I came here twice and everything was amazing. My little one loved the pasta with butter and the grilled cheese. I had the sweet potato salad and had some chicken added and it was great. I took the rest home. The service day was great and the ambiance was very calm. The other patrons there were also very polite and courteous. Definitely recommend this place and definitely will be back. read more

Central Bistro - Dinner: The kids Pasta with Butter, kids Grilled Cheese (sans fries ), and a Sweet Potato Salad with grilled chicken added. Delish!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We were quite surprised to be the only customers there for dinner, though we were early. The food was tasty (chicken Francese for me, a lamb burger for my wife) and the service was great. The waiter, who happens to be the owner's son, was very friendly. read more

I am pleasantly surprised. I ordered a chicken cheesesteak sandwich and it was quite delicious. The taste reminded me of buffalo chicken a little bit, but I didn't mind it at all. I also ordered a barbecue sauce on the side, but it tasted more like a honey teriyaki. It was good too. Overall I would visit this restaurant again. read more

We ordered take out and it was very fast and very delicious. I had the Gnocchi Bolognese, would recommend them. The servers are very friendly too, we've eaten at that location before and the ambiance is very nice. read more

Over the course of the last five years, Central Bistro has really become a go-to in our family. It's the staple restaurant when we want to go out to eat, but don't want to go anywhere fancy. There's really so much to like about this place - the food is amazing, the selection appeases most palettes, it's BYOB, and even in the midst of inflation, the prices (although they have gone up) have remained incredibly fair. Although we've seen its popularity go up in recent years, this place still really hasn't taken off - which is both a gift and a curse. It's a gift because we can basically get a table at any time, but it's a curse because we want this place to do well and stay here for years to comes. (Although, I will say their take-out customers remain as strong as ever.) Admittedly, this place doesn't really have ambience - it's does it's job, it's always clean, and they do decorate seasonally, but there is only so much you can do with a small little restaurant on the corner of Central Avenue. It is not a deterrent, however, as this place is a huge hit to nearly everyone we've recommended it to. As for the menu - they offer both a brunch/lunch menu and a dinner menu, which is lovely. (I've only really explored the dinner menu, so I will have to make a point to come out here for brunch one of these days.) Most things are excellent, but I've now got some favorites since coming here. For the appetizers - the perogies, Asian BBQ wings, and the calamari are all excellent. As for the entrees - you can't go wrong with their steak frites. The steak is excellent quality and the hand-cut truffle fries are absolutely to die for - the dish is EONS better than then signature dish at a certain French Cafe in Hoboken which shall remain unnamed. Other favorites of mine are the lamb burger, the steak tacos, and my absolute favorite dish of all time - the Oaxaca (pronounced "Wa-ha-kah") Torta, which is hands-down the best spicy chicken sandwich I've ever eaten in my life. It's a Mexican-inspired sandwich (aka, torta) which departs from the typical southern-style fries chicken sandwiches that have become so popular in recent years. This sandwich was truly made with intention - it is a mélange of tastes and textures that explode in your mouth - crispy, creamy, spicy, salty, sweet. It's positively addicting and if I had to eat one thing for the rest of my life, this may very well it. If you're in the area, you have to come and try Central Bistro at least once. It's worth trying to find parking in this area! read more

Stopped in for brunch at central bistro. The service was very good and attentive. I got the crab cakes Benedict. It was good but nothing too mind blowing. The hollandaise was just okay.the crab cake itself was pretty good I must say. The chilaquiles was definitely the standout. The sauce it was cooked in was delicious and full of flavor. I highly recommend coming in and getting those. I look forward to coming in for dinner one day but for this brunch it gets 3 stars read more

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We eat at Central Bistro every week, and it never disappoints! The Asian BBQ wings are hands down the best wings anywhere--perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. When we go with friends, we also get the calamari, which is always crispy and delicious. For our main meal, we always go for the Oaxaca torta--it's absolutely amazing! The flavors are bold, and it's so satisfying. The steak and frites is another favorite--tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Honestly, everything on the menu is top-notch. Great food, reasonable prices, friendly staff, and it's BYOB--what more could you ask for? Central Bistro is a true gem! read more

Visited Central Bistro for dinner with some friends who are new to the Heights. They had been a few times and thought it would be an easy place to grab dinner on a Friday night. We showed up around 7:30 and it was not crowded at all. We put together a table for 6 outside. The restaurant is BYO which is great. Service outside was kind of slow but nothing horrible; our entrees all came out a few minutes apart. We got two orders of wings to start - the buffalo and Asian bbq. You got 8 wings per order and they were hearty pieces. Both flavors were pretty good. For my main, I got the meatball parm sub. It was really good and came with fries. I took half of the meal home since it was such a big portion. My fiance got the Oaxaca Torta and he enjoyed it; he also took half of it home. Their menu is all over the place - Italian dishes, tacos, wings, pierogies etc. - so it's a strange mix but everything I had I enjoyed. A good option for those looking for a casual meal in the neighborhood. read more

