Curlz

Here's the link to the article on Tommy's site, and here is the link to the restaurant web page. I, for one, can't wait to get over there! Congrats to Anthony on finally getting his own place!

I mentioned this thread to a friend who is a lifelong New Yorker; her response was "I never let out-of-towners who like food leave without at least one meal at Balthazar!" So now you have her two cents as well.

This link will take you directly to the article (I couldn't get there via the one wilsonrabbit posted).

Completely agree about Gina's Panificio...love their brioche and those mini corn/jalapeno muffins as well!

Shake Shack opens this Wednesday, March 21st. Eater.com has photos of training sessions from this past week! It's officially Spring...

I just called, because I'm sure they're just playing with Tommy when they see his number pop... According to their pre-recorded message, they're open Sun-Thurs from 11am-midnight, and Fri-Sat from 11am - 1am. (Except when they're not?)

Having grown up in northern NJ with a dad who has always been in to food and wine, I read your last post and realized that my early food memories (some in NYC, others in NJ) definitely involve the excitement of new/different places and foods. I think Katz's is a memorable experience, as is going for dim sum or just wandering through Chinatown in general with your kids. I do remember wandering around there when I was about 7, seeing the ducks in the windows and all of the cr*p for sale and how cheap it was, and going in to a bakery for a giant almond cookie. I also remember being told that I was going to taste something called Moo Shu (funny name for kids to hear) and that there was nothing 'yucky' in it, so I tried it, and guess what? I was hooked on good Chinese food. Dim sum is a fun concept--go for it! If you have to, have one meal at the all-peanut butter place or take them to Serendipity. All kids, regardless of their palates, are bound to remember those adventures! Of course, mix in some great meals as well, but above all, just make it fun--I'm sure you can handle that, Varmint! ETA: I also remember going to Spanish restaurants where the 'wandering minstrels' were a fun addition to the meal--I guess that's what I'm thinking of--an experience vs. 'just' good eats. Just had another thought...would rodizio be of interest?

My first thought was Otto; I was there last week and am still thining about the Culatello and cheese plate, along with the quartinos... I was really surprised to see folks there with kids, but as soon as I saw the menu, realized why-a good variety of food, including pizza and pasta, and crazy-reasonable prices!

Alembic, if this is true, I'm very, VERY sad. Those were awesome bagels, despite the owner's attitude.

(Thankfully no longer a home partner, but) I just had it out with my mom last week; we were prepping for dinner for my brother's b'day, so we converged on his house for a few of his favorite things. My niece asked if we could bake a cake, so I brought 2 9" aluminum foil pans (don't get me started on their kitchen--and I try not to bring anything of mine there, as it may never come home) for the cake. Before we start making the cake, Mom asks if I can slice the brisket for her, as the arthritis in her hands makes it difficult. Sure--no problem. I'm using the dining room table (I told you not to get me started on their kitchen!) for work space, and she brings the 2nd brisket in--in one of my cake pans. I blew a gasket. "WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT IN THERE?!? IT'S FOR CAKE!!! Do you want onions and wine in YOUR slice of cake?!?" Needless to say, she got the brisket out of the pan ASAP, and with supervision from my niece (age 5), cleaned out the pan. Mom laughingly referred to me by my dad's name (they've been divorced 20+ years), as he's been known to order folks around in a kitchen. My niece announced "You should be a teacher...you yell like mine!" hehe This was not going to be artisinal dessert, but still...some people JUST. DON'T. GET. IT.

