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The basics:

• Tatte Bakery opens first New Jersey location in Ridgewood
• Morristown store planned at M Station development this spring
• Menu blends Israeli, Mediterranean and European influences

Boston-based Tatte Bakery and Café is putting down roots in North Jersey.

After making its in-state debut May 5 in Ridgewood, the fast-casual brand is gearing up to launch a store in Morristown.

In Ridgewood, Tatte is located at 222 East Ridgewood Ave., in a shop previously occupied by Jos. A Banks. It features indoor seating and a patio for outdoor dining, as well as options for delivery, takeout and catering.

The brand reportedly expects to open at Morristown’s M Station campus, a high-profile downtown mixed-use development that will soon become the new U.S. flagship location for French health care company Sanofi. Tatte has not provided any further details, but Patch reported that local officials anticipate its opening “later this spring.”

Tatte was founded 18 years ago by Tzurit Or, a self-trained pastry chef who grew up in Israel, as a pop-up at area farmers markets. It now has 44 company-owned and operated locations across Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Meaning behind the name

According to its website, the eatery’s name is the Hebrew word for “grandmother” and rhymes with “latte.” It was inspired by how gleefully the founder’s daughter reacted to a photo of Or’s mother, the company said.

Its all-day offerings include breakfast sandwiches, salads, sandwiches, quiche, soups, salads, shakshukas and bowls, as well as a full bakery selection and a seasonal menu with Israeli, Mediterranean and European influences. Tatte also serves coffee, espresso, lattes, tea, iced tea and juice.

Tatte CEO Shawn Utke shared, “Inspiring craft is our mission. We are investing in talented chefs, baristas and bakers. Our cafes are designed with real antiques and fixtures by artisans. We believe it’s craft that connects us and want to create a place you can call home, close to home.”

The brand is also backed by Ron Shaich, an Essex County native who is often credited for pioneering the $100 billion-plus fast casual dining segment. His background includes serving as founder and CEO of Au Bon Pain and Panera Bread.

Other restaurants in his Act III Holdings’ investment fund’s portfolio include Cava, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and Honest Greens.

In Ridgewood, Tatte is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.