Find great food for under $15.
AROUND RUTHERFORD
Each month, I try to find a cool business to profile along with my food picks. Walking around Rutherford, I was considering a large wine shop and an expansive magic and costume rental store. But then I decided to step out of my comfort zone and stepped into Nail Plaza. The closest I've come to a nail salon is watching my wife enter one. So I didn't know what to expect when I opted for a pedicure. I enjoyed the luxurious massage chair and soaking my feet in a whirlpool filled with neon blue liquid. The woman doing my pedicure was named Rosa, and she couldn't have been nicer or more efficient. When it was all over, my feet looked impeccable and the experience was something I'd consider doing again. Plus, no one laughed at me. Pedicure, $25.
Nail Plaza50 Park Ave., No. 1
(201) 964-0785
If you're in Rutherford and looking for entertainment, you can't fight the gravitational pull of the Meadowlands in neighboring East Rutherford. If the racetrack and stadium aren't enough to pull you in, at some point, you'll be confronted with a force known as the American Dream Meadowlands (formerly Xanadu). The giant shopping and entertainment complex remains under construction, but is scheduled to open in 2018.
Rutherford was originally spelled "Rutherfurd." The borough was named after John Rutherfurd, a U.S. senator who owned much of the land in the area. In the 1870s, the spelling was changed to "Rutherford," but there is no official account of why the modification was made.
RUTHERFORD is a small borough in southern Bergen County. With a bustling downtown commercial district and a location that is just 3 miles from the Meadowlands Sports Complex, this is an ideal place to visit before attending a game or concert at MetLife Stadium.
To get to Rutherford, take Route 17 to Summit Cross. Travel northeast to Park Avenue and turn left.
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Rutherford Pancake House | 40 Park Ave. | (201) 340-4171 | rutherfordpancakehouse.com
This homey, local eatery in the center of the borough has the feel of a small diner, serving only breakfast and lunch. Using fresh, high-quality ingredients makes the food better than what's being served in many diners across the state. I chose the French toast for two reasons. First, it is made with homemade challah. Second, and most importantly, they offer real maple syrup for an additional charge. I don't consider myself a food snob, but I truly hate fake "pancake syrup" and have a compulsive need to support any place that has real maple syrup on the menu. I chose fresh strawberries to top it off and had myself a plate of breakfast bliss. French toast, $5.99; real maple syrup, $1.99.
Mambo Tea House | 98 Park Ave. | (201) 933-1262 | mamboteahousenj.com
A cute restaurant that straddles the line between festive and formal, Mambo Tea House is a local favorite and a great spot for Cuban fare. With leather banquettes, bamboo decor and Cuban music playing at just the right volume, this restaurant is supremely comfortable and pleasant. Dinner will cost you well above our $15 limit, but at lunchtime, you have many options. I chose masitas de cerdo, a dish of lightly fried chunks of pork with a delicious and garlicky mojo sauce. Served with black beans and rice, this dish was superb. I would happily go back to try other selections. Vegetarians would find the menu challenging, however, since there are few meatless options. Mambo is a carnivore's restaurant. Masitas de cerdo, $13.50.
Erie Coffeeshop & Bakery | 10 Franklin Place | (201) 460-0073 | eatdrinkerie.com
This little bakery, on a quiet side street, had me from the moment I walked in the door. "What Goes On," by the Velvet Underground, was playing and the woman behind the counter asked if I'd like a cup of coffee while I figured out what to order. Added to the smell of butter in the air, how could I not love this place? After looking around, I chose the stone fruit bread pudding and a shot of espresso. Both were sublime. The brioche bread pudding -- packed with cherries, apricots, plums and peaches -- is one of the best I've had. The coffee, syrupy and rich, is from Cafe Grumpy in Brooklyn. The menu changes frequently, so check the website or call. Or, grab anything. It all looks fantastic. Bread pudding, $3.75; espresso, $2.75.
Boom Boom Chicken | 36 Park Ave. | (201) 438-1124 | boomboomchicken.net
The appeal of Korean fried chicken is its thin, crispy skin. This is achieved by frying the chicken, shaking off the excess coating and frying it again. A very light amount of sauce is added at the end and, at Boom Boom Chicken, your choices are mild and hot. Both live up to their names -- the mild is a little sweet and the hot brings heat, but not too much. The lunch special is a great deal, not only because of the price, but because it's ready in less than half the usual time. All chicken is made to order and normally takes 25 minutes. However, the lunch special is prepped and ready in 10 minutes. If you are ordering anything else, call ahead. Lunch special (chicken, fries and salad), $8.
Ice Cream Charlie's | 200 Park Ave. | (201) 939-8133 | icecreamcharlies.net
This is a quintessential suburban shop that makes its own ice cream. It's no fun going to small-town ice cream parlors that serve commercial brands you can find anywhere. After sampling a couple of flavors, I decided on a banana chunk hot fudge sundae. The banana ice cream is amazing, made with fresh bananas. So, there's no sickeningly sweet, artificial taste -- just bananas, sugar, cream and dark chocolate chunks. The hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry were all standard (and there's nothing wrong with that), but the ice cream is well above average. The staff is very friendly, something I always notice at ice cream parlors because scooping ice cream seems like a demanding job. So, remember to tip these people well. Hot fudge sundae, $5.23.
Email Mike Lustig with your favorite town or eatery at MLustigEats@gmail.com.