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    Box Cafe

    4.4 (44 reviews)
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    BOX CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Box Cafe

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    Interior Decor (07/13/23). @BoxCafeJC #JerseyCity #NewJersey #French #Bistro
    Jeff B.

    (Dined 07/13/2023 TH @ 2:00pm): This French-style cafe in a box was a nice touch to the neighborhood! A local realtor recommended Box Cafe as a convenient place for our initial in-person meet-and-greet. This place was less than a ten-minute walk for me from my friend's place which was great and allowed me to further familiarize myself with the neighborhood. Generally speaking, I wasn't much of a cafe person, but I was usually open to eatery exploration. Would I enjoy this box meal!? PURCHASE S. Pellegrino Essenza Tangerine & Wild Strawberry Flavored Mineral Water ($3.50): A very effervescent refreshing drink with hints of tangerine and strawberry aromas and flavor. This is truly one of my favorite brands of sparkling water whenever I was in the mood. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bmvXPItKXDrxg8qOJJmmag&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Grilled Cheese ($12.00): Made with melted cheddar, smoked paprika, tomato, and shallot all between buttery toasted sourdough bread, this wonderful lunch sandwich was massive as amounts of cheese slowly squeezed out as I took a bite each time. The crunchy crusty crust was amazing and had so much targeted butter and burnt cheese. As simple a meal this was, it was impressive and pleasurable. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Zd2aA9xinXDQoQ8VDEEP3Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw SERVICE As I opened the front door, co-owner/wife Linda was preparing a corner window round table for our party of three as she warmly greeted me. We were provided with individual menus and eventually glasses of water and a filled bottle as we decided what we wanted. She returned minutes later, took our respective orders, quickly returned with our canned drinks with glasses filled with ice, and about ten minutes later all of our food arrived. After that, we were left alone as we conducted our meeting and consumed our drinks/food. By the time we finished past their 3:00pm closing time, she had stepped out and never returned, while co-owner/husband Sean closed our bill with some quick chit-chat, and wished us a nice rest of our day - thank you! PARKING (Street Only; N/A this instance) I walked from my friend's nearby place. Otherwise, as was the case for much of "The Heights" in Jersey City, there were plenty of spots along the main drag of Palisade Ave. and all surrounding streets if you were lucky enough to find an empty spot, or you took public transportation which stopped nearby - nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A quaint boxy café (it's name!) with charming French accents, several cozy tables, a handful of paintings and floral arrangements hung about, and a counter that displayed various baked goods. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=QLdRHqxlzl02eyQ3DpjlEg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Good natural lighting came through the front windows and door while soft electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while soft music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=j73l6YgtEWFQxbOxuNanxw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Box Cafe was a blissful find, and I definitely would like to return! My food was lovely while the salads the realtors ordered looked healthy and yummy. The drinks https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Sy7A9gA9e8Zau5l-JGwXmg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw and food https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=iusdDbDdbz1hF236bZ5lew&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw menus were limited but varied enough. No alcohol was served, but they allowed BYOB without any corkage fees. Their hours are breakfast through lunch with dinner only a couple days a week. The prices felt reasonable, the portions very good, and the service casual yet attentive enough. I found total value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $17.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

    Table side art
    Dara R.

    What a great hidden gem!! We moved to JC several months ago and always passed this spot by thinking it's just a cafe but it's so much more! The staff is so friendly and when we went on a Sunday morning the place was basically empty but the server was attentive and polite. We loved the furniture and seating which looks like it came from an antique shop. It creates a cozy place to enjoy coffee. We were most impressed at the full menu of eggs, French Toast and other delights that are served in a healthy portion. Everything tastes fresh and comforting. Definitely recommend trying this place on the reg and spending time appreciating the art and ambiance. A great hidden gem in the nabe!!!

    Crisp Lettuce medley, some fennel, light onion, parmesan and just enough olive oil...
    Carter C.

    Good, service, AMBIENCE! Very intimate, delicately lit. Handful of small tables. Live music tonigjt! Had a salad cause I just came fr another event. Great salad though! Caesar-y please hold the croutons. Thx Tribe of Uncles for enlivening this romantic space. It's 100 degrees outside but this summer salad helped cool me off.

    Great cesar!
    Leslie S.

    Lovely lunch. Really good veggie omelet -nice options. One of the owners took our orders + told us about their live music Fridays. A nice neighborhood place including a warm vibe.

    Front seating
    Sara G.

