Every couple of months, Elisa and I get together to schedule a few months' worth of restaurant reviews. I should say try to schedule, since things don't always go according to plan. Chefs move on, restaurants close, new owners shake things up, etc.
It's not an easy process, debating the merits of a review for a particular restaurant at a particular time. Consider that we have more than 1,000 restaurants in our area and only 52 reviews a year. We want to be diligent about not wasting our ink on a review that won't be useful to you.
In the next few days, we'll schedule our reviews through the end of December, combing through a list that has already pared down those 1,000+ to a few hundred.
Maybe it's an established restaurant group trying a new concept (Fire & Oak in Montvale, coming tomorrow) or a longtime chef finally opening his own place (Casa Giusseppe in Lyndhurst, coming next Friday).
Reader suggestions weigh heavily in our selections. Masa in Allendale, for instance, was heartily suggested by several readers who e-mailed. Others were particularly effusive about Dino's in Harrington Park and Toros in Clifton.
And in my inbox now are more e-mails praising such restaurants as Savini in Allendale, Tuscany Touch in Hasbrouck Heights, Linda's Thai Kitchen in Secaucus and so many others that have not been reviewed, at least not recently.
So what's next? Maybe it's one of them. Or maybe it's somewhere you've been. We'd love your suggestions.
I'm very pleased with Banchetto Feast in Westwood. They've been hopping ever since opening in a space no one's been able to make work since Gian Carlo's closed. Heartstoppingly good bacon-wrapped scallops appetizer, lovely whole wheat linguini with broccoli rabe, chicken, fresh tomato. Free garlic knots, outdoor seating. What's not to like?
Posted by: Jill | Jul 18, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Judging from the actual Banchetto Feast threads here along with weird postings from the owner, there's a lot not to like. Oh, that and my own truly horrible experience there.
Posted by: Life is Bliss | Jul 18, 2009 at 09:08 PM
I think you should go to Savini in Allendale, it is wonderful
Posted by: Michelle | Jul 20, 2009 at 09:49 AM
In Glen Rock there used to be an excellent Mexican restaurant called Jalapeno's. ( I used to work there) The same owner, who is Greek, has converted it to Mythos, a Greek Restaurant.
I haven't been there, and would like to know how it stacks up to other Greek restaurants in the area before I spend money there.
Posted by: Joe Chartreuse | Jul 22, 2009 at 02:53 AM