Teaneck, NJ: Green Garden Chinese Kitchen

Green Garden Chinese Kitchen
949 Teaneck Road
Teaneck

Tips: Having multiple Chinese Take Out restaurants in every city in Bergen County is not specific to this area, however I have noticed that differences like in delivery radius, MSG free, and re-useable plastic containers versus the traditional take out box with wire handle are reflections of the growing competition. 

While Green Garden didn't serve all their food in plastic containers (ie. the fried scallion pancakes, though without holes punched into the strofoam to let out the steam), they still offered their entrees in them, which is also cleaner with less possible incident of dripping.  Green Garden is also MSG free, though not food coma free.  They also include the fried "chips" that remind me of my childhood when my parents ordered Chinese take out from their local spot; I'm sure they are horrible for your health, but taste oh so good dropped in soup. 

Similar to other take out restaurants, Green Garden offers coupons with free items based on the total amount you spend.  A total of $15 will get you a free eggroll, while $30 will get you a free order or sweet and sour chicken.  Be sure to take advantage of these offers, though don't let it convince you to order more just for the freebies; afterall, it's still relatively unhealthy food.

And like any establishment that deliver, be aware of peak times.  We ordered at 5:30 PM on a Sunday, and the food arrive close to an expected 1 hour later.



Chicken Corn Soup

Food: Although these take out places are more Chinese-American, than Chinese, I felt the desire to order 

Scallion Pancake with dipping sauce



soup, like one would start with in a traditional Chinese meal.  Chicken Corn Soup is always my soup of choice!  A combination of egg drop soup and chicken soup with added pieces of sweet corn, it's sweet and salty, and the soup from Green Garden was no exception.  It was in fact extra special because they included the fried "chips" that I could throw in it.  The Scallion Pancakes (a new item) on the other were a total disappointment.  Perhaps this an item that I can only find in Boston, where they are a staple at any Chinese restaurant, but for some reason I've had trouble finding them here in New Jersey.  Excited to see that they were being offered, I was really grossed out at how soggy and extremely oily they were.  They did however get an A+ for their dipping sauce; something I've had a hard time finding in Boston. 



Chicken with Garlic Sauce (in white sauce)



For our entrees, we ordered Chicken with Garlic Sauce, where I specified for it to be made with white sauce.  Not sure if it's true, but the white sauce may likely have less sodium than the traditional dark sauce.  Not nearly "garlicky" enough or possibly at all, I was disappointed with the lack in flavor, but really impressed with the amount and assortment of veggies they included: broccoli, snap peas, carrots, green peppers, celery, mushroom, baby corn, and bamboo.  The quality efinitely did not go unnoticed!  We had a choice of white or brown rice with it, which I always appreciate that there is a brown rice option. 



Shrimp ChowFoon



We also ordered the Shrimp ChowFoon.  If you've ever tried to work with these sticky rice noodles, you'll understand the challenge.  The longer and less choppy and mushy the noodles are, the better they did a good job in handling it.  In the case of Green Garden, they did a good job with working with these sticky noodles, however the amount of oil they used to facilitate handling the noodles was over powered.  Similar to the chicken entree, the noodles also lacked a certain flavor (perhaps because it doesn't have MSG), but it also had a good amount and assortment of vegetables, like snow peas, mushrooms, cabbage, celery, carrots, and bamboo.  There was a decent amount of shrimp, but fairly small compared to other Chinese Restaurants I've eaten at. 

Final Thoughts: All in all, I thought Green Garden Chinese Kitchen did a decent job in giving me my Chinese Take Out food fix.  I absolutely appreciated the amount of vegetables they used in their dishes, which is always a plus in my book, but hope by trying another entree, I'll get more of the flavor of the dish.  I'll absolutely be planning to order from here again, and this time I'll request that they add in chopsticks!

Happy Eating Bergen County!






















Northvale, NJ: Northvale Diner

Northvale Diner
247 Livingston Street

Northvale, NJ

Northvale Diner

Tips: The Northvale Diner holds a special place in my Jersey heart.  Like the "Peach Pit" to 90210 and "The Max" to Saved By The Bell, the Northvale Diner was the place for the Northern Valley Regional High School (Old Tappan and Demarest) students.

