Central Bistro

Stumbled into this place for breakfast. It was pretty empty but decided to give a try and, WOW, their breakfast chilaquiles were insane. Easily one of the best dishes I’ve had all year. They had a long menu too.

I rarely leave reviews, I am new to the heights and have been wanting to try my neighborhood joints. I went with a friend and we were impressed with how KIND and friendly Tony our server was. He was attentive and spoke with every table. I will totally be back, i enjoyed my meal and so did my friend. The apple bread pudding was delicious.

I love Central Bistro. The menu is eclectic and so much to choose from. Last night I was in the mood for a burger so I ordered a burger to go and it was honestly the best burger Ive had in years. Cooked perfectly and fresh. Also got a chocolate pie dessert which was super yummy. The guy at the counter was really helpful and friendly. Ive only eaten thete once and the atmosphere is warm and homey. Best of all is the prices are incredibly reasonable. I recently moved close by and look forward to trying more on their menu but tbh Im already craving that burger again!!

The food was very good and everything was fresh and hot..love this place for the first time here..I was full and i had to take the rest of it with me..

Central Bistro never disappoints. The steak nachos taste absolutely amazing. The cesar salad w/grilled chicken was excellent. The special today was orecchietta pasta with spicy sausage and broccoli rabe, which was fantastic.

Lovely spot located near public transport (perfect if you're looking to eat breakfast before heading to Manhattan). Great variety and kind service. We were a group of 6 people ages 8-72, and all enjoyed their courses. I only wish we had room for desserts :-)

Food was really good!! I had brunch. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly and of course was delicious. My girlfriend had breakfast burrito, the rice and beans were so full of flavor. Will definitely come back.

The workers at Central Bistro are incredibly warm and hospitable. I ordered food to-go, and as I waited, the Central Bistro workers talked with me, offered me water, and were generally charming! The food was delicious. I had Chicken Milanese, which was tasty and big enough for leftovers. Next time I’m dining in because they have a really cool set-up!

Stopped in for brunch at central bistro. The service was very good and attentive. I got the crab cakes Benedict. It was good but nothing too mind blowing. The hollandaise was just okay.the crab cake itself was pretty good I must say. The chilaquiles was definitely the standout. The sauce it was cooked in was delicious and full of flavor. I highly recommend coming in and getting those. I look forward to coming in for dinner one day but for this brunch it gets 3 stars

I love it! My fav goto byob spots! I've been too many times! And you can get about 2-3 things under $50-60 definitely affordable eats! Service is great, very attentive very demure! Ambiance is cute. They have Great Wall art in that area.

The service was great and the food was delicious! The Philly cheesesteak and fries were delicious!

First of all YES! Just go there! We were living on Bowers Street and it was a cute little walk and the food is priced well and DELICIOUS!!!

Visited Central Bistro for dinner with some friends who are new to the Heights. They had been a few times and thought it would be an easy place to grab dinner on a Friday night. We showed up around 7:30 and it was not crowded at all. We put together a table for 6 outside. The restaurant is BYO which is great. Service outside was kind of slow but nothing horrible; our entrees all came out a few minutes apart. We got two orders of wings to start - the buffalo and Asian bbq. You got 8 wings per order and they were hearty pieces. Both flavors were pretty good. For my main, I got the meatball parm sub. It was really good and came with fries. I took half of the meal home since it was such a big portion. My fiance got the Oaxaca Torta and he enjoyed it; he also took half of it home. Their menu is all over the place - Italian dishes, tacos, wings, pierogies etc. - so it's a strange mix but everything I had I enjoyed. A good option for those looking for a casual meal in the neighborhood.

We were immediately greeted by Anthony when entering central bistro requested an outside table and he accommodated us. He was very attentive and polite. Menu was very diverse. Very pleasant atmosphere. We had the Philadelphia cheesesteak and eggs Benedict. Overall, very positive and pleasant experience many thanks to Anthony for making our lunch a pleasant one!

I absolutely love eating at Central Bistro and are there once per week. Out go-to is the same -- wings with Asian BBQ (to die for) and Oaxaca torta.

Great place for byob. Portions are beyond (I never have leftovers). It's a neighborhood gem that I recommend for service, food and location. 3/5 is because of dessert menu

Clean, quiet atmosphere. Friendly and fast service. Great food! I recommend the Santa Fe Salad.

