Family-Inspired, Fresh New Vegetarian Café in JC
Rosita’s Yah is a fabulously fresh and healthy café that’s opened on 203 Academy Street, on the border of Journal Square and McGinley Square. Open Monday – Friday, from 7am- 7pm, this vegetarian/vegan spot is serving breakfast burritos, home-made pastries and desserts, tacos, burrito and acai bowls, and scrumptious side dishes too, like hummus or guacamole with chips. Drinks include Stumptown coffee, teas and an extensive, artful mix of smoothies and fresh juices.
On a recent early morning stop, we loved the coconut-based yogurt parfait, topped with fresh berries. We washed it down with a Pitaya smoothie, made with pitaya (the gorgeous magenta superfruit also known as Dragon Fruit), pineapple, mango, banana and soymilk. It was almost too pretty to drink, but we managed. We’re also big fans of the Green Life, a super-healthy mix of spinach, cucumber, green apples, ginger, mint and lemon.
Lunch items like the tacos and burrito bowls all come with the add-on option of a vegan protein like seitan, soy chorizo and soy chicken. We opted for the guacamole tacos, served with lettuce, pico de gallo, and a delicious verde sauce, accompanied by a side of black beans and rice. For dessert, the banana bread, with walnuts and chocolate chips came highly recommended and did not disappoint. There’s plenty of other pastries and sweets to choose from, including gluten-free options.
Owner Rosita Montesquieu moved to Jersey City with her family in 2015. Years ago, in their native country of Ecuador, Montesquieu’s father owned a small bakery aptly named Rosita’s after his daughter. It’s nice to see the family business come full circle here in JC, as it was her father’s dream to own a café/restaurant. Rosita has NYC experience under her belt as well, serving as a partner in Terri, the popular NYC plant-based café on West 23rd. So glad to have the family, and this great new spot, in Jersey City!
@Rosita’s Yah, (201) 656-0908