Bloomfield's Old Canal Inn Survives Fire

A kitchen fire broke out at the iconic Old Canal Inn in Essex County NJ. Located on the border of Bloomfield and Nutley, the Old Canal Inn has experienced a resurgence in attendance after Nutley's Conca brothers restored the landmark three years ago.

The bar and residences appear unaffected by the fire

The fire, which was restricted to the kitchen in the rear portion of the inn, was contained by 7:30 pm on Saturday November 15, 2014. The restored bar was not affected by the fire. The condition of the dining room was not immediately known as the kitchen is adjacent to the dining room and water damage is always a concern with a fire. As daylight breaks more details will be made known. The Old Canal Inn is known for the Death Seat Burger as well as one of the best dirty martinis in Essex County.

This past week the organizing committees of Bloomfield Restaurant Week and Taste of Montclair reached out to the Old Canal to participate in their respective events. Obviously, the OCI has made a great name for itself. 

I first heard of the “Death Seat” at the Old Canal Inn when I found a copy of weird New Jersey at the Barnes and Noble in Mission Valley in San Diego. Who would have thought that several years later I would not only have the opportunity to see the actual death seat, but eat the burger after which it is named!

Of course before eating the Death Seat Burger Platter it’s always good to know a little about the background on Nutley’s most infamous piece of furniture.

The Old Canal Inn opened in the 1930’s on East Passaic Avenue along the Nutley –Bloomfield border. The township boarder actually runs through a portion of the building – the shuffleboard is actually in Bloomfield. A working class fixture for decades, the establishment was owned by the same family until it closed in the early 2000s. The Conca Brothers of Nutley knew a bit of the history, found the building to be structurally sound, and saw an opportunity create the next chapters of this landmark by building on the past. The original maple floors and chestnut bar have been restored to their mid-20^th Century  appearance, the old beer taps are back with some new additions, and the Death Seat is featured near the front of the bar.

According to legend, somewhere in the latter part of the last century, a patron of the bar died in one of the barstools. A burger was not involved. Not that long thereafter another patron met the same fate, in the very same barstool. And a legend was created.

The Death Seat Burger

Flash forward to 2012 and the Death Seat takes a prominent place on the menu on Mondays.

The Death Seat Burger Platter is BIG, so big that you definitely have to eat it sitting down, and that death part, while eating it I thought I died and went to heaven! So what is a Death Seat Burger?  Start with a grilled burger. The full kitchen at the Old Canal Inn includes a grill. Then layer it Nacho Cheese, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Jalapeno, and Tomatoes

But wait, you don’t think it stops with a bun, do you? The entire burger, bun and all, is beer battered and deep fried.  It's then served on a large platter that includes homemade slaw, homemade pasta salad, fries, lettuce and pickles. That’s right, homemade, as in right in the kitchen, with fresh ingredients with just enough mayonnaise to pull it together. Most slaw and pasta salad out there, in my opinion is just mayonnaise with some added texture. That’s so not the case here. It was all about the vegetables! All of this fun can be yours for just $13. The cool part – patrons who eat the Death Seat Burger Platter get a black t-shirt announcing your accomplishment to the world. Sadly, it is served only on Mondays at the Old Canal Inn. The Old Canal Inn is located at 2 East Passaic Avenue in Nutley. It’s just down the street from St Valentine’s Roman Catholic Church.

 "The OCI" will undoubtedly reopen soon and I'll be there waiting for my dirty martini.  

The Old Canal Inn 2 East Passaic Ave Nutley, NJ 07110

Type of Cuisine: Pub Food

Price Range: $$

Phone: 973) 284-1272

Alcohol: Full Bar