Hoboken can be an expensive place to live… but it doesn’t have to be! In High Life, Low Budget, a new column on HobokenGirl, local author {and former Hoboken Girl of the Week}, Lia Romeo offers tips and tricks on how to live luxe without spending big bucks in Hoboken and NYC. Whether you’re paying off student loans, working a job you love but that doesn’t pay much, or saving up for a house or a baby, High Life, Low Budget can help you enjoy the best of the New York area without breaking the bank!
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It’s really, really easy to just hole up at home in January and February. The holidays are over, it’s cold and miserable outside, and, especially if you’re trying not to spend too much money, it can be really tempting to spend two months eating in and watching Netflix.
But you know what’s a lot more fun?
…Going out.
So, here’s a list of deals and bargains for a fun night out in Hoboken… any night of the week. NB: All of these “date night” ideas work just as well – or better – with a group of friends, so if you’re flying solo this winter, grab your girlfriends and hit the town!
MONDAY:
Mondays are a slow night for restaurants, which means some great specials are available. Hit up Turtle Club for half off their entire food menu {I’m a big fan of the baked brie}. If you want a pre- {or post-} dinner drink, The Ale House is nearby and offers half-price glasses of wine Monday nights.
WEDNESDAY:
^ Tuesdays for the Tacos, Wednesdays for the Sushi
Hump Day is a little less awful when you know you can look forward to buy one, get one free sushi rolls at Las Olas. If you sit at the bar, you can also take advantage of their excellent happy hour till 8 pm – $3 beers, $4 wells, and $5 glasses of wine. Did I also mention they have $2 Taco Tuesdays EVERY week? Yasssss.
THURSDAY:
For a fun, upscale night out, Teak on the Hudson is 50% off a lot of the menu on Thursdays, meaning you can get tasty specialty rolls like the Hoboken Roll {shrimp tempura, avocado and eel} for just $7. This is a great spot to meet friends or a date coming in from the city, since it’s right near the PATH. Afterwards – if it’s not too frigid – stroll around Pier A and check out the skyline.
FRIDAY:
Matt & Meera’s Indian Fusion ^
It’s tough to find dinner specials on a Friday, but you can always save money by going BYOB! Some of my favorite cheap-but-cute spots to bring a bottle include Johnny Pepperoni (their delicious specialty pizzas are under $20 and serve at least three), Matt and Meera (interesting Indian fusion food), and Pho Nomenon {awesome Vietnamese noodle for under $10}. Afterwards, hit up The Brass Rail for late night happy hour {$5 mixed drinks after 11 pm}.
SATURDAY:
It’s hard to make it to Amanda’s in time for the early dinner special on weeknights… which is a shame, because it’s one of the best deals in town for a romantic evening. Amanda’s offers seatings at 5:00 and 5:30 {so eat a light lunch!} for a three-course dinner in a cozy, beautifully-decorated restaurant six nights a week – including Saturdays – for just $17 per person, along with $20 bottles of any house wine.
SUNDAY:
If you haven’t yet tried The CuBan, you’re missing out… some of the best food in Hoboken {the New York Times agrees!}. But it can get pricey, so try it out on a Sunday afternoon, where from 3-6 pm all of the cocktails on their inventive list are just $5, and most of their delicious appetizers are half off (I’m partial to the incredibly fresh ceviche de cameron). There’s also live Cuban jazz. Order a few things to share and enjoy!
Have any other suggestions? Or, if you’re a local business, do you have a great “date night” deal you want to share? We’d love to hear about them — comment below!
Updates on ‘The Biscuit Babe’ Replacing Former D’s Soul Full in Hoboken
After 17 years, D’s Soul Full Cafe announced its closure in May 2023 at 918 Willow Avenue in Hoboken. We got word shortly after that a new spot was filling the space. ‘The Biscuit Babe’ is the new exterior signage that appeared on Willow in its place. Although specific details regarding the menu and opening date are limited, the restaurant’s Instagram photos focus on serving breakfast, brunch, and biscuits. Over a year after putting signage up on Willow Avenue, The Biscuit Babe has revealed new signage in the space. Read on for details Biscuit Babe coming to Hoboken, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Buseck
The Biscuit Babe — Coming Soon
In December 2023, locals noticed the signage up at 918 Willow Avenue saying, “The Biscuit Babe…Coming Soon” in big letters embossed on the glass. Several readers DMed us the news, as well as seeing it firsthand.
Read More: Jersey City Pizza Fest, Hoboken Mac + Cheese Fest Happening This Spring
We did a little recon, and while scarce details were available, the company’s Instagram, @thebiscuitbabe, shared its first post on Thursday, November 30th, “Hoboken are you ready? We are so excited to service you! Stay tuned.”
More research led us to the company’s LLC — publicly registered in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services as 'The Biscuit Babe LLC' — which names Nichola Hing as the registrant in June 2023.
The name is seemingly familiar, as it's almost identical to Nikhol Hing, who is a former Love and Hip Hop reality star, and women's clothing brand.
The Hoboken Girl has reached out for comment via Instagram on what to expect from the new spot as well as more about the owners — this post will be updated with any further details.
Update as of May 22nd, 2024
Earlier this week, members of Team HG walked passed 918 Willow Avenue and noticed that construction is underway at the site. The Biscuit Babe signage is, at present, not on the window. Here's what we saw:
Updates as of February 4th, 2025
New signage for The Biscuit Babe has been revealed on Willow Avenue, different from the previous signage. Here's what Team HG saw when we walked by:
The Locale’s Backstory
While details remain limited about the specifics of the menu and opening date, the name alone conjures visions of warm buttery biscuits and Southern-inspired fare.
A few photos on its Instagram showcase images of biscuits, coffee, and french toast. One caption under a photo states, “Brunch, breakfast, and biscuits baby,” hinting at upcoming menu items and the outpost being a breakfast spot.
D’s Soul Full Cafe, the restaurant previously in 918 Willow’s location, served comfort food and had been a local favorite in Hoboken for 17 years before its closure in May 2023. Owner Stephen Bailey previously shared with The Hoboken Girl back in 2019 that the restaurant has a varied tenant history. Longtime Hoboken residents may recall that the space was once home to the former Bagel Smashery in 2002. This bagel shop’s Willow Avenue location soon changed its name to Josh + Ive’s, and slowly began to evolve into more of a sandwich shop over time.
The shop was sold to Dwight Thompson (the D in D’s) in 2006, who had big plans for the menu. After a few years of expanding the menu to breakfast burritos, specialty subs, wraps, and more, Dwight decided to change the name and make it his own officially.
In 2010, D’s Soul Full Cafe was born. The following year, Stephen Bailey bought the shop and worked with Dwight and their longtime teammate Howard Jones to “push the boundaries of comfort food in Hoboken.”
The restaurant also continuously supported local artists and musicians by offering its storefront for performing songs and walls for hanging art. The idea behind this concept was through Stephen’s belief that art and music are as important as food to the survival of the human spirit.
See More: Carrello Di Cannoli Soft Opens ‘The Cannoli Shop’ in Fairfield
Although no additional details have been disclosed regarding the new establishment coming to Hoboken just yet — stay tuned to the company’s Instagram.
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