Lokal Eatery & Bar — Restaurant in Jersey City

I have never left a review on anything before but let me share with you my experience. First off, we were seated at a high top table (not an issue) with these low-back, plastic seat chairs that were on flimsy legs that bent under the stress of my 205 lb, 12% bodyfat, jacked, juicy, vascular, well-muscled and highly impressive figure (I have received many compliments, mostly on the overwhelming size of my arms and chest). The uncomfortable chairs were only the start of my troubles (to be fair, the more dainty and spindly members of my party did not appear to have an issue with the chairs). Our party of 7 spent 2 hours at this poorly lit establishment, and only once were we asked for drink orders. Being the impressive anomaly of a human that I am, I require a large amount of water throughout the day, and very quickly consumed my 6 ounces of water initially poured in my glass. Had I known I would not be able to contact my server for more of this life-sustaining elixir, I would have savored it. No water was distributed to any of the members of my party for the entire 2 hours. I was only able to quench my voracious thirst by refilling my own glass at the servers' station.

My order was simple: the Rhode Island Black Bass and the pork Bao Buns. The orders came out of the kitchen two at a time, and with nearly 10 minutes in between each plate. I have never dined at a restaurant that so poorly timed the delivery of the meals, but maybe that is how this restaurant functions. My meal came last, about 45 minutes after placing our order. This was obviously an issue as my metabolic rate is so high (from all of the muscle filling the sleeves of my extra medium deep-cut v-neck tee) that I enter a catabolic state if I do not consume enough calories frequently. At this point, I am absolutely beside myself. I am parched as hell and still in a catabolic state because the $34 bass dish was MAYBE 200 calories, not enough to put my behemoth of a body into an anabolic state. Even after waiting all that time, THE BAO BUNS NEVER CAME! I politely begged the waiter (I was in tears at this point) to procure my buns, and 20 minutes later he brought the check AND NO BUNS! The check, which I promptly returned, still had the buns on it.

My rating: -1/10

Will I return? I would rather vacuum the sand off of an entire beach than go back to this place.

TL;DR Over priced, under-proportioned, might as well be BYOB since they will not serve you, not scoliosis friendly, only go if you enjoy waiting more than you enjoy food

EDIT: The restaurant reached out and is working to improve on the issues I had. While this does not change my experience, it makes me happy to know that there are business that still care about their reputation and how their customers...

Food: 3/5 Drinks:5/5 Service:5/5 Hostess:2/5 (Threatened to not seat us if one person was missing even though five out of the six on our reservation were present and had called to let them know the person was running late. They were not even packed.) College-Student friendly?: 3/5 (Unless your parent's pay for your tuition.) COVID-19 standards: 5/5 (They wore masks - what do you expect? Them to wash your hands for you? Tables were well spaced apart as well.) This a bar right by an incredible view of Manhattan. As far as people's complaint's over the prices, it's understandable, but you're essentially paying a good chunk of your bill for that view. Do people honestly think restaurants don't pay rent? Wake up. That aside, 90% of the food was excellent. The appetizer's were delicious and presented with truly artful care and detail. I took off a star because considering how high the bar had been set in terms of food quality I was very disappointed to have received a mediocre Risotto Milanese. The texture was similar to that of dry mac'n cheese. The only thing "Milanese" about it were the bitter greens used for garnish. Which tasted like the tops of carrots. Resourceful? Maybe. Edible? Yeah - no. I could literally hold the plate over my head and the risotto wouldn't fall off. Not good. On top of that the rice itself was under-cooked. Risotto is supposed to have a bite to it, but not to the extent in which you can see any solid white in the center. This resulted in a crunchy dry mess that left me with a taste so saturated in under-cooked rice that I couldn't even taste the saffron. For a food menu that really wowed in the beginning such amateur mistakes are unforgivable. The restaurant should also consider making a clear mention that their food is more or less "tapas" style as none of the portions are large in the slightest. Our waiter did make mention of this, but from the way he explained it, it was clear that he was being kind to us and explanations like that are not normally part of his introduction. All around, a wonderful experience. I might give them another chance if I feel like breaking the bank. The bartender deserves a raise for the magic he created in those cocktails. Our server was excellent and did not charge us the required 20% automatic tip for a party of 6 or more (we paid him the money anyway and I gave him about 10% extra on top of that for his kind gesture. When a server does that, YOU should too). He was attentive, charming and especially helpful and gave my girlfriend a wonderful experience for her birthday and the rest of our friends enjoyed themselves as well. Nice work Lokal Eatery. Some touch-ups needed, but all around...

Jersey City officially opened up one of the swankiest restaurants on their waterfront with magnificent views of Manhattan. Mona Panjwani is the proprietor and visionary of this establishment. After 12 days of having their doors opened, they have built a team of individuals who are personable, approachable and possess a strong sense of ownership. Literally a recipe for prosperity.

With sufficient space, Lokal Eatery & Bar can comfortably sit up to 200 customers and is the perfect destination for a rehearsal dinner, trunk show, celebratory engagement and/or corporate gathering. Towards the rear, there’s a semi-private area with its own seating, lounge and sound system to drown out the clutter of what’s taken place in the main arena. “Lokal” murals, perfect for social engagement, are sprinkled throughout the spot which were constructed by a local commissioned artist. Adding an element of youth and elegance similar to its milieu. Overall the architecture and intent of this eclectic eatery have an industrial yet modern feel. Iron gates frame the bar and above the 30-foot island hangs a custom lighting installation.

Nestled in the heart of a rising luxury neighborhood within JC, this venue is destined to become one of the area’s most popular draws. Executive Chef, Walter Donadio, has managed to fabricate a tantalizing menu of appetizers, small plates and entrees which are certain to keep you coming back. Some of his best infused tapas and items include succulent scallops, rock shrimp, sauteed mushroom bowls as well as a vegan surf and turf packed with savory lentils. Most of their components are locally sourced and fresh from the Garden State – right down to the blueberries featured in some of their signature drinks.

Often times, you inflict a new place and the waitstaff is uncertain on what to recommend. That’s not the case for Lokal. Many of their squad members were well-informed on what they offer and even had ample recommendations for their handcrafted cocktails. Our favorites were their Elliott Stubb (reminiscent of an old fashioned) and Jerry Thomas – cucumber water iced cubes make this drink refreshing.

The future is bright for Lokal Eatery & Bar. And, with a strong location, menu and bar, it’s set to be one of the most prestigious brunch/dinner spots for global foodies, making it a firm contender for three Michelin stars and a James Beard Award. Subsequently, it’s extremely apparent that Mona and her crew are meticulous and pay close attention to details.

*Brunch is Saturday & Sunday from 11-3pm. Happy hour...