Jake's Bar and Reastaurant- Flemington, NJ

Jack's Bar and Restaurant in Flemington is one of those places we have passed dozens of times and noted that the parking lot is usually full. A full parking lot intrigues me and I put them on the list for a visit.

Inside it is fancier looking than the outside with white table cloths and waiters in black shirts. The dinner menu looked nice with entrees ranging from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties, reasonable.

I had the Cuban Press sandwich which was quite well executed. The fries however were a bit lacking as they had the taste of frozen fries, dropped in the fryer while still frozen. Teresa had a salad which she liked and Mark ordered the fish tacos with swordfish. I tasted them and they were good. 

Service was good, food good, prices reasonable. I'd stop by again.

Saffron Indian Cuisine- Middletown, NY

Saffron has a lunch buffet daily for eleven bucks. That and the recommendation of my friend Steve, a man whose tastes I trust, made us decide to pop by for lunch today. I'll cut to the chase and say that it was good.

On my plate shown above you can see that I tried a bit of everything, I still am not well versed in Indian cuisine so I am still sampling. The chicken tiki masala was quite good and even the tandoori chicken was good. I find that in most cases tandoori is too dry, but not so here. The lamb was quite tasty as well. We will go again.

Carmela's Pizza Restaurant- Montgomery, NY

I haven't been to Carmela's in years so when a few guys from work suggested we go there for lunch I was in. We shared a couple of good pizzas and we each got the salad bar. The pizza was good and the salad bar well stocked with some nice ingredients. Overall, a nice old-style pizza joint with a friendly staff.

East Coast Burger Company- Ridgewood, NJ

Patty Melt

In a word, amazing, but that may just be an understatement. East Coast Burger Company in Ridgewood, New Jersey takes the concept of Five Guys and Shake Shack and elevates it to a new level with fresh local beef cooked perfectly. After our friend Danielle told me we had to try them, I put them on my short list. 

I ordered the Maytag and applewood bacon burger shown below for  $7.25 and added fries for another three bucks. The burger was amazing with plenty of that great blue cheese and an ample supply of bacon. The fries were just right with that crispy exterior and a nice soft interior. They have bottles of malt vinegar on the tables and that added the perfect touch.

Maytag Burger with fries

Teresa got the Patty Melt on potato bread at $6.25 and she said that she would order it again when we come back. Add in a soda and a delightful blueberry ice cream cone and the whole tab came to $23.00. 

You have got to try this place. Oh, they also serve lobster rolls wherein they use a whole lobster for each order. From what I've heard they are great. 

Sal's Place- Highland, NY

We had a couple of friends recommend Sal's to us, so I put it on the short list and today was the day to stop by for a visit. I have to remember to thank our friends as we were quite impressed with Sal's.

It's not a big place, just a neighborhood bar with some TVs and tables. It isn't fancy either and at six o'clock on a Friday night it was a tad noisy from the rather large bar crowd. The menu is somewhat extensive with plenty of Italian dishes priced at average prices. What I wanted was a burger so we each ordered one. Teresa ordered hers with grilled onions and I got mine with cheddar cheese and bacon. The burgers come with fries at $8.99 and add $.50 for each topping.  The total bill came to twenty-one bucks, tax included.

What surprised me was that the waitress brought us a bread basket and the burgers came with a small salad. I had mine with the house-made creamy blue cheese dressing and it was one of the finest blue cheese dressing I've ever had. So far we were off to a good start.

When the burgers came they were large, hot and tasty on a fresh kaiser bun. The meat tasted fresh and you could tell by looking at it that it was hand-formed with the delightful irregularities in the shape. The fries were crisp on the outside and nice and soft in the middle, just right. 

Service was good and as we ate Sal, in his chef coat, walked around greeting the diners and checking on everything. Friendly place. We will be going back again soon.

Pippa's Sports Cafe- Danbury, CT

Pippa's Sports Cafe in Danbury is one of those neighborhood places where locals go to watch the game, down a few beers and have a meal. It is also a place where you can take the family for an inexpensive meal after the Little League game or soccer match. It is not one of those sanitized, standardized, cookie-cutter chain places. Sure, it's a bit shopworn and could use some remodeling, but it is clean and has the feel of a faded pair of jeans or a well-read dogeared book. There are TVs all over the place and most of the tables even have a small one at the table. 

We stopped by for lunch and we sat out on the front porch as the weather was just right for a fresh breeze. After looking over the menu we decided on burgers. Teresa got the Red Sox burger with roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese while I ordered the DP burger with bacon and Swiss. 

Both burgers were good with a nice char on the outside, but mine was overdone from the medium ordered. It was okay though, not dry at all. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, plentiful, and seasoned. Overall, two good burgers for twenty bucks with friendly service.