I'm surprised to see there isn't a thread about Leila Restaurant, which is billed as a "cosmopolitan Middle Eastern grille" in downtown WPB. Leila is a lovely, small spot with a large patio out back that was very enticing, but the weather was a bit too chilly for us to sit out there in mid-February. We started with mezze for the table: Baba Ghanouj, delicious, crunchy falafel, Simbusik (minced beef, pine nuts and sweet onion, in a light pastry pouch--think empanada!), and my favorite item of the whole meal, the Ma’anek, spiced sausages with port and pine nuts. Forget the weather; I need to get back there ASAP for these sausages! They were fantastic. For dinner, we ordered most of the kebabs on the menu (beef, lamb, chicken and seafood). I had the Lebanese Lamb Kefta, which is a mixture of ground lamb with parsley, onion and spices that is molded around the skewer for grilling. YUMMY! Entrees were served with pyramid-shaped piles (and I do mean PILES) of couscous, which was very tasty. Many people were surprised that the coucous was served chilled, but we were told that it is traditional. No matter--it was scooped up! We were a large group for the restaurant (15), but they did manage to accommodate us quite well. Seating was tight, but we were told it would be ahead of time, so I don't fault them for that. It was a major birthday for my dad, and we had planned this well in advance, but I decided against bringing in a cake, as I wanted desserts that went with the meal. All I did was hand off the numbered candle to the waiter, and asked that they put it on whatever my dad ordered for dessert. Without my requesting it, the staff delivered a dessert with lit candles--before we ever ordered anything. They then took our dessert orders as we passed the pieces of cake around for tastes. In the end, we ordered dupes of all of the desserts on the menu, with the only disappointment (surprisingly) being the baklava. Other items were delicious, and all interesting, with orange blossom syrup and/or floral flavors in the mix with pistachios and other middle eastern flavors. I ordered the walnut turnovers, which were very filling, but wonderful---not overly sweet, and chock full of ground nuts with rosewater and orange blossom. On Saturday nights, there is a belly dancer who performs for about 15 minutes a few times throughout the evening. She was terrific, and somehow managed to whirl, twirl and twist her way around all of the tables. It's definitely tastefully done, so don't be turned off by the idea of this brief 'show' interrupting your dinner--it was definitely a fun addition, and the 5, 6 and 8 year-olds who were with us were mesmerized. I can't say enough about Leila--if you have the chance, GO!!! Leila Restaurant 120 South Dixie Highway (on the corner of Datura and Dixie) West Palm Beach, FL, 33401 561-659-7373 Validation parking for lunch and dinner at WPB Municipal Parking lot

BUUUUUUUUUUMP! Before it gets too far away from me, I wanted to add a couple of places to this thread. I was on Singer Island for a few days last month, and have to recommend two very different spots--one on SI, the other in WPB. Johnny Longboats is a completely casual (think jeans, shorts/t-shirts) beach bar where you can get some great food and remember that you're on vacation. Their specialty is seafood; I had their famous grouper-in-a-bag (app size) and a big salad for dinner, and was totally satisfied. Others had lobsters, scallops, and the kids were thrilled with mac 'n cheese and burgers. The onion strings were well worth the calories, and a big enough portion for sharing. Full bar, huge fish hanging all over the place, fun scene, and a nice big porch for the warmer weather. No web site that I can find, but that doesn't surprise me. Johnny Longboats 2401 North Ocean Drive West Palm Beach, Florida 33404 Tel: 561 882 1333 In West Palm Beach (downtown), we had a wonderful meal at Leila Restaurant, which is billed as a "cosmopolitan Middle Eastern grille." Leila is a lovely, small spot with a large patio out back that was very enticing, but the weather was a bit too chilly for us to sit out there in mid-February. We started with these mezze for the table: Baba Ghanouj, delicious, crunchy falafel, Simbusik (minced beef, pine nuts and sweet onion, in a light pastry pouch--think empanada!), and my favorite item of the whole meal, the Ma’anek, spiced sausages with port and pine nuts. Forget the weather; I need to get back there ASAP for these sausages! They were fantastic. For dinner, we ordered most of the kebabs on the menu (beef, lamb, chicken and seafood). I had the Lebanese Lamb Kefta, which is a mixture of ground lamb with parsley, onion and spices that is molded around the skewer for grilling. YUMMY! Entrees were served with pyramid-shaped piles (and I do mean PILES) of couscous, which was very tasty. Many people were surprised that the coucous was served chilled, but we were told that it is traditional. No matter--it was scooped up! We were a large group for the restaurant (15), but they did manage to accommodate us quite well. Seating was tight, but we were told it would be ahead of time, so I don't fault them for that. It was a major birthday for my dad, and we had planned this well in advance, but I decided against bringing in a cake, as I wanted desserts that went with the meal. All I did was hand off the numbered candle to the waiter, and asked that they put it on whatever my dad ordered for dessert. Without my requesting it, the staff delivered a dessert with lit candles--before we ever ordered anything. They then took our dessert orders as we passed the pieces of cake around for tastes. In the end, we ordered dupes of all of the desserts on the menu, with the only disappointment (surprisingly) being the baklava. Other items were delicious, and all interesting, with orange blossom syrup and/or floral flavors in the mix with pistachios and other middle eastern flavors. I ordered the walnut turnovers, which were very filling, but wonderful---not overly sweet, and chock full of ground nuts with rosewater and orange blossom. On Saturday nights, there is a belly dancer who performs for about 15 minutes a few times throughout the evening. She was terrific, and somehow managed to whirl, twirl and twist her way around all of the tables. It's definitely tastefully done, so don't be turned off by the idea of this brief 'show' interrupting your dinner--it was definitely a fun addition, and the 5, 6 and 8 year-olds who were with us were mesmerized. I can't say enough about Leila--if you have the chance, GO!!! Leila Restaurant 120 South Dixie Highway (on the corner of Datura and Dixie) West Palm Beach, FL, 33401 561-659-7373 Validation parking for lunch and dinner at WPB Municipal Parking lot

