SECOND HELPINGS

Legends still loves Midland Park

When Legends Steakhouse — the former Porchlight Grill — in Midland Park was profiled in The Record's Starters feature last month, co-owner Frank Ficca talked about turning it into the kind of place his dad -- who owned the former restaurant -- would have liked.

"He wanted it to be a real restaurant with nicer food and nicer clientele." In other words, no "barflys," Ficca said.

More than a month later, that last part is not sitting well with the locals -- or the owners.

Friday's quick bites

What a depressing, gloomy Friday. Let's see if we have anything to cheer you up:

• If you like Mexican, you have a new option: La Cantina Grill, at 361 Midland Ave., Garfield, a tidy Fresh Mex restaurant and lounge. Phone is 862-591-2227.
• If you like classic Turkish cuisine, you may enjoy Kafe Teria, Elisa says in today's restaurant review.

Chimichurri Grill closed

Chimichurri Grill in North Bergen, a "nuevo Argentine" restaurant, has "closed until further notice," says the sign in the window. The restaurant's phone number is disconnected.

But here's the really weird thing...

New menu, hours at Crave

Crave, a 3-month-old restaurant and lounge in Fairfield, has changed its hours and added items to its menu for spring.

Instead of closing on Sundays, the restaurant is closing Mondays. Sunday hours are 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Reader mail

Time for another dip into the mailbag. We always welcome your questions at pitcher@northjersey.com or left here on the blog. We'll try to not let them pile up.

Ev on the eateries for sale that are, for one reason or another, on my naughty list: "I don't understand why you're giving these places ANY help by advertising that they are for sale and/or what the selling prices are, especially when they are mis-quoting the Record's mention of them."

Thursday's quick bites

Good morning. We have a few freebies to pass along today:

• Dunkin Donuts says it's giving away 4 million free iced coffees today. Go between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and you can be No. 4,000,001. (Did you know Dunkin Donuts has trademarked "Free Iced Coffee Day" and that you can RSVP for your free coffee on Facebook?)
• McDonald's will start giving away its new chicken products today, too, with the purchase of a drink.

More on Whole Foods

Some quick notes on the Whole Foods Market coming to Closter:

• Where: The former Stop & Shop space at the Closter Town Square shopping center.
• When: Late 2009.
• How big: 41,000 square feet.
• Jobs created: 250.

More coming in tomorrow's Business section.

La Dolce Divas

I popped into the new La Dolce Divas Bakery in Englewood today just to check it out, and as I'm physically incapable of walking out of a bakery without buying cupcakes, emerged with a whole box (and had to forcibly restrain myself from buying any more). Took 'em back to the office, and the verdict was....

From the Academies kitchen

The final dispatch from Julia Cameron, who has been a fabulous Record intern through the school year. She'll graduate from Bergen County Academies' culinary program next month, then head to Villanova:

As the school year comes closer to its end, I cannot believe how quickly it went by and that this is my final blog entry.

More on Stony Hill (sort-of)

The promised update on Stony Hill Inn North ... is that there is no update on Stony Hill Inn North.

"I haven't been given updated information," said Eric Betley, Stony Hill Inn's general manager in Hackensack. He said to call back in a week. Was there anyone else I could speak with? "No," he said.

So we'll keep an eye on the building. But as we said before, it doesn't look like anything is happening right now.

Ruthie Mae's closes

We're sorry to report that Ruthie Mae's, the casual Englewood restaurant that served up great soul food, including terrific chicken and waffles, has closed. Owner Carl Redding said today that he just wasn't getting enough business. "I was getting very good business on Saturdays and Sundays," he said, "but you have to have everyday support...I'm sorry that I had to leave that area."

Wednesday's quick bites

Happy Wednesday. Here's what we have for you:

• The owners of Portobello in Oakland haven't given the opening date for their new building, but according to a Craigslist help-wanted ad, it will be May 25.
• Brunchies, a breakfast and lunch restaurant, will be coming to Hackensack later this spring. It'll be in the Home Depot and Pathmark plaza, just north of Route 4.

Whole Foods in Closter?

I don't know where or when, but according to Whole Foods' quarterly report, a lease has been signed for a store in Closter. See it here.

I'll guess that it'll be in the old Stop & Shop site by next June. But that's just a guess. We'll have more for you tomorrow.

Top Five Tuesday

I spoke to Andy Georgas a few minutes ago. He's the owner of Tracey's Nine Mile House, and he couldn't understand why I would ever call. "You mean after 40 years, somebody remembered Tracey's?" he asked.

