*cue the March Madness soundtrack*

Huge month. Let’s jump right in. Gonna separate it by section: food, drink, coffee, stadium, and what I ate at home. And btw these are becoming some of my favorite pieces of content. I don’t show everything on my socials, which is the reason for this newsletter in general. Enough talking, let’s recap.

Where I ate:

San Patricios
I needed a second crack at San Patricios. It’s the coolest spot and I wanna post up at a corner table for hours while I fail to split the G, get deeply acquainted with the cocktail menu, share a spice bag with the crew, and dabble with some other Irish and Mexican fare. If you haven’t been, El Spice Bag is a must, the Corned Beef Tacos and Birria Tacos are delicious, and I love the Fish & Chips too. Fun menu though, so I encourage you to show some range.

The Four Horsemen
Wow. Zero misses. The expectation was sky high and I walked outta there seriously impressed. I will say it’s not the most filling meal but it’s hard to complain when everything is so good. My favorite dishes: the signature Oeuf Mayonnaise (hard to describe how unique and incredible this tastes), Winter Chicories (big fan of wintery salads), Seafood Rice (basically a risotto), Fried Mackerel (sensational), and the Sticky Toffee Pudding (might be the single best dessert in NYC). Overall it clocked in at a respectable 9.9/10 on my Beli.

Marty’s
I’ve been keeping tabs on Marty’s for a few years. They’re in Jersey City and Hackensack and Fort Lee I believe but I’ve never pulled the trigger. That is until I took a gummy and stumbled across a video of their chicken tenders and was inspired to go for lunch the next day. They’re known for their burgers (arguably famous, in fact) so I had to get involved. It’s delicious, very similar to Shake Shack except not quite smashed. I mean that with nothing but praise by the way. Bonus points for the sesame seed bun. Old Bay Fries are solid. They have deep burgers and fries menus so I’ll have to go back. But they should be known for their Chicken Tenders because they might be the greatest I’ve ever had. Lightly breaded, juicy as hell, perfect crisp, impressively seasoned, and the Marty’s sauce to pair is lights out. Turns out my instincts were right and it wasn’t just the gummy talking.

Magnolia Bakery
I think my love for Banana Pudding is well documented at this point. But that makes me a fraud considering I’d never tried the gold standard of Banana Pudding. Popped into the city solely to try it. It’s remarkable. Not only did it live up to the hype but I’d argue it exceeded it because when virtually everyone touts something as “the best” it often disappoints. Nope. It’s the real deal. The one I made for Valentine’s Day was a copycat recipe and I can say it’s pretty close. I’ll need to do a side by side comparison next time. There are too many NYC institutions that I’ve never tried so it was nice to check one off the list and be satisfied with it.

Margon
This was the first time I’ve ever intentionally went to Times Square to eat. It’s not exactly a culinary hotbed. With that being said, Margon is not exactly a secret. It hasn’t been tourist-ified yet, but it was PACKED with locals on their lunch break. It’s a big intimidating because it’s like cafeteria style and there’s not a clear menu to read before you’re called upon. I sort of panic ordered a roast pork platter with rice and beans. They add plantains and chicharron too. Count me all the way in on that. Turned out to be a great order. For $17 in Times Square, you could do a lot worse.

Sourdough Society
I’ve had this woman-owned bakery on my radar for a few months. Well worth the drive deep into Jersey City and well worth enduring the horrendous parking in that area. The sugar cookie is among the best I’ve had, and the original load was even better. I got one that had come out of the oven about an hour prior so it was still warm in the middle—game changer. And it definitely leans more sour than less which I personally love.

Don Goyo Tacos
After I tried Little Oaxaca in Jersey City Heights, a bunch of people pointed to nearby Don Goyo as the superior option. When you graduate from food truck to brick and mortar, that’s generally a good sign. Birria Tacos looked phenomenal but were just alright. Good portion of meat but for $19 I need a better product. The Pastor Torta was excellent however. Gimme that over the tacos all day. I’d happily go back here again if I wanted something quick. Wouldn’t recommend eating in the car by the way, I don’t know how other creators do that exclusively.

