menton1

Just my 2 cents. Dantes is mostly processed salads and standard Boar's Head meats. Prepared stuff very ordinary. (Beware of their tuna salad-- it's from a mass-produced pail-- celery is soggy, ugh!) If you are looking for a great Italian Deli, go to Jerry's in Englewood... Cornucopia is something like Picnic, catering with deli as a side issue, but it's not quite as good as Picnic. Good soups. Aura Deli--Oradell. Very good sandwiches and salads. Romaine Lettuce on all sandwiches-- a very good sign that this deli cares. Schreiber's-- se my comments above. Ted's Deli, Spring Valley Road. Above average deli. Standard stuff here.

Sorry to disagree about Schreiber's. Salads are a gloppy mess in there. Pretty ordinary. MUCH better stuff in Aura Deli, a few blocks north. Or go to Spring Valley Road (Paramus/River Edge) to Ted's Deli, really good stuff. No French Toast, but great breakfast sandwiches. Or, Go to Picnic, just up the road in Emerson.

I remember passing by Stouffer's somewhere near 5th Ave (53rd?); it seemed like it was filled with "bluehairs". Even back then, it looked like a time warp!

Piermont Restaurant Piermont Road Tenafly Country Pancake House Downtown Ridgewood Brunch Club Fairlawn Avenue Fair Lawn.

It's quite an eye-catcher. Surprised it isn't more well-known. From the air, it always means 5 minutes to touchdown. Would love to see the inside of one of the apartments...

Could you please provide some details of your experience there? Thanks.

Have to pretty much agree on this one. I have a dim view of Villefranche, it looks so promising yet has proven so disappointing. I've tried several restos there, and none were very good. I do know of 2 more casual, less serious restaurants with a terrific setting right on the water, though. They won't be getting any Michelin stars, but they are fun. African Queen, in the Beaulieu port, has tables set among large potted plants, right on the dockside with all the boats bobbbing and the warm breezes blowing. Good, casual food. Le Cabanon in Cap d'Ail, literally right on a secluded beach dune, a very nice way to spend a lunch or a nice dinner with the waves crashing. Salads, omelettes, and small plates mostly. I also found a photo of the Marina Baie des Anges, so those who have not seen it can get an idea of just how unusual it really is, especially on the air approach to Nice. Marina Baie des Anges Apartments

On the subject of kitsch and unique places on the Côte, I thought of another one. In Villeneuve-Loubet, just east of Cannes, (Probably can also be seen from Lérins) is an apartment complex, the "Marina Baie des Anges". Also built in the 60s, this is like no other. 3 buildings, all curved, with the building tapering drastically toward the top and the floor area being dramatically reduced accordingly. There are boat docks for all tenants, and the terrasses are so huge that many have huge palm trees and exotic tropical gardens. I understand that inside, these are not what they used to be, but from the outside, they are quite unique and memorable!! (Can also get a great view of them from the plane on the approach to Nice)

Well, have a great time, Commissioner. Just a comment on Nice vs. Monaco. Nice is a real place, real people. A big city, but low rise buildings, and spread out. Monaco is more like an amusement park for the rich and famous. Police in starched white uniforms, impeccable. Cameras on the street watching your every move. About 60 miles down the coast, Porquerolles is a dreamy place. No cars, you walk everywhere. I believe there are only 1 or 2 restaurants. Really off the beaten track, just a place for peace and quiet. Wonderfully boring. Enjoy. As a curiosity, on your way into port at St Trop, pass by a place called Port Grimaud. Built as a vision in the 60s, it's a "modern Venice" where every dwelling has their own dock, and the homes are on a series of land fingers built out into the bay. A bit if kitsch.

For a cheaper bakery, I have heard a lot of good things about Mazur's Bakery on Ridge Road (main drag) in Lyndhurst. Has an enormous loyal following. Not the same style as a place like Balthazar, but it is a long-established business. Lots of praise from locals. Any hands-on reports about Mazur's?

Sounds like a nice trip. You didn't indicate the length of time you are allowing in this cruise down the coast. YOu have a huge # of restaurants on your list. Mostly high end. There are also a multitude of middle-ground restos that are wonderful. Street food in Nice is also great. Have you checked out a stop at the Port in Beaulieu-sur-Mer? I have heard from boat people that this is a much, much more "user-friendly" port than the one in Monaco. Easy access, and lower docking fees, too. I'm not much of a fan of Monaco myself. Extremely congested, and many huge high-rises. I prefer the relative serenity of the France communities from Menton to Nice. Monaco, for me, is just overdone and pretentious. But we are all different. There are literally dozens of touristic sites in this area, you won't have time to see them all, I'm sure. A favorite of mine is the Ephrussi Mansion in Cap Ferrat. YOu are also going at the best time of year for all the spring flowers. Bon voyage!

The original Friday's on 63rd and 1st Avenue, and, for a change of pace, you could head over to Maxwell's Plum on 64th. The chain restos " Friday's" bear little resemblance to that place...

