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Favorite Restaurants of 2004

Rosie

By Rosie
in New Jersey: Dining

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Rosie

Rosie

Posted
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I'm obviously biased towards Asian food, but here's the list:

China 46 - Ridgefield

A Taste of Asia - Chatham

Wondees - Hackensack

Penang - East Hanover

River Kwai - Totowa

El Chevere - Passaic

Haven't been to River Kwai. What dishes would you recommend there?

Rosalie Saferstein, aka "Rosie"

TABLE HOPPING WITH ROSIE

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KatieLoeb

KatieLoeb

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I'll add a couple at the far southern end of the state:

Fuji - Cinnaminson

Tortilla Press - Collingswood

Le Me Toujours (RIP) - Marlton

The Black Swan - Mt. Laurel

Nunzio's - Collingswood

And of course:

DiLorenzo's for pizza and Tomato Pie - Trenton

Katie M. Loeb
Booze Muse, Spiritual Advisor

Author: Shake, Stir, Pour:Fresh Homegrown Cocktails

Cheers!
Bartendrix,Intoxicologist, Beverage Consultant, Philadelphia, PA
Captain Liberty of the Good Varietals, Aphrodite of Alcohol

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StInGeR

StInGeR

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I'd have to say :

An American Grill (bows to Lou);

Francesca's (waits for the smack in the head from suzi)

and

Nori (waits for applause from curlz)

Have a happy holiday guys and girls

Cheers

Tom

I want food and I want it now

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Curlz

Curlz

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Clap, clap (for Tom)

And with SERIOUS apologies to Lou :shock: , I've realized that my first trip to An American Grill was indeed in '04, so I must add it to my list!

China 46 too, 'tho my exposure to their dishes isn't nearly as extensive as some of yours has been! Hope to correct that in '05 as well. :biggrin:

"I'm not eating it...my tongue is just looking at it!" --My then-3.5 year-old niece, who was NOT eating a piece of gum

"Wow--this is a fancy restaurant! They keep bringing us more water and we didn't even ask for it!" --My 5.75 year-old niece, about Bread Bar

"He's jumped the flounder, as you might say."

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richl2214

richl2214

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For camper I will add to my list:

410 Bank Street- Cape May

Dock's Oyster House- Atlantic City

The CrabHouse- Cape May

Fresco's- Cape May

"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." ~Winston Churchill

Morels- God's gift to the unworthy human species

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Adam P.

Adam P.

Posted
Posted
I'm obviously biased towards Asian food, but here's the list:

China 46 - Ridgefield

A Taste of Asia - Chatham

Wondees - Hackensack

Penang - East Hanover

River Kwai - Totowa

El Chevere - Passaic

Haven't been to River Kwai. What dishes would you recommend there?

For appetizers I would definitely recommend the steamed mussels in chili-lemongrass broth, barbecued crispy duck salad and any of the soups. They also have this new very unique appetizer they call "Angel Wings", which is a molded chicken drumstick that has a batter that tastes very much like McDonald's chicken McNugget batter(!) and it is stuffed with bean thread noodles, ground chicken, and various other veggies. It is served with two different kinds of sweet and/or spicy sauces. Very unique dish to say the least.

For entrees I would recommend the crispy duck with green curry, Pad Prik King, Thai omelete and one of my favorites, if they have it - Turnip Cake Pad Thai. Also, alot of their dishes feature asparagus, and one of the best that features it is Pad Nam Mun Hoy - stir fried choice of meat with asparagus, mushrooms and scallions in oyster sauce.

Their desserts are also very good, but it requires much willpower to resist heading next door to the Applegate Farms ice cream shop.

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Cook456

Cook456

Posted
Posted
I'm obviously biased towards Asian food, but here's the list:

China 46 - Ridgefield

A Taste of Asia - Chatham

Wondees - Hackensack

Penang - East Hanover

River Kwai - Totowa

El Chevere - Passaic

Haven't been to River Kwai. What dishes would you recommend there?

For appetizers I would definitely recommend the steamed mussels in chili-lemongrass broth, barbecued crispy duck salad and any of the soups. They also have this new very unique appetizer they call "Angel Wings", which is a molded chicken drumstick that has a batter that tastes very much like McDonald's chicken McNugget batter(!) and it is stuffed with bean thread noodles, ground chicken, and various other veggies. It is served with two different kinds of sweet and/or spicy sauces. Very unique dish to say the least.

For entrees I would recommend the crispy duck with green curry, Pad Prik King, Thai omelete and one of my favorites, if they have it - Turnip Cake Pad Thai. Also, alot of their dishes feature asparagus, and one of the best that features it is Pad Nam Mun Hoy - stir fried choice of meat with asparagus, mushrooms and scallions in oyster sauce.

Their desserts are also very good, but it requires much willpower to resist heading next door to the Applegate Farms ice cream shop.

Where in Passaic is El Chevere? What would you reccommend?

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Adam P.

Adam P.

Posted
Posted
I'm obviously biased towards Asian food, but here's the list:

China 46 - Ridgefield

A Taste of Asia - Chatham

Wondees - Hackensack

Penang - East Hanover

River Kwai - Totowa

El Chevere - Passaic

Haven't been to River Kwai. What dishes would you recommend there?

