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.  

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.

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.

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?!?!”

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!