The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1984 (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1984-06-01 / 6. szám

THE HUNGARIAN RESTAURANTS OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA

THE FRANKLIN PARK INN

P.O. Box 105, Highway #27 Franklin Park, New Jersey 08823 Tel: 201:297-1100

ine f ranklin Part Inn is a “Hungarian” landmark known far and wide.

Years before U.S. Route #1 came into existence and the New Jersey Turnpike was nothing more than a vision in the youthful mind of a future engineer, the “Lincoln Highway” (now Route #27) was the main artery for “horse-and-buggy” traffic between New Brunswick and Princeton and all points South. During the “racoon coat” days, and especially on Saturday afternoons when Princeton University played host to the football teams of Ivy League rivals, Duisenbergs, Pierce Arrows, Marmons, Moons, and other makes of flashy touring cars, jampacked with pennant-waving students, used to whiz by the little village of Franklin Park and a blacksmith shop that was its historic landmark. This blacksmith shop has gone the way of all such “smithys” and, where it used to be, is now the

The Inn’s bar is also a rustic setting for daily luncheons, quick snacks, and a friendly “watering hole” in the evenings for patrons.

JUNE, 1984

site of the Franklin Park Inn, a Hungarian-owned and operated, wining and dining establishment that has become well known among Hungarians throughout the state for its Hungarian ambience, Hungarian food, and Hungarian music....which is precisely what Paul and Delores Csatlós (nee Biczi) hoped to achieve when they took over the place in 1975.

The Inn’s dinning room, where Hungarians get together every Sunday for good cooking and a good time- Hungarian Style.

The Ideal Couple for a Hungarian Enterprise

Paul and Delores Csatlós are the ideal couple for owning and operating such an estabishment as the Franklin Inn and not only because both are good cooks and know their business. Fro the top of their heads to the tip of their toes, both are “true-blue” Hungarians and this attribute is reflected in their family-oriented, bar, grill, and restaurant. Paul hails from Szabolcs Szatmar in Vasarosnameny County, while Delores, believe it or not, whose father was born in Somlovasarhelyi (Vasmegye) and her mother in Farkafa (Vasmegye), was born in New Brusnwick, New Jersey, where she attended St. Ladislaus School and St. Peter’s High School! Nevertheless, she speaks in Hungarian to beat-the-band (with a Vasmegye accent, of course) and can cook Hungarian-style the way her mother used to do and taught her to do!

“When I was young,” Delores recalled, “I used to love to attend the Hungarian films shown at the old

Paul and Delores Csatlós are proud of their Franklin Inn.

Europa Theatre on the corner of Somerset and Scott Streets in New Brunswick’s Fifth Ward. Especially, the films starring Jávor Pal. This planted a yearning in me to someday visit the native land of my father and mother. I finally did in 1975 and Hungary, to me, is 1000 times more beautiful than I ever dreamed!”

It is no wonder that both Paul and Delores have always promoted their “roots” and Hungarian heritage in their busines endeavors!

Sunday is Always “Hungarian Day”

When Paul and Delores took over the Franklin Park Inn in 1975, they did so with considerable business experience behind them. Their first business venture was the Vienna Cafe on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick (1965-1971), followed by the Red Fox out on Route #27 (1973-1975). Both of these businesses catered to the Hungarian trade, while their present business caters to a mixed clientele (American, German, Hungarian, etc.). The knowledge acquired by both from their previous ventures helped them to design and implement ways and means to attract steady customers for lunch and dinner, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. And they have succeeded in this because of the special attention they gave, and still give, to creating a friendly atmosphere, providing good food and service at reasonable prices, and setting aside Sundays, from 5:00-10:00 P.M., for the Hungarian trade with a variety of dishes to choose from (from Pecsyene at $5.95 to Fatanyeros or Mixed Grill for Two at $24.00), and music by Joe Mezey and his 4-piece,

Page 15