BeerGut

Yeah, yeah, I can find info about visiting the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island and then eating in NYC, but what about this side of the river? I need suggestions for places to eat lunch/dinner in and around Jersey City. I have family in from California and I want to show them a nice day out in Jersey. There are 6 of us, including 2 teens (who will eat anything). Casual, but not pizza or dogs. Someplace we can sit and talk (although like I said there are teens so we're not lingering over the meal.) $20 or less per person. Help! (And thanks fellow-Gulleteers!)

Clean, well lit but not bright, cozy but not crowded. Attentive waitstaff (not hovering) that know the menu. Prices on the specials, a seasonal menu, local ingredients when possible, and reliable (I shouldn't know who cooked my dish by how it comes out this time). Clean beer taps (if you get a license).And I'm not a fan of the open kitchen. BTW - I'll take clean and reliable over all the other issues. (I second the "keep the lobster roll" comment!) FWIW - Don't try to please everyone (you can't do it). Be yourself and we'll come to know and appreciate your place. If it's like RICNIC catering, you'll do great. Good luck!

Thank you both! I'll keep an eye out for Kvass and report back if I find it. In the meantime I'll just open another Founder's Rye

I've read about it and I've heard the rumors of KVASS ("Russian Cola") being brewed in Pittsburg and Brooklyn but I am unable to find any. Does anyone have an opiion about this brew, or better yet, a place to procure such beverage?

There are two liquor stores in NJ that have "vintage areas" 1. Buy Rite - South Plainfield 901 Oak Tree Road S. Plainfield, NJ 07080 908 561-0051 2. Super Saver Liquors 888 Route 22 East Somerville, NJ 08876 908-722-6700 They not only have an unbelievable selection, but they have older bottles too. Bring a lot of money. (It's worth it!)

OP: Where exactly are you docking? Keba, We stay in colonial Merida then sail to Campeche, Tulum, and Belize. I'm looking forward to it! BG

My wife and I are taking a cruise around the Yucatan next winter. This will be my first experience in Central America. We would like to have some experience with the food of the area before we go, and we really can't wait to start the experience! Can anyone recommend Yucatan cuisine - restaurants aroound here (Northern NJ and NYC) to try before we go? Thanks very much in advance!

Good beers and it's nice to have a local brewery too! There's another one in the same neighborhood (well. close) Ramstein! Info at www.ramsteinbeer.com

My additions: Most Overlooked (I know, I know, I already have five but I had such good times at Tomo I wanted to make sure I added another happy voice - Tomo on Route 23 in Little Falls Most Over-rated I have to agree with the others - Sanduccis in River Edge (Tried 'em four times and never had a good experience) - Tuscany Trattoria - The Restaurant in Hackensack - McCormick & Schmicks - Legal Seafoods

List five places you think we may have missed but which deserve a visit. My 5: 1. Bistro EN, Teaneck 2. Esty Street, Park Ridge 3. Relish, Sparkill, NY (Northen NJ area) 4. Fat Cat, Little Ferry 5. Spring Grill, Rutherford

Maybe there is another way to examine this situation. Please list the 5 most over-looked restaurants in Northern NJ.

