Back in February 2022, Porta opened up in Montclair — making it the bar + restaurant’s third location in New Jersey in addition to Jersey City and Asbury Park (FYI: check out @theasburygirl on Instagram). Located at 499 Bloomfield Avenue, the Montclair location of this bar and restaurant is in the former Social Club Space. Now, it was recently announced that Porta received the green light on a new project — a second-floor outdoor deck for outdoor dining. Read on for what we know about this new rooftop space coming to MTC and what we love about Porta.
View this post on Instagram
The New Outdoor Space
Montclair locals will soon have another rooftop space to enjoy food and drinks at. Per Baristanet, the township of Montclair’s planning board approved Porta’s application for a 1,106-square-foot second-floor deck in the rear of the building. The space would be about 62 feet long and would seat up to 48 people at tables with removable umbrellas. Per the application, the space would be accessed by two overhead garage doors at the back of Porta’s upper level, and also includes an enlarged trash enclosure, new lighting, landscaping, and striping five parking spaces.
Read More: This Beloved Bookstore in Montclair Has Expanded
About Porta
Porta’s motto is “Eat, drink, be honest” which rings true to locals who frequent the locations for brick oven pizza, craft cocktails, live music, rooftop views, and an overall great time. The industrial-style vintage aesthetic with raw brick walls, wines served in water glasses, and mismatched chairs are all a part of Porta’s charm.
View this post on Instagram
Our sister site The Hoboken Girl did a deep dive into Porta’s history, culture, and what makes it such a sought-after food and entertainment venue in Jersey City that opened in 2014.
“Porta means doors. Here the doors are open to everyone.” Marianne Pinaha, hospitality leader at Porta Jersey City, told the team.
The Food
Pizza, pizza, pizza – Porta’s love language. The Neapolitan flaky-crusted pizza is one of the reasons the restaurant draws crowds. “The thin, black-freckled crust juts out even when a loaded piece is lifted up. Tear open the crisp, puffy outer lip, the interior is steamy, soft, with a complex savory flavor. Equally excellent are the toppings. Of course, one can always go with the classic Margherita, expertly prepared with bright and sweet San Marzano tomatoes and blobs of buttery mozzarella,” Yiwei, contributing writer for MG, explained.
View this post on Instagram
“Our specialty ingredients are imported from Italy. The seasonal vegetables are sourced from local suppliers. The pizza doughs and fresh cheese are made in-house daily,” Marianne said. “It requires a lot of attention to detail. The pizza chef taste tests every batch of Margherita sauce to ensure consistent saltiness and acidity. The server checks the crust of every single pie before sending it out (even for pick-up) to make sure it is fired correctly.”
Porta also offers sandwiches, pasta, salads, and more.
Expanding to Montclair
On November 6th, 2021 a post popped up on a new Instagram page @portamontclair, signaling the first formal announcement of Porta Montclair.
See More: Mobile Delivery App Wonder to Open Permanent Hoboken Restaurant
The space at 499 Bloomfield Avenue is where the Social Club, another restaurant, had operated for about two years. It temporarily closed in March 2020 and officially closed in November of 2020. Prior to the space becoming a restaurant, it was vacant for nearly a decade after being a go-to venue for coedy in the area. Now, Porta has reimagined the two-story space. The spot officially opened up in Montclair in February 2022.
