Edgewater is home to a new restaurant, Taverna Veranda, located at 725 River Road. Run by three owners who each have years of experience in the hospitality industry, this new Greek locale is now open to the public.
^ The interior design with flowers by Floratorium shop
(Photo credit: Eroula Dimitriou)
How Taverna Came About
Taverna Veranda is owned by Constantine Youssis, Moutaz Ali, and Aldo Mo. Constantine and Moutaz opened the first Veranda in NYC in 2009, which became a popular lounge in the West Village before shutting down four years later. Now the three businessmen are focusing their time on getting the Edgewater Taverna up and running.
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“We were initially looking at the pier next to this one where the Orama space was and initially didn’t look at this location as we thought it would be expensive to convert the old Chase bank into a restaurant,” Constantine tells Hoboken Girl. “After Orama fell through we took a second look and fell in love with this location.”
^ Octopus
(Photo credit: Eroula Dimitriou)
Despite some friendly competition with other nearby Greek restaurants, including Molos, Taverna, Lulu Lounge, and Bistro, the co-owner explains what sets the eatery apart.
“I’d call us an elevated Mediterranean taverna experience with a splash of Arabic flavor. The food, service, cocktails, ambiance, and the view will set us apart,” Constantine says.
The Mediterranean Menu
The kitchen is run by Executive Chef Nestor Moina, who previously operated the kitchen at Pergola in NYC with Constantine and Moutaz since 2014. The focus is on serving “Mediterranean comfort food with an occasional contemporary twist.”
^ Lobster pasta complemented with white wine and a lobster tail
(Photo credit: Eroula Dimitriou)
Hoboken Girl got a sneak peek of what the menu will entail prior to the opening. Appetizers include stuffed mini peppers with vegetable rice, saganaki with kefalotiri (fried cheese), chicken wings with roasted pepper aioli, and spinach pie rolls.
The delicious entrees will include a lamb burger with goat cheese, short rib braised in tomato sauce, lobster pasta, lobster gyros, falafel crusted salmon with mint yogurt, chicken shawarma, and moussaka. There will be a grilled menu featuring Alaskan King crab, octopus, chicken kebab, and lamb chops. Taverna will also have an assortment of dips, salads, and desserts.
^ Alaskan King Crab with ladolemono dressing, diced tomatoes, and cucumbers
(Photo credit: Eroula Dimitriou)
Having received a liquor license, Taverna Veranda has an extensive wine menu with over 100 wines by the bottle from Greece, Lebanon, Cyprus, Italy, France, and the Napa Valley. There are also specialty cocktails with catchy names like Never Too Old To Be Sexy, Life Is Too Short and the Putin Has Nothing On This Mule.
^ Lamb Chops
(Photo credit: Eroula Dimitriou)
The interior has whitewashed brick walls, polished concrete floors, cast iron planters with lush greenery throughout, as well as reclaimed wood on accent walls.
Fun fact: Taverna Veranda’s bar was made from an entire tree, and its solid walnut tables wrapped in cast-iron are spread out across the dining room floor with chairs to match, creating an inviting space overlooking the Hudson River.
Guests of the new restaurant will have the option of dining in the 3,000 square feet indoor space or being seated on the outdoor patio with amazing views of the New York City skyline.
^ View of NYC from inside the restaurant
(Photo credit: Eroula Dimitriou)
The restaurant will be open for dinner service seven days a week from 5PM to 11:30PM. Lunch and brunch service will be something Taverna will have down the road.
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“There is only so much waterfront that overlooks Manhattan, so we think we will get a wide following once the word gets out,” Constantine, whose family runs Sofia’s Mediterranean Grill in Hasbrouck Heights, says of the trendy new dig. “If I were going out in NJ, I would definitely want to come to eat here.”
For the latest updates, follow Taverna Veranda on Instagram found here.
