New Jersey...

Okay, so next week I have a business trip which is taking me to NJ - the part in sight of Manhattan but not quite there...

My hotel likely will be in Jersey City somewhere (or other nearby towns). I won't likely have a lot of time and my while I am traveling on business, it is not with a huge expense account, so my question is - any suggestions for dinner (and perhaps lunch) options without resorting to hopping on a train and getting into Manhattan?

thanks!

Shannon

Shannon,

If you're staying in Jeresy City, I imagine that you'll be down near the waterfront which is kind of barren of chowish type places. You'll find mostly mall and hotel food there.

The good news is that you're jut two Path train stops from Hoboken which offers lots of interesting choices (though I really would recommend Manhattan as adestination as the quality and quantity of what you'll find is much better there).

If you choose Hoboken, here are some basic recommendations:

Oddfellows Rest: A bustling Bar and Cajun spot located just a few yards from the Hoboken train terminal. Very servicable Jambalaya (considering you're in New Jersey).

Bangkok City on Washington Ave serves pretty good Americanized noodle based Thai.

Biggies Clam Bar is a bit of an institution from Hoboken's prior life as a mob/shipping town. Its been a bit yuppified over the years. But still offers some pretty good seafood dishes at reasonable prices.

Figaro Pizza- a good place for a slice located almost directly across from the train terminal. Their speciality is their baked ziti pizza. One slice is a meal.

Will,

Thanks! The issue with Manhattan is that since I am traveling on business for one client (but have other clients to support as well) I don't have a lot of time to spend on getting dinner - but do want to find a few better options than the hotel... hence my need to find places near where I will be staying.

I think I'll actually technically be in Ridgefield Park NJ - any suggestions for there?

Shannon

Shannon Clark wrote:any suggestions for dinner (and perhaps lunch) options without resorting to hopping on a train and getting into Manhattan?

You're going to the right place. A few suggestions:

1. Italian
Antique Bakery
122 Willow St
Hoboken, NJ 07030
201-714-9323

Marie's
261 Second St
Hoboken

Both of the above are coal-fired brick oven bakeries. If you go, bring me back a large semolina twist with sesame seeds.

Lisa's Deli
901 Park Ave
Hoboken
www.lisasdeli.com

I do not have an up-to-date rec for an Italian restaurant in Bergen county, but know there must be a whole bunch. I'd highly recommend you try it, it's very different from around here.

2. Spanish
Fornos
47 Ferry St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 589-4767
http://www.fornosrestaurant.com

Don Pepe Restaurant
844 McCarter Highway
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 623-4662
http://www.donpeperestaurant.com/

Both of the above I highly recommend for seafood. Get their gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce), garlic soup, mariscada en salsa verde, and paella a la Valenciana. IMHO clams and other shellfish do not travel well, and you should taste a remarkable difference in having fresh seafood there compared with places around here.

3. Brazilian
Brasilia
99 Monroe St (S of Ferry)
Newark
973-589-8682
www.brasiliagrill.com

This is what chow enthusiasts hope Fogo de Chao would be. Greater selection of meats, half the price, authentic Brazilian rodizio. Also check out the dessert cart with unique Brazilian specialties. The salad bar isn't much; people go for the meats. Also lots of other small Brazilian places walking along Ferry St., East of Penn Station, Newark.

Enough chow worthy of a Newarkathon. Enjoy...

I'm in NJ this week (Whippany/Parsippany is a graveyard for chow -- I may have to drive a ways to get something decent to eat).

Picking up my car from Enterprise, I drove right past a place labeled "Brasilia", at the U-turn on Hwy 1 (or is it 9?). I don't know if it's the same one, but if not for still feeling bloated from the post Yom Kippur feasting on Saturday and great eggplant parmesan from Giacomo's on Sunday, I might have gotten bloated on grilled meat for lunch.

(I deleted this post as a duplicate of the one below)

JoelF wrote:I'm in NJ this week (Whippany/Parsippany is a graveyard for chow -- I may have to drive a ways to get something decent to eat).

I disagree.

Reservoir Tavern
90 Parsippany Blvd. (1st exit off 287 North of 80, turn right, go ~1/2 mile on left)
Parsippany, NJ 07054
973-334-5708
One of my favorite pizza places

Eccola
1082 US-46 (at Beverwyck Rd.)
Parsippany, NJ 07054
(973) 334-8211
great Italian restaurant (so simple, why can't they do it here?)

