| Author |
Message |
    
Jaz201
Citizen
Username: Jaz201
Post Number: 11
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 8:38 am: | 
|
My husband and I will be in the Maplewood/South Orange area this Saturday and would like to have a nice dinner in the area prior to heading back to NYC. Could anyone recommend any good restaurants in the neighborhood? We are looking for something quiet and intimate, but not to expensive. The type of food doesn't really matter.
We were also considering heading over to Montclair to find a restaurant but I would prefer someplace in Maplewood/South Orange considering we will be moving to the neighborhood in a few months. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1349
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 9:08 am: |
|
I strongly recommend Lorena's on Maplewood Ave., but it may be a bit more expensive than you are looking to spend. (And you may have trouble getting a reservation.) But it's very intimate and the food is excellent.
http://www.restaurantlorena.com/ |
Lucy Smith
Citizen
Username: Lucy123
Post Number: 86
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
|
Antonella's
BYOB Northern Italian....fantastic
Very intimate-only approximately 10 tables, fairly inexpensive (BYOB helps keep the bill low) and excellent food
|
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1030
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
|
Lets not forget Village Fare. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 1000
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:15 am: |
|
What is Village Fare? I was going to suggest Terra, easier to get into (and a bit cheaper) than Lorena's but still great food and atmosphere. Sit by the window and watch the Maplewood Ave scene go by.
Welcome to town!!!! |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1031
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:33 am: |
|
Sorry , American Fare, or is it Terra now. Whatever, the meatloaf is very good & I like the mural on the ceiling. Hey cat welcome to the 1000 club. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 1001
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
|
Wow, a thousand posts -- wooohooo!!!! How did that happen???!!! And I try to tell myself I don't have an MOL problem . . .
Yes, American Fare is now Terra, and they still (at least they did last I checked) have meatloaf on the menu. Jaz201, you should definitely give it a try! |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3041
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
|
Cent'Anni is also very good, and much bigger than Terra, so more likely to have room. They also have live music on Saturday nights.
I'd suggest a reservation where ever it is you decide to go. |
Oliver
Citizen
Username: Oly
Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 1:48 pm: |
|
Antonella's definitely, there's a decent liquor store about 2 blocks south for the BYOB.
I also really like Heart & Soul. It's tucked away at Acadamy & 2nd. It's more casual than Antonella's, and you can generally get in without reservations (though they are accepted). My wife and I eat here more than anywhere else 
http://www.heartandsoulrestaurant.com/index.html
For Japanese, Yama Sushi across from Rite Aid or Ariyoshi just west of the tracks are both good. For pub food, I like St. James' Gate in Maplewood.
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3045
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 1:50 pm: |
|
Heart & Soul does have good food, but it gets a big "0" in the "atmosphere" deparment, unfortunately. |
Lucy Smith
Citizen
Username: Lucy123
Post Number: 87
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 2:22 pm: |
|
Oliver: Jaz201 said they are looking for something quiet and intimate-I really don't think the Gate fits that description....they definitely have great food...but quiet and intimate? Also, isn't Yama Sushi a take out place? or am I thinking of a different sushi place across from rite aid? Agree with you on Ariyoshi-great atmosphere. |
Oliver
Citizen
Username: Oly
Post Number: 13
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
|
You can eat in at Yama, actually. It is a classic sushi restaurant, and that may not be the right fit for what they're asking for this time. However, since they are moving to the area, I couldn't resist throwing those other finds in at the end.
As for H&S, yes it is casual as I said. It also works without reservations, and the food is quite good. It's small and usually not packed, which can be more intimate in a way. It's certainly worth trying once.
|
Pete @ Terra
Citizen
Username: Terra
Post Number: 12
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 3:37 pm: |
|
Yes, we changed the name from American Fare to Terra back during the summer. The new name, which btw, as not everyone catches it, is simply Latin for Earth, reflects the direction I wanted to go in broadening the menu. Think Global Fare - pun intended. Sure, we still have old A-Fare staples like meatloaf, roast chicken, duck, hanger steak, and Beet and Apple Salad, but also broadened out the 'flavor profile' with items that are Jamaican, Southern, Southwestern, Middle-Eastern, Spanish, and Mexican. (With an occassional touch of Thai and Indian or whatever else seems fun at the time.) And yes, we make all the desserts ourselves. In fact, the only thing we don't make is the bread!
Back to topic, Jaz201, as well as everyone else, we'd love to have you in. So feel free to call 973.763.4005. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4041
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 3:57 pm: |
|
Pete, are you open Sunday? My husband and I have a childless night and would love to have a nice meal in town. |
Pete @ Terra
Citizen
Username: Terra
Post Number: 13
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 4:13 pm: |
|
Virt,
Yes, Sunday brunch and dinner. Well as long as there's no SuperBowl or 20 inches of snow! |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4884
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 7:09 pm: |
|
If you are looking for a nice quite romatic spot Terra is the perfect place; excellent food, atmosphere and service. |
mlj
Citizen
Username: Mlj
Post Number: 190
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 8:53 pm: |
|
Terra on Maplewood Avenue. Yes, food is delicious. Come as you are. Very nice, and comfortable. Close to NJ transit train. |
Jaz201
Citizen
Username: Jaz201
Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 10:49 am: |
|
Since my husband is a vegetarian are there items on the menu at Terra that he will be able to eat?
What is the exact address of Terra on Maplewood Ave?
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3060
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 11:02 am: |
|
Is your husband 100% vegetarian, or does he eat fish? I don't eat meat but I do eat fish and I seem to remember there always being a couple of fish dishes on the menu at Amercian Fare at any given time. And if Terra's menu is similar, I imagine there's fish. Straight vegetarian, however, I don't know about that.
I'm sure they could answer that for you if you call them. |
Jaz201
Citizen
Username: Jaz201
Post Number: 13
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 11:35 am: |
|
My husband eats fish. |
Pete @ Terra
Citizen
Username: Terra
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 1:52 pm: |
|
Jaz,
Lots of fish (salmon, stripped bass, scallops, mussels, crabcake) as well as a vegetarian Goat Cheese-Portobello-Lentil 'free form' lasagna.... with a wild mushroom sauce. He should be easay to accomodate.
|
Captainwalton
Citizen
Username: Captainwalton
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 10:41 pm: |
|
Where is Antonella?
What makes it so good? |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4050
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 8:30 am: |
|
Antonella's is in South Orange, on that little street between Valley & South Orange Ave, (across from Cafe Arugula.)
Having been there once, we enjoyed it because the food was very fresh and clean tasting. I know that sounds odd for Italian food! We asked Antonella what the specialties were and she said fish. The fish was perfectly grilled with just enough fresh herbs. Nothing was overly saucy or greasy.
It was not your typical red sauce Italian place. They do offer pasta but we didn't try it.
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page