When I was a small child growing up in California, my mother used to read me the book Frank and Ernest by Alexandra Day. The story revolved around a bear (Frank) and his elephant friend (Ernest) who take over the running of a restaurant owned by a close friend. The two spend the day shouting out hilarious orders for everyday menu items, causing customers to laugh at the exotic way they prepared the food. I loved the book and always wanted to eat at a restaurant just like theirs.
It took a move to New Jersey to help me realize that Frank and Ernest were running a diner and that I could have any of those delicious things if I really wanted to.
Diners are an integral part of a Jerseyans' diet. The menu items can range from the usual burgers and fries, to even more interesting fare, such as seafood, gyros, Asian dumplings and cocktails the size of your head. Though they may not boast the credentials of an upscale eating establishment, they non-the-less bring together friends and neighbors with both traditional and the non-traditional dishes.
My friend Alison has been enjoying split pea soup at Vicki's Diner in Westfield, NJ every Thursday, meeting her mother for a bowl and some conversation. Not only is the aforementioned soup to die for, but the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Pancakes are my favorite bite of Fall on a crisp October day. Vicki's boasts a rather varied menu, with close friends of mine praising the simple grilled cheese, to the more complex dinner entrees and burgers. There is never a lone eater and conversation in the small but divinely retro space is lively and upbeat.
If a night on the town is what you want, the Skylark Diner & Lounge offers a bar/club atmosphere with a diner twist. Off Route 1 in Edison, New Jersey, near the delicious Menlo Park Diner, Skylark dims the lights and ups the ante at this daring eatery. The cocktails are fresh and mildly original, and the menu is classic diner with a modern edge: Sauteed Tilapia Provencal with a garlic basil white wine sauce, Herb Roasted Chicken with with apple-sage bread stuffing and, of course, meatloaf a la Mama. Dressing up to get down with great fare and fine cocktails makes Skylark the new wave of diner dining.
Going to dinner in a group can be difficult, especially when everyone wants a different item. A diner such as Union Plaza (UP) is the perfect place to start or end a night on the town when you can't quite figure out what you want. Right off Route 22 in Union, NJ, the UP Diner's menu is about as large as a novella, and takes just as long to read. The waitress will have to come by at least two times before the whole menu is perused. Not only do they serve any type of food you might think up, but any alcoholic beverage you could ever want, including wines and beers. Margaritas are $3 dollars from 10pm until close, around 3am or later. Weekenders needing to wind down after a long night of partying usually pop in here around 1am to take a load off, order a Happy Waitress (open faced grilled cheese with tomato) and rehash the nights dramatic twists and turns.
All in all, the diner is a go-to safe place, balancing a refreshing meal with great company. They can be noisy, but always exude that down home feeling perfect for those searching for a little comfort early or late in the day. No matter what you crave, a local New Jersey diner is there to deliver.
—Kaitlin A. Lipe
Vicki's Diner
110 East Broad Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
908.233.6887
Being familiar with Japonais in Chicago, I was keen to finally try Japonais in New York City's Flatiron district. Japonais is known for contemporary Japanese cuisine. From the moment I walked in the restaurant, I noticed the different look and feel from the Chi Town institution.
It is dimly lit with a hip romantic atmosphere. The decor has a cool, concrete-meets-wood aesthetic with high ceilings. The vibe is trendy and sophisticated.
We of course ordered the signature dish known as "The Rock," which features thinly sliced marinated choice strip steak that is served on a sizzling stone. Patrons must take a Do-It-Yourself approach and cook the raw meat slices on top of the rock. The presentation is unique and the interactive element fun...I would definitely order this tasty dish again.
Next, we enjoyed a Soft Shell Crab Roll and the Spicy Mono Roll (spicy octopus roll topped with spicy tuna tartare and sweet eel sauce). For our main course we ordered "Le Quack Japonais", a house smoked duck with hoisin sauce, mango chutney and mushu wraps. The presentation was original and very enticing, but I'm partial to the Peking Duck at our local Upper East Side Chinese restaurant Shanghai Pavilion. Japonais has restaurants in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. Stay tuned for the next Japonais restaurant opening soon in Atlanta!
