The fall is here and winter is fast approaching. It's getting cold. What you need and want is piping hot food that fills you to the brim and warms you up--what some call it comfort food. Others say it like it is: Italian food. Mezza Luna will help you get rid of those stereotypical thoughts that Italian food is just pasta and pizza. In addition to those staples of Italian cuisine, Mezza Luna also does cold and hot subs, wraps, rolls, chicken and veal entrees, soups, salads, baked dishes, and fresh seafood. Favorites include rigatoni il giardino, penne arrablata, baked manicotti, garlic shrimp…

One of the best things about going to the Jersey Shore is enjoying the fine seafood prepared and served there. Now that the shore has closed up for the season there's even more reason to stop into the brand spanking new Lobster House right here in Freehold. Only open for a few weeks, they also have a thriving location in Staten Island. When in Rome, do as the Romans and when in the Lobster House it's only logical to eat lobster. Or crab legs. Or scallops. They've got it all, fresh and ready to be eaten. Don't feel left out if you're not a fan of lobsters; they cater to all types of seafood …

There are few things that bring people closer than food. To sit under soft lights and nourish your body while engaging in enlightening conversation and sipping intoxicating beverages is one of the highest experiences in the human life. It's akin to love. Or as they say in Italy, that's amore. To get that lovey-dovey feeling, you can book a flight or charter a boat across the seas or you can hop in your car and drive on over to That's Amore in Englishtown. The restaurant's portions are large and will leave you wanting to stop by the gym for a couple of reps on the way home. Favorites include, …

Can't decide between hibachi and quality sushi? Why not get both? Or at least go to a place that serves both so you have the option up till that very last minute before you order. Mahzu's offers hibachi and sushi seven days a week until late into the evening. The restaurant stays open till 10 p.m. during the week, 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. There really isn't any excuse to not satisfy that sushi urge if you're in Freehold and it isn't the middle of the night. Sit back and enjoy the warm atmosphere while deciding between the two extremes of having your food set on…

When something is good, some of my friends will say, "That's pretty kosher." Which fits Jesse and David's in both ways: it's pretty good and it's kosher. Tucked away in Towne Point Shopping Center, Jesse and David's is a kosher deli and restaurant. They are proud of being "not just a deli," with a full restaurant seating 100 people that includes a salad bar and a rotating selection of hot dishes. You can eat there or order to go. They have a huge take out menu with meals that range from burgers to salads to overstuffed combo sandwiches. Check out the chopped salad menu where you can create …

Italian food comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but the most important part of the experience of eating Italian food is the warmth and comfort of it. After a nice meal you feel like you're home, wherever you are. This experience can be had at Fanelli's, located in Downtown Freehold. Bring your own bottle of wine and check out their renovated dining room. Open Monday through Sunday, Fanelli's cooks up delicious Italian fare. Favorites include pasta fagioli, calamari fritti, artichoke heart Franchaise, fried ravioli, pork chop Italiano, eggplant rollatini, pappar della principe di Napoli, …

Applebee's in Manalapan is your neigborhood grill... if you happen to live around Route 9 South in Manalapan. If not, then it's still a fun place to visit and enjoy 1/2 price appetizers and drinks with friends. Open till 1 a.m. during the week, 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and midnight on Sunday, Applebee's always have deals and specials so you don't walk out of there wondering what happened to your paycheck. (Unless, of course, you happened to leave your paycheck on the bar, but that's a completely different story...) Check out their two for $20 deal. You get one appetizer plus two entrees …

The idea is simple. In the morning a fire is started the old fashioned way, with wood in a big oven. Then coal is piled on the fire and it keeps burning all day long. Next, you stop in with your co-workers or family and friends and order a pizza. They make the pizza fresh to order, heated in the igloo-shaped oven. The extreme heat cooks the pizza in ways you've probably never experienced before. The entire process is devoid of gas or electricity. Talk about Old World! The pizza also tastes differently than ordinary flat pizza but in a good way. It doesn't have any dry cardboard quality, you …

I don't judge a book by it's cover, but I think you can go ahead and take note of how long a restaurant has been around and draw some conclusions from there. Take the Court Jester, in Freehold, for example. The restaurant has been around for over 34 years and is still serving up good food, drink and times. Located on East Main Street in Freehold, The Court Jester is open everyday from 11:30 a.m. till 2:00 a.m. Happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and boasts inexpensive bar goodies along with affordable drink specials. While there, make sure you try some of their …

Just because you have to feed yourself every few hours doesn't mean you have to munch on stuff that will do damage to your body. Mixed Greens and Grill in Manalapan provides fresh and healthy options so you can eat food that you'll feel good about later. Build your own salad, enjoy a specialty sandwich or order one of their specially formulated mixed salads or wraps. Everything is made with an eye towards something that tastes good and is good for you. Mixed Greens and Grill also serves fresh squeezed juices made with carrots, apples, ginger and other healthy ingredients. Try one of their …

