The Best Restaurants in Montclair

Sam's Table in Montclair. Photo: Courtesy of Sam's Table/Rob Yaskovic

Montclair is unusual in that it has three “downtowns”—north (Upper Montclair), central (Watchung Plaza) and south. The latter is the biggest, consuming a mile of Bloomfield Avenue, with restaurants on or just off the avenue, and along Walnut Street, which runs parallel to Bloomfield Avenue a few blocks north.

Montclair is one of the hottest restaurant towns in New Jersey, home to a striking range of vibrant and delicious restaurants that seems to be growing by the day.

Below are our top picks for the best restaurants in Montclair, in alphabetical order.

Why should you trust this list? Put simply, New Jersey Monthly knows New Jersey’s dining scene. Our editors and restaurant critics spend endless amounts of time traversing the state to dine at all types of establishments, from fine-dining restaurants to pizza places, old favorites to new restaurants bringing their own flavor to New Jersey’s culinary scene.

Enjoy!

Boschetto

Photo: Courtesy of Boschetto

For a fast-casual restaurant, Boschetto certainly feels more like fine dining—and that’s what the faces behind the restaurant (restaurateur Robert Spina, his partner, Ryan Held, and Michelin-starred chef Joseph Sergentakis) are aiming for. With its stellar regional Italian cuisine and gleaming new digs, a lunch or dinner here is worth every penny. Order at the counter, and your food will be brought to your table inside or on the spacious patio—but don’t skimp! Start with the pomodoro salad of ripe, marinated tomatoes with stracciatella cheese, chunks of marinated bread, and chili. Then consider sharing pastas, such as the Amatriciana. Don’t miss the zucchine fritte; the pizza is also fabulous. —Jacqueline Mroz
111 Grove Street; 973-509-1095

Dhamaal

This fusion-Indian spot is a feast for the senses, from the playful decor, including a flowering indoor tree and colorful murals on the walls, to the flavorful and sometimes spicy cuisine, like chicken tikka pizza, saag burrata, and tofu with a szechuan chili and black bean sauce. On weekends, there’s live music or a DJ. —J. Mroz
11 S Fullerton Avenue; 732-234-0040

Faubourg

Photo: Paul Bartholomew

After distinguished careers with the famed Daniel Boulud, chef Olivier Muller and manager Dominique Paulin set out to create their own palace of modern Mediterranean cuisine with French accents. Transforming a long-ago bank from empty shell to stunning showcase, complete with an outdoor bar and multilevel patio, might be their greatest achievement. Which is not to dis the food at Faubourg, which ranges from the adept and endearing coq au vin to the fricassée of snails and chicken “oysters,” which hits like a slot-machine jackpot. In 2024, Faubourg opened a second location in Weehawken.
544 Bloomfield Avenue; 973-543-7700

Fusionista

This modern Peruvian restaurant may be small in size, but its food has big ambitions. The fusion restaurant, which also combines culinary techniques from Italy, China and Japan, boasts flavorful takes on typical Peruvian dishes, such as lomo saltado, a traditional Peruvian stir fry with strips of beef, onions and tomatoes, topped with French fries. Don’t miss the rice pudding for dessert, which comes with raisins, cinnamon, anise, homemade dark caramel and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. —J. Mroz
14 Park Street; 862-846-4874

Gioia Mia

Photo: Courtesy of Zack Perl/Gioia Mia

Diners may have been disappointed when Montclair’s popular Fascino closed after two decades, but once they try its replacement, they will be delighted. From the moment guests step inside, the low lighting, soothing background music, and inviting, red-leather booths will make them feel happy and relaxed. Now owned by two former Fascino employees, including executive chef Logan Ramirez, Gioia Mia more than lives up to expectations. The menu is interesting, with appealing dishes that don’t require a gastronomic dictionary to decipher. Start with the perfectly roasted oysters. The scallops, served over saffron seafood paella, are heavenly, with sundried tomatoes giving them an unusually sweet tang. —J. Mroz
331 Bloomfield Avenue; 973-233-0350

Italiana by Zod

Photo: Courtesy of Italiana by Zod/Joey Palmieri

It is true that, when Zod Arifai came onto the North Jersey restaurant scene, this magazine recognized his culinary skills and dubbed him the Wizard of Zod. Returning to Montclair after stints in other New Jersey towns and New York City (where he earned a Michelin plate), it is clear Arifai intends to keep his title. This time, Arifai is shining his considerable light on a well-trodden food category and is busy to show what more this genre can offer. All of the Italian must-haves are on the menu, with, of course, surprising new combos to shake up your taste buds. Standouts on a standout menu include the spicy Lacinato kale caesar salad; the deeply truffled truffle pizza sizzling from the wood-fired Acunto oven imported from Naples, Italy, cranked to nearly 650 degrees; and house-made pastas like creamy bucatini cacio e pepe, so full-bodied it will slow you down after a few bites as the richness sates you. Arifai means for these robust dishes to give you pause, demanding your full attention and allowing the palate to savor the high and low notes of each offering. —Deborah P. Carter
558 Bloomfield Avenue; 973-433-9213

