bergen county

[marge201]

[[ Stay away from the always mysteriously crowded "Big Red Tomato" on Anderson Ave., by the way. It's just NOT worth it. ]]

I love Big Red Tomato. Cute atmosphere and great food. And they give unlimited garlic knots! Very reasonable $$. I've enjoyed every meal I've eaten there and would go back in a second. OK, maybe I'm a bit of a

low-brow but I've never seen a turnip truck!

Hey, but I'm the one who mentioned Ciao Bella! I see others find it totally mediocre. I've been there twice only but enjoyed it immensely both times.

Great discussion here of places in my neighborhood. What a great board this is!

[[ Don Quijote is okay, I've had a few good meals there. But I've also had some fairly crappy ones. Tapas de España, in nearby North Bergen, is far far better--"Newark" quality, in fact. ]]

I've gone to Don Quijote just on the early bird (till 7 p.m. Monday - Friday, $11 per person) and enjoyed it a lot but how can you not at 11 bucks?

Thanks for the Tapas Espana recommendation! Will try it for sure.

One place that I have NOT been to but I hear it's nice is this. I will paste in here a review which was published in my building's newsletter:

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

Looking for a wonderful sumptuous breakfast, tantalizing lunch or a delicious dinner? Located in New Milford you‘ll find What’s Cookin’, a homey, quaint restaurant. The owners, Hugo and William Escobar, are gracious and talented.

Hugo, who is the main cook and has worked at this profession for many years, and his brother William, a chef at a well-known restaurant in upstate New York, have joined together to make this luncheonette/restaurant a great find. These two guys have even gone a step further. They branched out to private catering which can be delivered to your door.

This busy restaurant (especially the breakfast crowd) seem to be filled with regulars, which certainly says repeat customers are the norm, not the oddity. Eggs, omelets, homemade muffins and all other breakfast items are fresh and done according to your wishes. Lunches range from grilled chicken caesar salads, vegetable salads, sandwiches, wraps, all at very reasonable prices. Dinners are served Tuesday through Saturdays and of course there are specials offered, i.e. in March corned beef and cabbage to pasta dishes.

What’s Cookin’? is located at 201 Main Street, New Milford, New Jersey (201-265-1900).

(Directions: Rte 4 to Kinderkamack Road. Make a right at the sixth traffic light, which is New Milford Avenue. New Milford Avenue changes name to Main Street in New Milford. The restaurant is on the left side of the street when you enter the town.)

Has anyone been here?

Marge

[Rachel Perlow]

What's the word on Grissini's in Englewood Cliffs?  It was recommended to me some time ago and I forgot all about it until I drove by the other day.

Very good food, but more expensive than you'd think.

[Rachel Perlow]

[[  Stay away from the always mysteriously crowded "Big Red Tomato" on Anderson Ave., by the way. It's just NOT worth it.  ]]

I love Big Red Tomato.  Cute atmosphere and great food.  And they give unlimited garlic knots!  Very reasonable $$.  I've enjoyed every meal I've eaten there and would go back in a second.  OK, maybe I'm a bit of a low-brow but I've never seen a turnip truck! 

Hey, but I'm the one who mentioned Ciao Bella!  I see others find it totally mediocre.  I've been there twice only but enjoyed it immensely both times.

I liked Big Red Tomato the couple times I've been there. It's worth it if there's no line and you can easily find a parking space. If you can't and there's a wait, then I agree with Jon that it's not worth it.

I didn't find Ciao Bella "mediocre" but definitely not worth waiting in line for.