Unbiased Reviews by Real People
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Unbiased Reviews by Real People
Jersey Boys...Bloomfield NJ...Gerard's Deli...Rich With History...Great Food!May 2, 2012 (Updated May 29, 2012) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line When attending Broadway's..."Jersey Boys"...visit Gerard's Deli & Grille in nearby Bloomfield, New Jersey for great low cost food and some great pics of Frankie & Co. before they were discovered. The rustic tan brick building has been around for about a hundred years! Formerly known as Hilltop Deli...it stands atop a mound majestically at the corner of Hoover & Bay Ave in Bloomfield, New Jersey intersecting North Spring St. With a mighty wonderful mystical aura about the institution...it offers us common folk a nice family friendly Italian flavored delicatessen and sub shop where one can eat a great meal with beverage for under five bucks! Gerard's Deli & Grill [ph. 973-748-8888] lays claim to the motto "Family And Friends". Nobody is ever frowned upon because they are different and everyone is served with a smile and usually a bad joke to boot! The friendly mustached Gerry is owner and the wonderfully pleasant Little Joe do everything in their power to start your day right...even if you are just making a quick stop for a newspaper. They even sport an oldies show..."The Gerry & Joe Radio Show" that yours truly proudly hosts almost daily. OK...the AFRNDJ is still alive inside of me. I do appreciate them allowing me to intrude on their space daily with some rare solid gold, bad jokes and heartfelt dedications. It fulfills a dream of mine. The town itself is rich with history dating back to Revolutionary War days with the famous Morris Canal nearby. There are pictures inside Gerry's store of the 4 Seasons before the Rock quartet was even discovered by Vee Jay records as young lads mixed in with locals. You never know when Frankie Valli or one of the Seasons...Bob Gaudio, Tommy Devito or Gerry Polci might stop by. But enough of that. What about the food and service? The place looks fantastic since Gerard took over! A couple of nicely clothed tables and a window bar with our oldies shows blasting adds to the already phenomenal atmosphere. The coffee is super! They make your brew just as you would like...tweaked to perfection. They are concerned about you...unlike other places that begrudgingly ask you how you want it. I used to think that Dunkin' Donuts had the best Joe. Move over DD! Our Joe knows how to make Joe! Bread is made fresh daily by a local baker and is actually sliced [quite thickly I might add] on the deli's slicing machine. Be it rye, pumpernickel, whole wheat or white...it is outrageously good. If you are like me and need to start your day with a great breakfast...Gerard's is your place. Joe is the head chef and each mouth watering plate is brought to your table in Leonardo Da Vinci style. I've never seen any other chef take so much pride in presentation. The three farm fresh eggs are centered and surrounded by real home fries and whatever meat you so choose. The Italian sweet sausage is my personal favorite. Four thick slices of toast top it all off. You want pancakes? Nobody makes them as thick 'n rich as Joe. Real maple syrup adds just the right flavor. The bagels are fresh as is the wonderful assortment of tasty pastries. Of course the local children feel compelled to stop in on their way to school for a plethora of snacks and smiles. I was taken aback when one kid spent over ten bucks for stuff but he reassured everyone that the delights were indeed not all for himself. That must have been some recess that day! Then of course there is lunch which can be served up with a variety of food both hot and cold for again...under five bucks! And who slices a pound of outstanding real American Cheese for $3.99 these days? Gerard's does! The meatballs, egg plant Parmesian, cheese steaks, hot dogs, Taylor ham & egg, various salads, homemade soup...right on the premises all add to the tantalizing aura. Then there is Gerard's own creation..."The Fugetabawbit {Forget About It}"...a $6.95 Gerry specialty sub featuring just about every kind of meat and cheese that is out of this world! It all takes place in a relatively small space that forms a "V" atop the hill. Still....there is a mystical dark side to the dwelling that is most intriguing. Things happen that cannot always be explained but many feel that at least some of it is due to nearby St. Valentine Roman Catholic Church that stands across the street. The building as stated earlier has a rich history and was a butcher shop going way back when during the Great Depression things were rough....not altogether unlike now. People were fed sometimes even when there was no money. This policy remained in effect when the deli became "Hilltop Deli" some fifty plus years ago. The old deceased owner is said to be nearby at all times. Folklore has it that this coupled to the fact that the patron saint of love is watching over the building and the nearby inhabitants...that many unexplained blessings occur to those who reside there or walk through its doors. Even in these rough economic times...nobody goes hungry. Gerry & Co. wouldn't have it! E.G. A little boy recently during summer escaped the day care at Val's and miraculously was spared disaster from an onslaught of uncontrolled traffic as he wandered straight amidst dead center of the busy intersection. Even joe and Gerry are aware of strange happenings inside the store when no customers are present. Papers and mags enexpectedly flung off shelves...people not seen in years just happening to walk in while others speak of them....voices answering when no one else is present are somewhat commonplace and surely tv shows dealing with this stuff would have a field day. Whatever the forces that be...they are certainly good...and kindly. You constantly hear people murmur "Angels are watching over this place." No matter what your take on the phenomenom..."Gerard's Deli & Grille" is a great place to hang....at relatively low cost to you...PRICELESS!...PJSII  |
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