Rosie’s Food Bytes
November 20, 2007
Dine out this holiday season and give yourself a break from cooking. Here are some restaurants our food editor Rosalie Saferstein recommends:
Mantra, Paramus (www.mantranj.com)
Have cocktails and appetizers in the sleek bar with comfy seats, then head into the dining room where a well informed waitstaff walks you through the menu. Be warned: hot means HOT. Try the scallops no matter how they are prepared. Ours came with a tamarind sauce. Mumbai fish curry was a winner as was the lamb marinated in yogurt, ginger, and garlic.
Il Mondo Vecchio, Madison (www.scalinifedeli.com/mondo/mondoIndex.html)
Consistently good food, large portions, and innovative specials keep us running back to Michael Certulo’s long running BYO establishment. Do not miss the roasted butternut squash ravioli or the striped bass with a light tomato broth. The chocolate-painted fillo with cream and chocolate mousse is luxurious.
Light Horse Tavern, Jersey City
(www.lighthorsetavern.com)
Opt for the sophisticated grilled rib eye steak with potato, shiitake, and asparagus hash or the satisfying “Tavern Classic” of baked meatloaf at this friendly eatery. We would also be happy working our way through the weekly specials, bouillabaisse on Monday to the red wine-braised oxtail on Saturday. An eclectic wine list and more than 95 beers make choosing a beverage daunting.
Teaneck Kebab House, Teaneck (www.teaneckkebabhouse.com)
Walk through a pizza parlor to enter this casual BYO eatery specializing in Afghan cuisine. Go for the mantoo, gently flavored dumplings filled with beef and onions that are nestled in a yogurt/tomato sauce. A combination kebab will give you a taste of everything; we loved the lamb. Vegetarians can opt for the eggplant sautéed with onions, green peppers, and tomatoes or the baked squash sweetened with honey.
Watch for Rosie’s Table Hopping column at www.njmonthly.com and e-mail suggestions to her at foodbytes@hotmail.com
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