Service: goodAtmosphere: gorgeousFood:Note: this place is asain fusion don’t go here for authentic food go here for the mixed flavors :D- broccoli and cheddar dumplings-> at first I was like wow this is kinda good but then the more I ate the more I realized they need more flavor, would not get again- Spicy cucumber salad -> a little salty but overall really good, has a nice kick but I enjoyed this dish- Forbidden burrata -> overall good but I think they could add more of the brown sauce- Hong Kong Dan Dan noodles -> ok good texture, want more flavor and less oil
Ritz The Reviewer
I'll start by saying the ambiance and food at Touch the Heart is very very good. The whole vibe walking into the restaurant is calming with beautiful greenery - a very well thought out plan. I booked a reservation weeks in advance since I had friends traveling from out of state. I always recommend making reservations to guarantee yourself a table. We ordered the brunch tower choosing the Lox, Pear/Prosciutto, and Bacon/Avocado sandwiches, Chicken and Waffle Dumplings, and one of each danish. As a side order, we also ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Bao. Out of all of the tea sandwiches, everyone loved the Lox the most! The Chicken and Waffle Dumplings were served with syrup. They weren't my most favorite as I just didn't get the full flavors of a traditional Chicken and Waffle dish but I appreciated the concept. The Bao was very good - I would order that again! BYOB, no corkage fee as well! $10 a jar for orange juice which was plenty for 2 bottles of champagne to serve 5 people. I recommend doing the jar as it is cheaper than $4 per glass/person.On the downside, I wish, upon making the reservation, that I was informed a baby shower would be taking place inside the restaurant at the same time as my brunch. When we first sat down, everyone was setting up using an indoor helium machine to show up several balloons. It was so loud and distracting. There was a member of the party that was very upset with the chef/service and was yelling at the servers (which I do not condone) but the servers did not ask the woman to speak privately outside or take her in the back. I couldn't help but look/eavesdrop as she was very loud and it totally killed the vibe of our brunch. I think the whole situation could have been handled by staff in a more professional way, especially to the tables that were there outside of the baby shower. There was only 2 servers for regular patrons as well as the party so service could have been better but we were respectful of the situation that was unfolding.I would return - upon confirming there is not an event being held - and would love to try the food off the brunch menu!
Shima
I liked the design and how fancy this place was, but I didn't like the food. I love east Asian cuisine and I'm not very peaky with the taste, but the dishes weren't very good, they made the dishes very Americanized and not in a good way!Also the food made me sick, I don't want to go into details but I would have preferred not to eat it than...I might try their brunch option, looked really fancy, and update this review but for now I don't recommend this place at all.
Taurean M.
I went on a Friday night and the atmosphere was great. The restaurant is BYOB which wasn't a problem as I don't drink alcohol. We ordered a lot of dishes coconut shrimp, swear and sour dumplings, cheese burger dumplings, sweet and sour chicken entree, and I believe it was the bang bang shrimp. All the dishes slapped and our waitress Maria took care of us and showed us great hospitality. I would recommend this to anyone for a great date night restaurant to have a great atmosphere and great food.
Helen L.
I do not recommend for any group event! Note, the owner wasn't at the restaurant during our event so he didn't witness any of the below. 1. The entire left side of the restaurant was booked for 15 person baby shower and the owner ahead of the event said I can have 2 extra tables on our side and he can have the shelves cleared for the decorations. On arrival, the server in charge refused to do both of those things. During decorating I noticed that everything was extremely dusty! 2. This was a 90 degree day and their AC was not working properly. Everyone was sweating. The main server told me it's because I'm moving a lot ( prepping for decorations) then she said they know it gets hot in the main part of the restaurant but they already have the AC on high. If they know of this problem they could have at least gotten an extra fan (you know in case of these extremely hot days with 15 people sitting next to each other) but I don't think they care enough. Mom-to-be, at 8 months pregnant, was not feeling well the whole time because of the heat. It was terrible! 3. It was communicated there would be table service, but what we experienced was counter service with a side of attitude. There was no attending to the guests at all. During the entire 3 hours no one came to ask if everything was ok. Water was not refilled for hours. Mom-to-be had to go up and ask for water and she got attitude for an answer!! I've never heard of such a thing! Dirty plates were not cleared. The mother of the guest of honor had no choice but to collect dirty plates and service drinks to the guests herself after asking staff to do it several times with no resolve. Plates were not brought out for cake, when I had asked to help with that, one of the servers said he didn't realize we needed the plates! Then he proceeded to bring wet plates with water dripping off of them! 4. There was a huge discrepancy with what was promised in the party package by the owner and what was actually given to us on the day of the party. The mom-to-be had to spend 30 min (in the middle of the party) on the phone with the owner trying to resolve what was happening but even after that service didn't improve. The only thing that made Mom-to be happy and positive about the party was being among loving friends and family. 5. Food was just ok.
