The Brightside Tavern

Went there on a Monday night to meet some people and was extremely happy we did. It was JAZZ NIGHT, and we were seated immediately. Our friends showed up, and we ordered drinks, appetizers, and various meals and drinks. The band tonight was OUTSTANDING. At one point, there were 10 musicians playing, and it all fit together. We met the owner, Tommy, who made us feel like old friends. The Brightside Tavern is a real gem, and if you're looking for a night out, lunch, or Sunday brunch, this is the place to go.

The food was bad and overcooked and reheated. The owner came up to our table and told us how the food wasn't going to be free even though we said we would pay. He was rude about and walked away when we said we just wanted the bill.

Everything here was delicious and the atmosphere inside was fun and welcoming. The service was great and we would definitely return.

I really enjoyed the food, I happened to step into here after i just got done buying an camera from someone local. Also they was hosting an graduation party at the time, so I thought that was sweet and congratulations on the next chapter of your life

Loved it!!! Walked in to be greeted by a friendly bartender who made us feel at home. Tommy 2 scoops (owner) greeted us warmly. My steak fajitas were the best I had in forever. The salad, pasta and blackened salmon were amazing according to my family. I wished I lived closer to come see the entertainment but definitely will be back!

I stopped by this tavern with my brother, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. We're big supporters of mom-and-pop spots and have been exploring restaurants and speakeasies together since the early '90s. The vibe was promising: friendly staff, live music in the next room, and a lively crowd. We sat at the bar, a spot we usually trust for attentive service. Our waitress was kind, but also eating at the bar while working. That raised some concerns—not just because she was multitasking, but because we saw her transition between eating and handling plates without washing her hands. It’s a small but important detail that affects guest comfort and food safety. We started with wings and pork sliders while browsing the menu. My brother had a beer on tap that was unfortunately lukewarm. The wings had an odd, stale flavor with barely any sauce, and both dishes were dry. The sliders were passable but lacked punch. There was no check-in after the food arrived, which was disappointing—it’s standard at most places to check in after a few bites. Despite the underwhelming appetizers, I ordered more—hoping for improvement. I got food to go for my family and ordered a lamb burger (medium rare) to stay. It arrived well done and dry, without the extra aioli I had requested. Instead of the rich, flavorful lamb burger I remembered from Mercer Kitchen in Soho, it felt more like a flavorless gyro. My family, usually open to trying anything, didn’t touch the wings or the sampler due to the lack of flavor. Nobody followed up, and it felt like we weren’t being heard. My brother lost his appetite entirely. I politely asked for the check, left a 20% tip out of respect for the staff, said thank you, and left. I’ve driven hours outside of the city for good food, and I genuinely wanted this place to be a hidden gem. Sadly, even if this tavern were next door during a zombie apocalypse, I wouldn’t return. I hope management sees this review and takes steps to improve food quality, enforce handwashing between tasks, check on meals after they're served, and ensure beer taps are cold before the shift. I wish them the best.

If you’re looking for a place to HOST or CATER your special event - Tommy is a GO TO MUST! After attending an event catered by Brightside I convinced my husband we HAD to book them for our wedding! The food is absolutely delicious. The staff goes above & beyond. Their restaurant space is beautiful, accessible & clean! It can be so hard to find businesses that are RELIABLE, friendly, affordable & efficient - Tommy & his staff go above & beyond to say the least! Our family was welcomed with so much love & joy. We can’t wait to continue the relationship! Highly recommend some of our faves: penne vodka, eggplant parm & their classic rolls are a BIG HIT with the kiddos! Love love love can’t say enough great things! This is a business that treats their customers like family. It’s no wonder they do such great things in & around their community. God bless this business!

Seems like a really cool place to be a regular at but don’t you dare think about trying it for the first time! My friend and I were trying it out for the first time and we ended up being actively ignored by the bartenders when trying to order drinks and food. The staff just kept hanging out and sitting down at tables so they could talk with the regulars. We ended up leaving after 20 minutes of being ignored. I want to support local businesses, but hey, they seem content with the customers they already have and aren’t looking for any more it seems.

Very cute place! Love the vibe. The bartenders were great and Tommy, the owner was so friendly and personable. We had so much to eat! The food was delicious. I am planning a party there so I will be sure to review the catering. I can't wait to go back for karaoke! This is the kind of local place I would go to often!

