Having watched Toms River chef, Erik Weatherspool, dice the competition on The Food Network’s “Chopped,” I decided that I had to try his Washington Street restaurant, Bistro 44. My dining partner and I were not disappointed. The food was sublime, the upscale atmosphere relaxed and the service impeccable.
Free food. Good, free food. Good, free, Greek food. It sounds too good to be true, but on a damp August evening in downtown Montclair, it was reality. On August 24, Greek Taverna’s second annual “Greek Night” drew a crowd of more than 1,100 hungry guests, many of whom waited upwards of 90 minutes in line for a few minutes at the generous buffet.
The Pic-A-Lilli Inn (or “Pic’s,” as it is known locally) is a roadhouse bar/restaurant located in the New Jersey Pine Barrens on Route 206 in Shamong. Pic’s has a long history dating back to the 1920’s, when Route 206 was a dirt road. The restaurant has been owned by the same family for five generations. While all of their food is tasty and tempting, they are particularly well-known for their wings. Beer lovers will be happy to find ten different beers on tap too.
To say I’ve said “I have to try that place!” every time I’ve driven by the Sandbox Café & Bath House in Ship Bottom, NJ would be an understatement. So when my fiancé pulled me out the door to go there on a cloudy Sunday before I could crack any eggs, I shouldn’t have been surprised, obviously I had gone over my limit. I was a tad excited.
The lovely Taos Wok & Restaurant offers varied and reasonably priced lunch and dinner options. Having been there for get togethers with old friends, business lunches, Mother’s Day, and New Year’s Eve, I can honestly say that Taos delivers. Oh, and they do actually deliver as well!
The Bloomfield Avenue location of Elevation Burger celebrates a year in Montclair this week, and is the first of its kind in the Garden State. When Jersey Bites stopped in for a visit, we were treated to a tour from co-owner Matt Jerkovich, who emphasized that there’s truth behind the tagline: “Ingredients Matter.”
While the northeast swelters through more dog days of summer, ways to get through lunch and dinner without turning on a BBQ or heat-producing appliance are essential. In Bergen county, Samdan (pronounced Shahm-den), a middle eastern restaurant, provides the ideal range of cold appetizers for those who want only to cool off in a tasty kind of way, and loads of spiced up hot options for others. Located in Cresskill, Samdan enjoyed a makeover a couple years ago and has two large rooms, floor to ceiling windows and a fine dining ambience. Joined by a reception area with fire place, the rooms bustle with large families, couples and business customers. It’s the warm atmosphere, solid service, generous portions and consistent product that keeps the place busy year-round.
Warm. Calm. Inviting. That’s the vibe you get at Collingswood’s Blackbird Dining Establishment. My husband, John, and I recently spent an enjoyable and tastebud-tempting Sunday evening there with our friends Don and Martha. After the great meal we had, I am sure that we will be back!
On a recent Thursday night, my husband and I decided to start the weekend early by heading to MIX in West Long Branch for Happy Hour. MIX, known for its fruit infused vodka martinis and lively bar, was a much awaited outing at this “almost end” of a long week.
Free food. Good, free food. Good, free, Greek food. It sounds too good to be true, but on a damp August evening in downtown Montclair, it was reality. On August 24, Greek Taverna’s second annual “Greek Night” drew a crowd of more than 1,100 hungry guests, many of whom waited upwards of 90 minutes in line for a few minutes at the generous buffet.
The Bloomfield Avenue location of Elevation Burger celebrates a year in Montclair this week, and is the first of its kind in the Garden State. When Jersey Bites stopped in for a visit, we were treated to a tour from co-owner Matt Jerkovich, who emphasized that there’s truth behind the tagline: “Ingredients Matter.”
