The food is SO good. SO SO good. I love the sandwiches that feature the cranberry bread and the iced dirty chai lattes are amazing. The ambiance is wonderful and it's in the coolest little nook of Montclair, Walnut St. However, service could improve. I'm not asking for fast food- but I am asking that you acknowledge my presence and ask if I need any help. Both times I've been here it took ages before someone even said hello. read more

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Was looking for a good brunch place without having to deal with the chaos of NYC and finding parking...I will gladly drive 30mins in NJ instead of 15mins into NYC and spend 15mins finding parking or dealing with tunnel traffic....ANYways...decided to see what Montclair had to offer, this place ended up being perfect - local cafe where everything is fresh and made in house (ice cream & pastries) Wife had the Scotch Egg Banh-Mi which was creative and tasty. I had the Red Eye Hash which was also great...lets just say there were more chunks of meat than potatoes...and we shared a French Toast. Had smores cookie and the salted caramel ice cream for dessert...it was all a bit indulgent and I couldn't even finish my ice cream (not my hash for that matter)...but I wanted to try it all. I had the dirty chai to drink...chai + espresso...what a combo. Couldn't ask for anything more...service was great too and the bill came to $40 bucks. Worth spending the gas money! Plus I love driving so I'm not going to complain. read more

Came for brunch... was somewhat disappointed because after reading the Yelp reviews.., was expecting more. Ordered: - Red Eye corned beef hash with Red Eye gravy- comes with fried eggs and I was so looking forward to eating this... This was one of my last hurrahs prior to eating "healthy" as the New Year approached. I love love love corned beef hash, especially when it is homemade. Unfortunately, I was truly sad when it came to the table as I could tell that it was going to be disappointing. The corned beef and potatoes are BIG chunks, the size of big dice and it just was too big to be considered your typical hash... tried to take a bite of one chunk corned beef, one chunk potato with some fried egg and it did not translate. Very disappointing. Not a fan of the gravy either. - Hong Kong style waffles- tastes just like a typical waffle but a bit sweeter... I guess I don't have the distinguished palate to detect a difference. I would come back to try the other unique menu items that I was considering trying... read more

Hands down the best breakfast place in Montclair. We have been there multiple times and they have all been excellent dining experiences. The interior is pretty quaint and interesting, with multiple bookshelves (and books) lined up. I generally get the breakfast food irrespective of time of day, just because why on earth anyone would want to eat anything but breakfast food all day is beyond me. But fear not, they also have a pretty delicious and well-priced lunch and dinner menu, in case you want more than just breakfast. The service is always really good, and the coffee is amazing. So amazing that I have been getting a bag of ground coffee from them for the last few weeks, for my private hell-brew. All in all, pretty amazing. read more

Really yummy pancakes, espresso is awesome, drip coffee is ordinary, omelets rock. The decor is a very nice touch, staff is very accommodating and not rushy&everyone is interested in your experience. Will return, though I am two towns over in South Orange...no breakfast places over here. read more

The place is a cozy, laid back neighborhood spot you might easily walk past and not notice when walking down the street because it doesn't scream "restaurant!" I had the French toast topped with strawberries and whipped cream that I liked a lot. The staff was friendly and each contributed to the experience. Our particular waiter wasn't the only one assisting us. Since the place is small, if the staff isn't helping anyone at the moment they're all kind of hanging around near the front which seems a little crowded. Also, this is the type of place where you eat and run, meaning you feel obligated to give up your table once you're done eating if you see people waiting to get seated. You don't feel like you can sit around, conversing and enjoying the company. It wasn't to any fault of the staff, but maybe because I'm not a jerk all the time and there is not exactly a designated waiting area. However, you aren't made to feel rushed and one waiter encouraged a couple at the table next to us to stay when they verbally expressed what I just wrote. Nonetheless they left so others could sit and so did we a few minutes later. I say the earlier you go (especially on Sunday), the better. We went for breakfast on a Sunday at the perfect time (9:30) and got seated right away. At about 10 a crowd started to trickle in and had a wait. However, it was a great experience and I will definitely go back. read more

Came here with 2 friends for brunch on a Saturday. It was tiny but adorable. We had to wait about 20 minutes for our table (would've been longer if the previous group actually showed up). Most of the tables are set up for parties of 2 so I would recommend not coming with more than 4 people. The line went out the door for the wait but we didn't mind. There is one wall that is lined with shelves of books (so cute!) and the whole place has a cozy atmosphere. The waiters were excellent! Except that ours actually forgot to give is a menu.... I ordered the Double Happiness Waffle. The candied bacon was amazing but after a while everything was too sweet, perhaps the salted caramel ice cream with the candied strips was too much. My friends ordered an omelet and the chorizo frittata sandwich and they both enjoyed their meals. I took a bite of the frittata sandwich, it was delicious! Overall I would recommend this brunch spot. Nice service, good portions, but if the wait is over 30 mins I'd find a new spot. read more

