hitmanoo
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Posts posted by hitmanoo
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I think that Hunan Taste is underrated simply because it is a bit more "out of the way," and hasn't been reviewed by as many egulleters.
I havent been there, but I can tell you that from the menus they post on their website, it looks like very straightforward chinese american and not at all interesting. Is this another place with a "secret menu" like Hunan Cottage?
I think that with Hunan Taste, their strength is in the house specialties. They do a good job with their straight-up dishes too. This place is definitely not your standard Americanized Chinese garbage.
They also have nightly specials.
While I wouldn't put Hunan Taste on the same level as China 46 and Hunan Cottage as far as the range of authentic dishes and creativitiy, it is the best Chinese place I have been to in Morris County.
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I'd say that in Morris County, you'd have to go to Hunan Taste in Denville.
Hunan Cottage is excellent, but that's Essex, and China 46 is outstanding, but that's Bergen.
I think that Hunan Taste is underrated simply because it is a bit more "out of the way," and hasn't been reviewed by as many egulleters.
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America's Test Kitchen likes the Zyliss brand.
I like Zyliss as well. A great press that's durable and easy to clean. Also good for mincing ginger as well.
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I used to go to the Chinese Restaurant in West Orange in Essex Green when I was young up until the 80's it had a dish I love (and miss) called Fong Wong Gai (it was chicken with a slice of pork or ham between the layers - battered and quick baked or fried) If anyone knows of any Bergen County restaurants that have that I'd love to hear!
Also I googled Soochow and could not find an online menu if anyone knows of any GOOD chinese restaurants in Bergen county please let me know. I like more szechuan style with the occassional polynesian/cantonese thrown in. Please do NOT recommend C46
it is definitely not in my top 10 choices. Thanks! 
Much appreciate the aid on this! 
Lotus Cafe in Hackensack is pretty good for a local place. I don't think it's worthy of a lengthy trip in from out of town, but if you're nearby, it's a good standby.
Sorry, I can't access the menu which may have helped me to make a few recommendations. My memory just isn't in gear right now.
450 Hackensack Avenue
Hackensack NJ 07601-6312
Located by the Riverside Square Mall.
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I know what you mean, there was nothing like going down stairs to Wo Hop in Chinatown in NY, the surly waiters through a stack of plates and silverware on your table. If you wanted water you got it yourself. But the food was soooo good. But in New Jersey the down and dirties give me the creeps, have not had good luck with the quality of food. Any suggestions?
Interesting in what we willingly put up with in a Chinatown, -- any Chinatown --we won't tolerate anywhere else!
Right now my favorite places are China 46, Hunan Cottage, Joy Luck Pavilion and altho I haven't been there for awhile, I like Noodle Chu.
I used to go to China Gourmet in WO on Eagle Rock Ave. (great sizzling oysters in black pepper sauce.) I stopped when China 46 came into my life. Then I heard that China Gourmet had dropped quite a bit. But last week-end someone had gone there and said that the quality was back. I will have to recheck it.
I stopped going to China Gourmet as well. I felt that they were overpriced and that the quality could not substantiate it. I'd rather go to Hunan Cottage in Fairfield or Hunan Taste in Denville. Maybe I'll give China Gourmet another shot.
As for down and dirty, if the food is solid, I'm willing to look the other way, but if the place is foul and so is the food, who wouldn't get bugged out a little bit?
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That's ok. I wasn't overly impressed by the pulled pork, nor was I overly impressed by the individual meats.
There used to be a place in NJ called Fink's Funky Chicken and Ribs. He made the best pulled pork I've ever had! I guess that's the standard by which I judge all other pulled pork. Unfortunately, Fink had to close his place due to illness.
What I enjoyed best about RUB:
1. Szechuan Smoked Duck
2. Burnt Ends
I also enjoyed the BBQ chicken, onion strings, baked beans, and the St. Louis Ribs.
Bare in mind that I've only eaten there 2 or 3 times. I'm absolutely down to give them (and the pulled pork) another go-round.
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I've become a fan of the home made Caesar salad. I've gotten to the point that I really don't need to order it in a restaurant anymore, with the occasional exception.
The last Caesar I had that clearly beat my own was at the Manor in W. Orange, NJ... I digress.
I've been tinkering with the recipe, using various types of anchovies, sometimes anchovy paste. I've also tried numerous types of dijon mustard, but I have yet to find a dijon mustard substitute like a powder or a seed.
It's a constant work in progress, but I am almost always delighted with the final product.
Sometimes with chicken or another meat, sometimes in a wrap, somtimes a handful of sundried tomatoes...
Oh, and lest I forget, much of it has to do with using the proper bowl. A good wooden bowl, used strictly for Caesar salad, becomes seasoned with the passing of time, contributing to a better salad with every use!
