The Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza welcomed its latest eatery to the landscape in sudden fashion as a new venture called Better Days is officially open for business.
The new restaurant, situated at 143 Newark Avenue, snuck up on Jersey City’s dining scene. The space had been home to a Bareburger outpost that suddenly closed just weeks ago, with the new venture coming from the same ownership team behind 143 Social.
That speakeasy-style venue opened in June last year in the basement of the property. Better Days is a decidedly different venture, but cocktails are still front and center with concoctions like a spicy passion fruit mezcal sour or a banana and black cherry rum old fashioned.
The Better Days spin on a Manhattan adds riscotti pecan scotch to the fun, while the restaurant offers a variety of wine and local craft beers from Departed Soles, Industrial Arts, Kane, and Hoboken Brewing Company.
While 143 Social focuses on small bites, Better Days significantly expands the food menu. Smaller plates like scalloped duck fat potatoes, jerk chicken wings, or Spanish octopus and still present and complimented by entrees like Moroccan fried chicken, curry mussels, or a beef rib pastrami.
A variety of burgers and sandwiches also adorn the menu and include a pork belly bahn mi or a kuzu burger with feta cheese and a toasted cumin seed aioli.
Better Days can be followed on Instagram at the handle @betterdaysjc and reservations can be made through their website.
The Bareburger that opened last May in the space is still open for business, but for delivery and pick up only through the back entrance of the building.