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The service was great and the food was delicious! The Philly cheesesteak and fries were delicious! read more

Central Bistro - Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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So is my first time visiting last night with a guest. I was a little skeptical because the place was empty but being a neighborhood restaurant I wanted to give it a shot. I was definitely not disappointed. The lamb burger was amazing, my partner had the steak au jus which was great. We finished off the night with a beautiful homemade cannoli and a beautiful delicious banana bread with a homemade vanilla ice cream on top. Excellent experience excellent atmosphere our server was amazing and very attentive. I wish I remembered his name we visited Saturday night around 7:00 p.m. and so whoever that was great job buddy!!!! We will definitely return! read more

I love it! My fav goto byob spots! I've been too many times! And you can get about 2-3 things under $50-60 definitely affordable eats! Service is great, very attentive very demure! Ambiance is cute. They have Great Wall art in that area. read more

Central Bistro - Pasta Chicken Parmigiana - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

First of all YES! Just go there! We were living on Bowers Street and it was a cute little walk and the food is priced well and DELICIOUS!!! read more

Central Bistro - Avacado toast on an English muffin!!! With salad on the side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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The salad was ok. Had dried ham that looked like it has been sitting out for a while, waiting to be used. The cheese stake was t for a quick bite. We sat outside and was given menus. We ordered a salad, the Philly cheesesteak and side fries. All came quickly and efficiently. The salad was ok. Had dried ham that looked like it has been sitting out for a while, waiting to be used. The cheesesteak was ok. I was looking forward to a more traditional version but they had it with sour picked peppers and some artisanal bread. A bit disappointed. Service was good. Prices are downtown JC level. There is a service fee added to the bill after you get the check. Overall just ok food with good service. We will try them again to support local. read more

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We were immediately greeted by Anthony when entering central bistro requested an outside table and he accommodated us. He was very attentive and polite. Menu was very diverse. Very pleasant atmosphere. We had the Philadelphia cheesesteak and eggs Benedict. Overall, very positive and pleasant experience many thanks to Anthony for making our lunch a pleasant one! read more

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Great place for byob. Portions are beyond (I never have leftovers). It's a neighborhood gem that I recommend for service, food and location. 3/5 is because of dessert menu read more

Central Bistro - Chicken Francese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Service was great and food was great! Would recommend! Donny ( hope I spelled your name right) he was wonderful! read more

Everything we had was so good with good portions. Some real outstanding ones worth seeking out. Really can't wait to return and try their other menu items. Surprisingly had no wait on a Saturday morning. 5* Florentine Eggs love the plentiful spinach in this Benedict $11.99. 5* La Oaxaca Torta a sandwich with a thin piece of meat with seasoning that explodes with flavor. Excellent. $12.50. 5* Huevos Vacqueros delicious tender beans makes this clean tasting homey breakfast something one can regularly eat $14.50 5* Chilaqules Mamalones pork is tender, flavorful, not salty and just Excellent. Favorite here and worth seeking out. $14.50 5* Steak Tacos 3 flour tortilla tacos with a lot of steak and filling. They ask how one wants the steak done. (Asked for medium today and was great.) $13.75. 5* Grain Bowl comes with a generous heaping serving of quinoa & avocado. Filling. Asked for dressing on the side but next time will let it come mixed since it is such a big salad. $12.75. 5* OJ & Carrot is a pleasant combination of flavor $5.99. 5* Lemonade $4. 5* Coffee is good and strong here $2. 5* Service Great 5* Located -SW corner of Thorne & Central Ave -found metered street parking -in the NE corner area of Jersey City (&west of Hoboken & NW of the Holland Tunnel) read more

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First impression was good cute decor friendly staff and then the food came it was all delicious. We order the wings burrita and the lamb burger and I was impressed. And it's a byob liquor store is right across the street read more

Central Bistro - Oysters and wings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Found it online and needed a quick lunch. The buffalo wings were legit. The torta was more like a typical sandwich. Wasn't my favorite. There isn't much to the place but food was decent. read more

Clean, quiet atmosphere. Friendly and fast service. Great food! I recommend the Santa Fe Salad.

