I'm going to update my review again to 4 stars! Happy hours is the best! -- previous review It was 4+ stars and my go-to local restaurant until yesterday. We had order Risotto and hanger steak. The risotto was too salty to eat. Hanger steak was pungent, and associate vegetables were also too salty. Both foods taste really bad, seriously. The only good thing was bread. I know this place was good. But somehow, food quality changes so badly. read more

Light Horse Tavern sets the bar on food excellence in Jersey City! I work nearby and have visited Light Horse Tavern many times for lunch and dinner with co-workers over the years. The restaurant keeps impressing with food quality and its consistency every time we come. Whether it's a large group during a busy lunch rush or just a few of us on a quiet weeknight, Light Horse Tavern never dropped the ball. The food is always fresh, delicious, flavorful, perfectly cooked, and well presented. Thank you Light Horse Tavern team! I highly recommend Light Horse Tavern if you are looking for top-quality American/European/French cuisine in Jersey City! Appetizers and Sides Tuna Tartare - perfect, delicious tuna tartare with interesting taste notes and beautiful presentation. French Onion Soup - very good. Close to what you get in France. Roasted Brussel Sprouts - excellent! Crisp, roasted just enough to avoid mushiness, perfectly complemented by shaved melted parmesan. Asparagus - expertly prepared! Crunchy, yet not chewy even at the base of the stalk. Perfectly complemented by shaved parmesan. Poutine - delicious! Certainly not healthy, but so savory, comforting, and satisfying! The portion is large enough to be shared by 2-3 people. Sandwiches and Burgers Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna Burger - excellent. Tuna was cooked perfectly and wasn't dry at all. French Dip (prime rib sandwich) - delicious! Generous amount of juicy flavorful thinly sliced prime rib in a fresh ciabatta, accompanied by crispy onion rings and au jus sauce. This was a satisfying meal! Fresh Fish Reuben - wow! Yet another amazing taste combo created by LHT! Soft warm poached salmon with melted cheese, sauerkraut, and some dressing between two whole wheat multigrain warm toasts! Accompanied by freshly made crunchy chips, that was sooo gooood! And the portion was generous with no cutting on salmon. Very fulfilling! This is a must try! Rib-Eye Steak Sandwich - another wow! Tender, juicy steak bursting with fresh-off-the-grill flavor, perfectly paired with roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, and a well-balanced dressing. The warm, fresh ciabatta brings it all together. After the first bite, stopping for another photo was nearly impossible. This one is a must-have! Cod Burger - excellent! A warm, rightly-spiced delicious cod patty in a soft, fresh brioche, complemented by just the right amount of tangy tartar, roasted tomato, and crisp frisée, adding a delightful contrast of crunch and subtle bitterness. This was yummy! LHT Burger with Gruyère - the burger was juicy, meaty, and generously portioned. However, compared to other dishes I tried at Light Horse it fell slightly short of expectations. Ordered medium rare, it arrived closer to rare with only the edges seared, resulting in a lack of grill flavor. Gruyère and chipotle mayo on the side were awesome. I'll give this burger another try. Sea Bass Sandwich with Ciabatta and Chips special - excellent. Entrees Fresh Cod - it was delicious! Tender, flakey, and flavorful! Crispy Fish & Chips - tasted great and fresh. The fish was so soft though that it was falling apart. Fennel Crusted Salmon - a friend of mine had it, and said it was excellent. Red Wine Risotto (+grilled chicken) - this item is passable. While Boucheron Goat Cheese topping is excellent, the risotto itself is quite tasteless, lacking flavor and expression. Caramelized Mushrooms where hardly present and didn't add any distinct taste. It's not worth $25 imo. Grilled chicken was added for extra $6 and it was excellent and flavorful. Best $ spent :) One piece was juicy, the other - a bit dry, but still good. Arctic Char - WOW! This was out of this world salmon! It was so juicy, soft, and flavorful! One of the best salmon dishes I ever had. Duck Breast du Poivre - perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, delicious! The portion was generous and fulfilling. For the sauce/topping I suggest a slight increase in a sweet accent by adding more pears or some dry fruit. Pan-Seared Duck Breast - Introduced in Fall 2025, this dish surpassed the Duck Breast du Poivre entrée it replaced. The duck breast was thick, juicy, tender, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, and finished with a thin layer of slightly sweet glaze on top. It was served over a silky squash-and-spinach purée that complemented the meat perfectly. It tasted fantastic! read more

