Alan@594

I love this place. Particularly sitting at the counter, swilling a bottle of good wine from the store out back, and watching a master chef and his staff prepare a fantastic Italian meal. Probably my favorite restaurant in Montclair.

This place is very "it". Their food is awesome, each dish is artfully constructed from ingredients to presentation. The atmosphere is very busy and you are on top of one another (so mind your conversation) - for a few minutes I felt like I was downtown NY - which I suppose is the point of the trendy and hip decor. I also ate outside (without a reservation) and it made for the perfect improptu. Yeah for Alan's - cook it up babe.

My wife and 3 other friends ate there on Saturday night. They did not have a good experience. Service was terrible. Food counts, but so does service.......

Love the place. I just got take out lunch from them and it's soo hummy! And dinner is always good.

Love the place. I just got take out lunch from them and it's soo hummy! It smelled so good that I eat half of it driving home.
And dinner is always good.

I think they closed down?????

they are open willy.

I'm a fan of Alan's but be forewarned -- They allow smoking on the back terrace. We went recently and the fumes ruined our experience. And they were not willing to ask the other patrons to put out their butts! sob ...

Jill, when I go to a restaurant I always choose the non-smoking section. And it sounds like smoking is not allowed indoors at Alan's. But you want to ban people from smoking outdoors, too? Mind you this is the back patio, not an area in front that all patrons are forced to cross thru. I think that rather than ask the waiter to ask his customers (and source of tips) to extinguish their cigarettes, you could have taken the higher road and asked for a table inside.

HTB:

It was a busy night and there were no tables for three available inside. Also, when we arrived, we were not asked if we preferred "smoking or non-smoking" nor were we informed that smoking was permitted on the terrace. Perhaps I should have assumed but I can think of no other restaurant in Montclair with a smoking section where one is not asked which location one prefers! And the higher road?? The higher road would have been to insure that all diners had the opportuity to enjoy Alan's delightful food in a smoke-free environment, don't you think?

Okay - we went to this place last week and it was one of the worst meals we've ever had in Montclair. Two sets of friends had warned us they weren't fans, but we decided to try it for ourselves since it looks so cute.

And, we walked in and immediately liked the ambiance. It felt so NYC...

But, then the food came. Gross. None of us (4) liked our meals at all. (Eggplant Parm, Chicken Parm, Penne Vodka and Grilled Veggies). Very bland and very nasty. And the waiter just started grating cheese on our food without asking. We left our doggie bag there (because it was so gross) and the waitress chased us down to give it to us...but we threw it away once we turned the corner.

It was a waste of our time and money. If you want better Italian food, go to Leone's or Palazzo or even Al Di La.

I took my parents here and we all agreed it was over price for small portions of food that was nothing to write home about. When looking for a nice place to go, don't stop here just keep looking

This place is getting by on exposed brick and exposed kitchen, making all the transplanted New Yorkers feel at home. The food is bland, though. And I felt all the more cramped at the bunched up tables while looking at the chef, who could have done cartwheels with all the space in the kitchen.

We have eaten there probably 8-10 times.
Usually the food and service are pretty good, not great. Biggest problem we have is the menu. They haven't changed it since they opened and have very few specials.
Also... the heat and AC are very poor on weather challenged days.

Alright, if we can agree that Alan's is climatologically challenged, slightly cramped, and has randomly attentive staff (likely a factor of the heat), can we also agree that the food is good, and in some cases great?

Anyone who can characterize Alan's thoughtfully prepared cuisine as "Very bland and very nasty" doesn't know his bolognese from bologne.

The complimentary starter of goat cheese with asiago crackers had a delectably concentrated tang and was full of flavor. With more quantity and a bottle of wine, I could make it a meal. Clams I had as an appetizer this past Saturday were swimming in a garlic broth so delicious I had to ask for a spoon. I had veal parimgiana for my entree and my husband had rigatoni bolognese. You could taste the critical difference in the sauces - mine was all tomato, slightly acidic as a counterpoint to the veal. His sauce was full of complex stewed-down flavor; hints of carrot and celery in the background, and big pieces of pork in addition to ground meat.

There were lines of people waiting to get in - they can't all be wrong, so I would suggest any negative reviews above are the exception. Al di la - Didn't they go out of business?

---

After 3 days without power, decided to go out with visiting friends to Alan@594 on Sat night since we did not feel like cooking. VERY DISAPPOINTED, first no or barely working air conditioning and presence of flies. Also the food was very disppointing from last visit about a year ago. An $8 salad labelled as "Baby Greens and Beesteak Tomatoes" arrived as greens overly dressed in what seemed to be pure lemon juice with ONE thin beefsteak slice! (advertise on menu as a single slice of tomatoe and its not a problem)
Two guests ordered chicken parmigiana, which used to be great here as a pounded large thin cutlet, but no more, its just an average. Another guest very disappointed with an overcooked and mushy pasta with lobster sauce that contained a SPOLIED lobster claw. Upon cracking it open for the meat it revealed a congealed BLACK and rotted lobster meat. Our guest did not finish what was left on the plae at that point. I ordered a "Grilled Shrimp" dish that had 6 small, what I consider sauteed shrimp, on a bed of beans similar to Campbell's Pork and Beans, adorned with one overgrilled prawn that was chewy and tough. Add to all food issues above some indifferent service, like not clearing our salad plates when entrees arrived and constant reminders for water/wine and this place goes off my list before I go back again. Its a shame, it used to be a decent reliable place.

visiting

Ate there for the first time tonight with applespouse and applekids. The poached sea bass with clams entree was among the best entrees that I've had in Montclair. Appleteen had an excellent rigatoni (similar to a vodka sauce, but with sausage -- forget the name) that was perfectly al dente. Applespouse had gnocchi with porcini sauce that was unique and tremendously tasty. Applekid had carefully prepared ravioli. We are big fans of the better Montclair "red sauce" Italian restaurants (Marzullo's, Nauna's, Leone's, in that order), but have to declare that this was an exceptional meal! In a town of many choices, this is a good one to make.

what did you have for desert? Applesauce

Calvados?

