Mezcal Kitchen Now Open

New Mexican restaurant Mezcal Kitchen recently launched their soft open at 665 Newark Ave.

Community News: Central Bistro Now Open, La Cote Hosting Wine Tasting, and More

Jersey City

• Central Bistro recently opened at 403 Central Ave in the Heights, serving a mix of Mexican and Italian dishes. They are open beginning at 9am Saturday through Monday and beginning at 10am Tuesday through Friday and close at 10pm daily. 
• Frankie has launched a CBD oil mocktail menu so you can enjoy the relaxing effects of CBD without the hangover of a cocktail. 

Latham House Celebrates Hanukkah

Image from Latham House

Latham House is celebrating Hanukkah this week!

The Fish Stand Launches New Holiday Menu

Just in time for the holidays, The Fish Stand has rolled out a special new menu featuring a wide variety of platters, appetizers, dips, salads, and more!

Community News: Cellar 335 Pop-Up Sleighs N Leis, Hooked launches Delivery Only Restaurants, and more

Jersey City

Photo from Cellar 335

• Cellar 335 has transformed their space for the holidays to run their new themed pop-up: Sleighs n Leis. It's a tiki-themed Christmas with a specialty cocktail menu including frozen spiked hot chocolate, Rum Rum Rudolph, and others.
• Hooked has launched three new delivery-only restaurants: Green Things focusing on salads, Lit Burger with a variety of burger and tater tot creations, and Comfort Cookery with homestyle comfort food , all available through UberEats.

The Spirit of Sol Azteca Lives On in Tacos Victoria

After Sol Azteca filed suit against their landlords at 328 Montgomery where they've been struggling to open up for over a year, the truck they were running in the meantime disappeared off the streets and was no longer available on delivery platforms. As one of my favorite sources of Mexican food in Jersey City, this was a huge loss.

Community News: Razza Collaboration with Marc Vetri, Orale Opens in Hoboken, and More

Jersey City

• Razza is offering reservations to their collaboration with Marc Vetri, author of Mastering Pizza and chef/founder of some of Philadelphia's most critically acclaimed restaurants. The dinner is a three course dinner taking place on 12/5 and will include some of the pizzas from the book. Tickets are $65/person and come with a signed copy of the book, but remaining reservations are limited. 

Your Guide to Thanksgiving 2018

Happy Thanksgiving Jersey City!

If you need a last minute dish, bottle of wine, or just want to know who's open and who's closed, read on for the complete guide to Thanksgiving in Jersey City:

Last Minute Gifts and Supplies

• Van Hook will be open until 8pm on Wednesday and from 9am-1pm for the perfect cheese and charcuterie to start your meal with, hostess gifts, snacks, and more. 
• Thirsty Quaker is open regular hours on Wednesday and from 11am-5pm on Thursday for craft beer, Corgi Spirits favorites, and all of your other drinking needs. 

Community News: Honey Bakery Accepting Online Orders, Smith & Change Changes Owners, and More

Jersey City

Photo from Honey Bakery

• While not open to the public, Honey Bakery is now accepting orders throughout the week which can be picked up or delivered on Saturday. They're offering their full range of menu favorites along with some specialty items, all their baked goods (including the cottage cheese cookies!) and items are available in larger format catering, as individual meals, and some are even offered frozen for home cooking. Orders can be placed through their Square store and Honey Bakery is even offering some specialty Thanksgiving dishes which can be ordered through Monday for special pick-up or delivery on Wednesday. Don't miss your chance to try this local favorite!

The Pie Social is Jersey City's New Pie Destination

New pie stand and online business, The Pie Social , debuted at the Van Vorst Farmer's Market early this summer, bringing their midwestern and southern-inspired pies to downtown Jersey City.

CoolVines Opens Second Location + Cafe

CoolVines is launching the soft open of their second Jersey City location today, 11/14 at 12pm.

Community News: Melt Shop Coming Soon, LITM Celebrating 15 Years and More

Jersey City

• Via Reddit, Melt Shop is expanding into Jersey City with a new location in the food court of the Newport Mall. Known for their burgers, grilled cheeses, and tater tots, this will be Melt Shop's first location in New Jersey. 
• Third & Vine is having an All About Sicily dinner on Thursday, 11/15 beginning at 6:30pm They will have five courses with wine pairings and tickets are $65/person. 
• LITM is celebrating 15 years in business this upcoming Saturday, 11/17, with a quinceanera-themed party. They'll have live music, a DJ, dancing, food, cocktail specials, and much more. The party begins at 7pm and goes to 2am. 