Ariana B.
I was pretty disappointed with my takeout order from Touch The Heart. We ordered takeout on a Sunday night and when we arrived they said they didn't have some of the items we ordered, so to give them 10 minutes to swap out the items for new menu items. It ended up taking 30 minutes and when we arrived home to eat, everything we had was bland. Didn't enjoy our rice or noodle dish at all. We needed to add our own sauce from home to it. The one thing we enjoyed were the fried chicken bao buns. So disappointing because we were excited to try it and heard good things about it.
Stephanie A.
Sweet place, I really like the style of the restaurant. Ginger beer soda was really nice and spicy/sweet. The bao buns were really good, enjoyed their chicken bao buns. We had a few other appetizers and they were amazing.
Dre P.
Food and service 10/10 words can't describe how good this place is! Which they had one in DC!
Renee F
The decor is lovely, Aesthetically pleasing for sure! We came in on a whim, we’re just spending Sunday morning cruising around Hoboken, I seen baos and stopped in. Our server (Christian C.) was pleasant, super chill. However, his coworker(Christina) did a few things that ultimately led to us to never return and the sad part is, the food was yummy!! She was very loudly complaining about other employees and she also brought out two orders of hot honey chicken to our table looked at both of them and gave us the ones that looked more sloppily thrown together. Being the only brown people there, I automatically felt like it’s because she thought we didn’t deserve the same experience. No worries though, we are, paid, tipped, and left.
jonathan G.
What a cute and quaint cafe in the hustle of Hoboken. This restaurant was adorable inside and gave a nice relaxing vibe. The brunch menu was extensive and it's BYO. I didn't even get pictures of everything we tried because it was all so good we drove right in. The Uber pancakes are cute little and fluffy. The French toast was perfect. Soft yet crisp, sweet and savory. The chicken and waffle empanada was other worldly. The empanada is made with the waffle and the chicken inside. With syrup to dip they were perfect. Really can't say enough good things and can't wait to come back. Maybe for dinner though to try the Crab Rangoons which by the description and photos sound heavenly.
Loved the ambience of the place - such a pretty aesthetic! Service was a bit slow even though ours was the only table occupied for lunch and I didn't see any takeout orders going past. Loved the fresh tangy taste of the Fully Bloomed with notes of Basil & Ginger - very slightly sweet and tart! The Peking Duck Dimplings were nicely stuffed and crispy - definitely a must try. The crab noodles were ok but look forward to coming back again and trying a few different things. I've heard good things about their brunch tower, so that's probably the plan for next time.
Jay V.
This is a newish restaurant spot in Hoboken downtown and I was hoping to find a new goto spot based on the reviews. The place has very good decor and ambience. However the food leaves much to be desired. The fare was basic, super oily and bland. I had the bao buns which were the tiniest I have seen and the buns seemed not fresh. I also had their sesame chicken lo mein which I thought would be one of the easier dishes. But it was super oily and not flavorful at all. Extra positive points for the ambience and extra negatives for the food quality.
Jordan G.
We had our baby's first birthday party at Touch The Heart and had a great time. The food was delicious and the staff was extremely accommodating. Would highly recommend for any party or social event.
Ashley Gkionis
What a beautiful place! I love the ambiance and the food is even better. My favorite is the brunch items and I always get the tea. The matcha French toast and the general tso chicken sandwich are a must order. The purple pancakes are also delicious. The concept of trying a little bit of everything is also fun. Dinner is also my jam here. (Try the Cheeseburger dumplings and the other dumplings). I know people that have thrown events here (baby/bridal shower) and really enjoyed it. Great addition to Hoboken. Check it out!!
Shelly G.
I had my bridesmaids proposal at Touch the Heart and it was the best experience. The staff took great care of us! It was already a beautiful set up so all I had was to do is add balloons and flowers to our table. This was my second time dining here and I would definitely go back!
