Was here for an event, not a sit-down dinner and the food was pre-ordered for a large quantity, so I didn't have a say in what was ordered. It was mostly trays fried food, hardly any gluten-free-friendly options, but again I didn't have a say in that. The hot food was just fine. Chicken fingers, fried spring rolls, pulled pork sliders, raw veg platters, etc. I assume the food here is better when not prepared in such a large quantity and sitting in trays. The location is nice but it was a hot and humid evening and there weren't any fans (if there are, they weren't in our area). I appreciate that there was a lot of seating and tables, plus multiple bars, but the offerings at the different bars was inconsistent. First bar had grey goose but said no ginger beer for a mule. Did NOT mention that the next bar over may have ginger beer! Eventually for next drink at the next bar over, they didn't have grey goose but had ginger beer. (I settled for a tito's mule.) read more

Pizza is below average I would say. You eat a slice and you do not feel anything, no taste. Tried a couple of tis and every time same experience. read more

Surf City - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Haven't been to Surf City in years but decided to close out the summer season with a frozen treat only to confirm that I will not be back next season. The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because of the vibe it has and their outdoor sand seating area with the fire pit which are like no other especially on a cool summer night. It is a cool place to hang out with friends on the waterfront, but they have an insane RAT problem. Huge rats running around left and right and the staff literally acts like it's normal. We had to leave because it got disgusting and we just couldn't enjoy ourselves and our drinks without being grossed out. I ordered the fisherman's platter and it was just okay. The shrimp was amazing, the calamari was rubbery, the fries were edible, and the cod lacked flavor. Don't waste your time with mixed drinks - it's a capful of liquor and all syrup for $15 and up. I guess they stay in business due to volume (tourists, boat boozers)... because it sure isn't the service or quality. read more

Surf City - Downeast Apple Cider - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Bartenders are simply amazing , friendly and efficient.. The food is great , always something different on the menu Vibe is definitely a summer vibe with a beautiful view of NYC.. Definitely recommend .. read more

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We came for a company party with about 50 people one night after work and we had a nice time. Very relaxed and beachy in feel, this is a great place to come and relax out of doors. We reserved a section out back and all the way to the left as you enter. Warming trays of food kept perfectly heated let us fill our bellies- sliders and shrimp and fries and chicken fingers were ordered and everything was very good. They provided us containers to take home the leftovers. The star of the evening was Roonie, (spelling?) , an absolute doll and very friendly. I arrived first from our party, and she made me feel comfortable and made the conversation enjoyable. She told me that this was her first season at Surf City and I wish her all the best and current and future success. Well done! read more

Surf City - Incredible views all around. - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I never would've discovered this spot if it weren't for Yelp. Surf City is hidden behind parking lots along the water in JC. This is a massive space with multiple bars, food ordering windows, picnic tables, and an area with waited tables. We came on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm. Parking was free a couple hundred feet away, no line/cover to get in, a decent amount of seating available. We chose to go to the waited table area which served the same menu, plus more. Kids allowed before 8pm! They have a large frozen drinks menu, so I decided to go with a Miami vice - half strawberry daiquiri and half pina colada. Very well priced considering all factors at $15. But the drink itself was kind of terrible. Imitation strawberry and coconut syrup blended with ice. No actual strawberry puree, and definitely no coconut cream or coconut in any form. I would've been happy paying $20 for a better drink. We ordered the crispy chicken sandwich to share. The fries were actually delicious. Perfectly crispy and well seasoned. The chicken sandwich was ok, probably a Purdue cutlet between a bun - but it was still tasty. I saw on the menu a bottle of whispering angel rose for $45. Pro move would be a bottle of rose and a couple of orders of fries, sit by the water and enjoy the ambiance. read more

Surf City - Fried Crispy Chicken Sandwich, great fries - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Only certain things on menu are good...specifically the fried food. On my last two visits there-I shared the Fisherman's Platter with my boyfriend. Delicious. We had tres leches for dessert. Also delicious. However, the mahi mahi sandwich is dry & flavorless. The drinks are overpriced with very little alcohol. Service is good! read more

