Life After Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Edgewater

I truly wanted to enjoy this place, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish — especially since this outing was meant to celebrate two of my closest friends’ birthdays.

We had a 4:30 PM reservation and were seated right away, which was a positive start. At that hour, foot traffic was minimal and our waitress was responsive, though timid (we later learned she was new). The drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, were enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the food and service quickly unraveled: • Steaks Overcooked: Three NY Strips were ordered (medium and medium-well), but all were overcooked. When two guests asked for theirs to be redone, we were told the chef had already left because the restaurant closes at 6 PM. This was shocking, considering we had a valid reservation. • Sides Poorly Prepared: The macaroni & cheese was bland, while the collard greens were over-seasoned. • Confusing Service Response: When my friends decided to just keep their steaks since the chef was gone, another waiter came by to say, “I know that 2 ppl came out and talked to you about the steak but I threw it out and I’m cleaning.” This left us confused and frustrated. • Menu Miscommunication: The menu stated brunch was served from 11–3:30 PM, so naturally, we expected dinner after that. Instead, we were told it was brunch only—something that should have been clarified at booking.

Some staff members were apologetic, and one waitress did try to rectify the situation by giving us the owner’s contact information, assuring us we could be guaranteed a different experience next time. That gesture was appreciated, but it did not change the fact that we left hungry and disappointed on a night meant for celebration.

The restaurant enforces a dress code and promotes an “elevated” atmosphere, but the quality of food and problem-solving did not match those expectations.

The aesthetic and hip-hop vibe are definitely Instagram-worthy, and I could see this working well as a lounge or after-hours bar. But as a full-service restaurant—especially with limited hours and inconsistent food quality—it falls short.

Sadly, what should have been a joyful birthday celebration ended in...

Life After: Bold Flavors and a Vibe Like No Other

Tucked away in Edgewater, NJ, Life After is not your typical restaurant, it’s an experience. From the second you step inside, the vibe is undeniable. The decor is a mix of urban sophistication and hip-hop nostalgia, with incredible artwork that feels like a tribute to culture and legacy. It’s the kind of place where the energy is just as impressive as the food.

The menu is where things really get exciting. Everything is named with a nod to iconic hip-hop culture, which makes reading it almost as fun as eating. And our waiter, Brandon, absolutely nailed his delivery. He knew the menu inside and out and gave his recommendations with so much enthusiasm that you couldn’t help but get excited about what was coming.

To start, we went for the Hard Core Minis, three mini beef sliders loaded with aged cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles, and their signature “Juicy” Sauce. They were everything you want in a slider: perfectly cooked, flavorful, and just messy enough. We also had the Crabbin’ Like It’s Hot, which came with two jumbo lump crab cakes that were pan-seared and paired with a tangy remoulade and a refreshing heirloom tomato salad. Both dishes were packed with flavor and really set the tone for the night.

For the main course, we couldn’t pass up the Bone & Biggie Tomahawk, a massive 40oz steak cooked to “perfection” (if you don’t know.. “medium” = perfection). It was juicy, tender, and topped with a flavorful butter sauce. On the side, the Mackin’ Cheese was everything you’d hope for, creamy, cheesy, and topped with buttery breadcrumbs for a little crunch. The Plantain Paradise was the perfect sweet addition: fried to perfection and dusted with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Life After is more than just a meal, it’s a vibe. The food is bold and soulful, the atmosphere is electric, and the little details, like the menu names and artwork, make it truly unique. And with someone like Brandon making sure you feel at home and excited about your choices, it’s the kind of place you can’t wait to visit again. Edgewater has a gem on its hands, and I’ll...

The place was empty besides a party of about 12 ppl celebrating a birthday on the patio and 1 couple inside dining and another couple outside dining. We chose to dine outside. It was midweek about a quarter to six when we arrived, no reservation just walked in dressed very casual. I came with my husband and my 2 teens. The service was ridiculously slow. The food was good to me- I had the shrimp n grits with a side of Mac n cheese- very good! My husband had the veggie burger- he said it was just ok, nothing special. The kids had sliders and burgers - so our choices was not complicated whatsoever. So tell me why the service was so slow and lackluster. It seems like there was only 1 waitress to the 4 parties that were there. When we arrived the birthday group was singing happy birthday so they were just about done food wise so why did our food take an hour to come out? The waitress would be gone for 15-20 mins at a time. You can tell they were totally under staffed but again there was not that many diners anyway so either under staffed or unskilled at serving-- this goes for our server and the kitchen. All of this would have been tolerable if it wasn't for that auto gratuity of 20 percent that I totally missed and preceded to tip an additional 18 percent because of the tip suggestions on the bill. So in all I tipped damn near $40!! for subpar service. BE VERY CAREFUL OF THE AUTO GRATUITY. There is no need to have tip suggestions on the bill if you already put the tip in the total cost of the meal. I noticed the bill was high but I don't like making a public fuss over food bills. I just like to pay and leave, not scrutinize a bill so I did just that. BUT this place... I got to my car and looked over the bill again because I felt $175 for what we got and the poor service just was too much. That's when I realized I tipped twice for NOTHING. Because that service, I tell you was not deserving of...