4 minute read
HUDSON PRIME STEAKHOUSE
STUNNING SCENERY, SCRUMPTIOUS STEAKS AND FAMILY STYLE SERVICE, OH MY!
BY LAUREN BENS
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Whether you commute to Westchester on a regular basis or want to visit the quaint town of Irvington for a day trip, make sure your final destination is the delicious Hudson Prime Steakhouse. They might be located in a uniquely-situated space featuring spectacular waterfront views and an A-list ambiance, but they’re more than just a pretty face – Hudson Prime takes its steaks very seriously. Let’s just say that this all adds up to some serious scrumptiousness.
If you start to feel like you are quickly becoming part of the family, it’s because husband and wife team Gino and Floria Uli, want to make you feel like just that. Gino started out washing dishes in his friend’s brother’s pizzeria at 16 years old and learning the business from the inside out after moving
to the US when he was 14 from Albania and later opening his own restaurants in Florida. While he might have pulled Floria into the business, she quickly realized that she had found her own passion as well and now is just as much of a familiar face in the restaurant. “When they see you there, they know that you really care about and love the place and people appreciate it,” explains Floria.
You are sure to feel and – most importantly- taste the difference at this delicious hidden gem on the Hudson once you experience their chic ambiance and carefully curated meats, seafood and side dishes. With competitive steakhouse pricing, you will realize that the full value is in the memorable and mouthwatering memories you are sure to savor long after your meal. If you’re wondering what the secret sauce to their success is, it’s in Gino and Floria’s dedication and of course, the first dibs they get on the most in-demand meats.
According to Gino, it all has to do with the fact that their butcher is granted 4 am access to the meat market at Hunts Point, known as the most sought-after distribution hub for the best steaks in the New York area. Other well-known New York City steakhouses don’t make it there until 6 or 7 am. By having the opportunity to select prime steaks before anyone else, his picks are guaranteed to make for some very palatable plates. “We have our own aging box and age our steaks for 28 days,” says Gino. “About the A5 Wagyu steak, many restaurants serve Wagyu that comes from New Zealand or Australia, but we fly our Wagyu over from Japan. It comes with a certificate and that traces everything back to the cow it came from. There is nothing on the menu that we don’t know the origin of.”
Gino also credits his Albanian background, a country which is located in the Mediterranean and borders Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, for giving him an advantage when it comes to his understanding of food. “I’m trained to walk in wherever I am, take five ingredients and come up with a dish.” His wife can also attest to his innate cooking talents. “I’m on this keto diet and the other day he went into the fridge and grabbed thyme and peppers, onions and chicken and put something together and it was amazing. The kids love his cooking, everyone loves his cooking,” says Floria. Some of his most creative culinary dishes have also been inspired by his travels. After visiting a small town in South Carolina, Gino fell in love with some Charbroiled Oysters made with parmesan and parsley and eventually got the recipe from the chef and with a few ‘tweaks’ can now be found
at Hudson Prime Steakhouse.
The family, who were already well-known in the community for their other beloved spot, an Italian restaurant called Divino Cucina Italiana, located in Hastings-on-Hudson, just keep adding to their extended family of happy customers. Divino is located on a cliff on the edge of a bridge. The space, which is built downward, features a dining room on the first floor, a speakeasy bar on the second floor and a patio on the lower level with a view of the bridge. They were not looking for another space when, by serendipity, a mutual friend introduced Gino and Floria to the owner of the vacant space who insisted that they take over the spot which held sentimental value for him. After completing a five-month renovation, Hudson Prime Steakhouse is now indeed in its prime.
What might have begun as a rocky start after opening in June of last year during the middle of a pandemic and struggling to find qualified staff, the restaurant has undergone a tasty transformation. “When workers are happy, they do a good job and grow with you,” says Floria.
With outdoor dining perfect for the spring weather just around the corner, Hudson Prime also hosts plenty of parties, events and a great wedding venue. Perhaps their ultimate crown jewel is the deck space with spectacular Hudson River views. The restaurant also boasts a private wine cellar that seats up to 16 people surrounded by 2500 bottles of wine. We’ll salute to that!
Whether you want to make an enchanting day trip to the area of Irvington or even an extended weekend getaway, Hudson Prime is an experience which is worth every penny. P