Surf City - Fisherman's Platter - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Fun time at the beach as always. Service is friendly and as quick as can be when they're busy. We sat at a table for the first time (usually order express). It's a little expensive, and the food isn't GREAT, but you come here for the *vibes* anyway. Very family friendly. Every season they seem to make improvements. read more

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Nice atmosphere by the water. Liked the lobster rolls we ordered. But the service was really horrific. We had to ask at least 3 times to get water after we sat down. I saw my server running around who was probably overwhelmed but it was also impossible to get his attention to pay at the end. I even asked another worker if we could pay and she just told us we had to tell our server. It would have been courteous if she told us she would tell him. We waited about 15-20 minutes to finally get his attention. Can't say I'll be back anytime soon. read more

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A lot has changed but it's still a hangout spot worth checking out. Back in the day this used to be called Sandbar, and it was a hell of an experience. You had a tough time just finding parking (in a huge empty lot). You had a tough time getting to the bar for a drink. You didn't have a tough time meeting people and getting into fights. Fast forward, Surf City is a much more tamed venue. It still has a big parking lot even though they put some kind of field in the middle of it. The inside layout is huge and open, but mainly everyone comes here to sit on the dock enjoying the shore view and seeing the yachts. It's huge to still have that outdoor bar so you don't have to go far to grab a drink. Plenty of benches, a fireplace seating area, high chairs, bar chairs, and plenty of standing space. The drinks were made nice and strong, but I did not try the food. read more

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Love Surf city!!! Amazing scenery and very friendly staff and quick service. The drink are always so good and the watermelon is bangin! Food is delicious and always with the good music! It can get packed but worth the wait. Friendly family environment outside to even bring kids for lunch. Surf city is the place to be! Parking is always available and prices are reasonable! Highly recommend! read more

I reckon this has to get 5 stars just for its general premise, not that I'm claiming it's a top-notch bar or even that I would be the best judge of such a thing. No doubt you could find an equally pleasant emporium by driving 80 or so miles, but its presence in JC borders on miraculous. I haven't been here enough to strong opinions on whether it's a proper food spot, or just a venue that happens to have food, but my tablemates' raving about the lobster made me at least confident enough try to the mahi mahi sandwich. The fish itself was first-rate and had just enough sauce. Also enjoyed grilled corn. To be sure these aren't seafood shack prices but you're paying for the real estate. Thumbs for the vast waterfront space, and for the choice of waiter or self-serve. read more

Wonderful view, drinks and food was delicious.. would recommend and definitely go back read more

Surf City - Mango&Strawberry Margarita was delicious... - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

This is a cute bar on the water. It gets pretty packed but we've been able to find seats the past 2 times we went. Drinks are a little pricey but to be expected for the area. As other reviews have mentioned, the food leaves something to be desired. I ordered a chicken sandwich with pepper jack cheese, a side of mac and cheese and crab fries. The woman taking my order misheard me put in regular fries which was fine. My fiancé said the chicken sandwich was fine. Probably not worth $19 but did the job. For the $8 you get a lot of fries and they are tasty. The mac and cheese was pretty terrible. It wasn't cheesy at all. I basically paid $10 for butters noodles with a few Parmesan shavings on top. This is a fun outdoor bar. They also have an indoor area as well. Next time I come I'll just stick with fries and booze. read more

A hidden gem in jersey city! This spot is great if you're looking for a place to grab a drink on the water or sit down and eat. They have covered seating, a sand area, and are right on the water. The drinks are a fantastic for the size and price! Especially since for an added $2 you can get an additional shot on the side. I ordered the twin lobster rolls and shared with my friend! How great a deal $32 for two full size lobster rolls and a side of fries. We also ordered a side of Mac and cheese to share for the table, it was flavorful and you could tell the used quality cheeses to make it. Personally I added a little salt but otherwise great. Our friends ordered the crab fries to share and oh my we wish we knew how big a portion was, all of the fries were crisp and seasoned to perfection. The crap dip was warm and delicious, very filling and heavy. The pizza had a great crunch and taste. I will definitely be back as it is a great place for groups! Service was maybe a little slow as they were definitely understaffed but all of our food was out quick and so were our drinks. It definitely has a bit of a dive bar vibe to it but well worth it. Also they have a giant parking lot next door which is a huge plus for jersey city! read more

