Good's: Ample space, roadside parking, service was quick. Their lentil soup was delicious. Not so good's: Tiny place, not very good for large groups. VERY expensive for the quality of food. I ordered shish kabab, the chicken was so dry and they gave pureed lentils on the side. Seriously?! who gives PUREED LENTILS with shish kabab. That was a first. read more

Very disappointed. The dinner portions for takeout were very small and the quality for nothing special. Their workers were disrespectful to the customers. Absolutely not worth the jacked-up price. Go somewhere else for twice the food at a lower price. read more

Second time at Uncle Momo and I can honestly say there is nothing bad you can order. Everything is delicious! I went with 3 vegans and 3 meat eaters and we all were pleased. My daughter can't stop talking about the lentil soup and how she can't wait to get some more. Between the 6 of us we ordered the Pitza, the falafel plate, this eggplant dish with carmelized onions, Quzi with only veggies, the lentil soup and my son had some beef dish. All I can say is a lot of what we ate, we stuck inside of their delicious pita bread. AND everything that is suppose to be hot was served HOT. NO COMPLAINTS whatsoever. read more

Disappointing portions...I ordered the lamb kofta plate and I was still hungry after eating the meal. It was a total of 5 small meatballs

I ordered the grilled branzino. What I got was far from that. Instead of a freshly grilled whole fish on the bone, I got two slimy and super salty fillets that looked way more like catfish than branzino. For a $30 price tag, this was a big disappointment. I spoke to a young girl in the restaurant who claimed to be the manager, and she said it was my fault because I did not specifically asked for the fish to not be filleted for me. It wasn't even that it was not on the bone, but this was inedible. Not even my cat wanted to eat more after the first bite. I used to be a loyal customer but not after this. read more

This place has potential, but I was left disappointed. As other reviewers mentioned, it's in a cute little spot that reminds me of an old ice cream parlor. It does have great prices and BYOB is always a plus. The food itself is nothing special, you get what you pay for here. My boyfriend and I came in around 5pm on a Saturday and we were pretty much the only people there. We were greeted by a man who I believe is the owner/manager who was very short with us, and not friendly at all. I like inviting employees, but it's not the worst thing in the world if they're not. We ended up splitting the fatouch salad and chicken pitza. The lettuce in the salad seemed to be slightly wilted and didn't have that rich green color to it. The pitza was pretty good, but a little on the bland side. If you're looking for a hearty meal, this isn't it. We also split the pistachio ice cream, which was very good and worth getting again. My biggest issue here is when we had to go add money to the meter. We were almost done with our meals and wanted to go add 50 cents so we could stay there for 30 more minutes. My boyfriend went up to the owner and asked for change for just one dollar. The owner was rude and didn't want to give us change. He first said we should just use our card, but who wants to put only 50 cents on their card? Then he said the quarters are for "customers only." Umm we are customers! We have been sitting here ordering for the past hour. It was really bizarre and made us not want to return to the restaurant. If there are metered spots in front of your restaurant, you should be prepared to give your patrons change when needed. read more

What a wonderful restaurant. Dishes are amazing. Homemade pita is as light as a feather! Lots of vegetarian & vegan options. Falafel is delicious. Hummus & egg dishes are to die for. read more

Food is average at best. If you want Middle Eastern food that blows this place out of the water, go to Paterson. Pros -very intimate atmosphere -good coffee Cons -silly me thought I would get complimentary pita or bread with my hummus. Until I see in the bill they actually charged extra for that. Who serves a dip or spread and doesn't give you bread to go with it? -the chicken and lentils dish actually tasted like it had a tex-mex flavor to it. Very strange. Over all, nothing really impressed me enough to return again. read more

Interesting decor, '20s or '30s French Moroccan thing going on. I had the hummus, which was taste and blended into a perfectly creamy blob. The roasted eggplant appetizer was good but needed a touch of salt to bring it up a bit. The star of the night was the falafel sandwich. On house made pita which was very thin, with lettuce and tomato, tahini sauce and soft steaming fresh outta the fryer falafel rolled into a tight stick. Some spicy sauce and red cabbage would have propelled this review up a half star but alas, there was none to be had. Service was attentive and the prices were reasonable. They also have pizzas, entrees, and from what I hear a really nice brunch. read more

Before Christmas picked up an order to go. Totaled about $80 dollars yet there was not enough to feed 3 people. Really surprised. Not again. read more

