Holley's Gourmet To Go East Orange, NJ
Keith Holley, owner of Holley's Gourmet To Go, is a real character, funny and down-to-earth, really easy to talk to...and has a way with fish! "Fish Guy! Why they gotta call me the Fish Guy?!" he asks and laughs. "Well, what would you prefer?" I ask. He thinks for a moment and says jokingly "How 'bout King?!"
With no culinary schooling he is just "blessed" with the skills and know-how in making every kind of fish a true tasty delight! He has been frying fish as early as age 7 - and has now mastered the technique to produce a tasty variety of fish with different sauces and flavors.
Once a respected and well-liked insurance agent, he was never really satisfied with that being his profession. Keith says his conversation with close friends and family would always turn to fish. "Fish! Fish! Fish!" is that all you can talk about his friends would ask...his reply would always be "Yeah!" Holley started entertaining friends at home who would frequently stop by on Fridays for a "visit" and for his fish. His Friday night visits from friends grew considerably large, to the point that his friends started purchasing the fish for him to fry. Holley knew he had the skills, and the desire - and his long time dream of opening his store has come to fruition...with much success!
Holley allowed me to taste a new dish he was preparing at the time. "I want you to try this!" He leaves and returns with a plate of fish with a white herbed sauce...I take my first bite and it is tender, flaky, tasty, and succulent...not fried. "What is this?" I ask, "Tilefish!" I've never had tilefish before, but this was good. Holley explains he is working on a new menu that will consist of baked and broiled fish that will be launched in the Fall of this year. Right now he is creating new recipes that will also cater to healthier eating and giving more of a balance and choice for diners.
Fried Fish is not all they do at Holley's Gourmet (whiting, catfish, porgies, shrimp, just to name a few) - you gotta try the potato salad, mac and cheese, the sweet potato fries, and the sweet yams! Holley's features a sloppy fried fish sandwich, which my husband ordered and loved! It was so big (3 decker fish sandwich) he couldn't eat all at once (and my hubby is a big guy). You can order sandwiches or meals - all fairly priced and portions are generous.
At Holley's their slogan is "One bite and you're hooked!" Well, they got me hook, line and sinker!
Head...No! Run!...over to Holley's for your fried fish and shrimp...now don't call him the Fish Guy, just say hello to the "King".
Until Next Time, Eat Well.
Holley's Gourmet To Go
392 Central Ave., East Orange, NJ
(973) 678-0415.
Hours of Operation
7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays
7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursdays
7 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.
Closed Sundays and Mondays.
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