I love restaurants that have big fireplaces, and high beamed ceilings. The smell of burning wood and food can make me dizzy sometimes. But if there's one thing I hate doing, it's spending a ton of money on mediocre food. Oh. My. God. I hate hate hate it! Have you guessed that this is what happened at the Mohawk House in Sparta?
Sparta is one of those towns, unlike Hackettstown as mentioned in the Pandan Room, that's all fancy and little grit and character. In all of Sussex County, it's one of the most expensive places to live, and from what I remember, most of the folks I've met from there are kinda snobby. I won't discriminate but at least it gives you some idea of what you might find if you went to eat or shop in Sparta.
Located about 1/4 mile from Route 15, when you pull into the restaurant, prepare to give the valet your keys. Ugh, valet parking. Give me the option to park my own car, please. I'm not sure if there was this option there, but we jumped out, all decked out and ready for a more "classy" dining experience. Had I known that others were wearing jeans, I would've obliged! But, there's hardly a time where I dress up just to go out to eat, so my husband and I were happy to do it since it's "once in a blue moon".
The first thing that catches you is the dimly lit interior and fireplace. The restaurant itself is pretty large and also has a loft. We were seated right next to the fireplace, which is kind of nice since it was so cold outside. Once seated, our very professional waiter asked for our drink orders...the beer list is pretty impressive and so the men each ordered beer and us ladies got wine. Everyone seemed happy, with the exception of my husband's beer. He was pretty sure that the beer was flat and tasted bad, which could have been due to the beer sitting in the lines for awhile or was just skunked. He had to ask for something else altogether.
Everyone decided to order appetizers...I got the cheese plate, which had several varieties to choose from. I opted for the Bijou, Gouda, and Manchego. The cheeses were accompanied by truffle honey, smoked almonds, olives, and crackers. I could have cared less for the crackers...it was like eating air. But the honey coupled with each of the cheeses made me happy. I did not, however, like the almonds. They were chewey and way too smokey...I felt like I was chewing on some old wood right off the fire. Yuck. Others ordered the appetizer portion of the scallops and the crab cake. Everyone seemed happy with their choices.
On to dinner. Since it's been eons since I've had scallops, I decided to order this as my dinner/entree...others ordered the braised short ribs and steak. I was disappointed with my dish for sure. The scallops were cooked perfectly, but the sauce was supposed to be a lobster bisque, and it tasted more like a bland tomato sauce. The scallops sat on top of salsify, and some edamame peppered the plate. Topping the scallops were a fried "hay" of sweet potato. The sweet potato was more for a garnish, which was disappointing because I LOVE sweet potato. The salsify was new for me, it's a kind of root vegetable, almost like a weed, but has the consistency of a parsnip or carrot once cooked. It went well but overall the dish was not harmonious. I was really disappointed in the flavors, but the portion was large and I didn't get past two scallops.
I was totally into my husband's braised short rib with cabbage and mashed potatoes. He wasn't a fan of the cabbage, which was a benefit to me thank you very much. Overall, everyone at the table "liked" their food but none of was were singing its praises. The consensus was, this was nice but we won't come back. I figured that I should, at the very least, give dessert a try. This too was a disappointment. I love sweets, but the Spiced Apple Upside Down cake was so sweet that I couldn't get past the third bite. I tried so hard! The cake looked dry but was moist, and the apple pieces inside the cake were too big. The cider caramel didn't complement the cake whatsoever, and the whole thing was just a big pile of sugar and I just had enough of this whole dinner! We sipped our coffee, and $300 later (YES, you read right) for four people, we were pretty disgusted. I had a hard time parting with our money, because as I said in the beginning of this post, I HATE spending good money on mediocre food. But here we were and I vowed never to do this again!
If you want to get some decent food in Sussex County and pay a little too much money, make a visit to the Mohawk House. I'd recommend you sit at the bar and order from the bar menu. You still get the ambience and the warmth of the fireplace, but without the same expense. If you love beer, you might like this place. Next time, if there IS a next time, we'll sit at the bar and order a burger or something. The service will be faster there too. Take a sample of the beer before you get a pint, and watch your wallet!
