2007: let downs

Right now, 10's of people all over New Jersey are wondering, "When is t:e coming out with his lists!?!!?  I can hardly wait!" they say.  But damn if I wasn't so busy putting together my 2007 lists that it's already 2008.

Some background first.

2007 was a funny year for t:e.  Not "ha-ha" funny, but strange funny.  Not strange "weird", but strange unusual.  I visited very few restaurants, although for about 6 months I ate out every single night.  I guess I stuck to the old standards, which are for another post.

But for this post, I'm going to focus on the negative, the places that sort of let me down for one reason or several.  Oftentimes it was because expectations were set too high.  Other times the food was just plain not good.

<quick aside>Anyone who reads this blog (you two know who you are) knows that I don't focus on the negative:  I try to find the interesting stuff, and I like to share it.   If you want to hear people complain about some server who made them feel less of a person, or some other restaurant-goers who were acting so horribly as to ruin their meal, or about the chef who was clearly out to get them, go to egullet or nj.com or one of the hundreds of websites seemingly devoted to the lowest common denominator, negative, nasty discussion that is just so darned easy to generate.  Go now, don't let me stop you.  Please.  I'm simply not going to be able to give you what you want.

For my part, I'll say I didn't like something, and I'll explain why.  And usually it's not because someone hurt my feelings.  </quick aside>

So here they are, the let-downs of 2007:

Harvest Bistro: Closter, NJ

Oh boy does this place get hyped.  It's extremely popular. It's "even better than Bacari Grill" I've heard.  Yikes. 

I had several meals at Harvest Bistro in 2007, and you are assured that I really wanted to like it.  It's a beautiful restaurant in a lovely part of the state, not too far from my home.  It's got a nice big bar room, and a wonderful dining room.  The hosts are always pleasant and the nice kids take your car and park it for you.  But that's about where the excitement stops.

Rundown:

Cassoulet wasn't very good.  A few days later the cassoulet at Pourquoi Pas? in Westwood simply put it to shame, and made my Best of 2007 list (not yet posted).

A salad with shrimp came with 4 very very small shrimp and over-dressed lettuce.  A little restraint with the dressing and 3 shrimp of notable size and texture could have turned this dish around, as the dish had wonderful avocado and herb flavors.

The burger is OK, but not great.  Nothing to run back for.

The bartenders don't seem to care if you're there or not there.

A bottle of Banfi Rosa Regale (42 dollars) was not listed as dolce (sweet).  And make no mistake about it, this is a sweet sparkler.  I should have checked the alcohol level before OK'ing it, and read the back label to see that it was a dessert/apertif wine.

A perfectly wonderful (and large) piece of raw tuna was compromised by a sickly sweet sauce that tasted of butterscotch.

French fries, which should kick ass at a place like this (or any place with "Bistro" in the name), were ordered well-done, and came out limp.  Ugh.

The people around you look monied and not too interested in food, except for the guy next to us on one visit, who ordered a "Prime dry-aged shell steak", which came out pounded thin, and pale.  Whaaaaaa??  He just shook his head and ate it.  I felt for him.

I give Harvest Bistro props for serving olive oil with anchovies in it along with your bread.  That just can't be a popular condiment, but they continue to serve it.  I love the balls.

Rare Steakhouse:  Little Falls, NJ

This eagerly awaited restaurant managed to bum me out on both of my visits. 

Rundown:

Bartender's boobs had glitter.  What, is this the Hitching Post?

Extremely generous pour (a good thing) of Falaghina (a good thing).  On a second visit, a more reasonable pour was offered.  I would think the huge pour had to do more with lack-of-training (a bad thing) than policy.  Sparkley boobs were also noticeably missing from my second visit (hhmmmm, bad thing, NO -- good thing.  I really can't decide).

Tuna tartare was served with "Asian condiments", which included a blob of fake wasabi, candied and pickled ginger, a few slivers of seaweed, and wasabi peas.  None of which needs to be anywhere near good raw tuna.  Pretty, though.

Reasonably priced wine list (prices in the 20's, 30's and 40 pepper the list).

