Greenberry's Cafe: Your New Favorite Coffee Shop

If you are the type of person who loves pumpkin spice latés but you don't want to deal with the lines or the overcrowding of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, then you should try out Greenberry's Cafe, located on 239 Berdan Ave in Wayne.

Exterior of Greenberry's Cafe

Greenberry's is a quaint cafe tucked away in a strip mall so you'd probably never stumble upon it if you weren't looking for it. However, it is a great spot to hang out, get some work done, or meet up with friends. They have plenty of comfortable seating and free WiFi, which is always a plus!

Interior of Greenberry's Cafe

During my first visit to this cafe, which has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Yelp, I ordered the Stacked Turkey sandwhich, which includes (according to their description), "smoked turkey, havarti cheese, avocado, lettuce, roasted red tomatoes, and mayo." I also decided to add their butternut squash soup to my half sandwich for an extra $4, which came with free oyster crackers. I only got a half sandwich but you can get a full one for $7.99.

Half Stacked Turkey sandwich, $4.75
Cup of Butternut Squash soup, $4

The sandwich was filling and it definitely was "stacked" with ingredients. The fresh avocado went well with the turkey and created a yummy sandwich. The soup was alright, but a little bland, which was disappointing. I would have preferred a little more of a kick. I also got an Italian soda, which they make themselves in the store. I went with the Blood Orange flavor and it was quite good, though I don't know if I would try some of their stranger soda flavors, like chocolate. They also have a selection of gelato which all looked delicious and I will definitely try out next time!

Blood Orange Italian Soda, $2.25

Gelato flavors

Their hours of operation are a little odd so make sure to take note of them first if you plan on making the trip. Monday through Thursday they are open from 6:30 AM - 7 PM. On Friday and Saturday they stay open until 9 PM. On Sundays they open a little later, at 8 AM and they close at 5 PM. To find out more information about this adorable cafe, you can visit them online by clicking here.




Ratings: 
General Rating Scale: 1 = poor, 2 = nothing special, 3 = decent, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent

Food: 3.5/5 spoons

Although the food wasn't out of this world, for deli/cafe style food it was fresh and pretty tasty overall. I was a little disappointed with the soup, but would be willing to try another kind out. The turkey sandwich made up for it though, and only half of it filled me up.

Service: 4/5 spoons

The people who work here were personable and willing to help you decide what you would like. I only interacted with them briefly, but they seemed like they enjoyed their job, which makes you have a better experience as a customer.

Affordability: 4/5 spoons

It's definitely not the cheapest option around, especially when you can get a 6" sub at the Quick Chek for less than $3. However, you are paying a little extra for the authenticity and the fresh flavors, which I think is worth it.

Overall Experience: 3.5/5 spoons

This place is definitely worth trying out if you're looking for a new cafe in the area. I'm not sure if I agree with the Yelp rating they have of 4.5 stars, but it has a lot of potential and I will definitely come back to try their coffee and gelato selections.

Pub Grub Courtesy of Jimmy Geez

Jimmy Geez is a popular sports bar in Haledon and has developed many regular customers since it opened its doors back in 1999. Located at 436 Belmont Ave, it is less than a five minute's drive from William Paterson University as well, so it attracts college students along with the local crowd. Although it is a bar, people who are under 21 are welcome at Jimmy's to enjoy the food and atmosphere. Don't bother trying to order a drink if you are underage though - they will card you.

Exterior of Jimmy Geez

My favorite part about coming to Jimmy's is the food, but you can't beat the friendly, neighborhood bar atmosphere. You feel like you are friends with all the other patrons at the bar (even if you've never met them before) and you are always guaranteed to have a good time when you go there.

I have tried a number of mixed drinks here and enjoy the ocasional blue Long Island Iced Tea that they offer. However, I was in the mood for a beer the other night when I went so I ordered a pint of Blue Moon lager, which was served with the usual orange slice. They have happy hour food and drink specials as well Monday through Friday from 3 PM - 6:30 PM. 

Pint of Blue Moon, $5

Getting into the food, they have an extensive menu of delicious food options that pair well with a beer or mixed drink. The kitchen is open daily from 11 AM - 1:30AM and all of their food is made fresh to order. They offer appetizers like nachos, potato skins and quesadillas. They also have a good selection of buffalo items, all of which are served with celery, carrots, and homemade bleu cheese. You can also choose how spicy you want them made. My personal favorite are their buffalo wings made with Jimmy's insanely popular B&B sauce (pictured below). It is like a spicy and sweet sauce that is so good, you've got to try it. Their homemade blue cheese is also quite delicious.

