West & Co restaurant in West NY, NJ

West & Co. Restaurant Review: A must try spot in West NY, NJ

West & CO.
45 Riverwalk Place, Port Imperial,
West New York, NJ

A modern American brasserie with sweeping Manhattan skyline views, West & Co. blends classic comfort dishes, polished design, and a lively bar scene right on the Hudson River waterfront.

Cuisine

Fare: Classic American brasserie with French bistro influences.

Price: Moderate - Expensive

Chef and culinary leadership

Executive Chef: Wander DeBrito

Chef Debrito, a French Culinary Institute graduate, comes with experience at Michelin recognized restaurants including Del Posto and Gramercy Tavern, bringing fine-dining discipline to a more relaxed brasserie setting.

His Specialized style of cooking:

  • Signature: Classic brasserie fare with showmanship—tableside touches, seafood towers, and nostalgic dishes reimagined with modern presentation.
  • Philosophy: Comfort food that feels indulgent yet polished, designed to be passed around the table and remembered.

Ingredients, quality, and preparation

  • Quality: Emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients and simple, thoughtful preparation—classic techniques with modern plating.

  • Approach: Brasserie-style dishes designed for sharing, with attention to texture, sauces, and tableside touches (e.g., French Dip with tableside horseradish shaving).

Menu Highlights:

Oysters, clams, and chilled seafood towers. Mussels & Frites. Branzino Amandine. Octopus Carpaccio. Chicken Paillard

Ambiance and design

Décor and vibe

  • Overall style: Classic American brasserie reimagined through an Art Deco lens.

  • Design elements:

    • Warm white oak millwork and a dramatic central “Oak Cascade” column
    • Curved banquettes and hand-carved corbels
    • Terrazzo style floors, cane-backed chairs, and layered ceilings
    • 1920s inspired bar with a “liquor candy shop” feel

Scenic views:

  • Waterfront setting: Directly on the Hudson River at Port Imperial.
  • Views: Panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Manhattan skyline—especially striking at sunset and after dark.

Table spacing and noise level

  • Capacity: 250 seats, including bar, dining room, and terrace.
  • Spacing: Banquettes and zones create pockets of intimacy, but it’s still a lively, social room.
  • Noise: Generally moderate—energetic but not club loud, with conversation still possible at most tables.

Ambiance:

  • Elegant: Yes—polished finishes, curated lighting, and a design driven interior.
  • Industrial chic: Light touches (large windows, scale of the space) but more Art Deco and brasserie than raw industrial.
  • Casual: Dressy casual; you can come for a relaxed meal, but it feels special enough for occasions.
  • Outdoor dining: Waterfront patio for al fresco dining along the riverfront.

Hidden speakeasy – The Wax Room:

  • Concept: Invitation only speakeasy accessed through the kitchen and up a discreet staircase.
  • Features: Over 1,000 vinyl records displayed gallery style, classic turntable system, intimate capacity (~40 guests).
  • Vibe: Darker, more intimate, music driven—ideal for small celebrations and serious cocktail lovers.

Service and hospitality

  • Tone: Warm, welcoming, and polished—host stand and servers are generally noted as friendly and attentive.
  • Knowledge: Staff are able to walk guests through the menu, raw bar, and cocktail list, and can guide firs-timers toward shareable highlights.
  • Consistency: Early feedback suggests strong service consistency, even when the kitchen is still fine-tuning certain dishes.

Staffing

  • Coverage: With a large dining room and bar, staffing appears robust, especially during peak evening hours.
  • Pacing: Occasional delays on first-round drinks or during rushes, but follow-up pacing tends to improve once the table is in the flow of service.

Other practical details

Alcohol and bar service:

  • Full bar: Yes—signature cocktails, wine, beer, and classic 1920s inspired drinks.
  • Bar scene: Lively, especially evenings and weekends; a destination in its own right for locals and visitors.

Child-friendly?

    • Early evenings and weekends can work for families, especially on the patio.
    • Menu has enough approachable items (chicken, potatoes, pastas, simple seafood) for older kids and teens.
    • The overall vibe, however, leans more adult, especially later at night and in the bar/speakeasy zones.

Best for:

    • Date nights and anniversaries
    • Celebratory dinners and birthdays
    • Out-of-town guests who want a Manhattan view without crossing the river
    • Business dinners and small corporate events

Not ideal for:

  • Very young children who need lots of space to move around or very quick service.
  • Ultra quiet, hushed dinners—the room has energy and a social buzz.
  • Strictly budget-focused diners; while not exorbitant, it’s a design driven waterfront restaurant, and pricing reflects that.

Parking and access:

  • Parking: No dedicated on-site lot; guests typically rely on nearby Port Imperial parking garages, street parking where available, or rideshare.
  • Transit: Convenient to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, NY Waterway ferries, and bus routes along River Road.

Unusual policies

  • Speakeasy access: The Wax Room is invitation only / private event oriented, not a walk in bar.
  • Bread service: Initial bread is complimentary; refills may be charged, which some guests find surprising—worth knowing in advance.

What I like about West & Co.

  • The view to experience match I love that the restaurant doesn’t rely solely on its incredible Manhattan skyline views; the interior design, service, and menu all feel intentionally built to live up to that backdrop. It feels like a destination, not just “a place with a view.”
  • The brasserie menu with personality The mix of seafood towers, Mussels & Frites, French Onion Soup, and that showy French Dip with tableside horseradish gives the menu a sense of fun and occasion. It’s comfort food, but with enough flair that you remember specific dishes afterward.
  • The Wax Room speakeasy The hidden speakeasy concept—with vinyl walls and a curated soundtrack—adds a layer of discovery. It’s the kind of feature that makes you want to bring friends back just to show them “the secret room.”
  • Service that feels genuinely welcoming Early feedback points to warm hosts and attentive servers, which matters a lot in a space this polished. When the room is buzzing and the view is that good, friendly, grounded service keeps it from feeling pretentious.

What sets West & Co. apart from the competition

  • Art Deco brasserie design at scale Plenty of waterfront restaurants have views; far fewer have a cohesive design language—white oak, terrazzo, cane backed chairs, and a dramatic central column—that feels like a fully realized concept rather than generic upscale décor.
  • Serious culinary pedigree in a relaxed setting Having leadership with Michelin recognized experience means the kitchen can execute brasserie classics with precision, while still keeping the vibe casual enough for neighborhood dining. That combination is a differentiator along this stretch of the Hudson.
  • The dual experience: main room + speakeasy The ability to have a bright, view driven dinner in the main room and then slip into a vinyl lined speakeasy for a nightcap is a rare two in one experience, especially in West New York.

What needs improvement (or to watch)

Because West & Co is new and demand is high, a few areas are worth watching:

  • Menu consistency and execution across all dishes Some items have missed the mark in flavor or balance. The kitchen is clearly capable; the opportunity is to tighten consistency so every dish feels as dialed in as the room.
  • Managing noise and crowd flow at peak times With 250 seats, a busy bar, and a waterfront patio, peak nights can feel crowded and energetic. Thoughtful music levels, host pacing, and bar area crowd management will be key to keeping the energy fun rather than overwhelming.
  • Clarity around family-friendliness and speakeasy access Because the space is visually stunning, families may be tempted to bring younger kids, while the speakeasy and late night bar crowd skew more adult. Clearer positioning—early evening family friendly, later night adult oriented—would help set expectations and avoid mismatched experiences.

Updated June 2, 2026