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Cocina Candela, Montclair, NJ

Cocina Candela

4.3 (136)
$30 and under
Puerto Rican
706 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042

About this restaurant

  • Romantic
  • Innovative
  • Neighborhood gem
Puerto Rican cuisine in Montclair made with local ingredients. All of our meat is hormone free. We can't wait for you to visit!

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Puerto Rican, Latin American, Caribbean
  • Hours of operation
    Tuesday- Friday: 12:00pm - 9:00pm Saturday & Sunday: 11:00am - 9:00pm
  • Website
    http://www.cocinacandela.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Catering
    Full catering menu available. Call for information.
  • Private party facilities
    Private events for up to 40 people can be booked on certain dates. Please call for information.
  • Location
    706 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
  • Neighborhood
    Montclair
  • Cross street
    Mountain Ave.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    BYO Liquor, BYO Wine, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch

Menu

This menu from Cocina Candela.

Appetizers

  • Chicharron de Pollo$10.00

    Goffle Farm fried chicken, tamarind glaze

    • Crabcake$13.00

      Jumbo lump crabmeat, panko crust, coconut mango sauce

      • Camarones Cabrones$12.00

        Blackened shrimp, coconut polenta, guava reduction

        • Bacalaitos$8.00

          Crispy cod fritters

          • Sorullitos$8.00

            Sweet corn fritters, fontina cheese

            • Rellenos de Papa$8.00

              Fried mashed potato balls stuffed with picadillo

              Fusion Empanadas

              $3. Available baked or fried. Dozen for $32

              • Beef & Amarillos

                • Picadillo

                  • Chipotle Chicken

                    • Chicken Parm

                      • Guava & Cheese

                        • Buffalo Shrimp

                          • Cuban

                            • Three Cheese

                              • Spinach & Ricotta

                                • Amarillos con Queso

                                  • Lobster Mac & Cheese

                                    Soup & Salad

                                    • Sopa del Dia

                                      Chef's choice of daily soup

                                      • MP

                                    • Ensalada de Temporada$10.00

                                      Seasonal Salad

                                      • Ensalada de Casa$9.00

                                        Artisan greens, Vidalia onion, cucumber, tomato, avocado, red wine vinaigrette

                                        • Ensalada de Pulpo$12.00

                                          Spanish Octopus, bell peppers, onions, olives, vinaigrette

                                          Entrees

                                          • Costilla Corta de Res$28.00

                                            Creekstone Farms prime short rib, malanga root puree, seasonal vegetables

                                            • Churrasco$26.00

                                              Creekstone Farms prime skirt steak, chimichurri, white rice, Roman beans

                                              • Rabo Encendido$28.00

                                                Creekstone Farms prime Braised oxtail, rice & pigeon peas

                                                • Pollo a la Parrilla$18.00

                                                  Goffle Farm Grilled chicken breast, cilantro rice

                                                  • Pernilito y Arroz con Gandules$24.00

                                                    Berkshire pork shank, rice & pigeon peas

                                                    • Filete de Chillo$22.00

                                                      Wild caught red snapper, boniato sweet potato puree, papaya mojo

                                                      • Pastelon$18.00

                                                        Puerto Rican style lasagna (sweet plantains, ground beef, Fontina cheese)

                                                        • Chuleta Cancan$32.00

                                                          32 oz Berkshire pork chop, attached chicharron and rib meat, sweet plantains, rice & Roman beans

                                                          Mofongo al Pilon

                                                          Choice of green plantain, yuca or trifongo, or malanga. Available with:

                                                          • Vegan$16.00

                                                            Seasonal vegetables, creole or coconut sauce

                                                            • Pollo$18.00

                                                              Stewed chicken breast

                                                              • Ropa Vieja$20.00

                                                                Shredded beef

                                                                • Camarones$22.00

                                                                  Wild shrimp, creole or coconut sauce

                                                                  • Langosta

                                                                    Lobster fra diavolo

                                                                    • MP

                                                                  Rice & Paella

                                                                  • Paella Candela$36.00

                                                                    Saffron rice, shrimp, octopus, chorizo, chicken

                                                                    • Paella Vegetariana$16.00

                                                                      Saffron rice, seasonal vegetables

                                                                      • Arroz con Pollo$18.00

                                                                        Saffron rice, chicken

                                                                        • Arroz con Camarones$22.00

                                                                          Saffron rice, wild shrimp

                                                                          • Arroz con Cangrejo$20.00

                                                                            Saffron rice, crabmeat

                                                                            Sides

                                                                            $4

                                                                            • Arroz y Habichuela

                                                                              White rice, Roman beans

                                                                              • Arroz con Gandules

                                                                                Yellow rice, pigeon peas

                                                                                • Amarillos

                                                                                  Ripe plantains

                                                                                  • Yuca al Mojo

                                                                                    Steamed yuca

                                                                                    • Tostones

                                                                                      Fried green plantains

                                                                                      • Yuca Frita

                                                                                        Yuca fries

                                                                                        Fresh Juices

                                                                                        $5

                                                                                        • Limonada

                                                                                          Lemonade, agave

                                                                                          • Tamarindo

                                                                                            Sweetened tamarind pulp

                                                                                            • Piña

                                                                                              Pineapple

                                                                                              • Piña Colada

                                                                                                Pineapple, coconut cream

                                                                                                • Agua de Coco

                                                                                                  Whole young coconut

                                                                                                  • Guanabana

                                                                                                    Soursop

                                                                                                    What 136 people are saying

                                                                                                    Cocina Candela reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

                                                                                                    Overall ratings and reviews

                                                                                                    4.3
                                                                                                    4.3 based on all time ratings
                                                                                                    • 4.5Food
                                                                                                    • 4.3Service
                                                                                                    • 4.1Ambience
                                                                                                    • 4.1Value

