Two new Asian-inspired eateries are hitting Washington Street, while a new Greek bakery and market of sorts has helped add some culinary diversity along Hoboken’s waterfront.
Over the weekend, Koro Koro Rice Ball Café just moved up north from Jersey City to Hoboken at 201 Washington Street. The restaurant’s Jersey Avenue location has been temporarily closed down for renovations, but their newest Hoboken outpost just opened on Saturday afternoon.
Koro Koro’s rice balls fuse together several different styles of food like Cuban, Moroccan, and Indian, plus the café has some fish, vegan and soup options. Ice creams from Milk Sugar Love and coffee from Modcup round out the experience.
Two blocks away in the Waterfront Corporate Center III building, Greek From Greece opened up shop earlier this month. The large Mediterranean bakery has several different sections featuring freshly baked breads like Tsoureki, sweets, sandwiches, salads, and even a gelato station spread out over the massive marketplace-type space.
The spot also sells various products directly from Greece that can be hard to find in U.S. like Krocus Kozanis teas, Gaea olive oil and figs directly from Askada Farm in Evia, Greece.
Back on Washington Street, a fast-casual build-your-own poke bowl restaurant called Makai Poke Company looks to fuse traditional Japanese cooking techniques with classic Hawaiian poke. The eatery’s slogan is “boat to bowl” and they take it seriously, working exclusively with local purveyors to ensure that they serve the highest grade sustainably-caught fish.
The restaurant, at 521 Washington Street, will serve customizable poke in bowl, burrito or salad form. The eatery’s website says they are due to open in February and should hopefully start serving their first customers sometime this week.
A downtown spot that’s played host to many different clubs over the years is also getting a facelift and concept change. Reign, the last version that occupied 92 River Street, closed at the end of January and the building is undergoing a huge renovation that started with the restoration of the Clam Broth House sign that adorns the top of the structure.
Hoboken Girl reports that the reboot will be called Birch and consist of three different areas including an event space on the top level. One of the portions will have a “western saloon vibe” and another will be a milkshake and burger bar. Birch is holding two “open call” events on February 21st and 23rd from 7-10PM looking to fill various service positions and are planning on opening in early March.
And finally, the long-awaited opening of Pino Hospitality’s Porter Collins restaurant is “just a few weeks away,” according to the group handling their PR. The much-delayed eatery, which will feature two cocktail bars, a raw bar, a wood-burning oven and a private event space, is aiming to have its grand opening celebration in early March.
