FIORE’S ITALIAN DELI

Fiore’s is always a treat. I like trying different deli’s specials, but since I’m not around here all that often I gotta get the classics. My Fiore Favorite has gotta be a “beef with hot.” I had my first when I was 11 and has been a must get every time I’m around Hoboken.

Took this during lunch with pops. Fiore's Deli, Hoboken, NJ

VITO’S DELI

I took a trip to Hoboken last weekend and was able to get quite a few of my favorite meal spots in. First on the list had to be Vito’s deli on Washington St. just because of the time we got there. I got my personal favorite, the HOBOKEN HERO, Mutz, roasted peppers grilled eggplant & artichoke. It’s a Vito classic. Vito’s is a smaller place, but I believe that most of the time I find a place that’s small, it’s usually amazing.

Took this one on my weekend in Hoboken, NJ. Hoboken Hero

BAGELS ON THE HUDSON

Located on Washington St. in Hoboken NJ, the famous “Bagels on the Hudson” is known to have one of the best bagel menus in the state and because that state is New Jersey, statement does carry some weight. In New Jersey, if you clam to have a good bagel shop you better be able to back that up against the best bagel makers in the country, they’re also know to get a little physical if you cross the line talking about bagels. This is my favorite place to go in Hoboken when I’m there. Whether it be for lunch or just getting breakfast on my way out after a night with my friends in mid town Hoboken, Bagels on the Hudson will always be up there with the best.

Peter Luger Steak House

One of the most famous steak houses ever, Peter Lugers, sits on the west side of Brooklyn on Broadway.  Peter luger, hands down, makes the best steak I have ever had. Not only do they make the best steak, but I, every time I go, I get a bottle of their steak sauce because that too is the best I have ever had. I have had many-a-steak in my life from many different places, but those Germans sure know how to cook a steak. Every chance I get I try and head out to Brooklyn to get one of those fantastic steaks. This is a must for any big steak lover and if you go you’ll have to comment on this because it will be your new favorite steak.

Juicy Cut from Peter Luger

Bagelicious

Probably one of the more known eateries in my town is a quaint little breakfast place, not for a sit down meal, called Bagelicious on Broad st. at the top of town. It’s a very neighborhood involved spot sponsoring a Ridgewood little league baseball and basketball team every year as well as a few other things. But the real reason that I mention it is because it will make you a perfect New Jersey bacon, egg and cheese as well as a few of their own creative specials including the “Hobo”, which is a lot of meat of all different kinds and a lot of cheese peppers and spices to go along with it. You can also get a roll of taylor ham there for pretty cheap too especially if you know guys working there. This fantastic eatery will go down in history as one of the most popular and delicious bagel shops around.

I just wanna go back home right now and get a BEC

Wilkes Delicatessen

Another deli in my town that defiantly takes a back seat to, the Taste of Italy, but is still very good, is Wilkes Deli. There is a Wilkes deli chain throughout Ridgewood NJ and some surrounding towns around our area but in my opinion the best of the bunch is on pleasant ave. This particular Wilkes is famous, at least in the area, for their buffalo chicken sandwiches or more popularly know as the “buff chick”. My personal favorite way to get the sandwich is on a long roll with extra buff sauce and ranch, lots of ranch.  I get one every time I’m come home and that’s why put it as a high entry on my favorite tri-state meals.

the classic...Wilkes Deli

The Country Pancake House and Restaurant

I am known as a breakfast man, and when I want to take a break from the bacon egg and cheeses, not that there would be any reason to, I like to enjoy some pancakes. Shown on various food networks and winner of New Jersey food awards is the Country Pancake House and Restaurant located in the center of town on Ridgewood ave. It is a family run restaurant and is known for is home style cooking and it’s large proportions of quality breakfast dishes. Serving more then 100 different kinds of pancakes it is no wonder that the Country Pancake House has been named “Best Bang For Your Dining Buck” and also “Best Meal Deals.”

