Lady S

I love The Bistro at The Ryland Inn. It has a typical Bistro menu, is much less expensive and is open to the charming bar. There is also a pianist who plays (at least on Thursday and Friday evenings when it's Bob Eagon ). If you call you might mention that it's your anniversay and can they give you one of the special tables in the corner of the room where the piano is. I find it very sophisticated and Urban, the only problem is some of the singles who come in to drink and hang around the piano.

JoSho address,120 Cedar Grove (just off Easton Ave) 732-469-8969. Haven't been for a very long time but used to like it very much.

The Bistro at The Ryland Inn has a beautiful and comfortable bar with a pianist playing show tunes. The food is good and prices reasonable, but you can also go just for a drink. The only night it's closed is Saturday.

We are going to The Ryland Inn. Still one of our favorites for special occasions, can't afford it on a regular basis. We go more frequently to The Bistro at Ryland Inn. Much less expensive, casual French Bistro menu, and a live pianist. The only time we didn't enjoy it was on a Friday when we wanted to listen to Bobby Eagon play and a group of mid singles stood around the piano singing. Still, they are allowed to have fun too. I suppose since Chatfield's closed there are not that many places in the area for singles to hang out. I understand Bernard's Inn bar is also popular with singles. I don't know how I got onto the subject of singles. Erase it if you want to.

Thank you for your post about City Streets in Morris Plains. A friend and I were thinking of going there for dinner, now we will go somewhere else instead. I also agree with Lou, Portofino's main attraction is that it is inexpensive. Next time try An American Grill on Route 10 in Randolph, it's not far from Morristown and the food is much better and so is the atmosphere..

I hate to say this but I don't really remember. We left the next day for Santa Fe and since we ate out all the time, those meals are uppermost in my mind. But I know two of us had pasta, one fish and the other steak. As I said before the food isn't bad, just not wonderful enough to get over the atmosphere. It has become more of a bar/restaurant than a fine dining restaurant. It will probably do quite well, after all the Famished Frog just around the corner is always full, and the food at Orzo is better even though the atmosphere is just as casual. Perhaps this is what Morristown really needs another casual restaurant. Although personally I think we could do with a few really good upscale restaurants. The only ones in the town at the moment are Pierre's (which I like) and The Grand Cafe which has been getting mixed reviews for the food and service lately.

I went for dinner at Orzo a couple of weeks ago with three friends. It is far more casual than previous restaurants in that location (I also loved 10 Square and Zod. I even liked Divino). It is more of a bar with tables. No cloths. casual Italian food. Reasonable price, not bad quality, but I don't find it interesting enough to return. More because of the atmosphere than the food. A definate drop in quality.

Try Merry Makers in Long Branch. We bought a day at the beach for 6 people at one of the charity balls and went in July. It is very good, and they do large parties and weddings. Highly recommended. I'm thinking of hiring them for a large party later this year.

You might also try Atlantic County College near Atlantic City. They have a very strong Chef program and so does Hudson County Community College. They should both have test kitchens, but I don't know if they are open to the public.

Great report. Thank you, I think it's time to try it again.

Grand Cafe is very high powered and very expensive. Service should be good (usually is) Back room is pink belle epoque and quite feminine, front room is panelled - has a fireplace and piano on weekends. Very masculine, tables not bad. There are also a few tables in the outside alley (don't know why anyone would want to eat there). Food is unreliable. I have had very good meals (not recently) and very mediocre meals (recently). Go for the atmosphere not for the food. Although if you stay with plain dishes it will probably be allright. Good luck.

I am looking for a place to have dinner on St Patrick's Day. Ten of us usually get together. There don't seem to be many places where they do a real 'Irish' dinner - corned beef and cabbage for instance, perhaps with entertainment. The Quiet Man in Dover doesn't take reservations and that's essential. We have tried the Grand Cafe in Morristown in the past because they have Irish dancing, but we would like a change. Please help.

I agree with all of you about Mothers Day, Valentines Day etc. But Valentines Day is also my Wedding Anniversary. (Silly girl, I thought he would never be able to forget our anniversay, not realizing that everone else wants to go out on the same evening). We have spent Valentines Day in Paris, London, Hong Kong, New York, Mauii, Tokyo, New Jersey, Melbourne and several times in front of the fire with a good meal Champagne and Vintage Port for me, Single Malt Scotch for him (25 year old Macallan). The only problem is that I am the only one who cooks - and cleans up .

Yes, I really do believe it's a coincidence. I feel the same way as you when I read the Peoples Chocie awards, however, I also know for a fact that it is not influenced by the people working at the magazine. Unfortunately, I suppose that the people who vote in this poll also happen to be the people who go to the Manor and other restaurants that appear as winners on a regular basis, rather than the restaurants you or I may prefer. The only thing to do is to persuade all of your friends and all egullet members to vote. Perhaps then we will see some of the restaurant we think are the best.

