Sneak peek at Montclair restaurant looking to elevate familiar concept
Sneak peek at Montclair restaurant looking to elevate familiar concept
Manahil Ahmad, NorthJersey.comThu, May 7, 2026 at 8:16 AM UTC
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A new fast-casual fried chicken restaurant will soon open at 223 Bellevue Ave., bringing what its owners describe as an “elevated” take on a familiar concept to the heart of Montclair.
Farm House Fried Chicken, owned and operated by Dan Campeas and Dayanna Ordonez, aims to mirror the accessibility of national chains like Popeyes and KFC while focusing on higher-quality ingredients and a more refined dining experience.
“We are opening a fast-casual fried chicken restaurant … but elevated,” Campeas said. “Some of the highest quality chicken on the market, plus homemade sauces and a much greater attention to detail.”
A sneak peek at Farm House Fried Chicken in Montclair.
The couple, who also run Dan & Day’s burger restaurant across the street, first met in 2021 at Campeas’ former business, Stuffed Grassfed Burgers, also in Montclair. Within a year, they were married. In 2023, they closed that venture and opened Dan & Day’s nearby, establishing a local following before expanding with the new concept.
Unlike traditional restaurant hierarchies, the pair say they share responsibilities. “We don’t really have set roles,” Campeas said. “We both make every decision together.”
The new space, designed by Blanche Garcia of BGD Designs, intends to feel “warm and inviting,” with a farmhouse-inspired aesthetic. The interior also incorporates a piece of local history: a counter made from wood sourced from the Olmsted Tree in nearby Anderson Park, a tree named after landscape architect John Charles Olmsted that fell during a storm several years ago. Olmsted helped design the park and contributed to parts of Central Park.
"Community and history is important to us and we want people to know we care about the town we do business in very much," Campeas said.
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A sneak peek at Farm House Fried Chicken in Montclair.
Menu offerings will include classic fried chicken options; bone-in thighs, legs, breasts and wings, along with boneless wings and nuggets paired with traditional sides such as macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cornbread, fried pickles, and biscuits.
“Our goal isn’t to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “We want to bring in the best qualities from all of our favorite fried chicken restaurants and put it under one umbrella with better quality.”
The biggest challenge so far has been construction. The owners said the space required a complete renovation, including coordinating multiple contractors and timelines.
Beyond food, the couple emphasized their connection to the community. Campeas grew up in the area, and the pair now live a block away from the restaurant. They are also planning a local event, the Dan & Day’s Music Fest, scheduled for September.
“We want customers to taste the quality of the chicken but also the community we are building,” Campeas said. “We love it here and want to see it grow.”
An official opening date has not yet been announced, but the owners say the restaurant is “coming soon.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Montclair NJ new restaurant Farm House Fried Chicken coming soon
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
