For the Work Crowd in Jersey City: Where to Eat Lunch at Exchange Place

City Diner at 31 Montgomery Street

With all of the businesses along the waterfront earning Jersey City the nickname "Wall Street West" it is no surprise there is an ever-increasing supply of lunchtime restaurants serving the substantial Mon-Fri work crowd.

Below is a short guide to the best lunch spots, compiled by special guest Tom who loves to eat and has traversed the work week lunch scene in Exchange Place for over a decade.

Hope this list helps you decide where to go to lunch in Jersey City today:





Best portion sizes:

• Blue Moon Mexican Cafe (Mexican) - Good Tex Mex food and a varied lunch menu with huge portions and great prices.  If you want proof, I challenge you to finish one of their gigantic $10 burritos in one sitting.

• City Diner (American) - Their food quality, portion size, prices, and décor are a notch above traditional diners.  And where else can you get breakfast & brunch food all day in Exchange Place?

Best all-you-can-eat buffets for days when you skip breakfast:

• Mantra (Indian) - Delicious food that's always fresh, excellent variety, and a superb value (comes to $15 per person w/ tax & tip)

• Amiya (Indian) - A bit pricier than Mantra, but comparable in terms of food quality & variety and there's less of a wait thanks to two buffet lines.  Also has ample outdoor seating, which is a plus when the weather's nice.

Best outdoor lunches for when it's too nice outside to stay indoors:

• Iron Monkey (Bar & Grill) - There's no better place to enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon than the Monkey's rooftop dining area.  The lunch special, which includes a craft beer from their extensive menu, is a great deal to boot.

• Markers (Bar & Grill) - Standard American fare and spacious seating areas, both indoors and out.

Best places to bring an important business client:

• Porto Leggero (Italian) - A great place to impress a business client with delicious upscale Italian food and top-notch service & décor.  

• Light Horse Tavern (Bar & Grill) - A more casual business meeting alternative to Porto Leggero, this rustic tavern has great décor and an upscale menu.

• Teppan (Japanese) - Great sushi or hibachi is always a great conversation starter

Best healthy lunches:

• Greene Chutney Grill (Healthy Indian) - A great little salad bar style take-out place with good prices and fresh, healthy food with a light Indian flare.  Give it a try even if you aren't a fan of traditional Indian food. 

• Honshu (Japanese) - Top quality sushi and a reasonably priced lunch menu.

Best indulgent lunches:

• Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza (Pizza) - A bit pricey for pizza but well worth it...amazing pizza within walking distance from Exchange Place.

• Five Guys (Burgers) - No explanation necessary...perfect for a diet 'cheat day'.

Best grab-n-go lunches for when you're late for a meeting:

• Hudson Greene Market (Gourmet Grocery) - This gourmet grocery store has a wide selection of healthy prepared take-out lunches and the best salad bar in Exchange Place.

• Au Bon Pain (Café) - An old standby that's perfect for when you only have a few minutes to grab a bite between meetings.

A bit outside Exchange Place but well worth the hike:

• Taqueria (Mexican) - Insanely good authentic Mexican food and cool 80's hard rock decor, plus a spacious outdoor garden with picnic tables in the back.  Just don't expect to find fajitas or other Tex Mex stand-bys on the menu.

• Kraverie (Korean/French/Mexican) - Perfect for when you're sick of your usual lunch places and want something different, their unique mash-ups of Korean, French, & Mexican food are delicious and inexpensive.  Warning: do NOT leave without trying one of their otherworldly dessert crepes!

Best place you've walked by 100 times but don't know exists:

• Rumi (Turkish) - Hidden beneath a nondescript exterior is this cute little gem of a restaurant with delicious traditional Turkish food.  The lunch specials are definitely the way to go as they include a side and a drink.

Any other great lunch finds in Jersey City?  It would also be great to hear where the best lunch spots are in the Newport area!