Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill: Authentic Haitian Cuisine in East Orange, NJ

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill Introduce

For residents across New Jersey who crave authentic, deeply flavored Caribbean cuisine, **Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill** stands as a beacon in East Orange. Categorized as a premier **Haitian restaurant**, Elza’s offers a rich and diverse menu that captures the true essence of Haitian home cooking, served in a welcoming, comfortable setting. This establishment is much more than just a restaurant; it’s a cultural experience, serving up a wide range of traditional staples that are celebrated for their quality seasoning and generous portions, making it a beloved local institution.

The culinary philosophy at Elza’s centers on providing authentic Haitian fare, from crispy *Fritay* appetizers to succulent meat and seafood entrees, all prepared with what customers describe as a "well seasoned" and "clean" approach. The restaurant is immensely **Popular for Lunch, Dinner, and Solo dining**, perfectly suited for a quick, flavorful midday meal or a more relaxed evening gathering. Its commitment to offering diverse options is evident, with categories that include **Comfort food**, **Healthy options**, **Vegetarian options**, and even **Late-night food**, ensuring that every patron's needs are met at nearly any hour.

The **Casual** and **Cozy** Atmosphere makes it an excellent choice for a wide **Crowd**, including **Family-friendly** groups, small gatherings of **Groups**, and even **Tourists** looking for an authentic taste of the Caribbean. From the signature fried pork dish, *Griot*, to the expertly prepared stews and seafood, Elza's delivers a dining experience that is consistently highly recommended by the local East Orange community for its rich flavors and authentic preparation, truly bringing a taste of Haiti to New Jersey.

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Location and Accessibility

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill is conveniently located at **158 Sanford St, East Orange, NJ 07018**. This address places the restaurant in a centrally accessible area within Essex County, making it a prime destination for New Jersey diners from East Orange and surrounding towns.

Accessibility is a key priority for Elza’s, ensuring that the space is welcoming to all members of the community. The restaurant offers multiple features designed to accommodate various needs. For those traveling by car, there is **Free street parking** available, eliminating the hassle often associated with dining in urban environments. Furthermore, the establishment is proactively dedicated to full accessibility, providing a **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**, a **Wheelchair accessible restroom**, and **Wheelchair accessible seating**. This commitment to comfort and ease of access solidifies its status as a genuinely community-focused dining spot.

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Services Offered

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill provides a comprehensive suite of dining and service options to suit modern New Jersey lifestyles, whether customers prefer to eat on-site or enjoy their meal at home. The services offered include:

**Dine-in:** The restaurant features **Table service** in a **Casual, Cozy** setting, ideal for enjoying a meal with family or friends.
**Takeout & Delivery:** For maximum convenience, the full menu is available for both **Takeout** and **Delivery**, catering to those looking for a quick and easy dining solution.
**Reservations:** The business **Accepts reservations**, a useful feature for larger **Groups** or for planning a meal during peak **Lunch** and **Dinner** hours.
**Flexible Dining Times:** The menu is designed to accommodate various dining needs, offering options for **Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert**.
**Payment Options:** A range of modern payment methods are accepted, including **Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments**, making transactions quick and effortless.
**Menu Variety:** The menu features **Small plates**, which are excellent for sharing or trying multiple items, alongside main courses, stews, and a full section for **Etoufe De Legumes a L’haitienne** (Haitian Vegetable Stews).

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Features / Highlights

The defining characteristics of Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill that make it a favorite among New Jersey residents highlight its dedication to quality, flavor, and community:

**Authentic Haitian Cuisine:** The core feature is the authenticity of the food, offering traditional, well-seasoned dishes like *Griot* (Fried Pork), *Tassot De Cabri* (Fried Goat), and classic seafood preparations such as **Poisson Créole** and **Lambi Grillé Ou Lambi Aux Noix** (Grilled Conch).
**Comprehensive Menu Categories:** The menu is highly organized and extensive, featuring detailed sections for **Fruits De Mer (Seafood)**, various **Viandes or Meats** (including Stewed Goat and Oxtails), and **Volailles or Poultry** (like Poulet Grille and Stewed Turkey).
**Specialty Appetizers and Sides:** Highly flavorful starters like **Deblozay Fritay** (a mixed fried platter) and the savory **Accra** (Taro Root Fritters), coupled with specialty side orders such as **Side Of Mushroom Rice** (*Diri Djon Djon*) and **Side Of Fried Green Plantains**, offer a complete Haitian culinary experience.
**Inclusion of Vegetarian Options:** The availability of items like **Calalou Greens**, **Epinards** (Spinach Stew), and **Aubergine** (Eggplant Stew) under the *Etoufe De Legumes a L’haitienne* section, along with salads, ensures that there are satisfying **Vegetarian options** for non-meat eaters.
**Variety of Beverages and Desserts:** The restaurant offers unique house-made drinks, including **Haitian Homemade Juice** (like Passion Fruit and Soursop), alongside tempting desserts like **Batata Pudding**, **Carrot Cake**, and **Red Velvet Cake**.
**Positive Customer Feedback:** Real customer reviews consistently praise the food for being **"amazing,"** **"delicious and fresh,"** and **"very flavorful,"** with special mention of the **Griot** and the creole sauce.

