Uncle Moustache Arrives In Montclair

Even by the world-class standards set by Montclair's army of restaurants, the interior of Uncle Moustache is unique. The walls are covered in an array of artwork that makes it feel as though you've just stepped inside a bistro in the heart of Paris.

But the food is defiantly Lebanese.

A very jovial co-owner, Ali Lyoussi, said he just opened Uncle Moustache this week at 702 Bloomfield Avenue, the former site of Taj Palace that's sandwiched between two other restaurants, Toast and  The restaurant is just a few doors down from where Lalezar, a Turkish restaurant, used to be before it closed up shop more than a year ago.

So how will Uncle Moustache succeed where others have failed?

"Our food is much lighter than at Marrakech and at lots of other places," Lyoussi said, emphasizing that the range of foods is "extremely healthy."

Lyoussi said that the restaurant's pita bread is made on site and, sure enough, a cook was rolling out pita dough today in the same way one might make the base of a pizza—and in plain view of all the diners.

"Our pita bread is quite tasty and is thin and it is the base of our pizzas," he said.

A glance at the menu reveals a nice variety of unusual dishes. There's Makanek (fresh Lebanese sausage sauteed in olive oil and lemon) for $8; Moussaka with Meat (eggplant, tomato, and ground lamb) for $12; and Ouzi (choice of chicken or lamb, carrots, sweet peas, onions, raisins, almonds, basmati rice, and spices enclosed in filo served with yogurt sauce) for $16.

There also are sandwiches such as Falafel for $6 and Sujuk for $10.

But perhaps most intriguing are the "Pitzas." There's a Lahambajin Pitza with ground lamb, onion, tomato, and spices for $11 and a Green Pitza with leeks, scallions and herbs for $10.

If all this weren't enough, there is a long list of soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts. The Muhalabia—a milk pudding with a red berry sauce—sounds extremely appetizing for a mere $5.

A Montclair Patch review of Uncle Moustache will be coming soon. In the meantime, have you tried it? Do you think Montclair needs another restaurant? Let us know in the comments section below.

Uncle Moustache

702 Bloomfield Avenue

Montclair, 07042

973-233-9500

Open seven days a week.

Check it out on Facebook here.