Friday, August 14, 2009

A P Supermarket

614 Clinton Street

Because why not?

See? I knew your question and could sense your head scratching with this post. I know you – all of my readers – and can anticipate your reactions before you utter a word (or post a comment – which nobody has aside from my lovely sister Larah, ahem). But yes, back to the point – the A & P supermarket. I feel as though it is only right to talk about the place that I frequent for food with by far the most regularity. It is a great grocery store and has probably the best prices in town.

The store really is quite large and inventory runs the gamut – everything from wine, cheese, produce, and meat to dry goods. It’s all there. Like the grocery stores I remember back home in the land of plenty. There is a seafood counter, though I wouldn’t necessarily vouch for its freshness and quality. But every week there are savings to be had – and on good items (i.e. staples in my kitchen) like wheat thins, laughing cow cheese, diet coke, vegetables, Coppola wines and apples.

I went ahead and signed up for the A & P super special savers card (or whatever its called) and now I get a report at the bottom of each receipt that lists how much money I have saved in some specified period of time. This is always a point of pride for me – It feels so good to save $$!

I do visit the Garden of Eden when I want to stock up on my shirataki noodles and other specialty items that the A & P doesn’t carry – but really, it is much farther away, and unless I want to bring my old grandmother wheeling basket, I really prefer not to lug groceries. (Yes, I do actually have an old lady grocery basket that I use for big shops…What?! It’s practical!)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Rogo’s Bar and Grill

734 Willow Avenue

Let me begin by saying – I <3 Rogo’s spinach and goat cheese salad. Ok, that is the most important take away, so if you are skimming, you needn’t read on. For those of you that genuinely enjoy reading my restaurant reviews – I know, so many fans! – well, I <3 you too!

Rogo’s is just another neighborhood bar that happens to serve top-notch food. I wouldn’t have even ventured in this place unless my fearless companion, el chelulite, had done the foot work and test drove it, delivering rave reviews. I am once again thankful for her ability to look beyond aesthetics and see what’s inside of a person – ahem – restaurant, yes restaurant, that really counts ;) She introduced me to the delicious sweet potato fries (absolute perfection!) though I found the salad on my own.

I have to say, I was never a fan of the salad serving as main entrée, especially at dinner. But as of late, I have had no other choice. I am getting ever closer to the middle of my 20’s and my metabolism is beginning to turn on me. It is a salad like this that makes fitting into a size 26 jeans still possible. The spinach and goat cheese is complemented with portabella mushrooms, warm grilled chicken and topped with a light balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It is perfection – or as close to perfection as a salad can get.

Rogo’s also serves drinks and offers a number of weeknight specials, but for me, these are just petty details. The bar itself is a bit common and feels every bit like a local watering hole. The sandwiches and salads that Chels has tried are also fantastic, so I am a supporter of this establishment and recommend stopping in for a casual weeknight dinner. So, fellow readers, whomever has made it to this far without x-ing out, let’s go to Rogo tonight!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Margherita’s Pizza and Café

740 Washington Street

Last Sunday after a particularly long romp in Fire Island, I ventured with my beloved Chelly bean off to get some sustenance. We were both famished and positively couldn’t pick a spot – until we came upon Margherita’s and decided that anywhere pizza, pastas served with heavy cream, and abundances of cheese covered the menu, we might satisfy our been-at-the-beach-all-weekend-and-need-some-real-food-now appetites. In we went.

Upon being seated, the waiter must have noticed us drooling excessively at the other patrons dishes, so he graciously brought us some bruschetta. Very nice; delicious tomatoes. It took a long time to decide what to order – our neighbors chicken parmigiana looked fantastic – but ultimately we settled upon the restaurant’s namesake pizza and the penne alla vodka. The hearty portions hit the spot and we were served some great comfort food. The pizza reminded us of a delicious childhood pizzeria, Buffos, and thus we were in Highwood-heaven with the more bready crust and thick layer of cheese. The penne alla vodka was creamy and rich – and served in quite the quantity.

