Jane Doe — Restaurant in Jersey City

UPDATE: (A FEW WEEKS LATER - TAKEOUT)

I previously gave Jane Doe a glowing review 👇🏼because the food and experience have always been fantastic. However, my recent takeout experience left me disappointed. I ordered the gluten-free scampi, a dish I absolutely love, but unfortunately, the pasta was undercooked. It’s frustrating to get home, excited to enjoy a favorite meal, only to find it not properly prepared. It really felt like my order was rushed.

I will absolutely continue dining in because the quality has always been great in person, but I won’t be ordering takeout again. Hopefully, they can improve their takeout preparation to match their usual high standards.

(TAKE OUT PICTURES ARE IN THE ONES IN THE CONTAINER) I recently discovered Jane Doe, and it has quickly become a favorite of mine. In just one week, I’ve dined there twice, and each experience has been absolutely delightful.

The Food

Starter: Japanese Sweet Potatoes These are absolutely delicious! Perfectly cooked with a subtle sweetness and just the right amount of seasoning. A fantastic way to begin the meal.

Entree: Gluten-Free Scampi This dish is to die for! I’m obsessed with the rich flavor and the light kick that elevates it to perfection. It’s incredibly satisfying and filling without feeling heavy—a truly delightful dish.

Dessert: Limoncello Olive Oil Cake This is now one of my favorite desserts of all time. The cake is moist, flavorful, and simply outstanding. A must-try for anyone visiting Jane Doe.

The Atmosphere:

The ambiance is warm and cozy, making it an inviting spot to enjoy a meal. The music is on the louder side, but it’s still possible to have a conversation. The friendly and attentive staff add to the charm of the place, making every visit enjoyable.

Jane Doe has quickly earned a top spot on my list of go-to restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a satisfying meal or a cozy night out, this place delivers...

Soooo I’ve been excited about trying this place for a while now since I have to drive by it at least twice a day to and from work. Even though I’m a fusion-cuisine skeptic, Jane Doe hits the mark on a few things and not so much on others.

The space itself is small but the high ceilings make it appear much larger. It’s a nice space but the finishes and decor are a bit confusing. I know it’s a hybrid between fine dining and a relaxed atmosphere, however, it was unclear what they were aiming for.

It’s very dark so if you’re into that or want that ambience for a date perhaps, this is the place for it.

The drinks were tasty and the wait staff was attentive.

The ricotta app and the prawns app were standouts. Everything they paired with the ricotta was delicious and had an addictive quality. The prawns were a flavor bomb and I’d go back just for that.

The fried lasagna and the red sauce they paired it with was a contender but parts of it were inedible because of how over-fried it was.

The filet mignon was not only small but not cooked properly throughout but the accompanying potatoes, mushrooms and pan sauce were sooo delicious, I forgave the faulty cookery of the protein.

Finally, the ravioli. Boy was I disappointed. I convinced my dinner guest to come with me here because of the ravioli and I have to say, they need to revamp this dish entirely or remove it altogether. It’s dishes like this that give fusion a bad name. The pasta was severely undercooked and the sauce combination was so bizarre. You have a filling of braised short rib that is dry and paired with what tasted like a chicken noodle broth. It’s the weirdest combination. I mixed the ravioli with a bit of the pan sauce from the filet mignon to be able to stomach trying some of it after the initial let-down. After that, I wasn’t really interested in staying for dessert.

Please consider changing that ravioli dish, it’s doing you...

I really wanted to love this place. It’s beautifully decorated. It’s elegant- the velvet curtains on one wall, dark lighting and the tall ceilings are great. Definitely an NYC vibe in JC. We were greeted by friendly host and seated at a great table at the very end of the long seating area. Cozy and very comfortable. I asked for one ingredient not to be added to my cocktail and you’d think I was insane for not wanting spicy in my drink. I was told it couldn’t happen as it would ruin the drink, so I said I’ll stick with tap water. Lo and behold, they were able to accommodate my request. We ordered three appetizers. The bean dip was delicious. Maybe my favorite the whole night. The bread that came with it was delicious as well and they kindly provided us with another portion. The meatballs Yakatori was ok- I wasn’t impressed with the actual meatball. The fried lasagna- we were so excited but it was definitely over fried- it tasted burnt and was so hard to eat.

We ordered the pork Milanese which was similarly burnt/fried but was saved by the delicious vegetables that came with it. The rigatoni was fantastic- lots of yummy garlic and sauce. The bone marrow caccio e pepe was good but slightly undercooked. We shared the limoncello cake which was fine. Nothing great.

Service was very attentive- almost annoyingly so. I appreciated the check ins but was a bit excessive. I will say everyone was very friendly and there are a few other dishes I would...