Mano a Vino

Chia - Asian Bistro - Montclair, NJ- Restaurant Review

Michael Kao's  new restaurant Chia is a new pan-asian restaurant that opened three weeks ago on Bloomfield Ave just east of Fullerton.

Friends dined there last week and gave the place a great recommendation so we decided to give Chia a try. We were very pleased by our dinner.

The menu has many interesting dishes and the restaurant has a nice ambiance and good staff.

He brings Australia to New York City meet Matt Astill, Owner/Manager of The Australian, Restaurant & Bar

I Matt at a fabulous wine tasting featuring some of the great wines of Jacob's Creek held at his NY restaurant.

He is a affable yet focused and hard working guy that runs a great bar and restaurant.

It is a few blocks from my new office and I have been looking for an opportunity to stop in.  Since vacationing in Australia a few years ago, I love everything Australian, especially Australian / Mod Oz cuisine. I have been to Eight Mile Creek and the Tuck Shop in NY. The Australian has been on my list for some time.  Passing by it seemed more like a sports pub, I was happy to learn that it is a great restaurant as well.

Photo from Sidney Morning Herald

Luz Restaurant Review- Wonderful Nuevo Latino Cuisine in Brooklyn, NY

We were out in Brooklyn to visit a friend who recently moved to a charming little house in the still up and coming Fort Green/Clinton Hill neighborhood.

On the way we stopped at the amazing food market on Atlantic Avenue, Sahadi Fine Foods, post on this to follow, and then had dinner at a perfect Latin restaurant called Luz on Vanderbilt Avenue a short way from Pratt Institute.

These neighborhoods have changed a lot since I lived in Brooklyn in the early 70's and then the late 80's. There is so much to explore and enjoy in the Atlantic Avenue and Fort Green/Clinton areas.

Dinner started with an absolutely perfect Pisco Sour...

T.S. Ma Chinese - Restaurant Review

T.S. Ma of New York has opened a small restaurant in Upper Montclair. Located on Bellevue Avenue, east of Valley, in the location that formerly housed Il Forno Bakery.

Good Chinese is always welcome in New Jersey and T.S. Ma comes very close to filling the bill.

We enjoyed the take out we had the other night.   

Updated 10/14/08

TS MA continues to deliver great food, they have added some new things to the menu.

Just had lunch at the NY restaurant on 9th ave between 37th and 36th. Great lunch specials.

 

Fatty Crab - Exciting Pan Asian Cuisine in a Funky Yet Polished Setting

After a exhilarating walk on The High Line. What? You ask, what's The High Line? Yea, I get that often. It's a spectacular new park built on the old railroad high line on the West side of NYC. Make a point of going there. You will love it.

Anyway, back to the restaurant review. Spotted this place the other night while walking down Hudson Street. It is fairly unassuming from the outside. But step in and you will be transformed. Pulsing lounge music fills the air, at the moment it was one of my favorite bands, Gotan Project, a new age Tango band, out of Paris. The sparkling interior of deep reds, yellow rich wood and brick, engulfs you like a womb. The staff in casual urban attire are immediately at your service.  

Created by  Zak Pelaccio, chef of 5 Ninth, Fatty Crab is a small restaurant that to my taste is perfect in every way, except for one thing.

Elevation Burger Montclair, NJ is Great

This week we had burgers and fries before a movie at the newest outpost of the now famous Elevation Burger.

While many restaurants open in August as a soft start, using the usually quiet month to iron out kinks, Elevation Burger has hit the ground running and is delivering very fine burgers with an  efficient and attentive staff.

This is fast food at its best. The burgers are superb, made with 100% organic, grass fed, free range beef. 

The Orange Squirrel - Bloomfield, NJ Restaurant Review

We dined at the stylish new Bloomfield restautant called The Orange Squirrel that has "opened" to much buzz and fanfare on the web.

We went on a Tuesday night and just loved, loved, loved the place for many reasons.

That is not to say there are not some flaws, which seem to manifest, as you might expect, mainly on the weekend. The grand opening is planned for later in the spring. We will be back but not on the weekends. We like eating at home or with friends at home on weekends anyway. 

Brookside Thai Bloomfield NJ Restaurant Review

I haven't dined at Brookside Thai in some time, though friends keep telling me to go there. Last time was way back before their renovation which has made the restaurant much more appealing.

Located on what I call the Broad Street Restaurant Row in Bloomfield, Brookside Thai is worth a trip. Had dinner there a couple of weeks ago and got take-out the other night. We were very happy with both. 

Greek Delights Bloomfield, NJ Restaurant Review

One of our favorite restaurants Greek Delights has moved from the little diner they were in on Park Street to a beautiful new space on Bloomfield Avenue.

They are now at 558 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. With a larger space are they now able to take reservations.  Phone 973-783-9100.

Their new space is done in warm soft yellows with beautiful murals of Greek land and seascapes.

Copper Chimney Great Indian Buffet, New York City

My friend and co-worker Danny Estrada and I were on our way to an afternoon meeting on the east side in the low thirties. We had time for lunch and had a craving for Indian so we headed down to 28th and Lex where there are so many choices, 11 Indian restaurants within a few blocks.

The first place we spotted looked good, Copper Chimney.

It is a attractive place with stylish modern decor.