Jamie's Restaurant (and Cigar Bar) -- Clifton

[ELA]

Doesn't seem to be as much activity as usual, so I wanted to try and spark a little interest here. I had made somewhat impromptu plans a few weeks ago, and was really in the mood for a cigar, so I ended up at Jamie's.

On my first visit, there was a nice crowd for the Yankees game. Nobody was happy with the outcome, but that's a different topic. LOL. Seems to be a decent amount of regulars, which isn't a surprise as there are only a couple of places in all of Northern NJ -- yet alone the entire state of NJ -- where you can smoke.

When you enter, the bar/room/space to the right wasn't being used. Nice space though. To the left is a small, nice dining area, space for about 10 tables or so. My initial thinking was that this was the non-smoking area, but I wasn't sure. However, later on, there were people sitting at these tables, eating and smoking. Perhaps at a certain point they allow people to smoke in this room. I also thought that if this room was smoking, then the room to the right was non-smoking, but again, I am not sure.

After you walk through this space, you enter a very large, nice bar area with a nice, long bar. This is a very nice, large space. Plenty of seats at the bar, high-top bar tables, and a casual area with a couch/sofa, chairs, etc. This was a large room, almost with a feel of different spaces or areas -- near the bar, away from the bar, couch/sofa, etc. There were plenty of flat-screen TV's of different sizes -- every single one showing the Yankee game!

This room is for smoking -- and there was plenty of it. A real cigar-smoker's haven. There is some sort of ventilation system, so while you get a nice aroma from the cigar(s), you don't get bad clouds of smoke or a massive amount of lingering smoke. Nice, attentive staff, although the bartender -- an excellent bartender -- also seemed to be waiting on (at least some of) the people who were seated at the tables (along with other staff), so he was running around quite a bit. Regardless, service was very good. They were attentive, clearing the table of dirty plates, napkins, etc.

We had a couple of appetizers and a sandwich. The fried ravioli was good, nice taste -- stuffed with sausage, broccoli rabe and cheese. The fried calamari was good too -- not overly or heavily fried, and not "chewy" so to speak. I also had the steak sandwich, which was excellent. It was nice, thinly sliced steak -- good flavor, not stringy, chewy or fatty, and instead of melted fontina cheese, I got it with mozzarella. Excellent sandwich. We didn't have any entrees and many of the people/tables seemed to be having (multiple) appetizers. As mentioned before, service was very good.

Overall, I liked this place. I will certainly go back.

[ELA]

I've gone back there since my initial visit. Yes, it is one of the very few places I can enjoy a cigar, a drink, food, etc. During the spring/summer, maybe even into the fall, there's a few places where you can "smoke outside" -- patio, outdoor seating, etc.

However, for the most part, unless I want to go to my cigar club (private, member-only) and while alcohol is certainly allowed, they do not have a full-service bar. Nor do they have a restaurant. So, I might clutch onto a place where I can enjoy a cigar. The Porter House in Montvale is one, and now Jamie's is another. I can sit at the table, eat, drink and smoke.

So, my second visit was as good as the first. Again, we just had appetizers -- and they were good. Interesting menu -- from chicken fingers, to calamari, to fried ravioli, to the entrees of veal saltimboca, different cuts of steak, pasta, fish, etc.

The place was more crowded this time, and yet the service was still very good. The staff is attentive, they clear dirty dishes, empty glasses, etc., and they want you to enjoy yourself.

I'll head back again . . . and again.

Edited November 7, 2010 by ELA (log)