Five star Italian cuisine? I think not. But this is a solid neighborhood spot for a post-beach feast, or a dinner when the calories just aren’t counting. The restaurant is very simple yet lively and the tables are very close, so it feels like you are dining with extended family (the Jersey side…). I would recommend this place for a nice family dinner, or a date with a long-term partner that you no longer need to impress with a nice, slender figure. Unfortunately, my family lives in Chicago and I do not fall into the later category (unless you count Chelsea), so I will hold off on Margherita’s for the time being. But to those of you that do visit - Buon appetito!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Modern Nails

728 Washington Street

Seeing that I have been getting manicures since I was in about 6th grade, I am always game to try the hot, new place.  So I tried Modern Nails, the new place on Washington, a few times just to be thorough, and have come to the conclusion that I probably will not return.  Though this is definitely one of the more polished nail shops I have seen (ha) the skills of the manicurists overall are not uniform and I just don't feel like risking another bad manicure when I know a dozen other places I can get a great one every time.

The shop is nice and clean, and the manicurists are very friendly and professional, yet the quality of your manicure/pedicure totally depends on who does it.  The shop owner, or overseer, who looks on the other workers with stern hostility is a bit frightening, even for me.  Can't imagine being her employee!  I have had two pedicures that were fantastic - long massages with hot stones - but on the downside the polish chipped really fast.  I just had my first manicure there today and granted I did get a harder color (ballet slippers) I was left unfulfilled, as the polish is very streaky and uneven.  I do appreciate a great massage, but I need the nail polish to look nice and last for longer than 12 hours.

So, I have decided that I will probably not be back.  If you're looking for a great manicure in Hoboken, Viva La Nails a few blocks up on Washington is always on point.  

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pizza Tour on Hold –

Sorry to disappoint my curious readers hanging onto my every last word, but the pizza tour is being called off. Gasp! I know it seems a bit drastic, but due to the fact that my waist line is expanding faster than we’re printing money to fuel the stimulus, I really must. My oldest sister Christie is getting married in May, and I’m pretty sure that she will turn into a wild bridezilla if I show up at her wedding stuffed like a sausage into my (very forgiving silk) bridesmaid dress. Ha!
So in an effort to ease your disappointment, I will not give up food all together. At least not yet. I will just stick to the basics – small cheese plates, wine and sushi. I am very eager to try that new Tuscan steak restaurant at the W…but, really…must…stay…on…trackkk.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick Oven Pizzeria

133 Clinton Street / 201-792-0800

I’ve always been a softie and rooted for the underdog. So when everybody raved about Grimaldi’s having the best pizza, I was skeptical and felt the need to defend my love for Benny Tudinos. (Don’t ask why a pizza place would incite such deep emotions…it’s a slippery slope.) So I decided to order in a mushroom pie one Sunday morning and test this so-called winner out.

The pizza was pretty good, but I wasn’t wowed. It must have cooled on the journey and in doing so the crust lost all crunch and instead had a hard pull to it. The cheese was still fresh and delicious, and there are no complaints on the tomato sauce—so I decided that judging them based on delivery might not be responsible journalism.


A few weeks later, with Chelsea in tow, I headed to Grimaldi’s to test the pizza in its natural environment. Hey – its only fair. Though Chelsea is a phenomenal dining companion, she often times dulls my senses by insisting on drinks (hehe – stick to the truth, Chel)but seeing that she’s my only known companion in Hoboken, I comply. So we order a large pitcher of beer along with a medium mushroom pie and wait. To my disease and sorrow, I realize all of the raving is justified. The crust is thin and crispy, the cheese tasts rich and delicious, fresh mushrooms as they should be and delicate sauce. Loved it. All four slices. And though I do love pizza, that my friends, does not happen very often ;)

So in all – Grimaldi’s is delicious pizza, though probably best enjoyed when dining in, which works out nicely because this restaurant is probably the nicest pizza joint in Hoboken.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Benny Tudinos

622 Washington Street / 201-792-4132

Meet my BFF Benny. We’re tight. He serves by far and away the LARGEST slice of pizza I’ve ever seen. Not only is it the largest – but it is also one of the more delicious slices I’ve had in my life. I’m not going to call it the ‘B’ word yet—but I’m inching ever closer.