Voting Day is TODAY

Today is Voting Day for Mid-Term Elections and it is crucial that you vote if you haven't already.

Community News: Pasta Dal Cuore's Serata Toscana Feast, NYC Cider Week at Wurstbar, & More

Jersey City

Photo from Wurstbar

• This Wednesday, 11/7 is Pasta Dal Cuore's Serata Toscana dinner featuring fall flavors from Tuscany with complementary wine pairings. Tickets are $90/person.
• Celebrate NYC Cider Week with Wurstbar this Tuesday. Steve Selin from South Hill Cider will be there as well with some special selections. Wurstbar has also launched their November special, The Leftovers - a duck sausage with stuffing, gravy, cranberry suace, walnuts, and sage. 

Serata Toscana at Pasta Dal Cuore

On Wednesday, November 7th, join Pasta Dal Cuore and Jersey Wine and Spirits for a special event -  the Serata Toscana Wine Dinner.

Halloween Night Events 2018

Happy Halloween, Jersey City! While the weekend was full of Halloween celebrations, there's still one more night of spooky fun, so don't retire your costumes just yet!

Here's where to go:

HDSID Family Halloween Bash, Newark Ave Pedestrian Plaza
From 3pm-7pm, head to Newark Ave by Grove Street for the HDSID Family Halloween Bash with candy, costumes, face-painting, a bouncy house, and more family-friendly fun.

Community News: Hudson & Co. Now Open, Kitchen Step Hosting 4 Course Dinner, & More

Jersey City

Photo from Hudson & Co

• Hudson & Co., a new nautical gastropub opened up at 3 Second Street on the waterfront late last week. The restaurant can seat approximately 300 people and serves traditional bar and grill food including steaks, salads, and burgers, but also has a heavy emphasis on fish dishes including a sushi bar. 

Weekend Round-Up: Halloween in Jersey City

Happy Weekend Jersey City! Halloween festivities are starting early with lots of events going on all weekend. There's pumpkin carving, pumpkin patches, movies, costume contests, and much much more.

Friday, 10/26

• Harborside is hosting the "Ultimate Halloween Party" from 8pm-1am. There will be a DJ, costume contests, food vendors, bars, a photo booth and much more. Entry is $20/person online and $30/door.

Community News: Oliva Now Open, Ani Ramen Hosts Soul of Sake, After the Harvest Food & Wine and More

Jersey City

• Oliva Market is now open in the former Tender Shoot location. They have a small selection of prepared food, drinks, snacks, fresh produce, and dairy. 
• Ani Ramen is holding a special Soul of Sake event, hosted by Miss Sake USA, this Tuesday, 10/23. Tickets are $42 and include two sakes, two Suntory whiskeys, three appetizers served family style, and a bowl of ramen of your choice. 
• This Thursday, 10/25, join Satis Bistro for A Taste of Spain - a four course dinner and wine pairing for $75/person

Weekend Round-Up: West Side Chili Cook-Off, Ghost of Uncle Joe's, and More!

Happy Weekend, Jersey City! The weekend is full of fall events like hot chocolate and s'mores at Lutze's End of Season Party, a Chili Cook-Off, and The Ghost of Uncle Joe's along with much, much more. Here's what's going on:

Shucktoberfest, Zeppelin Hall
Head to Zeppelin Hall this weekend for their three day long Shucktoberfest featuring oysters on the half shell for $1.50 each. They'll have live 90s bands on Friday, a DJ on Saturday, and football all day Sunday.

New Vendor Shmonuts Donuts Debuts at Van Vorst Park Farmer's Market

A new doughnut vendor, Shmonuts Donuts, made their debut at the Van Vorst Farmer's Market last weekend.

Community News: PS Wine Bar Named 1 of 15 Best, Thinking Cup Cafe Now Open, Ghost of Uncle Joe's & Mine

Jersey City

• Congratulations to PS Wine Bar on being named one of the 15 Most Important Natural Wine Bars in America! PS Wine Bar has become one of my personal favorite spots with a creative and innovative wine list that encourages experimentation. 
• New coffee shop Thinking Cup Cafe opened quietly last week at 201 Warren Street in the former Two Aprons space. They describe themselves a fast casual restaurant specializing in Mediterranean-American inspired cuisine, carrying soups, sandwiches, pastries and more. 

Where to Get A Thanksgiving Turkey in Jersey City

While Thanksgiving still seems quite a ways away, now is the time to plan. Several local vendors have started accepting turkey reservations and it's worth getting them in early! Here are the best places to begin making your Thanksgiving plans:

Community News: PS Wine Bar Class, Graze and Braise New Menu, Lighthouse Fundraiser, and More

Jersey City

• PS Wine Bar is hosting an introduction to natural wines, "What is Natural Wine?", featuring seven wines, information, and fun. The class is this Thursday, 10/11, from 7-9pm. Tickets are $50/person. 
• Jersey and Co. Gelato has started offering hot drinks as we move into the colder weather. Right now, they're offering hot chocolate, a pumpkin spice latte, and a chai latte, along with their regular coffee menu, all made in-house. 
• Mordi's Sandwich Shop is now selling Fat Man Cookies, a new business based in Jersey City with a focus on making different styles and flavors of crinkle cookies. 

Weekend Round-Up: JCAST, Corgi Spirits 1 Year, Suwanna Food Pop-Up & More

Happy Weekend, Jersey City! This weekend is full of art, anniversary celebrations, and delicious things to eat.

JCAST, all over the city
JCAST is the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour, taking place throughout Jersey City, showcasing performance art, tours, art installations, and more. There will be events and exhibitions all throughout the weekend, including at several restaurants and cafes.

9 Bar, Choc O Pain, Hard Grove, Mision Burrito and more will have art displayed in their spaces, open for anyone to check out and several spots are open late including WHOS GF who will be open for extended hours throughout the weekend.

Community News: Van Hook Outpost Now Open, Baonanas Storefront Coming Soon, & more

Jersey City

• Van Hook Cheese opened their grilled cheese-focused outpost near Hamilton Park at 232.5 Pavonia Ave over the weekend. They'll be open from 11am-7pm during the week and 11-6pm on Sundays initially and hours are subject to change.
• Baonanas announced they'll be opening up their first official storefront later this year! They have a spot in the West Side/Bergen Lafayette area and are hoping to open by November or December. 
• Congratulations to Razza on being named the second best pizza in the country, according to The Daily Meal. They specifically called out Razza's Bufala Pizza made from water buffalo in Sussex County.  Dan Richer, owner of Razza, also recently sat down with Justin Naylor of Old Tiago Farm for an interview. 

Weekend Round-Up: Liberty Harbor Street Fair, Honoring Women Entrepreneurs, and More

Happy Weekend Jersey City! We've got street festivals, brunch parties, and more happening this weekend.

National Coffee Day at The Grind Shop
This Saturday is National Coffee Day and to celebrate, The Grind Shop is offering $1 small drip coffee all day long. Stay tuned to their IG for more surprises and specials as the day goes on!

Square 1 Beginning Dinner Service

Popular cafe Square 1 is extending their hours to include dinner service on select days beginning next week.

Community News: Baonanas Named Best Dessert, Chili Cook-Off, and More

Jersey City

• Congratulations to Baonanas who took home the Best Dessert award from this year's Vendy Awards honoring mobile vendors from all over New York and New Jersey. 
• New Goan restaurant Bombay to Goa, located in Journal Square, received a rave review from Grub Street this week for their Ros omelette, a pepper and onion-stuffed onion covered with a rich chicken and coconut based gravy. It was called "One of the World's Great Egg Dishes". 
• Registration is now open for the 4th Annual West Side Community Alliance's Chili Cook-off. The cook-off will take place on Sunday, Oct. 21st and registration is open until 10/15 - it's free to compete. 

Weekend Round-Up:Oktoberfest, Seafood Festival, and More

Happy Weekend Jersey City! Although festival season is beginning to die down as we head into the colder months, there's still some great outdoor events to enjoy.

Oktoberfest, Zeppelin Hall
Oktoberfest officially launches at Zeppelin Hall this Saturday. It will run through October 14th and features Oktoberfest beers and German dishes along with German party bands every Friday and Saturdday from 9pm - 1am.

