Mission #1: Quest for the Best Brunch

Posted on 08. Mar, 2009 in Dining

You’re probably reading the title above and asking yourself, “Hey Hoboken Guy! What’s up with this “mission” thingamajob you’re doing?”. Alright, let me explain real quick. Whether you’re a Hoboken resident or an occasional visitor, you have to admit that finding the best stuff in town is just downright difficult. Frankly, I’m fed up and I’m on mission to do something about it. But I need your help.

With tons of businesses across the mile square, our decisions are ultimately influenced by our friends’ recommendations or by our previous first-hand experiences. In the end, we waste our money, time and energy trying to find that one thing that will satisfy our needs. And that is why I am on a mission to find the best of everything that the mile square has to offer.

MISSION #1

I never really understood the meaning of brunch until I moved to Hoboken. Culturally, brunch has become the essential midday grub session for Hobokenites, giving us that opportunity to catch up with family and friends or cure that common weekend hangover. With almost every restaurant in the mile square serving brunch, residents have a choice between those massive buffets, a la carte specials, prix fixe menus or delectable individual cuisines.

With this being said, I am excited to announce the first of many Hoboken Guy missions!

Find the Best Brunch in Hoboken

THE PROCESS

1) Over the next couple of weeks, I will scavenge across the mile square and stuff my face with various brunches based on recommendations given by the Hoboken community.

2) If I consider your recommended brunch worthy enough to be one of the best, I’ll write an extensive review, give you credit and dub thee as a “Hoboken Guy Sidekick”.

3) As a “Hoboken Guy Sidekick”, you will be invited to an intense Brunch Crawl, where you will be appointed as an official judge to help rate and rank the top brunches.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP

- Share your favorite brunch by commenting below or emailing me at tell@thehobokenguy.com. If you’re on Twitter, you can tweet me @thehobokenguy.

- Please specify the name of the restaurant, type of brunch (buffet, a la carte special, prix fixe menus) or name of an individual dish

- Describe why it deserves to be one of the top brunches in the city

Tags: best, brunch, Dining, hoboken

31 Responses to “Mission #1: Quest for the Best Brunch”

Margaret

06. Sep, 2009

I don’t know if everyone knows yet, but MAXWELL’S is open for brunch again! (but only on Sunday) Less pretentious and amazing food. My favorites are the sweet potato pancakes, crabcake benedict, fresh roasted vegetable and goat cheese omelet, and the migas. They have garlic cheddar grits and scrapple too! If you are in the mood for good prices, good people, and great food, check them out.
Hoboken Guy

07. May, 2009

@JD Thanks for the recommendations! I’ve almost tackled your entire list except for three! haha

And as for the Manmosa – you could read a review about that here:

http://thehobokenguy.com/best-brunch-beverage-gaslight-manmosas/
JD

07. May, 2009

Such a great idea! My friends and I have been getting together for brunch every weekend for years–and we just started our own mission a few months ago.
Why is it that in the past year everyone seems to have stopped including alcohol on the brunch menu?
And just to throw this out there–anyone heard of the “manmosa”? Blue Moon w/ Stoli O…good stuff

Here’s our top places:
Amanda’s
Turning Point
O’Neail’s
Gaslight
Zach’s
Brass Rail
Elysian
Buskers
HobokenSandwich

27. Apr, 2009

Hard to go wrong:
Frozen Monkey – Milftown
Charritos – BYOB *sangria
La Isla – Unique and incredible dishes (best coffee Hoboken)
Anthony Davids – Best ever Bagel w/lox and cream cheese

Beautiful website. Great pics.
Classy.

Please visit all the Mexican rest’s that are owned and operated by Asians. I’d like to know which does the best job of foreign/foreign cuisine.
Nick @ Bustin

29. Mar, 2009

The stuffed french toast from La Isla (and their Cuban Latte) trumps all. Hands down.
http://www.bustinboardslongboards.com/blog/?p=432
Best Brunch Beverage: Gaslight Manmosas | The Hoboken Guy

23. Mar, 2009

[...] and the last thing you want to do is kill your manhood by ordering a Mimosa. Worry no more. On my recent quest to find the Mile Square’s best brunches, some Hobokenites helped me discover a drink that [...]
Jackie

19. Mar, 2009

Great site, amazing pics.

Has anyone put in a vote for Lua’s brunch yet? Seriously tasty. I haven’t been there in a while, but if they haven’t changed things, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Best Brunches: Elysian Cafe’s Eggs Benedict | The Hoboken Guy

18. Mar, 2009

[...] their waitresses claimed that their restaurant had the best in Hoboken. And since I’m on a mission to find the Mile Square’s best brunches, I decided to visit this popular Hoboken brunch spot and see what the hype was all [...]
Michelle Liebmann

15. Mar, 2009

As far as a good brunch goes… Court Street is amazing. You get a complementary fruit dish and soda bread…and it’s totally affordable and cute!

