OpenTable.com
User
who dined on 9/5/10
(review submitted 9/7/10 )
Overall Rating
(Outstanding) 5 out of 5
"It was our first visit to 3 Forty Grill in Hoboken and the entire experience was great! The view was outstanding (as born and raised New Yorkers, it was fantastic to be able to look at that beautiful skyline with the Empire State bldg., Chrysler bldg., etc. and be able to watch the sunset as we were dining). We sat inside by a window and the ambiance was great...it was very romantic. The service was outstanding and the food was so incredibly delicious....it is hard to even put it into words. The appetizers were outstanding and we both had the crispy chilean sea bass, which words can't even describe how delicious it was. We've had chilean sea bass in other restaurants and none could compare with the 3 Forty Grill....unbeatable!!"
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, hot spot
Food
(Outstanding) 5 out of 5
Ambiance
(Outstanding) 5 out of 5
Service
(Outstanding) 5 out of 5
Noise Level
(Quiet)
OpenTable.com User ***** “ 3 Forty Grill is an Hoboken gem! Great food with superb service and the view is a killer. This is a New York City quality restaurant on the New Jersey side of the river.”
Zagat Rated 2011/2012
The “cuisine is almost as delicious as the view” at this “hip” Hoboken New American celebrated for its “drop-dead gorgeous” vistas of the NYC skyline and best enjoyed from the patio; though a “great place to take a date or meet a future one” (it morphs into a “messy nightlife scene” late-night), it’s a tad “overpriced” for some.
Zagat Rated 2009/2010
Fans of this "trendy" Hoboken New American savor the "great bar scene" (even if it gets "loud") and "good food", best eaten alfresco with "amazing" views of NYC skyline; P.S. though some find prices "high", the weekend brunch prix fixe is a "deal"-and there's validated parking if you spend more than $50.
Zagat Rated 2007/2008
Devotees of this “upscale” New American stream in for “fresh” seafood and “interesting” martinis at the “active” bar; “great” views of the NYC skyline and a “trendy” setting augment the “love” factor for many; N.B. the restaurant offers validated parking to those who spend over $50.
Brunch Review
TheBokenOnline.com - 5/18/2011
theBokenOnline.com
My friend Sue, our moms and myself get together every once in a while for a ladies night of dinner and drinks (sometimes even shots of SoCo and lime). We decided that brunch in Hoboken would be a great change to our usual evening outings. So a few weeks ago, we selected 340 Grill and even broke the rules and invited our dads to join us!
Around 11am, Sue and I were picked up at my apartment (a bit earlier than my usual brunch time). After an adventure trying to park my dad’s large SUV in the tiny parking spots in the Little Man garage, we were ready for brunch at 340 Grill. 340 Grill is located on the corner of Sinatra Drive and 4th Street. Here’s my recap…
Reservations = No Wait. I thought making a reservation was the best option for a party of six, especially since my dad has a strong distaste for waiting for a meal. Since it was such a beautiful day I was hoping we could sit outside and enjoy the NYC views. Unfortunately the majority of the outside tables are for parties of four or less and they were all completely full.
The majority of the tables inside 340 Grill were empty. I think most people brunching in Hoboken were looking for a spot outside to soak up the much needed sunshine.
Meal & Drinks for $20. Similar to Gaslight, 340 Grill also offers a meal and drink price fixed menu. Although 340 Grill’s deal is a little more expensive, it definitely is worth the extra $5.
Unfortunately, there are only two drinks options: bloody Mary’s or mimosas. We all ordered mimosas except for Sue’s dad. He thought the blood Mary had great flavor and a strong bite, perfect for his first morning drink. Even though Sue and I were excited to have a little Sunday Funday with our parents, the mimosas were a bit too sweet for us to imbibe too many.
The price fixed menu includes everyone’s brunch favorites: Eggs Benedict, omelets, pancakes and French toast. All plates are served with 340’s delicious breakfast potatoes.
Many options, all delicious. Since there were six of us at brunch, we were able to try a bunch of 340’s offerings. The dads (the only ones to order the same thing) chose the fresh berry buttermilk pancakes. The pancakes were topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries in a fruity syrup. Although the dads were happy with the portion size and fluffy, moist texture of the pancakes, they thought the syrup was too sweet and overpowered the pancakes.
