By BRIAN DONOHUE
Editor’s note: this story has been updated from an earlier version to include a response from the restaurant owner.
The owner of a pair of high-end Mexican eateries known for their huge tequila selection plans to open a restaurant in the space vacated by the closure of Centrada at 8 West Front Street.
Meanwhile, a longtime chef at renowned New York eateries has begun serving up mouth-watering meals at Cornerstone Gourmet Provisions & Catering in the former home of Citarella’s at 57 Prospect Avenue (photo above)
Read all about the new ventures of these accomplished food dudes in this almost-spring edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn.
8 West Front Street, formerly home to Centrada.
Details are sparse on what his plans are, but the owner of Meximodo restaurant, which has locations in Metuchen, Jersey City and Marlboro, plans to open a bar/restaurant in the former location of Centrada at 8 West Front Street, according to documents filed with the borough.
In January, Red Bank Borough Council approved a transfer of the Centrada liquor license to LMHG RB LLC, a corporation state business records show is owned by Saurabh Abrol of Morganville. The resolution shows the company plans to open a bar/restaurant with the license.
Abrol’s social media profiles and news articles like this one in Global Millionaire Magazine, identify him as the owner of ventures including Le Malt Lounge, Le Malt Royale, Le Malt Imperiale, Meximodo, and Wine Chateau.
Le Malt Royale locations already include a members-only lounge at 22 West Front Street, just a few doors down from the former Centrada.
Meximodo’s Metuchen location gained renown for having the Guinness-certified world’s largest selection of tequila.
Whether the new restaurant will be another Meximodo location isn’t clear yet. Le Malt PR rep Rich Eldert told redbankgreen in an email the name and concept for the location will be announced in April.
(Note: an earlier version of this story said Le Malt had not replied to our requests for comment but we had missed a reply buried in our DM’s.)
“Le Malt Hospitality, the group that owns Meximodo and Le Malt, has secured a vibrant restaurant location,” his email reads. “The concept and name have not yet been announced.”
Cornerstone Gourmet Provisions and Catering. (Photo by Brian Donohue)
Farther east in town, Cornerstone Gourmet Provisions & Catering has opened up in the space long occupied by Citarella’s at the corner of Prospect Avenue and McLaren Street.
As reported in Churn in October, Bryan Noury, a New York City chef with more than two decades of experience and a Michelin Star on his resume, has launched a market selling high-quality meats and fish, along with grab-and-go salads, gourmet sandwiches, takeout and quick-heat dinners. It’s also the HQ of Cornerstone’s catering business.
From the Cornerstone web site:
Daily offerings include globally inspired, seed-oil-free prepared foods, pristine local seafood, house-baked breads, a bespoke butchers counter, hand made pastas, and some of the best coffee in town.
With a strong organic-first ethos, the market also features dad-made baby food, Spanish style conservas, compound butters, and heart-healthy dog treats. Cornerstone will host interactive events, hands-on cooking classes, Michelin caliber offsite catering, and The Chef Series — A monthly transformation of the market into a ticketed dining experience featuring some of the most celebrated chefs in the country.
Cornerstone is more than a market. It’s a community hub rooted in connection, craft, and creativity.
We stopped in last week to peruse the offerings and had trouble resisting the urge to buy, well, tons of stuff. The prepared escarole and bean soup called out to us, as did homemade pastas and the grilled king salmon with lemon and homemade butter, which Noury said would take just seven minutes to cook up for dinner at home.
We left with a roast pork shoulder, broccoli rabe sandwich with provolone, roasted long hots and garlic spread. Given its heft, we planned on eating half for lunch and saving the rest for dinner the next day. That plan was scuttled by the deliciousness of the thing, which was totally gone in a flash, along with the homemade chocolate chip cookie. You’ll see us there again.
The website lists hours Wednesday to Saturday, 10:30 am – 7 pm, and Sunday, 10:30 am – 3 pm. But Noury said those hours pertain to when the prepared food is stocked. If neighbors need to stop in for eggs or milk, he said they’re there seven days a week.
Meanwhile, back downtown, Insomnia Cookies seems to be edging closer to opening, perhaps. They issued a paradoxical snoozer of a press release on February 9 saying they’d be opening their bakery at the corner of Broad and Monmouth “in the coming months.”
The press release said the new location will be “located on Broad Street near Monmouth University.” Hmm.
At any rate, the press release says the Red Bank location is hiring part-time cookie crew members, delivery drivers, and shift leaders. “Interested applicants and cookie lovers,” the press release says, are encouraged to apply at Careers.InsomniaCookies.com.
Signs went up on the building at 74 Broad Street in late summer announcing the cookie maker’s plans to open there, but there’s been little visible activity since.
We’ve seen some posts on social media by folks wondering out loud what’s going on. At least the press release ensures they’re still working on getting things up and running, even if they seem a little confused about where they are.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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