Les Crepes (French Bistro)

Jay begged Ken to go to Les Crepes, especially after her great experience with the Magic Pan (chain no longer in existence) in the Gallery, Philadelphia, when she was pregnant back in 1982.

Unfortunately, this restaurant did not live up to expectations. While the crepes themselves were good, the fillings left a bit to be desired.

We arrived for our reservations and were promptly seated. Jay (with her weak bladder) needed to visit the restroom which was a little messy.

Nice fresh bread (not warm) was brought to the table, along with butter packets. Ken ate the whole basket.

Sylvie, the owner, did stop by each table with a "Bonjour" and Jay tried her high school French, and Sylvie responded with a "Tres bien, merci."

For appetizers, Jay ordered the french onion soup, which arrived lukewarm so Jay set it back. Our server apologized profusely. It was completely redone and was piping hot when it arrived. It was a bit sweet for Jay's taste, so she only ate half, because...

Ken ordered the Assiette de Fromage, which was a plate of assorted cheeses and fruits, along with walnuts and sliced bread. Jay helped Ken eat about 1/3. The cheeses were very fresh and flavorful.

For entrees, Jay ordered La Baltique crepe, which was a bit salty, but filled with chunks of salmon and capers. Ken ordered La Fruits de Mer, which contained what looked like canned shrimp, tiny scallops and non-existent mussels. He was also disappointed.

We were too full to try dessert. IF we go back, it will be for the standard menu.

Wines enjoyed:
1999 Georges DuBoeuf Viognier
2006 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir

• Dress - Dressy casual


• Service - excellent. Our server, Mara, was very attentive.


• Decor - French courtyard, tin ceiling. Outside seating was available under a awning covered deck. Standard stemware. Perrier bottles on each table. French music in background.


• Portions - Ample.


• Price - appetizers were in the $8-10 range; entrees ranged from $15-$20s


• Reservations - Suggested for Friday and Saturday evenings. Saturdays and Sundays there is a jazz brunch.

Word of Mouth (Italian)

After hearing Ken's brother, Mike, rave about Word of Mouth, we visited on Friday, October 19 (a rare evening off for Jay). We had a wonderful time.

Hot assorted bread was immediately brought to the table. The wine was opened and poured for us.

Appetizers:
Jay had the seared ahi tuna - nicely done
Ken had the coconut shrimp (on skewers) over mango salad

Entrees:
Jay had the rack of lamb (medium-rare) with twice baked potato and vegetables. She saved the bones to gnaw on for Saturday's lunch.
Ken devoured the Chilean sea bass with lobster risotto and mixed vegetables.

We met a foursome out celebrating a birthday. They were nice enough to share a taste of a 2005 Artesa Pinot Noir and a 2003 Spelletich Cellars Zinfandel. Both were very flavorful. We hope to meet up with them again. They recommended additional restaurants:
Casana's
Onassis
Little Tuna (Kings Highway in Haddonfield)
Water Lily (Collingswood)


Wines enjoyed:
2006 The Other (65% Chardonnay, 25% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Viognier)
2006 Castle Rock Sonoma County Pinot Noir

• Dress-Dressy casual
• Service - excellent. Our server, Cindy, was very knowledgeable and attentive.
• Decor - Classy Italian. Nice stemware.
• Portions - Ample.
• Price - appetizers were in the $8-10 range; entrees ranged from the low $20s.
• Reservations - strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings.

Chez Elena Wu (Chinese/French)

We visited Chez Elena Wu at the Ritz on Saturday, October 20. It was more over-priced Chinese than fusion. The food was good and plentiful...

Seating was a bit tight - fit as many people as possible into a small space. You couldn't help but talk to your neighbor. Thank God we had decent neighbors.

Appetizers - spring rolls, boneless spareribs

Entrees:
Jay - Seafood Wonder in Taro Nest
Ken - Beef & scallops in black pepper sauce

After speaking with our friend, Karin, she confirmed that she and George were not happy with this restaurant. I don't think we'll go back.

Wines enjoyed:
2002 Ravens Wood Lodi Ol Vine Zinfandel
2004 Louis Jadot Poully-Fuisse (excellent)

Ted's on Main (Again)

Since Ted's on Main was closed for Labor Day weekend, we revisited on Saturday, September 29, 2007. We had an even better time than the first.

We were seated at a corner table in the rear of the restaurant, which gave us a nice view of the entire place. Our server, Janet, remembered us from our first visit and that was nice.

The "taste" of the evening was a corn relish, made with Jersey corn and smoked jalapeno peppers. HOT bread was also brought to the table.

