Samba Montclair Warms Your Heart

Nowhere is the phrase, “Behind every good man is a great woman,” more prominent than at Samba Montclair, a small Brazilian restaurant in Montclair, according to a review in Sunday’s New York Times.

While 32-year-old owner Ilson Goncalves conceived and opened the restaurant at 7 Park St. in December 2011, with its soothing Latin music, a weathered rustic décor, low lighting and a young, easygoing staff, he said it was his mother who provided the menu’s inspiration, which features simple, home-style dishes he grew up with in southern Brazil, the report said.

“When I close my eyes I want to imagine my mother cooking in the kitchen,” he said.

The menu features Brazilian favorites including lightly fried chicken, beef and cheese fritters called salgadinhos sortidos, Mandioca frita — fried yucca with Brazilian sausage and onions and frango grelhado, breast of chicken marinated in olive oil and sautéed until crunchy.