Review

Guest review by James L. Baker (age 12)

“In a small, unassuming and narrow building in Maplewood, you’ll find everyone’s favorite combination of basil, chilis, lime and veggies – Thai food.

Wild Ginger has a pleasant atmosphere and a casual feel. We, four hungry kids and one adult, sampled Pad Thai with chicken, Pad Thai with shrimp, Thai Fried Rice with Chicken, Chicken with Spicy Basil Sauce, Red Curry with Tofu, Green Curry with Shrimp, and Indonesian Sambal with Beef.  Each of these cost between $8 and $12 (shrimp dishes). We had spring rolls and brown rice. Most of those stick with Thai tradition (except for the chopsticks they gave us) and harmony is key.

The Green Curry with Shrimp was a favorite, “lightly spiced,” according to Joshua Miguel Ewing, and nothing burned my mouth. So don’t bother getting the ice water.

Pad Thai with shrimp and spring rolls

I would recommend the Pad Thai, or Basil Chicken if you just want a lunch special. A kid-friendly Thai place is always needed around here.”

Links

Maplewood Patch

Irresistible!

Update

- Arturo’s meatball sandwich – on that delicious brick oven bread – has become one of my favorite food groups. Still haven’t tried the reservations-only Saturday night tasting menu at this uber-popular spot. Even longer waiting list since this Spring’s James Beard “Best New Rising Chef” nomination for Dan Richer.

Update – September 2010

We had dinner here yesterday. Since Arturo’s is just around the corner, I’m rooting for these guys to succeed. The “Osteria” dinner menu and specials feature pasta, salads, cured meats and a few small plates, emphasizing seasonal, local ingredients. Still a mixed review, but promising changes are underway, and I’ve found my new go-to source for Italian bread.

My wife and I tried the pastas this time; the kids had pizza. The pasta itself  is very good, nicely al dente. The pancetta, red onion and tomato sauce on the Pasta Pancia is flavorful, but oily. The Cavatelli Siciliani (chiles, garlic, capers, anchovies and pine nuts) tastes fine, but could use stronger chiles and more anchovies. Pasta portions are large. Even I didn’t finish mine. What really stood out on this visit was one of the blackboard specials – bruschetta with ricotta, olive oil and pink salt, served on Arturo’s own freshly-baked Italian bread – absolutely delicious. The bread has a crispy, lightly charred crust, with just the right amount of soft chewiness inside. Tastes wonderful. They’ve nailed the bread recipe. Loaves are available to go.

Stealing some Bianco pizza off my son’s plate, I sill prefer the “traditional” pizza crust here, which is improving. In fact, in a letter to customers attached to the pizza box (kudos for communication), the owners announce the discontinuation of delivery service (because “the quality of our food is vastly compromised”), the development of a new pizza dough recipe (which “will eventually replace our current styles of dough and crust”), and a transition to dinnertime table service. All welcome changes. Table service in particular is sorely needed. The current system – a server describes the specials at your table and serves the food, but you have to go up to the crowded counter to order it, all in a very tight dining room – doesn’t work well. Any way to knock down a wall for more space?

Arturo’s is an ambitious, steadily improving neighborhood restaurant. There is a Saturday night tasting menu that we need to try (without the kids).

Noteworthy:  The owner deserves credit for adopting eco-friendly pizza boxes, and taking the uncommon step of explaining why in a video on the restaurant’s website. Nice example of local corporate responsibility.

Review – March 2010

Arturo’s is trying hard with its brick oven pizzas, and they put out decent pies. All in all, it’s the best pizza I’ve had so far in Maplewood – headquarters of EthnicNJ.com. Fresh toppings and a solid sauce. But the crust just doesn’t do it for me. The thin crust is too thin and the “traditional” crust is missing something. Not sure what, but other places, like my all time favorite De Lucia’s and nearby Star Tavern in Orange get more flavor into their crusts. Might be the age of the ovens – Arturo’s are just too young. If you go for pizza, eat it there, fresh out of the oven. The pizza doesn’t travel well.

Since we moved to town, Arturo’s has transformed itself from a pizza joint into a cozy BYO restaurant serving both pizza and well made Italian dishes.

Links

Baristanet
Maplewood Patch
New York Times
Off the Broiler

Review

Could Maplewood (headquarters of EthnicNJ.com) really be getting an authentic Mexican restaurant? I was very excited to spot the coming soon sign last month. Real tacos would be a major ethnic addition to the hyper-local food scene. Maplewoodians have to go all the way to West Orange or Springfield for decent Mexican. Shouldn’t every town in Jersey have it’s own taqueria?

