red bank recommendations

[scarlet knight]

We will be in the Red Bank area this weekend. Nicholas is pretty booked, except for undesirable times. Any other suggestions?

[Rosie]

Sogno in Red Bank

Doris and Ed's in the Highlands is the best seafood restaurant in NJ.

[scarlet knight]

Thanks, Rosie. I booked Sogno . I think that we were there several years ago with friends from the area and we enjoyed it.

[Cartman0310]

Thanks, Rosie.  I booked Sogno .  I think that we were there several years ago with friends from the area and we enjoyed it.

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Songo changed ownership about 1 year ago & the main chef left also. In my opinion it is not as good. Le Fandy is in Fair Haven & pretty good. FYI, the orgininal chef from Sogno is at his new place called Savannah Grill on bridge avenue at the galleria. Also a really good & different place is Citrus over in Freehold. You'll feel like your in a nice SoHo restaurant.

[Rosie]

Sogno and Le Fandy are BYO. Not sure about Citrus or Savannah Grill.

Thanks for update Cartman and welcome to eGullet.

[lamb]

Doris and Ed's in the Highlands is the best seafood restaurant in NJ.

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That's a pretty broad statement, Rosie. I'm sure that others beside myself will disagree with that opinion. Doris and Ed's, say 10 years ago, was innovative and probably could stake claim to one of the best seafood restaurants around. My last visit there about 2 years ago, however, was boring and overpriced.

In Red Bank, there's a slew of restaurants to visit. Sogno's is great, and so is Teak. Asian/fusion. I was just there last weekend and will go back again soon. Not a byo, but a wonderful wine cellar and cocktail list, not to mention great sushi/sashimi. Juanito's is a great Mexican restaurant, byo. For more formal dining, Molly Pitcher is the way to go.

Dish is getting good reviews and is on my list of places to go.

Citrus in Freehold is good too, and is a BYO. Freehold can be a hike over from the Red Bank area on a weekend, though.

[Rosie]

Doris and Ed's in my opinion is the best seafood restaurant that I have eaten at in NJ. Food is anything but boring. Chef Dare's creations are innovative, tasty and worth every penny. It's my opinion. It's ok if you don't agree with me!

[scarlet knight]

we received a private message from an e-gulletter, but we lost it due to a wi-fi error... we thank you for generous assistance, but we'll stay with Sogno and try Nicholas another time.

[lamb]

Thought I would bump this thread back up since I had the chance to dine at Sogno this weekend. The only other time I had been there was a year or so ago, and we dined al fresco and thoroughly enjoyed the meal, service and whole experience. Al fresco dining is out of the question now (especially since it was raining cats and dogs Saturday night!) so of course we ate inside. WOW is about all I can say. The noise level is through the roof (actually, wish it was so it had someplace other to go than bouncing off the walls ). While the food and service are wonderful, the noise level is just plain unacceptable. Our table of four had to lean in and SHOUT in order for us to hear other. Our waiter had to shout the specials, and we in turn had to shout back our orders. The noise level never let up, even when we left and the restaurant was only half full. From what I've read of other reveiws since Saturday, it is a common complaint. Has anyone else been there and experienced this?

[rozrapp]

You are definitely not alone! During our last (and I mean last, as in final) dinner there -- I think in '02 -- the noise level was, in a word, intolerable!! However, for us, the hideous noise level was only part of the reason we will never go back. Our main courses were mediocre, mine bordering on inedible. This was completely different from our first dinner there shortly after Sogno opened. The food was first rate, and we certainly did not encounter a noise problem, or we would never have gone back that second time.

In doing a short search, I found a post by FoodSnob in Sept. '02, who describes this same situation and mentions that the owner didn't care to spend the money to address the problem. You can read the post here (Scroll down.): http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=11297&hl=

[scarlet knight]

We did eat there in September, 2005. Food-very good, service-great, noise level-what did you say?

[lamb]

You are definitely not alone!  During our last (and I mean last, as in final) dinner there -- I think in '02 -- the noise level was, in a word, intolerable!!  However, for us, the hideous noise level was only part of the reason we will never go back.  Our main courses were mediocre, mine bordering on inedible.  This was completely different from our first dinner there shortly after Sogno opened.  The food was first rate, and we certainly did not encounter a noise problem, or we would never have gone back that second time. 

In doing a short search, I found a post by FoodSnob in Sept. '02, who describes this same situation and mentions that the owner didn't care to spend the money to address the problem.  You can read the post here (Scroll down.):  http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=11297&hl=

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Thanks for that link, rozrapp!

