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Tommy, I think it was in a PM, when you were refering to Los Dos Rancheros.

The "no cheese" came from a prior thread/conversation with Tommy (regarding a different place) where he said it was authentic b/c you won't find cheese on any of the menu items (or something similar to that).

I'm a big fan of La Isla too!! Just don't tell me that you're going to Tutta Pasta, or any of the other bile places that pass for restaurants in this town!

How is Potrero's "All U Can Eat" on Wednesday nites? Does a crowd of people spoil the evening? Also, it appears that it would NOT be buffet style, has anyone been? Is it indeed buffet style or do you just continue to order food until you don't want any more?

Tommy, i think s/he was refering to the need to put mole sauce on the tacos at El Gran Mexicano (just as you say you need the sauce at "The Cheap Taco Place" in NYC).... Mission does not have mole or adobado, but they DO have a kick-ass pico de gallo! Tommy, El Gran Mexicano puts cheese on their tacos, so from that respect, alone, you might not think it so authentic.

But.... did you sit out back? I think the pastries/coffee is decent enough, but what makes this place special is the deck in the back.

As i just added to the Northern NJ Mexican Thread: I also tried stopping by Five Burro Tacos on the way home (mentioned in a prior, but active, thread), but i think it's no longer there, as the number has been disconnected and after circling the block once, the location where the address seems to have been is now a fenced in vacant lot, so it apeared as if the building has been torn down (if i was looking in the right place). If i'm wrong, somebody please correct me and give me better directions. I will also take this space to reiterate my rave about Mission Burritos, also just mentioned in the Northern NJ Mexica thread (i'm hoping it gets tried soon, and makes it to a thread of its own).

Even though i risked running into Tommy, i ventured to El Gran Mexicano yesterday. As i pulled over the side of the road to get an address check, i noticed i must be right by it, and looked across the street and there it was. It had all the makings of a place i would love... "hole in the wall with great food." Unfortunately, i was disappointed. Although it was "ok", i would describe it as nothing really special. However, my perception may be jaded since i live near Mission Burritos. What is Mission Burritos you ask? Well, for those that have missed my prior recommendation and ©ravings, it is a similar place, with only SLIGHTLY better decor, but the food is 10x better (IMO). Mission Burritos is located on 4th Street in Hoboken between Garden St and Park Ave. They do a BIG takeout and delivery business, although they have a counter to eat at which faces a window which allows you look at the park across the street. When the weather is nice, they also have 4 tables out front on the sidewalk. The food is as authentic as i've had, all the ingredients are fresh, and for the "hole in the wall" that it is, it is kept VERY clean (the kitchen is "open", right behind the counter). Nothing against El Gran Mexicano, and if i'd never eaten at Mission Burritos, i may have had a slightly more favorable review, but Mission (for me) is the "bar" to compare all other to, and this missed the mark. If you try Mission Burittos, please post a review, as i've never received add'l feedback on this site for my prior mentions of it, yet everyone i take there loves it. My recommendation is for a Chicken Burittos (a "lunch" size, served all day, is enuff even for dinner) with black beans. Both the lunch ($6.50) and dinner ($8.00) portions come with a small salad and rice and beans on the side. I've gone there with a few vegetarian friends and they've enjoyed it too, so if there happens to be something else on the menu you want, feel free to try that instead, as most of the dishes rate great to excellent. By the way, at El Gran i had a couple of chicken tacos and a side of chips, so i think i ordered correctly. I took the meal to go and ate on the "wall" in front of the post office, as they had no A/C and it was awfully hot in there. I was hoping this would be another true find (like my all time favorite, The LightHouse has turned into, and i also think Fink's falls into this category), but i guess you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince (like Lighthouse and Fink's). I also tried stopping by Five Burro Tacos on the way home (mentioned in a prior, but active, thread), but i think it's no longer there, as the number has been disconnected and after circling the block once, the location where the address seems to have been is now a fenced in vacant lot, so it apeared as if the building has been torn down (if i was looking in the right place).

Rosie (and anyone else lurking), Thanks for the review and glad you enjoyed. Next time dining in town and the weather is nice, bypass coffee/dessert at the restaurant and get turned on to my H3 (aka- "Hidden Hoboken Hideaway"). Walk off dinner by strolling up/down Washington St. until you get to Park Pastries (~515 Washington St... the name comes from when their store was located on Park Ave). It's a counter service coffee place with in-house pastries and a few tables inside and out front. However, the true pleasure of the place is the BACK... walk out the back door and there is a little decked off courtyard, with open sky but enclosed by the buildings around it. The coffee is "ok" (this coming from somebody who hates Starbucks) and most of the pastries are above average, but to sit and relax on this deck, away from the crowd of the Hoboken city/town crowd, it pure bliss. The only downside is that they close early, maybe 11pm or midnite. Surprisingly, the "backyard" is seldom crowded, although the rest of the place often has other people along with a few open tables (ie- you won't be the only people there, although you won't have to wait for a table either).

