richl2214

FYI ... South Beach nightlife is not latin-style salsa ... think NYC with palm trees and open air parties (or Hampton summers...) ← I'm at a loss then. I think your looking in the wrong state for something like that. There is absolutely nothing that has even close to a South Beach vibe in NJ. Save up some pennies and head down to the real deal. Stay at the Setai or The National(make sure you get a cabana room-absolutely awesome.) You won't be sorry. I know I wasn't. Airfare is pretty cheap right now too.

Thanks, looks like a great place to go to next week. This week is off to NYC dinner and oysters at Aqua Grill then to the Gotham Comedy Club. After that a few drinks at Milk and Honey.

Taste is not a Miami style club. They use to have Latin night one night a week. I never ate there but I heard the food is good. I think what you're looking for is probably something like South City Grill. That have a latin salsa night at the Jersey City location although I like the Rt 17 location best. There is no place in N J that I would consider a "Seen-and-be-seen" place with "notable chefs". You have to trek across the bridge to NYC for that.

LOL, I've been to Steve's Sizzling Steaks many times. Definitely order rare if you like your steak medium rare. Salty as hell and the mushrooms are awesome. I always got the filet because it is the only tolerable cut for me there. I do think the best steak I have had in NJ is at Fleming's in Edgewater/Fort lee area right on the end of that newer shopping center. I had the filet and it was perfectly meduim rare to rare. They served us champagne in tall glasses, not flutes and I loved that. Awesome meal there.

They have very good Angus steaks and I found that the quality of their cuts are better than anything I have ever had in Ironbound. So I'd say if you want ribs and steaks stick with Shula's. If you want seafood then there's no question Ironbound is the place to go.

I have. I also thoroughly enjoyed the 90 Below Cigar and Wine bar downstairs. Huge fireplace, giant flat screen TV, big comfortable leather chairs. You can get full service of food from upstairs too. Great service by the barstaff too. A great place to enjoy a cigar and a port wine after dinner. Hopefully a place like this would be exempt from any foolish smoking ban in NJ in the future.

Just Jakes definitely serves food but it's pub grub. A couple salads, chicken fingers, burgers, hummus wraps, etc. The food is edible but not anything to excite.

just checked reservations online. only 5:30 and 9:30 available. better make a res soon! ← Thanks for checking hitmanoo. I did already make a reservation last week. We are seated at 9pm. Anyone else going to be there?

I have a res at Fascino. No doubt I'll love it.

I love the place. I wouldn't hesitate to bring a date there. It has a very comfortable, intimate feeling to it. The food most of the time has been very good.

The last time I went was in the Spring. I had a tuna filet that was a bit fishy. I haven't been back since.

Of course it will cause bluster. The way you presented your side was akin to hearing the "Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyahs" as I pass the school playground. Regardless, I don't see why both types can't coexist. A establishment should be allowed to decide if patrons can smoke or not, if and only if, they offer a smoke free space for the non-puffers. I do disagree that bars won't be hurt in the wallet by a smoking ban. For example, me and some friends go to a local bar that allows us to smoke cigars. We do this almost bi-weekly. We always drop at least a 3 to 4 hundred at the place when we go with tip. If the ban does pass and we can't smoke there guess where we WON'T be spending money anymore? 2 of my friends lost bartending jobs in NY about 3 months after the ban. The owner couldn't afford to keep them because business dropped significantly for him. These aren't hokey statistics of slanted lobby views, just facts. It will hurt Atlantic City in a real way if the ban includes them. That's not hard to figure out. The ban is going to have a big problem passing if they have "preferential" treatment and exclusions for just the casinos. It won't fly. The litigators are licking their chops over this one and hundreds of bars and eateries have them on retainer already to challenge a law like that which would obviously be very unfair to the smaller establishments. Bottom line is if the casinos can't be exempt without causing a statewide lawsuit, it ain't gonna pass. This inside info is from friends of mine who are big judiciary and political lawyers in NJ. Oh, they also happen to be the guys I share cigars with.

Got there around 8:30pm. Sat immediately since place was maybe half full at best. We ordered empanadillas, Croquettes and Cuban Sandwiches. The Beans were sold out. LOL! How can a "Cuban" place run out of beans? Anyway the service was abismal. We didn't even get asked for drinks before the waitress ran off. I had to get up twice to get my own drinks fromthe fridge in the front. Italso took forever for the waitress to bring our check. She seemed more focused on cleaning ther place up thn worrying about customers. When ordering she actually just walked away in the middle of our order. I had physically go back up to the front to place the rest of our food orders. On to the food. I'd have to say the empanadillas were the best of the meal. Not too greasy and very crunchy. We ordered the beef filled. The ham croquettes were greasy and just "ok". The sandwich Cubano was good but overall I felt it paled in comparison to La Isla or even Zafra, which I fell out of favor with. The bread was tasteless and the pork inside was dry. All in all I'd say that they definitely need better service. I do think if I travel out that way for Cuban food I'd would choose Azucar in Edgewater head and shoulders above Migdalia's. Although Azucar is much more expensive their food has life and soul which I though this place lacked. Migdalia's would make my list as a decent takeout place if I lived in the immediate area.

Thanks, I originally blew through the post and missed your description of the new location. My bad. Thanks for the info. Can't wait to get there!

So what is the new address?????? Do I make a left on Bedford from S Washington to get there? ADDED: nevermind I called and she told me 8 Bedford avenue I'm going tonight and then on to 90 Below Wine and Cigar bar in Englewood afterward for cocktails and cigars

Looks like Raymonds is open for dinner now. I haven't checked it out and I don't know how long they have been serving dinner for but I kow they are open tonight. Anyone been yet?

On one of the most over-rated, expensive, never-get-what-you-pay-for nights we are going to my friends house to celebrate. Good food, good drinks(lots) and good friends. We choose to stay in and away from all the amatures. :)

The late seatings are presently not available. I just called 5 minutes ago and the only opening is at 5:30pm. Oh well, off to the drawing board.

I've seen it at Buy Rite in Nutley. I think a pint is around $15? Besides you can go into any liquor store and have them ordfer it for you if they don't have it on the shelves. My buddy use to buy it as a cleaner for his smoking pipes.

For camper I will add to my list: 410 Bank Street- Cape May Dock's Oyster House- Atlantic City The CrabHouse- Cape May Fresco's- Cape May

Curlz, I mentioned Sesame on my list as my favorite places of 2004. I love it!

Arturo's has coal oven and I like them the best of all.

Is this list for places that opened in 2004 or just our favorie haunts for the last year? Well these are the places I frequented this year. Fascino, Montclair Richie Cecere's, Montclair Sesame, Montclair La Isla, Hoboken Robongi, Hoboken The Grapevine, Nutley Belmont Tavern, Newark Iberia, Newark Terrazza, Nutley La Tartuferia, Hoboken

Looks like Popular has it in. Thanks Curlz! Ill have to stop in Adega for a pitcher of Sangria while I'm at it to take advantage of the free parking. :)

Thanks guys. I know Fascino buys theirs flash frozen.