That’s right – ICYMI, we got word that Porta was officially opening an outpost in Montclair back in November of 2021 – making it the bar + restaurant’s third location in New Jersey in addition to Jersey City and Asbury Park. It will be located in the heart of Montclair at 499 Bloomfield Avenue, the former home to the Social Club, and is currently hiring for salaried positions. As of this week, Porta has announced when it will be open for dinner service.
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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.
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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
(Photo credit: @portajerseycity)
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 explained.
“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
A few months ago on November 6th, a post popped up on a new Instagram page @portamontclair, signaling the first formal announcement of Porta Montclair.
The post read, “That’s right… the rumors are true! Porta is coming to Montclair, NJ SOON! But first, we need to build our Team. In search of experienced and dedicated individuals who are looking to build a safe space together and grow within our Brand and the community. Competitive rates, Benefits, and PTO included.”
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The space at 499 Bloomfield Avenue is where the Social Club, another restaurant, had operated for about two years. It had 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 comedy in the area. Now, Porta has reimagined the two-story space.
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According to an Instagram post on February 18th, 2022, Porta’s dinner service begins Friday, February 25 that 5PM followed by a grand opening weekend full of events through Sunday February 27th including live music and drag brunch.
Stay in the know with Porta via its Instagram page at @portamontclair.
