| Author |
Message |
    
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 22
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 2:24 pm: | 
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Arizona: Thanks. FYI - I'm not an accountant. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3084
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 2:44 pm: |
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Personally, I never found the TOA Montclair location to be such a visual pleasure, either, but as Horn & Hardart used to say, "You can't eat ambience."
I guess I've just been lucky, but (cumulatively) my own TOA experiences have been spent with such smart, fun, interesting people that I never bothered too much about the interior decor. The food has always been fine at both incarnations, and I really like the S.O. fish tank & it's diversity of denizens.
-s.
BTW: 5'll getcha 10 that those critics who cited S.O. TOA as "not enough for the money" never frequented the Montclair place either. My guess is that TOA's owners counted on at least some of their Montclair regulars to follow them to the new location, and it has not happened...
Too bad. And I'm not a sushi guy, either. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6205
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 2:57 pm: |
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I think those fish are going to be nervous in their new environs. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3099
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 7:19 pm: |
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Catfish Roll? |
WordGirl
Citizen
Username: Wordgirl
Post Number: 13
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 4:08 pm: |
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My husband and I loved TOA -- we used to go in Montclair when my husband lived there when we were dating. We were delighted when Steven moved the restaurant to S.O. and we are crushed that it is closing. We both have special diet needs that make Asian food a challenge, but Steven was always extremely accommodating and very happy to talk with us at length about ingredients and preparation of specific dishes. I am so disappointed that he took a chance on South Orange and that the town did not come through for him. This town is full of dumps and dives (not to mention truly overpriced establishments) that somehow hang on for years, but TOA, which thrived in Montclair for years, can't make it here for even one year? What is wrong with this picture? My fear is that when the word gets out, it will make it extremely difficult to attract new restaurants to the town; they will write us off as being unreceptive to anything innovative or sophisticated or distinctive. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 647
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 8:18 pm: |
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I really don't think it's fair to blame our town. My husband and I went to TOA a couple of times and, while the food was good and the service was courteous, it wasn't anything special, and it was overpriced. We really wanted to love it, but we didn't. There are other places--not dumps or dives, by the way--that we like better. That's where we go. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6245
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 8:38 pm: |
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They did nice work with the short ribs. The mala tofu was tasty, as well. I think I've been there about a dozen times and the food and service were consistently good. The pricing was fair for the quality and their attention to preparing it the way you want it.
Soda, there is catfish sushi - it's called Namazu. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3120
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 11:44 am: |
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Dave, you are just a fountain of knowledge!
 Pass, thanks...
-s.
BTW: If the Hoopleheads have an opening when it's time for S.O.M.E.F. QuizBowl next year, wanna try out? |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6262
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 11:51 am: |
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I would have offered no help this year based on the sample questions I heard from Jerry Ryan. |
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 119
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 9:42 am: |
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I do not know how anyone can say it is over priced. I have been there many times and have always found it well priced. You get very fresh food and each dish is more than enough for two people. Two soups two main dishes usually cost $40.00 with tip. What should dinner cost? Maybe we need a TGI Fridays to make people happy in our town. |
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 120
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 9:44 am: |
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Lizziecat for a point of reference what restaurant do you and your husband enjoy? |
Mrs T
Citizen
Username: Netjack
Post Number: 105
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:12 am: |
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I agree that the food was nothing special and overpriced for what you got. The lack of tea was disappointing and the service lackluster at best. Sorry, but people around here are used to some of the best food, in the city and other places. It just wasn't that good. You can hop a train and be in Hoboken or the city in 1/2 hour and get great food at reasonable prices, and I'm not talking high end gourmet.
I stopped into the Goat once and had one of the worst brownies I've had, as well as waiting at the empty case for service. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 653
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:59 am: |
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User:
We iove Antonella's, like Toro Loco, China Gourmet in West Orange, Due Amici, also West Orange, liked Giorgios when it first opened, like Mexicali Rose, also that little Mexican place on main street in Chatham, Bean Curd in Chatham. In Manhattan our favorite is Portobello on Thomson Street, and we also like Chez Suzette on Ninth Avenue between 46th and 47th. Bunny's is great for pizza. The granddaughters love Benihana because of the tableside theatrics, so we take them there. Do you want to know where we go in Florida, too? |
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 121
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 11:12 am: |
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Lizzi no need to be nasty, I was just wondering.
And Mrs T they had a huge selection of great teas at taste of asia. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 595
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 1:37 pm: |
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User58,
They have a huge selection of herbal teas at TOA. Not a real tea leaf in the place.
The price point would be very acceptable if the food were up to par with the other Asian places (out of town unfortunately) where I routinely go and happily pay. To my taste it wasn't. |
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 129
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 2:45 pm: |
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What other Asian places do you dine in. I would love to know as I am always looking for good resturants. |
Beans
Citizen
Username: Nalini
Post Number: 92
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 10:22 am: |
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We love Khun Thai on Millburn Avenue. It's a little bit more upscale, but good service, Thai
Khun Thai Restaurant
504 Millburn Avenue
Short Hills, 07078
973-258-0586
Ginger Taste also on Millburn Avenue is pretty good for take out. |
kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 443
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 10:44 am: |
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To stir it up a bit, Ginger Taste (ala Sampan) is for sale.
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Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3161
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 10:48 am: |
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Come back, Chan's Palace! |
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 135
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 3:46 pm: |
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Khun Thai is very good. But taste of asia closing is sad. The food is wonderful. The one in Madison has survived for years and is always busy. It is sad that we are loosing such a nice restaurant. |
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