I'll start with service being top notch. Something that felt outstanding compared to some other places where waiters serve you food and see you when you are done. Here there was Trenton to details, care for taste interest and overall pleasant. The food was great, light but delicious. Attention to small details on the dishes and everything was very flavorful. The ambiance was mixed casual but we made it date night and dressed up to enjoy the experience. Highly recommended read more

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First, the positives: food/cocktails are, undeniably, among the best--if not the best--in Jersey City, hands down. Now the "buts." Came here for the first time in the early weeks after it opened in Summer 2025. Pretty much half the menu, through the appetizers, small bites, entrees, and dessert, was unavailable/out of stock. This was during a prime seating slot, around 8pm (was on a date) on a Saturday evening. Okay, opening kinks, fair enough. But still---a restaurant opening to much fanfare, and dining during a prime slot, 40-50%-ish of what is already a somewhat limited menu should not be unavailable. This was gravely disappointing. Nevertheless, what limited items we were able to order were, again, REALLY good. So I made a note to return. Fast forward about 8 months: got seated at the bar, as a walk-in, just before 8pm on a Saturday. Once seated, took a rude amount of time to even be acknowledged. Was close to putting on a face of noticeable frustration and impatience, of which, I guess, the bartender must've noticed the emerging cracks and took my order. Recognizing this was the same bar tender from my first visit, and seeing that one of the extraordinary specialty cocktails that I enjoyed during that visit was no longer listed on the menu, I asked if it would be possible to order it. No; it's "no longer on the menu." Turning on my "benefit of the doubt" hat, perhaps it required specific ingredients that are not kept on hand; fair enough, and, if true, understandable (I do hope this was the case so that there is a sensible explanation). But when I replied something like "aw, you can't just make one anyway?" e.g. as one might prepare any other known cocktail that exists but does not appear on a specialty menu (asked in a way, to be clear, meant to seem friendly/fun, not at all pushy/demanding) bartender replied with a simple "No" (or maybe, to their credit, "no, sorry.") Next, out of only three entrees on the menu, the one I ordered was, you guessed it, out of stock--at 8pm on a Saturday. I had gone to Maxwell Alley to try that specific entree of the three, and had no interest in the other two. If a menu contains only three entrees, they really ought to be in stock at 8pm on a Saturday. I declined the server's invitation to order one of the remaining two, got up and left. As I departed 15 minutes after being seated, no staff--hostess, maitre D etc--said a word. I've worked at upscale places and was always trained never to allow a single guest--even the very content ones--to leave without being acknowledged, told thank you/goodnight etc. A guest departing within 15 minutes of being seated might, one would think, have caught someone's attention and asked whether there was a problem, etc., but I guess not. Still--believe it or not--despite the limited menu, and this place striking out twice, the food during my first time was, in fact, so good that I do intend to return yet again--third time's the charm??? I'll try for 5pm on a Thursday or something, in hopes of ordering from the full menu. read more

Living in jersey city now means it's so easy to walk around everywhere. Also means it's easy to find new places. Being new here there's so much to try and eat and we finally made our way into Maxwell alley. Food was amazing and fresh and seasonal. The garlic and pine nuts in the ravioli was chefs kiss. Everything was chefs kiss. Servers knew their menu and what to recommend. Moods were vibes. I'm sure in the summer (now) it must be really nice. We need to come back tbh and try whatever they have that's new read more

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I was much overdue for a dinner date with my bestie. She had been here once before, soon after their opening, so we thought we'd give it another go. The menu is relatively limited, so check it out ahead of your visit. We started with a couple of appetizers, and probably would have shared entrees, but I very much wanted to try the Blue Crab pasta (they substituted the pasta as they were out of the intended one) and she's allergic to crab. The substitute pasta (pacherri) was very tasty, finding the crab in the dish was a bit of a challenge. Her red snapper was delicious and a good sized portion. We enjoyed the appetizers, our meals, the cocktails and the dessert. Our waiter was fabulous, which made the experience that much better. Parking in the area is, well, it's Jersey City street parking. At this price point, with the limited menu and potential "out of stock" items as others have mentioned, if your expectations are set appropriately, you'll have a lovely time. read more

