Ciro's Restaurant Italiano, MonroeTownship

My folks recently took Matt and I to a new place called Ciro's, located right on the cusp of Monroe and Jamesburg. I had been to the location before, back when it was Basile's, but it was under brand new ownership and had just reopened recently so we figured we'd try it out. They made some decent changes with the renovations... well lit, with a nice bar area and relatively open floor plan. We waited at the bar until our table was available... the service was pretty eh. Waited forever to be acknowledged by the bartender, and she took her sweet time making the drinks. Whatever. It was busy. Fine. Benefit of the doubt.

When our waitress FINALLY came over, we started off with two appetizers; artichokes Francaise and fried calamri. Both were ok. The artichokes Francaise were good, but there was way too much sauce for me. It was tasty... nice and citrusy, but a bit overwhelming due to the sheer amount. The fried calarmi was eh... noithing special. It wasn't chewey, I'll give it that at least, but there was barely any seasoning. When fried food isn't well seasoned, or too thickly battered, it just isn't that great... it just tatses bland and crunchy. The dipping sauce was decent, though.

For dinner Matt and Mom both got full entrees while Dad and I went for pastas. Matt ordered the veal Marsala and he says it was exactly how he wanted it. According to him the flavor of the sauce was dead on and the mushrooms were cooked well. He did say, however, that his veal was thin but not tender. He was happy with the dish over all, though, and that is what matters.

Mom ordered veal Francaise and she wasn't completely thrilled. The sauce, as we know from before, was good, but the batter on the veal was a bit too thick and eggy, and it got really soft. I will say that the portions were very large, though, so that is nice to see, especially at Italian places. There were three large pieces of veal on top of a big pile of pasta. Plenty of food!
Dad ordered the Bolognese, and to be honest it wasn't that memorable. I didn't even jot down any notes about it. I know it tasted pretty good, but it wasn't anything worth writing home about (or writing down at all, it seems!) All that I remember is that there was a very nice portion, and that they kindly subsituted in whole wheat pasta at his request. I ordered the penne Arrabiata and while it was actually very good (in my opinion the best thing on the table) it wasn't an Arrabiata by any means. Arrabiata means 'angry style' in Italian, referring to the fact that the sauce is supposed to carry some serious heat. This, however, was not the case. While it was a really good sauce with a ton of mushrooms and olives and flavor, it wasn't hot AT ALL. I don't mean it wasn't hot to my tounge because I have a high tolerance... I mean you could have given it to a child and they would not have found it spicy. Good sauce, incorrectly named.
Look. Ciro's is still very new, and with a ton of great Italian food in our area the bar has been set pretty high. The place is lovely and the prices are very very reasonable, but it seems that there are still some kinks to work out. I don't think I will be going back there anytime soon, but if anyone out there heads that way and wishes to set me straight, please do. I am all for second chances, if I think they are well deserved.

Ciro's Restaurant Italiano
301 Buckelew Ave

Monroe Township- 08831

732 521 1800

Princetonian Diner, Princeton

Soooooo my computer is FUBAR which means this will be a photo-less post. I will try to be as descriptive as possible (it will be a true test of my writing skills.... how do ya like THAT for a positive spin!)

Ok, continuing on to what really matters... the food! The Princetonian Diner is the epitome of the true Jersey diner... breakfast all day, baked goods made on site, big booths and bright colors... the real experience. We've been there several times now (it's the only 'real' diner close to us) so this is going to be my 'best of' list thus far.

First things first, no Jersey diner would be complete without offering several authentic Greek dishes... I don't know why it's true but it just is. The Princetonian is no exception, and they have a dinner special that I just adore. It's a small Greek salad with spanakopita, and it is seriously good. First of all the 'small' Greek salad is still very large. It has all of the standard Greek salad fare (lettuce, tomato, onion, feta, Kalamata olives) but is also topped with artfully arranged stuffed grape leaves, anchovy fillets, and pita wedges. The dressing is vinegar based and full of fresh herbs, and it's just a great salad. Here is where I curse my lack of photographic evidence, but the spanakopita is the real star to this combo. Typically when you order spanakopita it comes to you in a wedge (think a half of pice of toast, if the bread is cut on the diagonal) Not here. Ohhhh no. The piece that came out to me was like a big tube, about the size and shape of a really overstuffed burrito. It was filled with hot spinach and feta, with just a touch of garlic. The phyllo dough that wrapped the whole thing up was flaky and crisp and it was really outstanding. I actually laughed out loud when I saw how big the portion was... Needless to say I didn't finish it (oh but I wanted to!)

Matt once ordered something that they call the grilled chicken portabella sandwich. It was awesome, and we crave it regularly. It's a long crusty, toasted roll topped with grilled chicken, slices of grilled portabella mushroom, mozarella cheese and a garlic mayo and its crazy flavorful. Matt opted to get it without the cheese and it still managed to carry a ton of flavor and richness. It isn't that they're heavy handed with the garlic mayo, because they aren't, it's more that the mayo is so strong that a little bit goes a long way. The mushrooms were grilled to the point where they get that rich and meaty flavor and that toothsome but delightful texture. The chicken was not at all dry and was seasoned and grilled to perfection. The bread was toasted to the point where you got that loud crunch noise with every bite, but not over toasted where you get crumbs all over yourself (because NOBODY likes to be the crumby shirt guy!)

