Raymond's
I was brought to the Raymond’s in Montclair by a special friend/ ex manager. Montclair was different for me. I was a teenager that only traveled outside of what I knew, to visit NYC on the weekend. The crowd was always different, eclectic, fun but with a touch of sophistication. It was during the beginning stages of facebook and twitter when everyone was glued to their phones, but the crowd at Raymond’s wasn’t like that, and still isn’t. It has now been 10 years since I’ve been devouring their delicious food for brunch, and still, you walk into Raymond’s Montclair and the vibe is different, people are enjoying delicious American comfort food over great conversations.
Raymond’s has two locations. The first location can be found in downtown Montclair on Church St., and the second in the main square on Ridgewood Ave.,in Ridgewood NJ. Both restaurants are similar in space but not quite the same, the interior design styles are neo-retro and much of the furniture is distressed. Both locations are divided into two dining rooms by a collection of colorful glass vintage spritzer bottles that sit on mahogany wooden shelves. The front rooms are my favorite, specifically the one in Ridgewood, where the sunlight shines through the vintage windows, giving you a perfect dose of Vitamin D. It has a fashionable vintage atmosphere, furnished with a mixture of wooden booths, mismatched chairs and tables, white and black tile floors and a huge countertop bar. During the day the room is brightly lit by natural lighting and in the evening the restaurant’s lights are dimmed and candles come out to give you that 1940s NYC diner vibe. The back room is darker - a more sedate space with red vinyl banquettes and dark wooden floors. Whether you sit in the front or the back the room you’re always likely to see celebrities casually stopping in, like Rev. Run and his wife, Diggy Simmons, Joe Budden, Omari Hardwick, Martha Stewart, and on a rare occasion, Tracey Morgan and Jerry Seinfeld filming an episode of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”
A wide variety of genres can be heard at Raymonds, but they’re all joined by the loud chatter of the guests on a typical lunch/brunch service. For a much more quiet meal, visit first thing in the morning at 8 a.m., or between the hours of 3 p.m. & 5 p.m., during the week. Keep in mind that the menus change throughout the day. The weekend brunch menu offers delicious cheesy grits, eggs and grits and waffles, that the weekly menu does not.
The shortest of menus starts at 8 a.m., short in comparison to the next two that follow but not at all lacking in flavors. Raymond’s is a diner-like restaurant that serves comfort American food, so a lot of what’s on the menu does that, comforts you. All the dishes at Raymond’s are “expertly crafted and reasonably priced.” I’ve personally witnessed the chef make a dish a few times before it is approved or removed from the menu that day, because it isn’t at its highest quality. There is also an artistry in presentation with everything at Raymonds. If you’ve ever sat and looked around while people get their meals, you’ll notice most guests pull out their phones to capture the beauty their about to ingest.
Without further ado, here are some of my favorite.
(French Toast $13.50 - served all day)
French toast: Five thick pieces of French baguette, soaked in custard then pan fried and topped with powdered sugar and berries. The best French toast I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Crispy on the outside and moist and fluffy on the inside.
(Eggs Any Style $8/ Omelette $13 -served all day with fries or salad for dinner)
Any style eggs/ Omelette: Whether you like your eggs over easy, scrambled, poached or made into an omelette, they’re just the best at it. On this plate my favorite are the home fries. In texture and flavor, they’re perfect. (Ask for them well done #NOM)
(Pancakes $12 -served all day)
Pancakes: Three huge fluffy pancakes piled on top of each other served with powdered sugar, homemade salted caramel or berry compote. Honestly, truly, the best in the game, lol each bite just melts in your mouth.
(Huevos Rancheros $14 - only served for breakfast/lunch)
Huevos Rancheros: Two warm crispy corn tortillas drenched in ranchero sauce, refried beans, two eggs sunny side up, melted queso fresco and fresh jalapeño. There is so much happening within each mouthful, it will make you question why you’re just finding out about such goodness. I’d never tried huevos rancheros, eggs and tomato sauce always sounded weird, until Raymonds.
(Breakfast Burrito Bowl $15 - served all day)
Breakfast Burrito Bowl: Rice and beans, grilled corn, sharp cheddar, juicy braised pull chicken, fresh sliced avocado and two poached eggs, topped with pico de gallo and crispy tortilla strips. A bowl of juicy, moist, and crispy flavorful textures.
(Squash Rings $10 - served for lunch/dinner)
Squash Rings: Six slices of butternut rings battered and fried served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.
(Grilled Cheese $13- served for lunch/dinner)
Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Melted gruyere and smoked cheddar on top of crispy bacon, mustard, mayo and red onion marmalade in between two lightly toasted thick pieces of white bread, finished with Parmesan cheese on the outer layer, that melts flat into the slices. Mustard definitely sounds weird on a grilled cheese sandwich, but trust me on this one, it works! I never liked mustard until this sandwich. It’s cheesy, impossibly rich in flavor and soul-satisfying. It will change the way you think of your classic grilled cheese.
(Fish Tacos $16.50 - served for lunch/dinner)
Fish Tacos: Three generous slices of beer battered Atlantic Cod wrapped around warm flour tortillas and stuffed with fresh guacamole, sour cream, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo and roasted tomato salsa for a little kick. Fit for the taco gods!
(Mac&Cheese $14 - served for lunch/dinner)
Macaroni & Cheese: Standard elbow macaroni slathered with Bechamel sauce then topped with loads of goat, white and yellow cheddar cheese. Served piping-hot. Recommendations from the chef is to always add bacon lardons to heighten the blissful experience of the gooey pasta.
(Meat Loaf $18 -served for dinner)
Meat Loaf: Savory baked mix of ground beef, pork and veal, assorted on top of creamy garlic mash and braised collard greens, then garnished with crispy shallots. This belly-filling dinner dish once again changed my life, I now like meatloaf. Well, Raymond’s meatloaf.
Last,but not least.
(Buttermilk Fried Chicken $19 - served for dinner)
Raymond’s acclaimed fried chicken. Just wow! Three pieces of glorious buttermilk crispy fried chicken paired with homemade honey dipped biscuits and coleslaw dressed in red wine vinaigrette. Two pieces of dark meat and a white meat that are just the right amount of crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Savory and saporific!
(Belgian Hot Chocolate $ 5.25 including marshmallow)
Drinks you must try on your next visit. Belgian Hot Chocolate (with seasonal homemade marshmallow) , Mexican Hot Chocolate, White Hot Chocolate, Hot Apple Cider, Iced Matcha Latte, Raspberry Lime Ricky, Iced Green Tea, Virgin Mary.
My favorite desserts: Chocolate Pudding, Key Lime Pie, Rice Pudding, Sticky Toffee Cake, Brownie Sundae and EVERY milkshake. (Specifically the cookie butter flavor)
(Traditonal rice pudding with golden raisins, topped with whipped cream)
FUN FACT: IT’S BYOB
ADVICE: If you’re planning to brunch on the weekend, arrive early.
