Our Favorite French Food in Montclair, NJ

Updated October 1, 2026.

Montclair, New Jersey is something of a French hub—not only does the Montclair Campus of L’Alliance New York reside at its center, but the vibrant town (which is just an hour from New York City) also boasts a robust community of French expats and speakers. We introduced you to the area in our feature about L’Alliance Preschool Montclair Campus, but we wanted to go a step further and curate a two-part French-centric eating and shopping guide to the culturally-rich town. First up: all the best spots to enjoy a meal en français, whether you’re craving takeout or looking to sit down and savor. Here are our picks for the best French food in Montclair, NJ.

Grab-and-Go Food

Jed’s Bread at the Montclair Farmers’ Market
If you’re at the Montclair Farmers’ Market on a Saturday morning, make a beeline for Jed’s Bread. You’ll recognize it by the line—and yes, it’s worth the wait! Their artisan breads and baked goods have earned a loyal local following, but our advice is to come early before your favorites sell out.

Crêpes Chantal
And Jed’s Bread isn’t the only reason you should head to the Montclair Farmers’ Market! Stop by Crêpes Chantal for Chantal’s favorite crêpe mix or ready-made sweet and savory crêpes you can enjoy in minutes. She’s always finding new ways to have fun with this French classic, including original creations like the Crêpurito and Crêpe-bab. Chantal has plenty of ideas to make you love crêpes even more!

Petite Ile
Then make your way to Petite Île, named after l’Île Maurice (Mauritius), for delicious samoussas and other Mauritian flavors. And yes, French is widely spoken in Mauritius! Be sure to say bonjour to owner Krishna—it’s a chance to discover a taste of this beautiful Francophone island and enjoy a little conversation en français while you’re there.

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery
Just a couple of blocks away from the Montclair Farmers’ Market, make your next stop Van Hook Cheese & Grocery. No French-inspired meal is complete without a well-appointed cheese plate for dessert, and this family-operated shop stocks incredible artisan-made fromages, along with all the fixings you’ll need to take your spread to the next level. Choose from a variety of almost 100 cheeses, including French brie, goat cheese, comte, roquefort, and more.

Bijoux French Pastry
Formerly Jayce Baudry French Pastry, Bijoux continues Montclair’s tradition of beautiful French pastry with an irresistible selection of croissants, cannelés, macarons, cakes, chocolates, and other sweet creations. But Bijoux isn’t just for dessert! The expanded savory selection makes it a great stop for a quick French-inspired lunch on the go, with options including jambon-beurre, croque monsieur, sandwiches, and savory pastries.

La Fontaine Café
This well-appointed spot offers take-and-eat breakfast bites and lunch sandwiches, sweet and savory crêpes, and specialty coffee drinks. The Turkish-French menu includes items like Turkish round bread with eggs and four kinds of cheese, a Turkish sesame bagel with cannoli cream and Nutella, spinach and white cheese crêpes, and croissants.

Paper Plane Coffee Co.
You’ll need a strong espresso drink to go with all those baked goods, and this coffee shop doesn’t just deliver in the specialty latte department (a shot of guava nectar, anyone?)—it’s also incredibly cool, with half the space designed like the inside of a plane. On any given day, you may just walk in to find a three-piece band playing in the corner.

Restaurants

Faubourg Montclair Restaurant and Bar
This French destination in Montclair is great for special group gatherings. The sleek, multi-level space—complete with an upstairs cocktail lounge and greenery-flanked outdoor patio—has a decidedly upscale vibe, as do the modern French dishes.

Egan & Sons
Okay, Egan & Sons may be an Irish pub, but we’re making an exception for one very good reason: the moules-frites! We French have a particular affection for this Belgian classic from our neighbors to the north, and mussels with fries are also a summertime favorite along France’s Atlantic coast, especially around La Rochelle and the Charente-Maritime. Egan & Sons serves some of our favorite moules-frites in Montclair, perfect when you’re craving a taste of a French seaside summer without leaving town.

Uncle Momo
Swing by this chic spot for a melting pot of French-Lebanese flavors—you’ll immediately feel transported when you step inside the space, modeled after a traditional Parisian bistro. Try their lamb “pitza,” spinach pie, borak (a flaky dough with mixed cheese), baked pistachio-crusted salmon, or makenek, a Lebanese sausage sautéed with pomegranate molasses—served with frites, of course!

And After Your Meal… A French Movie!

French culture in Montclair isn’t limited to what’s on your plate!

Montclair Film operates two beloved neighborhood cinemas, The Clairidge in downtown Montclair and The Bellevue in Upper Montclair, making it easy to pair your French lunch or pastry stop with a trip to the movies. Throughout the year, both cinemas bring an eclectic selection of films to the community, including French and Francophone cinema. Our connection with Montclair Film goes beyond our shared love of French cinema. Throughout the year, L’Alliance New York members are invited to enjoy complimentary tickets to select French films at The Clairidge and The Bellevue—one more way to experience French language and culture right here in Montclair.

Once you sample the eclectic array of French food in Montclair, it’s inevitable that you’ll fall in love with the town, so stay up to date on our various language class offerings and events at the Montclair Campus of L’Alliance New York so you have every excuse to return! Plus, when you become a member of L’Alliance New York, you’ll get special benefits at both our Manhattan and Montclair campuses.