Cafe Amici, located at 32 Church St., will soon become Albert's Montclair. The change is largely inspired by the new chef heading up the kitchen at Cafe Amici, acclaimed Patrick Pierre-Jerome.

If Chef Pierre's name rings a bell, it should. Chef Pierre was the owner/chef of Yves in Montclair for five years. Yves had the distinguishing honor of garnering not one 4-star review from the Star-Ledger, but two 4-star reviews from the Ledger in a single year! That's quite an achievement!

Chef Pierre's bio goes on. A native of Haiti, Chef Pierre is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. Following a time training in France, he made desserts at the Ryland Inn, then was a chef at Stage Left, and Hat City Kitchen.

Cafe Amici will not be abandoning its Italian cuisine.  Instead, Chef Pierre will be integrating new American cuisine into the Cafe Amici/Albert's Montclair menu. Several of the upcoming menu items are currently appearing as specials, like the inventive Red Snapper with lemongrass and coconut sauce accompanied by lobster ravioli ($26).

According to the owner of Cafe Amici/Albert's Montclair, Albert Franco, he felt compelled to change the name of the restaurant to better suit it's personality. "The name, Cafe Amici, is suggestive of a particular type of experience and cuisine."  The new name will be more reflective of the new American cuisine.

It is yet undetermined when the new awnings reading "Albert's Montclair" will appear. Albert believes that incorporating his name into the restaurant, "adds a level of intimacy between the restaurant, himself, and the community. It gives the restaurant more of an identity."