A new vegan restaurant serving breakfast and lunch will be coming to the area sandwiched between Journal and McGinley Squares, as construction has started on a café that will provide unique food options in an emerging neighborhood.
The endeavor, dubbed Rosita’s Yah, will be opening at 203 Academy Street on the corner of Summit Avenue. The café is being managed by Rosa L. Montesquieu, who cut her teeth as co-owner of Manhattan’s Terri for over a decade. Montesquieu was born in Ecuador and she considers opening her own restaurant in Jersey City to be living out the American dream.
For the café’s name, Rosa has gone back to her roots for inspiration. Her father owned a bakery in her hometown called Rosita’s, while the “Yah” in the name is a shortened form of Yahweh, the Hebrew God. In preparation for the endeavor, Montesquieu has started a YouTube channel for those interested in learning more about the dishes that will be served at Rosita’s Yah.
Speaking of the menu, the café will be offering breakfast options of natural pressed juices, smoothies, and pastries that include gluten-free options. Stumptown Coffee and Prana Chai teas will be available, in addition to banana walnut scones and heartier dishes including a tofu scramble on a homemade biscuit.
Lunch options at Rosita’s Yah include vegan tacos and burrito bowls that utilize proteins like soy chicken. Other items like a dairy-free mac ‘n’ cheese or plant-based stuffed peppers will be featured on the menu, which the restaurant plans to expand as they go along.
A few desserts like chocolate cake with red wine and raspberry sauce or carrot cupcakes round out the experience. Rosita’s Yah plans to be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. when their launch occurs, which they hope happens in early June. They can be followed on Instagram at the handle @rositas.yah, where they will be giving periodic construction updates.