I have visited Benny Tudinos a number of times since this pizza tour commenced, all in the name of the contest of course, and am yet to leave feeling disappointed…or hungry. The pizza is spectacular – a substantial crust that crunches, flavored tomato sauce that isn’t too sweet, cheese…lots of delicious cheese and most notably the sheer magnitude of the slice. BT’s also offers a number of other dishes, but I am a loyal devotee to their pizza.

The only draw backs are some of the shadsters that this establishment employs. My little sister, 18, stopped in alone one Monday and was joined by a large, 30-something employee. He chose to plop himself down in her booth, uninvited, and comment on the color of her eyes. Then there’s Chelsea. Lovely Chelsea. Stumbling in quite often at 2am, she is often solicited for her phone number by Benny’s pizza makers. Yikes! So, I personally prefer to take my pizza to go. I walk down the street and as I maneuver the massive slice, people stop and stare in amazement. Then a few seconds later I hear, “where did she get that pizza?!?!”

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Mile Square

221 Washington Street / 201-420-0222

Katharine: "Chel - I'm hung over. I need some food. Now."
Chelsea: "Ugh me too. Where should we go? I want chicken fingers."
K: "I want pizza. Let's go to Mile Square."
C: "No way—it’s too far. I can’t make it."
K: "Commonnnn its so good, Chelly bean."
C: "Fine. See you there in 2 minutes."

And so goes the conversation between Chelulite and Fat Kat most Saturday mornings. Yes, there are usually that many name references (I don’t know why but I always call Chelsea by one of the many (usually semi-offensive) pet names that I keep for her), and yes, Chelsea always pretends she doesn’t want to go to Mile Square, though I know secretly she’s already getting dressed and ready to meet me there. Call is playing hard to get, call it bluffing badly; I call it love. Then we dive into one of our standard morning-after meals. A pill alone won’t solve this one. We need the care of our favorite smiley waitress and New Jersey grease to normalize. The four cheese pizza is our go-to. It’s great. It has a nice soft crust and thick layer of delicious cheese. They sidestep the whole tomato sauce convention in favor of more cheese. And I say right on. I was never one to follow conventions. Conventions that reduce my cheese intake anyways.

Though Chelsea claims that she doesn’t love their chicken fingers, she has no problem returning and repeatedly ordering them each Saturday. So if you ask me, she's just pretending (again, back to playing hard to get…). Why? It defies convention and would be irresponsible for me to guess in this widely followed, public forum. So I will leave this one open for Chelsea to comment on.

The food is always as expected and the environment is casual, so it’s perfect for lunch on a Saturday—if you live like Chelsea and I do, always. Prices are as expected and the service is always very nice and attentive. Date spot? Not if you want it to be a repeat occurrence. Family friendly (aka kid friendly)? I shudder at the thought. Just stick to bringing your friends in for lunch and we’ll all do the Saturday shuffle together. Hey – no judgments.

Side note: Do not let the sweet talking waitress fool you like she did us. The refills on diet coke are not free. I repeat NOT free. One Saturday morning, when we were still a bit hazy from our shenanigans the night before, the waitress took advantage of our camel-like thirst and continued bringing us refills. The total was like $60 - about $40 of which was on our diet cokes! Do not fall for those fluttering eyelashes and that sweet smile... just like they say in health class –know what you're getting into and protect yourself!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Uptown Pizzeria

54 14th Street

The best to date. The store front was small, but more attractive than the others. I ordered a slice of mushroom pizza and a bottle of diet coke--total $5. There is no seating, so I took my slice and perched along the side counter. The slice was not huge, but large enough and extremely flavorful and fresh. The light crust was just phenomenal; it was equal parts thin and soft, with a perfect light crunch at the bottom of the crust. The tomato sauce was flavored well--not too sweet and not too chunky. The mushrooms were sautéed beforehand and added to the overall appeal of the slice. Needless to say, I will be a repeat customer. Well done, Uptown pizzeria pizza makers.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Dining Room at Anthony David's

