Jersey City’s dining scene grew by leaps and bounds last year and the new year shows no signs of slowing down. Here are the restaurants, bars, and breweries we’re most excited about in 2019.
Milk Sugar Love Opens Second Ice Cream Shop
The Heights’ popularity continues to grow in 2019 as Hamilton Park-based ice cream shop Milk Sugar Love opens its second Jersey City ice cream parlor on Palisade Avenue later this spring. With unique flavors like Matcha Brownie, Rainbow Macaron, and Milk & Cookies — the small batch ice cream parlor is bound to be a hit on Palisade Avenue. Spring can’t come soon enough.
Cocoa Bakery Expands to The Heights
Cocoa Bakery is the second downtown-based shop expanding to the Heights in the new year. Its new bakery — which will be located at 475 Central Avenue — has been in the works for awhile, but the latest news indicates they’re in the process of hiring/training staff for the grand opening of its new Heights location.
Chef Tan Lands in Newport
Newport welcomed a healthy number of new restaurants last year, both inside and outside of the mall’s food court. This year, Chef Tan may be the first restaurant to open in the area. Based in Highland Park, NJ, the new restaurant will take over the old Confucious spot and specialize in Chinese cuisine. Restaurant owners have already posted some official food pics on their Yelp page, so an opening can’t be too far off.
Tacoria Brings its Tacos to Downtown JC
A new taquería, err, Tacoria is coming to Jersey City. Tacoria — a New Brunswick-based fast-casual chain — will open soon in the former home of Burger Supreme.
Ghost Kitchen Looks to Change Downtown’s Delivery Scene
Take out will never be the same once Ghost Kitchen opens in downtown. The virtual restaurant will offer a wide variety of seasonal food for pickup or delivery. Ghost Truck Kitchen has been posting weekly updates on their Instagram Stories and is expected to open this winter. Heads up, they’re giving away a $100 gift card to 5 lucky followers.
902 Brewing Comes to Bergen Lafayette
A BYOB seafood shacks, a Caribbean gastropub, and now a brewery. Bergen Lafayette continues its hot streak in 2019 as Hoboken’s 902 Brewing arrives with a 6,000 square-foot tap room and brewery.
Baonanas Opens its First Dessert Shop
They conquered Jersey City, they won over New York, and now they’re back in Jersey City to open their first dessert shop. Award-winning Baonanas will be dishing out its sweet banana pudding later this year as it opens its first shop in Jersey City. The location is still under wraps, but we know it’ll be based in the 07304 zip code.
Battello Returns to Newport
Fine dining on the waterfront returns to Newport this year as Battello is scheduled to reopen in early 2019. The Italian restaurant closed during the summer of 2017, but is currently hiring staff in the hopes of reopening very soon. Pillow-soft gnocchi, here we come.
