973

[RockADS21]

I tried out this Morris County BYO on Saturday night after hearing from several people of how good it was. Unfortunately, I wont be increasing that list of supporters. I thought the decor was very nice...a modern yet comfortable feel, tastefully done and certainly with enough of a NY style chic look that made you forget that you were in a strip mall on Columbia Turnpike. We were out with another couple and began by sharing a cold antipasto which each of us swore that we had ordered the hot version but this looked good enough not to send back and wait for the other. The plate was a perfect amount for 4 and contained roasted red peppers, a sauteed egplant, provolone cheese and various types of olives. It was tasty but certainly not anything out of the ordinary - more like a dish that i could put together at home in a pinch just before guests arrive to have something out on the table. We also shared an order of lightly fried calamari...the dish would have been better described as salt with a touch of fried squid. The two dipping sauces which accompanied it were not at all of note but even if they were would have been overpowed by the oversalting of the calamari. For an entree I had pasta 973 which is penne with turkey sausage and a variation of a vodka sauce. It lacked just one thing - flavor! Perhaps they used up all the seasonings in the appetizer but this dish lacked any punch at all. They also were out of 2 or 3 items from the menu as well as the dessert that we chose to split. Oh well...I doubt I will be returning to 973 anytime soon as from this visit I found it much more functional as an area code than a restaurant.

[Rosie]

We were not happy with our meal when we dined there either. Thanks for the report.

[scarlet knight]

I concur. Something is missing there. It does look trendy and it attracts the crowd that talks on cell phones in restaurants, but the food is subpar. No intent to go back.

[Rail Paul]

I concur.  Something is missing there. It does look trendy and it attracts the crowd that talks on cell phones in restaurants, but the food is subpar.  No intent to go back.

I've been there for lunch, twice. (It's adjacent to Kyoto, which has been mentioned here in the past)

The food was just OK in an absolute sense, but not when compared to the prices charged. The lunch entrees ran $12 - $18, IIRC, which I consider to be substantial. For that price, one used to be able to dine next door at Fantastico (now gone) and have a much more interesting and complex lunch.

On a pure food basis, I'd rate the food at Capo Vaticano, behind the Kings Market, to be better, but the atmosphere turns me off.

[Lreda]

One of my favorite reviews ever was NJ Monthly's review of 973 where as the waiter approaches the reviewers table for the 1st time his cell phone rings and he excuses himself to take the call. This set the tone for a review which garnered 1 star.

Taught me a lesson as none of my staff is allowed to carry a phone with them while working.

[dbrociner]

Is Fantastico now out of business? I know that the owner had changed the name to Gabe's Grille and tried to emphasize family dining but when I had lunch there the Fantastico lunch menu was still there just with some additions. For instance, there was now a burger on the menu but you could still get the grilled tuna with asian style noodles, etc.

The owners at Fantastico/Gabe's also own the Florham Park deli. I talked with the woman one day at the deli and she was lamenting the lack of business at Fantastico's especially during the weeknights when the restaurant was almost always empty. I told her that I thought that the weeknight business was the hardest part of running a suburban restaurant. "They do it all the time in Montclair" she said. I guess Florham Park just isn't Montclair.

[Rosie]

Fantastico is now Gabe's.

"They do it all the time in Montclair" she said. I guess Florham Park just isn't Montclair."

The food in Florham Park is not the food in Montclair!

[Rail Paul]

Fantastico is now Gabe's.

"They do it all the time in Montclair" she said. I guess Florham Park just isn't Montclair."

The food in Florham Park is not the food in Montclair!

David -

thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out.

Rosie -

that was the knock on Bacchus Chop House in Fairfield, too. "Whose gonna pay Noo Yawk prices in Fayahfuld?" which referred to their $32 steaks.

The restaurant is doing OK, and I enjoy their very high quality meats, though not every night.