Light Horse Tavern

Light Horse Tavern is a restaurant located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Restored from an 1850s tavern, the building served as a speakeasy during Prohibition in the United States. Founders Bill Gray and Ron Smith named the restaurant after Henry Lee III, known as "Light Horse Harry", a historical figure from the American Revolution. Its first chef was Ian Topper-Kapitan; he was replaced in 2007 by Marcos Costas.

Light Horse Tavern
Restaurant information
Established2002
Owner(s)Bill Gray and Ron Smith
Street address199 Washington Street
CityJersey City
CountyHudson
StateNew Jersey
Postal/ZIP Code07302
CountryUnited States
Websitehttp://www.lighthorsetavern.com/

Reception of the restaurant included multiple favorable reviews in The Jersey Journal,[1][2] the New Jersey section of The New York Times,[3][4] and New Jersey Monthly.[5]

History

The restaurant was restored from an 1850s tavern.[3] The Jersey Journal described the facility as a "pre-Civil War building that boasts a coveted landmark status".[1] The building previously served as a speakeasy during Prohibition and functioned as a neighborhood bar.[1] Light Horse Tavern was named after Henry Lee III, known as "Light Horse Harry", a historical figure from the American Revolution.[4][1][6] Light Horse Harry led the successful Battle of Paulus Hook, which helped to retain Jersey City as a stronghold for the Continental Army.[1]

Founders and brothers-in-law Bill Gray and Ron Smith started the establishment after becoming familiar with the relevant history while restoring two neighboring buildings.[4] The restaurant first opened in 2002 with chef Ian Topper-Kapitan, pastry chef Marco Runanin, and wine steward Roland Arnold.[4] In February 2010, the restaurant served as a location for an opening reception of visual artist, Frank Messina.[7]

Cuisine
Light Horse Tavern (August 2009)

Chef Ian Topper-Kapitan was replaced in 2007 by Marcos Costas, who had previously been employed at Lespinasse and the Essex House in New York City.[3] Dishes at the restaurant have included lobster salad and pan-roasted salmon, in addition to "a crisp, greaseless version of fish and chips".[3] Troy Unruh joined the restaurant as executive chef in November 2008;[8][9] he left in 2009 to become executive chef at a restaurant called Zylo.[10]

Reception

Light Horse Tavern received favorable mention in a 2003 review for The Jersey Journal, which noted, "With its beautiful decor, try to stay focused on the food. It's surprisingly good and reasonably priced."[1] The Waterfront Journal described the Light Horse Tavern in 2004 as "an exquisite restaurant where you can dine Manhattan-style".[11] In 2004, Hudson Reporter referred to the establishment as "the center" of the "political world" in Hudson County, New Jersey.[12] The publication noted, "Unfortunately, so many political people show up at the Light Horse these days that enemies cannot help but bump into each other."[12] The tavern was a favorite hangout location for New Jersey politician Paul Byrne.[13][14] In 2005, The Jersey Journal recommended the Light Horse Tavern among locations to celebrate New Year's Eve.[2] A 2006 article about Jersey City in New York Magazine highlighted the Light Horse Tavern, among recommended local attractions of the city, and described it as "upscale".[15]

The New York Times included the restaurant in a 2007 piece on regional New Jersey restaurants, "Standouts Among the Year's Best", giving the restaurant a rating of "very good".[3][note 1] David Corcoran wrote favorably of the restaurant in a 2007 review for The New York Times, and commented of the establishment's bar: "Long and lively, a scene all its own. Extensive, well-chosen wine and beer lists."[4] In 2008, New Jersey Monthly selected Light Horse Tavern as "Critics' Choice" for "Best Bar Scene".[16] Amaechi Okoro wrote favorably of the dining and bar at the establishment in a 2008 piece for The Waterfront Journal, and called it a "classy alternative" to louder facilities.[17] Stan Parish of New Jersey Monthly reviewed the restaurant in 2008, and came to a negative conclusion, "Best bet? Sidle up to the bar, where you should have been all along, for a can of Young’s Chocolate Stout. Bottom line? The neighs have it."[6] Mariam Ayad of The Waterfront Journal wrote of the establishment's bar in 2009, "The Light Horse Tavern is a nice bar with a cozy fireplace and tidy table arrangement. Behind the bar, you'll find friendly bartenders ready to listen or have a good laugh. The venue also hosts live music a few days each week."[18] In 2010, New Jersey Monthly highlighted the establishment among "Critics' Picks" for beer selection, in its "2010 Readers' and Critics' Restaurant Poll".[5] Jon Whiten of The Jersey City Independent recommended the restaurant among "This Weekend’s Best Bets" in June 2010, for its wine tasting fundraiser with sommelier Roland Arnold.[19] Zagat Survey listed Light Horse Tavern as "top listed" in "Best Buys: Pub Grub".[20]

See also

Notes
  1. The paper explained its standards: "Of the 46 restaurants we reviewed, 21 (or 46 percent) received one of the top ratings: 3 excellent, 18 very good."

References
  1. S&M Kilnisan (September 5, 2003). "Newcomer charms with menu, history". The Jersey Journal. p. B1.
  2. "Last Minute ...". The Jersey Journal. December 30, 2005. p. A21.
  3. Corcoran, David (December 30, 2007). "Standouts Among the Year's Best". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. 10; Section: New Jersey, Dining. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  4. Corcoran, David (June 10, 2007). "A Spot as Appealing as Its Namesake". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  5. "2010 Readers' and Critics' Restaurant Poll". New Jersey Monthly. njmonthly.com. July 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  6. Parish, Stan (July 7, 2008). "The Light Horse Tavern". New Jersey Monthly. njmonthly.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  7. Kaulessar, Ricardo (February 27, 2010). "Thank God it's JC Fridays". Hudson Reporter. www.hudsonreporter.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  8. Saferstein, Rosie (November 4, 2008). "Chefs on the move". New Jersey Monthly. njmonthly.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  9. Saferstein, Rosie (November 12, 2008). "Fall harvest dinner at Light Horse Tavern". New Jersey Monthly. njmonthly.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  10. Saferstein, Rosie. "Chefs on the move". New Jersey Monthly. njmonthly.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  11. "Hudson River walkway shows off both sides of the river". The Waterfront Journal. The Jersey Journal. April 8, 2004. p. A12.
  12. "Between the Lines Poll happy". Hudson Reporter. hudsonreporter.com. November 2, 2004. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  13. Donohue, Brian; Jeff Whelan (May 6, 2005). "The final chapter in a Jersey epic - Fallen power broker dies on day his trusted traitor goes to jail". The Star-Ledger. p. 21.
  14. Donohue, Brian; Jeff Whelan (May 6, 2005). "Corruption in New Jersey". The Star-Ledger. www.nj.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  15. Sternbergh, Adam (December 3, 2006). "If You Lived Here, You'd Be Cool by Now". New York Magazine. nymag.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  16. "Readers' and Critics' Choice – Restaurant Poll Winners 2008". New Jersey Monthly. New Jersey Monthly Magazine. July 10, 2008. p. 55. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  17. Okoro, Amaechi (January 31, 2008). "'We have a bit of everything.'". The Waterfront Journal. The Jersey Journal. p. A4.
  18. Ayad, Mariam (October 8, 2009). "Behind the Bar". The Waterfront Journal. The Jersey Journal. p. A7.
  19. Whiten, Jon (June 11, 2010). "This Weekend's Best Bets". The Jersey City Independent. www.jerseycityindependent.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  20. "Zagat Rated – The Light Horse Tavern". Zagat Survey. ww.zagat.com. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-03.

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