Sushi Lounge: Spirits in the Sixth Borough

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.

I know what you’re going to say. “Hey Link, how many bars are left to review in Hoboken?” Well friends, you would be surprised because this town is packed! This week we focus on another standout restaurant-bar combination. And unlike other restaurants that may have a free standing bar, this joint goes above and beyond to create a modern bar atmosphere paired with its already stellar eatery offerings, making “Sushi Lounge” the subject of this week’s ‘Spirits in the Sixth Borough.’

Sushi Lounge looks like no other Japanese restaurant that you may find while wondering Washington Street. The exterior has the appearance of a standard pub, making it attractive to the drinker’s eye. It also doesn’t hurt that during the summer months, the spot offers up some prime outdoor seating, perfect for people watching while enjoying your meal and beverage.

Take a stroll inside for a different experience altogether. And, yes I mean the bar. The owners and management of Sushi Lounge have painstakingly created an atmosphere which competes with the upscale spots up the street, catering to the lounge crowd. The bar is very well stocked, featuring top shelf bottles and highly drinkable beer. The space is seamlessly connected to a well maintained sushi bar rolling up some stellar rolls. In fact, if you can squeeze in here a little on the early side, on Monday through Thursday, guests can enjoy selected items at half price (from 3-6:30pm). This includes mixology style cocktails like the “Pomegranate Dragon” or attractive sushi fare like the “Birds of Paradise Roll.” So the next time you jump off the PATH train, take a stroll along the water and grab some high grade raw fish paired with some killer cocktails. Did I mention they have wasabi peas on the bar? And, as you know I love bar snacks.

So here’s the rundown…

Preconceived notion – Upscale sushi restaurant that happens to have a bar.

Bar Type – Seamless marriage of restaurant and well stocked bar.

Crowd stereotype – Twenty and thirty somethings looking for a solid Japanese cuisine and potentially some drinks.

Music – Current hits placed at a low volume, at least while we were there. Most of the time they have DJs spinning top 40 jams to keep the eaters and drinkers moving!

Value – Half price select items, Monday – Thursday from 3-6:30pm

Good for a….

Date – Yes! Treat that longtime girlfriend or first date to a night out here. Footnote: make sure she like sushi first.

Hookup – Since people are eating, I would save that for the nearby bars.

Dance – See “Hookup.” The same rules apply here.

Catch up with a friend – Yes, definitely.

First or last drink of the night – Go with your first. Start your night here with some great values and good eats.

Overall – It’s often impossible to perfectly pair a bar with a restaurant. But with a modern atmosphere and tasty eats, Sushi Lounge is a Hoboken spot that should be on your map for killing two birds with one stone. Whether coming in solely for dinner, or grabbing a couple of pops at the bar before heading out, the place lends itself to both. It’s just a step under one of the neighborhood’s finest lounges, but you won’t need to put on black shoes to get in here. 8.8.

-Link Cromwell

Completed Bars
Introduction
Halfway
Marathon Recap
Northern Soul – 9.3/10
Pilsner Haus and Biergarten – 9.3/10
The Clinton Social – 9.1/10
Cooper’s Union – 9.0/10
Green Rock Bar – 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
The Chandelier Room – 8.9/10
10th & Willow – 8.8/10
3 Forty Grill – 8.8/10
Elysian Cafe – 8.8/10
Grimaldi’s – 8.8/10
Madison Bar & Grill – 8.8/10
City Bistro – 8.7/10
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
Trinity – 8.1/10
Cucharamama – 8.0/10
Marty O’Brien’s Social Club – 8.0/10
The Dubliner – 8.0/10
East LA – 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
The Melting Pot – 7.1/10
Tutta Pasta – 7.1/10
Sushi House – 7.0/10
Wilton House – 6.0/10

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