Sam A.M. Cafe

Been coming to this place since I moved to Jersey City 2.5 years ago. I’d say I probably come here about 1 – 2 times a month. I always recommend it to other people and think of myself as a loyal customer. However, lately I have been noticing a decrease in the quality of service.
The last 3 visits in particular have been greatly disappointing. Visiting twice on a quite weekday and once early in the morning (8am) on a weekend and I have experienced a lack in service which resulted in waiting for our food for over 30mins.
Only today we came in for a late breakfast and it was pretty quiet. We ordered and waited about 25mins and noticed people who came in after us getting their food. When we called over the waitress (who I noticed was on her phone outside often) to see what happened, she said that there was a mix up and that the order got lost. When I mention to the waitress that something similar had happened to us when we came in last time (about 2 weeks prior to today) she didn’t seem to care or even acknowledge it.
She did offer us a free chocolate croissant, which I appreciate, but neither of us wanted any sweets– we just wanted our food. After waiting another 10mins– we finally got our food. Food is still good, but there was already frustration from waiting once again due to negligence on the staff’s behave.
I wouldn’t mind this so much but the same thing has happened 3 times in a row– all during quiet times in the day. I really hope Sam AM appreciates their loyal customers more and that this isn’t a sign that things are going downhill. There is an increasing number of great restaurants in Jersey City that people can choose to go to if service doesn’t improve.

Great service and cozy place! Menu options are good as well
Seating area is limited though so be prepared to wait during brunch-​time

I came here early on a Sunday morning. The food was excellent I had the «Spring Scramble» which was great. My wife had French toast which was also amazing. There’s really nothing I can say bad except maybe I wish they had more options.

Awesome as before. Best place in this area for breakfast. Definitely will see them again.

I’m a huge fan of going here to get coffee and a breakfast pastry — it’s a great way to start the day. One time, and I am not proud of this, but I almost got into a fight with an elderly gentleman over the last berry scone. It’s really that good.

This place is one of my favorites in Jersey City. You cannot go wrong with anything you order here. This place is charming and the hospitality is very good.
The dishes that I love the most here are the BLT and the pulled pork sandwich.
They are very busy during lunch hours so call up ahead or be prepared to wait.

WOW! Perfection. Between the service, décor, intimate/​cozy setting, and staff… I can’t say enough about this gem. Sam A.M. is a great spot offering delicious, well executed, simple but mindful food with amazing staff to serve it up.
I ordered the Mixed Berry Limeaide (refreshing and delicious), coffee (YUM), and the Southern Bell which is: avocado mash, fried green tomato, red bell pepper, caramelized onion, and ancho aioli. I added egg to the Southern Bell. Southern Bell + Egg= DELICIOUSSSSSSS!!!
If I get it again I would maybe get the aioli on the side but that’s just me.
I also ordered (to go) a blueberry danish, an apricot danish, and a chocolate croissant.
Blueberry danish was out of this world!!! Fresh blueberries and apricots in these danishes make these well worth the calories. The chocolate croissant was average but the danishes made up for it.
One thing besides the deliciousness that sets this place apart from the rest is the energy that you feel when you’re here. You can tell the owner and chef set the tone for the staff who all work so harmoniously together to create an extremely easy going, positive experience that resonates from their great service to their perfectly delicious food.

I cannot believe we’ve never been to Sam A.M. over the past 2.5 years in Jersey City. A tiny gem of a restaurant in Paulus Hook, perfect for breakfast, brunch and coffee.
The two of us came in around 11am on a Saturday morning and while the place was pretty full there was still a table for two open! The restaurant itself is teeny tiny and there’s also a counter if you want to get coffee to go. The crowd is very local and many people seem to come to Sam A.M. very often.
The service was attentive and the chef walked around to see if we had any questions about the menu. He was also very knowledgeable about the seasonal vegetables.
Got an adorable pot of tea and some coffee. I had the Spring Scramble which was absolutely delicious and my boyfriend had the Southern Bell Lunch Sandwich with an egg on it. I literally licked my plate clean. The food was so good and incredibly reasonably priced. We will absolutely be taking the trek down to Paulus Hook for more!
Extra points for the Grateful Dead playing during our meal!

