Last semester, I reviewed Mikie Squared, one of those places in Hoboken known more for its drinks and social scene (especially among older Stevens students) than its food. In the same spirit, for this week I sought out another popular Hoboken Saturday night destination — Hoboken Bar and Grill.
Located on Washington Street near McDonald’s and Aspen Marketplace, Hoboken Bar and Grill, which I have since learned is known in a few circles as “HoBaG,” is pretty well-known for its late night scene, open bar specials, and relatively spacious accommodations. At the very least, its sweeping entrance (quite the feat in tightly-packed Hoboken) makes quite a statement lined up against other restaurants along Washington Street. Inside, the dining room is relatively dark, not really somewhere you’d take a big group unless drinks were in order, but potentially good for dates. I was also slightly surprised by the apparent lack of tables in the front room, but the restaurant and bar goes back quite a ways, so I imagine there was more in the back and downstairs.
Looking through the menu, my guest and I were a bit taken aback by the prices, which even by Hoboken standards were a bit steep for what we perceived to be more well-prepared “bar food.” Fortunately, our eyes caught a prix fixe three course dinner special for under $20 — for dinner, especially on a college budget, that’s not bad if you’re looking to celebrate. We both went for the prix fixe, which included a starter, entree, and dessert. For my starter, I wasn’t overly impressed by the selection until my eye caught the steamed mussels. I typically won’t go near a raw bar, but I love steamed clams and mussels, so I was sold. And the portion, to my surprise, was quite healthy. While one might expect a set dinner for a lower price would likewise have lower-sized portions, I got a full plate of mussels, all of which were deliciously stewing in their broth. My guest Andrew went with the French Onion soup, which while not the most photogenic, was pretty tasty, and had everything in the right places.
For the entree selection, we again split our efforts to test the more limited prix fixe menu. Andrew went with the Grilled Skirt Steak, which while also not a photogenic dish (the camera flash did not take kindly to the wild mushroom sauce), was served with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed baby spinach. The portion, again, was healthy and filling. I went with a Stuffed Chicken Breast, which was stuffed with what I believe was some combination of breadcrumbs, ground beef, and spices (no cheese, surprisingly). The chicken was then topped off with sauce and served with some well-prepared asparagus.
Finally, dessert. While the desserts included in the prix fixe menu seemed relatively low-key, they offered a Lemon Creme Brulee that immediately caught my eye. Unfortunately, as we were finishing our entrees, the server came over to the table to inform us there was an issue with the listed desserts and they were unable to provide the ones on the special. However, this deviation actually worked out for us, as the server then let us pick from the (more expensive, but more robust) dessert menu. Counting our blessing for what appeared to be a stroke of luck, I went with a classic New York cheesecake. While it wasn’t a particularly exciting dessert, it was a solid cheesecake that I wished tasted a little more homemade. My second choice (and Andrew’s first), the chocolate lava cake, which turned out to be a much better dessert. While I got a plate with a piece of cheesecake and some whipped cream, the lava cake came on a platter accompanied by ice cream and whipped cream. While the lava wasn’t exactly flowing from the lava cake as we divided it up, it mingled well with the ice cream and made for a deliciously decadent dessert for two.
Hoboken Bar & Grill is certainly one of the higher-end bars and grills in Hoboken. If you’re not careful, it’s pretty easy to rack up a solid bill there. However, not all hope is lost, and that hope comes in the prix fixe special. If you’re looking to kick off a night out and about in Hoboken, or are just looking for a date night spot, Hoboken Bar and Grill can be affordable, all while keeping portions and taste high.
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