The Friendly Crew at Kitchen Step

By Sally Deering

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 thatâ€s down to earth with natural wood tables, eco green banquettes and paintings of leaves and tree branches hanging from the dining room ceiling.

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.”

  Kitchen Stepâ€s market-inspired progressive American menu designed by executive chef Ryan DePersio seems to be a well-thought-out offering of creative takes on classic American dishes.

The menu features Snacks like Marinated Olives & Candied Almonds; Zucchini Fries and Harissa Mayo; Honey- Sriracha BBQ Wings, Thai Peanut Chutney; and Truffle Maccheroni & Cheese ($5-$10).

Small Plates include the Artisanal Cheese Plate, Balthazar Multigrain, Fresh Fruit; Kale Caesar Salad; Crispy Fish Tacos; Octopus Ala Plancha; ½ doz. Oysters on the Half Shell; Wild Mushroom Soup; and Crispy Duck Confit ($12-$18).

Large Plates feature the Ricotta Gnocchi, Olive-Crusted Salmon, Shellfish Bouillabaisse, Striped Bass, Pomegranate Chili-Glazed Pork Chop, RD Burger; Buttermilk Baked Chicken Breast; Moroccan Braised Chicken; and a 10 oz. Angus New York Strip Steak ($17-$30).

Chef RD Burger

The Ricotta Gnocchi is a big hit with the regulars, Rosado says.  

“The Ricotta Gnocchi are super light and fluffy,” Rosado says. “Customers have described them as pillows or clouds.”

The Pomegranate Chili-Glazed Pork Chop, a 14-ounce cut is served crispy with spaetzel and charred broccolini and its extremely popular, Rosado says. So is the Shellfish Bouillabaisse.

There are specials on the menu throughout the week and on weekends for Sunday Brunch which, Rosado says, is so popular he suggests making a reservation.

Moroccan Braised Chicken

“Weâ€re trying to create a fun culture here at the restaurant,” Rosado says. “Itâ€s a fine dining experience from beginning to end. Our customers are our guests and we want this to be a destination that people want to go to. We offer fine-dining etiquette in a casual setting.”

 Kitchen Stepâ€s unique name has historical significance. According to the restaurantâ€s website (www.kitchenstepjc.com): “We take our name from one of Jersey Cityâ€s most notable residents, Cornelius Van Vorst. In the days of the “courtly Cornelius,” his mansion enjoyed great local fame for its generous hospitality and its kitchen step, which used to attract so many people to the Van Vorst garden gate.”

It seems the tradition continues at Kitchen Step; a fine dining experience in a casual atmosphere with a side of hospitality.

If you go

Kitchen Step

500 Jersey Ave, JC

www.kitchenstepjc.com

(201) 721-6115

Tues-Thurs, 5-10 pm

Fri, 5-11 pm

Sat Brunch 11 am-3 pm; Dinner 5-11 pm

Sun Brunch 11 am-3 pm; Dinner 5-9 pm

The post STEPPIN’ OUT Kitchen Step Jersey City offers Cool Menu and Friendly Vibes   first appeared on River View Observer.

By Sally Deering

Porterhouse, Filet Mignon, New York Strip – these juicy cuts of meat are always a winner with the fine-dining lunch and dinner crowd and lucky for Jersey City, thereâ€s a new steak house offering prime cuts in an intimate, sophisticated setting.

 Liberty Prime Steakhouse on Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City is in walking distance of both the Grove Street and Exchange Place PATH stations. The double-decker restaurant is fashioned with dark wood tables and chairs set in cozy nooks and crannies throughout and a roomy barroom that invites lively conversation as you kick back and relax.

Owner George Makrogiannis and Executive Business Manager John Mondry opened Liberty Prime Steakhouse this past October with a menu that offers Appetizers, Sandwiches, Salads and Entrees, but the real stars of the show are the steaks they serve, Porterhouse, Sirloin, NY Strip, Prime Rib and Filet Mignon.

Although Liberty Prime Steakhouse has only been open a couple of months, it already has a signature dish, Makrogiannis says, called Rare Style, a 6 oz. Filet Mignon wrapped with bacon and served with a 4-oz. lobster tail.

“You canâ€t go wrong with bacon, filet mignon and lobster,” Makrogiannis says. “Everything is made in house; and all our sauces and pastas are fresh, too.”

The menuâ€s appetizers feature Butternut Squash Risotto, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Smoked Salmon Bruschetta, Grilled Octopus, Raw Bar and Oysters. Sandwiches include the 10 oz. Liberty Prime Burger and Steak Sandwich.  Salads are the Tomato Stack, Blue Iceberg, Mini Skirt Steak, Wild Arugula, Caesar and Liberty Prime House Salad.

Entrees feature the Atlantic Salmon, Blackened Red Snapper, Pan-Seared Duck, Pork Chop, Tangerine Fettuccini and Roasted Chicken Breast.  Steaks on the menu are the 48 oz. Porterhouse for two, 20 oz. Prime Bone in Sirloin Steak, 12 oz. Prime NY Strip Steak, 20 oz. Prime Bone in Rib Steak, and 10 oz. Filet Mignon.

There are delicious side dishes too like Chipotle Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Fully-Loaded Baked Potato, Parmesan Garlic Steak Fries, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, Sauteed Mushrooms, Steamed Broccoli, Grilled Asparagus and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes.

“I always wanted to open a steakhouse,” Makrogiannis says. ““I know a lot more about the kitchen than a lot of owners. My dad owns Liberty Park Café and he taught me to work the grill, the broiler. In no means am I a chef, but I do know about the kitchen and I know good food.”

“The kitchen is like the engine,” Mondry adds, “and we put a lot of effort on the food, making sure it comes out 100 percent perfect every time.  Consistency and high quality are very important to us.”

Liberty Prime Steakhouse offers their customers take-out, private parties, off-site catering, and thereâ€s a private room and private bar on the second floor for corporate events and parties.  Thereâ€s free valet parking Wednesday through Saturday nights, and soon theyâ€ll be offering brunch. 

Liberty Prime Steakhouse opened Oct. 14^th and it already has a 4.5 star rating on Yelp.com.

“Weâ€re trying hard,” Mondry says. “We keep the food consistent and we offer great service. We over-staff a lot of times to make sure our customers get great service.”

If you go:

Liberty Prime Steakhouse

111 Montgomery Street

Jersey City

www.libertyprimesteakhouse.com

(201)333-3633

Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11 am to 10 pm lunch and dinner

Fri, 11 am -11 pm

Sat, 5-11 pm; Sun, 5 – 10 pm

The post Liberty Prime Steakhouse in Jersey City Offers Prime Meats and Seafood in a Sophisticated Setting first appeared on River View Observer.

Razza is located at 275 Grove Street (across from Jersey City’s City Hall)- (201) 356-9348

Open: Mon: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm-Wed – Thu: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm

The post Razza Pizza Artigianale Now Open in Historic Downtown Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.