JD's Smokehouse - The "Andy Nelson's" of Canton Bars

---UPDATE:  This restaurant has permanently closed ---

Shawn and I decided to venture out into Baltimore's lame-ass Mardi Gras scene the other night, and the best part of the evening ended up having nothing to do with masks or beads. The highlight of our evening was our dinner!

This dinner was at JD's Smokehouse on the Canton Square. We wandered into this corner rowhouse bar pretty randomly, having never been there and not knowing what to expect (we may have been in there once, for about 30 seconds on a Friday night). There was a decent crowd in there, but we managed to find a table immediately. We learned (and were not surprised, based on the name) that the menu focused had a southern "smoke-house" theme, anchored by Brisket and Pulled Pork Sandwhiches. The menu also hosted some traditional items, such as burgers and quesadilas (the latter of which was on special that night, and is every Tuesday, for $5 - but we forgot to order one).

The Brisket and Pork Sandwhiches are available in many variations, from plain and traditional to containing various fixin's and cheeses. I got the "Texas Dip" which was an emulation of a traditional french dip sandwich - containing shaved beef, carmelized onions, mushrooms, and swiss cheese. I don't remember the name of Shawn's - might have been the Brisket Panini - but it consisted of shaved beef, onions (he requested carmelized onions), mushrooms, cheddar and BBQ sauce. Both came with a huge portion of seasoned fries (similar to the seasoning on curly fries), cole slaw, 2 hush puppies, and a pickle - all for $8.95.

Well, needless to say, Shawn and I both loved our meals! They bring the sandwhiches out with 6 different sauces, including sweet BBQ, Tiger (Horsey), and peach vidalia onion (which was very interesting) - all holstered in a Natty Boh 6-pack case. The meat was flavorful and juicy, the sandwhiches were decent sized, and the portion of sides they came with were astounding for the price. We both filled up and could barely fit any beer in us afterwards. The hush puppies were a little on the dry and crunchy side, but that was the least of our concerns.

The service was also great. It seemed to be all seat-yourself bar-style seating, but the server (Katie) arrived quickly after our arrival. She was very attentive and was quick to refil our beers. The wait for the food was reasonable.

So, all in all, Shawn and I left there giving the place two "thumbs up." We plan to visit again - perhaps on Monday night, when they offer a Brisket Sandwhich and a pint of beer for $10. We also want to try the quesadilas. If anyone has tried either, please feel free to leave your comments!

JD's Smokehouse

3000 O'Donnell Street (Canton Square)

Baltimore, MD 21224

410-675-4029

http://www.jdssmokehouse.com/

Thursday Night at MaGerk's - If you don't feel like (or can't afford) driving to Philly

---UPDATE!  April 2016: The Thursday Special price as of this date is $4.50 from 6-10PM ---

Ok, so I know we ha/ve recently tackled the subject of Philly cheesesteaks, so perhaps you can treat this post as a "follow-up." For our follow-up investigation we visited MaGerk's, one of the better-known Federal Hill bars, and pretty much the closest thing to Philly that ol' Balto has to offer. In fact, the bar is an "Eagles Bar" that imports their break from Philly (or so I was told by a waiter in Fells Point).

We visited on Thursday night, after finding out that they offered $4 cheesesteaks after 6:30, and $1 domestic bottles after 9:00. "Not a bad deal," we thought, and apparently we weren't the only ones. We had actually gone a week prior, only to find barely enough room to even enter the bar, let alone find a seat. This week was less busy, since it was quite cold out, but still seats were limited. We managed to find one in the back.

The service left something to be desired. In their defense, it is more of a bar than a restaurant, with all self-service seating, so one can't really expect quick and thorough service. We waited for quite a long time before anyone came over though, and she did not come by very often. You could tell she was really busy.

Once we ordered, though, the cheesesteaks came out right away. For $4, you got a hoagie close to a foot long (maybe 10 inches) with a decent amount of meat and lots of grease, the way a cheesesteak should be. Plus, you got a bag of chips and a pickle. Not a gourmet meal by any stretch of the imagination, but about the best bar food you can get for $4. And it actually filled us all up!

