I first saw The Mozz Boss at La Festa Italiana last summer where they had a booth, but I never ended up trying anything although I did see people walking away with delicious looking bowls of food and stuffed-to-the-brim sandwiches. A couple of months later, when I heard they'd opened up a storefront in Jersey City, I put it on my to-try list but took a while to get to it - my mistake.
Walking in, I was amazed at how much space there is. There are plenty of seats - a rare commodity for most downtown delis. It seemed like most of the cold cuts were Boar's Head brand (despite the stickers) and there were some salads and antipastis to choose from as well. I went in on a Sunday when they close early and felt like they had less available than they might otherwise.
This feeling was confirmed when I asked for the Italian tuna and was told they didn't have it. At first, I was disappointed, but upon tasting my second choice, grilled chicken with broccoli rabe& fresh mozzarella on garlic bread, I realized this was actually the best thing that could have happened. The chicken was good, pounded relatively thin and cooked thoroughly but still juicy. The broccoli rabe was flat-out excellent. They sauteed the broccoli rabe fresh and it was incredibly tender, very bright and flavorful with a sharp peppery taste but totally lacking any of the bitterness it can so easily develop. This was the highlight of the sandwich. Between that and the fresh mozzarella, I was incredibly happy. Their mozzarella does lean towards the denser, slightly chewier side but was perfect in the sandwich, holding together well and adding a mild creaminess. The sandwich maker did suggest adding a splash of balsamic which is a recommendation I am passing along. The tang of the vinegar helps emphasize all the other flavors. The only thing lacking was the bread - it was fine, but certainly not great and while I loved the crunch and the intense garlickiness (do not eat this on a first date), I found it didn't hold together very well as I ate. As I was really more interested in the fillings anyway, it wasn't a big deal but I can only imagine how much better the sandwich would be if it was made with a high-quality roll.
I also picked up a wrap with turkey, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, and balsamic and another of the chicken/garlic bread creations, only with roasted peppers in place of the broccoli rabe. I didn't personally try either of these, but got similar reports of very happy tastebuds. I really like that The Mozz Boss offers the alternative of a wrap and think that would probably be a great choice for most of their cold sandwiches. The roasted peppers were very good, not oily or pickled, so just a lot of pure roasted pepper flavor, adding some freshness to the sandwiches. The sandwiches are quite large and the fillings are plentiful which is always something I like to see.
All in All
I'm really glad I finally tried The Mozz Boss and will definitely be going back. There are a number of things I want to try, including the arancini on their Antipasti menu and I really regretted not getting a stuffed mozzarella while I was there. I seriously don't know what I was thinking - they have a bunch of varieties and I pretty much want them all. Price-wise, I'd say it's a bit on the higher end with most sandwiches priced in the $8-$10 range but definitely a fair deal. They do carry pasta specials, soups, and salads and also have daily specials so there really is a lot to try. While most things are meat-oriented, there are a few vegetarian items and based off the broccoli rabe, I bet the grilled vegetable sandwich would be delicious. While I wouldn't say it's worth going well out of your way for, if you're around or curious, it's worth a visit. If you want to try it without leaving your apartment, good news - they do deliver and not just for large orders! Give it a shot - I think you'll be glad you did.
You should try the sandwiches at Ercolano's in Journal Square!
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