Had a great time at this Yelp Elite All-Star Dinner! It was nice meeting new Yelp members and getting to know everyone over drinks and small bites. My favorite dish was the fried calamari. I'm not really an oyster person and hadn't had one in a while, but I figured I'd give it a try since Blue Anchor is known for its seafood, and I knew it would be fresh. I tried an oyster with a squeeze of lemon and some cocktail sauce, and it was actually really good! The texture didn't bother me at all, and it tasted fresh. I've heard oysters are good for men, so I'll definitely be ordering them the next time I'm down the Jersey Shore. The waves of food just kept coming, with one unique dish after another, and the waterfront views really set the mood. Thank you to Sara, Blue Anchor, and Yelp for an awesome experience! read more

See all

First time visitor and what a spot! Fantastic, chill location right on the water, and the perfect setting for a group dinner. Service was on point all night, keeping the courses coming without a lull. Standouts were the east and west coast oysters to start, the calamari, and the tuna crispy rice. All hit the mark. I was hyped for the fish taco and lobster roll, but neither were standouts to me. However, might have been a product of rolling them out for a giant group. Drink menu is extensive. The Recovery Margarita (WEL hydration, tequila, lime, agave) and the Red Sea (tequila, strawberry, jalapeño) were both unique takes on traditional margaritas worth trying. Great night meeting new Elite folks and catching up with local all-stars. Thanks to Sara for organizing and Blue Anchor for hosting, already looking forward to coming back to sit outside on the patio. read more

See all

I really enjoyed this event! A midweek boost I didn't know I needed! It being by the water, on the Hudson was chef's kiss! The summer rain didn't stop the smiles & laughter. Kudos to the bartender... I had my first Old Fashioned, it did not disappoint. At all! (thanks Lisa:) The food was good and noticeably fresh, especially the tropical mussels, crab rangoon, oysters, beet salad w/blue cheese & mandarin oranges! Bravo! The sweet chili sauce was the star, perfect pairing w/the rangoon and dipped in the calamari, too. The fish tacos were the only bland dish. The fish itself was hollow and lacked flavor. Just breading. The mushroom risotto was missing something - almost there. But the mushrooms were entirely too big; thinly sliced or chopped may have been better, for a small sample. LOVED the bread for the mini lobster roll. The west coast oyster was my favorite and the flavor was explosive w/a drizzle of that cocktail sauce. The servers were attentive and accommodating throughout the experience. I love that they opened the doors after the rain; the cool breeze as the sun returned was everything! Even being there until sunset, changed the entire atmosphere, inside and outside of the restaurant. Everyone gushed over the coolest swag bag, what a treat! Thanks Sara & elite squad team! The decor was adorable and on theme. Detailed menu and the embroidered napkin, nice touch. More than the food, I enjoyed seeing familiar faces (hey eloy) and meeting new elite foodies (hey angela, frankie, sheila, david, aya, and yasmina:) I know we're all in this for the love of each bite... but the way food aligns with community amazes me, every time. The parking situation is atrocious, but that's a jersey city thing regardless. Shout out to the all-stars! read more

See all

New Jersey, with its expansive coastline and vibrant culinary culture, is a heaven for seafood lovers. The Garden State offers a diverse array of seafood dishes that are as varied as its landscapes, from decades-long dockside legends to lesser-known hidden gems, family-owned favorites with markets and upscale coastal standouts. Located in Jersey City's waterfront neighborhood, Newport Beach, a small group had the opportunity to partake in an Elite All-Star event at the Blue Anchor, thanking Sara and the Yelp team. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff inside a simplistic and relaxed vibe over 2,200 square feet with a picturesque backdrop of the iconic Manhattan skyline, offering the perfect setting for a memorable dining experience in a heavy-resort vacation. Their menu features primarily fresh, locally sourced seafood as well as other options to satisfy one's palates. Small samples of signature dishes, such as oysters, calamari, fish tacos, crab rangoon, and mini lobster rolls, passed and shared among us. Each dish was crafted with care: flavorful, well-balanced, and delicious. I experienced as a first-timer the taste of raw oysters. My favorite had to be the fish taco. The drinks were spectacular. They were very fresh ingredients combined with creativity. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, especially our Pinoy, Mike. Food has the power to surprise, unite, and redefine us. It bridges cultures, challenges assumptions, and teaches us to say yes more often. read more

