This summer, one of the latest newcomers to Hoboken's restaurant and nightlife scenes opened its doors. On July 10th, Trinity, a "Celtic-inspired brasserie," became one of the newest fixtures on the waterfront, just north of 3rd Street. Those who have had the chance in the intervening months to experience what Trinity has to offer know well enough that its atmosphere, lay-out, and incomparable location make it one of the more exciting destinations now available to the residents of the Mile Square City.

Conveniently separated into distinct sections, Trinity features a restaurant, a lounge area, and a bar. Each has its merits, and each can be viewed on its own. But when the three are taken together, the idea seems so smooth and intuitive that one begins to wonder why this type of thing hadn't been done before on the River Walk.

The restaurant offers a truly tasteful mix of dishes for all hours of the day, and its menu has a uniquely Irish twist. Brunch is offered from 11:30am to 3:00pm on weekends (the eggs benedict is a must), lunch is served during the same hours, and the dinner menu is available from 5:00pm to 11:30pm daily (10:30pm on Sundays). None of Trinity's main course items are simple: each has its own unique elegance and mixture of a variety of different tastes, which blend together fantastically well. Among these are the Seared Chicken Breast served over Smoked Bacon Sweet Potato Mash and Wilted Spinach, and the Rigatoni dish with wild mushrooms, peas, fresh basil and garlic cream. For the seafood lovers out there, the Pan Fried Red Snapper begs a try.

But the restaurant's offerings are only the beginning of what makes Trinity one of the hottest new additions to Hoboken. In a vain similar to the W Hotel's plans to add a chic hotel to the waterfront, the bar at Trinity is slick and modern, but also with a dark, old-Irish element. It caters to that certain class of Hobokenites who appreciate the rustic-Celtic feel and an unbeatable view of Manhattan, but who also don't mind paying a few extra dollars for an upscale atmosphere in which to drink their favorite beer or cocktail. The overwhelming majority of patrons at the bar on any good night are late 20-somethings dressed in casual business atire. This is not to say that all others are excluded; during the summer months, Trinity's management and the administrators of Hoboken's Spike League Volleyball teamed up to offer the players a much-needed post-game drink and chill-out opportunity in the wide-open bar area. Gym clothes and volleyballs were not an uncommon sight at Trinity over the past few months. Still, Trinity is well on its way to becoming the young-Hobokenite's hottest after-work downtown destination.

Of course, every rose has its thorn, and the thorn pertruding from Trinity is it's price list. Although the items on its Brunch or Bar & Sandwiches menu range from a relatively low (yet still on the pricey side) $7 - $11, you'll find all of its Main Course items are in the $16 - $32 range, and the drinks at the bar are what you'll find in a comparable bar across the water. In addition, one can't deny the suspicion that the lack of bright lights in Trinity's restaurant area (while adding to the old Irish atmosphere) is being used as a way to divert attention from the more unimpressive aspects of the establishment (e.g., fake flowers and a peeling old-wood covering at each table). But, perhaps, for the convenience of remaining on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, Trinity will find that its Hoboken patrons are willing to forgive such decorative blemishes and lofty prices. From what one can tell from visiting on any recent Friday night, Trinity has good reason to expect they will.