“How’s that eggplant parm?”
“Try some…”
“Whoa, that’s really good.”
Tasting is believing, and when I first bit into the eggplant parm at Rosticeria Da Gigi, I became a believer.
In a prime location on Hoboken’s Washington Street, Rosticeria Da Gigi serves up Italian and American dishes of the highest quality. And the prices are a blast from the past.
“What’s up boys?” I called to my friends Tim, Matt and Jim* as I plopped down. After a tough workout and long sauna session last Saturday, it was time to relax.
We quietly perused the extensive menu. I nearly got the papardelle with wild mushrooms…surely an umami tour de force.
“I think we’re going to need another minute,” Tim told the waitress as he scoured the menu with Talmudic intensity.
“I’ll have the eggplant parm with spaghetti,” I exclaimed. Who was I kidding? I was destined for eggplant parm all along.
“Ham and brie sandwich,” Tim ordered. Classy.
“I gotta have the meatball parm sub,” Matt said. Neither he nor I could budge from our favorite order.
Jim went with chicken parm. Traditional, yet somehow always still special.
We relaxed, chatting and laughing, all the while pregnant with anticipation. As wonderful as seeing new photos of my friend Jim’s son was, I knew the man I really wanted to see was Mr. Parmesan.
A hush fell over the table. The first plate was coming out.
First was Tim’s brie sandwich. Then the chicken…
Matt grinned as the massive meatball parm sub landed with a thud in front of him.
Ahhh….my eggplant.
I cut through layer after layer of beautifully breaded aubergine, stabbing them with my fork and mopping up red sauce. A triumph.
On to the macaroni…
The side of spaghetti is no afterthought at Da Gigi. The pasta is al dente, the sauce so deeply redolent of tomato you can almost taste the sun.
And the cheese! The thick slab of mozzarella atop my eggplant is the best I’ve had on any parm anywhere.
“Would you like extra parmesan?”
“Yes please.” Why not double my money?
I dug deep into the endless pile of eggplant. There was no giving up now!
Having undone my entire workout, I sat back contented. Da Gigi had done it again — an outstanding meal.
“Look at the bill.”
“How is it $56 for four people?”
Unlike many restaurants today, Da Gigi won’t hurt your pocketbook. The prices are modest, as if from another era.
I left extra tip for the energetic waitress, who seems to be in constant motion. At this table, you’ll want for nothing.
Rosticeria Da Gigi is open 7 days a week from morning till late. In addition to Italian specialties, they serve a lovely breakfast all day.
Stop in for some of the best Italian food in Hoboken!
What’s your favorite Italian restaurant? Leave a comment and let us know!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
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More on food:
Miznon: The Professors of Pita
Mouthwatering Mexican For the Rest of Us at Jajaja
Noodles Galore at Tengri Tagh Uyghur Cuisine
*Names have been changed to protect those guilty of overindulgence in Italian food. 🙂
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