While the global pandemic slowly settles down, restaurants and other businesses continue to take safety measures to ensure that their customers are safe. However, with places allowing people to go mask-less and with vaccination underway at an incredible speed, we have to ask ourselves if the same level of sanitization is still required.

Of course, hygiene is highly important in a restaurant, but can we go back to the pre-pandemic safety and sanitization measures? Or is it too soon? Restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey are finding the right balance. The team at Aldo’s is here with all the details.

Hygiene vs sanitization

Bear in mind that the two terms being compared are hygiene and sanitization, not hygiene and sanitation – both of which are important.

Hygiene refers to “behaviors that can improve cleanliness and lead to good health.” Sanitization, on the other hand, is the process of cleaning and decontaminating surfaces – largely to prevent the spread of the pandemic, in current times.

While the first is absolutely necessary at a restaurant, the second isn’t quite as important. It’s important that restaurant workers maintain good personal hygiene, and that the premises be perfectly hygienic, so germs and other harmful elements can’t contaminate the food. However, while certain sanitization practices like regularly sanitizing all equipment are necessary, wiping down grocery items and having a sanitizing tunnel may be overkill.

Some of the practices that our staff will continue include wearing gloves (when appropriate), washing their hands before and after handling food, cleaning surfaces daily, and staying home when they are sick. However, as mask requirements change and new research is found on the spread of the virus through contaminated surfaces, we may adapt our policies on mask use and the sanitization of surfaces such as receipt trays and condiment holders.

Aldo’s prides itself on being one of the best restaurants near Ridgewood, New Jersey, and this wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t follow proper protocol or had unsafe premises.

Hygiene standards in US restaurants

Hygiene standards have come a long way since the last couple centuries. Eat Right shares:

“In the early 1900s, food poisoning was at its height. Contaminated foods were causing typhoid fever, tuberculosis, botulism and scarlet fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 1900, the incidence of typhoid fever was approximately 100 per 100,000 population; by 1920, it had decreased to 33.8, and by 1950, to 1.7. The decrease was influenced by breakthroughs in the understanding of bacteria growth, hand washing, sanitation and the invention and implementation of pasteurization for milk products.

Another influencing factor in the downswing of food poisoning was the development of refrigeration in the 1920s. Before refrigeration was widely available, people would keep food cool by storing it on blocks of ice, burying it in the yard or storing it on an exterior window sill in the winter months.”

Now, we live in a completely different world – a world in which the FDA exists, and has immense power. Restaurants need to follow strict guidelines to make sure there is no risk of disease spread. The government has continued to move with the times, and to adopt modern technology and technological advancements.

So when you sit down for a meal at any number of restaurants in the Ridgewood, New Jersey area, you feel safe knowing every area of the facility has been inspected and cleaned, the staff maintain good personal hygiene, the kitchen equipment is regularly sanitized, the place has good ventilation, and that the restaurant uses modern technology to store and process food.

Hygiene theater

The Globe and Mail explains what sanitization theater is, and why we should ditch the practice:
“Across Canada, individuals and institutions are maintaining the same deep cleaning and product quarantining protocols that came to be expected at the start of the pandemic. But experts say that it’s time to move past “hygiene theatre” – or cleaning behaviours that give people a sense of security and protection, but are actually unlikely to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission.

And the environmental impact of disposable wipes, the cost of disinfecting supplies, and the burden on restaurant and retail employees to maintain strict COVID-19 cleaning measures, are further reasons to start being pragmatic – and stop wiping down groceries and mail.

“Part of the problem that we’re having, I think as infectious disease doctors and virologists, is [getting] people to understand that simply knowing that a virus is present in something on a surface, or in an aerosol, doesn’t mean that that’s an efficient way for the virus to get itself transmitted, because viruses undergo all kinds of changes that can affect its infectivity, its ability to bind to a receptor that is on a person that allows for infection,” said Dr. Gerald Evans, medical director of infection prevention and control at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Queen’s University professor.

Dr. Evans added that one of the issues with disposable wipes is that they contribute to “the overall problems of trash.”

Dr. Peter Jüni, scientific director of Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, said that in public spaces and community settings outside of households, the risk of surface transmission is relatively low and can “easily be addressed through conventional cleaning – without deep cleaning, deep disinfection, and [by using] hand disinfectant.”

