NJ2FLA

Sandy who works in my office cafeteria told me there are some good "Soul Food" places in Plainfield where she lives. I will have to get some names off her and see what she recommends.

OOo.. my bad it's Route 3 west bound over there. I always just call it Route 46 because I live west of where it splits off. Just and old bad habbit of mine. I have never been in Paulie's Pizza but I guess someone told me about it. My dad who gew up in Passaic said that there has pretty much always been some sort of pizza place in that spot for a long long time. In fact, he remembers that they used to have the famous 777-7777 phone number. (Clifton has that exchange). Is the pizza town on Rt 46 (is that Elmwood park or Lodi area) the same as the one on Rt 22 in Springfield? Speaking of bagles, I remember a bagel bakery down the street and one over from my grandmas house on Sherman Street in Passaic that used to have hot bagels in shopping carts and we used to go there and buy a dozen or so and they would be warm in the bag.. yumm! You would walk right into the bakery through a side soor. I don't even think they had a store front.

Ray's Pizza here in Verona I used to like when he opened years ago. He said he remembers when I was a kid. I heard that Paulie Pizza on RT46 in Clifton was good. You pass that place all the time and never stop it. It's at the top of the hill coming west before you get to the Tick-Tock Diner. Anyone ever go? I like the pizza at the Star Tavern in Orange but it's a bit salty. A funny story is that we have a Domino's pizza here in Verona on Bloomfield Avenue and someone decided to open up a PaPa John's across the street. Personally, I think Domino's is crap. I had PaPa John's several times down in Florida and thought maybe it was the best of the take away/delivery pizza. Low and behold, the PaPa John's closed up several months later. The owner of Domino's was quite happy, he had even fought with the town to not allow the competition in. Like we don't have enough pizza places in Verona to begin with! Some places that I know of in Verona: Verona Pizza Ray's Domino's (Yuck) Miele Anna Capri

I agree with you about casings. I do like the onions but they are hot. Gotta have a cold pop to wash em down! -Scott

Anyone ever go down to JJ's - where his slogan is "Eat ME" on Bloomfield Avenue by the park in Newark? He has been there as long as I can remember. Great late night snack with a "Chcocolate Cow" which is like a Yoohoo! -Scott

Just had a house salad with the peanut dressing and some pad thai with chicken instead of shrimp. I am not that much of a seafood lover. The presentation of the food is very nice when they bring it out. We also walked by a busy Italian looking place on the main avenue (not Division street where Origins is). It's was about a block down and on the same side of the road as that mini looking mall. I can't seem to remember the name of it but they had a lot of people coming and going.

Went to Origins in Somerville last night. It was kind of early and we got right in. Just 2 people though. The place got busier as it got later and the food was great as always.

That might be it. I happen to like it. -Scott

In response to some ones question way back. This thread is getting a lot of posts. I used to like the Java Salad - which was 86'd from the menu. I like the factory meat loaf sandwich, those little burgers they have as appetizers, the pasta with four cheeses is heavy buy good. I am not into eating fish so I haven't had any of that. I have also tried the crusted chicken romano which is kind of like chicken parmesan. Some items are good some are not. I tend to stick to what I like in restaurants and not be too creative. I like their ice tea also. My favorite ice tea (maybe off subject) is the China Mist - which I know it when I taste it. Not sure what restaurants in the area serve it. -Scott

I have to add that I really love the Cheesecake Factory. I have been to several of their locations: Sawgrass Mills Mall - Sunrise, FL Boca Raton, FL Hackensack, NJ West Palm Beach, FL Aventura, FL Cocnut Grove, FL Dadeland Mall - Miami, FL They are also coming soon to Menlo Park Mall - Edison, NJ (so says their web site). I like the white chocolate macadamia nut cheesecake myself!

I love the pistachio muffins at Wegmans. Once I went after work to the store in Bridgewater and they were all out The girl that worked in the bakery gave me a business card and said that if I call earlier in the day they can hold some asside for me. How nice!

