Rosie

I don't know when you were there but the old manager Jeffrey went back to Oklahoma and a new manager was recently hired. There is also a new part time pastry chef. They were slammed after the Excellent review came out in the NY Times.

We’ve been back to Blu a few times in the past month and must say that we can’t get enough of this restaurant. Chef Zod has been offering some specials and if skate or venison is on the menu be sure to try both of them! They’re winners. We’ve also been ordering some of our favorites such as the butternut squash soup with crisp duck skin; seafood dumplings in a spicy coconut broth and a light but refreshing arugula, roasted red and yellow beet, and goat cheese salad. The Chatham cod with cauliflower puree is fabulous as is the slow cooked short ribs. For dessert we always seem to order the coconut tapioca pudding and apple tart but I haven’t met a dessert at Blu that I don’t like yet! Considering that all of the entrees are under $20 this is one of the best bargains around. Phone: 973-509-2202.

Congratulations to Chef Humberto and Lorena on the well deserved Excellent they received from David Corcoran in the New York Times.

So sorry to hear about the fire. Be assured that we all love your hot dogs and will be back to savor them once you reopen.

Address?

12 Bloomfield Ave (15 St) Bloomfield 973-759-9609

Do you have a phone #?

Rosie, I'm not breaking chops and this CERTAINLY isn't personal, but never is a strong word. What's the difference between Saturday service and holiday service? Rosie, this isn't directed to you and having already been accused of whining, bitching and other infractions of egullet society, just the voice of a owner who's tired of generalities. Most here are knowledgeable about what is a good dining experience, I find it difficult that a slight few had a good dining experience and so many have been discouraged by holiday dining. I was busy and only had 3 meals of 170 returned to the kitchen, all for temp problems. You all know the places to go to have a holiday meal, they're the place with good reps and have been around for a while. White Castle..........don't get it. Love em, but..... ← In MY experience holidays are more hectic than Saturdays. I eat out so often that I prefer not to deal with the crowds and special priced menus on holidays. We also try to avoid dining out on Saturday nights when possible. For those that are not able to dine out as frequently a dinner out on a holiday can certainly be a special occasion. It's just not for me. I don't dine out on Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, or New Year's. If I go out on Christmas Day it is to a Chinese Restaurant. But be assured that I still love the food at An American Grill even if Lou claims that he is "not breaking chops." White Castle--never had one.

Doris & Ed's in the Highlands.

You have to wait in line to order and then you can go to the bar. Or you may be lucky and there won't be a line.

You could start a war with a statement like that! ← yeah, because everyone knows that Amazing Hot Dog has the best fries! ← You're right. Amazing and Sammy's have the best french fries in NJ.

Sammy's Ye Old Cider Mill, 353 Mendham Road West (Route 24), Mendham, is the best-known secret around! Even though this establishment does not have a sign to let you know that it is a restaurant I have never been here when there wasn't a wait. Sammy's has been in the Fornaro family for over 60 years and is now run by third generation family members, Maryann, Phil & Sam Fornaro. You may be confused at your first visit to Sammy's as things are done differently from any other restaurant that I have dined at. When you enter Sammy's don't wait to be seated. Keep your coat on and go to the hostess station or get in line because there will most likely be a line. Look at the menu nailed to the wall and tell the hostess your name and give her your order. Most people come for the outstanding dry-aged Black Angus T-bone steaks, lobsters, and enormous cuts of lamb, veal and pork chops. Be forewarned you dinner includes salad dressed with house made wine vinegar, a fresh vegetable, the best French fries in New Jersey, dessert and coffee. You may not want an appetizer although you may want to splurge on stone crabs which are offered in season. Ok. You have ordered. Now what? You are sent to the basement where there is a handmade wooden bar which dates back to the 1920's prohibition era when Sammy's was a speakeasy, video games and a bumper pool table to help you bide your time. Order a drink from the bartender and tell him your name. Don't pay him as the bar bill will be added to your food check (a nice touch). A few minutes before your food is ready the phone will ring, and the bartender will call your name. You may now go to the dining room where you will have a scrumptious dinner. Phone 973-543-7675 for directions. Reservations are not taken.

Deldino--Welcome to eGullet. My experience has been that the holidays are NEVER a good time to eat out.

And I love that the bar bill is put on your food bill so you can just leave a tip and go to your table. I love Sammy's. Be forewarned that it gets busy on a Friday & Saturday evening. We often go early on a Sunday. JohnnyH--the idea is to relax at the bar!

You might want to take a ride to the Pier Village in Long Branch. One place there is McLoone’s Pier House.

Beyti Kebab, 4105 Park Avenue, Union City has goat heads in the butcher case in the front of the restaurant.

MJP--welcome to eGullet and be sure to let us know about other places that you like to dine.