My mom, the biggest Eggs Benedict fan I know, stuck with her favorite and ordered the Truffled Eggs Benedict. 340 Grill puts their own twist on this traditional breakfast favorite by using prosciutto and a black truffle Hollandaise sauce. Although my mom enjoyed steering from the familiar, traditional Eggs Benedict is still her favorite.
I ordered the Southwestern Frittata with chorizo, onions, bell peppers and cheddar cheese topped with pico de gallo. The frittata was packed with a huge punch of southwestern flavor. The chorizo was a great change up to my usual favorite of a ham and cheese omelet.
Sue ordered the egg white omelet with brie, artichokes, roasted tomatoes, zucchini and red bell peppers. She loved the mix of fresh vegetables with the creamy, melted brie cheese.
Sue’s mom ordered the stuffed brioche French toast. Mascarpone cheese is mixed with diced strawberries, kiwi and bananas and stuffed into a French toast pocket. Although she thought it was very good, 340 missed the mark with not so fresh fruit and slightly dry mascarpone cheese.
Great service. 340 Grill’s excellent service adds to its appeal. Our waitress was extremely helpful and patient as we went around the table to order. She came back to the table numerous times, checking on our meals and if we needed anything else.
Being that the inside was slightly on the empty side, the service may have been a little better than when it was at maximum capacity.
Beautiful décor inside, Beautiful view outside. If you are looking for a brunch place that allows you to soak up the sun and enjoy the city views, 340 Grill is the perfect place. The outside tables are perfect for people watching. Most passers-by on Sinatra are walking or riding bikes so it lacks Washington Street’s honking cars and loud music.
I give 340 Grill four out of five spoons. All six of us were extremely pleased with our morning cocktails and meals. Although we did pay a little more for the price fixed brunch/drink option, it was well worth it. 340 Grill is the place to go for a nicer, more up-scale brunch with a beautiful view of the New York skyline.
This upcoming weekend I will be traveling down to Baltimore to visit two of my best friends from college. Instead of the usual Hoboken review, I will give you a taste of Loyola College’s favorite breakfast spot (aside from midnight breakfast), Miss Shirley’s.
Rating: 9.7/10 (9 votes cast)
The Pub Scout - 7/18/2010
thepubscout.blogspot.com
With my 26th anniversary approaching, I thought it might be a nice change of pace to bring the missus to the city—and a restaurant-- with the best view of The Big Apple, and my search yielded a gem in a place known simply as 3-Forty Grill. That happens to be its address on Frank Sinatra Way (hence the My-Way Highway), and if outstanding food expertly prepared and presented, superb service, some very good beers and eye-popping views are your bag, do yourself a favor and get there. Tell them The PubScout sent you.
Tammy, the assistant manager, was as pretty as she was affable and accommodating, and truth be told, the entire staff was both friendly and efficient. Our server Michael (himself a former wrestler for Don Bosco Prep) was an expert at pouring, and he filled my pilsner glass perfectly (three times, I confess) with the exceptional Brooklyn East India Pale Ale served at exactly the right temperature. My first sips, while looking out across the river at the building King Kong once climbed on, made me know I was in the right place at the right time—just before sundown.
The Brooklyn East India Pale Ale happened to be an exceptional match for 3-Forty's appetizer of Asian Style BBQ Gulf Shrimp—a portion large enough to have made it a stand-alone meal. Five perfectly cooked Jumbo Shrimp in a tantalizing Asian sauce made a wonderful introduction to what was to be a most memorable Hoboken meal. The missus, drinking wine this evening (hey, there's only so much I can do), had a Slow Roasted Beet and Crispy Warm Goat Cheese Salad. To say she raved about it is an understatement. In fact, she talked about it all the way home. She is still talking about it, and we've been home for an hour.
For my entrée, I chose the Asiago-Crusted Chicken Medallions (knowing full well they would pair perfectly with my BEIPA) and the presentation of this dish was only outdone by its taste. Thin-sliced, tender chicken, encrusted with an out-of-this-world Asiago coating, over a bed of orgasmic risotto, made this dish a winner. The missus had the Crab Cakes with the same risotto and had nothing but good things to say about it.