Food: ***
Service: ***
Ambience: ****
Overall: ***
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Pandan Room, Hackettstown
Every now and then, I find a restaurant that reminds me of why I love to go out to eat. It's the surprise of finding great food with good people, and flavors that you either have never had or haven't had in years. This was our experience at Pandan Room in Hackettstown, NJ.
Hackettstown is somewhat out of the way, at least for us, but not that far if you want to find a small town with some surprises in store. Hackettstown has always been somewhat the butt of the joke, a la Hackerstown, but like every good main street, you find some great stuff amongst some of the depressed. I like my towns and cities with variety, and other than having some friends that live in the area, I hadn't really been to Hackettstown for anything other than a psychic reading...when I was 16. Let's just say that was a long, long time ago!
Main Street at night was absolutely cute. I don't think anyone remembered to take down the lights from Christmas, but there was something ethereal about the glow on the street. I took a look as we drove through and saw an ice cream shop and other mom and pop shops that I would have liked to visit. As we pulled up to Pandan Room, I was surprised! It was pretty much a house, with more Christmas lights. Parking was around the corner, so we pulled in and took a short walk to the restaurant. Inside looked smaller than the outside, but the brightly colored walls with Thai and Indonesian decor seemed appropriate and represented what the food I would later discover tasted like...bright and unique.
There was about 11 people in our party, and our table was all ready as the ever friendly host/owner greeted us. We were seated quickly, handed the specials, and the waitress worked her magic. Even though there were so many of us, chaos never ensued. She expertly took our orders and within minutes, our appetizers were there. I was amazed. The only disappointing part of my meal was the Thai iced tea. I'm used to it being sweet and slightly thick. This was watery and needed sugar. I didn't complain though, and kind of enjoyed not worrying about the heaviness that usually accompanies the drink. We ordered the assorted spring rolls appetizer, and at only $6.99, we got two of each of three types of spring rolls. The others in our party each ordered the other two assorted appetizers on the menu, and I didn't hear any complaints!
Soon after the waitress cleared our dishes from our appetizers, our dinners arrived. Dishes were colorful and interesting, and smelled divine. Everyone was satisfied, from the harcore Thai food lovers who ordered traditional-ish curry dishes, to the newcomers who ordered the filet mignon. I ordered the Masaman Duck special, and I was blown away. The curry was light, the veggies tender but slightly crunchy, and the duck was some of the best I've ever had...tender and moist, crispy skin. The jasmine rice topped off the dish, and it was the perfect harmony. Most Thai dishes give me a little stomach upset, and I was thrilled when later on I experienced no difficulty whatsoever!
Other dishes included Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp with a peanut and coconut milk based sauce and jasmin rice, a rabbit stew special, chicken curry, and other traditional dishes. Looking at the menu, you might question such things as the Asiago burger. Where the hell did that come from? And the "Thaiella", a Thai spin on Paella...I might try that the next time. Since I sat so close to the kitchen, I kept turning my head to see what they were putting up next and was always craning my neck to see what was what.
Surprisngly, the bill didn't make me want to cry (as it did the other night after dining at the Mohawk House in Sparta...okay food but not for what they're charging!). We were all fully satisfied and wanted to eat more...I had to ask the server to take it away from me because I really felt as though I was going to commit foodie suicide.
I would absolutely come back and recommend this restaurant, for the Thai lover and novices alike, everyone will be pleased at this quaint but stylish little place that I will now be raving about to all who will listen! To see the menu for yourself, visit pandanroom.com. Hackettstown, here I come!
Food: *****
Ambience: *****
Service: *****
Overall: *****
Hackettstown is somewhat out of the way, at least for us, but not that far if you want to find a small town with some surprises in store. Hackettstown has always been somewhat the butt of the joke, a la Hackerstown, but like every good main street, you find some great stuff amongst some of the depressed. I like my towns and cities with variety, and other than having some friends that live in the area, I hadn't really been to Hackettstown for anything other than a psychic reading...when I was 16. Let's just say that was a long, long time ago!
