Whether you’re election-stress eating, or just a big fan of the almighty nacho, we thought it our duty to make sure everyone knows it’s National Nachos Day! To be clear, nachos can mean nachos in the traditional, what-you-expect sense, but nachos can also be part of an experience that includes shrimp, tuna, or…yes…waffle fries! Julia Mullaney checked in with her picks for the best nacho dishes in NJ. Check out her nachos page here!
A Lady Walks into a Bar…Four Winds Restaurant
Where I Was
Four Winds Restaurant, Manasquan, NJ
When, Exactly
Monday, October 22, 12:43 p.m.
Where I Sat
It seemed pretty quiet for a Monday, and I had almost any choice of bar seat. So, with my mom as my wingwoman, I took up in the corner. We sat so we could face each other and—of course—share!
Who Served Me
Adrian, “Like Rocky—Yo, Adrian,” she said. An adorable young woman working hard and clearly loving her job.
Bartender’s Favorite Bite
When I asked, she mentioned the Pilgrim wrap, saying, “If I’m ever super bummed out I order that and it’s so delicious and yummy it just makes me feel better.” I ask if it’s like Thanksgiving in a wrap and she exuberantly confirms that that’s a great description. As I scour the menu to provide the details of this famous wrap, it cannot be found. So I called Four Winds to inquire how to obtain such a sandwich. Here’s what I found: You can ask for it, even if it’s not on the special menu, on Sundays and Mondays. (That’s when they tend to have all the ingredients.)
Another fave of Adrian’s? The shrimp cocktail—large shrimp cooked and seasoned just right with homemade cocktail sauce—she’s a huge fan. So I ordered them for my dad, to go, and they were indeed a big hit!
The Vibe and My Vantage Point
Three words come to mind. Dark. Wood. Pub. It’s a nondescript bar with stools and a strange sort of pinkish/red lighting shines down on patrons seated at tables on both sides of the dining room that flank the entrance. The bar is nicely lit, complete with TV screens for those who care to watch. Ample bar seating provides regulars a place to land even on Prime Rib Tuesdays, which pack the tables lunch through dinner.
What Quenched My Thirst
Cucumber Cocktail, $10
Prairie Cucumber Vodka, St. Germain, fresh lemon, simple syrup, and a splash of lemon-lime
You may already know how I feel about cucumbers and St. Germain. This wasn’t a difficult choice. The specialty cocktail menu is thin at this beer-and-wine spot but I was thrilled that of the four cocktails featured, this one struck the perfect chord. Not mentioned were the delightful bits of muddled cucumber and seeds that floated throughout the martini glass and a nice touch of cucumber round that hung on my glass.
What Fed My Soul
Split Pea Soup, $4 (mine was included with the lunch special), bowls $6.95
Served with homemade garlic croutons
I love pea soup and my mom makes a killer homemade version. So ordering and having to review this homemade pea soup in her presence was not going to be easy! I was already planning to play it down with her, even if I intended to write its praises, but I couldn’t contain myself. The soup arrived, almost spilling over with croutons floating precariously atop the gorgeous green potage. I dove right in and to the bottom of the cup to ensure my spoonful had bits of ham—which were generous—and, in fact, I enjoyed them with every single bite. It was fabulous. Rich and a little chunky, revealing a hand blending of the peas and the bits of ham that were not quite deli thin and not quite a ham-steak thick but rather mini squares laden throughout the cup. Now let me get to those amazing little crispy garlic croutons which somehow held the right amount of crunch with every bite. The ideal proportion of ham, crouton, and split pea. I am a HUGE fan!
Sesame Chicken Salad, $14.95
Sesame-seed encrusted chicken served over crispy greens and topped with Oriental noodles, walnuts, tomatoes, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges, then tossed in a sesame-orange-ginger dressing
I think I’ve reviewed a similar salad as I’m a big fan of the Asian-inspired sesame dressing, which comes with every variation of this frequently featured salad. This one was a pure delight. I loved the way the chicken was super tender and encrusted with black and white sesame seeds. They added an enjoyable textural crunch to the smoky flavor of the grill’s char atop an abundance of lettuce and crunchy walnuts, sweet sesame dressing, and mandarin oranges were like a carnival for the taste buds. I love contrast in my food and this offered so many delicious opposing flavors and feels. A delicious and hearty salad indeed.
