Restaurant Week Chronicles

Rosie Saferstein really knows good food, good service, and good restaurants, too!

Had a pleasant time at FAWA last night. They had four prix fix menu options--two at $20 and two at $30. One of the two $20 options was all vegetarian, which I thought was rather thoughtful of them. We opted for the other $20 option which consisted of seafood soup, house salad, a choice of appetizer (kimchi, shumai, and one other), a special roll with shrimp tempura roll or spider roll, and ice cream. We were stuffed at the end and were very pleased with what we had eaten (approximately $40 worth of food for half the price!). Service was good as well. There were plenty of available tables last night, so those of you who haven't reserved at a restaurant should give them a try.

UNRELATED:

Why was there no story or mention of the abc special on tv last night, which took place on Church Street in Montclair. The special was called "What would you do?". Two segments had a baby or dog in the car.

Heading to Allan's on Valley Rd tonight. Despite the horrible reviews on Baristanet, I thought Id give it a try.

Going to Blu tonight. First time.

I'm heading to Lalezar tonight. It's two for $40 but when I said there would be 3 of us, they said the 3rd person couldn't take advantage of the deal.

What's up with that? I found a 4th person. I guess they don't know single people eat out or that couples eat out without their other half!

Realistic - I believe that show was a repeat...

I've been to Lelezar twice. Both times the food was mediocre at best and both times the Manager (owner?) was surly and rude.

I'm trying to make plans for a lunch meeting on Friday, and as I look through the options I can't help noticing that at some of these places, it looks like it would be difficult to even spend $20-30 for lunch based on their regular menus. Are they offering specially designed menus this week for lunch or something?

The only places that were potentially exciting to me at that price were Blue and Culinariane, and of course no dice on getting reservations! :)

Tonight I'm heading to the Hearth in Clifton, on Route 46. Heard great things about the free pickle bar.

Where on Rt. 46 is that place with free pickle bar?

Kate - I noticed on the right hand side, that Church Street Kitchen has lunch for only $5.99 - and plenty of space to hold a meeting.

It hasn't been called The Hearth for years, it's a branch of the Fallsview Grill texas wieners chain. And it's also only one type of pickle.

But you certainly could hold a business meeting there pretty easily.

Katiebirdrex...go to Spice II, $10 lunch deal for three courses-clean, good food, and you can't beat the price!

I posted this on Baristanet Food the other night:
I went to Giotto for dinner last night for Restaurant Week. I was expecting it to be like NYC Restaurant Week...a few choices and reduced portion size. I was surprised to see great choices from 2 different menus for dinner and any choice from the extensive dessert menu.
Dinner was great...the parmesan souffle and carpaccio really hit the mark. The pastas are well done but really underseasoned.
And the portions were ginormous. The place was packed all evening and service was fantastic.

So I just got back from Allan @ 594? 596? The pre fix didnt look good so we ended up getting the special Apps (both of them = calamari and stuffed artichoke) Then had two appitizer sized pasta dishes. Added up to less than the $60 that we would have spent and it filled us

I went to Giotto's on Monday. Great selection, many choices of salads and entrees, and you got to choose a dessert off of the main menu. I went to Fascino's(SP) tonight and was VERY disappointed. Limited choices, and could not verify spefics for my friend with dietary restrictions.I cannot understand what all the fuss has been with this restaurant. I am heading to Halcyon tomorrow evening. Will report back

I went to Giotto's on Monday. Great selection, many choices of salads and entrees, and you got to choose a dessert off of the main menu. I went to Fascino's(SP) tonight and was VERY disappointed. Limited choices, and could not verify spefics for my friend with dietary restrictions.I cannot understand what all the fuss has been with this restaurant. I am heading to Halcyon tomorrow evening. Will report back

I went to Giotto's on Monday. Great selection, many choices of salads and entrees, and you got to choose a dessert off of the main menu. I went to Fascino's(SP) tonight and was VERY disappointed. Limited choices, and could not verify spefics for my friend with dietary restrictions.I cannot understand what all the fuss has been with this restaurant. I am heading to Halcyon tomorrow evening. Will report back

I went to Giotto's on Monday. Great selection, many choices of salads and entrees, and you got to choose a dessert off of the main menu. I went to Fascino's(SP) tonight and was VERY disappointed. Limited choices, and could not verify spefics for my friend with dietary restrictions.I cannot understand what all the fuss has been with this restaurant. I am heading to Halcyon tomorrow evening. Will report back

I went to Giotto's on Monday. Great selection, many choices of salads and entrees, and you got to choose a dessert off of the main menu. I went to Fascino's(SP) tonight and was VERY disappointed. Limited choices, and could not verify spefics for my friend with dietary restrictions.I cannot understand what all the fuss has been with this restaurant. I am heading to Halcyon tomorrow evening. Will report back

I went to Giotto's on Monday. Great selection, many choices of salads and entrees, and you got to choose a dessert off of the main menu. I went to Fascino's(SP) tonight and was VERY disappointed. Limited choices, and could not verify spefics for my friend with dietary restrictions.I cannot understand what all the fuss has been with this restaurant. I am heading to Halcyon tomorrow evening. Will report back

kitty, thanks for the review. Its been helpful.

