Village Green Restaurant, Ridgewood, NJ

Restaurant link:

Village Green Restaurant

Lisa's Review:

It's official, after two separate visits to Village Green Restaurant, I can say with certainty that this is my favorite restaurant of any that I have visited in New Jersey. I might even boldly say that Village Green Restaurant is my worldwide favorite, but there is another restaurant that owns that title for me in Sydney, Australia called Otto.

But what is so good about Village Green?

Three words: mood, food and service!

The Mood

Village Green is a small restaurant in the heart of Ridgewood NJ. It is located near, but not on, the Main Street of Ridgewood. Consequently, as you walk to the restaurant from your car, there is a neighborhood feel that is punctuated by a steepled church with a beautiful stained glass window at its entry.

As you enter the restaurant there are several larger group tables, but since we were a couple, we were seated in a small nook by the front window. It was private, but not isolated and provided a romantic setting with large windows draped by soft curtains. The mood was completed with the sparkling wine we brought with us since Village Green is BYOB.
 

The Food ... Oh My, The Food!

The first time I visited Village Green, I decided to try their 5-course tasting menu. Everything sounded so good, I wanted to try as much as possible and the smaller serving sizes were perfect. This time, I thought I would order from the regular menu, but I was surprised to see that the menu had changed substantially since our first visit 3 months earlier and the 5-course tasting menu seemed the best option again!

Before any of our ordered food arrived, our waiter delivered an amuse bouche, a single, bite-sized hors d'oeuvres of Butternut Squash Arancini (stuffed rice ball). Wow! It was tiny, but full of flavor. The crust was crunchy and the interior soft and moist. I'm inspired to try and make arancini myself, but I fear I'll mess up ... they are so delicate.

Butternut Squash Arancini - packed with flavor!

The first two courses of the 5-course menu were both small servings of appetizers from the main menu. First I enjoyed a salad of Butterhead Lettuce, spicy pecans (although they looked like walnuts to me), blue cheese crumbles and julienned apple with a sherry maple vinaigrette. Soft, savory and perfect. The second course was Autumn Gnocchi with butternut squash, pine nuts, and sage beurre noisette (brown butter). This second tasting from the appetizers is one of the reasons that the tasting menu is such a great idea! The dish was nothing short of phenomenal, and I may have missed out if I could only pick one item.

Butterhead Lettuce Salad

Autumn Gnocchi - one of my favorite dishes

The second two courses were both small servings of entrees, again from the main menu. Usually I select a fish course for my entree, but with two choices, I chose a fish course and a chicken course. The fish was crispy sautéed Branzino (European seabass) with lemon risotto, blistered tomato and Sicilian eggplant caponata. I loved the crispy skin on the seabass and the lemon risotto was fantastic - everything risotto should be - creamy and flavorful, unlike the risotto I recently tried at Locale (see prior review). The tomato and eggplant caponata were nice enough, but mainly decorated the plate ... "It was all about that bass, 'bout that bass ... and risotto!" The next dish was something I would probably never order in a million years if it's the only entree I'm eating. It was fun, tasty, unique and probably way too many calories ... Buttermilk Fried Chicken with braised kale, quinoa waffle and thyme maple butter. I'm running out of adjectives here ... but mmmmmm ... comes to mind. While the rest of the courses were elegant, this course was pure comfort food ... and still incredible!

Pan-seared Branzino - crispy skin and creamy risotto

Buttermilk Fried Chicken - comfort food!

The fifth course was the dessert course and I ordered a Bavarian Apple Square with vanilla gelato. The pastry topped with apple and caramel sauce were subtly sweet and paired nicely with the gelato. I couldn't ask for more after the stunning array of flavors I enjoyed this evening.

Bavarian Apple Square - a perfect ending.

The Service

Our wonderful evening was topped off by waiters who intuitively understood when to offer help with the menu, when to clear plates and how to ensure our evening was a memorable one. Present, but not intrusive. The whole restaurant seems to run like a well-oiled machine. Having said that, it's far from a machine in terms of the quality and flavor of the food. They seem to have found a magical balance between mood, food and service. It's no wonder then that our first visit here was the trigger for Fred and I deciding to write a restaurant review blog. Thank you Village Green Restaurant for inspiring us, and for once again providing an amazing meal!

Fred's Review:

Driving to Village Green that rainy Friday evening, I was hoping for an otherwise uneventful night. Just a quiet dinner for two at this charming BYOB restaurant. But that was not to be. Little did I know that the green just across the street from Village Green would be the location of Ridgewood's annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, which was to begin about the same time we would be arriving for dinner. Or I should say, trying to arrive. So many roads leading downtown were closed that at first we couldn't get anywhere near the place. And once there, it was of course impossible to find parking since so many people were attending the tree lighting. Already I was wishing we had brought more wine with us. After this, I was going to need it.