Wolfgangs
First timer. It’s outstanding. I went to the Park Ave location. The owner was a longtime server at Peter Luger so he brought over much of that white tablecloth x old school service. Apps: the thick cut bacon is amazing, the lump crab cocktail is excellent (not something I normally order so I’m glad I tried it), and the tomato w/ onion and chunky blue cheese was surprisingly my favorite—legitimately only a thick slice of tomato and raw onion with a side bowl of the chunkiest blue cheese I’ve ever seen. Steak: they nailed the porterhouse. Great seasoning, perfect cook. A harder sear is the only slight critique. Sides: the German potatoes are elite, the creamed spinach is good. Key lime pie dessert was solid as well. Great spot, one of my new favorite steakhouses in NYC (Strip House is still #1).

El Punto Cubano
After a last minute trip to LIU Brooklyn to see the Sharks win the coveted NEC Championship with little brother and college hoops aficionado Ryan Hammer, the boys were famished. Nearby Dekalb Market Hall was the only half decent option that area, and half of the vendors were closed. I opted for a Cuban from El Punto Cubano. It did the job. Honestly I enjoyed it but it was small, a little too messy, and wildly expensive. And at this point I’ve given it more attention than it deserves. I will say the market as a whole has some terrific options.

Sushi by Sea
Immediately after my first Sushi by Sea experience in January, I made a reservation to run it back. It is that good. That’s a good pro tip by the way—if you’re eating at a hard-to-get-into restaurant, it’s wise to make a reservation on the way out. If they can help, you’re far more likely to have success that way as opposed to playing the Resy/Open Table lottery. I’m already looking forward to another Sushi by Sea visit over the next few weeks as they transition into a new seasonal menu. Elite omakase.

Carpe Diem
Maybe my most frequented Hoboken restaurant. I rarely post about it—I’m not “gatekeeping” by any means (I LOATHE that word by the way, it actually makes me want to curl up in a ball and die), but it’s just one of those places where I’m at so often that I don’t feel compelled to make content. It’s one of those IYKYK gems. Their wings are famous in this area, good burgers, solid pint, and above all else it’s just a great, cozy spot to post up at for hours. I tried a Roast Beef Sandwich special this time which was solid but nothing special.

Mary O’s
Our Irish friend/neighbor picked up I think two dozen scones from Mary O’s Irish Soda Bread Shop in Manhattan ahead of St. Patty’s Day. We often share food and snacks with each other and she kindly dropped off two for Marissa and I to try—legend! After having this I can confirm I’ve never in my life had a good scone in the past. Quick reheat, lathered it up with quality butter and their blackberry(?) jam. Incredible stuff. Need to get to Mary O’s to try them fresh.

Wisp
Wisp is a food truck in Jersey City that puts out the best sushi in the area. It doesn’t make sense how they’re doing what they’re doing. We only needed to have it once to confirm it’s the real deal. Rich and Bowen, the owners, are wizards as far as I’m concerned. Ran it back with the Hudson Roll (spicy salmon x spicy tuna), and we tried the Spicy Crunchy Yellowtail Avocado, the Black Pepper Tuna Roll (normally wouldn’t order this but they convinced me and it was fantastic), and the highly recommended McQueen Roll (shrimp tempura x spicy tuna)—the McQueen will be in every single order going forward. They also generously threw in a Yellowtail Jalapeño app for us. If you live in Hoboken or Jersey City, Wisp is a must try.

Taliercios
If you’re from Jersey, you know Taliercio’s. Could make a case that it’s Jersey’s most popular deli? They certainly have one of the biggest social presences. And the hour+ lines are totally understandable, although I would strongly advise against going during a weekend lunch rush. I met someone who first showed up at 12:15 and was still waiting for sandwiches at 1:45. Thankfully they walk around handing out their signature fried raviolis to everyone waiting patiently. I can’t give you a sandwich recommendation because they have hundreds. But their Cheesesteak is famous for a reason and I loved the Cooper DeJean: house made prime rib, roast pork, cooper sharp, sundried peppers, and Peter Luger sauce. Elite establishment.

Low Fidelity
One of Jersey City’s best kept secrets. It’s a funky bar with a dope menu, led by their Detroit-style pizzas. I saw Jeremy Schneider post a photo of their Buffalo Chicken Pizza, which I’d never seen on the menu before. When I tell you I placed an order immediately, I am not exaggerating. I think it’s my new favorite pie at LoFi. Not sure if it’ll be a permanent fixture on the menu but god I hope it is.

