New Jersey City barbecue joint fills void with open-flame cookingBy Steven Rodas | For
The Jersey Journalon September 01, 2015 at 10:34 AM
JERSEY CITY – The love for open-flame cooking and an atmosphere found only in family-owned businesses are the foundation for one of Jersey City's newest barbecue joints, Carvao BBQ.
The restaurant's "carvao" -- the Portuguese word for charcoal -- was imported from Brazil to help the rustic and modern restaurant/bar's menu items achieve a unique taste.
"We're blessed to have so many people come in and thank us since we opened, showing us how happy they are to have a place in this area they can go to and call their own," said Steve Papas, 47, a native of Greece who has lived in Jersey City for most of his life.
Papas officially opened Carvao BBQ, located at 686 Bergen Ave., on July 26 with cousin Jordi Papaspyrou, 35, and longtime friend Maksym Rudenko, 30.
In addition to importing the charcoal, a number of the meats including their sausages are also sent from Brazil, while steaks are delivered from Pennsylvania farms.
Papas, who also owns Paparazzi Pizzeria at 200 Summit Ave. in Jersey City, said his family owns the building on Bergen Avenue, which he took over for the restaurant
"We were going to open a build-your-burger (restaurant) but after Max and I went to Newark one day...there was a line at a Portuguese BBQ place leading outside and we realized Jersey City needed a spot like this."
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