Ah...the frustration of planning to dine at one restaurant, and learning that it was closed that particular day, then the beauty instead of finding and dining at another restaurant, discovering a "Gem in a strip mall." The quoted saying is mine, so coined whenever during my "View From the Center" column for Hitzel's Restaurant Magazine I would search for, and find, a new dining spot, many of them in the confines of a shopping plaza. Il Panino Pizzeria (244 Route 46 East, Fairfield, New Jersey, 973-227-6200, www.ilpaninopizzerianj.com) was that place recently. Lucky us. Very nice people at the helm of a family owned eatery, also proprietors of an Italian deli a few doors down, and readying a new private dining room soon to come. Anthony Cicchetti, a Johnson & Wales of Rhode Island graduate, is the Executive Chef and owner since October 2016. As previously mentioned above, expansion is coming and is eagerly anticipated. We will return. The photo above is of the New Jersey Slammer ($8.95), and it can -- and did -- get messy. Between the bun are a cheesesteak, bacon, mozzarella sticks, French fries, and brown gravy. Erin, our very personable server, told me it is ordered by customers often. If you select it, your plate, in a bit of time, may have an untidy appearance. Then again, that's what forks are for, yes? If you can keep New Jersey Slammer intact while eating it, I commend you, but that may mean taking your time to enjoy rather then devouring like a buzz saw. Either way, you're in for a tasty treat. I loved it. Another highlight meal is the cavatelli with broccoli rabe and sausage ($12.95). This is an entrée of a perfectly prepared, generous amount of pasta and "partners." The below-pictured meal is quickly becoming a favorite of the Sears family, even as a shared appetizer at some Italian establishments. Daughter Stefanie chose this for her Sunday afternoon meal. My wife Lucille, an eggplant fanatic, learned from Erin that Anthony Cicchetti slices his eggplant thin, and that revelation encouraged her to have it with a side of penne with meat sauce. Well done - her choice and his meal prep.
And here may be a first: we had no leftovers to take home. Consider this a testament to the cuisine. It should be noted here that, should you be a first time or return visitor to Il Panino Pizzeria, the chef has indicated on the menu which selections are his special recommendations. Just look for the white chef's hat and be prepared to choose between your favorites and his. Call it a "fun dilemma with a happy ending." Steve
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I found it: THE "Colossal" burger, both in name and size. It "appears" on "stage" at Molly Maguire's Irish Pub & Restaurant (1085 Central Avenue, Clark, New Jersey, 732-388-6511, www.mollymaguires.com). It's a "star." And Mark, our server, when asked if he'd recommended the French dip au jus ($10.99) or the Molly's Colassal burger ($11.50, toppings each an additional dollar), he said immediately, "Get the burger." No hesitation, and with good reason. 10 ounces of chopped beef overlapping the entire perimeter of the bun...medium rare. Truth be told, I smelled beef cooking after parking the car and walking towards the front door. Was there any doubt in my mind what I was really going to select? My daughter Stefanie ordered hers (below left) with sautéed spinach. The lettuce and tomato and side of very fresh (and super) fries make up the initial package prior to topping choice. My Molly's Colassal I topped with American cheese, and I left the garnishing off. It appears in the photo (below right) prior to being removed to a side plate. To me, lettuce and tomato, while healthy, "rob" the burger of its flavor. And the true beauty of this and any Molly Maguire's burger is that, on Monday and Tuesday evenings, you can enjoy one and get another free of charge as part of the weekly specials. The Sunday prime rib special? Another great option and reason to visit. Molly Maguire's is an Irish pub, so should you seek traditional fare, my wife Lucille recommends corned beef on rye. She was opting for pastrami, weighing it heavily in fact, but Mark --as all good servers do -- didn't really deter her, but suggested the corned beef ($9.99) because he felt Lucille might enjoy it more. Indeed he was correct. I'll add again that the fries are super. Molly Maguire's Irish Pub & Restaurant is a very nice place to dine, the staff on duty knowledgeable and personable. Visit soon, and order the Molly Colassal burger. Too large? Not a concern. You very well may bring some home. Speaking of "bring some home," Molly Maguire's makes fresh Irish soda bread daily. Dessert for the same day, breakfast for subsequent days. Nice stuff. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special thanks to owner Steve Karas, our server Gretchen, and the rest of the fine folks at Alps Diner (1420 Route 23 North, Wayne, New Jersey, 973-305-0033, www.alpsdiner.com). Lucille and I returned for a follow up visit so I could try the pulled pork burger deluxe ($11.50), a prime beef burger topped with pulled pork, topped with a special recipe Alps sweet, tangy sauce and American cheese. It had been on my mind since out prior visit (https://stevesearswriter.weebly.com/hospitality/from-my-seat-at-alps-diner). And Lucille's patty melt with fries ($8.99) was equally good. Thank you, folks, for your kindness. Steve Perhaps the most well known logo -- representing top of the line barbeque cuisine -- in the food business. I was enthused when, after a morning of marketing at Barnes & Noble in Paramus, my daughter Stefanie discovered that a new Mighty Quinn's Barbeque had been unveiled in the same town, just 1 1/2 miles away (1 Garden State Plaza Boulevard, Garden State Plaza Mall, Paramus, New Jersey, 201-843-1490, www.mightyquinnsbbq.com). Stefanie had worked at the Route 3 West located Clifton location for 1 1/2 years, so we know the product well. Above you'll see our lunch. Stef's brisket sandwich ($9.85) on the right is available on a bun or "naked" (minus the bun). To the left is a medium serving of Mighty Texas red chili and MQ beer chips ($7.95), a newer menu item which has very quickly become my favorite. Add to this a side of fries and Heaven arrives. Also, those colorful little additions to Stef's tray are called pickled add-ons (also known as pickled veggies), and they are, in order, cucumber, red onions, and fresno chiles (chili peppers). Michelle, a Clifton MQ veteran, was onsite during the second day of the Paramus operation to make sure all went smoothly, taking orders at the register and overseeing the line operation, and occasionally peeking out into the customer area to ensure customers were satisfied. It appeared so. The team on duty worked diligently, making sure orders were properly prepared and, at the same time, being engaging with the customers for whom they prepared and delivered food. And, with regard to that, there are a few differences between the Clifton and Paramus operations. No alcoholic drinks are sold in Paramus, while in Clifton you can order beer, wine, or even specialty mixed drinks to complement your meal. Also, the method of ordering food is reversed. Instead of approaching the cutting station and ordering your food as in Clifton, eventually making your way past the add-on and side stations and the arriving at the cashier to pay, in Paramus you first order at the cashier station, pay, and then wait for your food to be delivered. It was Ahmad's first day working for Mighty Quinn. "How was the food?" he asked us with a smile. "Good, buddy," I responded. "This is my first day here," he said enthusiastically, and he was a natural, dealing professionally with customers at the counter and at their tables. Stefanie then told him she had worked at the Clifton location. "Oh yeah?" he said, and knelt down next to our table. "Tell me about Clifton." He listened as Stefanie explained about the larger eatery, and then said, "Is it far? How would you get there? I'd like to try it one day." The Garden State Plaza version also has a new Mighty Quinn's menu option, chicken and waffles ($9.75), which we took home to my wife Lucille. This will take time to grow on me, but my first impression is that a new favorite has been born, and my wife confirms this: she loved it! My Mighty Quinn's selections often vary per visit. If not the Texas chili, I may opt for a pulled pork or crispy chicken sandwich. For a side order, the potato salad is one of my favorites, and I love the bread pudding for dessert (*Note: the latter is not to be bypassed. Get the largest size. You won't be disappointed).
