hitmanoo

I did a search and found this article Jason, is your article on lline?

Funny that you mention Ariyoshi! We flipped a coin between there and Zen for our meal last night and if I could only go back in time... I will definitely try Ariyoshi in the near future, and I am sure to give my review.

Went to Zen tonight for dinner. Got there about 7:30 and waited about 30 minutes for a table, which was fine... Had an absolutely AWFUL meal. First, I tried to order Toro, only to be told that they were out of Toro. I have always been of the opinion that a quality staff will let you know what the kitchen has run out of when you are seated. It's always frustrating to come to a decision only to be told that you'll have to rethink your order. Simple communication can eliminate this. Of course, this trivial matter was a minor part of my displeasure. We ordered 3 rolls. The only decent roll was called a Three Stooge roll with eel and a peanut sauce. The peanut sauce became a bit overwhelming after eating a few pieces, but overall was quite tasty. Roll number 2 had Salmon that was so fishy that I can still taste it right now. The salmon did not taste fresh at all, and it left my stomach feeling a little queezy. Roll number 3 was a lobster roll. The lobster tasted as if it had been sitting in a freezer for about 2 months prior to being served tonight. After reading a few positive reviews about Zen, I was excited to have a new place to try, now that my favorite local place--East Tokyo--has closed. Unfortunately, I could not have been more disappointed, and I don't think I will return. To add insult to injury, Zen seemed a tad overpriced. Sure the portions were decent size, but not so much larger to be priced so high. Maybe I hit an off night, but at this point, I won't be so quick to give Zen a 2nd chance.

Is A Taste of Asia no longer in South Orange?

Is Ariyoshis on the corner of S. Orange Ave and Prospect St? As for Kyoto, I was only their once, and was very disappointed in the food. I don't think I'll be going back any time soon.

We were on our way out this evening for some sushi at East Tokyo in East Hanover, only to discover that the restaurant is closed. This is (or was) the sushi restaurant on Route 10 East, adjacent to the bowling alley, next to the movie theater. Apparently, their lease expired, and they chose not to renew. According to a sign in the window, they plan to relocate somewhere in the area within the next 6 months. They made mention of another East Tokyo location in Randolph on Route 10 East, though I've never seen this other location. Rosie, you'll have to add this to your list of openings/closings. I must say, I'm upset about this closing, as I felt that East Tokyo was one of the better sushi restaurants in the area. Perhaps being so close to a bowling alley was their undoing. Any recommendations for some other sushi restaurants to try in the East Hanover/Livingston/West Orange area?

The original Verona location would be a PERFECT spot for a hotdog joint. How can residents complain about a restaurant moving into a location where restaurants already exist in nearby locations, and in an area that is zoned for business. If you don't like the possibility of having to smell garbage and food, don't purchase a home in a commercial area. Unfortunately, if residents have enough money and clout, they usually get their way. This is exactly the reason why Eisenhower Parkway didn't get to go through from Eagle Rock Ave to Route 46. It cuts off in Roseland, because people protested the road going through, even though they bought homes knowing that the right-of-way for a nearby highway already existed. The people were able to supress the road, and now Passaic Avenue is a traffic nightmare. I wish you better luck with your restaurant pursuit.

Wondee's in Hackensack. Delicious Thai food. I've been to several Thai places, and I've never had as good a meal as I've had at Wondee's.

