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Noo2wood
Citizen
Username: Noo2wood
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 1:14 pm: | 
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Just moved here. Wanted to know your opinions on the best restaurants. And by best, I mean taste, not atmosphere.
-Italian?
-Mexican?
-South American?
-Spanish?
-Chinese?
-Japanese?
-Thai?
-Indian?
-Mediterranean (i.e. gyros, falafel, hummos, tabouleh, etc.)
-Caribbean?
-Seafood?
-Steaks?
-Burgers?
-Pizza?
-Others? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 15005
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 2:14 pm: |
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Pizza is very personal. My personal views are:
Roman Gourmet is too mushy, but the staff there are so nice that I give them some of my business anyway. They are super nice to kids, in a location that has the potential to make the kids unbearable, so I give them three stars anyway.
Village Trattoria in Maplewood has it all locked up. If you like this genre of place, look no further. Their dinners are good. You're not paying for atmosphere, unless you want noisy little kids and crowded tables. The staff are very attentive, the food is good, and the prices are right. Pizza is good.
I love Arturo's pizza, because I love thin-crust pizza made in a wood burning stove. Unfortunately, my kids don't like it, so I only get it occasionally.
Khun Thai on Millburn Ave in Short Hills is very good but expensive. I hear the new Thai place on Morris Ave in Springfield is good and cheaper.
I like Samurai Sushi on Maplewood Ave in Maplewood, for its food, but the atmosphere feels a bit tumultuous for a Japanese restaurant. It's a good place to see people and be seen, but it's hard to relax. I like Ariyoshi for its atmosphere. It's on South Orange Ave (West?) in South Orange.
Cent'Anni is an upscale Italian place in Maplewood. It's very good.
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Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 938
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 2:56 pm: |
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We love Samurai Sushi in Maplewood, Ginger Taste in Millburn (Thai and Chinese), Trattoria for Pizza/Friday night food, Franks for Pizza Delivery, Marty's for Sandwhiches (Good pizza delivery as well), Pizzetta in Millburn for Authentic-like Pizza and Sandwhiches, Churches Kitchen for Home Cookin Take out.....
and our top restaurant in all the area is Italian, Basilico's in Millburn. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4756
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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Love Reservoir for Pizza and salads, not too thrilled with their other food.
Have always loved Village Trattoria for Pasta, but went last week and were very disappointed. Shrimp Francese was not good, they must have a different chef. It was always my favorite. 
We really enjoy Pinang on Morris Ave in Springfield for Asian: Thai, Malaysian and Sushi. Everyone finds what they want.
Like Samurai in Maplewood for rolls and people watching, it's usually pretty busy.
Like Tinga for Mexican. It's fresh and not that overly cheesy canned refried bean reheated plate stuff found elswhere. Add hot sauce to taste! BYO tequila or beer!
These opinions change regularly! |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1284
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 4:16 pm: |
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You'll read a lot of positive comments about my favorite local restaurant:
http://www.caribbeancuisine.net/
My favorite pizza is Maplewood Pizza on Valley St.
A new Indian restaurant will be opening in the next couple of weeks in Maplewood Village. The best one that I know of in the area is on Rt. 22 East I believe in Mountainside. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4757
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 4:34 pm: |
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Love Caribbean Cuisine!
Also, the Parkwood Diner on Springfield Ave in Maplewood has great salads (I'm vegetarian so that's what I eat there), soups, burgers, etc. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1862
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 4:34 pm: |
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VIT, I noticed a change at Village Trattoria a few months ago. Not sure what's going on. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4760
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 5:38 pm: |
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Dave, it's been awhile since we went there, have been getting take out from Franks, Maplewood Pizzeria & eating at Reservoir mostly. I wasn't in the mood for pizza (but the kids were) and I figured DH & I could order pasta. We ordered our favorites..cavatelli with broccoli & the shrimp francese and they were much different than the way they used to be prepared.