Paraiso Latino- Pine Bush, NY

My boss told me that I have to try Paraiso Latino in Pine Bush, that it was very good, and he was right on the mark. We stopped by on a Friday evening when they have a buffet for eleven bucks. 

We sampled nearly everything and our favorite was the chicken enchilada with tomatillo sauce. It had a slight heat that didn't overpower the flavor. The chipotle chicken was good, the pulled pork was reminiscent of a Carolina style with a vinegar taste, the fajitas were tasty, and the chimichangas and burritos excellent. 

There was even a small selection of deserts featuring sweet chimichangas and rice pudding.

Overall, very good food, perhaps some of the best Mexican in the area with nice people. We will certainly be going back again.

Joe Willys Seafood House- Fishkill, NY

Calamari

Joe Willys in Fishkill is a place we have driven past for years never really giving them a thought until one day we saw them on Restaurant Impossible. This intrigued us and I put them on my short list, unfortunately it took quite some time before we got there. What made me stop was that my friend Michele went there with her husband for their fifteen anniversary. When I asked her about it she said she liked it and that she would go back. Since I trust her tastes we decided to try them and I can say that we are certainly glad that we did. 

Shrimp topped salmon

We were greeted at the door by a very pleasant young lady who seated us. She was followed by our equally pleasant waitress who gave us water and menus. It took a few minutes to make our decisions so we started with the calamari appetizer at $10. It was a bit different from the traditional calamari rings as they cut the body of the squid into strips, bread them, and deep fry. Doing it this way is risky, but if executed properly the calamari has a crispier snap than the tentacles (and looks prettier). This was quite good.

I ordered the shrimp topped salmon at $19 and I liked it. The shrimp was actually small bits of shrimp in a puree that crisped up in the oven. The salmon sat on a bed of amazing mashed potatoes and spinach that was loaded with garlic and was excellent. My only comment was that the salmon was a tad overcooked for my taste, but I like my salmon a bit more rare than the average person. I am quite certain that I could have requested it medium rare. 

Shrimp Francese

Teresa ordered the shrimp Francese at $18. She had a choice of rice, pasta, or spinach and the spinach (the same one I had) was her choice. This dish was amazing. The shrimp was fresh-tasting and perfectly cooked with an addicting lemony taste that was just right. Both entrees came with a rather large salad as well. The house balsamic was quite nice.

Overall, a very lovely dining experience. The service was excellent. The food was amazing at reasonable prices ($50 for two entrees and an appetizer). The ambiance was nice, sort of a casual chic with people dressed up and others in sweat pants. We will certainly go back again as there are a few more things I want to try.

State Line Diner- Mahwah, NJ

A well-executed Reuben sandwich can often be considered to be one of life's greatest pleasures. Four simple ingredients and a condiment in the hands of a proper diner cook can be elevated to a meal rivaling the offerings of a Michelin starred chef.

That said, we stopped off at the State Line Diner in Mahwah today and I ordered what I usually get at a diner, a Reuben. My logic is that a diner should be good at the basic diner staples such as; Reubens, omelets, gyros, burgers and salads. 

This was one of the best Reubens I've had in a while. The rye bread was of good quality and grilled with butter, the corned beef (no, I do not get pastrami) was nice and lean, the sauerkraut was fresh with a bit of a tang to it, and there was just the right amount of Swiss cheese. They gave me a few mustard packets, but I went with the very nice thousand island dressing on the side. 

After looking through the rather extensive, and heavy, menu, Teresa decided on a panini with chicken, hot peppers, cheese and mixed greens on the side, also very good. 

Overall, good food at good prices with friendly service. Marcello took good care of us. 

Walden Frostee Freeze- Walden, NY

One of my favorite places to get a gyro is at the Frostee Freeze in Walden, just a quick hop in the car or a short walk from my house. I usually get it to-go and with an order of fries it's about nine bucks. The sauce is very good too. We occasionally get ice cream, but I usually stop for the food.

Half Moon Restaurant and Saloon- Kennet Square, PA

I saw the Half Moon Restaurant and Saloon on the Travel Channel a while ago, I think it was one of the burger episodes, and I put it on my wish list shortly thereafter. What appealed to me was the fact that they specialize in wild game and I am always in the mood for something different. The last time we were in the area it was Sunday and they were closed. This time we decided to pop in on a Saturday. 

Kennet Square is the mushroom capital of the world and it is also a fairly upscale, and trendy, little village near the Delaware border. It is also the home of Longwood Gardens, a remnant of the DuPont family. The restaurant is on the main drag and when we entered it was bright and roomy with friendly staff. We were four adults and two children and we were seated near the back.

We started with the chef's choice wild game sampler. Tonight it was bison, lamb (not really wild game), and elk. The bison was overcooked and tough, as was the elk, but the lamb was perfect. 

I decided on the wild boar sliders and there were three of them. One of them was rather dry as there was no relish on it, the middle one had just the right amount of relish and the other was swimming in the relish. Overall, they were good, but nothing any more special than pulled pork.

