FREE NEWSLETTER
Go to main Forum page »
A few days ago Connie and I went to a unique NJ restaurant for a light dinner.
We each had a root beer, we shared a pastrami and turkey sandwich and one bowl of matzah ball soup. The bill was $108 before tip. Now you know why Harold’s NY Deli is unique.
Have you concluded it is a upscale, white table cloth place or just a rip off? Now, the rest of the story.
The sandwich is so large they give you six extra slices of bread to break it down. We made two stacked-high sandwiches out of half of it. The soup comes in a large bowl with a matzah ball 7” in diameter, two individual bowls and a huge ladle.
Nothing they sell is actually for one person or two for that matter. A pickle bar comes with each meal.
On the breakfast menu one pancake is $24.95, but it’s the size of a Mini-Cooper tire.
If you want desert be warned, the cakes are fourteen inches high. A slice of carrot cake is $28.95 – designed for 2-4 people they say.
I wonder the reaction of a new customer not knowing what they are getting into. The menu has meals for $100 and more – for several people or a few nights at home, but you need to read the fine print to learn that. The Hungarian Goulash dinner is $112.95
When people leave with their leftovers, it looks like they are carrying a weeks groceries. We have 3/4 of a matzah ball, a half gallon of soup and fixings for two large sandwiches in the fridge. They even give you a cup to take home what’s left of your drink if you like. Take some pickles and slaw too.
It’s a marketing gimmick, but it works and it’s fun-as long as you can use the leftovers – and don’t pass out at the first glance of the menu.
Is there value? Probably not. I suspect some of those leftovers are thrown out. One thing for sure, this place is not for dieters or healthy eating choices.
On the other hand, two meals for two people comes to $27 each – but it’s still just soup and a sandwich.
It’s a good thing I’m 3000 miles from New Jersey. Otherwise I’d be ready to take on that corned beef sandwich.
I’m most impressed with their ability to make a matzoh ball that big come out right. Mine fall apart. My mom’s you could have played tennis with.
mmmm delicious!
That sounds like the type of meal my wife and I try to go out for once a week. All those leftovers are a big plus.
What’s in a “pickle bar”? Sounds promising.
Would you believe pickles? 😀
Seriously, It’s like a salad bar but with assorted types of pickles, pickled tomatoes, sauerkraut, and peppers.
Not for me. I find portions at regular American restaurants oversized, and I don’t want to keep eating the same food. Didn’t we just have a discussion about splitting portions and doggy bags?
Yup, this isn’t splitting a meal, these meals are only served for two or more, mostly more. I’m pretty sure there are few people who could it a meal alone.
They are a bit better than one slice of ham on white bread with butter though.
Yes, indeed:
https://humbledollar.com/forum/a-matter-of-significant-financial-concern-want-fries-with-that/
I hear it’s a fun atmosphere but not my cup ‘o tea getting portion sizes that require 2-3 people to agree to the same thing. What did you think of the quality? (A 7″ matzah ball could either be great or sad)
You can barely find a serious pastrami these days, often not made with navel, and not nearly fatty enough for the real experience.
Everything we had was very good. Matzah ball was right consistency, not too firm or soft.
Just added a visit to Harold’s to the bucket list.
Ha! Splitting dinners? What a cheapskate!
Seriously, sounds like fun Dick. Thinking I could carry out the leftovers Chrissy’s fake $4000 shopping bag.
Lol! Chris
Not convinced. Sounds like they baffle you with overpricing on the basis of gimmicky portion sizes. To me soup and a sandwich is $15 per head tops.
What? You’re not impressed by a 14” cake or a sandwich that required eight slices of bread? Hey, their stuffed cabbage is the size of a football. 🏈
Not really impressed. Just American excess and likely foodwaste.
In what way is a 14″ cake in anyway practical to eat?
I get it as a gimmick to maybe eat there once but if you’re carrying out the majority of the food and having to reconstruct it yourself why not simply buy the same quantities from a supermarket etc.
Dick, I think you should organize a lunch meetup at Harold’s for the North/Central NJ HD community.
i remember when Jonathan had a meet up for HD folks several years ago in Philadelphia, and was sad I lived too far away to come. If this lunch meetup becomes a thing, Spouse and I would try to come. Chris
A good friend of ours has been telling me about Harold’s since we moved to Monmouth County, but we haven’t ventured there yet. My wife is not a fan of the oversized portions at some of the famous NNYC delis, so I’m not sure how she would react to Harold’s. Am I correct that they don’t allow you to share a sandwich?
Rick, I’m in for the meet up! It’s not too far from us in Monmouth county. Let’s try to arrange with Dick and others from NJ/ NY area.
No, they encourage you to share a sandwich and give extra bread to do so. We made two out of half, brought the other half home and made two more.
ROFL 🤣 We live in NJ and have been going to Harold’s Deli for years. Yes, the shock value of eating there is great, especially when you take first timers. You should add that the quality and taste of the food is very good. True, not gourmet and I’ve had better pastrami at other delis but still high quality. Sadly, the original owner Harold Jaffe, died in March at the age of 82.