OT: "Trendy" restaurants in Middlesex county

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
65,438
44,455
113
Surprised nobody mentioned Hotoke in NB. Very chic, trendy atmosphere and great sushi to boot (with good non-sushi dishes available, as my wife hates sushi); smokin' staff, too.

Agree that Inc. is as trendy as they come and not too bad, either. Clydz is kind of trendy, at least with regard to having the most unusual wild game dishes in the area.

Have heard Esquina Latina is very good - haven't had a good tapas place in NB since Northstar Cafe closed several years ago - loved that place.

And if all else fails, take her to the Ale n Wich, which is so untrendy it might now be considered trendy, lol.
 
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RUSK97

All-American
Dec 28, 2007
10,460
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Slightly OT - Have you been to Marea in Manhattan? Owned by Michael White who also owns Due Mari. One of the best restaurants I've ever been too.
Michael White also has Osteria Morini and Nicoletta Pizza in Bernardsville as his other NJ outposts. Morini is not as good as its Soho location, but still excellent.
 

Saint Puppy

All-Conference
Sep 4, 2013
4,595
2,420
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So I'm "asking for a friend" for a trendy first date restaurant to take a smoking hot mid-30's milf. I don't think I can take her to my early 20's haunts in New Brunswick (I'm RC class of '11). I'm looking for something more sophisticated. Not stodgy but far from casual. Looking for a 10-15 mile radius from NB.

And yes I know the requirements but I will only post her pic if the date bombs. Date is midweek.

OP - I guess my question is why are you going to such an expensive/sophisticated restaurant on a first date? I don't know your financial situation, but if you only graduated in '11 I would venture to guess you are not rolling in the dough yet. You are getting recommendations, and going to places that are anniversary choices for a lot of people. You don't need to drop $100+ on a meal to impress a girl on a first date - and if you do then that's probably one you want to throw back in the sea. Best case scenario you like her, and you want to keep dating - where are you going for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th date because it seems you are setting the bar high? I'm all for making a good impression on a 1st date, but I think as a mom she is really happy to be getting out and most importantly that you're a good guy. It feels like since you are younger, and she's an older mom you are trying to overcompensate - just be yourself because that's whats eventually going to come out anyway.

IMO take her on an adventure - a bunch of mini dates that show creativity. Maybe start off at Thomas Sweets Next Door and get one chocolate covered strawberry, go to a lounge to get a drink and maybe a couple of apps, then go bowling and/or miniature golf, and then finish it off with dessert and a nice walk. Obviously put in your own stuff, but psychologically you've just gone on 4 dates by going to 4 different places - and you've been creative and fun.
 

HPNJRUfan

All-Conference
Mar 6, 2003
11,218
2,693
76
Also surprised no one mentioned Hotoke - one of the first places I thought of. Clydz is also not a bad choice - huge selection of martinis and cocktails, as well as some exotic food.

Have also heard good things about Esquina Latina, but have yet to try it. Seems like it would be better once it gets warmer, as they have a nice sized outdoor area.

Of course there is also Due Mari, frog and peach, steakhouse 85, etc if trendy=$$$
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
65,438
44,455
113
Nothing says classy, trendy and sophisticated like the Loop-In Motel in Avenel...

 
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bitnez

All-American
Jan 18, 2006
6,671
7,618
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(3) Is said strumpet actually a mother? If not, I think you mean a cougar, given that she's older than you. Doesn't Rutgers teach this stuff?


Did not know this word. Thanks for the new addition to the lexicon
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
55,607
51,273
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(3) Is said strumpet actually a mother? If not, I think you mean a cougar, given that she's older than you. Doesn't Rutgers teach this stuff?

Did not know this word. Thanks for the new addition to the lexicon
My pleasure. Always happy to educate people on words best left unspoken. :D
 
May 11, 2010
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Any suggestions for Carteret?

I know a milf down in the Chrome section, she was once a high school home coming queen who has had some tough turns the last 15 years or so.

