Jocelyne's

[Rosie]

You will be transported to a bistro in France at Jocelyne's in Maplewood. We had an outstanding dinner at this BYO restaurant last night. The place is small so be sure to make a reservation. Appetizers: grilled fresh sardines over greens; tuna tartare; mushroom ravioli and a plate containing foie gras, a grilled prawn and wild mushrooms. Entrees were sea scallops; tasty filet mignon with a Bordeaux wine sauce; sea bass and salmon with mushroom mashed potatoes. We shared homemade ice cream that was presented in a crisp tuille that we fought over and a raspberry napoleon for dessert.  Jocelyne's is on my top ten list of favorite NJ restaurants.  973-763-4460

[beatricechambers]

We went there a month ago and loved it. It reminded us of some of the wonderful dinners we had in Provence.

[pcloguda]

 So many so favorably about this wonderful french

auberge, that I am reluctant to offer additional positive notes in the fear that I will never get a reservation!....But if you're going soon, do try Chef Mitchell's foie grad, the foie gras broth w. rabbit ravioli, the oysters in the champage buerre blanc.......and the

absolutely marvelous new chocolate dessert.....a round jewel of layers of chocolate sponge cake & hazelnut ganache covered w. dark chocolate fondant and sitting in a pool of mocha creme anglais. Wow!

[Rosie]

Call three weeks ahead for a reservation. This is one of the best French restaurants in NJ. David Corcoran from the NY Times gave Jocelyne's an excellent in his 7/1/01 review.

[mikec]

This is a delayed write up from a meal earlier this month...

My anniversary is coming up this month. As in previous years, we have gone out to dinner with our parents. This year we went to Jocelyne’s in Maplewood, New Jersey. I’m beginning to lose my preconceived notions of what dining in New Jersey is all about. My past two meals out in New Jersey have been at Le Rendezvous and Jocelyne’s. I’ve already mentioned how much we enjoyed the former meal. Now I can say the same about the latter meal.

From the outside Jocelyne’s is easy to miss. It’s just a storefront on the main street of Maplewood with the inside obscured by the blinds. However once inside, the restaurant is tastefully decorated and very small. There were only about 10-12 tables in the whole restaurant. Reservations are a must. The restaurant was full the entire time that we were there on Sunday night. My only complaint was the uneven temperature. I actually enjoyed it when someone opened the front door to let in some cool air.

Allison started with a salad of Provencal vegetables topped with toasted goat cheese. I can best describe this dish as ratatouille topped with goat cheese. The vegetables were formed into a round, topped with the cheese, and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. It was artfully presented and tasted even better than it looked. My appetizer was rabbit ravioli in a foie gras broth. As soon as I saw this appetizer on the menu I knew that I would be ordering it. The ravioli were delicious and the chucks of sautéed foie gras that were in the broth made it heavenly.

Allison had the sautéed red snapper with a ragout of mushrooms for her entrée. The snapper was cooked to perfection with a golden crust on one side while remaining moist on the inside. I had the duck cooked two ways. The breast was seared to medium rare, just the way I like it. The breast was accompanied by the duck leg confit. The skin on the leg wasn’t as crispy as I’m used to, but I just removed it along with the fat and enjoyed the meat.

For dessert Allison and I shared the crème brulee and the pear tart with caramel sauce. Both were very good. The pear tart wasn’t what I expected. It was essentially a cheesecake type filling topped with a thin layer of pear. Either way, it was quite tasty.

Since several of us were fighting colds, we held off on wine this evening.

[Rosie]

Try the scallops next time. Best I have ever had.

[mikec]

I'll be sure to try them, but my wife and I just went to Daniel for our actual anniversary this past week and I had scallops there that were to die for!  I'll post something on the NYC board later.

BTW,  last weekend we at at Carmelita's and Syd's both in Maplewood.  Cheap eats done the right way!

[Rosie]

Carmelita's is a great inexpensive find. He has the following statement on his menu:

Mexican food that is so authentic you are afraid to drink the water.

