Parisa Burton 
A taste of Italy’s Adriatic Coast is coming to Montclair this June with the opening of Clementina at 627 Valley Road. The restaurant, which officially opens on June 5th, takes over the former Saunders Hardware space in Upper Montclair after the longtime business closed in 2024. Developed by Diaz Schloss Communications in collaboration with Italian-born Chef and Partner Michele Rocchi, Clementina will bring a modern Italian dining experience to the neighborhood. Read on to learn more about the restaurant’s arrival on the Upper Montclair dining scene.
Photo Credit: BGD Interior Design Studio
What to Expect
Signage has recently gone up at 627 Valley Road, and the restaurant shared on Instagram that “the wait is almost over.” Once open, it will operate Wednesday and Thursday from 5–10PM, Friday and Saturday from 5–11PM, and Sunday from 4–10PM.
Clementina is intentionally designed to be both modern and welcoming. White oak, textured plaster walls, and biophilic elements were incorporated to create a warm, inviting space for diners to savor every bite.
The name represents light, the Mediterranean, the scent of citrus, and an elegant feminine presence. The chef wanted a name that was both beautiful and meaningful. General manager Alex Cabarcas added that mandarins are his favorite fruit and since clementines are part of that family, it felt right.
Photo Credit: Tom Singer Photography
The menu, curated by Michele, who is from Senigallia in the Marche region of Italy, is inspired by the rich flavors of the Adriatic region. Guests can look forward to the dishes like the grilled sea bass fillet with roasted potatoes, capers, onion, black olives, aromatic herbs, and a brown just finished with balsamic vinegar. Deserts will include the Warm Chocolate Fondant with a molten center, cream gelato, and peated Lagavulin whisky. (We got a try during the soft opening, and it was DELISH)
“I would say that my menu is unique, creative, and reflective of the region I’m from…where the cuisine is seafood-based,” Michele said. “My philosophy of cooking here is ‘contemporary Italy meeting America with respect and curiosity,’ which, to me, means I favor local and seasonal ingredients, treated with thoughtfulness and modern techniques.”
Blanche Garcia of BGG Interior Design Studio carefully crafted the interior to bring the feel of nature indoors. Brick arches and repurposed architectural elements honor the building’s history, while layered greenery, warm wood, and rich green tones create a dining experience that feels both naturistic and inviting.
Read More: Montclair’s Campofiore Brings Rustic Italian Cuisine with Locally Sourced Ingredients
“This Upper Montclair, NJ, restaurant design reflects a balance between old-world influence and contemporary sensibility,” BGD Interior Design Studio shared on its website.
The space is designed to create a calming, nature-inspired atmosphere that reflects the Adriatic Coast.
“There’s something about bringing nature indoors that instantly shifts the energy of a space,” Blanche shared in an Instagram post.
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Italy to Montclair
Clementina’s arrival on Valley Road reinforces Montclair’s reputation as a go-to destination for Italian cuisine, adding to a dining scene already shaped by more than 10 Italian restaurants, according to Foodie.
The opening follows a wave of recent additions to Montclair’s food scene. Most recently, Campofiore, a locally-sourced, rustic Italian concept owned by Stout NYC Hospitality Group opened at 664 Bloomfield Avenue. We tried nearly every recommendation on the menu and couldn’t get enough.
See More: A Guide to the Best Italian Restaurants at the Jersey Shore
Similarly, last October, Italiana by Zod, from longtime Montclair Chef Zod Arifai, also joined the mix on Bloomfield Avenue.
Alex notes that the Clementina team wants to bring a never-before-seen vibe to first-rate businesses in Montclair through “stunning design,” combined with the chef’s Adriatic-inspired menu.
“The building we’re in is a space with more than 140 years of history, the kind of history you don’t recreate, you respect,” Michele said. “In the end, Montclair provided everything we were looking for, and maybe something more.”
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