Main Street at night was absolutely cute. I don't think anyone remembered to take down the lights from Christmas, but there was something ethereal about the glow on the street. I took a look as we drove through and saw an ice cream shop and other mom and pop shops that I would have liked to visit. As we pulled up to Pandan Room, I was surprised! It was pretty much a house, with more Christmas lights. Parking was around the corner, so we pulled in and took a short walk to the restaurant. Inside looked smaller than the outside, but the brightly colored walls with Thai and Indonesian decor seemed appropriate and represented what the food I would later discover tasted like...bright and unique.
There was about 11 people in our party, and our table was all ready as the ever friendly host/owner greeted us. We were seated quickly, handed the specials, and the waitress worked her magic. Even though there were so many of us, chaos never ensued. She expertly took our orders and within minutes, our appetizers were there. I was amazed. The only disappointing part of my meal was the Thai iced tea. I'm used to it being sweet and slightly thick. This was watery and needed sugar. I didn't complain though, and kind of enjoyed not worrying about the heaviness that usually accompanies the drink. We ordered the assorted spring rolls appetizer, and at only $6.99, we got two of each of three types of spring rolls. The others in our party each ordered the other two assorted appetizers on the menu, and I didn't hear any complaints!
Soon after the waitress cleared our dishes from our appetizers, our dinners arrived. Dishes were colorful and interesting, and smelled divine. Everyone was satisfied, from the harcore Thai food lovers who ordered traditional-ish curry dishes, to the newcomers who ordered the filet mignon. I ordered the Masaman Duck special, and I was blown away. The curry was light, the veggies tender but slightly crunchy, and the duck was some of the best I've ever had...tender and moist, crispy skin. The jasmine rice topped off the dish, and it was the perfect harmony. Most Thai dishes give me a little stomach upset, and I was thrilled when later on I experienced no difficulty whatsoever!
Other dishes included Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp with a peanut and coconut milk based sauce and jasmin rice, a rabbit stew special, chicken curry, and other traditional dishes. Looking at the menu, you might question such things as the Asiago burger. Where the hell did that come from? And the "Thaiella", a Thai spin on Paella...I might try that the next time. Since I sat so close to the kitchen, I kept turning my head to see what they were putting up next and was always craning my neck to see what was what.
Surprisngly, the bill didn't make me want to cry (as it did the other night after dining at the Mohawk House in Sparta...okay food but not for what they're charging!). We were all fully satisfied and wanted to eat more...I had to ask the server to take it away from me because I really felt as though I was going to commit foodie suicide.
I would absolutely come back and recommend this restaurant, for the Thai lover and novices alike, everyone will be pleased at this quaint but stylish little place that I will now be raving about to all who will listen! To see the menu for yourself, visit pandanroom.com. Hackettstown, here I come!
Food: *****
Ambience: *****
Service: *****
Overall: *****
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Leone's, Montclair, NJ
There was a time when I used to frequent Leone's. It's a joke among friends to call the place "Mama Leone's" after the rather large force/presence of the owner, Rose. When they first opened, I was in love. The pasta was stupendous. The restaurant was still a small place with just a few tables. Now, they've grown like the rest of the neighborhood, kind of like a virus. After many years, I went back with some friends, but thankfully didn't catch the virus.
Leone's now occupies what looks like three storefronts. Some of the old waitstaff are still there even. That was something that surprised me actually, from what I had heard from some folks who used to work for "Mama", she was a bit harsh (I'm being nice here). She's like the Roman who whips the horses in full gladiator regalia, except she's about 4'11". In any case, we were excited and super hungry.
