I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/23

New Opening - 7th Street Burger in Hoboken

7th Street Burger is a burger joint that reminds me a bit of Corner Bistro with its minimalist menu that is composed of 4 options: cheeseburger, single or double, or Impossible burger, also single or double, except that Corner Bistro has more to offer when it comes to drinks. Still, this place that started in the East Village back in 2021 and has now more than 10 locations, decided to open one in the Mile Square City, just a few blocks from Shake Shack, that is quite courageous.

With a very minimalist decor to say the least, the place is not big with just a small counter near the entrance where you can stand to eat your burger. After you order, it takes approximately 7 minutes for your meal to be ready. I got their double cheeseburger with crispy fries. As I removed the food from the paper bag it came in, I definitely could feel that it was straight from the fryer (for the fries) and grill as it was very hot. The cheeseburger, made with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and their secret sauce was wrapped in paper. Unwrapping it was a bit of a mess: the notion of smashed burger normally related to the patty, but, in this case, it was the entire burger, bun included, with the bottom of the bun being a bit soggy with all the sauce all over. Messy to eat, it was still good, the meat tasting really good and being perfectly cooked, but missing the char that I like to get at Shake Shack. For sure, I cannot complain about the amount of meat vs. bun as it was in favor of the latter and I loved the added crunch from the pickles that added a bit of acidity to it. The crispy fries were also good, and crispy as advertised, from the double frying.

Overall, it was good but I admit that if I wanted a smashed burger, I would go to Shake Shack as I prefer theirs and could also order a milkshake that is a must have for me with a cheeseburger. But this is my own preference…And by the way, do not try to find them on 7th and Washington: they are a bit lower, on 4th!

Enjoy (I still did)!

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7th Street Burger - 410 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/23

Brunch at Winberie's in Summit, NJ

We were recently in Berkeley Highs to see my niece, Rayna, perform in a school show, and so decided to grab lunch with the family. That is how we discovered Winberie’s in nearby Summit. This all American restaurant proposes a large menu that I admit made me hesitate a bit, but I finally settled for the chicken and waffles, a southern dish that I adore for its interesting combination of sweet and savory, crispy and soft. The chicken was really good: crispy, it was moist and most importantly, cooked all the way through. It sat on a waffle that was soft and chewy, with a slight crisp.

Chicken and waffle at Winberies’ in Summit, NJ

Jodi went for their mushroom flatbread that was proposed in the appetizer section, but was large enough to be offered as an entree. The flatbread was pretty good with lots of cheese (fontina and ricotta), that smothered the garlic roasted cremini mushrooms. I should mention the use of truffle oil that was just the right amount, not overpowering the dish at all.

They also propose a bunch of mouthwatering dessert and their butter cake, served warm with vanilla ice cream and strawberries, and topped with cookie crumble was superb. A must have.

The brunch at Winberie’s was pretty good: this is the perfect spot if you are in that area.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Winberie’s - 2 Kent Pl Blvd, Summit, NJ 07901

I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/23

Brunch at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

I love Blu On The Hudson and it has become my favorite brunch spot. Located on the waterfront in Weehawken, Blu On The Hudson serves an exciting menu. Let’s start with their cocktails that are very creative, I think the one that blew me away was their breakfast martini that is made with whisky: not only did it taste good, but the presentation with the focaccia and orange marmalade stuck on the side gave a certain dimension to it. I also tried:

The Not a Guiness, that I got for dinner also, made with black sesame vodka, chocolate stout and espresso liqueur.
The oil on the skin that is made with Aperol, strawberry, grapefruit and Prosecco.
The Mediterranean seaside, composed of gin, mint, thyme and watermelon.

If you do not want a cocktail, you can opt for a tea, theirs being from Le Palais des Thes, a well known French purveyor of tea.

Oil on the skin cocktail at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Mediterranean seaside at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Breakfast martini at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Tea and Not a Guiness cocktail at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

For dishes, they have classics like pancakes, like their banana foster pancakes that are fluffy, as well as avocado toast or scrambled eggs that are cooked with smoked salmon, chives and served on a toasted croissant. I loved this dish: the croissant was flakey and buttery, the eggs were moist and, unlike what I had in the past with similar dishes, it did not have that overly salty flavor that smoked salmon can sometimes bring when cooked. But one of my favorite is their steak and egg: two sunny side up eggs served with a 6oz filet mignon that was perfectly cooked medium-rare and juicy. It came with homemade tater tots that were delicious and made me want to eat more. Another favorite is their lobster roll. Smothered in warm butter, the perfectly cooked lobster is served on a toasted roll, accompanied with a salad and waffle fries. You can also get lobster as a roll, as they also offer sushi on their menu and I have to admit that their Blu roll that is composed of bluefin tuna, spicy lobster and avocado is exquisite.