And/or, contact the Society of Wine Educators and ask if there is someone in the area (Katie Loeb, white courtesy phone...) who can conduct a tasting for you! Work with a great caterer, and you can have it wherever you want in the area.

Excuse me while I wipe my lunch off the monitor...

Will you have time to leave Secaucus for places like No. Bergen or Lyndhurst, or are you looking for REALLY local spots? Fwiw, I haven't been to La Estrella in 8-10 years, but it was good when we used to go...

Ignoring my own advice, we ended up at Egan's last night b/c of geography. Had a great time, and I was surprised that the bar was only 2 deep at 6:45 or so. It never got nuttier than that--perhaps because it's the end of a getaway week? The hostess was, I think, one of the owners. Very nice, and very much on the ball. Our third person was arriving later, and when our table came up, we told her to jump ahead on the list, as we weren't in a rush. She came back about 10 minutes later and said "Are you sure she's coming? (we were) Because I have a long list of 2s after you, so I'm going to give you a table now rather than have you wait longer later on." We only occupied the 3-top for 10 mins before our pal showed up, so that move was much appreciated. We started with the Cashel blue cheese/walnut salad, which is consistently good, and then followed it with burgers and fish and chips. First-time oddity: the burgers come with shoestring-cut fries, but this time, the fish came with fatter ones--and in paper on the plate. I liked the bigger 'chips' better, but I can't understand why they differentiate between the dishes! Wouldn't giving everyone 'chips' or everyone shoestrings make it easier on the kitchen? I'm also officially still loving the fish, but not the batter. Despite being completely cooked inside and out, the batter is just a bit gummy, and I don't know what changed or when, but I've really noticed it on these last two visits. They shared a chocolate doublechocolatewithchocolate thingy. I ate the mint off the top. Service is friendly enough, but just okay--it's that simple. I know it's a pub, but once we got our food, the only attention was the hovering of the busboy. He couldn't bring plates so we could share the salad, but wow, was he fast on clearing them! Getting water (and subsequent refills) was a chore, but we didn't get pushed out b/c there wasn't a waiting list any more (9ish). Stick to those burgers and the fish and you'll do just fine!

Good call, Josefina--at least there's a good wine list at P&O!

Very casual, but Cafe Metro in Denville might suit you...

The owner has confirmed that the (new) chef has left. Scroll to the bottom to read the details on this page of Baristanet.

I still think of Egan's as a good place to go for a burger and on occasion, their fish and chips. I will say that the last time I was there (a few weeks ago, on a Sat night) was the first time that I thought the fish was over-battered--but the fish itself was still good, and perfectly cooked. My issue is more about the attitude that I've seen more than once. I realize that it's a popular place and it gets packed, but I still don't understand why so many restaurants don't focus on customer service as much as the food. Having called at about 6pm to ask if we reserve a table for 6, I was told "There isn't a wait right now, so we're not taking names." My response was that we would be there within 15 mins, so that was great. 11-12 mins later (yes, I checked my watch), we arrived to a waiting list and when I said (I swear, with no attitude) "Wow--that didn't take long; the guy I spoke with less than 15 mins ago wasn't taking names," the rather b*tchy young woman said "Well, you must have spoken to one of our bartenders." It was then that I copped a bit of attitude and said "Well, you shouldn't let them answer the phone, then, because I called, and that's what I was told." I left it at that, we waited at the bar, and had a great time despite our 'welcome,' but that experience echoes others that friends have had. I try to go there on a weeknight whenever possible, as it's a better experience. ETA: I've also heard/read that E&S is taking over the space next door (an old butcher, iirc) and that they'll expand their current space and make a seafood restaurant as well. I think the place is hung up on permits at the moment.

