Duck at Grand Sichuan

Matt over at I Blog What I Eat has some pictures from his recent meal at Grand Sichuan, a New York chain of fine Chinese food that happens to have a downtown location.

Hudson Menus Nominates Itself for Best Local Site

Get Out Hudson is running a "best of" survey of local businesses, restaurants, and of course, best local website. Unsurprisingly, Hudson Menus, which is owned by Get Out Hudson, has made the list. Nothing says integrity like giving yourself a reach around.

Feed Your Soul on You Tube

Downtown cookie bakery Feed Your Soul makes an appearance on YouTube. The short interview talks about cookies, from We Are New

Ox Restaurant Reviewed

I Am Not a Chef reviews downtown eatery Ox, a not quite yet year old Newark Avenue restaurant that has already made NJ Monthly Magazine's best in state list.

South City Grill Gets New Chef

Second Helpings notes South City Grill corporate has hired a new executive chef who will oversee the chain. South City Grill has a location in Newport, and will be opening South City Prime, a steakhouse, in the Jersey City Westin hotel, set to open this fall.

Pizza Man Running for Downtown Seat

Downtown business owner Frank Scalcione is running for the Ward E council seat, notes Hudson Now. Scalcione owns Frank's Famous Italian Pizzeria on Monmouth Street, a downtown eatery. No word on whether his platform will include Pizza Party Fridays.

Taco Truck Takes Break

We Are New reports that Lucinda Burritos + Tacos, the well received taco truck from the Exchange Place area is taking a break after being told by 101 Hudson Street that the truck couldn't park in front of the building any more.

Two Jersey City Restaurants Best in State

NJ Monthly Magazine created a list of the 25 Best restaurants in the state, and two are located in Jersey City. Both eateries are located downtown. Ox, on Newark Avenue, opened last year. Edward's Steakhouse, on Marin Blvd, played host to Governor Jon Corzine a few weeks back.

G Bakery & Restaurant Reviewed

Blogger Laryssa reviews Newark Avenue eatery G Bakery & Restaurant.

Hudson Restaurant Week Starts on 28th

Once again its time for Hudson Restaurant week, a showcase of restaurants in Hudson County. Restaurant week, modeled on a New York City phenomenon, encourages participants to provide a prix fixe menu offering multiple courses to diners in traditionally slow weeks. New to this season's restaurant week are The Embankment, Madame Claudes, Skinner's Loft, and John's Pizza.

For more information, visit Hudson Restaurant Week.

Paulus Hook Getting Grocery Store

New York's Sixth notes (third item) a rumor that a grocery store is finally coming to Paulus Hook in the base of the Liberty Towers. The downtown neighborhood has long been without its own grocery store.

Iron Monkey Plans, Another Man's Treasure Uncovered

Downtown lounge / bar/ restaurant Iron Monkey is focusing on food writes Jersey City Uncovered. The menu is being revamped and a building renovation is expected to begin in the fall. Other items include a look at Another Man's Treasure and a conversation with councilman Fulop.

Governor Dines Downtown

A post on JCList notes Governor Jon Corzine was seen dining at downtown eatery, Edward's Steakhouse. Corzine keeps an apartment in neighboring Hoboken.

Skinner's Loft Uncovered

Jersey City Uncovered writes up a positive little piece on Skinner's Loft, a Newark Avenue bar and restaurant that opened a little less than a year ago. The establishment has revamped is menu several time in the last year.

CIty Farmer's Markets Provide Access to Fresh Produce

Farmer's markets across the city are providing better access to fresh produce. New York's Sixth summarizes the time and place of the city's markets.

Salt and Pepper Grill Reviewed

Blogger Too Shy to Stop reviews Jersey City eatery Salt and Pepper Grill, a Journal Square, halal certified, restaurant. In short: a long wait and bland food.

La Rustique Opens at New Location

A rumor on JCList points out that brick oven pizzeria La Rustique has opened in a new location in Harsimus Cove. The restaurant was pushed out of the Paulus Hook location. For now only take out is available, but tables inside and out may be available as soon as next week.

Wendy's Giving Away Free Burgers

JC Register notes that a portable Wendy's kitchen will be in Exchange Place on Friday giving 1/4 pound singles and gift cards. The event starts at 10am and goes until 2pm.

Journal Square Farmers Market Opens Today

Journal Square becomes a little more gentrified today when a farmer's market is set to open. Hudson Now notes the market will be on Wednesdays through September, from 10:30 in the morning to 7:30 at night.

Pizzeria Opens on Greene Street

Pizza alla Gargiulo opened at 101 Greene Street in Paulus Hook, notes The Life Vicarious. Van Houtte Cafe also opened recently.

White Manna Burgers

A Hamburger Today compares Jersey City's White Manna burgers to its long lost sibling in Hackensack. White Manna is a burger joint on the corner of Manhattan Avenue and 1&9, just north of the Tonnelle Circle. Both shops were founded by the same man, but are now under separate ownership.

Hudson Menus Launches Blog

Hudson Menus has started blogging, a long overdue edition to the menu site. Hudson Menus collects menus from restaurants in Hudson County and publishes them online in a centralized database.

Downtown Restaurants Reviewed

Blogger Grove Street JC wrote up three mini-reviews of downtown eateries Soul Flavors, Grand Sichuan, and Nha Trang.

Jersey City Uncovered Goes Sailing, Eats Polish Food

Online magazine Jersey City Uncovered goes to sailing school at the Liberty Marina while enjoying some Polish Food at a downtown restaurant.

