Silver Oak Bistro

[Anonymouze]

I had visions of hushpuppies dancing in my head as I slept so I will let you all know how our eating excursion ends, later. Surely this will make my year end on a tasteful note and sharing it with my husband should make it even sweeter.

Happy New Years (in advance) to all my fellow e-gulleters!

Okay - UPDATE - (edit!)

We just got home a few moments ago... OH MY GOD it was great with one or two very tiny exceptions not worth mentioning...

The appetizers we shared were very tasty, fine presentation and mouth feel as well as interesting pairing of fruit/vegetable and proteins. We shared the crabcake appetizer with caviar (hubby said he didn't really notice/taste it and thought they were some sort of spice!)and the caribou pate which was really scrumptious as well.

He ordered the gumbo and I ordered the caesar salad sans salad! (I have nerve heh I just wanted those hushpuppies and they were presented beautifully with just a tiny trace of chocolate sauce around them enough to make you say YUM!) The people at the next table ended up comparing notes (they had been there before and was interested in what we were ordering) so we chatted the whole meal all four of us so it made for a nice distraction.

For the main course we did the unthinkable (also for dessert) we ordered the same thing - the DUCK oh my goodness it was nice my only thought was they should have put a small bit of the sauce from the rice/fruit mixture that was under the duck over the top maybe like weave a small bit over the top?

Then for dessert we did it again - LOL! - the people at the next table said "don't you know you're supposed to order different desserts..." Hubby said "Well, I thought of it first!" heh... it was the banana cream pie dessert the only problem for me is that it was topped with white chocolate and about 3/4" of coconut but I'm very allergic to coconut so I pulled off all I could and gave that part to hubby. Overall the bill for the two of us with drinks (non-alcoholic it's BYOB there!) was $125.00 which is in the right range for a nice NJ meal.

We were a bit worried with the snow coming down but although it took us a bit longer we were the first ones there more or less. By the time we left the place was packed and there was a queue of about 12 waiting for the next seating to come in half of the folks waiting in and the other half out.

This place was really a great new years eve choice, pretty decor, nice staff and fine food made for a pleasant and enjoyable evening.

Edited January 1, 2006 by Anonymouze (log)

[Anonymouze]

I was hoping to bump into TKrongold & her hubby there... but we dashed out the door at 8:05PM seeing people outside and since we were finished.

I have to add, that our waitress was very nice as were all the staff there, and this is a place each of you should make the trip to in my not so humble opinion! The location is easily accessible and there is metered parking so bring some quarters unless you come in the evening I think it's free parking after 6pm but I'm not sure.

We finished our post-bistro evening with a chilled Riesling toast (I find most champagnes too dry for me and I like the fruity & sweet taste of that wine!)

some chocolate covered marshmallows to munch upon while watching Dick Clark on T.V. (that was a bit sad) some chocolate covered oreos and some honeyed peanuts... so we ended the evening on a sweet note for a sweet New Year!

[mfeygin]

I had visions of hushpuppies dancing in my head as I slept so I will let you all know how our eating excursion ends, later.  Surely this will make my year end on a tasteful note and sharing it with my husband should make it even sweeter.

Happy New Years (in advance) to all my fellow e-gulleters!

           

Okay - UPDATE - (edit!)

We just got home a few moments ago... OH MY GOD it was great with one or two very tiny exceptions not worth mentioning...

The appetizers we shared were very tasty, fine presentation and mouth feel as well as interesting pairing of fruit/vegetable and proteins.  We shared the crabcake appetizer with caviar (hubby said he didn't really notice/taste it and thought they were some sort of spice!)and the caribou pate which was really scrumptious as well.

He ordered the gumbo and I ordered the caesar salad sans salad! (I have nerve heh I just wanted those hushpuppies and they were presented beautifully with just a tiny trace of chocolate sauce around them enough to make you say YUM!)  The people at the next table ended up comparing notes (they had been there before and was interested in what we were ordering)  so we chatted the whole meal all four of us so it made for a nice distraction.

For the main course we did the unthinkable (also for dessert) we ordered the same thing - the DUCK oh my goodness it was nice my only thought was they should have put a small bit of the sauce from the rice/fruit mixture that was under the duck over the top maybe like weave a small bit over the top? 

Then for dessert we did it again - LOL! - the people at the next table said "don't you know you're supposed to order different desserts..." Hubby said "Well, I thought of it first!" heh... it was the banana cream pie dessert the only problem for me is that it was topped with white chocolate and about 3/4" of coconut but I'm very allergic to coconut so I pulled off all I could and gave that part to hubby.  Overall the bill for the two of us with drinks (non-alcoholic it's BYOB there!) was $125.00 which is in the right range for a nice NJ meal. 

We were a bit worried with the snow coming down but although it took us a bit longer we were the first ones there more or less.  By the time we left the place was packed and there was a queue of about 12 waiting for the next seating to come in half of the folks waiting in and the other half out.

This place was really a great new years eve choice, pretty decor, nice staff and fine food made for a pleasant and enjoyable evening. 

