Waterfront dining comes with quite a backdrop at Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia in Weehawken. Located inside the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner overlooking Weehawken Cove, Hoboken, and the New York City skyline—and you don’t need to be a hotel guest to dine there.
We recently visited Beneci’s for dinner and decided to make a night of it, staying upstairs at the Sheraton and taking advantage of the NY Waterway ferry just steps away for a quick trip into Manhattan to visit my son and daughter-in-law. We returned for cocktails at the bar that evening and breakfast the next morning, giving us a chance to experience Beneci’s from dinner through breakfast. So let’s get to dinner.
Dinner at Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia
One of the best parts of an overnight stay here is that you don’t have to leave the property for dinner.
During our visit, Jonathan Masilo, Director of Sales and Events, told us the restaurant is revamping its menu, with plans to lean further into a classic New Jersey Italian restaurant experience.
Beneci’s rolled out its new lunch and dinner menu this week, so the timing couldn’t be better.
If you’re ordering for the table, start with the Whipped Ricotta, served with red chili flakes, mint, honey, and sourdough, along with the Bruschetta alla Beneci’s and Steamed Mussels with Grilled Bread, prepared with white wine and garlic.
The Pasta Flight is a fun way to sample the pasta offerings without committing to just one—choose three from Bolognese, Penne alla Vodka, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Mezzi Rigatoni al Pesto. We also tried the Chicken Parmigiana with Linguine, a Jersey Italian classic that fits right into the restaurant’s new direction. And don’t skip the pizza, made fresh in-house with choices ranging from Margherita and New York Style to Spicy Calabrese, Adriatico and Bianca. Even the sides deserve some attention; the Brussels Sprouts finished with balsamic were an easy table favorite. Our advice? Bring a few people, order several dishes and share. This menu makes it easy to try a little bit of everything.
It makes sense for a restaurant with this setting. Beneci’s combines Italian-inspired dining with views across the Hudson toward Manhattan, creating a restaurant that works just as well for a local dinner as it does for guests making a weekend of it.
A Room With a Serious View
Our room overlooked Weehawken Cove and Hoboken, with the Manhattan skyline stretching out beyond the Hudson. From our window, we could even look directly across the river toward the 9/11 Memorial.
It’s one of those hotel-room views that makes you stop what you’re doing every time you walk past the window — particularly as daylight fades and Manhattan begins to light up across the water.
Manhattan Without the Manhattan Hotel Stay
Here’s where this location really won us over.
The NY Waterway ferry terminal is just steps from the Sheraton, so after settling into the hotel, we walked over and hopped on the ferry to Manhattan. The ride across the Hudson takes only about ten minutes, making it an incredibly easy way to enjoy New York without driving into the city.
No tunnel traffic. No searching for a Manhattan parking garage. No navigating the car through Midtown.
We spent some time in the city with our kids and, when we were ready to call it a night, simply took the ferry back to Lincoln Harbor and walked back to the hotel.
It was remarkably easy.
Back From the City? There’s a Bar Waiting
Instead of ending the evening when we returned from Manhattan, we stopped at the bar at Beneci’s for cocktails.
There’s something particularly nice about coming back from the energy of New York, walking a few steps from the ferry and settling into a bar overlooking the skyline you just left behind.
A Beautiful Breakfast Without Leaving the Hotel
We returned to Beneci’s the following morning for breakfast, which may be one of the most underrated benefits of a one-night getaway: no searching for a breakfast spot, no getting back into the car, and no complicated morning plans.
Just head downstairs.
Breakfast is served beginning at 6:30 a.m., so the restaurant also works well for travelers who want an early start before heading into Manhattan or continuing their trip.
Breakfast is definitely worth building into your stay, and if you’re wondering what to order, here’s what hit our table. Go hungry for the Steak & Eggs, with an eight-ounce New York strip, eggs, and breakfast potatoes, or stick with a classic Eggs Benedict, available with ham, bacon, or smoked salmon.
The Avocado Toast is your lighter option, served on country sourdough with herbed cream cheese, avocado, and cherry tomatoes — add a poached or over-easy egg to make it a little more substantial. If you’re Team Sweet Breakfast, order the Classic French Toast, made with challah and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries. And for the person who can never quite find an omelet with exactly what they want, the Three-Egg Omelet lets you choose your own combination of fillings. Our suggestion? Order a few different things for the table and share. That way nobody has to choose between steak and eggs and French toast — which is exactly how breakfast should be.
And Beneci’s breakfast isn’t reserved for overnight guests. Masilo emphasized that the restaurant welcomes the surrounding community, too.
“It’s open to everyone,” he said, including hotel guests, local residents, and people working in the surrounding area.
A Jersey Getaway With the Best of Both Worlds
The Sheraton Lincoln Harbor makes an interesting case for staying on the New Jersey side of the Hudson.
You get waterfront views, a full-service restaurant for breakfast and dinner, cocktails downstairs, and incredibly convenient ferry access to Manhattan — while having a quieter home base waiting for you at the end of the night.
For New Jersey residents, it also opens up some fun possibilities. This could be an easy date-night getaway, a home base for a Broadway weekend, a convenient overnight for a concert or event in Manhattan, or simply an excuse to enjoy dinner, drinks, and one of the best skyline views in the state.
New Jersey on one side of the river. New York City on the other. For an overnight getaway, that’s a pretty great combination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia
Do you have to stay at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor to eat at Beneci’s?
No. Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia is open to the public as well as guests staying at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel.
Does Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia serve breakfast?
Yes. Beneci’s serves breakfast beginning at 6:30 a.m., with options ranging from Steak & Eggs and Eggs Benedict to Avocado Toast, French Toast, and build-your-own omelets.
Is there parking at Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia?
Yes. Complimentary parking is available for restaurant patrons.
Can you take the ferry from Beneci’s to New York City?
Yes. The Lincoln Harbor NY Waterway ferry terminal is just steps from the restaurant and Sheraton Lincoln Harbor, making it easy to take the ferry across the Hudson to Manhattan.
Does Beneci’s have views of New York City?
The restaurant’s waterfront location offers views across the Hudson toward the New York City skyline. Hotel rooms on the waterfront side can also offer expansive views of Weehawken Cove, Hoboken, and Manhattan.
Can you stay overnight at the same property as Beneci’s?
Yes. Beneci’s is located inside the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, making it easy to turn dinner into an overnight getaway and add a trip into Manhattan without having to drive into the city.
Beneci’s Cucina D’Italia
Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel
500 Harbor Boulevard
Weehawken, NJ 07086
201-617-5600
