I have to come right out and say it-- I've never been so enthusiastic about a "take-out" place…read moreafter just 1 meal. Ever. At work, the Godfather wanted to order (unusual for him to suggest it; usually I'm the 1 pushing for us to order out, and he's invariably resistant, although ultimately, he's acquiescent, although just as invariably he blames me for "pushing him into it" as he gobbles down whatever food it was we've ordered). I was willing but wanted to try something different than our usual fare (burgers, Chinese, Japanese, sandwiches). Someone else mentioned Exotic Eats, as a younger co-worker had ordered from there recently and seemed to enjoy what he had eaten. I asked, "Does this younger co-worker have a discriminating palate?" (Not actually being quite the jerk I oftentimes seem to be, I did of course use less pretentious, overblown verbiage in asking my question.) The reply was, "He's young; he'll order almost anything and like it." So...it might be great; it might be horrible. So we took a chance. They deliver, and I was intrigued by their on-line menu. I can't remember what the Godfather ordered, or another co-worker who wanted us to include him in what had once been known as the Lunchbox Mafia, but I ordered "the Island Bowl." Sliced jerk chicken breast on a bed of Mac & Cheese with jerk BBQ sauce. Being hungry, I ordered a side of blueberry cornbread, and the dessert of banana pudding cheesecake. All of it washed down with my ever-present bottle of Poland Spring water. We didn't have to wait long for it to be delivered. As I mentioned in my introductory remarks, I found the food fabulous. The jerk chicken in its BBQ sauce had a tangy sting, but it wasn't unpleasant or pain-producing. And I have to say-- the Mac & Cheese was the best I've had since my late mother used to make it for me in childhood. It's a baked "dry" Mac & Cheese as opposed to the overly sauced (and bland) version you get in most restaurants these days (all it was missing was the crumbled crackers that my mother used to put on top of it). Pure deliciousness, as they say. The blueberry cornbread was the perfect accompaniment, and the banana pudding cheesecake was wonderfully smooth, creamy, and decadent. I wasn't feeling bloated to the point of discomfort once I had finished it all, but I definitely felt "well fed." My fellow partakers were equally as enthused. Prices were fair, portions were immeasurably more than adequate, and the meal was luxuriously satisfying on every single level. As mentioned, delivery didn't take long at all, and it arrived hot. I'm not entirely sure how to classify the cuisine. The website described it as "Soul Food" with a "Caribbean Spirit." A long-time friend of mine is Jamaican, and she used to throw a big feast for friends and family every summer (I was usually the only white person invited, which was never any sort of a problem, although once a little kid of 4 or 5 looked at me with hostility and said, "What are YOU doing here?"), before health issues sidelined that annual event. She was a great cook, and everything was fresh-- jerk chicken, fish, ackee that always reminded me of scrambled eggs, breadfruit, sorrel liquor, etc. Despite the quality of the food served, I never really acquired a taste for Jamaican cuisine (I ventured out once to a Jamaican restaurant in Perth Amboy with friends; they were enthusiastic about it but it wasn't of the same quality as my friend served, and obviously didn't transform me into a "fan"), but I don't know that Exotic Eats is Jamaican per se. But I know that what I had was delicious and filling, and I can't wait to order from Exotic Eats again. Obviously, very highly recommended.

We randomly stumbled upon this absolute hidden gem, and it is easily some of the best, most…read moreperfectly seasoned Caribbean food I have ever had. From the moment we walked in, the owner was incredibly friendly and even offered us free samples of the collard greens, candied yams, and mac and cheese. Every single bite was amazing, but that mac and cheese was an absolute standout--creamy, rich, and unforgettable. For our main meals, we ordered the oxtail and the jerk chicken, and both were cooked to perfection with deep, authentic flavors. We are already planning our next trip back just to get more of that incredible mac and cheese!