Please make Halcyon your next stop.
And, if you'd be so kind, report back.

Cathar,

You sure you aren't mixing that up with that place on route 3? Last I visited, the Hearth (Officially called the Hearth Char-Broil, I believe) was still called the Hearth, and it had not one but TWO kinds of pickles. It is on route 46 West, just before the split.

We ate at Next Door last night. The menu was limited for Restaurant Week, but what we ordered (Sesame Salmon and Meat Loaf) were very tasty. Desert(Banana Custard) was delicious! The service was attentive.

Lamb at Mediterranean.
Apps at Mesob.
Catfish at Indigo Smoke.
Corso.

Lelezar report. First it was $20/person. The person that answered the phone was thinking about their regular Mon-Thu 2/$40.

The bread was really good. Crispy, hot.

1st course - salad or lentil soup. The soup was tasty but lukewarm.

2nd course - hummus, eggplant, babaganush (sp?) Nothing special. Nice selection.

Entrees-nice selection. I had a chopped lamb kabob which was good. My friends enjoyed their stuffed cabbage.

Service was good. No complaints there.

I'd love to go to another Turkish restaurant to compare with Lakelar.

I'd go back but probably for lunch. They do have a lunch special for $12.95. Definitely room for a meeting.

nachos,

In paterson there is an excellent Lebanese restaurant called "Bulfuf," (1003 Main Avenue). The food is excellent and you can have a hooka afterward. Many of the restaurants near by look good, though I'd advise picking one without a Hezzbollah flag in the window!

Interesting, nachos. I've been wanting to try that place.

Bulfuf is also the rare Arab or Lebanese restaurant in Paterson or Clifton run by Christians. Meaning you can bring your own wine without risking the wrath of the neighborhood imams.

you've been there too cathar?

Went to MESOB last night for Ethiopian food. What a great experience! The staff was excellent and the owner came up and talked to us for a bit. I would recommend anyone to try this place, a different dining experience, worth the trip. Tonight is table 8 and tomorrow Egans!! Cant wait!!

Went to MESOB last night for Ethiopian food. What a great experience! The staff was excellent and the owner came up and talked to us for a bit. I would recommend anyone to try this place, a different dining experience, worth the trip. Tonight is table 8 and tomorrow Egans!! Cant wait!!

Wayne,

The place on 46 West in Clifton with the pickle bar is the Hearth Char-Broil. It is on 46 West just before the route 3 split (after Van Houten and immediately after Bridals by Roma). I googled it and there was actually a story in the NY Times not that long ago about it: here's the link.

Table 8, overpriced, food undercooked,
never again. Anyone go to Egans??

I went to Table 8 tonight and had a wonderful meal. Ended up ordering off the regular menu though. The restaurant week menu looked fine, but it came out to the same price since we only ordered one dessert. Had the cornmeal stuffed pork chop. Yum.

i was very please with both of my restaurant week experiences, both gencarelli's and culinariane were amazing! not one complaint. katebirdrex i just found out that gencarelli's has lunch specials for $5.95!!! can't really beat that.

Table 8 corn meal pork chop I had was not cooked. Food was not my cup of tea, if you are looking for an extremely small or minute portion of food for a very high price, this is your place.

Love Table 8!

Went to Fascino tonight. Good food, small portions off the special menu, but satisfied nonetheless.

Hi-Back tonignt to report on Halcyon...could have been a fiasco....Started out with a twit of a hostess in a cow print mini skirt with cowboy boots...need I say anymore? I left my name as it stated on a web site no reservations would be taken, and the twit took my name down with the number in my party... not hard to figure out.Only 2... Not for cowgirl...45 minutes later I approached her and asked her when we would be seated... She said,"you want a table???" I asked to speak to the manager and finally a person with a brain arrived.. Her name was Mary Ellen, and she was a God send!! She apologized for the inconvience and the staff was attentive and professional. The bartender Kenneth was great.
The food was delicious and selection was great. Once I could get passed cowgirl's attidude, the rest fell in place. Great food, great staff except for cowgirl, beautiful decor ect.

