It’s American Italian served in a relatively unpretentious atmosphere. The menu changes frequently, which is good. They are cooking at least somewhat seasonally.
It’s good. You should go.
For me farm to table is where you are making an effort to locally source ingredients, and identifying the producer where possible.
There is nothing like that in our area. You do see it a lot in Brooklyn or Manhattan and it’s not necessarily a whole lot more expensive.
You are correct that midweek there is better availability. But midweek is problematic if you are working and don’t get home till 7:30 since they close at 8:30.
IMO there’s no comparing Dish and B2b (based on my not-so extensive visits to both locations).
I’ve only been to Dish a handful of times, but each time I went I left feeling they gave me a solid tried and true dish that was executed well that was a generous serving.
B2B felt like they were playing around with their food to make it sound/look more interesting than it was. I’ll never forget those pulled pork belly tacos at B2B, it was just the perfect encapsulation of how not to do food for me. Take a couple of really hot trending food items (pork belly and tacos), remove all of the character of the main item (by pulling it), and put it in a package no better than your average taco joint does.
I mean good god just look at these. They have so little meat in them I’m not sure they’re serving a taco or wrapping a dumpling. And you absolutely cannot tell if what you’re eating is pork belly or shoulder, or whatever, because it’s been cooked to death and pulled. But I get to pay double the prices!
Just a FYI on my only visit to Graze in Little Silver, I do believe they provided the source for their ingredients. I don’t know if you have ever been but it could be worth a trip if that’s what you are looking for.
@corvette_johnny
I had a strange email exchange with the owner/chef’s wife after my one and only visit to Graze some time ago after posting about my dinner there on CH. I haven’t been back, but not because of that experience. They served a darn tasty bone marrow. If it’s still on the menu, it’s worth a visit just for that.
I go away for 2 days and I miss all the conversations!!!
I agree on Heirloom being a real farm to table operation. I have spoken with the owner about where she sources things like flour for her sourdough bread (Hunterdon County near where I grew up). They change their menu regularly and seasonally. We sadly haven’t been in several months since it is impossible to get in an out in less than 2 hours. My 1 year old is awesome as restaurants but will not be happy being contained for that amount of time.
B2 - we went a couple times when they first opened. My husband loved it. I immediately hated it for a variety of reasons all cited here. We took friends and it was wildly expensive and we left hungry.
Via 45 - I have greatly enjoyed every time I have been but just like @RGR mentioned, impossible to get a reservation. We should just make a reservation for a month from now but we always forget.
If anyone is looking to take a drive out for a farm to table meal, I would recommend the Lovin Oven in Frenchtown or Brick Tavern Inn in Hopewell.
Have you tried angelicas in sea bright? I think you will be a fan if you like via45. And yes, you will need reservations now that it is the summer. Get the pork chop. Trust me. It may not be on the menu but just ask. This is a two bone berkshire chop. If you don’t like bones just save them for me and I’ll come by
We went there recently when we were able to book a 6 pm Friday night table and earn 1000 OpenTable points. (We had been there once before about 2 years ago with friends and loved everything we had. I remember only my entree, duck tacos.) I have been off beef recently so treated myself to their steak frites. I ordered it medium rare, which was the chef’s recommendation. Sadly, the steak was rubbery. Frites were good. My husband ordered a duck special that he devoured, raving with each bite. It was served with roasted brussel sprouts with big chunks of apple-smoked bacon.
I was replying to Corvette Johnny’s question about Graze in Little Silver and I commented on jsfein’s mention of their bone marrow appetizer. Sorry. I usually am more conscientious about clarity.
