Day Boat Scallops. Photo by Eat with Dan
VB3 is Chef Michael Colletti’s take on modern seasonal Italian cuisine. The New Jersey native is taking the familiar food of his grandparents and father, who emigrated from Sicily, and giving it a modern twist. The results will please both the local crowd and guests of the adjoining Westin and Doubletree hotels.
Located in the Newport section of downtown Jersey City, VB3 offers unpretentious food in a trendy yet comfortable space. With a resumé featuring stints at Le Cirque and Mai House in New York City and Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, DC, Chef Colletti crafts seasonal ingredients into comforting dishes.
While the appetizer list offers creative options, a solid choice is the Antipasto Board, a mouthwatering display of Italian cheeses and cold cuts, house-cured olives and pickled vegetables. Artisanal pizzas are another smart option with the Crispy Guanciale version with ramps, eggs and Parmigiano-Reggiano a top contender and perfect for sharing.
The pastas are exceptional and a must-try is the House-Made Ricotta Gnudi – melt-in-your-mouth, pillowy and perhaps the best rendition I’ve had with its light, flavorful basil-infused tomato sauce.
Ricotta Gnudi. Photo by Eat with Dan
The entrée selections are tempting and the Day Boat Scallops, with fennel, Sicilian cara cara oranges, cured black olives and citronette and the Berkshire Pork Belly served with Swiss chard, hedgehog mushrooms and watermelon agro dolce are winners. Chef Colletti is a Food Network burger competition winner so take the opportunity to order the VB3 Burger which is topped with Biellese pancetta, provolone, egg, ramp aioli and served with herbed fries.
The large bar with its orange ‘lava’ countertop and the dining room with its comfortable banquettes attract a hip happy hour crowd from adjacent hotels and local companies. A fun cocktail is the “Fig”etaboutit, a blend of bourbon, vodka, fresh lemon juice, Amaretto and Angostura bitters.
VB3 is located on the ground floor of the Monaco building and is well worth a visit to trendy Jersey City.
475 Washington Blvd.
Jersey City
201-420-4823
Monday – Saturday Lunch – 11AM to 4PM. Dinner – 4PM to 12PM
Sunday brunch – 11AM to 3PM. Dinner 5PM to 10:30PM
Lounge is open Friday and Saturday from 12AM to 3AM
Happy Hour – Monday – Friday 5PM to 7PM
[…] into one of Northern New Jersey’s trendiest lounges at night. I’ve written about award-winning Chef Michael Colletti in the past, and love dining on his comforting, delicious […]