First off, our server Larry was phenomenal. Genuine, funny, and gave us thoughtful recommendations. My partner and I came in for a 7pm reservation to sit at the bar area - one vegetarian, one vegan. Larry was very accommodating, and helped compose a vegan dish from the setup of another dish. He was considerate to recommend something that would feel "substantial" - something that I really appreciated. It's already a bit inconvenient to come up with a dish on the spot, but to go the extra mile by caring that it would be satisfying as a main dish was really very kind. And it turned out fantastic. This restaurant has so much going for it in the quality of its ingredients and dish compositions. I would encourage the chef to consider how the can apply their creativity to a dedicated vegan dish as well. There's a big world to explore in creating modern, high end, plant-based dishes and I think this restaurant would hit it out of the park ! :) read more

Had been meaning to try this establishment for some time and when i found out they did a fried chicken special I booked so reservations. We were promptly seated and had our wine opened. We opted for the cucumber salad and pate which were both very good. We then split the chicken as it five pieces and comes with shishitos, biscuits and coleslaw long with several sauces. The chicken was nice and crispy with plenty of flavor, and I found the biscuits to be quite good. For the price of $50 this is an amazing value. Service was excellent and very engaging. read more

I truly can't believe how long it took me to get here. I put off my visit for years knowing I wanted to go and now I'm sad I waited so long! Service here was phenomenal and the food blew us away!! Honorable mention to the Persian cucumber salad and the Kielbasa daily offering!!! I cannot wait to come back and try more things from the menu- this is definitely a "run don't walk" restaurant to keep on your list! read more

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This restaurant has been on my list to try for quite some time and I finally made it last week! Ventured in on a Saturday night with no reservations and was able to secure outdoor seating with no wait. I thought this restaurant wouldn't be kid friendly but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only were there a few kids there, but kids are given a little box full of animal figurines, crayons and coloring pages to keep them busy. BYOB with the added benefit of having a wine store next door. All the servers were very attentive and friendly. We tried the oxtail fries which was decandent. We also tried the off the menu fried chicken pre fix (which they are now allowing people to order without requiring the whole table agree). This is a lot of food! The prefix includes a salad, 5 pieces of fried chicken with shishito peppers and biscuits and donuts for dessert. The fried chicken was SO well seasoned (a little too much for my spice sensitive kiddo) but I thought it was juicy and the skin was so crispy. It was a good meal! read more

Turtle + The Wolf - Lo's Original Famous Fried Chicken - New American Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Pretty impressive, dining experience given the confluence of great tasting restaurants in the nearby area. Booked a reservation on Resy and came here on a date night, which was the perfect setting. Candle it inside with romantic decor (but hip) flavor, the food was delicious. We ordered several of their dishes including Arancini filled with well-cooked rice and mozzarella, a Persian cucumber salad dish blended with delicious hazelnuts, and an angelotti pasta dish glazed with chicken broth and fresh mushrooms. Food is delicious and you really cannot go wrong with any of their dishes. The place is BYOB so highly recommend bringing a bottle of wine or beer! read more

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I have been wanting to come here forever and finally made it. Ben was our server and was very attentive, informative and all around on point. Parking is easy here you can park on Valley if there are spots or in the lot behind the strip and they have entrances on both sides. The atmosphere and ambience is nice. The tables are a decent distance apart and the noise level was good. It's a BYOB establishment. We loved all the food we ordered and it was paced to come out perfectly for me. I especially enjoyed the pork. I highly recommend here. Will return read more

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08/21/2025 Been a while since we stopped by the T&W. Have to say, we love the ambiance. The Persian cucumber salad was very different and very good. I'm going to have to replicate this at home. My wife's hanger steak was tasty, although a bit tough. My Berkshire pork chop was also very tasty, but I thought a bit too fatty. Service was very attentive and it's a BYOB. read more

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Happy National Fried Chicken Day‼ Had the most delicious fried chicken at the Supper Club event: Fried Chicken & Grower Champagne at Turtle + the Wolf! So glad My son and future daughter in law invited us!! The food was amazingly delicious! Loved the bubbles! The perfect pairing with each of the entrees! Cheers Great ambiance! Excellent service! #NationalFriendChickenDay read more

