February - March 2002 Edition

Fair Lawn's Favorite Foods   As part of our December 2001 edition, Fair Lawn News readers cast votes for their favorite Fair Lawn pizza, bagels and restaurants.  As we tallied 600 votes, we learned that there were many factors behind the votes.  Customers appreciate a smile and a 'Good Morning' with their bagel.  They like it when the waitress remembers their names.  Service is critical; it makes people loyal to the waiters, cooks, and owners.     Of course, no bagel, pizza or restaurant would have been voted Fair Lawn's Favorite Food if it didn't serve great food.  John of John's Pizza told us his simple secret - You have to use the best materials (cheese and sauce) and know what you're doing.   After carefully reviewing the vote totals, we have declared seven winners:  two favorite pizzerias, two favorite bagels, and three favorite restaurants.   Remember, Fair Lawn News is a collaboration of volunteers who work real hard to keep all of us informed. If you would like to come up with another survey or if you would like to write an article for a future edition, just send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com  We do we take any free food or money related to surveys or food reviews.  Fair Lawn News does have sponsors (see bottom of page); if a restaurant chooses to become a Fair Lawn News sponsor, it will not influence any future article or survey.   The big winner was Fair Lawn Avenue. You can not get Fair Lawn's favorite pizza there, but you can eat at all three of Fair Lawn's favorite restaurants and have one of Fair Lawn's favorite bagels there.     Fair Lawn's Two Favorite Pizzerias   John's Pizza   Ness Pizza   Fair Lawn News readers voted for 19 different pizzerias/restaurants.  One Fair Lawn News reader wrote "There's too many good pizzerias in town to choose."   Besides John's and Ness -- the other top vote getters were Angelo's Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen, Bella Vita Italian Restaurant, Biaggio's, Gencarelli's Pizza-Ria, Pizza Hut, and Turvino's Pizzeria.    Here's some of the things that Fair Lawn News readers wrote:   Bella Vita Italian Restaurant  Best pasta and homemade sauce I have ever tasted!  There is a real family atmosphere at Bella Vita. In addition to making a wide variety of great pizzas, they make the best Italian food in the area.   Gencarelli's Pizza-Ria  Very tasty and rare pinwheel selection. They are fastest with the service and they are clean and nice people. The best Pizza in town!  The best Stromboli's like Rays Pizzeria in New York! The best chicken pizza. Especially good bacon bits and chicken rolls   John's Pizza Best quality food in town. They are the best. Greatest establishment around. They serve not only great pizza, but great dinners, and the best cheese steak in Jersey.   Ness Pizza  If I'm in the mood for thin and crispy pizza, Ness wins.   Pietro Pizza  After considerable research Pietro's Pizza on Lincoln Avenue is the best pizza I've found in the Fair Lawn, Hawthorne, Glen Rock area. They make a great dough and use plenty of sauce & cheese.    Turvino's Pizza Yes, I know it is technically in Glen Rock, but they make by far the best pizza in the area.  If I'm in the mood for big and thick pizza, Turvinos wins.        Fair Lawn's Two Favorite Bagels   River Road Hot Bagels   Radburn Hot Bagels   Fair Lawn News readers voted for nine different favorite bagels including bakeries, bagel bakeries and delis.     Fair Lawn's Three Favorite Restaurants:    Davia   Dutch House Bar and Grill   Land and Sea Restaurant    Readers voted for 31 different places to eat -- diners, casual, formal, pizzerias, fast food, ice cream restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.   The three top vote getters were all completely different. One is a bar, one a diner and one an Italian restaurant.     Here's a sampling of what people said:   A Family Affair The best deli and catering business in Fair Lawn.   B & D's Nosh Box  Awesome food!  Everything is homemade.  The best place to be in Fair Lawn between 7 and 9 am in the morning.  B & D's is a gem of a luncheonette, largely because Bill and Dee obviously put so much effort into what they do, day in and day out.   Bella Vita Italian Restaurant  A real family atmosphere.  The waitresses are friendly and efficient, and the prices can't be beat!  It is very hard to believe that you can get such great food for such reasonable prices!  If you are going for the first time, I recommend the "Angel Hair Special" at $11.99.   Chicken Galore  I love the chicken and the fun family atmosphere! Great food. Good delivery service. Nice people. The best fried chicken   Davia  Great food, great service, great people.  By far the best restaurant in the area.  The food that comes out of the kitchen is a work of art.  The taste is stupendous. Great food.  Great chef.  Great hostess.  The wide variety of their menu, their generous size dinners and the friendly atmosphere truly make it an enjoyable dining experience.  Great! Five Star! Wonderful.  Very friendly, great food, great variety.   Dutch House Bar and Grill  A great place to enjoy a burger and shoot some pool.  Absolutely the best hamburgers in town in a great historic setting.  Friendly service, great food all in a historic building.  A place where everyone knows your name!  A great relaxed atmosphere where you can sit back and enjoy the Sunday Football games. The Dutch House is known as a bar, so people don't always think of going there for a meal - but, the food and service is great!  Their burgers and cheesesteaks are great.  This place is a treasure and a landmark.  One of the few attractive sites on Fair Lawn Avenue!     Land & Sea Restaurant  Caters your every need with a smile. The Land and Sea has the best cheeseburger deluxe that hit the spot at 1am during Finals Week   And People Who Want To See More Variety in Fair Lawn We need more variety. It's great if you want Chinese, Italian or a burger or sub, but that's about it.  Take a ride down Cedar Lane in Teaneck if you want to see choices - everything from Tex/Mex to Korean Noodles. Food is good in this town, but I need a little more variety. How about a good Greek restaurant and while we're at it a Mexican place.     What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.