Mahi-Mahi Piccata, $14.95 (on the daily specials menu)
Mahi-mahi served in a lemon butter caper sauce, served with a soup or salad and choice of vegetable or potato
My mom shot me a side-eye as I ordered fish from this meat-first restaurant (known for its prime rib and awesome burgers). It just seemed really good and I wanted something on the lighter side. So despite her judgement I went for it. The dish arrived and I was delighted with the generous portions of fish and the amazing amount of glistening caper lemon sauce. It looked incredible and tasted even more so. The sweetness and tenderness of the fish was astounding. The first bite exploded with lemony tartness, while the butter and capers really rounded it out. The side of fries was epic: super hot but not scalding, and long, crispy, and creamy on the inside. What a great meal and great choice. The next time I’m back it will be hard to go with the burger I know and love if this is offered as a daily special. It was just that good!
Beyond the Bar
Located a street behind Route 35 South near the Manasquan/Sea Girt circle, just off Meetinghouse Road. Happy Hour specials boast half-price appetizers and inexpensive wine and beer. Tuesdays are Prime Rib day and the place is packed from lunch through dinner. So if you want to take advantage of that special deal, reservations are recommended.
When to Show
Open: Daily, 11:30 a.m. to midnight
Happy Hour: Monday through Friday 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Know Before You Go!
Four Winds is open year-round. Please check the website for more information. Hours, prices, and menus are subject to change.
Four Winds Restaurant
1316 Jefferson Avenue
Manasquan, NJ 08736
732-223-3010
[email protected]
This article was not paid for, nor influenced by, the restaurant/bar featured in this column.
A Lady Walks into a Bar™ is owned and trademarked by Gabrielle Garofalo.
Halloween Candy and More from the Two Fat Guys Show
Tune in for an all-new episode of the Two Fat Guys Show, where DJ Joe the Great and the One and Only Nicky D bring you the following segments and topic of the week.
LISTEN NOW on iTunes
LISTEN NOW on iHeart Radio
Friday Night Food Tales
Nicky D recaps his trip to P.F. Chang’s and DJ Joe tries to end a streak of disappointing Friday nights. (Beef and broccoli from P.F. Chang’s pictured at top.)
Fattest Food of the Week
Nicky D has an afternoon treat and DJ Joe has a favorite snack at the movies.
The Rant
Nicky D has problems with shrimp.
Topic of the Week
The guys talk about Halloween from when they were young and discuss their favorite Halloween candy.
LISTEN NOW on iTunes
LISTEN NOW on iHeart Radio
Pumpkin Feast at Femmina Italian Grill
If you live in southern New Jersey you know that we are all very lucky to have countless restaurants which are BYOB—and many of them are incredibly good. We are also lucky to have the lion’s share of the state’s 49 wineries in the vicinity. On Saturday (National Pumpkin Day) my wife, Carol, and I celebrated this fortuitous intersection of food and wine and pumpkins with two dear friends.
Pumpkin Feast
We have been coming to Femmina, in Medford, for several years now. While this restaurant boasts an extensive menu of equally well-done options to choose from, the Pumpkin Feast in the fall (from Labor Day until they run out of pumpkins) is one of my favorite meals of the year.
My writing generally focuses on New Jersey wines, so I won’t deviate far from my usual game plan. In fact, I immediately knew which two New Jersey wines I wanted to bring with us (like Billy Joel, I bring a “bottle of red, bottle of white…”).
The white wine I chose was the Pumpkin Hill Chardonnay from William Heritage Winery. In addition to the obvious name, I chose it for its rich, creamy taste and mouthfeel which I knew would complement the rich and creamy sauce that coats the contents of the pumpkin (more on that later).
The red wine was an easy choice. I knew their Italian offerings (from traditional entrees, antipasto, breads, etc.) would go well with one of my favorite Sangiovese wines anywhere—Turdo Vineyards & Winery’s Sangiovese. This wine is a bolder, more full-bodied Sangiovese than many others (and smoother).
