Restaurant News

Rosie is here with the latest restaurant news.

CHANUKAH DINNERS

On December 21, a traditional Chanukah dinner along with the lighting of the menorah will be held at Restaurant Plan B, 705 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park. The meal includes brisket, vegetables, latkes, applesauce, dessert, and coffee or tea. 6 PM; $18 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 732-807-4710.

Celebrate Chanukah with your friends at the Grain House Restaurant at the Olde Mill Inn, 225 North Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge. An à la carte menu with traditional favorites such as beef brisket and potato latkes will be offered in addition to the regular menu. For more information visit www.oldemillinn.com or call 908-221-1150.

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CHARITY EVENTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO BENEFIT HUNGER

Salt Creek Grille, 1 Rockingham Row, Princeton Forrestal Village (Route 1), Princeton, will host a food drive through the end of December to benefit the United Way. Any patron who brings a nonperishable food item to the restaurant will receive 10 percent off the table’s dining bill for that day. For reservations call 609-419-4200.

A group of Princeton-area restaurants and businesses called Princeton Restaurants Against Hunger has launched a local campaign to fight hunger this holiday season. Sundays through Thursdays in December, each participant will make a donation based on sales performance, with donations benefiting HomeFront, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and the Crisis Ministry. Participating restaurants and businesses include: the Bent Spoon, Blue Point Grill, Camillo’s Cafe, Eno Terra, Ichiban, JL Ivy, Main Street Bistro & Bar, Mediterra, Teresa Caffe, Whole Earth Center, Witherspoon Grill, and Yankee Doodle Tap Room.

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BREAKFAST/BRUNCH OPTIONS

Here are some choices for breakfast or brunch. Let us know your favorite spots.

At Copeland, 2 Whippany Road, Morristown, the Sunday brunch buffet is back, with a complimentary champagne beverage. Noon to 2:30 PM; adults $24; children ages six to twelve $12. For reservations call 973-451-2619.

Did you know that Harrar Cafe, 11 Village Plaza, South Orange, serves authentic Ethiopian breakfasts? Some menu options are: foule (cooked fava beans mixed with fresh tomato, green pepper, spices, and aybe, a house-made cheese), shifenfen with egg (cubes of beef simmered in berbere sauce mixed with injera, an Ethiopian bread, and topped with a scrambled egg), and Harrar house eggs (scrambled eggs with medallions of beef, tomatoes, onions, and green chili pepper served with injera). For reservations call 973-761-5222.

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DINING DEALS

It’s BYO night on Tuesdays at Madeleine’s Petit Paris, 416 Tappan Road, Northvale. The restaurant is also offering a prix-fixe lunch for $19.50 and a prix-fixe dinner for $28.50. For reservations call 201-767-0063.

La Taverna Bar and Lounge, Calandra’s Italian Village, 234 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, has an all-night happy hour on Mondays. For dinner reservations call 973-226-8889.

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The following restaurants will be open or offering catering services for Christmas Eve and/or Christmas:

Santa Claus will be at the Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville, on Christmas Eve with treats for children of all ages. The restaurant is offering a three-course prix-fixe Christmas Eve dinner in the dining room and a buffet in the ballroom. The prix-fixe dinner has seatings from 4:30 to 8 PM; adults $90; children under age twelve $45. The buffet has seatings from 5:30 to 7:30 PM; adults $75; children ages six to twelve $35; children ages two to five $15; children under age two free. For reservations call 908-766-0002. 

Blackbird, 619 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, will be open on Christmas Eve serving seasonal and classic specials. For more information and reservations call 856-854-3444.

The Brothers Moon, 7 West Broad Street, Hopewell, will prepare your holiday feast to go. Menu items include soups, appetizers, salads, main courses, sides, and desserts. All orders must be placed by December 19 and picked up on December 24 between 11 AM and 4 PM. For complete menu information and to place an order call 609-333-1330. The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day and reopen for dinner on December 26 from 6 to 9:30 PM; BYO.

Cafe Serene, 55 East Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, has a Chanukah and Christmas catering menu. For more information log on to www.cafeserene.com or call 973-994-2300.

