TURTLEBACK, IRONBOUND AND COCO BEANS

I know, I know, by the name of this post, you may be thinking, what is she talking about?  Well, as I said on Friday, today's post is going to be about some fun activities to do with kids in New Jersey and a new restaurant we checked out in the Ironbound section of Newark.  The first place I want to tell you about is the Turtleback Zoo in West Orange.  

I mean, seriously, this zoo is a pretty good size, has a lot of animal exhibits, and the best part is many of the animals are outside behind invisible fences (just like the San Diego Zoo), so you can get very close to them.  We went a couple of weekends ago, not really having high expectations, but we figured why not check out a new place with the kids- and we were so glad we did!  Unfortunately, it was really freezing the day we went so we quickly checked out as much as we could, but said we'll definitely go back when the weather gets warmer.  We saw a ton of animals- everything from a red panda, to lions and leopards, to wolves, lamas, horses, you name it!  

 Afterwards, we were hungry, and since we were close to Newark, we figured why not go to the Ironbound for some good Portuguese food.  I've blogged about the Ironbound before here and here, and even wrote about wanting to check out the place we went to eat called Fernandes Steak House...how funny is that?!? The ambiance was really nice inside, and most importantly, the steak and wine was great! 

The other place that is good for young kids is Coco Beans Play Cafe in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Basically the concept is that it's a play area for kids with a cafe, and the adults can sip lattes, coffees and teas in the play area while the kids run around and have a good time.  How great is that?  Most places say "no food or drink on the play area floor," but this place essentially encourages it!  (Note: only adults can drink on the floor, no food, and all drinks come in cups with lids).  The place is clean, has lots to offer in terms of toys, a dress up area, classes ranging from yoga to zumba, and a lot more!  It reminds me of something you would find in California...I was very impressed!

BOUND FOR THE "BOUND"

So I did it! I finally went to see what the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey is all about. I really didn't know what to expect, and if there would really end up being that much stuff to do there, but I was wrong! Pretty much all of Ferry Street (a.k.a. Little Portugal) is filled with Portuguese and Spanish restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and boutiques that sell goods from Portugal and South America. You get a sense (walking the entire stretch from Newark train station to where the restaurants are) that this is a neighborhood filled with families and children, people walking dogs, and folks just hanging out where they live and work.

I checked out all of Ferry Street and then decided to eat dinner at Vila Nova Do Sol Mar, a Lisbon-style marisquiera (seafood specialist). We dined Al-fresco (thanks to the dogs) and had a fantastic meal. We started out with the Almeijoas A Balhao Pato (Steamer Clams) which come in a garlic and wine broth- delicious, and really good juice to dip your bread into. For dinner we tried the Bacalhau Assado (Grilled Cod Fish served with boiled potatoes and broccoli in olive oil)... and the Bacalhau A Casa (CodFish Sol-Mar style which is fried and served in a bowl with fried potatoes and peppers in a little bit of a light yet creamy sauce)...I liked this dish better. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera to take pictures of the food, but this is a photo of what some of their dishes looks like.

The food at Sol-Mar is really reasonably priced, especially compared to seafood restaurants in New York City. Plus, they have a great wine list filled with Portuguese wines which are really hard to find here in the states. Being here at the restaurant and in the Ironbound in general, reminded me so much of when I jet setted to Portugal (see a couple of pics from my trip below). I had a great time, and will go back for sure!

VENTURING TO THE IRONBOUND

For a long time now, I have been wanting to check out the Ironbound Section of Newark, New Jersey. The area is often referred to as "Little Portugal" or "New Jersey's Portugal" due to its large Portuguese community. Some New Yorkers may be a little skeptical about leaving the city to venture into Jersey, but it's only a twenty minute train ride from Penn Station on New Jersey Transit, and it will only set you back a measly $10 for a round trip ticket. (Cheaper than most cab rides in and around New York City)! So, what are you waiting for?!?

The main "heart" of the town can be found on Ferry Street, which is also called Portugal Avenue by many of the locals. Here you can find a lot of Portuguese-owned businesses— restaurants, cafes, bakeries, jewelers, sports clubs, grocery stores, and more. The other main street to walk around is Broad Street which has more restaurants and shops. Additionally, the Ironbound has a pretty big night life, with an increasing number of bars and lounges. Speaking of restuarants, these are a few I would love to try that get great Zagat and Yelp ratings.
1- Adega Grill:
*130-132 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ 07103
* Telephone: (973) 589-8830
* Type of Establishment: Spanish / Portuguese
* Price Range: Moderate
* Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; until 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Dinner noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
* Payments Accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, Amex
Adega means wine cellar in Portuguese, and at Adega you can chose from a wine list with over 180 different selections. The food is Portuguese/Spanish, and the portions are huge- so go hungry or willing to share. Adega also has a lounge which is supposed to have a great night scene. The lounge is open Wednesday-Sunday from 9pm-3am.



2- Fernandes Steak House:
*158 Fleming Avenue, Newark, NJ 07105
* Telephone: (973) 589-4344
* Type of Establishment: Portuguese
* Price Range: Moderate
* Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; until 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Dinner noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
* Payments Accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, Amex Fernandes is a bit off the Ironbound trak, but from what I've read, it's worth venturing to it to check out. This is the place to go for steak and for Rodizio (Brazilian meat-on-skewers).



3- Tony Da Caneca:
* 72 Elm Road, Newark, NJ 07105
* Telephone: (973) 589-6882
* Type of Establishment: European/Portuguese
* Price Range: Moderate
* Hours: 11:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Sunday Noon-10 p.m.
*Payments Accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, Amex
There is a lot to chose from at Tony Da Caneca's, which is considered to be one of the area's best restuarants. The place has been around since 1965, and is considered a staple in Newark's Ironbound section!