Little gem in JC height! Best caesar salad I ever had, they made croutons in house and it's always delish. Their shrimp in bourbon sauce is to die for. Love all the pasta dishes. BYOB is also a plus

Found it online and needed a quick lunch. The buffalo wings were legit. The torta was more like a typical sandwich. Wasn't my favorite. There isn't much to the place but food was decent.

Food service every thing it's amazing!!! Jersey City Heights gem, cute corner location, airy atmosphere, great music and they will cater to your needs. They have a wonderful staff and the food is simply incredible. Can't say enough good things, this will be my go to place from now on!

The Asian wings are awesome!!! However the calamari left something to be desired $13 for such a tiny portion is a bit of a rip off

Tried on a Tues evening. Nice space. We started with buffalo wings which were average - needed to crisp up the skin more but were ok. I ordered the French dip which is described as follows: "Filet Mignon, Au Jus, Creamy Horseradish, Ciabatta, Fries". Did I really expect Filet mignon on a sandwich for $21. No but I was fine with some nicely sliced roast beef with a side of jus. Instead, the sandwich was a huge disappointment. The bread was 2x too big for the sliced strips of beef inside. The jus was some brown flavorless- looking stuff mixed with the horseradish sauce on the inside of the bread. Nothing was seasoned. I picked the meat out of the roll and tried just to eat that but covered with the brown sauce, it grossed me out. My husband got the chicken parmesan which looked like it should be good but he said it was flavorless. Waiter never came back to our table and finally, my husband when to the bar area to pay. Needless to say, we won't be returning.

Service: amazing Food: Fresh, hot, delicious Price: reasonable Recommend: ABSOLUTELY Appetizer: Bistro Nachos Entree: Chicken Cheesesteak ( best chicken cheesesteak I've had) w/ seasoned I had leftovers and it was good cold. ​​​​​​​​​​​

Ordered the chicken parmesan, which looks so good in the photos here, and it had absolutely zero flavor. It's hard to believe it's even possible to achieve that. I had to taste food from my wife's meal just to ensure I somehow hadn't suddenly lost my sense of taste. She ordered the french dip, which was all bread and very little meat, which she said wasn't that good anyway. The service was terrible, despite their being only 3 other tables with customers in the restaurant.

First impression was good cute decor friendly staff and then the food came it was all delicious. We order the wings burrita and the lamb burger and I was impressed. And it's a byob liquor store is right across the street

The salad was ok. Had dried ham that looked like it has been sitting out for a while, waiting to be used. The cheese stake was t for a quick bite. We sat outside and was given menus. We ordered a salad, the Philly cheesesteak and side fries. All came quickly and efficiently. The salad was ok. Had dried ham that looked like it has been sitting out for a while, waiting to be used. The cheesesteak was ok. I was looking forward to a more traditional version but they had it with sour picked peppers and some artisanal bread. A bit disappointed. Service was good. Prices are downtown JC level. There is a service fee added to the bill after you get the check. Overall just ok food with good service. We will try them again to support local.

Such a cute spot!! Plenty of street parking available. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating available. Iced coffee was good, slightly on the sweeter end. Ask for no sugar if you don't like your coffee sweet. I shared avocado toast and brioche French toast. Avocado toast had two halved English muffins with generous portion of avocado and delicious picked red onions on top with a side of salad. Absolutely delicious, ask for sriracha sauce if you like your avocado toast with a kick! Brioche French toast was so Fresh and not very sweet! Would HIGHLY recommend to share as it may be too much for one person. The waiter was very nice and helpful as well! Will definitely be coming back here

The food is absolutely delicious, the bistro burger is amazing and the wings were absolutely fantastic. Overall I was pleasantly surprised would come again.

Place is absolutely lovely and the food is delicious and solid. Service is prompt and you never feel rushed out. Don't skip on the goat cheese pirogies or their lamb burger. Their mussels are also delicious and this place is BYOB! There's a liquor store across the street so very convenient. Please come support this local business and all of the other local businesses on central ave in the heights!

The ambience, the food and the service is the best. The chef really knows how to mix cuisines and put his personal touch making the plates delectable.