The decor hasn't changed much. There's nothing bad or exciting either way about the inside of the restauarant. One of the additions from years past is their brick oven and counter that greets you when you first walk in. Beyond that, they have a "loft" area with seating as well. We were seated in the main part of the restaurant rather promptly given our reservation. Once seated, I realized the menu really hadn't changed much either. The same specials (mozzarella en carozza, artichokes, calamari, etc.) graced the menu, as well as old familiar classics like Cappellini Angelica. I didn't want to be bogged down heavy with pasta, so I opted for the Margherita Pizza for my dinner. Everyone else got a pasta, including one of the specials.
One thing I don't like is when a restaurant goes a la carte, especially an Italian restaurant. At least serve a small salad. But for just $4.95, you CAN get a salad. A lame house salad, with lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, and some carrot shavings. I was so disappointed in the thing, it looked pathetic. Soon after two of our guests got their salad, my pizza came. A full 15 to 20 minutes before anyone else got their entrees. I didn't want to be rude, but I was so starving, and also didn't want it to go cold. I had a slice, and that was enough. I've never had a pizza I didn't like, and this was bad enough not to go any further. The sauce was too thick for the crust, the fresh mozzarella had no flavor (salt the water will ya?!?!?!), and I kept biting down on dirt. I have a feeling that they never rinsed the basil leaves, because with each bite I got grit. After trying hard, I decided that going beyond that first slice would be murder for me. So I put the pie aside and asked for another menu. The others' food still wasn't there yet so I figured I had a good chance to get our food together. Not likely.
I FINALLY got my waiter's attention and ordered the fresh mozzarella salad. This required no cooking, but couldn't come with the other plates of pasta. I sat for 10 minutes watching everyone else eat. The two pasta dishes, Cappellini Angelica and Rigatoni Leone, looked and tasted wonderful. The pasta special with chicken and shrimp was not such a hit. My husband gave me the shrimp to eat, and all I could taste was coal. It was an unpleasant taste from the oven, presumably the brick oven, and I was not happy. He admitted that there wasn't anything special about his $20.95 special entree, so couple that with the 5 dollar salad, and you've got some unhappy customers.
The service was spotty and the food uneven. You want good pizza? Go to Villa Victoria down the street: no frills but a tasty as heck pie. If you want to get a good dining experience from Leone's, expect to wait and stick to the regular tried and true pasta dishes on the main menu. Otherwise, I'm not sure that this expansion virus is a good thing, and let's home Mama gets a cure.
Leone's now occupies what looks like three storefronts. Some of the old waitstaff are still there even. That was something that surprised me actually, from what I had heard from some folks who used to work for "Mama", she was a bit harsh (I'm being nice here). She's like the Roman who whips the horses in full gladiator regalia, except she's about 4'11". In any case, we were excited and super hungry.
The decor hasn't changed much. There's nothing bad or exciting either way about the inside of the restauarant. One of the additions from years past is their brick oven and counter that greets you when you first walk in. Beyond that, they have a "loft" area with seating as well. We were seated in the main part of the restaurant rather promptly given our reservation. Once seated, I realized the menu really hadn't changed much either. The same specials (mozzarella en carozza, artichokes, calamari, etc.) graced the menu, as well as old familiar classics like Cappellini Angelica. I didn't want to be bogged down heavy with pasta, so I opted for the Margherita Pizza for my dinner. Everyone else got a pasta, including one of the specials.
One thing I don't like is when a restaurant goes a la carte, especially an Italian restaurant. At least serve a small salad. But for just $4.95, you CAN get a salad. A lame house salad, with lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, and some carrot shavings. I was so disappointed in the thing, it looked pathetic. Soon after two of our guests got their salad, my pizza came. A full 15 to 20 minutes before anyone else got their entrees. I didn't want to be rude, but I was so starving, and also didn't want it to go cold. I had a slice, and that was enough. I've never had a pizza I didn't like, and this was bad enough not to go any further. The sauce was too thick for the crust, the fresh mozzarella had no flavor (salt the water will ya?!?!?!), and I kept biting down on dirt. I have a feeling that they never rinsed the basil leaves, because with each bite I got grit. After trying hard, I decided that going beyond that first slice would be murder for me. So I put the pie aside and asked for another menu. The others' food still wasn't there yet so I figured I had a good chance to get our food together. Not likely.
