Hudson Restaurant Week: Even Better Than New York!

While New York City Restaurant Week is winding down this week, Hudson Restaurant Week kicks off today and lasts until Friday, August 7. For the fifth summer, Hudson Restaurant Week is featured at many fab restaurants across Hoboken and Jersey City. Though $35 for a decent 3-course meal at a Manhattan restaurant is not unreasonable, this can still be a financial drain. Not to fear. Hudson Restaurant Week is geared up and offering 3-course prix fix dinner for varying prices, starting at only $25. It's a great way to try new restaurants and cuisine. Not to mention the prix fixes offer a nice sampling of food specialties - perfect for taste testing (which consequently is what I love best).

Some restaurants on my list include Light Horse Tavern (one of the best skirt steaks around), the new Fire & Oak (at the new JC Westin), Lua (Hoboken), and The Quays (Hoboken). While I will most likely not get to all of these in the next two weeks, I like to dream big. For the complete list of participating restaurants, you can check out the list here. Bonus: Visit their site where you can join their e-mail list and note where you found out about Hudson Restaurant Week (betweenjcandmanhattan.com!). More viewers = more postings = more great deals coming at you!

Baba Booey's Peanutastic Cupcake

I am a long time fan of The Howard Stern Show. Yes I, sophisticated Manhattan chick, love Howard & crew, ok? Fart jokes, sex jokes, and all. (Except Sal & Richard...sorry guys). And while commuting by definition is miserable, I do miss getting my daily Sirius-streamed dose. After my fantastic sushi dinner last weekend, hubby and I decided to check out the brandy new Hoboken Crumbs, and imagine my surprise and excitement at the addition of a Baba Booey-inspired cupcake.

Yes, as I and any self-respecting Howard fan knows, Artie started the designer trend by creating his namesake cupcake years ago. Since Crumbs currently ranks atop my "Favorite Cupcake Place" list, I have viewed this glass-cased confection many times, if only to pass over it. Unfortunately Artie, this cupcake is a little too 'fat kid' for me - chocolate buttercream-filled vanilla cake with even more chocolate buttercream and fondant on top. Anyhow, back to Baba Booey. So I am a simple Manhattan chick with simple taste buds, and therefore tend to stick to my standard chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles. But when the sweet gal behind the counter told me that the Baba Booey was made of chocolate and peanut butter, it was though it was designed after my own heart.

The Baba Booey Cupcake

Peanut butter cream-filled chocolate cake

Half peanut butter, half chocolate buttercream frosting
Chocolate sprinkles on top
Peanut butter chips on top

Ok Artie, perhaps this one is a little 'fat kid' too. You still have my love, but I'm just a peanut butter kind of girl at heart. While I made it through 3/4 of the cupcake before my stomach just said 'no', it was a delicious cupcake that I will definitely be enjoying again...especially at the new super convenient Hoboken locale. Baba Booey, I applaud you and your taste buds.

*Crumbs in Hoboken is conveniently located at 409 Washington Street
*Fans can you can join their Crumbs Bake Shop group on Facebook

Restaurant Roundup: Sushi Lounge - Hoboken

Just across the Hudson lies a little town you may have heard of called Hoboken (or as I like to refer to it, Hob), and in that town lies a small Japanese gem called Sushi Lounge, which I visited last Friday night. A small restaurant with minimal tables, a fancy sushi bar is front and center (along with a bar of the alcoholic variety), available for seating and admiring the hand-rolled creations. Though the inside was a bit loud for a date situation, Sushi Lounge offers a desirable outdoor seating section in which I happily had dinner. 

The Sushi Bar at Sushi Lounge

The Food

Sushi Lounge offers a vast array of Japanese cuisine and sushi rolls that can satisfy both a seasoned sushi vet (Uni with quail egg, Super Toro) or a newbie sushi virgin (edamame, shumai, California roll). Don’t skip the Hoboken roll, a motley assortment of fish and eel in a tempura roll with a delicious spicy mayo that may leave you reaching for water to put out the fire (but in a totally-worth-it kind of way). 

The Hoboken Roll

We also sampled the Chilean sea bass roll (bass cooked in soy glaze with avocado and wrapped in soy paper) and the Super Toro/Fatty Tuna roll (a delicate, superior cut of tuna). Both of these were light, yet deliciously full of flavor. Highly recommended.

Super Toro Roll & Chilean Sea Bass Roll

All 3 were outstanding, and my only concern is that when I return I won’t want to try anything new, but repeat the 3 aforementioned items since I have been dreaming about them for the last 4 days. Not a sushi lover? Not to worry, since their main dishes looked delicious as well, but alas I never made it to them as I filled up on straight up sushi. The question I always face with sushi is: How much to order? For husband and me, 3 rolls, an order of shumai, and a round of drinks were plenty. After all, Crumbs Bake Shop just opened up down the street…

Getting There

For Manhattanites and Jersey Citians alike, a quick trip on the PATH train will deliver you to Sushi Lounge. Just a quick walk from the Hoboken PATH station, Sushi Lounge is located just off the main drag on Hudson Street, a mere 5 minute walk from the train. Since they don’t take reservations for parties under 6 people, I recommend leaving extra time and planning a trip to the bar while you wait.

Sushi Lounge.200 Hudson Street.Hoboken, NJ

Why it Rocks

Delicious, reasonably priced sushi (total bill for 2: under $70) and fun atmosphere make this restaurant one I will definitely be visiting again. Sushi Lounge also offers a rockin' Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 3-6:30, featuring select half price drinks, appetizers, and sushi rolls.

Gripes

Just one - The food just came too darn quickly, making our dinner seem a bit short-lived.

We skipped dessert in favor of the aforementioned Crumbs Bake Shop...article coming up next...