This is a place I would recommend to come with just one other person. You’ll get seated quicker. For a table for 3+ expect to do some waiting. the place is tiny but busy! While I waited I ordered an iced vanilla latte… It was made with skim milk and very little vanilla syrup… Not good.
Once we were seated there were several «little» things that were overlooked during my visit. No milk/​cream offered when the coffee was given, no sugar packs, waitress forgot the ketchup, the iced vanilla latte that I reordered was forgotten as well and then when I finally got it. it was no bueno again.
I had the challah bread French toast with a side of scrambled eggs. Everything was great and made up for the other little stuff (maybe not my vanilla latte). Our server gave us the pastry (sticky bun was so good!) and drinks on the house, which we appreciated…3.5 overall.

Stopped in for breakfast on a Sunday with some friends after reading all the great reviews from fellow Unilocalers. Definitely became a fan of the place based on its food and location.
Located in my favorite part of Jersey City you have to keep your eyes open for this small café. Once you walk in (depending on the time) be prepared for it to be crowded. There are people who are waiting to place take out orders, people sitting down and eating, and others standing around waiting for their table to be called. It took us about 5 minutes to get greeted by a friendly waiter who then passed us over to the owner/​manager. Our total wait time was probably between 15 – 20 minutes.
For food I ordered «The Classic» which was a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich with a side of seasoned potatoes. I also wanted to try their cider donut but was offered the sticky bun because they were out of donuts. No complaints there! All 3 of us loved the sticky bun. Perfect pastry blend of cinnamon and almonds on top. My sandwich was delicious. The bread was toasted like a panini but not overdone where it is completely crunchy. The egg was cooked to perfection and that bacon! The bacon was probably my favorite part of the sandwich. Super crispy and salty. The meal itself was a good portion size and the additional side of potatoes were tasty as well.
The only downside to my first experience at Sam’s was the service. A+ for being friendly B for actual service. We were told two different wait times, when asked for certain items we were forgotten about, two different times asked if we preferred to sit by the bar after we had already informed them no, and the sugars at our table were all used up already. I’m sure this isn’t the usual for them all the time could have just been a busy Sunday.
I will definitely be going back and next time trying the French Toast. My friend ordered it and it looked delicious.

Super cute brunch spot in Exchange place, really rustic. Its small, seats probably like 20 people. I love the design and vibe, really laid back.
The menu is really simply. So I wanted to try the daily grits special, however by 12PM, they were already sold out, which was a little disappointing. The special today was philly cheesesteak.
So I went with the pulled chicken sandwich, and my SO went with the egg & cheese sandwich.
The pulled chicken was really simple and basically, which was delicious. The aioli it creamy and flavorful. However, what made the sandwich amazing was the side of cold slaw, probably the best I ever has.
The egg & cheese sandwich, was pressed, so it was super crispy and delicious. Can’t go wrong with that.
Berry lemonade, pretty blend, not too sweet or sour.
Definitely will be returning to this gem. I just wish there was outside seating.

Very cute and quaint but perfect for its location! Nice seating in the room and a table outside for sunny day! Their menu is not very broad but it is definitely tasty and does the job. We got the smoked salmon with cuke/​onion crème fraiche and classic 7 (Farm egg, thick bacon & Cheddar). The food was very delicious and even the take out order was packed nicely. They have specials thru the day so check the black board before ordering!

If you’re trying to get brunch in Jersey City, Sam AM is probably the best option. We went on an early Sunday afternoon, and had to wait about 45 minutes for a table for two. It was super easy to grab some coffee though, so at least we could sip on that while we waited (and they serve Stumptown coffee)!
I ate the spring scramble, which – as it sounds – is an egg dish with some veggies. Asparagus, some thinly sliced potato, and scallions too. The menu listed gouda too, which was either very sparse or just happened to be a very weak cheese. It came with marbled rye toast too, which was good, but wasn’t buttered.
My husband had the special shrimp and grits, which he enjoyed but felt the grits were lacking some flavor. And after sampling, I totally agree.
Overall, it’s a cute spot with good coffee in Jersey. A great option if you don’t want to take the Path other to the city!

