Montclair Restaurant Closes, Another Opens: See Latest Dining News

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair’s ever-changing restaurant scene continues to evolve, with the addition of a new eatery – Ju-Ichi – and the departure of another: Uncle Momo.

On Monday, the team at Uncle Momo announced that its Montclair location will be closing after Father’s Day, which takes place on Sunday, June 21. The restaurant’s Denville location will continue to operate.

The Montclair restaurant, located at 702 Bloomfield Avenue, has become known for its bistro-style dining and Lebanese/Mediterranean cuisine.

The owner and team gave some insight into the decision in a social media post titled “The End of an Era”:

“After many wonderful years in Montclair, the time has come for us to say goodbye. As our lease comes to an end, the reality is that the rent increase can't be justified in today's challenging economy. We have worked hard to keep our doors open for as long as possible, and throughout the last couple of years we made a conscious decision not to continuously raise our prices to keep up with inflation, out of respect and consideration for our loyal customers. Because of this, Uncle Momo Montclair will be closing after Father’s Day toward the end of this month.”

The post continues:

“This restaurant has been so much more than a business. It has been a place filled with laughter, celebrations, first dates, family gatherings, birthdays, and countless memories. Many of our customers became friends, and many friends became family. Serving this community has truly been one of the greatest privileges of my life. As many of you know, running an independent restaurant has never been easy, and in today's environment it has become increasingly difficult. While this chapter is coming to an end, I am grateful for every person who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. And this is not entirely goodbye. If you miss us, or simply crave your favorite Uncle Momo dishes, you can still visit us at our Denville location. We will also continue to offer catering for your family gatherings, celebrations, and special events.”

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support, your kindness, and for allowing us to be part of your lives for all these years,” the post concludes.

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JU-ICHI ARRIVES IN MONTCLAIR

Meanwhile, a new addition recently arrived in Montclair at 512 Bloomfield Avenue: Ju-Ichi.

The family-owned Japanese restaurant has multiple locations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Inspired by traditional Japanese cooking techniques, it features a menu with sushi and sashimi, specialty rolls, Japanese appetizers, ramen, udon and other authentic Japanese dishes.

Their signature noodle broth is also a draw, the restaurant website says:

“Using up to 100 pounds of pork bones and more than 20 carefully selected ingredients, our broth is slowly simmered for approximately 24 hours to develop its rich depth of flavor. Through our open-kitchen concept, guests can see and experience the process firsthand—from the aroma of the simmering broth to the preparation of fresh ingredients.”

The restaurant also has a nearby location in Morristown.

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