Walpack Inn, Walpack, NJ

It's been awhile since I've posted...which is both good and bad considering that it could possibly mean I've been spending much less money on going out to eat. In this troubled economy, I've been tightening my belt like just about everyone else I know. It kills me not to get a great meal out and about here and there, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

So tonight, as a celebratory occasion, I had the opportunity to visit an old stand-by restaurant that's been around for decades. The Walpack Inn is located literally out in the middle of nowhere, seated in the vast expanse of wilderness in an area of New Jersey that's much less traveled. Luckily for this restaurant, it's got such an age old reputation that even if folks aren't in the area, people are making reservations to eat dinner here left and right. And on a Saturday night at 5:00 p.m., the place was already jumpin'.

When you visit the website, there isn't much to get excited about. The menu is really limited and seems pretty boring. Chicken, beef, and lobster. There are a few variations of each, but not much. The Walpack Inn is known more for the view of nature right out the window. While you're eating dinner, Bambi saunters up and decides to dine right next to you. They're also known for their Mother's Day brunch and special events. And if you catch brunch there on the right kind of day, you can watch as the mist creeps slowly down the hill and the clouds make way for some sun. It really is beautiful. The interior of the restaurant is simply decorated and large. It's what you would expect from a restaurant located in the woods: earthy with lots of large wood furniture, adornments, and a large quantity of stuffed animals everywhere. I'm not talking about cute stuffed animals, but the kind that are shot and hung as trophies.

Upon being seated, your waitress will bring you freshly made bread. Make sure you pile on the butter because you're gonna need it! The bread is warm, but dry and sometimes crunchy. After the first few bites, I'd had enough. With any dinner entree, you can help yourself to a moderate salad bar with lots of basics and nothing fancy. That actually sums this place up...nothing fancy.

Unfortunately, the prices would suggest otherwise. Most entrees start at about $22 and go up to over $40. The specials menu averaged about $29 per entree, which includes rice or baked potato and the salad bar. For these prices, I expected to be a little more impressed than your average family restaurant. And don't tell me that I'm paying for the ambience...I grew up around this part of the state and so seeing deer and dead stuffed animals doesn't impress me. The food however should.

I ordered one of the specials on the menu: baked stuffed lobster with a baked potato. One of our diners ordered the Saturday night special: prime rib au jus. When our entrees arrived, I was excited and ready to dive into the whole lobster that had been split down the middle, stuffed with crabmeat stuffing, and served with drawn butter. The stuffing was okay...my partner greatly disliked it. I dug and dug for the lobster tail meat and was kind of disappointed. The lobster probably wasn't any bigger than 1.25 pounds so whatever meat I got was minimal and mushy. The tail meat was soft...so soft I was nervous it hadn't been cooked all the way through...and the claw meat was practically non-existent and also soft and runny. I wasn't even close to being full after eating the lobster and salad bar.

According to our guest, the prime rib was excellent and my partner, who ate the rest of her meal, agreed. (Since he ordered the same thing I did, he needed more since he was even more disappointed in his meal than I was. He reported that he liked the prime rib a great deal.) I had more room, so of course I went for dessert. I continued to see waitress after waitress carrying trays of apple crumb pie. I'm a sucker for a good apple pie, so I immediately knew that I was going to be all over that.

A little disappointment here too but overall a great slice of pie with a healthy dollop of fresh whipped cream. The crumb topping was out of this world, but one pet peeve of mine is when apples in apple pie still have their skin on them. It's distracting and adds absolutely nothing to the flavor or even texture of the pie itself. I couldn't finish my piece and sucked down my coffee. I was finally full.

Knowing what the Walpack Inn offers, I may not ever return for a regular dinner on any night of the week. Pig roast? Maybe. Brunch? Probably. Few and far between? Definitely. If you're looking to dine amongst deer and a great view, pick any spot in Sussex County and have yourself a picnic. Otherwise, save your money (on both gas and food) and pick a place that delivers on flavor and value. I may have been excited to see an owl perched in the rafters outside the restaurant when I was leaving, but it was the only excitement of the evening.


Ambience: ****
Service: ****
Food: ***
Overall: *** 1/2

Marakesh Restaurant, Parsippany, NJ

We took some friends for a bit of a different dining experience, this time at Marakesh Restaurant in Parsippany. Marakesh is located in a small strip mall right on Route 46 eastbound next to a school uniform shop! Despite its weird location, once inside you would never imagine that you were located in a strip mall on a somewhat major roadway...or even in New Jersey.

Step inside and you feel instantly transported to Morocco via lush fabrics, dim lighting behind jeweled sconces, and waiters in traditional garb. Stay a little later, and around 9:00 p.m., the music changes and a belly dancer trapses out and shakes what her momma gave her. Audience participation is a must, so if you're shy, sit on the inside or else you'll find yourself shaking what YOUR momma gave YOU!

