What

Lokal Jersey City is a new waterfront restaurant located in the space formerly occupied by Taphaus. Lokal’s owner — Jersey City resident Mona Panjwani — revamped the space, hired a new team, and launched a new restaurant from scratch. Jersey City Upfront was invited to dine at Lokal. (Our meal was complimentary).

Interior

Lokal is luxurious in every way possible. Designed by award-winning Abraham John Architects, the dining area accommodates about 200 guests and features floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the New York skyline. Tables/chairs are arranged so that every diner faces the skyline and they’re also spread out evenly so you’re not bumping elbows with other diners. Lokal features a large bar area, communal tables up front, and an indoor lounge area (in the back). Music is kept at a low level and the overall ambiance is sophisticated, without being stuffy.

The Menu

Helming the kitchen at Lokal is executive chef Walter Donadio. Donadio is a Michelin star kitchen trained chef who has worked at Nobu Fifty Seven, Le Cirque, and other notable restaurants. For Lokal, Donadio has created a menu that combines flavors from different cuisines. It includes dishes like Pan Con Tomate (a Spanish classic) alongside entrees like the Korean-influenced Gochujang Rock Shrimp. You’ll also find some Mediterranean influence with the homemade hummus platter and plenty of Italian touches with dishes like Crab Risotto and Pappardelle. The menu is divided into soups/salads ($9 to $19), small plates ($7 to $21), and large plates ($16 to $27).

We Loved

The ambiance and service at Lokal are above average for Jersey City. From the hostess to the bartenders — everyone is eager to answer questions and make recommendations should you need them. The cocktail program at Lokal is also very impressive. Drinks are expertly crafted with flavors that balance and compliment each other. (We loved the Elliott Stubb and Jerry Thomas). In terms of the food, our favorite dishes were the Pan-Seared Scallops, which were perfectly seared and offered just the right amount of sweetness. The Braised Short Ribs were also flavorful and so tender you could shred the meat with a fork. The accompanying chestnut mushrooms gave the dish an earthy flavor. We also love that Lokal has no TVs (finally a restaurant that’s not blasting sports).

Could Be Better

We get it: Sourcing local ingredients isn’t cheap. And we love it when restaurants source locally, but be warned that the portions at Lokal are small. In fact, at times it was hard to tell the difference between Lokal’s “small plates” and “large plates.” And while I’m a huge fan of Lokal’s cocktail menu — every now and then I like a bottle of wine. However, Lokal’s wine list only has one bottle priced in the $30s (a $35 rosé) and their least-expensive bottle of red is $50. Certain dishes like the Crab Risotto had the faintest flavor of their main ingredient (in this case crab). Meanwhile, the Pappardelle had no texture and the presentation wasn’t on par with the plating of our other entrees.

Final Take

Lokal brings fine-dining to the Jersey City waterfront (sans the frat crowd). Service and cocktails are impeccable, but there are still a few dishes that could be refined to match their asking price. There’s a happy hour special where you can get three small plates for $19, which might be the better deal if you’re looking to try multiple dishes.

Lokal | 2 Second Street