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Our fave spot is Fornos of Spain in Newark....great food, great service, easy location to get to....have fun!
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Fornos of Spain
47 Ferry St, Newark, NJ 07105›17 Replies-
re: maryanne06
Ike
Sep 22, 2011 09:47 AM
I disagree strongly -- Fornos is one of the factory-style tourist traps. "More quantity than quality" as the original poster put it. Go with Casa Vasca or Seabra's Marisqueira instead.
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Casa Vasca
141 Elm St, Newark, NJ 07105Seabra's Marisqueira
87 Madison St, Newark, NJ 07105 -
re: maryanne06
Duppie
Sep 22, 2011 01:35 PM
Sorry maryann06 but I have to agree with Ike on this one,Fornos,Iberia,Spanish Pavilion,Don Pepe,Brasilla are pretty much all geared towards the tourist crowd which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing....but it becomes so when the food quality and preparation begins to deteriorate. Over time most of these restaurants that started out offering quality,honest fare figured out that they can cut costs and maximize profits by offering large portions of less expensive ingredients and cover it in thin sauces and most diners would applaud and even better..return
Only a very few still prepare with the freshest ingredients,use the best olive oil and serve decent portions at a fair but elevated price. Seabra and Fernandez being 2 of the best.-
re: Duppie
Agreed. If you troll the backstreets of Ironbound (or Elizabeth, for that matter) you will find places that don't get mentioned much here which will be filled with mostly Lusophones. Some good, some not so good, but certainly more authentic (and cheaper) than Iberia, etc. And the regulars, for the most part, will not be going for steaks or paella, which are not the most representative or interesting Portuguese cuisne. Order off the daily specials, not the main menu, where you might find cozidos, leitao, dobrada, arroz de pato, various bacalao or grilled whole fish...
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re: jmoryl
buttertart
Sep 26, 2011 06:36 AM
Seabras Marisqueira does a brilliant leitao among other things. I love that place. You really could be in a restaurant in the Bairro Alto eating there.
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re: buttertart
Duppie
Sep 26, 2011 09:26 AM
Oddly enough,they took it off the menu briefly last month but was forced to put it back on due to the outcry of their regulars. I ate there last Saturday and it was packed even more and earlier than usual,apparently because of the recent review in the Times and customers like us blogging on CH and Yelp. I do hope we haven't scuttled the ship getting the word out...
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re: Duppie
Most places don't have leitao on the menu at all times - it is best when it is the special and freshly prepared. If Seabra's have enough turnover it might be OK.
For the best leitao you need to go to Casa do Leitao in Elizabeth. Call ahead: quirky hours, they do a lot of takeout (whole/half pigs) but do have a nice little dining room. Unfortuantely, the owner Joao suddenly passed away but his sons (who have always been involved) are carrying on.
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re: Duppie
buttertart
Sep 26, 2011 10:19 AM
It's pretty busy anyway, even around 2 or so when we usually get there on a weekend. Always seems at least 95% Lusophone, too. Love that place. I think I said that already, though!
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re: Duppie
buttertart
Sep 26, 2011 01:05 PM
Holy cow, I do know now. That's my kind of birthday celebration - stretch that sucker OUT. Must get up to Montreal one of these days, it's been ages.
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re: Duppie
buttertart
Sep 26, 2011 01:15 PM
Are you Canadian too? Most Americans don't know Mtl that well. We honeymooned there and I spent a lot of time there as a teenager. Great city. Have fun and happy belated bday!
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Try Seabra's Marisqueira. They serve the best, freshest seafood in the Ironbound. They are not a tourist trap, as are many of the other places in the Ironbound seem to be. I have been going there for years, as have many of the posters on this board. I'm am sure you will not be disappointed if you go there. Try the crab dip appetizer (it is not on the menu) you will have to ask for it. It is a hugh crab hollowed out with the dip inside the shell. It is served with toast points and the crab claws on the side. It is amazing! The prices are not cheap, but the food is well worth it, as many of the posters on this board would agree.
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Seabra's Marisqueira
87 Madison St, Newark, NJ 07105›1 Reply-
re: Applecheeks
Duppie
Sep 18, 2011 06:17 PM
The crab dip is great but Seabra's only serve it on Fridays,Saturdays and if there is any remaining, Sundays. They fly it in on Thursday's afternoons and prepare it for the weekend.Mozambique prawns are flown in on Wednesdays and razor clams when in season, on Monday evenings. The benefits of being located less than 15 minutes from Newark Liberty Airport.
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Angelina
Sep 18, 2011 05:54 AM
Forget Newark...I think it is a total tourist trap. Have not had a good meal there in years. I have been going to Portugal Express in Elizabeth for tried and true quality food! I usually order the whole red snapper. Delish! A complete bargain for $ 15.00! (Includes a cup of homemade soup and Rice and FF...I know 2 starches, that is how they do it!) Last week I was there and I had the garlic shrimp for dinner. $ 13.00!!! I had leftovers to take home also.
The place is very ethnic and soooo good! Parking is on the street and sometimes you have to park afar, but the area is safe. It is right off of Rt. 1 South, behind the Burger King.
Trust me, it is really good!!!
Here is a link:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/portugal-express-elizabeth
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Portuga...
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Definately try the place. You will never go to Newark again!!
Enjoy!
:)
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Portugal Express
460 S Broad St, Elizabeth, NJ 07202›1 Reply-
re: Angelina
I have to respectfully disagree about the restaurants in Newark being tourist traps. Some are- don't go to Don Pepe's and expect a gourmet meal for example. I work in Newark and try to support the community whenever possible. I ate at mompou the other night- walking distance from Penn Station, and fairly hip. Food was great as was the service.
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