Last on the hit list (for now at least) is the portabella eggs benedict. It's the vegetarian version of the standard classic. At first I was sad, because what I was expecting (and for any future restaurantuers what would be awesome) was a full portabella cap in lieu of the english muffin and Canadian bacon. This was not the case.... the muffin was still there, we were just sans bacon AND the portabella was sliced, not a full cap. So at first I was bummed. However, once I began eating I changed my tune, big time. First of all you NEED the muffin... what else are you going to soak up hollandaise sauce and egg yolk with? The portabella made for an even meatier experience than the ham usually does... it was so much more texturally satisfying than the meat! The Canadian bacon typically adds extra saltiness, I will give it that, but with a hollandaise sauce who NEEDS more salt? That stuff's already got a ton of flavor! The portabella added a nice chew, a rich flavor and an earthiness that really pulled the whole thing together. The egg was done perfectly... a little runny (not scary posion people runny... the good kind). Hollandaise can't really ever be bad (I mean... unless you do it wrong), but this was buttery, thick, rich, dense, and decadent. The whole dish was delicious and I am looking forward to having it again.

There are a ton of things to choose from at the Princetonian Diner... so many in fact that it seems at some point they just start making it up! ME once even got a lasagna sald (yes... a green salad with lasagna noodles, fried eggplant, some roasted tomato.... please note that it is NOT on the hit list). They have your standard diner faves (ya know, burgers, tuna sammiches, disco fries, matzo ball soup) along with real dinner items(chops, steaks, pastas) and some more experimental options (allow me to again refer you to lasagna salad). Give it a try. It's totally Jersey and totally good.

Princetonian Diner
www.princetoniandiner.com
3509 US Highway 1
Princeton, 08540-5923
(609) 452-2272

Update

Just an FYI... I want to update, I really do, but I am having technical difficulties! All of my foodie photos and notes are saved on the laptop and it seems *dramatic pause* that we have had a bit of a crash. In true Murphy's Law fashion I was planning to buy an external harddrive with any holiday bonus money I'd be recieving this year, so OF COURSE the computer goes down a few weeks before the season. My team of nerdy friends and family are trying to help a sista out, so I will give it a few more days to see if anything can be saved. If not, then we go picture free for a few posts and I will try to eat out as much as humanly possible to start up a new batch!

In the meantime, snack happy! We will be back soon, pictures or no!

Harini, Lawrenceville

While we know by now that there is no shortage of Indian food in our area, Harini is by far the closest place to our apartment. For us it is the perfect place to go when we get one of those random Tuesday night cravings for curry (you know those cravings... don't act like you don't). It's a small place, stuffed between two huge chain restaurants (they rhyme with Shmolive Harden and Wheeburger-Wheeburger... any guesses?), so it is often over looked in favor for the well known... which is fine with us, cuz that means faster service and no waiting for a table! Ha! We win!

This particular visit we started off our meal with the chicken 65. The bright red, boneless chunks came out to us and we were immediately drawn in by the smell. These were perfect... crispy on the outside, but crazy tender within. Little flecks of toasted garlic were sprinkled on top, adding a little crunch and some nutty flavor. This was not as spicy as chicken 65 that we have had elsewhere, which didn't really bother us, since it was an appetizer.

For dinner we ordered a lamb curry that was really good. Not like any curry I have ever had before. The texture was odd.... somehow thicker... the consistancy was a bit like that of butternut squash soup; a little thick, a little mealy, but certainly not unpleasant. The meat was super tender, no knife needed. The sauce tasted of tomato and onion and a ton of spices. It warmed up my tummy but didn't set my mouth ablaze, and for that I was thankful. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE spicy food, and even crave it at times, but I really enjoyed being able to taste every element of this dish without overwhelming heat, especially since it was my first time trying it.

Our other dish was an onion and chilli dosai, which is basically a super crispy, super thin crepe stuffed with potato, onion and chille along with a ton of other spices. While we knew that these are usually very large (we have had them many times before) this one was HUGE. Look at the butter knife in the picture below for a point of reference.... INSANE. The crepe itself was super crispy and soooo delicious. The filling was glorious for the most part.... mashed up potato mixed with onion always has a spot on my plate. The problem was the chilles. We knew to expect some heat, but the hot green chilles were ROUGHLY chopped, so every once in a while we would get a bite that literally stopped us in our tracks. A thumbail size chunk of spicy Indian chilli is enough to give you the head sweats right on the spot. This was delicious, but next time we may go for a chilli free dosai and just ask for the spice tray to add our own heat!

The place isn't at all fancy, colorful, or distinguished, but the food is damned good. The service is always friendly, the food fresh, and the flavors new and interesting. The menu is pretty extensive, with a nice mixture of North and South Indian dishes, and I think that there is something for everyone to enjoy. Just beware the chilli dosai!

Harini

http://www.harinirestaurant.com/

3349 Brunswick Pike #66

Lawrenceville- 08648

609 750 0488

Za, Pennington

We needed a new spot for date night.... somewhere not too fancy, not too far away, not too overpriced, but not boring. What we came up with is Za, a hip little place in Pennington, and it is exactly what we were hoping for. It doesn't seat too many people in the dining room, so it has an intimate feel. The back patio area is beautiful (and dare I say romantic!)... plants hang all around you.... it's almost sukkah- esque. It also doubles the seating, but clearly that is only helpful for part of the year. There is some funky modern art on the walls of the indoor space, and the outdoor tables are adorned with candles. Based on looks alone we deemed it 'perfect for date night'.

First thing out was the bread. This was no ordinary bread, my friends, this was special. Glistening buttery triangles of flat bread, sprinkled with herbs and salt served warm... AWESOME. I am all about bread... I just love it. I crave bread the way some people crave chocolate, and this was downright indulgent for me. A bit crispy, a bit chewey, this was the perfect way to start the meal.

Matt decided to go with a standard house salad... nothing wrong with that, but nothing super notable, either. My salad, on the other hand, was a flavor experience. It was a warm spinach and lentil salad, mixed in with raisins, tomato, and pistachio nuts. The lentils were seasoned with cumin and corriander, so they had that warm, smokey, foreign taste to them. With the sweet raisins and the salty pistachios, the unusual spices in the lentil really made for a crazy contrast. I enjoyed the different textures... crunchy nuts, chewey fruits, hearty lentils... it was all different tastes and feels at once. So delicious, but also crazy filling!

