

That starts with the spicy fresh corn chowder. My advice is to pretend like you’re DJing a wedding and stick to the hits. The menu is so utterly all over the place, all at the same time, you’d think it was a rejected screenplay from the Daniels. There could be a wait, but it’s worth it to be where the action is. Ask for a patio table, and hold your ground among the Burberry, leopard prints and some guy trying to vape inconspicuously from a device the size of a brick. There might be a line to check in, to the annoyance of some more impatient patrons. If you’re there for lunch, and lunch is the time to go, it’ll probably be busy. It makes sense, given the restaurant’s prices. This is the Ivy, after all, and there’s definitely some money in the room, both real and aspirational. There likely will be a stream of big, fancy cars pulling up to the valet, each bigger and fancier than the next, out of which might step a well-dressed family with some extremely bored kids on their phones, or an older couple where the woman is dressed in a red blouse, fuchsia power pants and black heels, or a guy rocking the Adam Sandler look: dressed for a pickup game at the Y but with an unerring confidence that only piles of hidden money can imbue.

No other gnocchi I’ve ever tried can compare to the light and fluffy potato dough and rich pink sauce.On a given afternoon at the Ivy, Richard Irving and Lynn von Kersting’s Robertson Boulevard restaurant, you might see three young women in identical black tops and workout pants taking selfies on the sidewalk, or someone from an old NBC sitcom whose name you can’t quite access before you catch yourself staring. This version of Gnocchi al Sorrento is my all-time favorite gnocchi dish. The gnocchi at Papa Razzi is so amazing that I get it every time I go, even though there are tons of pasta dishes I’m dying to try. Crisp, fresh ingredients top this giant sandwich, and the simple style isn’t overwhelming.

You can sub a side of iron-rich veggies for the fries that this dish normally comes with. My mom went for a classic turkey club sandwich - and was not disappointed. Just make sure to leave room for your entree!Įntree: Tuscan Turkey Club Sandwich with a side of spinach Light and non-greasy, these crispy cheese appetizers start every meal the right way. You’ll intend to split them with everyone at your table, but as soon as you take a bite, you’ll undoubtedly try to hoard them all for yourself. The sophisticated alternative to the more casual mozzarella sticks, Papa Razzi’s Mozarella Fritta is a must-have. Read on to see what I got on my last visit– and what I thought!Īppetizer: Mozzarella Fritta: mozzarella cheese breaded and sauteed with pomodoro sauce Papa Razzi offers up simple recipes cooked in an impeccable manner that will satisfy any post-shopping hunger. This high-quality Italian restaurant, conveniently located in the lower level of the mall, is no food court. And if you’re hungry in a similarly fancy fashion, you should try out Papa Razzi.

If you’re in the mood for something fancy, you should go for a stroll around the glamorous Short Hills Mall.
