Category Archives: Restaurant Views

Dining, Restaurant Views, Sally Deering

STEPPIN’ OUT Kitchen Step Jersey City offers Cool Menu and Friendly Vibes  

Kitchen Step in Downtown Van Vorst  Section of Jersey City  Kitchen Step Jersey City

The Friendly Crew at Kitchen Step

By Sally Deering

 

Kitchen Step Jersey City
Kitchen Step in Downtown Van Vorst section of Jersey CIty

In the heart of the Downtown Van Vorst section of Jersey City, the Kitchen Step bistro offers Progressive American cuisine in an open and airy space that’s down to earth with natural wood tables, eco green banquettes and paintings of leaves and tree branches hanging from the dining room ceiling.

 

 

 

kitchen step jersey City General Manager Kenneth Rosado and the staff at Kitchen Step go the distance when it comes to customer service, which is evident when the 60-seat eatery fills up during weekend brunch with customers clamoring for dishes like the Nutella Swirl Pancakes and Truffle Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon.

 

“We are a neighborhood restaurant,” Rosado says, as the crew prepares for a busy Friday night. “We had big shows to fill when we opened a year ago last February. This was where Thirty Acres used to be.” Continue reading STEPPIN’ OUT Kitchen Step Jersey City offers Cool Menu and Friendly Vibes   →

Dining, Restaurant Views, Sally Deering

JUST Beclaws Vietnamese Cajun Seafood in Downtown JC

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Three Sibling Restaurateurs Focus on Quality & Freshness

By Sally Deering

Just BeClaws The best place in the northeast for seafood is New England, right? They even named a chowder in honor of its seafood niche.

But who needs New England when Hudson has its own bustling seafood restaurant on First Street in downtown Jersey City: JUST Beclaws, a 60-seat Vietnamese Cajun seafood eatery has been open a little more than a year and already it’s the go-to destination for foodies who like their shellfish fresh and cooked to perfection.

Family that owns Just Beclaws restaurant
Aivy, Francis and Nambinh Tran,
three siblings and owners of JUST Beclaws.

What also makes the restaurant special are its three owners, siblings, Francis Tran, 32, Nambinh Tran, 27, and Aivy Tran, 34. The three grew up in Jersey City learning the restaurant business from their parents who owned Miss Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant right up the street on Newark Ave.

“We like seafood,” Francis says. “We like to catch it –although we don’t serve what we catch.”

Continue reading JUST Beclaws Vietnamese Cajun Seafood in Downtown JC →

Dining, General, Restaurant Views

restaurant VIEWS- Ten Ingredients: Chef Abel Ruiz of Amelia’s bistro shares his Passion for Cooking

 By Sally Deering

Photo of Chef Abel Ruiz Sally Deering

 Nestled in the historic Paulus Hook section of downtown Jersey City, Amelia’s Bistro on Warren Street is a warm, welcoming and beautiful restaurant with a lovely menu. As soon as you enter, the attentive staff greets you at the door with a smile. Designed with an artful eye, the restaurant is reminiscent of Paris bistros with its muted gold walls, dark wood accents, white tablecloths and stained glass low-hanging lamps dimly lit over the bar and throughout the dining room.

When you are brought to your table, the waiter takes out a large ink stamp and stamps the white butcher paper on top of the tablecloths, a unique way to inform you of the day’s specials. For a recent lunch, the specials were Lobster Bisque; a Thai Steak Salad; and Caper Crusted Sole Sandwich. I tried the sole and it was magnificent, moist and flakey and the artichoke hearts nestled on the home-made Focaccia bread (baked on the premises) were a great tangy addition to the fish. The accompanying French fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – sheer perfection on a plate.

With more than 20 years’ cooking experience, Chef Abel Ruiz creates Amelia’s dishes with country flair and the freshest ingredients. 

 Let’s meet Chef Abel Ruiz!

RVO:  Chef Ruiz, can you share with our readers where were you born and raised?

CR:  I was born in Mexico City, Mexico. I came to the States when I was 17.

 

RVO:  How did you get into cooking?

CR:  When I first came here I started doing odd jobs. Then I met someone who owns a restaurant and he saw something in me. He said, “Why don’t you come work for me? You’re a natural.” I worked the counter and started learning the business. Once I got my hands on the pans I couldn’t go back. When his Sous Chef quit, I became Sous Chef and worked my way up.

Continue reading restaurant VIEWS- Ten Ingredients: Chef Abel Ruiz of Amelia’s bistro shares his Passion for Cooking →

General, Restaurant Views

restaurant VIEWS- GP’s Restaurant Owner and Chef George Politis Jr.

