Plaza Restaurant re- opens

The Plaza Restaurant, just off the square in Newton on Spring Street, is opened again. The hours are from 7am until 9 or 10 pm... In other words it serves all three meals. I will get there soon to eat.

Hampton Diner - Dinner -

Half Roasted chicken.. comes with soup or salad along with vegetable and potato. This is just what it says.. a half roasted chicken but what is special is the sauce, which is essentially pan drippings. The meat fell off the bone and the pan drippings it reminded me so much of how my mom roasted chicken. To top it off, it is a reasonable portion. This diner along with most diners serve too much food. I will try this one again. I think it was $11.95. Drink and dessert (if needed) are extra.

Grecos have retired

Grecos Italian Deli in the Hampton plaza is now closed. They have retired after 38 years of providing us all with wonderful food. They had the best sub in town along with wonderful Italian specialties and home-made Italian dishes. I will miss them... but wish them well on their long-deserved retirement.

Victoria Diner - Branchville

The diner on Route 206 in Branchville (just at the crest of the hill - it is easy to drive past) has reopened at the Victoria Diner. It is a small, traditional diner with six stalls across the from and a counter. The food is very tradition diner fare (not expanded diner like Yetters or The Hampton Diner.) The place had only been open for a couple of weeks and when I went in at 11:30am on a Sunday, it was busy. If you like traditional diner food.. give the place a try. It is on Route 206, just at the crest of the hill past the 2nd Branchville light. They have a nice large parking look. The place promotes a web site which is not up and running yet (8/7/11.)

New Thai Restaurant coming

There is a new Thai Restaurant coming to Newton (sometime in September 2011.) It is on Woodside Avenue in what used to be Memories Ice Cream Parlor (some parking lot at Seplow's Liqujor.)

I wish it well. Now we will have competition and contrast to the Thai place on the square in Newton. I don't understand why food places in the Woodside location don't work out. It has the best parking for a food place in town. The last couple of places had great food but did not last. Come on people.. get out there and support our locally owned restaurants!

Shawnie Boy's - Breakfast/lunch

This is a new lunch place in what used to be the "Lunch Box" in that funny round shaped building on 59 Diller Avenue by the Newton/Sparta Road traffic light. I have been there twice. First I had them make a turkey and swiss sandwich which was made on delicious thick rye bread. It was piled high with moist turkey and only cost $5.00. The second thing I purchased was their breakfast burrito which had sausage, eggs, potatoes, salsa and sour cream. It had a great flavor but was a little sloppy for me (I think it could do without the sour cream.) The place has "street foods from around the world" including things such as Italian Hot Dogs, Cuban Sandwhich, Beef Gyro, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Crab Cake Sandwich, Fish and Chips, Falafel, Lamb Kebab, Chicken Muffuletta and many other things. It is an interesting selection and all home made. I definitely will be back. The one downfall is the parking, which is limited but they do deliver. Give this place a try. They a mix of some of the usual plus interesting things you can't get elsewhere around here. They also have wi-fi.

Diner baked goods

If you are tempted by baked goods, diners know how to display them. Unfortunately many of them look better than they taste. Of the two diners in our area (Yetters, and Hampton Diner), there is no contest. Yetters by far has MUCH better baked goods. Their baklava is very tasty where Hampton's is sweet but rather tasteless. Yetter's pies are better too. As a fan of coconut custard, Yetters is a real custard which breaks with a light of the fork. So, in this New Year you plan to break your diet don't be tempted by Hampton Diner's baked goods.. Make the trip to Yetters and really enjoy the calories!

O'Reilly's New Menu

O'Reilly's Grill on lower Spring Street in Newton has changed its menu which now has some new items which I enjoy. The place is an Irish Pub so one does best by trying the Irish favorites. First of all, they have incredible mashed potatoes so anything that is made with them, already has a step up. On the new menu there are two new entrees which I like. First the Irish stew. It is made with Guiness stout which gives it a luscious flavor. The other new entree is meatloaf. It is the kind my mom used to make. It is served with the mashed potatoes, nicely cooked green beans and a great dark mushroom gravy with large pieces of mushrooms. In the soup section of the new menu is chili. It is a Texas chili so it has no beans, but it also is made with chunks of real meat, not chopped and the tomato sauce is made with fresh tomatoes. It is a sure winner served in their smaller sized soup bowl. I be if you want an entree size, they would do it for you. Check out the new menu at O'Reilly's.

