By: Keith S. Shikowitz, Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter
Gus’ restaurant in located at 126 Halstead Ave, Harrison is a small quaint bistro Serving a variety of salads, seafood, Chicken, beef, pork, and fish dishes. Let me tell you, it’s worth the trip. The dishes I am going to critique here I have had in many different places, including my own home where I do most of the cooking. So, I can make a good evaluation of the quality of the food. There are plenty of more dishes than these on their menu which I haven’t tried, but I would not be off base to say they are probably very good. When you sit down, you get a with a roll and butter and a small cup of the best Cole Slaw I have ever tasted.
I have been to Gus’s three times and the first dish I tried was the chicken parm which had a mild flavor. The sauce was tangy but not overpowering. You were able to enjoy the flavors and taste the chicken. The breading was light and stayed on the chicken. It was tender and cut very easily and the cheese was gooey and flavorful. The spaghetti was al dente and not drowned in sauce. Thus there was minimal chance of splash of the sauce on your clothes.
The ground steak and mashed potatoes had a lot of flavor. The gravy was zesty and plentiful. The potatoes were smooth and had some lumps that showed they were made from real potatoes and not a powdered mix. The ground steak was moist and cooked to just the redness I like.
The last time I was there, I had the lobster roll with French fries. There was a lot of lobster chunks in the sandwich. The fries were cooked to my specifications. There was just the right amount of mayo and seasoning. There is an option to have one or two sandwiches. I chose the one sandwich option.
The service is great. The wait staff constantly checking on you to make sure everything is okay. The bartender is also checking with you on your drinks.
Fridays are prime rib nights. I haven’t been able to get there for it yet, but if it is anything like the other food I have had there, I would bet it’s fantastic.
If you’re looking for a nice quiet place for a relaxing intimate dinner with great service from a staff that will always greet you with a smile and a good sense of humor, Gus’ is the place to go.