Friday, May 11, 2012
Popular New York joint opens on Market Street.
The next big name in barbecue has hatched on Market Street. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que opened its doors for an invitation-only sampling of the authentic Southern fare, a New York favorite and soon-to-be talk of the town among Newarkers. The brand new eatery, situated near Mulberry Street and the Prudential Center, specializes in slow-cooked barbecue, from smoky beef brisket to tangy pulled pork and, of course, beef ribs and chicken wings smothered in owner John Stage's special recipe. "It's supposed to pull off (the bone)," he said, debunking a common misconception among rib-eaters. "If it falls off, it's overcooked." Stage is considered one of the best in the barbecue industry after getting his start in 1983 cooking out of a halved 55-gallon drum…
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The new restaurant shows promise and adds another culinary option to downtown.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Cindy Loh
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Thursday, October 8, 2009
Maplewood residents have another reason to be happy about the ever-growing, bustling village. There’s a new bar (which is big news in its own right): Indigo Kitchen and Bar, which happens to serve up some pretty smokin' barbecue as well. The restaurant opened its doors in September (editor's note: this is the second Indigo Smoke to open in Maplewood. It had a previous location on Springfield Ave. See here for background), and the response has been positive from the start. Indigo’s long, curved bar is one of the main draws to the modern, swanky establishment. Exposed silver air ducts, partial brick walls, and a glass fireplace set off to the side add to the hip, industrial atmosphere, as do the indigo blue paint shades and the bar's bright …
40.73059
-74.27824
Coda Kitchen & Bar
177 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/indigo-smokes-up-some-tasty-bbq
55009
/locations/85904
Monday, October 5, 2009
After recent coverage, a Patch writer visits Dinnersmith and tests the theory
No matter how tempting it sounded or easy it seemed, Julia Child submitted every recipe to “operational proof.” Likewise, after CBS News featured Maplewood’s Dinnersmith, I submitted the Springfield Avenue “meal prep studio” to the test; I prepared a meal, brought it home to cook, and ate it. I scheduled my visit through the Dinnersmith Web site and selected an entrée, beef fajitas. These are my favorite at Toro Loco, and they are popular in my household. And although they’re not difficult to cook, I don’t make them often because there is a good bit—meat, peppers, and onions to chop, spices to mix, tortillas and sour cream to buy—to prepare. Dinnersmith purports to cut prep time significantly, and the meals serve four to six people. I …
40.720492
-74.271364
Dinnersmith
1908 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/putting-dinnersmith-to-the-test
3861
/locations/85473
Monday, September 28, 2009
Day or night, there’s a taste of home waiting for you at “The Family Place.”
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Cindy Loh
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Monday, September 28, 2009
There are few guilty pleasures in life; getting up late on a rainy Sunday morning and eating a jumbo breakfast at the Maple Leaf Diner is certainly one of them. With roomy booths, a smattering of free-standing tables, and a classic, long luncheonette counter complete with spinning stools, the Maple Leaf Diner is an old stand-by for many residents who seek a bottomless cup of coffee ($1.35) or comfort foods at virtually any time of the day or night. The downtown Maplewood establishment has an extensive all-day menu and is especially busy on lazy weekends when it seems as if everyone has crawled out of bed and headed straight there. Seniors sip their coffee and quietly read the paper, parents feed hungry children, and others try to wake up …
40.73099
-74.27748
Maple Leaf Diner
165 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/simple-pleasures-at-the-maple-leaf-diner
3112
/locations/84041
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A soft open yields a packed house.
On Friday, Sep. 18, a few friends and I ventured to Indigo Smoke for dinner. Unfortunately, we were not the only ones with the same idea. Even though they are not officially open—owner Lance Knowling said it was a soft open—the place was packed. Not bad for their third night of service. We arrived at 7 p.m. without reservations and were told they could not sit us until 9 pm. Thankfully, the bar was a fun scene and the yummy cocktails, which were not as pricey as we expected, helped tide us over. Knowling said he’s not sure when or even if they will have a grand opening. “The plan was to do a soft opening for a few weeks and then send out a press release,” he said. “However, we weren’t expecting business to take off like this so soon. I’m …
40.730488
-74.278301
177 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/where-theres-smoke-theres-fire-indigo-smoke-returns-to-maplewood
/locations/77754
Monday, August 24, 2009
A blind pizza taste-off in Maplewood Village provides surprising results.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Cindy Loh
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Monday, August 24, 2009
A pizza taste-test in Maplewood Village? Locals have their favorites that they swear by, and I was probably going to face some level of stoning (or saucing) for picking a winner out of the three heavy-hitting contenders: Arturo’s, Roman Gourmet, and Village Trattoria. Clearly it was going to be a tough job, but somebody had to do it. The Mission: A blind taste-test (a cheese pie head-to-head-to-head for the baseline and a specialty meat pie head-to-head-to-head for best overall composition) The Criteria: Sauce flavor, crust texture and flavor, cheese/toppings level, grease factor and slice tip droopage The Contenders: Arturo’s Osteria & Pizzeria, The Roman Gourmet Restaurant, and Village Trattoria Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria The Judges: …
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Make a delicious margarita without spending a fortune on Cointreau or top shelf tequila.
