GetMunch.com will be giving away $3 to everyone that pre-registers

 I thought this was worth mentioning:

GetMunch.com will be giving away $3 to everyone that pre-registers for the website launch in August. A new website will be launching to promote Kosher restaurant across NJ called www.getmunch.com. The website is a unique twist on a loyalty program similar to airline miles with an emphases on convenience. Members dine out at restaurants, write reviews, and refer friends and family to earn points. Points collected can be traded in for free gift certificates called Munch Cash in the amount of $3, $10, or $20.

The website is extremely convenient and simple to use. Member can go to any of the dozens of kosher restaurants any day or time without restriction to earn points or use Munch Cash. GetMunch.com is cardless – when paying for a check at a restaurant, the member simply provides the server with his or her ten digit phone number or a custom number they have created on the website to earn their point. There is no waiting time for Munch Cash, when you have enough points you simply print out the Munch Cash and bring it into a restaurant to be used as cash.

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GetMunch.com was created to promote local restaurants. We're
so Gung-ho about our mission we flat out pay you to dine local.

Frequent the local restaurants on our website and print free cash;
$3, $10, and $20 in Munch Cash, to be exact

Convenient. Simple. Lucrative. Philanthropic.
• Use your account at restaurants anytime they're open
• No rewards card to carry
• Earn free munch cash
• Support local restaurants

Kosher Subway: Hitting North Miami

Short Order has the inside scoop on the latest kosher establishment to hit Miami: a Glatt Kosher Subway franchise. The idea is nothing new as several have already opened in NY. I have sampled kosher subway location in Cedarhurst and it's ok but not fantastic. You probably get better meats elsewhere. When it comes down to it: it's all about the meat. The better quality of the meats the better the sandwich tastes.

Kosher Facebook Savings: Abigael's 10% OFF!

Facebook is a new way for companies to advertise to potential customers and just get the word out about their services and products. This is a first for me though: Chef Jeff Nathan of Abigael's, one of the most prominent kosher restaurants in NY, is offering 10% off the bill if you are a facebook friend of his! You simply call and reserve and mention you are a facebook friend (they will check). Here is a screen shot:

If you have facebook make sure to become freinds with him and take advatage of this amazing offer. If you do take advantage of it please let me know how it worked out! Bon Apetite

DOUGIES: OUT OF BUSINESS

Dougies BBQ and Grill has Closed! Get the inside scoop at A Jewish Music Insider.

Introducing New Jewish Music and Entertainment Blog

I'd like to introducing you all to my new upcoming blog: Jewish Music Insider. Feel free to add it to your blogroll. This new blog will feature the latest in upcoming Jewish music releases and reviews as well as interviews with key Jewish music figures. It will also include kosher restaurant reviews and polls on a variety of Jewish music and entertainment questions. Stay tuned....

Kosher Restaurant Review: KBurger

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a burger joint that was certainly responsible for putting Burger Nosh out of business. The establishment I speak of is none other than K Burger. K Burger is owned by the same people that brought you Pita Hot and this fast food joint is right next door. The owners smartly opened up the wall and made an entrance from one to the other. The decor is bright an art deco type which I found appealing. I have been to many of the more well known burger restaurants i.e. Burger Bar etc.. This place in my opinion has the best hamburgers hands down as well as the best deal for your dollar. My wife was even more impressed by their chicken fingers which were moist on the inside and crisp and tasty on the outside. Just like Burger Bar they offer to make it the burger "your way" with a variety of tasty toppings such as garlic mayo and garlic dill Mayo (my favorite). You can also ask for the topping on the side should you choose to use them as a dipping sauce say for your chicken fingers. The "K Burger" was moderately priced at $7, chicken fingers for $4.50 ( a nice portion) and they offer kid meals as well (chicken fingers with your choice of fries or onion rings and a soda: $8). The service was quick and they don't hassle you about your choices. I think I have found a new favorite place to frequent and of course I can always go for shwarma next door if I crave it.

The Prime Grill Closes: Another one Bites the Dust

LOS ANGELES: Like NY in LA restaurants come and go. The Prime Grill was hoping to be different bring it's NY hotness to LA to show them what they have been missing. After being opened for only a year rumors started to circulate that they were going under. They were to be in good company as Mamash, an Asian fusion restaurant, was closing in less than a year from it's opening. People were wondering what it took to run a restaurant in LA. The rumors were being quelled by it's manager showing how the restaurant was readjusting it's pricing and menu. Unfortunately this idea was not enough and since February The Prime Grill has been closed claiming on their voice mail :"The Prime Grill regrets to inform that due to rainwater damage from the recent storms, we will be temporarily closed." now that the phone line is disconnected entirely it is fair to assume we have seen the last Prime Grill in LA. The question then becomes what caused them to drown? Was it the high overhead, outsider status, menu pricing, market saturation or lack of catering business?

