Acappello Ristorante, the new kid on the Avenue, will host its Grand Opening on Thursday, November 10, from 5 pm to 7 pm. 

Acappello is owned by the same family who has operated Cara Mia (Millburn), La Campagna (Morristown) and La Catena (Bridgewater).   Needless to say – they have plenty of restaurant experience. General manager, Ben Husenaj, and his two brothers, Sal and Robert, along with their two cousins, Naz Husenaj and Dardan Mati, have used their vision and experience to work an aesthetic wonder in the space formerly occupied by Sesame. 

Walls of glass tiles meet you at the door.  The entry is open to the second floor and reveals a loft like dining room above. Up a few stairs to the right, rustic brick walls are exposed, and rich, brown banquets make for comfortable dining.   The space has been completely redesigned; the new liquor store adjacent to the property, will be opened within the next few weeks.  As such, the space is much brighter, receiving far more natural light than it previously did.  

Co-owner and General Manager, Ben HusenajAcappello will offer a lunch and dinner menu, featuring traditional Italian fare, with offerings of daily specials.  Menu stand outs include an appetizer, Shrimp Acappello,  which is shrimp sautéed in a ginger honey sauce with shitake mushrooms ($11.95), a Pear Salad with Bosc pears, endive, walnuts, Gorgonzola Cheese tossed in a Hazelnut dressing ($9.95).   Also in the offering are entrees like house made ravioli Caprese (dinner $17.95/lunch $13.95) stuffed with a puree of pumpkin, sun dried tomato and goat cheese in a sherry wine sauce with prosciutto and diced vegetable, and  Branzino (dinner $26.95 / lunch $21.95) with asparagus, zucchini and Portobello mushroom in a light balsamic reduction.

Hot From The Kettle will be visiting the Acappello kitchen in December. Stay tuned for more!

Acappello Ristorante,

398 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 070412

973-746-2553