Natural Start Introduce
For New Jersey residents looking for a restaurant that successfully marries the rich, comforting tradition of Soul Food with the versatility of an all-day breakfast spot, **Natural Start** in East Orange is a destination worth exploring. Located on Springdale Avenue, this establishment is a celebrated local gem that offers more than just a meal—it provides a hearty, culturally rich, and health-conscious dining experience.
Natural Start operates as a **Soul food restaurant, Breakfast restaurant, and Halal restaurant**, a unique trifecta that sets it apart in the East Orange, NJ culinary scene. The menu is famously extensive, catering to every craving from early morning to late evening, and the commitment to quality and ethical sourcing is evident in their **Halal Food** offerings, ensuring all meat dishes meet these strict standards and that the entire menu is pork-free. This inclusivity makes it a popular choice across diverse segments of the community, from **Locals** and **Family-friendly** groups to **College students** and **Groups** seeking satisfying food with great value.
The atmosphere is described as **Casual, Quiet, and Trendy**, offering a comfortable space to enjoy a morning coffee or a substantial dinner. Even during busy times, the restaurant is known for its **Fast service**, a major highlight that ensures customers receive their freshly prepared meals efficiently, whether dining in or ordering out.
Location and Accessibility
Natural Start is strategically situated at **390 Springdale Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017**. This location places it conveniently within the East Orange area, making it an accessible spot for students attending nearby universities and residents of the 07017 zip code. The central location contributes to its popularity as a regular dining spot for the community.
The restaurant is committed to accessibility for all guests, featuring a **Wheelchair accessible entrance**. For those driving to the location, the availability of both a **Free parking lot** and **Free street parking** is a significant convenience, eliminating the typical urban parking hassle. Furthermore, in an effort to provide seamless transactions, Natural Start accepts multiple payment options, including **Credit cards**, **Debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments**.
Services Offered
Natural Start provides comprehensive services designed to accommodate the varied schedules and preferences of the New Jersey community. The available service options include:
- **Dine-in:** Guests can relax and enjoy their meals in the casual and quiet dining area.
- **Takeout:** Perfect for customers who need a quick meal to take home or back to the office.
- **Delivery:** Convenient service bringing their menu items directly to homes and workplaces in the surrounding area.
The flexible dining options cover all parts of the day and special events:
- **Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner:** Offering extensive menu choices to fit any time of the day, with a heavy emphasis on morning and midday meals.
- **Catering:** The restaurant offers catering services, allowing customers to bring their popular soul food and specialties, like Jerk Chicken and Oxtails, to private parties and events.
- **Dessert:** A selection of sweet treats is available to finish off a hearty meal.
Features / Highlights
The most compelling features of Natural Start are its unique menu combinations and its focus on quality and customer experience:
- **Halal Soul Food:** The defining feature is the combination of traditional **Soul Food** dishes—such as **Oxtails**, **Jerk Chicken**, **Mac N' Cheese**, and **Collard Greens**—all prepared according to **Halal** standards, a difficult-to-find combination that is highly valued.
- **All-Day Breakfast & Fish Specialties:** Beyond traditional platters like **3 Eggs, Home Fries Or Grits, Toast**, the menu shines with its **Fish For Breakfast** section, including **Whiting Fish & 3 Eggs**, **Salmon Cake & Eggs On Roll**, and **Grilled Salmon & Eggs**.
- **Signature Smoothies & Juices:** The restaurant is known for its extensive juice bar, featuring freshly made, health-focused options like **Green Juice**, **Apple Beet Juice**, **Energy Boost** concoctions (**Power Up, Jump Start**), and delicious blends (**Melon Melody, Strawberry Paradise**).
- **Beverage Quality:** Highlighted for having **Great coffee** and a **Great tea selection**, making it a perfect morning spot.
- **Healthy & Comfort Food Balance:** The menu expertly balances hearty **Comfort food** like the **Cheeseburger Deluxe** and **Double Italian Turkey Cheeseburger** with **Healthy options** like salads and fresh juices.
- **Value and Portion Size:** Natural Start is frequently praised for its generous **portion sizes** and reasonable prices, offering excellent value for money.
- **Kids' Menu:** They are considered **Good for kids** and provide a dedicated **Kids' menu**, making it a reliable option for family dining.
