Light Rail Cafe

If you're looking for delicious southern food with a personal touch, Light Rail Cafe won't disappoint, no matter what you choose. The atmosphere here is also very local, relaxed, with dope house grooves playing in the background. The bar is a nice touch; the seating is just right, avoiding overcrowding. The staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful, you're never rushed or pressured.

Light Rail Cafe Review Writer: Chef Rene Hewitt Chef Rene Hewitt a few seconds ago 2 min read Located at 237 Randolph Ave, Jersey City, NJ sits this wonderful restaurant which includes a nice size bar. It's not big but it has 4 floors of pure fulfillment with people really enjoying themselves. Let's start with the restaurant's look. One wall showcases photos of family and friends. The bar is extensive and was lively with customers enjoying themselves. There was an abundance of laughter, dishes being served, and fantastic music playing, creating a festive vibe that made you want to dance to the beat. I accompanied a friend, Crystal the Pound Cake Lady, who mentioned that there is space on the side of the restaurant as well as in the back. I explored the back area and was pleasantly surprised by how cozy the outdoor space is. However, she informed me that there's more to the place. In fact, there are three floors above. The second floor is available for rent for special occasions and features nice warm decor and a fireplace, making it quite comfortable and spacious. I didn't have the opportunity to see the third floor, but I was told that they offer entertainment on the roof. When the weather changes, I'll go back for the thrill of the rooftop. Regarding the food. We began with fried catfish as the appetizer, which I must admit was quite good. It was crispy but could have used a bit more spice and the pieces were quite small, which surprised me. After the appetizer, I had smothered turkey wings, which were really good but needed much more sauce, along with collard greens that were excellent, and mac and cheese topped it off. Crystal also had the same appetizer, smothered turkey, collard greens, but had candied yams. She said they were very good and recently went back for their chicken sandwich. Regarding The Light Rail Cafe as a whole, I love visiting places where you can see people truly enjoying the food, their company, and the surroundings. The atmosphere was lively and bustling, which can be contagious. The bartenders and waitstaff were very friendly. I didn't have to wait long to be served, and the food was hot. The chef clearly knows how to prepare perfectly cooked comfort food. I would rate The Light Rail Cafe a 10 out of 10. If you're looking for a good time and great food, don't hesitate to visit them. Mention that Chef Rene Hewitt sent you.

Music was so loud i couldn't hear myself think. The bartender/waitress was so slow i sat at bar for 20mins without even an acknowledgment or glass of water. Upon ordering i noticed the menu price is not what i was charged (photo attached) on the rail reads 10$ but rings up for 14$ (no extra was added btw) SCAMM. I also ordered Catfish on side which read 7$ on menu and was charged 8$.SCAM Also gratuity/service fee is also charged if you order physically at the bar for take out. ANOTHER SCAM. Advice to business BE MORE TRANSPARENT. BE OVERSTAFFED NOT UNDERSTAFFED. AND STOP TRYING TO GET OVER ON YOUR OWN PEOPLE.

The place was lively when we arrived so we were seated on the 2nd floor. We seemed to be forgotten for a little while as we were the only ones up there but they quickly got to us. The catfish sandwich was good, my cousin had the surf and turf that he said was amazing, sister had a burger she devoured and brother had wings and fries that he enjoyed. Overall I would come back here

This is a fantastic place to get a drink and some really delicious food. The energy was fantastic, great music and vibrant conversation. I ordered the wings and the jerk flavor was spicy and the wings were juicy, I'd order them again anytime! The staff were helpful, friendly, and efficient and I can't wait to bring my friends to this great spot!

Visited this place for the first time yesterday with friends and it was the best. Nice chill vibe, drinks delicious, food was amazing and the music was really really good. The staff and especially our server Angie were all friendly and attentative. This is definitely our new spot to hangout with great vibes. Thank you for the warm welcome!

Can only comment on the food. Ordered from Uber Eats. Good portion size. Ordered the Alfredo with salmon. Nothing was seasoned or had any flavor. Just plain pasta with cream sauce and seared salmon. Maybe in the restaurant the quality is different?