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Maxwell Alley is exactly what a neighborhood spot should be. We finally stopped in for Sunday brunch and were immediately charmed by the decor and the welcoming atmosphere. The menu is thoughtfully curated. I love that they focus on doing a few things perfectly rather than offering an overwhelming list of options. I had the frittata, which was incredibly fresh, while my friends opted for the yogurt bowl and the egg breakfast. Every dish felt high-quality and perfectly balanced. Portions are generous without being "too much," leaving you feeling satisfied rather than stuffed. Can't wait to see what their dinner service is like! read more

Maxwell Alley - Butler cafe - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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We were a party of eight there for my two daughters' birthdays. Three of us had been before but with a different seasonal menu so it felt somewhat like the first time for those. The vibe was really great. Tucked away on a side street but steps away from a multitude of stores and restaurants. Decor was very cool! Waiter was top notch and gave us all such insight into the cocktails, apps and main dishes. We shared almost all of the apps and one salad - all were superb. We also order mains but were kind to one another to share whether fish, meat or pasta. We would definitely return and highly recommend! read more

*BUTLER CAFE ONLY* I really enjoyed my iced americano here. Espresso was caramel-like with just the right amount of chocolatey. Barista was nice. Ample seating to enjoy your coffee and work/read. Or literally stare off at the wall, they do have some really pretty wall paper accents. Ambiance was great and felt like a secret oasis. The decor here is clean and calm, and nature focused which made it a great space to chill. Music was chill, alternative Spanish music. Loved it. I tried a house made blueberry cake-- it was OK. A little too wet and actually kind of bland for me. But I would def return when in the area. read more

Maxwell Alley - Butler Cafe during the day. - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Food: 4.4/5 Service: 4.4/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 The sourdough is thick and soft. The crudo is one of the best versions I've ever had of this dish. Refreshing but also rich. The tonnarelli is good but hard to get on the fork. The duck breast is a larger portion size than expected. Sabrina is a friendly server. The ambiance is great. It's nice that there's an indoor section with good seating and a tented outdoor section. read more

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The restaurant was really nice, I liked the atmosphere and Our server was really great (personable, friendly and had a great vibe). The food was overall very good. The salad was delicious and I recommend you get the sourdough bread with it, it was an amazing pairing. The poached halibut was good, but our favorite was the pasta. The dessert was weird, I didn't expect the panacotta deconstructed and there was a salty component just did not work. (Pushed it aside) The saving grace was the berries were very sweet and tasty. read more

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Excellent location for happy hour drinks and bites. The drinks are a refreshing touch of art! Ask for the recommendations. Great selection of sharable and family style dishes! I recommend for get together on business , dates and chats. Don't forget the outdoor seating area. read more

Maxwell Alley - Jersey Tomatoes, tuna tartare, and Honey Miso Ricotta Toast! Refreshing flavors of Hugo Spritz! - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Decent spot and would come back. My main note that I cannot stress enough - TURN THE DAMN AC ON! Tables are a bit uncomfortably close to each other as well. The food was good but the menu is small. Everything was cooked well but had flavors on it I didn't really love. For example - the duck was cooked perfectly but had an odd glaze on it. The chickpeas were perfectly toasted but had a strong seasoning on it. I will say the sourdough Tonnarelli was AMAZING. You have to get it if you go. The service was good and the waiter offered suggestions which was helpful. read more

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Maxwell Alley has potential, but it's sort of in the first act of "She's All That" (or "My Fair Lady" or "Princess Diaries" or insert any other movie where the protagonist has a makeover). You can see the beauty just under the surface, but you gotta remove the natty hair and ugly glasses first. - Fluke Crudo: Interesting, creative take by adding strawberries, but the fermented tomato water was WAY too salty, while the fluke was a bit too thick for proper crudo presentation - Lamb Tartare: Same deal with the creativity of adding ramps and such, but the tartare was again way too salty. I also wouldn't have served this with what was basically potato chips--they were too thin and kept breaking when we tried to dip - Squid Ink Sorprese: The best dish on our table with a winning combo of mussels, yuzu kosho, and bottarga. My main complaint is that the portion was too small. - Duck Breast: While the meat was juicy, the skin was burnt. The leek puree lacked flavor, and the potato dumplings were kind of bland, but the green peppercorn jus was fantastic. Drink-wise, we tried the Mango Mango. It was creamy and tasty but had about as much liquor as an Amish nun. And at $22 a pop, it cost more too. Service was kind of hit or miss, and none of the staff were particularly friendly. They weren't rude either, but they weren't too warm or welcoming considering the place was brand new. We skipped dessert although the options looked interesting. It just didn't feel right--like debuting Rachael Leigh Cook when she still has caterpillar brows. However, I wouldn't mind coming back in a few months when she's learned to walk in stilettos. read more

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Lots to like about the newest addition to the downtown JC scene! I stopped in for brunch with a few friends that are regulars and have been a bunch of times already. They love it so I had high hopes. What I loved: -The housemade ricotta toast was delicious. Loved the garlic confit mixed with the creamy ricotta. -I got a side of mushrooms with my toast and they came out so perfected seasoned and prepared. Could have eaten a whole bowl of them. -We also tried the biscuit and jam and was so flaky and buttery. Highly recommend. -BEAUTIFUL space. The inside is stunning, the patio is beautiful and just covered enough that you won't be sitting in the sun. They have this room that is basically open air that looked so cozy on a nice day. Perfect vibes. -I didn't get a cocktail on this trip but instead we all stuck to coffees. My latte was delicious and piping hot. Their front of house looks like a seperate biz: Butler Cafe, so that must be why their coffees and lattes are so great. Other things: -It was a bit of a wait. Not a big deal at all for us but might be tough if you were looking for a quick lunch/dinner. -The brunch menu was pretty limited. Almost everything was an egg dish, which is why I opted for the ricotta toast. -High prices and small plates. Yes, my ricotta was delicious. But $17 for one piece of toast seems high. Without the side of mushrooms I would have been pretty hungry. -They are new so I hopefully this is a quick fix but they don't have proper mugs for hot drinks. My friend got a hot black coffee and it was served in a class cup. She couldn't hold it at all so ended up pouring it into a paper to go cup. Might return again but probably not for brunch. Either way, welcome to downtown JC! read more

I loved this place. Just moved to JC recently and still trying to find the good restaurant options. Tried a few places in the area so far to varying degrees of satisfaction, but food here was excellent. Every dish I tried (except maybe dessert) was really well executed and delicious. Ordered the sourdough bread, lamb tartare, tonnarelli, and duck. All were fantastic, high quality dishes with a lot of flavor. Lamb wasn't gamy, duck cooked to perfection, and pasta had incredible chew and love the pepper component. No complaints about food, except my one comment was on dessert. Got the chocolate panna cotta and mine was really solid and too stiff, too much gelatin maybe. Didn't care that much because the rest of the meal was awesome! Service was a little slow to start but very friendly staff. I'm glad this spot opened up here, will absolutely be back to try more!! read more

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Candidly, I'm shocked that this place isn't higher rated. This place was divine through and through. We've walked by this place numerous times and loved the vibe and the ambiance from afar. We had ordered coffee and stuff in passing but hadn't ever sat down for dinner until yesterday...It was genuinely one of the best dishes and experiences I've had in Jersey City. We got the Skirt Steak, some wine, and just the bread rolls to start. The Skirt Steak was incredible, it melted in your mouth and the potato/asparagus sides were so flavorful. It was consistently fantastic from sides to the main. Our server was sweet, attentive, and had the balance between being present but not interrupting that you love to see. Underrated. Get the Skirt Steak, have a drink, and judge for yourself read more

The food is fresh and creative. The service is okay. Ambience is really nice for summer especially the patio area. The tres leches dessert was really yummy read more