The Chinese place in the foodtown shopping center on Rt. 10 in Whippany (2nd light E of 287?) *** no longer good per JoelF's post on 9/28/04**

Ruga
4 Barbara Ln (right at exit 58 of I-287)
Oakland, NJ 07436
(201) 337-0813
20 min North of Parsippany off of 287, excellent, more upscale Italian
incredible, homemade pasta dishes

I do not recommend the Don Pepe's on Rt. 46 in Pine Brook. I know it's close, but the taste is just not the same as the one in Newark.

JoelF wrote:I'm in NJ this week (Whippany/Parsippany is a graveyard for chow -- I may have to drive a ways to get something decent to eat)

2 minutes east of Parsippany on Rt 46 in Fairfield in a small strip on the south side of the road named 'Calandra's Plaza'
CALANDRAS ITALIAN & FRENCH BAKERY
244 Us Highway 46 Fairfield, NJ 07004-0230
973 227 5008
"good Sfogliatelle, lobster claws, cannoli, the complete NY bakery lineup, they make their own French ice cream and fresh bread every hour. They're open 366 days a year until 9 each night I think."

In same little strip as Calandra's is a small Italian deli that makes super sub sandwiches--homemade mozzarella, fresh breaded chicken breast, sun dried tomato, arugula, roasted peppers, exc quality cold cuts, ok red sauce staples price for takeout--its a daytime operation, not evening. Also an ok, not great pizza place.'

There is a minor mother load of Taiwan Chinese places in the Parsippany area. Try searching on CH for 'Parsippany', or picking Jason Perlow's brain over on eGullet.

Also, 10 minutes east of Calandra's in West Paterson is Mina's (On the Mountain), Squirrelwood Road exit off of I-80 then right 2 minutes on the right at the top of the 'mountain'. Excellent home style Italian. A small, family run place. Its perfect....apologies to Mr. Puzo.

I dunno about you, but I eat damn good around there.

[quote="Rich4Enough chow worthy of a Newarkathon. Enjoy...[/quote]

Speaking of next athons, it would be cool for you to lead your proposed Newarkathon one day. As Will and Cathy2 did with KC, maybe it is possible to find really cheap airfare.

Rob

Steve Drucker wrote:There is a minor mother load of Taiwan Chinese places in the Parsippany area. Try searching on CH for 'Parsippany', or picking Jason Perlow's brain over on eGullet.

I remember a great Taiwanese place on Rt. 46 Eastbound in Parsippany, just East of the 80/280 split, set in a strip mall next to a subway. Amazing little treasures...just off the highhway.

OK, Ok, I take it back. There are good places to eat in NE Jersey. So why do all the other employees at my company keep heading to Macaroni Grille, Bennigans, or the mediocre Korean place? The latter, because they're almost all Koreans -- gotta get them to Lincoln Ave., or at least Niles->Northbrook on Milwaukee.

Asking around the office, several people thought the Chinese place mentioned above is a buffet, and I'm trying to avoid overeating.

So I went to Eccola. Quite good, but not what I'd call "simple."
Yes, they have a number of ordinary pasta dishes, but the emphasis was on more complex dishes. What I had was the polenta of the day: crispy disks with creamy insides, topped with filet "tips", roasted (allegedly, although it was sauteed slices) garlic, rapini and gorgonzola (mmm). At $18.95 a la carte, I thought they were stingy on the filet (overall, there was plenty to eat), but the presentation and quality were excellent.

Tiramisu (one of my weaknesses) was nicely moist, not too much cream and mascarpone (still behind my faves of Maggianos (which is actually too much cream) and a tiny intense one from a La Francais lunch). An excellent cappucino topped off the meal.

It's tough to eat alone, I'd have liked to have tasted a few other dishes. What I saw around me was a lot of interesting pastas and meat dishes. Service was OK -- more attention to my water would have helped (and charging for a second iced tea? tsk). The place has a nice modern decor, but is very, very loud. Quite full for a Monday night, too, so they're obviously doing something right.

Perhaps I'll try some Taiwanese tomorrow, if the meetings don't end up including a business dinner. I was going to have a third night here, but some family stuff has come up, and I'll be back sooner.

Hi,

My sister lives in Lake Hiawatha, which is either part of or adjacent to Parsippany.

If you go north on Beverwyck Road from Rt 46, there is

Howard's Bagel Bakery Inc
82 North Beverwyck Road
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
973-299-0116

Opens at 4 AM, has half price bagels at 4 PM and closes around 5 PM. My sister who drinks no coffee, will not eat processed sugar or flour, causes us to flee to Howard's for breakfast food every morning.

