Dining out in New York City often comes with a hefty price tag, but just about two hours from the city. a rock legend is serving up three-course meals that never require a bill.
In 2011, Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, founded JBJ Soul Kitchen. The goal was simple: address food insecurity by ensuring nobody has to choose between a hot meal and meeting other financial obligations.
Today, the project has evolved from a single small dining room into a multi-location movement tackling hidden hunger.
Here’s a look at how JBJ Soul Kitchen started, and the incredible impact it’s making today.
A restaurant that runs on generosity; not price tags
Established by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the original JBJ Soul Kitchen opened in Red Bank, New Jersey, in October 2011 with just 33 seats.
Built on a unique community dining model, the restaurant completely eliminated fixed menu prices to remove the stigma of soup kitchens.
How the pay-what-you-can model works
Diners unable to pay can enjoy a warm, chef-prepared meal while learning about volunteering opportunities.
Meanwhile, paying guests are asked to donate based on their ability, effectively covering the cost for their neighbors in need.
Everyone sits at the same tables, eating the exact same food, regardless of their financial status.
What’s on the menu?
JBJ Soul Kitchen operates like a high-end eatery, focusing on healthy, organic meals rooted in American Regional cuisine.
Because the restaurant relies on locally sourced ingredients–some of which come straight from their garden out front–the menu rotates bi-weekly.
Every guest is treated to a 3-course meal:
- Starter: A choice of fresh soup or salad
- Entrée: A diner’s choice of fish, meat, or a vegetarian selection (Example dishes include Autumn Pork Loin, Pistachio-Crusted Cod, Soul Seasoned Turkey Chili, and Vegetarian Taco Stuffed Peppers)
- Dessert: A freshly made dessert or seasonal fruit
- Note: Kids meals are always available
Expanding to college campuses and reaching 250,223 meals
Today, JBJ Soul Kitchen has transformed into a sprawling community staple.
The initiative continues to meet growing demand, recently crossing the 250,000 meals served milestone across all of its locations—with a historic split of roughly 59% of meals earned via volunteering and 41% paid with donations.
The most significant evolution of the restaurant’s mission occurred in January 2020, when the foundation opened a location directly on the campus of Rutgers University–Newark.
The expansion targeted a growing, yet often invisible crisis: college students managing tuition, housing, and living expenses while struggling to afford regular, nutritious meals.
Five years after launching the campus initiative, the Rutgers–Newark location alone has served more than 14,000 meals to students, faculty, and neighbors.
How to visit and support
If you want to visit support the restaurant without having to make the trek to Jersey, you can donate online to support the foundation’s pay-it-forward model.
If you plan to visit in person, here’s what you need to know:
- What: JBJ Soul Kitchen
- Locations:
- Red Bank: 207 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ
- Toms River: 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ
- Rutgers-Newark: Paul Robeson Campus Center (350 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ)
- Hours: Varies by location
- Reservations: Not needed. Guests are welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis
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