Omg! This place is amazing and definitely worth the drive!! The food taste like home. Better yet like made by your grandma. The service is great the wait staff is energetic and knowledgeable. We tried the fish and grits, the red velvet chicken and waffles, the funnel cake fries and had the free mimosas and the peach tea. Again, this is hidden gem in Trenton. read more

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Had a wonderful reunion here with some old friends from Atlanta. Honestly, it felt like we were in the A circa 2005. The music was old school '90s vibes and the menu was chockfull of comfort and soul food. Cheese grits with fried fish and copious splashes of hot sauce? Yes please. Trenton is underrated and there is something delightful about getting breakfast here and then going for a walk near the Capitol . read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Fish & Grits Only Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

Skil-Lit Cafe is such a vibe. The ambiance was lit for sure -- great music and fun energy, perfect if you want to kick your morning off on a positive note. (If you're nursing a hangover though, you might want to grab your food to-go, haha.) I tried the chicken and waffles, which were pretty solid. The chicken tenders could've used just a touch more seasoning, but I understand they're aiming for a lighter breakfast flavor. The omelet was absolutely delicious, and the iced coffees were spot-on. The staff was wonderful -- so kind and accommodating -- which really rounded out the experience. Skil-Lit is definitely worth checking out if you're in Trenton and want a lively, feel-good start to your day. read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

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Let me start by saying I have been at this black owned establishment SEVERAL times and have had nothing but good things to say. But I took my boyfriend to breakfast and the ENTIRE kitchen staff had changed! And boy it showed.....I ordered BASIC meal....bagel ,toasted w/butter, he ordered porkroll on a croissant with cheese. Can't mess that up right?! WRONG!!! I got a DRY bagel with the excuse they use liquid butter to toast it(whatever) and he received his sandwich with non melted shredded cheese on it. When we asked our waitress about the food,it was just excuse after excuse instead of Im sorry, let me fix that for you. If the owner reads this(Iand I hope she does because I was really trying to support you sis) PLEASE fix your cooks and servers....nothing against other nationalities but,we need people that eat like us to cook for us! Not sure if I'll be back but I hope you make the changes to keep your clientele. read more

I've never been to this establishment & been let down by the quality of food. Always good items on the menu & always in stock. My steak was overcooked , but wasn't going to complain. Our server was very attentive and pleasant as well. The ambiance was chill vibe, granted it was 9:30am, so still quite early. Will for sure be back for a great flavorful breakfast meal. read more

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I came across this place while heading to lunch with a coworker. The outside leaves an odd first impression that does not do this place justice. It gives off diner vibes. But once we headed in there (after stumbling up that half step) it felt like we were in a scene from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe! We had stepped into another world. It's trendy and upbeat in there y'all! The staff are friendly and the kitchen layout is open enough for you to see the cooks. So far, I've ordered the shrimp salad, a shrimp wrap and fish and grits. They were good but less salt on the shrimp would be appreciated. I loved the grits the best along with their delicious house-made lemonade. My colleague errs on the side of caution so they went with the chicken and fries and loved it. The wait can be long when they are at peak lunch time but it's always easiest to call in an order. read more

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This restaurant never disappoints. The first time I had, it was for a work event and now I came back with friends to try out the food in person and it was delicious. The service was pretty quick and the server was friendly. He gave amazing recommendations and when the food came out, it was hot. Fresh and delicious went through. There was flavor throughout bite and I will definitely be back here again. read more

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The food was well seasoned and it was a very warm and cozy place. The peach lemonade and fish and grits were amazing! read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Store front - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

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Great Experience. Wonderful Shrimp & Grits. Servers are all pleasant and friendly. Owners take pride in their estimation with comfortable atmosphere , delicious food and mimosas on Sunday. read more

Love Skil-Lit! The staff is lovely and the food came out fresh and hot. Our waitress, Jessica, a couple weeks back was great! The Grit-Lit tastes just like my mom's! read more

