Sometimes, to find something unique, you have to travel off the beaten path and look a little more closely. In Morris County, that little extra effort pays big dividends if you’re hungry.
Sure, we’ve got hard-to-miss, high-profile restaurants with park-like settings, valet parking and twinkle lights everywhere. But, places that are a little harder to spot still manage to keep the crowds coming — proving that they’re worth the extra effort it takes to find them.
“People tell me all time, ‘there’s no restaurant in that strip mall,’ ” said Matthew Pierone, chef and owner of the Gourmet Café, which is tucked away in a strip mall on Baldwin Road in Parsippany. “One woman told me she’s driven by here 100 times and never knew there was a restaurant here. I said, ‘Oh, yes, there is. I’m here every day.’ ”
Pierone’s Gourmet Café busily serves up northern Italian and American fare across the street from St. Peter’s Church, but blink and you might miss it, since its sign is similar to all the others in the shopping center. A Walgreens on the corner is the anchor store and makes a good landmark.
In his 48-seat dining room, Pierone serves lunch, dinner, soups, salads and the specials change daily. For lunch or dinner, the Pork Chop Tiambotta ($16, $21) is a crowd-pleaser, as is the Pignoli Encrusted Sea Scallops, ($13) which is served with a caponata in a balsamic reduction.
Pierone, who has owned the restaurant for eight years, says he draws a steady crowd. Fresh ingredients and a friendly staff are his keys to success, he says. “We typically fill up, most nights,” he said. “It’s very comfortable and homey.”
The Gourmet Café is open Monday to Friday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. It is open for dinner on Sunday and Monday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Saturday afternoon and Sundays are available for private parties. The cafe can be reached at 973-316-0088.
You might have to look a little harder to find these great finds in Morris, too:
Pure Restaurant, 707 Route 46, Parsippany, (973) 331-7873; www.pureparsippany.com.
For a more elegant dining experience or to host a private event, Pure offers upscale, contemporary American and Asian-inspired dishes in an artful atmosphere. Menu offerings include steak, seafood and sushi. Signature co*cktails draw a following, as do Happy Hour appetizer specials and a popular list of lunch and dinner “starters,” like Thai Chili Buffalo Wings ($7) and Sea Bass and Shrimp Ceviche Tacos ($10).
Lunch entrees range from a sirloin Market Burger ($12) to Yellow Fin Tuna Lettuce Wraps ($14) and Delaware Valley Flat Iron Steak ($22). Dinner is a bit more pricey, but choices include Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass in a Miso sake reduction ($28), New York Strip ($38) and Yuzo Glazed Duck Breast ($18).
The Wine Cellar at Pure is a private dining room accommodating up to 16 guests, or a romantic dinner for two. It also has music control capabilities and can be reserved. Pure’s main Banquet Hall with adjoining outdoor patio can accommodate from 50 to 300 people and its Downtown Room can accommodate up to 95 guests.
Pure is open Monday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. It is open on Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and from 4 to 11 p.m. on Sundays.
The After, 195 Route 206 North, Flanders; (973) 584-6564.
It’s the place to stop after baseball and football games, after the movies, after swim meets... that’s how The After, a char-broil grill and ice cream parlor on Route 206 North in Flanders, got its name. And people have been finding this casual, hidden gem as the place to go after family activities for 45 years.
The restaurant was opened on July 2, 1970. Owner John Davis built it from the ground up, working under the lighting provided by his 1936 Chevy pickup truck’s headlights to get the work done at night, after putting in a full day at his day job.
“We started off with like 15 things on the menu and now we have about 200 things,” said longtime manager Jay Hicks. Davis’ hard work and passion saw the business thrive, Hicks said, from a small one with a gravel lot and a hand-painted sign, to the bustling business it is today. “You should be here at lunch time,” he said. “In the summer, with the kids off from school, it’s busy. It’s fun.”
Everything from burgers, fries, Italian hot dogs, Philadelphia cheese steaks to fried chicken and chicken sandwiches is presented for a reasonable price in a timely fashion. The casual dining room seats 125. Four picnic tables outside and a few smaller tables offer outdoor dining options.