Best place for brunch!!!! I always enjoy my time at Brightside and i finally made it back to brunch after a few years! They open at 9:30 and the Brunch menu is extensive and the food is delicious!!! Try the Mimosas!!!

Servers are almost always super friendly. The owner two scoops Tommy is in often and loves to make friends either everyone. Food is awesome bar food. Extensive brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. If you come in the morning you get free muffins. Combo of old school and dive--y vibes inside. Party room upstairs with games.

Brightside is the best local bar for casual food in the area. Their crab cake sliders are a winner every time. Also such friendly service. Great staff and Tommy always knows how to make you feel welcomed.

Had my surprise birthday party here and also rented a room for my sister bridal shower. They have the most amazing food!!! The pasta I had was amazing, the food breakfast service was amazing. The owner is the sweetest man ever and just everyone there are so helpful and so sweet. Can't wait to go there for date night

The food, staff and ambiance were great! Huge fan of all the breakfast items we tried! Also loved the drinks as well! But the best part was meeting the owner, Tom "Tommy 2 Scoops"! An amazing person whose connection to the community is one to strive for!

I highly recommend this location for a casual brunch or bar to watch the game. If you're looking for a place to host a party, this place is for you. It's convenient and affordable and two party room options. Flexible owner, hostesses, & tech ppl on site. Food and drinks are really good as well. Street parking which can be tricky some days but didn't cause any issues for us.

All good. Tommy's place has the vibe the service, the music. All bases covered.Monday nights is a jazz open mic with some good players showing up. It's nice that they have a baby grand there.

I stopped by The Brightside Tavern, 141 Bright Street, Jersey City, NJ, around 10:30 a.m. today to have breakfast. A busy morning today, so I decided to stop in early. Wow, I had the most amazing Poached Eggs Florentine over English Muffin breakfast. It was healthful and tasty. The spinach was so fresh and flavorful. I had an iced coffee with it. Server Mina was personable and efficient. I can tell she is a big addition to the Brightside Tavern team by her personality alone. I give this tavern / eatery the highest possible rating.

Todays visit was spontaneous. Brightside is great got your usual bar food. The staff is extremely pleasant and you can almost always expect chill vibes. I love salmon and gave the wrap a try. I was underwhelmed. The taste of the mixed greens took over the wrap. The salmon wasn't well seasoned. The avocado added a nice touch but could've been fitted from a nice or more seasoned piece of salmon. I wouldn't order this particular item again. The sweet potato fries were great! Until next time.

you can sing karaoke,listen to local musicians on jazz night there is a private room available for private events this place is great !

They have a nice room off to the side with a nice ambiance. A few tvs with fireplaces on screen and brick walls give the place a warm & cozy charm. The servers were polite and responsive. The owner, Tommy was there and is so friendly and outgoing, getting to know we newbies as we came in. He made us feel at home right away. The food is your typical bar fare, but a bit higher end. The menu is expansive and not expensive. We came on a Monday evening when they had live jazz music. The professionals were fantastic and we enjoyed every single time they played. There were three players to start, but as the night progressed, more musicians joined in. So entertaining! Parking on the street was easy and well lit, an important thing to consider in Jersey City. Our server was great, very attentive and making sure we were kept satisfied throughout the night. Overall a great night out for not a lot of money.

The food was as usual AMAZING to say the least!!!!!!! The vibe for brunch was low key and super peaceful. We got to interact with the Notoriously gracious owner "Tommy 2 Scoops" and even watch the recording of him perform at the Apollo Theater when Steve Harvey was the host. We have a cozy corner and the staff was super friendly and attentive. This is definitely a Diamond on the rough. The portions are huge too! It's a great value for the money. We're excitedly anticipating our return.

Delivery order review: Pizza is good, not great. Better options out there for the price. Also ordered fried pickles, I understand that they are not going to be super crunchy when you order them for delivery but they were completely soggy and little to no flour on them at all to be fried. Customer service also wasn't great. I asked for a refund about the pickles and they told me "that's how they make them" so that's not so great either. Recommend another place based on the delivery aspect.

Wonderful breakfast this morning. The complimentary homemade muffins were a great way to start your meal while waiting for the made to order food be prepared. The portions were large and the prices small. Friendly staff, who went above and beyond to make sure our needs were met. We had a nice table in the window. I highly recommend to anyone looking for brunch in the downtown Jersey City area.

