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: *****
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
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: ****
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: ****
Sunday, July 20, 2008
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!
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!
Friday, July 18, 2008
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: ****
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: ****
Saturday, July 5, 2008
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
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
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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
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
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