Here’s what’s going on in the world of New Jersey restaurants this week.
Restaurant Openings
Sam’s Table, Montclair
Chef Sam Stymest—who ran a popular series of pop-up suppers stemming from a backyard dinner series he started during the pandemic—is going brick-and-mortar in Montclair. Set to open in early September, Sam’s Table will serve vegetable-forward modern American fare, with its menu changing every two weeks based on what’s available from local farms and purveyors. The intimate spot, with just 26 seats, will serve an à la carte menu Thursdays and Sundays, and a tasting menu ($92 per person) on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant takes over the space formerly occupied by Tasca, which closed in May after roughly a year of operations. Stymest has previously worked at restaurants including Craft Bar in NYC and Upstairs, Fascino and Corso 98 in Montclair.
Bacarosa, Nutley
Photo: Courtesy of Bacarosa
GAC Hospitality has announced that Bacarosa, a modern Italian restaurant, will open on Thursday, August 14, in the space formerly occupied by the company’s eatery Hudson Rose, which shuttered earlier this summer after less than a year in business. Bacarosa’s menu—dinner only at first, with plans to expand to brunch and lunch soon after opening—will feature antipasti, small plates, wood-fired pizzas, pastas and entrées like a black bass piccata with preserved lemon butter and capers. “We loved everything the Hudson Rose stood for, and now we’re turning the page to something a little more convivial and a lot more Italian,” chef Andrew Riccatelli said in a statement. A robust wine menu will also be on offer, plus a happy hour with cocktails at $6 or less.
Union Bar & Provisions, East Rutherford
Photo: Courtesy of Union Bar & Provisions
Opening Friday, August 8, Union Bar & Provisions is the first newly built, standalone restaurant that East Rutherford’s downtown has had in years. Located near the train station, the space—on two levels—features a bar with high-tops, two dining rooms, and a patio. The fare is being described by the restaurant as “a refined spin on the classics,” with dishes like steak frites and a lobster roll, plus wine, beer and cocktails.
