Harold's New York Deli in East Brunswick, NJ

[ambrose]

How did I miss this? Perhaps it was mentioned on the board before but if so I sure failed to notice it.

Harold's - the one in Edison - apparently has a second location in East Brunswick. It's at 195 Route 18 South. I'm a little fuzzy about the geography of this part of NJ but I'm guessing from the address that it must be close to the NJ Turnpike entrance.

Can anyone confirm the location and comment on how this restaurant compares to the one in Edison? Thanks.

[eatinman]

Harold's - UGH!

had yet another bad experience at Harold's. Several months ago my better half picked up a take out order of soup and turkey sandwich. the soup was fair, the turkey was extremely dry and uneatable. phoned Harold's just to give them a heads up - not wanting anything and received an extremely rude reply...

next..
ate breakfast their, mine was okay - wife's was cold, sent it back only to have her receive the same omelet - just nuked! another ugh..

last night..
coming back from the airport picked up soup and kinish, ordered large with extra matoz ball and asked that it be packed separate from the soup - so we'd have enough soup for the three of us. when we got home we saw that they didn't give us the xtra large container nor the 2nd matoz ball - called only to hear so stupid story that I stopped the lady mid sentence and she turned the phone over to Harold himself - who told me to eat it and come in another time to get a $3. credit - then hung up on me...

unbelievable in this day and age that they would treat their customers in this manner. no wonder there was only one group of 3 eating in the restaurant at 6:45!!

harold, please go away and get a better operator in their that can serve food at the proper temp and give his customers the service they should be getting.

[NoraG]

We tried to go to the Harold's on Route 18 tonight, but there was a sign that they are closed. We went on to the Edison location because I needed my blintzes fix. I asked one of the workers there about the other location and she said it closed because it just didn't get enough business.
We've always been treated well at both locations.

[cranrob]

Oh no! The East Brunswick location is no longer on their website either. We were just there 2 weeks ago, and it was pretty busy. Oh well, now I'll just have to schlep another 10 miles or so for my Pastrami fix. Sorry to see it go.

[ellen4441]

What's the latest update on Harold's , East Brunswick?
I do miss seeing Harold at the Edison location, but the cashier said he's spending more of his time at the East Brunswick one now...

Is the new one just as good? Same good pickle /rye bread bar?
Notice any differences in food , etc between the locations?

[njchowgal]

ellen4441- i went to the eb location a few months ago an did not notice any differences in the food. i may have missed something, since i only go to the edison location around once a year or so. same pickle/rye bread bar, a little lacking in ambiance. hope that helps

[ellen4441]

thanks njchowgal....
I love your screen name!!
Anyhow, the ambiance at the Edison location is slipping, anyway, IMO, since Harold is not there as much! (too busy with the new East Brunswick one)
Half the fun for me was seeing Harold manning his podium and greeting everyone like family who came in....

[albinoni]

We had family in town over the weekend and we all went to Harold's Edison location on Saturday night. Pastrami was wonderful. Also got a side of kasha varnishkes for the table, and it was very well prepared. I don't understand how anyone can complain about the portions being too big. We took the leftover pastrami home, we got two more sandwiches on Monday, and I still had enough to make delicious fritattas for lunch yesterday and today. More importantly, the looks on the faces of my young cousins from the Boston suburbs when they saw the size of the sandwiches they ordered was priceless. Simply put, there is no place else like Harold's, and I am lucky to have it so close to where I live.

[keyportkidd]

I have been to the Edison location many times. The food portions are huge. They have 2 sizes of sandwich, the smaller size will feed two without a problem. Omelets are made with 8 eggs, if you order pancakes you will get one pancake served on a plate the size of a garbage can lid. Overall the food is good. The pastrami is excellent. General rule is to be hungry and prepare to share. One thing we will do with a group is order two large different sandwichs and then build your own. Rye bread is unlimited at the pickle bar which makes it easy.

[joonjoon]

I've only been to harold's a couple times, back when i was in college. Aside from the absurd qualtity of meat you get, the whole thing just seemed kind of silly to me. You get like, 4 slices of bread and a foot of meat for your 'sandwich' and that's basically it! Am I missing something?

