Light Horse Tavern, Jersey City

Even though I’ve lived in Jersey City for almost 3 years, I haven’t fully explored the restaurants on this side of the river. I recently visited Light Horse Tavern for a late lunch on the last day of my twenties (!!!). Taking yourself out to lunch seems like a grown up thing to do, and I needed to get out of the apartment for a walk.

Light Horse Tavern turned out to be a lovely spot with great character. It’s spacious and bright, especially if you’re seated by one of the large windows. Wooden interiors, exposed brick, historical touches… I’ve been watching Sleepy Hollow lately and couldn’t help but wonder what Ichabod Crane would think of this place.

I ordered the gnocchi ($18) that every almost review I’ve read about this place raves about. Sounds like they might change up the ingredients seasonally. but it was my lucky day as it was a mushroom gnocchi when I visited! You all know how much I love a good mushroom dish. ;)

Gnocchi with wild mushrooms, golden cauliflower, and arugula in a mushroom broth topped with parmesan cheese. It looked and smelled spectacular. Oh my! The soft, pillowy gnocchi just melts in your mouth. Just thinking about the gnocchi right now is making me hungry.

The mushrooms were very tasty and came in large pieces. I almost mistook them for slabs of bacon at first. The mushroom broth was almost like a gravy. Definitely on the salty side, but I enjoyed it with the gnocchi. This was very rich and filling and could easily be shared with a date if you want to try other dishes here.

Since I was turning thirty the next day, I thought it was fitting to order the trio of creme brulee ($8). One flavor for every decade. Vanilla, espresso, pistachio with perfectly caramelized tops. Love the sound it makes when you gently tap the sugar tops with a spoon. The interiors were smooth and creamy. The vanilla and espresso were classic and yummy, but the pistachio was the winner.