First Republic Lounge & Restaurant

The establishment is truly beautiful, the cuisine was excellent, and the service was commendable. The music selection was enjoyable, and everyone appeared to be having a wonderful time. I certainly plan to return on Saturday, as I understand it is an ideal evening for meeting new people and enjoying good music.

One of my favorite Haitian spots around! The ambiance for a good date night, even just on a weekday. I’ve celebrated multiple birthdays throughout the years as well and the hosts always know how to light en up mood. The food of course is always the main event, and their cuisine is authentically made. We buy their soup joumou during the holidays if we’re running low on time. Would recommend.

It's very warm temperature wise inside. The calamari was good. They are cut thick like onion rings. Crispy outside. The hookah does not have an adjustable air valve, but it smoked well. The music is loud, but you can still have a conversation. They played Haitian music.

Wonderful ambiance. Delicious food. It was a little expensive, but well worth the money. It's a great spot to eat, drink, and dance. Highly recommended!!!

I really wanted to like this establishment because it was featured on the local news station . Unfortunately it fell short . The people who work their are cold and uninviting. I really wanted to try the griot and red snapper but the demeanor of those who were going to serve me , turned me completely off. My bestie and I ordered, lemon drop martinis. The lemon drop martini was undesirable to the pallet. After finishing our cocktails , we exited the establishment. We found ourselves at another restaurant within walking distance, that as soon as we walked through the doors we were welcomed , the food and drinks were very good . First Republic do better with customer service!

I have been to this place a few times but this is my first review. When I arrived I parked on the street and walked in. I was greeted by the bartender and she was very nice and had good conversation. I ordered a sangria and the vegitarian legume with black rice to go. The sangria was pretty good and so was the punch drink I ordered. The food usually takes long to come out so I am glad I had my drink while I waited. The food finally arrived and I paid about $47 for 2 drinks and the food. When I got home I dug in and it was pretty good and there was plenty. I had a pretty good experience.

I’ve been here a few times but got food to go and wanted to make a review. The ambiance of the interior lounge is great, great music, great liquor selection. After i think 10 PM kids arent allowed to be in the lounge and it switches over to “adult night.” I ordered over the phone griot tour of haiti, diri jon jon, poule pike, macaroni gratin, and pikliz. The food was delicious, even better as left overs. They charge two dollars for each extra pikliz you want. For the size it’s okay but a little egregious. In total my order was 70 dollars. For that price i’d expect the portion to be better but it was very filling. The tour of haiti plato was too empty in my opinion for that price. One last thing, I wish they’d find a way to better take orders over the phone. Being that it’s a lounge, the music is loud, the recipient taking the order and the caller can barely hear each other. Even when ordering in person you have to yell to order. Antouka! Love this place. Thanks for all the hard work you guys do.

Good Haitian food. I ordered grio with diri jonjon. The food was actually good only complaint I had was they only served the meal with 2-3 plantains and the rice was hot when served. I was here with 3 other adults and we pretty much felt the same. The place is nice and clean and the grio was tender.

Made the venture to Jersey for a concert and knew I'd stop off for food. What better than Haitian Food on a Sunday! It was easy to find parking nearby on the street, we walked in and were immediately sat down. Service was great throughout the meal. The server did speak primarily to us in Creole. I can see how that may not work for someone who is not Haitian. Maybe having someone who did speak a mix. However, he was very nice and the food came out fast and was delish. Shared a griot fritay to start and it was definitely tasty and portion was good. For entree I had the legume with Beef with black rice. Tasty, spicy, and very authentic tasting. I can say they stay true to the flavors and don't water them down. The drink was ehh. I did not taste much liquor in the creole punch. Not worth it in my opinion. In terms of ambiance, I wish better music was playing. The set up was cool. Nothing amazing. If I was in the area again, I would come back.

The food was sooo good! All cocktails delicious! I had the Kreyol punch! Highly recommend. First time trying Haitian food? Try their black rice with your meal. I tried the Tour of Haiti platter, the fried Griot in sauce and Lambi - 10/10 recommen! Will be going back!

