A food website has some good (and bad) things to say about Jersey City

The website Wallethub ranked Jersey City number #39 in a look at food, restaurants, cost, accessibility and quality of the 150 top populated cities in America. Jersey City did poorly if you're out looking for a dinner deal, ranking it #129 on the list meaning eating out is expensive. Big surprise. Look east, see those really tall buildings, it's been expensive to eat there forever. In some ways that stat truly proves Jersey City's claim as sixth borough. That can further be proved by the fact Jersey City placed a very impressive #6 when it comes to diversity, accessibility and quality. It came in even better at #4 for number of coffee shops per capita and also for gourmet specialty food stores per capita. Sound like anyplace nearby?

While some may look at the #39 overall rating and be disappointed, Johnny thinks something else it at work here. With all the new high end as well as other very good new places to eat people do now have expectations of good food in Cool City. They may initially grumble at the cost thinking they are paying a lot and not being actually physically in NYC, but the food world is getting smaller. Anymore there are a lot of cross-river eaters. Jersey City's Taqueria is opening in the East Village this year for a reason. NYC chefs are opening in Jersey City for a reason. Johnny knows a couple in NYC that won't eat Indian food anywhere but Newark Avenue in Jersey City.

In Johnny's mind these numbers are better rather than worse. He'll take a top ten ranking in diversity, accessibility and quality any day.

Thanksgiving dinner, your MUST haves

As much as you'd like to say you're not already thinking ahead to Thursday we know better. So while you're daydreaming about that big meal what is the ONE thing (besides turkey, potatoes and stuffing/dressing) you HAVE to have on your table or Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving?

State your case foodies!

Now here's a topic for lively debate -- Restaurants that don't allow YOU the valued customer certain substitutions

Example. Suppose you're sitting in The Spotted Pig in NYC. Now, suppose you're not a fan of the Roquefort cheese their burgers come with. You can have your burger at The Spotted Pig with Roquefort or without Roquefort but don't even ask for a different cheese. A couple more examples of the customer not always being right:

*Murray's Bagels (A Johnny fave) in the West Village and Soho will not ever toast your bagel. Never. You can get it a million ways but never toasted.

*At French restaurant Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte, don't bother asking for medium-rare meat. It doesn't exist in France and therefore you can't get it here.

Have a gander at the article, from places that don't allow ketchup to others that don't put salt and pepper on the tables, it's a fine walk inside certain kitchen across Manhattan that long ago stopped worrying about your special dietary inclinations.