Yummy Hut

Chicken & Eggplant, Egg Roll, Hot & Sour Soup.
The Yummy Hut is a new Chinese place in the strip mall on Clinton Street where the new Dominick's is. I tried some standards plus something different. The skin on the Egg Roll was thick and tough, not flaky like it should be. The Hot & Sour soup was fine with a little bite but not very colorful. The chicken and eggplant I did not like.. in fact I think it gave me an intestinal problem that night. The flat Chinese noodles were not crisp.. more like the texture of cardboard. I always wish new places well, but I will not be back to here.

A good read

If you go out to eat frequently (which you must if you are reading this), you should read "Waiter Rant" by Steve Dublanica. It is a non-fiction book written by a waiter in NYC.... about his experiences and his life. It may make you re-think how to act or react in your favorite eating place.

Roseline's Farm & Bakery

Someone told me to try their sandwiches and I got a ham, swiss, tomato, arugula with honey mustard on a wonderful roll for $4.99 (you can get the sandwich on a ciabatta roll, whole wheat roll Kaiser Roll or croissant.) It was a very nice sandwich which was not overpacked with meat as many are. The bitter arugula was refreshing on the sandwich. Cold sandwiches are $4.99 and hot ones are $5.99. Their baked goods smelled absolutely scrumptious! There are also quiches and breakfast specials. It is in a white building across 565 from Skylands Baseball Park, a 1/2 mile from Ross' Corner. Of course they have premium ice cream. Give this place a shot.. try out some of the things I mentioned plus some of the other ones (including their own honey.)

Chatterbox - Dinner

I had the Barbeque Pork loin with vegetables and potatoes au gratin ($9.99). It was nice to see this place making substantial food besides the usual fare but it ended up being expensive. The iced tea was $2.59 and the side salad... making the total $16.66 before tip. While I give them credit for trying real food... the potatoes seemed to be a mix and the 4 slices of pork loin had a strange texture (not roasted) maybe they were precooked, frozen and microwaved (I don't know.) I must say the green beans were done just right, a little crispy with some butter. The Chatterbox is located on the intersection of 15 and 206. While they are trying nicer things, I would stick to what they are known for. I especially like their roast beef sandwich on wonderful whole wheat bread.

Smokehouse Barbeque - Lunch

Smokehouse BBQ Brisket on Bun ($7.95) This is a sandwich on a nice round roll filled with tender, smoked brisket. It comes with a side order of creamy coleslaw with a nice bite of grated onion. This place is a wonderful find! it is not necessarily cheap and they do serve on styrofoam plates but they smoke their own meat... chicken, ribs which fall off the bone and pulled pork. They also bottle there own soda. It is opened 6 days a week (closed Mondays.) They also sell their own BBQ sauce. It is located in what used to be Stewart's Root Beer (515 Route 206), south of Newton just below the Stickle Pond Road traffic light (on the left.) They also have a full service restaurant in Independence on Route 46.

Listen And Ask

I go out to eat frequently and am well known in several places (although I hope they don't know I write this.) One thing I have learned is that when you frequent a place you can ask for things that may not be on the menu. If you are polite and they have the ingredients and the time, they most likely will do as you ask.

Another advice I have is to listen and watch. I look at plates as they go by and ask about them. At one place I discovered something they make up for the servers and now order it frequently.

I will not mention these places or the special things they make as it will definitely flag who I am.

Business is hard not and most places are cooperative. Enjoy eating!

Julie & Julia

You may think this is a strange entry for this blog... well it is not. If you haven't seen the movie, do so. I started this blog for similar reasons as Julie started hers in the movie... to share my experiences. After watching the movie I realized that it has been a long time since I have made an entry. This is for two reasons. One.. I am trying to lose weight and that is not always easy going out to eat. The other reason, I am not aware of new eateries in the area that I have not experienced.

Having said that, there are two places I have to visit. The first is the JC's Grillhouse which has reopened after some trouble over their liquor license. The other is a new Mexican place which is located in the former Kebab place just north of Newton on 206 right after the light at Clinton Street. I wish them well but unfortunately, the parking there is absolutely terrible. One doesn't need many strikes against you to kill a new food business and the parking thing here is a BIG one. Hopefully I will stop in there soon.

