Do you have plans this Thursday night? A certain group of men in Baristaville do — and they’ve had those same dinner plans — on the last Thursday of every month — for more than 12 years. Those plans center around an all meat menu and some major male bonding. Nothing — not work, vacations, wives or girlfriends — gets in the way of what’s become known simply as Meat Night.
Rich, of Montclair (who only wears this hat for about five minutes during his brief welcome speech), invited Baristanet to discover Meat Night. He wrote: “I ‘manage’ a group of loosely connected Montclair guys who have been religiously meeting on the last thursday of the month for over 10 years. It’s sort of a dinner club, we rent out the basement hall of a restaurant, and membership is open. It’s an extremely addicting routine, and it’s really amazing how so many individuals from so many walks of life stubbornly clear their calendars month after month and converge over an all-meat dinner, you would think we’re all brothers.”
This coming Thursday, like the last Thursday of each month before, somewhere between 25-45 men will show up at Solar do Minho, an elegant Portuguese Brazilian restaurant tucked away on a Belleville side street known for its extensive meat offerings. The first rule of Meat Night is absolutely no women are allowed — none in the dozen or so years that Meat Night has been in existence, starting first at a restaurant in Kearney for four years before settling into its current Bellevile home for the last eight.
Last month, the men of Meat Night bent the rules and made a one-time exception. I became the first and only woman to experience Meat Night.
Like every other Meat Night virgin, I was asked to take part in some traditions. One was drinking shots of aguardente (fiery water). Another was eating really raw top sirloin (I needed those shots of aguardente before I tried the raw meat, but it was surprisingly good).
In between drinking shots and eating slices every cut of meat imaginable (chateaubriand, bacon-wrapped meats, short ribs, pork ribs, all washed down with fantastic sangria), I spent some time getting to know the men of Meat Night. There were local members from Montclair, Glen Ridge and Bloomfield, as well as guys from Passaic, Morris, Bergen and Sussex counties representing, and one who drove up from South Jersey. The group, which started with a handful of guys who would take a ride on their motorcycles and then go out for a meat dinner, now has some 20 core members that have come for years and an email list of over 100. New members keep cycling in and the group is eclectic — a lawyer, plumber, accountant, a favorite Montclair ice cream shop owner, and once, even a vegetarian. “It’s always fun to see who turns up,” says Howard, one of the regulars, who is also on the group’s “council.” Has anyone ever been kicked out of Meat Night? Only one man in 12 years — a guy nicknamed Eddie Balls who was asked to leave after he tried to show his one too many times. Was there ever a Meat Night that didn’t happen? No — the closest was a Meat Night that coincided with a blizzard, so only four guys showed up.
I had a blast at Meat Night — the guys were great and made me feel incredibly welcome (including Solar do Minho host/manager Miguel Castro) and it’s an evening I won’t soon forget. And even though I didn’t win the Super Bowl pool, I was glad to see some Meat Night men made it to the big game.
Remember when I asked you if you had plans? That’s right — if you’re a guy and want to check out Meat Night — you’re invited. Just show up around 8 p.m., bring your love of meat and $50 (it buys you pretty much all the meat and sangria you could ever want, as well as shots of aguardente and porto to finish your meal, tax and tip included).
Meat Night, 2/23, Solar do Minho, 15 Cleveland Street, Belleville, 973-844-0500
I had no idea that a fairly highly-rated Portuguese restaurant was nearby — we have tried several tourist traps in Ironbound with mixed results. We last had Rodizio at Texas De Brazil in Orlando and — even as expensive as it was — that experience was fantastic! Solar do Minho’s website is under construction, so you can’t see their menu right now, but judging from reviews on Yelp! and Chowhound, we will try this place in the near future. Thanks, Liz!
Oh I get it now ….A meat and greet.
Conan – I think you will like!
I wouldn’t have taken you for a meat virgin, Liz. I would’ve thought you’d have had plenty of meat.
I also have a regular meat night event at this restaurant once every five years. The first one was about five years ago. The food was really excellent and having the butcher come to your table to slice you off a hunk of this or that is a great show.
Wallaroo,
Of course Liz eats meat. All Greeks eat meat: https://youtu.be/HnjWZT3yWWc
I would imagine ‘roo that, hopping in clad in your pink shirt with your ears all perked up like that, you’d be a welcome addition to Meat Night.
I’ll have a haunch, please!
Channelling Elmer Fudd… “A-hunting we wiwl go…”
The only disturbing thing about the meal was that one of the dishes, I think, contained wallaroo meat. Very tender and nicely seasoned, however.
Is the subtitle of this group “the short-lived-unhealthy-mens’ club”?
May I ask you, walleroo, what in fact do you do for a living which allows you to so reliably post here daily? (Your evening and late-late postings I attribute to familial or social estrangement of some full-fledged kind.)
On another thread, you posted that you like what you “do” for a job very much. Most surely would, given that it apparently allows you so much time to ride this site and to post. But I sometimes wonder if there isn’t in fact some unemployed something or other who’d give his or employer better value.
Or is perhaps that you really just are that good at whatever it is you do? I see you as one of those Democratic or Republican “strategists” who so infest Fox News and MSNBC, since I suspect they too hardly do any real work save for picking up paychecks from cable news networks for uttering unprovable opinions.
Meat Night sure does sound like a fun way to toy with one’s cholesterol and BP, I have to admit. Were I a cardiologist (or even maybe a mortician), I’d certainly be in the group’s debt.
I must go to this place!
“Like every other Meat Night virgin, I was asked to take part in some traditions.” Interesting turn of phrase…
I’m a shepherd in the highlands, cathar. While the sheep graze, I have much free time to post.
I’m Greek and I love this place!
Maybe the Baristas should organize a meat night – but of course, including us “wimmin” folk.
How about a Mad Men party with steaks and martinis?
First, jerseygurl, we’ll need to steak out a place to have it and find someone to roast.
I nominate you, nellie. You’ve got the chops for it.
My newly formed band “The Meat Night Virgins” can perform.
Montclair desperately needs a place with great steaks and martinis. Like Richie’s about five years ago, without the hoopla.
@Conan – I love Solar – very good food without schlepping down to Newark.
I second the notion for a Barista Chicks martini and whatever night. Or we can have our own meat and eat at Solar as well!
How does one get on the email list to find out about future outings?
How come they don’t include women? They certainly like meat in their mouths.
Dose….If you have to ask you don’t know.