Tapas Restaurant Coming to Caldwell

Xunta chef cooked in East Village eatery with same name.

After 15 years in New York's East Village (and a stint at Tapastry in Montclair), chef Gonzalo Fernandez is bringing his flair for Spanish food to Caldwell.  Fernandez, along with co-owners Alfonso Meneses and Carmen Mendez, were busy painting and picking colors for their new venture, Xunta, on Thursday afternoon. Located in the former spot of Pasione de Mexico, Xunta, pronounced "SHOON-TA," will serve tapas and feature live Flamenco music, Mendez said.  Mendez grew up in Caldwell and graduated from Mount Saint Dominic Academy. She's back in Jersey after living for many years in Spain. The 50-seat restaurant at 392 Bloomfield Ave. is expected to open in about a month. Read about Xunta Tapas Bar in the East Village in New York Magazine  and…

•  7 Comments
• Photos (4)

Karen Davy

11:38 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013

Hi, Claudia! You're absolutely right! Thanks for sharing!   more ›

Caldwell Musicians Audition for Margaritaville's in AC

Mike Engle and Tony Caggiano tryout for gig at soon-to-open Jimmy Buffett restaurant in Atlantic City.

Hog Wild Serves Up BBQ at Taste of Montclair

Caldwell restaurant among many eateries that participated in Restaurant Week kick-off.

A local eatery was among the more than 30 restaurants and food vendors at the Rotary Club of Montclair's annual Taste of Montclair fundraiser Monday night. Hog Wild BBQ of Caldwell served up tender pulled pork from a whole pig, smoked especially for the event held in University Hall on the campus of Montclair State University. The only decision diners had to make was whether they wanted sweet or tangy barbecue sauce to go with it. Hundreds visited stations set up around the room to try the bite-size portions. Roberta Claps, of Glen Ridge, passed by French, Italian, Greek, Japanese and Ethiopian dishes for seconds of Verona restaurant's Salugo's risotto arancini, miniature rice balls with mozzarella and pancetta. While Claps said she didn’t…

• Photos (15)

The Biz Buzz

Dough More Than Just Another Pizzeria in Caldwell

Chef Ed Simmons realizes dream of opening a farm-to-table restaurant highlighting fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Chef Ed Simmons realized his longtime dream of owning his own farm-to-table restaurant with the opening of Dough Artisan Pizzeria two weeks ago in Caldwell. Simmons' vision included keeping ingredients American, or better yet, local, whenever possible. To that end, he's using hydro-greens from Garden State Urban Farms based in Orange, cheeses shipped from Bobolink Dairy in Milford, chicken and eggs from Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff, and, for dessert, diners can choose from a selection of fresh gelato flavors from Gelotti just up the road in Caldwell. The 36-year-old chef said he spent the last three years working on the dough for his pies, which are prepared in a wood fired brick oven at the Bloomfield Avenue eatery, formerly Rose …

• Photos (6)

Dough to Open in Caldwell in February

Artisan pizza restaurant to take over Rose Mediterranean kitchen.

An artisan pizza restaurant named Dough will be opening in Caldwell this February, according to www.doughnj.com.  Dough takes over the space at 437 Bloomfield Ave., formally occupied by Rose Mediterranean Restaurant, which closed its doors in September. A black awning has been hung on the facade and the windows are papered while the eatery prepares to open. Although there is no shortage of pizzerias in the West Essex area, Dough's pies will be somewhat unique in that they will be brick-oven baked. Be the first to know when Dough opens by liking the Facebook page, which already has more than 200 followers.  Other Recent Business News

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Verona Inn Revamped for New Era of Pub-Goers

Cleveland’s Tap Room owner reintroduces his hometown pub.

For those looking for a cold beer and a good burger, the Verona Inn has been a mainstay just up the road for 65 years.  The popular pub opened its doors in June 1947 on Bloomfield Avenue near the Annin Flag Company and remained there for 62 years. Earlier this year, the Verona Inn moved to its new home at 642 Bloomfield Ave. in the center of town. Let's just say this is not your grandfather's "V.I." Now more than just a pub, the contemporary yet comfortable restaurant and upscale bar manages to maintain a warm, pub feel, striking the perfect balance between old and new. Reopened just a few months ago, the restaurant is “packing them in,” according to owner John MacEvoy, who for the past 20 years owned and operated the business at its …

• Photos (4)

The Biz Buzz

Say Hello to Five Guys

Five Guys Burgers and Fries opens in West Caldwell.

Up until this week, West Essex residents had to travel about five miles to Parsippany to enjoy a Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Now the winner of the Best Burger category in Zagat's Fast Food Survey has a West Caldwell home.  The Sheridans, father Ed and son Patrick, opened the doors of their latest Five Guys restaurant on Monday and so far they said the response from customers has exceeded expectations. "We are very happy to be here," Patrick Sheridan told Patch Friday. "It's been a great first four days." Indeed, by noon Friday, the simple red and white motif restaurant located in the Essex Mall at 895 Bloomfield Ave., was buzzing with diners.  The menu is simple: burgers, hot dogs, and fries, and for non-meat eaters, grilled cheese and …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (7)

Bites Nearby

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Migrates to Newark

Popular New York joint opens for dinner on Market Street Tuesday.

The next big name in barbecue has hatched on Market Street in Newark. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que opened its doors Thursday night for an invitation-only sampling of the authentic southern fare, a New York favorite and soon-to-be talk of the town among Newarkers. The brand new eatery, situated near Mulberry Street and the Prudential Center, specializes in slow-cooked barbecue, from smoky beef brisket to tangy pulled pork and, of course, beef ribs and chicken wings smothered in owner John Stage's special recipe. "It's supposed to pull off (the bone)," he said, debunking a common misconception among rib-eaters. "If it falls off, it's overcooked." Stage is considered one of the best in the barbecue industry after getting his start in 1983 cooking out …

• Photos (9)

You Said It: You Love Your Sushi

Excellent restaurant choices are recommended for Readers' Choice poll.

From one end of Essex County to the other, diners can get a great sushi meal wherever they go. Patch readers weighed in last week and chose their favorite sushi restaurants. The results were as follows: In Montclair, Dai Kichi tops the list for readers’ favorite sushi in town, followed by Toro and then Nori. Dai Kichi at 608 Valley Road in Upper Montclair offers authentic Japanese food and sushi with a classic Japanese ambiance. There is a sushi bar and accommodations for a large group with reservations. The place is great for couples and families and the restaurant now boasts a liquor license.Nori is on Bloomfield Avenue and Toro Sushi in Upper Montclair Plaza. Sakura in Millburn scooped up the top spot in Patch's poll for the best sushi …

• Photos (1)

Spreading St. Patrick's Day Spirit in The Caldwells

Plenty of Irish traditions planned for Wednesday.

What's green on March 17, and lots o' fun? St. Patrick's Day, of course. The Caldwells contain a fair share of Irish folk, honorary and otherwise, and many drink and good times await revelers locally. Top O' The Morning It's just a color, but it's cool: Get the kids some green bagels or bring a few into the office; they're going to be available from many of the local bagel shops, such as Bagel Loft (359 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell), Bagels for You (673 Bloomfield Ave., West Caldwell), Sam's Bagel & Deli (757 Bloomfield Ave., West Caldwell), Manhattan Bagel (764 Bloomfield Ave., West Caldwell) and Hot Bagels and Deli (897 Bloomfield Ave., West Caldwell).  If your "luck of the Irish" is running low, simply grab one of those to-go packs of …

• Photos (6)