The pandemic is forcing many restaurants to reinvent themselves. Some are doubling down on delivery, whereas others are re-imagining their menus. Jersey Social falls into the latter category. Thanks in part to its new executive chef, pastry chef, and general manager — Jersey Social is reemerging from the pandemic as a neighborhood restaurant with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.
Under the helm of executive chef Sam Hays, Jersey Social has added new entrees such as the watermelon and heirloom tomato salad, a refreshing appetizer made with cantaloupe, home-grown cucumber, smoked chili pepper, lime, and sprinkled with cotija cheese.
Hays has made it a point to highlight fresh veggies in almost every Jersey Social dish, whether it’s the medley of colorful florets in the re-imagined General Tso cauliflower or the succotash that accompanies the grilled hangar steak. They’re not “sides” or an afterthought, but main ingredients in every dish. And it pays off by giving dishes new flavors and textures.
Dessert and brunch launching soon
For dessert, Jersey Social is leaning on the talents of Junoon pastry chef, Gustavo Tzoc. The CIA graduate is a veteran of New York kitchens like Union Square Cafe and David Burke. Although there’s no official dessert menu yet, we got to try one of Tzoc’s first creations, which consists of a mini tower of six beignets. The light and pillowy pastries are perfectly fried and accompanied by a delicious caramel sauce and fresh raspberry jam. They’re excellent for sharing or for anyone who doesn’t want an overly sweet or heavy dessert.
In addition to dessert, Jersey Social is also working on a new brunch menu that will launch sometime this month. There will also be drag brunches and other events supporting local artists. (All events will follow social distancing guidelines). Jersey Social is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 4pm till 10pm.
(A quick note — while dining at Jersey Social we appreciated that all tables were nicely spaced and staff were correctly wearing their face masks).
Jersey Social | 837 Jersey Avenue | website