Lush couches with comfy pillows surround several ornate copper tables around the room. The feeling is romantic but family style. I instantly feel relaxed, like I could sit back and put my feet up. The waiter brought our menus and I took one look at the Sultan's Table and decided that I wanted to try the eight course meal. A friend agreed, and our significant others went in their own direction with their own entrees. Fine with us! For our shared entree, we went with the baby lamb tagine with couscous.

Each course was absolutely delectable. Before starting, a waiter comes over with a silver basin of sorts, and pours rose water over your hands to wash them before eating. Utensils are optional here since tradition in Morocco states that you eat with your right hand. We were down with that, but you definitely need your fork and spoon to eat the rest of your meal. Once our hands were cleansed, we were presented with the beginnings of our Sultan's table. First was the salad and the mixed cold appetizer, which included baba ganoush, hummus, and tabboule. Each was out of this world. The salad was heavy on the cilantro, with lettuce, tomato, and who knows what else! It was so enjoyable that I ate the other part of someone else's salad! The hummus, baba ganoush, and tabboule each were flavorful in their own right. One of the other diners got dolmas, which were also perfect. Next came the chicken bastilla; phyllo "pie" filled with spiced chicken topped with confectioner's sugar! It was like eating chicken stuffed french toast! After that came our soup with lentils and chickpeas...another hit. I don't know what the utensil was called that we were eating with, but it made the experience all the more fun.

By the time our entree came, I was feeling pretty full but didn't care. When that baby lamb tagine came out with the fragrant couscous, I was ready to dig in. The lamb was so tender it was falling off the bone...add some fruity couscous to the mixture and I was in h-e-a-v-e-n...my friend and I polished off half the dish together and took the rest home. The other diners raved about their meals...chicken shish kebab and baby lamb chops. I tried the chicken and veggies it came with and was equally impressed by the smoky spiced flavor...every now and then you get a hint of cinnamon which evens it all out.

Our meal was finished off with a flaky nutty pastry topped off with a dollop of creme fraise alongside cantaloupe and watermelon wedges. Add that to the jasmine/mint tea they served...it was all such a wonderful experience that I immediately began to think of all the people I could bring here to enjoy this with.

The Sultan's table is highly recommended if you're new to Moroccan cuisine and want to try a little bit of everything...it's a bit steep at $36/person but well worth it! Other a la carte entrees are reasonably priced and won't put too much of a dent in your wallet. For an instant transport to Morocco, it's much more reasonable than the airfare!

Ambience: *****
Service: *****
Food: *****
Overall: *****

Cuban Pete's, Montclair

What do you get when an Italian goes from Mexican to Cuban? Cuban Pete's, that's what! Dominick, who used to own Mexicali Rose, and whose mamma owns Leone's right around the corner, has tried a new venture with Cuban Pete's. I remember Dominick from when I used to live in downtown Montclair. He was nothing more than a chauvinist jerk who acted cordial to his guests, but treated everyone else like garbage. Luckily, I didn't have to see his mug the night I visited the restaurant. I was actually skeptical to go because of the memories I had of the food and his personality from the Mexicali Rose days, however, my friends wanted to go, and that's where we went.

I have to give kudos to Dominick (or whoever he hired to decorate) for the overall atmosphere and styling of the entire restaurant. It has a lot more room than you think when first approaching. Heavy wooden tables and plants seem to be everywhere. Overall it's a very inviting interior and feels like everyone's having a good time. Even the servers look like they're on siesta! And apparently some act like it with some of the reviews I've read about the service on other websites. But for us, tonight the service was just fine.

The menu seems to offer more Spanish inspired food than Cuban, although there were a couple of Cuban specialties on the menu. We ordered the Asia de Cuba punch, which was very lackluster and fell flat. I had only a couple of sips before deciding that it wasn't for me. I'm not sure about the punch idea...maybe if they were tasty and a little more original...and fresh...I might be more interested. For an appetizer, we ordered tostones, again lackluster. Just when I thought this might be a bust, our dinner came. I had the Carlito's Way Chicken...a grilled half chicken (a very very small chicken), with a white sauce on top, coconut rice, and a mango coconut yam on the side. The chicken was perfectly crispy...a little overcooked on one side which led to very dry meat, but overall a hit. The rice had great coconut flavor...I just wanted to keep eating it! It was sweet but not too sweet, and played well with the chicken and the yam. I didn't really taste any mango in the yam, and the coconut shreds on top of the yam didn't really do anything for me, but I do love yams so I can't complain. Yam yam yam.

Our friends seemed to enjoy their dishes. I tried the pork dish, which seemed a bit dry and tasted a little too much of lime. The plantains were out of this world though! There are three parts of the menu...each comes with different sides. This made it a bit difficult to order because I wanted one entree from one part of the menu with the sides from the other parts! There are also plenty of tapas to choose from, so if you're unsure or you want to try different sides, consider ordering them a la carte. The price isn't overwhelming and you can then have the best of both worlds.