Service: goodAtmosphere: gorgeousFood:Note: this place is asain fusion don’t go here for authentic food go here for the mixed flavors :D- broccoli and cheddar dumplings-> at first I was like wow this is kinda good but then the more I ate the more I realized they need more flavor, would not get again- Spicy cucumber salad -> a little salty but overall really good, has a nice kick but I enjoyed this dish- Forbidden burrata -> overall good but I think they could add more of the brown sauce- Hong Kong Dan Dan noodles -> ok good texture, want more flavor and less oil
I'll start by saying the ambiance and food at Touch the Heart is very very good. The whole vibe walking into the restaurant is calming with beautiful greenery - a very well thought out plan. I booked a reservation weeks in advance since I had friends traveling from out of state. I always recommend making reservations to guarantee yourself a table. We ordered the brunch tower choosing the Lox, Pear/Prosciutto, and Bacon/Avocado sandwiches, Chicken and Waffle Dumplings, and one of each danish. As a side order, we also ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Bao. Out of all of the tea sandwiches, everyone loved the Lox the most! The Chicken and Waffle Dumplings were served with syrup. They weren't my most favorite as I just didn't get the full flavors of a traditional Chicken and Waffle dish but I appreciated the concept. The Bao was very good - I would order that again! BYOB, no corkage fee as well! $10 a jar for orange juice which was plenty for 2 bottles of champagne to serve 5 people. I recommend doing the jar as it is cheaper than $4 per glass/person.On the downside, I wish, upon making the reservation, that I was informed a baby shower would be taking place inside the restaurant at the same time as my brunch. When we first sat down, everyone was setting up using an indoor helium machine to show up several balloons. It was so loud and distracting. There was a member of the party that was very upset with the chef/service and was yelling at the servers (which I do not condone) but the servers did not ask the woman to speak privately outside or take her in the back. I couldn't help but look/eavesdrop as she was very loud and it totally killed the vibe of our brunch. I think the whole situation could have been handled by staff in a more professional way, especially to the tables that were there outside of the baby shower. There was only 2 servers for regular patrons as well as the party so service could have been better but we were respectful of the situation that was unfolding.I would return - upon confirming there is not an event being held - and would love to try the food off the brunch menu!
I liked the design and how fancy this place was, but I didn't like the food. I love east Asian cuisine and I'm not very peaky with the taste, but the dishes weren't very good, they made the dishes very Americanized and not in a good way!Also the food made me sick, I don't want to go into details but I would have preferred not to eat it than...I might try their brunch option, looked really fancy, and update this review but for now I don't recommend this place at all.
I went on a Friday night and the atmosphere was great. The restaurant is BYOB which wasn't a problem as I don't drink alcohol. We ordered a lot of dishes coconut shrimp, swear and sour dumplings, cheese burger dumplings, sweet and sour chicken entree, and I believe it was the bang bang shrimp. All the dishes slapped and our waitress Maria took care of us and showed us great hospitality. I would recommend this to anyone for a great date night restaurant to have a great atmosphere and great food.
I do not recommend for any group event! Note, the owner wasn't at the restaurant during our event so he didn't witness any of the below. 1. The entire left side of the restaurant was booked for 15 person baby shower and the owner ahead of the event said I can have 2 extra tables on our side and he can have the shelves cleared for the decorations. On arrival, the server in charge refused to do both of those things. During decorating I noticed that everything was extremely dusty! 2. This was a 90 degree day and their AC was not working properly. Everyone was sweating. The main server told me it's because I'm moving a lot ( prepping for decorations) then she said they know it gets hot in the main part of the restaurant but they already have the AC on high. If they know of this problem they could have at least gotten an extra fan (you know in case of these extremely hot days with 15 people sitting next to each other) but I don't think they care enough. Mom-to-be, at 8 months pregnant, was not feeling well the whole time because of the heat. It was terrible! 3. It was communicated there would be table service, but what we experienced was counter service with a side of attitude. There was no attending to the guests at all. During the entire 3 hours no one came to ask if everything was ok. Water was not refilled for hours. Mom-to-be had to go up and ask for water and she got attitude for an answer!! I've never heard of such a thing! Dirty plates were not cleared. The mother of the guest of honor had no choice but to collect dirty plates and service drinks to the guests herself after asking staff to do it several times with no resolve. Plates were not brought out for cake, when I had asked to help with that, one of the servers said he didn't realize we needed the plates! Then he proceeded to bring wet plates with water dripping off of them! 4. There was a huge discrepancy with what was promised in the party package by the owner and what was actually given to us on the day of the party. The mom-to-be had to spend 30 min (in the middle of the party) on the phone with the owner trying to resolve what was happening but even after that service didn't improve. The only thing that made Mom-to be happy and positive about the party was being among loving friends and family. 5. Food was just ok.