[mikec]

LOL!  I must have missed that one.  Carmelita's seems perfect for a couple of things.  It's ultra-casual, cheap, and tasty.  Plus they seemed very friendly towards children and since I'm going to have one in a few weeks that's important.  I suspect my days of eating at Jocelyne's and Daniel will be few and far between for a while.  Carmelita's and Syd's are looking like winners.  I wonder how a nice Chateauneuf du Pape would match with a Syd's hot dog! :)

[menton1]

Have heard some good things about Jocelyne's in Maplewood. Haven't been able to find any past discussion here, nor any reviews of the place in print. Want to go there for our anniversary in 2 weeks. We are latent francophiles as well. Could anyone please advise if this is a good choice, and what in particular is recommended to order. Thanks!

P.S. Has Rosie ever reviewed this place?

[Rosie]

This restaurant is outstanding. Call yesterday for a reservation. BYO. One of the best in NJ.

[Rachel Perlow]

Some of the previous threads mentioning Jocelyne's (you need to search without the 's):

Your Top 10 NJ Restaurants for 2001
Valentine's Day in NJ
Going French in NJ

Be sure to let us know how your evening goes.

EDIT by Jason Perlow, Merged all Jocylenes threads

[PaulaJK]

Jocelyne's is a wonderful choice. You will be warmly welcomed,

conscientiously and unobtrusively served and have wonderful cuisine.

The chef's oysters are always the freshest, the migonnette sauce

accenting the brininess. I also love the frisee-rocquefort-walnut salad.

My favorite entree is the scallops although I would bump them

for an oft-offered special of butter roasted lobster out of the shell.

You need to reserve in advance, especially for weekends.

Have a wonderful anniversary.

[pete ganz]

We finally got to Jocelyne's this Friday. The place has a nice cozy feel, especially since there are only roughly 10 tables or so. It would have been nice if they had a fire going in the fireplace. It seemed a bit on the formal side, with most men wearing jackets (I wore slacks and a button down). Also, we were the only people there who were under 50 (we're in our late 20's) and I felt like I was getting plenty of stares, which I've never really experienced before, even in NYC. We started off with the tuna tartare Nicoise and the frisee roquefort salad. The tuna was of excellent quality, and my wife thoroughly the salad. For mains, we ordered the pheasant w/ foie gras and the scallops. I only ordered the pheasant because I've never eaten it before. It really wasn't much different than chicken, I doubt I would get it again (the tiny piece of foie gras was terrific though). The scallops were very good, however they could have been warmer. We split a chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The food was good to very good, but I just don't know about it being worth all the accolades it gets. After one visit, I'm not convinced this place is really any better than American Fare across the street, when it's firing on all cylinders. Perhaps it was the stuffy vibe and poor choice of entree, but I suppose it's worth another visit down the road. Just my opinion...

[PaulaJK]

We dined here last evening. While many gentlemen so wear jackets

over open neck shirts or turtlenecks, one would also be quite comfortable

in a buttondown shirt. I am particularly fond of the scallop entree so I hope

that you will try it on another occassion. Last evening I had the foie

gras duo which is a piece of terrine w. sauterne aspic and a medallion of

sauteed FG w. a flavorful sauce. ..and continuing winter's theme,

had the venison which was delivered as ordered [rare] and delicious.

That NY's diet hasn't begun because I succumbed to the apple tart w.

cinnamon ice cream. Enjoyed it all!

I don;t know if the fireplace is a working one...but it is so snug to

the tables in this boite, that I don't think it could be burned.

[pete ganz]

Now that I think about it, the fireplace probaby is not functional, but I've been to places where they have a fire going, and it's definitely a nice touch (I guess that's obvious). I don't remember seeing the foie gras duo on the menu, sounds delicious. Sounds like I also should have had the venison! I would like to go back and try this place again in the future.

[Rosie]

Pete--I have always had excellent meals at Jocelyne's. Give it another try.

[Rail Paul]

Perhaps this is a subject for another thread, but...

many restaurants have an entirely different character on a weeknight vs a weekend. Perhaps its the difference between one table turn and three turns, or the customer anxiety levels, but I've noticed it often.

