Griot Cafe — Restaurant in Jersey City

I stopped in with friends for breakfast before heading to the airport. The café opens before 9 a.m., but it seems to be run by just one person in the front and possibly one person in the kitchen. That said, the space itself is bright, clean, and charming—a cozy spot to sit and catch up with friends.

We ordered several dishes to share: beignets, the plantain sandwich with fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and waffles with eggs and bacon. The beignets were the biggest disappointment—dense, small, and only two tiny pieces for the price. The plantain sandwich had good flavor, but the plantains used in place of bread were dense and tough, which didn’t pair well with the filling. The shrimp was seasoned nicely, but the grits were undercooked, lumpy, and bland unless mixed with the shrimp gravy. The waffles looked nice but were thin and light on portion size, again not reflective of the price point.

Overall, while the food had moments of good flavor, the portions and preparation did not match the prices charged. Service was kind but understandably limited with so few staff working. If you’re in a pinch and need a meal, this isn’t a terrible option, but it’s not one I’d go out of my way for. Also, be careful with parking meters in the area—they’re closely monitored, and tickets are common even when paying...

First off, most important thing is that the coffee is phenomenal. Really smooth blend, and I appreciate that it's organic and ethically sourced. Second: Their pastries were a delightful surprise. I wasn't familiar with them initially (aside from things like Croissants, etc), but watching them being prepared in-house enticed me. 1 of their pastries is almost like a croissant + empanada hybrid, with a fresh flaky outside and well-seasoned ground chicken or beef or spinach inside. I had 3 in one sitting. Third: The staff and management were really friendly, and it went a long way because it made it feel like a communal experience. The friendliness of the staff was contagious and led to friendly convos between customers. I chatted with a nice guy about English Premiere League soccer. And lastly, the place is very clean, well lit, and welcoming. It's a place I can see myself sitting for a while, enjoying coffee, working off my laptop (free wifi there also), etc. Their bookshelf was a nice touch, again, giving the place a communal atmosphere. This place has a SOUL, it doesn't feel like a corporate institution established it or some owners who don't care about creating an experience for their customers. It's...

I really liked this place the whole time I was living within walking distance. The food is of great quality and prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is also good. I only had one problem ever when going there. My family was visiting and we came in for a late breakfast one day. I tried to make small talk with whom I assume was a co-owner taking my order and payment. I said, after taking a little time to look at the menu, "sorry man, we're just waking up right now." The owner said "You gotta wake up at Griot?", I said " Well you guys have good stuff right?" and was met with a sarcastic smile and laugh which came off as if I had said something wrong or insulting. Subsequently, the man immediately put on his jacket, told his coworker that he just could not stay in the cafe and left. I'm not sure if he left because of the small thing intended as a compliment that I had said or not but it sure looked that way. If it was, I don't believe that level of sensitivity is conducive to working in a cafe where you deal with many people and hopefully want repeat customers. Other than that I really...