Came here for a late dinner and the food was delicious! Its also BYOB and the food will not disappoint you. We tried several items in the menu which included appetizers, main dish and the delicious chocolate cake with coffee. The quality and taste of the food will have you day dreaming of your next meal at this restaurant.

Central Bistro is a bit of an enigma. Their food is absolutely top notch, but it's almost as if they do everything in their power to not let you know it. The menu is a bit all over the place (Italian food! Nachos! Pierogies! You know, things that all go together!), but as far as I can tell, they do it all incredibly well. The decor is strange (why is there a deer head on the wall?), but it's a great corner location with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Was I surprised that our server didn't know the difference between the veal parm on the menu and the veal parm they were serving as a special? Sure, but I went ahead and ordered the special and it turned out to be the beautiful veal chop in the pic below. It was phenomenal! Everything else I've had there was phenomenal! It's BYOB and there's a great wine store across the street with a cat (shout out to Podewitz)! Central Bistro is simply one of the best restaurants in The Heights. No frills. Killer food. Go there.

I live locally and love coming here for a quick bite for lunch/dinner whenever I wanna stretch my legs without taking a hike or to just get some work done out of the house without much disturbance. No matter if I take it to go or sit down and eat the food is always up to par. Ordering at a table or over the phone is always a breeze and my order is usually ready in a timely fashion.

This place is consistently awesome! we have ordered many things and it's all delicious. local neighborhood gem.

Everything we had was so good with good portions. Some real outstanding ones worth seeking out. Really can't wait to return and try their other menu items. Surprisingly had no wait on a Saturday morning. 5* Florentine Eggs love the plentiful spinach in this Benedict $11.99. 5* La Oaxaca Torta a sandwich with a thin piece of meat with seasoning that explodes with flavor. Excellent. $12.50. 5* Huevos Vacqueros delicious tender beans makes this clean tasting homey breakfast something one can regularly eat $14.50 5* Chilaqules Mamalones pork is tender, flavorful, not salty and just Excellent. Favorite here and worth seeking out. $14.50 5* Steak Tacos 3 flour tortilla tacos with a lot of steak and filling. They ask how one wants the steak done. (Asked for medium today and was great.) $13.75. 5* Grain Bowl comes with a generous heaping serving of quinoa & avocado. Filling. Asked for dressing on the side but next time will let it come mixed since it is such a big salad. $12.75. 5* OJ & Carrot is a pleasant combination of flavor $5.99. 5* Lemonade $4. 5* Coffee is good and strong here $2. 5* Service Great 5* Located -SW corner of Thorne & Central Ave -found metered street parking -in the NE corner area of Jersey City (&west of Hoboken & NW of the Holland Tunnel)

New to the neighborhood... Central Bistro opened up a little over 4 weeks ago. I could've started this review with a weekend brunch with the Mrs. as that meal has always been a favorite. But even though it was a brunch, this is served every day of the week, till 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Which is quite rare and a pleasant surprise. It's been mentioned before about being a BYOB establishment. But there is a liquor store right across the street, if you feel so inclined. Not much for the decor in this place. It's all about the food. Portions are pretty generous in size. The Mrs had a Fillet Eggs Benedict in horseradish sauce with a side of very crispy home fries. The filet is grass- fed ( yay), and was cooked to perfection. Really didn't even need a knife to cut it. So tender. As always, we shared our meal. I chose the Florentino Eggs, that was accompanied with a side salad and had a hollandaise sauce. Prices are reasonable. Not many places around here where you go for a brunch and spend less than $40.00 including drinks. Looking forward for coming back and trying their dinner options next time. Seems like a Italian/Mexican mix. Enjoy.