For dinner Matt went with the 'Za-Kabob' (not such a clever name, but a very tasty dish!) Two huge skewers of sausage, steak, mushrooms and roasted red pepper came out atop a large bed of sauteed spinach and pico de gallo mashed potatoes (more on those in a moment!) The sausage was tasty, with a snappy skin and serious grill marks. The meat was good... a bit dry if I had to complain, but otherwise super tasty. No flaws in the peppers or mushrooms, but seriously,I have never met a grilled vegetable I didn't like. The spinach was delicious... a little garlicy, very yum. The pico de gallo mashed potatoes were freaking insane. Imagine you're just sitting there, eating a bowl of mashed 'taters (as I am sure you often do) when all of a sudden someone walks by and drops a very chunky, kind of spicy salsa into the bowl! At first you're confused and a little mad, but you're soooo hungry so you eat it anyway.... BEST. DISCOVERY. EVER! This is genius. Mild, creamy potato, spicy onion and jalapeno, tart tomato, all together! YAYYYY!!!

I ordered the black truffle and goat cheese ravioli ('cuz I'm fancy like that!). These were insanely rich... a serious decadence overload! Thumb sized, paper thin slices of black truffle adorned the plate of silky, creamy ravioli. The sauce was heavenly... cheesey, thick, salty, flavorful, gooey... everything I dreamt it would be. The goat cheese stuffing in each piece of pasta was a bit sparse, but I guess any more would be a cheese overload. These were so rich that I couldn't even finish them.... Matt had to help me out and eat several (poor guy).

We loved Za... seriously. It was perfect for a date night (even a double date, but I would say to keep away with big parties!) An intimate setting with delightful food for a reasonable price... such a pleasure! Some fun things to note, there is 5% discount off of your check if you pay in cash, all of their food is cooked to order (which may mean waiting a bit longer to eat, but certainly means fresh fresh fresh!), and they have over 25 kinds of tea and 20 kinds of coffee! I cannot wait to get back here... seriously... it's November and I already want to make reservations for Valentines Day. THAT good. Yay, Za!

Za

http://www.zarestaurants.com/

147 West Delaware Ave

Pennington-08534

609 737 4400

Chapala, Hamilton

I crave Mexican food at least once a week, and ever since we moved to this area it's been a hard craving to satiate. I know that we can go to Mexican Village but it's a bit of a schlep for a week night, and we were hoping to find something a touch closer.... and then we did. Chapala is right on Route 33 in Hamilton (I wouldn't call the section of town sketchy, but the building and parking lot look like they have potential to be). It's super weird looking on the inside.... really reminiscent of a pizza place or burger bar... looks nothing like what I picture a Mexican place to look like. I mean they hung the standard colorful art and sombreros on the wall, but it just looks... off.

We first tried the place with ME and her friend D, who is not only a local, but the one who reccomended the place to us. We ordered guacamole for the table upon D's reccomendation and it was awesome. Creamy and cold and a little spicy and a little chunky... even Matt tried it (remember... he is anti avacado! This is a big step!) He not only liked it, he has been asking if we can go back just to order it. So ha. Guacamole from Chapala :1, Matt's preconceived notions of avacado hatred :0

D ordered the chicken flautas in the Chapala sauce. She swears that the Chapala sauce is the way to go, but it wasn't for me... it was a brown sauce and tasted very meaty and rich... I think it tasted like it belonged on a pot roast, not a flauta. Hey... she likes what she likes. The flauta's themselves, though, were very good. Crispy and tightly rolled, these were very nice.

ME ordered the taco salad with chicken. This was LOADED with chicken.... I mean LOOK at it! The chicken was practically pouring out of the bowl! The salad was delicious and stuffed with a ton of delectibles... the standard lettuce, tomato, and cucumber were joined by black olives, mushrooms, green pepper and onion as well as cheese, salsa, and sour cream. The dressing on the lettuce was odd though... it had an Asian feel to it... it was very similar to the ginger sesame vinagrette I have at home. It somehow managed to work with all of the components, but it certainly was not expected! The chicken was cooked very well.. a bit citrusy, a bit spicy, all tender. This dish also came along with quesadillas.... soooooo much food. ME couldn't come close to finishing everything on her plate.

Matt ordered the fajita platter, and as his proteins (you can choose two, if I remember correctly) he chose the steak and chicken. Usually when you order fajitas you get your meats on a sizzling bed of onion and pepper.... and that's fine. Chapala didn't agree. Their theory seems to be 'more is more'. The plate was literally overstuffed (seriously... look at the shot I took!) with huge portions of each meat (a bit sinewy on the steak, chicken was delightful) and then a load of veggies. Peppers and onions were now joined by broccoli, carrot, squash, and cauliflower. Actually, thinking about it, this also seemed to have a bit of an Asian flare.... those are pretty typical stir fry veg, yes? Whatever. Long story short it was good and super generous. He got the Chapala sauce on the side and smeared it all over everything. I guess this meaty sauce made more sense on this dish, but I still didn't like it. Matt loved it though.

I ordered the beef burrito with Roja sauce. The burrito was a bit smaller than I expected after seeing the rest of the dishes, but it was seriously dense with filling. Strips of steak were mingling with peppers and onions, all of which were seasoned with a bit of garlic and a touch of heat. The sauce was thick and surprisingly sweet. It had a nice end kick, but I couldn't get over the sweetness... it was downright odd.