As we drove off looking for a parking space, somehow I failed to appreciate what Lisa described as the "neighborhood feel that is punctuated by a steepled church with a beautiful stained glass window at its entry". To me it was 10 minutes of driving in the rain down dark, narrow, unfamiliar streets looking for some place to park, followed by a very long, cold, wet walk to the restaurant. My cheerful wife always has such a positive outlook, one of the many reasons I love her so.

Although it was an ordeal to get there, our determination and persistence were quickly rewarded. The impeccable service that Lisa mentioned began the moment we were seated, as our waiter immediately opened our bottle of sparkling wine and poured us each a glass. His assistance with this was fortunate since my hands had become numb with cold while holding the umbrella on our walk there. In fact, for my first sip or two of wine, I had to lift my glass by holding it between my two wrists, a bit embarrassing at such a fine dining establishment. Fortunately, my fingers had become more functional by the time the food arrived. I would have hated eating by placing my face down in the plate like our cat.

Since this was our second visit to Village Green, I already knew that, unlike Lisa, I would not be ordering from their tasting menu. It's offerings are a bit too refined for me, and I wouldn't be able to say what I wanted anyway since I find most of their names unpronounceable. I also don't like being teased with such small portions of food. It's like nibbling on a few appetizers while waiting for your entree, which never arrives. Instead, you're suddenly served dessert, handed the check, and ushered out the door before you realize that you never had your main course. So, no thank you. I'll take the full-size portion of Caesar Salad followed by the nice big Beef Tenderloin entree. And by the way, both were excellent. Lisa shared a bite of her dessert with me, too. It was tasty, but small of course.

Caesar salad - yes, Fred ate one of the anchovies!

Beef Tenderloin - from the "big boy" menu

So yes, I agree with Lisa that Village Green is quite a nice restaurant with a very pleasant ambiance, great service, and a menu interesting enough to appeal to anyone with culinary tastes as sophisticated as those of my lovely wife. And fortunately, they also offer a few very well prepared menu items that are simple and filling enough to satisfy someone with tastes as base as mine. (Yes, it's all about that base ... ) I'm sure we will be returning often, but in the future I'll be checking Ridgewood's calendar of events beforehand. 

Locale, Closter, NJ

Restaurant Link:

Locale

Lisa's Review:

Earlier this month, Fred and I visited a restaurant we have only been to once before in the summer. We were first interested in trying Locale because it is one of the few restaurants that offers outdoor seating. As you can see from this picture taken back then, the exterior is quite pretty and Mother Nature provides a beautiful ambience.

Our visit this time was in the colder month of November, so it meant a chance check out the interior and sample their Italian menu again. The front entrance is inviting and the interior attractive and well kept, but the ambience we felt outside was missing inside the restaurant. The decor was pleasant enough but on the plain side. I guess I'd say that there was nothing special inside but nothing terrible either!

For my appetizer, I ordered my usual salad which was tasty. I've noticed that many restaurants now offer a similarly constructed salad: It includes some kind of lettuce (bib or mesclun), with cheese crumbles (blue or goat), candied nuts (walnut or pistachio), dried fruit (cranberry or cherry) and a healthy dose of sherry or citrus vinaigrette. At Locale, instead of a candied nut, it was roasted walnuts, and instead of a dried fruit, it was fresh pear julienne. That's a refreshing change and it keeps some unneeded sugar out of the salad. 

I ordered wild mushroom risotto for my main course with grilled chicken breast added to it. The risotto was presented in an unexpected way, with the creamy arborio rice forming a ring around the edge of my plate, the wild mushroom gravy placed in the center, and the chicken presented on the top. The unusual presentation did give me a chance to taste the base risotto, which I felt was bland and under seasoned. However, the wild mushroom gravy in the center was rich and flavorful and more than made up for the rice. The chicken breast was nicely cooked and moist.

As an aside, if you care about having some kind of starch with your protein, it seems that it is mainly the steak or lamb dishes where this comes as part of the ordered dish. If however you order fish, chicken or veal, in most cases they are served with mixed vegetables but no starch. Alternatively, if you order a starch based meal, like the risotto, there is little protein. Fortunately, when I asked the waiter of I could have starch added to fish/chicken/veal or chicken added to risotto or pasta, the answer was yes! I realize that some readers' eyes just glazed over, but when you're counting calories and trying to eat a balanced meal...it matters!

Overall, my experience at Locale was pleasant. The service was attentive and the staff were willing to adjust orders to my needs. I recommend Locale for good Italian food and service. If you can, try to go in the summer to enjoy the outside dining atmosphere, in addition to the food. 

