dbrociner

Daniel, I think we've been called a couple of Nancy's. Doesn't that get your ire up? Now, that might be bait, I'll grant you.

i'm in. i mean, not in the argument, but in the contest. even though i'm not in the argument. i just like their ribs. can we include a Heineken Light drinking contest as well? thanks. ← I think Tommy might be willing to join the argument for a Heineken Light.

The comment about the reviewer paying was not directed at you, Daniel. You read this board enough to understand that. Second, don't fire off a missive and then say you've closed the book on the subject. I wasn't trying to bait you, believe me you'd know it if I was. I'm sure there are other people here who will vouch for this. Third, why don't we settle this argument in the most logical way, by asking Peter Genovese for a clarification? I'll be glad to try and I'll report back with whatever information I can gather. And if you want to have a rib eating contest or something like it at FSS to clear the air you can count me in.

You will notice here that the reviewer did not identify himself when ordering the food and PAID for everything he received. A novel concept to some folks around here. I'm setting my watch, let's see how long it takes you.

Daniel I think you've gotten to close to the subject here to be objective. First, you attack a guy up thread because he didn't like the food as much as you thought he should. Now you go after the Star Ledger reviewer without knowing for sure how many times he visited the restaurant. I've been to Front St. twice and had a good experience both times. I'd emphasize experience here because each time some of the food has been less than great. The BBQ itself has always been good but the side items need some work. I think Bruce will iron out the kinks over time and he's the kind of restaurant owner who really wants to please his customers. I think Bruce and his wife being such good hosts is reason enough to keep coming back but it wouldn't surprise me if the guy from the munchmobile got soggy sweet potato fries even when he ate in the restaurant. So take a deep breath and try to talk up the positive things about Front St. and stop worrying if everyone doesn't share whole heartedly in your enthusiasm.

Thanks for saying exactly what I was thinking. "Unremarkable" oh my. edited for spelling, again!

Is this Baumgart's the same as the restaurant in Englewood? Never been there but heard a lot about it and it sounds like a place that would do well in Livingston. Mama Tucci was in Madison and was a very small restaurant on Main St. I wonder how they'll do in much larger space. I liked the old place, Rosie didn't. You'll have to go and see for yourself. Omaha steaks? I wouldn't bother. Better to buy a dry aged steak from the meat counter at Kings a few blocks down Livingston Ave. I think there may be a good butcher in West Orange, maybe someone else could chime in here?

Not to sound ignorant but what's a Chipotle?

When you work in an area and eat out everyday you burn out on places. You end up trying almost every new place just because it's a new place. Fresh City didn't look promising but you never know. I've learned not to write off chains just because they're chains, LS for example. Fresh City look mediocre and forgetable from the outside and they didn't dissapoint. Oh well.

Um, whose "Dbrochier"? Thanks for the kind words but more importantly thanks for making such an outstanding dish with amazing consistency. Hey, that weekend menu sounds great. Can I get the soft shells without almonds? I'm allergic. I wasn't gonna come up until Tuesday May 30th for my bi-weekly visit but I think I'm going to revise those plans. Menu sounds too good to miss. Note to other members of the AAG management: you should be doing more of this kind of thing, not less. Hey Lou, too bad about Arsenal. Sounds like it was a good game. Words to break Lou's heart: Go Yankees!