&&&

If you go east on 46 from Beverwyck Road, on the north side of the street is a Chinese Grocery Store, which has changed names several times, you are able to access by turning right on the 'jug handle' in front of a Holiday Day Inn-ish Motel. They have a food court in this Chinese Grocery, which is better at lunch and tired-ish at dinner.

&&&

Behind this Chinese Grocery store are two very large L-shaped K-mart/Grocery Store strip malls. The strip mall to the north east, has a Chinese restaurant near the crouch of the L. If you have an early evening dinner, I think before 7 PM, you can get the family dinner for 4 for something like $20. The family dinner gives you maybe 20 entrees to choose several from. I especially like the whole fried flounder with a sweet and spicey sauce. When my sister pulls out the brown spaghetti and some other really healthy stuff, we flee here. BTW - I also see a lot of movies at theaters while visiting this sister.

&&&

West of Beverwyck Road on 46, there are some Italian restaurants as well as a Diner on the south side of the street all within 2-3 miles. We have been to the Diner, which was by our standards a variation of the Greek family style restaurant. We were pretty tired, so dinner was more a feed and go function.

&&&

I've sent a message to Steve Drucker who has provided me some recommendations for this area as well. I just can't put my finger on it.

Regards,

JoelF wrote:OK, Ok, I take it back. There are good places to eat in NE Jersey. So why do all the other employees at my company keep heading to Macaroni Grille, Bennigans, or the mediocre Korean place? The latter, because they're almost all Koreans -- gotta get them to Lincoln Ave., or at least Niles->Northbrook on Milwaukee.

There are some great Korean style Japanese restaurants in Bergen county (Hackensack and Fort Lee), where you get huge honking sized pieces of sushi, sashimi, and creative rolls for not too much money. Get your co-workers to take you there.

JoelF wrote:Asking around the office, several people thought the Chinese place mentioned above is a buffet, and I'm trying to avoid overeating.

Definitely not the same place I'm thinking on Rt. 10. Maybe the place has since closed, or changed ownership. Got to get the food while it's hot.

JoelF wrote:So I went to Eccola. Quite good, but not what I'd call "simple."
Yes, they have a number of ordinary pasta dishes, but the emphasis was on more complex dishes. What I had was the polenta of the day: crispy disks with creamy insides, topped with filet "tips", roasted (allegedly, although it was sauteed slices) garlic, rapini and gorgonzola (mmm). At $18.95 a la carte, I thought they were stingy on the filet (overall, there was plenty to eat), but the presentation and quality were excellent....The place has a nice modern decor, but is very, very loud. Quite full for a Monday night, too, so they're obviously doing something right.

I would like to have just one restaurant like Eccola here.

For more simple homestyle Italian, and lower prices, try the Reservoir Tavern. No reservations, just show up and wait which can be 2 hours on the weekend. Great pizza too.

Thanks for the suggestions - unfortunately this trip I am in Fort Lee (by the George Washington Bridge) without a car - but with a hotel that will take anywhere within a few miles.

So, suggestions for places here in Fort Lee would be most appreciated - looking at the lists that the hotel has, it appears that there are quite a few Korean and Japanese (likely Korean owned) places here - any of particular note or which I should focus on trying? I'll be eating dinner tomorrow evening Manhattan (why not - will be there anyway for a meeting).

Shannon

Cathy2 wrote:If you go north on Beverwyck Road from Rt 46,

Hehehe she said Beverwyck, hehehehe

Hmm.. with a little planning, I could probably have met you, Shannon. I'm only about 20 minutes west on 80.

As it is, I had crummy Chinese. With it pouring rain, and the traffic not moving on Jefferson at Rt 10, I decided to try that above-mentioned place, even if it was a buffet (it wasn't).

Lotus House
831-33 Rt. 10 East
Whippany, NJ 07981
(Pine Plaza / Super Foodtown Shopping Center)

I almost get the feeling I was being steered away from coming back, like "The Gardens" in Andrew Vachss' books does with strangers. The rest of the patrons were all Asian, and seemed happy. Several were definitely repeat visitors, something I won't be. Nothing was truly awful, but a lot of details fell short.

Table Crunchies (fried eggroll skins and sweet and sour sauce): These had been sitting around for a while (there were a dozen or so bowls lined up), and were a little stale (could be the weather: we got more rain today than Chicago has since probably July 1). The sauce had a nice flavor of apricot -- one of few plusses today.

