Jump to content

Lima Bean

participating member
  • Posts

    72
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Lima Bean

  1. Sakura Bana - we eat there once a week. Thurdays are when the fresh uni arrives but limited quantity, I've heard Ken say you can order ahead.

    The wasabi and ginger are the best around.

    The liquor store is expensive and convenient

    There are so many different rolls that you can easily spend $60 put my husband and I get out of there spending $50 together...you just need to be smart about ordering.

    Besides the fresh sushi, the dynamite roll in Jason's picture (tuna, hot sauce and tempura chips) are the best in the East coast. We always order one and I can live on it everyday.

    Other items you've got to try is the Spicy Ribs and the Miso Cod appetizer

    Sit at the bar, because watching Ken when he's busy is an art. He starts to "bop" back in forth as if he's in his own world in a trance almost. He doesn't talk much when it's busy and he's in his groove.

    His staff has been with him for over 10 years...all of them, they all bowl together

  2. We went to LaTour in Ridgewood the so called French American resturant. The crepes were cold and had a teaspoon of crab filing that tasted like iodine, followed by what was suppose to be short ribs, but the perfectly square meat with no bone was like pot roast. for $75 dollars pre-fix, we will never venture there again.

    LimaBean :shock:

  3. I ecco the comment about the Porterhouse in Montvale. We travel about 25 miles to go there at least once a month. It's an irish bar/resturant that has everything from the "best" sheppards pie and irish stew, to one of the best calamari, to great steaks, pasta and fish and not to mention over 30 beers on tap. The crab cakes are small but excellent, burgers are good too. The calamari is consistenty tender no matter when we've ordered it and it comes with the traditional marinara but we like the chipolte sauce instead.

    They have a traditional bar area, old style pup but extremely clean, a great new out door area for dinning as well as a new upscale dinning room in the back, which is a bit stiff for our taste as we go there for the irish ambiance, but always, always crowded. You can get the same food no matter what dinning experience you choose.

    We've brought several friends there and no one has been dissappointed. In fact for a brew house, most people are very very surprised.

    If you're up that way, it's a most to try.

    Lima Bean

  4. Pizza in Northern NJ - thin crust

    Espositos in Mahwah - get the grandma's pizza is a thin square pizza with the best tomato sauce

    Kinchleys -

    Nellies - great thin crust, we like the sausage, garlic and hot peppers

    Brooklyn Pizza is available in Ridgewood

  5. Hi

    We went here for lunch today and overall would say the food is ok, somewhat salty and perhaps lacking onions and garlic. The waitress as mentioned above, did look over our shoulders too when completing the tip.

    white rice, black beans, plantains, empanadas where all good, nothing outstanding

    * shrimp in garlic was plentyful but very salty

    * the shredded pork was tender but bland

    cuban coffee was excellent

    the flan was a tasty but a very very firm texture, not custard based like you would expect.

    Not cheap for lunch....

    Mundo Latino in North Bergen or Sazon in Ridgewood (peruvian, cuban) is more interesting

  6. I've been to WM in Hack a number of times and they are the best. No need for seasoning, the cheese and onions are a must. I prefer singles and not doubles as I think they sometimes cook them too much when a double.

    We usually go around 2-3 on a Saturday and wait for just a short time

  7. Restaurant Magazine publishes its list of the top 50 restaurants worldwide. For 2005, The Fat Duck in Bray, Berks, England took top honors. The magazine chose The French Laundry in Yountville, Calif. as the best in the Americas. The magazine surveyed a panel of more than 600 international chefs, critics and restaurateurs.

    Read the Full List

    1. The Fat Duck -- Best in Europe

    Bray, Berks, England

    2. El Bulli -- Chef's Choice

    Montjoi, Spain

    3. The French Laundry -- Best in Americas

    Yountville, Calif.

    4. Tetsuya's -- Best in Australasia

    Sydney, Australia

    5. Gordon Ramsay

    London

    6. Pierre Gagnaire

    Paris

    7. Per Se -- Highest New Entry

    New York

    8. Tom Aikens

    London

    9. Jean Georges

    New York

    10. St John

    London

    11. Michel Bras

    Laguiole, France

    12. Le Louis XV

    Monte Carlo, Monaco

    13. Chez Panisse -- Highest Climber

    Berkeley, Calif.

    14. Charlie Trotter

    Chicago

    15. Gramercy Tavern

    New York

    16. Guy Savoy

    Paris, France

    17. Restaurant Alain Ducasse

    Paris

    18. The Gallery at Sketch

    London

    19. The Waterside Inn

    Bray, Berks, England

    20. Nobu

    London

    21. Restaurante Arzak

    San Sebastian, Spain

    22. El Raco de Can Fabes

    San Celoni, Spain

    23. Checcino dal 1887

    Rome

    24. Le Meurice

    Paris

    25. L'Hotel de Ville

    Crissier, Switzerland

    26. L’Arpege

    Paris

    27. Angela Hartnett at The Connaught

    London

    28. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

    Oxon, England

    29. Le Cinq

    Paris, France

    30. Hakkasan

    London

    31. Cal Pep -- Outstanding Value

    Barcelona

    32. Masa

    New York

    33. Flower Drum

    Melbourne, Australia

    34. WD50

    New York

    35. Le Quartier Francais – Best in Middle East & Africa

    Franschhoek, South Africa

    36. Spice Market

    New York

    37. Auberge de Auberge de l'Ill

    Illhaeusern-Alsace, France

    38. Manresa

    California

    39. Restaurant Dieter Muller

    Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

    40. La Maison Troisgros

    Roanne, France

    41. The Wolseley

    London

    42. Rockpool

    Sydney, Australia

    43. Yauatcha

    London

    44. The Ivy

    London

    45. Gambero Rosso

    San Vincenzo, Italy

    46. The Cliff

    St James, Barbados

    47. Le Gavroche

    London

    48. Enoteca Pinchiorri -- Editor's Choice

    Florence, Italy

    49. Felix -- Best in Asia

    The Peninsula, Hong Kong

    50. La Tupina

    Bordeaux, France

  8. Hello,

    We just happen to catch the Spice Market on Saturday at a good time as they had a few seats available downstairs for drinks and appetizers. Friends of ours have been calling for weeks to get in, so we were really excited. As you all know, this was voted in the top 25 as one of the best resturants in the world.

