Diners can seemingly travel around the world without having to leave Montclair, enjoying a variety of international cuisines such as Italian, Spanish, and Thai. From a casual lunch to an upscale celebration, Montclairians have made these international spots a part of the community. The Grove Grill, located at 143 Grove Street in Bloomfield, focuses on its Jamaican roots and serves up some classic dishes along with new creations that leave customers coming back for more. Keep reading to find out more about Bloomfield’s hottest Jamaican spot and why its oxtail-fusion dishes leave patrons wanting to come back for more.
About The Grove Grill
While The Grove Grill is made to be a sit-down restaurant with tables and chairs included both outside and inside, the space is reminiscent of a more spacious New York City-style bodega. Cases of familiar American and Jamaican brands of beverages like Snapple or Ting line the right side of the wall as employees take orders at the counter on the left. The Jamaican flair is present with tropical-like plants peeking behind Bob Marley pictures hanging on the back walls and a “Gift of Friendship” tapestry sitting beneath its extensive menu. It’s safe to say that the roomy space parallels the list of Jamaican delicacies customers have the hard task of choosing from.
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Susan Strachan has been a Bloomfield resident for 22 years and opened The Grove Grill in fall 2023 as she was inspired by her personal love for food and feeding people. “We are in a very central location where we can be easily accessible to many,” Susan told The Montclair Girl. “What sets us apart from other Caribbean eateries in the area is the warm and welcoming feel you will receive [when walking in] and the fusion of so many [of our] dishes.”
The Menu
The Grove Grill’s extensive menu can seem intimidating at first, but the restaurant is the ideal spot for first-time tasters looking for an authentic Jamaican meal. Classic Jamaican patties served on Coco bread are available in jerk chicken, beef, chicken, and oxtail form, but fusion is at the center of the Grill’s menu. From Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries to its Oxtail Patty Deluxe (a Jamaican beef patty with mac and cheese and deboned oxtail inside a warm Coco bread), there are plenty of options for any adventurous eater.
The standout and what The Grove Grill is known for is its oxtail-fusion dishes. The oxtail cheesesteak (deboned oxtail with cheese, onions, peppers, and mayonnaise on Coco bread) is infamous and makes for a delicious experience even for the most timid eater. The restaurant also serves oxtail burgers, mac and cheese, empanadas, tacos, loaded fries, and Rasta pasta to cure any type of craving.
^ Oxtail cheesesteak
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As it is always keeping its customers in mind, the restaurant plans to expand its vegan and vegetarian dishes outside of the ordinary meals served at most Caribbean restaurants like rice and peas or cabbage and plantain. Susan and her team are working with ingredients like chickpeas, lentils, black beans, okra, coconut milk, and curry amongst other flavors to create even more medleys and fusions for customers to tastefully visit Jamaica right in northern New Jersey. The Grove Grill is open from 11AM–8PM Tuesday through Friday, 11AM–5PM on Saturday, and 10AM–3PM on Sunday. It is closed on Monday.
A Visit to Naxos Estiatorio, A New Greek Restaurant in Woodland Park
There is no shortage of different cuisines and unique restaurants representing countries from all over the world in Montclair and throughout Northern New Jersey. There are also restaurants for every kind of atmosphere desired. For a luxurious dinner with creative cocktails, and authentic yet modern Greek food that features fresh fish shipped in daily, look no further than Naxos Estiatorio located at 1738 US Route 46 in Woodland Park. Read on to learn more about Naxos Estiatorio, the owner's authentic Greek heritage, and their rooted connection to Northern New Jersey.
About Naxos Estiatorio
Naxos Estiatorio, the newest Greek restaurant in Woodland Park, is the dream child of Sam Matthews, his son Peter, and their partner and Executive Chef of the restaurant, Rubaldo Andres. Greece is deeply rooted in the Matthews family via both of Peter's parents. His grandparents migrated from Greece to The United States in the 1960s and ended up in Clifton, New Jersey. The Greek culture has influenced the family’s love of food and the restaurant business. The family began with a diner in Newark, opening three other restaurants over the years. In 1987, the Matthews family opened The Pompton Queen Diner + Restaurant in Pompton Plains, which they still own and Peter’s mother spends most of her time managing.
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Peter's love of the service business started at Penn State where he went to college and majored in construction project management. He worked as a bartender and continued to do so through graduate school at the University of Washington. Peter's background in construction was instrumental in the design of Naxos. His years of bartending and Greek influences helped him create the artisanal cocktail list provided in the restaurant's grand bar. Two of Peter’s signature cocktails are the Agave Sti-Fotia, a unique twist to the traditional margarita, and the Santorini Sunset which features Greek honey syrup.
The Location + Menu
The Matthews wanted to find a space for the restaurant that was large, had parking, and would be accessible by neighboring towns. The vision of an upscale eatery serving a creative, artistic twist on Greek food came to light in Woodland Park. Naxos was built to transport diners to the Island of Naxos, Greece.
From the bells on the roof outside to the curved accents inside, the design and mood evoke a special evening out on a Greek island. There is a private room for parties and outdoor seating is available. The interior space allows diners to relax and enjoy their meals with friends and family without feeling rushed, reminding us to indulge in the moment of enjoying food and ambiance.
Executive Chef Andres's vision for Naxos is elevated, contemporary Greek cuisine. Fresh fish is flown in every day to ensure the most delectable bite. Specialty Greek fish served whole, such as Lavraka, the Greek version of Bronzino, and Tsipoura, known as Royal Dorado in the U.S., are cooked to order in three different ways. Lobster fresh from Maine is enhanced with Greek flavors and the lamb chops are cooked to perfection. There is also a mouth-watering raw bar with an impressive array of shellfish. The Montclair Girl enjoyed sharing The Lobster Gyro's "Astakos" and the Tuna Ceviche Cones. The dishes were as fun as they were delectable. Presentation of all the dishes is social media worthy, but more importantly to the Matthews Family, it is the food, service, and ambiance that will have patrons return again and again.
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Naxos Estiatorio is open for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday from 11:30AM to 12AM, and Sunday through Thursday from 11:30AM to 10PM. Reservations may be made on OpenTable. To learn more about Naxos, visit its website here.
