For those looking for an express lunch or an after-party quick grub place, Uptown Pizzeria is your best bet.

For those looking for an express lunch or an after-party quick grub place, Uptown Pizzeria is your best bet.

Located on 14th Street between Washington and Hudson streets, Uptown debuted in the spring of this year and it is one of the newest restaurants in the mile-square city.

While still vying for dining tables for its patrons, the locale is a cozy takeout joint that is bringing pizza lovers a slice of heaven with good food in a friendly atmosphere.

"I wanted to bring a pizza place at this end of town," said Rich Turnbull, the charismatic owner of Uptown.

After working at a pizza place in Englewood for several years, Turnbull said he was persuaded to start his own pizza establishment in Hoboken.

"I was not certain if I was going to enjoy the town, but so far I'm loving it. Hoboken is great," Turnbull said. "I had been looking for something where I could go home early every night."

He said much of his success is due to his location. Being less then a block away from three bars adds to the late-night weekend business. However, it is the dedicated and amicable cooks and counter workers that bring a neighborly atmosphere to the establishment, similar to a cheerful bar where "everyone knows your name."

Pizza and more

While the thin crunchy crust, fresh mozzarella and fresh tomato slices on the pizza taste amazing, I chose to start my dining experience with other items on the expansive menu.

With an assortment of appetizers, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and dinner dishes to choose from, the decision was not easy.

I started with a grilled chicken Caesar salad ($8). Added to the classic house salad of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers were olives, artichoke hearts, and one-inch squares of fresh salami, ham and provolone cheese. The salad is served with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It was enough for two people.

Next, I tried a grilled chicken sandwich with fresh mozzarella, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes on an Italian hero roll drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with basil. The spinach and tomatoes complimented the flavor of the mozzarella nicely, making this a light sandwich perfect for lunch on a hot summer day.

With five variations of sandwiches, all at $6.50, patrons will be able to find the best way to satisfy their appetite.

Lastly, I tried the stuffed shells, a classic Italian dish. For $7, one order comes with five shells stuffed with a mixture of ricotta cheese and basil. Uptown's homemade sauce is served over the shells. The shells alone were delicious, but it was the tomato sauce that made the dish tremendous. The sauce was thick enough to eat with a fork, and was blended with the right amount of herbs and spices.

Uptown Pizzeria is located at 54 14th St. It is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and the late-night munchies. They deliver and cater corporate lunches. For information call (201) 610-9955.