paula1470

Hopefully there are some posters who live in this area and can help me with a nice restaurant. Recently my DD stayed with friends in Springfield, NJ for about 3 weeks. She was auditioning in NYC during that time period. Although she stayed some nights with friends in Manhattan and Astoria, she spent the majority of her time in NJ. The family she was staying with did have to run her back and forth to the train station a few times and of course were very generous to offer their home for her stay.

She would like to get them a gift certificate for a nice dinner as her thank you. They probably wouldn't drive anywhere too far away so she's been looking at restaurants in Westfied. She is particularly looking at Italian restaurants although is open to other types. I am sure they have been to some of these already but she just wants to thank them with a nice dinner out. She was going to get them a gift certificate to Acquaviva but then also noticed reviews on Theresa's and Ferraro's. People on Chowhound seem to like Acquaviva.

If anyone has any recommendations for a special restaurant in this area, your help would be appreciated.

paula1470

Meant to type Westfield, sorry!

paula1470

topping

zlaor

A topic I have been waiting for.
My wife and I live in Union County, and we love to go eat out.

Here are our top favorites:
Restaurant David Drake in Rahway - Great food (American fusion), very expensive ($80 a head not including drinks, reservations recommended).

Acquaviva Delle Fonti in Westfield - Very good Italian, around $60 a head.

Ristorante de Benito - Loved it, great place, very expensive as well (you need a reservation).

Northside Trattoria - Good place, great ambiance, reasonable prices (especially for Westfield).

Garlic Rose in Cranford - If you like garlic, this is the place. American fusion type food.


Theresa's in Westfield - Good Italian food, reasonable but on the high side. Spend a bit more on Acquaviva if you're in the area.

Giovanna's in Plainfield - Good food and reasonable but a bit out of the way.

Cafe Vivace in Plainfield - Good food and a very nice place. We tried it twice but the last time our waiter was "fresh" to my wife so we never went back.

You can go to www.restaurantpassion.com to see more info and buy gift certificates.

zlaor

I forgot to mention:

From our experience(in the NY/NJ area), the price difference between "OK restaurants" to "good restaurants" is big, but between "good" and "excellent" is small. So we always opt to spend a bit more.
Just something to keep in mind when buy a certificate.

Also, a good time to try out expensive restaurants is at lunch time.
Same great food at lower prices.

paula1470

zlaor-Thank you for your thorough response. Does the $60 a head at Acquavilla include drinks? When you say very expensive for Risorante de Benito does that mean it's around the same price as Acquavilla? And one last question, if you had to choose between Acquavilla, Risorante de Benito or Northside Trattiora which would you pick? I already know that Acquavilla will do a gift certificate and and mail it as I called them yesterday. Don't know about the other two so that may be a deciding factor (we live in California).

Again, thanks.

mmouse52

We live in union and always go to Ferraro's in Westfield. Very good italian food average prices. Probably can get appetizer dinner and drinks for 75.00 a couple. Another great restaurant we enjoy is Spanish Tavern in Mountainside.

paula1470

mmouse-Thanks for your reply also. I think sticking to an Italian restaurant is the best bet-that's why I was asking about those. Ferraro's was one I was asking about. Is it upscale enough to make it seem like a special evening out?

zlaor

paula:
$60 a head should be fine for Acquaviva. I can't answer about the drinks because the gamete runs too wide.

Between the three, I'd choose Benito, but it'll be more then $60 a head.

paula1470

zlaor-They aren't big drinkers. Probably just one glass of wine for each of them.

zlaor

Paula, I guess $60 each for Acquaviva would be fine.
It's really a hard question to answer.

paula1470

Thanks.

mmouse52

I am not sure how to answer your question about ferraro's being upscale. They do have white tablecloths and flowers on the table. The service has always been good but it is not the type of restaurant where they are always standing over your table. The owners are usually there. The quality of the food has always been good. My husband has been to Benito's and feels the food is not much different than ferraro's. Benito's does have a much more formal atmosphere though and it sounds like that is what you are looking for.