Can the downtown area fit another 18 restuarants, on top of the existing handful already in business? Consultants that put together the Rahway Survey think so.
Tag Archives: restaurants
Restaurants would draw us downtown
Casual, upscale dining garnered the highest consistent interest among four categories of respondents to the Rahway Survey. Opinions were more varied among other retail choices.
Bachmann’s begins demolition
Maybe there’s something about this time of year that makes people want to knock stuff down.
Cubanu gets 2 1/2 stars
Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. Rest assured we’re getting back in the swing here working on some updates for the coming week.
In the meantime, check out this review last week in where Cubanu received 2 1/2 stars from The Star-Ledger’s food critic.
This was our take last year when the restaurant opened. We’ve been back a few times and our opinion probably hasn’t changed much; it’s still a solid visit, but we’d agree with some commenters that service can be spotty at times for dinner, though the drinks and bar area can be a great visit. I’ve heard the busiest night tends to be Thursday for the free salsa lessons and dancing.
From West Scott to East Cherry
East Cherry Street will be getting “Just A Little Healthier” when the eatery moves in to replace a former soul food establishment by late August or early September.
Whether it becomes a second location or relocates from its current West Scott Avenue digs is “still up in the air,” owner/founder Ron Livingston said in a telephone interview last week.
Just A Little Healthier opened at 228 W. Scott Ave. about a year-and-a-half ago, focusing on low-fat, low-carb offerings and even got a write-up in The New York Times last October. Livingston said the location at 95 E. Cherry St. opened up some time after he started looking into a downtown space, and signed a five-year lease.
Half of Sky View units under contract
More than half of the 209 condominium units at Sky View at Carriage City Plaza are under contract with the first 30 expected to close this month and the rest by the end of August, according to representatives of Silcon Group.
Three stars for Luciano’s
Luciano’s received three stars in a review featured in Friday’s Star-Ledger, and had a few interesting things to say about Rahway as well: “If you haven’t found yourself in Rahway recently, you’ll be surprised by the ever-increasing reasons to go. This is a city on a quest to become a vibrant community, full of urban artists and commuters, with all the energy that entails. It stands to reason, then, that the restaurant scene would enjoy an invigorating renaissance as well.”
Owner Michael Merlis is also quoted: “Merlis expects even more people to re-discover the town and sit at one of the tables that not so recently would have been in a vacant lot. ‘They can’t believe they’re in Rahway.'” Hmm, where have I heard that before?
New eatery targets July opening
The Original Nile Restaurant will replace the former Back Porch Bar and Grille, with plans to open by the start of next month. Hassana Kaba, an area Realtor and former River Place resident, owns the restaurant with her husband and is hoping to have all inspections, permits, etc., completed by July 1.
Kaba, whose parents owned The Nile Restaurant in Elizabeth many years ago, described the fare as southern-style “comfort food,” soul food and general American cuisine with random specials. She’s hoping to have the outdoor seating on the deck available for the grand opening, though the restaurant won’t being serving alcohol (the previous tenant still holds the liquor license, from what I understand).
[Thanks to reader “nomad” for the photo above]