Second Helpings

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Happy Fourth. See you in a week or so!

Natalie’s opens Spanish-Cuban restaurant today

The former Natalie’s Bakery & Pasta Shop is now Natalie’s Bistro Latino, a 30-seat Spanish and Cuban restaurant that will open today, serving Cuban sandwiches and empanadas along with entrees that average about $20, including paella, lobster and steak.

“It’s not going to be a low-end taco place,” said owner Frank Trent. “It’s going to be a very nice place to go with a bottle of wine to share a nice intimate spanish meal.” The restaurant is a BYO but will sell sangria mix so customers can blend their own.

Natalie’s Bistro Latino is at 17 N. Broad St., Ridgewood; 201-444-9020.

Hell’s Kitchen contestant opens Fort Lee restaurant

Ji Cha, a contestant on Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” last year, has taken over Moon Jar, the short-lived Korean wine bar in Fort Lee. It’s been renamed Chef Ji’s Moonjar, and will off an Asian fusion and tapas menu, with most dishes under $10.

Chef Ji’s Moonjar is at 1636 Palisade Ave., Fort Lee; 201-363-0097; chefjismoonjar.com.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

A link between the alleged spies and our dining world

The New York Daily News has found an interesting link between the alleged russian spies and North Jersey restaurants. Anna Champan, one of the alleged Russian spies, reportedly told her friends she was seeing Michel Bittan.

Bittan, who owns a number of properties in downtown Englewood, also owns Solaia and Club 201 in town. He also owned Sangria Sake, which has closed twice in the last three years or so. It’s now Noches De Colombia.

Parkway Diner fined for ... well, just read it

Here’s a note from the restaurant inspections you don’t see every day:

“The Parkway Diner, 260 Route 46 east, Elmwood Park was fined $533 on Tuesday for harboring an animal and denying access to the basement room it was being kept in.”

Is your imagination running wild? Turns out, it was just a cat, the Health Department said. But still, better to avoid the chicken-hairball soup.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Admari Tea closes retail location, stays online

Admari Tea in Midland Park has closed its retail store and, for the time being, is selling online only. Eventually, its products will be sold at the Wine Cottage in Ridgewood, according to an e-mail from owner Adrienne Etkin, sent to customers today.

There’s an interesting story behind the business, as my colleague Sachi Fujimori reported a year ago. It’s below.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Dining in West Englewood Plaza in Teaneck

In Friday’s Better Living section, Jeffrey Page and his Eating Out on $50 made a stop at the koshher Burgers Bar in the West Englewood Plaza section of Teaneck. Have a look.  Ever been?

And next Friday, we’ll be back in the neighborhood as I review Mocha Bleu, the kosher bistro, cafe, pizzeria, sushi bar, patisserie and ... I think that’s it. Lots going on in there.

North Jersey Dining: A Mano in Ridgewood

In Friday’s Better Living section, I reviewed A Mano in Ridgewood, the Neapolitan pizzeria that’s now a little more than 3-years old.

If you haven’t been since the opening, you’ve missed a lot. The menu is twice as long, with several stuffed and folded pizza, along with some entrees (that frankly aren’t worth it, although customers appreciate them). And the space is about 50 percent larger, since the dining area expanded into the space next door that used to house Jerry’s Gourmet & More.

Mama Roxy’s opens in Rochelle Park

Mama Roxy’s, a sibling restaurant to Roxanne’s in Mahwah (as well as Varka in Ramsey), has opened in the renovated former home of Austin’s. The dining room and menu revolve around pizza, but the restaurant also offers sandwiches and salads, along with entrees that are available in family-size portions.

Mama Roxy’s is at 352 W. Passaic St., Rochelle Park; 201-845-7600.

Former Old Tappan restaurateur resurfaces in N.Y.

Art Lepore, who owned Parmigiano in Old Tappan until two years ago, has come out of retirement to open Confetti Ristorante in Piermont, N.Y., another Italian restaurant. Parmigiano was still healthy when Lepore closed it. He still owns the land, where a small shopping center with a coal-fired pizzeria was built in the restaurant’s place.

Confetti is at 200 Ash St., Piermont; 845-365-1911.