just looked up the exact locale and pic of Jessica’s…would have had no idea that was the spot you were referencing
The menu at Jessica’s is also kind of a strange mix but the food is good. I’ve been a couple times now.
Definitely not the place I would normally look, but will be glad to try it out.
Wow! My dad had an office in Plainfield for 40 years lol - thrilled to hear about this and will pass along to friends.
I was kind with my “Strange decor” comment 
Apparently it was an old ice cream place, and it has a drive through window.
Don’t let the looks deceive you though, the food is awesome. The mussels are out of this world.
And for those that this matters, it’s gluten friendly too.
Parking isn’t great, tell any one going to plan to park on the side street.
I just wanted to put a good word in for a couple of places owned by friends of friends. Made in Italy Totowa NJ. My friends have been there at least a half dozen times. I am hoping to get there this weekend.
https://www.madeinitalytotowa.com/menu
Also, Prime & Beyond in Ft Lee. Same friends know the owner. They went to college together. I have been a couple times and the steaks are fantastic. Think of it as a Cote experience at half the price!
Both are BYO no corkage. Glassware at both is just ok, you may want to bring stems.
1 Like
Caffe Anello is headed in the other direction - just got a liquor license and seems to be removing the small cafe area for a bar area, updating the menu with bar items, etc. Curious how it will turn out but more curious WHERE they got the license as Westwood is notoriously tough about adding licenses I thought and usually you need to buy one from another establishment. Wondering if someone sold their license or went out of business…
just had an enjoyable dinner at corto. food was very good but the service and the vibe and the byob certainly helped. the angry chicken was fine…certainly more than enough food for 2 along with other dishes. i think the star was the pasta dishes. my agnolotti with mushrooms en brodo (a tiny amount of broth) were excellent.
paired with a 2016 vajra albe…nice time and a place we plan to return to.
1 Like
Agree Corto is a great spot, recently went with Stella di Campalto choltempo. Great outdoor patio space too.
Sushi Aoki in fort Lee. BYO omakase, sushi and sashimi are on par with top NYC spots (otsumami a bit less ambitious perhaps). Chef was a long time Gari chef. What a find! (Glasses are not awful but not great…might bring my own next time).
1 Like
I just wanted to echo earlier praise for Corto in Jersey City. Some wonderful food. Service was brusque but efficient, not surprising given how busy they were.
Bring your own glasses as they supply water glasses only.
Finding parking is difficult.
1 Like
Parking difficulties notwithstanding, small offline worthy?
So Good kbbq in Closter is so good and also byo. Probably byog situation.
Ramon, three couples met there last night. Parking was pretty easy. I found a spot right away and I saw a couple others as I walked a couple blocks to the restaurant. If you are taking train to Grove St., you will need to Uber/Lyft.
Apps and Pastas are outstanding! There is a small amount of entrees on the menu. Pork Stracotto over polenta was very good. Negatives are that it is very loud and very difficult to converse. It got better as the packed house started emptying. And they have a lot of annoying (to me) rules. They won’t seat you until entire party arrives. You can’t order anything while you persuse the menu. Entire order has to be placed at the same time. They refuse to process more than two credit cards.
2 Likes
Sushi Kai in Fort Lee is a 12 seat omakase restaurant which is as good as most NYC places for a few dollars less and it is BYO. Two seatings during the week and I think three on weekends.
1 Like
Appears to be literally across the street from Sushi Aoki. How confusing!
I’ve heard really good things about Sushi Aoki as well.
Yeah, it was great (I posted on it a few above). I’ll have to try Kai as well, how much is the omakase?
Updates on some notes here-
Common Lot- Still doing great things. The menu has been scaled back a bit still for Covid, but I expect it to ramp back up come the fall. They’ve been breaking out with a few more creative dishes lately. Hopefully the Kitchen Pass will return soon. Service is still top notch, and exclusively BYOB!
Viaggio- Still at the top of their game and possibly even better than ever before. Reservations are getting tough to get, and that’s even with added outdoor seating too! Still no liquor license! Haven’t been to Crescendo in a little bit, but plan to go back soon.
Jessica’s Cafe- This is the time of year to go. They have an awesome outdoor seating area, and they are changing the menu over the next week too. It was POURING the other night when I was there, and we were dry as a bone, so rain or shine, you are good to go! In addition to being BYOB, I think it’s also a place to call BYOG too. Glasses the other night weren’t great.
Rezza- Went for lunch recently. What a gem! Food is so freaking good, and the place is incredibly well priced. Like it said before, it’s like dining in a pizzeria, but the food is awesome, and the glassware is super solid too. You can bring some epic wine here and not be disappointed. PSA- Get multiple orders of the Punch Potatoes when you go! You can thank me later 
BYOB, and I hope they never get a license.
White Birch got a liquor license. I don’t know the corkage policy, but they have a license. 
Heirloom Kitchen- Firing on all cylinders! Food is rocking! He has two new venues opening up, but has assembled a super strong team and the quality isn’t suffering at all. One word of advice, if it says its spicy, its spicy! BYOB, for now. The other 2 new venues have liquor licenses, but they will be corkage friendly. They love great wine, so if you are going and plan to bring something baller, sharing might go a long way too.
2 Likes