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I used to live within walking distance of this place and never went there. After I moved, a friend took us there for after-church breakfast and I realized that this is a pretty good diner. They have...
I used to live within walking distance of this place and never went there. After I moved, a friend took us there for after-church breakfast and I realized that this is a pretty good diner. They have all the usual stuff, of course. The preparation is good and the prices are in line with every other local diner. The service can be distracted, especially when it's busy. However, it's a very comfortable place and you will probably feel right at home if you like diner food.
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I have been a customer here for decades. The staff knows wine and is willing to recommend based on their experience and not on what makes them the most money. If you are a regular customer, they...
I have been a customer here for decades. The staff knows wine and is willing to recommend based on their experience and not on what makes them the most money. If you are a regular customer, they will work with you as you explore vintages and styles that expand your experience and appreciation for fine wine.
They will discount case orders too - a nice touch for a place that provides good customer service.
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When I want bagels, I am usually in a hurry getting to work. Having parking and enough people behind the counter to take and deliver my order quickly means a lot. These guys do it really well and...
When I want bagels, I am usually in a hurry getting to work. Having parking and enough people behind the counter to take and deliver my order quickly means a lot. These guys do it really well and the bagels are quite good. Not exactly up to my favorite - Bagelicious in Rockaway - but good enough to pass muster.
Nice people. Clean place. Fair prices. Good food. Can't ask for much more, can you?
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When we sold our house in Mountain Lakes, the Realtor here gave us an unrealistic selling price (at first they asked us to name the selling price). Then the house sat for 8 months unsold - we...
When we sold our house in Mountain Lakes, the Realtor here gave us an unrealistic selling price (at first they asked us to name the selling price). Then the house sat for 8 months unsold - we carried 2 mortgages, thanks to their incompetence.
They refused to let us out of the contract but eventually we managed to fire them and change Realtors. The house sold in a month at a proper market price. It seemed to me that they only wanted the listing and high-balled us to get it.
Worse yet, the people here were difficult to deal with and in the end, nasty too.
There are so many true professionals out there, you have to be a masochist to use this office.
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Saab owners are unique in the world of car buyers. Your typical Saab driver is an engineer type, more interested in performance than style. However, Saabs have always had their quirks. My friend...
Saab owners are unique in the world of car buyers. Your typical Saab driver is an engineer type, more interested in performance than style. However, Saabs have always had their quirks. My friend Andy is a Serial Saab owner and has lots of tales of woe with their reliability (we call them Saab stories). But another friend, also a serial Saab owner, has nothing but good things to say about his experiences. The difference? One bought his car at Reinertsen and the other did not. Reinertsen is famous for knowing their product very well and, here's the secret, they service these cars very well.
Service is what makes or breaks a complicated machine and the boys at Reinertsen seem to have that nailed.
Like Saabs? If you buy, this is the only place to get one.
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Ever since the A&P opened, the traffic in the mini mall on Rt 53 has gotten hectic. But this may not have been good news for long-time resident Three Crown Bakery. They are, sadly, gone but not...
Ever since the A&P opened, the traffic in the mini mall on Rt 53 has gotten hectic. But this may not have been good news for long-time resident Three Crown Bakery. They are, sadly, gone but not forgotten. They had good muffins. Good price too.
If they moved, they didn't leave a forwarding address.
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I tell everyone that you can get any kind of food in NYC and that it is often better than you will find anywhere else. The exception is BBQ. It's not that we don't love it and it's not that we...
I tell everyone that you can get any kind of food in NYC and that it is often better than you will find anywhere else. The exception is BBQ. It's not that we don't love it and it's not that we don't have people who know how to cook it. There are clean air rules (so I am told) that limit the cooking method to something less than the ideal / real southern BBQ way. (If you know the regulation, post it here please.)
Having pontificated, let me say, this place serves decent ribs. Their sauce is pretty good too and they are not stingy when they apply it.
If you are an experienced BBQ hound, then you probably will not be awed by Tennessee Mountain. I thought it was OK until I did a back roads tour in Florida and found a guy making BBQ out of a trailer down the road from a 4X4 bog. Yee Haaa! The smell was so good, we drove over a median and right into his back yard. It put every other offering to shame.