Came here for brunch at ~9:30 on a Tuesday and the staff had just got in but were super nice and sat us down and started breakfast :) The portions are HUGE.

Went in for some shots and drinks while waiting for our table to be ready for the Hot Pot nearby! The owner/manager was really friendly and gave us free fries! Also took our pic, and sent it to some app that displayed on the large screens in the bar. May have also given the free fries because we spent a lot on shots!

I love this place, Went a few times this week while visiting the area. They have something going on nearly everyday here, the staff is amazing and kind and the prices are very reasonable. Highly recommend this place on a weekday after noon or night.

I've been here 6 or 7 times. Service - just abysmal. There's an older regular who goes around harassing women. He recited a dirty poem to me once when I was on a date ordering drinks at the bar, and my date was concerned enough to come over and check on me. The owner (I think his name is Tommy?) is usually there and introduces himself to everybody, and I told him previously about that guy harassing me, and the owner LAUGHED. It wasn't funny. It also takes a few minutes to get servers' attention even when it doesn't seem very busy in there. Food - pretty regular/below average greasy bar food and drinks, and takes longer than it should just to get some tater tots. The prices are reasonable, relatively. Ambiance - generally a friendly local crowd but them letting that guy harass me on two separate occasions ruined it. He interrupted me to comment on my VAGINA, I'm dead serious. I was wearing pants and a sweater so I'm not sure why he was making assumptions about my covered-up genitals. It's truly disgusting and shameful that this bar still lets him in, any decent bar with a halfway decent owner would have permanently banned him by now. I thought this could be my friendly neighborhood spot but it's not okay that they condone that kind of behavior and think it's funny and harmless. This place is friendly to pervs and harassers.

I had a great time here with my bf. I went here for the Thursday night jazz performance plus the comedy show, which was excellent. The jazz show is very professional and amazing. The comedy show was hilarious, and is pulling its weight for the price, if not better than some of the shows j have heard in Ny. The owner is also very friendly, and very passionate about the locals having a good time. The appetizers were also quite nice, can't go wrong with some chicken wings and onion rings. In all, it was a very convivial experience. Glad to support local business. If we have free time, we are likely to go again.

This is my friends neighborhood bar. I really enjoyed how personal and friendly they were fir the exception of one blonde bar tender. Unfortunately she never greeted us and served the other guest before making her to us to see if we were being helped. I really fell in love with Buffalo wings and the blue cheese sauce. This was my second time eating there and things keep getting better. I definitely recommend this bar for game day or just to pre game. They have big tvs and clean restrooms. The service was great except for the blond bar tender but even her her lack of customer service wouldn't stop me from coming back

I've been here many of times as it's part of the Downtown Jersey City bar scene. The Brightside Tavern is run by Tommy so if you see him around the bar say hi! If you like comedy shows, they host them often just check out their Instagram for more information. They also host karaoke. You can sing upstairs or downstairs in their main room. It is the karaoke where you search up the song on YouTube and follow along. Upstairs is more intimate where you can have your own space. I love their food options, never had any problems. This place is always a good time!

This place was top notch. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was beautiful and the service was fantastic. The owner was there and very nice and friendly. We enjoyed everything about the experience and would highly r

Friendly service, delicious food, and an ever-changing atmosphere. A little bit of something for everyone. Jazz night on Mondays is pretty cool karaoke a lot of fun. Sports bar and a laid-back cheers kind of atmosphere.

Needed some dinner while visiting the hospital nearby - found this place on Yelp. Nice, friendly bar / restaurant. Had the chicken Marsala and it was just like my wife makes it! Have to mention the mashed potatoes. It's my favorite food, and these were the best restaurant mashed potatoes I've had. The chef knows what he's doing! They had about 6 of 8 draft beers. It's a good place to get a home cooked meal in the city.

A very special place for jaz music lovers Every Monday night , it has also nice and rich menu. With a good service! . Tommy the host, is a very special person.

Came here for the first time - and I promise you ....it'll definitely be my last I do not, I repeat, I do not return food but man .... I ordered a classic steak and eggs (ordered steak medium rare -because you should- and eggs scrambled) everything came out overdone and tasteless I also ordered fried cauliflower and broccoli as an app. The first cauliflower and broccoli app came out cold snd then when I asked for a replacement , that came out burnt. I rarely have to add salt and pepper to meals, and this one I had to douse to even get it on the mediocre side Returned Apart of my meal deal, I was entitled to three mimosas. The bartender, although cute, kept giving me bellinis until she remembered I initially ordered mimosas. She only bought the drinks when I asked, even when my glass was sitting empty for a long period of time Will not return Yuck Walked to life pancake company a few blocks down They saved the day!

