1ToughCustomer

it's taken me 30 hours or so to reply and I hate to jump on what's already been said...but..... Lou great job!...everything wat just perfect. Kim.. I would love to take credit for the bowls of sauteed cherry peppers..They were sooo good...but Lou did that on his own. As always the "sides" at American Grill are treated with respect. It was Dana and my real pleasure to meet Rosie, Nick, Rachel, Kim, David. Sandy and Suzi! Lou thanks for the Egullet intro....I don't post often...but I do learn from you folks. Thanks!

Just confirming Dana and I will there. Enough with the turkey already!! Looking forward to meeting you Rosie.

Lou - count Dana and me in of course......and Kim can have my salad if I can have her hot peppers. Deal Kim? Also Rosie beer is fine...but Lou also has those great wines. Which we always look forward to.

I'll admit it right here....right now...I get hungry when I read this string of posts. LReda has offered a few times to host a "steak sandwich" lunch at his restaurant American Grill. Me and my honey intend to take him up on the offer and are looking to do it on Monday December 2nd. A number of folks have seemed interested in the past. Would anyone care to join us?

Time to weigh in. I too might be considered a regular. I think JoeB. is dead on. The food is for the most part dull but better than ordinary and Navonna does have a beautiful bar. As suggested not nearly living up to it's potential. First the food. Good ingredients, inconsistent preparation depending on who's in the kitchen but unexciting and almost never taking advantage of seasonal product available. Specials are offered every day but for the most part are minor twists on similar dishes at the restaurant. No risk taking here. All that said, Navonna is a place to have in your rotation. You probably will rarely be disapointed or wowed. In regard to pricing, a bit higher than other 2 - 2 1/2 star kind of places. Most fish dishes $25 area. But considering the lovely venue and Piano Bar Wed. - Saturday, not a bad bargain. A place to go to spend the evening, you will never be rushed. Now the bar. Friendly, fairly priced, great drinks. The only thing missing is some sort of munchie offering and perhaps a more casual bar appy menu. An earlier post suggested that Claudio Beltrami left Navonna about a year ago to open Aria in Fairfield. Claudio was across the road at Maggiorino, not Navonna.

I would have to agree with LREDA, it seems fairly obvious that Courtzzz has an agenda to trash American Grill. Just the fact that Courtzzz laid back for a week waiting for someone to fuel his/her fire indicates that. Coupled with the fact that Courtzzz's last series of post were a diatribe against AG. I've been to AG several times and as LREDA himself concedes AG is not perfect, as other posters have pointed out, no restaurant is. However I've not seen any other owner as ready willing and able to fix a problem or offer amends to a less than satisfied customer. Courtzzzz as far as I and I'm sure many other folks here are concerned you have very little credibilty. You don't care for the restaurant, don't go there but give up on the trash talk. Lreda, you deserve a great deal of credit for being a regular on this forum and standing up with the happy customers and standing up to the critics. I look forward to your posts.

Thanks Rosie! Nice review.

I've heard about this place in Livingston....Stretch's...home of the famous Chicken Savoy...and formerly of the Belmont Tavern fame. does anyone know the place...if so...any recommendation?

Rosie - we had a veal chop milanese and a grilled salmon dish. Salmon was around $20 and the veal was around $25 both with a veg and starch . On the regular menu pastas are around $15 and entreea $16 to $25 range. A decent wine list, fairly priced. There is a small "wine room" when you walk into the main dining room and there may be a reserve wine list, I'm just not sure. The decor was current and stylish. The restaurant is in an old house nicely done. In Morris County American Grill in Randolph is one of our favorites in fact we were there last nite. Good as always Lou. Luigi's in Succasunna is more casual but has an outstanding wine list. In New Brunswick we like Soho on George. In Harding we like Pierre's and in Passaic Park we like Dish.

I've been to Sylvester's within the past 6 months. Food was very good, service efficient, all male wait staff can be a bit on the pushy side. Overall it's a spot I would return to and has been worth the drive from Morris County. By the way Sylvester is the son of the late and great Sonny D. A real tough customer