Thanks, I'll check it out w/n the next 2 weeks. Is it a restaurant or more of a take out place (or a counter service place)? Thanks again.

... can i at LEAST get you to admit the platter is better than their Huevos Rancheros? (i did a search earlier today and came across your blessing on their version of this dish)

I remember reading a post by somebody here (a regular i think) that mentioned a very good mexican place that seemed casual (perhaps even take-out) that had a "schooled" chef from some fancy schmanzy culinary school, but i'm not well versed in that sort of thing to recognize or remember the name. It was in the North Bergen/West New York area. I tried to search using key words, but couldn't find what i was looking for. Does anybody remember or perhaps was the original poster? Thanks.

I'm still partial to Margherita's as it's more casual and we're treated well there given that we've been customers since they opened, but Augustino's is VERY good. They DO take reservations, a rarity in town, and you'll need to make them at least a few days in advance. Like i said, the food is very good, everyone i went with enjoyed their meal the nite we were there, but we probably haven't been back b/c we usually don't think about eating out a few days in advance (and therefore don't make reservations ahead of time). It is NOT BYO as they have a bar in the back of the restaurant, which they will offer you to sit and eat at if you walk in looking for a table but haven't made a reservation, although it doesn't look like it would be very comfortable doing so. It's family run and as a result the wait staff is more friendly than professional. While we were ordering some woman stumbled out and said good bye to our waitress, who politely said good bye but then turned to us and commenting about her being three sheets to the wind (or some expression like that). I would recommend it if you planned ahead and had a desire to come into Hoboken. Since it appears that you come to Hoboken frequently, i'll recommend (and let me know if you've been already or not) The Baja. Don't order anything but "The Baja Special" (and ask for all the shrimp grilled). A HUGE family style platter emerges with piles of marinated steak, grilled chicken, and JUMBO shrimp... served with rice, beans, and tortillas on the side. Just reminded myself i haven't been there in a while, i'll have to go soon!

How about Brooklyn's Brick(Coal?) Oven Pizza... right down the road from the Cheesecake factory?

Same owners?

BunnySlippers- Having been to both Ali Baba (Hoboken) and Bennie's (Englewood) i think Ali Baba is more of what you're looking for (ie- cheap take out). Although Bennies is good, i would venture that a sandwich there will still run you about $7-8, while at Ali Baba it's probably about $4.50. Also, there used to be (as in, "i'm not sure if it's still there") a place at the top of Gorge Rd (now called OLD Gorge Road), right where it hits Anderson Ave, that had falafel and meat kabob sandwiches. I don't recall the name, but it was right on the bend of the road where it hits Anderson Ave.

I recommend Ali Baba in Hoboken (Washington St, ~10th St). It's a VERY casual restaurant that does a decent take out buisness. I tell a lot of poeple about the place, but insist they stick with the sandwiched, and don't venture into the "plates" and "platters." Additionally, they have the best hummus i've EVER had. Great as a side to your sandwich.

They opened 2 weeks ago, at least that was the first time i noticed their OPEN sign. I was reminded of it today when i saw their advertisement in the local newspaper, which is also how i learned of the affiliation with the Ridgewood restaurant. Formerly at this location there was a restaurant called Trap's Backdoor (formerly Trapani's), which were mostly a pizza/italian type of places; but the location has been vacant for maybe 3 or 4 years since there was a fire on the premises (at least that's how i remember it).

Haven't been to this place yet, but just read that it's the sister restaurant of Radicchio in Ridgewood. Since i know a couple of board members dine in Ridgewood often, i thought i'd ask for an opinion of their sister restaurant. Their Hoboken ad mentions: Fois Gras, Compressed Terrine, Crudo, Ceviche, Tartars, Steak ou poivres, Veal Chops, Venisson Chips, Tuna, Risotto Rock Shrimp and some others. Not really my type of food, but i know others here enjoy these type of selections. If anybody tries it before me, please let me know how it is. Les Bisous 333 Washington St Hoboken, NJ 201-795-1104

Just to clarify, i'll assume that this restaurant does NOT have a liquor license... As Tommy pointed out, NJ restaurants that DO NOT have a liquor license can NOT charge a corking fee. I believe if a restaurant has a liquor license but allows you to bring your own bottle, then they ARE ALLOWED to charge a corkage fee.

