Another tuna melt sandwich in the running for my favorite! Kevin Lee is the owner of Clifton Bagels & Deli (106 Kingsland Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey, 973-779-2900, www.cliftonbagels.com), home to a busy place where customers, especially regulars, keep the entrance door constantly opening, foraying in for their daily breakfast or lunch choice. On the afternoon Lucille and I visited, Ghado was at the counter, providing excellent customer service, a norm for her. And while we normally opt for bagels to take home, on this day we enjoyed a late lunch. Pictured below, from left to right, is and was a tuna melt on wheat toast minus tomato ($5.79). Regular readers of this blog know that a tuna melt is perhaps my favorite sandwich, and we have made numerous trip to eateries, trying each specific restaurant, diner, or deli's version of it. This offering may have been the smallest of all, but was extremely tasty. Lucille's choice was a turkey breast sandwich with lettuce and tomato, and mayo ($5.55). It was delicious. A few things worth noting. Clifton Bagels & Deli is open 7 days a week, and they offer excellent breakfast sandwiches and fresh brewed coffee (get the large size). Also, after 3:00 p.m. a purchase of 6 bagels for $5.00 gets you 6 additional bagels free.
A nice place to visit. Tell Mr. Lee and Ghado we sent you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When in Clark or anywhere in the surrounding Union County area, visit the wonderful people at Rotondo's Liquors, Deli, & Fine Foods (1040 Lake Avenue, 732-382-2440, www.rotondos.com). There's plenty of free parking to stop for your favorite sandwich, as well as engage in fine conversation with owner of 9-months, Peter Bhatt, and his team. Peter has filled some big shoes, Rotondo's being a township staple for well over 40 years. He told me things are busy, and going well, and as we talked he beamed with pride in his business and his trek thus far. Before leaving, I selected a chicken Caesar wrap ($6.95) with a good sized chicken breast, Romaine lettuce, and parmesan cheese all wrapped up nicely in a tortilla. I scooped up some Caesar dressing prior to exit, and when finally at my Bloomfield home -- rush hour Garden State Parkway traffic crawled -- I excitedly unveiled and shared with my daughter my wrap, each of us savoring each bite. "Hey, this is really good!" Stefanie stated. Enough said. Well done, Peter and Rotondo's. We will return. Steve
0 Comments
A recent day trip to upper, northeastern New Jersey for my daughter Stefanie and me turned into the kind of fun excursion that begins with me saying, "Okay, let's find a place to eat." At Johnny Roll House, a spic -n-span clean eatery owned by experienced sushi chef John Park, located at 4 Railroad Avenue in Montvale (201-391-0550, www.facebook.com/johnnyrollhouse), we were treated to excellent service courtesy of Park's sister, Julie, and co-server David, the latter explaining to us the menu choices, and superb, tasty sushi created by Park himself. Pictured above are, obviously, our selections. Perfectly prepared, lovingly and professionally presented.
Johnny Roll House, a BYOB, is open 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Monday - Saturday, and is closed Sunday. Prior to our departure, David and Julie encouraged us to visit again and next time try a variety of other menu options. We will. Steve *Once again I welcome a contribution from my daughter, Stefanie Sears, who recently enjoyed pre-show dining in nearby Millburn, New Jersey. Thank you, Stef! -- Steve
Next were the entrees, and what unique tasty dishes they were. After at first being a bit indecisive about the entrees, I finally decided on my first choice, a choice that had been on my mind (or taste buds) since my aunt and I checked out the online menu weeks before when we first made our reservations. The baby spinach salad, roasted chicken, two pea, toasted almonds and sesame vinaigrette and my aunt got the imported garganelli, spring peas, bacon, carrot-garlic broth, and fresh ricotta. Her meal was actually my second choice, so I am happy that I was able to try both! Prior to my decision, I asked Grace which meal was the heartier of the two, and she answered the garganelli dish. However, my roasted chicken spinach salad fed me just fine! Finally, for dessert I had the bittersweet chocolate raspberry tart with raspberry whipped cream and my aunt had the summer peach gelato, two refreshing sweet treats that topped off an already incredible meal. One thing I kept thinking about when I was eating is how fresh and light the meal was. I couldn't stop saying these very words to my aunt as we ate. Afterwards, I did not feel full, but satisfied and healthy, even with the desserts. All in all, a very pleasant dining experience. Sheesh. My mouth is watering as I write this, remembering the tastes and textures. After I told Grace that I would be guest blogging here again, she introduced me to executive chef and general manager Holly Guber, who nicely came out to visit me at our table. We chatted about the creative choices that go into the menus, which are always different to complement the time of year and each show at Paper Mill Playhouse, such as Italian themed shows corresponding with Italian food. Though Half Time did not have any food tie-ins, this particular menu was a spring theme, appropriate enough for the time of year. Half Time opened in late May and closed that very day we went. Guber explained to me that the Carriage House was also having its final dining service that day, for the restaurant is only open during the playhouse's seasons. "We came here right on time!" I joked with Guber. However, having special events held there during the summer is an option, for at the time, Guber was preparing for a wedding there later in the summer. The ambiance and background music is also nice and classy with soothing colors, excellent waitstaff, and two quaint dining rooms and a bar completing the picture. They also have a cute small party room upstairs. An added bonus, rather something about my visit that sticks with me greatly: I recall hearing a Johnny Mathis song playing as part of the calming lunch music set list. :) Thank you, Stef! Nice review of a nice place. A big thank you to Holly and Grace for such a nice experience.