Aldo’s ensures your food is completely safe and healthy

So as we can see, there’s a line to be drawn between necessary sanitization, and sanitization theater. Restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey want to keep their customers and work staff safe, while also keeping costs within range and without contributing to environmental problems. At Aldo’s, we feel passionately about environmental issues, and we try and use eco-friendly solutions whenever possible.

We continuously educate ourselves on the best practices for maintaining safety and high standards at our restaurant, and walk the balance between what’s necessary and what isn’t as best as we can. This sometimes requires changes, but you can rest assured that the staff at Aldo’s stay on top of what’s going on and what we need to do to serve you best.

When you come to Aldo’s Restaurant for a meal, you can relax knowing it’s a safe environment – a place where you can just sit back and have a good meal without having to worry about viruses, or the world in general. It is our pleasure to provide delicious, healthy meals and a safe, inviting environment to our customers.

Italian food at Aldo’s Restaurant

Aldo’s is one of the best Italian restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey – so stop by sometime and try out our food! We will spoil you with mouth-watering food and heavenly wine, so you’ll never want to leave. If you want to pamper your taste buds, we’re the ones to go to! Here’s what we have to offer.

Dinner Menu

Come dine at Aldo’s! We’re open from 11:30 AM to 10 PM on Monday to Thursday, from 11:30 to 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 1 PM to 9 PM on Sundays. We do not serve breakfast or brunch, but we have a wonderful selection available for lunch and dinner!

Antipasti – Fried zucchini, stuffed mushrooms (baked and stuffed with garlic, chopped roasted peppers, bread crumbs and cheese), mussels provincial, clams oreganato, stuffed eggplants, fried calamari, zuppa di clams

Soups – Stracciatella Romana, Tortellini in Brodo, Minestrone Casalinga, Pasta Fagioli, and Soup of the Day

Insalate – House salad, Mozzarella and tomato, Insalata di mare (seafood salad: calamari, scungilli, mussels and shrimp with lettuce, onions and peppers in garlic, lemon and olive oil), tomato and onion salad, hearts of palm

Homemade Pasta – Fusili Maestosa (tricolor spiral pasta in a pink sauce with mushrooms, onions and prosciutto), cheese ravioli, gnocchi, paglia & fieno (green & white), lobster ravioli

Pasta – Linguine, linguine siciliana, rigatoni Bolognese, rigatoni alla vodka (pink cream sauce with vodka, onions, peas and prosciutto), penne arrabiato, penne all norma

We have gluten free pasta available (spaghetti and penne)

You can find the complete lunch and dinner menus by visiting this link.

Wine menu (by the glass)

We have some incredible wines available by the glass and by the bottle. Here’s part of our selection – white wines available by the glass, from some of the finest vineyards in the world. Our bar is open till 1 AM.

LaLuca Prosecco (Veneto, Italy)

Astoria Sparkling Moscato (Piemonte, Italy)

Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial (Champagne, France)

Simi Chardonnay (Sonoma, California)

Les Charmes Chardonnay (Macon-Lugny, France)

MaManis Family Vineyards Chardonnay (California)

Barone Fini Pinot Grigio (Valdadige)

Zenato Pinot Grigio (Italy)

Fouassier Sancerre Estate (Loire Valley, France)

Babich Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand)

Beringer White Zinfandel (Blush) (California)

Saint M Riesling (Pfalz, Germany)

Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rose (France)

For a complete pane and vino menu, visit this link.

You’re welcome to peruse the menu at home at your leisure, so you have plenty of time to decide what you want to have. However, if you aren’t sure, our staff would be glad to help!

There’s a world of difference between ordering in and dining out, but what are these differences, exactly? In today’s post-pandemic world, the question of whether to dine out or order in has suddenly become a lot more important, because the outdoors aren’t as safe anymore. Your favorite restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey may seem inviting, but should you dine out or order in? Aldo’s is Wyckoff is here with a comparison of the two, so you can make a better decision.