Parsley & Sage, the place in Riverdale, is a good example. Weekdays, it's very French. You have your table all night. The place is 3/4 filled. Weekends, it's elbow to elbow, and waiting people drill holes thru each diner, waiting for them to finish.

[Rosie]

Rosemary and Sage---

[dbrociner]

I'll echo Pete's sentiments. I was underwhelmed by Jocelyn's. Maybe it was all the build up. I had a meal almost identical to one described by Rosie and I left feeling that it was no big deal. I guess I'll go back one day, too bad it isn't the kind of place we could have a group dinner at.

[rozrapp]

We have now been to Jocelyne’s twice for dinner, the first time last month and the second time last week – both times at 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, following matinee performances at the NJ Shakespeare Theater in Madison. As we were leaving the restaurant last week, my husband turned to me and said, “How did we manage to miss this place for so long?” How, indeed! I am the one who always comes up with new gustatory finds. Although I have been aware of Jocelyne’s for quite a long time, with so many restaurants in NJ and NYC to try, I somehow never got around to suggesting to my husband that we go there. However, when we were scheduled to use the first of our series of tickets in Madison, I realized that Maplewood, where Jocelyne’s is located, would be an easy stop on our way home.

One enters the restaurant into a very small receiving area where a high counter separates it from the kitchen just beyond. On our first visit, Jocelyne was not there, but she was there last week, and I found her to be charming and friendly. Both times upon our arrival, we were immediately escorted to our table – the same one both times -- the only deuce in the room. The room is small, accommodating about 35 diners at closely spaced tables. The décor is attractively French. There is recorded music – one of my dining bugaboos -- but at least they keep it relatively low. As for the general noise level, the restaurant was not totally full either time we were there, more so on our second visit. We had no difficulty making normal conversation, though conversation at other tables can easily be overheard.

Menus are provided promptly. There were no specials either time we were there. Wine is opened (it’s a BYO), and warmed rolls, accompanied by a generous triangle of butter, are served. The rolls have a just barely crispy crust and excellent flavor.

During our first visit, I started with the Parfait of Provencal Vegetable with Toasted Goat Cheese and Balsamic Aged Vinegar. ($8.50) The vegetables are finely minced, cooked and, I think, marinated (or maybe they’re marinated first?), formed into a small, round mold, topped with a layer of goat cheese, and napped with the balsamic dressing. All the flavors work splendidly together, making this dish heaven on a plate! My husband’s first course was Escargot in a Puff Pastry With a Light Garlic Sauce. ($8.50) I had a taste of a perfectly prepared morsel, a bit of very flaky pastry, and some delectable sauce.

For the main course, I chose Roasted Squab with Sauteed Foie Gras and Black Truffle Sauce. ($24) The squab was tender, succulent, and full of flavor. The heady truffle sauce was an excellent match, and the small piece of seared foie gras was the coup de gras. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the accompaniments. But I can assure you that they were perfectly prepared and suited the squab very well.

My husband’s main course was Roasted Pork Tenderloin Stuffed With Apricot and Armagnac Sauce. ($20) Since I don’t care for pork, I did not taste it. But my husband pronounced the dish one of the best pork dishes he has ever eaten.

The other thing I am having trouble remembering is what desserts we had. But whatever they were, I know we were supremely satisfied.

At our second meal, we both began with the Duo of Sauteed and Terrine Foie Gras with Sauternes Aspics. ($14) The sautéed foie gras was done perfectly and sat atop what I think was a beet gelee, while the ultra-smooth and flavor-filled terrine was accompanied by two small cubes of golden aspic. There was some sauce on the plate, though I’m not sure of its composition. But it was just enough to add additional flavor. A garnish of frisee provided another texture, and there were two large, toasted, herbed French bread slices on which to spread the terrine. All of this was artfully arranged on a beautifully shaped plate. This is the kind of phenomenal dish that makes one feel that one has died and gone to heaven. Well, at least that’s how I, the foie gras junkie, felt as I savored every bite. And my husband heartily concurred.