Maxwell Alley - Tomato salad - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I was excited to see how the restaurant looked because I use to go there when it was Gringo's. I walked in with my family, husband & son, to grab a drink and was immediately asked if we had reservations. We responded, unfortunately, we do not and I asked if we can make reservations. The host responded that they had no more reservations because they were completely booked. We said "oh ok". The place was totally empty, not one person in there. While we were starting to walk out, my husband said to the host "can we not sit at the bar to have a drink"? and she responded "oh, you said you wanted dinner". Never once any of us mentioned dinner. As soon as we were approached the question she asked us was if we had reservations. Me and my family felt like she was very dismissive and like if we weren't welcomed. read more

Maxwell Alley - Look at this photo. Not one person. Empty! - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We've been to Maxwell Alley twice now. First visit was pretty soon after opening. Food was fine, but the service wasn't great. Assumed it would improve after they'd been open for a while, so went back recently to give it another try, we were still left disappointed: 1. Menu is small. Generally I like this as a concept to allow the kitchen to perfect dishes, to limit food waste and to allow the wait staff to understand the menu well. However, this is not being executed well here. 2. Wait staff seemed poorly trained, or not supported enough if they were new. Did not know the menu well. Tried to recite the specials from memory, but forgot what they were half way through. Made some strange recommendations for food. Made some completely inappropriate recommendations for wine. First recommending a bottle that was 3 times more expensive than what we said we were looking for, then recommending a light fruity red, when we said we were looking for something full bodied to pair with the steak. The wine we ordered to go with our main course also turned up long after our food. Food would have been stone cold if we'd waited for the wine to arrive. No acknowledgement of this as an issue or apology. We asked if they had grappa for the end of the meal. Waiter had never heard of it and disappeared to find out what it was. He never returned. Eventually we flagged him down to ask what had happened. He told us that the barman had heard of it , but they didn't have any. (He could have gone to Cool Vines and got a bottle in that time!) 3. Food had issues too. We ordered a steak, medium. It came out on the rare side of rare. Home made ice cream had ice shards in it. Pasta portions are very small - I'm not expecting Olive Garden portions, but if I'd just had that as a main I'd have left hungry. 4. Ambiance was also a bit odd. Music started off as ambient electronic music (Maribou State, etc), but halfway through the evening switched to 90s/00s alt rock. Felt like they'd accidentally clicked into the brunch playlist and no one noticed. 5. Mixed drinks were interesting and well executed. read more

We went here several times so I feel like I can finally write a review. Brunch- delicious. I got the biscuit as I was hungry but not hungry enough for a big dish and it was perfect. The biscuit was buttery without being greasy, and the jam (October 2025 so it was cranberry-reminiscent but the jam is seasonal) was perfectly tart. Dinner- we went with a big group of friends and service took a while but for a group of 10 I don't think it was abnormally long. We had many dishes ordered and so the kitchen and servers did a great job bringing food out and checking on us/making sure we were okay. Besides that, the food was INSANE. Sourdough pasta might be your new best friend. The duck was one of the best dishes I've had in 2025. There is a salad with a pistachio creme that is unique and yet not too polarizing for any flavor palette. Overall, several great experiences with staff that seems happy to be there and a menu that is exactly what Jersey City needs. read more

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The first thing I noticed was the uplifted interior from the previous restaurant. The space has calm, warm lighting, modern fixtures, and colorful wallpapers layered over other features. Service was attentive and kind. The food was great! Highlights include the braised carrots with a decadent tamari caramel- that flavor was insanely good. The sourdough tonnarelli was tasty and the guanciale was superb. The drinks were creative and had fun presentation. Mango Mango Mango! Is a must for a coffee/espresso-adjacent drink. The clarified milk goes perfectly with the cinnamon cream. Some over and under salting, along with a couple inconsistencies in the cook on some meals are holding it back from a five. I'm excited to come back soon and push them to a 5! read more