One of my fav hangouts in Jersey City! The street name has special meaning to me ,so I keep going back for the food, music and atmosphere! The vibe is always good and the sips are tasty. I've been twice in 2024 and both times , had a great time. This is a multi level venue with a rooftop deck and a lower outside area. The servers are always pleasant. I'll be back before winter for sure!

Food: The food was good overall. Service: The service was okay, but our server didn't really check in on us after taking our order. Ambience: The ambience was great and made the experience enjoyable. Additional note: The only downside was when I seated by the bathroom, which took away from the experience a bit.

I've supported Light Rail Café for over two years. I've brought friends here, eaten here, worked from here, and encouraged others to check it out. I believed it to be a community space. What I witnessed recently changed that permanently. I was speaking with a Black woman at the bar, someone who was there for the first time. The owner walked past her and grabbed her body without her consent. It was direct, intentional, and done casually, like it was normal behavior. The woman looked shocked and uncomfortable. I asked her quietly if they knew each other or if they came together. She said no! she had never met him before that moment. The look on her face was a mix of violation, confusion, and disbelief. No one should experience that in any space, let alone one calling itself a neighborhood spot. I pulled the owner aside privately to address what I saw, calmly, man to man. Instead of listening or acknowledging harm, he dismissed it completely. No accountability. No awareness. Just defensiveness. In that moment, it became crystal clear: * Women are not safe here, especially Black women. * The power dynamics in this space are being abused. * The behavior is not seen as a problem by the person in charge. I can no longer support or recommend Light Rail Café, and I say that as someone who truly tried to pour into this place. A good vibe and decent food mean nothing if the environment enables violation and shrugs at harm. Community spaces should be safe for the community. This one is not. Go elsewhere! Note: The owner replied publicly on Google denying everything and quoting MLK instead of addressing the issue. That response is viewable on Google for transparency.

Another hidden gem and happy i finally made my way here. Happy hour until 6, EVERYDAY, including weekends. they have a few apps about $5 to $7. beers as cheap as $3, drinks as cheap as $5 and shot specials. such a great deal! really good service. friendly staff. downstairs got packed on a sunday afternoon. music was blasting and the game was on every tv. food was pretty close to perfect, looking forward to coming back. everything was house made and very modestly priced. parmesean fries were perfect. double fried. plenty of cheese. decent serving too. my date grabbed the HOUSEMADE chicken fingers. i think there were about 4 or 5 long chicken fingers. nice batter. good flavor. we both loved them. sriracha honey wings came on the happy hour with 6 for $5. they were good, but the sriracha barely came through. i love the crunchy outside of the wings, they hit the spot. fried califlower bites really grew on me. they are also on the happy hour. lightly battered and came with ranch & thai chilli sauce. would get these again for sure. topped this feast off with the fried oreos. these were so heavy, i had to tap out. theyre huge, and covered in a batter. they come with 6? also have 2 dipping sauces and white powder. they're really good and a must get.

Light rail cafe is a vibrant neighborhood bar and restaurant in the jersey city community!! Happy Hour specials are good! Prices are good compared to other local spots. It gets very crowded with the after work crowd. Theres additional seating upstairs and outside when the weather is nice. Try the wings and flatbread pizza ! Very tasty!

Great coffee and even better staff. Relaxed and large but comfortable space to work or meet in.

Ordered the Rasta pasta & Fries Oreos both were such a bust. I also tried delivery for the fish & veggies instead of fries. They didn't separate the side dish so guess what my fried fish was soaking wet so no longer fried. I was so upset. That's restaurant 102 don't pack wet & dry items together! Wth I officially won't be returning & definitely don't recommend delivery.

I've been here multiple times. The ambiance is nice, urban and the music always good. The food is fresh and fast. The drinks are tasty!

Delicious food, boozy cocktails and a lively atmosphere. It's a great addition to a restaurant barren area of town. They have great brunch and lunch, where the atmosphere is quiet and good for light reading. They're also great after work where you can mingle amongst the crowd and enjoy a delicious drink. Bartenders are always nice as well.