Blue Smoke is better and there are other places as yet unexplored (by me, anyway).
Watch this space for more reviews!
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Back in the summer of 1979, one week into my new job, I had to work on a Saturday with my boss. Being a Bergen County boy, he knew that I didn't know the area so he recommended we eat lunch at...
Back in the summer of 1979, one week into my new job, I had to work on a Saturday with my boss. Being a Bergen County boy, he knew that I didn't know the area so he recommended we eat lunch at Cutters. Back then, it was a dive and that was the way he liked it (he was paying). Jump ahead two and a half decades and Cutters is no longer a dive. It's a rather ambitious bar / restaurant serving decent food and drink. I love their fried calamari and have made a meal out of their appetizers.
Many a happy hour has been spent at Cutters with a glass of Sam Adams and plate or two of fried food.
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OK, I have visitors from fly-over country who think Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden are all that and more. How do I impress them with their first "real" Italian feast and not break the bank? Del...
OK, I have visitors from fly-over country who think Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden are all that and more. How do I impress them with their first "real" Italian feast and not break the bank? Del Posto, Babbo, Lupa, Otto - all Mario Masterpieces but out of scope for the budget. Becco - definitely in my price range but location, location, location. Ahhhh, the Village. Carmine Street - yes, a mini Italian oasis in a sea of pretenders.
I selected 50 Carmine based on word of mouth (pun intended) and foodie reviews. I made my reservation and kept my fingers crossed.
Good news - My guests (there were 10 of us) were greeted and treated like royalty. The room - soft lights, exposed brick and "see and be seen window tables" -was very nice. Classic Village ambiance. Please consider that a compliment.
The crusty bread served with a decent, flavorful olive oil was noshed as we surveyed the menu.
For appetizers we had pan fried calamari (best I have had since Venice), fresh mozzarella, sinfully rich with good tomatoes, basil and red pepper, fried artichoke hearts, sweet as candy and a reason enough to eat here and a cold mushroom dish - Polenta and Mixed Mushrooms Ragu - that I felt was the weakest offering.
For the main dishes, my crew had a nice selection, expertly described by our waiter. First, the branzino - generally regarded as a winner by the 3 people who ordered it - was fresh and cooked by someone who cares and knows about fish. Ossobuco - so tender that the term "like buttah" is appropriate - was described as "outstanding." And the scallops, pasta and asparagus (my dish) was a feast for my taste buds. The scallops were just amazing - every bite was a trip to fantasy land.
The food was so good that people in my party have already made reservations for themselves and their significant others this weekend.
We had a couple of decent bottles of red wine. Fresh and fruity and fairly prices at $35.
If you love Italian food, prepared by a smart chef and served by a classy wait staff, try 50 Carmine.
Possibly my new favorite Italian restaurant.
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I was cold and hungry on a Sunday AM, shooting some stock photos and exploring the Village. When I passed Doma, I decided to give it a try. I didn't know the rules so I fumbled a bit. As Yogi once...
I was cold and hungry on a Sunday AM, shooting some stock photos and exploring the Village. When I passed Doma, I decided to give it a try. I didn't know the rules so I fumbled a bit. As Yogi once said, you can observe a lot, just by watching. After a few minutes I discovered that you go to the back, place your order and wait until they bring you your food.
After I did that, I sat and did a little people watching until my eggs arrived. Everyone seemed to be writing in a journal or tapping on a laptop. If only my life was that important.A couple of people were doing the Times crossword but they were in the minority.
Early morning Village people are an unusual lot - like were they just getting home or are they so alone that Saturday ended sadly or at least too early? Maybe I should try and sneak a peek in their journals?
Anyway, the art on the walls is odd. The layout a little odd and the style of placing your food order was slightly off-putting but I will go back because the food was well prepared.
A good cup of coffee. An egg cooked nearly to perfection on good bread and some interesting people watching. All for about $10.
Yes, I'll go back but I'll do better because I know the ground rules.
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