hitmanoo

Glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery, Fink. Hope you're back to 100% ASAP. My only wish is that I'd heard of your place earlier. I had my first dine-in experience about a week before you went to the current format. Absolute marvelous BBQ. As for anyone considering Fink's for Thanksgiving, we ordered a deep fried turkey for a bachelor party, and it had to be one of the juiciest, most succulent turkeys I've ever eaten. Truly great stuff!

I actually scanned the Indigo Smoke menu, which I'd be happy to post... If only somebody could help me to do so. To clarify, I need to learn how to add a picture to my post. A feature I've seen in other posts, though I'm not sure how to do so myself.

Nice, a new restaurant to explore. I think they'll find, especially in the summer months, that parking is the major problem with having a restaurant at that location. With the ice cream parlor in the strip mall (mark and julie's I think), that location tends to get loaded up with cars.

Actually, to be helpful, there is a decent deli/grocery store in Upper montclair around the area where Park Ave and Watchung Ave intersect. It's actually on Watchung, across the street from a gym and a video store. Decent sandwiches. Not spectacular, but pretty good.

yeah!

I live in West Orange, and I'm hoping to find a local sub shop that really excels. Something along the line of Cosmos in Hackensack.

Schmooty and I went to the Belmont last night, and we were not disappointed. We got there at about 8, and it was packed for a Wed night. I'd say we waited about 30-45 minutes for a table. Thankfully, it's usually easier to get a table for 2 than 4 or more. After the standard salad, we started with the clams oregenato. Very tasty. The do this dish very well, and as Schmooty said, this dish is so much better when it's served little-neck style, as opposed to the chopped clams in the giant shell. For entres, we had the Savoy and the Murphy. Two great dishes that are very different, and compliment each other well. The Savoy is such a simple dish, in that it is simply chicken infued with balsamic vinegar. No vegetable accompanyment. So delicious. The Murphy is quite different. Mushroom, onions and peppers, cooked perfectly with so much flavor. The chicken is almost secondary in this dish. Interestingly, they were out of hot peppers last night, so we had our Murphy with sweet peppers only. I really enjoyed it. Makes me want to go back soon while it's still fresh on my palate so I can do a comparison of the dish with hot peppers. Ordered a beer and a seltzer. Total bill $43 + $10 tip. You really can't get a better meal for $25 per person. So reasonable, and so delicious. No wonder this place was so packed on a weeknight. By 9:00, the crowd had died down, and there was a minimal wait for a table, if any wait at all. I'd say either arive at 7 by the latest, or come at 9. 7-9 is obviously prime time here, and it's only tougher on the weekend. Also, a subtle tip to John (the maitre d) never hurts to get you a table a little sooner. John doesn't write down a list, and it's so crowded in there that things get confusing. Who's quite sure if the party seated ahead of you actually arived first, or if they just gave a little love to John?

Holsten's and old fashioned ice cream parlors like it are a dying breed. The ice cream at Holsten's is SOOOOO tasty. Applegate Farms is good, but it just doesn't have that certain something. Mass produced places like Cold Stone Creamery, Carvel, Hagen Daz, etc just dont' have that special homemade taste. The best ice cream is made with love!

I'm actually considering going there tonight, but you never know... Stretch was the original chef at the Belmont Tavern. Now his granddaughter is running the show and preparing all of the dishes. Stretch has been dead for years. I actually ate the last meal Stretch ever prepared at the Belmont, as a youngster, many years ago. Pork chops on a hot summer day, and he practically threw a fit in the kitchen. After that, he was asked not to do the cooking anymore, go figure. As for the Belmont, the best Ap is the Shrimp Beeps. Served with a nice spicy marinara sauce, it's sure to clear the sinuses. As for the main dishes, the Chicken Savoy is their signature dish--in fact, it was actually invented by Stretch and debuted the Belmont. The Chicken Murphy is also solid, and the cavetelli w/ pot cheese also gets rave reviews. The Belmont is not a place for decor, service or atmosphere. There is not an extensive menu, but their highlight dishes are excellent. When you can thrive as a restauant with one or two dishes being your bread and butter, you know that those dishes are kick-ass. On a sidenote, Tommy... didn't you mock me when I recommended the Belmont in the past? I'm very happy that you enjoyed your experience there, as it is one of my all time favorites!

I completely agree. Outside of maybe the Whitehouse in Atlantic City, Cosmos makes the best Sub I've ever eaten. I had the roastbeef sub with lettuce, tomato, and roasted red pepper--a little salt and pepper, and a generous portion of mustard. OUTSTANDING. Another fine combo was turkey breast and genoa salami. Cosmo gets the ratio perfect. From the fresh Italian bread, to the top quality cold cuts, Cosmo gets the job done. And at $5.50 for a sandwich, you're not going to find better value anywhere.

Do you have an address for Zen? I'm sure I'll check it out pretty soon.

