I’m a self-taught home-cook sharing my passion for eating, cooking, and all things food.
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All in First Impression
To wrap up our last day in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we visited the downtown shops like the Lancaster Troll Market and the Demuth Museum, before having a wonderful dinner at Plough. Plough is in the Penn Square Marriott and features a modern restaurant serving locally-sourced ingredients. Click to read the full restaurant and travel review of our last day in Lancaster.
After visiting Wheatland, we checked into our accommodations at The Rocky Springs Bed & Breakfast. Then, we headed back to downtown Lancaster for dinner at Annie Bailey's. We dined outside on their patio and had a delicious meal of classic Irish fare. Click to read the full restaurant review, on the blog!
After visiting the Grounds for Sculpture, we decided to visit Rat’s Restaurant in Hamilton, New Jersey for lunch. Featuring a French menu of offerings, multiple dining rooms with bold designs, and outdoor dining in a patio overlooking the Grounds for Sculpture gardens, Rat’s Restaurant delivered a delicious meal. Click to read my full restaurant review of our lunch at Rat’s.
Carlos Mexican Food in Little Falls, New Jersey offers authentic Mexican dishes for amazing prices. We visited on a Friday night and had a great experience in their colorful restaurant. From empanadas, to tacos, and homemade entrees, click to read my first impression restaurant review of Carlos Mexican Food.
After visiting the AKC Museum of the Dog, my boyfriend and I went to Ippudo 5th Avenue for dinner. Our multi-course meal featured made-to-order teriyaki spare ribs, mocktails, and delicious ramen. Click to read my full restaurant review of Ippudo 5th Avenue, on the blog!
After exploring downtown Montclair, my boyfriend and I made a reservation in Upper Montclair to visit SLA Thai. We had an amazing dinner featuring Northern Thai dishes in a bold and beautiful restaurant. Click to read my first impression restaurant review and get my recommendations.
A rainy Friday evening brought us to Tino’s Artisan Pizza Co. in Upper Montclair. This Italian restaurant features local organic ingredients, thin crust pizzas with unique toppings, and other tasty options. Click to read my first impression restaurant review of Tino’s Artisan Pizza Co. in Upper Montclair.
Friday evening in Upper Montclair brought us to Tortas Lokas — a Mexican restaurant serving delicious tacos, massive sandwiches, and other tasty treats. Click to read the full restaurant review of Tortas Lokas and my recommendations when visiting this Upper Montclair restaurant.
We spent a morning in Portsmouth, NH, were we had breakfast at Cup of Joe Cafe and Bar. Then, we explored downtown where we stopped into the Tugboat Alley gift shop, visited the Byrne & Carlson Chocolatier, and Deadwick's Ethereal Emporium before heading back home.
After our stay at North Haven Island, we began the three hour drive to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Along the way, we stopped in Boothbay, Maine to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to see the wooden trolls! After a few hours of exploring the gardens, we made our way to Portsmouth, where we had dinner at The Puddle Dock Restaurant. Click to read the full travel adventures and restaurant review.
We headed to North Haven Island, in Maine to explore the island, stay at Nebo Lodge, and get a 2-hour tour of a working Oyster Farm! I loved the farm tour and had a fantastic dinner at the Nebo Lodge Restaurant. Click to learn more about the things to do on North Haven Island and read the first impression restaurant review of our dinner.
After our afternoon adventures in Rockland, Maine, we decided to stay local to Camden for dinner. With our innkeeper’s recommendations and my own research for the trip, we decided to visit Peter Ott’s for dinner and River Duck Ice Cream for dessert. Check out my full first impression restaurant reviews for these two Camden, Maine businesses.
A three-hour drive from Concord, New Hampshire brought us to Camden, Maine, one of my favorite accommodations and towns to visit during our vacation. We spent the evening of our first day exploring downtown shops before having dinner at The Waterfront Restaurant. Click to read the full travel recap and first impression restaurant review.
We stopped for a late lunch after leaving the Mark Twain House & Museum. We arrived three hours later at The Centennial Hotel in Concord, New Hampshire. We spent the next day with breakfast at Tucker’s before exploring downtown Concord. We visited bookstores, shops, and candy stores to name a few! Click to read the restaurant review and travel recommendations for Concord, New Hampshire.
I don’t often visit Italian restaurants, so on a rainy Saturday evening I was excited to try a new location in Totowa, New Jersey called, Nicola’s Ristorante. With a large interior, great service, and delicious seafood dishes, I’m excited to share my first impression review this week.
The last warm weekend in January, my boyfriend and I decided to visit Pergamino’s Bakery & Café in Boonton, New Jersey. We stopped in for brunch before exploring the nearby antique and tea shops. We had delicious breakfast sandwiches, cappuccinos, and many tasty pastries. Click to read my full first impression review of Pergamino’s Bakery & Café!
I noticed Zorba Greek Eatery in Wayne after visiting the shopping center the week before. My boyfriend and I decided to visit Zorba Greek Eatery on a weeknight to try their gyros. Click to read my full first impression restaurant review of our dinner.
V-Yan Hot Pot and BBQ is a large restaurant in Parsippany, New Jersey off of Route 46. My boyfriend and I visited V-Yan Hot Pot and BBQ on a Monday evening for all you can eat hot pot and BBQ. We tried delicious proteins, vegetables, and dumplings during our meal and had a fun time BBQ-ing our own food. Click to read my full restaurant review and recommendations for hot pot and BBQ at V-Yan.
I was excited to try Paheli Indian Cuisine in Wayne, New Jersey, within the Preakness Shopping Center. This gem of a restaurant may be easily missed, but it is worth stopping to dine in or take out. Click to read my full first impression restaurant review and see what dishes we ordered for dinner.
On a cool Wednesday evening, we went to Tavern 5 in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. I was so excited to try this restaurant, who shares amazing drink creations and new specials on social media. We enjoyed a full meal outside on their outdoor dining patio, where we had beautifully plated appetizers, large entrees, and a delicious dessert. Click to read more about our dinner at Tavern 5!