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Contact Information

To place an order, make a reservation, or inquire about the menu, East Orange and New Jersey patrons can contact Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill directly:

**Address:** 158 Sanford St, East Orange, NJ 07018
**Phone:** (973) 673-3592
**Mobile Phone:** +1 973-673-3592

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What is Worth Choosing

If you are in the New Jersey area, choosing Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill means opting for one of the most authentically seasoned and comprehensive Haitian dining experiences available. What makes it truly worth choosing is the quality of the food and the wide selection of traditional dishes that showcase the rich culinary heritage of Haiti. The meticulous preparation, which loyal customers attest to as being worth the price, ensures that the flavor profile of every dish is deep and satisfying, truly like "Elders cooking," as one reviewer noted.

For first-time visitors or regular patrons, the best choices often lie in the deeply traditional sections of the menu. Start with the appetizer sampler, **Assortment D'Elza**, to get a taste of everything, including favorites like the crispy **Accra**. When it comes to the main course, you must try the signature **Griot** (Fried Pork), often lauded as the restaurant's best-selling item and perfectly served with *diriz kolé* (rice and beans) and a side of spicy, tangy *Pikliz*. Other highly recommended meat options include the flavorful **Stewed Goat** or the tender **Oxtails**. Seafood lovers will be drawn to the impressive whole fish dishes like **Poisson Créole** or the Caribbean delicacy, **Lambi (Conch)**, prepared either grilled or stewed.

The commitment to fresh ingredients extends to their produce-based dishes. The **Etoufe De Legumes a L’haitienne** section is a must-explore, featuring hearty vegetable stews like **Mirliton** (chayote) and **Lalo** (jute leaves stew), which are excellent for those seeking **Healthy options** or vegetarian meals. Paired with a vibrant **Haitian Homemade Juice**, a meal at Elza's is a complete, satisfying journey to the islands. Its combination of authentic food, convenient services like **Delivery** and **Takeout**, and a consistently friendly environment makes Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill an outstanding and highly valued establishment in East Orange, NJ.

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill Food & drink

Appetizers
Accra $14.00
Typical appetizer made from taro roots (yautia) fried to perfection. Six (8) pieces.
Deblozay Fritay $23.00
Accras, plantain, and sweet potatoes served with pork, chicken, goat or fish. The prices are vary depend on the meat--- Pork $20.00 Chicken $20.00---Goat $22.00 Turkey $20.00 Fish $ 38.00 and up
Ecrevisses Au Coco $15.00
9 Pieces of coconut shrimp served with Elza's homemade dip.
Chiquetaille De Hareng $17.00
Crunchy plantain chips with smoked fish spread, topped with creamy Goat cheese.
Batonnets De Poulet $14.00
Nine (9) pieces of chicken fingers. Served with Elza's homemade dip.
Cocktail De Crevette $17.00
Shrimp cocktail. five (5) Jumbo Shrimp with cocktail sauce.
Beignent De Crab A La Nyssa $12.00
Lump crab cakes served with tarter sauce.
Grilled Shrimp $15.00
Five (5) Jumbo Shrimp grilled with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Assortment D'Elza...!!!! Elza's Sampler....!!!!! $30.00
Elza's sampler. Buffalo wings, chicken fingers coconut shrimp (four pieces of each). Fried Tostones, with the house dip.
Petits Morceaux De Griots $13.00
Baby bite-sized crispy pork with butter spread and pickles.
Chiquetaille De Morue $17.00
Bacalhau relish (bacalao), crunchy plantain chips, codfish, green peppers, red peppers, onions, and parsley.