I have to disagree. PG may be a tad more expensive than some of the run of the mill eateries in chinatown, but it is still so affordable when compared to the standard price of a meal in Manhattan. I haven't been to PG in too long, but I'm psyched to have made plans to go back tonight. I'm not sure of other good restaurants where a group of people can go to dine, have a plethora of dishes to share, and wind up spending about $20 per person. And at that price, I've never left unsatisfied, or not feeling like I've eaten my fill. As far as Chinese food goes in Manhattan, PG may not be considered "fine dining," but the food is always spectacular. The staff goes out of their way to help you order. They steer you towards foods that they know through experience will be palatable to the clientelle ordering the dishes. They don't screw you by ordering too much or too little. Friendly staff, great food, helpful service, and for an average of $20 per person. You really can't do better than Phoenix Garden for a casual Chinese dinner. note: part of what helps to keep the price down is that PG is BYOB Recommended dishes: Aps: Ribs Salt & Pepper Shrimp Main Dishes Pork Chops Peking Style Crispy Duck

Personally, I think Applegate Farms is a bit overrated when it comes to ice cream. I much prefer the Ice Cream at Holsten's on Broad St in Bloomfield. Maybe Holsten's doesn't have the flavor variety that Applegate's has, but what they do serve, to me, is a superior ice cream.

Finally got to dine at An American Grill last night. This restaurant did not disappoint. I had the Clams and Mussels New Orleans for an Ap. The highlight of this dish was the broth. I could have stuffed myself on bread, just dipping into the broth after the shells were empty. I also tried the poached pear. Never had poached fruit before. There was a very interesting flavor, almost like that of a cinnamon apple. Not sure if I liked this one, but the flavor was just so unique. My wife had a Caesar salad. The dressing, while tasty, was overdone. I felt the salad was a bit drowned, proving you can have too much of a good thing. A little less dressing would really be an improvement. Of the entres we tried, the highlight by far was the braised short ribs. In general, I'm more of a fan of pork ribs, but these beef ribs were done to perfection. I thought that they were good last night, but they were even better today. I'm glad someone else ordered them, as I probably would have finished them off last night. They were served with a mushroom rissoto and were so incredibly tender. Served off the bone, the knife was practically unnecessary. I ordered a lamb chop. I forget exactly what it was encrusted in--almost tasted breaded. They were good, but not outstanding. They were cooked properly, but just not the best lamb chops I've had. Perhaps they were overshadowed by the short ribs, or maybe I wasn't a fan of the type of encrusting... Tasty, not delicious. The last dish I tried was a parmesan encrusted sea scallop, and shrimp dish. This was a light and refreshing dish. The cheese added a nice contrast of flavor to the scallop. I'm not a huge fan of cheese in general, but I enjoyed this dish. Unfortunately, my father who was with us does not really believe in sharing food, so I was unable to sample his dishes. He was very happy with his food as well. He ordered the twin fillet mignons, and for an appetizer, the wild mushroom, fresh mozzarella and hot sausage puff. He must have been pleased, as he left nothing but plate. I'm sure to go back to this restaurant to sample some more dishes. I think I'd like to try more of the New Orleans style dishes, as my personal favorite, aside from the short ribs special, was the clams and mussels new orleans. This menu seems to feature several n'orlans style dishes, so I'm assuming that this is a real strength of the restaurant. I'd love to go back for a second try.

I recently ate at Sakana on South Orange Ave in South Orange (at the corner of Prospect St). I dined there twice actually. 2 lunches, on 2 fridays, a week apart--solo style. Very small, with a 6 stool sushi bar, and about 5 or 6 tables. The fish was fresh and tasty. I had a spider roll, eel sushi, a rainbow roll, and spicy tuna. All were quite tasty and well prepared. While I know that there is so much more to try, there was only so much I could try by myself on a lunch break. The highlight by far was the spicy tuna. Many places serve a spicy tuna that has a mild zing, but this had a pleasant kick to it. I gave respect to the chef, and both he and the waiter were happy with my comments, and very friendly. The Miso soup starter was tasty as well. My server took the time to teach me a lesson I had not yet learned in my sushi dining experience. The pickled ginger is served not so much to enhance the flavor, but rather to clense the palate. He explained that by taking a taste of the ginger between pieces, that the different tastes and flavors of the varying fish could be better distinguished and enjoyed. I work nearby, and I can see myself becoming a friday lunch regular at Sakana. Tasty fresh sushi, and friendly service is a winning combo. Nothing extravagant as far as menu or decor, but a nice place to get some down home sushi. Sakana Sushi Japanese Restaurant 134 S. Orange Ave, S. Orange, NJ 07079 (973) 763-3585 M-T 11:45-10 F 11:45-11 S 3-11 Closed Sunday

Very interesting site... "After approximately 18 months to 2 years, the Wasabi plants will be ready for harvest. " It's no wonder that the root is so hard to find, and also so expensive. According to the site, all too often, the wasabi we are served is just horseradish with green coloring.

