tommy:eats

Porta Pizza: Asbury Park, NJ

Oven at Porta

Porta intrigued me from the first time I saw the spray painted sign announcing its opening.  Odd indeed, I thought.  

Over the course of the next few months, the word was getting out: Porta is making some very good Neapolitan style pizza (and, apparently, incredible octopus).  I found this to be the case during my few visits.  

Funky stuff at Porta

It's a funky place, in a warehouse looking space, decorated with some doors (porta, in Italian), with picnic table communal seating (tables made from reclaimed wood from the building, I'm told). Concrete floors, exposed HVAC and ceiling joists.  My kind of minimalist thing overall.

Octopus at Porta

First the octopus. Rarely does anything live up to the accolades that you read on the internet. Let's face it, most people are idiots. Most people don't have very much experience with food to know good from bad, interesting from boring, exceptional from commonplace. But those idiots who gushed about the octopus were right (no offense intended, idiots).

Doins in Ridgewood: Wa Lobster Pot, Lisa's Turkish, that place that has waffles

Wa Lobster Pot in Ridgewood.  Wa?

Lisa's Turkish Kitchen, which has now added "Mediterranean" to their name, has successfully converted the previously horrendous space at 28 Oak Street into a lovely looking restaurant.  Not sure if the bathroom situation at that location has improved.

Something called Wa Lobster Pot is opening in the space that Lisa's previously inhabited.  I'm not sure what a Wa Lobster Pot is, but we'll see.

Park West Tavern continues to pump out excellent burgers and "sliders" (mini-burgers, actually), along with some other very acceptable, and often excellent, food.  Their website continues to pump out annoying and unecessary music.  Hey Park West Tavern, I'm listening to my own music while looking at your website.  Don't need yours.  Thanks, though.

The place called Raymond's, which I've read on the internet "OMG they have the BEST waffles," in addition to other food with is apparently "to die for," is open, and is, aesthically speaking, a wonderful addition to downtown Ridgewood.  I'm confident that most items are "cooked to perfection" and "SOOOOOOOO freakin good," and the "establishment" serves food that "my hubby loved," but I haven't made my way over there to be sure.

That is all.

 

Fin Raw Bar and Kitchen: Montclair, NJ

It seems to me that Fin is doing a bang-up job.

Two visits have turned me into a fan of this place, much to my delight.  While Fin does have its flaws, overall you can eat pretty well here, and if a loud and energetic room is your thing, have a good time while doing it.

The servers have been quite good.  Perhaps a little too comfortable for some at times, but I'm not one of those people who gets offended when a server introduces him or herself.  Runners and busboys, equally as good, and very efficient and professional.  

Little touches like hot towels for your hands, if you've been eating some shellfish with your fingers, a fresh set of wine glasses if you move on to a different bottle (Fin is BYO), and purse hooks under the tables (I've never seen purse hooks anywhere but on bars), really add up at Fin.  

Mogo Korean Fusion Tacos: Asbury Park boardwalk, NJ

This was the best thing I ate yesterday, and that was after eating fantastic pizza at Porta. 

I read a bit about Mogo Korean Fusion Tacos on the SFI (Stupid Friggin' Internet), where a bunch of people promptly started criticizing the place.  If I recall correctly, and I wish there were a way that I could read this crap and have it not plant itself in my head, there were complaints about the price (4 bucks?), the flour tortillas (rather than corn, for Korean flavors?), and who knows what else.  I'm sure someone was offended there's a tip jar or that the sun was too bright.

albert's Montclair: Montclair, NJ [CLOSED]

Baaaaaaaaaaa

I found myself on Church Street in Montclair a few weeks ago.  This wasn't be design, though.  I had planned to go to Mancinni's, to finally try that pizza that people have been raving about.  Their outgoing voice message noted that they open at 11.30 on Sundays, so off I went.  Unfortunately the sign on the door noted something altogether different, and they weren't open for lunch. 

Disappointed and unsure of what to eat, I took a walk up Church street.  There was that Raymond's place that everyone seems to love. People were lined up, waiting 20-30 minutes for the opportunity to eat that brunch of theirs.  I'm of the opinion that places like Raymond's cater to people who think they should like places like Raymond's.  But that's for another post.  And hey, perhaps they execute those standard brunch items really well, but I just can't get behind standard bruch foods.  There's no reason that I shouldn't have the choice to eat whatever food a restaurant specializes in on a weekend afternoon, rather than being forced to choose between frittatas, steak & eggs, pancakes, waffles, and the rest of it.  But that's for another post.

