The owners of Nine, 333 Washington St. in Hoboken, wanted to emulate the trendy lounges in the city, a place where people can relax and enjoy a taste of something new.

The atmosphere

The front room at Nine is ablaze with color. There are dark red and blue swaths of silk draped from the ceiling, a high gloss wood floor, and candle chandeliers that glimmer in the mirror at the front bar. It might seem odd at first that there aren't any bar stools, but that is to encourage patrons to take advantage of the low couches and tables that occupy most of the space.

The middle area and living room in the back provide an intimate setting for couples or a conversation starter for singles. The leather benches and ottomans can be rearranged to accommodate large groups or spaced to provide privacy.

Small plates

There is a wide variety of appetizers for every palate. The portions are small enough for one, but are really meant to be shared. We started with the crab cakes and Mediterranean sampler, both of which were artfully presented. At Nine they've taken the presentation up to an art form. Each dish has its own unique art deco dish. The crab cakes were slightly spicy and lightly fried on the outside. The crispy treat held together and was a perfect mix of flavors with the old bay Remoulade sauce.

Next, we had the sampler, which was a large portion of different flavored hummus. This is the appetizer for hummus lovers. There was a large scoop of pesto, roasted red peppers, and original flavors. Ample triangles of pita bread were served with it, which makes it a great dish to share with friends. The hummus was thick and creamy with a slightly nutty aftertaste. And none were overwhelmed by the flavor of garlic, which too often is the case at other venues.

All of the appetizers are reasonably priced from $7 to $10.

Sandwiches

Next we tried the Nine signature sliders, which are mini-burgers. The serving is four little burgers, which come with the flavorful Terra Chips. The burgers come dressed with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles stacked on a toasted Cuban bun. This tiny juicy treat is fantastic! It is perfectly seasoned and sized to fit into one hand. They also have Cajun chicken sliders that come with mozzarella cheese. Both kinds are $12.

For those with a larger appetite, regular sized sandwiches are also offered including: a grilled sliced hanger steak, buffalo chicken, Ahi tuna burger, and a grilled Portabella mushroom with mozzarella cheese.

More food

They have entrée-sized salads that are meant to be shared including: a blackened seared tuna over a Thai cucumber salad, a calamari salad tossed with bananas and cashews, and a hanger steak salad tossed with spicy lime vinaigrette. All salads are $16.

There are three different kinds of homemade pizza including: tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil; the Primavera, which comes with red peppers, onions, zucchini and squash; and the BBQ chicken, which is topped with grilled chicken, onions, peppers and fresh mozzarella. All the pizzas are $9.

Dessert

For dessert, we tried Nine's signature cheesecake lollipops for $12. The cheesecake and fresh fruit were stunningly displayed on a silver tree and came with warm chocolate for dipping.

The bite-sized portions offer a delicious taste of three different kinds of cake. The cheesecake flavors are: strawberry, cheesecake covered with chocolate and chocolate over chocolate. It comes with slices of bananas and whole strawberries. If you have nothing else, try the cheesecake. It was creamy, sweet and completely satisfying.

And...

The service is friendly and efficient. At all times there were several waitresses on the floor. The atmosphere is completely relaxing and you are not rushed while eating. Nine has cocktail service all the time. It is acceptable to sit and just drink.

They offer bottle service at the tables and have a large selection of premium wines, cognacs, single malt whiskeys and tequilas.

They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 2 a.m., on Friday from 5 to 3 a.m., Saturday from 12 to 3 a.m., and on Sunday from 12 to 12 a.m. The kitchen is open until 10:30 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. All major credit cards are accepted and gift cards are available. Special packages are available for private parties. For more information, please call (201) 795-9899 or visit www.ninehoboken.com.

Nine is located at 333 Washington St., in Hoboken. They are open every day of the week except Monday.