[bgut1]

joon - I assume you meant "quantity" and not "quality" of the food. As far as whether you are "missing something", it depends if you are a deli fan. To me, Harold's isn't all about the portion size (although that is one of its draws), its about the quality of the food. Mind you, while its not Katz's or even Carnegie, its more than serviceable for NJ.

[joonjoon]

I meant quantity. As I mentioned, I was in college when I went, and I wouldn't have known good deli meat from cardboard so I can see the appeal if they do have superior deli meats. All I remember is just being blown away by the stack of meat - when you're hungry and in college there's really nothing better! I keep meaning to go back but have been finding myself almost turned off by the quantity. I guess it's time to give it another try.

[bgut1]

joon - Others have mentioned being turned off by the amount of food and to be honest I don't understand why. If its too much food, try to go in groups and share or take some home (which for me is the best part as I can continue enjoying the meal all week). Try to think of Harold's as the Costco of restaurants. :)

[eatinman]

bqut1 ~ 1st, I have been at the Edison location & it's okay in MHO, not great. as far as it being the Costco of restaurants - it is in portions - but doesn't live up the quality of Costco products. frankly i'd rather not eat pastrami there and wait till i get the opportunity to eat at Carnegie deli in NY.

[bgut1]

eat - Don't get me wrong, I think the pastrami at Carnegie exceeds that being served at Harold's. Considering however the frequency I make it into the city, it offers a more than acceptable alternative.

[ruralAl]

There is also Lox, Stock & Deli on Ryder Lane in East Brunswick, NJ
The portions are not huge like Harold's, but they are filling and the food is good.

http://www.loxstockanddeli.net/

[eatinman]

well as much as I wanted to like it ... all I can say is
stay away, possibly the worst pastrami i've ever had. fyi, I think Carnegie Deli is the best!
and their attitude was bad.

[bgut1]

eatinman - For comparison purposes, have you ever tried the Edison location?

[RPMcMurphy]

I saw this too!!! I usually stay away from that traffic area and sometimes wish bad things would happen to that entire rt1&rt18 area.....but I saw this and kinda went "aw....I hope it's not as bad as every other place that was in that spot"

You are correct, it is on 18, right past rt1 after the turnpike entrance.

The only thing is has going for it is the location is right across from and connected to some high traffic hotels. The hotel it is attached to...isn't the Ritz...or even a Marriot for that sake....I hope that isn't an indicator. It USED to be a Ramada and there used to be a steakhouse there that I never heard ANYONE going to, other than a suffering hotel guest who was possibly immobile.

Quite possibly may try it this weekend if I'm driving by.

[mountebank]

Wow, this is great news! I hate the drive to Harold's in Edison. I always seem to get lost. This new location is probably the same distance for me but a much easier drive.

Thanks.

[bgut1]

While I'm happy for another Harold's (especially one run by Mr. Jaffe himself), I'm a bit surprised by the location. The Edison branch is just a 10 minute drive north on the Turnpike. Why not open one in Monmouth County (Rt 9 or Rt 35)? :)

[currymouth]

Doe's the Edison branch still exist?. or is the EB branch going to be the only one?

[JerzeyShore]

Good point - does anyone know the exact location on Rt 18? Is it in the Day's Inn or perhaps the office building at Eggers and Rt18. There is not much over that way that would be suitable for a Harolds.

[athenanike111]

Yes, the Harold's Deli is in the Day's Inn (formerly a Ramada Inn) shortly after the exit for NJ Turnpike on Route 18 South. It's now the hotel restaurant.

If someone has gone, please do share a report. I am scared to ruin my image of Harold's from the Edison branch (only one I know, as I have avoided making the trek to check out the other Harold's in Parsippany) : p

[ruralAl]

I have been to the location in Parsippany years ago, it was always busy. The food was good. Many people from the hotel ordered out to their rooms. I have also been to the location in Paramus, it is not a restaurant only takeout

[big1515]

the only problem with Harold's is the size of the portions ..The produce is excellent ,but you can not eat alone unless you want to bring tons home .I agree Harold's could be a great Monmouth county venue ,if they wish to expand

[yCf]

I think the hotel has now become a Day's Inn. It's used to be a restaurant called Starlite or something like that.

[athenanike111]

The exact location, for anyone who has a GPS is:

Harold's New York Deli
195 Route 18 South, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
TEL: [phone] FAX:[phone]

The new location is also noted on their website:
http://www.haroldsfamousdeli.com/