Good at everything! Been here on multiple occasions, and I am never disappointed by the food drinks or the DJs. This is definitely a hidden gem in the area and a must try! I always like to give credit when credit due. They have a great hard-working staff that has been around for years. And when you get there you are transported and get a little taste of the warm welcoming Haitian culture.

I recently revised first republic lounge & and restaurant after a long time. I haven't been here for quite a few years, since before the pandemic. It's a small and intimate restaurant. I got the Republic Punch, which tasted fine, but I've had better sangria elsewhere. I got it during happy hour, but was still charged full price. For my meal, I got the Basa fish with sweet plantains and black rice. The fish was delicious, and the black rice was great. But I feel like their portions are a bit smaller than they used to be. I also got the red snapper entree to go for my mother. It was a huge piece, which is good. Just the sides were still a smaller portion. The food was really good quality and pretty authentic haitian food. The waitress was nice. We had someone in our party that only spoke haitian Creole, and she accommodated. She was personable and helpful. Overall, it was still a good experience. I would come back to eat here again.

Stopped by early Saturday evening for a drink with three young ladies. We sat at the bar we did not intend to have dinner. I was able to order a cocktail (mangotini) made just the way I liked it and it was super delicious. My companions ordered food which took some time come out. We only really ordered appetizers and everyone enjoyed their food. This place is not big so not too many tables. I will mention one thing I stated to the bartender....The bar chairs are INCREDIBLY uncomfortable. These seats were not made to fit full size adult derrière. Good vibe.

Excellent service great food nice music real fun environment. Excellent drink options all beers.

From the moment we walked in wasn't welcoming, I'm really trying to understand why bar Maids are leaving the bar for 15-20 at a time. Then they act like they don't know what's going on, mind you just catering to what seems a party of some sort. My first and last time poor customer service. When you know people are not from the area the first time should be welcoming giving your best Horrible to say the least.

Excellent food. Speedy service. Haitian ambiance. Great for a date or a quick bite. I had the Lambi (Conch) with Jon Jon black rice and sweet plantains.

Food is great, music is great. Service could be better and prompt. If professionalism and serving tables were better, a 5 would be granted but it's not.

Haitian food is amazing! I've ordered there a few times now and it's been good every time. If you enjoy Haitian cuisine then this is the spot for you!

I eat here maybe once every two weeks primarily take-out. My go to is the fried red snapper. Clearly the best prepared in New Jersey. More important - the best tasting.

Theeee best Haitian food in Elizabeth. The wait time is really long but it's definitely worth the wait. I suggest going when they first open up. Really nice and cozy ambiance.

I Vote for First Republic Lounge and Restaurant *2*in Downtown Newark on Broad Street, Halsey Street or Market Street. Or... Jersey City. PROS 1. Flavorful & Well Cooked Griot (Fried Pork Chunks) 2. Flavorful & Large Portions of Poulet Creole (Spicy Chicken Stew) 3. Flavorful Akra (Malanga Fritters) 4. Deliciously Spicy Pikliz 5. Flavorful Black Rice (Mushroom Rice and Beans) 6. Well Cooked & Flavorful White Rice. The BEST White Rice in NJ and NYC by far!!! 7. The Marinad Fritters goes very Well with Griot. In fact, if you open it up and add Griot and Pikliz it becomes Griot Sliders!!!!!!! 8. Sake Pase Shrimp was Freshly Fried, Bountiful and Flavorful. 9. Fried Beef Tassot was Freshly Fried and Super Flavorful. 10 Republic Punch was delicious and strong. 11. Server and Bartender Kerline is Awesome. 12. Fried Green Plantains are Freshly Fried and Huge. CONS 1. The Fried Chicken Wings was not Flavorful. 2. The Akra Fritters could be more in Quantity for the Price.