In addition to its two Garden State restaurants, Mighty Quinn's has New York City and a Westchester County locations, and has shop set up internationally in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Dubai. Mighty Quinn's Barbeque has quite a following, so this post may serve as a refresher for those who need to return. However, if you are not familiar with this excellent, comfortable yet "robust" type of dining, suggested here is a visit to the one nearest you. Steve While a feature writer and "View From the Center" (center of the state of New Jersey, that is) columnist for Hitzel's Restaurant Magazine, one of the things I did per column was drive a distance from our Bloomfield, New Jersey home and try to find an eatery that was unfamiliar to me and, perhaps, unknown to our readership. If I found one and dined there, the establishment selected would then be highlighted in my column. Fun stuff, and I am resurrecting that method in this blog. You see, there are gems large and small out there that I discover and am happy to write about. So, consider Pizza Station (3043 Route 23, Oak Ridge, New Jersey, 973-697-2222, www.pizzastation.biz), a tiny pizzeria restaurant which we discovered on a recent Saturday evening. Located on the highway's center island in a somewhat "sleepy" area, don't blink and miss it. If you select the right booth in the tiny dining area, you may even get to play a great selection of songs from the adjoining jukebox. First, the questionable, in kind. My wife saw on the menu a calamari fra diavolo with pasta entrée ($11.00) which tempted her. However, not a fan of spicy, hot sauce, she asked our server, Cassidy, that it be made with marinara sauce, and light sauce at that. What arrived at our table was indeed calamari fra diavolo (see the first photo below). My wife alerted the server, who apologized for the error, and then asked the kitchen team what could be done. She returned and told us that the dish just couldn't be changed; we'd have to pay for it and, if we wished, order something else. Perhaps that's eatery policy, but this in way baffled me. My wife asked for her dish to be prepared a certain way and it wasn't. Should that not require the entrée being returned to the kitchen and being prepped to her liking, and paying just for the new entrée? Anyway, I came up with a solution: I switched entrees with my wife and I enjoyed -- and I mean that - the pictured below calamari fra diavolo. Sauce, calamari, and pasta all perfect! My meal, which became my wife's, was a very good penne with meat sauce ($11.00). I note here that for the price paid, quality and portion size far exceed cost, and more on that in a few moments. The great thing about meals the Sears family has while dining out is they are shared. So, even though I relinquished the above to my wife, I did enjoy a decent portion of it. Daughter Stefanie selected chicken ala vodka with pasta ($11.00), another serving of quality. Once again, consider the portion size and price. This was worth the 35 minute drive. And speaking of the portions, all three entrée remainders were taken home and were still being devoured on Sunday and Monday. The issue with the miscommunication with the first entrée aside, Pizza Station was a nice discovery and dining experience. It's comfortable eatery with good service (thank you, Cassidy) with really good food. The sign above, which appropriately hangs on one of the Pizza Station dining room walls, says it all.
Steve This will be a short blog post, and not because of eatery lack of worth. Mr. Assante Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria (201 Route 22 East, Green Brook, New Jersey, 732-968-3515/3546) was a quick lunch visit for my wife and I following a funeral Mass in nearby Springfield. There was no server on duty at the time, so service was provided by the counter folks. All the above being said, it's understandable why this establishment has been in business since 1970: excellent food, and very friendly staff. Please know that we also visited at a time the main dining room was closed -- it's open during evenings and weekends -- but I was encouraged by the quality of the food to maybe make a day or evening trek and enjoy entrees. The photo below may not look all that glamorous -- it's not supposed to -- but it was an attractive slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza before Lucille and I attacked it. We often share a slice whenever we visit pizzerias, most of the time a Buffalo chicken sampling. On to my sandwich choice: a whole sausage parmigiana ($8.50). I note here that the sauce the Mr. Assante folks use is very good, and was perhaps the highlight (along with engaging with the nice restaurant team) of our visit. Certainly Mr. Assante Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria deserves another visit by our family. It was a gem we found along a busy New Jersey highway.
And it's nice when that happens. Steve The search for the almost-perfect tuna melt continues. The latest entry into the mix was served to me by Danny at the four-year-old Alps Diner (1420 Route 23, Wayne, New Jersey, 973-305-0033, www.alpsdiner.com), a nice spot as Route 23 begins its Passaic County ascent. And for someone who writes about the food and dining industry, and also spent 12 very forgettable months in the field at age 18, I found it interesting that Alps Diner provides issues of Restaurant Business and Restaurant Hospitality magazines for perusal while you dine from their nice, comfortable booths. You can read about the goings-on in the field while enjoying the fruits of labor first hand. Thanks, Alps Diner - really. Nice atmosphere, nice touch. Lucille and I, however, chose instead to enjoy some really nice husband and wife conversation while listening to 1960s tunes, settling in to escape the Saturday evening chill. All diner outings should be this nice. Lucille, who is a firm student of "cold night = need of hot soup" selected a cup of cream of turkey soup ($2.50) as a starter. It arrived during her brief visit to the Ladies Room, so I snuck in a few spoonfuls in her absence. Can you blame me -- creamy goodness staring up at me (see below)? Lucille then continued in the spirit of Thanksgiving and chose the all-white meat roast turkey entrée with house made stuffing and gravy ($14.99). It was nice sitting in the smooth booth, just 12" from my wife's plate, enabling me to place a fork into her turkey and potatoes and indulge...much. I must note as well that the side of broccoli was sautéed perfectly. Okay, now for that tuna melt without tomato (my preference). It should here be explained that, when it comes to eating a tuna melt, I like to make a mess of things. I don't' enjoy it open faced; I place both sides of the sandwich together and press down firmly. Tuna oozes out of the side of the rye toast and onto my plate, my fork at the ready. THAT, of course, happened here -- and I loved it! Of course, Lucille and I shared the sandwich ($8.99).
