In 2015, La Isla opened its second location in uptown Hoboken. The 100-seat space was much larger than its downtown counterpart and was a fan-favorite amongst uptown Hobokenites. Last month, we reported that La Isla Uptown officially closed its doors on Sunday, April 9th, leaving many locals to wonder what would take over the 25 12th Street outpost, and now we’ve got answers. A new restaurant called Martha’s is making its way to Hoboken from the team behind North Bergen eatery Harry’s Food + Drink. The new restaurant will be an “intimate New American restaurant and bar,” with a menu expanding on the eats already served at Harry’s. Read on for what we know about Martha’s, the new restaurant taking over the former La Isla location at 25 12th Street in Hoboken.
La Isla Uptown’s Closure
On March 29th, La Isla took to Instagram to share that it will close the doors to its Uptown location at 25th 12th Street. See the Instagram post below.
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Accordingly, the decision to close was “primarily driven by quality-of-life concerns.” The owners want the opportunity to “step out gracefully and on a high note.”
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This iconic Cuban restaurant continues to serve up delicious eats at its downtown location, 104 Washington Street. La Isla’s owners said they are “committed to enhancing [La Isla’s] legacy and ensuring that it remains a go-to destination for years to come.”
La Isla Uptown invited local residents to join them at 25 12th Street before the doors officially closed on Sunday, April 9th. Now, we have word on what will be replacing this uptown staple: a new American restaurant called Martha’s.
All About Martha’s
Nestled on the corner of 81st Street in North Bergen sits Harry’s Food + Drink, a cozy American restaurant with shareable eats and a full bar. Per Harry’s website, this spot is a “neighborhood place for leisurely lunches with friends, family dinners, and late-night cocktails,” and apparently, the neighborhood is expanding. The team behind Harry’s is officially making its way to the Mile Square, this time as a project called Martha’s.
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Like Harry’s, Martha’s will be a “New America restaurant and bar,” located in the former La Isla uptown location at 25 12th Street. This new spot will expand on Harry’s menu, serving “reinterpreted classic dishes [that are] thoughtfully prepared,” alongside “a curated beverage program of wine, craft beer, and signature cocktails.” The kitchen team will be led by Executive Chef Franco Dominguez, who will draw influence from “his years of training…at top NYC dining destinations including the Atlantic Grill, Buddakan, and The Standard.”
The restaurateur behind Harry’s and Martha’s, Alex Cabrera, told HG that Martha’s is named after his mother-in-law, “a strong, fierce woman who’s always ready to lend a hand.” A happy coincidence, Alex said that he + his team liked the name even more when they learned about “Martha Bayard, the matriarch of Hoboken who made so many significant contributions to the community.” Read our article from the archives about Martha.
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While the team did not confirm an opening date with The Hoboken Girl, it did share that Martha’s will open with dinner service first, then roll out its lunch + weekend brunch service. You can follow Martha’s on Instagram here, and as always, we’ll keep you up to date as details unfold.
