Raymond's

I LOVE Raymonds, so I'm happy to be the first to leave a comment!

I love everything about it...from the french toast to the eggs benedict to the font on the menu and the colors on the wall!

And, the owners are kind, lovely people.

The best damm french toast you will eat in this lifetime. End of story.

just go for breakfast. the lunch was nasty! AVOID the hummus sandwich...yuck! and im fat too! geez

NASTY!!!!!

Don't believe a word they say...everything about Raymond's is good - be it lunch, brunch, breakfast or dinner! The food, the decor, the owners - all fabulous.

So the first time there was not very good. A really bad burger......

But then the French Toast 2 weeks later, and the truth is--- I can see better now. My thoughts are clearer. I love and can see the good in all people. Even those I disagree with, I can now see their point (still not swayed, but I understand).

Something about that French Toast. Evolution, Intelligent Design, Creationism, whatever… Someone or thing touched that pan when that bread hit it and created perfection.

Or was it just a lot of butter?

I love Raymond's. The french toast is the best, I bring all overnight guests there. I love lunch. I love the curry chicken sandwich, love bagel and lox (that's brunch), salads, vegetarian chili, lemonade, soups, and coffee... delicious! I love the blood orange sorbet. Did I say it was delicious?

Yes. The French toast is... a moving experience. Hands down, the most delicious I have ever eaten. Their omelets are good too. Sometimes, even with all the fancy ingredients, I'm looking for a little more flavor. But, it doesn't matter. There is no better place to have breakfast in Montclair than Raymond’s. And, that is why whenever you go there, you have to wait for a table, while other places right on Church street sit empty. Raymond’s is a gem!

I agree with everyone about the french toast at Raymond's. (The bread comes from Nicola's) But as a breakfast person, I also use pancakes as an indicator species. And the pancakes at Raymond's are also wonderful...practically in a dessert class by them selves, also served with genuine maple syrup. Somewhat costly at 6 bucks, but hey....you really get what you paid for.

Extremely disappointing! In fact, see posting by "poochie" Jul 27, 2005

Couldn't wait to try Raymond's after reading the NYT review. Finally got there on a relatively quiet night. Still, we waited FOREVER for our food -a pork special (paillard??) and a steak sandwich. The pork came out raw, medium, and well done - ALL IN THE SAME PIECE! You should have seen the look on my girlfriend's face after waiting for this meal for 40-45 minutes! And my steak sandwich was vapid. What's more, our waitress was nowhere to be found. When the manager finally made an appearance, she explained that the veal dish was brand new (debuting that very evening!), and that Raymond's hadn't tested it out yet! Loved feeling like a guinea pig! Bottom line - refer back to poochie's comment.

Aaron,

I remember your visit very well. It was a night in early fall and not as slow as you recall, since our outside tables were quite full. You sat in the back, and though that section was not crowded, the night was busy. Yes, there were problems with your meal. I also recall sincerely apologizing, offering you food on the house (which you refused), and not charging you anything. You were very sweet when you left, thanked me and said you would be back to give us another chance. It would have been nice if you had told the whole story.

The pork dish to which you refer was most certainly tested before it was served. We do not use our guests as "guinea pigs". It was, however the first night the kitchen produced it for service. That is what I said. The cook erred in the preparation of the meat. This was immediately addressed and remedied.

You also mention problems with the service. I do recall that yes, there was a longer than usual wait for your food. When the waitress came to get me, though (I needed to attend to something in my office at the time), she was near tears. I came upstairs immediately to speak to you. I thought we had resolved the situation as positively as possible given the circumstance.

Believe me, no restaurant owner wants their patrons to have any kind of bad experience. However both we and our employees are human. Mistakes happen. The best we can do is to train our staff as thoroughly as possible to try and prevent problems, and to do what we can to make things right with the customer if things do go wrong. I don't know what else can reasonably be expected.

Best Breakfast in Town,

Got to love Raymond's. Great breakfast food ever (French Toast - Breakfast Burrito, etc). Friendly service and the coffee is a must. I have to try dinner. Keep up the good work guys.

Best burger in town, not to mention the mounds of crispy french fries. And I love the atmosphere: oldtime diner reinvented in a more upscale manner. Good service.

I have to say for all the negative comments I am reading, I have never had a bad meal here. I have had dinner, lunch and breakfast and not the french toast but the omlettes curry chicken, burgers, fries everything it has always been good.

Joanne, please bring back the luncheon combo!!

Raymond's is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Had a great dinner at Raymond's last night. We have been going there since it opened as 28 in the 90's. Like many places they have had their ups and downs. The chef there now is definitely up!