Koreander

The dining room is simple but pleasant, and the cooking is good. The classic Korean rice bowls—bibimbap and bulgogi, among others—can be ordered in a sizzling hot stone bowl. There are soups, vegetable dishes and a kids’ menu to bolster the selection of spicy grilled meat entrées. BYO.
128 Watchung Avenue; 973-509-7800

Laboratorio Kitchen

Photo: Courtesy of Laboratorio Kitchen

Several restaurants in this space on Montclair’s main drag failed to win a following until chef James DeSisto took it over in 2014. His decision to retain the name of the failed place that immediately preceded him seemed questionable at first. But he has clearly made the name his own and earned a loyal patronage. His New American food, with highly credible French and Italian dishes, is delicious and well-executed. Prices are eminently reasonable, portions are generous, and the space is soothing and comfortable. BYO.
615 Bloomfield Avenue; 973-746-6100

Marcel

Photo: Courtesy of Marcel

Growing up in Israel, Meny Vaknin learned to cook from his Moroccan Jewish mother. Vaknin’s Mediterranean influences and baking skills have made Marcel a community hot spot since it opened in 2017. Now under new ownership, it still works as a grab-and-go cafe or a relaxing hang at its community table and two-tops. Hits include shakshuka, hummus or rice bowls topped with meat or vegetables; shwarma chicken tacos; and a variety of smoothies and coffee drinks. BYO.
631 1/2 Valley Road; 973-842-4088

Mesob

Photo: Courtesy of Jerikho Brathwaite (@thecreatorsdistrict)

Despite never having worked in a restaurant, sisters Berekti and Akberet Mengistu fearlessly opened Mesob in 2003. They’d grown up in an Ethiopian family of 10 children; with relatives dropping by all the time, cooking dinner for 40 on little notice was no big deal. They figured they could handle the business—and they were right. Patrons have taken to the Ethiopian way of eating—scooping up subtly spiced meat and vegetable stews with hand-torn strips of cool, spongy injera, Ethiopia’s uniquely absorbent sourdough crêpe. BYO.
515 Bloomfield Avenue; 973-655-9000

MM by Morimoto

Photo: Courtesy of MM by Morimoto/Peter Bonacci

When Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto decided to open his first place in New Jersey, he chose culinary hotspot Montclair. The former chef of Nobu and a TV star in his own right, he made MM by Morimoto all that you’d expect and more. The decor is sleek and sophisticated, and the vibe is perfect for a night out with a date or friends. The food is fabulous, too. The steak, including the Australian and Japanese Wagyu, is transcendent, and the braised black cod with ginger-soy reduction is reminiscent of one of the dishes that put Nobu on the map. But be sure to make reservations—tables at this popular eatery get snapped up quickly. Also: They’ve since opened OEN by Morimoto, a 12-seat omakase experience with an intimate lounge. —J. Mroz
193 Glenridge Avenue; 862-333-4833

Minoru

This vibrant, upscale restaurant features traditional and contemporary Japanese options such as Wagyu tataki—a lightly seared, thinly sliced Wagyu beef served with ponzu sauce, karaage (fried marinated chicken thigh with Japanese garlic mayo) and tonkatsu ramen. Chef and co-owner Meiji Pattamasingcha also owns SLA Thai, a popular nearby eatery. She previously trained at the same location when it was known as Daikichi, an iconic sushi spot, and has now returned to her culinary roots with Minoru. Don’t miss the delicious desserts: matcha parfait, served with matcha jelly, red bean paste, house cream cheese, caramel cornflakes and green tea ice cream; and the mango parfait, served with seasonal mango. —J. Mroz
608 Valley Road; 908-275-1732

pastaRAMEN

Photo: Courtesy of pastaRAMEN/Peter Bonacci

Reservations at this spot, serving an unusual combination of Italian/Japanese food in downtown Montclair, are the hottest tickets in town, and tables fill up quickly on the first of each month, when the (online) reservation book opens. But then again, chef Robbie Felice has long been a New Jersey Monthly favorite. Two of his restaurants—pastaRAMEN and Osteria Crescendo in Westwood—made it onto our 2025 Best Restaurants list. Some of the most popular dishes at pastaRAMEN are Japanese Wagyu steaks, clams focaccia, and calamari fritti in spicy miso sauce. —J. Mroz
6 S. Fullerton Avenue