We will be back to Chapala.... most of the dishes were well seasoned and delicious, even if I wasn't a fan of either sauce that I tried (and despite the wierd Asian thing that they may or may not be trying to force!). The service was really great and the price was reasonable, especially considering the sheer amount of food that we each received. I will do a follow up on this baby next time we go, and let you know if there is a sauce that I enjoy after all!

Chapala

811 Highway 33

Hamilton- 08619

609-631-0062

Onda, New York City

I know, I know... this blog is eNJoy, emphasis on the NJ, but come on. It would be wrong of me to ignore our neighbor to the North, especially when it's so close by and full of so much delicious food. That being said, welcome to our first ever 'On The Road' edition of eNJoy. The Sister and her boyfriend HF were in the city for the weekend so Matt and I decided to join them for some NY eats. We left The Sister in charge of picking the restaurant and after 'hours of research' she decided on Onda, a hip Spanish joint in the Seaport. It was a bit hard to find, but upon arrival the place was dimly lit and decorated with lots of funky, colorful glass. All of the light fixtures were made out of wacky old bottles or wine glasses and every table was covered in a different patterned fabric. Way modern... it would have been intimidating if the staff hadn't greeted us so happily upon our entering.

We decided to order a slew of starters to share, so that we could all try a little bit of everything. First out were the two ceviches we ordered. The first was the wild striped bass ceviche, which was ridiculously fresh and bright tasting. There was the cold, clean taste of the bass acompanied by a tangy passionfruit sorbet, some spicy red onion slices and a crazy citrus sauce. This was unlike any ceviche I have ever had. The fish was so mild and the sorbert was so cold and the sauce was so tangy... every bite was loaded with an array of flavors and textures. The other ceviche was called a mixto, and it was completely different. This one had shrimp, clams and crab and had a roasted tomato sauce, a heaping dollop of guacamole, and two large plantain chips (called tostones). The sauce was a little salty and a lot flavorful... it had a bright tomato taste that went really well with the seafood and guac. I hope that none of you are imagining a tomato sauce like on pasta... this was a super thin sauce... almost like a broth... no...even more like a consomme. The shellfish had a little bit of bite and was really delicious. The tostones were super crunchy and had the whole sweet and salty thing happening. These were perfect for scooping up the chunky guacamole (which wasn't exactly fabulous with the fish but was very fabulous on its own).

The next dish was a beet and apple salad, and this was meh. It was absolutely nothing special. There were both yellow and red beets, but they were completely undercooked... in fact I thought they may have been raw. They were too crunchy....I shouldn't feel like I'm working when eating a salad. The dressing was boring... the apples were fine. The only delicious thing on the plate were the candied nuts, and there weren't enough of them to save the dish. We all agreed that it was a throw away dish. Oh well... ya win some ya lose some.

Now, HF comes from Texas, so the guy knows his barbeque. That being said, we had to order the pork ribs, ya know, to see how they stood up. They were covered in a sweet and spicy sauce... it seemed to have a ton of honey and black pepper in it. The meat was incredibly tender and slid off of the bone with very little resistance. There was just the right amount of fat so that the ribs were crazy juicy and flavorful but not greasy or gristly. I liked these a lot. I wanted to scoop all of the excess sauce off of the plate and apply it to something (or everything) else. Or drink it... with a straw. Mmmm sauce. (Oh and for the record HF approved of the ribs. Score one for the North)

In addition to our pork ribs, we couldn't resist the call of the pork belly dish. Out came five cubes of tender pork belly surrounding a ball of fried idiazabal cheese. The pork was delicious, and I was a bit mad because there just simply wasn't enough of it. Whatever it was glazed with provided a sweet and savory taste that went really well with the other components. The cheese was crunchy and herbacious on the outside and creamy and mild on the inside. The tomato was cold and fresh and when you got a bite of everything together it was really spectacular. I wish it was bigger... it took a lot for me not to pull the plate up close and yell 'MINE' at everyone else at the table.

Our last appetizer was a chicken empenada. This was unlike any empanada I have ever had, both in lookand taste. A mushroom cap shaped pastry came out and it took us all a minute before we realized that this was indeed what we ordered. It was eerily shiny and looked like it would be sweet, but what greeted our taste buds was not at all what we expected. The chicken was ground and had an almost Indian food like flavor profile. The texture was strange but not unpleasant. The pineapple salsa on the side was fantastic... sweet and tropical tasting with a touch of heat and a bite of pepper. I doubt I would order this dish again, but I am not unhappy that we got it.

We were more than halfway full at the end of all the apps, so it seems that we had made the right decision when we only ordered two entrees for the table. The first was a roasted chicken (never my first choice but, hey, majority rules) with a pickled onion relish. The chicken was good, as far as roasted chicken goes. Nice crispy skin, tender on the inside.... I just find the taste of roasted chicken meat boring. The Sister, Matt and HF all really liked it though, and since I am no expert, I'll take their opinion at face value. What made this dish delicious to me, though, was the super tangy pickled onion relish. Loaded with jalapenos, cilantro and onion which were all well doused in a vinegary mixture, this was spicy and sour and tart all at once. It provided a crazy flavor contrast to the mild chicken, and when you got the briney relish, the crunhcy skin and the bird meat all in one mouthful it was awesome.

Our final dish made the whole night for me. It was Churrasco, a delicious grilled skirt steak served over pickled tomato and fresh asparagus. The best part of any Churrasco is, of course, the chimichurri sauce, and this was no exception. Chimchurri is an olive oil based sauce composed of parsley, oregano, chili, and lemon zest. It is crazy fresh tasting, all herbs and freshness. Ya take this sauce and put it on perfectly grilled, medium rare meat (confirmed by our resident Texan HF) and you get a savory and outdoorsy flavor that is unlike any other. The piece of meat was gorgeous, too, and really big. Each of us got several thick slices and there was still some left to pick at. Very good, very meaty, very perfect.