Cactus Charly opened four days ago. It’s a colorful storefront restaurant, just off of Maplewood Avenue on Highland Place, in the former location of New World Catering (which has moved to Springfield Avenue). Inside, there are spectacular murals covering almost every wall – always a good sign – and twelve tables for four. I went in looking for a menu to take away, but so many people had taken them, they were waiting for more to be printed. Turns out the owner of Cactus Charly also owns the Blue Coyote Grill in Union, according to the guy at the counter.

Cactus Charly's Beef Taco

Glancing at the menu, there’s a range of Mexican fare including burritos, enchiladas, a chile relleno and even some ceviches. Only three taco variations – beef, chicken and lengua (beef tongue). Kudos for lengua, but no tacos al pastor (marinated pork)? I hope they add some kind of pork taco. There was no lengua in the kitchen today, so I got an order of beef and an order of chicken tacos to go. Each order has three, pretty good tacos, served on a single soft corn tortilla, with cilantro and chopped onion. The tortilla does not appear to be homemade. Too bad, since a homemade tortilla makes all the difference for the best tacos. The meats are good, but barely seasoned. Use the lime wedge or the very hot homemade salsa to add some kick.

All in all, I’ll still head to Bound Brook or Clifton for some of the best Mexican tacos in New Jersey, but I’m happy to have a decent taco close by, and looking forward to eating in at Cactus Charly sometime soon.

Links

South Orange Patch

Review

Churrasco serves up excellent BBQ and other Portuguese specialties in a low-key, less crowded setting than other popular Jersey grilled meat emporiums.

The menu features Portuguese standards: grilled homemade chorizo (served sliced), steaks, BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs, pork cubes with shrimp (picadinho), and shrimp or chicken with garlic. (When the menu says garlic, they mean garlic! Lot’s of it.). Grilled over charcoal, all the meats are very flavorful. Entrees are served with generous sides of rice AND fries, or, only slightly healthier, the vegetable option: cabbage, boiled potatoes and carrots. Portions are large. A “half” portion is usually more than enough for two adults. The quantity and quality of food for the money is hard to beat. Churrasco does a brisk take out business.

Don’t overlook this unassuming Maplewood restaurant as a dining destination. In the comfortable BYO dining room, Churrasco’s full menu includes a tender roast sucking pig (Leitao a Bairrada), Dobrada a moda do Porto (Portuguese Style Tripe), and grilled fish, especially cod (bacalau). Homemade chicken soup is perfect for young kids. Fresh empanadas are often available. Service is relaxed and very friendly.

With a public parking lot in the back and rarely crowded, Churrasco means the Ironbound (Newark) and Elizabeth aren’t the only places in New Jersey where you should travel to find the best Portuguese food.

Links

NYTimes.com

(source: www.stjamesgatepublickhouse.com)

Review

One of the first places we tried after moving to Maplewood, St. James Gate (known in our house simply as “the Pub”), is a welcoming spot with an impressive  bar, a comfortable dining room, and more than solid food.

The well-worn, wooden bar surrounded by dark wood paneling is the perfect place for a pint of stout. Beyond Guinness, there are always a few interesting global beer and cider selections on tap. Ask the friendly bartenders for a recommendation. The bar area is separated from the dining room by a partial wall, making it even cozier for drinkers. For a nice view of passersby while sipping your brew, grab the high table next to the bar by the window.

In the family friendly dining room, there’s a working stone fireplace and live Irish music some weekends. The Gate’s menu includes Irish standards like Shepherd’s Pie, a full Irish Breakfast, and a very generous portion of well-made fish and chips. Like many Jersey Irish pubs, Irish-American food also stands out. Try the Chicken Murphy with hot peppers or the Tipperary Reuben. The heaping bowl of Bantry Bay Mussels in white wine with spicy sausage makes an excellent appetizer, or small meal. Our kids love the mac and cheese, grillled cheese, and burgers.

Every Jersey town needs a comfortable old world style pub. Maplewood has one of the best.

Links

The Artful Diner
Baristanet

Prepared foods for take out only. Maplewood is the original location. There are two additional locations in Garfield.

Review

A small deli that serves Costa Rican tacos, empanadas, chicharrones, and a few daily specials. Order to go or eat at one of the four tables in front.