Dessert was equally satisfying. We had the flan and tres leches cake. The flan was divine, and since this was my first time eating tres leches cake, I was pleased at what I got.

The only major drawback is when someone is celebrating their birthday. They bring out a bongo drum and cowbell and start singing something which I couldn't understand. It was overwhelmingly loud, so much so that you had to literally shout at your waiter to order. At first it completely startled me, then it just got annoying. It can't hurt to tone that down a little, can it?

I think you'll enjoy the atmosphere and food at Cuban Pete's...I might find myself dancing my way back there soon. And NOT on my birthday.

Ambiance: **** (would've been 5 if it hadn't been for the loud birthday bongo!)
Food: ****
Service: ****
Overall: ****

Stamna Taverna, Bloomfield

It was during my last outing to Holsten's that I discovered Stamna. Located on Broad Street in Bloomfield, this is a restaurant that makes you feel right at home in the horio. It's been a loooong time since I've had good authentic Greek food a la yia yia in the "old country", and I'm talking more than gyros and spanikopita. No longer do I have to cross several bridges and pay exhorbenant amounts of money just to get good Greek eats.

The restaurant itself makes you feel as though you're eating in someone's home...from the music playing on the stereo to the soccer on television, Stamna delivers more than just the typical blue and white color scheme. The painting on the wall of some old men sitting at a kafenion reminded me again of when I used to run around as a kid in the village while my elders sat and drank caffe.

All the waiters, Greek themselves, are your typical Greek men...hairy and speaking so quickly you can't understand a word they're saying. Thankfully, I've had my fair share of thick Greek accents, so I had no trouble. I brought two family members with me, my sister and nephew. Along with a bottle of Boutari Moschofilero, I was all set to enjoy a hearty Greek meal. And oh my god did Stamna deliver!

My partners ordered a chicken souvlaki and pork souvlaki platter with a side of lemon potatoes each. I ordered the Stamna Thalassina Platter, which included calamari, octopus, and shrimp, all grilled to a crispy blackened perfection. Along with my side of steamed greens, I really was in heaven. I couldn't help but pick at my sister's lemon potatoes though, they were absolute perfection. And I was sad that I didn't get my own brick of feta and tub of tzatziki for myself. I think that if given the opportunity, I would have overeaten at Stamna and probably have to be carried out in a stretcher.

As if the dinner wasn't enough, I just had to partake in some Galaktoboureko for dessert. A heavenly custard nestled between sweet phyllo sprinkled with cinnamon and swimming in a sweet syrup, I just stuffed myself almost to the point of disgustingness.

Stamna is open every day except Monday, and they even have a catering menu. For a Wednesday night, the place was busy and it was very easy to see why. I will continue to come back to Stamna, and next time I'm bringing a few more hungry folk with me!

Food: *****
Ambiance: *****
Service: *****
Overall: *****

Thatcher McGee's, Pompton Lakes

I eat way too much. At least I'm beginning to think so since I've posted about five blogs in one month? That's crazy! No wonder why I'm always broke!

Sometimes you'll find a restaurant that won't exactly break your bank, and that's what we think about Thatcher McGee's. First, it's affordable, second, the atmosphere is cool, and third, the food and drink are pretty amazing. Step inside Thatcher McGee's and you'll feel as though you're inside a pub in Ireland. Notice the quotes all over the walls...you'll get a real kick out of some of them. For example..."My mother never saw the irony when she called me a son of a b.... Jack Nicholson". Keep looking and you'll find one or two that'll knock your socks off. We chose to sit at a high top in the bar area right by the dartboard. I believe our waitress even had an accent, though she was a little on the flaky side.

Thatcher's offers a typical bar type menu, but with additional dishes. Their reuben is huge and tasty, their fries crispy, hot and delicious, and their chicken wrap with spinach, tomatoes, and swiss was incredibly satisfying. I was a little annoyed when it came without the swiss...one or two bites and I was happy with it but I really wanted the swiss. When it came back to me, it had the cheese but for some reason a lot less tasty than the first go-round. The real winner on their menu is the "Taste of Ireland". It's huge, hearty, and soul-satisfying. I literally could not stop eating off my partner's plate. They start with mashed potatoes that they use as barriers to separate the four entrees on the plate: Guinness beef stew, Shepard's pie, chicken pot pie, and lamb stew (I think...). On top of that, there are fried onions and bangers (sausages). For $13.99 I consider this a bargain, and super flavorful to boot!

Of course you will get a perfectly poured Guinness every single time. The atmosphere is lively and jumping, even on a Sunday afternoon. Get your Irish fill at Thatcher McGee's the next time you're roaming around northern Jersey.

