When Nick Cervera, owner of the successful Mole Restaurant on Hudson and Jane Streets was approached by his landlord and asked if he was interested in a newly vacant storefront just up the block at 628 Hudson Street, he responded with interest. A long time delicatessen had just closed and the premises were available. Ever open to new challenges, Nick took over the lease in the hope of opening an off-the-beat cafe, appropriately named Hudson Cafe. “I decided that the neighborhood needed a good cafe with a good soup to offer,” said the ever ebullient Nick. After taking down the floor to ceiling shelves he discovered a floor through room with views over the rear yard. Now there is a brightly lit dining room with an exposed mosaic floor, tile walls, a ceiling of herring bone wood planks and panels of wood blocks and bricks, everything designed by the talented Nick. Wrought iron railings lead downstairs to rest rooms and the large kitchen where fresh baked goods are prepared by his sister-in-law, Mariam. Here also the hot and cold dishes, soup, and sandwiches are prepared for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The counter at the front features a wide range of delicious scones, muffins, croissants, cookies, and cake. Both hot and cold sandwiches and pasta and salad dishes are available for table service or take-out. Supper is informal, but delicious, served on candlelit round marble tables where Judith and I enjoyed a perfect light supper, sharing all the dishes, but the generous glasses of an excellent and irresistible Sauvignon Blanc. We started with a fragrant dish of steamed mussels in an onion broth accompanied by a spicy fresh green salad of shaved Brussels sprouts with cherry tomatoes and Feta cheese. This was followed by an Anatriciana pasta with a fragrant sauce of olive oil, tomatoes, fresh herbs, garlic and other fresh ingredients. For desert we shared a large slice of moist fruity apple cake. The greatest treat saved for the end was the ginger bread latte decorated by the talented and friendly staff, David and Lydia.
The cafe is a pleasant place to sit at any time of day, but daytime is best with four tables ranged along the street front window, others along the side and my favorites at the rear facing the small landscaped yards. This is not a laptop cafe, but a nice place to eat, chat, and listen to the French chansons in the background.
