A prime restaurant space along the Hudson River has sprung back to life in a big way as COV is open for business along a busy stretch of Bergen County waterfront.
The new eatery, situated at 115 River Road in Edgewater, comes courtesy of owner Michael Giannopoulos, who runs Blu on the Hudson down the road in Weehawken. Designed as the ultimate setting for leisurely lunches and golden hour aperitivos, COV aims to deliver creative menus and lively energy in equal measure.
Culinary Director Juan Carlos “JC” Ortega is helming the food program at COV after years of also working at Blu on the Hudson. His staple raw bar at the restaurant includes East Coast oysters, dressed scallops with soy, yuzu and wasabi, and snapper ceviche options.
The rest of the menu is designed for sharing among diners, with hot bites of seafood like grilled oyster, crispy calamari, and spicy mahi mahi fish tacos. Dishes from the grill include a plethora of surf and turf ranging from baby octopus, Montauk calamari, Ecuadorian shrimp, or Australian lamb chops, miso salmon, and prime ribeye.
Fries are the side of choice at the restaurant, whose COV fries are dressed up with garlic and feta. Wedge fries with Old Bay or spicy aioli provide a nice complement to the seafood-heavy festivities.
Beverage Director Jeremy LeBlanche has joined COV after years rising to notoriety at New York City’s Thyme Bar. His summer cocktails menu features a smoked Old Fashioned that blends Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac, while the appropriately named First Kiss on the River combines Grey Goose La Poire, Bergamott, vanilla syrup, lemon juice, and champagne.
COV additionally features both beers and ciders on tap available in pints or steins and is hoping to become a premier summer destination along the Hudson River. The restaurant sports an outdoor deck with ample seating in addition to a large indoor dining section with retractable doors depending on the weather.
Their hours of operation span Wednesday through Sunday from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m., with a midnight closing on Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant can be followed on Instagram at the handle @cov.edgewater.
