menton1

Jonathan-- as long as we're at it, I think it that those two restaurants up on the hill in Rimiez that we both discovered (independently) are worth a reprise mention. The directions are daunting, but both are a nice surprise when you get there! Funny, we hardly talked at all on Eg France last summer about Nice, and now that winter is upon us, it is being discussed-- are we now throwing back to the winter popularity of Nice in the 30s?

Mr Food-- Pay particular attention to the comments of Robert Brown-- not only does he know Nice, but he has impeccable taste in restaurants! (Jonathan Day ditto) One comment is that I don't think I would go all the way to Italy on my first trip. There are plenty of excellent choices in Nice and environs to try without the long drive. The only notable place I think they missed is Christian Plumail's L'Univers, a beautiful place with lovely creative cuisine. L'Univers 54, blvd Jean Jaurès (near Place Massena)

Thanks, Roz--Citrus is also closed Sundays... I would still like to hear from Monmouth County-ites who have been more recently to Spargo's.

Yes, this is what I was referring to when I said the law was vague, and even ambiguous. How ridiculous it would be, however. What is the final alcohol content of the cooked preparation, maybe 1%? (Alcohol burns off or evaporates during cooking...)

The entire NJ law is in a .pdf file online. Under "Cooking Alcohol" it seems that only special products with added salt may be used, however, it is vague-- it prohibits using alcohol in cooking by "suspended licensees". I would assume this also means restaurants without licenses. However, I'm also sure I've been to BYOBs that say right on the menu "wine sauce" or another indication that alcohol was used in the dish's preparation. Liquor License Handbook NJ

Do they make Shredded Beef Szechuan? I love this dish, and have never seen it in NJ, but it is ubiquitous at every small Chinese Resto on the Upper West Side!!

Does anyone have an update on Spargo's? We will be in this area in a few days and are considering this restaurant. Some more recent feedback would be appreciated...

Why mess around with these places? For REAL Chinese food, go to the fabulous China 46, or also Hunan Cottage in Fairfield (Ask for the Chinese menu). Or, if pan-Asian will do, go to the venerable Saigon in Englewood....

The menu looks extremely ORDINARY, like a take-out with high prices. Looks like a must to avoid....

The Glen Rock bagel place has these unique flattened whole wheat bagels (they call them "flagels") that are fabulous. Great texture and sprinkled with sunflower seeds. Cutting in half, however, is daunting; better to put the cream cheese on the top!!

One of the bouchons never mentioned on the Lyon Bouchon lists is a place we stumbled upon while browsing at a pottery street fair last September. It is in Vieux Lyon, and is patronized by mostly locals, and is quite authentic. The Quennelles are outstanding. LES LYONNAIS 1 RUE TRAMASSAC 69005 LYON 0478376482

Here is the website for No. 9: No 9 Website

Do you celebrate this on the actual Thursday that they celebrate on in the US? This is a regular work day in France, as well as the Friday following....

The problem with this topic, David, is that in New Jersey, roughly 85% of the better restaurants are BYOB. Most of the liquor licenses are taken by bars and taverns. So actually, this subject is only germaine to about 15% of the restaurant choices in New Jersey.

We seem to get to No 9 every fall and it never disappoints. Were it closer than a 90 minute ride, we would certainly go on a regular basis. It was a chilly Sunday night, but the restaurant is always warm and inviting. The waitress was friendly and accommodating. I had called ahead during the week and requested that Matt make his Country Salad, featured in the NY Times review a couple of years ago, and that was soo prominent in our memory from 2 years ago. When we arrived we learned that he had made the salad, and we all ordered it, a lovely, warm, wilted frissee with lardons, goat cheese, roasted garlic, and a wonderful vinaigrette. I again couldn't resist his Short Ribs, which I learned has now won him several awards in some regional cook-offs. We also ordered a Pork Tenderloin special, stuffed with fruits and herbs and cooked just perfectly; a free-range organic chicken was small, but very flavorful and juicy. And another of our party got the reliable Pork Chop that we have ordered in the past. The vegetables were fresh and a little different for each dish, cooked to perfection and seasoned nicely. Too full again for dessert, we can chalk up another visit to No. 9 as a perfect 10!!

Went to this place about 2 years ago, and it was a very unmemorable experien ce. We had made a reservation for 4, but still had to wait over 30 minutes for our table. The service was horrendous, we waited 30 minutes after we were seated just to get the appetizers. The food was ordinary, that old-time "Southern Italian" type stuff, Chicken Francese, Pasta with White clam Sauce, and so on. Very little thought or innovation in the food. The crowd there seems oblivious to this, similar to the situation at 90 Grand in Englewood, a loyal "Lincoln-Cadillac" crowd that cares little about food or service, it's more about glitz and to be able to say that "we went to Tuscany Trattoria and we spent $50 per person for a meal" type of thing. I would recommend that most Egulleters stay away from this place, unless you favor pomp and tastelesss displays of wealth rather than creative food and good service.

That certainly is an excellent reason!!

Was that the same problem with Jerry's Osteria, do you think?

Rosie, I inquired at Jerry's Deli and it seems that the Osteria is closed permanently in spite of the sign. Unless you know differently, it should be added to your "Closings" list. Also, judging from the previous posts, Jason & Rachel used to go regularly, but I guess they lost interest in the place. Tough business. Alot of these places are like supernovas-- they get tremendous praise and raves and then they fade into dust. Seems like the same fate for Felice in Oradell, a place that got raves and seems now to be downsliding fast.

Just love to sit at one of the banquettes and watch the action of the restaurant, and the open kitchen. Beautiful food, good service, and really reasonable for the quality you get. I love Fork too!

This place has been closed with that deadly sign "Reopening Soon" for several months. Has Jerry decided to devote full time to the Englewood Deli and Specialty shop?

Deduction, and envy...

Sure sounds like "Chez Jonathan Day" in Mougins!

We were in the area yesterday, so we decided to try Hunan Cottage. Easy to find, right on Rt 46. As mentioned, if you don't know better, they bring you a strikingly ordinary menu right out of a boiler-plate Chinese suburban restaurant. However, when you ask for the CHINESE menu, aha! Now we're talking creative and authentic! There were only 2 of us, so the opportunity to try many new dishes was not there. We started with an appetizer of Dried Bean Curd Skins with mushrooms. We have actually had this dish many times in Chinatown. Down there they call it "Veggie Duck". We then followed with Pork with Yellow Leeks. The pork was shredded, and the leeks were nice and crunchy, and the brown sauce was different from the usual. The really different dish was the Dried Lily Flower w/ squash, very very unusual and pleasant. A spongy but chewy and delicate white substance which I assume was the lily flowers, and it was combined with a very unusual green squash in a clear sauce. Very delicate and VERY interesting. It is also interesting that as a different waiter came over to check on us each time, they simle and seemed so surprised at what we had ordered! We will have to go back with at least 1 other couple so that we can share and try more of these dishes. Ideally, it would be great to go here with a Chinese person so that they could do the ordering!! Here are some photos: (taken with a cell phone)

It is definitely tough to do a nice brunch in Bergen County. One place you might try is Moon Street, a nice little place on Dean Street in Englewood. Decent brunch food, nice environment, and excellent Bloody Marys. Another place to try is Hudson House on Main Street in Nyack. This is an old jail hollowed out with the original brick walls. Very good brunch menu. Lastly, in the area, is Turning Point in Piermont. This little town on the river rocks on weekends, and this restaurant does a nice brunch upstairs.