Tops Diner

500 Passaic Ave, East Newark, NJ 07029

Meeting Lisa L. for Breakfast in Newark

Notes

Life Pancake Company

426 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302 (no website yet)

This was not even the second choice for lunch today.  The first choice was Chili's over near the ShopRite, BJ's, Newport Mall.  The second choice was the Brownstone Diner.  BUT the Brownstone does not exist any longer, it is now this "Life Pancake Company."

I was there about their second week after re-launch.  And the experience showed the LACK of experience of the kitchen and wait staff.

Notes

The Benedict Burger

The Benedict Burger is a mashup of eggs Benedict and a burger.  To me, this sounds like a perfect thing.  In practice the day I was there, not so perfect.  I ordered a burger cooked 'Medium' - it was cooked 'Well', very rarely my choice unless at a fast-food chain.  The beef patty was not the only thing cooked 'Well,' so was the fried egg.  Being fried is NOT my problem, it might have been listed as fried on the menu.  My problem was the yoke.  When cut into, the yoke should be totally runny like this:

Gordon Ramsay's Eggs Benedict

Oozing the smooth rich flavor of the yolk over the sandwich.  While I am on this rant, I will say the hollandaise sauce was not bad for diner hollandaise.  It might even have been house-made.

Same facade and exterior.

New Interior, gone is the counter service.  What WAS the ceiling in the old place?

The view from our table.  Some happy customers

Sangria Tapas

1033 MacArthur Blvd, Mahwah, NJ 07430

Found this place online and choose it sight unseen to meet our friend Jenn G.  It is somewhere in the middle between us. Were (wrongly) a little worried about the strip mall location... Our own prejudice.  We made reservations for opening time and laughed that we did not need to. WRONG! the place was packed before we left with a couple large groups and several tables with families. The staff was friendly and attentive, the selection was extensive, and the food was delicious. Be sure to stop here if you are in the area.

Notes

The great part of tapas is that you get to order LOTS of small plates!

Pan con tomate (Spanish bruschetta) and Olives to start

The interior when we arrived.  They were empty.  NOT FOR LONG!

ALBONDIGAS Lamb meatballs, preserved tomato sauce, sheep milk cheese, herb croutons

PULPO A LA PLANCHA Marinated Galician octopus, watercress, piquillo pepper romesco sauce

EMPANADAS

PATITIS PATATAS Potatoes, chorizo, smoked paprika, tomato and aioli sauce

MARISCADA Clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamari in choice of red or green sauce, rice and seasonal vegetable

PUDÍN DE PAN SANGRÍA Bread pudding, apples, oranges, grapes, walnuts, warm caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE The Spanish doughnut covered with cinnamon sugar served with hot chocolate dipping sauce

Chocolate Ice Cream

The Smith, a week after the fire...

55 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Notes

The menu was somewhat limited, but the bar was full and what we did have was great.

Piccolos Famous For Cheesesteak

55 Clinton Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Since 1955. It is all you need to know.  Somethings never change.

Notes

The Menu(s):

The interior

The food

Lintel soup

The Cheesesteak

Porta - Pizza and Christmas Trees

135 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

They have a Buy 2 Pizza and a Pitcher of Beer get a

Free Christmas Tree

Notes

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Applebee's Riverhead

1832 Old Country Rd, Riverhead, NY 11901

After shopping at Tanger Outlets, we stopped for a bite to eat.

Notes