Elysian Cafe

Elysian Cafe is beautifully designed and quite cozy with strong European vibes. The cheeseburger is literally one of the best I’ve ever had. Juicy, high quality, perfect. The sirloin steak salad is fresh and healthy and the steak is tender and full of flavor. My son’s lobster salad was so delicious, he ordered a second one. All around, this is a fabulous restaurant with a gorgeous ambiance. Can’t go wrong by eating here. End your meal with a cappuccino.

For a brunch, the foods were well made and fresh, but nothing very special about their flavors to me personally. Typical types of brunch menu I felt. I certainly enjoyed it from my one-off visit along with the restaurant’s uniquely cute interior design so it was worth trying, but not sure if I’d undoubtedly want to revisit this place.

I just happened to visit, and it was nice to have a half price menu on Wednesday! The mussels were a little fishy, but I just ate them. I liked the fries because they were crispy. The draft beer feels like it's more intense than regular beer. The staff who brought me the food was friendly

Didn’t have a reservation, but a table became available quickly. The food was delicious, portions aren’t big but they are filling. The baked chicken was dry. Loved the salmon meal was incredible. Pricing is reasonable. Our waiter was great, the atmosphere was just good. The music wasn’t audible when sitting outside.

The lobster rolls were extremely disappointing—stale and unappetizing. The taste was so bad that it triggered my gag reflex, and I couldn't even swallow it. Definitely not what I was expecting. The French toast was overly thick and hard, with none of the fluffy texture I was expecting. It was a real letdown.

Their French onion soup and Cesar salad are sooo good. Also I don't know what they do to their French fries but they are some of the best i've ever had. They also make a bomb dirty martini. I definitely recommend you eat here for a nice little casual dinner. Also have great lunch special prices. Every meal i've had here has been great!!

Convenient meet up spot for bunch with folks in Jersey. Ferry ride from the west side to Hoboken 14th Street. The place was able to accommodate 10 in the back room. The service was very welcoming, attentive and quick. The food was very good. Had a really nice time here.

There was a parasite in my oyster and I had to go throw up in the bathroom. They comped the oysters and a round of drinks. The meal should have been free for the trauma I had to go through. I couldn’t eat anything after that. The service was mediocre at best, and then had the audacity to add a 20% gratuity automatically on top. Never again. The other food was ok at best. Lots of dishes were left in finished. This place should be so much better for what it is

We arrived on a Saturday for a late brunch although we didn't have a reservation. Upon arrival, the hostess told us that she could squeeze us in, but we'd have to be sure to leave within an hour and a half because the table was reserved for someone else. Although there were 4 of us, I knew we could make this happen! The restaurant itself is super cute! I loved the atmosphere as it reminded me of some of the cafes and restaurants I've been to in Paris. There was a baby shower taking place in the private area in the back, so that's good to note. As for the food, it was pretty good! Nothing extraordinary, although I did love the potatoes that I ordered with my omelette. The service was quick, which was super helpful for us to ensure that we were finished on time so as not to get the hostess in trouble. Whew! All in all, a great brunch with our friends. Thanks, Elysian Cafe!