Light Horse Tavern - Pan-seared Duck Breast, Fall 2025 - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

Our friends took us to Light House Tavern for Saturday brunch and it didn't disappoint. We ordered Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Farmer's omelette. Both of these were delicious. They don't have much options for coffee but still they were able to serve us Latte. The brew was really good. There were staff to take our coats in winter. read more

See all

We had a great time! It was my second visit at Light Horse Tavern and the restaurant kept up with its own high standards. The lofty grandeur of being greeted by a grand piano, dark oak and high ceiling accented with throw back charm from the bar already sets one adrift on memory bliss. Cosmopolitan was served 'fresh' . Poured on the spot by easy-on-the-eye and polished server Steven. Mother's Day celebration was overall a blast, thanks to the amazing confluence of great company, culture (none of any of us five are Americans - Colombia, Germany, Poland, Singapore and Sydney) and cuisine. Highly recommended. read more

See all

Lighthouse Tavern in Jersey City went beyond for our large group after my father's funeral. Food was excellent, service was outstanding. Thank you again for a memorable luncheon for our dad's send off. read more

Finally got to try this JC restaurant and there was a lot to love and a lot to maybe hope is better on our next visit... What is great about LHT: -The space is absolutely beautiful. I really didn't expect such an upscale restaurant but it is stunning inside. -A big menu with a little bit for everyone. -Great cocktail menus made STRONG. My pineapple mezcal cocktail was so tasty. We started out with the steamed mussels and honestly, 5 stars for those bad boys. You could taste the smokiness from the chorizo in the broth and even the mussels themselves. When you are using the bread to soak up every last bit of sauce, you know it is good. For my entree, I got the grilled branzino (bc when I see branzino on a menu, I get the branzino!!) and it was pretty good! Perfectly cooked and loved the couscous and caper relish that it was served with. We also got the pork chop which was just a little overcooked, but still flavorful. Service was always friendly and welcoming but extremely slow. We weren't in a rush and I personally love a long dinner, so it wasn't an issue at all, but I I'd save a visit here for a night you have no post dinner plans. All in all a lovely night and a great din. We'll be back for drinks and maybe even those mussels. read more

While the food is typically not bad by JC standards, the service and staff the last few times we've stopped in have been unaccommodating in the nicest of terms. An air of arrogance as you walk in the door, especially if you have kid(s) with you or if you don't look or dress the part (this is not a fancy restaurant by the way). Last visit, took forever to seat us when it wasn't busy, no wait staff for 20+ minutes, and a "what do you want to order?" when someone showed up, not a hello or anything. The cold energy persisted throughout, making the meal unpleasant. Most recently, we attempted to come back to give another shot - when arriving to a half full main room, with at least 4-6 open tables to accommodate a party of 3 (including a toddler), they told us we had to go to the overflow room, which guess what, had 1 other table seated, with a newborn. So, if you have a kid, be warned they'll dump you in the back where you won't disturb their other guests. We waited ~10 minutes with no service and gave up and walked out, no apology at the door, no "have a nice night". Cannot support a business that treats customers this way. The amount of similar reviews tells me that this is intentional, because if the management ever heard of online reviews, they'd see, and fix this obvious, easy solvable issue. read more

Delightful neighborhood in Jersey City. Stopped here for lunch while biking the Hudson River Waterfront Trail. Sat outside under patio umbrellas and had great service and a delicious lunch and cold beer. Our server Matilda was timely and pleasant. The interior is charming but a little dressier than bike shorts. Enjoyed every aspect of dining here. The Cuban with Yucca fries was ample and delicious. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Sidewalk seating and cold draft beer - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