Giovanna was very pleasant and helpful : ). I jumped off the light rail for a quick bite

My experience at Light Rail Cafe was great as usual. Jupiter made me a wonderful Berry Smash. The shrimp alfredo was phenomenal. And it doesn't hurt that Jupiter is beautiful!!! The service was amazing. Definitely will be returning.

My sister and I got takeout from light rail on a Thursday evening. The order and pick ip process was fairly smooth. We only had to wait about 5 min. I ordered a chicken Caesar salad with garlic parm fries. I basically licked the bowl clean haha. It was a very solid Caesar salad. The fries were still fairly crispy and warm given the transportation. My sister got a penne pasta with chicken. She was a bit disappointed because the chicken was breaded instead of grilled which is not what was offered in the past. She also ordered extra mozzarella on one of the pasta dishes but they did not provide the extra cheese. However we were both satisfied with our food and would order again...double checking that the order is correct.

Good food and great atmosphere. Loved the fried calamari and large entrees. The mocktails were fabulous. Can't wait to go back.

Alright guys. Never get the pasta, no sauce and it's mixed in after which makes the flavor ass. Get burger drinks and fries that's where the sauce is. Greiii greiii

My dad has talked about this spot for a while now so i'm glad we finally were able to go! Parking is a bit tight as they have street parking but if you get there early enough you'll find a spot. Light Rail Cafe definetly gets packed! We arrived around 6pm and was immediately seated outside. Since it was a hot day we wanted to sit inside but it was already packed. It is a small cafe with a couple of tables and seats at the bar but they're currently building a rooftop which is cool. The menu had so much to choose from and for affordable prices too! I ordered the salmon alfredo which came with a peice of garlic bread and it was so good! My sister and I ordered the cauliflower bites to share. They were nice and hot fresh out the fryer too. They serve the bites with a sweet chili sauce and ranch. They were good, more batter than cauliflower but still good. My sister and dad ordered th red sangria and boyyyyy was it perfect; the right amount of fruitiness and liquor. I recommend it 100%. Fried Oreos were good too! Waitresses were attentive and friendly. They also played a lot of hip hop and r&b which I loved. I also saw someone bring their own hookah and smoked it at a table outside. The vibes were there for sure can't wait to come back!

The service has fell off a little. But definitely go for happy hour and they did renovations. Locals favorite. The wings and burgers are delish

Friendly bar staff & environment! Very clean looks as if it just opened! It was crowded but everyone had a seat. Outside seating was available but it is winter in the north east so I opted to sit at a high top. Margaritas were on point!

Local neighborhood spot if you're looking for some autAmbiance is full of vibes, drinks worth the price. Never a dull moment !

Came here with a group of friends. The server was super friendly and even put on a little show. For food.i got the lemon pepper tilapia which was good.

Ordered on Uber Eats and it was decent until I felt something hard and sharp in my mouth. It was a staple in my food. Im literally grossed out. How does a staple get into someone's food?

I would suggest anyone reviewing this place, understand it's setting and vibe before doing so.. This is a small, casual place, that offers good food and drinks at a reasonable price.. They are not "Fancy", so don't expect that.. We were 8 people in total and showed up without reservation since it was unplanned, and we were all just hungry, after a long and tiring evening, and this was the only place nearby with a good rating.. It was 1st time for all us.. Place was packed with barely any room but they got us seated right away by opening up the upper level.. Service was a little slow, but that was expected with the crowd, and the fact that we were seated separately from the rest of tables.. There was no complaints on the Taste or Quantity of the Food, especially for the price.. There was mix up with the getting separate checks, but again, it was understandable and they were quite apologetic about it..