The food was Great! I had steak and eggs. The steak had onions and peppers and was inside the omelet. Also came with potatoes with cheese, just excellent. I was only able to eat half. (though I am an old guy. could have finished it when I was young LOL) Go. you won't be disappointed. Oh, almost forgot the service was excellent. A very nice pretty young lady waited on us. I was more interested in the food, but again, if I was young..........LOL read more

The vibes weee through the roof at Skil-Lit. The playlist was perfect, the atmosphere was beautiful and the food was perfectly seasoned. We loved it, if I'm ever in Trenton again I'll go back! read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

Awesome breakfast/ brunch spot in downtown Trenton. The vibe inside is modern urban with cool vibes. There's a huge open kitchen so you can see the magic happening on the grill, flattops, and stove. The coffee situation is somewhat lacking. Maybe because there's a Starbucks across the street? I noticed a personal (not commercial) manual Breville espresso machine and a big bag of Eight o' Clock coffee for the drip option. Maybe that's something to come? With that said this place is all about the food and they excel at that! While we waited for our takeout we noticed the amazing looking dishes being carried past us by the wait staff on the way to the tables. The chicken and waffles appeared to be popular and looked fantastic. Everything else that passed us solicited oohs and ahhhs in my head. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and was given a choice of cheese, style to have the eggs cooked, a choice of meat (I passed on that) and a choice of a bagel (plain or everything) or croissant. I chose fried eggs and American cheese on a croissant. This sandwich was delicious and they even crisped up the croissant. I ordered the loaded potatoes on the side which were equally delicious. The potatoes were skin on, diced with sautéed onions and peppers, and just the right amount of shredded cheddar. Overall, a great experience and next time we will return to eat there instead of taking out. One thing to note is that they tack on a 15% gratuity to the take out orders. I guess that's a sign of the times. read more

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Come here and order the chicken & waffles or the 2 Lit with Cajun Shrimp! (continue reading for full review). FANTASTIC addition to the Trenton area and Black owned! This fabulous restaurant is located on one of the nicest historic streets in Trenton and fits in perfectly. As soon as you step inside, there is a warmth of good vibes and an aroma of delicious food. As soon as we sat down we ordered coffee and it did not disappoint. My husband had a delicious Latte and my regular coffee was made nice and strong. As for food we ordered the chicken and waffles. For me, the true testament of how good a breakfast spot is, is their pancakes or waffles. And Skil Lit Cafe makes a perfect Belgian waffle. It is crispy on the edges and soft with a hint of vanilla on the inside. Now, let's talk about this chicken! Yum! At first glance I thought I was going to be let down because it wasn't bone-in chicken pieces but tenders instead....but they were definitely made with the perfect amount of seasoning and I enjoyed every bite. Hubby ordered the 2 Lit Skillet and added Cajun Shrimp. This was a feast for breakfast! I honestly don't know which plate was better because this also had so many delicious flavors and every bite was better than the previous. They even made the breakfast potatoes with love! We have come several times since then, and I would suggest getting here early because it is not too big inside. It is also a great place for pictures and the music is always a vibe. We are excited that this now part of our weekend rotation, you should come check them out too! read more

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Food was tasty. It looked, smelled, and tasted so good. Was my first time here and when I examined the spot online to see what I would want, I knew immediately I wanted the shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed. The place looked vibrant with decorations all over the place. It looked cute. The name was hung up and lit up. That was nice. Service was good. Everyone was nice. We were greeted upon arrival. Small spot. There wasn't many people there. I'm guessing because of the time of day and day of the week. Even though the time was good, not sure if I'll be back because I experienced it and liked it but it wasn't too memorable. read more

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The food is great the cost is way out of line, you get charged a tip and a fee for a bag. They frequently leave items out like Cheese and/or mushroom- but they charge you for it. I do not recommend this place because of the services/amount charge- like I stated the food is good if you don't mind spending @$50-75 dollars for a couple of platters. read more

The food was yummy and the ambiance is nice but the service was a bit slow. Make sure you have time to relax.

