Fitzgerald's 1928, a Tradition Since ... Last Week

I went there on Wednesday night and was blown away at how great the food was.

Keep in mind I was coming off a day-and-a-half fast, but what a fast breaker!

The buffalo wings were the best I've had since moving to New Jersey and the same goes for the pulled pork sandwich. The bread they brought out was amazing, as was the pizza we ordered.

We didn't order the Carmelized Onion, Bacon, Shitake Mushrooms and Boursin Cheese Pizza, but they came around with sample slices for everyone and I'll definitely be ordering that next time. It was stunning.

And here I didn't think I'd ever be able to afford anything worth wanting in Glen Ridge. P'shaw~

Ugh!!!

Get that steak off those fries.

Steak juicy. Fries crispy. No one likes fries soggy with steak juice.

(ad coming soon I bet.....)

Thanks for the tip! It sounds like this will be worth a try.
Just one thing-do all new restaurants a favor and don't include Cuban Pete's in THEIR review. "the best restaurant experiences are theater today (look at the success of Cuban Pete's)"? Are you kidding? Cuban Pete's does NOT qualify as a 'best restaurant experience' anywhere-and most certainly not around here. Terrible service and mediocre food, all from a jerk who likes to prance around the law.

It has come to this: establishments charge more for an individual pint than I used to pay for sixpacks. Since Fitzgerald's is actually somewhat below this line of extreme gentrification, I'll have to visit soon. (Anyplace, of course, in lieu of the pretentious, loud, pricey Egan's.)

Pizza, however, does not come with caramelized onions, Boursin (from the wrong damn bloody country!) or shiitakes. (And the "bacon" should thus really be pancetta.) That description is of a gussied-up American baked flatbread concoction which they'd never recognize either in Brooklyn or Naples.

I like steak blood on my fries.

We ate there last Thursday night and had a great experience. My husband had the linguini, mussels & shrimp; I had the rigatoni & broccoli; and my daughter had the chicken/kids' menu. The restaurant feels warm and friendly, with the wheat walls, exposed brick, beautiful tin ceiling, and mahogany bar. Kudos to Paul, Curt and Dave!!

"I like steak blood on my fries." That's cow's blood.

"Pizza, however, does not come with caramelized onions, Boursin (from the wrong damn bloody country!) or shiitakes. (And the "bacon" should thus really be pancetta.)" Does Fitzgerald's advertise 'Italian' food? (No).

Cuban Pete's has "Terrible service and mediocre food, all from a jerk who likes to prance..." This one's right on!

Can we get more interior photos and less close-ups of the food in the future?

User name though you apparently wish to show off via your post above, you are nonetheless off base. If something is called "pizza," no, it does not have shiitakes, Boursin, etc. Perhaps my little post taxed your reading comprehension and understanding of Italian cooking, but again, if it's called "pizza" there is an implied limitation to certain ingredients. Thank God, then, that Fitzgerald's 1928 doesn't advertise that it serves "Italian" food, lest it only compound the outrage.

I for one am totally outraged over the misuse of the term 'pizza'. What's next, people calling non-French sparkling wine 'champagne'?

Pardon my intrusion in the pizza debate with a basic fact: the menu offers "Stone Pie." There is no mention of pizza, though 3 out of 4 pies have toppings you might associate with any neighborhood pizza joint. The 4th is the one with Shitake mushrooms, Boursin, etc. Please feel free now to resume your indignation.

I hope everyone read my last post as completely sarcastic - in my head it sounds that way but may not translate to the typed word.

I really wish this site didn't turn every single trivial thing into a debate.

Becky...how bout them giants...and can Omar sign an a pitcher under 30?

"...if it's called "pizza" there is an implied limitation to certain ingredients."

i infer that you're quaintly traditional.

but how long have you (and pizza) been in america?

anything goes, for toppings on baked dough, for quite some time.

the above mentioned pizza sounds good to me!

Well of course you had better steak frites at Epernay. I would hope you would have.

And....are the wings REALLY better than Star Tavern? This, I gotta check out.

I went there again last night and got the flat bread with cheese and bacon and other things on it that isn't pizza.

