Welcome to Em & M: the first-ever meal critics of The Echo. Sparked by a love of chocolate and a play on words, we, Emily Dayton and Malini Jathavedam, are excited to take you along for our 3-year-long tour of the finest restaurants, cafes, and eateries near Tenafly, New Jersey. We call ourselves “meal critics” rather than “food critics” for one very particular reason: we review more than just food. We will be exploring other factors such as service, price, ambiance, vibes—everything it takes to create the perfect dining experience. As food connoisseurs, we sample foods from both vegetarian and meat-eating perspectives since we aim to share the best meals for all to try.
While walking down 2nd Avenue in the freezing cold of a New York City winter, we were in desperate need of a hot, thick, creamy, chocolaty beverage to warm us up. At that moment, hot chocolate sounded like a dream.
We walked for a while before stumbling upon Cafe D’Alsace, which happened to be a favorite of Emily’s family back in her early childhood. After a short wait, we were seated in a festive and comforting booth in the back of the restaurant. We decided right off the bat that Cafe d’Alsace earned a 10/10 for its ambiance; holiday decorations flooded the room. It was the cozy vibe we needed to warm up after our trek through the snow. Of course, we had to start our meal with hot chocolate. It came out warm, but not so hot that we could not drink it. It was milky with a hint of chocolate, and the house-made whipped cream added a touch of lightness. Although we were content with our beverages, we wished for a thicker, more chocolatey drink.
Malini ordered the Mediterranean sandwich on country bread, which came with grilled eggplant, roasted tomatoes, red bell pepper, pesto, goat cheese, French fries, and a salad of mixed greens on the side. The sandwich arrived open-faced with the grilled eggplant warm and the fries still steaming. As goat cheese lovers, we thoroughly enjoyed the combination of pesto and goat cheese, complemented by the flavors from the cooked vegetables. The crisp French fries dipped in the goat cheese from the sandwich were a fantastic combination, too. While we found the side salad a bit boring, we liked having a few fresh vegetables to balance out the meal. The only thing Malini would change about the sandwich is its assembly, as it was quite difficult to eat. The grilled eggplant had tough skin that was hard to cut through with a fork and knife. Additionally, the eggplant was the bottom layer of the sandwich, so when the eggplant slid off the bread, so did all the other ingredients. Unfortunately, we are speaking from experience.
Emily ordered the Burger D’Alsace. It consisted of a thick, juicy patty layered between two slices of brioche, with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, aioli, lettuce, and tomato. The topping paired well with the burger, with the aioli adding flavor and the tomato adding a punch of freshness. Furthermore, the caramelized onions added a savory taste to the dish and overall elevated the plain burger patty. Although the burger was adequate, she would have preferred the patty to be thinner, as it was hard to bite into. Emily’s meal also came with French fries, which added a crispy bite to the meal.
Overall, for a New York City restaurant, we found the prices pretty average; however, we would advise eating here only on fancier occasions. The quality of the food was good, and we found it worth the price. We would say this is an ideal place to come with your family on the weekends if you’re looking for a cozy, comforting meal while still wanting to go somewhere fancy.