I also like Trattoria Gian Marco in MIllburn for pasta, but I think Alleygater might be right, we need a moderately priced pasta joint. |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 81
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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My wife is from Trinidad and is very finnickey about West indian / Caribbean food. She gave Caribbean Cuisine the thumbs up and so did I.
We recently discovered the best Thai food we've ever had. No we've never been to Thailand, but lived in the city for 12 year before moving to SO. A recommendation was made on the board for Morris Thai and we went back last night for the second time. It is truly extraordinary! Reasonably priced, mellow environment and the food is outstanding. I'm surprised more people aren't onto this place. I just hope they stay in business, as it seems like they don't have much volume. It feels like an institution though so I'm not overly concerned.
There are many pizza joints around. Our favorite is Joe's. There's something in their pizza that makes it highly addictive and enables the eater to fit more of their pizza in their belly than any other I've had. reservoir is a close second, but is different somehow. Village Trattoria isn't bad, but when push comes to shove, I prefer Joe's then VT in that order.
Samurai gets the sushi vote. Its not on par with some of the venerable spots in the city, but good enough.
I'd steer clear of Bill & Harry's in MW. Kind of bland and there are better spots although I don't know the names. They look like the typical bulletproof glass-type places found throughout Brooklyn, but they're actually pretty good and deserve a shot (no pun intended). |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 15022
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:10 pm: |
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If you try the Shrimp in Spicy Tea Sauce at Bill and Harry's, you will change your mind. It is the best dish there. I really like it.
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SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3417
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:38 pm: |
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Welcome noo2wood: All tastes being subjective, I'd recommend:
Italian:
Antonella's in South Orange is wonderful. The owners are from northern Italy - wonderful, welcoming, and very talented in the kitchen.
Libretti's in Orange. It's been there forever.. great food.
Cent'anni in Maplewood. Great food and as an added bonus, they have jazz every Thursday night.
Pizza:
Reservoir in South Orange (with a side of Tony Salad for 1 (actualy serves 2). Although if you like bar pies - Bunny's is the best.
Japanese:
Aryioshi in South Orange. Sunset rolls are wonderful!
Other:
Pal's Cabin in West Orange - been there forever - famous for their mushroom soup & burgers, but also have an excellent steak & seafood menu. |
mlj
Citizen
Username: Mlj
Post Number: 313
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:15 am: |
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Regarding Caribbean Cuisine - are all the entrees flavored with curry? Had the chicken roti a while back and it was very good.
And what is cow heel soup? |
John
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjohn
Post Number: 19
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:25 am: |
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Wow such mis-information: Let me set it straight!
All Reco's in order.
Pizza: Joes Union, Resiorvoir S Orange, Star Tavern W Orange
Chinese: Bill & Harry Mpl, Chens 22 Springfield, Hunan Spring Springfield.
Mexican: You are in the wrong place! But Tinga in Millburn is decent.
Thai: Morris Thai Union (not new at all 7-8 years old, Tom) Thai-Thai Stirling.
Burgers: Syds Millburn, White Diamond Clark, Parkwood Diner Mpl.
Dirty dogs: Jimmy Buffs Irvington.
Fried Chicken/Southern: Churchs Kitchen Union (the bomb) but call ahead!
Ny Deli: Goodmans Berkely Hts, Eppes Essen W Orange.
Porteguese: Nunzios Union, Burnett BBQ Mpl.
Sushi: Haru S Orange, Chens 22 Springfield.
Japanese Steakhouse: Mount Fugi W Orange.
I have lived here my whole life and I'm a picky bastard, this is the food list people would kill for.... and for a limited time it's FREE! |
Chris Farrow
Citizen
Username: Evrtnjrsy
Post Number: 95
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:17 am: |
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Apart from Thursdays, Cent'Anni also has live music on Fridays and Saturdays (and Maplewood's own 20-piece big band, Swing Town, this coming Wednesday, july 19th, to boot...) |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3418
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 10:04 am: |
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I can't believe I forgot to recommend Parkwood! Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner - wonderful place - wonderful, community focused owners.
