After more than 25 years serving Italian classics, DaVinci’s Brick Oven Pizza closed its doors Sept. 20 in Uptown Montclair. The pizzeria, a longtime favorite of locals, marked its final day with a celebration during the Upper Montclair Sidewalk Sale.
In a farewell Instagram post, the owners wrote:
“Today is our final day at Da Vinci’s. We are closing our doors with one last celebration at the Upper Montclair Sidewalk Sale. Stop by for pizza, zeppoli, garlic knots, and more as we say goodbye. Thank you, Montclair, for your loyalty, support, and memories—we couldn’t have done it without you.”
The owners said that, despite a sound business model, the restaurant didn’t have enough volume to sustain operations.
The space won’t stay empty for long. Dan and Day, the couple behind Montclair’s burger-and-shake spot Dan + Day’s, plan to open a new restaurant there. Their concept, Farmhouse Fried Chicken, will bring a farmhouse-inspired vibe to the former pizzeria, with plans for an early April 2026 debut.
Farmhouse Fried Chicken will lean into comfort food but with a twist. “It’ll be an elevated fried chicken concept which focuses on sandwiches but will also have ‘bone-in’ fried chicken as well,” Dan said. “Think upscale Chick-fil-A with a little of KFC sprinkled in.”
The interior design will match the theme. Day explained that they are planning a farmhouse look, “hoping to make people feel almost like they’re eating in a barn/farmhouse.” Renovations are already underway, including the removal of the large brick oven DaVinci’s left behind.
Menu development will expand on what customers know from Dan + Day’s. Crispy chicken sandwiches will return with more topping options, while bone-in choices will include drumsticks, thighs, and breaded wings. Sides will feature fresh-cut fries, fried pickles, coleslaw, and mac and cheese. Homemade sauces with different heat levels are also in the works, though Dan noted the breading will stay “pretty traditional at least to start.”
Quality and consistency will be a focus. The restaurant will use Bell & Evans chicken, which is antibiotic- and hormone-free, the same product served at Dan + Day’s. “It’s very high quality and consistent,” Dan said. “About as good as it gets as far as quality.”
The restaurant will also emphasize a community-friendly environment, featuring outdoor seating and a chicken option for pets, just like their other location at Dan + Day’s.
For Dan, the project is personal. “This is our second restaurant in Uptown,” he said. “I grew up in this part of town, we live uptown now, and we plan to raise our family in this area so having two businesses here means a lot to us, and we are really excited for what we have planned here.”
DaVinci’s closing marked the end of an era on Bellevue Avenue. Farmhouse Fried Chicken is set to open next spring, bringing fried chicken, sides, and a farmhouse-inspired setting to Uptown Montclair and beginning a new chapter for the neighborhood’s dining scene.
Alondra Cabrera is the Editorial Assistant at New Jersey Digest. She recently graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. During her time at school, she discovered her passion for journalism and content creation. In her free time, she loves to create and edit videos for her corgis, Rafi and Toffe, and indulge in culinary adventures with her friends. Alondra also enjoys traveling, cooking, and working out. She is excited to embark on her professional journey in media and looks forward to contributing her skill and creativity to her role here at New Jersey Digest.
