More Than Coffee, Books and Jazz, Man

Despite the slightly gruesome name, Van Gogh’s Ear Café is a pleasant coffee shop that somehow pulls off a cool-but-not-pretentious vibe. Conveniently located right off Parkway exit 140 in Union, the café is situated on a bustling main street. It’s hard to miss this place – there is a giant, faux-stained glass painting of Van Gogh on the front window.

Inside, shelves full of used books (for sale, by the way) line the large room and help to section off some of the more secluded areas. A huge Van Gogh-esque mural covers one section of wall, and there’s a fireplace at the far end of the room. The tables and chairs are typical of a café like this, in that none of them match. Each isolated seating area could easily be your friend’s dining room, your favorite reading spot, or grandma’s parlor, if you happen to have the sort of grandma who has a parlor.

The whole feel of the place is comfortable and homey. You can feel free to borrow something from the bookshelves, or grab one of the random Uno decks that are lying around, if you’re looking to wile away the hours. Or you can head out back to the patio for some fresh air and candlelight.

As you would probably expect, the menu features a wide variety dessert, coffees and teas. But there’s also a great selection of appetizers, wraps, salads, and even dinners, the most expensive of which is $12 (there is shrimp involved). I’ll have to go back and try some of their dishes, but if the apple crumb pie I ate is any indication, everything is delicious. Keep in mind they don’t have a liquor license, but feel free to bring wine if you so desire.

Van Gogh’s Ear is more than just food, drink, and relaxation; it offers a cultural experience as well. Every month, the café features a different local artist’s work, and any aspiring painter can submit his or her portfolio to be considered for display. Amateur musicians are welcome to participate in an acoustic open mic night on Tuesdays. Or, if you’re more inclined to let someone do the entertaining for you, stop by on Sundays for jazz night (just a $3 cover). For a different kind of entertainment,“intuitive tarot card reader” Caroline is on duty Thursday evenings.

Whether you want to impress a date with the local art scene, drink a ton of coffee and chat with friends, or hang out with a borrowed book, this versatile spot will suit every one of your coffee shop-related fancies.

Van Gogh’s Ear Café
1017 Stuyvesant Ave
Union
(908) 810-1844
www.vangoghsearcafe.com

— by Nicole Little
Nicole, GoOutJersey's associate editor, is a Nutley native and recent Weehawken transplant. She loves dining out and imposing her opinions on others, which makes her a well-qualified reviewer.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed!