Squeak Peek: Eat At Joe's...Again

UPDATE as of June 7, 2012: Returned Again to Joe's Again. Was at first apprehensive that the place had changed hands. They have painted the structure red and yellow and today there were no signs of any kind indicating the name of the establishment.  However, once inside I quickly saw nothing really had changed. Same menu. Same Joe and same awesome "Joe's Burger."  I need a nap.....


July 21, 2011: Returned to Joe's...Again on Friday last week for the "Joe's Burger" and again today for the regular cheese burger. I was blown away, I mean, in a good way. Not injured but almost stuffed beyond capacity with what may, just might, perhaps, maybe, possibly be the best, I said BEST, double cheese burger in El Todo Del Gumpo! Maybe. Since I was alone I cannot confirm the rating. We will need other GGP's or LITG members to weigh in on the important matter of determining whether Joe's Again is a tremendous find and we crown them as having one of the best burgers in the city. And we haven't even tried the ribs and wings for which they are locally famous. Stay tuned.

It's hard to imagine the size of it without some frame of reference. The cup in the background is a LARGE drink cup.

For now feast your eyes above on the "Joe's Burger." Two hand-formed and what seemed like 1/2 pound patties with cheese cooked to perfection with grilled onions, pickles and peppers and crisp tomatoes and lettuce. Very difficult to eat with tiny paws. Did I mention it was messy? It was messy for sure. But was it ever good! I could not stop eating even when my tummy felt like it would pop. The burgery goodness forced me to keep gnawing my way through this burger monster. I left sated and stayed that way for about 2 days. Was it just me or was it one of the finest burgers I have had...EVER? You decide.

Check out Joe's...Again and let me know what you think. Send comments (if you do not want to post them) to squeakGGP@gmail.com

Now, here was the original post on Joes concerning their also fine cheese steaks:
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First, I want to thanks to the girls at MCOA for suggesting a Gump Guinea Pig foray down West Fairview to Joe's Again Buffalo Wings & Rib City. They provided some good intel on where to find a good Philly Cheese Steak sandwich in the Gump. Second, as someone who has visited Philadelphia several times for weddings and business, no one in Philly thinks any thing made outside of Philly should be called a cheese steak or can hold a candle to Pat's, Geno's or Jim's--although they really cannot explain why they prefer Pat's over Geno's or Jim's or visey versey because they all have a favorite. It's like Auburn v. Alabama v. Troy here in the Gump. There you have to pick Pat's or Geno's or Jim's (which is sort of like Troy).

For those of you unfamiliar with the fifth food group a/k/a the cheese steak, here is a quick primer: Its thinly sliced steak, onions ("Wit"), cheese (or cheese Wiz) and bell or Italian peppers on a split Kaiser roll. The main reason you cannot get good ones outside South Philly is because it's hard to find the right bread. They do not travel well and they will not ship them to you. You can try to make one at home. If you are inclined to try, here is a very good recipe from someone who has a cheese steak fetish (which I suppose is more healthy that toe or toad sucking).

Back to Joe's...The great thing about this place is the guy behind the counter in the pork-pie hat with the booming baritone voice. If you are an adult, he greets you when you come through the door with a Nat King Cole croon. However, if you are one of the local kids from Carver, he starts asking questions about what sports they play, what they want to do after high school etc. He also imparts wisdom like: "You got to do something after high school" or "You've got to make something of yourself." I guess because of the maximum street cred this place has in this area,
"Joe" (I assume it's Joe) gets away with poking his nose in their business in a way any other proprietor might not.

Bottom line: This place is a very short drive south on I-65 from the Gump (take the Fairview Ave exit and head East) and if the cheese steak is any indication of how good the other items on the menu might be, I will have to go back again and again. Due to limited seating I do recommend take-out and a call ahead would probably be a good idea.

Stay tuned for further reviews of what we hear is a very good double-cheeseburger: The Joe's Burger....until then, this is Squeak, over and out!

Squeak Peek: Capitol Oyster Bar Sea Dogs Relocate As River Rats

We at LITG had been saddened to hear of the closing of our enigmatic Capitol Oyster Bar given our high rating while at its former location in a prior post. We were also disappointed that the Marina Bar & Grill had closed even though we still miss poor Nibbles, our fallen GGP comrade, starved by the slow service experienced when the Marina Bar and Grill opened in March of this year.

There was, therefore, much excited squeaking around the GGP barracks when we received hard intelligence that the COB had recently reopened at "The Marina" on Shady Street (a more aptly named street there has never been). Of course, the GGPs were tasked with visiting the recently opened COB and clearing it for LITG regulars. And we did.

It was, alas, a mixed result. The experienced staff and cooks at the COB can and will make the best of any surroundings. After all, they made a grungy Pizza Hut building on the Southern By-Pass seem like it was Tacky Jacks on Perdido Bay. And today they were still working out the kinks with a location with severe kitchen size limitations. Ticket to table today timed out at over 30 minutes (that's 1 1/2 months in Guinea Pig years). We almost would have lost Sgt. Puffer but for the abundant saltines in the basket at the table. We were also a little taken back by the prices. The cheapest meal for lunch is going to be $9.95 without the $1.50 tea. You could, if you were crazy or Cajun, order the frog legs as an appetizer and save a buck. We GGPs find them too similar in size and appearance to the Ecuadorian delicacy Cuy.



