NJ Restaurant Review, Don Jose Mexican Restaurant, East Hanover, NJ Restaurants

The best refried beans in the USA. Great prices. They treat patrons like queens & kings. Judging from the promotional postcard, how could we not speed up to East Hanover, NJ and the Don Jose cafe? Though I can't agree with anything but the prices, the food is intriguing enough to recommend. Don Jose is tucked away in the Rx Place, a strip mall just west of the Home Depot on Route 10. Inside it's boisterously decorated with cutout cactus shapes taped to the walls, frilly paper objects hanging from the ceiling and brightly colored bulbs in ebullient chandeliers. The place is child-friendly clean high chairs and booster seats.

The ravioli Mexican style diverted our attention from the table of noisy men next to us. It arrived steaming on a plate so hot it was delivered with potholders. The pasta was quite nice - thinly rolled and spiced with jalapeno then wrapped around a cheese filling. It did what an appetizer should do: make you hungry for more. Don Jose opened three months ago, the dream of Sam and his brother Jose, who is the chef their sister Alecea a co-chef, and the rest of the extended family. It was natural for them - their late father owned a restaurant in Mexico, and they grew up working there. Don Jose's menu pays homage to their father's restaurant, but it also has been modified to match the times. The guacamole appetizer $4.95 is fresh, but plain. The chilaquiles Don Jose ($5.95) on first taste conjure every other seven-layer Mexican-y creamon thick with sour cream and shredded yellow cheese. But the fried tortilla strips and the beef, as well as the "special red sauce" made with fresh tomatoes and onions move it up a notch.

The chiles rellenas ($12.95) are the test of every Mexican restaurant. Another hot plate arrived (what is it with Mexican restaurants and really hot plates?) rice on one side, those glorified beans on the other, and two breaded and fried peppers, The beans were smooth and light, barely seasoned, but cried out for salt. The rice seemed like filling. The peppers - now these were a treat. The breading was simple & light, adhering nicely to the thick flesh of poblano pepper. The shredded chicken-and-cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese filling was generous, a fine compliment to the subdued fire of a pepper that retained so much crunch a knife was necessary for every bite. We also liked the grilled pork chops ($12.95) with that taste of smoke. Another keeper was the red snapper three peppers ($13.95); a fine fillet of flaky fish juxtaposed with a melange of roasted peppers with olive oil, garfic, cilantro and lime.

On our list of subsequent visits: the portobello fajita ($9.95) the salmon serrano ($13.95) with roasted tomatoes, chopped poblanos, mushrooms and onions, and the shrimp casa blanca ($14.95) with heavy cream, orange juice, white wine and mushrooms. Skip the garlic shrimp ($14.95) with its harsh, abundance of sliced garlic nearly raw that overwhelms the sauce of white wine, herbs. Skip the apple fiesta ($2.95) too, a fried tortilla buried in what tastes like canned pie filling and topped with a non-premium ice cream. If dessert is on your mind try the sweet chimichanga ($2.50) a flour tortilla stuffed with banana and drizzled with honey.

To get a little of Jalisco, Mexico, stop into-Don Jose Mexican Restaurant on Route 10 in East Hanover, New Jersey. Bountiful servings of Mexican staples enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas and burritos - are offered for bourgeois faces. Chicken Don Jose, a saut6ed chicken white mushrooms, gadic and cilantro over a white wine and lemon is a frequent request, white red snapper or salmon are fish entree options. Beef is arranged in a variety of ways, each entree with its own canvas of cheeses, fresh vegetables, black beans and rice. Entrees range from $9 to $14 while combinations are available and encouraged. Located in a cookie-cutter shopping complex on a road flooded with office and retail businesses, Don Jose gets a big lunch crowd; so much that it deserved its own menu, which is a more liberal translation of the dinner menu.

Lunch appetizers, combinations and entrees are offered, namely from quesadillas for $5 to chicken tamales for $6 to burritos for $7. Sam and Jose, co-operators, have been on Route 10 for about one year. Hailing from Mexico, they have enjoyed their New Jersey clientele very much. They try to maintain quality dining, with heartfelt dishes, at a reasonable price. If you want an inexpensive Mexican meal, go to Taco Bell. If you want a filling Mexican dish, and do not feel like paying for a trip to Jalisco, grab a bottle of wine or a six-pack of Dos Equis and look for Don Jose on Route 10. Don Jose, located at 200 Route 10 West, East Hanover, NJ, is open Mondays to Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday from 11a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. For information, call 973-781-0155 or fax to 973-781-9777. Major credit cards accepted.

"WHERE TO FIND THE BEST MEXICAN COOKERY"
The Star-Ledger, Friday, July 14, 2006
(Reprinted from The Restaurant Researcher Society Newsletter, 7/5/06, by Gail Gerson-Witte)

Like a well orchestrated dining symphony, Antonio is the talented conductor of East Hanover's Mexican dining sensation. Owner Antonio, along with the Arceo family, of 4 brothers and 3 sisters, are the essence of family affair. This creative family began working in their father's restaurant in 1970, in Mexico and opened Don Jose 8 years ago.

Located in the strip mall just west of the Home Depot on Route 10 and with another location in Seabring, Florida, this dynasty of enterprising kin, present extraordinary **** dishes attracts those that crave authentic Mexican cookery prepared and served with smiles and style.

Antonio learned how to cook at home, he brought his traditional Mexican style dishes with him when he arrived from Guadalajara. Here every part of the staff definitely have their heart in their cooking and serving and greeting and whether you dine for business or pleasure, you will feel the heart of their good tastes, directed by Chef-Jose Arceo. They have designed a very comfy, patron-friendly eatery. Brother, Chef Jose, works magic in the kitchen, preparing mouth watering dishes that keep people coming back for more. This magic has earned this popular eatery, a large local and regional following cookery is a marriage of old Mexican traditions and new fare and carried our researching critics on flights of culinary fancy, at quite affordable prices. We found the appetizers extraordinary and the entrees enticing, The very festive dining room, is covered with original hand painted murals, that depict life in Mexico, with veracity and panache. Even the ceiling is adorned with the feeling of a gala cantina. I he staff delivers top quality, smooth service and innovative interpretations of 'South of the Border' specialties.

We loved the atmosphere, that invites you to linger, indulge in good conversation, good food and good drinks. This family has earned high ratings, with their symphony of very affordable dishes, reflecting high standards of culinary quality and the comfortable atmosphere, popular with those wishing a place, perfect for all occasions.