A new burger joint has opened in the Paulus Hook neighborhood. Speedy’s JC now occupies the space at 84.5 Morris Street, Jersey City, that was once home to Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza. Read on to learn more about Speedy’s JC and what to expect when you visit.
The Concept Behind Speedy’s
Owner Dimitri Liberis, a Jersey City resident and NYC restaurant owner, started taking over Paulus Hook Brick Oven’s former space six months ago. Also owning the gastropub The Warren, located at 131 Christopher Street in New York City, Dimitri wanted to bring something “more accessible” to a spot across the Hudson River.
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“I’ve lived in Jersey City for about six years and, you know, being here in the neighborhood, I wanted to do something a little lighter and more playful than The Warren because there we’re doing the $72 ribeye and $28 burger, and it’s delicious and it’s great food, but we’re doing more higher-end bar food,” Dimitri tells HG. “I wanted to do something more accessible like this $10 burger and disco fries and playful salad bowls.”
^ Speedy’s disco fries, which are made with mozzarella cheese and beef gravy
After getting the necessary permits and renovating the space located in the historic neighborhood, Dimitri officially opened Speedy’s on Wednesday, March 9.
“I woke up one day and the name ‘Speedy’s’ just came to me! No joke,” Dimitri says. “We’ll see if it’s good or not — only time will tell. But I wanted to kind of convey what we’re doing. We’re doing fast, casual, grab and go, and I wanted it to reflect the concept of the place.”
About the Menu
The owner created Speedy’s menu with help from the chef, Juan Bautista. The goal was to create something “very different” from The Warren, which already has a famous burger (Warren burger, dry-aged blend with onion jam and frisee).
^ Speedy’s Burger (Pat LaFrieda blend, lettuce, tomato, onion, white cheddar, Speedy’s special sauce)
“I wanted to bring the burger back to its roots here,” Dimitri says. “The jumping-off point is the burger, but then what we also wanted to do is satisfy the demand for many different types of burgers. There are a lot of vegetarians in the neighborhood, there are a lot of vegans in the neighborhood, a lot of pescatarians, so we thought, ‘Okay, let’s do gourmet burgers, let’s make the price point affordable, and let’s bring something else to the table.’”
The menu includes Speedy’s burger made with Pat LaFrieda blend and Speedy’s special sauce, Speedy’s Jr’s burger, Cajun chicken burger, veggie burger (eggplant based), steelhead salmon burger, and Cubano burger made with pulled pork and ham.
The menu also includes various bowls, which have add-ons available like a hard-boiled egg, grilled chicken, and grilled shrimp, but is not customizable. The bowls consist of pre-created options including the classic Caesar salad bowl (see below), quinoa bowl, field green bowl, Greek bowl, and a salmon poke bowl.
The sides available to select from include house-cut French fries, disco fries made with mozzarella cheese and beef gravy, and vegetarian nachos made with soy chorizo, pickled jalapeno, and nacho cheese.
“We wanted to start with a small and simple menu. That’s always how I’ve started my restaurants. I like to build organically, see what the customers want and where they want to take it,” Dimitri tells HG. “I think generally you have an idea of what you want to do and then it turns into something completely different over time-based on demand, and you just have to be able to adjust.”
Check Out Speedy’s
Inside Speedy’s customers are able to quickly place an order, wait for it, and either enjoy inside or take it to go. There are three tables and a small counter for dining in. Due to the size of the space, the burger and bowls restaurant is focusing on delivery and take-out orders.
^ Photographed: Inside Speedy’s, 84.5 Morris St., Jersey City
“Going through the pandemic and seeing what we saw and how delivery and takeout really is a huge part of how people approach their culinary life, I wanted to jump in head first,” the owner shares. “The goal is just to get this up and running and really put all my energy into this place. Hopefully, we’ll have some outdoor tables and have a little bit of a vibe here and take it as far as we can.”
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Dimitri adds, “It feels really good to be part of the community. I frequent all the restaurants here and I know all the restaurant owners. It really is a small-knit community of restaurants, especially in Paulus Hook, because it’s a very specific neighborhood, so it’s just nice to be a part of it without a doubt.”
Speedy’s hours of operation are 11AM to 9PM seven days a week. For more information, visit Speedy’s website here, and follow them on Instagram here.
Don’t Tell Liv, a Speakeasy-Style Lounge, Opening 1/31 in Jersey City
After two years, a new bar coming to Jersey City's Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza is making its debut. Don't Tell Liv is an upscale lounge located on the second floor of 138 Newark Avenue, just steps away from the Grove Street PATH Station. It was first announced in December 2022 and is finally soft opening to the public on Friday, January 31st. Ahead of the opening, The Hoboken Girl got a sneak peek inside the space — keep reading for a look at Don't Tell Liv, opening today in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Backstory
The building at 138 Newark Avenue was built in 1897 and the ground floor is home to Oliva Market, an organic grocery store. Oliva Market will remain in place as Don't Tell Liv takes over the second floor of the building. The location on Newark Avenue now faces the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza, which was completed in 2022.
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Jersey Digs first reported on the business in 2022, when information surrounding the project was slim. Original renderings shared by the restaurant's designer evoked a speakeasy feel, with cozy banquette seating and cocktail tables. The designer called the project an 'upscale lounge.'
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Over the two years that followed, Don't Tell Liv flew under the radar. It wasn't until May 16th, 2024, that locals got an update: HDSID shared on Facebook that "exciting changes" were underway at the space, as "they prepare for the arrival of Don't Tell Liv."
Finally, in January 2025, the team is ready to open. Don't Tell Liv is soft-opening in Jersey City on Friday, January 31st starting at 5PM.
"1-31-25…Don’t Tell LIV
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#jerseycity #openingnight #tapas #nj #newarkave #newbar"
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The Concept
The team largely stayed true to its original vision. In 2025, Don't Tell Liv is that speakeasy-style lounge made manifest, with a sprawling bar, valor booth seating, and room for a DJ setup. There's a backroom that will eventually be available to rent for parties and other special events.
As for the menu, patrons can expect a variety of craft cocktails and small plates drawing inspiration from all kinds of cuisines — from cheesesteak sliders and charred octopus to a cheese board, a hummus platter, and bao buns. Per its website, Don't Tell Liv plans to introduce a Saturday "Bottomless Drink Brunch" and a Sunday "Boozie Brunch."
Night owls will likely find a new home at Don't Tell Liv, as the lounge is open until 2AM Tuesday-Thursday and 3AM Friday + Saturday. On Saturdays, even the kitchen is open late, shutting down at 12AM.
You can stay up-to-date with Don't Tell Liv on Instagram here and find more information on its website here.
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