menton1

This is amazingly true in France. Even in a local cafe. We never eat breakfast in our hotel, it is highly overppriced and inferior. We prefer to go out to the closest local cafe. This time, we found a typical Parisian cafe a few steps from our hotel, and went there every day. It's amazing how much the Parisians do in so little space. In this tiny place with a litle "comptoir" and about 10 tables, they can make any kind of coffee, and also do a brisk lunch business with several "plats du jour". On the second day, we were greeted with big smiles of recognigion, and a bit of conversation. By the fourth morning, it was almost as if we were family. Not to mention, this was just about the best "Creme" we had in France, and we just had a little "tartine buerré" to go with it. I really miss this experience as I sadly get my morning Starbucks at home...

Just returned from our trip, and I can add to our list: Le Privilege du Perigord, Monpazier (Lot-et-Garonne) Le Coq Hardi, Toulouse L'Astralabe, Toulouse La Petite Cour, Paris L'Epi Dupin, Paris (highlight of the trip) As soon as I recover from the jet lag and fatigue of covering about 1000 miles in 2 1/2 weeks, I wil give more detailed reports of these restaurants. Margiarge in Bordighera and L'Epi Dupin are the standouts, though, of a very good eating trip. Time now for a régime!!

In the 9th day of a glorius trip covering several regions of France. I will give a more thorough report later, but so far these are the highlights: L'Univers, Nice Le Catalan, Beaulieu-sur-Mer Le Cabanon, Cap D'Ail Magiarge, Bordighera (Italy) Le Cheval Blanc, La Bastide les Jourdans (Vaucluse) Le Jardin, Montflanquin (Lot Valley) More details to follow. Doing a lot of eating, though!

Good article, lots of good info. The only part that irked me was when he calls Coach House Diner a "Greek" restaurant. Now that's a REAL stretch, and he should have just called them a diner! (Lots of more authentic Greek places in the surrounding towns, River Edge, Englewood)

The mention of Waffle House jogged my brain to recall another of that ilk, Cracker Barrel. Another middle-america appeal type place, they are right to stay away from the NY Metro. But they would probably also have hash browns, and you might find one in South Jersey (Vineland area) or in Western Jersey (Delaware River). Not 100% on Cracker Barrel for hash browns, but probably.

Don't think you will be able to find any. Hash browns are just not indigenous to the NY Metro area. Home fries rule. I think I got them once in an Easton Pa coffee shop. Might be easier to make them yourself, though...

Good food and entertainment are not going to mix these days. Dining has become entertainment all by itself. So basically you are going to have to choose between the 2. And restos with entertainment at all are few and far between these days. There's always Medieval Times, in Lyndhurst, a place I wouldn't go within miles of myself, but people love the scene in there. Cafe Boulevard in Fort Lee actually has decent food and a live band on weekends. Lastly, River Street Experience in Hoboken is very popular, but I think they only have sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres, with lots of live entertainment.

I would consider just about anywhere in the 5th, 6th or 7th-- could walk back from most anywhere within those districts.

Red Lobster and Olive Garden always have big lines-- and they really SUCK... It's amazing how successful mediocrity can be.

Thanks, John-- We prefer to dine near our hotel, I don't feature traveling by bus or Métro, or even a taxi on a long ride back after dinner at 11PM or thereabouts... I will have to look up these places individually to see what is in the 5th, 6th or 7th.. unless you could narrow it down for me. Thanks again.

Will be in Paris (Ahhhh!) in a couple of weeks, staying in the 6th Arr. I love eating outside. Are there any good options for outdoor dining in this area? (I can extend out to the 5th and the 7th as well.) Thanks.

When traveling in Belgium, we saw a "Frites" stand every 100 yards or so, and they are all tiny, maybe 6ftx10ft, they have TWO fryers for the fries and always use only fresh potatoes. Those were the best darn fries, ever!! They really have quite an efficient use of space there.

If fresh potatoes are so much more profitable, why would't you go with those? Might be a bit more labor-intensive, but you can also bet that the taste would be about 1000% better than even the best frozen. And if folks are liking the fries now, you could probably make the 11 Oclock news if you switched to fresh. The other factor is that hardly anyone in the US uses fresh potatoes-- in Europe fresh potatoes for fries are ubiquitous!!

YES!! We will have a griddle so thet WILL be an option. Not sure if we can do the bacon wrapped dogs that way, but testing will tell. ← Excellent! I'll look for the grand opening. I just like 'em simple, grilled, hot bun lightly toasted, mustard and sauerkraut. Save me a trip to 86th and 3rd in NY!

One of my favorites: Photos, descriptions, hours, name of the chef and the owner, and most of the menu and the prices. Paris Restos

Here's the look I love: http://www.reservethebest.com/_fr_/restaurant.php?Id=316 Small, cozy, lively, and a small lovely menu with food from a chef that cares!

Any options to have the dogs grilled? I only like grilled dogs, a la Papaya King in NYC.

A good Low-Fat Chocolate cake can certainly be accomplished. Think of the great desserts from the book "Chocolate and the Art of Low Fat Desserts" by Alice Medrich. ← That's fine, but chocolate by definition would have to contain about 50% fat. Anything lower than that wouldn't be chocolate. And, even if it could be accomplished, it probably wouldn't taste very good. Fresh fruit, anyone?

Have you tried ValPak or one of those coupon mailers? Those are usually very effective for the type of promotion you want to do, you could do a sale or a coupon for delivery, and you can target exactly by zip code where the mailing will go. Not real expensive, either.

Park & Orchard has kind of run its course, IMHO... it was a novelty 20 years ago, but is now a bit faded and needs a makeover, both in decor and menu. For a treat, check out Cafe Matisse in Rutherford (the next town) with a terrific creative menu (NYC quality) and a liquor store attached to the restaurant, so that you buy your own bottle, at retail prices rather than restaurant prices and they serve it to you in the restaurant. Great place!

Low-Fat Dark Chocolate?? Rosie, that's a tall order... Most so-called "low-fat" chocolate is not really chocolate, and you know it when you taste it. Maybe they could forego the lowfat for just one cake?

Bob-- Did you get any baguettes to go with the Saucisson?

Sounds something like Starbucks!

Here's something interesting that I have noticed: Friendship 1lb. Cottage Cheese-- ShopRite sells it for $2.49, and Whole Foods Ridgewood sells it for $2.19 (Regular prices, not a sale). Actually, many items in WF are not that expensive, seemingly. The best fish in Bergen County is IMHO Maywood Seafood Gourmet, a little place in downtown Maywood. Has been discussed a lot on EG.

Bergen Mall?!! Wow, that just doesn't fit the typical demographic that Whole Foods looks for...