Surf City - Mango Tango Miami Vice - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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I had really high hopes for this place but unfortunately it did not deliver. I've had better, tastier seafood at City Island. We ordered shrimp platters, a bacon cheeseburger, 2 grilled corns, 2 piña coladas and 2 pineapple juices. The shrimp although large, was too bland, the breading kept falling off, it was not crispy enough and lacked seasoning/flavor. The piña colada was weak and the pineapple juice tasted like canned juice, not made from scratch. The service is bad because tip is automatically included. The waiter did not check on us once. Last but not least the crowd is too pretentious for my blood. This is not Miami; it's Jersey city! Crappy food, crappy service and even worst customers. Skip this one! read more

Sat at the waiter service section. Does anyone even work here? They need to either hire more staff, train them better, or maybe get better floor management. Waited 15 minutes simply to get water and place our orders. Forget about placing more drink orders since no staff is to be found. Then waited 15-20 minutes simply to get the check. There many other waterfront bars in the area, so no need to come back here. Too bad...used to be a good place. read more

Here we go!!!! I am going to give it four stars, and this was my first time going I try to find something to do on my days off or before I go to work, because the weather is finally clearing up and outside was calling me On this particular sunny Sunday at the waterfront, Surf City caught my eye. I was doing research during the week on some of the best places to eat for outdoor seating/a good vibe/rooftop and Surf City was on that list When I finally decided to head out, it was after 12 pm My friend and I linked up, hopped on the Path and arrived at Marin Blvd. You walk off the Path, turn to your right, and follow the crow and music You are greeted by the waterfront, boats, and aquatic activities. There are small shops along the way but a large parking lot. When you walk in, it gives "dive bar and I LOVE IT!!! Surf City was already packed when my friend and I arrived There are no frills or putting on airs, what you see is what you get There is a host area, next to that is the bathroom, there is a bar outside and inside. You will need to note that you can grab a menu, look over it at the table or inside because they have a designated area for placing orders/paying for the food, and then picking up your order Its not complicated just follow the signs and instructions The music was bumping, the bar was packed, the boats/jet skis/kayaks were hitting the water giving me a good show At first, my friend and I grabbed drinks (you won't be disappointed they were strong but be mindful...if you order double liquor it will cost you...we will get back to that) We started at the bar but when I saw a couple get up and leave two seats facing the water...I jumped at the opportunity and thanked the couple for leaving LOL Now remember I told you there is designated to place your order/pay for your food/pick up your food. Well, my friend was kind enough to order for me, herself, and pay while I continued to drink, enjoy the sun, and good vibes We played it safe and opted for the Fried Shrimp Platter, but if we do go back soon we must try the Lobster Roll (it looks worth it tons of meat) The Fried Shrimp Platter I could taste the Old Bay in the seasonings (I am from Maryland LOL) The food was fresh, fried to perfection, and the fries were darn good too I like the personal touch of the small bottle of hot sauce that goes along with the lemon for garnish Now getting back to those drinks, remember I told you to be mindful of how much you alcohol you order? Well, before we exited the bar area, a gentleman came over to our bartender and inquired about what he paid $93 for? Well it turns out, when he ordered double liquor for 4 Sex on the Beaches, that was him basically ordering 8 drinks . As soon as I heard that, I turned to my friend and said "Guess what we will not be ordering or drinking?" It was a funny way to end the night, the gentleman walked off and said he needed a cigarette .. As for my friend and I, we enjoyed ourselves and will be back again read more

Surf City - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Been coming here for years. Used to love the double lobster rolls and fries for a decent price, but like everywhere else, prices have gone up. I enjoy the frozen drinks and being able to sit by the water. Good for big groups since it's not only a sit down restaurant! read more

Used to be a really cool spot . Great views, Music and vibes . However , as we are no longer in peak season you quickly notice they have a major rat infestation . Within minutes of being there we saw at least 5 huge rats . Would never eat there again .... read more

The highlight of our evening visit was the wonderful atmosphere and the amazing energy. They offer great cocktails and drinks that will satisfy any customer. Everyone is attentive and gets special attention. read more

