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
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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: ***
Saturday, October 4, 2008
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
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
Saturday, August 16, 2008
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: *****
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: *****
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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: ****
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: ****
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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: *****
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: *****
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: ****
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