    We came in close to closing on a Saturday for tea and a cake pop. Both were delightful, as was the service! We sat on the sofas and enjoyed the retro decor while plotting our next move. There are a few larger tables in the back that seem great for work/study. A group was enjoying brunch while we were there and sounded pleased with their food as well.

    House coffee
    Rivi B.

    Charming Place, special ambiance cafe with a nice variety of foods sandwiches, and salads. The house coffee is great! A nice warm inviting small neighborhood restaurant and an awesome addition to the Jersey City heights venues.

    Salmon, bruschetta and Steak hors d'oeuvres

    I hired Sean and Linda from Box Cafe to cater my housewarming party in May. My expectations were completely over exceeded and their execution was perfect. I was looking for a mix of classy high end hors d'oeuvres meets chic barbecue and they nailed it. An eclectic and gorgeous charcuterie table took over my kitchen island for grazing. A choice of smoked salmon pastry puff with horseradish cream, slice sirloin toasts, and bruschetta points were the starting hors d'oeuvres. The main food consist of gourmet beef sliders and impossible sliders, dressed with a signature box cafe house sauce, a variety of flat bread pizza's, their signature bechamel mac and cheese, a savory harvest pasta salad with roasted and blanched vegetables, a half of a salmon, lamb chop lollipops, and two choices of either greek salad and their famous caesar salad. Sean remained on site and monitored the flow of food and guests, continuing to replenish and make sliders and pizza's for all new incoming guests. I could NOT have been HAPPIER with the outcome of this event and I owe it to them!

    Creme brûlée
    Natali A.

    Delicious food - we had the croque monsieur, croque madame, seasoned potatoes, iced coffee, egg and cheese croissant, cookies, creme brûlée, and French toast. It was all perfect. All of it. Run, don't walk!! High recommend. Thanks, Linda!! Can't wait to come back.

    French vanilla latte
    Aisha S.

    Absolutely loved the interior and menu options. Kind of gives me speakeasy vibes! The lady who took my order was very sweet and told me about they host fun events. Will be bringing a few friends to join me here!

    The burger
    Brad G.

    Home of the Best burger in the jersey city heights. Everything is good (especially the super friendly owners) but the burger gets the crown.

    Menu
    Alfie S.

    What a cute little addition to the neighborhood! Stopped in here weeks ago when they first opened with my partner and got two drinks to go: an iced latte and a regular coffee. Both drinks were good, though the iced latte apparently could've been better (it got watered down when poured directly onto the ice, which promptly melted). Overall though, it's definitely worth stopping in. Also, their decor is so cute and cozy, yet spaced apart enough to feel safe during the pandemic. You've gotta love it! Plus, I think I saw some outdoor seats, which is nice! If you're at the hospital or in the area and in need of a pickmeup, this is the spot!

    Egg Sandwiches and side of potatoes

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    4 years ago

    Very cute restaurant. Ordered an egg sandwich on croissant. Very tasty. Lady who served us was very nice and quick.

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    This is a wonderful neighborhood spot with delicious food! The owners are very welcoming and the decor is great. Highly recommend!

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    Great neighborhood Cafe and restaurant! Very friendly owners! Good inside and outside.

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    Ask the Community - Box Cafe

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    I went for happy hour on a chill Thursday evening, and stayed for dinner until closing time. From…read more5.40 pm to 10 pm. Nobody could get me out. I couldn't leave. The food and the vibe had me in a spell. The place is located in a quiet residential street, off the busier Jersey Avenue. The entrance is inconspicuous, with only the neon sign letting you know you might be in the right place. It looks like the back entrance of a kitchen, but as you climb down the metal stairs, you enter in a world that can be described as chill, elegant, and unpretentious. Forget the trashiness of Downtown, with 40 year old alpha wanna bes flashing their cash on overhyped basic food and watered down cocktails. Madame is for serious people, far from basic. There isn't one item in the menu that sucked. I cannot drink, but that didnt stop me from enjoying myself, because the food was outstanding. The first dish were thr oysters: Pacific and Maine oysters. Both incredible with their subtleties. Then came the bone marrow with the braised beef and baguette. The marrow spread like butter on the perfectly seasoned baguette. The braised beef had a mild sweetness to it due to the onions, and it complemented the savory baguette. Then came the patè, and rhe roasted Brussels sprouts with apple and parmesan. The Brussels were so great, that it could get every child in the world to finally eat vegetables. To top it all off I had the creme brulè cheesecake with a warm cup of americano. I was done. I was at peace. By then, it was closing time, and...I didnt wanna leave...I would have gladly stayed and clean the kitchen. I ate at the bar, the place was not crowded at all and lounge music was playing in the background. It is walking distance from the Grove path, so if you are commuting back from work and are looking for a quiet and relaxed place with Michelin level food, stop by Madame. You will feel rejuvenated. They got a regular out of me