See all

This was such an amazing event, right on the Hudson, with a view of the city and a public (manmade) beach. The restaurant was a small space, pretty cramped, but they also had small tables outdoors too. The bar was right across the sitting area. The menu had listed three waves and it felt like so, as dishes one after another kept coming out for over two hours. We started with (wave 1) the East and West coast oysters that were good, especially the sauce. Salad had delicious cheese. Crab rangoon was solid too. Sweet chili shrimp seemed damp, wasn't crispy enough. The fish taco was decent. Then (wave 2) we got mussels and risotto, both were fine. For the final round (wave 3), we got tuna crispy rice, where the rice ball was extra fried, was very difficult to chew. Mini lobster roll had good toasted bread but the lobster meat was cold and didn't feel like it had enough seasoning/flavor. Final item was the salmon (raw) sushi rolls that had giant pieces of fish. The staff members were super friendly. The bartenders made both of my drinks really good. One member helped me with connecting to wifi. Others were very professional in serving the dishes and cleaning the tables after every wave. As the evening darker I'd prefer to see brighter lighting. Nonetheless very grateful to Blue Anchor, their staff members, Yelp and Sara for hosting the All Stars for a fun filled evening. read more

See all

Thank you Sara, Yelp Elite and Blue Anchor for such a great event. Wonderful food and people for a Wednesday night. Drink was good. I got mocktails. One with lychee. Highly recommend. The other one with strawberry and kiwi. The bartenders were very friendly. They did a good job to keep up the order. Overall the food was good. Small portions with many different dishes. I want to highlight the beet salad, it was fresh and light. Crab rangoons packed some kicks from the sauce. Very good. Fish taco was my fav. Crispy fish with warm tortilla is always the way to go. Oysters were fresh. The mussels were a little small but the broth and flavor were definitely there. Some dishes that could have some improvements. The Fried rice with tuna was really hard. Hard to chew. salmon sushi at the end was really cold. Rice was super cold and didn't taste right as sushi, both texture and flavor. Calamari breading is not crunchy enough. I felt a little soggy. Lobster roll i couldn't really taste the lobster. But the bread was nicely toasted which I like. Not sure if AC/fan was not working. After they open the doors it was so much better. Like dining at a patio of a beach bar. The water view was wonderful. There was a man-made beach sand shore(?). Really cool. They might wanna put some lights around it. It was kinda dark during evening hours. Such a fun night to meet new people and taste new food. Great Elite event as always! read more

See all

What a fun Yelp event at such a beautiful location right on the Hudson River! The views were definitely the highlight. You get an amazing NYC skyline, a nice beach view, and even the Water's Soul statue is visible. It's a perfect waterfront spot to relax and enjoy the evening. The restaurant itself isn't very big, so it can feel a little cramped when everyone is moving around, but it wasn't a big issue. I also heard that if there hadn't been a thunderstorm, we would have been seated outside. That would've made the experience even better! The food came out in three waves. There were plenty of dishes to try, though most were served as small bites. We started with East and West Coast oysters, which were fresh and delicious, especially with the sauces. The salad was simple, but the cheese really stood out. **4/5** The crab rangoon was excellent and its shape reminded me of a childhood snack. **5/5** The fish taco was my favorite dish of the evening. **5/5** The sweet chili calamari was another winner--crispy, flavorful, with a nice gingery kick and jalapeños. It paired perfectly with my drink. **5/5** Speaking of drinks, the **Kiwi Breeze** was amazing. Big thanks to Vicky for recommending it! One of the best parts of Yelp events is meeting new people. I met Vicky, who's been on Yelp for 21 years! That's incredible. The mussels and risotto were decent, but nothing that really stood out. In the final wave, the crispy tuna rice wasn't my favorite. The rice felt a little too hard to chew--maybe it was just me. **3/5** The mini lobster roll looked nice, but it had too much bread, not enough lobster, and the filling tasted a bit bland. **3/5** The salmon sushi rolls came with very generous pieces of salmon, which I liked. The staff throughout the evening were friendly, professional, and kept clearing the tables after every wave, which was appreciated. The only downside was the timing. The service was much slower than expected. The event was supposed to end at 8 PM, but the last dishes weren't served until around 8:30 PM. By then, quite a few people had already left and missed the final wave. Even getting drinks from the bar involved a long wait. I understand this may have been their first Yelp Elite event, but since they regularly host private parties and other events, I expected the food and drink service to be a little more organized. Hopefully, they'll improve the pacing for future events. Overall, despite the delays, I had a great time. Beautiful waterfront views, good food, excellent staff, tasty drinks, and the chance to meet fellow Yelpers made it a memorable evening. Huge thanks to Blue Anchor, the entire team, Yelp, and Sara for hosting such a fun event! read more

