On the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Valley Road in Montclair sits an adorable 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 Montclair gem.
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 has been in the works for a few years and when the opportunity came we didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger,” he said.
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. “After 3 years under our belt, 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 or 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 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.”
What sets this bakery 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.
See More: Best Bakeries to Visit in Hoboken + Jersey City
Catering + Events
Matterello’s desserts are a great addition to any event or gathering. For this purpose, catering is available. The bakery’s website is complete with a form to place large or custom orders. A popular choice for catering is the cakes. The cakes 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. To stay up to date on giveaways, store hours, and events, Mattarello can be found on Instagram.