B&B Style Buffalo Wings, $4.49/5 pcs. 

Ratings: 
General Rating Scale: 1 = poor, 2 = nothing special, 3 = decent, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent

Food: 4.5/5 spoons

Would be 5 stars but sometimes the food seems to take forever to come out (possibly due to the fact that it is made to order), and at times when you go in groups the food does not come out all at once. However, the quality of the food is great and I've never been unhappy with any of the items I've ordered before.

Service: 4/5 spoons

The people here are friendly and good at their jobs overall, but at times they can disappear for a while or give you issues about splitting the check which can get frustrating. However, they have some awesome bartenders and Jimmy (the owner) himself is a sweetheart, which makes you want to come back time and time again.

Affordability: 5/5 spoons

The food and drinks are very reasonably priced and they have so many happy hour specials and deals for things like football on Sunday/Monday nights. They definitely cater to the college audience in terms of pricing, which is always appreciated.

Overall Experience: 4/5 spoons

Although I may be a little biased since Jimmy Geez has been my go-to bar during my four years of college, I really think this is a quality sports bar. Even if you go just for the food, you will not be disappointed and you may find a new spot to go with friends for a few drinks that won't make your wallet cry.

Cinco De Mayo in November?!

Over the weekend I had lunch at Cinco De Mayo Bar and Restaurant in Haledon, NJ with my mom. I had heard a number of great things about the new Mexican restaurant from people in the area and I couldn't wait to try it out for myself. (If you couldn't tell, I have a thing for Mexican food!)

Exterior of Cinco De Mayo with outdoor seating

First of all, I want to start off by saying that if you weren't looking for this place, you would never find it. To say it is off the beaten path is an understatement, and you should definitely keep that in mind if you decide to pay this place a visit. It is off of High Mountain Road and you have to turn as if you are going into the church that is behind it and then make a left down what looks like a driveway that will lead you to the restaurant. It's a bit confusing so just keep that in mind if and when you may go. However, once you get there it is very nice, with ample outdoor seating for the spring and summer months. We sat inside since it was pretty windy and cold when we went.

When you walk in, first you see a bar and to the right is the dining room area. They have a full bar and a variety of different kinds of flavored margaritas and other drinks. They also have happy hour specials from 11:30 AM - 4 PM Monday through Thursday.

The place was very open and spacious - it would be a good place for groups or dinner parties. They also had multiple flatscreen TVs showing the football and soccer games that were on at the time, which may be good to know if you are trying to drag your significant other along with you on a Sunday during a game. 

Now, onto the yummy stuff!

Complimentary chips & salsa

When you sit down you will immediately be greeted with a bowl of tortilla chips and salsa. The chips tasted so fresh and were still warm like they had just been baked. In my opinion, they tasted much better than your run of the mill chips and salsa that you might get at any other Mexican place.

Small frozen margarita, $5.50

Since I wasn't driving, I opted to order one of their signature margaritas since I had heard a lot of positive things about them from people I know and other Yelp reviewers. I got the small, which I thought was still pretty big. It was also very strong so they definitely don't skimp out on the alcohol they are giving you. Definitely worth the $5.50 if you don't mind the taste of tequila! Reminder: Please always drink responsibly. :)

We both decided to get some chicken tortilla soup since it was particularly cold out. Little did we know that the soup would be huge! It was only listed at one price on the menu without any options for sizes. However, it was pretty tasty so I'm not complaining. It was mostly chicken and broth with some fresh avocado and seasoning. The broth was a little spicy which gave the soup a nice flavor. I would have preferred for the soup to have some strips of the tortilla chips in it and perhaps some corn and beans too, which I think would have made it taste even better. 

Skirt Steak Tacos, $11.95

Finally, for our entrees I went with the skirt steak tacos and my mother had the salmon tropical. While our Cinco De Mayo experience started off great, our main dishes was definitely disappointing for us. The steak in my tacos did not look or taste like skirt steak and the tacos themselves were extremely bland. Considering the fact that our soup was so well-seasoned and spicy I was expecting the tacos to taste just as flavorful. My mother was not satisfied with her dish either - the salmon came out without any of the tropical fruit salad on top that the menu described it would have. She said it was also overcooked and she only ended up eating half of it and leaving the rest behind. I did not get a good picture of the salmon, but it was $17.95. 

