NEW MILFORD -- Brothers Lou and Chris Denis opened the Garden Café on Henley Avenue, nestled behind their successful flower shop and liquor store back in 2006. Since then, their goal has been making it a gathering place for patrons, friends and family. Chris said, “It’s here where friends become family.” The Garden Café has a beautiful garden and patio where customers come to sit and relax. I think that food always tastes better when dining al fresco. This cozy café is open for breakfast and lunch with choices that include sandwiches, omelets, baked goods, and paninis like their famed Lou-da-…

Bufflalo’s Chicken Shack, located on Hackensack Street in Wood Ridge directly across the street from the high school, has been serving up the best wings and BBQ in town for that last year and half. Chef and owners Darrin and Tiffany Miles started their first restaurant venture after Darrin perfected his mother’s special BBQ sauce recipe. Noticing a lack of good wings and BBQ in the area the Miles’, who hail from Clifton, took a chance and opened their full service, BYOB chicken shack in Wood Ridge. The Miles’ have enjoyed an early success due to their amazing food. Their signature item, the …

Fairmount Eats, located at the intersection of Terrace Place, Main Street and Poplar Avenue in Hackensack, open its doors four years ago. Restaurateur Nick and his friendly staff prepare fresh and delicious meals for their customers day after day beginning with breakfast. Their lunch and dinner specials have a variety of flavors from many cuisines; American, Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean. Upon entering this eatery, you can’t help but notice the beautiful murals that are hand painted on the walls, its quaint décor and homey feel. Take a seat by the window and you’re bound to catch a …

The “B.V.” in B.V. Tuscany Italian Restaurant aptly comes from the first initials  of the first names of owners Benny and Vicky Balidemaj, who opened their dream eatery in 2008. It’s quaint and Tuscan-like in appearance, and is perfect for a romantic duo date or family dinner. Two separate dining rooms are adorned with paintings of the Italian Tuscan countryside, and a huge, fully stocked wine rack dominates the back wall of the left dining room.  The eatery is located on Cedar Lane in Teaneck with ample street parking and nearby free lots. The prime entrees that most customers order are the …

After talking to Max Viola, the owner of Pearl Restaurant on Broad Street in Ridgewood, you understand what it means to be a restaurateur by birth. “I love to welcome people, to see them happy, to give them a great experience, and to have them enjoy their meal,” he said. It's as if he'd be having you over his house for dinner. Massimiliano, his name too long to fit on his ID, was born for this. His dad affectionately describes his son as an avid foodie, who loves to eat, and who could fairly critique a restaurant by age 12. Having been around the restaurant business his whole life because of …

Apparently size doesn’t matter. Chef’s Table, located in Franklin Square shopping center, is case and point. Though the French eatery can seat less than 50 people, it is one of the best in the area, as the dishes are well-prepared, well-presented and contain fresh ingredients. And Chef’s Table is a break from your go-to restaurants. French restaurants are a dying breed these days. There are only a few in Bergen County, and they’re truly diamonds in the rough, with all of the pizzerias, diners and Chinese joints in the area. On their lunch menu, Chef’s Table offers specialty salads like a …

Certified International chef W.A. Stephenson owns Stephen’s Chalet, and “Chef Steve” has brought a “world” (intended pun) of culinary wealth to Hawthorne. Stephenson, who is Caribbean but was educated in England, has worked there but also in France, Italy and Germany. Knowledgeable in American, French, German, Jamaican, Italian and Spanish cuisines, he has also worked in various Essex and Hudson County restaurants. Stephenson’s signature entrees are broiled Chilean sea bass, served over baby bok choy with fresh root ginger, coriander and hoisin scallion sauce; grilled breast of Long Island …

For a restaurant that opened without fanfare in late April, St. Eve’s appears to be doing just fine, the phone ringing off the wall in late morning with people seeking dinner reservations.   Steve and Judi Christianson, who lost their lease at the Citrus Grille in Airmont, N.Y., waited 14 months to get into their space on Maple Avenue in a new building near the Ho-Ho-Kus-Ridgewood border. The building is owned by a couple who used to dine at Citrus Grille and invited the Christiansons to “come on down” when they found out they had to move.   “We were originally looking for a place with a …

Pompilio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant in Westwood offers a culinary trifecta. Owner John Sambogna bustles back and forth from pizzeria to restaurant serving as John-of-all-trades; his son-in-law, Johnny, helps out with management, while Sambogna’s daughter, Blair, serves as the restaurant’s in-house pastry chef extraordinaire. Together they help make Pompilio’s a go-to destination when local families want a friendly, economical dining option with a diverse menu that’s sure to offer something for everyone. A recent extension to the existing original pizzeria business, the family restaurant offers …

Dinallo’s Restaurant, Bar and Catering owned by Robert Dinallo is located at 259 Johnson Avenue in River Edge. Can you say Happy Hour? Make new friends or keep the old on Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., with discounted drinks. Back by popular demand, their famous sangria is sold by the glass ($7) or by the pitcher ($25). Dance the night away on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with DJ Jack from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. or join them on a Thursday night and hear the sounds of entertainers like Jerry Tolve or Hunter Hayes both fabulous. Visit on a Sunday and enjoy Old World Italian. Pork bracciole…

