When I learned that Jane Doe in Jersey City is from the same people who brought us Dullboy and Orale Mexican Cuisine, I knew we would be in for a treat. And I was not wrong. The restaurant is as cool as the staff, who are very friendly and often checking if everything is fine, making you feel welcome: this is what for me hospitality represents and they certainly know how to make you feel comfortable.
Before I talk about the food, let’s talk about their cocktails as they also have a lounge. They have quite a good selection of coktails, classic or not. I admit that I could not resist trying their Rare and Allocated cocktail called the R&A Tipperary for the simple reason that it had green Chartreuse in it. Well balanced, I was glad that this divine French liquor was not lost in the mix of High n’ wicked Aeneas Coffey Irish whiskey, Vermouth, aromatic bitters and orange oil. They also had seasonal cocktails, served hot, considering the freezing temperatures we recently had. So, I tried The Dori, that is made with Bushmills whiskey, pineapple, honey and lemon (I recommend it if you have a cold…or not!). They also have mocktails like The Silvia that is composed of fresh pineapple, Thai tea, lemon and sparkling water (quite refreshing).
One their interesting appetizer is their scallion pancake, made with zucchini butter, mushroom medley and scallions. Very creative as quite different from the classic Chinese dish, it was rustic and comforting. I highly recommend it. They also have a whipped ricotta that is homemade, topped with peppers that I thought added some depth to a cheese that, in my opinion, always needs something with it; usually it is honey, but I admit that the peppers and olive oil added some flair. It was served with Pinsa bread that is made with a hand pressed pizza dough. And if you need more, they will be quite happy to bring some.
For the main, they have a nice selection of pasta, that they can make gluten free or vegan upon request. Their bucatini with mushroom puree and butternut squash was delcious, as was their spaghetti pomodoro that was topped with Grana Padano, one of my favorite cheeses with pasta. One thing not to miss is their layered fries that I got with the skirt steak (served with truffle parm aioli and perfectly cooked medium rare, I would go back just for it) or their smash burger (the bun is a homemade milk bread that I would just eat with butter and jam! Good burger, the meat being nicely charred and juicy). These fries are cooked in beef tallow, that gave to these perfectly crispy potatoes a rich and savory flavor. This is a must have and know that you can order them as a side (I would!).
Of course, we could not leave without trying their desserts and, like the rest, it was original. The limoncello olive oil cake with mascarpone frosting was my favorite, probably because of the generous amount of limoncello! It was totally soaked and the mascarpone frosting added a nice layer to balance with the alcohol. It was like an Italian version of a tres leches cake. Their S’mores semifreddo was also quite surprising, having chunks of chocolate and marshmallow. Quite delicious.
Hopefully after reading this, you understand why I was excited to go to Jane Doe: the food is creative and delicious. Although it is a bit of the beaten path, it is worth a visit!
Enjoy (I really did)!
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Jane Doe - 333 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302