To Danny, our server, much thanks. He was as friendly as can be, and even apologized for being a bit delayed with refilling our water glasses. Not a problem, friend. You communicated, and that's good. In fact, all of the servers were very friendly during our visit as I listened in to nearby orders being taken. That's a great thing. There will be a "next visit," and it will include a pulled pork burger deluxe finding a final resting place inside my tummy. Consider this: a prime burger topped with pulled pork, Alps Diner sweet and tangy sauce, and American cheese ($11.99). That's something I can't ignore! Steve The perfect dream? To have an excellent restaurant within walking distance of your home. For the Sears family, Matthew's Italian Restaurant (1131 Bloomfield Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey, 973-928-4300, www.matthewsitalian.com) is that place. Matthew Tyahla is the owner, in the same location where he worked as a busboy, food runner, and eventually a server under different establishments. He bought the business at age 26, and opened his self-named restaurant in 2010. Matthew's Italian Restaurant is often a very busy place, for an obvious reason. In fact, for more than one obvious reason. The cuisine is consistently good, service is equally so, the eatery is small and comfortable and clean, and perhaps most importantly, Matthew himself is there when you enter, a warm greeting always. So it's really not a "perfect dream" but an "oh so good" reality. Lucille, Stefanie and I visited for lunch on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. Alexandra was our server this day, and she was all smiles and embodied the friendliness of the establishment. Feast your eyes below on Lucille's favorite Italian food, eggplant. She may argue (lovingly of course) my declaring this, but when our Italian eatery trips result in an "Eggplant, please" communication between she and the server 99% of the time, is that anything to be embarrassed about? On this day, the choice was a wise one; the sandwich ($12) -- which was shared around the table -- was superb, sauce excellent. The side order of Boston and iceberg lettuce was the perfect, light complement. I should note that Matthew's has a full service bar, should you desire beer, soda, wine, or a favorite mixed drink with your meal. Stefanie's selection was the Pollo Pronto ($12), a wealth of chicken topped with provolone, arugula, onion, and sun-dried tomato with pesto. You know when you get that "Maybe I should've ordered that...ah...maybe next time..." notion?
The only thing that may improve Matthew's Italian Restaurant is expansion, but due to area geography, it likely won't happen. But that's good, because there's something very nice about this small, intimate, neighborhood restaurant.