Their quality haven't gone down a bit after the pandemic. We had red eye house omelette and salad with glazed walnuts, they were just as delicious as before. This is something so remarkable as a lot of restaurants we used to love don't taste the same anymore, glad we still got this place to go in town! read more

Arrived expecting something different, something fun (always start off positive). After seating myself i was greeted by a bearded man who took my order. My order consisted of a cappuccino and omelette with avocado and ham and a side of hash browns. The cappuccino was ok, the omelette still had a fresh smell of fried pan with each bite and was nothing you can't slap up yourself at home. Now the side of hash, if Gordon Ramsay were asked to describe it.. he might say something like, "these potatoes are so dry and tasteless those creepy stuffed pigeons on your wall wouldn't even eat them." Lastly, overall it's a cute little spot to grab a bite, small tables so don't come in big groups, and most importantly don't expect anything with Nutella. Yes it's almost 2018, and theres no Nutella to be found at red eye cafe. read more

Red Eye Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Been coming to RedEye for a few years now. It's by far one of the best intimate eateries in the area. Friendly staff, great coffee, great food & great atmosphere. Enjoyyyyyy... read more

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Red Eye is a great addition to what is now a micro food and drink paradise blossoming on Walnut Street. Farm Market + Le Salbuen + Montclair Bread + Gina's + Halcyon! The coffee is Intelligentsia and the owner came from the old mainstay Cafe Eclectic. Try the Highlander Banh Mi, it rocks so hard. The Chorizo Frittata is also delicious. A few times the food and service were under par, but it's a rarity. With plentiful WiFi and a great vibe, it's always worth a visit. read more

I recently moved to NJ from Queens and have been looking for some good brunch near our house in Bloomfield. I picked Red Eye based on the stellar reviews, and was willing to wait the 30 minutes for our table to check it out. The place was very cute and the service was great. My dirty chai latte was also very good. The food LOOKED delicious and I was super excited as I saw the pretty plates coming out of the kitchen. Once I received my waffle sandwich I was disappointed as soon as I picked it up. The crispy waffles I envisioned were soft and a little cold. They clearly had been made ahead of time and left sitting, which steamed them into sogginess. Their flavor was good, but it wasn't enough to save it. The corned beef in my fiance's red eye hash tasted like it had been marinated in A-1 sauce and was oddly sweet. The hash also lacked the onion-ey, crispy, salty deliciousness he expected, and he actually had to add his own salt and pepper. His mocha coffee drink tasted very little of either coffee or chocolate and was a bit watery. The bright spot- we picked up a chocolate chip-walnut-toffee cookie on the way out, and it was very chewy and delicious. read more

My favorite iced coffee in town! The place is small but it's great for popping in and grabbing something to go or snagging a table in the back or outside to enjoy the day. Their cookies are HUGE and delicious. read more

Nice atmosphere and very yummy food! I had the pumpkin pancakes and must say they were the best I've ever had! The service was quick and friendly too. read more

Red Eye Cafe - Waffle sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Best coffee around! Great, tasty & creatively prepared food. I love the staff who are attentive, cool & very hip. It is a small space so be prepared to wait. Ingredients are fresh & local adding to the progressive, healthy vibe. Save room for dessert- home made ice cream, cakes & treats. read more

Red Eye Cafe - Outdoor dining. - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Extremely friendly and attentive staff. Excellent coffee. Great salads if that's what you're into and the pumpkin pancakes and blueberry pancakes are to die for. It's small and usually crowded but don't let me gay put you off and oh, don't leave without a black & white cookie. Delish. read more

Their Salmon BLT is hands down the winner at this place. Dirty Chai Latte is a must here too.

So homey and cozy. They have books for you to read in a nook, as well as any type of coffee inspired drink. Lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, you name it. Also very nice wait staff. Very attentive and organized. My only gripe is the wait time, and the lack of seating for the people waiting by the door. But believe me, the food is WELL worth the wait! I had the green eggs and ham yesterday, and the sunrise quesadilla today. I'll probably be a regular at the Red Eye Cafe, you won't see the last of me! read more

Red Eye Cafe - Byob, make your own mimosas! - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Coffee is killer, service is killer. My second time there. I'd certainly go back for coffee. I had blueberry pancakes. I'm a pancake head so I'm very opinionated. One, food too unusually long but our server explained mix up and comped coffee order. Super dope customer service. A1 and how that was supposed to be addressed, thus I'll be back for coffee. Pancakes weren't light and fluffy the way I like them. Whipped cream wasn't tasty nor was maple syrup, which was super thick, not what I'm use to having been to Canada a few times and brought back maple. I also get it from Costco. It's usually thinner. read more

