A roomy, colorful space, a lively atmosphere, and a huge (and we mean huge) menu of unique combinations of ethnic and American food have been luring scores of people to the Hard Grove Café near the Grove Street PATH station in Jersey City.
The two women who bought the Cuban restaurant nearly four years ago gave it a “Miami/South Beach theme” and made it a friendly place to celebrate with a group of friends or eat alone – and we saw both types of customers when we visited recently.
A friend and I happened to stop in on the night of Barack Obama’s inauguration, and there was a special list of inauguration eats and drinks, as well as presidential décor around the restaurant – but there’s always a celebration of some sort going on at the Hard Grove.
My friend and I, tired of the same fare at almost every restaurant, were flabbergasted by the unique combinations delicious American and Latin American eats (and drinks) on the menu. For those who are picky, there are plenty of standards, from burgers to sandwiches, but for those who want something new, there’s much to choose from.
Just for inauguration night, we had to try the “Presidential Sampler” with several popular appetizers: shrimp and crab empanadas (empanadas usually consist of meat in a warm fried Latin pastry), Cuban potato croquettes, and sautéed beef with plantain chips. Everything was well presented and delicious.
Meanwhile, the wait staff was handing out samples of “Michele Obama Hawaii Mai-Tai cocktails,” which were fruity with a kick.
We counted about 80 distinct dishes on the regular menu, including a long list of appetizers (ranging from $7 to $12), sandwiches and burgers ($8 to $13), entrée salads ($11 to $14), and steak, chicken, seafood, and pork entrees ($13 to $22). There was also a satisfying list of vegetarian entrees, like vegetarian paella ($12 to $16).
The diverse ingredients in the entrees and salads give a hint at what you can expect at the Hard Grove: shrimp in creamy garlic sauce, tilapia and shrimp with coconut dipping sauce, Hemingway’s skirt steak, Cuban style chicken & rice, jumbo pork chops & onions, chicken and mango salad, churrasco steak salad, and a “South of the Border Cobb Salad” with breaded chicken, avocado, bacon, tomato, corn, and red pepper.
Best ever
We were impressed by everything we ate, and it was always served with a bit of flair – long strips of dried plantain (similar to banana), avocados, mangoes, shredded beef. “It’s presented very nicely and it has a homemade feel,” said my friend.
For starters, we tried the appetizers in the aforementioned Presidential Sampler, which are similar to the appetizers you can order on any given day. The Hard Grove also offers seven types of quesadillas (melted cheese and other ingredients on a tortilla), four kinds of empanadas, and starters like “Miami Heat chicken wings with sweet chili sauce,” codfish fritters, Cuban corn tamales, calamari, a “French fry delicacy,” mussels, “Key West Coconut Shrimp with orange sauce,” and Zulima’s crab cakes with mango salsa. Fish, beef, tropical fruits, and various sauces are often found in the ingredients.
We asked marketing coordinator Ismael Rivera what the most popular entrees were, and tried some.
Among other dishes, we had the seafood paella. As someone who has tried it in various Spanish and seafood restaurants in Newark and New York, I found the Hard Grove’s paella the best I’d ever had. The fish (shrimp, tilapia, oysters) tasted fresh from the sea, and the seasoning and ingredients were perfect. The red peppers, peas, and other ingredients deftly contrasted the fish. I will definitely head back. It was heads and tails above the paella I had at South Street Seaport last year, which actually left my fingers yellow because they overdid the saffron.
I’m also a fan of healthy eating, so we tried their most popular salad, “Calle Ocho” (Eighth Street). It contained jumbo shrimp, chicken, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and vinaigrette. It was served on a long, rectangular white plate.
We also had the creamy lemon chicken with rice. The sauce was extremely rich and the meat was tender.
Finally, we both loved the shredded beef (“ropa vieja”). My picky friend couldn’t stop praising it.
Dessert, drinks, and brunch
The Hard Grove also has a brunch menu with everything from blueberry pancakes to Huevos Rancheros with churrasco steak, to organic yogurt with granola, fruit, and honey. Of course, they have Havana coconut pancakes too (why not?) Everything is $5 to $15 on the brunch menu.
Desserts included several types of flan, a “brownie explosion with ice cream” (no explanation necessary), plantains with hot rum and ice cream, and a tres leche cake.
You can only imagine the combinations of fruity cocktails they offer, but they’ve also got healthy smoothies and fruit juices.
Special events
The Hard Grove features live Cuban jazz on Saturday evenings featuring “Ropa Vieja” from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. They also have happy hour daily.
They are located at 319 Grove St. Call (201) 451-1852 for more information. q
Before local residents Evelyn Padin and Carmen Mendiola decided to go into business together by buying the Hard Grove Café in 2005, it had already been in the news several times.
Previous owner Domenick Santana had often publicly fought with one-time Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler to extend the hours when dancing was permitted in establishments around the city.
Santana also had established a kind tradition: giving out free meals to needy people each year on Thanksgiving. Santana started the giveaways when he saw a man scraping coins together on that holiday to eat. Now, the restaurant invites volunteers and serves full Thanksgiving meals to dozens of needy residents each year. All they have to do is come in and say they are there for the Thanksgiving meal.
The flamboyant Santana eventually bought the famous Stone Pony down in Asbury Park and sold the Hard Grove to the two women.
Evelyn Padin, who is Puerto Rican, and Carmen Mendiola, who is Cuban, saw an opportunity to buy a restaurant known for friendly service and good food. – CMM