I'm going to change my review from the first post. $9 for a sour tasting salad...that's all I'm going to say about it.

Star's wings are THE BEST. :)

Generic: go to Star, have their wings and let's see if you still think Fitzgerald's are the best in Jersey.

"wish to show off "

Oh look - the pot called the kettle black.

If I'm "quaintly traditional," user name, I am in the good company of Alice Waters and so many others.

I personally have been in America since the moment of conception. (How long have you claimed falsely to be intelligent about these things, for that matter?)Pizza, however, from everything I've read, predates me by almost 100 years. By golly, too, back when it was introduced by immigrants it didn't have Boursin cheese on it. Thank goodness, too, America has always been much more selective about letting in far fewer people from the land of Boursin than from that of pizza.

Hrhppg, you too are posting well beyond your usual degree of smug foolishness above. But then, you're surely someone for whom a place like either Fitzgerald's or Egan's was designed. More room for us quaintly traditional Americans, then, at Obal's Inn, where there's never a wait for the shuffleboard table!

I make pizza with gorgonzola, feta, goat cheese, pretty much any cheese I like. The caramelized onion/boursin thing was yummy -- no matter what they call it. Try making it at home and see what you think...

We ate at Fitzgerald's last night and it was ... good. Not great, not exciting, but a good reliable neighborhood stand-by. Husband had the pulled pork sandwich (delicious) and I had the burger (okay). The cookie plate was tasty, but a weird assortment (soft biscotti, chewy pignotti and a fig ruggelah thing). Service was eager to please but couldn't answer any of our questions (what kind of cheese for the burger? what teas do you have? what cookies are on the cookie plate?). We trust those issues will be worked out as the staff gets more comfortable with the menu and the space.

We're new to the area, but it's nice to have something in GR that's easy to get to and a neighborhood joint for those weeknights when you just don't feel like cooking ... we tried to get in on Saturday night and the wait was an hour. Last night we walked right in.

I thought that cathar preferred blood on the floor and not sawdust

I prefer Nauna's since they have real pizza.

Pizza's great, but give me a decent bar any day. There are so few in the area.

Iceman,

GIANTS GIANTS GIANTS!! Every week, the boyfriend and I think they're going to be eliminated, so all of this is just a bonus, and a lot of fun to watch. Although, I thought I was going to throw up in the last 2 minutes of the Cowboys game.

The facade looks cozy. It's pretty convenient for the GR Police if they are interested in bagging some easy DUIs.

I'd rather go to Miele's or Star Tavern.

MellonBrush: How is Miele's anyway? Never been in that place.

Miele's is a good alternative to other crowded, overpriced options in our areas. Generous portions, good prices, friendly service, and nice homemade pastas. They always have specials as well.

Becky, I thought I was the only one who thought that during the last two mins of the game. Holy cow, my hands were shaking, and I can't remember being more excited when that last Romo pass was intercepted! My students have been razzing me with Packers jerseys, etc. One kid has alternated a Favre jersey with a # 56 Jersey all week just to torture me. But I'm gonna get the last laugh!

Pretty nice place, Glen Ridge needs it. Food was decent. Remember that it is quite difficult to compete with Egan's due to their superior bar/restaurant know how.

Went to Fitzgerald's at 9:30 Friday night and will not go back. I have never been in a louder restaurant...the tin ceiling, hardwood floors, and bare walls all bounce the sound. The yahoos at the bar (which is cheek-to-jowl with the dining tables, not like Egan's where there are separate areas) just shouted louder and louder to be heard. Then the restaurant cranked up the music!

I would go to the orolaryngologist to have my hearing checked if I knew how to spell it.

BTW, the place still seemed a bit overwhelmed with its popularity...two-hour waits for a table earler that evening, we were told, and the server told us that they had been "drunk dry" and had only one or two wines left.

wow am I sick of hearing about egan's. Their food isn't that good and serving a couple of decent wings doesn't make up for the rest. Everything I have tried at Fitzgeralds has been delicious and generous, not to mention their charming servers and hospitable owners. I'm already a seasoned regular!

