Jeff L

I would second Origin. Very well executed Thai food but it gets very crowded and somewhat loud on weekend nights.

Beg to differ on Pete Lorenzo's food quality, not near what it once was in my view. The smoking ban might be the only reason to make me ever go back. The restaurant you visited was probably the Homestead Inn on Kuser Road by your description. It is known locally as Chick and Nello's and sadly this is just another example of a place not living up to its storied past. I was a regular at both places for many years until the food slipped so much I couldn't go back to either. The Homestead lost their chef of many years, Primo a long while back and the kitchen is being handled by an array of Ecuadorian chefs now I am told. While certain things on the non existant menu remain well executed, most don't. This is indeed a clubby joint with many in attendance looking just like the faces you saw this week at the RNC.

Trenton isn't near as bad as the papers would have you believe and there are quite a few very good ethnic places that fly under the radar. Granted, it's not like it was back when I was a kid but it's not too rough and tumble unless you venture into North Trenton then all bets are off.

Not really. For such a cosmopolitan town, there is a dearth of really good restos. The only one that would fit op's bill would be Lahiere and that's just ok French food and way too pretentious.

Katie is right. There is no fine dining in Trenton proper and I wouldn't really consider Pete Lorenzo's fine dining either. As I posted elsewhere, my most recent experiences here have been way off the mark with unremarable meals not at all like it used to be. She is also right about Delorenzo's tomato pies but of course this is a place you want to go to have the best pizza known to man and not for the atmosphere (Just had dinner here last Friday, yum) I have been pleased with Erini's at 1140 River Road in Ewing, NJ which is a short ride from Trenton. http://www.erinirestaurant.com/home.html Great seafood and if the weather is nice, lovely alfresco dining on the patio. I've had dinner here about a half dozen times, all quite good. It has had various incarnations, most recently Diamonds on the Waterfront.

Is this really your only criteria? Do you care about food quality, presentation, service, etc. or just the price and look of a place?

As you are coming in Via EWR, I would second the suggestion of visiting the Ironbound neighborhood for really great Portuguese food. There are quite a few threads on this board but I would suggest Iberia although there are other really great places too. It's a rather self contained neighborhood since you have GPS, shouldn't be a problem to locate from the airport. http://www.iberiarestaurants.com/home_IP/homepg.htm

Rich, charter a bus to Robbinsville.

We really disliked Brasilia Grill last winter when a bunch of us went. It is too cafeteria like and the food was undewhelming. One of the things I most love about Rodizio is carefully and well salted meat. This place had none of that.Service left a lot to be desired also. I think Picanha on Castor Ave in Philly is superior in just about every measure although it's unlikely you'll be in that vicinity. A better pick I think would be Spain, or Iberia as Rich suggested. Both are excellent

Does anyone know where I can get transplants or the tomato's themselves locally? These are supposed to be the tomato of my youth that I couldn't get enough of. You know, years ago how you could slice a Jersey tomato and it would be so juicy and wonderful that you couldn't wait to eat one whole? Well, Rutgers University claims to have brought back this delight that has been commercially unavailable for over 20 years. Their website is here but none of the places in NJ have them and the one place in PA is too far. http://njfarmfresh.rutgers.edu/JerseyTomato.html

More things on the menu you'd try? What could be left? Once again, excellent pics, ditto the commentary

that might be because it's closed

I heard on the local news that they plan on reopening. This place is always busy and I'm wondering how they could let the tax thing go so long.

I was going to post something here last night but not having eaten at the place made me less inclined to do so. I know Bobby V and while he is a decent enough guy, I'd steer way clear of any place he's affiliated with. He had his own joint for a while in the burg and has worked at quite a few places. He's just a bit creepy and over the top to me and usually the food at places he's been involved with has been mediocre. I was also going to say that the menu looked really boring and not particularly inventive. It's too bad really about the dearth of a really great steakhouse or even a place which makes a really great steak in the Trenton/Hamilton area. As I posted elsewhere, Lorenzo's was a long time favorite of ours but I would never go back again due to a startling lack of qualityi n the steaks and chops. Really lovely way they handled your email though. You might think that the server or manager would be nice enough to tell you about the changes at the time of ordering.

This is exactly how to review a restaurant where the poster knows or has a relationship with an owner. Full disclosure, nicely done Jeff, can't wait to try it. I know I'll have the same problem with Tap being so nearby.

They are really excellent. I brought home a bunch recently and gave some to a buddy's dad who grew up in the Port Richmond area and he asked me how they got his grandmother's recipe! If you do try them, stay away from the frozen ones and ask them to make them fresh for you. They cost about $1.50 each, I usually get 20 of them

I'd certainly be up for that, but it would have to be on a Sunday or Tuesday so I could make it. They're closed Mondays, my other night off. Anytime Sunday or Tuesday from 7/27 onward. Not that it's all about me or anything. ← Some upcoming Tuesday might work for me, I'd like to try it based on the comments

Aside from the sauce, how do these compare with Krakus market fresh stuffed cabbage?

They have indoor seating as well

This is one of the current Chairmans Selection: Bodegas Olivares Monastrell 2006 PLCB Price: $11.99 *Quoted Price: $9.00 to $13.00 I'm sorry but wasn't the whole idea behind the Chairmans Selection Program about leveraging the state's huge buying power to bring deep discounts and introduce wines at price points that would entice first time buyers and please wine lovers in PA?

We've always been pleased with Cramers Bakery in Yardley. It's not the best but surely way better than supermarket stuff. Matter of fact, I'll be there Friday to pick up a cake for our youngest daughter's party who just turned 21 yesterday. I know you live in Holland and it's pretty close by, I think you will like it. Cramers Bakery (215) 493-2760 16 E Afton Ave, Yardley, PA

I might just take a look if we end up going down to Cape May this summer. I take 55 all the way down when we go. It's not likely I'd drive out there unless it was on the way to somewhere else. Is that where you were heading Katie?

I just finished cutting about 15 lbs of really nice split hickory logs from Smokin Dude's at the BBQ event I posted about upthread. I only have a Weber kettle and they were too big to put in that so I fired up my miter saw for the heavy lifting. I'll report back after my first opportunity to use it in my smoker. My driveway is quite a mess, hopin for a big wind to blow all the sawdust away

I really love Criniti's too as well as Scannichio's. Can't speak about the others as I haven't been.

From the virtual weber bullet, scroll down to see each wood type. This isn't the last word on smoking wood but I've used it with great success. That said, I still prefer Hickory and that is just my personal preference. Oak imparts a more subtle smokiness. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/woods.html