Hoboken is home to some of the best Italian restaurants in the New Jersey (dare we say New York?) area. Every block has a different spot for you to eat all the pasta and chicken parm that your heart desires. And in February of 2023, another popular Italian restaurant made its way to Hoboken. News broke a couple of years back that Caffe Buon Gusto of Manhattan + Brooklyn would be opening a BYOB Italian restaurant at 918 Washington Street in Hoboken — and we recently sat down for a meal with friends there, so wanted to share. Read on for more about Caffe Buon Gusto in the Mile Square.
About Caffe Buon Gusto
Caffe Buon Gusto has two locations located on the Upper East Side and Brooklyn, and has now brought its beloved Italian fare to the Mile Square. As for the NYC locations, the restaurant has a cozy and intimate ambiance that makes diners feel right at home, and uptown Hoboken’s is no exception. It’s a quiet ambiance, which is ideal for catching up with friends or a first date.
Read More: The Best Italian Restaurants in Hoboken: A Definitive List
The restaurant is best known for its modern twist on old-school and authentic Italian dishes. The food is made with fresh ingredients, and that really shows (and tastes) in all of the dishes.
The Menu
Caffe Buon Gusto features a large menu including delicious appetizers, salads, and a ton of pasta options. Some highlights from the appetizer menu include the stracciatella soup, which is the perfect dish when you are craving comfort food, and the pan-seared shrimp and scallops appetizer.
The bruschetta was quite delectable, as it featured a variety of sauces and add-ons (versus your typical tomato topper), and in the seafood department, the mussels were a hit.
The restaurant also offers an extensive list of salads that are far from basic. Be sure not to skip out on the pear + gorgonzola salad for something light and refreshing, if that’s your thing.
The Pasta
Now let’s get to the pasta. Caffe Buon Gusto is not your average spot when it comes to pasta (and we know, that’s hard to say for a city known for its Italian heritage). But truly, it’s best known for its diverse shapes of pasta, and 11 signature sauces to choose from to mix and match your pasta with. Sauce choices include pomodoro, primavera, alfredo, pesto, piselli e funghi, vodka, ricotta e pomodoro, bolognese, puttanesca, marinara, and carbonara. From the classic pomodoro sauce to the carbonara, there’s no wrong way to order.
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PS: The restaurant is “Insta-famous” for its linguine with vodka sauce topped with chunks of fresh mozzarella.
See More: A List of Must-Try Pasta Spots in the Montclair Area
Caffe Buon Gusto also has special pasta dishes like linguine and vongole, aka clam sauce, and various seafood dishes such as lobster over handmade black linguine. There is also gluten-free pasta — which is music to Celiac ears.
The restaurant is BYOB, so bring what you like and pair it for a cozy Italian dinner, including limoncello to really elevate the vibe The Hoboken location of Caffe Buon Gusto is open seven days a week from 12PM-11PM.