The Four Piece Honey Dipped Chicken served with coleslaw and French fries is $8.50, while various chicken breast sandwiches cost about $5.75, depending on toppings.
Basically, you can get anything on the menu for under $9, and many choices are less than $4, including hot dogs, chili dogs and French fries. Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sundaes and shakes also draw a crowd all year long.
A full breakfast is also served every day, as are homemade soups and chili.
The After is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Nagano Japanese Restaurant, 23 Washington Street, Morristown, (973) 540-9120.
Nagano’s tiny green awning is welcoming, but if you’re looking for spacious and hard-to-miss, this isn’t it. The restaurant is tiny, but is known for its great sushi and all-you-can eat dining options.
You have to walk up a flight of stairs to be greeted by a hostess at Nagano. About 10 people can be accommodated on the second floor and, on the third floor, an additional 15 to 20 may be seated at once.
Traditional Japanese food, fresh sushi and daily specials keep the crowds coming, as well as the all-you-can-eat option, which is $14.95 for lunch and $24.95 for dinner.
Dining room hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Nicole’s Ten, 246 Route 10 West, Randolph, (973) 442-9311; www.NicolesTen.com
Nicole’s Ten features an extensive wine list, handcrafted co*cktails and boasts 24 draft beers and more than 50 craft bottled beers. Reservations are recommended for the Italian restaurant, which features an extensive Small Plate menu, Big Plate menu and desserts.
On the Small Plate menu, the Lobster Mac and Cheese ($12) took a first place prize at a 2013 regional food and wine festival. The Shrimp and Prosciutto Flatbread, ($12) features garlic sautéed shrimp, prosciutto, tomatoes, red onion, roasted red pepper marinara, artichoke, cheddar-jack and aged provolone with Raspberry Caesar-tossed arugula over a crisp flatbread. Big Plate specialties include Root Beer Barrel Ribs ($19) and Filet Mignon ($22).
Side salads ($5 to $7) are available, as are side dishes like Battered Fries ($5), Duck Fat Tater Tots ($6) and Sauteed Day Boat Scallops ($12).
Nicoles Ten is open 4 to 10 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m. and Sunday 5 to 9 p.m.
Charlotte’s Web Inn, 39 West Clinton Street, Dover, (973) 328-9387; www.charlotteswebinn.com.
Once upon a time, the Charlotte’s Web Inn was located on bustling Route 15 in Dover. A major street renovation and the building of a bridge three years ago changed all that. So, now, you have to go a bit out of your way to find it.
The inn has been a favorite family restaurant for 33 years, and has had the same ownership and head chef the whole time. It offers great pub menu, catering menu and extensive dinner offerings. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, Italian specialties, soups and seafood are all featured prominently on either lunch, dinner or pub menus.
Owners Charlotte and Sal Monteleone have adjusted to the new, quieter cul-de-sac atmosphere, but business has definitely suffered because of the change. “We used to be on Route 15 and they chopped it off about three years ago,” Charlotte Monteleone said. “We were on a main drag. When they did this to us, it was quite devastating. We know all about being off the beaten path.”
But word spreads fast when the food is good, so business has been climbing, she said, though many still think the restaurant was closed after the road renovations.
Clams Oraganata ($7.95) is a popular appetizer, as is hot antipasto for one ($9.95). Popular lunch choices include the Hot Corned Beef Sandwich ($8.25) and the Seattle Chicken Sandwich ($8.95), which features chicken breast, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato and an olive basil tapenade mayo on a ciabatta roll.
For dinner, choose from Sole Oreganato ($17.95), or Veal Saltimbocca for ($19.95). Pasta dishes like Fettuccine Alfredo ($13.95) and Homemade Lasagna ($14.95) are also popular choices.
The main dining room in the charming inn seats close to 80, while another 25 may be seated in the pub areas. A second dining room accommodates 24 people for private parties, but is also used as a main dining room.
Charlotte’s Web is open for lunch Tuesday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For dinner, it is open Tuesday to Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. It is also open 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Got an eatery to recommend? Email eabreu@GannettNJ.com