We had four dishes from the specials of the day which included a delicious split pea soup. Just the right consistency and a nice sprinkling of bacon and rosemary that created a nice contrast to the buttery pea puree.

My son was delighted to find a favorite, duck confit, on the menu. It was done just right served over a bed of savory greens, beets and walnuts swept with a balanced vinaigrette. For an entrée he had real “comfort food” macaroni and sheese served in an iron skillet.

I had the pepper crusted yellow fin tuna, medium rare, seared about an 1/8” in, the fish was of absolutely top quality, rarely found out side of New York. It was served in an architectural stack that started with coconut risotto cake which was scrumptious, the rice just past firm and sweet with coconut, very unique. On top was a sparkling Asian slaw, again with a perfectly balanced soy vinaigrette.

From the everyday menu, Diana, mom, enjoyed the lamb shank which was slow roasted and falling off the bone. It was basted in a bit of tomato. The creamy polenta, broccoli rabe and tomato made it a perfect dish.

Brunch was perfection. Nothing else to say.
Thank you.

My wife and I have been there twice, both times the food and service was great. I just hope the next time we go we don't have to wait long for a table, it's a popular restaurant, and for good reason!

Hate to be cliche, but this place is the best, hands down ... true, we haven't tried it for lunch or dinner, but we've always gone during insanely busy brunchtime and a) always gotten a table promptly, which amazes me, and b) always gotten excellent service and stellar food. Any fan of retro decor and design will love their menus and overall ambience, as well!

I have been to Raymond's many times since it changed from 28, and always enjoyed brunch, but the last two times I was less than satisfied. I went for brunch a couple of weeks ago and got eggs Benedict, but the poached eggs were not cooked enough. I have trouble cooking poached eggs but I would prefer if a brunch place could cook them enough that the whites are white, not clear and snotty.

I was excited to try dinner a week or so ago, since I had only been there for brunch, but I got a soft shell crab with a shell so hard that I actually cracked the claws and shell and picked out the meat. I realize the season is short but those crabs should have been sent back.

I will still try again and will try the French toast, but my enthusiasm for Raymond's is defiantly waning

Someone from Raymond's sent me an email apologizing for the meals I complained about above. They mailed us a gift certificate for two meals. We just went tonight and had a wonderful time. The Monkfish special was awesome and the brushetta was delicious. Our server Ryan, the hostess, and the woman who sent the email were all very professional and welcoming.

Problems will always occur at restaurants but it really shows when there is a great staff that responds so well to problems.

Thanks Raymond's!

I have been a Raymond's breakfast fan, but was wary to go back for dinner after dining on an "off night" recently. I made a slow transition by dining there for lunch last week. I sat outside and had a delicious curried chicken salad with a lime rickey and it was such a wonderful dining experience. Yummy food, nice breeze, great people watching. Last night Jay (mentioned above) and I went there for dinner. It was a special occasion for us and it was just perfect. The waiter- Ryan, was so nice, professional, and just one of those seamless amazing waiters, that are so rare these days. The specials were delicious, the toffee desert was scrumptious. I was a very happy, and full girl. Thanks so much Raymonds for making this meal so special!

I took my friend there for brunch on Saturday. The food was delicious and we got great service, too!

I had the curry chicken sandwich, which was perfectly seasoned and the raisin nut bread added a perfect note of sweet. The raspberry lime rickey was also a fun twist.

My friend had the french toast. She thought it was great.

I went to Raymonds today for brunch with my husband. He asked for a mushroom and swiss cheese omlette, and the waiter said, "we don't serve swiss cheese until 11:00 am." This prompted me to say, "you're kidding, right?" He wasn't. It was roughly 10:50 am, and he said, "I'll wait and put the order in five minutes later." I remain puzzled as to why there is always a wait to get in here on the weekend. The food is OK, but not spectacular.....and it's LOUD.

Debra...that's just the craziest thing i ever heard.."can't serve swiss cheese until 11 am." wow......that's why i never go to Raymonds, like many other people i know.

Hey next time, just walk over to the Church Street Cafe..much, much better.

This is NOT a "rule" at our restaurant. It is the inappropriate action of one waiter. Believe me, this issue is being addressed immediately.
We work very hard to acommodate all of our customers, and to train our staff to handle special requests. If there is a problem at our restaurant, or for that matter, any other, PLEASE ask to speak to management so that the issue can be resolved rather that say nothing and criticize the establishment in a public forum.