I tried that once, but I guess there was a communication barrier. They smiled at me politely, and gave me an extra take out cup of wasabi paste. I made inquiries at Kam Man in East Hanover, but had no luck.

Not quite on topic, but does anyone know of an Asian store or market where I would be able to purchase some actual wasabi root?

Richie's is in Montclair, right near the Walnut St. train station.

Ah, an American Grill! I've heard good things about your place. Congrats! My friend had mentioned it to me several times, but we have not yet had a chance to check it out. I'm looking forward to it! The extensive menu looks pretty darn good... I may have to make a couple of trips!

Lreda, I've read a few of your posts, and I've seen you mention your place. I assume you're not trying to take advantage of this forum to advertise you're own place, but I've become curious. Which place is yours, and where is it located?

Not really comparing Richie's to the Striphouse. Just saying that you get better consistancy, and better value for your dollar. When everything goes right, the Striphouse is just out of this world. However, when spend over $150 on dinner for 2 you expect it to be exceptional everytime. What distinguishes a top steakhouse from the average steakhouse is consistant excellence. Until the Striphouse manages that in terms of both service and food, they'll fail in their effort to be a "top" steakhouse. My mentioning of Richies was only to say that they are consistant. I know what I'll be getting each time I go there, which hasn't been the case for the Striphouse.

mmm... Sparks I digress While I won't get into a review of steakhouses I've dined at in NJ, I will mention a bit about the Striphouse in Livingston. I've eaten at the Striphouse about 10 times. The service, while inconsistant, ranges from excellent to adequate. I've never had "bad" service there. There have been times where the service has been exceptional, and times where it hasn't been a highlight. My problem with the Striphouse has been the food. The food has been just as inconsistant as the service, ranging from delicious to edible. In this case, there is no excuse. For their prices, the food must be consistantly good, if not excellent. The first time we dined their, we had the porterhouse for two, which was just heavenly. A succulant medium rare, cooked to perfection. Melt in your mouth perfection. However, we ordered that porterhouse at least 2 other times, and it was disappointing. On my most recent trip, I ordered the lamb chops, medium rare. When I received them, they could have used a few more minutes to reach rare. They were fatty and chewy. My friend, and fellow egullet member, schmooty, could have taught them a thing or two about preparing lamb chops. Don't get me wrong, I've had many an outstanding meal at the Striphouse. I'd just like to see them reach a level of consistant excellence, especially for the money they are charging. In addition, the meals were superior when we first started going their than they've been recently. Believe me, I will think twice about returning to the Striphouse. I'd rather spend a little less for a better steak at Richie Cecere's

Ok, Ok, admittedly, I was a bit overadamant about my disappointment in Tratoria Fresco that I just threw out a group of restaurants that I enjoyed more. We were treated so poorly that the food, which I truly didn't find to be splendid, wasn't good enough to rescue them. - Tommy, I've had such better food and service from the Belmont Tavern, which serves traditional, old school Italian. The menu may be limited, and the place may be a dive, but the food hits home. - Haven't been to Bellisimo's in quite some time so it my review is based on pleasant memories. - Rosie, I have been to the new location of Primavera. The setting is a bit nicer. Probably just due to the newness of it more than anything. To be honest, same exact thing, just a quarter of a mile down the street. It has its own separate entrance. You'd hardly know it was attached to a hotel.

My friend just emailed me to suggest this restaurant, and I must say: We were there on Mon night. This restaurant is completely overrated. The prices were high, the portions small. The service below average and unattentive. The waiter recommended a dish to me that, while well done for what it was (beef short ribs) was not really that great a dish. The accompanyment and garnish were lacking. He gave such hype to this dish, and not only did it not live up to the hype, it was flat out disappointing. I called in the early afternoon to make a reservation, and when we arrived, they said that I had never called to leave a reservation. In fact, the hostess was flat out rude to us. To make matters worse, the hostess sat us and took our drink order. Then another waiter took over, gave us one of the 3 drinks we ordered and disappeared for about 10 minutes. We had to grab hold of him as he was passing by to get the rest of our beverages. We went there when it was under different management years ago, called Oggi's--for my birthday. NIGHTMARE. In fact, my mother actually got into an argument with the staff, after they ignored us for about 15 minutes, while hiding in the kitchen. My mother, completely out of character, actually went in to the kitchen to voice her mind. It was a disaster. Being open minded, I decidet that we'd give it another chance. So, we went last year, and it was a delight. However, after our third trip on Monday I don't think I'll ever go back. There are too many restaurants around that have food that is just as good or better; priced more reasonably; and have a friendlier, more attentive staff. Amazing how terrible service can make decent food irrelevent. Better Italian Restaurants in the area: Libretti's, Orange Luigi's, East Hanover Benvenuti, East Hanover Belmont Tavern, Bloomfield Bellisimo's, Little Falls Primavera, West Orange ...just to name a few off the top of my head.