If you can't find anything to eat at The Cheesecake Factory, chances are you're just not hungry. Well, either that or you're just really bad at making decisions faced with pages and pages of choices, just like me! The Cheesecake Factory is one of those fancy corporate restaurants that looks very nice inside and makes good food for a lot of people in a relatively small amount of time. Perfectly located, right in the heart of the Freehold Raceway Mall's outdoor complex, it's a great destination before a movie or after a long day of shopping. If it's a Friday or Saturday night you'll probably …

There is a time to golf and then eventually and usually shortly thereafter, there is a time to eat. Even if you don't golf, you still have to eat (according to recent research), so swing on by the Sycamore Grille at Knob Hill. Complete with bar and outdoor patio, this restaurant is a local favorite known for hardy and interesting entrees with a cozy and scenic atmosphere. Make sure to grab a seat outside when the weather is good for a nice view of the golf course. Also, don't forget to check out the beautiful sycamore tree just outside the clubhouse that is somewhere around 185 years old! The…

When it comes to Mexican food, their are two requirements: fresh ingredients and good drinks. Escondido's offers both and neither are in short supply. Everything is made and prepared from scratch including salsa, guacamole, sauces and all the other goodness that comes wrapped in tortilla and smothered with cheese. There's almost always an enticing special going on. Monday night is 1/2 price appetizers; Tuesdays the rugrats get a free meal with every adult meal; Wednesdays mean specially priced $8.99 chicken or beef fajitas; and Thursdays are margarita night, each mug is only $2. Fridays from …

Do you like burgers? Tired of the frozen stuff they try to pass off in those other diners and cafes? Then it’s time to mosey on over to Susie’s Cafe in Manalapan and try their Burger Challenge. If the Susie’s fresh, made-to-order burger isn’t better than those burgers you get in the other places, you’ll get your money back on the spot. That’s putting their money where your mouth is. Susie’s doesn’t stop at burgers, though. They also offer appetizers, soups, personal pies, wraps, sandwiches, salads and breakfast/brunch items. There’s even a dinner menu complete with hanger steaks, lasagna and …

I’ve never eaten a panda, and I assume if I ever did I probably wouldn’t come back asking for seconds. But every time I see the word “panda” my taste buds start expecting tangy and sweet Asian food. The brand new Panda Asian Fusion Cuisine in Freehold is everything you could want in a restaurant named after those cuddly inedible bears; in other words, classic Chinese fare served up fast and hot. It’s lunch time and you only have an hour to kill, so why not grab one of their $5.75 lunch specials served with a choice of soup or eggroll and pork fried rice. There are over 40 dishes to choose …

Pizza can get very personal. Things like where to get it from, what to look for, who delivers quickest, and all the rest can come into play when making that fateful call to place an order. But you can ignore all those considerations when ordering from Romeo's in Manalapan because they have the bases covered. Part of a local chain (two other Romeo's in Freehold are also family owned), this location has great slices of pizza, strombolis, calzones, pastas, salads and sandwiches. It's a pizzeria but with a higher level of food than most pizzerias. The ultimate bonus is that on game day, after you…

Fusha is Freehold's newest secret, a little place hidden away just off the main strip on South Street. It's Asian Fusion, which means they specialize in a little bit of everything, from Japanese to Thai to Chinese. You're greeted by a waterfall as you enter and a few steps later you're in a clean and neatly arranged restaurant. Fusha is a play on the owner's last name Fu and has nothing to do with the color of the same-sounding name. There's a lot to choose from, but sushi dominates the menu. There are Thai favorites like Pad Thai and even some Vietnamese inspired shrimp rolls. If you're not …

Main Street Bistro Positano in Freehold offers Italian, American, Japanese and Chinese influenced dishes in a casual and friendly environment. The seafood lover will find a lot to choose from on the menu but should be warned to leave a little room for a tasty dessert. Try the chocolate addiction, panna cotta or tartuffo. There are many more to choose from if those don't suit your after dinner eating needs. Favorites from the menu include, tilapia Positano, fisherman stew, mango salmon, rigatoni sorrento, lobster pillows, wasabi caesar salad, sesame chicken satay, rock shrimp skewers, hoisin …

The good thing about having an array of local cuisines to choose from means that you don't have to travel far to encounter different tastes from around the world. This week we're travelling virtually to the Amalfi Coast in Italy to experience some of their foods by way of Trattoria Ravello. Trattoria Ravello serves up classic Italian homemade specialties for very reasonable prices. You can grab a hearty meal from their lunch menu until 3 p.m. with most plates just under $10 (with the exception of veal). No matter what you're in the mood for, they've probably got it on the menu. There are …

It's finally here! Chipotle in Freehold has opened for business and is serving up fresh burritos and other mexican fare seven days a week. It's time to get in line. Chipotle is probably best known for it's burritos packed in with cilantro-lime infused rice, beans and fresh meats. They also serve burrito bowls, crispy tacos, soft tacos, salads and chips. Kids meals include a taco kit, chips and a juice or Organic Valley milk. If you happen to wander in during the busy lunch hour rush, don't be alarmed. The line out the door moves quickly and you'll be seated and inhaling your food in no time. …