Help! Somerville area Saturday night

[foodboy]

I want to celebrate a birthday this Saturday night with a party of seven. Birthday boy on the Adkins diet, so no pasta, carbs, etc. Also, no Japanese. Otherwise, looking for excellent food above all else. Should be casual dress, but pricey is OK. Needs to be within half-hour of Somerville. Any advice? Thanks...

P.S. Origin is already booked for the evening.

[Rosie]

Ixora is Japanese/fusion--Whitehouse BYO

Filippo's--Italian BYO Somerville

Girasole--Italian--Bound Brook

The Bernards Inn-upscale --Bernardsville

Le Petit Chateau--upscale--Bernardsville

Ryland Inn--upscale Whitehouse

Let us know where you end up celebrating.

[RockADS21]

Also right in Somerville are Verve and Origin...

[Kim WB]

Verve is your best bet...great food, great atmosphere, casual but still special...a great 4 top or more place. I'd be very suprised if you wre disappointed.

[Helena Robinson]

If Origin is already booked up, getting a reservation at Girasole may be impossible.

Depending on whether there's a performance at Raritan Valley College that evening, you might also want to consider Cafe Cucina in (I believe) Branchburg.

Verve would be a good bet for someone on Atkins - several selections of steaks and other meats.

Good luck!

[menton1]

I have heard GREAT things about Café Zbra in Raritan, including best food in that part on NJ; Perhaps there is someone who has more detailed info about this place.

Cafe Zbra

9 East Somerset Street

Raritan

[Rosie]

We were at Cafe Zbra two years ago. Food was good but the place can get very noisy and crowded. It's BYO. I do remember that they only had 3 desserts on the menu and there were four of us! Place is cute and decorated with zebra stuffed animals.

[foodboy]

Thanks for the replies, but I already booked at Grill 73 in Bernardsville. I hope I don't regret it. I will consider the other places for future meals.

As for Cafe Cucina, I've never eaten there, but I've been drinking there every Christmas Eve for the past 6 or 7 years.

[Rosie]

Thanks for the replies, but I already booked at Grill 73 in Bernardsville. I hope I don't regret it. I will consider the other places for future meals.

As for Cafe Cucina, I've never eaten there, but I've been drinking there every Christmas Eve for the past 6 or 7 years.

Be sure to give us a report.