Love this place. The courtyard in the back is really nice too. Food is good, service is good, (except the one main lady...she goes to fast to provide any personal service). Be sur eto make reservations and bring your wine. Having said that, I think they are due to change the menu up a bit.

Great ambiance, but mediocre food. Some dishes can be very good, others are so so. I'm not impressed. Montclair has far better restaurants then this.

Family ate here on Saturday night and
my son summed it up: "ehhhh".

The food is nothing special, and ALL the
pastas were swimming in sauce. It was
more like pasta soup. Dessert was a
cheesecake that was still frozen and
delivered to the table in two pieces.
There doesn't seem to be much attention
to detail, yet the prices are considerable.

We won't be returning.

I LOVE this place. The service is always extremely friendly, even kid-friendly (they have a cotton candy machine in the back), delicious, not heavy-handed marinara sauce (always the sign of a good Italian restaurant), the best homemade cannolis EVER, wonderful pastas and a welcome small menu. The service has its moments but who doesn't? True, they do need to change their menu every so often but what they have on it is consistently yummy and the garden in back is so pleasant. I'd put up with worse than the smell of smoke to dine al fresco any day.

Was there Saturday night with 4 others. Second/third trip for some. Although the noise level does get a bit up there (due to people bringing their teething kids and not the restaurant), it is a cozy atmosphere. Had the gnocchi with mushroom sauce which was a nice change of pace from the usual pesto or marinara. The gnocchi were delicate, flavorful, and light. Family members were happy with the fish, veal, and pasta dishes. Service was attentive and helpful. Would return again.

My husband and I have been to Alan @ 594 about 12 times in the past year. We think it's one of Montclair's finest restaurants. Phenomenal service, helpful servers, and food is sublime! Sitting at the counter is the best--you get to see Alan work his magic!!

Had dinner here last night. The food was good but they must do something about the air conditioning. The restaurant was about 1/2 full and it was HOT to the point of very uncomfortable. We couldn't wait to leave.

Alan@594 is my husband's favorite restaurant in Montclair/Upper Montclair. I totally agree. We have eaten there about 20 times, and you can't believe how flavorful everything is--from the chevre and tomato sauce appetizer they give you, to the baked asparagus to the broccoli frittata. Great service too. We sat outside in the back last time. It was marvelous!

Catherine, just curious - did you and your husband make it there 8 times since May 22nd? Is it truly his favorite restaurant? Must be - you are hitting it up on average 2x a week.

Do you really keep track of those things? Do you find it necessary to share it with others?

Have you ever been to any other Italian restaurants in Montclair? Ever hear of Giottos? If you go there, will you promise to report on how many times you go there, and truly, if it is your husband's favorite?

Barista readers are just dying to know.

Maddingo- it seems to me that if someone enjoys a restaurant, saying how many times they've been would only prove their point. why the need to attack people for frequenting their favorite restaurant? (however many times they've been recently).

the point of this forum is to leave comments on the positive or negative aspects of a restaurant, not to take out your frustration/anger on the people who post here.

I went here for the first time last night. I will agree with Catherine that they did have great service however...The restaurant was so uncomfortable to sit in. We were all sweating. I realize it was 90 degrees outside but fix your AC. I will eat here again but it won't be til the winter! I thought the place was charming and the food was good. I agree with Maddingo - Osteria Giotto is better.

Avoid this place like the plague. We went in early spring, and they seated us at a table that was halfway down the alleyway in the back and was barely even in the courtyard at all. They had a heater outside, but it didn't work because it was out of fuel. Of course, it being spring and spring being nearly the only time you might need an outdoor heater, this was particularly frustrating. If you can't make the outside tables comfortable enough to sit at, you can't sit people outside. Period. They had 2 menus for our 5 person table. It took nearly 15 minutes to get a drink order in. The waiter forgot to place our order with the kitchen for nearly 20 minutes after we ordered, so our meal took close to 2 hours. While we were waiting, he asked if we wanted more bread. We said yes. Never came. When we finally got served, one person's food came out 10 minutes after everyone else's. The food itself was fairly bland. Then, the waiter says he wants to make it up to us and he'll bring us some gelato. But then he said they only have vanilla, and he can only bring out a small serving for our 5 person table. There is no chance I will ever go back there.

Spreading negativity is not something I normally do, but this time I could not help it. Horrible service, extremely overpriced. With so many other options in the area, there is no need to spend your money here. But if you're like me, you won't trust other people's opinions and you will try it for yourself. I'm willing to bet you leave disappointed and agree with this post when you're finished.

I have eaten here since the week they opened and have had nothing but great food and wonderful service. Love to sit at the counter and watch them cook. A low-key place with consistently good food.

I was there in the summer with a group of friends. WE made the mistake of sitting outside. They need to do a few things with the outside, cleaning it would be my first guess. Any restaurant with an outside patio must realize that customers dont like to get bitten and don't like to see green things when they;'re eating. The seating should also be upgraded and table covers really aren't that expensive. It's all minor things that could be done that would make it more welcoming. However, the food was absolutely fantastic, so i guess the 5 mosquito bites i got was worth it.