Entering Ricci's is a little bizarre... pretty much a square box with tables close together... zero ambiance, but with prices
that low it might not matter. Still it wasn't very comfortable. I went with the Chicken Murphy - a traditional New Jersey classic. The entree came with a salad starter and pasta. My guest went with the Chicken Francaise also with salad and pasta.
The salads arrived in two small wooden bowls... no surprise at
those prices but the greens were shockingly way beyond fresh and belonged in the garbage. It's strange why any place would serve a salad that looked so awful and obviously bad. Uh... Oh... I wanted to get up and leave. When something like this happens, it usually means the place is on its last legs and moments from closing.
I was ruing my decision to come here much less subjecting a guest to my adventure. The Chicken Murphy arrived with hot peppers and guess what... it was good! Not quite the way I like it, because I like
mine with potatoes but the peppers were HOT, whole and very tasty. The chicken was good and nice and tender. I also liked having been given the option of on or off the bone. The Chicken Francaise
was also remarked to be very tasty and satisfying. The pasta
was fair with bland gravy.
The place needs work to be competitive, but it can be. Jamming customers with crummy salads won't do much for anyone's appetite or opinion of a place, so there is major room for improvement there. Fix the gravy and the dining room and Ricci's does stand a fighting chance for survival, but it's going to be tough. Sometimes half the battle is accepting constructive criticism. Are they up to the challenge? They can start by using the $9.95 they saved from me not redeeming my coupon to
buy some fresh greens and focus on the customer. - Jersey Shadow -
Ricci's Restaurant
360 Route 10
East Hanover, NJ 07936
Phone: 973-515-0074
Credit Cards Accepted
Honey Browns - On a cool late fall day I decided to
check out Honey Browns on a suggestion from a friend. As it turns out the
old group from Mamma Tucci's (Since Reinvented As Bona Vita Osteria) has
been busy creating a new place to dine in Summit.
The place is reminiscent of the original Mamma Tucci in
Madison with a small cozy bistro type feel. The menu is
interesting and the prices are outstanding for this part of New Jersey. The
service, as expected, was superior like it has always been at any of their other
restaurants past and present.
I went with the special Broccoli soup which was
outstanding and the Meat Loaf sandwich with homemade
sweet potato chips perfect
for a cool day. Actually, it's pretty clear that all of the food is made
on premises from it's high quality. My guest had an interesting
breakfast - poached eggs with bacon and cheddar cheese
over a southern biscuit, served with home
fries that were outstanding
and superior in flavor.
What was nice at this establishment were breakfast offerings
as well as lunch up until
3:30 when they close to get ready for dinner. The whole check,
with tip, came to
$32 for 2, and this tasty meal left me full for hours. I enjoyed
this place very much and I plan on returning for dinner.
- Jersey Shadow -
Honey Browns
7 Union Place
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-277-1414
Credit Cards Accepted