first experience here was horrible. I think I made the mistake of not getting pancakes so i will go back to try them but my hopes are not high. i got eggs over easy with corn beef hash and grits. the toast and grits were soaked in butter and i like butter but this was just disgusting. the hash was a salty nasty mess and the eggs were ok, they are kinda hard to mess up. my boyfriend got an open faced roast beef sandwich and the meat tasted rancid. he also got biscuits and gravy but they were stale biscuits and the waitress gave him brown gravy that you would use on mashed potatoes. since this place has rave reviews i guess ill go back and try the pancakes but if they fail too this place is off the list forever.
(1)
Steven S.
The wait service sucks and they aren't kid friendly. The food is great DINER FOOD. There is nothing special about it. And I think it's rather pricey for a diner. Try Flamingo Diner if you want better prices.
(2)
Jasmere C.
The brown stone is one of the better diners in Jersey City. I have eatten here a few times and it is really great. The Pancakes are delicious, the prices are right and the staff is very pleasant.
(4)
David L.
Walking in, this place feels like a fairly typical diner, with old-fashioned decor and a no-nonsense staff. The waiters here can be a bit brusque, but they usually don't descend to outright rudeness. Waits on weekends are actually fairly reasonable - last Saturday we showed up a bit past noon and probably only waited about 15 minutes for a table. The other reviews don't lie. The pancakes here are fluffy and delicious. The Mrs. actually enjoys the taste of the pancakes so much she skips on the syrup. The portions are fairly generous as well. The fresh fruit pancakes especially get a big thumbs up. Everything else I've had has been fairly mediocre. The eggs benedict were passable but far from great. The omelets, although a healthy serving (perhaps an unhealthy serving) and well-cooked, weren't particularly flavorful. Given how great the pancakes here are, I have never even had an inkling of desire to try to burgers and other non-brunch food.
(4)
Sayra S.
Only went here once because our experience was very mediocre. I am a HUGE diner fan and I'm always looking for a good place to get pancakes/breakfast. I felt this place was just a little too pricey and most of the "fruit" they put with their pancakes is fake compote/jammy stuff. Thought I could get some classic blueberry pancakes here, but no. Overall it's just an OK experience, but it is still a diner if that's what you're looking for. (I'd go to Flamingo for the real diner experience in JC)
(3)
Jessica W.
I've lived in Jersey City my whole life and wish i stumbled upon it earlier! The food is delish. (I've only had the breakfast) and the portions are out of this world. my favorite item to order is the Country Breakfast Wrap which is enough to feed 2 men but i always try my best to take it down and always get defeated. lol. It's always crowded on a weekend morning so be a lil patient but if you ask me its well worth the wait!
(5)
Joyce P.
First off, I'm a pancake girl, and past experiences had left me so dissatisfied with the level of pancake quality, that I have become quite the expert in making my own. Last Saturday I ventured out to Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory, meeting up with a friend that was staying in JC. Wow, I was really surprised and so was he. The pancakes from a distance looked big and dense, not so good upon surveying with out tasting. But when I cut into the large cakes, nothing but goodness!! I was most pleasantly surprised. The place looks to always have a crowd, but I was seated very quickly, service is the typical diner style, but pleasant. There is parking, which is a bonus in Jersey City, so another thumbs up for the Factory. If you're not from the JC area, and want to stay on the Jersey side, and I recommend you do; we also sat and talked for awhile, and didn't get kicked out like so many restaurants across the river, this is a great laid back place. If you're coming from NW NJ like myself, I would plan on going earlier, getting there is like a trip into the city, and city traffic would ruin the experience in my opinion, just make sure that you're not wading in traffic if you can help it!
(4)
Bondi R.
What more can I say but, "AMAZING" a huge variety and excellent for brunch. If you cam imagine a particular type of pancake or waffle I am sure it exists on this particular menu. Your tastebuds will definitely be please and you will gone back for more. No matter the time the place is pretty busy but the do accommodate you pretty quick. The customer service is pretty on point as well. The prices are reasonable and the desserts are delightful.
(5)
Angelica M.
Everything I ever had here was great. The pancakes are insane. You will not be able to finish them. Really good coffee too. My last visit I ordered a meatball hero. It was on par with a really good pizzeria. Usually I get a BLT, good and cheap too .Go here, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Laurie L.
This place was the worst experience I have had in JC. The only good thing was the fact that I went there on a Sunday thinking I was going to wait 1hr and ended waiting 30 mins. The waitress if that what you want to call her was not helpful did not know the menu could not tell me what type of Vodka they used I'm the Bloodily Mary she end up lieing to me. I ordered eggs Benedict 15 mins later another waitress who looked like a Jersey City crack head came to my table yelled at me and told me they place is pack bro why don't you get the pancakes and call it a day. I was floored I asked for the manger who seems like a hard A** he came to the table never allowed me to talk but just told me the chef is not going to make my eggs Benn with mushrooms. At that point the drinks came to the table while I sipped some if it and it tasted like they just poured it from another table hot very little ice and not garnishes. To top it off the manager while talking to me spit in my drink. I decided to leave not to continue to give them my biz. While walking He yelled at me and laughed and you think I give a F**K about you or your money I was on the Food Network go F**k your self. Let's keep in mind it was Sunday afternoon kids were in the place and mostly church goers as we'll. and I was also with a pastor at the table.
(1)
Allie M.
This place gets absolutely sh*tpacked on weekends, so if you want to avoid a 30-45 minute wait, I suggest going either early or late. If you do decide to go between the hellish brunch hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., rest assured that the wait is worth it. This place is my favorite pancake house in the area. It has a mind-boggling selection of pancakes, french toast, waffles and - what you may have seen on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives - pancake burritos. Yes - you read that right. They have breakfast burritos made out of pancakes. *insert mind explosion here* The only time I was ever disappointed here was one time when they ran out of cranberries and I really wanted the cranberry pancakes, but the alternative I decided on instead was just as delicious. The Showstopper might make you develop diabetes, but I say go for it anyway. Oh, and the servers are super friendly and fast. Even if one server isn't designated for your table, they'll still help you out, which I loved so much last time that I found the server who helped our table after our meal and tipped her in addition to the server who was assigned to our table. One last thing: all-day breakfast. That is all.
(4)
Albert S.
never disspoints. Decent food and decent place. Weekends are crazy busy but they seat everyone very quick.
(4)
Frank M.
I heard many things, good and bad, about this place that I was hesitant to try it. I came here with some co-workers and had lunch. I enjoyed the lunch and had a chance to look over the menu. Based on this, my wife and I came for breakfast. First of all, it gets busy quick - even on weekday mornings. The breakfast selection is fairly good - lots of pancakes and omelets choices. They also have grits on the menu which is a personal favorite but hard to find in this area. My wife's pancakes were large and very good (I had to finish hers). I enjoyed my omelette. We enjoyed our experience and have been back a number of times in the past couple of weeks.
(5)
Bianca C.
So I saw there was a ton of hype about this place and wanted to check it out. I tried their pancakes and they were okay, honestly nothing to die for. I got the short stack buttermilk, and my friend got the silver dollar pancakes. She loved hers, mine meh. Also the manager was being a jerk and shouting at one of his waitresses in public, and this lady was working her tail off, she was literally like one of the only servers in the place. And she didn't even get mad at him or entertain him while he was freaking out over god knows what, she walked away and kept doing what she needed to do. Aside from this craziness, we had a pretty bad experience. After my friend and I ate we both felt sick, my friend actually threw up! Needless to say, I doubt I will be going back again anytime soon.
(2)
Nez B.
Huge monte cristo with 3 slabs of french toast and genrous proportions of turkey, swiss, and ham ($11). 3 pancake stack of actual fresh fruit ($8) and a huge cheese omelet ($6) all tasty. Meal took about 5 mins from order, whoah. Traditional diner style seating and quick and attentive waiter. The menu is expansive, they have tons of cuisine options for any meal of the day. I saw a 20 oz steak with lobstertail and jumbo shrimp for $30 on the menu. I Will be coming back for that! This place is a go.
(4)
Erica K.
Food was above average, service was horrible. Staff wasn't friendly, took them an hour to come take our order when it wasn't even busy. Worth trying and never going back.
(3)
J N.
This place is nothing out of the ordinary. The portions are huge which I liked:) but other than that I could probably make better tasting eggs.
(3)
Kathleen R.
Food is average, but great for families & big parties & I keep coming back b/c the owners are friendly & it's what makes this place special.
(4)
Chris G.
I have been coming to the Brownstone about 2 times a week for the past 5 year. I have never been disappointed with the food, the service, or the management. The menu is vast and offers everything from pancakes, to sandwiches, to salads, and steaks. They are known for their pancakes and after seeing the huge selection and tasting most of then you will understand why. Recently I have changed my diet and the Brownstone always goes the extra mile to accommodate my custom orders. Along with great food the Brownstone has some of the best servers in New Jersey. For this review I would like to mention two, Lee and Ash. Lee is always friendly with a smile and a cheerful greeting of "hi sir" or "hi sweetie". He makes sure the order is always right and is quick to offer fresh water or a container to take home what I don't finish. Another exceptional server is Ash. Ash is always friendly, attentive, and accommodating. The last piece that makes the Brownstone great is management. Everyone is exceptionally friendly from the hostess to the table crew and I am sure it is an extension of the personalities of the owners Bobby and Zoe. They are two people that know how to run a restaurant and genuinely care about their customers. They are quick to offer a "hello, how are you" and actually take the time to hear your answer. Great food, great service, great people, that sums up the Brownstone. If you are in Jersey City you should put the Brownstone on your list to check out.
(5)
Guido T.
I don't get the hype over this place. So what it was on the food network like a zillion years ago. The long wait and the annoyed staff don't really make the food "WORTH IT". We went a few times because we live in the area and each time it's worse and worse. The waitress last time couldn't be bothered to go look for Splenda for our coffee. She just said we were out. She was so big should have looked a few times . She def. could have used the exercise. Also while the plates are really big, the pancakes which is what they are know for just so so. They have a ton of topping you can put on them but really at the end of the day a $15 pancake dish is just that a pancake with strawberries or blueberries, nothing special. Also I hate the off center pictures on the wall. The will drive you nuts. You want to just get up and be like this is Jersey city not some art gallery in chelsea. Stop tying to hard.
(2)
Corinne D.
Food is good but the wait is always ridiculously long and crowded; the lobby is super small and they pack everyone in like sardines. They assign people numbers without buzzers and it gets VERY confusing, especially if someone takes your number either on purpose or by accident.
(3)
Beverly B.
I grew up eating here and spent many days after school coming here. Before all that hype with diners, drive-ins, and dives, they've always had good diner food. I'm glad this place is flourishing since it's gotten "famous" but nice to see the owner continue to keep up with customers, particularly regulars. The prices haven't changed too much, and you can't complain considering the portions. I love pancakes, so I obviously get pancakes 90% of the time. Blueberry, chocolate chips, silver dollars, all great. Their turkey burgers and chicken fingers are also good. Wait staff is fast and so is the food. If you don't arrive early, expect to wait. Overall, this is still a great place to catch some good food.
(4)
Rinku B.
Oh my god. The best pancakes ever. I couldn't understand why the syrup jug was so big, then the pancakes arrived. I went for blueberry. Amazing!!!! Definitely a stop if you love pancakes, don't go for anything else. There is no excuse not to go here. Trust me.
(4)
Claire H.
Probably the best pancakes I've ever had. These pancakes, in my opinion, are better than Clinton Street Bakery. In fact, there's a lot more pancake variety. They have interesting and appealing flavor combinations. I was really interested in trying just the pancake alone, so I ordered the short stack. And man, these pancakes are perfectly fluffy and chewy. I love that there is a tiny salty aftertaste which really complements the syrup and butter. YUM. I can eat those pancakes all day! I really recommend getting the plain pancakes. I'm sure the other ones are great, but if you're having too much trouble deciding, go with these. Along with these pancakes, we also ordered three omelettes. All were very good and fresh. The portions are generous. They fill the omelettes with a healthy helping of cheese and meats, which we loved! The homefries were piping hot. The toast was nicely buttered. Just really good, reliable diner food! The most impressive part- we went at like 9:30, just a half hour before the close at 10pm and the waitstaff was super gracious and friendly. Our waiter was a sweetheart and didn't make us feel rushed at all. The prices are very reasonable. Three omelettes, short stack pancakes, ice cream and a soda for $40. Not bad at all!
(4)
Lori L.
While my opinion of Guy Fieri as a chef and restaurateur should probably be mentioned in a separate location, his recommendations on where to find good food have been pretty spot on. Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory (featured in one episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives) is a prime example and, luckily for me, located within walking distance of my new apartment. On a weekend afternoon, I met up with a fellow Jersey resident for an introduction to this JC staple. There's not much by way of decor or ambiance, but Brownstone is a respectably sized diner, with plenty of comfortable booth seats as well as stand alone tables dispersed across the room. One key thing to note, however, is that it's perpetually busy and, as such, doesn't accept reservations. All guests will need to sign in with the host/hostess, confirm party size, and receive a number which is later called out on when the table is ready. The two of us were given a 30 minute estimate, and were seated in due time. Unable to decide between the much-lauded pancakes or a more savory plate, my friend suggested I order the latter and offered to share one of his pancakes (there's three included in the Pancake Combo Platter) with me, which I happily agreed to. The Eggs Benedict arrived first with a generous helping of french fries on the side. It's difficult to mess up a benedict (besides overcooking the eggs) and Brownstone did the item justice. The eggs were supported by a slice of Canadian bacon and an english muffin half, and were well-covered by hollandaise. The combination was foolproof and the fries were an appreciated addition to the plate. As for the pancakes, I can say that Brownstone serves up a solid plate of these treats. They're well-sized, not too dense nor too airy, and go perfectly with a pat of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup. Based on my own preferences, however, I found them a little too dry and I missed the texture found in their close relative, the waffle. Nonetheless, Brownstone offers a variety of types, add-ins, and fruit toppings that will satisfy almost any diner; with 20+ different options, it's difficult to go wrong. It's not difficult to see why Brownstone has become such a mainstay within the neighborhood; it's a solid, casual option for families and friends that serves up generous plates at more than reasonable prices. While their pancakes may not be the best of the best, they're certainly worth at least one trek, if not several more. Either case, I'm happy to have found a good dining option near me, and satisfied with my first dining experience in Jersey City. Thanks for the introduction, Xavier S! :)
(4)
Holly R.
Used to come here a lot when I was in town and enjoyed it. However, I think the LOVE has left the building. Bad service, over priced and unfriendly. With so many other options in Jersey City now don't waste your time.
(1)
Mel V.
Worth a visit when in Jersey city!
(3)
Jed S.
As a pancake connoisseur, I must say these are my absolute favorite. I come here atleast every other week to satisfy my pancake fix. They are light and fluffy and beautiful.
(5)
Suja U.
I just love this place. Their buffalo chicken pancake wrap is sooooo good The wait time is a lot but food is awesome. One of the best diners
(5)
Amanda L.
I've eaten at Brownstones several times with friends and family, and each time, the experience is always "okay". Never really great. The food isn't anything to write home about, and the service is usually lacking. How many times do I have to ask for water? Usually the place is pretty packed, so it' s understandable that it may take longer to get refills or food out. I've worked in the food service industry before and I can appreciate that. I had an experience recently that left not so good a taste in my mouth, and I wanted to inform my fellow Yelpers and diners. I ordered food alone just before lunch time during the week. It wasn't super busy. When I got my bill, I noticed that the menu price and the price on my bill didn't match. Now, I know it costs money to re-print menus, however that is false advertising and not good business. When I brought it up, I was given only part of the overcharge back in cash, and then I was told to "hush". So, fellow Brownstone diners, please check your bills with what is published on the menu.
(2)
Desiree D.
great frickin service, nice staff. fluffy, but filling and huge pancakes. wait maybe huge is an understatement. the "showstopper" killed me. bananas, choc and peanut butter chip pancakes..topped with more bananas..whip cream and drizzle of caramel. the guy fieri pancake burrito will seduce everyone of your taste buds on your tongue. sweet, savory..and spicy all in one. these dishes can not be eaten alone, bring the whole family and friends and share a dish or two or three. =d
(4)
Randi M.
This review is only for what I had at dinner. I should have stuck to pancakes. Duh. I wanted a salad, but wasn't that hungry. I got a dinner salad with a scoop of tuna. How can you screw up a salad? Well, it was lettuce, huge rings of onion and green pepper and that's it. The tuna was horrible. Wet and flavorless. The service sucked too. Our waitress was forgetful and inattentive. She forgot my egg cream, then brought me vanilla when I asked for chocolate. She was so slow. It took over an hour to get a salad and soup and an egg cream.
(2)
Srini D.
Really like the food here.. Always crowded but I guess that's a good thing. The reason I take one star away is the service is quite slow and inconsistent.. Having said that I find myself here once in a while to chomp down on the pancakes!
(3)
Rebecca L.
Food was good/normal and menu was a bit more interesting than an ordinary diner menu. I got the crazy buffalo chicken wrap in an oversized pancake. Was good but Nothing to die over. Wish I had tried one of the 31 types of pancakes instead. Service was great. Overall a solid dining experience.
(3)
Amy C.
Looked for restaurant for both breakfast and dinner as we were traveling from Chicago Found Brownstone through yelp & it couldn't have been better. Food was served hot and fast. Waitress was friendly. Portion size was more then generous Planned on one breakfast trip & went back a second day for lunch. This is a must in Jersey City area. Don't miss this fabulous American fare restaurant
(5)
Kimberly S.
Great Breakfast, so worth the trip! We're on vacation headed to New York, so we stopped in New Jersey because I've never been and I want to visit every state at least once in my lifetime. My brother-in-law recommended The Brownstone and it didn't disappointed. I had the chicken and waffle. Really Awesome! The waffle was crisp yet fluffy, with a great taste. Th chicken was awesome as well. It came with a breast, wing, thigh, and leg fried to perfection. It wasn't overly seasoned which was great because I like to drink hot sauce to my chicken. The sweet from the waffle and syrup combined with the crispy skin of the chicken skin and crisp of the waffle a long with the tenderness of the chicken was magical! Sweet and savory flavors. Everyone else with us really enjoyed what they had: my brother in-law had the pancake combo and he really liked it especially the sausage. My sister in-law had the waffle combo she really enjoyed it. My husband had the turkey omelette with hashbrowns. His omelette was okay, he didn't like the hashbrowns. But he did enjoy some of my fried chicken and loved. So my visit to New Jersey and The Brownstone was an overall winning experience!
(4)
Skii C.
Just ordered the brownstone fries and triple d guy fieri pancake wrap to go....sat at the counter top...pretty spacious ... seemed pretty busy..food was delish! The Guy fieris Buffalo fried chicken, mozzarella cheese, roasted peppers & bleu cheese, wrapped in an oversized pancake AND brownstone fries topped with cheddar & mozzarella cheeses & bacon bits, served with a cool BBQ ranch dressing was so0o0o0o0o good and the portions were so huge i had left overs ... meal was about 20$...for GREAT diner food it was well worth it
(5)
Wil M.
Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Food is excellent ... service is great. Can't complain.
(5)
Mike B.
Slightly better than average. Always a wait (for breakfast/brunch at least on week-ends.) Coffee is pretty good. They don't offer fresh OJ. Service is friendly. My main gripe is they call themselves a 'pancake factory' yet they only really have one kind of pancake: the standard buttermilk variety. Yeah, they wrap it around things, and stuff it, and bake it, and drizzle it, and smother it, but it's still the same damn pancake. How about an oatmeal pancake, or buckwheat, or whole wheat, or anything else (variety!) that you'd expect to find at a pancake house that's worth it's salt!
(3)
Analee C.
Brownstone has given me some of the best pancakes I have ever had in my life.. But they are not always consistent unfortunately. Their staff for the most part are friendly. It's a great place when you want good food but nothing fancy! Game changers? +pancakes +gyro sandwich +curly fries
(4)
Joe L.
Brownstone is a famous local restaurant. The pancakes is so good that many people drive miles to here just for the pancakes. For me, I like the Egg Florentine Benedits, it comes with fries or grits. In addition Surf and turf breakfast is another good choice. Parking is not a problem, just come hungry.
(4)
Yuko O.
I give it 3stars. Food isn't very good than I expected. We ordered fruits pancake and corned beef eggs Benedict which everyone recommended on yelp. Eggs Benedict smells from caned corned beef and doesn't tasty at all. Pancakes are yummy and fruits are fresh and matured as sweet. Wonderful point is the Service. Service is much better than I thought. They cared about a drink anytime and gave us more napkins for kids. That lady was very nice all the time. However, I think I won't come back because too crowded in the place and no need to try the other.
(3)
Barbara M.
Ordered fried fish sandwich with a side order of spinach. The fish was heavily fried and actually contained very little fish. It was awful. The spinach was perfect as was my cappuccino and the decadent desert my friend ordered. The waiter was very intrusive, he meant well but it was too much. Bobby, a manager seemed to take issue with my request for a receipt of my cash payment. I felt his harrumph, eye roll and the manner in which he flung a receipt to me to be disrespectful. He made it known he was unhappy with my request not sure if I will return anytime soon.
(1)
Robyn D.
The best diner I've ever been to. Ever. Every salad, breakfast item, sandwich, steak, burger, and dessert is perfect!
(5)
Neha S.
Best Brunch Ever! We ordered Eggs Benedict, Meat Omelette and fresh fruit buttermilk pancakes. Regular coffee refills and generous quantities of food. Loved everything we ordered! This is definitely one of my favorite spots in the city. We waited for about 15 minutes but it was so worth it!
(4)
Jeanna G.
Wow this place is pretty awesome! Came here last night with my best friend Kristina S and her boyfriend Matt after our yelp event at Liberty Prime Steakhouse for some grub. After a few drinks whats better than the diner to soak up all the alcohol? Kristina has been ranting and raving about this place for quite some time now and I definitely see why. We came in around 10 pm and were seated in a booth immediately. The wait staff is very attentive always filling my coffee/water, checking on us ect. This place is known for their pancakes so obviously we ordered the showstopper pancakes which are chocolate chip and peanut butter pancakes with sliced bananas atop with caramel sauce and whipped cream on top. They were amazing but a little heavy. Up next were the disco fries with melted mozzarella cheese and gravy you kinda have to get there at any diner you go to. Matt ordered a huge bacon omelette like seriously huge he tried to make us help him eat it but I tapped out after those pancakes. The omelette was cooked perfectly and the bacon was crisp. Kristina ordered a chicken Caesar salad wrap with curly fries. The fries were amazing being that I ate a bunch off her plate she said the wrap was really good. I'm going to have to come back here one morning for breakfast when I'm not a little drunky and can really binge out and enjoy it for myself. Until next time Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory until next time. =)
(5)
Nency P.
Went with family for brunch. Great food and reasonable price. Highly recommend the waffles. Will definitely be going back.
(5)
Desiree B.
I've never had a bad experience, everything I've ever ordered is delicious and amazing!! Must have experience in JC. Love the family atmosphere. Be prepared to wait 10- 15 mins to be seated sat/ sun after 10am, but the wait is worth it!
(5)
Shaili K.
Classic place for breakfast! Can't go wrong here. It can get super packed on the weekends so just try to come early.
(4)
Joe L.
This place is an institution, not a recent trendy pop-up appealing to the flights and fancy of yuppies and hipsters with money to spend and no desire to save. This is classic diner with 200+ items on the menu, probably 50 or more devoted to pancakes. It is, after all, a pancake factory :) Don't expect to order an appetizer and entree and expect to eat it all. If you don't like leftovers or doggie bags, just order one thing and stick with it. The plates are huge and the goal is to fill you up with enough food to last the day. An omelette for example, probably has about 4 or 5 eggs in it. Add in the meats and cheeses, the buttered toast, and the home fries, and you've got enough protein and carbs to knock you out for a good couple of hours. To this date, I have never made it to dessert, which I had been aiming to do since day one. Oreo cake, Reeses' PB cup cheesecake, Red velvet... they mock me from the counter. I know I can probably buy a slice to go. I know I can come in and only have cake. But I want to conquer it on my own terms, it is my Eleanor.
(4)
J T.
Only problem with this place is the salad my mother recently had, chef's salad. It wasn't that good and she was very disappointed. On the other hand, the Cheeseburger and Fries and the Chicken cheesesteak we had was excellent. gave you enough to save half for later. Even the Chef's salad was enough for two. Known for their pancakes and I must say they are exceptional!
The first time I came here it was with friends and they bragged about the pancakes that they were amazing. Well they are!! Been back a couple more times and the food here is delicious!! Fresh and the service is good. Great place to come for breakfast anytime!!
(5)
Gloria B.
I am from Jersey City and I come here often, the food is very good and plentiful . The service is very good! I always enjoy my time here!
(4)
Jason V.
This place is about a good 30 minute drive from me and I have to say that it is totally worth the trip. This has got to be one of the best diners I've ever been to. We went at noon on a Sunday so the place was packed. It had a full lot so we parked a block away in the neighborhood. There were 20 people ahead if us when I got my name in but we only waited about 15 mins to get seated. I had the chicken and waffles which was excellent. We also had the pancakes and pork sausage which was really good. They have a popular dish which was features by Guy Fieri on Diners Drive-ins and Dives which was a buffalo chicken pancake. I have no idea how that works but I have to try it next time! I'm definitely coming back here! PS - food portions are huge so bring your appetite
(5)
Gina D.
My husband & I love this place for breakfast. LOVE LOVE LOVE the chocolate & peanut butter pancakes which is what I order whenever we go there and they are huge. They give you 3 pancakes but I don't know how people can eat all 3, I can only eat 1 and I take the other 2 home. My husband usually will get an omelet of some kind which he always says is good. Sometimes he will get the Country breakfast wrap which is a huge pancake with scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes and sausage rolled up in it. He only gets that when he is very hungry lol. We love the breakfast here but have never had a chance to try it for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Paranj P.
What an amazing experience of one of the original truly jersey diner. Place may have be renovated but the food still tells you the history. Located in one of the up and coming beautiful area of jersey city near by the water, short drive from the liberty state park and the exchange place. Very traditional style ran establishment, the food is large in size and personality. I had Buffalo chicken pancake wrap, yes! You heard it right, with syrup and it was mind blowing. Also had lots other stuff like fried chickens and waffle, original pancake, western Omelet and much more. All was very good. Get here early since the lines are out the door. As always you have to try it to believe it. #happyeating
(5)
Alison M.
2.5 stars... The good: The pancakes are indeed fantastic. I had the Combo Roll-up Pancakes, which were 3 pancakes, each rolled with either strawberry, blueberry or apple compote. Husband had Banana Walnut Pancakes. We shared, and I'm happy to say that they were ALL delicious. The buttermilk pancakes were light and fluffy and HOT. Unfortunately, the servings were so large that we couldn't finish it all, but the prices were fair so no biggie. We also got sides of bacon (don't bother, it was like that pre-cooked bacon you get in the supermarket) and hubs got eggs over easy (he said they were good). The bad: Perhaps it was our fault for coming here at 10am on New Year's Day, but the place was PACKED and service was pretty slow. When we arrived, they told us it would be about 30 minutes. We were seated in about 20 so that was good. But then it took another 20 for a waitress to show up, another 10 for glasses of water, and once we placed our order, about 20 minutes for our food to come out (which would have been ok if we hadn't already been sitting at our table for 30 minutes). There were no water refills, and a coffee refill took 15 minutes to show up. MAJOR diner faux-pas in my book. As I said, the pancakes were phenomenal, but I do have one complaint, and that is with my husband's banana walnut pancakes. Putting banana slices and walnuts on top of plain buttermilk pancakes does not make them "banana walnut pancakes". They were delicious, but the bananas and walnuts should have been cooked into the batter...it's not even hard to do! (After you pour the batter on the griddle, you drop banana slices and walnuts into the wet batter, and then when you flip it, the banana gets all tasty and caramelized.) Still, they were delicious, but they certainly weren't "banana walnut pancakes". My husband also told me that he overheard who he believes to be the owner talking to the hostess, and he was talking about how it was busy and it doesn't matter, and the people are going to keep showing up "like this" no matter what they do. He said it sounded like someone who was "ready to sell the place or retire". Hearing that was quite off-putting to me, but poor management like that is probably the reason a lot of these reviews bring up the poor service...ownership couldn't care less, why should the waitstaff? That attitude really pisses me off. Will we be back? Maybe. There were a few other pancake varieties I'd like to try, but I'll definitely try to get here when it's not going to be busy, and I won't expect much other than really freaking good pancakes.
(2)
Yeraldine S.
I'm very pleased I don't have to go too far to find a good breakfast spot. Once I opened the Brownstone menu, I noticed they had "Rules" on the bottom which made me laugh. No splitting the check! We were seated immediately and our waiter was attentive and friendly from the moment we got there. I went for the hazelnut coffee to begin. I always feel overwhelmed when choosing my breakfast meal...it's like I crave everything at once. But ultimately I went for the old-fashioned pancakes and they were huge, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I only finished one (weak) but it's probably because I was busy devouring scrambled eggs, bacon, pork sausage. All while taking some of my best friend's french toast. She had an omelette but she was raving about the home-fries the most. I will have to go back to try more items on the menu!
(4)
Henry G.
Waffle tower awesome. Had the seafood fra diiavolo small but best I ever had at a diner.
(4)
Kristina V.
Well they are the pancake factory so I mean GET THE PANCAKES. I got the banana and I was completely satisfied and they are huge ( I shared with my bf). Weekends its super busy and I waited like a half hour but I didn't mind I figured I'd be waiting everywhere around the area. I'm sold.
(5)
S M.
I visited this morning with co-workers. What I can not understand is how the business is called a "Pancake Factory" if the pancakes are dry and tasteless. The server didn't serve but handed the plates to whoever was closest and expected us to pass them around. I was very unimpressed for a restaurant that was featured on Triple D a while back. I had previously visited their new location in Edgewater, NJ and was equally dissatisfied! I will not be going back. Score: 1 Star for atmosphere.
(1)
Maya N.
Disappointing experience. Food was ok, service was bad. Heard good things about this place so went for Sunday brunch. Were seated at the table after a wait of 15 min, which is not bad considering how busy the place was. - It took another 15 minutes for the waitress to get us water and another 10 min to take the order. This was our first time so when I was asking her questions, she very rudely said that she thought she gave us "enough time to decide our order". - Substituting mushrooms with Spinach in a veggie omelet will be extra. - 30 minute wait for the food. - Served coffee with out ordering one. Our first time so thought it was complementary, but we were billed. - Asked for French fries, but was given home fries. Too hungry to complain so just had it. - Toast came after we finished our omelets and pancakes. Requested for butter on the side, but she just didn't care and put it to the toast. Food was good, no complains. Service could have been lot better. Have been to other diners in the area with much better service and food.
(2)
Helen M.
Omg the pancakes were amazing so much food. I had fluffy pancakes before but this was massive. The slow stopper wss amazing but ypy might need 3 friends to help you out. Stuffed pancakes with buffalo chicken and cheese was insanity good. But still so much food. It was only 2 people and we had 2 side dishes and 2 meals abd it came out to be 22.78 for 2 people so much food. O yea and two cups of oj. Our waitress was super friendly. Loving it. Must go here with a group
(4)
Matt M.
Would've been 5-stars, if it hadn't been for the attitude of the hostess. I couldn't find anything wrong with this place. I had a real tough time deciding what to order, the menu was endless. Although it's a "Pancake factory", they have all the classics you would find at a Jersey diner. Food was really good, and waitress was quick and friendly. She even offered us suggestions to what to order. At the end of the meal, we went up to the counter to pay, and asked the hostess to split the check right down the middle. She gave us an attitude and told us that she can't do it, and that if we wanted it, we'd have to go back to the waitress. With the exception of that little incident, I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Crystal J.
Pretty okay place. Seating was fast and the staff were nice. The food was okay, not great like people had been telling my husband and I it was. It filled us up though, so that's always a plus. French toast- the French toast was pretty dry and had waaaay too much cinnamon on it. Chicken and waffle - instead of chicken tenders on a waffle, it was actual pieces of chicken on a small waffle. I believe there was a breast, leg, and wing. I thought that was kind of weird. The breast had lots of meat on it though, so it was good.
(3)
Janice F.
Came in here on Monday morning and it was not crowded at all. Seated immediately and proceeded to peruse their large menu and variety of items. Obviously, this place is known for pancakes and their pancakes are great. They also have pancake combos like pigs in a blanket (super large meal, but also super good!). I decided to get one of their omelett dishes (for about $8-10 you get home fries, toast, and very well filled omelette). Opted for the California since I love avocados, cheese, tomato, onions, and mushrooms! Unfortunately, the cheese was just sliced American cheese, which I'm not really a fan of, but otherwise cooked very well and worth the price. The home fries were also very good - especially if you like chunky potatoes. Toast was slightly burnt, but I like it very crispy, almost to that texture, so I didn't mind. Overall, a good place for mediocre food with good prices. Also, its proximity to the PATH train is great for a meal before a day out to the city. Note that this place only takes one card per order!
(4)
Grace D.
Went here two days in a row. First visit- outstanding. Second visit- Meh. My first visit I had the south of the border omelette with a side of home fries and French onion soup. Their home fries are my absolute favorite! Their soup is to die for. Crunchy toast inside and some amazing fermented onion taste. BOMB! I ate everything and took home my sisters and her boyfriends leftovers to go. LOL. Basically this was a five star visit. Waitress was awesome as well :) I went the next day because I take my boyfriend to all my fave food places. This time I got dinner. Spaghetti and meat balls, French onion soup and home fries with onions and peppers. Everything was just as amazing. Waitress was nice but she made this mean remark saying I ordered a lot of food for one person. Ummm... I'm pregnant. I don't hold grudges though so I let that go. What ruined this meal was the spaghetti and meatballs. There was like one scoop of tomato sauce and it was very watery. Meatballs were like a week old and turning super brown ;( I will come back to this place because their breakfast is amazing. But stick to the breakfast menu :)
(4)
Di L.
The Brownstone Diner was one of my local favs for breakfast! The pancakes are amazing, the waffles are perfect, especially when topped with fruit. The service isn't so great, the wait staff seems to just think because it's a busy diner service can be subpar which is a bit crushing. The dinner menu is ok but it only took one time of ordering non-breakfast foods to realize this place is only for breakfast. Overall Brownstone get's three stars solely based on breakfast.
(3)
Emery G.
Came here for easter sunday breakfast. Waiting no more than 10 minutes for a table for four. I was super happy to come here since it was on the food network. I ordered the french toast combo which comes with a plate of four french toast slices and eggs with bacon and a sausage. The bacon was good, the eggs were nice and fluffy with a nice melt on the cheese. The french toast was super good, not a dense bread were you get full with one and also not too much cinnamon and sugar flavors. My family member got the irish egg benedict plate and it was super good. The corned beef with the hollandaise sauce was super good. Would definitely come back for a nice quick breakfast. Staff was super nice. The TVs even had a church mass on it haha. Happy easter celebration.
(5)
Mitchell M.
Sorry Brownstone, but I have to drop you one star. It's not one thing that prompted me to drop a star, it's a bit of everything. Seems like they have lost interest in this location, and it is just on a slow decline...wouldn't know it from the crowds, but I know it from the years of coming here before places in JC got crowded 'just because'.
(3)
Lullita F.
I love this restaurant. The food, and the staff are great. My favorite things are the fish, and grits, the drinks, and their pancakes. WONDERFUL!!!
(5)
Sukant M.
Never knew about this gem inside jersey city. Triple d sandwich was definitely out of this world. Sweet and savory, different at first, but worth a try. My girl got a short stack of blueberry pancakes to die for. Piping hot, scoop of butter on the side, and a jug of syrup. Don't recommend anything else but breakfast. The calamari salad seen better days, plus breakfast is the most important meal of the day, what more could you ask.
(4)
Yvette I.
Absolutely delicious!!! My niece took us here on our vacation. There are so many different pancake specials!! Everything we ordered was soooo good! Service was fast and food was on point!!! Nutella pancakes, chicken and waffles and the guy fieri special ( breakfast burrito with pancake as the wrap!!) Try it all!!!!
(5)
Osceola H.
This diner is one of the best. I've come here many times over the past five years & have never had a bad meal. The pancakes & waffles are excellent! The service is good & the atmosphere great. The decor is clean & modern. On Sunday mornings as with most diners it is very busy, but despite this the wait time is still pretty reasonable. I think the most I've waited was a half hour. I highly recommend this diner. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Allison C.
I've only been to Jersey City once before, and it was to be a bridesmaid at the W Hotel along Exchange Place back in August of 2011. I've really had no reason to visit, otherwise. Over the years, I've had many friends move to that city; all have boasted about the awesome restaurants, bars, and various other haunts throughout. I always thought J.C. would be a pain for me to get to from my perch atop northern Manhattan, though I've learned that the PATH isn't too intimidating; I've only taken the occasion trip along to to get to Hoboken and back, so my knowledge of it was admittedly lacking. Well, once a friend bought a condo in said city, our usual Triple Trouble gaggle of gals had to join up, check out her new place, and eat copious amounts of food in celebration. Upon learning that Brownstone was bookmarked for one of us, we took a stroll around the corner to this Guy Fieri-vetted establishment. I find the man insufferable, but DAMN, does he know his diners. Upon entering around 1:30 on a Sunday afternoon, the place was packed, but our names were put into the wait list. Once our number was called and our party was accounted for, we were led to our table. This place definitely made me think of the diners I went to in my youth, namely Twin Colones Diner in Torrington, Connecticut. (What's the off-chance that one of you readers has been there? Haha...) In short: You can order breakfast food with an absurdly bright blue cocktail, if you so choose. SCORE! We went booze-less on this venture, as I wanted to save a few calories. Heh. The menu is beyond vast! The pancake menu took up a full cramped page. The French Toast, egg, and waffle options were just as opulent, even though they didn't take up as much real estate in the menu. Overwhelmed, I opted for simple French Toast but ordered a side of cheese grits along side of it to satisfy my savory cravings. One friend ordered a French Toast sandwich filled with ham, cheese, and eggs, while the other went for a pepper-filled omelette and fries. We split a stack of plain pancakes among us all. The pancakes were pretty quintessential; they were fluffy, cakey, springy, and whatever other positive describing words can be attributed to a perfect pancake. My French Toast was excellent as well; some diners and restaurants under-cook the middles, leaving too much raw egg batter uncooked, thus making me ill. (Eep!) No worries here; they were cooked well and extremely flavorful. I tasted a nice amount of cinnamon. The cheese grits threw me for a loop; they came out in a small cup, topped with butter with a slice of cheddar cheese sticking out of it. Though I momentarily questioned not eating it and pissing away that $2.50, I eventually was able to stir the slowly-melting cheese into the grits, and they were pretty damn delightful. If there is one thing that I regret about my first visit to Brownstone Diner, it's not trying some of the more outrageous items. I went pretty Plain Jane with my selection, if only because I was so overwhelmed. Well, the walk from here to the Grove Street PATH ain't too shabby, and with a friend now in that 'hood, I have plenty of more chances to try one of their more elaborate pancake stacks or pancake wraps. NOTE: They are picky about splitting checks and separate bills. They did us a solid by eventually ringing up our individual items onto separate bills (...they even put $1.75 for 1/3 of the pancakes on each of our checks. Ha!), but be warned: Don't go there expecting to throw three debit cards on the table and telling the cashier to split the bill three ways. A small sign on the cash register that none of us noticed until later was the only thing pointing that fact out.
(4)
Michelle D.
Went for Sunday Brunch and there was a wait as always but it ended up being quicker than expected. Got the Nutella pancakes which are ALWAYS a good choice and must if it's your first time and you're a chocolate (nutella) lover. We also ordered the "Irish Benedict" which is basically the eggs Benedict of my dreams with the best corn beef hash layered underneath three poached eggs topped with delicious hollandaise sauce. My boyfriend had the Guy Fieri buffalo chicken pancake wrap and it was delicious, salty & sweet combo is always a win! In the end, we were fully satisfied and had PLENTY of leftovers. Parking is almost always a pain, especially on Sunday. Your best bet is to park on the street nearby. Weekends tend to be very crowded so if you want more of a quiet and intimate ambiance, plan your visit on a weekday. Great service and even better food!
(5)
Serena N.
Delicious fresh omlettes and great service. Onion soup was tasty. Coffee was delicious too. If there is a wait you have the option of sitting at the bar area which is convenient. Gyros and Greek menu items are also delicious! Sweet potato fries were skinny fries which were as tasty and English muffing was burned. Service is friendly and quick.
(4)
Chrissy K.
Okay. The service and the food in general is a solid 3 stars. However, the PANCAKES. The pancakes are definitely 4 stars. The pancakes are a must try!
(3)
Michael W.
What Use to be a great jersey City Spot for food and fun and good company has turned into one of those places that was on Diners Drive-ins and Dives and from that moment on down-hill fast, Food served any way Cold when it is suppose to be Hot, ask a question and You get a blank stare, Even thos the Brunch Lines can be Long the tables are not clean and the Food Has gotten-"SUB-PAR",, Yes, even the Pancakes,,, How do You mess up Pancakes??? Drop in for lunch and will not be back anytime soon,,, Thank God there is a Hospital across the street,
(1)
Jack K.
The food was kinda average. Service- meh. They never refilled my coffee once. Then there are some really stupid rules. One of these rules is that you must get your own meal or there is an up charge. This is stupid considering the portions are huge. So couples can't order one meal and split to save some cash or anything. There is also a minimum charge per patron. Another is that there is a $10.00 CC charge which is actually against Visa's contract. One more. No splitting checks. There has to be one check for the table. Don't bother eating here.
(1)
May C.
Came here for dinner the other day and it was amazing! We were seated right away and our waiter brought out waters almost immediately. We took some time to look through the menu because it was really extensive, but we eventually both settled for breakfast. Breakfast for dinner? How can you go wrong? I heard great things about their pancakes, so I decided to get the Original Pancake wrap (eggs, cheese and bacon wrapped in a warm fluffy pancake). My bf wanted to try one too; he ordered the Cowboy Pancake Wrap (western omelet wrapped in a warm fluffy pancake). Wow, these pancake wraps are no joke! It was like true heaven. The pancake was so fluffy it was like I was eating a piece of heaven. It was moist and thick (not in a heavy way) and just overall amazing. With some syrup and butter, the wrap was perfect. My boyfriend really enjoyed his wrap as well. He loves a good western omelet and he loves it even more with a delicious Brownstone pancake wrapped around it. We also ordered the Banana Crunch for dessert. It was pretty good, I just didn't like that it was served in a regular bowl. It didn't look as nice as I expected. I'm a huge fan of presentation, so if it's not presented right, it's a turn off for me. Dinged a star for this. Overall, fantastic place to eat. Service is great and so is the food. Try the pancake wraps, you don't regret it! Will definitely be here again!
(4)
Tova F.
The line outside this diner always scared me away, but having finally mustered up the patience to wait in line, I can say that I am VERY happy I did! Their pancakes are TO DIE FOR-- we loved the peanut butter & chocolate one. Plus, the wait at 1 PM on a Saturday (which I imagine is their busiest time) was only 20 minutes. Just make sure you stand by the front desk, because their system of notifying you when your table is ready is very unorganized (basically, you'll be assigned a number, and woman will try her best to yell it out over the crowd, and if you're not there when your number is called, have fun waiting!). Beyond pancakes, I wouldn't waste my time on their coffee or hash browns ever again. City Diner (just a little while away) is FAR superior in those regards. BEST: pancakes, variety of items on menu WORST: front desk organization, some food items are very hit or miss (coffee/hash browns are very bad)
(4)
Christina V.
This place definitely has good food, without a doubt. But the food tasted like standard diner fare (a little better than average). Many reviews raved about the corned beef hash as one of the best, but I have to respectfully disagree. It was crunchy and tasty, but tasted quite like from "the can". I was hoping the reviews were leading me to some real fresh CBH. If it was, it didn't taste that way. Also, I received my 3 poached eggs quite oddly presented - in a side cup with a significant amount of residual water. Not something I've seen before and it was challenging draining the water out of the cup gingerly without the eggs slipping out. I would like to come back and try the pancakes...they looked pretty good. The place was packed - they must be doing something right. I just don't see a particular reason to go out of my way to go here again. Except maybe for a pancake wrap....
(3)
Jeff G.
The only thing you need to know about this place is the food is amazing and the pancake burrito is absolute heaven.
(5)
S Z.
First yelp review. Created an account just to review this diner, after sending a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau. One of my worst dining experiences, ever. Dining with my boyfriend, we took his nephew out for an early 9th birthday celebration after visiting Liberty Science Center. My BF ordered a soup appetizer with meatloaf. Finally getting the soup after all main dishes were served, he requested that it be heated up because it wasn't hot. He didn't like his meatloaf. His nephew didn't like his chicken fingers. They were made with processed chicken. The server gave me my dish, saying they didn't have "the bread with the rosemary" and quickly left. She didn't ask me if I wanted it, and never came back to ask how it was. I was famished since I hadn't eaten in several hours, and didn't want to wait for something else, so I ate half of it and all of the curly fries, even though the dry panini was not good tasting, and I didn't like the ciabatta bread it was made with. The menu stated it had focaccia bread, the main reason why I ordered it. When the waitress came back it was with a take out container, assuming I wanted to take the rest home. I said I wanted to order a short stack of pancakes, and that I didn't like the panini, and I wanted it with focaccia bread. She bitterly said to me "that's what it is" and quickly walked away. She has terrible product knowledge of their food because she didn't know what focaccia is, as she first called it "the bread with the rosemary" and tried to convince me I had that type of bread, which I didn't. When she came back she said with a stern attitude "I can't give you a refund" because I ate all of the curly fries and half the sandwich. I said that didn't matter, that I still want the pancakes. My boyfriend asked if they had maple syrup, and she bluntly said it was $2 in a bitter tone. After I told the server I didn't like the panini, she gave repulsive service until she handed us the check. She treated me like I was trying to get free food. The server has horrible customer service skills. My BF dined at this restaurant once before. He got a pancake wrap with sausage, and he didn't like it. I will also say that we shared the pancakes and they were delicious, but I will not go back for great pancakes, as a matter of principle. It was very disturbing and she was one of the worst servers I've ever encountered. The receipt had the name April A. The restaurant also had flies. After my visit, I discovered Yelp reviewer Melissa I. found a dead fly in her pancake at this restaurant. After she demanded all the meals be removed from the check, the owner cursed at her husband. People need to know about these things. Avoid this restaurant.
(1)
Dan B.
This place is amazing no matter what time of day you stop by. Came by here for a late lunch and got an iced coffee, a chocolate milk, the brownstone fries with lots of gravy and cheese and the Guy Fieri pancake wrap with crispy chicken in buffalo sauce and ranch - wow!! I never felt so full in my life. This was clearly my cheat carb day which went awfully wrong and no one stopped me. I will continue to come back and will try other breakfast items on the menu. Just a tip for those who love to eat.. park a few blocks down near all the beautiful brownstones and take a walk to the restaurant.. not only do you burn off those pancakes but you also see nice homes beautifully decorated. There! you got a Martha Stewart like review this time. Go enjoy your meal!
(5)
Madison G.
Went a few weeks ago and forgot to review it after. Went for dinner with my boyfriend and both of us got pancakes. After reading all the reviews on yelp I guess we were both expecting better. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes and he had the guy fieri pancake wrap. Honestly the pancakes in my opinion were dry. The pancake wrap was interesting but he said he wouldn't have it again. We're going to try it one more time to see if the other food is better.
(3)
Christopher C.
Went here for brunch on a Saturday. Although they said it would take 15 mins we really only waited about 5. Place looks like a traditional American diner and there are a lot of options on the menu. I chose the waffle with fresh fruit (strawberries and blueberries). This was ok - it was literally a waffle with fruit on top. The waffle didn't have much flavor. It's acceptable if you put some maple syrup on it. I also ordered sunny side up eggs and some ham on the side. Eggs were ordinary and ham was burnt. Price wasn't too bad though, considering I'm used to spending at least $15 on a brunch dish alone. The waffle itself was $8, add on another $5 for the eggs and ham side. I would come back to try the other dishes, but since I live in the city, I don't see this happening in the near future.
(3)
Kelvin C.
I'm not a breakfast guy, but I swear this place makes me crave it. Might be the only place I've said it about when it comes to breakfast. Buddy of mine recommended this place and I ended up coming here two days in a row cause it was that good. I had the Irish Benedict both times (coulda tried something new but was craving it), along with a full stack of their pancakes. I could rave about the Benedict but the pancakes are phenomenal! To be honest I knew the place was called brownstone diner, didn't realize it had the pancake part in its name. But it definitely lives up to its name! I honestly crave their pancakes which is saying a lot considering I'm not a huge breakfast fan, let alone pancakes. Came twice the past week and I can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes and pancakes. The only bad thing I could say was that even if our waitress was a pro at taking all of our orders by memorizing them, she wasn't too attentive but did her job. Also, place was so good I wish this would be a diner that's open 24 hours. Overall honest rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars
(5)
Julia K.
Super soft pancakes, friendly wait staff, and quick turnaround between order and delivery. The fruit pancake stack was delicious and huge. The standard western omelette was a little overcooked, but I thought the potatoes were cooked well. Next time I will have to try their signature dish that includes pancakes stuffed with other ingredients! This restaurant has received a lot accolades over the past years, and I think they are all well deserved. Make sure to take a look at the wall behind the cash register where you'll find articles about the restaurant's rich history and pics of their famous patrons.
(4)
Carl C.
Looking for a breakfast place within the vicinity from our hotel on the morn after the July 4th night celebrations, we found this diner for an early morn family meet up. We needed a restaurant we thought will be quick and take in 7 people easily. Not knowing what to expect, I and the rest of our group were game for pancakes and omelets. It has a small parking area, but there is street parking. Since it was ~8:30 am, there wasn't a line outside or inside the restaurant and we got a table immediately. Our waitress Vanessa was attentive, accommodating and engaging as she answered our questions promptly since it was our first time here. Menu is very large and their food items are listed on the web site. In the mood for eggs, I scrolled down the omelets section. They ran out of ingredients for the lox & onion omelet (very bummed) so I got the turkey sausage & swiss cheese omelet with french fries. It tasted fine. Nothing spectacular, but the fries were good. Their portions can be large. Pancakes are stacked in threes. I tried the coconut pancakes mixed with shredded coconut inside the batter and layered on top. They were okay, but maple syrup is needed because the coconut flakes can be dry. I found out later that Guy Fieri spotlighted the food especially the pancakes from this diner. Hmmm, after hearing this, I think I would have expected more from this diner. I've read the yelp one- and two-star reviews for this place, and I find them both hilarious and disturbing, especially with those reviews dealing with children. Since there were plenty of open tables, I don't think it would be an issue if we brought my young niece here.
(3)
Kripal P.
This is a lovely place. But be prepared with cash in your wallet, patience to be seated and bring a cavernous appetite. WARNING: Do not stop here is you are on a diet. This was always a popular place. But ever since Guy Fieri from the Food Network stopped by here, the wait is insane. You can watch the video out at vimeo.com/114024281 The food is awesome. Pancakes are a must try since this place was built on them. My favorite is the pigs in a blanket. But then again, I haven't had something I didn't like here. The serving size is huge that I usually end up taking a doggy bag. The reason for 4 stars and not 5 is that I don't like the wait and that they deal only in cash. The wait can go up to an hour on weekends. They have an ATM right next to the payment counter but will not spring for a credit card machine. Maybe it helps keep the costs down, but I am not a fan.
(4)
Clara H.
I'm usually not one for diners but this place is legit! The portions are disgustingly huge which is just what I want when I come to a diner ; ) Be prepared for a long line if you come late morning or early afternoon on the weekends however it does go fast and faster than they tell you which is always a plus. Be sure to come hungry! I had a peanut butter waffle with sliced banana, my hubby had one of the breakfast specials which included sausage, bacon, pancakes and a side of hash browns. We came with a few friends who had the waffle and fried chicken (HUGE and delicious!!) as well as the reuben. We also shared jalapeño poppers which were so good. So much food that we didn't eat dinner that night, you almost had to carry me out of the restaurant, food coma!!!
(4)
Nanci S.
I would definitely come here again. My S.O. and I were a bit hungry and after riding around Jersey City, I decided to Yelp the restaurants around here. This caught my attention. I mean, I am a HUGE sucker for pancakes and diners. It was, approximately around 5:00 p.m. when we pulled up at their parking lot, got out, and entered the diner. The place, needless to say, was pretty big. There were a few people already seated eating breakfast and my mouth watered at the sight. My S.O. had the Newport Omelet. He gave me a taste and it was simply delicious. The homemade meat sauce was the center of attention though. Oh, and cannot forget about the home fries. Simply yummy. The food was cooked perfectly. I had the banana walnut pancakes. The bananas could have been a little fresher, but it tasted amazing overall. The walnuts were great inside the pancakes. Both of the plates are served in huge portions. We couldn't eat it all. For these huge portions, it came out to 20 bucks, including drinks. I'm definitely going to come here again and eat more of their food. It's simply great.
(4)
Mary Grace T.
I feel like I'm here every Sunday. Service is great, the owners are great, and when you don't know what you want to eat, this is always a go to place. I haven't been disappointed yet (except the one time I was stupid and ordered cereal). I recommend the Irish Benedict, any basket stuffers, and the buffalo chicken wrapper. I love the Brownstone!
(5)
Claudia Z.
I was in Easton, PA for work, and drove all the way to Jersey City to try them out, all because of Triple D (addicted to that show). The menu is huge, and since I'm in Jersey almost never, I wanted to try everything. Finally settled on the corned beef hash, clam basket, and an espresso shake. No I didn't get pancakes... pancakes just does not hold up to Hawaii's Boots and Kimos, so I forgo pancakes at any establishment to save myself the disappointment. But the corned beef has was phenominal! I can't even describe it, so delicious! And even a side order is a huge serving, I can do a face plant in there and die happy. Plenty of parking, comfortable booths, plenty of TVs, friendly service, overall win!
(4)
Maryann S.
I would love to give this place 5 stars but if just can't after my last experience there this weekend. I have been here tons of times and have had many things on the menu ranging from breakfast to dessert. This past night my boyfriend and I both had dinner entrees. I had the chicken francese with some steamed broccoli, and he had calamari fra diavlo over linguini pasta. My chicken was good but I didn't really like the pieces of chicken breast they used; they were not the most tender pieces and were a little rough to eat. I also hit a vein more than once unfortunately. He said his was very good and I did try the pasta and it was tasty. The pasta was cooked more than al dente, but my expectations aren't super high when ordering Italian food at a diner. What really diminishes this rating is that we both got food poisoning from this restaurant! We both had violent stomach pains and got really sick from our food. It's so disappointing that something we were served was spoiled or contaminated in some way. Please be cautious when eating here!!!
(2)
Celeste D.
AMAZING PANCAKES! The first time I had the pancakes at Brownstone I was wonderfully delighted it was like heaven in my mouth. The Pancakes are light and fluffy and so sweet that you could probably eat it with no syrup. The service was great our food came in a timely manner and the prices were very reasonable given the high quality of the food. All in all if you want a great Jersey diner experience and some wonderful pancakes hit this place up it will not disappoint.
(5)
Mark J.
Best diner in jersey city hands down.everything is good there great service best diner food everrrrrrrrr
(5)
Safuwrah M.
There are a lot of raved reviews about this place. Granted the portions are huge and a variety on the menu. Only my partners and I second time there and the worst experience. We asked for a PLASTIC FORK..we were told we couldn't have one only for take out. I said I'm going to buy a desert after to take home. Her answer was NO..one of the manager came and started taking away our utensils and asked us to leave. We hadn't even started eating yet. There will be a major complaint filed and Brownstone diner will wish they had served us better. You never know who you will meet...rude, obnoxious, and downright nasty..
(1)
David K.
THIS DINER IS NOT A DIVE, BUT WORTH THE DRIVE! It's hard to believe that it's been 4 years since its showcasing on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It's even harder to believe that this past Friday was the first time that we watched that episode. By the time that 7 and 1/2 minute segment was over, both my wife and I had our tongues hanging out of mouths. I'm not sure if I hit my head, but for some reason my brunch plans for Sunday were now replaced with pure desire to see if this place lived up to all the hype. I bookmarked the restaurant and within minutes I received a compliment from fellow NJ Elite Gina L. who told me that her husband had just seen this very place featured on the same and that they were convinced to go there ASAP too. I knew that this place was a real deal and it would be every bit as good as Guy Fieri made it seem to be. Then I realized that if a single viewing of this Food Network program could convince both me and a fellow Elite to go, then surely others would be lining up in droves too. I looked to Yelp for some advice without fail two NJ Elites (Steve B. and Mitchell M.) both recommended that we should get in there before 10am or we would be dealing with long lines and no parking spaces in their lot. We entered the lot at 10am sharp and swooped in to grab the only available parking space. My heart sank when we got inside and saw people standing around the doorway. I imagined that despite all of my planning that we would now be forced to endure some ridiculous wait. However, Lady Luck was must have been smiling down on us because the host informed us that the wait as only 10-15 minutes long. Score! They were not joking! This place really does have 31 different kinds of pancakes on their menu. I suppose they could call themselves the Baskin-Robbins of the Pancake world, but why would they? This place has been making a name for itself for over 40 years. Anyway, as this place is a diner the menu is an extensive array of dishes spanning breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Call us crazy, but at 10am we were focused on breakfast. I decided to get the Irish Benedict (Poached eggs & corned beef hash drizzled with hollandaise sauce on an english muffin) while my wife ordered the Jack Combo (Silver dollars, 3 eggs and 1 turkey sausage). We could not have ordered better as these choices allowed us to sample from a variety of different offerings without over-ordering beyond the large servings which the Brownstone is known to provide. For the Irish Benedict, the poached eggs are served on top a layer of corned beef hash which covers both halves of an english muffin. The hash tasted as though it was made fresh for my order and was truly the best that I have ever had. I worked my way through my plate from left to right clearing down cross-sections of the eggs, hash, and muffin in one slice and trying my best to have room for the homefries. The Jack Combo was another winner as my wife got to have some morning eggs, a delicious link of turkey sausage (I ended up eating half of it, so I should know), and a full stack of their silver dollar pancakes. The pancakes were every bit as good as they were described to be on TV. They were light and fluffy and they had a unique flavor that you won't find on the shelf in your local supermarket. After finishing my plate and barely making a dent in the full stack, we called it quits. It's a shame that the Pancake House located in my town doesn't come close to measuring up against the Brownstone Diner. This place was worth every word of it's hype. It wasn't until we got to the counter to pay our check and we told the owner that we had seen his place featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives that we learned that the episode that we just watched was actually 4 years old and that the influx of people that we were seeing (by the time we left, the line was now arching out the door) was typical for a normal weekend. In 4 years time I've seen restaurants lose steam and start to go downhill, but this place seems unchanged from their resolve to make great food. We'll definitely be coming back soon as this place is our new favorite place to do breakfast! Watch the episode here: brownstonediner.com/the-…
(5)
Vincent B.
Great food with fast and friendly service. Weekends are jammed though - best to come in b/t mass on Sundays. Figure on a 20 min wait and not a huge waiting area. You can't go wrong with their pancakes!!
(4)
Kamilah G.
This place is awesome. My colleagues and I were on our way back home from a business trip and some of our colleagues recommend this diner. Waitress by the name of Theresa was a freaking Rock star. She was so personable and precise. Our food was to rave about. The Rasta pasta was not what I'm used to (being from Brooklyn) the corned beef and cabbage was on point. Can't complain and when in Jersey again I will visit.
(4)
Adrianna N.
The first time I came here the food wasn't bad. Second time will be my last!!! There was mole on my bread, distrusting. Lost appetite, paid and left.
(2)
Kevin C.
Perfect diner. Love the wraps and omelettes!
(5)
Johnny P.
Been here a couple of times and somehow i manage to forget to check in, I'll take partial blame for that but the other half of that blame gets awarded to the bartender. The staff is always friendly and Fern or Fernando being his full name is one cool a** waiter. He's great at what he does, doesn't push you around, good recommendations and explanation of the items in the menu, checks up on you but doesn't over do it like most waiters tend to and has an easy flow about him that makes you want to make sure that you get helped by him every time you come here. The food here comes in large portions so you'll have enough to eat there and take the rest home with most of their choices. If you do go in large groups try to take cash as they tend to not like to break the bill into more than 2 cards for each party. Decor wise, apart from the crooked picture frames that make you wonder if you had too many martinis, the place is warm and cozy. It does get packed for brunch on the weekends mainly between 10 - 12ish so if you do hate waiting past 10 minutes i would go at another time. The menu is extremely varied on all possibilities specially their waffles and pancake combos which is what they specialize in here. I particularly like the chocolate chip, nutella and strawberry pancakes with whip cream which come perfectly done with a golden crisp. They do hold a pretty stocked bar and make pretty solid drinks which are loaded well, the apple martinis to some taste strong, to me they're perfect here. The only thing i wish is that they stayed open until later since technically it is a diner as well. I'll make sure to visit again on my cheat days whenever i decide to break my diet and regret it the next day lol, see ya'll there :)
(5)
Nicole V.
one of my favorite diners ever, I try to visit any time I am in town. I have never had any food or drinks I didn't like. some favorites are the disco fries, chocolate and peanut butter pancakes with bananas and the original wrap. Try their drinks, they are just as delicious as their food. I once had a keylime pie martini but when I looked a few days ago I didn't see it on the menu. If they can still make it, try asking for it. I would give them five stars but their service always seems to be off. I know they are busy every time I am here but to not have a waitress even come back to see if you need water or coffee during brunch time for more than 30min is unacceptable. Luckily the food makes up more than enough.
(4)
Christina L.
Overrated and gimmicky, clearly should have known since it was featured on Guy Fieri's show. Large portions for sure, but not exactly mind blowing or that great. Would come for hangover food simply due to quantity.
(2)
Joseph C.
Love this place! Gotta try Triple "D" Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap. OMG, you need a friend to finish this. Best pancake spot. Oddly enough, I have never been here during morning times, lol. Deserts aren't that great, but not bad. PANCAKES.....this is your place.
(5)
Liz S.
Giant pancakes. Yum. Fruit compotes. Yum.
(4)
Augie R.
This is a terrific little diner--it's clean, has good service (served with a side of personality) and features one of those diverse menus you expect from a place like this (Greek, sandwiches, burgers, salads, dinners, pancakes for dinner, etc.) I have not had breakfast here (which is obviously the specialty), but my wife's dinner omelet was excellent. I liked the Gyro platter, although I've had better. I think next time I'll stick to some typical diner fare like a burger or tuna melt, which looked good. The fries are good old school potato-y fries. There is a light rail stop (Jersey Ave) just two blocks away, so it's easy to get to the Brownstone. We'll be back.
(4)
Evan M.
Out of all the many factories in New Jersey, I have to say this is my favorite one by far. Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory has been a go-to breakfast spot in Jersey City for many years. The list of pancake possibilities seem endless. It was really tough deciding which flavor we wanted. Wanting to have both my bacon and my pancakes in one I opted for the bacon pancakes. The stack was huge and had a good amount of bacon to satisfy my craving. The good thing about this place is that I did not have to worry about my cholesterol from the bacon pancake combo. If I were to have a heart attack there would be no better place to have one. Jersey City Medical Center is right across the street. Problem solved. If you are in Jersey City and have a desire for pancakes, Brownstone should be on your list. It never disappoints me every time I come here.
(4)
Tom M.
I have only had breakfast at the Brownstone, so that's all I can really comment on. I thought the omelets were great. Most recently I had a California omelet. The omelet had avocado, tomatoes and cheese in it. It was large and it was good. It came with a nice sized serving of home fries and I opted for whole wheat toast. Everything was great. The diner is very nice inside.... I like the tv's in the dining area. Prices are a bit higher than some diners.
(3)
Shing H.
I'm a big fan of diners in general, but based on the menu and reviews, this is much more on the pancake house side. I went with the "Honky tonk" (peanut butter & banana) pancakes, which were pretty tasty, but I'm not sure that it'd be worth going too far out of your way for them. The peanut butter chips added a nice texture, especially with their slightly toasted edges, but I would have liked a lot more banana. Overall the pancakes were just too sweet, even though I'd intentionally picked the peanut butter & bananas in the hope of offsetting that a bit. Coffee was typical terrible diner coffee.
(3)
Angela L.
Definitely the best dinner food I ever had. Ordered guy's buffalo chicken pancake wrap, south of the boarder omelet, jersey city French toast. All of them are delicious! Will go back there next time we go to NYC, and stay in nj.
(5)
Daniel G.
Pancakes were awesome. Either have them a la carte or as a wrap (i.e. Buffalo chicken). Gets a bit crowded on the weekends and you can definitely notice when you enter the restaurant - front area is packed and hard to get to the hostess. Nonetheless, the food is worth the wait, prices aren't bad and the vibe is chill.
(4)
Michelle M.
Warning: This place is jammed packed on the weekends. But we toughed it out and got a table in about 30 minutes. The food is quite good. Portions are very large. Typical diner fare. I assume it is so crazy there because of the Triple D visit. I would have given it 4 stars, but the table they seated us at the floor was quite filthy. I mean, I know you want to turn business around quickly, but at least sweep up other people's gross, chewed up food stuck on the floor first. Yuck!
(3)
Kendra J.
The Brownstone Diner is a big staple in downtown Jersey City. There is plenty of seating, yet there is still a line during brunch-time on weekends. The menu has an enormous variety with every dish you can think of. All the food I've ever had there has been really good and comes in sizable portions. You will not leave hungry! Some of my favorites are the eggs benedict with ham, and the toasted blueberry muffin. The crowd is a bit mixed, but that is expected. The owner and wait staff are friendly, but service can sometimes fall a little behind on weekends given how busy they are. All in all, definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Parmjit B.
My first time here and i am food lover....quantity was good and that is the only sliver lining here...quality was average at best and waiter service is horrible....i asked for a check it took them over 20 mins to get me a check and no straws were provided even after asking for one twice to drink water out of the glass....i will give it zero stars given that was an option....just horrible management and overall service to go along with average quality of food.
(1)
Lovet O.
Service is becoming terrible and the food is so-so. I have been to Brownstone Diner three times since my last review and I'm noticing a decline in service and quality. "Mister" and I were overlooked when were waiting to be seated, the server did not pay attention to detail when it came to our order, we experienced "false advertising". "Chicken in a Basket" my a**. It was more like fries in a basket with a hint of chicken. And the chicken was dry and tough too. I don't know about this place anymore.
(3)
Mel C.
As far as diners go, and there are so many, this one doesn't disappoint. Eve though there were a lot of people waiting to be seated, it didn't take long at all... Pretty quick service and kind service too. The waffle is light and fluffy and huge, along with the corned beef hash, had to try the sausage too... Too much food, but that's not a complaint!! Solid diner and I'm glad we tried it!
(4)
Brian C.
As the girlfriend says "the pancakes were 'to die for'". If you have the chance to eat here- don't miss it. The pancakes are that good! Don't bother with a Bloody Mary tho. Those were bad. Lol.
(4)
J C.
The food is very good, but parking can be a hassle.
(4)
Kersonder W.
This place was awesome. The people are so friendly and they pancakes were awesome! I could not finish as a regular stack of pancakes come with three, but the are HUGE!! One is as round as a dinner plate. I will definitely be back, but order just one pancake next time!
(5)
Monica V.
Solid breakfast spot. The buttermilk pancakes are very good. I usually get the pancake combo. You cannot beat 3 huge pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The lunch items are also very good. It is insanely busy during the weekends so be prepared to wait. The staff is fantastic and it's definitely one of those places that you come back to over and over again.
(4)
Megan G.
This was the first meal I had when I moved from New York to New Jersey. I woke up starving and when I found out there was a pancake FACTORY, well, of course I was going to have to come here immediately. I was horrified to find upon arrival that Guy Fieri had left his greasy skid marks here at some point, but the food won me over and I was able to overlook that fact. It was certainly not my last visit, and it was one of the bright spots of my one year stay in New Jersey before I moved away. I loved the banana nut pancakes, but I also liked the burgers and never had a bad meal here. It does get crazy in here for weekend brunch, but it's much more relaxed in the off hours. I was curious about some of the really negative reviews. Then when I realized that a lot of them are from parents whose toddlers who break crap and had to pay for what they broke, well, that goes into the plus column as far as I'm concerned. I've had a lot of meals ruined by screaming toddlers whose parents seem to think they're entitled to turn every restaurant into a Gymboree, so this warms the cockles of my cold, dark heart. This ain't IHOP. Get your kids to behave, as many parents seem to manage, or GTFO. I'm back on this page because I'm planning to make a trip to NJ soon and I will be stopping here. Well, I came back to see friends, but this is also one of my must-go destinations, because...DID YOU NOT SEE THE PANCAKE FACTORY PART? *drool*
(5)
Mark S.
Great Pancakes! Featured on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. Get there early as the lines can get long on the weekends. They also offer pickup which could be convenient on the weekends.
(4)
Mai Y.
Me and the roommate came here for breakfast one time - I ordered chocolate chip pancakes and he ordered the french toast. I was really surprised at all of the variety of food they had. Not only do they have a TON of pancake types/choices/selections, but they have burgers, sandwiches, omelettes, french toast, and a lot of other things if pancakes aren't your thing. The prices are great (about $7-8 for my pancakes) - and I could only eat half of the pancakes because they were so big. I think I'd only come to this place for the pancakes though...since it IS called the pancake factory. There are so many choices, and you could have something different every time you come here!
(4)
Rachel D.
Been there twice and both times were let downs. Highly overrated. Food was slow to get to our table and the waitress even got the order wrong.
(2)
Jason B.
I saw this place on Drive-in, Diners, and Dives so I thought i would try it out. When I arrived with my toddler and infant, I was told that I needed to wait for a particular table. No problem. So I asked if I could get a cup of coffee while I waited which I thought was a reasonable request. The manager rudely replied to me "what am I going to put it in?! I don't have cups here." REALLY.... He couldn't just grab a cup of coffee for me??? Unbelievable!!! Then, the host skipped me for another family with a child the same age. Seriously?! I was pissed now. The stupid host looked at me like I was crazy for getting upset with him. For their initial service, I give this place one star. When we finally were sat, the service was fast and the food was only OK. They do provide large portions. You could easily split a child's pancake and one of their pancake wraps between two adults and one toddler. For speed of service and only ok food, I give this place three stars. Unfortunately, the horrible initial service is the reason why I will never go there again. There are too many good NJ diners to waste my time again at this place.
(2)
Hope T.
I just don't get it! This single handedly has diminished my faith in Triple D. Owners must offer something to get a spot on the show, for sure. Restrooms filthy- and if they keep public aresas dirty what must the kitchen be like. I too witnessed a server exit the lav without washing hands-yuck The crowds brought on by Triple D just make this experiebce not even worth the effort for another vist. The famous pankakes were plentiful-but I HAVE had better. Its a good servicable dinner-nothing else
(2)
Jami A.
Not sure this place even needs another great review the foods phenomenal. Expect a wait. People seem to come from all over just to eat here and now I know why. Once we were seated our waitress was far from the typical miserable diner server. She was upbeat, knowledgeable about all the dishes and even got my friend to change her original order based on her recommendation. My friend had the breakfast bruschetta which she claimed was incredible and I went for the loaded omelette which was like a loaded baked potato on crack, so good. Portions are big so bring an appetite. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Anna K.
I want to start off by saying that the food was actually pretty good. In fact, for diner food, I would give it 4-5 stars. However, the experience itself was dreadful. We come in and the hostess asks us how many (2?) and quickly ushers us to a booth. The only problem was that there was still left over food and drinks on the table. We stand staring at each other awkwardly as she assures us to sit down and that she will be right back to clean up. Now this isn't my first time at a diner, but don't the tables usually get cleaned before you sit down? Strike one. She comes back about 2 minutes later with a wet rag and removes most of the food and quickly wipes down the table. Yes, I said, MOST of the food. She still left some milk there for the duration of our lunch. Strike two. After some time the waitress appears and asks to take our order. We weren't yet ready so we ordered our drinks. This seemed to annoy her, but having no other choice she returns five minutes later and takes our order. Here is how that conversation went. Her (to me): What would you like? Me: Spinach Salad Her: (to my husband) How about you? Husband: French Fries and Hot Wings. Her: hmmmm Husband (pointing to the only hot wings on the menu): This right here! Her: OK Her (to me): What would you like? Me (blank stare): I asked for the Spinach salad, were you not paying attention? (note: do not do this unless there is an open kitchen and you can be assured that she won't spit in your food) Her (slight laugh): Ok Husband (to me): She's smart. She knows better than to listen to you. (Strike Three) I also want to note that at no point were we offered or received a glass of water. Like I said, the food redeemed this place, but not enough for me to return. Even though it was lunch time, every table around us was eating pancakes and they did look delicious and HUMONGOUS. I wanted to trade some of my spinach salad for a few bites of pancakes with the nearby table, but that would be weird, right?
(2)
Mary B.
Unbelievably huge and tasty pancakes. Great find in the middle of the gritty city. Excellent service even at 6:00 a.m. I'd give it 5 stars except the men's room had a clogged toilet and unusable. Ladies room was fine.
(4)
Frank S.
Try their London Broil dinner and you will be sold on the Brownstone. Also, great table service.
(5)
Carissa L.
Between the stories I've heard about my friends going here, and me finally having my own experience for breakfast, my conclusion is this: There is SO MUCH GOOD happening here. How could there be anything wrong with a place that offers a giant pancake filled with eggs, home fries, and sausage? There couldn't be. This dish is the 'itis' waiting to happen...but so worth it. I got an omelet with tomatoes and American cheese, and it was pretty good. The toast was perfect and the home fries were some of the best I've ever had. I'm a huge stickler for home fries as they're one of my favorite foods, so this is a serious assessment. They had a sort of buttery taste to them and yet they were so simply seasoned. Whatever they're doing in that kitchen, they're doing it right. The waitress was also kind enough to top off my coffee, which I haven't ever experienced in a NY diner. She was attentive and checked in on us even though she was very busy. I never thought I'd say the sentence "I wish I lived in New Jersey" but yowza! ;) I wish there was a Brownstone Part II in New York!
(5)
Karen X.
No wait for 6 at 9:30am sunday. Good pancakes, good waffles. So-so on the French toast. Omelets are good. Service could be much better. I asked for coffee and cream - received only the coffee. Had to wave down waiter for it. And why should I have to hunt down the waiter for a refill?? That should be automatic!
(3)
Liz L.
After traveling for work a few days and eating less than delicious on the go/hotel breakfasts the colleague I was with who has come to this place often told me he was taking me to a great breakfast place...I was excited to get some good breakfast food. When we drove up I remember this place being on the Food Network... on Drive in Diners and Dives (Keep in mind I HATE Guy Fieri-I wouldn't trust his opinion on anything-). Well the food certainly did not let me down...nor did the selection. I had an omelet that was the size of my head that came with toast and hash browns...all of it was delicious and fresh and just really good tasting. My colleague had a HUGE stack of pancakes that were deliciously fresh looking. They had a little bit of everything. The place was clean with an old timey atmosphere... The place isn't super friendly (When we walked in the guy who is I think supposed to be the host didn't get up from the booth he was sitting at reading his paper and just pointed behind him and told us we could take any seat-they seemed friendlier on the TV) and a little slow the waiter never brought us a check until he saw us go up to the counter and try to pay. (hence why they lost a star). Also foul language was coming from the staff (I think I heard the word Shi% like 3 times from a waitress-It was loud and audible-It did not appear to be directed at a customer but more like oh Shi% I forgot to do something)...so perhaps if you have small children you should be aware. I would come back again (yes the food was that good) but I would allow myslef a little more time. So if you want good food and are not in a rush and are not concerned about friendly atmospheres stop by for a warm good hearty breakfast.
(4)
Astra G.
So i've been here many times and yes the food is great (though one time I got a really mediocre chicken bruschetta sandwich), and the servers are nice...but no one ever mentions the booze! For a diner/restaurant their drink menu is extensive. Not only do they have many drinks but the prices are great. There is also a very long list of just coffee related drinks... Most, if not all, of the drinks are $5-$6. I always come here to pre-game. Too bad they close at 11.
(5)
Michael R.
Came here a few months ago after seeing it on triple d. The pancakes were huge! Very tasty though. I just got a regular breakfast meal with eggs and sausage. Nothing fancy, but great quality. I also got an order quesadillas. They too were pretty good. Next time I go I'll be a bit more adventurous in my tasting.
(4)
Rohit D.
The fluffiest, most satisfying pancakes I've ever had. Not enough? How about a sausage and egg platter wrapped in one of those pancakes? Clever plethora of breakfast based concoctions. I recently read NJ does pretty well in terms of relative obesity in the nation. But with Brownstone in the same state, I can't understand how.
(5)
Lamar H.
Best Breakfast Spot in Hudson County . The Pancake Wraps are one of a kind .. Don't believe me just order !!!!!!!
(5)
k f.
Updated to confirm that the fries I remembered from a decade ago are still ridiculously awesome. Sorry for the delay, but it's almost impossible to get something other than their amazing pancakes. My new favorite pancakes are the chocolate peanut butter mix. Oh man. But I need to focus...I came here to post a pic of the fries.
(4)
James H.
First off, the portions are HUGE! Second, the food is really GOOD! I was really happy with my experience eating at the Brownstone. The food was awesome, the portions were gigantic, and the service was pretty good, even for things being really busy. I got the Pancake Wrap and my gf got some type of omelet platter. We both could barely finish our food and were stuffed for hours. It was good too. Although as listed, they have some crazy rules like extra charge for plate sharing and no splitting the check.
(4)
JohnandPenni L.
While neither of us are from areas that have a big "Diner" culture, this place fits the bill for what we think of when that term comes to mind. The menu is large, the service was good and the atmosphere was very nice. We ordered the chicken cordon bleu and Rib eye. Both were AMAZING!! Our only reason for not giving 5 stars is due to the fact that we don't have enough comparable knowledge to warrant it. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed!!
(4)
Erin H.
Living on the same street as this place is seriously dangerous. It is way too easy to wake up, roll out of bed, and get diner food. The best diner food. Sadly, though, I haven't been able to branch out much at Brownstone because between my fiance and I, one entree order is always taken up by peanut butter and jelly pancakes. These pancakes are serious business. I generally don't like pancakes. They always seem leaden and boring. These are light and sweet. And the addition of peanut butter chips and jelly is sheer genius. The omelets are huge; I always have leftovers. Also, a huge plus is that they offer grits as a choice of a side before 3 pm. Grits in New Jersey?! That makes a Southern expat very happy. It does get crowded on the weekends, but the staff really hustles to turn tables. The host stand always has a handle on the situation, regardless of the level of craziness. And believe me, Brownstone is so worth the wait.
(5)
Eric L.
Great food, fast friendly service. I go for the corned beef hash and eggs...a food coma will ensue.
(5)
Deborah D.
Epic Jersey diner featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives located just a short walk from our condo? We rushed to eat here EARLY on a Saturday morning soon after the episode aired. It was already pretty crowded, but we were seated right away. Let me just say that the atmosphere is classic diner, right down to the waitresses pouring it on all syrupy thick with their Jersey accents and looooooooove. As a Jersey girl married to a Midwestern guy, I had to laugh. There is nothing so classically Jersey as a diner, and the Brownstone is as classic as it comes. So the food was fantastic, but every plate was enough food for at least 2 hungry, I mean REALLY HUNGRY people. I ordered the pancake wrap, which is basically a massive burrito made out of buttermilk pancakes, which came with bacon, eggs, and cheese inside. I ate about 1/3 of it and then got too full to move (I'm sub-100 pounds)...and my husband, who had made his enormous omelet disappear swooped in and ate another 1/3. We took the other 1/3 home and I heated it up in the oven and ate it for breakfast the next day. Like I said, epic. Another visit entailed some dinner after happy hour at the nearby Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden. I got the corned beef hash, eggs, and toast, which was nothing a foodie would write home about, but still comforting and good. Bottom line - comfort classics, made well and made BIG. Dress in stretchy pants.
(5)
Ngoc P.
I can't get over how crowded they are every weekend during breakfast/brunch. And the waiting area sucks. Pancakes are out of this world. It's like dense, fluffy, buttery, and light at the same time? I don't get it but I don't argue it either. Stay away from the french toast, it's Brownstone PANCAKE factory. I recommend going sometime other than the weekend mornings. It can get pretty hectic and it somewhat ruins your brownstone experience. But overall, it's a nice diner with awesome fries and pancakes. P.S. they have sweet potato fries.
(4)
Michael G.
As you can see by my check ins I come here alot. Living only a block away from the diner has become a problem...a good problem to have. I'm usually here at dinner time but I still have trouble deciding whether I want breakfast for dinner. The pancakes are amazing possibly the best I've ever had (besides grandmas). I have a few favorite sandwiches that are down to perfection...the hungry man, the chicken parm sub, and the chicken cordon blue panini done as a wrap. The fries are always perfectly crispy. The side Caesar is also really good when I'm trying to be a little healthy. And I can't forget the onion soup, better than you can get at most expensive French restaurants! The staff is great and really friendly...I always chat with Bobby when he's up front. All the waiters and waitresses are super friendly and great at what they do. I love living so close to this place!
(5)
Deprina G.
Everyone's reviews is right when it comes to the food but being a recently New comer I went to this Place 3 Times and not once was the Service Good. Its kinda like they have a cocky attitude. Yeah we Have the best food but we don't have to Give good service. On the first visit we never seen our waiter again after he took our order...until he brought our eggs which he forgot 20minutes earlier....they were runny and oily ehh the Second time I waiter didn't even greet us .." Hey Tell me what you Want" ...Im sorry but they is not how we address customers in the Midwest. then even though he never checked on us he keep looking back to see if we wanted to Leave a Tip. the third time i had the same waiter and I just couldn't if you go here your best bet is to Order take out so you don't have to deal with the staff.
(2)
Sara E.
This is such a great go-to place when you can't decide on what sounds good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've had the turkey and swiss omelet - it's like actual carvery turkey - and is quite possibly one of the best omelets I've had. Definitely the best I've had on the East Coast. It's best to go at weird hours, otherwise the line snakes out the door. But when you're there with only a few other customers, it's pretty much the best ever. No lie. I've had a few of the salads too, when I'm feeling particularly healthy but want to drink a glass of wine. Final verdict - the menu is SO robust that everyone in your party will find at least 3 things they'd like to order. Choice is NOT a bad thing. It just makes you want to go back and try all the different things you didn't get a chance to try before.
(4)
Matt S.
I have been to the Brownstone Diner a few times since I went to Saint Peter's near-by, but I still have yet to order some pancakes. I'm not sure why this is, but whenever I walk in, I'm never in the mood. I always order some kind of burger or wrap with their delicious fries. I went again a few weeks ago when I had some time by myself to grab some food. I ordered the Buffalo Chicken wrap, which was decent. It wasn't the best, nor was it the worst. I did have some stomach pains later in the day, which makes it feel like it moved a little towards the worst side, but those fries always, ALWAYS make up for it. Delicious. I will definitely be back randomly, just like this past time, but hopefully I will order the pancakes. I doubt it though.
(3)
Tova B.
My out of town friends LOVE the Brownstone Diner. One of the best things about the Diner is the large and vast menu, which has pretty much every option you can think of at a diner. Their claim to fame is pancakes with... anything baked into them. Strawberry pancakes, banana pancakes, sausage pancakes bacon pancakes, etc. You think of it, they got it. But mostly standard diner fare. Service is okay. Been there when the service is fantastic, been there other days when flagging down a server is impossible. Maybe it's just a New York thing, but I expect diners to be open 24/7. Or at least late night. It seems the Brownstone closes around 10.
(3)
Yasmin B.
I went here after a friend of mine kept recommending I go, with pics to match, I braved traffic in Midtown to get to Jersey and fell in love as soon as we sat down! The place is comfy and cute and everyone smiles! The booths are huge and you can actually sit in them and not feel like a pearl in a very small oyster :D We all ordered pancakes...I was so hungry and the menu was so big I started to shake and just stuck with the first page....OMG so much to choose from. I ordered a side of fries, which our awesome waitress brought right over because she could see I was hungry. Even those were good! The pancakes were light and fluffy and too much for one or even two sittings. I have to say the waitress did warn me, but I like to eat and I thought she was exagerating. I had the banana/walnut pancakes and just finished eating them today (took three days). My kids had the chocolate chip (silver dollar pancakes) and the peanut butter/chocolcate pancakes and they're still eating them. I love the food! (Did I say that already?) After stuffing myself into a coma, I looked behind me and the owner was making sure that all of the tables had salt, pepper, ketchup and napkins.....he was standing with his staff making sure everyone was taking care of the little things that can quickly aggravate a customer. He even caught my eye as I was looking around and looked like he wanted to JUMP over the tables to help me. I didn't need anything but a bed...I was fine. I love this place! (Did I say that already?) My mom even called her sisters to tell them where we ate and what we had. YUMMMM (Did I say that already?) Definitely worth the trekk and the toll to Joisy, plus you can get cheaper gas than in NY....I love this place (Did I say that already?) Oh!! And our bill for 4 breakfast feasts that lasted three days.....$36! If you calculate the per day bill for all of our meals we paid three dollars a day.....and it was soooo good! (Did I say that already?)
(5)
Katie N.
Brownstone is a solid choice for breakfast/brunch. The food is pretty good - although, I haven't had the famous pancake pig in a blanket. The portions here are huge - so if you're not a big eater - it might be a good idea to share. Also, depending on the time you come -- it will be packed crowded and probably a minimum fifteen minute wait to get seated. Sometimes this also makes the service a bit slow. Last time I went - our waitress was really sweet but she kept forgetting what we asked for. We never got our orange juice or ketchups. I know she was really busy.... but still. One time I got chocolate chip pancakes (one of my favorite dishes) but they were AWFUL. There were probably about four chocolate chips in each pancake and they weren't very good - kind of burnt and airy. They didn't taste like they had any chocolate chips in them at all. Boo. Bottom line: good breakfast food, big portions, decent prices - usually super crowded.
(3)
Dana W.
Literally have never had one thing that I did not absolutely live here...and I have been going for at LEAST 10 years, maybe more!!!!! The atmosphere is bustling, the staff is amazing, and have all been there a long time. The crowd is eclectic and it works. Expect long lines on the weekends, but it moves..... The family who runs it makes everyone feel like family. Hands down my favorite place to eat in all of Hudson County!
(5)
Irene H.
Come here if you aren't afraid of lines and love huge portion sizes. Quality on the other hand... I got the muscle man pancake wrap - huge buttermilk pancake with turkey sausage (yummy), fluffy egg whites, and cheddar cheese. The pancake was eh and dry. And that's what makes up most of its menu - pancakes. I guess most people douse their pancakes in butter and syrup. I tried some of the beef hash and chocolate chip pancakes - nice crispy edges but otherwise didn't have enough chips and texture was the same as the wrap. Clinton Street Bakery still has my vote for best pancake.
(3)
Indy S.
Everyone has their favorite breakfast spots, but as far as diners go, BrownStone beats out the rest. It's a family owned and operated establishment that has been featured on guys big bites, and you can't go wrong regardless of what you order. Portions are huge, and the staff treat you like family. Massive pancake selection my wife loves, and my personal favorite, the eggs Benedict, one of their many specials. BrownStone has been graced the the presence of many local politicians, Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, Cory Booker, an Steve Fulop. Had lunch at BrownStone today, the grilled chicken sandwiches are large enough for 2 people to share, that is unless your planning on taking a nap afterwards, or participating in an eating contest. Only recommendations I have for management is, turkey bacon for the menu. Parking is terrible, and be prepared to wait 20 minutes to be seated, yep, it's that good!!
(5)
Mike S.
Overall the place was nice the staff was good the place was nice but little on the expensive side
(3)
Yang C.
Had guy fieri's chicken pancake burrito. The burrito is damn huge and I can barely move after I eat it.
(5)
Jacob M.
One of the best places to get brunch in Jersey City. The diner is very well-known, having been featured on the Food Network numerous times and frequented by the likes of Chris Christie and Cory Booker. So you can imagine I was very excited to visit. The place is huge, but still always has a wait. Luckily, it was only ten minutes on our visit. The decor is very homey. High ceilings, chrome mixed with wood, a very laidback vibe without the hyper brightness that is the feature of many other diners. The food was pretty good diner food. I got the three eggs, homefries and toast with a side salad and was very happy. The portions are very large, and they even managed to cook my rather fussy order of over-medium eggs correctly. (A feat that few other restaurants actually do.) Plus, the food was inexpensive, so that can't be beat. The one star deduction is for the service. While our waitress was friendly and attentive, I did have to mention that a few of my breakfast items were missing, having parts of my breakfast come out in longer than ten minute intervals from each other and receiving someone else's dish. But we're all human and it's very busy there, so I didn't mind too much. Again, again please!
(4)
Rebecca M.
Me and my dad went to this place back when it first opened and boy was it horrible. I went there with my boyfriend recently and I was terrified to go because of the past memories, but my friends recommended this place so I gave it a try again. Omg this place is awesome now!!! Best diner ever and inexpensive :D
(5)
Anne G.
This place never disappoints! I think the worst thing about brownstone is trying to decide what you're going to order. From pancakes, to waffles, to wraps, to omeletes, to sandwiches, to salads, to steaks, to pasta - the choices are endless! I love the variety and I definitely love this diner! The showstopper pancakes (peanut butter & chocolate chip pancakes topped with bananas) and the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter pancakes topped with bananas) are my favorite! If you're a peanut butter lover, you'll love these two kinds of pancakes! The pancakes are so soft and so fluffy! One of the best that I've had! The pancake wraps and the waffles are very good as well! The omeletes are good. They come with toast & homefries, French fries or grits and you have a choice to add a meat side. Generous portions. My recommendation to all the French fry enthusiasts is to try the Brownstone fries (curly fries topped with cheddar, mozzarella, bacon bits, and BBQ ranch dressing)! The absolute best! You definitely won't regret it! Awesome diner, awesome staff, awesome food!
(4)
Yves V.
I have driven by this place a hundred times and never gave it a second thought. However, one day, I finally ate here with some coworkers for breakfast. There are good pancakes, and then there are great pancakes. Brownstone serves perfect pancakes. They really are in a league of their own. You often see the word "homemade" thrown around a lot on restaurant menus, but very little hardly ever measure up. Brownstone's pancakes taste homemade in every way. Their eggs and sausage are also very well prepared and can hold their own with the best diners I've been to. This is one of those few places where you enjoy your meal so much, you don't care about the cost. You will find pretty standard NJ diner pricing here, but the quality of food you get for that money is more than worthy of that price tag. Jersey City restaurants are always tight on parking and this place is no different. They have a parking lot, but it fills up pretty quick during peak hours. The interior is kept clean, but all the furniture and decor is pretty plain. The crowd is a very mixed demographic. Overall, there's nothing that really sets them apart from the countless other diners in this category. The staff are very nice and attentive. The food we ordered came out super quick and as described. There's not really much more you can ask for in a diner. Food: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Environment: 3/5 Service: 4/5 I can definitely see why this establishment was featured on 'Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives'. Their food is top notch and I will be back for more in the future.
(4)
Alex V.
This place has my favorite pancakes. They're so fluffy and satisfying, especially when you top them with loads of syrup and cup of butter on top. I love to get that with a side of pork sausages. They really know how to prepare those Thumann's breakfast sausages -- the skin is so crispy and the inside is really moist and delicious. This place is great when you have a hangover of any kind. Their breakfast gets rid of it pretty quickly. It's very easy to order too much food and overeat here. The service here is descent overall, but I really don't like one of the hostesses. The thin, fair-skinned, black haired one, who's usually during the less busy times. She's not hospitable at all. Not offensive or anything, just doesn't smile or say anything. Apart from that, this would be a five-star diner.
(4)
Don B.
I currently live in Queens, NY. Brownstone's Diner and Pancake Factory is a 45 minute drive from where I live. I would GLADLY make the drive to get there for their pancakes. These will absolutely be the best pancakes that you will ever eat in your life. These will also be the best waffles that you will ever have. The same goes for the omelets. You will not leave this place hungry or unsatisfied. Every person that I have taken here has agreed that it's worth the trip. Now please open a location in Queens.
(5)
Christopher H.
Pancakes. So many pancakes. Light and fluffy and oh so delicious. Being a diner, you'd think they fall into the trap of jack-of-all and master of none. Not in this case. I haven't been done wrong by the burgers or any non-pancake entree. I like the country breakfast pancake wrap, so much food, it just never ends. Somehow it just works, I don't question it. This place will hit the spot for pancakes or anything else if you're into that sort of thing.
(5)
Yolanda B.
Oh man! I'm definitely in heaven. I love pancakes I could eat them every day. I came out to Jersey city to visit a friend. I wanted some breakfast and saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed the service was excellent I didn't have to wait long for my food. I ordered the banana walnut pancakes I was so stuff. I will definitely will be coming back here next time with my son. I know he is going to love it and you will too.
(5)
Kent H.
Would give four stars, as the food is decent - however - I am an early bird, and recently came for breakfast here at 6am. The music was blaring loudly (like its 2am and I'm out boozing loud) - most likely a remnant of the late night crowd. As the only person in the place, I asked if they could lower a bit - and was told they had no way to as the controls were downstairs in the managers office. They can't control the music volume? Really? Really? Ha ha - won't be back
(2)
Brenna W.
A diner with a bar is okay in my book. I got a Grey Goose slightly dirty martini and it was surprisingly just right. I've been to upscale restaurants that can't seem to get that right, making the martini too dirty, so I was impressed by that. Also had a very good burger that actually came out medium rare as I ordered it. A lot of diners tend to overcook burgers in my opinion, so that was a major point in their favor. Waitress was unfriendly though.
(3)
A K.
Came here to eat my last dinner before my Spartan Race. So, I clearly decide to do the right thing and eat breakfast foods for dinner. I got the Blueberry & Cream Belgian Waffle with a side of bacon. To my surprise, my side came with like....8 slices of bacon on its own plate. I am not used to paying $3+ for a side and getting that generous amount of anything "side-related." Usually I see some dinky two stripped bacon addition on my plate and I was really happy this place gave you your money's worth. If I fell off a cliff during my race, at least I knew I ate well the night before and got my bacon fix. After my Spartan Race, my friend and I were so impressed with the menu, we went back for our congratulatory meal and ate burgers. SO DELICIOUS! This place is impressive with their extensive menu and quick service.
(5)
Dario D.
Best pancakes hands down. I have been going here since I was a kid. It was the Newport Pancake house. Alway good food. They serve generous portion. Whenever I want a good breakfast, this is where I go. Family own place; where you can never go wrong.
(4)
Kathy M.
This is one of my faves in Jersey City. Great food, although enormous portions! Turkey sausage is my go to on the menu. Sometimes the service is unpredictable, but owners are great people who truly care about their business.
(5)
Wei V.
Love the pancakes and breakfast menu. I have tried: old fashion pancakes, apple pancakes and pigs in the blanket. They were all very fluffy and yummy. The sausage was a must have item as well. I would take off 1 star for the entry menu items. Well, after all it's a diner. Also, minus 1 star for the inconsistent service, especially with the host. I went there last Sunday (7/8/12) and found the host were pretty mean. I said "thank you" after she showed us the seat. She just looked at me then walked away, without saying a word or smile on her face.
(3)
Tameica R.
I love this place!!! Went over the weekend with my pooh and wow did we have a great time. Hostess was nice as well as the waitress. I will definitly come back for the pancakes :-)!!! i heart this place!!!