There are a couple of things that I really liked about Maxwell Alley and then there are a couple of things that I was really disappointed with. Let me start off by saying that the host and waiter were extraordinary. The host was super great about some of us arriving early, asking if we wanted to take a seat at the bar while we waited and the waiter was prompt, always attentive, and provided excellent suggestions. The food itself was delicious. I was with five other people and we ordered a wide variety off the menu. I also really like the fact that it's a seasonal menu, which means that if I was to go back, I would be excited to try new and different dishes Unfortunately, it's the price-per-portion side that left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. If this restaurant was located in Manhattan, or even along the main strip on JC's Newark Ave, I could understand the pricing. If the portions were bigger, I could understand the pricing, but a quarter of a duck breast (although excellently prepared) with meager sides for almost $40 misunderstands the location and average clientele of the area. Part of it could be illusion. The plates are too big for the portion sizes and as such, you can really tell that you're not getting a lot of food. When more than half the plate is sauce, it disappoints the eyes. I suggest anyone visiting have a little something to nibble on beforehand. In terms of the food itself, everything was prepared perfectly. From the sourdough to the steak, the kitchen absolutely knows how to cook. The drinks were good as well, though I'd advise to stay away from Freak on a Leash. With a name like that, you'd expect bold flavor, but unfortunately it fell flat. If you're looking for a flat corn-flavored white claw, I guess it's right up your (Maxwell) alley. I do highly recommend the Mediterranean Martini and the Puerto Escondido. You can't go wrong with either. read more

Great experience. The service was top-notch. We really loved our server. The food was delicious too. I really think this is a restaurant JC needs more of. Their cocktail menu is fantastic too. The Mango, Mango, Mango is a standout. But the Easy as Pie is up there too. All in all, really enjoyed our experience and it made for a great date night. Very chill and fun. I think if I had one complaint it's that my potatoes were a little cold. But, is that really much of a complaint? read more

I've been here twice - once just for drinks and once for dinner and drinks. The ambiance is great at the bar (where I sat both times) and the decor and vibe throughout the restaurant is really cute. The bartender who served us last night was so sweet and attentive, and she gave us great recommendations (she actually recommended each of the dishes that we ordered and we weren't disappointed with any of them). The Mediterranean martini is delicious if you're looking for something a little more refreshing in the summer, but I also ordered a ketel dirty martini (my go-to), which was actually one of the best I've had in JC (idk why it's so hard to find a good one here). My mom who's a wine lover had the chenin blanc and loved it. We had the house baked sourdough and cucumbers to start which were both delicious, the cucumbers had a really unique flavor profile. For mains we had the sourdough tonnarelli - which is a must order in my opinion, probably the best pasta dish I've had in JC - and the halibut which was also good and balanced, but the pasta was much better in my opinion. I typically prefer to head into the city if I want a really good overall dining experience, but Maxwell Alley is definitely delivering that here in JC. Will be back for sure! read more

Maxwell Alley - Tonnarelli - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We had the endive salad--divine! And two of us had the duck--perfect! The service was fantastic and lovely. We loved the ambiance and music. Would go back in a heartbeat. read more

We had the steak, duck, lamb tartare, all were fantastic. My wife said it was the best duck she has ever had. Wine list is fantastic, cocktails were superb. Prices are great for this level of elevated farm to table fare. Alex our server was great, 10 out of 10 date night. read more

Maxwell Alley - Steak - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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This place is maybe the best restaurant in jersey city, what a wonderful addition! We made a reservation on a Friday night and everything we had was excellent. Cocktails were beautifully crafted. We had sourdough pasta and duck which were both delicious. My only notes would be the dessert was not as excellent as the rest of the meal but it was all around a great meal, we can't wait to go back. read more