I am oh so glad that The Sister chose to spend the better part of an afternoon looking through restaurant reviews before finally settling on Onda. The atmosphere was terrific, the service was really friendly but not over bearing, and the food was delicious, unique and beautiful. Obviously I was surrounded by wonderful company (which canhelp any meal along) but the cuisine really was a pleasure. So next time you decide to head out of our gorgeous garden state for an evening, I suggest you take a ride to Onda and order up a fancy ceviche. You'll be sooooo glad you did.

Onda

http://www.ondanyc.com/

229 Front Street

New York, NY 10038

212 513 0770

Evelyn's, New Brunswick

If you have vegetarian friends, like Matt and I do, you should definitely find your closest Lebanese restaurant. It is so easy to find filling and delicious choices that everyone can agree on. Don't get me wrong... there is plenty of meat to be had (Matt and I took part in some of the carnivorous options on this particular outing), but there is more than enough to please any veggie loving friend you may have.

I discovered Evelyn's back when I was in high school, and have enjoyed going there ever since. It's located in the busiest section of New Brunswick, and since there is a full bar and reasonably priced food, there is always a bevy of hip young folks abound. The inside is a bit small, but there is a beautiful outdoor area (with a whole seperate bar! woo! Two bars mean faster drinks!) Obviously it's a seasonal perk, but still, it doubles the seating space.

Matt and I were meeting SD for a sort of informal night of drinks and eats, so we started off with something to tide us over until he showed. We decided on the meat pie, as we knew we'd be eating mostly veggies as soon as he arrived. It was interesting.... the dough was very thick and puffy, not at all delicate or crusty like I expected (I was expecting something Spanakopita-esque). The meat was good, but I wish it was a liiiiittle more seasoned.... due to the sheer amount of dough the meat was a bit lost, and I think a little extra flavor would have been helpful.

SD arrived and we decided to order several appetizers to start off the meal. We went with the homus, the baba ghanoug, and the fallafel to start. The homus was delicious, with a really great texture and a light, summery taste. Garlic and citrus combined with the earthy tahini and chickpea to make for a very well balanced dip. As for the baba ghanoug I will say this. Evelyn's makes the BEST baba ghanoug I have EVER had. I don't know how they do it, but they get it sooo smooth and creamy, and there is definetley a smokiness to it. The eggplant taste and the tart, citrusy bite from the lemon combine to make a really special spread. It is like no other baba ghanoug I have ever had before.... the texture is unrivaled and the taste is one of a kind. LOVE it. The fallafel was decent. A bit too much crunch for me, but definitely full of flavor and all of the nutiness that comes along with chickpea. It came atop a big tahini dressed salad, which provided some nice color to our table, and a welcome bite and freshness when combined with the fallafel or dips (oh yeah.... we mixed 'em all up... fancy, eh?)

Next up we ordered the artichoke salad, which was composed of mixed greens, olives, tomato, cucumber and, of course, artichoke. The dressing on this was really refreshing... super tart and a little spicy. There was definitely some mustard in the dressing, and it made for a really great tang... with the cool, mouth filling tatse that artichokes have it was a really nice contrast. The salad was big, too. The three of us shared it and still had some left over.

SD said that he was full, but Matt and I needed to get a meat fix, so we ordered a platter of lamb and chicken shish. A super loaded plate came out to the table, covered in the lamb and chicken cubes as well as rice, some more homus and a few tomatoes and onions. The meats were tender and super flavorful. Lebanese food is so bright and fresh tasting, it's like a little taste of summer anytime you have it. This was no different. The grilled meats were so reminiscent of outdoors and sunshine that I couldn't help but smile. Whatever they were marinated and then rubbed in was citrusy and fragrant, with a hint of garlic. Matt declared the rice to be 'perfect'... he thought it was fluffy and well seasoned. His favroite way to enjoy this dish was with the meat, some rice, some homus and a bit of tomato in each bite.

At this point we had been sitting and eating and drinking for about three hours, so we figured 'let's just make a whole night of it'. After a few more drinks I had digested enough of the glorious meal to make room for my favorite of all the Lebanese desserts...baklava. Oh baby... Evelyn's really makes it well. Layers of super thin, crisp and buttery dough sandwiched with chopped nuts and drizzled with sweet, sticky honey. Oh boy. Two fat little pieces came out to us, and were promptly gobbled up. The honey was tacky on the crispy dough, and when the whole thing was in my mouth it made a nutty paste of deliciousness. Perfect end to the meal, and the evening.

Evelyn's is a great place for a quick bite, or a lavish night of eating and drinking. During the day they have sandwiches available (try the gyro, it's delish) if you're on the run, or you can pull up a chair and make it a more formal event. At night there is a bit of a bar scene, but it isn't rowdy and it's always inviting. The food is great, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the price is right. Give it a shot!

Evelyn's

45 Easton Ave

New Brunswick, 08901

732 246 8792

http://www.evelynsrestaurant.com/

Aroma Royal Thai Cuisine, Franklin Park

Thai food... the fun and unique marriage of spicy, sweet, salty and bitter. When it's good, it's realllly good, and when it's not, it's still kind of good. Lucky for me cousin J and Dad had BOTH been telling me about Aroma Royal, and I have now seen the light. This is hands down some of the best Thai food I have ever eaten. Somewhat elegant, but completely delicious, it is not to be missed.

Over my last few visits there I have enjoyed several of their dishes (I have tried not to re-order any one thing so that I may provide you with a variety). This is a highlight of my favorites so far (and I will be sure to update as I re-visit... I don't want any of you to miss a bite!) I am also including a 'steer clear' dish or two so that you don't waste your time ordering sub par eats.