Starship's "We Built This City" was on the soundsystem.  Whaaaa?!??!

Two sauces were served with the steak, but not explained.  They seemed to be au poivre type sauces.

A bottle of that (on the right in the photo) was placed before me, seemingly de rigueur.  At a steakhouse.  A1 sauce.  When I buy expensive meat for home, I make people beg for A1 including the missus, and then I lie and say that I don't have any.  Any serious steakhouse should do the same.

Ribeye was fatty, chewy, and just a horrible piece of flabby meat, all falling apart on the plate.  A strip steak on the next visit? Eh.  Nothing special at all.  Not top-shelf steak housey, that's for sure.

No lunch at the bar + No burger at dinner =  No tommy either time.

E&V:  Paterson, NJ

Old-school red sauce place.  Wine and beer only.  Enormous portions of standard food.  They do serve a nice bowl of soup to start you off, though, and it's really quite good.  Go for the experience, but there's really not much going on here beyond that.

Campania:  Fair Lawn, NJ

I was excited to learn that a local restaurant would be featured on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (a TV show where sort-of-super-star Chef Gordon Ramsay makes restaurant owners and staff look foolish, quite successfully, and in a quite entertaining manner).  After watching the show, I couldn't wait to get back to this place, which has been around for years (it's under new ownership since 2005 or so). 

I found that sometimes reality TV is better than reality.

Rundown:

Just like the program, the waits for food bordered on uncomfortable.  With only a few tables filled in the dining room, I don't expect a 1.5 hour meal for two courses.

Enormous portions are a turn-off for me.  An otherwise decent salad of wonderful tart ricotta salata (a cheese that finds its way in to many dishes on the menu), a nut of some sort, and fresh greens, was held back by its size.  It could have been a meal.  Cut down the size, and hell, leave the price the same, and I'll think I'm getting something a little special.  I don't like to waste food, and places that serve enormous portions give you no choice.

A pork chop, ordered medium rare, was cooked to well, and as dry as sheetrock.  Contrasted with a ethereal pork chop at Park Ridge's Esty Street a week before, and you have to wonder if the meat came from the same type of animal. 

On a recent visit, the same 5 songs cycled over, and over, and over, on the sound system (and if I'm not mistaken, they were songs used in the Kitchen Nightmares episode?). 

The soap in the bathroom is scented (a no-no to my mind...i don't want to go back to the dinner table smelling like chemical roses).   Attention to detail folks, let's get with it.

I do like that the chef uses pancetta in various dishes.  Pancetta is good meat, and should be used in just about everything. 

I also dig when a restaurant sends out an amuse-bouche, which the you will get at Campania.  It's a nice touch, and his amuse-bouche of bruschetta are quite tasty.

Creamless (a good thing) carbonara included some nicely sized wonderfully cooked shrimp, but I couldn't help but think they didn't serve the dish very well.

I should probably mention their meatballs, which were universally enjoyed by everyone at the table.  Nice and crusty outside, soft inside, and wow were they salty.  But in a good way.

On one visit a wrong entree was sent out.  They took it back and promised the correct dish soon.  It was soon, but the sausage might have been a little underdone in the haste.  However, they comp'd both appetizers because of the SNAFU, which I thought was above and beyond.

While overcharging on your bill can easily be an oversight (and probably happens more often than anyone realizes), it's just makes for an awkward ending to a meal.  We noticed this on our last visit.  It was corrected with an apology.  It was still awkward, though.

I saw, I went, I went again, and I think that's about it.  It's a nice place, and the food can be pretty good, but you'll find me at Glen Rock's Rocca, which I think is just a wonderful local restaurant.

Moksha:  Edison, NJ

There's a thread on the Egullet Society for the Culinary Arts and Letters, started by its founder, which will have you believe that Moksha is the most amazing Indian experience around.  Apparently he has had some sort of business dealings with the owners, or staff, or something not made entirely clear, so that might be a consideration when weighing his opinions on the place, wouldn't you think?  He suggests that people who live in NYC are missing out if they don't jump on the train to get down to Edison to Moksha (and then walk to the restaurant from the train station presumably).