I have been to this place a few times but this is my first review. When I arrived I parked on the street and walked in. I was greeted by the bartender and she was very nice and had good conversation. I ordered a sangria and the vegitarian legume with black rice to go. The sangria was pretty good and so was the punch drink I ordered. The food usually takes long to come out so I am glad I had my drink while I waited. The food finally arrived and I paid about $47 for 2 drinks and the food. When I got home I dug in and it was pretty good and there was plenty. I had a pretty good experience.

Food was good, very flavorful. Prices are a little high but good Happy Hr pricing. Service was ok.

Food and drinks 10/10. If your Haitian this is definitely a great spot to eat and dance on the weekends.

Came here on a Saturday night since this place was recommended close to my stay. Unfortunately didn't have a chance to come in since there's an automatic $20 cover charge and I wasn't sure why but didn't bother to give. Where I'm from, there's no charge for entrance, similar to a place like this.

Delicious food, great decor, fantastic Friday night DJ. Really great place to grab drinks and dinner after work with friends.

Date night specifically based on the fact that I'd been craving Haitian food. We decided to do takeout because we ordered within the last hour of the kitchen closing. (Little tip: if it's close to closing, it may be hard to reach the staff on the phone, so just drop by.) Also, give yourself a 45 minute window on preparation. I find that foreign foods take time as they are more complicated dishes. On to my favorite part, the FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! We ordered the kreyol shrimp (packed with flavor and perfect spice), black rice (classic), vegetarian legume, white rice and sauce pois (bean sauce), an amazing side of mac, and of course pikliz. So good I wanted to cry. You will not be disappointed. Reasonably priced, easily accessible, authentic Haitian food. My boyfriend, who's Haitian, said it tastes like it came from home. Chef's kiss! Would give 10 stars if possible.

I literally come here once a week for diri djon djon and legume. The food never misses!! I wish i knew the cook personally to steal their recipes lol. Clean establishment and the service is good! 1000/10.

I recently celebrated a birthday dinner at this restaurant. I had prior experiences with the customer service not being the best in the past, however I decided to give them another chance. However, I regret celebrating my birthday at First Republic. 1. When I arrived with my friends, despite having reservations our table was not ready. We had to wait approximately 30 minutes for our table to be setup due to a prior group of people celebrating birthdays. We were advised to sit in the VIP room to which we opted to stand at the bar due to the VIP area being dark and cold. 2. As we were waiting the be seated, we noticed the waitresses literally moving tables from patrons who were still utilizing them and had not had a chance to get their belongings and leave the restaurant (this is bad customer service. 3. When we were finally sat down at our table, we were close to the entrance door which patrons and staff constantly left open throughout the night that resulted in us being cold. 4. One of the waitresses that served us (dressed in a Jean jacket and had her hair styled in a bun) gave us an attitude throughout the whole night. There were times in which she forgot to bring out items we requested and had an attitude each time we reminded her. When she did bring our food out, she inappropriately touched one of my friends to get their attention while she brought food to our table. 5. To add insult to injury, one of my friends discovered gum on her chair that got stuck to her coat. When she went to our waitress to tell her about this, the waitress responded by blaming my friend and said to my friend: "Well you saw me initially clean the tables before you sat down." 6. After we ate and received our checks, we asked a young gentleman (I think he was one of the managers) to take our group's picture. While we did this, the same waitress yelled at us to move our belongings and to hurry up to leave because they have other patrons who were coming in to the restaurant. By that time our table was visibly annoyed and upset. She had the audacity to rush us when we had to wait 30 minutes to sit at the table. It also was not appropriate to speak to us in that manner considering that we are customers and also we supported the restaurant and their business during that night. 7. When we did move from the table, we complained about the poor quality service that we received to the same young gentleman who took our picture. He was nice and tried to diffuse and rectify the situation by offering for us to sit in the VIP area again and also offered a free drink for my birthday. That free drink never arrived and we ended up leaving shortly after due to the VIP room not having any lights. Before leaving, there was a woman who asked us if we wanted bottle service, however we refused to spend any additional money with how we were treated. If anything, we should've been given free drinks due to our experience. Overall, this restaurant needs to do better with training their employees/staff with using friendly communication skills because they have lacked in this area for years. Also, please note that they don't take online reservations. Reservations are required to be made on the phone which is inconvenient because you don't know whether or not they will remember your reservation in their system. Furthermore, they do not seem to do anything to acknowledge birthdays. Other Haitian establishments I've been to at least bring a dessert or put on a music when a patron is celebrating their birthday. All in all, this was a disappointing place to celebrate my birthday. Wouldn't recommend celebrating events here.

