Marcus at NoHu Rooftop: Inside Weehawken’s Celebrity Chef Pop-Up

marcus at nohu rooftop

Marcus at NoHu Rooftop: Inside Weehawken’s Celebrity Chef Pop-Up

Victoria Keenan

Make way Hudson waterfront, there’s a celebrity chef in town—and he’s taking over one of Weehawken’s chicest rooftops. Last week, we got wind that Chef Marcus Samuelsson was joining Port Imperial’s EnVue Hotel and transforming their rooftop bar/restaurant into a seasonal pop-up they’re calling Marcus at NoHu. 

You might recognize Chef Marcus Samuelsson as a popular personality over on the Food Network, or maybe you’ve ventured over to his Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem. Marcus at NoHu, however, isn’t the chef’s first time putting roots down in New Jersey. 

Back in 2018 Chef Samuelsson opened Marcus B&P in Newark, an all-day eatery that blended his Swedish and Ethiopian heritage. In response to the pandemic, many of Samuelsson’s restaurants have closed to the public, including Marcus B&P, which now operates instead as a community kitchen. In partnership with World Central Kitchen, they’ve been able to donate over 150,000 meals to various organizations in need. 

About Marcus at NoHu Rooftop

What inspired Chef Samuelsson to join EnVue Hotel was recognizing that people were in need of some type of escapism. A 15,000-square-foot rooftop overlooking NYC seemed like the perfect place to settle down and social distance. 

“Right now, being able to have a great meal outside in a beautiful setting with incredible views is needed more than ever, which is what made this opportunity one I couldn’t pass up,” shared Chef Samuelsson. “Our team is beyond excited to cook with the best of summer produce from our favorite local farms and suppliers and serve our customers in a beautiful spot where they can hopefully relax and unwind for a moment during these trying times.”⁠

On the Menu

On the Marcus at NoHu Rooftop menu, there are a variety of celebratory summer cocktails. What canceled vacation plans? Think rum-style drinks such as the Cuckoo Bird with rum, Cuckoo Campari, pineapple, mango and smoked chili. Or, Watermelon Sugar (cue Harry Styles), their take on a frozen sangria.

If you’re into sharing, you can dine on the Bird Royale which includes a whole fried chicken and fixings. The likes of grilled corn, mac n’ cheese and homemade biscuits. Or, there’s the whole roasted branzino for two with pickled onion and garlic rice. And what waterfront dining experience wouldn’t be complete without a couple of seafood towers?

Some standout summer recipes are the tomato peach salad with burrata and basil. Or the summer succotash with okra, lima beans, corn and tomato. 

But don’t just take our word for it, you can make your Marcus at NoHu reservation here and stop by for late-night drinks, Sunday brunch or weeknight dinner.

Main image by @marcusatnohurooftop