Jersey City’s Restaurant Fest, July 5 to 19, is every inner-city’s food fan’s dream
By Isiah Christie
With July here, it’s about time to focus on its plethora of events! Summer is here! And a particularly great event is coming for the biggest of food fans – the Jersey City Restaurant Fest (JCRF), which is enjoying its second year of presentation.
First introduced in the Spring of 2024, the event was created by the New Jersey Restaurant Owners’ Coalition, an initiative focused on providing promotion, support, and resources to the United States’ most ethnically diverse city.
The JCRF is therefore a very new and fresh platform for highlighting the city’s various small businesses – of course, in the culinary sector – and a perfect opportunity to enjoy a variety of ethnic dishes, whether alone or with loved ones.
A two-week affair from July 5th to July 19th, JCRF is “meant to introduce the community to the wealth of food possibilities in Jersey City,” the event’s website says. A total of thirty-nine establishments are participating, including thirty-two restaurants and six light eateries – all of them are located within the city and can be easily reached via a variety of transportation modes, including car, bus, the local Light Rail, or even on foot. Such flexibility empowers the convenience of this event, which is occurring in a highly-walkable metropolis amidst a beautiful period of weather.
Restaurants confirmed for participation include:
- Angry Archie’s – The Heights, Seafood dining
- Ani Ramen – Downtown Jersey City, Japanese dining
- Better Days – Downtown Jersey City, American dining and bar
- Bistro La Source – Downtown Jersey City, French bistro
- Blue Anchor – Newport, Seafood dining
- Box Cafe – The Heights, French bistro
- Buddy’s JC – Harsimus Cove and Paulus Hook, Brunch and burger bar
- Cafe Monticello – Bergen-Lafayette, Brunch cafe
- Casa Cubana Catering & Cafe – The Heights, Cuban catering and dining
- Cavany Foods LLC – Downtown Jersey City, Organic dining and vegan options
- Ela Greek Kitchen – Downtown Jersey City, Greek street food
- Fire & Oak – Newport, American dining
- Franklin Social – Downtown Jersey City, American dining and bar
- Freetown Road Project – Journal Square and The Heights, West Indian dining
- Jersey City House of Wings – Journal Square, Self-denoted comfort food, Halal friendly
- Just Friends Cafe – Downtown Jersey City, Italian dining
- Kat Khao – Downtown Jersey City, Vietnam-Japanese fusion
- La Bodega Latin Cuisine – The Heights, Dominican dining
- Lady G’s Restaurant Bar & Grill – Greenville, Soul food and empanadas
- Liberty Prime Steakhouse – Downtown Jersey City, Steakhouse
- Luna – Downtown Jersey City, Italian dining
- Marty’s – McGinley Square, American dining
- Maxwell Alley – Downtown Jersey City, Farm-to-table eatery
- Perquin – Harsimus Cove and Paulus Hook, Latin-American dining
- Samurai Sushi – Bergen-Lafayette, Japanese dining
- Skinner’s Loft – Downtown Jersey City, American dining and bar
- South House – Downtown Jersey City, Southern dining
- The Kitchen Step – Downtown Jersey City, American dining
- The Table: Kitchen & Bar – West Side, American dining
- Trós Greek Street Food – McGinley Square, Greek street food
- Vibez Juice & Vegan Cafe – The Heights, Creole vegan dining and juices
- Würstbar – Downtown Jersey City, German-influenced dining and bar
And the lineup of light eateries includes:
- Choc-O-Pain – The Heights and Downtown Jersey City, French bakery and cafe
- Departed Soles Brewing Company – Downtown Jersey City, Brewery
- Eggs Up – Bergen-Lafayette, Cafe
- Fluffy Fluffy GO! – Newport, Japanese soufflé pancakes
- Jersey & Co. Gelato – Greenville and West Side, Gelato and sorbet
- Juicy City – West Side, Healthy dining and juice bar
Restaurant participation is also regularly tracked and promoted on the event’s website and social media (@jcrestaurantfest), with the ability for restaurant owners to submit their own establishments as well. As always, Jersey City remains dedicated to community – and what better way to engage than with a bite to eat?