Ratings: 

General Rating Scale: 1 = poor, 2 = nothing special, 3 = decent, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent

Food: 3/5 spoons

I have to say that the chips and salsa were great and the chicken tortilla soup was flavorful. However, they really missed the mark on the entrees that we ordered. The fact that we each ordered totally different dishes and we were both displeased says something - in my opinion, about the overall quality of the food.

Service: 4/5 spoons

Our server was great - he checked up on us regularly, made sure we got everything that we needed, and was constantly filling our water glasses for us. I would have liked to be informed more about the items we ordered though, for instance the fact that the soup was so big and that the salmon would not be garnished with the tropical fruit.

Affordability: 3.5/5 spoons

The food and drinks aren't crazy expensive, but they are pricey enough that you expect a little more bang for your buck. Frankly, their entrees were pricy and did not deliver.

Overall Experience: 3.5/5 spoons

Although I had high expectations going in, I was a little disappointed by this place. Our dining experience started off well with the yummy chips and salsa and the tasty tortilla soup, but when you are paying a little more for your meal you definitely don't want it to be bland or overcooked. Honestly, I would recommend going to other restaurants in the area, like Jose Tejas, where you get really good Mexican food for more reasonable prices rather than spending the extra cash here. 

We All Scream For Torico's Homemade Ice Cream

If you have been looking for a premium spot for yummy, home-made ice cream in NJ, the search is over! Torico's Homemade Ice Cream in Jersey City is the place for authentic and delicious soft serve that'll make you scream for more.

Outside of Torico's

The feel of the place is inviting from the moment you walk in. It seems like an old-school, traditional ice cream parlor from the decor to the extremely friendly staff who make you feel welcome. They also have a cute chalkboard where they post their specials.

Interior of Torico's
(Picture taken from Torico's website)

Finally, onto the good stuff - the ice cream! After nearly ten minutes of deliberating and sampling (always a plus), I went with the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor in a wafer cone. While I liked a number of their other fun flavors, chocolate chip cookie dough is a classic and has always been one of my favorites.

$3.50 for small wafer cone

I could definitely taste the difference in this ice cream and I, for one, could tell that it's homemade. Compared to store bought ice cream it was more thick and creamy. My only complaint would be that I wish there would have been more cookie dough and chocolate chips in the ice cream. Aside from that, all the various flavors of ice cream I tried were smooth and delicious. They also have a ton of gelato flavors available if you prefer that.

Torico's was established in 1968 and is located at 20 Erie Street, on the corner of 1st Street. For the fall and winter months they are open from 11 AM - 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11 AM - 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. During the spring and summer seasons they are open from 11 AM - 11 PM everyday. There is a $5 minimum to use a credit or debit card. For more information on Torico's, you can visit their website by clicking here.



Ratings: 
General Rating Scale: 1 = poor, 2 = nothing special, 3 = decent, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent

Food: 4.5/5 spoons

All of the flavors I tried were yummy and they definitely lived up to the hype of homemade ice cream. I just wanted more cookie dough bits in my ice cream, and that would have made me give them 5 out of 5 spoons. Next time I would love to try the gelato flavors they have as well to see how they measure up!

Service: 5/5 spoons

As I mentioned before, the people at Torico's were very welcoming and actually seemed happy to be working there. I also enjoyed the fact that they were patient with me while I was trying to choose what kind of ice cream I wanted and allowed me to sample as many different flavors as I liked!

Affordability: 3.5/5 spoons

Although $3.50 isn't a lot of money, for a small wafer cone it seemed a bit overpriced to me. I am not sure how much other items cost exactly, but I can imagine that they are similarly priced.

Overall Experience: 4.5/5 spoons

I seriously loved this place and I can't wait to go back! I would definitely make the half hour trip down the turnpike from my house just to get some of this tasty ice cream again. The staff was amazing and the homemade ice cream is worth it in my opinion, despite the slightly higher price.

Treat Yourself This Halloween

If you have a sweet tooth and you're craving some baked goods this Halloween, you should stop by B&W Bakery on Main Street in Hackensack, NJ. 

614 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ

This bakery had an array of spooky cupcakes, cookies and other treats available just in time for Halloween tomorrow. I opted for one of the vanilla cupcakes with an orange frosted shell and a little plastic ghost figure on top. The vanilla cake had fresh cream on top as well. It was pretty tasty, but honestly not the best cupcake I've ever had.

Cupcake, $2.05 ea.

