Curlz

Have to admit that I don't know Oddfellows, nor have I been to Grimaldi's. Hopefully some others will weigh in on those! The Jefferson is just great, esp if you enjoy sitting at the bar with some good wine and good food. And don't let the outside fool you; you can certainly go CASUAL. If you check the thread that I linked to, you can read all about it! Margherita's is very casual and is BYO...decent pizzas and reasonable prices for BIG portions. Frozen Monkey is great for dessert or ice cream or breakfast (or dessert or ice cream FOR breakfast, for that matter)... And India on the Hudson is serving some terrific Indian food, including on their (small) buffet. If you do a search in the NJ forum, there's a thread on that one too!

Livingston Bagel on Northfield Avenue in Livingston; it's just east of the intersection of Northfield and S. Livingston Ave. YUM.

Sarah, there are LOTS of great spots in Hoboken! It would help to know what your kind of food you like and what your price range is, but here is a short list to get you started: The Jefferson India on the Hudson (On Wash btwn 12th and 13th) The Jefferson Margherita's (On Wash and 8th) The Jefferson The Frozen Monkey (On Wash at 3rd-4th) The...oh, you get the idea! Cucharamama (Clinton btwn 2nd and 3rd) Elysian Cafe And did I mention...

They also have a Chicken Holiday sign alongside the FV one...is that the usual pairing? Never tried either of them.

It is absolutely perfect for you!!! Just one glitch--they have a liquor license. I know b/c I drank a beer (ok, likely 2) the night I went. But definitely go!! You'll certainly get your money's worth!

Yes, deny that urge. PLEASE!! But that reminded me that Boony Doon's Big House Red (complete with Stelvin closure) is also a good budget-minded option! Haven't had the white.

I'd like to heartily agree with Melkor; Zardetto Prosecco is a terrific sparkling wine, and I can get it here in NJ for 7.99 or 8.99 a bottle--and that's regular pricing! I recommended it to friends who were hosting a backyard wedding last Sept and they just raved about it; it's lighter than champagne, so it won't knock out the lightweight drinkers, it goes with any type of food, and it's festive! Ironically, the wedding I just mentioned had a Latin theme b/c the groom is Mexican, so they also had sangria. For a red, how about sticking to your Latin theme and trying some Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull (under $12 a bottle, so certainly cheaper by the case)? For a white, Bella Sera Pinot Grigio is completely acceptable. Regardless of what you end up with, TASTE THEM FIRST. If you don't like them, you obviously don't want to serve them! My wine expert always says that when you're buying wine for a large group and budget is a concern, pour something that you like but that won't break the bank. And of course, serve wines that you won't cringe over if you're dumping half-consumed glasses of them at the end of the night!

Heehee...I'm betting that Tommy meant the former. And I do agree with him--esp about The Jefferson. If I lived in Hoboken, I bet I'd eat there 3x a week!

Although I think we neglected to say so, LReda and I were both referencing the Morris Plains location earlier in this thread.

Just keep in mind that many of the Newark area barbeque places are actually not American BBQ, but Brazilian/Portuguese. Not a bad thing--that's for sure! Just different.

Saffron, Saffron, SAFFRON. East Hanover. Best Indian buffet I've seen...for $9.95pp!! Link is here.

Interesting. Where did he cook prior to this place? I look forward to reading about it tomorrow...!

Dave beat me to it, but he's right. Call me nuts, but isn't it more intuitive to link to the portal (vs. the forum) when you click on The Daily Gullet??? Now that I know how to get there I'll have no problem, but I (GASP) don't have the eG home page bookmarked--for me, it's the regional forums.

Forgive me--I'm not normally this technically retarded, but I can't seem to find the correct way to get to the DG without using Johnnyd's link!! What's the secret?!? When I click on the words Daily Gullet at the very top of the page, it doesn't take me to the home page for the DG. I can't be the only one who isn't finding it easily...

Funny that you've mentioned the place, Rosie--it's not far from me, and I've been wondering if it's any good. For those of you not aware of it, the restaurant is on Riverside Ave in Lyndhurst. It's a BRIGHT (as in sunflower) yellow building--trust me when I say you can't miss it! It's near the VW dealership. Only open about a month at this point, if I'm not mistaken. Has anyone been? Heard anything about it?

SK, I couldn't have said it better myself! And of course, you're right about Fascino as well... I also agree with Anthony; I like TF, but if I have a reservation and am left waiting more than 20-25 mins anywhere, I certainly expect more than some lame apologies for my time. Tell me there's been some major screw-up, apologize like you mean it, and I'll come back another night. But don't leave customers hanging like that!

It's not Chinese, but you should definitely check out Minado! You can read about it here...

Thanks for my biggest laugh of the day (at least, so far), Katie!

Thanks, Rosie!

For those of us who don't know where "the space that used to be Blue Moon" is, would you mind giving us the address/landmarks? THANKS!!

One thing that hasn't yet been mentioned is COMFORTABLE BAR STOOLS. I'm not trying to be funny. One of my favorite things to do is sit at the bar with a friend or two and drink wine and have apps/tapas/whatever, and I hate having to get up to move about the cabin just b/c my butt hurts! So please consider chairs with good padding and (GASP) maybe backs on them!

If Fink says it exists, then it must!! And Fink, welcome back! How are you doing??

Lou--how timely! I'm just catching up on yesterday's food chat in the Washington Post, and read this: Sides Lover, DC: I went to a (disclosed) fairly upscale restaurant in Northwest last weekend, and to my surprise, there were no side items listed with the entrees. Not even an "All items served with x, y and z" or a separate a la carte side menu. I ended up asking what my top entree choices came with, and it was something different for every meal!; By not posting the sides on the menu, is the restaurant trying to add an air of arrogance or fanciness? Is this a trend with more upscale restaurants? I felt sorry for the servers - it was a lot for them to remember. Very curious - thanks, Tom!; Tom Sietsema: I'd love to know where you supped. Not listing sides is not good business. Often, I'm the kind of guy who picks his entree based on what its accessories are.

Wow, Wow, WOW, ANT!! (and Amy) I love the idea, esp since I know you two and how serious you are about food and wine! One suggestion in addition to food...offer flights. When I was in San Francisco in January, I was amazed by how many restaurants were offering them, and of course I took advantage of the opportunity whenever I could. Great way to try lots of different wines before settling in with one (or two) for the evening! I'd love to see the 'concept' catch on here on the east coast a bit more! I agree that charcuterie and cheeses are crucial, but would like to see 'bites' as well. Remember--you don't want the liability issue of people leaving your place without something in them to absorb the wine! And if you could pull it off (Gee...do you know anyone who bakes? Heehee), some dessert items to go with the dessert wines. TBD more in person, I hope! And major congrats on entertaining the idea!

I'd love some suggestions near A.C. (within 20 mins) as well as in town...will be down there for a few days at the end of June and I'm guessing we won't stay in A.C. the entire time.