Only a decade or less ago, the west side of Hoboken was a much less happening place when it came to commercial retail — with only a few local businesses setting up shop off the beaten path. As of the past few years, however, it has grown in its range of restaurants available to residents and visitors {and the Monroe Center is a cultural and local community center that is visited by so many in our area}.
On the food side, the scene is still growing, but there are some eateries that have come to light as hidden gems {and are worth the trek, from whatever part of town you’re in}. A not-so-secret spot for residents of West Hoboken, but perhaps off the radar for some, is Panello. Panello is an Italian restaurant with a cozy neighborhood feel and wood-fired oven. Here’s more about this local BYOB Italian spot, located on the ground level of 720 Monroe Street in the Monroe Center in Hoboken:
Panello’s Backstory
Iggy and Frieda Sciancalepore opened Pannello, gracing us with quality Italian food in the back of Hoboken — and adding to the growing Monroe Center retail scene.
Having come from three decades of owning a cookware cheese shop in Englewood and being the original owners of LaRustique in Jersey City, this isn’t the Sciancalepores’ first rodeo, lucky for us. Their passion for fresh, simple, and authentic Italian food in Hoboken does not go unnoticed.
See More: Augustino’s: Hoboken’s Legendary Italian Restaurant
What’s on the Menu
But onto the important stuff: the menu. It’s in Italian, btw, which adds to the charm and authenticity. But the food truly speaks for itself.
First things first — the bread basket. This isn’t your average one, promise. Here’s why:
Frieda, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute for baking, has a major passion for the fine art of bread baking — making crusted hearty loaves of pain au levain and serving them up with olive oil pre-meal.
“We make Neapolitan traditional light disks of flavorful dough,” she shares {hence the “panello” namesake}, noting that she continues to perfect her craft of extracting authentic Italian flavors in her breads. And boy are they out of this world, especially for the hungry diner who can’t wait to start noshing.
Handcrafted salads, fresh pizza, delectable pastas, and small plates are the focus of Chef Iggy’s menu. He is also a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and worked as a Sous-Chef in Manhattan for years. Now, you can find him whipping up freshly-made pasta and pizzas for the community.
A few other must-tries {besides the specials, which are updated nightly} are the spinach gnocchi, beet + honey goat cheese salad, the tortellini, and the branzino. You won’t be disappointed with any of the piatti picolini, promise.
Beyond the Menu
Now if you’ve dined here before, you’ve probably noticed a very happy sight: the Le Panyol Oven, in the middle of the open kitchen. This is where the pizza is made, and it really adds to the homey vibes that the space gives to its patrons.
The space also hosts bridal and baby showers on the regular — a perfect mix of cozy but industrial-chic vibes for any type of event.
As far as the staff, they are incredibly friendly and accommodating — even on a busy night. Panello is kid-friendly and families can be seen all around the restaurant on any given day.
Read More: The Coziest Restaurants in Hoboken and Jersey City
Hours
Panello’s hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday 5:30PM-10:00PM and Sunday 5:00PM-9:00PM, with takeout as an option too. If you’ve forgotten your wine, Cheese + Wine is right next door to help you pair the best bottle with your meal.
But the best part: they have parking behind the Monroe Center!
Hoboken restaurant + parking? There’s nothing better {except for delicious food made with love — which is definitely found at Panello, too}.
Have you been to Panello? What’s your favorite dish? Let us know in the comments!
