Dutch’s Sandwich Shop on Church Street recently opened to bring bodega culture to Montclair. Named after owner Amir Kamal’s beloved Olde English Bulldog, Dutch, the sandwich shop pays homage to a dog who stole hearts, while filling our souls with delicious grub. Read on to learn more about this casual-but-tasty spot, located at 16 Church Street in Montclair.
About the Owner
Amir Kamal grew up in New York City where he was exposed to cuisines from around the world but, according to him, “nothing beat going to your local corner bodega, and grabbing some amazing breakfast and lunch sandwiches. [It’s] kind of where my love for it all started.”
Now living nearby in Newark, Amir would frequent Montclair and realized that there was a lack of grab-and-go restaurants in the area. A father of three, he notes that eating out can be hard but being able to grab something quickly and enjoying it al fresco on a walk around town is unmatched, and needed in Montclair.
This love of easy-but-flavorful food was the catalyst for opening Dutch’s. Amir saw something the community was missing and went after it himself. Its creative sandwiches, salads, and wings are a great way to get a quick bite without sacrificing flavor or originality.
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The Menu
The menu features a bevy of meat-lovers and vegetarian sandwich options. There are dozens of choices to solve any craving you may have.
Amir says, “Dutch’s is known for the Dutch Daddy. It has pastrami, bacon, egg, and cheese with our special signature sauce.” The shop serves breakfast all day long, offering all of the classics alongside some unique sandwiches like the Becky Pollo which has a chicken cutlet, bacon, egg, and cheese, or the Grove St. with corned beef, pepper jack cheese, egg, and a hashbrown.
While the breakfast sandwiches can really kick off the day, the chicken cutlet sandwiches “steal the show,” as Amir puts it. All of Dutch’s cold cuts are Boar’s Head products and the quality can be observed throughout all of each sandwich’s ingredients.
For those who like to turn up the heat, The Rhaenyra is slathered with hot pepper spread and pepper jack cheese. The sandwich’s sweet balsamic glaze evens out the spice a bit and the salty prosciutto, pepperoni, and capicola round out the sandwich. As recommended by employee Ralph, get a side of banana peppers if you really want the burn.
Dutch’s is also introducing Mikey Likes It Ice Cream onto its menu later this month. Michael Cole, the owner of Mikey Likes It, and Amir grew up together in NYC. This friendship made it seem like a “natural and an easy decision to bring Mikey Likes It to Dutch’s and Montclair”. He continues, “Church Street needs some ice cream on it.” The shop will be making ice cream brioche bun sandwiches — an original take on the classic ice cream sandwich.
The Atmosphere
Dutch’s is a tiny shop with art featuring famous characters — fiction and nonfiction — dotted across its walls. Amir says, “We name our sandwiches off of fun music or movie titles.” The shop’s ties to pop culture make it a fun restaurant to visit. In addition, at its entrance, there are two vintage arcade games to play while you wait.
While the concept is perfect for grab-and-go food, there is outdoor seating for those who prefer to dine on-site, perfect for these Jersey summer months when we want to enjoy the few days of good weather.
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Outside the Bun
Dutch’s recently launched Dutch’s Art Studio to give back to the community’s artists. Every month, new local artists are featured on the walls of the shop. There is a soft opening for the artist where they can invite friends and family, and people can come to view the artwork and ask the artist questions. The art is available for purchase and all sale proceeds go to the artist.
In addition, Dutch’s will be launching “Print of the Month” in which Amir will be raffling off prints he likes that are tied to a sandwich. To enter into the raffle, all customers need to do is purchase that particular sandwich. At the end of the Month, a sandwich-eating winner is chosen.
For more information on Dutch’s, follow on Instagram @dutchsmontclair.
