Janine Hillyer, left, and Ken Kruse, owners of The Melting Pot, are ready to titillate your taste buds with their new restaurant just next door, Taste. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
For years, Janine Hillyer would look over from her view at the Melting Pot, which she co-owns, and see a prime space she envisioned making her own.
She watched it change occupants a couple times — most recently, a restaurant, Savanna, and before that, a coffee shop called House of Coffee. Once Savanna moved out about a year ago, Hillyer and her business partner, Ken Kruse, pounced on the opportunity to make that space their own.
“We would constantly, longingly look over at this place and want to be here,” Hillyer said.
After a tedious year of designing a menu, reworking the interior and creating an inviting, lounge-type atmosphere, Hillyer and Kruse are ready to unveil their latest labor of love, Taste, with a grand opening from 6p to 9p tonight.
The midweek fiesta is merely making it official that there’s a new player on Red Bank’s dining scene, as the folks at Taste have been quietly letting people in to check out the innovative small-plate menu — as head chef, Hillyer cringes at the term ‘tapas’ — and its wide selection of beer and wine since the week before Thanksgiving. So far, Hillyer says there’s been an overwhelming response.
“We already have regulars coming to hang out and relax,” Kruse said.
The objective from the start was to create that relaxed atmosphere, he said, with the wine and beer drawing in the crowd and the food selection keeping them coming back. The 3,000 square-foot space has about as many couches as it does tables. There are four flat screen TVs at the bar, which features two of the most alluring beer taps that will instantly tempt you to double-dog dare your friends to recreate the infamous “A Christmas Story” flagpole scene. The chrome taps are covered in ice, not only assuring the beer is frosty cold but also making for an interesting conversation starter.
“That’s the first question everyone asks,” Kruse said. “No, you will not get your tongue stuck to the tap if you lick it.”
That’s just one example of Taste’s twist on simplicity. The other is the menu. Hillyer said she took some tried and true staples of dining and transformed them in a way that she thinks will open people’s eyes, like hot dog bruschetta and deviled tomatoes.
“We wanted to come up with things that we haven’t seen anywhere else that would be a big draw,” Hillyer said.
With a recent turnover in some of the occupants at The Galleria, Hillyer and Kruse said they’d like Taste help create a new sort of dining renaissance on Red Bank’s west side. The Melting Pot, they said, is still a popular destination restaurant and Taste, along with a new pizza restaurant and gelato shop set to open soon, can definitely set it off, they believe.
“We look at it as the more restaurants and businesses, the better for everybody. I think they’re going to feed off each other really well,” Hillyer said. “Instead of going to Broad Street, this side of town actually has a lot to offer.”
Best of luck. Sounds delicious. I love the Melting Pot and am looking forward to trying this team’s new venture.
mmmmmmmmm…the perdue microwaveable chicken on their flat bread is delicious!!
Looking forward to trying it … although I sighed at the mention of House of Coffee - that was a real coffee shop…
I worked at the Melting Pot in 2005, and I can’t wait to visit Taste and support the wonderful Janine and Ken. They were there for me when I really needed a job, so I will be there to support them now.
Excellent — thanks to all the new businesses who are realizing that it’s cool to be west of Broad St.
Been watching the galleria evolve for the last 20 years now, and though I’ll really miss 2senza, I’m excited for the new crop of entries.
BTW, anyone have any suggestions for an authentic Mexican place? I’m dying for a local enchilada platter that can compete with El Mesón in Freehold.
bankstresident ~ I too sighed. House of Coffee was the best coffee shop.
I loved savanna, anyone know where that guy went? Ill try the new place, but relaxing and giant TVs are nice at home, not for a restaurant and I liked the fact I could bring my own…I wish them luck, its a great space, just hope we aren’t looking at $6 drafts and $13 glasses of wine plus dinner.
Taste, has most of the ingredients to be a great restaurant. However, I think, it needs to fine tune it’s recipe. Otherwise I’m afraid it will go the way of Savanna.
I go out, to eat, between 3 and 5 times a week. So when Taste finally opened it’s doors I was excited to try out the new place in town…
Bad Points:
Slow, slow, slow table service. Bartender/Waitress’ time is monopolized by the bar customers, leaving little time for proper table service. I couldn’t get a glass of wine, but everyone at the bar had a full glass in front of them. Loud, not very pleasant music.
45 minutes in, I had one glass of wine and a salad……
Good Points:
The place looks beautiful, and the one employee working both the bar and waiting tables was very nice.
The food was very good.
Summary:
I am not sure what “Taste” really is. Is it a Bar that serves fancy finger food? Or is it an upscale restaurant that wishes it was a nightclub?.
Before Taste, really takes off, it will need to find it’s identity. You can’t be all things to all people. For me, the end result of their effort to create a “relaxed” atmosphere, was confusion.
I plan to wait a few weeks and then try it again. It is entirely possible that I caught them on a bad night…
Even if I don’t find that Taste suits my taste.. I wish them the best of luck.
Of course Alexander Supertramp chimes in when it relates to food. Ha!
Alexander Supertramp sounds like he also wants the meal for free. Want to bring that too? I’m sure the owner wants you to visit his restaurant with a brown bag. He’s sure to make money from you.
Remember, when you grow up you have to spend some money if you want to eat like an adult.
Better yet, stay at home and have your mommy cut your food.
Restaurant are for big people who can afford to go out and dine and also leave a tip
Now that the full menu starts and the place is officially open, I think Taste has a great deal to offer. Prices are very good, especially compared to most places in town. Wines range from $7 a glass up and the food is reasonable and good as well. As for Savannah, I heard that the nice guy who owned it passed away and that’s why they closed.
hey cheapskate,
i dont mind bringing my own food to relaxing places, I make food that kicks major ass, rock star chili on this side of RB, so famous you might know about it. Another $6 draft beer place though would suck…I’m tired of them. As far as tips, I still only tip a buck per round on the drink anyway. I just enjoyed savanna, hope the dude didnt kick the bucket, he made good food cheap and bring your own, we were they almost weekly for a while.
Well I have not eaten there but that never stops me from having something to say. I know it all. and I am sure I would not like this place so everyone follow me!
alexander - ‘kicked the bucket’? Even I’ve got my standards, you’ve done yourself an indignity. A bit of maturity and respect would be more apropos.
And Faux Nemo, please stop typing. Or by all means continue your flattery.