OK, so, it's a nice place, with good service.  The food, apparently, is largely Southern Indian, which you may not find everywhere.  Some dishes were good, some lacked any sort of punch or, well, flavor.  Like the shrimp dish below.

Rundown:

A shrimp dish was wonderful, although the shrimp were somewhat smallish and quite frankly overwhelmed by the sauce.   

They have incense or some sort of fragrance in the place which serves to only make my nose stuffy.  It cleared up literally as soon as I walked out.  Details, restaurateurs, details.

Silverware was not changed between courses.

The light at the tables is great for food photography, if that's your thing (it's not mine...mine's eating, and experiencing). 

The wine list included only one wine that I would consider Indian food friendly, and that was a somewhat horrid sweet Riesling.

It took me a little over 40 minutes to get there by car, and that's basically a straight shot down the Garden State Parkway.  I can't imagine living in NYC, with all of those options (hell, Devi blows me away every time I'm there), making my way to Penn Station, getting on a commuter train, and then walking to the restaurant, and then doing the reverse, mindful of train schedules.  You'll find me fighting traffic into the city to go to Devi before I drive there again.  Assured, you are, of this.

City Place Steakhouse: Rutherford, NJ

The ESPN van parked outside should have tipped me off.  An ESPN truck is almost always a bad sign for a guy like me, who doesn't know if it's baseball or football season.

Rundown:

Interesting wine selection by-the-glass.

1.50 Bud and Miller Light on Mondays (no thanks).

Choice and Black Angus meats.  The Black Angus strip was served with nothing else on the plate (a good thing), but just didn't have much flavor.  It was also kind of skimpy by steakhouse standards.  Nice char, though.  And they give you an option of an egg on top. Egg on top is almost always preferable to no egg on top.

French fries were exceptional, and probably worth the trip alone.

I spied a few decent enough tequilas on the top shelf, which got me wondering if they were able to simply mix tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice.  Easy enough you'd think, yes?  So I asked the bartender if he uses a mix in margaritas.  "I never use mix", he shot back.  Sounds good, right?  I green light the deal.  One sip, actually, one *look*, and I can tell there's more than just tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice in this thing.  It was a sweet glass of crap.  So I ask the guy I asks, "Did you use any sort of mix in here?"  He says, "Well, yeah, sour mix".  I guess I looked baffled.  He said, "You asked if I use a mix, I don't use a mix, I just use sour mix."  Whaa!?!??!!?!

Arthur's Landing:  Weehawken, NJ (closed)

Update (2/2009):  Arthur's landing has closed.

Much has been made of the arrival of Michael Haimowitz, the new chef at the restaurant with the most stunning views of NYC.  When I heard that the food had been improved, I put Arthur's Landing back on my list.

I wanted to like it, I just didn't.  The burger wasn't very good.  The rest of the food wasn't my style.  The waitress was nowhere to be found.  A glass of beer was priced at the maddening amount of $6.42  (can't you just round it up?). 

Chef Haimowitz made the effort to contact me privately via this blog in response to a less-than-favorable comment that I made in passing elsewhere.  He was interested in my experience, and what aspects didn't live up to my expectations.  I offered some detailed comments, we disagreed on brining pork chops, and he then graciously offered me and a guest to come back, on his dime.  Quite a stand-up move.  However, I don't accept free food, on principle (the principle being that I can pay my own way, and I don't use this blog or any other vehicle to garner favor or free food or special treatment from restaurants:  I'm capable of doing that by being myself and a good customer), so I declined, with the promise I'd return at some point (I did, and some of the aspects of that meal are noted above).

Go for the views, keep your expectations in check, and you won't be disappointed.   You'll be probably very pleased, in fact.

Comments

[Daniel]

Because you don't have a category called "Margaritas" (why? I don't know) I will have to ask this question here, mostly because I expect that the margarita at Blue Moon in Englewood, which was just voted "best margarita" in (201) The Best of Bergen, is, in fact, a let down.

Well? How was it?

