A few NB photos

[Jonny S]

Just visited for the first time in a few months. One that I forgot to take - apparently White Rose on Easton has closed already. That was fast. I was in the minority there - I hate the Highland Park location, and figured that they wouldn't survive without a captive audience. They're a generic grill place now.

I noticed BurgerFi closed too which does not surprise me (third rate Shake Shack ripoff), although for NB's sake I want that spot to do well. The empty Extreme storefront also remains a huge eyesore.

Here's Esquina Latina, a new upscale-ish Latin restaurant located where there used to be some weird club that I never went to. It's on Liberty behind the old Radio Shack.

This is the latest on the Matrix construction. Seems to be coming along.

The new Ethiopian place, located in that horrible location on Albany where the creperie used to be. There are two new crepe places on Easton, so I guess that's the new fad after froyo and burgers?

Speaking of Ethiopian, I got a few pics of the Dillinger Room, which replaced the old Makeda. I like the vibe in there, which is similar to the George St. Ale House (which has quietly changed its name.) GSAH in my opinion was a good bar but their menu was way too ambitious to pull off and the quality suffered as a result. When I went to Dillinger for lunch and saw the short menu, I was so happy! Then I ordered and it was wildly disappointing. Speaking of Garden State Ale House, the name change might be because they are franchising.

One disappointing thing was that new taco place where BarnDoore used to be isn't open yet. I also stopped by Key Food again - my thoughts from earlier in the year still hold, but they do look to have slightly tidied up the place from the chaos from when it first opened.

Overall, I'm still very disappointed in the vacancy rate. Extreme, BurgerFi, TopIt, the old Hansel on Church, Muscle Maker Grill, Taste/Salad Works, The Panini Place (that's been closed for years!), Red Mango, Kaati Zone, and Tangerine Grill all vacant. And needless to say, still desperately waiting for Ferren to be torn down.

 

[PeteGiam07]

Went to Dillinger Room and met the owner... Nice guy, he openly admitted he is a Hipster and wanted to bring a Hipster vibe to NB and hopes it will be a new trend. He compared his goal to be like Asbury Park. He said he is going to have seasonal food menus.

Stayed for a couple drinks and split a dessert with the GF. GF ordered some Pinapple drink that had a special cup. Owner told us the cups are so rare and expensive he charges a deposit when you order it to keep people from stealing it (He was the only one that told us there was a deposit,bartender never mentioned this). Good thing I checked the check before I paid because they tried to charge me $115 for the drink since the deposit is $100! yea the drink she order was $15, a bit pricey but it lasted a while. The drinks were strong and different, the bartenders do a great job of making them. It was way too dark at night, the blue walls need some accent walls of a different color. Every wall in that place is a dark blue.

 

[Upstream]

GF ordered some Pinapple drink that had a special cup. Owner told us the cups are so rare and expensive he charges a deposit when you order it to keep people from stealing it (He was the only one that told us there was a deposit,bartender never mentioned this). Good thing I checked the check before I paid because they tried to charge me $115 for the drink since the deposit is $100!

They don't think that's going to piss people off?

 

[Korbermeister]

Went to Dillinger Room and met the owner... Nice guy, he openly admitted he is a Hipster and wanted to bring a Hipster vibe to NB and hopes it will be a new trend. He compared his goal to be like Asbury Park. He said he is going to have seasonal food menus.

Stayed for a couple drinks and split a dessert with the GF. GF ordered some Pinapple drink that had a special cup. Owner told us the cups are so rare and expensive he charges a deposit when you order it to keep people from stealing it (He was the only one that told us there was a deposit,bartender never mentioned this). Good thing I checked the check before I paid because they tried to charge me $115 for the drink since the deposit is $100! yea the drink she order was $15, a bit pricey but it lasted a while. The drinks were strong and different, the bartenders do a great job of making them. It was way too dark at night, the blue walls need some accent walls of a different color. Every wall in that place is a dark blue.

The interesting thing about the Dillinger Room is that the lack of TVs and drab wall decor forces your u to engage with your companions (or your mobile); there's literally nothing to look at that's interesting in that space

 

[PeteGiam07]

The interesting thing about the Dillinger Room is that the lack of TVs and drab wall decor forces your u to engage with your companions (or your mobile); there's literally nothing to look at that's interesting in that space

Yes we noticed that, it gives it the vibe they are looking for in terms of atmosphere.

Its all about business though if the plan works for them, id be happy for them. I would of loved have a game on to watch while i was there. Nothing fancy, just maybe a couple of tvs like INC did...

I think they are missing out on some usable space for dinning but im sure they can add more tables if business picks up.

 

[Korbermeister]

Yes we noticed that, it gives it the vibe they are looking for in terms of atmosphere.

Its all about business though if the plan works for them, id be happy for them. I would of loved have a game on to watch while i was there. Nothing fancy, just maybe a couple of tvs like INC did...

I think they are missing out on some usable space for dinning but im sure they can add more tables if business picks up.

The name Dillinger evokes images of the Wild West and in keeping with that image, I envisioned a game of cards and raucous laughter emanating from the back room. alas, there were just a few tables and a couple quietly eating back there. And where were the swing-doors??

 

[Upstream]

The name Dillinger evokes images of the Wild West

I think you're envisioning someone else. John Dillinger was a depression-era Chicago-area gangster.

 

[Korbermeister]

Lo

I think you're envisioning someone else. John Dillinger was a depression-era Chicago-area gangster.

Wild West, Chicago, Dillinger... (Someone help me out here...) :smiley:

 

[retired711]

Think speakeasies and the old TV series "The Untouchables" and the St. Valentine's Day massacre . . .

 

[mal359]

Please don't ruin NB like Asbury Park.

 

[DosCoreys]

Please don't ruin NB like Asbury Park.

My first thought was to vehemently disagree with you given AP's remarkable resurgence but I'm interested to hear your take on how it's been "ruined." Every time I'm there I wish George St. could look / feel a little more like Cookman Ave.

 

[PeteGiam07]

My first thought was to vehemently disagree with you given AP's remarkable resurgence but I'm interested to hear your take on how it's been "ruined." Every time I'm there I wish George St. could look / feel a little more like Cookman Ave.

I think he means the hipster vibe...

I was turned off a bit when the owner said that to me. Like i said if he pulls it off good for him, but i can see that type of crowd not fitting in too well in NB.

People werenr sticking around too long when i was in there. It is pricey to target a young crowd.

 

[e5fdny]

Just visited for the first time in a few months. One that I forgot to take - apparently White Rose on Easton has closed already. That was fast. I was in the minority there - I hate the Highland Park location, and figured that they wouldn't survive without a captive audience. They're a generic grill place now.

For what a lot of you want the Hub City to look like going forward the System fits right where it belongs on 27 in Highland Park. And not in NB.

 

[lawmatt78]

Thanks for posting the pics...

The food scene in NB could actually use a hipster infusion. (I can't believe I am saying this...) It's long been a somewhat sterile mix of upscale places for theater-goers, mediocre/boring places, and stuff aimed at college kids. That's not to say that it was bad, overall. I liked a bunch of places in NB. But you simply weren't seeing the kind of casual-yet-ambitious places that attract food-savvy people - especially younger ones - that you would in a bigger city. Dillinger Room might be a nice addition - or it might be trying too hard. But at least it's something different and a bit less safe in NB.