Jay had citrus crab salad as an appetizer and the citrus grilled Hawaiian butterfish special (with citrus ginger sauce over a plaintain and garlic cake) as an entree. Nice-sized portions and very flavorful.

Ken had the smoky pineapple BBQ shrimp as an appetizer and Barnegat scallops with risotto (that Jay loves!) for his entree.

We shared the Bananas Foster with ice cream for dessert.

Wines enjoyed:
2000 Domaine de la Citradelle Cotes du Lumerson
2003 Domaine la Barbotaine Sancerre

While waiting for dessert, another couple, Joe & Kathy, were seated next to us and we had a nice conversation until we left as their entrees were arriving.

Joe & Kathy recommended the following BYOBs:
Creole Cafe in Williamstown
Laceno's
Blackbird (highly recommend Friday night-SJ Hot Chef)
Nuncio's (sit in front alcove for lower noise level)
Catelli in Voorhees (Monday night only for BYOB)
Austeria in Philly
Barclay Prime in Rittenhouse in Philly (get the salad and share)
They had a 1997 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon that looked pretty good.

Emerald Fish (One of our favorites)

After discovering Ted's on Main was closed for the holiday weekend, we visited Emerald Fish and had an excellent time.

Our server, Stacy, welcomed us and opened our bottles of wine.

Bread and pita was brought to the table and Ken ate most of it with oil & vinegar.

We shared bruschetta, which came grilled with tomatoes, feta and black olives.

Jay tried the tomato with chipotle and lump crab soup. It was thick and spicy.

Jay had the entree special - Mediterranean Shellfish Combo - grilled shrimp and scallops over orzo with red peppers, green olives, feta, eggplant, garlic, oil & oregano. Jay remembered that she wasn't crazy about eggplant (this was watery and had no flavor), so she removed most it. Otherwise the dish was excellent.

Ken had the deluxe seafood combo with lobster tail. He didn't eat his grilled skewered vegetables.

Everything was flavorful and fresh.

We had conversation with people at the next time and generally had a good time.

Wines enjoyed:
2003 Wishing Tree Shiraz
2003 Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay

We have to remember to request the table by the fish tank and Eddie as our server (no reflection on Stacy).

Other restaurants that we discussed visiting include:
Joe Palumbo's Mirabella Cafe
Elena Wu
Barone's Italian Grill
Norma's Mediterranean
Word of Mouth

and a return visit to:
Ritz Seafood

Barnacle Ben's (AGAIN)

Jay and her mom, Louella, went to Barnacle Ben's, 300 Young Avenue, Moorestown, NJ, today for lunch and were not disappointed.

Louella had New England clam chowder and bacon-wrapped scallops for starters. She enjoyed the combination fried platter, which included shrimp, scallop, fish, stuffed shrimp and more. She had homemade apple sauce and baked sweet potato. It was delicious! She took home cheesecake for dessert.

Jay had the crabmeat cocktail - an amazing amount of crabmeat, so she added it to her house salad with blue cheese dressing. Jay also ordered the porcini mushroom gnocchi. Why were there 20 in the lunch order?


Jay ate 4 and took the rest home (leftovers are shown). She had grand marnier mousse for dessert. It was covered in chocolate and had a light chocolate cake base.

We love this place and will continue to return.

Barnacle Ben's - OK, we can't stay away!

We took our friends from Tennessee, Arlene and Mark, to Barnacle Ben's, 300 Young Avenue, Moorestown, NJ, Friday night and had a good time.

We arrived at 7 PM, having just made the reservation a half hour earlier, and were promptly seated.

Fresh warm rolls were brought to the table and our wines were opened.

Having eaten a bit earlier, Arlene and Mark declined appetizers and went for entrees:
Mark had Tilapia Oscar – pan-seared and topped with asparagus, jumbo lump crab in white wine and butter, spinach. Arlene enjoyed Seafood Newburg – jumbo lump crabmeat, scallops and shrimp in a pink sherry sauce, spinach, garlic mashed potatoes.

Jay had the appetizer special – oysters stuffed with shrimp, cheese and spinach (Arlene helped Jay with these) and the entree special - Fried softshell crabs with corn relish, sweet potatoes and cole slaw.

Ken had the scallops wrapped in hickory smoked bacon as an appetizer and the seafood crepes, wild rice, broccoli for an entree.

Everything was delicious and we were all pleasantly full when we left.

A thunderstorm provided a spectacular light show.

Wines enjoyed: 2003 Yellow Tail Shiraz and 2006 Prosecco.