Brunch here is great - that is why you'll always see a line out the door!

2 nitpicks: The last three times Ive had brunch at Raymonds they've been out of muffins AND scones.

AND they place is really loud!

Raymond's has been unbeatable since it opened its doors many years ago. Walk down Church Street any day of the week and you'll see a line of people queued up waiting to get in while the other restaurants are completely dead. Wonderful food, great service, and a very responsive staff make this place the gold standard for Montclair.

Kudos to Joanne and Raymond for being the original catalyst to Church Street's Renaissance and continuing to set the bar for all the newcomers!

Must agree about the MUFFIN SHORTAGE mantioned above. Waitress suggested we try thr cornbread since they were totally out of muffins (this was early Sunday am) and the corn bread was cold inside & tased like the inside of a refridgerator - not wrapped well, not heated enough. YUCK!

ALSO - I AGREEE: LOUDEST RESTAURANT ON EARTH!

Went to Raymond's for the first time last Saturday afternoon.
Had a burger. Am I missing something here?
Menu was the basic lunch menu you would find at a usual sandwich shop.
The burger was OK, nothing to make a fuss over. It came with shoe-string fries. The decor was ok, the white tiling along the wall made me feel like I was in a bathroom or dingy hospital. I got a kick out of the glass colored bottles along the wall. I dont know where Raymond's is going with the look, but they havent been open for that long, but it sure does look like the need a remodeling job!

Wayne Robbins comment above reminds me of that old Yogiism "It's so crowded, nobody goes there any more." Everytime I'm there there's a line out the door and the food is unfailingly great. No coincidence.

Raymond's has a great atmosphere and good food. But I have to say, I really miss the old menu. They had the most wonderful sandwiches and soups! Now there are only 1 or 2 options of each. That is what turned me onto them in the first place. Please bring it back for lunch?? The menue it much too limited now.

I have to agree with the last post. We had dinner about a week ago and I miss the old menu. While our meal was very good, my husband had the trout and I had the Steak, the menu is so limited it is easy to get bored of it very quickly.

Had dinner there with my date on Monday night. It wasn't crowded for a change but I had to wonder why it ever is. I had a salad because I wasn't super hungry and it was ok, but nothing special. However, my date had the crab cakes and I watched him struggle to cut them and finally asked what was the matter. He said they were both burned on the bottom and turned over so that they'd present better.

On top of that there was little service since the wait staff seemed busy taking care of the dog at the next table who needed frequent refills of water and righting of chairs that he kept pulling over with his leash as he lunged for other dogs walking on the sidewalk.

We ate and left because we had to catch a movie but didn't enjoy it at all. It is unlikely that I'll go back since it sounds like the best thing on the menu is the french toast which I can't eat due to a gluten allergy.

what's with the flies lately? i've been going to raymond's way before it was the raymond's everyone knows now. i considered myself to be a fairly regular customer. i know that it's hard when a restaurant has outside dining, but taro doesn't have flies all over the place. it's really gross. it bothered me all summer but my loyalty to the menu kept drawing me back in. i ate there last week with my wife and my daughter and i ordered the fish n chips. my daughter entertained her 4-year old self by making a concoction that included pouring the vinegar on a piece of bread. out poured all these tiny black specks. after a closer look, it turned out that the specks were really little fruit flies that nobody bothered to clean out. how long do those bottles of vinegar stay on the shelves? the kiss of death was when my friend who serves at raymond's told me that the health department paid them a visit regarding some food poisoning complaints. i can really say that although the chef seems really talented, the sanitary conditions have finally forced me to end my long-time love affair with the restaurant. you need to get your act together guys!!!

Fwiw, I noticed that Church Street Cafe had a problem with flies too...b/c we were out on the sidewalk and the flies were in between the glass and signs taped inside the window. I know that where there is food, there's bound to be some flies, but GROOOOOOOOOOOSS. CSC grosses me out anyway, but that's a different stoyr. Hopefully Raymond's will clean up its act--I love the restaurant!

Yes, there have been flies this summer. Though we have tried to keep the front door closed as much as possible, the large volumne of in and out traffic has let in some flies. We really don't want to put an electric "zapper" and have been looking into alternatives.

As for the health department, yes they did inspect and found everything to be 100% fine. We passed the inspection with no problems whatsoever. We take sanitation and cleanliness VERY seriously here. I will personally look into the situation with the vinegar. Rest assured that nothing sits around for very long.