Off to a Good Start
Before putting in our order for appetizers and entrees, our waitress brought out the usual cornucopia of huge garlic knots and bruschetta. While we knew the gargantuan size of the entrees (I finished mine the next night for dinner), we couldn’t resist trying their antipasto.
The antipasto consisted of prosciutto, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, artisan cheeses, pepperoni, olives, roasted peppers and marinated artichokes, mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash. My wife and I shared this mouth-watering appetizer, knowing we’d wrap up at least half of it to go.
Our salad was simple—mixed greens, shaved carrots, cherry tomatoes and a choice of dressing.
The Main Event
The star of the evening arrived in a hollowed-out pumpkin, with the top cut off to access the goodies inside. This was worth our half-hour wait to be seated (they don’t take reservations for parties smaller than six people). The pumpkin was filled with shrimp, scallops, mussels, and mushrooms smothered over a bed of lobster-filled tortellini and coated with a creamy sauce, containing tiny chunks of pumpkin and just a hint of sweetness, which actually enhanced the natural sweetness of the seafood.
Note: The small dish next to the pumpkin contained dry ice and was emanating smoke when served. Now that’s ambiance.
One would be hard-pressed to even consider a dessert after consuming the feast described above. If I had, I would have chosen the Big Blitz Pie with Snickers Bar. It contains large chunks of Snickers bars, fudgey brownie, caramel, peanuts, and a tart cream cheese filling. Okay. My wife and I did order and finish one of these, but I neglected to take a picture of it.
What a great meal! Time to head for the gym…
Femmina Italian Grill
408 Stokes Road
Medford Lakes, NJ 08055
856-769-9463
A Different Kind of Pairing: Four NJ Breweries Team Up to Fight Hunger
Food insecurity is an invisible problem. While it’s not as graphic as the images of bloated bellies and vacant eyes we used to see on TV breaks, it is a serious problem and it’s right under our noses. Here. In New Jersey.
According to the Community Food Bank of NJ, about 900,000 New Jerseyans make tough choices every day. Do they skip a meal of their own in order to feed their children? Some seniors decide between medicine and food. This is what it means to be food insecure. It’s hard to concentrate on anything when you aren’t sure where or when your next meal will show up.
Not Beer and Food, but Beer for Food
What does all this have to do with beer? That’s a question best answered by John Dalsey, the marketing director at Double Nickel Brewing (Pennsauken). While trying to come up with a November limited release beer, the idea of Friends Giving came up. That was the light bulb moment. Dalsey was drawn back to his memory of volunteering for the Sacred Heart Church in Camden at their food pantry. What better time than Thanksgiving to raise money and awareness for the food insecurity problem in the community?
Key Word: Community
“These are people we could bump into on the street,” Dalsey said, of the people who receive sustenance from local food charities. Indeed, Sacred Heart will be one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds from the collaboration beer as will Cathedral Kitchen, also in Camden, and Philabundance in Philadelphia. While the effort is a local one, plans to make it an annual event and take it statewide are in the works. Dalsey has brewing connections outside the state so perhaps it will spill over to other states in the future.
Strength in Numbers
For now, Double Nickel is teaming with Cape May Brewing (Cape May, NJ), Tonewood Brewing (Oaklyn, NJ), and Urban Village Brewing (Philadelphia). It’s unusual to have so many breweries in on a collaboration beer, but what’s even more astounding is how many of their suppliers are pitching in. “The most gratifying aspect of this initiative is that our suppliers jumped on board,” said Chris Henke of Cape May Brewing. There are 13 companies donating everything from malt to labels and packaging materials, and 95% of the cost of the beer run is donated.
As Dalsey explained, companies like these don’t usually get approached for charitable events. They were eager to help out. It’s also a testament to how strong the brewing community in New Jersey is and to what it can accomplish.
What About the Beer?
Pot-Luck-Style IPA is what they’re calling this hazy, dry-hopped IPA. The malt bill features locally sourced wheat and rye from Rabbit Hill Farms with some Pilsner and oats to round it out. Nelson Sauvin, Apollo, Mosaic, Idaho 7, and Amarillo make up the hop profile. (Pot luck is right!) Grape musk, citrus, and a little bit of a chewy mouth feel is what I’d expect. Add in a spicy note from the rye and it sounds like a pretty interesting beer. It’s a challenging mix of ingredients for any brewer but there’s a lot of experience in this quartet. They hope to net at least $30,000 from the effort.