See all

Great spot right off the Hudson River. Nice vibe great views. Outdoor seating. Definitely a great spot for a yelp elite event. Thanks to Sara for always doing a great job with the yelp community as well as the local businesses to gather everyone and help grow together. Walking in the Blue anchor you definitely knew it was close to the water with all the seaside decor even had a little fish take in the waiting area. Special shout out to all the yelpers there as well some familiar faces and also some new ones as well. Was great seeing everyone enjoying themselves for this wonderful event. Met Mike who worked at the blue anchor and he was quite entertaining and very welcoming to all of us. We started off with a drink and the bartenders were just as welcoming. My bartender was Beatrice and was so full of life and energy. And she also made a mean drink. I had the cucumber and gin drink with elderberry. Which was very refreshing. As for the food we had 3 waves (courses) of food. A nice way to name it. Keeping it on theme of the restaurant. Wave 1: raw oysters. (East/west) they both tasted very fresh salty brine with a delicate texture accompanied by cocktail sauce it was a delicious taste of the oceans jewels. Wave 2: beet salad with blue cheese. I'm bias towards blue cheese not a big fan. so it wasn't one of my favorites I gave it to one of my yelpers but the did like it. Crab Rangoon was actually tasty. It was like a crab cake wonton with spicy Thai chile sauce. One of the best bites of the day. Crispy exterior and a warm sweet crab middle. Calamari. Mine was very crispy. But calamari though was overcooked and a bit chewy. Flavor was there though Fish taco. It was decent bite. A little more breading than I would have liked. The fish felt a little lost. Wave 3: Tuna crispy rice. Had some tuna on top of the crispy rice. The tuna was good. And the rice was crispy. Delicious bite Steelhead salmon roll. Simple sushi roll. Salmon was fresh. And a very tasty bite. Lobster roll. Was a cold lobster roll with some veggies in the bun as well. Needed a little more flavor. Lobster was lost in the bread and veggies. I wish the lobster was more present. All in all a great event thank you Mike and the Blue anchor and the staff for an amazing time. I will be coming back to have some drinks and some food. I Love the location, ambience and vibe of the blue anchor. Also, it's always great seeing everyone again. Cant wait to see yall again soon. Sara you're amazing keep being the best at what you do. And PS thanks for the Yelp Swag. Have a wonderful summer. read more

See all

What we got: Born A Star Cocktail: Aspen Vodka, Aperol, Lime Juice, and Passionfruit liqueur Kiwi Breeze Cocktail: Seagrams Gin, Lemon Juice, Kiwi Juice, Elderflower Tonic and Mint Raw Bar Station: East Coast Oysters & West Coast Oysters Wave 1: Blue's Beet Salad, Crab Rangoons, Sweet Chili Calamari, Fish Tacos Wave 2: Tropical Mussels & Mushroom Risotto Wave 3: Tuna Crispy Rice, Steelhead Salmon Roll, Mini Lobster Roll Aya's take: These are my favorite kinds of events because we get to meet fellow Yelpers, enjoy a good meal, and everyone knows that the phone eats first! This was my first time at Blue Anchor. It's a great location and definitely could've been more pleasant if the weather was nicer. I love that we got to try 11 dishes and 2 drinks! It gave me a good idea of what Blue Anchor had to offer and we all had a great time discussing each bite as we had it. My favorites were the East Coast Oysters, Sweet Chili Calamari, Mushroom Risotto, and Tuna Crispy Rice. Both cocktails I had were refreshing, tropical, and bright. Huge shout out to the Blue Anchor team, Sara & the Yelp team, and the fellow Elites I shared a table with who made this event memorable! read more