I had a great experience at this spot. They share a kitchen with the Lobster Garage next door so there are some duplicate menu options but also some different items exclusive to their menu. The atmosphere is also a bit different. Light horse haa indoor and outdoor seating. It's a gorgeous neighborhood full of friendly faces, fluffy dogs and families. The inside has a gorgeous piano and fairly large. It can accommodate large and small parties. I enjoyed wine. My friend and I shared a mix of raw clams. They were so fresh and delightful. Because we wanted to check out Lobster Garage, we didn't order much from light horse. Plus lobster garage has happy hour on weekends so there's discounts on some food options. I'd go back to both. I really enjoyed my time at this place! Check it out if you're in Jersey and enjoy the waterfront and the ferry back to the city! read more

Light Horse Tavern - Menu - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Came in for lunch one day. It was quiet inside so service was prompt. The menu has some interesting options on it. I went with the fish Reuben sandwich. It was sizable and the fish was well made, however I was expecting more flavor from the Russian dressing and sauerkraut than came through. Will have to try again with something different next time. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Fish Reuben - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We went here on a Wednesday night for a business dinner. We were ushered upstairs which was quite nice. There was some live music which was nice. Service was good. It was great that they could accommodate such a large party too. Now onto the food. I started off with the French Onion Soup ($13). It was anything but typical French Onion Soup. While it did not taste bad, i do not expect this particular soup to have cheddar cheese one it (even though it said 3 cheeses on the menu), nor do I expect the onions to taste of basaltic vinegar. My guess is that they used that to get a better color vice really cartelizing the onions down to mush. Or perhaps this is their "spin" on a classic. Again - it didn't taste bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. My second dish as just a roasted beet salad ($17). This was delicious, the beets were even slightly warm (maybe somewhat from the port wine reduction). I liked the touch of fennel - gave it just another "pop" of flavor along with the spicy flavor of the arugula. Winning combination. read more

Light Horse Tavern - French Onion Soup - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

The problem started almost immediately when we were seated on the 2nd level which was extremely hot. Within 3 minutes I knew we would have to move - and at this point we had only ordered a bottle of Saratoga; no alcohol or food. I told the Greeter that we'd like to relocate to the ground level where it was much cooler. I was met with a deadpan expression and no response. My waitress happened to be standing there and jumped in , saying she realized it was hot and had informed the manager who was turning down the heat. I thanked her but reiterated that we'd like to relocate down to ground level. That's when the Greeter made a wry smirk, rolled her eyes and shook her head. Surprised, I asked bluntly: "Is there a problem?" to which she of course replied "No" then scampered away. I have to mention that in addition to her arrogant personality, she was not dressed to match the "upscale" presentation of LHT. She looked sloppy, dragging herself around in clothes so oversized that she was drowning in them and sweeping the floor with her cuffs. She needs to take a page out her competitor's playbook where the Greeters are dressed to the nines, professional looking and acting; and carrying themselves with dignity. Our waitress was amazing. She's the main reason I'm even giving one star. The second, and bigger issue, was the quality of the food. My companion said that her clams and shrimp were good. However we both agreed that the pork ribs were absolutely awful. Not only was the sauce very strange and distasteful, but the meat itself was thick and extremely bland and dry. Unfortunately the fried fish was also thick and bland, though the crispy outside helped to offset that a bit. The truffle fries saved the day, or I would have been starving. All in all, I would NOT recommend, nor would we ever revisit. I'm absolutely going to let my social media following know about this experience. read more

The food here is amazing. The black grouper and mussels are a must try. The servers are all wonderful and fast. This restaurant is perfect for a part of 1 or grouper. It has warm rustic charms and even has a fire place. One night we went there was even a musician. Highly recommend this place. read more

See all

Great service and staff you can always do a quick drive by for some amazing oysters and fries and recommend to start with the chowder to warm the soul and some risotto to prepare the oysters, great atmosphere for a group of people or intimate and they have a garage bar outside during the summer to people watch read more

See all

We came here for my wife's birthday and even though it was packed we were able to be seated in a nice spot. Food is 5 star and the price if more than fair. Highly recommended for special occasions! read more

