Ray&#x27;s Luncheonette

Coffee is weak. Order a cup of coffee to go they give you a small shot of espresso fill it with hot…read morewater then add some milk, coffee is weak and watery

One word... WOW. The…read moreCorner in Upper Montclair has that rare mom-and-pop feel that immediately makes you feel welcome. It's cozy, genuine, and the kind of place where you can tell there's a lot of love going into what comes out of the kitchen. And speaking of that kitchen--you can see it from pretty much every seat in the house. Watching several cooks navigate what looks like an incredibly tiny space is almost mesmerizing. Somehow, they move around each other seamlessly, and the best part? The food comes out FAST. My wife went with the hummus, and it was creamy, flavorful, and delicious. But the surprise star on the side was the salted dried kale chip--such a simple little addition, but ridiculously good. Then came my pancakes. Out of this world. Small in diameter, but super thick, with a beautifully crispy exterior giving way to an interior that was fluffy, light, and airy. I've tried making this style of pancake at home countless times, and I still have absolutely no idea how to get that texture. The syrup and berries were the perfect finishing touches. Everything just worked. I've made and had soooo many pancakes in my life, and this is easily top 3 best. The Corner is the kind of place that makes you start planning your next visit before you've even left. I'll be dreaming about getting back to this Corner.

Toast

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Sidewalk dining

Libélula Bakery and Kitchen

4.7(112 reviews)

0.4 mi

Another great spot for breakfast/Brunch!…read more Great location too at Montclair with street parking and walking distance to Crescent Deck Garage. Place is welcoming and had nice natural lighting. We got their Huevos Rancheros, roasted chicken, tuna chaufa and lomo saltado. everything was great - good portions and beautiful flavors! Especially loved their Earl Grey latte too. the flavors of tea and espresso were very well balanced I would love to get that drink again. Also got their smores cookie for a nice sweet ending. We ended up chatting away even after we dined. Staff was very polite reminding us they needed the spot and was also kind enough to give us a some time even before the reminder. Would definitely recommend this place!

Went to Libélula for the first time today, as I'm very picky with the Peruvian places I try (I was…read moreborn and raised in Perú, so I just have a very set palate for Peruvian food). My friend and I asked if they sell pan con chicharrón, and though they don't have it on the menu, the chef (Brian) said he'd make it for us! First impression of the service ... amazing. We got the pan con chicharrón and I truly almost cried! I have not had one as delicious as this one in Jersey! The pork was tender, yet nicely fried, and there was not as much fat on it which is always hard as the fat gives it the flavor but too much can be overpowering. After talking to the chef, he mentioned that it is no longer on the menu because people didn't really order it ... so here I am, asking you all to go in and order it, so it can hopefully go back on the menu and everyone can try authentic and delicious Peruvian breakfast!! HUGE shoutout to Brian for creating something that brought both me and my friend a true sense of home

Inside

Tres leches pancakes IG: @thephotographerfoodie

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Coquito (coffee special with espresso, coconut cream, condensed milk, and spices)

Perch Home

4.4(30 reviews)

6.9 mi

I recently moved cross country to Maplewood. Early on I discovered this adorable shop that serves…read morecoffee and brunch on the weekends and has a wonderful assortment of goods for the home. They also have a wide variety of nonalcoholic spirits. I meet with other writing folks regularly on Thursday mornings. Imagine my delight when I found the perfect gift for my daughter's 36th birthday at perch. I'm a regular and in intended to stay that way.

Stumbled in here during one of the coldest days of the year, primarily just to warm up. Had no…read moreexpectations because, like I said, it was cold, they were the closest place to take shelter and I saw a coffee bar. Anyway, since then I've been back 3 more times; once for breakfast and twice for brunch. And while I'm confessing, the two times for lunch were on subsequent days. Yeah, they're that good. Actually, their chicken salad on a croissant is the best I've ever had and in my advanced years I've had a crapload of chicken salad. The have a nice sized coffee bar, decorated beautifully with some pretty delicious looking pastries. I'm on an anti-sweet phase so I'm basing my opinion on only on appearance. Then there's a seating area when you can eat, served by a friendly attentive staff and an adjacent boutique area where you can purchase housewares, clothing and other cool stuff. I'm not in Maplewood all that often, generally when I'm shopping at the equally awesome City Workshop but when I do, I always make sure to hit up Perch. You should too. 1/2 star deduction because they don't offer fake sugar, just that Stevia crap which is gross.

