Life Pancake Company

I never really visited Jersey City, but I made a point to drive down to check out this restaurant and the Science Center nearby. Upon entering, I was greeted by the staff and seated immediately, even though it wasn't too busy. My server Kim was friendly and attentive, and my order came out super fast. Since it is pancake house, I felt it befitting to order the Oreo Pancakes. The pancakes were huge and delicious. I was surprised I was able to finish them all. I loved the look of the restaurant itself, which is lovely and very cozy. They have a large menu selection, and prices are pretty decent, with the exception of the cost for a cup of coffee, which was $4. There is a large parking lot out back with plenty of spaces available. Overall, I really enjoyed my first experience dining here, and I will be sure to stop in again the next time I am either in the area or just passing through.

Pancake wrap was HUGE, soft and good! For Buffalo fried chicken quesadilla, the chicken was very tender, but it could've been better if they served homemade salsa and guacamole instead of store bought ones. Newport fries were just okay..

The pancake game here is very serious. They have so many options and you can even get a wrap. It is a ton of food though so for kids they might want to split. The place is very nice and clean. I would try some other things next time but I was happy with my sweet and savory.

This was my first time here, and I was greeted quickly. The service was pleasant, and the food came out fast. They have a lot of coffee options, which is great because I love adult coffees! I recommend the Downtown coffee. The food was delicious, especially the omelet and pancakes!

Perfect spot for breakfast! I had a veggie omelette with grits and the portions were huge. My husband had Oreo pancakes and loved them. The girls had kids french toast and the Smiley Face Pancake. Great food and great service! Don’t miss this spot to enjoy a good meal.

A good diner place with great options. Shakes were too huge and felt a lot, 1 fish per person is good. We could be guided better. Pancakes were the highlight rest all were good not great!

I’ve been here several times and have always received great service. But today out of all days, it was truly a pleasure to be served by Molly. She was patient and kind. She took the time to make sure we were satisfied with our order and gave us options as we wanted to substitute some items on our dish. Highly recommended, if you haven’t yet visited please do because you’re missing out!

We came to Life Pancake Company looking for delicious pancakes. While our pancake wasn't amazing, we still had a great experience. The vibe was festive with great holiday music playing at full blast. The service was hospitable and efficient. We had ordered the Fresh Fruit Pancakes without Bananas. The visual presentation was fantastic but the taste texture of the pancakes missed the mark for us - the pancakes tended to feel too gummy. The Venice Panini with the curly fries was amazing and delicious. I'm hopeful that the other pancakes are better and we will be back to try them!

The perfect brunch spot! Amazing pancakes, omelettes, and shakes. What more can one ask for? There is a parking lot out back so you don't have to find parking and the service was quick. Can't recommend this place enough!

EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS... Customer Service was on Point, kind and courteous... The atmosphere was inviting and very comfortable.

What happened to the once formidable brownstone pancake company ? This new life company is on life support. 10am Saturday morning. Plenty of open seats. Okay that never used to happen but its been a while since I came. Ordered an omelet calle with turkey sausage on the side. Food came ultra fast but the home fries were cold and the omelet wasn't really folded. Almost looked like some one tried to flip it and screwed up.... Also pretty bland. Someone hacked my turkey sausage into like a weird armadillo pattern. No idea. Rushed through the whole service. Everyone wants to know if I'm done. Okay 1030 rolls around I ask for a second cup of coffee drink up and leave. The prices were astronomical. 16 omelet 7 dollars sausages 4 dollars coffee. And when I got up the place was still empty. In case you didn't know high prices when places are empty in jersey city usually means we are at the rnd of the road. But the quality so far gone it's not a surprise really. I heard the other one in Edgewater (still brownstone) is still good. Maybe hop on the light rail and go there instead or grab your car and get over to coach diner

I've had excellent experiences here both delivery and dine-in. I love this spot because they have both gluten free and buckwheat substitutes for any pancake or waffle menu item - the server seems to expect it and they don't ask questions. Inside is spacious and the lighting is good - very OPH/IHOP vibes. No wait at noon on a Sunday in July. Our waitress seemed a little scattered but the service was really quick, and the food is just out-of-the-box RELIABLE. They have a dedicated parking lot and a few outdoor tables. I will continue to be a customer here!