Who? When? Where?
We tend to think of breweries as stand-alone entities, but there are a lot of supporting cast members. Here are the other partners and their contributions.
- Mid-Atlantic Packaging, Inc.: boxes
- Rabbit Hill Farms: wheat and rye
- Country Malt Group: malt
- Zuckerman Honickman: cans
- Can Source: can shrink sleeves
- Paktech: 4-pack can carriers
- Modtek: labels
- Ritchie and Page Distributing Co.: distributor
- Kramer Beverage Co.: distributor
The initial 16 oz. can release will be held at Double Nickel on November 8. That’s not the end of the party, though. Check out these events:
Friends Giving Party #1: November 10, 2018
Taproom & Grill
427 W. Crystal Lake Avenue
Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Friends Giving Party #2: November 15, 2018
Urban Village Brewing Company
1001 N. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
The beer will also be available in cans and on draft at retailers and restaurants throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area.
The mission statement for the newly formed initiative sums it up: “Friends Giving is our way of turning a little creativity, camaraderie, community, and collaboration into support for feeding families struggling to put food on the table.”
Kai Yang Arrives in Montclair
About Kai Yang
Kai Yang is a fun, new casual Thai rotisserie-chicken concept located in Montclair, NJ. It’s the newest brainchild of serial restaurateur, chef/owner Sheree Sarabhaya, who also owns Boon Thai Kitchen in Livingston and owned Spice II in Montclair. A Bangkok native, Sheree grew up enjoying freshly prepared Thai street foods like kai yang, which translates to “grilled chicken” in English.
About the Food
With Kai Yang, Sheree brings the concept to New Jersey. The organic chickens are marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemongrass, black peppercorn, palm sugar, and coriander root that have been mashed in a traditional stone mortar and pestle, creating a wonderful depth of flavor to the tender meat.
I was recently invited to try out the already-popular restaurant situated on Bloomfield Avenue and loved everything I sampled.
For starters, knowing the chicken came with several sides, we limited ourselves to the chicken dumplings ($8), which are filled with chicken and shitake mushroom then perfectly steamed and served with garlic and ginger dipping sauce. On a future visit, I’ll try the shrimp Tom Kha soup ($5), with its coconut milk and lemongrass broth, served with mushroom, red onion, and scallion.
For our main dish, we (obviously) tried the Kai Yang chicken (pictured at top). The rotisserie chicken is incredibly juicy, tender and packed with Thai flavors. The chicken is served as a whole ($25) or as a half ($17) and from there, diners can opt for one of three combinations of accompanying dishes: one includes a papaya salad, Moo Ping (two grilled pork sticks—think satay) and sticky rice; two includes a papaya salad, Nuea Yang (sliced grilled beef) and sticky rice; and three, which includes a papaya salad, Larb Kai (minced chicken), and sticky rice. We selected the one combination with the nicely grilled satay chicken skewers, the cool and refreshing papaya salad, a perfect pairing to the spicy food, and sticky rice tucked neatly in a folded banana leaf. Kai Yang chicken includes sweet chili and tamarind dipping sauces.
We also ordered a second main dish, the Panang shrimp ($17) with giant prawns that are lightly fried and tossed in one of the best Panang sauce I’ve enjoyed then accompanied by string bean and carrot. While chicken is king at Kai Yang, this shrimp dish is a must-order.
On my next visit, I’ll try the duck red curry ($21) served with bamboo shoots, green pepper, eggplant and basil or the chicken pad Thai ($11) dish with its rice noodles, egg, scallion, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts.
We weren’t going to order dessert as the meal was sizeable, but tried the fried ice cream ($7) which was a perfect ending to the dinner. The coating on the ice cream was thin and expertly fried—simply decadent.
Kai Yang offers delicious, fresh, flavorful food at a modest price. It’s also a BYOB so bring your favorite bottle of Riesling or beer for further savings.