When I lived in Montclair, we frequented Dai Kichi. The sushi was always fresh and tasty. They had some fun and imaginative rolls as well. Dai Kichi 608 Valley Rd Montclair 973.744.2954

This reminds me of Phoenix Garden in NYC, only at PG the staff is helpful in guiding you into what to order. They'll answer your questions and tell you frankly if particular dishes aren't to the American palate--however, the don't do so in a why so as to stop you from ordering any particular item. They are disappointed if you choose to try a dish that they do not recommend for you and you wind up not enjoying it and/or not eating much of it, as has happened to a group I was with on one occasion. However, they are equally as psyched when you make the very same decision and wind up really enjoying the dish. It's great when a staff will help you in your decision making process, but not to the point where they stand in the way of your ordering any particular dish. All of this being said, last night the staff at Hunan Cottage was very courteous last night, and very helpful in the decision process. Admittedly this was only my 2nd trip to Hunan Cottage. I see we had a much more positive experience than many of you have had. If China 46 were closer to me, it'd be my regular Chinese restaurant. I've been there twice as well, and have been blown away each time.

Went for dinner last night, and it was delicious hot and sour soup--A decent rendition. Not nearly as good as the version I had at R&G Lounge in San Francisco, but a decent soup. pork with yellow leek-Sweet and succulent. Pefectly cooked shreds of pork with a sweet and savory brown sauce. Highlight dish of the evening. shrimp and squid with basil-Not too spicy, with a refreshing basil taste in a brown sauce. Just a touch of sweetness. The squid was not overly chewy and was easy to eat. I was really in the mood for a basil dish, and this one did not disappoint. soft shell crab with ginger and scallion-While the crab was lightly fried and meaty, I felt that the sauce had no real flavor. We were offered a choice of garlic, ginger/scallion and salt/pepper. I felt that there was no ginger flavor at all and just a hint of scallion. In my opinion, this dish may have come out the same now matter how we orderred it. Tasty, but poorly described. diced spicy chicken-The chicken was cooked well, and the hot peppers packed a puch. A good dish, but probably not one I'd orde again. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't disappointing, just nothing spectacular. rice cakes--To be honest, this dish was nothing special at all, and it was barely touched. It was the only dish remaining on the table and it got taken home for leftovers. I can't remember if we had it with shrimp, pork or chicken. With the variety of dishes on the table, I had no regrets with having a small taste of this one. Definitely not recommended. Again, it wasn't bad, but it was forgettable. In all, I'd go back to Hunan Cottage. The Chinese menu is far more interesting than the American menu. That being said, they should probably combine everything into one menu and just have a "Chinese Specialties" section for the Chinese menu. If the Americans don't even get a chance to sample the occasional Chinese dish because they haven't received the menu, how will they learn to appreciate the cuisine? I just find it silly.

Such a great Thai restaurant. I won't be getting back to Hackensack for awhile, and I'll definitely miss Wondee's. I really like their crispy duck salad and several of the curry dishes. So good, and more than reasonably priced.

We went on Friday night and had an outstanding meal. I'll list in my order of enjoyment. The Szechwan Smoked Duck was out of this world. Delicious tender meat with a spicy sweet bbq glaze... I could go back just for that. Next, the burnt ends were as good a rendition as I've ever had. Crisp and sweet with such a great flavor. The St. Louis ribs pulled off the bone nicely and had a tasty rub. They were delicious dry, and the bbq sauce on the side added a nice flavor. The bbq sauce wasn't even needed for these ribs, as they were perfect as served. The BBQ baked beans had a smoky flavor and the chunks of pork were a great touch. I'm not a huge baked beans fan, but after this rendition, I just may become a fan. The onion straws were quite tasty. Not as oniony as onion rings. Very thin pieces of onion perfectly fried with a hint of onion flavor. The greens were as tasty as any I've ever tried. I had just a bite or two, and they weren't overly bitter as greens can be. The fries were standard, but tasty. With the amount of food we ordered for 7 people, the fries were more or less of an unnecessary filler. I'm not a huge cole slaw fan, and neither the vinegar nor the mayo renditions did anything for me. Admittedly, I'm not the best judge of slaw. I didn't try the potato salad. If you're a fan of BBQ chicken, they made a delicious version. The meat was moist and tender--both white and dark alike. When going for BBQ, chicken is rarely my first choice, but they did a great job with the dish. My disappointment with RUB was with the meats. The pulled pork was dry and a bit bland. The pastrami, brisket, and ham were nothing special. I'd just as soon go to a deli like Katz or 2nd Ave. The turkey was pretty tasty for bbq turkey. Like the chicken, it was moist and tasty. Again, BBQ turkey is not my first choice. I cannot give a fair review to the sausage. We realized at the end that they had forgotton to bring us some sausage with our order. I tried a bite, but I was far too full at that point to have any chance to enjoy it. With my stomach at capacity, I tasted just a bite. It was quite flavorful with an intense fennel flavor, but I had run the course and could barely swallow a bites worth. In all, I was more than pleased with RUB, and the restaurant exceeded my expectations. I already cannot wait to return.