Dining out: The benefits

Dining out means going to a restaurant for a meal – whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has a lot to offer, and it’s an interesting experience (to say the least) for most people. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of dining out:

1. Pleasant experience

Restaurants work hard to create a nice atmosphere at their restaurant, which makes dining out a rather nice experience. Most restaurants have comfortable seating, courteous waitstaff, wonderful food, and an atmosphere that sparks conversations.

2. Break in monotony

You’ve been eating at home for years, and you’ll continue to do so for as long as you live there. So, what’s the fun of eating at home? Whether it’s at the dining table, in the kitchen, or even outdoors or someplace relatively nice – it’s still your home, and you’ve been to every single place a million times. Break the monotony by stepping out and going someplace new for a meal. Come to Aldo’s – we’re one of the best restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

3. Piping hot food

If you like your meals fresh and piping hot, there’s no beating food straight outta the kitchen. It’s nice to have this privilege even when you’re not making your own food. When ordering from a restaurant, this isn’t possible because the transit time will invariably make the food cool down a little bit. So your milkshakes or soda will be cool, while your food will be warm. And who likes that!?

4. Learning something new

Every time you go someplace new, you learn something new. If the place in question happens to be somewhere lots of skilled professionals work, the chances of picking up some interesting new information go up. Going to your favorite restaurant gives you the opportunity to chat with the staff and learn what different dishes are and how they’re prepared. You might find something you’ve never tried before!

Dining out: The disadvantages

While dining out is a pleasant experience, like most other experiences it has its downsides. Let’s take a look at some reasons why you wouldn’t want to dine out at a restaurant – especially right now:

1. You’re exposed to people

While normally this statement would sound ludicrous, right now it makes perfect sense. We’re in the grip of a global pandemic that has taken millions of lives, and while it’s somewhat under control, you’re still taking a risk going out to a place where you’ll be exposed to strangers. Some of them may be earlier carriers of the virus, while some others may be asymptomatic patients. This is a key disadvantage of dining out.

2. You have to drive out

If you’re feeling too lazy to cook, chances are you might not fancy a long drive out to a restaurant. If you don’t live near any good restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey, a long drive at night can seem daunting – especially if the weather isn’t on your side. And speaking of the weather, let’s move on the next point, which is…

3. You have to brave the weather

Whether it’s a humid, hot summer evening with mosquitoes galore, a nippy autumn night, or a freezing cold winter night with icy roads – you’ll have to brave it all in order to get to the restaurant. And if the restaurant is the open kind, you’ll have to bear the weather while dining as well. Usually it’s nice to have the outdoors come in, but not always!

4. Not possible for everyone

If you are differently abled, dining out may be a difficult experience for you – especially if the restaurant doesn’t have appropriate facilities available. At times, it may cause unpleasantness. Add to that the discomfort of a drive, and dining out seems like a rather unappealing prospect, especially when several alternatives are available.

Ordering in: The benefits

Food delivery apps have hit it out of the park because they offer something incredibly convenient. Now, here are some of the many, many benefits of ordering food online.

1. Bad weather isn’t a problem

Most delivery apps are open despite the weather, so you can order food most anytime, no matter what the weather’s like. You’ll be paying the app a small fee to make up for the delivery associate’s time and effort, and for this fee you get the convenience of tasty food delivered right to your doorstep.

2. It takes just a minute

If you’re a busy person and don’t have time to cook, dining out will be out of the question. However, ordering food takes just a minute (as long as you know what you want to eat)! Just choose what you want, pay, and place your order. Once your food arrives, you can enjoy it while working or studying. Most restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey deliver food through apps – including Aldo’s!

3. The comfort of home

If you suffer from social anxiety, or just like the comfort of home, ordering food is perfect. This way you get to enjoy the best of both worlds – top-class food from your favorite restaurant, in the comfort of your own little home! And you didn’t have to drive out to get the food either. Nothing beats that.

4. No car? No problem!

If you don’t have a car, getting around can be a huge problem. So, what happens if you don’t have a car and can’t (or don’t want to) cook at home? Well, you either go foraging in the forest, or you order some delicious food online! It’ll get to you in time, no matter where you live or who you are.

Ordering in: The disadvantages

While it may seem crazy that there are any disadvantages to ordering in (especially after reading that last section), we’ll be honest and admit it – there are a couple. Let’s take a look at some reasons why ordering food isn’t the best choice.