Hours of Operation
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday: closed
Friday/Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Kai Yang
345 Bloomfield Avenue
Montclair, NJ
973-509-2110
Cheers,
Veronique
Fall Foods and More from the Two Fat Guys Show
Tune in for an all-new episode of the Two Fat Guys Show where DJ Joe the Great and the One and Only Nicky D bring you the following segments and topic of the week.
LISTEN NOW on iTunes
LISTEN NOW on iHeart Radio
Friday Night Food Tales
DJ Joe has a few issues at a popular Mexican food chain and Nicky D makes an eating error.
Fattest Food of the Week
Nicky D gets back to a Fattest Food of the Week that he hasn’t had in a while and DJ Joe takes a trip to Cups.
Food Fight
The guys have a food fight about one of Nicky D’s favorite things.
Topic of the Week
Foods of Fall: Have a listen to the pros and cons of all things apples versus all things pumpkin. Well maybe not all things. But a lot of things!
LISTEN NOW on iTunes
LISTEN NOW on iHeart Radio
Three Alternative Fall Beers in the Garden State
Fall is a great beer-drinking season, but pumpkin beer and Oktoberfests have been on the shelves since August. Season creep is real. Now, as the leaves are starting to change color, it’s time to start looking for other ways to celebrate the autumnal equinox.
I found some. If you look hard, you will too.
The Bradley Brew Project
The Bradley Brew Project, in Bradley Beach, is a funky little brewery that’s pushing the boundaries. What’s Happening, My Sister is a light and malty English Mild that they call a Jersey Brunette. It’s a 4.2% ABV session ale with 80% New Jersey-grown barley. Complex, with notes of caramel punctuated by some nuttiness, this beer is perfect for a long night sitting around the fire pit. Like its British counterpart, the carbonation is low, too. Fill your pint up to the brim and settle in for a cozy-in-your-sweatshirt evening around a crackling fire.
Cape May Brewing
Cape May Brewing has invoked the spirit of “the Dude” in a collaboration with Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO). Inspired by the Big Lebowski’s favorite drink, they’ve created a White Russian Imperial Stout with coffee, cocoa, lactose and vanilla. There’s no way you could drink a beer like that without a little nip in the air! It is, of course, called Ties the Room Together. I think the Dude would abide this particular beverage.
Icarus Brewing
Lakewood’s Icarus Brewing debuted a butternut squash chili porter that may just be the epitome of fall. The beer is little sweet, a little smokey, with a touch of heat to warm you up after watching some local football. Is that not fall in a glass?
The beauty of the season is all about variety. How about trying a little variety in your beer, too?
Diner Lovers Feast in a New Castle
Here in New Jersey we have vintage, factory-built, stainless steel diners from the 20th century; modern, palatial diners decked out with retro accents and neon lights; and friendly storefront diners in shopping malls. And now we have a diner that resembles a dark, medieval castle, sitting in the misty meadows of western Essex County. It’s safe to say this is unlike any diner you’ve ever seen, and its unique design and good food are attracting patrons from the West Orange area and beyond.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
The new Chit Chat Diner in West Orange initiated a soft opening in late July/early August and the place is now running at full speed. The diner sits in the footprint of the old Eagle Rock Diner—the sister spot of the Chit Chat that operates in Hackensack.
A Look Inside
Stepping into the castle, it’s clear that the Chit Chat demonstrates a reimagined concept of interior diner design. While most diners—even many site-built modern diners constructed in the last 20 years—lean toward a more intimate interior atmosphere, the Chit Chat is open, airy, and spacious, with high ceilings and large picture windows. Soft ambient light permeates the dining areas.
Patrons at the new Chit Chat Diner will see decorative hanging lamps and chandeliers, grand umber-toned wooden wall panels, and a checkerboard design that dominates the floor, walls, and even the decorative accent pieces. Interior highlights also include splashes of blue, silver, and orange, most notably at the counter and the fabrics used for dining room chairs. There is a most-regal dessert case, stocked with cakes, pastries, and pies fit for any queen, princess, prince, or king. Metal statues of playful children can be found throughout outside grounds of the diner. All told, it’s a feast for the eyes.