If you were to make the trip to this bakery, I would recommend that you pick up one of their Halloween themed goodies to try. However, I think that the best thing this bakery has to offer is their famous crumb cake. Everyone in northern New Jersey and New York know about B&W's crumb cake and Yelpers agree that it is a must have. It is also important to note that B&W is cash only. 

B&W's Crumb Cake, $6.25 per square sheet

 Close Up of One Sheet

The crumbs on this cake are so huge that they are thicker than the bottom layer of actual cake (not complaining!) and you can't eat this without making a mess. I wish I could get the recipe to make it myself, because it really is the best crumb that I've ever tried. Until then, I will have to keep coming back to B&W for their delectable crumb cake that never gets old. 

Thanks for reading! Hopefully you get a chance to satisfy your sweet tooth this weekend and have a happy and safe Halloween! 

Riviera Maya Mexican Cuisine Review

On Sunday evening, I went out for an early dinner at a little Mexican restaurant called Riviera Maya Mexican Cuisine. It is located in Bogota, NJ at 252 East Fort Lee Road. Since it's opening in 2011, it has received a number of rave reviews on Yelp, and currently has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on the app. Despite their many positive reviews, there have recently been some less than shining ones. These critics claim that the restaurant is not as great as other Yelpers (people who post reviews on Yelp) have made it out to be. Some common complaints included in the negative reviews were that the food was overpriced and under-seasoned. This mixture of positive and negative reviews sparked my curiosity and made me want to go and see for myself what this place is all about.

Exterior of Riviera Maya

First of all, the restaurant was converted from a flower shop a few years back and they have done a great job of making the most of the small space. It definitely has a more authentic feel as opposed to the metallic, fast-food feel of the many chain mexican places in the area like Chipotle and Moe's. However, this difference is also reflected in the pricing of the food, which I will go into more later in this post.

Interior: Bar-like seating facing small, open kitchen

Other things to note if you are planning on dining here are that it is BYOB, they have live music on Thursday and Friday nights, and they accept all major credit cards. They have take-out and delivery options within Bogota and to a number of neighboring towns including Teaneck, Hackensack and Fort Lee. Also, they are closed Mondays.

Interior 2: Main Dining Area

Interior 3: Additional seating

For an appetizer we chose the table side guacamole due to the overwhelming number of people who recommended it on Yelp. They make it right in front of you and to your preference of spiciness and taste. It was yummy, but it didn't totally blow me away. Also, for the nine dollar price tag, I would have appreciated a little bit of a larger portion, as they did only use one avocado to make it.

Fresh Guacamole, $8.95

For my main dish, I went with one of their specials called Camarones al Tequila. Basically, this is a shrimp dish served with rice and sweet plantains in a sweet and tangy mango sauce. It wasn't something that I would normally order for myself but it was also recommended to me so I decided to try it. I finished the whole thing and probably would have licked the plate clean if I was in the privacy of my own home. The mango sauce paired with the jumbo shrimp and the plantains created a delicious combination of flavors. I would definitely go back just for this.

Camarones al Tequila, $21.95

Because I have a sweet tooth I couldn't resist ordering dessert. My dining partner chose the crepes de cajeta and I got the tres leches. The tres leches was served in a small puddle of milk which made the cake a little bit soggy at the base, but other than that the cake was light and flavorful. Admittedly, I did prefer the crepas de cajeta, which are caramel fried crepes served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream was still a little frozen and hard but we ate it anyway because of how delicious it tasted with the caramel-drizzled crepes.

Crepas de Cajeta, $6 

Tres Leches, $6.50

Ratings: 

General Rating Scale: 1 = poor, 2 = nothing special, 3 = decent, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent

Food: 4/5 spoons

The food honestly exceeded my expectations, especially since I went in expecting it to be bland from some of the reviews I had read on Yelp. My only complaint would be that the portion of the guacamole did not match the price you pay.

Service: 5/5 spoons

Although admittedly I may be biased since I kind of know the family and the server who was helping us, we received excellent service which I believe would have been the case regardless of whether we knew them or not. People on Yelp agree that the service is very good, and that the waiters are always super helpful and attentive.

Affordability: 3.5/5 spoons

This is really the only place where they lost points in my book. It seemed like most of the dishes - even the appetizer and dessert options, were pretty pricey. Compared to other Mexican franchises in the area, Riviera Maya is much more expensive. However, you are paying more for the authenticity and the local feel of the place, along with the variety of different dish options.

