This deconstructed Jack o’ lantern looks like something from a quickfire challenge on Top Chef, but you can find it right here in Montclair. MyVeronaNJ has the story on the Halloween Roll.
Speaking of Halloween, it’s almost here and yes, Five Guys in Montclair still hasn’t opened, but today, at 11 a.m., Smashburger in Clifton opened its doors (remember when Montclair was the first store in NJ?).
We’ve heard good things about Plum, the new casual eatery in the boxcar diner-like space across from the Y (formerly occupied by Greek Delights and then Market, which have both moved to larger digs). Who remembers what was there before Greek Delights? And what are you having for lunch?
What is up with how lame 5 Guys is? The burger trend will have come and gone before they get their act together it seems.
… and if a burger joint cannot trust their meat and handling enough to serve one plain and medium rare they’re in the wrong business. Try Next Door and see how it’s done – if only they made fries. Paying for mediocre only encourages mediocre.
The restaurant that was in the “box-car” space before Greek Delights was a Greek Diner that had been there for many years. I think it was called the Park Street Diner. It was a great little place.
Nick: You are right about the burgers at Next Door! They are amazing. Also, if you want fries, Epernay has added a delicious burger to their menu and they have those crazy-great frites served on the side. Yum!
A PLUM of an idea! I recently visited the new Plum Café on Park; very cozy place! If you are craving first rate authentic cappuccino this is the place! I went there for lunch and had a scrumptious grilled chicken sandwich. Exceptional, attentive service and the bill was not at all outrageous! Not to mention the basket of freshly baked bread that warmed the air with such sweet scents. A total delight for when you are craving a quick, homemade meal and love the old box car theme as well.
5 guys probably isn’t open cause of the ‘b-buster’ code enforcement guy in town.
I stopped eating at all of these Burger places. They all use the lowest quality of chopped meat available, and then put all of those condiments on top to give the tangy (I want more!) flavor. Order one absolutely barren and devoid of anything except for a smudge of ketchup, and you’ll see how blah and tastless they all are. They are full of fat, too, as it’s what holds it together. Cheapest meat available, lots of salt, flavoring and cheese, special sauce, more salt, onions, mushrooms, peppers, relish, tomato ketchup, more cheese and relish. No good for your blood pressure, weight, arteries and heart.
jjvitulli,
Is this a part time job, or do you write rave reviews on blogs for restaurants full time?
Sandy, who in their right mind would eat a hamburger “devoid of anything”? Give me a nice cut of steak and I’ll agree with you, sauces and whatnot are unnecessary if cooked properly. But on a burger toppings are practically required. And you need some fat in there, too. Try grinding up that nice cut of steak to make a burger and I guarantee you’ll be disappointed — it’ll be dry and nasty. Your health concerns are valid, but as an occasional part of a reasonable diet, if you’re going to do it at all you have to do it right.
Does anyone know what specialty burger is on the menu in Clifton? And, for that matter, can anyone explain the reason that Smashburger has a “New Jersey” menu on their website but all of the burgers aren’t available at all of the restaurants in New Jersey?
Hooger158 – Cifton menu was same as menu from Montclair resto.
LiFer – No argument with what you said. My problem is that the chopped meat that these places use is most often the lowest quality allowed by the F & D Adm. I cannot prove this to you. But, the closest that I can come to is to go to Pal’s Cabin in W.O. and order a plain burger with perhaps a slice of onion and/or ketchup. Put the taste test of it,against ANY fast food chain you would care to. Try a 1/4 pound of chopped meat from a prime Italian butcher shop, (Mastrieno’s on Broad St. Blmfd).or a 1/4 pound from a Kosher meat market, (Zaydies in S.O. Center.)
Once in a while a junk burger is okay. But I have known many to eat one every day of their life.
Pals Cabin Burgers are the absolute best. But get the small size! 2x bigger than the Smashburger.
When I feel like going out in the area for a meal, I check here first. I loose the urge quick enough. What’s with the negative comments on burgers and their purveyors? I can see shilling with a rave review here and there, but come on! Order something else but don’t knock America’s favorite sandwich in general. Or I will attack your eating habits from afar. Can’t we all get along?
Okay, so I finally had a Smashburger. It was, well, wet (some would say “juicy,” but I beg to differ). And its prevailing taste was salt. Terrible tomatoes, too.
I’ve had Five Guys’ burgers in Millburn a few times. A slightly better, definitely more compact burger, but too many guys seem inevitably to “spoil the broth.” And the sourcing of the potatoes is sheer pretension (though I’m sure there are actual food snobs out there who can run on at length about the terroir of southern Idaho as opposed to that found elsewhere). Really, however, who cares from which field the spuds were dug up?