Very good food and a great atmosphere...nice crowd... would highly recommend especially on the weekends

This upscale restaurant lounge is a gem. I was surprised pleasantly by the live jazz band who had tented musicians. The ambiance was classy people were dressed well and there were a few parties reserved. The decor was a modern take using Haitian classic paintings and historical events,people and sayings printed on some walls. The staff was so friendly they found my sister and I a seat with a packed house and we appreciated that. The food was good. We had legumes, goat, du riz avec djon djon, sweet plantain, grios and red bean sauce. The pork could be better seasoned but everything else was amazing. Good portion enough to take home. The jazz band was accompanied by a beautiful songstress. After the set the DJ played music for dancing and we swayed to a great mix of Caribbean and other songs. Parties were in full swing and it was a good time had by all.

Visited on a Saturday for a birthday dinner for a friend. We had about 11 ppl in our party and they sat us together with a few tables put together to accommodate all of us. I don't have anything bad to say about this place. The music was pumping with about three DJs having a chance to play. It's a Haitian restaurant so expect sweet Haitian music but they all play other genres. The food took some time to come out but that's expected with such a large group and also being a Saturday night. Our server was really nice; I didn't get her name but she was short and petite and looked very young. She was a darling the entire night! The food was sooooo good and the drinks too. I had the Republic Punch - it had the right amount of alcohol for a nice buzz ;) I had the griot (pork) with a side of black rice, and fried plantains. Everything was good!! I must return very soon.

EXCELLENT Haitian restaurant! Food is AMAZING (my American husband enjoys the food). Employee's are friendly. Atmosphere is a great vibe. FYI - Ordering via Yelp is annoying, system doesn't always work. Business hours is incorrect on Yelp.

It would be nice to patronize them, but they never answer their phones for reservations. 3 days calling.....3 days no response. In speaking to others, they had no luck either.

Food is excellent. Atmosphere / decor above average compared to other Haitian restaurants. Service was satisfactory as well. Based on that i would have rated as a solid 4. However, charging extra for items listed as included on the menu and an extra 18% service charge (yes on top of 18% tip) is probably one of many illustrations that exemplify why Haitian businesses fail... They lose customers because they want to skin them alive instead of nurturing long term relationships (repeat business). And although i did like the food, this attitude turned me off forever...adieu!

Okay but pricey for no reason. But the food is alright taso was good Bon piman but tro cher

My family love this Haitian restaurant but unwelcome when we walk in to the restaurant No Hello ... service here is horrible .... you have to ask every single thing ... waitress are playing with their phone no pay attention to customer . Of course she brought brought wrong order ...

Picture speaks a thousand words. $7 for this small, burnt, clearly old smidge of macaroni gratin.