I went to Bulfuf way before others, I think, ROC. Because I was refused service at another restaurant as I was toting a bottle of wine, and Bulfuf sort of took me in. Friendly old dude runs the place, and there are often Coptic or Maronite Christian priests dining there. (Welcome there, in fact, unlike at other spots in Paterson and Clifton.) I also love the old photos of the "Paris of the Mideast," Beirut, on the walls, which were apparently snapped by the manager's father.

At two other nearby Arabic restaurants, I have in fact been given calendars which feature touristic photos of what the captions refer to as "Palestine." And also a weekly newspaper which runs ads for "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," that notorious Czarist forgery. (Both, amusingly, also featured prominent photos of our mutual Congressman, William Pascrell, shaking hands with the owners; he should be more careful.) So I think I'll stick to Bulfuf.

I wish I could give you reviews of all these great restaurants, but I'm so scared of losing my job and being thrown out onto the street that I've taken to eating tuna fish out of the can. I prefer America's Choice, which has a lovely tin aftertaste. To wash it down, I highly recommend Jersey water straight from the tap. Ah, rapture!

I, too, have frequented many of the Arabic restaurants in Paterson, cathar. I'm particularly fond of Allah Von Frauenschtumpt, which is run by a lovely old imam and his German frau. A little humus, a little lamb, a stein of lager and a cigar afterwards. Nothing beats it.

Nothing, that is, but tuna from the can.

We are going to Fascino tonight with another couple, then tomorrow is Passione with friends and sunday to Osteria Giotto with family, can't wait. Our first to Fascino so tx to all your posts. Will review back later tonight about how it went.

Went to Fawa last night with a party of 9. It was a very good experience. They did a really nice job with the menu choices. I liked being able to choose from a $20 or $30 menu for dinner. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Yay, Restaurant Week! I hope that this becomes a regular feature in Montclair.....once in winter and once in summer.

I am extremely disappointed to read one of the reviews on Table 8 - Went there two times this week to try the different items on their restaurant week menu. LOVED IT LOVED IT TWICE! Service is always great; the host is supper attentive and most importantly the FOOD IS YUMMY! And in my opinion comparing it to other restaurants in Montclair the portions are perfect! ****HIGHLY RECOMEND TABLE 8***

I am extremely disappointed to read one of the reviews on Table 8 - Went there two times this week to try the different items on their restaurant week menu. LOVED IT LOVED IT TWICE! Service is always great; the host is supper attentive and most importantly the FOOD IS YUMMY! And in my opinion comparing it to other restaurants in Montclair the portions are perfect! HIGHLY RECOMEND TABLE 8

UPTOWN on Friday evening

I won't go back. (I had a great experience at Spice II earlier this week and was looking forward to UPTOWN.)

The decor was nice and our waiter was friendly. At 7:30 when the restaurant was barely half full, we placed our order and were told the desserts were running out.
There were 2 types left and we (2 of us) asked for the chocolate lava.
When we finished our meal (which was adequate...nothing special) our waiter came over and told us they had run out of desserts. All desserts. He said that he had put our lava order in, but someone else had taken it. If we waited a bit, the owner was going to Kings to get some dessert.

We said we could not believe that during Restaurant Week, plus a Friday, with the order placed at 7:30, our desserts were gone and in fact there was nothing left. What sort of management was it?

In the meantime our very nice waiter brought us capuccinos -which HE was buying for us.

The owner came back and the 2 choices were cake or cake.
We asked our waiter to mention our displeasure to the owner. When she finally came over she was so not apologetic and brusque we were shocked.
She said "I'm sorry it's all about the dessert for you." Word for word. Other excuse was that that it is such a popular dessert, it ran out. I repeated the bit about being Restaurant Week, a Friday, having ordered it beforehand, etc.
She chose to point out that desserts are not specified on the menu. Basically, she walked away.

Our waiter was truly apologetic, though we kept telling him it was not his fault. We thanked him for his explanations, his attention, his coffees.

Bloomfield Not-So-Newbie --

I just want you to know that my date and I had those last 2 desserts.

They were SPECTACULAR!!!!

We had a fabulous dinner date at Fascino on Wednesday night. We loved it, felt the quality of the cooking was top-notch. If you ever eat there, be sure and try the cream of wild mushroom soup, topped with a sauteed morel and a dash of white truffle oil. It might very well be the best soup I've ever tasted. It was a selection on the prix fixe (and is on the regular menu). We also selected the branzino over broccoli rabe. I LOVE branzino, and it was cooked perfectly.

I had a similiar experience at UPTOWN. Although the food was "ok", they did not have the salmon, the mussels, or the sea bass (all selections off of the pre-fix menu) because the fresh fish delivery did not come in. Really? On restaurant week? When it was time for dessert i decided on the raspberry tart (one of three choices). The waitor came back 5 minutes after i ordered and said they were out. There were really 5 people in the whole place. Very dissapointing.