10/10 for me Granted I went on a Wednesday night at 6/7pm…read more Parking garage available close by or valet for $20 Staff was excellent. Drinks were excellent Food was excellent Ambience was excellent Drinks.... Well I had one drink about doors times that night . It was called Stone Land and is was a lychee martini spinoff on stone and dry ice .... I dream about this cocktail . It was like $25 a pop lol Food.... I had the Lincoln Harbor roll which was EXCELLENT. Even my friend who does not like sushi liked it I also had the Blu Filet mignon which was stuff with blue cheese. I'm more of a rib eye gal but I wanted to try it with the blue steak and was pretty good and the truffled cream Spanish was just wow . You have to like truffle like I do :) Friend had shrimp cocktail and the lobster fra diavolo and love it as well . There was no room for dessert except another cocktail lol and I left with a doggy bag to eat for lunch the next day Hands down one of my NJ favorites. Will be back

First time dinning at Blu, but definitely not the last. The atmosphere here is stunning with a…read moreclassy interior and unobstructed views of the Hudson River and Manhattan. The prices are surprisingly reasonable for a high end restaurant, which is another reason we'll return. As for the food, some bit hits, some just good, not great. We started with cocktails (which they have a really wild variety of) with their Rice Cakes. The tuna on top was fresh and the rice cake was nice and chewy. Definitely a hit. For an entree I order a filet with a side of whipped potatoes. The potato's were the big hit of the night. They were full of cheese crumbles for added flavor. Highly recommend. My steak was good, but not great. Having said that, at $55, I'd say it was a tremendous value. We also shared a Cesar salad which was sort of a wedge salad. Very tasty, my wife appreciated the deviled eggs on top, while I would prefer without. Not a big fan of eggs. Based on the very polite and attentive service, atmosphere, location and value, we look forward to returning soon.

If I could give 6, I would. These people are the kindest people you will ever meet and the food is…read moredelicious. My friends and I sat in here for upwards of 3 hours desperately trying to find a hotel, and these angels let us sit here and store our suitcases. They let us charge our phones, continuously filled our waters without asking any questions because they saw how frantic we were. I couldn't recommend it more. It's also a beautiful restaurant.

Service here was great, it was pretty dead so we were sat immediately and were adequately checked…read moreon throughout. staff was exceptionally nice. ambiance in here is great, the interior is upscale but homey and we enjoyed the music they played the entire time. i loved the esquite with truffle, it was fantastic. tons of reall truffle and truffle flavor, i've never quite had anything like it and it was my favorite esquite i've ever had. The guac was good but could use a bit more salt, i wish they had chiccarons as chips instead of tortillas but the chips were great so wasn't a big issue. overall though expensive for some pretty average guac in my opinion. the seabass crudo was great, i loved the sauce and the mango went great with it. Super fresh, super tasty. Unfortunately the tacos were a mess, when it arrived the tortillas were so soggy that they were just coming apart, the meat was also falling off and overall the presentation was horrendous. the tacos weren't balanced as well, there were some with too much meat and then some with basically only cheese. overall flavor was not birria im typically use to but it was solid. honestly these tacos are probably the worst tacos i've ever had, for $20 it's a travesty. overall for a place nearby i'd come to get some drinks and the crudo and esquite because those were fantastic. but i'll pass on their tacos hard.

The food here is excellent (seafood always fresh and expertly prepared) and if you are seated at a…read moretable, the service is great! However, I made the mistake of sitting at the bar (I'd done this once before and forgotten what an unpleasant experience it was). Chilly doesn't even come close to describing the bartenders (both). We thought it was just us but we saw it extended to the other patrons too. It's disappointing as the spot is great, has delicious drinks and food. But I was really put off by the indifferent attitude. Needless to say we left for SRO (excellent cocktail lounge and everyone is very welcoming and professionally warm).

Cool spot in Hoboken for drinks and seafood. There's a bar, some high top seating, a few tables and…read moreoutdoor seating in the front of the restaurant. There's an extensive cocktail list and lots of great wines. The menu is heavy on the seafood but there are also some meat options. We were happy with everything we got. My favorite was the salmon with rice and snap peas. All of the flavors worked so well together.