Fred's Review:

What Lisa didn't mention is that, on our second visit to Locale, immediately after being seated we were wished a happy anniversary by our waiter. Which struck us as a bit odd since it was not our anniversary. Had someone here incorrectly inferred this since I requested a quiet romantic table when I made the reservation (as I often do)? Or were we instead being mistaken for another couple actually celebrating their wedding anniversary? If so, then besides misappropriating their table perhaps we would soon be the unworthy recipients of all sorts of other special perks meant for them. 

For the next few minutes I couldn't help but envision a nice sweet couple who had come here for their anniversary dinner expecting to be pampered all evening by the entire restaurant staff. But now, because of us, they were instead being ignored by their waiter while sitting at some crappy table next to the restrooms. Fortunately, a glass of sparkling wine helped relieve the guilt, and then it came time to order our dinners.

Emboldened by the certainty I would not be having my cholesterol levels checked again until next year, I chose the Caesar salad, to be followed by the fettuccine carbonara. And each was delicious. The entree in particular was very tasty, especially after having it topped off with fresh ground pepper and grated cheese. The carbonara sauce was very rich and thick, as such cream sauces should be. And of course the viscosity quickly increased as the dish cooled. Fortunately, I was able to finish nearly all the fettuccine before it solidified completely. 

For some reason they, like most other Italian restaurants, include green peas in their carbonara sauce. I don't know why since, in my estimation, peas do nothing to enhance the taste or the texture of this dish. Is the intent to add a bit of color to the plate? Or maybe they believe that including some vegetables will make it healthier? Well, if so, then I think they should scrap that idea. Anyone who orders fettuccine carbonara should just accept that it is very likely the unhealthiest item on the menu, and a few green peas aren't going to change that. 

Despite skipping dessert, I was quite full by the time we finished dinner. This was not due to the portion sizes, however, which I would classify as small to medium, but rather to the heaviness of the cream sauce. Overall, it was a very nice dining experience. Except that I think the menu is rather limited in its offerings, and valet parking seemed unnecessary on our second visit considering the size of their property and the scarcity of patrons that evening. It was much busier last summer when outside seating was available on their patio. 

A Taste of Greece, River Edge, NJ

Restaurant Link:

A Taste of Greece

Fred's Review:

Before entering, I wasn't expecting much from this small BYOB restaurant, despite its great reviews. From the outside it appears to be little more than a 20 foot wide store front squeezed into a tiny shopping strip next to a dry cleaner and a bagel shop, with parked cars facing directly into its large windows. But once inside, what a pleasant surprise. Lisa and I immediately felt as if we had entered a trendy neighborhood taverna in the heart of Athens or some other Greek town. (Ok, I've never been to Greece. But this is how I would imagine such a place to be.) The entire staff was friendly and accommodating, including the exuberant owner/head chef, Themis, who came out of the open kitchen area to welcome us. 

 

Promptly after being seated, we were delivered menus, water, and an ice bucket for the wine we brought with us. When our server Stella returned several minutes later, she proceeded to recite from memory a detailed list of dinner specials almost as long as the menu itself. While Lisa of course listened intently to each mouth-watering description on that encyclopedic list, I drifted off as usual after the 2nd or 3rd item mentioned. Although I did appreciate this lengthy epicurean soliloquy as an amazing feat of mental prowess, I was distracted by the complimentary pita bread and dip that had just been placed on our table.

In addition to splitting the Greek salad that came with the entree I subsequently ordered, Lisa and I also shared an appetizer, one that I was not previously familiar with: hot feta cheese wrapped in dough and baked. Wow, that was good. After those and nearly all of the pita slices were gone, Lisa reluctantly admitted that she was already beginning to feel full. "Yes!" I thought at first. "All the rest is mine!" But my elation was short-lived. While she recovered quickly enough to finish her entire dish of grilled octopus (just as well since I seldom eat seafood), midway through dinner I realized there was no way I would be able to do the same with my enormous platter of gyro with added lamb souvlaki, which were accompanied by Greek fries and grilled veges. Much of it would be coming home with us instead, along with most of the two side dishes that Lisa had ordered. Apparently undaunted by the copious quantities of food we had already been served, Lisa then surprised me by additionally ordering a slice of baklava for us to share. The sweet, crunchy flakiness of this dessert was refreshing after what we had just feasted on. 

From beginning to end, it was a great dinner. Delicious and relatively inexpensive, especially considering the generous portion sizes. On the Belt Notch Scale that I recently created, in which I have to loosen my belt 1 notch for an average size meal, 2 notches for a larger than usual one, and 3 for an exceptionally large meal, my dinner definitely rated 3 notches. On the downside, the dining room is very small, and the tables quite close together. So I would recommend arriving, as we did, either before or after the dinner crowd, which is often sizable especially on weekends. But definitely worth a visit for those like me who have large appetites and would enjoy some good quality but reasonably priced Greek cuisine in a lively and casual setting.

