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Owner story · Jersey City

“There’s nothing I love more than hearing that Brightside Tavern is someone’s ‘place.’”

Tommy Parisi · Founder and owner, The Brightside Tavern

Tommy Parisi with a mug outside The Brightside Tavern, under its awning: pizza, wings, burgers, desserts
Brunch plates at The Brightside: eggs, bacon, home fries and an omelette

Bright and Monmouth, since 2011

Tommy set out to give Jersey City its own Cheers.

Tommy Parisi sold carpet for more than 20 years, then opened a gelato shop on York Street called Tommy 2 Scoops, and the name stuck to him. At Bright and Monmouth he rebuilt an old saloon in a 100-year-old building, around its original brick, and opened The Brightside Tavern in 2011. Monday Night Jazz has run there since 2013. Tommy, who once sang Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” on Showtime at the Apollo, sometimes takes the stage himself, and he keeps a list of birthdays on his phone: more than 30 personal wishes go out every morning.

“I write down a few interesting facts about everyone — that’s how I remember.”Tommy Parisi, to Hoboken Girl, 2020
Tommy Parisi with a microphone, under string lights

The menu

Tavern classics, with brunch served every day.

Tommy sums up the menu as “good burgers and good wings,” and it runs from there to thin-crust pizza, sliders, wraps, salads and pasta, with his own Italian pizza and Italian omelette. Brunch is served every day, and dessert includes homemade gelato.

Fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil, on a thin crust

Slice of heaven

Margherita pizzaFresh mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil, on a thin crust
Buffalo, BBQ, teriyaki or garlic parmesan

Small bites

Chicken wingsBuffalo, BBQ, teriyaki or garlic parmesan
Turkey, bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato and chipotle aioli

Handheld delights

Turkey B.L.A.T.Turkey, bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato and chipotle aioli
Fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, tomato, mushroom, onion and Italian sausage

Brunch, every day

Tommy’s Italian OmeletteFresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, tomato, mushroom, onion and Italian sausage
Cheddar cheese and fried onions

Mini burgers

Beef slidersCheddar cheese and fried onions
Arugula, spicy cashews, apples and roasted garlic vinaigrette

Soups n’ salads

Gorgonzola Apple saladArugula, spicy cashews, apples and roasted garlic vinaigrette
A shrimp and garlic pizza from The Brightside

Delivery at The Brightside

Pinkbot brings The Brightside to the door.

  • A hands-on hostHoboken Girl found Tommy moving between the dining room and the kitchen, serving dishes and sometimes making deliveries himself.
  • Delivery and takeoutThrough the pandemic the kitchen kept cooking. As Tommy put it: “We’ve kept people working. We’ve been making food for delivery and takeout.”
  • Since January 2026Pinkbot carries The Brightside’s orders from 141 Bright Street to customers’ doors.
“I love entertaining people and making them happy.”

Tommy Parisi · “We do a lot of things to make people feel comfortable.”

Visit The Brightside

Food, drink and fun at Bright and Monmouth.

141 Bright StJersey City, NJ 07302
Order onlineBook a party@brightsidetavern
The Brightside Tavern on Bright Street, with awnings for food and drinks under its sun sign
Food on one side, drinks on the other.Monday Night Jazz, karaoke and comedy through the week, and party rooms for birthdays, showers and corporate events.

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Keep more of every order.