Three years ago, when chef Matt Moschella and his partners were looking for a spot for their new restaurant Corto, they had a simple vision in mind — to make “simple, straightforward food.” The team eventually settled on a former bodega in Jersey City’s Heights neighborhood and transformed the bedraggled interior into a fun, lively dining space that doesn’t look unlike someone’s living room—wooden furniture, cheerful photo wall, and creamy white wall paneling that restored the room’s original look in the ‘30s.

A small open kitchen is attached but is not separated from the dining room. The space is meant to be accessible and comforting, and so is the food. Read on to learn more about Corto located at 507 Palisade Avenue in Jersey City.