Montclair is known for large Victorian homes and a vibrant arts community, but that’s only the beginning of what’s in store for you here.
Downtown Montclair, Upper Montclair, and the Watchung Plaza district are also full of beloved restaurants, with casual and fine-dining options galore.
You’re especially in for a treat if you pair your dining adventures with cannabis, two experiences that often elevate one another.
Check out our favorite Montclair restaurants below, so you can eat in high style near Blue Oak.
Dutch’s Sandwich Shop
16 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Located on one of Montclair’s best streets for restaurants, Dutch’s Sandwich Shop is, as Blue Oak founder Danielle Wildstein puts it, “not just your ordinary sandwich joint.”
Here’s more about why Danielle loves Dutch’s Sandwich Shop:
“An incredible little sandwich shop on Church Street that packs a punch!
The menu is vast and filled with so much variety that it’s so hard to choose because of all the goodness.
Very cool combinations of ingredients and homemade bread – from the first bite, I was hooked.
Nicest staff as well — including the owner. Sit in or out, but a definite must-go-to — Dutch’s elevates the lunch/brunch experience.”
Paper Plane Coffee
61 N Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open weekdays 7 a.m.-6 p.m., weekends 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
A Black-and-Latino-owned Montclair restaurant, Paper Plane Coffee is just a short walk from downtown Montclair’s main stretch.
It’s known for its rotating monthly menu, craft beverages like the Milo-presso, grab-and-go food, and fresh pastries from Le French Dad.
We love the creativity of its Science and Bubbly menus, on which coffee gets paired with unusual flavors such as lemon, chicory, and Milo Mart chocolate.
For an elevated twist on local coffee, add a drop of Avexia’s Strawberry Orange Cream 1:1 CBD: THC Tincture to the Paper Plane Tonic.
Diesel & Duke
20 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Monday 3-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 12-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12-9:30 p.m.; Sunday 12-8:30 p.m.
With every bite of a Diesel & Duke burger, we taste the difference that fresh-cooked patties and fresh-cut fries make.
Some burger aficionados say this spot is Jersey’s best, and we find it hard to disagree. We’re especially fond of the Holypeño with a side of Cajun fries.
Diesel & Duke is also a short five-minute walk from Montclair’s See Gallery & Design Studio, and visiting a local art gallery is one of our favorite winter activities in New Jersey (or for any season!)
Cap’t Loui
10 Park Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open every day 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
At this seafood restaurant right near the bustling intersection of Bloomfield Ave and S Park Street, the seafood platters are large enough to feed the whole family.
We also love the lunch specials at Cap’t Loui. These specials make a delicious midday meal more affordable, whether you’re craving pasta, a sandwich, or something fried.
Cap’t Loui is also the only Montclair restaurant we know of that has beignets on its menu, bringing Southern delights to our lovely area.
Nami Nori
378 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Monday-Thursday 5-9:30 p.m., Friday-Sunday 12-2:30 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m.
Nami Nori, a woman- and Asian-owned business, first opened in New York before joining the Montclair restaurant scene.
The vast temaki section, which includes signature, starter, and vegan sets, is a highlight, as is the option to add ikura, black truffle, or caviar to your dish.
And since Nami Nori is BYOB, arriving with your own infused beverage perfectly rounds out the elegant experience.
Try infusing Avexia’s Harvest Apple Tincture into a drink of your choice for flavors that match nicely with the cucumber black sesame temaki.
Pasta Ramen
6 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Monday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m.
Another scrumptious location just off Bloomfield Ave, Pasta Ramen offers a fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisine unlike anything else you’ll find in downtown Montclair.
The restaurant’s five-course omakase menu is just right for groups seeking an especially elegant dining experience.
It’s also the only restaurant we’ve ever seen with duck gnocchi on its menu, served in a sweet-tangy yuzu apricot marmalade with crumbles of crispy Japanese fried chicken.
La Rocca
21 Midland Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Monday 5-9 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday 5-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5-10 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m.; closed Tuesdays
At La Rocca, traditional techniques and high-quality ingredients take familiar Italian dishes to the next level.
Chef Robert Pantusa has perfected his dishes over a 25-year period, including pasta specials such as house-made cavatelli and antipasti specials such as stuffed figs.
We recommend discreetly taking a single hit of Timeless’s Jungle Punch disposable vape before you enter to lift yourself up into a mindset just right for La Rocca’s luxurious dining experience.
Faubourg
544 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Monday-Thursday 12-9:30 p.m., Fridays 12-10:30 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Opened by two big names in the New York hospitality world, Faubourg brings French-inspired fare to the heart of Montclair.
We appreciate its plant-based dinner menu for bringing a focus on wellness-based eating to fine dining. The full dinner menu includes coq au vin for a full embrace of French cuisine.
Faubourg also offers limited-run menus for occasions such as Valentine’s Day. A trip to this stunning restaurant could precede even greater pleasures through sex and cannabis.
Turtle + the Wolf
622 Valley Rd, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
Open Wednesday-Saturday 5-10 p.m., Sunday 5-9:30 p.m.
This buzzy New American spot in Upper Montclair near the Mountain Ave train station has fully earned all its hype.
Here’s why Danielle loves Turtle + the Wolf:
“Hands down the best food in town! Service is fantastic as well.
The ricotta meatballs are incredible and the biscuits heavenly! Don’t miss dessert — the peanut butter tart is a family fave.
And if you have a big group, try the friend chicken dinner. So much fun!”
da Pepo
54 Fairfield St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Open Tuesday-Saturday 12-3:30 p.m., 5-8:30 p.m.
A highlight of Montclair’s tranquil but activity-filled Watchung Plaza shopping and dining district, da Pepo is plainly visible right from the Watchung Ave train station.
“Love this cute spot right next to the bookstore.” Danielle says. “Their salads are amazing and pastas fresh and flavorful. One of my absolute faves in the area!”
Dine in even finer style with Blue Oak
This list of our favorite Montclair restaurants is sure to lead you to your new favorite eatery, whether for exquisite date nights or more casual meals.
To make any dining fine, Blue Oak offers a vast selection of cannabis goods to elevate your experience.
From tinctures that make the most of beverages to vapes for a quick hit before dinner, you’re in for a luxurious eating experience you won’t forget any time soon.