The Grind Shop Now Carrying Underwest Donuts

The Grind Shop has announced that they'll be carrying Underwest Donuts at the shop beginning today, 9/18.

Community News: Corto to Launch Lunch Service, Diesel & Duke $1 Burger Day, Fort Lee Restaurant Week

Jersey City

• Join the Jersey City Public Library for their fundraiser at PJ Ryan's Squared this Thursday, 9/20.  Tickets are $20 and include food and drinks. 
• Corto announced they'll soon be launching lunch service. While no official date has been announced, more information and the menu will be coming soon. 
• The Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy is hosting a special evening called Slice of History: Pizza & Jersey City. Scott from Scott's Pizza Tours will be there to cover the history of pizza in Jersey City along with a variety of featured pies. The event is on Tuesday, 10/23 and tickets are $25. 

The All About Downtown Street Fair 2018

The 8th Annual All About Downtown Street Fair is this Saturday and it promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Community News: Public School Water Fountains, Talde hosting a Kamayan Dinner, and more

Jersey City

• With the ongoing and worsening budget shortfalls in our school system, Jersey City Public Schools are continually without water for students. Because of lead contamination, drinking fountains and sinks are unusable for drinking water and instead, the school system relies on outside bottled water because of the lack of budget to replace. However, it's expensive and the bottled dispensers often run out, leaving students without water for the day. To provide a more successful and environmentally sustainable solution, student Harshal Agrawal has started a petition proposing line filtration and lead testing. 
• Talde is holding a special Kamayan dinner this Thursday, 9/13. The theme is Magellan's Takeover and the dinner will have a Spanish influence. Tickets are $75/person for all you can eat and drink. 

Hamilton Park BBQ Festival 2018

The 9th Annual Hamilton Park BBQ Festival is officially here! Held as a fundraiser for the Hamilton Park Conservancy, the BBQ Festival is a yearly event full of live music, family-friendly activities, drinks, and of course, lots of barbecue. 

Las Olas Hosting Evening of Fundraising for Immigrant Rights

Las Olas "Behind the Waves" Sushi Truck and Migrante New Jersey have teamed up to offer a special fundraiser with both dinner and entertainment.

Community News: Rustique Celebrates 7 Years with Free Pizza, Torico's Vegan Flavor, and more

Jersey City

Photo from Rustique

• This Wednesday is Rustique's 7th birthday! To celebrate, they'll be giving away free slices of plain pizza from 12-6pm for eat-in or take-out only. 
• Surf City is hosting a Claws 2 Menu Lobster Fest featuring 10 different lobster dishes. It's running every night through Sunday, 9/16.

JC Craft Distillery Fest Coming Soon

The Jersey City Craft Distillery Fest is less than a week away! Featuring over 100 styles of spirits from all over, the event will also have distillers and master blenders there to discuss their work and the drinks they create.  Read below for more info and everything you get to try.

Your Guide to Labor Day Weekend - Who's Open, Who's Closed, & Events

Happy Labor Day Weekend! It's the unofficial end of summer and if you're sticking around town, there's a lot of great ways to celebrate, but also some closures for the holiday weekend.

Read on to get the full guide to what's happening and where to go this Labor Day Weekend in Jersey City:

Ruth's Chris Steak House Now Open At Newport

Popular steakhouse Ruth's Chris opened their newest location at Newport Centre on Monday, celebrating with their traditional steak-cutting ceremony and introducing attendees to their new, more modern look. 

Community News: Lobster Bake, Full Moon Party at Luna, and more

Jersey City

Photo from Liberty House

• Liberty House is throwing their 2nd Annual Lobster Bake this Wednesday, 8/29. It begins at 7pm and is $65/person. Reservations are required. 

Weekend Round-Up: JC Pride, Thai Fusion Pop-Up at LITM, Shopping at Corgi & More

Happy Weekend Jersey City! We're starting to wind down the summer with the final few weeks of outdoor festivals and events, so make sure to take advantage of it while you can! Here's what's going on:

"Grillin & Chillin" BBQ at Zeppelin Hall
It's the last weekend for Zeppelin Hall's bbq-fest with two specialty grill menus, a Brazilian Rodizio themed-menu and a Smoke Haus BBQ menu representing different regions of the US. The Rodizio menu contains dishes like Picanha made with tri-tip, chimichurri, yucca fries and more while the Smoke Haus menu has entrees like Austin slow-cooked brisket and St. Louis-style pork ribs. Ideal for meat lovers, this will run Friday through Sunday only. 