River View Observer “Best Pick” -Meatballs to die for and more!

Ten Ingredients-  By Sally Deering    

 Photos by Newsboi

 In 1934, Greek immigrant James Politis achieved the American Dream when he opened the Lackawanna Restaurant in Hoboken. Forty years later, his son George Politis opened GP’s East and two years later, the restaurant moved to its current Guttenberg location.

 

George Politis Jr.

 Fast-forward to July 2012 and GP’s expanded with George Politis, Jr. opening a second GP’s overlooking Hamilton Park in downtown Jersey City and serving an array of Neapolitan cuisine on the lighter side. GP’s at Hamilton Park features Crostinis, toast topped with Escarole & Fresh Ricotta; Smoked Salmon Rillette or Grilled Marinated Eggplant. Small Pressed Sandwiches include Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil; Grilled and Roasted Vegetables with Olive Spread and Proscuitto di Parma. Its Main Courses, Seared Sea Scallops, Crispy Salmon, Shrimp Scampi and Grilled Skirt Steak share the menu with GP’s Classics like Zuppa di Clams, Clams Oreganata, Eggplant Rollatini, Mussels, Lasagna Bolognese, Chicken Parmesan and, of course, GP’s Famous Meatballs. Owner and chef George Politis, Jr. grew up watching his mother and grandmother cook in the family kitchen in Hoboken. Chef Politis took time from his busy schedule to share with Riverview Observer some insights into what it takes to create GP’s tasty Neapolitan fare.

 Let’s meet Chef George Politis, Jr.! Continue reading restaurant VIEWS- GP’s Restaurant Owner and Chef George Politis Jr. →

Restaurant Views

Amelia’s Bistro, Welcoming and Wow!

  Hip and Cozy Eatery Warms Up Paulus Hook Neighborhood

 

By Sally Deering

Nestled in the historic Paulus Hook section of downtown Jersey City, Amelia’s Bistro on Warren Street is a warm, welcoming and beautiful restaurant with a lovely menu. As soon as you enter the corner bistro, the vibe is welcoming and the attentive staff greets you at the door with a smile. Designed with an artful eye, the restaurant is reminiscent of the bistros in Paris with its muted gold walls, dark wood accents, white tablecloths and stained glass low-hanging lamps dimly lit over the bar and throughout the dining room.  Continue reading Amelia’s Bistro, Welcoming and Wow! →

Dining, Restaurant Views

Riverview Diner in North Bergen , A New Look for an Old Friend

  

By Sally Deering

Maybe it’s the shiny chrome and Formica counter tops that draws us in or the beauty of the chocolate layer cakes beaming through the pastry fridge window? Then again, it could be the first bite of a juicy cheeseburger, the rich dark coffee or the eggs served just right. New Jersey has some fine restaurants, there’s no doubt, but our kinship with diners is as binding as meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Riverview Diner on River Road in North Bergen has been a go-to spot on the diner directory since Tommy Mavronasios opened the place back in 1982. It became ‘all in the family’ when Mavronasios introduced his daughters, Olga, Cindy and Vivian to the business and then sent them off to college. After graduation, the girls came back to Riverview to share their time managing the restaurant with their dad. Continue reading Riverview Diner in North Bergen , A New Look for an Old Friend →

Dining, Restaurant Views

The Barge Inn offers Fine Italian Cuisine in a Cozy Downtown Jersey City Neighborhood Bistro

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Dining Italiano with Frankie and Dino on the Juke!

barge-inn-front-of-rest

By Sally Deering

 The Barge Inn is a warm and cozy Italian restaurant on the corner of 3rd and Monmouth Streets in Jersey City that offers lovers of Italian cuisine authentic family recipes in an atmosphere that makes you feel like you were invited to dinner at a friend’s home. And that’s just the way Linda and Peter “Bitzy” Paldino and Linda’s brother Richie Marto, who oversees The Barge Inn’s bar around the corner, want you to feel.

 Linda and Bitzy have been married 31 years and not only are they partners in life, they’re partners in business. They have a son Richard who is  a Detective on the East Orange Police Force for 6 years. Bitzy and Linda  have worked side-by-side for many years and  they even created one of the house specials named for him: Pork Chops Bitzy served with potatoes, onions, sweet and hot peppers ($22). The menu and a blackboard of daily specials offer variations of seafood, meat and poultry dishes that are cooked to order and made with fresh ingredients delivered that day. Continue reading The Barge Inn offers Fine Italian Cuisine in a Cozy Downtown Jersey City Neighborhood Bistro →