This Bergen-Lafayette Diner Is a Jersey City Hidden Gem

JERSEY CITY, NJ — It's not secret that Jersey City has some of the best restaurants in New Jersey, and its diners are no exception. With hundreds of eateries to choose from and more opening each day, it can be easy to overlook the quaint mom-and-pop spots that set the city's restaurant foundation. Nick's Restaurant is one such spot.

Tucked into the corner of Communipaw Avenue and Woodward Street, Nick's Restaurant is the go-to diner for locals who love a good breakfast. Located at 402 Communipaw Avenue, it's the kind of diner that makes a simple breakfast platter taste both completely new and like your favorite homemade dish, all at once.

A cash-only restaurant, Nick's is always churning out crowd favorites like bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, western omelettes and pancakes of any sort. Stand close enough to the entrance, and you can count the dozens of neighbors who pass through each morning, some just saying hi, others grab a booth and stay a while.

The old-school style diner countertops and forest green booths make the restaurant feel nostalgic, but not in a purposefully aesthetic way — in an 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' way. Greek calendars and photos of Greek islands hang on the wall under the wall menu, a reminder of the original owner, Nickolaos Belhos' home.

There's no menu to grab, no hostess to seat you, no frills or anything to get in the way of you and your meal. You're met with a smile from behind the counter while you give your order — take a second to settle into a booth or stool and listen to the choir of morning chatter and sizzling meat on the grill.

If you have a sweet tooth and a soft spot for butter, we recommend the French toast. A seemingly simple choice, Nick's French toast is both light and rich. The brioche bread is soaked in butter and egg in what we can imagine is the perfect ratio (the numbers are pending). Topped with powdered sugar that crystallizes just the right amount when it hits the hot bread, this French toast hardly needs syrup, but you'll want some anyway. Paired with bacon or a pork sausage patty and a black coffee, and you've got a delicious meal for just under $10.

Nick's Restaurant is no secret to Bergen-Lafayette residents and foodies nearby. It's the kind of restaurant that leaves your heart and belly full.