I FINALLY got my waiter's attention and ordered the fresh mozzarella salad. This required no cooking, but couldn't come with the other plates of pasta. I sat for 10 minutes watching everyone else eat. The two pasta dishes, Cappellini Angelica and Rigatoni Leone, looked and tasted wonderful. The pasta special with chicken and shrimp was not such a hit. My husband gave me the shrimp to eat, and all I could taste was coal. It was an unpleasant taste from the oven, presumably the brick oven, and I was not happy. He admitted that there wasn't anything special about his $20.95 special entree, so couple that with the 5 dollar salad, and you've got some unhappy customers.
The service was spotty and the food uneven. You want good pizza? Go to Villa Victoria down the street: no frills but a tasty as heck pie. If you want to get a good dining experience from Leone's, expect to wait and stick to the regular tried and true pasta dishes on the main menu. Otherwise, I'm not sure that this expansion virus is a good thing, and let's home Mama gets a cure.
Ambiance: ***1/2
Food: ***
Service: **
Overall: ***
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Salt - Part Doo Doo
We decided to give Salt another try after several months of avoiding it since our first visit. This visit did not impress us either, and we will not be going back again.
I can't get over how watery the macaroni and cheese is, I just can't. It lacks flavor and creaminess, and doesn't even taste remotely of cheese. We added salt, and even then it wasn't all that much better.
We also ordered the Guinness Braised Onion soup, which also lacked any depth of flavor. The onions hadn't been truly braised and the broth was bland. It was so disappointing. My fiance called it shitty dishwater.
The grilled asparagus was pretty tasty, although at the bottom of the plate there was a mess of burned garlic which rendered the dish bitter with some of the bites. The sweet potato puree was also watery and heavy on the cinnamon.
The only redeeming part of the meal was the rock shrimp cakes and the fresh brewed iced tea.
Much hasn't changed at Salt since the last time we were there, and we won't be back to see if any changes have been made since this one.
I can't get over how watery the macaroni and cheese is, I just can't. It lacks flavor and creaminess, and doesn't even taste remotely of cheese. We added salt, and even then it wasn't all that much better.
We also ordered the Guinness Braised Onion soup, which also lacked any depth of flavor. The onions hadn't been truly braised and the broth was bland. It was so disappointing. My fiance called it shitty dishwater.
The grilled asparagus was pretty tasty, although at the bottom of the plate there was a mess of burned garlic which rendered the dish bitter with some of the bites. The sweet potato puree was also watery and heavy on the cinnamon.
The only redeeming part of the meal was the rock shrimp cakes and the fresh brewed iced tea.
Much hasn't changed at Salt since the last time we were there, and we won't be back to see if any changes have been made since this one.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Benny Tudino's, Hoboken, NJ
Hello again! The month of April was a little nuts for dining out. We nearly doubled, even tripled, our food budget. Safe to say that we will NOT be doing that again. The benefit however, are more blogs about what I love best: FOOD.
A nostalgic trip to Hoboken to see some bands play brought us to Benny Tudino's. The last time I was at Benny T's, I think I was in college, maybe graduate school. A long time ago. I remembered the size of the slice more than the flavor. All I knew was that I was in for a long awaited treat.
Benny T's is like a Hoboken institution. It's a family joint; no frills, no updates, no fancy decor, and waitresses who look like they could go either way. The sign outside reminds me of one of those old Hollywood dressing rooms with the crazy light bulbs. Except the ones at Benny T's flash around in circles...ya can't miss it! On a street lined with restaurants and other shops meant to attract yuppies, Benny T's stands out for sure. In any case, for a Wednesday night, it wasn't busy, but it wasn't slow either. Local patrons were in and out with carry out pizzas, and the delivery guys were clearly making a killing too.
