Marco & Pepe

Had a girls lunch today there. Go there if you want to spend lots of time without being served. The staff took forever to get there.
The bellinis were good. My friend ordered French toast which was sweet and didn’t need the maple syrup they gave u. I ordered the lentil taco. It was interesting — but not good enough to ever have again. V v dry.
Over all seems like a nice brunchy place if u have oodles of time and patience.

Delicious brunch, friendly staff! Our waiter was really nice. The food was Amazing! I had the ham and eggs for brunch and I didn’t want it to end. Don’t usually have cocktails, but those were tasty and unique. I had the very sour Hemingway. Cool 80s music, hipster vibe, but very friendly!

Probably my most fav spot in JC for brunch. The burgers are top notch, the Mac and cheese is delicious and the cocktails are on point. Especially the Bloody Mary and sangria. Get there early if you want one of those coveted outdoor tables.

It’s actually 3.5 stars. We walked by the place numerous times and loved the ambience inside. Dropped in for dinner on a weekday and the place was quite busy for a weekday. We got a place pretty fast which was good. The bar seats are always pretty busy even late into the evening. For drinks we got the wine tasting trio which is for $ 12. It’s a good option if you want to try multiple wines, portion isn’t too bad either. For food we had the baby lamb chops, chicken meatballs and the goat cheese mushroom flatbread. All good. The meatballs should come with bread to grab all the sauce, the fries though which came with them were good as well. Lamb chops could have been bit more softer but they weren’t bad either.

I just love it! Roasted salmon with red quinoa. Everything tastes great! Recommended by my friend. Not disappoint gay all. Ppl there are very nice. Good service. Def will go back.

Came here after reason Unilocal reviews about the «amazing» Huevos Rancheros. It’s one of my favorite breakfast dishes and I have even managed to make a delicious one at home. Anyway, I decided to give this place a try.
It’s a beautiful Sunday and I was surprised that although the restaurant seemed busy both indoors and the outside seating, the wait was only about 5 minutes.
I ordered my Huevos with Spanish chorizo and the b/​f had his with ground beef. When the meal came out I was so disappointed. I could already tell by looking at it that I was not going to be pleased and I was right. The b/f’s eggs were so runny that I almost worried they were undercooked. There was no real flavor and I had to drown my dish with the green and red sauce that was served on the side just to give it a kick.
Their service was good and so was the coffee but anyone who thinks these Huevos rancheros are amazing needs to explore other places.

Stopped by for brunch on Sunday afternoon. We were seated right away — love that, who doesn’t?
My breakfast was served on a skillet — that was cool. The fireman had a grill chicken sandwich — also good. The beer was great — sangria wasn’t all that but I still drank it.
As far as everything goes, the tables were really tiny, and the favors were good but not original. Nothing extraordinary — but still descent.

Stopped in on a Sunday morning for brunch and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the overall ambience of the restaurant. It’s a two floor restaurant and through our stay the up stairs (a little bit more upscale feel) started to fill fairly quickly. Our waiter was very attentive and even other waiters stopped in to check on us as well.
As for food we had:
Ham and egg platter– pretty large portion, nice piece of Canadian ham and a quality sauce. A little above average.
French Toast– amazing. The French toast was actually croissants cut in half and cooked as French toast. The buttery taste of the croissant really did in justice. A nice assortment of berries topped it.
Double Cut Bacon– very average. Tasted like chicharron.
Home Fried Potatoes– up there with the best home fries I’ve had. Good seasoning with a tiny bit of spice to give it a boldness.
Sweet Potato fries– great as well. Salted perfected.
Overall good experience and would come back. Fairly inexpensive for brunch which was nice. The feel of the place was warm on a cold day and on warmer days the patio is open to eat outside. Do try.

This place has delicious food, good cocktails/​sangria, and is really cute and well-​located.
They are nice and accommodating to special requests (for example, for vegan friends– though not strict zomg-​you-​cant-​fry-​fries-​in-​the-​same-​oil-​as-​chicken vegan friends.)
The eggs-​in-​toast are delicious and fancy looking. Also adding a sunny side up egg on top of the mac&cheese is awesome.

I used to come to M&P pretty frequently, since they do make some of the stiffest (and totally A-​OK) cocktails in town. I think they were one of the first places to carry Ford’s Gin, which is quite good in my opinion. They also have some good sandwiches for brunch, and the ingredients in their hamburgers (particularly the cheese, too) are quite good, putting Left Bank to shame at least in this department. My boyfriend is particularly fond of the dessert-​like French toast, and their ham and sausage sides are also quite nice. Good coffee, too.
However, I don’t come to M&P anymore. The other brunch dishes (namely the eggs, etc) are uninspired, and the dinner menu is very overpriced for the quality and inventiveness. If they didn’t have at least the burger option (s) – the veggie burger is dry but wholesome, and the kale salad side is probably the most interesting thing on the menu – I would never come for dinner. But this didn’t send me over the edge: it’s that the service is often bad (they have a lot of waiter turnover for some reason – way more than other restaurants), the menu hasn’t changed in 10 years, it often smells like garbage when you sit outside, and the last time we went, there was dirt and silt on the plates, presumably from the kitchen. Problematic.
I wish they’d update their menu and show a little verve for what they do. And clean their plates or fix whatever is going on in the kitchen with regard to the charcoal silt floating around (?).