Definitely related and a nice addition. So what happened to make Raymond's a reality? And is it reproducible? What is the role of the customer and the township in that success? The beer and whisky writer Michael Jackson said that when he was thinking of moving the first step was to visit pubs with his wife in search of the one they wanted as their "local." Am I a crazy romantic to like this idea? Imagine you have a great restaurant in your town that you can walk to. Better yet, imagine you have 3. Not just places you can go, but places you want to go. Places you want to invite friends to visit with you. If I lived in Ridgewood I would work my way through the restaurants in town too. In fact that is exactly to my point - I think more people should have that kind of option. Off the top of my head there are 25 restaurants on Cedar Lane between Teaneck Rd and River Rd of various themes: Italian, Indian, Caribbean, Dominican, BBQ, diner, ice-cream, kabobs, pizza, IHOP, subs, etc. Most cater to families or grab-a-bite type places. But when I want a nice dinner out with my wife, we go out of town...last night we ate at RELISH in Sparkill, NY (which was very good) Shout out to Bistro EN. A nice place and a shot in the arm for the town. When the NJ section of the NYTimes reviewed it it was swamped. But otherwise there isn't anything like a fine dining restaurant in town (Glenpointe is barely in town and I'll leave it's status as fine dining aside). WHY and How can this be changed? There are Fortune 500 business executives, doctors, administrators, lawyers, CPAs and others with businesses on the Lane. They are already in the area, they don't need a reason to come here. But where do these business types go for business lunches and drinks? They don't go to the Subway. Limabean I hear what you're saying. But I think if a place like Serenade (if I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming big) opened in town people would find it and the town would benefit in many ways from that addition. Now I'm interested in the thoughts of the businessman/chef. What can the town do? What focus can I, as a foodie citizen, bring to the township's attention that would increase chances that a restaurant will be attracted to town; and what can be done to increase the chances it will thrive? I'm enjoying (and I appreciate) the conversation.

I stand corrected. Thanks for filling in the pieces!

I remember when Westwood and Ridgewood stores were empty. That changed. I wonder what the role of the citizens and town council were and if it could be replicated elsewhere. Restaurants are not possible without customers and town support. So there is a role for residents and customers to bring good places to their towns. To that end I started this posting. Question: What can a customer do, beyond visit often, bring others, tip well, and spread the good word? (But that is a good start.) The answer: Encourage diversity and competition Attend town meetings and keep the interests of the restaurateur in mind (I am still trying to clarify what these are) Create a culture of foodies among the population (tell everyone about eGullet) Ensure a safe neighborhood Ensure convenient (and free?)parking Clear sightlines of the storefront Beware stupid sign laws, Minimize Permit costs and red-tape Preach the tax benefits to the start-up Help (as a township) with marketing and advertising I'm going to offer to buy a Councilman a beer and see what I can do.

Location, location, location, parking, safety, income level, you're right. What would be a supportive town council?

I do. (BTW, you are the spot that I had in mind when I made that remark. It's been a while but I had a delicious lobster roll at PICNIC - ever think of taking over the Emerson Hotel?) Maybe I should be posting on an Urban Planning chatboard. But I pose this question after visiting a small, upper-middle-class commuter town north of Boston. One 2-lane road, and 3 restaurants which reminded me of (toned down versions of) Harvest, the old America of Tenafly, and Bacari Grill. Each dinner cost us between $60 and $80 for 2; these restaurants were the regular dining spots for the locals, not special locations. Towns nearby had a restaurant or 2 like this. Then I come home to Teaneck and I either pay more for mediocre food from one of the many chain (or blue-hair) places around here or drive someplace else. Why? From a business point of view what should a town understand in order to attract, retain, and support a quality restaurant? I mean the residents are already nearby, they have money, but they travelling on congested roads, to busy places, where they wait for parking, wait for a table, eat mediocre food and pay high prices for the privilege. I don't get it.

Wonder about who has the money to inform, educate and sway the audience. Who controls image, advertising and distribution (including what doesn't get distributed). There isn't a sense of history and tradition in the big companies, or the buyers. Educate a friend in the difference between a Coors and Flying Fish and they might see the light. Bring a Rauchbier to a BBQ and see who wakes up. It's a "just a give the people what they want" mind-set at the business end. Some people put lime in their beer? Some people add salt? Fine, lets make a beer like that. If the Big Guys weren't buying/and the controlling the little ones there might be more experimentation and creativity. As it is we are about to have major advertising for beers like Salt and Lime Coors. Another angle is the financial sense it makes to buy your competition, gut his operation and use the hardware to produce more of your own product (See: Rolling Rock closes and Bud takes over plant) A good product will find an audience, but a good product with marketing support will do better. Go drink a Duvel and get back to me.

