dbrociner

Do you tell us this because you'd prefer to go to restaurants without bars? Now that the smoking ban is in effect I think that as a non drinker you might do better in restaurants that have a liquor license because they can help offset the cost of food with the profit brought in by drink sales. I don't know about restaurants listed in the entertainment book. Perhaps you could list some in a follow up reply. Montclair has lots of good restaurant and many are listed with their own threads on this forum. I think everyone has liked Blu (almost everyone, I'm sure there was someone who didn't but I'm too lazy to look) as a starting point. I had a nice meal at Lelazar, a Turkish restaurant on Bloomfield Ave., a few weeks back. Good food, cheap prices and a helpful staff. A good place if you want to change things up. Just read through the forum and post with that other info and any questions and I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions. What they'll be worth, well that's another story.

Not to nitpick but isn't the Galloping Hill Inn in Union? Ok, I love to nitpick.

If you like steak, consider Roots Steakhouse in Summit. I'm going there for my birthday in a couple of weeks. And going again with certain bloggers who shall remain nameless. There's another topic on this forum but I'm having trouble making the link work.

I went Tuesday night. Very impressive, especially for the third night in business. The place was crowded. I think it will be packed. Call ahead for a reservation. More thoughts here.

This is probably the best tip of all. Consider getting on to Rt. 22 off of the NJ Trnpk or off of US 1 & 9 and then picking up Rt. 78 in Scotch Plains or Watchung. This will avoid that traffic mess.

Get off at exit 33 and turn right, if you're traveling west. First plaza you come to on your left you can go to either 3 West or Ciao both excellent places. Don't know if thats far enough along towards Hershey but you'll eat well.

We've had this argument before about the ability of the "chain" restaurant to put out a quality product. I believe that they, chains, offer excellent food in certain cases and think it is foolish to write off the Outback because no chef/owner is on site. However, I understand and respect your opinion on the subject. Peter Luger is wildly popular because the steak can be, though not always, the best you can get anywhere in the area. I think we can find lots of discussion about this on the NY Forum. Sorry, not my intention to "moderate".

I think people can tell the difference between dry aged quality beef versus other types. What else would explain the crowd 3 deep at the bar at Peter Luger almost every night? I don't think the "average" diner is eating at the Park Steakhouse. I think the average diner is eating at the Outback. Nothing wrong with that, I like to eat at the Outback myself. By popularity contest standards I'm surprised that the Outback wouldn't run away with a readers poll. The fact that the Park Steakhouse won reflects either a more discerning palate than the "average diner" is being given credit for having or for the ballot box stuffing mentioned above by Menton. I've only been to the Park Steakhouse once, it was years ago and it took as long for me to drive there from western Union County as it did to go into NYC. I didn't feel it was worth it. Rosie has always been a big fan of this place and she works for NJ Monthly. Her insight here is needed. Come to think of it, her insight on most issues on this board is still needed.

I don't agree with this. I can't speak to this poll in particular but I do think that the average diner deserves more credit than you do.

Lunch not available here, yet. Dinner starting at 5:30.

Actually, just off Ridgedale on School St. Turn at the CVS. Not a very big market. I haven't been yet this year. The Madison farmer's market on Thursdays at the high school has a much smaller selection of vendors than in years past. I'm planning on going to Morristown tomorrow, haven't been yet this year. Union Hill Farms, just off Rt. 10 in Denville, sells at Morristown and last year had great corn every week.

Roots Steakhouse, 401 Springfield Ave. Summit 908)273-0027 will be open by Monday if all goes according to plan. More info here.

Corrados in Clifton would be a good bet.

Call them and find out: 732-356-0273. Or try their website. Pretty cool place, you drive in and they load up your car and then off you go. They also have beer, can't speak to the value on that but the soda selection is excellent.

Well, a google search confirms that the product exists. I just called Elliot Beverage in Bridgewater, the store with the most comprehensive selection of soda that I know of and they don't carry it. I don't think it's available in NJ. If you do a google search you'll find reference to places in PA that have it. Good luck.

If you were Craig Shelton and you read this what would you think? Hard to believe you aren't a "Jersey restaurant fan" after having someone go so out of his way to make up for a mistake that, in the final analysis, cost you nothing. I don't want to be too harsh but I think he deserves a lot of credit for going way over the top to make things up to you. Sounds like the kind of place I'd like to go back to. Having said that, I had dinner at the Ryland Inn the first Saturday after the New Year and was disappointed. I felt that the meal was way too expensive for the quality of food and especially the poor service that my wife and I received. I had the 7 course "gastronomique" tasting menu and my wife had the 5 course version. We both had the wine pairings. The sommelier stumbled badly over his lines about the wines, sounding like he was reciting a script more than that he knew anything about the wine he was pouring. He also looked like he had slept in his suit jacket. The waiter was better dressed but not very attentive. Worse, an alert to my nut allergy was ignored and I was served a course with walnuts. I had to wait five minutes before I could find the waiter and have the dish taken away. An off night? Probably. At $200 a person is the Ryland Inn entitled to an off night? Maybe I should have had Mr. Shelton comp my meals as well.

Barth's Market, 41 South St. New Providence. (908)464-8555. Used to be called Barth's Pork Store. Then they spruced up, the outside. Lots of homemade German sausages. The kind of thing I'm sure you're looking for. Same as serveral of the other recommendations. It all comes down to your location.

Went to Rita's in Berkeley Heights this afternoon. Very similar to Ralph's, same texture with bits of lemon zest. Lacking in that little hint of bitterness that I like in lemon ice. Lacking also in strong flavor. Not too sweet, a plus. As mentioned before this is a chain and they are all over the state. Worth checking out. Rita's, 412 Springfield Ave. Berkeley Heights. (908)464-0200.

I always thought of DiCosimo's as the gold standard and I never knew their name, except for having seen you mention it here on the board. The place was always "that place down the 'burg". I haven't been there in a while. I need to get back down there and have some ravioli at Spiritos and a lemon ice for dessert.

Went to Ralph's this afternoon. Very good lemon ice. Not too sweet. Bits of lemon zest in the mix, no pits. A little bitterness and lots of lemon flavor. Makes what I had yesterday in Madison look like something that came from outerspace. Ralph's Italian Ices, 498 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston (973)992-2441.

Will try this today. Thanks. The closest Rita's for me is the one in Berkeley Heights. I know that there's one somewhere off Rt. 80 around Denville I think. If someone can get the name of that place in EO I'd go there, no problem. Sounds like the kind of place I'm looking for.

The part about the ownership isn't surprising. They have a sign up that says something like "food allergies cannot be accomodated". There's got to be better way to say that, something less confrontational.

Well, I now know where not to go. McCool's 26 Main St. Madison, may have the worst lemon ice I've ever eaten. Don't think I've ever had gummy lemon ice before, not to mention the thing had a chemical flavor. I'm looking for real lemons, pits included. I'll have to keep looking.

Its perfect weather for Italian ice, specifically lemon ice. I'm in east hanover and don't know where to go. If I were in Elizabeth I'd go to the place on 4th St. "down the berg". Anyone know of a good vendor in Morris County?

Hey, we tied Italy so if they win it makes us just as good as the team that won the World Cup, doesn't it. Thanks Lou. I'll try. I'll try really, really hard.