Uncle Momo feels like a Paris cafe from the 20's. I half expected Kiki and Man Ray to be canoodling in a dark corner. Vintage decor permeates the space, making this fairly "new" eatery feel quite lived in, very relaxed. There's also a couple of modern touches thrown in to counteract all the nostalgia. I could have stayed here all night and fed my eyes/imagination like a sumo wrestler at an all you can eat buffet. But let's move on to feeding my stomach.....I wanted to steal and then sleep on their hot, billowy pita bread which is made fresh to order. I also love how they elevate a simple dish, like babagannouj, into something special by placing it on a bed of thinly cut radish slices, then sprinkling it all with juicy pomegranate seeds. That extra crunch in something that is usually one texture was fun. The Momo Pitza was, as you can guess, pizza toppings on their pita bread. Roasted red peppers, tomato, onions, parsley, chili and mozzarella. I couldn't get enough of it. I also loved the variety of people here last night. A mother with her young son at one table. A table full of women drinking wine and discussing books and writing. An elderly pair sitting shoulder to shoulder, channeling a couple of kids that haven't moved from that spot in 80 years (and if you have a look in the tub by the restroom, you will see someone that definitely has been there at least that long, wink wink). It was a great mix. Seriously want to return for those Tunisian eggs everyone is raving about as well as the Moroccan coffee, Moussaka, quinoa crepes, Ouzi and more of that pita. Brunch here is definitely high on my list of 'things to do'. read more

It's a small place located right next door to a pretty popular Montclair joint called Toast, however I'd choose Uncle Momo over Toast any day. The food is better and so is the service. It might take a little while longer to get your meal because on a Saturday morning/afternoon, there are only 2 people serving the entire place, BUT, the owner more than makes up for that with his hospitality and charm. It was our first time visiting Uncle Momo, and though we were familiar with some of the cuisine, we weren't quite sure of what to order. However, with some guidance from the owner who recommended the Tunisian Eggs, we ended up having lamb tagine and the Tunisian Eggs. They didn't disappoint. The lamb was incredibly moist and flavorful while the Eggs and its sauce were unlike anything we've ever tried before. The pistachio ice cream didn't taste like the fake pistachio ice cream you could pick up from a grocery store, and you can't really complain about dessert when the owner takes it upon himself to give you baklawa on the house... maybe me peering into the glass case of baklawa gave away my deep desire for it? Who knows? But a wonderful place to go with lots of character and European-esque charm. (The reason for 4 stars instead of 5? The wait for service... but there were 2 servers in the entire place who didn't stop running around once, so you've got to give them credit for not missing a beat.) read more

If I could give this place NO stars I would due to HORRIBLE customer service. My husband and I were so excited to try this place because we heard about how great the food is. We ordered through door dash and unfortunately they were having system errors so a driver from uncleMomos was going to deliver our food. We kept calling and calling every 15 min, they would say the driver is almost there. Well, 2 1/2 hours later we call and we spoke to Rose and she said "well your order was canceled on door dash so our driver turned around". ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! We NEVER cancelled the order, that was door dash that apparently did without our knowledge. And we told Rose WHY would we cancel when we've been calling you a million times asking for status of the driver!!!??? For her not to have the courtesy to call us to confirm if we actually cancelled infuriated us. But the worst part?...we were left with NO food on a Saturday night (my husband and I ate potato chips for dinner), Rose and staff did NOTHING to accommodate this inconvenience, and we were left FURIOUS and starving. If your staff would have done the right thing I wouldn't be writing this review, but instead I think it's important for the public to hear about the service we received. Poor Customer service is unacceptable, doesn't matter how great your food is. Unfortunately we will never give this place a chance after all this. read more

The food leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you have had real arabic food before. They don't have real shawarma if that is what you are craving and the hummus is very thick. The lentil soup was passable. Overall I was disappointed. The service was just as weak. The restaurant wasn't even busy and it took a long time to get the attention of the waiter. Overall, i think this restaurant shouldn't set expectations that it is an arabic restaurant. If they would re-categorize it as Mediterranean-inspired, maybe then you would consider it as good since you don't expect to have real arabic noms. read more

