On the 100 block of Quimby Street you can now get French bistro dishes at No. 103 and banh mi at No. 114, and Mexican and taco spots sit right next door at 115 and 116. On South Avenue West, a Japanese omakase counter opened at No. 407 in the last days of September. None of these restaurants has a Broad Street address. Neither do the rest of downtown Westfield's food openings since July.
Six food openings since July, none on Broad Street
The Downtown Westfield Corporation keeps a running list of new businesses and the month each one opened. From July through October 2026, every new restaurant, cafe and bagel shop on that list has a side-street or South Avenue address:
| Opening month | Business | Address |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Thai Society | 321 South Ave. W. |
| July 2026 | PopUp Bagels | 220 South Ave. W. |
| August 2026 | Bagel Cafe NJ | 272 North Ave. E. |
| September 2026 | Le Bistrot | 103 Quimby St. |
| September 2026 | Kome Omakase | 407 South Ave. W. |
| October 2026 | VINA Vietnamese Street Food | 114 Quimby St. |
The same list shows Broad Street getting a different kind of tenant over those months. Framebridge, a custom framing shop, opened at 220 E. Broad St. in July. Modern and Classic Rugs came back to Westfield at 11 E. Broad St. Gamify U, which works with students on gaming, technology and career credentials, opened in September on the second floor of 219 E. Broad St. The pattern explains why the restaurant you heard about may not be on your usual loop down Broad and Elm. If you're planning dinner out this month, start on Quimby.
The 100 block of Quimby Street
Quimby already had a head start before this fall. The Downtown Westfield Corporation lists Westfield Taqueria at 116 Quimby St. as a March 2025 arrival and Masalamex, serving modern Mexican food, at 115 Quimby St. as an April 2025 arrival. The two 2026 openings sit at either end of that stretch.
Le Bistrot, 103 Quimby St. Le Bistrot Westfield is a casual French restaurant serving classic dishes and seasonal fare. It's owned by Paris native Redha Bettahar and his partner Dominique Sartori, who is originally from Corsica. Bettahar explained the restaurant's purpose to TAPinto Westfield when it opened in September:
"Originally from France, we created Le Bistrot to bring the warmth, charm and culinary traditions of a true French bistro to the Westfield community."
Lunch service was still being expanded in its first weeks, so check the restaurant's own site for current service times before a midday visit.
VINA, 114 Quimby St. VINA is the newest restaurant on the block. TAPinto Westfield reported its grand opening on Nov. 3. It serves Vietnamese street food as small and large plates, rice bowls and sandwiches. Its owners are Jeff and Uyen Kirshenbaum, who also run Kirshenbaum Baking Co. on Elm Street. That connection shows up in the bread. VINA makes its banh mi on Kirshenbaum Baking Co. baguettes, baked a short walk away.
The Scoop N Scootery, 109 Quimby St. A Westfield location of The Scoop N Scootery has been announced for 109 Quimby St., between Le Bistrot and VINA. The brand is known for customizable ice cream sundaes. Patch described the concept as late-night delivery of sundaes until midnight. The brand's own site also lists frozen yogurt, milkshakes and cookies.
Put together, that's French, Vietnamese, modern Mexican, tacos and a sundae shop within roughly a dozen street numbers. On Quimby, a group can agree on the block and decide on the food once they get there.
South Avenue West, the omakase and two bagel counters
South Avenue West gained three food businesses this year, and they cover very different meals.
Kome Omakase, 407 South Ave. W. TAPinto Westfield reported the grand opening on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Guests don't order from a menu. They sit at the counter and the chef chooses each course. "Kome" means rice in Japanese, and "omakase" translates roughly as "I'll leave it up to you." The restaurant offers a 13-course or a 17-course experience built around seasonal seafood and aged fish. It's run by brothers Eric and Daniel Lin. Each has about 20 years of restaurant experience in Ohio and Tennessee, including time at a Michelin restaurant.
Thai Society, 321 South Ave. W., and PopUp Bagels, 220 South Ave. W. Both appear on the Downtown Westfield Corporation's list as July 2026 openings. Art Cafe at 317 South Ave. W., a January 2026 arrival on the same list, is on the same street.
If you're already on the north side of downtown, Bagel Cafe NJ at 272 North Ave. E. is the other new bagel option. It held its ribbon cutting on Sept. 14. TAPinto Westfield reported hand-rolled bagels, house-roasted turkey, baked breads, scones and coffee. The shop serves breakfast, lunch and smoothies.
What Broad Street and Elm Street added instead
The streets that get the most foot traffic still changed this fall. The new businesses there are mostly shops and appointment-based studios.
- Framebridge, 220 E. Broad St. Custom framing. It opened in July and held a ribbon cutting on Oct. 19.
- Modern & Classic Rugs, 11 E. Broad St. Imported modern and traditional rugs, including hand-knotted pieces. The shop had left Westfield for Summit years ago and celebrated its return with a Sept. 28 ribbon cutting.
- Glowbar, 118 Elm St. Customizable 30-minute facials and skincare products. It opened in August.
- Bonded Lash Bar, 57 Elm St. Lash extensions, fills, and brow shaping and tinting. The Downtown Westfield Corporation lists it as a September opening.
Broad Street also lost two storefronts. TAPinto Westfield reported on Oct. 6 that Rush Bowls closed its Broad Street shop in September, after opening there in 2024. The same report said Francis Henri, the baby boutique that opened in 2022, left Broad Street when its lease ended. The boutique said it had outgrown the space, is staying in Montclair and is looking for a new space.
The next round of food announcements reaches back toward the center of town. Perch & Parlor has been announced for 102 E. Broad St., with a specialty coffee bar, brunch and dinner served at the counter. Straight Up Indian has been announced for 9 Elm St. Medical spa and wellness center 4Ever Young has been announced for 231 E. Broad St.
December downtown, with the new spots in reach
The Downtown Westfield Corporation's Photos with Santa runs on three dates, all from 12 to 3 p.m.:
- Friday, Dec. 4 at Faherty, 127 Central Ave.
- Saturday, Dec. 12 at Luxe Threads, 206 E. Broad St. This is Pet Day, and pets are welcome in the photos.
- Saturday, Dec. 19 at Mimi and Hill, 152 E. Broad St.
Sessions are limited. Reservations are made through Eventbrite, and the photos are emailed afterward. A noon session at Luxe Threads or Mimi and Hill on East Broad Street leaves time for lunch at Le Bistrot or VINA on Quimby. The Town of Westfield's December calendar also lists a Hanukkah Menorah Lighting on Dec. 6.
If a dinner at the omakase counter or a banh mi lunch would make a good gift, the Downtown Westfield Gift Card comes as a mailed physical card or a digital e-card for Apple Pay or Google Pay. The funds don't expire. The card is accepted at participating restaurants, boutiques, cafes and services, and the program's page lists which businesses take it.
I enjoy tracking which blocks of downtown Westfield are filling in, and why. If you'd like to talk about how the changes on Quimby Street and South Avenue West fit into the bigger picture of life in town, Michele DiBenedetto is always glad to hear from you. Please reach out anytime.