We had our minds set on one thing: the ginormous slices of pizza. Upon ordering, the question of the day was "warm or hot?". Hmmmm...warm please. There's nothing better than pizza that's been sitting by the oven for a few minutes and won't burn the top of your mouth! After ordering, we sat outside to enjoy the weather and our slices.
To my pleasure, I was so pleasantly surprised! The pizza was not only huge, but totally delicious. The sauce, cheese, and crust were each perfect in their own right, and together formed a balanced flavor combination. I topped mine with a little garlic and parm cheese, and I went straight to heaven. Screw the bands, I could stay here all night!
One slice was satisfying, but another put me over the edge. Thankfully I had someone to help me finish the other one. Order one at a time unless you like feeling unpleasantly full. If you ever find yourself in Hoboken and don't want to spend a fortune on food or feel like hanging out with the local yuppie crowd, go straight to Benny T's and don't turn back. You'll be glad you did!
Ambiance: ***
Service: ***
Food: *****
Overall: ****
A nostalgic trip to Hoboken to see some bands play brought us to Benny Tudino's. The last time I was at Benny T's, I think I was in college, maybe graduate school. A long time ago. I remembered the size of the slice more than the flavor. All I knew was that I was in for a long awaited treat.
Benny T's is like a Hoboken institution. It's a family joint; no frills, no updates, no fancy decor, and waitresses who look like they could go either way. The sign outside reminds me of one of those old Hollywood dressing rooms with the crazy light bulbs. Except the ones at Benny T's flash around in circles...ya can't miss it! On a street lined with restaurants and other shops meant to attract yuppies, Benny T's stands out for sure. In any case, for a Wednesday night, it wasn't busy, but it wasn't slow either. Local patrons were in and out with carry out pizzas, and the delivery guys were clearly making a killing too.
We had our minds set on one thing: the ginormous slices of pizza. Upon ordering, the question of the day was "warm or hot?". Hmmmm...warm please. There's nothing better than pizza that's been sitting by the oven for a few minutes and won't burn the top of your mouth! After ordering, we sat outside to enjoy the weather and our slices.
To my pleasure, I was so pleasantly surprised! The pizza was not only huge, but totally delicious. The sauce, cheese, and crust were each perfect in their own right, and together formed a balanced flavor combination. I topped mine with a little garlic and parm cheese, and I went straight to heaven. Screw the bands, I could stay here all night!
One slice was satisfying, but another put me over the edge. Thankfully I had someone to help me finish the other one. Order one at a time unless you like feeling unpleasantly full. If you ever find yourself in Hoboken and don't want to spend a fortune on food or feel like hanging out with the local yuppie crowd, go straight to Benny T's and don't turn back. You'll be glad you did!
Ambiance: ***
Service: ***
Food: *****
Overall: ****
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sono, Millburn, NJ
Second day this week going out to eat and writing about it. How privileged none of you feel! Because of a work commitment later in the evening, I didn't have to twist the arm of my fiance to meet me out for dinner. He kept hearing how great Sono was from an old friend, so we chose to go there. Since it was so close to the meeting I had to attend, it was a great choice.
The greatness wasn't just in location either! One of my complaints about Japanese restaurants and their miso soup is the lack of "stuff" in the soup: seaweed, tofu, and green onions. I hate getting miso soup without much of the "stuff". I was happy that theirs was so full of goodness it was enough to hold me over until the salad and the main course. Yes, I was very very hungry.
While waiting for said fiance, I took notice of the interior and all else not food related. The staff was super friendly. As I walked in, I was greeted by a smiley hostess and a sushi chef who also looked very happy. The gnat that kept flying around me though was really annoying. I realize that most restaurants have some kind of vermin, whether that's a fly, a gnat, or even worse, but please get out of my face! Anyway, besides the gnat, the interior seemed to emanate early 90's but not too overwhelming. A small-ish sushi bar and some tables, it was comfortable and nothing too fancy.