At Life Pancake Company, we sought out delectable pancakes. Despite our pancake falling short of amazing, the overall experience was great. The lively atmosphere, coupled with festive holiday music, created a vibrant setting. The service was both welcoming and prompt. We went with the Fresh Fruit Pancakes and we were impressed by the visual presentation, though the taste and texture left something to be desired, as the pancakes felt somewhat gummy. On a brighter note, the Venice Panini accompanied by curly fries was a stellar and delicious choice. Despite the pancake disappointment, we remain hopeful that other offerings will fare better, prompting a return visit!

This is a nice place to enjoy a meal. Especially if you are hungry or you are a big eater. Pancakes Wraps are something I have never seen. I had the pancake wrap with bacon and eggs. My sister got the chicken and waffles. They actually give you fried chicken and not chicken strips. Service was good. Friendly and they were pretty quick. They do have a parking lot that makes it easy for you. You don't have to drive around looking for street parking.

Food (5/5): Large portions, decent prices, and solid food. Really enjoyed all the dishes here. My favorites were the fried Chicken basket and the Calli omelette. Service (5/5): The server was friendly and help. She checked up on us a few times and kept our water full. The food came out fast with no issues. There is a weird rule about not sharing food dishes rule that was listed on the menu but it seemed to just be to make sure each person orders at least one entree. Ambiance (5/5): Spacious restaurant with tons of seating. Sauces are on the table and the place looks overall clean and a solid breakfast diner.

Are you a big fan of disappointment for breakfast? Do you want to spend $75 on breakfast and leave hungry? Are you a fan of dry pancakes and cold soggy waffles? I ordered chicken and waffles with chicken tenders instead of chicken on the bone. Whichever genius in the kitchen decided that they should cut up the waffle and make a half-assed stack out of two skewers and 4 chicken fingers, the food was worse then the presentation. Girlfriend's pancakes were dry. If you have pancakes in your name, you should be able to make decent pancakes instead of service lukewarm garbage. Diners are known for having good food cheap. The food here is neither good nor cheap, to refer to this place as a diner is a misnomer. If you think you are fancy but everyone knows you aren't, this might be the spot for you. If you crave expensive mediocrity, have I got a place for you. Everyone else, I have eaten here now so you don't have to.

Trendy looking brunch spot with classic diner food! I got the Jersey french toast, which is a sandwich with Taylor ham, fried eggs, and cheese between two pieces of french toast. If you're always split between choosing savory vs sweet for brunch, GET THIS!!! I put syrup on one half and hot sauce on the other and it was the best of both worlds. I also got an iced Nutella latte, which I was expecting to be a lot sweeter (my preference) but it was just ok. It didn't taste a whole lot like Nutella; it was just drizzled on the side of the cup and not very mixable with the straw. Probably wouldn't get that again.

This place used to be the Brownstone but I guess they changed the name. The food is very similar and the ambiance is that of your typical diner. The pancakes weren't the fluffiest but they were good. We tried the showstopper and the buckwheat blueberry. You can order pretty much anything here. Eggs benedict was decent. I would come back if I crave diner food.

We moved here from Brooklyn NY a few months ago - where diners a dying breed!!! So we were excited to find this spot that's a refreshing take on what we called a "greasy spoon" spot. The atmosphere here is so spacious and bright and inviting - and their staff is very attentive. Their menu is awesome with so many great selections of eats. I had the Belgian waffle and it was perfect! Crunchy outside and soft inside- simple and filled me up for a several hours!! The coffee is fresh and tastes like diner coffee. We will definitely come back here to try more dishes.

Fluffy pancakes with fresh fruit was great. Wish they had pure maple syrup though. The western omlette and hash was delicious.

Life Pancake Company is a diner in Jersey City with a encyclopedic menu, friendly servers, and an actual parking lot, that it ranks high in my list of places to visit when I have to brave the Holland Tunnel to visit friends. It's also a quick five minutes from Liberty State Park and Liberty Science Center. Once upon a time it was called Brownstone Diner and some old signage still exists. Yes, you should get the pancakes. They're perfect in all the ways. Lots of topping options, from the classic blueberry and chocolate chip, to the weird like the taylor ham and egg stuffed version. Pancakes are large, floofy, and delicious. We've also order the avocado toast (with lox!) and the chicken quesadillas (good!). And every time we're here we get a giant plate of curly fries. I love that they have a kids menu with smaller portion sizes. Service is friendly and busy, but they take good care of you while also turning tables quickly during rush hour. Shout out to Alexis for keeping us well fed and happy. Pricing is fair, especially considering the large plates. Place is clean and well lit with adequate bathrooms and high chairs.

Homemade style breakfast was absolutely delicious! Another party was celebrating a birthday and the way they celebrate was so fun to experience.

This is one of those overindulgent diners that's fun to go with family. The portions are ginormous. The concoctions ridiculous. And you instantly think, see this is what's wrong with America... And also what's RIIIIGHT because we are who we are . Anyway everything is good and yes definitely get one of the cocktail tower thingys. I got the bloody Mary one and don't regret it one bit. ***only thing we didn't like was the smoothie.

We got pancakes and it came out quickly. Pancakes were cooked to perfection! Very chocolatey in the Oreo pancakes but strawberry ones were delicious, added bananas. Were seated quickly for a Sunday morning

A casual brunch spot near Liberty State Park with plenty of seating and quick service. Wait service was friendly. Generally good food, just a little more expensive for the amount of food that you get. Fried Chicken Basket - comes with 3 pieces of bone-in chicken. The chicken was crispy and delicious. The breast was a little dry though. The basket also comes with a ton of fries. Fries was just alright. $15 Plain Jane waffles - 4 pieces of waffles served with whipped butter. It was delicious, but felt it was a bit expensive for the quantity of waffles. $10. Berry berry smoothie - not too sweet. It was a nice, refreshing and healthy smoothie. Comes with whipped cream. $8 Iced coffee - nice, decent coffee. I added a shot of espresso for an additional $1. Otherwise it's $4. Note that they have a minimum order of $3 per person, and a $3 sharing fee.

Good but nothing to write home about. I had the strawberry cheesecake pancakes. Typical diner fare.

First-time experience at Life Pancake Company. There is a variety of options for breakfast and lunch. I got the Calli omelette with home fries, without the avocado. Our party of three also got pancakes and french toast with a bunch of sides. The turkey bacon came out cold. The pancakes were honestly okay, but the french toast was the best I've tried! The waitress we had was very accommodating and welcoming. Overall, good experience!

Have a mean to come to this place for a while, so I thought I would give it a try with one of my good friends. I started out with the derange hot chocolate which is definitely super chocolatey and delicious came with a gigantic slice of cake on top. My friend got the chocolate chip pancakes, and I got the chicken and waffle stack which was very decadent. We also both ordered a side of eggs and bacon which our waitress forgot but not a huge deal. Wasn't too crazy about my chicken definitely needed some seasoning but everything else was delicious.

I've visited this place a couple of times especially since it's my dads favorite! My most recent visit was OK, but i'll give it 4 stars since i've been here many times before. Life Pancake Company is first come first served so you walk in and wait on a line until a seat is available for your party size. Since there were 6 of us we waited around 10 minutes which isn't bad especially on a Sunday afternoon. When the lady asked how many was in my party and I said 6, she *sighed* and put her head down so that didn't leave a great impression on my family who was in town visiting. There weren't many tables that can accommodate a party of 6 so for the sake of being seated we settled for a booth which we were cramped in but made it work. Our waitress was an absolute gem, so friendly and had a smile on her face the entire time. I wish I got her name. She gave us water in a glass bottle and a couple of cups. Make sure you ask for ice or you'll be drinking hot tap water. The menu is huge! Many great options to choose from. The food did take a while to come out; around 45 minutes but it's understandable in these times. For my entrée, I ordered the strawberry cheesecake pancakes and WOW was I shocked by how much was on my plate! They definitely do not skimp out on the cheesecake. The pancakes were so fluffy and warm and the strawberry cheesecake was good; I had to take more than half of it to go because it was so filling. The curly fries were delish! The waitress also was able to split our checks which was great. We paid with the host at the front. Parking can be tight as they do have a lot, it can get packed quick. I was able to find street parking around the corner. All in all, it was an ok experience. I would visit again and try more menu items!

