The Cheesecake Factory - The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack,NJ

The Cheesecake Factory
390 Hackensack Avenue, Ste. 155
Hackensack, NJ  07601
201-488-0330

website: www.thecheesecakefactory.com

Hours:

Monday                 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tuesday                 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wednesday           11:00 am - 11:00 pm 
Thursday               11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Friday                    11:00 am - 12:30 pm 
Saturday               10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Sunday                  10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Southern Fried Chicken Sliders - $6.95

Pasta Campagna - $17.95

Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake - $8.00 

On Wednesday, January 22, 2020 my daughter Brandy and I went to the AMC Dine In Shops at Riverside  9 theater to see Bad Boys For Life, afterwards we decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner located in the same mall.  

Rachel was our lovely, attentive and great at describing our potential order.  

For appetizers, the southern fried chicken sliders that were true to its advertising.  Crispy, yes it was, fresh lettuce and tomato with pickles served on mini-buns.  It was so good, we started to place an order for take out, but that was going a bit too far. 

Next up was the Pasta Campagna.  Well seasoned ground chicken, parmesan, fresh basil, garlic with a mild spicy tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella.  When the plate is set before you, you can smell the sauce letting you know that it was time to eat and try to eat it all.  Well we couldn't.  We tried.  This dish was a very good choice.  It is mildly spicy, but that just adds to the flavor with the small pieces of tomatoes and the mild mozzarella.  To be ordered again because this may be my new favorite.

The pineapple upside down cheesecake was very moist and you can see and taste the pineapple amongst the whip cream and cherry on top.  I took 3 -4 bites and couldn't eat the rest, so time for the take out box!

Stop on by and visit.  From the reception to the waitstaff, you are made to feel welcome and they want to to have a great dining experience.  We did.

 

   

#thecheesecakefactory   #hackensack   #newjersey   #good   #goodfood   #steak   #seafood  #flatbreadpizza   #chickenpotpie   #kaleandquinoasalad   #sliders   #appetizers   #dessert  #assortedcheesecakes   #pasta   #friendlystaff   #chickenandbiscuits  #tacos  #burritos

Negril Village NYC - Nu Caribbean cuisine

Negril Village NYC
70 W. 3rd Street
New York, NY 10012
212-477-2804

Website:  negrilnyc.com

Hours:

Monday               5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tuesday               5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wednesday         5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thursday             12:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Lunch       5:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Dinner
Friday                  12:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Lunch       5:00 pm - 1:00 am - Dinner
Saturday             12:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Lunch       5:00 pm - 1:00 am - Dinner
Sunday                12:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Brunch     5:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Dinner

BBQ Guava wings - $15.00

Herb Coconut Salmon with mashed island yams, 

zucchini and carrot with a coconut sauce - $27.00

Bread pudding with vanilla ice-cream with rum sauce - $9.00

On a winter Friday evening during it's a good thing I made reservations for Michelle & I at Negril's even though we had to wait it was worth.

Our waiter, Jermaine welcomed us to Negril and began to how was our evening going so far.  Well, since he ask we told.  After viewing the menu we both selected the Herb Coconut Salmon for our main entree but the Beginnings as Negril calls it, we ordered the BBQ Guava wings.

When Michele bit into the salmon, all I saw was her closing her eyes and then I heard, ummmm.  Ok I can take a hint.  Once I had my first taste of the salmon, the mashed island yams and sauce, oh      my       goodness!  Did we clean our plates.  Yes we did.  Our mothers would have been proud  The combination of everything entertaining our palates was an experience that made you slow down in eating to make it last.  I don't know what they did to that salmon, but every salmon in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest would be proud.    

Michele had the Mama Negril drink ($8.00) which consisted of ginger beer, passion fruit, lime and mint which she said was "quite tasty".

After sifting in my seat for a few minutes to make space in my stomach (it doesn't work) I ordered the Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream with rum sauce.  The bread pudding with moist, you can taste the cinnamon and to top it off with ice cream, I did the happy dance.   Now for the rum sauce, I don't drink, but it added a punch.  The menu does not say that it comes with rum sauce.

The BBQ guava wings was not on my favorite list I guess because the combination of guava and bbq sauce did not make for a good blend for me.  

Overall a good time was had by all, good food and always good conversation.

I will be back.

# negrilnyc  #caribbeanfood  #newyork  #village   #codfishfritters  #roti   #calabashstew  #rumcake  #jerksalmon   #shrimp   #oxtailpasta   #veganpasta   #friends  #afterwork    #evening  #wonderfulfood   #foodforthought   #foodblog  #socialatmosphere   #livelycrowd

Hard Rock Cafe - Rock 'n' roll-themed restaurant

Dined on Sunday, November 20, 2019 @ 3:00 PM (didn't leave until 6:30 pm) Ha!

Hard Rock Cafe
1501 Broadway
New York, NY  10036

212-343-3355

Hours: 

Monday              8:00 am - 12:30 am
Tuesday             8:00 am - 12:30 am
Wednesday       8:00 am - 12:30 am
Thursday           8:00 am - 11:30 pm
Friday                8:00 am - 1:30 am
Saturday           8:00 am - 1:30 am
Sunday              8:00 am - 12:30 am

Website:  hardrockcafe.com

                                            Southwest Chicken Flatbread - $14.00

Double Decker Double Cheeseburger - $20.00

Southwest Chicken Flatbread - $14.00

Bar area

Bar area

 Billy Joel's bike

Beyonce's outfit

Hendrix's guitar

Guitars

Red Hot Chilli drums

James Brown suit

Wall of guitars

Dined on Sunday, November 20, 2019 @ 3:00 PM (didn't leave until 6:30 pm) Ha!

