Fitzgerald's 1928: Not Your Typical Pub

Bloomfield’s Restaurant Week will take place March 4-10, with twenty-four participating restaurants offering special prix-fixe menus so patrons from all over Essex County can sample their very best cuisine.

Previewing the event, Bloomfield Patch will be publishing profiles of participating restaurants. Paul Brewster, owner of Fitzgerald's 1928, sat down recently and spoke with Patch about his plans for Restaurant Week.

Fitzgerald's 1928: 13 Herman Street (off Bloomfield Avenue) in Glen Ridge.

About the Owner: Paul Brewster has owned Fitzgerald's 1928 since 2008, along with co-owner Dave Fitzgerald. Before that it was Joseph's Restaurant and before that, from 1928-1974, it was an A&P supermarket.

"This is the first restaurant I've ever owned but I've been in the corporate dining business since I was 14 years old," says Brewster. "I retired from my old life and started this business. I love it. It's not retirement, it's something I love to do and am passionate about."

What will be on the menu for Restaurant Week: "It will be a prix fixe 4-course meal off our regular menu for $29. We'll also serve a 3-course lunch for $12."

Selections will include Surf and Turf (petite filet mignon and lobster tail), Prime Rib, Shepherd's Pie (with a pint of Long Trail Ale) and Roasted Posk Breast (with plum and shallot chutney and toasted garlic almosnd basmati rice.) Because these are Fitzgerald's Daily Menu specials, patrons may want to call ahead for the day's menu selections.

Four-course meals include an appetizer and/or soup/salad and dessert and coffee. A 3-course lunch will be served every day but Monday, and bruch will be served on Sunday. All regular menu items will be available during Restaurant Week, in addition to the prix fixe specials.

House specialties: "Our skirt steak, pork chop, and pasta dishes, from rigatoni with olive oil and broccoli rabe to lobster ravioli." 

Best thing about Fitzgerald's: “Our soups are really good. We do a shrimp bisque and cream of mushroom that's off the charts.”

What you may not know about Fitzgerald's: "We have a party room called the "Sidecar" because it's attached to the side of the building," says Brewster. "We don't charge for the room but custom design food and beverage packages for events."

Something else to know: "There's plenty of municipal parking across the street. It's a permit lot but parking is free after 5:00 at night nad during the weekends."

Why go to Fitzgerald's? “Come over if you haven't been here before! We're not a typical pub. We have reasonable prices, a nice environment and we're family friendly."

Fitzgerald's 1928‎

13 Herman Street, Glen Ridge.

973-748-4702