We had the amazing experience of being in downtown Newark on Juneteenth and upon Yelping, found The Yard and its 4.6 star average. We came for the Oxtail burger but on this day they were only making beef burgers, lamb burgers, and catfish sandwiches. The bonus, however, was the BBQ offerings in the backyard -- Mac n cheese, corn on the cob, fries, and plantains! Between the awesome cheeseburger and lamb burger, I was in seventh heaven. We had a great time sitting on the lawn and celebrating this glorious day with our brothers and sisters. read more

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I really wanted to support this restaurant, but unfortunately our experience left us feeling uncomfortable. When we arrived, the owner/chef told us the wait would be about 10-15 minutes. Shortly after, another couple came in and were told about 20 minutes. We were the only two parties waiting. When a table opened, the waitress began seating us, and the chef stopped her and asked the other (AA) couple if they were there first. He then told the gentleman, "I see you with family, and I'm not trying to start any problems." This was said while we were literally being seated, and nothing was said to us. It put us in an awkward and embarrassing position, as we would never intentionally skip ahead of anyone. As a Hispanic couple, the interaction also left us wondering if we were being treated differently, even if that wasn't the intention. Then the drink order added to the frustration. I ordered a hibiscus lemonade and my boyfriend ordered a regular lemonade. The waitress repeated it back incorrectly as strawberry, and I corrected her. About 10 minutes later she brought a strawberry lemonade anyway. When I said that wasn't what I ordered, the chef took the drink and handed it to the other couple who had just ordered a strawberry lemonade , saying it was freshly made and "they didn't want it." That was uncomfortable because I never ordered strawberry to begin with. Overall, the interaction felt dismissive and awkward. Mistakes happen, but the way this was handled -- especially the comments made -- left us feeling unwelcome. I hope this feedback helps improve communication and customer experience moving forward. read more

The Yard - Newark - Shrimp Burger - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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We were looking for a quick dinner before watching a show at the NJPAC and the chef/owner graciously acquired us a table - by chance! Chef Kai was super welcoming and engaged in convo with us, including with our 8yo daughter - he set the tone for a cozy dining experience that felt like we had entered his home. Everything was fresh, quality, and obviously made with TLC. The dipping sauces were each characteristically delish and I loved that they gave all of them at once so we could try them all. Best ground chicken burger I've had - juicy and worked well with the brioche bun. The oxtail burger was super flavorful and tender. Next time I need to try the shrimp burger. I went with the side of sweet potato tots and oxtail gravy, and it was the best tots I've had especially in the gravy - again, quality and fresh. The pink lemonade was perfection - fresh lemons, real sugar, and not overly sweet at all and check out the container it comes in! Plus lollipops with the check - such a cute added touch. The location is in a park, walking distance from the NJ Pac and train stop. If we had more time (and could take a to go bag with us) we would've absolutely ordered wings and tried another burger - so that'll be for next time! Love having this kind of dining experience in NJ and supporting a community gem like Chef Kai! read more

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Wow - what a hidden gem! We stopped here for a casual dinner before a show at the Prudential Center and were wowed by the food. After minor disappointment due to them being out of the Walla Chicken, we had the Oxtail burger, Unity Chicken Sausage, and cauliflower bites in Sticky Icky sauce. Also - do not sleep on the sweet potato tots! And the sauces - all of them were amazing! Casual ambience, friendly service, tip added for groups of 4 or more, and BYOB! read more

The Yard - Newark - Unity Chicken Sausage with Sweet Potato Tots - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Came here on a Saturday night for an event hosted by short_stay_studios in collaboration with The Yard. The event was called neighborhood watch and we got to enjoy a movie night outside. It was cool because it was a silent cinema experience. While at the event I got to try a few food items from the yard. I got their oxtail burger and a side of fries. I heard the oxtail burger was delicious and I can say that I definitely agree. Then I got their hibiscus lemonade and that was sooooooo good. It definitely hit the spot. I was sad when it was all gone. It made me want to look up a recipe on how to make hibiscus lemonade. It was so good. read more