I am presently employed by Raymond's as a waitress. I have worked in numerous restaurants over the years in northern NJ. I along with my co-workers agree that Raymond's is the cleanest restaurant we have worked in. Ray and Joanne take pride in making sure that our facility maintains a very high standard.

Have gone for breakfast and dinner, and enjoy Raymond's. After dinner with friends (the Pork Chop was great) had the chocolate pudding ... it was a retro trip back to growing up, fun memories and good -- and something that we have gone back for again. Have never had a bad experience there. Also a great place for a single to head out for breakfast --

Rumor has it that the kitchen help is bailing en masse... what's cooking?

Don't know where this rumor came from, but rest assured it is completely false. One line cook left recently, that's it. Most of our kitchen staff has been with us for at least 3-6 years, one as long as 14!

I'm a weekly regular at Raymond's during the "outdoor seating" season. Love the brunch. The food is consistently good, however, they often run out of baked goods very early (muffins and what not).

While I enjoy the restaurant, I've found the wait staff "tempermental" even to a regular (who tips a minum of 25%). I also remember being told I couldn't have a certain type of cheese or topping until a certain hour.

My family went to Raymond's tonight, Saturday, and I went to use the restroom. As I was going through the back door I saw an asian chef grab one of the boys who brings the food out by the neck and yell at him. He grabbed his neck so hard he fell into the counter. As I walked through the back door I heard Raymond and another person yelling at the wait staff completely disrespectfully. I'm suprised the staff didn't walk out. I'm amazed at the poor manner they treat there staff and they are so unaware we are trying to relax and go out dinner.

u people have no idea what it takes to run a restaurant! Open your own place if you think u can do it better until u have the balls go fuck yourself!

levin: Why does it matter that the chef was Asian? Racism isn't okay.

Ate here a couple days ago and still wonder why I can't get my eggs scrambled? I simply asked my waiter to have the omelet on the menu prepared as a scramble and you would have thought I requested a free meal.

I can get a 'special order' at Burger King but not at Raymonds? Please.

Good food but a terrible approach to pleasing the customer.

I would like to respond to the above posts.
First, regarding Levin's post- I only say that what you witnessed has already been dealt with and it has been made clear that such behavior wil not be tolerated. Please note, however that things can get heated when it is busy, and our staff does know at the end of the day, that we are supportive and fair here. We try to maintain a pleasant working environment, and the proof is in the longevity of our staff.

Second, Lisa, you should have ABSOLUTELY been able to order the eggs that you requested. We do this all the time. I apologize- please get in touch with me directly if you see this.

Last, to all readers who have had trouble ordering here, please contact me directly. This has been an ongoing problem for me and I really, really need help identifying the servers who are leading you to believe that we do not value customer service. I need to address these waiters individually, as our group meetings don't seem to be resolving this problem. Thank you.

I must say that I enjoy the food here immensely. My girlfriend and I come for brunch and dinner every so often, and absolutely love bringing a bottle of champagne and mixing with the OJ while enjoying the eggs benedict or the lox version thereof... The steaks are excellent, and I have not had a problem with the service: always prompt and accurate. Sometimes you get a table that is in a more crowded area, but there is always the option of waiting for another table to open up, so the quick seating option is appreciated and works very well for brunch. Yes, it can get a little loud, but any restaurant that is this popular will have some noise during the busy hours... I love this place: it really defines Montclair and is on a great street. Try picking up a bottle of wine from the new store (Monti vino, I believe, great handpicked selection) next door and have dinner here: you won't be disappointed....

I have yet to try Raymond's, but to see how Joanne has answered the negative post, it obviously shows that they are trying to get it right. Good for you. I will be visiting soon.

http://www.myofo.com
Order Food Online

Agree with 'Mtclr fan' above. I was surprised that the soup and sandwich menu that was gone. The wonderful, inventive soups and sandwiches were, to my mind, the keystone of the Raymond's experience!

Our soup and sanwich menu is not gone at all! We offer 11 different sandwiches, plus burgers and a sandwich special every day. We also have 3 fresh, homemade soups every day. That is more than we offered at our "old place". You can see our menus at www.raymondsnj.com

Raymond's?

ok...um...YUMMM!

p.s. i've never had bad service on the 6 times i've been there over 3 months.

i had lunch and dinner there 3 months ago. and lunch last week. something seems a miss. i saw the "asian" chef there. he seemed charming to some of the guests. my girlfriend got to chat with him a bit. we told him he was doing a great job. as i asked my server where he was, he responded he was no longer there. can that explain why the food isn't that great?
food is so so the last time. i waited a while for my burger. it was over cooked. fries were blah!!! french toast was good! maybe someone has to run that kitchen better! get the fries and the temp right. it's just a freaking burger.

and yes, from the above comment about raymond yelling; the night i came in as it opened, he yelled "fuck" in the dining room. he should learn to con trol his temper....he seems nice and all...but guests are coming in...bite your tounge or something.

