ANN MARIE BARRON| Correspondent
To be successful in the takeout business, a restaurant must master a few things: Flavor, value and efficiency.
Several Morris-area restaurants score high marks for all three, making them top choices when you need a good meal — fast.
Serving old-fashioned, quality Italian specialties since 2009, Nonna’s is a favorite takeout spot for Florham Park and the surrounding areas. It is located between Walgreens and Trader Joe’s, which makes it easy to find.
It’s open until 10 p.m. every day of the week, which makes it convenient, as well.
“Our meal portions are a good size,” said Jared Horowitz, who manages the restaurant owned by his brother, Andrew. “We give a lot for the money.”
Though the restaurant, which features a bright and welcoming dining room, does a good dine-in business, takeout orders also keep them quite busy, he said.
The extensive takeout menu is available online and includes paninis, wraps, cold and hot hero sandwiches, and several soups, salads and pasta choices. Most dishes, including wraps and paninis, come with a salad included in the price. Some also include vegetables, Horowitz said.
“It’s good food at a good price,” he said, attributing some of the business’ success to its ability to cater for large crowds on short notice. “Most people can’t do trays for 100 people within two hours and we can.”
Favorite entrees include Chicken Portobello ($16.95), which features portobello mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and shallots in a light brown sauce, and Stuffed Shells or Manicotti ($12.95). Veal preparations include Parmigiana, Piccata and Milanese (all $18.95). All entrees, pasta specials, like spaghetti, Penne Vodka or Farfalle Primavera ($13.95) come with a side dish.
Cold hero specialties include Prosciutto and Fresh Mozzarella ($8.95), Chicken Pesto, ($8.95) and Grilled Chicken Breast ($7.95). Hot choices include Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Rabe ($8.95) and Meatball Parmigiana ($7.95).
The standards, including calzones and pizza, are on the menu, too.
Nonna’s is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday. They accept all major credit cards.
Nonna’s is located at 176 Columbia Turnpike and can be reached at 973-410-0030 or www.comehometononnas.com.
Other great choices in the area include:
Hong Kong Palace
192 Mountain Ave., Hackettstown; 908-850-4212; www.hkpalace.com
Hong Kong Palace gets raves for it’s classic Chinese favorites, and has been in business at the same location since 1986.
“If you had Chinese food as a child, this is the food that you’re used to,” said Sue Cheung, whose husband, Ken, owns the restaurant with his brother, Jeto. “We’re not fusion or anything like that. We don’t use pre-mixed sauces.”
Cheung said making things from scratch is the secret to their success and it enables them to adjust spices to the customers’ tastes. “If someone doesn’t like mushrooms, we leave them out. If they want low sodium, we can leave it out completely. Some restaurants can’t undo their sauces. Ours is different.”
Egg rolls, wontons and spring rolls are all made by hand, she said. “We roll them one at a time,” she said. “Last Christmas season, we made over 20,000 wontons.”
Cheung said she’s had loyal customers — some traveling from as far as Allentown, Pa., and East Stroudsburg, Pa., to get the type of Chinese food that’s a rarity these days. Jeto, she said, is always the friendly face customers look for when picking up their orders.
Popular selections at Hong Kong Palace include General Tso Chicken ($11.25), Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon ($13) and Shredded Beef Szechuan Style ($10).
Chicken with Cashew Nuts ($10) and Shrimp with Snow Peas ($7.75 or $12.25) are also on the “Chef’s Recommendations” list and popular takeout choices.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays, but is open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, and Tuesday to Thursday. It is open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Valentino’s Italian Cuisine
Sutton Plaza, 293 Route 206, Flanders; 973-584-2828; www.valentinosflanders.com
Another great choice for Italian takeout is Valentino’s, which has been serving Italian fare in a relaxed atmosphere for 23 years.
Owned by Joe Coriele, the restaurant is known for its traditional Italian favorites, delivered quickly.
Appetizers like Calamari Marinara ($9.99), Buffalo Wings ($6.99) and Battered String Bean Fries served with chipotle sauce ($7.49) always travel well, as do strombolis ($6.99) and Sausage and Chicken Rolls ($6.99).
Of course, pizza is always a big seller, as are the paninis, hot and cold subs, wraps and grilled choices like Steak and Peppers ($6.99), Grilled Chicken Valentino with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers and balsamic vinegar ($8.99) and the Cheese Steak ($6.99).
Valentino’s makes more than a dozen varieties of specialty pizza, including Sicilian with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, meatballs, peppers and onions for $23.50 and a Four Cheese Pie, featuring mozzarella, Cheddar, Provolone and Ricotta cheeses for $22.
Popular entrees include Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp Portofino and Veal Valentino with sun-dried tomato, roasted peppers, spinach, mushrooms and olives (all $16.99).
Olde Town Deli
205 Main St., Boonton; 973-334-4145
Breakfast sandwiches, like New Jersey’s famous Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese, are staples of the Olde Town Deli’s takeout business, but lunch favorites are also big sellers.
They, too, get high marks for their generous portions. The Taylor Ham sandwich ($4.75) is said to be sizable, as is the Cheesteak Sandwich, which sells for $7.70 or $10.50. “You actually get a pretty decent amount of meat,” said John Leone, whose father, John Sr., has owned the business for 36 years. “We get it from Thumann’s. It’s the same you’ll get down the shore — a good, quality steak.”
Leone said the Super Chef Salad, featuring lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ham, salami and cheese, is the most popular salad in the shop and patrons are routinely surprised by the generous portions, at $6.50 or $7.50.
Italian subs are another option, and the Number 10 is ordered most often. It has ham, salami, capicola and provolone cheese and sells for $7.70 (small) or $10.50 (foot-long sandwich).
Olde Town Deli is open 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday; 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday; and 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday. Only cash is accepted for payment. An ATM machine is located in the store.
Thai Nam Phet
296 Route 46, Rockaway; 973-627-8400; www.thainamphet.com
Voted one of Morris County’s Best by Daily Record readers in 2013, Thai Nam Phet serves fresh and delicious Thai favorites in a tiny Rockaway location.
Noodles and fried rice selections include Pad Thai, which is the most famous of Thai noodles, for $11.95. Kao Pad, which is Thai fried rice with egg, onion, peas, carrots, tomatoes and scallions, is another popular choice for $10.95. Pineapple Fried Rice with a choice of chicken, beef or pork ($11.95) also tops the list of most-ordered specialties.
An extensive vegetarian menu keeps patrons happy and includes soups, salads and a generous selection of entrees, including Tofu Pad Pak ($12.95), which features sautéed tofu and mixed peppers in a garlic and pepper sauce.
Duck selections include Ginger Duck ($20.95) and Ped Kra Prow, crispy roasted duck with onion, bell peppers, chili, garlic and Thai basil leaves ($20.95).
Thai Nam Phet is open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and noon to 9:30 p.m., Sunday. The restaurant accepts all major credit cards.
What’s your favorite takeout place? Email EAbreu@GannettNJ.com
