When Mike Gallucci decided to open his own bar, he had a vision: a place where people would mingle, drink and have a good time. So far, the owner of Green Rock Tap and Grill is doing just that.
Since February, Gallucci has been operating the pleasant bar on Hudson Street in Hoboken, near the PATH station. Situated in the heart of the downtown bar scene helps Gallucci draw big crowds during regular happy hours and weekend specials, he said.
The service is excellent and the beer is good, but not expensive. His domestic beer list includes Budweiser, Bud Light, and Coors Light, and he offers imports like Corona, Amstel, Fosters, New Castle, Red Stripe, and both Dos Equis Lager and Amber.
"We aim to please all our customers," Gallucci said, last week.
Monday is “pasta night,” with all-you-can-eat pasta for $7; Tuesday is “Two for Tuesday,” where patrons can enjoy two pizzas for the price of one; and Wednesday there is live music. Every Wednesday, a different acoustic player takes the stage and performs throughout the night. Previous performers include James Magill, Melissa Merinn, and Dave from Seeking Homer.
“I’ll do anything, try different things,” he said. “People look forward to it. It keeps it fresh.”
Gallucci came up with the name for the bar after reading that navigator Henry Hudson in 1609 wrote that the area now known as Hoboken was a “green-veined rock.”
“We really wanted to stay true to the history of the place,” Gallucci said.
The place unique in its features The bar, taken from an old tavern in New York, is more than five decades old, and the ceiling was renovated to preserve its original look.
It’s a big enough space for a nice-size crowd during happy hours, with several flat-screen TVs.
In addition to drinks, Green Rock offers an extensive comfort bar menu, which includes calamari ($4.50) served with rich tomato sauce; fried mozzarella ($4.50) served with spicy tomato sauce; chicken crisps ($4.50) with choice of dipping sauce; buffalo wings ($6.50) served with bleu cheese, celery and carrots; nachos ($5), layered with refried beans, cheddar and jalapeno jack cheese; French fries ($3); quesadillas ($5) with melted pepper jack cheese; and fresh seasonal vegetables ($5), served with choice of dressing.
My meal
Throughout my several trips to the bar, I enjoyed a tasty pizza du jour ($7.50), which included mushroom and extra cheese. It was just the right size for one person and the sauce was a sweet. The bread was thin, and the crust was a little crispy. Other pizzas include classic margarita ($7), and Italian sausage ($7.50). I also enjoyed the Green Rock burger ($7). It was a half-pound of ground beef grilled to perfection and served on a toasted English muffin with lettuce, tomato and onion. It was delicious and I highly recommend it. It’s truly one of the best burgers in the area.
Other sandwiches include the Tex-Mex burger ($7.50) served with guacamole and melted jalapeno pepper, and the Italian combo wrap ($6.50) served with pepperoni, ham, mozzarella, mixed greens, tomato, red onion, and oil and vinegar.
Green Rock Tap and Grill is located on 70 Hudson St. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and includes $1 mugs. Saturday and Sunday brunch is $6 a la carte. Daily lunch specials are from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and include a burger and a pint of beer for $7. For more information call (201) 386-5600. q