If you’re walking down 1^st Street or Grand Street, you might be forgiven for not noticing the charming little café that opened a couple of years ago. The Green Pear Café (93 Grand Street) is a family-owned Italian eatery that offers something the rest of Hoboken’s restaurants and cafés could use a little more of: Slowness. Not the service—the food. The Green Pear has a range of ready-made baked goods and other snacks you can grab on the run—not to mention Lavazza coffee made the Italian way—but to really enjoy this nice little spot, you should come ready to relax and soak in the charm.

Family All the Way

The Green Pear is owned by Isabella Mederi and her family. If you’re a fan of opera, you will recognize the name; she is an award-winning soprano who has performed to acclaim in productions like Puccini’s Tosca. She also trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute, and brings the depth of her experience and her artistic approach to the menu offered at the Green Pear—a menu that Isabella typically prepares herself in the small but capable kitchen area of the café. Nothing is rushed here. It’s like stepping into a small European town, weary and hungry, and finding that ideal little spot where the coffee is delicious, the people friendly, and the food perfectly prepared. The menu ranges from salads and crepes to paninis and egg dishes. It’s not overly complicated or overly fancy—it’s just inspired food prepared with care and served with a flourish.

Bigger on the Inside

If you live nearby, the Green Pear will easily become your favorite stop for a morning coffee or a weekend lunch, but it’s also a great place for a larger gathering. The outdoor seating is comfortable but limited, but never fear—there’s a surprisingly large seating area in the back. It’s not unusual to see families hanging out here; it’s the sort of place where one person sits to enjoy a coffee or a snack (or both) and then someone they know says hello and joins them, and one by one people are drawn in, pulling up chairs, ordering something nice, chatting away. The skinny: Hoboken could use more places like this. Less rushed, more quiet, with a focus on good food without a lot of flash. If you’re looking for a quiet spot to have breakfast or lunch, or a jolt of coffee, stop by the Green Pear Café and see the beautiful music Isabella is making in her kitchen.

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