Fitzgerald's is a new place that needs breaking in. Just like any new place. Their efforts are genuine, the offerings pleasing, well executed and not over-ambitious. I thoroughly enjoyed the bar menu and great wines-by-the-glass selection. It's a boon to G.R. and to the surrounding area. Let's welcome them, patronize them and wish them well.

I concur about the extreme noise level. My partner and I walked out after standing 20 seconds in that din. Awful. And the tables were right on top of each other. The waitstaff looked stressed trying to manueuver around the tight spaces as well as the blood-pressure-raising cacophany. The funniest thing was seeing a woman with a tiny baby in a stroller trying to get in. Crikey, it was past 7pm! Sadist.

I am glad Spot the Looney found humor in a family trying to have dinner at a new local FAMILY resturant. I am the lady with a the tiny baby,who happens to be 8 months old, but is just small. My older son takes Karate across the street and we thought it would be nice to have dinner together and then pick him up. Did you think we were going to party it up with the infant?! Come on--sadist?! That is too much. You must not have children. 7 pm is hardly a late night. Did you happen to see the other children in the dining area as well or was your 20 seconds already up? As far as the crowds go we didn't expect it and now know in the future we have to have a reservation, but I am happy for the new owners to see how successful they already are. Come back and comment when you really spend some there and enjoy it with people of all ages.

I was there for drinks and appetizers last Friday evening. It was great. The food was good, the bartenders were very friendly, and the decor is beautiful. I love the historical photos. I will definitely be back, but maybe on an 'off' night -- but that's how I am about every place.

We went and I really wanted to like it since it's within walking distance, but we were thoroughly underwhelmed.

The food was just ok, was very overpriced ($9 for a small, mediocre Ceasar salad is insane), and the place has a heinous noise level.

Wish it could be a regular destination for us, but we won't be back.

36 posts on this page in three weeks of being open. Take it as a sign that you are going to do very well. People are talking then people are coming to your restaurant. Enjoy and Great Success.

Madam, did you bring earplugs for your child?

We went there Sunday night with 6 adults and 1- 3 y/o boy as recent posts called for kid friendly. Good crowd even for a Sunday so congrats to the owners for keeping the crowds coming in. I think we were the victim of a new start up. The service was slow and the server was not knowledgeable about the menu or specials at all. We were there for 2.5 hrs which when you have a 3 y/o you want to get in and get out. I ordered the fillet and got the strip which was overcooked. My mom ordered the shrimp and scallops from the menu and then got the shrimp and scallops from the specials menu which had nuts---she can't eat nuts. She then waited 15 minutes for the correct dish. 3 people in our group had the meatloaf which was great. These are all things that they will iron out as time goes by. I remember Egans being like this when they first opened. On a positive note they have a lot of good beers on tap and a nice selection of wines. My wife commented...this is the Ted and Joes (our former Hoboken neighborhood bar)that we have been longing for right down to the tin ceiling, the oak bar, the historic pictures and the noise...yes the noise!
I would go back as I think this will end up being a nice neighborhood like place to catch up with friends after work or sneaking out after yard work to have a burger and a beer.

We went there Sunday night with 6 adults and 1- 3 y/o boy as recent posts called for kid friendly. Good crowd even for a Sunday so congrats to the owners for keeping the crowds coming in. I think we were the victim of a new start up. The service was slow and the server was not knowledgeable about the menu or specials at all. We were there for 2.5 hrs which when you have a 3 y/o you want to get in and get out. I ordered the fillet and got the strip which was overcooked. My mom ordered the shrimp and scallops from the menu and then got the shrimp and scallops from the specials menu which had nuts---she can't eat nuts. She then waited 15 minutes for the correct dish. 3 people in our group had the meatloaf which was great. These are all things that they will iron out as time goes by. I remember Egans being like this when they first opened. On a positive note they have a lot of good beers on tap and a nice selection of wines. My wife commented...this is the Ted and Joes (our former Hoboken neighborhood bar)that we have been longing for right down to the tin ceiling, the oak bar, the historic pictures and the noise...yes the noise!
I would go back as I think this will end up being a nice neighborhood like place to catch up with friends after work or sneaking out after yard work to have a burger and a beer.