If you’re searching for a party spot, family get together location, or just an overall fun dining experience that’s affordable, there's an ideal place right off the Garden State Parkway and Route 80. Family-run and casual, Carucci’s Restaurant & Pub has always been the popular spot in Saddle Brook for great Italian cuisine and pub favorites. Whether you're seated in the bar area with big screen televisions and pinball machines, or a spacious dining room with front and side window views, gracious service and equally great food are yours. Lunch and dinner is served at Carucci’s, and there is a …

Hani Ghobrial and his brother Sam are go-getters in the “clean” restaurant realm. When you first enter Mangiamo! Pizza & Restaurant, you notice the cleanliness, a Ghobrial staple. “The first 10 points is cleanliness,” claims Hani. “Once people first walk in, before ordering food, and asking ‘Do you guys do parties?’ or ‘Do you deliver?’ the place gives you the feeling. We spent a lot of money to put the place together. We’re not a franchise; we're little guys.” The Ghobrials own three Bergen County eateries, and their latest, as of June 10, 2010 is Mangiamo. “Really nice, very nice,” said …

One of Mahwah’s great pleasures sits right off the junction of Route 17 North and South on Route 202 South, having served the town of Mahwah with great food since 1977: The Mason Jar. Located at 219 Ramapo Valley Road, less than a mile from the rolling campus of Ramapo College of New Jersey, the Mason Jar is a popular dining spot for both the college scene, as well as locals, set in a comfortable American pub setting. The Mason Jar is co-owned by Ira Kaplin and Joel Weiss. Kaplin, who was born in Suffern and now resides in Warwick, and Weiss, who is from Woodcliff Lake, bought the popular …

Andreas Ristorante Italiano, tucked away in a strip mall in Waldwick, has been called one of Bergen County’s best kept dining secrets. But judging by the couples and families  streaming in on a Friday night, a lot of people know the secret. “We don’t advertise,” owner Ben Mansueto admits. “My dad named the restaurant after himself and opened in one store front in 1984. The response was overwhelming and we took over the store next door six months later.” Mansueto describes himself as a third generation chef, crediting his late grandmother Anna, who immigrated from Sicily, with starting the …

Santorini Taverna is a relative newcomer to the Fort Lee area, having opened scarcely two years ago, but its combination of authentic, interesting food and warm, attentive service should make it a favorite in the future. During its short run I've already heard tell of people walking across the George Washington Bridge from Washington Heights to eat here. I first came to Santorini Taverna when the weather was warmer and found its owner entertaining outside on the restaurant's porch. Though I was there just to take a couple of photos and survey the place, Angelo sat me down and served me some …

Tani, a Japanese restaurant with world-wise flair in neighboring Glen Rock, features a menu with a sampling of food inspired from across Asia and beyond Pair that with reasonable prices you might not expect from a restaurant with such chic ambiance, and you've got the perfect weekend date destination. Walking in with my dinner date, the contemporary sushi bar is the first thing we notice beyond the host's counter. Situated in front of a stone wall reminiscent of a Zen waterfall, an assortment of fresh fish is on display under amber hanging lights. The restaurant — divided into three seating …

Upon walking into The Brick House at 179 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff for lunch two thoughts went through my mind... what a beautiful place and why haven’t I been here before? Aldo Cascio, owner of The Brick House, Aldo’s Italian Restaurant and Pane e Vino, met me at the door. I ordered an espresso and received the grand tour which included the Wine Cellar, Cigar Bar and the Banquet area. There are two kitchens that he built to accommodate the patrons who dine there. Their quaint nooks are perfect for intimate dining.  Built in 1851 as the Terhune House, this historical site has been transformed …

Maria’s Kitchen brings a little bit of Mom’s cooking to Hasbrouck Heights. Owners Maria and John Dingertopadre have been serving up homemade goodness in a casual counter-style atmosphere for nearly a year with their grand opening occurring during the 2010 Hasbrouck Heights street fair.  There really is no occasion when Maria’s is not appropriate. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offering plenty of  casual seating, Maria’s has established itself as a local favorite. Breakfast begins at 5 a.m. daily but the entire menu is always available. Fresh cold cuts, homemade deli salads, and hot …

How many times do we drive down River Road in Hackensack, pass Harley’s Irish Pub and say, “I have to try that place!” Well I did and might I add this is the place for wonderful traditional Irish food and imported lagers. Patrick Harley, owner of Harley’s Irish Pub which opened in 1977, does more than cook fantastic Irish standards. For the past 15 years Harley has been giving back to the community. He closes his restaurant to the public every Thanksgiving and invites the homeless to dine with him. They leave with a warm meal in their stomach and a coat and blanket to take with them.  Harley’…

With all the standard appeal of other pizzerias apparent from the outside it's not until you taste a few items from their unique menu that you can appreciate what makes Francesca Pizza stand out from many other Italian restaurants. Brothers Salvatore and Gino Reina opened Francesca Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta in 2008. Their pizza pies, rolls and pasta dishes brim with fresh ingredients and the prices are right for families looking for a great meal. The Margherita pizza, the slice that their employees call their "most popular," is a thin slice with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, pecorino romano …