Pretty bartender...attentive staff...friendly atmosphere...it's a neighborhood bar with good fries! I had the Texas burger on Texas toast and it was tasty. If you're in JC go there!

Great neighborhood staple I had my 30th bday and my engagement party here as well as many brunches bdays etc

O OThe food was good. The service was good even though a server called in sick and they were short staffed. The owner came buy and chatted.

Just literally walked out of your establishment I sat on the bar and not one your female bar attendant acknowledge me. One heavy set girl started rinsing used glassware rather than asking if I wanted anything to drink nor offer a menu. Sat there for 3 minutes but bot female was just to effing busy chatting away. I thought why not come back after years not being here. Sadly to say NEVER EVER AGAIN

In the ten years that we have been frequenting Brightside, it has only gotten better. Good food and an excellent selection of draft beers and mixed drinks. Love the Buffalo Chicken pizza. Wonderful staff. Friendly and varied crowd. A neighborhood gem.

I went for their Sunday brunch and being that it was my first time here, I didn't know what to expect. Came in and was greeted by some of the nicest staff in jersey! It feels like a family in there where locals can chat and the staff remembers your name. Do yourself a favor and order the French toast platter and the loaded Bloody Mary. French toast was the best in jersey city! The owner also came around and greeted all the guests while we ate. The ambiance is very jazzy and great for having conversation while enjoying some delicious food. I had no complaints other than I wish I came sooner.

My first time there after a JC Medical Center Dr visit.. I came in for 1 or 2 drinks and ended up staying over 4 hours lol. The owner Tommy? was friendly and talked to me as if we knew each other for years. It is the Jersey City CHEERS BAR..just don't come in acting stupid,, loud, and not taking care $$ of bartenders, FOOD is very good, I did a take out Pasta, chicken, shrimp, sausage..so good I saved and ate for breakfast..

PROS 1. Friendly staff. Especially, Bartender Mamina. She is consistently Professional and Friendly. 2. Owner Tommy is a Great Hands on Leader. 3. Garlic Shrimp Pizza is Flavorful. 4. Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich is Good. 5. Shrimp Crostini is Flavorful. 6. Blackened Salmon and Garlic Linguini is Flavorful and Hearty. 7. Blackened Shrimp and Garlic Linguini is Flavorful and Hearty. 8. Shrimp Crostini and Linguini is SUPER Flavorful and Hearty. 8. Cajun Trio Penne Pasta is SUPER Flavorful and Hearty. 9. Chicken Marsala is Flavorful. 10. Brownie is Good. 11. Bread Pudding is Good. 12. Double Cheeseburger is Slamming and Flavorful. I smothered some Chipotle Sauce and it kicked it up a notch! 13. Sautéed Spinach is Deliciously Healthy! CONS 1. The Fried Jumbo Shrimp in the Shrimp Cocktail needs more Flavor.

Best vegan breakfast! Lovely ambience. Been twice. Ordered ToGo 3 times. Food is consistent. Coffee is lovely. They have real maple syrup.

Though I've lived in JC for several years, I only recently tried the food at Brightside. I live closer to several similar spots, but after eating at Brightside I would definitely plan to return. For 'bar food' everything we had was exceptional. We stopped in for brunch and most tables were filled or being held for reservations. Luckily, there is a huge bar in the center of the dining room with tons of seating around it. The bar top is large and has plenty of space for dining, so this wasn't an issue at all. Menu options are plentiful. At bruch you can order off the standard menu, or a special brunch entree menu that includes a choice of bloodies or mimosas. I went with a chicken quesadilla. The portion was large and there was lots of fresh pico de gallo. My in-laws both really enjoyed their wrap and burger. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. The owner even came over to introduce himself and check in. There are lots of reasons to return. Solid food and bevvies is definitely one of them, but a charming divey atmosphere and nightly happenings like karaoke and jazz will also have me coming back.

