menton1

Anyone know why that abandoned department store remains on an othewise pretty street in its dilapidated state-- what an EYESORE, especially when you are sitting outside at South Park Grill!! It has been abandoned and laying fallow for at least 15 years!!

Just want to defend Montclair, a diverse, interesting town, if not as aesthetically pleasing (downtown) as Ridgewood. The only complaint I have about Montclair is that there is an old department store (Boscov's?) on an otherwise pretty street that has been closed for at least 15 years, but the building is boarded up, dilapidated, and an eyesore. Can't the city fathers see fit to demolish the building and at least make some sort of nice public space?

It seems that my vacation itinerary will bring me to Lyon on a Sunday and a Monday. Can anybody tell me what restaurants will be closed, what is open, and does anyone know if the shopping and tourist attractions are open or closed? Thanks.

Have you been inside, or is this a review from your car? Can anyone actually report on this place? As in the looks of the inside, and the food? Thanks!!

Englewood has really gone cosmopolitan. Last Saturday, after a great meal at Saigon Republic, we tried to go for coffee and dessert, but even at 10:30, Starbucks had no tables, and the new Cosi had no tables, the Mexican resto Blue Moon was still 2/3 full and expanded onto the sidewalk in front of 2 other stores (like in Europe). A lot of people on the street. Really impressed with Englewood lately.

Where are all these traffic circles in NJ? I've seen the numerous "jug handles", but very few traffic circles. The most traffic circles I've seen are in France, where there are thousands of "ronds points", most planted with gorgeous floral displays! (No Diners though)

There is a Bendix Diner on Rte 17 in Hasbrouck Heights, the diner in E Rutherford has another name; My favorite, and it goes back about 60 years, is the Egg Platter on Crooks Avenue in Paterson/Clifton. (Right on the border) This place actually CLOSES from 3PM to 10PM and then is open all night until the next afternoon!! Best eggs & home fries ever. Old railroad car look.

The diner that was called Haglers in Oradell (Kinderkamack Road and Ridgewood Avenue) closed last year, it hadn't changed ANYTHING, from the counters, cooking equipment, to the cash registers since the 1940s. Finally closed down. Actually it was quite a good place for breakfast-- eggs, etc. Looks from the outside that they have renovated some after being closed for many months. Anyone been in this new incarnation with anything to report?

My travels to Greece have uncovered a plethora of "fine restaurants" at incredibly low prices; the values there are unbelievable-- However, the point that must be factored in here is that "fine" dining in Greece does not equate with fine dining in other places, such as France... I never had wine served in jelly glasses in France!!

Western Bergen County-- Ruga in Oakland used to be highly acclaimed, haven't heard much about it lately. Has Liquor. Also, I think Rosie has spoken well of Cafe Panache in Ramsey, BYOB. Have you tried these places?

Here is a big PRO of a BYOB: The money you save on the wine can go toward upgrading your restaurant choice-- spend the money on the food and the atmosphere, not on the wine list!! Long live the NJ liquor laws and bureaucracy!!

Maybe it's a subjective thing, but I'd rather bring my own bottle of 20 year old Burgundy for which I paid $30 in 1988, than pay the restaurant $150 for their bottle. I know how my bottle was treated, don't have a clue on their bottle. (Is it my imagination, or am I channelling Steve Plotnicki?) Hear, hear. And with that savings you might, instead of choosing a place with food costs about $40PP, you opt for a better place for about $60PP. Long live BYOBs and bureaucracy!!

I just can't accept that a wine list can affect the performance in the kitchen or of the wait staff. These restaurants would love to sell wine, but in NJ a liquor license is either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. Chains like Fridays, Houlihans, Applebees can get the licenses because they have the capital to finance them. I do think that Epernay in Montclair and Jocelynes in Maplewood are in a high end echelon of restaurants, and they are BYOB. Of course in NYC the restaurants are more sophisticated. It's true the burbs play more to the predictable chains. Very few museums or international movies out here as well. I still say that the savings accrued by BYOB lets you step up and go to a better restaurant because of it.

Best I can do for September so far is $750; Did you use Priceline or Hotwire or any of those "blind" bidding services?

BYOB restaurants proliferate in New Jersey because of the State liquor laws, not because of the restaurant's choice. Restaurants love to sell wine, it greatly increases the profit. But in NJ, there are only so many licenses per municipality, and that's it. The result is that the licenses are hoarded, and can cost upwards of 100K to purchase. The result to the consumer is a friendly one, he or she can save a lot of money by buying at the wine shop; I think most of us can "schlep" a 1 pound bottle of wine to better spend the $$ on a better restaurant!! The people preparing and serving the food are unaffected by whether the restaurant sells wine or not. The savings of money by diners in NJ actually allows us to step UP in restuarant choices, not down.

I love Cafe Mazarin in the 6th. You'll get a lot more info on the France Forum; How much were your tickets? I'm trying to go in September and the prices are quite HIGH.

Spend the $6 on the Holland Tunnel and head to Chinatown. I also love Capsouto Freres, right outside the tunnel entrance on Washington Street, not that cheap, but a good value. (About $35PP Tax & Tip)

Looks like the Times has a new affinity for Jersey City. 3 of the last 6 weeks covering restos in JC. Today is the "private house" that has been talked about on other threads. A rather lukewarm review by Corcoran, I thought. A lot of money, and only well spent, it seems, if you like to gorge yourself on copious quantities of ordinary stuff.

I guess one man's meat is another's poison; I thought Sopranos in New Milford was one of the WORST slices I've ever had (Before 1PM they use the previous day's leftovers from the refrigerator) , and Uncle Franks is rather unremarkable. Still looking.

That's shocking news! Jimmy was a very nice person, he helped us when we went to Greece with advice (He was from Sparta) and he must have been just in his 40s. Even though I have criticized the ambience here in past posts, I wanted Jimmy to succeed here, he deserved it, and it seemed he had made a success. How sad!!

On the two occasions I was at Belmar, the people eating by the gazebo were sitting on the wet, sandy grass. No tables, no chairs. The only benches were the few that are on the boardwalk. Only about 3 benches per block. I will not go back there.

Thanks, sounds good. Will try to get there and say hello. I just love seafood, however, and I salivate thinking about the rockfish sandwiches and oyster stew that I got at Belmar. The problem was, we had to eat everything standing up in the hot sun!! Do we have to go to Maryland or is there another one in NJ?

Went twice to this event, once in 1998 and again in 2002. Usually the 2nd weekend in June. Vendors are great, food is usually very interesting, but there is nowhere here to sit down and eat the food!! No tables, no benches, nothing. And if its hot, you are right out in the sun. This is a tremendous detraction from what could be a great event. Anybody know of a fun seafood festival where you can sit down and enjoy all the fabulous food? Maybe a few trees for shade as well. Thanks.

All these places are great for a cocktail and a whole pie, but are there any places in NNJ like DiFara's and Nick's in NYC where you can get a GREAT single slice? I'm usually just a 1- or 2-slice kind of guy.

I think this might be a software issue rather than a "contempt for New Jersey" issue-- but I would defer to experts like Jason for comments on software... Just think it is laughable that the "Senior Producer" of the website told you that the info is unavailable altogether. Ironic.