I walked right by Raymond's and the sheep standing around waiting for their turn, and noticed Albert's/Amici. Mostly empty.  Eager servers waiting to seat you.  A kitchen waiting to cook for you.

The menu had some southern influence, which didn't make much sense to me, given the name Amici, but the chicken fried steak with sausage gravy certainly caught my eye.  This trip to Montclair was coming together.

I grabbed one of the several empty tables outside, and walked next door to the wine shop (the very sexy Amanti Vino) to get a bottle of sparkling rose, which was going to go perfectly with the chicken fried steak. 

Unfortunately the chicken fried steak had turned into short ribs, and it wasn't available.  Another dish that caught my eye was the Cajun Benedict.  Poached eggs on grit cakes with andouille topped with a creole sauce.  "This would go well with my sparkler," I knew.

The dish was enjoyable (the eggs were not runny enough for me), and it was really nice having the option to get these bold flavors on a Sunday afternoon. 

Italian American restaurants (like Amici was) are a dime a dozen, and very rarely are they exceptional at all. Very, very rarely.  Amici realized this when they hired Albert as the chef, I'm told, so they've switched concepts to leverage his strengths in southern/creole cooking.  I'd like to see a wider selection of cajun/creole, but perhaps they're working on that.

Give albert's a try.  Be a trailblazer, not a follower.  I guarantee you'll be more satisified. 

albert's Montclair : 32 Church Street : Montclair, NJ : 973.233.0300

Liberty House Restaurant: Jersey City, NJ

Probably some of the nicest outdoor seating you'll find in New Jersey.  I mean, what a view.  But is there anything worthwhile beyond that view?  Our first visit suggested that there could very well be a decent restaurant here.

It sure doesn't hurt having Chef Kenny Trickilo running the show. I've been a fan of his since his days at Bistro 55, back in its heyday. 

It looks like the chef brought along some of his dishes, including the duck confit grilled cheese sandwich, and the roasted garlic with blue cheese.  Unfortunately that great pork chop didn't make its way over to Liberty House.

The beausoleil oysters were perhaps in the top 5 of all oyster experiences of my life.  Beausoleil are typically briny, bright, clean tasting oysters, and these were no exception.  They were chilled, but not too cold, and all of that beautiful liquor was still in the shell instead dumped into the ice.  Absolutely outstanding, and if this serving was any indication of how they treat their oysters at Liberty House, it could certainly be my go-to place for sauvignon blanc and oysters in the summer months. 

A friend ordered the soup special, which was a cold melon soup of some sort.  Refreshing, but a bit too sweet for his taste.  It would have been fantastic in a glass with 3 ounces of gin, however.

She's a delicate little flower, ain't she.

Tuna tacos came 4 to an order.  Raw tuna with seaweed and spicy mayo.  Perfectly acceptable, although I'd prefer the tuna flavor and texture to be more pronounced. 

The burgers were ordered m/r and came out a bit more on the medium side.  They were also not very juicy.  Other than that, they were acceptable, and served with a good, light fluffy bun, and very sweet  pickles.  I have a feeling if cooked a bit less, these could be really super burgers. With one of the two burgers ordered, we subbed sweet potato fries for the cottage fries, both of which where exactly what they needed to be.

One of my favorite dishes at Bistro 55 was the duck confit grilled cheese.  This was just a fantastic sandwich.  Thick country bread stuffed with brie and duck.  The version at Liberty House didn't impress as much.  I'm not sure if it was different in some way, or it was just off for some reason.  It was fine, don't get me wrong, but not as good as I remember from my Bistro 55 days.

The cocktail list is certainly a step up from most cocktail lists, which sadly seem to focus on flavored vodkas and overly sweet concoctions, suitable for college parties more than serious contemplation.  This list does the same to an extent, but also has more tequila than you'd think, and fresh lime juice, which is fine by me.  However, a few of the drinks came out a bit too sweet, even though we stressed that we wanted unsweetened fresh lime juice.  Next time we'll sit at the bar (bar dining is almost always preferable), and provide some additional oversight and instruction. 

