Photo Credit: Peter ConwayI started off my birthday weekend celebration with fabulous cocktails at the exciting new Pig and Prince Restaurant and Gastro-Lounge at 1 Lackawana Plaza in Montclair. I had some great booze, saw a lot of good friends and had a festive dinner at the magnificent bar.
Susan Hoffberg, namesake and chief executive honcho of SuzyQues, draws on the flavors and techniques of Texas, Midwest, and Carolina barbeque, then follows the three rules of barbeque (low, slow, and smoke) to create dishes that put West Orange NJ on any national BBQ tour map.
A recent afternoon visit resulted in big flavors, big portions, and big doggie bags. Don’t tell the doggie, the leftovers were for me. But let’s rewind to beginning : SuzyQue’s is located in the former Charlie
UpstairsMontclair is a restaurant town, but more specifically it is a BYOB restaurant town. There are over 80 restaurants and eateries in Montclair, and only one dozen liquor licenses.
According to Mayor Jerry Fried, “NJ State law limits liquor licenses to one per 3000 residents, thus Montclair has only 12. Exemptions include those on State property (like the NJTransit stations) and also 100+ bed hotels. Nothing can be done locally except lobbying for changing State law. It would be particularly helpful if we could somehow use Glen Ridge's "extra" licenses. Or add several hundred new residents to get the 13th.”
Of the twelve liquor licenses only ten are active and trade as Egan & Sons, Halcyon, Tierney’s, Just Jakes, South Park Street (V Bar), Dlv Lounge, The Office, Richie Cecere’s (yes, they are still pouring), Trumpets, The Wellmont, and new bar in town, Upstairs. The Charlie Brown’s of Montclair, Inc. license is inactive, as well as a license owned by Dick Grabowsky, LLC.
So when the Patch writers, along with our newly returned editor, Shelley Emling, decided to gather for cocktails, selecting a place to meet was not too difficult.
A tiny white sign taped to the doors at 183 Glenridge Avenue reads, “Mei’s Café is relocating to 5 N. Fullerton Avenue. (Just around the corner.)”
So, who’s going to fill the spot? And when? Here's the answer hungry foodies: on October 1, 2012, a raw bar and kitchen, cleverly named Fin will gastronomically redefine Glenridge Avenue.
Fin is owned by New Jersey restaurateur, Gerry Cerrigone along with his business partner Robert Gaccione. Gerry and Robert also own and operate the very popular Salute Bistro at the corner of Glenridge Avenue and N. Willow St.
The kitchen at Fin will be headed up by veteran executive chef, Michael Juliano, of the South City Grill restaurant group, who will also own a smaller percentage of Fin.
Fin, according to Cerrigone, is dedicated to sustainability and seasonal quality, offering “light, clean fare, with a price point that’s sensitive to the times.” Although Salute and Fin are sister restaurants there will be no menu overlap, as Cerrigone plans to “accentuate the fish.” All fish will come from Hunt’s Point.
the unimproved interior at FinAlthough the Fin menu is not complete, I did get a quick peek at it. Some of the divine selections include a variety of wood-grilled whole fish, Monkfish Osso Bucco, Squid Ink Tagliatelli, Crispy Skin Salmon, Shaghai Lobster and Shrimp, and a raw menu featuring eight varieties of oysters from bi-valve locales such as New Brunswick and Washington State. Fin will also offer many gluten-free selections.
Fin will mark Gerry Cerrigone’s sixth restaurant. As a teen, he trained at Il Tulipano, then at the age twenty-one, opened his first restaurant, Oggi, in Caldwell. Four years later he purchased Mezzanotte in Caldwell, which he gently transitioned into Luce.
Photo Credit: Peter ConwayI started off my birthday weekend celebration with fabulous cocktails at the exciting new Pig and Prince Restaurant and Gastro-Lounge at 1 Lackawana Plaza in Montclair. I had some great booze, saw a lot of good friends and had a festive dinner at the magnificent bar.
