RockADS21

I agree with those who feel that Valentine's day is corny and greeting-card store driven and probably not the ideal day to dine out, but I also think there is still somewhat of a romantic touch to the dining experiance on the day. We sometimes go out - more often stay home but when we do go out we normally like to go to a place that we had previously been on a "regular" night to see what type of menu they offer among other things that you typicaly wouldnt see. That is why we chose Pierre's this year - as the last time we were there was probably a year ago and since the chef tinkers with the menu there daily I am sure he will come up with something interesting for that day...

Rosie - I have always enjoyed Rockafella's(formerly Kelly's on the Inlet) in Point Pleasant. The food is very good - great view and they have dining rooms both up and downstairs so I am sure that they could accomadate a private lunch especially if it is offseason. They have a sister restaurant also called Rockafellas in Toms River which dosent have the size. Rockafella's Clam Bar & Grille 17 Inlet Drive Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 (732) 714-1717

Paul makes a good point - by the time you have coffee, dessert and eventually leave, you have spent a good amount of time sobering up. Also drinking while eating a meal will not get you nearly as looped as drinking without eating(no scientific proof here - but plenty of testing both ends of this theory). On the other hand I generally like to finish my meal by accompanying dessert and coffee with a cordial or port - so...

Generally I dont believe that restaurants charge-back servers for the credit card service charges - but who knows maybe there are some out there who do. I handle two large restaurants in NYC and they do not. The fee is normally between 2 & 4 percent of the total charge amount and unless I am mistaken this is generally absorbed by the restaurant and you said - indirectly always by the patron.

The NJ limit is still .10

Stay between the lines - the lines are your friend.

This is quite simply extreme laziness on the part of the restaurant as the only amount that gets reported to the credit card company is the total. They are simply trying to avoid having to close out their servers by tracking their tips. I for one am generally not a pain in the ass on most things but matters such as this are more about principal - I would have said something - not to the server because I am certain that they have nothing to do with it but to a manager. Restaurants need to understand that the customers ARE their business and that they should be the least inconvienienced of everyone involved!

One of the bigger dining out holidays of the year is just around the corner - I was interested in where everone is planning on going. Most places have a special/limited menu from my experiances. I will be taking the wife to Pierre's in Morristown.

Chicken savoy is done in a balsamic vinegar sauce with garlic, herbs and parmesean...trust me it is worth a trip for this dish alone...they have wine(full bar most likely packed with Soprano types watching whichever game they happen to have money riding on) but from what I recall a limited selection, slightly more sophisticated then what you described...I'm sure you'll find a Ruffino Chianti if nothing else...Belmont Tavern is on Bloomfield Ave. in Belleville...it is where the original Stretch was the chef many years ago and the savoy was his specialty....

Tommy - The Belmont is a dive with great food. If you seek service and/or atmosphere definitely go elsewhere! They serve everything family style and it isn't just hype - the chicken savoy is really that great! Served on the bone - it is so mouthwatering you could skip the chicken and just have the sauce!

Is it me or does The Ledger give every restaurant a favorable or at least above average review? I dont mean to suggest that they should completely knock places but at some point some reviewer would have to just simply not enjoy a place correct? As we all know there are ways to say thumbs down about a restaurant without writing "this place sucks"...it strikes me as if they never feel that anyplace was not up to par...and quite frankly I dont know that they need to go beyond the above list to find a few!

I dont know if location matters to you as you initially mentioned places that are approx. 20-30 minutes from each other...but as other choices I would concur with Stage House, Scalini Fedeli and Serenade and I would also add The Bernards Inn...all very impressive places with top notch cuisine...Enjoy!

I second that!!!

This may be the most favorable thread that I have ever read on a place - sounds like a must try to me!

Throughout Essex County and most of the greater tri-state alcohol circuit I concur, "wife-beater" has replaced the formerly more accepted "ginny tee".

There is a place better than New Jersey?

Ralph's in Nutley is by far the best pizza I have ever had - as I have mentioned pages ago in this thread...I can not put into words how great a pie from there is but just thinking about it makes me want to drive back to my former hometown right now. It is well worth burning the roof of your mouth for - that is how good! The Chimney Rock Inn in Bridgewater is also very good - thin crust as well...

Already have my must try in 2003 list ready...in NJ...Jocelynes in Maplewood(thanks to Rosie's always pleasant comments), Le Rendez-Vous in Kennilworth, Brasilia in Newark, both Origin and Verve in Somerville, Jeffrey's in Westfield and last but certainly not least Girasole in Bound Brook...I also want to try sushi at Ajian in Watchung and Sono in Millburn...egullet get together from this list anyone???

The lowdown please - quite simply - is it worth the $$$?

Another is Hunan Taste on Bloomfield Avenue in Denville. Very good food and fishtanks galore throughout the restaurant. They make one of the better Peking ducks around and a pretty mean MaiTai as well.

Is Lee's Hawaiian Islander still in business(either North Arlington or Lyndhurst). I remember they were famous for their grass hut tables - another great adventure as a child.

The old Jade Fountain on Ridge Road in North Arlington had the best Chinese buffet I was ever at. Garlic crabs and pork wrapped in foil were the tops. OK maybe not the best ever but as a kid I remember thinking this place was the finest of dining.

Having dinner at Papillion on Saturday - probably the only restaurant in Nutley I havent been to as it was my hometown for 15 years...any further thoughts on Papillon prior to my visit?

I actually wanted to limit my list to just 5 restaurants and as I mentioned just those that I was actually at in 2002. The only time I was at Kyoto was for the egullet lunch get together and I thought it was outstanding. I would rather give a better eveluation after I return there for a "regular" dinner. I find Nikko to have the best sushi and some of the best rolls I have ever had - very consistant and always very very good.

I'll keep my list to just places that I was at during 2002...my top 5 in no particulair order : Cafe Abbraci - Metuchen Nikko - Whippany Serenade - Chatham The Bernards Inn - Bernardsville Vincenzo's - Middlesex