668813 Sat Nov 21 09:15:47 -0800 2009 20 81 New Jersey 0 5198334 Heading back to Bergen County and will take any suggestions ( I know we've got slim pickins here) that are not too far of a drive. Red sauce Italian is ok, good ethnic (not Greek, hubby not big on that), heck even a great panini place will do. No Mexican--we're spoiled in SD with some of the best. Sat Nov 21 09:15:47 -0800 2009 154561 keena 1 5199705 How far are you willing to travel....and are you looking for inexpensive, moderate or expensive? Are you interested in Chinese. Korean, Spanish /Portuguese, Pizza, Sea Food/Fish, Steak, BYOB or other? Bergenfield may be limited....but Bergen County is not. Sun Nov 22 05:45:29 -0800 2009 5198334 123497 fourunder 2 5199901 Not too far but we'll do all that. My kids like to do vegan but I am doubting that is in Bergen County near Bergenfield..... Sun Nov 22 08:19:47 -0800 2009 5199705 154561 keena 3 5200157 In neighboring Teaneck, there's a place called Veggie Heaven, which I believe, is Chinese Vegan. I'll give some thoughts to this and post shortly. Sun Nov 22 10:38:59 -0800 2009 5199901 123497 fourunder 1 5200426 Your criteria are fairly vague...but you certainly have more than slim pickings. Cuban Eddies in Bergenfield is great and cheap, you can't go wrong in Tenafly with Tenafly Kosher. Also there is a new healthy cuisine resaurant in Tenfaly (I forget the name but it is right next to Mr. Wok, across from Tenafly Diner). In Englewood good to Tapas de Espana (Spanish, not Mexican food), Baugarts, Kratiem (Thai cuisine, also lots of veggie selections) or Saigon Rose. If you are willing to travel a little head up to Duke Ocean Grill in Tappan for a little nicer ambiance and more expensive food. Or just head to Piermont and go Peter Kelly. As for red sauce Italian....you can't go wrong with Andiamo in Haworth. It is an institution at this point. Sun Nov 22 13:04:34 -0800 2009 5198334 27861 rifkind81 2 5200549 Perfect! Takes care of all types of food cravings-thanks everyone! I found that healthy one in Tenafly : Green Door Cafe, even got a nice review in the Times so we will try that one for sure. Sun Nov 22 14:09:14 -0800 2009 5200426 154561 keena 1 5201594 Just to clarify: Cuban Eddies is not in Bergenfield, but is in Dumont (a mere .5 miles away). Bergenfield just got its own Cuban Joint on Main street in a little shack by the post office (there have been at least 5 restaurants in the tiny spot since i've lived here)...Hope this one lasts, as I tried it out last week and had a great cuban sandwich (imho, far better than Eddies), tostones, beans and rice- all for 9 bucks. Not a fan of Veggie Heaven or it's adjacent Tapai noodle house in Teaneck...Have heard very good reviews of the kosher steak house etc. in Teaneck, though I have not tried. Mon Nov 23 02:24:11 -0800 2009 5198334 18608 sixelagogo 2 5201909 It should be noted the Cuban place you mention in/on Veterans Plaza is really a take-out place. Cuban Eddies, which won an award for best cheap eats in a New Jersey Monthly readers poll, has a few tables to dine in. As for Veggie Heaven, I have never been. For Chinese, my go to spot is Lotus Cafe in Hackensack. VH has been around for 15 years and since the original opening of the Teaneck location has opened two others in Montclair and Denville. They have their loyal fans, especially within the Kosher community. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/531166 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/274710 http://www.yelp.com/biz/veggie-heaven-teaneck http://www.veggieheavennj.com/ Mon Nov 23 07:00:19 -0800 2009 5201594 123497 fourunder 3 5202157 funny, i live 5 minutes from lotus cafe and my go to spot for chinese is beijing duck house in bergenfield. Mon Nov 23 08:23:25 -0800 2009 5201909 20183 dock 4 5203919 dock, Are you ordering off the regular or Chinese menu exclusively? I still have not yet made it for the Flounder in Seaweed. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/592203 Mon Nov 23 18:17:54 -0800 2009 5202157 123497 fourunder 5 5205084 i go about once a month and order exclusively off the chinese menu. the first time i went i told the owner, who seated us, that i understood there was a chinese menu but i don't understand chinese. he just asked me what i wanted, fish, chicken, and he then gave me a few choices of each. i told him i like a dish with shredded pork and dried tofu with yellow chives. he seemed surprised (how do you know about that) but they did have it on the menu and it was pretty good. i've had steamed stripped bass, crabs, eel, a terrific pork belly (enourmous). and the peking duck is really well done. mostly skin and nice wrappers. i do like the flounder in seaweed, get the small portion, but it is a little too greasy for me. all in all it's not china 46 but it's pretty good. and not to dis lotus cafe, it's a good restaurant, i like the pork with mustard green, but bdh is more interesting and there is never a wait. Tue Nov 24 09:19:21 -0800 2009 5203919 20183 dock 6 5205299 I respectfully disagree about Lotus Cafe, I find it overrated, and pretty ordinary boilerplate food. This Beijing Duck place sounds interesting, have to give it a try. My go-to Asian