Joe’s – It Was All A Dream
First we were 8 then we were 6 and finally 4 + a very special guest. So the fab 5 of brothers Ray, Rev. Phelps, a special appearance by Roddy and myself headed to Joe’s for the last steak night of 2018.
Pre-game drinks were at Eddie Vs because the bar at Joes is just awful. Nothing highlighted how awful it was when we had to wait 30 minutes for a table with no where to hide.
We finally got seated – which was the only knock on the night. Rick was in his holiday mood with his mistletoe tucked in his blazer pocket. He was bringing his A game this evening.
For apps we got Crenshaw’s last supper of the fried chicken and stone crabs. I hadn’t realized only half of the table wanted crab – so there was ample for all of us – which was awesome.
Brad and I split a ribeye – was good but I was stuffed from the crab and the discussions of recent surgical procedures. It was Mason’s birthday and we celebrated with the vastly underrated Havana Dream.
Afterwards Rick, Brad and I tried to find somewhere Rick could use his mistletoe and ended up at Red Headed Piano Bar where Rick had to fend the ladies off him.
Overall 8.5. Solid B work.
Filed under: General
Joes. Still up there as one of the best. The only consistent knock is the bar, which stinks. So we met at Eddie V’s. Great to see Roddy there, nice little Christmas treat. We had to wait a bit at Joes to be seated but were led to a nice table in the back.
Simple ordering soon followed – Friday chicken and stone crab for apps and a split rib-eye with Glick. Which was awesome. Joes is consistent, service is always solid and the atmosphere can always be counted on as it was packed. Good discussion of me losing my manhood while Roddy was bolstering the rest of his night via technology application.
Rick, Glick and I went out after and Glick made the unusual call of red head piano bar….interesting and as expected….not good. Glick headed home and the Reeshard and I went to Sienna for a final night cap.
Overall great dinner and evening. Merry Christmas to all.
There are very few things that could be done to improve Steak Night, but I posit that requiring Joe’s to be the permanent December location may be one of them. The room is vibrant year round, but Joe’s has a particularly pleasant vibe around the holidays. The aura of expense accounts and office parties hangs pleasantly in the air, and even the tourists keep their Trubisky jerseys under thin layers of merino wool.
Through the magic of a century of practice (Miami Beach location opened in 1913) and career waiters, it seems impossible to have an unpleasant experience at Joe’s. The drinks are tall and strong, terrific wines are available at all price points, and I get great joy from not seeing any steak with a price beginning with 6.
The only knock on the place is the occasion table wait and the overcrowded bar. And after many years I still can’t decide if I love or hate having the maitre’d lord over the lobby like some sort of auctioneer.
9.5/10
Happy Christmas to all.
Joe’s never disappoints! A blur of apps, those sides. The filet and crab was well prepared, though I think I’d have it another way next time. Can’t believe Mr. Ray is cashing it in – did we discuss the donut pillow? Do they do that?
Great to see Chicago’s Finest, I plan to make it more of a habit next year. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. Hail Steak Night – long may it continue!
After going to that sham of a steak place GT Prime last month it was nice to get back on track this month and go to Joe’s. What more can you say about Joe’s, it never disappoints and always delivers on every level: food, service, and atmosphere. The bar sucks, always the only knock on Joe’s but with Eddie V’s across the street that provides a solid alternate for pre-dinner drinks.
Good to have Roddy in the house. His efforts to make a couple appearances a year are always appreciated.
The fried chicken and stone crabs were awesome. Joe’s might not get enough credit for their fried chicken. One of the highlights of the stone crabs is the honey mustard sauce that you could take shots of by itself. I believe this is the first trip to Joe’s where we have ordered both stone crabs and friend chicken at the same time. This lead to the highlight of the meal for me, dipping the fried chicken in the honey mustard sauce….Heaven. I got the ribeye and it was perfect, I of course ate the whole thing. I will say this is one of the few steak nights where I felt like I ate way too much. I really have to overdo it to feel like this so certainly was a “Ziggy Piggy” tonight. As a wise man once said “you don’t make friends with salad”.
Post drinks at Red Headed Piano Bar which was filled with co-workers out post-Christmas parties and then a trip to Sienna. Merry Christmas to all. On to 2019.