Honey Bakery Has Closed; Now Catering Only

Honey Bakery, the much-loved Russian/Uzbekistan/Korean bakery and cafe, has closed for retail business and will instead be focusing on catering for the time being.

Community News: Egg Curry Now Open, Rosé & Cheese Pairing Class, Talde's New Prix Fixe, & More

Jersey City

• New vegetarian Indo-Chinese restaurant Egg Curry opened up this weekend at 280 Central Ave in the Heights. They will be closed on Tuesdays, but otherwise open from noon-10pm during the week and noon-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Weekend Round-Up: PRIDE Bar Crawl, Puerto Rican Heritage Festival, Marketplace JC and more

Happy Weekend Jersey City! This weekend has food festivals and cultural pride galore. Here's what's going on:

La Festa Italiana, 344 6th Street 
Having started on Wednesday, La Festa Italiana really kicks into high gear for the weekend,  beginning tonight from 5-11pm.

La Festa Italiana Returns for 2018

La Festa Italiana is back for its 115th year in Jersey City!

Wurstbar's Second Anniversary Party

Join Wurstbar, 516 Jersey Ave,  this Thursday, 8/16 as they celebrate their second anniversary in Jersey City.

Community News: La Festa Italiana is Back, Wingin It and Crepe Guru Now Open, and more

Jersey City

• La Festa Italiana returns this week for its 115th year! Running from Wednesday 8/15-Sunday 8/19 from 5pm-11pm, the festival is one of the biggest events of the year and includes favorite traditions like the 50/50, live music, zeppoles, wine and peaches, and of course, the rice balls. 
• Crepe Guru officially celebrated their soft opening last week at 110 Bright Street. They've had the kitchen open for a while for pick-up and delivery, but have now actually opened the storefront up to customers. Formerly located in Hoboken, Crepe Guru is known for their sweet and savory crepes. 

Weekend Round-Up: City Scavenger Hunt, PRIDE Block Party, Gelato Festival and More

Happy Weekend, Jersey City! Pride is officially here and it's a weekend full of fun events, city spirit, and lots of great food. Here's what's going on:

Friday

Scavenger Hunt, City-wide
Beginning at noon, you can join a city-wide small business scavenger hunt, hosted by JCEDC Small Business Services. You'll receive clues to figure out which local businesses are part of the hunt, visit them to either make a small purchase or complete a task, and whoever visits the most businesses wins. You are allowed to work in teams and you must visit at least one business in every ward to be eligible to win. The scavenger hunt will run all weekend and close with a special party and award ceremony with prizes like a night at Hyatt House, gift cards and more beginning at 2pm on Sunday.

Diesel & Duke Now Open

Photo from Diesel & Duke

Popular burger chain Diesel & Duke officially opened the doors to their Jersey City location on Tuesday. 

Rumba Cubana Now Open

Photo from Rumba Cubana

New Cuban restaurant Rumba Cubana is now open!

Community News: Gelato Festival, La Cote starts Brunch, and more

Jersey City

• Head to Liberty State Park on 8/11 and 8/12 to join in on Gelato Festival 2018, part of a world-wide, three year long competition leading up to the 2021 Grand Finals in Italy to win the title of Gelato Festival World Master.

Weekend Round-Up: JC Food Truck Fest, la côte debuts brunch, Annual Peach Pie Contest & More

Happy Weekend Jersey City! Here's what's happening around town this weekend:

Friday

Restaurant Week, throughout Hudson County
Tonight is the last night to enjoy Restaurant Week in Hudson County. Get more info on participating restaurants here, and enjoy something delicious like this double cut pork chop from The Barge Inn, part of their Restaurant Week menu.

Bella d'Estate Summer Seafood Wine Dinner

On Tuesday, August 7th, join Pasta Dal Cuore and Jersey Wine and Spirits for a special event -  the Bella d'Estate Summer Seafood Wine Dinner.