Fresh City, 6115 Town Center Way, Livingston (973) 422-0005. Fresh City First restaurant of several places to open in the new Livingston Center. Busy, chain restaurant serving salads, wraps, sandwiches, smoothies etc. Cafeteria style with almost no personality despite all the colorful menu boards behind the counter. Its hard to get good help and the manager at Fresh City could probably write a book on this. The first person to try and take my order didn't understand English. The woman running the smoothy station had that "anywhere but here" look on her face and seemed put out by my order. I ordered the "feta compli" wrap which was feta cheese, portabello mushrooms, roasted peppers and brown rice. The ingredients should be listed in reverse order, as this was almost entirely brown rice. Also had the Hoe-Down Barbeque Chicken Sandwich which, as the old joke goes, wasn't very good and such a small portion. Seriously, they're keeping prices down here by keeping portion size down. The only value I could see was the salad bar, two different size plates one $4.99 and the other $6.99. The choices here all looked fresh and at least you wouldn't go away hungry with that $6.99 salad. The majority of this chain's locations are in Mass. and this is their first store in NJ. Given the location they should have enough time to work out the kinks, the center is just getting off the ground and they should benefit from being first out of the gate. I'll wait awhile before going back. While I'm waiting I'll buy a good sub at a good price at Tutto Fresca just up Mt. Pleasant Ave. across from the Livingston Post Office.

Yeah, it was a reference to nitrous. I just can't spell worth a (fill in the blank with your favorite expression for an idiot).

Kim, the Wegman's in Bridgewater stopped carrying Pierre Hermes sometime last year. I went in looking for chocolates to give as Christmas gifts and was told they no longer carried the line. I know you shop at the Manalapan store, are you sure they still carry his products?

If Tommy can drive from Ridgewood for the Copeland burger then surely you can tear yourself away from the nitrix and get up to AAG more often. God, did I really just type that?

It must have been their desire to please me, their most regular customer. Yeah, right. Glad you liked the burger. My reputation saved. BTW, I also speak highly of the "firecracker calamari" at An American Grill. But thats a story for a different thread, a different venu even.

No, I was just wrong. I knew it before I even went and checked because I bought the rum in Vancouver and the liquor stores in BC were/are? state controlled so no chance for some enterprising individual looking to make a killing by selling something he bought in Cuba. Oh well, I have the HC3 and the 7.

Hmm. Maybe I don't have the 15 year old 'cause I sure didn't go to their museum. I'll have to check. Thanks for the clarification on the Haitian rum.

Bringing the stuff back in from Canada was no big deal. I brought it on the train from Vancouver to Seattle. They were nuts about Cuban cigars and, I guess, BC bud. There were dogs in the train aisles and cigars being shredded on the platform. I simply filled out the form listing 2 litres of alcohol and I applied the don't ask, don't tell policy. I brought back the Havana Club 3 year old and 15 year old. Was it worth it? I don't really think so. Certainly wasn't worth the trouble it caused disrupting our vacation to find a liquor store in Vancouver. Some people claim that the craft that made HC the best rum in the world left Cuba when the Bacardi family fled from Castro. I have no way to verify this and it may just be a political statement. The HC that I brought back isn't any better, to my taste, than other rums available here. There was a certain panache that this product had because it was contraband but that has worn off for me. For sipping I like a Haitian rum called Bentacourt sp?. I think thats the name. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. edited for spelling

Yes, please.

And you know this how? From experience?

Tried to go here today but they were closed for catering. Too bad to because I'm seldom in the area and I had to be around the corner on business. Maybe another day.

Five sounds like the right time. The waitresses work at Goodman's on Elmora Ave for lunch then go to Spiritos to work the dinner shift.

Was the phone number he called the same number you gave when you made your reservation? If not, the whole thing is creepy. If it is then I'm not sure there's anything wrong with calling you. It could just be a good faith effort on the part of a restaurant owner hearing that you've had a bad experience and trying to find out how to make things better in the future. However, if this makes you uncomfortable then you have no obligation to call him back.

This is an interesting way of looking at the issue but I think you're missing the point. I wasn't looking to reward the restaurant, though that certainly will be a result of going there, but rather to go back to places where the food was good but the smoke made things unpleasant.

Everyone will be playing by the rules or paying dearly for not doing so. Of course there will be some exceptions but the fines are steep and there are lots of whistle blowers out there. I was in Fridays yesterday for drinks at the bar, I only go to the best places . Anyway, I asked two of the bartenders if they were happy about the ban, one wouldn't answer until she knew where I stood and then admitted to being happy about it and the other seemed indifferent. A small sample but I was happy that no one was lighting up.