Hot and Sour Soup: Good, not great. Served piping hot, with nicely spicy bite, but mostly tofu, and not a scrap of the depth as, say, Pine Yard in Evanston.

Shrimp Dumpings (a dinner special): Four dumplings served in a metal steamer. They were pretty ugly, almost falling apart. But the filling was plump shrimp pieces, and the sauce of chile-flecked soy was pretty good. The highlight of the meal.

Hunan Lamb in Black Bean: First off, I asked for spicy, and didn't get it. The sauce was pretty bland overall. The meat was plentiful and tender, but the melange of veggies (straw shrooms, baby corn, red bell, broccoli, cabbage (one of the better items), and celery -- very fibrous and strong-flavored) didn't seem to work, and the rice was dried out.

Top it off with a fortune cookie that was stale (cookie and message: it told me what had already happened today -- a significant business opportunity), I'm much less than enthused.

JoelF wrote:As it is, I had crummy Chinese. With it pouring rain, and the traffic not moving on Jefferson at Rt 10, I decided to try that above-mentioned place, even if it was a buffet (it wasn't).

I'm embarrased to have mentioned a place that serves bad Chinese food. There used be great Singapore noodles.

But while we can go East, we can't go back in time.

Well I do have a small food find to report. (Dinner tonight was due largely to the weather - which is awful - the hotel's okay japanese - a bit overpriced, but perfectly adequate)

For lunch today I found a small bakery, Sunmerry (I think it may be a chain, not sure) which had an interesting mix of Spanish speaking staff and customers, with asian (mostly japanese) inspired baked goods. Lots of intriguing items (likely I'll be back again if I end up working at my client's office here in Fort Lee which is around the corner from the strip mall where Sunmerry is - just past the entrance to the George Washington bridge.

I had two japanese items - a curry bun and a potato salad bun - both were covered in japanese breadcrumbs - very tasty and unlike anything I have had before. I also had a corn and ham tartlike item - a bit hard to describe but also quite good. They have quite a range of items - from somewhat traditional asian baked goods (red bean buns) to turkey hot dog buns, to rolls with french potatoes. Plus lots of sweet items.

Overall - definitely a place worth checking out.

[edited to include address: Sunmerry's Bakery & Cafe 2151 Lemoine Avenue Fort Lee, NJ 07024 201-944-0088 ]

Shannon

Just found this - one of the best examples I recall seeing of a small town chamber of commerce putting together an actually functional and useful website to promote the town:

http://www.fortlee.com/chamber/Restaurants.htm

Note that most of the links are to photographs of the restaurant, placed in context in descriptions of different shopping districts around Fort Lee. Impressive and actually useful.

Shannon

So I'm back in Jersey again for another week of meetings.
So far...

• Outback Steakhouse -- against my usual rules against chains, but got swayed by Bloomin' Onion. Onion was indeed very good, grilled shrimp passable (not hot enough), baked potato above average.
• Cafe Navonne in Rockaway -- Couldn't get into Eccola, the desk clerk at the hotel listed this as one of her favorites. Food was pretty good, with a much-less imaginative or extensive menu than Eccola, and abysmal service: we were there a full hour before our order was taken, and time between courses was similar.
• Banzai Steakhouse in (Mountain Lake?) -- Just barely passable (Eccola was booked until even later than the previous night). The sushi was top quality, but the teppanyaki was greasy, everything flavored with the same shot of soy, squeeze of lemon and dollop of garlic and margarine. My clothes were reeking of oil and garlic when I left. Sauces were bitter. High note was the noodles served alongside the main courses, also cooked on the grill. Although who needs noodles andfried rice?
• Tonight, we'll actually get into Eccola, and I expect to enjoy it. Tomorrow's the company holiday party, so no adventures then, then home again.

Is it really the only place worth eating at around here? I sincerely hope not.

Joel, if you're stll there, you may want to give a place in Fort Lee (or maybe Edgewater) called Palisadium a try. It is a Korean owned and operated banquet hall and restaurant.

They serve very nice sushi and have a cook your own Korean Barbeque as well as other Korean Specialities.

The place is monstrous in size. I have had a few good lunches there over the years.

It's located on the Palisades. So you have a wonderful view of Upper NYC with your dinner

Hello,

I've been lurking here for a couple of weeks - just moved to Chicago (Southport Corridor...I don't mind the Yuppiness, as long as it's safe and the eats are good) a few weeks ago. I haven't had much to add (only absorbing at this point), but I just came across this thread. I worked in Parsippany for 2+ years before I transferred out here.

