We were looking for a quick dinner before watching a show at the NJPAC and the chef/owner…read moregraciously 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!

I really wanted to support this restaurant, but unfortunately our experience left us feeling…read moreuncomfortable. 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.

The manager sent some coupons to the fire house which was thoughful. Really impressed with their…read moresalads for a burger spot. Chicken club sandwichs, burgers, tempura string beans and lemonades were all tasty! Decent prices. Clean inside, nice team members, and patio for additional seating.

This was my first time eating here and I really enjoyed it! I'm not usually a burger person, but I…read moreleft no crumbs behind -- their food was that good. The restaurant was very clean, and the staff were extremely nice and welcoming. My only complaint was that the fries were a bit too salty, but other than that, everything was great. Definitely recommend giving this place a try!

The oxtail empanadas are AMAZING!!!!!!!! The tacos are great too!! So glad to have this restaurant…read morein the neighborhood!

I have tried this place two times and very impressed. Picked up food once and ordered a Super Bowl…read moremenu the second time. So impressed with the quality of food and taste. On top of that the pricing is affordable. This place is a true gem!!!

We had an 845 reservation for an FDU graduation dinner... we had a big group and it was wonderful!…read more I was truly living in the moment because I don't think I took any photos of the food, but we all really enjoyed what we ordered! Thank you !

We were in Newark a late afternoon on a Sunday and looking for a burger. Went to another famous…read morelocal place and it was closed so decided to try Burke's Tavern. The atmosphere and restaurant look great. It has a good vibe and the service was great. Let me tell you about the burger, not the best, they give you a slider size patty, overcooked and served on a bun that comes apart when you grab it. I'm not sure about the rest of the menu, but not a burger place. Now the chocolate cake with the raspberry ice cream--wow! This was the best part of the meal. I'm giving this place 4 stars even though I didn't like the burger because that's all I tried. I'll come back and revise this rating up/down if I come back and try other menu items. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

I doordashed chicken parmigiana and loved it. The quantity was enough to feed atleast 3 ppl.. i was…read moresurprised.. and it tasted so good, one of the best i have had! Will be ordering again for sure

This is a wonderful place. The food is excellent. The prices are very good. I order here quite…read moreoften. I'm glad I found this small little gem of a place. I highly recommend it.

The absolute best diner I've been to…read more The place itself is stunning. It's newly renovated but still has a diner feel, just with some upgrades like a live DJ and a solarium-like addition. Parking is also highly convenient. The menu is extensive and I can't wait to go back to try everything they have. There are the classic breakfast items of course, but they also have some innovative dishes or familiar dishes with a spin. I ordered the jerk chicken pasta which was spicy, so flavorful and also a great portion size. Others in our party ordered pancakes, which were so fluffy, eggs, fried chicken, fried catfish and more. Everything was fried to perfection and the catfish tasted like it had literally just jumped out of the ocean. Our waiter was super nice and we had a big party so I'm sure it wasn't easy. My only suggestion is that they make their hot drinks hotter. Other than that, I'd seriously come back every weekend.

READ FULL REVIEW!!!…read more March 2026: First time at this establishment was just ok. Hosted a very small get-together here (5 guest). Atmosphere was nice. Music was wayy too loud to hear the person you're sitting next to. Food was tasty and fresh. Coffee was good with great creamer selection (at the time). Our server was my least favorite part of this experience. He was over the top with his energy and upscale tactics (pushy with getting us to order extra drinks and appetizers despite declining). I was hosting this event and did not need him selling us after already being told "no, thank you" twice. It was awkward and ultimately changed the vibe. He hardly checked on us after that encounter and we constantly had to remind them about request that were never brought out to the table. Staff needs to be trained better. This was just an ok experience. April 2026 : What ultimately lead me to write this review was my 2nd experience at this diner. The server was a lot better than our first experience, but we did run into a few too many problems. First, we ordered coffee and are informed that per managements request, we can only have half-half or cream with our coffee. Previously they had French vanilla creamers and other flavored creamers but I guess management decided to save on the additional cost. This was a bummer especially realizing that they could easily afford creamers. This restaurant easily pulls at least $150,000 per week in revenue, so I didn't understand cheapening out like that. I still ordered the coffee. When it came to the table I added the cream into the cup only to find something floating in the coffee. I send it back and ask for a new cup, which the server politely provided. We order our meals and all goes well. Eventually two of the three meals come out and we wait for the final plate to come out. It's common courtesy to wait for everyone to have their meal before eating, so we wait. We wait about 6-7 minutes and the final plate comes out only for it to be cold. All of us ordered breakfast, so you can imagine trying to eat cold egg, potato, and sausage. We ask for the waiter, but before he could get to us the manager passes by and we let him know the issue. He takes the plate to the back and about two minutes later he comes back with the same exact plate. Before the manager arrived to take the plate away, I saw the guest split the egg half and add black pepper on everything so we knew it was the same plate and food she started eating off of that was reheated onto the kitchen grill where other food is being prepared for guest. The manager informs us that he had the chef heat the food up on the griddle and that it should be a perfect temperature. We refuse to accept the plate because it was reheated and not remade entirely. We were shocked that this was the solution even being offered. Reheating food on the griddle seemed unsafe (contamination risk, diseases, illness, etc) and offensive. No one pays these prices to have reheated breakfast served to them. I could've just made that at home for a fraction of the price. We politely refuse the reheated plate and he apologized and took the plate to the back. The server comes over to see what the issue is and we explain everything. He says that he will look into it and take that meal off the bill. Now I'm frustrated because one out of the three of us aren't eating anything and the experience was off. At this point, I'm not eating my meal but the 3rd guest is eating. So the guest who sent their plate back and myself are waiting for the 3rd guest to finish their pancakes. He ordered a stack of 4-5 chocolate chip pancakes and was happily eating away at layer by layer. Eventually he gets to the last 2 pancakes and before he adds syrup he notices what appeared to be an eyelash or short piece of hair imbedded in the pancake. Picture of the clearly imbedded hair included with this review. He immediately stopped eating and looks sick. He had already eaten 3-4 pancakes by then and the idea that he ate more of whatever that was felt unnerving, to say the least. We both start looking to see what he's looking at and long behold the hair was there. At this point we are extremely frustrated and completely over this experience. Management did not make this experience right even after addressing all of these issues both separately and together. I felt like my money was not valued and my business certainly wasn't. They did nothing to remedy these issues and I will NOT be going back to this establishment. This restaurant may look visually beautiful but the service is not. Staff needs more training, music needs to be turned down, chefs need to wear hairnets and everyone needs to follow safe food handling skills. You're putting your guest and your business at risk ignoring these issues. I really really wish I had a better experience.

