Restaurant News

This week Rosie tells us about Arturo’s in Maplewood, Thai Nam Phet in Rockaway, Tosca in Montclair, a Restaurant Supported Agriculture dinner series at Tre Piani in Princeton, and much more news about NJ restaurants.

ARTURO’S, MAPLEWOOD
There’s more than pizza to bring you to Arturo’s Osteria & Pizzeria, 180 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood. Not that the pizza isn’t fabulous, with its fresh mozzarella and charred, chewy crust made in house from pizza dough that’s allowed to ferment for two days so that it rises naturally. Add to this the hand-cut pastas (we love the one with wild boar ragù and mushrooms), house-cured meats, sea salt from Sicily, extra-virgin olive oil from southern Italy, and sustainable and local products that are used when available, and this neighborhood restaurant is worth a trip no matter where you live. Other menu items include salads, soups, meatballs, marinated chickpeas, vegetables, and daily specials. Tuesday nights, a four-course tasting for $30 is offered, and on Saturday evenings beginning at 7:45 PM a six-course tasting costs $48. These are available by reservation only, and, considering that Arturo’s is BYO, they are a steal. For reservations, call 973-378-5800.

Pizza at Arturo’s in Maplewood.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

Psst: Congratulations to the chef at Arturo’s, Dan Richer, who was named a semifinalist in this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards, for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

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THAI NAM PHET, ROCKAWAY
The flavorful broth in the gaeng chud woon sen soup, one of the few non-spicy soups offered at Thai Nam Phet, 296 Route 46, Rockaway, was brimming with shrimp, squid, mushrooms, Napa cabbage, and bean threads. It was so good looking and gratifying that everyone at the table was sorry they hadn’t also ordered it, and they had to be satisfied with tastes from my bowl. Our other appetizers were chicken satay; steamed Thai dumplings stuffed with crabmeat; and ground shrimp, pork, and chicken served with a sweet soy sauce and a large serving of Thai salad (lettuce, bean curd, and hard-boiled egg) with a peanut dressing. We were disappointed by the green curry with mixed vegetables, which was bland, but the spicy drunken noodles with beef were worth ordering, as the stir-fried flat noodles with broccoli, chili, onions, bell pepper, tomato, eggs, and basil leaves were assertive enough to leave a pleasant sting in our mouths. Shrimp pad thai (rice noodles with egg, ground peanuts, bean curd, scallion, and bean sprouts) was as good as we’ve had at other Thai restaurants and a safe bet if you’re unsure of what to order from the large menu. Our favorite entrée was two tender and juicy pork chops with a lively lemongrass, garlic, and pepper sauce. Thai Nam Phet is BYO and open daily. For reservations, call 973-627-8400.

Gaeng chud woon sen soup.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.

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DINNER SERIES AT TRE PIANI, PRINCETON
If you like to eat healthy seasonal food, check out the new 2011 Restaurant Supported Agriculture dinner series being hosted by Tre Piani, Forrestal Village, 120 Rockingham Row, Princeton. These Farm to Table dinners will be held from 6:30 to 9 PM on Friday evenings from April 1 through November 25 and will include special guests, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and educational information. Depending on the menu, each of which will be available three weeks in advance and is subject to some changes based on the season and weather, diners will enjoy a buffet, plated, or family-style dinner. Leftovers will be donated to a food bank. Pre-purchased discounted dining “passports” cost $35 for one, $30 each for five or more, or $900 for thirty-five, or $45 each at the door. Taxes, gratuities, and drinks are extra. For more information and to purchase, call 609-452-1515.

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TOSCA, MONTCLAIR
“I’ll leave the bread on the table in case you want to dunk it in your wine,” the server said as she cleared our plates. This strange statement was uttered at Tosca, a newly opened BYO Italian restaurant at 15 Church Street, Montclair. Did she think we were still hungry, or did she guess that we enjoyed our wine more than the food? Starters were a bready eggplant stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and mozzarella and swaddled in tomato sauce; escarole with a salty bread crumb stuffing containing pignoli, raisins, olives, pecorino, and capers; and tasty fried julienned zucchini with a vinegary dipping sauce. Black pepper fettuccine was gummy, and the butternut squash and cauliflower mixed into the pasta was soggy. We had high hopes for the chicken cacciatore with a plum tomato wine sauce, as it came on the bone, which always makes chicken taste better, but half of the pieces were undercooked and bloody. Brick-oven pizza, small tasting plates, soups, salads, and entrées are on the menu as well, and judging by how the pizza was being devoured at a nearby table, perhaps that’s what we should have ordered. One interesting aspect of Tosca’s offerings is the mozzarella bar menu, which offers fresh mozzarella with different condiments such as assorted marinated olives, marinated anchovies, and roasted peppers. Tosca is open daily for lunch and dinner. For reservations, call 973-337-5100.

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DINNER AND MOONLIGHT TOUR AT RAT’S, HAMILTON
On March 22, April 21, May 17, and June 14, start your evening with a special three-course dinner at Rat’s Restaurant, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, followed by a docent-led full-moon tour of Grounds for Sculpture. The tour is $20, $15 for members. To register for the tour, call 609-586-0616. Advance reservations are required for Rat’s Restaurant, at 609-584-7800.

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MAPLEWOOD RESTAURANT WEEK

Maplewood Restaurant Week will be held March 21 through 27. Go to www.maplewoodrestaurantweek.com for a list of participating restaurants and their offerings.

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Please send press releases and restaurant news, including information on staff changes, wine tastings, and cooking classes, to [email protected].

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