A longtime New Jersey restaurateur is preparing to debut a new upscale Mexican dining concept in downtown Hackensack.

Azul, a Mexican kitchen and mezcal bar from Chef Cristino “Tony” Campos, is slated to open in at 120 River Street.

The concept will combine a low-lit mezcal bar atmosphere with a full kitchen focused on deeply traditional Mexican cooking techniques and regional dishes.

According to the restaurant, the space will feature a copper bar, a collection of more than 40 mezcals, and a kitchen operating daily from morning through late evening.

Campos is best known as the longtime owner of La Hacienda in Paterson, a restaurant that operated for more than three decades and became a fixture in the city’s Mexican dining scene.

The chef was recently honored by the City of Paterson for his contributions to the community and local business landscape.

Azul’s menu will focus on dishes rooted in traditional Mexican cooking methods, including cochinita pibil slow-cooked in achiote and bitter orange, mole built from dozens of ingredients including dried chiles, chocolate, cinnamon, almonds, and sesame, and flame-grilled carne asada based on recipes Campos says he has refined over decades.

The restaurant also plans to feature desserts like pan de elote alongside an elevated cocktail and mezcal program.

Ownership describes Azul as a restaurant built around technique, patience, and authenticity rather than abbreviated interpretations of Mexican cuisine.

The opening also continues the steady growth of downtown Hackensack’s dining scene, particularly along the River Street corridor, which has seen a wave of new restaurants, bars, cafés, and nightlife concepts open in recent years.

Azul is currently targeting a summer opening.

Azul
120 River Street
Hackensack, NJ
Website