And Churchs Kitchen... take out only, but if you get a yen for some really good southern fried chicken, ribs, sweet potatos, greens and mac & cheese go here. |
Newneighbor
Citizen
Username: Newneighbor
Post Number: 136
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 9:43 pm: |
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No one mentioned Terra in town! We love it and Pete the owner is great, too.
Pizza is completely subjective but like Tom, we love Arturo's thin crust. They deliver too!
We have been happy with Cen'tanni. Their white bean and shrimp dinner is excellent.
Do not go to the Mexican place in Meyersville - I think it's called Casa Maya. Awful and not worth the wait.
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Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 942
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 10:47 pm: |
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The type of Pizza Joe's serves seems to taste good to people who otherwise preferred Pappa Johns, Dominos and Pizza Hut...if that's you, go to Joes...otherwise, stick to the real NY style pizzarias like Roman Gourmet, Franks, Trattoria, etc...
Does the Carribean Place deliver? |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1286
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 10:58 am: |
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Smarty,
Yes, Caribbean Cuisine delivers. There was a long thread a while back that some idiot started about his moral outrage over their flyer telling people to "Eat Dinner in Your Underwear." With the weather the way it is, there's nary a thing I don't do in my underwear. Call them at (973) 313 2877. |
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 218
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 5:12 pm: |
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Smarty, that's a silly comment about Joe's pizza on springfield Ave - i HAAAATE Papa Johns - and loooooove Joe's - I like it better than Star Tavern or any other local place - and it got me over the hankering I came with when I moved here from Brooklyn... |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 231
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 12:03 am: |
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It's A Wrap is an excellent lunch place...not fancy at all, but very fresh, yummy ingredients. Lots of vegetarian selections, but many other choices for the carnivores. They make tasty juice blends and smoothies as well, and the owners are lovely people.
Legal Seafood is a very good meal when you're in the mood for fish, shellfish, though it can get rather noisy. The staff is helpful in providing a quieter table (in the back) when they can swing it--ask when you call ahead.
I like Joe's Pizza, but only the one in Summit (or Millburn), not the local one.
Theresa's in Westfield is very reliable and quite good. It offers a creative, mostly Italian menu with some Continental choices. Theresa's owners also own Mojave Grill (Southwestern) and a third restaurant on the same block between the the other two.
In Hoboken, try Amanda's pre-theater or pre-movie. If you sit/order by 5:30 (or 5:45) they offer a (limited) prix fixe menu for $14. Three courses of moderate size, but certainly adequately filling and delicious. And with that menu, you can order a bottle of decent house wine for only another $15. Hard to beat all that, and it's in a pretty brownstone. |
Reesa
Citizen
Username: Reesa
Post Number: 153
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:50 pm: |
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Is Caribbean Cuisine a child friendly restaurant? |
Reesa
Citizen
Username: Reesa
Post Number: 155
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:57 pm: |
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for the other cuisines:
- for Chinese - we love Dragon Garden in the Millburn Mall (not sure if it will be staying there - anyone know?)
- personalized individual pizzas - village tratoria in town
- pies close to NY style we're used to - Maplewood Pizza on Valley
- sushi - Ariyoshi in SO
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Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1292
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 8:47 am: |
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Reesa,
Yes Caribbean Cuisine is a child friendly restaurant. They're friendly to everyone, except me. |
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 223
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:01 am: |
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Let me know if this is thread drift - but seriously - where is the CHEAP chinese food around here - I mean, I LOOOVE Ginger Taste, but you can't just runin on the cheap and get good chicken and broccoli or lomein or anything like that --
Used to think Bill and Harry's was good, but not so much for a while - I'd be thrilled if Dragon Garden in Millburn Mall is really ok - have tried most local places - can't find a decent, regular chicken and broccoli (other than Ginger Taste)...
