Satish Palace

    I was about 8 years old, when I discovered Indian food. When my father told me that we would be eating Indian food I cried and spat in rebellion! I carried on as most any 8 year old would that wasn't being offered chicken nuggets and fries for dinner. I finally agreed to go inside "Taj Palace" (formerly located across the street from Whole Foods). Regardless of this being my certain death I ordered Lamb Pasanda (which still to this day remains to be one of my favorite dishes.) Lamb Pasanda consists of tender cubed lamb meat marinated in a yogurt/cream, spice sauce w/chopped almonds. On this night I experienced the pleasure of eating Naan Bread. Any bread is fattening, but if anyone told me I had a week to live this is probably one of the foods I’d put on my binge list.

    When Taj Palace closed down I had to search for my love of Indian cuisine all over again. My quest first resulted in “Natraj Palace” (which was lovely until they moved to Bloomfield.) Since I am not a vegetarian,“Udupi Village” wouldn’t cut it for me either.

     For the past few years I have been eating at Satish Palace (since it was the only good authentic Indian Place around.) Now Montclair is home to “Brick Lane” and “Aroma Palace.” Shortly after I began eating at Satish Palace I it was clear they were ripping me off.

     Not only is the restaurant severely over priced, but they also give small mediocre portions. I ordered/ picked up food from there maybe 5 times until I discovered their Wednesday night dinner buffet. This was a compromise I could accept.

    As I mentioned before my favorite dish is “Lamb Pasanda.” One order of Lamb Pasanda at Satish Palace is $14, and has probably about 10 bite size pieces of lamb. The buffet on the other hand comes to a total of $13.95. It offers various meats, vegetables, rice, soups, appetizers, and of course desert! This is surely the best way to use your money. The buffet works for both carnivores and vegetarians (which enabled me to take my mother.)

A few months ago I went to the buffet with my father; when they brought us water I noticed pink lipstick stains all over the glass. I proceeded to inform the waiter of this issue, he then gave me a clean glass, and although I was thoroughly grossed out I tried to be apprehending of things like this occurring in restaurants.

    The Wednesday before Father’s Day, my father and I paid a visit to the buffet for dinner. When the waiter brought us our glasses of water I realized this was round 2 of the pink lipstick affliction. I asked the waiter to please bring me another glass and pointed out the stains. He placed another on the table and I realized we were not on the same page; this glass too had eager-eater greasy lipstick marks on it. Instead of being a rowdy customer I simply placed the cup at the end of the table and pulled my water bottle out of my purse. It appeared I caused a disturbance because the waiter was appalled that I wouldn’t drink from either glass. Our waiter, accompanied by another waiter came over to our table with a 3^rd glass. He offered it to me, and before I accepted the glass I could see clearly in his hand this glass too had the perfect mouth shaped outline of lipstick print on the rim. They say the 3^rd times the charm but not in this case!

    If you ever do decide to dine at Satish Palace I’m sure you’ll enjoy the food, but bring your own Poland Spring. Hopefully their cleanliness is enforced more practically in other areas. 

Bonjour Montclair

Bonjour Montclair gives the feeling of being in a small cafe in France. It's usually hard to get a seat not only because it is petite!, but many people order from there each day. It's certainly more practical to order, then pick up your food to take home. If you are by chance sitting in the cafe and you just so happen to be eating a "Strawberry, Banana, Nutella" crepe (CAN NOT MISS THIS!) you will indeed get the sensation of the Parisian delicacy. Ordering whipped cream and powdered sugar on top makes the dessert creamier and délicieux! 

Bonjour always uses fresh fruits, meats, fish, vegetables, creams, and chocolates. All of the crepe's are delightful and creative. My all time favorite dinner crepe is Grilled Chicken, spinach, and fresh mozzarella. You can pretty much ask them to put anything on the menu inside a crepe for personal customizing. The crepe's are served with Mesclun salad (which has a great homemade dressing!)

Crepe's to Order!

