Hummus Republic — Restaurant in Jersey City

I like their food because I feel it’s a healthy option in the area; however, the service and the integrity of this shop is questionable.

I placed an order online and accidentally ordered 4 bowls instead of the 2 I wanted. I called them immediately to inform them of the mistake, and to cancel the 2 extra bowls. The person who picked up said the manager’s not in yet and he cannot help. I asked when the manager will be in and I called two additional times in the span of 1.5 hours, with the same result, “manager’s not in”. I walked across the street and found that the manager WAS in. I repeated my situation to the manager that the online ordering system didn’t have a cancellation option so I needed to make adjustments to my order. She said, “okay, I will cancel your order and the money will be refunded to your account in 4 days. You can make a new order separately.” I asked for a copy of the refund/cancellation receipt. She said there’s no such thing. I said, well once I leave here I would not have proof that I cancelled my order. What if I need to dispute my charge. She assured me that I wouldn’t have to worry about it. She will refund me for sure. After much insisting, she gave me the regular receipt with a handwritten note at the top that states the order was cancelled. It felt unprofessional and silly. Anybody could scribble a note on the receipt. That’s not proof of cancellation. But I took a leap of faith and trusted her and kept the receipt just in case. I proceeded to make a separate order right then and there for the 2 bowls I intended to get and paid for it with the same card. 5 days later, nothing. So I opened a dispute with my bank. After about 3 weeks, I got an email from my bank stating that the merchant provided proof against me, namely the online order ticket, that I had willingly placed the order and paid for it. So the bank ruled against me. I was about to be scammed $55 from a brick and mortar business!

So I called the bank and explained the whole story. And I said it’s because I cancelled the online order that I have to make another order in person. Pointing out that I had two transactions back to back at the same place. I wouldn’t logically need to order triple lunches for myself.

Thankfully, the bank refunded my money, out of the bank’s pocket! But the rep. also told me that when the merchant provided their proof they never mentioned anything of my situation. They were just like, “she ordered it, she pays for it”. The rep. suggested that I do not order from this merchant anymore. I think I’ll take his advice.

Now, I’m not looking to assign blame and point fingers because I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they just forgot. For future reference though, for those who patron this place, consider using cash and ordering in person.

*After the owner saw my post, he called and inquired about the situation and said that it must’ve been an oversight on his employee’s part for not telling him that there’s an order cancellation. He apologized and offered a free order. I appreciate him being proactive in making things right. Hopefully his business can be better equipped to handle mistake orders and cancellations...

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Hummus Republic in New Jersey and wanted to share my experience, which was a blend of highs and lows.

Positive Aspects:

Ambiance and Setting: The restaurant presents a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. It's a nicely arranged space that makes for a comfortable dining experience.

Quality of Food: The food here is commendable. Each dish I tried was flavorful and well-prepared. The ingredients tasted fresh, and the overall quality of the food was impressive, contributing to a satisfying meal.

Areas for Improvement:

Hummus Portions: While the restaurant is named after its hummus, I found the portions to be disappointingly small. Given the central role of hummus in their menu, larger servings would be more appropriate and fulfilling.

Customer Service: The staff, although not unfriendly, lacked a bit of warmth and hospitality that enhances the dining experience. Friendlier and more engaging personnel would significantly elevate the overall ambiance and customer satisfaction.

Size of Dishes: The dishes, in general, were on the smaller side. For those looking for a quick bite or a light meal, this might not be an issue. However, if you're coming in with a bigger appetite or expect a traditional meal size, this could be a drawback.

Suitability for Quick Meals: On a positive note, due to the smaller portion sizes and the efficient service, this place is quite suitable for those in a hurry. It's a good spot for a quick, quality meal if you're pressed for time.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Hummus Republic offers a nice environment and good food, but there are areas where they could improve. Increasing the portion size of their signature hummus and enhancing the warmth of their customer service would make a big difference. It's a suitable spot for a quick, tasty meal, especially if you're not looking for...

I really have hopes for this place and it can become great with a few changes. They are open late and decently healthy option. The food is usually fresh which is a plus but the flavor is inconsistent. If you eat Mediterranean often you’ll notice pretty quickly this is not very Mediterranean. It’s like getting Mexican food at chipotle so it’s not gonna be good Mexican food. But they could at least make the online ordering better. If I build my own anything and I want three scoops of hummos I can only choose three different ones not three of the same. Same for the base. My issue is when I order chickpeas and couscous as my base they give me once scoop of each and because I don’t want lettuce I have to ask for another scoop of chickpea or couscous which they give reluctantly even though it says I can pick up to three. I cannot make this selection online either so I always have to go inside and order. The falafel is awful worst I’ve ever had and the vegan beef is undercooked- which is not safe to eat. Also they charge extra $2.50 for vegan beef so if you get chicken it’s $2 less that’s just crazy. They measure way too much and the ratio between dips and sauce to base and protein is high. Need more base but they are always reluctant to give. A few changes will...