We came in as a little family crew and had a really lovely experience…read more Drinks first: I had a matcha latte with oat milk that was smooth, earthy, and not overly sweet. My husband ordered a hot chocolate with oat milk, rich and comforting, and my mom had a chai with oat milk. She enjoyed the flavor overall. Food-wise, my husband ordered the chorizo omelette and was very happy with it--hearty, well-seasoned, and satisfying. I had the salmon salad, which was delicious. The dressing was balanced and flavorful, the greens fresh, and the salmon was cooked and seasoned really well. I will note that the salmon portion was a bit smaller than what I'd seen in some Yelp photos, but the quality absolutely made up for it. My mom had the club sandwich, which was generously sized and filling. She also wasn't a fan of the soft-boiled egg that came with her dish, but that's more a personal preference--she's firmly in the "well-done only" camp. Our little one had eggs and fries and was clearly living her best life. A sweet highlight of the visit was when the owner kindly gave her a cookie on the house--such a small gesture, but it really made the experience feel warm and personal. The space itself feels like a true community gathering spot--comfortable, welcoming, and easy to settle into. It's a great place to work or linger, with free WiFi and a relaxed atmosphere that invites you to stay awhile. Overall, this spot feels cozy, thoughtfully run, and rooted in care. The food is well-prepared, the flavors are intentional, and the hospitality really stands out. We'd absolutely come back for brunch and a longer stay next time.

Sihana Cafe feels like a warm hug from an old friend. The staff is super friendly, and every corner…read moreis full of stories -- old books, a retro typewriter, vintage radios... you can easily spend an afternoon here getting lost in the details. I ordered a latte and the chorizo omelette. The latte was smooth but the milk foam didn't quite blend in perfectly, and the art could be stronger. The chorizo in the omelette was really tasty and the potatoes were crispy and flavorful. But for me, there was too much cheese on top -- almost like eating a pizza! Great at first bite, but gets a bit heavy towards the end. Still, if you love quirky spaces and brunch plates that feel homemade, it's worth a stop.

Just got off my plane and this was my first time in New Jersey, so I decided to try this bakery:…read more The bacon egg and cheese ($5.99) was honestly really good. It came on a mollete roll that was crispy on the outside, and everything worked well together. Definitely my favorite thing I got. The pastel de nata was also solid -- nice light, crispy crust with a smooth, creamy filling. The Brazilian cheese bread (3 for $1) wasn't great though. It was chewy but it didn't taste fresh, so it wasn't crispy and ended up being kind of dense. Same with the beef empanada ($2.99) -- I'd probably skip it. The filling was dry, crumbly, and didn't have much flavor, just plain ground beef. Overall, I won't be back in New Jersey anytime soon, but coming from California it felt really cheap for a local spot. If I do come back, I'd probably try a different place.

Pastel de Nata. Go get as many as possible and as often as…read morepossible. The best in the area.

My bestie requested Blueprint Cafe Lounge as her post Cherry Blossom Festival 10k meal. I put the…read morecoordinates in my GPS but couldn't understand why it was going to take me nearly 30 minutes to get to. Follow me here: do you remember club Love in DC (early 2000s)? The location is similar - a place that wouldn't be on your radar unless you know. I say all that to say, upon pulling up I remembered attending a private birthday party and some community networking events at Blueprint Cafe! We selected our own seating upon entry. What became our waiter offered a high chair for the baby. I get easily overwhelmed by large menus so I just glanced at the board but focused primarily on the brunch menu. I ordered the Irish Cream French toast which came with chicken. I also ordered a pineapple matcha lemonade. The pineapple matcha lemonade came in a bottle, which met my needs (juggling the baby and myself). I loved how refreshing and sweet it was! I really wanted another but didn't want to see greedy. The French toast was perfect. Not too sweet, light and fluffy. It paired well with the savory strips of chicken which came with a secret sauce. I forgot how nice of an addition Blueprint Cafe Lounge was to the Ironbound section. I'm looking forward to returning this summer and using the outdoor seating!