I have catered from Skil-Lit a handful of times and they do not disappoint! I never have any left overs, because everyone always goes back for seconds and thirds! Their brunch is spectacular. Their shrimp and grits is truly to die for. I've hired Deonna's team for multiple events and they always are ready to serve! When sending out invites, someone asked me "will there be the empanadas there?" They truly have amazing food, highly recommend you try them out. read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Catered event with Deonna's team! Deonna is the owner and handles all catering requests. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

Food was delicious and nice location. Great Menu and fast and friendly service. I would truly recommend this place.

From the moment we walked in, Ben greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel right at home. Adam took such great care of us throughout our visit, ensuring we had everything we needed and then some! These two are true gems and made our experience exceptional. The food was amazing, incredibly flavorful, and so filling. I can't say enough about the great service and delicious food. I'll definitely be back! read more

Avacado toast was awful and not at all like description, they used pre made guacamole and no seasoning. Chicken and Waffles was a huge disappointment bland at best. Staff was great! Food needs to be made from scratch not pre packaged and then served. read more

The inside of the restaurant is very nice. Definitely giving off chill vibes with the decor and lighting. I however ordered takeout. Food was ready in less than the 15 minutes they advised over the phone. Decided to go with the 2-Lit combo with eggs, potatoes, and steak. The steak was a bit fatty and seasoning was average. The egg was ok, nothing that was extraordinary. Moreover the potatoes were meh. There appeared to be some cheese mixed in with the potatoes which were nice. Prices are okay. My meal was a little over $18. I wish the potatoes and steak was just slightly seasoned. The portion of the food was average. The experience is probably better dining in but for takeout I would have to pass. Parking is very difficult downtown Trenton particularly on a week day. read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - 2-Lit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

I love my hometown of Trenton NJ but it hard to find good breakfast food. My daughter kept raving about this place and I'm glad she did! First off friendly waitress that gave us suggestions of what to try based on what we like. Our table was super clean, great energy with lots of young people and also people of every race which was good to see. Parking was easy to find downtown which is rare. The food was amazing see for yourself! read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Whiting fish and grits.. whiting was fresh not frozen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

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OMG, this is the place for breakfast! My friends travel from Delaware early in the morning so that we can get a great start to our day. EVERYTHING on the menu is delicious and cooked to perfection. I love to start my day with their fish and grits with eggs and potatoes. The service is always very good. We feel at home here! read more

My favorite place !!! Don't hesitate to go, the food is delicious and the mimosas are lit

Came here in a late Saturday morning and we were seated right away even though it was busy. Staff was friendly and attentive and there was a nice variety of brunch items. My smoked salmon was very flavorful and is a good size for an appetizer. Veggie omelette was full of vegetables and the portion with the potatoes was plenty! Clean restaurant too! read more

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How does one top off a birthday weekend getaway! Skil-Lit Café, that's how. The vibe was just what I needed to ease my way back into regular life after a great weekend away from it all. We (kind of) found this spot searching for places along our route back home. The vibe was chill with good music, good service, mimosas, and great food. I had the chicken and waffles and my date had the Grit-Lit with fish. Both were so good. Now, my chicken and waffles were delicious. The syrup was nice and light and complimented the waffles nicely. I mentally split my meal in half before I dug in and seriously that was enough. I could not wait to have that for lunch later. The Grit-Lit was good, but not really my thing so. I don't vote against it. Service good but also was a little backed up, even though we were sat immediately. It was cool because I had time. I don't know if that's a norm, but they provided mimosas and continued to check in so I think they know what they are doing. Plus! The food was worth the wait. The vibe is not too loud even with the open kitchen. The ambiance is perfect for a quiet spot for a date but it's not a huge place. I don't live close by and parking is on the street. But if I'm ever back in the area again I will definitely come again. I've already recommended this place to several people. read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

Perfectly cooked omlette and potatoes. Quick service and pleasant staff. A good spot for lunch after a capitol tour.

