Joe’s-Roll Tide
I have said it before and I will say it again, in a city filled with great steak places Joe’s stands out. One of my favorites places, maybe my favorite.
I arrived at 7:00 to find the bar packed. The one knock on Joe’s has always been the bar but it is even worse than I remember. Forget not being good, it is barely serviceable. They should convert that upstairs dining area above the current bar into another bar but I digress. As soon as Hans showed up a couple minutes after 7:00 I audibled across the street to Eddie V’s for happy hour. This was the right call and provided a great bar for happy hour, I should have thought of it earlier. Glick and Crenshaw joined us for happy hour, a couple of glasses of our respected poisons and we were off and running. Jevon joined the group as we walked over to Joe’s and the word was that Scotty was on his way and would arrive soon to begin the dining festivities.
The group hung outside the restaurant while I went inside to inform the host that we would all be there and ready to be seated momentarily. Outside the boys observed a short, weathered fellow wearing a white hat waddle down the street…it was Alice Cooper. Seems appropriate since it is summer and schools out. Apparently he had just been in Milwaukee or “Mill-e-wah-que” which is Algonquin for the good land.
As always Joe’s was packed with patrons. We were seated at a 6 person round table which always seems more feng shui for steak night than its rectangular cousin. Our waitress, whose name escapes me was attentive but not over baring and enthusiastically embraced our tradition of reverse credit card roulette even if it took her a minute to understand it. Since I’m not a wine drinker I pitched the wine duties to Crenshaw like Tommy Frazier to Ahman Green at Nebraska circa 1995.
For years Crenshaw has touted Joe’s fried chicken as divine, the best he has ever had. Since stone crabs were out of season it was the perfect time to get the fried chicken as an appetizer, continuing the recent trend of getting an entree as an appetizer for the group to share. The fried chicken is indeed excellent-light, moist, and just the right amount of batter. While some in the group touted shacks in Alabama or their wife’s fried chicken as the best ever; Joe’s chicken was still excellent and I’m sure it would get the seal of approval by Colonel Sanders himself. Not to be forgotten was the shrimp de jonghe which was also tremendous.
Bone in ribeye for me, in a word-perfect. Perfect seasoning, perfect temperature, and perfect taste. Best steak in the city. Sides included mac & cheese, Jennie’s mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and roasted sweet corn. Sides were solid but not on the same level as the steak with the corn being the highlight for me.
Somewhere along the line of Steak Night history key lime pie and carrot cake became the defacto go to default desserts. Generally speaking both of these choices are inferior to many other dessert options. I’m not sure how it happened but key lime pie and carrot cake should not be required ordering or the default dessert of choice for the group. Old habits die hard so we had the key lime pie, a raspberry pie and a peanut butter pie. The peanut butter pie with chocolate crust was a decadent delight and far and away the best dessert.
Dinner conversation included: Kevin Love’s stats if we goes to the Cavs (I say 20/10, Glick says no) Hans Bachelor party/wedding, games for the Bears tailgate (Dolphins or Vikings), the recent crazy vs hot girl tutorial, college football playoffs, Don Cole’s inability to respond to dinner invites and doing a pick em pool again for a free meal.
Inspired by the clip of a drunk and/or high redneck getting arrested and then giving a Roll Tide to the arresting officer as he was cuffed and taken away the group now has a new phrase. Roll Tide is now the all-encompassing, official answer or sign off to every conversation….Roll Tide.
We capped the evening off with drinks at Sienna Tavern. Jevon won at credit card roulette. Another steak night in the books. Good times all around. Roll Tide.
Cheers,
TDI
Filed under: General
Wow, am never first for anything.
Night started with the streak of celebrities at Joe’s staying alive, with some of us seeing Alice Cooper outside. (I say some of us because Crenshaw thought it was Keith Richards. Surprising lapse there).
As this was still the last throngs of summer, Rick carried off the sear sucker suit and fedora combo like a true fashion genius. The rest of us came properly attired besides Scotty who wore jorts.
Dinner was great, we threw a curveball in having Crenshaw’s last supper fried chicken as an app, and while I had my heart and stomach set on stone crab, I appreciated the change of pace.
Steak was OK, it may be from steak fatigue, lots of bread and apps but am starting to feel like the awe factor in the steak aspect fo the night is starting to slip away.
The conversation factor never does and am feeling rather confident on my under bet of Kevin Love Putting up a 20-10 season this year ( I thought it was 20-12) but he’ll miss either.
Afterdinner drinks were had by mostly all at Sienna and was fun to enjoy the last few moments of summer.