Snickerdoodle Latte (A traditional latte, blended with brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla syrup).

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Minias Breakfast And Lunch

4.6(110 reviews)

0.4 mi

Very great brunch option in Montclair. Came on a Saturday late morning after a fitness class. The…read morerestaurant was busy but very accommodating. They quickly sat us. I had the mangu and my lady had the avocado toast. We both really enjoyed our brunches. Ordered a side of fries, sweet plantains and chorizo. Everything was really good and will def recommend and be returning!

It was a rainy day and a lot of places were packed. We somehow lucked out when a group canceled as…read morewe were passing by this place. Located in Montclair, this small breakfast and lunch spot is a local favorite. The service was really good, they were very attentive to our large group and my toddler. They had some books for him. I had the huevas rancheros, which is only available Fri-Sun. It had 2 eggs that came on 2 fried tortillas and a side of potatoes and avocado slices. It was delicious, very flavourful and satisfying. The sourness of the seasoning went really well with the plain bean and tortilla taste and complimented the eggs well. Everyone at the table was satisfied with their meal. My son had the oatmeal, he loved it and he's not an oatmeal lover usually!

Inside

Bistec a lo Pobre , Quesadilla, and beef empanada All great choices

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Outside

Whisk It All

4.6(20 reviews)

1.1 mi

I love exploring cafes to work/study from! Whisk It All is a local family-owned bakery and cafe…read more It's easy to miss since it's on a quiet residential street in Glen Ridge. There's free street parking right up front. I've been here twice and both visits were positive experiences. The cafe is small, but cozy. The greenery and natural lighting make it a welcoming space to meet up with a friend over coffee and pastries or to study. There's a few tables, a couch, and stool seating facing the window. There's also free wifi and outlets. The tables are on the smaller side and the cafe isn't that big, so it's probably not best for large groups. Their menu is simple and a bit limited. Honestly... I prefer it that way! They have your core espresso drinks and a few paninis and croissant sandwiches. They bake their own pastries fresh on the premises. I recommend trying their cookies - they are huge, soft, and chewy! They also specialize in custom cakes for special occasions. Everything is reasonably priced. Baristas are sweet and efficient. They make some tasty iced lattes! The espresso is strong, but not too bitter. It has just the right balance of coffee and milk. I recently tried the Ham Solo sandwich ($10) which included scrambled egg, ham, cheddar, and avocado on a croissant with a side of chips. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't order it again. The egg was dry and the ham and cheese tasted like those cheap, pre-sliced ones from grocery stores. If I lived closer, I could see myself stopping by more often. Check them out if you're in the area!

Cute little cafe tucked away on a quiet block where you wouldn't actually expect it to be…read more I stopped in since they are bakery as I was looking for a birthday cake yet they don't carry the cakes in the actual cafe and they must be ordered 2 weeks in advance on their website. The barista was working by herself but handling business and she made my coffee perfectly, I'd stop back in for a coffee or a pastry since it's close to my nail shop.

Tables

Ham Solo Croissant Sandwich with chips

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Cozy couch area

Willow & Whisk

4.3(145 reviews)

8.2 mi

Food, ambience, and service is amazing! Our waiter Reggie was excellent. I highly recommend this…read morerestaurant.

I love this restaurant. The food come out really quick, and the seasonal menu was amazing. This is…read moreone of the first brunch spots where I can focus more on talking than hungrily waiting. My server, Elijah, was very observant and professional. He handled everything my table needed before us even having to ask him. I can't wait to come back!

Interior.

Turkey Panini with Ciabatta

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Chicken Caprese

Meet me at Madison

3.9(133 reviews)

1.0 mi

05/17/26 This time we brought my sister in law here for a…read morebrunch. Not sure how, but we some how we managed to get in. MMAM is quickly becoming one of our favorite restaurants. Great food, excellent service and a very class ambiance. This time we had shrimp and grits, Latin tribute tamale and fried chicken and grits. All great dishes. A whole showcase of desserts, but we got here too late and they were cleaning it up for the day halfway through our meal. (Our loss) Gonna keep it short because I've been away for a while and need to catch up on my reviews. Bottom line... do try MMAM. I'm sure you'll love it. Yes... it's a BYOB!

