I cannot hop a plane to travel to Brazil, but I can satisfy my deep yearning for Brazilian culinary genius in Montclair - at Samba.
Sometimes, even a foodie has no words to properly describe what a magnificent, gifted chef can bring to his table. Like a foodie soul mate, Ilson captured my heart from my very first lunch.
Owner/chef and food visionary Ilson Goncalves has created a go-to destination that truly ranks in my top 5 restaurants in New Jersey. Ilson told me that he cooked alongside his mother, who he visits in Brazil, and who he still absorbs yet new ideas during each trip.
This intimate, charming restaurant will lull you into a mellow, South American frame of mind from the moment you step through his door. Everything - from the rustic setting on the tables to the giant antique mirrors to the silver chandelier, lit every night, will lead you to that ultimate seduction: irresistible food.
Though I often eat lunch at Samba, and I can get my fill of the most outrageous salads or sandwiches, like the “Samba” Panini – Grilled Chicken Breast with Grilled Fresh
Pineapple & Mango Mustard on MultiGrain Bread ($7), or the Papaya Salad – Baby Spinach, Papaya & Shaved Parmigiana Cheese ($7.95) I need to tell you about dinner.
Dinner is so good you will feel like you need to come back again - the very next night.
If you crave one of the best steaks of your life - as anyone looking for Brazilian food may expect - this spot serves a delightful, intoxicating simple steak that is earthy, tender and yet somehow juicy beyond the norm. Wow.
Dinner entrees run the gamut from all kinds of fresh fish to organic chicken with yucca and a rice/bean combo, that my friend Theresa said “was the best chicken I have ever had in my life. Ever.”
And if you want to get more daring, let me warn you: your meal will be unforgettable. The “bisteca com couve e farofa de banana” is made with succulent pork chops, adorned with a traditional Brazilian speciality “banana farofa”, a sweet concoction of of banana, manioc flour and butter. Oh boy.
If you get a reservation on a Friday or Saturday, try the amazing Feijoada, which is a Brazilian national favorite, a simmering black bean stew.
I decided to eat a special, since I know Ilson only prepares the very freshest most imaginative specials he can muster - and does so with total success.
I had a seafood dish filled to the brim with fresh clams, tender baby scallops, shrimp and mussels, served in a bowl also filled with a garlic/green sauce that totally obsessed me with its fresh-from-the-sea flavors.
Samba is a must for anyone who appreciates delectable, affordable and memorable food. Do not walk - run to this place.
But make a reservation for dinner. Take a bottle of wine, and like me, leave all your worries at the door.
Because after all, you don’t need to be Mary Poppins to jump into a magical world. Samba will fly you to the moon and back - by way of Brazil - and I can promise you will be better for the trip.
Samba Montclair 7 Park st. Montclair NJ 07042 973-744-6764
Dinner summer hours:Monday -Thursday: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.Sunday: Closed
Lunch summer hours:Monday – Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Friday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Sunday: Closed
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