Jaymes, Thanks for typing all of that out... i got a GOOD laugh out of it (not that it was funny for the you or your clients). I've heard both good and bad about the place, but this is the one part of the trip that the wife-to-be selected, so i think i may be stuck with it. Her friend goes there often and loves it, so i think she's pretty set on it. There is a small chance we may just end up going to Hawaii now, but i think the original plan will come to fruition. Thanks again for your story.

I'm gonna jump on this thread, although i'm a little off topic (for now, as it's not YET food related). I'm planning my honeymoon and many of you here seem to have good Mexico info. Our plans (to be booked in the next few days, nothing paid for yet, so don't be afraid to tell me if i'm making a big mistake or if there is something much better that i'm not aware of). We are flying from NYC to MIA and taking a 4 nite cruise around the Bahamas and Florida. Flying MIA to CUN and staying 4 nites at a new resort called Ceiba del Mar (south of Cancun, in Pueblo Morelos). Then a little north for 4 nites at the Moon Palace (all inclusive, part of the Palace chain of resorts) Fly back to MIA and then back to NYC (possibly stay 1 nite in Miami depending on flight availability/schedule). I'm open to hearing the good, bad, and the ugly regarding my above plans. Once it's all confirmed, i'll start the food questions, although most of our trip is going to include meals at the various resorts. Thanks for any input.

Tommy and the Perlows, I missed you by a few hours!! Was in Teaneck this late afternoon and was planning on going to Wondee's for dinner, but the wife-to-be didn't seem too thrilled w/ thai, so i suggested trying to find Fink's (all i knew was it was on Kinderkamack Rd.) and she seemed to like that idea better. As we're on kinderkamack i say, "I need your help, keep your eyes open" and she replies, "There it is", as we're driving by. I do a U-turn and we go in to eat. The place itself was a little warm (temperature wise), but we decided to stay. I had the pulled chicken sandwich and she had the sampler platter. We didn't share, but we both cleaned our plates and enjoyed the meal. I liked this place a lot, great flavor and a touch of southern hospitality right here in NJ. I've got to turn my parent's on to the place for take-out as they live about 5 minutes away, for me it's about 1/2 hour trip, but i'll go back when i'm in the area. I spoke with the owner a few minutes and told him i heard about him on this site and he said that i missed about 6 fellow posters who came in this morning for breakfast! Anybody know what that big machinery in the back is, with the brand name "Southern Pride"? I don't know if it's an indoor bbq-er or a big fryer or a smoker or something else, but it peaked my interest.

From another burger thread on the NJ Board, here's my prior review of Ted's (mentioned above by Holly): At the advice of an earlier post on this thread, i recently stopped at Ted's Restaurant in Meriden, CT (i know this is a NJ board, but putting here for continuity). This place is a real "joint" where they speak to you in one-word sentences. Upon walking in we were asked: "Cheesburger"? --> Yes please, thank you "Onion"? --> Yes, please "Drink"? In no time at all our food was placed in front of us (on paper plates). Now what makes this place special is that they steam their burgers, and i don't mean they put a dome over it while they cook it. They take a small tin, mabye 3 inches X 2 inches and load it up with meat, then place it on a shelf in a patented metal box which sits on top of the stove (and is above, i imagine, a pot of boiling water). Cheese for the burger is also melted in the same box. The burger drips when you bite into it (all that steam makes the burger extra juicy), and it tasted VERY good. I spent quite some time to try to determine what was different and i finally hit upon it: The meat browns all the way through, but there is a stronger "beef" taste than with a traditional burger. At $2.60/cheeseburger ($1.90 for no cheese) this may be the best burger value in the country! We each had one cheeseburger (along with an order of cheese fries, which i recommend you pass on) and that was enough food for us. Two guys at the counter each had 2 and were truely stuffed. This place isn't worth a special trip from the NYC area, but DEFINATELY worth the trip if you are ever within a 30 minute radius of the place. It's also VERY convenient to stop at if you ever make the drive from NYC to Boston, as it is right off the highway.

Just wanted to say thank you for the recommendation (and helping me impress my future relative!) I walked off the plane and said, "I don't care what we do this weekend, but i've gotta try Kool Beanz Cafe before i leave!" They were amazed i knew about the place. We ate there and it was quite good... food, service, and all. Neither overly cheap nor overly expensive, although i thought the wine was pricey for their short pours. One thing i wasn't used to, which i think is common down south, is even the "nicer" restaurants (which this is considered) are QUITE casual. It's rare to find a restaurant around here where a meal at $75/couple is served by a waitstaff in T-shirts. I'm not saying i minded this, it was just something i noted and thought was "unique". We also ate at Cabo's and Po'Boy's, both of which were also qutie good and i would recommend to anyone in the area.