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Gumbo or Lattes? Two New Restaurants in Montclair

The New York Times takes a look at two new tasty restaurants on Walnut.

This week, The New York Times takes a look at two new eateries that have opened up on Walnut Street in Montclair—Le Salbuen Cafe Market and the Red Eye Cafe, in close proximity to the train station. According to the article, which you can read in its entirety here, Le Salbuen, at 620 square feet, has indoor seating for about 20 and two outdoor tables. It is open for breakfast and lunch, with the lunch menu stretching into early dinner, until 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; a more extensive dinner is served on Saturdays until 11 p.m. The menu is eclectic; on a recent Thursday, a Cuban empanada ($5), organic frittata ($9) and vegan gumbo ($11) were listed on an outdoor chalkboard. Across the street at the Red Eye Cafe, the article says that …

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Sumptuous BBQ, Soul Food at New Indigo Kitchen

Chef Lance Knowling opens his new restaurant on Bloomfield Avenue.

Lance Knowling, chef and owner of the just-opened Indigo Kitchen, warns lunchtime customers to use a knife and fork to eat his sumptuous beef brisket sandwich. "Just because it has two pieces of bread doesn't mean you have to pick it up with your hands," he said. He's absolutely right. The sandwich is so large—packed with thin layers of tender beef—that it's nearly impervious to the maneuvers of fumbling fingers. The sandwich is just one of many nice surprises on a pleasantly unique menu. There's what one might expect, baby back ribs with fries and slaw for $12. But there's also fried chicken and waffles—buttermilk marinated chicken over crisp waffles with maple syrup—for $10. Small plates include a Louisiana corn and crab soup for $6. It'…

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Tuscany Offers True Italian Fare

The restaurant may not be cheap, but the food is well worth the cost.

For several weeks, a merry band of cooks and businessmen have been transforming the former site of Five Guys on Valley Road in Upper Montclair into an oasis of authentic Italian fare. The result has been Tuscany, a new restaurant with Tuscan gold walls graced with Italian landscape paintings that puts the focus squarely on fresh pasta. I admit I was a bit skeptical of a lunch menu that includes mostly dishes costing $14 or $16. Indeed, the cheapest item is the Melanzane Toscane, or thinly sliced layers of eggplant with fresh plum tomato sauce, pecorino, and Italian basil, for $10. Another pasta and eggplant dish, Lasagnette Toscana, is priced at $12. But almost everything else on the lunch menu costs more. Dinner, of course, is another …

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Quick Bites: Spice II Thai Hits The Spot

Fast service and good food make this Bloomfield Avenue restaurant a winner.

Before even mentioning the food, there is a lot to like about Spice II at 399 Bloomfield Ave., in Montclair. In general, you can always find a table here. In addition, you can usually nab a parking spot on the street along this stretch of Bloomfield, at least in the middle of the day. Finally, the service is friendly and fast. (And, according to friends, this comes in handy when one wants to enjoy a quick dinner before seeing a show at the Wellmont, which is right across the street.) At first, though, the fact the place was empty at 12:30 p.m. raised a red flag. But the food was superb. Watched over by portraits of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyade and Queen Sirikit, my friends and I enjoyed a nice array of Thai lunch dishes, priced at …

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New York Times Reviews Rose

Critic had a lot of nice things to say about Caldwell restaurant.

After multiple visits, New York Times food critic David M. Halbfinger rated Rose Mediterannean American Cuisine in Caldwell "Worth It." The glowing review ran Sunday in the N.Y./Region section of the Times. Halbfinger praised Chef/Owner Joe Albergo's ability to create dishes with multiple influences, while never stearing too far from what his Neopolitan grandmother, Rose, taught him as a boy. The critic gave highest praise to the grilled, herbed octopus and fried artichoke hearts appetizers, the bouillabaisse, scallops and seared tuna main dishes, and the chocolate lava cake and blueberry cobbler by pastry chef Katy Sheehan. Katy's cookies were all the rage at the recent Taste of the Caldwells, where Rose served up their savory/sweet …

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Steaks and More at DelMonico and Beyond

Bobby Wong chats about the Cedar Grove restaurant he co-owns with actor James Gandolfini.