Brian, my son-in-law, tried the bison tacos and he really liked them, but he said he could eat a dozen more and there were only three small ones on the plate. Teresa and Nicole each has a veggie burger and they liked them. The kids shared a kid's meal of chicken strips and fries (we told Adam that he was getting kangaroo, shhhh) and there was plenty to share. 

Total bill was a C-note for four adults and town children, before tip. Overall I would say not bad, and not great either. Would I go back? Yes, I would. Would I rave about it? No, I wouldn't. My impression is that they are a bit overpriced for the quality and quantities, but that is possibly a result of being in a trendy town and having been on TV. My overall opinion then is middle of the road. The service however was excellent. 

Fuddruckers- Middletown, NY

We've been to a few Fuddruckers in New Jersey and in South Carolina, so when I heard that the old Cheeseburger in Paradise in Middletown was being converted into a Fuddruckers I got excited. When I caught an article in the paper that they were opening today, well we decided that was what we were doing for dinner. 

We got there at about five and they weren't crowded, but there was some build-up when we left. I could see they did a nice job of converting the old Cheeseburger into a Fudds while retaining some of the old character. The center bar was still there and the manager said it still had the same drink menus as before. Since the two restaurants share the same parent company it seems logical that they combined the best of the two.

The bar area has table service, but we opted for the traditional Fuddruckers experience wherein one orders at the counter, pays, and takes one of those buzzers to a table to await the signal your food is ready. When it buzzes, you go up and get it.

I got the 1/3 pound Southwestern burger which had guacamole, bacon and pepper jack cheese on a fresh roll. I ordered it medium and it was darn close to a perfect medium. I added fries and a soda and headed to the fix in's bar where some peppers, pickles, and tomatoes were added to the plate, and cheese sauce on the fries. 

Teresa got a special 1/4 pound burger and she ordered hers a medium-well and it was a perfect medium-well burger. She added onion rings, excellent onion rings I might add. 

All told we were under twenty bucks for the whole thing. Very good food, nice clean place, friendly people. This is our new go-to place in Middletown.

Jake's Wayback Burgers- Monroe, NY

I like Jake's Wayback Burgers better than Five Guys and Shake Shack, and about the same as Smashburger. The quality of the burger is excellent and the prices are right. I'd been meaning to hit the new one in Monroe for some time now and a trip to the city led me past there on the way back. Sorry, bad pun. 

I had the Burger of the Month at $5.99. It was a double Chorizo burger with chipotle mayo, lettuce and tomatoes. It was quite amazing indeed and I would call it a four napkin burger, not from grease but rather from the juices. I added a side of fries for $1.99 and they were hot and crispy. Good, but nothing extraordinary. I also had the Shake of the month, salted caramel, at $4.29. It was large and delightful.

Overall, a great visit and I would suggest that you stop there sometime and see for yourself. Oh, I forget to add that this location has a few beers on tap as well. 

Citrus- New Windsor, NY

I like Indian cuisine, unfortunately I know very little about it. Recently I asked an Indian fellow I met where he eats and he recommended Citrus in New Windsor. He said that his family eats there regularly. We were out and decided to try something different, so we stopped by. 

We were seated and given menus, along with those nice chips and three dipping sauces shown above. The problem was what to order, but after a few minutes we came to a decision. 

Teresa went with the Lentils Tadka Dal at eleven dollars. She said it was quite good and I tasted it and agreed with her. Nice and hearty, with some interesting flavor notes. 

Our meals came with a bowl of rice to share. Now I am not a rice eater, but this was very good. My only comment is that there should have been a bit more for two people to share. We ordered the Peshwari Naan at four bucks which had cottage cheese and fruit cooked into it. It was good and the flavor held up to the tastes of our food.

I ordered the Shrimp Tiki Masala at seventeen dollars. The sauce was a delightful with just the right amount of heat and there were a half-dozen large, fresh tasting, shrimp swimming in it. Excellent is all I can say.

Overall, it was a very lovely dining experience. The food was excellent, the service equally so. We will definitely be returning.

IKEA- Conshohocken, PA

Gravlax

Ikea is not something you would think of as a fine dining dinner destination, but if you are there on a shopping excursion I would recommend eating there. 

I had the gravlax at five bucks which included a small salad. I added a side of Swedish meatballs (five of them) for another buck. The gravlax was very good, some of the best I've had, and came with a dill sauce. The meatballs also were good. My grandsons had the children's chicken meal with fries and chocolate milk and the chicken and fries were also good. 

Of course there is the snack bar downstairs where one may purchase an all beef hot dog for fifty cents. Not a great dog, but hey, two for a buck? Cinnamon buns, hot ones I might add, for a buck each too? You can't go wrong. Plus Ikea is an amazing place for people watching, a mini United Nations what with all of the diversity.