Teaneck—Mocha Bleu is known in the community as a hopping, busy place for a date night, a wonderful choice to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, a family-friendly locale and even a fun restaurant to go out to with a group of friends to blow off some steam. It’s also a wise choice for a sophisticated business lunch or a corporate event.
The wood-fired oven pizza is expertly prepared and baked crisp, with imaginative toppings and complementary flavor combinations. The sushi menu is so authentic that it wouldn’t be out of place in a Tokyo nightspot; the fresh fish with textural flair is not to be missed. Comforting, generous bowls of pasta are the norm, and even Elaine from Seinfeld would kvell at the “really big salads.” The French pastries are perfect and the Nespresso brand coffee is their perfect accent. Lingering in Mocha Bleu is easy to do, either in the cool months or in the summer, when many enjoy eating al fresco.
What is unique and trailblazing about Mocha Bleu is that it’s one of the few dairy restaurants that have become a destination “date night” place. With few exceptions, in the kosher world, fleishig restaurants are seen as more serious, more expensive and, therefore, more upscale. “When we started, people thought we were crazy,” said Mocha Bleu owner Naftali Abenaim. “No one thought our concept would succeed.” But succeed it has, most likely because it possesses the quintessential touch of fine service, well-made, chef-inspired dishes and gentle, relaxed energy. Even with no liquor license (it’s BYO), the restaurant has a fair degree of ambiance.
The experience at Mocha Bleu is what people remember. Cognizant of that, Abenaim said he has been working for some time on helping his clients “bring the experience home.” He told The Jewish Link that he has been helping families and corporate clients with at-home entertaining for some time, and now he is in the midst of introducing an app to make it easier for everyone to order something special when going out isn’t in the cards.
As part of the app’s introduction, Abenaim said that he is offering 20 percent off all orders for the next several months, to encourage people to try out the experience. He will also offer specials and new menu items that only people who have the app will see. He will be debuting a point system in the near future that will offer savings on future orders. Abenaim added that his current clients often make a large order of pastries for a house party or a corporate event and the app now makes everything very easy. Since people can celebrate a simcha with Mocha Bleu, it’s nice to know that one can cater something as large as a bris or as small as a dinner for two with the Mocha Bleu app.
The Mocha Bleu app is available on the iOS or Android app stores and signing up takes a minute the first time and just moments every time after that. All your information is saved so an order can be made almost instantaneously. Learn more by visiting mochableu.com or call 201.837.2538.
By Elizabeth Kratz