Contact Information
To place a takeout or delivery order, inquire about catering, or check current hours, New Jersey patrons can use the following details:
- Address: 390 Springdale Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017
- Phone: (862) 520-1207
What is Worth Choosing
Choosing Natural Start means opting for a unique and high-quality fusion of breakfast favorites, classic Soul Food, and a commitment to Halal preparation, all delivered with efficient service right in East Orange, NJ.
The incredible variety on the menu ensures that whether you’re craving a savory **3 Pancakes, Meat & 2 Eggs** platter or a dinner of savory **Turkey Wing** or **Oxtails** with a side of **Candied Yams** and **Mac N' Cheese**, Natural Start delivers. The dedicated "Fish for Breakfast" section is a particular standout, offering a refreshing and protein-rich alternative to standard breakfast fare, perfectly paired with grits or home fries.
Beyond the hearty meals, the commitment to fresh, healthy options is a major draw. The impressive juice and smoothie bar, which features names like **Vitamin Boost** and **Healthy Glow**, provides a natural and flavorful way to start the day or refresh in the afternoon, appealing to the health-conscious local crowd. This ability to provide both indulgence and wellness options makes it versatile.
While some external reviews occasionally note inconsistencies in side dishes or minor issues with quality control on certain prepared desserts, the overriding customer sentiment is strongly positive regarding the main dishes, portion sizes, and the friendly nature of the staff. The excellent taste of key items like the wings, beef sausage, and primary platters consistently earns high praise. For a satisfying, culturally rich, and convenient meal that truly feels like a **Natural Start** to your day or a perfect ending, this East Orange spot is highly recommended for New Jersey locals.
Natural Start Food & drink
Salads
- Garden Salad
- Grilled Chicken Breast Salad
- Fried Chicken Breast Salad
- Fried Chicken Tender Salad
Burgers
- Burger Deluxe
- Cheeseburger Blt
- Cheeseburger Deluxe
- Double Cheeseburger
- Italian Cheeseburger
- Double Italian Cheeseburger
- Turkey Burger
- Double Turkey Burger
- Italian Turkey Burger
- Double Italian Turkey Cheeseburger
- Gyro Burger
- Surf & Turf Burger
Platters
- 3 Eggs, Home Fries Or Grits, Toast
- Western Omelet
- Corned Beef Hash
- French Toast, Meat & 2 Eggs
- 3 Pancakes, Meat & 2 Eggs
- Breakfast On A Roll
- Breakfast In A Cup
Fish For Breakfast
- Catfish Nuggets
- Whiting Fish & 3 Eggs
- Salmon Cake
- Salmon Cake & Eggs On Roll
- Grilled Salmon & Eggs
- Tilapia & Eggs
Sandwiches
- 2 Eggs On Roll Or Toast
- 2 Eggs On Roll Or Toast With Cheese
- Corned Beef Hash
- Corned Beef Hash, Eggs
- Turkey Sausage Or Chicken Sausage, Egg & Cheese
- Beef Or Turkey Bacon, Egg & Cheese
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Grilled Cheese With Meat
- Turkey Or Beef Bacon On Bagel Or Croissant With Egg
Fish
- Catfish
Energy Boost
- Power Up
- Jump Start
- Detox
- Energy Boon
- Vitamin Boost
- Apple Beet Juice
Delicious Smoothies & Juices
- Melon Melody
- Tropical Juice
- Wisdom Berry
- Strawberry Paradise
- Mango & Friends
- Rasp-Ban-Go
- Citrus Pine
- Green Juice
- Blue Bananas
- Spring Cleaning
- Good Morning Delight
- Healthy Glow
- Apple Blue
- Sweet Tart
- Banana Burst
- Cucumber Cooler
House Specials
- Kastle
- Applemon
- Bright Future
- Cool Lemon
Soul Food
- Curry Chicken
- Jerk Chicken
- Bbq Chicken
- Turkey Wing
- Stew Chicken
- Oxtails
- Grilled Salmon
- Fried Tilapia
- Catfish Nuggets
- Grilled Tilapia, Grits Or Homefries And Toast
- 5 Wings
- 6 Wings
- 3 Pc Whiting
Side Orders
- Macaroni Salad
- Potato Salad
- Mac N' Cheese
- Rice & Beans
- Steamed Broccoli
- Collard Greens
- Steamed Cabbage Seasoned
- Candied Yams
- White Rice
- Yellow Rice
Others
- Caesar Salad
- Tuna Salad
- Grilled Tilapia Salad
- Fried Tilapia Salad
- Grilled Salmon Salad
- Catfish Nuggets Salad
- Gyro Salad
- Grilled Delight
- Big Bird Snack
- Tilapia & Wings
- Catfish Nuggets & Wings
- Steamed Seasoned Cabbage
- Tossed Salad
Natural Start Details
Service options
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great coffee
- Great tea selection
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Offerings
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Halal food
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Quiet
- Trendy
Crowd
- College students
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- Locals
- Tourists
Planning
- Usually a wait
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Parking
Natural Start Photos










Natural Start Location
Natural Start
390 Springdale Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017, USA
Natural Start Reviews
wingssmoothiesoxtailgritspotato saladchicken and wafflesplatterssalmonphonehealthy
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I like their wings,cakes,cabbage, beef sausage egg & cheese, and smoothies. I don't like the potato salad, macaroni salad was too sweet for me. Mac&cheese didn't have the flavor I was expecting although the texture was there.