"Small, intimate" is a pretty nice thing, and being able to stroll to and from is the best of all worlds. Steve Here I go again, singing praises about my favorite burger eatery. Thank you to our server, Otniel, and the always fantastic folks at the Clifton, New Jersey-located Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar (852 Route 3 West, 973-272-1492, http://zinburger.com) for another wonderful visit. Other Garden State locations are Cherry Hill, Edison, Jersey City, Morris Plains, Paramus, and coming soon, Bridgewater. Also, toeing the New Jersey\New York state line is a Nanuat Zinburger for those choosing to trek over the border. Whatever location chosen, know (and perhaps you already do) that you will get excellent food which is more selection-wise than burgers, and top notch service. For the uninformed, Zinburger rookie, I could provide detail about the fine selection of salads (salmon is the newest), chicken sandwiches, tuna offerings, various fry creations, the many different shakes and variety of drinks to enjoy before, with, or after your meal. For purposes of this blog post, I'll provide specifics about our most current visit, and encourage the curious diner to return to a Zinburger location or try one for the first time. Below is my wife's Buffalo chicken sandwich ($10.50) de-bunned. You can have the chicken fried or grilled (I recommend fried), and it comes topped with Frank’s Red Hot (sauce), pepper jack cheese, tomato, lettuce and ranch dressing. However, special requests can be accommodated, as you can see pictured below. My wife Lucille's chicken rested upon a generous bed of lettuce, and she opted for all toppings on the side. Don't be shy; Zinburger servers are friendly, and if you make your special request known, the chefs -- under the guidance of Corporate Chef David Maini -- will get it right. Meet now The Double, two 3.5 oz. burger patties, topped with two slices of American cheese, minced onion, lettuce, ketchup and mayonnaise. Reader, welcome to my childhood. This offering sends me back in time to my Mom's kitchen, and my current kitchen as well when I make burgers. This being said, I won't (and I am not) comparing myself to any Zinburger chef. The Double is just so homey, comfortable a burger that you feel great from first bite to last. Oh, yes, that last bite. When I blogged on June 13, 2017 about the opening of the Edison location, I stated:
I am in eager anticipation when and immediately after ordering, extremely pleased when a Zinburger server delivers our food and -- this is the ultimate compliment -- melancholy at meal's end. "Does this dining experience have to end?!" Yes, but there's always next time. I know for sure there are some pretty special "Burger(s) of the Week" soon to be featured, and a Zinburger trip is always a welcome break. So, isn't it time for a visit? Steve If you dine out often, you hope that your server has a certain personality. Some prefer a more regimented individual: just take the order, get it right, get it to the table, and let us be. However, there are many (most, I would assume) who enjoy having an affable, engaging server, always smiling and on their toes, ready to attend to the diner's request if needed. If you are the latter type of restaurant-goer, meet Ryan, server at Clifton, New Jersey's Allwood Diner (913 Allwood Road, 973-365-2575, www.theallwooddiner.com). Consider the following exchanges: Me (after Ryan asked me specifically about my order to get it 100% right): "Ryan, I appreciate you asking." Ryan: "You're welcome, sir. I appreciate you appreciating it." Me (after paying the bill and preparing to leave): "Thank you, Ryan. You did an excellent job!" Ryan: "Thank YOU, sir, for coming. Hey, you are spending money here to eat breakfast today. You should have fun and enjoy yourselves." It's not just these statements of his that impressed me, but it was his mannerisms as well. He was happy to be on the job, taking care of everything in a proper, professional manner. Now, on to the food. Below is daughter Stefanie's pastrami, hard boiled eggs, and hash browns ($7.95). I lovingly question the very beautiful Miss Sears' sanity with her choice - but that's because I am not a fan of pastrami or hard boiled eggs. Stefanie is however and loved the meal. Above is my "it's a Jersey thing" favorite breakfast of Taylor ham, American cheese, and scrambled egg on a hard roll, French fries partnering it ($9.45). Enough said. Lucille selected turned over lightly eggs seated on ham with a side of hash browns ($6.75), a breakfast entrée she orders frequently. The food was very good, but Ryan's service "made" the experience.
As I paid the bill, the cashier asked me if all was okay. I said, "Oh, yes it was - and the server was excellent as well." The cashier looked at the check, spotted the server's name, and said, "Ah, Ryan. He is one of our best." Once again, enough said. Steve So, there are these restaurants that you drive by all the time and say to yourself, "One day, I have to go there." Maggie's Town Tavern (10 Van Ness Avenue, Little Falls, New Jersey, 973-256-7708, www.maggiestowntavern.com) was that restaurant for me - for 15 years. No longer. My wife Lucille and I visited on a Friday evening in December, when a shoehorn was needed to get customers through the front door. Below pictured is my wife's Tavern beer battered fish and chips entrée ($14). I told DessaRea, our very friendly server, I was impressed with the speed our food arrived at the table, especially with the amount of people in the eatery. It is, however, often during busy periods that kitchen staffs excel, and this particular evening at Maggie's was perfect proof. My meal, a beer battered cod sandwich ($11) is not pictured here due to a rare "all thumbs" photo, but it was super good. I chose it based on a gentleman at a neighboring table devouring the same option, his head constantly in his plate, taking bite after bite. I was a bit more respectful of the sandwich, but not by much. I did come up for air more often.
Maggie's Town Tavern family, thank you!
And a news alert: A NEW Maggie's Town Tavern will be unveiled soon on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne, New Jersey. Now, which location do we visit for pizza? Steve |
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January 2023
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