This place has a diverse menu with a lot of options from pancakes, waffles, omelette, sandwiches and paninis,.. We loved their omelette, the pancakes were beautiful we didn't like it so much. Staffs were patience and friendly. A lot of parking spaces. A solid place for brunch if you're in Jersey City

This is one of my favorite place. I love their brunches especially the eggs Benedict, waffles traditional breakfast. It never fails to get good food. Service is attentive and friendly. It's always packed. We had party of four or two.

Don't know where to start This most have one of thd worse kitchen staff on the tri-state area Orders eggs over medium they came sunny side up -that was the least of the issues Never ever order the lox platter -comes swimming in water -everything the plate was full of water -should have cans in a fish tank-even capers started to grow Onions came chopping as well as the pepper -needed a spoon to even to put on the bagel Best part was our server Olga -she made the whole experience enjoyable , She was always there to answer any questions- Only reason to return,Olga and sticking only to pancakes Also being disabled with reduced mobility found that they only have 1 disabled parking space -probably the minimum required by the ADA -and being across from a hospital?

Came here with the sister on a Saturday morning for brunch. This is definitely a classic diner with a MASSIVE MENU. It does get super busy and we waited for a few mins for a table. One downside was that it seemed like the kitchen was down a few people because we waited over an hour for our food (grilled cheese and a hamburger)

Beautiful inside. All hosts had a big smile upon walk in. Our waitress was nice and the menus very big. Perfect for family outings or a date. We ordered a milkshake and root bear float for starters, pretty good, tasted like strawberry syrup not ice cream but still good. For my meal I had chicken and waffles. That came out stacked and a huge portion, so when you see $20 just know you'll have something for later and maybe even more to share. We also had the Guy Fieri Triple D which was basically a Buffalo chicken quesadilla but wrapped in a pancake. That was juicy and had so much flavor! Again, we couldn't finish that and our to go box looked like a full meal not touched. $63 for big portion meals? I think that's a deal. Will be back

Came here on a Sunday afternoon and while it was crowded, we were seated right away. Great spot with a very wide range of menu options. My baked potato omelette was absolutely delicious as was the Nutella milkshake we got. Will definitely be back!

Pancakes are ok but some of the food did not come out cooked. We noticed that one of our (uncooked, still almost frozen) potatoes was green. Service was decent.

Great food huge portions and service was excellent. The place is so modern and clean inside, wasn't expecting that. They have their own parking lot which is a huge plus for anywhere in the city.

Service was okay - food came out at very different times and didn't really come back around to check/refill coffees until they were ready to clear our table. Pancakes were less impressive - rather tasteless, less impressed given the name of the place. Home fries were cold and soggy, tasted like they came from yesterday's leftovers from a college dining hall - needed to be crispy (even the one that did look crispy was just as soggy).

So so good! Life Pancake has all the typical breakfast foods, and also many really unique breakfast choices like stuffed pancakes, stuffed waffles and crepes. I had avocado toast with scrambled eggs, it was delicious. They have a full bar, and you can get milkshakes, ice cream, etc. lots of vegetarian options available too. Good service and the owner was out and about and super friendly. Will go back for sure.

the waffle tower is the absolute best. i always get a side of eggs & turkey sausage because it's the perfect combination

Best pancakes and breakfast food establishment I've been to in years! The place was super packed and our waitress managed to keep our water filled and orders correct. The food is amazing! Everything looked delicious and from what I could hear from others tasted that way too! The portions are a really nice size so you won't leave there hungry and may even have some to take home. If we lived closer we would be there all the time, but it's worth the drive to go back!

4.5 Came in for a quick brunch/lunch and was craving something sweet. Ended up getting the Pax's Pretzel Pancakes. The waitress had recommended that one over some other pancakes I wanted because the pretzels are supposed to add a nice crunch element but honestly, I barely tasted them. The pretzels were soft & unnoticeable BUT the rest of the pancake itself was amazing. Not too overly sweet and tasted just right! Service was good, can't complain & the interior is beautiful! I hadn't visited in years since it became Life Pancake & not the Brownstone diner and was pleasantly surprised! Not a bad spot if you need a quick pancake fix!