See all

This was an amazing Elite All Stars event that didn't let the rain dampen the spirits or vibes. We were moved inside to a Yelp section right off the entrance of the venue. We were able to order drinks from the bar while we wait for the tastings. I ordered a margarita with mexcal tequila and it was absolutely amazing. Kudos to the bartender for making anazing drinks. The tasting started with East Coast and West Coast oysters which were really good. All the food we had in the different waves were so good. I enjoyed the mini lobster roll especially! The roll was soft and buttery and simply anazing. The venue was beautiful. We had the chance to open the doors and enjoy the nice, summer air. It was such a great event. Met great people, had good food and delicious drinks. Great event. read more

See all

First time visiting this restaurant and had such a good time with my All Stars! Nothing like great convo to go along with sampling of different dishes. The drinks were so good. The bartender clearly loves what she does and does it well! We tried a variety of their dishes including oysters, crab rangoons, fish taco, and many more. My fave was the calamari. The fish taco needed a little more flavor. Great service, great skyline view, and such a good overall vibe. read more

See all

I was thrilled when Blue Anchor opened two years ago, as it was always nice to have a new dining option located right on the Hudson River. I had been meaning to go there, so I was thrilled to do so during this Yelp Elite event. We were supposed to be dining outside, but, unfortunately, the weather did not comply, so we were moved indoors. Thankfully, the restaurant had just enough space to push together some small, circular tables for us in the front half of the restaurant, while what appeared to be a work dinner happened in the back half. There was a small bar right in the middle of the space as well. The restaurant was more casual and industrial-style with exposed pipes along the ceiling, rather than the upscale vibe I had expected. However, that made the restaurant more approachable for some folks, as many of the other venues with similar views were much fancier and pricier. We each took our seats, where we found a cool new swag bag and a custom menu waiting for us. While we waited for our first course, most of us headed to the bar to claim our first of two included beverages. I opted for the Oaxacan Mirage, a mixture of Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, lime juice, pineapple, Triple Sec, and agave. I love mezcal and have had my share of cocktails that fused that with pineapple, but this one stuck out for how balanced, smooth, and smoky it was. It was so enjoyable, in fact, that I wound up getting another one with my other drink ticket. In terms of the food, everything was served as small tasting portions, broken up into three different rounds. Some items were also delivered to us, while others were served as a buffet. We kicked things off with East and West Coast Oysters. The East ones were larger and less briny, though both were fresh and enjoyable. Then came the sea-themed "Wave 1", which included several items. There was a cup of the "Blue's Beet Salad" with poached red beets, mixed greens, red onion, cherry tomatoes, bleu cheese, and a light strawberry dressing. It was a very tasty salad, though the cheese was strong and might be too funky for some. There were also a single Crab Rangoon and a cup of fried Calamari. Both were stuffed with flavorful seafood, coated with the perfect amount of breading that allowed them to be cooked to the perfect golden crisp, and drizzled with the most heavenly sweet chili sauce that made them deliciously unique. That round then concluded with one of the Infamous Fish Tacos. The soft tortilla was stuffed with a battered cod tender, coleslaw, grilled corn, and a zesty pimento aioli. I found the fish moist, but a bit mushy, so I thought that plate was just okay, but not nearly as good as the others. The second round was smaller, but included Tropical Mussels and Mushroom Risotto. The bowl of local shellfish included a broth of coconut milk, mint, and chipotle for a mix of heat and creamy refreshment. There were also two slices of focaccia toast included. I found the steaming liquid a bit watery, and the mussels rather funky in flavor, but I really loved the bread. So, that dish was clearly not a favorite. The risotto, however, was creamy and delicious, though could have used a bit more truffle oil, in my opinion. Then came the third and final "Wave". There was a plate with two pieces of house-fried crispy rice topped with spicy yellowfin tuna, avocado, jalapeño, and a sriracha kewpie mayo. I adored the raw fish and its feisty toppings, but found the rice patty a bit too gummy. There was also a platter of Steelhead Salmon Rolls, from which we could each select a few pieces. The inside of the maki included steelhead trout, Atlantic salmon, panko crunch, and avocado, which was then topped with more sliced steelhead trout and a dab of unagi sauce. I love that sauce, so I was thrilled it was included. The rest of the roll was good, but the temperature was odd. It was extremely cold, as if it had been chilling on ice, which made it more like sushi I purchased at the supermarket rather than in a restaurant. Lastly, we received a pretty substantial Lobster Roll on a toasted brioche bun. The chunks of lobster were clearly fresh, but had been tossed in a flavored mayo, a Persian lime-coconut aioli to be exact, and I was not really feeling the unique flavor it added. I am typically all for interesting takes on a classic, but that one did not win me over, even with its additional, crunchy topping of red cabbage coleslaw. Overall, there were certain dishes that I adored and others that were not quite my favorite, but I would certainly return to select items that appeal most to me and enjoy those with a cocktail and the stunning Manhattan skyline views. I want to thank Sara B. for organizing the event and the staff for being so generous, attentive, and accommodating to our large group! read more