Raymond’s

Photo: Courtesy of Raymond’s

One of Montclair’s most popular meeting places, and for good reason. The built-from-scratch interior could be the set of a luncheonette from a 1940s Hollywood movie. The menu is basically all the American favorites people love to eat. The prices are reasonable, and there’s outdoor seating in warm weather. BYO.
28 Church Street; 973-744-9263

Red Eye Cafe

One of the better breakfast/lunch/brunch spots in town, Red Eye aces the staples and also offers such rewarding mashups as coconut grits (a bowl of grits mixed with shredded chorizo and toasted coconut, topped with two fried eggs). Brunch includes enticing twists on classic dishes, like Hong Kong waffles, made with a custard base and tapioca flour for a firmer, denser texture. BYO.
94 Walnut Street; 973-509-3663

Samba

Photo: Courtesy of Samba Montclair

Brazilian native Ilson Gonçalves opened Samba in 2010, and ever since has been showing patrons there is more to Brazilian food than steak (though his sirloins are very good). Grilled salmon with passion fruit sauce, and baked acorn squash filled with shrimp, squash and Parmesan, are standouts. And you don’t have to be gluten-free to be greedy for the warm cheese biscuits. BYO.
7 Park Street; 973-744-6764

Sam’s Table

Photo: Courtesy of Sam’s Table/Rob Yaskovic

Sam Stymest, 33, is a rising star in the Garden State’s restaurant world. In September, he opened this tiny, 26-seat spot in downtown Montclair that rivals some of the finest places around. It serves a four-course, prix-fixe seasonal tasting menu, with choices for three of the courses. And the choices, many of them vegetable forward, are brilliant—starting with the house-made milk buns served with honey butter, which are worth the carbs. The carrot crêpe with roast Thumbelina carrots, served with chickpea yogurt, was unusual and delicious, as were the cured striped bass and tea-smoked duck. Each dish on the menu is interesting and flavorful. He describes his cooking as modern American with a Scandinavian influence. Stymest earned his stripes working in Montclair for Fascino, Upstairs and Corso 98 before heading to Cape Cod, where he cooked at the well-regarded Ceraldi before returning to his hometown of Montclair. It’s a homecoming that was worth the wait. —J. Mroz
377 Bloomfield Avenue; 973-200-2092

The Saint Clair

Photo: Natalie Chitwood

As one of the few top female chefs in the Garden State, Leia Gaccione had a tall order to fill when she opened her restaurant, The Saint Clair, in Montclair over the summer. The chef, who formerly held top positions in several Bobby Flay restaurants and appeared on the TV cooking shows Top Chef and Chopped, has hit her stride in her new spot in this foodie hub. She likes to make her cooking approachable, with dishes like cast-iron cornbread, duck-fat tater tots, and crispy rice with jumbo lump crab and squid-ink aioli. My favorite entree was the halibut served in a coconut broth with shiitake mushrooms and couscous. I’m counting the days until I can go back for more. —J. Mroz
32 Church Street; 973-867-8387

Seoul Bistro

This Korean restaurant is tucked just below street level on Bloomfield Avenue, in a sleek space. Inspired by the cuisine of South Korea, the menu features noodle dishes, rice dishes, soup, and more. —J. Mroz
537 Bloomfield Avenue; 201-499-5300

SLA Thai

Photo: Courtesy of SLA Thai/Pandech Saleewong

The initials stand for “Simple Love Authentic”—and owner Meiji Pattamasingchai radiates that L-word. She grew up in northern Thailand and learned the local cuisine (the A-word) from her mother, a caterer. Her menu, prepared by her husband Paul Phaisanyakit, is too rich in flavor and varied in texture to be summed up by the S-word. Spice levels are adjustable on request. BYO.
596 V alley Road; 973-509-0111

Turtle + the Wolf

Photo: Courtesy of Turtle + the Wolf

Montclair native Lauren Hirschberg rose to a high level in celebrity chef Tom Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality organization. In 2015, Hirschberg and longtime friend Matt Trevenen fulfilled their dream of opening their own New American restaurant in their hometown. The food is hearty and contemporary; the atmosphere hip and relaxed. BYO.
622 Valley Road; 973-783-9800

Zeugma Grill

Photo: Courtesy of Zeugma Grill/Can Alp

Chef Can (pronounced John) Alp trained in Turkey and brings a fanciful, modern take on Mediterranean food to Zeugma, which he opened in 2017. Think: Crunchy beet falafel (delicately flavored with cumin) and calamari (ringed with miso aioli). BYO—or try wine from California’s Domenico Winery.
44 South Park Street; 973-744-0074