Food: ****
Ambience: *****
Service: ***
Overall: ****

Holsten's, Bloomfield, NJ

Although going to a funky restaurant with a cool atmosphere brought on by decor and hipsters can be somewhat satisfying, you always need an old standby. You know what I'm talking about because just about every one of us knows a place with awesome food but crappy decor. It almost makes you want them to change it but then again you don't want them to because it might bring about a whole different type of patronage. So then you're left telling yourself that you wouldn't change a thing!

Holsten's is that kind of place. They've been around for decades, and it's obvious that the last time they renovated or did any kind of decorating was in the 70's. Wood paneling is everywhere, as is the once-cool color palette. Every now and then you can see details of the old school Holsten's: the now defunct phone booth, the wood details...it screams 1945 and you want to scream back YES! I would love for the owners to restore the place back to its origins. I'm dying for a real old-school ice cream parlor so I can put on a pencil skirt, slingbacks, and red lipstick. Maybe that's another blog!

Holsten's is no frills and the quality is in its food, most notably, in its confections. Admittedly, I've never actually had anything else on their menu except the ice cream and chocolate milk (I'm a HUGE sucker for chocolate milk!). All I can say about the other food is that at least it looks good from what I can tell.

I love that they make just about everything from scratch...homemade ice cream, homemade chocolates and candy and cakes, oh my! And it all tastes divine. Order a sundae from the menu and they bring it to you in an old fashioned tall glass sundae dish piled high with ice cream and all the trimmings. Try the Duster Sundae...your choice of ice cream topped with chocolate syrup, malt powder and whipped cream...I like to swap the syrup out for hot fudge. The malt powder makes this a huge winner in my book. If the sundaes don't tickle your fancy, you can always build your own concoction, and don't worry, they have plenty of toppings to choose from. Have a glass of water to wash down the richness, or make it worse with a tall glass of chocolate milk. You're having ice cream, so why not indulge?

Holsten's is a big hit with kids and adults alike. I make the drive because it's worth it, and so should you!

Nori, Caldwell, NJ

Well, here I am again on another sushi adventure. This time my travels take you to Caldwell to Nori, right on Bloomfield Avenue. Nori has been around for several years and has been reviewed by the paper and is also apparently a hit with Zagat reviewers. We went for dinner on a Friday night, got right in, and enjoyed.

Nori is a small establishment with a small sushi bar in the back and small square tables. Small. Not terribly small, but I can't imagine it being packed because you might have a problem having any kind of privacy in conversation. Anyway, there are the usual Japanese adornments with shoji screens, geisha pictures, and other types of pics and paintings. What's kind of interesting are the blowfish and puffer fish that have been "preserved" and find their new home hanging from the ceiling. There's a kind of quirky vibe to the place despite the standard Japanese decor.

The menu is easy to read and the list of rolls (maki) is looooooong. This excites me, I always like to see a sushi joint take their maki to the next level. There was plenty of variety for anyone. Their menu also includes traditional hot dishes, as well as other pan-asian fare. To see the menu, click here. One drawback that I noticed were the prices. The sushi is priced at 1 per order, and many of the pieces were at least $2.50 each. The menu online does not match the menu on site.

Service was very quick and on point. One thing I was skeptical about was the soy sauce. I asked for low sodium just as my dinner was arriving, and she pointed to the decanter on the table. I asked to confirm that it was low sodium and she said yes. One taste and I knew it wasn't. I don't know any low sodium soy sauce with that kind of flavor. I could be wrong, maybe they spring for some high end stuff that has a roasty full-bodied flavor?

The miso soup was actually hardy...lots of greenery and tofu, and the salad was okay. The sushi was pretty damn good. The California roll wasn't all that impressive. Believe it or not some are good but this was just eh. The remainder on my plate was almost perfect. Perfect amount of rice, perfect amount of fish, perfect texture. The rice didn't have that much flavor though. The most impressive of the night was the unagi (eel). This was by far the best tasting piece of eel that I've ever had. Slightly charred around the edges and warm and buttery everywhere else, it had the perfect amount of sauce to accompany as well. After eating this and almost dying from the enjoyment, I told my partner that I could have ordered an entire entree of just eel. And I think next time I will!

Food: ****
Ambiance: ***
Service: ****
Overall: ****

Sushi Hana, Montclair, NJ

Another sushi post! Yes it's true. Like I mentioned in my last one about sushi, I love it, can't get enough, and figured I may as well report back from my latest sushi venture: Sushi Hana in Montclair, NJ.

I've been coming to Sushi Hana for about 8 years now and I still haven't found any other sushi restaurant with the same variety of maki, quality of fish, and tasty hot dishes all around. The staff here is always friendly and on point, and the place has historically been packed. The problem lately it seems is the opening of other more "hip" sushi restaurants in town. Sushi Hana used to have the monopoly in Montclair; now it's one of several. As a result, the restaurant isn't nearly as packed as it used to be.

The decor is obviously Japanese. Simple tables both inside and out, and your standard sushi bar. There's no fanciness about the inside of this place, which may be why some folks find the other restaurants more appealing.

The food is a whole other story. The menu really doesn't do it justice...ever since they switched to a newer menu, the font is a lot smaller and much harder to read and it takes awhile to skim through the entire menu since it's several pages. Some of the hot dishes, like Nabe Yaki Udon, a stew of udon noodles with fish cake, chicken, veggies, shrimp tempura, and an egg cracked right on top, give you the warm fuzzies and is even more satisfying than a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup on a stormy night. If you aren't a fan of sushi, try the chicken maki: cheese and other goodies wrapped in chicken and deep fried with a panko crust. The other standards, like the bento boxes and teriyaki dishes are equally as satisfying and appealing to the eye.

You MUST check out the list of "special rolls" that Sushi Hana has to offer. Each table has one, as well as being posted above the sushi bar itself. If you are squeamish about raw fish, try the Sari or Jodi rolls; the Sari roll is a California roll topped with the chef's special crunchy peanut sauce, and the Jodi roll is topped with the same but filled with vegetable tempura. One of our friends has also tried the Samba roll, which is warm and crunchy on the outside thanks to the panko crust, and has a perfect partner with the sauce that dons the bottom of the plate. Another big hit is the Hana Summer roll, which is featured on the "low carb roll" part of the menu. Shrimp and crabmeat, masago, and greens wrapped in rice paper served with a smooth and creamy peanut sauce. To see a full list of Sushi Hana's special rolls, and the rest of their menu, click here.

I can't get enough of the eel hand roll that comes with the sushi for two. Served on a wooden boat, this option is for sushi lovers only! A combination of different types of sushi, including tuna, salmon, shrimp, tobiko, red snapper, amongst others, and tuna maki and a california roll. I can't even finish my portion anymore. It's definitely worth the money if you're down for the challenge! The sushi portions themselves are perfect, and the rice is always sublime.

Sushi Hana is BYOB, and they will gladly store your extra beer in the fridge until you call for it. Want to have a small party? Check out their private back room, with pillow ledge seating, or feel free to sit outside. Sushi Hana has something for everyone and is a huge hit in my book.

Food: *****
Ambience: ****
Service: ****
Overall: ****1/2

Mr. Sushi, Lincoln Park, NJ

Sushi is really one of my favorite foods. When I discovered it almost ten years ago, I wanted to know why I hadn't indulged in it sooner. Since then, I have become almost obsessed with finding the best sushi. Because there are so many restaurants in New Jersey, you can only imagine the options for sushi. I usually stick to the northern part of New Jersey, which is where my favorite sushi joint is. Every now and then, I figure I'll try a new place but only upon the recommendation from someone else. As you probably already know, there's nothing worse than bad sushi. I think I'd rather get a root canal.

Mr. Sushi was recommended to us more for the "All You Can Eat" sushi special for $20.95. How could you pass that up? On a Sunday afternoon around 3 pm, when we became totally starved for lunch, we decided to hit this place up. After all, I'd also heard that the sushi was actually good.

Mr. Sushi is located in Lincoln Park...in a strip mall. Very New Jersey. At first, the decor will impress you, but once inside, it kind of disappoints. The dining room they first seated us in had such bad acoustics, that we had to move to the bar itself because the only other table occupied was so loud. No background music...instead there was a video game playing on the TV. ?

After moving to the bar, we ordered plate after plate of sushi and maki. The waitress didn't exactly make it easy or comfortable for us to keep ordering more. I could have sat there all day and indulged. I guess it was for my best that I stopped when I did. The usual that I ordered was pretty good...not the best tuna, salmon, or eel I've ever had, but it was satisfying. I think there was too much rice for me, and the fish was a bit large. Why be bothered by that? Sushi really should be a certain size and shouldn't be too much that you can get it all in one bite.

The eel hand roll was good but really could have used more of that brown sauce...I would also say the same for the spider roll...it was a HUGE soft shell crab rolled up with mayo and the sauce (still don't know the name for it!). I started my meal with a salad, which had the typical ginger dressing, and finished it with a fantastic piece of hamachi.

The great thing about the all you can eat special is that it's not limited to one menu...you can order any of the special rolls as well without additional charge. If you love sushi, then it's worth it!

Food: ****
Ambience: **
Service: ***
Overall: ***1/2

Salt - A Gastro Pub, Byram, NJ

Hello folks! I had the pleasure of trying a new restaurant in good ol' Sussex County. Like much of this state, folks with some money and more sophisticated palates are opening up pseudo fine dining restaurants in places you'd least expect it. Although Sussex County is generally known for its sprawling countryside and outdoor sports, it too has fallen victim to corporate interests and outlet malls.


With increased interest tends to come the restaurants. For the most part, it's usually the evil chain restaurant, and sometimes if you're lucky, an independently owned restaurant that brings a unique style to the area. This is what we thought about Salt.


