A spot along the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza has sprung back to life after being dark throughout 2026 as the rollout of Bembe Steak & Raw Bar has begun in Downtown Jersey City.
The latest entry into the Jersey City food scene sits at 143 Newark Avenue in the former Better Days space on the ground floor. That eatery closed after a relatively short run, but fret not, speakeasy lovers – 143 Social is still going strong in the basement of the property.
Bembe is now soft open and features two concepts so far. The restaurant comes from Chef Darryl Harmon, who is a partner in Don’t Tell Liv, Asbury Social, and several other notable Garden State culinary ventures.
The first portion of Bembe is a concept called Steaks Shakes + Harmony, tucked in the back of the space and featuring a more casual setting. The front bar at Bembe recently launched a full cocktail menu plus food bites, focusing on seafood and steak with some Latin- and Caribbean-inspired notes.
Among the dishes included in the soft-open menu are a lobster roll, a steak burger, and a pollo a la brasa chicken chimi sandwich. Some of the more diverse entries include a coconut curry rice bowl, grilled octopus, and oysters with salsa verde garlic butter.
All dishes at Bembe can be customized with a variety of sauces, including jerk butter, chimichurri rojo, and sofrito bordelaise.
The final portion of Bembe, set to launch soon, is their steakhouse dining room experience, which aims for an elevated vibe. No word on exactly when that section will be launching, but those interested can follow the restaurant on Instagram at the handle @bembesteakjc for future updates.
In the meantime, Bembe’s front bar area is soft open on Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