I have been going to Raymond's since they opened, no matter who the chef is, the food has been top notch. I give all the credit to Raymond and Joanne who are always checking on the food and maintaining the high quality. Since Jamie left the food has remained very good. As far as the way the owners treat their staff, it is always with respect. If... Mike saw Raymond upset, I am sure it was an abberation. I am sure many of the readers of this blog have had a day where they lost it a little and dropped the f-bomb.

Cursing is cool. So is Ray. Nothing has changed there in the umpteen years they have been on Church Street - it's always been great. Except now Joanne owns it with Ray. She curses. She's cool too.

Great food , Love breaksfast here, tHE ONLY thing that I do not like is the treatment that all employees receive in the short time they stay there, I met at least 10 ex-employees of raymonds- Say very bad thing .

Alex, I cannot imagine where you found all those people who worked for us a "short time". We truly value our employees here. That is why most of them stay with us for exceptionally long periods of time. For example right now we have Augustine- 15 years, Pablo-10 years, Alfredo-9years, Marc-7years, Maria-3years, Gus- 3+years, Natalia-2+years, Sonia-5years. The list goes on and on. In fact most of our employees have been with us for more than 2 years, and many of our cooks even went to work at other restaurants while we renovated here and came back as soon as we reopened. That just doesn't happen in this business when people are mistreated.

NOTHING upsets me more than when employees are mistreated, and I certainly would never treat someone badly. I find your accusation offensive and slanderous.

Alex,

How many names do you go under and how many other restaurants have you accused of mistreatment. I have known Raymond and Joanne for over a decade, no employee would accuse them of mistreatment. This smells of jealousy, if not just plain lying for the sake of seeing your name(s) on this blog. It never ceases to amaze me, once a restaurant is successful in Montclair, the low lives crawl out of the cellar and attack. Raymond and Joanne, I hope you know that their are many supporters of you and your restaurant, and the nonsense that is written here about you will be ignored.

Joanne, What about Antonio??, who quitted on Monday..I can give you a list of people that you go through, And YES, I do like to defend the right of all those people that can not speak for themself!. Hey "sick of this " if you think I attacking for pleasure, do a pesonal survey asking what u read in my coments..

Don't you love the 3rd grade writing level of some of these people - "quitted." "Say very bad thing." Alex, go back to working the fields muchacho and leave the comments on fine dining in Montclair to the people who speak (and write) the language and who provide the tips that feed your ass.

We want to hear about the food, not about the slanderous comments you make up about the owners who have paid their dues and worked their asses off to make a great dining experience.

And by the way, if you persist, I recommend open season on you and the Antonio's of the world. Let's have the owners post their stories about the thefts, the BS excuses, and the general crap they put up with from lazy low-lifes like you who have nothing better to do than to slander them. Get a job.

For the record- the only Antonio at Raymond's has been with us nearly 3 years and is still happily working the line. No one quit last Monday.

If Alex is referring to dishwashers, well, that is a really tough position for us to keep here. Problem is,(and this is true in any restaurant)it is an entry level job. Someimes a guy will work until they realize how busy we are, then quit. Why wash dishes here when they can get paid to wash dishes in a slow restaurant? If they stay and are hardworking, they have an opportunity to move up. Right now in fact, we have a great guy named Terry who is learning to prep and cook.

I stand by my record with my employees, who I have enormous respect for. They are not "voiceless" here either, as this is a restaurant where the owners are always present and available to their employees.

I will not respond further to these slanderous comments and become engaged in a public brawl. I have a business to run.

Joanne, you're a class act all the way. KUDOS!

Raymond's offers a delightful dining experience. Usually I have breakfast there every day. They have a very friendly and attentive staff. Obviously the kitchen knows what it's doing because the food is terrific. It is a great place to meet and enjoy the atmosphere. I highly recommend Raymond's.

These comments about mistreatments and Joanne or Raymond's alleged behavior or choice of vocabulary, is nothing but fallacies and fantasies created by some very obviously bitter individuals. I worked at Raymond's for almost a year, and it was one of the best working experiences and environments . I had never ever worked in a more organized, discipled, and CLEAN restaurant and had I not opened my own restaurant I would still be happily working at Raymond's. I still come to Raymonds to eat with my wife, and as usual the same employees are still there I am glad Joanne put an end to the bickering and arguing that unrevels in this site sometimes. I do believe in defending yourself about accusations, specially false ones, but never attacking people, much less people you don't know.