See all

Ambiance is great, pretty restaurant. We sat upstairs and the a/c was pumping a bit too much though, cooled down the food that was already not very hot. Lobster was delicious but my potato came out with nothing. No butter, nothing. By the time she bright them to me I was done with my lobster and potato was cold. It would have been great warm as it was cooked well. My husband's steak was rare instead of medium and the fish and chips were soggy and chips were cold. Calamari was great, they put it in a tomato marinara that was tasty. Service was ok. Not great, not horrible. I probably would not go back or recommend but I did enjoy the lobster. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Lobster - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

What a historic find! Food was great and the bloody Maria's were the perfect spicy. The family has owned it since the late nineties and have such great stories about the history of the neighborhood. Definitely going back. Cheers read more

Beautiful restaurant and outdoor space. The food and drinks were both good. We particularly enjoyed the Artisanal Cheese Plate. The service was a bit lacking. We went without water for the majority of our meal and waited quite a long time for each course. My fiancé also had to tell the staff (between the host and our server) three times that it was my birthday before they said they could do something with desert. Then the desert was not comped. That would've been fine if they hadn't already been so strangely hesitant to acknowledge my birthday. Just a little odd. I also wish there had been more vegetarian options. Overall, however, we had a good experience. Juan, our food runner, was lovely. read more

See all

Greetings. Let me tell you about my exquisite experience here. There wasn't one. I got serious food poisoning months ago off of a fish dish, so I no longer attend. It gives "we don't want you here" 4 aboriginal folk who've also visited expressed similar sentiments. My food poisoning could've came from the fact that they don't want us spending our dollars there, therefore I won't. read more

This review is a must. Five stars just doesn't seem like enough. So Katie was my bartender and honestly the vibes were on point from the beginning - very welcoming, social and well balanced personality. Her food recommendations were on point. I ordered a few things, including two of those lobster wonton to start. The English chowder was pretty good as well. Katie's bourbon mojito is a killer. Well balanced and one of the best I've had. The rest of the staff is super friendly and welcoming. Everyone was all smiles - things seem to be organized here. One of the unique highlights here as far as decor goes is the that the host/hostess stand is an actual piano. That will definitely grab your attention upon entry. Also I just met Ron, the owner and he was super friendly !! Loved that!! I'm annoying because I already see myself being a regular. Hahaha read more

Light Horse Tavern - Salmon with quinoa - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

No-no, thats not a half portion of the calamari, thats the whole thing, already covered in the sauce; a theme consistent with most of the dishes we received last week. Nowhere on the menu does it say that that steak, the schnitzel, the calamari and the brussels sprouts would all arrive covered in sauce. These are all items that are enjoyed most when crispy, but what do I know. Asked for a medium rare ribeye and even in the dimly lit restaurant, you can see clearly that I received medium. I do like a dim dining room, though. The meatloaf looked like a potato, wedge was good, oysters were good, waitress was nice, but not nice enough to get a third star. read more

See all

Bland, bland, bland. Keeping this short and sweet: Dirty Martini - where's the olives/olive juice Ribs - super tender but the sauce is so watered down and bland Halibut - $37 for the smallest piece of bland fish with no side? Word of advice - leave the salt and pepper shakers on the table ... people will need it. read more

See all

This is another time I wish there were half stars. My dinner was 5 stars, but my husband's pork chop was dry, so I can't give a 5. The Jersey Clam Chowder was amazing and my burrata salad was excellent! There was live music, the service was great and the atmosphere is nice. read more

See all

We had a noon reservation, arrived right on time, and the hostess told us to wait 20 minutes at the bar because table ran slow We sat there hungry with nothing to drink, and when the hostess finally came back and spoke, she said "the table is ready food is slow, do you want to just keep waiting here at the bar?" Excuse me ? If the food is slow, then take our order -- not waste more time. When the hostess finally sat us, it was at a so-called "indoor" table that was basically outside, right at the door with the sun blasting in. After that, nobody came over -- no menus,no order taken. We didn't even have a chance to start waiting for food just being left sitting there. This isn't "slow service." It's no service at all. The hostess was rude, clueless,the seating was a joke, and the reservation meant nothing. Never again. read more

