On the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Valley Road in Montclair sits a quaint cafe lined with beautiful pastries and sweet treats. But a cute Italian bakery wasn’t always so easy to find in Montclair. That is, until Mattarello Bakery + Café opened its doors in 2020 at 254 Bellevue Avenue. Since its inception, the heart, soul, and passion poured into the desserts found here can be felt. We took a trip to Mattarello Bakery + Café and connected with owner Amin Deroui to find out all about this sweet spot. Read on to learn more about this gem in Montclair, New Jersey.
How It Started
While New Jersey has no shortage of Italian eateries, the owner of Mattarello knew there was still a void to be filled. During the 2020 pandemic, an opportunity arose, and Amin knew his dream could come to fruition. “The idea to open a True Italian Bakery in Montclair [was] in the works for a few years, and when the opportunity came, we didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger,” he previously told The Montclair Girl.
Amin continued, “Our entire area had a lack of Italian pastries, having the closest ones to us in Bloomfield and Verona, but there was nothing in Montclair.” He went on to share how Montclair has been more than just a location, it has become a true community for the past five years. “We have built a daily clientele that we love dearly, and most of our customers visit us several times per month. Montclairians know that they can trust us for their daily espresso dose, special occasions such as birthdays, and during the holidays, where we go full on for our community, making sure we over-deliver in every interaction.”
Read More: Nicolo’s: Montclair’s OG Italian Bakery + Deli
The Space
Mattarello Bakery + Café has a great ambiance for both working solo and enjoying sweets with loved ones. Guests can choose between quaint outdoor seating based on the weather or an abundance of seating inside. The front of the shop is adorned with beautiful rotating cases showing off full cakes and pastries for sale.
To the left of the entrance is a stocked market full of items for the home chef. Amin once shared, “When it comes to sourcing our market items, we focus on the uniqueness of the product, quality, and value. We like to offer items that are interesting and fun to try. We try to focus mainly on Italian products imported directly from Italy.”
Customers can find Mattarello swag, coffee beans, a variety of jams, and different spreads for purchase. When looking for freshly baked goods, keep moving towards the focal point of the bakery, the long case of pastries.
The Menu
Mattarello is stacked with everything Italian bakeries are known for. It offers a variety of traditional and contemporary pastries such as sfogliatelle or lobster tails, pignoli cookies, babas, cannolis, and a wide selection of cakes and mousses. Amin knows his customers well and says their favorites are “definitely the sfogliatelle, lobster tails, bombolone (Italian donuts), and cannolis.”
At this spot, locals can also find more than just desserts. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, and brunch options, including breakfast platters, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and pasta. Customers can also order edible fruit bouquets at Mattarello.
What sets this bakery + cafe apart from many others is its extensive gluten-free menu. Guests who need or prefer gluten-free desserts will be able to choose from a wide range including pistachio ricotta cheesecake, lemon or chocolate caprese, macarons, and a few different Italian cookies.
Because no trip to a bakery is complete without a nice beverage, the menu doesn’t stop at pastries. The beverage menu at Mattarello starts off with both hot and cold coffee and tea drinks. There are also drinks like cappuccino, cold brew, lattes, and herbal teas.
But of course, some specialties really stand out. Starting with Italian hot chocolate and whipped coffee then getting a bit more bold with choices such as a mokaccino made with espresso, frothed milk, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce, and a Palermo, which is made with espresso, frothed milk, gianduia cream, and chocolate flakes are among the list as well.
Catering + Events
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Matterello’s desserts or lunch and brunch options are a great addition to any event or gathering. For this purpose, catering is available. The most popular choice for catering is cakes, which range in size from six to 12 inches and come in a variety of flavors. Larger orders of pastries and mini pastries can be accommodated — customers should reach out to the team for more information ahead of the event. See this link for the spot’s catering menu.
See More: Hoboken’s Oldest Family-Owned Italian Eateries + Restaurants
Mattarello is open daily at 254 Bellevue Avenue from 6:30AM to 9PM.
Montclair on Film: A Rundown of the Movies With Scenes Filmed in Town
In case you missed it, Essex County has been abuzz with celebrity and film crew sightings over the past few years. Having the opportunity to see one’s hometown on the silver screen is always exciting. We've rounded up a list of each time a production company has rolled its cameras into town. Keep reading for a rundown of movies with scenes filmed right here in Montclair, New Jersey.
A Different Man | 2024
In 2024, during the Sundance Film Festival, seven of the films featured were shot in New Jersey, with two having Montclair as a primary filming location. A Different Man, featuring Sebastian Stan, follows the story of an aspiring actor who undergoes facial reconstructive surgery "but his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare," according to IMdb. Along with our hometown, this film was also shot in Maplewood.
