Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about Tabor Road Tavern in Parsippany, On the Town benefit dinners, South Jersey Restaurant Week, and much more news about NJ dining.

TABOR ROAD TAVERN

A recent meal at Tabor Road Tavern, 510 Tabor Road, Parsippany (973-267-7004), reminded me of how delightful a leisurely lunch can be when the service and the food are of good quality. The restaurant is eye-catching, with cathedral ceilings, wooden beams, a wrap-around porch (for outdoor dining when weather permits), and fireplaces.

To start we shared mini monkfish tacos (two in the order) with a zesty sauce. One main was a pulled pork sandwich topped with spicy coleslaw and accompanied with house-made potato chips. The sandwich was lip-smackin’ good—just be prepared to wipe your face after each bite. I had the special of the day, an open-face spinach, roast tomato, and melted mozzarella sandwich on crunchy-crusted peasant bread, with pommes frites. I wished they’d served this bread rather than rolls at the table. A dessert special of banana cake topped with caramelized bananas was superb. The cake was served with chocolate mousse and what was described as praline crunch but tasted like crispy rice cereal mixed with chocolate. I was impressed that our waiter offered to refill our coffees, as I’ve been seeing less and less of this attentiveness recently. Wines by the glass were priced from about $8 to $15. We had a 2006 Brandal Albarino from Spain, which was $10.95. If you’re having more than one glass, you may want to look at the extensive wine list.

If you can’t get to Tabor Road, try Huntley Taverne, 3 Morris Avenue, Summit (908-273-3166), which has a similar menu and is owned by Harvest Restaurant Group, the proprietors of Roots in Summit, Ciao and 3 West in Basking Ridge, and Trap Rock Brewery in Berkeley Heights.

*********

ON THE TOWN BENEFIT DINNERS

From March to June, On the Town dinners to benefit the Arc of Hunterdon Foundation, an organization that provides services and advocacy for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families, will be held in Hunterdon County. The six dates and participating restaurants are:

March 24: 55 Main, Flemington
March 31: RosaLuca’s, Asbury
April 7: Tewksbury Inn, Oldwick
April 20: Matt’s Red Rooster Grill, Flemington
May 5: Perryville Inn, Perryville
June 2: Milford Oyster House, Milford

Dinners are $65 each. Reservations must be made in advance; make checks payable to the Arc of Hunterdon Foundation. For more information call 908-730-7827 ext 246, and register online at www.archunterdonevents.org.

*********

END OF WINTER WINE TASTING

On March 25, say goodbye to the cold weather at a five-course End of Winter wine tasting dinner at Gladstone Tavern, 273 Main Street, Gladstone, featuring selections from Icon Estates. The following menu will be served:

Anjou pear salad with Jasper Hill blue cheese and crunchy pecans
(2007 Franciscan Sauvignon Blanc)

Seared sea scallop with wild mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns
(2006 Simi Russian River Chardonnay)

Griggstown Farm poussin with cranberry reduction sauce and johnnycakes
(2006 Estancia Reserve Pinot Noir)

Baby rack of lamb with fava beans, tomato, and goat cheese ravioli
(2005 Mt. Veeder Napa Cabernet Sauvignon)

Strawberry rhubarb tart with goat’s milk ice
(2005 Ruffino Vin Santo)

7 PM; $75. For reservations call 908-234-9055.

*************

HOLIDAY COOKING CLASSES FOR KIDS AT COOK ’N’ TELL

On March 28, a Passover cooking class will be held at Cook ’n’ Tell, 151 Stone Hill Road, Colts Neck. Children will learn how to make chicken soup with matzo balls, matzo pizza, chocolate-coated matzos, and charoses. 11 AM for ages three to six; 1:30 PM for ages six to ten.

On April 3, learn how to make chocolate sculpted bunny cookies, jelly bean nest cookies, and Peter Rabbit’s carrot salad at an Easter cooking class. 10:30 AM for ages three to six; 1 PM for ages five to ten. 

Classes run about 90 minutes and are $29 for a child and an adult. For more information and to register call 732-577-8484.

*********

BRANDL, BELMAR

Lazy Lobster Sundays are celebrated at Brandl, 703 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, with the following menu: iceberg wedge or lobster chowder, Lazy Lobster (lobster out of the shell with asparagus risotto and vanilla bean butter), crème brûlée or apple tart, and coffee. $35 for the complete dinner. For reservations call 732-280-7501; BYO.

*************

SOUTH JERSEY RESTAURANT WEEK

South Jersey Restaurant Week will be held from March 22 through 27, with participating restaurants offering four courses for $35 plus tax and gratuity. Dishes will include signature restaurant specialties as well as inspired tastings. Go to www.sjhotchefs.com for more information.

*****************************

TASTE OF ESSEX

On March 30, meet Ariane Duarte, co-owner of CulinAriane Restaurant, Montclair, and former contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef, at Taste of Essex, sponsored by the North Essex Chamber of Commerce. The event, which will be held at Mayfair Farms, 481 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, will feature more than 27 participants offering samples of their food or wine, including Bayou Grill, Cloverleaf Tavern, CulinAriane, Fascino, Lalezar Turkish Restaurant, and Nori Japanese Restaurant. 6 to 9 PM; $50 in advance; $60 at the door. For reservations call 973-226-5500 or e-mail email@northessexchamber.com. Psst: I’ll be a judge!

*********

NO SNEAKERS, PLEASE

Men can now put away their suits, sports coats, and ties, as Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, has changed its dress code from jackets required to business casual. Call 973-731-3463 for reservations.

******

DINING DEALS

Chef Alex Capasso from Blackbird, 619 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, has extended his Restaurant Week offering, which consists of four courses for $35, to April 5. For reservations call 856-854-3444; BYO.

Have Sunday dinner at Casa Dante, 737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, which includes family-style portions of pasta with meatballs, salad, and an eggplant or chicken entrée, plus a glass of house wine, for $39.95 per person (two-person minimum). For reservations call 201-795-2750.

Grab that bottle of wine you’ve been wanting to try and head over to Scalini Fedeli, 63 Main Street, Chatham, as no corkage fee will be charged Mondays through Thursdays. For dinner reservations call 973-701-9200.

Whether or not you’re going to the theater in Red Bank, you can dine quite reasonably at Torcello Restaurant, 91 Broad Street, Red Bank, which offers a three-course pre- or post-theater prix-fixe menu for $25 from 4 to 6 PM and after 9 PM. For reservations call 732-530-0602; BYO.

You can be a winner in more than one way in Atlantic City, as Trattoria Il Mulino, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Atlantic City, has extended its three-course $33.09 Restaurant Week menu through March 31. For reservations call 609-449-6004.

**************

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