(201) Gold Coast Fall 2015 | Page 18

Around Town COMPILED BY JAIME WALTERS FORT LEE PLAZA DINER Renovations in March at the Plaza Diner transformed this typical, New Jersey diner to an elegant, upscale family restaurant, while keeping the same comfortable, casual diner atmosphere. The diner offers new items on its menu, including Asian food and a sushi bar, linguini in clam sauce, and a manager’s favorite, penne alla yoon, featuring broccoli, Portobello mushrooms, sausage and garlic in extra virgin olive oil. Fresh from New England, the restaurant offers lobster and clams (with deliveries twice a week). Plaza Diner has a full bar with six beers on tap and a special Korean liquor called Soju. The diner’s classic menu items, such as Greek salad, burgers and breakfast specials, as well as a typical dessert box of pies, cakes and baklava, are available. 2045 Lemoine Ave., (201) 944-8681, fortleeplazadiner.com EXPERIENCE N E W R E TA I L A N D RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS HUDSON LIGHTS GET YO U R W H E E L S TURNING STRICTLY BICYCLES The shop offers a range of services and merchandise, including renting and selling bikes, servicing bikes and providing riders everything from sunglasses, helmets, clothes, wheels and more. T he shop also has an outside patio where bikers can rest or re-energize with a full coffee bar and a nutrition bar. A new addition this fall are the “ebicycles” (available to rent or sell), which have a battery and an assistance motor to give riders an extra boost when pedaling. 2347 Hudson Terrace, (201) 944-7074, strictlybicycles.com 16 FALL 2015 (201) GOLD COAST Located at the entrance to the George Washington Bridge in the heart of Fort Lee, Hudson Lights is part of an innovative redevelopment initiative expected to invigorate the city’s well-located downtown corridor. The first phase of the project is expected to open by the end of 2015 and will include 276 luxury apartments featuring numerous amenities for residents, including a pool, lounge, fitness center, rooftop terrace and gardens. “The high-quality tenants we have brought aboard will be a boon not only for our Hudson Lights residents, but for all of the residents of Fort Lee, and the surrounding area, who will now be able to access a wide range of dining, shopping and entertainment options,” says Richard Tucker, Tucker Development CEO. The development’s lead tenant is movie theater iPic, which is building an eight-screen, 533-seat luxury movie theater. Other tenants include restaurants Tanzy, Gaonurri and Anthony Franco’s Pizza, bakery café Paris Baguette, CVS pharmacy, Coldwell Banker, Capital One, New Bank, Shesmiss clothing store, European Wax Center, Tutti Nails and Spa, and self-serve frozen yogurt shop 16 Handles. 175 Main St., hudsonlightsnj.com TRY FRESH FROM THE OVEN FORT LEE BAKERY If you’re looking for fresh, artisan bread, you’ve found it. Fort Lee Bakery, which recently opened on Memorial Day this year, makes everything from scratch. The small, familyowned business offers walnut raisin bread to olive bread – items made daily by their professional baker. The bakery makes pastries, too. Want to order in bulk? Call up today to pre-order large quantities. Still in its beginning stages, stop in, try some bread and see the bakery grow and rise to deliciousness. “I reassure you we provide quality fresh breads, every day,” says Willie, one of the co-owners. 482 Main St., (201) 944-1126 COURTESY OF THE BUSINESSES; STRICTLY: COURTESY OF ERIC RYAN ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY ORDER A NEW MENU ITEM