Last week, the team behind Corto, an Italian restaurant in Jersey City Heights, quietly soft opened its newest venture: The Roxy. Situated at 66 Monitor Street in Jersey City, this new art deco-inspired restaurant and bar is located within the Starling, a multi-use redeveloped building with retail space on the first floor and residences above in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. Read on to learn more about Corto’s newest venture in Jersey City, The Roxy.
Background on the Space
It was previously reported that the redeveloped building at 68 Monitor Street was set to open in the fall of 2023, according to the leasing brochure. We now know that both the Starling, a new apartment building, and The Roxy, a new bar and restaurant, are open in the space. The retail space that The Roxy occupies is just under 1,300 square feet — but it is already bustling with local diners.
Per Jersey Digs, the property is a redevelopment of a one-story warehouse at the corner of Maple and Monitor Streets in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City. The final design incorporates architectural elements from the original warehouse, including the facade and a double-height lobby.
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Corto chef Matthew Moschella and co-owner Drew Buzzio were the co-applicants for a liquor license to be transferred from a dormant license holder to their business entity, known as Buzzella LLC. The address for the new license holder is 68 Monitor Street, now The Roxy. While Corto is BYOB, The Roxy has a full bar.
The Roxy’s Arrival in Jersey City
The Roxy has officially opened its doors in Bergen-Lafayette and is now taking reservations via Resy. The new spot is open for dinner from 4PM on. We visited for dinner, and dined on some delicious apps and dishes.
A standout was the scallops — paired with couscous and asparagus, as well as the filet of duck.
Other must-try appetizer items include the Mizuna Salad (shiso, shallot, sesame, ponzu, + parmesan), as well as the citrus plate and greens plate as sides.
Highlights from the mains section of the menu have an emphasis on seafood, with other dishes mixed in — including duck and cavatelli. The full dinner menu can be viewed here.
For one drink (one of us had water), desserts, one appetizer, and two main entrees, the bill was a bit over $150, to give you an idea of pricing.
Dessert options include spiced chocolate cream pie, pandan coconut chiffon cake, and citrus pavlova. The lemon meringue was a standout.
Of course, no meal is complete without a drink, and The Roxy has a curated cocktail menu to complement your meal if that’s your vibe. Drinks include The Garibaldi (Campari, Aperol, orange, + grapefruit juices), the Lavender Lemonade (vodka, lemon, lavender syrup, + Fever Tree soda), and the JC Eastside (gin, lime, cucumber, mint syrup, + EVOO) as well as a variety of different beer choices. You can find the full drink menu here.
Currently, the spot is open from 4PM to 10PM Tuesday to Thursday, 4PM-11PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays from 4PM to 10PM. The Roxy is closed on Mondays.
About Corto
Corto opened in 2018 at 507 Palisade Avenue in Jersey City Heights. The team behind the restaurant is also behind Dozzino, located at 534 Adams Street in Hoboken, and Number 11 Food Store, which currently operates as a pop-up out of Dozzino at 534 Adams Street in Hoboken.
Corto is known for its fresh pasta and simple, seasonal dishes. The restaurant is small, with seating for 30, and a scaled-down kitchen to go with it. “We can’t do a lot of preparation and refrigerate the ingredients for the next day,” Chef Matt Moschella explained. “Fresh produce is brought in six days a week. The pasta is made fresh daily.”
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The restaurant is decorated simply, in a cozy and inviting aesthetic that carries over to the menu. Most of the dishes are things one would find being served at an Italian grandmother’s, or Nonna’s, home.
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The restaurant’s classic dishes and simple style are a winner with Jersey City residents and visitors alike. The restaurant has won several categories of The Hoboken Girl’s Best Of competition every year since its opening, including best restaurant, best pasta, and best BYOB. The restaurant has been recognized by Eater NY, Bon Appetit, NorthJersey.com, and others for its delicious dishes.
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