This is the place we went to late at night, after church, to hang out (because we essentially had no where else to go) and eat French Onion Soup, Disco Fries, and endless amounts of Burgers, Steak Fries, and Breakfast food. 

Since, the Diner (as locals fondly refer to it as if there is no other) received a major exterior and interior facelift, changed management, added more healthier and organic options, and a full bar.  They pride themselves in "offering a vast variety of comforting and sophisticated dishes" which they "make in house" while buying "only the highest quality natural and organic ingredients."  A far different cry than when it was my local hangout. 

What is a continued cry is its popularity.  They now offer booths, small and large, and well as tables.  Sunday brunch is obviously a consistent popular time, but if you're only with a party of two, don't hesitate to by pass the wait and head straight to the high chairs by the bar in the center console.  A first come first serve area that is also filled with action and drama.  It's a spot where servers will often recenter their serving trays and joke around with the cashier/bakery lady. 

Grilled Salmon Wrap

Food: I had a hankering for seafood, and was excited to see that they had a grilled fish option: Grilled Salmon Wrap.  Grilled Salmon on spring mix with tomato relish and wasabi sauce wrapped in an oregano/basil flavored wrap, served with mixed greens in a balsamic viniagrette.  I asked for the tomato relish on the side to lessen the potential of a soggy wrap, and also to avoid losing the flavor of the salmon.  They however forgot to give it to me.  The wasabi sauce ended up being more of a wasabi mayo that made the wrap so soggy and difficult to eat.  The salmon was good quality, but a tiny portion, as well as a small portion of the spring mix inside the wrap and the sad looking side of mixed greens, which I got with a side of honey mustard sauce. 

Eggs Burrito

We also ordered the Eggs Burrito described as stuffed with scrambled eggs, tomatoes, peppers, ham, onions, cheddar-jack, guacomole, and salsa.  Similar to the Salmon Wrap and opposite of how they described it on their menu, there was hardly any eggs, barely any ham onions or peppers.  The scoop of guacomole was around turning brown. 

Extremely disappointed by the fresh quality they pride themselves on

Final Thoughts: Unfortunately since its change in management, the Northvale Diner has also changed in terms of quality and freshness.  Perhaps it was never fresh to begin with, and I just never realized from a 16 year old perspective, but the bottomline is if they are advertising themselves as using fresh and organic products, they have failed tremendously.  They also state that they are "famous for their generous portions which are ideal for sharing," but with the skimpy portions offered today, I barely had enough to feed myself, let alone share with someone else. 

New Jersey is a state known for diners.  There are plenty of them in my radius.  Sadly, I think it's time for me to let go of my memories and build some new ones. 

Happy Eating Bergen County!

Elizabeth, NJ: Algarve Restaurant

Algarve Restaurant
656 Van Buren Avenue
Elizabeth, NJ

A self-described healthy barbeque and Portuguese cuisine, Algarve Restaurant offers a range of food, from Frog Legs, to Filet Mignon, to pasta and seafood options.  And with a full bar, they offer drinks to compliment your meal, including half and whole pitchers of Sangria using at least four types of alcohol.

Tips: The streets of Elizabeth can be a bit complicated with its one-way streets.  The restaurant has a parking lot to the right of the restaurant on a one way street on Louisa, so be prepared to spin around to go down the one way to hit the parking lot on the right. 

A hot spot for the locals, you'll no doubt find the usuals sitting around the circular bar.  The juke box is always playing random tunes, so don't hesitate to fill up the playlist with your favorites.   

Food: I had to no doubt first order a pitcher of Sangria.  It had a great kick to it with the various liquors used, and definitely a drink I would recommend ordering.  The glasses are small, which can be frustrating, especially when it was also full with ice, but the pitcher is large so there is plenty of Sangria to go around.

Every meal comes with a warm crusty Portuguese roll.  I simply can't get enough of that bread!  To continue with the comfort food journey, I ordered the Shrimp & Rice Spanish Style for one.  It was a very healthy (in true American style) portion and great proportion of rice to shrimp. Similar to paella, it came out in a sizzling hot cast iron leaving those delicious burnt and crunchy rice pieces at the end.  The shrimp was surprisingly fresh - I think I even chewed a tiny part of the shell which makes me think that it started with fresh shrimp that was deshelled in the kitchen.  The yellow rice tasted really similar to "Goya - Rice Amarillo" but regardless it was cooked perfectly al dente.  It could have use a little less oil and butter, but overall comfort food I could eat every day!

