Hoboken native and local restaurant owner, Ralph Gallo, has yet another endeavor on his plate. Next door to his original pizzeria, Hot House Pizza, perched on the corner of 2nd and Monroe {606 2nd Street} is Hoboken’s newest Italian coffee shop, Café Sophia {which took over the space of Hoboken Hot House}. Locals in this area have been asking for a neighborhood face-lift and luckily enough, Café Sophia is officially opening this weekend. We recently got a peek inside and we’re sharing all the deets with you:
We are getting all of the {local} feels, inside and out from Ralph and his family, who have been in Hoboken for three generations. Starting Hot House Pizza nearly four years ago, Ralph’s love for his neighborhood lead him to open shop again. Naming the place after his seven-month-old daughter, Sophia Rose {SO cute!} the café features Lavazza coffee and a sweet and savory menu of paninis, salads, sandwiches, and croissants.
The robust flavors of the coffee and espresso are smooth and not-your-average cup of joe. We can already tell it’s a great downtown/off-the-beaten-path spot to grab a cappuccino in the morning or swing by for lunch and a latte in the afternoon should you live in SW Hoboken. The perfect coffee is in both the beans and the hands of the barista where hot and cold drinks are carefully crafted.
READ: Prato Bakery Opens Its Second Location in Hoboken
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, too, Café Sophia has quite the spread of breakfast and lunch plates. First things first, all of the bread used in the café comes straight from Dom’s Bakery, a true Hoboken staple. From egg sandwiches to croissants to specialty paninis, these sweet and savory treats are made fresh to order. The Nutella Croissant is a must try and a favorite of Ralph’s — ummm, yes plz. In the fall, the café plans to try out Black Board Dinners on Friday and Saturday nights — a small, select menu of Italian plates in the comfort of the café and private backyard area.
Words can’t espresso our excitement over the fact that Café Sophia has been working with {local} businesses to create new space with a Hudson County touch. Case-in-point{s}: Letter By Laura, {a local Jersey City artist} handcrafted the window displays and menus while Dom’s Bakery supplies the bread. But, Ralph didn’t stop there — to construct the organic and rustic interior, he enlisted the help of other local shops such as General Lumber, Keller Electric, and C&M Floors, all located in Hoboken. Ralph is quite handy, too. Owning his own local construction business has allowed him to add some of his personal touches to the storefront as well.
See More: Luna Jersey City: Authentic Italian Fare With a Jersey City Twist
Café Sophia is officially opening on Friday, August 3rd at 7:00AM— so be sure to stop in for an Americano and grab a bite to eat on your way to work to start the weekend right. Then for dinner, swing around back to Hot House Pizza for a homemade pie in the private backyard dining area. Ralph is all about family, friends, food, and fun and there’s nothing better than that.
Will you be checking out Café Sophia this weekend?
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