hitmanoo

This is fantastic news! I had my first taste of Sticky's just the other day, and it was delicious. Things can only get better now. It's a good day in BBQ history.

The problem with the Montclair lot is the lazy folks who refuse to park in the back lot b/c it's about a 30 second longer walk than the front lot. Cars will circle around that front lot 10 times before simply parking in the back lot. On a different note, I had heard that only the wine department at Montclair was closing. I had heard an additional Whole Foods location was going to open in W. Orange. Closing the Montclair location would make more sense. Having locations in Montclair, Millburn and W. Orange would be too much, too close. I think that the Montclair location is just too small. They should have made a move to take out the Starbucks and expand the store.

You won't get any argument here. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even asked for my opinion...

Indigo Smoke? An ok BBQ place. Not along the lines I was thinking, but thanks for the recommendation. For those interested, my wife has changed her gameplan completely, and the new frontrunner is the Highlawn Pavillion in W. Orange. Not the casual place she originally mentioned to me, but it's her graduation... For the record, I find the views at the Highlawn to be breathtaking, but I feel that the food is mediocre.

Fascino is a wonderful restaurant, but unfortunately they are already booked. I had thought of Trattoria Fresco, but their service is so hit and miss. For every time I've had a positive experience there, I've had two negative experiences. I think we'll steer clear of there for our celebretory dinner. The Petite Cafe in Nutley is only open until 3 on Sunday! I just discovered that. I'm not having much luck here... I'll give a call to confirm... Thanks for your suggestions. Please keep 'em coming. I'm going to take a look at The Jefferson

My wife will be getting her Masters in Teaching from Montclair State in a couple of weeks, and the family would like to celebrate afterwards with an early dinner. 1. It's a Sunday early afternoon 2. Hopefully somewhat casual 3. Accomodations for about 8 people 4. Not too far west of the college, as people will be coming from east of NYC I had been thinking of An American Grill in Randolph, but unfortunately, I think it would be a little too far a drive for some of the people. any ideas?

It stands to reason that if these NJ restaurants that are serving as "outlets" for NJ wineries and if there is a designated location under lock and key disignated as the "retail outlet" then these "retail outlets" would be recognized as separate entities from the establishments in which they are housed. In accordance with such, the restaurant itself would be a BYO and the winery would have no bona fide affiliation with the restaurant. Further, you'd be buying wine from the winery separately from having dinner at the restaurant. Regardless of where you buy your wine, whether it be at the winery or any other location, the restaurant itself--having no liquor license of its own--would be bound to the policies of BYO. Any corkage fee charged would be illegal. Just one man's interpretation.

Went solo style for lunch today. Had beef with lemongrass over rice. Nice little spice to it. Need to go back with a group to sample more items. Used to live on Grove St just past Lackawana when I was a resident at Mountainside. Too bad this place wasn't open then. About a 10 minute walk, this place could have been a regular place.

Driving past this location recently, there's either 1 of 2 things going on... 1. Livingston Bagel is closed 2. Livingston Bagel is going through a MAJOR renovation From the outside, there looks to be major construction going on both inside and outside of this location. Does anybody know the story?

One would think that one's desire for a burger is completely independent of sexual orientation. We've all gotta eat!

Change that "may be" to "are." Many, including the one in Philly, are gay-owned. Each has its own distinct look, though. The first Hamburger Mary's was located in (where else?) San Francisco. That one is now closed. There are currently 12 locations across the country, most--but not all--in cities with highly visible gay communities. The voiceover on the corporate Web site "About Us" page explains that "Mary knew that she and her friends--friends of Mary, friends of Dorothy, they're all the same--needed a place where they could eat, drink and have fun in a comfortable atmosphere." IOW, it's been gay-friendly from the get-go (1972). --Sandy, friend of Dorothy ← What is the purpose of a gay hamburger chain? Is there some technique or preparation that distinguishes it from a straight hambuger establishment?

First off, pre-placed condiments of any kind on a burger is a major pet peeve of mine. In fact I'm a firm believer that condiments shouldn't be pre-placed on any food unless done so by request. So much food I've had to return that was smothered in mayonnaise either by surprise or despite my requests for no mayo. This "condiment sabotoage" is only worsened when there is no mention of it on the menu.

I've been to Trattoria Fresco several times, and only once have I had a positive experience. I've made reservations, only to be told that they had no record of my reservation. I've been mistreated on my own birthday dinner. I've had subpar service. I don't think that their food is anything exceptional, aside from the occasional delicious dish--meaning that while they've made some dishes excellent, there is no consistancy. I don't know what to say about this other than you really need to get out to more places. Just because a restaurant tries hard and has some creative dishes, does not mean that their food is outstanding. In northern New Jersey, there are so many Italian restaurants that are creative, tasty, and consistantl. My intention of this post is not to get personal, but rather to emphasize my overall disappointment with Trattoria Fresco after several bad experiences there. Sorry to use your own bad experience as a platform to vent my frustration with this restaurant. Unfortunately, with this place the potential is there, but they have yet to realize that potential in the eyes of this dissatisfied patron.

