“ Such a nice, quaint cafe with a warm vibe. We came after church and it wasn't busy. Service was fast & attentive. My Bacon egg and cheese croissant was the best! Go, enjoy! ”

“ Box Cafe is such a wonderful addition to the area. It really is like a little getaway in the heart of Jersey City. You would not expect Palisade Avenue to have a little French Bistro, but here we are! I've been to Box for two events now. While they are open for brunch on the weekends and some evenings for dinner, the events are really where this place shines. You can tell that the owners really care about the community, as these pre-paid experiences (usually around 40 to 50 dollars) are focused on bringing people from all walks of life together. I attended a Speed Dating night here (yes, they exist!) and a Wine Pairing - two very different events, but both enjoyable even though they pushed me out of my comfort zone (a good thing)! The Wine Pairing was especially fun because it was basically a full evening of drinking and eating - there were five courses (each with its own entree and dessert) and live music. (Box is a BYOB, so the event had a cover charge plus you brough a bottle of wine to share - seems odd at first, but it works!) The food was excellent and I left very full and very happy. I found both of these events advertised on their Instagram. In addition, the decor is so lovely - very eclectic and artistic. The ambience really tries to transport you to another place - you almost forget that Christ Hospital is right across the street. You can also book Box Cafe for private occasions; I plan to have my birthday party here! I would love to try this place for brunch, as the food looks amazing. You definitely have to check this place out if you're in the area. Not only are you in for a treat, you are also supporting a local family and small business. ”

“ This is a cute little spot somewhat new to the neighborhood it seems. I came for brunch with a friend. They had a few other guests seated but only 1 person working the front of house. He was running around the whole time and it took quite a while to get our drinks and food. I love the ambience of this place though! They serve coffee and a variety of savory brunch dishes. Apparently they also have pastries but none were available when we went. For my entree I had the cheese omelet, which came with potatoes. I loved the seasoning of the potatoes! They were cooked really well. The omelet was simple but filling. Unfortunately they were out of matcha so I just had a regular tea instead. They do offer some alternative milks for drinks which is nice. With some extra help this place would be great on a busy weekend day, but otherwise expect to be waiting a bit... ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ (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. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bmvXPItKXDrxg8qOJJmmag&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw 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. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Zd2aA9xinXDQoQ8VDEEP3Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw 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. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=QLdRHqxlzl02eyQ3DpjlEg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw 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. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=j73l6YgtEWFQxbOxuNanxw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw 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 https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Sy7A9gA9e8Zau5l-JGwXmg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw and food https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=iusdDbDdbz1hF236bZ5lew&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw 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 ”

“ 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! ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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!!! ”

“ 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. ”