(5)
Debby S.
I have ate here many times and this evening was a mess I do not know what has happen their but not good at all. We order Hot open turkey and what we got was a dish straight out of the refrigerated. I am not joking the food was ice cold and they poured hot gravy over it we send it back and I told management and she did noting never came over to the table to see if it was corrected noting not a word when we left noting not a word. I wasted good hard earned money and to top it off some young water was laughing at me when I left. This was a horrible experience and my sister and I had a friend with us who we told how good this place was it was an embarrassment . I do not know what has happen there but the wait staff was always so good and the management was also. This place has declined and it is sad the wait staff needs some serious training. I never write any thing like this but that is how bad my experience was this evening.
(2)
Roma A.
Pancakes pancakes pancakes!!! The most delicious pancakes I've ever had. Okay so now that I got that out of the way let me start by saying that we went in the group of five and ordered a lot of food not realizing how big the portions were. The service was amazing regardless of the fact they were super busy. The waiters were funny and charismatic making our stay more enjoyable. We received our menus when seated and boy was it a LARGE menu. Pages upon pages of foods that were described so deliciously. We went for breakfast...and ofcourse arrived later at around noon...but stuck to our plan in ordering breakfast foods. I ordered a south of the border omelette minus the ham with fries. The others ordered an egg white Taylor ham and cheese sandwich, eggs over easy, seasoned curly fries, corn beef hash, banana walnut pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, and nutella hazelnut pancakes. We all shared ofcourse. For our beverages we ordered a few toasted almondillas, a mocha, and a dream vanilla. We were in heaven. I had the omelette and I did need to add some salt and pepper but it was great otherwise. An omelette filled with jalepenos, cheese, sour cream and mushrooms...you just can't go wrong. The fries that accompanied it were nice and crispy. I also tried a bite of each pancake. I am an obessed nutella lover but thought it was a bit too much spread on the pancakes. It was still good but not as great as the chocolate chip pancake and that was not as amazing as my favorite which was the banana walnut pancakes. Will definitely be ordering that instead of the omelette next time! I had the toasted almondilla as my drink and it was wonderful. Paired perfectly with everything. I didn't try the curly fries, corn beef hash or the egg white sandwich so I can't say much about those choices. Overall amazing diner and pancake factory..Just wish the omelette was seasoned better salt and pepper wise. Pancakes definitely the best way to go. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Rich A.
We had to wait about 15-20 minutes to get in here on a Saturday morning, the place was jamming! It's your typical diner with some unusual ways to present your breakfast. I had this huge pancake rollup stuffed with scrambled eggs,2 huge sausages, and potatoes and cheese. It was a monster! I couldn't finish it either. Go with a appetite!
(4)
Maritza K.
Food is great there, no complaints about that in all the years I have been going there. Word of the wise on weekends: get there before 10am or after 1pm.... Parking lot is packed, you end up in an argument with some idiot for parking or by the entrance as it becomes Grand Central Station with losers standing around. In addition, supposedly their new policy is they will not seat you on weekends if your entire party is not with you.... That's right: so if you want to get a head start and sit down, order and have it ready while your driver is looking for parking--- they will seat people after you until your last person comes in. I gave it two stars bc of that reason, otherwise the food is awesome there. Weekends is such a pain, your better off going somewhere not so busy or just buying a dozen bagels from Wonder Bagel down the street.
(2)
Seema U.
Only been here for breakfast so I have no idea how the non-breakfast foods are. The pancakes are good. I like the berry sour pancakes and other fruit pancakes. The plain pancakes are alright, but I would only pancakes with some extra ingredients or toppings. The pancakes are pretty huge though, and you get 3 per order so good luck finishing them. Corned beef hash is pretty routine; I have found it to be a little too salty a couple of the times I ordered it. The eggs that I have had have been not great; honestly, I feel like I could make equally good eggs or better (and thus have not ordered them again). I have heard that the omelets are pretty solid options from friends but never tried them myself . I had a spiked coffee drink which was really strong but actually pretty good. My friend ordered a Bloody Mary once which she said was pretty terrible. Overall, the breakfast is pretty average in my opinion. Everything is solid, but nothing stands out or is super mind blowing. I also feel like the quality has gone down in the year or so that I have been coming here.
(3)
Angel A.
This place is crazy good. I came for breakfast with my girlfriend and we had the biggest crazy most tasted meal I had at a diner. The steak and eggs with pancake was great and the pancake were so soft and butter . Great place for a awesome meal
(5)
Arshi K.
Excellent fluffy pancakes and omelets! Love the waffles too. Great place for breakfast, brunch or a leisurely cup of coffee any time of the day. The menu is pretty extensive, tried the eggplant panini for lunch once and wasn't too impressed. Have stuck to the breakfast menu ever since. Love that they are open till 11pm, seven days of the week.
(4)
Josepf H.
11-15-2014 and apparently the Jersey City fly population has taken up winter residence... Get past that and they are a solid 4 star joint with great menu choices and quick moving friendly service. Save room for dessert, it's worth it.
(4)
Stephanie Y.
Well hello old friend, it's been awhile. I used to come here every now and then when I first moved to Jersey when restaurants were even fewer and more far between. There menu has 1000 items to choose from which for indecisive people like me makes it impossible to get in and get out since it takes me forever to choose. I came here post run and tennis late breakfast/lunch with the man and boy did we work up a hunger and thankfully this place delivered. I went with an omelet for $8 and it was GINORMOUS and so friggin' tasty. I believe I went with the Newport involving ham, onion, peppers a whole mess of cheese with a meat sauce (on the side). The meat sauce was like sloppy joe style crumbled beef sauce that was really tasty but just way too much for me so I was stoked I went with it on the side. My man went with pigs in a blanket, sweet pancakes wrapped around a salty, savory maple pork sausage. Holy moly it was amazing. This place is not for the faint at heart or stomach. Be ready to eat and eat well at this greasy spoon. Service was fast and efficient and up to diner satisfaction. I will come again soon when I'm in need for a hearty meal.
(4)
Elle P.
We walked into a huge line on a Saturday morning, but it moved briskly. In just about 10 minutes we were seated. Large portions. I ordered the fresh blueberry pancake and got three huge very fluffy pancakes with blueberries with blueberry compote on the side. They sprinkled powder sugar on it, but I wish they hadn't. I think it's sweet enough as is. Good pancakes. I would eat here if I lived around the neighborhood, but it isn't good enough to make a special trip out for it. Service was well meaning, but a bit slow because it was so crowded.
(3)
Hallie B.
I had the caramel praline waffle, it was delicious! The eggs florentine were undercooked. We sent them back and got the eggs Benedict instead.
(5)
Brianna M.
If you desire an immense heaping of carbs, especially in pancake form, this is the place for you. If you want anything other than pancakes, stay away. This place has great pancakes and every type possible. So many toppings! And really great prices. I always have leftovers worth at least another full meal. There is always a wait, but their time estimate is generally very accurate. It is very family/kid friendly as well. Feels exactly like a typical diner. Service is standard, people generally friendly.
(3)
Theresa Y.
This diner has a very traditional and classic touch to it. Be prepared to be stuffed, the dishes come with generous portions. The menu is extensive with an entire page dedicated to pancakes. Expect a wait, as this is one of Jersey City's more popular breakfast/brunch spots.
(3)
Katie S.
oh man. had lunch for the first time here with the parents. good lord. so good. between the three of us - we had a burger, cobb salad and a greek salad and spanakopita. It was so much food and DELICIOUS. our server was great (while it was totally slammed) and still super friendly and attentive no matter how busy she was. there is so much food on this menu -- pages and pages -- i'm excited to come back and work my way thru. best diner ever.
(5)
Kristina S.
Ever since I read Brownstone Diner's yelp reviews and saw it featured on 'Diners, Drive Ins and Dives,' I wanted desperately to come here. I've been trying for months to convince my boyfriend to come and we finally did. We drove a good half hour out of the way for this place even though there are like 10 different diners within a 5 mile radius of us. It was absolutely worth it, my expectations were exceeded. Upon entering, the place was pretty packed, even for a Sunday around noontime. It was a 25 minute wait that went by pretty quickly. Their menu is extensive, they have enough pancake platter combinations to satisfy just about every palate. Unfortunately, I didn't look at anything else on the menu besides the pancakes (it is a pancake factory) but it seems like their omelette mix choices are just as interesting. Our waiter was great too. He was really friendly, nice and didn't disappear on us even though it was so busy. He also memorized all of our orders even though we were pains in the asses and substituted a bunch of things, added things and subtracted things from all our meals. I got the showstopper pancakes (chocolate chip, peanut butter pancakes with bananas and whipped cream on top). The pancakes were warm and fluffy. There was no need for the extra butter on the side. Also, it was the perfect amount of added toppings and extras that didn't over power the flavor of the pancakes themselves. They almost didn't even need syrup but I wanted to make my meal extra diabetic. My boyfriend got the chocolate covered strawberry pancakes and the loaded baked potato omelette. Both were fantastic. The other couple we came with ordered eggs benedict over brushetta and whole wheat toast, pigs in a blanket pancakes and scrambled eggs with potatoes and bacon. Everyone was extremely satisfied with their food. The least impressive item on the table was the pigs in a blanket pancakes. It was just 3 huge pieces of sausage wrapped in a pancake. It was good but not anything special and tasted exactly how you'd expect a pancake wrapped sausage to taste. All in all, I would highly recommend this place to all breakfast lovers. It's much better than your average diner. Very delicious pancakes, creative toppings/combinations and superior wait service. Worth the drive and the wait. I look forward to coming here again.
(5)
Linda M.
Very popular breakfast spot in Jersey City. Be prepared to wait on the weekends. The food is certainly worth the wait! I had the Monte Cristo, which is frnech toast topped with turkey, ham and swiss cheese. The perfect combo of breakfast and lunch. The salty sweet goodness was the best way to recover from NYE. Service was top notch.
(4)
Tavaria R.
The first time I came here maybe 2-3 years ago the food was great and I loved it. Over the last couple of years the quality of food has really gone downhill. The food tastes like it comes out of the fridge rather being made to order. The quality of some things (crab cakes, blueberry pie, Mac & cheese, etc) tastes like it came straight out a box or the frozen food aisle. I kept giving them chances and kept getting disappointed. I'm over this place.
(3)
Dan F.
Exactly what I thought it would be! Couldn't be any better for a classic diner. The service to the food was perfect. Pancake wrap was great and original waffle.
(5)
Kristina S.
First let me say what drove me here is that my Husband got a Job in NYC, being that he's a Philadelphian born and raised, and I worked/lived there for 3 years we are accustomed to great food, and were utterly depressed that New Jersey, which is where we currently reside, isn't known for much of anything we like which is the arts and food. I am a New Jerseyan born and raised so this isn't a snub to my State but lets keep it real people, New Jersey isn't a very interesting place. So we sought out as many New Jersey best of lists for food that we could find and decided to go to Brownstone as it was on quite a few of those lists. 1. Chicken and Waffles: Superb, they drizzle honey and powered sugar on moist and flavorful chicken breasts and wings and legs. The waffle is also moist with just enough crunch! Every time I come here I usually get the Chicken and Waffles. 2. Pigs in Blanket: Good, their buttermilk pancakes are delicious but I was surprised that the "pigs" were HUGE sausages! Think Italian Sausage. I substituted Beef for Turkey, but the sausage wasn't well seasoned, it was like I just had a huge bite of rolled/processed turkey! That was disappointing. All in all its a great place to eat, great atmosphere, good prices, and a lot of choices, and I don't know if this means much but everything that comes out looks delicious!
(4)
Latrice S.
Great food with light and fluffy pancakes as big as your face. I also ordered the Italian omelette which was large and good. It was stiffed with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, peepers, tomatoes and pepperoni, topped with marinara sauce. I'd def recommend if you're in Jersey City.
(5)
Jennifer M.
What happens when someone returns from vacation from another country ?! You crave American food! Classic American food. P-a-n-c-a-k-e-s. To be exact. And that's exactly what I did the day I after I got back from Chile. I had ordered the PANCAKE COMBO with blueberries in my pancakes, and scrambled eggs. Food was great, warm, flavorful, HUGE. Value was excellent! Although I must say, our food came a little longer than what I expected (and I had watched everyone who arrived after us get their food first). I'm pretty sure its not a consistent thing that happens, but that's my reasoning between and 4 and 5 star. Maybe my next visit will confirm my theory.
(4)
Michael H.
Great pancakes amd a ton of food for your money regardless of what you get. My wife and I have come here plenty of times and always leave stuffed wishing we had split a stack of pancakes lol. You can also call in orders to pickup which is a huge plus!
(4)
Jess S.
The food was DELISH :) try the pancakes!
(5)
Jonathan L.
My parents decided to treat my brother and I to some brunch after seeing this place featured a while back on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The place itself is set up like your standard Jersey diner: wood paneling everywhere along with a bevy of waiters that twirl around like dreidels. The fist thing you'll notice is probably how packed it is. Don't be discouraged; it may look like there's a long wait ahead but we managed to grab a table pretty quickly after being told there would be at least 15 minutes. Nonetheless, it's clear that this is a popular neighborhood spot for locals and those, like us, who want to sample the extensive menu offerings and humongous portions. The first thing that turned us off of the meal was the exceptionally slow service. Now, I'm a realist. I understand there are many other patrons here eagerly waiting for their caffeine fix. Bringing out our round of coffee, though, shouldn't take more than ten minutes! It's coffee (pretty good coffee I must say)! Rather than going around the room with a fresh pot asking who wants refills, the servers had to be manically hailed down. I also didn't appreciate the side of attitude we were served along with our meal. Before we even got to finish our order, our waitress left our table, not particularly giving a damn. While my brother and I chuckled at this, she half-heartedly apologized away her rudeness by saying that's just the way she is. There's no excuse for being impolite, no matter how busy you are. More of our waitress' antics to follow... As far as food, I ordered one of my favorite dishes, Fried Chicken & Waffles. The rendition here is mediocre; the batter didn't have nearly enough salt or spices to make it savory, necessary to be able to pair well with the syrup topped waffle beneath. I also wish the waffle was smattered with copious amounts of butter (the best way to eat it); I had to steal some from my brother's plate since there was non to be found on mine. I couldn't finish the waffle because of the size of the dish but, then again, I wasn't that keen on it to begin with to masochistically suffer force feeding. My dish was actually my least favorite of the ones I sampled from my parents and brother. Dad's South of the Border omelette was really tasty but strike of the dazed waitress again! A side of buttered toasts were supposed to accompany the dish. My brother and I saw her set the basket down. Not a minute later, however, my dad was looking like a mad man for the toast. Apparently, it's enough for a customer to SEE the basket but not to receive it. Mom's pancake rollups (with three types of fruit compote) was DELICIOUS! Fieri was right when he said the pancakes here are BANGIN'! My favorite dish, however, was probably Fieri's own pancake interpretation which my brother ordered. Guy Fieri's Triple "D" Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap may sound gross, but is assuredly awesome! The perfect mix of melted mozzarella, fried chicken, peppers, and blue cheese wrapped in a gigantic pancake. Savory, sweet, spicy, and superb. A MUST in my opinion! At the end of the meal, my mom went up to pay the bill to make it easier on the server. As she walked away to allow her to swipe the card, I could see that the waitress was making some kind of snide remark at what my mom had done. I didn't know that bringing up a card to HELP YOU was an issue? Did you? I'm glad I got to check this place out but, in all honesty, I probably won't be returning with service like that...
(3)
Jody W.
Pretty sure this is one of the best diners out there. I'm both thrilled and disappointed that I don't live down the street from it (where my friend does). Disappointed...because the food is so good....thrilled....because I'd weigh 300 pounds if I was a local. I went there twice within 24 hours while hanging with my Jersey City buddy. For dinner, I had the buffalo chicken wrap (with grilled chicken)...best I've had anywhere. Fresh, moist grilled chicken with a perfect balance of blue cheese dressing and hot sauce. The fries were awesome, too. My Jersey City bud had silver dollar pancakes for dinner...there were a ton of them (and he somehow finished!). My other friend had a cobb salad...gigantic, generous, fresh...great reviews there. The next morning I went back with the same crew and ordered the Nutella pancakes. Wait..... I need a moment...re-living it..... So. Good. Had a side of turkey sausage - 2 large links that were slightly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I'm still craving those pancakes...truly some of the best that I've ever had. The other breakfast orders were standard eggs, toast, bacon...etc...everything was hot and delicious. Both times I visited, I noticed that it's very clean...which is always something that I keep an eye on. It's busy....especially on weekend mornings...so prepare to wait. It's absolutely worth it. (We didn't wait to be seated for dinner...but it was a little bit later in the evening when we arrived...maybe 9pm...). Also, like any good diner, the food arrived VERY quickly for both meals. One last thing - there is a waitress that my JC buddy tries to get seatings with....I can't remember her name (she wasn't there for dinner and it was waaaay too busy to get picky about which section we were sitting in on Saturday morning)...but he said that she's absolutely HILARIOUS and is the perfect combination of 'tude and service. Can't wait to visit JC again...Brownstone Diner will be a to-do.
(5)
Cody W.
I removed one star b/c it was SWELTERING inside while it was 40 degrees outside. Went this past Sunday for an afternoon brunch. It was packed! We had to wait a little while, but that was ok, it moved fast. Food was delicious! I had the belgian waffle combo and was in heaven. It's cheap, it's a ton of food, and the service is good. I'd go back!
(4)
Asish P.
have stopped by here a couple of times for quick meetings, and have only ordered coffee/tea. Service is good, and the staff is friendly. Will have to stop by and try the food sometime.
(3)
Sam R.
Since I was visiting my brother and in the Jersey City area we decided to come here for some breakfast. I came with my husband, younger brother and a friend. It was very busy when we came in and waited for a little while to be seated. They messed my order as well as my friends. We ordered egg white omelette's and instead we received regular whole egg omelette's. I wasn't really in the mood to complain so I just settled. My omelette was okay. My brother and husband seemed to really enjoy their breakfast food. They have a really nice, big menu here with lots of options. I probably should have ordered pancakes or waffles and would have probably had, a better experience. Our waiter did also seem to be a bit overwhelmed and I figured it was probably because they were so busy.
Such great service both on and off wknds! The food is fresh and hearty portions. I love that Guy Fieri came and there is a plate item named in his honor. YAY Triple D!
(5)
Ray C.
I've been to this diner 3 times in the last few months and I'm always so eager to return. Their pancakes are amazing and there's a variety of pancakes to try out unlike Ihop. Their burgers are also very well done, as well as their fries. The service is not bad and I always get seated less than a minute I've arrived. It is by far one of the best food places I have been to in Jersey City.
(5)
Danielle K.
I have been to many many many diners in my day but Brownstone Diner will always be on the top of my diner list as #1. The service is stupendous and the portions are HUGE (depending on what you get). It amazes me that their prices stay the same despite how big the crowds get (Thanks Guy Fieri for ruining it with Diners, Drive ins and Dives). I usually go for breakfast items but recently tried this Texmex spring roll-- sounds awful but it's actually delish, believe me. It's got a nice browned crunchy outside with great flavors on the inside. I'm also surprised at their menu. I generally HATE when menus stray too far each way like a Chinese menu that also offers spaghetti and maybe a hamburger. Brownstone pulls it off though so claps to them for hiring versatile chefs!
(5)
Eliana W.
Go there only when you are seriously starving because the plates are huge! With that being said, the food is delicious and the servers are very knowledgable about the menu. There is lots of parking (which in not the norm in JC). You are allowed to share a meal with someone else, but only if you pay an additional $3, which is kind of a quirky rule, but not a huge deal because the meals are super big any way. Besides you'll want to save enough room for the amazing desserts.
(4)
Hung-Sheng L.
I like it pretty much. It's almost the best American restaurant nearby. I like it pretty much. The size of the meal is pretty big. And you might need to wait for 30 minutes in most case. I have tried pancake and pasta. Both of then are good to me!
(4)
Monica T.
Awesome food and I've never had a complaint about service! The waitstaff work their asses off and constantly working as a team. I've gone about three times to Brownstone always ordering something different and everytime it's delish! I'm a huge fan of the chicken and waffles but never have ventured into the pancakes. My boyfriend got a short stack last weekend and they were so good! I'm usually not a pancake girl but may have to order them next time. On the weekends it gets super-busy, but we always get stools at the counter where Cathy waits on us..she's the best!!!! From sitting at the counter you really get a view of how Brownstone essentially works. Everyone is friendly and helps one another and I've never seen stacking plates the way the waitstaff does it! Totally worth the trip!
(4)
Sagar U.
We come here often. There always is a line but food is worth the wait. I love the pancakes. Also they make great NY style cheesecake!
(5)
Sara S.
Unsurprisingly, Brownstone was featured on the Food Network on Guy Fieri's "Diner's Drive-ins and Dives" particularly for the amazing pancakes that they serve here. No one has lied or over-exaggerated about the pancakes here; they're simply the most incredibly delicious and consistently fluffy pancakes cooked to perfection each and every time. If you're at Brownstone, try the pancakes. They have a variety of different ones, but it's only $5 for a traditional stack of buttermilk pancakes. I must also mention that the pancakes are huge here. Drizzle on some syrup, slather on some of that greasy butter, and you will have one grand happy meal. I was never a huge pancake person and actually hated pancakes, but Brownstone has converted me to love and devour them, and the pancakes are my go-to everytime I am here. Aside from the pancakes, Brownstone has a vast menu of other typical diner food options. Regardless, I recommend any of the food off their breakfast menu; day or night, none of these options will do you wrong. I have tried their omelettes, and they're delicious and gigantic. They don't skimp on the fillers, and their omelettes are cooked with real eggs versus egg beaters. For those who are hungry and like spicy food, I can recommend the South of the Border Omelette. This omelette comes packed with ham, onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, cheddar cheese and a load of sour cream. The jalapenos give it an extra bit of kick. They also serve it with a side of home fries, so expect a huge satisfying meal. The only few negatives I have about the Brownstone is the wait time during peak times of the day and the fact it closes at 11PM. Come here a little before noon or after 2PM, and expect little to no waiting line. Arrive here at a peak time of the day, then expect to wait at least half an hour or more for a table. The more people you need to a table, the longer you might have to wait. It is worth the wait and the trip though. It's also disappointing that Brownstone is not open past 11PM when most diners are open really late. There are some late nights where I just want a greasy diner meal, but Brownstone is the only diner that is not open. All in all, there's still not much to not like about Brownstone Diner. It's a classic, well-known Jersey City diner that is a must-try for any locals and out of towners, and it is certainly one of the most impressive diners I have come across in this part of Jersey.
(5)
Diana M.
large portions, variety, delicious- YES!!!!! LOVED IT!!! Had the loaded potato omelette which was great- sour cream, bacon... need i say more? I also tried guy fieri's pancake wrap- buffalo chicken wrapped in a blanket. Sounds crazy but it works and it was sooooooo good.... also tried their chocolate chip pancakes which were also good... Writing this review makes me want to go back right now!!! Just be prepared to wait and good luck with parking in the parking lot....
(5)
Aina B.
Great place! Ambiance is warm and expansive and the food is homey and fun. I had chicken & waffles, my friend had the muscleman, a pancake burrito with about 6 eggs fried and rolled with cheese and sausage into a large, cozy pancake wrap. We're gonna make beautiful corpses after we die from our coronaries exploding. Great bunch of locals who come here too, plenty of regular folks with families or friends, and Jersey City cops stopping in. You know it's good when the waiter takes your table's order in Italian and tells you what you should order, even though you didn't ask.
(4)
Archi M.
So, going to the Brownstone Diner is our yearly Thankgiving tradition . But guess what we found when we went there today. The cashier eating out of our plate of fries while they were sitting on the counter getting cold. She even happened to lick her fingers in between her eating out of our order. All this was happening right in front of our eyes - we of course sent them back when our waiter brought them out. No one came to apologize; conveniently there was no manager we could speak to. Best of all - the girl who ate out of our plate rang our check and didn't have the courtesy to apologize and instead gave us an attitude for sending the food back! Geez - never again are we going to that wretched place. If there is a health department violation against this kind of stuff I would definitely like some action taken against this place!
(1)
Michele D.
Well well. I've been to this diner twice for breakfast. I fell in love with it the moment i stepped in. There was a line out the door waiting for a table but of course I get a table right away with my partner. We ordered the Nutella Pancakes (TOO DIE FOR) amazing experience, it's like rowing in a river full of Nutella on a boat made of pancakes. That dish is just a dream come true. We also ordered the Corn-beef Hash Eggs Benedict over English muffin with Home Fries. Well, ladies and gentlemen their food is good. I cannot say anything wrong about it. I tried but I cannot. Everything is delicious. From breakfasts to dinner. The service works very hard on the weekends. It's pretty tough to handle such a big crowd. I give all my credits to them. These servers work really hard and they dear the best tips all the time no matter what. Over all my experience in this diner is always unbelievable. Definitely going back.
(5)
Craig G.
It was 9am on New Year's Day and a couple of friends stayed over from last night's party. Could think of no better way to start off the new year than to finally hit Brownstone. I'd been meaning to check it out (after passing it so many times on the way to Zep Hall and having seen the DDD episode), so we took the brisk 15 minute walk and stepped inside. This is a model NJ diner: small tables, some booths, and perpetually packed. No having too much of an appetite, my breakfast was a short stack and a side of pork sausage, chased with black coffee. Glad I went with the short stack: these pancakes are massive and the perfect combination of meltingly soft with just enough crisp to balance. The two links of sausage were substantial (and a good brand, too) and satisfying. Kicking myself for not heading here sooner..
(4)
First L.
Was turned away, along with another parent due to manager who hates children. Children who were all being quiet, mind you. We all had to go elsewhere (Beechwood). Beechwood has better food, but we were in the mood for mediocre pancakes, so we came here. Restaurant was half-empty. But they didn't feel like accommodating us, so we were turned away at the door. Whenever I come here, staff is nice, food is... "diner". This is enough for me to not come back. Can't support places that hate children in the family-oriented corner of JC.
(1)
Mike G.
This place is absolutely great! The pancakes are slammin!!!! This place makes all its money with the weekend crowd , its always packed all weekend for good reason the food is amazing the pancakes are out of this world the prices are great (for downtown jc at least) the menu is vast and the portion size is just as great as your menu options! This place is just an all around fantastic place, the service is good , the tables are clean , the staff is friendly , once your seated it the food comes out pretty quick. It does however have a decent wait most weekends. Its also a nice place to come before you start drinking , fill your bellies up before a long night. Only catch is have to do it early cause they are closed by 11 or 12 so dont think this is your typical after bar dinner . I dont know why they close early like the only dinner in the jersey that does! but it doesn't matter make sure to be here when they are open and you wont regret it. Mike's Final word Come here for the pancakes for lunch on the weekend (the wait is worth it) or a quick stop in for a snack before a night out on the town with friends. Good food , good service, good price! Only lost a star from me because i drink at the beer garden across the street a lot and I'm always disappointed coming out of there at 1 AM and seeing a closed dinner!
(4)
Karen S.
Our waiter was amazing ... I wish I could remember his name but no attitude here . My low rating is for management what crap. First of all if you're with a party of 6 or more and celebrating something special be prepared to request a separate bill for EACH since management doesn't know how to use their own POS and split the bill evenly between let's say just 4 people ( it was a group of 13) and the husbands 4 of them were paying and the wives and children were outside . They said the can only do it with two cards and told us that we shouldn't be splitting if we don't have enough money ! Wow ... First of all I don't want my friends husband to have to pay for me and MY kids since they don't even live here . We have money it's just that instead of billing everything separately the husbands didn't mind splitting the $197.00 by the four of them ! The nerve of the Management is unbelievable. I hate this place. The staff deserves better. These stupid people deserve to get shut down but they don't know how to treat anyone! I hope for their downfall.
(2)
Gilbert And Diane M.
Decided to go for dinner, was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't a 30 minute wait like it usually is Sunday afternoon. We both ordered chicken panini with spinach, goat cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, it was really delicious, curly fries were tasty and not greasy. I guess knowing how good the food is it may be worth a 30 minute wait. Thumbs up!
(4)
Kevin Y.
Pancake and waffle combos are the best. Don't think I've ever had better pancakes in my life. Clinton st bakery comes close
(5)
Rosemary L.
Food definitely deserves 5 stars! Too bad the waitstaff ruined my table's experience. A girl I work with recommended this diner while we were all working earlier that day, stated she had tried it with one of her friends a few weeks ago and we decided to go for pancakes after we all got off work. Four of us total arrived with high expectations for the pancakes we had heard so much about. There was no wait even though it was a Sunday afternoon, we were seated promptly, so far so good. Expansive menu with tons of options. You're guaranteed to find your new favorite indulgence here. Then our visit proceeded to go downhill. Our waiter, Lee, came to take our order and accidentally called my female coworker "sir." We all heard him say sir but laughed it off, hey it happens, there is more than 50 years retail and customer service experience between the myself and the three others I visited with so we get it. She jokingly replied with, "Want to try that again?" To which he did not respond or understand. We all ordered, we moved past it, Lee told us our orders would be out shortly and we started having a conversation about something completely different. Not two minutes later he returned to our table to confirm my side order of scrambled eggs. After making sure my order was right, he turned to my friend and asked if he had offended her and specified that he had said sweetie. My friend just said no she had not and that it was fine. He persisted and asked if she was fine for the second time in a row. She just kept replying yes and nodding her head but not really making eye contact with him. He knew he had messed up calling her sir, this we knew by the fact that he brought up that specific incident when he returned to our table. He gave up trying to cover his error and walked away from our table scoffing and then mumbling "whatever" under his breath. By this point my party was uncomfortable with the fact that he couldn't just move on in a polite and mature manner. But he continued to treat our table and more specifically my friend with disrespect. Our food arrived, he placed each plate in front of us naming what we had ordered to make sure it was correct, but singled out and did not do so to my friend. While we were eating he brought food to a nearby table and loudly said, "here you go SWEETIE," while he glanced up at our table to see if we had noticed. This guy just kept going above and beyond to try to make it seem like he had not made a stupid mistake and that we had simply heard him wrong. When it came time to pay, he only brought 3 to go boxes and blatantly disrespected her again because she had also asked for one. We jointly decided he did not deserve a tip. The place itself is great. The food amazing. Too bad he ruined a five star review. Would not return.
(2)
David L.
Another DDD restaurant that doesn't live up to the hype. Pancakes were decent, but everything else tasted like usual crappy diner food. It was also packed and we had to wait 30 min for a table. Not worth.
(2)
Pamela D.
brownstone makes me wish that that there were more diners in NYC. Great food all around and excellent service. definitely a must-eat in Jersey City.
(5)
K C.
Had the bbq chicken quesadilla and it was good, but the calamari was horrible. The service was good.
(3)
Anh N.
I absolutely love this place!! Breakfast is my all time favorite meal of the day, and Brownstone never fails. I've tried a little bit of everything and never had any complaints. I've had pancakes and the pancake wraps, waffles, omlettes, french toast, and they have a variety of options or combos to get a little bit of this and that too like the wraps or king combo, queen combo...etc. you get the point. Be warned they are BIG portions so you are definitely getting a lot for your buck because the prices are very affordable. Yes the lines get pretty bad especially during the weekend mornings so my advice weekdays, very early morning or come during brunch/lunch the crowds seem to slow down a bit then. When you come in the hostess will give you a number, so do not forget it!! lol.
(5)
Gary C.
So delicious I had the peanut butter chunk and banana pancakes which were the best pancakes I have ever had!
(5)
Jayadevan V.
We are here quite often, given that we live 2 blocks away. Just love the dessert French toast and the crunchy, well done, corned beef hash!! If a property around here advertises proximity to brownstone diner, that alone is a fantastic selling point!:)
(5)
Calvin A.
Around 8 years ago, my ex-roommate and I used to frequent this establishment once a week at one point, as with a Vietnamese restaurant also in the area (Nha Trang Place). Unlike the Vietnamese restaurant, this place has managed to maintain the quality of their food over the years. I'm not really a pancake person, so I usually opt for their sandwiches or dinner entrees. Portions are plentiful no matter what you get. Unlike many diners, there is a $3 minimum charge per person, so if you're just hanging out or would like to share with a friend, get an appetizer and/or drink. There have been occasions where the non-breakfast food is a bit off during weekend brunch. However, I would say that these occasions occur perhaps only 15% or so of the time. For that reason, I would definitely choose a weeknight over a weekend to try this place for the first time. Service is surprisingly attentive, even during peak times. Some of the staff members have been there for several years, and the owner does not forget a face. A bit of an aside - a few months ago, my girlfriend and I ate here, and just as we were taking care of our bill, my girlfriend sighted Governor Chris Christie walking out of the restaurant. The owner very humbly said that he stops by every so often.
(4)
Joe C.
Is there a more original dinner in NJ? Where is Guy Fieri? The food is great and enormous. Well worth the trip here.
(5)
Christine H.
LOVE. THIS. PLACE. a huge part of our JC living experience. food (and i mean beyond their pancakes), customer service, cleanliness, are all right on, all the time. really respect how they operate their business. having a hubby who also runs a restaurant, i can really sympathize with how hard that is.
(5)
Veronika B.
We've been coming here for a few years maybe once a month when we had cravings for diner food. The food is nothing special, it's ok. But recently we had such an awful experience that we will never be back, ever. The experience had nothing to do with food but rather with customer service. We went for a dinner after spending all day outside with the kids. We always come with our kids - we though of this place as a family-friendly / kid-friendly place - they are equipped with high chairs and there are always babies and small children. So anyway, we get there, order, wait for food, then food comes and we're about to eat when my younger son starts crying - he's a baby so random crying is pretty regular. I'm trying to calm him down as every mom naturally does when her baby is unhappy, particularly in a public place - those who've been there know the feeling - it's uncomfortable and definitely not fun for the mom - trust me, she's the least comfortable desperately trying to calm her baby down to spare her family from "the looks" and nasty comments. Anyway, this guy comes over to our table and tells us to make our baby stop crying - 1) What the heck do you think I've been doing all this time??? and 2) How dare you!?!? Seriously? I was plain shocked and speechless at first and my husband got upset and asked the guy what does he suggest we do upon which he proceeds to tell us he would take the baby outside and come back once he's calm. Clearly, you've never dealt with a baby, sir. If it was my 3-year old then yes, I assume I would walk outside with him and talk to him and return once he's calm. But this is a baby!!! What is it going to do if I walk out and talk to him??? Even if he does calm down outside there's absolutely no guarantee he won't start crying again when we return. I get it, it's uncomfortable to hear a baby cry, but it happens. I had always though this was a place where families were welcome. They proudly say the secret behind their success is family. Their website says "The Brownstone is not just about food. Not just a restaurant. It is the synergy of relationships with customers..." Really? What a lovely relationship with your customers when you ask them to leave when their baby is crying? This had never happened to me before. I could understand a staff personnel approaching us in a fine, 5-star restaurant with candles and a pianist and 3-digit meals. But this is not that place. This is the cheapest, loudest, stickiest place in town and they have the nerve to come over and say something when my baby cries!?! I have heard other babies cry there before and I don't remember anyone telling them anything. I was so upset I insisted on leaving, despite the fact I took only one bite of my food. We will never be back and I will make sure I warn all my friends with children. I am still very upset about this so while I'm at it I might as well mention the place is dirty, table is often sticky, many times we had to ask for new utensils or new cups because they had smudges and stains all over (including a poorly washed lipstick stain on my water cup once!!). It's simply not worth ever coming back. The Malibu Diner in Hoboken is much better - clean and staff is always pleasant.
(1)
Juicie L.
Its a great diner to have breakfast or lunch woth the family. One of my favs here in NJ.
(4)
Laura Kate S.
New Year's Day. We finally ventured to this popular-seeming spot in our neighborhood to give it a try. It was about a half hour wait, but the hostess was keeping things moving even in the busy-ness of it all. We had very good service overall. I wasn't wowed, but wasn't unimpressed either. I got coconut pancakes and pork sausages. Pancakes = delish. Sausages = more like bratwurst than breakfast meats. The husband had moussaka, which came with a Greek salad and onion soup. He declared the soup tasty, the moussaka passable, and the salad good, but over-dressed. We'd really love to try this place on a less hectic day. It's close and the pancakes really were great. Greek diner meets pancake house = a recipe for a winning combination. Today it was just a little underwhelming, but still a good experience.
(3)
Xavier S.
I'm a fan of Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory, definitely worth a trip if you're looking for ginormous portions of breakfast at a really good price. The wait, though, can be pretty brutal on the weekends. The typical thing you'll see is about 30-40 people at the front foyer, all around the cash register and also by the hostess station. The overflow of people also makes it way out the door at times, rain or shine. The food here is really good, the pancakes are unbelievably super fluffy and evenly stacked. The fluffiest pancakes I've ever eaten I can honestly say. I got the Old Fashion Buttermilks (stack of 3) and ordered a side of bacon and fried eggs. What came out first was the bacon and eggs plus home fries, but in a platter form. Whoa, I'm wondering what happened here and where are my pancakes? They told me they forgot to put the pancake order in, and I had a strange feeling that the food I initially got was not the side order portion. Yes, I was right. I had been given the three country eggs with bacon, in addition to the pancakes. That's way too much food. I gladly took the 1.5 pancakes and side of home fries to-go for another day. The receipt was kindly adjusted to reflect the misunderstanding. I'll take that. Definitely coming back for more pancakes.
(4)
Crystine W.
Note that this review is based on dinner and other non-breakfast items only. I think to be fair to them, I really should review them based on their pancakes since that is what they are famous for, but we went for dinner and we didn't try 'em. I ordered their Caesar salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and then I also shared a fisherman's platter that contained fried scallops, fried cod fillet, and fried shrimp over a mountain of French fries. Complete overload on the fries, fried scallops were a bit burnt, but fried cod fillet and fried shrimp were perfectly crispy. Ordered pizza fries for our shared appetizer. This is my first time trying pizza fries so I don't really have anywhere else to compare it against, but they were okay, not too greasy and the fries were still crispy despite being dunked with ragu sauce and cheese. I don't think I'll be ordering pizza fries again just because this doesn't seem to be the type of taste I really fancy. Our server was super-duper nice, easygoing and attentive. She made sure waters were filled before we asked, and the food was brought out in a timely manner as well. I'll definitely be returning to sample their famous pancakes. Good location and they have a private parking lot as well. Not very busy during a weekday dinner.
(3)
Patricia A.
I was there yesterday and treated very rudely by the so called "hostess" who doesn't even bother to clean up or put make-up on to come to work. First of all, I am a mother traveling with an infant, and she tells me to get my own high chair...for goodness sake... you're the "hostess" then she proceeds to slam it down. The food is good, but the pancakes are a bit over rated. We ordered the walnut/banana pancakes, and they are just buttermilk pancakes with walnuts and bananas plopped on top....they should at least bake them into the pancake!! I will definitely not go there again...rude hostess and the food is nothing to write home about!
(1)
Dan R.
I feel like Brownstone used to be good? I remember loving it a few years back. Maybe this was before it was on Food Network? Not sure. Maybe my tastes have evolved. But I know this, as someone who grew up fed on Jersey diners. The Brownstone has earned a big reputation, and I sure have head exponentially better food in a much less hectic dining environment at many other diners. The Brownstone is PACKED during dinner and weekends. It has 30-60 minute waits, and once you're seated, the staff is far too busy to give you proper attention (and it's not even their fault - they are under staffed). You have to stand outside or in a sardine-packed foyer to wait your turn. The prices are above-average for a diner (a breakfast - albeit a hearty one - will run about $20-$25 per person when it's all settled), which is fine if you can make great food deserving of the Jersey diner heritage. ...but they don't. The food is cheap. Super cheap. Store bought. Cheddar cheese in your omelette is Kraft and doesn't even melt. Nothing from scratch. The pancakes, their namesake, are actually quite good, and HUGE, but the toppings and syrup are store bought, canned, corn syrup-y junk. The execution is not there either. Probably because they are so slammed. ...so why is this place such a big deal again?
(1)
Mindy M.
They're always very nice here, and I'm sure the owners are lovely people, but this isn't quality food. Some key points: -This is a "Pancake Factory" that doesn't even serve real maple syrup. They give you the corn syrup, artificially-flavored crap they serve at Denny's, but for twice the price. Huh. -The blueberry pancakes come with fruit compote FROM A CAN. They don't even make their own compote, which is some kinda laziness because jesus compote is easy and cheap to make. -You want jam with your toast? They don't have it. They have Smuckers JELLY. Which isn't food. -They don't even make their own SALADS. I know this because once I got a piece of the plastic packaging it came in in mine. They make virtually nothing from scratch, which means you're paying a big premium for food you can you buy at Pathmark and put on a plate yourself. I think as people in the area become more sophisticated about food the long waits at this place will disappear. But hey, Guy Fieri likes it, right?!
(2)
Brad M.
This diner is great. It's very clean inside and the food is very good and reasonably priced. They have a good sized parking lot, as well. The only negative is that it's not a 24/7 diner and closes at 11pm on weekdays.
(4)
Ydnew L.
Monte Cristo was good but I had better one elsewhere. Service was awesome. This place is quite big but it gets filled up very fast even on a weekday noon. The portion was big and huge selection of food. It's good to have this diner near your house but for me, I won't go there from manhattan as the food does not justify the time and money I spent on transport. **I have a party of 6 but they don't give me a table until everyone's here.**
(3)
Diana K.
I knew I had to eat here when I saw it featured on Food Network's "Best Food I ever Ate." Brownstone epitomizes the typical Jersey diner - warm, inviting, buzzing, and down-to-earth. It was packed and may account for our very forgetful server -- she was nice, but she would constantly forget little things that we would ask for. Aside from that, the food was great. We ordered 2 omelettes, an eggs benedict, and chocolate chip pancakes... portions were big, but we still finished most of it. The coffee was also really really good. I think I know where I'm dining for breakfast/lunch the next time I'm in Jersey City for a weekend.
(4)
Sergio M.
Cant go wrong with this place the omelets are great the pancakes are light and fluffy cooked perfect ask the waiter or waitress to warm up the syrup then your in business
(4)
Erika S.
The show stopper pancakes were delish!! My husband got the pancake combo and was pleasantly surprised. The sauces were delish and the buttermilk pancakes were fluffy and light. Luckily we went early on Sunday morning and were seated promptly. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the waitress forgot my husbands Bloody Mary and my coffee. (Big NO NO about the coffee)!
One of the BEST Brunch spots I've ever been too. It's been a while since my boyfriend and I had breakfast together. Before attending a food event with friends, we decided to have breakfast together. I did research on Yelp and found Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. We arrived around 10AM on a Saturday Morning and no joke, the diner was packed with customers and lines of people were waiting in the waiting area to be seated. The hostess was welcoming and friendly and kindly told me the wait would be 10-15 minutes and 5 minutes later, we were seated. Our waitress was crazy busy, but managed to have found time to take our orders and bring our food to us in a considerable manner. My boyfriend saw another customer order the original pancake wrap and wanted to try it. He was amazed by the way it looked, so he decided to order it. Holy Cow! It was huge. It was like a breakfast burrito. And, can you believe this only cost $7.95? The original pancake wrap is one super-sized pancake (as you can see) stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, and American cheese. And don't let that scoop of creaminess fool you, it's not ice cream. It's actually butter. I ordered the Eggs Benedictand I was surprised they gave three poached eggs because I've had Eggs Benedict at a few other restaurants before and they always gave two poached eggs.The poached eggs were sitting on top of Canadian bacon drizzled with Hollandaise sauce on top of an English Muffin. They also came with homefries. The poached eggs were nice and plump. However, I found one of them toGreat breakfast experience at Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. I was very impressed with the service and the food for the most part. I highly recommend Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory if you're looking for a good breakfast place! The food here is up-to-par and for a reasonable price. You won't be disappointed because I know I wasn't. . be slightly overcooked and that's not exactly how Eggs Benedict are suppose to be. Luckily, one of the other poached eggs were just the way I like it. It was oozing and gooey! The experience at Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory was great. I was very impressed with the service and the food for the most part. I highly recommend Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory if you're looking for a good breakfast place! The food here is up-to-par and for a reasonable price. You won't be disappointed because I know I wasn't.
(4)
Camille S.
I've been to Brownstone more times than I can count. Usually for breakfast or brunch. So when my cousins from VA asked where we could meet for a late lunch with brunch food available, Brownstone came to mind. You might recognize this diner from Diners Drive Ins and Dives, It became ridiculously busy after their appearance on that show. And yes, the food is wonderful, so they deserve the attention, but the wait in the mornings just got out of control. I'm not sure how it is now during brunch hours, but for our late lunch, the 7 of us were seated immediately. Thank goodness. We ordered appetizers: mozz sticks, chicken fingers, buffalo wings, baked potato skins. Really filling, but of course we each ordered our own dishes as well. I opted for the buffalo chicken wrap and split the disco fries with the table. My brother ordered the bacon ranch burger and my cousin ordered the chicken and waffles. We were all satisfied and stuffed because the portions are HUGE! I loved it. I'll be back because Brownstone is a standard go-to, and if you haven't already, do give this place a try, they have great diner food.
(4)
Kevin B.
Having some trouble with this review. If I'm measuring Brownstoner on merit it's a solid 3 stars. If I'm measuring it against the hype, then it felt more like 2 stars. I think merit is the best way to review since expectations do vary, so 3 stars it is. First the good: We had a great Server, the meals are a good value, the menu has ton's of options and there is a nice atmosphere. We definitely left full, and all the food was good. So what keeps it from a 4 (or 5) star review? Expectations mainly. Especially where the pancakes were concerned. Yes they have a vast selection of pancakes with some interesting choices, but as far as buttermilk pancakes go these were just average. Same for the hash browns, corned beef, eggs and coffee... nothing really stood out. There was one exception for us, and it was the waffles. If we go back we'll definitely be getting those. The waffles were nearly enough to get us to take the 45min drive again, but not quite. Maybe if I develop a really strong craving down the road we'll do it again. So basically Brownstoner is a fine place for a meal, good value, selection and service, but it's not quite extraordinary, and doesn't warrant a trip from long distance in my opinion.
(3)
Nick I.
Found the Brownstone Diner via Yelp search and we were amazed. It was a Thursday late morning and the place was packed due to high school graduations. We got lucky and were able to snag seven seats at the bar and had very prompt service. The Pancakes were great...fluffy and a slight sweetness to them. The French Toast were large slices and cooked perfectly. The bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwhich came on two think slices of toasted bread and was one of the best items we ate...which is surprising that a "simple" entree could be made so well. We also had the Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap as it was featured on Guy Fieri's Triple D show, it was a hit with all of us. You need to take the family here, the food is great, service is great and the menu will surely have something for everyone.
(5)
Alyssa W.
Went here for an afternoon breakfast. The hostess seemed occupied with conversation and sat my daughter and I at a table that hadn't been cleaned. She ran away before I could even realize this. Our waitress Alicia was very attentive and cleaned it for us as soon as she came over. She was very nice and talkative (not too much, just enough). Food came out pretty quickly and was tasty. The Old Fashioned Pancakes with a "40 year old recipe" were great. My daughter had a chocolate chip pancake which was huge and shaped like Mickey Mouse. The eggs scrambled with cheese were the type that had two slices of cheese slapped on top after being cooked. Other than that, the food was good as well as filling, too much to eat in one sitting, so part of the chocolate chip pancake came home with us. I don't live close to this diner, so I probably wouldn't return, but I'd recommend it to others. The lunch time crowd seemed to include a lot of "regulars".
(4)
Giselle R.
Weekday morning and the place is only half full so that means giant booth for me and hubby. Buttermilk pancakes, turkey sausage, coffee, juice for me. Short stack,turkey sausage, eggs over, toast etc for hubby. We could only eat half. Not that I didn't want to keep eating, they were really fluffy and just plain yummy, but in the god's smiling down on me part of my day not only was I going to be able to enjoy them in the a.m. but I was looking at a repeat for brinner with those leftovers. Happiness is a belly full of fluffy pancakes, 2x.
(4)
Sharon G.
One of Jersey's best diners (and I've been to a lot)! Their pancakes are excellent. I especially like the Nut 'N' Honey and the place is welcoming and cozy. Also, Pizza Pie fries -- could you ever pass up something like this on the menu?
(4)
Vanesss C.
Went to this place fort birthday because I am huge fan of pancakes. When we got there I can see why this place was packed. The food is like heaven! I got the show stopper and I couldn't have been happier with my Decision. The waitress was really kind and patient with us due to our kids. The portions are huge and worth it. Go there with an empty stomach. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Gaurav K.
Was getting bored at home so decided to venture out nearby and found this nice family owned place on yelp. The menu is extensive and I went in the afternoon with the thought of having a hearty brunch spread over an hour atleast. Ordered banana pancakes for myself and Apple waffle for the wife. Result: 3 Huge pancakes served with salted butter the pancakes were fluffy as hell and really wonderful to eat. Waffle size was also humongous and well prepared. I gave up after eating half the pancakes as my stomach was on the point of bursting, really had my eyes on having an omlette with bacon but that will have to wait till next time...
(5)
Michelene E.
As a "blover" (breakfast/brunch lover..haha) Brownstone is one of those places that has every breakfast item on the menu. You will always find what you are looking for. There is nothing above or below average about their food....its just good the way it is. The grits are just creamy grits. The cheese eggs are just fluffy cheddar cheese eggs. You will always leave satisfied. Good, plenty and affordable is the best way to describe this place.
(4)
Melissa J.
I am really sad to write this update. I used to spend hours of my life every weekend waiting in line for the Brownstone deliciousness. Now, I am not really sure if I will ever return... the service has gotten worse, the prices have gone up significantly, and the quality has suffered. They charge you just sit there if you don't order anything now. Just really sad, this used to be such a great spot.
(2)
James K.
Gotta love good diner food right? Been here a couple times and have tried several different things on the menu. Long story short: Fair Prices. Generous portions. Top notch in terms of diner quality. Trip 1: Chicken and Waffles: Unfortunately the only other chicken and waffles I can compare them to are from ihop. That being said, the C&W's at the Brownstone are really quite good. You get 4 pieces of chicken on the bone, to complement your 4 pieces of waffle. The chicken lightly battered & super juicy. I think the only thing that would have made the dish better would have been to add a scoop of vanilla cream. Trip 2: Egg's Benedict: Finding good eggs benedict has proven to be quite the challenge. To be fair, eggs benedict is probably the hardest style to cook being that if they're cooked to short the yolk runs, cook them too long the inside solidifies. Unfortunately this time the eggs were overcooked. All the other components of the dish, home fries, muffin, hollandaise sauced tasted nice, but it was quite unfortunate to not have that light drizzle from the benedict to compliment everything on the plate. If i got back again during brunch i'll probably give it another shot. - But till then ill keep looking for some prime EB. Pancakes: Tried the pancakes, super light fluffy. Got nothing bad to say about them. Wouldn't be terrible if Brownstone had a couple different flavored syrups though. Final Breakdown: Food: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Pricing: 5/5 Portions: 5/5 Staff: 5/5 Final Consensus. I have no reason to not go back.
(4)
Caryn G.
My sister was in from Florida and we decided to celebrate Father's Day with a breakfast that would have made our dad proud. We arrived to find a long line; however, since we were only 2 people, the wait was 10 minutes. Not bad for the amount of people standing outside. The waiter came over to the table within minutes, bringing us water and menus. The menu is extensive, so be prepared. We opted on sharing two different things so that we could taste them. I had blueberry pancakes with very crisp bacon and my sister had the french toast, which was outrageous too! We took home leftovers for breakfast the next day. I definitely plan on returning soon!
(5)
Donna S.
Love the pancakes and omelette. Great service, we were served quickly.
(4)
Racheal D.
Who doesn't love eating breakfast at night. I highly recommend the florentine omelette.
(5)
Olivia G.
This was recommended to me by a local resident. We were looking to grab something quick before an event. I was surprised at how quickly the food arrived. It was all delicious. Each diner was pleased with their respective dish. We had the chicken and waffles, an omelet, and a quesadilla. I would definitely return and highly recommend.
(5)
Mishae M.
As most yelpers know, there are many highly overrated, overpopulated, and over-exaggerated restaurants. This is certainly not one of them. The crucial thing to finding good food is to go where the locals go and brownstone diner is a combination of tourists and locals. I went this passing Saturday with a party of three, it was extremely crowded but we were not deterred,as we were traveling from Newark and was very hungry. The hostess informed us that the wait time would be about twenty minutes, it actually ended up being maybe 15. We got a nice booth that had posts to hang our coats,( sure this is so your stomach has enough room to pack in pancakes) and the waitress was at our table within 10 minutes giving us enough time to make a decision on our food. The menu has at least 30 different pancake options and combinations and 4 pages of other food provided by the diner. I ended up getting the jack combination (silver dollar pancakes, 3 eggs and 1 turkey sausage), my friend got the pancake combination (3 pancakes, 3 eggs, 2 bacon strips and a pork sausage link) and my mother got banana pancakes and taylor ham. Drinks of choice was 2 coffees and 1 hot chocolate. Everything arrived within 15 minutes. Immediately, the aroma of buttermilk filled our area and caused my mouth to water in anticipation. We all glance at each others dishes noting how delicious everything looked and then finally dug in. I was not disappointed in the least bit, as a matter of fact, it exceeded my expectations. Everything was delicious, the pancakes were fluffy, buttery and made from scratch (unlike whohop) . Turkey sausage was cooked to perfection and the eggs were done just right. I tried the taylor ham and must say it is the best i've ever had in jersey. One thing to note is the portions are absolutely huge so be prepared to either eat a lot or eat rationally and take food home. Prices are wonderful and the place is easily accessible by public transportation (81L is right across the street) or walking from Grove St. Path Station, (11 mins). I will definitely be back.
(5)
Darby S.
This place was okay. Our waitress spoke very little English so most of our meal was incorrect and I had to ask for chocolate milk for my daughter 3 separate times. I asked for a recommendation and she just pointed to the pancake page on the menu. Going to a "pancake factory" I kind of assumed that. I got potato pancakes that looked like they came out of a bag. They were decent, though. I think I will seek out somewhere else if we are ever back in NJ.
(3)
Darryll S.
I like this place. Huge menu with huge portions. Everything is good, nothing blows me away but everything is good, portions are huge, what more did you expect from a diner? Large variety here I always have difficulty choosing. Service is good, all the servers are quite friendly and the restaurant is very family friendly. I've had the pizza burger, pancakes, waffles, pasta and all good/decent and large portions for price. Once again, everything you wish for in a diner. Definitely will come again while visiting jcmc. Did I mention the gigantic portions!??!?! :D
(4)
Lauren M.
There was About a 15-20min wait to sit but it was worth it. The pancakes are massive and quite delicious. Particularly, I recommend the turtle pancakes if like me you crave something sweet and you're not into syrup. The meat pancakes weren't anything to scream home about...eat your meat on the side...unless you go for the tasty country pancake wrap stuffed with the western eggs...we added bacon and it was full of flavor and it didn't need any salt. The drinks are a little stingy especially with such huge pancake intake...but I would definitely go again if I was in a starchy mood or just go with the spectacular western omelet with cheddar cheese of course. Service was a lil slow. Overall with cleanliness, service and food quality I give them 3.5 stars.
(4)
Jim P.
I generally like this place. It's always a madhouse on Saturday or Sunday mornings, but I never mind the wait. And the friendliness of the staff always puts me in a good mood. People love the pancakes, and I certainly don't mind them, but I'm partial to the Waffles. I'm always a bit disappointed in the bacon, and the sausage is just OK, but I do like the corned beef hash. They have a (somewhat) new dish which is waffles and fried chicken which I don't care for. I've heard about that dish many times (from other places) but I've been anywhere that served it, so when I saw it on the menu I was excited and gave it a try. I won't ever order it from there again though. The chicken is really greasy and upset my stomach. I've been told that properly fried chicken isn't that greasy. It's just juicy. I really want to try it again somewhere else and see what it's SUPPOSED to be like. Stick with the staples here and you'll be good.
(4)
Larry B.
I judge the food in a diner by their pancakes Just had a short stack. Delicious ! They passed the test.... First time here but I'll be back. Service super fast during lunch rush Pleasant server too!!! 5 stars all the way !!!
(5)
Shela S.
Great! Hardly any wait for a family of 4 and the food was delicious. I totally recommend the Jersey French Toast.
(5)
Demitris W.
This place has the best pancakes around the first time I was here I enjoyed it this time it was like visiting an old fiend. You don't need to make small talk you just pick up right where you left off. THE FOOD Buttermilk Pancakes: I am a purest, I am not a fan of having a bunch of stuff on my pancakes, I like to taste the pancake it's self. These are the best I have had they are nice and thick. THe cool thing about the pancakes being this size is that they stay hot from the first one all the way to the last one. I am happy that I live 50mins away because If this place was around the corner I would have a booth with my name engraved in it. Apple Pie Ala Mode: The filling great not to sweet as sometimes it can be. The crust was top notch also. I am a crust kind of guy ;) The omelets and french toast are no slouch either. THE VERDICT: "I'll be Back" See you in the next review ~ Demitris p.s. One star off for service. It could have been a tad better. I know it was an hour before close.However you still have the ability to make money from me. As servers we need to provide consistent service from open-close.
(4)
Swaty B.
Having seen the place on guy fieris show and also having heard great things really wanted to check this place out from a long time. It's a small brown structure in jersey city. We went late on a Sunday and the place was packed even then. We got a corner booth but felt the place was very warm for some reason. We ordered the garden omlette, banana walnut waffle, coffee and hot tea. The waffle was really good and was packed with walnuts which felt pretty good in there. The omlette was fine too. Portions are good at this place. But just didn't feel the food was that great. You need to go up front to the counter to pay, keep that in mind this was our first time and we weren't aware.
(3)
Jabreel M.
Love the Brownstone Diner for breakfast come often. If you come on weekends you will have to wait awhile to get in. Not sure how there lunch or dinners are since we only come for breakfast. They are known for there pancakes and they are excellent. Lots of different kinds.
(4)
Sonia V.
Sooooo these may be the best pancakes I've ever had!! First off, they were on Diners Drive-ins and Dives! Who knew....my husband just drives by this place a lot so we decided to go here after checking Yelp. They aren't kidding about the Pancake Factory....they have over 30 kinds of pancakes!!!!! Mostly sweet but some savory options as well. There are also several waffle options as well and then your typical diner fare. My husband got the Waffle with Peach Compote and a side of Corned Beef Hash, which he said was good. I had the combo with 2 eggs SSU, bacon, sausage, and 3 buttermilk pancakes....omg. The pancakes were light, SO fluffy, soaked up the butter and syrup nicely and were SO satisfying. Really hit the sweet spot. Would like to come back and try more flavors! Maybe the pancake with meat baked in !!
(5)
L B.
Pros: Quick seating and friendly staff. Cons: Food was bad. I ordered cheese quesadillas, it came on flour tortillas. They offer cheddar but I'm not quite sure of what I got. It was some type of processed cheese. And the garnish is shaved carrots. It came with guac which was prepackaged, EW. I asked for a side of mayo 2x and each time they brought out the small pre-packs, 2or 3 at a time, come on guys! Also, the second time they brought out the mayo it was actually 2 packs of tartar sauce and the only pack of mayo had already been used. I ordered a grilled cheese for my son and again requested cheddar and american processed cheese came out, so I am to guess they don't actually have cheddar? My husband ordered the California omelette with extra cheese and when it can out it had about the equivalent of a teaspoon of cheese. So he turned to the server and asked "is this extra cheese?" And she hesitantly said, "yes". Needless to say, but he offered to pay extra and requested more cheese. Seems like they're trying to cut corners and be lazy, it's not working. Take a little extra time to head over to Turning Point Diner in Hoboken. A much better option.
(2)
Patricia D.
I would have given them a 5 but the service was horrible. The girl sat us down and once we got our meal we didn't see her until we had to ask for the check. MY boyfriend wanted a second coffee and basically had to down it at the end. The inside was pleasant very well kept. The food portions are very large so have a appetite. The pancakes are very soft and fully. My omelet was a great portion and the greens where fresh.
(4)
Bonnie E.
Very disappointed. We went for pancakes because we'd read they boasted about having the best pancakes around. We would have preferred eating the takeout container. Which we asked for 1/4 of the way into them. Thickest, dryest pancakes I've ever eaten. Needed two sips of juice to swallow one bite. Literally. Bacon soggy and greasy like they poured oil on it. Ordered a panini next. Not panini-like at all. Only served on large thick focacia, quite UN-pressable, and loaded with full pieces of rosemary in every bite. Never encountered a diner that you could not even get a side of mayo! They said they don't serve sides of mayo and gave us packets of kraft mayo instead. Really?! Best thing we had was the juice. Very disappointing. Would not go back.
(1)
Susie T.
After getting over my annoyance at having to wait 20 minutes or so (and having someone steal our call number) I was pleasantly surprised at how DELICIOUS the pancakes are here. This is everything that Stacks in Hoboken aspires to and fails miserably. For only $1 more, you can upgrade your mimosa to "grand" which comes with a healthy amount of grand marnier (one of my personal favorites). Eating at a diner means making smart choices, don't go for something fancy. The omelettes are pretty good (I've had one previously) but just order the Pancake Combo...trust me on this!
(5)
Pimp D.
Came for Sunday brunch. Nothing special, but nothing bad. Pretty much typical Jersey diner food that's been overhyped by an appearance on Food Network's DD&D Show. For strictly comparison's sake, Clinton Street Bakery has MUCH better pancakes. Also the syrup served is not real Maple syrup, but the fake stuff (aka pancake syrup). Is it worth the wait for Sunday brunch...not really. But it's a solid choice if you're in the area and craving eggs or pancakes.
(3)
Chris D.
This place is outstanding. My wife and I just moved to the neighborhood and we were pleasantly surprised to stumble on this place. The menu is huge and everything we have ever had here is really good. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ronin D.
So much food and very good. I got a chicken fingers basket (they were out of honey mustard unfortunately but the BBQ sauce was good). My friend got blueberry pancakes, which came with blueberry compote. Both were delicious. But be ready, you can't split your check and sharing one entree will cost an additional $3.
(4)
Vicki K.
Food was excellent, large portions and came quickly. Wait service left a little to be desired. Waiter didn't pay much attention to us and we had to ask for the bill despite being clearly done for a while.
(4)
Rupali S.
Craving for pancake...??? You are at the right place.. Not a place for diet conscious people..We love banana pancake and in house coffee:) California omelet is also a treat !!!!!
(4)
Gregg H.
Wow, a diner in downtown Jersey City with its own parking lot! The interior and exterior design of the building are outstanding, exuding class and tradition. I ordered the Belgian Waffles with pecans and a side of sausage. The waffles were slightly overcooked but still delicious. The fountain soda was flat and too sweet. Our server was friendly and efficient. The biggest letdown was the coffee - which was weak and not really to my liking. Despite some minor shortfalls on the food, overall it was a great experience and I will definitely return. The Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory is a great place to hold a business lunch or dinner, particularly given the free onsite parking. The diner is conveniently located just 5 minutes off the New Jersey Turnpike.
(4)
Teresa L.
The diner's pancakes were featured on the Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (youtube clip here: youtube.com/watch?v=SID4… ). It's the only diner in Jersey City, but it's a pretty good diner despite the lack of competition. In a nutshell: 1) Prepare for a 30 minute wait on Sundays. The wait isn't that bad during weekdays. 2) The food is hearty and satisfies that craving for home cooked foods. It's not spectacular, but it does its job. 3) The service is SLOW, but the servers are usually very courteous and sweet. 4) Prices are very reasonable.
(4)
Jennifer D.
The service was really wonderful - even though the waitress was slow to bring our drinks. The food was also good - everyone at the table had breakfast. Pancake ares fine (however, why would you bring 15 silver dollar pancakes in a breakfast combo. Who eats that much?) and the poached eggs were well cooked. However, when it came time to pay we went to counter and the man said we could not split the check. When I questioned him he said no restaurant does that - really? I don't doubt that. Then he got very rude at me and then said "sweetheart, these are my values and you have to live by them". First off, I am NOT your sweetheart and second off, this isn't a matter of values, but a matter of just informing your customers with a little line on the bottom of the menu about the no split check policy. The menu says that because people do not read anymore, they made a novel of a menu. Adding line stating your split check policy shouldn't be a problem then.
(3)
Jose R.
Not kid friendly! Twice I have gone and have had to witness a table of adults (same party size) be sat prior to us because they said that table is not for kids. It was a round table with seating for 5. If it would have been a high legged table with stools I would agree, but a regular sized table in the middle of the restaurant? How dare you assume my kids are going to be a problem! My kids are polite and know how to behave at a table. How dare you!
(1)
Danielle F.
My husband and I love this place. There are so many yummy pancakes to choose from! Outside of the delicious pancakes there is a full diner menu and everything I've tried here so far has been well above average diner food. Still, it's the pancakes that keep us coming back, over and over. The service is lovely, friendly and efficient. Even when it's packed (which is always) it's fast and friendly service. I don't know how they do it.
(4)
Vartika S.
My absolute favorite brunch place ! Loooove their Pancakes !! ... and the compote tastes just too right ! .. With a side of eggs and fries :) Waffle was just about okay ! Mocha is my favorite drink there ( I skip the whip tho but boy it looks yummy !! )
(5)
Jennifer R.
Me: So, where do you want to eat breakfast? Friend: I told you. We're going to that Diner in JC. Me: What's it called? Friend: Jackson something Diner I go on my Yelp app and search for "Jackson Diner" to do the usual and see what's good but find this place is non-existent. Me: There's no Jackson Diner. Are you sure that's the name of it? Friend: Yea, I think so. I decided to be smart and search for "Diner". Low and behold Brownstone popped up with great reviews, I say the name out loud and my friend yells, "THAT'S IT!" I have no idea how she got Jackson from Brownstone but the important thing is we got our hungry behinds here to try their infamous pancakes. Their menu is straight up ridiculous. It's probably 10 pages long! Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip...what the hell should I order?! I felt as though I was experiencing schitzo like symptoms just looking at the gargantuan menu. I'm happy, I'm anxious, I'm confused... Alas, I decided on the Honky Tonk Pancakes just because...wait for it...it has pieces of peanut butter chunks mixed in with the pancake batter, topped off with freshly sliced bananas and a light sift of powdered sugar. (see picture) O_O Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds. Yes, the weight of the pancakes is comparable to a toddler's head. Yes, I had left overs for the next 2 days. If you're ever feeling like a fat lard and want to eat...like really eat...come here and you won't be disappointed. They also have other typical diner food but stay away from the disco fries. The JC Biergarten is also a short ways away so this diner would be a great spot to hit up after a hardcore night of drinking.
(4)
Ana B.
If only I could I would give no stars. The waiter was extremely rude! I been here before and I was treated like a human being by a young lady, but this time it was a Spanish man and he was a jerk! Never have I experienced such bad service. Then on top of everything I found a bug In my salad. I let the waiter know and he simply took the plate back in the kitchen like nothing happened and asked us if we'd like anything else. He didn't show any forgiveness or apologized at all. As we were leaving because my family couldn't handle eating their food anymore because of the level of disgust, he has the nerve to hand us a bill for all the food accept the salad the bug was in. I honestly don't know how restaurants are supposed to do it, but if it were my restaurant I wouldn't charge someone that just saw a bug in my food, in fact I would invite them back for a free meal as well. This was rediculous! As much customers as Brownstone gets I'm going to make sure my friends or coworkers never go here. Terrible!
(1)
Thomas Djtm M.
Seriously Pancakes are amazing
(4)
Jonathan C.
Another DDD destination when I was in Jersey, and I'm glad I did. The pancakes here are awesome. They give you fluffy, huge stacks of carbolicious goodness, you douse it with maple syrup and butter, and enjoy. I tried the Honky Tonky with peanut butter chips and bananas - Loved it. I'm a big eater (for a Canadian, you Americans have bigger appetites), but I couldn't finish my stack (partly from guilt, and party cause it was just such a huge stack).
(4)
Molly M.
THIS IS A REAL REVIEW AND IM WILLING TO SHOW PROOF!! Isn't yelp supposed to be honest and truthful? Please do not delete this post. These people should not get away with how they treated us. I originally wrote this in the tips section but I see it got deleted. I ate at this restaurant 3/30/2013 and had the most HORRIBLE experience I have EVER had at a diner in my life! Just because your establishment has been on television does NOT give you the right to treat and speak to people like they are trash! This place is NOT child friendly by any means. I've never in my life have been so embarrassed. If you ever bring your child to this diner please never accidentally break a plate because a charge on your bill will show up as "open plate" for 5.00 and if you dare inquire about it, you will be called "a piece of sh*t" by the owner!!!! I was floored!! He continued to throw insults at my family member even after we had paid our check in FULL!!! All of this was taking place in front of the other patrons and the children we had with us!! I have contacting the BBB about this. He should be ashamed of himself!!! This is by no means acceptable on any level. My family member also wrote a review on trip advisor about this as well. Here is the link and I will copy and paste it: click.e.tripadvisor.com/… "Management doesn't value customers. Spend your money where they care for you, not your money." Mar 31, 2013 Saw this diner on Food Network decided to give it a try. My one year old accidentally dropped a plate as we were eating. My check comes and there is a $5 charge that Ii don't recognize and no one says anything. When I go to the cashier and inquire, the owner yells at me saying that I need to pay and come on, hurry, next... proceeds to say he doesn't need my business because he's been open for 52 years. I pay and when I am signing the credit card slip, he says "my people would never do do this when we go out, but you would because "you all are a piece of $**t!!!! I never raised my voice at him, was never rude and only asked for an explanation of the charge and asked where does it state that you will be charged for breaking an item and is there a price list. As the reviewer above me says, they DO NOT care about their customers. I'll give my business where I am not cursed at by a racist owner. My cash is green and my credit card is plastic just like "his people".
(1)
Ranley K.
Came here on a rainy Sunday morning and ended up being packed! I assumed packed = awesome, but shortly found out that it was like 1 of 2 diners in Jersey City waterfront area. Surprisingly, our wait wasn't too long and our waitress was very tentative. The real reason behind my -2 stars is due to the food. I ordered what I like to call a HUGE pigs in blankets. (One huge pancake wrapped around cheese, scrambled eggs, and sausage) Unfortunately sausage was not part of the entree so I had to add it for an extra few bucks, no biggie. I like sausage (haha laugh all you want). I don't know if my entree was bad or if the syrup was a little watered down, but my dish was not all that great, maybe it was just me since my friends all enjoyed their orders, but I was a little upset =(. On the upside, the service was not all that bad. LIke I said we were sat very quickly and ordered quickly as well. Prices were pretty normal for breakfast food as well. Bottom Line: According to my friends this place is much better than the Jersey City IHOP, so we came here. I personally like IHOP a little better (maybe because of the better syrup?) I won't tell you to avoid or tell you that you have to come here, but it's not a bad place to resort to.
(3)
Andre P.
This is "the" Jersey City diner. This is where politicians come to make illegal deals, where blue collar families come for their family night out, where young people who gentrify the city come to have pancakes for dinner, where the civic leaders of the community come in their double breasted suits and hats to discuss the neighborhood, where the hung over people come on weekend mornings, and where seemingly everyone from every part of Jersey City comes for the diner experience. I love the pie here. Sometimes I just come for the pie. I'll think about it at night and then go there the next day. They have a liquor license so you can get a cold Sam Adams. They have the niceties of classic NJ diners, so you feel welcomed. There's a parking lot.
(4)
Jenn B.
I dream of the pancakes. They were soooooooooo delicious. I took a risk & ordered the Berry sour & I will never forget it. I wish I could go back right now except that would include a 3 1/2 hour flight & 30 min cab ride. :-/ But if you're in the area, go now! :-) breakfast served all day!
(5)
Toni G.
My first visit to Brownstone Diner was acceptable. I was impressed by the variety of pancake dishes. The restaurant rules on the menu are hilarious. The seats in the booths needs to be renovated as they look like a tiger clawed the seats. Otherwise, the ambience and most of the decor is appropriate for families and date night.
(3)
Calvin B.
Stopped here while spending a weekend in the city after seeing it on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives. What a great decision! When we arrived the place was packed. I expected to wait at least 30-45 minutes for a table but luckily we had six in our party and luckily no one else needed a table for six so we got right in! What a perfect way to start the day! On to the service. Our waitress was great. So nice and friendly and patient! She took our drink orders and was very patient with us as we browsed their Bible sized menu. We finally decided and within 20 minutes our food was at the table. The food. Everything was excellent. Most of us had a breakfast item of some sort. I personally had the Country pancake wrap and it was huge and delicious. Some of the other items at our table were the chocolate chip pancakes, banana walnut pancakes, and an omelet of some kind. Everyone was very pleased with the items they had ordered. My friend ordered the moussaka which was not featured on the menu but was featured on Triple D and we were very surprised but overly excited when they actually had it. He loved it. I have nothing bad to say about the Brownstone. I was pleased with every aspect of this meal. I could see wait times being lengthy but if the food is good...who cares? Oh and for 2 people we had an awesome breakfast for 20 bucks. When do you find that in or around the city? Go here, you'll love it!
(5)
Roy L.
I've gone here numerous times and no one in the area has pancakes as good. Everything else for breakfast is good though some items have been consistent, never the pancakes. Be warned, this place gets packed for breakfast esp on the weekends obviously. Service is hit or miss too but the pancakes alone carry it. Also, the beef sausage is good. This is a must visit place.
(4)
Tanisha C.
Maybe I'm picky about my breakfast food, but Brownstone Diner is certainly good enough for me to go back occasionally, but not good to the point where I'd make it my default breakfast/brunch location. The pancakes are amazing. This cannot be denied. The selection is incomparable with well over 25 pancake options. I had the blueberry and my boyfriend had the banana walnut. The standard stack comes with 3 of the most melt-in-your-mouth, buttery and fluffy pancakes imaginable. I barely had to use any syrup -- the pancakes were that moist. But beware of the syrup served at the restaurant, it is startlingly sweet. Make sure you go there on an empty stomach. The pancakes are huge. My boyfriend is a big eater and was defeated by these mammoth pancakes. The rest of the food... eh. Nothing special really -- which is perhaps expected. I got the pancake combo, which includes pancakes (you can get the specialty pancakes instead of the standard buttermilk at additional cost), eggs, bacon and sausage. My bacon strips were thin and flimsy. I've had better cheese eggs. Slices of swiss cheese were plainly just added atop my eggs shortly before my meal arrived to the table. I stayed away from the sausage. The service is standard. The waitresses could have been a bit friendlier, but it was a busy Saturday morning, so what can you really expect. The restaurant was packed, but the wait time for a party of two was only 10 minutes. It's much nicer decor wise than I expected. I was expecting the usual decades-old diner look, but the location was relatively updated. It's somewhere between IHOP and an Applebees in terms of decor / atmosphere. I will definitely go back to try other pancake options and perhaps one of the glutenous pancake wraps I saw being eaten at a neighboring table. It's unlikely, however, that Brownstone will become a regular eatery for me.
(3)
Emily N.
Friendly service, family atmosphere, and enough treats to feed an army, the recently renovated Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory is another of the institutions of our neighborhood I couldn't live without. Growing up Jersey, one acquires a certain love for diner culture, and the Brownstone delivers. (Hey, you know, I think they also 'deliver' but I'm not sure.) My friends and I were here the day that the Food Network came to film Diners, Drive-In's and Dives, and that was the only day I've ever had anything go wrong with my order because the kitchen was in chaos! We politely asked to have our order fixed and the waiter got all fidgety and nervous and said, "I'm so sorry. I was just on TV!" It was awesome. I love bringing visitors here. Its a fun experience! We love the staff and crew because they take care of us like family. Booths are comfortable, faces are friendly, and you get a genuine thank you from the owner whenever you stop by.
(5)
Luca C.
Oh, Brownstone...how do I love you? Let me count all of the delicious ways. My friends and I call it Death Breakfast, and for good reason; The portions are huge and it's a do or die the embarrassment of asking for a to-go box at the end of the meal. Favorites include the Brownstone Fries, Waffle Tower, and Country Breakfast Wrap. The family that runs it are incredibly wonderful people, as are the staff. Arrive early or late noon on weekends if you want a table. It fills up fast, and for good reason!
(5)
Olivia R.
I went here the first time and ordered a philly cheesesteak while my boyfriend ordered the penne vodka pasta -- major mistake. this is a pancake house! the sandwich and pasta was mediocre at best. i looked around and the burgers and sandwich melts looked good but what makes this spot stand out is their breakfast food. the next time i made sure to order an omelet and my boyfriend got the peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes. egg white country omelet was amazing and the pancakes were the fluffiest, gooiest pancakes i've ever had! soo delicious. i would recommend staying away from the "diner" food and go for breakfast .. even if you decide to have breakfast for dinner. that's what we did and it was awesome!
(4)
David V.
We went here at 8pm on a Thursday night. There were about four tables that were occupied in our section, but for some reason the service was slow. I asked for a margarita but the waitress brought me a daiquiri. No problem, I suppose, but it also took long to get that right drink out. I had the stir-fry steak, and i t was excellent. We didn't know that this place was known for pancakes, so my wife and I didn't order it for ourselves. Also, we don't really get the fascination with pancakes, even famous as-seen-on TV pancakes. We did get banana pancakes for our toddler because that was what he wanted, and the waitress informed us that they can make it kid size even though it wasn't on the kids menu, so that was nice. Also, when we first came in, the two host and hostess manager types were talking in their language seemingly about where to seat us - with us standing right in between them. I felt that was a bit rude for a service establishment. As we followed the guy, the lady then says to us, "Enjoy your dinner" or something to that effect. I didn't really hear it, because I didn't expect her to finally acknowledge us once our backs were turned. Also, there was this guy in a button shirt who constantly walked around looking at the tables, although not once did he engage with the customers or ask how everything was, so I don't know what his deal was. Oh yeah, and the menu has "rules", like it gives you rules on the menu. I gotta say that's the first time I've seen that. One of them specifically states that tables are not allowed to have split checks, which I don't really see how hard that would be to do. Also, there are a lot of offices downtown who might appreciate having that option. Anyways, if you like this place, then you don't really need to go on Yelp to make up your mind. But yes, there are plenty of other diners in Jersey City, let alone the state of New Jersey.
(3)
Kisha M.
I always eat at the Brownstone when I am in town. Most recently I ate there twice. On the first visit I had the HUGE sliced steak sandwich with home fries. The sandwich was way large and coul dhave been easily been shared between 2 (or maybe 3) people. It was pretty good. Not seasoned enough for my taste and I would have liked for it to be a little more tender. On my second visit I got a ham, egg and cheese sandwich on toast with home fries. The sandwich was perfection. So good! Obviously I am a fan of the home fries. They are boiled and then fried with peppers and onions. Just how a potato should be eaten. Service is friendly and efficient. I've never had to wait for a table, but I imagine it gets pretty busy at peak times.
(5)
Tonya D.
I WOULD NOT DINE AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT - THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AND DISHES DIRTY. They deserve a lower rating than 1 star. Restaurant is FILTHY & the Owner RUDE. This occasion was our 3rd time dining here and it was a total DUD. First, my boyfriend's glass was dirty so he asked for his drink in a "to go" cup. After indicating they charge for "to go" items, they bring his drink in a coffee cup, no cover. Of course we were not paying for a cup when their glass was dirty. Once our food was brought, I open utensils to eat, and I have egg stuck on my fork. YUCK! So we ask for more utensils, a cup of hot water and lemon. The server tells us if it's to clean the silverware, she cannot bring it to us. Then a 2nd server comes over and tells us we can have orange juice in a small carton and lemon or we can take our food to go. This told me they were saying they didn't care about whether we were comfortable with the cleanliness of our silverware, and could leave. So we asked to speak to the manager. The owner comes over and we make the same requests. Again, she refuses to bring over the hot water because as she says, "It doesn't look good." She says she'll clean the silverware for us as if she's doing us a favor. When that wasn't good enough for us, she asked we leave. Gladly - we didn't eat, didn't take the food, and didn't pay for anything. As we pulled out of the parking lot, we saw the Owner and she screamed obscenities at us. IHOP is definitely better.
(1)
K Lo ..
ambience: typical diner. food:very large portions. Pancakes:certainly the best. Soft on the inside, light with a little crunch on the outside. You will drown in the choices. Sandwich: was just ok, nothing to brag about. Value for money: Always some hidden cost, so ask the server and read the between the lines of the menu. Must try if you like pancakes. Recommend!
(4)
Yael J.
I supported this place when it first opened as I work nearby. But after they charged me $1.00 for extra ketchup packets, I was done with them. I argued with them that if I ate in, I could use all the ketchup I want at no additional charge, but because I had a take out order and requested extra ketchup, they charged me a $1.00. Ridiculous business decision in my opinion because I haven't gone back since and I tell everyone I know my story. Also my boss went here for breakfast. She preferres jelly on her pancakes instead of syrup. They charged her extra for the jelly. Poor customer service. Won't ever go back.
(1)
Jo D.
Yum favorite diner in jersey. They have. A great menu and the service is great. I work as a sales rep in north jersey and whenever im in jersey city I like stopping in here. *Enjoy*
(4)
Paul D.
My wife and I have been here a few times and absolutely LOVE breakfast here. My only grip is: PLEASE turn the air conditioner on in the restaurant!!!!!
(4)
Tamara O.
Ihop has nothing to worry about. I was excited to try Brownstone after hearing about the Food Network feature. I mean, my mouth was watering with thoughts of pancakes. We arrived around noon yesterday. The lovely hostess seated us quickly. Our young waitress was less helpful. She didn't seem to know the menu - maybe she was new, but a waitress should know if Strawberry Daiquiris or turkey bacon are on the menu. After reading the novel of a menu, I settled on chocolate chip pancakes. I really wanted chocolate chip pancakes with bananas cooked inside. Of course the waitress explained that bananas cannot be cooked in pancakes. Not true, since I get it at Ihop all the time. My side dishes were sausage, eggs over hard, and grits with cheese. Everything was ok, except the cheese was literally placed on top of the grits. The grits are typically cooked with shredded or sliced cheese. In my picture you can see the sucky Brownstone version. My girlfriend's omelette was overcooked and she literally couldn't eat the tons of cheese inside. Ugh. Check the photos. Overall, I was unimpressed. By the time we left my GF said it all: "Ihop doesn't need to worry".
(2)
Teresita S.
Came here specifically for the pancakes. And they did not disappoint. Portions are huge! Food is tasty, but nothing special. However, I ate so much for breakfast, I did not have to eat anything else the entire day! Service was lacking, but I guess in a place as busy as this, it is expected. Would come back, if I ever want to stuff my face with pancakes.
(3)
Alex R.
Monster portions. Good value. Pancakes come in tons of varieties. The menu has lots of choices and you can spend considerable time browsing through it. Food tastes simple, yet fresh enough for a diner. On a weekend, the place is packed at breakfast and lunch hours. Be prepared to wait in a line. Service is good.
(4)
Jaclyn I.
Sitting at work eating my leftover mousakka, thinking about the Honky Tonk pancakes I also devoured last night, and had to Yelp. Saw this place on DDD w/Guy Fieri and came here with the BF. "Probably the best pancakes I've ever had" was the verdict on the Honky Tonks. Also had Disco Dancing fries which was your traditional hangover fare - nothing special. But the Mousakka was EXCELLENT. For $13 you get soup, salad, mousakka and dessert. We took the coconut custard home. Cheap but freaking awesome eats, alcohol included. Will be back! But not on the weekends, thanks to the below warnings.
(4)
Will Y.
Not a huge fan of pancakes, but you definitely get more than enough food for the price. I'll come here over Stacks in Hoboken any day of the week for pancakes and basic diner food.
(4)
David H.
Maybe it was just too busy a day for them, but I know they normally serve better food than they did today... The steak that can with my eggs was about 25% fat, cook just how I like them, just not happy with the cut they gave me. Then I asked to have my pancakes after I finished my main course and they still brought them out with the main course. Then to top it off, when they did bring me my set after I finished my main course they were kinda warm... I had to send them back and have fresh pancakes made. I look at it like this, I ordered hot cakes, I expect them to be hot! Like I said, I think it was because I came during a busy time of day that I feel the quality wasn't as good as it usually is. Doesn't mean I won't come back.
(3)
Lauren K.
This place is serviceable and the food is average. Sure the pancakes are good. But I wouldn't call them THE BEST PANCAKES EVAR! (Bayonne's diners pretend to have the best pancakes too, they are also lying) I feel like this place was on Diners, Drive ins and Dives and became "famous" and a nice quiet spot to eat my average to above average pancakes on Sunday became this loud, overbearing mad house. Guy Fieri absolutely ruins everything. (Have I told you, I HATE HIM?!?) It's really just average diner food. And the menu is not even a novel. I NEED A NOVEL TO PERUSE WHEN I AM HUNGOVER, DRUNK OR STARVING. Who wants limited choices from a New Jersey diner? Not I. Give me the most dense caloric food concotions you can think of. Be creative. I need at least 12 pages of choices, complete with pictures and charts. Menu has more than less popular diners, but less choices than my favorite diner. And nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, can top my favorite diner. (I have standards) Ambienance is still late 80s, which I enjoy. They have a full bar. You may enjoy that. Cheesecake is 4 stars, at least. Coffee is 3 stars. Service is hit or miss. Average experience if you can tolerate crowds for brunch and are in Downtown JC. You are A-OK, Brownstone.
(3)
Patience L.
I've been going here for over 3 years and I've loved it each time, except for this past Sunday. Food was great for entire family. Service was not so great this past Sunday. Our waiter was quite pleasant but not all that attentive. And it seems that the management has become quite stingy with supplies. A manager had to come to our table for me the explain why I needed another plastic fork for my 2 year old. (She had unfortunately dropped the first one given.) Our entire lunch time was spent asking for more than one napkin per family member, asking for straws, etc. No bueno. Food is fantastic. Pancakes are the best, hands down. I had a grilled chicken salad which wAs phenomenal. My 2 year old loves the kid meal happy face pancake with chocolate chips. I think we all loved it, as we nibbled on hers. Generous portions. I sure hope the generosity pours over into other areas of their service. And that they fix and clean the baby changing table in the bathroom. C'mon Brownstone. You've got tons of families with kids visiting your establishment. Evidence that you care will show in the details - kids cups, plastic utensils, perhaps cheap coloring pages with crayons, clean and safe changing table for the babies.
(3)
T J.
Watched them on DDD before they renovated and had been waiting to come. There was a line that was almost outside which moved fairly quickly. I had an attentive waiter, service was courteous and quick. I ordered traditional pancakes, with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. I always taste the pancakes plain when they first come out. When there is no butter or syrup I can get a real appreciation for just how good they are. Then I put butter and syrup on them and it increases my joy. My pancakes were huge, golden fluffy and extremely tender melting immediately when they hit my mouth. The butter and syrup melted into the pancakes and they were so delicious that I ate past my full zone, barely able to finish the accompanying sides. I took them home as leftovers. With an extensive menu and a welcoming comfortable atmosphere, I will be returning to give to give so many things a try.
(4)
Camille G.
The wait was ten minutes and we were seated in 5 minutes. This restaurant has great friendly servers. The came out so fast and it was piping hot. Our plates looked like players with the amount of food we received. Everything was super delicious. My Corn Beef Hash wasn't salty and my eggs were cooked to perfection ( they weren't raw and runny). I was fascinated with hollandaise sauce. Potato hash was very good. I would strongly recommend everyone to visit this wonderful restaurant. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Brian L.
Who hasn't been here in the area? If you haven't, well, take a look at the 700+ positive reviews, and just go. Their portions are huge, so go hungry. It's nice in there, there's a parking lot (although it does get filled up), and the prices are great. I do think their pancake wraps are overrated. I'd rather just get their normal breakfasts, as those are typical. NOTE - If the line is really long, and you have 4 or less people, the wait isn't bad. Usually less than 20 minutes. It's the larger parties that have issues, as there are only so many big tables. Don't get fazed by the line, it'll just be more time for you to work up your appetite so you may actually finish.
(5)
Joey N.
Went here with my Jersey family right off the airplane ride. I was so hungry and my brother and his girl Took me to a delicious breakfast spot. I had the Belgian waffles and hearty breakfast. For lack of a better word it was one of the most satisfying breakfast meals outside of the home that I haven't had in a good minute...next time I'm in jersey I'm hitting the brownstone. I love the family atmosphere, the pleasant staff, and the funny owner.
(5)
Phil H.
I am so stuffed! Pancakes here are the real deal! This place is the bomb is looking to chow down on pancakes. Big, fat, fluffy pancakes! All kinds of pancakes will all kinds of toppings. It's no joke. It's pretty much just another basic Jersey diner but this one has a breakfast menu that dwarfs most others. After seeing this place featured on Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives I always wanted to try the pancakes here. Had a chance not too long ago coming back from Atlantic City and decided to make an excursion over here when the traffic heading back in NYC was a crawl. So glad we did as I love me some pancakes. Heck, having breakfast for dinner is fine with me! Great service with a fun and friendly waitress who made a few good suggestions when we could not decide on what to get. I ended up getting a combo rollup plate of three different pancakes each separately rolled with apple, blueberry & strawberry compote. Yum! Also, be prepared to take home half your meal if you are a normal person. Just as good heated up the next day! I am a bit of a pig so I ate everything on my plate. Don't judge me!
(4)
Nicole M.
This place came highly recommended by family and fellow yelpers and it did not disappoint! Our party of four was seated immediately and our server was attentive and hysterical. I got the muscle man pancake wrap which I could have easily eaten for lunch and dinner as well. That's a good one to split if you're interested. We also ordered one cinnamon raisin waffle and one Dutch apple waffle. My breakfast loving father exclaimed, "this is the best breakfast I've ever had!" (Which is great because now I can use the Brownstone as a ploy to get my Philly father to come visit me.) The place is large and clean and the staff is extremely kind and attentive. I will most certainly be back and will be sure to recommend to local friends and clients!
(5)
Peter K.
Diner food. Hard to screw this up but some places obviously do. We got here at 9am with a party of 7 people. I didn't think we'd have a problem with getting a table but boy, was I wrong. The place was packed even at 9am on a Saturday! Fortunately we didn't have to wait super long -- maybe 20 minutes? There is a parking lot but when it's crowded, you probably won't find parking in the lot. Street parking isn't exactly easy either. I got an eggs benedict. It was actually the 3rd eggs benedict I had that week. Nothing out of the ordinary. Good classic eggs benedict. Prices were very reasonable. Place was clean.
(4)
Michael C.
Classic diner experience here. The portions are always huge and pretty tasty. I've been here a few times usually try to come as early as possible as it gets crazy packed. If you're a fan of classic American breakfast setting this is definitely a place for you. Like the Tops Diner in Newark this place is really nicely decorated inside that you couldn't really tell how popular the place is by looking at the exterior. I had fried chicken here before and it was really delicious that could rival some of the chicken and waffle places I've had in Harlem or down in the southern states. This time I tried their stuffed pancaked and it was really stuffed with a lot of food. If I didn't come basically full empty stomach there was no way I could've finished all that food. Most of my friends couldn't finish their pancakes as the portions were really generous. For the portions you get the prices are definitely bit higher than your counterpart breakfast places but its definitely worth it if you come hungry. Whenever I came here I end up skipping the next meal. Definitely try to come early like before 11AM, the small parking lot gets filled up really quickly so you probably have to try for street parking at one of the nearby residential streets.
(4)
Melvyn D.
Nice diner. The sandwiches are delicious. As always there is a variety of food so no matter what you feel like, they have it.
(4)
Christina M.
Really good! I can't have eggs or gluten, and usually get their gluten free pancakes with the nut combo, so delicious and hearty. And a couple of turkey sausage links, also tasty. Every server has been great, very quick and accommodating. One in particular is definitely the star of the place, but I can't remember his name :( We usually get coffee and my bf orders a feast of pancakes, an omlet, bacon, oatmeal... The works. Always my fav go to for breakfast. And always a line out the door, just a heads up!
(5)
Mike T.
Their pancakes are phenomenal. I come all the way from Staten Island just for them. I'd give this place full five stars BUT parking and waiting is ridiculous. It's success is its own worst enemy. It's always hard to find parking because their lot is always full. And the street parking in the area is horrible. Also. You have to wait for a seat. I'm always frustrated when I get here looking for parking and then having to wait. But as far as food is concerned, the pancakes are really good. The service is half and half. The servers are friendly but give a lot of blank stares. Never really feel comfortable.
(3)
Armando C.
Seating was fast food was ok not great like others told me getting our food took little long to get to us So over all not bad but nothing to go crazy for
(3)
Kavya K.
Pancakes, Crispy bacon and Mimosa's to start the day with a bang. Went here on a Saturday morning during the memorial weekend. 5 minutes of wait and we were in. My first pancake experience in the USA and I came out a content girl. This place will always be known for the time spent with friends and for my favourite breakfast meal.
(5)
S F.
ZERO STARTS FOR THIS PLACE! I can't understand how the #BownstoneDiner is always packed on weekends. It's pretty disgusting to try to eat a meal while tens of #flies are #hovering all over my #food. I ordered the #fajitas and the #guacamole was served in a store sealed container on my plate. When I went to the #bathroom, there was no #soap. How do employees wash their #hands before #handling your food after going to the #restroom??? #Nasty nasty place to eat! #NeverAgain! #JerseyCity #JC
(1)
Ca C.
On a very busy Sunday brunch I got a MOLDY BAGEL! Manager offered a quick apology and blamed the bagel company.... Um, you served up an old bagel to me. That's not anyone's fault but yours. I'm 5 mo. pregnant so this is even more unsettling. NEVER GOING BACK.
(1)
Dominique S.
I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night at about 9.45pm. We had been driving around for a while trying to find parking but we thought why not head to Brownstone, they have parking and we had been before and thought it was great! This time we were very disappointed :( The first thing I noticed was the thick layer of dust of the ledge the separates the booths. It was both behind my head and my boyfriends head- gross. I had a craving for a burger so I ordered the bacon ranch beef burger with curly fries. My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken basket with sweet potato fries. My burger was bland and chewy. The mushroom didn't taste seasoned and made the entire burger soggy. I only ate half of it. My fries were good though. My boyfriend's chicken was also chewy and didn't taste fresh. The sweet potato fries were old and soft, really bad actually. The whole meal was disappointing and we both agreed we wouldn't come back. I haven't tried the pancakes thought, so maybe that's all this place is good for cause they look pretty good.
(2)
Ah-Hyun C.
3.5 stars. A very Jersey diner: hefty portions, mediocre service and 6 pages of menus. I think that the pancakes are pretty damn good here but portions are insane - definitely one to share. Have to say though that I haven't seen pancake variety quite like this ever: everything from your usual standard blueberry / chocolate / etc. to walnuts + honey / pigs in a blanket / peanut butter + banana (honky tonk). I've had their triple eggs any way you want with hash browns, which is nothing to write home about except for their size. Still filling, still will satisfy you - I'm just sayin' it's diner food, it is what it is. The thing about this place is that it gets pretty busy on the weekends and last time we came it was the 4th so service was pretty slow and orders kept getting mixed up. There will be a wait if you're coming on a busy day but think it's worth the 15-20 min wait. I wanna come back to try their pancake wraps which is basically all your breakfast foods wrapped in pancake. Gonna have to lose some pounds to make room for another Brownstone outing.
(3)
Aila B.
I love this place! The best pancakes ever. Their menu is so large you would want a taste of everything. My favorite is the Country Breakfast Wrap. It has Scrambled eggs, pork sausage, potatoes and american cheese rolled into a large pancake. Is like a huge breakfast burrito! I couldn't even finish it because is so huge. Is very busy over the weekends and their parking lot is very small.Took the rest of it home. The parking space is really small and you gotta fight for a spot while waiting for somebody to come out. If you happen to be at Jersey City, this is the place to go.
