Montclair has a crowded food scene, and it can be difficult to pick through the various cuisine options for a dinner out on the town, or even for a delivery night. Those craving authentic Mexican eats and a rotating cast of seasonal menu items would frequent Puebla de Noche, located at 6 Park Street in Montclair. This establishment opened in May 2020 after overcoming setbacks due to COVID-19, but now we got word that this MTC staple has now closed its doors. Read on for more about Puebla de Noche and what we will miss about this Mexican food spot in Montclair.
The Closing
Last week, a reader asked if the spot was closed after noticing that it did not open for a few weeks. We reached out to Puebla de Noche and they confirmed that the restaurant has closed. We also asked about the reason for the closure and will update this article as we get more information.
About the Owner
This was not Rosalba’s first rodeo with owning and running a restaurant. She also co-owns Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant in Passaic, New Jersey. Rosalba saw opening a new location in Montclair as an independent venture for herself.
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Originally, she planned to open the doors of Puebla de Noche earlier in 2020, but with the looming concerns over COVID-19, she had to wait. Finally, in May 2020, Rosalba opened the restaurant to the Montclair community, first offering takeout before opening some indoor and outdoor dining options.
The staff is another important part of Puebla de Noche. They have been with Rosalba since the beginning. She “appreciates [the] staff being supportive from day one… They have been through the roughest times and they are still here.” Rosalba says she “feels blessed.”
The Menu
There were many classic and authentic Mexican menu items to try, including guacamole, flautas, burritos, tacos, and enchiladas.
“This food is authentic, it’s not like Taco Bell,” said Puebla de Noche owner Rosalba Tapia, “I just gave the menu a couple of different touches.” Rosalba wanted to encourage customers to come to try something new too, and she recommended ceviche or any seafood back in 2022.
Puebla de Noche has served pumpkin spice horchata beverages in the past for the fall that“customers have really been liking,” Rosalba said.
Some other fan favorites included enchiladas, your choice of filling rolled inside a soft tortilla, filled with tinga or mole poblano (both different types of sauces). Customers also enjoy tostadas, which are hard shell tortillas with chicken or steak.
What was great is that you could dine in, take out, or even get your meal delivered (if you fall within the restaurant’s delivery radius). Puebla de Noche used ZippEats, a local delivery service that doesn’t take high commissions like the larger delivery companies.
The Vibe
Speaking of decor, this restaurant has bright colors and beautiful Mexican-inspired murals everywhere you turn, including a tribute to Dia De Los Muertos and Frida Khalo.
Customers would never be bored eating here. Even the chairs and tables have fun designs. Perhaps even more interesting is that they were all brought from different parts of Mexico.
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The walls had beautiful and colorful murals to brighten the space, and Rosalba wanted customers to feel like they are in central Mexico when they dined here.