I usually order safe options like the classic chicken sandwich for lunch. Today I decided step outside of my comfort zone for lunch. My co-workers and I tried the chicken with sweet potato, spinach, harissa and mayo on ciabatta. One co-worker ordered it on the cranberry and walnut bread. We all were very pleased with our sandwich. The flavors meshed well together. Im excited to try other menu options. Although, I will be back for the same sandwich I ordered today. read more

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I have been back a few times for coffee since my initial review. I agree with the other poster that the macchiato wasn't what one would expect but the straight up coffee and ice coffee is fine and reasonably priced. There is outdoor seating in the courtyard, which is nice. They even serve dinner which I didn't realize -- it is a simple menu in addition to the lunch items but the food we had (swordfish tacos) was really good. read more

My sister and I decided to try today after reading such great reviews. It was excellent! Best brunch I've been to in the area. I had the French toast and scrambled eggs - it was divine! The food tasted fresh and so decadent. Even the home fries were awesome, my sister ordered the migas and pancakes, and was speechless. She said they were the best buttermilk pancakes she ever had. Decor was super cute, our wait was just 30 minutes (I assume because of Mother's Day), and we were able to walk around and shop a bit during the wait. They have a nice area for outdoor seating, so this is the perfect time of year to visit. Will definitely go again. read more

My husband and I enjoy breakfast/brunch dates while the kids are in school and we stumbled upon Red Eye Cafe...it was love at first chai! The place is cozy, small and very laid back. It is always buzzing with people but we never had to wait long for a table. The staff are very friendly and nice... nothing stiff and formal which I like. The food is delicious!! Our favorite is their green eggs and ham ( scrambled eggs, kale, cheese, shallots etc)... it just hits the spot each time and leaves you thinking about it the next day! (Yes, that good!) ... We've had other entrees such as their breakfast sandwiches and lunch salads, all equally delicious! Their Chai teas are very good especially their dirty chai tea! I can't leave without having 2 cups of dirty chai... perfect fall/winter drink. It has been a while since we explored Walnut street and glad to have stumbled upon some yummy goodness! Go try their food Now!!! read more

Here's why I love Red Eye: small and cozy with great decor DELICIOUS food!!! and great coffee yummy selection of desserts like cupcakes and cookies it's great for any occasion - I come here for business meetings as well as on date night The only thing about Red Eye I don't love is their service tends to be slow and some - not all of their staff could probably smile more. Otherwise, definitely come here, the food quality will surprise you in the best way! read more

Overall food was good but the bacon was burnt on one side of my sandwich. I asked for a non burnt piece since it made the sandwich taste nasty. I've now waited 20 minutes. No one has any urgency about the bacon which is ruining my first experience. read more

Red Eye Cafe - Burnt bacon on my sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I give one star because of the waiting time, I came for brunch and decided to wait for a table because they said it would be 25 minutes wait. I waited and decided to check with the staff after 35 minutes of waiting, they said it would be another 15 minutes for a table, since we already waited for so long we decided to wait..20 minutes passed and they called us in, we got inside and they said that we our table wasn't ready...at this point my frustration was at its limit so I decided to leave. The food is really good and the staff was apologetic but I just wish they had a better understanding on how to manage the time and tell the customer how long they really have to wait. They also did not offer anything for our complete waste of time. We will not be coming back. read more

Came for brunch on Sunday. 15 minute wait which wasn't bad. Ordered an omelette which was very tough because it was over cooked. My real issue is with the service. They were rude they were abrupt and they rushed us out the door. Twice we had to ask them to put our plates back down because we were not finished. I understand they want to turn over the tables because they are busy and they have people waiting but we were certainly not lingering. We were at our table for less than 25 minutes and that includes the time waiting for our food. Some of the people at my table enjoyed their food but none of us liked being pushed out the door. As my grandmother used to say, " here's your hat,what's your hurry". read more

The food is amazing. The waffle is nice and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside! The candied bacons are so flavorful and the homemade sea salt caramel ice cream is down right scrumptious!!!!! read more

I had some brunch at Red Eye Cafe a few weeks ago and all I can say that it was well worth the wait!! I will definitely be back again. Very cozy decor with bookcases that resemble a quaint coffeeshop ambience which made my brunch very relaxing. I had the zucchini frittata with cabbage apple salad and it was excellent. The zucchini blended well with the potatoes and eggs and the bread complemented the taste. I loved the salad as well. The dish was very healthy and tasty. I loved the chai tea as well. I will definitely be back to Red Eye Cafe soon! read more

Very small and quaint cafe. Service is excellent! While we waited to be seated, the manager even offered us coffee. Great place for brunch and great prices! read more