If you're in Jersey City and it's nice out, this is a nice place to hangout at. The sandbar to hang out and have a drink, is the first plus! The food (for a vegetarian) was limited and decent; the prices were a little steep ($$$). The drinks were good though, I'm confused on the pricing (this particular weekend, I ordered 3 rum and cokes in the time I was there and all 3 times I had different charges by different bartenders on the outside). The staff were friendly, but I still didn't get the pricing answer. You can go up and order your food and drinks and find a table or you can go to service area, get seated, and have the waiter bring you a menu. read more

Would literally only come here for the drinks and the vibe. Eat before you come the food was awful. I wouldn't even recommend to just get a side of fries because my fries were horrible. The shrimp was so hard and greasy. Tried to take it back the guy said he didn't speak English. I just told him to keep the food. Waste of money read more

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This place sucks lol not many places on the water that you can dock & dine so our options were limited. I was hesitant to even try it because of the bad reviews but decided to chance it. It was pretty empty for a Saturday afternoon considering how beautiful the weather was. Staff was not friendly, and no one offered to direct us where to go. The dock entrance is at the back of the seating area so you have to walk all the way around to get to the hostess stand. Not one person even looked at us to ask if we wanted to be seated. A little further is another place to eat that's more like a concession stand (you order and then walk to the table with your food). As I walked around I saw a few plates and nothing looked good (even the fries were sad looking). We decided to get drinks - because how bad could they really mess that up? Jokes on us because they were terrible. I got the surf city blended (mango & strawberry puree with tequila). All I could taste was strawberry syrup, no alcohol. It was wayyyy too sweet. My friend got the banana colada which was also gross. We ended up not even finishing our drinks because they were so bad (just all sugar). read more

A while back I came here and hated everything even the fries but I had a lobster roll here about two summers ago and it was good. I came back today...we had the calamari 8/10 because I asked for crispy and it wasn't crispy enough. But it wasn't fishy and a couple pieces were tasty. The shrimp and fries were delicious. The drinks didn't taste great but the buzz was definitely there. Enjoyed the vibe. The music was good not too loud. People were conversing and the ambiance was beautiful read more

Going here for the second time. This place has a very different vibe and environment. It's mostly outdoor and close to the water. Has got Excellent views of New York. There's a fireplace too just so it gets cold at night. A fun place to visit with larger groups. Their beers and cocktails are great especially the Maliboo May breeze. And the service was quicker too though it was crowded both the times. Coming to food, the crab cake was yum. Must try! read more

Surf City - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I've been here once years ago. This was my second time coming and I got to experience it with my girlfriends. The amount of food we ordered was insane and so good. We each got a frozen drink, my favorite was the mango tango and our entrees consisted of pepperoni pizza, a side of Mac and cheese, twin lobster rolls, and a side of crab fries. All four of ate from everything and definitely will be coming back. We also had a great server named Jackie who was super attentive to us during our time there. read more

Surf City - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Great place for a night out to just hang out with friends and grab a drink, very spacious many food options . Came here on a Saturday night had a pina colada and one drink was definitely enough for me to feel a good buzz. Been here before and also have had the Mac and cheese which was amazing. Only gave it three stars because I didn't get food recently so can't give real opinion on food right now . Service was decent they had two bars open so no big lines. read more

Cute beach bar in downtown jersey city. Parking is $10 now (it used to be free) so that's a con. The music was absolutely terrible. It was a mix of slow country and slow pop songs that's I've never even heard before. Food was average. The lobster rolls were the best thing. The guacamole literally just tasted like avocado. No seasoning or anything. The calamari was also pretty bland. Overall it was just a really average experience. read more

Surf City - Bacon Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Surf City is a great vibe. Food is good and drinks are strong!! The bathroom attendant Jennifer was very nice and very helpful!! She maintained the cleanliness and also assisted me in my jumpsuit! (IYKYK) read more

