Montclair attracts quite a crowd of residents who want a more suburban feel with easy access to the city while still being able to enjoy five-star and diverse dining experiences. Enter Turtle + the Wolf, a hot spot located on Valley Road and while it’s not a name that screams southern comfort, there is one particular southern dish on the menu that is well-known to anyone who has been before: Lo’s Famous Fried Chicken. Read on to learn more about this Montclair eatery and its owner Lauren Hirschberg, who has taken the town by storm.
About Turtle + the Wolf
Turtle + the Wolf is an American eatery with a modern setting that serves bistro fare. Its a la carte menu features dishes like beer tartare, fresh-shucked oysters, local burrata, ricotta meatballs, and other dishes. The full menu can be viewed here but it is subject to availability and change.
There are also a variety of family-style meals here that must be ordered in advance. We recommend the Lo’s Famous Fried Chicken dinner for two featuring ten pieces of fried chicken; a simple green salad with shallot vinaigrette, feta, + shaved radishes; baked BBQ beans; buttermilk biscuits; mashed potatoes; and Brussels sprouts coleslaw. Guests can also order fried chicken with various sides for more than two people for $45 per person. Other family-style meals here include a Whole Roasted Suckling Pig meal that feeds 6-7 guests, or a Whole Roasted Chicken meal.
Just in case that doesn’t seem filling enough for you, adding the brioche doughnuts onto your order from their a la carte menu is *chefs kiss*.
We spoke with owner Lauren Hirschberg in 2021 about his journey in creating this popular spot with an even more popular menu and also indulged in some takeout of our own.
Read More: Egan + Sons: A Classic Irish Pub in Montclair
The Montclair Girl: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Did you grow up in the area?
Lauren Hirschberg: I grew up in Montclair and lived here all through my high school career. I followed the typical path of going to a traditional four-year college without a major in mind but found out that Syracuse had a hospitality program after being there for a bit.
MG: Did you always have an interest in the restaurant industry?
LH: I grew up in a household that entertained a lot and my mom cooked a lot so it was definitely of interest to me. Going out to restaurants was always interesting and exciting. In college, a buddy of mine came back from class in a chef’s coat which intrigued me so I went and talked to his teachers about a hospitality and nutrition program that Syracuse offered.
MG: What did your career look like before opening Turtle + the Wolf?
LH: After college, I moved back home and had a summer job at a local sushi restaurant as a prep cook. After that, I went down south and worked front of house at a resort restaurant. While I was there I decided I’d rather be cooking than working front of house so I made arrangements to come back to the area and did a 6-month program at the French Culinary Institute (now known as the International Culinary Center). I then took a job at Craft with Chef Tom Colicchio which turned into more than 12 years of working through various levels of responsibility.
MG: Your menu has food that people crave + want to eat. What was the process like in selecting menu items and creating the voice of Turtle + the Wolf that people have now responded so well to?
LH: I cook things that I want to eat so I think the menu is reflective of dishes I’d make at home or aspire to make at home with family and friends. There’s not really a process but going to a classic French restaurant is one of my favorite things to do so I think there’s a lot of that which I lean into with cooking. There was also a barbeque competition I started doing about 10 years ago in the south that opened my eyes to a different part of the culinary landscape we live in. I grew up eating BBQ but it wasn’t true BBQ. On this trip we went to a particular restaurant and after a week of BBQ and drinking beer, we sat down and the chicken came piled on in the middle of the table with the sides all around and it brought so much joy to us. That’s where the kind of accidental love of fried chicken came from, with a simple and social meal.
MG: Our personal favorite item on the menu is Lo’s Famous Fried Chicken. Where did the name come from for this dish?
LH: It’s one of my monikers. One general manager at a restaurant I was working in just started calling me Lo and it stuck. I never set out to name it Lo’s fried chicken, though. That was from a regular customer who texted me asking if she could get some of Lo’s Famous Fried Chicken.
See More: The Best Hoboken Restaurants to Take Your Parents to Eat
For more information about Turtle + the Wolf, visit the website and be sure to check out the Instagram page.
Events To Life: An Expert Milestone Event Planning Company in Northern New Jersey
This article is sponsored by Events To Life.
Walking into a beautifully planned event is usually met with a moment of awe, but bringing it all together requires a keen eye for vision, precision, and expert coordination. That’s where Events To Life comes in. Based in Teaneck and Hoboken, this event planning firm serves the Northern New Jersey and New York Metropolitan areas, planning unforgettable events for every occasion. With a specialization in Jewish milestone events, owner Chantelle Wolfe will help bring your vision to life. Keep reading to find out more about this New Jersey-based event planning company.
Meet Chantelle Wolfe
Owner Chantelle Wolfe makes the magic happen. With over 13 years in the events industry, Chantelle’s experience planning events of different varieties and sizes is second to none.
“I take my career in event planning very seriously,” Chantelle shared with The Montclair Girl. “In my work, I combine the high standards and professionalism of corporate event planning with the warmth and meaning of social and milestone events.”
Her background in corporate event planning taught her the ins and outs of the events industry. But in her heart, she knew that she ultimately wanted to continue her career in social and milestone events because of their personal significance.
Working with Events To Life
Working with Chantelle means partnering with a Certified Event Planner and Certified Meeting Professional who brings calm, confidence, and deep experience to your event. She is known for her meticulous attention to detail, ability to manage complex logistics, and dedication to creating custom experiences that still honor family traditions.
Planning upscale gatherings and events for any milestone occasion is no small feat, but Chantelle's guidance, alongside her high standards and sophisticated taste, help create unforgettable events. She listens closely to her clients’ wishes and helps plan elevated and memorable experiences for them.
With a strong background in Jewish milestone events, Events To Life specializes in planning engagement parties and L’Chaims, weddings and Sheva Brachot, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Brit Milahs, Upsherins, baby namings and Simichat Bat, anniversaries, graduation parties, birthday parties, and everything in between.
The Events To Life team recently had the honor of planning a very special event in New York City. There is a Jewish custom, called an Upsherin, to cut a boy’s hair on his third birthday during a ceremony where friends and family are invited to join the celebration. Chantelle recently planned an Upsherin and paid attention to every detail. She told MG, "My planning and attention to detail allowed the family to be fully present during the event and enjoy every moment. I do my best to think of all logistics, plans, back-up plans, and solutions so that the day-of is a breeze for the host, vendors, and guests."
Planning an Event
Chantelle provides expert support for her clients through event planning and consulting. The event planning package includes thorough research, informed recommendations of venues and vendors, outreach for availability, requests for pricing, and contract review. The Events To Life team will create and manage your timeline and be on-site to run the day according to plan. Chantelle and her team will be the point of contact and act as the knowledgeable resource for all vendors, answering questions and troubleshooting issues as they arise.
For those who prefer to plan independently but want expert insight, consulting packages are available. Clients in Northern New Jersey, NYC, or beyond can meet virtually or at one of Events To Life’s local offices in Teaneck or Hoboken.
Events To Life is based in North Jersey and specializes in meaningful and elevated milestone events.
To inquire about an event, visit the site, follow on IG @events.tolife, or email Chantelle at [email protected].