←

Dear Anonymouze, Happy New Year !!! Chef Gary and I and glad you enjoyed it, and it was very nice meeting you - Mike Feygin

[tkrongold]

I was hoping to bump into TKrongold & her hubby there... but we dashed out the door at 8:05PM seeing people outside and since we were finished. 

I have to add, that our waitress was very nice as were all the staff there, and this is a place each of you should make the trip to in my not so humble opinion!  The location is easily accessible and there is metered parking so bring some quarters unless you come in the evening I think it's free parking after 6pm but I'm not sure. 

We finished our post-bistro evening with a chilled Riesling toast (I find most champagnes too dry for me and I like the fruity & sweet taste of that wine!)

some chocolate covered marshmallows to munch upon while watching Dick Clark on T.V. (that was a bit sad) some chocolate covered oreos and some honeyed peanuts... so we ended the evening on a sweet note for a sweet New Year!

←

Hi, Anonymouze -

sorry, we didn't make it last night - the snow & roads were pretty bad around our area. we felt awful about canceling as we were really looking forward to the meal there (especially the duck which i had once before). we will definitely get there soon! glad you enjoyed it - it is a wonderful restaurant experience.

[whitetrufflechick]

BTW, the evening BEFORE New Year's Eve, we dined at Silver Oak (AGAIN!..lol) and Brad, waiter-extraordinaire mentioned that they are in the process of putting together a Mardi Gras dinner with the proceeds possibly going to misplaced chefs from New Orleans. It sounded like they are preparing to pull out all the stops....

Had him book us a table on the spot. :-)

[Jason Perlow]

My reccomendation is anyone on the fence about trying this place should go now, before it becomes very difficult to get a reservation.

[mfeygin]

DON'T even get me started on the concept of taking creamy, tangy mac and cheese, enrobing the macs in a high quality cheddar and putting it under the broiler.  When they served it, it looked like a CHEESE OMELET (as opposed to an egg omelet) stuffed with mac and cheese.

Holy Moley.

←

it's top-notch. not something i'd want to order more than once a month, but excellent. i had half for lunch and half for dinner the next day.

←

Thanks for the great descriptions...LOL Chef Gary's Mac and Cheese just made the front page of today's Bergen Record's Food section - Not your mother's Macaroni & Cheese article by Patricia Mack. Thanks to all - Mike Feygin - Silver Oak

Edited January 12, 2006 by mfeygin (log)

[tommy]

Thanks for the great descriptions...LOL  Chef Gary's Mac and Cheese just made the front page of today's Bergen Record's Food section - Not your mother's Macaroni & Cheese article by Patricia Mack.  Thanks to all  -  Mike Feygin - Silver Oak

←

here's the link: http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpc...nFlZUVFeXkxNQ==

that mac and cheese deserves every molecule of ink it gets.

[Anonymouze]

My next item to try at Silver Oak Bistro... and I've had pastichio too at the greek places. Kudos to Silver Oak you don't cease to amaze us yet!

[Jason Perlow]

Some Silver Oak Bistro photos. As I said, go NOW.

Storefront

Co-Owner Mike Feygin explaining the menu to Rachel

Potato chip amuse-bouche

Shrimp and Grits

Stuffed Chicken Wing

Crabby Chicken -- Chicken Boudin with Maryland Crab Cake

Cajun Escargots

Olive oil dip

Rags and Fungus

Hush Puppies over Ceasar Salad

Pan Fried Oyster Salad

Mahogany Duck

Spicy Craw Catfish

Lamb Four Ways

Sampler of the home made desserts

[Anonymouze]

I told my husband, Jason, that you are going to get me in trouble... because those pictures make me want to go back again and it's less than 2 weeks our rule is 8-10 weeks between restaurant visits so we don't gain anymore weight!

If those were women and men instead of food I'd probably be a pornographer or something illegal... I nearly drooled on my keyboard. STOP Jason STOP!

[jwjojo]

My friend and I had dinner here last night...my second time. We had the escargot appetizer which was yummy, the Rich/Poor man which was also yummy, the Snapper which was good, not as good as the above, and when telling Chef Gary, who was saying hello to the tables that we heard of the restaurant through egullet, he bought us dessert which was to die for....Baked Alaska and a Port Wine Sorbet with berries. Delicious. Chef Gary also sat with us a bit and told us of his experiences as a chef....he does bbq too! Altogether a lovely night. Thank you!

[tommy]

chef gary must be very happy that i started this thread.

[Rosie]

Be sure to read Jason's article in the Sunday NJ section of the NY Times--1-15-06.

[mfeygin]

chef gary must be very happy that i started this thread. 

←

Thank you Tommy, Chef Gary is VERY HAPPY that you started this thread. Chef also joined us for a WONDERFULL meal at Bouley today that we all enjoyed (about 3 hours). Thanks again Tommy, hope to see you at the Silver Oak soon - Mac and Cheese is on the Chef... . All the best, Mike Feygin - Silver Oak Bistro.

