eats
There is no shortage of different cuisines and unique restaurants representing countries from all over the world in Montclair and throughout Northern New Jersey. There are also restaurants for every kind of atmosphere desired. For a luxurious dinner with creative cocktails, and authentic yet modern Greek food that features fresh fish shipped in daily, look no further than Naxos Estiatorio located at 1738 US Route 46 in Woodland Park. Read on to learn more about Naxos Estiatorio, the owner’s authentic Greek heritage, and their rooted connection to Northern New Jersey.
About Naxos Estiatorio
Naxos Estiatorio, the newest Greek restaurant in Woodland Park, is the dream child of Sam Matthews, his son Peter, and their partner and Executive Chef of the restaurant, Rubaldo Andres. Greece is deeply rooted in the Matthews family via both of Peter’s parents. His grandparents migrated from Greece to The United States in the 1960s and ended up in Clifton, New Jersey. The Greek culture has influenced the family’s love of food and the restaurant business. The family began with a diner in Newark, opening three other restaurants over the years. In 1987, the Matthews family opened The Pompton Queen Diner + Restaurant in Pompton Plains, which they still own and Peter’s mother spends most of her time managing.
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Peter’s love of the service business started at Penn State where he went to college and majored in construction project management. He worked as a bartender and continued to do so through graduate school at the University of Washington. Peter’s background in construction was instrumental in the design of Naxos. His years of bartending and Greek influences helped him create the artisanal cocktail list provided in the restaurant’s grand bar. Two of Peter’s signature cocktails are the Agave Sti-Fotia, a unique twist to the traditional margarita, and the Santorini Sunset which features Greek honey syrup.
The Location + Menu
The Matthews wanted to find a space for the restaurant that was large, had parking, and would be accessible by neighboring towns. The vision of an upscale eatery serving a creative, artistic twist on Greek food came to light in Woodland Park. Naxos was built to transport diners to the Island of Naxos, Greece.
From the bells on the roof outside to the curved accents inside, the design and mood evoke a special evening out on a Greek island. There is a private room for parties and outdoor seating is available. The interior space allows diners to relax and enjoy their meals with friends and family without feeling rushed, reminding us to indulge in the moment of enjoying food and ambiance.
Executive Chef Andres’s vision for Naxos is elevated, contemporary Greek cuisine. Fresh fish is flown in every day to ensure the most delectable bite. Specialty Greek fish served whole, such as Lavraka, the Greek version of Bronzino, and Tsipoura, known as Royal Dorado in the U.S., are cooked to order in three different ways. Lobster fresh from Maine is enhanced with Greek flavors and the lamb chops are cooked to perfection. There is also a mouth-watering raw bar with an impressive array of shellfish. The Montclair Girl enjoyed sharing The Lobster Gyro’s “Astakos” and the Tuna Ceviche Cones. The dishes were as fun as they were delectable. Presentation of all the dishes is social media worthy, but more importantly to the Matthews Family, it is the food, service, and ambiance that will have patrons return again and again.
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Naxos Estiatorio is open for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday from 11:30AM to 12AM, and Sunday through Thursday from 11:30AM to 10PM. Reservations may be made on OpenTable. To learn more about Naxos, visit its website here.
