Small portions and high prices at Angelo's Greek Taverna in Maywood

On Saturday night, we ordered takeout from Angelo's Greek Taverna in Maywood, including this pricey appetizer of Homemade Stuffed Dolmades without chopped meat. We got five small dolmades for $7.95 or $1.59 each.

A special included five large shrimp, but they were badly overcooked. My wife complained they were "hard as a rock." The entree came with side dishes of vegetables and roasted potatoes, above, plus a small soup, but was priced at $25.95, which seems high. A small Avgolemono Soup was $4.95.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Is it fair to judge a restaurant by its takeout? 

Let's put it this way. After we had a bad experience ordering takeout from Angelo's Greek Taverna in Maywood, we certainly have no interest in dining out there.

Late Saturday afternoon, tired from a day trip to the shore, we looked at an online menu; ordered a soup, appetizer and entree, and picked up the order.

Over the phone, the server gave me the total of $41.57, which seemed like a lot, because most entrees listed online were about $15 to $17.

My wife wanted orzo with shrimp, a dish she fell in love with when we patronized It's Greek To Me in Englewood.

But the server said the restaurant had a special of orzo with lamb shank, and couldn't make us orzo with shrimp.

That's how we got the skewered shrimp special for $25.95.

To make matters worse, the restaurant overcooked the shrimp, and my wife hated them.

Angelo's Greek Taverna is at 245 Maywood Ave., next to Maywood's historic train station or about a dozen blocks from West Pleasant Avenue, the main business district where Seafood Gourmet and other restaurants operate.

More fish tales from eating out and eating in

Lotus Cafe in Hackensack's Home Depot Shopping Center does a brisk takeout business. The Chinese BYO, which opened in 1993, offers free delivery within 3 miles, with a $12 minimum (450 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack; 201-488-7070).

Seafood Soup for 2 is filled with tender shrimp, squid, fish cake and vegetables in a perfectly seasoned broth ($7.50).

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

On Saturday morning, I discussed with my wife eating out at either Wondee's or Lotus Cafe, two favorites near our home.

By mid-afternoon, my wife informed me that, on the one day we eat out, everyone had made other plans.

I flirted with the idea of driving to Fort Lee for sashimi -- which no one else in the family touches -- but decided it was time for a simple Chinese meal of soup, vegetable and rice.

I drove to Lotus Cafe, ordered Seafood Soup for 2, Chinese Broccoli Stir Fried with Fresh Garlic and brown rice.

Chinese Broccoli Stir Fried with Fresh Garlic is both deliciously leafy and crunchy ($9.95). Brown rice is available at no extra charge.

At home on Saturday morning, I prepared a smoked wild-salmon and Swiss cheese frittata with bottled Mexican green salsa and prepared pesto, above and below. The basic mixture included egg whites, whole organic eggs, shredded cheese, organic low-fat milk and sun-dried tomatoes, with most of the ingredients from Costco Wholesale, as was the salmon, reduced-fat Swiss cheese and pesto. 

Ackee and Salt Fish, the Jamaican national dish, can be made even spicier with Valentina Mexican Hot Sauce (Black Label). The bland ackee fruit and boiled green banana are foils for salted fish from Costco Wholesale (Canadian cod or Alaskan pollock), and sweet and hot peppers, garlic, onion and scallions, below.

Seasoned and pan-fried fresh, wild haddock fillets from Costco Wholesale ($8.99 a pound) are especially good covered in sauteed sweet peppers and onions.