This place is great for brunch and happy hour starts at 11am. Has a full size bar and spacious seating... plus those raspberry wings are to die for #FINGERLICKINGGOOD

My soror and I got together for brunch and to catch up. It's first come first serve so no reservations. When I arrived I parked on the street nearby. I walked into a small, cute restaurant. I found seats by the bar. Our bartender was Jermaine and he was cool. They had $3 mimosas so I started with that. For my entrée I got the grilled catfish with yellow rice and spinach. My friend ordered the seafood combo with penne. When everything came out it looked great. I dug in and the catfish was good. The rice and spinach were a little salty though. My friend enjoyed her meal. Gratuity was included and it only was about $25 a piece. All in all we had a good experience.

Cool spot. Drinks, food, might catch some good music. Service is decent. Would pop in again

This is a great brunch spot with great prices, great service and delicious food. Me and my fiance have come here twice and everything has been quite consistent. The parking situation is pretty decent also. The first time we order Waffle brunch and the Chicken Sandwich. The second time he ordered the same sandwich and I order the Rasta Pasta with chicken. Everything was delicious. This is definitely going to be our new spot.

Always heard about this place thru word of mouth first time actually stopping in. Place was nice and cozy, service was on point and food was also on point. Will definitely give it that 5th star hotel once you get that Apple Pay up and running. It's 2024 that's borderline the standard hope to be back soon

I stopped by Light Rail Cafe to enjoy some dinner and drinks with my family and overall, I enjoyed my time there! When we arrived, it was pretty packed but that's expected on a Thursday night. We were immediately sat outside and our waitress was very friendly and welcoming. Our waitress was also very attentive and came by with a pitcher of water, plates and utensils to ensure we had everything we needed. To start off, we ordered a pitcher of Red Sangria and Cauliflower Bites. The cauliflower bites arrived fresh out the fryer and were served with a Sweet Chili sauce and Ranch. They were perfectly battered and paired very well with the sauces. A delicious starter that I would rate 4/5. The Red Sangria was also a great choice because it was fruity and strong. I definitely felt it by the end of my meal and rate it a 4/5, as well! For my meal, I went with the LRC Black Bean Burger (black bean pattie, spring mix, tomatoes and raw onions on a toasted brioche bun) with a side of garlic Parmesan fries. The burger was decent and the pattie was reminiscent of the Gardein black bean burger. The garlic parmesan fries were delicious and crispy, so they were a nice addition. I rate the burger a 2.5/5 and the fries a 4/5. Lastly, our waitress suggested ordering the Fried Oreos for dessert so we went with that. They came out hot, covered in powder sugar and chocolate & caramel sauce. These were better than the ones you find at the fair, so I rate them a 4/5. Perfectly fluffy and soft on the inside with a nice crisp outside. The perfect dessert to wrap up the night! Overall, I enjoyed my time at Light Rail Cafe and would certainly stop by again for some drinks and apps!

Another hidden gem in Jersey City off the known path. A few blocks fellow Cummunipaw. Good food, good ambience, great service. Stopped in for Sat brunch with my wife & was pleasantly surprised by the location. Place was almost at capacity, mixed crowd but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves & the food. The woman seated behind me recommended the LRC Cajun Chicken Sandwich which was delicious with garlic Parmesan Fries. Food was fresh, light and not oily. The cauliflower bites weren't great given all the restaurants I have tried but definitely above average but serving was small in my opinion. Service was great & given the crowd, the food came out fairly quickly & was all round delicious. Will definitely visit this place again. Only slight downside was noise level as place had no sound diffusion or sound absorbers. Not exactly 5 star but definitely not 4 either so I will rate in the most positive and the prices are also great.

I stopped by on a Saturday evening with one of my friends. I have a soft spot for black owned businesses so I was really looking forward to visiting here. The surrounding area is a bit rough, the restaurant it self was smaller than I expected, but we were seated right away. The music was good. It was R&B music mostly. They had an extensive drink menu. Their drinks were STRONG and TASTY! They had happy hour at the time we were there (yes happy hour on the weekend!!) I had a chicken wrap and calamari and my friend had a cheeseburger and fries. Everything tasted good. This is a great spot to catch up with friends, get a great bite and get a bit tipsy! I recommend.

