Power lunches and sensible dinners are a delight at the beautifully decorated and eloquent Grand Banks Café.
Located in the heart of Jersey City’s waterfront financial district on Montgomery Street, Grand Banks Café is the manifested idea of restaurateur David Ng. A lifelong successful businessman in the Garden State, Ng’s Grand Banks offers an extensive menu providing almost any style of cuisine. Despite specializing in excellent sushi, the chefs can prepare great steaks, seafood, an array of desserts, and pasta. They also feature more than 30 white and red wines and a vegetarian menu.
"The restaurant is for everyone in the community," Ng said, during an interview last week. "Here, the dining experience is very special."
Last summer Ng turned the bank on the corner of Montgomery and Washington into an upscale restaurant. He named it Grand Banks Café, after a port in Maine famous for its seafood.
"Our goal was to provide Jersey City with the best seafood," Ng said.
Inside the classy establishment, large decorative murals depict underwater art images. The main dining room seats more than 60 patrons and the bank’s old vault room is now a private dining area. There is a large sushi bar opposite the wide windows, and in the summer Ng plans to redecorate the front of the place by building a large lounge bar area.
"The bar will be for the happy hour crowd," he said, smiling.
The extensive menu features such delicious entrees as: sweet and sour shrimp ($11.95); blackened salmon ($13.95); lobster and vegetable tempura ($16.95); baby lamb chops ($14.95); crispy chicken with spicy honey sauce ($9.95); filet mignon served with red wine ($15.95); Alaskan king crab legs ($23); and seafood fettuccini with Portobello mushroom ($12.95).
The large staff is knowledgeable of the menu, and management is always available to serve the customers.
"We offer a great variety of food for our friendly customers," Ng said.
Grand Banks Café has attracted the business lunch crowd in downtown Jersey City, and weekends have been getting busier as more people find out about their great food at reasonable prices. The location is convenient for parking and the restaurant is ideal for dinner dates as well as a night out with the family.
My meal
I began my meal with a delicious bowl of miso soup ($2). It was served hot with small chunks of tofu. After the soup, I tried the very healthy and tasty grilled chicken Caesar salad ($7.95). I also enjoyed a sample of sushi with tuna ($2), oil fish ($2.50), smoked salmon ($2.50), sea eel ($2) and fatty tuna (market value). All the sushi was fresh and well prepared, beautifully served in a large classic Japanese platter. Other appetizers include gyoza ($3.95); squid in spicy sauce ($4.25); shumai ($3.95); fried oysters ($4.25); and stir fried mussels oriental-style served in black and bleau sauce ($4.95).
For the main course I enjoyed a large serving of blackened mahi mahi served with mango salsa ($13.95). This excellent and exquisite fish was prepared to perfection for that steamy tender result. The mahi mahi was fresh and it is truly one of Grand Banks Café’s top entrees. I highly recommend it. I also tried the pan-seared red snapper served with garlic butter and mushroom sauce ($13.95). The snapper was thick, juicy and tasty. Overall, their entire seafood selection is outstanding. After my meal I relaxed with a small cup of Mexican coffee and vanilla ice cream. The dessert was just the perfect finishing touch to a fantastic meal.
Grand Banks Café is located on 75 Montgomery St. in Jersey City. They offer brunch on the weekends, accept all major credit cards and cater private parties. Their hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information call (201) 521-1800. q