1. Virus risk

The coronavirus spreads incredibly easily. So, if the delivery associate was infected and accidentally touched your parcel with one unsanitized finger, the virus would transfer onto your parcel and might, then, come in contact with your hands and infect your body. If you’re immunocompromised or just don’t feel comfortable taking the risk, ordering in may not be for you.

2. Internet access

While it’s super easy to order from restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the process does involve one fickle element – the internet. If you live in a remote area, don’t have access to your smartphone, or if bad weather has caused a disruption in internet services – well, you’re out of luck!

3. It’s expensive

While many apps offer discounts on food, it’s still rather expensive compared to a home-cooked meal. So, if you’re looking for an affordable meal, you might want to reconsider ordering in. When ordering in, you have to pay the app a fee for the service it provides, and a fee to the delivery associate (through the app) for the service they provide. This can quickly add up.

4. It’s addicting!

It’s easy to order online and you get discounts a lot of the time, so you risk getting addicted to ordering food. The food is delicious, the offers are tempting, and the convenience is fantastic, so you may find yourself spiraling into an addiction – one which can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle and higher expenses. It’s a little like being addicted to shopping, except it impacts your health too.

Come dine at Aldo’s – one of the best restaurants in Ridgewood, New Jersey!

We’ve shared the pros and cons of dining out and ordering in so you can understand both concepts better and make a better decision the next time you don’t feel like cooking at home. However, if you can’t decide, just head out to your favorite restaurant – Aldo’s!

Here at Aldo’s Italian Restaurant, we follow all safety protocols to ensure your food is 100% safe. And it’s always fresh, healthy and delicious, made by our talented chefs who know how to cook up an Italian meal like nobody else. Our staff is polite and helpful, and they will help you choose a dish that’s perfect for your mood. We have a wonderful wine menu that you might like to peruse as well.  Our delicious food and wine will soon have you feeling like you’re in heaven.

Dining out has been popular for centuries, and it will continue to be so for a long, long time – and that’s for a very good reason! So, while we do fulfil orders online, there’s nothing like the restaurant experience. Come try it for yourself!

The world is full of some truly wonderful, strange new things. Whether it’s clothes, culture, creatures, or even food – there are some wonderful (yet weird) things out there! In this article, we at Aldo’s want to share some of the weirdest food around the world – from cat poop coffee, to fish eyes, to snakes. Come learn with your favorite Italian restaurant in Bergen County!

Weird food from around the world

Some of these items may put you off your lunch, but locally, they’re considered delicacies. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of unconventional delicacies, and see what people around the world eat!

1. Cat poop coffee

Guess where the world’s rarest, most expensive coffee comes from? The behind of a cat-like creature found in Indonesia, called the Luwak. The creature eats ripe coffee cherries but can’t digest them, so the coffee beans come out whole, and the stomach acids and enzymes that perform the fermentation process give the beans a special aroma. This coffee is like none other, and can set you back anywhere between $120-300 per pound!

2. Fried tarantulas

BootsnAll says: “If you suffer from arachnophobia you probably don’t want to try eating these eight-legged monsters. They’re not tiny little house spiders, they’re great big tarantulas and you can buy them from street vendors in Skuon, Cambodia.

They’re fried whole – legs, fangs and all. They were first discovered to be edible by starving Cambodians in the bloody, brutal days of the Khmer Rouge rule and have gone from being the vital sustenance of these people to a delicacy tourists come from far and wide to try.”

3. Tuna Eyeballs

If you visit Japan, don’t be surprised if you see people eating fish eyeballs. It sounds pretty disgusting, but locals claim it tastes rather tame – similar to squid or octopus in taste and texture. There’s none of the gunk you’d associate with slicing up eyeballs, and the food is considered quite yummy in Japan.

While weird may be wonderful, it’s not for everyone. If you want some plain old Italian comfort food, come on over to Aldo’s – your favorite Italian restaurant in Bergen County!

4. Black pudding

Also known as blood sausage, this dish is made by cooking congealed blood with various natural flavorings and thickening agents like suet and breadcrumbs, and then stuffing it into a sausage skin. While many people find it revolting, this dish is actually quite popular, and is enjoyed around the world. The end product is found universally tasty. Give it a try sometime! You may be surprised at your own reaction.