1) Portobello Mushrooms, spinach, feta, onion

2) Goat Cheese, tomato, basil

3) Smoked salmon, goat cheese, onion, tomato, pesto

4) Grilled chicken, tomato, basil

5) Steak, portobello mushrooms, Swiss cheese

Sweet Crepe's to Order!

1) Strawberry, banana, nutella

2) Cinnamon and sugar

3) Apple Cinnamon (Add vanilla ice cream!)

All of the salads on the Bonjour menu have crisp lettuce and creative fresh ingredients.

Salad's to order!

1) Bonjour Shrimp Salad

2) Goat Cheese salad

3) Smoked Salmon Salad

The fresh squeezed juices and smoothies are also a great meal ad-on. The entire menu of Bonjour Montclair offers many healthy options and will certainly not let you down. The menu is also vegetarian friendly! Almost all of the crepe's can be created as sandwiches in case your dining with a friend not worthy or ready for the almighty Crepe!

Greek Taverna (Montclair)

I avoided Greek Taverna for at least 3 years due to negative reviews I had heard from unsatisfied customers. About 2 months ago before I went to Florida, my mom and I decided to try it. We went inside to find a comfortable environment (low volume music, nice decoration, kind waiters, and fast service.) We started off our dinner with the traditional Greek salad “Horiatiki,” (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, capers, olives, feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice dressing.) I only had a few bites because this was the main portion of my mom's dinner, but it was delicious!

My mother also ordered the “Patates Psites Sto Fourno,” sliced oven baked potatoes with olive oil, lemon, and herbs. I tried a few bites of this (which was a great choice) the potatoes are cooked tenderly with a strong lemon rosemaryish flavor that makes you want to eat more and more.

Finally when my dinner came the chef had presented my meal beautifully. The waitress brought over a clay pot filled with large chunks of tender lamb in an orzo tomato sauce bath, to finalize this  joyous creation the chef melted a creamy cheese on top of the bowl for extra delight. I put the first piece of lamb on my dish and drizzled some orzo on the top, the aroma was overwhelming and smelled like Christmas morning. Each bite was filled with strong, sweet spice. The lamb seemed to be marinated in nutmeg and cinnamon which blended well with the tomato; it was like an Italian Christmas marinara. The lamb was tender and juicy and I had enough to last me for about 4 solid days! The lamb dish I ordered was a special at the Montclair Restaurant so I'm not sure how frequently it is offered but it is well worth it!

We finished off our dinner with traditional “Baklava” dessert (chopped almonds and walnuts wrapped in phyllo dough with honey on top)

and “Tiramisu” (ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, whipped cream, and Marsala)

The baklava was great as most Greek restaurants make wonderful baklava. The Tiramisu was also delicious and creamy. Over all our dinner experience was successful and not badly priced for the meal.

Two weeks after my dinner experience at Greek Taverna, I continued to tell my boyfriend about how delicious their menu was and that we absolutely had to try it. One night after dinner as we were sitting at home, my mother called and said she was bringing us dessert. She walked in with a Greek Taverna bag and I was ecstatic! She pulled out Baklava and Tiramisu; we quickly separated the dessert onto 3 plates and began feasting. I looked over at my boyfriends face and noticed he had stopped eating. There was a large spot of brownish green mold on the side of the dessert. My mother and I decided we would bring the dessert back to the restaurant and let them know of this treachery.....

The owner apologized continuously and offered to give us more dessert. He explained due to the fact the dessert is fresh and contains no preservatives, air probably contaminated it. We got our money back and did NOT take dessert home with us. If I do end up eating at Greek Taverna again, I would not soon be ordering their dessert. I understand things happen but It surprises me that the person who placed the dessert in the to-go containers missed the LARGE spot of dark mold on the cream colored dessert.....

Perhaps one day I shall take another chance and return but for now I'll continue my passion for Greek food at Greek Delights.

