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mickey
Citizen
Username: Mickey
Post Number: 230
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 8:56 pm: |     |
Just got back from dinner at Wish. 500 Pleasant Valley Way, just past W.O High School. Small, well appointed BYO.. Had mussels, crab cakes, tuna and trout. All quite good. Service excellent. On the menu was nice filet mignon, and one of the specials was a veal porterhouse which sounded delicious. Small menu, but tasty. Salads (as appetizers) looked very good. Really good about chilling/pouring wine. Will definitely go there again. About 15 mins from downtown Mapleberry. We LOVE LOVE LOVE our in-town restaurants, but it's nice to have a good choice (esp BYO) 10-15 mins away.
500 Pleasant Valley Way 973-669-9911. Open M-Sat. |
mickey
Citizen
Username: Mickey
Post Number: 237
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 4, 2005 - 8:33 am: | |
reviewed today in the star ledger. check it out. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2695
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 11:42 pm: | |
Dined there tonight. Brought along a nice Pinot, which was immediately opened for me while I awaited the arrival of my date, who was late...
As has been stated above, it's a nice-looking place, with a comfortable, polished interior you wouldn't particularly expect in a little strip mall bistro. Tables aren't too close together, and though the crowd was pretty decent for a Tuesday, it wasn't noisy.
While I waited, the Chef/Owner came out and introduced himself. Brett Winter is clearly a personable young guy, and a good host, chatting with the patrons at every table. I learned the following from him:
*The place opened about four months ago, and if he hadn't opened it up in West Orange, "Wish" would have been in NYC (Lucky us!).
*He thinks that "Jocelyne's" is the best restaurant in the state of New Jersey, and laments the fact that his place is closed on the same days as our little Maplewood gem; otherwise he'd get to eat there more often.
*Two of the cooks in his kitchen used to prepare Sloppy Joes at Town Hall Deli (one of them for fourteen years!), and Brett's thinking about adding a "Joe" to his lunch menu someday.
*Some of his regular patrons have known him all his life, leading one to the conclusion that he's a local guy, living his dream not far from his roots. Nice.
From all this, you could get the idea that the food at "Wish" would be nothing much more than pedestrian. You would be wrong. It's creative, stylish, solidly wrought, and beautifully presented.
My lady started with a hefty crab cake appetizer (fresh and moist; no fillers; fabulous tangy mustard-spiked sauce) topped juauntilly with crispy, twisty pretzel sticks, themselves garnished with shredded romano. Her perfectly-done lamb entree was nestled on a bed of creamy polenta, circled by bright cubes of fresh veggies and peppers. Tender and terrific (I tried it.)...
I pondered whether to start with Prince Edward Island Mussles or Wild Mushroom Risotto. I went with the risotto (I'm not sure I really want to know whether ANYBODY can beat the Bantry Bay Mussels at St. James' Gate...), and although it arrived a bit too quickly to have been completely whipped up on my order, it was luscious, laced with thinly-sliced criminis and chanterelles, fortified by a lovely fontina, and lubricated with truffle oil and just a smidge of pesto. Yumm.
My entree was Slow-Roasted Short Ribs with Mashed Taters and Whole Baby Carrots, with a red wine reduction. Oboy.
So, yeah, I like this place. We'll be back. With friends. You should go, too. Brett's a local boy who should make good, and it'll be delicious fun helping do so.
-s.
BTW: Town Hall Deli had better open up pretty soon, or I may be headed to West Orange for my "Joe" fixes... |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 385
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:23 am: | |
Soda: such an eloquently written review. Sounds like you do this for a living. If you don't, you should.
Thanks. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2706
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:30 am: | |
Thankey! |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3136
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 9:33 am: | |
Yesterday was Mother's Day Lunch at "Wish", for my wife and daughter, my brother & sister-in-law and their daughter, and me. And Brett Winter's family. And nobody else. It was very odd, but very nice.
Expecting the place to be jumping on one of the busiest days on any eatery's yearly calendar, I made our reservations (for 6 at 2:30) two weeks ago through Open Table, and felt happy not to be shut out.
When we arrived, though, the little private lot in front was empty. Huh? Well, we entered, and found just one group of about eighteen diners around a table in the rear of the dining room. They were happily celebrating, and represented four generations of what turned out to be Chef Brett Winters' own family.
There were no other tables filled. We were led to our own table by Chef winter, who had perhaps been waiting for us. I asked him if we'd be intruding on what looked like a private party. He just shrugged and said, "This is who's here. Enjoy your meal!"
There were only three wait staff working, but between Brett's family table and ours, they were kept busy. I won't belabor the menu choices we made or how lovely the meals and service were, or how nice it was to be able to carry on quiet conversations amongst ourselves. Let me just say that we all enjoyed ourselves immensely, and became acquainted with a lovely bunch of fellow diners.
I have no idea whether yesterday's nearly empty "Wish" was just a lunchtime fluke (Brett's no longer serving a lunch menu, BTW), indicative of tragically weak local support for a great little bistro that deserves better, just a slow day in an otherwise bustling eatery, or a candid snapshot of the coming demise of a once-promising venture.
I'll just say this. Try "Wish" soon. If you don't, you may never know what you missed.
It's at 500 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. 973-669-9911.
-s. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3153
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:23 pm: | |
Flash! Good news! I just found out that "Wish" has not even had it's Official Opening yet! It'll take place sometime this week.
Guess that pretty much blows my status as a prophet of doom...
So anyway, expecting that things will just be getting better and busier for Brett and his staff (which includes a couple of Town Hall Deli veterans, don't forget!) in coming weeks and months, I revise myself to say:
Try "Wish" soon. If you don't, you may have trouble getting a reservation!
-s.
BTW: Dunno why, but this old "Yogiism" comes to mind: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."  |
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