From the same owner as popular Jersey City bistro Broa and Tamborim Bar and Grill comes an anticipated new café, Eira. Located on Mercer Street, Eira is restaurateur Michael Casalinho’s latest project. It is a Portuguese café that focuses on satisfying sweet cravings with their traditional dishes. They serve a variety of foods for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Fans of Broa received teasers of the new café throughout 2020 on Eira’s Instagram, but now the wait is over.

Likewise to Broa’s old fashioned look, Eira’s theme is simple. The eatery opened in early January 2021. Eira’s Instagram has posted just a few of the many dishes that are available to purchase in-store. The full menu, however, is yet to be released. The “soft launch” allows customers an insight into the café and what to expect in the coming weeks. 

Items Ready For Pickup

Eira has many desserts ready for pickup, including freshly baked pastries such as pastel de nata, pastel de tentúgal, and chocolate croissants. Eira explains the origins of their desserts on their Instagram, offering insight into the history behind the Portuguese delicacies. Their milk tarts come in a scattered mixture of flavors containing chocolate, carrot, and coffee, amongst others.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKmRoeoDO7N/

Alongside desserts, Eira serves espresso drinks, a staple in Portuguese breakfast, and chocolate milk. Loaves of bread, such as pão da avó and pão de alfarroba, are baked every morning.  There are also options for customers who don’t enjoy sweets. They can buy pantry items such as nuri (canned sardines) and salmão fumado. Owners of the café also frequently reply to comments left under their Instagram posts. One reply says that sandwiches are soon to be announced as items on the menu.

Eira Café is located at 24 Mercer St. in Jersey City and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Stay tuned for more information on their Instagram.

Main image via @eira_pt