Service: amazing Food: Fresh, hot, delicious Price: reasonable Recommend: ABSOLUTELY Appetizer: Bistro Nachos Entree: Chicken Cheesesteak ( best chicken cheesesteak I've had) w/ seasoned I had leftovers and it was good cold. ​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Such a cute spot!! Plenty of street parking available. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating available. Iced coffee was good, slightly on the sweeter end. Ask for no sugar if you don't like your coffee sweet. I shared avocado toast and brioche French toast. Avocado toast had two halved English muffins with generous portion of avocado and delicious picked red onions on top with a side of salad. Absolutely delicious, ask for sriracha sauce if you like your avocado toast with a kick! Brioche French toast was so Fresh and not very sweet! Would HIGHLY recommend to share as it may be too much for one person. The waiter was very nice and helpful as well! Will definitely be coming back here read more

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Central Bistro is a bit of an enigma. Their food is absolutely top notch, but it's almost as if they do everything in their power to not let you know it. The menu is a bit all over the place (Italian food! Nachos! Pierogies! You know, things that all go together!), but as far as I can tell, they do it all incredibly well. The decor is strange (why is there a deer head on the wall?), but it's a great corner location with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Was I surprised that our server didn't know the difference between the veal parm on the menu and the veal parm they were serving as a special? Sure, but I went ahead and ordered the special and it turned out to be the beautiful veal chop in the pic below. It was phenomenal! Everything else I've had there was phenomenal! It's BYOB and there's a great wine store across the street with a cat (shout out to Podewitz)! Central Bistro is simply one of the best restaurants in The Heights. No frills. Killer food. Go there. read more

Central Bistro - Excellent veal chop parm special. If they don't have it, the veal parm cutlet on the menu is also great. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Tried on a Tues evening. Nice space. We started with buffalo wings which were average - needed to crisp up the skin more but were ok. I ordered the French dip which is described as follows: "Filet Mignon, Au Jus, Creamy Horseradish, Ciabatta, Fries". Did I really expect Filet mignon on a sandwich for $21. No but I was fine with some nicely sliced roast beef with a side of jus. Instead, the sandwich was a huge disappointment. The bread was 2x too big for the sliced strips of beef inside. The jus was some brown flavorless- looking stuff mixed with the horseradish sauce on the inside of the bread. Nothing was seasoned. I picked the meat out of the roll and tried just to eat that but covered with the brown sauce, it grossed me out. My husband got the chicken parmesan which looked like it should be good but he said it was flavorless. Waiter never came back to our table and finally, my husband when to the bar area to pay. Needless to say, we won't be returning. read more

Little gem in JC height! Best caesar salad I ever had, they made croutons in house and it's always delish. Their shrimp in bourbon sauce is to die for. Love all the pasta dishes. BYOB is also a plus read more

Every dish was excellent and the service was exceptional! Our server really went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and were satisfied. The flavors of every dish (and even the coffee) were amazing. I would highly recommend the chilaquiles. The atmosphere was super chill we never felt rushed from the moment we walked in until we left, so we could just enjoy our meal. I would absolutely come again when I'm in the area read more

The food is absolutely delicious, the bistro burger is amazing and the wings were absolutely fantastic. Overall I was pleasantly surprised would come again. read more

Central Bistro - Wings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The ambience, the food and the service is the best. The chef really knows how to mix cuisines and put his personal touch making the plates delectable. read more

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Came here for a late dinner and the food was delicious! Its also BYOB and the food will not disappoint you. We tried several items in the menu which included appetizers, main dish and the delicious chocolate cake with coffee. The quality and taste of the food will have you day dreaming of your next meal at this restaurant. read more

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Ordered the chicken parmesan, which looks so good in the photos here, and it had absolutely zero flavor. It's hard to believe it's even possible to achieve that. I had to taste food from my wife's meal just to ensure I somehow hadn't suddenly lost my sense of taste. She ordered the french dip, which was all bread and very little meat, which she said wasn't that good anyway. The service was terrible, despite their being only 3 other tables with customers in the restaurant. read more

Food service every thing it's amazing!!! Jersey City Heights gem, cute corner location, airy atmosphere, great music and they will cater to your needs. They have a wonderful staff and the food is simply incredible. Can't say enough good things, this will be my go to place from now on! read more

Central Bistro - Mashed Potato - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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The Asian wings are awesome!!! However the calamari left something to be desired $13 for such a tiny portion is a bit of a rip off read more