Read More: Succession Actor Dagmara Dominczyk Shares a Peek Inside Her Life as a Montclair Resident
Analyze This + Analyze That | 1999, 2002
There's no better backdrop for a movie about a mob boss than New Jersey. The 1999 film Analyze This follows anxiety-ridden mobster Paul Vitti, played by Robert De Niro, and his therapist Dr. Ben Sobel, portrayed by Billy Crystal, in a comedy that earned a sequel, with the actors reprising their roles in 2002 for Analyze That. Montclair makes an appearance in both films as the location of Dr. Sobel’s home, though the address changes from the first movie to the second. In Analyze This, Billy Crystal’s character lives at 538 Park Street in Upper Montclair, and in Analyze That, he’s taken up residence on Wayside Place.
Chemical Hearts | 2020
Based on the 2016 YA novel by Krystal Sutherland, Our Chemical Hearts, this film stars celebrities Lili Reinheart from Riverdale and Austin Abrams from Euphoria. Chemical Hearts used many New Jersey locations as its backdrop, including the Essex County towns Glen Ridge, West Orange, and Montclair. To add to this film's Garden State lore, Chemical Hearts was also written, directed, and produced by Livingston native Richard Tanne, according to New Jersey Digest.
Exhibiting Forgiveness | 2024
Exhibiting Forgiveness, the other film showcased at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, is about a black artist whose path to success gets disrupted by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict seeking redemption, as per IMDb. According to Patch, this was filmed in Allendale, Bayonne, East Orange, Hillside, Kearny, Orange, Paterson, West Orange, and Montclair.
Imaginary Heroes | 2004
The plot of the drama Imaginary Heroes is centered around a family trying to cope following the suicide of the eldest son, with a cast that features big-name actors Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Daniels, and Michelle Williams. It’s also one of many movie productions to choose Montclair High School as a filming locale, with other scenes shot throughout New Jersey, including Essex County’s Glen Ridge and Newark.
In + Out | 1997
This early LGBTQ+ film, a comedy starring Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, and Tom Selleck, actually derived its inspiration from a significant moment in the film industry: an Oscar acceptance speech from Tom Hanks. In + Out looks at the events that unfold in a Midwest town after a high school teacher is outed as gay by a former student during his acceptance of an Academy Award. Loosely based on Tom Hanks’s praise of his gay high school drama teacher as he received the 1994 Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of a gay, AIDS-positive lawyer in Philadelphia, it’s important to note that the movie differs in that Hanks had asked his former teacher’s permission prior to the speech. The event, though, provided the idea for In + Out nonetheless. And according to New Jersey Digest, despite the film’s plot taking place in Indiana, Montclair made the cut as one of the filming locations, in addition to other spots in New Jersey.
Loverboy | 2005
Directed by Kevin Bacon, and featuring both himself and his IRL wife Kyra Sedgwick, Loverboy is a drama about an exceedingly possessive single mom and her struggle with her son’s increasing independence. As noted by NJ.com, Montclair residents will spot a familiar sight in the film, the Bradford School, although renamed as Bradford Academy.
Lymelife | 2008
2008’s Lymelife brought in quite a few recognizable actors for the drama, including Alec Baldwin, Cynthia Nixon, Emma Roberts, and brothers Kieran and Rory Culkin. Focusing on the Lyme Disease diagnosis of a husband and father and its rippling effects on two families, the story is set in 1979 Long Island. However, Lymelife joins the roster of films with scenes shot at Montclair High School.
Maybe I Do | 2023
Starring Richard Gere, Diane Keaton, William H. Macy, Susan Sarandon, and Emma Roberts, Maybe I Do is about a couple who discover that their parents share a complicated past. According to Montclair Local, the home of Jennifer Snyder, owner of the Little Daisy Bake Shop, was the primary filming location for this comedy + romance. “Now when I see the trailer, I’m like ‘there’s Richard Gere in my kitchen,'” Snyder told Montclair Local.
Mean Girls | 2004
Arguably one of the most iconic movies of all time (just check Instagram + TikTok feeds on October 3rd), the highly quotable film had the crew call “action!” right in our own backyard. The teen movie follows Africa-transplant Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan, as she navigates the cutthroat cliques of public high school and falls in with the Plastics, the girls at the top of the social hierarchy. Those who have passed through the halls of Montclair High School, it turns out, have also walked through one of the sets of Mean Girls’ own Northshore High, according to NJ.com. How fetch is that?
Reversal of Fortune | 1990
Reversal of Fortune is based on the intriguing true events that took place between an American heiress and socialite, Sunny von Bülow (Glenn Close), and her husband, Claus von Bülow (Jeremy Irons). The movie looks at Claus’s trial for the attempted murder of his wife after she mysteriously becomes irreversibly comatose. As for its tie-in to Montclair, scenes from the drama designed to be taking place in a Fifth Avenue New York City apartment were actually filmed in a local home, according to insight from The New York Times.
