Skinner's Loft in Jersey City, NJ
Skinner’s Loft in Jersey City is a true find. Located few steps from the Grove St Path station, this unassuming place boasts a terrific menu. We went there over a period of time, trying their brunch and dinner, always leaving satisfied after a nice meal. For brunch, I loved their croque monsieur, where the black forrest ham was smothered with a nice amount of gruyere cheese, before being squeezed between two slices of country bread and again topped with cheese. There is never too much cheese for sure! Interestingly, it was not served with a salad but with cole slaw. Jodi tried their mushroom and spinach omelet that was also good, not overcooked (I like my eggs runny by the way) and served with some crunchy home fries. I accompanied my lunch with a beer, the Founders Breakfast Stout that was quite refreshing on a hot summer day.
For dinner, we had their arancini, made with ricotta and parmesan. These were crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, served with a roasted pepper coulis that added a sweet and smokey flavor. I also liked their grilled oysters that were simply made with a garlic and herb butter. I wish more restaurants would serve oysters that way.
For the main, I tried their steak frites that was a 13oz NY strip perfectly grilled to a medium rare temperature, served with some parmesan herb fries that were crunchy as I like them. They also have some interesting vegetarian dishes. The roasted cauliflower and its arugula pesto was good, but my favorite was the vegan “scallop” mushroom risotto with asparagus that is the kind of dish where I do not miss any seafood or meat. It was a mushroom fest: porcini, maitake and rumpet gave another dimension to this dish. A must have!
To accompany my meals, I tried some of their cocktails: The Lafayette (same name as my cat, so I had to try it), made with their house infused rosemary gin, lemon juice, orange shrub, egg whites and smash cranberry, and the Rejuvenator, made with plantation rum, poire williams (pear), apple cider vinegar, ginger thyme syrup, and pear nectar. Both were quite good and creative.
For dessert, we tried their bread pudding that was pretty good, not dry, topped with some vanilla ice cream.
Bread pudding at Skinner's Loft in Jersey City, NJ
Overall, we had great meals at Skinner’s Loft. The food there is really good, served in a very relaxed atmosphere. I definitely recommend this place.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Skinner’s Loft - 146 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302