Stopped by with a group of friends and still wasn't impressed with this restaurant. I had the Rasta pasta again and this time, it was way too spicy. I would however, recommend this place for happy hour! The bartenders and waiters are awesome! Our waiter did magic tricks and was soo attentive.

It's an ok place, never a first option. Drinks are extremely over priced e.g. 2 shots of cognac and a whiskey on the rocks - $43. You need to pay attention to your bill here. The staff are all very chill and cool. Food is decent.

CONS 1. Oxtails Stew is Puerto Rican/Dominican Style at a Hefty Price of $20.00 without Taxes. Perhaps, if it was an American Soul Food Style then it would be WORTH the Price. 2. Fried Cat Fish was Huge yet needs more Flavor. 3. Fried Plain Chicken Wings needed Basic Seasoning, Salt and Black Pepper or White Pepper. 4. Mama's Mac n Cheese is NOT American Soul Food Style with an Egg mixed in. PROS 1. Jersey City Sweet Tea Cocktail is Deliciously Strong. 2. Yellow Rice is Flavorful and Fluffy. 3. Cheeseburger is Hearty. 4. Steam Broccoli is Cooked Well. 5. Outdoor Dining Seating is available. 6. Friendly Staff.

Whoever the lady that is working on the online deliveries doesn't know the hell she's doing .. So i did an uber eats, ordered item. And waited for so long. Delivery drivers changed 3 times due to the long wait because of the delay in the restaurant. After hour and half me trying to call the restaurant and no one is picking up. They just picked 5 mins before closing saying ohh we canceled the order cause we don't have this item available. On uber eats it says it's not cancelled and they keep delaying for the estimated arrival. Not worried about how can i get my money back cause this is an easy thing to do on the app. But really that's one of my worst experiences ever

Hey man what y'all put in those lemon drops I was crying for my momma 10/10 these drinks no joke .

Great drinks. The cauliflower us delish bits a small place but it has great friendly vibes. Good staff. Clean. Veggie burger was nice too. Outdoor seating.

It is awesome to see a Black owned venue thrive in a challenging neighborhood. I went on a Friday night and it was bustling with a good crowd good music and fun DJ. It was busy busy busy, without being disrespectful to the residents in the area. The music was not spilling over on the street at terrible volume. If you were to live by the venue you could easily go to sleep with the windows closed. No drunken fights, no sketchy individuals: just fun and happiness. So the ambience is very nice with great outdoor seating. The drinks are delicious, strong but without the overwhelming bitter taste of alcohol. Happy buzz ensues after each sip of their delish and reasonably priced cocktails. Do try the mango mojito. The menu features traditional comfort dishes with one step up. Chicken and waffles are a win at brunch. A picker upper after a week slaving away at the office. The whipped coffee is a treat. Don't miss out the Cajun dirty rice. My all time favorite is the fried catfish sandwich; it comes with homemade French fries that are delightfully crispy. The food has been consistently good. I often order for pick up and they never messed up an order. I walk in, pick up, and go home.

4.5/5 I order from here quite often and have always appreciated their fresh, tasty and quick food. Their wings are definitely a contender in the Top 3 wings conversation in Jersey City. The portion sizes area beyond fair and I'm continuously surprised at how hot my food is when it arrives. This place has become both a craving and a last min go to for my type of comfort food. A little upset with the burnt bacon I received on my Mac and cheese order the last time (also my first time ordering extras in it) but that won't make me stop drooling over this gem of a spot.

We ordered the Rasta Pasta tonight. It was bland and flavorless. The shrimp taste boiled instead of grilled. You can see the peppers but there was no spices as Rasta Pasta should have. I was surprised because The food is normally good at this spot but not tonight. I won't be ordering from here again. This was the worse Rasta Pasta I ever had.

Great burgers. Good friendly service. We ate outside on their small patio. My daughter really liked the cheesesteak sandwich.

I have recently moved to the neighborhood, Bergen Lafayette, and while exploring around on foot, I ended up at The Light Rail Cafe on Randolph Ave. we were warmly greeted by Clara, the manager there, and Mello, one of the bartenders. my boyfriend was with me, and we immediately looked at each other and said "we will be coming here a lot!" the food is delicious, everything we have ordered has been amazing. The drinks are amazing, the price is perfect. The vibe, the service... Everything about this place is a 10 out of 10.