Seven Minutes in Heaven | 1985
Eighties movie fans, this one’s for you. The 1985 teen flick Seven Minutes in Heaven stars a young Jennifer Connelly as Natalie and centers around her character and two friends, Jeff and Polly, as they work through familial and romantic relationships. While IMDb confirms that filming took place in Montclair, the nostalgia-driven fansite 80s Movies Rewind points to a more specific locale, sharing that one of the houses in the film is at the intersection of Christopher and McDonough Streets. The movie also claims Montclair High School as another spot where the cameras were rolling.
Stepmom | 1998
An emotional family-focused drama, Stepmom revolves around the rocky relationship between a mother (Susan Sarandon) and the young future stepmom (Julia Roberts) to her children. The movie credits many filming locations in New York City, New York State, and New Jersey, including Glen Ridge, Maplewood, and, of course, Montclair.
Swimfan | 2002
The first thriller on the list, Swimfan shows actor Jesse Bradford portraying a popular MVP high school swimmer, with his life thrown into chaos by a new girl, whose obsession with him becomes toxic. Montclair High School once again proves to be big-screen-worthy, serving as a set for the 2002 picture.
The Devil’s Own | 1997
Headlining Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt, The Devil’s Own is an action thriller about a police sergeant hosting a man visiting from Ireland, who is later revealed to be involved with the Irish Republican Army and on a dangerous mission. Among New Jersey stomping grounds Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, and Sandy Hook, Montclair was also selected as one setting for the film.
The Room Next Door | 2025
Director Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language movie made its Garden State debut at The Clairidge in Montclair on January 10th, 2025. As per NJ.com, the Tilda Swinton + Julianne Moore movie spent four days in May 2024 filming in town, including in spots like Montclair Book Center and Montclair State University, both of which appear in the movie’s final cut. Per IMDb, The Room Next Door follows Ingrid + Martha, who “were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.”
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar | 1995
Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo portray three drag queens who pile into a 1967 Cadillac DeVille convertible for a road trip from New York City to Los Angeles in this comedy, one that has been regarded as a cult classic. In fact, in the summer of 2021, a screening of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar was put on by Montclair Film in partnership with Out Montclair as part of the effort to shine a light on LGBTQ+ stories in film. The film was a fitting choice, given that production took place on the township’s own Upper Mountain Avenue. A scene was also shot in Jersey City.
Upcoming
Song Sung Blue | TBD
Song Sung Blue, an upcoming musical adaptation of a 2008 documentary about a Milwaukee couple’s Neil Diamond cover band, wrapped up filming in December 2024. Leading the film are Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Other stars include Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos, White Lotus), Fisher Stevens (Succession), and Jim Belushi (Red Heat, Curly Sue). One of the filming locations was none other than Tierney’s Tavern at 138 Valley Road in Montclair. The release date has yet to be announced, but cinema lovers can expect it sometime this year. See The Montclair Girl's coverage of this upcoming movie here.
Deliver Me From Nowhere | TBD
The upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, Deliver Me From Nowhere, has been seen filming all around the Garden State from Hoboken to Asbury Park. On Saturday, October 26th, Montclair Public Library posted on its Facebook page saying that its Bellevue Avenue Branch is an official location for the film. Per Montclair Local, a ramp labeled “rigging crew” was placed over the front stairs of the Bellevue Avenue Branch, and a sign on the front door stated “off limits” as film crews worked on a production. NJ.com reported that Jeremy Allen White was seen filming at the Bellevue Avenue Branch on Monday, October 28th, 2024. See our coverage on all things Deliver Me From Nowhere here.
Grassland | 2025
The film, Grassland, inspired by film director and writer Sam Friedman's experiences growing up in Montclair, premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and was showcased at the Monterrey International Film Festival and at the Pan African Film + Arts Festival, per Variety. Executive-produced by Oscar and Grammy-winning artist Common, this film is set to release on April 18th, 2025. Sam shared with The Montclair Girl that filming in Montclair was an inspiring experience for him as a lifelong resident. "While we considered other locations—since most of our cast and crew are based in Los Angeles—we ultimately chose Montclair to capture its unique character, something that simply couldn’t be replicated elsewhere," he said.
See More: What’s Filming in Hoboken + Jersey City? An Ongoing List for 2025
Bonus
Happy Gilmore 2 | 2025
Happy Gilmore 2 is a sequel to the 1996 film Happy Gilmore, which follows Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) as a failed ice hockey player turned golf pro who ends up winning the Pro Tour. From September to November 2024, Happy Gilmore 2 was spotted filming all around Northern New Jersey, including in Verona, as well as in Morris County, Bergen County, Somerset County, and Monmouth County. Rumor has it that Happy Gilmore 2 was also filmed at a Montclair golf club. While that's yet to be confirmed, we do know that Adam Sandler was also seen checking out local Essex County spots like Faubourg in Montclair and Goldberg’s World Famous Deli + Bagels in Millburn. See our coverage on Happy Gilmore 2 here.
