BIG SALE - Up to 50% off food & beverage items - Free shipping on orders over $65
New Jersey: Dinner at Common Lot in Millburn
My high school friend Tina has moved to South Orange in New Jersey, so last week I went to visit her in her new hometown. When you’re in Manhatttan, South Orange sounds like a faraway place, but it is only around 30 minutes by train from Penn Station.
Thursday evening, we went out for drinks at The Cassidy in Maplewood, which is a cute town close to South Orange. It was a weeknight, so the bar was rather quiet, but the drinks were nice and strong, and I liked the feel of the bar which was more big city than suburb.
Later on, we had dinner at Common Lot in Millburn, which is another cute town in the area. Tina and Joel had dined at Common Lot many times before, so when we walked by the restaurant, they noticed that it was the owner himself, who was in the kitchen that night.
We started with tuna carpaccio and a plate of braised pork belly to share, and it was delicious, with a sticky, Asian-style chili-soy glaze and plenty of umami-packed fat. For our main courses, I had a pumpkin and tofu stir fry, while Tina had an elegant pan-fried Branzino fillet, and Joel had an amazing dish with braised short ribs and xo sauce. My pumpkin dish had a nice hint of sweetness and a lot of interesting stuff going on (yes, shitake and Thai green curry sauce, you’re great together). For dessert I had a coffee parfait, dressed up as an ice cream sandwich with the parfait stuck between two deliciously chewy chocolate cookies.
Common Lot isn’t licensed, so it is BYOB (bring your own bottle/booze) at Common Lot. I really like the concept, which you won’t find in Denmark or Dubai. You just bring a bottle of your favorite wine or whatever you would like to drink with your dinner. I was really impressed by the food, which was fully on par with what you get at nicer restaurants in New York City
After we got back from Common Lot, the plan was to continue the evening in the bar (yes, there’s a bar in Tina’s house!) but it had been a busy week for all of us, so we ended up going to bed at 10pm:)
Common Lot, 27 Main Street Millburn, New Jersey
Hotels in the US – From Big City Views to Small Town Charm
The US is such a mix when it comes to places to stay. One night you might be in a sleek hotel with skyline views in New York or LA, and the next, you’re checking into a cozy roadside inn somewhere off a scenic highway in the Southwest. That’s part of the fun—there’s something for every mood, budget, and type of trip.
Whether you're planning a city break, a beach vacation, or a cross-country adventure, there are lots of great hotel options out there. I always look for places with a little character, a good location, and (ideally) decent coffee.
Welcome to Mitzie Mee, a website about food, travel, beauty, and wellness.
New Jersey
New Jersey
-
Tops Diner is an iconic diner located in East Newark, New Jersey. They’ve been around since 1942 and through the years, they’ve established themselves as one of the best diners …
-
Tina and I were driving around in New Jersey when we realized that we were only a few minutes away from Ale in Fort Lee. Meet for matcha? Sure! Where? …
-
Tina and I were looking for a place for lunch in Montclair. We were initially driving for Faubourg, which is an old favorite of ours, but then we saw Boschetto …
-
When I’m visiting Tina, I somehow always happen to be there, just when Tina and J are having their weekly date night. I don’t want to disturb their kids-free couple …
-
Morristown is a small town about a 30-minute drive from South Orange, where Tina lives. The town has several good dining spots, and for Tina and J’s weekly date night, …
-
It’s been several years since I first heard about birria tacos, but I wanted to make sure that I tried it somewhere nice, so it wasn’t until a few weeks …
-
Tina is a member at Life Time, which is a chain of big high-end gyms in the US, and one morning, she dragged me along for some hot yoga. It …
-
My high school friend Tina has moved to South Orange in New Jersey, so last week I went to visit her in her new hometown. When you’re in Manhatttan, South …
Travel Blog
Mitzie Mee©
hello@mitziemee.com