A longtime Jersey City jem. Great gourmet sandwiches, salads and vegetarian fare. Awesome import and craft beers, classic mixed drink and nice wine selection. One of our all time favorites. I had the Cuban sandwich, which was the best I’ve ever had. Roast pork, Spanish ham, Swiss cheese and bread and butter pickles on a rich crunchy brioche roll with the best fries I’ve had in quite awhile.

A good find, but slow service made a late lunch last that much later. A friendly server, but it still took the bar 15 minutes — at a time with a number of empty tables — to get drinks served once we ordered. The bloody Mary was strong but missing celery. The 1863 martini tasted watery and like something was missing. Oh well…
The butternut squash soup was plain but passable. We had a decent Cuban sandwich with fries and the cheesy/​creamy/​artery clogging mac and cheese with lardon was tasty and sharing worthy. Overall, the food was fine, but took way too long at the a slow time after the brunch rush. Liked the music — think French café style — and the vibe but they could stand to step up on service

There is, admittedly, a certain amount of history that can’t be overlooked at Marco & Pepe. It’s one of the few restaurants that can trace its origins back to 2001, when Ralph and Beverly Rodriguez noted the growing demand for a true «neighborhood place» in downtown Jersey City. Named after their two dogs, the space is a compilation of mismatched pieces, from the banquettes that used to be former church pews to the weathered two-​tops that are squeezed in at the front of the restaurant. It’s vaguely reminiscent of a French bistro-​café or a Spanish tapas bar, but has a character and charm of its own.
I’ve visited Marco & Pepe several times for brunch [1], which I’ve heard is their strongest meal. It seems easier of late to get a seat (perhaps mostly attributable to the new quality additions to the dining scene in downtown JC), but as they don’t take reservations, it’s best to arrive during off-​hours. The environment is ideal for a catch-​up with friends or even for dining solo at the bar, and the menu has a tasty array of solid, albeit predictable, options that span the typical omelettes, sandwiches, and salads.
The Cuban Sandwich I opted for on my first visit wasn’t their strongest option. The pork loin was too dry and lacked a distinct flavor, although the Parmacotto Ham and Manchego Cheese certainly helped. I do have to commend them on having a solid Burger, though; it’s a basic blend of ground beef cooked to your desired temperature with the requisite lettuce, tomato, and onion. On both instances I’ve ordered it, the patty has been juicy and well-​seasoned, with just the right amount of pink for a medium-​rare. The side of fries is just as satisfying, which are all too similar to the thin, slightly crispy variety that can be found at McDonald’s.
Perhaps I’m just getting old, but there’s something invaluable about a place that has withstood the test of time. It’s a reliable, local, and welcoming spot, a place to go to when something comfortable is all that you really want. After all, what more could you ask for from any neighborhood spot?
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[1] Note that their Brunch Menu is available from Tuesdays through Friday afternoons; who says eggs are exclusive to weekends?

The place looks awesome, I love their rusty and vintage benches and décor. Food on the other side is a different story. It took us so long for the food to come and food was just mediocre
My husband order shrimp and scallion omelette. Shrimp was fresh and interesting to come in omelette. But the omelette overall was too plain and boring.
I got poached egg with ratatouille. It was pretty good but the portion was tiny. I did not feel so full after finishing the whole dish. Given that I am just a small girl, I suspect that the portion must not be enough for an average person.

Marco and Pepe is a cute lil brunch spot and has some pretty nice choices for brunch. My friend and I both had the eggs in toast while my other friend had the vegetarian burger. The toast was a thick, sour dough, artisan bread and cut into a very perfect square, with an egg in the middle. There were 2 pieces of toast and some sautéed asparagus and tomatoes in truffle essence, which I could not taste a bit of truffle at all. I assumed the essence was made with truffle oil but I could not even taste that. Nonethless, we all enjoyed the food, and the two pieces of toast was very filling!!! My friend also thought the veggie burger was good. Service was superb, and I would definitely come back and try other items on their menu if I’m ever in town for brunch again.