Airport diner/Family Restaurant - Lunch

Burger (1/2 lb.) with swiss ($4.40) The burger came with a small cup of cole slaw, pickle and a pile of chips. The burger was not a purchased pattie and was very moist. I asked for it to be medium rare and it was. As an option I got it on an English muffin (sandwich size) for 65 more cents. I also opted for tomato slices for 50 cents. I could have purchased the platter which came with fries, lettuce and tomato, but I did not want the fries. This place, right at the Sussex airport is food like you would cook at home. Nice food and reasonably prices. Just be aware it is a luncheonette - only breakfast and lunch.

Airport diner/Family Restaurant - Breakfast

Two poached eggs on corned beef hash ($6.50) This was served with hash browned potatoes, toast, and coffee. Eggs (especially poached) are a good way to test a place and these were cooked perfectly. This place is right at the airport on 565 (about a 15 minute drive from Newton.) It has a great deal of local color -- you can sit at the counter and joke around with the local people and waitress. It is a luncheonette (serving only breakfast and lunch) so don't show up for dinner. I am told that they have incredible hamburgers (their menu says the best in Sussex County.) If you want a friendly place like what diners and luncheonettes used to be years ago, give this place a shot. I will head up there soon for one of their hamburgers.

Taco of the Town (dinner)

Chile Relleno ($13.50) The meal started with chips and salsa with chunks of onions and noticeable celantro. The chile relleno was by far the best I have had around here. It was made with a large pepper, breaded and fried and stuffed with plenty of cheese. It was served with refried beans, mexican rice and a nice slaw (warm in a good way.) My iced tea was served with lime. For dessert I had flan.. which was mediocre. The flan was piled with whipped cream. If the flan was good with a nice caramel sauce it wouldn't have needed the cream. The decor at Taco of the Town is Mexican. Parking is adequate on the street (in the town of Sussex.) Besides the mediocre flan, the other thing that bothered me was chipping paint on the ceiling in the dining room. I know it is an old building.. but could it end up in your food? I have not been here in a long time and I guess my first visit several years ago... the menu confused me. Now, after being at several Mexican places around here and judging by this one meal, it is the best in Sussex County. It is worth the trip to Sussex from Newton.

Atlantic Manor (Ogdensburg) dinner

Paella Valencia ($23.00) Atlantic Manor is a new place in an former restaurant on 83 Main Street (517) right in the center of Ogdensburg (almost across from the school.) There is adequate parking. It is a Portuguese/Brazilian restaurant with seafood and grilled meat (steakhouse.) At the table was bread and assorted olives. I ordered a half pitcher of red sangria. (They have a licquor license and a bar.) My (smaller) paella valencia had a half lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams chicken and sausage and of course rice. It was a lot to eat .. two people could eat the small.. even though there is also a large one for two people at $42.00. With the meal came a wonderful white bean soup (soup of the night.) A salad or appetizer would have been extra, but I had plenty with just the soup an paella. It is not a inexpensive meal, but if you want to have a real dinning experience, it is well worth it. The also have an outside deck if you wish to eat outside. They have something called a Rodiza ($27.00)which is a bunch of Brazilian rotisseried meats ending with an pinapple on the rotisserie. I am so glad to have a different cuisine in Sussex country. Give it a try. It is well worth it. [Phone: (973) 823-6378]

Riviero Mayo - Dinner

Camarones Verdes - $15.95
The meal starts with chips and salsa with a nice bite (it may be too hot for some people... buy why then go to a Mexican restaurant.) I ordered black bean soup ($4.00) for an appetizer. It was the thick kind with a lot of black beans (I prefer a more brothy one.) There were diced raw onions on top with a swirl of yogurt. It was served in a wide, yet shallow bowl so it is not as large as you think when it first arrives. The Carmarones Verdes was shrimp with in a green sauce. There only 5 medium sized shrimp! It was served along with Mexican rice an beans. The sauce was excellent with a lot of celantro and thinly sliced onions. The mean was fine. They even have some padded chairs mixed in with the other wicker type ones which I have always found uncomfortable. There is adequate parking. There service was TERRIBLE. I left less than a 15% tip which I rarely do. I had to wait and wait for the bill. If you are looking for a Mexician Restaurant, give Riviero Mayo a chance it is north of Branchville on 206 in what used to be Mamaroni's. They have a liquor license and bar if that is important to you.