Submitted by John on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 12:31am
Last week I found myself driving down Mine Street in New Brunswick and there was a parking spot available on the street. Figuring this was as good as a time as any, I parallel parked and headed into Hansel ‘n Griddle. Sometimes when you go back to a place you haven’t been in quite a long time, you arrive with hope and leave disappointed. After walking through the creaky screen door and fighting my way to the counter to order and hearing the onions sear on the grill I realized that absolutely nothing has changed since the my last visit, over five years ago. Hansel ‘n Griddle has the look of a crab shack, with a small counter and a few tables outside. Having opened when I was in college (pre Y2K), this little modestly priced college eatery has fed the off campus end of Rutgers University for over a decade.
Their menu is based on wraps and all of the originals are still on the menu. On my first night back I had the Italian Mob and brought home a Mouse Trap Wrap for my veggie Tiffany. Both were exactly as I remembered. The Italian Mob a wrap version of a traditional Italian sub (or hoagie or grinder, depending where you are from in Jersey) and the Mouse Trap (swiss, provolone and pepperjack cheeses with lettuce and tomatoes in a garlic herb wrap) was a cheesy and veggie delight. This past week I decided to stop by for lunch and picked up the Rajun Cajun (blackened chicken with lettuce, tomato, pepperjack cheese and buttermilk dressing in a soft pita). When I lived on Union Street I had at least one of these a day for the better part of two years. And on each visit, I was sure to seek out my free pickle – they have a pickle barrel in front of the register and they are crunchy and delicious. Besides wraps they also offer homemade soups (Italian Wedding, oh so good) and generously portioned crisps (quesadillas to you and me). During one of my junior years at Rutgers I had what I still consider the best sandwich of all time – the Thanksgiving Day Wrap. It’s exactly what it sounds like – turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce stuffed into a blanket of pita. I am counting down the days until I can have one again!
Since opening, Hansel ‘n Griddle has seen competitors come and go (remember Happy’s Health Grille?). Offering alternatives to Fat Cats and Fat Darrells (if you don’t know, then you don’t know), they created their own niche and haven’t looked back. Having seen tens of thousands of college students and New Brunswick locals pass through their door, the little take out space on Mine Street is still going strong. Not only has the Griddle stood the test of time by offering inexpensive, convenient and reliable food for a busy New Brunswick scene, they have expanded and opened up a satellite location in the more professional downtown area of the Hub City. Their new spot is in the same Church Street location that has seen the quick death of many eateries over the past few years. With any luck, their concept will translate well with the 9 to 5 professional crowd. There is a chance their timing might be perfect – many of those same college kids that found safe haven at the original location on 53 Mine now work downtown and might discover what’s old is new again. I went to the new location a couple of weeks ago and picked up an early light dinner and I must admit, my heart still resides with the old yellow shack down the street from Frat Row.
If it has been too long since your last visit, go back, loosen up your tie and leave your suit jacket in the car. Grab a wrap and remember damn good it was to have a hole in the wall to retreat to after class or a long a night on Easton Avenue. And if you have never been before, check it out for lunch or bring a light bite home to enjoy after a day of work.2 Locations
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53 Mine Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
732.846.7090
112 Church Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
732.846.9727