They have an extensive menu and although it looks on the pricier end the amount of food they serve is enough for that meal and a snack later. For a party of 2, we ordered chicken waffle tower, chocolate chip pancakes and a side of curly fries and went home with another meal for 2 ! Food looks good but tastes ok. Pancakes were fluffy but a tad dry with no maple syrup (they charge an extra fee for maple syrup which is sort of odd because pancakes without syrup by default is just not complete). Waffles were great but chicken was too greasy and needed some kind of seasoning or even salt. Lack of condiments on the table was very noticeable as you need something sweet or spicy to add to it. Coffee was good. Curly fries pretty good. Didn't get ketchup or any dip with it. Service was just ok. Not very prompt or attentive.

If your a huge pancake/waffle type of person this the spot for you. There's an endless amount of choices from fruits to candy and even my personal favorite strawberry berry cheesecake, and yes a full slice of cheesecake comes with the pancakes. If your not into that they got some amazing omelettes and many other options, one of them is they're "Deranged shakes" if you order this it like an order with a shake. This place also has some good drinks if your of age of course. Some servers do rush you but I've only seen this on a Sunday when the place is packed and there's a line.

I'm not a fan of this place. The food is very much below average. It's a large menu, but nothing is ever delicious when I visit. There's always a huge line on the weekends because there aren't many diner style spots in this area. But they definitely could use an upgrade on their menu/ recipes. I also ordered a espresso martini, clearly they never made one before because it was hottttttttttt. :(

Extremely rude, after even informing that I am Muslim do not add meat in my food it should be clean cut they delivered pork in omelette which was not acceptable

I've been to the brownstone in edgewater once and I havent tried Life since we moved to Jersey City and now finally got a chance to try it. I understand it that it's the same food and recipes as brownstone. Life is a funny name though with the EKG meter. I guess pancakes are life but also death. Since these portions are huge and rich! If you went to life everyday I think you might be closer to death... But it is nice for a treat. They seat you like a night club as the sign says. You wait at the door online for 20-40 min until you get up to the hostess stand and then they seat you. It was pretty hot in the restaurant so I asked for ice water. I got the strawberry cheescake panackes. They were regular buttermilk pancakes with pieces of cheesecake on top and strawberry compote. Super rich. I always felt that the brownstone pancakes while they are fluffy and have a good texture they are actually too buttery. It was kind of nauseating. I liked the cheesecake and strawberry compote though. My boyfriend got the veggie omelette with eggs whites and wheat bread which was actually whole grain and really good toast. The egg whites where super flavorful and fluffy. The omelette had peppers onions and mushrooms. The mushrooms were canned but still tasted good in the omelette. The potatoes were really good too and had great flavor. Ended up taking most of the pancakes to go. Also both of our mouths felt so dry and empty after eating there it was very strange. Its like the meal just sucked out all the moisture from our mouths. Everyone elses meals around also looked huge and delicious. I don't think ill come back anytime soon since its just too rich and too much food

A lovely atmosphere and great food Would highly everyone to try while in Jersey. Will definitely be back.

This morning around 11:30 am on Saturday 7/16/22 was my first time at Life Pancake Company, and the atmosphere reflected the photos to a tee. The decorations, lighting fixtures, ambiance and color scheme were very modern. The waitress was nice and took our orders pretty quickly. The food was good, didn't need too much additional salt or pepper. I ordered a caramel iced coffee but got charged for a dulce de leche drink which wasn't sweet at all even with the caramel on the sides of the mason jar or whipped cream. What I didn't like is one particular server, not my own, but a woman with blonde braids and round glasses whose actions were out of line. There was a table in our section with a Hispanic couple and their two young daughters. One daughter was crying loudly and the parents were doing everything they could to calm the child down as to not cause distraction amongst the other patrons. The server with blonde braids went over to the father who was holding the hand of the crying daughter and told them to "keep it down and stop crying". As she was walking away, she passed me and I heard her murmur to herself "causing me a headache!" This was completely inappropriate and that server should be fired. Again, I was there at 11:30 am on 7/16/22, and the server with the blonde braids and round glasses had no consideration for the family or crying daughter. She appalled all patrons around me. She should not be working in a customer service environment if she has not hospitality training or able to treat people, specifically a child and parent, with empathy.