Dear Yelp, I used to…read morefrequent Chart House a lot more when I lived in the area. I moved away a while back, but took my daughter here for her birthday celebration tonight. Fiero, our waiter, was a gem. Perfect service. Tap water was tasty. Crab cake appetizer was good, but the kim che calamari and Caesar salad were stars. Dear daughter had filet, loved it. Dear husband had prime rib, loved it. I had swordfish, loved it! We had an excellent dinner and are making plans to come again soon. Love, Nicole

Nice experience at Chart House for a birthday dinner last month. Then wait staff was very attentive…read moreand knowledgeable, and I got to the the menu home (tied up in a ribbon) to commemorate the birthday. Drinks were high quality, food was sophisticated and well cooked, and the restaurant itself felt upscale. There is also a beautiful view of the Hudson River / NYC from the dining room. My one negative is only the 2nd floor bathroom was open (not an issue for me, but was an effort for elderly companions). This restaurant is a big pricey, but the experience is on par with the price!

My first time dining at Sirenetta because I have been a bit salty about a restaurant taking over…read moreMaxwells space. But in this economy, I go where the happy hours are, and Sirenetta's has a pretty nice HH menu. We went on a Tuesday (they have different HH specials depending on the day you go) and ordered: - $1 oysters - I would skip these as they are the only oysters I've eaten and not liked the flavor of -Whipped Ricotta Dip - This was okay, served with 2 pieces of bread when 3 or 4 would have been better -Shrimp Frites - this was fine -Kale Caesar Salad - mind blowing, possibly the best kale salad I've had - Olive Oil Martini - Full price and worth it I liked the martini and salad so much I'll be back to try more of the regular menu on a Thursday night when the martini's are $10. Service was also great and we were very comfortable sitting outside with our dog.

The food was delicious and the service outstanding! I liked that the menu was on the smaller side…read moreas it was not overwhelming but so many good choices. This place is a gem.

The Garden State has no shortage of restaurants where one can graze (eat) while gazing upon a…read moreshimmering body of water that boasts gorgeous views of Gotham complete with sunset. Whether one's in the mood for a cozy family dinner or a casual get-together with friends. Sitting on the banks of the Hudson River in Edgewater, my partner, our friends, and I decided on a celebratory dinner at the Haven Waterfront Restaurant & Bar. A reservation was easily made via OpenTable. Upon arrival as first-timers, we were greeted by the host and got a table immediately by the window inside their floor-to-ceiling dining room, evoking a relaxed yet upscale vibe. Their menu specializes in American/Mediterranean cuisine influenced by seafood, steakhouse, and pasta. For appetizers, we decided on Short Rib Crostini, Kumamoto Oysters, and Yellowin Ahi Tuna Tacos. Our main consisted of Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass, 7 oz Prime Cut Filet Mignon, Bangkok Roasted Duck Breast, Lenny's Lobster Pasta, Crispy Lyonnaise Potatoes, and French Butter Asparagus. We even saved room for dessert and got the Bailey's Crème Brûlée and Assorted Dessert Tasting for two. We washed them down with I Dream of Lychees Martini, Berry White Spritz, and Haven Espresso. Complimentary bread with softened butter started our meal. The food is presented like art, and the portions varied depending on what one ordered. It's a little pricey but definitely worth it and fair considering the quality. Our server, Juan, was friendly, accommodating, and took the time to answer all of our questions, which made the experience even more enjoyable. A wonderful night all around--we're already looking forward to coming back.

The ambiance of the restaurant is definitely a highlight, especially the outdoor and window seating…read morewith beautiful views of the water and NYC. Unfortunately, the service and food didn't live up to the setting for us. Our waiter, Danny, seemed to have an attitude from the moment we arrived. He hardly checked on our table, and after overhearing his conversations with other tables, it was clear that the energy and attentiveness he gave them felt different from what we received. Since gratuity is automatically included for larger parties, it made the experience even more disappointing. As for the food, several dishes lacked seasoning, including the lobster mac & cheese, salmon, braised short rib, short rib ragu, and lobster croquettes. Our group spent almost $1,400, so unfortunately, we expected more from both the food and service. The views and ambiance are lovely, but based on our experience, I wouldn't return.

came here for happy hour & I think this spot is great for drinks + oysters. The other happy hour…read moremenu items are TINY. You only get 3 pieces per order!! Since we were still hungry, we did order off of the dinner menu as well. The coq au vin was delicious, felt very traditional and the red wine sauce was delicious. this is all to say that I would come back because the drinks were really good, oysters amazing, and service was great BUT I would eat food beforehand, which is why I had to give the 4/5 stars

