Patch will make a startling admission right now: We love pizza and pizzerias. Greasy, cheesy, give it to us easy — it’s all good.If you were raised in North Jersey like Patch, then you know there’s no such thing as bad pizzeria pizza. In fact, it was only in its adult years that Patch came to appreciate, for example, the Reservoir of South Orange, its pizza soaked in olive oil and cooked at such a high temperature that the cheese bubbled and charred, leaving the surface looking like a Sorrento moonscape.But Patch doesn’t judge a pizzeria solely by its namesake food. A true pizza joint must …

There's a simple bit of logic when it comes to hyperlocal journalism and municipal meetings: The more evening meetings Patch can cram into its busy schedule, the more it will be dining out on the company's dime. So it was one recent evening in the Rose City. Facing some such council or board convo likely to stretch into the late hours, Patch sought a sit-down supper, preferably in a locale with a quiet, out-of-the-way corner table, and thence to enjoy some good grub. The choice was Il Mondo Vecchio, where the contemporary Italian menu tempted even Patch's pedestrian palate. [And by pedestrian…

Patch can recall a simpler time when life’s joy was a roast beef sub with lettuce, tomato and russian from Campus Sub Shop in South Orange. Later, Patch went native with a shrimp loaf — a loaf of white with the bread scooped out and filled with fried shrimp — from Casamento’s in New Orleans. Life is no longer so simple but finding a first-rate sub in Madison is, at Main Street Submarines, 187 Main Street.The menu lists 54 varieties, from pressed ham, salami and cheese, to meat loaf and cheese, to sausage parmagiana (pronounced without the last “a” back in the old neighborhood). You can get …

Nothing goes quite as well with a night out at the theater than a good meal preceding it. While my brother and I were not attending a show at The Community Theatre, we likely were in the company of several that were when we, and a friend, sat down for dinner at Brick Oven of Morristown. Brick Oven is one of those restaurants that is immediately apparent when one enters town. It's right there next to the theater and, unless the eventual opening of Don's Burgers does not drown it out, will remain a prominent fixture for hungry theatergoers. Why? I was just so pleasantly surprised at how good …

True factoid: Patch has spotted a “MCCOOLS” license plate in northern New Jersey. What if any association this had with the very excellent Madison ice cream parlour of the same name remains unknown, but seeing it was enough to get Patch jonesing for a milk shake.Jonesing, for the postmodern unhip, is a chronic, insatiable craving for something you just can’t get out of your system. And, if you’ve had the good fortune to suck down a shake at McCool’s Ice Cream Parlor and Coffee Bar, then you know from whence we speak.And, as shakes go, there are a lot of reasons to like. Forty-five, more or …

Now in its fifth decade serving the people of Madison, Romanelli’s Pizza & Italian Eatery at 42 Lincoln Place must be doing something right.For its loyal following in the area, that something is pizza.Now, it’s a truism if you live in northern New Jersey, you’ll likely be eating a lot of pizza. Especially in the summer when the need to relax is great and the desire for many to cook is, well, not as great.And, in a region where each town has a half-dozen pizzerias—or more—from which to choose, the typical diner can soon find his tastebuds glossing over at the thought of yet another doughy pie.…

If Fratelli's Deli at 42 Main Street looks familiar, there's good reason. The downtown storefront formerly occupied by Duffy's is under new ownership, but there's been little obvious change in the moderately-priced, handmade hot and cold favorites that made the eatery a popular favorite for everyone from the breakfast working crowd to college students making a foray into the downtown district for lunch. It's shaded sidewalk tables make it a prime location for people-watching in the Rose City. Patch and friend stopped in for a quick bite recently, and were immediately overwhelmed by the …

Patch, after spending its formative years in New Orleans, acquired a fondness for various Southern comforts, particularly where food is concerned. If it's brown or red (or rouge) and deep-fried or barbecued, it's what's for dinner (or lunch). Patch for years grieved the erstwhile Cobb's, a homestyle BBQ chain on Rt. 10 in East Hanover demolished to make way for yet another coffee hut. So, spirits soared at the sight and smell of La Rosa Chicken & Grill, a splendid provider of comfort foods tucked in the Staples mall on Rt. 124 in Madison. If you're looking for a hearty lunch or dinner, you'll…

I’ve been dining at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse as long as I can remember, which is a fact because the New Jersey-based chain was founded only a few years after me. My Charlie Brown’s is still at the same location, a windowless bunker that as a lad made me think that all steakhouses were dark, forbidding places. Happily, the Charlie Brown’s in Chatham is in a grand renovated Colonial home, and offers a bright and airy setting to enjoy prime rib or any of the many entrées on an expansive menu that won't obliterate your wallet. We were seated at a comfortable table in the large main dining room …

Chatham residents know Charley's Aunt on South Passaic Avenue the way they know the gazebo in Reasoner Park or the 9-11 Memorial in Memorial Park. The pub and restaurant is part of the landscape, part of the town's identity. And with a menu that can accommodate the pickiest of eaters, this friendly restaurant has much to offer besides its prime location. While it's tempting to stick to fried appetizers at a bar, such as calimari, mozzarella carrozza (with house anchovy sauce as an option instead of the traditional marinara sauce) or chicken fingers, Charley's Aunt also has healther options …

