Pudge’s in Conshohocken – By Jack Coll

July 16, 2014

If You’re Looking For A Good Hoagie or Steak

You’re Likely To Find It At Pudge’s

Pudge’s In Conshohocken That Is!

By Jack Coll

That’s right! You know the address, 401, 401 Fayette Street that is, Bill Pounds opened his restaurant in 1945 called “Bill’s Diner,” good times and great food have been flowing out of that kitchen for nearly 70 years since young Bill took a shot at the restaurant business at 401 Fayette Street. In 1950 Carl Aumann took the spatula and improved a number of things before selling to Bill Danitz in 1969. Over the next 30 years Bill and his son Bill under the name of the “401 Diner” made the eatery an institution throughout Conshohocken and beyond. The facility remained the 401 Diner until a year or two ago when it became the 401 Nirvana, with American breakfast and Indian-American cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Then about two months ago rumors started making the rounds that Pudge’s Steaks and Hoagies was coming to Conshohocken and would land at 401 Fayette Street. PUDGE’S,…. Pudge’s is a Blue Bell institution. I wondered what would make anyone think the best sandwich shop in Montgomery County would expand to Conshohocken? Well sure enough there was Eric and Stefanie Salfi, and Melinda and Mark Baker along with Matt Duffin, all co-owners hanging out in front of the former 401 Diner.

Well the rumor proved to be fact, and the co-owners threw a VIP Party inviting numerous members of the community for a little sampling of food about a week ago, I’m not a VIP but managed to cop an invite to the opening and my first question posed to the Pudge’s owners was what makes you think your sandwiches will be as successful here in Conshohocken as they are in Blue Bell? The same ingredient down to the roll was the answer. You can’t go wrong with a Conshohocken Italian Bakery roll they said, Conshy bakery roll and nothing but fresh ingredients, it’s a winner on every sandwich we make they said. I noticed a tray of sandwiches off to the side and figured I’d be the judge of the good sandwich thing

What else do you do beside make sandwiches I asked, well, for starters we’ll be offering a full breakfast menu, and we mean full breakfast menu. Keep in mind that Pudge’s isn’t just some diner slapping up eggs and pancakes, “We will take pride with every plate of food that leaves this kitchen” noted Mark Baker, “The thing we take pride in is that our serving staff is proud to present the meal to our customers, our business is all about pride.”

What else you got, I asked, “Well we already have the best lunchtime sandwiches in the County so we don’t need to improve that, we just need to prove to the residents and employees in the Conshohocken area that’s there a reason our name is so widely recognized, we work hard to maintain our high standards and constantly look to improve our service to our customers.”

And dinners? “For starters we have Matt Duffin in the kitchen, Matt’s a pretty amazing guy, no canned soups at Pudge’s, Matt makes his own soups, and that means he’s not restricted to a tomato soup Tuesday, or a vegetable soup Wednesday no. Matt’s pretty creative with creating sauces, dips and specials,” noted Mark. “This is not a fast food restaurant,” said Mark, “We take the time to cook to the order, getting it right and tasty trumps fast and tasteless, you can look forward to some pretty tasty meals.”

How far into my wallet do I have to go to pay for a meal? Mark laughs, “This is not high end, this is Pudge’s,” he noted, “same great fresh ingredients, same warm service, same prices as Pudge’s in Blue Bell, we don’t raise the prices because we’re in Conshohocken, we’re successful because of our prices.”

Let’s remember Pudge’s has been around for a little more than forty years. The first thing Frank “Pudge” Carbone did on his road to success was visit Dominic Gambone, Gambone was thinking about opening a bakery in Conshohocken and Pudge wanted a quality, tasty roll for his sandwiches, something that would make his customers remember the good tasting sandwich they had from his restaurant. When Dominic Gambone and Frank Manzi opened the Conshohocken Bakery at 74 Jones Street, Pudge was the first customer through the door and the rest as they say is history, not just history but a long loving, good tasting history. Pudge passed away nearly 30 years later in 2000, and his step daughter took over the business and remembered the secret to Pudge’s success, the Conshy rolls and fresh ingredients, Conshy rolls and fresh ingredients.

Not long after that Eric and Stefanie Salfi and later Mark and Melinda Baker took over, and what did they change, nothing, according to them, why mess with success, kitchen guru Matt cooks the roast beef and pork, they can purchase the meat precooked at a cheaper price, but that’s not quality, you cook your own meat slowly and at the right temperature, and you’ll be serving a quality product. And another thing, they take the time to cook their own meatballs, again you can buy restaurant food already cooked at a cheaper price, what’s up, “We don’t serve restaurant food,” said Mark, “We represent Pudge’s and we intend on associating the name Pudge’s with quality,” case closed.

I had enough talking, it was time for me to slide over to the Pudge’s VIP buffet, chicken cheese steaks, hoagies, and a table full of other delights, the food checked out, it was pretty good, I’m not a restaurant critic but the rolls came as advertised, everything about the food was fresh, nothing looked out of place, I’m assuming it all goes back to that pride thing.

So who are these VIP’s I asked one of the owners, what VIP’s he asked, these are just some neighborhood business people, our VIP’s will be arriving the day our doors open, and our VIP’s will be coming in every day, every single diner is a VIP to us, we have something to prove, and they assured me that they intend on proving that with everyone that comes through Pudge’s doors.

Isn’t that something, an establishment that really cares about fresh products, taking pride in their work, and treating every customer like a Very Important Person, Pudge’s just might have a shot at making it in this town.