A cozy spot that’s been serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch to Hobokenites for over eight years is expanding to the city’s main drag, as construction is underway on the second outpost of a European-inspired eatery.
La Bouche Café, at 103 Garden Street, was opened in 2011 by Chef Esra Yuzer. While the restaurant has a French name, Yuzer actually moved to the United States from Turkey in 2009 after owning several restaurants in Istanbul. The Garden Street space features vintage cabinets, elegant light fixtures, and seating that includes padded chairs and plenty of pillows that strives to combine the elegance of a parlor with the casual nature of a neighborhood eatery.
Yuzer’s background shows in the menu at La Bouche, which features both French and Mediterranean items. Their breakfast options include diverse varieties of omelets, crepes, and waffles. Brunch items like an Eggs Norweigan with smoked salmon and poached eggs are highlighted, as is brioche French toast and a croque madame. The Turkish influence is felt in their panini and sandwiches, which include a lamb gyro and a Mediterranean sandwich with homemade hummus, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, and black olives.
Their Garden Street storefront is decidedly small, so all that and more is officially expanding to vacant space at 207 Washington Street. Construction permits were recently posted at the storefront and a sign in the window advertises that La Bouche is hiring (those interested can email their resumes to [email protected]).
La Bouche also features unique varieties of drinks including Turkish coffee, a masala chai latte, and rooibos tea. Their newest café hasn’t applied for a liquor license, so it looks like they will be continuing their existing BYOB tradition of providing mixes for mimosas and Bellinis to customers who bring their own alcohol. La Bouche has not yet announced a timeline as to the opening of the Washington Street location.