Time to Eat
Speaking of feasts, this reporter sat down for breakfast at the castle and ordered French toast with bacon—very tasty. The dish included a most thoughtful and much appreciated surprise: a small bottle of real maple syrup, not the usual sugary goop. Coffee was good, but the topper for the meal was a cup of creamy, smooth cappuccino, expertly prepared via a high-tech, digital espresso machine. This was most impressive.
The diner offers an extensive breakfast menu, which includes egg platters, omelets, yogurt bowls, pancakes, waffles, and smoothies.
A few items jumped off the menu:
- Worth investigating: The short-rib hash and eggs is certainly worth investigating.
- Smart choice: The banana, kale, and coconut milk smoothie sounds rather healthy.
- Most flavorful: The huevos rancheros dish—tortillas topped with refried beans, fried eggs, cheese, salsa and sour cream—is always a flavorful choice.
- For Eggs Benedict lovers: You’ll find five “Benny” varieties, most notably the Benedict arepa, which features crispy cornmeal arepa cakes, poached eggs topped with Hollandaise sauce, grilled chorizo sausage, cheese, and plantain chips.
Among the lunch and supper entrees, the grilled Angus skirt steak, fajitas, and pan-fried salmon all seem especially tempting. The menu includes hot open-faced platters (turkey, roast beef and meat loaf) and an assortment of sandwiches and wraps. In addition, there are 19 salads, a host of specialty burgers and fries, and a list of appetizers—many with a Tex-Mex flair (chili con carne, empanadas, nachos, tacos, and guacamole and Pico de Gallo).
Sister, Sister
The menus for the West Orange and Hackensack Chit Chat diners are nearly identical. The two eateries sit 20 miles apart, but they’re linked by family ownership. And the new Chit Chat takes many of its interior design cues from the Hackensack Chit Chat.
The Diner Scene
The opening of the Chit Chat in West Orange is one component of the quiet wave of new diners in the Garden State. The Majestic Diner on Route 17 in Ramsey opened its doors in October 2014. Recent newspaper stories in South Jersey reported on plans to build a new Olga’s Diner on Route 73 in Marlton. Geet’s Diner, a stainless steel landmark on the Black Horse Pike in Williamstown celebrated a reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last March. The ongoing saga of New Jersey diners is ever changing, with a mix of old and new.
Chit Chat Diner
410 Eagle Rock Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-736-1989
Chit Chat Diner
515 Essex St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-820-4033
Port Imperial Food Truck Fest Comes to Weehawken November 3
Sponsored
This sponsored post is brought to you by Port Imperial Food Truck Fest. Please note the date of the event changed from October 27 to November 3 due to weather.
Dine in style at the Port Imperial Food Truck Fest, on November 3, 2018, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Take in the city skyline, kids’ rides, live music, and beer and wine garden. Enjoy a day of food from the best food trucks in Jersey as well as fun activities for the whole family. The event will be held at 4800 Avenue at Weehawken Port Imperial (right next to the Weehawken Ferry Terminal).
What?
The Port Imperial Food Truck Fest, hosted by the New Jersey Food Truck Fest, is open to all, with over 20 food vendors, face painting, kids’ rides, beer and wine garden, and live music featuring the Suyat Band!
- Admission is $5, at the door
- Kids under 12 are free
- Click here for updates
What can we eat?
- Angry Archies
- Canteen to Go
- Carnival Concessions
- Carnivale Donut Bar
- Chavas
- Cotton Candy
- Cubano Express
- Glazed and Confused
- Greek Truck
- House of Cupcakes
- Kettle Corn
- Koro Koro
- Little Sicilian
- Mozzarepas
- No Forks Given
- Pizza Vita
- Taste of Poland
- Venti Sandwiches
- Waffle It
- And more!
When?
- Saturday, November 3, 2018
- 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where?
- Parking lot 4800 Avenue at Weehawken Port Imperial
- (Right next to the Weehawken Ferry Terminal)
Ticketing info
- $5 per person
- Guests of all ages are welcome! (Bring a jacket if it’s chilly!)
- Furry friends are welcome!
Click here for the Facebook page and event.
Wine Guys and More from the Two Fat Guys Show
Tune in for an all-new episode of the Two Fat Guys Show, where DJ Joe the Great and the One and Only Nicky D bring you the following segments and topic of the week.