I hate to rub it in, but this week finds me vacationing on the beautiful South Carolina coast, where the beaches are plentiful and the weather 20 times more enjoyable than what I left in New Jersey. I didn’t want you to feel entirely left out, so I decided to bring a little bit of the beach to you, friends. What could be more summer-y, pretending-to-be-on-vacation fun than sipping a margarita on your back deck? I’ve spent the week working tirelessly on your behalf, mixing and tasting margarita after margarita, developing the best recipes just for you. It was a rough job, but someone had to do it. Many folks’ first inclination is to buy that bottled margarita mix stuff. In fact, I’m surprised to this day by how many bars and restaurants use…
Monday, August 10, 2009
Chef Campos offers one heck of a fine French culinary thrill ride.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Cindy Loh
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Monday, August 10, 2009
Dining at Restaurant Lorena’s in downtown Maplewood is a bit like taking a drive in a high performance sports car. The experience is an exhilarating adrenaline rush with breathtaking views, confidence around every curve, and a sigh of satisfaction when the awesome ride finally slows to a stop. In other words, Lorena’s is a well-oiled machine—and Chef Humberto Campos Jr. is definitely cooking with gas. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Campos has worked in several esteemed kitchens, including Daniel and March. He and his wife Lorena, who the restaurant is named after, opened the French-based eatery in 2005, and it’s been full-speed ahead for Lorena’s ever since. Patrons are greeted by none other than Lorena herself, and are …
40.730597
-74.277446
Restaurant Lorena's
168 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/restaurant-lorenas-is-firing-on-all-cylinders
6271
/locations/52385
Sunday, August 9, 2009
NJ Monthly Magazine singles out two Township eateries for Praise.
This is really amazing news. Two out of the 25 restaurants picked by NJ Monthly Magazine as the best in the state are in Maplewood. And, coincidentally, they both specialize in French cuisine. Restaurant Lorena's and Verjus were singled out as among the best in the state by the Maplewood-loving Francophiles in this month's NJ Monthly. Lorena's was praised for its "elegant, seasonal food," with the magazine spotlighting its "crêpe encasing jumbo lump crabmeat and field mushrooms; black angus hanger steak au poivre with braised onions and potato purée" along other dishes. The cooking at Verjus French is said by NJ Monthly to reveal the "verities of timeless dishes" in such a way that "makes their satisfying simplicity seem profound." …
40.721272
-74.265814
Verjus Restaurant
1790 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/two-maplewood-restaurants-named-best-in-state
3602
/locations/52321
40.730597
-74.277446
Restaurant Lorena's
168 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/two-maplewood-restaurants-named-best-in-state
6271
/locations/52322
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Luke’s Kitchen serves up reliable contemporary fare with seasonal products and a changing décor.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Cindy Loh
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Part art gallery, part “farm fresh” tableau and part restaurant, Luke’s Kitchen is a little bit like the culinary version of a fashion show. Despite how you dress it up (or down, as the case may be), at the heart of the matter is owner Rod Hernandez, a chef, who consistently puts out solid, contemporary cuisine. Luke’s Kitchen serves a $42, three-course prix fixe menu only, with additional “supplements” for those who wish a culinary upgrade ($7-12 more for mains and $3-4 more for desserts). The menu changes regularly since Hernandez likes to incorporate “the best, freshest ingredients available on the market on any given day.” Dinner at Luke’s Kitchen (which was named after Hernandez’s son) starts off with a basket of assorted, savory …
40.730613
-74.278222
Luke's Kitchen
175 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/new-ingredients-new-look-same-solid-cuisine
6672
/locations/51770
Karen Castor
11:14 am on Thursday, August 19, 2010
I have used Dinnersmith a couple of times (especially when they delivered three incredible meals to me following some major surgery). Their food is fantastic, and SOOO easy to heat and prepare. I didn't know they moved to Springfield, but I am very happy to hear it - I will definitely be utilizing their services more now that they are more convenient. The quality is excellent, and well worth the … more ›