On Monday evening, a steady flow of families and young professionals entered Punjab Meet House, a new Indian restaurant on Newark Avenue in Jersey City. The restaurant is the latest project from Jimmy Rizvi, who has spent over two decades in Jersey City while working in Manhattan’s restaurant scene. Rizvi is best known for running GupShup in Gramercy and Bungalow in the East Village, both known for drawing crowds and difficult reservations.
Punjab Meet House is a departure from Rizvi’s Manhattan projects. The menu centers on North Indian classics like butter chicken, goat curry, and dal makhani. Prices for mains run from $18 to $28. Most tables ordered the house specialty, a slow-cooked lamb dish served with naan and fresh herbs.
Rizvi said he saw an unmet demand in Jersey City’s sizable South Asian community, which has grown along Newark Avenue over the past decade. On a recent Tuesday, the dining room filled up by 8 p.m., with groups speaking Hindi and Gujarati at several tables. Staff said weekends have been busiest so far, with reservations recommended.
The new opening comes as Jersey City’s restaurant scene expands beyond fast-casual spots and traditional Indian sweets shops. Punjab Meet House joins a cluster of new openings in the area this summer, catering to both longtime residents and recent arrivals from Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Rizvi said he commutes less now, focusing on the new project and spending more time in Jersey City. "It’s a different pace here," he said. "But the expectations for good food are just as high."