Restaurant Review Of Marcel Kitchen & Bakery In Montclair

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Upon walking into “Marcel,” as the locals call it, you are immediately hit with the smell of fresh baguettes, foreign spices and a general sense of warmth. Within the bustling breakfast-lunch spot, which opened in Montclair, NJ in 2017, there is a consistent hum of happy lunchers talking amongst friends, family, and colleagues, enjoying a “quick” lunch and good coffee. You will be hard-pressed to find a seat between the hours of 11 am 2 pm, as Marcel is filled with groups of moms (usually with a newborn or toddler in tow, so you can’t be fussy about toy trucks “driving” quite close to your meal at the communal tables) and middle-aged women, a few couples (young and old), and a token singleton. Given its popularity, you will likely wait in line for at least 10-minutes to order, and a full 15 to 20-minutes to get your food. The constant grind of the espresso maker and the intoxicating waft of delicious, mainly Moroccan-Israeli inspired dishes, however, add to the friendly ambiance, and the food is well worth the wait.

With this in mind, you would be fortunate to come into Marcel hungry, as there is a seemingly endless array of hearty, soul-filling dishes from which to choose. You either need to be a very good decision-maker or have a stroke of luck when choosing between a variety of cheesy, herbed and perfectly blistered flatbreads and flaky, traditional Israeli bourekas, luscious egg dishes ranging from traditional omelets to the dazzling shashukas (baked eggs in herbed tomatoes, often with cheese or meat), all-day breakfast items like oatmeal and pancakes (which are stacked so high and laced so indulgently with dripping maple syrup and powdered sugar that everyone who can catch a glimpse will surely be jealous), generously-portioned hummus and rice bowls, and stuffed sandwiches or open-faced tartines, served on warm, fresh bread. You will be faced with an entire wall of options for the sandwiches alone, like the ‘sabich’ (filled with smoked eggplant spread, roasted tomato, tahini and herbs, boiled egg, and feta cheese), the Mediterranean tuna salad (made with capers, pepper, onions, parsley, and oil - no mayonnaise in sight), the poached salmon salad with a perfectly balanced dijon dressing, and the traditional falafel. It should be mentioned that there are no true salads besides the pre-made grab-and-go options which are all standard and unvaried, nor are there many options for strict vegans (besides about four dishes - one of which is the side of za’atar potatoes, which are so well spiced and baked to perfection that they might make up for the lack of menu options). By contrast, there are shelves of tempting pies, cakes, and other interesting desserts like rugelach and halva, and plenty of beverages to choose from, such as coffee, espresso, chai lattes, fruit-infused teas, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a variety of hot chocolates.

If you plan to dine-in, know that there is no table service. However, you will find everything you need along the counter, like lemon-infused water, proper silverware, and basic condiments and seasonings. If you need a quicker option, you can choose from a selection of pre-made lunches in the grab-and-go cooler. Either way, you can sit at either of the two lightly-stained beech wood communal tables, lined with small fresh flowers arranged in upcycled milk jars, or at one of the few two-person and four-person tables. If all else fails, you can also usually scout a stool at one of the two sections of bar seating, perched in front of the oversized windows, providing a view of the main drag. The interior is decorated mostly in soft blues and grays with pops of color via the mix-and-match style chairs, funky coffee mugs, and local wall art.

Marcel is unique to Montclair in that it provides an eclectic and yet polished dining atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve simultaneously traveled oversees for a sensational food tour and arrived at your best friend’s living room for a nourishing afternoon date.

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