The first thing I ever ordered at Aroma Royal was the chili garlic fried rice. Wow. You get to add your choice of protein (shrimp, beef or chicken). I went with chicken, and it provided a nice, calm contrast to the serious flavor in the rest of the dish. It was spicy and garlicky, and so so SO fragrant. There was something that was providing an unexpected (but really delightful) toasty crunch. Upon some inspection it seemed that there were some fried up garlic and onion pieces. A totally welcome addition, these provided some serious textural contrast and warm rich flavor. I thought this was awesome.

Next up on my greatest hits list here was the Tom Yum King soup. A shrimp based broth filled with so much flavor it almost makes you dizzy. Lemongrass gives it that tart bite, earthiness from all of the mushrooms, the shrimp broth and three huge shrimp give it a sweetness, and there is a good amount of heat (so don't ask for it 'spicy' like i did the first time... OY! FIREEEEEE! 'medium' is hot enough and if you have a delicate palate you'll still get a huge wallop of flavor when ordering 'mild'). My Dad truly believes that Tom Yum soup is the cure to whatever ailments you may have. The spice cleans out your sinuses and warms up your guts, wakes up your brain and fills you up. It's the Thai twist on medicinal food... consider it the new Jewish chicken noodle! Super tasty and a really generous portion.

One of my 'don't bother' dishes would have to be the Aroma beef salad. The beef was a bit chewey and the dressing was a bit off. There is lime juice and mint atop this dish and the combo just wasn't working for me...it almost tasted bile-y. I know. Ew. It was also super heavy handed with the onion, which took it to a bitter and angry place. If you're in the mood for salad get the simple Thai salad... its clean, fresh and delicious, with a sweet and salty peanut dressing and strips of crisped up tofu. Skip the beef salad. Seriously.

The emerald Pan Dan leaves are a real treat. The presentation is lovely... they look like little presents wrapped up and piled on a plate. Basically what it is is succulent chicken and spices wrapped up in the Pan Dan leaves and then thrown into the frier. The leaves get crunchy but the chicken on the inside just gets jucier and jucier. When they bring it to the table they will remind you that THE LEAVES ARE NOT FOR EATING! (Yes I tried it despite the warning... not tasty) You unwrap your little package and a perfect little piece of chicken plops down on to your plate, ready to be dipped into the sweet and spicy sauce that comes on the side. The chicken gets crazy tender... falls apart on your fork, and literally explodes juices of happiness into your mouth. Yum. ohhhh yum!

The Lard Nar is my next 'eh' dish, but it may be my fault. They give you the option to order crisped egg noodles or flat rice noodles and I went the crisp route. While the mixture of vegetables and shrimp that the dish came with were lovely, the noodles were really inconsistent. Somewere super crunchy, almost to the point of being inedible, but some were soggy and not at all crisp. I feel that if I had gone the flat noodle route I would have had a better over all experience, but I won't find out as I turned myself off to the whole concept.

Last but oh so certainly not least is the Pad See Ew. This is the best dish that I have had at Aroma Royal, and I cannot live without it now. A very respectable portion of stir fried flat noodles, topped with a protein of your choice (I've now had it with shrimp and beef) and what the menu calls Chines broccoli, but what I call leafy greens (not sure if it's spinach or what). The greens are a little bitter, the sauce is a little sweet, theres garlic and those crunchy onion bits that I mentioned before, and some heat and some salt and its just soooo good. The green onion really makes each bite pop and the noodles are artfully cooked and give you a serious mouthful of happy. If you have to order ONE thing at Aroma Royal Thai Cuisine, this should be the dish. It is the true epitome of Thai cuisine, the delightful merge of all taste sensations and a true culinary experience. Get this. You'll be glad you did.

Once again, this place is really easy to miss (seems like a trend with my reviews, eh?) It's stuck in a strip mall on a major road, but don't let that fool you. The food is awesome, the service is attentive (overly so at times!) and it's actually really nice inside. Lots of artwork and deep colors provide a really great ambiance. Also, there are specials! Every day for lunch all rice or noodle dishes (even the Pad See Ew) are half price! Every Wednesday ladies eat half price. Every Thursday students eat half price. You can't beat these deals with a stick!

Aroma Royal Thai Cuisine

3175-3 Route 27 South

Franklin Park - 08823

732-422-9300

Andres Pizza Palace, Brigantine

Ok. I'll get it out of the way. I worked at Andres for the better part of my college career. It doesn't necessarily mean that I would endorse it (hey, in some cases it might mean I would bash it... disgruntled employee and such), but it just happens to be good. I assure you I will be nothing but fair in my critique. Now, moving right along....

First thing out is the bread... my favorite. They have a focaccia bread that they make in house, and it's awesome. My friends all refer to it as the pizza bread, but whatever you call it, it's delicious. Tomato, onion, rosemary, a little Parmesan... soft on top with a chew to the crust. Yum! They used to have homemade garlic bread in there too, but on my last few visits it was noticeably absent (Hey Andre! If you're reading this, bring it back!) For dinner I had the grilled chicken Solari, named after one of Andre's regular customers. My plate was loaded with three large chicken breasts (seriously, no one could eat that much chicken!) delectably grilled and adorned with a strong cheese sauce (could be Gorgonzola, could be bleu cheese, who knows... but it's sharp and tangy and creamy and rich.) I usually hate grilled chicken. In fact go read over my previous posts... I'll wait...have I ever ordered chicken? Nope. That's because I'm not a huge fan. It's usually too dry or too boring for me. Not here. The breasts were cooked perfectly. Juicy but with serious grill marks, perfectly seasoned and tender. Nothing boring about them. The scalloped potatoes were also fantastic... creamy, a little salty, falling apart on my plate. (I know, I know... a lot of heavy food on one plate. Normally I'd agree and say 'cheese sauce AND scalloped potatoes!? What were they thinking!? But not this time... because I LIKED it, thats why). Besides, they threw several stalks of asparagus onto the plate for good measure, so there. That makes it healthy right? Anyway. I like this dish. A lot. It may not be the prettiest to look at, but it sure was tasty to eat.