For appetizers I would definitely recommend the steamed mussels in chili-lemongrass broth, barbecued crispy duck salad and any of the soups. They also have this new very unique appetizer they call "Angel Wings", which is a molded chicken drumstick that has a batter that tastes very much like McDonald's chicken McNugget batter(!) and it is stuffed with bean thread noodles, ground chicken, and various other veggies. It is served with two different kinds of sweet and/or spicy sauces. Very unique dish to say the least.

For entrees I would recommend the crispy duck with green curry, Pad Prik King, Thai omelete and one of my favorites, if they have it - Turnip Cake Pad Thai. Also, alot of their dishes feature asparagus, and one of the best that features it is Pad Nam Mun Hoy - stir fried choice of meat with asparagus, mushrooms and scallions in oyster sauce.

Their desserts are also very good, but it requires much willpower to resist heading next door to the Applegate Farms ice cream shop.

Where in Passaic is El Chevere? What would you reccommend?

I have only ordered from their first location at 258 Monroe Street in Passaic. Oddly enough, their website only lists their new location, which Rosie previously listed. The online menu also doesn't list one of my favorite dishes - pollos ala brasa.

Here is the web address for the second location: http://www.polloselchevere.com/menu/

The dishes I would recommend are:

Pollos ala brasa - Marinated rotisserie chicken.

Chuleta en Salsa de Ajos - Pork chops in garlic sauce. Basically it's deep fried pork chops smothered in gravy with just about an entire head of thinly sliced garlic on top. Yum!

Any of the fried rice dishes - I don't know what they put in the fried rice, but it tastes better than any version I've ever had at any Asian restaurant.

Tallarin Verde con Bisteck - Fried green sphaghetti with steak. Basically fried spinach lo mein with steak.

I would also recommend any of the ceviche or fish dishes of your liking.

Also, all these dishes wouldn't be complete without a side of maduros - fried sweet plaintains and several extra orders of the green hot sauce (aji) to put on everything.

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Adam P.

Adam P.

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Posted
This is the info I have:

Pollos El Chevere 228 Washington Place Passaic  973-249-6330 Liquor

Is that in a good neighborhood? If my memory serves me, that area is pretty seedy.

Yes, both locations are indeed very seedy. That is why I always order take out! :wink:

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Vikas Khanna

Vikas Khanna

Posted
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This is what I came up with but my list is subject to change! What  are your favorite restaurants for 2004?

Amanda’s, Hoboken

An American Grill, Randolph

Cinque Figlie, Whippany

Corso 98, Montclair

Dining Room at Anthony David’s, Hoboken

Epernay, Montclair

Fascino, Montclair

Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick

Girasole, Bound Brook

Greek Delights, Montclair

Hunan Cottage, Fairfield

Il Forno, Montclair

The Jefferson, Hoboken

Jocelyne’s, Maplewood

Kyoto, Florham Park

Nicholas, Red Bank

Park Steakhouse, Park Ridge

Tapas de Espana, North Bergen

Zoe’s By the Lake, Sparta

PER SE, New York

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Rosie

Rosie

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Nicholas, Red Bank- incredible

Silk Road-Warren (needs a little work but definitely worth the drive)

*Thanks for these lists- I've been trying to find new places to try.

Thanks for posting and when you try the "new" places be sure to give us a report.

Rosalie Saferstein, aka "Rosie"

TABLE HOPPING WITH ROSIE

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menton1

menton1

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No. 9--      Lambertville

Taro--      Montclair

Relish--    Sparkill, NY

Spargo's-  Manalapan

Since these rarely make anyone's "top restaurant" list, I thought I'd post them again on this page. (Got lost on the first page).

Would love to hear of more places that are "secret". (Per Se is NOT a secret...) :raz:

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Randi

Randi

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another vote for Restaurant Nicholas

and

Lana's in Clark (altho I am unhappy with them at the moment* - it doesn't change the fact that they were one of my faves for the year. sigh)

*I was told by them they would comp me and a friend because I had brought them quite a bit of business. When my friend and I went - they presented us with the bill (which ended up costing us over $100). I haven't been back.

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best --" and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. - A.A. Milne

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Rosie

Rosie

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another vote for Restaurant Nicholas

and

Lana's in Clark (altho I am unhappy with them at the moment* - it doesn't change the fact that they were one of my faves for the year. sigh)

*I was told by them they would comp me and a friend because I had brought them quite a bit of business.  When my friend and I went - they presented us with the bill (which ended up costing us over $100).  I haven't been back.

Ouch! Who told you that you would be comped? The chef? The manager? Did you say anything when they gave you the bill?

Rosalie Saferstein, aka "Rosie"

TABLE HOPPING WITH ROSIE

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Randi

Randi

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Ouch!  Who told you that you would be comped? The chef? The manager? Did you say anything when they gave you the bill?

One of the owners - I wasn't sure if I should say anything - he was there - so he was aware that I was there that evening.

I was at a loss for what to do - felt sheepish...you know?

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best --" and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. - A.A. Milne

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