Hoboken can be an expensive place to live… but it doesn’t have to be! In High Life, Low Budget, a new column on HobokenGirl, local author {and former Hoboken Girl of the Week}, Lia Romeo offers tips and tricks on how to live luxe without spending big bucks in Hoboken and NYC. Whether you’re paying off student loans, working a job you love but that doesn’t pay much, or saving up for a house or a baby, High Life, Low Budget can help you enjoy the best of the New York area without breaking the bank!
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It’s really, really easy to just hole up at home in January and February. The holidays are over, it’s cold and miserable outside, and, especially if you’re trying not to spend too much money, it can be really tempting to spend two months eating in and watching Netflix.
But you know what’s a lot more fun?
…Going out.
So, here’s a list of deals and bargains for a fun night out in Hoboken… any night of the week. NB: All of these “date night” ideas work just as well – or better – with a group of friends, so if you’re flying solo this winter, grab your girlfriends and hit the town!
MONDAY:
Mondays are a slow night for restaurants, which means some great specials are available. Hit up Turtle Club for half off their entire food menu {I’m a big fan of the baked brie}. If you want a pre- {or post-} dinner drink, The Ale House is nearby and offers half-price glasses of wine Monday nights.
WEDNESDAY:
^ Tuesdays for the Tacos, Wednesdays for the Sushi
Hump Day is a little less awful when you know you can look forward to buy one, get one free sushi rolls at Las Olas. If you sit at the bar, you can also take advantage of their excellent happy hour till 8 pm – $3 beers, $4 wells, and $5 glasses of wine. Did I also mention they have $2 Taco Tuesdays EVERY week? Yasssss.
THURSDAY:
For a fun, upscale night out, Teak on the Hudson is 50% off a lot of the menu on Thursdays, meaning you can get tasty specialty rolls like the Hoboken Roll {shrimp tempura, avocado and eel} for just $7. This is a great spot to meet friends or a date coming in from the city, since it’s right near the PATH. Afterwards – if it’s not too frigid – stroll around Pier A and check out the skyline.
FRIDAY:
Matt & Meera’s Indian Fusion ^
It’s tough to find dinner specials on a Friday, but you can always save money by going BYOB! Some of my favorite cheap-but-cute spots to bring a bottle include Johnny Pepperoni (their delicious specialty pizzas are under $20 and serve at least three), Matt and Meera (interesting Indian fusion food), and Pho Nomenon {awesome Vietnamese noodle for under $10}. Afterwards, hit up The Brass Rail for late night happy hour {$5 mixed drinks after 11 pm}.
SATURDAY:
It’s hard to make it to Amanda’s in time for the early dinner special on weeknights… which is a shame, because it’s one of the best deals in town for a romantic evening. Amanda’s offers seatings at 5:00 and 5:30 {so eat a light lunch!} for a three-course dinner in a cozy, beautifully-decorated restaurant six nights a week – including Saturdays – for just $17 per person, along with $20 bottles of any house wine.
SUNDAY:
If you haven’t yet tried The CuBan, you’re missing out… some of the best food in Hoboken {the New York Times agrees!}. But it can get pricey, so try it out on a Sunday afternoon, where from 3-6 pm all of the cocktails on their inventive list are just $5, and most of their delicious appetizers are half off (I’m partial to the incredibly fresh ceviche de cameron). There’s also live Cuban jazz. Order a few things to share and enjoy!
Have any other suggestions? Or, if you’re a local business, do you have a great “date night” deal you want to share? We’d love to hear about them — comment below!
