Montclairite

Yep, Gimme Jimmy's certainly was poorly run after the new owners took over; stopped going there after tasting the "improved" baked goods offerings. I'm not surprised the went out of business; it's just the way all the fixtures disappeared overnight that I found so peculiar. I really liked it under previous management.

Within the past month, two eating establishments have disappeared overnight; open one day and closed the next. One is Gimmee Jimmy's on Church Street in Montclair; the other is Mr Chu's Vegetarian Chinese at Broadway Square (Bloomfield & Passaic Aves) in West Caldwell. Anyone with any clue about either?

TOPPING No one been to Southern Puglia aka the Salento?

I'm in the midst of planning a trip to a part of Italy I've never visited, Puglia. The trip would be in late October through first week in November. More specifically, after about a week in Rome, I plan to drive down to Matera (Basilicata) and spend a couple of nights, then spend a week based in the city of Lecce (the Salento peninsula). No recent recommendations here. Any ideas for great vegetarian meals? (Fish to, but not seafood.) I may head to Gallipoli, etc.

Does anyone know if Gina's Bakery on Walnut Street in Montclair has changed hands? Ever since their recent renovation, I see different people behind the counter.

I haven't been to Blu, but I did try Next Door a few weeks ago for lunch. I had ok pasta, somewhat bland. I live in the neighborhood, and Iwouldn't say I would avoid the place, but I wouldn't choose to have lunch there again unless the person I was with specifically wanted to try it.

The Whole Foods in West Orange has a nice selection of soups in their huge takeout section. Also, Sandwich Theory (formerly the Cheese Shop) on Valley Road in Upper Montclair has two or three soups every day.

Terrible service at Toast is putting it mildly; not just slow but chaotic. The food is adequate, as long as you don't want a breakfast pastry. Coffee orders confused them. That's about it. But then again, I love the sandwiches at Cianci, and you get the feeling that someone is actually running that restaurant. That would be one of my choices for lunch if the limited Raymond's weekend brunch menu doesn't suit. I don't think Bluestone is open for lunch weekends.

Raymond's serves their brunch menu until about 2:30. Then they close and re-open for dinner several hours later.

I was there last night for the first time in at least a year, and do not plan to return. The food is decent, not great, but the service is amateurish. Just a few examples: No one greeted us at the door, the waiter asked us if we were ready to order nearly immediately, as my friend had put her menu down momentarily to put on her glasses. Our waiter, clearly overworked, never volunteered to refill my water glass, and so on. This waiter really needed roller skates as he was taking orders, bringing food, making espresso drinks, and so on. A female employee seemed to have no other job than slowly walking around (NOT looking at the tables to see if anything was needed) and folding silverware into napkins. After waiting some time for someone to notice our signals that we wanted our check and finally give us our check, we waited 20 minutes for someone to take our check and credit card. The owner needs to train his/her staff, get a few busboys, maybe take the espresso responsibility away from the wait staff, get a greeter at the door, etc. And of course the layout (very long service counter running from front to back of restaurant) does not help.

IMHO, Holsten's is a million times better (roughly) than Applegate, and I've been eating both for a hundred years (smoothly). Applegate has wonderful flavors, but Holsten's ice cream is much creamier. Their chocolate chocolate chunk is amazing.

Thanks, all. Curlz, I'll try Angelbeck's first, as it's just a few blocks from home. I've seen that s tore through various stages in it's life .Haven't tried Amato yet, I know they're good but I like a liquor store that's a bit more crowded with bottles. As for the spritzer --- think it's made with Aperol and prosecco. And least that's what I'm aiming for.

I understand that Aperol, an Italian aperitivo with low alcohol content, is now available in the US. Anyone know where it can be bought in the general Essex or Passaic county area? Thanks

Evergreen was vegetarian friendly, at least originally. But they've been out of business for a couple of years. An Italian restaurant now occupies that space.

I have to say that I stopped going there years ago because the food was often not hot (when it was supposed to be) and the service was lackadaisical. (But as I said, I've not been there in years and years.)

I know that some of the kosher restaurants in NY are open for Passover. But I can't think of any offhand in NJ that are definitely open. The kosher restaurants that I know of are Mosaica in Maplewood (Vauxhall Rd), and the Moshavi on Livingston Avenue in Livingston. What about some of the kosher restaurants on Cedar Lane in Teaneck? Of course there would only be a few days when these would be open ---- Sunday through Tuesday lunch. Hope this helps.

As above, from Tommy and Joanne. Telling restaurant owner about unpleasant experiences has long been an effective way to handle this. Not clear that the complaining diner who experienced the rudeness from the staff did this.

I'm an infrequent poster here, but I love Osteria Giotto. In fact I was just there last night for the first time in a couple of months, and all was wonderful. Food, service, etc. I'd like to point out what sometimes happens on this and other message boards --- inches and inches of space are taken up by a single diner's complaint, followed by various discussions of the complaint. Nothing to be done about it, just an observation.

I also have only good things to say about Osteria Giotto: Reliably wonderful food and a nice relaxed atmosphere. They have a semi-freddo dessert that is irresistible.

Yes, that is pretty funny. There is a very important reason that I am "Montcairite" and not "Montclairite": When I first joined egullet, my finger slipped and missed the "l". I tried to correct my name, but was unable to figure out how to do it. As I've posted only a couple of dozen times in the year or two that since I joined, I guess I forgot all about it. Yes, Montcairite is indeed a Montclairite, and has been since before there were ANY restaurants in Montclair (except the late and unlamented Wedgwood Cafeteria). UPDATE: Thanks to a note from a member, and the aid of an administrator, I am now "Montclairite"

The phrase "me and my dining companions" doesn't bug you but "you guys" does??? Funny, but it's the reverse for me. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) M

I cannot figure out when they are open! Are they still open for lunch on S. Fullerton? I could swear that when I walked by yesterday midafternoon they were closed. So have they changed their menu back? I thought they had switched to pizza and panini, as in their uptown (Upper Montclair, Bellevue Ave) bakery. And that they were to be open all day, as uptown. They are wonderful people, and I wish them all the success possible, but until they have kept a consistent schedule for a couple of weeks I will not plan ahead to dine there.

Walnut Street, Montclair

Actually, they use soybean oil, according to the sign now in the window.

That's what I was wondering; I've eaten at the one in Teaneck several times, but couldn't believe that's what was comiing to Montclair, which does not have the observant Jewish population to draw on. (I've lived less than a mile from Valley & Lorraine for over 30 years.) I for one am looking forward to it. Actually, I don't think that the Teaneck location is any longer considered kosher, strictly speaking, as it is no longer supervised, but I may be wrong here.