Archie's comment is dripping with racism and hatred about a person he doesn't know, stereotyping,inflaming, derogatory comments never helped dialogue. Archie keep your bigotry to yourself!Antonio is obviously going to keep his false, shrewd opinions, why go down to his level?

Joanne, don't feel the need to respond
or defend your position in a public forum like this. If an ex-employee has
an issue that's serious, he'd contact you directly.

My only interest in Raymonds is the quality of food, service and the overall experience,
which is consistently solid. I don't need to know the internal business concerns of your team.

Many appreciate the time you spend on this blog supplying GENERAL food and service answers. Anything more serves
only to add fuel to a ridiculous fire
that is no concern to any of your customers.

Good luck!

I've complained to Alfredo, the manager,for months about the very loose toilet seats in both bathrooms. The one in the main bathroom is the worst of the 2. Does it take some senior citizen or child to fall off the toilet and get injured with a possible lawsuit to get you people to correct the problem?

Checked it out on Sunday. I had the breakfast burrito, she had the french toast. Both were tasty but not overwhelmingly amazing, and the portions weren't very big for what you pay for them. Not sure whether we'll be back.

Keith - did you checkout the bathrooms or the food? Maybe you got the two confused? And, exactly how big are you and your wife? Perhaps you should have "super sized it."

Andres of the Cheese, my latino friend, we're in the U.S. of A. That's where we can share our opinions and not get shot. (Maybe locked up without an attorney in some godforsaken prison, but never shot.)

"archie":

She's petite, I'm average size... portions were big enough for her, slightly small for me.

And I don't typically get bathrooms and food mixed up, so I'm guessing it was the food I tasted.

Alright, my man - just checking, you never know. When I eat there, I leave a happy man. But you never know if one of our friends helped themselves to a piece of that good lookin' burrito as it made its way to your table. Nothing like tempting the devil, as they say...

Too loud and echoing like...for breakfeast and lunch everything tastes the same...and not sure if they use different pans for vegitarians,,,cooked on the same griddle as the bacon. Decor is nice!

It's like...all they use are proteins, carbs, and fats - isn't there anything else to use? Not sure if they are cating to the vegits anymore, heard those people moved on to Neptune. Oy vey, the Kosherness is, like, totally out the window!! Love the pretty colored bottles, though, and get totally spaced out looking at them. I can hear my thoughts bounce around in my head then. Must be because I'm living in a cave.

It's like...all they use are proteins, carbs, and fats - isn't there anything else to use? Not sure if they are cating to the vegits anymore, heard those people moved on to Neptune. Oy vey, the Kosherness is, like, totally out the window!! Love the pretty colored bottles, though, and get totally spaced out looking at them. I can hear my thoughts bounce around in my head then. Must be because I'm living in a cave.

You know what...why does EVERY place in Montclair have to try to be like a NYC restaurant? Raymond's food is OK, but $30 for breakfast for two is just ridiculous. I liked my spinach n' goat cheese omelette, although it was very runny. My friend, however, wasn't pleased with hers, nor did she appreciate the pesky waitress who seemed to interrupt us at all the wrong times.

It's very noisy in there and cramped as well. I'm just tired of these Montclair places trying so hard to be like the city, but ultimately failing. And for Christ's sake, for $30 I think you offer 1/2 n' 1/2 for the coffee!!

I had the pleasure of dining at this lovely lovely place yesterday with my two sisters, one of whom lives in Upper Montclair. I was so pleased with my lunch and the atmosphere that I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Oh wait, don't get the fries (not much potato and a little too well done), BUT, yes to the Belgium hot chocolate with the Willy Wonka sized homemade marshmallow (literally tasted like a liquified bar of the best chocolate in the world (or Belgium, maybe) and, yes to the odd but fantastic meatloaf sandwich with avocado, and yes to the cheesy weezy mac and cheese. I thought this place was too cute. For the three of our meals, plus soup, plus two side items, a soda and of course the magnificently rich hot chocolate, our bill was roughly 48 bucks. Not bad. The person above me should try lunch next time.

To Garden State Gal, I eat breakfast at Raymonds all the time, breakfast for 2 is not $30.00, perhaps you had quite a bit of food, not just 2 omelet's. The Goat Cheese omelet is $7.50 (I looked it up on the net). If you went into NYC for this omelet it would have cost you double, and would probably not be as good. In addition, most people are very happy with an attentive wait staff.