Overall: 8
While I don’t hold Joe’s in the same deity like glorious splendor as some of this illustrious group, I do recognize it as one of the most solid performers that never disappoints. Not the same can be said of the bar at Joe’s. It is effectively the redneck ugly step child and the dining room is wonder boy. I can’t physically stand being in the bar for more than 10 minutes. Being surrounded by the biggest group of douchebags outside of the board of trade ranks up there as something I happily avoid and take great lengths to do so. Luckily, our recent sojourn to Eddie V’s not too many moons ago unveiled another solid option and a good location for cocktail hour. Rick and I made our way across the street and were joined by the group minus Hootie this time, luckily Alice Cooper took his place in our evening but Scottie was nowhere to be found to hit on him.
Upon returning to Joe’s and immediately getting annoyed by some recent grads of Miami of Ohio in blazers, we were seated at a perfectly decent round top near the middle of the dining room. Service was indeed good, not too in your face like some Chicago steak houses, but never out of reach when something was required. I will go on the record and say I am not planning to have Joe’s fried chicken as my last supper. Its alright. the shrimp de jonghe on the other hand is quite delectable. The bone in ribeye however could be a contender. Perfectly seared and prepared to a warm reddish pink center. The sides are always solid at Joe’s, once again they proved to be above par.
Dessert was truly not to be missed. The raspberry special was sensational. The peanut butter pie was a socially acceptable alternative to crack, although unlikely to have the same weight loss benefits. I give Joe’s an 8 and would make it a 9 if not for the bar scene. Conversation as always was a 10 with topics drifting from the important to the inane.
First of all, I’d like to commend Rick Ray for a solid opening post. It had all the qualities of an A+ effort. Good flow, humor, and really brought the room together.
Joe’s is always a fan favorite and for good reason. There’s nothing they do bad. Except the bar. God damn that bar. But it did give us the opportunity to go back to Eddie V’s which is really an underrated drink spot. Too bad Scotty couldn’t make it. I’m sure there was some poor guy who could have used a new friend.
Total brain fart by myself on the Alice Cooper / Keith Richards mix up. But jesus they both look like skeletons AM I RIGHT?! Anyway, we waited so long for Scotty to arrive, my Frankenstein needed to be fed and I’m sure that was the reason for my gaffe.
Before all the townspeople grab their burning stakes to chase me around for the overzealous fried chicken claim, I’d like to present my case. First of all, some commented that the outside was a little dry. So would you rather have to take a shower after some KFC? The batter was fine. Maybe not Joe’s best effort ever but I CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND BETTER! The inside is so succulent. It’s perfect. I’ll hear nothing else!
Steak at Joe’s is always top quality. Standard bone-in ribeye, medium rare, cooked and seasoned to perfection. It can stand against any in the city. Sides are aways great. Creamed spinach was far above average, but the shrimp de jonghe steals the show every time.
I’m pretty sure I blacked out during the peanut butter pie dessert. It was fabulous.
The end of the night took us out to Sienna Tavern for some bonus time cocktails. We’re not going to have too many more summer nights like this and I suggest we take advantage of them while we can. It was a great dinner, with great company. Hard to ask for more than that.
Roll Tide.
Bo knows this and no knows that, but Bo don’t know jack, cause Bo can’t rap. A night filled with 90s hip hop made for a terrific event filled with good banter. From tribe to de lay to biggie to 2pac, we made sure to cover our bases. I also loved the continued tradition of an entree for appetizer. This must continue. I always like joes but it is now four times done. We need some new places or repeats of those less traveled. Looking forward to fall, football and good times
Also, roll tide y’all
I’m great call for a restaurant, and a great chance to get back with these fine fellows that I have missed so much over the last few months. My attendance this year has been rather lacking and I realize it. Certainly not to the depths of Donald Cole, but under what I consider to be minimum standards for myself. Anyway onto the dinner, as that’s why were here.
A very important meeting in the southwest suburbs of this great city of Chicago made me a little late to the dinner. Although I would remark that my driving skills from Oak Lawn to the city in a Thursday evening rush-hour traffic pattern we’re pretty good considering I got back in less than 35 minutes.
Of course it sounds like I didn’t miss much early at Joe’s, as noted above, which typically packed and overcrowded for just a dinner crowd. Upon getting seated and pretty much the center of the room, the landscape was great, and the entertainment lively. Getting right into it, round of drinks were ordered and we were on our way.
Probably the most shocking point of the night came from one J Cizzle, who kept harping on the fact that Joe’s fried chicken was amazing and worthy of one’s final meal should they be going to the chair. This was ordered as an appetizer, along with some others, and I have to say it disappointed. Not to say it wasn’t good, but great it was not.
Going with the bone in ribeye, Cajun flavor, as noted by Rick when I ordered it, was a mistake. The rationale being that when it is not offered directly on the menu, don’t order it. However given the fact that everybody is blowing Joe’s in these comments for their steaks, how could they not do a Cajun right?
Well the steak came a bit overcooked and I didn’t really like the Cajun flavor. But there were some good parts – obviously right along the bone and where some of the marbling really was happening.
The peanut butter dessert was amazing and worthy of the long wait to get it. Another drink or two later we rolled into the warm Chicago night.