Pro Tip: if you're coming during brunch hours, just make a reservation, because it's not going to…read morehurt anything, and guarantees you'll get a table, especially if you're coming with more than a couple of people. Fortunately, we were just the two of us, and the server was able to smuggle us in to a lovely window seat with the sun pleasantly warming the chairs on a cold winter day. That said, if we had been a larger party, things might have been awkward. The kitchen is massive, which means that the food is going to be varied and good. The seating area is a fraction of the whole space. That's OK, because there is plenty of seating, as long as they know you're coming. Again, this is 100% on me, because I didn't make a reservation ahead of time. Smoothies are addicting, and way too easy to chug down. The portions on the food are pretty generous. If you're getting a beverage (coffee drink, smoothie, etc), plus a main dish, you're likely going to be full before you get to the bottom of the dish. Don't do what I did and pay extra for a side of fries. You're not going to finish them even though they're those super thin crispy shoestring fries with various herbs sprinkled on. They tasted lovely, but I was too full to keep eating. Food was full of flavour, and the waiter knew which dish would be a mess to eat, as he snuck us a few extra napkins when he saw that I had ordered the vegan chicken parm sandwich. I needed them, because the sandwich, though delicious, is a mess to eat! Would order again 10/10. They do charge a fee to pay with card, so if you have cash, pay cash so you can skip that fee. Service was attentive without being all up in your grill. Food took a while to get to us, but it was a busy brunch shift, and I can understand that things would take a while when they're cooking stuff fresh. It all tasted fresh, and not reheated, if you know what I mean. All in all, a very pleasant experience, whether you're a vegan or an omnivore. My date ate every bite of his order too.

Delicious food, pastries and coffee. Awesome bifana sandwich and perfect fries, sandwich could use…read morea touch more sauce though, but still so very good. Very nicely decorated, cozy contemporary atmosphere with some tvs, also. Very friendly staff and quick service. Highly recommend.

What an awesome find. After a friend had told me to try the place out, we stopped by after a day at…read morethe shooting range. The place is super cool... you'll forget your in Newark. Food was excellent, I had the codfish in cream sauce which some places are very stingy on the cod fish. Not here... I was stuffed after half of the serving. My friend had the grilled squid and luckily let me try it out. Absolutely delicious. We will definitely be going back with our better halves. The restaurant is so clean my Cuban mother would approve. Very friendly staff and a few parking spots right in front. Weather was cold and raining so we sat inside, but they have a nice outside area for dining once the weather improves.

Tops is the tops of all NJ diners. We had a special event…read morenear by, needed a good place to celebrate and eat well. Based on prior experiences, we made a reservation which saved us. Place gets packed despite the many tables. Service was amazing, food was great (slightly higher prices than others, but the quality execution and quantity balanced it out). We had cornbread (very good), fries (was fine), chicken parm with pasta (we asked for vodka sauce which they accommodated for small charge), fried chicken (must have), churrasco steak breakfast and turkey club. No false notes that we could tell. Some standouts were mashed potatoes (really good), cornbread (toasted and slight sweet, with strawberry butter which was wild), whole wheat bread toasted (it was good I tell you) and fried chicken (it will haunt me in my hungry moments). Didn't think a diner would impact me as much, but they over delivered. Go, but make a reservation unless you want to wait.