Located on Route 206 in Sussex County, Salt used to be 76'ers...a place I never became familiar with. We always drove past it and never gave it a thought. Now, Salt has drawn a mixed crowd of local folks looking for a more interesting dining experience. They proudly boast a list of lesser known beers, and for those in Sussex who are most likely unfamiliar with the beers that Salt has to offer, the list is sure to please and possibly overwhelm. The rest of us "in the know" find these to be old hats, however, it's always nice to see a bar offering a different selection. On draft, they offer such selections as Blue Moon and Stella Artois. The rest of the beer list is pretty impressive, especially for a place like this in Sussex. It was great to see such beers as Rogue, Dogfish Head, Allagash, Trogue's...good American craft beers. To see the full beer list, visit their website at http://www.saltgastropub.com/.


After having to sit at the bar to wait for a table (though they told us on the phone that a reservation wouldn't be necessary), I sipped my Pinot Grigio, which I loved, and caught up with an old friend. Within about ten minutes, we were herded to our table. The bar area can be sort of cramped when you're sitting at the tables lining the walls. Otherwise, just about every stool was taken.


The dining room itself was open and well-lit. Our table was located next to the indoor air conditioner, which at first made the room feel comfortable. Give yourself a few minutes after drinking some beers and wine, and you'll feel hot in no time. They kept the temp set at 78 degrees, which I'm not sure was a fantastic idea with a dining room full of patrons. But anyway, it was comfortable for most of our stay. The tables and chairs were a mix of wicker and wood...I sort of felt like I could be in a department store with the lighting and table set up. I'm not sure how else to describe the decor...generally it was lacking any sort of feel...I'm not sure they really finished the dining room or had any particular style in mind. For the food and prices, I think there should have been a little more thought to the environment.


The staff all seemed to be a little younger and had their tattoos showing...another sort of new occurrence up in the country. Refreshing to see for sure. We didn't have too many questions, so I can't comment on whether or not the staff was all too knowledgeable on the offerings for the evening. I was disappointed to see though that the Bass special was crossed off the list. That would have been my first choice for dinner.


After ordering our drinks, we decided on the following appetizers: goat cheese croquettes - goat cheese coated in panko bread crumbs served with a side of a poached pear, greens, and a raspberry viniagrette; and mac 'n cheese - traditional mac 'n cheese topped with panko and deep fried parsley. The croquettes were pretty good...I expected more of an intense flavor from the goat cheese, but the panko were browned perfectly and had a great combination of texture. Take a taste of the goat cheese, greens, pear, and viniagrette, and you'll be satisfied...but you may notice that the viniagrette also lacked any punch. The mac 'n cheese was equally as good, but not great. I was disappointed to see that it was kind of watery...it had a great crust on top, and the herbs were interesting but didn't really impart any real flavor to the whole dish. Again, not all too flavorful but definitely not bad.


The menu's prices ranged on average from 12 to 25 bux for dinner, and around 8 for appetizers. The soups of the day sounded delicious. They offered a cold soup, smart with the weather we're having, and a hot soup as well. No one tried the soup, so no comment. Dinner selections for the evening included the lemon mint scallops, farfalle with roasted vegetables and goat cheese, the burger with "salt" fries, and two appetizers: the special cajun dusted scallops and roasted vegetable raviolis in a lemon thyme cream sauce.


One thing that occurred to me is that the roasted vegetables were all the same, and weren't all that seasonal. At this time of year, I expected to see zucchini and peppers, and was pleasantly surprised that it was sweet potato. Pleasantly because I just love sweet potato, but I was wondering why they chose these vegetables in particular. Not sure it's really a smart choice given that they could have great seasonal locally grown veggies, especially up there.


My partner's burger was overcooked...not a good thing for someone who loves beef, especially a good burger. The dish came with fries and three different mayonnaise based sauces on the plate, which offered different flavors, whether it was for dipping fries or putting on the burger. He's a burger purist, and commented that the burger was too thick, not that much flavor other than the charcoal. No love was put into the burger, and unfortunately, the comment was "probably the worst burger I've ever had, all I could taste was char".


Other diners commented that the scallops were "awesome", and the roasted vegetable farfalle was delicious. I tasted just about everyone's food, except the lemon mint scallops, and felt that the dishes were all very lackluster. The cream sauce in the farfalle was bland...I could barely taste the goat cheese, and the sweet potato was barely cooked through (though it was charred on the outside). As for my dishes, I had the cajun dusted scallops and roasted veggie ravioli. All I could tasted on the scallops were black pepper. Where was the cajun seasonings, the hot smoky flavor that they're known for? All black pepper. It came served on a bed of rice, some corn, and a corn puree. All lacking flavor and overwhelmingly had too much black pepper. The rice was mediocre and the corn puree bland. The scallops were cooked perfectly though.


The roasted veggie ravioli were pretty tasty. The sauce was delicate, as was the pasta itself. But again, the roasted vegetables were mainly onions and sweet potato...just a weird combination for the summertime and for a dish that is seemingly meant to be light. I did enjoy the ravioli though, but I think overall the chef and owners really need to re-think the dishes.