The Yard - Newark - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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The Yard is easily one of my favorite spots in Newark. The food is incredible -- especially the oxtail burger with Gruyère and Wala sauce, which I genuinely dream about. Their hand-cut fries are always on point too. But what makes The Yard really special is the people. Kai has created a space that feels rooted in Black joy, community, and genuine hospitality. He and Niy are always so kind, and every time I leave, I feel seen and appreciated. There are plenty of places to get a burger, but very few places that make you feel connected to a city. I'm newer to Newark and already feel that way about The Yard. I hope they're here forever. read more

Got to try this place thanks to a "have you met Newark" food tour! The owner was incredibly kind to all of us, and I got to try their oxtail burger . The burger was delicious!! We truly took the price for me though was the side sauce for the burger and the fries, it seemed like barbecue, but it wasn't as thick, and I had a hint of spice in it. There were around 15 of us on the tour and the restaurant was able to seat all of us with having even a few more tables empty so it is pretty spacious . This is now my go to place for a burger when in Newark . Definitely give them a try! read more

The Yard - Newark - The Oxtail Burger Combo - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Amazing first experience at the yard. Came here with some coworkers for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem. Staff were super friendly and helpful when placing our orders. Also, they would always come check on us and made sure our drinks were always filled. Superb service! I ordered the seoul sista fried rice. Beautifully plated with a flower in the bowl. The fried rice was made with kimchi that wasn't overly spicy and a large fried egg on top. The Yaya sauce was creamy and paired well with everything. Overall, loved the dish! My coworkers ordered the oxtail sandwich, the walla chicken and the chopped thigh wrap. Everyone loved their dishes and want to come back to try the other dishes. Lastly, we ordered the grilled coconut cake. This is definately a MUST try! First time having a grilled cake and I can say I've been missing out! read more

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Worth the (short) wait. Everything we ordered was delicious with attention to detail in presentation. The service was attentive and incredibly helpful. Perfectly walkable from the Newark Museum of Art. read more

I'm glad I was able to come here to try this place while in Newark because it was one of the highlights of my visit. Inside the space, you can sit comfortably even though it looks small from the outside. The server there was super helpful in telling my friend and me about what to order. I got the Zanzi fries with jerk chicken. Imagine if you got poutine but with jerk chicken...so good! The fries alone are enough for two meals! And it was only $15 before tip. All the elements of the dish were flavorful, and the gravy wasn't super thick, which I loved. If you like cheese, get this. My friend got the fried breast sandwich and raved about it. We did see the pound cake and were determined to order it to-go, but once we were ready, they had sold out. So if you see it, get it. I highly recommend this place read more

The Yard - Newark - Zanzi Fries - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Came here on NYE around 4. Luckily just in time! Due to the holiday and the fact they were slow, they were getting ready to close early. One of the workers immediately greeted us to inform us of the change in hours but offered take out option. We got the oxtail burger and the sweet tots! Both were good! I really liked the large cut pickles in the burger and just the overall flavor was balanced. The tots were crispy! On top of that- it is a black owned business! The vibe was intimate with dimmed lighting, smooth music, and warm energy! Would come back! read more

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If you have never been here before, it can be easy to miss. It's located within Military Park which is great ..nice balance of nature and city vibes. The restaurant itself provides an intimate, cozy setting with extremely personable and attentive staff. I ordered the oxtail burger with sweet potato tater tots. It was delicious, very flavorful. I dipped the tots in one of their special dipping sauces. I can't remember the name of it, but it paired very well. Having oxtails in burger form was a new experience for me, or tater tots made from sweet potatoes, for that matter. I trusted the process and thankfully it worked out. Served on brioche bread, the oxtail burger was tender, properly seasoned, topped with gruyère cheese, tomato, dill pickles, shallots, and Masala sauce. That is for sure a signature dish, and I understand why. We all ordered the Black Cherry soda which was nice to enjoy on a warm day. I don't know what brand it was, but I was ready to ask for another round for the road. I also had an opportunity to taste one of their desserts. It wasn't my order, but after reviewing the menu, it was possibly their banana flavored Georgia pound cake, served warm off the grill. What?! That was the finisher I wasn't expecting. Thankfully, I left some room for dessert by boxing half of my entree to go. That cake is a (good) problem. Please make sure you ask for it, and let me know when you do. Overall, everyone at my table enjoyed their meals which included a Beyond vegetarian burger, fried chicken sandwich, and wings. Also worth noting - the owner wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, working right alongside his staff. Great example of leadership and made our experience feel more welcoming. After our meal, we stepped outside and walked around the park for a while. I'll definitely be back. read more