(4)
Vickey T.
Amazing pancakes. Hands down the best original buttermilk I've ever had.
(5)
Asher H.
Prodigious portions, above average meals and genial service go hand in hand with an infamously voluminous menu that includes just about anything you can think of. Though to be fair, the options were a bit limited in the milkshakes department. Still, overall, one of the better diners in New Jersey. .
(4)
Christie R.
Huuuuge portions! Nuts and honey pancakes were delicious at first bite but quickly became too sweet and overloaded with nuts..if you love nuts these are definitely for you...the apple pancakes had just enough compote so that you could enjoy the apple but still use syrup on the pancakes underneath..the eggs and corned beef hash were fine..nothing special. Next time I will definitely be trying some of there non breakfast items. Overall, it was definitely a solid breakfast worth trying again but definitely not every week. Also, don't be scared away by the wait it goes really fast.
(4)
Tim M.
An excellent option for overindulging on breakfast foods. The food is so good you can't help from stuffing your face until it hurts. I recommend the French Toast.
(4)
Satish P.
Good food and nice ambience.
(4)
Nish P.
Wide selection of scrumptious pancakes to choose from. It has a traditional jersey diner feel and its located in the heart of Jersey city.
(5)
Bill F.
They used to be better. I always order the queen combo, which comes with eggs, corned beef hash, beef sausage, and pancakes. It seems like they changed the recipe for the corned beef hash because it was tasteless. And they made the pancakes smaller and aren't light and fluffy like they used to be.
(2)
Chris V.
Their are many many diners to enjoy in the great state on New Jersey ... fortunately their is only one GREAT diner in Jersey City, that is the Brownstone Diner. Years ago when the duo was lucky enough to call JC home, we discovered the stone right after it was featured on Triple D. Although we don't frequent the spot often enough, every time we get there it is an absolute pleasure. 3 words: Classic Pancake Wrap ... it is a heavenly creation to be enjoyed by one and all. Repeatedly. The better half usually opts for a club or an omelette and is never disappointed ... Get here. Now
(5)
Michelle H.
Good pancake. Rich and soft. Portion is big. Saw it on Food channel the other day!
(3)
Vishal S.
Alert - allow for long wait times during weekends. Wait time used to be long but have gotten worse since it was featured on Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives". Good food and a great experience!
(4)
D K.
I'm glad I found a diner nearby. I love diners. Brownstone also has a parking lot, so even more of a reason to frequent it. I only went for breakfast and had the pancakes, corned beef hash, sausage, and eggs. Their pancakes are great, and they have a lot of different types for the adventurous. Their corned beef hash was so-so. It seemed like it came out of a can, so despite other Yelp reviews, I'll have to pass on them in the future. Their sausages are good though. They have a nice snap and a bit of a kick, different from regular breakfast sausages. Service is friendly, and they have a lot of desserts that caught my eye. I'd like to return and try their lunch/dinner food. All in all, it's a decent diner, and due to convenience, I"ll definitely return.
(3)
Jason L.
Hmm, can't say I share the same excitement as some other reviewers about this place. Some thoughts: Pros: -Huge menu. If you can't find whatever you are looking for then you are either from another planet or you can't read -Despite how busy this place is they move tables pretty fast. Were seated after about a 10 minute wait on a busy Sunday morning -Food comes out pretty fast and really hot -Quaint little diner with comfortable homelike feeling Cons: -Pork sausage and turkey sausage were blah. You have to do better than that to impress a Southerner who had pork sausage mixed in his baby formula at 4 months of age -The pancakes are good but not a world changing experience. I had the Silver Dollar pancakes which were fluffy and piping hot. They have a fairly extensive pancake list so you pancake fans will be overjoyed -Service is spotty. Luckily we didn't need much. Rarely saw our waitress I have a feeling there are better items to be found on their menu than what I got so I may come back one day. Definitely much better than the chains so head here for some good diner food.
(3)
Shohan R.
I had the chicken and waffles this time I went there and it was delicous. Always a wait but always great stuff on their menu. I saw they updated their menu and looks better than before.
(5)
Kristin G.
I'm not sure I've ever had better plain old buttermilk pancakes. They are obviously my go to. I'm one of those people who goes to a restaurant and orders the same thing, EVERY SINGLE TIME. So if it's breakfast, I'm getting either egg whites, or once a month, my monthly pancakes....and the ONLY place I will get them from after having the Brownstone's version, is THE BROWNSTONE. Not only do they treat you like family after just your first time there, but the prices are reasonable and the food is DELICIOUS. Sure the sausage is a bit big and kind of gross looking, sure your waitress may look like she's not all there, but everyone is kind. Sure the wait may take you a good 40 minutes but hey, for pancakes like these, I'll wait a full hour! This place brings in people of all kind and it's no wonder it does, this is a place ANYONE would love. If the crowd is diverse, you know it's good. My boyfriend gets a new pancake every time and EVERY SINGLE TIME he is astounded that it is amazing. See you Sunday!
(5)
Tanlove C.
My family I am are regulars here and I just left (walked out) with my family. They have FALLEN OFF, seriously. The food there is pretty good and fulfilling, but we are so disappointed to know that the service had gone downhill. So today, it was very packed, so my family and I waited the 20mins to be seated. We got to our seats, (downtown area) the table was not wipe down and the seats had food on it, so I took a few of my newborn baby wipes to clean the table, they saw us doing it, so the busboy came over to clean it for us. My husband went into the bathroom, he came back and told us how DISGUSTING the men bathroom was. There was pee on the floor, toilet paper was all over the floor and it smells. We finally got our menus, looked it over for about 10 mins and no one came over to take our order until we asked for our waitress. She came over and took out her note pad and said, "OK, what are you having". She didn't even introduce herself, offered us any cups of water, or even gave us utensils. We ordered and asked if, like we always do, get our cold soda/juice in a foam cup, she told us "No" you can't have it. We asked why when we come here weekly/bi-weekly and get the same thing, foam cups and plastic utensils. She said, she can not give those to us because they are for take out. It was so busy that they kept calling her name for her to come pick up her food for her other table, she said to us she will be back. She came back to us and said, no, I can't give that to you, so we got up and walked out. We are over this place. Since the feature on the Food Network, there service has gone from good to worst. There must have been a rebroadcast of the show for it to be so pack today. Overall, our experience have been better, but today it was HORRIBLE!! and we are DONE with Brownstowne Diner.... On to the Next One!!
(2)
wenting x.
this is one solid diner to get brunch, lunch, dinner...great food, huge portions, and all at a reasonable price. I got their specialty pancakes with bacon with a side of beef sausage and corned beef hash. my bf got the surf and turf --fried cod, steak, eggs, and grits. both our meals came out on huge plates and we were left feeling very satisfied. i thought the pancakes were very good, the beef sausage was awesome and veryvery tender, and my corned beef hash was absolutely spectacular. only complaints were that the steak could use some salt and the eggs were a bit over cooked. other than that, i will happily return in the future.
(4)
Joanne J.
I LOVE this place! The food is fantastic. I've never ordered anything that came out less then delicious! Service is quick, friendly and orders are always taken accurately. I love that the waiters, owners and other staff always remember who we are when we go there! Many times we needed to eat in a rush and they were great about getting us in and out very quickly. I would definately suggest stopping in here for a bite to eat!
(5)
A Z.
Holy pancakes, this place is yummy. If you every wondered how many concoctions you could make with a pancake, this place will challenge you and make you feel very unoriginal. I got some amazing peanut butter and banana pancakes that blew my mind. Since I need salty with my sweet, I also got a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel that was ooey, gooey and delectable. This is a big place with a parking lot, and we had no trouble getting a seat or parking, which was nice. Our waitress was also perky as hell, which you really need early in the morning.
(4)
Stephanie B.
Brownstone has become my second home on Saturdays. Love this place! Breakfast is AMAZING! Was just there last night, I already need my next fix.! *drools writing post*
(5)
Brett B.
Tough to give rating here as I don't try a lot of items. To sum it up: Pancakes - 5 Disco Fries using Mozz cheese instead - 5 Corned Beef Hash - 4 Steak and Eggs - 0 - had to throw out the steak, I would not feed it to my dog
(3)
Jess F.
Meh! For all the hype I've heard and seen on many food must lists, this place never met its expectation. There many diners in NJ, this is just an overpriced one.
(3)
LG P.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it... did I say I love it? LOL... I will make the wait to eat here... and there is always a wait. It is a plentiful amount that you can share. I can't rave enough about them,
(5)
Alden C.
...not just a breakfast establishment! Yes it's a diner, so the portions are HUGE, but the quality of the food rivals some of the better restaurants I've been too. based on other reviews, it's already a given to come here for the pancakes/breakfast, but definitely consider it for dinner as well...you wont regret it!
(4)
Michael W.
Wow! I am very impressed by the food here. It came quick, it was hot and damn it was tasty. Nothing like I expected.
(4)
Michele L.
I don't think I've ever given a poor review but I just can't help myself. The service here is VERY slow and although the waitress was nice, she was BEYOND forgetful. My friends and I were looking for the Punked crew to show up any minute. 2 of my friends received their side dishes about 10 minutes before my coffee (which I ordered before food was ordered) and the main dishes took about another 10 minutes. My order came about 20 minutes later. We waited for 45 minutes to get seated and if it wasn't for the fact that we were starving, we would have left. We all ordered pancakes and they were nothing to write home about. Overall, it was a giant letdown. :(
(1)
Asmita K.
Go to this place if you're craving a huge, relatively cheap breakfast without the kitchen mess or the grocery shopping. The pancakes are huge and have a fluffy quality to them that is hard to replicate at home. Everything else from the omelets, toast, potatoes, or bacon can be made at home easily if you're willing to put in the cooking/cleaning time and have the ingredients on hand. The latter being the part where I fail. My favorites are the Pancakes with Cranberry Pieces and Apple Compote, Black Forest Pancakes (Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Cherry Compote), and the Southwestern Omelet platter. The home fries are probably the worst side on the menu. Service can be a bit gruff depending on the waiter especially when the brunch rush is in. We like most of them but there's a particular one who ignores small tables in favor of the larger tables (i.e more tips), has to be flagged down multiple times for coffee or water, and always forgets our toast. Expect a 10-20 min wait from 11-1 on the weekends. The line moves relatively fast. Their sandwiches are surprisingly good as well.
(4)
Geeta C.
Best pancakes ever. One serving is enough for two people. Pecan pancakes and Blueberry pancakes are my favorite.
(4)
Steve B.
One of my favorite brunch places, even if there's a wait (which there usually is on the weekend from 10-2pm). Crazy number of options for pancakes and waffles, there's always a bit too much food so if you come hungry you'll leave, um, not hungry anymore. The other food items are pretty good for diner fare. It can be tough to park here, and the waiting area is on the smaller side so during the cold months it will get very packed near the doors. And they will nickel and dime you if you want something extra in something, so stick with what's on the menu.
(4)
Pursarth T.
Get the Honky-Tonk pancake. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you why I like this place - it's because they serve the Honky-Tonk pancake. I mean they figured out a way to marry two of my favorite breakfast foods - peanut butter and pancakes - and that's why every time I go here, I get the Honky-Tonk. This place gets super crowded during the brunch hours during the weekend (do people eat brunch during the weekdays?) so be prepared to wait for a bit. The portions are huge. I mean really huge. One entree and a side is enough for two people with decent appetite. All in all, Yay! I am a fan. And oh yeah did I mention? Get the Honky-Tonk pancake.
(4)
Hannah C.
I've only had breakfast at Brownstone, but it was awesome. Even though the place is usually packed, they seat you surprisingly fast and the service is quick, too. There are so many varieties of pancakes and omelets, it's insane. The California omelet (avocado, onion, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, tomato) is excellent, as well as the buttermilk pancakes. A side of bacon gets you a generous amount (unlike most breakfast places), and the corned beef hash is cooked really well. Best part is, the place isn't expensive at all. And I haven't had a drink here (yet) but I did see a bar on my way out.
(4)
Natasha B.
I call Brownstone, Disappointing Diner, because often it is. I think, you are safe here ordering pancakes, any breakfast item, salads, burgers, and sandwiches, as portions always leave you happy. But things like, say nachos, gyro, or any other "sounds good" dishes on Brownstones ginormous menu, be prepared to be very disappointed. You have to come here for a specific thing, don;t bring people with ADD as the menu is overwhelming and could be hard to choose from. When going to Brownstone, you just have to play it safe. Get the espresso milk shake, pancakes, breakfast anytime, sandwiches and burgers, NO nachos. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.
(3)
Jennifer L.
The boy and I came here for breakfast last weekend and proceeded to be serious fat asses. I went with the 3 eggs over, canadian bacon, hash brown, and toast. He did one of the breakfast sampler things.... eggs, bacon, hash browns, silver dollar pancakes. And then we ordered a side of corned beef hash (we didn't really get any corned beef on St. Pats and were in the mood lol). All of the food was pretty tasty. Corned beef hash was addicting. Silver dollar pancakes were fluffy and yummy, and I'm not usually a huge pancake person. Eggs were perfectly cooked to order, and I'm picky!! Had tried their pancake rollups once and was NOT a fan. Too much going on all in one bite! Coffee was just meh. The craziness and cult following of this place though still amazes me though. But the owners are friendly and you gotta love a cute old Greek man manning the register. :)
(4)
Bryan S.
Great place to eat. Def exceeded the expectations. 4 stars instead of 5 because the food i had which was the chicken with like gravy m mash potatoes. It was tooo much and too filling. Barely ate half of it. It tasted great but just too much starch. Def would come back to try something else. Pancakes were awesome btw
(4)
Alan N.
What happened Brownstone?? After Hurricane Sandy you lost your mojo. New menu, same staff, but the service just went down the tube. Yeah, i'm talking about waiting 40 minutes for ziti bolognese, and getting a plate of rigatoni with vodka sauce. Then after telling the waiter of the wrong dish, getting a response of, "well, if you want what you ordered, you'll have to wait another half an hour. Instead I can bring you a small dish of meat sauce." Wow, seriously, then he charged another $2 for the second small dish of meat sauce to actually cover the plate. This place used to churn out hot breakfasts in record time. Now it takes forever and some of the wait staff seems to just hang around. But it's weird because they are the same waitresses and waiters i've seen for years!
(2)
Los O.
Freaking amazing food....glad we stopped there. I will go again next time im in NJ. Food rocks...pancakes the best.
(5)
Sui B.
huge portions, don't come here if you are on a diet. haven't really seen anyone actually finish their meal, ever. The food is decent, I heard that this was featured on Food Network's Diners and Dives, but aside from the huge menu and portions, I'm not sure what the big deal is. The waitresses/waiters always gets something wrong with your order, so don't expect much there. The pancakes themselves tastes just like every other pancake.. I agree with the other reviews that their omelets are good.
(3)
Nicole V.
I saw the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode featuring Brownstone diner recently and decided to try it. Now, Jersey is known as the diner state apparently, but most of the diners I've been to don't hold a candle to this place! Great service, huge menu, beyond tasty breakfast, free parking and a very cozy atmosphere. I'm definitely coming back to one of Jersey City's best diners!
(5)
Brian C.
Not a fan, average breakfast at best. Extremely slow service.......what kind of pancake place doesn't carry real maple syrup? Not a good one.....
(1)
Adam Z.
Totally awesome diner. My family and I went here on our way up to MA because we saw it on DDD. This place has really great food so much so we came back to it on the drive down too. -It looks busy but if barely has a wait time. It must be because of the efficiency of the staff. -On the first stop I had a chicken parm. sandwich with curly fries... great sandwich and a big portion. I'm a big guy and normally can handle a lot of food but I couldn't take this down. It's really a knife and forker. On the way back I had the surf and turf breakfast. it comes with a strip of steak, eggs, and a bunch of fried fish. It was really great. My wife got some pancakes that after trying I would have to say are the best pancakes I've ever had. -I don't remember what my kids got but I know they were both very happy both times. -They have a HUGE menu and some really terrific non-typical diner food. -The wait staff was fantastic, also. I wish I could go again but I'm on the other coast now. It's probably better that me and the chicken parm sandwich don't tangle again anyway.(I'm gonna post a picture of it)
(5)
N H.
At best, the pancakes live up to the hype - the portions are large and the pancakes come out fluffy and yummy. Consistency isn't their strong suit though. It doesn't surprise me anymore when the pancakes come out overcooked, sometimes burned. 4 stars for the food (and don't bother with the rest of their brunch menu - there are other brunch places nearby that do eggs a lot better). Then it's hard to ignore the ridiculous wait time for weekend brunch. The kitchen and waiters always seem understaffed. I gave up eating in the restaurant altogether. Doing carry out sometimes helps to mitigate the wait time except when they're running behind. They don't tell you this over the phone when you place the order, so once I ended up waiting another 30 min in the restaurant for a total wait time of 1 hr just for carry out. I don't want to know how long the sit-down people had to wait that day. -1 star for the amount of time it takes to get to the food.
(3)
Hoi I.
love love this place! everytime i visit my friend that lives near by we always go. fluffy pancakes in every flavor imaginable. the wait is pretty long depending on when you go but it's totally worth the wait. service is friendly but sometimes does feel a smidge rushed-- but no biggie. wouldn't recommend it if you're watching your figure or counting calories. if not- def head on over and try!
(4)
Share W.
Ok, I didn't really have much high hopes on this place, but it exceeded my expectations. On the weekends, there are CROWDS of people and that should have been the all tell sign that this was a happening place. Despite the line, turnover for tables was at a decent rate (especially for smaller groups). The place is spacious, but it still gives you that comfortable feeling. The menu had a lot of offering on it and I felt so overwhelmed on what to choose. I love spanakopita, but I also wanted an egg omelet. The burgers options blindsided me because of they different types available. The food was scary to look at and not because they look bad. The portions seem like they can feed 2, maybe 3 people. I couldn't stop staring at my neighboring table's pancake stack. It was bigger than his head, which made me want pancakes. I settled for my own twist of egg white omelet with spinach, mushrooms and swiss cheese. The curly fries are delicious and I'd upgrade to that anytime!
(3)
Zook G.
Good diner food, not great diner food. Portions are huge but the quality is not the best I've had, being from NJ, I can be particular about diner food. The menu is huge like other diners but the portion size is much more. On weekends be prepared to wait from 30 mins to an hour for a table. It always is packed on Sat and Sun. I've come during dinner time and it was almost empty. Also the Guy Fieri picture above the kitchen is a nice touch, he also has a menu item on the menu. The waiters and waitresses are usually very friendly.
(3)
Kelvin C.
If you are extremely hungry and not exactly sure what to eat, this is the place for you!! I consider myself to be a quantity eater and this place always puts me right to sleep after I finish my meal. They have everything here, from breakfast to burgers, seafood, pasta-- you name it, they got it (well maybe except for Asian foods). And let me warn you that no matter what you get, their portions are HUGE. Breakfast is probably what they are known best for and they really live up their name with their pancake variety. The only thing that I would request is for them to have pancakes with fruit IN them, rather than just on top. Some of my favorites would include the Honkey Tonk and Black Forest (cherries over chocolate chip pancakes). I've also had the chance to try some of their dinner entrees, such as their chicken and biscuits, meatloaf, brisket, various burgers, and sandwiches and they all didn't disappoint. Although they weren't the best I've ever had, the quantity sure made up for any deficiencies in the taste part. All in all, a great place with a lot of variety. A lot of the food on the menu isn't going to blow you away, but you will always leave satisfied and FULL. oh, and make sure to try the Brownstone Fries before every meal... they are AWESOME!!
(4)
Michelle C.
3.5 stars for breakfast/ brunch. Everything has been quite good, except the pancakes! The ones I had were flavorless and dry. And the homefries were a bit undercooked. Overall, the service was good (except nobody offered to refill our coffee) and everything else was prepared well. The wait on a Saturday morning was short considering the massive lines. Beware of limited parking.
(3)
Nisha G.
Love love love this place!! Must try - the honky tong pancakes, California omelet and turkey sausages!!! Our first visit and we will be back
(5)
Noelia T.
70% of the time I come here, I order pancakes. A+ pancakes ... great service! Their fajitas are to die for as well! I wish they were open 24/7 for late night cravings!
(5)
Monyca W.
Here comes my first bad review on Yelp... I was a regular, visited at least once a month, brought friends and they became regulars too. Other people asked me, "How can you go there, the service is so terrible?" but I always told them, no, it's fine, I didn't know what they were talking about. I got to know the owners and the staff, and always had a fine experience. So, after years of visiting almost every weekend, one weekend, a waiter or bus boy spilled a hot cup of coffee on my friend. "I'm so sorry, I'll take of it," he said as she rushed to the restroom to try to clean herself up. Luckily, she wasn't burned, and we finished our brunch, got the check, and lo and behold, not only was nothing "taken care of," she actually GOT CHARGED FOR THE COFFEE! My friend very calmly went to the owner's daughter who acts as a manager, and explained the situation to her. Her response, "Do you need me to call an ambulance?" No, of course not, she wasn't burned, she just didn't expect to pay for a coffee that was spilled on her rather than given to her. While my friend was explaining this, the manager just walked off as she was speaking. My boyfriend, who went to school with the owner's daughter, tried again, explaining that we had been charged for a coffee that had been spilled on our friend, to which she said, "I'll tell you what," the owners daughter said, "I can take the coffee off the check, and you are never to step foot in here again, or, you can pay your full bill if you ever want to come back." If I hadn't heard it myself, I would've never believed it. We paid our bill in full and left , never to return again. I guess maybe they figure they've got enough customers, lines out the door, and they just don't care. It's true, they still have lines out the door, but they'll never see me or more money again. I don't ask for much from diner service, but I refuse to patronize any establishment that treats their customers this way.
(1)
Windell C.
Breakfast my favorite meal of the day and if it's disappointing, so is the rest of my day be on the lookout things could go from bad to worse. Good thing The Brownstone does not do that. The Brownstone is a Jersey City staple just outside the Newport area and conveniently located near the light rail and beer garden. This place packs em in on the weekend and the parking lot is small, so be prepared to wait (approximately 20 minutes or so if the line is spilling out the building it is not as bad as it looks). The crowd used to be manageable, but thanks to Guy (Not So Fly) Fieri don't even get me started on this dude the establishment has really been packing them in since appearing on the show a few years back. This is not the reason visit this establishment the pancake offerings are. They have a fine selection of pancake offerings, which will leave you loaded to the gills upon consumption. My pick are one of the fine pancake wraps, which is basically a pancake omelet stuffed with just about anything you can conger up. They have healthy options as well for those who aren't going in for the glutton fest. As most patrons to diners know that ordering fried chicken or grits in the North East is generally a no go, but I have to say the chicken is pretty decent and chicken and waffles is even better. My verdict I say give the place a go.
(4)
L R.
Excellent Diner. Was pleased with both the pancakes and sandwiches. Would definitely go back or bring friends interested in a diner experience.
(5)
Tesheca L.
If you like cheap unhealthy diner food, this is your place to go. I've been twice. The diner is huge, wooden panel decor with booths and tables. always full with patrons. The menu is vast, the prices are cheap. 1st go around, my order of Jalapeno poppers came undercooked and still frozen in the middle. The bed of salad it layed on was wilted and unappealing. Although the waitress took it back to be reheated, my appetite was gone. The second go at it, I ordered the greek spinach pie, which was surprisingly tasty. Their dessert wasn't bad, and the pina colada was good. From what others have told me, their pancakes are huge and very good. If I ever go back, Ill try a stack.
(2)
Theda S.
After reading the reviews I mentally prepared myself for the bad service but I was seated quickly, offered coffee before even getting settled in the booth and my food came fast. No complaints for a Saturday morning. I ordered the Queens Plate: 3 eggs, 3 extra fluffy buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash and a beef sausage. My eggs where made to order, over hard the way I like them, the corned beef cooked to a slightly crunchy texture and the pancakes were divine. I tried but I couldn't finish my whole plate. If you are craving breakfast, shake those IHOP cravings out of your head and head over to Brownstone
(4)
Jean B.
I don't mind waiting almost an hour for a table if you tell me I'm going to wait that long. At least then it's my choice whether to go or stay. I do mind it when you tell us 25 minutes. With that said... The most INSANE breakfast menu I've ever seen... in a good way. I am always looking for different pancake varieties and this place had one of the longest pancake lists I've ever seen! Everything on the menu looked so good, and my crew and I ordered so much food that we had to set our condiments on the ledge behind our booth to make room on the table (they did seat us in a booth that was a little small for 6 people though... and we are not big people) It was a busy Saturday morning when we came, so I will not dwell too much on the fact that it took the waitress forever to greet us, check on us, and she may have forgotten a few of the sides we had ordered.... but like I said the place was PACKED and we put in possibly the craziest order... and she was super nice and awesome, and she was new so I will not hold it against her All in all... I will definitely go back and I suggest you check it out... especially if you like pancakes. Also if you're going in a group, try to carpool. Parking was definitely not the easiest. They had a parking lot, but it felt like the mall parking lot two days before Christmas.
(4)
Ca A.
Visited yesterday...we had banana walnut pancakes, bacon pancakes, chocolate covered strawberry pancakes & my husband had a country pancake wrap. The pancakes were really good! The portions are huge. No one was able to finish, better to share. Will visit again!
(4)
La L.
Solid diner in JC. I generally don't eat any other pancakes except the ones my husband makes. Most pancakes are too heavy but these are very good and very light. Turkey burgers are super bland. I would stick to breakfast.
(3)
Sean R.
I couldn't have asked for much more out of a diner on Sunday morning: - There was a wait, but it went very quick. - Our service was quick and ours meals came out in no time. - Omlette was good and pancakes were great. - Prices are wallet friendly. Coming back here and getting a lox platter for sure (my diner weakness). I was not a fan of their turkey sausage. It was more like keilbasa than breakfast sausage.
(4)
Kathleen D.
God, this place makes me want to just barf up all of my food. We ordered an appetizer, then our two individual meals. We expected the appetizer to come out first. Wrong. She brought out both the entrees and the giant plate of fried crap at the same time. Too much food. The fried appetizer platter was fine. Nothing bad. But my "Quesadilla Wrap"? Was utter trash and I took one bite and said "No, way." After the onslaught of large amounts of food, I noticed a bug crawling on the lettuce of the appetizer plate. I told my friend I wanted to leave immediately. Also their bathrooms were just really, really really... gross...
(1)
Jeannie C.
So, this is a DDD spot. They featured pancake and Greek food. Since they are called Brownstone Diner & PANCAKE Factory, I thought I'd try the pancake first. Sadly, I'm not sure I'll return to try the Greek food. Pros: Portions are HUGE! And prices are reasonable. Cons: Well, pancakes are well, pancakes. I know they have this meat pancake that looked intriguing. Guy tried it. Perhaps I should have. But I was in the mood for something old fashion (rare, but it occurs). So, I tried a simple berry pancake. Really, nothing exceptional. It's pancakes. Considering IHOP has different flavor syrups, quite frankly, I prefer IHOP (in case you're wondering, whenever I compare something home grown to a chain, it's not good...) I don't know because it is popular so it got featured on DDD. Or because it got featured on DDD so it's popular. Probably it was a circular logic that fed on each other. The wait can be real long. Now, there is an advantage for being a single diner. I sat at the bar, and cut the wait time significantly. The downside of that was that I was stuck with the bar waitress. I think deep down she was nice. She reasonably quick with service. But, she was looked miserable and looked like she hated being there. That kinda didn't help this review. I like service with a smile, but that's just me.
(1)
Gene L.
I can't vouch for everything at Brownstone - only the pancakes, the pancakes with ice cream, waffles, waffles with ice cream, the reuben sandwich, and omelets. If any of those are to your liking, then you should be pretty well satisfied by what you find at Brownstone. The most recent visit to Brownstone was especially good. After a nice meal of tacos at Downtown Taqueria, we came to Brownstone, according to tradition, for a desert of pancakes with ice cream on the side. After checking out the pie selections, my brother went for the blueberry pie, as he has a thing for fruit pies that have a deeply unnatural color - which this one did. It came heated up (as requested), right out of the microwave (which makes me frown).It was okay; I much prefer the pancakes though. my sweetheart and i had the black forest pancakes with ice cream on the side. the ice cream came in an appropriately and pleasingly large receptacle. The pancakes were the best I've yet had at Brownstone. I always hope and pray for pancakes that are cooked to the point of having a nice and crispy skin - and they did it this time. Thank youuuu. Thumbs way way up.
(4)
Allison M.
I don't frequently go to diners. The portions are always way too big, and the menu may be extensive, but there are rarely creative options for vegetarians. Unless you like the fruit plate, that is. My hubby and I walked over here this morning, as we are moving today and both wanted hearty breakfasts. I had the fruit pancakes. They were tasty, if not a little dry. I did leave full, and that was my intent. I would go back if I were a) hungover or b) in need of another satisfying, large breakfast.
(3)
Spencer W.
Do not venture too far from breakfast items...that is my advice. The breakfast portions are huge and it's pretty hard to screw up diner style breakfast and it's pretty good here. You know portions are big when pancakes need their own huge plate and you get 3 poaches eggs on English muffins with the benedict. Just don't get too adventurous as I've had the meatloaf and fish and chips which weren't great.
(4)
J D.
I've been meaning to go to the Brownstone ever since I saw it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I read a bunch of reviews on Yelp and thanks to my fellow Yelpers I was convinced that it would be a hit. And I was not disappointed! We got there around 10:30 and were told it was going to be a 15 minute wait. I don't want to say that they lied but we waited about 30 minutes but it was expected due to how many people were waiting inside and out. When we were seated we were greeted by our friendly waitress (despite what others may have Yelped) and ordered our drinks. The coffee was decent, the orange juice was good and my mom liked their cappuccino. The menu is typical large diner menu but I really only paid attention to the first page which is filled with about 20 different options of pancakes. My mom ordered the pancakes with fresh fruit which had the blueberries mixed in (suggested by the waitress) - they stayed warm throughout the meal My dad ordered the coconut pancakes with banana slices on top and was pleased - I think he ate the most! I ordered like a child and had the chocolate chip pancakes and they were fabulous. The pancakes were light but somewhat dense - sounds strange - but they were perfect. We also ordered a side of corned beef hash which was good. I added a little bit of hot sauce to it for a kick which was just the right touch. I would suggest you ask for it well done and just a heads up, the corned beef is out of a can while the regular corned beef for sandwiches is sliced. The waitress suggested the waffles for next time and a friend of mine just recommended the pie.
(4)
Ilana A.
Have been to the Brownstone Diner a couple of times over the last few weeks as I felt like dinner needed to be casual and I wasn't feeling like cooking...cue the Brownstone. The service is great and always attentive. The food is pretty standard diner fair...although to be fair, I am not a pancake person and we were there for dinner, so who knows? For a quick bite out (with leftovers to spare!) I will for sure be back. Only wish they had limes for their cranberry sparkler. :-(
(3)
Casey W.
#NAME?
(4)
Michelle S.
OMG! Diners, Drive Ins and Dives was sooo right about this place. DELICIOUS and HUGE pancakes. Nice flavor, even on the plain stack. I had the coconut which was really good. I would suggest only ordering the short stack because there is no way you can eat 3, no matter how hungry you are. And if your child is a big eater, ONE pancake is enough for them, trust me. It was worth the trip from Queens. Our waiter Adolfo definitely earned the extra big tip we left him. We will be back.
(4)
Michelle S.
Great service. Very large portions. Food suited for comfort food lovers. Be prepared to leave feeling "stuffed".
(3)
Jay Y.
Great pancakes, awesome corn beef and hash.. Service was excellent. It's a lot of food and the pancakes are a monster. Come hungry cause you will not leave with an empty belly...
(4)
Lisa L.
I think I don't even need to say much in my review because mostly everybody has covered everything, but I skimmed through the reviews and I will just add a bit of my two cents about this place. It is called the PANCAKE HOUSE for a reason.. OMG! soo yummy, I live in the lower east side of manhattan but I will start making the travel over to this place or when I go shopping to make sure I start my breakfast day here. The do have parking, which is great. You will most likely have left-overs, and the resturant is very clean. The only negative is that I found my waitress not very attendent, I got my water re-filled after I had finished my meal, she was very nice but I sure would have loved a nice cold glass of water while eating my pancakes. but I will still give this place 5stars cause it was great, and plus my waitress was really nice :)
(5)
Billy P.
Went here with friends from Toronto who found out about it from Food Network. I got the pancake combo that was just under $10 and included eggs, bacon, sausage and 3 of the biggest (over half inch thick) pancakes I have ever eaten. My companions had peanut butter chocolate pancakes and apple pancakes which they also enjoyed. We did not get a dessert but everything in the dessert counter looked incredible. Will definitely be back. I should also mention they have an extensive menu with all kinds of other options including over 20 pancake options.
(5)
Blanca S.
Oh, Brownstone, how I love your absolutely perfect Turtle (chocolate chip & pecan) pancakes. If you get there around 10 a.m. the parking lot is usually full, there's a wait to get a table, and the service can be a bit slow at times, but I put up with all that for the best pancakes I've ever tasted. The banana walnut and Elvis pancakes are also delectable. I can't recommend the french toast. It's alright, but nothing special.
(5)
Bloss C.
Was excited to come here, but was disappointed with my food. I really wanted eggs and grits, but grits aren't served after 3 PM, so I will definitely have to come back one day for brunch. I ordered the potato pancakes, which were small, thin, and not home made. I had to order a side of fries because I was still hungry. The frozen potato pancakes at Trader Joes are better and cheaper. Will definitely come back to try the grits and pancakes, but for now until they wow me I am clocking this place in at 2 stars.
(2)
Jesse D.
Hello Obese America! Do you like a menu with 90 items that are all mediocre, but with bloated portions? Perhaps you'd just like some overstuffed pancakes with thumb-sized sausages, and a ice cream scoop of butter over them? You think you're winning, but, sorry, you're not. Quantity over quality is the M.O. of the Brownstone. "HEY, it's a diner!" people always retort. Well then, have at the trough.
If you don't like waiting to be seated, don't come here sundays during lunch time (I don't know about other day of the week or time...) We were a group of 6 and waited more than 30 minutes to be seated... I ordered french toast .. Nothing special with it... I had better before... But my wife ordered the pancakes.. I she left one for me... I regret to this moment my french toast... The pancakes are perfect... Now I get to go back there and have my own pancakes... :)
(3)
Ria S.
This review has been brought to you by the letters PB & J. As in, PB & J Pancakes. If you need one reason to go to Jersey, here it is.
(5)
Ashley H.
Gigantic portions and the most amazing Pigs in a Blanket that I've ever had. Very fast service and friendly staff. The pancakes are so soft and delicious. The Bloody Mary was pretty bad though..other than that, no complaints!
(4)
Nellie G.
I guess the food is ok. I don't come here often because it's not female friendly. The mirror in the women's bathroom was set up so that you can't see yourself. I'm 5'0. I think the mirror was set up for women 5'10 and up ;(
(2)
Lissette M.
The BEST PANCAKES in the entire state of NJ!!!!! THE BEST PLACE to go to for pancakes, Frech toast..... YuMmmmmmyyyy......
(5)
pracheta t.
mmm - our go to breakfast/brunch spot when hanging out in JerZ City. It gets paaaacked on weekends but it is well worth the wait. The food is amazing but the portions are huge. I've found that on weekdays there is no wait. Never been disappointed. The first time I went I found out there is a $10 credit card minimum and you pay up front, not at the table. Other than that, I don't think you really need to know anything else. Just go.
(4)
Drew G.
EXCELLENT PANCAKES (what else does anyone want to read???) great selection, VERY reasonable prices. perfect Jersey Diner experience (which is hard to get this close to NYC). Obviously try to avoid brunch on Sunday as the wait can be pretty long
(4)
Christine Y.
I came here on a Sat morning after much hype to finally test the greatness of their pancakes. The place was packed by noon and had at least 20-25 eager diners waiting for tables. Surprisingly (or sadly, because I'm too used to the 1-2hr NYC waits), it was only a 15 min wait for a table of 2. Advantage NJ: large, roomy restaurants! The menu itself is pretty extensive, with 31 types of pancakes on the first page and almost an equal number of omelet varieties. I ordered the nut 'n' honey pancakes with pecans, walnuts, and almonds drizzled with honey and powdered sugar with a side of turkey sausage (2 giant links), and also got to try the combo roll ups - 3 buttermilk pancakes rolled with strawberry, blueberry, and apple compote inside. Both were fantastic - light and fluffy with perfect, non-overwhelming additions of nuts/honey/fruit/etc. Our waitress was really nice, although the hostess seemed a little gruff with having to handle the crowds. We were never rushed and the restaurant felt very homey considering it was pretty large. In addition, each meal cost no more than $10-12 (including sides), which is a huge plus if you're comparing pancakes here to places like Clinton St Baking who charge more for much less. I guess since I'm a Jersey girl to begin with, I'm partial to diners (nostalgia), but this one is definitely a keeper.
(5)
Arjun K.
Quite good food...serving portions are large and satisfying !! This is definitely a place highly recommended !
(4)
Devin P.
Some of the worst diner food I have ever had. If you like food with that fresh out of the frozen food aisle taste at three times the price then you will love it here. Otherwise, the next time you're hankering for some good ol' diner classics save yourself the trip and make it @ home with better quality ingredients or with the same crappy ingredients the Brownstone uses, and at half the price. The food at the Brownstone Diner reminded me of the Nasty AZZ cafeteria food I used to eat in college. What did I eat? Chicken Fingers with a side of fries...That should be impossible to mess up right? Wrong! It was truly an abomination. Yes it is a diner and you shouldn't expect much, but I have eaten at some pretty great Jersey Diner establishments, and with the hype that this place receives, it is not even close to being on par with most of its peers. Pros: The Place Looks Nice Cons: You will not get Quantity or Quality here Perhaps their pancakes are better, but I won't be returning to find out. P.S. It was really HORRIBLE!
(1)
Hank C.
Well, let me just say, this is not a place for the healthy-hearted or small-stomached :P Parking here is a pain. There's a lot, but it's almost always full... street parking is available if you cruise in the area, and the development across the street isn't helping as there will be even more people there... looks like in the future they'll build out the restaurant a bit? Specialities - the breakfast food, of course, as a diner, what can you expect? There's a wait to get into seating, so get a number from the hostess up front. The pancakes can be tiny (silver dollars), big (regular buttermilk and varieties) or huge (the pancake wraps). They're thick and okay tasting - you can taste the buttermilk, but they get dry, so I recommend syrup, lots of it. And butter, too, if you want. The bacon is salty, but thicker than normal, and the sausage (pork) is tasty - though big, too. Butter on everything, and try out the Brownstone fries - curly fries with bacon, cheese, ranch and BBQ on it... tasty, but gosh, you can feel your arteries clog up :P Eggs and more here, too, but you can't get just a side of lox. Disappointed there. Ham is decent, though. The prices are a bit high for a diner, but there's quite a bit of choice and the place is usually packed with people. Lots of different varieties of pancakes, too, and big plates of food ensure that you're full. Ketchup needed to be restocked, tables weren't the cleanest, or the plastic cups for water, but hey, you're in a diner in Jersey. Can't expect it to be perfectly clean.
(3)
Robert C.
Went there a month ago with my girlfriend after spending a night in the city and was looking for an awesome place to end the romantic weekend.. This place hit the spot for us. It was Sunday morning so we knew that there would be a wait, but the line moved quickly. They know what they are doing since you can tell its run by the family. Breakfast was amazing and would like to go back to try the varieties of pancake wraps! Definitely worth the trip if your not a local! If your a local, then your in luck!
(5)
MandA R.
Have a hangover? Wanna meal that will prevent you from eating for a day or two? This is the spot. We came in around 11 A.M. on a Sunday morning and this Jersey City "Institution" was packed. However the wait wasn't bad, only 15 min or so. We were seated in a monster booth for 3 people and had our coffee served to us in about 2 min. I ordered a wrap, a gluttonous mountain of pancake with scrambled eggs, cheese, & corned beef hash folded inside. "A" ordered a stack of chocolate and peanut butter pancakes (awesome) and 3 eggs with bacon. Neither one of us were able to finish our meals although we both gave a valiant effort. The pancakes were delicious however the corned beef hash was a bit under done and the eggs were just OK. Our server seemed to disappear once we asked for the check, something that happened to us all weekend. Other than that service was above average. Know before you go. There will be a wait but the line moves quickly. The parking lots is a disaster, park on the street or across the road by the hospital. You will not finish your meal.
(4)
Jessica D.
Meh. Exactly... Large portions, yep. Quality, okay. We used to frequent this place in our JC days; unfortunately if you have a child or children They will stick you in a specific spot, They have designated for people with kids, and unfortunately you will have to wait until They have an opening in said seating section. Only took a couple of visits to figure out their "plan". They do have great Spanikopita, ordered from them while my son was in the Pediatric Unit at JC Medical Center, brought a smile to my face at a rather grim time. For a self-professed Pancake Factory their pancakes are not anything to brag about, if you order them with fruit expect canned...not fresh.
(2)
Christiana R.
We love the brownstone. Always consistent good food. Prices are getting a little high for a diner but the food and portion sizes are worth it.
(3)
Rich B.
I heard about this place for awhile.. my wife and I decieded to give it a shot. And after weaving through the post Sandy detours we found it was well worth it. Portions were huge prices were pretty good. I had the irish benedict and the wife had fruit rolled in pancakes. Service was great. They werw cash only at the time. Said it was because of the storm...found it wierd cause ATM machine was working
(4)
Brian S.
I have never left this place hungry. The pancakes melt in your mouth. They could be eaten on their own without any syrup or extra butter, but that's not to say I don't lather it on every time I come here. After several attempts, I must admit that I have not quite figured out how to finish the queen combo (3 eggs, corn beef hash, a giant sausage, and three huge fluffy pancakes). It is simply just too much for one sitting, and I've downsized to the pancake combo. I still leave with the same delightful ache in my stomach, but just less left on the plate (or to take home). For those who want breakfast all day or want to have their bellies satisfied with assortment of other diner treats for an entire day, check out Brownstone Diner and eat away.
(4)
Walter K.
I've only had the pancake combo the two times I've gone but I would gladly keep eating the same thing, it's that good. Buttermilk pancakes are fluffy and delicious, sides are plenty. They have other varieties of cakes too if BM is not your thing. Expect to wait if you go on the weekends but trust me, it's worth it.
(4)
Chandy S.
I like this place very, very much. And, no, it's not just because our waitress was hitting on me and making my guy quite uncomfortable. Lol. I like the fact that the "Combo" omelette comes with not only 3 add-ins of your choice, but that it automatically comes with bacon, ham, AND sausage. I like that my Strawberry Compote and Sour Cream pancakes were absolutely delish. I like that the homefries my guy had w/his omelette tasted like fried mashed potatoes. I like that our meal (omelette, pancakes, OJ, and tea) came to just under $25. Let's be honest...I like that our waitress thought I was hot. Who doesn't like compliments? :-)
(4)
Trey R.
A good place. I come here for hangover breakfast sometimes, a giant tasty omelet tends to help. The pancakes are apparently amazing, and were on some food network show, but I don't really eat pancakes, so I can't judge based on that. You'd probably love them if that's your thing, as people rave about them. Service is good but the wait is usually long. Note: this is not a diner. It shouldn't be called a diner. It does have a big and varied menu, but it's not open at night and it doesn't really have that diner feel. I like it, it's A-OK, I'm almost tempted to give it 4 stars but it's just not really outstanding in any way I can appreciate, and I do my best to find and review the places that are.
(3)
Jake S.
Best pancakes around. Period. Massive portions and delicious pancakes. A wide variety of pancakes to choose from and they offer many other breakfast options. The only downside is they are extremely busy on the weekends. Expect to wait for a while but once seated the service is friendly and pretty quick.
(4)
Heena P.
I'm so overdue on my review for this place! I've been here so many times, always for brunch and still love it! Brownstone is pretty packed on the weekends, but the wait is worth it. Once you've ordered your food, it comes out pretty quickly also. Pretty much ANYTHING you order will taste good. I've had their pancakes, waffles and omelets. Without fail, whatever I'm in the mood for that I order tastes Delicious. Portions here are large, so good to go in a group. You can pick at your friends food :P Very reasonably priced, you get your moneys worth.
(5)
John T.
Great Breakfast Place! Try the pancakes
(4)
Jessica J.
The Brownstone is your typical diner with tons of food options ranging from pancakes to burgers to fried sole. They are best known for the wide array of pancakes and "Pancake Roll Ups" stuffed with anything from PB&J to scrambled eggs and bacon. My personal favorite breakfast dish is the Eggs Florentine- the portion is huge and the spinach has just the right amount of feta mixed in. For lunch and dinner their French Onion Soup is out of this world and the "Diner Classics" like Gyros and Burgers are always great!
(4)
Sheba K.
The pancakes here are yumm. After eating here, I feel like I should throw out the frozen pancakes that are nesting in my freezer. The ambience of the diner is pretty nice. It took a while for our food to come out. Service was ok. The other dishes we ordered were ok- nothing special about them. It's a good place for breakfast/brunch.
(4)
Albert M.
The brownstone is one of my favorite places to eat breakfast items. I need to say their is a crazy amount of options for pancakes and waffles. First about the pancakes, the portions are big and plentiful. The taste is just the right balance of each ingredients. I even tried the burger in this place and it really good for lunch if you don't deserve pancakes. It is a worth a trip to eat breakfast in this diner, anytime you are in Jersey City.
(4)
Mega M.
Food: 4 Stars: This diner is known for its huge variety of pancakes and omelettes and you will not be disappointed. I ordered Blueberry pancakes which not only had an amazing amount of blueberries in the pancakes but also a ridiculous amount of fresh blueberry topping. It was decadent and delicious. Another time I came for lunch and ordered a grilled chicken salad which was HUGE! It literally came with 2 pounds of grilled chicken on top of it. The salad was delicious. Service: 4 stars: The waitress I had both times was very professional and courteous. I asked for refills and I was taken care of promptly. She did not rush us but checked to make sure we enjoyed everything. Atmosphere: 4 Stars: Diner is spacious. Booths are quite nice and reasonably comfortable. The place can get very loud at certain times Conclusion: This is one of the better diners in NJ. I have been here before and after Guy Fieti visited this place on DDD. Service hasn't changed but the wait times can be slightly longer. The pancakes are definitely worth the visit.
(4)
Cassandra M.
disco fries. what are you and why did i have you for breakfast? this is what i get for going to a jersey diner with a jersey-ite. (yes, i totally made the term up). all i wanted was to try some pancakes from the brownstone diner. i first heard about BD via guy whatshisname and that show he has on that network. then my little frat boy cousins told me about it, i know those kids can eat so I made a mental note to try it. yes i trust family over famous people because if theyre wrong, i will smack them. on our way to the diner the topic of disco fries came up. (disco fries- fries with gravy and melted cheese) im not sure if its a jersey diner thing but im fairly certain my circle of friends growing up did not have them...unless not having them is a westchester thing. needless to say, we ordered them. and pancakes. were we that hungry? no. were we high? no. when in rome? might as well. so we did. we scarfed those fries up (maybe we were high.*) and then the pancakes came out. since the BD is aka the pancake factory, their pancakes are pretty legit, they have 30+ different pancake options. i kept it simple with pigs in a blanket - sausage rolled up in pancakes and jersey-ite had the honky tonk pancakes - chunks of peanut butter folded into the pancake topped with bananas and sugar. the portions are huge, we didnt even make a dent. i blame the fries. the pancakes were good. not too thick, not too thin. good flavor. the disco fries? ehhhhh, i'd do it again if i were drunk or...drunk. if youre in the area, check it out. im giving it a 3.5 *no we weren't high, but you know, when you are, you get the munchies...i mean, thats what i heard.
(4)
JS A.
Wait and parking were annoying and who wants to deal with that when they are hungry.
(3)
Matthew C.
Solid spot for breakfast! Cheap and fast, just like a diner should be. Menu is outrageously huge, but luckily the pancakes are on the first page and that's what I end up going with most times I'm here. Not a huge fan of their fruit compotes on top; too sticky and sweet. But the service is always good enough, and you'll be well-liked if you get in and get out quickly on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
(4)
Shun S.
Tried this place three times, now they are out. Their spaghetti is always overcooked. To top it off, it is either just too bland or too thick. The fettuccini vegetable was so thick and cheesy that I could only eat two bites. Their pancakes are way too salty for my liking. Their service is not good. They are not horrible but not good at all. I live blocks away so it is at a convenient place but i don't think I'll be going back here again.
(1)
Jimmy S.
I came back to try the waffles and I think they were better than the pancakes! WOW this place is great... I'm coming back real soon to try their dinner specials which are all huge portions... You better get down here and try this place!!!
(4)
Lorraine L.
On a saturday or sunday morning, we could never get in without a 30 min wait. Yes, its THAT popular. Love their pecan banana pancakes. Hands down best pancakes ever. Crunchy on the outside, soft in the inside. HUGE portions, so much that one order of pancakes can feed both me and my husband for the entire day. Their iced tea are also very good too. Other than that, their egg dishes are ok. Or maybe by the time we get to it we are already experiencing food coma...
(4)
Melissa L.
Brownstone is the best place to go when you want breakfast food! The combo roll-ups and the country breakfast wrap are my favorites. I've also had their venice panini for lunch, and that was great too. The only downside is the long wait on the weekends, but it's worth it!
(5)
Lola H.
Pancakes were thick and fluffy on the inside and perfectly brown and lightly crisp on the outside. Almost a slight pound cake taste. I had the nut and honey pancakes. The side of bacon is enough for two people but I suggest getting your own because it was delicious!!!
(3)
c j.
The pancakes are generally good, but the other food is just not up to par. On our last visit, nothing was fresh, proteins were way overcooked, soup wasn't hot, and there were flies inside the restaurant...in colder months like this one, that usually means maggots somewhere. It made us nervous. The place was nearly empty but it took an eternity to get our food, and then it was just so disappointing. The people who run it are very nice, but waitresses should not text on the job. Was that why it took so long to get served?
(2)
Mountain Chick T.
This place was packed. We arrived and were given number 56 (and they were calling in the 30's). I wasn't sure we'd be able to wait that long for a table (they said 30 mins) but it took about 10 to be seated. I think we caught the end of a massive table turn. We got lucky. Everything I tasted was excellent...scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes, banana french toast, omlete, bacon. The pancakes were REALLY good! You may say pancakes are pancakes until you've had a few that are awful. Our whole party enjoyed everything.
(4)
Julianne B.
Went here on Sat at about 3:30 - hadn't eaten yet and was sooo hungry. This is not a good place to go when you are starving! We tried the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter and banana) to share for the table and they were definitely the highlight. i don't generally eat pancakes as a meal but I enjoyed them a lot and neglected what I ordered in favor of them...ordered scrambled eggs with turkey sausage, homefries and toast. The sausages there are extremely large and overall breakfast was average diner food in extremely large portions. The pancakes are delicious. It's a good thing I don't live in Jersey City or else I'd probably frequent this place a little too often. We didn't order the fries but they also looked amazing.
(4)
Athan M.
Wanted to love this place, but only really liked it (3 stars instead of 4 or 5). Pancakes were good but a little heavy, but very good coffee. Anxious to return to try an omelet.
(3)
michele m.
Simply put a great breakfast for all great for a quick bite office meeting but bring your appetite the portions are huge. A favorite of all the locals!
(5)
debbie a.
This place is great... for Pancakes.. I love the pancakes here. They were HUGE and tasted like the south. The bacon is not my favorite. Aside from the regular smoke to salt ratio, the fat ratio was so completely high .. either that or it was too undercooked... and skip the turkey sausage. It takes like kielbasa .. (meaning that it is missing that fennel seed flavor that we all like in our breakfast sausage.) The sandwiches are okay, but definitely nothing to write home about... but if you decide to go and try the non-breakfast items, I cannot stop eating their fries. They are really just a good pancake factory .. The HUGE menu should be a dead giveaway that they are not goign to be good at ALL those endless items.
(4)
Nicole M T.
The service is great! The French toast is awesome! :)
(5)
N P.
We're usually always here for breakfast on the weekends- even made friends with the waitresses. The lines are long but the food is worth the wait! The pancakes are amazing- soft, melts in your mouth... and soooo many flavors! Eggs are great too. Pretty much a great diner!
(4)
Anita J.
One of my favorite diners in NJ! It's not just the selection, but the ginormous awesome pancakes they serve in so many ways. Come early on the weekend, or else be prepared to wait for a table. Great place to take out of town guests when introducing them to the diner experience. What to get: PANCAKES! Of course their other stuff is great as well. Love their omelet selection -- there is an italian one with marinara and pepperoni that's oh so good. Pancakes you can have them the usual way or as a wrap, basically the pancake become the wrap for eggs, sausage, etc. Amazing! Portion are large so come hungry or be prepared to share.
(4)
Jamie K.
For as long as I've lived in Jersey City I've heard how great the Brownstone Diner is and judging from the lines outside on weekends, figured it must be fantastic. I was wrong. I recently had breakfast there and was extremely disappointed in pretty much all aspects of the diner. The hostess, did her job and pretty much nothing else. She screamed our number out and when we come to the podium, walked us to our table, and left us. She didn't say a word. Our waitress came a few minutes later and was equally unimpressive, not bad, but nothing special either. She wasn't really able to answer a question we had about the menu. The menu, while extremely large, actually was just slight variations on a lot of different themes. It can easily be whittled down to half that, and still offer just as many options. I guess the food is what you can expect from a diner - not bad, not great, just ok. The portions were extremely large though and not overly expensive. Our waitress never came back to ask us how our food was. When we finally flagged her down to get our check, she simply dropped it on our table. Turns out, you have to bring it up to the cash register to pay. We figured it out after a few minutes of wondering and getting the attention of another waitress. An explanation would of been nice. I guess when you look at it, this is a diner and if I went into this expecting just an ok experience and blah diner food, I wouldn't of been disappointed. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for the diner) I had higher aspirations for the place judging from word of mouth and the long lines. Let's just say I was unimpressed and will not be going back. For a tad more money, you can visit Amelias or BlackHorse (also in Jersey City) and receive much higher end food in a much nicer setting with better wait-staff.
(1)
John M.
This place is a classic Jersey diner. They have everything and the kitchen sink on the menu. All their breakfast combo meals are bomb. The T-Ham, egg and cheese sandwich is bomb. The cinnamon raisin French Toast is bomb. My and my girl rode our bikes there this weekend, after a hard fought tennis match. I had the pigs-in-a-blanket, which is f'ing outrageous. Three giant sausage links wrapped in three giant pancakes, drenched in butter and syrup. This is the best diner in the area. Just don't try to go there for breakfast on weekends, unless you want to wait forever to eat.
(3)
Tarik M.
Great service and beyond great food. The pancakes are excellent. I had the banana pancakes.. Simple but great. My wife had a huge omelet that she raved about. Great diner!
(5)
Eric B.
Portions are huge and the pancake list is extensive. The pancakes are great and definitely tops the list of pancakes I have ever eaten. Also try the pancake wraps, great for late nights or saturday brunch after a night of drinking.
(4)
Marilyn E.
Okay so I finally get on here to write this review...I went for the first time with best friend and we were excuted because we heard all the reviews on line and on that show.. you know it.. anyway.. we get there at 730 am cuz we figured oh boy it will probably get packed and so on.. so we sit and we wait and wait and wait over 45 minutes the place is semi full not enough for the waitress to forget about us but anyway.. we finally place our order in and what do you think?? we waited some more.. like another 25 minutes.. then the food gets to the table its cold.. and i have learned not to send food back.. haha.. ordered pancakes eggs bacon.. pancakes were not out of this world.. worry.. my son (12) makes better ones..and as for the infamous peanut butter and jelly pancakes that my girlfriend had.. really?? packets of jelly between the pancakces??? wow.. ingenious.. why didnt i think of that?? the bacon was gummy and coffee was nasty.. orange juice was gross watered down.. please dont say i went on a bad day i went early on a sunday morning police officers were chilling and having their breakfast and here we were dissapointed 30 some odd dollars later.. i will not go back.. for sure ill stick to my favorite whole in the wall dive.. Thanlks guy f. for nothing blah
(1)
Cali J.
OK, after going a few times these guys deserve 4 stars. It's a real American diner, everything on the menu is pretty good, some stuff is great. Good service. Just don't get the steak (gristly) or the peanut butter pancakes (dry), and you're good.
(4)
Dee E.
I heard about this place on the Food Network and decided to give it a try. I first tried the dinner and was highly disappointed. I got a pasta primavera and It lacked flavor. I returned a few weeks later to finally try the much-ado about pancakes. I got that banana nut pancakes, turkey sausage, and scrambled eggs while my friend got the strawberry banana pancakes with beef sausage and scrambled eggs. The pancakes weren't so good that I would encourage a friend to drive out to Jersey City to get some. They were average pancakes that any diner in New Jersey could make if you specify your order....but cheaper. The diner has a very comfortable atmosphere. And the waiters are extremely nice. I've definitely had better pancakes at other dinners and even IHOP. However, I would visit this place again. It just isn't worth raving about the way Guy did on Triple D on the Food Network.
(2)
Phunballteam P.
Not as good as Coach House, not even close and parking is best described as Father's Day in Jersey City...very confusing. The pancakes are good but like I mentioned earlier, there are much better diner options in JC.
(3)
Jonathan L.
Spectacular brunch place. Went there with a friend on a Sunday morning at 11ish. The wait was a bit long, with tons of people crowding the lobby and outside stairs, but man was that wait worth it. TIP: They don't announce the next table to be served outside. So if you're waiting outside, be sure to come in and make sure they don't skip over you. I'm pretty sure we were able to Prices were cheap, and the food was plentiful. Pancakes were great, omelettes were absolutely huge (borderline ridiculous), and the service was great. Definitely worth a look if you don't mind the wait.
(5)
Sandor T.
Good old wholesome diner experience. I love getting up on a lazy Sunday morning and walking into this place for a nice breakfast. Super yummy. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff.
(5)
Benito D.
Good solid breakfast, just nothing spectacular. The group had the basics: french toast, pancakes, Belgian waffle, eggs, bacon and sausage. All were good, but I've had better. Came on a Thursday at 10am so there was no wait and service was adequate.
(4)
Jeremy D.
My usual breakfast lately has consisted of corned beef hash and eggs, so when I searched the Jersey City area for breakfast, this diner came up. I hopped on the PATH, got off at the grove street station and walked 10 minutes to the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory for some grub. I got there around 3pm for Sunday brunch. The diner was already rather full though they managed to seat me at the granite countertop bar (I was alone.) Great food. A good portion of corned beef hash, 3 poached eggs with hollandaise sauce, grits and a large orange juice. Mmm. Service was attentive and friendly. I waddled out of that cafe with a big smile on my face. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Jannie H.
Hands down the best pancakes that I have ever eaten. They are so fluffy, light, and just the right amount of sweetness. Delicious. We also ordered the three egg corned hash, and the hubby stated that it was the most delicious hash that he has ever eaten. The portions of the Brownstone are huge, the pancakes and the hash fed us, and could have fed two more people. We didn't even finish half of the food we ordered, cause we were so stuff.
(5)
Garrett E.
But it was on the Food Network!!! Yeah and don't they know it too. 15 seconds of fame have given them Carte Blanche to treat their customers like crap because they know that for every one they piss off three more will walk through the door because "Oh look dear, there's that place that was on the food network!" I've been here when its dead, I've been here when there's an inconceivable mob in the lobby straight out the door. Either way its consistent. Consistently bad service that is. Food is mediocre at best and there is a reason why they only covered breakfast on the show. What they do well is pancakes, but even then their variety stems from a plethora of extras they throw on top of the pancakes after they are cooked, its not baked in usually. The sides are ok as far as the Bacon and Sausage but be careful my server forgot an order of sausage and I suspect an order was flash fried for me. Skip the corned beef hash unless of course you like it from a can. Order as many drinks as you can upfront because chances are that will be all you are getting. I'm sure I will be back because friends have inexplicably bought into the hype but not if I can help it. I'd rather spend my money in a place that believes in making the customers happy and treating them with respect. Personally when I get a craving for pancakes now I make them myself at least I know I'm getting real maple syrup. What kind of pancake place doesn't have real maple syrup. Disgraceful.
(1)
Rachel A.
If you are ever in need of a recommended diner, search the king of Jersey City, NY (roderick A) and most likely you will find something tasty from NJ to DC. That's how I found the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. There was, indeed, a line and a 15 minute wait. The diner is huge so please don't let the line deter you from the gargantuan meal that awaits you. If you don't have a large party, there is always counter service available with no wait time. I got the German-Style Pancakes and Country Fried Chicken in a Basket to share. The menu at Brownstone is so huge that it's almost overwhelming. There is just so much that sounds so good. The German Pancakes were advertised as thin buttermilk pancakes. In our minds we were thought they were going to be crepe like. Not! They were giant thick rolled pancakes! Beware! I guess in comparison to the regular pancakes which looked 5 inches fluffy, the German-Style pancakes are thin but they are definitely filling and one pancake is good enough for one person. The serving comes with three. I really have no complaints about these pancakes. They were filled with glazed cinnamon apples. The pancakes tasted like apple pie. As for the Country Fried Chicken, I thought it was going to be like southern fried but instead it was lightly battered golden brown. Best chicken ever! It reminded me of my mom's. The meat was very juicy and salted well. The batter wasn't oily at all and it provided a nice crunch. The fries on the side were really good as well. They were thick, potato-y, and had that crispy coating. Perfect brunch! Other notable items on our table were: -Traditional Greek salad (The salad was huge. It's definitely not an appetizer but more of an entree serving. Actually, it's more like a platter serving. It was excellent. The Greek vinaigrette was light and the salad came with slices of pita bread. It's pretty versatile since it comes with peppers, cubes of feta cheese, and pita. You can eat it as a salad or make your own little pita sandwiches. Great for sharing.) -Florentine Omelet -Eggs Benedict -Chicken Parmigiana with Linguine (platter sized serving) We had ordered a lot but killed pretty much everything. There will definitely always be leftovers from Brownstone but that's the beauty of it. It's good food at a minimal cost. There's a huge parking lot available and the area has cleaned up nicely. It's not as ghetto as I remember it to be. Most of all, I give Brownstone Diner the most stars because it's a place me and the cuzzos could get down at. Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory is definitely a family spot. In fact, it's baby central. The babies there are cute and don't cry or scream their heads off. Must be because Brownstone is a good place.
(5)
Felice M.
I like to do early breakfast or weekend brunch here.
(4)
Dawn G.
Been here a few times and never had anything negative or extremely positive to say. Pancakes are good, service is fine if you don't mind the wait on the weekends. Was there this past weekend and ordered a Belgian waffle and my fiance ordered an omelet. We each got a glass of orange juice and a coffee. Our bill was $28 which seemed pretty pricey for an "eh" breakfast. They charged us $3 for the broccoli in the omelet. Not a big fan of the nickel and diming. Would prefer to go somewhere else, get better food, and pay the same price.
(2)
Matt E.
3.5 stars Anytime I have a chance to swing by and check out a place featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives I do just that. This place is your standard diner (though much cleaner and new feeling) but they've got a huge emphasis on pancakes (they've got like 20 or so varieties). It's located in Jersey City, a couple miles from the Newport Path train (1 stop out of Manhattan) or just a couple blocks from a Lightrail station (and Liberty State Park). The reasonably priced pancakes I got were big and fluffy and although they were a tad on the grainy-ish side they were still very good pancakes. My main issue was the service. Given all the pancake choices I decided to go with the fresh strawberry and blueberry pancakes (which are just regular pancakes topped with strawberries and blueberries). I've had strawberry pancakes before and I've had blueberry pancakes before but I was excited to have the logical next step with both of them together. As a side note it seems very strange and saddening that they have an option to also get blueberry pancakes with a blueberry compote topping but not your classic blueberry pancakes (with the blueberries inside). Anyway when my pancakes arrived there was only strawberries on top and my waitress said as she placed the pancakes on the table "sorry but they don't have any blueberries right now". WTF? First of all the place is called the "pancake factory" and specializes in pancakes, blueberries being the most common thing to have in a pancake, how could they run out? Second of all, why would you wait until my meal is on the table to apologize and tell me they don't have what I want and give me the incomplete dish anyway? I would have picked out a different type of pancake had I known right away (when the waitress should have told me). When I was done and asked for the check (after being done for awhile) my waitress also went off and started taking other peoples orders and refilling coffee at other tables instead of getting my check. I might go back if I'm in the area but I definitely wouldn't make a trip out again and I'm still a bit disappointed with my Brownstone Diner experience.
(4)
Ashley C.
Worst service ive experienced in a long time.... subpar food.... dry pancakes. Was seated and 30 mins later nobody has come to serve us. A couple come in and sits at an adjacent table and is served immediately. I didnt want to complain so i waited a few minutes more.... still nothing. Finally i get up and speak with the hostess. She doesnt apologize and minutes later a waitress shows up and in a very rushed fashion takes our order. I asked for my eggs well done.... they came out very runny. I sent them back..... they came back runny still. Bacon was way over cooked... just crumbled apart.... pancakes were dry... home fries were overly greasy piles of potatoe mush. Waste of my money.... waste of my time. Will never go back. WORST SERVICE EVERRRRRR!
(1)
Jennifer L.
I change my mind about the previous three stars. I don't get their pancakes every time, but I should. They are amazing. I also love their real deal sausage. My pancakes are always hot, but my eggs usually aren't. bummer.
(5)
Hudson T.
After dropping off my car at Sears in the Newport Mall for an oil change, I figure I would find some decent breakfast in the area. I found the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory after a quick search on Yelp. The walk from Newport Mall to Brownstone is not the far... if you walk straight towards it. I'm usually not a fan of diners... but a hundred and eighty Yelp reviewers cannot be all wrong. There has to be someone there that knows what they're talking about. I walked in and saw the first good sign. There was a stack of Daily News for customers to take and read. It is quite nice to come to a place that welcomes people to sit and enjoy. After being seated and reviewing the menu, I saw the second good sign. Brownstone knows that its bread and butter is pancakes. They focus on pancakes. They state that pancakes are not just "breakfast" food. Of course they have other things on the menu, but who cares? I'm here for pancakes. I ordered the Nut 'n' Honey pancakes and a side of Corn Beef Hash. After getting a few pages into the Daily News, the waitress came out with a stack of three pancakes the size of my head. These portions are seriously massive. They are enough to feed two to three people. The pancakes themselves were fantastic. With pancakes, it is not about taste. The taste of buttermilk is pretty standard. What set these aside is that they are big and fluffy with a nice crispy exterior. Unbelievable. I'm sure any topping or filling would have been incredible in these. Unfortunately, the corn beef hash was most likely out of a can. We cannot win them all. Service was good. My waitress was attentive and did not rush me. Of course this was also on a Tuesday at 9:30 AM, so it was fairly quiet. This has become my breakfast place of choice in Jersey City. It is priced reasonably well, easy to get to (they do have a parking lot), and well worth going to. Cheers!
(4)
M M.
I've been many times an enjoy it every time. However I recently discovered I have a gluten allergy. So now I cannot enjoy the creative menu of one of my favorite cravings. Please add gluten free pancakes to your menu! You would be the first and only place to serve gf pancakes!!
(4)
Resa N.
We saw an episode of Triple D where Guy was at Brownstone and the menu alone had me and husband want to try this place so bad that we had to fit it in our next trip to NYC. Luckily one of my friends stay out in Jersey so she was able to pick us up from NY and drive us to Brownstone on a weekend before the lunch hour rush. We waited only waited about 20 minutes. It was a cute diner and had very friendly staff. We ordered the Surf and Turk Breakfast which is a piece of sirloin steak, fried fillet, eggs and country potatoes.... YUM! We also tried their stuffed pancake. It had scrambled eggs, ham, bacon and cheese. That alone was off the hook. It was a like restaurant style Mcgriddle but 10x better!! Portions were so huge we had to take a lot back to the hotel. Definitely a good breakfast/brunch spot. If it was easy
(4)
Samantha E.
My family came by after seeing Brownstone Diner on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. We ordered a variety of pancakes and they were fluffy, delightful, and perfect. I challenge someone to try and finish one of these monster stacks!
(4)
Frank F.
Stopped in for breakfast at one of the better spots in the world I would say......you just can not get better pancakes......
(5)
Linda C.
Great diner. Massive menu - the selection is just fabulous, portions are sizable. We've been here for breakfast and lunch and it's always consistent in terms of food and service. Free parking lot in the back, which is a true rarity in JC. They could do a bit better on decor and food presentation but it IS a diner. Ya know?
(4)
Jon F.
A good NJ diner. The Brownstone has so many choices when it comes to pancakes, waffles, and omeletes. I'm not a fan of the eggs benedict here but will be going back for the pancakes. Great place for pancakes, waffles and more...
(4)
Jean L.
I come here once every few weeks for lunch with co-workers. Breakfast here is OUTSTANDING. The portions are huge, and they make such good pancakes, eggs/omelets, homefries, and sausage. Service can be a bit on the slow side, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's because it's usually a packed house. I think once you stray away from breakfast orders, though, the quality dips down somewhat substantially. I've gotten 2 salads...one was okay, one was HORRENDOUS - I didn't eat more than 2 bites, told the waitress, and they did nothing. I didn't want to be the jerk who asks for it to be removed from the bill (since I didn't eat any of it) and was hoping they'd react with good business sense and offer to remove or give a discount, but nothing. Waitress was a bit rude as well. Other than that, I've gotten the BLT on whole wheat and it was awesome. Parking lot is tiny and always full, but at least there's something (given that it's Jersey City). Pricing isn't terrible either. Bottom line is, we will definitely keep coming here for lunch once in a while.
(4)
Angie M.
So I saw this place on diners, drive ins, and dives and was immediately drawn in by those pancakes. I ordered the peanut butter filled ones topped with bananas "honky tonk" on the menu. They were huge but I barely tasted the peanut butter and the syrup they have was disgusting. It tasted like generic stuff from a big tub sold at restaurant depot. I mean will it kill anybody to serve some real maple? The waiter was rude and seemed like he was bothered by helping us. As I was looking around I noticed the booths were disgusting with dirt and dust and the light above us kept going on and off. I also didn't appreciate the memo on the menu saying they would charge you if you didn't eat anything like seriously? They called it "the rules" or something to that effect. Finally the last straw for me was when I went to pay and they refused to take my AMEX. I'm a banking professional so that to me screams cheap cheap cheap! If they are cheap on that God knows what else they skimp on. Don't believe the hype it was all for show when Guy Fieri came around, what a scam!
(1)
Sandy S.
This place was pretty good! My friend and I went very early on a Saturday morning! It was pretty empty at that time. By the time we left (around 9am), the place started getting packed so it seems like this is the place to be on a weekend morning! Neither one of us tried the pancakes but they looked massive from what I can see at other people's tables. This a pretty nice diner in JC and one that has a parking lot which is a plus. One thing that I really didn't like about this place though is that they don't let you use multiple credit cards when paying for the bill. That seems very strange to me since a lot of people go to diners in groups and usually don't have cash. So make sure to bring cash if you are going in a group. Overall it was a pretty good meal and I would go again if I was in the area.
(4)
Charlotte M.
Two words: PANCAKE WRAP. Nothing beats a pancake wrap on a weekend morning. So delicious! If you're a local, I recommend ordering take-out as the weekend brunch line is pretty ridiculous. And the managers, host, servers are all so nice. Love this place!
(5)
Lisa J.
I went here twice on my last trip to Jersey City. The cinnamon raisin french toast was so good. It wasn't soggy or eggy. It was really one of the best if not the best french toast I have ever had. The only downside was the bacon I had on one visit was supposed to be crispy and it wasn't at all. If it was I would have given 5 stars. Also, the service was great. We had the sweetest waitress. She was working so hard and really made us feel welcome.
(4)
David S.
I don't know what their secret is, but somehow they have managed to perfect the pancake. Every single time it is that perfect texture of light, fluffy and overall delicious. And the pancake wrap, oh man, that is just a dream come true for a breakfast food lover such as myself. I've seen it duplicated in other places recently, but it doesn't even come close to Brownstone's.
(5)
Lola G.
Very very good pancakes. I mean, delicious. If the parking lot is full just park around the block or so, usually there's street parking.
(4)
Suzanne M.
I ate at the Brownstone Diner about 4 hours after running a half marathon. I was famished and ready to consume a large dose of carbohydrates. I ordered the pecan pancakes with a side of home-fries along with coffee and orange juice. I was very surprised to see three very large pancakes on my plate with a large portion of home-fries on a separate dish. The pancakes were fantastic although I wish they had a better selection of syrup to go with it. There was only one to choose from. The home-fries were bland and nothing out of the ordinary. The coffee was typical for a diner and just ok. The service were very good. We were seated within 5 minutes and our waitress was friendly and efficient.
(4)
Steven K.
Big portions and good food. Pancakes are good, but cold, imitation syrup. If you want pancakes bring your own syrup. Plan to wait on a Sunday morning about 20 minutes to half out. Parking in the back. Parking can be hard during peak times. Overall good breakfast.
(4)
David A.
I'd been planning on trying this place for a while and finally did after a visit to the hospital across the street. My first experience was pleasant enough, it was late and not very crowded. The waitress was friendly and food was decent, I had eggs. My second experience was to order take-out. It will be my last. It was a busy lunch hour and in needed to get food to take with me to the hospital. I ordered and was waiting at the counter. I then witnessed the owner completely rip into one of his waitresses for something that was not even her fault. Another waiter bumped into her, causing some spilled coffee but she managed to save the food, which in itself was remarkable. She placed the cup of spilled coffee to the side and proceeded to serve the food to the table. On her way back the owner confronted her about the spilled coffee and the cup left to the side. He proceeded to humiliate her about not cleaning up after herself in a loud and obnoxious manner for all to hear. I exchanged glances with another waitress who later told me that this happens regularly. Frankly, if you can't treat your staff with respect, you're not getting my cash. Case closed and farewell.
(2)
Sandra M.
i love coming here for breakfast - this is the best place to be in JC when you want a good pancake. i love their fruit rollup trio - 3 crepes each with a different fruit compote stuffing - apple, blueberry (my fav!), and pear... i can smell them now...
(5)
Tuan-pi T.
I was told that I'd get my full on food here. I made a face at that. I ordered the pancake deal - 3 cakes, 4 strips of bacon, eggs, and home fries. The price, 9 bucks, made my face change. As I walked to the bathroom to wash my hands, I glanced at other visitor's plates. The faces I made in reaction were excited ones. The servings were AMPLE, the quality was visibly good, the patrons were happy. When my meal came, my face was pure delight. I was the only one at the table who finished his meal; there was just so much to eat! I helped out my buddies and had leftovers for lunch later. What a great experience. There was a little wait. But it wasn't long. The service was friendly and on point. I'll request a revisit next time I'm in the area.
(4)
J K.
The Brownstone Diner is a solid choice, but the food and service are nothing special. We have been twice now - once for a week night dinner and once for a weekend brunch. Both times the place felt a bit understaffed and service was slow (even though the place was mostly empty for dinner and packed for brunch). The portions are gigantic, but nothing (including the famous pancakes) really stands out for being super creative or really well done.
(3)
Veronica S.
Me and my friends went there and I was like a kid in a candy store with the menu...the odd part is it was not the meals that I was so excited about it was the words. If their servers don't make you feel welcome (ours sure didn't) then the name of your dish just might do the trick. Our waiter was pretty rude, so rude it was funny...seriously. First he came to our table to see if we wanted drinks only to snarl at me for wanting my ice on the side...THEN when he came to take our orders he walked away as my friend began to tell him what she wanted...we died with laughter because it was just so unexpectedly rude, I could go on with this guys character but I'll just skip it. The food was GREAT! at least mine was, I ordered waffles. My friend ordered chicken parm and said it was not anything special but it was a big portion, another ordered buffalo wings and loved them...he was actually sweating when he was finished haha, and my other friend ordered pecan waffles and didn't really like them since the pecans are inside the waffle, nothing special just waffle mix and pecans.
(3)
Vicky L.
I love the pancakes here. Great place for groups.
(4)
Leo D.
What a horrible dump!!! The rudest service I have ever encountered. Everyone makes a special effort to make sure that each customer has a miserable experience and gets out as quickly as possible. But of course not before paying the astonishingly disgusting owner who casually curses at his customers.
(1)
Patrick S.
My little home away from home. Having lived in two different apartments in JC, I have never been more then 4 blocks from this place and THANK GOD. Breakfast, Lunch Dinner this place DELIVERS (not literally). Best consistent food.
(5)
Danny E.
This place is known for their delicious variety of pancakes. I didn't try the pancakes yet as I wasn't in the mood that day, so I'm definitely going back and updating this review. I got the burger and boy was it dry. I think from here on out I am avoiding all burgers (besides In n Out, what's your secret?) that does not give you an option how you want it cooked. I also ate half of my partner's omelet, eh. I did see the episode where Guy Fieri comes here and I must say, he would make a wonderful actor. It's really his enthusiasm that sells the show. The food here is ordinary but he's always having oral orgasms on the show. It's time to be more cautious with his reviews from here on out. I do have to agree with some people that the service is pretty horrid here. Of course it's not with everyone but because of the large number of customers, the wait staff can become inattentive or even disappear for half hours all together.
(3)
Jeff G.
This place is a godsend for those hungover and in pain from the night of drinking before. I arrived there around 1230 and assumed that the place would be packed which it was, however the wait was only 20 mins which isnt that bad. When we were seated, the service was prompt and efficient and we ordered country pancake wraps. The pancakes themselves were a nice 1' thick buttermilk pancake with a soft cakey inside and a thin cripsy outside, unbelievable. Inside of this MONSTER pancake is delicious eggs/cheese/potatoes and salty sausage. Really delicious overall and pretty standard for price/quantity. Very happy overall! Note: the dog park down the street is a great waiting area in the nice weather to pick up girls while u wait for your breakfast.
(4)
Kristen S.
The food was great...choc chip pancakes n hash browns were delish....only thing that sucked was service...our waitress was an older lady n didn't seem to care much for her job...I had coffee and needed a refill and she never came to check on us....we needed things she never came to check on us...only time we got her service was when we stopped her from walking around...service like that deserves no tip....n that's just what she got...brunch that shoulda taken half hr to 45 min took about 2 hrs...
(1)
Matthew W.
The food here is good, the portion size is HUGE and they have a parking lot. What else could you ask for? When I go for breakfast my gf and I will split one thing and still go home with leftovers (and that is truely amazing for us). The only think keeping me from 5* is that they charge $3 for anything you add to a dish. So if you want jalapenos on your salad, its $3 extra...kinda annoying. Regardless, I eat here all too often and most of the people there are really great.
(4)
Jennifer H.
I think living in New York skews your expectations for food. I know there are so many other quality diner/brunch places out there, BUT this one did not disappoint! And it's so cheap for how much food you get! I spontaneously came here with two friends for a brunch date and we split the banana walnut pancakes, pigs in a blanket, and cross the border omelet. The servings were huge, but since I'm one of those girls who eats half a large pizza, I was very happy. (Do not come here if you're used to rice-bowl sized dinners.) I think the banana walnut pancakes were the best...It would have been better if the bananas were cooked in the batter, but they were just garnished on top. The omelet and homefries were meh. I would just stick with what they're named for. Oh and I read their "story" printed on the menu (which is also available on the website) and found it very cute. I personally love mom and pops kind of businesses, and this place definitely has their line of loyal customers...but don't expect to be treated like family when there's a huge cluster of people blocking the door.
I go here once every 1-2 months or so, and each time before I go I say to myself "I must be overrating this place, they are just pancakes." And then... I go, and the pancakes blow my mind. I can't explain it, they are just amazing, and with a basic stack going for only about $6 (I forget how much exactly), they are cheap, and they will fill you up for the rest of the day. If you are a brave soul, get one of their combos, but be warned, you will be pinned to the couch in a food coma for the rest of the day. Definitely worth the wait- the lines out the door can be intimidating, but the line moves faster than you think- they are very efficient at filling the place to max capacity.
(5)
Ciera D.
It's on the nicer side as far as diners go. But still its just a diner.
(3)
Janelle S.
Oh Good God, I cannot even describe the pancake euphoria I experience every time I'm here. Warm, fluffy, golden brown pancakes with every fruit compote you can think of is why I keep coming back. My favorite is the stack with the apple compote. And if you're hungover or high, make your way here at some point. Definitely worth the trip to Jersey, New Yorkers.
(5)
Jessie D.
I am sorry but the pancakes were pretty dissapointing. The nuts in pancakes were rancid and the pancakes itself was nothing special, doughy..not much flavor. But omelet was pretty good, done just right. The staff is friendly, very accomodating. I am perplexed at the fact that this place is famous for pancakes.
(3)
Tanya D.
Ah Man! This is da place to go when u are tired of IHOP...lol. As a matter of fact this is the only place to go for the ultimate pancake experience! I had the Pancake Wrap w/ turkey bacon. Which includes everything breakfast your eggs, meat, cheese all wrapped in the biggest pancake ever. It could easily serve two if it wasn't so delicious. You automatically reach for the other half as your mouth waters with anticipation...lol. Basically it's great. I've had it with Pork bacon, Turkey Bacon, and Turkey Sausage...all great! Don't forget the syrup!
(5)
Jennis B.
One of the best diner in Jersey City. Highly recommended!
(4)
Amit A.
Its your typical diner but with a twist, they have a variety of pancakes to choose from as you can tell from the name of the establishment. Went here for breakfast today and we got the raspberry truffle and mocha coffee, both were really good but don't expect refills. We then ordered the pancake rolls and a regular stack of pancakes with fresh fruits and they were bot delicious. I did order a milkshake but never received it :( oh well.
(4)
Anthony M.
Always loved Van Vorst in JC and this place is in a great location - right bt CC and Grand. Food was excellent and they put some fresh ideas into standard jersey diner menus. I also love the healthy options available - turkey bacon, egg whites, etc. without sacrificing on the taste. Also loved the home fries - amazing. Now the negatives - I have to deduct 2 stars for not being open 24-7 and making feel like I was in the DMV. The place was packed and they were screaming numbers across the diner as people wait to be seated. That's not so bad in of itself but the waiter took about 10 mins to even grab a drink order and thought one of the swarming waiter was going to drop a plate on me as they passed. Definitely stay away from the center tables near the cake display/hostess.
(3)
Jaime W.
Today was my first time dining at Brownstone Diner, and I cannot believe I waited this long to try it!!! I've heard the place is good, but the hoards of people that come here turned me off, until today. We were jonesing some breakfast delights and going to head over to OPH in Fort Lee, but I suggested we at least try going to Brownstone....just to see... Upon arrival, I thought we'd be waiting close to an hour based on the crowd. Since I was expecting just that, I wasn't going crazy about what the wait time seemed it would be. We went to the hostess station, were give a number (no timing on availability of tables was given), and stood aside to begin our foot tapping. We seriously waited, tops 10 minutes and our magical number was called! Like music to our ear, and with the smell of freshly griddled pancakes and bacon wafting through the air around us, we ran to the hostess station and claimed our stake. We were seated and started looking through the long-winded menu. Although there were TONS of menu options, we knew what we were there for. PANCAKES!!-and oh what the selection there was. I went with the Nut N' Honey Pancakes- they had almonds, pecans, and walnuts cooked in, and then covered with a drizzling of honey, with a scoop of butter off to the side. Hubby had the Honky Tonk Pancakes-Peanut Butter Chunks baked into the pancakes, and covered in fresh sliced bananas. We also had a side of corned beef hash and home fries, which we both split. Everything was fantastic! Light and fluffy flapjacks, well cooked hash (with a crispy burnt bottom-yum!!), and perfect taters. The restaurant was cutely decorated- like if you took your regular decent diner and made it about 20 times nicer, they have a great coffee bar selection, and quite the martini menu I might add. They also have first-come-first-serve counter seating, which they announce when there are opened seats, which makes the wait time even better. I will definitely become a repeat customer for when I'm feeling in need of the perfect breakfast.
(5)
David C.
Went here this morning with a good friend and my girlfriend. The portions are huge! I ordered the Pancake Combo and it was really too much food for me to finish... I probably could have shared with with my girlfriend and I would have been sufficiently full. We had to wait like 20 minutes, definitely a very popular place for breakfast. Because of the sheer volume of people, it also took a little while for the food to come out. Pancakes were great. I wasn't a big fan of the corned beef hash though, I personally would have cooked it a little longer to get a more crispy texture. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get. Would definitely go back and this place will likely be one of my regular brunch/breakfast places.
(4)
Michael O.
Huge portion's, come here hungry! Excellent diner, great food, OK price, and friendly staff. The only complaint I have is the parking. Ate here three times already and still have not been disappointed about anything besides the parking. The menu is huge, to me their is something for everyone. I highly recommend this place to anyone. Get ready for a long walk to this diner to where you park on the weekends, the parking lot is always packed. Besides the parking this place is great!
(5)
Min A.
Been going here for years and the food and service has always been very good. I always bring out of town guests here so they can have their fill of any pancake they desire; but amazed that they have grits on the menu and my husband loves them!
(5)
Michael L.
It was our first meal during our food crawl to NYC. Honky Tonk pancakes and the hash browns were exceptional. Other items on the menu were a little better than IHOP. With a party of 12, we got to taste a good portion of the menu. I think they're better than 3 stars but couldn't give them 4.
(3)
Daniel B.
Yum. Really, that sums this place up in a word. I know NJ is a diner culture, but this place is at the top of the game. Great selection of food, breakfast all day. And the pancakes (in particular the wraps) make it a great place to stop in and get some great food.
(4)
Mary N.
Love the Brownstone--has something for everyone...very family friendly. Gets crowded on weekends, nice an quiet on weeknights for dinner. Friendly service. Huge portions so good for leftovers too.
(5)
Jason G.
This place is ok for breakfast but as far as normal diner food goes it is very sub-par. True it is called the "pancake Factory", but truth be told their waffles are better than their pancakes. Unfortunately, the rest of their breakfast fair is pretty bland and gross. Eggs are tasteless and their breakfast meats are always very fatty and either overcooked or undercooked. Warning - DO NOT get the gyro here. It is awful. You would assume otherwise from a diner (usually run by greek people) but you are better off getting gyro meat from a street vendor in harlem then ordering it here. So in short, for startchy-breakfast food, this place is good, for anything else PASS
(3)
Marilus C.
Triple D was right to feature this place. The food is super yummy and the staff are really friendly. Yes there is a wait so try your hardest to get there before 10am on the weekends. I had the pancakes with pranut butter chips and bananas its was soo good! The pancakes were fluffy and just prefect! My bf had and egg white omelet with grilled chicken. He said it was the best grilled chicken he'd had ever. It's loud and it's crowded sonic that's not your thing i wouldn't come here but if you love pancakes I would run here. Can't wait to go back and try all the other falvors!
(5)
Maggie M.
I visited here while in town from Florida, the pancakes are great,the portion is huge,two can easily share,I also had a side of corned beef hash that was excellent. This place is a jewel.
(4)
Brandon G.
I saw this place on Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives a few weeks back and knew that next time I was in the NYC area I would definitely have to stop by and check it out - which I did - twice!! Both times were for breakfast two late weekday mornings in a row. We were able to get in and get a table right away. Both times the hostess, wait staff, and cashier were all very friendly. The food was amazing. I got pancakes the first morning because I didn't feel I could go into a Pancake Factory without at least getting something off the production line. I was not at all disappointed with my Cherry Pancakes - they were great. In fact, I couldn't even finish which is a very rare occurrence for myself! The second day I decided to try an omelet. I got the western omelet (ham, peppers, and onions) which was very delicious. The only regret I have is that I had to head back to Boston but will definitely be sure to stop in the Brownstone Diner whenever in the Jersey City area!
(5)
Anthony F.
The pancakes are delicous and all the portions are huge! I can't say enough about this place. Don't even bother looking anyone else in Jersey City if you want breakfast. Also, there is no delivery, but you can pick up, as I do some sunday mornings :)
(5)
Alex R.
I have been to Brownstone a few times now, and always for either dinner or late lunch. This place is mobbed on weekends, so fuggedabout coming at noon for brunch. Prepare to wait, wait, wait. Having said that, my last experience was disappointing. I ordered a steak sandwich with fries, and my friend ordered the bbq chicken platter. The sandwich looked good, however the meat tasted of gasoline and was too chewy. I could barely take 2 bites. :( My friend's chicken on the other hand was solid. No issues; soft and juicy and bacon and bbq didnt disappoint. The place overall serves comfort food, and as many diners go, is owned by Greeks but without heavy emphasis on the greek menu. Stick to the basics.
(3)
kenny s.
Like any diner Brownstone Diner features a diverse menu from surf-n-turf to their pancake selection. My party rifled through the pages all wondering what to order, some played it safe with pancakes and burgers, while others took a gamble with seafood selections. It wasn't that busy when we ordered and the food took quite awhile to get here, something I believe hurts a diner's rating. Because honestly, we don't go to diners so that we can wait 40 minutes for a burger. But perhaps it was an off day? When the food came, we were shocked by how much food was brought to our table. The portions here are big, I've never been to Texas but I assume this is what they call "Texas big". My burger was too big to eat comfortably or neatly, I ended up eating my burger with knife and fork (blasphemy I know). I had a bite of the pancake, I must say it was better than 60% of the pancakes I have ever had. Fried shrimp, fish, scallops and thick cut fries packed the seafood basket someone ordered. The thing is just plain humongous and big enough to feed two adults. Overall, it is diner food and something you don't expect too much out of. But the portions do the price a lot of justice. So if you're nearby and you just want some no frills gigantic proportion diner food with some good pancakes then drop by. This place is also good when everyone in your party wants something different...
(3)
Alf O.
The pancakes here are the best. If you come, order the pancakes, especially if they have chocolate chips in them. Everything else on the menu is good, especially by east coast greasy spoon standards, but don't bother and just get pancakes.
(5)
Hit U.
Hanballs took me here. I was the one that flung the wet toilet paper at the trash can and it hung on the lid like a wet squid. The banana walnut waffle was the best part of the meal. It's a huge waffle both crisp and soft topped with fresh bananas and walnuts (inside the waffle itself). I had a mushroom omelette, a bit too milky for me (I hate milk), but overall the omelette and home fries were very delicious. The toast was buttered up nice and sweet. I can't believe I didn't poop at all that day. I ate so much.
(4)
Dave M.
The food is pretty good but I have never found this place that special. It gets extremely crowded on the weekends so go early. A classic diner though so it's a nice change of pace compared to the rest of Jersey City.
(4)
Wendy C.
I have never ever ate in such a great diner! My soft scrambled was made perfectly and the pastrami was the best. It was very crowded. We had to wait a bit for a table. Not too long even though the girl told me to wait for about 40 minutes. Imagine, it was Sunday breakfast and there was a line of people waiting to get a table. We just happened to go here because we stayed at the Hyatt. I would love to just go through the tunnel and eat here again.
(5)
Vaughn S.
The best pancakes that I have ever had! Not only are the pancakes awesome, but everything that I have seen from this place from the sandwiches to the desserts look delicious. They are also known for their corned beef hash as seen on diners drive ins and dives. Definately worth a trip to jersey city. Dont go early on the weekend, they get really busy expect long waits and parking is horrible.
(5)
Ericka G.
Loved this place in I lived in JC. If breakfest isn't your favorite meal of the day it will be after you have eaten here. I live CA now and still come here for breakfest whenever I am in town.
(5)
Martha Stewart E.
I went and the pancakes were AWESOME. There was a good variety, and they were some of the best I've ever had (and I'm a pancake freak). The omelet was good too, full pieces of bacon in with the cheddar. It was a long wait for our food though, that's the only downside.
(4)
Eliana A.
Everyone goes here for the brunch, which is great but be ready for a long wait. Especially those really annoying post church groups of 12 with 5 highchairs and balloons on Sunday at 11. Anyway...the dinners here are what always amaze me. The quality of the food is better then most restaurants, and the price for portion rules. The Greek platters are the best. I love this place, and when I get the bill I love it even more.
(4)
Carla M.
Great breakfast!
(5)
Rajat S.
Great pancakes and omlettes. The California omlette and pancake combo is great.
(4)
Mollie R.
OMG! This place is solid. This had to be one of the BEST breakfast I have had in a long time. We sampled the pancakes which huge & yummy, egg white California omelet, pouched eggs and grits~ everything was great. My only complaint was that the OJ was just ok. I would return. Parking is bad but after a breakfast like this a little extra walking will do you some good. This place is a must!
(5)
Katelyn F.
Used to come here. The service was spectacular. Always a rush on Sunday mornings so get there before or after the church rush. The servers are awesome (assuming they still are) and the management is awesome as well. The owner is an awesome gentleman. The food is served in ginormous portions and ever so tasty. I don't remember all that I used to get because I popped around the menu all the time. But everything I had, I enjoyed.
(5)
Alli A.
This place covers most every craving you could possibly have. It's always crowded on the weekends so be prepared to wait a bit.
(4)
Nicole L.
Ok - two or three quick updates per Jenn K's request (thanks for reading)! The chocolate cream pie was only ok... nothing special, but also not bad if you like that heavy cream taste. It was too much for me and I was unable to finish all of it. The bread is still amazing (yes, they do heat it up so it comes hot and yummy to the table), but the last time we went and asked for bread for the table, they charged us $1.00 for a "side of bread." I call bogus, and haven't been back yet to see whether it's a new charge or if it was just something our server did to pad the final bill. Lastly, I've since ordered the cheesesteak and requested no green peppers - and the cheesesteak was GOOD!
(4)
Ed A.
in true downtown JC fashion, let's all overhype and overrate a B- at best place. ready...set.... brownstone! i dont know if it's the fact that it's in downtown jc so it must be good, or if people who frequent it just like it because it's a nice local spot. it could be either, but my experience at this place has been just average. really.. nothing to write home about, especially with so many other good and equally cheap food options in the area. even as a diner, i wouldnt recommend this place, not because it's bad (because it's not).. but just because it's just not that great. for another equally overhyped, overrated downtown jc place, try taqueria mexican place. just as "meh"-tacular, and just as highly rated online.
(2)
Zulay V.
this place is AWESOME. We go here almost every weekend that we go out clubbing in the city.... it's GREAT for that hangover. The food is soooo good, the pancakes are awesome and they have so many unique kinds to choose from, like Black Forest, PB&honey, Meat pancakes, etc. Their lunch and dinner platters are also amazing. The prices are very reasonable, the staff is very nice and food always comes quickly, and the owner himself is usually there working the register or taking care of something else. That's very admirable. It's a Greek diner owned by his father and then passed down to him. Definitely something to be proud of. Great for groups, but expect a wait on Sunday. Worth it though!
(5)
Yesenia F.
This is the BEST diner I have ever been to in my life. If I move out of Jersey City this diner will probably be the only establishment I will miss. I've never waited too long for a table even on the busiest of weekends. All of their food is delicious, I've had everything from their pancakes, omelettes, burgers, gyros, wraps. You name it, they have it and they make it GOOD. The servers are friendly and attentive. The prices are reasonable. Overall a go-to if you're in the neighborhood.
(5)
Vito S.
Went here for breakfast twice and food once. Each time I went I was expecting a lot better. People rave about their breakfast and there are always lines on the weekends to get in. Yes, the portions are humongous I agree and it's not bad at all. However I don't think it's anything special. I think it's more a product of being the only diner in the area. If there was any competition I don't think people would give such high ratings.
(3)
Michael K.