My husband and I found this spot on Yelp after searching for something to satisfy our craving for ethnic food. Since he is Haitian by descent and I'm an amateur foodie who's tasted enough of this particular cuisine to know what's good, we both have high standards when it comes to Haitian food. First visit was on a Sunday night, 8:30pm arrival. Enter through two quick sets of double doors into the VERY open dining room. I was expecting to be greeted by a host but there was no podium or counter. However, a young woman with a bright smile walked over from the bar area to l seat us right away. First impressions: the high ceiling and dark leather decor give lends to an upscale lounge vibe, but it is lacking in the intimacy category. But the menu looked great!! We ordered the griot appetizer to share $10. I also ordered the Kreyol punch and hubby, a Prestige beer. The drinks were served fairly quickly, but our appetizer took over 20 minutes because there was only one server for approx 20 guests. When the app finally arrived, it tasted great as expected although the serving size couldve been larger given the price point (ummm...pork is the least expensive protein so at 10 bucks, imma need more than 7 lil' chunks of griot and 2 plantain chips) The entrees were tasty... I ordered the beef legumes and subbed out rice for mac' au gratin (note: I ordered mac n cheese bc I envisioned the dish that is depicted on Yelp, but the server kindly corrected me by clarifying they do not sell mac n cheese)... regardless, I was disapointed with the flavor of the mac, wished the cheese was sharper and the gratin more crunchy. Hubby enjoyed his tassot beef with rice n beans. He said that overall, it was very good but wished he had more than 2 plaintains. This dining experience was generally positive, but we walked away feeling that, for the price point, the service and atmosphere should've been more elevated. Last but not leaat, we were looking forward to enjoying some live music as advertised on the restaurant's website for "each and every Sunday"... "Sexy Sundays" When we left at 10:15pm and there was still no band setting up and it didn't look like there would be one arriving anytime soon. There was some good kompa music piping thru the speakers overhead, but we were really expecting the live music experience. A little disappointed in that... $80 plus tip for a couple's night out meal... better spent someplace with better ambience.

This was my first time going to a Haitian restaurant. The food was good. My husband and I got the shrimp in creole sauce (Kreyol Shrimp) with black mushroom rice. My friends got the red snapper and griot (seasoned pork). Food was ok. The red snapper dish was on the spicy side... but good spicy. The griot also came with spicy dipping sauce. I think the best part honestly was the friend sweet bananas that came with the dish. Other than that it was just ok. Others things to note. There is only street parking available and we were able to park for free after 6pm. It's right across the Elizabeth Police Station, but there was a lot of activity on that corner.

Great service! Fast service! The food was excellent. We had tHe specials today: pate chaudiere (empanadas).... oh my! Yummy. Tasty and lots of filling. The pikliz on top was hot and delicious! The Griot po Boy was excellent! Bread was light.. griot was moist! My hubby took the goat head soup- he said was amazing! I don't like goat I will take his word for it. We will definitely go back!

I use to come here a lot for the Republic Punch, chicken pike, black rice and veggies. The food use to take long because it is made to order, however, now the food still takes long but now its warm instead of hot and they very rarely have veggies. The bartenders are nice, but not nice enough for the price of the food. It seems as if the only time things are on point is if one of the owners are here and it's really tiring. I come so much, that the bartenders know my order and I have not come for a long time because of the food issue. Then they have the nerve to raise the prices. Terroble!!

We had a lovely time at First Republic on a Thursday night. The food is fresh and authentic. My non-Haitian fiancé enjoyed his legume and griot. I loved my vegetarian legume and djon djon. So happy they have vegetarian options! The staff was wonderful and it was nice to get a chance to chat with the owner Stan about the work he's doing in Haiti. It is always great to support a business that has a humanitarian spirit. Great food, music, artwork and ambiance, keep it up!

This was our first time ever trying Haitian food and we loved it! The food was amazing and the staff was friendly. We can't wait to go back after the quarantine is finished so we can dine in, the restaurant looks great!

Amazing customer service from the waitress last night. She was impeccable and extremely courteous. Was very detailed with my order

Thank you for accommodating me on such short notice! I enjoyed the food and the music. The DJ was awesome! Such a great place to have an event. Thank you Nafeeza for being so patient with me. And thank you to the staff who made sure we were kept satisfied. My new and favourite spot to have all ny events when I move to NJ!!

Horrible, customer service.Yelled at door dash driver in creole while I was there for not having there food ready.

I've been going to this restaurant a couple times a year for a few years now and the service is always okay, never great. I ordered a side order of white rice which is stated in the menu "accompanied with bean sauce" but it clearly wasn't because I got charged for them separately. And the server would not budge on his stance even though he agreed that there is a mistake on the menu. Definitely disappointed.