Just as a reference, Directv offers Fine Living Network as part of their basic package.

Firstly, I thing the phrase "good cheap bakeries" is an oxymoron. Good bakeries are never cheap. Secondly, we have done a whole thread on Balthazar, they have been open for 3-4 years in Englewood, selling retail in a little shop in front of the factory. I think everything is fabulous there! Gallettes, tarts, cakes, and ahhh, the breads! My favorite is the raisin-pecan dark bread. Baguettes, brioches, pain au chocolat, need I say more. Get there!

WEll, where to begin... Just a word about La Mérenda. It's known everywhere, by everyone who lives in or visits Nice. So how can a 12 seat restaurant be an institution? No phone to boot? Well, M. LeStanc does it his way, giving up a nice gig at Le Chantecler in the Negresco for his quirky ways. But it must be experienced once. P.S. The seats are not too comfortable, either, but it's just so unique and the food is so good, you need to go once... I know right smack on the beach in Cap DÁntibes is Le Cesar, known for its seafood (what else) and its location. But of course, it's Cap d'Antibes, so it is priced accordingly. One of the true bargains in Nice, is a 1-star L'Univers. Even with its star, gracious service and excellent food, you can get away for less than 80E for 2. Website: L'Univers For a seafood splurge, in Nice, I prefer Les Viviers to the above mentioned Bocaccio. 22 rue Alphonse Karr. I don't care much for any of the restos in Villefranche-sur-Mer. They are beautifully situated, but they all disappoint. Shame. In Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a really nice simple place is Le Catalan. A simple pizza and salad, or something more elaborate, this place is fun. 52 blvd General LeClerc, just around the corner from the RR station. Also on the port, African Queen is similar. A little pricier, but a great location with the boats bobbing around. A wonderful restaurant in Cap d'Ail is Le Cabanon. A bit hard to find, but worth it, right on a secluded beach with an idyllic view of the dunes and the water. Not fancy, but very good food. Go for lunch or dinner. Website Make a right turn toward the beach at the eastern end of town, through the backs of the apartment complexes. Don't give up, it's worth finding!! More later, if you want... P.S. Don't miss the Picasso Musée in Antibes, and the Picasso ceramics showroom, displaying the plates made from the molds he designed for Madoura, in Vallauris. Renoir House in Cagnes is wonderful as well.

Sure, there was a misunderstanding, and "still" does generally mean bottled water without gas; but it's still good business for the restaurant to graciously "take the hit" on this less-than-$1 bottle of water. Making the customer uncomfortable accomplishes little. The ultimate goal is to give the customer an experience that will encourage him/her to want to return (and return). What's the good of the restaurant being "right" and half-empty?

Sure, but maybe she also wants to have a life.

Agreed. I don't think its appropriate for a diner to feel any tension or annoyance from the wait staff. My feeling would be, as yours was, that I just won't return anymore, why cause such annoyance to the staff?

I can suggest several places from Nice east to the border; would that be within your range? Avignon area restaurants has just been discussed on another thread here.

Sorry, still don't get the logic here. Were they unruly and loud? It seems that you are an ex-pat youself. (detected some French grammatical errors in your posts) Why the revolt against tourists? (Good for the economy, non?)

Wow, so many disparate opinions from RI natives! I wanted to add, that the plot thickens (not the chowder ) I recently had the opportunity to go up to Cranston, and meet my friend's large family. (Unfortunately, it was after a funeral). I brought up the red-chowder discussion. Just about all of them insisted that red is the chowder of record in and around Providence, but nowhere else in New England. I think I mentioned previously that employees at Gregg's, a popular chain resto in Providence with 4 or 5 locations, said that red outsells the white by about 2:1 there. And Legal Seafoods, right on their menu, calls their red chowder "Providence Clam Chowder". I guess even the Providence natives are never going to agree on this "color" issue!!

Memories of Grilled Hot Dog Stands (So you didn't Have to get a "dirty water dog") Lexington Ave & 53rd (60s-70s) Grab a dog on the way into the subway... 6th Ave and 42nd Street Good chili there, too. 8th Ave & 50th St. Great stuff! Not to mention all the Nedick's in the Subways... just loved that mustard-relish mixed together!! And orange drinks! Any others I left out? Today, in all of Manhattan, we only have Papaya King on 86th or Katz's on Houston. Nothing in-between but the umbrellas...

No, I'm sure there are very good restaurants down there. But from a "downtown" point of view, that's where I was having trouble. I did suspect Haddonfield, nice downtown area. Cherry Hill? Mount Laurel? From my limited knowledge, these places are strictly " on the highway" with nothing within their borders resembling a "town". Just malls and strip centers. And quite honestly, when I drive the 2 hours in that direction, I make sure to go over the bridge into Philly, which I love alot and has really GREAT restaurants!

The Geographic Center of New Jersey is in Hamilton Square, in Mercer County. A/ Any good restaurants in Hamilton Square? B/ What exactly does "geographic center" actually mean?

Grand opening in Tenafly, La Forchetta. Any reports?