I had a very bad experience at Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory in Jersey City this morning. We have an out of town visitor. I decided to take him there for breakfast. We were seated promptly and the waiter was very nice. I ordered an omelet that had several ingredients (some sort of southwest omelette). It tasted off. Something was bad. I don't know which ingredient. It wasn't the jalapeño or onion or sour cream as far as I can tell. I couldn't put my finger in it. The waiter wouldn't take it back. He said let me go tell someone. I assume the kitchen or manager. He came back and told me they sell a lot of them. I said I didn't question that, but something in it was spoiled. He still made no effort to take it or make things right. I literally handed him my plate. He said nothing and just took the plate. I wasn't sure if he was having it re-made (he didn't) nor was I offered anything else. When he finally came back with the bill it wasn't on there although every refill of coffee was charged and even a dollar for the toast which I didn't hand him (but did eat). I don't blame the waiter as it is clearly management. When I was leaving I made mention to the cashier who I believe is an owner or manager that I didn't have a nice experience. My exact words were, "that was a bad experience". He said I don't want to hear about any bad experiences and left the register (after he took my money) and walked away. I am still surprised. I will certainly avoid going back.
(1)
Monica D.
BEST pancake house! They have a large selection of pancakes to choose from which can be good or a bad thing (you'll take forever to put your order in b/c you can't make a decision) ;-) I've had their show stoppers, the Nutella and the regular chocolate chip Pancakes. They're eggs Benedict are also good and their baked potato omelette is always on point. I've Only been here for their breakfast items and never leave disappointed. The only reason they don't get a full 5 stars is because service can be flaky at times. There have been a handful of times where it takes them 10-15 minutes to come up to our table to take our order. Other than that, this place won't disappoint.
(4)
Barbara D.
Once again...I made the mistake of returning here. You would think after the countless bad experiences, I'd finally learn my lesson. But, alas, I have not. This episode in Why NOT to Dine Here is brought to you by The Milk Foundation...reminding you to please keep your creamers CHILLED! We were sat almost immediately...but then got a lovely 10-15 min gap of time with no sign of any server? Place had plenty of open sections...soooooooo? Ended up asking hostess for server...who promptly marched over, looking annoyed, and asked if we knew what we wanted. Nice greeting. So we get our coffees and place our order. Suddenly I see a weird cloud in my coffee (was this what Carly Simon was talking about???) Nope, not a cloud, just a sad clump of curdled milk. Almost made myself and my lunch companion want to vomit...gross. So we show #1 server...and she just shrugs and gets me another. Food was ok...nothing special. Server never cleared plates. Though, she did ask if we wanted food wrapped? Bizarre. We asked for more coffee...twice...never got it. The food is the only reason I'm even granting this 2 stars. Do yourself a favor and skip the headache...OR learn from my multiple mistakes!
(2)
Kelly M.
Oh Brownstone I love you so. First off, the portions are gigantic. I usually split mine in half and take half home for leftovers. The moussaka and pastas make particularly delicious leftovers. You could probably get 3 meals out of the pastas- they're huge. The Brownstone Fries and Waffle Towers are what draw me to this place, but the pancakes/french toast / actual dinner food is good too. The only thing I haven't really been that into is the salmon dinner entree and their eggs Benedict - they tend to be a little salty for my taste. This is also the only place I know where we can show up with 15 people for dinner and they don't even flinch, they just make a giant table. PS what's with the reviews complaining about parking? They have a perfectly reasonably sized parking lot. Where else in Jersey City do you get parking lots at all? If you want an easy place to park your SUV just go to Newport Mall.
(5)
Ben M.
One of the best diners I have ever had. Excellent extensive menu, weather it is breakfast or lunch. Pancakes are the best in NJ ( I had better in Milwaukee last week) excellent lunch deals. Everything is good
(4)
James P.
Even though a lot of people say this place is great and it was featured on the Food Network, I am not too impressed with this place. Nothing is really delicious here. Its an average diner. Had a Cheeseburger, Eggs Benedict, and Spaghetti in three different occasions... The portions were ENORMOUS which was nice, but again.. nothing spectacular. AND the diner is not even open 24/7 SADNESS The pancake selection is very diverse which is cool if you like pancakes.. I don't! Menu has LOADS of items so I would come back again sometime.
(3)
Rich A.
Brownstone Diner ( brownstonediner.com/menu ) on Grand Street near the Medical Center in Jersey City, which was featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives" show on the Food Network in May 2008, is a family-owned diner that is reknown throughout the Jersey City area for its excellent and extensive menu of breakfast foods - including enormous omelettes served with a variety of fresh ingredients and their long list of unique pancakes. Stick to the breakfast specialties and you'll be very satisfied. I recommend any of the omelettes, pancakes, waffles or pancake wraps (imagine burrito using a pancake as a tortilla and stuffed with eggs, cheese, potatoes, and sausage/bacon). My favorite variety of pancakes are the "Turtle" pancakes, served with plenty of chocolate chips and pecans for a great combination of salty and sweet flavors in every bite. Their homemade pork, beef, and turkey sausage is amazing -- a must-have side dish with any breakfast order. My experience ordering non-breakfast foods at the Brownstone has been decidedly average.. portions are VERY large, but dishes I've ordered (meatloaf, french dip sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich) have been entirely unremarkable in flavor. The diner, which was extensively renovated a few years ago, is warm and inviting. In addition, the service can be hit or miss - depending on the shift. Surprisingly, I've had much better service when the diner is packed during the weekend brunch rush than during Friday night dinner. Since the segment ran on the Food Network, it's gotten much harder to find a parking space on a weekend morning and the wait for a table can be 15-20 minutes. Prices range from $5 to $8 for pancakes; omelettes range from $6 to $9.
(5)
Thompson L.
This is the place to be if you're in the area. Very friendly waitstaff, quick turnaround on tables/food. I always find it tough to stray from breakfast items at diners.. especially when their pancakes have been featured on Food Network... so I went with the King Combo. Steak n eggs + buttermilk pancakes. Believe the hype.. the pancakes are THAT good! These pancakes came out so fluffy and tasted so delicious.. I really didn't want to eat anything else. My eggs were done just the way I liked them and the steak was pretty decent too. If I ate there by myself I would've given it 5 stars but I tasted some of the other dishes on the dinner menu.. pasta was a little bland.. dessert tasted old.. burgers were really good but fries were meh. Soo.. do like I do.. stick with the breakfast menu.. smile all the way out!
(4)
al n.
The service was great and you get a great value, but definitely not the greatest pancakes I've ever had.
(3)
Edward B.
Average at best. We went to the Brownstone to kick off our vacation - alas we are hoping for better things to come. I ordered the Turtle Pancakes . . . disappointing they were just OK. None in our party were impressed by the quality of the food. Overhyped and overpriced not worth going to if you have to go out of your way to go there.
(2)
Kimberly G.
I came here after going to Zeppelin Hall down the block and this place really hit the spot! My friend had been talking about going and it's appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and I'm extremely happy that we came. The menu is monstrous but I focused in on the pancakes since I heard that was their specialty and it's in the name of the diner. Our server was wonderful and gave his recommendations of what to order to help us decide. I ended up ordering pancakes with peanut butter chips and bananas. YUM YUM YUM!!! The pancakes were fluffy and buttery and the peanut butter chips and bananas gave it a little something extra. My one friend ordered the pancake wrap stuffed with bacon, cheese, and eggs and she thoroughly enjoyed it and so did I when I tried it. My other friend ordered a tuna melt and fries which she also enjoyed. I tried the fries and they were delicious - perfect NJ diner fries. I would absolutely go back and try another pancake specialty and I highly recommend this diner to anyone who is in the area!
(5)
B B.
Not sure about pancakes, but this is a good diner. Fast service, extensive menu, ample portions.
(4)
Phil D.
This is a good place. Portions are quite large, but I don't think the pancakes the OMG that this place tries to make them out to be. They're good but not mind-blowing. Also, this is not what I expect a diner to be. There's no 100 page menu and it's not open 24/7. This place gets very, very busy so be prepared to wait. There's limited counter space which is normally open (about 5 or so seats). This is close to a 4 star in my book, but just not quite there. Also, if you're a big guy, those booth seats don't leave you much room.
(3)
Chris O.
Been here a couple of times for weekend breakfast and have enjoyed all my visits. I go early between 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. to avoid the weekend crowd that everyone talks about. I've read other reviewers complain about the service but I've only experienced fast and friendly service. They allowed me to customize anything on their menu to my liking. In my visits to the Brownstone Diner I've had: Pancakes ---------------- Honky Tonk Pancakes - My favorite so far. Crispy, melted peanut butter chunks inside buttermilk pancakes and topped with bananas. MMMmmmm See pics. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pancakes- Added bananas. Delicious but still prefer the Honky Tonk. Black Forest Pancakes- Chocolate chips inside the pancakes with cherry compote on top. Very good. Eggs dishes ------------------- Three eggs (overeasy) with american cheese, corned beef hash, and hash browns- Corned beef hash was ok but not the best I ever had. Wasn't really thrilled about the american cheese. (Kraft singles) Newport Omelette (Very good and huuuuuge! See pics. Substituted american cheese for mozzerella and substituted hash browns/french fries or grits for the curly fries.) Coffee -------------- Mocha- Espresso, choco, steamed milk & whipped cream. Delicious! Raspberry Truffle- Same as the Mocha but with raspberry syrup added. See pics I see myself making the trip across the river into NJ again next weekend. Nut & Honey pancakes next? Or maybe the German style pancakes? Doesn't really matter because eventually I'll try them all. 5 stars for the Brownstone Diner.
(5)
Ramo N.
Wasn't impressed with the breakfast. i ordered the steak and eggs.... it was ok, not enough to have me come back, especially during the weekend a.m. crowd.
(2)
John M.
My girlfriend and I started to come to this place after seeing it on Food Network. We love food, and we LOVE diners. First, this place is comfortable. It's pretty big, not as big as some diners I've been to, but it doesn't feel like a banquet hall or anything. Very comfortable and friendly wait staff. Talk to the owner, Bobby, he's a really nice guy! Second, and most importantly, the food is amazingly good! Thei pancakes are excellent (it's a pancake factory!) but almost everything else I've ordered is great. I was not happy on 2 occasions with my eggs, one time they were nearly raw instead of over-easy, and one time my poached eggs were overdone. Try their corned beef hash, it's the best! The service is normally excellent, fast and nice. I've had some nights where the server was very slow however, must have been an off day. So I took off 1 star because of the bad eggs and some bad says for service, but this place is totally worth it. Just a note, weekends get very busy...VERY busy. You may only have to wait for about 20 minutes though, the longest I've waited was about 15 minutes on a Saturday morning.
(4)
Heather C.
I have to say, it would definitely get five stars if there weren't almost always a line out the door. The first time I went, I came back three times for the next three days, because I was obsessed. Why? It was the PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY PANCAKES. Are you kidding me??? It was the most delicious pancake I have ever eaten in my life. I also had a veg omelet, which was runny but tasty. Their french toast is unbelievable too, as well as their waffles. I'm warning you, if you go, you will become addicted. Seriously. Their menu is huge, and I've also had a sliced steak sandwich (mediocre- it needed salt, but the roll was huge), fries (very good), and a burger (pretty good). I see a bright future for me and brownstone, and I will for sure be back.
(4)
Devsss B.
Love entire menu specially pancakes, waffles and French toast. The staff is friendly. Nice, homely place.
(5)
Dilip J.
I've visited the place a few times already, and I can't say anything but nice things about the place. Yes, there can be a line around noon for wknd brunch, but its worth the wait. I've been here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late nite munchies. Its the best. Friendly staff, huge portions, delicious food. There are so many choices also. Also, there is real value for your money. Guy from Food Network's "Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives" made this place a little too popular during Sunday brunch, but I still would pick this place. The owners are really friendly too. PS there is a chance you'll have food to take home, but don't worry. it still tastes good after warming up.
(5)
Jenny R.
Corned beef hash from a can. Grossly disappointing! Yuck! Friendly waitress, decent coffee. I'll try pancakes next time.
(2)
Gerard G.
My son took me here for Fathers Day. He picked it off a list of places Guy Fiere had been to with his show, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. Definitely a diner, and a busy one at that! Make no mistake, this place is busy because its a good diner. A long list of pancakes as well as the usual diner fare, and pancake wraps were featured on the menu. The wait, probably due to Fathers Day, wasnt so bad for a table for 2, about 25 minutes. Anthony decided to order the peanut butter and chocolate chip pancakes. I decided on Eggs Benedict and a stack of buttermilks on the side. The coffee was fresh, and the food arrived with out too long a wait. Anthony ordered a chocolate Egg Cream, which didnt win any awards - not nearly enough syrup, a bit too much seltzer and not enough taste.. But we didnt come for the egg cream, so.. on to the food! The Chocolate Chip pancakes were pretty light and fluffy for peanut butter ( I expected them to be a bit "heavier".) The Buttermilks were pretty good too, light and fluffy as well. The eggs Benedict was nicely done, the hollandaise was tasty and fresh. The order came with 3 eggs- which I have not seen before when ordering Eggs Benedict. They were delicious. All in all, a nice experience; neighborhood looks like we'll be returning to try out a few other places we saw. Parking was a bit hectic, but we got lucky and landed a spot in the back lot after circling only once. A side note, according to the sign, they close at 11PM, so I'm thinking late night isn't happening here.. We arrived hungry and left full and satisfied. They get an "A", we'll be back.
(4)
Charlie K.
Cheap, baller pancakes. Also like the gyro platter.
(5)
Elijah B.
Overall, a wonderful experience! The menu provides a good variety of classic breakfast choices with their own unique twists. The portions are very generous and satisfy just about any appetite. Lastly, the service was excellent! Theresa is our favorite; she makes us feel like family! I have noticed some other servers who seem to be overwhelmed or flustered on a busy Sunday morning, but Theresa is always cool as a fan. Urgent, but never hurried, and ALWAYS cheerful, loving and helpful!
(5)
M H.
Great JC diner. Can't beat the pancakes! The lines can sometimes be crazy long, but that's a testament to the place being good. Waitstaff is efficient and friendly. I've never had a bad experience at the Brownstone, and my family and I go at least a couple of times a month.
(4)
Carrie L.
My friends are in love with this place and I can see why. They have a lot of different pancake choices, almost too many! Service was good but this place got really packed when we were leaving. I would definitely come back, but early.
(4)
Bill P.
Stopped by for breakfast & had a feast, make sure you bring an appetite if you come here. We had the Belgian Waffles which were very light & delicious. Also had the Blueberry Pancakes that were also very good & a huge portion. Finally our group also had the Corned Beef Hash with potatoes & eggs that again was a large portion with the hash being just OK, nothing to rave about. I'd definitely come here again, a good diner a bit above most.
(3)
Ron R.
best. pancakes. ever. this is a great place for brunch in the nyc metro area. when i lived in jersey city, i was here at least once a week. their pancakes are the fluffiest, tastiest i've ever had. there are a ton of options (i liked the chocolate chip, amongst others). their portions are HUGE, so come with an appetite. they also have great food for lunch and dinner. small downside is this place gets PACKED on weekends. get there before noon for brunch, or else you may be waiting at least 30 minutes. friendly, attentive staff members. all-around, a very well-run diner!
(4)
cory b.
Standard diner food. Great pancakes, adequate prices. A good place to take your friends who saw it on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
(3)
James L.
Great diner ... awesome food (especially the pancakes if you like them classic style) and the portions are huge. Full breakfast menu served all day and the prices are very reasonable. Great place to bring a large gathering.
(4)
Victor A.
Solid diner food/ selection. Recommend but wait on sat sun morning are long. Service is great.
(5)
Tida A.
This diner is always a must for those visiting/living in Jersey City. Their menu is huge and they have a bar with an awesome list of alcohol concoctions - what more do you need at a diner? Last time I went, I had the Valentine (champagne and chambord - $6) and an Egg and Canadian Ham Sandwich ($4.75). The food came out pretty quickly for our group of eight (consider how packed it was in the diner) and our waitress was pretty nice. I wasn't that hungry that day, but if I was, I would've definitely ordered up some pancakes or an omelet because they are both very large orders. There is a whole page of pancakes to choose from including Meat Pancakes which has bits of your choice of meat in the pancake. As for omelets, it takes a very, very hungry person to devour a whole one (which comes with a side of fries, curly fries or home fries) because I really do think their omelets are made with seven or eight eggs. The diner is usually always busy and there tends to be a wait. They don't have a sophisticated intercom system or anything, so it's usually best for one person in your party to wait inside for your number to be called. Hostess is pretty awesome and I always enjoy chatting it up with her.
(5)
Millie C.
Best pancakes I've ever had hands down. I had the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter and bananas) and they were delicious! The coffee is very much diner coffee and the service is ok, but nothing to brag about. The inside of the diner is actually nice looking, organized, and pretty clean. I was not impressed by the cups they use for water. They look old and warn out, wish kept me away from drinking from them. At the end, this place would have received 3 stars from me, but the pancakes are sooooo good, I can't help but to omit that I will be back again... often.
(4)
Curtis K.
I go on and off and enjoy the food and management every time. Great with friends or if your flying solo. Its definitely a food place with staying power. A little lite in the seasoning department though, that would be my only area for improvement on a great place. And its a plus you never know who you will find at your adjacent table- from political folks to churchgoers to 106 & Park contestants. Its the kinda place that wont let you down when you wanna take your friends some place reasonable to eat.
(4)
James S.
Meat Pancakes! That is what you need to get when you come here. The juices from the sausage seep into the pancakes as they are cooked to make the most mouthwatering breakfast ever. I know it sounds strange but put a little hot sauce and a little syrup on these puppies for a sweet and spicy mouthful of goodness. Expect to not find a spot in the small parking lot and expect to wait for a table once you get inside. It's only a block from the Jersey Ave light rail stop, which works well for me. Enjoy!
(4)
Brad G.
Great omelletes, great hotcakes and belgian waffles. I havent had a chance to try the stuffed rock lobster tail. Service sucks!!
(4)
joey s.
Hello Foodies! I have been to the brownstone diner a couple of times. Recently I went on a Sunday Morning, ahh boy was I in for a treat..the line was out the door and around the building. I was so excited to show my GF this place for breakfast, but was discouraged when i saw the line, lucky enough it was only a 20 minute wait. And the actual wait time ended being 30 minutes, it was pretty accurate, and being in the restaurant biz my whole life, anytime there is a wait like that...there has got to be something good cooking in the kitchen. We were finally sat, and presented the menu. The menu is so extensive, that takes a while to sift through. I think Gordon Ramsey would say they need to trim it down a bit. After reading the bible of pancakes and omlettes we were ready. We decided on egg and cheese sandwich on a roll, grilled and buttered of course. And we took an order of the pancakes with choc chips and pnut butter. The egg sandwiches were right on!! Like wow, it was so delicious. Very pleased. The cheese was excellent and melted just right. The pancakes were like a pile of heaven. the only thing i would say here is the pnut butter chips over powered the choc chips, so it needed more choc chips for sure. Still good, but not as excellent i thought it was going to be on the pancake side. The service was good. The server was busy. Not that personable, but got what we needed quickly and efficiently. The Atmosphere is excellent. Very nicely done. Super Excellent they have a liquor license. I would def return here for breakfast. Looking forward to it. Best. The Food Critic.
(5)
Eddie C.
for someone with a healthy appetite, this is definitely the place to be. they have a huge diner-sized menu but i've only ever ordered breakfast type food here. the french toast is good, and they let you swap in sides (ex: turkey sausage over bacon) if you are interested in something marginally healthier for you. coffee is generic and the food is decent, but the service is good considering how packed they can get during prime eating time, which, if my experience is anything to judge, is between 10am and 3pm on weekends. prices are also very reasonable. i just wish they had real maple syrup, but that may be a bit much to ask for out of a diner.
(3)
Gisele A.
Great pancakes!
(4)
Irene J.
it's a factory, alright! we've been here twice, and it's been crazy busy both times! let's call it organized (delicious) chaos! overall, service is good, but really, it's a hit or miss. the food makes up for it, so no complaints here! we've had the lox & onions omelette (not bad), california omelette (oh yum! especially if you like avocados!), honky tonk pancakes (omg, please do try if you like peanut butter), and a pancake combo (good but nothing out of the ordinary; didn't care for their pork sausage though). if you're in the area, it's definitely worth waiting to eat pancakes!
(4)
Lindsay J.
Came here for the first time on a Sunday morning a little after 10am. Had no wait for a party of two and were seated right away. The inside is huge too! When we left around 11am there might have been a small wait. Ordered the Black Forrest Pancakes [chocolate chips and cherry compote] and the Fresh Strawberry Pancakes. Also ordered sides with them [2 eggs scrambled and 2 eggs over-medium with sausage links] but the pancakes themselves would have been more than enough since we barely ate half of them! The sausage links were huge. Over-medium eggs were more like over-easy - were very runny. Then again they're known for their pancakes... Prices are a bit more than your average diner [hence the 4 starts] but the food was delicious!
(4)
Larry Y.
The breakfast is simply amazing. Hint: GET THERE EARLY!
(4)
Leigh C.
We saw this place on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives...we drove from Fairlawn to Jersey City for pancakes?! Sure, why not...the line was long, and it was after 1pm...that's a good sign! Triple D did not disappoint! We had all kinds of crazy pancakes and they were all amazingly and delicious! Two thumb up, we recommend!
(5)
Mark G.
Pros: - Humongous portions of very good breakfast food - Snappy service Cons: - Parking lot as well as the place is usually packed Conclusion: Great for breakfasts / brunches during the weekend
(5)
Nadia S.
This place is exactly what a good diner & pancake house is supposed to be. Plus it's really cute inside. Like any diner the menu had more choices than I could choose from, plus more pancake options than I could imagine. Of course I wanted to try everything, but couldn't come to a pancake place and not have pancakes. So little me decided on the Queen Combo, which included a full stack of buttermilk pancakes, beef sausage, corned beef hash and three eggs - sunny side up for me. The pancakes were yummy, and everything else was good, pretty standard diner food. I'll be back to try variations on the pancakes or when next I get that rare I need a diner craving that once in a while even I get.
(4)
Ramon W.
Love the variety of pancakes here!! ...I always find something different on the menu..I'm type of a night owl only wish it stayed open late! That would of gave it a fifth star...The weekends tends to get real busy especially around Sunday brunch ....so get there early and prepare to wait!!
(4)
Sea J.
At bit pricey for diner food. The wait staff is usually friendly but the management can be snippy. I avoid the place and usually can find a much more pleasant experience at any other local restaurant on Grove or Jersey ave.
(1)
Susan L.
If you like pancakes that taste like what you imagine sawdust taste like, along with the most fake tasting maple syrup, then this is the place for you. Long lines to boot. Not sure why. Service is friendly, but almost any other diner in the area has better quality food.
(2)
George K.
This is a great diner, you might have to wait a little to get a seat, but it's totally worth it. The pancakes are great and my persona favorites are the different pancake wraps, will surely have you coming back for more. I service is also very quick and the staff friendly.
(5)
Howard M.
My son and dad went for brunch on Saturday at 2pm. We were seated immediately (my son warned us about long waits on the weekend). I ordered an omelet and dad ordered pancakes. Both dishes were HUGE and delicious. I would go out of the way to eat here again. I would love to try the greek food for dinner in the future.
(5)
Zannoah C. K.
I've eaten here on 2 occasions. I love the food. Both times we had to wait about 10 minutes before we were seated because it was pretty busy. We came for Saturday or Sunday brunch both times. My husband had the potato pancakes which were great the first time, but they were obviously store bought the second time. The waffles are delicious, the chicken was juicy and crispy. I love that they have a LARGE selection of items on their menu. They are open from 6am until 11pm daily so the hours are pretty convenient. Our waitress on the 1st trip was so attentive and friendly. The second time, the service was pretty bad. Our waitress was a little older and we had to keep asking her for water. It was starting to piss us off, so when we saw our old waitress we begged her for water and she quickly obliged. I would definitely come back because while the service and sometimes the food is a hit or miss, its never too bad that I hate the experience. Have I had better food in my lifetime? YES. Have I had better food than this in Jersey City? No
(4)
Kate M.
This is the best diner I have ever been to. Great food and HUGE portions. Most meals feed me 2-3 times.
(5)
Ramon D.
Anything less than a five would be a crime. Yes the wait was long but the place has been on TV and they have really good food. Nothing more to say than simply try it!
(5)
Justin M.
NJ has the best diners. This is the best diner in NJ hence the best diner.
(5)
Kathleen H.
Had the Elvis Pancakes .. AMAZING!! This place is great .. and you can easily split the dishes - portions are huge.
(4)
taiyyaba q.
Yum! Big, big portions. Great pancakes and waffles and eggs. Homefries are crispy on the outside, which is the only way to make homefries. Worth the wait.
(4)
Chad M.
I live right around the corner from this place, and let me tell you, nothing is better than sleeping in on the weekend, throwing on some clothes, and walking only a block to grab a really great brunch. I'm not a big pancake fan, so I usually steer towards other breakfast or lunch items. My favorite breakfast is a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. Really hard to find in JC/NYC. So last week when I was there and saw that they had a biscuit on the side item menu I figured I was golden. However, after asking, they said they couldn't put it on a biscuit as it wasn't an option on that part of the menu. WTF? Next time I'll order the BE&C with no bagel, get a side order biscuit, and do it myself dammit! Aside from that 1 experience, they are really great about special requests. Extra items, sauces on the side, adding ingredients to the dish, all have been done no problem. They even gave me 1/2 a cantaloupe one time which was nowhere on the menu. Both the Chicken Caesar Wrap and Buffalo Chicken Wrap are fantastic. Their eggs benedict are good, but a bit lacking of flavor in their hollandaise sauce. Across the board the portion sizes are geared more towards pachyderms rather than humans. Be prepared. Water Refill Meter: 2/5 Very hit or miss. Sometimes you can get their attention and get it pretty swiftly. Other times you can try 6 times to get their attention without success as your food gets cold. Can't remember a time that a refill was given without asking.
(4)
Jason R.
This is an incomplete review, it's only based on their Corned Beef Hash (the sole reason i drove into JC). One of the reviewers here claimed it was the "best ever." Well - not, i'm afraid. It's straight out of a can! Mushy, sloppy hash. Very disappointed. But the eggs were perfect, and the place looks real nice, and the menu sounded really good, i'll have to try the pancakes sometime. But no way, no how was this hash homemade....
(3)
Kim J.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm. Pancake-y goodness. I got into Jersey City kinda late and was starving after my flight. We decided to stop at this greasy spoon for some late night breakfast. We walked in 15 minutes before close and no one batted an eye. The service was quick and friendly and we didn't feel rushed even though they were closing. All I can say is YUM. The pancakes here were phenomenal. The onion rings were perfect. And I really appreciated the bar - my martini was cheap and really, really tasty. The only downside? The bacon was just meh. I take my bacon very seriously, so that was enough to knock it down for me. But other than that, I can see why everyone raves about this place.
(4)
Kristina V.
I traveled 40 minutes to try this place. We arrived at 1pm on a Sunday and ate at 1:30 pm.The place was packed! I ordered potato pancakes, buttermilk pancakes, and a ham cheese and potato omlette. The pancakes were tasty, nothing to write home over though. The same goes for everything else. If I lived in the area I would go back and try some of their specialty pancakes, but being I live a bit far, I will not make the trip back just for this restaurant.
(3)
roderick A.
I like to pride myself as "King of the Diners" because I love going to a greasy diner. Since I'm from New Jersey, I guess its a built-in trait. In Jersey City alone, you've got VIP Diner, Al's Diner, Colonette Restaurant, Miss America Diner, and even the Flamingo Diner. But the newest one, technically, is the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. Formerly the Newport Pancake House, it was totally renovated and its now become this. Usually, I order the grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese. What comes out of the kitchen is this ginormous thing on a plate. It comes on a huge roll, with seemingly four breasts of grilled chicken, lots of cheese and probably the best diner french fries in Jersey City. This bad boy costs $9.95 but it is worth every penny because I defy anyone to actually finish eating it. Every single time I've had to bring it home, because it was so big. Yes, Roderick actually couldn't finish his food. It's a miracle. On occasion, I've also had the chocolate chip pancakes. I will say that they are indeed the best pancakes in Jersey City. But if I want my pancake fix, I will drive to Bayonne to the Chandelier. But yes, these are the best pancakes in JC. All in all, this is probably the best diner in Jersey City, with the most giant portions known to man. My only quibble is that they are not open late anymore. They used to close at 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. Now they close every night at 11pm. I swear they could rack up big business if they stayed open late on weekends.
(4)
James M.
Been back a bunch of times, really love the food, but had to drop a star since the last two times I received some pretty poor service. To me service is never that big an issue, because I am usually in good company and I can entertain myself :) But two times ago, I didnt see server the entire time and had mising items which wound up on the check. Last time, waited 10 minutes at the table to be aknowleged and then received my food quickly, even before my drinks. Server not arouind whole meal, had to wait another 5 minutes to get a check. She may have been slammed, but it was pretty early and not that busy yet. Should really have had more help.
(4)
Andrea C.
Pretty good stuff - I thought the pancakes would blow me away - and they were great, but not stellar. Fluffy, light and very generous. I had the breakfast wrap which was a pancake, eggs, cheese and sausage all wrapped up ... sounds weird but it was really tasty. You can expect to spend about $10-$13 a person.
(3)
Jeffrey L.
I'll go 2 stars because we had a couple of passable breakfasts here before being served one really bad meal. Admittedly I ordered corn beef hash which can be dodgy. But this was inedible dog food. The other meals weren't good enough to make up for it.
(1)
carla S.
Terrible service, subpar diner food - don't understand the popularity of this place. What a disappointment and they charge you a lot extra for ANYTHING special that you order. Their great pancake recipe is their saving grace, otherwise I would imagine they would have gone out of business a long time ago. Try Legal Grounds for their great sandwiches, Tacqueria, or anywhere else. Brownstone sucks.
(1)
Elaine M.
You know how people say you're only really supposed to eat a portion of food the size of your fist for each meal? Well, if you're one of those who actually do try to follow that general rule of thumb, then you probably won't want to come here. Just the slab of BUTTER they give you for your individual plate of food almost equates to the size of one's fist. And when you taste their pancakes, it's all over: it'd take the willpower of Rocky to limit yourself. The servings here are absolutely ginormous. The pancakes are practically the size of the plate itself. And if the size for some reason doesn't have your jaw dropping, the taste will. These pancakes are simply amazing. I'm not usually a big fan of pancakes (in general, I like pancakes, but I don't love them. French toast is usually more my thing), but the pancakes from Brownstone are seriously incredible... so incredible, in fact, that they're the only pancakes on the planet that elicit cravings in me. They're simply the best I've ever tasted. And you can have them prepared in practically any way you want. They offer traditional pancakes, fruit pancakes, nut pancakes, even meat pancakes. The few negatives I have about this place are that it gets ridiculously busy at times (which, I suppose, isn't really their fault), the service is hit-or-miss (it was excellent the first time I came here, which was on a Monday morning, but was unattentive and painfully slow on another occasion, a Sunday morning), and they only realized they ran out of Peach Schnapps a cool ten minutes after I had ordered a Bellini.
(4)
KB C.
2012...it's 12:00 pm as we pull up to what many have termed the best diner around...I have been anxiously awaiting this! The place is packed. Stop at bar for 2 screwdrivers, good and strong! The wait is lengthy for any seat. You are given a number for seating purposes...my wife handled this as I was parking the car out back. Right now we are standing watching how long it takes people to be served their orders...there are stacks of plated foods sitting on the warmer- I would be kicking the servers collective asses if I owned the joint. It's now 12:26, they just called #96, we are #22. Debating leaving for another diner but we're vested at this point. 12:56 we are seated- it is New Years Day after all. To pass the time we spoke to some gents about mushrooms and the value of boiling or ingesting...boil and drink the tea for gods sake. Anywho- the menu is extensive. Turkey sausage and bacon & swiss omelette with a side of bacon for me, ironman scramble egg whites, chicken w/tomatoes & salsa for the wife. 1:05pm. Food is delivered at 1:25pm. The food is average at best guys. Our bill (including 2 screwdrivers) is $48.00. Won't be returning- I was really hoping for good things. The Elysian or Stacks in Hoboken are better choices by far. Good luck with whatever your personal breakfast choice will be in 2012...just remember this little review when you're standing around waiting to be seated at this joint.
(1)
Brian W.
While the wait to get seated at peak time on a Sunday can be a little daunting this is my favorite restaurant for breakfast foods. I highly recommend the corned beef hash.
(4)
Courtney M.
Im a creature of habit, so I usually wind up ordering the same thing every time -- the french toast combo. but seriously, french toast and eggs and bacon and sausage and juice and toast for about $10??? awesome. the sausage is really good -- you can tell it's not the usual mass-produced pork product. also, i love that when we go there (the same group, always) they recognize us and say hello :)
(5)
Adrienne B.
Excellent excellent excellent. An entire page of pancakes and an entire page of omelets and six or so other pages of things Came here at 10 am on a Sunday and only had to wait 5-10 minutes. Food comes out fast and hot! We will be coming here and only here for breakfast from now on during the weekends.
(4)
Donna R.
This place has come a long way since it was the greasy old Newport Pancake House...what hasn't changed is the quick service and huge portions. Love the Honky Tonk Pancakes (peanut butter chips and banana...delish!)
(3)
Stefani M.
We are considering moving so we can be closer to this place. Perfect food, huge portions, really experienced waitresses. I don't know how they get their pancakes to taste so good!
(5)
Craig S.
These are the best pancakes I've ever had by a long shot. Good service, huge portions (I only ate half the pancakes), and delicious food. Highly recommend!
(5)
Kip J.
Let me preface this by saying that it is evident that this diner does a brisk business serving countless people daily who leave satisfied with their experience. Living right nearby, I see them everyday, and especially on weekends, when they tend to come in the mid-morning and order pancakes. Pancakes are a major component in the marketing of this place. I believe at some point someone gave them an award for "best pancakes in New Jersey." Their slogan appears to be "Need Pancakes!" - which I guess is supposed to be their hope of what their customer is thinking. It's on all the staff's t-shirts, along with the diner's logo, which is lifted exactly from Milton Glaser's design for the Brooklyn Brewery, hopefully with consent. The mystery to me is how the pancakes are so popular when they have no taste whatsoever. They're like pillowy sponges that take syrup (in his case high fructose corn syrup, unless you happen to bring your own maple syrup with you) and salted butter to your mouth. Same goes for the waffles. If you put these things in your mouth, alone, and try to taste something, you get a little bit of the cooking surface and a generic flour taste. The pancakes are supposed to be buttermilk, and the waffles are supposed to be Belgian, but there's no discernible buttermilk taste, or yeast in the case of the latter. Maybe that's why there are dozens of combinations of both of these items that pile on toppings, like bananas and chocolate, in addition to the syrup and butter you add yourself. I've had the french toast as well, which is better, based on actual bread as it is. The omelets are typical American diner omelets - that is, well done (meaning overcooked) and best when they have a lot of ingredients/toppings added to them for flavor, as well. The coffee is not awful but should probably be brewed with twice as much grinds. It's just normal weak coffee. But you can have as much as you like. I think you do better here for dinner, where the portions are generous and the taste more respectable. Decent diner food at decent prices (just north of $10 for an entree). When your dish with your chosen sides is served, you realize you have enough for two, so you can head home with a second round in a bag to have at your leisure. You don't go here for the decor, which has a lot of random thrift store looking art at jaunty (intentionally very crooked, like at a funhouse) angles. You go here to fill up on hit-or-miss food without going broke, served to you efficiently. In short, it's a diner.
(3)
Robin F.
Couldn't ask for more - this is what a diner should be. Great waitres (calling you Lovebug, among a million other names) and tons of great oversized breakfast options.
(4)
Patrick F.
I will preface this review by saying that I am generally not a fan of diners. They tend to do so many things with their menu that they don't do any one thing super well. However, after reading reviews on Yelp, it sounded like the Brownstone bucked the diner trend with their pancakes (after all, they put it in the name). Alas, that was not the case. Yelp reviewers led me to believe I would be experiencing pancake greatness -- but, they weren't great. They were just ... big. I'm from the midwest and I am definitely used to people confusing portion size with quality. I guess that's what happened here...
(3)
Jeff C.
Ooh, a visit from Guy Fieri. Now I HAVE to come here. Hah. I was starving that day so I ordered 2 dinners. I was stuffed, but not necessarily in a good way. Perhaps my palate is spoiled, I don't know. All I know is that my stomach was pissed at me for eating all that junk afterwards. Not the healthiest of meals but I ordered what I was in the mood for. You guys are spot on about the bacon here..it is parallel to the quality of bacon you get on cruise ships..nuff said. The menu is extremely robust, with menu items with their own dedicated pages (pancakes, waffles, burgers, pasta, etc). Service and prices are friendly in this palatial diner. Free on site parking is a huge plus, but Bridge and Tunnel folks will find that to be standard in NJ. 5 for selection, 4 for speedy service and portion sizes, 3 for food. I left indifferent. Maybe I am missing something...perhaps I will take a stab at breakfast next time. You guys let me down on this one. Ordered: -Tuna Melt (~$7) - served open faced on 2 toasted rye breads, tuna was ok, not crazy about the 2 American Kraft singles on top though -California burger (~$8) - avocado, bacon, how can you go wrong right?, brioche was way too big for this and overpowered the meat if eaten together so I only ate the bottom half, ordered the beef medium but it was more on the overcooked side -Corned beef hash w/ over easy eggs (~$8) - i was told this was okay Total came out to ~$15/pp after everything
(3)
Jen A.
This is a decent place to stop after working up an appetite in Liberty State Park nearby. The menu is so large it's hard to believe they can do everything well, but the pancakes are pretty sweet with a great fluffy texture. The fruit toppings soak nicely into the pancakes but tend to overwhelm any nuts or chocolate chips. Portion size is huge, and is probably the most memorable thing about Brownstone.
(3)
Mike N.
I had their moussaka for the first time this past Sunday and it was awesome! For 13.95 it comes with a large greek salad, grape leaves, olives, cup of soup, dessert and bread. It was hearty and flavorful, exactly what I was looking for. I also recommend trying the Bobby's fries - french fries topped with oregano and feta. I love this place on Sat and Sunday mornings when I'm not in a rush. Don't expect to be seated right away because there's usually a wait on weekend mornings but that's fine. The only way this place could get better is if they added cream-chipped beef and chicken fried steak with biscuits and gravy to the menu. They always greet you with smiles and make you feel like part of the family, like a good diner/family restaurant should.
(5)
Carlos V.
Great service. Good food. Huge portions!
(5)
Kelly D.
I came here this past Sunday for what was to be a relaxing birthday breakfast. As I was sitting at the booth staring straight at the hostess desk I see the angry manager who runs the register walk up to the early 20 something employee and smack him right in the face and yell obscenities at him. I couldn't believe my eyes... The rest of my breakfast he kept looking at him and saying nasty obscenities... It was so uncomfortable as a patron that I was literally getting an ulcer sitting there so much that I almost left. Thus poor kid had the fear of death in his eyes the whole time. It was at that point my husband and I decided not to ever patronize this place again, the fact that I was contributing to the bottom line of a guy who publicly degrades his employees made me sick. When we left my husband politely told him that we would never be patronizing his place again and that employees should never be degraded like that. Instead if apologizing for a horrible customer experience and for being and overall horrible boss, he yelled at my husband telling him he had been doing thus job for 30 years and no one will tell him how to manage his employees. Simply disgusting. If you have any respect for people or restaraunt folks don't go to this place. When it comes to good trust me its not all that either, they serve fake maple syrup on top of 13.00 blueberry pancakes, and treat you like you are having breakfast in a subway.... In and out.
(1)
Emily A.
I really dig this place. First and foremost, the prices are great. You get a ton of food for not a lot of cash. Secondly, it's just nice, unpretentious, hearty diner food--nothing fancy or innovative or anything, but that's not what I want here. Lastly, I love that it is a diner (normal), but then also a FACTORY!! Not normal! Look at its name! I went expecting to see weary laborers with charcoal streaked faces running around smoke stacks (yes, I imagined the inside of the diner to look exactly like the "Allentown" video)--but the only "stacks" you'll see here are of the flapjack kind. What's the best way to take advantage of the BDPF? Let me tell you my strategy. If you want to do it too, that's cool, but give me credit when you use it? I want your friends to like me. I'd appreciate it. Step one: Tell one (1) friend it's their lucky day and they're coming with you to the Brownstone Diner and Pancake factory! Yay! Play it cool though and act like it's kind of a pain, just "something you have to do". (I don't know why this has to be part of the plan, but it makes the pancakes taste better.) Step two: Get to the BDPF. Put your name down. If it's the weekday you wont have to wait at all, and it's so big that even on the weekends it's like 10 minutes max. Step three: Order Coffee. Each of you get the 3 Eggs, Toast and Breakfast Potato Platter ($3.75!!). THEN pick out an order of the pancakes to split. The best two are: chocolate peanut butter (chunky PB, amazing) or banana peanut butter (called, naturally, the "honky tonk pancakes"). Step four: Enjoy.
(4)
Danny n.
This place is big and they serve big pancakes. so go ahead and eat all that you want. Personally I prefer pancakes that are a little bit moister, the ones I go were big and dry. The bacon was perfect and the scramble eggs were regular nothing exciting. I would go back again however it wasn't anything especial and this is coming from a guy that can eat breakfast all day.
(3)
Sue W.
Yay! I'm a fan for sure! Since the name says it all, I obviously had to give the pancakes a try. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the different selections since everything looked so good but I ended up w/ the cran' apple pancakes which seriously tasted like a dessert dish rather than something you'd get for breakfast. No need to add extra syrup on these bad boys since there was enough compote to sweeten the stack of 3 huge cakes. Looking around at the other diners dishes, everything looked super good as well. I even felt like I gained a pound just by looking at the huge portions of omelettes and burgers and waffles, etc that the servers were carrying as they walked by. As mentioned in other reviews, there's a train stop close by, small parking lot in the back (and meter parking on the street as well), and guaranteed wait on a weekend. I'd come back for sure... which I did the next day ;)
(4)
Karol R.
Great pancakes, just like all the other Yelpers stated. But I don't know, I like this place better when it was just called "THE NEWPORT PANCAKE HOUSE" Sure it is more modern now, and all. But the food just tasted better when it was dumpy looking.
(4)
Michael S.
This place was really good, solid food. The wait was pretty much what the guy stated and we were promptly seated when our number was called (hint: if you're not there when your number is called once, you'll probably have to wait all over again). We ordered the Greek omelet and the hearty omelet. Both were very good, but the Greek wasn't as flavorful as it could've been (hence the 4 stars). Also had a short stack.. YUMMY!! Go there prepared to wait (at least on a weekend) but prepared to be full.
(4)
James C.
It's a up scale diner. Huge menu! Wasn't really impressed with the cinnamon and raisin French toast. All they did was throw raisins on normal French toast....lame. OJ was definitely the best thing I had, it tasted fresh squeeze.
(3)
Simona S.
Artery-clogging paradise. Chocolate chip and banana pancakes were enormous, I barely got through half. My date had the burrito wrapped in a pancake. Sick, sick I tell you. I'm not sure if I'll ever come here again, I never happen to be "in the 'hood" but if I do, I'll tell the diet I'm on to go fuck itself. I love that they call themselves a pancake factory. Stick to what you're good at, I say. We were seated pretty quickly on a Saturday but the place is PACKED. We sat for a long time despite there being a discernible line waiting to get fat... but the waitress never made us feel like we were overstaying our welcome. For this reason I bump my review up to five stars.
(5)
Karen C.
I am a HUGE fan of this restaurants. The heaping piles of pancakes with tons of strawberries on top is my favorite dish here. Coffee isn't so bad either. Parking is tough here but its well worth the hassle. I will definitely be back again.
(4)
Carlo L.
Busy place! Best time to go is during dinner and NOT Sunday brunch! Otherwise, be prepared to wait!! How could you go wrong with pancakes at 8 p.m.? Portions are huge, menu covers every craving from gyros to pork chop dinners - all great by the way. I only give 5 stars to places that also refill your drinks without you having to ask for it.
(4)
Pritesh N.
I think this is the only diner in downtown JC, Not a bad place as it has parking and a nice setup. When it comes to food, oh yes the pancakes are superb, simply awesome. Now lets come to the cons, service here can get pretty bad, from the last few visit over here I have seen the food takes too much of a wait to arrive after you order it. And I am saying even when the restaurant almost empty. Last time when I ate here, i went in the morning when the place just opened and was totally empty, after I order the food, I had to wait for over 30 minutes for the food to arrive and it was just an omlette. Every other food item I tried here other than the pancakes is ok. The omelettes are horrible, and I mean it horrible! I tried their dinners couple of time, wasn't impressed at all. So for a sunday morning breakfast it is a good spot if you want sip on some coffee and enjoy some pancakes and B & E. Otherwise better off going to someplace else
(2)
Miranda B.
The best diner in Jersey City. great atmosphere , fabulous food and not pricey at all! located right across from the New JC med center
(5)
kay b.
i trust guy fieri. if he stuffed sausage and pancakes cradled in butter all over his face, then yes i can say their pancakes are going to be the bomb. brownstone lures an eclectic lot of people from cops, church goers, punk kids, to yuppy moms out with the friends. when you look around you notice one thing: pancakes. huge and fluffy, browned just right with a trusty syrup not too far by, you cannot fail with this choice. now when you get all indiana jones adventurous and start ordering fajitas, you shall expect to be disappointed. save your gutsy choices for the pancakes and waffles toppings. no need for epicurean courage here. treat brownstone like any regular diner that closes too early. spare the gutsy and order what you would at any diner-- any basic sandwich, some pancakes and eggs, a milkshake. let those staples guide you and you will come to the conclusion that i have come to: 3.5 stars.
(3)
V S.
This is my favorite brunch place ever!!! There are days that I crave (yes, CRAVE) for their Banana Cream French Toast.. This place is soooo good that I do not mind traveling all the way to Jersey City (and then waiting in line!)... Don't forget to order the side of Jalapeno Poppers.. They are delicious and the savoriness is a nice break from the sweetness of the pancakes and french toast.
(5)
Alberto R.
A friend and I recently went to the brownstone diner and pancake factory in downtown Jersey City. We had a wonderful experience with the wait staff, and host. The food was very good. We had an overall good experience until the time came to pay. Both my friend and I had our debt cards and no cash, and we asked the gentleman if he could split the bill. This is a practice that I've seen done at every restaurant that I've attended. He said that they didn't split bills with cards. We were a bit baffled by this, and politely asked why, and he screamed at us, saying "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOUR BULLS**T, ONE CARD, THATS IT!." For the record, he had nothing BUT time. There was no one in line to pay, and he was reading a newspaper. We kept our composure, and let him know that this altercation had ruined our entire experience at this establishment. We asked if he was the owner, and for his name, and he refused, and began unleashing a barrage of unnecessary use of bad language, telling us that our $20 bill means nothing to him in comparison to the bills other patrons who had more people in their parties. He proudly pointed at the full restaurant to basically express our insignificance. I would recommend this place ONLY if this person was no where near the building. He has the ability to kill off any good experience at ANY establishment, and my rating would have been 5 out of 5 stars had it not been for this man. I hope that he continues with his attitude resulting in his removal from the premises, and or failure of his business.
(1)
Sarah W.
They serve pretty good diner breakfast food- pancakes, french toast, and eggs galore. The pancakes are giant!! The coffee is a-okay, so they should get 3 1/2 stars.
(3)
justin p.
The dinners are good too. WTF.... I'm almost certain theres some addictive thing in this food. Some sick thing that makes you like it no matter what you order. This time I had a burger. It was cooked properly and the cheese melted correct. And it was just delicious, just out of control delicious... IDK. Best NJ diner I been to.
(5)
Essa B.
Breakfast options are fantastic, everything else ... eh, decent. The staff and owners are cool people. I would give this place a 4, but everything else besides breakfast is just not that good.
(3)
Jessica D.
best pancakes ever!!!!! love the fresh fruit pancakes. they melt in your mouth...absolutely amazing!!! completely worth the long waits on the weekends!
(5)
Serena R.
Their portions are ginormous but the food is so so. Thanks to freakin Diners Drive ins and Dives there's always a looong wait on weekends.
(2)
Kat A.
Brownstone diner is clutch. Whether I am getting one of my faves on the menu or being adventurous with a selection off their vast choices, I am consistently fed with something heavenly. The service is amazing, especially considering how busy this place can be on a weekend brunch/lunch time. Regardless of whether I come in at nighttime or daytime, my drinks are always refilled before I ask and my food always comes out presentable and hot. Please note: this place has LARGE portions. It is not a 24/7 diner, which makes sense because the upkeep is stellar. The owner/manager is always pleasant and it seems surreal how pleasant all the other diners who eat there usually seem to be as well. Maybe it is because brownstone produces happy tummies, which equals happy patrons :]
(5)
Pedro E.
Best. Diner. Ever! Nuff said. Zoe, Pete and Bobby always treat my family and I like if we were part of their family. Food is great, the place is updated and modern, prices are reasonable, and its always consistent.
(5)
Stephen M.
Great place for breakfast. Place gets bussssy, though. And the wait staff is up and down (because of how busy it is). Parking can get rough, too. Prices are typical diner fair at least, and the portions are huge (although ever year that goes by makes me care less and less about BIG plates FULL of food). They have a great pancake selection and the omelets are really really good (but overly huge). The tone of this review is a bit negative, but If I lived in Jersey City I would go there a lot.
(4)
Bongie M.
Just got back from my first time at Brownstone Diner and the experience merits 4 out of 5 stars. We ordered the peanut butter pancakes, irish benedict with a side of corned beef hash, california omelet, and last but not least, pigs in a blanket which were humongous. The things were like pancakes with extra large size sausages and there were three of them. We could have just ordered the pigs and blanket and would have been good between the three of us. Only reason I left out the last star was it was kinda crowded.
(4)
kawan b.
this is a awesome place for breakfast! The service is nice and fast. Great place!
(4)
Louis y.
Not impressed with the place, maybe 10 years ago, it was a great diner.... but today... the furnitures, the counter even the front door shows the age of the place. Yes, the menu is huge, the foods are comforting and massive, but not particular great... At near 20 dollars per head for lunches you can definitely find a better place, but then again this is jersey city... everything is just comme si comme ca...
(3)
Andrea C.
I love love love this place! My boyfriend and I always get the waffle with strawberry compote and whipped cream and some sort of pancakes and split them both. The home fries here are great, I just don't like the bacon. It is very soggy and more fat than anything else. The regular pancakes are still my favorites, but my boyfriend likes the honky tonk ones the best. The servers are always very attentive and the place is very clean. I would highly highly recommend this place.
(5)
Donna N.
BEST BREAKFAST SPOT IN JERSEY CITY! I come here almost every Sunday with my boyfriend and the service is always friendly and helpful despite how packed it is. The omelets are amazing and come in large portions. The fluffy pancakes have different delicious flavors that really give my tastebuds a blast. The owner who always sits at the cash register is the nicest and most adorable man ever! My boyfriend and I specifically make it a point to say hi and bye to him every time we get there. It's nice to know that the owner of a restaurant also cares about your service! Overall, the place deserves a 5 star rating every time I go there.
(5)
Allison G.
Everything I want in a diner is right here at Brownstone. It is oh, so cute inside. The service is very good, and the menu is so extensive, I had problems choosing. There is an entire page devoted to pancakes, for instance! I went with the silver-dollar pancakes with pork sausage (seriously one of the best sausages I've had in a while... they were plump and yummy!). Also enjoyed delicious coffee and a fresh fruit cocktail. My honey got the "short stack" which is recommended because the pancakes are giant! I could not finish my silver dollars! Anyway, the only reason I've deducted a star is because we had to wait! This place gets very busy on the weekends. However, it is worth the wait!
(4)
Josh F.
Above average diner food, Ironman breakfast all the way!
(4)
Jen M.
Brownstone is my favorite diner ever, hands down. I've been to this place over 15 times and have never had anything I didn't like. Although their pancakes are their specialty, anything you order from here is delicious! I highly recommend the Honky Tonk Pancakes (peanut butter pancakes) or the pancake combo rollups with apple, blueberry and strawberry compote. The portion sizes are huge, and the prices were well worth what they give you in both quality and quantity.
(5)
Jasmine C.
The Brownstone is a nice dining experience. The hostess and waitresses are very nice and to top it off they are comical. The pancakes are great. The portions are a bit large but that is typical of the diner experience. Check it out if you are ever in the mood for breakfast be it morning, noon or night.
(5)
Freddie P.
Ok, let me first say that I frequented this establishment well before it's glitz and glamour days. Actually, when the cups had lipstick stains on them from over use. Nice place but I always enjoyed the owners until a recent visit changed everything. Unfortunately, Monyca W.'s incident is NOT ISOLATED. STAY AWAY from this PLACE!! Last year, around June my wife and I, with 2 kids in-tow (4 &3),decided to come here to eat after the recent graduation of our friend's son. We were sat quickly and everything was fine until we asked our server to please change the cap on our toddler's drink. Not a big problem, it just had some liquid on the top of the cap that was not from the original apple juice we had ordered. The server walked by us as we attempted to flag him down the first time. The second time I asked him to please replace the cap. He did so but brought back the lid for a to-go coffee. I asked our server to please change the lid to the original toddler safe lid and he said fine. at this point he was flustered. As he walked by us he THREW the lid at my wife on to the table. My wife looked at me and showed me that not only had he thrown the lid but that he did not even pay attention to what I had requested. (It seems the owner has the same problem) As we got up to leave our food was ready to be served. I approached the gentleman, the older Greek fellow, and told him of his waiter's service and how rude he was to my family. Let me back up a little, before I made the complaint to the owner I told him that I frequent his establishment VERY regularly and that I have been a loyal customer for over 7 years now and I enjoyed coming there. So after I explained our dining experience, the next words out of his mouth were, "Are you going to pay for the food?" I began to tell him again about the service of his waiter and he tells me ,"We make alotta money here before you came. We don't need your business!" In a loud voice. I replied sir, that is not the point the service was horrendous and then he replies by telling me he makes a LOT of money in this establishment. His daughter also asked the same thing am I going to pay for the food. Again, I tried explaining that the service was sub-par but their position was 'Are you going to pay for the meals or not?'. I told the owner No. At tis point in a Loud Voice he tells me "I never want to see your face here again!" The owner and the daughter were completely oblivious to the fact that their waiter's service was unacceptable and they did not remediate the problem. So, I've been BANNED FOREVER from the BROWNSTONE!? WHAT? On a side note, my friend who had attended his son's graduation had just sat down to eat with his entire family, around 13 of them. He approached me as the owner and I were discussing the matter and asked me what was happening. I told him nothing really, enjoy your day with your son and family and we'll talk later. I only told him that "I was now banned from the Brownstone for Life!" lol. So, I'm driving back with the wife and kids and I get a call from my friend. He tells me after he went back and told his family what happened, they looked at each other and said why are we still here and summarily left the establishment to never to set foot in there again! I was taken aback by the arrogance of the owners. My experience with them up to that pint was very cordial and respectful. Unfortunately, MONEY MONEY MONEY is the ONLY, AND I MEAN ONLY MOTIVATOR and Customer Service comes in Last Place!
(1)
Edward I.
It was fixed up and opened again a few years ago. I've been back over and over, the funny thing is that I get the regular pancakes and nothing special. They don't have the half and half ice tea/lemonade that I usually look for but the menu has a variety of things to choose from. Samplers are good and service has been good. I go during week nights or mid afternoon when there isn't that many people.
(4)
Saders S.
All you could want from a diner. Five stars as a diner. 3.5 stars for food as compared to real restaurants.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Pancakes with peanut butter chips inside. Sooooooo goooood. Their diner food is nothing ridiculously amazing to write home about, but is certainly decent enough. The staff are always friendly - really nice family-owned atmosphere. Always a pleasure dining here.
(4)
Jaime C.
first time visit....totally pleased. i ordered strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes and my girlfriend ordered the banana chocolate chip pancakes. Lets just say she wouldnt stop smiling. We are excited to return an enjoy the menu.
(5)
Manish P.
Great pancakes!!!! Nice place for breakfast....
(4)
Aly Z.
So me and my partner frequented this place plenty of times. We are faithfull customers when we find a good popular place. Two times we bought breakfast and there were little pieces of hair found in my food. Each time we told the waiter/waitress and they immediately took care of it. Then it happened again, a third time, and we decided to approach management about it. The old man behind the counter (the one who takes your money, grunts out a thank you) immediately got defensive and very RUDE!! His response to me was," if i dont like the food somewhere I don't come back, so you shouldn't come back." As a customer telling you respectively that there was hair in their food three times, thats just to better your business. Both the old man and the obese female manager both got UTTERLY RUDE, admitted that they were "Rude Greeks" or whereever they claim to be from and yelled out "we dont want your fucking money get out and dont come back". How does an act of kindness from our part turn into a yelling match with the owners in the middle of a crowded and busy restuarnt. You might like their food but their service is horrible, they are rude as hell, and the cooks probably dont wear gloves and hairnets. Next time you eat what seems their creamy grits, take a look down and make sure theres no floating DNA!! WE CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, and they will be getting inspected!!!!
(1)
Kristen M.
This diner is over rated to say the least. Their pancakes and most of the other breakfast items are top notch. Dinner items are hit or miss. Stay away from the fried calamari (my friend wanted to order it, I'm usually against ordering it at a diner) it was under cooked, and very rubbery, no crisp to it at all.
(3)
David T.
I live a couple blocks away from this great diner so naturally I go there at least every other week when at all possible. I have not been disappointed with anything I've ever gotten there. Personally I'm a big fan of the Venice Panini it is delicious. I'm not a particularly big pancake lover but the pancakes here are delicious and they have an absurd amount of combinations you can get. There omelets are also really good. They do give you a ridiculous amount of food as any good diner should so be prepared to eat a lot if you plan on coming here.
(5)
Grace P.
they don't call it pancake factory without a reason. this place has 31 different kinds of pancakes. no joke! i've been here a handful of times but only really took notice when my friend found out that this place was featured on the food network's diners, drive-ins and dives (do a search for "brownstone diner" on youtube) so one very nice and warm saturday afternoon, we checked it out again. expect to wait on the weekends because this place gets packed, especially in the late morning-early afternoon. we had to wait over 20 minutes for a table of 6. and now the good stuff... the food: i'm honestly not a real big fan of pancakes but i close to inhaled half of mine in a few minutes. i ordered the PB&J pancakes, which were pretty damn good. they give you three huge pancakes, which i think is the standard amount for most of the specialized pancakes, since my friend who ordered the cran' apple pancakes got the same amount. you also got this huge ball of butter which i think is unnecessary since the pancakes can stand on their own. i usually like to cover my pancakes in syrup but i didn't need it at all this time. the warm jelly on top went perfectly with the melted peanut butter chips scattered in the pancakes. it felt like i was eating a peanut butter and jelly cake. i have no idea why i ordered the 2 scrambled eggs on the side because the pancake portion alone was humongous! my friends ordered the waffle mixed grill (waffle, 3 eggs and grilled pork chops) - pork chops were pretty good (try them with hot sauce provided on the table!) but too bad the waffle wasn't crispy, cran' apple pancakes (with dried cranberries and apple compote) - great mix of flavors together, very nice, italian omelette (with pepperoni, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce) w/ grits, queen combo (full stack of buttermilks, 3 eggs, corned beef hash and 1 beef sausage) - this was my alternative but my friend was a happy customer, and lox and onions omelette. all of our portions were humongous! the wait staff was for the most part attentive, which is admirable especially during the crazy weekend rush hours. our waiter was a bit moody, but he may just be the odd one out. one of the owners at the register was real attentive and friendly and even recognized my friend who hasn't been there in months, though he used to be a regular. i needed a bag for my take home food container and one of the staff was super friendly and even placed it in the bag for me and wrapped it nicely. i would definitely recommend this place. we all enjoyed our meal that day. only downside is they're only open to 11 pm, so not really a true NJ diner in that sense. i think they raised prices recently too, but for the size of the portions you get and the quality of the food, it's still very much doable. and seriously if you just want to come here once and try one thing, try the pancakes!
(4)
Paloma L.
I was wondering if it was all hype...but the pancakes were excellent! I had the chocolate chip and peanut butter pancakes with bacon on the side...way too much food. But I can't wait to go back! I agree with previous reviews---the syrup is the cheap stuff...so you could bring your own legit maple syrup...but it was still good as is!
(4)
abc a.
Always packed for breakfast on weekends which is why we try to go during off-hours. Great breakfasts but they need a menu with a 1 or 2 egg combo option versus 3-egg only. Love the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter and bananas). Lots of options for pancakes and waffles. Great greek salads. Most of the time you have to wait a while to get your check. Otherwise, usually a pleasant dining experience.
(4)
Nancy T.
Great food and good service. The pancakes are out of this world. They are fluffy, warm, and just melts in your mouth! Sooo yummy! A whole order is too much for one person to eat so i just normally order the short stack which has 2 good size pancakes. Not only are their pancakes great, but their other entrees are amazing! And i especially love love their dinner rolls when its toasty and warm! Can't go wrong with this place!
(5)
RicardoLee T.
My new favorite Thursday Brunch spot. Mimosa yummy. Filipina waitress very accommodating. Omelets are hearty. Pancakes... what.... delicious and full!! Been there the last few weeks in a row, sometimes you have to sit next to Ghettoness, but if you learn to tune them out you can enjoy your meal and visit.
(4)
Dmitry S.
Food, oh my god food. And more food. The food here is extraordinary, portions are more than hearty. The pancakes are fantaboulistic, any kind of pancakes. Any kind of pancakes are needed to be eaten here, you will enjoy. The staff are friendly, just be sure to come before the "Jesus Rush" after church on Sundays. The espresso milkshake is heavenly. Enjoy your stay and come back often. Quite impressive alcohol selection as well, and the prices are quite affordable.
(5)
Alice M.
OK, this is hands down, in my opinion, the best pancake diner in the world! The only other pancakes I found that I thought were better are Cracker Barrel's, or the Aunt Sarah's on I-95 somewhere in Virginia. But this place is the bomb! It is family owned, and they all work the store. From the angry woman who acts as cashier (just try and split the check, I dare you!) to the overstressed waitstaff, this is the classic diner experience just in a nice new building. I have been going here for years, and will continue to go here. The Queen combo is my favorite, but you really can't go wrong with anything. You WILL leave full. You WILL wait patiently. You WILL return.
(5)
Brian E.
This restaurant has reopened as a diner serving breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Your best bet is to come here for breakfast, and choose from their hundreds of pancakes & waffles. On Saturdays be sure to come early, or you will have to wait for a table.
(4)
Nell W.
Oh yes...banana walnut pancakes! They were delicious. I couldn't finish them all. I also had grits and bacon. The grits had a lot of butter. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed. They do ask that all of your party is there before they will seat you. I would definitely return.
(4)
Ali M.
Decent food, HUGE PORTIONS, but it's still a diner. That meaning the waiters/waitresses aren't always happy to see you for some reason (did I say something to offend you, miss?) The pancakes are pretty good, I've tried several and loved the apple/cranberry mix. All the portions are huge I end up leaving with a doggy bag most of the time. They should consider being 24/7 especially with the Jersey City Medical Center right next door. Overall, decent experience and I might try it again if the wait isn't too long. (TOTALLY avoid the weekend mornings if you plan on visiting. The lines go out the door and around the building)
(4)
Olivia B.
Huge menu, choices ranging from countless pancake options to dinner entres. Great buttermilk pancakes and huge omlets. Service not the greatest but everyone very nice and helpful. Place seems much cleaner than many diners I've been to. Reasonable prices, will def go back here soon.
(4)
Sarah V.
Great place for breakfast. (Very known for their pancakes, but try anything else on the menu) Very warm and welcoming. A great place to eat and chit chat with old friends.
(4)
Yara C.
The first time I came here, I hated it. I found the food to be very delicious, but the service was beyond terrible. We were in a large group, about 7-9 people, and our waiter kept bothering us with silly magic tricks, (wtf?). As annoying as he was, he was also rude and a bit sneaky. Two people ordered the chicken breast sandwich, me and the girl next to me. I ordered deluxe (comes with fries) and she did not. He brought out both meals as deluxe, and when we reminded him that's not what we ordered, he just blew it off and said we can keep the fries. In the end we WERE charged for the fries, and called him out on it; he refused to take them off the ticket, claiming we DID order them, even though seven people at the table heard the contrary. We did not tell a manager, (the difference was like $2) but this really bothers me. Other times I have been there the service had been much better (I have different waiters and waitresses). The last time I went, however, the restaurant was packed. We had been waiting to be seated for about half an hour and the hostess seems to have forgotten about us, as we saw parties being seated that had arrived after us. This made no sense because we were standing right in front of her for half an hour. I've probably eaten there for the last time. The good food does not compensate for the lousy treatment. Better to just get take-out, or Coachhouse.
(3)
Melissa H.
I absolutely love this place!! My only gripe is that they are not open 24hours (what gives!?) but god, if you love pancakes, come here. They have peanut butter-chocolate chip pancakes! They are huge! And they use chunky peanut butter, it's all melty and delicious and so good. The non-breakfast items are so good, too. The paninis!! Everything is excellent. I've probably been here over 40 times and the service has always been a+. Portions are huge, also - and they don't care if you sit around after you're done eating, this is definitely a no-rush atmosphere.
(5)
Alex C.
Portions were gigantic. I ordered variety of things including french toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs with homefries, and gigantic sausages. They were all very mediocre. Sausages were kinda gross. I ordered turkey sausage but I don't think they were. Very cheap tasting. Homefries were just bland hashbrowns with no seasoning. Pancakes were very buttery but still not super soft. Something I would make at home and I am not good at making pancakes. French toast was a normal fare, nothing to get excited about. By no means fancy but got gazillion choices. Hubby's steak and eggs were also mediocre. Steak didn't look appetizing at all. Thin and pale. All in all, a diner food....as it is a diner. Nothing fancy, no frills.
(2)
Yeni H.
almost empty on a wednesday morning. menu with huge variety of breakfast dishes. huge portion but my friend and i were greedy enough to order 2 dishes each. very large for the price. pancakes was so so but french toast with apple was good. i love my chocolate milk too even though it was probably packet.
(3)
alexandra s.
lots of food and delish great breakfast !
(4)
Caroline B.
I love the fact that this place is open late (midnight during the week & 1am on Fri & Sat), when everywhere else has long since pulled down the shutters.... For breakfast you have to have the pancakes, although it could take you most of the morning to decide from the 40 or so choices! Portions are huge, no matter what you order so make sure you go hungry. My only wish is that they'd do delivery..
(4)
Melissa I.
I would go to this diner all the time with my husband until today! We took our good friend who was visiting and ordered the pancakes. After almost finishing one pancake, I found a fly dead in my pancake! We were not going to make a big deal about this so we told our manager discretely what we found. Normally, a manager would come over and apologize but noone did anything about it. I went up to the gentleman at the cash register who seems to run the place and he said "no big deal, i take it off your check" I said no big deal how can you say that it is not a big deal and I demanded the other two meals be removed from the check since they did not finish their meals after losing their appetite once they saw the dead fly baked in my pancake. He would not and said that it was not a big deal so you see a fly who cares. He also said to my husband " i don't give a fuck" and that is when I walked out. DO NOT EAT at this establishment, they do not care about their customers.
(1)
Matthew C.
I had this place bookmarked for such a long time, and I finally got to try it this past weekend. I read many race reviews about the pancakes and that it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I found myself arriving around 11am and waiting in line for 20 minutes. I knew by the line that this place was going to be good. When I finally sat down, our waitress was very friendly and the food came out very quickly. I decided to order the muscle maker pancake wrap and a short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes. I have to say that the reviews that I read did not lie. The pancakes were great. I ended up taking half the wrap home because it was so huge. I will definitely be making a stop here on another Saturday morning.
(4)
Michelle O.
Amazing pancakes and the best dirty diner food. The Brownstone is one of our neighborhood favs. This place is soooo jersey...
(4)
Damian R.
Loved this place. I've been there each time I go to Jersey and it will always be a stop on my trips in or through the area.
(4)
Nora L.
Decided that I had to try Brownstone while visiting JC after seeing that it was on DDD and reading the good Yelp reviews. We tried to park in the back but it was obviously packed so we found some street parking across the street. Be prepared for a long wait.. good thing we knew that coming in. It probably took 30 minutes to get a table and the waiting area was very crowded. The atmosphere is not the classiest but the food was yummy and the portions were massive. We ordered the.. iron man(?) pancake wrap. It came with egg whites, turkey sausage, etc. We also had the strawberry and chocolate pancakes. Pancakes were light and fluffy.. menu was very extensive. We left full and satisfied.
(4)
Napualokelani K.
So after reading the reviews here on Yelp and seeing the clip on Brownstone's website of their feature on Diners Drive Ins & Dives, I decided we should definitely eat here for breakfast. My daughter and I walked about 30 minutes from our hotel to this diner. When we got there, we had no wait and were taken right to a booth near the kitchen. The waitress came over promptly and took our drink orders. I ended up settling on the eggs benedict and my daughter wanted the international cheese omelette. I also ordered a short stack for my daughter and I to share since it is, after all, a PANCAKE factory! While the waitress was very nice, she moved like freakin' Flash Gordon! I asked for Tropicana OJ and she put it down with a straw and ran off to the next table like she was wearing Heely's! I just wanted to scream SLOW THE *BLEEP* DOWN! My daughter liked her omelette. My eggs benedict was OK, but I didn't quite like the hollandaise sauce. I'm not sure what it was, but it tasted different from other hollandaise sauces that I've had. It turned out to be three actual "benedicts" on one plate! And the waitress must've forgot about our pancakes because we didn't get them. Boo! Given the size of the eggs benedict, I decided not to even ask for the pancakes. All in all it was an OK meal. When I'm in the area again, I'd definitely go back to try the pancakes!
(3)
Adrienne E.
Food is good, but waits are LONG!!!! Be prepared to wait an hour at least. Luckily I went by myself twice and was lucky enough to get a seat at their bar. Go early!
(4)
Maggie R.
So I broke one of my cardinal rules and ordered seafood from a diner - I ordered one of their salads and added grilled salmon - it was not only delicious but the portion of salad and of salmon were soooooo big. Definitely great for sharing and way way underpriced for the amount you get!
(5)
Sam V.
This place is great but I'm not impressed by the pancakes they are always dry and have no flavor. Why call yourself the pancake factory if its not your best dish. The lines in this place on the weekends are crazy. I wish they stayed open 24/7 like all the other dinners in jersey.
(3)
Karen G.
Food is food here.. It's a diner so our expectations were realistic. I've only had pancakes and burgers here, all good. I always take friends here because it is the only diner near Grove St :) Service is fine. Not great not bad. Last year, my boyfriend and I couldn't get a court date to get married so our friend married us. Beechwood Cafe was closed so we went here with our witnesses and ordained minister. Told the waitress we just got married. She shed a tear and guess what? We didn't even get a complimentary cup of coffee. That's the type of thing an extraordinary diner would do.
(3)
JessKikz B.
I have been coming here since I was a kid, when it was a small little diner that nobody really knew about and to see now that it has been completely remodeled and is still the same amazing place is what makes the story of this place even better. The same family still owns it and they still remember me and my family. The service is and has always been great and the food selection is outstanding. I always stick with getting pancakes or some sort of breakfast because it doesn't seem right to get anything else. My favorite is the chocolate chips pancakes or the Belgium waffles. I know people who have gotten dinner items and they were just as good as their breakfast foods. All in all I am a BIG fan of this place.
(5)
John F.
If this place wasn't such a pain to get to, I would eat here every morning. I thought my breakfast was great, and I didn't even order pancakes. The omelets here are great (don't get the grits, they're kind of underwhelming). Service is so-so at best. It took us a while to get our coffee refills and we actually overheard a waiter tell a table full of lingerers to leave because he needed to turn the table over to waiting guests. Cool and not cool at the same time. The mean looking dude working the register at near the entrance of the restaurant looks like one of those gargoyles rich people put at the entrance of their homes. Scary. I was raking in that kind of money, I would definitely smile more often. Tip: The private lot is really small and is always jammed. Drivers beware.
(3)
Hector M.
Living and having clients in Jersey City, this place was my guilty pleasure. I would get to the diner before my clients and always pick a booth and sit on the aisle seat. My stomach would shake with secret laughter watching 2 huge guys (260lb and 300lb) squeeze in next to each other. Ahhhhh....the little joys in life. This place used to be my go-to spot when I had family/friends visit. The parking lot is full and there's always a wait to get a table on the weekends (lines literally snake out of the entrance). Their claim to fame was Guy Fieri shot a segment of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives for their 31 different types of pancakes. They have every topping / filing imaginable, but the pancakes are just ok (nothing spectacular). It's standard diner fare and service, but their never ending menu options keeps this place buzzing with return clients.
(3)
Linda L.
The pancakes are quite fluffy. There was no wait on a weekday afternoon lunch. People complain about poor service but it is undoubtedly busy on weekends. The service we received was pretty outstanding. The waitress checked in on us several times.
(3)
Paul L.
Wow, I love this place. Perfect breakfast food and at a good price. Hash, eggs, and hollandaise, you can't go wrong. Pancakes obviously is what they're known for, and those look good too! Bacon is not thick cut and crispy, that is the only thing I would have to ding this place on. A bit soggy and greasy.
(4)
Angelica R.
They get a perfect rating from me based on two different experiences I had here. Dine In:First for a busy Sunday morning breakfast, the wait time given was pretty accurate and wasn't to bad for a hectic Sunday morning which seems to be the busiest day. Service was quick and great and food was delish, so many great things on the menu that I wanted to try a little of them all. I'm not really a pancake person but seeing the other pancakes on peoples tables while being escorted to our table I was amazed, so of course I ordered one anyway and I must say it was very good, I also did try one of the omelettes which was fantastic. Bottom line the quality and quantity are well worth it. Take Out(Most Recent): This is what really gave this place the 5 stars it deserves. The staff here is by far one of the best restaurant staff I ever came across. Especially when you order from the counter/take out area. Unfortunately I was not able to remember the gentleman's name that was working the counter but he was so friendly and hilarious, he had such a great sense of humor and had me literally in tears, it really felt great to laugh that much, him and the woman that is usually at the register were both fantastic. I established that any time i come back here to eat I don't even want to sit at a regular table, I'll take one of the stools at the counter from now on. I left the place with soreness from so much laughter and smiling, and that is rare to find now a days.
(5)
Rey M.
Ordered a California Burger last night, the bun was stale,the burger not juicy,dry,the only good thing was the lemon merg.pie
(1)
Clara C.
This is our go to place for variety when we visit family in Jersey City. The menu is expansive and will suit any taste. We love the pancakes, fried chicken, sandwiches, etc.. There also are selections for the healthy eater. Be prepared for huge portions. Service is fast and friendly. Also, yummy huge dessert offerings.
(4)
Charlotte K.
I don't get the love for this place. Didn't like their eggs benedict, the bacon was rubbery and so were the eggs. It tasted like it sat under a heat lamp for a long time. Service was surly, too. I think this place survives as the only diner-type establishment downtown, but it just doesn't make me a happy diner camper.
(2)
Gina S.
Place was real busy... Good sign... Served toast at least 10 minutes before eggs came. Who wants cold buttered toast with their eggs??? Not appetizing at all...did not have gluten free choices and didn't seem to care about dietary issues... Haven't eaten yet.... But this is enough for me not to return... Too bad because I've heard positive reviews from others...
(2)
Shelina S.
Had to try the labeled Brownstone Diner. Arrived 8:00 A.M. After about 20 minutes of riding around looking for a parking place someone pulled out of the lot..ahhh....luck was with us. There wasn't a wait for a table even though the place was packed so we were seated as soon as we walked in. The hostess gave us the menu's but we didn't see our waitress for 20 minutes. How do people work here, it's a MAD house. The line at the door was growing and by 9 AM it was out the door. A waiter stopped by and gave us coffee even though he wasn't our waiter, it was very nice and the coffee was very good. Finally we have a waitress...Yay, we order then wait with great expectations for this super duper diner food, I mean look at all these great reviews and the line going out the door, they must be giving away something. I don't see how these people who work here can stand it. The turn over is constant, people waving calling you everything but your name...tough job. Food finally arrives...ahhh the famous, fabulous Brownstone Diner omelet..wowwie wowwie...HEY what's this..... it's dry and some of the ingredients are missing. I tried to get the waitress but she was sooo stressed she didn't pay attention to us plus as crowded as it was we would probably wait another 30 minutes for the fixed omelet. The toast was good, the home fries were ok but the omelet was dry...very unpleasant, I couldn't finish it.... My significant other ordered a burger which he said was good, not knocking his socks off but good. Here we are eating and sure enough here comes our waitress...she swooped in better than a drone and dropped our check without asking if we wanted anything else PLUS we had just started eating our meal....sorry Brownstone I don't get it....all the this and a bag of chips wouldn't get me to go back to that......UGH...So I will ride off into the sunset in the direction of the Coach House in North Bergen for a much much better dinning experience.
(1)
Barr H.
Yummy diner cooking and the pancakes are as delish as the look. Real remote location; stones throw to the Statue of Liberty.
(3)
Alescandra D.
Long lines, but so many options!! I only come on days when I'm feeling patient. But one word: YUM!
(4)
Sung Moo C.
Guy Fieri is a schmuck. Their pancakes are eh at best. I don't know why so many of these wannabe yuppies from Jersey City and Hoboken love this place. If you are one of them and you consider yourself a foodie, shame on you. Drive 15 miles north to Fort Lee, NJ and go to the Original Pancake House. Shame on you Guy, SMH.
(1)
Will C.
Always expect to have at least a minimum 20-45 minute wait on the weekends when coming to this place because they are that good!!! Pancakes are awesome here, you can easily get tire of eating pancakes at any other restaurants but when you are here at Brownstone Diner, you can never get tire of it. I have had the regular buttermilk pancakes and their oversize pancake wraps and must say that the quality of these pancakes are just one of a kind. The host, servers, and manager are very friendly here, you will feel very welcome when you dine here. Coffee, Soda, and Home-Made unsweetened Ice Tea all come with complementary refills.
(5)
Besaida M.
Went to this place for lunch. We walked in and the frowned face hostess didn't greet us, but said, "follow me." She took us to a booth and gave us our menus. We waited about 15 minutes for a waitress; any waiter/waitress to bring us at least a cup of coffee...but nothing. Looking around, I swear I only saw the one waitress going back and forth with orders. The customers sitting opposite to our booth were also waiting for a waiter/waitress but like us, they kept looking around for anyone to come by. After a few minutes, the hostess came by them and asked them if they were, "all set." They said yes but the hostess walked away. After an extra 5 minutes of waiting for a waiter/waitress, we got up and walked away. At the busiest of time like lunchtime is during a work week, they seemed so understaffed. The hostess, who's an older lady saw us get up and walk away and said nothing. Guess it's one of those places where they simply don't care or just don't need the business. Meh. Whatever. We won't be visiting again. But it all worked out in the end because we ended up going to City Diner! Just a couple of blocks away and it was fabulous! Service was awesome! Will be posting my review
(1)
Shannon F.
Love everything here....except their espresso....it was horrible. Not even hot. It just tasted like coffee. So save your 2.50$ and go to Starbucks or Dunkin.
(4)
Pat F.
Meh, I've made better pancakes than these. Maybe the cook was having a bad day? Idk. Anyway, I tried their walnut pancakes and to me IHOP's Harvest Nut and Grain is way better. I guess that's not saying much, but I was expecting more from this place. Saw this place on Triple D (Diners, Drive-ins...) episodes several years ago, toting how great their pancakes were and got suckered into trying them out. It's a diner after all so how bad could it be? I guess my expectations were too high. It was only a standard breakfast, nothing special to warrant a raging positive review. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I like my pancakes with nuts in it. Guess that wasn't one of their specialties 'cause it seems like they just threw some huge chunks of raw untoasted walnuts on top of the pancake. I've had similar where the nuts are diced and toasted...A little extra effort goes a long way. The waitress was your typical diner order taker which was fine. Service was slow. Prices were high. Wasn't worth it. Been there, done that, I won't be back. Food 2 Service 2.5 Price 2
(2)
Jenal J.
Fresh food, cooked fast and I wide variety and menu. The wait staff will give you the best ideas as to which pancakes are best. The pasta is great Al dente never over cooked. The dessert is fresh and just in case there is a freak accident they will suggest a replacement.
(4)
kyra p.
Nothing in this place is "Organic", as another reviewer mentioned. In fact this is about the worst place to Eat in Jersey City. The owners are atrocious! I would never give them a penny. I will never go back!
(1)
Wayne L.
The wait is pretty long at this location which I guess is normal since it is one of the only decent brunch places in Jersey City. The service is lacking during the busy times. The food is pretty good. They are very generous with their portions. I would definitely recommend the Chocolate & Peanut Butter Pancakes.
(3)
Reena N.
This place is known for their amazing pancakes, but the rest of their food is amazing. If your from Jersey or have spent a lot of time here, diners are much more than Denny's or IHOP. We judge them to high standards because of how much competition there is around. And this diner rises to the challenge. Pricing is a bit higher than other diners but you are in a more densely populated area and the quality of the food is great. Even during peak rush hour (Brunch on weekends) your wait for a table of 2 is about 25 minutes. Their pancakes are their main attraction and their combos with them. The pancake itself is more light and cakey and not as dense as IHOP is. Their other dishes like their omlettes are incredibly fresh and tasty. The service is the only reason I knocked it down a star. Their staff is overworked with the crowds and take a while to get to you. Their syrup is also from Costco, not as many varieties either, just regular syrup. The one dish I saw a lot of people ordering and looked epic was their chicken and waffles. It will be next on my to-do list.
(4)
Shawn C.
Moving close to this establishment is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made! I tried this place for the first time the other day - it was a Saturday afternoon on a rather nice day. I was expecting it to be packed, but it wasn't bad at all. Seated promptly - and there was plenty of seating visible to the naked eye, so I don't see that ever being much of a concern. Typical Jersey diner stuff on the walls - fun to look at. Portions are huge and VERY tasty. Service is very attentive. Prices fall right in line with your better NJ diners. A lot of food for what you're paying, though.
(4)
Kristin U.
I feel like it's a little weird to review a diner, because, hey, it's a diner. Then I remembered just how many diners suck, and I wanted to give the Brownstone some props. It's one of the closest places to my new apartment, and at first, I was all, "dang, I wish I had something cooler than the diner a hop, skip, and jump away." But then I thought about how the Brownstone is actually pretty cool, and nobody cares if I go there in my pjs, so YEAH. I've been there several times now, and two things I'm picky about, they nail: pancakes and chicken (not together, ew). The pancakes are fluffy and don't have that cheap, gluteny, McDonald's/shittier diner feel to them. The chicken, if it was frozen, doesn't look/taste that way. Score! As others have noted, the portions are huge (the BF has even taken home leftovers, and that happens never evers in life), and the prices are fair. Even the greasy stuff is not TOO greasy, not so much that you feel gross after. The servers are generally quirky, but attentive. The long line can go quickly, especially if you only have two people. Coffee drinks are really huge and made better than I'd expect. My only complaint thus far is the nachos, which were seriously disappointing. They hardly had any cheese. Also, I'd up a star if this place had true diner hours. Give us 24 hours (or at least late night), pretty please?
(4)
Marsalis P.
Best pancakes on this side on the river. If you haven't been here, I suggest that you go, but go early. The place is a tourist trap as the place is packed around 11am. If anything, try and go during the afternoon.
(4)
Christina L.
Hands down the best pancakes in the north jersey area. Their pancakes has a little bit of crisp on the outside while still maintaining its fluffy state on the inside. Went in for brunch on a saturday mid morning and it was pretty crowded but got luckily seated right away even with two kids. The servers are all friendly and maybe they were short staffed on the day that I went in because it seemed to take a bit longer than usual to get our orders taken down and brought out, but the pancakes definitely made up for it. We ordered waffles, pancakes and french toast with their breakfast combo but out of the three the pancakes won hands down. The children's breakfast combo came with mickey mouse shaped pancakes with eggs and for the price of under $5 my son had leftover to bring home for lunch. Even when we brought the pancakes back home it still remained fluffy and fresh. The restaurant is definitely kid friendly and tastebud friendly and it is a go to spot for pancakes!
(4)
Monika L.
I recently came here with a party of 9, a group which included elderly people and babies. I called ahead and asked how long the wait would be if we were to arrive in 10 minutes. They said 10-15 minutes but that they do not take reservations. We figured that wasn't a long wait and quite reasonable, given that we were 9 people looking for Sunday brunch. We arrived and, again, they told us that it would be a 10-15 minute wait. There were a ton of other people waiting but the hostess assured me that the wait would be short. 20 minutes later, I checked back with her and was told that it would only be another 10 minutes. At this point, the babies were cranky and the elderly in-laws were getting tired from standing so long. So we just waited and waited and waited. Every time we checked in with the hostess, she said that the table was "almost ready" and she never apologized for lying about the wait time. It turned out to be over an hour wait!! We had to continue waiting because I wasn't about to drive all over Jersey City looking for another place to eat with 8 people in tow. In short: The hostess has no concept of time. The hostess is a liar. The food was just okay. Not worth it. Never going back.
(1)
Jocelyn K.
HUGE pancakes. We ordered one order of pecan pancakes and split it among 3 people. Because of the minimum $3 charge per person we also ordered a side of sausage, fried eggs, hash brown, and toast. Felt really fat after eating all that. I felt the pancakes are definitely over-hyped. After reading the reviews, I expected them to be the best pancakes I've ever eaten. They were alright, but definitely not the best. They weren't fluffy, a little dry, and tasteless without the syrup. Had better pancakes at diners in Pittsburgh. The sausage was pretty good though. Best thing about this place is large portions and cheap prices.
(3)
Stephanie O.
The only way I can describe this place is to say that it's simply amazing! Came for brunch on a Sunday after a night out on the town. The place was so packed I thought it would take forever to get our table. We were seated fifteen minutes after we got there. The wait staff is attentive and and efficient. The food was orgasmically good!!! My scrambled eggs were cooked to perfection, neither runny nor rubbery. The sausage was meaty and delicious. The home fries were out of this world, both crispy and soft and perfectly salted. I didn't even put ketchup on the fries and let's face it, I put ketchup on just about everything! Even the toast was delicious! I got the rye and it was perfectly toasted and buttered. I tried a bit of their pancakes and they were soooo good!!! That's what I'm getting next time I go back. All-in-all, this was an amazing dining experience and well worth the 15 minute wait!!!
(5)
Sejal S.
One of the nicest diners I've seen with a funny and cordial staff. I've been here many times and have tried different dishes each time. Their french toast, omelets, and sandwiches are highly recommended and of course what they're best known for, the pancakes! Big portion sizes, WHICH I LOVE! My overall experiences have been good. The only problem is that they have a tendency to mess up the order or forget to bring out something. For example, I had to remind them that they give coleslaw with the item I got. I guess they had forgotten. The best part is that they have parking!
(3)
Frances L.
I've been to Brownstone several times over the past year. They have amazing food, the owner/manager is always very friendly and accommodating, and the staff, for the most part (see below) are awesome! The wait time can be pretty long at times, but it's well worth it. If it's your first time here, I would recommend trying one of their famous pancake wraps (guy fieri) and they have pretty good fried calamari! They definitely deserve a 5, but on this particular day the hostess was extremely rude. I mean I get it - it's busy. It's a very stressful environment. But, when someone asks a question, there's no need to be rude in your response. She also skipped our number (5 - table for 3) and crossed off 8 numbers getting to guest #13 (various parties of 2-3 people) before the owner/manager stepped in and helped get us a table immediately. Other than this one unfortunate incident, this place is the best diner in hudson county.
(4)
Feebee A.
Oh Brownstone, you've always been so good to me! I love this place. It's a treat every time I'm there. Everything from breakfast platters, waffles, French toast and of course the pancakes is great. The wait area is tiny but the wait always goes fast. The staff is pretty friendly. They do split checks but they will not take more than one card for payment. You can't live in the area and not try this place. You'd truly be missing out on a Jersey City tradition.
(4)
Susana F.
Great spot for a casual brunch. There were so many choices!! I couldn't decide if I wanted breakfast or lunch so the waiter suggested we try the Guy Fieri's Triple D buffalo chicken pancake wrap. I know, it sounds a little weird but it was surprisingly very good!! Despite being buffalo it wasn't overly spicy. My bf and I also had the loaded fries with everything that could probably clog an artery but YOLO! Overall great service and food! I'll be back for sure
(5)
Jennifer T.
I had buffalo chicken pancake wrap. omg!! This portion was huge! Basically, there were a few strips of boneless wings, roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese inside a huge flapjack all wrapped up in a nice package; super delicious, filling and awesome! this was Guy Fieri's menu item that I guess he created when he visited the diner. This was a cozy place with good service and food; well known for their pancakes if you couldn't tell by the signs in the restaurant and a whole menu page dedicated to pancakes and then another section for the pancake wraps. Hate the parking lot, it's very small so good luck to the patrons on a busy day to find parking; overall, really like this place and would totally go back
(4)
Lisa W.
An institution that still deserves to be. I had the Triple Decker Monte Cristo, my dining partner had the Queen Breakfast Combo, (cornbeef and hash, sausage, eggs and pancakes). We didn't eat the rest of the day! Pancakes were light, buttery, deliscious. I'm always on the hunt for an epic monte cristo, this was not my version of epic, but still great. I would just get the French toast next time, for it was perfectly done, nice cinnamon flavor, big breakfast toast bread. We will be back!
(4)
Lakira D.
There was About a 15-20min wait to sit but it was worth it. The pancakes are massive and quite delicious. Particularly, I recommend the turtle pancakes if like me you crave something sweet and you're not into syrup. The meat pancakes weren't anything to scream home about...eat your meat on the side...unless you go for the tasty country pancake wrap stuffed with the western eggs...we added bacon and it was full of flavor and it didn't need any salt. The drinks are a little stingy especially with such huge pancake intake...but I would definitely go again if I was in a starchy mood or just go with the spectacular western omelet with cheddar cheese of course. Service was a lil slow. Overall with cleanliness, service and food quality I give them 3.5 stars.
(4)
Eric K.
Brownstone has all you could ask for in a diner, aside from not being open 24 hours. If you are in the mood for pancakes, this is your heaven as they are not known as the "Pancake Factory" for nothing. I personally like the Honky Tonk pancakes. If you like wraps, a nice finishing touch they do is lightly grill each side of the wrap before serving it, which is amazing in the wrap not falling apart. The Buffalo Chicken Wrap is amazing. Two more notable menu items are the pancake wraps, which will be a huge pancake stuffed with yummy goodness, and the Thanksgiving Dinner, which is exactly what it sounds like.
(4)
Davis J.
UPDATE!!!!! It pains me deeply to update this place and take stars away. Here is why: They increased their prices by 1$-2$ dollars average (being on DDD does not justify this). They DID NOT improve their quality (yeah, real smooth) The owners are visciously rude to their staff (infront of customers). They have now included a "plate fee" which is about $3 a person... charged if you sit at a table and do not order anything (what if my wife is not hungry?). The wait is still extremely long (I used to accept this but not anymore). The service has been total crap lately, TOTAL CRAP (which such high volumes, they don't care). It should be noted that I have checked into here so many times I've lost count. I used to proudly be the duke too. I have also become increasingly aware of the declining quality of food and service. Long story short: they sold out. Brownstone: Its not me, its you.
(2)
Nisha G.
This was supposed to be an automatic 4 star experience...unfortunately our waitress made the experience so horrible that I can not even squeeze it to a three. First of all, we were completely rushed from the moment we sat down. If there is one thing i cannot stand it is being rushed while eating. Mind you, this is before we even ordered our drinks We made our orders with most of us getting pancakes, I however decided to get lox eggs benedict. First try, the eggs were not poached...the waitress was so pissed (at the chef) and started cursing loudly. Comes back about 15 mins later with undercooked eggs. I had stomach issues after eating only 1/4 of the dish. Other than that the pancakes were all very good and I really liked the variety. If I do come here again I will be sure to stick with pancakes.
(2)
Che R.
Be careful when you are eating the pancakes because me and my family were trying to have a breakfast but there were little bugs inside my pancakes and the restaurant is dirty
(2)
Christine F.
I'm writing this on behalf of my friend who is a gentle, kind, and loving mother to an infant. She brought her baby to this establishment and they asked her to leave because she didn't want to hold her sleeping baby on her lap during her meal (!!!). There was plenty of room for their stroller, but the owner (!!!) asked her to leave any way. TERRIBLE, INSANE, RUDE. Also, another friend saw a cockroach crawling around here once and the news was very rudely received by management. Shame on them!!! I will NEVER EVER go here and I will tell everyone else I know from Jersey City to do the same!
(1)
Kareem C.
I've been here about five times with my family within the last year... We try to go every time I preach in Jersey City... Each time the food gets worse... We first visited this restaurant after seeing Guy do an episode on the Food Network... And the food was great on our first visit... But lately, the pancakes off a food truck has been much tastier... I don't know what changed... But something is missing... The last three times they were out of turkey sausage... My honky tonk pancakes... My wife normally get shrimp and fries... And when you leave more shrimp on the plate than fries... It speaks for itself... I gave three stars because my kids still enjoy their pancakes and French toast... Maybe my next visit will be better... Especially after preaching...
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
E F.
first experience here was horrible. I think I made the mistake of not getting pancakes so i will go back to try them but my hopes are not high. i got eggs over easy with corn beef hash and grits. the toast and grits were soaked in butter and i like butter but this was just disgusting. the hash was a salty nasty mess and the eggs were ok, they are kinda hard to mess up. my boyfriend got an open faced roast beef sandwich and the meat tasted rancid. he also got biscuits and gravy but they were stale biscuits and the waitress gave him brown gravy that you would use on mashed potatoes. since this place has rave reviews i guess ill go back and try the pancakes but if they fail too this place is off the list forever.
(1)Steven S.
The wait service sucks and they aren't kid friendly. The food is great DINER FOOD. There is nothing special about it. And I think it's rather pricey for a diner. Try Flamingo Diner if you want better prices.
(2)Jasmere C.
The brown stone is one of the better diners in Jersey City. I have eatten here a few times and it is really great. The Pancakes are delicious, the prices are right and the staff is very pleasant.
(4)David L.
Walking in, this place feels like a fairly typical diner, with old-fashioned decor and a no-nonsense staff. The waiters here can be a bit brusque, but they usually don't descend to outright rudeness. Waits on weekends are actually fairly reasonable - last Saturday we showed up a bit past noon and probably only waited about 15 minutes for a table. The other reviews don't lie. The pancakes here are fluffy and delicious. The Mrs. actually enjoys the taste of the pancakes so much she skips on the syrup. The portions are fairly generous as well. The fresh fruit pancakes especially get a big thumbs up. Everything else I've had has been fairly mediocre. The eggs benedict were passable but far from great. The omelets, although a healthy serving (perhaps an unhealthy serving) and well-cooked, weren't particularly flavorful. Given how great the pancakes here are, I have never even had an inkling of desire to try to burgers and other non-brunch food.
(4)Sayra S.
Only went here once because our experience was very mediocre. I am a HUGE diner fan and I'm always looking for a good place to get pancakes/breakfast. I felt this place was just a little too pricey and most of the "fruit" they put with their pancakes is fake compote/jammy stuff. Thought I could get some classic blueberry pancakes here, but no. Overall it's just an OK experience, but it is still a diner if that's what you're looking for. (I'd go to Flamingo for the real diner experience in JC)
(3)Jessica W.