I was pretty disappointed with my takeout order from Touch The Heart. We ordered takeout on a Sunday night and when we arrived they said they didn't have some of the items we ordered, so to give them 10 minutes to swap out the items for new menu items. It ended up taking 30 minutes and when we arrived home to eat, everything we had was bland. Didn't enjoy our rice or noodle dish at all. We needed to add our own sauce from home to it. The one thing we enjoyed were the fried chicken bao buns. So disappointing because we were excited to try it and heard good things about it.
Sweet place, I really like the style of the restaurant. Ginger beer soda was really nice and spicy/sweet. The bao buns were really good, enjoyed their chicken bao buns. We had a few other appetizers and they were amazing.
Food and service 10/10 words can't describe how good this place is! Which they had one in DC!
The decor is lovely, Aesthetically pleasing for sure! We came in on a whim, we’re just spending Sunday morning cruising around Hoboken, I seen baos and stopped in. Our server (Christian C.) was pleasant, super chill. However, his coworker(Christina) did a few things that ultimately led to us to never return and the sad part is, the food was yummy!! She was very loudly complaining about other employees and she also brought out two orders of hot honey chicken to our table looked at both of them and gave us the ones that looked more sloppily thrown together. Being the only brown people there, I automatically felt like it’s because she thought we didn’t deserve the same experience. No worries though, we are, paid, tipped, and left.
What a cute and quaint cafe in the hustle of Hoboken. This restaurant was adorable inside and gave a nice relaxing vibe. The brunch menu was extensive and it's BYO. I didn't even get pictures of everything we tried because it was all so good we drove right in. The Uber pancakes are cute little and fluffy. The French toast was perfect. Soft yet crisp, sweet and savory. The chicken and waffle empanada was other worldly. The empanada is made with the waffle and the chicken inside. With syrup to dip they were perfect. Really can't say enough good things and can't wait to come back. Maybe for dinner though to try the Crab Rangoons which by the description and photos sound heavenly.
Restaurantji Recommends
Loved the ambience of the place - such a pretty aesthetic! Service was a bit slow even though ours was the only table occupied for lunch and I didn't see any takeout orders going past. Loved the fresh tangy taste of the Fully Bloomed with notes of Basil & Ginger - very slightly sweet and tart! The Peking Duck Dimplings were nicely stuffed and crispy - definitely a must try. The crab noodles were ok but look forward to coming back again and trying a few different things. I've heard good things about their brunch tower, so that's probably the plan for next time.
This is a newish restaurant spot in Hoboken downtown and I was hoping to find a new goto spot based on the reviews. The place has very good decor and ambience. However the food leaves much to be desired. The fare was basic, super oily and bland. I had the bao buns which were the tiniest I have seen and the buns seemed not fresh. I also had their sesame chicken lo mein which I thought would be one of the easier dishes. But it was super oily and not flavorful at all. Extra positive points for the ambience and extra negatives for the food quality.
We had our baby's first birthday party at Touch The Heart and had a great time. The food was delicious and the staff was extremely accommodating. Would highly recommend for any party or social event.
What a beautiful place! I love the ambiance and the food is even better. My favorite is the brunch items and I always get the tea. The matcha French toast and the general tso chicken sandwich are a must order. The purple pancakes are also delicious. The concept of trying a little bit of everything is also fun. Dinner is also my jam here. (Try the Cheeseburger dumplings and the other dumplings). I know people that have thrown events here (baby/bridal shower) and really enjoyed it. Great addition to Hoboken. Check it out!!
I had my bridesmaids proposal at Touch the Heart and it was the best experience. The staff took great care of us! It was already a beautiful set up so all I had was to do is add balloons and flowers to our table. This was my second time dining here and I would definitely go back!