Dining news:
- Montclair dining concept Boschetto is expanding with a second location at The Park in Berkeley Heights, set to open this fall as part of the development’s growing district. The new outpost will bring the brand’s “fine-fast-casual”/counter-service approach to a roughly 3,600-square-foot space with seating for about 100 guests, doubling the size of its flagship. Founded by New Jersey and New York restaurateurs Robert Spina, Ryan Held and chef Joseph Sergentakis, the restaurant emphasizes simplicity and high-quality ingredients with a menu rooted in traditional Italian flavors and regional specialties. Boschetto adds to a wave of new food and retail tenants joining the reimagined 185-acre campus, which is undergoing a $500 million transformation into a walkable, mixed-use destination.
- On April 20 in Montville, xPizza Day, hosted by the NJ Pizza Alliance, offered a first-of-its-kind look at how robotics, AI and autonomous delivery will reshape the Jersey slice scene. The event comes on the heels of a recent pilot in Green Brook, where drones deployed through Wonder’s partnership with DEXA. xPizza Day featured live demos of pizza-making robots, smart prep tools and emerging delivery systems.
Openings:
Aura Coffee Roasters, Cranford
The latest outpost of this Jersey roastery opened April 16, serving precision-poured lattes made with its signature single-origin Ethiopian beans, roasted in small batches. The menu leans indulgent, with artisanal offerings like Biscoff waffles, fresh burrata sandwiches and prosciutto croissants.
Zadie’s Bakeshop, Fair Lawn
This fourth-generation kosher bakery has soft-reopened in Fair Lawn following a 2024 strip-mall fire that disrupted its previous operations, as well as those of several other small businesses. Its official opening is slated for next week. The menu spans a full range of breads, including several versions of challah, along with pastries and desserts rooted in family recipes. It is a nut- and sesame-free facility and also serves a selection of dairy-free products.
Troy’s Firehouse & Bar, Warren
The Trigo Restaurant Group, which owns La Colina Mexican Cantina and Lukas Seafood & Grille in Warren, has expanded operations to Troy’s, which opened last week. Expect a classic Italian menu reworked with a modern edge, from handcrafted pastas to Neapolitan-style pizzas fired in a brick oven.
Big Lou’s Bowls & Brews, Hammonton
Following a soft opening this past weekend, this Atlantic County smoothie-bowl shop and café is set to officially open April 25. The menu features açaí-style bowls, signature drinks made with La Colombe coffee and a selection of freshly-baked pastries.
The Mango Tree, Woodbridge
The Mango People Collective is expanding its Indian eatery, the Mango Tree, to the Plaza in Woodbridge. The group is also known for multi-cuisine restaurant Social Hub by Dhaba and Indian-buffet and Chinese-inspired restaurant Jashan by Dhaba in Parsippany. Chefs at the Mango Tree hail from India and neighboring regions. An opening date hasn’t yet been announced.
Closings:
Coach House Diner, Hackensack
In 1983, brothers George, Nicholas, and John Pappas—whose father then operated the successful North Bergen Coach House—opened the Coach House Diner in Hackensack. It was open 24/7 for four decades, until unexpectedly announcing its permanent closure on April 16.
This closure reflects a broader shift across the state, where rising costs and shifting preferences toward specialized menu offerings and fast-casual service have thinned the state’s round-the-clock diner scene. Fewer than two dozen 24/7 diners remain.
