Montclair is an adorable town bursting with various museums, shops, and of course places to eat. Although I am very picky when it comes to food, here are some unique restaurants/pit stops to grab a meal or a snack.
1. Red Eye Café
This is a fairly new place in my repertoire of eateries I like to go. I’ve been there for lunch as well as dessert and I was not let down either time. Their sandwich with side salad was fresh and the chai tea latte was superior as well. If I had to recommend anything, however, it would be their brownie sundae for dessert. A warmed brownie comes served with melting vanilla ice cream on top with homemade whipped cream. Such a simple dessert and yet they make it so well--it is perfection.
2. Tinga
I’ve been eating at this restaurant ever since I was a little kid. For years, I always ordered nachos grande and that is still a staple you can’t go wrong with. The California burrito is also another great option, especially if you’re a vegetarian. This burrito is filled with beans, rice, cheese, and guacamole with sour cream on the side. The portions are really big for basically anything on the menu, but leftovers never hurt anybody. Also, if you want to try something different, they sell a variety of Mexican sodas which are really sweet but refreshing, especially in the summer.
3. Playa Bowls
This place is new to Montclair, but if you’ve ever been down to Belmar beach you probably have heard the name before. The original shop still exists down the shore, but for those who can’t make it down, this location sells the exact same things. These little bowls of heaven are composed of a blended fruit base, fresh fruit on top, and usually toppings such as granola, coconut flakes, peanut butter, honey, or Nutella. Each bowl is different from the next and there are so many different combinations. This isn’t a sit-down meal type of place, but the bowls are a lot more filling than you’d expect.
4. Ani Ramen
I love this restaurant because of the food and how cute the interior is decorated. If you want traditional ramen with a hard boiled egg and all of the fixings, go here. If you want appetizers that break traditional forms, they also have that. It may sound strange, but I crave the noodles and broth that this place dishes out. The vegetarian bowl is super flavorful and delicious, especially if you’re sick and need a soup to cure you. The inside is decorated with a sort of modern elegance combined with Japanese culture. One side of the wall is decorated with newspapers while the other looks like a large structured black and white painting. And hanging from the ceiling are cute but very industrial looking lights which tie it all together.
5. Raymond's
I actually went to this diner for my birthday this past year and I fell in love with it. First, if you go around Christmas it is decorated so elegantly, which I appreciate. This place gets pretty busy at times but the atmosphere happens to be lovely even with people surrounding every inch of this restaurant. Their hot chocolate is to die for and comes with a huge marshmallow in it coated in powdered sugar. The mac n cheese is also amazing and extremely filling. Also, the waiters are really nice, which is an added bonus.
6. Bluestone Café
This is another café that I have definitely mentioned before, but that’s how much I love it. It’s got such a comfortable feeling about it and the food is always amazing. They make really good breakfast and lunch options as well as their own coffee. If I want to grab brunch with my friends, this is the first place I think of.
7. Cuban Pete's
Last but certainly not least, this is my favorite restaurant on the entire list. The authentic Cuban food along with the blaring music and beautiful art hanging from the walls makes this place an all-around great place. The food will certainly make your mouth water, especially the coconut rice and perfectly cooked plantains. The pineapple mojito is also amazing if you want a sweet drink to complement lunch or dinner. If you go during the summertime, you can eat your meal in the outside portion of the restaurant which is always special too.
