The long wait for healthy eats at 203 Academy Street has officially come to an end, as the co-owner of one of the more prominent vegan eateries in New York City has finally opened her first restaurant west of the Hudson River.
We initially broke the news about Rosita’s Yah coming to the neighborhood way back in May of last year. It’s been a long road (they had initially hoped to open last summer), a reality that made a grand opening celebration held over this past weekend even more rewarding.
Located on Academy’s corner with Summit Avenue, the café is being managed by Rosa L. Montesquieu. Born in Ecuador, she cut her teeth as co-owner of Manhattan’s Terri for over a decade and is now living out her American dream by opening her own Jersey City restaurant.
For the café’s name, Rosa has gone back to her roots for inspiration. Her father owned a bakery in her hometown in Ecuador called Rosita’s, while the “Yah” in the name is a shortened form of Yahweh, the Hebrew God.
The café offers breakfast options of natural pressed juices, smoothies, and pastries that include many 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 are completely vegan and include 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 that’s looking to provide a unique option not only for the neighborhood but also for all of Jersey City. Rosita’s Yah can be followed on Instagram at the handle @rositas.yah and while they are closed on Saturdays, their hours run Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
