The Brightside Tavern
141 Bright St, Jersey City
(201) 435-1234
Recent Reviews
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JAZZZ Monday is where it's at.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ok ok - so we walked in and immediately the owner Tommy loved our dog.
He sat us, made some jokes, took our pic, and bought out a big plate of food for Bear McFluff our baby…
Then I ordered some food, I was expecting small portions and eh kinda food, but this was freaking epic!
Nachos were huge with juicy pulled pork and kick ass Queso cheese.
Pancakes and butter, huge stack a pancakes that tasted amazing…
And I over ordered a huge Gyro which I took a bite of and had to doggy bag home because their portions are huge but oh so good.
I wish this place was close to me. We’re in Queens and were out here for a friend. But I will definitely go back again because they love dogs, have phenomenal food, and are super friendly and fun.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love it here! Friendly people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went here for our first date, and they made it magical. Highly recommend this place , their service is on point. They're all so sweet.
Awesome place to hang out with family and friends the owner Tommy is very nice to everyone
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Everything here was delicious and the atmosphere inside was fun and welcoming. The service was great and we would definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Its wellaintained cozy place with two stories. The owner warm welcome and engagement throughout the party was beautiful ❤️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always a good time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
So fun!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you're in Jersey City and you want to have a good time great food wonderful people Tommy is the best we were caught in the rain freezing cold Tommy found his winter jacket in the closet and gave it to my wife to wear the waitress brought a cup of hot water to warm her hands Tommy and the staff we're very friendly the food was excellent and service was impeccable thank you Tommy for having a wonderful heart and caring about your patrons he treats his patrons like family
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food, amazing staff, amazing owner!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decent place
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Been coming here for years! I’m from Paterson love the atmosphere and the Owner Tommy always makes sure his customers are happy 😃
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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