DINING AROUND With Liz Jeressi December 01, 2005

MIKE & NELLIE’S Steak & Seafood: My best friend and I wanted a night out to catch up on good conversation over a nice dinner. We chose Mike and Nellie’s Steak & Seafood on Rt. 35 North in Oakhurst (between Deal Road and West Park Avenue). We had heard people rave about their Jersey Salad and thought we’d give it a try. We walked into a spacious restaurant (proper attire, non-smoking, BYOB) with plenty of booths and lots of windows, white tablecloths and soft lighting,in a cozy and quiet atmosphere. This is a family-run establishment, so we were greeted and seated by Mike’s father, Nellie, while Mike was in the kitchen doing the cooking along with another chef.

Our waiter (Lou) was gracious, helpful, and knowledgeable about the menu. He was able to offer us advice on what we might like to sample after asking us about our tastes. He brought warm, crusty Italian bread to our table with olive oil and garlic for dipping.

We tried a sample of three appetizers, each one better than the next. The lobster cake was hearty, without being greasy or too fishy-tasting. We both fell in love with the Blackened Prime Filet Mignon, served with homemade Caper Dijon, wishing it were our main entrée. We could’ve eaten just that and been satisfied. It was tender and juicy and we found ourselves raving about it. The big surprise, though, was the Seared Sesame Tuna. Served over Vegetable Julienne and dotted with Wasabi, once it’s dipped in the soy sauce you’re transported to Japan. It was fantastic.

My friend and I were so taken with the food that we found ourselves engrossed in a conversation about who we’d have to call to send over to this place! It’s unusual for the food in a restaurant to become the main topic of our conversation. Usually the food is merely filler while we catch up on our lives. But this food could not play second fiddle.

Next up: the famous Jersey Salad. Served on a heaping platter, it was filled with greens, cranberries, walnuts, pears, Gorgonzola, and a home made balsamic vinaigrette. I started with a small portion, trying to save room for the main course, but found myself going back for seconds and then thirds. I enjoyed the way the nutty and fruity flavors blended with the dressing to make this anything but an ordinary salad.

For the entrée, my dining companion told the waiter that she loves anything with a Francese sauce. He told her she was in luck because it’s one of Mike’s specialties. She got the Veal Francese and wasn’t disappointed. It was light, fluffy, and not drowned in sauce. (She also got the same sauce over her side dish of angel hair pasta, and finished the whole thing, which is unusual for her).

I was treated to the Jumbo Lump Crab, sautéed with garlic, plum tomatoes, Shiitake mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and a touch of white wine, served over tender spinach. Mike does not skimp on the crab and it was as fresh and tasty as could be. In fact, the portions were so large that we had some wrapped up to take home.

After such a great meal, we knew we had to try the desserts. The coffee and cappuccino were served piping hot in giant soup-bowl style mugs…probably the size of two or three cups of coffee. It was great to not have to constantly seek out the waiter to ask for refills. We ordered a warm Tollhouse Cookie Pie served with vanilla ice cream, which was just dreamy, and the Chocolate Lava Eruption, which was delicious enough to be a Christmas present! It’s a warm, round devil’s food mountain, and when you stick your fork in for the first bite, hot fudge ‘lava’ flows out. Sigh. It was so delicious that I didn’t even bother with the vanilla ice cream that came with it.

Great food starts with great quality and knowing how to prepare it. Mike Farber serves only the freshest meats and seafood and it’s no wonder that the restaurant was almost full on a Tuesday night. I know I’ll be going
back!