We've been there a few times & had a decent experience but this last visit was a disaster.
Got stuck at a tiny table for 2 that was basically in the front window. Every time the door opened a cold wind blasted us. The food & service was rushed and sub-par with people standing at my back who were waiting for tables. A very NYC restaurant experience & that is meant in the worst possible way.

Again,

Chaz, get over yourself. You ate at Raymond's sometime in the last week and you had a "cold wind" that blasted you? Boo hoo; it has been over 75 degrees the past week.

Of course the service is rushed. When you employ people that are payed less than minimum wage, you can guarantee that they try to turn tables over quickly.

I am going to make you look ridiculous on this forum. If you want a "nyc" restaurant, then go to the Spotted Pig on 11th street. Stop your whining, for you obviously have your head up your ass

Chaz,

Aren't you able to compete on your own without making up lies about the other restauranteurs on Church Street? Yes, we know you have table envy as you look at your empty restaurant and Raymond's has people pouring out on to the street, happy to wait in the cold and the rain as opposed to eating the crap you call food.

Here's some advice - eat your own crap and die. I know several people who have come close after going to your place.

Hey NOT,

Chill bro'. I've got no clue who Chaz might be, but I do know that Handsalve works at the restaurant that you, not too subtly, disparage.

It's not like that on Church Street.

all this blahblahblah reminds me to go to Raymond's again!

i've gone many times, through many years, and always describe it as being clean and consistent, and these are two very valuable attributes

oh it's a little expensive, and it can get busy, and so, crowded or noisy, but if you've been thinking about the good salads or omelettes or burgers or pancakes that you've had in the past, those are just what you'll get the next time you order them!

thank you, Joanne, for remaining calm and participating here. you've got a good product.

Chaz,

Aren't you the guy who disparaged the host at Nauna's for enjoying his job and doing it well?

If you didn't like the table at Raymonds that they offered to seat you at why didn't you ask for a different one? Do you expect ALL of the waitstaff to have ESP?

Hey confused citizen , don't u have something better to do?? u r everywhere. find a job

Wow, Alex, what a way with words! Ouch!

Wow, Alex, what a way with words! Ouch!

Wow, Alex, what a way with words! Ouch!

Wow, Alex, what a way with words! Ouch!

My girlfriend and I went to Raymond's and while it was good, it wasn't great. Solid place for a burger and the fries are tasty, but I'm not sure it's somewhere we'd go back to week after week. BYOB from the awesome wine store nearby.

I've been here twice for breakfast. There was nothing special about it either time. I cannot understand the line to get in here. I guess people have no where better to go on a Sunday morning, or just have no concept of really good food. It's ridiculous. A much better pick is Toast, which just opened last month on Bloomfield Avenue across from Whole Foods. It's about time someplace else opened that serves breakfast in Montclair. After reading about the "no Swiss cheese before 11:00", I will never go back to this restaurant again.

Toast is a much better option. It just opened last month across the street from Whole Foods, on Bloomfield Avenue. It's absolutely adorable. The food is excellent and the price is right on the money. Give it a try, it will become your new Sunday hangout.

ItalianGirl,

If you read about "no Swiss cheese before 11:00", then how did you miss my response? I dealt with those type of issues long ago. Our policy is to accomodate our guests, and I have invited anyone who has an experience otherwise to let me know personally.

ItalianGirl says Toast is a 'much better
option' then Raymonds?...

Right. And Britney Spears makes a good
marriage counselor.

The statement is so proposterous it's silly.

Toast has good intentions and they seem
like nice people but the lack of attention to detail makes for a long list and truly isn't in the same league
as Raymonds.

We've heard from a few neighbors that they have been really pleasantly surprised and even impressed by the food at Raymond's lately. I always thought their food was consistently decent-especialy the salads and omelets, but now I wonder if they have a new menu? Is it still the same owner?

Went there last night and had a great dinner! The catfish special, baked in a pecan crust and served over grilled collard greens, was on par with the best dinner places in Montclair.

We've always gone to Raymond's as the best breakfast place in town. Now we're on to it as one of the best dinner places also. And with Amanti Vino right next door, you can enjoy a lovely bottle of wine with as sophisticated a meal as you want.

