Photos By Anne Raso (Click on Any Image to Enlarge)
Tucked away on West 40th Street, midway between the Times Square Subway Hub and Port Authority, The Hudson Bond is a restaurant that’s ideally located to attract both an “after work cocktails” commuter crowd and the destination dating set. Seamlessly incorporating the best aspects of a hip, high-end lounge, a neighborhood sports bar and a comfortable mid-priced eatery, The Hudson Bond is welcoming and trendy at the same time.
A “smokers patio” – sealed off from the restaurant’s interior space but maintaining an open-air feel – has got to be a selling point for those who haven’t quite kicked the habit. And you have to love the topiary elephants and chimpanzees; a feature that surely no other restaurant in Manhattan can lay claim to.
The Hudson Bond features a varied American menu and it is easy to tailor your meal to include items that you are in the mood for. My dining companion and I wanted to taste a variety of dishes to get an idea of what the restaurant does best. Here’s what we ordered.
We are always on the lookout for an excellent Taco, and there are a few contenders on Hudson Bond’s menu. We split orders of both the Buffalo Chicken (inventive!) and the Steak Tacos, priced at $11 and $14 respectively for two huge tacos in each order. The Steak Tacos (pictured above) include generous chunks of grilled, marinated flank steak, mashed avocado, homemade salsa, fresh lettuce, shredded cheese, all folded into soft flour tortillas and drizzled with sour cream for a very tasty and satisfying meal.
Buffalo Wing enthusiasts are definitely encouraged to order the Buffalo Chicken Tacos, which is everything you love about a spicy Hot Wing, stuffed into a soft flour tortilla. I would actually call these tacos “overstuffed,” as they are bursting with tender pulled chicken drenched in hot wing sauce, and topped with cool shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, crumbled fresh Blue cheese and homemade Ranch dressing. Delicious!
A fun alternative to French Fries or Mozzarella Sticks – and a side dish that complements an order of tacos – is a warm basket of freshly made Avocado Frites ($10), which are lightly breaded and fried avocado slices served with a Southwestern Ranch dipping sauce. The mix of crunchy vs creamy textures is very appealing and the tangy sauce perfectly accents the mild avocado flavor.
A delicious and healthy light lunch option, or a great starter for two diners to share, is the fresh Spinach Salad ($17), featuring an abundance of tender baby spinach, crunchy candied walnuts, dried cranberries and crumbled fresh goat cheese, tossed with a lightly fruity balsamic vinaigrette.
While we were looking forward to trying the heavenly-sounding Rib Eye Steak with Blue Cheese and Bacon Butter (sigh), sadly the restaurant had run out of that cut of steak by the early evening. This was disappointing but perhaps it is understandable, if this item is a popular lunch choice. Still, we hope it does not happen often, as we will definitely make a return visit just to try this steak!
Fortunately, we were able to comfort ourselves with a delicious Herb Roasted Hen, on the menu for just $23. The dish arrives at your table as half of a tender and juicy Cornish Hen, seasoned with sprigs of fresh Rosemary, its skin roasted all golden and irresistibly crispy, and resting on a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes with a side of fresh sautéed spinach. I implore you, please do not order this item if you do not intend to eat the skin, which is (almost) the best part. The potatoes needed a bit of seasoning, but otherwise this was a perfect dish!
On Saturday Night, The Hudson Bond turns into a bit of Nightclub scene, so be sure to visit This Link to find out what that’s all about.
The Hudson Bond is Located at 215 West 40th Street (Between 7th and 8th Avenues) New York, NY 10018. Phone (212)719-1200 for Reservations and Information.