A bar with vegetarian grub, and a speakeasy-style wine bar below = count us in. Newark Avenue in Jersey City is home to a lot of good grub, but Pet Shop is definitely one that came to impress. Vegetarians {and meat eaters, too} will swoon over the mouth-watering meat-free grub that’s on the menu, and wine lovers will definitely appreciate PS Wine Bar below. Read on to learn more about this JC staple that we just can’t get enough of:
The owners are three Jersey City locals, David Rappaport, Shen Pan and Eric Speck, who collectively wanted to create a low-key space for artists, musicians, and locals to hang while the other new downtown JC establishments are focused on attracting the metropolitan crowd. Respecting and supporting locals is important to the three owners. In fact, the bar was named Pet Shop JC as an homage to Village Tropical, an actual pet shop that occupied the space prior to the bar’s opening. The jukebox plays music from local bands and they even speak of creating Pet Shop Records, a label that will release music from local bands.
READ: Where to Find the Best Vegan Soups in Jersey City
Most unique about Pet Shop JC is that the food menu is completely vegetarian. On the menu are items such as cauliflower wings, macaroni + cheese, impossible “beef” tartar, impossible burgers, and more. Vegetarians will be in bar food heaven and meat eaters won’t even miss the beef.
Vegans, Pet Shop didn’t forget about you, either. Almost everything can also be made vegan in case dairy is an issue. The staff is well-versed in what defines vegan, a quality that is annoyingly hard to find in many restaurants.
And we can’t go on without mentioning the speakeasy-style bar below. PS Wine Bar is downstairs and is seriously a MUST. In fact, PS Wine Bar made the list of The 15 Most Important Natural Wine Bars in America. The vibe is cozy, the wine is amazing, and it’s the perfect way to end your night after enjoying some fried veggies 😉
Have you been to Pet Shop or PS Wine Bar? Tag us in your foodie pics on Instagram @HobokenGirlBlog + #HobokenGirl <3
