590 Valley Road in Montclair is the home to Fish Delish, a fast-casual seafood restaurant. The spot is an international project with roots in Croatia and has quite the background. With 15 locations in Croatia and one right here in Montclair, the restaurant is a must-try spot. Read on to learn more about Fish Delish in Montclair, New Jersey.

About Fish Delish

Fish Delish was founded in 2020 on Murter, an island in Croatia. The first location in Murter was opened out of a shipping container with a terrace vibe and views of the ocean. As an homage to the first location, all brick and mortar locations are decorated with the same metal and wood to mimic the shipping container.

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The restaurant serves high-quality ingredients and fresh fish served in a casual atmosphere, with homemade sauces, salads, and sides. Vesna Stamm’s nephew Stefano is the founder, and when she got the chance to visit the restaurant in person, she knew it would be a hit in the US. There are fifteen locations throughout Croatia, and this is the restaurant’s first American location. Fish Delish won the title of the fastest growing franchise in Croatia.

Being able to open this restaurant in 2023 was an incredible opportunity for Vesna to spend more time in Montclair and with her family. “I’ve been in the US since 2001. My first year I lived in Weehawken and took classes at Montclair State and learned the area. I love Montclair, it’s such a great neighborhood” she said. “When I saw the space on Valley Road, I said, ‘this is it’. This is where our business needs to be.”

Vesna has a background in property management but has always been in and around the restaurant world. “My parents had a restaurant when I was going up, so I worked there,” she said. “I was a private chef for a while. I worked in property management for a long time but I realized that cooking is where I am happiest.”

The Montclair Fish Delish location is one of many in the world, but the only one in the US. She said, “I’m very proud of my nephew, and this big project that he started. Now we can work together and bring his baby here and share it here in the US.”

The Menu

Vesna said that the restaurant is a welcome change for customers. “It’s something different, not what you think when thinking of fish,” she said. “Atmosphere is very casual, very easy going, very fun.

Certainly fish is the main draw of the menu, but it’s how the fish is served that’s unusual. The fish is served on sandwiches, salads, sandwiches, and as an entree. It’s also served hot-dog style on a brioche bun. For example salmon in sesame with coleslaw salad, arugula, fried onions, smoked mozzarella and mustard honey sauce. “It has unexpected flavors,” Vesna said. “ The menu is a great combination of sandwiches and sauces, salads, veggies, and fish salads like tuna salad, salmon salad. The combination of ingredients is a little different.”

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Burgers and dogs are served on brioche buns, and all of the dishes are served with housemade sauces using recipes that Stefano developed himself. The restaurant is open daily from 11AM to 7PM.