We each had a beer with our meal. So, we each got dinner, which filled us up, for $5! Very good news in this economy!

So overall, Bob Ganoosh gives a big thumbs up to MaGerk's $4 cheesesteak night. Just be prepared to wait for a place to sit (and then for service), and dont even bother if you have a big group (unless you can eat standing up). We also thought about the idea of getting there at 6:30 sharp, when perhaps they are less busy - plus, there'd be a half hour of Happy Hour left! I would guess that Thursday Happy Hour is less busy than Thursday Night (known by some as "College Night"). If anyone has been there at this time, please feel free to leave your feedback!

MaGerk's

S. Charles Street at E. Cross Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

410-576-9230

http://www.magerks.com/

Best Sunday Brunch in B'more - Rocket To Venus

This weekend, a large group of us had the pleasure of getting together for Sunday brunch at Rocket to Venus. And by the time we were done drinking, we felt like we were on a rocket to Venus!

Named in honor of an old Hampden urban legend, Rocket to Venus is a relatively new bar/restaurant located in Hampden, adjacent to the block responsible for the famous Christmas light display. It is a trendy looking establishment with retro look that is a popular spot for the local "Hipster" crowd, although we generally see a pretty eclectic mix of people when we visit. The opening of this restaurant several years ago was seen by many as one of the first visible signs of Hampden's gentrification, and is a lot less "rough around the edges" than some of other neighborhood joints.

R2V offers a short yet unique menu, with a price-range of about $8-15 per plate, and the food is usually quite good. However, the best deal on the menu is only offered on Sunday, and is the topic of today's post. Of course, I am referring to their Sunday Brunch (or as they call it, the Blitz).

The first great benefit of their brunch is that you can sleep in and still make it - it's from 2PM to 5PM each Sunday. Here's the deal: a handful of items on the menu are asterisked, items such as French Toast, Breakfast Burrito, Burger, and even Green Eggs and Ham. These are the items on special, and for $12.95 you get one of these dishes, with ALL YOU CAN DRINK Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and Sangria. That's right - ALL YOU CAN DRINK. How could we pass that up???

We couldn't! So, here's our review:

Unfortunately, the experience didn't start out as well as we were hoping. We had a large party - about 10 of us - and they were unusually busy due to the holiday weekend. So, we were told we would have a 1 hour wait (usually when we go, half the restaurant is empty, so we didn't think to make reservations). That was understandable; however, we were hungry. So, we told the hostess that we would gladly split up into 2 smaller parties and take the first 2 tables that become available. She didn't acknowledge our request, and when the first table (a booth) became available, she gave it to a party of 2. TWO!!! We could have fit at least half of us there. This was disappointing.

However, everything after that just kept getting better! When we were finally seated, we were given a nice large table that allowed us to socialize effectively. Our waitress (I forget her name, as I was a bit tipsy when I asked her - but she is there every Sunday) was very nice and accommodating. She started out by bringing us several pitchers of the drinks, so that we didn't have to wait on the bar as much. We realized very quickly that despite the "all you can drink" special, they were not skimpy on the alcohol.

We ordered a variety of food - Bob Ganoosh and I got the Breakfast Burrito, but there were a few French Toasts and some Apple Pancakes ordered too. Overall, everyone LOVED the food. The portions were decent - they were not huge, but were reasonable. It looks like the most filling was the pancakes, which were the size of the plate. Bob Ganoosh also found the garnishing "interesting" - the plates are garnished with just a couple pieces of fruit.

As far as the drinks are concerned, everyone loved them as well! The Mimosas were great, as was the Sangria, which is different each week. The Bloody Marys are good but very spicy (tons of Old Bay!), so if you're not an experienced Bloody Mary drinker, I wouldn't bother.

So overall, the experience earned a "thumbs up" from the Bob Ganoosh team. We'll say, 4 out of 5 stars, for a Sunday Brunch. We just recommend that, if you have a large party, call ahead! And speak slowly and clearly to the host(ess). Otherwise, you are guaranteed to have a great time and get a lot of bang for your buck!

