There are the unlimited (and constant) refills of lychee bellinis, Bloody Marys, and mimosas; there is the bountiful buffet of eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, pasta, fish, steak fajitas, granola, cold cuts, and dessert. And there’s the sweet jazz music, the location in the PATH plaza, and the excellent service.
The popular restaurant Teak on the Hudson, which serves up American cuisine and sushi among cavernous ceilings and 2,500-gallon fish tank, started its Sunday jazz brunch in August. The brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the food is constantly refreshed, making it worth stopping in any time on a lazy Sunday. It’s also a great place to take family, a date, or your friends.
What we ate
My newly-minted hubby and I trotted down to Teak on the Hudson, at 16 Hudson Place, this past Sunday. He always prefers fish and steak during meals, while I enjoy less meaty fare. Eddie Nocelotl, one of the managers, was raving about the freshness and value of the new brunch.
“You get your money’s worth,” he said. “It’s a great space, great ambiance. There’s live music. You can eat as much as you want. It’s constantly turned around. For health nuts, there’s fresh granola, fresh berries. For dessert lovers, there are brownies, fresh croissants, bagels, chocolate chip muffins. There are cold cuts, prosciutto, ham, turkey. There’s fresh fish, the catch of the day.”
The brunch is $30 per person, which is more than worth it considering the unlimited drinks and food. You’d probably spend that on a few dishes and drinks anywhere else, and not get food and ambiance of such quality.
When we ate, I focused on the breakfast food. My favorite was the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, particularly because they weren’t drowning in Hollandaise sauce, which some restaurants overdo. They were perfectly cooked and delicious. I also loved the pasta dish: penne ala vodka with peas and tomatoes.
The hubby loved the steak fajita, which was made according to a recipe from chef Jose Ronquillo’s grandmother: flank steak marinated overnight in delicious ingredients.
He also wolfed down the fish, which today was red snapper and tilapia over spinach. He loves fish but is also very picky, and found Teak’s offerings to his taste.
“The steak is tender,” he said. “Whatever they basted it in is excellent.”
For bagels, there was a spread of smoked salmon, two kinds of cream cheese, chopped onion, chopped eggs, and capers.
I also tried the scrambled eggs, potatoes and vegetables, cheddar spinach quiche, and waffles with honey butter. The hubby enjoyed the sausage and bacon.
For dessert, the cookies were soft and delicious. I had peanut butter while the hubby had chocolate chip. We both thought some sort of cake or pie could have rounded out an otherwise very complete buffet.
More details
Nocelotl noted that the dishes at the brunch are not always the same, so that “People come in and say, ‘I hope they have this next time,’ but next time, it’s something different, and they say, ‘Wow, this is just as good.'”
The meat and fish dish will frequently change. One day, it might be chicken marsala, another steak. But the menu stays the same all day whether one enters at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m.
“We keep your drinks filled, because that’s what Hoboken’s about nowadays,” Nocelotl said.
In fact, the lychee bellini was so sweet and tasty that my hubby had to get his own after trying mine. For those who don’t know, it’s the puree of a lychee fruit mixed with champaign. Lychee martinis are also popular at the eatery at night, Nocelotl said.
The Alex Stein Trio featuring Champian Fulton was the band. With members from New York and Jersey City, they provided the right kind of entertainment for the brunch. They played at the end of the bar by an open door that let the sunshine in. There were tables outside as well, although with winter coming, the days of outdoor eating seemed numbered.
Details
Teak on the Hudson opened approximately a year ago across from the Hoboken train terminal. In the space of the old Planet nightclub, the classical marble sculptures and backlit walls are a sight to see. Nocelotl said that many people have had brunch parties in his restaurant.
In addition to Sunday brunch, Teak has specials all week, such as half-price all food and drinks on Mondays from 12 noon to closing. For more information, call (201) 653-6888.