For the main course, I selected the Marinated Duck Breast and Leg Confit With Orange and Green Peppercorn Sauce. ($23) This dish consisted of a large duck breast (magret), cooked to my specifications (“as the chef prefers,” which was medium rare), cut into several thick slices, and arranged over the large confit. The magret was succulent and so tender that I probably could have cut it with my butter knife. Accompaniments were mixed vegetables – cooked to perfect crunchiness -- and what, at first glance, I thought might be mashed potatoes (definitely not one of my favorites), but which turned out to be one of the most sumptuously delicious potato gratins that it has ever been my pleasure to ingest. I only tasted a tiny bit of the confit – yummy, of course -- but because the portions were so large, I took it and one thick slice of duck home.

My husband went with the American Rack of Lamb With Porcini Crust and Thyme Sauce. ($28.50) He also let the chef decide the doneness, and 4 nice-sized chops arrived with the meat, cooked medium rare, detached from the bones. I sampled a piece and found the meat juicy and tasty. Accompaniments were the same as mine. The 4 lamb bones were presented as a whole on the plate. My husband cut them apart and happily gnawed off all the remaining meat. He was raised by a mother who believed in the “clean your plate” dictum. She would definitely have been very proud of him!

My husband next decided that, before dessert, we should have the cheese platter. What arrived was the most astonishing cheese platter either of us has ever seen. First of all, the items arranged on the plate looked like a work of art! There had to be about 10 different cheeses, each a very generous slice. We asked Jocelyne to tell us what they were, but because of my lousy memory, I can only remember Compte, Reblochon and Roquefort. There were thin slices of pear arranged around the perimeter of the plate, raspberries, quartered fresh figs, slices of the same toasted, herbed bread that were on the foie gras plate, and lots of walnuts. We were also given a basket of rolls and a little pot of what I think was raspberry jelly. It was all totally delicious, and at $9.50, the bargain of the century! We didn’t finish all the cheese and took home what was left.

We had given Jocelyne our dessert order at the same time that we ordered the cheese course. When she brought the cheese to our table, she told us that if, after finishing, we decided that we did not want dessert, there would be no problem canceling the order. Was she kidding? Miss dessert? Not on your life! We both ordered the Almond Parfait With a Soft Truffle Center and Mocha Sauce. ($7.50) Another work of art was placed before us. This was a small cylindrical mound, the outside of which was encased in a chocolate “wrapper” upon which had been “painted” little squares of red and gold. Inside was a luscious filling of almond-flavored cake and mousse-like truffle cream. On the plate were the mocha sauce, along with just enough raspberry and lemon sauces to make a fine counterpoint to the not overly-sweet “parfait.”

My husband finished the meal with some chamomile tea.

As we were leaving the restaurant, a group of men was filing in, laden with a boatload of wine and Ridel glasses. Obviously, they were getting set for a fine tasting. My husband had brought a single bottle of Cote du Rhone and settled for the glass supplied by the restaurant. The wine went very well with his lamb, he said, and he also drank some with the cheese course. If you should turn up at the restaurant without any wine, there is a liquor store directly across the street.

During our ride home, I gave a lot more thought to the two meals we had, and something interesting struck me. The food served falls into two categories – at least as far as the dishes we have had are concerned. The first courses and the desserts are very much modern French haute cuisine-like, while the main courses are much more bistro-like in nature. This is not a criticism by any means. Just my own observation.

Based on these two extraordinarily wonderful meals, we believe that Chef Mitchel Altholz is producing fabulous food out of what is a closet-sized kitchen. We did have an opportunity to speak with him the first time we were there, and he is a really nice guy, as well as being very talented. Last week, things were a bit more hectic in the kitchen. We called out our appreciation to him as we caught a glimpse of him and his crew all crowded into that small space, working their magic. With so many more enticing things on the menu, we are looking forward to future visits to Jocelyne’s, a restaurant we consider one of the best in NJ.

