Jackie & Son in South Orange

New breakfast and lunch place in South Orange on S.O. Ave. across from Rite Aid.

Long lines yesterday. Juices/Smoothies, baked goods, Eggs and French Toast for Breakfast. Wraps, Sandwiches, Pitas, Salads for lunch.

Anybody try it?


Yes, today and loved it! Had pancakes and hubby had egg dish served over stewed  vegetables. We picked up fresh baked pastries and loved the coffee. Great decor and vibe. Will go tomorrow for lunch to try that menu. This place is a winner!


we've been twice. First day it opened for lunch and last Sunday for brunch. 

Everything is good. Fresh ingredients. Lines are long but service is efficient. I drive by everyday and it's always busy. Good for them! It's got a great vibe. My (young adult/teen) girls loved it. 

I don't go out for lunch or coffee often so it will be more of an occasional spot for me, but I know it will be really popular. 



Great to hear! Nice to have a new destination toward that end of the Avenue.


its really good. Salad with grilled chicken, avocado toast, scones have all been winning orders. Honestly I’m a bit surprised at their success given that I don’t think the location is all that great, ie not a lot of foot traffic for grab-and-go business. But they’re nailing it. 


I am hoping to get there soon. It looks great. Such a striking visual difference when you're driving into town from that direction. The space is open and brightly decorated. That space has been a dark and muted spot for a long time. It adds a vibrancy to that end of town.

I spoke to the owner briefly and she gave me a takeout menu. There's municipal lot right there so hopefully that helps.


Food very good.  Service as well.  Some start up glitches, minor


To the owners -signage outside way to small and font illegible.  I drove by multiple times unable to read it, until I read about it on MOL


Also, please, it’s hortibly loud. Not a single soft surface.  That might work in a place like Starbucks where you sit only a little while, but it’s unbearable for a pleasant lunch


For those of who work from home and like a respite - there wasn’t a single available outlet to plug into.  In this day and age that’s unforgivable 


I am sure they don't want people sitting so long that they need an outlet. It's not a Starbucks model. It's a restaurant. They need to sell food and turn tables.


conandrob240 said:
I am sure they don't want people sitting so long that they need an outlet. It's not a Starbucks model. It's a restaurant. They need to sell food and turn tables.

 this is more like  coffee shop than a restaurant....   you get in line to order, if you got coffee and a pastry say, you'd take it and sit down and never see a server.  I think at this level of "casual" being able to charge a phone or use a laptop is expected.


peteglider said:
For those of who work from home and like a respite - there wasn’t a single available outlet to plug into.  In this day and age that’s unforgivable 

 The space was a gut reno so it had to be a conscious decision to not have outlets and thus not cater to the wfh crowd. Place is a bit pricey and I’d imagine revenue is such that they are not second-guessing themselves.  


I don't think there is an expectation that you are going to sit for a long time and use their electricity. I would think that (other than Starbucks who has that as part of their business model), most restaurants don't want people sitting there for hours, using electricity and spending the cost of a coffee or danish. I'd never expect to plug in anywhere (except maybe a Starbucks). I would actually think it would pretty rude to do so at most places.


jimmurphy said:
Great to hear! Nice to have a new destination toward that end of the Avenue.

Two new destinations at that part of the Avenue -  Bayleaf Indian Cuisine was packed when we were there last week. 

It's very nice to see, plus the Village Hall restaurant/beer hall is supposed to open late summer/early fall next year. 



conandrob240 said:
I don't think there is an expectation that you are going to sit for a long time and use their electricity. I would think that (other than Starbucks who has that as part of their business model), most restaurants don't want people sitting there for hours, using electricity and spending the cost of a coffee or danish. I'd never expect to plug in anywhere (except maybe a Starbucks). I would actually think it would pretty rude to do so at most places.

 Village Coffee encourages the use of tablets and laptops.........mainframes by reservation only


Work and Play is right next door so it's possible they omitted outlets for that reason. 

I didn't find the noise level to be unbearable. We did ask for the wifi password and don't think we were able to get it but it was a very busy time. 



I understand its part of cafe culture now, especially SB, but the idea that a restaurant has to accommodate your novel writing, or email perusing, or pretending to do those things while checking out potential love interests, is not an idea that I'm on board with.  It's a tough business that needs to have table turnover.  


I used to love to go to Cafe Meow, but more than once I would walk in and see that every single table was taken, more than half by a single person with a laptop and a cup of coffee, so instead of ordering actual food I would end up getting just a coffee to go.  If I’m the only person that happened to then I’m sure it didn’t hurt their bottom line, but I have to think that this new space may have thought about this and it might be deliberate 


As someone already pointed out, work and play is right there, and they actually want you to hang there for 3 hours


bub said:
I understand its part of cafe culture now, especially SB, but the idea that a restaurant has to accommodate your novel writing, or email perusing, or pretending to do those things while checking out potential love interests, is not an idea that I'm on board with.  It's a tough business that needs to have table turnover.  