L’Adresse NoMad
It was fine. There was nothing at all special or memorable about it. I don’t have much else to say. The burger was serviceable. But much like how I want to share with you the best places I’m eating at, I wanna keep you in the loop with the ones that don’t move the needle. Perfect example.

Annabella’s
Annabella’s House of Mozzarella to be more specific. And yes, their fresh mutz is off the charts. It’s a wild place with the menu to match, but I keep it simple. Their Pork & Mozzarella sandwich is one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. They offer it only on Tuesdays and Saturdays (great sign), and it needs no additions. Savory roast pork, the freshest fresh mutz, a little au jus from the pork, and the perfect slightly crusty bread to soak up the juices and hold the sandwich together. I cannot recommend it more.

Ops
Some friends and I tried Ops for the first time in the East Village. Apparently this is their second location? It was never on my radar. And although I liked it, I’m not sure it needs to be on yours. I’ll say this, if you need a last minute reservation, you could do much worse. Decent apps, good salads, and a fun pizza menu including a rotating collaboration with a popular NYC restaurant—we caught the Golden Hof one with oxtail. Good stuff.

Chango Kitchen
A sleeper hit in Hoboken. Their lunch specials are unbeatable. We ordered for dinner and went with Empanadillas, Papa Rellena, Vaca Frita (the real ones know this is superior to Ropa Vieja), and Pan con Lechón (sandwich w/ roast pork, mojo, onions).

GTK
Their Chicken Caesar Wrap is awesome. If you’re partial to a classic, cold, grilled chicken caesar salad wrap, you can’t do much better. Their chicken is superbly seasoned and cooked, pretty sure they make their own croutons, and their dressing is terrific. I haven’t had it in a minute, but I’m happy to report it’s as good as ever. And it was the perfect lunch to pair with Opening Day.

Hansel N’ Griddle
I recommend watching all of the videos I’ve linked but this one in particular. But here’s the quick background: this was the go-to spot during my time at Rutgers. I ate here hundreds of times, often multiple times per day. I dedicated a blog (basically a love letter) to them before I graduated, and to this day it remains framed and hanging on their wall. Some restaurants are truly special for various, usually nostalgic, reasons, and Hansel is one of mine. I ran it back with my go-to order of a Popcorn Buffalo Chicken Crisp (more or less a quesadilla) and a Banana Flip with Oreos (read: smoothie). It was as great this time as it was in 2010-2014.

Adam’s Five Star Halal
There’s a food truck close to my apartment that has been in the rotation for a while. Sometimes you just need a simple, chicken/lamb and rice platter. Extra white sauce, obviously. It usually lasts me two meals, so it’s a good value.

Moran’s
I’ve told many people over the years that Moran’s has Hoboken’s best burger. I cannot say that anymore. Something was off this time. I’m not sure if it’s a different burger blend or if it was just a seriously off night, but there wasn’t a semblance of a wow factor.

Dutch’s
This place has been bonkers since they opened. Couldn’t be less surprised as their Montclair location is very well established and is among the best sandwich spots in the state. You can quote me on that. Slowly working my way through their menu—went with the What’s the Dill sandwich and Dutch Master wrap this time. They love pickles and anything with their Dutch Daddy sauce is gonna hit. Incredible place and Amir the owner is one of the nicest humans on earth.

The Commodore
A few weeks back Marissa had told me about an incredible fried chicken sandwich she had in Brooklyn. It’s rare that she gets to a spot on my list before I do, but her endorsement carries a ton of weight—she’s not easily impressed. I’d been wanting to go for a while. It’s the coolest spot. Old school. I’m talking torn leather booths, one small TV in the corner of the bar with some old movie playing, paper umbrellas in frozen drinks. The place is a time warp in the best way. And the chicken sandwich is legit. Solid burger too.

