Everyone loves a well-crafted cocktail, but every now and then it’s nice to give your wallet a break. BYOB Pick of the Week is your guide to the best BYOB restaurants downtown has to offer complete with entree recommendations and drool-worthy food pics.
Downtown Jersey City has no shortage of pizza establishments, but one restaurant that has passed the test of time is Rustique. The BYOB-friendly restaurant offers one of the best Sicilian pies you can find along with a solid assortment of Italian dishes.
The must-have item at Rustique is the Sicilian pie, which is thick and soft on the inside and with a wall of crunchy crust along the exterior. It’s not a cheesy pie, so if you like more cheese than tomato sauce, you’ll definitely want to double down on the mozz.
Excluding the pizzas, Rustique also offers an amazing mac ‘n’ cheese made with mozzarella, Parmesan, Fontina, Pecorino, pancetta, garlic, and breadcrumbs. For a slightly lighter entree, the cheese ravioli are generously filled, and topped with a marinara sauce that pairs well with Rustique’s fresh baked bread.
As for dessert, the homemade tiramisu is perfectly light and fluffy while the heavier Brooklyn-style cheesecake is made with ricotta cheese.
Side note, there aren’t many wine shops nearby, so don’t forget to bring your bottle. Otherwise, your nearest shop is Madame Claude Wine on 234 Pavonia Avenue, which is roughly 5 blocks away.
Rustique | 611 Jersey Avenue (on corner of 5th Street)