[tommy:eats]

how was it? never had it. you? wouldn't even think of having it.

i get the impression that the people who voted for that margarita in 201 magazine don't really understand magaritas.

wasn't the "best burger" won by Arthur's? or maybe that was "best steak". either way, ummm, no thanks.

hey unrelated but how about totally great surprises for a change: South City Prime: not too shabby. more to come.

[Daniel]

Of course I wouldn't have a Margarita there! But you misunderstand your function here. It is to drink crappy margaritas so that we don't have to!

Best burger was Iron Horse in Westwood, which is just laughable. It tied with some joint in Teaneck that I have never tried so I can't comment. The best steak? I don't remember, but judging by what I do remember, Arthur's sounds just about right.

I was hoping that South City Prime would be good, but was I too chicken to try it. My wife and I used to go to South City Grill occasionally for snacks at the bar, but it seemed to turn into a loud pick-up joint, so we moved on. But a steak house that might be good? Really? Or are you just toying with us?

[tommy:eats]

ok, so 201 was waiting for me when i got home, and i see the guy who said Blue Moon has great margaritas suggests that they "don't use a mix". Hmm. Maybe they don't use a mix like the guy at City Place Steakhouse mentioned above? Or perhaps it's actually decent.

Daniel, take one for the team. Thanks.

South City Prime: I'm not kidding. South City Grill: you're not kidding. quite a cast of characters at that bar. people I'd just as soon never see again in my life (not all of them), and certainly not during dinner. more to come on that.

[lr]

Blue Moon does have amazing margs, made without a mix. Definitely worth trying, most LOVE them! Beware ( or not) they are strong! Worth the extra $ for a better Tequila since the house is pretty cheap!
Let us know what you think!

[tommy:eats]

thanks for that info lr. That's enough for me to make a drip and suffer through some "mexican". any suggestions on that food of theirs?

a couple of things come to mind, though.

if they're using crappy tequila, how can the margarita be good?

to say that a margarita is "strong" is stating the obvious. a margarita (should) contain nothing other than booze and a little fresh lime juice (maybe some simple syrup). of course it's strong, it's 100% booze. that's like saying a vodka martini at such-and-such a place is strong. of course it is.

oh christ, i just realized that i've been here, to the one in bronxville ugh. maybe i'll skip the food part of the visit.

[Daniel]

I just realized that I have eaten at the one in Wyckoff. But if I am correct, it's really just a lunch joint. Maybe the Englewood location is more impressive. I hope so, for your sake.

[lr]

OK, the food is not GREAT! Good, but not GREAT!
Food suggestions: full moon chili ( without bean and cubed spicy sirloin), hot wings ( not very mexican, but good), or the non sizzling fajitas. Also, the guacamole is super fresh and delicous!
MARGS: yes, only tequila, lime triple sec and sugar. Unfortunately the lime juice is not fresh, but it is NOT sweetened, so it is still yummy!
Honestly, worth a shot. Ihave a thing for the Blue Moon in Englewood, best vibe!

[tommy:eats]

lr, regarding the lime juice, what does "not fresh but not sweetened" mean? if it's not freshly squeezed, in the morning for example, what is it? it's either from fruit (meaning "fresh", to my mind), or it's from chemicals, which means that it's sweetened.

guac had better be fresh. would you serve anything but fresh at your home? no, you shouldn't. you might, but you shouldn't. that's simply the bare minimum requirement of guac.

daniel, i think the Wycoff place doesn't have booze. and yes, i have the same impression you do, probably because we're right about the food. lr agrees on some level.

i just spent a few hours at Mesa Grill in NYC, a place that I've walked out of over 10 years ago due to utterly rude and stupid hostesses. however, tonight's meal was fine. the margaritas are made with fresh lime juice mixed with just a touch of simple syrup. a bit too sweet to my mind, but still much better than most you find in NJ. we need places like Mesa Grill, not like Blue Moon. that's just my opinion, though.