In response to Joanne’s request for best wings and best beer selection: Mile Square has some great beers, both bottled and on tap, I might recommend the Double chocolate stout. For wings, Rogo’s on 8th and Willow does 25 cent wings and $3 yuengs on Tuesdays and the wings are AMAZING, I have dinner there almost every Tuesday. If you buy a Rogo’s mug for $10, yuenglings and a few others beers are $1 every time you come in with the mug. SO, you can get the cheapest dinner ever and it’s great. Enjoy!
Hoboken Guy

14. Mar, 2009

Thanks Tea! I’ve actually been to The Cup Joint, but only for dinner. What do you recommend there for brunch?
tea

14. Mar, 2009

nestled in the side street towards north is a little place called the cup joint. it’s small & cozy. i won’t tell if you won’t.
Hoboken Guy

13. Mar, 2009

Thanks Megan…surprisingly no one brought up the Brass Rail …and it sounds like one of the few best deals you can get around here. I’ll be sure to give it a try!!
megan

12. Mar, 2009

HANDS> DOWN. The brass rail has THE best brunch.
GO there on a Saturday/Sunday and get the:

PRIX FIXE
BRUNCH
Saturday & Sunday
11:30am to 3pm

$15
choice of one appetizer
and an entrée
served with complimentary basket of muffins, jams
and preserves

– You can get french onion soup, steak and eggs, muffins…all for only $15.
and cute, perfect quantities of food- like at madison.
Ray

12. Mar, 2009

best place to park seems a worthy missiiion. cmon hoboken guy were depending on you…!!!
Hoboken Guy

12. Mar, 2009

thanks joanne!! I’ll be sure to check those places out! I never heard of East La having a good brunch..but i guess i’ll have to see… as for those other missions you challenged me with… those are some great ideas… i’ll make sure to note those for the future
Joanne

12. Mar, 2009

Frozen Monkey, Anthony David’s, Amanda’s and East LA are all very different and have great brunch.

How about best wings, best live music or best selection of beer on tap?

or the utter impossible…..best place to park
Michelle

10. Mar, 2009

Busker’s has a great brunch — free mimosas/bloody marys and a killer eggs benedict using steak instead of canadian ham!

Mile Square has a good brunch, but I haven’t been there in a while.
Pickles

10. Mar, 2009

A BIG second on the Turning Point. Great food and it’s BYOB! So bring your bottles of cheap champagne or vodka and order up the orange juice. If you’re a party of 2 or so you can usually grab a seat at the bar with a minimal wait.
Hoboken Guy

09. Mar, 2009

Thanks everyone! You’ve given me so many great recommendations so far…but keep them going! I need more.
JHackett

09. Mar, 2009

O’Neail’s is probably the best brunch in town mimosas and the Irish breakfast are A+. Trinity is pretty good the muffin basket is awesome and the brioche French toast is prob the best French toast I’ve ever had. Court Street is a super classy brunch they have the biggest F’n egg, cheese, and bacon sandwich I’ve ever seen I think that’s actually what it’s called on the menu.
jennifer christie

09. Mar, 2009

i haven’t tried it yet, but i heard AMANDA’S on washington (near 10th, i think…) is amazing! =)
Taylor Fowler

09. Mar, 2009

Best Brunch (non alcoholic): Frozen Monkey, BEFORE 11 AM when all of the mom’s show up.

Best Brunch (alcoholic): Mikey’s Squared has a nice menu and serves good drinks.
duh-duh

09. Mar, 2009

Hey Hobo Guy,

I say you try Karma Cafe, I hear very good things about it.
dennis

08. Mar, 2009

hobo guy! check out nyc, they have a lot of good brunch places
raz

08. Mar, 2009

epic site dude! i almost wanna move to hoboken
Ray

08. Mar, 2009

i say Buskers on Bloomfield & 1st.
crab cake kicks asss….
Thomas

08. Mar, 2009

Hooray, we have to find out who this guy is! Fantastic site, looking for more updates soon.
Hoboken Guy

08. Mar, 2009

Thanks Dave! I’ll be sure to make Turning Point my next stop!
Dave

08. Mar, 2009

You have to check out Turning Point on 14th street: tasty contemporary breakfast creations with a picturesque view of the Manhattan skyline. I recommend calling them before you come in though, since the wait is often ridiculously long.
Hoboken Guy

07. Mar, 2009

I’m glad you love the idea! Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Miriam

07. Mar, 2009

I LOVE Brunch! The idea of a Brunch Crawl is brilliant. Screw Pub Crawls anyone can do that but brunch? It’s a combination of such wonderful things: breakfast food in the afternoon, friends, alcohol and did I mention breakfast food?!