My favorite place in JC now. I have lived here for a year and I've tried many restaurants. The only other place I liked was a sushi restaurant. This place is amazing. Everything is flavored really good. The staff is very friendly and the service is great. I also really liked their Pinot Grigio and the prices are great. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Blue point oysters and shrimp scampi - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

One of my all time favorites in JC, and I don't have many. Love the ambiance, the food, and the customer service. They always have specials, and everything I've tried is consistently good. Everyone from the bartender (hello Steve!), to the servers and the manager are top notch and know their business. Plus they have live music on Sundays! read more

Cod Burger- very good and fresh If you ever end up trying this place out just order Lobster Roll Butter- their lobster so fresh and delicious. This place definitely one of the best . Harvest Fall Salad- very good mix of veggies and nuts Strawberry lemonade drink and carrot apple juice They are refreshing service are a little slow but definitely worth eating here . Staff are very friendly Bathroom is clean read more

See all

The good: It's in a lovely neighborhood and sitting outside allows for good people watching. The bad: I've come a few times and service is friendly but consistently spotty at best. Long waits for drinks and food, even when the restaurant is only half full. Rarely come to check on the table during that time. For example, Waited 30 min for grilled chicken sandwich but got fried chicken. Took another 20 min to fix. read more

Stopped by for a lunch visit here with work colleagues! Ordered the Crab Cake main and enjoyed it thoroughly. The exterior was the right level of crisp from the pan fry and the insides were well cooked and flavored. Having the fresh greens, onions, fennel, and cherry tomatoes brightened this dish further. Our server was super pleasant to chat with as well. It did take a while for the food to get to us after ordering but it the fresh cook on the food made this a non-issue. Good experience! read more

Light Horse Tavern - Crab Cakes - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Had a great wonderful experience at Light Horse! Tried their brunch, which was very reasonably priced. Had a Bellini which was very good and not too sweet. I had the Oaxaca Rancheros, which was plenty of food and very good. Loved the salsa verde on it and queso fresco. My friend got the farmers omelette which also hit the spot. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive. I loved the interior of this restaurant - super inviting and homey. Will be back to try their dinner! read more

See all

Always a good experience here. Had brunch and the asparagus omelette was very good! Good vibes, service was good. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Asparagus Omelette - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Love the light horse tavern brunch. This is a review for light horse tavern and not the lobster shack next to it. Prices are super reasonable and the portions are big and delicious. I got the steak and eggs for $19. Bigger piece of steak than I thought it would be. It was tender and cooked perfectly. Even mushrooms on top. Which where crispy and a nice touch. The rye bread was delicious too. And I asked for a side of hollandaise sauce since I love hollandaise sauce and they were so accommodating and no extra charges. My friend got bacon on her veggie Benedict and it only cost $2 extra dollars. The Bellini was great too and $6. I love the atmosphere here. Its so cozy and nice. At 12 on a Sat it wasnt too busy but I made a reservation anyway. The server and the hostess were so nice. I can't wait to come back again. read more

See all

OK Prime Rib. Cool vibe for Paulus Hook. The bartender here is iffy. Tentative AOK. The Maine IPA on draught was solid. Forgot to mention that. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Blueberry Cobbler - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

They have a phenomenon brunch menu with lots of options for whatever mood you're in. I did lobster wontons and croissant French toast. Everything was good. Last time I went I had some decent cocktails. We sat outside, so service was slow, but they did keep my water filled. It's in an awesome neighborhood so I liked sitting outside. The inside also has nice decor. read more

