Phoenix Bar and Grille

This bar is such an amazing improvement over the sh*t hole that was here prior to Hurricane Sandy. With a ton of TVs, decent drinks, TO-​GO drinks, a kitchen plus quick grab-​and-​go snacks (I haven’t tried any of the kitchen food yet but the popcorn is buttery, delicious, and cheap) and friendly service, the Phoenix is an exceptional train bar for commuters — and frankly a respectable local watering hole in its own right.
This bar has been a saving grace for me since I moved back home to Jerz temporarily over the summer. I swing by whenever I have time to kill while waiting for a train — generally at least once a week around 7:17 after missing the 7:15 to Bergen County by two minutes and having to kill time until the 8:41 (die, NJ transit. DIE.) However lately, I’ve been going out of my way to stop in on Mondays* and Wednesdays to hang out with the awesome bartender who works those nights. Her name escapes me at the moment, but she’s the super friendly redhead — and she makes a MEAN dirty martini. She’s also taken to encouraging me to drink more water (she’s got a great system) and bonds with me over our shared activity trackers (fitbit for the win!) Pretty sure she’s my new best friend. Or my new Mom.
Anyway, check this place out if you find yourself stuck in Hoboken terminal. You could certainly do a lot worse :).
* Yes. Sometimes on Mondays, I sit in the bar at the train station and drink martinis by myself, or in the company of a lovely redhead. What are you going to do about it?

Well-​managed bar. Attentive service, reasonable prices. For a transient bar, it’s amazing how comfortable they make you feel.

Good sports bar, little divey feel, quick service from cool bartender. Good for getting a drink, wouldn’t bring a date there tho

The Phoenix Bar and Grill is a gem conveniently located in the Hoboken Rail Station, though it’s definitely not just for commuters. Beautifully refurbished after Superstorm Sandy, the bar has about a dozen flat screens covering all the major sporting events, to go along with a state of the art sound system playing great mixes of music. There’s also excellent live music during happy hour on Thursdays.
There’s a superb selection of beers, both bottles and on tap, as well as a wide variety of cocktails, in addition to excellent burgers and other bites if you’re hungry, all reasonably priced.
But what makes the Phoenix Bar stand out above and beyond the typical commuter bar is the friendly and attentive staff which gives Phoenix a neighborhood feel you usually don’t find at transit hub pubs. Margo and the other bartenders will provide a welcome that makes you feel right at home. Won’t be long before you realize you don’t really have to catch that next train.

The Phoenix Bar and Grille is a pearl in the oyster shell of the Hoboken Terminal. It harbors a sense of community (you will find regulars here) amid the transient ebb and flow of this major transportation hub. The contrast is pleasant to experience. That sense of community is nurtured by the excellent, experienced, and professional staff, who radiate a solicitude for their customers that goes beyond your programmed, run-​of-​the-​mill «service culture.» It is warm and sincere. Even if you’re not catching a train, it’s worth it to pay a visit here. The cocktails are great, at least judging from the martinis I’ve ordered: chilled, crisp, generous, refreshing. The variety of draft and bottled beers is ample. I even noticed a bottled beer I first had in Vermont, Long Trail. I’ve tried both the wings and the Reuben, with fries, and all were tasty with generous portions. Usually, in no matter which terminal you pass through, the prices are elevated as compared with the «outside world.» Surprisingly, and happily, the prices here are either comparable with or even lower than ones you find in the neighborhood. The well drinks are an especially good deal. The music is classic pop, with the likes of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper adding to the cheerful atmosphere. Since all types of people take trains, buses, light rail, and the PATH, all types of people are to be found at the Phoenix, which makes it a delightful place to rub elbows with a real cross-​section of humanity. So as I make my way from the PATH Train to the buses heading north to Weehawken, I’m going to continue to duck into the Phoenix Bar and Grille for some hooch, a good cooked meal, friendly companionship, and a sense of ease and relaxation amid the hubbub of this on-​the-​go world.

I wish I could leave this place no stars. We missed our train so we decided to get a drink or two at this place. The bartender was so concerned about us ordering beers since last call was in 25 minutes and he wanted to close the register. He convinced us to order two beers each at this time. I was watching the game and they started turning off the tvs! We went up to get our second beer that we already paid for and the other bartender acted very annoyed and even poured the wrong beer. We received major attitude when we exclaimed it was the incorrect beer. After we got back to our seats, I overheard her talking badly about us! We were just finishing our beers (that the bartender convinced us to get) and they told us it was time to leave! We were 4 minutes past closing! I am so annoyed at this place and wish I never gave them our money. I am going to contact management as this is unacceptable. I was a sever for years and yes it is annoying but you wait for your customer to finish !!!