Casa Dante, 737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, will serve a Christmas Eve fish dinner as well as an à la carte menu. For more information and reservations call 201-795-2750.

Copeland, 2 Whippany Road, Morristown, will serve an à la carte menu on Christmas Eve from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. On Christmas Day, a three-course pre-fixe menu will be offered from noon to 9 PM; $59. A breakfast buffet will be available from 6:30 to 10:30 AM; $19. For reservations call 973-451-2619.

The Grand Cascades Lodge, 3 Wild Turkey Way, Hardyston, has four options for Christmas Eve. Dine at Restaurant Latour, which will serve its regular menu as well as holiday additions. The Crystal Tavern will have its regular and prix-fixe menus. The Emerald Ballroom will offer a dinner buffet. And the Springs Bistro will feature its regular menu plus holiday additions. On Christmas Day, Restaurant Latour and the Crystal Tavern will be open. For more information and reservations call 973-827-1587 ext 2.

Docs of Sparta, 191 Woodport Road, Sparta, will serve its full menu plus extensive holiday seafood specials on Christmas Eve. For reservations call 973-729-0555.

15 Fox Place, 15 Fox Place, Jersey City, will be open every night in December through Christmas Eve. Call 201-333-1476 for reservations.

Gladstone Tavern, 273 Main Street, Gladstone, will be open on Christmas Eve. Call 908-234-9055 for more information and reservations.

A festive Christmas Eve buffet will be served at the Grain House Restaurant at the Olde Mill Inn, 225 North Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge. 4 to 8 PM. For menu and other information visit www.oldemillinn.com or call 908-221-1150.

Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, will be open on Christmas Day and closed on Christmas Eve. Call 973-731-3463 for more information and reservations.

High Street Grill, 64 High Street, Mount Holly, will offer a prix-fixe four-course dinner on Christmas Eve. 4 to 8 PM; $30; children ages twelve and under $15. Call 609-265-9199 for reservations.

LaPrete’s, 369 Washington Avenue, Belleville, will offer a seven-fishes dinner on Christmas Eve starting at 5 PM. For reservations call 973-450-1555.

The Manor, 111 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, will be open on Christmas Day and closed on Christmas Eve. For more information and reservations call 973-731-2360.

The Perryville Inn, 113 Perryville Road, Perryville, will have a prix-fixe menu on Christmas Eve. 4 to 10 PM; $80. For reservations call 908-730-9500.

Restaurant Nicholas, 160 Route 35 South, Middletown, will offer a three-course menu ($65), a four-course garden menu ($65), and a six-course tasting menu ($85) on Christmas Eve. 5:30 to 10:30 PM. For reservations call 732-345-9977.

Restaurant Passionne, 77 Walnut Street, Montclair, will offer its à la carte menu along with a variety of holiday specials on Christmas Eve. For reservations call 973-233-1006; BYO.

Restaurant Serenade, 6 Roosevelt Avenue, Chatham, will be open on Christmas Eve from 5 to 9 PM; $65; children ages ten and under $32. For reservations call 973-701-0303.

Trattoria Il Mulino, Trump Taj Mahal, 1000 Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue, Atlantic City, will offer the à la carte menu supplemented by a special monkfish entrée with spicy vodka sauce and by the chef’s daily menu additions on Christmas Eve. The restaurant will also be open on Christmas Day. For more information and reservations call 609-449-6004.

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The following restaurants will be open on New Year’s Eve:

Auletto Caterers, 1849 Cooper Street, Almonesson, will celebrate Wines Around the World on New Year’s Eve. 9 PM to 2 AM; $245 per couple. For more information and reservations call 856-227-3800.