Red Eye Cafe - Delish!!! - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Red Eye Cafe for some time now and was not disappointed. Myself and a few friends went for brunch and everything was top notch. Beautiful spacious dining area. Friendly and helpful staff. Amazing food and coffee. I had the highlander, which is a hard boiled egg fried in pork and shrimp sausage with pickled veggies and sriracha on an English muffin. Incredible. The new Orleans sludge coffee was heaven. Plus a chocolate stout cupcake with Irish cream icing was to die for. Not a single thing disappointed. I even went back a few hours later for another coffee to go. We have another winner on walnut street. read more

Red Eye Cafe - Array of deliciousness. - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Red Eye Cafe has the most perfect ambience-white tiles along the wall and books on the shelf. So cozy and trendy. The staff was so friendly and awesome. I went here with a friend for dinner on a Saturday night. I had the chicken sandwich and my friend had a classic grilled chicken sandwich. I loved both but the classic was my favorite. The sweet potato on the grilled chicken added a unique sweetness that worked very well. For dessert, I ordered the red velvet cupcake and an iced dirty chai. My friend wanted to order the brownie but they were sold out. Instead, she hesitantly got the vegan brownie which surprisingly was incredible! The cupcake was great too but the vegan brownie tasted like the real thing. And my dirty chai was perfect. Can't wait to try this place for brunch! read more

Red Eye Cafe - Grilled chicken sandwich and the classic grilled chicken sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

everything here is amazing. can't speak to the service as I always do takeout. but my whole family loves the food. recommend green eggs and ham, pesto broccoli scramble. any burger. chicken salad sandwich. all amazing. read more

Came here for a quick lunch yesterday, it was recommended by a friend and wow, I was amazed. I thought the place was cool, young and refreshing. The menu was awsome, good prices and a nice waitress. I ordered the soup/sandwich combo but it also came with a side of salad. The onion jam grilled cheese sandwich was to die for, the flavors were amazing, never had that kind of grilled cheese before. I would definitely have to come back here, I hear Lauren makes great coffees, I will stay a while and chill and try their amazing breakfast as I hear the french toast should not be missed. read more

The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is great, and the menu is finger-licking awesomeness. As a vegetarian, there are many times that I don't get to enjoy my restaurant/cafe meals. But Red Eye Cafe was not part of that trend. I had the Chipotle Mayo Sandwich; it was a mess to eat it, but so worth the struggle. The flavors were vibrant, and the chipotle gave it a good kick. I also had a cup of the lentil soup, super delicious. My drink was the elderberry kombucha; the juice mellowed the kombucha just enough. The physical place is small; has about 8-10 tables, with four-people tables being the largest. The place serves as both a restaurant and a cafe, so the entrance has a coffee bar that makes the pathway really narrow. There was 4 of us in my group, and it was hard to just stand there and wait for 30-45minutes. We went for brunch on a Sunday; it was almost packed. The cafe options were good; they have baked cookies as well. read more

Two words... Dirty Chai Latte It was soon good I had two, which probably wasn't a good idea since it has A LOT of caffeine but I couldn't help myself. I went for brunch with a friend on a Sunday and it was packed, about 30 to 45 min wait. It was absolutely worth it. The food was fresh and delicious - did I mention dirty chai latte. I want to go back just for the latte! read more

I love Red Eye. I've come here probably about a dozen times, and I've never been disappointed. The food and coffee is always on point, the staff are all super friendly, and I love the local art that they rotate out for decor. The only down side is depending on the time of day they can be extremely busy. There's usually a short wait during typical meal times. When the place gets packed it's pretty loud in there too. Meaning if you are going there to bring your laptop and do work I would suggest going during an 'off peak' time, AKA not at noon when everyone is lining up to eat lunch there. read more

The coffee and food are quite good here, but the service is subpar, especially during weekend brunch or any busy time. Long wait times and snippy attitudes from staff. Also it's not a particularly child friendly place. read more

This got the boosted rating because they actually try to be inventive with the menu and not serve the boring usual brunch food. After eating at every single place nearby for brunch, discovered this one on Yelp. Given the 4 star rating decided to go. Had the Highlander and a bite of the Red Eye Hash. The former was spicy, that was the first issue for me so if you like spicy, you might like this. However, the fried hard boiled eggs were just too much for me (too heavy). I didn't think I tasted anything but spiciness and the pickled veggies and at the end, really had to force myself to finish the plate. Presentation was great. The latter did not leave much of an impression. Also had a latte - decent. This place has cute menus (look like vision charts at the eye dr). read more

Only been once but it was a great experience. We enjoyed great coffee, and a good breakfast. Service was friendly and the food took a reasonable amount of time to come out. It's a little cozy in the dining room so I would not suggest this place for a large group. read more