Three words —fresh, warm, pizza. If there’s one thing Hobokenites take seriously, it’s their pizza. Whether it’s woodfired, traditional, massive (see Benny’s), or vegan, we take our pizza slices to heart — and stomach. The Brick, located at 1122 Washington Street, is one local pizzeria that has taken its pizza game up a notch by launching a brand new, full vegan menu. Here’s a peek at what’s available to order on the new menu, according to our vegan contributor Jen Gonzalez.
The Brick, an Uptown Italian Spot
The Brick is known for the fresh ingredients that are used in its pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. Now, the restaurant will also be known for the fresh and vegan ingredients it uses in its brand new, full vegan menu (complete with starters, salads, pizza, sandwiches, entrees, sides, and desserts). Plus, the restaurant even makes its own vegan mozzarella cheese from cashews — #score.
Read More: The Best Hoboken Pizza Spots, According to Your Cravings
What’s on the Menu
Starters consist of Brussel sprouts, vegan and gluten-free mozzarella sticks, asparagus fries, eggplant bruschetta, buffalo flowers, and more — we’re not drooling, you are.
While the salad menu in a typical Italian restaurant generally consists of a basic starter salad with Italian dressing (generally vegan), a Caesar salad (never vegan), maybe a Greek salad (this non-Italian salad is generally not vegan), and Caprese salad (not vegan), the Brick follows suit with entree size vegan version of the Caesar, Caprese, and Greek salads.
The restaurant also offers the Vegan Brick Salad, which contains a fresh mix of greens, grape tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, kalamata olives, vegan mutz, served with homemade vegan ranch. Oh, and the vegan chopped salad contains crispy romaine, roasted red peppers, chickpeas, red onions, kalamata olives, marinated tofu feta cheese, and homemade vegan red wine vinaigrette — cue the drool.
The Pizza — and Yes, That’d Be VEGAN Pizza
(Photo credit: @the_brick_hoboken)
Now for the main star of this show — the pizza. While you can never go wrong with The Brick’s vegan Margherita and classic cheese pizza, a must-try pie on the menu is the BBQ Pulled Pork (not actual pork), made with pulled young jackfruit and red onions, sautéed in BBQ sauce, and all topped with cilantro and lime juice. Each of the restaurant’s six pies can be made gluten-free upon request, too.
Other pies to consider are the vegetarian white pizza and vegetarian Sicilian pie.
See More: Torna’s Pizzeria: A 9th Street Pizza Staple
Aside from pizza, The Brick is covering all of its vegan bases offering classic sandwiches like a vegan meatball parmesan sub and sausage peppers and onions parmesan hero. Vegan entrees include baked penne, spaghetti, and Beyond Meatballs, gluten-free eggplant parmesan, gluten-free sausage, and broccoli rabe, and meatloaf.
Last but not least, dessert. The menu finishes strong with vegan desserts. The Napoleon cream pastry is a flaky puff pastry filled with creamy vegan custard. Good luck choosing between that and the chocolate strawberry shortcake or chocolate fudge cake!
