lmkennedy53

Thanks Susan! Some colleagues and I will be going to the Kindergarten convention next Monday in AC but we are staying overnight at the home of one of the teachers on Sun. in the Spring Lake area so we were looking for a restaurant around there. Since I don't know many really good restaurants in that part of NJ and I read where those 2 seemed pretty good, I wanted opinions about those restaurants but if you or anyone else has any other ideas, I would love to hear about them.

I'm going to a conference in 2 weeks and I'll be staying overnight in Spring Lake. Since I don't know many shore restaurants, I'm not sure where to have dinner. I heard that both of these restaurants are good. (I think they are owned by the same person) I was wondering if anyone has been to either of them and preferred one to the other. I would appreciate any help!

Lori, while researching afternoon teas in this area, I came across this: American Jubilee Desserts Café and Tea Sanctuary [Tea room and merchant] 89 East Cherry Street (at Irving), Rahway. Isn't that just around the corner from your restaurant? ← That is right around the corner!! I have never heard of that place but I will look into it! Don't know anyone who has been there either. Do you? Thanks Randi for the info!

Even though I live in Union co. I would be willing to come to Bergen for afternoon tea. There really aren't many places that serve afternoon tea (that I know) and I love when I'm in NYC to go for tea. (It's so civilized!) Be sure to let us know when you open. Some of the tea places even have birthday parties for little girls where they can dress up and learn about a proper tea. That would be so much fun!!

I'm so happy to read good things about Berta's. I used to go there regularly with my whole family about 35 yrs. ago. It was great then and it's wonderful to hear that it still seems excellent. I'm making plans to go again in the near future! Thanks Cook 456 for the recent post!

Call me stupid but what's the big M?? Thanks!

We will be going to Serenade for Valentine's Day! (Not that we don't LOVE our restaurant!!) We just want to go to someplace different and we've never been there for dinner and we've heard lots of good things!

My favorites in New Brunswick are Panicos, Soho on George and Stage Left. Frog and the Peach used to be at the top of my list but I've heard mixed reviews lately and I haven't been there recently myself.

Good to know! What street is it on?

I'll be going to Black Trumpet in a couple of weeks so I will be able to let you know of my experience.

Lori, thanks for the info. I have passed this on to the powers that be at our company, and it is in their hands now! ← You're welcome!

I didn't realize the rest room was upstairs. That's good to know, and we will keep that in mind. I have already been in touch with Richard regarding the room - but was hoping for opinions on the space, since I haven't seen the upstairs yet. Thanks for the info! ← Several companies ( Merck, NUI. United Water and Englehardt have used the space for same purposes you are referring to..... guest speakers etc. I think the room would be fine for that amount of people and I'm sure the guests dining downstairs could be directed to use the restroom on the 1st floor only, leaving the upstairs bathroom for the privacy of the guests on the 2nd floor. It is a very nice space and actually my favorite part of the restaurant!

After reading many of the threads on egullet, my husband and I have been trying to go to more NJ restaurants. We love NYC and dine a lot there but have been encouraged and enticed by reading all the interesting comments to stay more in NJ. Also since we opened our restaurant, we like to check out the competition!! Since there are so many good restaurants in Montclair, we wanted to try some of them and we decided to start with Fascinos, even though our reservations had to be for 9:30! We had a fabulous meal! I started with the lobster soup(one of the best I've ever had) , and my husband had the crab cake both were excellent. He had the special ravioli stuffed with short ribs with a gorgonzola cheese and butter sauce. The pasta was very light! I had the chicken breast with a black truffle pesto, organic broccolini and mascarpone polenta fries. I enjoyed every bit of it! We were so full, but couldn't resist all the wonderful sounding desserts, so we decided to split the banana- walnut tart with maple walnut gelato. We ended up fighting over who would have the last bite!! The service was flawless and we were able to meet all the members of the DePersio family and they couldn't have been nicer to us! We will definitely be back to have the tasting menu!

I think the food at the Nassau Inn is terrible!

I assume that if both of us know about it that it is now public knowledge!! I recently heard that the new owners will be tearing the old place down and it will be 3 years before a new place is up. ← I heard the same thing!