Joel, if you happen to be back in the Parsippany area and enjoy Indian Food, I strongly suggest Chand Palace. It's 1/4 mile from Rt. 46 down Parsippany Blvd (202). They have a website: http://www.chandpalace.com. They have a great lunch buffet...that's when I would go. I should also mention that it's vegetarian. I am the most non-vegetarian I know, but the food is great there. They do amazing things with homemade cheese and vegetables. Just don't go in expecting a big hunk for Tandoori chicken.

Reservoir Tavern is a great little place. Every town in America should have one.

If you travel a couple of miles west on 46 to Denville, you can find a fine fish market/eatery called Denville Seafood. They have a site, too: http://www.denvilleseafood.com. The soups are awesome...the New England is a little peppery to my taste, but the gumbo rocks.

My other favorite place was Vitale's Italian Deli on Rt. 46 (across from the Taco Bell). The panini are big and tasty.

The Taiwanese place Cathy speaks of is called Noodle Chu. It's pretty good. Good variety for a strip mall, I'll say that.

Good luck if you go back!

Rich4 wrote:2. Spanish
Fornos
47 Ferry St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 589-4767
http://www.fornosrestaurant.com

Both of the above I highly recommend for seafood. Get their gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce), garlic soup, mariscada en salsa verde, and paella a la Valenciana. IMHO clams and other shellfish do not travel well, and you should taste a remarkable difference in having fresh seafood there compared with places around here.
Enough chow worthy of a Newarkathon. Enjoy...

We took advantage of a last minute airfare special to visit our friends in Allendale, NJ, and check out the Christo Gates in Central Park. While we were still waiting yesterday for the plane to empty out so we could squeeze out of our last-row seats, we were on the phone with our friends, admitting that no, United Airlines hadn't served us lunch, but, emphatically no, we weren't so hungry that we needed airport food. They suggested Spanish or Brazilian. Remembering the recent posts about how Chicago needs better of both, we didn't disagree.

They took us to Forno's. We were hoping for a lunch menu, but if they have one, it wasn't available to us at 3 p.m. No problem. Big meal now, snack later. They put a huge salad on the table almost as soon as you come in, along with a bowl of great olives and a whole loaf of absolutely magnificant bread. The guys had garlic soup (great), and I had the fish soup (ditto--interesting texture--also with bread in it).

Of course I didn't have these recommendations with me, but my friend suggesting splitting an entree and she wanted the Chilean Sea Bass and that was fine with me. Couldn't have been better and served with excellent garlic mashed potatoes. Bill went with two appetizers, the grilled sausage and the tortilla espanol. The sausage had a lot of bite to it and just the right amount of interesting spice. The tortilla espanol, which included lots of roasted red peppers, was head and shoulders above the tortilla espanol at Iberico. The other guy had the cod with garlic--again very nicely done.

When they served our main courses, they also put down on the table a platter of very buttery and perfectly cooked broccoli, another of saffron rice, and a third of homemade potato chips.

Portions are very generous. We ended up bringing home half of the cod, sausage, broccoli, and potato chips and all of the rice. The sausage and the chips had a few minutes in a low oven and became part of our 8 p.m. snack around the tv. I'd be happy to eat the rest for breakfast, but we're not such close friends that I feel I can suggest that.

Anyhow, as the theads on food we need more of in Chicago, let me second that motion that a great Spanish restaurant would be more than welcome. I'd always liked Emilios and Iberico, and even, I confess, Cafe Babareeba, but now I know what I'm missing.

Ann:

Thanks for a great report! And I must agree with the opinion you express in the final paragraph.

Next time I'm back to visit my folks I will definitely go to Forno. The neighbourhood around Ferry Street is and has long been a great one, so much so that it bears not one but two very distinctive nicknames: To most folks, it's the Ironbound District but an even more local appellation is "Down Neck."

Antonius

Hi,

I want to get this on here before I accidentally toss it away:

Bragman's Delicatessen
393 Hawthorne Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112-1644
(973) 375-9868

Monday Closed, Tuesday-Saturday 09:30 AM - 6:30 PM, Sunday Closed - Open Mondays in December

I met this guy in New York who reminded me a lot of my LTH friends. He was rhapsodizing his love for this Jewish deli in Newark. He was so pleased with his corned beef sandwich he had a picture on his laptop he whipped out to show me. It wasn't yet screensaver status on his computer, though nothing would surprise me.