READ FULL REVIEW!!!…read more March 2026: First time at this establishment was just ok. Hosted a very small get-together here (5 guest). Atmosphere was nice. Music was wayy too loud to hear the person you're sitting next to. Food was tasty and fresh. Coffee was good with great creamer selection (at the time). Our server was my least favorite part of this experience. He was over the top with his energy and upscale tactics (pushy with getting us to order extra drinks and appetizers despite declining). I was hosting this event and did not need him selling us after already being told "no, thank you" twice. It was awkward and ultimately changed the vibe. He hardly checked on us after that encounter and we constantly had to remind them about request that were never brought out to the table. Staff needs to be trained better. This was just an ok experience. April 2026 : What ultimately lead me to write this review was my 2nd experience at this diner. The server was a lot better than our first experience, but we did run into a few too many problems. First, we ordered coffee and are informed that per managements request, we can only have half-half or cream with our coffee. Previously they had French vanilla creamers and other flavored creamers but I guess management decided to save on the additional cost. This was a bummer especially realizing that they could easily afford creamers. This restaurant easily pulls at least $150,000 per week in revenue, so I didn't understand cheapening out like that. I still ordered the coffee. When it came to the table I added the cream into the cup only to find something floating in the coffee. I send it back and ask for a new cup, which the server politely provided. We order our meals and all goes well. Eventually two of the three meals come out and we wait for the final plate to come out. It's common courtesy to wait for everyone to have their meal before eating, so we wait. We wait about 6-7 minutes and the final plate comes out only for it to be cold. All of us ordered breakfast, so you can imagine trying to eat cold egg, potato, and sausage. We ask for the waiter, but before he could get to us the manager passes by and we let him know the issue. He takes the plate to the back and about two minutes later he comes back with the same exact plate. Before the manager arrived to take the plate away, I saw the guest split the egg half and add black pepper on everything so we knew it was the same plate and food she started eating off of that was reheated onto the kitchen grill where other food is being prepared for guest. The manager informs us that he had the chef heat the food up on the griddle and that it should be a perfect temperature. We refuse to accept the plate because it was reheated and not remade entirely. We were shocked that this was the solution even being offered. Reheating food on the griddle seemed unsafe (contamination risk, diseases, illness, etc) and offensive. No one pays these prices to have reheated breakfast served to them. I could've just made that at home for a fraction of the price. We politely refuse the reheated plate and he apologized and took the plate to the back. The server comes over to see what the issue is and we explain everything. He says that he will look into it and take that meal off the bill. Now I'm frustrated because one out of the three of us aren't eating anything and the experience was off. At this point, I'm not eating my meal but the 3rd guest is eating. So the guest who sent their plate back and myself are waiting for the 3rd guest to finish their pancakes. He ordered a stack of 4-5 chocolate chip pancakes and was happily eating away at layer by layer. Eventually he gets to the last 2 pancakes and before he adds syrup he notices what appeared to be an eyelash or short piece of hair imbedded in the pancake. Picture of the clearly imbedded hair included with this review. He immediately stopped eating and looks sick. He had already eaten 3-4 pancakes by then and the idea that he ate more of whatever that was felt unnerving, to say the least. We both start looking to see what he's looking at and long behold the hair was there. At this point we are extremely frustrated and completely over this experience. Management did not make this experience right even after addressing all of these issues both separately and together. I felt like my money was not valued and my business certainly wasn't. They did nothing to remedy these issues and I will NOT be going back to this establishment. This restaurant may look visually beautiful but the service is not. Staff needs more training, music needs to be turned down, chefs need to wear hairnets and everyone needs to follow safe food handling skills. You're putting your guest and your business at risk ignoring these issues. I really really wish I had a better experience.

Ambiance : decor is very modern art deco features local artists paintings but could use more…read morecleaning Service: the greeting was very welcoming but however being served was not organized i was seated before someone but they order was taken before me. Food: chicken was very good and flavorful, grilled cheese was good and toasted golden brown. Waffles were bland thick and hard to swallow even with syrup still bland . The worst thing about my whole meal was my drink there was something floating in the bottom of my drink that no one could identify.

Let me start out by saying, we've been coming here for years and used to love their food. But after…read moreour last visit, we won't be back. As we entered the restaurant, the floors were "crunchy", sticky and tacky. I assume they mopped the dining room with the same mop they use to clean the greasy floors in the kitchen. They don't have high chairs, So we spent most of the time with our toddler in our lap. The sweet tea tasted off, sour almost. Had to give it back to the server because I couldn't stomach it. Had my husband taste it, and he immediately agreed that something was wrong with it. The plastic utensils were such a turn off. We're dining in, is it too much of a hassle to give your customers actual silverware?? Got fish and grits. Potatoes, toast and eggs. Honestly, the only flavorful item on my plate was the potatoes and eggs. Was upcharged to add cheese to my grits, but the cheese never melted. Pre shredded bagged cheese is what they have on hand it seems. My husband ordered shrimp and grits and asked for a side of eggs, but that arrived 15 minutes after we all received our food. Not sure why it took so long so cook up 2 eggs for him. He was also disappointed in his brunch. It was obvious they used frozen bagged shrimp. Probably the 26-30/lb because the shrimp were really small and had the nerve to be overcooked. Workers just seemed disheveled. Not sure what happened to Vondas but it fell off for sure. We're not from Newark and would travel here for years. Not anymore. This is the end of an era, definitely won't be back. Absolutely don't recommend.

I used to live in Elizabeth NJ and it's a regular thing to go to Ironbound for Portuguese food. Now…read morethere is a significant number of Brazilian offering in the area. What a treat! So I made a special trip just to get some Coxihnia. First time visiting this place and I like their menu. Light meals and snacks. At nearly 9pm I was able to get an açaí smoothie and the last chicken Coxihnia. The service is quick and the menu was very clear with self ordering kiosk (credit card only) or ordering at the counter. The vibe is young and hip. Recommended for anyone who wants to try something different!

