Jersey City has quite few gems and Lokal is surely one of them. I discovered this place back in September 2019, for their Grand Opening and we recently went there a couple of times for dinner. The place did not change if not for the outdoor dining that is probably the only benefit diners got from Covid: the floor to ceiling windows provide an unobstructed view of the New York skyline where the only annoyance would be the sun reflecting on the skyscrapers, giving a yellowish color to the dishes when you attempt to take a photo. The dining room is beautiful with its urban feel and it’s few different sections to accommodate diners’s mood: lounge, high top for large parties or small table for an intimate dinner.

Food wise, I should mention the happy hour from 4pm to 6pm: oysters for $1 (minimum of 6) or the choice of three appetizers for $21. We went for it and got their crispy Brussels sprouts (I’ll have to come back to this one), pan con tomate and olive tapenade (typical Spanish tapas with a slice of bread that at least was not a mess to cut!), as well as the cauliflower croquettes (nice and crispy). So, these Brussels sprouts: this is an incredible dish, served with a whisky maple sauce. Maybe a bit too much sauce at time, but so good: the Brussels sprouts are crunchy and the sauce deliciously sweet, pairing well with the savory taste of the parmesan. This is the kind of dish that would change the mind of anyone who does not like Brussels sprouts! They change the menu from time to time and hopefully will keep this dish. Another appetizer we tried was the bao buns that were stuffed with veggies and tofu. Good and tasty.

The only appetizer I did not really liked was the grilled squid accompanied by a tomato aioli, that was stuffed with panko, fennel and spinach: the fennel was too overpowering and the calamari a bit rubbery.

The mains are quite interesting, like the fried chicken served with a corn and pepper succotash crema, or the tea smoked lamb chops. The fried chicken was ok though for me as overcooked with the crust, being made with rice flour burnt. I mentioned it to the waiter and they addressed it pretty well. The lamb chops however were superb: perfectly cooked, they were served with an eggplant purée and a spicy miso (it is on the side so if you do not like spicy, it is ok and I am sure you can ask without I am sure - it was not that spicy anyway).

Before I speak about the desserts, I should mention the cocktails. For few of them, you can decide what alcohol you want. For instance, soju or mezcal, or whisky or rum. Clever as you can get many combinations, knowing that anyway they have a full bar and can certainly accommodate many requests. So, I went for the Elliot Stubb, their take on pisco sour named after the creator of this drink. It was made with bourbon (my choice over tequila), yuzu, aguafaba (that is the liquid where legumes have been cooked), blueberry, honey syrup and vermouth. Nice and fruity but I admit that I preferred the James Pepper that was not done with the whisky from the distillery of the same name, but with Four Roses bourbon, mixed with cinnamon syrup (nice smell and undertone), apricot liquor and sherry. Strong and original, it came with a spherical ice cube that contained a flower in it, adding a bit to the originality of the drink. And if you do not drink alcohol, they can make a mocktail for you or you can try to get their strawberry lemonade that was amazing: you could really taste the strawberries!

And dessert of course. The tiramisu is amazing, very creamy, served in a bowl like you would a custard, with the lady fingers perfectly soaked in coffee in the bottom.

We also tried their strawberry Mille feuille that was made with fresh strawberries. It was just ok: small and not as decadent as we would have thought. Maybe if the puff pastry had been buttery I would have been wowed, but not really.

Strawberry mille feuille at Lokal in Jersey City, NJ

Still, Lokal is a great spot for the view but also their food and drink menu that they change often. I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Lokal - 2 2nd St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat!