It seems nothing is as important these days than whether what you’re doing is Insta-worthy or not — especially when it comes to dining out. Restaurants themselves are even taking part in this sensation, creating viral combos sure to break the Internet like churro tacos and sushi burritos. At The Ainsworth Hoboken, they’ve been known to debut their fair share of comfort food mash-ups such as their towering Mac & Cheese Burger and starting May 21st, chicken wings dusted in 24 karat gold (cue Bruno Mars) — a collaboration with foodie influencer and social media superstar, Foodgōd.
With four locations in New York City (FiDi, Midtown, Chelsea & East Village), two in New Jersey (Hoboken & Newark), and Kansas City — The Ainsworth knows a thing or two about what makes a successful restaurant. Built on the idea of elevating the sports bar experience, they’re serving up indulgent American fare and an amped up take on cocktails that, you guessed it, make for some great ‘Grams.
I recently paid a visit to The Ainsworth Hoboken to taste their unique twist on America’s favorite foods. A highlight of their appetizer or “small plates” menu are the Mac & Cheese Fries — a hybrid between gooey mozzarella sticks, mac & cheese and crunchy french fries. They come to the table piping hot, coated in panko breadcrumbs, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and with an appropriate side of marinara sauce for dipping. They were hands-down delicious as a sober snack, but I bet they’d taste even better after a night well-spent on Washington Street.
If you’re looking for something a little lighter I heard that the Chicken Paillard Salad is pretty solid, but let’s be honest, I didn’t come to get my fix of veggies. What I did show up for was the famous Mac & Cheese Burger — literally, it’s been featured all over the Internet and of course, made its way through almost everyone’s Instagram feed. It starts the same was as any burger does, with a charred beef patty and sesame seed bun, but where things take a turn is underneath the initial layer of meat, where you’ll find a surprise mound of fried, panko-crusted mac & cheese. If that wasn’t enough, the entire thing is topped off with a generous scoop of mac & cheese that drips down the sides and all over your plate. You’ll want to knife and fork this one as to ensure no mac gets left behind.
@theainsworth
The 24 Karat Gold Wings made their debut at The Ainsworth East Village and The Ainsworth Chelsea on May 1st and no, they don’t actually taste like gold (mainly because gold itself isn’t a flavor). From the minds of Foodgōd, aka Jonathan Cheban, and Brian Mazza, President of Paige Hospitality Group (which owns The Ainsworth), these wings definitely qualify as the most luxurious chicken wings we’ve ever seen and it’s safe to say these things are lit. Brined in a coconut butter, chipotle and honey batter for 24-hours, the wings are later coated in a house-made dry rub before being fried and dusted with gold flakes. If you’re wondering what the cost is, they’re available in three different offerings: 10 wings for $45, 20 wings for $90, or if you want to get real baller, you can order 50 wings plus a bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac for a whopping $1,000. If you haven’t had yours yet, the wings will hang around The Ainsworth until next year.
About the Author/s
Abby is The Digest's Managing Editor. She spends her time looking at dogs on Instagram and eating her way around Jersey City.