Holy cow! What a hidden gem. I know there are a TON of places to go in Jersey City, but my goodness, if you're in the area, you should definitely check out Central Bistro. This is a casual dining experience with elegant food - it's the best of both worlds, and you really can't go wrong by eating! My brother lives around the corner from this place, and he comes to eat here quite often. He's taken my parents a few times as well - they're creatures of habit, and don't often venture out to try new things. But lo and behold - they, too, loved this place! I knew I had to give Central Bistro a shot. We came here on a Saturday night, and the place was empty. There were a few take out orders as the night went on (it seems this place does mostly take out), but we were the only ones sitting in the actual restaurant. One reviewed on here said there are 'better Italian places in JC.' I wouldn't categorize Central Bistro as Italian, as the menu is way too eclectic. There is Mexican influence with the tortas and tacos, there is American influence with the steaks and burgers, and Greek influence with the lamb burger and Greek salad - and of course, Italian influence with their pastas. Usually, when a menu is all over the place, I get a little weary...it is odd to see a menu with SO many different types of food here. But dang, everything we ordered was absolutely fabulous. For apps, we opted for the fried calamari and chips and guacamole (listed on the sides, but they brought it out as an appetizer). Both were delicious, especially the calamari, which immediately came from the kitchen and was so hot, you couldn't eat it. For entrees, my father did the bone-in pork chop that was, quite frankly, the size of a small child, and my mother opted for a burger. As for me, I did the steak frites, and I have to tell you - for 20 dollars, you can't GET a better piece of steak. I'm not sure what the exact cut of meat was, but it was done perfectly at a medium rare, and the truffle fries were to die for. Hand-cut, herbaceous, and kissed with nutty cheese - I could eat those fries for the rest of my life and be happy. And! Since it's BYOB, we had the pleasure of bringing our desired wine with dinner, and the cost was crazy reasonable. Not to mention, our waiter (who I believe was named Antonio) was so attentive and accommodating all evening. When word gets out about this place - watch out! People will be lined up to eat here. I look forward to many returns at Central Bistro!

Awesome chicken parm and gnocchi bolognese. The meatball parm is also really good. Wife and I order from here once a month and it's always quick and arrives hot.

Great food been twice both times the food was delicious also byob which is great. The service also is good

Delicious brunch. Well priced. BYOB I had the fillet Benedict. Good sized portions. Yum

I joke about not wanting to talk about this place so I'll always have an awesome place to go for dinner. But... I can't keep it to myself, the ones who haven't gone MUST go. Everything I've ordered, and snatched from my fellow diners is awesome. Well cooked, well made, well presented, well portioned. The staff is even great in personality and energy. Great space, cozy enough for a date, but spacious enough for a large group. Waiter told me the deer head on the wall was hunted by the chef. I was intrigued, but I then assumed if he hunts, then he MUST know his meat very well. #IwasRight Waiter brought a sample of the bruschetta for each of us, on grilled, crispy-edged bread slices to the table. Wonderful, surprising start. Gnocchi with veal bolognese sauce was euphorioususs (that's a word now). Calamari was cooked perfectly, wanted to wear them as bracelets and nibble all day. Buffalo wings, juicy and made like the chicken asked for it. French dip sandwich made with a generous hunk of meat cooked how you want, and a sauce that was made to love. Rib-eye came with a pile of mushrooms and cooked like someone hugged it before death. Carbonara was gloriously sauced, and tasted like a rich, soft satin pillow was coming out next. Linguine with white clam sauce was the latest thing I ordered. Fabulous. And what I took home I heated up, and it was fabulous, round 2. Even the simple things like the house cut, truffled french fries and mashed potato were made perfectly; you wouldn't leave them around on a plate if you were taking what came with it home. The cannoli was the true test, me, a girl from Brooklyn who knew chubby Italian women who made cannoli from scratch. I split it with a friend so I couldn't be disappointed if it didn't satisfy. ... ... it was sooo good. It was already split in 2 when it came out, and the filling freshly stuffed in each half, light amounts of candied fruit and mini chocolate chips enough to make you know it's there, but not too much for you to forget what that filing was there for. To make you love it. And I did. I love this place. You will too. Go!

Always solid & consistent. We order delivery probably 1/month and have absolutely never been disappointed. Best chicken parm & penne a la vodka around. Meatball parm sub is great.

Good experience with no frills. It was quiet around 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and I was the only guest. The service with ordinary and I was checked on periodically. The food was piping hot and tasty. I enjoyed my brunch experience.

I can't rave enough about how good the food was. We actually went to go to another restaurant but they were full with a party so we came here instead and we were SO happy it ended up that way. We ordered: - Appetizer: eggplant rollatini - Entree 1: Chicken Frances over angel hair - Entree 2: Steak, burrata, prosciutto, arugula salad They brought out amazing bruschetta before the app came. You can see the bruschetta in the picture because it came with that salad too on the side. Place was BYOB. It was interesting because the place was a little empty, but seriously people, the food here is AWESOME.

