Box Cafe
115 Palisade Avenue, Jersey City, NJ
(26)
115 Palisade Avenue, Jersey City, NJ
(26)
We are a French influenced cafe/Restaurant owned and operated by a neighborhood husband and wife team who has been part of the community for 25 years. Homemade cooking in every bite. Our motto is live life one taste at a time. We offer catering, private parties and dine in experiences. Would be our pleasure to serve you.
26 customer reviews
Jas C.
The place is cute and cozy. The food is delicious. A hidden gem in the neighborhood. Try the egg sliders and chai.
Reviewed on Yelp
Leslie S.
Lovely lunch. Really good veggie omelet -nice options. One of the owners took our orders + told us about their live music Fridays. A nice neighborhood place including a warm vibe. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Sara G.
We came in close to closing on a Saturday for tea and a cake pop. Both were delightful, as was the service! We sat on the sofas and enjoyed the retro decor while plotting our next move. There are a few larger tables in the back that seem great for work/study. A group was enjoying brunch while we were there and sounded pleased with their food as well. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Michelle V.
I wanted to love this place because it's so close but the food is just fine, the decor is a cliche, and it's overpriced. The service is good though! Nice lady. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Jt P.
Although it says "Pets Welcome" , I was asked to sit outside in the rain with my dog because the cook had an issue with dogs inside. He then took 30 mins to make scrambled eggs... You work at a cafe in JC Heights, not a Michelin Star restaurant sir. The one star is for the lovely restaurant manager / owner who tried to make up for this with great kindness. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Jermaine L.
The brunch was terrible. My wife ordered chicken and waffles. The chicken was decent the waffles were directly from the freezer and thrown in a toaster over. The service could be worlds better. The person who was the cashier/server was nice but seemed aloof to the fact we were not happy with our meals The ambiance seems like it's very outdated even the sugar bowl that was used to for my wife's tea was old and they used a tea cup saucer as a cover. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Vladislav B.
Menu has deteriorated in choices offered. Extra charges appear on the bill for food not explicitly ordered. Trick is to add salads to the ordered dish and then charge for the salad but not name it as "salad" on the receipt, but label it as an extra fee.
Reviewed on Yelp
Jeff B.
(Dined 07/13/2023 TH @ 2:00pm): This French-style cafe in a box was a nice touch to the neighborhood! A local realtor recommended Box Cafe as a convenient place for our initial in-person meet-and-greet. This place was less than a ten-minute walk for me from my friend's place which was great and allowed me to further familiarize myself with the neighborhood. Generally speaking, I wasn't much of a cafe person, but I was usually open to eatery exploration. Would I enjoy this box meal!? PURCHASE S. Pellegrino Essenza Tangerine & Wild Strawberry Flavored Mineral Water ($3.50): A very effervescent refreshing drink with hints of tangerine and strawberry aromas and flavor. This is truly one of my favorite brands of sparkling water whenever I was in the mood. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Grilled Cheese ($12.00): Made with melted cheddar, smoked paprika, tomato, and shallot all between buttery toasted sourdough bread, this wonderful lunch sandwich was massive as amounts of cheese slowly squeezed out as I took a bite each time. The crunchy crusty crust was amazing and had so much targeted butter and burnt cheese. As simple a meal this was, it was impressive and pleasurable. yelp.com/user_local_phot… SERVICE As I opened the front door, co-owner/wife Linda was preparing a corner window round table for our party of three as she warmly greeted me. We were provided with individual menus and eventually glasses of water and a filled bottle as we decided what we wanted. She returned minutes later, took our respective orders, quickly returned with our canned drinks with glasses filled with ice, and about ten minutes later all of our food arrived. After that, we were left alone as we conducted our meeting and consumed our drinks/food. By the time we finished past their 3:00pm closing time, she had stepped out and never returned, while co-owner/husband Sean closed our bill with some quick chit-chat, and wished us a nice rest of our day - thank you! PARKING (Street Only; N/A this instance) I walked from my friend's nearby place. Otherwise, as was the case for much of "The Heights" in Jersey City, there were plenty of spots along the main drag of Palisade Ave. and all surrounding streets if you were lucky enough to find an empty spot, or you took public transportation which stopped nearby - nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A quaint boxy café (it's name!) with charming French accents, several cozy tables, a handful of paintings and floral arrangements hung about, and a counter that displayed various baked goods. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Good natural lighting came through the front windows and door while soft electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while soft music played in the background. yelp.com/user_local_phot… ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Box Cafe was a blissful find, and I definitely would like to return! My food was lovely while the salads the realtors ordered looked healthy and yummy. The drinks yelp.com/user_local_phot… and food yelp.com/user_local_phot… menus were limited but varied enough. No alcohol was served, but they allowed BYOB without any corkage fees. Their hours are breakfast through lunch with dinner only a couple days a week. The prices felt reasonable, the portions very good, and the service casual yet attentive enough. I found total value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $17.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Aisha S.
Absolutely loved the interior and menu options. Kind of gives me speakeasy vibes! The lady who took my order was very sweet and told me about they host fun events. Will be bringing a few friends to join me here! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Gaz H.
Nice guy. Perfectly nice little place. Welcoming. Does the business. What's the problem? A good neighborhood option; a good place to hide out for an hour, certainly.
Reviewed on Yelp
Dara R.
