Good lunch on the Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway?
May 12, 2006 7:21 AM Subscribe
Ridiculously Specific Travel Filter: I'm driving from Washington to Hartford on Saturday to visit the family. My well-honed route involves taking the Jersey Turnpike to the Garden State Parkway to 684. I'd like to grab lunch somewhere interesting along the way. Assuming I'm flexible about what time I leave, and I don't want to go too far out of the way -- under 10 miles -- where should I go?
Do you like falafel? Jerusalem Pizza in Highland Park (off Exit 9 of the Turnpike) has excellent falafel, as well as a myriad of other ethnic foods you wouldn't expect to find all in one place.
From here: A few blocks away, at Jerusalem Pizza, the six full-time workers -- who are from Israel, Greece, Mexico, America and Morocco -- serve up Middle Eastern, Italian and Mexican food. Baklava, nachos, sushi and lots of slices of pizza are for sale. And from time to time, the workers also offer up original creations, such as dishes of falafel parmigiana.
posted by amro at 7:46 AM on May 12, 2006
From here: A few blocks away, at Jerusalem Pizza, the six full-time workers -- who are from Israel, Greece, Mexico, America and Morocco -- serve up Middle Eastern, Italian and Mexican food. Baklava, nachos, sushi and lots of slices of pizza are for sale. And from time to time, the workers also offer up original creations, such as dishes of falafel parmigiana.
posted by amro at 7:46 AM on May 12, 2006
If you can wait, like 6 or 7 hours to eat, you'll be passing through Waterbury, CT, where I have had some of the best BBQ I've eaten in the northern half of the country at Uncle Willie's.
Alternately, if you don't want to wait that long, Rutt's Hut, in Clifton, NJ, less than 10 miles off the Garden State Pkwy at exit 151) has the best hot dogs EVER. (Sorry Varsity fans, but it's true.)
posted by dersins at 8:56 AM on May 12, 2006
Alternately, if you don't want to wait that long, Rutt's Hut, in Clifton, NJ, less than 10 miles off the Garden State Pkwy at exit 151) has the best hot dogs EVER. (Sorry Varsity fans, but it's true.)
posted by dersins at 8:56 AM on May 12, 2006
Response by poster: Dersins:
Rutt's Hutt sounds fantastic -- can't wait to check it out.
If you're in Connecticut frequently and liked Uncle Willie's, check out Little Taste of Texas in South Windsor. Their ribs bring tears to my eyes.
posted by jed at 11:12 AM on May 12, 2006
Rutt's Hutt sounds fantastic -- can't wait to check it out.
If you're in Connecticut frequently and liked Uncle Willie's, check out Little Taste of Texas in South Windsor. Their ribs bring tears to my eyes.
posted by jed at 11:12 AM on May 12, 2006
In New Jersey, exit 145 off the GSP is route 280 (and my home turf).
A. Take 280 eastbound to exit 8B (4 mi) for Pals Cabin, a busy local restaurant dating to the 1930s. Great salads, mushroom soup, and according to my father the best chicken pot pie he's ever tasted. Or try the Redwood sandwich, my personal favorite. It's 100 yards past the off-ramp, a 5-minute detour off the Parkway.
B. Take 280 wesbound to exit 16 (4 mi) to Harrison and hang a right at the second light for the Spanish Pavillion, an old-school Spanish restaurant that has been around since the 1960s. Probably better for dinner than for lunch, though.
Dammit, now I want a Redwood.
posted by werty at 1:05 PM on May 12, 2006
A. Take 280 eastbound to exit 8B (4 mi) for Pals Cabin, a busy local restaurant dating to the 1930s. Great salads, mushroom soup, and according to my father the best chicken pot pie he's ever tasted. Or try the Redwood sandwich, my personal favorite. It's 100 yards past the off-ramp, a 5-minute detour off the Parkway.
B. Take 280 wesbound to exit 16 (4 mi) to Harrison and hang a right at the second light for the Spanish Pavillion, an old-school Spanish restaurant that has been around since the 1960s. Probably better for dinner than for lunch, though.
Dammit, now I want a Redwood.
posted by werty at 1:05 PM on May 12, 2006
From the Garden State Parkway taxe exit 155 to Hazel Street in Paterson. Make a left.
Keep going straight and you'll see Toros on your left after about 1/2 a mile. This is widely considered the best Turkish restaurant in New Jersey. $15-$25/person.
posted by exhilaration at 2:05 PM on May 12, 2006
Keep going straight and you'll see Toros on your left after about 1/2 a mile. This is widely considered the best Turkish restaurant in New Jersey. $15-$25/person.
posted by exhilaration at 2:05 PM on May 12, 2006
I used to work at a rest stop on exit 1 of the Jersey turnpike.
If you stop at any Jersey turnpike rest stop, say you're a "Road Warrior" but you've lost your card. It will save you 15% off of your meal.
posted by Blandanomics at 5:56 PM on May 12, 2006
If you stop at any Jersey turnpike rest stop, say you're a "Road Warrior" but you've lost your card. It will save you 15% off of your meal.
posted by Blandanomics at 5:56 PM on May 12, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by xsquared-1 at 7:44 AM on May 12, 2006