The Yard - Newark - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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A close friend recommend we come here because we were in the area shopping for a Palestinian dress. The service was lovely. The women welcomed us, say us quickly, and was as excited us as for this to be our first time. I ordered the bbq chicken wings and my friend got the ox tail burger. Everything was amazing!!! The food came out hot and fast! The best part was the music was popping and we enjoyed ourselves so much. We will totally be back. read more

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Very friendly staff. Fast service. Food was very good. Ordered oxtail burger with sweet potatoe tots. Comes with 3 dipping sauces. Lavender lemonade. Georgia toasted pound cake. Excellent. Only drawback no place to park. Had to park in lot for $11.00. Will be back. read more

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First of all the service was amazing and attentive. You can tell the owner takes pride in making sure everyone is doing well and getting their needs met. I came for the amazing oxtail sandwich and sweet potatoes tater tots. OMG, the brioche bread and juiciness of the meat are to die for. The owner offered us three dipping sauces and all of them were delicious. Go check them out ASAP! read more

The Yard - Newark - Strawberry Lemonade - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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This place is very hit or miss depending on what you order. The burger and fries were awesome, and the wings were solid. The cauliflower buffalo bites, however, were disappointing...crispy outside but doughy inside. They don't hold up well and are especially bad to order to go. read more

Food: I tried the oxtail burger and the shrimp burger. Both burgers were delicious. We also ordered this potato fry or maybe it was tater tot smothered in cheese and gravy. That was also good. They had black cherry soda which tasted like the real thing, the way I remember it from childhood. Service: Great service, great waitstaff. Everybody was chill. Ambiance: Nice space. Somewhat small but it is located inside of a park. Really, the only space I did not like is the single person bathroom. It was dark inside and the lock was kind of iffy and the floor was wet due to the other patrons. Aside from the bathroom issue, I have no complaints about the place and I would definitely return. read more

What a great find! We were staying across the St. at the Robert Treat Hotel and could see The Yard from our window. We had just checked in and were a little hungry. It is a perfect little joint with amazing food! So welcoming as soon as we walked in! I had the BEST hot dog with sautéed onions and mustard. Jeff Daniels had the Chicken sausage sandwich with fresh cut fries and all the toppings! Everything was fresh and delicious! We were given an assortment of sauces to try. I am not an adventurous eater but I tried them all. The Masala sauce was phenomenal. We are going back tomorrow to try the Shrimp burger and the wings! The customer service is beyond compare. Every person made sure we were happy and satisfied! Truly a magnificent experience! read more

The Yard - Newark - All beef "Best" hot dog! - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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First timer at The Yard. The Good: love that it's Black owned in Newark, seating is easy, and gratuity is up to me. Food presentation is nice. The Bad: we're told what's not available right off the bat, servers are hard to spot in their casual attire, and the building signage? Yeah, it needs some work. read more

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We were starving and this place delivered. The interior is unassuming, but the food was delicious: casual, but well-done.

food and service was great, menu was creative. it's not an intimate spot, but it is a cool nice spot, we sat at the table that was under the kitchen window and I just wished that delivery pick up and people waiting to be seated weren't so close to our tableit felt like they were ontop of us/ I suggest a wooden fence, since it's called "the yard" seperating the wait/ delivery pick up area from the rest of the dining roo read more

Came in before a show at the PAC for dinner. Small place so I can see it getting busy quickly. The staff is super nice. We both had the fried chicken sandwhich. The coating was good. Chicken was cooked perfectly. They gave interesting sauces to put on it. I had the sweet potato tots and bf had the fries. Preferred the tots. He also had a bottled strawberry lemonade which was really good. Overall great place to stop in and grab a meal before a show read more

The Yard - Newark - The Walla Fried Breast Sandwich Combo - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Both the food and services stay on point! New favorite: Jerk Chicken Roti wrap for a lighter meal + walla Lamb burger is delicious. And can we appreciate how clean this establishment is?! Super attentive staff and owner-- not one dirty napkin will be left lingering around! Lol. Respect. read more