For a restaurant that bears as its name the most commonly used seasoning in all the world, the food actually lacked what the sign boasts: salt. I'm very sensitive to salt and use of sodium in all foods, so the fact that I barely tasted any, or any real flavor in any of the dishes, made me wonder what these folks are trying to do at this restaurant. Do they think the patrons in Sussex will marvel at the somewhat pricey menu and eclectic mix of food, and then overlook the fact that some of the selections don't make sense and that the food is for the most part disappointing? Don't get me wrong, this place has a lot of potential if they think a lot more about what they're serving, why they're serving it, and who they're serving it to. Even though Sussex County can often find itself the butt of some jokes, there are plenty of people who enjoy great food that's not just limited to steaks, burgers, and fries.


Oddly enough, you will have to use your salt shaker here at Salt. Or you may just want to stick to the bar for a great lesser known beer.



Ambience: ***
Service: ****
Food: ***
Overall: ***1/2

Battle Burrito

I'm going to break one rule already. Sorry folks, but I'm going to allow a review of a chain. A couple, actually. It was brought to my attention that the "rules" can be broken in this instance: burritos. I absolutely love burritos. They were my food of choice on my cross-country road trip back in college. Cheap and filling eats from the east to the west coast. It became somewhat of a joke after awhile, but burritos hardly ever disappoint.



In this blog, we are reviewing the following burrito places: Moe's in Parsippany; Tinga in Montclair; Chipotle in Bridgewater, Surf Taco in Belmar, and Senorita's in Bloomfield.



Moe's
Parsippany

A cool feature of this place is what you get when you walk in the door: a very enthusiastic and bellowing "Welcome to MOE'S!". The interior is bright, colorful and fun. The large menu on the wall allows you to see everything and make a decision before you even get on line: a must for places where you stand to make an order. They have a variety of your basic tex-mex foods: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and salads. Once you place your order, you get to choose what you want in it, another must for those folks with food "issues", whether it's allergies or some sort of gastrointestinal disorder.



They give you a nice helping of tortilla chips with every order, and they are quite possibly some of the best chips I've had. Not too salty and they've got lots of flavor. Now to the burrito: I've only ever gotten chicken in mine, which I'm not a fan of. It's not grilled, but instead prepared on a flat top griddle in front of you. It smells divine when they're cooking it, but it's a whole other story when you're eating it. I can't quite nail the flavor down, which I guess is an issue in and of itself, but all I can say is that it's tangy. The pico de gallo looks like it's about 3 weeks old...very lackluster and quite possibly the source of my gastro pain and discomfort within an hour of eating it. The rice is dry and not that full of flavor. The only good parts are the cheese, guac, sour cream, lettuce, and the wrap itself. Let's just put it this way: when I'm desperate for cheap eats, I'll swing by Moe's, especially when I have a coupon. They do have a salsa bar, of which they're okay, but again nothing special.

P.S. If you ARE a fan of Moe's, they offer a card where you buy 9 and get the 10th free.


Ratings:

Ambience: *****
Food: ***
Service: **** (No table service)
Overall: ***1/2


Chipotle
Parsippany

Very similar to Moe's, Chipotle is set up cafeteria style: you tell your cook what you want and you got it. Pay for it, and grab a table. It's really that simple. Oh, and you can even place your order online and cut in front of everyone and pick up your food within minutes. Now down to the chow.

I ordered the chicken burrito and was very impressed with the flavor and char of the chicken. I'm not a huge fan of rice, but they infuse theirs with lime juice and cilantro, and there's something with a kick to it in there but I'm not sure where it comes from. The rice is moist and actually adds to the overall flavor of the burrito. Each of their salsas tastes fresh, I usually order the one with medium heat made with corn...the combination of heat and sweetness from the corn are an excellent combination. The guac is awesome and worth the extra money, you really won't be disappointed. They have lots of options to choose from, from the meat to the salsas, all of it has excellent flavor. They don't have a salsa bar but you'll be so satisfied from the burrito that it won't even matter. This place has me coming back every time and each time I've never been disappointed! Highly recommended!

P.S. For those of you who don't know, there are two interesting tidbits of info about Chipotle: 1.) It's owned by McDonald's corporation, and 2.) This is Ozzy Osbourne's favorite burrito joint.

Ratings:

Ambience: ***
Food: *****
Service: **** (No table service)
Overall: ****1/2


Surf Taco
Belmar

This is a small southern New Jersey chain. I've been to the one in Brick and Belmar. The one in Brick is kind of dirty, and I remember seeing a cockroach in the bathroom. You know what they say about roaches...every restaurant has them but it's a whole other issue if you can actually SEE them. We're rating the one in Belmar here.