The food was amazing and the only reason this visit did not get a five is because of the terrible waitress I had. If she was as good as her colleagues this would have easily been a five star review. I will definitely be coming back. read more

Lovely decor, I felt as if I was walking into an oasis. The fixtures, to the music playing, to the carefully thought out and whimsical details all throughout the place, I was enchanted just walking in! Every person who greeted us was upbeat and had a smile, and the food DID NOT disappoint! After living in Georgia for a bit, setting myself up as an expert the grits and Cajuns shrimp were buttery delicious, and the coffee drinks were YUM!! HIGHLY recommend, and it was a pleasure to see such a well done restaurant in an up-and-coming area in Trenton. read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Lit Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

I really enjoy their food although I've only had their fish and grits or grits with breakfast meat. My bf has had their breakfast sandwiches and enjoys the generous portions added between the bread. My only complaint is that when they package their fish and grits or grits with anything else, they should put the grits in a separate small cup-like container because they get shifted around during delivery and everything gets mixed up in the take-out container and it doesn't look pretty. I also hate when this happens because I don't like soggy fish. Other than that, great. I look forward to trying more items on the menu. read more

Food mediocre, small portions and if you are going for a well rounded home style breakfast this is not the place. Staff was pleasant service was average small little quaint spot but it was freezing inside. It is def a one and done for me! read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

Lots of word play from this new Black owned kitchen on historic Warren Street in downtown Trenton, NJ. Skilled cooking, lit environment, healthy cultural cuisine, where others have tried and failed in the past. The decor is chill with tables up front and open food preparation in back. Neon wisdom on the walls. Friendly, efficient service from a well trained crew (Shout out to Danny). I went with their Lil-Lit, the basic skillet combination of scrambled eggs, loaded home fries and crisp bacon. Along with the bracing strong coffee to wash it down, this was a very tasty breakfast. Admittedly, you have to love the grease that comes with the taters, but the extra well earned texture is all worthy lubrication. For the historians in the crowd, lower Warren Street is one block east of the old Trenton Barracks where the Americans surprised the Hessians in the First Battle of Trenton on Christmas Day, and one block west of the site of the Second Battle of Trenton along Assunpink Creek where General George Washington beat Lord Cornwallis. He did so again in the final fight of the Revolutionary War in Yorktown, VA. a few years later. read more

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This restaurant is small but cutely decorated. Food was very tasty. I had the skil-lit eggs, bacon and home fries. Home fries were delicious! My husband had shrimp and grits that he really enjoyed. Another person in my party had grits and fish that she said was excellent. Portions were average but meal extremely satisfying. Coffee was hot and bold. Service and prices were both good. You won't go wrong eating here or ordering takeout. read more

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I love this place ! It's so beautiful and great for Instagram /social media pictures. The staff is so sweet and helpful. The food is good. My only negative comment is they could go lighter on the salt. All in all a wonderful black owned business. No alcohol on the menu read more

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Great breakfast choices including fried fish, grits, avocado crab toast, and veggie options. We had the omelets, side meats, and the avocado toasts. Portions could've be a little larger, but everything was tasty and the service was good. The owners are young and local. Please support them. Very much recommended! read more

Skil-Lit Cafe - Inside the cafe! Young owners! Show some love! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Trenton, New Jersey

The food, vibes, and stuff were all good. My only complaint is they don't offered home fries without peppers and just onions, I had the plain ones but they had no flavor. The grits were really good. I enjoyed my waffle. I'd definitely come back, but just hope they can add more leniency to the menu to accommodate different costumers. read more

Food was excellent. Great brunch spot. It byob. The wait was expected but short. Will be back. Had fish and shrimp. Def has a southern cuisine vibe. Reminded me of breakfast with my grandmother in GA. Their juice sent me to heaven! read more

Skil-lit is a great spot to get breakfast in downtown Trenton. The getting lit skillet,which is two eggs, grilled peppers/onions, potatoes, mushrooms, and spinach with loaded potatoes on the side, is enough for two people for a hearty breakfast. I've only done take-out from here but the staff has always been very nice. read more

Catered our breakfast event today. The food and service was excellent. We'll be back again. Thank you.