Editor's Note: In an earlier version of this story appearing on several Patch sites, we reported Rare, located at 440 Main St. in Little Falls, was out of business. The steakhouse is open and accepting reservations. Patch regrets the error. Approaching its two-year anniversary this September, DelMonico Steak & Beyond has established itself as the go-to place in Cedar Grove. That’s because owner Bobby Wong carefully considered the location, the community and the residents. “I think about the people,” Wong said of his plans for the space when he bought it in 2010. Formerly Jim Dandy’s Rib Joint, the restaurant Wong had envisioned was utterly different. He designed a restaurant that would suit the needs of the community. “When the space …

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Getting Away From It All—In A Wayne Parking Lot!

Transport yourself to the Caribbean with the help of Bahama Breeze Island Grille.

It's hot and getting hotter. No time for the beach this weekend? Then why not get away from it all—in a Wayne parking lot. Believe it or not, the Bahama Breeze Island Grille has long been a go-to spot for those seeking a fruity alcoholic drink and, well, the soothing Caribbean tunes that will put you in an island state of mind. So where exactly is this New Jersey paradise? Smack in the middle of the Wayne Towne Center parking lot at 101 Route 23 South, near the Willowbrook Mall. Even so, with Caribbean music pumping out of the speakers, the outdoor seating and frozen drinks beckon those from the Caldwells and beyond. After taking a seat on the rather extensive outside porch, customers settle back and soak up the scene. Teal and blue and …

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Koreander: A Whole Lot More Than Kimchi

Review of new Korean restaurant in Montclair.

Before today, when this Montclair Patch editor thought of Korean food, she mostly thought of kimchi, the pickled cabbage that's a staple in the country. She also thought of the noodles that a friend once mentioned represent long life in Korea, which is why they are almost always served on holidays, weddings and birthdays. But after a trip to Koreander—the new "fusion" restaurant offering a mix of Korean and Japanese food at the corner of Watchung and North Fullerton avenues—she's going to be thinking about Korean food a whole lot more and in many different ways. Korean food has been slower to gain the traction of many other Asian cuisines. But that's started to change. In recent years, Korean restaurants that have popped up mostly in New …

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Cafe Amici: A Delicious Taste of Italy

Scrumptious food and an enthusiastic staff surely will keep diners coming back.

At first glance, the cavernous interior of Cafe Amici, with its high ceilings, is a bit off-putting as it's so different from the cozy atmosphere of smaller Montclair restaurants, such as Samba or even Osteria Giotto. But the liveliness of the space—despite the bad acoustics—soon wins one over as the crowd and the staff both exude an energy that's contagious. During a visit there on Saturday night with foodie friends Craig and Susan Weeden and Dan and Jackie Scarfo, my husband and I not only enjoyed the atmosphere, but also some scrumptious food that makes Cafe Amici one new restaurant worth checking out. The contemporary, 52-seat dining room has a minimalist flair with walls adorned with faux window boxes designed to make you feel as …

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Muscle Maker Grill Moves Into West Caldwell

Offers healthy alternative when eating on the go.

Would you like a side of broccoli with that? Muscle Maker Grill (MMG), now open in West Caldwell, challenges the belief that fast food can’t be healthy. In a refreshing departure from high-carb, high-fat and deep-fried menu offerings, the rapidly growing franchise attracts health-conscious eaters with options that include grilled chicken, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and zero fat sour cream—there's no deep fryer on the premises. To help guide diners, the menu lists calorie counts next to each item and full nutritional information is also available. Salad options include the Italiano with reduced fat mozzarella, fresh spinach, red roasted peppers, romaine topped with a gluten- and fat-free balsamic vinaigrette (337 calories) and the Lean…

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