Lreda

That's where I'm leaning. Free $250. Yeah ha. Cocktail at Otto early, call The Rock.

To be honest a bit lazy, a bit over-whelmed by the scene. A Canadian in New Jersey. I'm all over it. Looking forward to it. Might make it a daily double and nosh at Otto early. Good place to get a little wine and cheese early before the pasta tasting.

O.K. Babbo's tread has been awfully quiet lately but my cousin didn't use his $250 gift cert that I bought him after dining last 12/19 and had it thrust back to me. I have procured a reservation tonight for tomorrow ( 5:30 but who's bitching? I got dinner non grata ) I'm seriously thinking pasta tasting. Anyone been recently?

Glad you didn't beat em' over the mullet. It's a new place and there's still trying new things and might not be able to present food the way they wish to. Shit happens, give them credit for trying and giving a proper mea culpa. I wish them the best of luck, tough town to open in. Besides the fact, mullets are out. Ask Tommy.

Rosie, The review was from from 11/27 and a new one posted yesterday to replace mine. It hasn't been sent to the archives yet. Morris Life & Health doesn't have a website as far as I can tell. The mag arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I'll try to keep an eye on the archives and post when it does. Lou

Thanks Pete, I've actually had a good month. 1st, Vicki's cookbook came out and is featured in bookstores such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. It is actually a beautiful book and I'm proud to be in it. 2nd, The Daily Record in Morris reviewed The Grill and bestowed 3 stars uopn us. The only complaint being the rolls were served room temp. 3rd, Morris Life & Health in the December issue features The Grill's Grandma's Chocolate Cake as well as a nice photo of my kitchen staff. A nice holiday so far for us, the only complaint being the snow this weekend forced me to close both yesterday & today. Happy holidays to all. Lou

I read the review in the Post as I was closing tonight and thinking with a 4 star review that I would have problems getting a reservation. I called, thinking a 30 day policy might be possible and was astonished to get a 7:30 reservation on 12/18. Anything I should know beforehand? Birthday dinner after all and would prefer a tasting menu.

We are going to have the omakase for $120. I figure if there are 4 of us the bill will be slightly less than my Kenneth Cole shoes.

Has anyone been lately? Heard Morimoto's opening in Chelsea in NYC and he's been there setting up recently. A`search has turned up no one visiting here recently. Should we look to dine elsewhere? We're meeting friends who are going to The Eagles-Cowboys game so dress will be somewhat casual. ( No Jerseys though) Thanks, Lou

Well, I tried, I even logged on to WOR and what happened? I got busy in the DR and missed the whole thing. The Customers at the bar had no idea who they were listening to streaming through my laptop.

Thanks Paul, I'll check it out.

Anthony, Congrats on the opening of your restaurant and the fine reviews on egullet. Hopefully I can convince Rock & Mrs Rock to join Sue & I at your place before the holidays. Quick question, is opentable looking to list all Jersey rests, North Jersey or just Montclair. Good luck, Lou

Hey, it's all fair game. I open the doors, charge people for food, they deserve a restaurant to be ready. I came to work this morning and read the review which still hangs in front to get some familarity. Her opening sentence says " An American Grill open less than 3 months has much of its act together " I don't won't to bore everyone with other quotes though I've always thought based on her review that she was here only once. The review was actually glowing with her only saying The Onaga might have been old. (Wasn't) and I served Langostine's with pasta and she thought it difficult to remove them from the shells. She can come back any day though as a review is always good for business.

The Star Ledger would give the Bloomfield Parkway McDonalds three stars!!! Be careful dude. I got 2 1/2 from Cody about 9 weeks after I opened in 94/95. I opened 11/26/94 for those of you who wonder why I lapped 94/95. Gotta be honest, for what I was doing and being 28 at the time in retrospect she might have been right. If I could get 3 stars I'd open a Mickey D's. Just hate that fried food smell. Ehhh!!!

Here's a golden oldie for you Kim.

Glenn, I think Zagat's is more important as a directory suppling address' & telephone numbers but if you land in the top 10 or recieve a high rating you can use that for advertising purposes. Although, I'm starting to think about using quotes from e-gulleteers in my press.

Ok, I've had about 10 hours to think about this and my blood pressure is starting to rise slightly along with my blood alcohol. The Grocery, putting aside the debate on Food & Media whether it's worthly of being listed in the Top 10 has just gotten huge media exposure by being listed in Zagat's. Granted, it's addition is the story and is a favorable one in a Catch 22 kind of way, all beneficial fo The Grocery. By the way, I'm very happy for them. Somehow I Have a feeling a certain PR firm that I know would probably be involved. Congrats also. This just shows how important it is to be included in this publication. I've gone back in this topic to see if there was anyone that might know my best route to getting in but didn't see anything.

Paul, I'm assuming you never got a response to your voice mail from Andrea. I just want to thank you because I actually forgot about Zagat's, ( One crisis in a restaurant turn to another shortly, then to another, etc, etc). I'm going to contact them again and see what I have to do to get listed. I'll keep everyone updated if you all don't mind. Now THIS could be a restaurant reality show. Lou

Suzi, It disturbs me that you would venture so close to me and not visit.

Count me in.

i don't think they're open yet. it used to be a bar/restaurant called "american grill" or something along those lines. that place hasn't been open for some time now. Must be an Italian place.

i'm just sayin' it's ok is all. It's all good, brother.

the review on the wall said 2001 i think. chef lou has an italian place called An American Grill, but we don't bust his balls too much for that. Gotta pay the bills dude. Oooh that stung a bit. What can I say, once a guinea always a guinea. I better find a signature line from the Godfather. Oh wait............

Thanks for the kind word Paul

If he's an artist get him a fuckin paintbrush. I hate that shit that we're artists'. Please, I take pride in what I do but very little that we do is original, it's borrowing or embelishing on something that's been done. At least, 98% of the time. I do occasionally come up with something on my own but within 3 months someone else will be doing it, either they ate at The Grill or read about here or in a review. Artist, my ass.