Location: 225 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Cuisine: Seafood/Italian
Best Dish: The Lobster Rigatoni was stupendous. The pasta was well made and the sauce was a light flavorful complement to the succulent lobster. We also highly recommend the creamed kale, it was one of the very best kale dishes we’ve had. The creamy sauce worked well with the bitter kale.
Overall: Halifax is a beautiful space offering delicious farm to table cuisine. The venue is a perfect place for a special occasion, a rare date night, or just a special treat for any seafood lover (like ourselves).
The W Hotel Hoboken is home to Halifax, a gourmet dining experience. The restaurant is located on the ground level of the chic hotel and has a sumptuous menu of dishes prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients. Executive Chef Seadon Shouse commitment to freshness also includes utilizing only locally sourced veggies, meats, and dairy. The gorgeous dining area features a magnificent view of the Hudson River and the New York City skyline twinkles majestically in the distance. Prior to our meal we enjoyed a brief cocktail hour and took advantage of the well-stocked raw bar. We enjoyed a platter of oysters served with shallot vinegar and lemon. We paired the oysters with a specialty cocktail, The Rico Suave is a strong concoction made with tequila, Campari, and vermouth.
In addition to the raw bar, Halifax also offers a selection of finger foods to build your own sharing plate of treats. Each platter is served with pickled veggies and buttery toasted bread. We chose a surf and turf assortment including smoked rainbow trout, pork lomo, and smoked oysters.
We followed the yummy platter with the Yellowtail Crudo. The fish is served with creme fraiche, seaweed, and cucumber. The presentation of this dish reminded us of an abstract painting and it was quite tasty as it looks.
For a warm appetizer, we recommend the Shrimp and Cod Fritters. These little bites are served with a delicious saffron aioli and a herb salad.
The entree selections at Halifax features an assortment of seafood options, One of which is a hearty seafood stew. The stew is filled with juicy chunks of bass, jumbo shrimp, scallops, and clams floating in a spicy tomato based broth.
To aid in the enjoyment of the meal, Halifax’s staff is trained to suggest wine pairings with each dish. At the manager’s suggestion, we paired the Crudo with a Sauvignon Blanc, the fritters with a Riesling, and the stew with a lovely California Pinot Noir.
We love a good pasta dish and couldn’t resist the allure of the Lobster Rigatoni. The house made pasta was tossed with pieces of succulent Maine Lobster and a lobster coral butter. We are still dreaming about this pasta.
We are used to seeing creamed spinach on a menu but Creamed Kale? That was an exciting new option and we are glad we took a chance on it. It arrived piping hot and topped with glorious cheese and a rich cream sauce. It’s a dish we could enjoy every day!
For an adventurous bite, try the Squid Ink Spaghetti. The jarring black color adds an unparalleled level of beauty to this dish. It is an Instagram-worthy feast for the eyes and a delicious treat for your palate.
We ended our meal with a duo of decadent desserts by Pastry Chef Stuart Marx. The Apple Fritters are superb orbs of fluffy pastry served with a trio of dipping sauces. The most interesting of the sauces was the Rosemary Caramel, the familiarity of buttery caramel with a herbaceous finish. Our favorite of the sauces was the spicy chocolate. Yes spicy chocolate, so yummy!
Last but not least, we sampled the prettiest S’more we’ve ever seen. This isn’t your basic campfire snack, each layer of this dessert is made in-house. This indulgent treat is made with fresh homemade Graham Cracker, Marshmallow, Milk Chocolate Ganache, and as a seasonal delight, a bit of spiced pumpkin flavor.
Sometimes you simply have to treat yourself. Halifax’s attentive service opulent surroundings and spectacular dishes are a welcome reprieve from a chaotic world and a well-deserved treat for the senses. It is quite easy to sit and eat and laugh the night away at this Hoboken eatery. The restaurant is comforting enough to sit and enjoy alone but we recommend you invite a friend or two to share the experience. It is well worth the short trip to Hoboken.
Halifax is located at W Hoboken at 225 River Street, Hoboken, NJ, 201-253- 2500, halifaxhoboken.com. Take the PATH train from Manhattan, and walk five minutes up River Street to W Hoboken. Hours of operation: Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6:30am-11am, Sat-Sun 7:30am- 11am Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-3:00pm Brunch (or Bubbles Brunch with unlimited small plates and a bottle of Champagne): Sat-Sun 11am-3pm Dinner: Sun-Wed 5pm-10pm, Thur-Sat 5pm-11pm.