If you love wine, you gotta love food!
Here’s Eli’s favorite eateries!
SERIOUS WINE DINING - BYOB
Cafe Matisse (French/American Fusion)
http://www.cafematisse.com/
167 Park Avenue, Rutherford NJ 201-935-2995
One of the finest restaurants in the metro NY/NJ area. Step into a Matisse painting and let chef-owner Peter Loria dazzle you with original and daring creations that are delicious, briliantly composed and artfuly presented. The waitstaff are professional, friendly and knowledgeable which is directly attributed to the guidance of Maitre d'- Larry who is a character in his own right. Matisse is also unique in that they built a charming micro wine shop in the entrance that stocks nothing but top notch boutique wines(I had a little hand in that) so if you run out of wine or forgot to bring a bottle you have an exceptionaly fine tuned selecton at retail prices.
Tip: Reservations are a must, call in the AM for same day dinner midweek and call several days in advance for Fridays and Saturdays. In warm weather, request seating in their garden for a real treat. Check out the wine shop before you are seated if possible.
Zafran Restaurant (Indian/world Fusion)
email: mir@bestweb.net
1550 Central Park Ave., Yonkers NY 914-395-3186
From the outside it's not much to look at, but when you walk through the door prepare yourself to be transported to old world colonial India. Instead of rustic rattan weaves and ethnic doodads hanging on the wall, you will be surrounded with victorian paintings, bone china and mahogany tables. Proprietor Akhtar Mir is the embodiment of a gracious old world host, warm, polite, engaging and passionate about his food which is a delightful melange of classic Indian Cuisines melded with multi-european twists that represent the myriad of countries that he and his lovely wife Naseem have lived and worked in over the decades such as Italy, England and even Kenya. Make sure you try his delightful Risotto which uses finely chopped mushrooms instead of Arborio rice. If you can put together a group of 10 or more then you must experience his English afternoon/high tea, a whimsical take on a British classic.(High tea must be booked in advance)
Tip: Reservations recommended. Do not leave without purchasing a jar of their exquisite home made Chutney's. Akhtar uses lovely cut crystal wine glasses, but I prefer to bring my bigger stems with me.
Flirt Sushi (Japanese/American Fusion)
http://www.flirtsushi.com
140 west Allendale Ave., Allendale NJ 866-WE-Flirt
Tucked on a side street behind the Allendale train station in Bergen county, Flirt is a trendy, yet
not obnoxious, bistro style restaurant serving both traditional and fusion style sushi dishes. The
decor evokes "Rick's Place" from Casablanca reinterpreted for a younger hip crowd, if the place
was in Manhattan it would definitely be a seen-be-seen spot. Flirt's strongest points are their
very creative rolls that are magical melds of classic Japanese fish and international garnishes
with names like Viagra roll, Latin Lover, and Sexyshimi. Service is efficient and friendly but I've
found the female waitresses to be a bit more attentive than the male waiters. Flirt is open seven
days a week.
Tip: Start off with the Big Balls and the Tuna Tower for starters.
No Bones Dinner Club (Private dinners in a chefs home, wine included)
http://www.foodandstyle.com/nobones.htm
Piermont NY 845-365-1599
Chef Viviane Bauquet Farre is a local gem! If you are a group of 6 to12 hedonists then this is an
experience not to be missed. Chef Viviane creates a feast of six seasonal courses made up from
fresh ingredients that she personally shops for that day. You will dine in the chic elegance of her
home and have a private waiter at your side. All dishes are paired with exceptional boutique
wines that Eli Hardof, a former sommelier and owner of Wine For All, personally matches.
If you are planning a big dinner party or if you entertain clients, this is a much more personal,
intimate and creative venue than going to a restaurant with the crowds, noise, harried waiters and
pressure to leave the table for the next reservation.
Tip: You must book her weeks in advance since she fills up fast.
Buon Gusto (Northern Italian)
534 Durie Avenue, Closter, NJ 201-784-9036
My favorite little Italian “safety” restaurant is great precisely because the owners are not Italian,
they're Croatian, so they don't drown every dish in heavy sauce and instead apply Eastern Euro-
pean sensibiltes AND restraint to their dishes. Dinner includes a simple but satisfying salad and
their fresh baked hot and crusty bread aways puts me in a good mood. Try the butterflied veal
chop(veal Milanese)...better than anything I had in Milan or anywhere else for that matter.
Tip: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays make your reservations early if you want to dine between
6-9:30pm. Bring your own stems, their wine glasses are for Hobbits. Say “hi” to Mike for me!
SERIOUS WINE DINING - Serves wine but waves corkage fee for our customers*
*The following restaurants are highly rated, have wine lists, but have graciously agreed to waive their corkage fees on
one bottle of wine when you present an orignal Wine For All receipt that is less than 7 days old. Some exceptions apply, see notations on each restaurant.
Relish (American Fusion)
http://www.relishsparkill.com
4 Depot Square, Sparkill, NY 845-398-2747
You might need a GPS and a prayer to find this local “boit” that is actually closer than it appears,
but it is absolutely worth finding. Former chef Michael Gross has magically transformed a little
80 year old “Atlantic & Pacific” trading shack(nee A&P) into a trendy bistro that doubles as an art
gallery. Chef George DeMarsico mysteriously churns out whimsical dishs from a kitchen the size
of a galley on a WWII submarine. Relish's menu reflects the zeal of a young, passionate chef out
to make a name for himself. Be one of the “I knew him when he was starting out” crowd.
Tip: Sundays are always BYOB day and Wednesdays and Thursdays Relish will waive the corkage fee on one bottle of wine when a Wine For All receipt under 7 days old is presented.
Harvest Bistro & Bar (Modern French with a twist)
http://www.harvestbistro.com
252 Schraalenburgh Rd, Closter, NJ 201-750-9966
Blink twice and you might think you are in a ski chalet on the French Alps replete with big open
fireplace, vaulted ceilings and hip bar. The ambiance alone is worth going for. My thanks goes
out to owner Russ Stern for sparing us another cookie-cutter Italian mom and pop or Korean sushi
restaurant. Harvest is a class act with complimentary valet parking and live music in the bar on
Friday nights. Chef Dennis Whitton has a flair for taking traditional French dishes and giving them
an American accent.
Tip: Try the chocolate fondue, which includes home made marshmalows, for dessert. Harvest
will waive the corkage fee on one bottle of wine when a Wine For All receipt under 7 days old is
presented.
The Peking Duck House (Eclectic Chinese)
http://www.pekingduckhouse.com
411 Piermont Rd, Closter, NJ 201-767-8779
If “Cheers” was a restaurant, this would be it. Everybody knows owners/sisters Alicia and Rosa,
and they know every one too. The PDH is a big bustling center of fine Chinese cuisines, buffets
and banquet rooms..but don't let the size scare you, it's a personal dining experience. There's
no MSG at PDH, Alicia and Rosa pride themselves on their fresh home made seasonings and
sauces to bring out the best in their dishes, and early birds might even spy Alicia in the back hand
making the days sauces. Peking duck is the house specialty and theirs is as good or better than
anything I've had in Manhattan, the waiters even scrape the fat off the duck skins to give that
extra crispiness and make the dish more healthy. PDH is a charter member of the “Healthy Heart”
program founded by Paskack Valley Hospital and has numerous dishes meeting the requirements.
Tip: Reservations for Fridays and Saturdays, PDH will waive the corkage fee on one bottle of
wine when a Wine For All receipt under 7 days old is presented. |