5. Jellied moose nose

The Canadians sure love their moose (or is it meese?), as is evidenced by this dish. It sounds truly appalling, but locals say it tastes alright. As for us non-locals, it looks as bad as it tastes. From Rough Guides: “Just the name of this snack is a strong contender for ‘weirdest food in the world’. Nose isn’t exactly a choice cut, but that hasn’t stopped some adventurous Canadians from experimenting with nasal gastronomy by boiling them up with onions and spices, removing the hair, boiling again, then slicing and covering with a broth that sets into a jelly.”

6. Maggot cheese

From BootsnAll: “This Sardinian cheese is riddled with insect larvae. “Casu Marzu” means ‘rotten cheese’ and is most commonly referred to as ‘maggot cheese.’ It’s now been banned for health reasons but can still be found for sale on the black market in Sardinia and other parts of Italy.

This sheep’s milk cheese is basically Pecorino, which has had the larvae of the cheese fly, Piophila casei, introduced into it. Fermentation occurs as the larvae digest the cheese fats, and the texture becomes very soft with some liquid seeping out. The cheese has to be eaten when the maggots are still alive because when they are dead it is considered to be toxic.”

7. Live octopus

Live octopi are cut into pieces, lightly seasoned with sesame oil, and served immediately with the tentacles still squirming in this Korean dish also known as sannakji. Once the octopus is in your mouth, the tentacles will suction themselves to your tongue and to the roof of your mouth. You need to get them off with chopsticks and then chew. Some locals call this part a “party in your mouth”.

For vegetarians, this may be especially hard to fathom. For some tasty Italian food, head over to your trusted Italian restaurant in Bergen County – that’s us! We have some great vegetarian options available, along with some truly tasty vino.

8. Hakarl

From Rough Guides: “How anyone conceived hakarl is a mystery, but today it’s an Icelandic national dish. To prepare: first gut and behead a Greenland shark, place in a shallow grave and cover with sand and stones. Leave for two to three months, then cut into strips and dry for several more months before serving: first-time tasters are advised to hold their nose and try not to gag.”

9. Bird’s nest soup

You’re probably imagining twigs and moss floating around in some liquid, but it’s actually a lot worse – this soup is made from swiftlets’ nests, which is made out of saliva. Gross factor aside, this is one of the most expensive animal products consumed by humans, since the nests can only be harvested three times a year. The soup, served in China, has a high nutritious content, and is also believed to have aphrodisiac properties. A bowl of bird’s nest soup can cost between $30 to $100.

10. Puffer fish

This delicacy could potentially kill you. So, while the fish itself isn’t especially weird, the fact that people would risk their lives to eat a properly prepared puffer fish is what makes it a contender on this list. Puffer fish venom is 1,250 times more powerful than cyanide, to give you some context. Only try it from a licensed restaurant, otherwise you could end up paralyzed and eventually die from asphyxiation.

11. Snake wine

When in Vietnam, eat as the locals do – and that may mean some snake wine. Yum! It’s shocking, but it isn’t dangerous. And the taste is rather unique. BootsnAll talks about the method of preparation:

“The snake is left to steep in the rice wine for many months to let the poison dissolve in the wine. Ethanol neutralizes the venom so it’s not dangerous. This wine originated in Vietnam, where snakes are thought to possess medicinal qualities, but has spread to other parts of South East Asia and Southern China. Snake wine shouldn’t be confused with the potentially more dangerous snake blood wine, made by slicing the belly of the snake to let the blood drain into the wine and served immediately.”

Unsurprisingly, the weirdest foods in the world are predominantly animal products. While we humans do eat some interesting plants, plants simply aren’t ‘weird’ enough to make it to this list. However, honorable mentions go to cinnamon bark, stinging nettle leaf, the stigma and styles in saffron, fermented tea and chocolate, strawberries (which have seeds on the outside), cactus spines, Romanesco broccoli (yay, fractals!), achocha or ‘fat babies’, and the alien-looking kohlrabi.

So, this was our list of some of the most wonderfully weird food found around the world. Which was your favorite? Tell us! You can get in touch with our Italian restaurant in Bergen County by emailing us at info@aldosofwyckoff.com.

