JERSEY CITY, NJ —
August 28, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
New two-concept eatery brings steak, seafood, and Latin-Caribbean flavors to Downtown Jersey City.
Bembe Steak & Raw Bar has soft-opened at 143 Newark Avenue, filling a vacancy that had been empty for much of 2026. The new spot from Chef Darryl Harmon brings two distinct concepts to the former Better Days space on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza.
The opening adds a fresh dining option to one of Jersey City’s busiest pedestrian corridors, giving locals a casual eatery plus a soon-to-launch elevated steakhouse experience. The return of activity to this storefront signals continued vitality for the downtown food scene.
Bembe’s first concept, Steaks Shakes + Harmony, is a casual spot in the back of the space, while the front bar offers a full cocktail menu and small plates focused on seafood and steak with Latin and Caribbean influences.
The soft-open menu includes lobster rolls, steak burgers, pollo a la brasa chicken chimi sandwiches, coconut curry rice bowls, grilled octopus, and oysters with salsa verde garlic butter. Sauces like jerk butter and chimichurri rojo are available for customization.
Bembe is now soft open and features two concepts so far, with the steakhouse dining room launching soon, according to the restaurant’s team.
Impact: Residents and visitors can now enjoy a new dining spot in the heart of downtown, with the additional steakhouse experience expected to draw a more upscale crowd once it opens.
What Happens Next: The steakhouse dining room has no confirmed opening date yet; updates are expected via the restaurant’s Instagram @bembesteakjc. The front bar is currently open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As Bembe’s full concept rolls out, Jersey City’s Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza continues to evolve with new culinary offerings.
Source: Jersey Digs