My bestie recently relocated from North Carolina to Newark and we have been on quite a few adventures as she learns her city. We were out for an evening stroll looking for local dining when we found The Yard. We are so glad we walked to Military Park from Mulberry Commons. Parking can be tricky in the area. The Yard is perfectly nestled in the park. It is upscale meets casual. You are greeted when you enter but free to sit wherever you like. My bestie is a true Southern belle. We were chatting and interacting with everyone in earshot and asking for suggestions. Little did we know, we were chopping it up with the owner, Kai. At Kai's suggestion we had the Beyond Combo and the Cauli-Wings Combo. If you're not new here, you know I love a good cauliflower wing. These did not disappoint. Kai was nice enough to let us try all the sauces with them. All of which, are picky eater approved (by me) lol. I also had the Sweet Potato Tater Tots and boy do I wish I could have those everyday. They are exactly what they say they are AND pair perfectly with the sauces. I ended our visit with the grilled pound cake to go. Let me tell you something...I make pound cake from scratch. I've never in my life had it off the griddle and now I can't go back. On a separate occasion my bestie and I came back for a community event. Kai gave each participant their choice of a whole sandwich (vegan or chicken) and a drink. There were quite a few of us. The Yard is the best. You get quality ingredients, good food, a comfy atmosphere, and great company. My bestie brings all of her out of town visitors to The Yard. We go each time I come to visit her as well. Make a plan to walk on over and see for yourself! read more

Excellent value for what you're getting. Oxtail Burger - delicious. For $17 bucks you can't beat it. It was cooked perfectly..excellent flavor, nicely sized. Fries - $5.00 extra..even had the option for "extra crispy." Amazing Fast service, beautiful location. Parking sucks BUT on a nice day, just drive around until you find some street parking and embrace the environment of trees and birds (seriously). I don't live in Newark anymore but if I did, I'd come here weekly. Highly recommend. read more

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Absolutely delicious! Very friendly too! We came in for a bite on the way to the airport. My husband wasn't really hungry so I ordered a FABULOUS chicken sandwich. My guy basically took it and ate it ALL. Kai(the owner, I think!) Gave us several sauces for our fries, and my husband nearly fell over about how good they all were. "Best in his life". *He's the sauce connoisseur, I inhale my food* If we are ever back in Newark, we are gonna return for a saucy encore from Kai! Nice place, good vibes, kind people, and mind blowing food. read more

The Yard - Newark - Best sauces ever to go with a perfect chicken sandwich. - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Went here for the first time shortly after finding out it existed and was near my workplace. It's kind of hidden away in the north side of Military Park, and you could work nearby for years and not know about it. Ordered the lamb burger and it was cooked perfectly, medium, juicy with a great fresh flavor. Side salad portion was generous with fresh greens and grape tomatoes. Got off to a bumpy start waiting for them to take my order, but after that the staff was very friendly and checked in frequently. Fairly small space and could use some sprucing up, but nothing to complain about. Will be coming back. read more

Burgers were juicy and delicious. The fries and sweet potato tater tots were crunchy and nice. The portion size of the burger was on the smaller side. read more

The Yard - Newark - Oxtail burger combo - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Went here recently with my father who lives out of state, this restaurant was a great introduction to the city of Newark. The atmosphere was very warm and inclusive and you could tell that people are regulars here, it was nice to see our server call their regulars by name. The presentation of the food is absolutely beautiful (See pictures), and the taste was amazing, our server brought us several sauces all of which were great. The only thing that could be improved is the seats were a little bit uncomfortable. P.S. the cream soda is S++++++ tier read more

The Yard - Newark - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Gem in the heart of Military Park! It gave me an at-home feel with comfortable seating, friendly service and the best playlist adding an extra razzle dazzle to the experience. The menu (which is digital) has eye catching names for the selections and everything we ate was made to order. From the Fried Salmon Cakes to the Chopped Chicken with grits we thoroughly enjoyed each bite. There is an outside seating area, concerts in the summer and live music regularly. It's a beautiful spot and would highly recommend. read more