Ordered burger while waiting for my train and regret it. Asked for medium cam out very welldone. Didnt want to complain, due to extreme hungry situation. Just ate little bit of the burger and fries. Great selection of beers. Lot of fruit flies around bar area so not hygenic… I can only visit again for beer sine right in the station area. no more food from here! Service is ok nothing spectaular. No smile at all.

Great space/​environment, great food (quesadillas are a must), nice events.
Awesome drinks and awesome staff.
The owner, Aziz, is beyond welcoming!
The bartender/​manager Carlos is nothing but the best: you go for a drink and get a friend, on the house! He’s amazing at his job.
Best way to wait for your train, no-​miss pit stop on your way to Hoboken city.
It’s a must!

Good beer selection but I tried the chipotle burger and was not impressed. I asked for medium and got extremely well done. In fact everything was well done to the extreme. I’m not sure about the other food but stay away from the burger unless you want well done. Solid beer selection though

So the other day I take a train to Hoboken from up north, and I’m waiting around to meet someone who won’t be there for the next 45mins. What do I do?
Well, after standing outside the Phoenix’s doors for a few minutes and staring blankly at their specials on the sandwich board outside, I walk in. DAMN, I remember this place from before Sandy, when it was kind of grungy but authentic dive bar style. Now it’s got about a dozen flat screens on all the walls airing not only games but other programs that might be of interest and has a serious draft & bottle list. I think just about everything had changed for the better — except the bartender, who’s still the same earnest woman who had been there before, and instantly makes you feel like you’re a regular who she’s glad to see, no matter if it’s the first or fortieth time you’ve been there.
I grabbed a Strongbow as they were on a crazy happy hour special, then ended up grabbing another as time went on. Soon enough, I found myself a little hungry and looked at the menu they have. They actually have some full-​on entrees, which is, again, surprising for a train station bar. As it turns out the kitchen was JUST closing as I was asking to order a plate of samosas, but they were nice enough to squeeze my order in. Not only were they delicious but the serving was quite generous for the price.
To finish… as far as train station bars go, this is the best I’ve ever been in. It could probably even stand on its own, without the captive audience!

I stopped here after a work event in the city. There was a layover between my path train arrival and NJtransit train departure. Was craving a Bloody Mary. I have to say that this place had a pretty nice feel considering it was midday and right smack in the middle of the Hoboken train station. The music was pretty good and the Bloody Mary definitely fixed my craving. For a layover in the future, I will definitely visit again.

I really wanted to like this place more. While the service isn’t the best, everyone was really nice and the bartender working the night I was here was also acting as the waiter and it was a little obvious that he wasn’t used to pulling double duty like that so I can be a little forgiving. He also gave us free shots of fireball which is always appreciated so I really, really wanted to like this place … but alas, the food was pretty mediocre and not worth the price.
My fiancé and I ordered their fried pickles appetizer and I ordered the grilled cheese with tomato and bacon while he got the BELT which was a BLT with a fried egg — both came with fries. The fried pickles were more like battered and lightly fried pickles. They weren’t as crunchy as I would have liked but they did taste pretty good. They gave us a sauce on the side, but we weren’t sure if it was marinara sauce or something else. It really didn’t contribute much to the overall taste of the fried pickles. My grilled cheese sandwich was only half grilled and slightly sloppily made. The actual sandwich was pretty small in size with most of the plate being occupied with fries. It didn’t taste bad, but I felt like I could have made this myself. My fiancé really liked his sandwich, which I had a bite of and I thought it was just okay. I think if they made the egg a little less done and let some yoke run, it would have been better. The fries were not very good, at least I didn’t think so. They looked like Cajun fries and had a weird taste to them.
I wasn’t really expecting high class gourmet at this restaurant but I was expecting a little more. I will probably be back here because it’s a nice place to pass the time while waiting for a train and they have good prices for beers. I will probably try their wings next time I’m here and stay clear from their sandwiches.

By far one of the best Buffalo chicken wings we’ve had. They also have a variety of craft beers as well as cocktails. It’s a very convenient place to pass time whilst waiting for your train or bus. Carlos is one of the best bartenders there. Ask for him whenever you get a chance. We do wish that they have more weekend hours.