Kosher Restaurant Review: Wolf & Lamb

After visiting the Emerging Jewish Communities event I walked over to Wolf & Lamb. It has been a long time since I had last eaten there and I was told their food had improved. Coming in on a Sunday afternoon at about 3 pm there was plenty of seating available. The seating plan was spacious and even if it had been full, it would not have felt too confining. The waiter was very polite and and the service at this time of the day was certainly quick. They serve you water which was quite good and garlic bread which I also enjoyed. The washing area was very nice and accented with a mirror and there was wrapped bread in foil to east after you wash.Our starters were onion rings and breaded chicken fingers and the portions were generous. The onion rings and fingers used the same breading which was a light bread crumb and the fingers came with a fantastic garlic dipping sauce. I thought the chicken was a bit tough but the taste was good. The steaks we ordered were the Jack Daniels and Filet Mignon (which most likely is a rib eye of sorts) with marinated portobello mushroom. My Jack Daniel stack was quite good. My wife had ordered hers medium rare but got a medium-well done steak. They graciously agreed at thier error and brought another steak although this one was more rare than what one might expect when they say medium-rare. That said I'm not sure Wolf and Lamb quite measures up to Abigael's and they didn't have a separate dessert menu but the waiter gave us some options. When he said they had mousse we ordered it only to find out it was a cake not actual mousse. Had we had a menu describing it that mistake would not have been made. Needless to say we sent it back and just stuck with cappuccinos instead. Rating: B

Mabat Steakhouse taking over Bermuda in Brooklyn

Okay, here's the latest with Bermuda, the dairy restaurant on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue M. Partly due to an outpouring of calls and support, Bermuda has decided to stay open for one more week, until Thursday, April 10th.

In lieu of this extension, readers of the Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine newsletter will receive 25% off their meal with the printout of this email. (Not to be combined with any other offer). To see more more about Bermuda, visit - www.KosherBermuda.com

As rumors have been swirling about who will take over Bermuda, I can now say it's official that Mabat, the granddaddy of Brooklyn steakhouses, will be moving in. After some renovations, they are expected to open June time.

Updated list: The following restaurants will be open for Passover

Manhattan- Abigael's, Levana, Mendy's, Prime Grill, Talia's Steakhouse (Seders & Chol Hamoed)

Dougie's Express, La Carne, Le Marais, My Most Favorite Food, Solo, U Cafe (Chol Hamoed)

Village Crown To-Go (Pick up & delivery for Chol Hamoed)

Brooklyn- T Fusion Steakhouse (Chol Hamoed) - Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Queens- Cho-Sen Garden (Chol Hamoed)

5 Towns- Cho-Sen Island (Chol Hamoed)

Great Neck- Cho-Sen Village, Colbeh (Chol Hamoed)

Miami Beach, FL- China Kikar Tel Aviv (Seders & Chol Hamoed),

China Bistro, Grill Time Boca Raton, Joel's Steakhouse (Chol Hamoed)

Montreal, QC- Ernie & Ellie (Chol Hamoed)

Kosher Restaurant Review: Cafeccino: Queens

Those of you living in Queens have perhaps said farewell recently to a long standing fast food eatery named "Burger Nosh". Burger Nosh suffered from some fierce competition of new restaurants that had opened such as K Burger and closed after many years of serving the Kew Garden Hills Community. In it's place now stands a new Cafe called Cafeccino. Caffeccino is owned by a nice fellow named Kenny who was the previous owner of deli/restaurant in the 5 towns called Traditions. Let me give the lowdown on this new joint in Flushing. Firstly if you have any delusions of taking your small ones with you you'll be in for a big treat: No High chairs. I was quite surprised that someone who had been in the family food business for so long could over look such an elementary concept but perhaps he wants to keep them out? The decor is nice and the seats are comfortable but the acoustics can make it very loud once the place fills up. The service this past Sunday was nothing short of horrible. We waited quite sometime to get any bread on our table not to mention our food. Our waiter was obnoxious to say the least and had very little knowledge about how the food was prepared. Perhaps good help is hard to find in this industry but we would have been better off with more bad help so at least we have been served more promptly. The food itself was quite good however and the portions were fairly large. The cappuccinos and the sort were a bit pricey and from what I heard they weren't very big, so I passed. For the economically conscious they had a half salad/half wrap combo for $5.95 and "to go" they have wraps ( I got one to stay anyway) like grilled salmon for just $6.95 ( it came with sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers and was served cold) that was quite delicious. It looks like they have a pretty good breakfast menu as well. My experience personally was very stressful and I'm not sure I would go back. If it's just me and a friend I might consider giving it another run. The tables are quite close together so perhaps it's a better "to go" place than eat in. Bottom line: good food, horrific service, prices are ok. Most entrees start at $8.95 and go up to $19.95 for fish dishes.

Kosher : Not Synonymous With Clean...

An article in the Jewish Chronicle points out that there has been a significant increase in kosher restaurants in the UK. The problem is that evidently kosher does not mean a clean environment.The JC conducted an investigation and found that half of kosher restaurants, delis and bakeries inspected by local authorities are rated “very poor” or “poor” — including some of our most trendy hang-outs. And only two restaurants — out of 59 — are given top marks.