So full were we after the entrees, that we couldn't even entertain thoughts of dessert, and the dessert menu is fabulous. So we repaired to the Hoboken Waterfront—directly across the street-- with its spectacular views of NYC, where I waxed nostalgic over that exceptional meal with a fine, hand-made Alvarez cigar. As I soaked in the view, I quietly thanked 3-Forty owner Jerry Maher for setting up shop on the My-Way Highway. His outside seating areas are perfect for that early lunch or post-sunset meal. That's when the city lights come on. Even if you think you've seen the skyline before, it's magnificent.
Parking in Hoboken can be challenging to say the least—even on a Sunday night. But the Anniversary Gods smiled on us by providing a spot directly across from the restaurant. If they don't smile on you, you can park in the Littleman Garage around the corner on 3rd St. between River and Sinatra and have your ticket validated by 3-Forty which makes it an even better value.
There's something magical about viewing NYC from a short distance away, especially when the lights of the Empire State Building come on, and 3-Forty is the optimum spot for doing so. Couple that location with an outstanding meal, exceptional service and a chic ambience, and you'll know why 3-Forty is a prime spot in Hoboken.
We will definitely be visiting 3-Forty again. Maybe we should celebrate anniversaries more than once a year?
Not a bad idea at all. And maybe next time we'll save room for dessert.
The Hudson Current - Hal Wastes His Wages
Christopher Halleron -
Columnist - 04/15/2008
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the early days when I started writing this column, it actually had a concept... The plan was to take the paltry tithe I'm given for this piece, spend it at a local establishment, and simply document the experience. It was an uncomplicated idea that should have provided perpetual fodder for an interesting column week after week. But alas, I've strayed from that concept somewhat over the years, instead taking critical potshots at moms, Bostonians, pigeons, the homeless, fantasy sports, celebrities, politicians, and even my own fat arse. But from time to time I like to come back to basics and actually do my job.
Normally it takes a jolt of some sort - I'm at a restaurant where the food and service are so remarkably good that it's deservedly worthy of remark.
A week prior, my missus and her little coven went for a "girls' night out" dinner at 3Forty Grill (340 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken), thankfully leaving me free to do anything but. Nothing against 3Forty; I'd just rather not be caught in the cackling crossfire of some Spice Girlish estrogen fest when I could very well be couch-bound on my ever-expanding tush as I watch monkeys learning how to use weapons on nature (has anyone else seen this?!?! It's some scary $#!+...). Nevertheless, when she realized she couldn't order everything at once, she waddled home DEMANDING that I take her to this venue in the near future so she could set her sights on the rest of the menu (in her defense, she was eating for two - more on that later...).
'd been to 3Forty before for drinks but never eaten there. And I eat out all the time, but never at 3Forty. No reason - it's just one of those things where I had circumstantially failed to ever go there for dinner. It's been there for years - hell, I even know the owner - but it just never dawned on me to go there for a meal.
Well, you can see where this is going, because it was absolutely phenomenal. From the lobster crepe to the salmon steak, the food was top-notch. And for a notoriously miserable bartender like me to give kudos to the service speaks volumes. Our waitress was so engaging and attentive that she actually made me believe she cared - who knows, maybe she did... While 3Forty often has the stigma of being a bit clubby, even on a Saturday night the dining room's atmosphere is relatively non-obtrusive. Make no mistake, this is a great venue for any occasion - be it a romantic dinner, the folks are in town, or a night out with the whatevers.
And despite being exceptional in everyway, it doesn't take too much of the cushion out of your back pocket. Which is good, because you'll inevitably be headed back to check out the other entrees you almost got the first time.
There! I actually did a restaurant review. Granted, I couldn't do it without mocking my pregnant wife and fear-mongering armies of monkey warriors, but it's still nice to get back to basics...
The Star Ledger Newspaper
(Friday, February 23, 2007)
Martini Madness
3 Forty Grill, named for its address at 340 Sinatra Drive, is a swanky bar and restaurant so ideally located, it makes sipping martinis feel special. Situated right on the Hudson River, the view of the Manhattan skyline is breathtaking—even if you’re used to it.