Matt got whole wheat pasta and what I consider to be the best sauce that they make, which is the spicy sausage blush sauce. Huge chunks of sausage in a perfectly seasoned sauce. It's not nearly as spicy as the name would insinuate, but it does have a lot of flavor, enough heat to please any palate, and a great tomato kick as well. There is a touch of cream in the sauce, which makes it thicker and richer, and deepens the flavor... it is truly not to be missed. Oh. The portion was HUGE. He worked at it for a good thirty minutes and it didn't look like he even made a dent... in fact, we BOTH had his leftovers for dinner the next day. One order of pasta at Andres = dinner for three. Sweet.

While the food is fantastic here, I do have to point out that it's pretty pricey. The pasta dishes less so, but the entrees are all between 13-32 dollars (which is a lot for a beach town Italian joint). They also serve sandwiches and pizzas (note:try the Rosemary pizza... a beautiful tomato pie with lots of garlic and fresh herbs.. AMAZING), which are definetley MORE reasonable, but like I said, a bit pricey. The other issue is this... ya know how at most places when you order, say , a chicken parm entree it automatically comes with pasta and a salad? Not here. With your entree order you have a choice of salad OR soup OR pasta. Just something to know.

Look. The food is worth a visit for sure, and I think that their pizza is the best on the island. To me the quality is absolutely worth the price, and with the portion sizes you're actually kind of getting two meals in one (know this... you WILL have leftovers... even if you're famished when you get there you will NOT be finishing your meal). Try it out! Tell them you know me!

Andres Pizza Palace
1312 West Brigantine Ave

Brigantine, NJ
609 266 1124

Steve & Cookie's By The Bay, Margate

For as long as Matt and I have been dating I have been promising to take him to Steve and Cookie's By the Bay, one of my all time favorite restaurants. Well... it took me well over two years, but I finally did it (not for lack of trying... the place is kind of hard to get into!) The place is deceptively large, with one huge dining room (seats over 100!), plus a bar area at the front (which holds several tables) and an oyster bar in back. We showed up right on time for our reservation but still had to wait (I HATE when that happens!) but the food proved to be well worth it.

We started off with three appetizers (yes, it was just the two of us... we waited two years to get here.... give me a break!) The first was off of the specials menu, and I am so glad that it was there. It was a tempura battered stuffed zuchinni blossom and it was absolutely outrageous. The stuffing was composed of a ricotta, crab, and asparagus mixture that was so good. It wasn't heavy on the crab but it was lucious... creamy and rich tasting. The tempura fried zuchinni blossom was crunchy and well seasoned, and when you got a little bite of crunch with the smooth creamy stuffing.. oh man. Too good. I haven't even mentioned the sun dried tomato sauce that was placed under this whole shebang... sweet and fresh tasting, it was the perfect compliment to the slightly salty blossom. This was tatsy. Damned tasty.

Next on our list was the suppli... a risotto fritter composed with fontina cheese and peas and mozarella all topped with a tomato sauce. Matt was nutty for this but I could have done without it. It was a fried risotto ball, and it was delicious, but after a while it just got boring. I like when new and exciting flavors are introduced throughout each bite, and this one just didn't have that depth. the sauce was really good though... the perfect blend of sweet tomato, salt, basil, and spice. The fritter itself was pretty good too, but it was just fried cheesy rice upon fried cheesy rice... I would have loved a few hidden surprises in there (and before you look back and say 'Oh but there were peas in it' I will let you know that they got lost in the ricey mixture. So there)

Our third and final appetizer (had to save room for dinner after all!) was what I have come to consider Steve and Cookie's crowning glory.... the lobster mac and cheese. This dish is stupid good, and while I have seen a lot of fancy mac and cheese sprout up over the years(truffle mac? duck and cheese? stuff like that) this was the first I ever knew of (way back like 8 years ago) and it's what I use as my standard. THIS is the dish that made me fall in love with the place so long ago, and when I talk about favorite food experiences this is always in the mix. On this night it held true to form... it was out of this world. The topping is crunchy and buttery, the cheese is rich and decadent and there are huuuge chunks of sweet lobster meat. It really is a treat, and one of the best foods I have ever eaten... there... I said it. Plus the portion is HUGE. This could easily be a dinner.... as opposed to... ya know... a third appetizer between two people . Anyway....

For dinner Matt had the 5 oz filet mignon (also offered in an 8 oz). The presentation was beautiful (you eat with your eyes first... you must know this by now!) The shitake mushroom and port wine sauce was really good... could have used a few more mushrooms, but maybe I am just saying that because I thought they were superb. The sauce complimented the meat really well... it was not at all salty and almost tasted meaty itself... very good. The mashed potatoes were AWESOME.... some garlic makes alllllll the difference. Matt was very happy with his meal.

I ordered one crab cake for dinner (you can order one OR two, but come on... we ate our own body weight in apps). It was very good, but a liiiittle soft. I wish there had been a bit more of a sear on it, but the crab meat was plentiful and sweet. The Asian style slaw that came on the side was also fantastic... a little spicy, but not too much so... a little moist but not too wet... really refreshing and crunchy. There was a HUGE scoop of mashed potatoes on my plate, too... perhaps a bit too much, as they completely dominated my plate. I enjoyed this a lot, but I wish the crab cake had a bit more crunch and there was a bit less starch... but hey. Tasty is tasty.