Love the Montclair location. Last night went to the Weehawken location for the first time…read more Beautiful space for sure. Last night however just felt off. We started off with the cheeseboard. The selection was bland with a side of bread. No other textures. I've had it in the past where it was organized by mild to the more stronger bites. Last night was all mild. No crackers or honey. I got the wagu and a side of fingerling potatoes. No mention that it came with fries. It came out with a side of fries. The waitress could have told me otherwise I would have switched my sides. Thanks for the heaping mound of potatoes. Also the wagu was lacking flavor and the presentation was meh. We still love this place and maybe it was just an off night. I just expect more for a $250 Wednesday night dinner.

Thank goodness the doors have finally opened. Angelo's seafood market is perhaps one of the most…read moreanticipated and needed store to open in the last several years. At the best part, selection and offerings do not disappoint. A bright and welcoming space, the store is stocked with various prepackaged goods, including unique items, such as black cuttlefish gnocchi. There is also a variety of refrigerated and frozen food options, including what looks like some very tasty cheddar crab dip. The highlight obviously is the fresh fish counter. Stocked with multiple types of salmon, more obscure fish, such as whole snapper, and tons of different types of shellfish. prices are reasonable and in line with what is to be expected. The diamond in the rough in this place is downstairs, where they have a raw seafood bar. You can get anything from West Coast and East Coast oysters, hot or cold lobster rolls, and various dips. Best of all, it's BYOB. So pack your bubbles and head on over to visit Jesus downstairs who will shuck you an experience not to be matched anywhere in Hoboken. Welcome Angelos! We are so glad you are here.

I was waiting patiently for this place to open because the area needs a good fish market. When I…read morearrived I realized that they had both a fish market and a raw bar downstairs to order to stay or to go. I have not tried the raw yet but surely will soon. This fish market is a great addition to the area and I was amazed by the variety of wild caught fresh fish they have. Their selection varies but for the most part I've been pleased. I've had the Dorado, Branzino, Faroe Island Salmon, the cod, and the monkfish. They have even had sardines which are my favorite. Fresh whole sardines are hard to come by. All of the fish that I had tasted good and was very fresh. The staff members are very friendly and are eager to help. They clean your fish and cut it however you like. Definitely a great experience if you're a fish lover like myself. I plan on going back to try their scallops and clams.

Great experience from start to finish! The food was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and…read morebeautifully prepared. The atmosphere was warm and inviting with a really nice ambience. The service was excellent as well; everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome without being overbearing. Definitely a place I would recommend and return to. If you love Mediterranean food, this one is worth a visit!

Great seafood, but our server completed disrespected us and our experience…read more We came to Molos for a special occasion, and what should have been a great dinner became extremely uncomfortable because of how our waitress handled her own pricing mistake. She told us the surf & turf was $95, so we asked several questions before ordering because, $95 is a significant amount. We decided to order it and have it split between two people, as well as the lobster pasta for some variety. Since I am the only one who eats lobster, the other person we were with was going to eat the ribeye, making it a perfect dish to split. We were then shocked to see $145 on the bill. When we questioned it, she admitted she had entered a larger portion by mistake. When we asked if anything could be done, instead of simply apologizing, she told us: "next time, you need to tell me you got a bigger portion." We were completely distraught. How were we supposed to know? We had never ordered the dish before and were relying on the description and price she gave us. The situation became even more upsetting when she asked about the lobster, found out it was in our takeout bag, and actually went into our takeout bag to pull it out and question whether we were going to take it home and eat it. We were so uncomfortable that we even told her she could take it back if she wanted, but completely drawing the line as she accused us of not speaking up after her mistake. We felt like we were being blamed and treated as though we had done something wrong, when the mistake was made on HER end. The manager Mike was incredibly kind and immediately corrected the bill. But it looked as if the waitress was trying her best to hide the mistake, and immediately rushed out after the manager saw how offended we felt. Unfortunately, the way we were treated completely overshadowed the meal. Mistakes happen, but making customers feel degraded over a mistake that wasn't theirs is unacceptable. We will not be returning.