Snack Mania - Newark, NJ Visited: May 9, 2025 (Delivery)…read moreOrder: Medium Bites, The X-Frango, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Mini Pudim Total: $59.54 Review: Let's just say this: Snack Mania lives in that murky middle zone between "late-night curiosity" and "I should've just gone to the bodega." First, the good -- fries traveled surprisingly well and still had snap. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich had solid flavor on first bite, and The X-Frango's size was generous enough to feel like you got your money's worth. But let's talk construction. The chicken sandwich came overloaded with coleslaw -- not the crisp, tangy kind, but the soggy, sliding-around sort that hijacks the texture of the whole thing. For a spot that bills itself as a craveable comfort fix, balance matters. The Mini Pudim? Cute in concept, but forgettable in execution. Because this was delivery, I'll cut a bit of slack -- texture always takes a hit in transit -- but for nearly $60, I expected more cohesion and less "eh." Would I Return? Not for delivery. I'd give them another shot in person, where crunch and heat can actually shine. Rating: TLDR: Snack Mania might scratch your fast-food itch, but if you're chasing comfort and quality, you're better off waiting 'til you can try it fresh off the line.

I always have a sweet tooth and wanted to give this spot a try. When I arrived I had to double park…read morebecause parking is terrible in this area. I walked in and was greeted. The spot was super cute. I asked the lady a couple of questions about the desserts and the one I went with is the lime pie. It came to a little under $7 for a small slice. It's a tad pricey at this location. I paid and left. When I got home I tasted and it was a tasty pie. It was the right amount of flavor throughout. I had a pretty decent experience.

Nope.....! We saw…read moretheir Luxury Truffle Collection offered on QVC. The truffles presented there were presented as large enough to be cut in half and shared for 2. The hosts Ooooed and Awwwed over the size of them & the unique flavors and when we would normally never pay 5$ a piece for chocolate, we thought they looked like a deal given the "size" and unique flavors. [12 pieces for $59.95] What was delivered was a joke! The total weight of the chocolates was approximately 8 ounces. That made them $120 a pound. They were simply packed loosely in a shipping box, so the box of truffles was shook and shaken all the way to our house and they looked terrible by the time they arrived. So an F for shipping. And the size, well as you can see they were nowhere as large as what was presented, as some were not even large enough to fill the space allowed in their packaging! For the most part they were smaller than a Lindor truffle. So another F for actual portion size in relation to what as presented on QVC. Finally the taste.... There was none. We tries 3, and they had NO real taste. I described them as eating Play Dough...just a weird putty texture. And the killer is 2 of the 3 we tried were hollow and you could see the seam where they constructed them. Yes...a BIG FAT "F" for taste!! We tried to return them and QVC didnt even want them back... So we put them where they belonged...in the TRASH. I welcome the owners of this establishment to prove to us what they offer is actually worth $120 a pound....

This diner is a landmark, has been serving great food day and night since the dawn of time, staff…read moreis always friendly and accommodating, late nights can be very entertaining, do put it on your list.

It's open late but it's not many options after 11 pm and n Newark. Service good but food is…read moresubpar. They should think about ramping up the menu and ambiance- they could rule the late night in the area- lEspecially after a concert at prudential center! Missing out on a lot of $$$.

L O V E It's like…read morewalking into an adult sized tree house. There are a bunch of different areas for working, chatting, lounging. Two floors with the main floor having tons of bar stools, Tabes and a lower nook area with a larger table and some couches. Upstairs offers a long community table with window lounge seating bright and even whimsical with a lovely floor to ceiling book case. Menu offers snacks, small bites and more substantial meal options. They also do a happy hour special beginning at 4! I opted for a dirty chai (5/5) and scrambled egg and cheddar sandwich (5/5) both were delish! Appreciated the side salad as well! If you're looking for a spot to work, meet a friend or enjoy some time to your self reading a book definitely check it out. Staff is friendly, noise is reasonable and not disruptive, space is bright and open. Free WiFi. Plenty of places nearby if you wanted to try another spot for food. The only bummer is the Parking. There is street or nearby parking lot but street parking was full even at 9:30 AM the lot is covered but $5 for 2 hours and up from there.

I had such a lovely time here--it honestly felt like a little escape from my usual routine. The…read morefood was beautifully presented and full of flavor, every bite felt thoughtfully made. I especially appreciated how everything tasted fresh yet comforting at the same time. The service was warm and attentive without being overwhelming, which made me feel really relaxed and taken care of. And the ambiance? Just the right balance of cozy and charming--I could've easily stayed much longer. This is definitely the kind of place I'd come back to, whether for a quiet solo moment or to share with friends. It just has that effortless, welcoming vibe that makes you want to linger a little longer