Fruits De Mer (Seafood)
Poisson Créole (2 & 3 Pounds) $40.00
Whole red snapper fried, grilled or stewed.
Poisson Grossel (2 & 3 Pounds) $40.00
The Whole Red snapper cooked with sea salt, sour orange with red, green peppers and onions.
Lambi Grillé Ou Lambi Aux Noix $40.00
Spicy. Savory slices of grilled conch with a spicy sizzling herb sauce.
Tilapia $25.00
Spicy. Fresh tilapia filet braised in an exotic creole sauce with onions, hot peppers, and garlic.
Stewed Shrimp $30.00
Several pieces of Jumbo Shrimp stewed in homemade sizzling creole sauce with red, green peppers and onions
Salmon Créole $25.00
Grilled salmon seasoned with a soft basil and lemon sauce.

Beverages
Haitian Homemade Juice $13.00
Grenadia, Citron, Corossole, with or with out milk in a 16oz of cup.
Canned Soda $1.00
Choose from our selection.

Etoufe De Legumes a L’haitienne
Calalou Greens $16.00
Vegetable stew.
Epinards $23.00
Spinach greens vegetable stew.
Lalo $24.00
Traditional artibonitian green vegetable stew.
Aubergine $16.00
Crushed eggplant mix vegetable stew.
Mirliton $23.00
Crushed chayote mixture vegetable stew.

Viandes or Meats
Stewed Goat $30.00
several chunk of goat meat stewed in Elza homemade creole sauce with red and green peppers and onions
Filet Mignon $29.00
Grilled New York steak served with your choice of créole sauce or one steak sauce.
Boulette De Viande $11.00
Meatball proudly served with Elza's homemade sauce.
Tassot De Cabri $29.00
Tender cubes of deep fried goat served with Elza's homemade sizzling creole sauce.
Griot $23.00
Succulent pieces of deep fried pork served sizzling creole sauce and pikliz (pickled veggie with scotch bonnet peppers).
Oxtails $30.00
Stewed with a spicy sizzling herb sauce with red and green peppers, tomatoes, and onions.
Stewed Beef $28.00
several chunk of beef stewed in homemade sizzling creole sauce with red, & green peppers and onions. Cooked to your perfection.

Appetizers
Batonnets De Poulet $14.00
Nine (9) pieces of chicken fingers. Served with choice of dipping sauce.
Grilled Shrimp $15.00
Four skewers with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Deblozay Fritay $23.00
Accras, plantain, and sweet potatoes served with pork, chicken, goat or fish.
Chiquetaille De Morue $17.00
Bacalhau relish (bacalao), crunchy plantain chips, codfish, green peppers, red peppers, onions, and parsley.
Ecrevisses Au Coco $15.00
Coconut shrimp served with phito's dip.
Chiquetaille De Hareng $17.00
Crunchy plantain chips with smoked fish spread, topped with creamy Goat cheese.
Assortment D'Elza $30.00
Elza's sampler. Buffalo wings, chicken fingers coconut shrimp (four of each). Fried Tostones, choice of dip.
Accra $14.00
Typical appetizer made from taro roots (yautia) fried to perfection. eight (8) pieces.
Cocktail De Crevette $17.00
Shrimp cocktail. Four jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce.
Petits Morceaux De Griots $13.00
Baby bite-sized crispy pork with butter spread and pickles.
Beignent De Crab A La Nyssa $12.00
Lump crab cakes served with tarter sauce.

Side Orders
Side Of Mushroom Rice $14.00
Riz dijon-dijon, traditional Haitian black rice.
Side Of Rice & Beans $13.00
Riz et pois colle.
Side Of White Rice $12.00
Riz blanc.

Salads
Chicken Salad $20.00
Grilled chicken breast with spring mix, tomato, onions, red peppers, green peppers.
Shrimp Salad $24.00
Grilled shrimp with spring mix, tomato, onions, red peppers, green peppers.
Chef's Salad $14.00
Spring mix with tomatoes, onions, red peppers, green peppers.
Goat Salad $24.00
Shredded fried pieces of goat with spring mix, tomato, onions, red peppers, green peppers.

Volailles or Poultry
Chicken Fingers (8 Pieces) $13.00
with choice of dips.
Stewed Turkey $24.00
Turkey stewed in homemade sizzling créole sauce.
Poulet Grille(Grilled Chicken) $23.00
Grilled pieces of Chicken marinated in Nyssa's homemade sauce cooked to perfection and served with a touch of Hyggens' homemade creole sauce with mixed vegetables
Grilled BBQ Chicken $25.00
Grilled pieces of Chicken barbecued with a spicy Sizzling Herb sauce with red and green peppers, Tomatoes and Onions
Stewed Chicken $24.00
Chicken sautéed in homemade sizzling creole sauce, with red, green peppers and onions
Poulet Frit $23.00
Elza's homemade succulent fried chicken served with homemade creole sauce.
Dinde Frit $20.00
Fried turkey served with homemade sizzling creole sauce.
Chicken Wings (8) Pieces $12.00
With choice of dips.
Poulet Jamaican $24.00
Jerk chicken with traditional Jamaican jerk chicken seasoning with cayenne peppers, butter, and lemon sauce.
Chicken Wings With Fries $15.00
with choice of dips.
Chicken Fingers (8 Pieces) With French Fries $15.00
with choice of dips.