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i have eaten there a bunch of times since it opened and i think this place has come along way
..the food is allways very good and the service is great. highlights are the burnt ends, all the ribs, brisket,duck and pulled pork. the beans and onion are also great...mmm... burnt ends... those were outstanding as well!
Gotta say that I'm not a huge fan of their pulled pork though.
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Was reading another post and saw a link back to RUB.
We ordered some takeout from RUB about a month ago and once again I was amazed by the BBQ duck. It's just fall off the bone tendere with such a delicious flavor. I could go back to RUB time and time again just for that duck. It really is spectacular!
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Anyone else been to 88 Cafe in Livingston. It is fairly new I think, in the building that used to be Friendly's on East Mount Pleasant.
I've been there a few times and thought it was authentic and very good. Reasonable as well.
They have a favorite dish I have only found in New York, rice cakes, or New Year's Rice Cakes in a brown sauce with chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or veggies.
They also have a Sushi bar which I have not tried.
China 88 is pretty good. Not everything is spectacular, but they make several dishes very well. I also like the fact that they'll deliver to us in West Orange
As for their sushi, while it's not "best ever" it is fresh and well prepared. Very often I'll get a random roll to have as an appetizer.
I wasn't a huge fan of their Tom Yam soup, but I do like their Wonton soup. The wonton's are very light and not doughy, and the broth has a delicious flavor.
I think they do a particularly good job with their lemongrass dishes, and they also make a fairly good version of Salt & Pepper Shrimp.
Keep in mind that just about all of their food that I've tried, I've had a better version in another restaurant, but for an eclectic Asian restaurant, they do a good job.
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I was there about 8-9 months ago. Service was off--refills of water, bread, and the waitress were hard to find! Fish and chips were ok. Lowell’s pork was inedible—overcooked and tasteless. Forget the chicken potpie if it is still on the menu. It had very little filling and the sauce was watery. We had desserts but I don’t remember what. Haven’t been back. They are expanding next door. Perhaps lunch would be a better time to try this restaurant.
Sorry gal, the place wasn't even opened 9 months ago. INEDIBLE!!! One of the best pork chops I've ever had.
Best ever?!? I rarely quote myself, but on my experience:
The pork chops were a different story. The waitress asked me how I wanted them cooked. I went with medium, stressing to the waitress that they please not be overcooked. Unfortunately, they killed them. They were so overcooked and dry that I had to send them back. It's so rare that I send back food at a restaurant that I don't even remember the last time I did so.The pork chops either needed to be brined or to be cooked for less time. Absolutely terrible, and I really enjoy a good pork chop.
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I went today, and it was an absolute madhouse. I took my wife for her first visit. We got there around 2:30 and waited on line for about 10 minutes.
I know it was crowded, but we didn't receive our food until just past 3:20. They obviously weren't prepared for such a large crowd. They seemed overwhelmed. The food was still very good, but I think they needed to do a bit of a better job of speeding things along.
We were order #150. We ordered our food, then took our ticket to pay the cashier. For the most part, the finaces are taken care of ahead of time and separately from the food preparation. As we waited, there was about a minute or two between each order called off. For the most part, each order was delivered in order. I was a small bit perturbed to see my order placed into a bag, only to watch the lady behind the counter place it down and allow it to sit there.
She then went on to place other orders in bags only to call out, "order #152!" Then another couple of minutes, all the while me watching my food just sit there in the bag until Matt told her, "you know that's order 150 waiting to go out."
"Ok."
More loading of orders into bags.
"#150!"
The anticipation! I was a little upset watch my order just sit there cooling off, but I mean they've only been open for 2 weeks...
I guess the bottom line is that if you get there and there's a crowd out the door, just be prepared to have some patience at this point. I'm sure with a little time and a little practice it'll be smooth sailing ahead!
BTW, I changed things up today and went with a Smokey Joe. A sensational hotdog!
Best of luck moving forward guys! That ABC piece really boosted business today!
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The OG in NYC??? So many things shock me about this. 1. how can this place make it in a city with so many restaurants? 2. how can this place possibly be packed? One of the great mysteries of American culture.
Along with this thought another one to muse upon is The Red Lobster when it is in the state of Maine.
Ha! I was thinking of the Red Lobster in NYC too. That place gets packed all the time as well. I've never been inside, but there's always a line out the door!
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hmmm... I'm opposed to going to the OG under most circumstances. I went to NYC with a group from school several years ago, and to my disgust they opted for lunch at the OG rather than try a local place.
The OG in NYC??? So many things shock me about this. 1. how can this place make it in a city with so many restaurants? 2. how can this place possibly be packed? One of the great mysteries of American culture.
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I checked the search function and recipe gullet to no avail, surprisingly. I am interested in making a paella and am looking for a gulleteer worthy recipe. I have a paella pan already. Tips and tricks are also welcome.
Thanks
Evan
After several days of looking in vain, I can come up with no recipe for paella on egullet or recipe gullet.
Seems bizarre... If someone has a tried and true one, please post it here for posterity. I am forced to switch gears to Louisiana for my dinner guests tomorrow. I would hate to trust my paella to a blind google search.I'd love a paella recipe or two myself. My friend lent me his paella pan rather than put it in storage, and thus far it has gone unused...
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Isn't it amazing that the same friends that are criticizing your obsession with food are the same friends that are bugging you for a restaurant recommendation or are lining up at your door when you decide to host a dinner party or BBQ, etc?
I'm lucky that I have a friend that takes being a foodie to a level beyond me. I'm a good cook, he's a gifted cook. Takes so much of the pressure off!
As for me, I took a trip to San Francisco and the Pacific coast highway last summer. I spent many an hour before the trip researching restaurants and various food spots along the way. People thought I was crazy spending so much time planning where we'd eat along the way. I thought they were crazy whenevery they planned a trip without giving any consideration to food. I don't know about y'all, but I've grown accustomed to eating every day!
My research brouth me to the R&G lounge in Chinatown where I had the best hot and sour soup of my life. It brought me to Passionfish where I had not only a fantastic meal, but was blown away by the cheap prices! I had delicious sushi and chowder in bread bowls, and...well, I could go on and on.
I think the highlight of a trip can be a meal. Sure there is so much to do while traveling, but those other parts can be less memorable when you're grumbling about the terrible food and service you had the night before.
We all enjoy good food. It's just that some of us are willing to put more of an effort towards it.
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Tommy you didn't miss anything. All their homebrew tap beer is pretty terrible.
I completely disagree. It may not be best ever, but a few of them I really enjoyed.
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I was wondering about this. They are located in Bloomfield on Broad St. They will deliver to Caldwell, but not West Orange?
Heck, they'll deliver to Kearny and Moonachie, but not Livingston?
I have to think that the website is in error. This just doesn't make any sense.
If you really wanted to order from them, I'd call and ask.
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i've heard the servers at egan's are decent and friendly. so i think i'll give the dining room proper a try next time. but on this night, the bartenders had their heads up their butts or something. not that they weren't nice (though i can't say there was any give-and-take), it's just that the place didn't have their stuff together. although, i will say that the one manager-looking dude was completely obnoxious, going as far as dismissing a request to sample one of the beers on tap. i would normally attribute the situation to a communication breakdown, but even giving him the benefit of the doubt, he rubbed me the wrong way. and there're about a million ways to rub me the right way.
To not let you sample some of the beer on tap is just bad business. What could that set them back--5 cents? I can see why you wouldn't be too anxious to return.
My last trip to Egan and Sons:
Me: "That guy looks just like Yogi Berra"
My Dad: "That's because that is Yogi Berra."
Me: "Well... that explains it."
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I've never gone to the bar area at E&S. All of my experiences have been in the back dining room, as I've always gone with my dad and my wife.
I haven't had any problems with the service. I think my dad is more of a handful than anything the serving staff can throw at us.
I think the brew a decent beer. As for the burgers, they are so-so, and that's only when they're not way overcooked which in my experience has been more often than not.
As a side note, Tommy I saw your post on a burger, beer, martini, etc, but I'm not a Bergen county expert. I'm mainly around Essex county, so I couldn't offer you much help.
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as i sat at the (mostly empty) bar without any drinks in front of me i was left wondering who i had to screw to get a beer around here.
is the service always horrible? i mean i'd love to try the place for a proper meal and drinks, but what i saw (or didn't see) from the waitstaff bordered on the absurd. some people on baristanet.com seem to agree.
Did you just give up and leave, or did you eventually have anything to eat/drink? If so, what did you think of the food?
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I think that the challenge in this is that you get free refills on your drink. If they offered a child size as a standard, more than a few people would take advantage of this lesser price, only to take even more advantage of the refill policy. With this in mind, you probably could have just ordered an extra drink but asked for a smaller cup.
I did ask to order another drink, but in a smaller size and was told that the children's size was only sold *with* a meal. IOW, I could only buy a large drink, there was no small or large available. And my order was take-out, so I wasn't trying to take advantage of free refills.
FWIW, I wasn't trying to get a free drink or anything, I just wanted to buy an additional child sized drink.
My response wasn't directed as a specific challenge towards you, but rather an observation as to why the specific restaurant policy may have been put in place.
Best Chinese in Morris County?
in New Jersey: Dining
Posted
For the record, Fairfield is in ESSEX COUNTY!