Light Horse Tavern - Croissant French Toast, Avocado Toast, Cod Burger, prime rib sandwich - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The Light Horse Tavern, named after Revolutionary War hero General Harry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee and located in Jersey City, New Jersey, is a great place to grab a meal. First, the ambiance is definitely pretty stellar. It is warm and inviting and allows you to feel comfortable as you look over the menu and plot your meal. The menu is extensive and everyone should be able to find something to grab their interest and tempt their tastebuds. Jersey City has certainly come into its own and having great places like the Light Horse Tavern makes Jersey City all the more of a trending city. All in all, I would definitely recommend the Light Horse Tavern and I will give it five stars. If you find yourself in Jersey City and want a great meal, head on over to the Light Horse Tavern. I am confident that you will enjoy a memorable meal as well as an overall memorable experience. Again, I will give the Light Horse Tavern an overall rating of five stars. read more

Partner and I met up here for lunch with a local friend based on his recommendation.  Past the heavy front doors and drapes are red bricks, wood, and exposed piping that give this place a unique character and feel.  Was definitely curious about how the food would be. For appetizers, was pleasantly surprised by the fried calamari, which we all know to expect to be average in most places.  Theirs was fresh, delicate and lightly battered atop a tasty, spicy marinara.  We also had the fried oysters, which went well with lemon juice and the garlic aoili...happy with the frisee that accompanied them.  The 3rd appetizer was the octopus salad, which comprised of a copious amount of fresh frisee topped with sliced almonds and pecorino cheese dressed with a delicious light vinaigrette/olive oil/pesto?/paprika?/other dressing...the octopus was fresh and grilled perfectly! Partner had the lobster roll, maine style, which I sampled and enjoyed.  The lobster was fresh and they took the time to grill the bun!  The homemade chips were tasty...you might get a few with too much seasoning sprinkled on them, but the rest of them were perfect. I had the fish and chips, which comprised of 3 pieces of cod that had a nice crust and satisfying bite...the tartar sauce had a good ratio of mayo to relish.  The cole slaw was delicious and it wasn't the regular boring kind.  I detected maybe a little dill &/or dijon, which definitley livened it up!  Their fries are respectable...stiff yet with enough softness for a creamy texture. Our friend enjoyed his cheesburger, which was cooked to order, medium rare, on a grilled bun and came with smoked onions along with a side of chipotle mayo.  I'll be trying that on our next visit. I can see why our friend recommended Light Horse Tavern.  Overall, the service was attentive and the prices were reasonable. There were little things with each dish that added up to a great experience! read more

See all

It was already a bad sign when it took a long time to find the hostess to get seated and it wasn't prime dinner time yet. We should have known to leave at that point. We were seated right outside the front doors and were somehow still ignored. Not 1 person came to take our order. When another couple were seated 3 tables away from us, within minutes a waitress went right up to them. The same waitress even asked the table next to us if they needed anything else then walked right by us without any acknowledgement. We got up and left at that point. Good luck getting anything to drink or eat if you decide to still come here! read more

Service is terrible, menu is very small, food is very mediocre. The only good thing are the drinks, but it wasn't clear that only one kind of drink was available for the happy hour prices. Our server disappeared after we ordered, so the manager eventually realized we were sitting waiting so he took care of us, but it was too late. We don't live locally so it's not a big loss, but if we did live nearby, we wouldn't be back. read more

This is a partial NYE post experience, as you know, I'm sure things are a bit different on any other normal day. To begin, when you walk into the main dining area you feel at home and there are many things to look at. From high ceilings, to the old school tiles, to beautiful bar. Glows: -Staff is friendly upon their initial greeting. -Decor is super warm and inviting. -There are quite a few options on the menu, so something for everyone. -Live music (not sure if they do this often, but call and find out) -Service is as good and staff is attentive read more

Light Horse Tavern - 2023 NYE Menu - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

Walked in with a reservation and kind of stood around the piano for a bit while we were unseen or ignored by staff. After a few awkward moments, someone came over to check us in and seat us. Here's the food breakdown: French onion soup - 4/5. Good flavor and cheesy but a bit on the salty side. Crispy Pork Ribs - 5/5! Order of 5 to share between 2. They're big and enough to constitute a meal. These were so dang good. Honestly, i would go back again and again just for these. LHT Burger - 4/5. Good burger. Lobster Roll - 4/5. Great lobster roll! Probably the best I've had in the JC/NYC area, outside of the hamptons or Maine. read more

Light Horse Tavern - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey