New Cocktail Lounge SRO Opens In Hoboken, Has Creative Expansion Plan

HOBOKEN, NJ — Chef Anthony Pino, who's been running the corner restaurant Anthony David's in Hoboken since 1997, recently added a small cocktail lounge with twists on favorite bites and creative drinks. SRO is a small, speakeasy-type lounge in a room alongside the restaurant.

At SRO, one can stop in for duck spring rolls or deviled lobster eggs, while sipping a spicy margarita or carrot and basil featuring tomato liqueur.

Anthony and wife Liz Pino have big plans to expand yet again late next month — but this time, underground.

Side Street Special

Anthony David's has been known for its brunches, bagels, and upscale lunches and dinners since 2002. With outdoor eating on the corner of 10th and Washington streets, they've served up crab cakes, sandwiches, and sangrias.

SRO was a new twist that came up this year.

"It's something different from what Hoboken already offers," Pino said in an interview last month — and with city businesses using more than 100 liquor licenses, it's hard to stand out. But Chef Pino, who also owns the wine bar Bin 14 five blocks away, has provided unique dining options.

A century ago, well before the advent of the web, Hoboken's side streets were filled with small businesses, such as Kusseluk's Shoes. Kusseluk's closed in the 1990s after the owner passed away, and Anthony David's arrived in its place.

SRO opened in a space vacated not long ago by a small tattoo parlor on Tenth Street.

And now SRO will expand vertically.

Hoboken is full of underground passageways and basements that are no longer in use. Under SRO, the Pinos will open Below SRO, with space for 50 people to come eat, drink, and play vinyl records or enjoy small events.

The new spot will open in late July or early August, Liz Pino said.

Summer Plans

Below SRO will serve drinks and food like upstairs, but will also be used as a "listening lounge" to play vinyl records and music.

Anthony David's is located at 953 Bloomfield St., and SRO is located at 107 Tenth St.

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