Letseatsomemore

Well said fink! But are you making any of that Lamb and guiness stew anytime soon?

It's been tried but upselling is a tough thing to teach even with roll playing. It comes down to this: either you're a salesman or you're not. There is the preservice meeting at every restaurant when the chef goes over the specials and any menu modifications with the staff so they can sell those items. SOme waiters have a natural knack for upselling--ever gotten a special because the waiters description was music to your ears? Others waiters don't. Ever been to a restaurant with the bottle water on the table and instead of offering it the server just whisks it away?

Apologies to Jason: I drove past Shiraz today and the sign indeed says Persian (cuisine). However, when they first opened the sign read Persian and Afghan Cuisine so at some point they changed to just Persian or they don't advertise the Afghan cuisine after the events of 9/11.

I actually beleive Sapphire is better than Kervan, but they are only related in the sense that the nephew of the guy who owns Kervan runs Sapphire -- Sapphire used to be Kervan II, and when the old man got tired of running it he sold it to his nephew. Kervan is still good but is getting a little tired, I think. In terms of Middle Eastern food in Bergen County, its pretty much all Turkish kebab house places or nothing. Bennies is the one that is truly middle eastern and in my opinion, the best of the bunch. There is also Shiraz in Edgewater, an Iranian place, but I havent tried it yet. I've heard mixed reactions on it. I agree about the Kervan connection. However, I ate at Kervan twice in the past month and was delightfully surprised at how well everything was prepared and at how good it all tasted. I agree sapphire is a worthwhile go round. BUt let's not count out Kervan. Shiraz in edgewater was ok when I ate there a few times after it first opened. I was never impressed enough to go back. It may have improved but I couldn't say. I also believe that the cuisine is Afghan and not Iranian.

1, 3 and 4 are Turkish Restaurants. Sapphire is related to Kervan. Kervan is quite outstanding. ANd on the Subject of Turkish, Try Beyti Kabob in Union City. (10-15 minutes from Edgewater) 4105 Park Avenue 201-865-6281, it's well worth the trip.

How do you know foy is a restaurant owner? I've heard of Dennis Foy, who owned several restaurants, but not John. Also, when you say several are taste deprived, is this because they don't agree with your taste or do you not like their writing? I'm curious because I've gone to restaurants based on a reviewers recommendations and I have not always agreed with them but at the same time I didn't think them taste deprived. I chalked it up to differences in personal preference unless the service was awful and the food had serioius problems.