Went there last night. The restaurant is definately a work-in-progress from service to cuisine. Since its ramadan now, the staff isn't alowed to eat till sundown probably makes it more challenging. The food. I ordered a mezze plate. It was 12 dollars. You have the option of picking 4 items with pita bread. I ordered babaganoush, spinach and chickpeas, labne, and a chopped eggplant. I found the babaganoush not too smokey(I hate feeling like Im eating cigarrettes with some babas) with good texture. It wasn't the best I have had, but it was pretty good. I prefer the taste of Omar's babaganoush in NYC. He's got the tastiest IMHO. The chopped eggplant was good, but not earth shattering. The labne was some of the best labne Ive had in long time. The plate also came with a 5th dip on the house, it was some foul. The spinach and chickpeas were pretty good, but I usually expect it to be warm, and spicier. Thats another dish Omar's does better. The plate came with warm pita, cooked fresh in their oven. Excellent! I havent had fresh pita in years. They also make lebanese pizzas with their oven as well(havent tried). I ordered a Chicken Ouzi, as it was not a normal dish I have seen in Lebanese menus. It was a plump mound made of filo, with chicken, almonds, raisins , carrots and seasoning. It was served with a side of yogurt sauce. It was very good, but a little mild for me(I prefer stronger spicing). I felt this could have been a masterpiece dish, if it was served with maybe a side sauce made of sour/tart cherries or pomegranate. I would consider ordering it again, as I would like to see this dish improved a bit. I saw kebobs and schwarma in the menu, and I would eventually like to try it. I think some sort of lunch specials with these items would bring more people to try the place. Right now its little on the pricier end for Middle Eastern food, so having items like Lamb Shank on a bed of meat rice would be a good offering. This place merits another visit, as it is fairly conveinient to drive to. Right now I still prefer going to Patterson for my schwarma and dips, as Al Halal market is a great place for that. 12 bucks gets you 2 wraps and a dip! Uncle Moustache needs to push dishes that you can't get at any other middle eastern cafe, and do it really well. Also a moroccan restaurant is next door, and I haven't tried it yet, so they will be competing with them for "french middle-eastern" cuisine. read more

Great low key restaurant. BYOB. If you're looking for quick bit to eat and to be in and out, this isn't the place for you. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. Be prepared to dine for over an hour and enjoy your company. I have been here for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The menu is pretty simple. I highly recommend the lentil soup, hummus, babagannoush, labne, fatouch, tabouleh, beef shawarma, chicken Shish kebab, lamb Shish kebab, any of the pitzas, Tunisian eggs, and the pistachio ice cream. Honestly, everything I've tried has been delicious. read more

*Mixed grill plate (combination of chicken, lamb chops, Lebanese sausage, and lamb kebab; I liked all the meat on this plate but the best thing was by far the lamp chops. They were cooked perfectly and not too gamey. I liked that they didn't trim off all the fat so it held all the juices together in the meat while sitting at the table. The chicken kebab was tender, nicely seasoned and thankfully not dry considering it was chicken breast; the lamb kebab wasn't my favorite thing, I've definitely had better ones but still a decent showing haha; the Lebanese sausage was the most unique meat on the plate, they were small sausage links, the taste was quite floral and sweet which I was not expecting, it took some getting used to for me but it was still pretty good, I wouldn't mind eating it again but I think I just prefer a more savory and less floral-fragrant meat; they served this with basmati rice in the middle; I thought the rice was kind of hard but it softened up a little bit when it soaked up some of the tomato sauce on the plate with the meat; thank god for that tomato sauce because otherwise the plate would be so dry and I am 100% a saucy girl!); *Momo pitza (roasted bell pepper, tomato, onion, parsley, and chili; I liked the combination of toppings on this pizza however the dough/crust was strange, it was kind of hard and overly crisp. It was similar to those gluten free crusts that lack flavor and chew; I wasn't thrilled with the crust but at least it held all the toppings together; in addition, there was a huge pile of oil on the paddle when we finished eating the pizza so not sure why this was so oily) This place is super cute. I love the set up of the restaurant, it looks more like a cafe with the small tables and chairs. The ovens for the pizza are set up outside, so you'll walk out of there smelling like food. Service is good. Food is good. I would go back to try more. read more

Uncle Momo - Mixed grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Uncle Momo is a 3.5 stars restaurant in my book. Our group really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere when we went in on a quiet night. The decor was pretty interesting and very Euro cafe-ish. I ordered the lamb shish kobab, which came with rice and tomato sauce. The lamb was in the form of a small lamb meatball which was seasoned well and very tasty. I wish that some grilled vegetables came with the dish. If you want pita make sure you order it specifically. I am now curious about their brunch offerings and would return to try that. read more

Came here yesterday because I liked the name - Uncle Momo. Not sure what to expect, but was so pleasantly surprised. Great coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, thin hot pitas, and tunisian eggs served in a shallow clay pot. Eggs were served on top of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic with a side salad and delicious roasted potatoes. Phenomenal! Kinda reminded me of the Lebanese version of huevos rancheros. The eggs were perfectly cooked and as they sat atop the hot pepper mixture they cooked more and the texture of the egg white became like a baked egg (if you like a runny yolk, break the yolk as soon as you're served the dish). Really, really, really impressed. Staff was cool, calm, and collected for a busy brunch crowd. The service was a little slower than I like, but our server gave us updates on the status of the order without us asking so the slow service made it more of a relaxed experience. read more

