CITYSCENE
|
|
>
Nicholas
|
Nicholas is owned by Nicholas Harary (with his wife, Melissa), a guy so avant-garde he's ahead of himself. He is both chef (he entered the C.I.A. at age 15) and sommelier (he held the same post at NYC's four-star Jean Georges by age 25). Now he's all of 28, and critics have dubbed Harary's French-inspired food "Jean Georges on a budget." Some fans trek to this New Jersey burb just for the spectacular cheese selection; others come for the 400-strong wine offerings (150 of which are pinot noirs). Though he's happy to uncork a Henri Jayer 1985 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux for $1,200, Harary also prices 75 bottles under $50. "And you're not going to find these at your local wine shop," he assures. Indeed.
—Anthony Giglio
Nicholas, 160 Rte. 35 South, Middletown, NJ; 732-345-9977.
|
|
>
Restaurant Latour's
|
Lofty moniker is backed up by no less than 45 vintages of Château Latour (1888 to 2001), many in magnum, plus imperials of all five First Growths from 1982-as well as beaucoup Pétrus for good measure. This remote oasis in the Kittany Mountains of western New Jersey may be small in scale (the dining room seats 40), but the immense wine list fills three subterranean cellars that house upwards of 40,000 bottles. Owner Gene Mulvhill hired restaurant consultant John Foy to conceive a restaurant literally built around a mind-blowing inventory that's 45 years in the making. Mission accomplished. There are simply too many Bordeaux châteaux to count and dozens of vintages from Burgundy's Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. From Italy, 60 Super Tuscans. From California, 40 vintages of B.V. Private Reserve, 20 years of Opus One and myriad verticals of Harlan, Marcassin and Grace Family. Oh, the food's terrific and there's golf, too. You have gone to heaven.
—Anthony Giglio
Restaurant Latour, Crystal Springs Country Club, Rte. 94, Hamburg, NJ; 973-827-0548
|
|
|
 |
|