CHAKRA, PARAMUS
Looking for a new place for lunch? Chakra, West 144 Route 4 East, Paramus (201-556-1530), which serves New American fare, is now open from noon to 3 PM Monday through Friday. Some menu items are horseradish-crusted crab cake, chili-cinnamon-glazed Chilean sea bass, TC steak, lobster roll (a pound of lobster meat on a brioche roll with hand-cut fries), Chakra burger (ten ounces of American Wagyu beef, Gruyère, applewood-smoked bacon, fries), and blackened swordfish sandwich with red slaw.
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MOONSHINE MODERN SUPPER CLUB, MILLBURN
MoonShine Modern Supper Club, 55 Main Street, Millburn (973-218-6042), has some don’t-miss deals. A three-course $29 prix-fixe menu (plus tax, beverage, and gratuities) is available all night Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and from 5 to 6 PM Wednesday through Saturday. The menu, which changes seasonally, now offers cauliflower purée soup, salmon Wellington, and Key lime tart. Love to lunch? A Lunch Trio tasting, with offerings that change daily, is $12, and happy hour, Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 PM, features wines at deep discounts and draft beer at half price. During happy hour Chef Frank Falivene offers complimentary house-made snacks such as cayenne-spiced popcorn, paprika bagel chips, and lemon, Parmesan, and black pepper chips.
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THE PALM, ATLANTIC CITY
Through March 31, the Palm, Quarter at Tropicana, 2801 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City (609-344-7256), will offer a two-course prix-fixe menu featuring filet mignon with cognac lobster cream sauce, tamarind-glazed sea scallops, and a choice of side for $49.95 per person.
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CANDLEWYCK DINER, EAST RUTHERFORD
There’s a revamped menu at the Candlewyck Diner, 179 Paterson Avenue, East Rutherford (201-933-4446), where executive chef Barry Bonser is offering diner classics with a twist as well as modern American cuisine. Menu items include chicken pot pie; pan-roasted free-range chicken with pancetta and spinach risotto; Bay of Fundy salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes, roasted beets, and citrus ginger vinaigrette; and Angus hanger steak with goat cheese and potato au gratin, frizzled onions, and red wine demi-glace. For lunch, try the Sushi on a Sub, sesame-crusted ahi tuna with avocado, Asian-style slaw, and wasabi mayonnaise on ciabatta. Candlewyck uses bread from Balthazar Bakery and also has a newly installed hearthstone oven where pizzas and flatbreads are cooked, plus a full-service bar and a dessert case filled with house-made specialties.
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WELLNESS CLUB AT WHOLE FOODS, PRINCETON
Whole Foods Market has opened the Wellness Club in the Princeton location, at 3495 Route 1 South. The program offers a variety of educational classes to help individuals make more informed decisions about living a healthier lifestyle. Membership also includes a 10 percent discount on some items in the store, discounted meals from the supper club, unlimited access to classes, and more. For more information, log on to: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/wellnessclub/stores/princeton.
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THE CAKE FACTORY, JERSEY CITY
Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, famous for the TV shows Cake Boss (Buddy Valastro) and The Next Great Baker, has a new state-of-the-art kitchen called the Cake Factory, 631 Grove Street, Jersey City, where cooking and baking classes are taught. Prices range from $125 for a Chocolate Truffles class to $300 for a Piped Fondant Layer Cake class. For more information, log on to https://classes.carlosbakery.com.
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MAXWELL’S 35, COLONIA
Maxwell’s 35, 1159 St. Georges Avenue, Colonia (732-527-0293), is now open for lunch with its full menu of fish, steaks, pasta, and burgers, plus an express lunch menu for $8.99, which comes with the choice of soup or salad.
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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].