Zeppelin Hall(88 Liberty View Drive) is hosting a Summer Bacon Festival, which starts today and carries on through August 24th. Enjoy bacon thirteen ways—seriously.
ZH recommends the Bacon Lobster Taco Thermidor, a taco shell made entirely of bacon stuffed with green cabbage/sautéed lobster/applewood smoked bacon/pepper jack. Or try their sampler of the big B with the Bacon Sausages Trio: cracked black pepper bacon sausage/hickory bacon sausage/aged cheddar bacon sausage served with arugula salad and a choice of bacon potato salad or bacon French fries with spicy bacon mayo.
Also on the menu is the Bacon Encrusted Pork Rib Eye Steak, Bacon Wrapped Buffalo Frankfurter and many more creative bacon dishes all offered under $17. Free bacon strips are available at the bar from 4pm-7pm during the festival.
Too much? Not enough?
If you want sweet, opt to “dessert” your bacon: Chocolate Covered Bacon and Bacon Cotton Candy are available.
The Brightside Tavern’s monthly comedy show is back Friday, May 30th.
Mike Recine (who just performed on Conan in LA) is hosting and the performers include Leah Bonnema, Kirk Faulkner, Brett Druck, Dr. Mike, Rachael Parenta and Jersey City’s own Calise Hawkins (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, NickMom).
The show starts at 8, but arrive early if you’re particular about where you sit. The Brightside is at 141 Bright Street (corner of Monmouth) in downtown Jersey City. You can reserve seats by calling (201) 435-1234 or buy them at the door. $10.
Abbey’s Pub & Grill (not to be confused with O’Abbey’s, which is on the West Side and a place I have not yet visited) is an unpretentious spot on the corner of Monmouth and 4th. Downtown can be…downtown. But I like this spot because it’s not.
I first discovered Abbey’s when looking for a hookah bar in Hudson County. Not only is it one of the few hookah bars around (stop reading if you’re judgy), it is also a smoker’s heaven: they allow smoking inside by the bar area and even sell cigarettes (for shame!).
I love it because it has the raw feel of a true dive; it’s totally not trying to be anything but itself. Check your cooler-than-thou attitude at the door and relax. If you’ve ever been to Sophie’s in Alphabet City or Automatic Slims in Meatpacking, you know what I mean. And this is a notch up. Everyone is welcome in the diverse crowd drawn to this spot. I promise you will make friends here.
You have your standard bar stuff: pool table, music, karoake nights, big TVs. Drinks are stiff, food is as expected, and both are priced well.
Love me a gimlet!
I had a quesadilla and nachos here last year, both of which were delish for downtown dive food. Here are some recent eats:
I ordered the steak sandwich as it comes: Sliced skirt steak (I wasn’t questioned about meat temperature, and I didn’t ask because I figured it was, indeed, pre-prepped and frozen, but no worries) with mushrooms, onions, cheddar, and fries. This picture does not capture the sandwich’s appeal or give its size justice. I only got through a quarter of it. Seriously. This sandwich fed me four meals—one at the restaurant and three that I made from the leftovers—because gourmet be gone, it was great.
My dining companion ordered a burger with shrooms and cheddar, which he devoured in about 3 minutes. His meat was cooked to order, and clearly hit the spot.
You would never expect a decent bathroom in this bar, but alas! The Bathroom Sink needs its own shoutout:
Isn’t it just gorgeous?
Abbey’s is an all-around win for a casual night. The servers are friendly, and the patrons are even more warm and inviting. Having the option to chill in peace with your companions, or the guarantee to make friends the moment you wait at the bar or on the bathroom line—that’s just luxury.
Skinner’s Loft(146 Newark Ave.) is one of my favorite spots. Choose your floor depending on your fancy.
The copper-ceilinged bar scene on the first floor is always bubbling and best suited for drinks and small bites with friends.
The second floor, which I most frequent, offers more intimate dining with its candlelit atmosphere, ever-present gorgeous fresh flowers, a fireplace, well thought-out antique decor and different place settings on each table (totes my style).
Skinner’s has a warm, welcoming feel on cold winter nights. While the ambiance is beautiful, you don’t feel the need to dress up or be well-versed in wine (or Italian beer that comes in a corked bottle, for that matter). It is an elegant scene, but while the restaurant’s servers are super professional, they also make you feel relaxed—nothing’s uptight.
I’ve been here many times since I discovered it and will continue to go. Now, on to the menu:
Skinner’s Loft changes its menu seasonally, but here are some of the things I’ve tried:
The monthly comedy night at Brightside Tavern (141 Bright St.) is here. This Friday, December 6th, eight comics, including Andy Breckman from WFMU and Saturday Night Live, and Anton Shuford, a Jersey City comedian who’s performed across the world, will be rocking your ribs with laughter.
Tickets are $10 and the show starts at 8pm.
Check it out on FBhere. If you want to know about previous shows I’ve attended in this series, click here.