[joeb]

Just saw the "The Record Readers' Top 5" in THE RECORD today. Best hamburger went to The Iron Horse. Best Italian to Sanducci's. I've never been to Sanducci's so I can't comment. Can't say I agree with The Iron Horse. I went there because I was intrigued with the whole cheese inside the burger thing but was very disapointed in the result. Plus I found the place run down and a bit dirty. Who's voting in these polls anyway? The only good thing I can say is that Houston's burger made the runner up list.

[tommy:eats]

lists like that are the reason i started this blog. people simply have no taste, and trusting the taste of the masses should not be the only option.

[tommy:eats]

Over on the Bergen Record blog, Bill Pitcher responds to a poster who took issue with him categorizing Fair Lawn's Campania as an "Excellent" restaurant. I suppose he was referring to the "Excellent" rating that Campania received in the Bergen Record, and not the actual restaurant, which isn't all that exceptional. (Although, it's clear that Bill Pitcher is known to the restaurant, so perhaps he doesn't have to wait unexcellent amounts of time for his courses, and maybe his food is not overcooked, underdone, or just plain not what he ordered. )

While it's somewhat interesting that such a mediocre restaurant would receive an "Excellent" rating, what's even more interesting (in addition to the food editor misrepresenting the poster's comments (in the first link, above, towards the middle of the post) with which he's taking exception, and in addition to watching the Chef/owner lose his shit, and also how Bill Pitcher, oddly to me at least, blames the TV show for his screwed up lunch instead of the owner, who most surely knew the TV crew was coming yet still accepted lunch customers), is the explanation of the Record's rating system:

"The Record rates restaurants for what they are or what they're trying to be, not with some artificial barometer. We've had four-star Lebanese dives and three-star sports bars."

I think the Record is spot-on in their review. Campania is an excellent mediocre restaurant.

[adegiulio]

Because things are a bit slow here at t:e, I figured I would fire up the comments burner with some discussion about this post. I mean, there are 10 restaurants to discuss in this one post. Surely there can be something we can talk about...

Rare Steakhouse is neither Rare nor a Steakhouse. Discuss...but as you are typing, type in the voice of Paul Baldwin. Or Linda Richman. Your choice...Super!

[tommy:eats]

i continue to hope that the interest in this blog isn't mostly due to the conversations and comments (everyone has chowhound and egullet for that, although, well, you know *that* sucks), but it's nice to have people contributing. i wish more readers would, because i could learn a lot from positive input from more people.

[joeb]

Tommy,

Just wanted to say that I enjoy your blog very much (certainly more than those others you mentioned) and would like to post more but as I've said in another post I don't get to go out to restaurants as much as I would like due to various factors and can't comment on many of the places talked about.

Luckily I have managed to secure this Saturday night to go out with some friends. I was hoping to try South City Prime but everyone else wants to go to Harvest. Having been there before and not being overwhelmed I tried to veto the idea but got outvoted. Maybe the experience will be better this time. Will report back.

[tommy:eats]

hey joeb, thanks for the kind words.

i hope you enjoy your meal at Harvest. it's a place that should be better than it is. maybe we've just been unlucky.

[joeb]

Had a better experience this time around. We sat in the bar area dining room. I like this room much better than the other dining area which I find a little stiff.

I asked the waiter for some wine recommendations and he brought the owner over. Turned out we went to the same high school and hadn't seen each other in close to 30 years. He recommended a very good bottle of wine and kept tabs on us throughout the evening. I guess there is something to be said for knowing the owner.

Started off with the crab cake appetizer which was very good. Ordered the hanger steak for the main course. It was served sliced and with some sort of sauce on it. It was good, but I prefer to cut my own steak and don't really like any type of sauce anywhere near my steak.

Overall it was a good experience and a nice place to go with friends on a weekend. Looking forward to checking out South City Prime sometime in the near future.

[tommy:eats]

Hanger is almost always pre-cut. that's probably because if the kitchen let the guest cut it, they'd cut it all wrong and send it back because "it's too tough".

sauce definitely should go on the side. even chimichurri.

thanks for reporting back on Harvest.

[adegiulio]

Just came back from lunch at Rare. Worst. Lunch. Ever. Slow service, overcooked, dry burger. Weak ass martini. An unforgettable meal...