Okay so my friend Ella and I decided it was time to meet up for lunch and we ventured into the Hard Rock Cafe.  So let's start with the classic nachos.  Crisp tortilla chips that are layered with ranch-style beans and a four cheese sauce blend spicy jalapenos, pickled red onions, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, green onions,pico de gallo, served with sour cream on the side.  The only thing I will say is that we tried to finish the entire dish and it was a lot, thankfully.  

Waitress - Kiah.  Wonderful person, bouncy, lively, quick, efficient and determined to that you receive excellent customer service.

Ella order the double decker double cheeseburger and it was get ready for a two stacked steak burgers with American cheese, mayonnaise, leaf lettuce, tomato and red onion.  She truly enjoyed this cheeseburger.  Full of flavor, meat was tender and juicy and cooked just right.

The  Flatbread was topped full of grilled chicken, shredded mozzarella, diced red peppers and green onions, avocado, pico de gallo, topped off with a chipotle aioli.  With every bit you sink your teat into this grilled bread that is crispy and tender pieces of chicken.  Yummy.  

I shall return.

#hardrockcafe  #newyork   #timessquare  #livemusic     #rocknroll     #rocknrollmemorabilia    #steakburgers   #bbqribs   #grillednorwegiansalmon   #sliders   #fajitas  #fun    #goodfood    #goodservice    #photo     #family    #appetizers    #friends  #parties  #memorabilia  #guitars                

Friedman's - Family run American restaurant

Friedman's (Columbia University area)
1187 Amsterdam Avenue 
New York, NY 10027

212-932-0600

website:  friedmansrestaurant.com

Hours:

Monday            11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday            11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday      11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday          11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday               11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Saturday          10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday             10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Kale Salad - $13.00

                                           Turkey Burger - pepperjack, avocado ailoi - $16

My friend and co-worker Jessica decided to meet and have dinner at Friedman's to sit and dine and chit chat which is in the Columbia University area on Thursday, November 7, 2019 @ 6:30 pm

Kiah, our waitress was so cool.  She took her time in explaining certain items in the menu that we had questions which made us feel quite comfortable.  

The kale salad had mint, dried cranberries, butternut squash, red onions, sunflower seeds, ricotta salata, lemon maple vinaigrette, tasty.  

The Turkey Burger topped with pepperjack and avocado ailoi receives a high five.  I bit into that turkey burger and it was an event.  The burger and bun is not your average size.  But it was well worth stretching the jaws.  The combination of the avocado and pepperjack, wonderbar!  

This calls for a do over.

 

#friedmansrestaurant  #newyork  #columbiauniversity  #burgers  #avocadotoast  #enjoy #steelcutoatmeal   #omlette   #sandwiches   #salads  #goodfood  #comfortable   #friendly     

Louis Lunch - New Haven, Conn.

Louis Lunch
261 Crown Street
New Haven, Conn. 06510

Telephone: 203.562.5507
Website:  louislunch.com

Hours:

Monday             closed
Tuesday            11:00 am - 3:45 pm
Wednesday      11:00 am - 3:45 pm
Thursday          12:00 pm - 2:00 am
Friday               12:00 pm - 2:00 am
Saturday          12:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sunday             closed


On a bright and sunny and Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 12:58 pm. 

Cheeseburger with onion - $6.75

Louis Lunch has been opened since 1895 and serves a classic hamburger on toast that is cooked in a cast iron sideways grill.  That's right, sideways.  It is still family owned and operated.  As a matter of fact my cheeseburger was cooked by Jeff who is of the 4th generation operating this establishment.  Louis Lunch has been recognized by the Library of Congress as the birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich.  

This restaurant peaked my interest after I viewed it on the Food Network.  It has also been featured on the Travel Channel, Food and Wine Magazine, Zagat as well as others. 

The building still maintains it's original features, tables, and apparently the counters which have signatures and symbols sketched in the thick wood.  

Your order is taken on a plain sheet of paper that is attached to a clipboard.  Now if your name is John for example, they will ask for an last name initial because there might be another John that has placed an order in order to distinguish who has placed what order. 

If you are able to be standing in the front of the counter, you will see your hamburger being hand rolled and placed in the grill right.  The hamburgers are only served on white toast, cheese, onion and tomato.  That's it.  If you like ketchup, not here.  If you want relish, not here.  How about hot sauce, not here.  And don't even ask for here.  Not here.  I don't know if being grilled sideways has anything to do with it, but this burger is juicy.  I think I saw a bit of salt and a splash of pepper sprinkle but it was good!  Confession time.  This was my second time here.  I came last year with my friend Deanna and lost the pictures, so I had to make another journey just for you.

One thing about this place you never know who you are either standing or sitting next to.  I happened to be sitting next to Jeff from Dallas and he was in Connecticut visiting a friend and was inspired to come to Louis Lunch.  Hi Jeff!

So I might as well tell you I have another confession to make.  I took the  2½ hour ride again on Metro North and then Uber to Louis Lunch. The Uber cost me about $8.00.  

Well, I came back with my friend Deanna on Thursday, November 7, 2019 @ 6:30 pm.   We ate, talked, ate some more, talked, talked and ate some more.  We both had seen Louis Lunch on several cooking shows and it lived up to its reputation.  What a great way to spend a day with good food and a wonderful friend.  

Well worth the ride.  Remember my motto, have food will travel.

                                  

                                                      

                                                       

   

#louislunch  #newhaven   #connecticut  #hamburgers  #familyrun  #tasty  #grill  #tradition  #fun    #goodburgers   #travelchannel   #thefoodnetwork   #zagat   #foodandwinemagazine