I am a lifelong resident of Hudson County. I've listen to so many wonderful things about Elysian throughout my whole life, and yet never had the opportunity to eat here until a few days ago. My expectations were understandably high, but my parents (lifelong residents of Hoboken, NJ) warned me that this place may not be all its cracked up to me. I'm sorry to say they were right. I am so genuinely bummed and disappointed with my experience at Elysian. I'm a bit gobsmacked at these stellar 5-star reviews and wonder if the people who've eaten here actually have taste buds. My biggest complaint is the food, hands down. I wanted to be blown away. I was not. And being that the bill was nearly 500 dollars, I needed to be blown away and it was not even remotely memorable - in fact, it was forgettable. There are several better restaurants in the area that I would choose over this place. Some pros - the interior is lovely, and it's hard not to be in awe at the beauty of this preserved space. You immediately notice the classic decor, warm wood, and plastered high ceilings coming in...the restaurant is immediately eye catching, and makes for a very charming dining experience. Beyond the bar area is another separate, small dining room. The service was also fine. Not spectacular, but suitable. My one friend had some intense dietary restrictions and the waitress handled everything with poise. I just wish she would have taken an order for another round of drinks instead of having us wave her down. Also, I did like that we received both the bar menu and the classics menu upon sitting down. The bar menu was more my speed, but I love a good steak frites and I know Elysian is known for just that. We began with drinks (the cocktails are admittedly creative, even at the standard 15 dollars a pop) and ordered some apps. I opted for the French onion soup and some of my tablemates got the mussels in white wine that came with frites. I'm not a mussel girl, but I am a fry thief, and I happened to sneak some from my friend's plate because the mussels came with fries. They were fine, but disappointly from a bag. I would expect Elysian to have a fry option with little more pizazz like hand-cut fries. (After all, if you're doing 'fancy French,' a true hand-cut fry can go a long way.) Also, the French onion soup was fine - again, not mind blowing, because any solid NJ diner can make a fantastic French onion soup for a lot less. Now for the entrees...to me, they were the most disappointing of the lot. Three members of our table opted for steak frites - while it did come with a ton of fries, the steak itself just seemed mediocre and tough. Two members asked for steaks medium-rare and for sure got medium / medium well, and one steak was so tough that a member of my party literally could not cut through it. It ended up BOUNCING out of the plate and on to her lap because she could not cut it. As for me, I opted for the chicken sandwich - grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, and herb mayo. The chicken was positively bland and had zero flavor. While it was clearly fresh, thinly pounded chicken, there was absolutely no seasoning on it whatsoever. Apparently, it was served on homemade focaccia - and my goodness, the break was so stogie and stale that I literally left most of it on the plate and just ate the bacon and avocado in the middle. On top of all this, they added a 20% gratuity to our party of 5. Didn't love that. I'm a fairly generous tipper but I don't think the service warranted 20 percent - 18, sure, but not 20. Also, their credit card fee was over $10.00 which is insane. I know my gripes are not the worst a restaurant could offer, and I could give this three stars, but I just can't bring myself to do it. After seeing the plethora of five star reviews...I am scratching my head. How? As my parents said, it's not all its cracked up to be. When a reputation proceeds you, you have to knock it out of the park every time. A well-known staple like Elysian should be spectacular out of the gate, especially for the money that I'm shelling out, and this just was not it.

We came for our somewhat weekly bogo Monday dinner. As always, no disappointment here! I was shocked at how delicious the avocado and artichoke salad was. The prime sandwich was flavorful, fresh and hearty. I didn't try the fish tacos but my boyfriend said they were a bit soggy and oily. He was upset but probably wouldn't order them again. To no surprise, great staff and service and always a pleasant atmosphere.

Just a quick lunch...first time; outdoors. Fish and chips...served hot and crispy (fish)...batter was heavy but "frys out" and you can eat all or none as you wish, to go with the perfectly cooked (not overcooked) inside. fries were great too Side of string greens and salad were also perfectly cooked and presented. Service was very good even with the novice waitstaff.

We love this place! We have been many times. We have not been in a while, but finally got back there tonight. The food is always excellent! My husband is obsessed with the cheese platter and the steak frites. We met a new waiter named Benny who was very nice and helped me figure out what gluten free options to get. The hero of the night was Manuel. He came to our aid when a girl who bought us a drink and took our appetizer dishes, never replaced our silverware. Manuel was very apologetic and quickly got us silverware. He was very nice and friendly as well! All in all it was a great meal and we will be back soon!

I came here with my friend for brunch on a Saturday morning. We made reservations for 10:30am. By 11:30am, the place was packed, so definitely plan accordingly! We sat outside because the inside of the restaurant was very cold, I had an egg white omelette, which comes with some fruit and the choice between lyonnaise potatoes or French fries. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, and the staff were great!

Steak Fries $36 Don't come here for steak, it's doesn't taste good... I ordered medium rare and came medium / medium well. I can't really get the beef taste, texture wise it's quite chewy, and it's not seasoned well, you have to add salt & pepper yourself. The thyme butter doesn't really add much.

One of my favorite restaurants on Washington Street in Hoboken. What's not to like about a Parisian-influenced restaurant featuring a casual ambiance in a historic space, great service, and freshly-prepared, tasty food that's very reasonably priced? Elysian Cafe is a modern neighborhood tavern that's very popular with regular customers from the neighborhood -- brunch outings with a fully-stocked bar and knowledgeable bartenders, families seeking a quick meal comprised of tasty and filling meals at a very reasonable price, or couples looking for a quick 'date night' in the neighborhood. Elysian Cafe has an extensive menu that strikes a rare balance with equal emphasis on simple, casual, and made-to-order dishes on the "Bar Menu" and upscale dishes on the "Premier Plat" and "Entree" sections of the menu served by genuinely friendly staff. My 'go to' dish at Elysian Cafe is the Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($17), a very generous serving of perfectly charred grilled chicken with bacon, lettuce, tomato, herb mayonnaise, and avocado slices served on rosemary focaccia with a side of french fries. YUM. My dining companion is a big fan of the Smoked Salmon Club Sandwich ($22), with what feels like a pound of smoked salmon and avocado served on focaccia with a side garden salad. One of my favorite places in the area and a great option for a casual meal with friends or family. Will be back soon. PRO TIP: Elysian Cafe doesn't have a private parking lot, but there is plenty of on-street parking off Washington Street. Bring change or use the ParkMobile app for the meters ($6 per hour) Monday through Saturday from 9am til 9pm; all street meters are free Monday through Saturday after 9pm and all day on Sunday.