The selection of wines by the glass is robust and broad.  You'll not have to choose between 3 California chardonnays and a pinot grigio as you do at too many restaurants.  Sancerre, prosecco, sauvignon blanc from 3 continents, riesling, albarino, malbec, tempranillo all make an appearance by the glass.  Lots of food-friendly choices here.  Bravo, Liberty House.

The beer list is essentially non-existent.  Boo, Liberty House.  I'd like to see some craft beers filling the list here. 

The view really is wonderful.  The outdoor seating is comfortable and cosy. I got the feeling I was on vacation, what with this out-of-the-way location and magical setting.

Overall Liberty House really impressed me.  We're looking forward to returning.  And if you're planning an event, have it at Liberty House, and invite me.

Make sure you get the outdoor tables that don't have this view.

Liberty House Restaurant : 76 Audrey Zapp Drive : Jersey City, NJ : 201.395.0300

 

Wayne Steakhouse: Wayne, NJ

Porterhouse for two at Wayne Steakhouse

I prefer Peter Luger's style of cooking/aging steak over any other.  You can keep Sparks, Ben Benson's, The Palm, and all of the rest.  When I want a steak dinner, I want a Peter Luger steak dinner.  Or, at least a steak dinner at one of the many Peter Luger clones that have been popping up over the past 8 years or so. 

First was Wolfgang's.  You remember the story.  The maitre d' from Luger ventured out on his own, basically taking the menu (and probably some trade secrets) with him.  The results were stellar.  I could now get my Luger fix on Park Ave in midtown Manhattan, instead of having to cross over one of those bridges over there.  Not long after that, Ben & Jack (musical website alert) pulled the same move, much to my pleasure.  Each of those restaurants has since expanded into multiple locations, spreading that Luger love. And so on with a few others.

A few years back, someone else defected from Luger and helped open Cliff's Steakhouse right here in New Jersey.  It wasn't as good as the original, or the NYC clones, but it was nice to have an option for that style of steak near home.

Last year, yet another Luger clone opened in New Jersey, this time in Wayne, with some functional outdoor seating I should add. Wayne Steakhouse indeed boasts a very Luger-like menu, USDA Prime dry-aged steak, and cooks those steaks in a similar style.  Is it as good as its NYC cousins? Not quite.  Is it completely acceptable and even a bit exceptional?  I think so.

Apologies for the white balance issues

Rhodes North Tavern: Sloatsburg, NY

Representatives from the t:e organization found themselves at Rhodes North Tavern in Sloatsburg, NY, recently, and boy were we impressed.

If you're like me, you've probably driven past this place a bunch of times, and thought "hmm, looks like an interesting biker bar," but then never pulled the trigger.  That was a mistake on my part, and on yours as well.

Our first impression when pulling into the parking lot was "woah, this place is packed."  Thankfully, it's quite a large space, and all of those people from those cars found their way to some place other than the large, square bar, where we gleefully set up shop.

Right from go, we felt as if we were in another world.  While Sloatsburg is only a few miles from the New Jersey border, there seems to be a, umm, cultural difference from your average Bergen County restaurant.  In a completely good way.   Was it due to the country pop music playing over the sound system?  Hey listen, I hate country pop as much as the next guy (although I loves me some Big & Rich), but when subjected to it on a Sunday afternoon, you just can't help but think you're on vacation.  Like in South Carolina or something.  In a completely good way.  

Capital Grille: Paramus, NJ, The Burger

I didn't have high expectations, but I thoroughly enjoyed a burger ($16) at the bar at The Capital Grille in Garden State Plaza. As scholars of malls know, Garden State Plaza is in Paramus, NJ. As other scholars know, there's no 'e' in 'grill.' Unless they meant to name it "Ye Olde Capital Grille," which would be somewhat more annoying. 

The burger is said to be "infused" with bacon.  This could mean a few things, but in this case it means that bacon (along with onion) is ground into the beef.   The bacon flavor is somewhat pronounced, so if you don't like bacon, you might not like this burger. It works, although somewhat insults my purist views on burgers.  Yet it's hard to argue with results.  So conflicted. Adjusting meds...

2011: Tasty reasons to be thankful

We here at t:e headquarters are very thankful for everything at Chengdu 23.  Even the dopey flowers.

2011 wasn't a terribly active year in t:e posts, but make no mistake, food was eaten, spirits were stirred, and finds were found. 

Looking back at the past year, here are some things that the t:e army of editors is very thankful for...