Complimentary Pita bread and dip

Spicy Feta Crepe

Gyro Combo Platter

Lisa's Review:

I can see how this blog could be bad for me. I'm encouraged to try more and more restaurants in the area, and sample many items from their menus, more than I otherwise would if I was not writing a blog about it!

I agree with Fred completely about the external appearance of the restaurant. But if you turn away based on the outside appearance, you will miss the magic inside which is a combination of an inviting interior, great food and skilled staff taking care of their patrons. Speaking of skilled staff, our waitress Stella was knowledgeable and friendly. She took us through the menu and a long list of specials, checking to understand our preferences and pointing us in the direction we might enjoy most. We were also introduced to the owner and head chef, Themis. He came out from the kitchen, shook our hands and welcomed us to his restaurant. That's a rare event in my experience and very much appreciated. It's no wonder that the restaurant was full by the time we finished our early seating dinner. The place is loved by all.

As Fred mentioned, we shared a Greek salad, followed by one of the special appetizers, spicy feta cheese wrapped in a crepe. The salad was vibrant and the spicy feta crepe was a new experience that was well worth trying. While Fred seemed surprised I finished my "entire dish" of grilled octopus, I should point out that it was an appetizer portion. I'm happy I ordered an appetizer for my main course for two reasons: the first is that I was filling up fast; the second is that it was extremely tender, and I received the last available order. I have never experienced octopus that tender before! We also ordered several side dishes, including Greek lemon potatoes and grilled asparagus - both of which were huge. For desert, Fred and I split a baklava. Sometimes I find baklava overly sweet, but not this one. It was a great balance of walnuts, honey, spices and pastry.

I can't believe this Greek oasis is just a short distance from our home and that we had never tried it before. We will return without hesitation.

Greek Salad

Grilled Octopus

Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Reduction

Lemon Potatoes - more than enough for two

Baklava

Bibi'z, Westwood, NJ

Restaurant Link:

Bibi'z Restaurant & Lounge

Lisa's Review:

For the second time this month, Fred and I visited Bibi'z in Westwood NJ. We tried it out the first time because of their focus on using local and organic foods. We went back the second time, because the food is delicious!

One of the things I like about Bibi'z is that it feels special. We decided against the outdoor seating at the front of the restaurant, since it's getting a little cool, and the parking lot at the front doesn't make for the best view. Our table was in the main dining room. Set with white table cloths, tea candles and some interesting artwork, the setting is definitely "date-night" worthy.

My meal was outstanding. I started with the Balsamic Pear Salad - one of the best salads I have ever eaten. The pear was ripe but still firm and flavored with cinnamon and nicely balanced by the organic mesclun, arugula, blue cheese, onion, cranberries, toasted almonds and honey balsamic dressing. The salad wasn't drowning in dressing either - it was perfect! My main course of Organic Linguine with Grilled Shrimp was also very tasty. I had ordered a Lamb Shank on the previous visit, but this time I wanted something a little less filling, and the pasta fit the bill. Not a huge amount of linguine or shrimp, but enough to feel satisfied. Flavors were all very well balanced too. My meal was accompanied by an Organic Wine Flight - a fun way to try different varieties of wine, and rare to find organic wines! Fred and I "shared" the Mini Dessert Nibbles platter for dessert. Each item was delicious, though my favorite was the mini tiramisu. Fortunately, Fred was very full after eating the Lamb Shank, so I got more than my fair share of the platter!

Balsamic Pear Salad

Organic Linguine with Grilled Shrimp

Organic Wine Flight - 2oz per glass

Mini Desert Nibbles

Fred's Review:

I agree with Lisa, the restaurant has a special atmosphere - somewhat zen-like. However, I did find myself repeatedly wondering who this androgynous dude is...

The Fork-n-Knife Caesar Salad was great. Although I ordered the smaller (regular) size, it was more than ample, even for me. And very tasty since it was covered with shaved parmesan cheese and croutons. One of the best Caesar salads I've had lately. And I guess appropriately named since I did actually use my fork and knife to eat it. Lisa had the Braised Lamb Shank the first time we were here, and I found the few bites that she would share with me unexpectedly good. So I ordered it on our second visit, and it didn't disappoint. Very moist, tender, fall-off-the-bone delicious, and quite a large portion. Fortunately, I didn't have to share much of it with Lisa since she was saving room for dessert, which was really satisfying too. Except I could have done without the chocolate chip cookies, which I have at home, and I still don't know what sabayon is.

Fork-N-Knife Caesar

Braised Lamb Shank