Meet North Jersey’s Hottest New Restaurant: The Hudson Rose
This trendy eatery in downtown Nutley serves classic comfort food – with a funky twist.
Every year I tell myself that I will wait until after Thanksgiving to listen to Christmas music.
I swear – as I stare in my rearview mirror – that I will not open Winter Wonderland Radio on Spotify in the middle of October and turn “Dominick The Donkey” up to full volume.
But every summer the heat wave ends, the 18 degree rainy days begin, and I become even more disappointed than I thought.
Because the thing is, it is never October.
It is July.
Here are four things I ate this week that are less disappointing than my willpower.
Onion Rings French Onion Soup, The Hudson Rose
French onion soup is a first-rate appetizer. Whether you grab a pot of it at one of the region’s fine European restaurants or wolf down a $5 bowl at a corner diner, either version of the dish is sure to please.
So what sets one version of the soup apart from another is generally the choice of bread and cheese; sourdough is a must and nothing tastes better than Gruyère. However, Hudson Rose, a new American restaurant in Nutley, has found a way to take this classic bowl to a new level.
The team serves the two types of bread and cheese mentioned above and also garnishes the pot with crispy onion rings. This decision to add crunch to an otherwise monotonous dish is incredibly clever – and particularly Instagrammable.
Go: 238 Franklin Ave., Nutley; 973-542-2005, thehudsonrose.com.
Isfahan Latte, Ladurée
Do drinks count as things I “ate” this week?
They do this when they are covered with whipped cream and macaroons, like the typical lattes at Ladurée.
A Paris-based chain known for its delicious drinks and melt-in-your-mouth baked goods, the company (which just opened its first location in Short Hills, New Jersey) makes deliciously thick, decadently topped coffee creations daily. Hazelnut, pistachio, chocolate and cream; from the milk base to the frothy cream, each one goes down like a melted candy bar—and I’m So here for it.
Although I could probably just point to the drinks menu at this upscale patisserie and end up finding something delicious, my current favorite latte is the Signature Ispahan.
A variation of the famous French dessert of the same name, the recipe combines raspberries, roses and lychees to imitate the taste of a fruity cake covered in jam and cream.
Go: 1200 Morris Tpke., Millburn (at Short Hills Mall); 646-392-7868, laduree.us/laduree-new-jersey-short-hills.html.
Special Stack Burger Sandwich (the fourth on the special menu), Stack Burger
I don’t know what this dish is, I don’t know what it’s supposed to be, but I’m kind of obsessed with it.
PS: Stay for the Double Jumbo Cheeseburger.
Go: 995 Main St., Paterson; 973-341-3967, instagram.com/stackburgernj.
Greek Club, The Gyro Project
The best thing about the luscious wraps at The Gyro Project in Fort Lee is the crispy edge of their pitas. Greasy and salty, the luscious ring encircles the edge of the bread like the buttery crust of a cast-iron pancake.
However, this factor extends to the entire sandwich in the restaurant’s new Greek Club, as it is only pressed in panini format upon order.
A Mediterranean twist on the classic deli lunch, this innovative creation has a crispy exterior that’s almost irresistible. Topped with melted mozzarella cheese, creamy house sauce, assorted vegetables and slow-roasted chicken, the triangular pita pieces are easy to fluff up in a way that white bread just can’t.
And the ingredients in between are almost as impressive.
Go: 2151 Lemoine Ave., Fort Lee; 201-571-4501, thegyroproject.com.
Hungry for more?
Want to read more of this week’s latest food news? Check out some of my best articles at NorthJersey.com/food.
Until next week, North Jersey – let’s hope I turn off the Christmas carols, let the summer corn keep flowing, and finally Finally Find a local chicken fried steak.
(Got a tip on the latter? DM me; @northjerseyeats).
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can’t find her at Jersey’s best restaurants, she’s probably racing around a mountain track. Find her on Instagram: @karanicolev and @northjerseyeatsand sign up for their North Jersey Eats Newsletter.
