Mom's 80th Birthday

[Tondeb23]

I am looking for a beautiful restaurant with great italian/seafood. A nice view would be even better. My mother will be 80 soon and we would like to take her some place special. A restaurant in Bergen County would be good but Essex or Hudson County would be ok too. I had wanted a restaurant with a private dining room until I called one place and they wanted $200 just for the room. We are only a party of 12. Thanks for your help!

[menton1]

Where did you wind up at, Tondeb23?

[menton1]

For an 80 year old, a beautiful place with a view, probably the best bet in Bergen is Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack. A well maintained historic house. Lots of antiques. The menu is mostly Italian-American. Should fill your criteria nicely, and surely an 80 year old would like the place a lot.

http://www.stonyhillinn.com/

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Stony Hill Inn
231 Polifly Rd, Hackensack, NJ 07601

[doxy216]

We love Arturos in Midland Park, great food, no view. Another is Waterside in North Bergen, great food again, a view of NYC, breathtaking. Been to Vesta, good food, a little overpriced and small portions for a pizzeria type place.

[Tondeb23]

I was wondering, is there a restaurant with a view like Highland Pavillion but food like DiPalma Brothers? If not, I just might go to DiPalma because my mother was an antique dealer years ago. I doubt she would actually sit down and eat!

[NJfoodLover]

Take a look at Frank's Waterside Restaurant along the river. It has a beautiful view of NYC. It isn't really Italian but it has some nice seafood options.
http://www.watersiderestaurantandcate...

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Frank's Waterside
7800 B River Road, North Bergen, NJ 07047

[bifpocaroba]

Highlawn Pavilion without a doubt has an incredible view and a classy feel. I've dined there about 3 or 4 times in the past year or so and it was excellent. For some reason people knock the food but the place does everything well so it seems like you got to find something to knock.

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Highlawn Pavilion
Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, NJ 07052

[Tondeb23]

Thank you for these recommendations. LuNello, wasn't that the restaurant where the table flipping scene from Real Housewives of NJ took place? And Villa Amalfi, that brings back memories. I forgot all about that restaurant.

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Villa Amalfi
1006 Route 166, Toms River, NJ 08753

[Curlz]

Haven't been in well over 10 years, but is Il Tulipano still good? Seems like it might be the right 'vibe' that the OP is looking for...

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Tulipano Restaurant
1131 State Highway 23 N, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009

[fourunder]

Il Tulipano is a catering only facility now.

[Tondeb23]

Thank you for the ideas! Bistro 55 is so close to me. Someone at work suggested Highland Pavillion in West Orange. I went on their website and its very pretty so thats a thought. We live in Bergen County, but Essex or Hudson County would be ok. Fourunder yes I was looking for an upscale Italian place. I really have no clue. I have not been out to dinner in ages.

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Bistro 55
55 Route 17 South, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662

[Curlz]

I'm a big fan of Bistro 55 but will say this...the place gets LOUD at night. One option might be to do their brunch, which I'm told is very good. Friends went to a 50+-person party there (for brunch) and they're still talking about it!

Highlawn seems more like what you're looking for, although I'm guessing that the price will be a lot higher.

[fourunder]

The Highlawn Pavilion is a nice place....the food is good, not great, but the view is outstanding.

Recommended: that I have been to

LuNello....while the menu itself is reasonable in my opinion, if you order specials, it can be very expensive. I suspect you expect a minimum of $75 per head including liquor and all the courses with gratuities. It's where I go for special family dates and business entertaining.

Di Palm Brothers....very interesting place that welcomes family style dining....not upscale, but worth mentioning. It's been operating for over 70 years. They have screens that may allow you to have somewhat private dining . The only negative for me is finding parking on the street.

http://www.lunello.com/

http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2006/08/30/nj-dining-dipalma-brothers/

Recommeded: but have not been to.

Bottagra....Hawthorne

http://www.bottagra.com/

RoCCa.....Glen Rock

http://www.roccaitalianrestaurant.com/

Sorrento.....East rutherford

http://www.sorrentoristorante.net/

Not Recommended:

Nanni.....Rochelle Park

There's also a new restaurant that opened in the old Sonoma Grill location in East Rutherford. While not upscale, a few groups of friends recently went on separate occasions and all said the place is great and they did an excellent job on the renovations. The new name of the restaurant is Vesta.

Last, I have not been to in many years, but I still hear good things about Villa Amalfi, in Cliffside Park

http://www.villaamalfi.com/

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Villa Amalfi
793 Palisade Ave, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010

Highlawn Pavilion
Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, NJ 07052

[fourunder]

Are you looking for an upscale Italian place only? If you give us an idea of what you have looked into already, or the type (actual) place you prefer, we could match it up with a similar suggestion.

[maryanne06]

Have you considered Bistro 55? Excellent food....not Italian but their seafood choices are wonderful! Happy birthday to your Mom!

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Bistro 55
55 Route 17 South, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662

[scarlet knight]

Chart House in Weehawken. Le Jardin in Edgewater. Both have good views, food is better at the latter.

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Le Jardin
1257 River Road, Edgewater, NJ 07020

Chart House
Weehawken Lincoln Hbr Pier D-T, Union City, NJ 07087

[albinoni]

Chart House has gorgeous views. Menu reads beautifully--food is terrible.

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Chart House
Weehawken Lincoln Hbr Pier D-T, Union City, NJ 07087