feed fabulous near meadowlands

[intrepid2]

good eve. need the most fabulous place closest to meadowlands. $$$, and style not an issue, just the best, upscale, great food etc. then onto meadowlands after dinner. thx in adv

[Stone]

I recall a great deli nearby, on par with Carnegie (in portions, at least). I'll try to find the name.

(oops. I guess the deli is not upscale. But it's damn good.)

[Rosie]

Cafe Matisse, Rutherford is about 20 minutes from the Meadowlands. BYO.

[thereuare]

Cafe Matisse is a great suggestion, one of the best meals i've had in NJ.

[intrepid2]

sounds like cafe matisse, any fabulous hotels nearby meadowlands?? thx in adv.

[pete ganz]

I have to second (third?) Cafe Matisse. We've been there twice and had a great experience both times. They have a wine shop connected to the restaurant, and they have some great selections. You can also check out their website.

[RockADS21]

Park and Orchard is also a very good choice. Top of the line wine list and very interesting dinner choices. Not much in terms of atmosphere but still a good experiance.

[phaelon56]

I have yet to dine at Cafe Matisse although it's a few blocks from my home - will do so sooner than later but consistently read very favorable reviews in this forum (a few naysayers but mostly very positive). I believe Nick (ngatti) , who posts here regularly, visits the Sonoma grill regularly and really likes it - it's smewhere in Hasbrouck Heights, about the same distance from the Meadowlands. IMHO the nicest hotel in the immediare area is the new Renaissance, which is by the intersection of Rtes. 3 & 17. My folks stayed there when they came to visit me last year and the rooms were beautiful - on a par with a nice Hilton or Hyatt (Renaissance is a Marriott property that is a level up from regular Marriotts). My folks got a $99 per night weekend special that I spotted in an ad in the NY Times. Reghular price is probably $150-250 but you could always tell them you're in town to see someone at Ernst & Young and you'll get a special rate because they have a large office a few block away. You don'nt need to be an E & Y employee but my business colleagues stayed there at that rate (we are vendors but weren't doing business with them at the time - the rate is simply a courtesy discount).

[intrepid2]

much thx for your rsvp. how is the vibe at sonoma grill. thx in adv for all yr help

[phaelon56]

I haven't been there and there seems to be a lack of recent experiences there that have been shared in this forum. It appears that it went through a slump wiht an ownership transition and is now in good hands. Judge for yourself by checking this egullet thread on the topic. Cafe Matisse is higher end but the menu at Sonoma Grill (as of May '02 when it was posted in the thread)

http://forums.egullet.org/ibf/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=6903&hl=sonoma+grill

The current chef, Pete Angelakos, is said to be a reallly nice guy with loads of talent. Maybe you'll check this place out and report back to us? There's a chance (slim but possible) that I'll be taking a frined out for dinner Friday or Saturday this weekend. It will be at Matisse or Sonoma if (only if and also if we can get a table at this late date) it happens. Should that be the case I'll post the results here on Sunday.

[phaelon56]

oops... mean to post that as a link... can't seem to do it properly now - you'll need to cut and paste to get to it

[tommy]

please to click me for that link.

cafe matisse is much smaller than SG. it's also a bit more intimate and romantic by some standards. i haven't been to SG since the change in hands a few yrs back, but if the decor hasn't changed it much bigger and brighter.

cafe matisse is very good. one of the better restaurants in NJ. and, in case it wasn't mentioned, it is BYO. SG is not BYOB.

[phaelon56]

Tommy makes a good point about the BYO. Matisse has now followed the lead of some other area BYO's and has wine for sale. I believe you buy it from the "wine shop" (which is inside the restaurant) and then pay a corkage fee. Presumably they have a decent selection.

My now ex-girlfriend is probably still pissed at me for dumping her last week - she might still want her birthday dinner but there's a strong possibility she'll want to share it with someone else.

Here's a link to the Record's review of SG - it's very favorable.

Sonoma Grill review

[tommy]

Tommy makes a good point about the BYO.  Matisse has now followed the lead of some other area BYO's and has wine for sale. I believe you buy it from the "wine shop" (which is inside the restaurant) and then pay a corkage fee.

i'm pretty sure that there's no corkage fee at matisse. it's still technically a byob if i'm not mistaken. if i am, well then i'm sure someone will tell me.

here is their website.

it says "We will be closed for vacation September 16th - October 3rd. Re-opening on October 4th." this might make and decision a bit easier.

[Rosie]

Cafe Matisse is BYO. They do not charge a corkage fee as that would be illegal. Their wine shop is separate from the restaurant.

[NJ2FLA]

If you feel like driving a bit farther, the Chart House in Weeeeeeeeeehakwin is nice. It is on the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan.

Chart-House Weehawken

You would just continue on route 3 east until near the Lincoln Tunnel.

[KaseyJonze]

I know this sounds a little redundant - but Cafe Matisse and Sonoma are always on my list too.

[tommy]

i'd be hesitant to send anyone to the chart house. although the view is brilliant, the food and experience can range from OK down to horrid. "fabulous," however, could definitely apply to cafe matisse.

[NJ2FLA]

Well there is always Ruth Chris across the street. But they have locations in several states.