Arancini
Set in the heart of Jersey City’s Newport section, VB3 transforms from a stylish restaurant for lunch and dinner, 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 food.
Gnudi
On a recent visit, my party started with the mouth-watering Wild Mushrooms Pizza, the Arancini and the House-Made Ricotta Gnudi. The pizza at VB3 is simply amazing and shows the skills Colletti acquired working a pizza oven since the early stages of his career. The version we tried showcases tangy Pecorino, woodsy mushrooms, truffle and thyme. The arancini are what I’d want my Italian mamma to fix me for Sunday dinner if I had an Italian mamma – crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside with dreamy sauce. What can I say about the ricotta gnudi besides that I’ve had it every time I’ve visited VB3 and it’s divine? The light-as-a-feather, melt-in-your-mouth, pillowy-soft gnudi are served with a light, basil-infused tomato sauce that will sure cause any diners to have dreams of the next bowl.
Berkshire Pork Chop
Fortunate for us, Chef Colletti was launching his fall/winter menu when we visited and the options are fab. We opted for the Berkshire Pork Chop, the Atlantic Salmon and the Hanger Steak. The pork chop was masterly cooked and served with warm fingerling potatoes, pancetta and a frisée salad. The salmon is served in a sizeable portion with sweet potato purée and toasted pumpkin seeds. The hanger steak was beefy and tender and paired with grilled asparagus and a tangy salsa verde.
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
For the first time since coming to VB3, we were tempted by the desserts. We sampled the Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with orange crema and the seasonal Fig Cheesecake. Both were outstanding.
VB3 offers a fresh, modern spin on classic Italian fare in a space that’s sexy and trendy yet comfortable.
VB3 – 475 Washington Blvd., Jersey City. 201-420-4823. www.vb3restaurant.com
Cheers!
Veronique
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