When my fiance finally showed up, I was ready to dig in. Since we're really into sushi, I wanted to find something that was enough for two people. Our waiter pointed to the Chef Special (A) and (B). For around $33, selection (A) was plenty of food; six pieces of sushi each, a rainbow roll, and a spicy roll, along with a salmon skin hand roll. They had a list of some interesting maki, which we would've tried if we were going a la carte, but since that wasn't the case, selection (A) would suffice.
Service was quick and friendly, and in no time we were served an attractive set of sushi and maki. The presentation was pretty (but what sushi presentation isn't?). I began to do my usual pat of wasabi and dunk in soy and I realized that the sushi was really good. A couple of the pieces looked kind of torn and a little unattractive, but overall the pieces were buttery and smooth with mild flavors. By the end I was full even though I wasn't sure I would be. My fiance decided to move on and order more salmon and a separate order of super white tuna, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Sono seems as though it's been around a long time, and I think it will continue to enjoy future success. Sometimes when you've got a good formula, you don't want to mess with it. Despite the dated interior, the food stands on its own...couple that with great service and you've got a winner. Is it my favorite sushi restaurant? Not quite, but I'd come back for more.
Ambiance: ****
Service: *****
Food: ****1/2
Overall: ****1/2
The greatness wasn't just in location either! One of my complaints about Japanese restaurants and their miso soup is the lack of "stuff" in the soup: seaweed, tofu, and green onions. I hate getting miso soup without much of the "stuff". I was happy that theirs was so full of goodness it was enough to hold me over until the salad and the main course. Yes, I was very very hungry.
While waiting for said fiance, I took notice of the interior and all else not food related. The staff was super friendly. As I walked in, I was greeted by a smiley hostess and a sushi chef who also looked very happy. The gnat that kept flying around me though was really annoying. I realize that most restaurants have some kind of vermin, whether that's a fly, a gnat, or even worse, but please get out of my face! Anyway, besides the gnat, the interior seemed to emanate early 90's but not too overwhelming. A small-ish sushi bar and some tables, it was comfortable and nothing too fancy.
When my fiance finally showed up, I was ready to dig in. Since we're really into sushi, I wanted to find something that was enough for two people. Our waiter pointed to the Chef Special (A) and (B). For around $33, selection (A) was plenty of food; six pieces of sushi each, a rainbow roll, and a spicy roll, along with a salmon skin hand roll. They had a list of some interesting maki, which we would've tried if we were going a la carte, but since that wasn't the case, selection (A) would suffice.
Service was quick and friendly, and in no time we were served an attractive set of sushi and maki. The presentation was pretty (but what sushi presentation isn't?). I began to do my usual pat of wasabi and dunk in soy and I realized that the sushi was really good. A couple of the pieces looked kind of torn and a little unattractive, but overall the pieces were buttery and smooth with mild flavors. By the end I was full even though I wasn't sure I would be. My fiance decided to move on and order more salmon and a separate order of super white tuna, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Sono seems as though it's been around a long time, and I think it will continue to enjoy future success. Sometimes when you've got a good formula, you don't want to mess with it. Despite the dated interior, the food stands on its own...couple that with great service and you've got a winner. Is it my favorite sushi restaurant? Not quite, but I'd come back for more.
Ambiance: ****
Service: *****
Food: ****1/2
Overall: ****1/2
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Star Tavern, Orange, NJ
Since no one really reads these posts, this may not be as elaborate as the last few. I haven't done this for quite awhile...not sure why though because I've spent plenty of money on going out to eat. Maybe nothing has really jazzed me to write? Maybe it's the economy? Either way, after a long hiatus, I'm back to gab about the Star Tavern in Orange.
The outside of the building boasts that they have the best pizza in New Jersey. That's quite the claim considering that between NY and NJ, we have the best pizza on the planet, period. And I don't really consider Chicago pizzas pizza. It ain't pizza if you have to use a fork and knife, and some pan to bake it in. Anyway, I digress. The smell from the parking lot was very enticing, which made up for the fact that there was a security guard to watch the parking lot. It doesn't look like a bad neighborhood, but apparently it warrants a security guard. At a pizza joint.