January 29, 2006 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...UVFeXk2ODY5ODQ0

Open on Monday Updated 3/2/06 28 Oak in Ridgewood 973 Restaurant--Florham Park Al Dente - Piscataway Amanda's Hoboken Amazing Hot Dog, Verona An American Grill -Randolph Andiamo's--Haworth Assaggini Di Roma, 134 Clifford St, Newark 973-466-3344 Attilio's Kitchen , Denville, Augustino's, Hoboken beginning Baby Lou's--Clifton Bangkok Garden -- Hackensack Bayou Cafe - Manesquan Bernards Inn--Bernardsville Beyti Kebab--Union City Big Ed's BBQ, Route 34, Old Bridge. Binh Duong, Vietnamese, Bloomfield Brix 67 - Summit Buona Sera - Red Bank Carmen's Pizzeria, Neptune City Casa Comida - Long Branch Chakra, W 144 Route 4 (eastbound), Paramus. 201-556-1530. Cheesecake Factory-Hackensack China 46 -- Ridgefield. Ciao Bella-Cresskill Cifelli's--Harrison Cinco de Mayo -- Bergenfield Civile - Kenilworth CK's Steakhouse--Rutherford Cosimo’s Trattoria, Bloomfield Cubby's BBQ - Hackensack Dai Kichi - Montclair David Drake, Rahway Deja Vu - Montclair Dining Room-Short Hills Hilton Egan & Sons, Montclair El Cid--Paramus El Gran Mexicano - Bogota El Meson - Freehold Epernay, Montclair Fascino, Montclair (BYO) Fiorino's--Summit Fresco Steak & Seafood Grill, Milltown Frog & the Peach--New Brunswick Fromagerie - Rumson Giovanna's - Plainfield Girasole - Bound Brook (BYO) Highlawn Pavillion--West Orange Il Capriccio - Whippany Il Villaggio--Morris Plains Il Villino, Waldwick Jesse & David's, Manalapan Juanito's - Red Bank Julios-West Orange Kervan--Cliffside Park Kinara--Edgewater King of India - Eatontown (lunch & Dinner) Koreana--Fort Lee Krogh's - Sparta La Chalupa - Red Bank La Fonda--Highland Park La Fontana--New Brunswick La Griglia, Kenilworth La Tartuferia--Hoboken Legal Seafoods--Paramus Lila -- Frenchtown LouCas - Edison Maize--Newark Maketa - New Brunswick Marcello's-- Ridgewood McCormick & Schmick, Bridgewater Mall, Mei Thai--Woodbridge Metropolitan Cafe - Freehold Mexicali Rose-Montclair Minado - Little Ferry Mojave Grill - Westfield Namaskaar -Paramus Nauvoo Grill Club, Fair Haven Navesink Cafe - Red Bank (Seasonal, May - October) Nero's--Livingston Nusantara Asian Cuisine--Morris Plains Ora, Morristown Osteria Giotto, Montclair Panico's New Brunswick Park and Orchard--East Rutherford Pete & Elda's. Neptune City Peter's Fishery, Matawan. Pine Tavern, Old Bridge Ponte Vecchio, Old Bridge Portuguese Manor-Perth Amboy Primavera - West Orange Raymond's, Montclair Rays Seafood - Little Silver Richie Cecere's, Montclair River Palm Terrace--Edgewater, Fair Lawn, Mahwah Salt Creek Grille, Rumson Sea Shack in Hackensack Seabra's Armory - Perth Amboy Serenade--Chatham Shanghai Park, Highland Park and Princeton. Silver Oak American Bistro, Ridgewood Sirin--Morristown Solaris -Hackensack South City Grill--Mountain Lakes, Jersey City, and Rochelle Park Spanish Pavillion-Harrison Spanish Sangria-Newark Spanish Tavern-Newark Sri Thai--Hoboken Stage House Inn--Scotch Plains Sylvester's--Hasbrouck Heights T Thai-Hoboken Tapas de Espana Taro - Montclair Tassert's--Florham Park Thai Chef - Montclair Thai Chili, Spotswood The Fulton Crabhouse--Cliffside Park The Iron Monkey--Jersey City The Little Saigon, Montclair The Potrero Grill - Hackensack The Station at Mountain Lakes--Mountain Lakes Theresa's - Westfield Thirsty Moose - Jefferson Township (Lake Hopatcong) Tony Brothers--Oakland Torino, Warren Trap Rock Brewery – Berkeley Heights Trattoria Fresco--Caldwell Tre Vigne--Basking Ridge Umeya—Cresskill Venue, Hoboken Vila Nova Do-Sol-Mar. Newark Village Green.Ridgewood (BYO) Whispers - Spring Lake

There's a place called The Tea Hive in Newton that does a very good business. You might want to take a ride up there to check it out.

Have you been to Lorena’s yet? If not put it on your “must try” list as this charming, romantic restaurant under the direction of chef/owner Humberto Campos Jr. and his fiancé Lorena is worth a visit. Lorena’s received 3 stars in the February issue of New Jersey Monthly and four stars from the Star Ledger. We started off our dinner with baby watercress salad with warm duck confit, fig jam, Roquefort cheese and a roasted shallot vinaigrette; ethereal fava bean ravioli with lobster, chervil and a parmigiana-truffle cream; and chilled Maine crabmeat with zucchini ribbons, fresh herbs, tomato confit and saffron sauce. Everything was very tasty and beautifully presented and I would have no problem having the ravioli as an appetizer and an entrée next time. It was fabulous. A carrot-ginger emulsion added depth to the perfectly cooked day boat scallops that were accompanied with butternut squash, asparagus, and chanterelle mushrooms. The spiced Long Island duck breast served medium rare was perfectly paired with a currant sauce and the pheasant breast was stuffed with mushrooms and surrounded with a black truffle game jus. Of course we had dessert! The warm soft chocolate cake and vanilla bean ice cream was chocolate so what could be bad and the crepes filled with caramel were sweet but a pleasant oozing sweetness. Phone: 973-763-4460. BYO.

Are you going out? Cooking? Tell us your dining plans.

We left before the band started.

Apps ran from $8 to $14. Large pitcher of sangria was $30 and well worth it. Salads were $10 to $15. Entrees were $23 to $28. The music on Saturday night started at 7 PM and was a Cuban band.

We were very happy with our dinner at Tre Figlio.