I have the best time everytime I go! The food and drinks are on point. I love the diversity, within open mic nights and karaoke nights

Atmosphere, service & food was outstanding! It was our first time there, but felt welcomed & comfortable right away. The owner helped us find a seat in the bar area. Lots of football games to watch at the time. We tried the fried pickles, cheese pizza, Moroccan lamb burger & a chicken wrap. Everything was delicious! It was an excellent experience. I highly recommend it!

Hung out at Liberty state park and my friend who lives nearby suggested this spot. The drinks were good but the bar food exceeded my expectations! We ordered lamb sliders that were amazing. We also enjoyed truffle fries and wings. S.O to the bartender Mamina! Thanks

This is a terrible restaurant. Their food is bad and their entertainment is bad as well. The owner is bad and the wait staff is horrible. Don't don't Go there. Avoid this place.

ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT!!! Let me start off with the CORNBREAD they give you when you're seated!! SO GOOD!!! Everyone was very pleasant and accommodating! Service was very fast and THE FOOD...AMAZING!! I got the 'Build your own omelette' with goat cheese and all their veggies. It came with a choice of home fries, French fries, or side salad. I choose the home fries! Usually I have to request grilled onions in mine, I forgot to this time and would you believe IT CAME WITH GRILLED ONIONS AND GRILLED PEPPERS. SO PLEASED AND HAPPY! I had a mimosa with my brunch. Again...VERY GOOD! I am all around pleased with my experience!!! I would definitely return when I'm back in the area and most certainly recommend it to anyone in the area.

Ordered a meal and a bottle of wine to watch the game. The waitress put the game on the big screen on for the owner to come along mid game and turn To Christmas videos. I asked him if he could turn the game back on as I was watching it and he suggested I move my seat in order to view the game on the big screen behind me. Very rude. This was my first and last visit! Very disappointed. The waitress was even embarrassed!!

Tried for the first time today. Poor service and unknowledgeable of menu or drinks. Mediocre food and watered down drinks. Waiter waited to after receiving check that they could only take cash. Had to walk blocks to find an atm. Would not go back.

This review is based on a takeout order. One word. Awful. !!! The reviews for breakfast / brunch seem promising but didn't see much about the rest of the food, decided to give it a try anyway since I'm tired of ordering from the same places. Chicken soup - $8 for a small container of broth and onions (with a bit of chicken carrots and celery) seriously it was all onions I don't know if this was a one off thing or it's how they make their soup but it was not good. When I order "hearty chicken soup" I'm expecting such, especially if it's $8 for a small cup. Chicken Marsala - asked for it over penne came with mashed potatoes. Way too sweet not like the typical Marsala gravy. Inedible. Pepperoni Stromboli - burnt and falling apart. Seriously how do you send that out?! Def not ordering from here again. MIGHT try brunch but everything else is a big no. The fact that they can sent clearly burnt food makes me not want to try them again.

Awful experience. Spending thanksgiving in covid isolation and wanted a nice meal. Placed my order for delivery at 7:45pm, paid for it and was kept waiting over an hour before being told it was cancelled. Now everywhere's closed. Makes me angry that a business thinks it's OK to treat customers this way.

It took nearly 30 minutes to get the attention of a waiter after being sat. The drinks took another 30 minutes to be ordered . The drinks we ordered were hot. We were patient because we understood that they were short staffed. The food was not ordered until an hour later. This was bad. I felt like I was forgotten. I had to go up the bar and ask for a coffee. The food was over cooked and dry. The food was not as ordered. We had a party of 7 and half of the party was given the food. The other half had to wait. The pancake was just batter. The eggs were brown. Everything here was a mess. I went to the owner so that he could rectify and he said I don't have time for that. That's why I'm writing this review because he didn't care about the service his business provides.

Who doesn't love this place. Service is genuinely nice, from the owner, bartenders, servers and just about everyone. The food portions are pretty sizeable and prices are on point, selection on their menu I love as well.

I recently dined here during an outdoor open mic night and it was a rather stressful experience, both during and after. All the servers had masks on which I really appreciated. The owner, however, did not have a mask on the entire time I was there and was helping to serve food since it was so busy. I found this unprofessional and unsanitary, as well as disrespectful to the servers who remained masked the entire evening. Anyone serving food or coming within less than 6 feet of patrons (which he certainly did) should be wearing a mask. I ordered the crab cake sliders with fries, and unfortunately had food poisoning for 2 days afterwards. I tried calling to let them know, but their voicemail box was full.