Have been here twice and food and service was exceptional! I especially loved the hot latte. Always…read moreappreciate when food places can do great coffees too. Interior is cute and cozy, great place to meet with friends or go on a brunch date.

Inside

French toast

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Dining Room

Red Eye Cafe

4.2(749 reviews)

0.0 mi

Adorable spot on Walnut, less than a block from the train makes for an idea, post-work Sammy spot…read more Today it was the classic chicken, which earns its name with a grilled breast, peat, roasted peppers on some kind of delicious crusty loaf. Friendly service and a wam environment. I'll be back.

To be very clear-there are a lot of great things about Red Eye Cafe. To start, it's located in a…read moresuper cute and decorative street in Montclair, NJ. The ambiance in the cafe is cozy and welcoming, and the staff is incredibly nice. The food is also a real hit. For drinks, I ordered a vanilla chai ($4) which was amazing and perfectly spiced and sweet. For food, we ordered the pumpkin pancakes ($10) and the avocado toast ($14-16) both were great. The pancakes were fluffy and flavorful with a nice cinnamon butter. The avocado toast was fresh and it's a big portion. Unfortunately, the service was noticeably slow, so keep that in mind if you're visiting on the weekend.

Scotch egg Banh Mi

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Matcha latte

Chashni Cafe

4.4(44 reviews)

0.4 mi

The cutest cafe with beautiful interior. My girls and I came for brunch and had delicious dishes…read moreand coffee. 100% recommend the breakfast burrito, desi breakfast bowl, and avacado burrata egg toast. You also HAVE to get iced Spanish latte, best coffee I've had in a while

What a beautiful cafe!!! It is so tastefully designed and decorated, everything from the art wall…read moreto the furniture. The food was delicious and felt very nourishing. The portions are very generous, too. I loved that our coffee wasn't served in to-go cups but actual glasses - a simple step toward reducing single-use plastic I feel like I don't see that very often in cafes anymore so it stood out to me. The baristas were friendly & knowledgeable about the menus. Overall, the atmosphere was very warm. Would definitely recommend!

The sugar/ milk station is on the top two shelves and self serve water is in the silver container on white sideboard

Blueberry Latte and Spanish Latte these drinks are true cafe vibes!!!!

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Honey Cardamom Latte

Raymond's

3.8(1.5k reviews)

0.5 mi

This is a great spot to go because they have outdoor seating and I can eat with my dog in peace…read more I ordered the Cobb salad, which my fault but I should have asked for dressing on the side because it was definitely overdressed for my liking. The fries were nicely cooked and salted, but $8 was a lot for the amount given. $4 would have made more sense. And then yes, I'm even going to mention the iced tea. Because there are not very many restaurants I go to that offer a freshly brewed iced tea, which is one of my favorite drinks. It really makes the meal perfect and I appreciate a freshly brewed tea vs a canned one. Staff is nice and brought water for my dog too.

We came on a Sunday for brunch and they were very quick to accommodate us despite their being many…read morepeople are already in the restaurant. The vibe there is so cute! It's very much like an old diner, but more upscale. I ordered the kale and wheatberry salad, which was very good, especially as it had grapefruit on it. I would've liked if it had more pieces of grapefruit, as two was very little, and I also would've liked if they had a stronger vinaigrette to pair it with. My boyfriend, on the other hand, order the pancakes and make them chocolate chip chips, and I have to say those are by far the best pancakes I've ever had. They tasted sort of like a very moist cake, but not too sweet that it is overwhelming. We will truly be coming back and try more things from their menu, especially excited to try their dinner items.

Restaurant view

Mexican Burrito Bowl

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Outside eating area

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Scott G.