Some of the best middle eastern food I've ever had and I'm middle eastern so this carries weight. The staff is super friendly. Had momo meze and the Tunisian eggs with mint tea for brunch. Everything was great. They also bake the pita bread fresh which is awesome. We also had a chat with the owner/chef who is a genuinely nice guy. The restaurant overall is warm, friendly and hospitable, the way real middle eastern restaurants should be. Will definitely be going back. read more

I scoped this place out for a while before finally dragging my friend to try it and it was delicious. Everything was flavorful and cooked just right plus the dinner time atmosphere is very cozy. A must visit in Montclair. read more

From the pictures, Uncle Moustache looks like a very modern place. Remove this assumption from your head because it isn't modern-looking at all in person. Instead, it is very cozy, warm and dim. To start, we ordered the Combination Mezze where you get to choose 4 appetizers. We were in an adventurous mood the night we went out to dinner so we got everything except the hummus since we already know hummus. The Rahib was definitely the best option of the 4. For our entrees, we ordered The Mixed Grill, the Moussaka with Meat, and a salmon special. The Mixed Grill provided us with an opportunity to try several different meats (chicken and lamb). The grilled chicken and the lamb kebabs were the best and the lamb did not taste gamy at all. The Moussaka with Meat was very nice, but the portions were rather small. I was not particularly fond of the salmon special that night. They didn't do the best job in ridding the "fishy" smell. Desserts were a very nice finish to round out the birthday meal. We ordered the Saffron Rice Pudding and Pistachio Ice Cream. I'd definitely order both again. The Saffron Rice Pudding's flavor was very unique and had a distinct pistachio flavor. Uncle Moustache's is a great place for a date or small dinner parties, but not necessarily for a group. read more

Going to be honest and say the only reason my boyfriend and I came here this weekend was because I was too cranky and hungry to wait for 45 minutes at Toast next door. With that, I was very pissy when we received the menus and there were no whole wheat pancakes, but I decided to make do. We both got the Eggs Benedict. Honestly, the meal was very delicious, just not what I was in the mood for. But I will review as if I wanted it... The English Muffin was EXTREMELY buttered, and I tried to pick it all off. The poached eggs were great. as was the sauce (even though I rubbed a bit of it off to stay healthier anyway). The side red roasted potatoes were amazing, as was the crispy turkey bacon over the well-seasoned side salad. My boyfriend's orange juice was supposedly freshly squeezed, and I believe it as it took a while and was kind of warm. My coffee was ok. Good prices. Honestly, I would probably go back to try their lunch as it all looked amazing and authentic, even though the place was a little weird. read more

I really enjoyed my Sunday night dining experience at Uncle Moustache! The place is small with cute decor. The menu is simple with authentic middle eastern dishes. I had the tabouleh and the zataar. Both were excellent and tasted similar, if not better, than my grandmother makes! My friend had the falafel and reported that it was tasty. My only suggestion would be to get some more staff. There was only 1 man serving and he seemed a bit overwhelmed. I can't wait to go back! read more

I love this place! The hummus eggs and especially the French toast was great! It is quiet and, unlike Toast next door, you can get seated immediately. Quick service with amazing food! read more

Uncle Momo - Hummus, pita, coffee and juice! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

My family has gone here since it's opening, many times in person and lots of take out during Covid. Last night my wife and I went on a date there and food has severely deteriorated. She ordered a steak frites. The fries were actually soggy and uncooked, while the steak almost seemed like it had been boiled. (My wife says a steak at a common diner was better). Having lived in the middle east, I was craving a beef shawarma. Very small portion and flavorless. Together with a usually good lentil soup served lukewarm to cold, our meal came to 70.00. Falafel Hut near us 1/4 of the price and infinitely better. read more

Consistently very good! Yelp wants a longer review, so I'll keep typing, but that's all I have to say.

