Fancy Dining In Hoboken: Izzy Eats At Amanda's

Each time my dad and stepmother come to Jersey City, the age old question of where to eat arises. We usually frequent the same restaurants over and over, sticking with the tried and true. Every so often, we veer off and make a new discovery. Last night turned out to be such a night when my stepmother came up with the idea that we should eat at Amanda's Restaurant in Hoboken.

I have read about Amanda's on many occasions but for some reason I have shied away from it. It is always touted as ultra-romantic, good for special occasions etc. and I was concerned that Izzy might not add to the ambiance. Thankfully I found that I needn't have worried at all.

Amanda's is definitely a special occasion restaurant, yet despite the formal atmosphere, we received a warm welcome. Izzy's presence did not seem to disturb anyone (Parisian restaurants, take note!) On this early Sunday evening, we were amongst a small handful of diners. We had a cozy banquette area to ourselves which was perfect. ..To start, Izzy and I shared a Red and Yellow Beet Salad with Blue Cheese and Mango Lime-Dressing. Odd choice for dressing I thought but the rest of the ingredients appealed so I ordered it anyway. The perky fresh beets and lettuce were perfect with the creamy blue cheese but the salad could certainly have done without that dressing. Izzy always enjoys a good beet so it was a worthwhile starter for us.

For the next course, Izzy had the Polenta with Three Cheeses and I had Short Ribs which I seem to order everywhere. Well Izzy took one bite of his polenta and then kept coming over to my fork for bites of my dinner. My ribs were spoon-soft, full of mushrooms and rich broth, a hit for both of us.

As our meal progressed, the polenta remained untouched so I tasted it to determine why. Turns out that three cheeses may just have been one too many. As with the Mango-Lime dressing, extra cheese did not benefit that dish.

We couldn't leave without dessert so Izzy ordered a dish of raspberry sorbet and I had to try the Blueberry-Apple Crisp with Caramel Ice Cream..

That dish alone, would have made this restaurant a keeper. Homey, warm and creamy...a perfect ending to our meal. Although not every dish was perfect, I would certainly give this restaurant another whirl.