PAGE 104
THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION
NOVEMBER 2013
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THE CONNECTIONS
L&B GOURMET
DELI & GRILL
475
Watchung Avenue
Watchung
908-757-5595
By: Ellyn Mantell
My design partner, Carol, and I
”
shop ‘til we drop!” so lunch
becomes our oasis during a very busy
day. Ready to finally sit and discuss
our findings and plan our next outing,
we look for places to relax, with good
food and good service. And so we
wandered into
L&B Gourmet Deli &
Grill
in Watchung, at the “triangle”
where there is plenty of parking and a
location that is right in the middle of
everything, yet away from traffic and
congestion. Immediately, we noticed
that, although we had been in the
space before, it was different… warm
and inviting, clean and neat, and
everything had a crisp feel to it. The
salads, meats and cheeses looked
fresh, the menu was extensive, well-
priced, and best of all, there were
bakery cases with whole cakes and
pies, as well as cookies and pastries. I
was a happy girl, ready to sample
something healthy, and then indulge
in something fun!
Carol and I were so pleased with
our lunch… I had homemade crunchy
tuna salad on a plate of delicious veg-
gies, and it was wonderful. Carol had
a salad with chicken with a yummy
dressing …both were freshly made
and seasoned just right, and since the
portions were so large, we both took
home “leftovers” for the evening.
While we were there, many people
came in, went right to the order
counter and ordered what seemed for
them, “the usual!” Before we left,
Carol and I were discussing the
“
goodies” we were taking home for
dessert. That is when we began to talk
with new owner, Marilyn Rodriguez,
who told us she brings in pastries, and
we lauded her on that decision. There
are no bakeries in our area any longer,
and that is something we dearly miss.
This decision, it appears, is only one of
many forward-thinking ones that both
Marilyn, and her partner, Wayne
Boylan are making.
Marilyn and Wayne have plans for
their new space, and they are chal-
lenging, demanding, and I am assum-
ing, will be very, very successful! They
plan on opening soon on Sundays for
brunch, which may be full-service, or
even buffet style. They are considering
late-day tea on Sundays, as well. “We
see a real niche for our ‘home’ to be a
welcoming location on lazy Sundays”
and the invitation may even extend to
dinner, with a favorite meal of theirs
each week. Additionally, through their
relationship with Andy Colson, owner
of Huston Lumber, and a strong sup-
porter of their business, another great
suggestion was made… a Friday or
Saturday Entertainment Night with
music. No doubt, Watchung is truly
ready for such a fun concept!
Marilyn and Wayne are a great cou-
ple who have a great deal in com-
mon… their love of motorcycles, the
outdoors, wonderful food and each
other. Marilyn has experience in the
industry, and both she and Wayne
grew up in the area. Marilyn worked
for the original owners of the loca-
tion, then saw her opportunity to
“
make it her own” with Wayne help-
ing her every inch of the way. Wayne
pursued her for 3 years before they
became a couple, amazed at her abil-
ity to singly raise her three wonderful
children. One other thing they have in
common, and it is very much worth
mentioning, is that they are fiercely
patriotic, with many in Wayne’s family
serving in the military, and Marilyn’s
son, Frankie leaving for the army at
the end of this month.
I found Marilyn and Wayne to be a
uniquely warm and caring couple;
they serve delicious food prepared
with tender loving care; they want
you to come in and introduce yourself
and become a friend, and I know you
will be ever so happy if you do!
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