Rosie

It'll be great to see you again Kim. Soooooooooo--who else? Where are the serious NY foodies?

Thanks for the info. Sounds like it is worth a trip.

Panico's fading? How? Decor? Food?

The train station is very close to the restaurant. That would be the best bet.

Hank--I passed by Bennies recently and it looked very small. How many tables do they have and would I need a reservation?

Do they take reservations and are they BYO?

There is a place on Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair which I think is called Electra Cafe????? A new place has opened in Westfield called Xocolatz on Elm St.

Haven't been and I really don't even know where Bogota is? :confused:

I posted a note today under "General" about a weird restaurant experience we had this weekend ( Restaurants without menus). I could have posted it here as it was about a NJ restaurant.

Aren't they also going to be doing something with a mint filling? The only mint cookie I like is the Girl Scout Cookie.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't like Smoke because of the smoke!

Ryland Inn does a vegetarian tasting menu. We were recently at Sergeantsville Inn (see posting) and there were some veg. dishes on the menu and one vegan choice.

The Sergeantsville Inn, 601 Rosemont-Ringoes Road, Sergeantsville is "off the beaten track" but worth finding especially if you are hunting out game or unusual martinis. Our evening started with a pleasurable ride to the restaurant as we traveled down a country road past picturesque farms and old stone houses. "Charming" is what I thought as I walked into the stone building built as a private residence in 1734 and through the small cozy dining rooms viewing numerous nooks and crannies, original fireplaces and stone walls. We sat in the smaller dining room which has a fireplace and spiral staircase. Chef/owner Joe Clyde, specializes in game dishes and martinis but if you don't like buffalo, pheasant, ostrich, venison or wild boar, be assured that there were enticing standard and vegetarian entrees to choose from. A multinational wine list with moderate priced wines had something for everyone and there were many bottles available in the $16 to $20 range. A reserve list had a Paul Hobbs for $80. Specials were written out with the prices. We shared a dish of hummus made with pureed chickpeas, tahini paste, lemon and garlic served with crisp roasted pita triangles. Rounds of zucchini were beautifully positioned like the spokes of a wheel in this thick, garlicky spread. Soup or salad is included with dinner and we had an onion soup and a mixed green salad both of which were very good. Entrees were a braised lamb shank with fall of the bone meat served with an artichoke and roasted pepper risotto in a Pinot Noir and lamb stock reduction; a special of rack of lamb with a white bean stew and asparagus; ox musk served medium rare and tasting like a chewy flank steak; and a very tasty venison London broil served with a vegetable spring roll, mashed potatoes and a wild mushroom demi glaze. The only dish I wouldn't order again was the musk ox. There were a few choices for vegetarians, one vegan entrée and quite a few fish entrees. We were stuffed and shared an apple pie with ice cream for dessert. Coffee was very good. With tax and tip the bill was $42 per person. Phone: 609-397-3700

BTW--River Palm in Edgewater will be expanding.

I add mushrooms to barley. Also, you can use barley as the base for a salad instead of pasta or rice.

We went on Holland American but got off in Juneau and went into the Yukon territory. The food on the boat was fine, not fabulous but we had no complaints. You certainly get enough to eat. We never went to the midnight buffet. We basically ate salmon or halibut everynight. Off the boat we had outstanding fish and again stayed with the halibut and salmon.

Scalini Fedeli, Il Mondo Vecchio and Scalini Fedeli New York are owned by Michael Cetrulo. Scalini is more upscale than Il Mondo but both are fabulous restaurants.

Il Mondo Vecchio, Madison Scalini Fedeli, Chatham In Somerville I would try Origin.

Shumi in Somerville.

I think OpenTable has a software program where if the patron was a no show this info pops up the next time they try to make a reservation.

I think The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick and Blue Sky Cafe in Montclair use them. I'm sure the owners wouldn't mind if you called and asked them.

American Express will back you up but that's not the way to go. Don't take reservations, have a waiting list or overbook.

Don't you feel like you died and went to food heaven when you go to Wegman's? There is one in Princeton and I think Freehold also.

Moonstruck will not be taking reservations. They opened last week.

Hope things work out and you can make it. In Minn. be sure to go to the sculpture garden.