I've lived in Jersey City my whole life and wish i stumbled upon it earlier! The food is delish. (I've only had the breakfast) and the portions are out of this world. my favorite item to order is the Country Breakfast Wrap which is enough to feed 2 men but i always try my best to take it down and always get defeated. lol. It's always crowded on a weekend morning so be a lil patient but if you ask me its well worth the wait!
(5)Joyce P.
First off, I'm a pancake girl, and past experiences had left me so dissatisfied with the level of pancake quality, that I have become quite the expert in making my own. Last Saturday I ventured out to Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory, meeting up with a friend that was staying in JC. Wow, I was really surprised and so was he. The pancakes from a distance looked big and dense, not so good upon surveying with out tasting. But when I cut into the large cakes, nothing but goodness!! I was most pleasantly surprised. The place looks to always have a crowd, but I was seated very quickly, service is the typical diner style, but pleasant. There is parking, which is a bonus in Jersey City, so another thumbs up for the Factory. If you're not from the JC area, and want to stay on the Jersey side, and I recommend you do; we also sat and talked for awhile, and didn't get kicked out like so many restaurants across the river, this is a great laid back place. If you're coming from NW NJ like myself, I would plan on going earlier, getting there is like a trip into the city, and city traffic would ruin the experience in my opinion, just make sure that you're not wading in traffic if you can help it!
(4)Bondi R.
What more can I say but, "AMAZING" a huge variety and excellent for brunch. If you cam imagine a particular type of pancake or waffle I am sure it exists on this particular menu. Your tastebuds will definitely be please and you will gone back for more. No matter the time the place is pretty busy but the do accommodate you pretty quick. The customer service is pretty on point as well. The prices are reasonable and the desserts are delightful.
(5)Angelica M.
Everything I ever had here was great. The pancakes are insane. You will not be able to finish them. Really good coffee too. My last visit I ordered a meatball hero. It was on par with a really good pizzeria. Usually I get a BLT, good and cheap too .Go here, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Laurie L.
This place was the worst experience I have had in JC. The only good thing was the fact that I went there on a Sunday thinking I was going to wait 1hr and ended waiting 30 mins. The waitress if that what you want to call her was not helpful did not know the menu could not tell me what type of Vodka they used I'm the Bloodily Mary she end up lieing to me. I ordered eggs Benedict 15 mins later another waitress who looked like a Jersey City crack head came to my table yelled at me and told me they place is pack bro why don't you get the pancakes and call it a day. I was floored I asked for the manger who seems like a hard A** he came to the table never allowed me to talk but just told me the chef is not going to make my eggs Benn with mushrooms. At that point the drinks came to the table while I sipped some if it and it tasted like they just poured it from another table hot very little ice and not garnishes. To top it off the manager while talking to me spit in my drink. I decided to leave not to continue to give them my biz. While walking He yelled at me and laughed and you think I give a F**K about you or your money I was on the Food Network go F**k your self. Let's keep in mind it was Sunday afternoon kids were in the place and mostly church goers as we'll. and I was also with a pastor at the table.
(1)Allie M.
This place gets absolutely sh*tpacked on weekends, so if you want to avoid a 30-45 minute wait, I suggest going either early or late. If you do decide to go between the hellish brunch hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., rest assured that the wait is worth it. This place is my favorite pancake house in the area. It has a mind-boggling selection of pancakes, french toast, waffles and - what you may have seen on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives - pancake burritos. Yes - you read that right. They have breakfast burritos made out of pancakes. *insert mind explosion here* The only time I was ever disappointed here was one time when they ran out of cranberries and I really wanted the cranberry pancakes, but the alternative I decided on instead was just as delicious. The Showstopper might make you develop diabetes, but I say go for it anyway. Oh, and the servers are super friendly and fast. Even if one server isn't designated for your table, they'll still help you out, which I loved so much last time that I found the server who helped our table after our meal and tipped her in addition to the server who was assigned to our table. One last thing: all-day breakfast. That is all.
(4)Albert S.
never disspoints. Decent food and decent place. Weekends are crazy busy but they seat everyone very quick.
(4)Frank M.
I heard many things, good and bad, about this place that I was hesitant to try it. I came here with some co-workers and had lunch. I enjoyed the lunch and had a chance to look over the menu. Based on this, my wife and I came for breakfast. First of all, it gets busy quick - even on weekday mornings. The breakfast selection is fairly good - lots of pancakes and omelets choices. They also have grits on the menu which is a personal favorite but hard to find in this area. My wife's pancakes were large and very good (I had to finish hers). I enjoyed my omelette. We enjoyed our experience and have been back a number of times in the past couple of weeks.
(5)Bianca C.
So I saw there was a ton of hype about this place and wanted to check it out. I tried their pancakes and they were okay, honestly nothing to die for. I got the short stack buttermilk, and my friend got the silver dollar pancakes. She loved hers, mine meh. Also the manager was being a jerk and shouting at one of his waitresses in public, and this lady was working her tail off, she was literally like one of the only servers in the place. And she didn't even get mad at him or entertain him while he was freaking out over god knows what, she walked away and kept doing what she needed to do. Aside from this craziness, we had a pretty bad experience. After my friend and I ate we both felt sick, my friend actually threw up! Needless to say, I doubt I will be going back again anytime soon.
(2)Nez B.
Huge monte cristo with 3 slabs of french toast and genrous proportions of turkey, swiss, and ham ($11). 3 pancake stack of actual fresh fruit ($8) and a huge cheese omelet ($6) all tasty. Meal took about 5 mins from order, whoah. Traditional diner style seating and quick and attentive waiter. The menu is expansive, they have tons of cuisine options for any meal of the day. I saw a 20 oz steak with lobstertail and jumbo shrimp for $30 on the menu. I Will be coming back for that! This place is a go.
(4)Erica K.
Food was above average, service was horrible. Staff wasn't friendly, took them an hour to come take our order when it wasn't even busy. Worth trying and never going back.
(3)J N.
This place is nothing out of the ordinary. The portions are huge which I liked:) but other than that I could probably make better tasting eggs.
(3)Kathleen R.
Food is average, but great for families & big parties & I keep coming back b/c the owners are friendly & it's what makes this place special.
(4)Chris G.
I have been coming to the Brownstone about 2 times a week for the past 5 year. I have never been disappointed with the food, the service, or the management. The menu is vast and offers everything from pancakes, to sandwiches, to salads, and steaks. They are known for their pancakes and after seeing the huge selection and tasting most of then you will understand why. Recently I have changed my diet and the Brownstone always goes the extra mile to accommodate my custom orders. Along with great food the Brownstone has some of the best servers in New Jersey. For this review I would like to mention two, Lee and Ash. Lee is always friendly with a smile and a cheerful greeting of "hi sir" or "hi sweetie". He makes sure the order is always right and is quick to offer fresh water or a container to take home what I don't finish. Another exceptional server is Ash. Ash is always friendly, attentive, and accommodating. The last piece that makes the Brownstone great is management. Everyone is exceptionally friendly from the hostess to the table crew and I am sure it is an extension of the personalities of the owners Bobby and Zoe. They are two people that know how to run a restaurant and genuinely care about their customers. They are quick to offer a "hello, how are you" and actually take the time to hear your answer. Great food, great service, great people, that sums up the Brownstone. If you are in Jersey City you should put the Brownstone on your list to check out.
(5)Guido T.
I don't get the hype over this place. So what it was on the food network like a zillion years ago. The long wait and the annoyed staff don't really make the food "WORTH IT". We went a few times because we live in the area and each time it's worse and worse. The waitress last time couldn't be bothered to go look for Splenda for our coffee. She just said we were out. She was so big should have looked a few times . She def. could have used the exercise. Also while the plates are really big, the pancakes which is what they are know for just so so. They have a ton of topping you can put on them but really at the end of the day a $15 pancake dish is just that a pancake with strawberries or blueberries, nothing special. Also I hate the off center pictures on the wall. The will drive you nuts. You want to just get up and be like this is Jersey city not some art gallery in chelsea. Stop tying to hard.
(2)Corinne D.
Food is good but the wait is always ridiculously long and crowded; the lobby is super small and they pack everyone in like sardines. They assign people numbers without buzzers and it gets VERY confusing, especially if someone takes your number either on purpose or by accident.
(3)Beverly B.
I grew up eating here and spent many days after school coming here. Before all that hype with diners, drive-ins, and dives, they've always had good diner food. I'm glad this place is flourishing since it's gotten "famous" but nice to see the owner continue to keep up with customers, particularly regulars. The prices haven't changed too much, and you can't complain considering the portions. I love pancakes, so I obviously get pancakes 90% of the time. Blueberry, chocolate chips, silver dollars, all great. Their turkey burgers and chicken fingers are also good. Wait staff is fast and so is the food. If you don't arrive early, expect to wait. Overall, this is still a great place to catch some good food.
(4)Rinku B.
Oh my god. The best pancakes ever. I couldn't understand why the syrup jug was so big, then the pancakes arrived. I went for blueberry. Amazing!!!! Definitely a stop if you love pancakes, don't go for anything else. There is no excuse not to go here. Trust me.
(4)Claire H.
Probably the best pancakes I've ever had. These pancakes, in my opinion, are better than Clinton Street Bakery. In fact, there's a lot more pancake variety. They have interesting and appealing flavor combinations. I was really interested in trying just the pancake alone, so I ordered the short stack. And man, these pancakes are perfectly fluffy and chewy. I love that there is a tiny salty aftertaste which really complements the syrup and butter. YUM. I can eat those pancakes all day! I really recommend getting the plain pancakes. I'm sure the other ones are great, but if you're having too much trouble deciding, go with these. Along with these pancakes, we also ordered three omelettes. All were very good and fresh. The portions are generous. They fill the omelettes with a healthy helping of cheese and meats, which we loved! The homefries were piping hot. The toast was nicely buttered. Just really good, reliable diner food! The most impressive part- we went at like 9:30, just a half hour before the close at 10pm and the waitstaff was super gracious and friendly. Our waiter was a sweetheart and didn't make us feel rushed at all. The prices are very reasonable. Three omelettes, short stack pancakes, ice cream and a soda for $40. Not bad at all!
(4)Lori L.
While my opinion of Guy Fieri as a chef and restaurateur should probably be mentioned in a separate location, his recommendations on where to find good food have been pretty spot on. Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory (featured in one episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives) is a prime example and, luckily for me, located within walking distance of my new apartment. On a weekend afternoon, I met up with a fellow Jersey resident for an introduction to this JC staple. There's not much by way of decor or ambiance, but Brownstone is a respectably sized diner, with plenty of comfortable booth seats as well as stand alone tables dispersed across the room. One key thing to note, however, is that it's perpetually busy and, as such, doesn't accept reservations. All guests will need to sign in with the host/hostess, confirm party size, and receive a number which is later called out on when the table is ready. The two of us were given a 30 minute estimate, and were seated in due time. Unable to decide between the much-lauded pancakes or a more savory plate, my friend suggested I order the latter and offered to share one of his pancakes (there's three included in the Pancake Combo Platter) with me, which I happily agreed to. The Eggs Benedict arrived first with a generous helping of french fries on the side. It's difficult to mess up a benedict (besides overcooking the eggs) and Brownstone did the item justice. The eggs were supported by a slice of Canadian bacon and an english muffin half, and were well-covered by hollandaise. The combination was foolproof and the fries were an appreciated addition to the plate. As for the pancakes, I can say that Brownstone serves up a solid plate of these treats. They're well-sized, not too dense nor too airy, and go perfectly with a pat of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup. Based on my own preferences, however, I found them a little too dry and I missed the texture found in their close relative, the waffle. Nonetheless, Brownstone offers a variety of types, add-ins, and fruit toppings that will satisfy almost any diner; with 20+ different options, it's difficult to go wrong. It's not difficult to see why Brownstone has become such a mainstay within the neighborhood; it's a solid, casual option for families and friends that serves up generous plates at more than reasonable prices. While their pancakes may not be the best of the best, they're certainly worth at least one trek, if not several more. Either case, I'm happy to have found a good dining option near me, and satisfied with my first dining experience in Jersey City. Thanks for the introduction, Xavier S! :)
(4)Holly R.
Used to come here a lot when I was in town and enjoyed it. However, I think the LOVE has left the building. Bad service, over priced and unfriendly. With so many other options in Jersey City now don't waste your time.
(1)Mel V.
Worth a visit when in Jersey city!
(3)Jed S.
As a pancake connoisseur, I must say these are my absolute favorite. I come here atleast every other week to satisfy my pancake fix. They are light and fluffy and beautiful.
(5)Suja U.
I just love this place. Their buffalo chicken pancake wrap is sooooo good The wait time is a lot but food is awesome. One of the best diners
(5)Amanda L.
I've eaten at Brownstones several times with friends and family, and each time, the experience is always "okay". Never really great. The food isn't anything to write home about, and the service is usually lacking. How many times do I have to ask for water? Usually the place is pretty packed, so it' s understandable that it may take longer to get refills or food out. I've worked in the food service industry before and I can appreciate that. I had an experience recently that left not so good a taste in my mouth, and I wanted to inform my fellow Yelpers and diners. I ordered food alone just before lunch time during the week. It wasn't super busy. When I got my bill, I noticed that the menu price and the price on my bill didn't match. Now, I know it costs money to re-print menus, however that is false advertising and not good business. When I brought it up, I was given only part of the overcharge back in cash, and then I was told to "hush". So, fellow Brownstone diners, please check your bills with what is published on the menu.
(2)Desiree D.
great frickin service, nice staff. fluffy, but filling and huge pancakes. wait maybe huge is an understatement. the "showstopper" killed me. bananas, choc and peanut butter chip pancakes..topped with more bananas..whip cream and drizzle of caramel. the guy fieri pancake burrito will seduce everyone of your taste buds on your tongue. sweet, savory..and spicy all in one. these dishes can not be eaten alone, bring the whole family and friends and share a dish or two or three. =d
(4)Randi M.
This review is only for what I had at dinner. I should have stuck to pancakes. Duh. I wanted a salad, but wasn't that hungry. I got a dinner salad with a scoop of tuna. How can you screw up a salad? Well, it was lettuce, huge rings of onion and green pepper and that's it. The tuna was horrible. Wet and flavorless. The service sucked too. Our waitress was forgetful and inattentive. She forgot my egg cream, then brought me vanilla when I asked for chocolate. She was so slow. It took over an hour to get a salad and soup and an egg cream.
(2)Srini D.
Really like the food here.. Always crowded but I guess that's a good thing. The reason I take one star away is the service is quite slow and inconsistent.. Having said that I find myself here once in a while to chomp down on the pancakes!
(3)Rebecca L.
Food was good/normal and menu was a bit more interesting than an ordinary diner menu. I got the crazy buffalo chicken wrap in an oversized pancake. Was good but Nothing to die over. Wish I had tried one of the 31 types of pancakes instead. Service was great. Overall a solid dining experience.
(3)Amy C.
Looked for restaurant for both breakfast and dinner as we were traveling from Chicago Found Brownstone through yelp & it couldn't have been better. Food was served hot and fast. Waitress was friendly. Portion size was more then generous Planned on one breakfast trip & went back a second day for lunch. This is a must in Jersey City area. Don't miss this fabulous American fare restaurant
(5)Kimberly S.
Great Breakfast, so worth the trip! We're on vacation headed to New York, so we stopped in New Jersey because I've never been and I want to visit every state at least once in my lifetime. My brother-in-law recommended The Brownstone and it didn't disappointed. I had the chicken and waffle. Really Awesome! The waffle was crisp yet fluffy, with a great taste. Th chicken was awesome as well. It came with a breast, wing, thigh, and leg fried to perfection. It wasn't overly seasoned which was great because I like to drink hot sauce to my chicken. The sweet from the waffle and syrup combined with the crispy skin of the chicken skin and crisp of the waffle a long with the tenderness of the chicken was magical! Sweet and savory flavors. Everyone else with us really enjoyed what they had: my brother in-law had the pancake combo and he really liked it especially the sausage. My sister in-law had the waffle combo she really enjoyed it. My husband had the turkey omelette with hashbrowns. His omelette was okay, he didn't like the hashbrowns. But he did enjoy some of my fried chicken and loved. So my visit to New Jersey and The Brownstone was an overall winning experience!
(4)Skii C.
Just ordered the brownstone fries and triple d guy fieri pancake wrap to go....sat at the counter top...pretty spacious ... seemed pretty busy..food was delish! The Guy fieris Buffalo fried chicken, mozzarella cheese, roasted peppers & bleu cheese, wrapped in an oversized pancake AND brownstone fries topped with cheddar & mozzarella cheeses & bacon bits, served with a cool BBQ ranch dressing was so0o0o0o0o good and the portions were so huge i had left overs ... meal was about 20$...for GREAT diner food it was well worth it
(5)Wil M.
Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Food is excellent ... service is great. Can't complain.
(5)Mike B.
Slightly better than average. Always a wait (for breakfast/brunch at least on week-ends.) Coffee is pretty good. They don't offer fresh OJ. Service is friendly. My main gripe is they call themselves a 'pancake factory' yet they only really have one kind of pancake: the standard buttermilk variety. Yeah, they wrap it around things, and stuff it, and bake it, and drizzle it, and smother it, but it's still the same damn pancake. How about an oatmeal pancake, or buckwheat, or whole wheat, or anything else (variety!) that you'd expect to find at a pancake house that's worth it's salt!
(3)Analee C.
Brownstone has given me some of the best pancakes I have ever had in my life.. But they are not always consistent unfortunately. Their staff for the most part are friendly. It's a great place when you want good food but nothing fancy! Game changers? +pancakes +gyro sandwich +curly fries
(4)Joe L.
Brownstone is a famous local restaurant. The pancakes is so good that many people drive miles to here just for the pancakes. For me, I like the Egg Florentine Benedits, it comes with fries or grits. In addition Surf and turf breakfast is another good choice. Parking is not a problem, just come hungry.
(4)Yuko O.
I give it 3stars. Food isn't very good than I expected. We ordered fruits pancake and corned beef eggs Benedict which everyone recommended on yelp. Eggs Benedict smells from caned corned beef and doesn't tasty at all. Pancakes are yummy and fruits are fresh and matured as sweet. Wonderful point is the Service. Service is much better than I thought. They cared about a drink anytime and gave us more napkins for kids. That lady was very nice all the time. However, I think I won't come back because too crowded in the place and no need to try the other.
(3)Barbara M.
Ordered fried fish sandwich with a side order of spinach. The fish was heavily fried and actually contained very little fish. It was awful. The spinach was perfect as was my cappuccino and the decadent desert my friend ordered. The waiter was very intrusive, he meant well but it was too much. Bobby, a manager seemed to take issue with my request for a receipt of my cash payment. I felt his harrumph, eye roll and the manner in which he flung a receipt to me to be disrespectful. He made it known he was unhappy with my request not sure if I will return anytime soon.
(1)Robyn D.
The best diner I've ever been to. Ever. Every salad, breakfast item, sandwich, steak, burger, and dessert is perfect!
(5)Neha S.
Best Brunch Ever! We ordered Eggs Benedict, Meat Omelette and fresh fruit buttermilk pancakes. Regular coffee refills and generous quantities of food. Loved everything we ordered! This is definitely one of my favorite spots in the city. We waited for about 15 minutes but it was so worth it!
(4)Jeanna G.
Wow this place is pretty awesome! Came here last night with my best friend Kristina S and her boyfriend Matt after our yelp event at Liberty Prime Steakhouse for some grub. After a few drinks whats better than the diner to soak up all the alcohol? Kristina has been ranting and raving about this place for quite some time now and I definitely see why. We came in around 10 pm and were seated in a booth immediately. The wait staff is very attentive always filling my coffee/water, checking on us ect. This place is known for their pancakes so obviously we ordered the showstopper pancakes which are chocolate chip and peanut butter pancakes with sliced bananas atop with caramel sauce and whipped cream on top. They were amazing but a little heavy. Up next were the disco fries with melted mozzarella cheese and gravy you kinda have to get there at any diner you go to. Matt ordered a huge bacon omelette like seriously huge he tried to make us help him eat it but I tapped out after those pancakes. The omelette was cooked perfectly and the bacon was crisp. Kristina ordered a chicken Caesar salad wrap with curly fries. The fries were amazing being that I ate a bunch off her plate she said the wrap was really good. I'm going to have to come back here one morning for breakfast when I'm not a little drunky and can really binge out and enjoy it for myself. Until next time Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory until next time. =)
(5)Nency P.
Went with family for brunch. Great food and reasonable price. Highly recommend the waffles. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Desiree B.
I've never had a bad experience, everything I've ever ordered is delicious and amazing!! Must have experience in JC. Love the family atmosphere. Be prepared to wait 10- 15 mins to be seated sat/ sun after 10am, but the wait is worth it!
(5)Shaili K.
Classic place for breakfast! Can't go wrong here. It can get super packed on the weekends so just try to come early.
(4)Joe L.
This place is an institution, not a recent trendy pop-up appealing to the flights and fancy of yuppies and hipsters with money to spend and no desire to save. This is classic diner with 200+ items on the menu, probably 50 or more devoted to pancakes. It is, after all, a pancake factory :) Don't expect to order an appetizer and entree and expect to eat it all. If you don't like leftovers or doggie bags, just order one thing and stick with it. The plates are huge and the goal is to fill you up with enough food to last the day. An omelette for example, probably has about 4 or 5 eggs in it. Add in the meats and cheeses, the buttered toast, and the home fries, and you've got enough protein and carbs to knock you out for a good couple of hours. To this date, I have never made it to dessert, which I had been aiming to do since day one. Oreo cake, Reeses' PB cup cheesecake, Red velvet... they mock me from the counter. I know I can probably buy a slice to go. I know I can come in and only have cake. But I want to conquer it on my own terms, it is my Eleanor.
(4)J T.
Only problem with this place is the salad my mother recently had, chef's salad. It wasn't that good and she was very disappointed. On the other hand, the Cheeseburger and Fries and the Chicken cheesesteak we had was excellent. gave you enough to save half for later. Even the Chef's salad was enough for two. Known for their pancakes and I must say they are exceptional!
(4)Shelly O.
So, I just moved to the Downtown area, and decided to grab a bite at the infamous Brownstone Diner with my fiancé on a Friday evening. The second we walked in, we received a warm welcome from the owner herself, which is great to see that she is hands on at the restaurant. Zoe, I believe was her name. Not even two minutes in the restaurant, we were already seated and our order was taken right away. Zoe then later came to our table to check up on us and even offered free cheesecake on the house, for welcoming us into the neighborhood. I have never met such a friendly, kind hearted person, the way she is. Her smile definitely brightened up my day. We will definitely be heading back to the restaurant and we hope to try every single meal on the menu because there is a variety of selections. I recommend Brownstone Diner to everyone !
(5)Josephine G.
The first time I came here it was with friends and they bragged about the pancakes that they were amazing. Well they are!! Been back a couple more times and the food here is delicious!! Fresh and the service is good. Great place to come for breakfast anytime!!
(5)Gloria B.
I am from Jersey City and I come here often, the food is very good and plentiful . The service is very good! I always enjoy my time here!
(4)Jason V.
This place is about a good 30 minute drive from me and I have to say that it is totally worth the trip. This has got to be one of the best diners I've ever been to. We went at noon on a Sunday so the place was packed. It had a full lot so we parked a block away in the neighborhood. There were 20 people ahead if us when I got my name in but we only waited about 15 mins to get seated. I had the chicken and waffles which was excellent. We also had the pancakes and pork sausage which was really good. They have a popular dish which was features by Guy Fieri on Diners Drive-ins and Dives which was a buffalo chicken pancake. I have no idea how that works but I have to try it next time! I'm definitely coming back here! PS - food portions are huge so bring your appetite
(5)Gina D.
My husband & I love this place for breakfast. LOVE LOVE LOVE the chocolate & peanut butter pancakes which is what I order whenever we go there and they are huge. They give you 3 pancakes but I don't know how people can eat all 3, I can only eat 1 and I take the other 2 home. My husband usually will get an omelet of some kind which he always says is good. Sometimes he will get the Country breakfast wrap which is a huge pancake with scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes and sausage rolled up in it. He only gets that when he is very hungry lol. We love the breakfast here but have never had a chance to try it for lunch or dinner.
(4)Paranj P.
What an amazing experience of one of the original truly jersey diner. Place may have be renovated but the food still tells you the history. Located in one of the up and coming beautiful area of jersey city near by the water, short drive from the liberty state park and the exchange place. Very traditional style ran establishment, the food is large in size and personality. I had Buffalo chicken pancake wrap, yes! You heard it right, with syrup and it was mind blowing. Also had lots other stuff like fried chickens and waffle, original pancake, western Omelet and much more. All was very good. Get here early since the lines are out the door. As always you have to try it to believe it. #happyeating
(5)Alison M.
2.5 stars... The good: The pancakes are indeed fantastic. I had the Combo Roll-up Pancakes, which were 3 pancakes, each rolled with either strawberry, blueberry or apple compote. Husband had Banana Walnut Pancakes. We shared, and I'm happy to say that they were ALL delicious. The buttermilk pancakes were light and fluffy and HOT. Unfortunately, the servings were so large that we couldn't finish it all, but the prices were fair so no biggie. We also got sides of bacon (don't bother, it was like that pre-cooked bacon you get in the supermarket) and hubs got eggs over easy (he said they were good). The bad: Perhaps it was our fault for coming here at 10am on New Year's Day, but the place was PACKED and service was pretty slow. When we arrived, they told us it would be about 30 minutes. We were seated in about 20 so that was good. But then it took another 20 for a waitress to show up, another 10 for glasses of water, and once we placed our order, about 20 minutes for our food to come out (which would have been ok if we hadn't already been sitting at our table for 30 minutes). There were no water refills, and a coffee refill took 15 minutes to show up. MAJOR diner faux-pas in my book. As I said, the pancakes were phenomenal, but I do have one complaint, and that is with my husband's banana walnut pancakes. Putting banana slices and walnuts on top of plain buttermilk pancakes does not make them "banana walnut pancakes". They were delicious, but the bananas and walnuts should have been cooked into the batter...it's not even hard to do! (After you pour the batter on the griddle, you drop banana slices and walnuts into the wet batter, and then when you flip it, the banana gets all tasty and caramelized.) Still, they were delicious, but they certainly weren't "banana walnut pancakes". My husband also told me that he overheard who he believes to be the owner talking to the hostess, and he was talking about how it was busy and it doesn't matter, and the people are going to keep showing up "like this" no matter what they do. He said it sounded like someone who was "ready to sell the place or retire". Hearing that was quite off-putting to me, but poor management like that is probably the reason a lot of these reviews bring up the poor service...ownership couldn't care less, why should the waitstaff? That attitude really pisses me off. Will we be back? Maybe. There were a few other pancake varieties I'd like to try, but I'll definitely try to get here when it's not going to be busy, and I won't expect much other than really freaking good pancakes.
(2)Yeraldine S.
I'm very pleased I don't have to go too far to find a good breakfast spot. Once I opened the Brownstone menu, I noticed they had "Rules" on the bottom which made me laugh. No splitting the check! We were seated immediately and our waiter was attentive and friendly from the moment we got there. I went for the hazelnut coffee to begin. I always feel overwhelmed when choosing my breakfast meal...it's like I crave everything at once. But ultimately I went for the old-fashioned pancakes and they were huge, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I only finished one (weak) but it's probably because I was busy devouring scrambled eggs, bacon, pork sausage. All while taking some of my best friend's french toast. She had an omelette but she was raving about the home-fries the most. I will have to go back to try more items on the menu!
(4)Henry G.
Waffle tower awesome. Had the seafood fra diiavolo small but best I ever had at a diner.
(4)Kristina V.
Well they are the pancake factory so I mean GET THE PANCAKES. I got the banana and I was completely satisfied and they are huge ( I shared with my bf). Weekends its super busy and I waited like a half hour but I didn't mind I figured I'd be waiting everywhere around the area. I'm sold.
(5)S M.
I visited this morning with co-workers. What I can not understand is how the business is called a "Pancake Factory" if the pancakes are dry and tasteless. The server didn't serve but handed the plates to whoever was closest and expected us to pass them around. I was very unimpressed for a restaurant that was featured on Triple D a while back. I had previously visited their new location in Edgewater, NJ and was equally dissatisfied! I will not be going back. Score: 1 Star for atmosphere.
(1)Maya N.
Disappointing experience. Food was ok, service was bad. Heard good things about this place so went for Sunday brunch. Were seated at the table after a wait of 15 min, which is not bad considering how busy the place was. - It took another 15 minutes for the waitress to get us water and another 10 min to take the order. This was our first time so when I was asking her questions, she very rudely said that she thought she gave us "enough time to decide our order". - Substituting mushrooms with Spinach in a veggie omelet will be extra. - 30 minute wait for the food. - Served coffee with out ordering one. Our first time so thought it was complementary, but we were billed. - Asked for French fries, but was given home fries. Too hungry to complain so just had it. - Toast came after we finished our omelets and pancakes. Requested for butter on the side, but she just didn't care and put it to the toast. Food was good, no complains. Service could have been lot better. Have been to other diners in the area with much better service and food.
(2)Helen M.
Omg the pancakes were amazing so much food. I had fluffy pancakes before but this was massive. The slow stopper wss amazing but ypy might need 3 friends to help you out. Stuffed pancakes with buffalo chicken and cheese was insanity good. But still so much food. It was only 2 people and we had 2 side dishes and 2 meals abd it came out to be 22.78 for 2 people so much food. O yea and two cups of oj. Our waitress was super friendly. Loving it. Must go here with a group
(4)Matt M.
Would've been 5-stars, if it hadn't been for the attitude of the hostess. I couldn't find anything wrong with this place. I had a real tough time deciding what to order, the menu was endless. Although it's a "Pancake factory", they have all the classics you would find at a Jersey diner. Food was really good, and waitress was quick and friendly. She even offered us suggestions to what to order. At the end of the meal, we went up to the counter to pay, and asked the hostess to split the check right down the middle. She gave us an attitude and told us that she can't do it, and that if we wanted it, we'd have to go back to the waitress. With the exception of that little incident, I highly recommend this place.
(4)Crystal J.
Pretty okay place. Seating was fast and the staff were nice. The food was okay, not great like people had been telling my husband and I it was. It filled us up though, so that's always a plus. French toast- the French toast was pretty dry and had waaaay too much cinnamon on it. Chicken and waffle - instead of chicken tenders on a waffle, it was actual pieces of chicken on a small waffle. I believe there was a breast, leg, and wing. I thought that was kind of weird. The breast had lots of meat on it though, so it was good.
(3)Janice F.
Came in here on Monday morning and it was not crowded at all. Seated immediately and proceeded to peruse their large menu and variety of items. Obviously, this place is known for pancakes and their pancakes are great. They also have pancake combos like pigs in a blanket (super large meal, but also super good!). I decided to get one of their omelett dishes (for about $8-10 you get home fries, toast, and very well filled omelette). Opted for the California since I love avocados, cheese, tomato, onions, and mushrooms! Unfortunately, the cheese was just sliced American cheese, which I'm not really a fan of, but otherwise cooked very well and worth the price. The home fries were also very good - especially if you like chunky potatoes. Toast was slightly burnt, but I like it very crispy, almost to that texture, so I didn't mind. Overall, a good place for mediocre food with good prices. Also, its proximity to the PATH train is great for a meal before a day out to the city. Note that this place only takes one card per order!
(4)Grace D.
Went here two days in a row. First visit- outstanding. Second visit- Meh. My first visit I had the south of the border omelette with a side of home fries and French onion soup. Their home fries are my absolute favorite! Their soup is to die for. Crunchy toast inside and some amazing fermented onion taste. BOMB! I ate everything and took home my sisters and her boyfriends leftovers to go. LOL. Basically this was a five star visit. Waitress was awesome as well :) I went the next day because I take my boyfriend to all my fave food places. This time I got dinner. Spaghetti and meat balls, French onion soup and home fries with onions and peppers. Everything was just as amazing. Waitress was nice but she made this mean remark saying I ordered a lot of food for one person. Ummm... I'm pregnant. I don't hold grudges though so I let that go. What ruined this meal was the spaghetti and meatballs. There was like one scoop of tomato sauce and it was very watery. Meatballs were like a week old and turning super brown ;( I will come back to this place because their breakfast is amazing. But stick to the breakfast menu :)
(4)Di L.
The Brownstone Diner was one of my local favs for breakfast! The pancakes are amazing, the waffles are perfect, especially when topped with fruit. The service isn't so great, the wait staff seems to just think because it's a busy diner service can be subpar which is a bit crushing. The dinner menu is ok but it only took one time of ordering non-breakfast foods to realize this place is only for breakfast. Overall Brownstone get's three stars solely based on breakfast.
(3)Emery G.
Came here for easter sunday breakfast. Waiting no more than 10 minutes for a table for four. I was super happy to come here since it was on the food network. I ordered the french toast combo which comes with a plate of four french toast slices and eggs with bacon and a sausage. The bacon was good, the eggs were nice and fluffy with a nice melt on the cheese. The french toast was super good, not a dense bread were you get full with one and also not too much cinnamon and sugar flavors. My family member got the irish egg benedict plate and it was super good. The corned beef with the hollandaise sauce was super good. Would definitely come back for a nice quick breakfast. Staff was super nice. The TVs even had a church mass on it haha. Happy easter celebration.
(5)Mitchell M.
Sorry Brownstone, but I have to drop you one star. It's not one thing that prompted me to drop a star, it's a bit of everything. Seems like they have lost interest in this location, and it is just on a slow decline...wouldn't know it from the crowds, but I know it from the years of coming here before places in JC got crowded 'just because'.
(3)Lullita F.
I love this restaurant. The food, and the staff are great. My favorite things are the fish, and grits, the drinks, and their pancakes. WONDERFUL!!!
(5)Sukant M.
Never knew about this gem inside jersey city. Triple d sandwich was definitely out of this world. Sweet and savory, different at first, but worth a try. My girl got a short stack of blueberry pancakes to die for. Piping hot, scoop of butter on the side, and a jug of syrup. Don't recommend anything else but breakfast. The calamari salad seen better days, plus breakfast is the most important meal of the day, what more could you ask.
(4)Yvette I.
Absolutely delicious!!! My niece took us here on our vacation. There are so many different pancake specials!! Everything we ordered was soooo good! Service was fast and food was on point!!! Nutella pancakes, chicken and waffles and the guy fieri special ( breakfast burrito with pancake as the wrap!!) Try it all!!!!
(5)Osceola H.
This diner is one of the best. I've come here many times over the past five years & have never had a bad meal. The pancakes & waffles are excellent! The service is good & the atmosphere great. The decor is clean & modern. On Sunday mornings as with most diners it is very busy, but despite this the wait time is still pretty reasonable. I think the most I've waited was a half hour. I highly recommend this diner. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Allison C.
I've only been to Jersey City once before, and it was to be a bridesmaid at the W Hotel along Exchange Place back in August of 2011. I've really had no reason to visit, otherwise. Over the years, I've had many friends move to that city; all have boasted about the awesome restaurants, bars, and various other haunts throughout. I always thought J.C. would be a pain for me to get to from my perch atop northern Manhattan, though I've learned that the PATH isn't too intimidating; I've only taken the occasion trip along to to get to Hoboken and back, so my knowledge of it was admittedly lacking. Well, once a friend bought a condo in said city, our usual Triple Trouble gaggle of gals had to join up, check out her new place, and eat copious amounts of food in celebration. Upon learning that Brownstone was bookmarked for one of us, we took a stroll around the corner to this Guy Fieri-vetted establishment. I find the man insufferable, but DAMN, does he know his diners. Upon entering around 1:30 on a Sunday afternoon, the place was packed, but our names were put into the wait list. Once our number was called and our party was accounted for, we were led to our table. This place definitely made me think of the diners I went to in my youth, namely Twin Colones Diner in Torrington, Connecticut. (What's the off-chance that one of you readers has been there? Haha...) In short: You can order breakfast food with an absurdly bright blue cocktail, if you so choose. SCORE! We went booze-less on this venture, as I wanted to save a few calories. Heh. The menu is beyond vast! The pancake menu took up a full cramped page. The French Toast, egg, and waffle options were just as opulent, even though they didn't take up as much real estate in the menu. Overwhelmed, I opted for simple French Toast but ordered a side of cheese grits along side of it to satisfy my savory cravings. One friend ordered a French Toast sandwich filled with ham, cheese, and eggs, while the other went for a pepper-filled omelette and fries. We split a stack of plain pancakes among us all. The pancakes were pretty quintessential; they were fluffy, cakey, springy, and whatever other positive describing words can be attributed to a perfect pancake. My French Toast was excellent as well; some diners and restaurants under-cook the middles, leaving too much raw egg batter uncooked, thus making me ill. (Eep!) No worries here; they were cooked well and extremely flavorful. I tasted a nice amount of cinnamon. The cheese grits threw me for a loop; they came out in a small cup, topped with butter with a slice of cheddar cheese sticking out of it. Though I momentarily questioned not eating it and pissing away that $2.50, I eventually was able to stir the slowly-melting cheese into the grits, and they were pretty damn delightful. If there is one thing that I regret about my first visit to Brownstone Diner, it's not trying some of the more outrageous items. I went pretty Plain Jane with my selection, if only because I was so overwhelmed. Well, the walk from here to the Grove Street PATH ain't too shabby, and with a friend now in that 'hood, I have plenty of more chances to try one of their more elaborate pancake stacks or pancake wraps. NOTE: They are picky about splitting checks and separate bills. They did us a solid by eventually ringing up our individual items onto separate bills (...they even put $1.75 for 1/3 of the pancakes on each of our checks. Ha!), but be warned: Don't go there expecting to throw three debit cards on the table and telling the cashier to split the bill three ways. A small sign on the cash register that none of us noticed until later was the only thing pointing that fact out.
(4)Michelle D.
Went for Sunday Brunch and there was a wait as always but it ended up being quicker than expected. Got the Nutella pancakes which are ALWAYS a good choice and must if it's your first time and you're a chocolate (nutella) lover. We also ordered the "Irish Benedict" which is basically the eggs Benedict of my dreams with the best corn beef hash layered underneath three poached eggs topped with delicious hollandaise sauce. My boyfriend had the Guy Fieri buffalo chicken pancake wrap and it was delicious, salty & sweet combo is always a win! In the end, we were fully satisfied and had PLENTY of leftovers. Parking is almost always a pain, especially on Sunday. Your best bet is to park on the street nearby. Weekends tend to be very crowded so if you want more of a quiet and intimate ambiance, plan your visit on a weekday. Great service and even better food!
(5)Serena N.
Delicious fresh omlettes and great service. Onion soup was tasty. Coffee was delicious too. If there is a wait you have the option of sitting at the bar area which is convenient. Gyros and Greek menu items are also delicious! Sweet potato fries were skinny fries which were as tasty and English muffing was burned. Service is friendly and quick.
(4)Chrissy K.
Okay. The service and the food in general is a solid 3 stars. However, the PANCAKES. The pancakes are definitely 4 stars. The pancakes are a must try!
(3)Michael W.
What Use to be a great jersey City Spot for food and fun and good company has turned into one of those places that was on Diners Drive-ins and Dives and from that moment on down-hill fast, Food served any way Cold when it is suppose to be Hot, ask a question and You get a blank stare, Even thos the Brunch Lines can be Long the tables are not clean and the Food Has gotten-"SUB-PAR",, Yes, even the Pancakes,,, How do You mess up Pancakes??? Drop in for lunch and will not be back anytime soon,,, Thank God there is a Hospital across the street,
(1)Jack K.
The food was kinda average. Service- meh. They never refilled my coffee once. Then there are some really stupid rules. One of these rules is that you must get your own meal or there is an up charge. This is stupid considering the portions are huge. So couples can't order one meal and split to save some cash or anything. There is also a minimum charge per patron. Another is that there is a $10.00 CC charge which is actually against Visa's contract. One more. No splitting checks. There has to be one check for the table. Don't bother eating here.
(1)May C.
Came here for dinner the other day and it was amazing! We were seated right away and our waiter brought out waters almost immediately. We took some time to look through the menu because it was really extensive, but we eventually both settled for breakfast. Breakfast for dinner? How can you go wrong? I heard great things about their pancakes, so I decided to get the Original Pancake wrap (eggs, cheese and bacon wrapped in a warm fluffy pancake). My bf wanted to try one too; he ordered the Cowboy Pancake Wrap (western omelet wrapped in a warm fluffy pancake). Wow, these pancake wraps are no joke! It was like true heaven. The pancake was so fluffy it was like I was eating a piece of heaven. It was moist and thick (not in a heavy way) and just overall amazing. With some syrup and butter, the wrap was perfect. My boyfriend really enjoyed his wrap as well. He loves a good western omelet and he loves it even more with a delicious Brownstone pancake wrapped around it. We also ordered the Banana Crunch for dessert. It was pretty good, I just didn't like that it was served in a regular bowl. It didn't look as nice as I expected. I'm a huge fan of presentation, so if it's not presented right, it's a turn off for me. Dinged a star for this. Overall, fantastic place to eat. Service is great and so is the food. Try the pancake wraps, you don't regret it! Will definitely be here again!
(4)Tova F.
The line outside this diner always scared me away, but having finally mustered up the patience to wait in line, I can say that I am VERY happy I did! Their pancakes are TO DIE FOR-- we loved the peanut butter & chocolate one. Plus, the wait at 1 PM on a Saturday (which I imagine is their busiest time) was only 20 minutes. Just make sure you stand by the front desk, because their system of notifying you when your table is ready is very unorganized (basically, you'll be assigned a number, and woman will try her best to yell it out over the crowd, and if you're not there when your number is called, have fun waiting!). Beyond pancakes, I wouldn't waste my time on their coffee or hash browns ever again. City Diner (just a little while away) is FAR superior in those regards. BEST: pancakes, variety of items on menu WORST: front desk organization, some food items are very hit or miss (coffee/hash browns are very bad)
(4)Christina V.
This place definitely has good food, without a doubt. But the food tasted like standard diner fare (a little better than average). Many reviews raved about the corned beef hash as one of the best, but I have to respectfully disagree. It was crunchy and tasty, but tasted quite like from "the can". I was hoping the reviews were leading me to some real fresh CBH. If it was, it didn't taste that way. Also, I received my 3 poached eggs quite oddly presented - in a side cup with a significant amount of residual water. Not something I've seen before and it was challenging draining the water out of the cup gingerly without the eggs slipping out. I would like to come back and try the pancakes...they looked pretty good. The place was packed - they must be doing something right. I just don't see a particular reason to go out of my way to go here again. Except maybe for a pancake wrap....
(3)Jeff G.
The only thing you need to know about this place is the food is amazing and the pancake burrito is absolute heaven.
(5)S Z.
First yelp review. Created an account just to review this diner, after sending a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau. One of my worst dining experiences, ever. Dining with my boyfriend, we took his nephew out for an early 9th birthday celebration after visiting Liberty Science Center. My BF ordered a soup appetizer with meatloaf. Finally getting the soup after all main dishes were served, he requested that it be heated up because it wasn't hot. He didn't like his meatloaf. His nephew didn't like his chicken fingers. They were made with processed chicken. The server gave me my dish, saying they didn't have "the bread with the rosemary" and quickly left. She didn't ask me if I wanted it, and never came back to ask how it was. I was famished since I hadn't eaten in several hours, and didn't want to wait for something else, so I ate half of it and all of the curly fries, even though the dry panini was not good tasting, and I didn't like the ciabatta bread it was made with. The menu stated it had focaccia bread, the main reason why I ordered it. When the waitress came back it was with a take out container, assuming I wanted to take the rest home. I said I wanted to order a short stack of pancakes, and that I didn't like the panini, and I wanted it with focaccia bread. She bitterly said to me "that's what it is" and quickly walked away. She has terrible product knowledge of their food because she didn't know what focaccia is, as she first called it "the bread with the rosemary" and tried to convince me I had that type of bread, which I didn't. When she came back she said with a stern attitude "I can't give you a refund" because I ate all of the curly fries and half the sandwich. I said that didn't matter, that I still want the pancakes. My boyfriend asked if they had maple syrup, and she bluntly said it was $2 in a bitter tone. After I told the server I didn't like the panini, she gave repulsive service until she handed us the check. She treated me like I was trying to get free food. The server has horrible customer service skills. My BF dined at this restaurant once before. He got a pancake wrap with sausage, and he didn't like it. I will also say that we shared the pancakes and they were delicious, but I will not go back for great pancakes, as a matter of principle. It was very disturbing and she was one of the worst servers I've ever encountered. The receipt had the name April A. The restaurant also had flies. After my visit, I discovered Yelp reviewer Melissa I. found a dead fly in her pancake at this restaurant. After she demanded all the meals be removed from the check, the owner cursed at her husband. People need to know about these things. Avoid this restaurant.
(1)Dan B.
This place is amazing no matter what time of day you stop by. Came by here for a late lunch and got an iced coffee, a chocolate milk, the brownstone fries with lots of gravy and cheese and the Guy Fieri pancake wrap with crispy chicken in buffalo sauce and ranch - wow!! I never felt so full in my life. This was clearly my cheat carb day which went awfully wrong and no one stopped me. I will continue to come back and will try other breakfast items on the menu. Just a tip for those who love to eat.. park a few blocks down near all the beautiful brownstones and take a walk to the restaurant.. not only do you burn off those pancakes but you also see nice homes beautifully decorated. There! you got a Martha Stewart like review this time. Go enjoy your meal!
(5)Madison G.
Went a few weeks ago and forgot to review it after. Went for dinner with my boyfriend and both of us got pancakes. After reading all the reviews on yelp I guess we were both expecting better. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes and he had the guy fieri pancake wrap. Honestly the pancakes in my opinion were dry. The pancake wrap was interesting but he said he wouldn't have it again. We're going to try it one more time to see if the other food is better.
(3)Christopher C.
Went here for brunch on a Saturday. Although they said it would take 15 mins we really only waited about 5. Place looks like a traditional American diner and there are a lot of options on the menu. I chose the waffle with fresh fruit (strawberries and blueberries). This was ok - it was literally a waffle with fruit on top. The waffle didn't have much flavor. It's acceptable if you put some maple syrup on it. I also ordered sunny side up eggs and some ham on the side. Eggs were ordinary and ham was burnt. Price wasn't too bad though, considering I'm used to spending at least $15 on a brunch dish alone. The waffle itself was $8, add on another $5 for the eggs and ham side. I would come back to try the other dishes, but since I live in the city, I don't see this happening in the near future.
(3)Kelvin C.
I'm not a breakfast guy, but I swear this place makes me crave it. Might be the only place I've said it about when it comes to breakfast. Buddy of mine recommended this place and I ended up coming here two days in a row cause it was that good. I had the Irish Benedict both times (coulda tried something new but was craving it), along with a full stack of their pancakes. I could rave about the Benedict but the pancakes are phenomenal! To be honest I knew the place was called brownstone diner, didn't realize it had the pancake part in its name. But it definitely lives up to its name! I honestly crave their pancakes which is saying a lot considering I'm not a huge breakfast fan, let alone pancakes. Came twice the past week and I can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes and pancakes. The only bad thing I could say was that even if our waitress was a pro at taking all of our orders by memorizing them, she wasn't too attentive but did her job. Also, place was so good I wish this would be a diner that's open 24 hours. Overall honest rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars
(5)Julia K.
Super soft pancakes, friendly wait staff, and quick turnaround between order and delivery. The fruit pancake stack was delicious and huge. The standard western omelette was a little overcooked, but I thought the potatoes were cooked well. Next time I will have to try their signature dish that includes pancakes stuffed with other ingredients! This restaurant has received a lot accolades over the past years, and I think they are all well deserved. Make sure to take a look at the wall behind the cash register where you'll find articles about the restaurant's rich history and pics of their famous patrons.
(4)Carl C.
Looking for a breakfast place within the vicinity from our hotel on the morn after the July 4th night celebrations, we found this diner for an early morn family meet up. We needed a restaurant we thought will be quick and take in 7 people easily. Not knowing what to expect, I and the rest of our group were game for pancakes and omelets. It has a small parking area, but there is street parking. Since it was ~8:30 am, there wasn't a line outside or inside the restaurant and we got a table immediately. Our waitress Vanessa was attentive, accommodating and engaging as she answered our questions promptly since it was our first time here. Menu is very large and their food items are listed on the web site. In the mood for eggs, I scrolled down the omelets section. They ran out of ingredients for the lox & onion omelet (very bummed) so I got the turkey sausage & swiss cheese omelet with french fries. It tasted fine. Nothing spectacular, but the fries were good. Their portions can be large. Pancakes are stacked in threes. I tried the coconut pancakes mixed with shredded coconut inside the batter and layered on top. They were okay, but maple syrup is needed because the coconut flakes can be dry. I found out later that Guy Fieri spotlighted the food especially the pancakes from this diner. Hmmm, after hearing this, I think I would have expected more from this diner. I've read the yelp one- and two-star reviews for this place, and I find them both hilarious and disturbing, especially with those reviews dealing with children. Since there were plenty of open tables, I don't think it would be an issue if we brought my young niece here.
(3)Kripal P.
This is a lovely place. But be prepared with cash in your wallet, patience to be seated and bring a cavernous appetite. WARNING: Do not stop here is you are on a diet. This was always a popular place. But ever since Guy Fieri from the Food Network stopped by here, the wait is insane. You can watch the video out at vimeo.com/114024281 The food is awesome. Pancakes are a must try since this place was built on them. My favorite is the pigs in a blanket. But then again, I haven't had something I didn't like here. The serving size is huge that I usually end up taking a doggy bag. The reason for 4 stars and not 5 is that I don't like the wait and that they deal only in cash. The wait can go up to an hour on weekends. They have an ATM right next to the payment counter but will not spring for a credit card machine. Maybe it helps keep the costs down, but I am not a fan.
(4)Clara H.
I'm usually not one for diners but this place is legit! The portions are disgustingly huge which is just what I want when I come to a diner ; ) Be prepared for a long line if you come late morning or early afternoon on the weekends however it does go fast and faster than they tell you which is always a plus. Be sure to come hungry! I had a peanut butter waffle with sliced banana, my hubby had one of the breakfast specials which included sausage, bacon, pancakes and a side of hash browns. We came with a few friends who had the waffle and fried chicken (HUGE and delicious!!) as well as the reuben. We also shared jalapeño poppers which were so good. So much food that we didn't eat dinner that night, you almost had to carry me out of the restaurant, food coma!!!
(4)Nanci S.
I would definitely come here again. My S.O. and I were a bit hungry and after riding around Jersey City, I decided to Yelp the restaurants around here. This caught my attention. I mean, I am a HUGE sucker for pancakes and diners. It was, approximately around 5:00 p.m. when we pulled up at their parking lot, got out, and entered the diner. The place, needless to say, was pretty big. There were a few people already seated eating breakfast and my mouth watered at the sight. My S.O. had the Newport Omelet. He gave me a taste and it was simply delicious. The homemade meat sauce was the center of attention though. Oh, and cannot forget about the home fries. Simply yummy. The food was cooked perfectly. I had the banana walnut pancakes. The bananas could have been a little fresher, but it tasted amazing overall. The walnuts were great inside the pancakes. Both of the plates are served in huge portions. We couldn't eat it all. For these huge portions, it came out to 20 bucks, including drinks. I'm definitely going to come here again and eat more of their food. It's simply great.
(4)Mary Grace T.
I feel like I'm here every Sunday. Service is great, the owners are great, and when you don't know what you want to eat, this is always a go to place. I haven't been disappointed yet (except the one time I was stupid and ordered cereal). I recommend the Irish Benedict, any basket stuffers, and the buffalo chicken wrapper. I love the Brownstone!
(5)Claudia Z.
I was in Easton, PA for work, and drove all the way to Jersey City to try them out, all because of Triple D (addicted to that show). The menu is huge, and since I'm in Jersey almost never, I wanted to try everything. Finally settled on the corned beef hash, clam basket, and an espresso shake. No I didn't get pancakes... pancakes just does not hold up to Hawaii's Boots and Kimos, so I forgo pancakes at any establishment to save myself the disappointment. But the corned beef has was phenominal! I can't even describe it, so delicious! And even a side order is a huge serving, I can do a face plant in there and die happy. Plenty of parking, comfortable booths, plenty of TVs, friendly service, overall win!
(4)Maryann S.
I would love to give this place 5 stars but if just can't after my last experience there this weekend. I have been here tons of times and have had many things on the menu ranging from breakfast to dessert. This past night my boyfriend and I both had dinner entrees. I had the chicken francese with some steamed broccoli, and he had calamari fra diavlo over linguini pasta. My chicken was good but I didn't really like the pieces of chicken breast they used; they were not the most tender pieces and were a little rough to eat. I also hit a vein more than once unfortunately. He said his was very good and I did try the pasta and it was tasty. The pasta was cooked more than al dente, but my expectations aren't super high when ordering Italian food at a diner. What really diminishes this rating is that we both got food poisoning from this restaurant! We both had violent stomach pains and got really sick from our food. It's so disappointing that something we were served was spoiled or contaminated in some way. Please be cautious when eating here!!!
(2)Celeste D.
AMAZING PANCAKES! The first time I had the pancakes at Brownstone I was wonderfully delighted it was like heaven in my mouth. The Pancakes are light and fluffy and so sweet that you could probably eat it with no syrup. The service was great our food came in a timely manner and the prices were very reasonable given the high quality of the food. All in all if you want a great Jersey diner experience and some wonderful pancakes hit this place up it will not disappoint.
(5)Mark J.
Best diner in jersey city hands down.everything is good there great service best diner food everrrrrrrrr
(5)Safuwrah M.
There are a lot of raved reviews about this place. Granted the portions are huge and a variety on the menu. Only my partners and I second time there and the worst experience. We asked for a PLASTIC FORK..we were told we couldn't have one only for take out. I said I'm going to buy a desert after to take home. Her answer was NO..one of the manager came and started taking away our utensils and asked us to leave. We hadn't even started eating yet. There will be a major complaint filed and Brownstone diner will wish they had served us better. You never know who you will meet...rude, obnoxious, and downright nasty..
(1)David K.
THIS DINER IS NOT A DIVE, BUT WORTH THE DRIVE! It's hard to believe that it's been 4 years since its showcasing on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It's even harder to believe that this past Friday was the first time that we watched that episode. By the time that 7 and 1/2 minute segment was over, both my wife and I had our tongues hanging out of mouths. I'm not sure if I hit my head, but for some reason my brunch plans for Sunday were now replaced with pure desire to see if this place lived up to all the hype. I bookmarked the restaurant and within minutes I received a compliment from fellow NJ Elite Gina L. who told me that her husband had just seen this very place featured on the same and that they were convinced to go there ASAP too. I knew that this place was a real deal and it would be every bit as good as Guy Fieri made it seem to be. Then I realized that if a single viewing of this Food Network program could convince both me and a fellow Elite to go, then surely others would be lining up in droves too. I looked to Yelp for some advice without fail two NJ Elites (Steve B. and Mitchell M.) both recommended that we should get in there before 10am or we would be dealing with long lines and no parking spaces in their lot. We entered the lot at 10am sharp and swooped in to grab the only available parking space. My heart sank when we got inside and saw people standing around the doorway. I imagined that despite all of my planning that we would now be forced to endure some ridiculous wait. However, Lady Luck was must have been smiling down on us because the host informed us that the wait as only 10-15 minutes long. Score! They were not joking! This place really does have 31 different kinds of pancakes on their menu. I suppose they could call themselves the Baskin-Robbins of the Pancake world, but why would they? This place has been making a name for itself for over 40 years. Anyway, as this place is a diner the menu is an extensive array of dishes spanning breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Call us crazy, but at 10am we were focused on breakfast. I decided to get the Irish Benedict (Poached eggs & corned beef hash drizzled with hollandaise sauce on an english muffin) while my wife ordered the Jack Combo (Silver dollars, 3 eggs and 1 turkey sausage). We could not have ordered better as these choices allowed us to sample from a variety of different offerings without over-ordering beyond the large servings which the Brownstone is known to provide. For the Irish Benedict, the poached eggs are served on top a layer of corned beef hash which covers both halves of an english muffin. The hash tasted as though it was made fresh for my order and was truly the best that I have ever had. I worked my way through my plate from left to right clearing down cross-sections of the eggs, hash, and muffin in one slice and trying my best to have room for the homefries. The Jack Combo was another winner as my wife got to have some morning eggs, a delicious link of turkey sausage (I ended up eating half of it, so I should know), and a full stack of their silver dollar pancakes. The pancakes were every bit as good as they were described to be on TV. They were light and fluffy and they had a unique flavor that you won't find on the shelf in your local supermarket. After finishing my plate and barely making a dent in the full stack, we called it quits. It's a shame that the Pancake House located in my town doesn't come close to measuring up against the Brownstone Diner. This place was worth every word of it's hype. It wasn't until we got to the counter to pay our check and we told the owner that we had seen his place featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives that we learned that the episode that we just watched was actually 4 years old and that the influx of people that we were seeing (by the time we left, the line was now arching out the door) was typical for a normal weekend. In 4 years time I've seen restaurants lose steam and start to go downhill, but this place seems unchanged from their resolve to make great food. We'll definitely be coming back soon as this place is our new favorite place to do breakfast! Watch the episode here: brownstonediner.com/the-…
(5)Vincent B.
Great food with fast and friendly service. Weekends are jammed though - best to come in b/t mass on Sundays. Figure on a 20 min wait and not a huge waiting area. You can't go wrong with their pancakes!!
(4)Kamilah G.
This place is awesome. My colleagues and I were on our way back home from a business trip and some of our colleagues recommend this diner. Waitress by the name of Theresa was a freaking Rock star. She was so personable and precise. Our food was to rave about. The Rasta pasta was not what I'm used to (being from Brooklyn) the corned beef and cabbage was on point. Can't complain and when in Jersey again I will visit.
(4)Adrianna N.
The first time I came here the food wasn't bad. Second time will be my last!!! There was mole on my bread, distrusting. Lost appetite, paid and left.
(2)Kevin C.
Perfect diner. Love the wraps and omelettes!
(5)Johnny P.
Been here a couple of times and somehow i manage to forget to check in, I'll take partial blame for that but the other half of that blame gets awarded to the bartender. The staff is always friendly and Fern or Fernando being his full name is one cool a** waiter. He's great at what he does, doesn't push you around, good recommendations and explanation of the items in the menu, checks up on you but doesn't over do it like most waiters tend to and has an easy flow about him that makes you want to make sure that you get helped by him every time you come here. The food here comes in large portions so you'll have enough to eat there and take the rest home with most of their choices. If you do go in large groups try to take cash as they tend to not like to break the bill into more than 2 cards for each party. Decor wise, apart from the crooked picture frames that make you wonder if you had too many martinis, the place is warm and cozy. It does get packed for brunch on the weekends mainly between 10 - 12ish so if you do hate waiting past 10 minutes i would go at another time. The menu is extremely varied on all possibilities specially their waffles and pancake combos which is what they specialize in here. I particularly like the chocolate chip, nutella and strawberry pancakes with whip cream which come perfectly done with a golden crisp. They do hold a pretty stocked bar and make pretty solid drinks which are loaded well, the apple martinis to some taste strong, to me they're perfect here. The only thing i wish is that they stayed open until later since technically it is a diner as well. I'll make sure to visit again on my cheat days whenever i decide to break my diet and regret it the next day lol, see ya'll there :)
(5)Nicole V.
one of my favorite diners ever, I try to visit any time I am in town. I have never had any food or drinks I didn't like. some favorites are the disco fries, chocolate and peanut butter pancakes with bananas and the original wrap. Try their drinks, they are just as delicious as their food. I once had a keylime pie martini but when I looked a few days ago I didn't see it on the menu. If they can still make it, try asking for it. I would give them five stars but their service always seems to be off. I know they are busy every time I am here but to not have a waitress even come back to see if you need water or coffee during brunch time for more than 30min is unacceptable. Luckily the food makes up more than enough.
(4)Christina L.
Overrated and gimmicky, clearly should have known since it was featured on Guy Fieri's show. Large portions for sure, but not exactly mind blowing or that great. Would come for hangover food simply due to quantity.
(2)Joseph C.
Love this place! Gotta try Triple "D" Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap. OMG, you need a friend to finish this. Best pancake spot. Oddly enough, I have never been here during morning times, lol. Deserts aren't that great, but not bad. PANCAKES.....this is your place.
(5)Liz S.
Giant pancakes. Yum. Fruit compotes. Yum.
(4)Augie R.
This is a terrific little diner--it's clean, has good service (served with a side of personality) and features one of those diverse menus you expect from a place like this (Greek, sandwiches, burgers, salads, dinners, pancakes for dinner, etc.) I have not had breakfast here (which is obviously the specialty), but my wife's dinner omelet was excellent. I liked the Gyro platter, although I've had better. I think next time I'll stick to some typical diner fare like a burger or tuna melt, which looked good. The fries are good old school potato-y fries. There is a light rail stop (Jersey Ave) just two blocks away, so it's easy to get to the Brownstone. We'll be back.
(4)Evan M.
Out of all the many factories in New Jersey, I have to say this is my favorite one by far. Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory has been a go-to breakfast spot in Jersey City for many years. The list of pancake possibilities seem endless. It was really tough deciding which flavor we wanted. Wanting to have both my bacon and my pancakes in one I opted for the bacon pancakes. The stack was huge and had a good amount of bacon to satisfy my craving. The good thing about this place is that I did not have to worry about my cholesterol from the bacon pancake combo. If I were to have a heart attack there would be no better place to have one. Jersey City Medical Center is right across the street. Problem solved. If you are in Jersey City and have a desire for pancakes, Brownstone should be on your list. It never disappoints me every time I come here.
(4)Tom M.
I have only had breakfast at the Brownstone, so that's all I can really comment on. I thought the omelets were great. Most recently I had a California omelet. The omelet had avocado, tomatoes and cheese in it. It was large and it was good. It came with a nice sized serving of home fries and I opted for whole wheat toast. Everything was great. The diner is very nice inside.... I like the tv's in the dining area. Prices are a bit higher than some diners.
(3)Shing H.
I'm a big fan of diners in general, but based on the menu and reviews, this is much more on the pancake house side. I went with the "Honky tonk" (peanut butter & banana) pancakes, which were pretty tasty, but I'm not sure that it'd be worth going too far out of your way for them. The peanut butter chips added a nice texture, especially with their slightly toasted edges, but I would have liked a lot more banana. Overall the pancakes were just too sweet, even though I'd intentionally picked the peanut butter & bananas in the hope of offsetting that a bit. Coffee was typical terrible diner coffee.
(3)Angela L.
Definitely the best dinner food I ever had. Ordered guy's buffalo chicken pancake wrap, south of the boarder omelet, jersey city French toast. All of them are delicious! Will go back there next time we go to NYC, and stay in nj.
(5)Daniel G.
Pancakes were awesome. Either have them a la carte or as a wrap (i.e. Buffalo chicken). Gets a bit crowded on the weekends and you can definitely notice when you enter the restaurant - front area is packed and hard to get to the hostess. Nonetheless, the food is worth the wait, prices aren't bad and the vibe is chill.
(4)Michelle M.
Warning: This place is jammed packed on the weekends. But we toughed it out and got a table in about 30 minutes. The food is quite good. Portions are very large. Typical diner fare. I assume it is so crazy there because of the Triple D visit. I would have given it 4 stars, but the table they seated us at the floor was quite filthy. I mean, I know you want to turn business around quickly, but at least sweep up other people's gross, chewed up food stuck on the floor first. Yuck!
(3)Kendra J.
The Brownstone Diner is a big staple in downtown Jersey City. There is plenty of seating, yet there is still a line during brunch-time on weekends. The menu has an enormous variety with every dish you can think of. All the food I've ever had there has been really good and comes in sizable portions. You will not leave hungry! Some of my favorites are the eggs benedict with ham, and the toasted blueberry muffin. The crowd is a bit mixed, but that is expected. The owner and wait staff are friendly, but service can sometimes fall a little behind on weekends given how busy they are. All in all, definitely worth checking out.
(4)Parmjit B.
My first time here and i am food lover....quantity was good and that is the only sliver lining here...quality was average at best and waiter service is horrible....i asked for a check it took them over 20 mins to get me a check and no straws were provided even after asking for one twice to drink water out of the glass....i will give it zero stars given that was an option....just horrible management and overall service to go along with average quality of food.
(1)Lovet O.
Service is becoming terrible and the food is so-so. I have been to Brownstone Diner three times since my last review and I'm noticing a decline in service and quality. "Mister" and I were overlooked when were waiting to be seated, the server did not pay attention to detail when it came to our order, we experienced "false advertising". "Chicken in a Basket" my a**. It was more like fries in a basket with a hint of chicken. And the chicken was dry and tough too. I don't know about this place anymore.
(3)Mel C.
As far as diners go, and there are so many, this one doesn't disappoint. Eve though there were a lot of people waiting to be seated, it didn't take long at all... Pretty quick service and kind service too. The waffle is light and fluffy and huge, along with the corned beef hash, had to try the sausage too... Too much food, but that's not a complaint!! Solid diner and I'm glad we tried it!
(4)Brian C.
As the girlfriend says "the pancakes were 'to die for'". If you have the chance to eat here- don't miss it. The pancakes are that good! Don't bother with a Bloody Mary tho. Those were bad. Lol.
(4)J C.
The food is very good, but parking can be a hassle.
(4)Kersonder W.
This place was awesome. The people are so friendly and they pancakes were awesome! I could not finish as a regular stack of pancakes come with three, but the are HUGE!! One is as round as a dinner plate. I will definitely be back, but order just one pancake next time!
(5)Monica V.
Solid breakfast spot. The buttermilk pancakes are very good. I usually get the pancake combo. You cannot beat 3 huge pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The lunch items are also very good. It is insanely busy during the weekends so be prepared to wait. The staff is fantastic and it's definitely one of those places that you come back to over and over again.
(4)Megan G.
This was the first meal I had when I moved from New York to New Jersey. I woke up starving and when I found out there was a pancake FACTORY, well, of course I was going to have to come here immediately. I was horrified to find upon arrival that Guy Fieri had left his greasy skid marks here at some point, but the food won me over and I was able to overlook that fact. It was certainly not my last visit, and it was one of the bright spots of my one year stay in New Jersey before I moved away. I loved the banana nut pancakes, but I also liked the burgers and never had a bad meal here. It does get crazy in here for weekend brunch, but it's much more relaxed in the off hours. I was curious about some of the really negative reviews. Then when I realized that a lot of them are from parents whose toddlers who break crap and had to pay for what they broke, well, that goes into the plus column as far as I'm concerned. I've had a lot of meals ruined by screaming toddlers whose parents seem to think they're entitled to turn every restaurant into a Gymboree, so this warms the cockles of my cold, dark heart. This ain't IHOP. Get your kids to behave, as many parents seem to manage, or GTFO. I'm back on this page because I'm planning to make a trip to NJ soon and I will be stopping here. Well, I came back to see friends, but this is also one of my must-go destinations, because...DID YOU NOT SEE THE PANCAKE FACTORY PART? *drool*
(5)Mark S.
Great Pancakes! Featured on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. Get there early as the lines can get long on the weekends. They also offer pickup which could be convenient on the weekends.
(4)Mai Y.
Me and the roommate came here for breakfast one time - I ordered chocolate chip pancakes and he ordered the french toast. I was really surprised at all of the variety of food they had. Not only do they have a TON of pancake types/choices/selections, but they have burgers, sandwiches, omelettes, french toast, and a lot of other things if pancakes aren't your thing. The prices are great (about $7-8 for my pancakes) - and I could only eat half of the pancakes because they were so big. I think I'd only come to this place for the pancakes though...since it IS called the pancake factory. There are so many choices, and you could have something different every time you come here!
(4)Rachel D.
Been there twice and both times were let downs. Highly overrated. Food was slow to get to our table and the waitress even got the order wrong.
(2)Jason B.
I saw this place on Drive-in, Diners, and Dives so I thought i would try it out. When I arrived with my toddler and infant, I was told that I needed to wait for a particular table. No problem. So I asked if I could get a cup of coffee while I waited which I thought was a reasonable request. The manager rudely replied to me "what am I going to put it in?! I don't have cups here." REALLY.... He couldn't just grab a cup of coffee for me??? Unbelievable!!! Then, the host skipped me for another family with a child the same age. Seriously?! I was pissed now. The stupid host looked at me like I was crazy for getting upset with him. For their initial service, I give this place one star. When we finally were sat, the service was fast and the food was only OK. They do provide large portions. You could easily split a child's pancake and one of their pancake wraps between two adults and one toddler. For speed of service and only ok food, I give this place three stars. Unfortunately, the horrible initial service is the reason why I will never go there again. There are too many good NJ diners to waste my time again at this place.
(2)Hope T.
I just don't get it! This single handedly has diminished my faith in Triple D. Owners must offer something to get a spot on the show, for sure. Restrooms filthy- and if they keep public aresas dirty what must the kitchen be like. I too witnessed a server exit the lav without washing hands-yuck The crowds brought on by Triple D just make this experiebce not even worth the effort for another vist. The famous pankakes were plentiful-but I HAVE had better. Its a good servicable dinner-nothing else
(2)Jami A.
Not sure this place even needs another great review the foods phenomenal. Expect a wait. People seem to come from all over just to eat here and now I know why. Once we were seated our waitress was far from the typical miserable diner server. She was upbeat, knowledgeable about all the dishes and even got my friend to change her original order based on her recommendation. My friend had the breakfast bruschetta which she claimed was incredible and I went for the loaded omelette which was like a loaded baked potato on crack, so good. Portions are big so bring an appetite. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Anna K.
I want to start off by saying that the food was actually pretty good. In fact, for diner food, I would give it 4-5 stars. However, the experience itself was dreadful. We come in and the hostess asks us how many (2?) and quickly ushers us to a booth. The only problem was that there was still left over food and drinks on the table. We stand staring at each other awkwardly as she assures us to sit down and that she will be right back to clean up. Now this isn't my first time at a diner, but don't the tables usually get cleaned before you sit down? Strike one. She comes back about 2 minutes later with a wet rag and removes most of the food and quickly wipes down the table. Yes, I said, MOST of the food. She still left some milk there for the duration of our lunch. Strike two. After some time the waitress appears and asks to take our order. We weren't yet ready so we ordered our drinks. This seemed to annoy her, but having no other choice she returns five minutes later and takes our order. Here is how that conversation went. Her (to me): What would you like? Me: Spinach Salad Her: (to my husband) How about you? Husband: French Fries and Hot Wings. Her: hmmmm Husband (pointing to the only hot wings on the menu): This right here! Her: OK Her (to me): What would you like? Me (blank stare): I asked for the Spinach salad, were you not paying attention? (note: do not do this unless there is an open kitchen and you can be assured that she won't spit in your food) Her (slight laugh): Ok Husband (to me): She's smart. She knows better than to listen to you. (Strike Three) I also want to note that at no point were we offered or received a glass of water. Like I said, the food redeemed this place, but not enough for me to return. Even though it was lunch time, every table around us was eating pancakes and they did look delicious and HUMONGOUS. I wanted to trade some of my spinach salad for a few bites of pancakes with the nearby table, but that would be weird, right?
(2)Mary B.
Unbelievably huge and tasty pancakes. Great find in the middle of the gritty city. Excellent service even at 6:00 a.m. I'd give it 5 stars except the men's room had a clogged toilet and unusable. Ladies room was fine.
(4)Frank S.
Try their London Broil dinner and you will be sold on the Brownstone. Also, great table service.
(5)Carissa L.
Between the stories I've heard about my friends going here, and me finally having my own experience for breakfast, my conclusion is this: There is SO MUCH GOOD happening here. How could there be anything wrong with a place that offers a giant pancake filled with eggs, home fries, and sausage? There couldn't be. This dish is the 'itis' waiting to happen...but so worth it. I got an omelet with tomatoes and American cheese, and it was pretty good. The toast was perfect and the home fries were some of the best I've ever had. I'm a huge stickler for home fries as they're one of my favorite foods, so this is a serious assessment. They had a sort of buttery taste to them and yet they were so simply seasoned. Whatever they're doing in that kitchen, they're doing it right. The waitress was also kind enough to top off my coffee, which I haven't ever experienced in a NY diner. She was attentive and checked in on us even though she was very busy. I never thought I'd say the sentence "I wish I lived in New Jersey" but yowza! ;) I wish there was a Brownstone Part II in New York!
(5)Karen X.
No wait for 6 at 9:30am sunday. Good pancakes, good waffles. So-so on the French toast. Omelets are good. Service could be much better. I asked for coffee and cream - received only the coffee. Had to wave down waiter for it. And why should I have to hunt down the waiter for a refill?? That should be automatic!
(3)Liz L.
After traveling for work a few days and eating less than delicious on the go/hotel breakfasts the colleague I was with who has come to this place often told me he was taking me to a great breakfast place...I was excited to get some good breakfast food. When we drove up I remember this place being on the Food Network... on Drive in Diners and Dives (Keep in mind I HATE Guy Fieri-I wouldn't trust his opinion on anything-). Well the food certainly did not let me down...nor did the selection. I had an omelet that was the size of my head that came with toast and hash browns...all of it was delicious and fresh and just really good tasting. My colleague had a HUGE stack of pancakes that were deliciously fresh looking. They had a little bit of everything. The place was clean with an old timey atmosphere... The place isn't super friendly (When we walked in the guy who is I think supposed to be the host didn't get up from the booth he was sitting at reading his paper and just pointed behind him and told us we could take any seat-they seemed friendlier on the TV) and a little slow the waiter never brought us a check until he saw us go up to the counter and try to pay. (hence why they lost a star). Also foul language was coming from the staff (I think I heard the word Shi% like 3 times from a waitress-It was loud and audible-It did not appear to be directed at a customer but more like oh Shi% I forgot to do something)...so perhaps if you have small children you should be aware. I would come back again (yes the food was that good) but I would allow myslef a little more time. So if you want good food and are not in a rush and are not concerned about friendly atmospheres stop by for a warm good hearty breakfast.
(4)Astra G.
So i've been here many times and yes the food is great (though one time I got a really mediocre chicken bruschetta sandwich), and the servers are nice...but no one ever mentions the booze! For a diner/restaurant their drink menu is extensive. Not only do they have many drinks but the prices are great. There is also a very long list of just coffee related drinks... Most, if not all, of the drinks are $5-$6. I always come here to pre-game. Too bad they close at 11.
(5)Michael R.
Came here a few months ago after seeing it on triple d. The pancakes were huge! Very tasty though. I just got a regular breakfast meal with eggs and sausage. Nothing fancy, but great quality. I also got an order quesadillas. They too were pretty good. Next time I go I'll be a bit more adventurous in my tasting.
(4)Rohit D.
The fluffiest, most satisfying pancakes I've ever had. Not enough? How about a sausage and egg platter wrapped in one of those pancakes? Clever plethora of breakfast based concoctions. I recently read NJ does pretty well in terms of relative obesity in the nation. But with Brownstone in the same state, I can't understand how.
(5)Lamar H.
Best Breakfast Spot in Hudson County . The Pancake Wraps are one of a kind .. Don't believe me just order !!!!!!!
(5)k f.
Updated to confirm that the fries I remembered from a decade ago are still ridiculously awesome. Sorry for the delay, but it's almost impossible to get something other than their amazing pancakes. My new favorite pancakes are the chocolate peanut butter mix. Oh man. But I need to focus...I came here to post a pic of the fries.
(4)James H.
First off, the portions are HUGE! Second, the food is really GOOD! I was really happy with my experience eating at the Brownstone. The food was awesome, the portions were gigantic, and the service was pretty good, even for things being really busy. I got the Pancake Wrap and my gf got some type of omelet platter. We both could barely finish our food and were stuffed for hours. It was good too. Although as listed, they have some crazy rules like extra charge for plate sharing and no splitting the check.
(4)JohnandPenni L.
While neither of us are from areas that have a big "Diner" culture, this place fits the bill for what we think of when that term comes to mind. The menu is large, the service was good and the atmosphere was very nice. We ordered the chicken cordon bleu and Rib eye. Both were AMAZING!! Our only reason for not giving 5 stars is due to the fact that we don't have enough comparable knowledge to warrant it. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed!!
(4)Erin H.
Living on the same street as this place is seriously dangerous. It is way too easy to wake up, roll out of bed, and get diner food. The best diner food. Sadly, though, I haven't been able to branch out much at Brownstone because between my fiance and I, one entree order is always taken up by peanut butter and jelly pancakes. These pancakes are serious business. I generally don't like pancakes. They always seem leaden and boring. These are light and sweet. And the addition of peanut butter chips and jelly is sheer genius. The omelets are huge; I always have leftovers. Also, a huge plus is that they offer grits as a choice of a side before 3 pm. Grits in New Jersey?! That makes a Southern expat very happy. It does get crowded on the weekends, but the staff really hustles to turn tables. The host stand always has a handle on the situation, regardless of the level of craziness. And believe me, Brownstone is so worth the wait.
(5)Eric L.
Great food, fast friendly service. I go for the corned beef hash and eggs...a food coma will ensue.
(5)Deborah D.
Epic Jersey diner featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives located just a short walk from our condo? We rushed to eat here EARLY on a Saturday morning soon after the episode aired. It was already pretty crowded, but we were seated right away. Let me just say that the atmosphere is classic diner, right down to the waitresses pouring it on all syrupy thick with their Jersey accents and looooooooove. As a Jersey girl married to a Midwestern guy, I had to laugh. There is nothing so classically Jersey as a diner, and the Brownstone is as classic as it comes. So the food was fantastic, but every plate was enough food for at least 2 hungry, I mean REALLY HUNGRY people. I ordered the pancake wrap, which is basically a massive burrito made out of buttermilk pancakes, which came with bacon, eggs, and cheese inside. I ate about 1/3 of it and then got too full to move (I'm sub-100 pounds)...and my husband, who had made his enormous omelet disappear swooped in and ate another 1/3. We took the other 1/3 home and I heated it up in the oven and ate it for breakfast the next day. Like I said, epic. Another visit entailed some dinner after happy hour at the nearby Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden. I got the corned beef hash, eggs, and toast, which was nothing a foodie would write home about, but still comforting and good. Bottom line - comfort classics, made well and made BIG. Dress in stretchy pants.
(5)Ngoc P.
I can't get over how crowded they are every weekend during breakfast/brunch. And the waiting area sucks. Pancakes are out of this world. It's like dense, fluffy, buttery, and light at the same time? I don't get it but I don't argue it either. Stay away from the french toast, it's Brownstone PANCAKE factory. I recommend going sometime other than the weekend mornings. It can get pretty hectic and it somewhat ruins your brownstone experience. But overall, it's a nice diner with awesome fries and pancakes. P.S. they have sweet potato fries.
(4)Michael G.
As you can see by my check ins I come here alot. Living only a block away from the diner has become a problem...a good problem to have. I'm usually here at dinner time but I still have trouble deciding whether I want breakfast for dinner. The pancakes are amazing possibly the best I've ever had (besides grandmas). I have a few favorite sandwiches that are down to perfection...the hungry man, the chicken parm sub, and the chicken cordon blue panini done as a wrap. The fries are always perfectly crispy. The side Caesar is also really good when I'm trying to be a little healthy. And I can't forget the onion soup, better than you can get at most expensive French restaurants! The staff is great and really friendly...I always chat with Bobby when he's up front. All the waiters and waitresses are super friendly and great at what they do. I love living so close to this place!
(5)Deprina G.
Everyone's reviews is right when it comes to the food but being a recently New comer I went to this Place 3 Times and not once was the Service Good. Its kinda like they have a cocky attitude. Yeah we Have the best food but we don't have to Give good service. On the first visit we never seen our waiter again after he took our order...until he brought our eggs which he forgot 20minutes earlier....they were runny and oily ehh the Second time I waiter didn't even greet us .." Hey Tell me what you Want" ...Im sorry but they is not how we address customers in the Midwest. then even though he never checked on us he keep looking back to see if we wanted to Leave a Tip. the third time i had the same waiter and I just couldn't if you go here your best bet is to Order take out so you don't have to deal with the staff.
(2)Sara E.
This is such a great go-to place when you can't decide on what sounds good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've had the turkey and swiss omelet - it's like actual carvery turkey - and is quite possibly one of the best omelets I've had. Definitely the best I've had on the East Coast. It's best to go at weird hours, otherwise the line snakes out the door. But when you're there with only a few other customers, it's pretty much the best ever. No lie. I've had a few of the salads too, when I'm feeling particularly healthy but want to drink a glass of wine. Final verdict - the menu is SO robust that everyone in your party will find at least 3 things they'd like to order. Choice is NOT a bad thing. It just makes you want to go back and try all the different things you didn't get a chance to try before.
(4)Matt S.
I have been to the Brownstone Diner a few times since I went to Saint Peter's near-by, but I still have yet to order some pancakes. I'm not sure why this is, but whenever I walk in, I'm never in the mood. I always order some kind of burger or wrap with their delicious fries. I went again a few weeks ago when I had some time by myself to grab some food. I ordered the Buffalo Chicken wrap, which was decent. It wasn't the best, nor was it the worst. I did have some stomach pains later in the day, which makes it feel like it moved a little towards the worst side, but those fries always, ALWAYS make up for it. Delicious. I will definitely be back randomly, just like this past time, but hopefully I will order the pancakes. I doubt it though.
(3)Tova B.
My out of town friends LOVE the Brownstone Diner. One of the best things about the Diner is the large and vast menu, which has pretty much every option you can think of at a diner. Their claim to fame is pancakes with... anything baked into them. Strawberry pancakes, banana pancakes, sausage pancakes bacon pancakes, etc. You think of it, they got it. But mostly standard diner fare. Service is okay. Been there when the service is fantastic, been there other days when flagging down a server is impossible. Maybe it's just a New York thing, but I expect diners to be open 24/7. Or at least late night. It seems the Brownstone closes around 10.
(3)Yasmin B.
I went here after a friend of mine kept recommending I go, with pics to match, I braved traffic in Midtown to get to Jersey and fell in love as soon as we sat down! The place is comfy and cute and everyone smiles! The booths are huge and you can actually sit in them and not feel like a pearl in a very small oyster :D We all ordered pancakes...I was so hungry and the menu was so big I started to shake and just stuck with the first page....OMG so much to choose from. I ordered a side of fries, which our awesome waitress brought right over because she could see I was hungry. Even those were good! The pancakes were light and fluffy and too much for one or even two sittings. I have to say the waitress did warn me, but I like to eat and I thought she was exagerating. I had the banana/walnut pancakes and just finished eating them today (took three days). My kids had the chocolate chip (silver dollar pancakes) and the peanut butter/chocolcate pancakes and they're still eating them. I love the food! (Did I say that already?) After stuffing myself into a coma, I looked behind me and the owner was making sure that all of the tables had salt, pepper, ketchup and napkins.....he was standing with his staff making sure everyone was taking care of the little things that can quickly aggravate a customer. He even caught my eye as I was looking around and looked like he wanted to JUMP over the tables to help me. I didn't need anything but a bed...I was fine. I love this place! (Did I say that already?) My mom even called her sisters to tell them where we ate and what we had. YUMMMM (Did I say that already?) Definitely worth the trekk and the toll to Joisy, plus you can get cheaper gas than in NY....I love this place (Did I say that already?) Oh!! And our bill for 4 breakfast feasts that lasted three days.....$36! If you calculate the per day bill for all of our meals we paid three dollars a day.....and it was soooo good! (Did I say that already?)
(5)Katie N.
Brownstone is a solid choice for breakfast/brunch. The food is pretty good - although, I haven't had the famous pancake pig in a blanket. The portions here are huge - so if you're not a big eater - it might be a good idea to share. Also, depending on the time you come -- it will be packed crowded and probably a minimum fifteen minute wait to get seated. Sometimes this also makes the service a bit slow. Last time I went - our waitress was really sweet but she kept forgetting what we asked for. We never got our orange juice or ketchups. I know she was really busy.... but still. One time I got chocolate chip pancakes (one of my favorite dishes) but they were AWFUL. There were probably about four chocolate chips in each pancake and they weren't very good - kind of burnt and airy. They didn't taste like they had any chocolate chips in them at all. Boo. Bottom line: good breakfast food, big portions, decent prices - usually super crowded.
(3)Dana W.
Literally have never had one thing that I did not absolutely live here...and I have been going for at LEAST 10 years, maybe more!!!!! The atmosphere is bustling, the staff is amazing, and have all been there a long time. The crowd is eclectic and it works. Expect long lines on the weekends, but it moves..... The family who runs it makes everyone feel like family. Hands down my favorite place to eat in all of Hudson County!
(5)Irene H.
Come here if you aren't afraid of lines and love huge portion sizes. Quality on the other hand... I got the muscle man pancake wrap - huge buttermilk pancake with turkey sausage (yummy), fluffy egg whites, and cheddar cheese. The pancake was eh and dry. And that's what makes up most of its menu - pancakes. I guess most people douse their pancakes in butter and syrup. I tried some of the beef hash and chocolate chip pancakes - nice crispy edges but otherwise didn't have enough chips and texture was the same as the wrap. Clinton Street Bakery still has my vote for best pancake.
(3)Indy S.
Everyone has their favorite breakfast spots, but as far as diners go, BrownStone beats out the rest. It's a family owned and operated establishment that has been featured on guys big bites, and you can't go wrong regardless of what you order. Portions are huge, and the staff treat you like family. Massive pancake selection my wife loves, and my personal favorite, the eggs Benedict, one of their many specials. BrownStone has been graced the the presence of many local politicians, Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, Cory Booker, an Steve Fulop. Had lunch at BrownStone today, the grilled chicken sandwiches are large enough for 2 people to share, that is unless your planning on taking a nap afterwards, or participating in an eating contest. Only recommendations I have for management is, turkey bacon for the menu. Parking is terrible, and be prepared to wait 20 minutes to be seated, yep, it's that good!!
(5)Mike S.
Overall the place was nice the staff was good the place was nice but little on the expensive side
(3)Yang C.
Had guy fieri's chicken pancake burrito. The burrito is damn huge and I can barely move after I eat it.
(5)Jacob M.
One of the best places to get brunch in Jersey City. The diner is very well-known, having been featured on the Food Network numerous times and frequented by the likes of Chris Christie and Cory Booker. So you can imagine I was very excited to visit. The place is huge, but still always has a wait. Luckily, it was only ten minutes on our visit. The decor is very homey. High ceilings, chrome mixed with wood, a very laidback vibe without the hyper brightness that is the feature of many other diners. The food was pretty good diner food. I got the three eggs, homefries and toast with a side salad and was very happy. The portions are very large, and they even managed to cook my rather fussy order of over-medium eggs correctly. (A feat that few other restaurants actually do.) Plus, the food was inexpensive, so that can't be beat. The one star deduction is for the service. While our waitress was friendly and attentive, I did have to mention that a few of my breakfast items were missing, having parts of my breakfast come out in longer than ten minute intervals from each other and receiving someone else's dish. But we're all human and it's very busy there, so I didn't mind too much. Again, again please!
(4)Rebecca M.
Me and my dad went to this place back when it first opened and boy was it horrible. I went there with my boyfriend recently and I was terrified to go because of the past memories, but my friends recommended this place so I gave it a try again. Omg this place is awesome now!!! Best diner ever and inexpensive :D
(5)Anne G.
This place never disappoints! I think the worst thing about brownstone is trying to decide what you're going to order. From pancakes, to waffles, to wraps, to omeletes, to sandwiches, to salads, to steaks, to pasta - the choices are endless! I love the variety and I definitely love this diner! The showstopper pancakes (peanut butter & chocolate chip pancakes topped with bananas) and the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter pancakes topped with bananas) are my favorite! If you're a peanut butter lover, you'll love these two kinds of pancakes! The pancakes are so soft and so fluffy! One of the best that I've had! The pancake wraps and the waffles are very good as well! The omeletes are good. They come with toast & homefries, French fries or grits and you have a choice to add a meat side. Generous portions. My recommendation to all the French fry enthusiasts is to try the Brownstone fries (curly fries topped with cheddar, mozzarella, bacon bits, and BBQ ranch dressing)! The absolute best! You definitely won't regret it! Awesome diner, awesome staff, awesome food!
(4)Yves V.
I have driven by this place a hundred times and never gave it a second thought. However, one day, I finally ate here with some coworkers for breakfast. There are good pancakes, and then there are great pancakes. Brownstone serves perfect pancakes. They really are in a league of their own. You often see the word "homemade" thrown around a lot on restaurant menus, but very little hardly ever measure up. Brownstone's pancakes taste homemade in every way. Their eggs and sausage are also very well prepared and can hold their own with the best diners I've been to. This is one of those few places where you enjoy your meal so much, you don't care about the cost. You will find pretty standard NJ diner pricing here, but the quality of food you get for that money is more than worthy of that price tag. Jersey City restaurants are always tight on parking and this place is no different. They have a parking lot, but it fills up pretty quick during peak hours. The interior is kept clean, but all the furniture and decor is pretty plain. The crowd is a very mixed demographic. Overall, there's nothing that really sets them apart from the countless other diners in this category. The staff are very nice and attentive. The food we ordered came out super quick and as described. There's not really much more you can ask for in a diner. Food: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Environment: 3/5 Service: 4/5 I can definitely see why this establishment was featured on 'Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives'. Their food is top notch and I will be back for more in the future.
(4)Alex V.
This place has my favorite pancakes. They're so fluffy and satisfying, especially when you top them with loads of syrup and cup of butter on top. I love to get that with a side of pork sausages. They really know how to prepare those Thumann's breakfast sausages -- the skin is so crispy and the inside is really moist and delicious. This place is great when you have a hangover of any kind. Their breakfast gets rid of it pretty quickly. It's very easy to order too much food and overeat here. The service here is descent overall, but I really don't like one of the hostesses. The thin, fair-skinned, black haired one, who's usually during the less busy times. She's not hospitable at all. Not offensive or anything, just doesn't smile or say anything. Apart from that, this would be a five-star diner.
(4)Don B.
I currently live in Queens, NY. Brownstone's Diner and Pancake Factory is a 45 minute drive from where I live. I would GLADLY make the drive to get there for their pancakes. These will absolutely be the best pancakes that you will ever eat in your life. These will also be the best waffles that you will ever have. The same goes for the omelets. You will not leave this place hungry or unsatisfied. Every person that I have taken here has agreed that it's worth the trip. Now please open a location in Queens.
(5)Christopher H.
Pancakes. So many pancakes. Light and fluffy and oh so delicious. Being a diner, you'd think they fall into the trap of jack-of-all and master of none. Not in this case. I haven't been done wrong by the burgers or any non-pancake entree. I like the country breakfast pancake wrap, so much food, it just never ends. Somehow it just works, I don't question it. This place will hit the spot for pancakes or anything else if you're into that sort of thing.
(5)Yolanda B.
Oh man! I'm definitely in heaven. I love pancakes I could eat them every day. I came out to Jersey city to visit a friend. I wanted some breakfast and saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed the service was excellent I didn't have to wait long for my food. I ordered the banana walnut pancakes I was so stuff. I will definitely will be coming back here next time with my son. I know he is going to love it and you will too.
(5)Kent H.
Would give four stars, as the food is decent - however - I am an early bird, and recently came for breakfast here at 6am. The music was blaring loudly (like its 2am and I'm out boozing loud) - most likely a remnant of the late night crowd. As the only person in the place, I asked if they could lower a bit - and was told they had no way to as the controls were downstairs in the managers office. They can't control the music volume? Really? Really? Ha ha - won't be back
(2)Brenna W.
A diner with a bar is okay in my book. I got a Grey Goose slightly dirty martini and it was surprisingly just right. I've been to upscale restaurants that can't seem to get that right, making the martini too dirty, so I was impressed by that. Also had a very good burger that actually came out medium rare as I ordered it. A lot of diners tend to overcook burgers in my opinion, so that was a major point in their favor. Waitress was unfriendly though.
(3)A K.
Came here to eat my last dinner before my Spartan Race. So, I clearly decide to do the right thing and eat breakfast foods for dinner. I got the Blueberry & Cream Belgian Waffle with a side of bacon. To my surprise, my side came with like....8 slices of bacon on its own plate. I am not used to paying $3+ for a side and getting that generous amount of anything "side-related." Usually I see some dinky two stripped bacon addition on my plate and I was really happy this place gave you your money's worth. If I fell off a cliff during my race, at least I knew I ate well the night before and got my bacon fix. After my Spartan Race, my friend and I were so impressed with the menu, we went back for our congratulatory meal and ate burgers. SO DELICIOUS! This place is impressive with their extensive menu and quick service.
(5)Dario D.
Best pancakes hands down. I have been going here since I was a kid. It was the Newport Pancake house. Alway good food. They serve generous portion. Whenever I want a good breakfast, this is where I go. Family own place; where you can never go wrong.
(4)Kathy M.
This is one of my faves in Jersey City. Great food, although enormous portions! Turkey sausage is my go to on the menu. Sometimes the service is unpredictable, but owners are great people who truly care about their business.
(5)Wei V.
Love the pancakes and breakfast menu. I have tried: old fashion pancakes, apple pancakes and pigs in the blanket. They were all very fluffy and yummy. The sausage was a must have item as well. I would take off 1 star for the entry menu items. Well, after all it's a diner. Also, minus 1 star for the inconsistent service, especially with the host. I went there last Sunday (7/8/12) and found the host were pretty mean. I said "thank you" after she showed us the seat. She just looked at me then walked away, without saying a word or smile on her face.
(3)Tameica R.
I love this place!!! Went over the weekend with my pooh and wow did we have a great time. Hostess was nice as well as the waitress. I will definitly come back for the pancakes :-)!!! i heart this place!!!
(5)Debby S.
I have ate here many times and this evening was a mess I do not know what has happen their but not good at all. We order Hot open turkey and what we got was a dish straight out of the refrigerated. I am not joking the food was ice cold and they poured hot gravy over it we send it back and I told management and she did noting never came over to the table to see if it was corrected noting not a word when we left noting not a word. I wasted good hard earned money and to top it off some young water was laughing at me when I left. This was a horrible experience and my sister and I had a friend with us who we told how good this place was it was an embarrassment . I do not know what has happen there but the wait staff was always so good and the management was also. This place has declined and it is sad the wait staff needs some serious training. I never write any thing like this but that is how bad my experience was this evening.
(2)Roma A.
Pancakes pancakes pancakes!!! The most delicious pancakes I've ever had. Okay so now that I got that out of the way let me start by saying that we went in the group of five and ordered a lot of food not realizing how big the portions were. The service was amazing regardless of the fact they were super busy. The waiters were funny and charismatic making our stay more enjoyable. We received our menus when seated and boy was it a LARGE menu. Pages upon pages of foods that were described so deliciously. We went for breakfast...and ofcourse arrived later at around noon...but stuck to our plan in ordering breakfast foods. I ordered a south of the border omelette minus the ham with fries. The others ordered an egg white Taylor ham and cheese sandwich, eggs over easy, seasoned curly fries, corn beef hash, banana walnut pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, and nutella hazelnut pancakes. We all shared ofcourse. For our beverages we ordered a few toasted almondillas, a mocha, and a dream vanilla. We were in heaven. I had the omelette and I did need to add some salt and pepper but it was great otherwise. An omelette filled with jalepenos, cheese, sour cream and mushrooms...you just can't go wrong. The fries that accompanied it were nice and crispy. I also tried a bite of each pancake. I am an obessed nutella lover but thought it was a bit too much spread on the pancakes. It was still good but not as great as the chocolate chip pancake and that was not as amazing as my favorite which was the banana walnut pancakes. Will definitely be ordering that instead of the omelette next time! I had the toasted almondilla as my drink and it was wonderful. Paired perfectly with everything. I didn't try the curly fries, corn beef hash or the egg white sandwich so I can't say much about those choices. Overall amazing diner and pancake factory..Just wish the omelette was seasoned better salt and pepper wise. Pancakes definitely the best way to go. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Rich A.
