The Diverse Tastes of Englewood
January 11, 2008 Filed in: City Life
Englewood is one of the most diverse towns in all of
Bergen County and its food shows it. Below we've
listed some of our city's very best. Please write us
with your own favorites. In the meantime, here are
some of ours:
• Varsha Foods (Indian) 10-12 Humphrey St.
Owned by locals Paul and Bhavna Chhabria, this store is a marvel of exotic spices, fresh foods, sweets and treats, Indian movies and music as well as incredible, inexpensive frozen foods that can make the usual dinner a quick gourmet feast. The owners are happy to consult and lead you to new food experiences. Just browsing through the spices and merchandise in this store is enlightening.
• Zeytinia Fine Food Marketplace (Whole Foods meets Zabars) 10 W. Palisade Ave
This incredible addition to downtown Englewood means that we have both Jerry's (see below) at the south end of town and Zeytinia's at the center. From truffle oil to fabulous prepared food to the best fresh fish and meat, you can get what you didn't even know you needed at this extraordinary store. With an amazing self-service cold buffet that you can eat on the premises, quality fast food was never this good. Not to be missed.
• Broadway Cafe (Colombian coffee, pastries and more) 85 W. Palisade Ave
Luis Grajales' cafe is a bright, cheery hangout. With coffee and a dizzying array of homemade pastries, empanadas and more, this gives Englewoodians a real taste of the best in Colombian hospitality and energy. The staff is great and the Boss is there to make sure it all keeps humming. See if you can resist taking a large bag of pastries home. I dare you.
• Balthazar Bakery (The Mother of All Bakeries) 214 South Dean
Hand-crafted baked goods are made for Keith McNally's famous Paris-inspired brasserie in Manhattan. Get the goods before he does right here on Dean St. With Balthazar Bakery, you can jump to the head of the line.
• Central City Coffee (The Best Cup of Joe in the City) 39 E. Palisade
If Starbucks coffee is a Buick, Kenny's place is a Cadillac. Manhattan, stand aside. CCC is a jam-packed magazine/candy stand/coffee palace. You won't lack for things to browse or conversations to have, as you never know who you'll bump into while getting the best cup of coffee in town.
• Jerry's Gourmet (Zabars meets Balducci's) 410 S. Dean
If you haven't gone there, don't ask....just go. At crowded times it might be an adventure to park, but it is always worth the trip. The best sandwiches and prepared foods imaginable. Pick up your lunch or dinner. Jerry's has an amazing array of cheeses, oils, vinegars and Italian specialties. Cheap and expensive exotic food and wine everywhere. Chocolate, beauty supplies, vodkas you've never heard of...whatta joint! If they don't have it, you might not need it.
• La Cumbia (Colombian diner) 2 W. Palisade Ave at the RR crossing.
Order "la paisita" (6 bucks) and see if you can finish it. The most reasonably priced great food in town, it looks like a humble diner but has superb fare. Take home the ribs, the chicken, the tripe soup, the... we could go on. But a feast at well under 10 bucks a head is worth shouting about. And their rice and beans are outrageous and the portions are huge! Added bonus: the friendly staff will help you with your Spanish. The lesson is free.
• Ruthie Mae's (Authentic Soul Food) 90 W. Palisade Ave on Armory St.
Bless you, owner Carl Redding! We've been needing this and now we have it. From waffles, grits, beans, ribs, chicken, chitlins, collard greens and more, Ruthie Mae's delivers the goods. With BergenPAC and Ruthie Mae's, we have the Apollo Experience right here in Englewood. The friendly and attentive staff makes sitting down or taking out a welcoming experience.
• Han Ah Reum (Korean SuperStore) 25 Lafayette Ave
Anthony Bourdain, world famous food adventurer and Dwight Englewood alum, would have a field day here. See the familiar and unfamiliar, as you wander the aisles and take in the scene. The fish department alone is worth the trip. The ultimate travel experience without the airfare. Parking is easy and accessible on Lafayette, the street with the Lukoil station at the monument.
• Varsha Foods (Indian) 10-12 Humphrey St.
Owned by locals Paul and Bhavna Chhabria, this store is a marvel of exotic spices, fresh foods, sweets and treats, Indian movies and music as well as incredible, inexpensive frozen foods that can make the usual dinner a quick gourmet feast. The owners are happy to consult and lead you to new food experiences. Just browsing through the spices and merchandise in this store is enlightening.
• Zeytinia Fine Food Marketplace (Whole Foods meets Zabars) 10 W. Palisade Ave
This incredible addition to downtown Englewood means that we have both Jerry's (see below) at the south end of town and Zeytinia's at the center. From truffle oil to fabulous prepared food to the best fresh fish and meat, you can get what you didn't even know you needed at this extraordinary store. With an amazing self-service cold buffet that you can eat on the premises, quality fast food was never this good. Not to be missed.
• Broadway Cafe (Colombian coffee, pastries and more) 85 W. Palisade Ave
Luis Grajales' cafe is a bright, cheery hangout. With coffee and a dizzying array of homemade pastries, empanadas and more, this gives Englewoodians a real taste of the best in Colombian hospitality and energy. The staff is great and the Boss is there to make sure it all keeps humming. See if you can resist taking a large bag of pastries home. I dare you.
• Balthazar Bakery (The Mother of All Bakeries) 214 South Dean
Hand-crafted baked goods are made for Keith McNally's famous Paris-inspired brasserie in Manhattan. Get the goods before he does right here on Dean St. With Balthazar Bakery, you can jump to the head of the line.
• Central City Coffee (The Best Cup of Joe in the City) 39 E. Palisade
If Starbucks coffee is a Buick, Kenny's place is a Cadillac. Manhattan, stand aside. CCC is a jam-packed magazine/candy stand/coffee palace. You won't lack for things to browse or conversations to have, as you never know who you'll bump into while getting the best cup of coffee in town.
• Jerry's Gourmet (Zabars meets Balducci's) 410 S. Dean
If you haven't gone there, don't ask....just go. At crowded times it might be an adventure to park, but it is always worth the trip. The best sandwiches and prepared foods imaginable. Pick up your lunch or dinner. Jerry's has an amazing array of cheeses, oils, vinegars and Italian specialties. Cheap and expensive exotic food and wine everywhere. Chocolate, beauty supplies, vodkas you've never heard of...whatta joint! If they don't have it, you might not need it.
• La Cumbia (Colombian diner) 2 W. Palisade Ave at the RR crossing.
Order "la paisita" (6 bucks) and see if you can finish it. The most reasonably priced great food in town, it looks like a humble diner but has superb fare. Take home the ribs, the chicken, the tripe soup, the... we could go on. But a feast at well under 10 bucks a head is worth shouting about. And their rice and beans are outrageous and the portions are huge! Added bonus: the friendly staff will help you with your Spanish. The lesson is free.
• Ruthie Mae's (Authentic Soul Food) 90 W. Palisade Ave on Armory St.
Bless you, owner Carl Redding! We've been needing this and now we have it. From waffles, grits, beans, ribs, chicken, chitlins, collard greens and more, Ruthie Mae's delivers the goods. With BergenPAC and Ruthie Mae's, we have the Apollo Experience right here in Englewood. The friendly and attentive staff makes sitting down or taking out a welcoming experience.
• Han Ah Reum (Korean SuperStore) 25 Lafayette Ave
Anthony Bourdain, world famous food adventurer and Dwight Englewood alum, would have a field day here. See the familiar and unfamiliar, as you wander the aisles and take in the scene. The fish department alone is worth the trip. The ultimate travel experience without the airfare. Parking is easy and accessible on Lafayette, the street with the Lukoil station at the monument.