Desserts
Batata Pudding $7.00
Pain patate.

Beverages
Canned Soda $1.00
Choose from our selection.
Haitian Homemade Juices. Such As: Passion Fruit, Soursop, And Lime Fruit. With Or Without Milk $13.00
Prepared with or without milk. Passion fruit, Corossole, Grenadia

Viandes or Meats
Oxtails $30.00
Stewed with a spicy sizzling herb sauce with red and green peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Served with white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Stewed Goat $30.00
several chunk pieces of goat meat stewed in homemade sizzling creole sauce cook to your perfection with red, green peppers and onions. Served with white rice, rice & beans or fried plantains
Filet Mignon $29.00
Grilled New York steak served with your choice of créole sauce or one steak sauce.
Tassot De Cabri $29.00
Tender cubes of deep fried goat served with Elza's homemade sizzling creole sauce. served with white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Boulette De Viande $11.00
Meatball proudly served with Elza's homemade sauce.
Griot.....!!! Fried Pork....!!! $23.00
Succulent pieces of deep fried pork served sizzling creole sauce and pikliz (pickled veggie with scotch bonnet peppers). It comes with either white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Stewed Beef $28.00
Several chunk pieces of beef stewed in sizzling homemade creole sauce with red , green peppers & onions. served with white rice, rice & beans or fried plantains

Haitian Spaghetti
Spaghetti W/Shrimp $25.00
Spaghetti W/Chicken $23.00
Steamed Mixed Vegetables $15.00
Sauteed in a Homemade Sizzling creole Sauce

Haitian Spaghetti
Spaghetti W/Shrimp $25.00
Spaghetti With Codfish...!!!1 Spaghetti Avec Morue....!!! $26.00

Kabobs
Pork Kabob $13.00
Five pieces of bite-sized pork on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Beef Kabob $15.00
Five pieces of bite-sized beef on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Gilled Conch Kabab $18.00
6 Pieces of grilled Conch on a stick with green, red peppers and onions
Chicken Kabob $13.00
Five pieces of bite-sized chicken breast on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Goat Kabob $17.00
Five pieces of bite-sized goat on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.

Desserts
Carrot Cake $9.00
Red Velvet Cake $9.00
Batata Pudding $7.00
Pain patate.

Lunch Specials
Choice Of Entrée - 1 Lunch Special $22.00
Chicken, turkey, or pork with white rice or rice and beans, soda or water included.
Choice Of Entrée - 2 Lunch Special $11.00
Vegetable stew with or without meat. Spinach or Mirliton with white rice or rice and beans, soda or water included.

Fruits De Mer (Seafood)
Tilapia $25.00
Spicy. Fresh tilapia filet braised in an exotic creole sauce with onions, hot peppers, and garlic.
Lambi...!!!! Conch.......!!!!!! $40.00
Spicy. Savory slices of grilled conch with a spicy sizzling herb sauce. served with white rice, rice & beans or fried plantains
Stewed Jumbo Shrimp $30.00
Several pieces of jumbo shrimp stewed in sizzling creole sauce with red, green peppers and onions. Served with white rice, rice & beans or fried plantains
Salmon Créole $25.00
Grilled salmon seasoned with a soft basil and lemon sauce.
Poisson Grossel $40.00
The whole Red snapper cooked with sea salt, sour orange with red, green peppers and onions it can be served spicy or none spicy. served with white rice, rice & beans or fried plantains
Poisson Créole $40.00
Whole red snapper fried, grilled or stewed. Served with white rice, rice & beans or fried plantains

