First, I would like to thank Jorge for suggesting Altas Horas – Ironbound’s newest burger spot.The spot…
I walked in to this small establishment on the corner of Chambers and Ferry Streets a few minutes after 10PM. The restaurant is owned by my name is Rafael Moreira Da Silva who’s brother, Jose C. Moreira, owns the Casa Nova Restaurant (Brazilian barbecue) across the street. This small but popular burger joint opened sometime last year (2005?).
There were a few customers sitting and enjoying their hamburgers and “salgados.” I took a seat in the middle of the place so I can get a nice view of everything. I can say that they put some thought into the construction of the place. There were about three things that I felt were important. One, their two outside walls were all glass. Two, one of the side walls were covered with mirrors, both of which make this small place look bigger. And three, they use a side entrance for the delivery guys so they are not in and out of the actual restaurant.
The menu…
Altas Horas has by-far one of the largest/longest menus I have ever seen. There were over 30 different hamburgers to choose from, not to mention you can custom order any burger. I hope I’m not discouraging anyone who doesn’t eat hamburgers. Altas Horas does offer daily soup specials, healthy sandwiches, salads, mini pizzas, all types of breakfast food, and “salgados” (all kinds of deep fried pastries such as “empanadas”). Then they have the “sucos & vitaminas.” Sucos is usually a natural fruit juice like strawberry juice or orange juice (and of course they have the very Brazilian fruits like acai, guava, and papaya). “Vitaminas” is usually like “Sucos” but the main difference is that “vitaminas” are made with milk instead of water. Oh, they also have things like “soda” and “Snapple.”
They also have a wide array of desserts or “doces.” Most of these are traditional Brazilian desserts, “Pave de Frutas” (Flan w/ fruit), different flavored mousses, and plain old cheesecake for you picky eaters out there. They also have “panquecas” literally “pancakes” which are more like “crepes.” You can mix all types of goodies in this one too.
The ordering process…
This one is always awkward for me. I speak perfect Portuguese-Portuguese but when I speak to someone who speaks Brazilian-Portuguese, I panic. Ha! Well I can say that the ordering process was a lot less complicated than picking something to eat. Guess what I chose? If you guessed “X-Tudo” give yourself a pat on the back. “X-Tudo,” everyone talks about it, but what is it? Let me fill you in. A X-Tudo can be translated into X-Everything, meaning it includes pretty much every topping; much like a “Supreme Pizza” includes just about every topping available. This particular X-Tudo came with: bread (duh!), hamburger (double duh!), mozzarella cheese, egg, bacon, ham, potato sticks, lettuce, tomatoes, corn (yes, corn on a hamburger), and mayo.
the taste…
Okay, wait just a minute before I move on to the taste part. I just need to say that this burger is HUGE. So huge in fact, that I wish I had a measuring tape to measure the sucker (note to self: bring measuring tape on next trip). If you were to cut this baby into four even pieces, you can literally feed four people.
On to the taste. It tasted soooooooo delicious. My mouth was filled with so many flavors; my taste buds never worked so hard. The burger was well cooked, just the way I like it. I could easily taste the distinct bacon and egg. The whole time I attempted to chow down this burger I kept thinking about being able to finish it or not. In the end, with the help of some “Guarana” soda, I was able to finish it down to the very last kernel of corn.
the check…
No wallet damage here. The total (burger + soda) came to $6.25. Is that a deal or what? Rachel Ray would be so proud!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
my name is rafael moreira da silva
I am owner of altas horas
something is incorrect please can you change in the text….
the owner of casa nova is my brother jose c moreira
thanks
Love Altas Horas !!! He is right: gotta try X Tudo !!!
yeah.Altas Horas burger are not bad thats becouse you have not tried HAMBURGAO mouth watering burgers…The menus are about the same but HAMBURGAO was the first to open in 2001. Not to say that Altas horas copied HAMBURGAO entire menu and store looks. I’m a preety literal guy and i keep with the original. Now go try hamburgao hamburger and you will never ever ever and i mean EVER go back to Altas Horas thats not to say that the owner not only copied Hamburgao style of work he copied other food places in newark style of work…i keep it real …next time you go enjoy a burger think about if you keep it real and go to the real place……till the ENJOY
my name is Rafael and I am the owner of altas horas .. ..thank you for talk about my place…and casanova across the street …it’s my brother’s place thank u very much
sim, o altas horas e o melhor local para se fazer um lanche em newark, contando com o pessoal que sao todos qualificados e treinados para tal a casa oferece toda infraestrutura que toda lanchonete precisa ter para atendr a sua clientela, alem de estar em um local muito privilegiado e de alta rotatividade.,, parabens rafael vc merece !!!!!!!