walter maier

Tommy, thanks, I guess we should have, even though the sarcastic crack of "Mmm, yes, the filet mignon was worth the wait." was made. Plenty of other folks made comments (my wife has a good combo of hearing and lip reading), so would our comment have made any matter, especially since we were blow-ins that evening?

We went away for our anniversay this weekend, not far, Goshen, NY. We decided to try dinner at Ile de France (advertised as French American Dining) in Goshen last night. I should preface this to say we stopped in earlier in the evening to make a reservation for later, and the VERY young fellow (he may have been 15) who was dealing with the silverware said "Um, the owner isn't here, can you call back later?" We then asked if they get very crowded on Saturdays, and he replied that they have had problems with staffing, so they aren't as crowded as they used to be. Right away, alarm bells went off, but we said, give them a go anyway. We arrived around 645pm, without a reservation. They sat us, with only a minor (less than 1 minute) delay. We ordered a bottle of wine, potato soup and salads and filet mignon med rare for both. Soup came out right away. Salad followed close behind. Our entrees on the other hand, were at least 1 hour, maybe more, behind the salad. The food was very good, but what's up with the service? I mean, the entertainment consisted of us watching other tables -- oh look, they just asked the waitress what's up, and oh look, they got their entrees, we're only 7 more to go! We didn't order dessert for several reasons, including it might have been well past our bed time before we got our dessert. We did not make a scene, and tipped the wait staff reasonably, since it obviously was not their fault. But what should the restaurant have done, or, what should WE have done, if anything? I have only walked out on one restaurant, and am loathe to do so unless I feel we are being ignored or mistreated. I realize that some nights may be beyond anyone's control.

We ate there about 2 months or so ago, a group of... lemme see about 8 or 10 of us. Here is what I wrote at the time: After Athens, a fairly new contemporary Greek restaurant, is in the basement of a street level cafe called Eros Cafe. You have to enter through the cafe and then through big silver doors to go to the basement, where After Athens is located. I won't even attempt the Greek names of what we ate, but it was all good. We started with what we thought was going to be 2 platters of appetizer combos and 2 orders of flaming fried cheese. We got the fried cheese, on fire natch, however we got 4 platters of appetizers. Seeing as we ate everything, we didn't argue. The entrees were a mix -- salmon special (very good by the way), flounder stuffed with crab meat, pork chops stuffed with spinach and feta, baby lamb chops, and some other stuff at the other end of the table. Everything I tried was delicious. Desserts were bakalava (quite good), apple pie, double chocolate pie, chai, coffee... the usual suspects. All told, with tip included (the restaurant added the tip), came to $44/person. An excellent value. There was a live jazz band that evening (vibes, drums, bass) but they advertise Greek music Weds-Friday. We loved the subterranean ambience, and the service was very good -- attentive, not annoying. Sorry I could not recall more details, but we averaged a bottle of wine/person. Haven't been back, but that's more our fault then the restaurant's. I'd rather go back on a night with the live Greek music, to be honest.

Rosie, you were at Jai Lai? Did you post a review? I checked back a ways and didn't see one.

Paul, I was pleased to see your review of French Quarter. Haven't been there in a bit myself, but if I may, I'd like to add a few of my personal comments. First, a Dixieland band plays Saturday evenings, from around 8pm, till whenever, and they are a lot of fun, not to mention they wail! Saturday is usually a bit more crowded in the restaurant. I was surprised to hear you were not offered specials, every time we have been there, specials were plentiful and interesting and good. I noticed the soiled menus myself, but to be honest, I overlooked that especially after the first time we went and Jean, the chef-owner, was our waiter as well as cook! BTW, the Hurricanes are quite tasty. As an aside to no one in particular, just back from a trip to Stockholm in Sweden, and Iceland. Some rather interesting food experiences I must say.

jhlurie, If I could add my zwei pfennig to your post: Regarding cajun v creole, I have no idea what the difference is, try The French Quarter on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. Live music on some nights, with a Dixieland band on Saturdays. Food is incredible, IM not so Knowledgable Opinion. Regarding German food, what about the Triangle Hofbrau on Rt 23 in Pequannock, or Topps in Red Bank? Or The Dutchman's in Manahawkin, all places I've eaten at, in addition to the Black Forest Inn. http://www.germancorner.com/yellowpages/re...ants/newjersey/ Don't know how exhaustive that list is, but I do know that Clayton's Log Cabin on Rt 72 in Barnegat burned down a few years ago, not sure if they ever rebuilt.

