RockADS21

Actually Tortugas in Princeton. I will eat almost anything on the menu but I would tend to think a meat dish is most likely.

Had dinner at Pazzo Pazzo last night. Average meal - very overpriced. I had a talapia special...it was served over a Spanish type rice with a balsamic sauce ...a rather odd combination but overall pretty good. I am still trying to determine why the whole thing was also plated over a bed of wilted soggy lettuce - I certainly hope not for presentation. I started with a split pea soup - not bad but not very memorable. The sevice was fine and the decor I thought was very nice as it was dressed up rather tastefully for Christmas. For the money I think there are many better Italian restaurants in close vacinity including Setebello just up the road. I may be back here for a drink but I doubt that I will return anytime soon for dinner.

I am heading to a Mexican BYO tomorrow night and was looking for a few suggestions as to a good wine to bring. Thanks.

Two words from a former Nutley resident - GO ELSEWHERE!!!

PNapoli - Thank you.

...dinner somewhere in the Edison/Metuchen/Woodbridge area then Bourben Street?

Is Pazzo Pazzo BYO?

Count me in for Satin Dolls - while Franks has it's own charm - Satin Dolls has booze!!!

Davey's Locker, Montvale - Pub type joint with amazing big burgers. Worth making the trip to the tip of the Garden State Parkway(Exit 172) for these burgers. My personal preference - topped with swiss, taylor ham(don't call it pork roll - we are North of the Driscoll bridge!), and raw onion...

Unfortunately it now looks like I am going to have to pass on this one. A 1/2 day on Wednesday and day off Friday has really left me looking at a lot of work early next week. Sorry to give such late notice but I was trying my best to attend. Lou, I definately plan to stop by in the very near future and will will touch base with you as to when. Everyone else, I hope you have a great time and look forward to hearing about it afterwards.

I have noticed many of you pairing Pino Noir with turkey. I decided on Merlot - any thoughts?

We are hosting so here goes this years menu: Beginning with apetizers of various cheeses, olives, roasted peppers in olive oil and garlic, chicken liver spread - I will be opening a botlle of my brother-in-law's homemade wine from 1997(I believe it to be the last bottle from that year). First course will be a bree and granny smith apple strudel with roasted walnuts(thanks to Lou Reda for the walnut suggestion) baked in a filo dough wrap...paired with a Washington state reisling... staying pretty traditional with everything else...fresh turkey with stuffing and gravy,sweet potatos, garlic mashed potatos, corn souflet, homemade cranberry sauce - serving two wines with dinner - a 2000 Mondavi Chardonnay and Blackstone 2000 Merlot...for desert pumpkin and apple pie and a New York State port...I am full already!

It looks like I am about 85% in right now...I will give a definate yes or no by Wednesday...

I will know my schedule better by the end of this week, but I certainly would love to join everyone!

Yes Rosie I did pull off the conference call...luckily it was more of me listening to my client and his attorney with my intervening with a few yes and no's when appropriate. It was a pleasure to meet everyone and I would like to thank Lou for organizing the event. I thought the food was exceptional - I particullairly enjoyed the orange tuna dish - very different and very well done, and the alcohol to people content is certainly to be commended. Looking forward to another get together - next time however I will be taking the rest of the afternoon off.

Will we be booked under anyones name?

Price is not an issue on my end...I may however need to be back to my office for a conference call but an hour and a half or so shouldnt be a problem. I will pick up a sake as well.

Rachel - I know you have already counted me in but I just wanted to make it official. Also for the record my name is Anthony Della Sala. Thanks - looking forward to it.

I was here about one year ago. Food and service were above average. They have a selection of wine from a local NJ winery or you can bring your own. From what I recall a good choice of pasta dishes and some interesting specials. They have a cozy little storefront setting and the feel of an old Italian kitchen. Not your typical casual Italian restaurant - I would say certainly a notch or two above - definately worth a try. Keep in mind tables are rather tough to come by on weekends so plan a bit in advance. Enjoy.

Thursday - 11/14 at Kyoto? Lou can we make that happen?

Tony Sprano reccomends Satriales Deli very highly. Actually Covallos on Bloomfield Ave. in Nutley is very good. Hard to find anything Italian that isnt good in Nutley.

Without a doubt one of the very best around. This place is very popular among the locals and impossible to get a seat in on weekends and in my opinion with very good reason. Steaks and sandwiches are top notch as is the fried calamari and french onion soup.

I can do the 31st and I am casting my vote for Kyoto (simply because I have never been there). I will be away from the 1st through the 10th though so hopefully if the 31st isnt the day the reschedule won't fall in that period but certainly dont base that on me - I am one person and I think they will still be catching fish to cut up when I return.

The new location is on Broad Street in Bloomfield near the Clifton border. Growing up in Nutley I was a regular at the old location both for dining in and taking out (near Rowe Mance off of Rte. 3 in Clifton). I often wondered why such a successful restaurant with such great food never expanded beyond it's 8/10 table hole in the wall. They didnt take reservations and often had a line expanding out the door and onto the sidewalk. One visit to the new location answered that question. I visited the new spot in April and couldn't be more dissapointed in the entire experiance. The food and the service have gone drasticly downhill. We were barely greeted at the door by a hostess who clearly didnt want to be there - what makes it worse is we later find out that she is one of the owners. It wasnt a busy night but it still takes us over 5 minutes to be seated and seemingly foerever to be waited on by a waitress as eager as the hostess. I proceed to order a bottle of chianti which is served out of the refrigerator. When she presents me some to taste I politely ask if she has a bottle that is not chilled and she tells me no that is how they serve it and continues to pour for the rest of the table. Isnt the point of the orderer tasting the wine to let the server know if it is acceptable - apparantly not here! When our food arrives she is not there to serve it to us so it sits on a service table for a few minutes until a busboy realizes and comes over and gives it to us. Completely unacceptable on any night but especially on one where only 3 or 4 tables are occupied! The food quality which while at the old location I considered some of the best casual southern Italian around was average at best - again very disapointing. In short dont waste your time here - Formia just up the road in Bloomfield is a far superior choice.

Count me in as one. I'd also be happy to lend any helpful comments that I could regarding the menu selection as I certainly would'nt claim to be an expert but I do have vast sushi dining experiance. Lou, if I can be of any help just say the word. Also, if i am not mistaken the Rosie lap-dance gig is'nt until the Randolph gathering but we can hope for a preview I do suppose.