We had one of the best meals of our lives here. And I do not say this lightly. Definite foodies, I am the daughter of a chef and my husband is an amateur chef. We have traveled around Europe and indulged in some wonderful meals, but this still makes the top of the list. Who raves about asparagus? We do...now. The asparagus appetizer was out of this world. Hand made bread and pasta hit my carb loving palate like a dream. While we've paid much more for steak tartare, this was the very best we've ever had. A Lucious, frothy cocktail and perfect wine pairing added to the experience. The biggest surprise came at meal's end as carrot gelato on top of crumbled carrot crackers and topped with a candied carrot. What an unexpected but delectable treat! We highly recommend this jewel of a restaurant. read more

The menu was extremely limited and left some in our party unable to find a satisfactory entree. The portions were small and presentation was below average. There was no cream available for the coffee and the coffee was served in not a coffee cup but in an "on the rocks" glass from the bar. The lack of a handle made it impossible to pick up the hot coffee which came black with a single sugar packet. The prices were excessive for the meals provided. The wait staff, though trying their best, seemed disorganized and under trained. The dining room lacked ambiance as it was bathed in a sickly yellow light. The warehouse acoustics absorbed no sound making the room so loud that conversation was almost impossible. Stay out of this alley. read more

Incredible meal, every course hit. The service was 10/10, thank you to Travis. New favorite Jersey City spot. Recommend the outdoor patio read more

Maxwell Alley - Outdoor patio - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Lavender & Ricky were amazing. Awesome bartenders, and super attentive to service. It was Lavenders FIRST DAY and she absolutely killed it. So cool to see as another bartender. Loved the wine list, very affordable glasses and bottles, and creative cocktails. Will definitely be back. Thank you all and congrats on such an awesome space :-) read more

REALLY want to LOVE this place but overall not a great experience. We went opening night which always has bumps. Food was pretty good but it took 3 hours to get through our meal. Our main courses came out prior to our apps. All of this was fine (as it's opening night) but we were completely ignored by our waitress the entire time. The owner was quite rude as well when we tried to speak to him. We tried their coffee this AM and was disappointed again. Really unpleasant staff, they didn't really present themselves as even open. There's tons of potential but they are just missing the mark On a positive note they did a great job with the remodel and I love the wine list. I just wish the menu was a little friendlier to a quick bite during the week and the staff was friendlier. Going to give it one more try for dinner.... read more

My boyfriend and I went to Maxwell Alley last night with a large group of people. The person at the front door was super friendly and accommodating as was all the waitstaff. The food was excellent with some unique flavors that really worked well together. We had the endive salad and the beet salad, both were excellent. For our main we had the mahi mahi which was so tasty. The portions were the perfect size and definitely not skimpy. We also shared the sticky toffee pudding for dessert and it was exactly how a sticky toffee pudding should be, sweet and delicate with strong caramel flavor and a fluffy dollop of fresh whipped cream, not too sweet. We tried different cocktails, all great as was the bottle of rose we shared. Overall an excellent experience in a beautiful restaurant. At midnight some tables were cleared and the dance party started. What a fun place! read more

We had such an amazing evening at Maxwell Alley. The service was warm and attentive, and the food was both inventive and delicious. It is hard to find a place in the area that offers something truly out of the ordinary and good, but this one absolutely delivers. The flavors were not just familiar or simple. Each dish was clearly well thought out with great attention to texture, balance, and creativity. The only thing I was a bit disappointed by was the handmade pasta across the pasta dishes. It was consistently too thick, making it hard to enjoy the way the rest of the meal invited us to. I am only pointing this out because everything else was truly spot on. The ambiance and decor are lovely, inviting, cozy, and full of character. I am especially looking forward to sitting on the patio when the weather allows. Welcome to the neighborhood and best of luck. We are happy to have you here and excited to come back. read more

Service was great and drinks were fun and creative! Food was very solid and balanced we got the Braised Carrots, Stracciatella, Sourdough Pasta, and Duck Best dish was the Duck, very flavorful and all the items on the plate worked very well with the Duck. The Sourdough Pasta wasn't the best, lacked flavor and the Guanciale was limp and chewy. I would expect it to be crispy to provide a crunch to the dish. Menu is small and my opinion lacks protein options, lots of carbs and veggies. read more