Took this one last summer before feasting with friends

RUTT'S HUT

The home of the real snapper, “yeah you know the hot dogs with the snap when you bite them” in beautiful Clifton New Jersey is Rutt’s Hut. Rutt’s is a hot dog join that are the originators of the “snapper” hot dog, which is a special technique in deep-frying a hotdog. There are many imitators of the snapper but the founders are credited at Rutt’s Hut. Perfect after a Jet a jet victory. Their unique and delicious hotdog style combined with their amazing relish make a real New Jersey hotdog and earns a spot on the top tastes of the tri-state.

2 SNAPPERS WITH RELISH

BIGGIES CLAM BAR

Located on Madison St. in Hoboken New Jersey is Biggies Clam Bar. Biggies is famous for clambakes, clearly, and have been around for almost 70 years. It has been a blue color run and style restaurant at opening and has remained that way until this day. From what I have heard Biggies stared out as a door-to-door clam sale and then bought out a place in Hoboken and had been there ever since. Biggies is one of my favorite places to eat in Hoboken and have the best clams. I have been told by many people that this was the place to go growing up and they couldn’t have been more right.

BIGGIE HIMSELF

The Katz Delicatessen

Another deli that is pretty well known around the area is the Katz deli on the corner of E Houston St. and Ludlow St. lower Manhattan NY. It is renowned for their fantastic sandwiches and also the amount that they put in each one. Katz is a Jewish kosher style delicatessen and has been featured in a few movies, one of which has a particularly famous seen, “I’ll have what she’s having…” I the film When Harry Met Sally, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan enjoy a nice Katz lunch. I believe they get the pastrami on rye with spicy mustard.

PASTRAMI ON RYE WITH SPICY MUSTARD

The Taste of Italy

Now this next one is one that I’m pretty close too, literally. About a house away from me is a little deli called the Taste of Italy. Between my middle school and high school years I probably went here near to 5 days a week on average, and 7 days a week sometimes twice a day in the summer. This place has all of your basic New Jersey deli orders and then some. Fan favorites include bacon or tayor ham egg and cheese, field worker, and my personal favorite and the first person to have tried this experimental sandwich, “The Belly Buster.” The Belly Buster has on it 3 pieces of sausage, 4 strips of bacon, 4 strips of taylor ham, salt, pepper, ketchup, hot sauce, egg, cheese, potatoes, and an assortment of peppers. It is one of my favorite meals and deserves a top spot on my
tri-state meals.

Took this picture last time I was home of the...
TAYLOR HAM EGG AND CHEESE

Stage Deli

First on my list is one of the most famous delis in New York City, located on 7^th ave. in between 53^rd and 54^th in Manhattan is the Stage Deli. One of my all-time favorites and also the favorite of at least 35 of NYC’s top celebrities, all of which have their own personal sandwiches on the menu. Some of my top picks on this menu include the legendary RUDY GIULANI #33 (CORNED BEEF AND PASTRAMI TOPPED WITH MUENSTER AND SWISS CHEESE AND FINISHED WITH COLE SLAW AND RUSSIAN DRESSING).  My second favorite would have to be the CONAN O'BRIEN #13 (BRISKET, CORNED BEEF AND SWISS CHEESE.)

CONAN O'BRIEN #13

White Manna

Next on my list, probably my favorite and most visited on my list, is a cozy little place in Hackensack, NJ called White Manna. White Manna is about the size of a large lunch truck but, in my opinion, is the maker of one of the greatest burgers of all time. These burgers are life changing but don’t try and go there around lunch hour because it’s unlikely that you’ll get your order anytime soon. But it’s not just me that finds these burgers amazing; White Manna has been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel on shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and The Best Thing I Ever Ate as well as Man v. Food. If you ever get the chance to go say hello to Joey for me and get my usual order, 6 doubles and a side of fires with a coke.