle of wine on ice for later. I'm staying in. I can save a few $$ Happy new year everybody - you're all great!

Sorry, Two if by sea. Is it better than Piancone?

There's a lot of good ones out there,I can't wait to go. Have you been to the place in the Bellagio?

tell me how it is ... i drive by it all the time

elmeson-freehold,nj (and no, i'm not a top NJ fan)

Also, Iberia Peninsula in Newark