Steven G. Sears
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973)
893-9011 ·
SGS@SGSWrite.com
Dining At Orbis Bistro
By
Steve Sears
Where to go on a casual or romantic date for good food with a
fine flair? Seeking a
BYOB eatery where the service is fine and the food is more so?
Orbis Bistro (128 Watchung Avenue, Upper Montclair,
(973-746-7641)) is the place. Their
current menu has appetizers featuring Seafood Dumplings and various
salads to entrée choices from chicken, duck, steak and seafood.
Variety is the word here! Chef/owner Nancy Cabellas also has
daily specials that are tempting to the ear and tantalizing to your
taste buds.
First, a brief word about finding Orbis.
It is on the corner of Watchung Avenue and North Fullerton
Avenue, right at the beginning at the south end of Watchung Plaza.
Go too fast and you’ll pass it.
DON’T! Go
slow, park in the available lot just down on the right, and walk the
few doors down to the simple décor and soft jazz of Orbis, a
culinary delight.
Our server was as friendly as could be, and the abundant
amount of bread she delivered to our table throughout the evening was
soft and warm. Good
start.
My wife Lucille ordered the Spinach Tagliatelle with lump
crab, asparagus and peas in a tomato saffron cream sauce ($18.95).
Nancy Cabellas uses many different sauces; this particular
one was magnifique. Stefanie, our eleven-year-old daughter, ordered the Hanger
Steak with a cabernet shallot demi-glace with shoestring potatoes
($17.95). This steak is
a killer, folks. Guess
who devoured one on each of his two prior trips?
Instead of Pan Seared Scallops, I opted for the chef’s
specialty on the evening, Rack of Lamb over asparagus and mashed
potatoes ($29.00). Our
very gracious server told me that there would be three lamb chops on
my plate, but the plate arrived with only two.
The lamb chops were medium rare (as requested) and delicious
nonetheless.
Except for some very minor flaws (leeks were not available
that evening, the wait for our food was a wee bit long, but great
food does take time to prepare, right?), dining at Orbis Bistro was
a nice experience. When
it first opened, I used to drive by occasionally and say to myself,
“Someday I’m going to try this place”.
If you’re looking for good food and service in a splendid
atmosphere, I recommend you do so, too.
It’s a dining experience worth enjoying.