I came here with 3 other people on New Year's Day. There was no wait and we were seated immediately. The waitress was very kind and took care of us quickly. I ordered the greek benedict with homefries. The serving size was very generous and all of us took home leftovers. I would definitely come back for brunch.

I wasn't impressed when this was The Brownstone but the rebrand has done some good things for this place. My daughter said she & her friends had been here a few times and thought I'd enjoy it for a Mother's Day lunch. We arrived after the brunch rush and we were able to get a seat rather quickly. The place was emptying out. Food was good. Coffee was really good. I had chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. My only minor quibble was that the pancakes were dryer than I would have liked. My daughter had the Monte Cristo French Toast, and my friend had the Newport breakfast omelet with home fries. They both loved their orders and said everything was very good. My daughter also ordered the strawberry banana smoothie and said it was excellent. Service was slow but I chalk that up to the holiday and a lack of servers. Our server was very nice but you could see she was exhausted. Hope she received a lot of tips that day. Prices are a little higher than the average diner. 8-10 for a smoothie? Shakes 7-16? 6 for a float? Yeah, that's a bit much. All in all it was a good day, and it's fun to have a breakfast menu with so many items. Give it a try.

So me and my sister had a breakfast date here. It was first come, first serve so we decided to go around 9:30am. When we arrived I easily found parking in their parking lot and it was not that crowded. We were seated by a very nice and attentive hostess. Our server was Franceska and she was nice. My sister and I started with our drinks of a belini and a mimosa and it was pretty good. For our entrée I had the apple and peanut butter pancakes with a side of turkey sausage. My sister got the short stack, eggs, turkey bacon and avocado. The food was pretty good. The bill came to about $83 which wasn't bad. All in all we had a decent time.

We went on Good Friday. The place was busy but it wasn't crazy. We had a party of 7 and we were seated fairly quickly. The waitresses were pleasant and attentive. I'm picky when it comes to my breakfast and didn't enjoy the pancakes here when it was under other management so I went with the Rustic Chicken wrap. It was pretty good. Curly fries were great. It was a bit too spicy for me. The chicken had lots of pepper. I wouldn't order it again but I'd try one of the other options. My son loved his chicken parm. Portions were great. I'd return for sure.

Updated from Brownstone. No longer looks like a diner, but nice upgrades and fits in with the growing jersey city. Food was average, pricing is expensive, service is trash. Person who I realized was the manager was SCREAMING from the front station to pay to workers in the kitchen (3 isles over). Came on a Saturday morning and left my phone at the counter when I was checking out. Checked my location saw it was there... immediately called the restaurant and was told that there was no phone left there. I said no problem. I'll stop by anyway... I know the phone is there. when I arrived the manager again told me there was no phone and didn't offer any other help. I showed her the location. I said I know the phone is in here so she suggested that I looked at the booth where I was sitting. There was a couple there, so I didn't want to bother them and she offered to check. Still no phone. Asked my server, the bussers, everyone. She kept insisting sorry hun it's not here...I refused to leave a $1000 phone. Eventually, the manager made another LOUD announcement across the entire restaurant and asked if anyone found a phone. magically, oddly, 45 minutes of this back and forth someone appeared with the phone. A very odd situation. If you work there, find a phone...why stick it in your pocket and not bring it up to the front or let your manager know? I got an "I'm so sorry" from the manager. But no...thank you. Won't be back. Go to city diner for overpriced mediocre diner food. But 2 stars for their Iced dirty chai.

The food was great. The waiter was very food with his anxious filled humor. This place is good to eat, only issue is sometimes your waiter may not be the best (keep your fingers crossed).

I love the renovation and enjoyed having breakfast here with my mom. The omelettes are delicious.

This was my first time coming to this establishment and I showed up with a party of 10. We were sat immediately and our server was super accommodating. Our party ended up getting mimosas and the food came out right away. We will definitely be going back !