Introducing Kosher GPS

Ever wish you could find the nearest pizza shop or steakhouse but didn't know where to find it? Well now you can download a file onto your GPS that has over 1000 Restaurants for all over the USA and Canada. For only $18 you should have little problem finding kosher food or a minyan wherever you travel across the USA and Canada. The file can be purchased here.

Manhattan's First Kosher Cheeseburger?

Talia's has decided to add a Kosher Cheeseburger to their menu. This article maintains that it looks and tastes like the real deal. If you ever had a real yetzer hora for a cheeseburger (never really did) now you can get the same taste without the sin.

Sydney, Australia: Losing More Kosher Establishments

You can blame it on supply and demand but yet another kosher restaurant has closed in Sydney, Australia. The latest victim is the closure of Eliza's restaurant at Bondi's Hakoah Club. Eliza's was the only surviving formal dining experience after the Beaches restaurant closed in February 2006.

Eliza Ezekiel, who opened the restaurant in August 2006, told regular patron Rabbi Chaim Ingram that the main reason for the closure was due to lack of support from the community. Rabbi Ingram posted his response on the Kosher Consumers Association's website: "In my 15 years in this community, I have seen Torah, Chinuch and Yiddishkeit burgeoning. “One would have thought that with it would have come an enhanced adherence to kashrut. Our [lack of support for] kosher eateries remains a mystery."

Kosher Restaurants: La Marais Introduces: Clubhouse Cafe

One of the most famous kosher restaurants, La will be opening up a new edition right across the street!No, it's not trying to compete with itself. This new restaurant, Clubhouse Cafe will feature classic American cuisine:hamburgers ("sliders"), steak, chili, and fish and chips. It will also serve a bar menu with tapas-style selections including duck empanadas, shish kebabs, tortillas and dogs en croute.“The idea is to create an atmosphere for young people to relax and enjoy excellent kosher food, while socializing with friends and family,” said Meirelles. “With Le Marais NY, we have a terrific following and our clientèle has shown a demand for something casual in addition to the higher-end dining experience. Additionally, the restaurant will have a style that makes it accessible for everyone.” Well if the food at La Marais is any indicator, this new opening will be a great success. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Restaurant Reviews: Carlos and Gabby's

Recently I had been eating at several restaurants in the 5 Towns area. One of my favorite newcomers: Burgers bar for their fresh and flavorful burgers made the way you want (fried onions, toasted bun, pickles tomatoes and garlic mayo). I was however in the mood for something different. I decided to give Carlos and Gabby's a try and was not disappointed. The prices are good and the portions don't disappoint. They are the only Kosher Mexican restaurant in town which makes them a bit different from the other establishments in town.

Burgers Bar Review: Central Ave Location

Well with all the hype I had to check out the newly opened Burgers Bar on Central Ave. I was pretty surprised at the layout of the establishment. Its shaped like a thin rectangle with more seating area upstairs. Here is how you order: first you pay, then you get a reciept. Now hold on to it as it has your order number. Your number is called by the "burger chef" you tell him how you want it done (check out the garlic mayo) and presto you have a burger the way you want it. I love the bread they use for their buns and the meat was quite tasty. I strongly suggest their chicken fingers, they are outstanding!The prices are reasonable and the wait time is fairly short once you get called,Bon Apettit.

Restaurant Review: A different Twist: Queens

My wife and I are always looking for a new place to hang out with the kids. There was a bagel store that sold pizza in queens that was always a favorite. The food was good and not too expensive and usually was not too crowded on Sunday afternoon ( actually it was deserted). Well that store burnt down and we are always looking for that "new place". I had recently read about a relatively new restaurant in Kew Garden Hills called " A different Twist" and we just had to check it out. Needless to say I was not disappointed.The prices were good and the food was fresh and quite tasty and the selection was fantastic. They offer some the best frozen yogurt I have ever tasted and I was very happy with our selections. Besides the frozen yogurt ( which tasted like regular ice cream to me) we had a Garlic Parmesan pretzel along with a pizza made on their famous pretzel dough. Even though it is on Main Street it's not on the busy part of it, which I enjoyed. As it turns out the owners are friends of SerandEZ. Needless to say I give this restaurant the "thumbs up".

5 Towns Restaurant Update: Goodbye Dougies?

There is a rumor floating around that Dougies of the 5 Towns will be shutting down. The first Dougies originated in Manhattan and it is closed, will this be the second? There certainly is enough new competition to give Dougies a problem. 2 new restaurants are opening up nearby. I'm referring to the recently opened Burger's Bar and the soon to be opened Subway. Speaking of Subway there is one currently opened in Brooklyn and I've heard nothing but terrible reviews and it's expensive to boot. With restaurants in Brooklyn like Subsational offering 50 sandwiches at reasonable prices and quality, I'm not sure that the Subway in Brooklyn will be open much longer. All this talk is making me hungry so I'll go grab a bite and talk to you later....