The inside ain't nothin' special and neither is the wait staff. Every single person we encountered at this place didn't smile, and our waitress was borderline rude. I argued that the tip should be 10% and not the usual 20% that I always slap down. No sense of humor and not a bit of politeness. That being said, I figured the food should more than make up for what the restaurant lacks in aesthetics and service. For the most part, thankfully, it did.
Between the five of us, we ordered two entree salads as appetizers, and a total of four pizzas. Our friends liked the Chinese Mandarin Salad and the Antipasta salad looked like it had been pre-refrigerated with slices of salami and pepperoni slapped on it. It wasn't appealing whatsoever, but I do love the combination of salami, provolone, pepperoni, lettuce and oil and vinegar. So flavor-wise it was okay, definitely not the best antipasta salad I've had.
The pizzas were a whole 'nother story. I have to admit, now that I think about it, for the price, you don't get much pizza. It's pretty much full price but the crust is super thin (which is awesome) and the size is a little smaller than a regular pie. The slices are smaller...kinda like ordering a medium size pie rather than a large. We ordered regular cheese, white spinach, and mushroom and onion on a regular. You know what? The best of the bunch was the regular. I realized that this is the perfect representation of the entire place. Regular.
Nothing spectacular, no fancy decor, and certainly no friendly service. But, the pizza was super tasty and no one could complain. By the end, and $100 later, we were full and satisfied. The bill included two pitchers of Sierra Nevada, four pies, two salads, and a soda. Would I go back? Sure, but next time it'll be a plain ol' pizza and lower expectations for a place made for regulars.
Ambiance: **
Service: **
Food: ****
Overall: ***
The outside of the building boasts that they have the best pizza in New Jersey. That's quite the claim considering that between NY and NJ, we have the best pizza on the planet, period. And I don't really consider Chicago pizzas pizza. It ain't pizza if you have to use a fork and knife, and some pan to bake it in. Anyway, I digress. The smell from the parking lot was very enticing, which made up for the fact that there was a security guard to watch the parking lot. It doesn't look like a bad neighborhood, but apparently it warrants a security guard. At a pizza joint.
The inside ain't nothin' special and neither is the wait staff. Every single person we encountered at this place didn't smile, and our waitress was borderline rude. I argued that the tip should be 10% and not the usual 20% that I always slap down. No sense of humor and not a bit of politeness. That being said, I figured the food should more than make up for what the restaurant lacks in aesthetics and service. For the most part, thankfully, it did.
Between the five of us, we ordered two entree salads as appetizers, and a total of four pizzas. Our friends liked the Chinese Mandarin Salad and the Antipasta salad looked like it had been pre-refrigerated with slices of salami and pepperoni slapped on it. It wasn't appealing whatsoever, but I do love the combination of salami, provolone, pepperoni, lettuce and oil and vinegar. So flavor-wise it was okay, definitely not the best antipasta salad I've had.
The pizzas were a whole 'nother story. I have to admit, now that I think about it, for the price, you don't get much pizza. It's pretty much full price but the crust is super thin (which is awesome) and the size is a little smaller than a regular pie. The slices are smaller...kinda like ordering a medium size pie rather than a large. We ordered regular cheese, white spinach, and mushroom and onion on a regular. You know what? The best of the bunch was the regular. I realized that this is the perfect representation of the entire place. Regular.
Nothing spectacular, no fancy decor, and certainly no friendly service. But, the pizza was super tasty and no one could complain. By the end, and $100 later, we were full and satisfied. The bill included two pitchers of Sierra Nevada, four pies, two salads, and a soda. Would I go back? Sure, but next time it'll be a plain ol' pizza and lower expectations for a place made for regulars.
Ambiance: **
Service: **
Food: ****
Overall: ***
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