KRAVE, NEWTON
Residents of Sussex County are fortunate to have Krave, 102 Sparta Avenue, Newton, as a dining option, as this area of NJ offers few places of Krave’s caliber. Serving New American cuisine, this BYO has a seasonal menu and an ambitious list of specials written out with their prices. Kudos to owners Rich and Kate Hashway for also having vegetarian options such as sesame tofu, blackened tempeh, and savory spreads like lentil hummus and roasted eggplant with feta.
Limes and lemons float in a large bottle of water that’s left at your table, allowing you to pour your own glasses as needed. Four of us easily shared an entrée portion of delightfully spicy grilled chorizo with penne, poblano and yellow peppers, eggplant, red beans, leeks, and Parmesan roasted tomatoes, in a lively Creole broth. Smoked salmon grilled flatbread was topped with Boursin cheese, capers, and a horseradish and red onion marmalade. Think of it as a salmon pizza. We can recommend three of the four entrées we tried. The duck with apricot horseradish glaze and mascarpone-porcini risotto and the tender veal and polenta were both top rate. Halibut had a sweet-potato crust, a creative spin on the potato-wrapped fish that many restaurants serve, and was accompanied by chipotle butter, giving the dish a sweet and hot flavor. Beautifully presented wahoo had a black and white sesame crust but was overdone and dry. If you can’t decide what to order for dessert, opt for the Petite Delights, enough for two to share. Ours contained a key lime tart, luscious chocolate baked pudding, and vanilla crème brûlée.
Krave is small, so be sure to make a reservation (973-383-2600). There is outdoor patio dining, weather permitting, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Smoked salmon grilled flatbread.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein.
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PLUCKEMIN INN, BEDMINSTER
Congratulations to sommelier Brian Hider and the Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 206 South, Bedminster, which has been given Wine Spectator’s highest honor, the Grand Award. Only 74 restaurants worldwide currently hold this distinction, and this restaurant was one of the four to win this year (the others are Gilt and Eleven Madison Park in New York City, Pappas Brothers Steakhouse in Dallas, and Restaurante Rekondo in San Sebastian, Spain). The wine program at the Pluckemin Inn consists of 5,300 selections, curated by Hider to complement executive chef Juan Jose Cuevas’s farm-to-table menu. In addition to extensive verticals and rare and hard-to-find wines, Hider also offers the “Pluckemin 100,” a list of wines priced under $70 that’s an inspiring roster of accessible choices for all tastes. More than 10,000 bottles in the inventory are housed in a three-story, temperature-controlled wine tower, which is also the architectural centerpiece of the restaurant. For dinner reservations, call 908-658-9292.
The Pluckemin Inn, Bedminster.
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MOCKINGBIRD CAFÉ, BASKING RIDGE
They don’t take reservations, so go to Mockingbird Café, 60 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge (908-766-1106), early to avoid a wait. We met friends at 5:30 on a Saturday evening, and when we left at 7:30 all of the 40-plus seats were occupied. For those looking for a child-friendly restaurant, know that the tables are topped with butcher paper and mugs of crayons. Those who prefer a child-free environment might want to dine here later in the evening.
When you’re seated, water is brought to the table in bottles, along with butter and garlic-studded bread. Starters were crispy calamari and jalapeño peppers, a scrumptious crab cake, and addictive pommes frites. We saw lobster mac and cheese on a few tables and will be sure to order that next time. An impressive serving of foie gras topped the duck breast, which was a well-prepared dish. A harissa rub gave the Moroccan tuna additional appeal, and a rhubarb chutney made the slightly dry roast chicken interesting. Everyone agreed that the perfectly cooked juicy and tender NY strip steak was the winning dish of the evening. A homemade brownie with vanilla ice cream was decent, but we were all wowed by the chocolate hazelnut molten cake with caramel ice cream. Order that if it’s on the menu. This charming BYO café serves breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday and dinner Thursday through Saturday.
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THE FROG & THE PEACH, NEW BRUNSWICK
Through mid-September, the Annual Festival of Peaches will be celebrated at the Frog and the Peach, 29 Dennis Street, New Brunswick, with a five-course tasting menu being offered in honor of the peach; $59, with wines $105. For reservations, call 732-846-3216.
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THE ELAN, LODI
On August 18, a Mid-Summer Crab Feast will be held at the Elan, 111 Route 46 West, Lodi, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Lodi. The all-you-can-eat, sit-down, family-style menu includes appetizers, Dungeness crab, roasted potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, coleslaw, jalapeño corn bread, homemade doughnuts, seasonal fruit salad, wine, and beer. $54.95, teenagers $44.95, children ages five to twelve $39.95; plus tax and 20 percent gratuity. For reservations, call 973-777-0503.
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MARIE’S CAFÉ & DELI, CHATHAM
Watch for the opening sometime in September of Marie’s Italian Specialties in Chatham. The café/deli is owned by Carl Ruiz, who was the opening chef at Cuban Pete’s in Montclair, and his fiancé, Marie. In the daytime Marie’s Café & Deli will feature overstuffed sandwiches loaded with their own house-made mozzarella and roasted red peppers, fresh house-made pastas, whole-wheat and gluten-free products, and more. In the evening Chef Ruiz will be manning the stoves and offering a creative Italian dinner menu.
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SAVE THE DATE
On September 25, the Epicurean Palette will be held at Grounds for Sculpture, 18 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. 1 to 4 PM (rain or shine); $110, members $99, VIP tickets $350, which includes a special tour of Seward Johnson’s studio, a “meet, greet, and treat” with culinary experts, and more. For tickets, call 609-586-0616.
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