October 11 · Niki nikiThis was my first time trying this restaurant, and I’m usually very particular about where I eat. A coworker recommended it, so I gave it a shot.The store was extremely hot, likely because of the open kitchen and people coming in and out. It made the wait a bit uncomfortable, but I understand the setup. The staff was friendly, and the food came out quickly. I ordered the chicken and waffles, which were reasonably priced with a good portion size. The taste was great and definitely stood out.I also had a side of grits. They were pretty bland and lacked salt, which might come down to personal preference. However, they became extremely watery not long after being served, which was odd and not something I’ve experienced before.The major issue came when I went to eat the peach cobbler. I was shocked to find a large patch of mold on top. This was after I had already eaten everything else. It was really disappointing. It seems like the cobbler might not be made in-house, which could explain how it developed mold during transport. Still, there’s no reason something like that should be sold to customers. Fortunately, the mold was on top and not hidden at the bottom.My suggestion would be for the staff to check desserts like peach cobbler and banana pudding before serving them. A quick visual check or review of expiration dates can go a long way. I’m sure quality and safety are priorities already, but in this case, something was clearly missed
July 12 · Richard LowrieGet the large oxtail w/ candied yams and mac n cheese. You wont regret it.Their jerk chicken is also spicy as hell but delicious 🌶️ 🐔
August 10 · Abdulhamid SaeidThis place is AMAZING! The other day I ordered, Natural Start, for a late lunch/ early dinner. I was absolutely satisfied! I had got their Turkey Wing Platter w/ double Collard Greens and a side of Baked Mac n Cheese. EVERYTHING was so dang good! Excellent portion sizes and very reasonably priced. Also has the nerve to be delicious too!!!! I was expecting a regular (large) turkey wing, with a sample sized amount of the sides. The Turkey was extremely tender, they give you a lot of it, the collard greens were extremely satisfying and delicious, but the biggest surprise was how good the Baked Mac n Cheese was! Typically when you order from soul food spots the baked Mac just isn’t the best, especially given the price they typically charge. This place has great baked Mac! All in all, I was absolutely surprised by how delicious the food was, it was very comforting and home-y. The gentlemen who took my order was extremely attentive and caring. Made sure my order was fulfilled correctly. I’d HIGHLY recommend, Natural Start, to ANYONE looking for some great food, that is reasonably priced and you happen to be in the East Orange area 👍🏽
April 01 · KevLar Da DonThe chicken and shrimp taste old and cold. The macaroni and cheese taste old and was burnt. They keep serving left over food that seems like it's from the previois day or has been sitting out since early in the day. This is not the first time there had been an issue with the macaroni and cheese has been burnt or taste spoiled. This practice of serving food they may have been left over from the previous day needs to stop. You don't want to throw away the food because you may feel like you throwing money away may cost so much more money if someone get's sick. This an update I went again and the mac n cheese is spoiled, they either used spoiled cheese and milk. The cheese is literally curdled. . Also the batter is falling off the chicken. This place is s hit or miss kind of eatery. You are not guaranteed the food will be good or fresh. I have to find another soul food place does not sell spoiled food.
June 04 · Anonymous
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