Elite 22

5 years ago

Ray's, that's right Ray's. Half as long a name as Raymond's. About half the price of Raymond's. But most importantly, twice as good as Raymond's. At least in my experience. The staff are as welcoming as the food. On just my second visit they handed me a hot cup of coffee just the way I like it. With Half & Half (would you expect anything different after my opening comments) and one Splenda. The menu is filled with splendid choices, and I confess to not having tried many of them. The eggs and omelettes are fluffy. The Mexican sausage brings the right amount of heat and the homemade corned beef hash is as tasty as it is plentiful. Why on earth anyone opts for the canned, dog food like version is beyond me, but to each their own. I presume that's why Raymond's almost always has a line outside, and this cozy little joint does not. Another plus for a non-sleeper such as me is that Ray's opens it's doors at 6am. Every town and hamlet needs a Ray's Luncheonette, and thankfully Montclair has one. Want a terrific way to start your day. I suggest you check out Ray's. read more

Chad O.

9 years ago

I don't usually review that many things on yelp but Ray's was so good I couldn't pass it by come here and try it for yourself you won't be disappointed. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere, it's cute and very homey. Reminds me of a bed and breakfast! The breakfast food is stupendous, and so is the lunch stuff. My personal favorite are the burgers with bacon, I like them raw and with ketchup. Also don't forget the fries... golden nuggets of perfection. The staff is attentive and friendly, but be warned there is a $10 minimum for cards, and the food is quite cheap so bring a friend! read more

Adam T.

5 years ago

IF YOU WANT TO FIND A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH READ THIS REVIEW: Rays is a very special place the food is phenomenal and as authentic as you can find, the staff does a good job but what makes this place special is the owner. In a world where customer service is non existent Angie treats her customers better than anyone. She has a way of making everyone feel like their the most important person in the place and all her customers love her. She has a true passion for watching people enjoy food that she made for them. Everyone loves Rays because of this wonderful owner named Angie. read more

Jazmin S.

2 years ago

My family and I love going to Ray's for breakfast. This luncheonette is an absolute gem! The food is always delicious and satisfying. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a meal. The service is friendly, welcoming and attentive every time. A huge part of what makes this place so special is the owner Angelica, and her wonderful family. Their warmth and dedication shine through in everything they do, and it's clear why this restaurant is such a success. Highly recommend stopping by, you won't be disappointed! read more

Dave H.

14 years ago

First off great services Saturday morning greeted me as i walked in the door. now to the best part i had avocado sunrise omelet with hash browns and white toast with a side of bacon. best breakfast i ever had in a very long time. the waitress was very polite, she severed me coffee before i can ask also asked me if everything was fine, also didn't bother me while i was eating. two big thumbs up !!! read more

Angelica F.

10 years ago

Amazing food and amazing services, if you are near or in Montclair Rays its a MUST go! trust me you won't regret it from the moment you walk in till the minute you walk out, you will feel at home not only because the service is excellent but because the food is like a home cooked meal. from daily soups to their daily cooked specials everything is delicious. read more

Bi Yun C.

12 years ago

I came here for breakfast a few months and was very pleased with my experience. I ordered a Dylan Omlette, the dish was very filling and delicious. Although this place is very crowed it is a Must Go place for breakfast. read more

Jane J.

14 years ago

Amazing services Saturday morning. Great little place for the family, also enjoyed myself with a bacon ,egg and cheese sandwich. oh and coffee of course! will be back again and recommend friends and family. read more

Steph D.

2 years ago

The food is amazing here! The waiters Are so nice and patient with you. Not too expensive can come here with the family. The area is really nice and quiet. The owner is a sweetheart. Must come here! read more

Darlyn A.

3 years ago

Service was great and outdoor seating was nice. Got the breakfast tacos and a side of toast. Both absolutely delicious.

Natalie J.

2 years ago

I love coming to Rays. Angie is amazing! French toast is my go to. It's so fluffy and yummy! 10/10 recommend

Linda I.

2 years ago

My favorite place to go have breakfast and great service 10/10 I recommend the cheese burger empanadas.

Philip L.

11 years ago

Best Coffee Around. Its so good, you drink it rather than sip it. Good Breakfast Sweet Service read more

Michael S.

14 years ago

Great breakfasts that include South American specialty items!

Rob M.

4 years ago

Excellent service - Excellent employees and excellent food!

Ray's Luncheonette - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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