My Fiancé and I decided to have our engagement party here and it was the worse experience ever. I called to schedule a party and left multiple messages for a manager to call me back and they never did. Once we told a friend about our experience (She is close with the owner) we received a call back from a manger to book the party. By this time I was so annoyed with the lack of professionalism that I was looking to have the party elsewhere. But because my fiancé is Haitian, I thought this would be the best way to represent his culture for our party. So we decided to have the party there. Once we met with the manager she was very rude and gave us short answers to the questions we had about our event. Fast forward to our party... Our party started at 1:00pm and we agreed that my family can get there at 12:00pm to begin setting up. At 12:15pm I received a call that no one was at the restaurant and the doors were locked. When we called the manager she claimed that she was unaware that the restaurant was closed and she was on her way to open up. I was beyond upset! I would assume if a restaurant is having an event, there would be bartender/cooks there getting everything ready prior to the event. On the day of the party the temperature was 85 degrees. Once we got to the place the air was not fully circulated and was hot and uncomfortable inside the restaurant. When we expressed how upset we were about what was happening, we were told by management to relax and that everything is now fine. And lastly, the service was terrible!! As we were blessing the food, the bartenders were talking so loud that we had to pause our prayer to tell them the shut up. I am beyond disappointed with the service that we received from this place. Even though the food was great, it is not enough for me to EVER support this establishment again!

First republic will not disappoint you... My boyfriend and I frequent this intimate space for many occasions. We are always greeted at the door and encouraged to choose our sitting area. Food/staff: The food is loaded with great authentic Haitian spice and made with love. The staff is friendly and often check-in from time to time to assure our experience. Schedule: Aside from the food, anyone can participate in Kizomba night (lessons on Wednesday), Baz Twoubado (which we often attend on Friday nights), Kompa Love Night (Saturday), and Comedy night (Another night we attend). All are entertaining and fun. Music: There are a number of DJs that rotate from time to time, creating the perfect variety. Events/Parties: You can plan any function/celebration. They are very accommodating. There are options for "sit downs" and buffet. If you are looking for a new awesome spot- visit First Republic and continue to support black businesses.

Waited over an hour and a half for two orders of Griot only to receive some bullshit that was not Griot. The crap looks like slop. I will never order again.

Amazing food. Always catering to social distancing ! Great outdoor ambiance! Owners so friendly! Their food is out of this world! Love that they deliver

Been here about 4 times. Dark atmosphere probably due to the lighting. The young lady at the bartender does not make quality drinks. Customer service isn't good. The food is good but the portion for the price isn't good. I wouldn't recommend.

What can I say? Food was excellent, service was excellent, presentation was excellent, ambiance was excellent. This is my go-to spot whenever I want some great island food and music. Food might seem a little pricey but it's well worth it. On a regular night parking shouldn't be a problem, I usually find parking right out front. Elizabeth doesn't have the best neighborhoods but this area is right by the precinct and is well patrolled if you're worried about people messing with your car.

Why is this Mofongo so GOOD!?? This spot Reps Haiti but they must have a tiny Dominicano back there cooking. Same thing tho. I got here around 9 w my girls and it was the perfect time to eat before the music really got good to dance to. Good food, good ambiance, and good sangria! I'll be back!!!

A small and comfortable restaurant but lack of professionalism & dissapointing in portion size as far as their most expensive dish on the menu like the "poisson gro sel" or the "lambi". That kind of explain why at 9pm most of the tables were available. Then, after the waitress finish chatting with her customer she handed us the menu, with attitude of course as if we're disturbing her socializing. Although I have chosen to take one of the dinner options, they still managed to serve us the wrong meal! And that happens everytime we go there. Either they would bring us half the meal missing its main part, or they'll bring it out piece by piece with at least a good five minutes increments. By then, Our tastes buds gone bad and we no longer have an appetite. Regarding the quality of the food: It was good, but definitely not excellent. May 1, 2018

This was the first time trying this place. The food was really good and fresh. The people there were really nice and kept checking to see if was okay. It was pricey, but Haitian food is expensive so that made since. We went there for my mom birthday and they also bought my mom a cake and singed happy birthday to her which was very nice. I would definitely come again.