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Milosdad
Citizen
Username: Milosdad
Post Number: 16
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 4:21 pm: |
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I've been very disappointed in the quality of restaurants since moving to the area in January...places like Lorena's, Arugula, Terra are good but tend to be a little pricey for every day dining...I find the pizza in town to be very mediocre, however Star Tavern in Orange makes a world-class thin crust pizza that is worth making the short trip for...lots of people like the Village Trattoria for pasta but we've eaten there three times and find it mediocre at best, barely one step above Chef Boy-Ar-Dee,we won't be back...Bill & Harry's for Chinese is very hit & miss..we did find a very good Chinese restaurant in Florham Park in the same shopping center as Trader Joes; the cooking was very authentic Honk Kong-style with excellent dim sum, when we were there everyone else in the restaurant was Chinese, which I take as a strong recommendation...the Caribbean restaurant in S. Orange is very good and Antonella's is a nice place for resonably priced trattoria-style Italian...also you might want to try the take-out BBQ chicken from Nunzio's on Springfield Avenue, very tasty and very inexpensive...Tinga in Millburn for Mexican is pretty decent....hope that helps |
Projects Dude
Citizen
Username: Quakes
Post Number: 183
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 8:13 pm: |
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Milosdad,
You hit the payload on that Chinese restaurant in Florham Park! It's called China Chalet. Definitely one of the more authentic Chinese places around the area. A little higher end so don't expect it to be cheap. Love it and almost don't want to post it because I don't want to see it change their style when more non-Asians patronize it! 8P
Another good Chinese place is the takeout hot dishes at the Kam Man supermarket on Route 10 near the Home Depot.
Pinang Taste the new one on Springfield is a decent quick place for good SE Asian food. Penang on Route 10 next to Kam Man is better but a bit farther.
Morris Thai is the best although someone once swore by another Thai nearer to Morritown. Khun Thai is overpriced and a tad more upscale/expensive.
Manny's Texas Weiner in Union is so bad for your heart but sooooo good for their hotdogs.
Saffron Indian restaurant on Route 10 is very good as well. Probably my favorite. Good buffet but a la carte is a bit more expensive than the average.
Basilica's in Millburn is a nice Italian restaurant... perhaps more for the scene as well. Honestly I haven't found an amazing Italian place... I'm sure they exist but I just haven't found it and haven't really tried too hard... and I've been spoiled by the ones in NYC.
Carribean Cuisine is very good too. Non-pretentious and very informal but super tasty.
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Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1271
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 8:48 pm: |
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Milosdad...
Did you ever go to the Trattoria and order something from their dinner specials of the day, posted on the back wall's blackboard? Their seafood, and shrimp and other dinners other than Pasta are the best around. (My partner luvs their baked ziti- WELLDONE!) We like their pizza and chicken wings too. I think it's the best meal for your money around this area. We always just do a side of pasta and salad with our dinner, and it's under $30 bucks.
Cafe Arugala is double that for a similar meal! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4827
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:23 pm: |
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Maplewoody, before last week (for the past 10.5 years!) I would have agreed but last week was not good...meals that we loved in the past were not cooked well at all. I am sad about it because I have always loved their food. Now I wonder where we can get good pasta for under $15 per meal. |
calypso
Citizen
Username: Calypso
Post Number: 57
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:50 pm: |
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A recommendation for Tinga?! Euch! I couldn't even finish my rice and beans, which were very salty and tasted canned. But you can find good Mexican in the Ironbound and also in Plainfield, on West 2nd st. They don't speak English at all, but are very kid-friendly and have phenomenal pork chops and homemade guacamole. It's about 20 minutes from Maplewood.