Central Bistro - Fried Calamari - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I joke about not wanting to talk about this place so I'll always have an awesome place to go for dinner. But... I can't keep it to myself, the ones who haven't gone MUST go. Everything I've ordered, and snatched from my fellow diners is awesome. Well cooked, well made, well presented, well portioned. The staff is even great in personality and energy. Great space, cozy enough for a date, but spacious enough for a large group. Waiter told me the deer head on the wall was hunted by the chef. I was intrigued, but I then assumed if he hunts, then he MUST know his meat very well. #IwasRight Waiter brought a sample of the bruschetta for each of us, on grilled, crispy-edged bread slices to the table. Wonderful, surprising start. Gnocchi with veal bolognese sauce was euphorioususs (that's a word now). Calamari was cooked perfectly, wanted to wear them as bracelets and nibble all day. Buffalo wings, juicy and made like the chicken asked for it. French dip sandwich made with a generous hunk of meat cooked how you want, and a sauce that was made to love. Rib-eye came with a pile of mushrooms and cooked like someone hugged it before death. Carbonara was gloriously sauced, and tasted like a rich, soft satin pillow was coming out next. Linguine with white clam sauce was the latest thing I ordered. Fabulous. And what I took home I heated up, and it was fabulous, round 2. Even the simple things like the house cut, truffled french fries and mashed potato were made perfectly; you wouldn't leave them around on a plate if you were taking what came with it home. The cannoli was the true test, me, a girl from Brooklyn who knew chubby Italian women who made cannoli from scratch. I split it with a friend so I couldn't be disappointed if it didn't satisfy. ... ... it was sooo good. It was already split in 2 when it came out, and the filling freshly stuffed in each half, light amounts of candied fruit and mini chocolate chips enough to make you know it's there, but not too much for you to forget what that filing was there for. To make you love it. And I did. I love this place. You will too. Go! read more

Central Bistro - Linguine w white clam sauce! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Good experience with no frills. It was quiet around 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and I was the only guest. The service with ordinary and I was checked on periodically. The food was piping hot and tasty. I enjoyed my brunch experience. read more

Central Bistro - Brunch & Lunch Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Place is absolutely lovely and the food is delicious and solid. Service is prompt and you never feel rushed out. Don't skip on the goat cheese pirogies or their lamb burger. Their mussels are also delicious and this place is BYOB! There's a liquor store across the street so very convenient. Please come support this local business and all of the other local businesses on central ave in the heights! read more

I can't rave enough about how good the food was. We actually went to go to another restaurant but they were full with a party so we came here instead and we were SO happy it ended up that way. We ordered: - Appetizer: eggplant rollatini - Entree 1: Chicken Frances over angel hair - Entree 2: Steak, burrata, prosciutto, arugula salad They brought out amazing bruschetta before the app came. You can see the bruschetta in the picture because it came with that salad too on the side. Place was BYOB. It was interesting because the place was a little empty, but seriously people, the food here is AWESOME. read more

Central Bistro - Steak, prosciutto, Buratta, arugula salad (the steak came on a side plate so you can't see it here) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Great food been twice both times the food was delicious also byob which is great. The service also is good read more

Central Bistro - Wings and chicken torta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Why was it empty? I went to Central Bistro Thursday night and we were the only people there when we arrived and when we left. Everything was fantastic! To start we got mussels in white sauce, we said the sauce was so good and so our waiter brought us more bread to soak it up. We then ordered the app size of broccoli rabe, very good as well, to split with our entrees. We got the gnocchi in veal bolognese and the pepper pork chop. Wow, between the size of the portions, the price, and most importantly the taste, this place was a home run. I heard about it from my Roomate who went there with a friend and it was the same situation of no customers. It breaks my heart that they're not getting the attention they deserve. I implore everyone to go and I swear you won't be disappointed! read more

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New to the neighborhood... Central Bistro opened up a little over 4 weeks ago. I could've started this review with a weekend brunch with the Mrs. as that meal has always been a favorite. But even though it was a brunch, this is served every day of the week, till 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Which is quite rare and a pleasant surprise. It's been mentioned before about being a BYOB establishment. But there is a liquor store right across the street, if you feel so inclined. Not much for the decor in this place. It's all about the food. Portions are pretty generous in size. The Mrs had a Fillet Eggs Benedict in horseradish sauce with a side of very crispy home fries. The filet is grass- fed ( yay), and was cooked to perfection. Really didn't even need a knife to cut it. So tender. As always, we shared our meal. I chose the Florentino Eggs, that was accompanied with a side salad and had a hollandaise sauce. Prices are reasonable. Not many places around here where you go for a brunch and spend less than $40.00 including drinks. Looking forward for coming back and trying their dinner options next time. Seems like a Italian/Mexican mix. Enjoy. read more

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This place is consistently awesome! we have ordered many things and it's all delicious. local neighborhood gem.