Under the Radar, Must-Have Seafood
If there was any doubt that the Jersey City dining scene is on fire, Razza’s recent writeup in The New York Times pretty much makes it official:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/dining/razza-pizza-review-jersey-city.html?mcubz=3&_r=0
Congrats to Razza on this well-deserved honor!
Throughout and beyond downtown, a string of buzzy new restaurants continue to pop up at a steady clip. Jersey City Eats http://jerseycityeats.blogspot.com/ is a great, up-to-the minute guide to what’s happening on the dining front and throughout the broader community as well.
With all this foodie fanfare, however, it can be easy to overlook some old-time dining gems in Jersey City. With this mission in mind - to find a great restaurant we have never heard of - we reached out to a local expert for help.
Joanna Garnett-Raeppold is a freelance food stylist, former catering director and chef who moved to Jersey City seventeen years ago. While getting her Masters in Food Studies at New York University, she created a business plan for Lucinda’s Burrito Truck. It was one of the first food trucks in the region, which she ran successfully until 2009.
She has been featured in The New York Times and Food and Wine Magazine and most recently worked as Catering Director for Nuchas, an artisanal empanada company based in North Bergen.
Joanna’s Pick: Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant
Why Morgan’s?
It’s a simple, delicious Egyptian seafood restaurant. It’s completely nondescript from the outside, and the inside is nothing to look at, believe me. It’s not trendy and there is no liquor license. But the food. It’s all about the food.
What is an Egyptian Seafood restaurant, exactly?
Basically, it’s super fresh seafood and middle eastern side dishes like hummus, baba ghanoush, tehena [tahini] and cucumber salad. That’s why my vegetarian friends love this place as much as I do.
What’s Your Favorite Dish?
I usually order the whole Branzino. I get it lightly fried, but you can order it baked if you want. But I go for the fry because it’s not oily, just super crispy and tasty. The presentation is beautiful and I get it with a side of perfectly-seasoned rice.
What About Dessert?
I try to leave room for the rice pudding. It’s heavenly.
Other Dishes You Recommend?
The shrimp, which come in this unbelievably fresh, herby green sauce that I have been trying to replicate in my own kitchen. The large prawns, which come with their heads still on, is another of my favorites.
Best Time to Go?
Anytime, really. I stop in for lunch regularly and my husband and I will grab dinner here about once a month. There’s never much of a wait, to be honest. But if there was, it would be well worth it.
Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant is located at 2801 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. They are open 7 days a week, from 12pm to 12am. Morghan’s has no website, but you can call them at 201-792-2400.