Spend New Year’s aboard the Battleship New Jersey, 62 Battleship Place, Camden, and sleep in the bunks the crew once did. This event includes dinner and breakfast served from the crew’s mess, a tour of the ship, a ride on the 4-D flight simulator, a nonalcoholic toast at midnight, and a view of the fireworks over the Delaware River; $60.95. Reserve your bunk by calling 866-877-6262 ext 203. The battleship will also open its decks to guests at 10 PM and have music, prizes, food, and beverages including bar service for adults; $7. For tickets call 866-877-6262 ext 107. For more information log on to www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville, has two dining options for New Year’s Eve. A three-course prix-fixe dinner with seatings from 6 to 7 PM is $110 plus alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, tax, and gratuity. A four-course prix-fixe dinner with seatings from 9 to 10 PM is $170 plus alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, tax, and gratuity and includes a glass of champagne at midnight along with hats and noisemakers. For a very special evening, consider the New Year’s Eve Celebration Getaway for two, which includes overnight accommodations in a luxurious guest room, a bottle of champagne on ice in the room prior to arrival, an assortment of chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate truffles presented with the champagne, a four-course dinner at the late seating, a midnight champagne toast, a sterling silver Bernards Inn wine stopper, an à la carte breakfast, and late checkout. The package is priced at $650 for standard guest room accommodations, $725 for deluxe guest room accommodations, and $800 for a premium suite. Taxes and gratuities are additional. For reservations call 908-766-0002.

Blackbird, 619 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, will serve a four-course dinner on New Year’s Eve; $75. For more information and reservations call 856-854-3444.

The Brothers Moon, 7 West Broad Street, Hopewell, will serve a six-course New Year’s Eve menu; $75. For reservations call 609-333-1330.

Casa Dante, 737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, will feature the Latin sounds of Eddie Caban and also big-band music and standards from First Kiss Entertainment. For more information and reservations call 201-795-2750.

Catherine Lombardi, 3 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick (732-296-9463), and Stage Left, 5 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick (732-828-4444), are participating in a New Year's Eve concert in cooperation with Moët Champagne and the Heldrich Hotel. The Gala New Year's Eve Jazz Concert will be held at the Crossroads Theatre right next door to the restaurants with Jacqui Naylor, a singer and songwriter with six albums to her credit. Tickets for this event are $79. Groups of ten or more get 20 percent off the regular ticket price. A champagne intermission will be provided by Moët. Both restaurants are offering special menus before and after the performance.

Copeland, 2 Whippany Road, Morristown, will celebrate New Year’s Eve with an à la carte menu from 5 to 7 PM. A seven-course tasting dinner with a champagne toast will be held with seatings from 7:30 to 9:30 PM; $149; wine pairings an additional $85. On New Year’s Day, there will be a breakfast buffet from 6:30 to 10:30 AM for $19 and a brunch buffet from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM for $28. For reservations call 973-451-2619.

There are a myriad of options at the Crystal Springs Resort on New Year’s Eve. Celebrate with dinner and/or an overnight stay at the Grand Cascades Lodge, 3 Wild Turkey Way, Hardyston, or the family-friendly Minerals Resort & Spa, Route 94 and 2 Chamonix Drive, Vernon. A New Year’s Day brunch will be available at both hotels. For information log on to www.crystalgolfresort.com or call 973-827-5996 ext 2.

Docs of Sparta, 191 Woodport Road, Sparta, will host its second annual New Year’s Eve Spectacular and will serve an à la carte menu from 4 to 7 PM. There will be limited seating for a full prix-fixe New Year’s Eve Bash starting at 8 PM, complete with music, dancing, and champagne. The lounge area will be open from 4 PM to 2 AM with a DJ, dancing, and a free New Year’s buffet after midnight. For more information and reservations call 973-729-0555.

Fascino, 331 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, will have two seatings on New Year’s Eve. A three-course menu will be offered at the first seating (5:30, 6, 6:30, and 7 PM); $65 plus tax and gratuity. A five-course menu will be served at 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, and 10 PM; $105 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 973-233-0350; BYO.

Gladstone Tavern, 273 Main Street, Gladstone, will host a New Year’s Eve party with live music. Call 908-234-9055 for more information and reservations.

