Tag Archives: New Jersey Restaurants

June 3, 2013 · 5:32 PM

Lilly’s on the Canal ****

609.397.62422

2 Canal Street

Lambertville, NJ 08530

Unlike most females, I’m not usually one to make a big fuss over my birthday. Sure, I like a glass of champagne and something sweet to celebrate the start of a new chapter in life, but rarely do I attempt to make formal plans and I NEVER get caught trying to split the bill with my “20 closest girlfriends” at some hoity-toity birthday dinner. Those dinners always turn into a shit-show when the check arrives and the 3 real best friends—usually the roomates—end up having to pay the remainder of the unsettled bar tab while the 17 drunken acquaintances dance away.

This year, I wanted to celebrate my 24^th birthday in the normal fashion—doing something quiet and relaxing. My friend, Liz, took me for a pedicure and treated me to lunch. It was a gorgeous day so we drove out Lambertville, NJ and went to Lily’s on the Canal for some Class-A chick food. The menu features incredible gourmet salads, unique sandwiches & wraps, and delicious homemade desserts. It is an ideal restaurant to bring a woman on a date, and it is the perfect spot for a ladies luncheon.

I decided to order a modified version of the Baby Spinach Salad, which came fully-loaded with grilled marinated chicken breast, balsamic glazed Portobello mushroom cap, goat cheese, seasonal tomatoes, avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette ($14).

There is not one bad thing I can say about the salad. It was all of my favorite ingredients on one plate in a perfect entrée-sized portion! The chicken was warm and juicy, and the mushrooms were seasoned perfectly. I also am a huge fan of their homemade salad dressings.

Liz ordered the same salad but got it standard issue with Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast, Balsamic Glazed Portobello Mushrooms, Buttermilk Bleu Cheese, Seasonal Tomato, Avocado, and Ranch Dressing.

We also decided to share an order of the Skinny French Fries ($5), which are cut shoestring style and fried to golden delicious crisp!

Some of my other favorite meals at Lily’s include:

The Penne with Vodka Sauce—and I usually add chicken, but you can also choose to add grilled shrimp ($15). Like it says on the menu, “it’s an oldie, but a goodie!”

I am also obsessed with the Caesar Salad with Chopped Romaine Lettuce, Creamy Goat Cheese, Applewood Bacon, Parmesan Croutons, and Caesar Dressing ($13). It is a twist on a classic Caesar, which normally has Parmesan, but the goat cheese and freshly cooked bacon bits put this salad over the top!

The burgers at Lilly’s are also quite good, and can be ordered in several different variations. I like the Three Mini Angus Beef Sliders, which are served open face with Swiss cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions, and skinny fries ($12)!

A lighter way to enjoy their burgers, is by ordering the Burger Salad (made with Certified Angus Beef or Vegetable Patty) served over mixed greens with red onion slices, guacamole, spinach hummus, and black bean salad with a balsamic vinaigrette ($12). Not only is it delicious and filling, but you cannot beat the price for what you get!

The only dish I have tried that I wouldn’t recommend getting would be the New York Strip Steak with Blue Cheese, Mushrooms, and Onions over Skinny Fries ($25). The steak was small and very fatty. It was also very oily and too way heavy with the fries.

If you can manage to save room for dessert, I would suggest ordering a slice of one of their incredible seven layer cakes: Coconut Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Truffle Cake, Chocolate Kahlua Cake—just to name a few!

Trattoria Toscana *****

553 State Route #1

Whippany, NJ 07981

973.386.0303

CHECK OUT THE MENU!

Everyone knows that New York is host to wealth of fantastic Italian restaurants–Marea, Babbo, Del Posto, Scalini Fedeli, Patsy’s, Carmine’s (just to name a few)–but outside of the city, off of route 1, lies a “hidden gem” by the name of Tratattoria Toscana. I use quotes because although it has a very inconspicuous location, it is well known among foodies, locals, and Italian’s looking for a proper pasta with gravy. This place is always jam packed and the delicious food being served is worthy of such loyal patronage.

Rodolfo Monti and his son, Giacomo (with names as authentic as their food), are the owner and chef of Trattoria Toscana, and although their menu offers a variety of well-loved Italian classics, their culinary speciality is certainly from the Tuscan region.

To start, I suggest the Sliced Pears, Prosciutto, and Shaved Parmesan Cheese ($13) or my personal favorite, Mussels cooked in Spicy Tomato Broth with White Wine and Garlic ($11). Another great way to sample the menu is to split a pasta dish or two between the table as an appetizer. The Amatriciana cooked with pancetta, onion, tomato, and pecorino cheese is very flavorful red sauce with a delicious hearty bacon flavor.

For my main dish I ordered the Braised Short Ribs in a Chianti Wine Reduction, served with Parmesan Risotto and Garlicky Broccoli Rabe. As if all of these plate components aren’t already my favorite things to eat, they were also cooked to PERFECTION! The meat just seemed to fall apart each time I poked it with the fork, and the risotto was a perfect creamy compliment to the flavors of the Chianti wine reduction. The pair was like an upscale, Italian version of mashed potatoes and gravy. And the broccoli rabe, which can be a hit or a miss for many restaurants, was out of this world good. The garlic seasoning was just right and it was cooked without being too mushy. This dish certainly makes my list of Top 10 Food-gasm experiences.