LISTEN NOW on iTunes
LISTEN NOW on iHeart Radio
Friday Night Food Tales
Nicky D takes a trip to the Bergen Town Center and has to decide what he wants. He ends up at Bobby’s Burger Palace. DJ Joe goes back to a place he wasn’t crazy about the first time around.
Fattest Food of the Week
Nicky D brings one of his favorite cakes to a party and DJ Joe eats his Fattest Food of the Week at the Shepherd & the Knucklehead.
The Rant
DJ Joe rants about something that continues to happen to him at restaurants.
Topic of the Week
Wine Guys: The guys share their thoughts on wine.
LISTEN NOW on iTunes
LISTEN NOW on iHeart Radio
A Lady Walks into a Bar…Restaurant Nicholas
Where I Was
Restaurant Nicholas, Red Bank, NJ
When, Exactly
Saturday, October 5, 6:37 p.m.
Where I Sat
Wow—it seemed eerily quiet. Wasn’t it prime dinner hour on a Saturday evening? Having only been to Nicholas once before—on a Thursday night, just about a year earlier—I remember full bustle. The space was absolutely electric with activity. Today? Serene, quiet, very grown-up. As I entered the bar, a couple sat chatting in almost a whisper at a high top flanking the wall, a few others scattered at the bar, and another couple at the table tucked into the back corner. And there sat a completely empty banquette along the window.
I traveled to the far side of the bar, where I love to sit, taking in the full view of the restaurant, out to the entryway, with a slight view into one of the dining areas. I enjoyed how the evening unfolded and the space evolved with the crowd, transforming from a space for “real” grownups, where I may feel slightly out of place, to an easier, more raucous hang for a pretty eclectic mix of people!
Who Served Me
Christian. Tall, dark, and with an accent I couldn’t quite place. While I loved capturing his photo as he poured my luscious cocktail, I didn’t get the chance to engage with him as he ultimately ran the far side of the bar, while the lovely Ashley took over and became our amazing go-to for any and every need for the rest of the delightful evening.
Bartender’s Favorite Bite
Since Christian had wandered down-bar during our stay, we ended up being adopted by Ashley. Knowledgeable, warm, and bubbly with a great smile. When I asked about her favorite dish, she just about burst into a stream of consciousness, “the beets, the beets!”
Being a beet lover, myself I appreciated her enthusiasm but pried, “How come?”
And without skipping a beat (pun SO intended), she told me, “Because I love beets and they do them really well here. They have a little bite to them and, just, mmmm.” You could tell her mouth watered while she thought about it.
“And,” she blurted out, “the cavatelli. Did you try that tonight? Oh it’s so, so good. It’s with shiitake and enoki mushrooms, those are the super small ones with the little heads the long stem, and they are pickled so they have that little bit of bite, and it’s just so good because it’s in a light cream sauce. I really don’t even like mushrooms but this is just so gooood. It’s one of my favorite dishes.”
The Vibe and My Vantage Point
The restaurant is a lovely space—elegant and pristine. The bar is high-polish chic. It’s a large granite bar, with the staff in vests and ties. They’re friendly, with their arms tucked behind them to avoid any awkward bumping or gesturing while pouring wine from a single hang.
What Quenched My Thirst
842-Taco, $15
Espolon Anejo Tequila, cinnamon simple syrup, banana liqueur, fresh guava purée
You had me at tequila. And at banana. The rest was just cake. Even though I just knew it would be sweet, I was excited to taste this wonderful concoction of deliciousness. With many flavors I like, the least of which was guava, this sounded like another interesting mix of flavor profiles mixed into magic. It was indeed delicious—and a beautiful shade of pink. Icy cold, sweet, and spicy, with a subtle knock of smokiness from the tequila.
What Fed My Soul
Assorted, Baked Breads, Complimentary
OMG. This was fresh-baked goodness presented in a perfect little box lined with Nicholas-printed paper. Seeded, sliced, with fresh butter, yes. Yes. Yes. I had a little of each, of course, and marveled at the tastiness of the seeds on the whole-grain roll, the ideal combo of raisins and nuts in the second, and the wonderful chew on the rustic roll. I could have stopped there. But you know I didn’t.
