New Resto on Rt 9 Marlboro/Englishtown

[jlorz]

Hello all, new to posting on this board, though have I have lurked for quite a while.

Appreciate everyone's opinions and insights/recommendations (and warnings!)

Anyway, does anyone have ANY idea what is going in on the Southbound side of Rt 9 where the Pet store used to be?

They are doing a LOT of exterior work which would lead me to think it is a chain (Yikes!) but so far it is difficult to identify. This place was (or tried to be) an Italian restaurant back in the Early to Mid 80's (Trivia time: What was it called? - a $25 TGIFridays Gift card hangs in the balance... Joking!)

My brother claims he heard it is some sort of Greek place, but he's wrong as frequently as sunrise...

If we're lucky, it wont be OMIR (One More Italian Restaurant), though I'm not feeling that lucky.

FWIW -went to Marmara last Sat. - still consistently good.

[RGR]

I just spoke with a woman in the Planning Board office. She said definitely not a chain and no liquor license involved. Ergo, a BYO. When it came to the question of cuisine, first, she said American with Asian flair, then changed her mind and said Greek. (Note: She didn't realize that Greek food is Mediterranean, not Asian.) If it is Greek, hat tip to jlorz's brother. She didn't know how long it would be before the place would be opening.

[Angelina]

This is why I love RGR......she gets right down to business and finds out exactly what we all want to know!!! haa haa!! You're great, RGR!! Keep up the fabulous work!! :)

[RGR]

Thanks for the compliment, Angelina. :-) It suddently occurred to me that instead of just guessing, the obvious thing to do was go to a source that might have the answer.

[jsfein]

Its been a while since I drove by and actually looked at the construction, but I recall thinking it looked like a temple or some type of religious institution. To hear instead that a restaurant is going in a space that was most recently occupied by a puppy mill just has my mouth watering.

[RGR]

jsfein,

If we've very lucky, it could turn out to be a "temple" of fine cuisine. But to be honest, I wouldn't bet the homestead on it. lol

[jlorz]

RGR - Maybe Greek is the rumour swirling through town hall, as my brother works for the Township and that's where he got his info. BTW, I believe the orginal name was Il Giardino

[RGR]

That name does ring a bell, but I can't shake the feeling that it was something else before that. Not that it really matters....

As for whether Greek is merely a rumor, the one thing the woman was positive about was that it isn't a chain. I suppose that falls into the "Thank goodness for small favors" category.

[techie23]

Hi, I've been a lurker for awhile but decided to post. Wasn't the name of this restaurant Billy O's? I've lived in Old Bridge since I was born (I am now 31) and remember this being the restaurant's name before it became a garden-type store and then Pet Paradise. Any updates on what this is going to be? The construction was going pretty steadily and it seemed to suddenly get halted. I'm enjoying reading all the posts on this thread!

[RGR]

Hey, techie23,

Welcome to Chowhound!

I don't recall the name ever being Billy O's, but that doesn't mean it's not possible.

I haven't been passed there in a while. Last time, construction did seem to be at a standstill. Maybe I'll swing by there today and see if there's been any further progress.

What are your favorite restaurants?

[Angelina]

I don't know if my neighbor is right, but she said she heard it might be an Indian restaurant. She is not 100% sure, but that was the buzz in her hair salon when she was getting a blowout.

[RGR]

I, too, have seen that construction and wondered if it was being returned to what the building first was -- a restaurant. Though I don't remember its name, we had dinner there not long after it opened. It was upscale and very fancy inside. (I remember that we dressed up.) The cuisine was not Italian but what we have come to know as haute New American. For this area, certainly, way, way, way ahead of its time!

While I have no memory of what I ordered, I vividly recall that Mr. R. ordered Mahi Mahi. It probably sticks in my mind since, at that time, we had never heard of it. We ate there a second time, but I think at that point they had down-scaled because I remember a front area with a tropical motif. I have a hazy recollection of it changing again, so maybe that's when it became Italian.

After it closed as a restaurant, it was a garden center for quite a few years before the pet store took over.

The possibility of a chain makes sense since, now that I think of it, it appears they're enlarging the structure, and the shape of the construction has a chain "look."

[karins]

I saw an advertisement in a local penny saver magazine for pacos tacos coming soon...i wonder if this could be the place.

[RGR]

Hey, karins,

I saw that ad. You could very well be right. Via Google, it's a California-based chain. Can't find exactly how many locations throughout the country, but acc. to Citysearch, there is one in Brooklyn. Doesn't seem to be a central website. Here are two from locations in CA:

http://www.pacoscantina.com/
http://www.pacostacos.net/