Food + Drink
FOOD: Baconfest Thursdays at Zeppelin Hall [Jersey City, NJ]
One of my favorite places to gather for drinks is at a beer garden. Between the big long tables, high ceilings, beer steins, and community atmosphere, it is safe to say that if you're having a bad time, it's probably your own fault. And a fantastic Jersey City beer garden, where a good time can always be counted on, is Zeppelin Hall Restaurant & Biergarten.
Affectionately known as the Jersey City beer garden to locals and regulars, this watering hole has an impressively large and ever-changing beer selection. While they carry some domestic staples, there are countless pilsners, ales, IPAs, stouts, and ciders to please just about any beverage palate. Zeppelin Hall doesn't stop at drinks--they serve food every night of the week through an efficient system of ordering at the counter and receiving a buzzer that lets you know when your food is ready to be retrieved. But the most intriguing specialty that Zeppelin Hall has to offer, is Baconfest Thursdays.
Yes, you read that correctly. BACONFEST THURSDAYS. Every Thursday night they feature three classic bacon dishes and three new bacon dishes. Just when bacon enthusiasts think it can't get any better--instead of offering your every day selection of peanuts and cashews to snack on at the bar, they serve complimentary bacon strips. When I entered this fine establishment on what would be my first Baconfest Thursday, I stumbled upon what could be considered their usual Baconfest on steroids, as their weekly event was in the middle of an eleven day streak with bacon specialties galore. I was happy as a pig in…sorry. Too soon.
Though this was a special event, fear not. If you attend on any old Thursday night there is still a good chance you will encounter some of the delicious pork-centric dishes that were offered during the lengthy affair. They offered variations of familiar bacon classics, such as their Fifty Shades of Bacon BLT, and more unique creations, like the Bacon "World Tour" Monster Sandwich.
[caption id="attachment_79853" align="alignnone" width="482"]
The Bacon "World Tour" Monster Sandwich[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_79855" align="alignnone" width="449"]
The Bacon "World Tour" Monster Sandwich[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_79854" align="alignnone" width="518"]
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp[/caption]
The Bacon "World Tour" Monster Sandwich was exactly that--a monster--and could definitely be shared between two or seventeen people. The different types of bacon have varying textures and flavors which actually made me forget I was biting into a sandwich comprised entirely of bacon. We also indulged in the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, which was great as a shared appetizer, as well as the Chocolate Covered Bacon and Baconpops for dessert. The Chocolate Covered Bacon was something I had never tried before and the sweet/savory combo was incredible.
[caption id="attachment_79857" align="alignnone" width="478"]
Bacon Cheesesteak[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_79856" align="alignnone" width="642"]
Alternating: Baconpop and Chocolate Covered Bacon[/caption]
Whether you are a bacon fan or not, Zeppelin Hall is a place you should try for everything they offer beyond the pig. Every night of the week, including Thursdays, they have an extensive menu that can satisfy basic snacking or full meal requirements. And if you're just craving a tasty beer, Zeppelin Hall is sure to have something that will quench your thirst. As the warm weather approaches they will begin to open up their outdoor patio, which is the prime location for relaxing with friends and family on a warm summer night. So if I haven't scared off the vegetarians and vegans just yet, Zeppelin Hall is a place for anyone and everyone to enjoy great atmosphere and delicious food and drinks. But if you go on a Thursday, just keep those Tums on standby.
Zeppelin Hall Restaurant & Biergarten
88 Liberty View Drive
Jersey City, NJ 07305
