Rosie

As of now they are not open for lunch on S. Fullerton and just serve dinner. They have panini and pizza in the Upper Montclair location for lunch. But as you know all of that could change!

Il Forno, 18 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair has reopened in Montclair and owner/chef Massimo is manning the stoves. We started off with their delicious bread and olive oil. Appetizers were a mixed green salad with goat cheese and mango; and grilled asparagus that were sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Entrees were rigatoni with meat sauce and lamb shank with carrots, eggplant, potatoes, celery, onion and muishrooms. We shared gelato that was doused with hot espresso. Everything was delicious. The restaurant has been redecorated and now has linen tablecloths. They are closed on Sunday. For reservations and information call 973-233-0800; BYO.

Boulder, Utah is the most inaccessible town in the state. This Mormon town with a population of 100 was the last place in the US in 1941 to receive mail by mule train. Don’t let that deter you from driving to Hell’s Backbone Grill although we ran into a snow storm with white outs coming over the 9000 foot pass and also had white knuckles after driving the “hog back” a sliver of road on the spine of a mountain with precipitous drops on both sides. But once in Boulder you will be able to dine at Hell’s Backbone Grill, a Buddhist based restaurant which specializes in organic regional cuisine using locally produced ingredients. When approaching Hell’s Backbone Grill you can’t help being moved by the Tibetan prayer flags and a small Buddha statue. We stayed at Boulder Mountain Lodge which is connected to the restaurant. We had two breakfasts and two dinners here. For breakfast we savored the homemade organic granola with yogurt; steaming bowl of creamy oatmeal with stewed fruit; delectable apple-pecan streusel coffee cake; and oatmeal molasses bread that was so tasty that it didn’t need butter or jam. For dinner some of the items we feasted on were organic greens house salad with jicama, pumpkin seeds, sweet dehydrated corn, and strawberries; black bean soup; free range chicken tortilla soup; pot roast with potatoes and vegetables; chipotle meatloaf; blue corn bread, cornmeal-molasses, and pecan skillet trout with pueblo rice and steamed spring vegetables; chile-crusted locally raised and grass fed filet mignon with poblano crema, lemony mashed potatoes, and spring vegetables; and. strawberry-rhubarb fool. The restaurant has a small wine and beer list. I can highly recommend owners Blake Spalding and Jen Castle's inspiring and captivating stories and recipes which can be found in their newly published cookbook (I couldn’t put it down) called “With a Measure of Grace: The Stories and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant” by Blake Spalding & Jennifer Castle with Lavinia Spalding and photos by Eric Swanson. It can be ordered online from their website at: http://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com/ Hell's Backbone Grill is open daily for breakfast and dinner including preordered takeout lunches for hikers; (435) 335-7464 or www.hellsbackbonegrill.com.

We also had sushi at Shintaro at the Bellagio which was excellent.

Info on Cucharamama is here: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...&hl=Cucharamama

Cafe Serene is almost directly across the street from the Ritz diner.

Some suggestions: Augustino's 1104 Washington St --check to see if they are open for lunch Baja Bangkok City 335 Washington St Cucharamama, 233 Clinton St, Hoboken--very good tapas It’s Greek To Me, 538 Washington Ave, Oddfellows 80 River St. The Quay, 310 Sinatra Dr Wolfgang Puck, 100 Sinatra Dr (at First St), Zafra 301 Willow St. Hoboken--good tapas Dining Room at Anthony Davids--check to see if they are open for lunch

The May issue of Food Arts has a story about Sensi.

Neil--was that your dessert we had? It was wonderful. Sensi Lunch Menu Lunch Soups & Salads Henry’s Famous Wonton Soup Shrimp Dumplings, BBQ Pork , Asian Vegetables 12. SENSI’s Garden Green Salad Apple, Feta, Candied Pecans, Balsamic Vinaigrette 14. Roasted Shrimp Salad Seasonal Lettuce, Grilled Red Peppers, Lemon & Herb Vinaigrette 18. Maine Lobster & Avocado Salad Citrus Vinaigrette, Seasonal Lettuces 20. House-made Pastas Ricotta Cheese Ravioli Butternut Squash, Sautéed Spinach, Burnt Sage Butter 14. Chicken Agnolotti Green Asparagus, Smoked Bacon, Parmigiano - Reggiano 18. Rock Shrimp Spaghettini Roasted Corn , Tomato Sauce , Basil 18. Fresh Gemelli Pasta “alla Bolognese” Semolina Pasta in Rich Meat Sauce, Grated Cheese , Black Pepper 15. 4-Cheese Pizza Chili Flakes, Tomato, Oregano 14. With Lobster Topping 20. Asian Accents Thai Beef & Chicken Lettuce Wraps Roasted Peanuts, Sweet & Sour Dressing, Assorted Condiments 15. SENSI Sashimi Platter Our own original creations of the freshest available Market Fish 25. Crisp Fried Sea Bass Black Bean-Fried Rice, Chinese Sausage, Crystallized-Ginger Confit 21. SENSI Sweet & Sour Chicken Chinese Broccoli, Brown Rice 18. Grilled, Broiled & Wood-Fired SENSI’s Easy to Eat Beef Burgers Soft Bun, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Hand Cut Fries 15. Wood Oven Roasted Halibut Shrimp Gratin, Roasted Tuscan Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach 18. Pan Seared Sterling Salmon Oven Roasted Tomato Couscous, Mint, Parsley, Saffron-Citrus Vinaigrette 20. Broiled Tuna Steak Sicilian Style Olives, Celery, Capers, Pine Nuts & Lemon Oil 20. Char-Grilled New York Steak SENSI’s Tomato Relish, Fries, Mixed Baby Greens 22. SENSI to SHARE or not.. Dungeness Crab Cake Forks Tartar Sauce, Sliced Jalapenos 14. Crisp Fried Shrimp Rice Flakes, Kaffir Lime, Creamy Ginger Mayonnaise 14. Seafood Bar Freshly shucked Oysters & Condiments 3.50 each Raw Tuna Ceviche Jalapeno, Cilantro, Coconut Dressing 12. SENSI Shrimp Cocktail Avocado, Tomato Sorbet 16. Chef’s Specials Asian Dim Sum Combo Steamed BBQ Pork Buns , Crisp Shrimp , Chinese Lotus Rice 17. Beer Battered Fish & Chips Jumbo Fries , Tartar Sauce 15. Grilled Pork Hash & Poached Eggs Sautee Spinach , Hollandaise , Crostini 15. Alaskan King Crab Served On Ice And All Condiments 45. per pound

Address? Are those plastic plates?

Are any restaurants in Oregon BYO? If not what is the corkage fee?

Starting in Portland so Hurley's hopefully will be one evening. Need someplace else to dine for one night in Portland. Then to Salem, Eugene and Ashland. Any recommendations would be appreciated. We love food so any price and any cuisine are fine.

As in every Las Vegas restaurant prices are high. Portions were more than adequate. We were too full to eat two desserts!! Apps were about $10 to $19 with a chilled seafood platter on ice with lobster, oysters, clams, Jonah crab clusters & shrimp with a citrus-yuzu dip, mignonette, and cocktail sauce for $39. Pasta was in the low $20's. Entrees in the mid-twenties with steak, lamb and the pork chop ranging from $34 to $39. Sides which are $6 include “mac & cheese”; roasted spring garlic mashed potatoes; horseradish creamed potatoes with parmesan; tempura-fried asparagus with sweet chili dip; stir fry baby bok choy; Sensi fried rice; and seasonal roasted vegetables. Desserts are $10. Depending on wine your dinner will be more than $50 a person. But worth every penny. Loved this place.

If you are going to be in Vegas I can highly recommend Sensi at the Bellagio. Not only is this restaurant jaw dropping gorgeous with its sleek modern design and glass enclosed kitchen in the middle of the dining room but the food was memorable. We started off with roasted duck and crab soup with sesame tapioca pearls, and pea shoots and tuna that was beautifully served three ways in multilevel dishes; seared tuna, tataki, and spicy tartar. My entrée was miso-glazed sea bass with shitake mushrooms, radish salad, and ginger broth. We were both impressed with the high quality of ingredients used and Lowell had one of the best pork chops he has ever eaten. His naturally raised, brined, and dry aged Kurobuta pork chop was extremely flavorful and perfectly paired with creamy morel mushrooms, fava beans, and balsamic vinegar. We shared caramelized open-faced lemon pie with raspberry preserves, and lemon oil for dessert.

Actually I just had to cancel reservations at both places.

Contact Chef Bruce Miller, formerly from The Black Horse Inn and Girafe Restaurant who has recently opened Cafe Serene, 55 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston as he can provide prepared meals for take-out to your specifications. His casual restaurant offers create your own salads, wraps, and stuffed baked potatoes. Toppings include grilled chicken, turkey, Mediterranean tuna, shrimp, poached salmon and a variety of cheeses and vegetables. Along with pasta and sandwiches, some of the dinner choices include roasted half chicken, potato crusted salmon, tuna tataki, and filet mignon au poivre. Desserts are made in house. For information call 973-994-2300.

What should I expect? Any suggestions for "must order" items?

Congratulations to Lou for being listed in Zagat although they have no ratings for his excellent restaurant. Also, I wouldn't consider An American Grill expensive. Moderate but certainly not expensive.

Chicken Nest is in Cedar Knolls. You have to call in your order and then pick it up. Also, if you order $75 or more they will deliver.

I heard that Chicken Nest will not be reopening in Livingston.

Do not miss Jason's review of this restaurant in the NJ section of the NY Times on May 15, 2005. Great piece Jason. Enjoyed reading it.

The pictures of your dinner at An American Grill have me drooling. So sorry that I was away and unable to attend.

Elaine--Welcome to eGullet and thank you for your post.

Has anyone been here recently?

Jack Cooper's is under new ownership in Tano Mall. We were disappointed the last time we were there. Also, LouCa's is BYO. Another suggestion is Cheesecake Factory at Menlo Park Mall.