“P.J. RYAN’S SQUARED” LIGHTS UP PATH PLAZA Restaurateur Mike Ryan opens Irish-American Pub and Sports Bar in Journal Square By Sally Deering
M
ike Ryan knows restaurants. In April, he opened his seventh: P. J. Ryan’s Squared, a new “go to” bistro in PATH Plaza in Journal Square. A big Irish Pub, P. J. Ryan’s Squared has a spacious dining area with nooks and crannies for conversations with friends, and a huge circular bar with 23 flat screen TVs for sports-lovers. Ryan describes his Journal Square pub as an Irish-American sports bar and music club where customers eat, drink and play darts and shuffleboard. On Friday and Saturday nights there’s live music; and on Thursday nights, Ryan’s brother plays Irish music in the Eamon Ryan Band. “I want to have a music bar,” Mike Ryan says on a recent sunny afternoon as customers sit outside in the bar’s beer garden. “I have music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and I want to start Karaoke on Wednesday nights. Entertainment brings people in and makes everybody want to be here. There’s nothing like P.J. Ryan’s here in Journal Square.”
Mike Ryan, owner, P.J. Ryan’s Squared
An Irish Pub and Sports Bar in PATH Plaza
Page 16-June 16- June 30, 2016 River View Observer
Fish & Chips Peas & Carrots); BBQ P.J. Ryan’s Squared oneGlazed Grilled Salmon, page menu is filled with Steak & Fries and Shepafun dishes: snacks, salads, rd’s Pie. ($12-$24). sandwiches, burgers, platOpening a new restauters (entrees) and “platrant in PATH Plaza is in ters to share” For snacks, step with the city’s plans to there’s Red Bean & Beef Chili, Jar of Pickles, Grilled rebuild Journal Square with new residential buildings, Long Hot Peppers, Fresh retail stores and restauPopcorn, Beer Battered rants that serve good food Onion Rings, Hot & Spicy and drink, Ryan says. It Cajun Fries, French Fries, and a Hot Bavarian Pretzel. also helps that P.J. Ryan’s Squared is steps away from ($3-$9) the PATH trains. Platters to Share include “I’m a former chairman Loaded Tater Tots, Crispy of the Jersey City Planning Jumbo Wings, Crisp Fried Board,” Ryan says. “My Cauliflower, Meat & goal is to revitalize Jersey Cheese Board, Margarita Flatbread and Grilled Skirt City and Journal Square is a big part of it. For a bar Steak Tacos. ($10-$13). business, having the train Salads feature the Classic so close is a service to your Caesar and Caprese. ($10) customers. This way they For sandwiches there’s don’t have to drive. My Liverwurst, P.J. Ryan’s goal is to have a P.J. Ryan’s French Dip, Grilled at every PATH station.” Cheese, Grilled Chicken Ryan still enjoys being a Club and the Michigan Dog restaurateur, he says, and with Michigan Sauce, Musnow that he’s opened his tard & Onions on a Potato seventh, he’s already planBun. ($7-$14) ning more. Burgers include the P.J. “That’s how you meet Ryan’s Burger – grilled 8 people and enjoy people oz. black Angus chuck, speand have fun,” Ryan says. cial sauce, toasted English A frequent visitor to Iremuffin, Lettuce, Tomato, land – he has a house there Onion and Pickle; Turkey – Ryan designed his bar Burger, and Black Bean to resemble an Irish Pub. Burger. ($9-$12) There are counters throughBig Platters include Fish out the bar that have all 26 & Chips, Bangers and Mash (Irish Sausage, Ched- counties of Ireland endar Mashed Potatoes, Stout graved on glass their glass Gravy with Pearl Onions,
Cont’d on page 17