It's pretty awesome walking into a Surf Taco for the first time: it's got a real relaxed and easy feel to it and the artwork on the walls makes you want to stay. Plus, the music they've got playing at all times is another reason to make you want to chat with your friends long after your burrito has been finished. I'm just a real sucker for any establishment that plays reggae and/or the Clash.

The counter staff are usually beach bum high school girls who are usually busy checking out the younger crowd that always seems to wander in. A little annoying but not enough to ruin the food. I don't think they've ever gotten my order wrong, so I can overlook the rest of their attitude. Here's how it works: you place your order and take a number, and some other high school kid brings out your order within minutes. It doesn't take long to get your food, and it's always fresh. The salsa bar sits along the wall with several options, including a salsa verde made with tomatillos. Each salsa is refreshing, and worth trying to find your personal favorite.

Here's the problem with the burrito: BORING. The pico de gallo is pretty good, but the chicken is quite flavorless, as is the rice. I've had the surf taco here before, which is pretty good because of the sauce that accompanies it. I ordered my burrito "wet" which means they douse it in a red sauce and cover it with cheese and pico de gallo. I found myself dipping each part of the burrito in the red sauce for some flavor. I've seen others dipping the burrito in some salsa. In any case, it gains points for the freshness but overall lacks flavor.

Ratings:

Ambience: *****
Food: ***1/2
Service: ***1/2
Overall: ****

Senorita's
Bloomfield

Senorita's is HUGE. They've got two floors and plenty of space for private parties. The overall decor is decidedly Mexican and tastefully done. There's plenty of options to choose from on their menu, but let's talk burrito shall we?

I must preface this by saying that I was with a large group of people, so the service left much to be desired. The drink orders were super slow, and my coconut mojito didn't taste much like coconut. I don't think I finished it and stuck to water after that. Their burritos aren't fully wrapped, more like rolled with red sauce and cheese all over it. Think enchilada but a burrito.

The chicken was shredded, which is always nice, and the sauce had great flavor. Their guac didn't disappoint either...I really did want to finish the whole thing but was so full from chowing down on the tortilla chips that I could only get through half of the dinner. And that's because it took awhile to get served. Everyone else around the table was very satisfied with their food. Plus, they offer tableside guacamole, which was absolutely delicious! This wasn't a unique experience for burritos by any stretch of the imagination, but with the welcoming feel and fun vibe of the place, I could've stayed longer.

Ratings:

Ambience: *****
Food: ****
Service: ***
Overall: ****

Tinga
Montclair

Out of all the burrito places we've reviewed, I have to say that Tinga fares the worst. The small, cramped space fills up rather quickly, and I don't believe the food is worth waiting for. The staff is usually filled with high school kids who screw up your order just as quickly. The burrito also disappointed: the chicken was shredded and had decent flavor, but one of those where you have to eat it with a knife and fork. I'm not a fan of any of the accompaniments: the beans gave my blogging partner the worst belly ache. I've actually had their catered fajitas at a private party once, which was much better than the burritos I've had there. The to-go catered food was so much better than the in-house burrito, though it was from the Westfield location.

The restaurant itself has unique decor, but needs to be much bigger to accomodate its patrons. I hate having to fend for a table, only to have people give you dirty looks when you get one. Like I said before, not worth it, especially when there's such great food in the rest of Montclair. I'd rather get a slice of pizza, which ain't sayin' much.

Ratings:

Ambience: ***1/2
Food: ***
Service: ***
Overall: ***

In the beginning...

In the beginning...there was food! Welcome to the first of many food blogs. I am an anonymous food lover...one who is always on the lookout for great food, whether it's at the farmer's market, at a diner, or in a fine dining establishment. It goes without saying that I'm also a huge fan of food related television, entertainment, and all things food. I can't say enough or get enough about it!

The purpose of this blog is to document great food out and about in New Jersey. We'll take you to diners, trattorias, restaurants, food stands, whatever...anything and everything food related that is New Jersey. What we won't do is bore you with reviews of chain restaurants...while they can be a decent distraction here and there (an old standby when you're in a strange city and don't feel like tempting food fate), they really aren't worth reviewing. We believe in the independent owner and will support mom and pop shops as much as possible. Visit the national chain restaurant at your own risk! You most likely won't see it here.

Who am I? Don't worry about it...I don't want to give in to providing any identifying information about myself since I will be providing reviews here of local places to eat. I'm no food critic and don't pretend to be, but I would rather visit a local eatery as an anonymous diner to provide an honest assessment of what that experience was like. Did the service suck? Was there a hair in my french fries? I will dish it all! And who knows, maybe the local restaurant owner will be on their toes more to provide the best food and dining experience they can!?!?

Each restaurant will be given a rating on several different categories: the food, the service, the environment, and an overall rating. We'll let you know if we would ever return or if we'd be happy to watch the place burn to the ground (provided, of course, that no one gets hurt!). And maybe as this blog develops, we'll find other aspects to rate, but for now, this will do.

Thanks for visiting, and happy reading!