Also, I like Haru in S. Orange much more than Samurai Sushi. The rolls are smaller, so you can fit them in your mouth, and the fish is fresher. (SAmurai does have a good spinach appetizer, though) |
6yearrez
Citizen
Username: 6yearrez
Post Number: 179
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 8:19 am: |
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All very personal preferences but must weigh in with mine:
Pizza: I must give the nod to Gian Marco in Millburn; a notch above Roman
Indian: Saffron - Route 10
Chinese: China Chalet in Florham Park OR China Gourmet in WO next to Ponderosa (particulary for Dim Sum)
Japanese: Nikko (Route 10)
Steak: go to the city
High End: Lorenas
Upscale Brewery: Trap Rock Brewery in Berkeley Heights (has gotten better)
Upscale Asian: Origin in Morristown or Aozora in Montclair
Mexican: Lived in LA for three years...still haven't found anything
Southwestern: Mojave Grill in Westfield
Everyday Italian: I have heard great things about Julios in WO but have never been
Again...just one poster's opinion |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1274
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 10:42 am: |
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VIG,
Tell Angelo (the owner) the next time you go in, he'd surely like to know! We ate again there last night and had a very nice meal. People were lined up even after 9PM to get a seat. The guy next to us had Veal Fradiavolo and said it was delicious. I saw alot of people trying the Rainbow Trout, which looked good too. |
Milosdad
Citizen
Username: Milosdad
Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 4:54 pm: |
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Maplewoody,
When we moved to S.Orange in January several people recommended the Village Trattoria and we've tried it three times for dinner (ordering both specials and menu items) and three times for a slice of pizza. I've been disappointed every time and cannot in good conscience recommend that restaurant to anyone else.
By the way, others who I talk to about local restaurants (as well as posts on this thread) have commented to me how much they think the place has deteriorated (something that I wouldn't know about since I've never had a good meal there). For only a couple of dollars more than the average price of a pasta dish at Trattoria, the chef at Arugula made our table an off-the-menu chicken and sausage pasta that was truly outstanding - it was a small price to pay for the obvious upgrade in freshness of ingredients and skill of the cooking staff |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1279
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |
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Milosdad,
You must be impossible to please if you've never had a good meal at the Trattoria!
Keep going to Cafe Arugola. It'll be one less party waiting in front of us when we go
to the Trattoria! (We've been dining there for 8 years)
Niecy's in South Orange is also a fave place to dine! |
Milosdad
Citizen
Username: Milosdad
Post Number: 19
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 5:47 pm: |
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Maplewoody,
We all have our favorite restaurants (and books and movies and cars and vacation spots, and etc.) so far the Trattoria - after three tries - just doesn't happen to one of mine. I meant no disrespect to the restaurant or to the people who enjoy dining there and apologize if my comments offended you. I realize that all restaurants have "off" nights when the quality of food just isn't up to the usual high standards; perhaps those are the nights I've eaten there or perhaps I've just ordered the wrong dishes. If you would be willing to make a recommendation of one of your favorite Village Trattoria dishes I would be more than willing to give the place another try (if you don't mind possibly waiting an extra few minutes for your table). |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2326
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 5:40 pm: |
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Milos, I'm right there with you about the Tratt. Some people love the place, and I...just don't see it. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1286
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 8:54 pm: |
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Chicken Murphy (with a side of Rigatoni + Murphy sauce on it)
Shrimp Scampi - it's fresh, right from Freemans!
Chicken Madiera
Meat Lasagna w/ meat sauce
Shrimp & Portobello Mushrooms
Not in any particular order... I love all the above!!!!
I like their Pizza (Mushroom, Peppers, & Sausage) & Chicken wings too... |
Milosdad
Citizen
Username: Milosdad
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:35 pm: |
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Maplewoody,
Thanks for the recommendations...looking forward to giving the Trattoria another try.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 15132
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 11:27 pm: |
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You have to put the Trattoria in the right context. It's a low-brow place. The food is very good for a low-brow place. The service is efficient. If you want a step up, you have to step out of the Trattoria and make your move.
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