Shere is no massive menu at Mile Square Cafe in Hoboken. Instead, each dish is thoughtfully curated, and every item has a purpose. From their focaccia sandwich bread to their baked goods, ricotta, dressings, syrups, hot sauces and pancakes, nearly everything is scratch-made.
Much like the menu, the interior of the space was designed with clear intent. “We wanted the space to feel like modern Hoboken nostalgia,” says Chef and Co-Owner Steven El Hassan. “Warm, intentional, and lived-in. A place you want to come back to again and again.”
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Menu Headliners
The Mile Square Cafe community has so far gravitated towards their pancakes and breakfast burrito. “They’ve quickly become our top sellers and are a big part of what people keep coming back for,” Steven says. In addition, their coffee program was voted “Top 5 Best New Cafes in the World” by Beli Eats, something the team is incredibly proud of.
However, Steven’s favorite menu item is the birria grilled cheese. (Pictured above.) “It’s everything you want in a sandwich,” he explains. Their version uses thick toasted bread, melted Oaxaca mozzarella, and house-braised beef cooked in Mexican chilies and aromatics. The same braising liquid is also served on the side for dipping. “It just feeds the soul,” Steven describes.
A Look Behind the Scenes
Steven owns the spot with his college roommates, Joey Borrajo and Michael Vinci. “I always had a vision of opening a chef-driven café in Hoboken,” he reveals. “And I brought in my college best friends to help make that vision real.”
Steven was raised in the food business. When he was five in 1995, his father founded O’Bagel. Before and after school, he worked in the industry, working the line by 13. He went on to work in some of the best restaurants in NJ before attending culinary school and, inevitably, opening his own O’Bagel in town in 2016.
“This city completely shaped me as a restaurateur,” he admits. “The community, the people, the other hospitality groups. It’s always had a special place in my heart, and MSC is my way of giving something back to a city that gave me everything.”
Their focus for the future is simple. “Keep growing MSC into the best version of itself. Do right by the food, the team, and the community, and let everything else follow.”
Mile Square Café is located at 746 Park Avenue in Hoboken. Visit them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Mile Square Cafe