See all

Many thanks to Blue Anchor, Sara, and Yelp for hosting such a great event! I'm so glad I was included. I loved that they opened doors because the rain cleared and it ended up being a beautiful coolish evening with great views of the NYC skyline and the little local beach. The bites though small bites were delicious and well prepared. Coming out in waves and with so many, they were well spaced out, giving us time to enjoy them and talk about them, but not too much time that we were left waiting for the next wave The opening Raw Bar East and West Coast oysters were very fresh and delicious. The sauces were well made. 5 stars for those. Wave 1: the beet salad was straightforward but refreshing. 4 stars for that. The crab rangoon was fabulous. It was crispy even though it had a sauce on it. The crab filling was tasty, and the sauce was excellently prepared - a great balance of heat and sweet. 5 stars. The fish taco surprised me. I am not usually a fan. This one I loved. It was very tasty and the mixture of the fresh topping, sauce, crispy fish and lovely taco was perfect. 5 stars. The sweet chili calamari was my second favorite of the night - it was not only fresh and crispy but that sauce and the peppers with was out of this world. 5 stars - 10 if possible. Wave 2: I really enjoyed the mushroom risotto! It has the right bite, and you could taste the cheese and mushroom. Delicious. 5 stars. The mussels were my second least favorite of the night. They weren't very meaty size-wise and the sauce was ordinary and not very flavorful - particularly when viewed in light of the other amazing complex tasting sauces we had. The toast was nice but couldn't save it for me. 3 stars. Wave 3: The tuna crispy rice tied as my favorite. I really enjoyed the crispiness, the sauce, the entire thing. It was like adult comfort food. 5 stars - 15 if possible lol. The lobster roll was the other tie for my favorite - it may have even edged out the tuna. The roll was so tasty and fresh, it was the quintessential lobster "roll." The fish the topping, sauce - delish. 20 stars!! The salmon sushi rolls, I hate to say it, were ordinary. Fresh yes. Tasted fine. Just nothing special and again in light of the other items, they were meh. Admittedly I eat sushi a lot and I am a sushi snob. I am sure a lot of sushi eaters would enjoy them much more than I did. The pickled ginger however was very, very good. Special shout out to the bartender for the Old Fashioned she made me. She can tend a bar. It is rare to find someone who really knows how to make one right. I always ask can you make a good old fashioned? They usually say yes. I have learned to ask, "do you muddle the orange?" If I get any hesitation or a weird look, I pass. When I asked that question, and the bartender smiled at me knowingly and said, I drink old fashioneds, I knew that was the one. And OMG she made me an amazing one and with real maraschino cherries! Kudos to her. I also enjoyed the Boatyard I had later, but I'm not gonna lie - I should have had another old fashioned because it was SO off the charts! If I can offer one bit of constructive feedback, because that is what these Yelp Elite events are for, no? It would be this. I was a bit early, so along with a few other Yelpers we sat at a table at the entrance waiting to begin. Our first impression upon entering was not a good one. The first thing you see upon entering is a not well kept, old, cloudy, dirty fish tank and above it boxes and boxes of open storage, and some weird curtains hanging sloppily over the open kitchen. It certainly didn't bode well, and all of us commented that we had the same first impression which was uh oh, this isn't going to be good. If the place appeared rundown and uncared for, it made us question how fresh could the fish be and how good is the food going to be?? So imagine our utter surprise when the food was AMAZING! The quality of the food bore no resemblance whatsoever to the message we got upon entering the restaurant. The restaurant like a home needs curb appeal. If I had passed by and saw that, I would never step in and try it - and what a shame that would have been!!!! This is such an easy fix. Get some black drapes an cover that storage area to match and blend in with the cool loft factory ceiling. Clean that fishtank or get rid of it; if the fish tank isn't crystal clear and colorful, you're better off with no fishtank. As for the kitchen, the open concept is cool, but the drapes look cheap and like a cheap fix to hide the kitchen. They just don't match the vibe. Try some blue drapes that match the wall covering and look intentional - maybe even some sheer blue or black. Something funky and intentional looking that you would expect in a Jersey waterfront restaurant. All that said, I will most certainly be back! read more