                                                                                                    Noise • Moderate

                                                                                                    136 Reviews

                                                                                                    1. RICKC

                                                                                                      New York City1 review

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on June 25, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 3
                                                                                                      Food and service were great One negative was room tempature With 85 degrees that day , A/C was not on , we were hot and uncomfortable. A/C was turned on after our request , but by that time it was too late

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                                                                                                    2. dgalef Gold

                                                                                                      New York City52 reviews

                                                                                                      3.0

                                                                                                      Dined on June 19, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 3
                                                                                                      2. Food 3
                                                                                                      3. Service 4
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                      I want to like Cocina Candela, which has an elegant ambience and food artfully arranged on the plates, but the flavor's missing: The octopus salad is awash in bland oil, the red snapper rests on a bed of sweet potato puree that doesn't help anything, and the mofongo was rubbery rather than chewy, with cubes of chicken that tasted like lunchroom chicken a la king. The rice with shrimp was nothing much but those two ingredients. The churrasco was pretty good, thank goodness, and as rare as we ordered it. But the tres leches for dessert was disappointing, and that dessert is always a winner elsewhere. My theory: In an attempt to be upscale (nothing wrong with that), Cocina Candela has edited out the bold flavors that I like when I eat Puerto Rican cuisine.

                                                                                                      Is this helpful?

                                                                                                    3. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                                      New York City1 review

                                                                                                      3.0

                                                                                                      Dined on June 16, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 3
                                                                                                      2. Food 4
                                                                                                      3. Service 3
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 2
                                                                                                      The food was good, but the music was aggressively loud for brunch. I went there for Father's and the whole experience wasn't pleasant because we could barely hear eachother over the music. We asked the server to turn it down 4 times and each time it was barely turned down. Finally, my dad had to get up and complain to the manager and their answer was "the owner likes it loud" Completely unacceptable, especially when your're trying to spend quality family time for brunch on father's day. Will not go back for that reason.

                                                                                                      Is this helpful?

                                                                                                    4. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                                      New York City9 reviews

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on June 16, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                      Excellent Brunch! We went for Brunch on Father's Day. Going out on a holiday is usually iffy but we were not disappointed. We had a reservation which we arrived right on time for and we were seated right away. The wait staff was very good and attentive even though it was busy. The place is small but we were comfortable. It was nice outside so the doors and windows were open so there was a really nice breeze. We had corn fritters and empanadas as appetizers. Very good! For brunch we chose Puerto Rican Benedict, a Cuban Sandwich, Lobster Omelette and Chirrasco con Huevos. All were very good! We enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere. We will definitely be back! And now that I know it's BYOB, I'll bring champagne for Mimosas next time!

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                                                                                                    5. LLMC

                                                                                                      New York City19 reviews

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on June 1, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                      Food is fresh, delicious and authentic. Atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed with perfect salsa music to accompany the flavors. Service was pleasant and efficient. Will be back!

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                                                                                                    6. LJGV Gold

                                                                                                      New York City91 reviews

                                                                                                      2.0

                                                                                                      Dined on May 11, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 2
                                                                                                      2. Food 2
                                                                                                      3. Service 4
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 2
                                                                                                      Even though we had a reservation we were given a tiny table right next to the entrance door. It was unpleasant to have a constant stream of people pushing past the table. The waitress was friendly and attentive and did the best she could. The food was mediocre. The portions were large.

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                                                                                                    7. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                                      New York City1 review

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on May 11, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                      This is my 3rd time here. Food is always great and exceptional service

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                                                                                                    8. OpenTable Diner Gold

                                                                                                      Philadelphia1 review

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on May 4, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                      Excellent food! Great empanadas!

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                                                                                                    9. noodles Gold

                                                                                                      New York City35 reviews

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on April 27, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                      First time dining at this gem Of a restaurant. Small and cozy space with friendly helpful service and delicious food.

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                                                                                                    10. PaulS

                                                                                                      New York City6 reviews

                                                                                                      5.0

                                                                                                      Dined on April 27, 2019

                                                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                                                      2. Food 4
                                                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                                                      4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                      Great place. Our 2nd time there - food has been very good both times. Service outstanding. Easy parking. Priced appropriately. Will certainly return

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                                                                                                    Additional information

                                                                                                    • Dining style
                                                                                                      Casual Elegant
                                                                                                    • Price
                                                                                                      $30 and under
                                                                                                    • Cuisines
                                                                                                      Puerto Rican, Latin American, Caribbean
                                                                                                    • Hours of operation
                                                                                                      Tuesday- Friday: 12:00pm - 9:00pm Saturday & Sunday: 11:00am - 9:00pm
                                                                                                    • Website
                                                                                                      http://www.cocinacandela.com/
                                                                                                    • Payment options
                                                                                                      AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                                                    • Dress code
                                                                                                      Business Casual
                                                                                                    • Catering
                                                                                                      Full catering menu available. Call for information.
                                                                                                    • Private party facilities
                                                                                                      Private events for up to 40 people can be booked on certain dates. Please call for information.
                                                                                                    • Location
                                                                                                      706 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
                                                                                                    • Neighborhood
                                                                                                      Montclair
                                                                                                    • Cross street
                                                                                                      Mountain Ave.
                                                                                                    • Parking details
                                                                                                      Street Parking
                                                                                                    • Additional
                                                                                                      BYO Liquor, BYO Wine, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch
                                                                                                    1. Home
                                                                                                    2. United States
                                                                                                    3. New Jersey
                                                                                                    4. Essex
                                                                                                    5. Montclair

                                                                                                    Not available on OpenTable

                                                                                                    Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

                                                                                                    Is this your restaurant?
                                                                                                    Claim this listing
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