I used to frequent the Strip House, but haven't been back in several months. When we first started going, the steaks, service aps and sides were consistantly excellent. However, somewhere along the line, there was a break in consistancy. The service became eratic, and the quality of the steaks seemed to decline. Perhaps I'll have to go back and give it another try. Maybe they just had a few wrinkles to iron out, and things are smooth again. I must say that when the restaurant was peeking, the Porterhouse for two was fantastic!

Not likely. Liquor licenses in NJ are issued for a particular municpality. You can't move a license from town to town. And I suspect a liquor license in Paramus (they'd have to find an available retail license for sale) is pretty pricey. I would be surprised if the Paramus store had a liquor dept. ← There is a huge difference between the liquor license needed to serve alcohol in a restaurant, vs the liquor license needed to sell alcohol in a retail store. I may be wrong, but I believe that the latter is far easier to obtain than the former.

Stay away from the Franciscan! Unfortunately, I wound up there and had a poor meal. I think I'd have been happier at the In N Out Burger. I wanted to try Scoma's, b/c I'd heard from some locals that it was very good. Can anyone offer a review?

Just for a frame of reference, how many square feet is the Montclair location?

Thanks Rosie. I'm assuming that Top Notch in Madison will remain open.

I realize you don't have all the info, but just to clarify, are they (Top Notch) renovating or moving?

Sooo... Food sucks, beer sucks, service sucks????? Why is there about 2 to 3 hundred people a night there if not more? ← I've enjoyed the house brews that I've tried there, and they do a decent job with bar food. As I said, the pork chops were way overcooked, but the short ribs were right on the money. The wings were delicious. If I decide to give it another shot, I may try a steak. I just think that this may be a place that you have to order your food slightly less done to get it the way you want it. If you like medium, order medium rare, etc.

Isn't this included in the kind of thing that the "do not call" list exists to prevent?

And I believe Jersey City has more Cubans then Havana. ← I think you're thinking of Union City. Aside from this debate, are there any Cuban restaurants in the Jersey City/Union City area that someone could recommend?

If you like Italian, try Sorrento's. The location and phone #: 132 Park Ave., Rutherford (201) 507-0043 I've had consistantly tasty food here, and they are a 5-10 minute ride from the stadium.

Went again last night and decided to try something different. I went with the pork chops on the menu. My wife went with the short ribs that were a special for the evening. The short ribs were excellent. Tender and delicious. 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 pleas 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. Now, the rest of my party had already been served. I decided I didn't want to wait for them to cook more pork chops, so I opted for another burger medium rare. Unfortunately, the burger came back a true medium well. Since I'd been given a nice taste of the ribs, a couple of beers and some wings for an ap, I didn't even care at that point. In all, I was disappointed last night.

Interesting. I had been told to check out an In N Out burger when I was out in California. Unfortunately, it just never happened. However, we did have time to squeeze in a Fatburger in Santa Barbara, and it was pretty good. While I found neither the fries nor the burger to be spectacular, I did think the burger was pretty tasty for a chain burger. I ordered a regular fatburger. The meat has a nice seasoning to it that separates it from other chain burgers, and it was prepared fresh to order. Not bad for a quick and cheap burger fix.