La Fontaine Cafe — Restaurant in Montclair

🌸☕️Have you ever felt like life was throwing puzzle pieces your way, daring you to fit them together? My latest piece came in the form of a cozy, welcoming café in Montclair, NJ—La Fontaine Café. After a travel nurse-farmer night shift, my feet weren’t ready for bed. Instead, they found their way to this little gem, where my journey of healing, exploration, and connection continued.

A Shift Toward Joy 💡

Yes, I just finished a shift, but no, I wasn’t drained. Work, for me, is a mix of challenges and gratitude—both for what I do as a nurse and for the chance to seek solace outside of work. Walking into La Fontaine, I knew I was stepping into something special. The warm atmosphere, paired with the delightful chatter of people enjoying their morning, made me realize that discovery is healing too.

A Café Full of Charm and History 🇹🇷✨

I didn’t even know La Fontaine Café had Turkish roots until I spoke with the owner. The café’s Turkish influence became clear when I noticed the portrait of Atatürk on the wall, a nod to the founder of modern Turkey. The owner shared how it’s a tradition to include his photo in new businesses, a practice that reflects respect and remembrance. Little did I know, I’d leave with an invitation to visit Turkey one day—a reminder that food isn’t just nourishment, it’s connection.

Food That Feeds More Than the Stomach 🍓☕️

The fruit crepe was a work of art—soft, golden, and filled with fresh fruit and cream that melted in my mouth. My hibiscus tea was vibrant, floral, and soothing, a perfect companion for my breakfast adventure. Every bite and sip felt like a small celebration of slowing down and enjoying the moment. I couldn’t help but think, “Why rush through life when it tastes this good?”

More Than a Meal, A Memory 🪑📚

Sitting by the window, I watched Montclair’s quiet streets come alive. My table overlooked charming architecture that holds stories of the past. It’s the kind of view that reminds you to appreciate the here and now. The café, with its adorable bicycle-themed décor, feels like the perfect stop for travelers, locals, and anyone looking for a slice of peace in a busy world.

The Montclair Connection 🌳🏘️

Montclair itself is steeped in history and charm. Originally a getaway for wealthy New Yorkers, the town now celebrates diversity, creativity, and community. It’s the perfect blend of past and present, where small businesses like La Fontaine thrive and invite us to create new memories.

A Call to Action 💬

To my fellow travelers, nurses, and explorers—don’t just go through your day. Step outside, find a new corner of the world, and enjoy what’s waiting for you. Support small businesses like La Fontaine Café that bring people together through food and culture.

Gratitude and Connection 🤍

To the owner, thank you for the warm conversation and the delicious food. To the team behind the scenes, your smiles and service are as comforting as the hibiscus tea I sipped. And to those reading this—go outside, explore, and discover your next piece of the puzzle.

🌸 Another day, another travel nurse-farmer adventure. 🌸

☕ What’s your go-to way to unwind after work? Let me...

I was very excited to try out this small Turkish x French fusion cafe for brunch today since the ingredients on their menu is suppose to be high quality and wholesome. We expect to pay extras for any quality food, unfortunately this visit was disappointing.

We arrived on a Sunday, around 10:30am. There are 5 tables, plenty of seating because no one dined in. This cafe requires you to order first and then pay (including an opt to tip even before receiving service). Which isn’t a problem because we also tip. Turns out every item we ordered were more expensive than the prices listed on the menu. I understand prices have increased in every industry, except it is deceiving in this case when there are no disclaimers.

My husband ordered a crepe, with spinach and cheese fillings-flavor was not bad, and it definitely tastes like a Turkish spinach pie, except in crepe form.

I ordered an avocado toast with a poached egg, but extremely disappointed they used Sabra’s (or similar) avocado spread. No offense, but that’s the same spread I buy from Costco. I don’t see why I have to pay over $15 for a slice of bread with a mass market guacamole spread/dip. To be honest, all the avocado toasts that I’ve EVER ordered were made with fresh avocados 🥑, until today.

The food was very mediocre, nothing special. Service was great, our waitress was friendly.

Both of our drinks were $11 each, NOT worth the price in my option.

The blueberry and banana smoothie was very runny, too watered down. So don’t expect to order this as a meal. Be expected to pay $1 extra for almond milk.

The green juice tasted like spinach and cucumbers only, missing the ginger, apple, and lemon flavors (which are ingredients listing on the menu). The recipe could be definitely be improved.

We also ordered two Turkish bagels, but didn’t receive it until we were ready to leave. Plus, we had to wait for the bagels despite having to already dined in for almost 45 mins. And during the wait, the lady took two bagels out from the fridge and microwaved it for 1 minute. We told her we could’ve heated the bread up at home but she said the bread is currently under cooked so it needed extra time for “cooking.”

The bill for 2 ppl was $75 (this includes taxes) for a Sunday brunch at this cafe. I think you are better off going to...

The lady owner was extremely friendly and I almost feel bad because we were a big group of 6 (originally a group of 8 adults and 2 children) and she was just one person manning the whole cafe. There were also other customers patroning the shop and I have to give my respect for the professional and wonderful customer service she gave us!

Our table ordered drinks ranging from freshly squeezed juice to lattes and my bias is definitely on trying the organic spiced chai latte with double espresso and oat milk. Absolutely my favorite rendition of chai latte: not too sweet with a good balance of clean flavour and smoothness. I ordered the grilled cheese along with the tomato soup and I have to say that this combo never goes wrong. I was ever so pleasantly surprised to see ricotta in the mix along with creamy American cheese in the sandwich and it made an absolute difference! My sister ordered the Turkish meatball sandwich and we both ended up swapping a little to try each other's sandwich (a quarter only and not half, to be specific, we were too greedy over our own delicious bites haha).

The whole experience was wonderful and we totally understood we would need a longer wait time as one person making all our orders is a massive undertaking. We just chatted and enjoyed each other's company while waiting and the result is worth the patience! That she was up for the challenge, kind, and crazily talented in what she does makes me think this place deserves this essay of a review (do pardon me!).

And to the lady who made the 1 star review- yes I'm calling you out- patience is a virtue we all need, it seems. Hope you were able to find another place that can cater to your 'I need what I want NOW' but you're definitely missing out on awesome food. I'll be going back for more and certainly won't miss your absence. Till next...