The food (fried oysters and shrimp) when it arrived did somewhat save the review from negativity. The COB slaw has always been very good. It rivals the slaw at Jubilee. Their fries are also decent. However, you can hold the "Texas toast" (between your knees) as far as I am concerned. Next time I will get the much better Hush Piggies. The oysters were reported by Sgt. Puffer to be tasty but I found the fried shrimp to be average. They we also not as hot as you would expect when you receive your lunch 30 minutes after it was ordered. That is especially true when you know the experienced staff working in a small kitchen would never miss an opportunity to get food out the door. The portions are certainly fair as the picture below attests:


Upon departure the review was completely redeemed by all of the cool "Blue's" posters tacked in the entrance area documenting the many known and obscure Blue's bands which appeared at the old location over the years and with the owner's promise that the COB will have more of the same at the new location at the Marina. The owner also promised that their liquor license was one/two weeks away and they would have Pabst Blue Ribbon just like they did before. We all know that fried seafood tastes better with a beer--especially a PBR--even at lunch. So our company left the COB encouraged that they would work out the kinks with practice and alcohol. The promise of a better day and the truth of the application of alcohol to the COB clientele was proudly displayed on this poster over the shelves where the liquor will soon be:


When they have the PBR, we will return!

[UPDATE! September 2, 2011: Capitol Oyster Bar now has liquor license. Great deck to watch sunset with your favorite beverage. They have PBR Cornbread Carp!]

Squeak Peek: Santa Fe Express Goes Taco y Taco with Cantina Downtown

[Ed. Note: Santa Fe Express es muy finito. No trespassing signs up 8/31/2011. Adios Santa Fe Express!]

The holes in the facade from the rudely dislodged former "Bama Bistro" sign which once hung above the door a few months ago have not yet been filled, but the space has. Our elite commandos recently received hard intelligence that a new "Mexican" restaurant was now occupying the 15 Commerce Street "hole in the wall" location of the former Bama Bistro. Although the intelligence was questioned due to the implausible idea of another Mexican restaurant opening within a block of the Cantina in the Alley, for the safety of the dining public, once the new restaurant was confirmed to exist, the fearless and expendable GGPs were deployed to investigate by any take-out or eat-in measures. Sorties were launched Tuesday and Thursday by land and air units of the Gump Guinea Pigs. Here is their report, now declassified for the public as written by "Squeak" their shadowy and furry commander:

A rare photo of Squeak using his MRIV (Mexican restaurant insertion vehicle)

At 1200 hrs 23 June 2011, The Santa Fe Express door was already open so (classified) and I entered and noticed one booth full of stateys in full feeding mode tearing into their lunches like two-year-olds opening presents on Christmas morning or like raccoons going through a trash can. It was not hard to move past them without being noticed. One customer was leaving the counter with a bag heavy with a take-out order. They paid us no attention or did not see us in the brim of our insertion vehicle (see above).

Since our mission was to eat-in, we sat in an open booth and in no time a very nice young waitress greeted us and brought us our requested water with lemon. A few seconds later a "free" (note this Cantina owners) basket of warm nacho chips and a bowl of delicious salsa was brought to the table.

The salsa was very tasty on the warm chips and on the burrito that followed.

Upon perusing the menu (classified) and I immediately saw a bargain and an opportunity to try more than our usual one entre: "Create Your Own Lunch." This deal allows you to pick 2 items ($4.95) or 3 items ($5.95) from a list of 15 items including: burritos, quesadillas, tostadas etc. The order was placed and within minutes very hot plates were presented with extra napkins and very fair portions of food. (Classified) had the chalupa and tamales which he announced to be consistent with expectations and the fare of other decent (but not great) Mexican restaurants in the Gump. I chose the beef burrito and a chicken quesadilla and was equally satisfied especially after adding the sour cream I requested and some of the salsa brought for the chips.


We sent in another team on a take-0ut mission the same day. It was noted that a bag full of warm chips along with a fair helping of tasty salsa is equally available for take out orders (gratis). The take-out team thought it was rather cool they were playing music via an ipod connected to a small speaker. The music appropriately filled the small space (not too loud and not too soft). Their use of minor copyright infringement to keep the cost down was noted and appreciated. The take-out team ordered the burrito with sour cream and a soft taco. They confirmed the quality and price were comparable to most other "Mexican" places in town

The required incubation and quarantine period having passed, I can report that Santa Fe Express is not only approved for the general LITG gang it proved to be a very quick and inexpensive lunch for the public at large. Expect nothing fancy. Expect nothing out of the ordinary. But with a 98 health rating from the local health inspectors, expect clean surroundings and good food at a really fair price. It may give the more expensive Cantina a run for its money.

Obviously, no casualties were reported.

Over and out.

Squeak.

Squeak Peek: Cantina Opens in the Alley May 12th

[Ed note: Cantina is now closed. Jalapenos has opened in the same space.  1/23/13]

Squeak in a fine disquise

I’ve been to Cantina on an elite solo mission. It opens for lunch to the public tomorrow but got a squeak peak today. My $3 (a piece) pork taco and a similarly priced steak taco left a little to be desired in the taste department. My beans side was cold and so was the (albeit tasty) cheese dip....Could just be the kinks. The menu also emphasizes “fresh” ingredients, but I saw staff members hauling in bagged lettuce earlier today. Otherwise the décor and killer outside bar were outstanding. No wait staff today, and there probably won’t be at lunch for the time being. You’ll come in and order at the counter and then sit and wait for your food to come. At night, the place will gain servers, but the menu won’t change.

A full LITG meeting is in order to determine whether first impressions are always best or if the confirmation bias can be overcome.

Over and out,

Squeak.



El Menu