Dog food ahh, don't eat here Service and everything else was good just not the food. Improve food quality. I'm eating at Napoli's now

I can't believe it's been since 2013 since I last reviewed this place. Let me start off with Tommy the bartender as making this experience beyond expectations. The food, service and vibes make this French cafe a gem of Hoboken. Simply good food and a high quality ingredients make it exceptional. Note it's the oldest continually operated bar restaurant in Hoboken for a reason!

I've been here a couple of times for the special event wine pairings. Have enjoyed both times, though it gets pricey to do every month, at $100 a pop. Very good food, fine wines, and a nice touch with the backgrounds on each vino.

Apparently you can only dine here with reservations now!?!!! Turned away a Walk in two top when over 10 tables were empty. Plus they took away several bar front seats for what - to allow for strollers?? Sadly Elysian Cafe is not what is was and have totally lost their sense of hospitality.

The calamari was great. Loved that there was little breading and thick cut rings. We came in by recommendation for the lobster roll but saw that it was for brunch only. The interior was very cool though. Loved the mural on the ceiling and the windows. Unfortunately the service was lacking. We had to ask repeatedly for items and the main dishes took forever to come out at a time when it seemingly wasn't too busy.

We sat outside to enjoy the rest of the warmer weather and brought my little dog. My server immediately brought over a dog bowl and water for my puppy and I thought it was very kind of her. I ordered the steak salad and it was light, filling, and left me feeling satisfied. We also enjoyed a crème brûlée for dessert and it was just what I wanted. I would return for that steak salad!

Consistently good food and great ambience. The service is excellent as well. Great for brunch on weekends but if you have a big party do make a reservation

My girlfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day 2024. It was a very pleasant experience. The first table we were at was a bit wobbly, so they let us switch tables. The service was wonderful. The waiter was very knowledgeable of all the menu options--from both the regular and V-Day menus. The food was also well-prepared in an historic, a well-maintained, and a romantic building. There's a bar next to the café, but the bar doesn't really interfere with the cafe's romantic ambiance because of a divide. Overall, would recommend and would go again.

Mami's Margarita & Mussels & Frites. That's all you need to know! Time and time again my husband and I come to Hoboken, with the intentions of going to a new restaurant. 9/10 times we end up back at Elysian. You just can't beat it! If the weather is good we almost always sit outside. It's decorated so nicely! Come in the evening and you can enjoy the string lights. The employees are always kind and service is prompt. We will always go back to Elysian Cafe!

Grilled Chicken! Garlic Parm Truffle Fries?!?!???! Yes!!!! Whether a private or business lunch or dinner or cocktail hour... this place delivers!!!

One of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken, I've been going here for years and the food is always great and consistent! love the old school vibe here too. definitely order the fries if you get the chance they're so good

Food is excellent. Drinks even better! Best bartender around! Steak and burgers are tops, as is French onion soup. And absolutely beautiful ceiling, makes you feel like you're in Paris!

We were looking for a cute place to sit and eat in Hoboken and saw Elysian Cafe. I've always seen the name and heard people talk about so we decided to give it a try. We ordered the chicken Ceasar salad and the Elysian steak sandwich. The steak sandwich was really good, the bread was crispy and fresh and the steak seasoning was good. However it was far too much cheese and the steak wasn't cooked evenly. The chicken Ceasar salad was disappointing; the chicken didn't have any flavor, not even salt, and was chewy/rubbery. The restaurant was somewhat clean, the bathroom didn't have toilet paper. Overall service was quite slow to order and get the bill but the food came quickly.

Stumbled upon this place while looking for brunch in Hoboken. The service was friendly. Outside seating was okay. Food was delicious, and price was reasonable.

Average food but the dishes need to be more clean. I just felt the staff does not maintain the cleanliness of everything well.

The experience is HORRIBLE. Normally, I don't leave reviews, but this place is exceptional. Service was non-existent. I waited for over 5 minutes, repeatedly raising my hand to get the attention, but they were too busy chatting among themselves to notice. It took another 30 minutes just to get the check and pay. Clearly, their conversation was much more interesting. As for the food, both the steak sandwich and the New York strip were cooked poorly--both were overdone, and I'm guessing "medium rare" is not even an option here. Oh don't forget the 20% fixed tip, thanks to the Monday's two for one. We really had fun.