This is based just on my one time doing take out 3 hours ago. BRUH. Chili bean burger is FIRE. Cajun fries are FIRE. And the happy hour from 7 PM to midnight looks like FIRE. I'M GOING TO FIND OUT. Despite being a ten-minute walk from me, I'm down to go to a bar and leave my well-stocked liquor cabinet on the bench. This veggie burger was amazing...I walked in and there were 4 people in there at 3:45 PM on a Tuesday. Makes sense. Next time I go, I might give it another star or take it away. WE WILL SEE. WE. WILL. SEE. #CAPSLOCK4LIFE

Amazing spot ! I love when the staff show personality ! The staff was super pleasant and the food was delicious. I ordered a BLT and teriyaki wings With fries. The teriyaki flavor was phenomenal, & my favorite part about this brunch was the sandwich and the low priced beers.

Light Rail Cafe is definitely a hidden gem! The food and drinks are so good. They have happy hour every day from 11-7pm! And have night weekday specials. The food is die for! The head chef Leo is amazing and is always cooking up a lunch special for the week. The sangrias are their speciality and it's definitely a must have! The cafe is literally a block away from Garfield ave station.

Pleasant little neighborhood spot. Food is decent - we had a burger, salmon entree, and penne with vodka sauce and all were pretty good, but portion sizes for takeout were on the small side. The corn and shrimp chowder was really good. I know the cafe is owned by a local city councilman and I respect his service to the community. I will say that when picking up a to-go order during the pandemic, the mask rules seemed not to be enforced. There is a sign on the door clearly saying that masks were required inside. There were two customers, men in their late-20s to mid-30s who had their masks down and were leaning on the counter near the counter staffer. This made me feel unsafe for future orders. If the restaurant has a clear policy, please make sure that it is enforced consistently in order to protect your staff and customers. We want to enjoy your food and to feel safe. Thank you.

One block down from the actual light rail subway, the light rail cafe has a family friendly neighborhood atmosphere and the food is always on point! Had the fish sliders and fries which were extremely delicious and filling! Will be back and would refer my friends there!

My co-workers orders from Light Rail almost daily. Every item they have ordered and eaten - "nothing but amazing". I don't usually order in for lunch but I finally caved in and gave their grilled tilapia sandwich with sweet potato fries a try as an early birthday treat. We were able to call in our orders and had them ready by the time we arrived to dine in. My grilled tilapia sandwich honestly was nothing but amazing! Flaky, smokey, well seasoned tilapia filet sandwiched between two buttery, thick, brioche toasts - every bite was a little taste of heaven! The sweet potato fries were well worth the upgrade - crispy and not one bit greasy. Complimented my tilapia sandwich so so well! My waistline is in trouble now since I know this hidden gem is just around the corner. It's going to take a lot of determinations to stop myself from ordering tilapia sandwich and fries daily!

Strong drinks and catfish sandwich was delicious !!! Inexpensive went to an event upstairs and we were allowed to use our own Bluetooth speaker every accommodating and good service.

The food was great. We had the Thai chili wings and the shrimp fettuccine Alfredo. It took a while for our order, but they made up for it with comp drinks. I would recommend for a local spot with good food.

This is a great hidden gem just between the boarders of Jersey City and Bayonne. Lots of drink options and specials daily. Their wings are so good and not too bad a price either. Fries are very good! Unfortunately they are very cheap on the portions for the fries. I also had the nachos one time... I recommend skipping those too. The drinks specials are definitely a plus! After a certain time on the weekends, the kitchen is open but they only do fried foods, (no nachos). Maybe another time I'll give it another shot. Look for my posted photo of the fries... Might as well make a special trip to McDonalds for my frenchies!

Very happy with my visit! 10/10 service, food, and vibes :) Great start to my weekend in New Jersey Plus it's black-owned so I'm glad to support.