There's only one thing that's as lengthy and varied as the menu at the Nautilus Diner and Restaurant, and that's the people who stream to the Madison landmark for a meal, a snack, or just a cup of coffee. Madison Patch is all about people, and makes regular visits to the Nautilus to get its fix of classic Jersey diner food, and to do some serious navel-gazing. OK, maybe not this much navel-gazing, but the point is well-taken. After being shown to our booth in the dining room, on this occasion Patch ordered the grilled chicken sandwich as a change from the excellent cheeseburger. The time was …

If you’re looking for a low-key eatery with a comfortable atmosphere that accommodates a virtual office or an office lunch, check out Atlanta Bread, at 6 Main Street in Madison. Get there early in the morning and you’ll get a jolt of energy from the hustle of people on their way to work or the train or school. There is a vast assortment of bagels, pastries, ham and cheese sandwiches and other breakfast treats, as well as fresh-brewed coffee and hot chocolate, to take the edge off those chilly Morris County mornings. But once the rush hour crowd melts away, Atlanta Bread’s got plenty of room …

The European Market on Main Street in Chatham is more than its name implies. While it does offer such european treats as Kinderchocolat and biscotti, there is also a full deli with a variety of meats, cheeses and fresh breads to choose from, as well as a gourmet menu of hot entrees. The market has developed a reputation for eastern European dishes, such as juicy kielbasy seasoned with sauerkraut, but its menu also betrays an Italian bent: chicken parmasan, made with tomato and basil sauce and meat lasagna with mozzarella cheese. The panko-crusted chicken breast with fresh ginger tastes …

Poor Herbie’s has been a fixture in Madison for a long time, dating to the early 20th Century. One step inside the doors, and the historic aura of the pub/restaurant immediately welcomes you with walls plastered with memories of years past. “If you look at the walls here,” said Judy Mullins, who has owned Poor Herbie’s with her husband, Dennis, and son, Dennis Jr., since 1992, “there’s so much memorabilia that I think you quickly get the idea that there are people that run this business." Open seven days a week, Poor Herbie’s has amassed a countless number of regulars who frequently fill the …

On a recent stop in at Supper on Main Street in Chatham, I learned to develop an appreciation for the precarious balance that all dining patrons yearn for and few establishments provide: How to eat healthy portions while avoiding breaking the bank and not needing to call a forklift in order to leave. I have to credit Supper with some of this balance. It would have been easy to order a full entree, several of which looked delectable, but which would have been overkill on a day when one feels hungry but not especially famished. The lunch specials offer a perfect solution to this conundrum by …

Maybe it had something to do with it being St. Patrick's Day. Or maybe it was the early summer-like weather. At any rate, I had never seen so much hugging in one restaurant since the final episode of Hell's Kitchen. But that's typical at the Waverly Restaurant, a Madison landmark now in its 29th year, where the regulars greet each other like every lunch is a family reunion. You can trace the history of the Rose City through the many old photos that hang on the walls, or get an oral re-telling from the old-timers who pack the booths and pick up their calls from the house phone. The Waverly has…

Something about the soft blue light of the sushi bar in Mitsuba calls you to sit there, like a moth to a flame. Even if you end up sitting in one of this establishment's numerous tables, you still end up looking over at it, where all the action is. There is nothing quite like sitting at the bar of a sushi restaurant. The chefs are much more likely to tell you what is good today, what is the most fresh or the best quality. At a recent trip to Mitsuba, the waitresses and chefs tipped me off to the marbled tuna, which was served a la carte as sushi (two pieces of raw fish, each served on top of …

When you serve some of the best pizza in town, as they do at Nicky’s Firehouse Restaurant & Pizza, people take notice.If you’re like Patch, you love good pizza. Maybe too much, especially if you eat it three days a week after basketball, soccer and baseball games. Too much of a good thing, we suppose.So Patch headed for Nicky’s looking for a tasty lunch alternative. And found it, in a chicken marsala entree. Tender and flavorful, served over our choice of linguini with mushrooms, redolent of marsala wine and butter but not drowning in either. Our thanks to Patty, our server who recommended it…

If you're tired of those upholstered franchise hamburger chains, stop in to 54 Main Bar & Grille, the cozy retreat in the heart of Madison where wings and calamari co-exist comfortably with steak, ribs and mahi mahi. A first glance at the menu reveals a substantial offering of appetizers with some surprises, such as short rib sliders ($11), blue cheese-crusted beef medallions ($11) as well as the standard kids' supply of calamari ($13), chicken fingers ($8), mozzarella sticks ($8), and wings, in Buffalo or smokey chipotle style ($9). There's also a full range of salads, priced from $8 to $13…

It would almost be too easy to miss La Piazza Cafe in Florham Park, but if you are in the mood to try some new pizza flavors, the pizzeria offers some interesting selections. The menu at La Piazza betrays an affinity for taking the main course of a dinner table and putting it onto a pizza. They offer baked ziti pie with penne pasta and cheese; lasagna pie with ground beef and ricotta and mozzarella cheese; and salad pie with lettuce, tomatoes, black olives and onions. The specialty chicken pies have a little more texture to them, covered – smothered, one might say – in chicken and various …