When you hear "perfect neighborhood bar" what do you think of? Because I think of unfussy food, strong drinks, reasonable prices, and a welcoming atmosphere. Oh look at that, Brightside Tavern checks all 4 boxes.What's that? Entertainment (jazz night, open mic, karaoke) multiple nights a week? Sports on TVs all around the 360-degree bar? Brunch every day from 9-4? Happy hour ever weekday from 3-7? Kitchen open late (I mean LATE)? Music loud enough to take the edge of life off but not loud enough to make it impossible to talk? The owner (Tommy 2 Scoops) makes an effort to know and welcome everyone who visits? Everyone is welcome as long as you're good to each other?You probably get the idea by now. I can't think of one thing this bar doesn't make convenient. The Brightside Tavern might be Jersey City's best neighborhood bar. You don't need a reason or an excuse to go here, just do it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mira Venkat
Food was okay, nothing great. We were a party of 2 and were shocked to find out at the end that we were charged a hefty gratuity ($15 just for the two of us) even though we weren’t informed of this beforehand. Prices of our food were also manipulated and not charged accurately, and the waitress brought out the wrong drinks claiming they were the ones we ordered. Overall service wasn’t pleasant and it seemed to be shady with the way we were charged. Would recommend staying away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Tanya Parker
Love everything about Brightside… The ambience is unbelievable. The food the prices are great.. Highly recommended
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake Sliders
Jackson
This a beautiful restaurant in town. The owner Tommy was a very nice person and let us choose whatever you wanted from the menu he had a beautiful game room and microphone to even sing karaoke will definitely be returning!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Swati Seth
The food & atmosphere was good but service was way too slow.
Went to hang out and catch up with a dear friend. We shared an appetizer platter and got a side of truffle fries to go with it and we were completely pleased and satisfied with the food, service and oh the Sangria was delicious!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marjorie U.
The servers are always really unfriendly here. It takes forever to get their attention and when they do interact with you they're really rude.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Patrick Branson
I didn't feel very WElcome
Barry Tsang
I was unknowingly charged gratuity since my bill was over $100. It was a party of 5. I've NEVER heard of this policy, anywhere! My server never notified me of the charge prior to settling our dinner bill and I'm pretty sure it's not written anywhere. I added $25 gratuity as we were in a hurry and I didn't have time to review the itemized receipt. When the server came back with the credit card, the itemized receipt was nowhere to be found...Interesting. I told myself I would go back later in the week to ask to review the receipt as it seemed a bit high for our order. When I finally see the bill, gratuity was already included, they were getting $43 for a $100 meal. The manager advises I bring it up with the owner, Tom Parisi, normally a cordial person. He said they automatically add gratuity to bills over $100 and offered to give me back $15 of the $25 extra gratuity, claiming it's not fair to his staff. This just screams out shady business deadlines. You secretly over bill your customers and have the nerve to reimburse 60% of what you, or your employees, attempted to steal. Maybe I'm wrong but that's a terrible look.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pizza
Jacob Wilcock
Server gave me a hard time when I ordered a non-alcoholic drink. When dropping it off, they joked they had added vodka to it.
10/10 experience! the food is great, atmosphere is outstanding, the private room upstairs has games and projector, and the owner tommy is the BEST!!!!!! also the bathrooms have bidets which was a very nice touch. first time here but definitely will be back for more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andre Azer
Outstanding burgers! Some of the best I’ve had in JC.
Food: 5
Vince “THIEFN” T
We had amazing experience here. Tom helped us celebrate my girlfriend's, mother's 75 birthday. Thanks for the awesome time!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sean Williams
One of the best places in ALL of Jersey City. Owner and staff treat everyone well ALL THE TIME!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Glen Mosley
Went to the Late Development show and the vibe was great. Food was pretty good. The waiter probably wasn't used to the crowd, because I asked multiple times for items and they forgot and never showed back up, got the order wrong, and had to be told to take an item off the bill that was never brought.Good
When you hear "perfect neighborhood bar" what do you think of? Because I think of unfussy food, strong drinks, reasonable prices, and a welcoming atmosphere. Oh look at that, Brightside Tavern checks all 4 boxes.What's that? Entertainment (jazz night, open mic, karaoke) multiple nights a week? Sports on TVs all around the 360-degree bar? Brunch every day from 9-4? Happy hour ever weekday from 3-7? Kitchen open late (I mean LATE)? Music loud enough to take the edge of life off but not loud enough to make it impossible to talk? The owner (Tommy 2 Scoops) makes an effort to know and welcome everyone who visits? Everyone is welcome as long as you're good to each other?You probably get the idea by now. I can't think of one thing this bar doesn't make convenient. The Brightside Tavern might be Jersey City's best neighborhood bar. You don't need a reason or an excuse to go here, just do it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was okay, nothing great. We were a party of 2 and were shocked to find out at the end that we were charged a hefty gratuity ($15 just for the two of us) even though we weren’t informed of this beforehand. Prices of our food were also manipulated and not charged accurately, and the waitress brought out the wrong drinks claiming they were the ones we ordered. Overall service wasn’t pleasant and it seemed to be shady with the way we were charged. Would recommend staying away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Love everything about Brightside… The ambience is unbelievable. The food the prices are great.. Highly recommended
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake Sliders
This a beautiful restaurant in town. The owner Tommy was a very nice person and let us choose whatever you wanted from the menu he had a beautiful game room and microphone to even sing karaoke will definitely be returning!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food & atmosphere was good but service was way too slow.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tenders, Toast, Bright Side, Onion Rings, Muffins
Went to hang out and catch up with a dear friend. We shared an appetizer platter and got a side of truffle fries to go with it and we were completely pleased and satisfied with the food, service and oh the Sangria was delicious!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The servers are always really unfriendly here. It takes forever to get their attention and when they do interact with you they're really rude.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
I didn't feel very WElcome
I was unknowingly charged gratuity since my bill was over $100. It was a party of 5. I've NEVER heard of this policy, anywhere! My server never notified me of the charge prior to settling our dinner bill and I'm pretty sure it's not written anywhere. I added $25 gratuity as we were in a hurry and I didn't have time to review the itemized receipt. When the server came back with the credit card, the itemized receipt was nowhere to be found...Interesting. I told myself I would go back later in the week to ask to review the receipt as it seemed a bit high for our order. When I finally see the bill, gratuity was already included, they were getting $43 for a $100 meal. The manager advises I bring it up with the owner, Tom Parisi, normally a cordial person. He said they automatically add gratuity to bills over $100 and offered to give me back $15 of the $25 extra gratuity, claiming it's not fair to his staff. This just screams out shady business deadlines. You secretly over bill your customers and have the nerve to reimburse 60% of what you, or your employees, attempted to steal. Maybe I'm wrong but that's a terrible look.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pizza
Server gave me a hard time when I ordered a non-alcoholic drink. When dropping it off, they joked they had added vodka to it.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
10/10 experience! the food is great, atmosphere is outstanding, the private room upstairs has games and projector, and the owner tommy is the BEST!!!!!! also the bathrooms have bidets which was a very nice touch. first time here but definitely will be back for more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Outstanding burgers! Some of the best I’ve had in JC.
Food: 5
We had amazing experience here. Tom helped us celebrate my girlfriend's, mother's 75 birthday. Thanks for the awesome time!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best places in ALL of Jersey City. Owner and staff treat everyone well ALL THE TIME!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went to the Late Development show and the vibe was great. Food was pretty good. The waiter probably wasn't used to the crowd, because I asked multiple times for items and they forgot and never showed back up, got the order wrong, and had to be told to take an item off the bill that was never brought.Good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3