Description

Situated along the river's edge, LUA is a Latin-inspired restaurant owned by one of Hoboken's most successful restaurateurs, John Avoletta, Jr. Avoletta owns City Bistro, a perennially packed bar and restaurant located in the heart of Hoboken. With LUA, he wanted to create a more upscale dining experience in his hometown.

Avoletta and his partner, Ken Duda, looked for a New York chef to create a sophisticated yet accessible menu that New Jersey residents would embrace. Enter Ricardo Cardona, formerly the executive chef at Republi'K (now DR-K) in Manhattan's Washington Heights.

A native of El Salvador, Cardona's criollo latino cooking won rave reviews during his time at Republi'K. At LUA, ha has found a fitting home for signature style of Pan Latin cuisine. A tour of Spain, Brazil, Peru and Portugal, Cardona's menu includes Duck Arepas; Short Rib Taquitos; Grilled Sea Scallops with Chorizo and ceviches such as Tuna with Coconut and Wasabi. For dessert, Apple Empanaditas are light and flaky with a subtle kick, akin to mini Latin pies.

The bar features more than two dozen tequilas and specialty drinks such as the Passion Fruit Mojito and Guava Caipirinha. An extensive wine list includes selections from Spain, California and Argentina that average about $45.

For the design, Avoletta teamed up with Manhattan-based NBBJ, the fourth-largest architectural firm in the world. The team created an open, fluid interior that complements the water outside. The centerpiece of the 7,000 square-foot space is an elliptical bar, with a glowing amber resin top, oriented to provide a 360-degree view of the restaurant.

A communal dining counter welcomes walk-in guests, and a lounge provides more casual dining. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the main dining room, which seats 150, take full advantage of the silent Manhattan movie playing outside.

LUA, which means “moon” in Portuguese, is harbinger of greater things for Hoboken, which celebrates its 150th birthday this year. (It was incorporated as a city on March 28, 1855 under the leadership of Mayor Cornelius V. Clickener.) Hoboken's revival has attracted some of country's most prominent architects. The W Hotel, set to open in spring 2006, will house a serious restaurant and is being designed by Charles Gwathmey of the award-wining architectural firm, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates.

With such lavish attention being paid to Jersey's waterfront town, Hoboken may yet become New York's sixth borough… Read More

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