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While I have never been to this restaurant to eat, we did order the takeout option for Easter Sunday. The food was amazing! So fresh and there was plenty! Can't wait to go in person. Nice job. I highly recommend. read more

We've lived in the Montclair area for 5 years and have been to probably 100+ restaurants... this might be our favorite! The restaurant is dimly lit with quirky knickknacks and decor. The music is always good, but very quiet and not distracting. It is always busy, but not so much that you can't get a reservation or that the small room becomes loud. Perfect for both date night and going out with friends. It's a super chill vibe, but the service is appropriate for the price point (e.g., they bus your table after every course and give you new settings promptly, but never rush you). Our usual server is Candy, who is delightful and knowledgeable about the menu and food in general. It's a BYO next to two wine stores, and she can help advise what pairs well and always has amazing food recommendations. We rarely remark on an individual server, but she is exceptional. But the reason we love it is the food, which is incredible and on par with much more expensive eateries. They have, IMO, the perfect amount of consistency--seasonal turnover of about 20-30% of the menu but keeping the crowd favorites year-round--and the specials are always genuinely interesting. The beef tartare is one of my favorite bites anywhere. We always get that and the rosemary focaccia (just $4 for four of the biggest and most delicious slices of focaccia you'll have). The shishito peppers have also rotated spices a few times since we've been going, so we normally check that out if it's new. This time we got a new menu item: the tortelloni with mushroom ragout, which was a wonderful earthy fall spin on a usually light spring dish. Not the best pasta I've ever had as an NJ Italian, but the sauce and filling were umami heaven. And for dessert, I got a special. The chamomile panna cotta was perfectly balanced, with the floral notes complementing the custard rather than dominating it. I may have lightly macerated the strawberries as they were firm, but the flavors were absolutely *chef's kiss*, and this was a home run for a normally simple/boring dish. Not pictured were our 1/2 dozen oysters, double espresso, coffee, and tiramisu. All very good, but less noteworthy than the dishes pictured. Combined, we got 3 apps, 1 side, 1 entrée, 2 coffees, and 2 desserts. It ended up being $120 before tip and not including our bottle of wine. So it's definitely a "special occasion" place for us, but one we'll find an excuse to visit 3-4 times a year. read more

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So happy to be able to find a nice place in Montclair that isn't so stuffy and overpriced for no reason. Between the decor and the menu and the service it's exactly what you want for a nice night out without feeling out of place. BYOB Shareable apps, rotating seasonal menu, and just enough options for any type of dietary restrictions. read more

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Amazing food in an intimate space! The service was great and it's byob too. Highly recommend the mussels, cucumber salad & tortelloni! read more

Turtle + The Wolf - tortelloni, mussels, swordfish - New American Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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The food was delicious and not your everyday lunch menu. The appetizers offered variety and distinctive taste. The arracini were crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside. My agnolottini were stuffed with a yummy cheese and the green peas provided color and freshness to the subtle sauce. The chocolate peanut butter tart with toasted fluff was a fitting finish to a delicious meal. Our server, Charles gave us fine service! The Turtle and Wolf is a special dining treat. Don't miss it! I have been wanting to go for years and I am so glad I made it!!! read more

This place was awesome. Was going to try to be a walk in around opening time since there were limited reservations, but I was lucky enough to call and find out that a table was available. The entire restaurant has a warm and cozy vibe, with dim lighting. The service was friendly and attentive, taking note of my kids' food allergies. Food was delicious, especially the burrata with tasty brussel sprouts that both went well together. The brick chicken was tender and unique with curry. The steak frites was rich, buttery and came with a generous portion of fresh french fries on the side. The roasted sweet potato agnolotti had the perfect consistency and balance in flavor. This is definitely a high quality restaurant that not only thrives in Montclair, but would also thrive if it were located in NYC. Would highly recommend. read more

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I have wanted to come here for so long so I used the opportunity to take a special friend for her birthday and it was phenomenal. The service was fabulous and the prices for the quality of food were also amazing. We started with the rosemary focaccia, a basket of large squares of fluffy, hot and delicious bread then we moved on to the beet salad, delicate yet very flavorful with lots of texture. For main dishes, my friend had the Agnolotti which at the time was with morel mushrooms and peas, she loved it. I went with the Berkshire pork, which was probably one of the best pieces of meat I've had in a very long time. It was unbelievably tender and just mind blowing. For dessert we were too full so she had a cappuccino and I had the chocolate PB tart to bring home. It was wonderful. I would definitely love to go back, and taste more of their ever changing menu. A neighborhood gym. read more

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Delicious food, creative dishes. The service is excellent and atmosphere is pleasant.

