Fresh flavors, French ambiance by City Hall
We’ve been big fans of Uncle Momo since a friend introduced us to their Fatouch. The Lebanese salad is an herby, flavor-packed plate of greens, radishes, tomato, cucumber, onion, spicy vinaigrette and Pita. Uncle Momo’s version is especially good thanks to their famously crispy pita that’s baked and served fresh, right out of the oven.
This Lebanese-Moroccan-French restaurant has two locales in Jersey – the first being in Montclair, the second in JC. Like the flagship restaurant, Uncle Momo’s Grove St. location has a lovely Parisian bistro vibe, and further French influence can be found in the Brunch menu, which is served daily until 3 pm. There’s omelettes, crepes, and eggs served many ways - including Middle Eastern-and Tunisian-style.
Beyond breakfast, we love the Moroccan-style lamb dishes, including the (Halaal) Lamb Tagine – slow cooked shanks with caramelized prunes, almonds and rice. We also the Lamb Moussaka (the veggie option equally good) and Kofta Kebab plates. We recently sampled the Pitzas, which have a thickish pita crust as a base. Our favorite is the Spinach pie, with garlic, cheese and caramelized onion. As you would expect, there are plenty of hearty vegetarian entrees, and there’s plenty of seafood and chicken dishes. While meat isn’t prominent, the Momo Burger, made of organic, grass-fed ground sirloin, will satisfy any die-hard carnivores in your group.
Like many of our favorite spots in JC, Uncle Momo is BYOB. We make it a point to stop at Cool Vines before dinners here – both the food and great ambiance are enhanced by a bottle (or two) of great wine. All that, along with the sweet staff, make Uncle Momo a great spot for a quick, healthy lunch in a chic setting, or a great place to savor food and good company at night – in the most flattering lighting imaginable, no less!
289 Grove St. 201-360-3914