953 Bloomfield Street

Wow. I live just a few blocks from this place and have been walking by, swearing to try it for six months. Finally, I found a reason to celebrate and ventured in for dinner with Chelsea (who so often makes repeat guest appearances in these reviews :) ) last night. In addition to being a BYO, the restaurant offers a $35 5-course tasting menu Tuesday-Thursday, which is the route we decided to go (with much hesitation I must add because we wanted to order everything on the menu). The dining room is very cozy, with plush seating, an intimate setting, soft lighting and a homey, but upscale feel. It doesn’t try to be trendy or modern which I appreciated. Great spot for groups, romantic dinners, or just a good ol' amazing dinner.

We were floored. To start we had bread that we dipped in a smooth, slightly thick white bean and olive oil spread. Was delicious. First course: a hearty lentil soup with carrots and smoked chicken. The portions were small, but appropriate for a dinner of five courses. The soup was homey and warm, perfect for a cold day in winter. Second course: very gourmet bruchetta. The toasted bread was topped with a mild white cheese, sautéed, sweet red pepper and hardboiled egg yolks. The flavors complemented each other perfectly and were heightened with the dash of balsamic vinaigrette on the side. Third course: a light pasta dish comprised of delicate shell noodles wrapped up like penne, fresh crab and spinach. The dish was small and although I don’t particularly care for crab--I found myself really enjoying this dish. Fourth course: a small shrimp atop sautéed spinach and sweet corn. The best dish by far. So sweet, with flavors that did wonders together--all in all an amazing bite, I loved it. Final, fifth course: a tender duck breast with blue cheese mashed potatoes with a red wine sauce with cooked cherries. Amazing duck, very juicy and flavorful, cooked perfection.

In all the five courses, brought flawlessly from the kitchen provided plenty of food and really impressed us. The flavors were refreshing plays off classics and transitioned perfectly as the courses moved on. Though the menu is very pricy, the $35 tasting menu and BYO policy allow everybody to experience the food and ambience for a bargain. I can't wait to return.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Mario’s Classic Pizza

742 Garden Street

Not Good.  I ordered a slice of cheese pizza (total $2.68) to go at this little corner shop and though it was livelier than others, with a TV playing sports and a few people dining in, the pizza itself was pretty horrible.  The crust was flaky—not exactly crispy, but flaky like a pot pie crust—and the inner crust was still a bit gooey and undercooked.  The tomato sauce wasn’t very noticeable and the cheese was the sort of translucent, greasy cheese that doesn’t really melt like normal, but gets a funny, runny consistency.  All in all, this pizza was a big disappointment…I didn’t even finish my slice (which is truly a remarkable thing) even though the slice was significantly smaller than most of the others I’ve had.

 

Sunday, January 4, 2009

7 Star Pizza

7 Star Pizza

342 Garden Street

Good pizza.  Though this will not be considered the best, I think it’s a solid contender and stand up well to the competition.  As the first official stop on my pizza tour, I entered the small, undistinguished store front very hungry (which also might be a reason that the pizza was as good as it was…) and ordered one slice of mushroom pizza and a can of diet coke.  Total $4.25.  The pizza slice was huge—larger than the paper plate—and had a nice crispy crust, yet wasn’t too thin for my taste. My gripes: the tomato sauce was quite sweet and the mushrooms were canned.  All in all, the pizza crust was perfect, not too thin and yet still very crispy, but the pizza was a bit sweet for my liking.  On to the next…

Saturday, January 3, 2009

It's on

As my search for the best pad thai has met fruition, I am now moving on and devoting myself full time to finding the best pizza in Hoboken.  In the few months that I have been in Hoboken I have had some good pizza—Grimaldis & Benny Tudinos—but I haven’t moved much further.  And while satisfied with these places, I know that there are other spots that I must try.  So I am pushing on with you, my fellow readers, and together we will embark on an expedition that will span from the depths of 14th Street to the foothills of Newark Street.   Though I know that there will be tough times, and moments that I will have to use the core of my strength to push myself—I know that together, well, “YES WE CAN!!”

 

Off we go…moving around the city of Hoboken in no particular order…