Cuban Pete's

    The food in Cuban Pete's takes you into the atmosphere of Old Havana. Each bite is well flavored with tradition and a rich marinade. Eating in the homes of some of my Latin friends, I would say the menu is comparable in the authenticity and quality. Cuban Pete's offers a wide variety of options from seafood, meats, vegetables, and delectable desserts. Let's not forget the many flavors of sangria filled with juicy citrus fruits and served iced cold. The restaurant owner got in trouble a couple of years ago for exceeding the alcoholic limit in the sangria but the customers weren't complaining ha-ha! The owner of Cuban Pete's was also the previous restaurant owner of Mexicali Rose (which was not nearly as successful.)
    The one huge problem most customers have with Cuban Pete's is getting a seat. It's definitely one of the most popular restaurants; everyone wants to go to experience the environment and rich foods. Its almost impossible to get a table on Friday and Saturday nights. Cuban Pete's makes reservations but will not sit you down until EVERYONE in the party is there. Cuban Pete's is VERY crowded and does not allow much space to stand and wait for your reservation. The waiters walk through quickly with large trays of food; the waiting customers are squeezed into space that does not exist. The waiting process is obnoxious to say the least, and although the restaurant is large it needs a more practical set up. If the lines are not too bad I'll usually wait because I know the food is worth it! The most I've probably waited was about 45 minutes on a Friday night. I ordered the Chulettas Asada's (my personal favorite.) Your wait won't be too long as long as you get there sometime before 8PM. Cuban Pete's does NOT deliver although they should consider it.....Many people are confused by the two large “Cuban Pete's trucks,” all Montclair residents see driving around. I think Delivery would benefit them a great deal!


    Sangria (do not miss!)
 1)“Asia De Cuba”
2)“Cuban Pete's Sangria”
3)“Habana Banana”


 Great Dinner Dishes (do not miss!)
1)Chulettas Asada's (pork chops with caramelized onions served with plantains, rice, and beans)
2)Ropa Vieja (cuban shredded pork, served with plantains, rice, and beans)
3)Mariscada “Naked Paella” (seafood medley in delicate tomato broth)
4)Churrasco (marinated skirt steak with spicy chimichurri sauce served with plantains, rice, and beans) 
5)Boliche (intensely flavored Cuban pot roast pork chop with sausage in the middle for flavoring, served with rice, beans, plantains)


    The sweet plantains are to die for! They are made to perfection with candied sweetness and a tender inside. The few times my friends have ordered chicken (I never do) it usually comes out dry. This is the main reason I avoid chicken all together. My father once ordered the steamed whole blue snapper and his complaint was that it was over done and filled with many bones. Next time I go to Cuban Pete's I'll be ordering the “Bahama Coconut Fish,” and my boyfriend will be trying the “Coconut Shrimp Conga.” Only two people who enjoy food as much as we do decide what their ordering a week and a half in advance ha-ha.

Dai Kichi

    Dai Kichi is hands down one of the best restaurants in Montclair. Although you usually end up spending a small fortune at this restaurant the fresh seafood and high quality food is well worth the expense. I have yet to come across an unsatisfying meal prepared by this restaurant. Memory lingers in walls of Dai Kichi as I have partaken in many social gatherings, including my sweet 16 dinner.
    Dai Kichi has a varied menu, as well as a complete sushi menu. The sushi menu is filled with exotic delicacies such as eel, shrimp, king crab, soft shell crab, vegetable's, salmon, tuna, and caviar. Each roll is filled with flavor and surprise. From the most basic roll to the most complex each will be unique. The special rolls menu is mouth watering to say the least. Some rolls you might want to check out...
1) Popeye Roll= shrimp tempura w/peanut topping
2) Matsui Roll= spicy yellow tail w/tempura and bonito flakes
3) Funky Monkey= king crab & avocado topped w/masago
4) Pancho V Roll= (Can't miss this!) avocado and tempura flake topped w/spicy tuna
5) Double Delight Roll= (Can't miss this!) tuna and salmon w/masago outside