Rocket to Venus

Chestnut Avenue at 34th Street

Baltimore, MD 21211

410-235-7887

http://www.rockettovenus.com/

Pat's vs. Jim's: Superbowl of the Philly Cheesesteaks!

Courtesy: http://www.patskingofsteaks.com

VS

Courtesy: http://www.jimssteaks.com

Ok, so this Saturday a group of 8 of us took a pre-Super Bowl road trip to Philly, to get ourselves some cheesesteaks and wander South Street. Since there were a few Philly Cheesesteak virgins in the crowd, we decided to make it interesting: we decided we'd hit Pat's first, clear our palate by having a few drinks, and then hit Jim's on South Street. So, here's a little review on each, and our thoughts as to who the winner is!

First, Pat's King of Steaks: Pat's, located at its current location in South Philly for like 70-something years, is one of the 2 most well-known in the city (the other being Geno's, which is right across the street). What make's Pat's unique is the experience. For starters, you have to order your cheesesteak the "Philly way," which consists of barking 3 words or so at them, depending on what you want. They do not want to hear "umm, let me see..... I guess I'll get the..." They will send you right to the back of the line. You tell them "wit" or "witout" (to specify whether or not you want onions) and the type of cheese. If you don't specify the cheese they default to the standard Cheese Whiz. So if you want a regular cheesesteak without onions, you just yell "1 witout;" if you want one with onions and provalone you say "1 provy wit." And, make sure you have your money ready because they do not like watching you fumble through your wallet. Their not-so-friendliness makes you feel just like a South Philadelphian.

As for the cheesesteak, its about 6-8 inches, decently stuffed, and deliciously greasy. The locals tend to think they are more generous with the Whiz than their competition. Everyone enjoyed theirs for the most part. However we pretty much scarfed them down, as Pat's only has outdoor seating and it was in the low 30's in Philly. If they are busy, you will have trouble finding somewhere to sit, but they were surprisingly slow when we got there. Probably because of the cold. Parking is also a pain. However, while you're parked you can walk up to the famous 9th Street Market.

Now, for Jim's Steaks: From my observation and conversations with people, this seems to be regarded as the #3 place in town (with Pat's and Geno's fighting for #1). However, we tend to rate them a bit higher. Originally opened in the 1930's in North Philly, their most popular location is probably the one on South Street, which is where we went. Though the line doesnt move as fast as Pat's, it is well worth the wait. The cheesesteaks are longer - about 8-10 inches - and they have more fixin's if you so desire. They are also a little bit friendlier, although if you're like me, you'll get picked on for ordering the Yoohoo in a can ("you a big man, ain't you").

Everyone loved their steaks here. They are a little less greasy than Pat's, but do not lack in flavor. And again, they are a bit bigger. If you like the fried onions, they are generous with those as well. It was well worth the long wait (and subsequent parking tickets).

It is an indoor shop, although the line often goes out the door and around to 4th Street, so you wont be in the cold as long. They have indoor eating upstairs, but it is usually packed. But if you wait seats will usually open up. Beats eating in the cold. Parking is a little bit easier on South Street, but the "parking enforcement officials" are insane. If you've ever seen Parking Wars, you'll understand. The shop is also located on the eclectic and unique South Street, so after your cheesesteak you can walk the various shops and/or bars of South St/Society Hill.

So, if you haven't figured out already, our choice as the winner: JIM'S. It was the unanimous opinion that Jim's was just a much better cheasesteak. And you didn't have to eat it in the cold! Don't get me wrong though, we loved both of them; but we just thought Jim's had the edge in every aspect. Many of the locals disagree, but I think they're just afraid that if they don't say Pat's is the best, they're lose credibility as Philadelphians.  But that's just our opinion - we encourage you to take the trip to South Philly, try them all, and decide for yourself!

Also, we'd like to give an honorable mention to Happy Day's Bar on 2nd Street (or was it 3rd?). Former known as Kildare's, we have no idea if they have a cheesesteak or not, but the people who worked there were pretty cool, and it wasn't overpriced like some of those bars in the area!

Pat's King of Steaks:
Passyunk Avenue and Wharton Street
Phila, PA

Jim's Steaks:
South and 4th Streets
Phila, PA