Elysian Cafe — Restaurant in Hoboken

stopped in yesterday at 5:00 and was welcomed by patrons who immediately moved over a seat at the bar so we could sit at the bar too! Always nice way to start out when you come across kind people. The vibe was perfect for us, friendly people having cocktails and food at the bar. The bartender Alex was very helpful making suggestions off the menu and offered a taste of his favorite Rose so I could decide what I wanted. His pick was spot on and so was his food suggestions. I had the avocado and artichoke salad which is baby arugula, creamy warm and lemon dressing with avocados and artichokes. Alex suggested adding grilled salmon on top. Just delicious together. The salmon was cooked perfectly and made my salad a meal. Rich had fish and chips with malt vinegar and thin frittes! He said it was really good. To top it all off we had the warm double chocolate sundae which is chocolate bread pudding, vanilla gelato and home made whipped cream...WOW... in a word. The chocolate bread pudding had the consistency of a brownie but not the sugar overload. Just decadent and delicious. We both enjoyed the meal, the people and the service was just fabulous, thanks Alex. We will be back... Just to add this, we went back this Sunday and this time Josh and Rachel took care of us and they were fantastic. Tried different dishes and loved them as well. Had the calamari salad which was very different than the usual calamari with red sauce. I Loved it! It was fried and added on top of baby arugula, nicoise olives, chopped tomatoes, grated parmesan, fresh lemon...just delicious! Also had the homemade gnocchi with Bolognese to die for. Rich had the steak, a side of broccoli rabe and mashed potatoes versus fries and everything was just terrific. This is a very welcoming bar with a different menu which is just such a welcome change. ...

I have had mixed experiences at this establishment, but unfortunately, my most recent visit (02/08) was particularly disappointing. While I typically do not mind being seated in the middle of the dining room (towards the back past the bar area), our table placement made for an uncomfortable experience, as waitstaff and other patrons frequently bumped into us. Additionally, there was minimal space to place my handbag and our coats. When I politely inquired whether any accommodations could be made--especially since two available booth tables for two remained unoccupied--I was met with an unhelpful and dismissive response from our server.

Beyond the seating issue, the service itself left much to be desired. Our server was noticeably less attentive to us compared to other tables, barely checking in, neglecting to offer us drinks or appetizers, and taking nearly 30 minutes to bring our check. Meanwhile, we observed her engaging with and accommodating other guests in a much more courteous and efficient manner. This discrepancy in service made our experience feel particularly frustrating and unwelcoming.

To make matters worse, I felt uncomfortable and rushed throughout the meal, as the host was constantly hovering near our table, creating an unsettling dining experience. Instead of enjoying our meal at a relaxed pace, we felt pressured to finish quickly.

Overall, while I have had bittersweet experiences here in the past, this visit stood out due to the lack of hospitality and professionalism. Given these concerns, I am...

Went for brunch, first time here. Ordered the cinnamon & amaretto french toast with bacon, two Irish coffees, and the warm double chocolate sundae for dessert.

Everything was on point, including the Irish coffee which was the best I've found in Hoboken and I'm pretty sure I've tried all of them. I love a good Irish coffee and regularly make them at home, but the only place I've found that makes a proper Irish coffee is The Dead Rabbit in FiDi.

Every other spot in Hoboken, including the Irish pubs, makes them with whiskey, Bailey's and whipped cream and that's NOT an Irish coffee. A traditional Irish coffee is whiskey, coffee (specifically Bushmills), demerara sugar, and a light or heavy cream float, and that's exactly how Elysian makes theirs. I thought it was a bit weird that the French place nailed an Irish coffee, but at least now I know where to get a proper one.

As for the food, that was great too. The French toast was a nice take on a breakfast classic, the bacon could have been a tad crisper but that's personal preference and all bacon is good bacon. The double chocolate sundae is billed as a chocolate bread pudding but it's more like a soft brownie, which is fine, and it was ridiculously good for 8 bucks.

I don't do brunch often but I'll definitely go back for dinner to try the burger and poutine after how...