I've been wanting to try this spot for years and I'm so glad I finally made it. We started with the rosemary fococcia which is a must try. It has a nice crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. We also ordered the beef tartare and shishito peppers which were both very good. For the mains we ordered the steak medium rare, although it came out more medium. The au poivre sauce and the crispy fries were the stars of the show. I ordered the squid ink risotto and octopus which was good. I definitely want to come back to try their fried chicken dinner which they're known for and the muscles. For dessert we got the chocolate peanut butter pie and the donuts. BYOB, if you forgot don't worry, there's a wine shop across the street and next door. read more

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Service was excellent and food was good. We had chicken liver mousse, which was delicious and nicely prepared. Local burrata wasn't too fresh, had mediocre taste. For main course our server recommended sweet corn agnolotti and it didn't disappoint. It was absolutely mouthwatering and delicious. For dessert we asked for classic tiramisu and it was very good, it's a big piece more than enough for two people. Overall great experience and we will be back to try other items on menu. Make reservations in advance. read more

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Came here with a group of 6 for dinner on a Friday night and had such a great time. They're BYOB and there's a wine store across the street. Everything we ordered was delicious and the service was great. Appetizers: beef tartare, chicken liver mousse, and oysters. Everything was very shareable portions and my favorite was the chicken liver mousse (even people in our party who tried it for the first time enjoyed it). Entrees: duck confit pot pie (as delicious as it sounds), scallops (came with 5 in a light lemon sauce), chicken and dumplings (more chicken than dumplings), octopus + chorizo (delicious), pork shoulder pappardelle (tasty handmade pasta) and kielbasa (was the pork special of the day). Desserts: chocolate peanut butter tart (my boyfriend loved), olive oil cake (very moist) and brioche doughnuts (my favorite). The menu is a bit pricey but the quality is worth it. Can't wait to come back here again to try more! They have a family style whole roasted pig (serves 6-7) and fried chicken that I'd love to try. read more

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Eclectic need I say more. Great service and very good quality food Some time good things come in small packages read more

Food and service were both great. Not overly pretentious like other Montclair spots. This restaurant will be a regular for us.

Warning This restaurant will not return your Deposit on a Resy no show Never experienced this before read more

Lovely, quaint, yummy and cozy experience! I came on my own and sat at the bar which is adorned with cookbook/cuisine books (color coordination highly appreciated) and fun little knick knacks that were fun to look at. Just beyond that was the kitchen whipping up delights. I re-learned the BYOB thing and at first was disappointed when there was no wine list but then discovered the joy of walking next door to the wine shop and having someone help you pick out a wine to match what you ordered. I walked back over to the restaurant and they provided me with a stand and ice for my bottle of white. The service was beautiful...several waiters/waitresses came over to make sure I had everything I need with friendly smiles and suggestions. I ordered the pate and the peanut butter pie. Both were amazing. The plating was beautiful on both! I loved that the mousse had quince and mustard seed, it paired perfectly! And I usually try not to eat bread but the crostini served with it was magical! Buttery, yet think, crispy, yet tender. The peanut butter pie was absolutely amazing! I loved the addition of the marshmallow! It was the perfect texture. Creamy and firm and such an amazing pairing with peanut butter! I would love to return to try more as everything looks delicious on the menu. read more

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Food is great. Service is attentive . A real gem. Worth a visit with friends to experience this.

