Good food in Northern NJ?

I live in Manhatten but love NJ for some reason. I guess because everyone seems to write it off. As such I spend a great deal of time exploring NJ. I have found a wonderful mine tour, a wild west town, a ski slope - 30 minutes from my house, etc, etc. What I haven't found is interesting places to eat. (There is one exception which is a fantastic south Indian resturant in Jersey City called Chowpatty - on the same block as the White Castle - order appitisers from the photos.)

So given that I am not interested in hot dogs or dinners, (but love barbaque and ethnic food), any suggestions for me? Thank you all. Yale

[sharonk]

If you're ready for more authentic regional indian food go back to India Square in Jersey City & try some great "Chaat" - the North Indian fast food/street-cart food at Rajbhog Sweets. Think of it as the Indian version of going out for pizza or burgers - no meat in this verion though.
Try some Bhel Puri (savory puffed rice), chole batura (garbanzo beans curry with fry bread), papdi chat ( potatoes tossed with crisps, beans, onions, yogurt and spices - a salad of sorts), or even their thalis (meals).
Don't let the tacky, garish colors and deli style atmosphere with long lines to place your order at the counter put you off. They really have some great eats.

p.s.: where is the wild west town and the mine tour that you mentioned located?

[foodgirl1201]

come to summit...roots steak house, fiorino's ristorante, huntley tavern, dabawalla (indian)...www.summitdowntown.org

[NiKoLe1625]

I love Huntley Taverne. Its one of my favorite restaurants in the area!

[equinoise]

Here's my top ten, many of which are in Northern Jerz:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/380119

[Scrambled]

I've always had just an OK experience at Huntley Taverne, but had been told that they have improved their menu, so I went back recently to give it another try. I was much more disappointed than I have been on previous occasions. The food was the kind that sounds better on the menu than it actually tastes, the service was distracted, and the price point was much higher than restaurants that I would consider to be much higher quality. IMHO, the only thing Huntley Taverne has going for it is that it has a liquor license.

[soigne]

My wife and I love going to Huntley for burgers. They are only on the tavern menu, but they will deliver to table. Pass on the truffle-oil fries though, they are kind of chemical-tasting. Had a small problem with server time I was there. I ordered plain hamburger, but server brought bacon-cheeseburger. He apologized and offered to have another one made, but I didn't have time. I did not eat bacon and returned truffle fries for plain, but he charged me for the bacon-cheeseburger! He was a nice kid, but he didn't fo the right thing. Had to talk to "Captain" (Consuela) who handled well. Mgr. brought me corrected check and was polite. We will go back--for burgers! And goblets of red wine.

[NiKoLe1625]

If you like Turkish food, there is a wonderful Turkish restaurant called Lalezar on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair. Also, for great Indian try Saffron on Rt. 10 in East Hanover!

[ravanan]

I am from India. India has varied cuisines. Roughly cut to North and South and then finely diced to Keralite, Chettinad, Mangalorian, Goan, Rajasthani, Andhra, Konkani, Bangla, Kashmiri, Mughal...the list is practically endless. And I have not seen any single Indian restaurant catering more than three cuisines in a respectable fashion. However, Kinara in Edgewater, in my opnion has some how struck a very impressive notch in North Indian, Goan and Rajasthani Cusine. Kinara, after 5 years of living in NJ remains my BEST indian restaurant.

[popeye76]

ravanan, try going to Edison/Woodbridge to Oaktree Rd, its loaded with great Indian/Asian food, bakeries, and different kinds of delis

[angularbanjo]

Epernay in Montclair is a fabulous french bistro...though you probably don't need to leave Manhattan for that.

[chimichanga]

www.pluckemininn.com amazing!

[sbrener]

Maybe not completely Northern NJ, but in Jersey City (near Journal Square) on Newark Ave., you'll find the best dosas around. Dosa House is incredible (blows away anything I had in NYC). Give it a try. Their Samosa Chatt (w/ chickpeas) is also to die for. Their sambar - yummmmmm. This place is a real gem.

I recommend China 46 Resturant, which is only 3 miles away from the GWB. They have a huge selection to choose from. I brung many of my friends to this place and they all enjoyed the food. My friends were excited to see all of the unique dishes availible. China 46 also has good reviews from The New York Times (Very Good) and The Bergen Record (3 1/2 Stars out of 4). Thier website is www.china46.com

P.S. China 46 is B.Y.O.

Link: http://www.china46.com/

Best BBQ i've had in the area: http://www.finksfunky.net/
(very small CASUAL place, fairly new, good home cookin'
)BTW, also convenient that the Red and Tan Bus line (11A) passes right by the place, so you can get there from NYC even w/o a car

Ummm...while many in Manhattan have "written off" New Jersey, those of us who live here count its' remarkable food resources as one of the reasons we love it so much.

If you liked Chowpatty, you should come to Oak Tree Road in Edison and try some of the other great Indian restaurants (including Chowpatty's other branch)

Have you been to any of the Korean and Japanese places in the Fort Lee area?

Portugese in Newark?

German in Ringwood?

Cuban in Union City?

Chinese in Highland Park?

I live here for the food!

One of the best Indian restaurants on Oak Tree Road is Moghul.

In Highland Park, on Raritan Avenue, you will find excellent Turkish food at Seven Hills of Istanbul.

And in Morristown, there is a branch of Pamir (original location in Manhattan on 2nd Ave. in the 70's), where you can eat very good Afghani food.

Ok maybe I am under selling NJ and myself. Yes I have been to the Ironbound district, often. I have had Cuban in Union City and Indian in Edison. I have been to Fort Lee and had Japanese and Korean. The thing is I can find good Japanese and Korean in NY, good Cuban and Chinese also.

Chowpatty like food I can find but not anywhere as good here so a specific greatest hits for me would be great. Thank you. Yale

[Drew E]

German in Ringwood?

I've lived in Ringwood for almost 20 years and don't know of a German rest. Am I missing something?