Thanks for posting those, Eric! And so quickly... I certainly hope someone else's fingers aren't broken... Five of us had dinner at Mercy Grill recently, and at the end of the night, the consensus was that this is a restaurant with some interesting menu items and good potential--if they can work out some (mostly service) kinks. Keep in mind that they've been open all of 5-6 weeks at this point, so I think we're willing to give them some slack. But the descriptions of the dishes should tell you that this isn't a typical bar/grill menu. The chef's experience shows in the flavors, ingredients, and very definitely in his sauces. I hope the others will chime in here, but I think our favorites from each course were the veggie burgers (I officially love them) and the tangy citrus wings, the "chowder," and the chocolate hazelnut layer cake. Other dishes were good as well, but those were the standouts. The only true disappointment was my pork chop, which was over-brined, leaving a chop that was not only too salty, but a strange, spongy texture. Service was spotty, but again, I'd like to think that with some time/staff seasoning, they'll fix those issues (i.e. taking a dessert order w/o asking about coffee, not clearing all of the plates at the same time). Once again, the place was full--and this was a weeknight, so that's a good sign. Martini specials ($5--part of Hudson Restaurant Week, I'm assuming) were a pleasant surprise, as the one I had (The French--iirc, Stoli vanilla, chambourd, champagne, and pineapple juice) was NOT too sweet. I repeat, it's not too sweet... hehe My only real objection in terms of atmosphere was the volume of the music; it's just way too loud if we have to shout across a round table! We were seated right under a speaker, though, and when asked, the speaker was turned off (THANK YOU), which made a tremendous difference. I'm looking forward to seeing Mercy Grill's staff settle in...this could be a nice addition to Hoboken's myriad of places with a good bar, a mix of clientele, and a comfortable place to hang. I'm also hoping they get the downstairs room open, as it looks like a cozy spot for drinks/dessert! Discuss.

Someone has the menu so the text accompanying the pictures will be correct. Then OTHER someones can comment.

If someone would post the pictures, we could discuss our recent dinner at Mercy Grill.

China 46 has a great menu + the lion/dancers and drummers...and the yummiest soup dumplings!! Here's the thread on (I think) last year's event...I know there are others on here from previous years as well.

Happy to share! I think this recipe has great depth b/c of the toasted walnuts and cumin seeds...I've been able to find the pom syrup and red pepper paste at a local (NJ) international market, and haven't used sourdough, but do make my own bread crumbs each time. I also double the recipe, and make it 48 hours before I want to serve it. Enjoy! Muhammara 2 large sweet red peppers 1 T water 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced ¾ cup walnuts, ground ¾ cup sourdough bread crumbs 2 – 3 T red pepper paste (or 1 or 2 red jalapenos, roasted, seeded and minced) 1 ½ t cumin seeds, toasted and ground 2 t pomegranate syrup 1 T lemon juice 1 T honey ½ - 1 t salt 2 T toasted walnut oil Roast red peppers (and jalapenos, if using) over a grill, gas flame, or under the broiler, turning frequently until charred all over. Seal 10” in a plastic (or paper) bag. Peel and seed peppers. Toast bread crumbs and walnuts in 350 degree oven until lightly browned. Toast and grind cumin seeds. In a food processor, chop onion. While the machine is running, toss in garlic cloves and mince. Add the red peppers and water and process to a moist paste. Add all other ingredients, except for the oil and process until pureed. While the machine is running, drizzle in oil. Let stand several hours or overnight for the flavors to blend and mature. Serve with flatbread or toasted pita wedges. Note: If you don’t have pomegranate syrup, you can use extra lemon juice; the syrup is surprisingly sharp-flavored. You may also want to add a tablespoon of yogurt to the spread at the very end.