Merge Cafe - Union City

This cafe is fantastic, especially for brunch. We always order the crab Benedict and huevos rancheros, along with coffee and mimosas. Everything is beautifully presented, and the gentleman who seems to be the owner or server consistently delivers excellent service.

This is the best brunch spot in town! The French toast was incredible, and the Crab Cake Benedict is a must-try.

I recently dined with friends and had a wonderful experience. We started with the crab cake appetizer, which was excellent and paired with a fantastic sauce. For my main course, I chose the Shrimp Scampi, and it was outstanding. The balance of lemon, butter, and fresh garlic was just perfect. Simply delicious! The service was friendly and adequate. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meals.

**Original Review:** My initial visit left me feeling somewhat conflicted about this restaurant, and I'm uncertain if I would give it another chance. While the food was generally good, the service and atmosphere felt a bit chaotic. Part of my hesitation stems from the possibility that some issues might have been situational, but perhaps this is a regular occurrence. We arrived at least five minutes before the official opening, so they might not have been ready for guests, but they kindly let us in to escape the rain. I had made a reservation via Yelp, which may not have been necessary at that time, yet they were nearly full by the time we left less than an hour later. Two large parties arrived, which made the environment quite loud, with guests talking over one another. Additionally, the presence of many trainees resulted in frequent table shuffling and less attention from our primary waitress. At least five different staff members interacted with us, but each seemed focused on a single task without considering the overall dining experience (like offering coffee, pepper, checks, etc.). I ordered the Eggs Benedict, which was quite tasty, featuring a particularly light and lemon-flavored hollandaise sauce. The Canadian bacon was slightly thicker than I prefer, but still enjoyable. My wife ordered the prosciutto and truffle oil pizza, which she also liked. However, I ordered a side of pork sausage, which didn't meet my expectations as it was essentially one chorizo link cut in half and deep-fried. We decided against taking the table near the door, fearing a draft, but we still experienced a decent breeze that left my potatoes cold well before I finished my meal. I’m torn between wanting to try more dishes here and my dissatisfaction with the atmosphere. **Update June 16, 2018:** I visited again today with a group of six. Most of us enjoyed the food, though one egg dish was served completely cold. The service experience was similar to my first visit, though a bit more attentive this time. Strangely, both visits resulted in everyone else receiving their food before us. We arrived at the door ten minutes before opening again and were graciously allowed inside. However, as the first to arrive, we were still among the last to be served. While it was much warmer outside than my previous visit, the air conditioning worked well, making the dining area a tad chilly. Although my wife appreciates the atmosphere, the service dynamics deter me from wanting to return.

This charming hidden gem is conveniently located between Union City and Weehawken, right at the intersection of Park and Broadway. The interior is cute and chic, exuding a rustic charm. They serve fantastic freshly squeezed orange juice and Lavazza coffee. The avocado toast is excellent, topped with an egg and accompanied by fries—though I would have preferred a salad instead. The salmon eggs benedict were decent, but the salmon was a bit colder than I'd like, and the poached egg could have been runnier. The chicken sandwich, served with fries, was delicious and flavorful. The service was outstanding; however, it was a little too warm inside, possibly due to the A/C not being quite sufficient for the space. Overall, this place is very good, in a great location, and I look forward to returning to try dinner or lunch in the future.