    It's in the new trendy meat packing area of the village on 13th st between 9th and 10th. However, we had to park a few blocks away and unfortunately the area smelled, but we didn't let that discourage us.

    The decor inside is beautiful, exotic, indian influences and the lighting is perfect. They have upstairs seating including the ability to sit infront of the kitchen, but since it's like an assembly line set up, I wouldn't recommend it. Downstairs they have a bar with small tables around to eat appetizers as well as some isolated family rooms that seat 10 for intimate parties. This was really done well.

    We ordered the chicken samosas and the pepper chicken and "spice" is clearly in every dish. We eat lot's of spice in our family but this was a bit much. The chicken in the samosa was not that appetizing and the shrimp was very over cooked and very very small.

    OK you say, we had a bad night but Emeril L. himself was sitting right next to us and I don't think he didn't like his appetizers either, apparently the chicken wings their table ordered were "burnt".

    We didn't stay for dinner, which I'm sure would have been better.

    LIMA BEAN

  9. also, what places do you actually enjoy aside from the above 2. it seems you are very critical, so you probably know what you're talking about.

    What exactly is this board looking for? honest opinions of food establishments or just a joe smoe advise from someone that dines out maybe once every three months? Yes I am critical and have certain expectations, and by the way they are different depending upon the establishment (hot dog vendors different than a 5 star resturant). I dine out frequently, all over the country representing all different varieties of food. I don't consider myself a ZAGAT expert but a very serious novice.

    Based upon the other feedback regarding this resturant, I would say my recommendation of only 1 LIMA BEAN was accurate.

    Also, I don't believe I was comparing Blue Moon's crowd of kids (and true) to Rosa Mexicalli in NY by any means.....Since northern Bergen County doesn't have many mexican establishments, Blue Moon is good in a pinch. I wouldn't recommend a special trip for it. But if you live in the area, you should try it out.

  10. 3 CHICAS Mexican Kitchen - Wyckoff NJ

    Eat in / Take out

    Seats at bar to watch cook

    Sep 3rd, 2002

    Dinner - shrimp burrito, pork quesadilla, chips, salsa, guacamole

    Cost - $26.00

    Rating - 1 LIMA BEAN

    ---------------------------------------------

    Everything on the menu is a la carte including the chips

    Food is served on paper plates, bowls. Have you ever tried to eat a burrito in a paper bowl?

    The pork was not shredded but chunks of fat, the shrimp was old and over cooked.

    The red salsa was home made, slightly boring and served in a very small cup that I couldn't get the chip into.

    The chipolte sauce was good, but I dont think it was homemade, the same for the guacamole.

    ___________________________

    They serve the basic "fast food" mexican fare with bergen county prices.

    ____________________________

    We prefer the Blue Moon Cafe in Wycoff for variety, and good food.

    or

    Mamacitas in Ramsey (former owner of the small mexican diner on rt 4 in Paramus). The menu is basic, but I think she makes one of the best mole and tomatillo sauces around. Her red salsa is more like tomatoe paste/sauce. We eat there once a week and can always count on the food.

  11. Thanks FatGuy, I knew I was getting into some healthy conversation but I've been to many "great" resturants across the nation and feel that I've earned (somewhat) the ability to downplay PL.

    If you read Rosengarten's review, it talks very little about the steak (black and blue or not). He really discusses the "bad" elements about PL, indirectly telling us not to go there. Perhaps he wasn't so PC about PL and therefore the reason why he's not even with Gourmet.

    I still stand by my recommendation, but I always give fine dining establishments 2-3 tries before I really cross them off my list.

    And, perhaps my next venture will be Sparks, as I have not been there.

  12. Malee,

    I believe the menu is very good and out ranks the other Ridgewood Thai resturants. I also order my food exceptionally spicy, but it arrives in my mind "medium".

    We are Bergen County folk, and would venture to Saigon Republic in a heart beat.

    Lima Bean

  13. I'm very excited today as this is my "first" post as a new member of eGullet and what a great way to start but with my trip to Peter Luger over the holiday weekend. I've been waiting over a month for a prime piece of Porterhouse to touch my lips.....however, it looks like I will still be waiting.

    I was very disappointed in the Porterhouse steak serviced to me not once, but twice. The first piece was "well done", the second was unevenly cooked, tasteless and 2 bites that were so chewy I had to use my napkin.

    Moreover, their version of creamed spinach is nothing but a pound of butter and no heavy cream at all. The German home fries were acceptable, but the pecan pie was the best. Although the Brooklyn Ale was very good, but at $5 for 8 ounces, I'm no so sure.

    I don't think I'll be taking another trip from NJ to Brooklyn any time soon.

    I will continue to recommend the steakhouses from Manhattan (Smith and Wollensky and Post House) and frankely, The River Palm Terrace in Mawah NJ (a sister of the River Palm in NY), is still my favorite.

    Glad to be a member,

    Lima Bean

×
×
  • Create New...