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    sam a.m

    4.3 (913 reviews)
    Open 6:30 am - 3:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    sam a.m Photos

    SAM A.M ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - sam a.m

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    Lawrence G.

    If you are in NY looking for a breakfast nook, Sam A.m. is the spot. You feel like family as this is a small intimate restaurant with the owners personal touch. The food, each item individually prepared with love in each item. Ohh, and what is brunch without mimosa, mine with apple juice. The service was fantastic ..from the kitchen to tour table with constant attention to our needs. The feeling was like coming downstairs into mom's kitchen and having breakfast with family.

    Chilaquiles and black coffee
    Renata G.

    Sam a.m is such a lovely neighborhoody cafe. It feels very homely and service is exceptional. I love the food here. Avocado toast was scrumptious, scrambled eggs perfectly cooked and the side of pimento cheese was just a cherry on top. I also got a hot chocolate to go and it was the best decision on a cold winter day. I'd come back here in a heartbeat. My only thing is that you walk out smelling like food. My clothes and hair had a lingering food smell all day. Better exhaust system would be a fix!

    BBQ Grits Special (mp)
    Karson O.

    Great little local spot! There is typically a wait at busy times which moves fast. They have a small menu with good selections. Best local brunch spot! Employees are kind, it's a great atmosphere and theres always some fun music playing.

    The Honey Badger
    Rajeev L.

    Small and quirky place that makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in the door. The chef is out chatting with people and has a little knowledge about a lot of things. He's a self-professed expert on Carhartt jackets and noticed mine when I walked in. The food is very good as well. The menu is small but execution is delicious.

    chicken waffle
    Mila C.

    It's definitely a nice addition to the neighborhood! The space is on the small side but they make it work as it's so inviting and cozy. We finally had our first brunch recently. Not sure why we waited so long, I guess maybe the line for tables scared us a little but it's not bad at all. We waited about 10 minutes. The food was amazing. We had one of the specials (chicken and waffles) and also one of the signature sandwiches which is also really good. Will definitely be back and highly recommend it to others. The service is efficient and fast.

    sausage and biscuit!
    Sravya V.

    Sam am was a unique experience! My friend and I stopped by for brunch on a Sunday morning, around 10. The place was quite popular, with people waiting outside for a table. Spots are first come first served, but thankfully we only had to wait about 10-15 minutes for a spot at the bar. We ended up sitting in front of the chef, who was very chatty and fun. We learned more about the menu items we were interested in directly from him, and it was clear that he cared a lot about the food. The restaurant is very casual in both ambiance and service style. The food was great!! I was craving something warm and hearty and ordered the sausage gravy and biscuit. The gravy was thick and rich with a fantastic flavor. The egg was perfectly runny! My only wish would have been for more biscuit, but the meal was still enjoyable. My friend ordered and enjoyed the avocado toast. Sam'am is a spot worthy checking out if you are nearby!

    Sam H.

    This is still my favorite breakfast spot in Jersey City. The owner is extremely sweet and makes you feel at home when you were there. The breakfast is good well priced and the tea is amazing. We've been there few times and every time we're driving around in this area we always end up here I love the hospitality thank you.

    Marvin S.

    The restaurant ambiance is close knit and cozy.its got an old school feel to it as well. Tables are all over along with counter seating as well. The restaurant is decorated with various objects along the wall like books , music cds, and other random objects. The service was great and very friendly. Everyone there was also very energetic too. I ordered the chef's special shrimp and grits. It was served with a sunny side up egg as well. The grits were somewhat smooth although the egg nor the shrimp seasoned well enough. I think the grits also had a little bit of cheese maybe to aid in the smoothness. I wish they would've been more aggressive in seasoning because the dish would've been perfect. I would definitely come back though and try something else and because the vibe great ! Hopefully, the next dish I try will be better.

    Omelet of the Day
    Winn H.

    TLDR: Easily the best classic American breakfast in town. And for $15 it's quite unbeatable. Highly recommend a visit if you're around Jersey City! As a perk, it's also near the Waterfront, which makes for a nice stroll before / after. - - - - - - New to Jersey City? Not sam a.m... and I'm so glad I found them through a Reddit post. It's a small breakfast spot in an easily missed location; don't walk in the corner if you're on GPS, though, as it's someone's residence - oops, awkward! When you step inside, you're quickly greeted by the host(ess), and the wait was no longer than 10 minutes on a weekday afternoon. High volume, high quality, the staff here are on it! Let's be honest, there's not much exciting about a classic American breakfast; what's there to be impressed by for an omelet, roasted potatoes, and toast? Well, let me tell you about sam a.m: Omelet of the Day: Broccoli Cheddar... clean and simple, cooked to perfection, not overcooked. The broccoli? So lightly steamed there wasn't a doubt it was healthy... as a parent, you could probably get any reluctant child to devour this, too! Roasted Potatoes: Perfectly roasted, good balance of a crisp exterior and smooth interior. Toast: Nothing exciting here, either, but it was perfectly toasted, not even a tad burnt. It had a bit of chew and paired with butter made a smooth combination. Service was amazing as can be, and all guests are treated like VIP here - literally! And if you're lucky enough to sit at the bar, they cook the omelet in front of you AND you can watch all the food being cooked... for the gram / video of course. (Except I got distracted by the food and missed the opportunity :( ) How was this only $15? Beats me, but I'm definitely returning whenever I'm back in Jersey City!

    Jenny L.

    The food was very simple and to the point, no outstanding flavors. I think its a great spot if you want your traditional eggs with side breakfast. it was imo a bit overpriced, the portions were smaller than expected. my avocado toast almost $20 but it was 1 slice of thin sourdough with avocado that didnt cover the entire toast, also the added sprouts was more like 5 pieces of sprouts. We also ordered a side of chicken for $5 but turned out to be rotisserie chicken which is $5 for the entire chicken at costco haha. The french toast did look like a delicious option but otherwise the breakfast was not bad but average. The water was also served in plastic chipped cups and tasted very soapy. Would recommend bringing your own water.

    Weekender breakfast
    Steve S.

    Fantastic, quaint, hidden little gem in Jersey City. We showed up about 10 minutes before it opened and there was already a line. That told me everything that I needed to know about this place. Small, homey, friendly, and the chef is hilarious. He's out front cooking it up for you to see. Breakfast although, a simple choice, was cooked perfectly. I will definitely stop here again after my early morning photo sessions.

    Grits Special (mp)
    Olga B.

    Their pastries are amazing! Get there early order the pastries and go! No need to wait in a line for an hour for the food. Not worth it. Nothing you can't whip up yourself in the time it takes you to get seated. Service is very fun and friendly though so I'm giving it 3 stars.

    Vanilla Challah Bread French Toast + Applewood Bacon Grits Special (mp) + Caf- Latte + Orange Juice + Homeade Berry Limeade
    Iyanla M.

    Intimate little cafe, good for a quick bite. Service was particular, they kept swapping out servers so they were a bit forgetful. Challah French toast + side of bacon & Grit special (ribs) - French toast was fluffy but lacked a bit of flavor, bacon was good. Grits weren't seasoned and ribs were ok. *The berry limeade was surprisedly better than the orange juice.

    Grits Special (mp)

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    4 years ago

    This place is a neighborhood gem. Everything is really tasty and the staff are delightful.

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    2 years ago

    Great energy in there. Great coffee and sausage gravy and biscuits and bacon and omelette.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great food. Beautiful location. Nice service. Busy because it's soooo popular. Will come back again!

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    Page 5 of 23

    sam a.m Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - sam a.m

    Do they have gluten free bread for sandwiches?

    Are reservations needed for the weekend?

    No. Go early as soon as they open to skip the wait.

    Is it BYOB?

    Yes! Beer and wine only

    View All 4 Questions

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    What happens when you don't have much to say besides giving a 10 out of 10? The service was great,…read morethe food was great, and not having to wait to be seated was excellent. I ordered the breakfast burrito, and it was very filling. I couldn't even finish the whole thing. My sister-in-law had the eggs Benedict, and she really liked the whipped ricotta as an extra topping. She kept raving about it, and since she loves eggs Benedict, it must have been good. I left completely satisfied, and the fact that I already want to come back to Jersey, says it all.

    We have visited The Kitchen Step a few times on the weekend and consistently enjoyed the…read moreexperience. The ambience is fantastic, the service is great, and the food is eclectic and delicious. From the moment you walk in, the cozy atmosphere stands out--enhanced by unique artwork, including an eye-catching piece on the ceiling. The menu offers plenty of creative options. We tried the Grilled Shrimp with Thai-inspired salad, the Croissant French Toast, and the Semolina Zucchini Fries. Each dish felt fresh, inventive, and flavorful. For drinks, we went with the non-alcoholic Rose and Peach Please, both of which were refreshing. I also had a cappuccino afterward--while it didn't come with latte art, the taste and strength of the coffee were spot on. On our return visit, we tried the chicken sandiwch, and the pomegranate hummus. The chicken was juicy and the hummus was delcious. Service was attentive throughout, with the staff checking in just enough to make us feel well taken care of. Overall, The Kitchen Step is an excellent find that I'd highly recommend.

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    Skinner's Loft

    Skinner's Loft

    3.9(1.1k reviews)
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    Living in Downtown Jersey City, my fiancée and I always wanted to give this place a shot for…read morebrunch. We saw how it looked during happy hour, but were equally curious about the food. We finally had the opportunity to do so on a quiet Easter Sunday. First, the interior looks pretty amazing. A lot of history behind all the architecture and they did a good job preserving it. Because it was raining and chilly, we couldn't see the rooftop, but I can see the appeal. To start, we got an assortment of small muffins for the table. That was a nice touch. They were good too. For brunch, we each ordered omelettes. I got the Jalapeño & Cheddar while my fiancée got the mushroom and spinach omelette. We ended up complementing the items quite well. I did end up enjoying her omelette well. The vegetables were definitely fresh and cooked quite well. My omelette was nice and cheesy, how I like it. The jalapeños didn't have a crazy kick, but enough to satisfy. The potatoes were good too. There's no real coffee menu here (which is a slight miss), but I did enjoy the freshly squeezed orange juice as a nice change. I will be back.

    I have a friend who, despite being full Korean, always craves American diner fare when we meet up…read more I don't know why...and frankly, I'm afraid to ask. I just tell myself that my dewy glass skin reminds him of frying oil. Anyway, the last time we got together, he picked Skinner's Loft for brunch. I was ready to write the place off, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good everything was. Skinner's isn't going to win World's Best anything, but it's a solid neighborhood spot with big portions for decent prices. The Buttermilk Pancakes were large, fluffy and satisfying. My Croque Monsieur was perfectly crispy and loaded with delicious melted bechamel, gruyere and prosciutto. One of the tastiest Croque Monsieurs I've had, including the ones I enjoyed living in France, and certainly bigger than its Manhattan counterparts. The Crispy Shrimp & Bacon Sandwich was also a pleasant taste bomb of basil, dill & cucumber remoulade, tomatoes, and, of course, bacon. Bottom line: Skinner's offers a brunch that's tastier and more affordable than many NYC joints. When you're hungover on a Sat morning, this might be the best place for you.

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    Life Pancake Company

    Life Pancake Company

    3.5(248 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    We stopped by life pancake Company, while passing through the area. Tastefully decorated plenty of…read moreparking. We were seated right away. I was not very hungry so I ordered a salad and he ordered a muscle pancake. For a Sunday mid afternoon it was pretty busy a lot of families. Our waitress served us immediately. She refilled our coffee a few times for us. She checked on us throughout our meal. It was a very nice pleasant experience stopping by for lunch. My salad of course I opted for no protein, but I wound up eating his muscle pancake, and judging by the pictures that I posted... Get the muscle pancake it works

    Our server was very friendly and attentive to our needs, which we really appreciated. The…read morerestaurant is quite spacious and provided a typical diner-like dining experience. The steak benedict and corned beef hash were both just okay, where although the steak was perfectly cooked medium-rare, it was quite bland and the hollandaise didn't really elevate the flavor profile by much. The corned beef hash had a lot of peppers in it, more than you typically would get at other diners. The pancakes with powdered sugar was soft and moist, which was quite nice. Overall, the meal was just okay for us. Perhaps their other selections may be more worthwhile. Thank you for reading and best of luck!

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    Life Pancake Company - Jersey French Toast Breakfast

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    Capoeira Restaurant  - coxinha (chicken croquette).

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    4.6(77 reviews)
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    I will be talking about my meal here for years to come. Chef Willian blends the tastes of Brazil…read moreand Portugal in a way that can only be summed up by the sound of "mmmmmmm!" I had the Mini-Quibe de Carne e Queijo (Beef Kibbeh) for an appetizer. As one person, I probably could have gotten something smaller than this shareable, but I have zero regrets and I would do it again in a heartbeat. How the Chef managed to get the spice to meat tenderness ratio so perfectly, I'll never know but will always be grateful for. I tried the Cajá juice and loved it! Be forewarned, it is not sweet but the fruit is distinctly tart and refreshing. My (huge) entree, the Estrogonofe (Chicken Stroganoff), was recommended to me by my server, who I trust with all food recommendations now because WOW. And finally, I chose Brigadeiro as the sweet treat to cap off my meal. Bite-sized, creamy, decadent, and strongly cacao...no notes. Be prepared to get cozy, the restaurant space is intimate and full of culture. You'll be happy you went, I plan on bringing my family and friends the next chance I get! Thank you for the chicken Estrogonofe recommendation, Ludimylla; you and your "partner in taste" made my night! I promise I'll switch it up next time and go chicken first, then beef. Until next time!

    I love this quaint little spot - the food is very good! The last time I ate here, I heard a guest…read moretell the server they should try for a Michelin. They're BYOB and offer a ton of gluten free options including... The Pao de Queijo (cheese ball app) - delicious and a no brainer. Mexilhão a Curitiba (mussels app) - also very good. The mussels are quite large; this could be an entree for me personally. The Frango Piri-piri (cornish hen) - good but sadly kind of dry. The yuca fries it came with were pretty good though. Lastly, my husband said the beef stroganoff was very amazing but needed more rice.

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    Capoeira Restaurant  - Amazing

    Amazing

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    Brazilian-style casserole, a combination of sun-dried beef and yuca purée.

    Capoeira Restaurant  - Toasts with olive oil, olives, and lupini beans.

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    Toasts with olive oil, olives, and lupini beans.

    sam a.m - cafes - Updated September 2026

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