Best kept secret in Montclair. It's funny how for weekend brunch, there will be a huge wait for Toast and tables open at Uncle Mustache...if only they knew.... I'm only posting this now because I'm going away for 6 weeks, and won't mind if the masses finally catch on. If you aren't sure what to order, you can't go wrong with Tunisian eggs and the Momo sampler. Spinach and smoked salmon quinoa crepes are also amazing. Go here when you want to relax, have no time constraints, and don't want to feel rushed by the wait staff. They are indeed a "slow food establishment" as they proudly advertise. They owner clearly puts a lot of personal care and attention into this place, and it shows through the quality of the food. Enjoy! read more

Good here was amazing! Very fresh And flavorful! The falafel was good and crispy and the meats on the mixed grill were all well seasoned and tender. We were very hungry and the food did take a while to come out... There is a notice in the back corner that says, "this is a slow food restaurant." I thought that was strange but realized why when we finally got our food. Very small joint that filled up quickly while we were there, so id imagine on busier nights there may be a wait as well. Highly recommend it, great food but be ready to wait for it... read more

Ordered 2 entrees and 2 appetizers for dinner. The flavors were pretty good, but the quantities were very small. And how do you serve spreads with no pita/bread?? read more

Had dinner there tonight and found it very charming--good food, gracious host/owner, and a great addition to Montclair's restaurant scene. I loved the fact that they have TWO kinds of moussaka--with meat and without! read more

Great place to eat good and healthy foods. Grass fed meat, made very tasty and good service, nice atmosphere our new favorite place around. We strongly recommend this place, they make their own pita that is worm fresh and tastes great. Home made humus and other speciality dishes. A very recommended restaurant, and prices are very good as well. read more

Amazing food and service. I had a wonderful apple golden raisin steel cut oatmeal and a mint tea. It was crowded, but they seated us quickly. The temperature was comfortable, which I appreciate because some places air conditioner turns brunch into eating brunch in a freezer. Reasonable price. For groups over four...might be tricky, it is small, but for two it is perfect. The noise letter is also perfect. read more

Uncle Momo - Apple and golden raisin steel cut oatmeal. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Food is amazing. App sampler, zaatar bread with yogurt, FILO dough with cheese and egg! Salad with walnuts , kabobs with ground lentils. All great! This place has nice ambiance, the music, the decor all very relaxing. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The prices are great as well! I live around the corner from this place and I am so happy I tried it. The day after my initial visit I was back because I had a craving for their food! Within a week and a half i have been there 3x! Check it out, I do not think you will be disappointed! read more

Fresh made pita and the best hummus I've ever had. Everything I've tried on the menu since they opened is delicious. The brunch is also very lovely. read more

Truly a gem feeling more like a cool So Ho spot the decor is ultra cool with European antiques The food is a middle eastern and Moroccan treat totally authentic and delicious it's a must whenever I'm in the are read more

Very bland not authentic Lebanese tagine, tiny portions. Seafood pizza was awful. In summary, overpriced mediocrity

I came here for a friends' gathering on a weekend afternoon. The food was good, and they accommodated my special request. However, the waitress was pretty much indifferent to us, unless we called her over, and even then she seemed annoyed that we were there. The bathroom was fine. read more

Let me start by saying that I had never heard of this place. Passed it hundreds of times and found out about it doing a general search for restaurants in the area. The menu online was enticing even though the name of the place is unassuming. Went on a Monday which was the best decision I could have made. The place was empty and the decor although random was welcoming and added a unique charm to the place. Our waiter was not only the chef but also the owner. Onto the food. We ordered the mixed mezze platter. It had some really nice spreads like babaganoush and hummus. Served with fresh pita made right out front for everyone to see. This was a fantastic start to the meal and only got better from there. Then was the lentil soup topped with fried leaks. For those looking for a chunky soup, this is not it. This one is about subtlety and flavor. To wash everything down we had the hibiscus flower drink and also the loomi which was citrusy. Both were great and refreshing. Main event: The beef shawarma served with pita, basmati rice and salad. This is Mediterranean comfort food at its best. Flavorful and super tender it made you feel like someone's grandmother had just prepared it for you. The lamb taijin was by far the ultimate show stopper. Where to even begin? It was presented in a covered casserole dish creating a mystery as to what's inside. Once you open it the smell is intoxicating. A beautiful slow roasted lamb shank on the bone served with prunes, apricots and almonds with a side of basmati rice. My god this was one of the best dishes I've ever had. It had a sticky braising sauce that was reminiscent of molasses but was actually honey and the caramelized prunes. Unbelievable. Don't skip dessert. We had a classic creme brûlée which was very good. But the milk pudding with rose water and blueberries was incredible. I had never tasted something so floral yet so subtle. I recommend this to anyone looking to try something different. And absolutely must have the Turkish coffee. After a meal like this all you want is a nap but the coffee will put you back on track. We even had the honor to speak with the chef/owner who personally served us at the table. This man is extremely passionate about his food and business and it shows. They also do brunch with their own twists on it. I'm looking forward to returning to try some more specialties. Simply amazing. read more

The best food. Their salmon is so good. I keep going back for it. I find myself constantly getting delivery from there whenever there is a night we are too busy to make dinner. It's great quality food, very delicious and they have great healthy choices as well. Love this place ! read more