We've come here 3 or 4 times for birthday celebrations. We love this place. The service is superb both Candy and Leagh are great. The food is very good. It a byob, so a big plus. While we started to have a cocktail we ordered some focaccia bread delicious. For appetizers we had the salad and burrata. For entrees we had the chicken and dumplings and I had the octopus. All great. Desert was the donuts and oil cake. For parking there is a ton behind the restaurant. Go enjoy read more

Just had a bridal shower here the staff was so accommodating! The space is amazing and the food is outstanding!!Highly recommend I'd give 10 stars if I could. Thank you Turtle +Wolf for an amazing unforgettable experience!! read more

Pricey but worth it. My family had an emergency wedding to plan and Turtle + The Wolf was the perfect spot for the post-event meal. The offerings on the menu were really enticing, so much so that even with only 9 people, we got more than we had originally planned {the original plan being an entire succulent roast pig, 4 large salads, and dessert}. Item after item was delicately planned and executed perfectly. The oysters had good reviews by those who could enjoy them, the beet salad was light and refreshing, the smashed potatoes were tender on the inside but crisp on the outside, and the shishito peppers were perfectly roasted without the Russian roulette of supreme spice. As for the pig, I was surprised at how juicy and tender the meat was, while the outside skin was still amazingly crispy, reminding me of lechon. Though I would have preferred the skin to be more thick, the crispyness made me not mind this style. All in all, I'd come back 100x over. read more

Everything in the menu is well crafted and fresh. You cannot go wrong. We tried the pot pie, the paperdelle and of course the famous fried chicken. Even the English cucumber salad was delicious! read more

It's nice to eat somewhere with staff that balance friendly attitudes with professionalism, and deep knowledge of the menu. They never seem short-staffed, and the pace of my meals here has always been flawless. The food is well thought out, unique, tasty, but not with too many useless components - which seems to be the trend these days. This is simple food - but elevated (if that makes sense). There are a few tables, quite close to the speakers, where the music is on the loud side - but that's my only caveat. read more

There's so much to say!! Restaurant is located on Valley Road in Montclair, NJ. Nice and simple Decor. My SIL made reservations (recommended) for 4 of us. We really wanted to try the Lo's Fried Chicken. You have to pre-order the fried chicken 24 hrs before. The fried chicken comes family style. They start you with a nice big salad with shallots\ feta \ radishes and vinaigrette dressing. The sides that accompany the fried chicken are crispy potatoes with aioli pimentone & chives blistered shishito peppers with lime & sea salt buttermilk biscuits brussel sprout coleslaw bbq sauce I hot sauce I honey dessert for 2 ( Every 2 ppl get (1) dessert) I'm not an expert of fried chicken but I have had my share from Texas to NJ. This chicken was simply fantastic. Nice and crispy! Watch out for the hot juice that pours out when you take a bite. Will definitely come back for more!! Service was great also! read more

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The place is small but nice like a modern little bistro vibe. The food was good! Also got donuts not pictured that were very yummy. I was satisfied and ready for a nap by the end of the meal. read more

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Spectacular food and service. We had the skirt steak and pork dishes. Both were incredibly tender and full of flavor.

What a find! Hard to get resy but worth it. Food, service and vibe were excellent. No doubt that we'll be back as it's a solid restaurant.

Ambiance is intimate, inviting, and romantic in its own way. I loved everything about this place. The staff was very helpful, friendly and just down to earth. Now the food is top notch! I had the most delicious and tender octopus with fried potatoes that resemble the batatas bravas from Spain. The cuisine is mix and some things reminded me of Europe with an American take on it. We vowed that next time we have to try the fried chicken that multiple parties had on their tables. It's an off menu item but not a secret because it's online. Oh and the chocolate peanut butter tart was exquisite. Great balance with the peanut and chocolate flavor. We went on a weekday for our anniversary and every table was full. Please MAke Reservations if you want a table. read more

Turtle + The Wolf - New American Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I came to this establishment to celebrate me and my friends birthday. I loved the personal touch with the menu! The food was very delicious and the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. I look forward to going back and order ahead of time the chicken with biscuits- as it looked delicious!! read more