Everything was delicious except the sautéed spinach. It was flavorless. The skirt steak was delicious as well as the au poive sauce. I had a bite of the ruben as well and it was also a very delicious, traditional ruben. Really enjoyed, would come back. It was a little cramped but it was outside seating on a busy night, so it's understandable. They were decently quick, kind and efficient. Great experience and great food!

my favorite place in Hoboken! Ambiance and food is fantastic. This is now my go to spot whenever I come home and visit family.

Totally cute and unassuming exterior with a huge pack of flavor inside! Very charming atmosphere. Watier was fantastic at telling us about the food and making recommendations. They said they didn't offer lunch only brunch so we almost left but the food was amazing! French onion soup was decadent. Lobster sub was fresh. Steak was cooked perfectly and the accompanying salad was light and tasty. The chocolate pancakes totally delivered on the chocolate front! Sausage was hearty and tasty. Fresh fruit was a perfect compliment to bringing the little bit of acidity to a savory meal for all. Totally recommend this place!

This is actually the best restraunt EVER! the food is amazing, also good for familys because of kids eat free on tuesday. I suggest this place to every that comes to Hoboken.

Elysian cafe is a wonderful little spot in Hoboken. This is the place you take your friends when they are visiting Hoboken, NJ, and they will be impressed. Now, as with most restaurants in Hoboken, it is a little bit pricey, an entree will be between $15-$25 depending on what you order. The cocktails are great, very delicious and gorgeously presented. The staff is great, and sometimes there is a long wait, but the wait is worth it. The food can take a decent time to get to you but trust me on this, the fries make up for the wait. I long for the Elysian fries at times, as there are literally times that I dream about those fries (how do they make them?). This is the perfect first date spot and I always make any guy I go out with in Hoboken take me here. It also makes for a great second date spot, and then a third great date spot. Basically, I used to come here every weekend and I miss those days. The building itself is gorgeously decorated, with lots of natural light and on one of the most walkable streets in Hoboken. Ambiance-wise it is top tier, very aesthetic.

Good weekday deals, great food and service and location. Been coming here since I was 1

Ambiance is so romantic but also has bar scene. Food is phenomenal and excellent aesthetic.

Super cute cafe that gives Paris vibes. I had a lovely salmon Benedict and iced coffee. The staff is super kind. The outdoor patio is wheelchair accessible. There appears to be a step into the restaurant. Not sure if there is a ramp available or if restroom is accessible.

Our first visit! Belated birthday brunch!! Loved the decor! Great service! Brunch was yummy! Recommend! Free street parking on Sunday!

One of the best places for espresso martinis! Always take guests here for brunch. Service is always quick and friendly, and the interior is super cute.

Such a nice place! Service is little slow. But I really like Sunday brunch's here. And the food is always tasty.

After being recommended by my friend's mom, we decided to have a late lunch at Elysian Cafe during our time in Hoboken. There were a couple empty tables indoors and plenty of available tables outdoors when we visited. Everything was pretty reasonably priced in my opinion and we ordered the smoked salmon club and the Elysian burger. My friend requested the burger to be done medium, but she commented that it was more medium well. The smoked salmon club was very large, with three layers of bread, a healthy amount of smoked salmon, avocado, lettuce and tomato. We were also given plenty of fries that we ended up having to taking home.

The food hits all departments in terms of both quality and quantity. An unexpected treat as of late I've been getting accustomed to other spots shelling out smaller portion sizes. You won't find that here. I left satisfied. Jammed packed even at non brunch hours (after 2pm on a Saturday). No reservations or being asked to wait if we sit at the bar so we elected for that option. But I'd suggest you make a reservation if dining on a weekend. I ordered the croque madame. Note that as a side you get to choose from potatoes or fries, but luckily I saw pictures on Yelp that people get salad so that can be subbed instead as well. You get a big portion of salad and it's well tossed; perfect amount of dressing. I wish my sandwich was a bit hotter so the cheese could be more melted and ham and eggs a bit more warm but taste wise still good! Eggs florentine was also great if you like poached eggs. They give you a good amount of spinach! Opted for a side of bacon and it's the thick kind. Really enjoyed this brunch. Only improvement that can be made is the service. It was just hard to flag down a waiter to get their attention. Hard to ask for the check too. You might need to be more direct and walk up to them and ask or wave your hands or snap in a slightly more impolite way to grab their attention. It's because they are just super busy.