I've eaten at both Iberias, as well as Spanish Tavern. Just had lunch at Forno's this afternoon, it was packed solid. Their lunch specials looked good, but $20?? And with a pitcher of sangria, that's a pricey lunch.

We are doing Don Pepe in Newark tomorrow night, followed by an NJSO concert with Evelyn Glennie. A friend has a friend and his family visiting from the UK, so we are making a general evening of it.

We ate at Blu-Sea Cafe on Wednesday night (Arctic char salmon with caramelized onions and halibut over broccoli rabe) and stopped at their gourmet seafood store next dore -- bought homemade lobster bisque and lobster ravioli. Definitely having the bisque this evening. Tomorrow we are trying Raagini in Mountainside. Anyone ever been?

Never heard of that place Rosie. Do you have an address or website?

We ate at After Athens, in Rutherford, on Saturday evening. We had a group of 10, and we sure did pack the food away. Oh yeah, and the wine too. You have to enter through a street level cafe called Eros, and then through big silver doors to go to the basement, where After Athens is located. I won't even attempt the Greek names of what we ate, but it was all good. We started with, what we thought was going to be 2 platters of appetizer combos and 2 orders of flaming fried cheese. We got the fried cheese, on fire natch, however we got 4 platters of appetizers. Seeing as we ate everything, we didn't argue. The entrees were a mix -- salmon special (very good by the way), flounder stuffed with crab meat, pork chops stuffed with spinach and feta, baby lamb chops, and some other stuff at the other end of the table. Everything I tried was delicious. Desserts were bakalava (quite good), apple pie, double chocolate pie, chai, coffee... the usual suspects. All told, with tip included (the restaurant added the tip), came to $44/person. An excellent value. There was a live jazz band that evening (vibes, drums, bass) but they advertise Greek music Weds-Friday. We loved the subterranean ambience, and the service was very good -- attentive, not annoying. Also looks like a Moroccan restaurant will be opening next door in the near future. After Athens 19 Park Avenue Rutherford, NJ 201-729-0005 BYOB, casual

Tommy, I brew everything, including the kitchen sink. I haven't been doing it as much as of late, probably because I develop occasional episodes laziness. I have made a potato ale generally for Paddys.

Good pubs? Lessee, The Wexford Inn in Lincoln Park got our St Pat's business last year, but I also did lunch at McGovern's in Newark. Hamilton Pub in Newark is good too, though never did them for Paddy's Day...yet. We usually do a party, and are again this year, in which we make corned beef, stew and brown bread. This year, to throw everyone a curveball, we are having those things PLUS baked ziti and take-out Indian food. I also make my own beer for this party, but just ran out of time this year.

A friend of mine said that La Vigna and Bellisimo's, both in Little Falls?, are reputedly both mob joints.

Saturday night, we went to Topps Restaurant in Red Bank. http://www.toppsrestaurant.com/ I have to work in Red Bank on occasion, and since it is a long drive, we usually make dinner first. Unfortunately, since I DO have to work in the evening, we can't lounge over dinner. So far, we have tried Basil T's, Carlos O Connor's, and the Dublin House in addition to Topps for Red Bank dinners. If anyone has other suggestions for Red Bank dining, they would be welcome. Anyway, Topps Restaurant, a small BYO, specializes in German style, with some seafood as well. I had the pork loin stuffed with apple sausage while my wife had the venison (which, by the way, we just finished the leftovers an hour ago!). We started with the potato pancake platter, and they include house salad - family style, and with your entree you get a family style plate of sides that includes German potato salad, red cabbage, and spaetzle. We ended with a lingonberry crepe for dessert. I suppose our overall feeling is that the food is good, but not worth a special and long trip. Also, we made a rez for 5pm, and my wife overheard the wait staff saying they could probably get us out and turn the table. Of course, she notices everything while I am blissfully ignorant! I'd be interested in anyone else's comments on Topps.