Libretti's at 554 Nassau St. in Orange. A fantastic Italian restaurant. It's far enough away from SHU to be away from the graduation crowd, yet close enough for an easy drive afterwards. They have a private room that can accomodate a larger party, and it is very affordable. It's not BYO, but they do have a separate bar area where people an meet before hand and stay afterwards for cocktails. Very easy to find near the train tracks just off Scottland Rd.

This is way off topic, but if you get a chance at all, maybe before you go home, stop in at the White House for a sub. They make some of the finest in the country.

You are not alone on this. I've often picked a dish because I was intrigued by the sides. Lou, I think what you may have prioritize. Are you more profitable including the sides with the entrees at the higher fee? Is the artistry of the dish more important? Some people will enjoy the sides, others will not, and it may not even matter what the side dishes are. Some people never eat the sides or just peck at them, and no disrespect to the chef is intended. With that in mind, I think you have to consider the bottom line.

I'd love to try a new sushi place in the area. What's the address?

Yes Rosie, but do they have chicken nuggets/fingers? My 6 YO is less than willing to try new things like Indian food. It troubles me dearly!! ← Don't fret about what your 6 YO will and will not eat. Growing up, I was the pickiest eater in my family, and just a picky eater in general. Now I am the most adventurous eater in my family. Take the child places where he can eat for now, and get a babysitter for those times when you're looking for bolder eating.

I'd have to say that An American Grill is not in the East Hanover area. Yes it's on route 10, yes it's not too far a ride, but I'd have to say that it's not in the immediate vicinity. That being said, if I were taking out a 6 year old in the East Hanover area, I'd consider the Macoroni Grill across from the movie theater. The food--while not high end--isn't too bad, and kids really love drawing on the table with crayons. There are adult and child options, and they are extremely family friendly. Sorry to hear about your lousy experience at Bogey's. I've never been, and after reading of your experience, I'm in no hurry.

Not to nitpick, but the Strip House is in Essex County. A decent place, but extremely inconsistent... I digress I've never been disappointed with a meal at Sammy's. The price may be high, but the meals are always excellent. I also vouch for their fries. I remember eating them by the fistfull when I was a kid! I still have to say though that while a great meal, you can do just as well, if not better for a comparable or lesser price at many steakhouses in NYC. Of course, as Rosie pointed out, all of the accompanyments are included at Sammy's whereas they are a la carte at most other places. I guess I've never really done a breakdown analysis as far as what you'd pay at other steakhouses for salad, fries, etc vs. a Sammy's meal. One could argue that part of the price at Sammy's is the atmosphere. I like the setup of ordering when you arrive, and then heading down to the bar area for cocktails and bar games. It's almost as if you have a more organized waiting room. You've already ordered. You're waiting for your table. But rather than just have a sitting area, you have a far more relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere for waiting. When you get your table, the meal is ready to go. I've never been to a restaurant set up quite like it.

Sammy's makes a great steak, but I'm sure you can get a comparable steak at other places for less money. Unless you live in that immediate area, I'd just as soon go to Sparks in NYC.

Where is White Rose? I know where there are several White Castles and I know where White Mana is, but I haven't even heard of White Rose... Also, I have to disagree about the ribs at Indigo Smoke. I just don't find them to be anything special. I think a BBQ place has to do better than that when it comes to ribs.

After doing about an hour's worth of research yesterday, I decided that my quest for a buger would take me to the Franklin Steakhouse in Nutley. I went with a basic burger with lettuce and tomato--though I opted for the 8oz. Angus burger. Side of fries with a couple of Bass Ales. I must say that while I have had better burgers in my lifetime, for a restaurant, the Franklin Steakhouse made one heck of a burger. I highly recommend it for anyone in need of a burger fix. Cooked to order at medium rare, it was juicy, perfectly cooked and delicious. Perfect size bun as well. As an aside, my wife had a BBQ platter with baby back ribs. They were quite tasty as well.

The night I went, the service was the picture of professionalism. I guess that the only snafu was that my father and I both ordered the duck, only to be told that there was only one duck remaining. It is a major pet peeve of mine that servers should tell you what dishes the restaurant is out of when the menus are distributed. I can't stand when my server comes over and asks if I've made my final decision only to tell me that the dish I've selected is "not in stock" or so to speak. Then, if the server is not gracious enough to give me a moment, I have to make a decision right on the spot. A HUGE restaurant no-no for me. (I realize my rant was a bit off topic, but this happened to me recently, and I needed to vent.)

I was there the same night, and I ordered the Foie Gras. First time I'd ever tried it, and it was the highlight dish of the evening. Absolutely delicious!