We had to wait about 15-20 minutes to get in here on a Saturday morning, the place was jamming! It's your typical diner with some unusual ways to present your breakfast. I had this huge pancake rollup stuffed with scrambled eggs,2 huge sausages, and potatoes and cheese. It was a monster! I couldn't finish it either. Go with a appetite!
(4)Maritza K.
Food is great there, no complaints about that in all the years I have been going there. Word of the wise on weekends: get there before 10am or after 1pm.... Parking lot is packed, you end up in an argument with some idiot for parking or by the entrance as it becomes Grand Central Station with losers standing around. In addition, supposedly their new policy is they will not seat you on weekends if your entire party is not with you.... That's right: so if you want to get a head start and sit down, order and have it ready while your driver is looking for parking--- they will seat people after you until your last person comes in. I gave it two stars bc of that reason, otherwise the food is awesome there. Weekends is such a pain, your better off going somewhere not so busy or just buying a dozen bagels from Wonder Bagel down the street.
(2)Seema U.
Only been here for breakfast so I have no idea how the non-breakfast foods are. The pancakes are good. I like the berry sour pancakes and other fruit pancakes. The plain pancakes are alright, but I would only pancakes with some extra ingredients or toppings. The pancakes are pretty huge though, and you get 3 per order so good luck finishing them. Corned beef hash is pretty routine; I have found it to be a little too salty a couple of the times I ordered it. The eggs that I have had have been not great; honestly, I feel like I could make equally good eggs or better (and thus have not ordered them again). I have heard that the omelets are pretty solid options from friends but never tried them myself . I had a spiked coffee drink which was really strong but actually pretty good. My friend ordered a Bloody Mary once which she said was pretty terrible. Overall, the breakfast is pretty average in my opinion. Everything is solid, but nothing stands out or is super mind blowing. I also feel like the quality has gone down in the year or so that I have been coming here.
(3)Angel A.
This place is crazy good. I came for breakfast with my girlfriend and we had the biggest crazy most tasted meal I had at a diner. The steak and eggs with pancake was great and the pancake were so soft and butter . Great place for a awesome meal
(5)Arshi K.
Excellent fluffy pancakes and omelets! Love the waffles too. Great place for breakfast, brunch or a leisurely cup of coffee any time of the day. The menu is pretty extensive, tried the eggplant panini for lunch once and wasn't too impressed. Have stuck to the breakfast menu ever since. Love that they are open till 11pm, seven days of the week.
(4)Josepf H.
11-15-2014 and apparently the Jersey City fly population has taken up winter residence... Get past that and they are a solid 4 star joint with great menu choices and quick moving friendly service. Save room for dessert, it's worth it.
(4)Stephanie Y.
Well hello old friend, it's been awhile. I used to come here every now and then when I first moved to Jersey when restaurants were even fewer and more far between. There menu has 1000 items to choose from which for indecisive people like me makes it impossible to get in and get out since it takes me forever to choose. I came here post run and tennis late breakfast/lunch with the man and boy did we work up a hunger and thankfully this place delivered. I went with an omelet for $8 and it was GINORMOUS and so friggin' tasty. I believe I went with the Newport involving ham, onion, peppers a whole mess of cheese with a meat sauce (on the side). The meat sauce was like sloppy joe style crumbled beef sauce that was really tasty but just way too much for me so I was stoked I went with it on the side. My man went with pigs in a blanket, sweet pancakes wrapped around a salty, savory maple pork sausage. Holy moly it was amazing. This place is not for the faint at heart or stomach. Be ready to eat and eat well at this greasy spoon. Service was fast and efficient and up to diner satisfaction. I will come again soon when I'm in need for a hearty meal.
(4)Elle P.
We walked into a huge line on a Saturday morning, but it moved briskly. In just about 10 minutes we were seated. Large portions. I ordered the fresh blueberry pancake and got three huge very fluffy pancakes with blueberries with blueberry compote on the side. They sprinkled powder sugar on it, but I wish they hadn't. I think it's sweet enough as is. Good pancakes. I would eat here if I lived around the neighborhood, but it isn't good enough to make a special trip out for it. Service was well meaning, but a bit slow because it was so crowded.
(3)Hallie B.
I had the caramel praline waffle, it was delicious! The eggs florentine were undercooked. We sent them back and got the eggs Benedict instead.
(5)Brianna M.
If you desire an immense heaping of carbs, especially in pancake form, this is the place for you. If you want anything other than pancakes, stay away. This place has great pancakes and every type possible. So many toppings! And really great prices. I always have leftovers worth at least another full meal. There is always a wait, but their time estimate is generally very accurate. It is very family/kid friendly as well. Feels exactly like a typical diner. Service is standard, people generally friendly.
(3)Theresa Y.
This diner has a very traditional and classic touch to it. Be prepared to be stuffed, the dishes come with generous portions. The menu is extensive with an entire page dedicated to pancakes. Expect a wait, as this is one of Jersey City's more popular breakfast/brunch spots.
(3)Katie S.
oh man. had lunch for the first time here with the parents. good lord. so good. between the three of us - we had a burger, cobb salad and a greek salad and spanakopita. It was so much food and DELICIOUS. our server was great (while it was totally slammed) and still super friendly and attentive no matter how busy she was. there is so much food on this menu -- pages and pages -- i'm excited to come back and work my way thru. best diner ever.
(5)Kristina S.
Ever since I read Brownstone Diner's yelp reviews and saw it featured on 'Diners, Drive Ins and Dives,' I wanted desperately to come here. I've been trying for months to convince my boyfriend to come and we finally did. We drove a good half hour out of the way for this place even though there are like 10 different diners within a 5 mile radius of us. It was absolutely worth it, my expectations were exceeded. Upon entering, the place was pretty packed, even for a Sunday around noontime. It was a 25 minute wait that went by pretty quickly. Their menu is extensive, they have enough pancake platter combinations to satisfy just about every palate. Unfortunately, I didn't look at anything else on the menu besides the pancakes (it is a pancake factory) but it seems like their omelette mix choices are just as interesting. Our waiter was great too. He was really friendly, nice and didn't disappear on us even though it was so busy. He also memorized all of our orders even though we were pains in the asses and substituted a bunch of things, added things and subtracted things from all our meals. I got the showstopper pancakes (chocolate chip, peanut butter pancakes with bananas and whipped cream on top). The pancakes were warm and fluffy. There was no need for the extra butter on the side. Also, it was the perfect amount of added toppings and extras that didn't over power the flavor of the pancakes themselves. They almost didn't even need syrup but I wanted to make my meal extra diabetic. My boyfriend got the chocolate covered strawberry pancakes and the loaded baked potato omelette. Both were fantastic. The other couple we came with ordered eggs benedict over brushetta and whole wheat toast, pigs in a blanket pancakes and scrambled eggs with potatoes and bacon. Everyone was extremely satisfied with their food. The least impressive item on the table was the pigs in a blanket pancakes. It was just 3 huge pieces of sausage wrapped in a pancake. It was good but not anything special and tasted exactly how you'd expect a pancake wrapped sausage to taste. All in all, I would highly recommend this place to all breakfast lovers. It's much better than your average diner. Very delicious pancakes, creative toppings/combinations and superior wait service. Worth the drive and the wait. I look forward to coming here again.
(5)Linda M.
Very popular breakfast spot in Jersey City. Be prepared to wait on the weekends. The food is certainly worth the wait! I had the Monte Cristo, which is frnech toast topped with turkey, ham and swiss cheese. The perfect combo of breakfast and lunch. The salty sweet goodness was the best way to recover from NYE. Service was top notch.
(4)Tavaria R.
The first time I came here maybe 2-3 years ago the food was great and I loved it. Over the last couple of years the quality of food has really gone downhill. The food tastes like it comes out of the fridge rather being made to order. The quality of some things (crab cakes, blueberry pie, Mac & cheese, etc) tastes like it came straight out a box or the frozen food aisle. I kept giving them chances and kept getting disappointed. I'm over this place.
(3)Dan F.
Exactly what I thought it would be! Couldn't be any better for a classic diner. The service to the food was perfect. Pancake wrap was great and original waffle.
(5)Kristina S.
First let me say what drove me here is that my Husband got a Job in NYC, being that he's a Philadelphian born and raised, and I worked/lived there for 3 years we are accustomed to great food, and were utterly depressed that New Jersey, which is where we currently reside, isn't known for much of anything we like which is the arts and food. I am a New Jerseyan born and raised so this isn't a snub to my State but lets keep it real people, New Jersey isn't a very interesting place. So we sought out as many New Jersey best of lists for food that we could find and decided to go to Brownstone as it was on quite a few of those lists. 1. Chicken and Waffles: Superb, they drizzle honey and powered sugar on moist and flavorful chicken breasts and wings and legs. The waffle is also moist with just enough crunch! Every time I come here I usually get the Chicken and Waffles. 2. Pigs in Blanket: Good, their buttermilk pancakes are delicious but I was surprised that the "pigs" were HUGE sausages! Think Italian Sausage. I substituted Beef for Turkey, but the sausage wasn't well seasoned, it was like I just had a huge bite of rolled/processed turkey! That was disappointing. All in all its a great place to eat, great atmosphere, good prices, and a lot of choices, and I don't know if this means much but everything that comes out looks delicious!
(4)Latrice S.
Great food with light and fluffy pancakes as big as your face. I also ordered the Italian omelette which was large and good. It was stiffed with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, peepers, tomatoes and pepperoni, topped with marinara sauce. I'd def recommend if you're in Jersey City.
(5)Jennifer M.
What happens when someone returns from vacation from another country ?! You crave American food! Classic American food. P-a-n-c-a-k-e-s. To be exact. And that's exactly what I did the day I after I got back from Chile. I had ordered the PANCAKE COMBO with blueberries in my pancakes, and scrambled eggs. Food was great, warm, flavorful, HUGE. Value was excellent! Although I must say, our food came a little longer than what I expected (and I had watched everyone who arrived after us get their food first). I'm pretty sure its not a consistent thing that happens, but that's my reasoning between and 4 and 5 star. Maybe my next visit will confirm my theory.
(4)Michael H.
Great pancakes amd a ton of food for your money regardless of what you get. My wife and I have come here plenty of times and always leave stuffed wishing we had split a stack of pancakes lol. You can also call in orders to pickup which is a huge plus!
(4)Jess S.
The food was DELISH :) try the pancakes!
(5)Jonathan L.
My parents decided to treat my brother and I to some brunch after seeing this place featured a while back on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The place itself is set up like your standard Jersey diner: wood paneling everywhere along with a bevy of waiters that twirl around like dreidels. The fist thing you'll notice is probably how packed it is. Don't be discouraged; it may look like there's a long wait ahead but we managed to grab a table pretty quickly after being told there would be at least 15 minutes. Nonetheless, it's clear that this is a popular neighborhood spot for locals and those, like us, who want to sample the extensive menu offerings and humongous portions. The first thing that turned us off of the meal was the exceptionally slow service. Now, I'm a realist. I understand there are many other patrons here eagerly waiting for their caffeine fix. Bringing out our round of coffee, though, shouldn't take more than ten minutes! It's coffee (pretty good coffee I must say)! Rather than going around the room with a fresh pot asking who wants refills, the servers had to be manically hailed down. I also didn't appreciate the side of attitude we were served along with our meal. Before we even got to finish our order, our waitress left our table, not particularly giving a damn. While my brother and I chuckled at this, she half-heartedly apologized away her rudeness by saying that's just the way she is. There's no excuse for being impolite, no matter how busy you are. More of our waitress' antics to follow... As far as food, I ordered one of my favorite dishes, Fried Chicken & Waffles. The rendition here is mediocre; the batter didn't have nearly enough salt or spices to make it savory, necessary to be able to pair well with the syrup topped waffle beneath. I also wish the waffle was smattered with copious amounts of butter (the best way to eat it); I had to steal some from my brother's plate since there was non to be found on mine. I couldn't finish the waffle because of the size of the dish but, then again, I wasn't that keen on it to begin with to masochistically suffer force feeding. My dish was actually my least favorite of the ones I sampled from my parents and brother. Dad's South of the Border omelette was really tasty but strike of the dazed waitress again! A side of buttered toasts were supposed to accompany the dish. My brother and I saw her set the basket down. Not a minute later, however, my dad was looking like a mad man for the toast. Apparently, it's enough for a customer to SEE the basket but not to receive it. Mom's pancake rollups (with three types of fruit compote) was DELICIOUS! Fieri was right when he said the pancakes here are BANGIN'! My favorite dish, however, was probably Fieri's own pancake interpretation which my brother ordered. Guy Fieri's Triple "D" Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap may sound gross, but is assuredly awesome! The perfect mix of melted mozzarella, fried chicken, peppers, and blue cheese wrapped in a gigantic pancake. Savory, sweet, spicy, and superb. A MUST in my opinion! At the end of the meal, my mom went up to pay the bill to make it easier on the server. As she walked away to allow her to swipe the card, I could see that the waitress was making some kind of snide remark at what my mom had done. I didn't know that bringing up a card to HELP YOU was an issue? Did you? I'm glad I got to check this place out but, in all honesty, I probably won't be returning with service like that...
(3)Jody W.
Pretty sure this is one of the best diners out there. I'm both thrilled and disappointed that I don't live down the street from it (where my friend does). Disappointed...because the food is so good....thrilled....because I'd weigh 300 pounds if I was a local. I went there twice within 24 hours while hanging with my Jersey City buddy. For dinner, I had the buffalo chicken wrap (with grilled chicken)...best I've had anywhere. Fresh, moist grilled chicken with a perfect balance of blue cheese dressing and hot sauce. The fries were awesome, too. My Jersey City bud had silver dollar pancakes for dinner...there were a ton of them (and he somehow finished!). My other friend had a cobb salad...gigantic, generous, fresh...great reviews there. The next morning I went back with the same crew and ordered the Nutella pancakes. Wait..... I need a moment...re-living it..... So. Good. Had a side of turkey sausage - 2 large links that were slightly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I'm still craving those pancakes...truly some of the best that I've ever had. The other breakfast orders were standard eggs, toast, bacon...etc...everything was hot and delicious. Both times I visited, I noticed that it's very clean...which is always something that I keep an eye on. It's busy....especially on weekend mornings...so prepare to wait. It's absolutely worth it. (We didn't wait to be seated for dinner...but it was a little bit later in the evening when we arrived...maybe 9pm...). Also, like any good diner, the food arrived VERY quickly for both meals. One last thing - there is a waitress that my JC buddy tries to get seatings with....I can't remember her name (she wasn't there for dinner and it was waaaay too busy to get picky about which section we were sitting in on Saturday morning)...but he said that she's absolutely HILARIOUS and is the perfect combination of 'tude and service. Can't wait to visit JC again...Brownstone Diner will be a to-do.
(5)Cody W.
I removed one star b/c it was SWELTERING inside while it was 40 degrees outside. Went this past Sunday for an afternoon brunch. It was packed! We had to wait a little while, but that was ok, it moved fast. Food was delicious! I had the belgian waffle combo and was in heaven. It's cheap, it's a ton of food, and the service is good. I'd go back!
(4)Asish P.
have stopped by here a couple of times for quick meetings, and have only ordered coffee/tea. Service is good, and the staff is friendly. Will have to stop by and try the food sometime.
(3)Sam R.
Since I was visiting my brother and in the Jersey City area we decided to come here for some breakfast. I came with my husband, younger brother and a friend. It was very busy when we came in and waited for a little while to be seated. They messed my order as well as my friends. We ordered egg white omelette's and instead we received regular whole egg omelette's. I wasn't really in the mood to complain so I just settled. My omelette was okay. My brother and husband seemed to really enjoy their breakfast food. They have a really nice, big menu here with lots of options. I probably should have ordered pancakes or waffles and would have probably had, a better experience. Our waiter did also seem to be a bit overwhelmed and I figured it was probably because they were so busy.
(3)Susan L.
Another late departure for D.C. (three days ago) and the Brownstone Diner beckoned. This experience was as great as the first time, so I'm reverting back to five stars. We both ordered one of the daily specials - the shrimp calonno - and it included a cup of soup (we had the minestrone), a generous-sized salad (we chose the Greek and there were also two other options), the incredibly-delicious/HUGE entrée (which included *several/huge* pieces of breaded shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, goat's cheese & penne pasta) *and* (a choice of several) desserts (my husband chose the apple pie, which he said was pretty good - and I chose the chocolate cream pie, which was *delicious* and the portion was *huge*). Also, of course, some bread (warmed up). All of that for only *$16.95/each* plus tax and tip!! We took half of our entrées with us to D.C. and also the desserts (it was bitterly cold again, so no problem keeping the food in the trunk of our car) and we got another entire meal out of it. Our server was very attentive, in contrast to our last visit. (Update on 7/6/14): We ate a late dinner there tonight when returning home from Baltimore and it was an exceptionally-positive experience. Firstly, our server (Ash) had a *great* sense of humor. Secondly, the food was *really* delicious. I ordered the fettucini vegetali entrée, which came with either a cup of soup or a salad. I chose the salad (since the Brownstone's are a very generous size) and the server even offered me the option of a *Greek* salad. I had enough of my entrée left over for another meal (all of that for only $13.95 plus tax & tip!). My husband ordered the pasta Silvio special, which came with a cup of soup (he chose the cream of broccoli) *and* a salad (he had the Greek) *and* a dessert (he [we] chose the banana cream pie and we shared it). My husband also had enough of his entrée left over for another meal - and all of that for only $16.95 plus tax & tip! (Update on 9/14/14): We ate an early dinner there today with three friends - one of whom lives nearby and she's also been there multiple times - and the food was *outstanding*. I ordered the pasta Silvio special and my husband ordered the salmon bruschetta special, both of which had the usual significantly-sized portions (particularly amazing when considering the prices) and they also came with a cup of soup & a small salad (their honey mustard dressing is really good) *and* a piece of pie (very limited choices - but we both [took home] the apple pie and it was very good). For only $1.50 extra, my husband got sweet potato fries instead of mashed potatoes and they were really tasty. He also said the broccoli was particularly good. One of our friends ordered the Black Forest pancakes - and not only was the portion large & they were *thick*, but they were "a work of art". Note that the Brownstone gets JAMMED for Sunday dinner, starting in mid-afternoon and lasting well into the evening.
(5)Cat V.
Such great service both on and off wknds! The food is fresh and hearty portions. I love that Guy Fieri came and there is a plate item named in his honor. YAY Triple D!
(5)Ray C.
I've been to this diner 3 times in the last few months and I'm always so eager to return. Their pancakes are amazing and there's a variety of pancakes to try out unlike Ihop. Their burgers are also very well done, as well as their fries. The service is not bad and I always get seated less than a minute I've arrived. It is by far one of the best food places I have been to in Jersey City.
(5)Danielle K.
I have been to many many many diners in my day but Brownstone Diner will always be on the top of my diner list as #1. The service is stupendous and the portions are HUGE (depending on what you get). It amazes me that their prices stay the same despite how big the crowds get (Thanks Guy Fieri for ruining it with Diners, Drive ins and Dives). I usually go for breakfast items but recently tried this Texmex spring roll-- sounds awful but it's actually delish, believe me. It's got a nice browned crunchy outside with great flavors on the inside. I'm also surprised at their menu. I generally HATE when menus stray too far each way like a Chinese menu that also offers spaghetti and maybe a hamburger. Brownstone pulls it off though so claps to them for hiring versatile chefs!
(5)Eliana W.
Go there only when you are seriously starving because the plates are huge! With that being said, the food is delicious and the servers are very knowledgable about the menu. There is lots of parking (which in not the norm in JC). You are allowed to share a meal with someone else, but only if you pay an additional $3, which is kind of a quirky rule, but not a huge deal because the meals are super big any way. Besides you'll want to save enough room for the amazing desserts.
(4)Hung-Sheng L.
I like it pretty much. It's almost the best American restaurant nearby. I like it pretty much. The size of the meal is pretty big. And you might need to wait for 30 minutes in most case. I have tried pancake and pasta. Both of then are good to me!
(4)Monica T.
Awesome food and I've never had a complaint about service! The waitstaff work their asses off and constantly working as a team. I've gone about three times to Brownstone always ordering something different and everytime it's delish! I'm a huge fan of the chicken and waffles but never have ventured into the pancakes. My boyfriend got a short stack last weekend and they were so good! I'm usually not a pancake girl but may have to order them next time. On the weekends it gets super-busy, but we always get stools at the counter where Cathy waits on us..she's the best!!!! From sitting at the counter you really get a view of how Brownstone essentially works. Everyone is friendly and helps one another and I've never seen stacking plates the way the waitstaff does it! Totally worth the trip!
(4)Sagar U.
We come here often. There always is a line but food is worth the wait. I love the pancakes. Also they make great NY style cheesecake!
(5)Sara S.
Unsurprisingly, Brownstone was featured on the Food Network on Guy Fieri's "Diner's Drive-ins and Dives" particularly for the amazing pancakes that they serve here. No one has lied or over-exaggerated about the pancakes here; they're simply the most incredibly delicious and consistently fluffy pancakes cooked to perfection each and every time. If you're at Brownstone, try the pancakes. They have a variety of different ones, but it's only $5 for a traditional stack of buttermilk pancakes. I must also mention that the pancakes are huge here. Drizzle on some syrup, slather on some of that greasy butter, and you will have one grand happy meal. I was never a huge pancake person and actually hated pancakes, but Brownstone has converted me to love and devour them, and the pancakes are my go-to everytime I am here. Aside from the pancakes, Brownstone has a vast menu of other typical diner food options. Regardless, I recommend any of the food off their breakfast menu; day or night, none of these options will do you wrong. I have tried their omelettes, and they're delicious and gigantic. They don't skimp on the fillers, and their omelettes are cooked with real eggs versus egg beaters. For those who are hungry and like spicy food, I can recommend the South of the Border Omelette. This omelette comes packed with ham, onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, cheddar cheese and a load of sour cream. The jalapenos give it an extra bit of kick. They also serve it with a side of home fries, so expect a huge satisfying meal. The only few negatives I have about the Brownstone is the wait time during peak times of the day and the fact it closes at 11PM. Come here a little before noon or after 2PM, and expect little to no waiting line. Arrive here at a peak time of the day, then expect to wait at least half an hour or more for a table. The more people you need to a table, the longer you might have to wait. It is worth the wait and the trip though. It's also disappointing that Brownstone is not open past 11PM when most diners are open really late. There are some late nights where I just want a greasy diner meal, but Brownstone is the only diner that is not open. All in all, there's still not much to not like about Brownstone Diner. It's a classic, well-known Jersey City diner that is a must-try for any locals and out of towners, and it is certainly one of the most impressive diners I have come across in this part of Jersey.
(5)Diana M.
large portions, variety, delicious- YES!!!!! LOVED IT!!! Had the loaded potato omelette which was great- sour cream, bacon... need i say more? I also tried guy fieri's pancake wrap- buffalo chicken wrapped in a blanket. Sounds crazy but it works and it was sooooooo good.... also tried their chocolate chip pancakes which were also good... Writing this review makes me want to go back right now!!! Just be prepared to wait and good luck with parking in the parking lot....
(5)Aina B.
Great place! Ambiance is warm and expansive and the food is homey and fun. I had chicken & waffles, my friend had the muscleman, a pancake burrito with about 6 eggs fried and rolled with cheese and sausage into a large, cozy pancake wrap. We're gonna make beautiful corpses after we die from our coronaries exploding. Great bunch of locals who come here too, plenty of regular folks with families or friends, and Jersey City cops stopping in. You know it's good when the waiter takes your table's order in Italian and tells you what you should order, even though you didn't ask.
(4)Archi M.
So, going to the Brownstone Diner is our yearly Thankgiving tradition . But guess what we found when we went there today. The cashier eating out of our plate of fries while they were sitting on the counter getting cold. She even happened to lick her fingers in between her eating out of our order. All this was happening right in front of our eyes - we of course sent them back when our waiter brought them out. No one came to apologize; conveniently there was no manager we could speak to. Best of all - the girl who ate out of our plate rang our check and didn't have the courtesy to apologize and instead gave us an attitude for sending the food back! Geez - never again are we going to that wretched place. If there is a health department violation against this kind of stuff I would definitely like some action taken against this place!
(1)Michele D.
Well well. I've been to this diner twice for breakfast. I fell in love with it the moment i stepped in. There was a line out the door waiting for a table but of course I get a table right away with my partner. We ordered the Nutella Pancakes (TOO DIE FOR) amazing experience, it's like rowing in a river full of Nutella on a boat made of pancakes. That dish is just a dream come true. We also ordered the Corn-beef Hash Eggs Benedict over English muffin with Home Fries. Well, ladies and gentlemen their food is good. I cannot say anything wrong about it. I tried but I cannot. Everything is delicious. From breakfasts to dinner. The service works very hard on the weekends. It's pretty tough to handle such a big crowd. I give all my credits to them. These servers work really hard and they dear the best tips all the time no matter what. Over all my experience in this diner is always unbelievable. Definitely going back.
(5)Craig G.
It was 9am on New Year's Day and a couple of friends stayed over from last night's party. Could think of no better way to start off the new year than to finally hit Brownstone. I'd been meaning to check it out (after passing it so many times on the way to Zep Hall and having seen the DDD episode), so we took the brisk 15 minute walk and stepped inside. This is a model NJ diner: small tables, some booths, and perpetually packed. No having too much of an appetite, my breakfast was a short stack and a side of pork sausage, chased with black coffee. Glad I went with the short stack: these pancakes are massive and the perfect combination of meltingly soft with just enough crisp to balance. The two links of sausage were substantial (and a good brand, too) and satisfying. Kicking myself for not heading here sooner..
(4)First L.
Was turned away, along with another parent due to manager who hates children. Children who were all being quiet, mind you. We all had to go elsewhere (Beechwood). Beechwood has better food, but we were in the mood for mediocre pancakes, so we came here. Restaurant was half-empty. But they didn't feel like accommodating us, so we were turned away at the door. Whenever I come here, staff is nice, food is... "diner". This is enough for me to not come back. Can't support places that hate children in the family-oriented corner of JC.
(1)Mike G.
This place is absolutely great! The pancakes are slammin!!!! This place makes all its money with the weekend crowd , its always packed all weekend for good reason the food is amazing the pancakes are out of this world the prices are great (for downtown jc at least) the menu is vast and the portion size is just as great as your menu options! This place is just an all around fantastic place, the service is good , the tables are clean , the staff is friendly , once your seated it the food comes out pretty quick. It does however have a decent wait most weekends. Its also a nice place to come before you start drinking , fill your bellies up before a long night. Only catch is have to do it early cause they are closed by 11 or 12 so dont think this is your typical after bar dinner . I dont know why they close early like the only dinner in the jersey that does! but it doesn't matter make sure to be here when they are open and you wont regret it. Mike's Final word Come here for the pancakes for lunch on the weekend (the wait is worth it) or a quick stop in for a snack before a night out on the town with friends. Good food , good service, good price! Only lost a star from me because i drink at the beer garden across the street a lot and I'm always disappointed coming out of there at 1 AM and seeing a closed dinner!
(4)Karen S.
Our waiter was amazing ... I wish I could remember his name but no attitude here . My low rating is for management what crap. First of all if you're with a party of 6 or more and celebrating something special be prepared to request a separate bill for EACH since management doesn't know how to use their own POS and split the bill evenly between let's say just 4 people ( it was a group of 13) and the husbands 4 of them were paying and the wives and children were outside . They said the can only do it with two cards and told us that we shouldn't be splitting if we don't have enough money ! Wow ... First of all I don't want my friends husband to have to pay for me and MY kids since they don't even live here . We have money it's just that instead of billing everything separately the husbands didn't mind splitting the $197.00 by the four of them ! The nerve of the Management is unbelievable. I hate this place. The staff deserves better. These stupid people deserve to get shut down but they don't know how to treat anyone! I hope for their downfall.
(2)Gilbert And Diane M.
Decided to go for dinner, was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't a 30 minute wait like it usually is Sunday afternoon. We both ordered chicken panini with spinach, goat cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, it was really delicious, curly fries were tasty and not greasy. I guess knowing how good the food is it may be worth a 30 minute wait. Thumbs up!
(4)Kevin Y.
Pancake and waffle combos are the best. Don't think I've ever had better pancakes in my life. Clinton st bakery comes close
(5)Rosemary L.
Food definitely deserves 5 stars! Too bad the waitstaff ruined my table's experience. A girl I work with recommended this diner while we were all working earlier that day, stated she had tried it with one of her friends a few weeks ago and we decided to go for pancakes after we all got off work. Four of us total arrived with high expectations for the pancakes we had heard so much about. There was no wait even though it was a Sunday afternoon, we were seated promptly, so far so good. Expansive menu with tons of options. You're guaranteed to find your new favorite indulgence here. Then our visit proceeded to go downhill. Our waiter, Lee, came to take our order and accidentally called my female coworker "sir." We all heard him say sir but laughed it off, hey it happens, there is more than 50 years retail and customer service experience between the myself and the three others I visited with so we get it. She jokingly replied with, "Want to try that again?" To which he did not respond or understand. We all ordered, we moved past it, Lee told us our orders would be out shortly and we started having a conversation about something completely different. Not two minutes later he returned to our table to confirm my side order of scrambled eggs. After making sure my order was right, he turned to my friend and asked if he had offended her and specified that he had said sweetie. My friend just said no she had not and that it was fine. He persisted and asked if she was fine for the second time in a row. She just kept replying yes and nodding her head but not really making eye contact with him. He knew he had messed up calling her sir, this we knew by the fact that he brought up that specific incident when he returned to our table. He gave up trying to cover his error and walked away from our table scoffing and then mumbling "whatever" under his breath. By this point my party was uncomfortable with the fact that he couldn't just move on in a polite and mature manner. But he continued to treat our table and more specifically my friend with disrespect. Our food arrived, he placed each plate in front of us naming what we had ordered to make sure it was correct, but singled out and did not do so to my friend. While we were eating he brought food to a nearby table and loudly said, "here you go SWEETIE," while he glanced up at our table to see if we had noticed. This guy just kept going above and beyond to try to make it seem like he had not made a stupid mistake and that we had simply heard him wrong. When it came time to pay, he only brought 3 to go boxes and blatantly disrespected her again because she had also asked for one. We jointly decided he did not deserve a tip. The place itself is great. The food amazing. Too bad he ruined a five star review. Would not return.
(2)David L.
Another DDD restaurant that doesn't live up to the hype. Pancakes were decent, but everything else tasted like usual crappy diner food. It was also packed and we had to wait 30 min for a table. Not worth.
(2)Pamela D.
brownstone makes me wish that that there were more diners in NYC. Great food all around and excellent service. definitely a must-eat in Jersey City.
(5)K C.
Had the bbq chicken quesadilla and it was good, but the calamari was horrible. The service was good.
(3)Anh N.
I absolutely love this place!! Breakfast is my all time favorite meal of the day, and Brownstone never fails. I've tried a little bit of everything and never had any complaints. I've had pancakes and the pancake wraps, waffles, omlettes, french toast, and they have a variety of options or combos to get a little bit of this and that too like the wraps or king combo, queen combo...etc. you get the point. Be warned they are BIG portions so you are definitely getting a lot for your buck because the prices are very affordable. Yes the lines get pretty bad especially during the weekend mornings so my advice weekdays, very early morning or come during brunch/lunch the crowds seem to slow down a bit then. When you come in the hostess will give you a number, so do not forget it!! lol.
(5)Gary C.
So delicious I had the peanut butter chunk and banana pancakes which were the best pancakes I have ever had!
(5)Jayadevan V.
We are here quite often, given that we live 2 blocks away. Just love the dessert French toast and the crunchy, well done, corned beef hash!! If a property around here advertises proximity to brownstone diner, that alone is a fantastic selling point!:)
(5)Calvin A.
Around 8 years ago, my ex-roommate and I used to frequent this establishment once a week at one point, as with a Vietnamese restaurant also in the area (Nha Trang Place). Unlike the Vietnamese restaurant, this place has managed to maintain the quality of their food over the years. I'm not really a pancake person, so I usually opt for their sandwiches or dinner entrees. Portions are plentiful no matter what you get. Unlike many diners, there is a $3 minimum charge per person, so if you're just hanging out or would like to share with a friend, get an appetizer and/or drink. There have been occasions where the non-breakfast food is a bit off during weekend brunch. However, I would say that these occasions occur perhaps only 15% or so of the time. For that reason, I would definitely choose a weeknight over a weekend to try this place for the first time. Service is surprisingly attentive, even during peak times. Some of the staff members have been there for several years, and the owner does not forget a face. A bit of an aside - a few months ago, my girlfriend and I ate here, and just as we were taking care of our bill, my girlfriend sighted Governor Chris Christie walking out of the restaurant. The owner very humbly said that he stops by every so often.
(4)Joe C.
Is there a more original dinner in NJ? Where is Guy Fieri? The food is great and enormous. Well worth the trip here.
(5)Christine H.
LOVE. THIS. PLACE. a huge part of our JC living experience. food (and i mean beyond their pancakes), customer service, cleanliness, are all right on, all the time. really respect how they operate their business. having a hubby who also runs a restaurant, i can really sympathize with how hard that is.
(5)Veronika B.
We've been coming here for a few years maybe once a month when we had cravings for diner food. The food is nothing special, it's ok. But recently we had such an awful experience that we will never be back, ever. The experience had nothing to do with food but rather with customer service. We went for a dinner after spending all day outside with the kids. We always come with our kids - we though of this place as a family-friendly / kid-friendly place - they are equipped with high chairs and there are always babies and small children. So anyway, we get there, order, wait for food, then food comes and we're about to eat when my younger son starts crying - he's a baby so random crying is pretty regular. I'm trying to calm him down as every mom naturally does when her baby is unhappy, particularly in a public place - those who've been there know the feeling - it's uncomfortable and definitely not fun for the mom - trust me, she's the least comfortable desperately trying to calm her baby down to spare her family from "the looks" and nasty comments. Anyway, this guy comes over to our table and tells us to make our baby stop crying - 1) What the heck do you think I've been doing all this time??? and 2) How dare you!?!? Seriously? I was plain shocked and speechless at first and my husband got upset and asked the guy what does he suggest we do upon which he proceeds to tell us he would take the baby outside and come back once he's calm. Clearly, you've never dealt with a baby, sir. If it was my 3-year old then yes, I assume I would walk outside with him and talk to him and return once he's calm. But this is a baby!!! What is it going to do if I walk out and talk to him??? Even if he does calm down outside there's absolutely no guarantee he won't start crying again when we return. I get it, it's uncomfortable to hear a baby cry, but it happens. I had always though this was a place where families were welcome. They proudly say the secret behind their success is family. Their website says "The Brownstone is not just about food. Not just a restaurant. It is the synergy of relationships with customers..." Really? What a lovely relationship with your customers when you ask them to leave when their baby is crying? This had never happened to me before. I could understand a staff personnel approaching us in a fine, 5-star restaurant with candles and a pianist and 3-digit meals. But this is not that place. This is the cheapest, loudest, stickiest place in town and they have the nerve to come over and say something when my baby cries!?! I have heard other babies cry there before and I don't remember anyone telling them anything. I was so upset I insisted on leaving, despite the fact I took only one bite of my food. We will never be back and I will make sure I warn all my friends with children. I am still very upset about this so while I'm at it I might as well mention the place is dirty, table is often sticky, many times we had to ask for new utensils or new cups because they had smudges and stains all over (including a poorly washed lipstick stain on my water cup once!!). It's simply not worth ever coming back. The Malibu Diner in Hoboken is much better - clean and staff is always pleasant.
(1)Juicie L.
Its a great diner to have breakfast or lunch woth the family. One of my favs here in NJ.
(4)Laura Kate S.
New Year's Day. We finally ventured to this popular-seeming spot in our neighborhood to give it a try. It was about a half hour wait, but the hostess was keeping things moving even in the busy-ness of it all. We had very good service overall. I wasn't wowed, but wasn't unimpressed either. I got coconut pancakes and pork sausages. Pancakes = delish. Sausages = more like bratwurst than breakfast meats. The husband had moussaka, which came with a Greek salad and onion soup. He declared the soup tasty, the moussaka passable, and the salad good, but over-dressed. We'd really love to try this place on a less hectic day. It's close and the pancakes really were great. Greek diner meets pancake house = a recipe for a winning combination. Today it was just a little underwhelming, but still a good experience.
(3)Xavier S.
I'm a fan of Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory, definitely worth a trip if you're looking for ginormous portions of breakfast at a really good price. The wait, though, can be pretty brutal on the weekends. The typical thing you'll see is about 30-40 people at the front foyer, all around the cash register and also by the hostess station. The overflow of people also makes it way out the door at times, rain or shine. The food here is really good, the pancakes are unbelievably super fluffy and evenly stacked. The fluffiest pancakes I've ever eaten I can honestly say. I got the Old Fashion Buttermilks (stack of 3) and ordered a side of bacon and fried eggs. What came out first was the bacon and eggs plus home fries, but in a platter form. Whoa, I'm wondering what happened here and where are my pancakes? They told me they forgot to put the pancake order in, and I had a strange feeling that the food I initially got was not the side order portion. Yes, I was right. I had been given the three country eggs with bacon, in addition to the pancakes. That's way too much food. I gladly took the 1.5 pancakes and side of home fries to-go for another day. The receipt was kindly adjusted to reflect the misunderstanding. I'll take that. Definitely coming back for more pancakes.
(4)Crystine W.
Note that this review is based on dinner and other non-breakfast items only. I think to be fair to them, I really should review them based on their pancakes since that is what they are famous for, but we went for dinner and we didn't try 'em. I ordered their Caesar salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and then I also shared a fisherman's platter that contained fried scallops, fried cod fillet, and fried shrimp over a mountain of French fries. Complete overload on the fries, fried scallops were a bit burnt, but fried cod fillet and fried shrimp were perfectly crispy. Ordered pizza fries for our shared appetizer. This is my first time trying pizza fries so I don't really have anywhere else to compare it against, but they were okay, not too greasy and the fries were still crispy despite being dunked with ragu sauce and cheese. I don't think I'll be ordering pizza fries again just because this doesn't seem to be the type of taste I really fancy. Our server was super-duper nice, easygoing and attentive. She made sure waters were filled before we asked, and the food was brought out in a timely manner as well. I'll definitely be returning to sample their famous pancakes. Good location and they have a private parking lot as well. Not very busy during a weekday dinner.
(3)Patricia A.
I was there yesterday and treated very rudely by the so called "hostess" who doesn't even bother to clean up or put make-up on to come to work. First of all, I am a mother traveling with an infant, and she tells me to get my own high chair...for goodness sake... you're the "hostess" then she proceeds to slam it down. The food is good, but the pancakes are a bit over rated. We ordered the walnut/banana pancakes, and they are just buttermilk pancakes with walnuts and bananas plopped on top....they should at least bake them into the pancake!! I will definitely not go there again...rude hostess and the food is nothing to write home about!
(1)Dan R.
I feel like Brownstone used to be good? I remember loving it a few years back. Maybe this was before it was on Food Network? Not sure. Maybe my tastes have evolved. But I know this, as someone who grew up fed on Jersey diners. The Brownstone has earned a big reputation, and I sure have head exponentially better food in a much less hectic dining environment at many other diners. The Brownstone is PACKED during dinner and weekends. It has 30-60 minute waits, and once you're seated, the staff is far too busy to give you proper attention (and it's not even their fault - they are under staffed). You have to stand outside or in a sardine-packed foyer to wait your turn. The prices are above-average for a diner (a breakfast - albeit a hearty one - will run about $20-$25 per person when it's all settled), which is fine if you can make great food deserving of the Jersey diner heritage. ...but they don't. The food is cheap. Super cheap. Store bought. Cheddar cheese in your omelette is Kraft and doesn't even melt. Nothing from scratch. The pancakes, their namesake, are actually quite good, and HUGE, but the toppings and syrup are store bought, canned, corn syrup-y junk. The execution is not there either. Probably because they are so slammed. ...so why is this place such a big deal again?
(1)Mindy M.
They're always very nice here, and I'm sure the owners are lovely people, but this isn't quality food. Some key points: -This is a "Pancake Factory" that doesn't even serve real maple syrup. They give you the corn syrup, artificially-flavored crap they serve at Denny's, but for twice the price. Huh. -The blueberry pancakes come with fruit compote FROM A CAN. They don't even make their own compote, which is some kinda laziness because jesus compote is easy and cheap to make. -You want jam with your toast? They don't have it. They have Smuckers JELLY. Which isn't food. -They don't even make their own SALADS. I know this because once I got a piece of the plastic packaging it came in in mine. They make virtually nothing from scratch, which means you're paying a big premium for food you can you buy at Pathmark and put on a plate yourself. I think as people in the area become more sophisticated about food the long waits at this place will disappear. But hey, Guy Fieri likes it, right?!
(2)Brad M.
This diner is great. It's very clean inside and the food is very good and reasonably priced. They have a good sized parking lot, as well. The only negative is that it's not a 24/7 diner and closes at 11pm on weekdays.
(4)Ydnew L.
Monte Cristo was good but I had better one elsewhere. Service was awesome. This place is quite big but it gets filled up very fast even on a weekday noon. The portion was big and huge selection of food. It's good to have this diner near your house but for me, I won't go there from manhattan as the food does not justify the time and money I spent on transport. **I have a party of 6 but they don't give me a table until everyone's here.**
(3)Diana K.
I knew I had to eat here when I saw it featured on Food Network's "Best Food I ever Ate." Brownstone epitomizes the typical Jersey diner - warm, inviting, buzzing, and down-to-earth. It was packed and may account for our very forgetful server -- she was nice, but she would constantly forget little things that we would ask for. Aside from that, the food was great. We ordered 2 omelettes, an eggs benedict, and chocolate chip pancakes... portions were big, but we still finished most of it. The coffee was also really really good. I think I know where I'm dining for breakfast/lunch the next time I'm in Jersey City for a weekend.
(4)Sergio M.
Cant go wrong with this place the omelets are great the pancakes are light and fluffy cooked perfect ask the waiter or waitress to warm up the syrup then your in business
(4)Erika S.
The show stopper pancakes were delish!! My husband got the pancake combo and was pleasantly surprised. The sauces were delish and the buttermilk pancakes were fluffy and light. Luckily we went early on Sunday morning and were seated promptly. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the waitress forgot my husbands Bloody Mary and my coffee. (Big NO NO about the coffee)!
(4)Randi E.
Tacky décor- check Friendly staff- check Dessert display case- check Free refills- check Mile long menu- double check Jersey greasy spoon diner- DUUH I usually stick to breakfast at Brownstone--runny sunny side up eggs, crispy salty corned beef hash, mountainous omelets, greasy potato has browns, and pancakes. The pancakes! How I dream of those pancakes! They are my favorite (outside of my mother's). The pancakes are absolutely delicious. They are light and dense at the same time. Sweet enough to eat without syrup, but made only more spectacular with butter, the salty combating the sweet. The tops of the pancakes are almost always that perfect golden brown and crispy from the flat top and sugar--but the inside remains soft and fluffy. There is almost something grainy about them. Delicious. Sometimes, the staff is not always the most present. The waiters get really busy, impatient and forgetful. Unfortunately, it gets difficult during peak hours and some of the staff is better than others. I only have good experiences when it is off times though. I will always go back to Brownstone to satiate my breakfast (or curly fry) cravings. Not only do I enjoy the food and leave with an extremely full belly, I always have a ton of fun.
(4)Tim R.
Great service, neat place, excellent irish poached eggs corn beef hash, grits, pancakes.
(5)Jessica D.
One of the BEST Brunch spots I've ever been too. It's been a while since my boyfriend and I had breakfast together. Before attending a food event with friends, we decided to have breakfast together. I did research on Yelp and found Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. We arrived around 10AM on a Saturday Morning and no joke, the diner was packed with customers and lines of people were waiting in the waiting area to be seated. The hostess was welcoming and friendly and kindly told me the wait would be 10-15 minutes and 5 minutes later, we were seated. Our waitress was crazy busy, but managed to have found time to take our orders and bring our food to us in a considerable manner. My boyfriend saw another customer order the original pancake wrap and wanted to try it. He was amazed by the way it looked, so he decided to order it. Holy Cow! It was huge. It was like a breakfast burrito. And, can you believe this only cost $7.95? The original pancake wrap is one super-sized pancake (as you can see) stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, and American cheese. And don't let that scoop of creaminess fool you, it's not ice cream. It's actually butter. I ordered the Eggs Benedictand I was surprised they gave three poached eggs because I've had Eggs Benedict at a few other restaurants before and they always gave two poached eggs.The poached eggs were sitting on top of Canadian bacon drizzled with Hollandaise sauce on top of an English Muffin. They also came with homefries. The poached eggs were nice and plump. However, I found one of them toGreat breakfast experience at Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. I was very impressed with the service and the food for the most part. I highly recommend Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory if you're looking for a good breakfast place! The food here is up-to-par and for a reasonable price. You won't be disappointed because I know I wasn't. . be slightly overcooked and that's not exactly how Eggs Benedict are suppose to be. Luckily, one of the other poached eggs were just the way I like it. It was oozing and gooey! The experience at Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory was great. I was very impressed with the service and the food for the most part. I highly recommend Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory if you're looking for a good breakfast place! The food here is up-to-par and for a reasonable price. You won't be disappointed because I know I wasn't.
(4)Camille S.
I've been to Brownstone more times than I can count. Usually for breakfast or brunch. So when my cousins from VA asked where we could meet for a late lunch with brunch food available, Brownstone came to mind. You might recognize this diner from Diners Drive Ins and Dives, It became ridiculously busy after their appearance on that show. And yes, the food is wonderful, so they deserve the attention, but the wait in the mornings just got out of control. I'm not sure how it is now during brunch hours, but for our late lunch, the 7 of us were seated immediately. Thank goodness. We ordered appetizers: mozz sticks, chicken fingers, buffalo wings, baked potato skins. Really filling, but of course we each ordered our own dishes as well. I opted for the buffalo chicken wrap and split the disco fries with the table. My brother ordered the bacon ranch burger and my cousin ordered the chicken and waffles. We were all satisfied and stuffed because the portions are HUGE! I loved it. I'll be back because Brownstone is a standard go-to, and if you haven't already, do give this place a try, they have great diner food.
(4)Kevin B.
Having some trouble with this review. If I'm measuring Brownstoner on merit it's a solid 3 stars. If I'm measuring it against the hype, then it felt more like 2 stars. I think merit is the best way to review since expectations do vary, so 3 stars it is. First the good: We had a great Server, the meals are a good value, the menu has ton's of options and there is a nice atmosphere. We definitely left full, and all the food was good. So what keeps it from a 4 (or 5) star review? Expectations mainly. Especially where the pancakes were concerned. Yes they have a vast selection of pancakes with some interesting choices, but as far as buttermilk pancakes go these were just average. Same for the hash browns, corned beef, eggs and coffee... nothing really stood out. There was one exception for us, and it was the waffles. If we go back we'll definitely be getting those. The waffles were nearly enough to get us to take the 45min drive again, but not quite. Maybe if I develop a really strong craving down the road we'll do it again. So basically Brownstoner is a fine place for a meal, good value, selection and service, but it's not quite extraordinary, and doesn't warrant a trip from long distance in my opinion.
(3)Nick I.
Found the Brownstone Diner via Yelp search and we were amazed. It was a Thursday late morning and the place was packed due to high school graduations. We got lucky and were able to snag seven seats at the bar and had very prompt service. The Pancakes were great...fluffy and a slight sweetness to them. The French Toast were large slices and cooked perfectly. The bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwhich came on two think slices of toasted bread and was one of the best items we ate...which is surprising that a "simple" entree could be made so well. We also had the Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap as it was featured on Guy Fieri's Triple D show, it was a hit with all of us. You need to take the family here, the food is great, service is great and the menu will surely have something for everyone.
(5)Alyssa W.
Went here for an afternoon breakfast. The hostess seemed occupied with conversation and sat my daughter and I at a table that hadn't been cleaned. She ran away before I could even realize this. Our waitress Alicia was very attentive and cleaned it for us as soon as she came over. She was very nice and talkative (not too much, just enough). Food came out pretty quickly and was tasty. The Old Fashioned Pancakes with a "40 year old recipe" were great. My daughter had a chocolate chip pancake which was huge and shaped like Mickey Mouse. The eggs scrambled with cheese were the type that had two slices of cheese slapped on top after being cooked. Other than that, the food was good as well as filling, too much to eat in one sitting, so part of the chocolate chip pancake came home with us. I don't live close to this diner, so I probably wouldn't return, but I'd recommend it to others. The lunch time crowd seemed to include a lot of "regulars".
(4)Giselle R.
Weekday morning and the place is only half full so that means giant booth for me and hubby. Buttermilk pancakes, turkey sausage, coffee, juice for me. Short stack,turkey sausage, eggs over, toast etc for hubby. We could only eat half. Not that I didn't want to keep eating, they were really fluffy and just plain yummy, but in the god's smiling down on me part of my day not only was I going to be able to enjoy them in the a.m. but I was looking at a repeat for brinner with those leftovers. Happiness is a belly full of fluffy pancakes, 2x.
(4)Sharon G.
One of Jersey's best diners (and I've been to a lot)! Their pancakes are excellent. I especially like the Nut 'N' Honey and the place is welcoming and cozy. Also, Pizza Pie fries -- could you ever pass up something like this on the menu?
(4)Vanesss C.
Went to this place fort birthday because I am huge fan of pancakes. When we got there I can see why this place was packed. The food is like heaven! I got the show stopper and I couldn't have been happier with my Decision. The waitress was really kind and patient with us due to our kids. The portions are huge and worth it. Go there with an empty stomach. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Gaurav K.
Was getting bored at home so decided to venture out nearby and found this nice family owned place on yelp. The menu is extensive and I went in the afternoon with the thought of having a hearty brunch spread over an hour atleast. Ordered banana pancakes for myself and Apple waffle for the wife. Result: 3 Huge pancakes served with salted butter the pancakes were fluffy as hell and really wonderful to eat. Waffle size was also humongous and well prepared. I gave up after eating half the pancakes as my stomach was on the point of bursting, really had my eyes on having an omlette with bacon but that will have to wait till next time...
(5)Michelene E.
As a "blover" (breakfast/brunch lover..haha) Brownstone is one of those places that has every breakfast item on the menu. You will always find what you are looking for. There is nothing above or below average about their food....its just good the way it is. The grits are just creamy grits. The cheese eggs are just fluffy cheddar cheese eggs. You will always leave satisfied. Good, plenty and affordable is the best way to describe this place.
(4)Melissa J.
I am really sad to write this update. I used to spend hours of my life every weekend waiting in line for the Brownstone deliciousness. Now, I am not really sure if I will ever return... the service has gotten worse, the prices have gone up significantly, and the quality has suffered. They charge you just sit there if you don't order anything now. Just really sad, this used to be such a great spot.
(2)James K.
Gotta love good diner food right? Been here a couple times and have tried several different things on the menu. Long story short: Fair Prices. Generous portions. Top notch in terms of diner quality. Trip 1: Chicken and Waffles: Unfortunately the only other chicken and waffles I can compare them to are from ihop. That being said, the C&W's at the Brownstone are really quite good. You get 4 pieces of chicken on the bone, to complement your 4 pieces of waffle. The chicken lightly battered & super juicy. I think the only thing that would have made the dish better would have been to add a scoop of vanilla cream. Trip 2: Egg's Benedict: Finding good eggs benedict has proven to be quite the challenge. To be fair, eggs benedict is probably the hardest style to cook being that if they're cooked to short the yolk runs, cook them too long the inside solidifies. Unfortunately this time the eggs were overcooked. All the other components of the dish, home fries, muffin, hollandaise sauced tasted nice, but it was quite unfortunate to not have that light drizzle from the benedict to compliment everything on the plate. If i got back again during brunch i'll probably give it another shot. - But till then ill keep looking for some prime EB. Pancakes: Tried the pancakes, super light fluffy. Got nothing bad to say about them. Wouldn't be terrible if Brownstone had a couple different flavored syrups though. Final Breakdown: Food: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Pricing: 5/5 Portions: 5/5 Staff: 5/5 Final Consensus. I have no reason to not go back.
(4)Caryn G.
My sister was in from Florida and we decided to celebrate Father's Day with a breakfast that would have made our dad proud. We arrived to find a long line; however, since we were only 2 people, the wait was 10 minutes. Not bad for the amount of people standing outside. The waiter came over to the table within minutes, bringing us water and menus. The menu is extensive, so be prepared. We opted on sharing two different things so that we could taste them. I had blueberry pancakes with very crisp bacon and my sister had the french toast, which was outrageous too! We took home leftovers for breakfast the next day. I definitely plan on returning soon!
(5)Donna S.
Love the pancakes and omelette. Great service, we were served quickly.
(4)Racheal D.
Who doesn't love eating breakfast at night. I highly recommend the florentine omelette.
(5)Olivia G.
This was recommended to me by a local resident. We were looking to grab something quick before an event. I was surprised at how quickly the food arrived. It was all delicious. Each diner was pleased with their respective dish. We had the chicken and waffles, an omelet, and a quesadilla. I would definitely return and highly recommend.
(5)Mishae M.
As most yelpers know, there are many highly overrated, overpopulated, and over-exaggerated restaurants. This is certainly not one of them. The crucial thing to finding good food is to go where the locals go and brownstone diner is a combination of tourists and locals. I went this passing Saturday with a party of three, it was extremely crowded but we were not deterred,as we were traveling from Newark and was very hungry. The hostess informed us that the wait time would be about twenty minutes, it actually ended up being maybe 15. We got a nice booth that had posts to hang our coats,( sure this is so your stomach has enough room to pack in pancakes) and the waitress was at our table within 10 minutes giving us enough time to make a decision on our food. The menu has at least 30 different pancake options and combinations and 4 pages of other food provided by the diner. I ended up getting the jack combination (silver dollar pancakes, 3 eggs and 1 turkey sausage), my friend got the pancake combination (3 pancakes, 3 eggs, 2 bacon strips and a pork sausage link) and my mother got banana pancakes and taylor ham. Drinks of choice was 2 coffees and 1 hot chocolate. Everything arrived within 15 minutes. Immediately, the aroma of buttermilk filled our area and caused my mouth to water in anticipation. We all glance at each others dishes noting how delicious everything looked and then finally dug in. I was not disappointed in the least bit, as a matter of fact, it exceeded my expectations. Everything was delicious, the pancakes were fluffy, buttery and made from scratch (unlike whohop) . Turkey sausage was cooked to perfection and the eggs were done just right. I tried the taylor ham and must say it is the best i've ever had in jersey. One thing to note is the portions are absolutely huge so be prepared to either eat a lot or eat rationally and take food home. Prices are wonderful and the place is easily accessible by public transportation (81L is right across the street) or walking from Grove St. Path Station, (11 mins). I will definitely be back.
(5)Darby S.
This place was okay. Our waitress spoke very little English so most of our meal was incorrect and I had to ask for chocolate milk for my daughter 3 separate times. I asked for a recommendation and she just pointed to the pancake page on the menu. Going to a "pancake factory" I kind of assumed that. I got potato pancakes that looked like they came out of a bag. They were decent, though. I think I will seek out somewhere else if we are ever back in NJ.
(3)Darryll S.
I like this place. Huge menu with huge portions. Everything is good, nothing blows me away but everything is good, portions are huge, what more did you expect from a diner? Large variety here I always have difficulty choosing. Service is good, all the servers are quite friendly and the restaurant is very family friendly. I've had the pizza burger, pancakes, waffles, pasta and all good/decent and large portions for price. Once again, everything you wish for in a diner. Definitely will come again while visiting jcmc. Did I mention the gigantic portions!??!?! :D
(4)Lauren M.
There was About a 15-20min wait to sit but it was worth it. The pancakes are massive and quite delicious. Particularly, I recommend the turtle pancakes if like me you crave something sweet and you're not into syrup. The meat pancakes weren't anything to scream home about...eat your meat on the side...unless you go for the tasty country pancake wrap stuffed with the western eggs...we added bacon and it was full of flavor and it didn't need any salt. The drinks are a little stingy especially with such huge pancake intake...but I would definitely go again if I was in a starchy mood or just go with the spectacular western omelet with cheddar cheese of course. Service was a lil slow. Overall with cleanliness, service and food quality I give them 3.5 stars.
(4)Jim P.
I generally like this place. It's always a madhouse on Saturday or Sunday mornings, but I never mind the wait. And the friendliness of the staff always puts me in a good mood. People love the pancakes, and I certainly don't mind them, but I'm partial to the Waffles. I'm always a bit disappointed in the bacon, and the sausage is just OK, but I do like the corned beef hash. They have a (somewhat) new dish which is waffles and fried chicken which I don't care for. I've heard about that dish many times (from other places) but I've been anywhere that served it, so when I saw it on the menu I was excited and gave it a try. I won't ever order it from there again though. The chicken is really greasy and upset my stomach. I've been told that properly fried chicken isn't that greasy. It's just juicy. I really want to try it again somewhere else and see what it's SUPPOSED to be like. Stick with the staples here and you'll be good.
(4)Larry B.
I judge the food in a diner by their pancakes Just had a short stack. Delicious ! They passed the test.... First time here but I'll be back. Service super fast during lunch rush Pleasant server too!!! 5 stars all the way !!!
(5)Shela S.
Great! Hardly any wait for a family of 4 and the food was delicious. I totally recommend the Jersey French Toast.
(5)Demitris W.
This place has the best pancakes around the first time I was here I enjoyed it this time it was like visiting an old fiend. You don't need to make small talk you just pick up right where you left off. THE FOOD Buttermilk Pancakes: I am a purest, I am not a fan of having a bunch of stuff on my pancakes, I like to taste the pancake it's self. These are the best I have had they are nice and thick. THe cool thing about the pancakes being this size is that they stay hot from the first one all the way to the last one. I am happy that I live 50mins away because If this place was around the corner I would have a booth with my name engraved in it. Apple Pie Ala Mode: The filling great not to sweet as sometimes it can be. The crust was top notch also. I am a crust kind of guy ;) The omelets and french toast are no slouch either. THE VERDICT: "I'll be Back" See you in the next review ~ Demitris p.s. One star off for service. It could have been a tad better. I know it was an hour before close.However you still have the ability to make money from me. As servers we need to provide consistent service from open-close.
(4)Swaty B.
Having seen the place on guy fieris show and also having heard great things really wanted to check this place out from a long time. It's a small brown structure in jersey city. We went late on a Sunday and the place was packed even then. We got a corner booth but felt the place was very warm for some reason. We ordered the garden omlette, banana walnut waffle, coffee and hot tea. The waffle was really good and was packed with walnuts which felt pretty good in there. The omlette was fine too. Portions are good at this place. But just didn't feel the food was that great. You need to go up front to the counter to pay, keep that in mind this was our first time and we weren't aware.
(3)Jabreel M.
Love the Brownstone Diner for breakfast come often. If you come on weekends you will have to wait awhile to get in. Not sure how there lunch or dinners are since we only come for breakfast. They are known for there pancakes and they are excellent. Lots of different kinds.
(4)Sonia V.
Sooooo these may be the best pancakes I've ever had!! First off, they were on Diners Drive-ins and Dives! Who knew....my husband just drives by this place a lot so we decided to go here after checking Yelp. They aren't kidding about the Pancake Factory....they have over 30 kinds of pancakes!!!!! Mostly sweet but some savory options as well. There are also several waffle options as well and then your typical diner fare. My husband got the Waffle with Peach Compote and a side of Corned Beef Hash, which he said was good. I had the combo with 2 eggs SSU, bacon, sausage, and 3 buttermilk pancakes....omg. The pancakes were light, SO fluffy, soaked up the butter and syrup nicely and were SO satisfying. Really hit the sweet spot. Would like to come back and try more flavors! Maybe the pancake with meat baked in !!
(5)L B.
Pros: Quick seating and friendly staff. Cons: Food was bad. I ordered cheese quesadillas, it came on flour tortillas. They offer cheddar but I'm not quite sure of what I got. It was some type of processed cheese. And the garnish is shaved carrots. It came with guac which was prepackaged, EW. I asked for a side of mayo 2x and each time they brought out the small pre-packs, 2or 3 at a time, come on guys! Also, the second time they brought out the mayo it was actually 2 packs of tartar sauce and the only pack of mayo had already been used. I ordered a grilled cheese for my son and again requested cheddar and american processed cheese came out, so I am to guess they don't actually have cheddar? My husband ordered the California omelette with extra cheese and when it can out it had about the equivalent of a teaspoon of cheese. So he turned to the server and asked "is this extra cheese?" And she hesitantly said, "yes". Needless to say, but he offered to pay extra and requested more cheese. Seems like they're trying to cut corners and be lazy, it's not working. Take a little extra time to head over to Turning Point Diner in Hoboken. A much better option.
(2)Patricia D.
I would have given them a 5 but the service was horrible. The girl sat us down and once we got our meal we didn't see her until we had to ask for the check. MY boyfriend wanted a second coffee and basically had to down it at the end. The inside was pleasant very well kept. The food portions are very large so have a appetite. The pancakes are very soft and fully. My omelet was a great portion and the greens where fresh.
(4)Bonnie E.
Very disappointed. We went for pancakes because we'd read they boasted about having the best pancakes around. We would have preferred eating the takeout container. Which we asked for 1/4 of the way into them. Thickest, dryest pancakes I've ever eaten. Needed two sips of juice to swallow one bite. Literally. Bacon soggy and greasy like they poured oil on it. Ordered a panini next. Not panini-like at all. Only served on large thick focacia, quite UN-pressable, and loaded with full pieces of rosemary in every bite. Never encountered a diner that you could not even get a side of mayo! They said they don't serve sides of mayo and gave us packets of kraft mayo instead. Really?! Best thing we had was the juice. Very disappointing. Would not go back.
(1)Susie T.
After getting over my annoyance at having to wait 20 minutes or so (and having someone steal our call number) I was pleasantly surprised at how DELICIOUS the pancakes are here. This is everything that Stacks in Hoboken aspires to and fails miserably. For only $1 more, you can upgrade your mimosa to "grand" which comes with a healthy amount of grand marnier (one of my personal favorites). Eating at a diner means making smart choices, don't go for something fancy. The omelettes are pretty good (I've had one previously) but just order the Pancake Combo...trust me on this!
(5)Pimp D.
Came for Sunday brunch. Nothing special, but nothing bad. Pretty much typical Jersey diner food that's been overhyped by an appearance on Food Network's DD&D Show. For strictly comparison's sake, Clinton Street Bakery has MUCH better pancakes. Also the syrup served is not real Maple syrup, but the fake stuff (aka pancake syrup). Is it worth the wait for Sunday brunch...not really. But it's a solid choice if you're in the area and craving eggs or pancakes.
(3)Chris D.
This place is outstanding. My wife and I just moved to the neighborhood and we were pleasantly surprised to stumble on this place. The menu is huge and everything we have ever had here is really good. Highly recommended.
(5)Ronin D.
So much food and very good. I got a chicken fingers basket (they were out of honey mustard unfortunately but the BBQ sauce was good). My friend got blueberry pancakes, which came with blueberry compote. Both were delicious. But be ready, you can't split your check and sharing one entree will cost an additional $3.
(4)Vicki K.
Food was excellent, large portions and came quickly. Wait service left a little to be desired. Waiter didn't pay much attention to us and we had to ask for the bill despite being clearly done for a while.
(4)Rupali S.
Craving for pancake...??? You are at the right place.. Not a place for diet conscious people..We love banana pancake and in house coffee:) California omelet is also a treat !!!!!
(4)Gregg H.
Wow, a diner in downtown Jersey City with its own parking lot! The interior and exterior design of the building are outstanding, exuding class and tradition. I ordered the Belgian Waffles with pecans and a side of sausage. The waffles were slightly overcooked but still delicious. The fountain soda was flat and too sweet. Our server was friendly and efficient. The biggest letdown was the coffee - which was weak and not really to my liking. Despite some minor shortfalls on the food, overall it was a great experience and I will definitely return. The Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory is a great place to hold a business lunch or dinner, particularly given the free onsite parking. The diner is conveniently located just 5 minutes off the New Jersey Turnpike.
(4)Teresa L.
The diner's pancakes were featured on the Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (youtube clip here: youtube.com/watch?v=SID4… ). It's the only diner in Jersey City, but it's a pretty good diner despite the lack of competition. In a nutshell: 1) Prepare for a 30 minute wait on Sundays. The wait isn't that bad during weekdays. 2) The food is hearty and satisfies that craving for home cooked foods. It's not spectacular, but it does its job. 3) The service is SLOW, but the servers are usually very courteous and sweet. 4) Prices are very reasonable.
(4)Jennifer D.
The service was really wonderful - even though the waitress was slow to bring our drinks. The food was also good - everyone at the table had breakfast. Pancake ares fine (however, why would you bring 15 silver dollar pancakes in a breakfast combo. Who eats that much?) and the poached eggs were well cooked. However, when it came time to pay we went to counter and the man said we could not split the check. When I questioned him he said no restaurant does that - really? I don't doubt that. Then he got very rude at me and then said "sweetheart, these are my values and you have to live by them". First off, I am NOT your sweetheart and second off, this isn't a matter of values, but a matter of just informing your customers with a little line on the bottom of the menu about the no split check policy. The menu says that because people do not read anymore, they made a novel of a menu. Adding line stating your split check policy shouldn't be a problem then.
(3)Jose R.
Not kid friendly! Twice I have gone and have had to witness a table of adults (same party size) be sat prior to us because they said that table is not for kids. It was a round table with seating for 5. If it would have been a high legged table with stools I would agree, but a regular sized table in the middle of the restaurant? How dare you assume my kids are going to be a problem! My kids are polite and know how to behave at a table. How dare you!
(1)Danielle F.
My husband and I love this place. There are so many yummy pancakes to choose from! Outside of the delicious pancakes there is a full diner menu and everything I've tried here so far has been well above average diner food. Still, it's the pancakes that keep us coming back, over and over. The service is lovely, friendly and efficient. Even when it's packed (which is always) it's fast and friendly service. I don't know how they do it.
(4)Vartika S.
My absolute favorite brunch place ! Loooove their Pancakes !! ... and the compote tastes just too right ! .. With a side of eggs and fries :) Waffle was just about okay ! Mocha is my favorite drink there ( I skip the whip tho but boy it looks yummy !! )
(5)Jennifer R.
Me: So, where do you want to eat breakfast? Friend: I told you. We're going to that Diner in JC. Me: What's it called? Friend: Jackson something Diner I go on my Yelp app and search for "Jackson Diner" to do the usual and see what's good but find this place is non-existent. Me: There's no Jackson Diner. Are you sure that's the name of it? Friend: Yea, I think so. I decided to be smart and search for "Diner". Low and behold Brownstone popped up with great reviews, I say the name out loud and my friend yells, "THAT'S IT!" I have no idea how she got Jackson from Brownstone but the important thing is we got our hungry behinds here to try their infamous pancakes. Their menu is straight up ridiculous. It's probably 10 pages long! Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip...what the hell should I order?! I felt as though I was experiencing schitzo like symptoms just looking at the gargantuan menu. I'm happy, I'm anxious, I'm confused... Alas, I decided on the Honky Tonk Pancakes just because...wait for it...it has pieces of peanut butter chunks mixed in with the pancake batter, topped off with freshly sliced bananas and a light sift of powdered sugar. (see picture) O_O Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds. Yes, the weight of the pancakes is comparable to a toddler's head. Yes, I had left overs for the next 2 days. If you're ever feeling like a fat lard and want to eat...like really eat...come here and you won't be disappointed. They also have other typical diner food but stay away from the disco fries. The JC Biergarten is also a short ways away so this diner would be a great spot to hit up after a hardcore night of drinking.
(4)Ana B.
If only I could I would give no stars. The waiter was extremely rude! I been here before and I was treated like a human being by a young lady, but this time it was a Spanish man and he was a jerk! Never have I experienced such bad service. Then on top of everything I found a bug In my salad. I let the waiter know and he simply took the plate back in the kitchen like nothing happened and asked us if we'd like anything else. He didn't show any forgiveness or apologized at all. As we were leaving because my family couldn't handle eating their food anymore because of the level of disgust, he has the nerve to hand us a bill for all the food accept the salad the bug was in. I honestly don't know how restaurants are supposed to do it, but if it were my restaurant I wouldn't charge someone that just saw a bug in my food, in fact I would invite them back for a free meal as well. This was rediculous! As much customers as Brownstone gets I'm going to make sure my friends or coworkers never go here. Terrible!
(1)Thomas Djtm M.
Seriously Pancakes are amazing
(4)Jonathan C.
Another DDD destination when I was in Jersey, and I'm glad I did. The pancakes here are awesome. They give you fluffy, huge stacks of carbolicious goodness, you douse it with maple syrup and butter, and enjoy. I tried the Honky Tonky with peanut butter chips and bananas - Loved it. I'm a big eater (for a Canadian, you Americans have bigger appetites), but I couldn't finish my stack (partly from guilt, and party cause it was just such a huge stack).
(4)Molly M.
THIS IS A REAL REVIEW AND IM WILLING TO SHOW PROOF!! Isn't yelp supposed to be honest and truthful? Please do not delete this post. These people should not get away with how they treated us. I originally wrote this in the tips section but I see it got deleted. I ate at this restaurant 3/30/2013 and had the most HORRIBLE experience I have EVER had at a diner in my life! Just because your establishment has been on television does NOT give you the right to treat and speak to people like they are trash! This place is NOT child friendly by any means. I've never in my life have been so embarrassed. If you ever bring your child to this diner please never accidentally break a plate because a charge on your bill will show up as "open plate" for 5.00 and if you dare inquire about it, you will be called "a piece of sh*t" by the owner!!!! I was floored!! He continued to throw insults at my family member even after we had paid our check in FULL!!! All of this was taking place in front of the other patrons and the children we had with us!! I have contacting the BBB about this. He should be ashamed of himself!!! This is by no means acceptable on any level. My family member also wrote a review on trip advisor about this as well. Here is the link and I will copy and paste it: click.e.tripadvisor.com/… "Management doesn't value customers. Spend your money where they care for you, not your money." Mar 31, 2013 Saw this diner on Food Network decided to give it a try. My one year old accidentally dropped a plate as we were eating. My check comes and there is a $5 charge that Ii don't recognize and no one says anything. When I go to the cashier and inquire, the owner yells at me saying that I need to pay and come on, hurry, next... proceeds to say he doesn't need my business because he's been open for 52 years. I pay and when I am signing the credit card slip, he says "my people would never do do this when we go out, but you would because "you all are a piece of $**t!!!! I never raised my voice at him, was never rude and only asked for an explanation of the charge and asked where does it state that you will be charged for breaking an item and is there a price list. As the reviewer above me says, they DO NOT care about their customers. I'll give my business where I am not cursed at by a racist owner. My cash is green and my credit card is plastic just like "his people".
(1)Ranley K.
Came here on a rainy Sunday morning and ended up being packed! I assumed packed = awesome, but shortly found out that it was like 1 of 2 diners in Jersey City waterfront area. Surprisingly, our wait wasn't too long and our waitress was very tentative. The real reason behind my -2 stars is due to the food. I ordered what I like to call a HUGE pigs in blankets. (One huge pancake wrapped around cheese, scrambled eggs, and sausage) Unfortunately sausage was not part of the entree so I had to add it for an extra few bucks, no biggie. I like sausage (haha laugh all you want). I don't know if my entree was bad or if the syrup was a little watered down, but my dish was not all that great, maybe it was just me since my friends all enjoyed their orders, but I was a little upset =(. On the upside, the service was not all that bad. LIke I said we were sat very quickly and ordered quickly as well. Prices were pretty normal for breakfast food as well. Bottom Line: According to my friends this place is much better than the Jersey City IHOP, so we came here. I personally like IHOP a little better (maybe because of the better syrup?) I won't tell you to avoid or tell you that you have to come here, but it's not a bad place to resort to.
(3)Andre P.
This is "the" Jersey City diner. This is where politicians come to make illegal deals, where blue collar families come for their family night out, where young people who gentrify the city come to have pancakes for dinner, where the civic leaders of the community come in their double breasted suits and hats to discuss the neighborhood, where the hung over people come on weekend mornings, and where seemingly everyone from every part of Jersey City comes for the diner experience. I love the pie here. Sometimes I just come for the pie. I'll think about it at night and then go there the next day. They have a liquor license so you can get a cold Sam Adams. They have the niceties of classic NJ diners, so you feel welcomed. There's a parking lot.
(4)Jenn B.
I dream of the pancakes. They were soooooooooo delicious. I took a risk & ordered the Berry sour & I will never forget it. I wish I could go back right now except that would include a 3 1/2 hour flight & 30 min cab ride. :-/ But if you're in the area, go now! :-) breakfast served all day!
(5)Toni G.
My first visit to Brownstone Diner was acceptable. I was impressed by the variety of pancake dishes. The restaurant rules on the menu are hilarious. The seats in the booths needs to be renovated as they look like a tiger clawed the seats. Otherwise, the ambience and most of the decor is appropriate for families and date night.
(3)Calvin B.
Stopped here while spending a weekend in the city after seeing it on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives. What a great decision! When we arrived the place was packed. I expected to wait at least 30-45 minutes for a table but luckily we had six in our party and luckily no one else needed a table for six so we got right in! What a perfect way to start the day! On to the service. Our waitress was great. So nice and friendly and patient! She took our drink orders and was very patient with us as we browsed their Bible sized menu. We finally decided and within 20 minutes our food was at the table. The food. Everything was excellent. Most of us had a breakfast item of some sort. I personally had the Country pancake wrap and it was huge and delicious. Some of the other items at our table were the chocolate chip pancakes, banana walnut pancakes, and an omelet of some kind. Everyone was very pleased with the items they had ordered. My friend ordered the moussaka which was not featured on the menu but was featured on Triple D and we were very surprised but overly excited when they actually had it. He loved it. I have nothing bad to say about the Brownstone. I was pleased with every aspect of this meal. I could see wait times being lengthy but if the food is good...who cares? Oh and for 2 people we had an awesome breakfast for 20 bucks. When do you find that in or around the city? Go here, you'll love it!
(5)Roy L.
I've gone here numerous times and no one in the area has pancakes as good. Everything else for breakfast is good though some items have been consistent, never the pancakes. Be warned, this place gets packed for breakfast esp on the weekends obviously. Service is hit or miss too but the pancakes alone carry it. Also, the beef sausage is good. This is a must visit place.
(4)Tanisha C.
Maybe I'm picky about my breakfast food, but Brownstone Diner is certainly good enough for me to go back occasionally, but not good to the point where I'd make it my default breakfast/brunch location. The pancakes are amazing. This cannot be denied. The selection is incomparable with well over 25 pancake options. I had the blueberry and my boyfriend had the banana walnut. The standard stack comes with 3 of the most melt-in-your-mouth, buttery and fluffy pancakes imaginable. I barely had to use any syrup -- the pancakes were that moist. But beware of the syrup served at the restaurant, it is startlingly sweet. Make sure you go there on an empty stomach. The pancakes are huge. My boyfriend is a big eater and was defeated by these mammoth pancakes. The rest of the food... eh. Nothing special really -- which is perhaps expected. I got the pancake combo, which includes pancakes (you can get the specialty pancakes instead of the standard buttermilk at additional cost), eggs, bacon and sausage. My bacon strips were thin and flimsy. I've had better cheese eggs. Slices of swiss cheese were plainly just added atop my eggs shortly before my meal arrived to the table. I stayed away from the sausage. The service is standard. The waitresses could have been a bit friendlier, but it was a busy Saturday morning, so what can you really expect. The restaurant was packed, but the wait time for a party of two was only 10 minutes. It's much nicer decor wise than I expected. I was expecting the usual decades-old diner look, but the location was relatively updated. It's somewhere between IHOP and an Applebees in terms of decor / atmosphere. I will definitely go back to try other pancake options and perhaps one of the glutenous pancake wraps I saw being eaten at a neighboring table. It's unlikely, however, that Brownstone will become a regular eatery for me.
(3)Emily N.
Friendly service, family atmosphere, and enough treats to feed an army, the recently renovated Brownstone Diner and Pancake Factory is another of the institutions of our neighborhood I couldn't live without. Growing up Jersey, one acquires a certain love for diner culture, and the Brownstone delivers. (Hey, you know, I think they also 'deliver' but I'm not sure.) My friends and I were here the day that the Food Network came to film Diners, Drive-In's and Dives, and that was the only day I've ever had anything go wrong with my order because the kitchen was in chaos! We politely asked to have our order fixed and the waiter got all fidgety and nervous and said, "I'm so sorry. I was just on TV!" It was awesome. I love bringing visitors here. Its a fun experience! We love the staff and crew because they take care of us like family. Booths are comfortable, faces are friendly, and you get a genuine thank you from the owner whenever you stop by.
(5)Luca C.
Oh, Brownstone...how do I love you? Let me count all of the delicious ways. My friends and I call it Death Breakfast, and for good reason; The portions are huge and it's a do or die the embarrassment of asking for a to-go box at the end of the meal. Favorites include the Brownstone Fries, Waffle Tower, and Country Breakfast Wrap. The family that runs it are incredibly wonderful people, as are the staff. Arrive early or late noon on weekends if you want a table. It fills up fast, and for good reason!
(5)Olivia R.
I went here the first time and ordered a philly cheesesteak while my boyfriend ordered the penne vodka pasta -- major mistake. this is a pancake house! the sandwich and pasta was mediocre at best. i looked around and the burgers and sandwich melts looked good but what makes this spot stand out is their breakfast food. the next time i made sure to order an omelet and my boyfriend got the peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes. egg white country omelet was amazing and the pancakes were the fluffiest, gooiest pancakes i've ever had! soo delicious. i would recommend staying away from the "diner" food and go for breakfast .. even if you decide to have breakfast for dinner. that's what we did and it was awesome!
(4)David V.
We went here at 8pm on a Thursday night. There were about four tables that were occupied in our section, but for some reason the service was slow. I asked for a margarita but the waitress brought me a daiquiri. No problem, I suppose, but it also took long to get that right drink out. I had the stir-fry steak, and i t was excellent. We didn't know that this place was known for pancakes, so my wife and I didn't order it for ourselves. Also, we don't really get the fascination with pancakes, even famous as-seen-on TV pancakes. We did get banana pancakes for our toddler because that was what he wanted, and the waitress informed us that they can make it kid size even though it wasn't on the kids menu, so that was nice. Also, when we first came in, the two host and hostess manager types were talking in their language seemingly about where to seat us - with us standing right in between them. I felt that was a bit rude for a service establishment. As we followed the guy, the lady then says to us, "Enjoy your dinner" or something to that effect. I didn't really hear it, because I didn't expect her to finally acknowledge us once our backs were turned. Also, there was this guy in a button shirt who constantly walked around looking at the tables, although not once did he engage with the customers or ask how everything was, so I don't know what his deal was. Oh yeah, and the menu has "rules", like it gives you rules on the menu. I gotta say that's the first time I've seen that. One of them specifically states that tables are not allowed to have split checks, which I don't really see how hard that would be to do. Also, there are a lot of offices downtown who might appreciate having that option. Anyways, if you like this place, then you don't really need to go on Yelp to make up your mind. But yes, there are plenty of other diners in Jersey City, let alone the state of New Jersey.
(3)Kisha M.
I always eat at the Brownstone when I am in town. Most recently I ate there twice. On the first visit I had the HUGE sliced steak sandwich with home fries. The sandwich was way large and coul dhave been easily been shared between 2 (or maybe 3) people. It was pretty good. Not seasoned enough for my taste and I would have liked for it to be a little more tender. On my second visit I got a ham, egg and cheese sandwich on toast with home fries. The sandwich was perfection. So good! Obviously I am a fan of the home fries. They are boiled and then fried with peppers and onions. Just how a potato should be eaten. Service is friendly and efficient. I've never had to wait for a table, but I imagine it gets pretty busy at peak times.
(5)Tonya D.
I WOULD NOT DINE AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT - THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AND DISHES DIRTY. They deserve a lower rating than 1 star. Restaurant is FILTHY & the Owner RUDE. This occasion was our 3rd time dining here and it was a total DUD. First, my boyfriend's glass was dirty so he asked for his drink in a "to go" cup. After indicating they charge for "to go" items, they bring his drink in a coffee cup, no cover. Of course we were not paying for a cup when their glass was dirty. Once our food was brought, I open utensils to eat, and I have egg stuck on my fork. YUCK! So we ask for more utensils, a cup of hot water and lemon. The server tells us if it's to clean the silverware, she cannot bring it to us. Then a 2nd server comes over and tells us we can have orange juice in a small carton and lemon or we can take our food to go. This told me they were saying they didn't care about whether we were comfortable with the cleanliness of our silverware, and could leave. So we asked to speak to the manager. The owner comes over and we make the same requests. Again, she refuses to bring over the hot water because as she says, "It doesn't look good." She says she'll clean the silverware for us as if she's doing us a favor. When that wasn't good enough for us, she asked we leave. Gladly - we didn't eat, didn't take the food, and didn't pay for anything. As we pulled out of the parking lot, we saw the Owner and she screamed obscenities at us. IHOP is definitely better.
(1)K Lo ..
ambience: typical diner. food:very large portions. Pancakes:certainly the best. Soft on the inside, light with a little crunch on the outside. You will drown in the choices. Sandwich: was just ok, nothing to brag about. Value for money: Always some hidden cost, so ask the server and read the between the lines of the menu. Must try if you like pancakes. Recommend!
(4)Yael J.
I supported this place when it first opened as I work nearby. But after they charged me $1.00 for extra ketchup packets, I was done with them. I argued with them that if I ate in, I could use all the ketchup I want at no additional charge, but because I had a take out order and requested extra ketchup, they charged me a $1.00. Ridiculous business decision in my opinion because I haven't gone back since and I tell everyone I know my story. Also my boss went here for breakfast. She preferres jelly on her pancakes instead of syrup. They charged her extra for the jelly. Poor customer service. Won't ever go back.
(1)Jo D.
Yum favorite diner in jersey. They have. A great menu and the service is great. I work as a sales rep in north jersey and whenever im in jersey city I like stopping in here. *Enjoy*
(4)Paul D.
My wife and I have been here a few times and absolutely LOVE breakfast here. My only grip is: PLEASE turn the air conditioner on in the restaurant!!!!!
(4)Tamara O.
Ihop has nothing to worry about. I was excited to try Brownstone after hearing about the Food Network feature. I mean, my mouth was watering with thoughts of pancakes. We arrived around noon yesterday. The lovely hostess seated us quickly. Our young waitress was less helpful. She didn't seem to know the menu - maybe she was new, but a waitress should know if Strawberry Daiquiris or turkey bacon are on the menu. After reading the novel of a menu, I settled on chocolate chip pancakes. I really wanted chocolate chip pancakes with bananas cooked inside. Of course the waitress explained that bananas cannot be cooked in pancakes. Not true, since I get it at Ihop all the time. My side dishes were sausage, eggs over hard, and grits with cheese. Everything was ok, except the cheese was literally placed on top of the grits. The grits are typically cooked with shredded or sliced cheese. In my picture you can see the sucky Brownstone version. My girlfriend's omelette was overcooked and she literally couldn't eat the tons of cheese inside. Ugh. Check the photos. Overall, I was unimpressed. By the time we left my GF said it all: "Ihop doesn't need to worry".
(2)Teresita S.
Came here specifically for the pancakes. And they did not disappoint. Portions are huge! Food is tasty, but nothing special. However, I ate so much for breakfast, I did not have to eat anything else the entire day! Service was lacking, but I guess in a place as busy as this, it is expected. Would come back, if I ever want to stuff my face with pancakes.
(3)Alex R.
Monster portions. Good value. Pancakes come in tons of varieties. The menu has lots of choices and you can spend considerable time browsing through it. Food tastes simple, yet fresh enough for a diner. On a weekend, the place is packed at breakfast and lunch hours. Be prepared to wait in a line. Service is good.
(4)Jaclyn I.
Sitting at work eating my leftover mousakka, thinking about the Honky Tonk pancakes I also devoured last night, and had to Yelp. Saw this place on DDD w/Guy Fieri and came here with the BF. "Probably the best pancakes I've ever had" was the verdict on the Honky Tonks. Also had Disco Dancing fries which was your traditional hangover fare - nothing special. But the Mousakka was EXCELLENT. For $13 you get soup, salad, mousakka and dessert. We took the coconut custard home. Cheap but freaking awesome eats, alcohol included. Will be back! But not on the weekends, thanks to the below warnings.
(4)Will Y.
Not a huge fan of pancakes, but you definitely get more than enough food for the price. I'll come here over Stacks in Hoboken any day of the week for pancakes and basic diner food.
(4)David H.
Maybe it was just too busy a day for them, but I know they normally serve better food than they did today... The steak that can with my eggs was about 25% fat, cook just how I like them, just not happy with the cut they gave me. Then I asked to have my pancakes after I finished my main course and they still brought them out with the main course. Then to top it off, when they did bring me my set after I finished my main course they were kinda warm... I had to send them back and have fresh pancakes made. I look at it like this, I ordered hot cakes, I expect them to be hot! Like I said, I think it was because I came during a busy time of day that I feel the quality wasn't as good as it usually is. Doesn't mean I won't come back.
(3)Lauren K.
This place is serviceable and the food is average. Sure the pancakes are good. But I wouldn't call them THE BEST PANCAKES EVAR! (Bayonne's diners pretend to have the best pancakes too, they are also lying) I feel like this place was on Diners, Drive ins and Dives and became "famous" and a nice quiet spot to eat my average to above average pancakes on Sunday became this loud, overbearing mad house. Guy Fieri absolutely ruins everything. (Have I told you, I HATE HIM?!?) It's really just average diner food. And the menu is not even a novel. I NEED A NOVEL TO PERUSE WHEN I AM HUNGOVER, DRUNK OR STARVING. Who wants limited choices from a New Jersey diner? Not I. Give me the most dense caloric food concotions you can think of. Be creative. I need at least 12 pages of choices, complete with pictures and charts. Menu has more than less popular diners, but less choices than my favorite diner. And nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, can top my favorite diner. (I have standards) Ambienance is still late 80s, which I enjoy. They have a full bar. You may enjoy that. Cheesecake is 4 stars, at least. Coffee is 3 stars. Service is hit or miss. Average experience if you can tolerate crowds for brunch and are in Downtown JC. You are A-OK, Brownstone.
(3)Patience L.
I've been going here for over 3 years and I've loved it each time, except for this past Sunday. Food was great for entire family. Service was not so great this past Sunday. Our waiter was quite pleasant but not all that attentive. And it seems that the management has become quite stingy with supplies. A manager had to come to our table for me the explain why I needed another plastic fork for my 2 year old. (She had unfortunately dropped the first one given.) Our entire lunch time was spent asking for more than one napkin per family member, asking for straws, etc. No bueno. Food is fantastic. Pancakes are the best, hands down. I had a grilled chicken salad which wAs phenomenal. My 2 year old loves the kid meal happy face pancake with chocolate chips. I think we all loved it, as we nibbled on hers. Generous portions. I sure hope the generosity pours over into other areas of their service. And that they fix and clean the baby changing table in the bathroom. C'mon Brownstone. You've got tons of families with kids visiting your establishment. Evidence that you care will show in the details - kids cups, plastic utensils, perhaps cheap coloring pages with crayons, clean and safe changing table for the babies.
(3)T J.
Watched them on DDD before they renovated and had been waiting to come. There was a line that was almost outside which moved fairly quickly. I had an attentive waiter, service was courteous and quick. I ordered traditional pancakes, with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. I always taste the pancakes plain when they first come out. When there is no butter or syrup I can get a real appreciation for just how good they are. Then I put butter and syrup on them and it increases my joy. My pancakes were huge, golden fluffy and extremely tender melting immediately when they hit my mouth. The butter and syrup melted into the pancakes and they were so delicious that I ate past my full zone, barely able to finish the accompanying sides. I took them home as leftovers. With an extensive menu and a welcoming comfortable atmosphere, I will be returning to give to give so many things a try.
(4)Camille G.
The wait was ten minutes and we were seated in 5 minutes. This restaurant has great friendly servers. The came out so fast and it was piping hot. Our plates looked like players with the amount of food we received. Everything was super delicious. My Corn Beef Hash wasn't salty and my eggs were cooked to perfection ( they weren't raw and runny). I was fascinated with hollandaise sauce. Potato hash was very good. I would strongly recommend everyone to visit this wonderful restaurant. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Brian L.
Who hasn't been here in the area? If you haven't, well, take a look at the 700+ positive reviews, and just go. Their portions are huge, so go hungry. It's nice in there, there's a parking lot (although it does get filled up), and the prices are great. I do think their pancake wraps are overrated. I'd rather just get their normal breakfasts, as those are typical. NOTE - If the line is really long, and you have 4 or less people, the wait isn't bad. Usually less than 20 minutes. It's the larger parties that have issues, as there are only so many big tables. Don't get fazed by the line, it'll just be more time for you to work up your appetite so you may actually finish.
(5)Joey N.
Went here with my Jersey family right off the airplane ride. I was so hungry and my brother and his girl Took me to a delicious breakfast spot. I had the Belgian waffles and hearty breakfast. For lack of a better word it was one of the most satisfying breakfast meals outside of the home that I haven't had in a good minute...next time I'm in jersey I'm hitting the brownstone. I love the family atmosphere, the pleasant staff, and the funny owner.
(5)Phil H.
I am so stuffed! Pancakes here are the real deal! This place is the bomb is looking to chow down on pancakes. Big, fat, fluffy pancakes! All kinds of pancakes will all kinds of toppings. It's no joke. It's pretty much just another basic Jersey diner but this one has a breakfast menu that dwarfs most others. After seeing this place featured on Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives I always wanted to try the pancakes here. Had a chance not too long ago coming back from Atlantic City and decided to make an excursion over here when the traffic heading back in NYC was a crawl. So glad we did as I love me some pancakes. Heck, having breakfast for dinner is fine with me! Great service with a fun and friendly waitress who made a few good suggestions when we could not decide on what to get. I ended up getting a combo rollup plate of three different pancakes each separately rolled with apple, blueberry & strawberry compote. Yum! Also, be prepared to take home half your meal if you are a normal person. Just as good heated up the next day! I am a bit of a pig so I ate everything on my plate. Don't judge me!
(4)Nicole M.
This place came highly recommended by family and fellow yelpers and it did not disappoint! Our party of four was seated immediately and our server was attentive and hysterical. I got the muscle man pancake wrap which I could have easily eaten for lunch and dinner as well. That's a good one to split if you're interested. We also ordered one cinnamon raisin waffle and one Dutch apple waffle. My breakfast loving father exclaimed, "this is the best breakfast I've ever had!" (Which is great because now I can use the Brownstone as a ploy to get my Philly father to come visit me.) The place is large and clean and the staff is extremely kind and attentive. I will most certainly be back and will be sure to recommend to local friends and clients!
(5)Peter K.
Diner food. Hard to screw this up but some places obviously do. We got here at 9am with a party of 7 people. I didn't think we'd have a problem with getting a table but boy, was I wrong. The place was packed even at 9am on a Saturday! Fortunately we didn't have to wait super long -- maybe 20 minutes? There is a parking lot but when it's crowded, you probably won't find parking in the lot. Street parking isn't exactly easy either. I got an eggs benedict. It was actually the 3rd eggs benedict I had that week. Nothing out of the ordinary. Good classic eggs benedict. Prices were very reasonable. Place was clean.
(4)Michael C.
Classic diner experience here. The portions are always huge and pretty tasty. I've been here a few times usually try to come as early as possible as it gets crazy packed. If you're a fan of classic American breakfast setting this is definitely a place for you. Like the Tops Diner in Newark this place is really nicely decorated inside that you couldn't really tell how popular the place is by looking at the exterior. I had fried chicken here before and it was really delicious that could rival some of the chicken and waffle places I've had in Harlem or down in the southern states. This time I tried their stuffed pancaked and it was really stuffed with a lot of food. If I didn't come basically full empty stomach there was no way I could've finished all that food. Most of my friends couldn't finish their pancakes as the portions were really generous. For the portions you get the prices are definitely bit higher than your counterpart breakfast places but its definitely worth it if you come hungry. Whenever I came here I end up skipping the next meal. Definitely try to come early like before 11AM, the small parking lot gets filled up really quickly so you probably have to try for street parking at one of the nearby residential streets.
(4)Melvyn D.
Nice diner. The sandwiches are delicious. As always there is a variety of food so no matter what you feel like, they have it.
(4)Christina M.
Really good! I can't have eggs or gluten, and usually get their gluten free pancakes with the nut combo, so delicious and hearty. And a couple of turkey sausage links, also tasty. Every server has been great, very quick and accommodating. One in particular is definitely the star of the place, but I can't remember his name :( We usually get coffee and my bf orders a feast of pancakes, an omlet, bacon, oatmeal... The works. Always my fav go to for breakfast. And always a line out the door, just a heads up!
(5)Mike T.
Their pancakes are phenomenal. I come all the way from Staten Island just for them. I'd give this place full five stars BUT parking and waiting is ridiculous. It's success is its own worst enemy. It's always hard to find parking because their lot is always full. And the street parking in the area is horrible. Also. You have to wait for a seat. I'm always frustrated when I get here looking for parking and then having to wait. But as far as food is concerned, the pancakes are really good. The service is half and half. The servers are friendly but give a lot of blank stares. Never really feel comfortable.
(3)Armando C.
Seating was fast food was ok not great like others told me getting our food took little long to get to us So over all not bad but nothing to go crazy for
(3)Kavya K.
Pancakes, Crispy bacon and Mimosa's to start the day with a bang. Went here on a Saturday morning during the memorial weekend. 5 minutes of wait and we were in. My first pancake experience in the USA and I came out a content girl. This place will always be known for the time spent with friends and for my favourite breakfast meal.
(5)S F.
ZERO STARTS FOR THIS PLACE! I can't understand how the #BownstoneDiner is always packed on weekends. It's pretty disgusting to try to eat a meal while tens of #flies are #hovering all over my #food. I ordered the #fajitas and the #guacamole was served in a store sealed container on my plate. When I went to the #bathroom, there was no #soap. How do employees wash their #hands before #handling your food after going to the #restroom??? #Nasty nasty place to eat! #NeverAgain! #JerseyCity #JC
(1)Ca C.
On a very busy Sunday brunch I got a MOLDY BAGEL! Manager offered a quick apology and blamed the bagel company.... Um, you served up an old bagel to me. That's not anyone's fault but yours. I'm 5 mo. pregnant so this is even more unsettling. NEVER GOING BACK.
(1)Dominique S.
I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night at about 9.45pm. We had been driving around for a while trying to find parking but we thought why not head to Brownstone, they have parking and we had been before and thought it was great! This time we were very disappointed :( The first thing I noticed was the thick layer of dust of the ledge the separates the booths. It was both behind my head and my boyfriends head- gross. I had a craving for a burger so I ordered the bacon ranch beef burger with curly fries. My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken basket with sweet potato fries. My burger was bland and chewy. The mushroom didn't taste seasoned and made the entire burger soggy. I only ate half of it. My fries were good though. My boyfriend's chicken was also chewy and didn't taste fresh. The sweet potato fries were old and soft, really bad actually. The whole meal was disappointing and we both agreed we wouldn't come back. I haven't tried the pancakes thought, so maybe that's all this place is good for cause they look pretty good.