We are going to The Ryland Inn, and expect to have a wonderful meal.

Whispers in Spring Lake requires a jacket. Personally I like to dress appropriately when I go to a restaurant. If it is very casual then I will dress casually, but if the restaurant is upscale then I dress accordingly and like to see men dressed properly also. Just as an upscale restaurant should have good food, good wine list and good service, they should also have a clientelle that dress properly. I'm European and perhaps that makes a difference. What I don't agree with and never did is the stupid practice of making a man wear either a jacket or tie that they keep in the back of the restaurant that many other men have worn. Restaurants should inform people when they make a reservation if there is a dress code, then the client can decide if he (it's rarely a woman) wants to eat in that restaurant or go somewhere without a dress code.

Claude's. Hank wanted to know what happened to Claude. I believe he is the chef owner of Chef's Table in Franklin Lakes. It is a very good, low key French restaurant, Not much atmosphere (BYO) good food, worth a trip. I think his wife and son are involved in the restaurant also.

Yes I've been to Marique's. It isn't French it's Continental. Food average quality and price. I have friends who like it very much, but I don't care for it. There are many other restaurants within a ten minute drive that are much better. Even more if you are willing to drive 1/2 hour. Opah Grill in Peapack Gladstone and Limestone cafe also in Peapack Gladstone are much better and only ten minutes away. If you are looking for a French restaurant in the area try Silver Springs Farm in Flanders (20 minutes form Mendham). Good luck. :

I agree with everyone who has posted. This is not a New Jersey problem at all. I have eaten in restaurants around the world, and what is different in Hong Kong is not necessarily different in Paris. Each country and each town or city has their own specialities. What we may think is unusual may not be unusual in London or Melbourne. .Perhaps we expect our restaurants to be global, and I don't know of one restaurant in any city in any country in the world that is "different" to anyone who might eat there. I think we should stop putting New Jersey down, and appreciate what we have. I love the Ryland Inn and Restaurant Nicholas, and The Brnards Inn where I had a very good dinner this evening, but they are no more typical New Jersey restaurants that L'espinasse or Gramercy Tavern is typical New York, or Le Caprice, Gordon Ramsey or Le Gavroche in London are typically English, or that Taillevent or Ambroisie or Alain Ducasse in Paris are typically French restaurants. Let's not try to expect all restaurants to be like some of the three star Michelin which are basically alike one another, but not typical of the countries where they are located. They are more typical of the Critics, than the regular people who like to dine out at good restaurants with good service.

John Foy used to own Le Delice in Whippany. It was very well rated and attended. Food ranged from excellent to mediocre and so did the service. But it was very, very popular none the less. It was in a bright pink building the color of Pepto Bismal, and there were always beautiful flowers inside.

I've been to Lorenzo's Tomato Pie in Trenton. It's a Pizza parlor, not a true restaurant. There are a few tables, but basically they just serve pizza. People sometimes take cards and play while they're waiting for their pizza to be cooked. It has been there for many many years, and no it doesn't have a bathroom, nor do they serve anything to drink, not even soda. Is this a restaurant? Karla Cook gave it the same rating she gave The Frog and The Peach in New Brunswick!!! Go figure

Hasmi. I had lunch with a French coleague and dinner with a friend at Le Caprice in the last two weeks. In each case the food was good, but not outstanding. Service excellent, wine list decent, and great Cosmopolitans. The food is not unusual, but is usually well prepared. I sometimes have two appetizers because they are often more interesting than the main courses. Good luck and Bon Apetit

I too was surprised by Karla Cook's review. Not because she only gave a very good, it is after all an opinion and she is entitled to hers, but because she stated that she was with a party of 7. How can anyone possibly taste each dish and still find the dish in question in perfect condition. Simply to examine each plate to see the arrangement takes time, let alone taste every element on every dish. The last three would surely be cold and possibly congealed. Perhaps she made a mistake in the number of people with her, or possibly she asked their opinion instead of tasting everything herself. What do you all think? The New York Times Jersey section used to give stars. It changed about 15 years ago because the powers that be in Manhattan thought that people might confuse the stars given to restaurants in New Jersey with their so much better Manhattan counterparts. (Their words not mine, and implied rather than stated) Incidentally, all of the regionals, Westchester, Long Island and Conecticut are not allowed to give stars anymore.

I went to After Athens a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it very much. The Greek food is not bad, but it's the total atmosphere that I found quite charming. Greek friends who took me loved it. There is usually music, Greek on weeknights and jazz on weekends. I will definately go again and take friends just because I like the atmosphere.

Have you tried Cafe Riviera on Sussex Turnpiike in Randolph. Food good, atmosphere not great, serve very good. Very friendly place. Italian run by Albanians (seems to be happening a lot)