in Bergen county is Wild Ginger in Ridgewood. The freshest ingredients with innovative dishes. Tue Nov 24 11:07:50 -0800 2009 5205084 21702 menton1 7 5206992 Chinese food kinda sucks around here....IMHO: I hate the American vs. Chinese menu idea and find it insulting. ....Agree about lotus-I was disappointed by what I had, having found the food overly greasy, salty, yet quite bland.....Bejing Duckhouse in B'field was also a disappointment -didn't order from the chinese menu, though tried the peking duck and soup dumplings....duck was lackluster and soup dumplings were the worst I've ever had... will not be going back. The only place that I might even consider going back to is the chinese place in Tenafly right next to Tenafly gourmet (the one with the fish window who's name I never catch)...Decent, though not exceptional, and filled with -alas!- chinese people. Wed Nov 25 03:20:10 -0800 2009 5205299 18608 sixelagogo 8 5207677 In spite of the negative comments from people who have never been there, I recommend Wild Ginger in Ridgewood as an interesting change from a NJ Chinese resto. The dishes are a bit different, innovative, and the ingredients are super-fresh. They have lots of sushi as well, but I've never had that there. P.S. As far as Alan Lee goes, there is a place in Greenwich Ct, Penang, that is absolutely EXCELLENT in every way, and is immaculately clean. I only wish it were closer to Bergen. So much for 3rd party chatter... Wed Nov 25 09:46:16 -0800 2009 5206992 21702 menton1 6 5207141 dock, No dis on Lotus taken....my son works with the owner's brother, so there's history and my family and I are treated very well there. Considering the suggestion of Wild Ginger.... I've heard good and bad things about Alan Lee restaurants, but have never been....if you are like me and believe restaurant attitudes form at the top, i.e., the apple doesn't fall far from the tree......here are some of the bad things said on Wild Ginger (Ridgewood) on another thread: * All the Wild Ginger restaurants, including Ridgewood NJ are very lacking in service and amenities....... * All owned by Alan Lee. All with service and cleanliness issues. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/595560 Not my idea of a go to restaurant. Wed Nov 25 05:45:10 -0800 2009 5205084 123497 fourunder 1 5202336 BTW, keena, are you moving to Bergenfield, or is this a visit? Mon Nov 23 09:21:40 -0800 2009 5198334 21702 menton1 2 5203872 I am visiting family. I used to live there a long, long time ago! So long ago--when I think the Beijing Duck House was Libonati's tavern. Figured since I've got the turkey duty on Thursday, I'd take it easy and enjoy the local spots on my off day. Not any real Cuban out here so I think we'll give that a go too. Many years ago there was a place in Dumont that sold Maine lobster rolls--pricey but good. I bet that is not there anymore either. Mon Nov 23 17:53:11 -0800 2009 5202336 154561 keena 3 5203954 You may want to consider Casual Habana Cafe in Hackensack for Cuban. http://www.casualhabanacafe.com/Home.htm Libonati's......were you a customer before or after they renovated into the ugly green? Who was your favorite bartender? Jimmy C, Jimmy P, Johnny or Max? btw.....The Wagon Wheel is still open.......Sadly Tony passed, but I believe Donald Lib is still running it. Mon Nov 23 18:31:19 -0800 2009 5203872 123497 fourunder 3 5230417 We ate at Pimaan Thai in Emerson which was really nice and we liked it. I liked how the Tom Yum actually had more than 2 shrimp in it and the service was great. Forced into going to Tommy Fox's in Bergenfield--that food was worse than the food we had in Ireland-large portions of overcooked, dry gutbombs. Tried Green Door Cafe in Tenafly. Cute setting, really nice owner and waiters but the food was just ok. Veggie burger and sweet potato fries overcooked, pesto chicken special swimming in grease. The pear salad appetizer, however, was nice. The shrimp pasta dish was the best entree we tried but who serves pasta with no bread? So all in all, our time spent eating in Bergen County was nice but not memorable. Next time I'll try Beijing DH and the Cuban place. Sat Dec 05 15:58:32 -0800 2009 5203872 154561 keena 4 5233715 Keena, I sure I can relate to your experiences at Tommy Foxes and The Green Door. After reading suggestions for the best bar and burger in San Diego, including the best burger as rated from Gourmet Magazine, we went to the Waterfront on a past trip.....I left quite disappointed and couldn't believe the love for the place. Better luck and experiences next time. Mon Dec 07 09:30:25 -0800 2009 5230417 123497 fourunder 1 5209707 In spite of the negative comments from people who have never been there, I recommend Wild Ginger in Ridgewood as an interesting change from a NJ Chinese resto. The dishes are a bit different, innovative, and the ingredients are super-fresh. They have lots of sushi as well, but I've never had that there. P.S. As far as Alan Lee goes, there is a place in Greenwich Ct, Penang, that is absolutely EXCELLENT in every way, and is immaculately clean. I only wish it were closer to Bergen. So much for 3rd party chatter.. Thu Nov 26 09:25:10 -0800 2009 5198334 21702 menton1