Week 3: Fascino

Restaurant of the Week: Fascino (Montclair, NJ)

Off to Essex county in the eclectic, ever budding & changing "mini-opolis" of Montclair... If you are one of the few who has not been to Montclair, it is basically a 2-street (Bloomfield Ave meets Valley Rd) hub where Montclair State University students, Montclair Kimberly Prep students, upper middle class country club patrons mix with urbanites drawn from the outskirts of Bloomfield-Belleville-Newark, a unique melting pot, socio-economic spectrum of eaters, drinkers, antiquers, and artists. If Hoboken were the flagship of Hudson County, Morristown of Morris, Ridgewood of Bergen... Montclair would head Essex. But enough about Montclair, just check it out.

On to Fascino, the NYC-esque not-so-flashy Italian establishment hiding at the end of Bloomfield Ave. This, make-sure-you-make-a-reservation gourmet and food connoisseur magnet will undoubtedly capture your heart, along with most your wallet. Once again, I've penny pinched all week in order to multi-dollar spend on something nice. Let's come right out with it: the tasting menu is $65 per person. Now this is not unheard of in the tri-state area, especially for one of New Jersey's finest, which this is, just ask your closest foodie... but this may push my budget a bit. (Even though this option includes choices of "Truffled Salmon Tartare", "Porcini Dusted Sea Scallop", and "Long Island Duck Breast".)

So it is on to the a la carte menu where the $12 White Truffle Marinated Beef Carpaccio" and the $9 "Sea Scallop Crudo w/Crispy Prosciutto" are equally as enticing. Like the previously blogged Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, Fascino offers appetizer portions of their pastas like "Ricotta Gnocchi" and "Pumpkin Mezzaluna in Oregano Brown Butter" for appetizer prices. So an app & app portion pasta don't break the bank... and you're still filling up on one of New Jersey's finest. Or nix that route and grab yourself a delectable entree like the "Australian Barramundi" or the "Slow Braised Short Ribs" (a personal favorite of mine at nearly any restaurant) somewhere in the upper $20 range. Again... worth it.

The service and decor match the quality of the food. This place serves as a 'nice occasion' place worthy of a special birthday, anniversary or that job promotion you finally and deservedly scored. Call ahead, dress nice, and treat yourself to a classy evening in one of Essex County's classiest restaurants. This is a must-visit for this summer.

http://www.fascinorestaurant.com/