This is on my short list of places to visit the next time I am in the area.

Regards,

Wow, I haven't posted on Jersey since 2008! That's probably because (a) I've going to the same ol' places when I go, and (b) I haven't been back in a while (my current boss is based in Philly-area, and is less fond of face-to-face meetings than my previous one, more fond of saving money).

But I'm out here for the second time in the last month (previous time involved an 11PM TGIFriday's and an airport burger), and found a new place, right next door to my hotel (Hotel Sierra Parsippany is great for the price), where a little over a year ago was a vile Chinese place, is a pan-Asian spot named "Melange".

Normally I'm highly skeptical of those sorts of things (last night's meal at Oysy in Northbrook was not stellar, but they're Japanese/Thai -- stick to the Japanese and you'll do OK there... but I digress. A lot.) But the menu the desk clerk had showed some interesting Indian items -- this place, although it does have Thai representation, is pretty heavily Indian influenced, and the Chinese items seem "Indian Chinese."

Pretty good. Meal started with sweet chili sauce with puffed multi-color fried thingies in funny shapes, better than the usual chinese fried dough and duck sauce.

For starter I had the calamari, with a rather nice sesame sauce (and more of the sweet chili). A small portion for $9, but most places serve way more calamari than I should eat as an appetizer.
I followed this with Hakka Chicken, which was nicely spicy, with lots of scallions. Mmm.

Melange - Asian Fusion Cuisine
353 Smith Road
Parsippany NJ 07054
973-884-4242

I never realized there was a NJ thread, though I shouldn't be surprised! I'm a NJ native, though I joke that I left before I was too impressionable. My Mom still lives there (now in Central Jersey...I grew up not far from Manhattan).

I find that most of the places near my Mom are not to my liking...places that still serve what's called "Continental" food, lots of heavy butter & cream-based dishes, etc. That said, my few tips:

Point Pleasant: If you're at the Jersey Shore, check out Spike's Fish Market. I haven't been there for a couple years, but it's always been great when I've been there. (Sort of surprising that a quick Google search turns up average ratings of 3.5-4 stars on Yelp & similar sites, but unless it's really suffered in recent years, I'll just chalk that up to poor taste of Yelpers, etc.) They do great soups: Red & white clam chowder, lobster chowder, lobster bisque, etc.
415 Broadway
Pt Pleasant Beach
732-295-9400

If you're staying near Point Pleasant, check out Point Lobster (conveniently around the corner from Spike's). It's a wholesale & retail seafood store that--not surprisingly--specializes in lobsters. It's the only place my Mom (who's grandfather was a Long Island lobsterman) will buy her lobsters and the prices are great. Other seafood always looks fantastic, though I've never had any...too busy buying and eating lobster.
1 Saint Louis Ave
Pt Pleasant Bch, NJ 08742-2651
(732) 892-1718

Wawa: One visit to Wawa (a local convenience store) and you'll never want to set foot in 7-11 again. Great coffee (and a huge selection) and better-than-average convenience store subs.

chgoeditor wrote:Wawa: One visit to Wawa (a local convenience store) and you'll never want to set foot in 7-11 again. Great coffee (and a huge selection) and better-than-average convenience store subs.

Yeah, I was surprised at how good the Wawa coffee was, and I'm a little bit of a coffee snob (but not too much of one).

My buddy lives near one in Mt. Laurel and he never makes coffee at home, just goes to Wawa on the way to work. He'll even get it there on a weekend and go home again.

Can't stress enough how great Reservoir Tavern is in Parsippany.....best pizza in Jersey as far as I'm concerned (magnificent old school atmosphere)..

Arthur's Tavern for an amazing burger....(Morris Plains and Hoboken)

And, of course, Rutt's Hutt for a ripper (Clifton)....simply the best hot dog I have ever had (with their signature yellow relish)...

ParkLaBrea wrote:Can't stress enough how great Reservoir Tavern is in Parsippany.....best pizza in Jersey as far as I'm concerned (magnificent old school atmosphere)..

I had to make a few repeat trips to North Jersey earlier this year, and I loved Reservoir Tavern in my two visits or so there. The pizza -- tavern style -- is fantastic, but don't overlook their entrees, which are also prepared carefully. When the ordering ratio at the restaurant is about 50% pizza (which they're known for) to 50% entrees, you know you can't go wrong. The old-school tavern atmosphere is very warm and welcoming, and made me miss these type of East Coast joints tremendously.