Port City Java Closer to Opening

A new coffee shop set to open near the Dixon Mills apartment complex downtown is promising to open soon, notes the Journal.

Torico's Gains Mostly Favorable Review

Downtown ice cream stand Torico's received a mostly favorable review from The the Chocolate Peanut Butter Gallery blog. That's a mouthful, but not surprising then that the blogger sampled the chocolate peanut butter ice cream, by way of a milkshake. On one hand, the blogger suggests the peanut butter wasn't salty enough, but

"Still, I’d like to go back and try the chocolate peanut butter ice cream in it’s “natural state” (un milk-shake-ified) to give the ice cream itself a fair taste."

Displaced McDonald's Crosses Street

A McDonald's in Journal Square, displaced by the Harwood Towers project, is to reopen across the street, reports JC Register.

Taco Truck Gets Times Mention

Lucinda Burritos + Tacos, a waterfront food truck serving breakfast and lunch, catches the eye of the New York Times.

Pizza and Art

John's Pizzeria, a recently opened restaurant in Paulus Hook, hired local artist Richard La Rovere to paint a skyline mural of Jersey City's waterfront, notes the Journal. John's Pizzeria has a Times Square location with a similarly fitting New York City skyline. The Jersey City mural captures the waterfront from Liberty State Park to the north end of the city line.

Marco & Pepe Impresses Food Blogger

New York foodies may find it surprising, but downtown Jersey City has fine dinning.
Grove Street eatery Marco and Pepe has won over one Queen's blogger:

"This was definitely a mature take on mac&cheese, and I was seriously wowed by it."

New Downtown Coffee Houses

Two new coffee houses are coming to downtown Jersey City, posts blog The Life Vicarious. Van Houtte Cafe has official posted information on the windows of its location in the base of the Montgomery-Greene condominium tower. Port City Java will open at Christopher and Varick Streets. The second downtown Starbucks opened last month in the base of Grove Pointe. Meanwhile, Rachel, a Grove Street cafe has permanently closed, as has Janam Tea House, which closed when the owners transfered to the West Coast.

Two Aprons Featured in Online Magazine

Online magazine Jersey City Uncoveredhas a write up on Two Aprons, a Paulus Hook cafe.

John's Pizzeria Open

Another gourmet pizzeria has opened downtown. John's Pizzeria took over the old Pronto Cena restaurant in Paulus Hook, and opened a few weeks ago, notes blog The Life Vicarious.

Tunnel Diner Slated for Demolition

The blog Lincoln Highway News notes that Jersey City's Tunnel Diner is slated for demolition. The diner closed a few months ago.

Matzo Shortage After Factory Closure

Manischewitz closed down its Jersey City factory last year, not only paving the way for the Toll Brothers to build high rise towers, but also leading a to a matzo shortage this year. The NY Times notes that TamTam crackers, the bite sized matzo are in short supply this year because of engineering delays at the Manischewitz factory in Newark. The ONLY Manischewitz factory, anywhere.

J.C. Beats Out L.I.C. for 'Bucks

Jersey City residents have all the luck. Racked mentions that Long Island City's Starbucks have been canceled, but Jersey City's just opened (Newark Avenue at Columbus). What Racked didn't mention is there are still rumors of yet another Starbucks outpost finding a home somewhere near Exchange Place.

Debunking Whole Foods Rumors

Once again rumors of Whole Foods' arrival in Jersey City have surfaced. New York's Sixth debunks some of the myths and summarizes past rumors.

Current Reviews Embankment

The Embankment restaurant, which opened last week near Hamilton Park, is reviewed in the Hudson Current. The New American style bistro is by the same family that owns The Merchant on Grove Street.

Chickpea Coming to Journal Square

Chickpea, a middle eastern eatery chain will be expanding to Journal Square, reports Grub Street. Chickpea was recently purchased; the new owners also operate Nan King, a downtown Asian restaurant located at 101 Hudson Street.

Chickpea
From Wired JC

Neport Getting Steakhouse

New York's Sixth reports the under construction Westin Hotel will be home to South City Prime, a steakhouse restaurant off shoot of South City Grill.

Harvest Cart Delights NY Times

The New York Times crossed the Hudson to give Jersey City's Harvest Cart a try, and they liked what they ate, calling the little sandwich shop sophisticated takeout.

NEW Gives Subia's Thumbs Up

Subia's, an organic market and cafe located on Jersey Avenue and Wayne Street, gets a thumbs up from the folks over at NEW. For vegetarians looking for Meatloaf and Meatballs that have no meat, Subia's is for you.

Brownstone Diner on FoodTV

Jersey City's Brownstone Diner appeared in a recent episode of FoodTV's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. The downtown diner, located on the corner of Grand and Jersey, has long been known for its large variety of pancakes. Fieri finds himself in the kitchen of the Brownstone diner whipping up a mega batch of batter and then creates his own pancake wrap. The episode is scheduled to air several more times this month if you missed it the first time around.

Grand Sichuan Opens Tomorrow

Renowned Chinese eatery Grand Sichuan is set to open tomorrow on Grove Street after renovating a former noodle shop. The menu is now online.

Hoboken411 Reviews Edwards Steak House

Hoboken411 deigned cross the railroad tracks and visited Jersey City eatery Edward's Steak House. The extensive review was not kind. In a word: overpriced.