I am surprised they didn't go to Iberia's in Newark. I think that BBQ chef has been written about in the Star Ledger.

Anyone try Dave Famous on RT22 yet?

Re Martino's: Coming from living down in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area for years I was spoiled with good Cuban food. I went with my friend who is Cuban and we had the Croquette's as an appetizer. They are fried and have a minced ham and stuffing inside. They were good. Not the best I ever had. I had the Empanizado steak for my main meal. It's a pounded thin, breaded steak. Served with white rice and beans and some sweet plantains. I found it to be "alright" - the problem was that it tasted like fish. I have a feeling they may have fried it in the same oil that they did fish. I told the waiter about it and he said that they have four different fryers in the back or something along those lines. But did apologize. The rice and beans and plantains were fine. We didn't order desert because they give you so much food as typical in a Cuban restaurants. I'd go back again as I really don't know of many other good Cuban restaurants in NJ. I thought the older man with the grey hair was entertaining. -Scott p.s. I wish there was a spell check on here!

I like Aroma in West Paterson. It's right off of route 46. Tony is the owner. I love them rice balls!

The only one I have been to is Iberia. It's a non stop all you can eat meat fest! -Scott

Hi Rosie, Going to check out that Cuban place you mentioned called Martino's tonight. -Scott

Had dinner on Friday night at McDonald's with my 5 year old niece. Does that count as gourmet? -Scott

Hi there. I would love to go and meet some of the faces behind the posts - however, I will be down in Florida that weekend. -Scott

Hi Rosie, Well I am back in town from a nice warm winter in Boca Raton. I am working now in Piscataway and don't know much of what's around here to eat. There is a good Thai & French place in Sommerville called Origins. Other than that I am not sure what's around. I went there last year so I am not sure if it is still around or what the story is. I also saw a place on Rt. 22 called Famous Dave's BBQ - anyone know the scoop on this? The place was packed last week when I was driving home. I see they have a web site as well. It's in the building that Steak & Ale was in. I think it's Mountainside - Eastbound side of 22. -Scott

There is a place on Lexington Avenue in Clifton over by Piaget avenue that sells them. Yummy. (Lee's & Hot Grill are close by) -Scott

Anyone every been to a fantastic supermarket called Wegmans? There are out of New York state. I have been to locationed in Princeton & Bridgewater, Nj. Your mouth will drop the first time you walk in and check the place out. Blows Kings out of the water. Actually I used to work at Kings in Verona when I was a wittle boy! :) http://www.wegmans.com -Scott the paper or plastic boy

Went to Harolds on Rt 45 in Parisspany abouth a month ago and had to send back the matzo ball soup. It tasted really sour and was nasty. Shared a pastrami on rye which was so so. Not going back again. Second time in a row the food had to be sent back. In Livingston there is a deli called Epi-sesson (sp?) - went there with some family not too long ago and I remembered that I liked that salads on the table. We all ordered soup and a sandwich and for some reason the sandwiches came out before we reminded the waiter we had ordered soup as well. When in South Florida - The Rascal House (Sunny Isles Beach) & (Boca Raton) was better before Jerry's Deli from California bought it. But still great! Love them onion rolls-- oy vey! -Scott

Ok being from Florida I know some good Cuban food. I understand that Hudson county has a large Cuban population especially in the North Bergen area. Any gems up along Berganline or Kennedy Blvd? Doesn't have to be fancy but yummy! My girlfriend would hate me for posting this, she's Cuban and always wants to cook for me! -Scott

Hi all. I would go there for dinner sometimes with my father when we both worked in the Piscataway area. During the week getting a table was no problem at all. We would get there around 5:30 - 6:00 and sometimes would be the only people in the place. They must get a later croud. My father told me that at lunch time they get busy with business diners. I found the food to be great. I like the salad with the peanut dressing and then order up some pad thai. I thought the desert menu was a bit pricy. -Scott