Final Thoughts: I can see why this is a local hot spot.  If I lived closer to Elizabeth, I'd certainly be a frequent visitor.  The prices are just right (less than $20 for grilled Chilean Sea Bass!) and the seafood seemed surprisingly fresh; I no doubt underestimated the freshness from this unassuming restaurant in the middle of Elizabeth.  I also sneaked in a few french fries from my friend's plate, and while they were nothing spectacular, the honey mustard was one of the best I've enjoyed! 

Happy Eating Bergen County!

Englewood, NJ: Hummus Elite

Hummus Elite
39 East Palisade Avenue
Englewood, NJ
Bergen County

Hummus Elite is one of a handful of kosher restaurants in Englewood, but what sets them apart from the others is their commitment to using organic eggs and produce.  Their menu is limited, but that allows them to stick with what they're great at making, hummus and falafels.

Tips: It's probably a better idea to sit and eat a sandwich from here, then to eat and walk your dog in the park at the same time like I did.  If you choose to sit and eat, Hummus Elite is small and cozy, with an updated and clean bathroom, something that doesn't slip by this foodie.  The folks there are eager to describe the food to you.

Food: We ordered the Falafel Sandwich and Sabbich Sandwich to go.  They did a great job bagging it with plenty of napkins, dipping sauces, and wrapped in both tin foil and wax paper which really appreciated when trying to juggle my dog leash and the sandwich. 

The sandwiches I normally have come in a thicker pita that is rolled up so it's more of a long shape.  Here, they use more of the traditional pita, which works fine, though it is thinner in comparison.  A pro for this is that the flavor of the falafel is not over powered by a thicker bread, while a con is that the sauce and items in the sandwich can quickly make the pita soggy.  I do have to say though that here the pita stayed relatively okay. 

The Falafel in my sandwich was delicious.  Perfectly seasoned and fried.  There was cabbage and hummus, but the one item that I was seriously caught off guard by was the 4 or 5 random french fries.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE french fries, particularly in sandwiches (ie. Rutgers College - Grease Trucks), but I wasn't sure if french fries were intentionally put in there or accidentally.  If they were intentionally put in there, then I was disappointed to see that they were mainly on the bottom of my sandwich which leads me to believe that they were used as fillers.  While the potato flavor of course was delicious, I would have appreciated one more tasty falafel or more hummus, which there was a serious lack of, but had a thick fresh consistency.

The Sabbich Sandwich was our first.  Described on their menu to have "hummus, boiled egg, tahini, & roasted eggplant" it had much of all of that.  The roasted eggplant in particular was seasoned beautifully, and the random mix of items worked really well together.  My partner however did feel like it was too much of the same mushy consistency, but I loved the flavors.  I did however feel like there was too much egg yolk and not enough egg white. 

Final Thoughts: Hummus Elite knows how to flavor their items.  I appreciate a place like this where it's small, intimate, and clearly family run.  I'm eager to try their array of hummus varieties, particularly the one drizzled with truffle oil, and will definitely plan to stop in again to fulfill my falafel craving, but will ask them to hold the french fries, whether intentional or not. 

Happy Eating Bergen County, NJ!

Hackensack, NJ: Houston's

Houston's
1 Riverside Square
Hackensack, NJ
Bergen County

Houston's is an upscale chain restaurant that feels more upscale than chain.  They make their own bread (a fabulous brioche bun as seen in the picture) and have true quality in their products.  Their prices however certainly reflect this. 

Tips: A noticeable after work hot spot for young yuppy professionals.  Arrive as early as possible.  There is perpetually a wait here particularly after work hours, on any given night.  The bar area is particularly hopping, as is the counter behind the bar and the community high tops next to the bar, but be aware that as the night goes on, it can get very crowded in these tight quarters. 