Flash-Seared Kanpachi, $22
Mushroom dashi, crispy wonton
Gorgeous. Fine. Delicate. Subtle. Here is a dish that makes you pay attention. Perfectly seared yellowtail, often used in sushi, in a super-light broth with lovely fresh herb tendrils and crisp wonton ribbons. Delicious, fresh, soft, and sexy on the palate. The complementary flavors ensured the fish was the star. A lovely composition and light start for what would come next!
Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, $28
“Pecan pie” toffee sauce, whiskey shortbread
MIND. BLOWN! I could hardly contain my excitement. My dad always said I had an adventurous palate. I remember somewhere in my late teens trying foie gras and other paté-style foods and loving them—even after I realized their origin. Tonight was no different. I ordered it like a kid at an ice cream shop getting a super-duper ice cream sundae!
The dish arrived as expected: Over. The. Top. Crushed pecans atop a large piece of foie gras, ooey-goey with the sauce, and shortbread crumbles scattered around the edges of the dish. The first bite was pure, decadent heaven: rich, sweet, salty, crunchy. And then there was the final, smooth delight as the heaviness of the foie gras lingered on the tongue. While it was too large a portion for me, given its richness and depth, this was a dish to even make the foie gras skeptic change their mind.
October Three-Course Tasting Menu, $45
We indulged in this option to allow an expanded review, given my husband was my sidekick. I’m thrilled to report it was magical!
First Course, Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Crispy kale, spicy chipotle purée
I could hardly contain myself as the dish arrived. I dove into the mounds of crispy kale and sweet potato goodness. Nicholas knows how to balance on the very edge: he mixed flavors and textures in such a pristine way you are almost surprised each time you take a new bite. The super-faint, but ever-present kick from the chipotle brought a smile to my face every time—the same way a great joke makes you laugh again hours after you hear it. So damn good!
Second Course, Char-Grilled Mexican Pink Shrimp
Avocado banana purée, Cotija, sauce “Cáceres”
The whimsical presentation of this dish was fun: colorful with a schmear of avocado/banana puree at the edge of the dish. The combination of smokiness from the char on the shrimp, against the softness of the avocado and the crispiness of the homemade tortillas reinforced the chef’s mastery of mixed textures.
Third Course, Rook Coffee Ice Cream Sundae
Rook caramel, oatmeal crumble, whipped cream
What more to say? This was ridiculous on so many levels. Nicholas’s obsession with ice cream led him to his newest venture Nicholas Creamery (Fair Haven and Atlantic Highlands) and the ice cream is really out of this world. Super rich and bursting with flavor, this coffee sundae was just the right “icing on my cake!” I chose Nicholas at this time as it’s my birthday week—and I chose wisely. Right down to the last delicious creamy, melty, chocolate-saucy coffee ice cream, and caramel spoonful.
Beyond the Bar
Located in a funky spot along Route 35, not far over the Navesink Bridge toward Middletown, but on the south side, Nicholas Harary opened in 2000 with his wife, Melissa, and created a culinary destination built to last. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them both, briefly, during my very special first visit here, where friends treated me to the chef’s table on the lower level. Their warmth and passion were immediately apparent, and no detail is too small. The service, the presentation, care, and craftsmanship that goes into every moment at Nicholas is evident without being too fussy. The staff is warm, the bar is fun, and yes much to my disdain, there’s a large-screen TV, too!
When to Show
Dining Room Hours
Tuesday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Bar N Hours
Tuesday through Saturday, cocktails at 5:00 p.m.
Know Before You Go!
Nicholas is open year-round. Please check the website for more information. Hours, prices, and menus are subject to change.
Restaurant Nicholas
160 Route 35 South
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 345-9977
This article was not paid for, nor influenced by, the restaurant/bar featured in this column.
A Lady Walks into a Bar™ is owned and trademarked by Gabrielle Garofalo.
Latest Bites
Olea in Spring Lake Might Be the Jersey Shore’s New Date...
There’s been a lot of local buzz around Olea Restaurant & Lounge in Spring Lake lately, so I had to check it out for...
