Published August 31, 2024

Our visit to the Annual Brook Hollow Winery for their clambake was a foodie highlight for August. But rather than recap our visit, as I’ve done for the past few years, I’d like to share 3 new food spots I tried in August.

1. Fish Delish

The Montclair streets were packed with people enjoying the sunny afternoon weather. Parents with kids ate cups and cones of gelato from the shop on the corner, near Tino’s Artisan Pizza and Mattarello Bakery & Cafe.

We browsed the sidewalk racks of clothes for the boutiques and the displays of plants and flowers from the flower shop. As we turned to head down the street, I saw the sidewalk sign for Fish Delish’s summer special, Lobster Rolls!

Fish Delish Interior

Open concept space, light wood, accents of navy blue, and industrial lights — I loved the restaurant’s style. The logo used as a wallpaper pattern was clever too.

We knew we would order the lobster rolls, having loved them in Boston, Maine, and Lake George, but I still browsed their menu. It offered sandwiches with filets of fish or shrimp, brunch offerings, classic fried fish and chips, pastas, and poke-style bowls. The menu also noted that the dishes can be adjusted for gluten free customers. 

We claimed a table by the front-window after ordering. One woman in a flowy neon dress and sunhat waited for her food at the far right of the room. Another woman sat at the bar-top table in the corner. One woman sat at the bar-top tables on the sidewalk and enjoyed her lobster roll.

Lobster Roll | $25.00 each

Chunks of delicate meat, a squishy warm roll, and thin slices of fresh chives — our lobster rolls were incredible. We shared a side of crispy, salted fries and bottled drinks.

I was impressed with the quality and size of the lobster roll. This was the perfect light lunch before wandering around the park for the afternoon. These sandwiches were so popular, Fish Delish extended them into August to close out the summer.

2. Eagle Rock Cafe

While taking a walk, we stumbled upon the Eagle Rock Cafe, which I heard about before but never visited.

The front of the building appeared to be a bookshop. One girl lounged under the shaded tables on the patio reading a book. We cut across the patio to the parking lot at the back of the building, where a big wooden staircase led up to the entrance of the Eagle Rock Cafe.

The silver espresso machine glistened from the left-hand counter. A single barista welcomed us from behind the counter, where a large, easy-to-read menu hung.

A paper menu taped to the column to the right of the counter caught my eye with their list of specialty drinks. We ordered the shaken espresso and the strawberry matcha from that menu and browsed the foyer while we waited.

Packages of chocolate cookies, protein bars, and bags of coffee sat in each tier of the wooden stand. Bottles of kombucha and plastic containers of premade salads sat in the chilled case to the right. People lounged in low couches and sat at bar-top wooden tables working on laptops in each of the rooms off of the foyer. The space was bright with white and natural wood. I think it would be a great coffee shop to work from.

We took our coffees to go and headed back onto Bellevue Ave, where we ran into the third new foodie spot.

3. Playa Taqueria

Play Taqueria shared a sidewalk with a clothing store, who also had a metal rack of shorts and jeans out on the sidewalk for perusing.

A patio of metal blue tables and umbrellas sat in front of the large glass window to Playa Taqueria. We walked through the open front-door and were greeted by three workers and a large digital menu with instructions for how to order. It reminded me of Chipotle, where you select what you want and then your protein and toppings.

Colorful glass bottles of soda and hats with Playa Taqueria branding were for sale next to the register. Since we had our iced coffees, we placed our order to go and hung out near the front door until it was ready.

Like the coffeeshop, I enjoyed the natural materials woven throughout the space, like the wicker stand for to-go orders and the woven basket chandeliers hanging over the tables. The pop of pink on the wall and the blue from the metal tables and chairs made the space feel bright and friendly. Not long after ordering, our heavy takeout bag was given to us and we were on our way.

Short Rib Bowl | $12.00

I ordered the bowl with short ribs, black beans, crema, salsa verde, cheese, and pico de gallo. It was hefty and a giant portion!

The short rib was tender and juicy, the yellow rice was delicious and well seasoned. Plus, the crema and salsa verde added to the fresh flavors. My bowl also had a thin slice of shaved radish which provided a nice crunch. Playa Taqueria is a new spot that I plan to order lunch from again in the near future — plus, I’d love to try their tacos and burritos!

What’s your August Highlight?

Do you have a favorite adventure, restaurant, or highlight from July? Tell me about it in the comments below.

If you’re looking for more foodie destinations, check out more of my recommendations on the blog.