Food: I had the hardest time deciding between their House-Made Veggie Burger, Grilled Fish Sandwich, or Asian Noodle Salad.  I finally chose the Grilled Fish Sandwich on their wonderfully light housemade Brioche bun.  I absolutely love that they had a grill option; not often available at busy chain restaurants where flash frying is fast.  Grilling the fish really allowed me to taste the freshness and flavor, while the brioche added a light sandwich option.  From their choice of sides, I went with the cous cous that had an abundance of flavor from the inclusion of mint leaves, parsley, raisins, grape tomatoes, almonds, and perfectly cooked cous cous.  I certainly could have eaten more bowls of this side dish.  They used vegetables, nuts, and herbs unsparingly and it really added to the flavor of generally blan cous cous.  The server was fantastic and patient in explaining each of the items, and did a great job navigating through the crowd.

Houston's also has a great selection of wines.  We had an excellent J. Lohr Pinot Noir, but at almost $75 a bottle.  I then had a pomegranite martini that may have been the worst I've ever tasted.

Final Thoughts: Houston's is the place is a great place to stop by after work with your co-workers or for a casual date.  I'm a huge fan of the bar area since the long waits can dampen how long you can linger and take your time catching up at the table.  Though the martinis can use some more work, the care in the freshness and selection of their food is top quality.

Happy Eating Bergen County, NJ!

Englewood, NJ: East West

East West
35 C West Palisades Avenue
Englewood, NJ
Bergen County

Japanese and Mexican?  To go?  Yes, with one side of the menu offering your typical to inventive sushi/handrolls and other fish, chicken, and noodle entrees with miso soup, the flip side of the menu offers tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.  To top it off, East West offers a method to order online, equipped with "special instructions" for each item you select.

Tips: This is a great option if you're craving fast food that doesn't involve hamburgers and fries.  We ordered our food online Sunday night during a peak dinner hour (6:45 PM), and received our food at our front door in less than 45 minutes.  The online order process is really easy and simple, and they offer the option for each entree you select to write in "special instructions."  I was able to specify that I wanted brown rice (with my eel don) and no sour cream (with my chicken taco). 

However, be warned that their English is terrible and parts of their menu online is not absolutely clear.  We forgot to enter the 10% promotional discount when you order online, and when we called them by phone to have this corrected, they said it no longer existed.  We also ordered certain items a la carte (ie. no soup), got the confirmation online, and confirmed final amount, but when they delivered the food, the final cost was almost $10-13 more than what was originally confirmed online.  The delivery man could not speak any English, so we had no choice but to pay the amount and call them again.  After several attempts to convey my issue, the woman said that we had selected the lunch prices, however the online menu does not make a distinction between the lunch and dinner menu (just lunch specials).   I suggested they check this online and make the changes, but they still haven't.

Food: From the Japanese menu, we ordered the Eel Don with Brown Rice, Chicken Katsu Don, and Red Dragon Roll.  Besides loving the brown rice option, the seaweed salad on top of the Eel Don, and the decent sized portion of the Chicken Katsu Don, everything else was mediocre.  The quality and amount of fish was mediocre at best.  The avocado was the smallest and thinnest sliver I've seen, and I don't even remember tasting much of the Tuna in my sushi roll because it was overpowered by the eel sauce.  The radish (daquan) in my Eel Don was chopped up into the smallest cubes possible, and the Eel Don was push in a plastic container that was way too big for the smaller amount it was.

From the Mexican menu, we ordered a Chicken Taco and Grilled Chicken Enchilada.  The Chicken Taco wrapped in tinfoil with all its fixings was a decent three bite item, though a bit soggy by the time it got to us.  The Grilled Chicken Enchilada had a flavorful rice and bean accompaniment, but barely any chicken in the actual entree. 

Final Thoughts: While it's exciting that East West exists an alternative fast food option, I was really felt duped by having to paid over $50 rather than less than $40 as we had expected (as confirmed to us online).  While initially ordering online served as a wonderful and fun convenience, if we had anticipated this kind of misunderstanding, I would have been happy to pick up the phone and order directly with a person.  I'm not sure if we'll order from them again since there are better Japanese and Mexican places in Englewood that also deliver, and we know that their quality of food is far superior.

Happy Eating Bergen County, NJ!