I had not been to The Brothers in about five years. I remember the outside being nothing to look at, and the inside kind of dark and dram. But still, there was an atmosphere to it. Something old and classic. When I visited there the other day, I was surprised to see the inside was…
Tag: Shrimp
Restaurant Review: Nonna’s Citi Cucina (Englishtown, NJ)
Any restaurant which starts you off with homemade bread this good is okay in my book. I had heard about Nonna’s for years. People rave about them, but that is mainly directed at their family-style dinners. It may be a misconception that family dinners are all that Nonna’s serves. They actually have a full ala carte…
Restaurant Review: Ichiban 18 (East Brunswick, NJ)
We stopped at Ichiban for some late night drinks and snacks with friends a couple of weeks ago. It was the first time I had been in the place since it was Shogun years earlier. It looked exactly the same. The sushi bar and tables in the front, a circular bar, and hibachi grills in…
Travel Guide PA: Tokyo Diner (Lancaster)
There have only been a few dining experiences in my life that I would classify as “mind-boggling”. The other night at the Tokyo Diner would be one of them, though not in an entirely negative way. You may think we were asking for it, going to a sushi place in the middle of Amish country….
Travel Guide PA: Revere Tavern (Paradise)
The Revere Tavern was my favorite Lancaster restaurant as a child. I’ve always been a history buff, so maybe it was just because this was a chance to dine at a historic tavern. Built in 1740, the building served as a stagecoach stop for nearly a hundred years before it was purchased by Stephen Foster’s…
Travel Guide PA: Saigon Cafe (Lancaster)
My first experience with Vietnamese food was a success, and in the least likely of all places. Amidst the rolling hills of Amish farmland lies the cute, little Saigon Cafe. It reminded me of a Chinese place back home, Shanghai Bun, which is an authentic, no-frills eatery. There is not much decor to speak of,…
Restaurant Review: Penang (Edison, NJ)
It started with a cup of hot lemon tea. It was sweet, and served with a lime wedge. I was not expecting the sweetness, but it lent itself in a pleasing way. Asian cooking is all about contrasts. Different flavors, different textures, different feelings in your mouth. This simple tea opened up my palate to…
Travel Guide MD: BJ’s on the Water (Ocean City)
We ended up here by accident. Why this was is cause for another post, but everything happens for a reason. I am glad fate brought us to BJ’s on the Water. I ate here once as a child, when I was about 13. I did not remember anything except sitting outside by the bay. This…
Travel Guide MD: Upgrading the Crab Bag to Five Stars (Ocean City)
A voice in my head shrieked, “Don’t do it, Greg! Don’t do it!” as I contemplated ordering a steak off the menu of this seafood joint. In fact, when we were here in December and reviewed it, I even mentioned how asinine it would be to order a non-seafood item in a place such as…
Hunter’s Casual Crusades: New Monmouth Diner (Middletown, NJ)
Each diner is pretty much the same as you go down the list of clichés. Endless bulky booths? Check. Crowded plates with huge portions of food? Check. Retro style decor? Check. It’s hard for a diner in New Jersey to stand out if you think about it. There are so many of them, and even if…
Restaurant Review: Piero’s (Union Beach, NJ)
Piero’s is one of those places I have driven past almost every day for many years. I live less than 10 minutes away, but until two weeks ago, had never been there. We went for my mom’s birthday. My parents had been there once before and wanted to come back. The chef/owner used to be…
Restaurant Review: Toki (Red Bank, NJ)
Japanese and sushi places are getting to be a dime a dozen, but I would be inclined to expect more when said restaurant is located in Red Bank. Housed in what used to be the old Broadway Grill, Toki managed to exceed my expectations. Right off the bat, I was struck with the attentive service. I…