But we ran into each other at Walmart recently, and exchanged #s.

Don't suggest Center Bar in Port Reading as she already spends her time there while her kids are at school.
 
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Ole Cabbagehead

All-American
Apr 21, 2011
8,075
6,323
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Michael White also has Osteria Morini and Nicoletta Pizza in Bernardsville as his other NJ outposts. Morini is not as good as its Soho location, but still excellent.

Is Osteria Morini a Michael White place? I know it used to be Due Terre, which was obviously the counterpart to Due Mari, but I thought it was corporate now. The card has like 6 other restaurants on it.
 

MSRU71

Junior
Aug 2, 2003
1,805
224
0
Interesting.. No, I haven't been but I'll check it out.

Scarpetta is my favorite Italian in nyc, but imo Due Mare is just as good.. World class.
So I'm "asking for a friend" for a trendy first date restaurant to take a smoking hot mid-30's milf. I don't think I can take her to my early 20's haunts in New Brunswick (I'm RC class of '11). I'm looking for something more sophisticated. Not stodgy but far from casual. Looking for a 10-15 mile radius from NB.

And yes I know the requirements but I will only post her pic if the date bombs. Date is midweek.

Stage Left. My favorite place in NB. Lobster Mac and cheese and the best upscale hamburger in New Jersey. Great cheese assortment.
 

RUSK97

All-American
Dec 28, 2007
10,460
6,551
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Is Osteria Morini a Michael White place? I know it used to be Due Terre, which was obviously the counterpart to Due Mari, but I thought it was corporate now. The card has like 6 other restaurants on it.
As far as I know, it's not a public company - the Alta Marea group I think it's called. It owns a bunch of restaurants; too many for me to keep up with. Michael White is part owner of the group.
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
65,438
44,455
113
With regard to MILFs, technically, it's what the acronym spells out, meaning any mom is eligible, but I always thought of it as being an "older" mom (at least 30; the Urban Dictionary says over 30). I love the English term: Yummy Mummy. And, of course, the best song ever about MILFs, by one of my all-time favorite bands, New Jersey's own Fountains of Wayne...

 

ScarletStateofNJ

All-Conference
Jul 6, 2011
3,176
2,588
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So took her to Catherine Lombardi. So here is my take:
-Restaurant is a weird set up. You enter and then immediately have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the bar and restaurant. The bar is hidden from view when you first enter and the restaurant has the feel of a hotel joint that can use some sprucing up. The cocktails were good. The food was average.

-The girl: not as pretty as her pictures. Is 34 and spent a good 15 minutes of the first hour we met complaining about her divorce and her ex-husband. On the plus side, she seems like she could be lots of fun and her *** is incredible. Typical first date action....might do a second date.
 

willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
11,054
7,038
113
Princeton (aside from being in Mercer County) is dead to me since Lahiere's closed.
Except that was replaced by Agricola, which is where this guy should go. Fits his requirements from food to bar. Trendy. Not too formal, not too casual. Very good locally sourced food and decent bar to hang at. It's a cant go wrong choice.
 
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cliffbuck

Redshirt
Jul 30, 2009
550
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When you're in your mid-twenties posting stuff like this on a message board at 1:30am on a Saturday night, she's already out of your league.

Take her to the Frog & the Peach. Probably the only shot you've got.

I second The Frog and the Peach
 

Scarlet Shack

Heisman
Feb 3, 2004
26,365
16,217
73
So took her to Catherine Lombardi. So here is my take:
-Restaurant is a weird set up. You enter and then immediately have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the bar and restaurant. The bar is hidden from view when you first enter and the restaurant has the feel of a hotel joint that can use some sprucing up. The cocktails were good. The food was average.

-The girl: not as pretty as her pictures. Is 34 and spent a good 15 minutes of the first hour we met complaining about her divorce and her ex-husband. On the plus side, she seems like she could be lots of fun and her *** is incredible. Typical first date action....might do a second date.

This is typical of dating any woman being post divorce.
 
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