One of my co-​workers raves about this place. ALL. THE. TIME. Now that I live a few blocks away, I had to give it a try. I came in one weekend for lunch with my bf. We were seated immediately with menus and two waters. It took us about 5 minutes to decide what to order, their menu isn’t that big. We both wanted brunch (ends at 4pm), but it took about 15 minutes for our waiter to come and take our order. He was non-​existent after we were seated.
When he did come around, I ordered the Spanish omelet, which includes chorizo, tomatos, manchego cheese and spinach and my bf ordered the Huevos Rancheros with beef. Food arrived at our table about 15 minutes later. My Spanish omelet was HUGE. The portions were much bigger than expected. The chorizo was delicious. It was so flavorful and spicy. That made up for the rest of the omelet, which tasted rather bland. My bf didn’t like his huevos rancheros much either. He said it was okay, nothing too memorable. Their salsa verde was pretty good though.
Overall for mediocre food and poor service, it’s not worth the visit. I would rather spend my money elsewhere and have a more pleasant experience. I may give this place one more shot, but not any time in the near future.

–bellini
–huevos rancheros with lentils
–lemon rosemary cheesecake with blackberry sorbet
–banana bread pudding with hazelnut ice cream
The dessert was by far the best part of the meal. Two desserts and one carafe of bellini were split between three people. It was more than enough. The huevos rancheros were sort of bland in my opinion. Maybe it would have been better with chorizo.
Blackberry sorbet on the cheesecake was excellent the. The rosemary wasn’t overwhelming at all. As for the bread pudding, it was a bit dry. The hazelnut ice cream was perhaps not the best choice to top it, but it was still good.

This is a cute little brunch spot nearby Grove Street Jersey City. Space is slightly cramped, but the food is slightly above average.
The eggs in toast are definitely interesting (visually anyway), and very evidently, a popular item on the menu. We didn’t find it to be worth the hype though. Their daily scone was delicious, as were the egg scramble I had. My sister reports that the coffee is definitely worth ordering.
Prices look very good, many items are less than $ 10, but know that their portions air on the «just right» side. Don’t expect to be bringing home leftovers.

I had high hopes for this joint, but neither was I satisfied or unpleased, I was torn right in the middle. The restaurant itself is on the corner but hard to spot because the name is written so small. I came here on a Saturday night for brunch with a party of 4 people which had a 20 minute wait, which wasn’t that bad. We were then seated and greeted nicely by the waiter.
I wasn’t a fan of the ambiance, to me, it reminded me of chipped paint on the wall that needed serious attention. Not sure why there weren’t any salt and pepper shakers on the tables so we had to ask for it. Anyhow, I proceeded to order the lobster roll with french fries along with the other meals for the group. I want to say it took about 20 to 30 minutes for our meals to come out, so be prepared they take a long time. My lobster roll had a nice presentation but definitely not filling. It was served on a hot dog bun which wasn’t unique to me at all. It was grilled and made it dry for my liking. I was expecting a moist, buttery melt in your mouth type of bread but I didn’t get that here. The lobster was good nothing out of the ordinary, and french fries we’re good too. Overall, an OK experience, I wouldn’t come back if I’m really hungry that’s for sure.
PS. Parking sucks!!! No store gives out $.25 so make sure you have some handy.
(the restaurant itself we’re able to give us $.25 but just for a dollars worth)

*Review based on dinner service
SERVICE: Accommodating and friendly
VENUE: Old-​town, rustic feel; it’s pretty much a big hallway with a bar
FOOD (during dinner): What’s a good, English adjective for «argghh»? If I was starving, I would’ve insisted on stopping at another place AFTER eating here because I was just not satisfied.
DESSERT: Plain
VERDICT: Besides my wonderful waiter, I don’t have much to boast about this place as the food was rather subpar. I don’t have much incentive to return for dinner but perhaps brunch will be a much better experience. For more details, see below.
— — — Experience/​Service:
Came here on a Tuesday night around 7pm with a friend and were seated immediately. The place became fully booked around 9pm. We were immediately greeted by our waiter who made the overall experience more pleasing as he was happy to make recommendations and be very accommodating — overall a jolly guy.
— — — -Food/​Dessert:
Starters:
===Three Cheese Plate — My favorite out of everything we ordered (even more so than the dessert). This plate included manchego, blue cheese, and brie with raisin bread, apples and quince jam — all very appetizing.
Entrees:
===Lobster Roll — Cold and not as fresh. I usually love lobster rolls, but this one was a bit of a disappointment. It could’ve been worse, but adding lemon helped enhance the taste. Still, overall a let-​down, and I managed to only eat it halfway.
===Rosemary Free Range Chicken with preserved lemon stuffing and roasted fingerling potatoes — A bit on the dry side. The core and the stuffing tasted better but not so much as to make me recommend this dish. The potatoes seemed to soak up all the juice and was the best part of this dish.
Dessert:
===Warm Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Gelato — Decent, but again, nothing memorable. I’m a big dessert lover, but it was not the melt-​in-​your-​mouth kind of experience I had hoped for.
Maybe I was just having an off-​day, but unfortunately Marco & Pepe overall did not help turn my night around. However, thank goodness for my fun waiter — two stars just for him.