We were at Nori Sushi in Montclair over the weekend and owner Camilla Liu brought us a small request along with our white tuna sushi appetizer and Dragon rolls: Vote for Nori in Suburban Essex magazine’s Best of Essex contest. Camilla Liu and her husband Vinnie, who live in Verona, own the Nori restaurants in Montclair and Caldwell that are both among the choices in the best sushi category.
Turns out, there are many other businesses with Verona connections in the contest. Both Bagelwich and Hot Bagels-N-More are up for honors in the bagel category. The revitalized DiPaolo Bakery and Hobcaw are in the bakery category. Hobcaw is also in the caterer category, along with Jack’s Cafe, Eight Hills and CulinAriane. (Hobcaw is also up for best new restaurant.) The deli category pits Frank Anthony’s (also in Italian restaurants) against Lakeside. Verona Diner is our lone entrant in the diner category, ditto Towne Scoop in ice cream, and Tortilla Sunrise in Mexican. In outdoor dining, Frank Anthony’s is up against Avenue Bistro (also in full-service restaurant) and CulinAriane. In pizza, newcomer Anthony Franco’s is up against Frank Anthony’s and Famous Ray’s.
Best BYOB restaurant has CulinAriane (also in best romantic restaurant), Frank Anthony’s, Hobcaw and Jack’s Cafe. For some inexplicable reason, Home Liquors is not in the wine store category and there is no mention of Trend in either women’s clothing or women’s accessories.
Park Avenue Bridal is in bridal, Denim & Daisies is in children’s clothing, Learning Express in Toys, Quality Car Care in car wash, . Platinum Fitness is the lone Verona gym in the fitness category, though we have many others. Paradiso and Mane Place II are in the salon group, Longevity Pilates is in the pilates group, and the Verona outpost of the Massage Envy chain has been put in day spa, while Radiance Day Spa is in the medical spa category. Anderson Electric is among the electricians, Showcase Kitchen and Bath in home renovations and kitchen/bath remodelers. (If you are looking to open a new business in Verona, you might want to take note of the fact that there was no Verona-based business in several of Suburban Essex’s categories.)
Go to this page to begin the voting process; voting closes September 15.
