This week, yet another new addition to Washington Street has caused me to break my rule, but for a good reason. Having opened last month at 123 Washington where Crepes and Things was previously located, Empanadas Cafe offers Argentinian fare at a student-friendly price.
For those not familiar with the little hand pies usually filled with meat or cheese, I’m sorry for you. My first introduction came during my summer swim league days when one of the moms would bring them from the snack bar. One bite of these meals in a convenient little edible package, and I was hooked. So naturally when I saw the sign on Washington for an empanada joint, I was quite excited.
Walking in, the cafe is a little rustic and rough around the edges, but I suppose that works for them. Of course I can’t forget they opened less than a month ago – by the time you’re reading this, it will be about a month. There are a few tables, basically the same amount of seating that Crepes and Things had, but based on the number of people that walked in and ordered take out while my partner and I ate, I would say that minimal seating will not be a problem.
At the time we went, despite the number of choices on the menu, the only empanada choices were chicken, spicy chicken, and bleu cheese with walnut, though more would apparently be ready after about 30 minutes to an hour. We chose one of each and decided to throw in a zucchini and egg pie since the sandwich I attempted to order was not available yet either.
The empanadas came out warmed on a wooden board, and with my first bite, I was hooked. The bleu cheese was probably my least favorite of the three, but that’s like choosing your least favorite out of a newly born litter of puppies. The salty creaminess of the cheese with the nutty crunch of the walnuts was encapsulated in a slightly crisp but buttery pastry – very rich, and very filling. The chicken in the other two was tender and neither overly fatty nor oily. I preferred the spicy to the regular, but neither was lacking in flavor. One was enough to fill me up, and at $3 they make the perfect on-the-go meal.
The zucchini pie did not disappoint either. The pastry was light and flaky, practically melting in my mouth, and the filling maintained that light feel with fluffiness. The flavoring of the egg and zucchini combo was also light, but satisfying.
To give a sweet finish to the meal, we chose a caramel pastry from the assorted homemade Argentinian desserts. It was definitely good, but the pastry itself seemed slightly tough – nowhere near as good as the actual meal. They also offer coffee and espresso.
I definitely plan to go back, as the only real downside was the lack of selection, which I assume will grow with time (and may already have). Despite the abundance of Latin American restaurants in Hoboken, Empanadas Cafe still manages to satisfy a previously unfilled niche. Though it is reasonably close to campus and college budget friendly, most important to me, this cafe offers tasty and authentic fare.
