Schnackenberg's is one of the oldest restaurants in Hoboken, opening in 1931 few years after the founders, Dora and Henry Schnackenberg, came to the US, immigrating from Germany. This soda shop remained opened until being purchased by Eugene and Joyce Flinn who also own Amanda's and the Elysean Café, two of the most popular restaurants in town. After undergoing renovations for few months, the restaurant reopened in December 2013. So, it was time for us to try it! We went twice: once for breakfast and once for lunch (the lunch menu is available after noon).
Entering there is like traveling in the past, not only because of the decor and the different artifacts witnessing the old time, but also because of the overall atmosphere: from the music (lots of Frank Sinatra who was from Hoboken), to the uniform of the staff.
Right at the entrance is the old cash register that did not leave the place.
As well as an old mirror that probably had some history.
When we went for breakfast, we sat at the bar where large cakes were on display. These cakes are not prepared in this place, but by a bakery in a neighboring town.
Jodi tried the coconut cake, but did not like it though.
However, we tried their homemade donuts that they sell for $1 and they were delicious.
They have different kinds and we went for the cinnamon sugar.
I started off with some coffee, served in a mug with the mascot of the restaurant on it, a mascot that we will see on every plate.
They were the traditional ones: muffins, ham, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. With it, came some hash brown.
It was very good and the eggs were perfectly poached, the yolk being runny and the white a bit soft.
Jodi ordered the scrambled eggs:
They were served with toast and some hash brown too. They were not the best scrambled eggs I ever had, but it was decent, the eggs not being overcooked and dry.
Then, when we came back for lunch, we sat at one of the booths. I started with a milk shake.
They serve different flavors, but I went old school, for a vanilla one. They served it in an old milk shake glass and I guess was made in the machine that is at the entrance of the restaurant.
It was a good milk shake, not too thick, with the vanilla flavor coming through, probably because they use vanilla syrup. Next time, I will have to try the black and white.
For the entree, Jodi ordered a grilled cheese, made with cheddar, leeks and onions.
It was good: lots of cheese, not too greasy, it would have been perfect with a tomato soup. However, I would go without the leeks and onions next time.
On my side, I ordered the reuben.
It was a perfect succession of bread (I chose rye), pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. You cannot compare this sandwich to the one at Katz's or Junior's, but I admit that it was pretty good,
Both times, we enjoyed ourselves at Schnackenberg's: the food was good, the service excellent and the prices very reasonable. Our dishes took a bit of time to come, but I guess it will improve as time goes by. Schnackenberg's is definitely an address that I would recommend in Hoboken, moreover if you are uptown as there are not as many alternatives for breakfast there for such prices.
Enjoy (I did)!
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