Came in for breakfast on a weekday morning with my friend, Edgar V. It’s a very small café, seating for maybe 20, tops. The décor is pretty homey, and it was clean. Free beverage with Unilocal check-​in! I picked up a pretty good latte. The menu is pretty short, but they had most of the breakfast staples.
I ordered the chicken and waffles, with cranberry syrup and chicken gravy. I added an egg for an additional fee. The food was very good, but it was not filling at all. This was also the first time I had chicken and waffles where the chicken was not fried. The waffle was fluffy, and the chicken breast was not overcooked. Chicken gravy with cranberry syrup tastes awesome, but I probably should have gotten a side of potatoes instead along with the egg. The total cost would’ve ended up at $ 20, which is on the high side for breakfast.

Just paid a visit to Sam A. M café on Thursday for brunch with my guy! Has a very comfy homey feel to the location. Such a cute small café.
At first looking at the menu you can be disappointed by the small selection! However their menu does change seasonally! But just you wait till you try their food! It’s like a home cooked meal !!!
I tried their wild berry French toast and a side of potatoes. So tasteful! Definitely a great choice for those sweet toothed! My guy had their chicken and waffles. And boy let me tell you it’s not your typical chicken and waffles. One of a kind for sure! Which i highly recommend you try !!
Bön appetit ! :)

This is definitely one of those tiny picturesque brunch café tucked somewhere in Paulus Hook section of JC. If you come here on the weekends, expect 30 – 60 minutes wait (well except if you come here at 6:30 am xD). When we came here last Saturday around 11:30, we waited for about 45 minutes which I pretty much spent checking-​in on Unilocal,trying to decide what to order, and walking around the blocks (tip: you can go see Lady Liberty!).
The atmosphere felt like your best friend’s kitchen table, but this is definitely not a place to have a serious talk since it’s quite loud in there. We ordered chicken and waffle since I’ve just got so hooked into it recently as well as the winter scramble. I’d definitely recommend both items, the taste was so on point! The service here is pretty quick to even though they’re super busy.
I think this place is BYOB too, I had seen people bringing in their own wine bottles.

Skipping the winter scramble in favor of a special, I got the frittata. It was a fluffy concoction with spinach, chorizo and tomatoes that I promptly devoured. It followed the First Rule of Food Photography, which emphasizes the importance of reds and greens.
The small space is packed with cheerful Jersey City folks who could be models for upscale apartment ads posted at the Exchange Place stop. So I’d expect a crowd situation on weekends.

Don’t be fooled be looks by the looks of the place, it’s just another basic breakfast spot.
This restaurant gives off the feel of a homey, cozy, country type breakfast place that everyone enjoys. But beyond that it falls apart. Small space means it can be intimate seating. Service leaves more to be desired, and favors specific customers of the area. Now the food is not bad but nothing worth writing about, so expect mediocrity. Plus portion sizes are on the smaller size for the price point compared to other breakfast places.
Overall… overrated but maybe you’ll like it.

We were visiting our friends in Jersey City and they recommended that we stop by Sam A. M, which was probably one of the best meals I had that weekend.
When you walk into the restaurant, it has a rustic feel to it. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. We were seated immediately and were able to order our food without any difficulty. I had ordered the special of the day (pork ribs with grits). The food came out very hot and tasty. My only critique would be that the meat was slightly dry and definitely required some work to get it off the bone. The grits were cooked perfectly and tasted great.
The one thing I noticed was that people tend to come in waves. We were seated within minutes of arriving. About 10 minutes later, the people that came in had to wait about 30 – 40 minutes to be seated. The restaurant is definitely worth the wait so don’t let a longer time deter you from trying their food.
This will definitely become a regular place for me whenever I’m in the area.

Great place to grab brunch. No alcoholic drinks, but they do have great coffee, which is something I care more about. I can give up a mimosa, but I can’t give up coffee! I was hoping to get some cool latte art, but the design wasn’t anything special. Coffee was still really good, but I’m a sucker for cool art.
For breakfast, I ordered the apple pie french toast and my friend ordered the Atlantic sandwich. The apple pie french toast was delicious. I was afraid it would be too sweet. The name itself just sounds overly sweet. Luckily, it wasn’t. The apples were very tasty and seasoned well with cinnamon. Portions were a good size too. You get four big pieces of french toast! My friend really enjoyed her sandwich. The Atlantic had smoked salmon with lettuce, tomato and some sauce. The smoked salmon tasted really fresh. Portion wise, it looked a bit small, but I would say it was just as filling as the french toast.
Overall, this is a great breakfast/​brunch place. I will certainly be back here in the coming weeks to try more of their dishes!