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We went to The Yard on a beautiful spring day and had a nice view of the cherry blossom trees from our seat. They were pretty busy when we arrived but we didn't have to wait too long to be seated. The host and servers were all very friendly. My friend and I both ordered the oxtail burger which is only available to be ordered medium well or well done - if you are used to this then I highly recommend the burger, all of the flavors go really well together, but to me the medium well burger tasted more like well done and was really dry. The flavor was definitely there, and after adding a little extra sauce the burger got better. I really wanted to like it, but I can't deal with the dry patty. We ordered two wing flavors, but weren't crazy about them. We'll definitely come back and order something different, the lamb burger and the salmon cakes look amazing. When we go back, I hope they have actual cutlery and not plastic cutlery. read more

The Yard - Newark - The Oxtail Combo - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Perfect experience. This may be my new go to joint. As a successful business owner myself it is clear to see why this place is special. The customer service was exceptional as was the food and presentation. I loved the vibe, great music but not so loud that you had to yell at the person next to you. Priced right. And always the cherry on top when the owner takes a second to check on you. My only advice :Smile a bit more brother. I know it's hard, but it'll help! Great job to the entire staff! read more

The Yard - Newark - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

The oxtail burger, the wings with that walla sauce and the hot dog was all on point. There was nothing bad to say about the food and this establishment. The chef / owner I am guessing was friendly and engaging. Homeboy that brought our check was top notch and great. Definitely coming back when we in the neighborhood. Thank you for making this visit a pleasant and memorable one. read more

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DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS PLACE! THE FOOD IS BOMB! I first walked in and I was greeted by a lady, I sat down, ordered the hot dog with Carmelized onions and the Walla Sauce. OH MY GOD, so freaking worth it! The walla sauce is homemade and it's seriously so good! The ambiance here is peaceful, inviting and cute! It's a small restaurant but so worth it! Eat here if you can cuz the vibes are to die for! I wish this place was at Coachella because they would do so freaking amazing there as a food vendor! read more

The Yard - Newark - The best hot dog - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Would have loved to experience this place as the food looks great. We traveled from NYC to give them a try, read they were pet friendly as they advertise and shown in several of there reviews however when we showed up we could not be served as we had our dog (12lb small dog). Would still love to try this place at another time but be advised not pet friendly unfortunately. read more

This is a fabulous place. It is near NJPAC. I had the (double) lamb burger, which was phenomenal, and my wife had the shrimp burger, which also was terrific. The waitress brought us all of the dipping sauces, and we liked them all. The owner was lovely and it was an all-around great meal.. read more

Fun spot in downtown Newark. Lamb, oxtail and other inventive ground meats, with risk taking flavors. Large salads. Nice service.

This place is an absolute 11 out of 10 stars!! The food is phenomenal. I had The Fade salad and it was deliciously fresh with berries and greens topped with jerk chicken, wonderful flavors and such a generous portion. I'm stuffed!! My son had The Walla and loved it. We got the hand cut spicy fries, and let me tell you, their house made sauces are next level. Our server really sold the banana pound cake and he was not lyin'!! We ordered a second to take home. This is more good than I ever eat in a sitting but we couldn't stop ourselves, really a top casual meal elevated by its excellence. The service was out of this. I hope this place never closes bc when we come back to Newark, this is a must!!! No notes!!!! In a society that feels like it's crumbling, the care and good vibes that this spot delivers is salve for the soul. read more

I visited this restaurant on a Saturday afternoon and thankfully it was not too crowded. The weight was short and we were seated promptly. The ambience was nice, it was simple and I liked the African prints on the seats. The bathroom was also a very nice touch since it's the first bathroom I've ever been to that had Q-tips in there. It's the small things that count. The staff was very nice and knowledgeable. And the owner walked around to make sure that everybody was having a good time. The food didn't take long to come out and it was definitely amazing. The fries were the best fries I've ever had and were not processed at all. The burger was worth me stuffing myself because I couldn't stop eating it. I will definitely return in the future to try some of the other options. read more

The Yard - Newark - The Oxtail Combo - American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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I have been in Newark for a short time, and I have already visited The Yard multiple times. This place is a must-try. The Oxtail Burger would be hard to dethrone as likely the best burger in town. I also enjoyed the wings and the cake on separate visits, both of which were delicious and high quality. You shouldn't skip the lemonade. It is generous in size and perfectly balanced--refreshing and absolutely delicious. But you also can't miss with their soda. The service has been consistently incredible--attentive, friendly, and welcoming every single time. If you are looking for top-tier food and fantastic service in Newark, The Yard is the place to go. Highly recommend! read more