Be open to adventure

While food like live octopus and bird’s nest soup isn’t for everyone, it’s truly an adventure when you get to try something novel. So, keep an open mind, be adventurous, and if life presents you with a chance, grab it before it goes away. Everything has its own unique appeal, and by not trying something, you’re letting go of an opportunity. Think about it the next time you’re offered something weird and shocking – you might enjoy the taste, and then you’ll have a story to tell!

The best Italian restaurant in Bergen County

If you’re craving some delicious Italian food, come over to Aldo’s, and we’ll spoil you with some of the best food in town. Our food is skillfully made by a talented staff, with fresh herbs and ingredients. Our team loves what they do, and it shows in the quality of the food and the ambience of our humble little restaurant. You’ll feel the difference when you eat at Aldo’s.

For more than 30 years, Aldo’s Italian restaurant has supplied his customers with high quality food, great service and good prices. Open seven days a week, this newer location will provide a wonderful space for family dining or special intimate gatherings, featuring 3 separate dining rooms plus an outdoor patio, and private dining rooms.

As one of our new additions, customers will be delighted with a well prepared and fresh brick oven pizza.

Under the same roof you’ll find pane & vino wine bar, a welcoming full bar and liquor store where patrons will enjoy great food and an extensive selection of wine and drinks. Customers may purchase at retail prices and enjoy at Aldo’s Restaurant or you may bring your own.

Whether it’s for a romantic date, a special occasion (like your anniversary), or for the holiday season, eating at a restaurant is always a treat. However, one of the main problems about going to a restaurant is that during the holidays or during pleasant nights, most places will be packed. And then you have to drive all the way out, pay for the meal, and finish it in a hurry. You don’t have to make it or do the dishes, however, which is a small luxury.

Aldo’s is the go-to Bergen County restaurant for the festive season and for special occasions, but the current pandemic has given us some perspective on the many reasons people may not want to go out. So the next time you want to celebrate, do it at home instead! You can make the occasion special and have a real fine-dining experience with our guide below.

Getting started: Knowing what you want

Having a clear picture of what you want is important, so you can work towards that goal. If you get fine dining and a homey dinner mixed up, for instance, you’ll get nowhere. So decide what sort of celebration it should be, whether it’s appropriate for the event at hand, and whether the participants will enjoy it. If the event is your 5-year-old child’s birthday, for instance, a party with friends might be better than a fancy restaurant experience.

Our guide is geared towards creating a fine dining restaurant experience for dates, anniversaries and other special occasions.

Step 1: Decide the menu

Your restaurant du maison needs a menu. So come up with one! Decide the items you’re going to make – the appetizer, the courses, the dessert, and coffee. You can pick a theme, like American or Italian cuisine, and stick to it throughout the menu. It makes things that extra bit fancier.

Step 2: Buy all necessary supplies

You’ll need lots of supplies if you want to turn your home into a restaurant – ingredients, flowers, candles, decorations, and possibly linens and china as well! Get everything you’ll need, bearing in mind the fact that your dining room needs to look and feel like a Bergen County restaurant. If you find some good silk handkerchiefs, grab them. Also get some long-stemmed flowers! You’ll find out why in a minute.

Step 3: Prepare the food ahead of time

While eating freshly made food is wonderful, that doesn’t mean you need to do everything at the last minute. Prepare everything beforehand – chopping, peeling, dicing and boiling. Some items may need to stay on the stove or in the oven for a while, and you don’t want to worry about that while you’re putting on your eyeliner (we all know what’ll happen then). So prepare what you can ahead of time, leaving just a couple things for the last moment.

Step 4: Clean the space

You don’t need balloons and ribbons hanging from the walls or a fancy chandelier dangling from over the table, but what you do need is a tidy room. If there’s any mess or clutter that might detract from the experience, take care of it. Remember to work smarter, not harder – don’t spend an hour on your knees, mopping, if you can hide a stain with a convenient carpet. You’ve got a lot to do, and not a whole lot of time!

Step 5: Break out the silverware and the nice linens

Pick out your favorite table linens (those fancy new ones you just bought, perhaps?) and break out the nicest silverware you have. You’ll need cutlery, wineglasses, china, all the trimmings. Set the table with them. Your dining table’s going to look like it’s straight out of a Bergen County restaurant. You want to make the dinner a feast not just for your stomach, but for all senses – the eyes, nose, ears, mouth and skin.

