NJ Restaurants for 2003?

[Rosie]

What restaurants haven't you been to that you MUST get to in 2003? I hope to get to Finks if someone can give me directions from the NJ Turnpike or GSP coming north.

[RockADS21]

Already have my must try in 2003 list ready...in NJ...Jocelynes in Maplewood(thanks to Rosie's always pleasant comments), Le Rendez-Vous in Kennilworth, Brasilia in Newark, both Origin and Verve in Somerville, Jeffrey's in Westfield and last but certainly not least Girasole in Bound Brook...I also want to try sushi at Ajian in Watchung and Sono in Millburn...egullet get together from this list anyone???

[Rosie]

Jocelynes in Maplewood--one of my favorites

Le Rendez-Vous in Kennilworth-Disappointed the last time we were there. However, the owners were away on vacation.

Brasilia in Newark--never been

Origin --love it early on a Sunday. Very noisy.

Verve --haven't been in a long time. Would be interested in your thoughts.

Jeffrey's in Westfield--was there once. It was ok.

Girasole in Bound Brook--Excellent. BYO.

[Rachel Perlow]

I hope to get to Finks if someone can give me directions from the NJ Turnpike or GSP coming north.

Garden State Parkway North to Exit 161 to Rt 4 East towards Paramus.

Take the JOHNSON AVE ramp toward HACKENSACK.

Turn LEFT onto JEFFERSON ST.

Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto KINDERKAMACK RD/CR-51. Continue to follow KINDERKAMACK RD.

Finks, 626 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, New Jersey

Directions adapted from mapquest.

[Rosie]

Can I BYO and does he take reservations?

[Rachel Perlow]

Yes and no, respectively.

Wait, no reservations for seats, but I called the other day and reserved some ribs.

[menton1]

Can I BYO and does he take reservations?

Rosie, this really is not a restaurant-- it is a "Luncheonette" atmosphere, only a few seats, oriented to takeout mostly. But the barbecue is very good and unique in NJ. Just show up.

[Rosie]

If I am driving 45 minutes I want to sit down! How many seats and are the customers polite enough to give their seat to an old woman?

[Rachel Perlow]

10 seats/stools. When they are done eating they'll let you sit down.

Edited January 2, 2003 by RPerlow (log)

[tommy]

rosie, the stools are pretty high, so bring a step-stool.

[suzilightning]

Silver Spring Farm in Flanders - perhaps for my birthday dinner

Bula in Newton

Chesapeake Seafood in Denville

[joi h.]

i would love to visit the following in 2003:

serenade- chatham

the ryland inn- whitehouse

tim schafer's-morristown

jocelyne's-maplewood

[Rail Paul]

Silver Spring Farm in Flanders - perhaps for my birthday dinner

Delightful place, rustic. We've never been disappointed. make sure you have good directions, it gets very dark out there.

I've found that an extensive discussion with the server about the menu will often bring out madame. Once she's out, you can negotiate a tasting menu. Last time we visited, late 2001, they did not offer a tasting menu on the printed menu.

Their wine list is impressive, but my experience is they only update it once a year. We ordered four consecutive wines (all out of stock) before they had one we liked and they had.

The restaurant was begun in the 1950s as a place to train French kids for American service. They's put in six months working on language, serving, etc and move on to NYC.