Yes, Rosie it was a very good interview! I heard you mention that Larson's Turkey Farm was bought but you didn't think who bought it was public knowledge. I know who bought it but I didn't think it was private. I've been telling people because I really love that restaurant! I will stop talking about it if you have reason to believe that the information is not for the public. Please let me know!

Yes, I was just using hyperbole when I said lasagne. But their dishes are the same things you can find at scores of other "Italian" restaurants in New Jersey. I also take a dim view of the use of the phrase "Northern Italian" in these restaurants. The North of Italy is quite varied, in Liguria you have an extensive use of pesto, with green lasagne, and a special unique thick pasta known as trophie. Piemontese food, (look for it on the upcoming Olympics) has anchovies in green sauce, dipping veggies in a bagna calda sauce, stuffed pasta (totally unlike ravioli) called agnolotti. In Venice look for Liver dishes (fegato) and seppie a black squid ink used as a pasta suace. One of the few restaurants on this side of the pond to have this kind of stuff is Babbo in NYC. So, really, the use of the phrase "Northern Italian" is a hoax, and these restaurants should really say "Italian-American" The food may be tasty, but so is a hot dog. I want something more in a nice restaurant. ← Well, I thought the original posting was just for a suggestion for a byo for dinner in the Morristown area. I was merely stating in my humble opinion that I liked La Campagna. I have eaten there about 3 or 4 times and have always had a good meal. ( I never read where they claim to be Northern Italian!) I have eaten at Babbo's twice and to even compare the two is ridiculous! Babbo's is probably the best Italian restaurant in the city! I too have toured Italy... north, south and central and know a "little" bit about Italian food. My grandmother came from Italy! La Campagna isn't the BEST restaurant, nor does it have the BEST Italian food, I just thought it was very good!!!

Respectfully disagree, La Campagna is an overpriced, super-ordinary red-sauce place. Lasagne and Veal parm. Head for Tim Schaefer's. ← And I must respectfully disagree with you. The prices may be a bit high but I find it far from being a "super -ordinary red sauce" place. In fact the dishes are quite creative and there is no lasagne or veal parm even on the menu! I haven't been to Tim Schaefer's but I have heard some very good things and plan to go in the near future. I also love The Bernards Inn which has already been mentioned but it certainly isn't a byo place!

I like La Campagna in Morristown. It's Italian and byo and I think the food is excellent. It is sometimes difficult to get reservations on the weekends though.

Well, Saturday night, my husband and I finally made it to An American Grill. After having read so many good things about the restaurant, we were anxious to try it. We were not disappointed! In fact, it was very difficult to choose from the all diverse and very appealing items on the menu. Everything looked so interesting! I finally decided on the Thai coconut shrimp served on thinly sliced pineapple with a creamy brandy sauce. So g ood! For my entree, I had chicken stuffed with spinach and mozzarella cheese served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. It was all delicious. I was totally stuffed! The portions were quite generous! My husband had the veal shop and even though it was big, he managed to finish it all and not even leave a crumb on his plate! We chose to share a dessert because even though I wanted to, I didn't think I could eat another bite. The vanilla ice cream with a grand marinier sauce and cherries soaked in cognac was so tasty, I ended up eating more than I thought I could!! We also had the chance to have a nice chat with Lou about the crazy restaurant business. Since he is such an "old" hand , he was happy to give a couple of "novices" :huh: some helpful tips!! We had a wonderful evening and are anxious to return! Thanks Lou!!

I love Cafe Matisse in Rutherford. It's small,romantic and intimate and the food is wonderful. I'm not from the area so I don't know if it's in northern Bergen but it is worth the trip if it isn't too far from you. It's byo but there is a wine shop located in the front of the restaurant.

I look forward to coming in the very near future and meeting you as well, Lou!

I don't know what just happened but I must have done something wrong!! Since I am new to egullet, I have been spending time reading the different posts but the comments about American Grill really interested me. So I was telling my husband about it and he said that he's eaten there and that the food is wonderful and the chef is a really nice guy!! I asked him why he's never taken me???? Well. we are planning to go in the near future!! I respect the views of the people on egullet much more than Zagats!!!

Ooops! I didn't know! Thanks for the info!