Great vibes with trivia and karaoke nights. Decent bar food and attentive staff. Reliable.read more

I've gotten food to go here a few times. The first time I called, they put me on a hold and never…read morecame back and even calling back it was only a busy signal. But after I gave it another shot later, I realized they take online orders. The estimated time here does seem to be off though, as I showed up about 5 minutes before the ETA and it was already sitting around being less hot. So maybe estimate picking up even earlier than that. When I came, the place was packed, but it was a game night. The kitchen/pick up area is way in the back, but I will say, their hot pretzel is fantastic. The flavor itself is good and crunchy, but with the cheese sauce, it was truly delectable. It was just pure thick cheddary liquid goodness. It also came with a mustard if you're that sort, but just the combo of pretzel and cheese makes for such a good and quick snack. They also have a trivia night promotion, so I'm interested in checking that out, but for bar food (even to go) is pretty solid.

Jeffrey at the front was the kindest person for hooking a brother Uber driver up. The man in the…read moreblack shirt was also very sincere and greeting was perfect!

Very first visit was right before a Red Bulls match and every single food establishment in the area…read morewas slammed. We opted for 5 Guys and it was absolutely crushed but the platoon of workers behind the counter somehow kept the ship from sinking and all things considered: it was a 5-star visit. About a year later - now right before a Gotham FC match and this time 5 Guys was a ghost town (they seemed more busy with take-out/delivery orders). The guy working the main register and taking orders looked seconds from drifting off for a nap (I'm guessing that melatonin gummy kicked in?!) and sure enough... items were missing and the food wasn't up to snuff for what you expect from a 5 Guys. Unfortunately this time: it was a 2-star visit. Generally we're big fans of 5 Guys (even if their French fries are almost always a disappointment... no matter how many extra they sneak into your bag as a way to woo you!) and I'm hoping the most recent (and disappointing) visit was a fluke. When in the area... The Vanguard - too stuffy and hip TaKorea BBQ - too busy (or closed) Ah'Pizz - hit or miss Joia Restaurant - always forget about them since they're past the arena itself 5 Guys - looks like we're stuck with each other, huh?

Good Food and Service - Local Institution…read more Welcoming place. Attentive and friendly owners and staff. Irish Fries were a great start. Burgers to follow; I had the "Scully" and my wife had the "Rodeo". Both were first rate. Atmosphere and history in a place is hard to find and McGoverns nails it. Well done Mike & Morgan and the McGoverns team. Tip: Parking is tough, park around the corner in the pay lot, 10 bucks. Great local bar in the heart of Newark. Great atmosphere and good staff. Worth stopping by if your in the area. Thanks

We had our NJIT Iota Kappa Phi--Tau Lamda annual alumni fraternity reunion here. This is a great…read moreplace for this type of event. Historic roots in the Newark Community, the Tavern has the interior from when it was in its own building. Went here often in college. Bill Scully, the owner at the time is a major branding. Rectangular bar with several dining rooms. Great selection of beers, ciders, wine, and mixed drinks. I got the Scully Burger which includes Taylor Ham. We had plenty of good appetizers. Our Waitress and her colleagues were amazing

In the area to celebrate my father's 91st birthday, when my parents butcher didn't come through at…read morethe last minute with the leg of lamb that my father had wanted for his birthday dinner, I made a new connection that will now be my first call for meat anytime I am up here. I reached out to Ryanne Fadel at the 4th Ave Halal Meat Market who, within the hour, had delivered the most beautiful 10lb leg of lamb that one could wish for. Flavorful, tender, and as fresh as can be (the lamb had been slaughtered only the day before). Absolutely wonderful service, Ryanne's friendliness and responsiveness would have been reason alone to win my loyalty, but the piece of meat...my goodness, it was fabulous. Highly recommend the 4th Ave Meat Market for any needs for high quality butcher shop offerings. Thank you Mr Fadel and the team at the Market for really coming through when it really counted!!!

I've been a loyal customer of their since I moved to East Orange I love the meat. It's always a…read moregood quality. The workers are always nice and polite. If they don't understand or request, they will call and ask for a confirmation or clarity and the atmosphere is amazing when you walk-ins always good energy they make sure that your order is right. 1000/10