Bars We Like

While we love NJ's liquor laws for all the BYOB restaurants we have, but we sometimes enjoy sitting at a bar to have a lite dinner and a glass of wine, unfortunately because of the restricted number of retail licenses that NJ issues such places can be few and far between. The NJ laws are actually interesting reading, ABC Handbook, covering everything from automatic dispensers, through happy hour, to wine doggy bags. I'm serious.

In Montclair we have Diva Lounge which has a few wines by the glass, adequate bar food and a awesome list of cocktails. However, it is not exactly the type of place I have in mind. To find others we have been venturing outside of Montclair. Here's what we have found so far.

The new smoking laws make local bars a much more pleasant place to be.

Establishments we have visited lately include Huntley Tavern, in Summit; The Strip House in Livingston; and Pizzeta in Livingston. We enjoyed the all.

Huntley is the closest I have found so far to the type of place my parents loved to go to. It is a very welcoming place with a great bar.

A fabulous wine list and great food. Noise level on a busy night was not to bad. The place is pricey so be sure to bring your Amex Card. They are at 3 Morris Avenue in Summit. The web site is here. The Huntley Taverne. Their sister restaurants "Trap Rock Brewery and Restaurant in Berkeley Heights and the critically acclaimed 3West and lighter Mediterranean style Ciao, both in Basking Ridge." Seem to worth a try.

Pizzeta Entoeca in Livingston, has a comfortable bar. It is off the main dining rooms and offers a nice selection of wines by the glass. They are part of the Martini Restaurant Group, that has places in Millburn as well.
Enoteca in Italian means wine library or store.

Our bar tender, Dina, was very friendly and attentive.

I tried a California Sauvignon Blanc, special of the day, which was crisp, nicely balanced with gentle fruit.

They have the Italian beer Moretti on tap which is a real find. I'll be back for that.

But the winner of the day was a great red wine from Barale Fratelli, a Baby Barolo, a real gem. Unfortunately this wine is not available to buy in stores it seems, so we will be back for more.

The Strip House we have reviewed in other posts, the bar is great for cocktails, especially martinis which the serve in a little shaker. Their wines by the glass are not great.

Comments

[Jeff]

Its Barolo not Barola