    I was in jersey city for couple days was work and this place came up on my feed. Thought of giving…read moreit a shot! No regrets, you walk in a basement and ambience is great - French themed. I ordered Madame Claude- whiskey based smoked drink and it was delicious. For food I tied their most popular dish: Short Rib Gnocchi. This was absolutely delicious. Shirt ribs were cooked to its perfection and gnocchi were perfectly al dente. Highly recommend this place. If I am in town, I will be stopping by to try different dishes.

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    My family, boyfriend, and I came to La Bohème one day for a later dinner. I appreciated that even…read morewithout a reservation, the hostess was able to accommodate our party of 5 and seat us without having us wait. The food we ordered here was very delicious! This was my parents' first time trying French cuisine. We shared the strip steak, lamb chops, seafood paella, and mussels. Our favorite was the seafood paella. It was done really well, and we had a generous serving of seafood in this dish. All this being said, what none of us liked was the service. The only times we ever saw our server were when she brought us water at the start of our meal and took our order. Outside of that, we were NOT attended to during our meal. No check-ins on how we liked the food, if we needed more water, or if we were ready for the check. I ended up having to stand up from our table and grab another waiter's attention for basic service. Even then, we were still being forgotten. I would come back here for the food, but the service would make me hesitate. Perhaps the service is better during lunch hours, when the restaurant is less busy?

    This place was a big disappointment. Waitress was very nice but the whole thing was out of sorts…read more Food tasted bad/chewy, dishes came out at wrong time, and sat next to the kitchen door. The duck was not good and not able to cut through it with a steak knife. My dad's dish came out 30 minutes after everyone else. The appetizer salad came out with other entrees so there was no space to put it or eat it. Pretty bummed about it

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    Review is due for Barbes. We have been going to Barbes for a while now and we loved everything…read moreabout it. The service, food, and the ambience, everyone made us feel so welcomed every time. Live music was definitely a plus for us. We will continue going for our date nights at Barbes.

    Came here for a special anniversary dinner. Ryan was our server and he was the man. One of the best…read moreservers I've had in recent months. He's incredibly friendly. He shook my hand. He really took care of us. He goes above and beyond and gives great effort. We got the French onion soup to start. Super good. Lovely cheese baked over all the top of the bowl. The flavor is crazy. The broth is amazing. I loved every bite of that. Then we got the pastilla and tajine d'agneau. The pastilla is delectable. A must. It's some of the wildest flavor combinations I've ever experienced. You're eating shredded chicken mixed with cinnamon and white powdered sugar. All within phyllo dough. The tajine is fun to try, but it was just OK. It's kind of like a lamb stew. I will give kudos to a very soft and not too chewy Lamb. The prunes and apricots are such a unique flavor duo with these. Couscous is fun. This meal was a 4 for me but everything else, divine. The music was fun. They a live guitarist and sax player serenaded us. Dim lighting. Such a prime location. Lovely to walk through this neighborhood after you're stuffed.

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    Hudson Hall - Shrimp Tacos and a margarita. Taco Tuesday

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    JP didn't just run the bar at the beer hall. He made the whole afternoon. We had a big group,…read morefamilies, kids, grandparents, the whole mix. It was a full afternoon of food and drinks, and the kind of event where a lot of moving pieces have to come together for it to actually work. JP was the reason it worked. What stood out most wasn't the drinks. It was the kids. There were a lot of them, running around, excited, in the middle of everything. JP knew every single one of them by name before the afternoon was half over. Not in a performative way. He just made a point to learn who they were and made them feel like they belonged there as much as anyone else. He was checking in on them, getting them what they needed, keeping them engaged. Parents noticed. Everyone noticed. Beyond the kids, he was everywhere. Anticipating what people needed before they asked. Moving fast without ever seeming rushed. Making sure nobody was waiting, nobody was forgotten, and everybody was having a good time. The food, the drinks, the whole flow of the afternoon, it all ran smoothly because JP was paying attention to all of it. My sister-in-law's celebration was exactly what it was supposed to be. A big part of that is JP. If you are booking an event here, request him specifically. You will not regret it.​​​​​​​​​​​​

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