Smoked salmon scrambled eggs at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Smoked salmon scrambled aggs at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Lobster roll at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Steak and eggs at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

The Blu Roll at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

There is also a plenty of vegetarian dishes: I mentioned the pancakes and their banana foster pancake stack is very good, the fluffy pancakes being perfect to share. An interesting one if the Blue’s Way, that has a Mediterranean touch with the delicious halloumi cheese that is served with scrambled eggs, tomato, tzatziki and a homemade fluffy pita. Jodi loves their vegan Cobb salad that I admit is quite good and looks appetizing. It is composed of tomato, quinoa, chickpeas, avocado, corn and vegan feta and does not look like an afterthought. They also have a vegan sticky bun that we wanted to try, but they did not have any that day…

Halloumi at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Vegan Cobb salad at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Banana foster pancakes at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

The menu at Blu On The Hudson is more than this and we still have some time to try everything. The food there is superb whether for brunch or dinner. So, yes, I am a big fan!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Blu On The Hudson - 1200 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ 07086

I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/23

Crazy food at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Tony Boloney’s is not your typical pizza and sub place: their menu is probably what your cardiologist would NOT recommend. Known for its taco pizza that I did not get a chance to try, it is the right place for food decadence. Want a lobster roll? Theirs, the Lobsta Trap, is made with steamed lobster, aioli and bayou butter. Nothing too unusual you would say. Well, they lay the lobster on a bed of fresh and smoked mozzarella (lots of it)! This is not for the faint of the heart and you better get a bunch of napkins because it is very messy to eat, but so good. I thought that with all these ingredients the lobster would be overshadowed, but it was not the case. With the perfectly cooked lobster, each bite was a festival of flavor and worked well together, making it one of my favorite lobster rolls.

The Lobsta trap at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Their version of cheesesteak, the Ole sub was also something: it is made with mezcal marinated ribeye mixed with fried onions, lettuce, tomato, cilantro and Mexican string cheese, drenched in chipotle sauce. A bit different from the original and also quite messy to eat, it is spectacular.

The Ole sub at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

I should mention that these subs are big, so not need to order anything else and, for some of them, like the Ole, they propose a vegan version. If you are vegetarian or vegan, they have also salads, like the pueblito that can be made with mushrooms rather than chicken or steak (it has romaine, spicy mole and pickled jalapeño crema dressing- you can get a different dressing if you do not eat spicy-, roasted corn, black beans, grape tomatoes, string cheese, tortilla chips and smashed avocado) or the Tuk-Tuk salad with satay cauliflower, romaine, green papaya slaw, cilantro and roasted peanuts. Know that their menu changes from time to time and I do not think they have this one anymore, but it gives you an idea.

Tuk Tuk salad at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

The Pueblito salad at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Their pizza is also quite phenomenal with slices starting at $6. My favorite is the Burrrrrata, where each slice has a whole burrata that is siting on vodka sauce and made with dry aged mozzarella (I did not know it was a thing), pecorino, basil and chili oil (this is not spicy). Then, I love their Ay Dios Mio Mac that is their version of Mexican Mac and cheese pizza, made with chipotle Mac and cheese, dry aged mozzarella, queso Oaxaca string cheese and cilantro. I wish it was creamier, but still, this is really good. We also tried their magic mushroom as Jodi loves mushrooms and I thought at first that I loved it, the nice portion of cremini mushrooms being well prepared (I hate when sometimes it is undercooked from a can), and with lots of cheese (fresh and dry aged mozzarella), but the truffle cream was overpowering and coated my mouth. Overall, the pizza crust is crispy, with a nice char, but for sure the pizza can be a bit greasy that is fine by me.

Burrata pizza at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Magic mushroom pizza at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Ay Dios mío Mac at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

So, for sure, Tony Boloney’s is unusual and the kind of place where you want to indulge in food that is comforting, but crazy. I definitely recommend it!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Tony Boloney’s -

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/23

ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

I have known Aba Turkish Restaurant for years and have never been disappointed with this place. The food there is tasty and comforting with a large menu offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, the former being as inviting as the others. After a great dinner in June, I wanted to go back there, but it was closed because of a fire in the kitchen. They will hopefully reopen quickly! At least, here is a glimpse of what we had:…

Skipping the appetizers, I went for their combo that was composed of chicken shish kebab, lamb shish kebab, lamb chop, chicken and meatball, accompanied by rice and red cabbage. I love when a restaurant offers a sampler so you can try many dishes at once and I was not disappointed. Of course, as I love lamb, this was perfect, especially the lamb chop that was succulent. But I should mention the chicken that was surprisingly moist. In fact all the meat was perfectly cooked, moist, juicy, and very flavorful.

Combo at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

Jodi got a falafel platter that was also nice, the falafel being perfectly made and not dry, having a long rather than the usual spherical shape.

Falafel platter at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

For dessert, we had their kunefe that they offer in two portion sizes. It was so good that I regretted going with the smaller portion…if you never had kunefe, it is made with kataifi that is a spun pastry that has a nice crunch, that is layered with cheese and soaked in a sugar syrup. That dessert is amazing and very addictive. I wished by the way that Trader Joe’s would have it again! We had the kunefe with a Turkish tea for Jodi and a Turkish coffee for me.

Turkish tea at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

Turkish coffee at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

Knife at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

So, now I hope you understand why I wanted to go back to Aba! I Hope to go back soon!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Aba Turkish Restaurant -325 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019