Jocelyne’s

168 Maplewood Ave., Maplewood

Tel: 973-763-4460

Web Site: www.jocelynesrestaurant.com

Reservations: A Must

BYO

Dress: Casual

Smoking: Not Permitted

[PaulaJK]

We had a fabulous dinner at this local French inspired

restaurant in Maplewood. There are several new and

interesting fish dishes [skate over chive mashed

potatoes & wild king salmon w. melted leeks &

lobster sauce. e.g.] along w. the tried & true items.

We had two new appetizers [new to us, anyway];

- chilled Cavaillon melon soup w. Sauterne foam

Crisp & soft w. a melt in your mouth experience

-Warm Peekytoe Crabmeat w. salsify batons, herbs

and truffle slivers sat in a pool of divine sorrel sauce.

If you dine here, try them.

[Rachel Perlow]

Moderator Note: Merged some new Jocelyne's threads into this one, and deleted a few posts which then seemed unnecessary (links to threads no longer in existence, for example).

[PaulaJK]

We have long been a fan of Chef Mitchell Altholz and Restaurant

Jocelyne..but tonight we experienced the best meal that we have

ever enjoyed there.

-Oysters, gently poached in buerre blanc, herb garnish

-A small grilled sardine atop confit of leek, w. frothy red wine reduction

-a sea scallop sandwiched e. black truffles atop a bed of pureed

celeriac w. mushroom-truffle sauce...my favorite of all time!

-house prepared mi cuit terrine of foie gras layered w. black truffle

and accompanied by frisee w. white truffle oil vinaigrette, sauterne

jelly cubes and herb toast

-Niman Ranch pork, medium that tasted like the gentlest veal, accented

w. turned yukon gold potato, haricot vert, ratatouille & baby carrot &

baby squash

-perfect condition Explorateur, rocquefort & manchego cheeses w.

pear slices

-house made pistachio ice cream and a petite creme brulee

Although all of this menu was served in a convivial atmosphere, I felt

as though I was in a comfortable starred Michelin restaurant.

Fabulous!

Edited December 18, 2004 by PaulaJK (log)

[agent orange]

We finally got to Jocelyne's this Friday. The place has a nice cozy feel, especially since there are only roughly 10 tables or so. It would have been nice if they had a fire going in the fireplace. It seemed a bit on the formal side, with most men wearing jackets (I wore slacks and a button down). Also, we were the only people there who were under 50 (we're in our late 20's) and I felt like I was getting plenty of stares, which I've never really experienced before, even in NYC. We started off with the tuna tartare Nicoise and the frisee roquefort salad. The tuna was of excellent quality, and my wife thoroughly the salad. For mains, we ordered the pheasant w/ foie gras and the scallops. I only ordered the pheasant because I've never eaten it before. It really wasn't much different than chicken, I doubt I would get it again (the tiny piece of foie gras was terrific though). The scallops were very good, however they could have been warmer. We split a chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The food was good to very good, but I just don't know about it being worth all the accolades it gets. After one visit, I'm not convinced this place is really any better than American Fare across the street, when it's firing on all cylinders. Perhaps it was the stuffy vibe and poor choice of entree, but I suppose it's worth another visit down the road. Just my opinion...

←

I find that everything on the menu there seems like a list of things all put on a plate. Like things that anyone that opened a French restaraunt would put together. Not that that is bad, it just is standard. I have to agree here with Mr.Pete Ganz, that if you want real traditional French food at a cheaper price American Fare has that. Yet, there are also those dishes that are straight from Tuscanny or England or pick a continent. There is just something about international cuisine that is considered comfort food in each of those countries blowing me away. Not to disagree with you Rosie, but American Fare is just as good and better in some ways. Have you ever been there? I already think that we will disagree because I feel that Carmalita's is possibly the worst Mexican food I've ever had. Everything seems to come out of a can. I mean, why would you buy canned jalapenos at a Mexican restaraunt? I guess that's why he's going out of business as well as a lot of other places in Maplewood.\

cheers