menton1

For some reason, this place is afraid to put the menu prices on the website. What were the prices like?

Wow...Bruce Williams, Jim Bohannon-- haven't heard those guys in years. Guess NY Radio with its scores of stations is missing the boat!

Sounds quite similar in theme and menu to Taro in Montclair...

Can this radio station be heard in Northern NJ?

A restaurant can be both Non-Authentic AND awful...

In Zabar's (New York) they carry bulk Cerignola olives that come in black, green, and even a red variety. These are very mild, and probably a better choice than the canned, if and when one can get to Zabar's. Would these green and red Cerignola varieties also be picked ripe?

I don't know how "useful" any fruit is, but I do disagree about the taste. These black olives have quite a nice, subtle taste. They are very interesting in salads, on pizza, and sandwiches. Most cured olives have a much stronger flavor, but these mild black olives are quite nice for a change, IMHO.

I think you can find Yves at Stage Left in New Brunswick, unless he left there also...

It is fortunate that you have this problem in France. Eating alone in New York, for example, would be daunting. It is just not done. A solo visit to a good restaurant in NY would bring stares and a general feeling of discomfort. In France, however, it is pro forma...

Found an article on the net describing the history of the Sloppy Joe. Apparently, the owner of the Town Hall Deli in South Orange got his version from the mayor of Maplewood who had been to Cuba back in 1934, to a bar called "Sloppy Joe's". There they made this sandwich with a skirt steak and tomato sauce. Mr. Burdorf decided to make a less sloppy "Sloppy Joe". Interesting stuff. Town Hall Deli says it takes a few months to train someone to make the sandwich properly. This recipe might be copied by some delis within a small radius, but it looks like Town Hall Deli is THE place to get this type of SJ. It is basically unknown in Bergen County. History of the Sloppy Joe The Town Hall Deli also made the Channel 7 news last year: Town Hall Deli on Eyewitness News

If you shop on Saturday, as many folks do, be aware that the chains in NJ run their sale weeks differently. I know Shoprite runs Sunday-Saturday, but A & P runs Friday-Thursday. I once found this out the hard way by saving the A&P circular from the Sunday paper until the following Saturday only to find out that the sale was over!! I don't know what days the other chains run, but that info could be helpful...

Rat's has special Catering Menus, might be within the budget-- Actually, for a large party, the cost difference might be small between Rat's and a much lower-quality place-- you might check with them as to costs...

I agree-- it seems that perhaps croissants are "passé" in France; the most common accompaniment to a café is the "Tartine" which is a nice, fresh piece of crusty baguette along with a wonderful slather of french butter and a side of a confiture. Fabulous!

The closest sandwich to this that I've ever seen in Bergen County is an "Old Smoky" that they made at Town Deli in Glen Rock. Never called a "Sloppy Joe", though. I think the naming of this sandwich "Sloppy Joe" is highly localized, possibly only in parts of Essex and Union Counties. The rest of the world thinks of ground beef and tomato sauce.

I've never seen this sandwich offered anywhere in Northern NJ or New York City-- perhaps this is indigenous to South Jersey-Philly area?

Some great hot dog places of the past-- can't be on the hot dog run anymore, but we can dream: Tippy's, Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City Heights Lantern, Route 46 East, Little Falls

Since you mention that Princeton area is in the mix, one restaurant stands out like no other as THE definitive restaurant for your criteria: Rat's in Hamilton Township. (Don't get fooled by the name.) This place shares grounds with a sculpture museum, and has private rooms and a liquor license. It also has terrific food. I believe it has been reviewed favorably here many times, you might do a search, but Rat's seems to fit your bill to a "T"!! Rat's 16 Fairgrounds Road Hamilton, NJ 609-584-7800 Rat's Restaurant Website

I think there is a misunderstanding about this restaurant... it is not "on the dark side", it is total darkness! Zero light! One reviewer says that you start to see a bit of red, because it is the color of your blood vessels. And it is a nice touch and quite ironic that here, blind people are leading sighted people around, instead of the opposite! Although in French, here is an interesting discussion of the "sensory experience" Dans Le Noir Article

That's bad news! A promising restaurant. And a big surprise, I did not notice it on "Table Hopping". Was this just this month?

The place that immediately comes to mind is Le Me Toujours, a French-Asian fusion restaurant in Marlton, just 3 minutes west of Mount Laurel. I think it may meet all of your criteria except the liquor license, but a stop at a nearby liquor store could do; Here is the latest discussion of Le Me Toujours: Le Me Toujours Egullet Discussion

This restaurant has received much acclaim and is on many 2004 "Best" lists for Paris. (Including John Talbott's). Here is a rare review of the place written in english, from the well known Bonjour Paris web site: Dans Le Noir Review This sounds like a truly unique experience, I will definitely be going next time we are in Paris!!

I'm curious as to a better explanation of the reasons for this. I can see that, in the 1930s, the poor folks of Northern Italy, as the link above says, left for better opportunities. But today, Northern Italy is hardly "poor" and it doesn't seem that the economy in Wales is any better than in Italy-- Why would these Italian folk give up the culture they love (including outdoor Cafés) and much, much better weather for Wales?

Hard to figure, it has good parking, nice visibility from the outside to attract drivers-by, thousands of ShopRite customers passing by, who knows why the place never seems busy. Maybe they need to promote themselves more...

I assume this is the same owners as the Thai Chef in Englewood... Englewood bills itself as a "Thai/French fusion" restaurant. It is not for Thai food purists, but the food there certainly is good. Not to mention that Thai Chef Englewood is one of the most beautirul restaurants in NJ...