The holidays are arriving soon, and Thanksgiving is here. Now is the time to make plans with your loved ones and decide how to spend quality time together while enjoying delicious holiday food Thanksgiving has to offer. To help you prepare, we’ve rounded up the list of restaurants and bars in and around Montclair that will be open on Thanksgiving Day as well as any special menus and prix-fixe offerings available. Read on for the list of spots open on Thanksgiving in the Montclair and greater Essex County area.
Please note: This is a growing list — to request to be added, send us a note at [email protected].
The Brookdale | 1099 Broad Street, Bloomfield
Hours: Reservations start at 12:30PM
Special Menu: There’s a special Thanksgiving menu here that includes a kale salad with acorn squash, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and a maple vinaigrette, as well as a platter of Thanksgiving fare — which includes roast turkey, cornbread stuffing, broccoli souffle, and more. The regular menu will also be available. Browse the full Thanksgiving menu here.
Read More: Where to Order Thanksgiving Pies in Montclair + Beyond
Faubourg | 544 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Hours: 12PM – 8PM
Special Menu: Choose from a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts, as well as handcrafted cocktails, wines by the glass, beer, and more. Some of the dishes include free-range turkey, ricotta agnolotti + artichoke, daily oysters, roasted chicken + brussel sprouts, and more. Check out the full menu here.
Fresca Da Franco | 15 Church Street, Montclair
Hours: 12PM – 8PM
Special Menu: The Thanksgiving menu here includes dishes like arancini, stuffed Berkshire pork chops, butternut squash risotto, sausage classic turkey stuffing, and more. Browse the full menu here.
Palazzo Pasta Company | 33 Walnut Street, Montclair
Palazzo will be open on Thanksgiving day but has yet to release hours/menus. Check back for updates.
See More: Thanksgiving Catering in Hoboken + Jersey City
Sweet Kitchen | 533 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Hours: 7AM-9PM
Special Menu: Sweet Kitchen will be offering a slew of desserts this Thanksgiving, including apple pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin cheesecake.
New Coffee Shop + Candle Studio Opens in Montclair
There is nothing that Montclair locals love more than a new addition to the town's coffee scene. On October 31st, Lit Cafe, a specialty coffee brand, opened its doors for the first time at 25 Church Street. This space is not only home to the most aesthetically pleasing coffee but also features wellness products from its sister brand, Lit Lab, a candle company. Read on for details about Lit Cafe and its sister brand, Lit Lab, at 25 Church Street in Montclair.
All About Lit Lab + Lit Cafe
Lit Lab, the sister brand of Lit Cafe, which operates in the same space, is a luxury candle company producing its products from a nineteenth-century, historic workshop in Hudson County, New Jersey. Lit Lab has been featured online at Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP, Allure, and MyDomaine, and in local pop-ups since 2020. The company sells candles and fragrances like its “Autumn Lodge,” made with apple rind, cinnamon, and ylang-ylang, and “Forever Sunday,” made with saffron, white tea, purple peonies, and more.
Read More: Artazu, New Bakery + Coffee Shop, Opens in Montclair
Lit Lab has also dedicated itself to being environmentally sustainable, with its products being petroleum-free, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and completely vegan. The business “[prides] [itself] on [its] meticulous craftsmanship, ethical products, and quality at the heart of the creation process,” per the website.
Although previously seen only online and at pop-ups, this candle company, as of October 31st, has a permanent location in Montclair. The company has also entered the town’s coffee scene with its launch of Lit Cafe.
This coffee spot serves an ever-changing menu with seasonal drinks “that’ll make your fall and winter days extra cozy,” Lit Cafe told The Montclair Girl. In addition to its coffee menu, this place also sells various options for its tea lovers. Partnering with Bellocq, a Brooklyn-based tea brand, Lit Cafe provides a large selection of teas, such as its premium matcha, which is sourced from Kettl Tea.
However, Lit Cafe is more than just another coffee joint. The cafe is “a cozy haven where you can meet up with friends, unwind, and feel at home,” Lit Cafe said.
Lit Cafe fully opened on November 1st. However, as a special glimpse into what the business provides, the company hosted a Halloween event on October 31st. Attendees enjoyed an evening featuring trick-or-treating for children and a look into the cafe’s fall menu of drinks, seasonal candles from its sister comapny, and a curated selection of gifts.
See More: A Guide to the Coffee Shops of Hoboken
Lit Cafe is open Monday to Friday from 7AM to 5PM and Saturday and Sunday from 8AM to 5PM.
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