I Cavallini
Crossed a huge one off the list. Somehow I scored a 730pm reservation from a Resy notification. Consider this your reminder to set those alerts. From the same team as The Four Horsemen, the bar was super high. I slightly prefer The Four Horsemen, but I Cavallini is phenomenal. Their signature Farfallone is one of my favorite pasta dishes in NYC, the Mezze Maniche with pigs head ragu and pecorino romano is outstanding, the Mushroom Risotto seriously impressed me (and I am a tough critic with risotto), the Heritage Roast Chicken w/ braised garlic was another standout (crazy crispy skin), and the Tiramisu dessert is a must. Spaghetti al Limone was solid, Focaccia w/ Whipped Ricotta is a good starter, Winter Lettuces were fine, I actually didn’t care for the Bluefin Tuna Crostini (way to much fennel). But overall, banger of a spot.

East LA
I’ve lived in Hoboken for over 8 years and had never been until recently. Solid spot. The steak nachos were awesome, that’s gonna be a must order in the future. And to make things clear, I’d absolutely go back. 3 tacos + a beer for $13 on Tuesdays? Don’t tempt me with a good time.

Where I drank:

Golden Years
I had a half hour to kill in Williamsburg before my early dinner resy at The Four Horseman. Don’t tempt me with a pre-dinner cocktail. I tried something called the Fear & Loathing 43 which was reminiscent to a Carajillo. If you like Espresso Martinis, I highly recommend trying a Carajillo by the way—great drink. Anyways, I like this spot.

Jane Doe
We’ve walked by Jane Doe in Jersey City a few times and have told ourselves we need to go. Finally pulled the trigger. Gorgeous cocktail bar with a really diverse menu. My beloved opted for a dirty with blue cheese olives, I went with the Mod-tini which is their slightly unique version of an espresso martini with cold brew, demerara, and bitters—loved it. Very cool spot AND they do $10 classic cocktails before 7pm. Don’t tempt me with a good time.

Willie McBride’s
Popped in to watch the Friday night slate of March Madness games. Willie’s has one of Hoboken’s best TV set ups and I’m not sure everyone has caught on to that. If you want to see the band, the move is to go early for dinner/drinks before they start charging cover. Pro tip. As for the food, it’s usually pretty solid across the board. Their Chicken Caesar Wrap is quite good. Their Buffalo Chicken Wrap is mid. But you could do much worse.

The Madison
Another day of wall-to-wall college hoops calls for a Saturday matinee of bar food, cold beer, and screaming at literal teenagers from a mid-major school whose location I’m unaware of. Their food is fine—they’ve got good wings, the burgers/sandwiches are fine. But it is a solid spot to post up at. And this may sound silly but there’s a lot of natural light which is oddly refreshing on the eyes when you’re staring at TV/computer/phone screens from noon-midnight four days in a row because THIS IS MARCH.

8th Street Tavern
From a pure physical set up, there is no better bar to watch sports at. A 360-degree bar creates the ideal, conducive sports-watching experience. With that said, it’s always so damn crowded here. It’s fun, the crowd is usually good (albeit definitely on the younger side), but there’s a lot happening at all times to the point that it’s distracting. With that said, I’m happy to go if I don’t have to wait in a line to get inside.

One4One
I attended a March Madness watch party hosted by Twitter (or X if you’re a weirdo). Seems to be a popular spot for corporate parties. Good cocktails and the food was fairly impressive. Couldn’t tell you what it’s like here on a regular night, but I enjoyed it.

We Got Company
Cool cocktail bar in Williamsburg. Great happy hour menu too, like a $9 old fashioned. Stopped in here with a friend before dinner at I Cavallini. I opted for a full priced cocktail called the Mexican Firing Squad and it was freaking delicious. Tequila, lime, grapefruit, angostura bitters. One of the better cocktail menus I’ve seen in a while. Big fan.

Coffee:

Mile Square Cafe
The rocket ship that Mile Square Cafe is on is unstoppable. Since the day they opened it’s been nonstop action and buzz, and for good reason. It’s expensive but the quality and flavors are undeniable. Their food is terrific and what I love most about it that nobody talks about is how they keep the menu tight and refresh it often. With that said, I think their breakfast burrito is here to stay, thank GOD. They also sneakily have some of the best coffee in town. They pull a great espresso and I’ve been finding myself partaking on the regular.

Bwè
On the average day I’m making coffee at home (can’t recommend this more from a cost-saving perspective) but here and there m’lady and I go on what we call “coffee dates.” We cycle between different coffee shops in Hoboken and from time to time we’ll get in the car to try new spots nearby. Bwè is the closest spot to our house so it often ends up the default choice. But they’ve been especially on point lately. We haven’t been exploring as much because Bwè has been on their game. Usually a cortado for me—that’s my drink of choice. And the staff are so nice and the place is great to work from.