We found this place after a recommendation from a friend. We were so pleasantly impressed that we can't wait to come back. It was excellent we had 3 dishes calamari, chick franciase, and Oaxaca torta. All of them were excellent and I'd recommend them to anyone. We'll be back for sure. Next time I'll take photos, was too good to slow down for that this time lol

This is such a great spot if you decide you need to go somewhere last minute or you're not a great planner. We ordered the greek salad, chicken cheesesteak (comes with fries) and chicken tacos. WOW! Everything was amazing. The place itself has lots of space, great music that's not too loud and has tables outside for those who rather dine out. Great place, will definitely go back when I am not sure of what to make for dinner!

Why was it empty? I went to Central Bistro Thursday night and we were the only people there when we arrived and when we left. Everything was fantastic! To start we got mussels in white sauce, we said the sauce was so good and so our waiter brought us more bread to soak it up. We then ordered the app size of broccoli rabe, very good as well, to split with our entrees. We got the gnocchi in veal bolognese and the pepper pork chop. Wow, between the size of the portions, the price, and most importantly the taste, this place was a home run. I heard about it from my Roomate who went there with a friend and it was the same situation of no customers. It breaks my heart that they're not getting the attention they deserve. I implore everyone to go and I swear you won't be disappointed!

Good food and good service. The decor could be updated a bit. I def would come back with a bottle as it is a BYOB

Central bistro in Jersey City is dope! The food is fresh and delicious. My family and I have enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well. The place is small, but the servers are really nice, professional, and provide great customer service. Their crêpes are to die for. Their sandwiches are excellent. And their dinner menu is really good. The chicken Parmigiana, their ribeye, mashed potatoes, lasagna, everything delicious. And their portions are no joke. It is a must try! This just goes to prove you do not have to go into Manhattan or the center of the city to enjoy a delicious meal.

We stopped here on a long road trip, and it was a great stop to relax and get a good bite to each. It is a cozy restaurant with delicious food, and also refreshing fresh juices. The servers were prompt, helpful and friendly. We live out of town, but would come back here if we were back in the area. There is street parking, but a little hard to find (I guess depending on the time of day, because others found it easy to find parking).

Had a terrible experience at this place. Waited over an hour at the restaurant on a takeout order. Saw cooks walking around with beers. When the food FINALLY came (chicken francaise) it was not good at all (very little food) and not worth the price at all

Nice local spot. Nothing fancy. Very friendly staff. We had a large party os 8 and everything was cooked fresh. I had Pasta Carbonara..really large portion adequately prepared. One friend had French Dip sandwich which had brown gravy instead of a jus. Fish tacos were good. The seadfood stew as good, but the large clams were deemed chewy by both people who ordered them. I especially enjoyed the special artichoke appetizer, lightly breaded and fried with a light lemony sauce, Calamari was good and the desserts, especially creme brulee were large and tasty. BYOB, there is a liquor store across the street. All in all a good experience.

Best chicken wings ever. Get the Asian bbq. It will change your life. They were super flavorful, probably the best wings I've ever had. Definitely go try them, what are you waiting for?

Loved the atmosphere of the business! Great tasty food for all the family to enjoy! Great pasta choices, Would recommend the carbonara.

This place is a local gem when it comes to great food! I recently stopped in for dinner and had the Torta and subbed the salad with fries. Crispy chicken breast with avocado, black beans, chipotle mayo, and cheese. The sandwich was really tasty and the fries were spot on. Sandwich was so good I went in the next day and had it again! Highly recommend!

The restaurant choices in the Heights have blowing up over the last year. Many new places haven't lasted for various reasons. I dearly hope Central Bistro is one that last the test of time. This place is a great addition to the area. An American-fare menu with many choices. Everything we have tried here has all been delicious. We especially love the mussels. The decor is the same you see in all new places in the area- Industrial Rustic. Tables are on top of each other. You feel like you're eating with the couple next you. Yay... BYOB is a plus. Have Fun

Service leaves a bit to be desired but the food is consistently great. Really an underappreciated gem in the Heights.