I forgot that I had also been there during 2002 - seems that staying away for 3 years made us forget about what the noise level was like inside. To tell the truth, though, I don't remember it being as loud as it was this past weekend. Our waiter did say that it was normal, and that it would get better as the night went on. It didn't.

[steakas]

Buena Sera was one of my favorites in Red Bank. The last (and probably final) time I dined there was on a Saturday night. I got the bum's rush when the bar area "club" (in the new addition) began getting crowded.

What about Villa Edwardo? Anyone been? Thnx!

[steakas]

What about Villa Edwardo?  Anyone been?

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I went to Villa Edwardo last night. It’s actually “Eduardo.”

We sat in the main dining room (cap. 100 +/-) and there were about 20 seated. As soon as I was seated, I signaled the manager over and told him to turn on the air conditioning. The air in the room was stagnant and humid, and felt like 90-degrees. He seemed reluctant but turned it on anyway. After about 20 minutes the dining room became more comfortable. The manager kept examining and adjusting the thermostat every time he walked past it. This tells me, he was the owner, and a cheap one at that!!

The menu was very generic. Clams casino, calamari, clams oreganata, pasta with clams, chicken scarpiello, chicken/veal/eggplant parm, shrimp scampi, steak pizzaiola, … you get the idea. I thought, “let’s be basic, chicken parm cannot be screwed up.”

It was. It tasted like it was cooked twice: chewy, very well done, and utterly tasteless. Even the cheese got hard and slid off the top as I cut it. I could only bring myself to eat 1/2 of the plate. My wife got a flounder special with pasta and vegetables. I tasted it and it was not exciting. Our appetizer of zuppa di clams in white sauce was basic.

We ordered no dessert. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Two glasses of wine, one appetizer, two meals and a tip ran me $90. It was the worst meal per dollar I’ve had in a very long time. Your basic pizzeria/restaurant would have exceeded this place any day. For that matter, Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden would have been way better too. I hate to bash a place, but Restaurant Villa Eduardo simply sucked. I recommend stay away. I rather would have threw $90 on the bar at Ashes and had a few drinks.

[Taboni]

I was always curious about this place. I have never seen a car in the parking lot, heard anyone mention it, or ever seen a review. Won't waste my time.

Going to check out Bobo's 33 in Atl. Highlands tonight. I have heard good things about it.

Will report.

[=Mark]

I like Osaka Japanese cuisine down in Marine Park a lot. It is an outdoor setting with a nice view of the river and marina. Unfortunately it will soon close for the season as it gets cooler...

[McFoodie]

I recently posted a list of reviews on my favorite restaurants in Monmouth County (including Red Bank) on my website/blog dedicated to affordable gourmet food, www.mcfoodie.com. Please check it out and post or email me any comments, feedback, additional restaurants/resources or other suggestions. The website is very new and this is just a hobby so please be kind.

[steakas]

What about Thyme Square Restaurant on Broad Street? Has anyone been there? Thyme was the happening place last Saturday night, long wait, etc.... We walked over to Dish down the stree and had a great meal. I'd like to hear about Thyme. Thanx

[McFoodie]

Nicholas aside, Basil T's is probably my favorite restaurant in Red Bank and I would recommend it to anyone that hasn't been. This place has many faces. It's classic Italian, serving pastas, pizzas, etc. but where it really shines is in it's salumeria and enoteca. It's also a pretty darn good microbrewery. Plates are a bit pricey but huge - good for sharing.

P.S. Steakas, you'll appreciate my scathing review of Buona Sera on www.mcfoodie.com.

[steakas]

Has anyone been to Thyme Square Restaurant on Broad Street in Red Bank? If so how is it? It's always busy. Thanx.

[McFoodie]

Has anyone been to Thyme Square Restaurant on Broad Street in Red Bank?  If so how is it?  It's always busy.  Thanx.

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I've been to Thyme Square twice now - once for lunch and once for dinner - and thoroughly enjoyed both meals. The mediterranean menu is fresh and fun with something for everyone and the soups were a real standout (mushroom on one occassion, pumpkin with lobster dumplings which were more like wontons on another). Lunch was particularly good, but service was a little slow on a Saturday night. I would definitely recommend it but don't forget to BYO.

[steakas]

Thank you for the rec. The place is now on my agenda. What about La Petite France W Front Street? I went there once and they turned me away. Reservations only. Worth it?

[Taboni]

La Petite France has changed ownership in the last couple of months. I think the new name of the restaurant is Bienvenue but I haven't heard anything about it yet.