THE OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM
The Shops at Riverside
175 Riverside Square Mall
Hackensack, 201-343-8862
Hours: Lunch: Tues–Sat, 11:30 am-5 pm. Dinner: Mon-Thurs, 5–10 pm; Fri and Sat, 5–11 pm, Sun, 4–9 pm. Brunch: Sun, noon–4.
Price: $$$
Style: The spacious dining room is modern and elegant, with translucent curtains over tall windows, white-clothed tables and blue-lighting effects for a techno, ocean-inspired atmosphere.
Don’t Miss: The raw oyster bar gathers sparkling specimens ($2-$3 each) from Washington State, Prince Edward Island, Cape Cod and Long Island. (What, no Jersey oysters? Boo.) The lump crabmeat cocktail is a true jumbo treat ($18). The wide-ranging seafood menu features dayboat sea scallops, $35; yellowfin ahi tuna, $38; Icelandic wolf fish, $35; Australian barramundi, $31; and more. Fish are offered grilled, broiled or pan-seared, with custom finishes for an additional charge, such as Dirty, a Cajun spice ($2); and Black & Bleu, Cajun spice with blue cheese ($4). Or top your entrée with sumptuous Crab Louis (crabmeat, capers, chives and asparagus) or Dynamite (a crab cake with spicy Thai chili sauce), for an extra $7–$12. Land-based dishes include wild mushroom risotto ($29), port-braised short ribs ($35) and bone-in rib eyes ($55). Steak house-like à la carte sides can be classic (asparagus and hollandaise, $12) or novel (kale and roasted fennel gratin with applewood-smoked bacon, $13).
Heads Up: Attached to the upscale Riverside Square Mall, Oceanaire provides ample parking, but fills up on heavy shopping days.
The Scoop: Oceanaire has 13 locations around the country, but Hackensack is the only one in New Jersey.
What are Quick Bites? Short takes on casual, affordable dining.
Restaurant Details
- Cuisine Type:American - Seafood
- Price Range:Expensive