(2)Ah-Hyun C.
3.5 stars. A very Jersey diner: hefty portions, mediocre service and 6 pages of menus. I think that the pancakes are pretty damn good here but portions are insane - definitely one to share. Have to say though that I haven't seen pancake variety quite like this ever: everything from your usual standard blueberry / chocolate / etc. to walnuts + honey / pigs in a blanket / peanut butter + banana (honky tonk). I've had their triple eggs any way you want with hash browns, which is nothing to write home about except for their size. Still filling, still will satisfy you - I'm just sayin' it's diner food, it is what it is. The thing about this place is that it gets pretty busy on the weekends and last time we came it was the 4th so service was pretty slow and orders kept getting mixed up. There will be a wait if you're coming on a busy day but think it's worth the 15-20 min wait. I wanna come back to try their pancake wraps which is basically all your breakfast foods wrapped in pancake. Gonna have to lose some pounds to make room for another Brownstone outing.
(3)Aila B.
I love this place! The best pancakes ever. Their menu is so large you would want a taste of everything. My favorite is the Country Breakfast Wrap. It has Scrambled eggs, pork sausage, potatoes and american cheese rolled into a large pancake. Is like a huge breakfast burrito! I couldn't even finish it because is so huge. Is very busy over the weekends and their parking lot is very small.Took the rest of it home. The parking space is really small and you gotta fight for a spot while waiting for somebody to come out. If you happen to be at Jersey City, this is the place to go.
(4)Vickey T.
Amazing pancakes. Hands down the best original buttermilk I've ever had.
(5)Asher H.
Prodigious portions, above average meals and genial service go hand in hand with an infamously voluminous menu that includes just about anything you can think of. Though to be fair, the options were a bit limited in the milkshakes department. Still, overall, one of the better diners in New Jersey. .
(4)Christie R.
Huuuuge portions! Nuts and honey pancakes were delicious at first bite but quickly became too sweet and overloaded with nuts..if you love nuts these are definitely for you...the apple pancakes had just enough compote so that you could enjoy the apple but still use syrup on the pancakes underneath..the eggs and corned beef hash were fine..nothing special. Next time I will definitely be trying some of there non breakfast items. Overall, it was definitely a solid breakfast worth trying again but definitely not every week. Also, don't be scared away by the wait it goes really fast.
(4)Tim M.
An excellent option for overindulging on breakfast foods. The food is so good you can't help from stuffing your face until it hurts. I recommend the French Toast.
(4)Satish P.
Good food and nice ambience.
(4)Nish P.
Wide selection of scrumptious pancakes to choose from. It has a traditional jersey diner feel and its located in the heart of Jersey city.
(5)Bill F.
They used to be better. I always order the queen combo, which comes with eggs, corned beef hash, beef sausage, and pancakes. It seems like they changed the recipe for the corned beef hash because it was tasteless. And they made the pancakes smaller and aren't light and fluffy like they used to be.
(2)Chris V.
Their are many many diners to enjoy in the great state on New Jersey ... fortunately their is only one GREAT diner in Jersey City, that is the Brownstone Diner. Years ago when the duo was lucky enough to call JC home, we discovered the stone right after it was featured on Triple D. Although we don't frequent the spot often enough, every time we get there it is an absolute pleasure. 3 words: Classic Pancake Wrap ... it is a heavenly creation to be enjoyed by one and all. Repeatedly. The better half usually opts for a club or an omelette and is never disappointed ... Get here. Now
(5)Michelle H.
Good pancake. Rich and soft. Portion is big. Saw it on Food channel the other day!
(3)Vishal S.
Alert - allow for long wait times during weekends. Wait time used to be long but have gotten worse since it was featured on Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives". Good food and a great experience!
(4)D K.
I'm glad I found a diner nearby. I love diners. Brownstone also has a parking lot, so even more of a reason to frequent it. I only went for breakfast and had the pancakes, corned beef hash, sausage, and eggs. Their pancakes are great, and they have a lot of different types for the adventurous. Their corned beef hash was so-so. It seemed like it came out of a can, so despite other Yelp reviews, I'll have to pass on them in the future. Their sausages are good though. They have a nice snap and a bit of a kick, different from regular breakfast sausages. Service is friendly, and they have a lot of desserts that caught my eye. I'd like to return and try their lunch/dinner food. All in all, it's a decent diner, and due to convenience, I"ll definitely return.
(3)Jason L.
Hmm, can't say I share the same excitement as some other reviewers about this place. Some thoughts: Pros: -Huge menu. If you can't find whatever you are looking for then you are either from another planet or you can't read -Despite how busy this place is they move tables pretty fast. Were seated after about a 10 minute wait on a busy Sunday morning -Food comes out pretty fast and really hot -Quaint little diner with comfortable homelike feeling Cons: -Pork sausage and turkey sausage were blah. You have to do better than that to impress a Southerner who had pork sausage mixed in his baby formula at 4 months of age -The pancakes are good but not a world changing experience. I had the Silver Dollar pancakes which were fluffy and piping hot. They have a fairly extensive pancake list so you pancake fans will be overjoyed -Service is spotty. Luckily we didn't need much. Rarely saw our waitress I have a feeling there are better items to be found on their menu than what I got so I may come back one day. Definitely much better than the chains so head here for some good diner food.
(3)Shohan R.
I had the chicken and waffles this time I went there and it was delicous. Always a wait but always great stuff on their menu. I saw they updated their menu and looks better than before.
(5)Kristin G.
I'm not sure I've ever had better plain old buttermilk pancakes. They are obviously my go to. I'm one of those people who goes to a restaurant and orders the same thing, EVERY SINGLE TIME. So if it's breakfast, I'm getting either egg whites, or once a month, my monthly pancakes....and the ONLY place I will get them from after having the Brownstone's version, is THE BROWNSTONE. Not only do they treat you like family after just your first time there, but the prices are reasonable and the food is DELICIOUS. Sure the sausage is a bit big and kind of gross looking, sure your waitress may look like she's not all there, but everyone is kind. Sure the wait may take you a good 40 minutes but hey, for pancakes like these, I'll wait a full hour! This place brings in people of all kind and it's no wonder it does, this is a place ANYONE would love. If the crowd is diverse, you know it's good. My boyfriend gets a new pancake every time and EVERY SINGLE TIME he is astounded that it is amazing. See you Sunday!
(5)Tanlove C.
My family I am are regulars here and I just left (walked out) with my family. They have FALLEN OFF, seriously. The food there is pretty good and fulfilling, but we are so disappointed to know that the service had gone downhill. So today, it was very packed, so my family and I waited the 20mins to be seated. We got to our seats, (downtown area) the table was not wipe down and the seats had food on it, so I took a few of my newborn baby wipes to clean the table, they saw us doing it, so the busboy came over to clean it for us. My husband went into the bathroom, he came back and told us how DISGUSTING the men bathroom was. There was pee on the floor, toilet paper was all over the floor and it smells. We finally got our menus, looked it over for about 10 mins and no one came over to take our order until we asked for our waitress. She came over and took out her note pad and said, "OK, what are you having". She didn't even introduce herself, offered us any cups of water, or even gave us utensils. We ordered and asked if, like we always do, get our cold soda/juice in a foam cup, she told us "No" you can't have it. We asked why when we come here weekly/bi-weekly and get the same thing, foam cups and plastic utensils. She said, she can not give those to us because they are for take out. It was so busy that they kept calling her name for her to come pick up her food for her other table, she said to us she will be back. She came back to us and said, no, I can't give that to you, so we got up and walked out. We are over this place. Since the feature on the Food Network, there service has gone from good to worst. There must have been a rebroadcast of the show for it to be so pack today. Overall, our experience have been better, but today it was HORRIBLE!! and we are DONE with Brownstowne Diner.... On to the Next One!!
(2)wenting x.
this is one solid diner to get brunch, lunch, dinner...great food, huge portions, and all at a reasonable price. I got their specialty pancakes with bacon with a side of beef sausage and corned beef hash. my bf got the surf and turf --fried cod, steak, eggs, and grits. both our meals came out on huge plates and we were left feeling very satisfied. i thought the pancakes were very good, the beef sausage was awesome and veryvery tender, and my corned beef hash was absolutely spectacular. only complaints were that the steak could use some salt and the eggs were a bit over cooked. other than that, i will happily return in the future.
(4)Joanne J.
I LOVE this place! The food is fantastic. I've never ordered anything that came out less then delicious! Service is quick, friendly and orders are always taken accurately. I love that the waiters, owners and other staff always remember who we are when we go there! Many times we needed to eat in a rush and they were great about getting us in and out very quickly. I would definately suggest stopping in here for a bite to eat!
(5)A Z.
Holy pancakes, this place is yummy. If you every wondered how many concoctions you could make with a pancake, this place will challenge you and make you feel very unoriginal. I got some amazing peanut butter and banana pancakes that blew my mind. Since I need salty with my sweet, I also got a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel that was ooey, gooey and delectable. This is a big place with a parking lot, and we had no trouble getting a seat or parking, which was nice. Our waitress was also perky as hell, which you really need early in the morning.
(4)Stephanie B.
Brownstone has become my second home on Saturdays. Love this place! Breakfast is AMAZING! Was just there last night, I already need my next fix.! *drools writing post*
(5)Brett B.
Tough to give rating here as I don't try a lot of items. To sum it up: Pancakes - 5 Disco Fries using Mozz cheese instead - 5 Corned Beef Hash - 4 Steak and Eggs - 0 - had to throw out the steak, I would not feed it to my dog
(3)Jess F.
Meh! For all the hype I've heard and seen on many food must lists, this place never met its expectation. There many diners in NJ, this is just an overpriced one.
(3)LG P.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it... did I say I love it? LOL... I will make the wait to eat here... and there is always a wait. It is a plentiful amount that you can share. I can't rave enough about them,
(5)Alden C.
...not just a breakfast establishment! Yes it's a diner, so the portions are HUGE, but the quality of the food rivals some of the better restaurants I've been too. based on other reviews, it's already a given to come here for the pancakes/breakfast, but definitely consider it for dinner as well...you wont regret it!
(4)Michael W.
Wow! I am very impressed by the food here. It came quick, it was hot and damn it was tasty. Nothing like I expected.
(4)Michele L.
I don't think I've ever given a poor review but I just can't help myself. The service here is VERY slow and although the waitress was nice, she was BEYOND forgetful. My friends and I were looking for the Punked crew to show up any minute. 2 of my friends received their side dishes about 10 minutes before my coffee (which I ordered before food was ordered) and the main dishes took about another 10 minutes. My order came about 20 minutes later. We waited for 45 minutes to get seated and if it wasn't for the fact that we were starving, we would have left. We all ordered pancakes and they were nothing to write home about. Overall, it was a giant letdown. :(
(1)Asmita K.
Go to this place if you're craving a huge, relatively cheap breakfast without the kitchen mess or the grocery shopping. The pancakes are huge and have a fluffy quality to them that is hard to replicate at home. Everything else from the omelets, toast, potatoes, or bacon can be made at home easily if you're willing to put in the cooking/cleaning time and have the ingredients on hand. The latter being the part where I fail. My favorites are the Pancakes with Cranberry Pieces and Apple Compote, Black Forest Pancakes (Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Cherry Compote), and the Southwestern Omelet platter. The home fries are probably the worst side on the menu. Service can be a bit gruff depending on the waiter especially when the brunch rush is in. We like most of them but there's a particular one who ignores small tables in favor of the larger tables (i.e more tips), has to be flagged down multiple times for coffee or water, and always forgets our toast. Expect a 10-20 min wait from 11-1 on the weekends. The line moves relatively fast. Their sandwiches are surprisingly good as well.
(4)Geeta C.
Best pancakes ever. One serving is enough for two people. Pecan pancakes and Blueberry pancakes are my favorite.
(4)Steve B.
One of my favorite brunch places, even if there's a wait (which there usually is on the weekend from 10-2pm). Crazy number of options for pancakes and waffles, there's always a bit too much food so if you come hungry you'll leave, um, not hungry anymore. The other food items are pretty good for diner fare. It can be tough to park here, and the waiting area is on the smaller side so during the cold months it will get very packed near the doors. And they will nickel and dime you if you want something extra in something, so stick with what's on the menu.
(4)Pursarth T.
Get the Honky-Tonk pancake. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you why I like this place - it's because they serve the Honky-Tonk pancake. I mean they figured out a way to marry two of my favorite breakfast foods - peanut butter and pancakes - and that's why every time I go here, I get the Honky-Tonk. This place gets super crowded during the brunch hours during the weekend (do people eat brunch during the weekdays?) so be prepared to wait for a bit. The portions are huge. I mean really huge. One entree and a side is enough for two people with decent appetite. All in all, Yay! I am a fan. And oh yeah did I mention? Get the Honky-Tonk pancake.
(4)Hannah C.
I've only had breakfast at Brownstone, but it was awesome. Even though the place is usually packed, they seat you surprisingly fast and the service is quick, too. There are so many varieties of pancakes and omelets, it's insane. The California omelet (avocado, onion, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, tomato) is excellent, as well as the buttermilk pancakes. A side of bacon gets you a generous amount (unlike most breakfast places), and the corned beef hash is cooked really well. Best part is, the place isn't expensive at all. And I haven't had a drink here (yet) but I did see a bar on my way out.
(4)Natasha B.
I call Brownstone, Disappointing Diner, because often it is. I think, you are safe here ordering pancakes, any breakfast item, salads, burgers, and sandwiches, as portions always leave you happy. But things like, say nachos, gyro, or any other "sounds good" dishes on Brownstones ginormous menu, be prepared to be very disappointed. You have to come here for a specific thing, don;t bring people with ADD as the menu is overwhelming and could be hard to choose from. When going to Brownstone, you just have to play it safe. Get the espresso milk shake, pancakes, breakfast anytime, sandwiches and burgers, NO nachos. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.
(3)Jennifer L.
The boy and I came here for breakfast last weekend and proceeded to be serious fat asses. I went with the 3 eggs over, canadian bacon, hash brown, and toast. He did one of the breakfast sampler things.... eggs, bacon, hash browns, silver dollar pancakes. And then we ordered a side of corned beef hash (we didn't really get any corned beef on St. Pats and were in the mood lol). All of the food was pretty tasty. Corned beef hash was addicting. Silver dollar pancakes were fluffy and yummy, and I'm not usually a huge pancake person. Eggs were perfectly cooked to order, and I'm picky!! Had tried their pancake rollups once and was NOT a fan. Too much going on all in one bite! Coffee was just meh. The craziness and cult following of this place though still amazes me though. But the owners are friendly and you gotta love a cute old Greek man manning the register. :)
(4)Bryan S.
Great place to eat. Def exceeded the expectations. 4 stars instead of 5 because the food i had which was the chicken with like gravy m mash potatoes. It was tooo much and too filling. Barely ate half of it. It tasted great but just too much starch. Def would come back to try something else. Pancakes were awesome btw
(4)Alan N.
What happened Brownstone?? After Hurricane Sandy you lost your mojo. New menu, same staff, but the service just went down the tube. Yeah, i'm talking about waiting 40 minutes for ziti bolognese, and getting a plate of rigatoni with vodka sauce. Then after telling the waiter of the wrong dish, getting a response of, "well, if you want what you ordered, you'll have to wait another half an hour. Instead I can bring you a small dish of meat sauce." Wow, seriously, then he charged another $2 for the second small dish of meat sauce to actually cover the plate. This place used to churn out hot breakfasts in record time. Now it takes forever and some of the wait staff seems to just hang around. But it's weird because they are the same waitresses and waiters i've seen for years!
(2)Los O.
Freaking amazing food....glad we stopped there. I will go again next time im in NJ. Food rocks...pancakes the best.
(5)Sui B.
huge portions, don't come here if you are on a diet. haven't really seen anyone actually finish their meal, ever. The food is decent, I heard that this was featured on Food Network's Diners and Dives, but aside from the huge menu and portions, I'm not sure what the big deal is. The waitresses/waiters always gets something wrong with your order, so don't expect much there. The pancakes themselves tastes just like every other pancake.. I agree with the other reviews that their omelets are good.
(3)Nicole V.
I saw the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode featuring Brownstone diner recently and decided to try it. Now, Jersey is known as the diner state apparently, but most of the diners I've been to don't hold a candle to this place! Great service, huge menu, beyond tasty breakfast, free parking and a very cozy atmosphere. I'm definitely coming back to one of Jersey City's best diners!
(5)Brian C.
Not a fan, average breakfast at best. Extremely slow service.......what kind of pancake place doesn't carry real maple syrup? Not a good one.....
(1)Adam Z.
Totally awesome diner. My family and I went here on our way up to MA because we saw it on DDD. This place has really great food so much so we came back to it on the drive down too. -It looks busy but if barely has a wait time. It must be because of the efficiency of the staff. -On the first stop I had a chicken parm. sandwich with curly fries... great sandwich and a big portion. I'm a big guy and normally can handle a lot of food but I couldn't take this down. It's really a knife and forker. On the way back I had the surf and turf breakfast. it comes with a strip of steak, eggs, and a bunch of fried fish. It was really great. My wife got some pancakes that after trying I would have to say are the best pancakes I've ever had. -I don't remember what my kids got but I know they were both very happy both times. -They have a HUGE menu and some really terrific non-typical diner food. -The wait staff was fantastic, also. I wish I could go again but I'm on the other coast now. It's probably better that me and the chicken parm sandwich don't tangle again anyway.(I'm gonna post a picture of it)
(5)N H.
At best, the pancakes live up to the hype - the portions are large and the pancakes come out fluffy and yummy. Consistency isn't their strong suit though. It doesn't surprise me anymore when the pancakes come out overcooked, sometimes burned. 4 stars for the food (and don't bother with the rest of their brunch menu - there are other brunch places nearby that do eggs a lot better). Then it's hard to ignore the ridiculous wait time for weekend brunch. The kitchen and waiters always seem understaffed. I gave up eating in the restaurant altogether. Doing carry out sometimes helps to mitigate the wait time except when they're running behind. They don't tell you this over the phone when you place the order, so once I ended up waiting another 30 min in the restaurant for a total wait time of 1 hr just for carry out. I don't want to know how long the sit-down people had to wait that day. -1 star for the amount of time it takes to get to the food.
(3)Hoi I.
love love this place! everytime i visit my friend that lives near by we always go. fluffy pancakes in every flavor imaginable. the wait is pretty long depending on when you go but it's totally worth the wait. service is friendly but sometimes does feel a smidge rushed-- but no biggie. wouldn't recommend it if you're watching your figure or counting calories. if not- def head on over and try!
(4)Share W.
Ok, I didn't really have much high hopes on this place, but it exceeded my expectations. On the weekends, there are CROWDS of people and that should have been the all tell sign that this was a happening place. Despite the line, turnover for tables was at a decent rate (especially for smaller groups). The place is spacious, but it still gives you that comfortable feeling. The menu had a lot of offering on it and I felt so overwhelmed on what to choose. I love spanakopita, but I also wanted an egg omelet. The burgers options blindsided me because of they different types available. The food was scary to look at and not because they look bad. The portions seem like they can feed 2, maybe 3 people. I couldn't stop staring at my neighboring table's pancake stack. It was bigger than his head, which made me want pancakes. I settled for my own twist of egg white omelet with spinach, mushrooms and swiss cheese. The curly fries are delicious and I'd upgrade to that anytime!
(3)Zook G.
Good diner food, not great diner food. Portions are huge but the quality is not the best I've had, being from NJ, I can be particular about diner food. The menu is huge like other diners but the portion size is much more. On weekends be prepared to wait from 30 mins to an hour for a table. It always is packed on Sat and Sun. I've come during dinner time and it was almost empty. Also the Guy Fieri picture above the kitchen is a nice touch, he also has a menu item on the menu. The waiters and waitresses are usually very friendly.
(3)Kelvin C.
If you are extremely hungry and not exactly sure what to eat, this is the place for you!! I consider myself to be a quantity eater and this place always puts me right to sleep after I finish my meal. They have everything here, from breakfast to burgers, seafood, pasta-- you name it, they got it (well maybe except for Asian foods). And let me warn you that no matter what you get, their portions are HUGE. Breakfast is probably what they are known best for and they really live up their name with their pancake variety. The only thing that I would request is for them to have pancakes with fruit IN them, rather than just on top. Some of my favorites would include the Honkey Tonk and Black Forest (cherries over chocolate chip pancakes). I've also had the chance to try some of their dinner entrees, such as their chicken and biscuits, meatloaf, brisket, various burgers, and sandwiches and they all didn't disappoint. Although they weren't the best I've ever had, the quantity sure made up for any deficiencies in the taste part. All in all, a great place with a lot of variety. A lot of the food on the menu isn't going to blow you away, but you will always leave satisfied and FULL. oh, and make sure to try the Brownstone Fries before every meal... they are AWESOME!!
(4)Michelle C.
3.5 stars for breakfast/ brunch. Everything has been quite good, except the pancakes! The ones I had were flavorless and dry. And the homefries were a bit undercooked. Overall, the service was good (except nobody offered to refill our coffee) and everything else was prepared well. The wait on a Saturday morning was short considering the massive lines. Beware of limited parking.
(3)Nisha G.
Love love love this place!! Must try - the honky tong pancakes, California omelet and turkey sausages!!! Our first visit and we will be back
(5)Noelia T.
70% of the time I come here, I order pancakes. A+ pancakes ... great service! Their fajitas are to die for as well! I wish they were open 24/7 for late night cravings!
(5)Monyca W.
Here comes my first bad review on Yelp... I was a regular, visited at least once a month, brought friends and they became regulars too. Other people asked me, "How can you go there, the service is so terrible?" but I always told them, no, it's fine, I didn't know what they were talking about. I got to know the owners and the staff, and always had a fine experience. So, after years of visiting almost every weekend, one weekend, a waiter or bus boy spilled a hot cup of coffee on my friend. "I'm so sorry, I'll take of it," he said as she rushed to the restroom to try to clean herself up. Luckily, she wasn't burned, and we finished our brunch, got the check, and lo and behold, not only was nothing "taken care of," she actually GOT CHARGED FOR THE COFFEE! My friend very calmly went to the owner's daughter who acts as a manager, and explained the situation to her. Her response, "Do you need me to call an ambulance?" No, of course not, she wasn't burned, she just didn't expect to pay for a coffee that was spilled on her rather than given to her. While my friend was explaining this, the manager just walked off as she was speaking. My boyfriend, who went to school with the owner's daughter, tried again, explaining that we had been charged for a coffee that had been spilled on our friend, to which she said, "I'll tell you what," the owners daughter said, "I can take the coffee off the check, and you are never to step foot in here again, or, you can pay your full bill if you ever want to come back." If I hadn't heard it myself, I would've never believed it. We paid our bill in full and left , never to return again. I guess maybe they figure they've got enough customers, lines out the door, and they just don't care. It's true, they still have lines out the door, but they'll never see me or more money again. I don't ask for much from diner service, but I refuse to patronize any establishment that treats their customers this way.
(1)Windell C.
Breakfast my favorite meal of the day and if it's disappointing, so is the rest of my day be on the lookout things could go from bad to worse. Good thing The Brownstone does not do that. The Brownstone is a Jersey City staple just outside the Newport area and conveniently located near the light rail and beer garden. This place packs em in on the weekend and the parking lot is small, so be prepared to wait (approximately 20 minutes or so if the line is spilling out the building it is not as bad as it looks). The crowd used to be manageable, but thanks to Guy (Not So Fly) Fieri don't even get me started on this dude the establishment has really been packing them in since appearing on the show a few years back. This is not the reason visit this establishment the pancake offerings are. They have a fine selection of pancake offerings, which will leave you loaded to the gills upon consumption. My pick are one of the fine pancake wraps, which is basically a pancake omelet stuffed with just about anything you can conger up. They have healthy options as well for those who aren't going in for the glutton fest. As most patrons to diners know that ordering fried chicken or grits in the North East is generally a no go, but I have to say the chicken is pretty decent and chicken and waffles is even better. My verdict I say give the place a go.
(4)L R.
Excellent Diner. Was pleased with both the pancakes and sandwiches. Would definitely go back or bring friends interested in a diner experience.
(5)Tesheca L.
If you like cheap unhealthy diner food, this is your place to go. I've been twice. The diner is huge, wooden panel decor with booths and tables. always full with patrons. The menu is vast, the prices are cheap. 1st go around, my order of Jalapeno poppers came undercooked and still frozen in the middle. The bed of salad it layed on was wilted and unappealing. Although the waitress took it back to be reheated, my appetite was gone. The second go at it, I ordered the greek spinach pie, which was surprisingly tasty. Their dessert wasn't bad, and the pina colada was good. From what others have told me, their pancakes are huge and very good. If I ever go back, Ill try a stack.
(2)Theda S.
After reading the reviews I mentally prepared myself for the bad service but I was seated quickly, offered coffee before even getting settled in the booth and my food came fast. No complaints for a Saturday morning. I ordered the Queens Plate: 3 eggs, 3 extra fluffy buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash and a beef sausage. My eggs where made to order, over hard the way I like them, the corned beef cooked to a slightly crunchy texture and the pancakes were divine. I tried but I couldn't finish my whole plate. If you are craving breakfast, shake those IHOP cravings out of your head and head over to Brownstone
(4)Jean B.
I don't mind waiting almost an hour for a table if you tell me I'm going to wait that long. At least then it's my choice whether to go or stay. I do mind it when you tell us 25 minutes. With that said... The most INSANE breakfast menu I've ever seen... in a good way. I am always looking for different pancake varieties and this place had one of the longest pancake lists I've ever seen! Everything on the menu looked so good, and my crew and I ordered so much food that we had to set our condiments on the ledge behind our booth to make room on the table (they did seat us in a booth that was a little small for 6 people though... and we are not big people) It was a busy Saturday morning when we came, so I will not dwell too much on the fact that it took the waitress forever to greet us, check on us, and she may have forgotten a few of the sides we had ordered.... but like I said the place was PACKED and we put in possibly the craziest order... and she was super nice and awesome, and she was new so I will not hold it against her All in all... I will definitely go back and I suggest you check it out... especially if you like pancakes. Also if you're going in a group, try to carpool. Parking was definitely not the easiest. They had a parking lot, but it felt like the mall parking lot two days before Christmas.
(4)Ca A.
Visited yesterday...we had banana walnut pancakes, bacon pancakes, chocolate covered strawberry pancakes & my husband had a country pancake wrap. The pancakes were really good! The portions are huge. No one was able to finish, better to share. Will visit again!
(4)La L.
Solid diner in JC. I generally don't eat any other pancakes except the ones my husband makes. Most pancakes are too heavy but these are very good and very light. Turkey burgers are super bland. I would stick to breakfast.
(3)Sean R.
I couldn't have asked for much more out of a diner on Sunday morning: - There was a wait, but it went very quick. - Our service was quick and ours meals came out in no time. - Omlette was good and pancakes were great. - Prices are wallet friendly. Coming back here and getting a lox platter for sure (my diner weakness). I was not a fan of their turkey sausage. It was more like keilbasa than breakfast sausage.
(4)Kathleen D.
God, this place makes me want to just barf up all of my food. We ordered an appetizer, then our two individual meals. We expected the appetizer to come out first. Wrong. She brought out both the entrees and the giant plate of fried crap at the same time. Too much food. The fried appetizer platter was fine. Nothing bad. But my "Quesadilla Wrap"? Was utter trash and I took one bite and said "No, way." After the onslaught of large amounts of food, I noticed a bug crawling on the lettuce of the appetizer plate. I told my friend I wanted to leave immediately. Also their bathrooms were just really, really really... gross...
(1)Jeannie C.
So, this is a DDD spot. They featured pancake and Greek food. Since they are called Brownstone Diner & PANCAKE Factory, I thought I'd try the pancake first. Sadly, I'm not sure I'll return to try the Greek food. Pros: Portions are HUGE! And prices are reasonable. Cons: Well, pancakes are well, pancakes. I know they have this meat pancake that looked intriguing. Guy tried it. Perhaps I should have. But I was in the mood for something old fashion (rare, but it occurs). So, I tried a simple berry pancake. Really, nothing exceptional. It's pancakes. Considering IHOP has different flavor syrups, quite frankly, I prefer IHOP (in case you're wondering, whenever I compare something home grown to a chain, it's not good...) I don't know because it is popular so it got featured on DDD. Or because it got featured on DDD so it's popular. Probably it was a circular logic that fed on each other. The wait can be real long. Now, there is an advantage for being a single diner. I sat at the bar, and cut the wait time significantly. The downside of that was that I was stuck with the bar waitress. I think deep down she was nice. She reasonably quick with service. But, she was looked miserable and looked like she hated being there. That kinda didn't help this review. I like service with a smile, but that's just me.
(1)Gene L.
I can't vouch for everything at Brownstone - only the pancakes, the pancakes with ice cream, waffles, waffles with ice cream, the reuben sandwich, and omelets. If any of those are to your liking, then you should be pretty well satisfied by what you find at Brownstone. The most recent visit to Brownstone was especially good. After a nice meal of tacos at Downtown Taqueria, we came to Brownstone, according to tradition, for a desert of pancakes with ice cream on the side. After checking out the pie selections, my brother went for the blueberry pie, as he has a thing for fruit pies that have a deeply unnatural color - which this one did. It came heated up (as requested), right out of the microwave (which makes me frown).It was okay; I much prefer the pancakes though. my sweetheart and i had the black forest pancakes with ice cream on the side. the ice cream came in an appropriately and pleasingly large receptacle. The pancakes were the best I've yet had at Brownstone. I always hope and pray for pancakes that are cooked to the point of having a nice and crispy skin - and they did it this time. Thank youuuu. Thumbs way way up.
(4)Allison M.
I don't frequently go to diners. The portions are always way too big, and the menu may be extensive, but there are rarely creative options for vegetarians. Unless you like the fruit plate, that is. My hubby and I walked over here this morning, as we are moving today and both wanted hearty breakfasts. I had the fruit pancakes. They were tasty, if not a little dry. I did leave full, and that was my intent. I would go back if I were a) hungover or b) in need of another satisfying, large breakfast.
(3)Spencer W.
Do not venture too far from breakfast items...that is my advice. The breakfast portions are huge and it's pretty hard to screw up diner style breakfast and it's pretty good here. You know portions are big when pancakes need their own huge plate and you get 3 poaches eggs on English muffins with the benedict. Just don't get too adventurous as I've had the meatloaf and fish and chips which weren't great.
(4)J D.
I've been meaning to go to the Brownstone ever since I saw it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I read a bunch of reviews on Yelp and thanks to my fellow Yelpers I was convinced that it would be a hit. And I was not disappointed! We got there around 10:30 and were told it was going to be a 15 minute wait. I don't want to say that they lied but we waited about 30 minutes but it was expected due to how many people were waiting inside and out. When we were seated we were greeted by our friendly waitress (despite what others may have Yelped) and ordered our drinks. The coffee was decent, the orange juice was good and my mom liked their cappuccino. The menu is typical large diner menu but I really only paid attention to the first page which is filled with about 20 different options of pancakes. My mom ordered the pancakes with fresh fruit which had the blueberries mixed in (suggested by the waitress) - they stayed warm throughout the meal My dad ordered the coconut pancakes with banana slices on top and was pleased - I think he ate the most! I ordered like a child and had the chocolate chip pancakes and they were fabulous. The pancakes were light but somewhat dense - sounds strange - but they were perfect. We also ordered a side of corned beef hash which was good. I added a little bit of hot sauce to it for a kick which was just the right touch. I would suggest you ask for it well done and just a heads up, the corned beef is out of a can while the regular corned beef for sandwiches is sliced. The waitress suggested the waffles for next time and a friend of mine just recommended the pie.
(4)Ilana A.
Have been to the Brownstone Diner a couple of times over the last few weeks as I felt like dinner needed to be casual and I wasn't feeling like cooking...cue the Brownstone. The service is great and always attentive. The food is pretty standard diner fair...although to be fair, I am not a pancake person and we were there for dinner, so who knows? For a quick bite out (with leftovers to spare!) I will for sure be back. Only wish they had limes for their cranberry sparkler. :-(
(3)Casey W.
#NAME?
(4)Michelle S.
OMG! Diners, Drive Ins and Dives was sooo right about this place. DELICIOUS and HUGE pancakes. Nice flavor, even on the plain stack. I had the coconut which was really good. I would suggest only ordering the short stack because there is no way you can eat 3, no matter how hungry you are. And if your child is a big eater, ONE pancake is enough for them, trust me. It was worth the trip from Queens. Our waiter Adolfo definitely earned the extra big tip we left him. We will be back.
(4)Michelle S.
Great service. Very large portions. Food suited for comfort food lovers. Be prepared to leave feeling "stuffed".
(3)Jay Y.
Great pancakes, awesome corn beef and hash.. Service was excellent. It's a lot of food and the pancakes are a monster. Come hungry cause you will not leave with an empty belly...
(4)Lisa L.
I think I don't even need to say much in my review because mostly everybody has covered everything, but I skimmed through the reviews and I will just add a bit of my two cents about this place. It is called the PANCAKE HOUSE for a reason.. OMG! soo yummy, I live in the lower east side of manhattan but I will start making the travel over to this place or when I go shopping to make sure I start my breakfast day here. The do have parking, which is great. You will most likely have left-overs, and the resturant is very clean. The only negative is that I found my waitress not very attendent, I got my water re-filled after I had finished my meal, she was very nice but I sure would have loved a nice cold glass of water while eating my pancakes. but I will still give this place 5stars cause it was great, and plus my waitress was really nice :)
(5)Billy P.
Went here with friends from Toronto who found out about it from Food Network. I got the pancake combo that was just under $10 and included eggs, bacon, sausage and 3 of the biggest (over half inch thick) pancakes I have ever eaten. My companions had peanut butter chocolate pancakes and apple pancakes which they also enjoyed. We did not get a dessert but everything in the dessert counter looked incredible. Will definitely be back. I should also mention they have an extensive menu with all kinds of other options including over 20 pancake options.
(5)Blanca S.
Oh, Brownstone, how I love your absolutely perfect Turtle (chocolate chip & pecan) pancakes. If you get there around 10 a.m. the parking lot is usually full, there's a wait to get a table, and the service can be a bit slow at times, but I put up with all that for the best pancakes I've ever tasted. The banana walnut and Elvis pancakes are also delectable. I can't recommend the french toast. It's alright, but nothing special.
(5)Bloss C.
Was excited to come here, but was disappointed with my food. I really wanted eggs and grits, but grits aren't served after 3 PM, so I will definitely have to come back one day for brunch. I ordered the potato pancakes, which were small, thin, and not home made. I had to order a side of fries because I was still hungry. The frozen potato pancakes at Trader Joes are better and cheaper. Will definitely come back to try the grits and pancakes, but for now until they wow me I am clocking this place in at 2 stars.
(2)Jesse D.
Hello Obese America! Do you like a menu with 90 items that are all mediocre, but with bloated portions? Perhaps you'd just like some overstuffed pancakes with thumb-sized sausages, and a ice cream scoop of butter over them? You think you're winning, but, sorry, you're not. Quantity over quality is the M.O. of the Brownstone. "HEY, it's a diner!" people always retort. Well then, have at the trough.
(1)Sanhita C.
In the great land of Jersey, there is one reason to get up early on weekend mornings or to have a designated driver, and that reason is the diner. Brownstone has amazing pancakes and omelettes, and, really, their entire breakfast menu (save for the bagels or english muffins or dinner items) are in huge portions and pretty solid. But above all the best thing about Brownstone, and the reason I keep coming back, is Theresa. Theresa wrote the book on waitressing. If you were a casting director for a movie, you would give her the role of the savvy, smoky waitress with the prefect attitude. She calls you "baby" and winks at you, and makes you feel like you're the only person in the entire restaurant getting coffee refills on the house. You could be a malicious, evil person, but Theresa will make you feel angelic. Sometimes, at Brownstone, I feel like I have the same look on my face as James Franco in the café scene with Tobey Maguire in Spiderman 3. After verbally destroying Tobey Maguire's life, James Franco gets that great slice of pie from the really sweet waitress. "How's the pie?" the waitress asks. James Franco, looking deliriously happy: "So good."
(5)Luis R.
If you don't like waiting to be seated, don't come here sundays during lunch time (I don't know about other day of the week or time...) We were a group of 6 and waited more than 30 minutes to be seated... I ordered french toast .. Nothing special with it... I had better before... But my wife ordered the pancakes.. I she left one for me... I regret to this moment my french toast... The pancakes are perfect... Now I get to go back there and have my own pancakes... :)
(3)Ria S.
This review has been brought to you by the letters PB & J. As in, PB & J Pancakes. If you need one reason to go to Jersey, here it is.
(5)Ashley H.
Gigantic portions and the most amazing Pigs in a Blanket that I've ever had. Very fast service and friendly staff. The pancakes are so soft and delicious. The Bloody Mary was pretty bad though..other than that, no complaints!
(4)Nellie G.
I guess the food is ok. I don't come here often because it's not female friendly. The mirror in the women's bathroom was set up so that you can't see yourself. I'm 5'0. I think the mirror was set up for women 5'10 and up ;(
(2)Lissette M.
The BEST PANCAKES in the entire state of NJ!!!!! THE BEST PLACE to go to for pancakes, Frech toast..... YuMmmmmmyyyy......
(5)pracheta t.
mmm - our go to breakfast/brunch spot when hanging out in JerZ City. It gets paaaacked on weekends but it is well worth the wait. The food is amazing but the portions are huge. I've found that on weekdays there is no wait. Never been disappointed. The first time I went I found out there is a $10 credit card minimum and you pay up front, not at the table. Other than that, I don't think you really need to know anything else. Just go.
(4)Drew G.
EXCELLENT PANCAKES (what else does anyone want to read???) great selection, VERY reasonable prices. perfect Jersey Diner experience (which is hard to get this close to NYC). Obviously try to avoid brunch on Sunday as the wait can be pretty long
(4)Christine Y.
I came here on a Sat morning after much hype to finally test the greatness of their pancakes. The place was packed by noon and had at least 20-25 eager diners waiting for tables. Surprisingly (or sadly, because I'm too used to the 1-2hr NYC waits), it was only a 15 min wait for a table of 2. Advantage NJ: large, roomy restaurants! The menu itself is pretty extensive, with 31 types of pancakes on the first page and almost an equal number of omelet varieties. I ordered the nut 'n' honey pancakes with pecans, walnuts, and almonds drizzled with honey and powdered sugar with a side of turkey sausage (2 giant links), and also got to try the combo roll ups - 3 buttermilk pancakes rolled with strawberry, blueberry, and apple compote inside. Both were fantastic - light and fluffy with perfect, non-overwhelming additions of nuts/honey/fruit/etc. Our waitress was really nice, although the hostess seemed a little gruff with having to handle the crowds. We were never rushed and the restaurant felt very homey considering it was pretty large. In addition, each meal cost no more than $10-12 (including sides), which is a huge plus if you're comparing pancakes here to places like Clinton St Baking who charge more for much less. I guess since I'm a Jersey girl to begin with, I'm partial to diners (nostalgia), but this one is definitely a keeper.
(5)Arjun K.
Quite good food...serving portions are large and satisfying !! This is definitely a place highly recommended !
(4)Devin P.
Some of the worst diner food I have ever had. If you like food with that fresh out of the frozen food aisle taste at three times the price then you will love it here. Otherwise, the next time you're hankering for some good ol' diner classics save yourself the trip and make it @ home with better quality ingredients or with the same crappy ingredients the Brownstone uses, and at half the price. The food at the Brownstone Diner reminded me of the Nasty AZZ cafeteria food I used to eat in college. What did I eat? Chicken Fingers with a side of fries...That should be impossible to mess up right? Wrong! It was truly an abomination. Yes it is a diner and you shouldn't expect much, but I have eaten at some pretty great Jersey Diner establishments, and with the hype that this place receives, it is not even close to being on par with most of its peers. Pros: The Place Looks Nice Cons: You will not get Quantity or Quality here Perhaps their pancakes are better, but I won't be returning to find out. P.S. It was really HORRIBLE!
(1)Hank C.
Well, let me just say, this is not a place for the healthy-hearted or small-stomached :P Parking here is a pain. There's a lot, but it's almost always full... street parking is available if you cruise in the area, and the development across the street isn't helping as there will be even more people there... looks like in the future they'll build out the restaurant a bit? Specialities - the breakfast food, of course, as a diner, what can you expect? There's a wait to get into seating, so get a number from the hostess up front. The pancakes can be tiny (silver dollars), big (regular buttermilk and varieties) or huge (the pancake wraps). They're thick and okay tasting - you can taste the buttermilk, but they get dry, so I recommend syrup, lots of it. And butter, too, if you want. The bacon is salty, but thicker than normal, and the sausage (pork) is tasty - though big, too. Butter on everything, and try out the Brownstone fries - curly fries with bacon, cheese, ranch and BBQ on it... tasty, but gosh, you can feel your arteries clog up :P Eggs and more here, too, but you can't get just a side of lox. Disappointed there. Ham is decent, though. The prices are a bit high for a diner, but there's quite a bit of choice and the place is usually packed with people. Lots of different varieties of pancakes, too, and big plates of food ensure that you're full. Ketchup needed to be restocked, tables weren't the cleanest, or the plastic cups for water, but hey, you're in a diner in Jersey. Can't expect it to be perfectly clean.
(3)Robert C.
Went there a month ago with my girlfriend after spending a night in the city and was looking for an awesome place to end the romantic weekend.. This place hit the spot for us. It was Sunday morning so we knew that there would be a wait, but the line moved quickly. They know what they are doing since you can tell its run by the family. Breakfast was amazing and would like to go back to try the varieties of pancake wraps! Definitely worth the trip if your not a local! If your a local, then your in luck!
(5)MandA R.
Have a hangover? Wanna meal that will prevent you from eating for a day or two? This is the spot. We came in around 11 A.M. on a Sunday morning and this Jersey City "Institution" was packed. However the wait wasn't bad, only 15 min or so. We were seated in a monster booth for 3 people and had our coffee served to us in about 2 min. I ordered a wrap, a gluttonous mountain of pancake with scrambled eggs, cheese, & corned beef hash folded inside. "A" ordered a stack of chocolate and peanut butter pancakes (awesome) and 3 eggs with bacon. Neither one of us were able to finish our meals although we both gave a valiant effort. The pancakes were delicious however the corned beef hash was a bit under done and the eggs were just OK. Our server seemed to disappear once we asked for the check, something that happened to us all weekend. Other than that service was above average. Know before you go. There will be a wait but the line moves quickly. The parking lots is a disaster, park on the street or across the road by the hospital. You will not finish your meal.
(4)Jessica D.
Meh. Exactly... Large portions, yep. Quality, okay. We used to frequent this place in our JC days; unfortunately if you have a child or children They will stick you in a specific spot, They have designated for people with kids, and unfortunately you will have to wait until They have an opening in said seating section. Only took a couple of visits to figure out their "plan". They do have great Spanikopita, ordered from them while my son was in the Pediatric Unit at JC Medical Center, brought a smile to my face at a rather grim time. For a self-professed Pancake Factory their pancakes are not anything to brag about, if you order them with fruit expect canned...not fresh.
(2)Christiana R.
We love the brownstone. Always consistent good food. Prices are getting a little high for a diner but the food and portion sizes are worth it.
(3)Rich B.
I heard about this place for awhile.. my wife and I decieded to give it a shot. And after weaving through the post Sandy detours we found it was well worth it. Portions were huge prices were pretty good. I had the irish benedict and the wife had fruit rolled in pancakes. Service was great. They werw cash only at the time. Said it was because of the storm...found it wierd cause ATM machine was working
(4)Brian S.
I have never left this place hungry. The pancakes melt in your mouth. They could be eaten on their own without any syrup or extra butter, but that's not to say I don't lather it on every time I come here. After several attempts, I must admit that I have not quite figured out how to finish the queen combo (3 eggs, corn beef hash, a giant sausage, and three huge fluffy pancakes). It is simply just too much for one sitting, and I've downsized to the pancake combo. I still leave with the same delightful ache in my stomach, but just less left on the plate (or to take home). For those who want breakfast all day or want to have their bellies satisfied with assortment of other diner treats for an entire day, check out Brownstone Diner and eat away.
(4)Walter K.
I've only had the pancake combo the two times I've gone but I would gladly keep eating the same thing, it's that good. Buttermilk pancakes are fluffy and delicious, sides are plenty. They have other varieties of cakes too if BM is not your thing. Expect to wait if you go on the weekends but trust me, it's worth it.
(4)Chandy S.
I like this place very, very much. And, no, it's not just because our waitress was hitting on me and making my guy quite uncomfortable. Lol. I like the fact that the "Combo" omelette comes with not only 3 add-ins of your choice, but that it automatically comes with bacon, ham, AND sausage. I like that my Strawberry Compote and Sour Cream pancakes were absolutely delish. I like that the homefries my guy had w/his omelette tasted like fried mashed potatoes. I like that our meal (omelette, pancakes, OJ, and tea) came to just under $25. Let's be honest...I like that our waitress thought I was hot. Who doesn't like compliments? :-)
(4)Trey R.
A good place. I come here for hangover breakfast sometimes, a giant tasty omelet tends to help. The pancakes are apparently amazing, and were on some food network show, but I don't really eat pancakes, so I can't judge based on that. You'd probably love them if that's your thing, as people rave about them. Service is good but the wait is usually long. Note: this is not a diner. It shouldn't be called a diner. It does have a big and varied menu, but it's not open at night and it doesn't really have that diner feel. I like it, it's A-OK, I'm almost tempted to give it 4 stars but it's just not really outstanding in any way I can appreciate, and I do my best to find and review the places that are.
(3)Jake S.
Best pancakes around. Period. Massive portions and delicious pancakes. A wide variety of pancakes to choose from and they offer many other breakfast options. The only downside is they are extremely busy on the weekends. Expect to wait for a while but once seated the service is friendly and pretty quick.
(4)Heena P.
I'm so overdue on my review for this place! I've been here so many times, always for brunch and still love it! Brownstone is pretty packed on the weekends, but the wait is worth it. Once you've ordered your food, it comes out pretty quickly also. Pretty much ANYTHING you order will taste good. I've had their pancakes, waffles and omelets. Without fail, whatever I'm in the mood for that I order tastes Delicious. Portions here are large, so good to go in a group. You can pick at your friends food :P Very reasonably priced, you get your moneys worth.
(5)John T.
Great Breakfast Place! Try the pancakes
(4)Jessica J.
The Brownstone is your typical diner with tons of food options ranging from pancakes to burgers to fried sole. They are best known for the wide array of pancakes and "Pancake Roll Ups" stuffed with anything from PB&J to scrambled eggs and bacon. My personal favorite breakfast dish is the Eggs Florentine- the portion is huge and the spinach has just the right amount of feta mixed in. For lunch and dinner their French Onion Soup is out of this world and the "Diner Classics" like Gyros and Burgers are always great!
(4)Sheba K.
The pancakes here are yumm. After eating here, I feel like I should throw out the frozen pancakes that are nesting in my freezer. The ambience of the diner is pretty nice. It took a while for our food to come out. Service was ok. The other dishes we ordered were ok- nothing special about them. It's a good place for breakfast/brunch.
(4)Albert M.
The brownstone is one of my favorite places to eat breakfast items. I need to say their is a crazy amount of options for pancakes and waffles. First about the pancakes, the portions are big and plentiful. The taste is just the right balance of each ingredients. I even tried the burger in this place and it really good for lunch if you don't deserve pancakes. It is a worth a trip to eat breakfast in this diner, anytime you are in Jersey City.
(4)Mega M.
Food: 4 Stars: This diner is known for its huge variety of pancakes and omelettes and you will not be disappointed. I ordered Blueberry pancakes which not only had an amazing amount of blueberries in the pancakes but also a ridiculous amount of fresh blueberry topping. It was decadent and delicious. Another time I came for lunch and ordered a grilled chicken salad which was HUGE! It literally came with 2 pounds of grilled chicken on top of it. The salad was delicious. Service: 4 stars: The waitress I had both times was very professional and courteous. I asked for refills and I was taken care of promptly. She did not rush us but checked to make sure we enjoyed everything. Atmosphere: 4 Stars: Diner is spacious. Booths are quite nice and reasonably comfortable. The place can get very loud at certain times Conclusion: This is one of the better diners in NJ. I have been here before and after Guy Fieti visited this place on DDD. Service hasn't changed but the wait times can be slightly longer. The pancakes are definitely worth the visit.
(4)Cassandra M.
disco fries. what are you and why did i have you for breakfast? this is what i get for going to a jersey diner with a jersey-ite. (yes, i totally made the term up). all i wanted was to try some pancakes from the brownstone diner. i first heard about BD via guy whatshisname and that show he has on that network. then my little frat boy cousins told me about it, i know those kids can eat so I made a mental note to try it. yes i trust family over famous people because if theyre wrong, i will smack them. on our way to the diner the topic of disco fries came up. (disco fries- fries with gravy and melted cheese) im not sure if its a jersey diner thing but im fairly certain my circle of friends growing up did not have them...unless not having them is a westchester thing. needless to say, we ordered them. and pancakes. were we that hungry? no. were we high? no. when in rome? might as well. so we did. we scarfed those fries up (maybe we were high.*) and then the pancakes came out. since the BD is aka the pancake factory, their pancakes are pretty legit, they have 30+ different pancake options. i kept it simple with pigs in a blanket - sausage rolled up in pancakes and jersey-ite had the honky tonk pancakes - chunks of peanut butter folded into the pancake topped with bananas and sugar. the portions are huge, we didnt even make a dent. i blame the fries. the pancakes were good. not too thick, not too thin. good flavor. the disco fries? ehhhhh, i'd do it again if i were drunk or...drunk. if youre in the area, check it out. im giving it a 3.5 *no we weren't high, but you know, when you are, you get the munchies...i mean, thats what i heard.
(4)JS A.
Wait and parking were annoying and who wants to deal with that when they are hungry.
(3)Matthew C.
Solid spot for breakfast! Cheap and fast, just like a diner should be. Menu is outrageously huge, but luckily the pancakes are on the first page and that's what I end up going with most times I'm here. Not a huge fan of their fruit compotes on top; too sticky and sweet. But the service is always good enough, and you'll be well-liked if you get in and get out quickly on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
(4)Shun S.
Tried this place three times, now they are out. Their spaghetti is always overcooked. To top it off, it is either just too bland or too thick. The fettuccini vegetable was so thick and cheesy that I could only eat two bites. Their pancakes are way too salty for my liking. Their service is not good. They are not horrible but not good at all. I live blocks away so it is at a convenient place but i don't think I'll be going back here again.
(1)Jimmy S.
I came back to try the waffles and I think they were better than the pancakes! WOW this place is great... I'm coming back real soon to try their dinner specials which are all huge portions... You better get down here and try this place!!!
(4)Lorraine L.
On a saturday or sunday morning, we could never get in without a 30 min wait. Yes, its THAT popular. Love their pecan banana pancakes. Hands down best pancakes ever. Crunchy on the outside, soft in the inside. HUGE portions, so much that one order of pancakes can feed both me and my husband for the entire day. Their iced tea are also very good too. Other than that, their egg dishes are ok. Or maybe by the time we get to it we are already experiencing food coma...
(4)Melissa L.
Brownstone is the best place to go when you want breakfast food! The combo roll-ups and the country breakfast wrap are my favorites. I've also had their venice panini for lunch, and that was great too. The only downside is the long wait on the weekends, but it's worth it!
(5)Lola H.
Pancakes were thick and fluffy on the inside and perfectly brown and lightly crisp on the outside. Almost a slight pound cake taste. I had the nut and honey pancakes. The side of bacon is enough for two people but I suggest getting your own because it was delicious!!!
(3)c j.
The pancakes are generally good, but the other food is just not up to par. On our last visit, nothing was fresh, proteins were way overcooked, soup wasn't hot, and there were flies inside the restaurant...in colder months like this one, that usually means maggots somewhere. It made us nervous. The place was nearly empty but it took an eternity to get our food, and then it was just so disappointing. The people who run it are very nice, but waitresses should not text on the job. Was that why it took so long to get served?
(2)Mountain Chick T.
This place was packed. We arrived and were given number 56 (and they were calling in the 30's). I wasn't sure we'd be able to wait that long for a table (they said 30 mins) but it took about 10 to be seated. I think we caught the end of a massive table turn. We got lucky. Everything I tasted was excellent...scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes, banana french toast, omlete, bacon. The pancakes were REALLY good! You may say pancakes are pancakes until you've had a few that are awful. Our whole party enjoyed everything.
(4)Julianne B.
Went here on Sat at about 3:30 - hadn't eaten yet and was sooo hungry. This is not a good place to go when you are starving! We tried the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter and banana) to share for the table and they were definitely the highlight. i don't generally eat pancakes as a meal but I enjoyed them a lot and neglected what I ordered in favor of them...ordered scrambled eggs with turkey sausage, homefries and toast. The sausages there are extremely large and overall breakfast was average diner food in extremely large portions. The pancakes are delicious. It's a good thing I don't live in Jersey City or else I'd probably frequent this place a little too often. We didn't order the fries but they also looked amazing.
(4)Athan M.
Wanted to love this place, but only really liked it (3 stars instead of 4 or 5). Pancakes were good but a little heavy, but very good coffee. Anxious to return to try an omelet.
(3)michele m.
Simply put a great breakfast for all great for a quick bite office meeting but bring your appetite the portions are huge. A favorite of all the locals!
(5)debbie a.
This place is great... for Pancakes.. I love the pancakes here. They were HUGE and tasted like the south. The bacon is not my favorite. Aside from the regular smoke to salt ratio, the fat ratio was so completely high .. either that or it was too undercooked... and skip the turkey sausage. It takes like kielbasa .. (meaning that it is missing that fennel seed flavor that we all like in our breakfast sausage.) The sandwiches are okay, but definitely nothing to write home about... but if you decide to go and try the non-breakfast items, I cannot stop eating their fries. They are really just a good pancake factory .. The HUGE menu should be a dead giveaway that they are not goign to be good at ALL those endless items.
(4)Nicole M T.
The service is great! The French toast is awesome! :)
(5)N P.
We're usually always here for breakfast on the weekends- even made friends with the waitresses. The lines are long but the food is worth the wait! The pancakes are amazing- soft, melts in your mouth... and soooo many flavors! Eggs are great too. Pretty much a great diner!
(4)Anita J.
One of my favorite diners in NJ! It's not just the selection, but the ginormous awesome pancakes they serve in so many ways. Come early on the weekend, or else be prepared to wait for a table. Great place to take out of town guests when introducing them to the diner experience. What to get: PANCAKES! Of course their other stuff is great as well. Love their omelet selection -- there is an italian one with marinara and pepperoni that's oh so good. Pancakes you can have them the usual way or as a wrap, basically the pancake become the wrap for eggs, sausage, etc. Amazing! Portion are large so come hungry or be prepared to share.
(4)Jamie K.
For as long as I've lived in Jersey City I've heard how great the Brownstone Diner is and judging from the lines outside on weekends, figured it must be fantastic. I was wrong. I recently had breakfast there and was extremely disappointed in pretty much all aspects of the diner. The hostess, did her job and pretty much nothing else. She screamed our number out and when we come to the podium, walked us to our table, and left us. She didn't say a word. Our waitress came a few minutes later and was equally unimpressive, not bad, but nothing special either. She wasn't really able to answer a question we had about the menu. The menu, while extremely large, actually was just slight variations on a lot of different themes. It can easily be whittled down to half that, and still offer just as many options. I guess the food is what you can expect from a diner - not bad, not great, just ok. The portions were extremely large though and not overly expensive. Our waitress never came back to ask us how our food was. When we finally flagged her down to get our check, she simply dropped it on our table. Turns out, you have to bring it up to the cash register to pay. We figured it out after a few minutes of wondering and getting the attention of another waitress. An explanation would of been nice. I guess when you look at it, this is a diner and if I went into this expecting just an ok experience and blah diner food, I wouldn't of been disappointed. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for the diner) I had higher aspirations for the place judging from word of mouth and the long lines. Let's just say I was unimpressed and will not be going back. For a tad more money, you can visit Amelias or BlackHorse (also in Jersey City) and receive much higher end food in a much nicer setting with better wait-staff.
(1)John M.
This place is a classic Jersey diner. They have everything and the kitchen sink on the menu. All their breakfast combo meals are bomb. The T-Ham, egg and cheese sandwich is bomb. The cinnamon raisin French Toast is bomb. My and my girl rode our bikes there this weekend, after a hard fought tennis match. I had the pigs-in-a-blanket, which is f'ing outrageous. Three giant sausage links wrapped in three giant pancakes, drenched in butter and syrup. This is the best diner in the area. Just don't try to go there for breakfast on weekends, unless you want to wait forever to eat.
(3)Tarik M.
Great service and beyond great food. The pancakes are excellent. I had the banana pancakes.. Simple but great. My wife had a huge omelet that she raved about. Great diner!
(5)Eric B.
Portions are huge and the pancake list is extensive. The pancakes are great and definitely tops the list of pancakes I have ever eaten. Also try the pancake wraps, great for late nights or saturday brunch after a night of drinking.
(4)Marilyn E.
Okay so I finally get on here to write this review...I went for the first time with best friend and we were excuted because we heard all the reviews on line and on that show.. you know it.. anyway.. we get there at 730 am cuz we figured oh boy it will probably get packed and so on.. so we sit and we wait and wait and wait over 45 minutes the place is semi full not enough for the waitress to forget about us but anyway.. we finally place our order in and what do you think?? we waited some more.. like another 25 minutes.. then the food gets to the table its cold.. and i have learned not to send food back.. haha.. ordered pancakes eggs bacon.. pancakes were not out of this world.. worry.. my son (12) makes better ones..and as for the infamous peanut butter and jelly pancakes that my girlfriend had.. really?? packets of jelly between the pancakces??? wow.. ingenious.. why didnt i think of that?? the bacon was gummy and coffee was nasty.. orange juice was gross watered down.. please dont say i went on a bad day i went early on a sunday morning police officers were chilling and having their breakfast and here we were dissapointed 30 some odd dollars later.. i will not go back.. for sure ill stick to my favorite whole in the wall dive.. Thanlks guy f. for nothing blah
(1)Cali J.
OK, after going a few times these guys deserve 4 stars. It's a real American diner, everything on the menu is pretty good, some stuff is great. Good service. Just don't get the steak (gristly) or the peanut butter pancakes (dry), and you're good.
(4)Dee E.
I heard about this place on the Food Network and decided to give it a try. I first tried the dinner and was highly disappointed. I got a pasta primavera and It lacked flavor. I returned a few weeks later to finally try the much-ado about pancakes. I got that banana nut pancakes, turkey sausage, and scrambled eggs while my friend got the strawberry banana pancakes with beef sausage and scrambled eggs. The pancakes weren't so good that I would encourage a friend to drive out to Jersey City to get some. They were average pancakes that any diner in New Jersey could make if you specify your order....but cheaper. The diner has a very comfortable atmosphere. And the waiters are extremely nice. I've definitely had better pancakes at other dinners and even IHOP. However, I would visit this place again. It just isn't worth raving about the way Guy did on Triple D on the Food Network.
(2)Phunballteam P.
Not as good as Coach House, not even close and parking is best described as Father's Day in Jersey City...very confusing. The pancakes are good but like I mentioned earlier, there are much better diner options in JC.
(3)Jonathan L.
Spectacular brunch place. Went there with a friend on a Sunday morning at 11ish. The wait was a bit long, with tons of people crowding the lobby and outside stairs, but man was that wait worth it. TIP: They don't announce the next table to be served outside. So if you're waiting outside, be sure to come in and make sure they don't skip over you. I'm pretty sure we were able to Prices were cheap, and the food was plentiful. Pancakes were great, omelettes were absolutely huge (borderline ridiculous), and the service was great. Definitely worth a look if you don't mind the wait.
(5)Sandor T.
Good old wholesome diner experience. I love getting up on a lazy Sunday morning and walking into this place for a nice breakfast. Super yummy. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff.
(5)Benito D.
Good solid breakfast, just nothing spectacular. The group had the basics: french toast, pancakes, Belgian waffle, eggs, bacon and sausage. All were good, but I've had better. Came on a Thursday at 10am so there was no wait and service was adequate.
(4)Jeremy D.
My usual breakfast lately has consisted of corned beef hash and eggs, so when I searched the Jersey City area for breakfast, this diner came up. I hopped on the PATH, got off at the grove street station and walked 10 minutes to the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory for some grub. I got there around 3pm for Sunday brunch. The diner was already rather full though they managed to seat me at the granite countertop bar (I was alone.) Great food. A good portion of corned beef hash, 3 poached eggs with hollandaise sauce, grits and a large orange juice. Mmm. Service was attentive and friendly. I waddled out of that cafe with a big smile on my face. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Jannie H.
Hands down the best pancakes that I have ever eaten. They are so fluffy, light, and just the right amount of sweetness. Delicious. We also ordered the three egg corned hash, and the hubby stated that it was the most delicious hash that he has ever eaten. The portions of the Brownstone are huge, the pancakes and the hash fed us, and could have fed two more people. We didn't even finish half of the food we ordered, cause we were so stuff.
(5)Garrett E.
But it was on the Food Network!!! Yeah and don't they know it too. 15 seconds of fame have given them Carte Blanche to treat their customers like crap because they know that for every one they piss off three more will walk through the door because "Oh look dear, there's that place that was on the food network!" I've been here when its dead, I've been here when there's an inconceivable mob in the lobby straight out the door. Either way its consistent. Consistently bad service that is. Food is mediocre at best and there is a reason why they only covered breakfast on the show. What they do well is pancakes, but even then their variety stems from a plethora of extras they throw on top of the pancakes after they are cooked, its not baked in usually. The sides are ok as far as the Bacon and Sausage but be careful my server forgot an order of sausage and I suspect an order was flash fried for me. Skip the corned beef hash unless of course you like it from a can. Order as many drinks as you can upfront because chances are that will be all you are getting. I'm sure I will be back because friends have inexplicably bought into the hype but not if I can help it. I'd rather spend my money in a place that believes in making the customers happy and treating them with respect. Personally when I get a craving for pancakes now I make them myself at least I know I'm getting real maple syrup. What kind of pancake place doesn't have real maple syrup. Disgraceful.
(1)Rachel A.
If you are ever in need of a recommended diner, search the king of Jersey City, NY (roderick A) and most likely you will find something tasty from NJ to DC. That's how I found the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. There was, indeed, a line and a 15 minute wait. The diner is huge so please don't let the line deter you from the gargantuan meal that awaits you. If you don't have a large party, there is always counter service available with no wait time. I got the German-Style Pancakes and Country Fried Chicken in a Basket to share. The menu at Brownstone is so huge that it's almost overwhelming. There is just so much that sounds so good. The German Pancakes were advertised as thin buttermilk pancakes. In our minds we were thought they were going to be crepe like. Not! They were giant thick rolled pancakes! Beware! I guess in comparison to the regular pancakes which looked 5 inches fluffy, the German-Style pancakes are thin but they are definitely filling and one pancake is good enough for one person. The serving comes with three. I really have no complaints about these pancakes. They were filled with glazed cinnamon apples. The pancakes tasted like apple pie. As for the Country Fried Chicken, I thought it was going to be like southern fried but instead it was lightly battered golden brown. Best chicken ever! It reminded me of my mom's. The meat was very juicy and salted well. The batter wasn't oily at all and it provided a nice crunch. The fries on the side were really good as well. They were thick, potato-y, and had that crispy coating. Perfect brunch! Other notable items on our table were: -Traditional Greek salad (The salad was huge. It's definitely not an appetizer but more of an entree serving. Actually, it's more like a platter serving. It was excellent. The Greek vinaigrette was light and the salad came with slices of pita bread. It's pretty versatile since it comes with peppers, cubes of feta cheese, and pita. You can eat it as a salad or make your own little pita sandwiches. Great for sharing.) -Florentine Omelet -Eggs Benedict -Chicken Parmigiana with Linguine (platter sized serving) We had ordered a lot but killed pretty much everything. There will definitely always be leftovers from Brownstone but that's the beauty of it. It's good food at a minimal cost. There's a huge parking lot available and the area has cleaned up nicely. It's not as ghetto as I remember it to be. Most of all, I give Brownstone Diner the most stars because it's a place me and the cuzzos could get down at. Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory is definitely a family spot. In fact, it's baby central. The babies there are cute and don't cry or scream their heads off. Must be because Brownstone is a good place.
(5)Felice M.
I like to do early breakfast or weekend brunch here.
(4)Dawn G.
Been here a few times and never had anything negative or extremely positive to say. Pancakes are good, service is fine if you don't mind the wait on the weekends. Was there this past weekend and ordered a Belgian waffle and my fiance ordered an omelet. We each got a glass of orange juice and a coffee. Our bill was $28 which seemed pretty pricey for an "eh" breakfast. They charged us $3 for the broccoli in the omelet. Not a big fan of the nickel and diming. Would prefer to go somewhere else, get better food, and pay the same price.
(2)Matt E.
3.5 stars Anytime I have a chance to swing by and check out a place featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives I do just that. This place is your standard diner (though much cleaner and new feeling) but they've got a huge emphasis on pancakes (they've got like 20 or so varieties). It's located in Jersey City, a couple miles from the Newport Path train (1 stop out of Manhattan) or just a couple blocks from a Lightrail station (and Liberty State Park). The reasonably priced pancakes I got were big and fluffy and although they were a tad on the grainy-ish side they were still very good pancakes. My main issue was the service. Given all the pancake choices I decided to go with the fresh strawberry and blueberry pancakes (which are just regular pancakes topped with strawberries and blueberries). I've had strawberry pancakes before and I've had blueberry pancakes before but I was excited to have the logical next step with both of them together. As a side note it seems very strange and saddening that they have an option to also get blueberry pancakes with a blueberry compote topping but not your classic blueberry pancakes (with the blueberries inside). Anyway when my pancakes arrived there was only strawberries on top and my waitress said as she placed the pancakes on the table "sorry but they don't have any blueberries right now". WTF? First of all the place is called the "pancake factory" and specializes in pancakes, blueberries being the most common thing to have in a pancake, how could they run out? Second of all, why would you wait until my meal is on the table to apologize and tell me they don't have what I want and give me the incomplete dish anyway? I would have picked out a different type of pancake had I known right away (when the waitress should have told me). When I was done and asked for the check (after being done for awhile) my waitress also went off and started taking other peoples orders and refilling coffee at other tables instead of getting my check. I might go back if I'm in the area but I definitely wouldn't make a trip out again and I'm still a bit disappointed with my Brownstone Diner experience.
(4)Ashley C.
Worst service ive experienced in a long time.... subpar food.... dry pancakes. Was seated and 30 mins later nobody has come to serve us. A couple come in and sits at an adjacent table and is served immediately. I didnt want to complain so i waited a few minutes more.... still nothing. Finally i get up and speak with the hostess. She doesnt apologize and minutes later a waitress shows up and in a very rushed fashion takes our order. I asked for my eggs well done.... they came out very runny. I sent them back..... they came back runny still. Bacon was way over cooked... just crumbled apart.... pancakes were dry... home fries were overly greasy piles of potatoe mush. Waste of my money.... waste of my time. Will never go back. WORST SERVICE EVERRRRRR!
(1)Jennifer L.
I change my mind about the previous three stars. I don't get their pancakes every time, but I should. They are amazing. I also love their real deal sausage. My pancakes are always hot, but my eggs usually aren't. bummer.
(5)Hudson T.
After dropping off my car at Sears in the Newport Mall for an oil change, I figure I would find some decent breakfast in the area. I found the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory after a quick search on Yelp. The walk from Newport Mall to Brownstone is not the far... if you walk straight towards it. I'm usually not a fan of diners... but a hundred and eighty Yelp reviewers cannot be all wrong. There has to be someone there that knows what they're talking about. I walked in and saw the first good sign. There was a stack of Daily News for customers to take and read. It is quite nice to come to a place that welcomes people to sit and enjoy. After being seated and reviewing the menu, I saw the second good sign. Brownstone knows that its bread and butter is pancakes. They focus on pancakes. They state that pancakes are not just "breakfast" food. Of course they have other things on the menu, but who cares? I'm here for pancakes. I ordered the Nut 'n' Honey pancakes and a side of Corn Beef Hash. After getting a few pages into the Daily News, the waitress came out with a stack of three pancakes the size of my head. These portions are seriously massive. They are enough to feed two to three people. The pancakes themselves were fantastic. With pancakes, it is not about taste. The taste of buttermilk is pretty standard. What set these aside is that they are big and fluffy with a nice crispy exterior. Unbelievable. I'm sure any topping or filling would have been incredible in these. Unfortunately, the corn beef hash was most likely out of a can. We cannot win them all. Service was good. My waitress was attentive and did not rush me. Of course this was also on a Tuesday at 9:30 AM, so it was fairly quiet. This has become my breakfast place of choice in Jersey City. It is priced reasonably well, easy to get to (they do have a parking lot), and well worth going to. Cheers!
(4)M M.
I've been many times an enjoy it every time. However I recently discovered I have a gluten allergy. So now I cannot enjoy the creative menu of one of my favorite cravings. Please add gluten free pancakes to your menu! You would be the first and only place to serve gf pancakes!!
(4)Resa N.
We saw an episode of Triple D where Guy was at Brownstone and the menu alone had me and husband want to try this place so bad that we had to fit it in our next trip to NYC. Luckily one of my friends stay out in Jersey so she was able to pick us up from NY and drive us to Brownstone on a weekend before the lunch hour rush. We waited only waited about 20 minutes. It was a cute diner and had very friendly staff. We ordered the Surf and Turk Breakfast which is a piece of sirloin steak, fried fillet, eggs and country potatoes.... YUM! We also tried their stuffed pancake. It had scrambled eggs, ham, bacon and cheese. That alone was off the hook. It was a like restaurant style Mcgriddle but 10x better!! Portions were so huge we had to take a lot back to the hotel. Definitely a good breakfast/brunch spot. If it was easy
(4)Samantha E.
My family came by after seeing Brownstone Diner on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. We ordered a variety of pancakes and they were fluffy, delightful, and perfect. I challenge someone to try and finish one of these monster stacks!
(4)Frank F.
Stopped in for breakfast at one of the better spots in the world I would say......you just can not get better pancakes......
(5)Linda C.
Great diner. Massive menu - the selection is just fabulous, portions are sizable. We've been here for breakfast and lunch and it's always consistent in terms of food and service. Free parking lot in the back, which is a true rarity in JC. They could do a bit better on decor and food presentation but it IS a diner. Ya know?
(4)Jon F.
A good NJ diner. The Brownstone has so many choices when it comes to pancakes, waffles, and omeletes. I'm not a fan of the eggs benedict here but will be going back for the pancakes. Great place for pancakes, waffles and more...
(4)Jean L.
I come here once every few weeks for lunch with co-workers. Breakfast here is OUTSTANDING. The portions are huge, and they make such good pancakes, eggs/omelets, homefries, and sausage. Service can be a bit on the slow side, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's because it's usually a packed house. I think once you stray away from breakfast orders, though, the quality dips down somewhat substantially. I've gotten 2 salads...one was okay, one was HORRENDOUS - I didn't eat more than 2 bites, told the waitress, and they did nothing. I didn't want to be the jerk who asks for it to be removed from the bill (since I didn't eat any of it) and was hoping they'd react with good business sense and offer to remove or give a discount, but nothing. Waitress was a bit rude as well. Other than that, I've gotten the BLT on whole wheat and it was awesome. Parking lot is tiny and always full, but at least there's something (given that it's Jersey City). Pricing isn't terrible either. Bottom line is, we will definitely keep coming here for lunch once in a while.
(4)Angie M.
So I saw this place on diners, drive ins, and dives and was immediately drawn in by those pancakes. I ordered the peanut butter filled ones topped with bananas "honky tonk" on the menu. They were huge but I barely tasted the peanut butter and the syrup they have was disgusting. It tasted like generic stuff from a big tub sold at restaurant depot. I mean will it kill anybody to serve some real maple? The waiter was rude and seemed like he was bothered by helping us. As I was looking around I noticed the booths were disgusting with dirt and dust and the light above us kept going on and off. I also didn't appreciate the memo on the menu saying they would charge you if you didn't eat anything like seriously? They called it "the rules" or something to that effect. Finally the last straw for me was when I went to pay and they refused to take my AMEX. I'm a banking professional so that to me screams cheap cheap cheap! If they are cheap on that God knows what else they skimp on. Don't believe the hype it was all for show when Guy Fieri came around, what a scam!
(1)Sandy S.
This place was pretty good! My friend and I went very early on a Saturday morning! It was pretty empty at that time. By the time we left (around 9am), the place started getting packed so it seems like this is the place to be on a weekend morning! Neither one of us tried the pancakes but they looked massive from what I can see at other people's tables. This a pretty nice diner in JC and one that has a parking lot which is a plus. One thing that I really didn't like about this place though is that they don't let you use multiple credit cards when paying for the bill. That seems very strange to me since a lot of people go to diners in groups and usually don't have cash. So make sure to bring cash if you are going in a group. Overall it was a pretty good meal and I would go again if I was in the area.
(4)Charlotte M.
Two words: PANCAKE WRAP. Nothing beats a pancake wrap on a weekend morning. So delicious! If you're a local, I recommend ordering take-out as the weekend brunch line is pretty ridiculous. And the managers, host, servers are all so nice. Love this place!
(5)Lisa J.
I went here twice on my last trip to Jersey City. The cinnamon raisin french toast was so good. It wasn't soggy or eggy. It was really one of the best if not the best french toast I have ever had. The only downside was the bacon I had on one visit was supposed to be crispy and it wasn't at all. If it was I would have given 5 stars. Also, the service was great. We had the sweetest waitress. She was working so hard and really made us feel welcome.
(4)David S.
I don't know what their secret is, but somehow they have managed to perfect the pancake. Every single time it is that perfect texture of light, fluffy and overall delicious. And the pancake wrap, oh man, that is just a dream come true for a breakfast food lover such as myself. I've seen it duplicated in other places recently, but it doesn't even come close to Brownstone's.
(5)Lola G.
Very very good pancakes. I mean, delicious. If the parking lot is full just park around the block or so, usually there's street parking.
(4)Suzanne M.
I ate at the Brownstone Diner about 4 hours after running a half marathon. I was famished and ready to consume a large dose of carbohydrates. I ordered the pecan pancakes with a side of home-fries along with coffee and orange juice. I was very surprised to see three very large pancakes on my plate with a large portion of home-fries on a separate dish. The pancakes were fantastic although I wish they had a better selection of syrup to go with it. There was only one to choose from. The home-fries were bland and nothing out of the ordinary. The coffee was typical for a diner and just ok. The service were very good. We were seated within 5 minutes and our waitress was friendly and efficient.
(4)Steven K.
Big portions and good food. Pancakes are good, but cold, imitation syrup. If you want pancakes bring your own syrup. Plan to wait on a Sunday morning about 20 minutes to half out. Parking in the back. Parking can be hard during peak times. Overall good breakfast.
(4)David A.
I'd been planning on trying this place for a while and finally did after a visit to the hospital across the street. My first experience was pleasant enough, it was late and not very crowded. The waitress was friendly and food was decent, I had eggs. My second experience was to order take-out. It will be my last. It was a busy lunch hour and in needed to get food to take with me to the hospital. I ordered and was waiting at the counter. I then witnessed the owner completely rip into one of his waitresses for something that was not even her fault. Another waiter bumped into her, causing some spilled coffee but she managed to save the food, which in itself was remarkable. She placed the cup of spilled coffee to the side and proceeded to serve the food to the table. On her way back the owner confronted her about the spilled coffee and the cup left to the side. He proceeded to humiliate her about not cleaning up after herself in a loud and obnoxious manner for all to hear. I exchanged glances with another waitress who later told me that this happens regularly. Frankly, if you can't treat your staff with respect, you're not getting my cash. Case closed and farewell.
(2)Sandra M.
i love coming here for breakfast - this is the best place to be in JC when you want a good pancake. i love their fruit rollup trio - 3 crepes each with a different fruit compote stuffing - apple, blueberry (my fav!), and pear... i can smell them now...
(5)Tuan-pi T.
I was told that I'd get my full on food here. I made a face at that. I ordered the pancake deal - 3 cakes, 4 strips of bacon, eggs, and home fries. The price, 9 bucks, made my face change. As I walked to the bathroom to wash my hands, I glanced at other visitor's plates. The faces I made in reaction were excited ones. The servings were AMPLE, the quality was visibly good, the patrons were happy. When my meal came, my face was pure delight. I was the only one at the table who finished his meal; there was just so much to eat! I helped out my buddies and had leftovers for lunch later. What a great experience. There was a little wait. But it wasn't long. The service was friendly and on point. I'll request a revisit next time I'm in the area.
(4)J K.
The Brownstone Diner is a solid choice, but the food and service are nothing special. We have been twice now - once for a week night dinner and once for a weekend brunch. Both times the place felt a bit understaffed and service was slow (even though the place was mostly empty for dinner and packed for brunch). The portions are gigantic, but nothing (including the famous pancakes) really stands out for being super creative or really well done.
(3)Veronica S.
Me and my friends went there and I was like a kid in a candy store with the menu...the odd part is it was not the meals that I was so excited about it was the words. If their servers don't make you feel welcome (ours sure didn't) then the name of your dish just might do the trick. Our waiter was pretty rude, so rude it was funny...seriously. First he came to our table to see if we wanted drinks only to snarl at me for wanting my ice on the side...THEN when he came to take our orders he walked away as my friend began to tell him what she wanted...we died with laughter because it was just so unexpectedly rude, I could go on with this guys character but I'll just skip it. The food was GREAT! at least mine was, I ordered waffles. My friend ordered chicken parm and said it was not anything special but it was a big portion, another ordered buffalo wings and loved them...he was actually sweating when he was finished haha, and my other friend ordered pecan waffles and didn't really like them since the pecans are inside the waffle, nothing special just waffle mix and pecans.
(3)Vicky L.
I love the pancakes here. Great place for groups.
(4)Leo D.
What a horrible dump!!! The rudest service I have ever encountered. Everyone makes a special effort to make sure that each customer has a miserable experience and gets out as quickly as possible. But of course not before paying the astonishingly disgusting owner who casually curses at his customers.
(1)Patrick S.
My little home away from home. Having lived in two different apartments in JC, I have never been more then 4 blocks from this place and THANK GOD. Breakfast, Lunch Dinner this place DELIVERS (not literally). Best consistent food.
(5)Danny E.
This place is known for their delicious variety of pancakes. I didn't try the pancakes yet as I wasn't in the mood that day, so I'm definitely going back and updating this review. I got the burger and boy was it dry. I think from here on out I am avoiding all burgers (besides In n Out, what's your secret?) that does not give you an option how you want it cooked. I also ate half of my partner's omelet, eh. I did see the episode where Guy Fieri comes here and I must say, he would make a wonderful actor. It's really his enthusiasm that sells the show. The food here is ordinary but he's always having oral orgasms on the show. It's time to be more cautious with his reviews from here on out. I do have to agree with some people that the service is pretty horrid here. Of course it's not with everyone but because of the large number of customers, the wait staff can become inattentive or even disappear for half hours all together.
(3)Jeff G.
This place is a godsend for those hungover and in pain from the night of drinking before. I arrived there around 1230 and assumed that the place would be packed which it was, however the wait was only 20 mins which isnt that bad. When we were seated, the service was prompt and efficient and we ordered country pancake wraps. The pancakes themselves were a nice 1' thick buttermilk pancake with a soft cakey inside and a thin cripsy outside, unbelievable. Inside of this MONSTER pancake is delicious eggs/cheese/potatoes and salty sausage. Really delicious overall and pretty standard for price/quantity. Very happy overall! Note: the dog park down the street is a great waiting area in the nice weather to pick up girls while u wait for your breakfast.
(4)Kristen S.
The food was great...choc chip pancakes n hash browns were delish....only thing that sucked was service...our waitress was an older lady n didn't seem to care much for her job...I had coffee and needed a refill and she never came to check on us....we needed things she never came to check on us...only time we got her service was when we stopped her from walking around...service like that deserves no tip....n that's just what she got...brunch that shoulda taken half hr to 45 min took about 2 hrs...
(1)Matthew W.
The food here is good, the portion size is HUGE and they have a parking lot. What else could you ask for? When I go for breakfast my gf and I will split one thing and still go home with leftovers (and that is truely amazing for us). The only think keeping me from 5* is that they charge $3 for anything you add to a dish. So if you want jalapenos on your salad, its $3 extra...kinda annoying. Regardless, I eat here all too often and most of the people there are really great.
(4)Jennifer H.
I think living in New York skews your expectations for food. I know there are so many other quality diner/brunch places out there, BUT this one did not disappoint! And it's so cheap for how much food you get! I spontaneously came here with two friends for a brunch date and we split the banana walnut pancakes, pigs in a blanket, and cross the border omelet. The servings were huge, but since I'm one of those girls who eats half a large pizza, I was very happy. (Do not come here if you're used to rice-bowl sized dinners.) I think the banana walnut pancakes were the best...It would have been better if the bananas were cooked in the batter, but they were just garnished on top. The omelet and homefries were meh. I would just stick with what they're named for. Oh and I read their "story" printed on the menu (which is also available on the website) and found it very cute. I personally love mom and pops kind of businesses, and this place definitely has their line of loyal customers...but don't expect to be treated like family when there's a huge cluster of people blocking the door.
(4)Gershon P.
Sigh Brownstone is really amazing. Every time I trek up to Jersey City I end up here with family and friends. The atmosphere is causal but very homely. It's always packed and sometimes there is a substantial wait but it's worth it. The staff is amazing, I went with my nephew and he's two and be quite colorful when he wants to be but they were more than willing to accommodate . The food is amazing and I have never finished an entrée, they are huge. There is a smorgasbord or choices and I highly recommend here to anyone wanting a great breakfast .
(4)Kevin S.
I go here once every 1-2 months or so, and each time before I go I say to myself "I must be overrating this place, they are just pancakes." And then... I go, and the pancakes blow my mind. I can't explain it, they are just amazing, and with a basic stack going for only about $6 (I forget how much exactly), they are cheap, and they will fill you up for the rest of the day. If you are a brave soul, get one of their combos, but be warned, you will be pinned to the couch in a food coma for the rest of the day. Definitely worth the wait- the lines out the door can be intimidating, but the line moves faster than you think- they are very efficient at filling the place to max capacity.
(5)Ciera D.
It's on the nicer side as far as diners go. But still its just a diner.
(3)Janelle S.
Oh Good God, I cannot even describe the pancake euphoria I experience every time I'm here. Warm, fluffy, golden brown pancakes with every fruit compote you can think of is why I keep coming back. My favorite is the stack with the apple compote. And if you're hungover or high, make your way here at some point. Definitely worth the trip to Jersey, New Yorkers.
(5)Jessie D.
I am sorry but the pancakes were pretty dissapointing. The nuts in pancakes were rancid and the pancakes itself was nothing special, doughy..not much flavor. But omelet was pretty good, done just right. The staff is friendly, very accomodating. I am perplexed at the fact that this place is famous for pancakes.
(3)Tanya D.
Ah Man! This is da place to go when u are tired of IHOP...lol. As a matter of fact this is the only place to go for the ultimate pancake experience! I had the Pancake Wrap w/ turkey bacon. Which includes everything breakfast your eggs, meat, cheese all wrapped in the biggest pancake ever. It could easily serve two if it wasn't so delicious. You automatically reach for the other half as your mouth waters with anticipation...lol. Basically it's great. I've had it with Pork bacon, Turkey Bacon, and Turkey Sausage...all great! Don't forget the syrup!
(5)Jennis B.
One of the best diner in Jersey City. Highly recommended!
(4)Amit A.
Its your typical diner but with a twist, they have a variety of pancakes to choose from as you can tell from the name of the establishment. Went here for breakfast today and we got the raspberry truffle and mocha coffee, both were really good but don't expect refills. We then ordered the pancake rolls and a regular stack of pancakes with fresh fruits and they were bot delicious. I did order a milkshake but never received it :( oh well.
(4)Anthony M.
Always loved Van Vorst in JC and this place is in a great location - right bt CC and Grand. Food was excellent and they put some fresh ideas into standard jersey diner menus. I also love the healthy options available - turkey bacon, egg whites, etc. without sacrificing on the taste. Also loved the home fries - amazing. Now the negatives - I have to deduct 2 stars for not being open 24-7 and making feel like I was in the DMV. The place was packed and they were screaming numbers across the diner as people wait to be seated. That's not so bad in of itself but the waiter took about 10 mins to even grab a drink order and thought one of the swarming waiter was going to drop a plate on me as they passed. Definitely stay away from the center tables near the cake display/hostess.
(3)Jaime W.
Today was my first time dining at Brownstone Diner, and I cannot believe I waited this long to try it!!! I've heard the place is good, but the hoards of people that come here turned me off, until today. We were jonesing some breakfast delights and going to head over to OPH in Fort Lee, but I suggested we at least try going to Brownstone....just to see... Upon arrival, I thought we'd be waiting close to an hour based on the crowd. Since I was expecting just that, I wasn't going crazy about what the wait time seemed it would be. We went to the hostess station, were give a number (no timing on availability of tables was given), and stood aside to begin our foot tapping. We seriously waited, tops 10 minutes and our magical number was called! Like music to our ear, and with the smell of freshly griddled pancakes and bacon wafting through the air around us, we ran to the hostess station and claimed our stake. We were seated and started looking through the long-winded menu. Although there were TONS of menu options, we knew what we were there for. PANCAKES!!-and oh what the selection there was. I went with the Nut N' Honey Pancakes- they had almonds, pecans, and walnuts cooked in, and then covered with a drizzling of honey, with a scoop of butter off to the side. Hubby had the Honky Tonk Pancakes-Peanut Butter Chunks baked into the pancakes, and covered in fresh sliced bananas. We also had a side of corned beef hash and home fries, which we both split. Everything was fantastic! Light and fluffy flapjacks, well cooked hash (with a crispy burnt bottom-yum!!), and perfect taters. The restaurant was cutely decorated- like if you took your regular decent diner and made it about 20 times nicer, they have a great coffee bar selection, and quite the martini menu I might add. They also have first-come-first-serve counter seating, which they announce when there are opened seats, which makes the wait time even better. I will definitely become a repeat customer for when I'm feeling in need of the perfect breakfast.
(5)David C.
Went here this morning with a good friend and my girlfriend. The portions are huge! I ordered the Pancake Combo and it was really too much food for me to finish... I probably could have shared with with my girlfriend and I would have been sufficiently full. We had to wait like 20 minutes, definitely a very popular place for breakfast. Because of the sheer volume of people, it also took a little while for the food to come out. Pancakes were great. I wasn't a big fan of the corned beef hash though, I personally would have cooked it a little longer to get a more crispy texture. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get. Would definitely go back and this place will likely be one of my regular brunch/breakfast places.
(4)Michael O.
Huge portion's, come here hungry! Excellent diner, great food, OK price, and friendly staff. The only complaint I have is the parking. Ate here three times already and still have not been disappointed about anything besides the parking. The menu is huge, to me their is something for everyone. I highly recommend this place to anyone. Get ready for a long walk to this diner to where you park on the weekends, the parking lot is always packed. Besides the parking this place is great!
(5)Min A.
Been going here for years and the food and service has always been very good. I always bring out of town guests here so they can have their fill of any pancake they desire; but amazed that they have grits on the menu and my husband loves them!
(5)Michael L.
It was our first meal during our food crawl to NYC. Honky Tonk pancakes and the hash browns were exceptional. Other items on the menu were a little better than IHOP. With a party of 12, we got to taste a good portion of the menu. I think they're better than 3 stars but couldn't give them 4.
(3)Daniel B.
Yum. Really, that sums this place up in a word. I know NJ is a diner culture, but this place is at the top of the game. Great selection of food, breakfast all day. And the pancakes (in particular the wraps) make it a great place to stop in and get some great food.
(4)Mary N.
Love the Brownstone--has something for everyone...very family friendly. Gets crowded on weekends, nice an quiet on weeknights for dinner. Friendly service. Huge portions so good for leftovers too.
(5)Jason G.
This place is ok for breakfast but as far as normal diner food goes it is very sub-par. True it is called the "pancake Factory", but truth be told their waffles are better than their pancakes. Unfortunately, the rest of their breakfast fair is pretty bland and gross. Eggs are tasteless and their breakfast meats are always very fatty and either overcooked or undercooked. Warning - DO NOT get the gyro here. It is awful. You would assume otherwise from a diner (usually run by greek people) but you are better off getting gyro meat from a street vendor in harlem then ordering it here. So in short, for startchy-breakfast food, this place is good, for anything else PASS
(3)Marilus C.
Triple D was right to feature this place. The food is super yummy and the staff are really friendly. Yes there is a wait so try your hardest to get there before 10am on the weekends. I had the pancakes with pranut butter chips and bananas its was soo good! The pancakes were fluffy and just prefect! My bf had and egg white omelet with grilled chicken. He said it was the best grilled chicken he'd had ever. It's loud and it's crowded sonic that's not your thing i wouldn't come here but if you love pancakes I would run here. Can't wait to go back and try all the other falvors!
(5)Maggie M.
I visited here while in town from Florida, the pancakes are great,the portion is huge,two can easily share,I also had a side of corned beef hash that was excellent. This place is a jewel.
(4)Brandon G.
I saw this place on Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives a few weeks back and knew that next time I was in the NYC area I would definitely have to stop by and check it out - which I did - twice!! Both times were for breakfast two late weekday mornings in a row. We were able to get in and get a table right away. Both times the hostess, wait staff, and cashier were all very friendly. The food was amazing. I got pancakes the first morning because I didn't feel I could go into a Pancake Factory without at least getting something off the production line. I was not at all disappointed with my Cherry Pancakes - they were great. In fact, I couldn't even finish which is a very rare occurrence for myself! The second day I decided to try an omelet. I got the western omelet (ham, peppers, and onions) which was very delicious. The only regret I have is that I had to head back to Boston but will definitely be sure to stop in the Brownstone Diner whenever in the Jersey City area!
(5)Anthony F.
The pancakes are delicous and all the portions are huge! I can't say enough about this place. Don't even bother looking anyone else in Jersey City if you want breakfast. Also, there is no delivery, but you can pick up, as I do some sunday mornings :)
(5)Alex R.
I have been to Brownstone a few times now, and always for either dinner or late lunch. This place is mobbed on weekends, so fuggedabout coming at noon for brunch. Prepare to wait, wait, wait. Having said that, my last experience was disappointing. I ordered a steak sandwich with fries, and my friend ordered the bbq chicken platter. The sandwich looked good, however the meat tasted of gasoline and was too chewy. I could barely take 2 bites. :( My friend's chicken on the other hand was solid. No issues; soft and juicy and bacon and bbq didnt disappoint. The place overall serves comfort food, and as many diners go, is owned by Greeks but without heavy emphasis on the greek menu. Stick to the basics.
(3)kenny s.
Like any diner Brownstone Diner features a diverse menu from surf-n-turf to their pancake selection. My party rifled through the pages all wondering what to order, some played it safe with pancakes and burgers, while others took a gamble with seafood selections. It wasn't that busy when we ordered and the food took quite awhile to get here, something I believe hurts a diner's rating. Because honestly, we don't go to diners so that we can wait 40 minutes for a burger. But perhaps it was an off day? When the food came, we were shocked by how much food was brought to our table. The portions here are big, I've never been to Texas but I assume this is what they call "Texas big". My burger was too big to eat comfortably or neatly, I ended up eating my burger with knife and fork (blasphemy I know). I had a bite of the pancake, I must say it was better than 60% of the pancakes I have ever had. Fried shrimp, fish, scallops and thick cut fries packed the seafood basket someone ordered. The thing is just plain humongous and big enough to feed two adults. Overall, it is diner food and something you don't expect too much out of. But the portions do the price a lot of justice. So if you're nearby and you just want some no frills gigantic proportion diner food with some good pancakes then drop by. This place is also good when everyone in your party wants something different...
(3)Alf O.
The pancakes here are the best. If you come, order the pancakes, especially if they have chocolate chips in them. Everything else on the menu is good, especially by east coast greasy spoon standards, but don't bother and just get pancakes.
(5)Hit U.
Hanballs took me here. I was the one that flung the wet toilet paper at the trash can and it hung on the lid like a wet squid. The banana walnut waffle was the best part of the meal. It's a huge waffle both crisp and soft topped with fresh bananas and walnuts (inside the waffle itself). I had a mushroom omelette, a bit too milky for me (I hate milk), but overall the omelette and home fries were very delicious. The toast was buttered up nice and sweet. I can't believe I didn't poop at all that day. I ate so much.
(4)Dave M.
The food is pretty good but I have never found this place that special. It gets extremely crowded on the weekends so go early. A classic diner though so it's a nice change of pace compared to the rest of Jersey City.
(4)Wendy C.
I have never ever ate in such a great diner! My soft scrambled was made perfectly and the pastrami was the best. It was very crowded. We had to wait a bit for a table. Not too long even though the girl told me to wait for about 40 minutes. Imagine, it was Sunday breakfast and there was a line of people waiting to get a table. We just happened to go here because we stayed at the Hyatt. I would love to just go through the tunnel and eat here again.
(5)Vaughn S.
The best pancakes that I have ever had! Not only are the pancakes awesome, but everything that I have seen from this place from the sandwiches to the desserts look delicious. They are also known for their corned beef hash as seen on diners drive ins and dives. Definately worth a trip to jersey city. Dont go early on the weekend, they get really busy expect long waits and parking is horrible.
(5)Ericka G.
Loved this place in I lived in JC. If breakfest isn't your favorite meal of the day it will be after you have eaten here. I live CA now and still come here for breakfest whenever I am in town.
(5)Martha Stewart E.
I went and the pancakes were AWESOME. There was a good variety, and they were some of the best I've ever had (and I'm a pancake freak). The omelet was good too, full pieces of bacon in with the cheddar. It was a long wait for our food though, that's the only downside.
(4)Eliana A.
Everyone goes here for the brunch, which is great but be ready for a long wait. Especially those really annoying post church groups of 12 with 5 highchairs and balloons on Sunday at 11. Anyway...the dinners here are what always amaze me. The quality of the food is better then most restaurants, and the price for portion rules. The Greek platters are the best. I love this place, and when I get the bill I love it even more.
(4)Carla M.
Great breakfast!
(5)Rajat S.
Great pancakes and omlettes. The California omlette and pancake combo is great.
(4)Mollie R.
OMG! This place is solid. This had to be one of the BEST breakfast I have had in a long time. We sampled the pancakes which huge & yummy, egg white California omelet, pouched eggs and grits~ everything was great. My only complaint was that the OJ was just ok. I would return. Parking is bad but after a breakfast like this a little extra walking will do you some good. This place is a must!
(5)Katelyn F.
Used to come here. The service was spectacular. Always a rush on Sunday mornings so get there before or after the church rush. The servers are awesome (assuming they still are) and the management is awesome as well. The owner is an awesome gentleman. The food is served in ginormous portions and ever so tasty. I don't remember all that I used to get because I popped around the menu all the time. But everything I had, I enjoyed.
(5)Alli A.
This place covers most every craving you could possibly have. It's always crowded on the weekends so be prepared to wait a bit.