One of my favorite Reuben's around Hoboken was even good as takeout, also a must try is their French onion soup !

food was phenomenal.. service was great. The short rib with grits was delicious. Minus 1 star bc they only had corona light and no Heineken

Enjoy the menu, both for variety & deliciousness at the Elysian Cafe. It is a frequent choice when I'm in Hoboken. Great service, welcome atmosphere! Interesting to imagine what it was like on the late 1800's!

My go to place to eat any time of the day and affordable by Hoboken standards. The bar is great and the food is consistent.

The name Elysian is probably to pay homage to the area of Hoboken named the Elysian Fields where baseball matches were organized in the mid 1800s. However, I like to think Elysian Cafe is taking the name as the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and virtuous in Greek Mythology. Cafe Elysian creates an atmosphere that has you feeling like a descendent of the Grecian gods with cherubs on the ceiling representing purity, grace, and attending to the Devine. We arrived on a Saturday as brunch was ending at 3pm. I was sad to miss the Croque Madame. But I quickly pivoted to the prime rib sandwich ($21), which was generous enough to share between two with the side salad option. The house dressing was a nice Dijon vinaigrette which lightly covered the largely portioned salad. I ordered a rosé ($12), but had to try the Amelia cocktail ($15) that my friend was raving about. Between the puréed blackberries and the lemon juice the vodka is cut with with a sour berry overtone. The presentation, as everything at Cafe Elysian, is classy and alluring. Our waiter was friendly and we were able to order ahead even though one in our party was running late. The food was prepared in less than 20 minutes. The prime rib sandwich was juicy and tender. The fried onion rings placed on the sandwich, offered just the right level of crunch and flavor when coated with a melted mozzarella. By the time my sandwich came out, our last friend arrived, so we split the sandwich and salad which sufficiently fed us both. La pièce de résistance though, is the key lime pie. I've loved this for over 8 years now. Every time I have this I'm surprised at how luscious and dense it is. The tartness is balanced by the sweetness in the crust. The homemade whipped cream on the side makes this $8 slice worth every bite. This also was enough that we could split it between the four of us and still have just enough pie to satisfy the sweet tooth. Cafe Elysian is the most classy casual place in Hoboken and I'm here for it!

Stayed in the neighborhood for the weekend and came here for dinner on a Friday night. Was able to get a bar table without a reservation, but recommend reservations. Our table ordered a Reuben sandwich, banh mi sandwich, and a salmon entree. We all enjoyed our meal. The fries were crispy shoestring but could have use more seasoning. The flavor was definitely delicious with the banh mi. Bread was fresh with a good amount of pickled veggies and pork. I also ordered the French onion soup, and we all agreed it needed some more seasoning/salt despite the good amount of cheese on top. Service was good.

We popped in yesterday for an early dinner to close out the week. The place was pretty crowded for a Sunday night. We had a very friendly waiter who was very observant and on top of things. The food was okay. Oysters were good, the west coast oysters (Kumamoto) were a bit smaller than usual. The French onion soup was alright, really heavy on the onions. The Caesar salad was very good. I was particularly fond of the poutine fries. They were probably the best poutine fries I've had to date. The Mac and cheese was meh. All and all I probably won't be back but I'm glad we got to try it. It's been on our list for a while.

Ambiance is outstanding inside and outdoors. Food is remarkably fresh and super tasty. I highly recommend the sirloin salad, the steak was cooked to perfection and the salad is dressed perfectly. We sat outside and felt like we could have been on a cobblestone street in Europe. The staff is very friendly and they certainly do not rush you.

Wonderful ambience and delicious food. We all enjoyed our meals. The dining room has such character. Would have loved a gluten-free option for the sandwich menu, but had the veggie burger without the bun and it was great!

Had brunch here recently and the service was so nice and welcoming! My fromage omlette was delicious and the fries were awesome! Love that they added some lemon juice to the side of mayo I requested to dip my fries in, it really elevated it! We came pretty early, around 10:30 and it wasn't crowded yet.

The grilled cheese gave me food poisoning. The waitress acted nice but pressured us into getting more things. The restaurant is kind of a strange bar and restaurant hybrid that didn't fit the vibe. Avoid.

Never disappointed at Elysian. The restaurant has become one of my favorite spots to go for dinner. Whether you sit at the bar in restaurant or outside it is always such a pleasure. The staff is above and beyond accommodating. I usually look forward to their specials because they are always so delicious. This time I went with staples. Mussels are best in town, no fishy taste whatsoever! Our waiter recommended the key lime pie for desssert, something I wouldn't normally pick off a menu. It was absolutely delightful! Big big compliments to chef, wait service and of course the fantastic bartender for keeping me to come back for more!