It seems really odd that there haven't been any Raymond posts in more than three months. Yesterday, I put a blog on here about it and all of a sudden three other blogs (all mentioning Raymond's favorably, of course) pop up the same day. Guess Joanne has her posse post some comments to make the joint look good. People - these are only opinions. No need to get your panties in a bind over them. You enjoy Raymond's, we'll enjoy Toast. No need to spar over culinary opinions. Get over it. Does Joanne have nothing better to do than read the posts every single day? So sad it's actually funny. More than half of the blogs here mention Raymond's unfavorably. It's obvious that most posts here that are speaking of Raymond's favorably are written by Raymond employees or friends. No one has that much time on their hands to constantly come onto this site to bicker over food choices. Fun to read for two days, but pathetically amounts to a bicker forum. Two places you'll never see us again - at Raymond's and in this ridiculous employee fueled forum. Toast - here we come. And sorry to say - the attention to detail came in way above anything Raymond's offers. Sorry, again, just an opinion.

Hmm. I was always impressed by the fact that one of the proprieters (sp?) of Raymond's actually reads these boards and responds. That's good business.

And I've never laid eyes on Joanne in my life, that I know of. So I am neither on her payroll, nor am I part of her posse.

Thank you so much ItalianGirl! It's really hard to get a seat in Raymond's these days. Not only will you help ease the congestion by one table, but you will be thrilled by how quickly they can seat you at Toast!

ItalianGirl, as you point the finger at people who post on these threads, why should we think any differently of you? You come on and say great things about Toast and bash Raymond's--are you part of Toast's posse? Why should we think otherwise?
Welcome to the Internet. This is what people do--they go on line and read about places where they eat/drink/shop (or about places they're considering) and more often than not, they post when they have something to b*tch about. The happy customers don't always feel the need to chime in unless it's to defend a favorite store or restaurant.
I agree with iliketoeat--the posting that the owner does on this board shows me she's a smart business owner. So far I haven't seen Toast's owners (or Osteria Giotto, or numerous others in town) publicly address complaints about their service/food issues. And no, I'm not in anyone's posse--not affiliated with any restaurant anywhere. Just a customer who knows what's what when reading posts like yours.

Your handle should be sowhothef*ckareyou?

Way to go.

I used to eat at the "old Raymond's" almost on weekly basis when I lived in Montclair. I hadn't visited the new location until this past weekend and we were not disappointed. It was a first for my BF and he was impressed as well.

I told him that since it was Saturday, be prepared to wait. If the wait was unbearable, we would go elsewhere. Well, we got there and were given a choice of outdoors or indoors. Being that we are both strange and actually like the heat and HATE air conditioning, we opted for outdoors and were seated immediately. Our waitperson was both courteous and attentive and I had forgotten how HUGE the portions were! I ordered the corn cakes and I told BF that this place was known for its French toast, a favorite of his. He enjoyed it immensely.

We also like the fact that when you order coffee, it comes in your own small personal pot so you don't have to ask for a second cup.

Also, the sidewalk is a great place for people-watching.

All in all, an enjoyable experience but PLEASE bring back the ginger pancakes. They are missed!

Thaks, Martta! The orange ginger pancakes are still on the menu, but only during the week. (We don't have the griddle space for three kinds of pancakes on weekends.)

We went to Raymond's last week and it had been awhile. We were so happy to enjoy the french toast and eggs benedict - our two fave menu items. Best breakfast in NJ if you ask me! And, we now have a dog, so we brought her along and they had a water bowl and treats for her!

CJ (and, no, this isn't Joanne...obviously there are a lot of us who love Raymond's, otherwise the line wouldn't be so long!)

Oh, and to the person above who talked about flies and said that Taro never has a fly problem - wrong...the only time I've ever been to Taro I had ordered a big, deliscious bowl of soup and about 1/3 of the way through I noticed a big ol' fly floating in my broth. Needless to say, I was no longer interested in my meal.

Italian Girl, I have not posted, nor have I been on this site for a while. I like to think I know a thing or two about restaurants. I eat out at least 5 times a week, I am also in the business, albeit not in the hospitality end. I have never met anyone who did not like Raymonds. The food is always good, the service is always good and the owners are always on site and on top of their game. It seems to me that you are merely a shill for a restaurant. Admit your connection and maybe your words would have some weight. As CJ said, if Raymonds was not as good as we believe, the lines would not be out the door on an almost daily basis. I bet you wish the lines were half the size at your place.

Had breakfast here this weekend, and I just want to say that our (redheaded) waitress was great! All of us were ordering breakfast items except for one person who wanted a salad. The waitress told us she couldn't order that until 11am but would wait a few minutes and put it in (it was about 10:50), which she did. Happy customers all around!
The food there is always solid, but their coffee and the 7-grain toast are the best aroun