One side of the large space is littered with dimly lit dining tables where you can choose from an impressive array of meals (stuffed swordfish with quinoa, horseradish-crusted salmon). On the other side, divided from the eating section by the host station, are cushy black sofas and deep blue lighting from behind the bar that makes you feel sexy no matter what you’re wearing.
Martinis range in price from $10 to $12 and cover the gauntlet in variety: four different appletinis, 11 super-sweet dessert types, nine martinis that bring to mind chilling on the beach in a skimpy suit and 13 “3 Forty Grill Favorites.” Among the best were the Almond Joy (it tastes exactly like the candy) and Playa Del Mar, made of Cuervo Gold, Triple Sec, and cranberry, pineapple and lime juices.
London-born restaurateur Jerry Maher, who also owns Oddfellows bar and grill near the Hoboken train station, said he was going for a “W lounge Manhattan feel” when he opened about three years ago. “I thought, with the demographic in Hoboken changing, that there really was no place to go in much of New Jersey with that experience,” he said.
--Nawal Qarooni
The Star Ledger Newspaper
(Friday, April 8, 2005)
3 Forty Grill
by S.J. Gintzler
At 3 Forty Grill in Hoboken, the mood is hip, the food, chic. Innovative American fare such as crispy red snapper with jumbo asparagus, a seafood rice pilaf, asparagus cream and mango coulis is served in stylish surroundings. A spectacular view of the New York skyline is an added attraction.
Ambience: Minimalist. An outdoor patio fronts the spacious corner spot walled in windows. The interior, bisected by floor-to-ceiling draperies, is comprised of a sleep bar-martini lounge and a stark, dramatic dining room with geometric acrylic panels, high tech lighting and stainless steel accents.
Staff: Particularly amiable and accommodating.
Food: Upscale and globally inspired, with an emphasis on seafood. Start with oysters from the raw bar, crab and shrimp nachos ($12) or pulled Szechuan pork pot stickers ($8). Entrees include roasted almond mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and curried mussels ($21), pan-seared lump crab cakes ($22) and a char-grilled 20-ounce porterhouse ($29). Salads, sandwiches and pastas are also available.
We sipped sail away martinis (Ketel One vodka, Midori, peach schnapps, lime; $9) and ate fresh rolls. Appetizers mostly impressed. The lump crab and avocado salad ($12) was stellar- a mountain of succulent crustacean chunks piled on greens and chives drizzled with pink grapefruit vinaigrette. Fritto misto ($9) was a mother lode of tender lightly battered and fried calamari and clam strips complemented by a fire-roasted tomato sauce. New England clam chowder ($7) was properly lush. Our server unhesitatingly substituted metallic-tasting yellow fin tuna sashimi ($10) wit a lovely shredded beet salad ($7) with goat cheese and baby arugula in a balsamic reduction. (Wow- we weren’t charged for either dish.)
Two entrees stood out. Cioppino ($18), a stew of mahi-mahi, tiger shrimp, calamari, mussels, scallops and littleneck clams tossed with gemelli (short twists of pasta) was bathed in a tasty tomato broth. Tender Long Island duck breast. ($21) seared medium-rare was enhanced by a cherry-Madeira sauce and sided by buttery Yukon Gold whipped potatoes and vanilla-scented wax beans.
Two fish dishes needed tweaking. We expected more heat from a bland wasabi-crusted Chilean sea bass ($23), which came alive dipped into perky ponzu sauce. Sake sautéed shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy and jasmine rice were noteworthy sides. A bland “eggplant- wrapped” fillet of Atlantic halibut ($22) wasn’t wrapped, but topped in a supple slice of eggplant and partnered with dry couscous showered in chopped marinated tomatoes.
Four- star, kitchen-prepared desserts ($6-$8) are a must-excellent cheesecake bon- bons, molten lava chocolate cake and a key lime “tower.”
Despite some inconsistencies, our overall experience at 3 Forty Grill was a very good indeed.
The Hudson Reporter
2005 - by Caren Lissner
Delicious, unique American fare on the waterfront
The food at 3 Forty Grill in Hoboken is so unique that you'll want to bring friends and sample several plates. After all, for your appetizer, how could you choose between a warm, sweet puff of ripened Brie cheese surrounded in a lake of raspberry syrup, or the yellow fin tuna three ways? (The latter comes pepper crusted, tartar, and in an avocado maki roll.)