I have to agree with Kate. We were underwhelmed despite all the good reviews on baristanet. Service was painfully slow, pizza oven was broke, and food was mediocore. On a positive note, the atmosphere is quite nice and one of the owners brought us a round of drinks for our troubles. Unfortunately, we don't plan on making a return visit soon.

So I had to get out of the house today for an hour around lunchtime while the cleaners did their magic. Aha! Fitzgerald’s the new saloon in Glen Ridge. Ideal spot for a burger and a brew – let’s check it out. It is on a one-way street off Belleville Avenue, and of course I was at the wrong end. So I circled around the school to Bloomfield Avenue and took the right on Herman. Nary a place to park: the only open spaces were in the GR Police Department lot, and that didn’t seem to be a good idea. The lot across from the place was for Permit Parking only, and the lot next to the place was marked Private for the other stores there. Both sides of the streets were lined with cars all the way down the block, but I was there so what the hell – parked almost at Belleville (in a muddy stream – those people pay big taxes for no curbs?). Sloshed back to the place only to find that it is not open for lunch. What the F! The owner was there and I asked him about parking – he said that there were plenty of spaces at night, but none in the day, so they are only open for dinner. Bummah! I sloshed back to my car, turned the seat heater to Max, and went over to the Irish Saloon on Valley in Montclair (Finnerty’s?) and had a great burger and a draft of Pilsner Urquell. Happy (if still damp) camper, got home just in time for the cleaners to be packing up and leaving. Their web site does give the hours, and I would have been a lot drier if I had checked -- but don't call yourself a Tavern if you are only open for lunch.

Correction:

"...but don't call yourself a Tavern if you are only open for dinner."

Conan-Finnerty's, or Tierney's?

Fourth time eating at Fitzgerald's tonight. For the third time, I had the soup-of-the-day (butternut squash soup; white bean and escarole soup; vegetable ministrone) and for the third time, delicious. That, with the bread (which I learned is baked on premises), and the generous mixed green salad with walnuts, dried cranberries and goat cheese (really good), is a full dinner for me. My husband had the pork chops with pesto mashed potatoes tonight, the scallops last time, and one of the special fish dishes the time before, and each time, he was very pleased. Plus, the chef makes the best apple pie we've ever tasted. Go Fitzgerald's!

Since when do you have to serve lunch to qualify as a tavern?

yeah I have never heard of the lunch prerequisite either. Conan, you're post was more than a bit long winded considering the most important line, "Their web site does give the hours, and I would have been a lot drier if I had checked." Your groveling about the parking is less than applicable. At night you can park in the lot next door, the lot across the street or on either side of Herman, I've never had a problem.
P.S. Whoever called it a tavern in the first place?

Ahem, they call themselves Fitzgerald's Tavern.

Look at their own website: http://fitzgeralds1928.com/info.php

I believe that Conan touches on the connotation of a tavern serving a typical lunchtime crowd in Merry Olde England. We 'mericans might not catch that stuff.

Ate at Fitzgeralds for the first time last night. We both had cheeseburgers, which were cooked to medium instead of the m/r we ordered. My main complaint, though, is wit the size of the burger itself. It looked fantastic until I took the top off of the sizable bun -- the burger resembled nothing so much as a hockey puck between two frisbees. A word of advice from one who spent his formative years working in the "industry" -- if you're going to serve an average or below average sized burger, don't put it inside a huge, even if quite good, bun. All things being equal, Egan's does a better hamburger, and that's a pretty low bar to meet.

My apologies for the tavern comment.
The menu says the burger is a 1/2lb, that sounds like overkill to me, and 8 bucks? A deal. If yours was clearly less, I would say you were in a situation where you should have spoken up and probably would have been taken care of.

Was there last night for an early dinner. Enjoyed everything about the experience. Friendly and accomodating host and server (since we had a baby in tow). Better burger than Egan's (unless you actually prefer a burger soaking in grease). Wife had a nice piece of fish. Shared a tasty dessert. Will definitely go back.

What a wonderful selection of bar appetizer's! Much healthier than the greasey ones served at Egan's, I agree!