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The meal and service was incredible. My husband and I had been to Turtle + The Wolf when it first opened years ago and got the fried chicken take out during the pandemic. We were so happy to be back this time and have a phenomenal experience. The restaurants atmosphere is extremely welcoming and our waiter was so incredibly personable. The restaurant was packed when we got there and getting a reservation took booking two weeks in advance but it was worth it. We got the chicken liver mousse and beef tartare to start and both were delicious. The beef tartare had to be the best we have ever had based on the way they chopped the steak and the seasoning and the black aioli on the side elevated it. The liver mousse was light and airy while still having a dense liver texture and it went so well with the quince cubes. Both came with sour dough crostini and they were the perfect crispy pairing. For entrees my husband and I both got the Berkshire pork, which is very popular dish, with a side of Shishito peppers. Our pork offering was pork belly over polenta and collard greens. The pork belly was fall apart tender and incredibly juicy. The top was super crispy and crunchy and the entire thing paired perfectly with the polenta. The collard greens were bitter (in a good way) and my husband even said they were the best he's had. The dish was so incredible that I think I will be very boring on all my future visits because it will always be what I order. The shishito peppers were crispy and perfectly salted. This place was just as incredible as the first time we went and even our at home experience. I made it clear to my husband at this is a place we make sure to frequent every year! If you're looking for immaculately prepared food and a great atmosphere look no further! read more

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We have been here twice. Both times had great experiences. First time we dined as a couples and 2nd as a family. First time we ordered the cucumber salad and the beet salad as starters, and the salads were very generous portions - we each took a half salad home. We each loved our salads. I got the beet salad the 2nd time I was there also. The focaccia is absolutely amazing. I am super picky about bread quality and it was out of this world. My son is a bread aficionado and he said it was delicious. I had the sweet corn agnolotti for my main and my husband had the ricotta meatballs. Both dishes were fantastic. Mine was so much that I took half home. Plus I really wanted to try the desserts. We ordered the brioche doughnuts - which we thought was just one in the order, but was a whole plate! So again - we boxed those up to enjoy the next day. My husband had the PB chocolate pie. He loved it. I don't like peanut butter desserts but he convinced me to try it and it was delicious. I had the swordfish the 2nd time we dined there and it was cooked beautifully - just perfect. The potato and vegetable sides were very good as well. My son had the meatballs as an appetizer and the sweet corn agnolotti for his main and loved both. Ambience is warm and inviting. The staff is so nice. Service excellent. I don't have anything negative to say. The only thing that would be helpful is just some cushions on the seats as sitting on them is a tad bit uncomfortable after sitting on the wood chairs as a petite person. Next time would love to try the outdoor area as on a nice night it looks like it would be wonderful. read more

The place is amazing! The restaurant inside is decorated to the style of the menu and the name of the restaurant. Beautifully done. We had a reservation at 5pm for the birthday party. The menu had the name of our birthday girl which is a nice touch. The waiter/host greeted us with such kindness. Once everyone was at the table he took great care in helping understand what the specials were like, and the fish of the day and mussels, etc We ordered things to share. Mussels, focaccia, the special grilled cheese appetizer and chicken liver mousse. They were presented nicely. I don't do clams or mussels but I was told they were good. The focaccia was so good. The grilled cheese was excellent and the chicken liver mousse was okay (I tried it, but it's not something I order) but the others loved it. For our mains we shared a bit. The steak of the day was hanger and cooked perfectly with the fries (some say too salty, but they were good). I got the chicken and dumplings which was really tender and the little dumplings were like marshmallows on the plate and tasted perfect. A friend got the sword fish which she said cooked perfectly and was excellent. The morel mushroom aracini was so delicious, perfect little bites. We ended with desserts, chocolate peanut butter pie is delicious. The brioche donuts, super good! The olive oil cake is really great too. We ended up splitting the bill and it was cheaper than we thought it was gonna be. It's like 40-50 per person. I'll be back. I definitely love this place. Also BYOB, there is 2 wine stores nearby so grab a bottle or 2 and enjoy this gem! read more

Solid 4 stars for Turtle + The Wolf. First of all the location is one of my favorite areas in Upper Montclair. I went to high school a few blocks away and always loved (and still do) coming to this area. Bonus points for the huge parking lot around the block. The restaurant itself is very cozy and warm. I love how they weren't trying to rush us out the door even though we were some of the last people there. As far as the food goes, everything was delicious. The only thing I would say is that the portions are very small for the price. Don't expect to have any leftovers. Honestly I think the desserts were the real stars here! Try the donuts and thank me later! I would come back just for dessert in the future. read more

The fried chicken was tender and well seasoned. Service was excellent. So cute outdoors.