[tommy]

  Thanks again Tommy, hope to see you at the Silver Oak soon - Mac and Cheese is on the Chef...    .  All the best, Mike Feygin - Silver Oak Bistro.

←

that's a very generous offer mike. but i should note that i'd *never* accept free food or expect special treatment for talking up or otherwise promoting a restaurant that i like.

but it has been almost a month since my last mac and cheese at silver oak, so i think it's time to order it again. are you open today?

[mfeygin]

  Thanks again Tommy, hope to see you at the Silver Oak soon - Mac and Cheese is on the Chef...    .   All the best, Mike Feygin - Silver Oak Bistro.

←

that's a very generous offer mike. but i should note that i'd *never* accept free food or expect special treatment for talking up or otherwise promoting a restaurant that i like.

but it has been almost a month since my last mac and cheese at silver oak, so i think it's time to order it again. are you open today?

←

Thanks Tommy, today is the first Monday that we are open for dinner. If you can make it, I will try to be there myself to say Hello. Mike Feygin - Silver Oak Bistro

[menton1]

that's a very generous offer mike.  but i should note that i'd *never* accept free food or expect special treatment for talking up or otherwise promoting a restaurant that i like.

Bravo, tommy! I think that should be written into the Eg guidelines!!

[Jason Perlow]

that's a very generous offer mike.  but i should note that i'd *never* accept free food or expect special treatment for talking up or otherwise promoting a restaurant that i like.

Bravo, tommy! I think that should be written into the Eg guidelines!!

←

Accepting free food is not against our guidelines. Asking for it, however, in lieu of promotion on the site, or misrepresenting yourself as a member of eG's staff, is. If it comes as a matter of course because the restaurant wants to be extra gracious to an eG Society member, just as they would for any good customer, its perfectly acceptable.

[menton1]

Well, I think that it would then be obligatory that any poster that had accepted free food, and then posted laudatory statements about the place would have to state that fact. It certainly is a factor in judging the veracity of the complimentary statements made by that poster.

[whitetrufflechick]

chef gary must be very happy that i started this thread. 

←

;-) Started the thread, yes.... but who was it that first ventured forward? hee hee.....

Its become an obsession.

[jwjojo]

Who says no to free dessert offered by the Chef?? It would be in bad taste. Ummm...no...I don't eat free desserts...what would one say? Gary said he loves egullet, and that it has helped out the restaurant a lot. He wanted to buy a member of egullet dessert. WHO says no?? My first post on this thread was prior to free dessert. Quite trustworthy, being prior to my being bribbed with sugary treats. My goodness....It was just dessert.

[mfeygin]

chef gary must be very happy that i started this thread.  

←

;-) Started the thread, yes.... but who was it that first ventured forward? hee hee.....

Its become an obsession.

←

Dear WTC, sorry we missed you for lunch yesterday . You acted as a brave explorer , but due to all the objections on this forum, Chef will not be able to offer free Macaroni and Cheese. He decided from this point to charge for Cheese and offer “free” Macaroni - LOL

But on the serous side, here is what Chef Gary just sent me after reading the thread:

“Mike,

Not only do I give food to e-gullet members on occasions. I also give to regular customers that are not connected to any food societies as well. Giving is they way that I show appreciation for there enthusiasm and critique (good or bad its all helpful). I will not stop this practice as I have done it for 33 years and have become a better Chef for it.

Please pass on to the society.

LOL,

Gary” - edited for spelling…LOL

Mike Feygin - Silver Oak Bistro

PS: we would NEVER offer free food for a good review, but we do provide it for “OBJECTIVE” review just as a manufacturer would send product samples for people to try and comment on. We do appreciate any criticism that comes from our customers as it helps us in Quality Control. It is very hard to catch all the little things that can make or break a great meal and your comments help us catch it. Please keep the comments coming and this discussion helps in keeping dishonest operators offline.

[menton1]

Mike, please understand, I was not disparaging the restaurant in any way because you are offering things "on the house".

What I did think was appropriate since the discussion came up with tommy's declination, was that DISCLOSURE of any free offerings should be made by Egullet posters giving a favorable review. Just as a paid restaurant reviewer would disclose or decline, our informal board here should also demand knowledge of such a gratuity.

It also seems that all do agree that to announce or imply your intention in advance at the restaurant to post on Egullet and then to expect VIP treatment is just not only deceptive, but classless and tasteless.

Edited January 17, 2006 by menton1 (log)

[whitetrufflechick]

chef gary must be very happy that i started this thread. 

←

;-) Started the thread, yes.... but who was it that first ventured forward? hee hee.....

Its become an obsession.

←

Dear WTC, sorry we missed you for lunch yesterday .

←

LOL.... you almost HAD me for lunch yesterday, like it or not

My companion and I went as far as standing and drooling in your entryway only to be informed that yes, you are now open for dinner on Mondays but no, you are not open for lunch. Alas, so close but yet so very far. We went 'round the corner for some grub and spent much of the time whining about the lack of mac & cheese on the menu & the absence of chips but ever-so-happy that Silver Oak is now open for dinner (at least) on Monday nights.