The good times never stop at Liberty Bar and Grill. One of uptown Hoboken’s top restaurants, Liberty is known for its entertainment and quality food.
The once "just a bar" hotspot now offers filet mignons, jambalaya, and pasta dishes in addition to a variety of appetizers, pizzas and burgers. People are coming to experience what executive chef Denis Alvarez is cooking.
"We are among the top restaurants in town," Alvarez said. "The feedback from our new menu has been terrific."
In just over two years, Alvarez has taken a simple bar menu and transformed it into an American fusion dining experience, which includes specialties like The Executive ($20.95), a 10-ounce filet mignon served with potato croquette, fresh spinach and Alvarez’ signature sauce; chicken savoy ($15.95), pan-seared boneless chicken brushed with garlic, and herbs with red vinegar and garlic mashed potatoes; linguini Bolognese ($12.95), pan seared seasoned ground beef, sautéed in homemade pink sauce; penne vodka ($12.95), prosciutto, onions, tomatoes and heavy cream finished with cheese and basil; the Cape Cod ($10.95), tempura battered cod, served with fries, vinegar and cole slaw; and the popular BBQ chicken pizza pie ($8.95), served with caramelized Bermuda onions, jack cheese over a thin crust.
The restaurant has large doors that are left open in the summer. The rotunda bar in the middle of the dining room is spacious, and the dining tables line up around it. The bar offers a variety of beverages ranging from domestic and imported beers to specialty-mixed drinks. The dining room seats up to 50 patrons.
On one wall, there is a painting of the Statue of Liberty sitting in the Hudson River staring at Manhattan. And there is a pool table and a large screen TV for sports games in the back of the bar.
"We are very versatile here," Kaplan said. "We can be a sports bar and a great place for music."
Kaplan took over Liberty almost half a decade ago. Since then, she has compiled a weekly entertainment schedule that includes sports nights on Sundays and Mondays with drink specials; trivia games on Tuesday night, live acoustic music on Wednesday nights; and a DJ on the weekends.
"Every night there is something different," Kaplan said.
Alvarez graduated from the New York Restaurant School in 1992 and has worked in five-star restaurants in Bloomfield and Boca Raton, Fla. He was working in the area when he met Kaplan, and they teamed up.
"We had a vision of what the place should be," Alvarez said. "We upgraded the menu."
My meal
I began my meal with the hummus triple play ($8.95). The appetizer was served with roasted pepper, along with black bean and edamame hummus with pita points. I also tried the empanadas ($8.95). This latest addition to the menu was recommended by Alvarez and consisted of turkey filled pastries stuffed with sun-dried cranberries and served with a cranberry cilantro sauce. Other appetizers include traditional chicken tenders ($7.95); garlic shrimp ($8.95); fried ravioli ($7.95); mozzarella sticks ($7.95); and sweet corn arepas ($7.95).
After the appetizers, I enjoyed the Roquefort filet mignon ($21.95). The stuffed filet was served with garlic mashed potatoes, and cabernet. The large steak was tender and juicy, and the delicious sauce around it helped extract the meat’s flavor. The potatoes were spicy, terrifically complimenting the entrée. In addition, the food was well presented. I also tried the chicken and shrimp jambalaya ($13.95). This amazing Cajun dish was served over wild rice in hot spices. It was enough for two.
For dessert I had the chocolate nachos ($4.95). The churros style chips were covered with cinnamon and served with sliced bananas. I also tried the pumpkin chai cheesecake ($4.95). The cheesecake was creamy and very sweet. Other desserts include the classic chocolate brownie sundae, and the apple cobbler and vanilla ice cream.
Liberty Bar and Grill is located at 61 14th St. in Hoboken. Their hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Lunch is served daily, and they accommodate private parties. They deliver during lunchtime and offer Sunday brunch. On Feb. 20, Liberty will host its third annual "Dating Game" at 8 p.m. For more information, call 222-6322 or visit www.libertybar.com. q