I'm not sure what exactly that meant. Probably a shot at me for not writing anything about the restaurant. But it got me thinking about how Tracey's, in Little Ferry, is one of the most locationally challenged restaurants in North Jersey. So in today's Top Five, five restaurants and eateries we think could benefit from better visibility. Add your own suggestions in the comments.

Bonefish opens for charity

The soon-to-open Bonefish Grill, a higher-end seafood chain restaurant in Paramus, will host a special charity night Saturday, benefiting the Gift of Life Foundation.

In exchange for a $25 donation, customers will receive two drinks, appetizers and a sampling of the restaurant's entrees.

Well this is interesting ...

That's the the sign in front of the former Sanzari's Oyster Bar in Tenafly this afternoon. I did a double-take, then circled the block. The empty restaurant is becoming Stony Hill Inn North.

Tuesday's quick bites

Happy Tuesday. Here's what's new today:

• On the market: Bella Italia in Ridgefield Park, for $100,000. Or maybe not. The owner has repeatedly denied that it's him. But the picture makes it pretty clear.
• How do chefs cook for a crowd at home? Here are their entertaining ideas.
• Are grocery stores doing their own price gouging? Maybe.

Just Peach-y

Can't get into that Momofuku? Get into this Momofuku instead.

Food trends come and go, but Elvis Costello will always be cool.

Monday's quick bites

• Belly Full, a Caribbean takeout joint in Edgewater, expects to add a new location in South Hackensack later this year, taking the spot currently occupied by Sakura 46, which remains open. Belly Full owner Kaison Coppedge hopes to be in the new space in August.
• Tinga in Westwood is closed. A message on the answering machine says it will reopen June 28 with an open house.

Bricks and water

A few stories from Sunday's paper we wanted to pass along:

First, Elisa's Corner Table column, which looked at the use of falling water in restaurants such as Chakra (pictured left).

Second, my look inside the renovated Brick House. Here's what $8 million and 14 months of work will get you.

The Monday lineup

Another weekend is in the books. Here's what you have to look forward to this week in The Record:

• Today: Our vegetarian recipe of the week is for okra plantain and sweet potato curry.
• Tuesday: See what happens when chefs decide to throw a party. There are a few pointers in there for you.

Cashing in

Got some good publicity lately? Congratulations! Put yourself up for sale.

That's what the owners of Cravings Cafe & Deli in Wyckoff and Mamacita's in Ramsey have found. And, of course, I'm finding amusement in both.

Friday's quick bites

Here's what we can tell you this morning:

• Lodos, a good Middle Eastern restaurant in New Milford, is for sale. $195,000 gets you the business.
• In today's paper, Elisa's 2 1/2-star review of Chakra in Paramus. The 4-year-old restaurant is still very good. Just not the near-outstanding it was after it opened.

Three things about Papa Razzi

If you want to experience a restaurant in its most raw form, visit on opening night.

I brought the family to the renovated Papa Razzi at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus on Tuesday for a chance to see it myself: Waiters literally and figuratively tripping over each other. A kitchen getting its first real workout. Head honchos from corporate milling about (CEO Charles Sarkis was among them, and we enjoyed a nice chat; Joan Verdon wrote a bit about his perfectionist trait in today's paper).

I've had three thoughts about the place since then, and figured I'd share them, along with some of Tariq Zehawi's photos:

Thursday's quick bites

Thursday's quick bites are also Thursday's late bites. It's been one of those days.

• Two readers had e-mailed, wondering if Wasabi in Ridgewood closed. The answer is no. Not at all. I've had trouble getting them to answer the telephone, but they were open last night.
• Parmigiano in Old Tappan has closed. The phone and fax numbers have been disconnected.

Chakra's next wine dinnner

... is a sake dinner.

The five-course dinners, with hors d'oeuvres and pairings, will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 19. The cost is $85 and reservations are required.

Chakra is at 144 Route 4 east, Paramus; 201-556-1530 or chakrarestaurant.com.

The menu:

A peek inside The Brick House

In Sunday's Better Living section, we'll be looking at the reopening of The Brick House in Wyckoff, the restaurant partially housed in an old brick 1851 Federal Greek Revival house.

The renovation and expansion covered 25,000 square feet and cost $8 million. Here's a peek at what you'll find inside and out, from Record photographer Carmine Galasso: