Beer, Food with a View

As many know and more are discovering, the best views of Manhattan's Skyline cannot be seen from Manhattan. You have to go to Jersey or Brooklyn to be wowed.

Also, as many know, restaurants with a great view of Manhattan do not always match that excellence with their food, nor with their beer list.

The PubScout found one last night that does. It's called Hudson & Co. at 3 2nd St. in booming Jersey City.

The occasion was a birthday celebration for my middle guy, Kacy, who, as a JC denizen, picked the place. Turns out this fabulous restaurant has only been "open" for two weeks, and our visit was part of what GM Robert Petraglia called a "soft opening."

The location is nothing short of jaw-dropping, sitting, as it does, across from the best view of the Freedom Tower and the Manhattan Skyline. The interior is classy, glassy and welcoming. And for being open for just two weeks, it was pretty packed. Damned impressive, if you ask me.

Kacy, who is also a fan of good beer (wonder where he gets that from?), knows that if he picks a place he wants me to go to, it had better have a good beer list, Hudson & Co. scores very high in that category.

I mean Triple Karmeliet on draft? Among many other good choices? Are you kidding me? Add a collection of bottled beers that provides any discerning beer nut with a wide variety of superb choices.

Two down (view and beer), two to go (food and service).

The food was outstanding. After a delicious Harbor Mussel Pot (Mussels, Calamari, Fire Roasted Tomato, Zucchini, Squash, Fresno Chili, Garlic Bread), I had a sweet fennel sausage wood-fired pizza that was incredible, and the missus said her Arugula Pizza was equally so, The burgers, according to Kace, his lady Emily and her dad Frank also got high praise. We all took food home because the portions were large.

But not so large that we couldn't squeeze in some dessert. What's a birthday without something sweet to sing to? A couple of "Bella's Warm Cookie Skillets" and two "Blueberry and Peach Cobblers" got the singing started. Both desserts won applause, though again, I had to give half of mine to the birthday boy because it was very big.

You can see the rest of the menu here, and while it may look a tad pricey, keep in mind, it's Jersey City, where stuff is usually far cheaper than in the City itself--and there is no view. The service was basically fine, especially for a soft opening, where servers are still feeling their way.

The PubScout confidently predicts a long honeymoon for this place, and once the nicer weather returns and the outside seating is available, it's going to be packed.