—Alexandra Wilkis Wilson
Japonais, New York City
111 E. 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
212.260.2020
Japonais, Chicago
600 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60610
312.822.9600
Japonais, Las Vegas
Mirage Hotel and Casino
3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.792.7979
Shanghai Pavilion
378 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10075
212.585.3388
After eating, we tend to want to move, relax or eat even more. Surprisingly, common after eating practices aren't the most natural or healthy for the body. We all know the rule from childhood: wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming or risk cramping and drowning. Whether this is a wives' tale...that is debatable. But these tips aren't myths, and thus, here's top after eating no-nos and how to keep your stomach satisfied after it's full.
1. Although most people have a sweet craving after a big meal, don't eat fruits immediately. This will cause the stomach to bloat with air. Enjoy fruit an hour or two after your meal, or rather, an hour before.
2. Don't drink tea -- shocking right? Tea leaves actually contain a high acid content. This substance will cause the protein content in the food to harden and become more difficult to digest. Afternoon tea has the perfect time slot for a reason.
3. Don't bathe! Bathing will cause an increase of blood flow to the hands, legs and body and subsequently decrease the amount of blood flow around the stomach. This will weaken your digestive system.
4. Don't walk about. People always say that after a meal, walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In fact, this is far from true. Walking too soon after eating can disrupt the digestive system and interfere with its ability to absorb nutrients. A post dinner stroll is great for health and calorie burning, but give yourself at least 30 minutes after eating before you get moving.
5. Don't sleep immediately. Although eating a big meal might make you tired, the food cannot digest properly when you're lying horizontal. Disrupted digestion can lead to gas and intestinal infection. Now you know why no one wants to go near Dad when he's napping on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner.
Gorian Papa's first restaurant, Aqualis Grill takes Brooklyn back to the good 'ol days this July where visiting an aquarium like Coney Island's can still make for a exciting summer day. Only this time, the aquarium is a bit livelier, or more so, edible for this neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant, serving fresh seafood daily in the heart of Fort Greene off of the booming Fulton Street.
Papa handpicks fish at the Fulton Fish Market Cooperative in Hunts Point for Aqualis where it is prepared by culinary expert, John Tsakinis, former chef de cuisine at midtown's Kellari Taverna . When it came to designing Aqualis, Papa kept Brooklyn's personality in mind. The grill, lined with dark wood flooring and white-washed brick walls holds 46 seats for its guests. A simple five-seat bar is located just beyond two colossal French doors leading to the liveliness of Brooklyn's crowded Fulton Street. Shelves and walls are adorned with framed antique mirrors and pottery Papa encountered on Long Island's North Fork.
Tsakinis converts the catch of the day into simple, yet exquisite meals. Entrées include whole grilled sea bass, grilled shrimp with orzo in a light tomato sauce, pan roasted scallops with cannellini beans and roasted half chicken with mashed potatoes, satisfying any hungry New Yorker. Still want more? Desserts include housemade baklava with sour cherry yogurt, a fresh fruit platter and watermelon sorbet.
Although this neighborhood grill liquor license is still in the works, its current beverage menu is far from dry. So far drinks include homemade sodas like lemon & orange, blossom water and watermelon.
—Joanna Weinstein
Aqualis Grill
773 Fulton Street
(between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.797.3494
Who doesn't love tequila on a night out in the city, especially when it's flowing for free? So when invited to Tanteo's tequila sampling cocktail party at Milk Studios on the West Side, my acceptance was far from no.
Tanteo Tequilla is distilled, infused, and bottled in Mexico's legendary Mountain town--where the town's backyard is literally a natural agave lounge. While tasting this aged, blanco tequila, I was amazed at how I could immediately sense the natural flavors extracted from the plant and enjoy the taste as it lingered down my throat.
My first satisfying, yet powerful sample was the Tanteo Jalapeño, a tequila of four separate infusions of organic jalapeños blended to capture the aroma, taste and heat of the plant—definitely worth serving for next year's Cinco de Mayo!
But a common favorite was the Tanteo Chocolate, containing tequila's luscious fruit and roasted agave flavors, also with a splash of a fiery jalapeño flavor. This drink is most distinctive due what Tanteo refers to as "earthy sweetness," infused with roasted, malted and raw cocoa. Lastly, the Tanteo Tropical is more for those who enjoy a sweeter, fruity taste, combining all-natural extracts of mango, aromatic pineapple and
They say tequila soothes the mind of worries. For me, Tanteo tequila soothed the mind and the soul.
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