Vegan cafe Rosita’s Yah is now open at 203 Academy Street. The cafe is owned by Rose Montesquieu, partner at Terri New York. Like Terri’s, Rosita’s Yah specializes in plant-based foods.
“I never really had a great obsession for meat,” says Montesquieu. As a result, Rosita’s Yah has a vegetarian and vegan menu. The tacos, for instance, are made with soy or seitan. Seitan is a popular meat substitute also known as wheat gluten. High in protein but low in carbs, it can be seasoned and cooked just like you would traditional meat.
At Rosita’s Yah, the seitan is drizzled with a house-made salsa verde and then rolled into a hot tortilla and topped with diced onion and cilantro. The salsa verde offers a nice kick of spice without being overwhelming. Tacos are $2.99 each or three for $7.99.
Montesquieu is also offering açaí bowls, house-made oatmeal bowls, natural juices, smoothies, organic Stumptown Coffee, and handmade Prana Chai.
We also plan on serving tofu scramble for breakfast, says Montesquieu. Meanwhile, for dessert diners can expect a variety of homemade pastries (their banana walnut bread is excellent) alongside a number of gluten free options.
From Terri in New York to Rosita’s Yah Jersey City
While in culinary school Montesquieu’s friends — now co-owners of Terri — introduced Montesquieu to the benefits of a vegan diet. Montesquieu shared the knowledge with a terminally ill friend who managed to reclaim their health after being given a three-month life expectancy.
The experience was one of the driving forces behind the launch of Terri, where Montesquieu served as a partner for 10 years. (She’s still a partner today, albeit with a more silent role).
In 2015, Montesquieu’s family moved to Jersey City. “Since then we’ve grown to love this place,” says Montesquieu. “However, there’s a lack of healthy options in the area.” And so the idea was born to open Rosita’s Yah Jersey City — a cafe specializing in flavorful, healthy eats.
Montesquieu tells us that the cafe’s name is a combination of her name and “Yah” from the Hebrew God Yahweh. Montesquieu’s father also had a bakery in her home town of Ecuador called Rosita’s. The Jersey City cafe is an extension of his dream to own a cafe/restaurant.
Rosita’s Yah is located on the border of McGinley Square and Journal Square at 203 Academy Street. (It’s just a few blocks away from the DMV). They’re open weekdays only from 7am to 7pm Mondays through Thursdays and from 7am to 5pm on Fridays. You can follow their Instagram account for menu updates.