Step 6: Consider lighting and scents

Lighting plays an important part in how a space looks, so consider adapting the lighting to your requirements. If it’s to be a seductive date, dim them and use some nice, scented candles. Diners enjoy food more in soft or dim lighting according to studies, so try and keep the lights dim.

While scented candles are ideal, you can get away with using some air freshener in a pinch, especially if the room smells unideal. Just don’t overdo it – restaurants don’t smell like air freshener for a reason. It’s unappetizing!

Step 7: Create a special playlist

The best restaurants, malls and other public places use music to their advantage. Music can make you feel a certain way; it can make you react a certain way. It can make you more or less responsive. So choose some good, slow music for a romantic date and create a playlist on your phone. Set up speakers so you hear the music nicely.

Step 8: Print out your menu

A posh restaurant needs a printed, laminated menu. Print out some, using nice fonts and borders to give it some style. Choose a color scheme that works with your theme – don’t go with traditional black-on-white, for instance, try something like royal blue, gold on navy, or even a textured background. You could try writing the menu, if you know calligraphy.

Step 9: Put some flowers in a vase

It’s always best if you have a garden, because you can run out and grab things that are just perfect – like a branch of maple, or a red twig dogwood. However, if you don’t, those flowers you bought earlier will come in handy. Pick out a pretty vase, fill it with water, add some florist’s preservative to it, and arrange it to the best of your abilities. It should look somewhat symmetrical, but other than that you can do what you’d like with it!

Step 10: Put out place cards

From The Daily Meal: “Using place cards is just one of the biggest wedding trends through the decades. They lend an air of elegance to dinner at home. Write or print off names of guests, even if it’s just two of you, and attach them to napkins, shells, pinecones, wine corks or anything else you can think of to add an element of whimsy to your dinner.”

Step 11: Start a fire

You’ll want a nice log fire going to set the scene. It’ll make your dining room feel warm and cozy, which is perfect for a winter day. If you have a fireplace near the dining room, get some use out of it by piling in some of the real stuff (no paper logs!) and lighting a fire. If you don’t have a fireplace you could consider playing a video of one on your computer, but in our opinion it isn’t the same.

Step 12: Dress the part

From Kitchen Magazine: “Just because you’re in the warm confines of your home doesn’t mean you can’t get a little dressy for the occasion. Just wear what you would wear as if you were going out. When you and your guests look the part, your ‘home restaurant’ will feel the part.”

Make sure your partner dresses nice too! No athleisure allowed at the table. Ask them to put on a nice suit for your Bergen County restaurant date. Dress code: formal.

Step 13: No phones allowed!

Phones distract from the experience, and you can’t have that during a fancy meal. Whether it’s for checking messages, taking work calls or for Instagramming your food, cell phones should be strictly off-limits during the dinner. State the rule beforehand and put your cellphones on silent in the next room, so you aren’t struck by an urge to go take a look at it.

Step 14: Get a breadbasket

For many restaurant goers, the breadbasket is the best part of the dining experience. If you’re good at this stuff, you could try making your own. However, for most people, premade rolls or bread are the way to go. Know your limits and stick by them if you want to avoid disaster. Pick out a pretty basket to put the bread in.

Step 15: Start the meal

Now it’s finally time! Invite your partner in, start the meal, bringing out course after course. Enjoy the meal together, take your time, appreciate the wine, the light, the fire, and have a good time all round! It isn’t every day you can have such an experience.

Step 16: Don’t worry!

If something goes wrong – one of the speakers doesn’t work, the meal’s a little late getting ready, or your favorite dress doesn’t fit – relax. It’s okay to want perfection, but expecting it is a different story. Things go wrong all the time – tell yourself this fact, and embrace it. If something goes awry, just adapt to the circumstances and roll with it.

Come dine at the best Bergen County restaurant

Aldo’s is the finest Italian restaurant in New Jersey. Come dine at our Bergen County outlet, where we’ll spoil you with good food and even better wine. All our food is fresh, and made with love by our talented staff. Once you dine at our restaurant, you’ll find yourself coming back for more!