Overall Experience: 4/5 spoons

The experience was great from beginning to end, and the only thing that might deter me from returning soon would be the pricing. However, since it is BYOB, that does kind of make up for it, especially if you are going here for a date or with a group for dinner. The food, in my opinion, definitely is worth trying though and I did not find it lacking in seasoning, as some Yelp reviewers had. So, I say go ahead and try it if you have some extra cash in your wallet and want some real, yummy Mexican cuisine that isn't a burrito bowl. 

Classic Quiche Cafe Review

Happy Sunday Fun-Day, everyone! 

This afternoon, I went out with my mother and aunt for a big lunch at the Classic Quiche Cafe in Teaneck, NJ. Located on Queen Anne Road next to a number of other small eateries, Classic Quiche stands out from the rest with its cozy atmosphere and delicious food.

Coffee, $2 w/ refills

To start, we had a loaf of olive oven-fresh bread. They also have rosemary and onion flavors to choose from. The bread had bits of olive baked into it and was served warm with butter. It tasted fresh, as if it was really just taken out of the oven.

Olive oven-fresh bread ($2)

I then decided to try a slice of their quiche lorraine, since it is a quiche place after all. Even though I am not a huge fan of quiche, I have to admit that theirs was quite good. It was served hot, with a crispy pastry crust and a rich, creamy filling of cheese, ham and vegetables. They also added a little bit of fruit on the side to enjoy.

Slice of Quiche Lorraine, $5

For my main entree, I ordered the California Avocado and Fruit salad with balsamic dressing on the side. The salad is extremely colorful and it tastes as good as it looks! The flavors of the sliced avocados, seasonal fruit, chickpeas, cheese, grapes and shredded coconut combine to create a unique salad that is refreshing. It is perfect to enjoy during the last of this Summer-y weather before the coldness of Fall really sets in. And do not underestimate this salad - it will fill you up pretty quickly! It is especially filling if you opt to add in a scoop of tuna (for an extra $2), which I did not in an effort to save some room for dessert. My only complaint as far as the salad goes is that the avocado was a little too ripe and brown in spots. It was alright, but I didn't eat as much of it because it was too soft for my taste.

California Avocado & Fruit Salad, $11

Even though we were stuffed from our appetizers and entrees, we opted to get the "Mortgage Apple Cake" with coffee for dessert. The cake was moist and filled with spices, and the cream cheese icing paired perfectly with the texture.

Mortgage Apple Cake, $5 a slice

The cool thing about this cake, other than the fact that it tastes amazing, is the story behind it. Angela Logan, the woman who makes the cake, is a single mother of three and a Teaneck native. She started baking and selling the apple cakes out of her kitchen to save her home from foreclosure and to provide for her family. She now has her own baking business and a TV movie based on her life.

Ratings (in spoons)

General Rating Scale: 1 = poor, 2 = nothing special, 3 = decent, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent

Food: 4.5/5 spoons
Every dish I got to taste was fresh and full of flavor. The portions are also awesome and will leave you bursting at the seams.

Service: 4/5 spoons
Our waitress was pretty attentive and helped us choose from the many different menu items. She was checking in with us often enough to make sure we were doing okay, but not too much to where it became annoying.

Affordability: 4/5 spoons
For around $25 (plus tax & tip) I was able to have all of the delicious foods that I described above. Depending on how hungry you are and how many different dishes you want to try, you could easily spend more or less than I did. All in all, I think that you definitely get your money's worth here!

Overall Experience: 4 out of 5 spoons!
I am happy to say that the first local place I tried did not disappoint! I highly recommend giving the Classic Quiche Cafe a try if you are in the area and in the mood for a good meal. They have a variety of menu options - from their many creative quiches, salads and sandwiches to their scrumptious desserts. There really is something for everyone to enjoy at this local NJ hotspot!

Welcome to my blog!

I want to start off by saying that this is not going to be your typical cooking or recipe blog. I love food, but I'm not the best chef. Besides, I don't think the internet really needs any more Pinterest fail blogs. Instead, I am going to write about something that I have always enjoyed - eating. More specifically, I am going to describe my experiences trying new flavors from a variety of local restaurants and cafes. All of the places that I try will be in the Northern New Jersey area, mainly Bergen and Passaic counties. I will review each establishment based on the atmosphere, food, service and overall experience. I'm on a mission to find more quality, affordable restaurants in NJ so that I can inform other people about alternatives to the many franchises and chain restaurants in this area.

If you want to take this food journey with me, please subscribe to my blog & stay tuned for future posts!

- JeanMarie