viejo majadero

Senor Lou Muy Bien!!! Viejo See you soon.

The one listed as Meadtown Shopping Center, Kinnelon came and went within a year. No one I know that went there said they would go back. The location is now a Falls View hotdog joint. Viejo

Last time I looked the the chef owner of both locations was Nenad (Nino) Tamburin. His wife, Janet, is the pasrty chef there. Nino owned the Chessman Bistro that burned down many years ago. Nino worked as a waiter at Guissepi Marata (spelling may be wrong) during the time he rebuilt the property into Eccola. He is Croation by nationality. I find his food style along the style of Lidia Bastianich. Not red sauce predominantly. She came from Istria which is near Croatia.l Not sure what the relationship is with Tim Principale. Surprised no one mentioned the look of the restaurant itself. This design was way ahead of its time for New Jersey. I still love the look. Don't feel like it is a strip mall place once inside. Viejo

Lou I'd like a refund for the free cheese platter I got> Viejo

Just curious, what night do you go out to eat and why? Lou, since I don't work any night is fine with me but since I dine most often with my working wife --- she prefers Saturday night or Sunday around 5-6. ------------- Do you drink more weeknights or weekends? My drinking is tied to food. I only drink wine, only with food, and that is lunch or dinner. -------------- Do you prefer to dine as a couple or with others? Have no preference but it usually is dining out with friends or family that is the rule. As a couple we eat at home.as we prepare better food than the culinary wasteland of the Kinnelon area. -------------- Is anyone more apt to dine at restaurant with a liquor license if they waive the corking charge? I also have a large wine collection. That said, I am more apt to go to a BYO than a restaurant with a license. But I am equally apt to go to a place with (reasonable) corkage versus a BYO. Waiving the corkage fee is not the issue but is nice. The caveate is that I don't show up with crap wine and don't show up with wine on the licensees list. I tip extra when corkage is waived. I share the wine with the staff, as you know. --------------- How far will you drive to a restaurant on a weeknight? Weekend? Prefer 30 to 40 minutes from my place in Kinnelon. American Grill fits that profile as does Montclair, Maplewood and Ridgewood. --------------- Lou, expect to see you soon. Viejo

Zagat just opened their Philly and area survey. Go to their web site and register for the survey and you will get a free guide for participating. Viejo

Lisa Having eaten at Striped many times I can attest to the fact the information is available about the food. If not on the menu, if not described by the wait staff, my questions have always been answered. Staff there has always been top notch, extremely helpfull and go out of their way to get answers when they themselves are stumped. Viejo

B S Viejo

Craig Can you put to word the Parker style and the "other style" so that we can understand it clearly? Can you tell us when the style change took place? Thanks Viejo

There are architects and people that execute the architects blue prints. There are chefs and cooks who execute his recipe. Viejo

Gnocci with sage cream sauce. Viejo

My wife is Cuban and has had rice as part of her food culture for her entire life. She makes great rice but inevitably rice at the bottom gets over done in the SS pot she uses. For long time she told me rice in non-stick is not as good as rice in SS. I bought a 3.5 quart Non-Stick from Analon -- their top of the line with Glass top. She has never made better rice than she does now. I don't have the pan from hell to clean. Life is great. Viejo

Sara and Erin Thanks for the clarification. Viejo

Erin "The only complaint i have is the service was a little slow. It took a while to get our check. And, luckily we didn't need change, otherwise, we would have been there for a little while." Are you inferring the place does not take credit cards? Viejo

Heard on the TV the other day that twice as many cards are purchased for mothers day than for fathers day. And Moms are more likely to be taken out to eat and Fathers are more likely to cook the Fathers Day meal -- BBQ. Viejo

Betsy I can easily purchase Spiegelau for a few cents less than $5.00. I would think with your volume you could do a lot better. I do understand the breakage issue but I have to say I tried the less expensive Riedels (no disrespect to Lou Reda ) and there is no comparison. While many poke fun at me I bring my own glasses when I can. Thanks Viejo

So, in response to ‘how to get in the guide?’ it seems like all you need to do is to vote for your restaurant of choice. --Betsy Alger Betsy -- Above not correct. When you go on line all the votable restaurants are listed there already. In addition you can do a write in. I did a write in and it was not in the book. There must be more criterion. I still say there is a bad fishy smell eminating from Zagats. Viejo

MKJR I think you should follow Beans' advice and not eat out. What would the tip be then? or Maybe the issue should be dealt with. Service should be properly rewarded with a tip but a $300.00 bottle of wine versus a $30.00 bottle are going to be generally served equally. Why should the tip on one be 10 times greater than the other? Viejo

Stone If you are refering to the fact their prices are low --- it may be due to when they purchased futures and volume. My local shop had futures at about $350.00 bottle but Calvert and Woodly $300.00 bottle K&L -- $300. Macarthur Liquors $300 Viejo

The problem with Pinot Grigio is that a fresh tasting, food friendly grape has been marketed to death here in the US. The effect has been to turn many people away from the variety, not realizing there are many fine producers and products available. John W -- I had the opportunity to taste the Swanson 2002 recently in NYC -- Lauber Imports -- and felt it was a wonderful mouthfull of wine. My compliments to Marco Capelli. Viejo

I can confirm that I was in the certain circumstances category. I also concur that many restaurants that sell wine allow corkage. I personally seek out BYO's over non because I have a large wine collection. It behooves those places that sell wine, and want my business and the business of those similar to me, to make it clear that they do corkage as well. The John Foy day Sonoma Grill for example made it well known that corkage was acceptable. It was printed on his menu along with a cute formula as to what he would charge. No one would deny he had a large and deep selection. Viejo

Glad you all enjoyed one of my favorite places. Hope this visiit and thread will encourage others to visit. Viejo

Rosie Do you mean have them for every day service? or Do you mean they have them in the restaurant available, but put them out for special use/occasions? And why only Riedel and not other high quality glassware? An American Grill has Riedel on hand for special wines but it is a more durable glass for restaurants. Ryland sets the table with Riedel but it is the more expensive style. Cent Anni in Maplewood uses Spiegleau for special wines. Viejo

Guys There is TV at the bar. Lou -- You can smoke at the bar. Pretty stupid habit though Wish I could be there. Viejo

Kim Champagne!! always the first choice. Viejo