119 Morris Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
Morris County
Phone: (973) 539-5878
Fax: (973) 326-9862
Website: no website on fileEmail: no email on fileHours: unknown
Pete's Pizzeria & Pub - About Us
No Description Available for Pete's Pizzeria & Pub.
Website Description and Information
No Website Description Available for Pete's Pizzeria & Pub.
by Michael U. on I began the slow walk across Philadelphia en route to the final dinner of my gastronomic tour-according to Phillymag I'd be visiting the city's best restaurant a mere two hours later. Having never really been a fan of Middle Eastern food in the past I have to admit that my visit to Washington DC had done a lot to place Zahav on my list of "must eat" places for the trip-both Zaytinya and more so Komi had impressed my palate and dining sensibilities. Calling and e-mailing the restaurant a month in advance I will say that Jilian was one of the most helpful concierge in the city. Entering the space it was surprisingly large-the bar to the right, kitchen to the left, high ceilings and well spaced tables. Decorated darkly and sparsely in sandstone and splotches of stained glass with acceptable kitchen noise and what I can only assume to be "Middle Eastern" music playing overhead the restaurant definitely conveyed a cohesive theme and the bar was packed. Seated I would next be greeted by my server and the Maitre D' who introduced himself and said "So, you're the guy who wants to try the lamb shoulder solo? No one has ever ordered it alone before, y'know?" Chuckling I did indeed confirm that I was the guy who'd asked Jilian if this was allowable-the rave reviews just seemed too good to ignore. At this point I feel the need to divert my review for a moment in explanation. When I originally contacted Jilian I explained to her that I wanted to try the lamb, but if that prevented me from getting multiple rounds of mezze then I'd prefer go the small plates route, especially in the setting of the new seasonal tasting menu. I specifically told her the sweetbreads, crispy haloumi, and "The Hungarian" were dished I'd be interested in trying. Additionally, when I spoke to the Maitre D' I again expressed my desire to taste "as many different things as I could" to which I received the response "I think you'll be tasting about 90% of what we do this evening." Arriving next on the table and sharing space with the pickles and spices would be the oft raved Hummus-tehina with sesame paste, garlic, lemon, olive oil, cumin, parsley and house made laffa bread. Teaming with spice, most notably cumin, and smooth as silk save for the occasional chunky chick pea the hummus was fantastic. Crispy and mildly charred the laffa was a solid example, but not in the same ballpark as the light-as-air version at Komi. The next dish, costing $24 on the standard menu, yet included in the $42 Mesibah would be the sampling of Salatim. A rotating selection of eight salads my selections seemed similar to those mentioned by previous friends and gourmands with a few unique items; smoked eggplant, stewed okra, beets with tahini, pickled wax beans, shredded carrots and jalapeño, Israeli salad, spiced fennel, and tabouleh. While no option was bad, the shredded carrots were quite unique and the stewed okra and smoked eggplant were both fantastic. Skipping over the Mezze (see blog for details) the Maitre d' himself would present The Whole- roasted lamb shoulder with pomegranate and chickpeas. I will have to admit I was surprised when the shoulder arrived-not just because I hadn't gotten any of the other mezze I desired, but because I figured they'd scale the course down for one person- they did not. Perched atop a bed of Egyptian rice and sweet, savory, and crunchy chickpeas the shoulder was enormous, flawlessly executed, and decadent. Crisp skin - salty and savory - yielded a thick layer of fat and unctuous supple flesh that literally melted in the mouth. Eating slowly and pairing the protein with the saffron perfumed rice and chunky chick peas there was not a doubt in my mind that the lamb trumped Amada's pig in terms of skilled preparation and flavor. Setting aside fat and bone and focusing on protein over carbs I actually managed the whole shoulder with ease-seemingly to the amusement and shock of the diners around me and the maitre d'. So shocking, apparently, was my accomplishment that the Maitre D' brought Chef Solomonov over to my table to introduce us and after a long chat about the Philadelphia dining scene, his former employer Marc Vetri, and the film "The Great Outdoors" he said "You know, you're the first person to ever eat that solo-with the blond hair and an appetite like that you're like a Viking!" Viking tendencies aside I declined to have the fat, bone, and small amount of rice packed up to go - I instead sat and enjoyed a cup of dark and nutty coffee while I awaited my dessert, the house special Halvah mousse with blueberry puree and chickpea praline. Similar in texture to the sublime budino at Osteria the day before the "parfait" was served in a glass with layers of texturally complex custardy mousse intermingling with New Jersey blueberry puree and topped with a chickpea praline that bordered between corn-nut and pop rocks in texture; a fantastic dessert with plenty of character and balance.
by Scott C. on My girlfriend and I, visiting Philly for the first time, popped in here on a friend's recommendation. Quite tasty! As a fun comfort food spot, the joint seems like a really fun place. I think that's the operative word here: fun. First off, hats off to the decor. Managing to evoke a mid-scale family restaurant of the 1960s is, well, specific, but it's pulled off admirably. Second, the service. Focused, fun and friendly. Our server was very helpful, and we followed his suggestions. Kofta and sesame spinach for small plates, teriyaki filet mignon and lobster mac and chee for big plates, a Buzz Aldrin and a Sapphire gimlet, and the blond bombshell for dessert. Reading some of the reviews, I don't quite know why people thought the food wasn't worth the money. Obviously the menu aims for a higher-end and modernized replication of classic American comfort food, as well as additions of other cuisine's versions of it. Is it the best-tasting food ever? No, but it's not aiming to be. Everything was tasty and delicious, and we both enjoyed the unpretentiousness of the meal. It didn't blow us away, but it was exactly what the expectations of the restaurant made it out to be. Most importantly, though, was that this was one of most genuinely fun dining experiences I've had in a long, long time. Maybe ever! What this place has in abundance is charm. (All hail the swing chairs! Honestly, reading some of the reviews here, I have to wonder just how un-fun people are. Swing chairs, people!) It's a great experience, and I know that if I'm ever craving a quick bite in Center City, this will be one of my top options.