Then there are the entries- sesame crusted yellow fin tuna, an espresso crust filet mignon with melted gorgonzola cheese, and honey soy marinated half roast duck.
Says owner Jerry Maher, who opened the grill on Sinatra Drive two years ago, “Hoboken has changed. We used to get transients, people out of college. They knew where the beer and shot joints were; we needed an upscale and higher-end restaurant. People are staying and starting families. I wanted something in line with Manhattan chic, with better food.”
The sesame tuna and the espresso crust filet mignon ($22 and $31) are popular dishes, Maher said. They’re certainly tastier than anything across the river. On a recent Thursday night, a friend and I stopped in to get our fill.
Drinks
I had to try the 3 Forty Tini, of course, because what would the visit be without the house drink? It turned out to be delicious- sweet and citrusy, sure to impress even the ladies of Sex and the City, if they ever crossed the river. It was like drinking a tangerine. TO be official, it contains: Stolichnaya Razberi, Malibu, Triple Sec, banana, and pineapple juice.
The place has 25 martinis on the menu ranging from candy apple to white chocolate. Thursday is half-price martini night. There’s also a full wine list.
Appetizers
So, on to the appetizers. We loved that brie in the raspberry syrup ($9) – it could have been dessert. Other delectable items ranged from the aforementioned yellow fin tuna three ways ($12), a homemade mozzarella tower, an attractive veggie treat with genuine ripe and yellow heirloom tomatoes ($9), shrimp quesadillas and a lobster bisque ($10). There is a complement of salads and sandwiches ($ 6 to $12), including hanger steak, grilled chicken, and sesame shrimp. There’s even a Cuban sandwich ($10).
This place has variety and everything we ate was delicious as much a treat as meal.
They also offer a raw bar with various types of oysters and shellfish platters. Pop six clams in your mouth at $1.50 each.
Entrees
Then it was time for my friend and I to fill our bellies. The restaurant abounds with interesting, delicious fish and meat dishes, ranging from $21 to $31. We tried: a pungent sundried tomato and olive crust salmon with broccoli rabe and garlic mashed potatoes; pan seared Chilean sea bass with caramelized shitake mushrooms and truffle oil; the espresso crust 10 oz. filet mignon, and grilled lamb chops with whipped potatoes.
Not enough? Based on the filling, tasty dishes we sampled, I’m sure the veal chop, half roast duck, and cornmeal crust chicken breast is also delightful.
For pastas ($16-$19), there’s homemade lobster ravioli in cognac cream sauce; shellfish Bucatini with shrimp, scallops, and other shellfish in a saffron tomato broth; Mezzi Rigatoni with chicken and wile mushrooms; and Cavatelli Toscana with sweet Italian sausage and broccoli rabe.
Drooling, aren’t you?
Wait until you hear about dessert.
The dripping mud cake
We were served a tray of desserts, including a sumptuous break pudding and banana beignets. I’m a banana fan, and these were the best.
But in the was a beautiful round Molten Lava Chocolate Cake (mixed valrhona chocolates, warm liquid center, vanilla bean ice cream, $8). Much to my amazement, my friend sliced into it with his spoon, and a river of chocolate flowed out of it. He immediately spooned some into his mouth.
Eat!
The restaurant also has a lunch menu with many of the dinner items on it.
There is also a special brunch menu with a $20 special that includes two mimosas or Bloody Mary’s complimenting a choice of the following meals: steak ‘n’ eggs; eggs benedict; eggs Florentine (with smoked salmon); omelets; banana nut pancakes; smoked salmon platter; and granola crust French toast.
Hoboken.Com Reviews
12/12/03 - by Courtney Kritch
"For all of the anti-Manhattanites who've been waiting for Hoboken to step it up in the Bar Biz, meet the new hotspot on Sinatra Dr., 3 Forty Grill." From delectable martinis to warmed hand cloths in the ladies room, the new waterfront Raw Bar is more than a beautiful view of the NYC skyline.