Almost Home
The Almost Home takeover will be studied one day. They’re seemingly everywhere and just getting started at the same time. Every location is unique in terms of aesthetic and vibe, their food menu is terrific, and, unlike most specialty coffee shops serving up the same sugar bombs as everyone else, their selection is thoughtfully curated and the drinks are exciting and balanced. I linked up with Jersey legend and friend Kevin Spies aka Grill Guy, and we ripped through their whole breakfast sandwich menu. No misses at Almost Home.

%Arabica 30 Rock
No disrespect but the name bothers me. The % before the name is brutal for discoverability on apps, and I really just don’t like it. The place is a little odd too. It’s a bit too sterile and almost Severance-like for my taste. The coffee was totally fine and as far as I know there aren’t a ton of great options in that area of the city. I’ll probably never go back but you could do worse if you’re in bind and need a caffeine hit.

What I ate at home/on the go:

DIY Hand Rolls
I’ve got a buddy who is a wholesale seafood distributor, so when he calls and says he’s got sushi grade tuna with my name on it, I’m in. Spicy tuna, sushi rice, the proper accoutrement, DIY hand rolls. About as satisfying of an at-home meal as it gets if you ask me.

St. Patrick’s Day
I’d love to sit here and tell you I went to a proper Irish pub and washed down my spice bag and fish & chips with Guinness and whiskey. Instead we made tuna poke bowls for lunch and Trader Joes pollo asado for dinner. I did, however, cap off the day with a glass of Redbreast. Sláinte to that!

Chick Fil A
Let me just say this: the grilled chicken doesn’t scratch the itch. But I was in a pinch, I love Chick Fil A, but I didn’t want fried chicken. It did the job in the sense of a quick lunch but man it does not compare. Surprisingly, the batch of fries I got was better than usual. I’m not a fan of their fries but these were hot, actually salty and decently crispy. Rare W.

Stadiums:

Citi Field
The annual What’s New event at Citi Field is literally my favorite day of the year. I’m grateful to be on the invite list over the last few years, even more so now that I’m a year into my Stadium Food Tour journey. For context, this is essentially a media day where Citi Field/the Mets unveil all of their new concessions for the upcoming season. And yes, it’s as incredible as it sounds. Not only do I get a sneak peek at some of baseball’s best food, but it’s amazing to meet the people responsible for it. Shout out to Executive Chef Jason Eksterowicz, meat purveyor legend Pat LaFrieda, and icon Adam Richman, among others. And the content that comes from this day is always incredible (linked above, linked down at the bottom, and more to come).

Yankee Stadium
Enemy territory but in the spirit of the Stadium Food Tour I was thrilled to get the invite to their media tasting for the new concessions items. The general consensus is that Citi Field is far superior in almost every way but especially when it comes to food and drink. I’ll tell you what: that may be true but the gap is closing. Very impressive stuff at the stadium this season, and I’m grateful to have gotten the opportunity for a sneak peek. A few must tries: the Mini Dessert “Chicken” Bucket, the Kings Hawaiian Angry Lobster Roll, and Lobel’s Pastrami Fries.

Barclays Center
Quick shout out to Barclays Center because they don’t get any attention or love in NYC. Say what you want about the arena or the team(s) that play there, but the concessions are legit. I did my full tour a few weeks ago but I popped back over to BK again recently. Terrific pretzel. One of the better stadium pretzels in the game, no doubt.

Crazy month of eats, but, again, THIS IS MARCH! In case you didn’t know, I’ve been making a conscious effort to put out more long form content on YouTube. There’s a full video with Grill Guy, as well as longer versions of the Live at Citi Field and New Food at Citi Field recap videos. In addition, I’m back in a big way on Twitter. Highly recommend following along there for more quick thoughts, brain dumps, and stadium food conversation. And lastly, your boy is posting content on Facebook. Tell your parents. We’re going after a new audience.

Follow me on IG for day-to-day updates, stay tapped into my Beli where I’m ranking everywhere I eat and drink, and all of my videos are being posted across TikTok too. Thanks for being here, thanks for reading. I love you.