Toast Montclair

Do you like your toast with a cheers or nice and warm with melted butter (yum!)?

I like both, but it's a whole different world of fun at Toast in Montclair, NJ.

Forget the chain restaurants and diners, because you won't get any cookie cutter breakfast, lunch, or brunch here at Toast. Completely unaware of what I was about to find, I recently joined a friend for a long overdue brunch at a place simply picked due to its convenient location and positive Yelp reviews for Red Velvet Pancakes. The name alone provides an air of trendiness and fluff, but needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.  

Cute outdoor seating set the scene, and I didn't even take a step indoors. Chai lattes, cappuccinos, bella nutella (french toast stuffed with nutella), and to-die-for red velvet pancakes made Toast a rare 4 star rating on my list of places to feast in NJ.Prices are moderate - not cheap, but not expensive. Definitely take a look at the menu online before going.

Suzi Cakes

Many a bakery has opened on Main Street Boonton, and most have failed. So who knew that a new cute little bakery has been there for a while? Suzi Cakes is clearly easy to miss if you haven't heard of it. I stopped in based on a friend's recommendation, and discovered that Suzi Cakes provides a limited variety of cupcakes, cheesecakes, and cookies.

I had the Cannoli Cupcake, which was OK but not great. It might have been the result of the cold refrigeration, but the cupcake didn't seem super fresh. Still, the flavors were OK and it was a nice little treat that you can't find elsewhere in the area. I also saw a great decorated cake and was told that they can do customized cakes that are pre-ordered.

Prices were decent with each cupcake ringing in at about $2.75... about a dollar less than a Crumbs Cupcake. I hope that business picks up so Suzi Cakes will start to provide a bigger variety of sugary goodness.

Green Rock Tap & Grill

Hoboken is known for its hotspots and incredible nightlife, but for those with casual tastes and tighter budgets it just doesn't have the same appeal. That's why the Green Rock is a rare find in a yuppie town like Hoboken.

To be fair, I feel like I must start this review by being brutally honest. The bar isn't the nicest of venues. It has that odor of old wood that has been marinated in gallons of cheap beer, most likely the result of hundreds of spilled $1 drafts... but I digress. The bar has some tight spaces, and it can be ridiculously difficult to maneuver through the crowd . Also, the ladies room is tiny and is one of the worst that I have ever seen.

Yet the Green Rock does have some redeeming qualities. Most importantly, some fantastic deals. I have only been for happy hour on a Thursday night (actually, make that several Thursday nights) and have enjoyed the $1 drafts from 5-8, at which point the drafts increase to a shockingly high price of $2 a pint. On Thursdays you can also find a 2 for 1 appetizer deal that helps to make it a cheap night out.

If you like the fancy trendy bars and clubs, you will hate the Green Rock. But if you're a fun, go with the flow type of person, give it a shot.