New Jerseys Not So Bad: Raymond’s

As part of my grand plan to convince the world (and myself) that living in New Jersey isn’t so bad, I am exploring restaurants, coffee shops, and other places that make the Garden State great. 

With locations in Essex County and Bergen County, Raymond’s makes living in New Jersey not so bad! 

According to the restaurant’s website, Raymond Badach first opened the doors of his luncheonette on Church Street in Montclair, NJ in 1989. The restaurant grew from serving cups of coffee to cappuccinos and lattes as the years went on. Joanne Ricci joined as manager in 1996 and became Raymond’s partner in 2004 when it expanded and the pair opened a larger version of the restaurant. 

In December 2012, the partners opened Raymond’s in Ridgewood, NJ. This restaurant is located on the main drag, across from Van Neste Square Park, and surrounded by other local businesses. I went to the Ridgewood location on a Sunday and thanks to the Blue Laws of New Jersey, stores were closed, the town was quiet, and there was plenty of parking. 

I went with my bestie Emma and we thought there would be a wait because they don’t accept reservations and there is always a wait. But we got in right away and sat outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Thanks again, Blue Laws!  

To drink, I got an iced latte with almond milk which was as good as I anticipated. Emma drank a lemonade and we annihilated the bottle of tap water our waitress left at the table. 

I spent roughly 15 minutes contemplating what I wanted to order. I went back and forth between the classic turkey club, cobb salad, and caesar salad. Finally, I landed on the cobb salad when Emma said she would get the turkey club and give me a piece if I wanted it. 

The classic turkey club is exactly what the name describes: a classic turkey club sandwich with Nodine’s ham, swiss, thick-cut bacon, spicy club sauce, pickles, and garlic mayo. This sandwich stands out since it’s a triple-decker, cut into four pieces. 

The cobb salad includes grilled chicken so no need to add protein (or the additional fee). It also has applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, blue cheese, farm egg, avocado, and dirty onions all chopped up and mixed in with lettuce and creamy tarragon ranch. 

I ordered a side of fries while Emma ordered a side of baked mac and cheese which had such a great cheese pull that the two of us can be heard saying “ooooohhhhh!” in the video I took. 

Just like my iced latte, the food was as good as I anticipated. 

While I am not a big fan of breakfast food, I highly recommend going to Raymond’s for brunch since it's famous for breakfast. Raymond’s serves classics like eggs benedict, breakfast burritos, steak & eggs, and huevos rancheros. Egg haters can enjoy Raymond’s original French toast, pancakes, or Belgian waffles. 

Breakfast can be ordered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. along with lunch. In addition to the cobb and turkey club, lunch offers a variety of salads and sandwiches such as the kale & wheatberry salad, four cheese grilled cheese, or Lower East Side corned beef sandwich. 

Dinner features the same salads and sandwiches as lunch as well as additional entrees like spice-rubbed salmon, turkey meatloaf, sausage rigatoni, and fried chicken. They serve a classic burger, veggie burger, and tuna burger.

Indulge your sweet tooth with special desserts like warm ricotta donuts and sticky toffee cake and classics like a double chocolate brownie or a good ol’ dish of ice cream.

Wash it all down with lemonade, iced tea, cold brew, or iced/hot cappuccinos and lattes. You can also enjoy specialty drinks like the turmeric almond latte, yogic chai latte, and spiced apple cider. 

Visit the Montclair location at 28 Church St., Montclair, NJ, or the Ridgewood location at 101 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ. 

Make a day of it! Both restaurant locations are surrounded by local boutiques and businesses. Have lunch, walk around, and see that New Jersey isn’t so bad!