Just when we thought we couldn't shove any more food in our faces we discovered that there was a (get this) mini pie sampler. How on Earth are you going to say no to 5 bite size pies? You aren't, that's how. We were able to sample the following: pecan pie, chocolate brownie pie, apple raisin cake, lemon mousse pie and chocolate peanut butter pie. They were all delicious but the best (in my opinion) had to be the pecan. Sweet and sticky, with a delicious crust, this was a winner that reminded me of the deep south. Yum. Matt really liked the chocolate peanut butter one... it was creamy and sweet... the peanut butter was smooth to the point of almost being liquidy. Very good, and officially stuffed.

I will say this. The food was FANTASTIC but the service? Not so much. Our waitress was a complete mess... barely acknowledging us when we first sat down, making us wait ridiculous amounts of time before taking our orders, and not checking in on us at all. I guess the service was so bad because it can be... it was not a deterent in the slightest because the food was SO DAMNED GOOD. But yeah... not so friendly.

Go to Steve and Cookie's By The Bay. Go now. Eat everything. It's pricey, yes. Worth it, though.... VERY worth it. They have a great wine list, meh service and superb food. The place is lovely. Its scenic. It's away from the craziness that is Atlantic City. It's a fantastic date night or special occasion location.

Steve and Cookie's By The Bay

http://www.stevandcookies.com/

9700 Amherst Ave

Margate, 08402
609 823 1163

White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City

The White House Sub Shop in Atlantic City is famous in the tri-state area for having amazing sandwiches and even more famous for the hour long lines that people will wait on to get them. Our visit was no different. Matt, Mom, Dad and I shoved into the tiny space along with three dozen other people, willing to wait for the perfect sandwich. While waiting (which was a loooooong time) you can't help but notice the pictures on the walls of the bajillion celebs who have eaten there over the years... yeah, it's that good. This place is old school... small and cramped and in need of some paint, but it's clearly well loved and well lived in. Eat in service is possible as there are about 5 diner-esque booths and a long sit down counter, but these seats were all filled up on our visit.

They finally called our number (after 45 minutes!) and we made our order. We got an italian, an italian special, and a cheese steak with fried onions. These sandwiches were monstrous... they had to weigh 2 pounds each. They were colorful and inviting and expertly arranged. The bread kept tooth while holding in the flavor of the house dressing. Did I mention they were large? Because thats an understatement... they're gargantuan.... get a load of this cross section shot!

To me there is nothing better than a good italian sub. I mean, come on, spicy capicola, salty salami, sharp provolone, ham, crunchy veggies, hot peppers and tangy vinegar? Fuhgedabouddit... my fave. It carries memories of lunches on the Jersey shore, at least for me, and this was one of the best I've had.

The cheesesteak was also delicious. The meat was perfect... not chewy or stringy (so unappealing) the onions were brown and sweet, and the cheese was salty and evenly melted. I wish they put as much meat on these subs as they do on the cold ones, but hey, I know they have to make a living too. The proportions were spot on... not too cheesy, not too many onions. The fat from the steak (ew. I know) soaked into the bread making it flavorful yet not soggy. I was pleased. Damned pleased.

You're going to wait at White House... it's just a fact. If you're low on patience or time this is NOT the place for you. If, however, you have 30-60 minutes to spare and are really hungry, THIS is the place for you. Parking is kind of a beyotch, so like I said.... PATIENCE is key for this place! Get the italian. Tatses like Summer, yes?

White House Sub Shop
2301 Arctic Ave
Atlantic City, NJ
609 345 8599

Ganges, Princeton Junction

I seriously think that anyone who loves Indian food as much as I do should live in this area. It is oh so abundant, and so far all of it has been pretty good! This rule certainly applies to Ganges in Princeton Junction. It is close to home and has just what we were craving... authentic Indian food. It's a liiiittle tricky to find, as it's tucked into a strip mall on an awkward corner. Once you find it and walk inside I'm pretty sure you'll be impressed with what they've done with the place. It's charming and well decorated, with a warm and inviting feel.

We started off with the vegetable samosas and they were lovely. The perfect crunch on the outside is what really makes a samosa stand out to me. The filling of peas and potato was perfectly seasoned... a little heat and a LOT of flavor. The accompanying chutneys (one sweet (and I believe plum based) and one hot) were perfect... they added just the right depth to the samosas (and everything else I ended up smearing them on!) For our bread we chose an aloo (potato) Paratha. This is pretty much always going to be delicious.... creamy potato shmeared between flat bread? What could be bad!

For dinner we ordered one chicken dish and one lamb dish. For our poultry we went with chicken Tikka Masala (which is one of our favorites). The color on this was unlike anything I have ever seen. It was BRIGHT red. It looked almost fake.... I was convinced that the coloring had to be artificial. Whil ethe sauce was really tasty, and the chicken well seasoned (although a litle dry) I couldn't get over the color of the sauce. It weirded me out. That color red is not one that I have ever seen in nature, so I cannot even tell you how it came to be in the dish. There was a drizzle of yogurt over the top of the dish, so it lightened up a little by the time this picture was taken, so if this doesn't seem 'all that red' it's because it isn't. Long story short, though, it was tasty. Darned tasty.

We ordered the lamb Boti Kabob Kandhari and, unfortunately, we could have done without it. While seasoned exceptionally (and with a perfect citrus kick from some added lemon) the meat was super dry. So dry, in fact, that it was hard to eat. The spice was perfect, the onions burnt to a caramelized crisp (just the way I looooove them!), the portion size ideal, and yet we left food behind. Such a shame. This could have been my all time favey, but instead it was chewy and sad. Wah.

I will definitely go back to Ganges, despite the tough lamb. Everything TASTED fine, and the service was awesome, so they certainly deserve another shot. If I am once again served icky, over cooked meat, though, I am going to be so mad.

Ganges Authentic Indian Cuisine

http://www.gangesonline.com/

33 Princeton- Hightstown Road

Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

609 750 1550