My mom ordered the Tilapia Livornese topped with capers, black olives, caramelized onion, and tomatoes and served with oven-roasted potatoes. Stealing a small forkful from her was a challenge, thats how much she enjoyed it. The fish was light and buttery and the sauce was incredible.

My dad, on the other hand, opted for something a little bit richer–the Lollipop Lamb Chops in an aged balsamic reduction, served with risotto and roasted potatoes (see photograph at top). As you can see in the photograph, the lamb is cooked to perfection with a bright pink hue in the center of the meat. The balsamic reduction had a nice flavor but thankfully was used sparingly, so as not to take away from the quality taste of the meat. And the potatoes–although just a side component on the plate–were also very nicely done with a crispy outer shell and piping hot center.

After finishing with our main courses, we ordered a round of cappuccinos and a large piece of Homemade Ricotta Cheesecake to share as a table. The coffee was nothing special but the cheesecake was very delicious. It was not too dense or too sweet, and the fresh berries and whipped cream around the edges of the plate were great addition to each bite. A perfect way to end a fabulous meal!

1 Comment

Filed under Cocktails, Italian Restaurants, New Jersey Restaurants

Tagged as Brushetta, Chicken, Coffee, Fresh Fish, Homemade Pasta, Italian, Italian dessert, Italian Food, Italian Restaurant, Italian Restaurants in NJ, Lamb, New Jersey, New Jersey Restaurants, NJ, Pasta, Risotto, Salads, Seafood, Short Ribs, Steak, tiramisu, Trattoria Toscana, Whippany, Whippany NJ

December 27, 2010 · 8:04 PM

Lovin’ Oven ***

908.996.7714

62 Trenton Ave

Frenchtown, NJ 08825

CHECK OUT THE MENU!

I don’t know how many of you got into the whole “Eat, Pray, Love” craze, but I swear for the two weeks after I read that book I really thought I was Elizabeth Gilbert. Of course I’m not a recently divorced 40-something year old writer traveling the world in hopes of finding myself, but I so readily identified with her emotions, frustrations, and passions that I felt as if her book could have been my own personal memoir. We both love to eat, travel, write, and stare at beautiful Italian men who speak the beautiful Italian language—and, I too wouldn’t think twice about packing my bags and going to an unfamiliar country such as Bali to meet with some elderly medicine man! But I am not Elizabeth Gilbert. This reality sank in abruptly after my first yoga class and was then confirmed after my attempt at guided meditation (yes, I really signed up for yoga and meditation after reading the book—a sparkler moment—just humor me).

Although I am back to my non-yoga doing life as Kendall Bajek, I was none-the-less excited to hear that Elizabeth Gilbert had opened a store near my house In Philadelphia called Two Buttons. I was less excited when I actually went and saw just how much these rare items cost, but thankfully, there was a restaurant in front of her store to help lift my spirits! The restaurant is called the Lovin’ Oven and the menu is just about as eclectic as Gilbert’s store.

They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and have inspired flavors coming from all over the world. I went for lunch with my mom and ordered the Quinoa and Tempeh Burger Wrap with avocado, kales, and roasted red pepper aioli. The server told me that this was one of the best items on the menu and it was in fact delicious, but not the greatest lunch I’ve ever had. I expected cut up strips of the quinoa and tempeh burger within the wrap, and it was more ground in with the kale so its texture was indistinct. I like the uniformity that it gave every bite, but I would have preferred to distinguish the burger from the burger from the rest of the wrap. Also, the kale was very oily and rather tough in texture, which made the wrap a bit challenging and sloppy to eat (glad I wasn’t on a date!). The overall flavor was nice, with the bitterness of the kale contrasting the sweetness of the roasted red pepper aioli, and the portion was huge. But my favorite aspect of the dish was actually the small quinoa salad that was served on the side of the wrap. It had a strong balsamic flavor with red onions and halved grapes. It was light and delicious…I wish I could have ordered that only!

My mom ordered the Saag Paneer, which is creamy pureed spinach and fresh cheese with Indian spices served with warm pita over organic brown rice. We were both very unimpressed by this dish because we are familiar with the flavors of good Indian food, but the average person would probably have been pleased. I thought it was lacking in spice and heat, and so it tasted very one-dimensional after just a few bites. The pita bread on the other hand, was incredible! It crispy on the outside but soft and warm on the inside…it was a perfect pita!

On other occasions, my mom has also had the Ginger Teriyaki Tofu Bowl with sautéed fresh vegetables, organic brown rice, sliced avocado, and grilled pita. She said that this dish was so good that it will keep her going back despite our recent disappointing lunch. I want more of that pita bread, so I would probably order this the next time I go as well. I would also save room for the Almond Croissant Bread Pudding next time because it sounds outrageously delicious! In fact, all of their baked goods sound great and I might go just for dessert later this week!

I would recommend the Lovin’ Oven for dessert or breakfast, which is what majority of diners were eating while I was there…now I know why! Just make sure that you bring cash when you go, because it is cash only!