Volailles or Poultry
Stewed Turkey $24.00
Turkey stewed in homemade sizzling créole sauce. served with either white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Poulet Jamaican.....!!!! Jerked Chicken....!!!! $24.00
Jerk chicken with traditional Jamaican jerk chicken seasoning with cayenne peppers, butter, and lemon sauce. Served with white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Chicken Wings (8) Pieces $12.00
served with Elza's homemade dip
Chicken Wings With Fries $15.00
8 pieces of wing with fries. Served with Elza's homemade dip.
Grilled BBQ Chicken $25.00
Grilled pieces of chicken barbecued with a spicy sizzling herb sauce with red and green peppers, tomatoes and onions
Poulet Frit (Fried Chicken) $23.00
Elza's homemade succulent pieces of chicken fried and served with Elza's homemade creole sauce. served with either white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Chicken Fingers (8 Pieces) With French Fries $15.00
8 pieces of Chicken fingers with fries. Served with Elza's homemade dip.
Chicken Fingers (8 Pieces) $13.00
8 pieces of Chicken fingers. Served with Elza's homemade dip.
Poullet Grillé (Grilled Chicken) $23.00
Grilled pieces of chicken marinated in our homemade creole sauce. Served with white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Stewed Chicken $24.00
Succulent pieces of Chicken in homemade sizzling creole sauce. cooked to perfection with red, green peppers and onions. served with white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains
Dinde Frit (Fried Turkey) $20.00
Fried turkey served with homemade sizzling creole sauce. served with white rice, rice and beans or fried plantains

Kabobs
Pork Kabob $13.00
Five pieces of bite-sized pork on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Chicken Kabob $13.00
Five pieces of bite-sized chicken breast on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Goat Kabob $17.00
Five pieces of bite-sized goat on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.
Beef Kabob $15.00
Five pieces of bite-sized beef on a stick with green peppers, red peppers, and onions.

Side Orders
Side Of Rice & Beans $13.00
Riz et pois colle.
Side Of Mushroom Rice $14.00
Riz dijon-dijon, traditional Haitian black rice.
Side Of Fried Green Plantains $11.00
Side Of White Rice $12.00
Riz blanc.

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill Details

Service options
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings
Coffee
Comfort food
Healthy options
Late-night food
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegetarian options

Dining options
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Table service

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy

Crowd
Family-friendly
Groups
Tourists

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Free street parking

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill Photos

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Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill Location

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill

New Jersey Essex County East Orange Sanford Street

158 Sanford St, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA

Elza's Restaurant Café & Grill Reviews

An average rating of ★3.8 from 171 user reviews.

friedpaygriotoxtailstewphoneto goplatterbeansdollars

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

The food here is amazing. It is a bit pricey, but it’s worth it to me! I rather spend a few extra dollars for well seasoned clean Haitian food then bland/rushed Haitian food. I’ve never had a problem with customer service so I’m guessing that issue was fixed from reading previous posts, and the place is nice and clean. I would highly recommend.
April 11 · Christy F
Found a local Haitian restaurant and excited that it's close to me. Ordered their lunch special Griot and diriz kolé (Pork chunks with rice and beans for $9.99). The lunch specials come with a drink per the menu, they forgot my drink however. But check with the server to confirm. The food smelled so good, I couldn't wait to get it home. At first glance it was nicely presented with some chopped peppers and onions on the fried pork bites as garnish. The meat bites were a decent size, a little smaller than usual, but flavorful. The pork had a nice spice to it, not dry and well cooked. The rice was nicely cooked as well. The tomato based sauce was decent, not as flavored as I'm used to, but not bad either. Overall, for my first time, I am rating it a solid 4. The restaurant is small, but quaint and the hostess was friendly. Will be visiting again to see if they are consistent and if other items are just as good. As for now, thumbs up.
September 29 · Starlica Reiné
The other day I got Elza’s Restaurant Cafe & Grill for lunch. Talking about some great food!!!! I ordered their Griot lunch platter w/ White Rice, & Sos Pwa. The pork tips were great. The Sos Pwa (bean sauce) was immaculate. And the total meal was absolutely amazing. Haitian food in general is the best. The lady who took my order was very attentive and courteous. This place was all around great. Atmosphere, tantalizing food, and excellent customer service! Can not wait to try this place again. Would highly recommend Elza’s to anyone look for some great Haitian food in the East Orange area!
November 02 · KevLar Da Don
Their portion size is great. The food is good, and they have great customer service. The time that they tell you your food will be ready is true. Your food will actually ready when you arrive to pick it up. Best customer service I’ve gotten from a Haitian restaurant. Definitely recommend.
February 19 · Melissa Louis-Jean
Elza's Restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with delicious food and friendly service. The menu boasts a variety of flavorful dishes that satisfy any craving. From the moment you step in, the welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff make you feel right at home. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Eliza's is a must-visit spot for a memorable meal.
March 16 · Joseph Clerger