What a great hidden gem!! We moved to JC several months ago and always passed this spot by thinking it's just a cafe but it's so much more! The staff is so friendly and when we went on a Sunday morning the place was basically empty but the server was attentive and polite. We loved the furniture and seating which looks like it came from an antique shop. It creates a cozy place to enjoy coffee. We were most impressed at the full menu of eggs, French Toast and other delights that are served in a healthy portion. Everything tastes fresh and comforting. Definitely recommend trying this place on the reg and spending time appreciating the art and ambiance. A great hidden gem in the nabe!!! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Antoine L.
Delicious food. Amazing service. Awesome decor. Rarely open. Had to take a star away because the best ability is availability. The only con to this delicious food is craving it and not being able to get it because they've closed early. But that's the story of small businesses in small neighborhoods. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Rivi B.
Charming Place, special ambiance cafe with a nice variety of foods sandwiches, and salads. The house coffee is great! A nice warm inviting small neighborhood restaurant and an awesome addition to the Jersey City heights venues.
Reviewed on Yelp
Brad G.
Home of the Best burger in the jersey city heights. Everything is good (especially the super friendly owners) but the burger gets the crown.
Reviewed on Yelp
Paulo Santiago
Beautiful decor, and atmosphere, the people are friendly and a pleasure to speak to.
Reviewed on Facebook
Jean K.
Cozy setting. With occasional live performances and home made meals, warm place and good service
Reviewed on Yelp
Laura H.
What a fabulous venue!! We hosted a baby shower here and it was a huge hit with our guests. Sean provided the sandwiches and wow! ! Everyone loved them. The ambiance was just what we were looking for- casual, urban chic, so comfortable. Linda was a huge help during the whole event. The backyard space is fabulous and we were so lucky to have a day in November where we were able to use it! Inside, so many nice little places to sit with a plate of food for some conversation, so many interesting things to look at!! Very cool art, beautiful floral pieces. The day was perfect, thanks to the venue and THANKS to our wonderful hosts!! I look forward to going here for dinner sometime as the menu looks great and based on the sandwiches, it will be hard to choose what to order!! I just loved this place and so did our guests!! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Sophia G.
The Box Cafe is my (new) favorite restaurant! The food is delicious and the owners are amazing. Highly recommend
Reviewed on Yelp
Jill F.
Very cute restaurant. Ordered an egg sandwich on croissant. Very tasty. Lady who served us was very nice and quick.
Reviewed on Yelp
Mary K.
Such a cute neighborhood spot on Palisades! It was very easy to get to from southwest Hoboken which was a plus. Our friends rented the entire restaurant for a family party, so while we didn't have a traditional dining experience there - I can say that the food was delicious! The roasted carrots, corn, shrimp, and filet mignon were all incredible.When I was chatting with the owner, she mentioned their back patio would be opening soon. She gave me a sneak peak and I'm very excited to go back and check it out for a BYOB brunch or dinner! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Devashish K.
Great neighborhood Cafe and restaurant! Very friendly owners! Good inside and outside.
Reviewed on Yelp
Dana W.
This is a wonderful neighborhood spot with delicious food! The owners are very welcoming and the decor is great. Highly recommend!
Reviewed on Yelp
Katie B.
We've been wanting to try Box Cafe for a while and finally went for lunch today. This cafe is so unassuming from the outside, but when you walk in your transported to a cozy little french restaurant with adorable decor and pretty music playing through the speakers. We started with lattes, which were delicious. I had the chicken sandwich and roasted potatoes and my boyfriend has the salmon toast, both excellent. The woman working was so friendly and made the experience even nicer. We can't wait to go back soon with a bottle of wine for dinner! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Natali A.
Delicious food - we had the croque monsieur, croque madame, seasoned potatoes, iced coffee, egg and cheese croissant, cookies, creme brûlée, and French toast. It was all perfect. All of it. Run, don't walk!! High recommend. Thanks, Linda!! Can't wait to come back. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Marina C.
Can't say enough good things about this gem of a restaurant. From the decor to the friendly service, everything was perfect. The location is comfortable and cozy. The food was amazing! There wasn't anything that we didn't like. The flavors of the food are perfectly balanced and we enjoyed every single bite. Linda and Sean (the owners) are wonderful people and make you feel like you're dining at a friend's place. My family and I will definitely be coming back!! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Alex S.
Stopped in with friends for lunch recently at their recommendation. It was a very nice dining experience in cozy quarters. I had The roasted chicken breast (court bouillon roasted chicken, topped with crisp applewood bacon and arugula, finished with our shallot tarragon aioli on crispy ciabatta) with an iced black tea. There are also many bakery selections so maybe next time... More...
Reviewed on Yelp
How do you go about creating the perfect menu for your clients?
We have a consultation with our customers and talk about the specific event/occasion how many attending etc then give recommendations. We also ask about their favorite foods and develop dishes based on preference.
What do you love most about your job?
Everything this is our lifestyle to entertain and provide special moments based on food atmosphere etc. we love hosting at our cafe/restaurant or creating a menu and being part of special moments in our customers lives.
What inspired you to start your own business?
My husband the chef has been cooking for family friends etc for over 20 years and I baking for many years as well. This was a natural progression of our combined talents and love of community.
Why should our clients choose you?
They can look at what others are saying about their experience with us which we highly appreciate. We put care and attention to detail in everything we do for each and every customer. Everyone’s needs and wants are different and taking the time to listen and then create an beautiful experience with our food and design makes all the difference.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
We would consider remote based on location and event.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
We are fully vaccinated and always adhere to strict sanitation guidelines.
Catering, private parties and dine in experience.
We offer private parties in our cozy chic urban space and are a byob. We cater events as well big and small. We also do weddings with fun food stations that include a variety of upscale and finger foods.