Educate me. I'm in need of a good local restaurant and I want to do my part. How do I help make my town attractive to more than pizza shops and diners? What do restaurateurs look for in a town? Why do some towns (Montclair, Ridgewood) have clumps of nice restaurants and others have few (or none)? I attend council meetings, I can do my part. What makes a town attractive? I would like to invite a talented, creative chef to open a restaurant (not just a caterer) that has more than a deep-fryer and butter sauces to this neighborhood (Leonia/Teaneck/New Milford). These are highway towns of single-family homes and disposable incomes. The malls and bad-food chains around here are PACKED. With so many people waiting in line at places like the Cheesecake Factory, Morton's, M&S, etc, I don't understand why there aren't more good independent restaurants around here. We don't need another Appleby's! So help me if another TGIMcFunster's (thanks Mr Bourdain) opens around here I'm moving.

DONUTS! And very close to Ft Lee Palermo Bakery at 187 Main Street in Ridgefield Park (across from CVS) http://www.palermobakery.com/main.html They have great donuts and other baked goods really. Plus if you buy 2 donuts a cup of coffee is free! I don't know why people go to the Dunkin Donuts up the street

You're a gulleteer after my own heart. I look for a biergarden/outside bar every Spring. However I think it gets too hot in the summer and obviously too cold in the winter for this to be possible around here. Here's a beer garden in Queens, NY http://www.bohemianhall.com/home.htm I know this not what you want, but here is a list of places with outdoor seating and drink service. *I have not yet checked all of these out personally but I'm working on it!* Much of Hoboken, Trackside, Ramsey Café Matisse, Rutherford Rebecca's, 236 Old River Road, Edgewater Le Jardin Restaurant 1257 River Rd, Edgewater Panevino, Route 10 Livingston Trattoria Fresco, Caldwell (back patio) Brady’s, Ramsey Varka, Ramsey Oceanos, Fair Lawn Elysian café, Hoboken Jefferson’s, Hoboken (patio) Raymond’s, Montclair Café Metro, Denville (front porch) Harvest, Closter The Porter House 125 N Kinderkamack Rd Montvale Lighthouse Oyster Bar, Piermont NY O’Sullivan’s, Jefferson (Burgers and Fries on the water!) Mahwah Bar & Grill, 2 Island Rd, Mahwah (Route 202)

A belated thank-you for the suggestions. Since my initial post we've been to Saigon R (excellent), Malibu Joel's (will definitely visit again) and Cafe Panache (have to save to go again but worth it). Thanks again! BTW - 400+ views of this post?!? I think Teaneck could use a good restaurant. Anyone looking for a new location?

I need recommendations for a Teaneck-area restaurant that I can take my wife, which isn't as busy and loud as a bus station. The wife and I like Bacari Grill (Washington Twp), Pimaan (Emerson), Spring Grill (Rutherford), Park & Orchard (E. Rutherford); we used to go to Chez Madeline (Bergenfield) back in the day. Restaurants with a special, dare I call it NYC-ish, atmosphere are preferred. We don't go out much so being treated well is (always) appreciated. I'm expecting suggestions for restaurants in Montclair (please tell me!), but is there someplace around here that I might have missed?

I want to share a link to information about Day of The Dead (NOT the movie). I love the holiday, I think the history is wonderful, and the recipes are delicious. This page has the Bread of the Dead, but check out the recipes in the table on the right. MOLE! http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/food/pandemuerto.html BeerGut

Thanks again everyone. We've made arrangements at the Bethwood. Everyone expects it will be wonderful. The concern about having the affair at a hotel is kids getting rooms and hosting parties which quickly get out of hand. I teach Junior High English.

Thank you all arouond. We can't have a hotel because of previous experiences, so the Hilton, etc are out. The late attempt at prom plans is a result of previous experiences. I'll let you know what happens.