Sometimes, I feel like transporting to a different country while studying for midterms for a small getaway, and Alessio’s Cafe is exactly that. They bring our favorite Italian food to Hoboken with their delicious pastas, paninis, and sides. So far, my personal favorite has been their Gnocchi Sorrentina made with marinara, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and basil. When Alessio’s Cafe tells you the pasta is fresh, it tastes super fresh and refreshing. They also have crazy big portions that make up two meals. At this point, I always have to ask for a box. As for the Gnocchi Sorrentina, it was incredibly warm, hearty, and filling. The first bite I took was so warm, delicious, potatoey, and satisfying. The heavy potato gnocchi, accompanied by the fresher marinara, made it so easy to devour as much as I could before I hit that “food wall” and genuinely could not eat more. Even then, I tried stuffing as much as I could.
I also tried their Penne Alla Vodka, and the sauce was super good and savory, creamy and not too heavy, yet a little tangy from the tomato, garlic, and onion, probably. I would say the sauce was a little too thin, but it still held well with the pasta. At some point, when I ate too much, it did feel a little less flavorful. Overall, it was super good. I also think the sauce-to-pasta ratio might be a little off, or maybe the pasta wasn’t fully tossed in the sauce. Either way, I found a way to eat it, and on a cold, rainy day, entering Alessio’s Cafe and eating their hot, fresh Penne Alla Vodka will be the highlight of your day. On top of that, how could I not mention Alessio’s awesome bread that they give with every pasta? It is super soft and feels like you are eating a cloud. It may be sourdough, although it seemed too suspiciously fluffy to be.
After having such a successful pasta streak, why not try their panini? So I got their Turkey Pesto Panini, and they really kept their quality streak going. One thing I love is when my pesto tastes bright and almost like spring, and it was exactly like that. Something about turkey and pesto is super delectable. I guess since turkey is lighter and not heavy like chicken, it pairs really well with the pesto. With the mozzarella, tomatoes, and lettuce, it made me bite into the perfect spring garden sandwich.
They also had a variety of bakery items, and after taking what felt like forever to decide between the cannolis, tiramisu cake, and everything else they had, I settled on the classic rainbow cookie. I hope I don’t get scrutinized for saying this, but I was not the biggest fan, especially since everyone has been raving about them. They tasted a little too dense and almost frozen, but the flavor was good. Before I even bit into it, the layers were already falling apart, but when I got a stacked bite of the cookie, the flavor was incredible, and I got hit with a wave of nostalgia from my childhood filled with rainbow cookies.
Overall, Alessio’s Cafe is awesome. It is a quick walk from campus and a great lunch spot. It took me forever to review this place, even though I had it on my list for a while. They may be on the pricey side, but I recommend getting the things they are known for, like the amazing feel-good pastas.
