I rolled into Hoboken in about 1986, young, wide-eyed, and sober (when I left I was, of course, old, jaded, and drunk). That was a long time ago as far as Hoboken's recent history goes. A lot has changed since 1986. At first, for the better, then, I suppose, a bit for the worse. Hoboken went from a somewhat run-down former shipping port, to a vibrant city, filled with artists and musicians and funky bars and restaurants (and more recently into more of a generic mall for young professionals). A lot of those bars and restaurants were hold-overs from Hoboken's old days. The Elysian was one of those bars.
The Elysian was presumably named after the Elysian Fields, which used to include the several blocks between the restaurant and the Hudson River. That field was where the first organized game of baseball was played. Don't let those people in Cooperstown tell you otherwise. And for years, it was one of the few old-time bars left in uptown Hoboken. It was a place where musicians and artists often hung out, along with some old-timers as well. The crowd was always a bit older than the average post-college crowds at other bars. Blues bands would often play in the back room. The drinks were cheap. The atmosphere was dark and hadn't changed in years. My kind of place, and a usual stop before and/or after a show at Maxwells.
Much to my surprise, the Elysian went bye-bye. Even more to my surprise, and somewhat to my dismay, the people who own Amanda's were opening a restaurant in the space. "Great," I thought, "another upscale restaurant taking the place of a beautiful room that has a lot of history." Good thing I was wrong.
What the owners of Amanda's did do was keep the room true to its roots. It's obvious they did a lot of work to the place. From what I understand, it was utterly and totally ripped apart. Down to the studs. But, somehow, the beautiful ceiling and mural paint on the interior wall remain intact. They've brightened up the place with windows, yet it didn't lose its homey feel. They totally removed the old bar, refinished it, and put it back in place. The back room still hosts live music and is bright and elegant. A lot of the detail was left as is (although the nicotine was scrapped off the walls and ceiling). The patrons are still a bit older than 22. There are even some musicians and artsy-types spending time there. And it turns out that it's still my pre/post Maxwells show stop. And, they have what I think is the only french bistro in Hoboken. This is all a lot better than what could have been. Of this you are assured.
All of that and my only intention is to say how great their lobster roll is. Lightly dressed. Perfectly toasted bread. Great fries. Arugula dressed lightly with a some lemon juice accents. It's on the bar menu. Call ahead to make sure they have it.
www.elysiancafe.com
Elysian Cafe - 201.798.5898 - 1001 Washington Street - Hoboken - New Jersey - 07030
