local eats
Sapori, located at 9 Park Street, is the newest Italian restaurant to hit the Montclair dining scene. The restaurant serves authentic dishes rooted in fresh seafood and homemade pasta, with a special Cacio e Pepe dish served tableside out of a pecorino romano cheese wheel on Thursday nights. Read on to hear more about what makes Sapori a unique dining destination in Montclair, New Jersey.
About Sapori
Sapori is a family affair. Three Albanian brothers, Zach, Arlin, and Izet Picari, opened this spot in early 2025. They have a joint passion for world travel and good food, especially quality Italian food, which they grew up eating in Albania. When the brothers embarked on opening Sapori, they recruited their cousin, who was a chef in Naples for 17 years, to join them. Most of the wait staff are family friends, and the brothers’ parents often come to help out. The family loves having a restaurant in Montclair for its busy streets and European feel, which makes them feel at home.
The Picari brothers have been in business for 20 years but recently refreshed the space, which was previously Napoli, to open Sapori. As shared on its website, “Our charming eatery now features a vibrant, inviting atmosphere that perfectly complements our exciting new menu. With our personal experience from around the world, we are bringing you the best taste of authentic Italian flavors, crafted from the finest ingredients and traditional recipes.”
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The Eats
Sapori’s authentic Italian menu features homemade pasta, fresh seafood, including a crudo and raw bar, a mix of appetizers, soups, and salads, meat and seafood entrees (such as an organic chicken parm made with spicy vodka sauce), and prime dry-aged steaks. The main attraction is the Cacio e Pepe, which people pay a special visit for on Thursday nights, as it’s served out of a cheese wheel. After the tableside show, diners receive a creamy, cheesy pasta dish that could win over anyone’s taste buds.
One other specialty is the Octopus Carpaccio. As Sapori posted on its Instagram, “Our delicate Octopus Carpaccio is a refined Mediterranean appetizer, featuring thinly sliced octopus drizzled with a vibrant lemon dressing, topped with fresh arugula and delicate shavings of Parmigiano. Each bite is a harmony of flavors, citrusy brightness, peppery greens, and rich umami notes from the cheese. We craft it with care to bring you a light yet elegant taste of the sea. It’s a celebration of simplicity, freshness, and Italian finesse!”
Sapori also prides itself in seafood pasta dishes, which are often on the specials menu and depend on seasonality and availability of the fish (although its Lobster Fettuccine is a menu staple). One such special is the Linguine Fruitti Di Mare. As shared on Instagram, “Our handmade Linguine Fruitti Di Mare is a classic Italian pasta dish, featuring a mix of seafood tossed in a rich garlic and tomato sauce. We use only the highest quality ingredients, bringing the authentic coastal flavors of the Mediterranean straight to your plate. It’s a true taste of Italy, made with love and craftsmanship!”
Sapori rounds out its menu with a selection of homemade desserts, including a crème brûlée, tiramisu, and tres leches cake.
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Additional Details
The updated restaurant feels more like a fine dining establishment, with lively murals and decor that make the space feel modern and vibey for celebrations. It’s BYOB, though it serves mocktails.
Sapori is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30AM to 9:30PM; Fridays and Sundays from 11:30AM to 10:30PM; and Sundays from 11:30AM to 9PM. The restaurant recently started serving lunch daily.
This article is sponsored by Chashni Café.
In a town already dense with coffee shops, it takes more than a decent latte to stand out. Since quietly opening in Montclair this past December, Chashni Café has done just that, becoming a certified favorite for the MG team. Located at 349 Bloomfield Avenue, Chashni Café introduces New Jersey brunch-goers to a thoughtful mix of Pakistani flavors and American comfort food, all wrapped in a soft blush-pink aesthetic that’s both camera-ready and cozy. Keep reading to find out more about Chashni Café in Montclair, New Jersey.
From Nashville Hot Chicken to Montclair Brunch
Chashni Café’s journey began in 2020 with Namkeen Hot Chicken, a hot chicken concept that blended Nashville heat with the unapologetically bold spices of South Asian cuisine. This project, which offered a delightful balance of comfort and kick, quickly gained a loyal following across New Jersey, paving the way for something more ambitious.
The brunch experience at Chashni honors its roots without compromising accessibility. It’s not a “Pakistani brunch” spot in quotation marks; it’s simply Pakistani brunch, presented naturally and authentically. The team behind Chashni explains their vision, stating, “We wanted to create a space where people could experience these flavors without feeling like it’s a special occasion. This is our everyday food, just expressed through brunch.”
With this concept, Chashni’s first location opened in Chatham in 2022. It was a modest operation with big ambitions. The space quickly filled, and the team’s ambitions grew. With its lively food scene, Montclair felt like a natural next step — and the sunny space in downtown a natural next location. Chashni promptly opened its second location in Montclair in December 2024.
A Brunch Menu Reimagined
Enter Chashni: a name that roughly translates to “sweetness” in Urdu.
The menu at Chashni doesn’t aim to reinvent brunch, but reshape it, with subtlety and intention. Expect the unexpected: familiar brunch favorites, layered with new and unique flavors.
The Mint & Tamarind Smashburger, for example, arrives tucked in a soft bun, familiar in format but transformed by its tangy chutneys and heat. The Caesar Masala Wrap pairs the creamy crunch of romaine and parmesan with the zing of masala.
“We didn’t want to just add spices for novelty,” says a Chashni team member. “The idea was to let South Asian flavors tell their own story within a framework people already understand.” Seasonal specials like ricotta and peach toast or a crisp peach salad showcase a kitchen that’s as interested in freshness as it is in spice.
It’s an ethos that extends to the café’s unique drink and dessert menu. From a Rose Saffron Latte to the Gulabi Cake, delicately infused with rose, cardamom, and saffron, paired with Chashni’s signature Pakistani Chai — a quiet nod to tea time traditions in a modern way.
Pair that with a lineup of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes and a carefully crafted specialty espresso drink, and you just might have yourself a perfect morning.
Chashni Café is located at 349 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.
To view the menu or learn more about the café, call 973-348-6687 or visit the website.
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Dining and Cooking