With a menu ranging from stone crab claws to hanger steak, 3 Forty Grill is the food-fetish answer to what’s been missing in the 201 area code. Opened on November 11 by owner Jerry Maher (London-born, owner of Oddfellows), we feel he’s succeeded in raising the bar for the Hoboken night scene.
An accurate reflection of the view it beholds, the lounge emanates a Sex and the City environment. Surrounded in an ambience of crafted stainless steel, architect Peter Johnson’s artistic flare for décor accentuates and competes with the noteworthy view of the waterfront location. If you thought a coat check was the signature of chic, allow yourself to be impressed. It’s upscale and pricey, yet surprisngly unpretentious.
With a menu created by chef Timothy Mooney, one may be overwhelmed at the raw bar choices, appetizer selections, and entrees of steak, seafood, or pasta. While presentation is always half the battle, the elegant dishes are prepared to fit a fanciful eye. The meals look so pretty that I found myself wondering if the taste would betray it.
Accompanied by a sushi-loving friend, we wanted to see if the tuna sashimi was up to par. Surely something presented so beautifully couldn’t be so good to taste? A few words: fresh, tender, and just right. And for the green-lovers, the salads are light and quite delicious. For the shellfish connoisseurs, the oyster selection is reportedly impressive, at least according to the people sitting next to us.
For an entrée my date said the sesame-crusted tuna was to die for, and I was more than pleased with the red snapper. Broiled in a basil oil, with an attractive side of vegetable ratatouille, quite spicy, atop fried polenta- it was excellent.
3 Forty Grill has only been open for one month. I went there with the mindset that the service would be touchy, at best. I expected a few kinks in either prep time for food, lack of attention to filling water, drink replacement, etc. But to my surprise, we were astonished at the quality in service. The two managers on duty were courteous and professional, introducing themselves, making sure the meals were to our liking. Our waiter was a treasure, elegant in poise and attentive. And the overall service conformed to the romantic and classy atmosphere. Friendly, professional, clean, and prompt.
But the real question remained: how good are the drinks? And in drinks I specifically mean the 21 varieties of colored liquor in the wide-rimmed, hard to carry glasses: the Martini. My partner and I are usually not fans of random concoctions poured into an awkward-shaped glass, but we had to try one to get a true sense of 3 Forty. I ordered the Nutty Martini (amaretto, frangelico, Ketel One). He the Tropical (Stoli Vanil, Malibu Rum, splash of pineapple). Coupled with a flawless pour, we were happy to discover the Martini-maker knows her business. Not overly sweet yet not to vodka-y. I was happily buzzed from one glass – so it’s well worth the $9.00 spent. Other recommended flavors: Hard Candy (Three fruity Stoli’s and a splash of cranberry), and the Black Dahlia (Stoli Vanil, Chambord, Godiva Liqueur, touch of cream).
And last but certainly not least, the desserts. Beware, stay for away if you’re even considering restricting your caloric intake. The Molten Lava Chocolate Cake is predicted to be the latest death of the diet, and could possibly warrant a reputation on par with the choice of drinks.
For those of you who would prefer to drink your dessert, there are a number of chocolate martinis looking to settle the sweet tooth. Who knew a Chunky Monkey could be sipped? (Stoli Vanil, Banana Liquor, Cream de Cocoa).
I found myself wondering how a bar this fabulous has quietly been open for at least a month already without any of us knowing? This bar is currently the best kept secret in Hoboken. And FYI, come warm weather past April 1, the outside caf, opens to seat up to 80 people.
And fellow ladies – there seems to be a skew in the ratios, as both nights I’ve gone there have been at least three males for every female. We like that.
And FYI, Thursdays are half price Martinis
So, our final vote:
Why go to Manhattan when Manhattan has come to Hoboken? 3 Forty is terrific!!
Hudson Reporter: Drink of the Week - Ocean Bottom
01/29/04
Ocean Bottom
What is it? This elegant stirred martini is made up of a shot of Absolut Citron, about two ounces of 7Up, a splash of lime juice, and half a shot of Blue Curacao liquor, topped with a decorative Swedish Fish candy.
Taste: Ocean is a very sweet tini with an easy warm alcohol kick, thanks to the Absolut. It’s served chilled and the dry liquor goes down smoothly.
