Cocktails Upstairs

by Melody Kettle

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.

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A Feast at Little Phil's

by Elizabeth Palmer Starnes

inside Little Phil's Phil Diou, the owner of the recently opened Little Phil’s Artisanal Delicatessen, wants you to feel at home in his restaurant. The space is furnished with pieces from Phil’s Sicilian grandmother and has a decidedly comfortable vibe. Some customers feel so at home at Little Phil’s that they clear their own plates from their table!

Phil laughs at this and explains that he grew up the only child in a family of women who loved to cook, and he spent a large part of his childhood in the kitchen with them. His first culinary foray was beef bourguignon and homemade Caesar salad- not too shabby for a ten year old! At fourteen he began casually working in his family’s restaurant, and from there branched out to other locations before opening his own.

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The Madhatter Upstairs

by Melody Kettle

Check out this video at Montclair's newest bar/restaurant, Upstairs.  Mixologist, Joe Landolfi, mixes up The Madhatter.

The Best Bagel Around!

by Melody Kettle

Hot Bagels Aborad in BloomfieldA bagel is nothing more than a dense ring of flour, water, yeast and salt - simple. But in my opinion, there is no better compliment to a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper than a good, hot bagel.   Judging by the long lines outside bagel shops on weekend mornings, I’m not alone in this conviction. 

At the request of a reader, I endeavored to find the best bagel in Montclair – only to determine it’s actually in Bloomfield.  I purchased one everything style bagel from nine different bagel shops and delis across Montclair, and at the insistence of several Montclair residents, one shop in Bloomfield. I tasted each everything style bagel without butter or spreads, and evaluated each bagel based on texture, flavor, how well each bagel was cooked, and to a lesser consideration, price.

Here are my findings:

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Four Seasons Delivers

by Melody Kettle

Just a little news to make your food life more convenient: Four Seasons Kebab House, located at 594 Valley Road, Upper Montclair will begin delivery today between 5 pm and 9 pm.

Click here for their menu.  There is a $20 minimum order. Delivery is within a five mile radius.

 

Pie Store is Open Again

by Melody Kettle

 

This Just In! The Pie Store, located at 100 Watchung Avenue, Montclair is OPEN!

Owner, Samantha Codling, has returned from her well-deserved summer break, and has once again opened the door to The Pie Store, ready to serve up pies and "home-baked British savouries" to her loyal pie lovers. 

Following two days of extensive pie prep, Samantha says the pies will be ready for customers around 3 pm today.

The Pie Store Telephone: (973) 744-4424