See all

Honestly had a wonderful time meeting vibrant great spirited people eating an array of delicious food among my favs were the calamari (seasoned quite well I'm so over boring calamari... their calamari was NOT boring), west coast oyster (and I'm east coast born n raised so the old hip hop head in me really wanted to be team east coast), and the mussels (slurped up that broth). The drinks were delicious. Mike and the amazing Ms drink maker are wonderfully warm and great at what they do. Thanks Sara & Squad for getting us together for a wonderful experience. I had tons of fun and felt like I made new friends and have a new food favorite. read more

See all

Wow, what an awesome summer event! This dinner was originally planned to be held on the patio, but unfortunately Mother Nature had different ideas, and we had to move the party inside. No worries, Blue Anchor did an amazing job pivoting and had us all set up and cozy for a great meal. We enjoyed east and west coast oysters (fancy!), a beet salad, crab rangoons, calamari, fish tacos, mussels, mushroom risotto, Tuna crispy rice, and mini lobster rolls. Yes. We had all that! I think my favorite bites were the calamari, risotto, and mini lobster rolls, but honestly they were all pretty good! For drinks, I had a dirty martini and the JC Sunrise; both were excellent and available on their happy hour drink menu. I'm already planning my next visit. Thank you to Sara for organizing this great event and to Blue Anchor for their generous hospitality! read more

See all

Came here for a yelp event. This place has amazing service along with some incredible views. It sits right on the Hudson waterfront. The service is fantastic and the bar tenders aren't stingy if you know what I mean. The seafood is really fresh and the calamari is bomb diggity! You definitely have to try this place out if you're in the area. read more

See all

Such a great event!! Blue anchor has great food and drinks and i love that it opens up to the outside. I'll definitely be back!! Really loved the sweet chili calamari, the crab rangoon, oysters and the kiwi breeze!! Great service too! Thank you Sara and Yelp for another fabulous yelp elite event! read more

See all

Let me start with saying i always enjoy attending a Yelp outing!!! This special Elite All Star Dinner was really a nice way to celebrate our all star status for the month! Blue Anchor is a quaint seafood restaurant located on the Hudson River in Jersey City. This was my first time eating here but i had the pleasure of sampling their Lobster Rolls at the Taste of JC. They allowed us a few items off the menu to try. We tried Oysters, Lobster Rolls, sushi and more! We also got two drink tickets. The lovely bartender was a mixologist!! She really knew how to craft a cocktail!! One of my fav bites of the night was honestly the Oysters!! I am NOT an Oyster fan but i wanted to give them another try! And let me tell u those East Coast Oysters were sooo good!!! So much flavor almost creamy/buttery and briney!!! I was pleasantly surprised!! The best part of every Yelp event is meeting all my fellow Elites old and new! We always have great conversations while enjoying a great meal....whats better than that!!?? I was to give a huge thank you to Sarah and her team who works so hard curating these amazing events! I know its not easy and always smooth executing then but they make it look easy and i just really appreciate all they do for us!!! Thank u also to the staff at Blue Anchor for accommodating us especially with the change of plans due to the weather! I plan to return for the views, a nice glass of white wine, Oysters and a Lobster Rolls read more

See all