Cost: It’s $9 at the 3 Forty Grill in Hoboken. Tip not included.
Goes well with: The Ocean is an ideal pre-hangout cocktail, preferably for women doing their best Sex and the City impression. It’s trendy and sophisticated; good for an elegant evening with a date or to enjoy at a high-end party with friends.
"Why now? Since Hobokenites love their martinis, the Ocean is strong enough to keep drinkers buzzing during the winter months. "
For information on the “Drink of the Week,” contact Eugene Mulero at (201) 798-7800 or current@hudsonreporter.com
The 3 Forty Grill brings a chic sensibility to the waterfront
11/16/03 - by Tom Jennemann
"Hoboken's newest addition to this lounge/restaurant scene is the city's first waterfront fine dining restaurant, 3 Forty Grill, which, in addition to a menu that features upscale eclectic cuisine with a strong accent on seafood, also incorporates a raw bar and a thoroughly modern martini lounge."
“My new venture offers fine dining in a fresh, lively and inviting atmosphere coupled with the best view in the world,” said the restaurant’s owner Jerry Maher, who also owns Oddfellows Rest in Hoboken and Jersey City. “Our menu features a raw bar that includes a wide variety of the freshest oysters from around the world, and well as superb fish and pristine seafood in an elegant setting. We anticipate that the 3 Forty Grill will raise the bar on the level of dining in Hoboken”.
Hoboken-based architect Peter Johnson created what is tantamount to a “contemporary theatrical experience” with vibrant lighting and a cutting edge geometric design. Johnson describes the space as being, “…warm although it sparkles with accents of stainless steal, textured acrylic panels and a rich hue of ceramic tiles.”
The menu, by Executive Chef Timothy Mooney, a graduate of the Art Institute of NY (formerly the New York Restaurant School), features dishes such as braised oxtail and potato dumplings, mixed seafood ceviche, and seared shrimp and Serrano ham with pasta. For dessert there are temping dishes such as maple crème brulee and caramelized cinnamon apple crepe.
A changing dynamic
The fact that a restaurant catering to the martini crowd can open in what had traditionally been a blue collar city is another sign of Hoboken’s changing dynamics and demographics.
“I don’t know if you could put this restaurant here even 10 years ago,” said Maher as he looked out over the Manhattan skyline. “But the first time I saw this space I knew that it could be amazing.”
There are still plenty of bar/restaurants that cater to the mozzarella sticks and Budweiser crowd in Hoboken, but now there is an emerging market for people who would rather enjoy a dirty martini with an appetizer of bluefin tuna sashimi.
John Wiley & Son and Marsh & McLennan alone have brought to the city more than 2,500 white-collar jobs. It is expected in the next few months the city will announce that a modish W Hotel will coming to Hoboken. This is in addition to thousands of new luxury housing units that have sprung up on the waterfront in the past decade.
“We are in the midst of great changes on our evolving waterfront,” said Mayor David Roberts at the opening on Tuesday. “We have attracted nationally respected corporations, brought thousands of jobs, and now it seems like new restaurants are opening one after another.
Digital City Restaurant Guide
Fall 2003
"When the W Hotel comes to Hoboken -- and there is talk that it will -- they will have 3 Forty Grill to thank for prepping the locals for a new level of luxe. Hobokenites will already have sampled an oyster shooter—a shot of Finlandia chased by (or chasing) a freshly shucked Atlantic oyster. They’ll have gracefully shared a plateaux des fruits de mer—an elegant pile of cherrystone clams, oysters, lobster, gulf shrimp, stone crab, scallops and mussels that breaks the bank at a cool $9. And they’ll do it all coolly, perhaps with their back turned to the breathtaking Manhattan vistas that are frites, rack of lamb and steak au poivre, as well as pastas and sandwiches. But if you’re not here for the view and the chilled vodka and the scene, then roasted almond mahi-mahi or the red snapper with saffron vegetable ratatouille. The entrée prices are more than reasonable. If 3 Forty were in Manhattan (or even Brooklyn) there would be lines around the block, As it is, you should be able to sneak in before the word gets out. – T.K. Hoffman
Restaurant
New American, Seafood