Visiting from Brooklyn and popped into Maxwell Alley for brunch - what a treat that was! The menu was very different - no pancakes or french toast. Creative dishes and probably the best bloody mary I've ever had. The service was casual but very professional. We sat in the beautiful front dining room but wished we had picked the patio. Guess I'll have to come back another time! Delicious! read more

Maxwell Alley - New American Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The food was good. Some dishes better than others. However, there is a female bartender who was EXTREMELY rude. Changed the entire vibe of the place. If you want to have better reviews, get rid of that sour puss. She made my friends and I so uncomfortable. Woof read more

Went for brunch the first time about two weeks ago. Server was super friendly but also very efficient. Tried the biscuit on a whim and really enjoyed it, and my friend and I shared the ricotta on toast as well as the frittata. We also tried a few cocktails and our favorite was definitely the Breakfast Martini. SO GOOD. I would honestly come back just for that. I would love to try their lunch or dinner menu next. read more

It hurts to write a bad review, I never do it... especially because I'm all about supporting small businesses, BUT, this was a poor experience. I'll start with the ambience, it's beautiful! The server and the wine specialist were very sweet. The food was okay and we got the steak for two. It was served in one big plate, great, but we didn't even get normal plates to eat, instead appetizer plates to put our steak on. And we had to ask for a steak knife. As expected, the butter knifes don't quite do the trick. The steak was the perfect temperature and really nice. The sourdough bread was good and so were the olives. The steak came with fried chick peas that looked like fish sticks. They were okay. We didn't even finish the steak. Not because it was too much food, but because we could hear the owner talking behind us... more on that later. The wine list was impressive, but not quite as advertised. The CA wine is supposed to be from the Central Coast, but the bottle we ordered was bottled in the Alexander Valley (which I LOVE, but NOT the Central Coast) and the vineyard is in El Dorado county! That's NOT the Central Coast NOR for the Alexander Valley, it's the Sierra Foothills! Isn't this place owned by the same people who own Cool Vines (wines)? Which brings me to the owner. As we wrapped up our dinner and we said we'd try it again in the future, we over heard the owner (loud speaker) talking to his friends voicing his objections to recent one-star reviews. They laughed about it and the owner went on and on. That is when we said we will not try it again. That's when we told our server we appreciate him, tipped 20-percent (low for us) and walked away so very sad. We were so excited to try this place and we hope they succeed because we love our neighborhood and we love small businesses, but sadly we won't be back. And we'll also skip Cool Vines now, which we frequently visited. We wish them the best and hope they succeed. read more

Jersey City has been starved for more restaurants like this! It's wild to see some of the negative comments--almost like people actually want this place to fail. Sure, there are a few minor kinks to work out (as there are with any new restaurant, especially one with a menu and cocktail offering this ambitious), but hot damn, they're getting so much right. The space is exquisite, with a breezy, California-inspired vibe--truly unlike anything else in JC. It's effortlessly cool. The cocktails are both creative and well-executed. On our last visit, I went simple with a Whiskey Sour, and it was excellent--fresh, balanced, and clearly made by someone who knows what they're doing. The wine and beer list is also thoughtfully curated and full of interesting choices. The food menu is seasonal and has changed each time we've gone, which I love. They're taking some big swings, and they're landing. The salads are bold and mouthwatering, the pastas are fresh and comforting, and the entrees are consistently impressive. If I had one critique, it's that the pacing felt a bit rushed on our first visit--our entrees arrived while we were still finishing our appetizers. That's a pet peeve of mine, but honestly, I chalk it up to a new team still settling into their rhythm. I'm not going to slam a place with this much potential over something like that. For context, I've long considered Razza, The Roxy and Corto the best restaurants in JC (even though BYOB drives me a little nuts). But Maxwell Alley is absolutely on track to join their ranks--and I really hope the city gives it the support it deserves. read more

Can't believe this place is only a 3 star! What an amazing addition to jersey city. I've been dying for a restaurant just like this - great food, great drink, and attentive staff. I do agree that it can get hot in there but I'm just assuming that will be corrected. read more