Rosie

zhelder--Welcome to eGullet. I've had the vegetarian chili at Blue Moon Cafe in Livingston and thought it was delicious.

I would call and ask if they can serve a vegetarian/fish menu. The food is not "plain." You might be better off in an Italian restaurant.

John--This sounds like fun but I won't be able to make it. Be aware that the bridge near Syd's is under construction.

Some info here: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...l=Little+Saigon http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...l=Little+Saigon

Despite some shortcomings in our one visit, Rocca will become a destination restaurant in NJ. The very talented Chef/owner Craig Levy has a tempting menu which he executes with finesse. Try this restaurant ASAP before it gets reviewed, as then it will be hard to get a reservation. Service needs to be refined. Our waiter seemed to have a hard time multi-tasking. The waiter at the next table was on the ball and did all the little things that our waiter didn’t do. For example, we were not offered fresh pepper for the fabulous herbed olive oil; we had to ask to have our wine opened; then our wine was never poured. I think it was the manager who came around when we were almost finished with our entrée and asked if we wanted more bread. When we entered the restaurant we were shown a small table for two. I wasn’t thrilled with the location of the table and asked about the table for four but was told it was not available. It was a Saturday night and I knew that the restaurant needed the table for four so at that point I accepted the two top. However, although there were empty tables for two when the next couple came in, they were offered a table for four. There were still empty tables for four when we left an hour and a half later. Not a big deal but just an example where service could be refined. Also, there were two tables that remained unbused for 10 to 15 minutes creating an unsightly view. The food is good—very good. Actually, our main courses were exceptional and I certainly would like to dine here again. We started with a chopped salad with crumbled goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. It was a perfect light summer appetizer served on a chilled plate. Neither Lowell nor I liked the creamy dressing on the Caesar salad with focaccia croutons, roasted peppers and parmagiano. The roasted peppers were missing. Both salads were huge. The whole grilled bronzino with orange braised fennel and lemon oregano jam was the freshest, tastiest, most delicious rendition of this dish that I have had in a long time. Ditto for the “do not miss” spicy two-minute calamari Sicilian lifeguard style that is now on my “favorite dishes of the year” list. The exceedingly tender rings combined with an exuberant tomato sauce over Israeli couscous could not have been improved upon. We also had a side of sautéed escarole with roasted shallots which I highly recommend. The one dessert we had was disappointing and even more so as the restaurant has a pastry chef. We had what was described on the menu as a lemon cake with whipped lemon-white chocolate cream and blueberry compote. The cake was cardboard dry and tasteless and the whipped lemon-white chocolate cream tasted like whipped cream. Coffee was fair. With tax and tip the bill was $90. Phone: 201-670-4945.

Not a big chili fan but did like the steak tips chili at Huntley Tavern in Summit.

Info on Tassert's here: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...l=Tassert's

WE NEVER GOT TRUFFLES. dija order them? They weren't on the menu. I thought they were a lagniappe.

WE NEVER GOT TRUFFLES.

Glenn--You can start a topic on comps in the General Food Topic.

8/8 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...UVFeXk2NTY2Mjkz

Went ot Rocca. Will report ASAP on that thread.

Haven't been and it looks fancy but Primavera recently opened in the Grand Wilshire Hotel. In Montclair--Corso 98, Il Forno, Fascino Caldwell--Trattoria Fresco Bella Rosa in East Hanover recently changed hands. Let us know where you end up.

I'll tell you tomorrow!

Was at the West Orange Farmer's market yesterday. Very small. There were only 2 veg. stands. The one in Montclair on Saturday by the Walnut St train station has 5-6 vegetable stands and a better selection of produce.

From the Pit plain chicken or BBQ ribs $8; with rice and ff $12. No mention on how many servings Half entrees BBQ chicken, pork ribs, pork steak or pork chops with rice and FF Are all $7.

Stopped here today and got the menu. Not too impressed. Address 1 Lakeview Pl , Verona Few tables in restaurant. They serve breakfast--bagel $.75. Bacon omelet $3.75. Two items "From the Pit" are plain chicken or BBQ ribs; $8 plain; with rice and FF $12. $4 is alot for rice and FF. Hot dishes such as pork cubes ($12) or pork cubes with shrimp ($14) are served with rice. There are hot sandwiches, salads and deli sandwiches also on the menu. Fish and seafood entrees such as grilled cod fish are $14 with rice and vegetbles and $16 with rice and french fries. The desserts are listed as being home made. What I saw in the case looked like they came from a bakery.

It's right on Bloomfield Ave by Verona Park.

Been by it a dozen times and have been so busy haven't gotten there yet. Let us know if you go. It's funky enough that it could be a winner.

Osteria Giotto, 21-23 Midland Avenue, Montclair BYO Phone: 973-746-0111

Scott Anderson, formerly of the Ryland Inn and Les Copains, has been there since Nov. '03. We didn't have a problem with service.

Had an excellent brunch here and am anxious to return for dinner. We sat at the chefs' table in the kitchen which was a treat.

We recently returned to The Park as Lowell was craving steak. The waitress recited the specials on this visit with the prices—thank-you. I started with a New England sushi roll made with Maine lobster, spinach and saffron rice with wasabi vinaigrette. Would have liked more lobster in this roll but it certainly tasted great. Other appetizers were a grilled eggplant, goat cheese and oven roasted tomato bundles with a yellow tomato emulsion and herb salad and a light salad of local baby mixed greens with a verjus vinaigrette. Both can be recommended. One appetizer that caught my eye that I would love to try the next time I dine here is the “Eggs & Bacon” containing farm fresh truffle fried egg, shaved sweet red onion and baby spinach salad with a warm bacon vinaigrette. Sounds great doesn’t it? I had an excellent salmon with sautéed vegetables. Lowell had a perfectly cooked New York Sirloin Steak that was accompanied with an outrageously delicious steak sauce created Chef John Halligan. There also were three sauces for the steak which I couldn’t stop dipping my fork into: béarnaise; port wine bordelaise; and blue cheese fondue. Chef—bottle all of those sauces. A double thick pork chop with a honey and maple marinade was gnawed to the bone. And a special of tuna with a sesame seed coating was as appealing as the other entrees. The wine list, which tends to be high, has 175 to 200 selections predominately from American estate wineries with an emphasis on big elegant Cabernets, Merlots and Chardonnays. We had a “I don’t need to order this one again” Shiraz 2002, Rosemount “Hill of Gold,” Australia for $45. Take note that The Park has a $15 corkage fee. We ordered two desserts to share and Chef Halligan generously sent out a few more which we couldn’t stop passing around the table. I loved the warm chocolate “nirvana” and pecan crusted cheesecake and adored the fresh raspberry and lemon tart. However, the warm pecan tart with Tahitian vanilla ice cream and chocolate cookie ice cream were hard to resist also. Coffee was very good. The restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Friday 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM; dinner Monday through Friday 5:30 to 10 PM; Saturday dinner 5:30 to 11 PM; Sunday 5 to 10 PM; and Sunday brunch 11:30 AM to 3 PM. For reservations call 201-930-1300. They have a website at: www.theparksteakhouse.com.

Il Forno also sells bread and foccacia from its bakery location. That's 199 Bellevue Avenue in Upper Montclair, about a block east of Valley Road. Il Forno in Upper Montclair also has fabulous cheeses, hard salami, cookies, and marinated vegetables.

Basilico, Millburn BYO Salsa, Chatham, BYO A Taste of Asia, Chatham BYO Serenade is excellent but not BYO and is expensive. Il Mondo Vecchio is BYO and would also be a good choice.