The story of this week's post? Traveling back in time, staying close to home. I last visited Cousins' Pizzeria & Restaurant (543 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, New Jersey, 973-680-8200, www.cousinspizzeriarestaurant.com) about 30 years ago. Emphasis on "about" because I really don't remember. It was around the time my wife and I were newlyweds, so that would put the date around the late 1980s or early 1990s. Anyway, during a recent drive to Bloomfield's center of town, and feeling hunger pangs approaching, I decided to see if Cousins' was still in business. It was, and I was enthused, because daughter Stefanie was with me and I wasn't sure if she'd ever visited. A co-worker way back when had. When I went to work after a visit or two to the eatery and recommended it, he had returned to work after a day off and told me, "Hey, guess where we went yesterday? Cousins!" He then told me he loved it. Word of mouth advertising, the best kind. The afternoon Stefanie and I visited, we each ordered a personal pie ($5.95). Prepared by chef and owner Gino, who when I told him I'd last visited about 30 years ago, he laughed and said, "Wow! Well, I'm still here," the pizzas were excellent. We had enough to bring home to Lucile, who was elated that, after such a long frame of time, we had returned to Cousins'. And, yes, the pizza met with her approval as well. Cousins', which offers quite a menu for eat-in, take-out and catering, has just a few booths for diners, but while you enjoy your food you can enjoy a bit of their history and well as that of local sports teams. The biggest compliment I can pay to Gino and Cousins' Pizzeria & Restaurant, in addition to quality food, is the fact they are a neighborhood spot where many of the customers who enter are addressed by first name. That means, yes, returning satisfied customers, but also genuine friendliness.
And that, my friends, defines "hospitality." Steve
2 Comments
Charlie
9/6/2018 01:30:32 pm
I remember it used to be a small diner (Caboose diner??) with the best French toast before Cousins took over. (Cousins also has delicious subs.
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Steve
9/6/2018 01:52:14 pm
Hi Charlie --
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