Be careful what you decide to order off the "Special Roll" menu because some of the recipe's do get a little creative....I personally don't believe lettuce should be in sushi EVER and the Godzilla Roll does just that. If your not a person that likes exotic textures in your food eel would not be the place to start.
All of the Yaki Udon dishes are delightful. The shrimp yaki udon is my personal favorite! With succulent shrimp and thick noodles, mixed with vegetables, and submerged in a light flavorful sauce it makes your mouth water just thinking about it!
Appetizers at Dai Kichi are a must. The Gyoza and Edamame dumplings are steamed fresh and go wonderfully with soy sauce. My absolute favorite appetizer is "Ika Ring" (Grilled calamari served in a sweet and salty plum flavored sauce.) I'm not sure if the sauce makes the appetizer so heavenly but the squid is grilled tenderly to accommodate it regardless ha-ha!
Shrimp Tempura never fails to warm the heart's of hungry customer's. Its fried delicately, and does not come out of the fryer drenched in oil! The tempura has a delicate butter-salty-panko-breading; it is served with various vegetables (broccoli, carrots, asparagus.)


    The Bento Box really allows you to get the whole Japanese/Fusion vibe going on in your meal. It took me months to persuade my ex-boyfriend to finally come out and eat Japanese food with me, when he finally came out he ordered the Bento Box which he did enjoy minus the few pieces of sushi in the box.....
Not everyone likes adventure.
You can't go wrong with anything you order at Dai Kichi. This restaurant is for sushi lover's and experienced eaters. Don't go here with your hamburger-hotdog eating friends because they won't know what hit em'.

Tinga Taqueria

    I was 6 years old the first time I ate at Tinga's. I had only eaten Mexican with my uncle Alex in the city twice before (Mind you it was a basic cheese and steak quesadilla.) I was still ordering off of the "Kid's Menu" at this time and there was no reason I was going to stop that ritual in foreign territory. Since I liked the cheese quesadilla I ate in the city I decided to try theirs (I knew it wouldn't let me down.) Surely enough, I liked it.
    My father would always order something I'd never consider twice. Looking back now I laugh at the thought of what I imagined to be such a complex order;  most of what my dad was ordering back then I am ordering now. As I explored the menu more through the growing years I discovered many delicious dishes the Tinga's menu had to offer.
1)The California Burrito= (Vegetarian)a basic burrito rice, beans, cheese, and avocado.
2)Mission Burrito=(for those who are unadventurous) Beans, rice, and cheese
3)BBQ Pork Burrito= (a personal favorite) Rice, Beans, Cheese, pulled pork, and BBQ sauce
4)Spinach Quesadilla=(My Dad's personal favorite) Grilled Mushroom, spinach, cheese, and onions
5)Build-Your-Own-Nacho's= Various items can be put in the nacho's, guacamole, sour cream, beans, chicken and so forth practically anything you request.
6)Chicken Wings= (I have always been a huge fan of the chicken wings at Tinga's, BBQ is the best!) There are 3 flavors offered at Tinga's, Mild, Tangy, or BBQ none of which will let you down.
7)Vegetarian Chili= Delicious blend of beans, onion, tomato and spices, dolloped with onions and sour cream on top!


    My best friend and I used to talk about how Tinga's was our favorite restaurant in Montclair. We would sit on the Monkey bars and tell each other what we would want to order for lunch. I've unfortunately grown to realize that Tinga's is a little plainer than I used to think. When ordering something like the "shrimp burrito" (shrimp, cheese, beans & rice) it's best to throw in an extra item just to make sure your getting all the flavor in the package. The Taco's are a little disappointing, I don't find much flavor in them at all, but at least they come with Rice and Beans...
The food is satisfying, but for what your getting it's definitely a little pricey. Tinga's is better quality then Chevy's or Jose Tejas, but it's certainly comparable to Chipotle. The ingredients are fresh (which is always good) and its quickly put together. The downside is that Chipotle is HALF the price and has double the amount of flavor that Tinga does.
    Tinga's has a lovely a party room for large groups formally known as "El Penguin Room." On Saturdays and Sundays they offer a brunch menu, and Monday through Friday they offer $6 dollar burrito's!
    Over all Tinga's is a nice restaurant to have in town. Tinga's delivers to Upper Montclair and the South End of Montclair. I won't soon stop ordering from there, and it certainly helps that they offer the "build your own" option to make it just the way you like it!