(4)Nicole L.
Ok - two or three quick updates per Jenn K's request (thanks for reading)! The chocolate cream pie was only ok... nothing special, but also not bad if you like that heavy cream taste. It was too much for me and I was unable to finish all of it. The bread is still amazing (yes, they do heat it up so it comes hot and yummy to the table), but the last time we went and asked for bread for the table, they charged us $1.00 for a "side of bread." I call bogus, and haven't been back yet to see whether it's a new charge or if it was just something our server did to pad the final bill. Lastly, I've since ordered the cheesesteak and requested no green peppers - and the cheesesteak was GOOD!
(4)Ed A.
in true downtown JC fashion, let's all overhype and overrate a B- at best place. ready...set.... brownstone! i dont know if it's the fact that it's in downtown jc so it must be good, or if people who frequent it just like it because it's a nice local spot. it could be either, but my experience at this place has been just average. really.. nothing to write home about, especially with so many other good and equally cheap food options in the area. even as a diner, i wouldnt recommend this place, not because it's bad (because it's not).. but just because it's just not that great. for another equally overhyped, overrated downtown jc place, try taqueria mexican place. just as "meh"-tacular, and just as highly rated online.
(2)Zulay V.
this place is AWESOME. We go here almost every weekend that we go out clubbing in the city.... it's GREAT for that hangover. The food is soooo good, the pancakes are awesome and they have so many unique kinds to choose from, like Black Forest, PB&honey, Meat pancakes, etc. Their lunch and dinner platters are also amazing. The prices are very reasonable, the staff is very nice and food always comes quickly, and the owner himself is usually there working the register or taking care of something else. That's very admirable. It's a Greek diner owned by his father and then passed down to him. Definitely something to be proud of. Great for groups, but expect a wait on Sunday. Worth it though!
(5)Yesenia F.
This is the BEST diner I have ever been to in my life. If I move out of Jersey City this diner will probably be the only establishment I will miss. I've never waited too long for a table even on the busiest of weekends. All of their food is delicious, I've had everything from their pancakes, omelettes, burgers, gyros, wraps. You name it, they have it and they make it GOOD. The servers are friendly and attentive. The prices are reasonable. Overall a go-to if you're in the neighborhood.
(5)Vito S.
Went here for breakfast twice and food once. Each time I went I was expecting a lot better. People rave about their breakfast and there are always lines on the weekends to get in. Yes, the portions are humongous I agree and it's not bad at all. However I don't think it's anything special. I think it's more a product of being the only diner in the area. If there was any competition I don't think people would give such high ratings.
(3)Michael K.
I had a very bad experience at Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory in Jersey City this morning. We have an out of town visitor. I decided to take him there for breakfast. We were seated promptly and the waiter was very nice. I ordered an omelet that had several ingredients (some sort of southwest omelette). It tasted off. Something was bad. I don't know which ingredient. It wasn't the jalapeño or onion or sour cream as far as I can tell. I couldn't put my finger in it. The waiter wouldn't take it back. He said let me go tell someone. I assume the kitchen or manager. He came back and told me they sell a lot of them. I said I didn't question that, but something in it was spoiled. He still made no effort to take it or make things right. I literally handed him my plate. He said nothing and just took the plate. I wasn't sure if he was having it re-made (he didn't) nor was I offered anything else. When he finally came back with the bill it wasn't on there although every refill of coffee was charged and even a dollar for the toast which I didn't hand him (but did eat). I don't blame the waiter as it is clearly management. When I was leaving I made mention to the cashier who I believe is an owner or manager that I didn't have a nice experience. My exact words were, "that was a bad experience". He said I don't want to hear about any bad experiences and left the register (after he took my money) and walked away. I am still surprised. I will certainly avoid going back.
(1)Monica D.
BEST pancake house! They have a large selection of pancakes to choose from which can be good or a bad thing (you'll take forever to put your order in b/c you can't make a decision) ;-) I've had their show stoppers, the Nutella and the regular chocolate chip Pancakes. They're eggs Benedict are also good and their baked potato omelette is always on point. I've Only been here for their breakfast items and never leave disappointed. The only reason they don't get a full 5 stars is because service can be flaky at times. There have been a handful of times where it takes them 10-15 minutes to come up to our table to take our order. Other than that, this place won't disappoint.
(4)Barbara D.
Once again...I made the mistake of returning here. You would think after the countless bad experiences, I'd finally learn my lesson. But, alas, I have not. This episode in Why NOT to Dine Here is brought to you by The Milk Foundation...reminding you to please keep your creamers CHILLED! We were sat almost immediately...but then got a lovely 10-15 min gap of time with no sign of any server? Place had plenty of open sections...soooooooo? Ended up asking hostess for server...who promptly marched over, looking annoyed, and asked if we knew what we wanted. Nice greeting. So we get our coffees and place our order. Suddenly I see a weird cloud in my coffee (was this what Carly Simon was talking about???) Nope, not a cloud, just a sad clump of curdled milk. Almost made myself and my lunch companion want to vomit...gross. So we show #1 server...and she just shrugs and gets me another. Food was ok...nothing special. Server never cleared plates. Though, she did ask if we wanted food wrapped? Bizarre. We asked for more coffee...twice...never got it. The food is the only reason I'm even granting this 2 stars. Do yourself a favor and skip the headache...OR learn from my multiple mistakes!
(2)Kelly M.
Oh Brownstone I love you so. First off, the portions are gigantic. I usually split mine in half and take half home for leftovers. The moussaka and pastas make particularly delicious leftovers. You could probably get 3 meals out of the pastas- they're huge. The Brownstone Fries and Waffle Towers are what draw me to this place, but the pancakes/french toast / actual dinner food is good too. The only thing I haven't really been that into is the salmon dinner entree and their eggs Benedict - they tend to be a little salty for my taste. This is also the only place I know where we can show up with 15 people for dinner and they don't even flinch, they just make a giant table. PS what's with the reviews complaining about parking? They have a perfectly reasonably sized parking lot. Where else in Jersey City do you get parking lots at all? If you want an easy place to park your SUV just go to Newport Mall.
(5)Ben M.
One of the best diners I have ever had. Excellent extensive menu, weather it is breakfast or lunch. Pancakes are the best in NJ ( I had better in Milwaukee last week) excellent lunch deals. Everything is good
(4)James P.
Even though a lot of people say this place is great and it was featured on the Food Network, I am not too impressed with this place. Nothing is really delicious here. Its an average diner. Had a Cheeseburger, Eggs Benedict, and Spaghetti in three different occasions... The portions were ENORMOUS which was nice, but again.. nothing spectacular. AND the diner is not even open 24/7 SADNESS The pancake selection is very diverse which is cool if you like pancakes.. I don't! Menu has LOADS of items so I would come back again sometime.
(3)Rich A.
Brownstone Diner ( brownstonediner.com/menu ) on Grand Street near the Medical Center in Jersey City, which was featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives" show on the Food Network in May 2008, is a family-owned diner that is reknown throughout the Jersey City area for its excellent and extensive menu of breakfast foods - including enormous omelettes served with a variety of fresh ingredients and their long list of unique pancakes. Stick to the breakfast specialties and you'll be very satisfied. I recommend any of the omelettes, pancakes, waffles or pancake wraps (imagine burrito using a pancake as a tortilla and stuffed with eggs, cheese, potatoes, and sausage/bacon). My favorite variety of pancakes are the "Turtle" pancakes, served with plenty of chocolate chips and pecans for a great combination of salty and sweet flavors in every bite. Their homemade pork, beef, and turkey sausage is amazing -- a must-have side dish with any breakfast order. My experience ordering non-breakfast foods at the Brownstone has been decidedly average.. portions are VERY large, but dishes I've ordered (meatloaf, french dip sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich) have been entirely unremarkable in flavor. The diner, which was extensively renovated a few years ago, is warm and inviting. In addition, the service can be hit or miss - depending on the shift. Surprisingly, I've had much better service when the diner is packed during the weekend brunch rush than during Friday night dinner. Since the segment ran on the Food Network, it's gotten much harder to find a parking space on a weekend morning and the wait for a table can be 15-20 minutes. Prices range from $5 to $8 for pancakes; omelettes range from $6 to $9.
(5)Thompson L.
This is the place to be if you're in the area. Very friendly waitstaff, quick turnaround on tables/food. I always find it tough to stray from breakfast items at diners.. especially when their pancakes have been featured on Food Network... so I went with the King Combo. Steak n eggs + buttermilk pancakes. Believe the hype.. the pancakes are THAT good! These pancakes came out so fluffy and tasted so delicious.. I really didn't want to eat anything else. My eggs were done just the way I liked them and the steak was pretty decent too. If I ate there by myself I would've given it 5 stars but I tasted some of the other dishes on the dinner menu.. pasta was a little bland.. dessert tasted old.. burgers were really good but fries were meh. Soo.. do like I do.. stick with the breakfast menu.. smile all the way out!
(4)al n.
The service was great and you get a great value, but definitely not the greatest pancakes I've ever had.
(3)Edward B.
Average at best. We went to the Brownstone to kick off our vacation - alas we are hoping for better things to come. I ordered the Turtle Pancakes . . . disappointing they were just OK. None in our party were impressed by the quality of the food. Overhyped and overpriced not worth going to if you have to go out of your way to go there.
(2)Kimberly G.
I came here after going to Zeppelin Hall down the block and this place really hit the spot! My friend had been talking about going and it's appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and I'm extremely happy that we came. The menu is monstrous but I focused in on the pancakes since I heard that was their specialty and it's in the name of the diner. Our server was wonderful and gave his recommendations of what to order to help us decide. I ended up ordering pancakes with peanut butter chips and bananas. YUM YUM YUM!!! The pancakes were fluffy and buttery and the peanut butter chips and bananas gave it a little something extra. My one friend ordered the pancake wrap stuffed with bacon, cheese, and eggs and she thoroughly enjoyed it and so did I when I tried it. My other friend ordered a tuna melt and fries which she also enjoyed. I tried the fries and they were delicious - perfect NJ diner fries. I would absolutely go back and try another pancake specialty and I highly recommend this diner to anyone who is in the area!
(5)B B.
Not sure about pancakes, but this is a good diner. Fast service, extensive menu, ample portions.
(4)Phil D.
This is a good place. Portions are quite large, but I don't think the pancakes the OMG that this place tries to make them out to be. They're good but not mind-blowing. Also, this is not what I expect a diner to be. There's no 100 page menu and it's not open 24/7. This place gets very, very busy so be prepared to wait. There's limited counter space which is normally open (about 5 or so seats). This is close to a 4 star in my book, but just not quite there. Also, if you're a big guy, those booth seats don't leave you much room.
(3)Chris O.
Been here a couple of times for weekend breakfast and have enjoyed all my visits. I go early between 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. to avoid the weekend crowd that everyone talks about. I've read other reviewers complain about the service but I've only experienced fast and friendly service. They allowed me to customize anything on their menu to my liking. In my visits to the Brownstone Diner I've had: Pancakes ---------------- Honky Tonk Pancakes - My favorite so far. Crispy, melted peanut butter chunks inside buttermilk pancakes and topped with bananas. MMMmmmm See pics. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pancakes- Added bananas. Delicious but still prefer the Honky Tonk. Black Forest Pancakes- Chocolate chips inside the pancakes with cherry compote on top. Very good. Eggs dishes ------------------- Three eggs (overeasy) with american cheese, corned beef hash, and hash browns- Corned beef hash was ok but not the best I ever had. Wasn't really thrilled about the american cheese. (Kraft singles) Newport Omelette (Very good and huuuuuge! See pics. Substituted american cheese for mozzerella and substituted hash browns/french fries or grits for the curly fries.) Coffee -------------- Mocha- Espresso, choco, steamed milk & whipped cream. Delicious! Raspberry Truffle- Same as the Mocha but with raspberry syrup added. See pics I see myself making the trip across the river into NJ again next weekend. Nut & Honey pancakes next? Or maybe the German style pancakes? Doesn't really matter because eventually I'll try them all. 5 stars for the Brownstone Diner.
(5)Ramo N.
Wasn't impressed with the breakfast. i ordered the steak and eggs.... it was ok, not enough to have me come back, especially during the weekend a.m. crowd.
(2)John M.
My girlfriend and I started to come to this place after seeing it on Food Network. We love food, and we LOVE diners. First, this place is comfortable. It's pretty big, not as big as some diners I've been to, but it doesn't feel like a banquet hall or anything. Very comfortable and friendly wait staff. Talk to the owner, Bobby, he's a really nice guy! Second, and most importantly, the food is amazingly good! Thei pancakes are excellent (it's a pancake factory!) but almost everything else I've ordered is great. I was not happy on 2 occasions with my eggs, one time they were nearly raw instead of over-easy, and one time my poached eggs were overdone. Try their corned beef hash, it's the best! The service is normally excellent, fast and nice. I've had some nights where the server was very slow however, must have been an off day. So I took off 1 star because of the bad eggs and some bad says for service, but this place is totally worth it. Just a note, weekends get very busy...VERY busy. You may only have to wait for about 20 minutes though, the longest I've waited was about 15 minutes on a Saturday morning.
(4)Heather C.
I have to say, it would definitely get five stars if there weren't almost always a line out the door. The first time I went, I came back three times for the next three days, because I was obsessed. Why? It was the PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY PANCAKES. Are you kidding me??? It was the most delicious pancake I have ever eaten in my life. I also had a veg omelet, which was runny but tasty. Their french toast is unbelievable too, as well as their waffles. I'm warning you, if you go, you will become addicted. Seriously. Their menu is huge, and I've also had a sliced steak sandwich (mediocre- it needed salt, but the roll was huge), fries (very good), and a burger (pretty good). I see a bright future for me and brownstone, and I will for sure be back.
(4)Devsss B.
Love entire menu specially pancakes, waffles and French toast. The staff is friendly. Nice, homely place.
(5)Dilip J.
I've visited the place a few times already, and I can't say anything but nice things about the place. Yes, there can be a line around noon for wknd brunch, but its worth the wait. I've been here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late nite munchies. Its the best. Friendly staff, huge portions, delicious food. There are so many choices also. Also, there is real value for your money. Guy from Food Network's "Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives" made this place a little too popular during Sunday brunch, but I still would pick this place. The owners are really friendly too. PS there is a chance you'll have food to take home, but don't worry. it still tastes good after warming up.
(5)Jenny R.
Corned beef hash from a can. Grossly disappointing! Yuck! Friendly waitress, decent coffee. I'll try pancakes next time.
(2)Gerard G.
My son took me here for Fathers Day. He picked it off a list of places Guy Fiere had been to with his show, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. Definitely a diner, and a busy one at that! Make no mistake, this place is busy because its a good diner. A long list of pancakes as well as the usual diner fare, and pancake wraps were featured on the menu. The wait, probably due to Fathers Day, wasnt so bad for a table for 2, about 25 minutes. Anthony decided to order the peanut butter and chocolate chip pancakes. I decided on Eggs Benedict and a stack of buttermilks on the side. The coffee was fresh, and the food arrived with out too long a wait. Anthony ordered a chocolate Egg Cream, which didnt win any awards - not nearly enough syrup, a bit too much seltzer and not enough taste.. But we didnt come for the egg cream, so.. on to the food! The Chocolate Chip pancakes were pretty light and fluffy for peanut butter ( I expected them to be a bit "heavier".) The Buttermilks were pretty good too, light and fluffy as well. The eggs Benedict was nicely done, the hollandaise was tasty and fresh. The order came with 3 eggs- which I have not seen before when ordering Eggs Benedict. They were delicious. All in all, a nice experience; neighborhood looks like we'll be returning to try out a few other places we saw. Parking was a bit hectic, but we got lucky and landed a spot in the back lot after circling only once. A side note, according to the sign, they close at 11PM, so I'm thinking late night isn't happening here.. We arrived hungry and left full and satisfied. They get an "A", we'll be back.
(4)Charlie K.
Cheap, baller pancakes. Also like the gyro platter.
(5)Elijah B.
Overall, a wonderful experience! The menu provides a good variety of classic breakfast choices with their own unique twists. The portions are very generous and satisfy just about any appetite. Lastly, the service was excellent! Theresa is our favorite; she makes us feel like family! I have noticed some other servers who seem to be overwhelmed or flustered on a busy Sunday morning, but Theresa is always cool as a fan. Urgent, but never hurried, and ALWAYS cheerful, loving and helpful!
(5)M H.
Great JC diner. Can't beat the pancakes! The lines can sometimes be crazy long, but that's a testament to the place being good. Waitstaff is efficient and friendly. I've never had a bad experience at the Brownstone, and my family and I go at least a couple of times a month.
(4)Carrie L.
My friends are in love with this place and I can see why. They have a lot of different pancake choices, almost too many! Service was good but this place got really packed when we were leaving. I would definitely come back, but early.
(4)Bill P.
Stopped by for breakfast & had a feast, make sure you bring an appetite if you come here. We had the Belgian Waffles which were very light & delicious. Also had the Blueberry Pancakes that were also very good & a huge portion. Finally our group also had the Corned Beef Hash with potatoes & eggs that again was a large portion with the hash being just OK, nothing to rave about. I'd definitely come here again, a good diner a bit above most.
(3)Ron R.
best. pancakes. ever. this is a great place for brunch in the nyc metro area. when i lived in jersey city, i was here at least once a week. their pancakes are the fluffiest, tastiest i've ever had. there are a ton of options (i liked the chocolate chip, amongst others). their portions are HUGE, so come with an appetite. they also have great food for lunch and dinner. small downside is this place gets PACKED on weekends. get there before noon for brunch, or else you may be waiting at least 30 minutes. friendly, attentive staff members. all-around, a very well-run diner!
(4)cory b.
Standard diner food. Great pancakes, adequate prices. A good place to take your friends who saw it on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
(3)James L.
Great diner ... awesome food (especially the pancakes if you like them classic style) and the portions are huge. Full breakfast menu served all day and the prices are very reasonable. Great place to bring a large gathering.
(4)Victor A.
Solid diner food/ selection. Recommend but wait on sat sun morning are long. Service is great.
(5)Tida A.
This diner is always a must for those visiting/living in Jersey City. Their menu is huge and they have a bar with an awesome list of alcohol concoctions - what more do you need at a diner? Last time I went, I had the Valentine (champagne and chambord - $6) and an Egg and Canadian Ham Sandwich ($4.75). The food came out pretty quickly for our group of eight (consider how packed it was in the diner) and our waitress was pretty nice. I wasn't that hungry that day, but if I was, I would've definitely ordered up some pancakes or an omelet because they are both very large orders. There is a whole page of pancakes to choose from including Meat Pancakes which has bits of your choice of meat in the pancake. As for omelets, it takes a very, very hungry person to devour a whole one (which comes with a side of fries, curly fries or home fries) because I really do think their omelets are made with seven or eight eggs. The diner is usually always busy and there tends to be a wait. They don't have a sophisticated intercom system or anything, so it's usually best for one person in your party to wait inside for your number to be called. Hostess is pretty awesome and I always enjoy chatting it up with her.
(5)Millie C.
Best pancakes I've ever had hands down. I had the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter and bananas) and they were delicious! The coffee is very much diner coffee and the service is ok, but nothing to brag about. The inside of the diner is actually nice looking, organized, and pretty clean. I was not impressed by the cups they use for water. They look old and warn out, wish kept me away from drinking from them. At the end, this place would have received 3 stars from me, but the pancakes are sooooo good, I can't help but to omit that I will be back again... often.
(4)Curtis K.
I go on and off and enjoy the food and management every time. Great with friends or if your flying solo. Its definitely a food place with staying power. A little lite in the seasoning department though, that would be my only area for improvement on a great place. And its a plus you never know who you will find at your adjacent table- from political folks to churchgoers to 106 & Park contestants. Its the kinda place that wont let you down when you wanna take your friends some place reasonable to eat.
(4)James S.
Meat Pancakes! That is what you need to get when you come here. The juices from the sausage seep into the pancakes as they are cooked to make the most mouthwatering breakfast ever. I know it sounds strange but put a little hot sauce and a little syrup on these puppies for a sweet and spicy mouthful of goodness. Expect to not find a spot in the small parking lot and expect to wait for a table once you get inside. It's only a block from the Jersey Ave light rail stop, which works well for me. Enjoy!
(4)Brad G.
Great omelletes, great hotcakes and belgian waffles. I havent had a chance to try the stuffed rock lobster tail. Service sucks!!
(4)joey s.
Hello Foodies! I have been to the brownstone diner a couple of times. Recently I went on a Sunday Morning, ahh boy was I in for a treat..the line was out the door and around the building. I was so excited to show my GF this place for breakfast, but was discouraged when i saw the line, lucky enough it was only a 20 minute wait. And the actual wait time ended being 30 minutes, it was pretty accurate, and being in the restaurant biz my whole life, anytime there is a wait like that...there has got to be something good cooking in the kitchen. We were finally sat, and presented the menu. The menu is so extensive, that takes a while to sift through. I think Gordon Ramsey would say they need to trim it down a bit. After reading the bible of pancakes and omlettes we were ready. We decided on egg and cheese sandwich on a roll, grilled and buttered of course. And we took an order of the pancakes with choc chips and pnut butter. The egg sandwiches were right on!! Like wow, it was so delicious. Very pleased. The cheese was excellent and melted just right. The pancakes were like a pile of heaven. the only thing i would say here is the pnut butter chips over powered the choc chips, so it needed more choc chips for sure. Still good, but not as excellent i thought it was going to be on the pancake side. The service was good. The server was busy. Not that personable, but got what we needed quickly and efficiently. The Atmosphere is excellent. Very nicely done. Super Excellent they have a liquor license. I would def return here for breakfast. Looking forward to it. Best. The Food Critic.
(5)Eddie C.
for someone with a healthy appetite, this is definitely the place to be. they have a huge diner-sized menu but i've only ever ordered breakfast type food here. the french toast is good, and they let you swap in sides (ex: turkey sausage over bacon) if you are interested in something marginally healthier for you. coffee is generic and the food is decent, but the service is good considering how packed they can get during prime eating time, which, if my experience is anything to judge, is between 10am and 3pm on weekends. prices are also very reasonable. i just wish they had real maple syrup, but that may be a bit much to ask for out of a diner.
(3)Gisele A.
Great pancakes!
(4)Irene J.
it's a factory, alright! we've been here twice, and it's been crazy busy both times! let's call it organized (delicious) chaos! overall, service is good, but really, it's a hit or miss. the food makes up for it, so no complaints here! we've had the lox & onions omelette (not bad), california omelette (oh yum! especially if you like avocados!), honky tonk pancakes (omg, please do try if you like peanut butter), and a pancake combo (good but nothing out of the ordinary; didn't care for their pork sausage though). if you're in the area, it's definitely worth waiting to eat pancakes!
(4)Lindsay J.
Came here for the first time on a Sunday morning a little after 10am. Had no wait for a party of two and were seated right away. The inside is huge too! When we left around 11am there might have been a small wait. Ordered the Black Forrest Pancakes [chocolate chips and cherry compote] and the Fresh Strawberry Pancakes. Also ordered sides with them [2 eggs scrambled and 2 eggs over-medium with sausage links] but the pancakes themselves would have been more than enough since we barely ate half of them! The sausage links were huge. Over-medium eggs were more like over-easy - were very runny. Then again they're known for their pancakes... Prices are a bit more than your average diner [hence the 4 starts] but the food was delicious!
(4)Larry Y.
The breakfast is simply amazing. Hint: GET THERE EARLY!
(4)Leigh C.
We saw this place on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives...we drove from Fairlawn to Jersey City for pancakes?! Sure, why not...the line was long, and it was after 1pm...that's a good sign! Triple D did not disappoint! We had all kinds of crazy pancakes and they were all amazingly and delicious! Two thumb up, we recommend!
(5)Mark G.
Pros: - Humongous portions of very good breakfast food - Snappy service Cons: - Parking lot as well as the place is usually packed Conclusion: Great for breakfasts / brunches during the weekend
(5)Nadia S.
This place is exactly what a good diner & pancake house is supposed to be. Plus it's really cute inside. Like any diner the menu had more choices than I could choose from, plus more pancake options than I could imagine. Of course I wanted to try everything, but couldn't come to a pancake place and not have pancakes. So little me decided on the Queen Combo, which included a full stack of buttermilk pancakes, beef sausage, corned beef hash and three eggs - sunny side up for me. The pancakes were yummy, and everything else was good, pretty standard diner food. I'll be back to try variations on the pancakes or when next I get that rare I need a diner craving that once in a while even I get.
(4)Ramon W.
Love the variety of pancakes here!! ...I always find something different on the menu..I'm type of a night owl only wish it stayed open late! That would of gave it a fifth star...The weekends tends to get real busy especially around Sunday brunch ....so get there early and prepare to wait!!
(4)Sea J.
At bit pricey for diner food. The wait staff is usually friendly but the management can be snippy. I avoid the place and usually can find a much more pleasant experience at any other local restaurant on Grove or Jersey ave.
(1)Susan L.
If you like pancakes that taste like what you imagine sawdust taste like, along with the most fake tasting maple syrup, then this is the place for you. Long lines to boot. Not sure why. Service is friendly, but almost any other diner in the area has better quality food.
(2)George K.
This is a great diner, you might have to wait a little to get a seat, but it's totally worth it. The pancakes are great and my persona favorites are the different pancake wraps, will surely have you coming back for more. I service is also very quick and the staff friendly.
(5)Howard M.
My son and dad went for brunch on Saturday at 2pm. We were seated immediately (my son warned us about long waits on the weekend). I ordered an omelet and dad ordered pancakes. Both dishes were HUGE and delicious. I would go out of the way to eat here again. I would love to try the greek food for dinner in the future.
(5)Zannoah C. K.
I've eaten here on 2 occasions. I love the food. Both times we had to wait about 10 minutes before we were seated because it was pretty busy. We came for Saturday or Sunday brunch both times. My husband had the potato pancakes which were great the first time, but they were obviously store bought the second time. The waffles are delicious, the chicken was juicy and crispy. I love that they have a LARGE selection of items on their menu. They are open from 6am until 11pm daily so the hours are pretty convenient. Our waitress on the 1st trip was so attentive and friendly. The second time, the service was pretty bad. Our waitress was a little older and we had to keep asking her for water. It was starting to piss us off, so when we saw our old waitress we begged her for water and she quickly obliged. I would definitely come back because while the service and sometimes the food is a hit or miss, its never too bad that I hate the experience. Have I had better food in my lifetime? YES. Have I had better food than this in Jersey City? No
(4)Kate M.
This is the best diner I have ever been to. Great food and HUGE portions. Most meals feed me 2-3 times.
(5)Ramon D.
Anything less than a five would be a crime. Yes the wait was long but the place has been on TV and they have really good food. Nothing more to say than simply try it!
(5)Justin M.
NJ has the best diners. This is the best diner in NJ hence the best diner.
(5)Kathleen H.
Had the Elvis Pancakes .. AMAZING!! This place is great .. and you can easily split the dishes - portions are huge.
(4)taiyyaba q.
Yum! Big, big portions. Great pancakes and waffles and eggs. Homefries are crispy on the outside, which is the only way to make homefries. Worth the wait.
(4)Chad M.
I live right around the corner from this place, and let me tell you, nothing is better than sleeping in on the weekend, throwing on some clothes, and walking only a block to grab a really great brunch. I'm not a big pancake fan, so I usually steer towards other breakfast or lunch items. My favorite breakfast is a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. Really hard to find in JC/NYC. So last week when I was there and saw that they had a biscuit on the side item menu I figured I was golden. However, after asking, they said they couldn't put it on a biscuit as it wasn't an option on that part of the menu. WTF? Next time I'll order the BE&C with no bagel, get a side order biscuit, and do it myself dammit! Aside from that 1 experience, they are really great about special requests. Extra items, sauces on the side, adding ingredients to the dish, all have been done no problem. They even gave me 1/2 a cantaloupe one time which was nowhere on the menu. Both the Chicken Caesar Wrap and Buffalo Chicken Wrap are fantastic. Their eggs benedict are good, but a bit lacking of flavor in their hollandaise sauce. Across the board the portion sizes are geared more towards pachyderms rather than humans. Be prepared. Water Refill Meter: 2/5 Very hit or miss. Sometimes you can get their attention and get it pretty swiftly. Other times you can try 6 times to get their attention without success as your food gets cold. Can't remember a time that a refill was given without asking.
(4)Jason R.
This is an incomplete review, it's only based on their Corned Beef Hash (the sole reason i drove into JC). One of the reviewers here claimed it was the "best ever." Well - not, i'm afraid. It's straight out of a can! Mushy, sloppy hash. Very disappointed. But the eggs were perfect, and the place looks real nice, and the menu sounded really good, i'll have to try the pancakes sometime. But no way, no how was this hash homemade....
(3)Kim J.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm. Pancake-y goodness. I got into Jersey City kinda late and was starving after my flight. We decided to stop at this greasy spoon for some late night breakfast. We walked in 15 minutes before close and no one batted an eye. The service was quick and friendly and we didn't feel rushed even though they were closing. All I can say is YUM. The pancakes here were phenomenal. The onion rings were perfect. And I really appreciated the bar - my martini was cheap and really, really tasty. The only downside? The bacon was just meh. I take my bacon very seriously, so that was enough to knock it down for me. But other than that, I can see why everyone raves about this place.
(4)Kristina V.
I traveled 40 minutes to try this place. We arrived at 1pm on a Sunday and ate at 1:30 pm.The place was packed! I ordered potato pancakes, buttermilk pancakes, and a ham cheese and potato omlette. The pancakes were tasty, nothing to write home over though. The same goes for everything else. If I lived in the area I would go back and try some of their specialty pancakes, but being I live a bit far, I will not make the trip back just for this restaurant.
(3)roderick A.
I like to pride myself as "King of the Diners" because I love going to a greasy diner. Since I'm from New Jersey, I guess its a built-in trait. In Jersey City alone, you've got VIP Diner, Al's Diner, Colonette Restaurant, Miss America Diner, and even the Flamingo Diner. But the newest one, technically, is the Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory. Formerly the Newport Pancake House, it was totally renovated and its now become this. Usually, I order the grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese. What comes out of the kitchen is this ginormous thing on a plate. It comes on a huge roll, with seemingly four breasts of grilled chicken, lots of cheese and probably the best diner french fries in Jersey City. This bad boy costs $9.95 but it is worth every penny because I defy anyone to actually finish eating it. Every single time I've had to bring it home, because it was so big. Yes, Roderick actually couldn't finish his food. It's a miracle. On occasion, I've also had the chocolate chip pancakes. I will say that they are indeed the best pancakes in Jersey City. But if I want my pancake fix, I will drive to Bayonne to the Chandelier. But yes, these are the best pancakes in JC. All in all, this is probably the best diner in Jersey City, with the most giant portions known to man. My only quibble is that they are not open late anymore. They used to close at 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. Now they close every night at 11pm. I swear they could rack up big business if they stayed open late on weekends.
(4)James M.
Been back a bunch of times, really love the food, but had to drop a star since the last two times I received some pretty poor service. To me service is never that big an issue, because I am usually in good company and I can entertain myself :) But two times ago, I didnt see server the entire time and had mising items which wound up on the check. Last time, waited 10 minutes at the table to be aknowleged and then received my food quickly, even before my drinks. Server not arouind whole meal, had to wait another 5 minutes to get a check. She may have been slammed, but it was pretty early and not that busy yet. Should really have had more help.
(4)Andrea C.
Pretty good stuff - I thought the pancakes would blow me away - and they were great, but not stellar. Fluffy, light and very generous. I had the breakfast wrap which was a pancake, eggs, cheese and sausage all wrapped up ... sounds weird but it was really tasty. You can expect to spend about $10-$13 a person.
(3)Jeffrey L.
I'll go 2 stars because we had a couple of passable breakfasts here before being served one really bad meal. Admittedly I ordered corn beef hash which can be dodgy. But this was inedible dog food. The other meals weren't good enough to make up for it.
(1)carla S.
Terrible service, subpar diner food - don't understand the popularity of this place. What a disappointment and they charge you a lot extra for ANYTHING special that you order. Their great pancake recipe is their saving grace, otherwise I would imagine they would have gone out of business a long time ago. Try Legal Grounds for their great sandwiches, Tacqueria, or anywhere else. Brownstone sucks.
(1)Elaine M.
You know how people say you're only really supposed to eat a portion of food the size of your fist for each meal? Well, if you're one of those who actually do try to follow that general rule of thumb, then you probably won't want to come here. Just the slab of BUTTER they give you for your individual plate of food almost equates to the size of one's fist. And when you taste their pancakes, it's all over: it'd take the willpower of Rocky to limit yourself. The servings here are absolutely ginormous. The pancakes are practically the size of the plate itself. And if the size for some reason doesn't have your jaw dropping, the taste will. These pancakes are simply amazing. I'm not usually a big fan of pancakes (in general, I like pancakes, but I don't love them. French toast is usually more my thing), but the pancakes from Brownstone are seriously incredible... so incredible, in fact, that they're the only pancakes on the planet that elicit cravings in me. They're simply the best I've ever tasted. And you can have them prepared in practically any way you want. They offer traditional pancakes, fruit pancakes, nut pancakes, even meat pancakes. The few negatives I have about this place are that it gets ridiculously busy at times (which, I suppose, isn't really their fault), the service is hit-or-miss (it was excellent the first time I came here, which was on a Monday morning, but was unattentive and painfully slow on another occasion, a Sunday morning), and they only realized they ran out of Peach Schnapps a cool ten minutes after I had ordered a Bellini.
(4)KB C.
2012...it's 12:00 pm as we pull up to what many have termed the best diner around...I have been anxiously awaiting this! The place is packed. Stop at bar for 2 screwdrivers, good and strong! The wait is lengthy for any seat. You are given a number for seating purposes...my wife handled this as I was parking the car out back. Right now we are standing watching how long it takes people to be served their orders...there are stacks of plated foods sitting on the warmer- I would be kicking the servers collective asses if I owned the joint. It's now 12:26, they just called #96, we are #22. Debating leaving for another diner but we're vested at this point. 12:56 we are seated- it is New Years Day after all. To pass the time we spoke to some gents about mushrooms and the value of boiling or ingesting...boil and drink the tea for gods sake. Anywho- the menu is extensive. Turkey sausage and bacon & swiss omelette with a side of bacon for me, ironman scramble egg whites, chicken w/tomatoes & salsa for the wife. 1:05pm. Food is delivered at 1:25pm. The food is average at best guys. Our bill (including 2 screwdrivers) is $48.00. Won't be returning- I was really hoping for good things. The Elysian or Stacks in Hoboken are better choices by far. Good luck with whatever your personal breakfast choice will be in 2012...just remember this little review when you're standing around waiting to be seated at this joint.
(1)Brian W.
While the wait to get seated at peak time on a Sunday can be a little daunting this is my favorite restaurant for breakfast foods. I highly recommend the corned beef hash.
(4)Courtney M.
Im a creature of habit, so I usually wind up ordering the same thing every time -- the french toast combo. but seriously, french toast and eggs and bacon and sausage and juice and toast for about $10??? awesome. the sausage is really good -- you can tell it's not the usual mass-produced pork product. also, i love that when we go there (the same group, always) they recognize us and say hello :)
(5)Adrienne B.
Excellent excellent excellent. An entire page of pancakes and an entire page of omelets and six or so other pages of things Came here at 10 am on a Sunday and only had to wait 5-10 minutes. Food comes out fast and hot! We will be coming here and only here for breakfast from now on during the weekends.
(4)Donna R.
This place has come a long way since it was the greasy old Newport Pancake House...what hasn't changed is the quick service and huge portions. Love the Honky Tonk Pancakes (peanut butter chips and banana...delish!)
(3)Stefani M.
We are considering moving so we can be closer to this place. Perfect food, huge portions, really experienced waitresses. I don't know how they get their pancakes to taste so good!
(5)Craig S.
These are the best pancakes I've ever had by a long shot. Good service, huge portions (I only ate half the pancakes), and delicious food. Highly recommend!
(5)Kip J.
Let me preface this by saying that it is evident that this diner does a brisk business serving countless people daily who leave satisfied with their experience. Living right nearby, I see them everyday, and especially on weekends, when they tend to come in the mid-morning and order pancakes. Pancakes are a major component in the marketing of this place. I believe at some point someone gave them an award for "best pancakes in New Jersey." Their slogan appears to be "Need Pancakes!" - which I guess is supposed to be their hope of what their customer is thinking. It's on all the staff's t-shirts, along with the diner's logo, which is lifted exactly from Milton Glaser's design for the Brooklyn Brewery, hopefully with consent. The mystery to me is how the pancakes are so popular when they have no taste whatsoever. They're like pillowy sponges that take syrup (in his case high fructose corn syrup, unless you happen to bring your own maple syrup with you) and salted butter to your mouth. Same goes for the waffles. If you put these things in your mouth, alone, and try to taste something, you get a little bit of the cooking surface and a generic flour taste. The pancakes are supposed to be buttermilk, and the waffles are supposed to be Belgian, but there's no discernible buttermilk taste, or yeast in the case of the latter. Maybe that's why there are dozens of combinations of both of these items that pile on toppings, like bananas and chocolate, in addition to the syrup and butter you add yourself. I've had the french toast as well, which is better, based on actual bread as it is. The omelets are typical American diner omelets - that is, well done (meaning overcooked) and best when they have a lot of ingredients/toppings added to them for flavor, as well. The coffee is not awful but should probably be brewed with twice as much grinds. It's just normal weak coffee. But you can have as much as you like. I think you do better here for dinner, where the portions are generous and the taste more respectable. Decent diner food at decent prices (just north of $10 for an entree). When your dish with your chosen sides is served, you realize you have enough for two, so you can head home with a second round in a bag to have at your leisure. You don't go here for the decor, which has a lot of random thrift store looking art at jaunty (intentionally very crooked, like at a funhouse) angles. You go here to fill up on hit-or-miss food without going broke, served to you efficiently. In short, it's a diner.
(3)Robin F.
Couldn't ask for more - this is what a diner should be. Great waitres (calling you Lovebug, among a million other names) and tons of great oversized breakfast options.
(4)Patrick F.
I will preface this review by saying that I am generally not a fan of diners. They tend to do so many things with their menu that they don't do any one thing super well. However, after reading reviews on Yelp, it sounded like the Brownstone bucked the diner trend with their pancakes (after all, they put it in the name). Alas, that was not the case. Yelp reviewers led me to believe I would be experiencing pancake greatness -- but, they weren't great. They were just ... big. I'm from the midwest and I am definitely used to people confusing portion size with quality. I guess that's what happened here...
(3)Jeff C.
Ooh, a visit from Guy Fieri. Now I HAVE to come here. Hah. I was starving that day so I ordered 2 dinners. I was stuffed, but not necessarily in a good way. Perhaps my palate is spoiled, I don't know. All I know is that my stomach was pissed at me for eating all that junk afterwards. Not the healthiest of meals but I ordered what I was in the mood for. You guys are spot on about the bacon here..it is parallel to the quality of bacon you get on cruise ships..nuff said. The menu is extremely robust, with menu items with their own dedicated pages (pancakes, waffles, burgers, pasta, etc). Service and prices are friendly in this palatial diner. Free on site parking is a huge plus, but Bridge and Tunnel folks will find that to be standard in NJ. 5 for selection, 4 for speedy service and portion sizes, 3 for food. I left indifferent. Maybe I am missing something...perhaps I will take a stab at breakfast next time. You guys let me down on this one. Ordered: -Tuna Melt (~$7) - served open faced on 2 toasted rye breads, tuna was ok, not crazy about the 2 American Kraft singles on top though -California burger (~$8) - avocado, bacon, how can you go wrong right?, brioche was way too big for this and overpowered the meat if eaten together so I only ate the bottom half, ordered the beef medium but it was more on the overcooked side -Corned beef hash w/ over easy eggs (~$8) - i was told this was okay Total came out to ~$15/pp after everything
(3)Jen A.
This is a decent place to stop after working up an appetite in Liberty State Park nearby. The menu is so large it's hard to believe they can do everything well, but the pancakes are pretty sweet with a great fluffy texture. The fruit toppings soak nicely into the pancakes but tend to overwhelm any nuts or chocolate chips. Portion size is huge, and is probably the most memorable thing about Brownstone.
(3)Mike N.
I had their moussaka for the first time this past Sunday and it was awesome! For 13.95 it comes with a large greek salad, grape leaves, olives, cup of soup, dessert and bread. It was hearty and flavorful, exactly what I was looking for. I also recommend trying the Bobby's fries - french fries topped with oregano and feta. I love this place on Sat and Sunday mornings when I'm not in a rush. Don't expect to be seated right away because there's usually a wait on weekend mornings but that's fine. The only way this place could get better is if they added cream-chipped beef and chicken fried steak with biscuits and gravy to the menu. They always greet you with smiles and make you feel like part of the family, like a good diner/family restaurant should.
(5)Carlos V.
Great service. Good food. Huge portions!
(5)Kelly D.
I came here this past Sunday for what was to be a relaxing birthday breakfast. As I was sitting at the booth staring straight at the hostess desk I see the angry manager who runs the register walk up to the early 20 something employee and smack him right in the face and yell obscenities at him. I couldn't believe my eyes... The rest of my breakfast he kept looking at him and saying nasty obscenities... It was so uncomfortable as a patron that I was literally getting an ulcer sitting there so much that I almost left. Thus poor kid had the fear of death in his eyes the whole time. It was at that point my husband and I decided not to ever patronize this place again, the fact that I was contributing to the bottom line of a guy who publicly degrades his employees made me sick. When we left my husband politely told him that we would never be patronizing his place again and that employees should never be degraded like that. Instead if apologizing for a horrible customer experience and for being and overall horrible boss, he yelled at my husband telling him he had been doing thus job for 30 years and no one will tell him how to manage his employees. Simply disgusting. If you have any respect for people or restaraunt folks don't go to this place. When it comes to good trust me its not all that either, they serve fake maple syrup on top of 13.00 blueberry pancakes, and treat you like you are having breakfast in a subway.... In and out.
(1)Emily A.
I really dig this place. First and foremost, the prices are great. You get a ton of food for not a lot of cash. Secondly, it's just nice, unpretentious, hearty diner food--nothing fancy or innovative or anything, but that's not what I want here. Lastly, I love that it is a diner (normal), but then also a FACTORY!! Not normal! Look at its name! I went expecting to see weary laborers with charcoal streaked faces running around smoke stacks (yes, I imagined the inside of the diner to look exactly like the "Allentown" video)--but the only "stacks" you'll see here are of the flapjack kind. What's the best way to take advantage of the BDPF? Let me tell you my strategy. If you want to do it too, that's cool, but give me credit when you use it? I want your friends to like me. I'd appreciate it. Step one: Tell one (1) friend it's their lucky day and they're coming with you to the Brownstone Diner and Pancake factory! Yay! Play it cool though and act like it's kind of a pain, just "something you have to do". (I don't know why this has to be part of the plan, but it makes the pancakes taste better.) Step two: Get to the BDPF. Put your name down. If it's the weekday you wont have to wait at all, and it's so big that even on the weekends it's like 10 minutes max. Step three: Order Coffee. Each of you get the 3 Eggs, Toast and Breakfast Potato Platter ($3.75!!). THEN pick out an order of the pancakes to split. The best two are: chocolate peanut butter (chunky PB, amazing) or banana peanut butter (called, naturally, the "honky tonk pancakes"). Step four: Enjoy.
(4)Danny n.
This place is big and they serve big pancakes. so go ahead and eat all that you want. Personally I prefer pancakes that are a little bit moister, the ones I go were big and dry. The bacon was perfect and the scramble eggs were regular nothing exciting. I would go back again however it wasn't anything especial and this is coming from a guy that can eat breakfast all day.
(3)Sue W.
Yay! I'm a fan for sure! Since the name says it all, I obviously had to give the pancakes a try. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the different selections since everything looked so good but I ended up w/ the cran' apple pancakes which seriously tasted like a dessert dish rather than something you'd get for breakfast. No need to add extra syrup on these bad boys since there was enough compote to sweeten the stack of 3 huge cakes. Looking around at the other diners dishes, everything looked super good as well. I even felt like I gained a pound just by looking at the huge portions of omelettes and burgers and waffles, etc that the servers were carrying as they walked by. As mentioned in other reviews, there's a train stop close by, small parking lot in the back (and meter parking on the street as well), and guaranteed wait on a weekend. I'd come back for sure... which I did the next day ;)
(4)Karol R.
Great pancakes, just like all the other Yelpers stated. But I don't know, I like this place better when it was just called "THE NEWPORT PANCAKE HOUSE" Sure it is more modern now, and all. But the food just tasted better when it was dumpy looking.
(4)Michael S.
This place was really good, solid food. The wait was pretty much what the guy stated and we were promptly seated when our number was called (hint: if you're not there when your number is called once, you'll probably have to wait all over again). We ordered the Greek omelet and the hearty omelet. Both were very good, but the Greek wasn't as flavorful as it could've been (hence the 4 stars). Also had a short stack.. YUMMY!! Go there prepared to wait (at least on a weekend) but prepared to be full.
(4)James C.
It's a up scale diner. Huge menu! Wasn't really impressed with the cinnamon and raisin French toast. All they did was throw raisins on normal French toast....lame. OJ was definitely the best thing I had, it tasted fresh squeeze.
(3)Simona S.
Artery-clogging paradise. Chocolate chip and banana pancakes were enormous, I barely got through half. My date had the burrito wrapped in a pancake. Sick, sick I tell you. I'm not sure if I'll ever come here again, I never happen to be "in the 'hood" but if I do, I'll tell the diet I'm on to go fuck itself. I love that they call themselves a pancake factory. Stick to what you're good at, I say. We were seated pretty quickly on a Saturday but the place is PACKED. We sat for a long time despite there being a discernible line waiting to get fat... but the waitress never made us feel like we were overstaying our welcome. For this reason I bump my review up to five stars.
(5)Karen C.
I am a HUGE fan of this restaurants. The heaping piles of pancakes with tons of strawberries on top is my favorite dish here. Coffee isn't so bad either. Parking is tough here but its well worth the hassle. I will definitely be back again.
(4)Carlo L.
Busy place! Best time to go is during dinner and NOT Sunday brunch! Otherwise, be prepared to wait!! How could you go wrong with pancakes at 8 p.m.? Portions are huge, menu covers every craving from gyros to pork chop dinners - all great by the way. I only give 5 stars to places that also refill your drinks without you having to ask for it.
(4)Pritesh N.
I think this is the only diner in downtown JC, Not a bad place as it has parking and a nice setup. When it comes to food, oh yes the pancakes are superb, simply awesome. Now lets come to the cons, service here can get pretty bad, from the last few visit over here I have seen the food takes too much of a wait to arrive after you order it. And I am saying even when the restaurant almost empty. Last time when I ate here, i went in the morning when the place just opened and was totally empty, after I order the food, I had to wait for over 30 minutes for the food to arrive and it was just an omlette. Every other food item I tried here other than the pancakes is ok. The omelettes are horrible, and I mean it horrible! I tried their dinners couple of time, wasn't impressed at all. So for a sunday morning breakfast it is a good spot if you want sip on some coffee and enjoy some pancakes and B & E. Otherwise better off going to someplace else
(2)Miranda B.
The best diner in Jersey City. great atmosphere , fabulous food and not pricey at all! located right across from the New JC med center
(5)kay b.
i trust guy fieri. if he stuffed sausage and pancakes cradled in butter all over his face, then yes i can say their pancakes are going to be the bomb. brownstone lures an eclectic lot of people from cops, church goers, punk kids, to yuppy moms out with the friends. when you look around you notice one thing: pancakes. huge and fluffy, browned just right with a trusty syrup not too far by, you cannot fail with this choice. now when you get all indiana jones adventurous and start ordering fajitas, you shall expect to be disappointed. save your gutsy choices for the pancakes and waffles toppings. no need for epicurean courage here. treat brownstone like any regular diner that closes too early. spare the gutsy and order what you would at any diner-- any basic sandwich, some pancakes and eggs, a milkshake. let those staples guide you and you will come to the conclusion that i have come to: 3.5 stars.
(3)V S.
This is my favorite brunch place ever!!! There are days that I crave (yes, CRAVE) for their Banana Cream French Toast.. This place is soooo good that I do not mind traveling all the way to Jersey City (and then waiting in line!)... Don't forget to order the side of Jalapeno Poppers.. They are delicious and the savoriness is a nice break from the sweetness of the pancakes and french toast.
(5)Alberto R.
A friend and I recently went to the brownstone diner and pancake factory in downtown Jersey City. We had a wonderful experience with the wait staff, and host. The food was very good. We had an overall good experience until the time came to pay. Both my friend and I had our debt cards and no cash, and we asked the gentleman if he could split the bill. This is a practice that I've seen done at every restaurant that I've attended. He said that they didn't split bills with cards. We were a bit baffled by this, and politely asked why, and he screamed at us, saying "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOUR BULLS**T, ONE CARD, THATS IT!." For the record, he had nothing BUT time. There was no one in line to pay, and he was reading a newspaper. We kept our composure, and let him know that this altercation had ruined our entire experience at this establishment. We asked if he was the owner, and for his name, and he refused, and began unleashing a barrage of unnecessary use of bad language, telling us that our $20 bill means nothing to him in comparison to the bills other patrons who had more people in their parties. He proudly pointed at the full restaurant to basically express our insignificance. I would recommend this place ONLY if this person was no where near the building. He has the ability to kill off any good experience at ANY establishment, and my rating would have been 5 out of 5 stars had it not been for this man. I hope that he continues with his attitude resulting in his removal from the premises, and or failure of his business.
(1)Sarah W.
They serve pretty good diner breakfast food- pancakes, french toast, and eggs galore. The pancakes are giant!! The coffee is a-okay, so they should get 3 1/2 stars.
(3)justin p.
The dinners are good too. WTF.... I'm almost certain theres some addictive thing in this food. Some sick thing that makes you like it no matter what you order. This time I had a burger. It was cooked properly and the cheese melted correct. And it was just delicious, just out of control delicious... IDK. Best NJ diner I been to.
(5)Essa B.
Breakfast options are fantastic, everything else ... eh, decent. The staff and owners are cool people. I would give this place a 4, but everything else besides breakfast is just not that good.
(3)Jessica D.
best pancakes ever!!!!! love the fresh fruit pancakes. they melt in your mouth...absolutely amazing!!! completely worth the long waits on the weekends!
(5)Serena R.
Their portions are ginormous but the food is so so. Thanks to freakin Diners Drive ins and Dives there's always a looong wait on weekends.
(2)Kat A.
Brownstone diner is clutch. Whether I am getting one of my faves on the menu or being adventurous with a selection off their vast choices, I am consistently fed with something heavenly. The service is amazing, especially considering how busy this place can be on a weekend brunch/lunch time. Regardless of whether I come in at nighttime or daytime, my drinks are always refilled before I ask and my food always comes out presentable and hot. Please note: this place has LARGE portions. It is not a 24/7 diner, which makes sense because the upkeep is stellar. The owner/manager is always pleasant and it seems surreal how pleasant all the other diners who eat there usually seem to be as well. Maybe it is because brownstone produces happy tummies, which equals happy patrons :]
(5)Pedro E.
Best. Diner. Ever! Nuff said. Zoe, Pete and Bobby always treat my family and I like if we were part of their family. Food is great, the place is updated and modern, prices are reasonable, and its always consistent.
(5)Stephen M.
Great place for breakfast. Place gets bussssy, though. And the wait staff is up and down (because of how busy it is). Parking can get rough, too. Prices are typical diner fair at least, and the portions are huge (although ever year that goes by makes me care less and less about BIG plates FULL of food). They have a great pancake selection and the omelets are really really good (but overly huge). The tone of this review is a bit negative, but If I lived in Jersey City I would go there a lot.
(4)Bongie M.
Just got back from my first time at Brownstone Diner and the experience merits 4 out of 5 stars. We ordered the peanut butter pancakes, irish benedict with a side of corned beef hash, california omelet, and last but not least, pigs in a blanket which were humongous. The things were like pancakes with extra large size sausages and there were three of them. We could have just ordered the pigs and blanket and would have been good between the three of us. Only reason I left out the last star was it was kinda crowded.
(4)kawan b.
this is a awesome place for breakfast! The service is nice and fast. Great place!
(4)Louis y.
Not impressed with the place, maybe 10 years ago, it was a great diner.... but today... the furnitures, the counter even the front door shows the age of the place. Yes, the menu is huge, the foods are comforting and massive, but not particular great... At near 20 dollars per head for lunches you can definitely find a better place, but then again this is jersey city... everything is just comme si comme ca...
(3)Andrea C.
I love love love this place! My boyfriend and I always get the waffle with strawberry compote and whipped cream and some sort of pancakes and split them both. The home fries here are great, I just don't like the bacon. It is very soggy and more fat than anything else. The regular pancakes are still my favorites, but my boyfriend likes the honky tonk ones the best. The servers are always very attentive and the place is very clean. I would highly highly recommend this place.
(5)Donna N.
BEST BREAKFAST SPOT IN JERSEY CITY! I come here almost every Sunday with my boyfriend and the service is always friendly and helpful despite how packed it is. The omelets are amazing and come in large portions. The fluffy pancakes have different delicious flavors that really give my tastebuds a blast. The owner who always sits at the cash register is the nicest and most adorable man ever! My boyfriend and I specifically make it a point to say hi and bye to him every time we get there. It's nice to know that the owner of a restaurant also cares about your service! Overall, the place deserves a 5 star rating every time I go there.
(5)Allison G.
Everything I want in a diner is right here at Brownstone. It is oh, so cute inside. The service is very good, and the menu is so extensive, I had problems choosing. There is an entire page devoted to pancakes, for instance! I went with the silver-dollar pancakes with pork sausage (seriously one of the best sausages I've had in a while... they were plump and yummy!). Also enjoyed delicious coffee and a fresh fruit cocktail. My honey got the "short stack" which is recommended because the pancakes are giant! I could not finish my silver dollars! Anyway, the only reason I've deducted a star is because we had to wait! This place gets very busy on the weekends. However, it is worth the wait!
(4)Josh F.
Above average diner food, Ironman breakfast all the way!
(4)Jen M.
Brownstone is my favorite diner ever, hands down. I've been to this place over 15 times and have never had anything I didn't like. Although their pancakes are their specialty, anything you order from here is delicious! I highly recommend the Honky Tonk Pancakes (peanut butter pancakes) or the pancake combo rollups with apple, blueberry and strawberry compote. The portion sizes are huge, and the prices were well worth what they give you in both quality and quantity.
(5)Jasmine C.
The Brownstone is a nice dining experience. The hostess and waitresses are very nice and to top it off they are comical. The pancakes are great. The portions are a bit large but that is typical of the diner experience. Check it out if you are ever in the mood for breakfast be it morning, noon or night.
(5)Freddie P.
Ok, let me first say that I frequented this establishment well before it's glitz and glamour days. Actually, when the cups had lipstick stains on them from over use. Nice place but I always enjoyed the owners until a recent visit changed everything. Unfortunately, Monyca W.'s incident is NOT ISOLATED. STAY AWAY from this PLACE!! Last year, around June my wife and I, with 2 kids in-tow (4 &3),decided to come here to eat after the recent graduation of our friend's son. We were sat quickly and everything was fine until we asked our server to please change the cap on our toddler's drink. Not a big problem, it just had some liquid on the top of the cap that was not from the original apple juice we had ordered. The server walked by us as we attempted to flag him down the first time. The second time I asked him to please replace the cap. He did so but brought back the lid for a to-go coffee. I asked our server to please change the lid to the original toddler safe lid and he said fine. at this point he was flustered. As he walked by us he THREW the lid at my wife on to the table. My wife looked at me and showed me that not only had he thrown the lid but that he did not even pay attention to what I had requested. (It seems the owner has the same problem) As we got up to leave our food was ready to be served. I approached the gentleman, the older Greek fellow, and told him of his waiter's service and how rude he was to my family. Let me back up a little, before I made the complaint to the owner I told him that I frequent his establishment VERY regularly and that I have been a loyal customer for over 7 years now and I enjoyed coming there. So after I explained our dining experience, the next words out of his mouth were, "Are you going to pay for the food?" I began to tell him again about the service of his waiter and he tells me ,"We make alotta money here before you came. We don't need your business!" In a loud voice. I replied sir, that is not the point the service was horrendous and then he replies by telling me he makes a LOT of money in this establishment. His daughter also asked the same thing am I going to pay for the food. Again, I tried explaining that the service was sub-par but their position was 'Are you going to pay for the meals or not?'. I told the owner No. At tis point in a Loud Voice he tells me "I never want to see your face here again!" The owner and the daughter were completely oblivious to the fact that their waiter's service was unacceptable and they did not remediate the problem. So, I've been BANNED FOREVER from the BROWNSTONE!? WHAT? On a side note, my friend who had attended his son's graduation had just sat down to eat with his entire family, around 13 of them. He approached me as the owner and I were discussing the matter and asked me what was happening. I told him nothing really, enjoy your day with your son and family and we'll talk later. I only told him that "I was now banned from the Brownstone for Life!" lol. So, I'm driving back with the wife and kids and I get a call from my friend. He tells me after he went back and told his family what happened, they looked at each other and said why are we still here and summarily left the establishment to never to set foot in there again! I was taken aback by the arrogance of the owners. My experience with them up to that pint was very cordial and respectful. Unfortunately, MONEY MONEY MONEY is the ONLY, AND I MEAN ONLY MOTIVATOR and Customer Service comes in Last Place!
(1)Edward I.
It was fixed up and opened again a few years ago. I've been back over and over, the funny thing is that I get the regular pancakes and nothing special. They don't have the half and half ice tea/lemonade that I usually look for but the menu has a variety of things to choose from. Samplers are good and service has been good. I go during week nights or mid afternoon when there isn't that many people.
(4)Saders S.
All you could want from a diner. Five stars as a diner. 3.5 stars for food as compared to real restaurants.
(4)Jennifer C.
Pancakes with peanut butter chips inside. Sooooooo goooood. Their diner food is nothing ridiculously amazing to write home about, but is certainly decent enough. The staff are always friendly - really nice family-owned atmosphere. Always a pleasure dining here.
(4)Jaime C.
first time visit....totally pleased. i ordered strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes and my girlfriend ordered the banana chocolate chip pancakes. Lets just say she wouldnt stop smiling. We are excited to return an enjoy the menu.
(5)Manish P.
Great pancakes!!!! Nice place for breakfast....
(4)Aly Z.
So me and my partner frequented this place plenty of times. We are faithfull customers when we find a good popular place. Two times we bought breakfast and there were little pieces of hair found in my food. Each time we told the waiter/waitress and they immediately took care of it. Then it happened again, a third time, and we decided to approach management about it. The old man behind the counter (the one who takes your money, grunts out a thank you) immediately got defensive and very RUDE!! His response to me was," if i dont like the food somewhere I don't come back, so you shouldn't come back." As a customer telling you respectively that there was hair in their food three times, thats just to better your business. Both the old man and the obese female manager both got UTTERLY RUDE, admitted that they were "Rude Greeks" or whereever they claim to be from and yelled out "we dont want your fucking money get out and dont come back". How does an act of kindness from our part turn into a yelling match with the owners in the middle of a crowded and busy restuarnt. You might like their food but their service is horrible, they are rude as hell, and the cooks probably dont wear gloves and hairnets. Next time you eat what seems their creamy grits, take a look down and make sure theres no floating DNA!! WE CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, and they will be getting inspected!!!!
(1)Kristen M.
This diner is over rated to say the least. Their pancakes and most of the other breakfast items are top notch. Dinner items are hit or miss. Stay away from the fried calamari (my friend wanted to order it, I'm usually against ordering it at a diner) it was under cooked, and very rubbery, no crisp to it at all.
(3)David T.
I live a couple blocks away from this great diner so naturally I go there at least every other week when at all possible. I have not been disappointed with anything I've ever gotten there. Personally I'm a big fan of the Venice Panini it is delicious. I'm not a particularly big pancake lover but the pancakes here are delicious and they have an absurd amount of combinations you can get. There omelets are also really good. They do give you a ridiculous amount of food as any good diner should so be prepared to eat a lot if you plan on coming here.
(5)Grace P.
they don't call it pancake factory without a reason. this place has 31 different kinds of pancakes. no joke! i've been here a handful of times but only really took notice when my friend found out that this place was featured on the food network's diners, drive-ins and dives (do a search for "brownstone diner" on youtube) so one very nice and warm saturday afternoon, we checked it out again. expect to wait on the weekends because this place gets packed, especially in the late morning-early afternoon. we had to wait over 20 minutes for a table of 6. and now the good stuff... the food: i'm honestly not a real big fan of pancakes but i close to inhaled half of mine in a few minutes. i ordered the PB&J pancakes, which were pretty damn good. they give you three huge pancakes, which i think is the standard amount for most of the specialized pancakes, since my friend who ordered the cran' apple pancakes got the same amount. you also got this huge ball of butter which i think is unnecessary since the pancakes can stand on their own. i usually like to cover my pancakes in syrup but i didn't need it at all this time. the warm jelly on top went perfectly with the melted peanut butter chips scattered in the pancakes. it felt like i was eating a peanut butter and jelly cake. i have no idea why i ordered the 2 scrambled eggs on the side because the pancake portion alone was humongous! my friends ordered the waffle mixed grill (waffle, 3 eggs and grilled pork chops) - pork chops were pretty good (try them with hot sauce provided on the table!) but too bad the waffle wasn't crispy, cran' apple pancakes (with dried cranberries and apple compote) - great mix of flavors together, very nice, italian omelette (with pepperoni, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce) w/ grits, queen combo (full stack of buttermilks, 3 eggs, corned beef hash and 1 beef sausage) - this was my alternative but my friend was a happy customer, and lox and onions omelette. all of our portions were humongous! the wait staff was for the most part attentive, which is admirable especially during the crazy weekend rush hours. our waiter was a bit moody, but he may just be the odd one out. one of the owners at the register was real attentive and friendly and even recognized my friend who hasn't been there in months, though he used to be a regular. i needed a bag for my take home food container and one of the staff was super friendly and even placed it in the bag for me and wrapped it nicely. i would definitely recommend this place. we all enjoyed our meal that day. only downside is they're only open to 11 pm, so not really a true NJ diner in that sense. i think they raised prices recently too, but for the size of the portions you get and the quality of the food, it's still very much doable. and seriously if you just want to come here once and try one thing, try the pancakes!
(4)Paloma L.
I was wondering if it was all hype...but the pancakes were excellent! I had the chocolate chip and peanut butter pancakes with bacon on the side...way too much food. But I can't wait to go back! I agree with previous reviews---the syrup is the cheap stuff...so you could bring your own legit maple syrup...but it was still good as is!
(4)abc a.
Always packed for breakfast on weekends which is why we try to go during off-hours. Great breakfasts but they need a menu with a 1 or 2 egg combo option versus 3-egg only. Love the honky tonk pancakes (peanut butter and bananas). Lots of options for pancakes and waffles. Great greek salads. Most of the time you have to wait a while to get your check. Otherwise, usually a pleasant dining experience.
(4)Nancy T.
Great food and good service. The pancakes are out of this world. They are fluffy, warm, and just melts in your mouth! Sooo yummy! A whole order is too much for one person to eat so i just normally order the short stack which has 2 good size pancakes. Not only are their pancakes great, but their other entrees are amazing! And i especially love love their dinner rolls when its toasty and warm! Can't go wrong with this place!
(5)RicardoLee T.
My new favorite Thursday Brunch spot. Mimosa yummy. Filipina waitress very accommodating. Omelets are hearty. Pancakes... what.... delicious and full!! Been there the last few weeks in a row, sometimes you have to sit next to Ghettoness, but if you learn to tune them out you can enjoy your meal and visit.
(4)Dmitry S.
Food, oh my god food. And more food. The food here is extraordinary, portions are more than hearty. The pancakes are fantaboulistic, any kind of pancakes. Any kind of pancakes are needed to be eaten here, you will enjoy. The staff are friendly, just be sure to come before the "Jesus Rush" after church on Sundays. The espresso milkshake is heavenly. Enjoy your stay and come back often. Quite impressive alcohol selection as well, and the prices are quite affordable.
(5)Alice M.
OK, this is hands down, in my opinion, the best pancake diner in the world! The only other pancakes I found that I thought were better are Cracker Barrel's, or the Aunt Sarah's on I-95 somewhere in Virginia. But this place is the bomb! It is family owned, and they all work the store. From the angry woman who acts as cashier (just try and split the check, I dare you!) to the overstressed waitstaff, this is the classic diner experience just in a nice new building. I have been going here for years, and will continue to go here. The Queen combo is my favorite, but you really can't go wrong with anything. You WILL leave full. You WILL wait patiently. You WILL return.
(5)Brian E.
This restaurant has reopened as a diner serving breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Your best bet is to come here for breakfast, and choose from their hundreds of pancakes & waffles. On Saturdays be sure to come early, or you will have to wait for a table.
(4)Nell W.
Oh yes...banana walnut pancakes! They were delicious. I couldn't finish them all. I also had grits and bacon. The grits had a lot of butter. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed. They do ask that all of your party is there before they will seat you. I would definitely return.
(4)Ali M.
Decent food, HUGE PORTIONS, but it's still a diner. That meaning the waiters/waitresses aren't always happy to see you for some reason (did I say something to offend you, miss?) The pancakes are pretty good, I've tried several and loved the apple/cranberry mix. All the portions are huge I end up leaving with a doggy bag most of the time. They should consider being 24/7 especially with the Jersey City Medical Center right next door. Overall, decent experience and I might try it again if the wait isn't too long. (TOTALLY avoid the weekend mornings if you plan on visiting. The lines go out the door and around the building)
(4)Olivia B.
Huge menu, choices ranging from countless pancake options to dinner entres. Great buttermilk pancakes and huge omlets. Service not the greatest but everyone very nice and helpful. Place seems much cleaner than many diners I've been to. Reasonable prices, will def go back here soon.
(4)Sarah V.
Great place for breakfast. (Very known for their pancakes, but try anything else on the menu) Very warm and welcoming. A great place to eat and chit chat with old friends.
(4)Yara C.
The first time I came here, I hated it. I found the food to be very delicious, but the service was beyond terrible. We were in a large group, about 7-9 people, and our waiter kept bothering us with silly magic tricks, (wtf?). As annoying as he was, he was also rude and a bit sneaky. Two people ordered the chicken breast sandwich, me and the girl next to me. I ordered deluxe (comes with fries) and she did not. He brought out both meals as deluxe, and when we reminded him that's not what we ordered, he just blew it off and said we can keep the fries. In the end we WERE charged for the fries, and called him out on it; he refused to take them off the ticket, claiming we DID order them, even though seven people at the table heard the contrary. We did not tell a manager, (the difference was like $2) but this really bothers me. Other times I have been there the service had been much better (I have different waiters and waitresses). The last time I went, however, the restaurant was packed. We had been waiting to be seated for about half an hour and the hostess seems to have forgotten about us, as we saw parties being seated that had arrived after us. This made no sense because we were standing right in front of her for half an hour. I've probably eaten there for the last time. The good food does not compensate for the lousy treatment. Better to just get take-out, or Coachhouse.
(3)Melissa H.
I absolutely love this place!! My only gripe is that they are not open 24hours (what gives!?) but god, if you love pancakes, come here. They have peanut butter-chocolate chip pancakes! They are huge! And they use chunky peanut butter, it's all melty and delicious and so good. The non-breakfast items are so good, too. The paninis!! Everything is excellent. I've probably been here over 40 times and the service has always been a+. Portions are huge, also - and they don't care if you sit around after you're done eating, this is definitely a no-rush atmosphere.
(5)Alex C.
Portions were gigantic. I ordered variety of things including french toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs with homefries, and gigantic sausages. They were all very mediocre. Sausages were kinda gross. I ordered turkey sausage but I don't think they were. Very cheap tasting. Homefries were just bland hashbrowns with no seasoning. Pancakes were very buttery but still not super soft. Something I would make at home and I am not good at making pancakes. French toast was a normal fare, nothing to get excited about. By no means fancy but got gazillion choices. Hubby's steak and eggs were also mediocre. Steak didn't look appetizing at all. Thin and pale. All in all, a diner food....as it is a diner. Nothing fancy, no frills.
(2)Yeni H.
almost empty on a wednesday morning. menu with huge variety of breakfast dishes. huge portion but my friend and i were greedy enough to order 2 dishes each. very large for the price. pancakes was so so but french toast with apple was good. i love my chocolate milk too even though it was probably packet.
(3)alexandra s.
lots of food and delish great breakfast !
(4)Caroline B.
I love the fact that this place is open late (midnight during the week & 1am on Fri & Sat), when everywhere else has long since pulled down the shutters.... For breakfast you have to have the pancakes, although it could take you most of the morning to decide from the 40 or so choices! Portions are huge, no matter what you order so make sure you go hungry. My only wish is that they'd do delivery..
(4)Melissa I.
I would go to this diner all the time with my husband until today! We took our good friend who was visiting and ordered the pancakes. After almost finishing one pancake, I found a fly dead in my pancake! We were not going to make a big deal about this so we told our manager discretely what we found. Normally, a manager would come over and apologize but noone did anything about it. I went up to the gentleman at the cash register who seems to run the place and he said "no big deal, i take it off your check" I said no big deal how can you say that it is not a big deal and I demanded the other two meals be removed from the check since they did not finish their meals after losing their appetite once they saw the dead fly baked in my pancake. He would not and said that it was not a big deal so you see a fly who cares. He also said to my husband " i don't give a fuck" and that is when I walked out. DO NOT EAT at this establishment, they do not care about their customers.
(1)Matthew C.
I had this place bookmarked for such a long time, and I finally got to try it this past weekend. I read many race reviews about the pancakes and that it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I found myself arriving around 11am and waiting in line for 20 minutes. I knew by the line that this place was going to be good. When I finally sat down, our waitress was very friendly and the food came out very quickly. I decided to order the muscle maker pancake wrap and a short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes. I have to say that the reviews that I read did not lie. The pancakes were great. I ended up taking half the wrap home because it was so huge. I will definitely be making a stop here on another Saturday morning.
(4)Michelle O.
Amazing pancakes and the best dirty diner food. The Brownstone is one of our neighborhood favs. This place is soooo jersey...
(4)Damian R.
Loved this place. I've been there each time I go to Jersey and it will always be a stop on my trips in or through the area.
(4)Nora L.
Decided that I had to try Brownstone while visiting JC after seeing that it was on DDD and reading the good Yelp reviews. We tried to park in the back but it was obviously packed so we found some street parking across the street. Be prepared for a long wait.. good thing we knew that coming in. It probably took 30 minutes to get a table and the waiting area was very crowded. The atmosphere is not the classiest but the food was yummy and the portions were massive. We ordered the.. iron man(?) pancake wrap. It came with egg whites, turkey sausage, etc. We also had the strawberry and chocolate pancakes. Pancakes were light and fluffy.. menu was very extensive. We left full and satisfied.
(4)Napualokelani K.
So after reading the reviews here on Yelp and seeing the clip on Brownstone's website of their feature on Diners Drive Ins & Dives, I decided we should definitely eat here for breakfast. My daughter and I walked about 30 minutes from our hotel to this diner. When we got there, we had no wait and were taken right to a booth near the kitchen. The waitress came over promptly and took our drink orders. I ended up settling on the eggs benedict and my daughter wanted the international cheese omelette. I also ordered a short stack for my daughter and I to share since it is, after all, a PANCAKE factory! While the waitress was very nice, she moved like freakin' Flash Gordon! I asked for Tropicana OJ and she put it down with a straw and ran off to the next table like she was wearing Heely's! I just wanted to scream SLOW THE *BLEEP* DOWN! My daughter liked her omelette. My eggs benedict was OK, but I didn't quite like the hollandaise sauce. I'm not sure what it was, but it tasted different from other hollandaise sauces that I've had. It turned out to be three actual "benedicts" on one plate! And the waitress must've forgot about our pancakes because we didn't get them. Boo! Given the size of the eggs benedict, I decided not to even ask for the pancakes. All in all it was an OK meal. When I'm in the area again, I'd definitely go back to try the pancakes!
(3)Adrienne E.
Food is good, but waits are LONG!!!! Be prepared to wait an hour at least. Luckily I went by myself twice and was lucky enough to get a seat at their bar. Go early!
(4)Maggie R.
So I broke one of my cardinal rules and ordered seafood from a diner - I ordered one of their salads and added grilled salmon - it was not only delicious but the portion of salad and of salmon were soooooo big. Definitely great for sharing and way way underpriced for the amount you get!
(5)Sam V.
This place is great but I'm not impressed by the pancakes they are always dry and have no flavor. Why call yourself the pancake factory if its not your best dish. The lines in this place on the weekends are crazy. I wish they stayed open 24/7 like all the other dinners in jersey.
(3)Karen G.
Food is food here.. It's a diner so our expectations were realistic. I've only had pancakes and burgers here, all good. I always take friends here because it is the only diner near Grove St :) Service is fine. Not great not bad. Last year, my boyfriend and I couldn't get a court date to get married so our friend married us. Beechwood Cafe was closed so we went here with our witnesses and ordained minister. Told the waitress we just got married. She shed a tear and guess what? We didn't even get a complimentary cup of coffee. That's the type of thing an extraordinary diner would do.
(3)JessKikz B.
I have been coming here since I was a kid, when it was a small little diner that nobody really knew about and to see now that it has been completely remodeled and is still the same amazing place is what makes the story of this place even better. The same family still owns it and they still remember me and my family. The service is and has always been great and the food selection is outstanding. I always stick with getting pancakes or some sort of breakfast because it doesn't seem right to get anything else. My favorite is the chocolate chips pancakes or the Belgium waffles. I know people who have gotten dinner items and they were just as good as their breakfast foods. All in all I am a BIG fan of this place.
(5)John F.
If this place wasn't such a pain to get to, I would eat here every morning. I thought my breakfast was great, and I didn't even order pancakes. The omelets here are great (don't get the grits, they're kind of underwhelming). Service is so-so at best. It took us a while to get our coffee refills and we actually overheard a waiter tell a table full of lingerers to leave because he needed to turn the table over to waiting guests. Cool and not cool at the same time. The mean looking dude working the register at near the entrance of the restaurant looks like one of those gargoyles rich people put at the entrance of their homes. Scary. I was raking in that kind of money, I would definitely smile more often. Tip: The private lot is really small and is always jammed. Drivers beware.
(3)Hector M.
Living and having clients in Jersey City, this place was my guilty pleasure. I would get to the diner before my clients and always pick a booth and sit on the aisle seat. My stomach would shake with secret laughter watching 2 huge guys (260lb and 300lb) squeeze in next to each other. Ahhhhh....the little joys in life. This place used to be my go-to spot when I had family/friends visit. The parking lot is full and there's always a wait to get a table on the weekends (lines literally snake out of the entrance). Their claim to fame was Guy Fieri shot a segment of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives for their 31 different types of pancakes. They have every topping / filing imaginable, but the pancakes are just ok (nothing spectacular). It's standard diner fare and service, but their never ending menu options keeps this place buzzing with return clients.
(3)Linda L.
The pancakes are quite fluffy. There was no wait on a weekday afternoon lunch. People complain about poor service but it is undoubtedly busy on weekends. The service we received was pretty outstanding. The waitress checked in on us several times.
(3)Paul L.
Wow, I love this place. Perfect breakfast food and at a good price. Hash, eggs, and hollandaise, you can't go wrong. Pancakes obviously is what they're known for, and those look good too! Bacon is not thick cut and crispy, that is the only thing I would have to ding this place on. A bit soggy and greasy.
(4)Angelica R.
They get a perfect rating from me based on two different experiences I had here. Dine In:First for a busy Sunday morning breakfast, the wait time given was pretty accurate and wasn't to bad for a hectic Sunday morning which seems to be the busiest day. Service was quick and great and food was delish, so many great things on the menu that I wanted to try a little of them all. I'm not really a pancake person but seeing the other pancakes on peoples tables while being escorted to our table I was amazed, so of course I ordered one anyway and I must say it was very good, I also did try one of the omelettes which was fantastic. Bottom line the quality and quantity are well worth it. Take Out(Most Recent): This is what really gave this place the 5 stars it deserves. The staff here is by far one of the best restaurant staff I ever came across. Especially when you order from the counter/take out area. Unfortunately I was not able to remember the gentleman's name that was working the counter but he was so friendly and hilarious, he had such a great sense of humor and had me literally in tears, it really felt great to laugh that much, him and the woman that is usually at the register were both fantastic. I established that any time i come back here to eat I don't even want to sit at a regular table, I'll take one of the stools at the counter from now on. I left the place with soreness from so much laughter and smiling, and that is rare to find now a days.
(5)Rey M.
Ordered a California Burger last night, the bun was stale,the burger not juicy,dry,the only good thing was the lemon merg.pie
(1)Clara C.
This is our go to place for variety when we visit family in Jersey City. The menu is expansive and will suit any taste. We love the pancakes, fried chicken, sandwiches, etc.. There also are selections for the healthy eater. Be prepared for huge portions. Service is fast and friendly. Also, yummy huge dessert offerings.
(4)Charlotte K.
I don't get the love for this place. Didn't like their eggs benedict, the bacon was rubbery and so were the eggs. It tasted like it sat under a heat lamp for a long time. Service was surly, too. I think this place survives as the only diner-type establishment downtown, but it just doesn't make me a happy diner camper.
(2)Gina S.
Place was real busy... Good sign... Served toast at least 10 minutes before eggs came. Who wants cold buttered toast with their eggs??? Not appetizing at all...did not have gluten free choices and didn't seem to care about dietary issues... Haven't eaten yet.... But this is enough for me not to return... Too bad because I've heard positive reviews from others...
(2)Shelina S.
Had to try the labeled Brownstone Diner. Arrived 8:00 A.M. After about 20 minutes of riding around looking for a parking place someone pulled out of the lot..ahhh....luck was with us. There wasn't a wait for a table even though the place was packed so we were seated as soon as we walked in. The hostess gave us the menu's but we didn't see our waitress for 20 minutes. How do people work here, it's a MAD house. The line at the door was growing and by 9 AM it was out the door. A waiter stopped by and gave us coffee even though he wasn't our waiter, it was very nice and the coffee was very good. Finally we have a waitress...Yay, we order then wait with great expectations for this super duper diner food, I mean look at all these great reviews and the line going out the door, they must be giving away something. I don't see how these people who work here can stand it. The turn over is constant, people waving calling you everything but your name...tough job. Food finally arrives...ahhh the famous, fabulous Brownstone Diner omelet..wowwie wowwie...HEY what's this..... it's dry and some of the ingredients are missing. I tried to get the waitress but she was sooo stressed she didn't pay attention to us plus as crowded as it was we would probably wait another 30 minutes for the fixed omelet. The toast was good, the home fries were ok but the omelet was dry...very unpleasant, I couldn't finish it.... My significant other ordered a burger which he said was good, not knocking his socks off but good. Here we are eating and sure enough here comes our waitress...she swooped in better than a drone and dropped our check without asking if we wanted anything else PLUS we had just started eating our meal....sorry Brownstone I don't get it....all the this and a bag of chips wouldn't get me to go back to that......UGH...So I will ride off into the sunset in the direction of the Coach House in North Bergen for a much much better dinning experience.
(1)Barr H.
Yummy diner cooking and the pancakes are as delish as the look. Real remote location; stones throw to the Statue of Liberty.
(3)Alescandra D.
Long lines, but so many options!! I only come on days when I'm feeling patient. But one word: YUM!
(4)Sung Moo C.
Guy Fieri is a schmuck. Their pancakes are eh at best. I don't know why so many of these wannabe yuppies from Jersey City and Hoboken love this place. If you are one of them and you consider yourself a foodie, shame on you. Drive 15 miles north to Fort Lee, NJ and go to the Original Pancake House. Shame on you Guy, SMH.
(1)Will C.
Always expect to have at least a minimum 20-45 minute wait on the weekends when coming to this place because they are that good!!! Pancakes are awesome here, you can easily get tire of eating pancakes at any other restaurants but when you are here at Brownstone Diner, you can never get tire of it. I have had the regular buttermilk pancakes and their oversize pancake wraps and must say that the quality of these pancakes are just one of a kind. The host, servers, and manager are very friendly here, you will feel very welcome when you dine here. Coffee, Soda, and Home-Made unsweetened Ice Tea all come with complementary refills.
(5)Besaida M.
Went to this place for lunch. We walked in and the frowned face hostess didn't greet us, but said, "follow me." She took us to a booth and gave us our menus. We waited about 15 minutes for a waitress; any waiter/waitress to bring us at least a cup of coffee...but nothing. Looking around, I swear I only saw the one waitress going back and forth with orders. The customers sitting opposite to our booth were also waiting for a waiter/waitress but like us, they kept looking around for anyone to come by. After a few minutes, the hostess came by them and asked them if they were, "all set." They said yes but the hostess walked away. After an extra 5 minutes of waiting for a waiter/waitress, we got up and walked away. At the busiest of time like lunchtime is during a work week, they seemed so understaffed. The hostess, who's an older lady saw us get up and walk away and said nothing. Guess it's one of those places where they simply don't care or just don't need the business. Meh. Whatever. We won't be visiting again. But it all worked out in the end because we ended up going to City Diner! Just a couple of blocks away and it was fabulous! Service was awesome! Will be posting my review
(1)Shannon F.
Love everything here....except their espresso....it was horrible. Not even hot. It just tasted like coffee. So save your 2.50$ and go to Starbucks or Dunkin.
(4)Pat F.
Meh, I've made better pancakes than these. Maybe the cook was having a bad day? Idk. Anyway, I tried their walnut pancakes and to me IHOP's Harvest Nut and Grain is way better. I guess that's not saying much, but I was expecting more from this place. Saw this place on Triple D (Diners, Drive-ins...) episodes several years ago, toting how great their pancakes were and got suckered into trying them out. It's a diner after all so how bad could it be? I guess my expectations were too high. It was only a standard breakfast, nothing special to warrant a raging positive review. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I like my pancakes with nuts in it. Guess that wasn't one of their specialties 'cause it seems like they just threw some huge chunks of raw untoasted walnuts on top of the pancake. I've had similar where the nuts are diced and toasted...A little extra effort goes a long way. The waitress was your typical diner order taker which was fine. Service was slow. Prices were high. Wasn't worth it. Been there, done that, I won't be back. Food 2 Service 2.5 Price 2
(2)Jenal J.
Fresh food, cooked fast and I wide variety and menu. The wait staff will give you the best ideas as to which pancakes are best. The pasta is great Al dente never over cooked. The dessert is fresh and just in case there is a freak accident they will suggest a replacement.
(4)kyra p.
Nothing in this place is "Organic", as another reviewer mentioned. In fact this is about the worst place to Eat in Jersey City. The owners are atrocious! I would never give them a penny. I will never go back!
(1)Wayne L.
The wait is pretty long at this location which I guess is normal since it is one of the only decent brunch places in Jersey City. The service is lacking during the busy times. The food is pretty good. They are very generous with their portions. I would definitely recommend the Chocolate & Peanut Butter Pancakes.
(3)Reena N.
This place is known for their amazing pancakes, but the rest of their food is amazing. If your from Jersey or have spent a lot of time here, diners are much more than Denny's or IHOP. We judge them to high standards because of how much competition there is around. And this diner rises to the challenge. Pricing is a bit higher than other diners but you are in a more densely populated area and the quality of the food is great. Even during peak rush hour (Brunch on weekends) your wait for a table of 2 is about 25 minutes. Their pancakes are their main attraction and their combos with them. The pancake itself is more light and cakey and not as dense as IHOP is. Their other dishes like their omlettes are incredibly fresh and tasty. The service is the only reason I knocked it down a star. Their staff is overworked with the crowds and take a while to get to you. Their syrup is also from Costco, not as many varieties either, just regular syrup. The one dish I saw a lot of people ordering and looked epic was their chicken and waffles. It will be next on my to-do list.
(4)Shawn C.
Moving close to this establishment is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made! I tried this place for the first time the other day - it was a Saturday afternoon on a rather nice day. I was expecting it to be packed, but it wasn't bad at all. Seated promptly - and there was plenty of seating visible to the naked eye, so I don't see that ever being much of a concern. Typical Jersey diner stuff on the walls - fun to look at. Portions are huge and VERY tasty. Service is very attentive. Prices fall right in line with your better NJ diners. A lot of food for what you're paying, though.
(4)Kristin U.
I feel like it's a little weird to review a diner, because, hey, it's a diner. Then I remembered just how many diners suck, and I wanted to give the Brownstone some props. It's one of the closest places to my new apartment, and at first, I was all, "dang, I wish I had something cooler than the diner a hop, skip, and jump away." But then I thought about how the Brownstone is actually pretty cool, and nobody cares if I go there in my pjs, so YEAH. I've been there several times now, and two things I'm picky about, they nail: pancakes and chicken (not together, ew). The pancakes are fluffy and don't have that cheap, gluteny, McDonald's/shittier diner feel to them. The chicken, if it was frozen, doesn't look/taste that way. Score! As others have noted, the portions are huge (the BF has even taken home leftovers, and that happens never evers in life), and the prices are fair. Even the greasy stuff is not TOO greasy, not so much that you feel gross after. The servers are generally quirky, but attentive. The long line can go quickly, especially if you only have two people. Coffee drinks are really huge and made better than I'd expect. My only complaint thus far is the nachos, which were seriously disappointing. They hardly had any cheese. Also, I'd up a star if this place had true diner hours. Give us 24 hours (or at least late night), pretty please?
(4)Marsalis P.
Best pancakes on this side on the river. If you haven't been here, I suggest that you go, but go early. The place is a tourist trap as the place is packed around 11am. If anything, try and go during the afternoon.
(4)Christina L.
Hands down the best pancakes in the north jersey area. Their pancakes has a little bit of crisp on the outside while still maintaining its fluffy state on the inside. Went in for brunch on a saturday mid morning and it was pretty crowded but got luckily seated right away even with two kids. The servers are all friendly and maybe they were short staffed on the day that I went in because it seemed to take a bit longer than usual to get our orders taken down and brought out, but the pancakes definitely made up for it. We ordered waffles, pancakes and french toast with their breakfast combo but out of the three the pancakes won hands down. The children's breakfast combo came with mickey mouse shaped pancakes with eggs and for the price of under $5 my son had leftover to bring home for lunch. Even when we brought the pancakes back home it still remained fluffy and fresh. The restaurant is definitely kid friendly and tastebud friendly and it is a go to spot for pancakes!
(4)Monika L.
I recently came here with a party of 9, a group which included elderly people and babies. I called ahead and asked how long the wait would be if we were to arrive in 10 minutes. They said 10-15 minutes but that they do not take reservations. We figured that wasn't a long wait and quite reasonable, given that we were 9 people looking for Sunday brunch. We arrived and, again, they told us that it would be a 10-15 minute wait. There were a ton of other people waiting but the hostess assured me that the wait would be short. 20 minutes later, I checked back with her and was told that it would only be another 10 minutes. At this point, the babies were cranky and the elderly in-laws were getting tired from standing so long. So we just waited and waited and waited. Every time we checked in with the hostess, she said that the table was "almost ready" and she never apologized for lying about the wait time. It turned out to be over an hour wait!! We had to continue waiting because I wasn't about to drive all over Jersey City looking for another place to eat with 8 people in tow. In short: The hostess has no concept of time. The hostess is a liar. The food was just okay. Not worth it. Never going back.
(1)Jocelyn K.
HUGE pancakes. We ordered one order of pecan pancakes and split it among 3 people. Because of the minimum $3 charge per person we also ordered a side of sausage, fried eggs, hash brown, and toast. Felt really fat after eating all that. I felt the pancakes are definitely over-hyped. After reading the reviews, I expected them to be the best pancakes I've ever eaten. They were alright, but definitely not the best. They weren't fluffy, a little dry, and tasteless without the syrup. Had better pancakes at diners in Pittsburgh. The sausage was pretty good though. Best thing about this place is large portions and cheap prices.
(3)Stephanie O.
The only way I can describe this place is to say that it's simply amazing! Came for brunch on a Sunday after a night out on the town. The place was so packed I thought it would take forever to get our table. We were seated fifteen minutes after we got there. The wait staff is attentive and and efficient. The food was orgasmically good!!! My scrambled eggs were cooked to perfection, neither runny nor rubbery. The sausage was meaty and delicious. The home fries were out of this world, both crispy and soft and perfectly salted. I didn't even put ketchup on the fries and let's face it, I put ketchup on just about everything! Even the toast was delicious! I got the rye and it was perfectly toasted and buttered. I tried a bit of their pancakes and they were soooo good!!! That's what I'm getting next time I go back. All-in-all, this was an amazing dining experience and well worth the 15 minute wait!!!
(5)Sejal S.
One of the nicest diners I've seen with a funny and cordial staff. I've been here many times and have tried different dishes each time. Their french toast, omelets, and sandwiches are highly recommended and of course what they're best known for, the pancakes! Big portion sizes, WHICH I LOVE! My overall experiences have been good. The only problem is that they have a tendency to mess up the order or forget to bring out something. For example, I had to remind them that they give coleslaw with the item I got. I guess they had forgotten. The best part is that they have parking!
(3)Frances L.
I've been to Brownstone several times over the past year. They have amazing food, the owner/manager is always very friendly and accommodating, and the staff, for the most part (see below) are awesome! The wait time can be pretty long at times, but it's well worth it. If it's your first time here, I would recommend trying one of their famous pancake wraps (guy fieri) and they have pretty good fried calamari! They definitely deserve a 5, but on this particular day the hostess was extremely rude. I mean I get it - it's busy. It's a very stressful environment. But, when someone asks a question, there's no need to be rude in your response. She also skipped our number (5 - table for 3) and crossed off 8 numbers getting to guest #13 (various parties of 2-3 people) before the owner/manager stepped in and helped get us a table immediately. Other than this one unfortunate incident, this place is the best diner in hudson county.
(4)Feebee A.
Oh Brownstone, you've always been so good to me! I love this place. It's a treat every time I'm there. Everything from breakfast platters, waffles, French toast and of course the pancakes is great. The wait area is tiny but the wait always goes fast. The staff is pretty friendly. They do split checks but they will not take more than one card for payment. You can't live in the area and not try this place. You'd truly be missing out on a Jersey City tradition.
(4)Susana F.
Great spot for a casual brunch. There were so many choices!! I couldn't decide if I wanted breakfast or lunch so the waiter suggested we try the Guy Fieri's Triple D buffalo chicken pancake wrap. I know, it sounds a little weird but it was surprisingly very good!! Despite being buffalo it wasn't overly spicy. My bf and I also had the loaded fries with everything that could probably clog an artery but YOLO! Overall great service and food! I'll be back for sure
(5)Jennifer T.
I had buffalo chicken pancake wrap. omg!! This portion was huge! Basically, there were a few strips of boneless wings, roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese inside a huge flapjack all wrapped up in a nice package; super delicious, filling and awesome! this was Guy Fieri's menu item that I guess he created when he visited the diner. This was a cozy place with good service and food; well known for their pancakes if you couldn't tell by the signs in the restaurant and a whole menu page dedicated to pancakes and then another section for the pancake wraps. Hate the parking lot, it's very small so good luck to the patrons on a busy day to find parking; overall, really like this place and would totally go back
(4)Lisa W.
An institution that still deserves to be. I had the Triple Decker Monte Cristo, my dining partner had the Queen Breakfast Combo, (cornbeef and hash, sausage, eggs and pancakes). We didn't eat the rest of the day! Pancakes were light, buttery, deliscious. I'm always on the hunt for an epic monte cristo, this was not my version of epic, but still great. I would just get the French toast next time, for it was perfectly done, nice cinnamon flavor, big breakfast toast bread. We will be back!
(4)Lakira D.
There was About a 15-20min wait to sit but it was worth it. The pancakes are massive and quite delicious. Particularly, I recommend the turtle pancakes if like me you crave something sweet and you're not into syrup. The meat pancakes weren't anything to scream home about...eat your meat on the side...unless you go for the tasty country pancake wrap stuffed with the western eggs...we added bacon and it was full of flavor and it didn't need any salt. The drinks are a little stingy especially with such huge pancake intake...but I would definitely go again if I was in a starchy mood or just go with the spectacular western omelet with cheddar cheese of course. Service was a lil slow. Overall with cleanliness, service and food quality I give them 3.5 stars.
(4)Eric K.
Brownstone has all you could ask for in a diner, aside from not being open 24 hours. If you are in the mood for pancakes, this is your heaven as they are not known as the "Pancake Factory" for nothing. I personally like the Honky Tonk pancakes. If you like wraps, a nice finishing touch they do is lightly grill each side of the wrap before serving it, which is amazing in the wrap not falling apart. The Buffalo Chicken Wrap is amazing. Two more notable menu items are the pancake wraps, which will be a huge pancake stuffed with yummy goodness, and the Thanksgiving Dinner, which is exactly what it sounds like.
(4)Davis J.
UPDATE!!!!! It pains me deeply to update this place and take stars away. Here is why: They increased their prices by 1$-2$ dollars average (being on DDD does not justify this). They DID NOT improve their quality (yeah, real smooth) The owners are visciously rude to their staff (infront of customers). They have now included a "plate fee" which is about $3 a person... charged if you sit at a table and do not order anything (what if my wife is not hungry?). The wait is still extremely long (I used to accept this but not anymore). The service has been total crap lately, TOTAL CRAP (which such high volumes, they don't care). It should be noted that I have checked into here so many times I've lost count. I used to proudly be the duke too. I have also become increasingly aware of the declining quality of food and service. Long story short: they sold out. Brownstone: Its not me, its you.
(2)Nisha G.
This was supposed to be an automatic 4 star experience...unfortunately our waitress made the experience so horrible that I can not even squeeze it to a three. First of all, we were completely rushed from the moment we sat down. If there is one thing i cannot stand it is being rushed while eating. Mind you, this is before we even ordered our drinks We made our orders with most of us getting pancakes, I however decided to get lox eggs benedict. First try, the eggs were not poached...the waitress was so pissed (at the chef) and started cursing loudly. Comes back about 15 mins later with undercooked eggs. I had stomach issues after eating only 1/4 of the dish. Other than that the pancakes were all very good and I really liked the variety. If I do come here again I will be sure to stick with pancakes.
(2)Che R.
Be careful when you are eating the pancakes because me and my family were trying to have a breakfast but there were little bugs inside my pancakes and the restaurant is dirty
(2)Christine F.
I'm writing this on behalf of my friend who is a gentle, kind, and loving mother to an infant. She brought her baby to this establishment and they asked her to leave because she didn't want to hold her sleeping baby on her lap during her meal (!!!). There was plenty of room for their stroller, but the owner (!!!) asked her to leave any way. TERRIBLE, INSANE, RUDE. Also, another friend saw a cockroach crawling around here once and the news was very rudely received by management. Shame on them!!! I will NEVER EVER go here and I will tell everyone else I know from Jersey City to do the same!
(1)Kareem C.
I've been here about five times with my family within the last year... We try to go every time I preach in Jersey City... Each time the food gets worse... We first visited this restaurant after seeing Guy do an episode on the Food Network... And the food was great on our first visit... But lately, the pancakes off a food truck has been much tastier... I don't know what changed... But something is missing... The last three times they were out of turkey sausage... My honky tonk pancakes... My wife normally get shrimp and fries... And when you leave more shrimp on the plate than fries... It speaks for itself... I gave three stars because my kids still enjoy their pancakes and French toast... Maybe my next visit will be better... Especially after preaching...
(3)