The Heldrich, 10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, will offer two overnight packages on New Year’s Eve. A 2009 New Year’s Eve Party Celebration sponsored by the State Theatre includes deluxe hotel accommodations for one night, a breakfast buffet, a New Year’s Eve party in the ballroom, a buffet dinner, a four-and-a-half-hour open bar, music, hats, and noisemakers. $489 per couple, $302 single, including tax and gratuities. A New Year’s Eve Christopher’s Celebration package includes deluxe hotel accommodations for one night, valet parking, dinner for two at Christopher’s Restaurant (with a glass of champagne, a choice of entrée from a special New Year’s Eve menu, and an after-dinner Christopher’s Bar Party with one well-brand drink per person), and a breakfast buffet for two at Christopher’s Restaurant on New Year’s Day. $370 per couple, $265 single, plus gratuities. If you prefer not to stay overnight, dinner will be $79 per person. For more information and reservations call 732-214-2200.

Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, will offer a special limited menu on New Year’s Eve. Call 973-731-3463 for more information and reservations.

High Street Grill, 64 High Street, Mount Holly, will offer an à la carte menu on New Year’s Eve along with live music. Booking from 5 to 11 PM. Call 609-265-9199 for reservations.

LaPrete’s, 369 Washington Avenue, Belleville, will offer a special party menu with filet mignon, plus a New Year’s Eve breakfast. $80. For reservations call 973-450-1555.

The Manor, 111 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, will offer a prix-fixe menu and buffet on New Year’s Eve. For more information and reservations call 973-731-2360.

9 North, 37 Berdan Avenue, Wayne, will serve a six-course menu on New Year’s Eve; 5 or 8 PM; $65. For reservations call 973-832-4284; BYO.

The Olde Mill Inn and Grain House Restaurant, 225 North Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge, offer a couple of New Year’s Eve options. Enjoy an all-inclusive dinner for two at the Grain House Restaurant with overnight accommodations at the inn, including a hot continental breakfast buffet served in the conservatory on New Year’s Day. Or you may choose just to have dinner at the Grain House.  Reservations are required. For more information visit www.oldemillinn.com or call 908-221-1150 for the restaurant or 908-221-1100 for the hotel.

The Perryville Inn, 113 Perryville Road, Perryville, will have two seatings on New Year’s Eve. A four-course meal with a champagne toast will be offered at 5 PM for $75. A gala celebration with hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dancing to a four-piece band, favors, and champagne at midnight will have an 8 PM seating; $150; black tie optional. For reservations call 908-730-9500.

A New Year’s Eve Kids’ Kazoo Parade will be sponsored by the Pop Shop, 729 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood. The parade will start at 4:30 PM in front of the Pop Shop. Kazoos will be provided. Afterward, a New Year’s Eve countdown will be held, with cookies and hot chocolate. Prizes will be awarded for best party hat and best family group. For more information call 856-869-0111.

Restaurant Nicholas, 160 Route 35 South, Middletown, will offer a three-course menu on New Year’s Eve. 5:30 to 10:30 PM; $125. For reservations call 732-345-9977.

Restaurant Passionne, 77 Walnut Street, Montclair, will have two seatings on New Year’s Eve: a three-course prix-fixe dinner at 6 PM ($55) and a five-course prix-fixe dinner at 9 PM ($90). For reservations call 973-233-1006; BYO.

Restaurant Plan B, 705 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, will serve a five-course dinner with a champagne toast and live music. $75; seatings are from 7 to 10:30 PM. For reservations call 732-807-4710.

Restaurant Serenade, 6 Roosevelt Avenue, Chatham, will celebrate New Year’s Eve with two seatings. The four-course Twilight Seating is at 5:30; $85. The five-course Gala Seating is at 9 PM and includes champagne, music, and dancing; $195. For reservations call 973-701-0303.

3 Forty Grill, 340 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken, will be open for New Year’s with a premium open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, a buffet, party favors, and a champagne toast. 9 PM to 2 AM; $130. For reservations call 201-217-3406.

Trattoria Il Mulino, Trump Taj Mahal, 1000 Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue, Atlantic City, will offer two seatings on New Year’s Eve. The first will be à la carte, and the second, at 9 PM, will feature a special $250 New Year’s Eve prix-fixe menu. For more information and reservations call 609-449-6004.

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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to rosie@njmonthly.com.