Well I'm a little behind. We visited surf city a couple times while staying in New Jersey enjoying the skyline from Journey. It was kind of cool we were able to take our tender scooter across less than a five minute ride and enjoy a meal there first time Peggy went with me second time she sent me out to bring something back It's a pretty laid-back atmosphere very popular, you put your order in you pick it up, And you go set at a table. There is a section where they have servers but we skipped that. read more

Great spot but why why why are the prices so $$$ Why??? Also no happy hour??? Cmon Once the only gig in town is now amidst 100's of places Yes it's outdoors and you are on the water with views but you are still a neighborhood spot Lower your drink price-at least between happy hour hours! Food is always decent to good Great fish and chips and fisherman's platter read more

Cute place and great vibe! Love being near the water! Our server was a little slow and kept forgetting stuff, but he was really kind. Overall, the food was good. 2 lobster rolls for $30 is a great deal, and they tasted great. The lobster Mac & cheese needed A LOT of salt and pepper but was good once added. The chicken tenders and fries were simple but delicious. Overall, I would go back for the vibe and grabbing a drink but would probably not eat here again unless nibbling on some fried & tenders. read more

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Not too many vegan options so the food choices were very minimal. It's a seafood place I get it so I wasn't expecting them to cater to my dietary needs. They did have a kinda flatbread margarita pizza with vegan cheese . It was ok it was cut in squares and wasn't really hit when delivered there's a lot of people and there so it's hard to get a table or find a great spot unless you go to the full service part. Service ok and the wait staff have a lotta people to contend with . Outdoor by the water was cool and I was with friends so it was a great time. The frozen margarita wasn't that great ( kinda watery not sweet visiting from out of town I wouldn't have gone there but they lived in the area and I tagged along otherwise I would of passed read more

Surf City is a chill spot if you want to get drinks and nibble on some food on the waters. I had enjoyed the vibes here. On a Friday night, it was packed but not overwhelmingly packed which was good. Like most reviews, I would say skip on the food unless you are too turnt, I would suggest the fries lol. The food line was super long and the food took awhile to make. The people taking the orders and working in the kitchen don't seem to be friendly but whatever. Drinks here are overpriced but honestly, I think it's worth it only because of the location. It's to be expected. They had music playing and areas with sand so you can get that type of ambiance where you're drinking on the beach. The night we went was a bit weird, their system was down and was having technical difficulties. They were also banging on tables in the back for some reason which had gotten a bit annoying after awhile. Overall, this is like City Island but in JC and it was dope. I would def give this a second chance. read more

Surf City - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Absolutely a great find. The food is great and the staff is brilliant. Multiple bars and plenty of room make this place an ideal spot for lunch and a drink.. stay for dinner it's good too. I've been back 3 times and all of them met with flying stars. Looking forward to another read more

Surf City - Great views - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Still 5 stars! Came here twice in the past two weeks. I love how large and open this place is. Even on a Sat night we found quiet area by the water to eat. Had the paella for 2 and it was huge with plenty of lobster. It had a great flavor. For $40 not that bad. My friend got the mahi burger plus other things, the size of the fish on that burger looked really good and next time I want to try it. We always heard a gong go off at the bar towards the furthest end. Turns out its an homage to the golden cicada bar that closed recently. You take a shot of a chinese grain alcohol. So we had to get the shots. Wasn't that strong. My friend who had the shot at the actual bar before it closed said its not the same, the one at the original bar was the real deal and much stronger. But the gong gimmick is cute, nice to do it once. read more

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While visiting Jersey City we decided to try Surf City and are so glad we did! We wanted a casual fun outdoor setting by the water and Surf City was perfect. We loved looking at the boats, canoes and jet skis going by. I was with a group so we tried a few things and everything was delicious! The lobster bisque had chunks of lobster and was perfect. The drunken shrimp boil had such nice sized shrimps and peeling the shrimp was part of the fun. We tried the lobster rolls and we all thought they were the very best with large pieces of lobster. The cocktails were perfect. As for the four stars instead of five, it was our server. We asked for plates and water numerous times and unfortunately she was just too busy to worry about her tables. read more

They say dogs allowed but they actually wont let you if you have a certain dog. We have a pitbull mix and was denied entry

Terrible restaurant! Constant playing loud music through the night when the city has ordinance that quiet time is 10pm.