A new eatery is filling a somewhat surprising void in Journal Square’s dining scene as Yubi’s 78 Restaurant has marked the latest revitalization along Newark Avenue.
Last month, the lights finally went back on at 578 Newark Avenue. The space has long been dark despite its prominent location; the previous tenant was Choices Pasta & Salad, and they have not been in operation since at least 2018.
A complete gut from the previous fast-casual design of the storefront has crafted a cozy and more upscale aesthetic at Yubi’s 78 Restaurant, which features table seating including booth spots in the building’s windows. Owned by Luis Yubi Caceres, the BYOB spot is now serving both lunch and dinner along the well-traveled stretch.
Appetizers at Yubi’s include charred octopus or calamari frutti, while featured pasta dishes like fettuccine a la carbonara, pumpkin ravioli, homemade lasagna, and shrimp scampi dot the menu. More substantial dinner options include a NY Strip with potatoes and asparagus, a risotto di mare with mussels, shrimp, and squid, or a milk braised short rib.
Desserts like tiramisu, creme brulee, and cheesecake round out the menu, as do a variety of coffee and hot chocolates options.
Yubi’s 78 Restaurant checks a culinary box for the Journal Square area, which is known for first-class Indian cuisine along India Square. The neighborhood has seen a plethora of new eateries like Café Peanut, Ling Long Xuan, and Korai Kitchen open in recent years but notably lacks a sit-down Italian option, especially for dinner service.
The landscape along this stretch of Newark Avenue is slated to change drastically in the coming years. A new $345 million courthouse is under construction along the road and planning for a three-acre park is in the works for the corner of Newark and Central Avenues.
Yubi’s 78 Restaurant is now open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., with weekend service starting at 3:00 p.m. Yubi’s 78 restaurant can be followed on Instagram at the handle @yubis78restaurant.