And Johnny Mathis, too, huh? Super! Steve Mr. Bruno's Pizzeria & Restaurant (439 Valley Brook Avenue, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, 201-933-1588) has been in business since 1965 -- that's 53 years, folks -- and there's something to be said in the restaurant business regarding longevity. Especially if the restaurant is passed down through generations within a family. I'm not sure if that is the story with Mr. Bruno's, but I will go here. Readers of this blog often hear me refer to "Gems in a strip mall," my coining of excellent eateries sharing a shopping center with other businesses, the restaurant a true go-to, either before shopping or instead of. Mr. Bruno's Pizzeria & Restaurant joins the list. Casey was our server, and she provided excellent care to the many tables she was saddled with on a busy Saturday evening. Mr. Bruno's has three separate dining areas: tables in a first room side-by-side with the pizza counter, the second an extension of the bar area, and the third dining exclusively. Your choice, but know that, wherever you select to enioy your food, the key word is indeed "enjoy." Our family started off with a wonderful, tasty -- and hot -- appetizer special called firecracker calamari and shrimp ($11.50). Do you see that tall, cool, glass of water to the right in the photo? If this appetizer is offered on an evening you visit and you order it, request a pitcher of water. You will need it to cool off the inside of your mouth, and wash down the abundance of this excellence. (Psst: Be nice and share, but know it will be difficult!) We also ordered our standard large pizza ($13.95), well done, light on the sauce. Prepared to perfection! Thank you, Mr. Bruno's Restaurant & Pizzeria, for great food, and thank you, Casey, and the rest of the team for being kind, courteous, and welcoming.
Steve Reasons can be many and varied for selecting a specific dining spot. Affordability can be a very good benchmark for choosing an eatery, as is reputation, word-of-mouth, cuisine type (of course), and much more. "Reliability" lends itself to reputation, and that led Lucille and me to select Longhorn Steakhouse (690 Route 46 West, Parsippany, New Jersey, 973-257-9230, www.lomghornsteakhouse.com) during a recent "Date Night." Reliability, and a photo of a menu option I saw on the restaurant website. I'll do photographic justice to that meal in just a bit.
I'll tease the reader first, choosing to disclose the meal choice I selected last. Pictured above is Lucille's freshly ground, 10 ounce chop steak. Topped with sauteed mushrooms, with crispy onions, au jus (Lucille's choice; it's normally topped with rosemary garlic sauce) and baked potato on the side ($13.99), it was highly recommended by Michael, our server for the evening. Good -- make that efficient -- servers know what's best to recommend. I began my meal with an excellent Caesar's salad, and ordered a glass of red wine as a partner to my selection. Now for pictorial dedication to the meal which was on my mind from the afternoon on, a good 5 hours prior to our evening excursion: a superb $14.49 Napa grilled chicken. There are a few fresh chicken breasts in there, with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and roasted tomatoes, all bathed in a light chardonnay butter sauce. Alas, the butter sauce does not cause a bloatness. I can spell "Satisfied!"
Wow! Thanks, Michael, and thank you, Longhorn Steakhouse. Also, before the reader consider us insane, we do plan on returning for a steak from the Legendary Steaks portion of the menu. Steve |
AuthorAppetizers, hospitality, small plates - the best in dining! Archives
January 2023
Categories |