 That it is tough business I am aware.  My Grandfather bought and sold restaurants .  He was a good cook but maybe not such a good business person.  During the Depression no penniless person ever left his stores without being fed a full meal with all dignity afforded paying customers.

He certainly did not die rich but let me tell you he was much loved and respected in the neighborhood. And also,  they don't make coffins with pockets.

Laptops........he would have run an extension for you behind the counter



I really didn’t find this place expensive. Sandwiches for 2 was about $20. 

The food was delicious. Service with a smile and great attitude. 

The noise though...  wouldn’t go there to chat with someone 

Lack of outlets - clearly obvious choice or oblivious, that’s not a deal breaker to go back.  Seems like a customer friendly thing to provide, kinda goes hand in hand with having public wifi.  


A nice thread about a new restaurant in town that is doing extremely well devolves into whether it should have electrical outlets for customers. Sheesh. 

Thank you, Jackie and Son, for opening in South Orange. 



cramer said:
A nice thread about a new restaurant in town that is doing extremely well devolves into whether it should have electrical outlets for customers. Sheesh. 
Thank you, Jackie and Son, for opening in South Orange. 


 I agree that I'm happy they've opened. I think the debate about the nature of such a place as an annex office is interesting, although it's taken a crabby tone here.

I work as a trainer for a medical device company and drive all over the middle of NJ (and NYC for ten years). I've had a lot of business meetings and training sessions (as well as doing expense reports and email etc) in everything from Au Bon Pain to Panera to Dunkin Donuts to Starbucks to all manner of diners and coffee shops. I love finding outlets and free Wi-Fi, but I honestly don't expect them. I have dealt with the same frustration spontaneous describes above where every available seat in a place is taken by someone on a laptop who clearly wasn't actively eating or drinking anything.

I had that same exact experience at Cafe Meow, where it was completely packed with people hanging out with almost nothing in front of them.

I'm sure it's a choice a new cafe has to make about what clientele they are hoping for. Looking at their menu I don't think this is just a coffee and pastry place. They want people coming in for breakfast and lunch, and they'll need tables to turn over.

Just as a side note, I just left Cedar Ridge bakery not long ago after a tasty brunch. I didn't spot any outlets in there. 


as I mentioned we went for brunch. We were actually going to go to cedar ridge last Sunday but they were closed for kitchen renovations. My daughter said the vibe is kind of similar. (I haven't had a meal at cedar ridge in a long time but they're expanding the menu a bit and I hope to stop in soon.)


Cedar Ridge was good. One thing to note: Cedar Ridge only does breakfast on Sundays, no lunch menu. Tons of vegetarian/vegan offerings for those who want such things. I on other hand had the bacon cheese frittata.

I would have liked to have tried some of the things on their lunch menu - it does look expanded. Another time.


I also remember the problem at Cafe Meow.  I tried numerous times to patronize the restaurant but there was no place to sit because of people with a laptop and either a cup of coffee or nothing.  I wasn't surprised they went out of business.  It was a shame. 


NoraCharles said:
I also remember the problem at Cafe Meow.  I tried numerous times to patronize the restaurant but there was no place to sit because of people with a laptop and either a cup of coffee or nothing.  I wasn't surprised they went out of business.  It was a shame. 

 Also though Cafe Meow had  a  business model that promoted selling coffee and yummy deserts

only.   Probably not enough of a profit margin to pay the rent at an expensive corner


Cafe Meow also had soup, sandwiches and salads.  But without being able to get a seat it was often not possible to get something to eat.  


NoraCharles said:
Cafe Meow also had soup, sandwiches and salads.  But without being able to get a seat it was often not possible to get something to eat.  

 This.  I loved their salad, it was a Waldorf type salad, but it wasn’t something I was going to get to go. If I got there and there was no place to sit I’d end up not getting food


Besides the laptop peeps, there were the stroller moms who would camp out with a cup of coffee and maybe a scone. I walked away a couple of times when there was no room to sit and several strollers.


If you are just going for lunch, I would think not having an outlet for up to an hour is fine.  I am actually sick and tired of going to places and seeing people sitting together and both looking at their phone/ipad, etc instead of eating/chatting.  If you are looking for a free place to charge your phone/computer and a quiet environment go to the library.  

 



From the Jackie and Son website: "Whether you are in a rush and need to grab take out, seeking a great vibe to work or hang out while chowing down, or looking for the ultimate dining experience, Jackie & Son will hit the spot every time." 

Sounds more like a work lunch spot than a place to hang out with your laptop.  I will check it out this weekend.


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