LocalBozo.com has sent one of our correspondents out for some field research, as our own Link Cromwell attempts to bar crawl his way through Hoboken, New Jersey- just a stone’s throw away from Manhattan. Check back for his adventures and travels every single Friday as LocalBozo.com attempts to do the unimaginable. And yes, it involves drinking.

Uptown Hoboken is a completely different animal than the bars and restaurants that surround the Path. There’s a certain refinement uptown that skews it to a crowd that is a bit older, a bit dressier, a bit more (gulp) sophisticated. For many years, City Bistro was the destination for Hoboken fine dining. Outsiders would routinely head toward the sixth borough, bringing with them dates for an upscale evening out with Hoboken’s uptown elite. While a bevy of new restaurants have emerged in the area, the quality of City Bistro hasn’t diminished even a little, and in fact, with some recent renovations, City Bistro is perhaps the most versatile destination in all of Hoboken.

If you don’t live near City Bistro, a maximum $5 cab ride will get you literally anywhere within the square mile, as I’m certain most any local resident will tell you. During the early happy hour of a weeknight, the number of dining patrons inside City Bistro is relatively sparse. It’s early and city workers and reverse commuters are still making their way back to the borough. Good thing that the half off every-bar-item Happy Hour runs on weeknights until 8pm, so you can run the gamut from wines to beers to booze. A couple of cocktails, glasses of pinot, and pours of Shocktop later, and after our bill is literally sliced in half, we’re onto our next spot for the evening. While we didn’t sit at a table to dine on this night, rest assured, the aforementioned dining experience that we described earlier was a history lesson in eating at one of Hoboken’s best all around spots. And as the weather warms up, the incredible rooftop view atop City Bistro provides some of the area’s finest perspectives of the local city and New York City skyline.

So here’s the rundown…

Preconceived notion – It’s been a few years since I’ve been to City Bistro. After having had a dinner date here years ago, the place was primarily a fantastic place to have an intimate dinner.

Bar Type – To outsiders, Hoboken’s most well known fine dining establishment. To locals, a spot with really good food and a ton of beers on tap.

Crowd stereotype – Mostly late 20’s and early 30’s types at the bar, and sporadic same aged diners- but admittedly, we were there too early.

Music – The music was unnoticeable on this night

Value – Imagine. An entire bar. Where everything is half price. Only, you don’t need the Genie from Aladdin to make it happen.

Good for a….

Date – Look at this! An actual place where we recommend bringing a date. An exceptional place with good food, a good bar scene, and a good atmosphere. Hope you live close by.

Hookup – With a random? Depends on the situation and circumstance. For a date? Good shot!

Dance – You may be able to get your swerve on, but again, the situation has to be right. Don’t just start dancing in the middle of a restaurant for no reason, idiot. Haven’t you been out in public before?

Catch up with a friend – Absolutely a great spot.

First or last drink of the night – Probably a place to start rather than finish, but go for it.

Overall – Although they’re undergoing a renovation, anyone can see the potential of the finished product. City Bistro has three levels, a great restaurant/bar on the first floor, a rapidly changing second floor, and a rooftop that rivals any sightline in the area. There’s big screens up there and with the right setting, City Bistro might just be the potential spot that turns New York City dwellers into resounding lovers of the Sixth Borough. A well deserved 8.7

-Link Cromwell

Completed Bars
Introduction
Halfway
Marathon Recap
Northern Soul – 9.3/10
The Clinton Social – 9.1/10
Cooper’s Union – 9.0/10
Havana Cafe – 9.0/10
The Turtle Club – 9.0/10
Bin 14 – 8.9/10
Court Street – 8.9/10
Hudson Tavern – 8.9/10
10th & Willow – 8.8/10
Elysian Cafe – 8.8/10
Grimaldi’s – 8.8/10
Madison Bar & Grill – 8.8/10
Cork City – 8.7/10
Onieals – 8.7/10
Village Pourhouse – 8.7/10
1 Republik – 8.6/10
Mikie Squared – 8.5/10
Wicked Wolf Tavern – 8.5/10
Zack’s Oak Bar – 8.5/10
Black Bear Bar & Grill – 8.4/10
Moran’s – 8.4/10
Arthur’s Tavern – 8.3/10
Oddfellows – 8.1/10
Cucharamama – 8.0/10
Marty O’Brien’s Social Club – 8.0/10
The Dubliner – 8.0/10
Scotland Yard – 7.9/10
The Shannon – 7.9/10
Carpe Diem – 7.9/10
Helmers’ – 7.9/10
Teak – 7.8/10
Mulligan’s – 7.7/10
Karma Kafe – 7.7/10
DC’s Tavern – 7.7/10
Louise & Jerry’s – 7.7/10
Brass Rail – 7.6/10
Hoboken Bar and Grill – 7.5/10
Four L’s – 7.5/10
Liberty Bar – 7.5/10
Texas Arizona – 7.5/10
McSwiggans – 7.4/10
Nag’s Head – 7.4/10
Eight Street Tavern – 7.3/10
Maggie’s Place – 7.3/10
Three A’s – 7.3/10
The Tilted Kilt – 7.3/10
Whiskey Bar- 7.3/10
The Quays – 7.2/10
Bahama Mama’s – 7.2/10
Willow Billiard Club & Lounge – 7.1/10
S. Sullivan’s – 7.1/10
Farside – 7.1/10
Gaslight – 7.0/10
Hobson’s Choice – 7.0/10
Rogo’s – 6.7/10
Railhead Bar – 6.0/10
Wilton House – 6.0/10