Burger Flavor: 4
Creativity (selection): 2
French Fries: 5
Juiciness: 4
Bun: 4
Service: 5
I recently ordered a bacon cheeseburger to-go from Joe's American Bar & Grill. Joe's is a chain restaurant with 15 locations mostly in the Tri-State & New England area. The spot at the Short Hills Mall is the only one I've tried and where I ordered the cheeseburger from the other day.
I placed my order about 15 minutes before I wanted to pick it up and it was ready in time. If you've ever visited Joe's, you know how packed it is ALL the time. There is constantly a wait to be seated, but the food definitely delivers. It is worth it to order ahead if you don't want to sit. It took just a couple minutes for the hostess, who was pleasant, to bring my take-out bag from the kitchen. One of the DELICIOUS things about Joe's is that they don't skimp on quality & quantity just because you're getting take-away. Patrons still get everything they would if they were to sit. That means a FULL, round loaf of HOT, fresh bread with a cup filled with their smooth, rich butter. Amazing! They are also sure to include plenty of napkins, condiments, and a perfect, neat pack of silverware, salt & pepper, and a moist towelette!
More on Joe's outstanding service--the week prior I had ordered one of my favorite Joe's dishes, the Cheeseburger Pizza. I know. Ridiculous. [A thin crust pizza, piled high with chopped-up hamburger, cheddar cheese, chopped onions, tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, and finally drizzled with ketchup] It is usually DELICIOUS and not as filling as it sounds. However, this particular pizza was completely undercooked, soggy, and not enjoyable. The manager over at Short Hill's Joe's was so pleasant and not only refunded me my pizza, but my entire order, which included a $9. appetizer of Spinach & Artichoke dip, as well as a soda. He also gave me an additional pizza, free of charge. Joe's definitely redeemed themselves in my book! It was apparent that they cared about keeping me as a customer, which is admirable for a restaurant that seats hundreds of people a day.
Now, let's get to talking about this burger. The poppy seed bun was plentiful, and controlled the juicy, medium-grilled burger patty with all its toppings. It was a bit too bread-y, though. Joe's expert grillers definitely listened in keeping it MEDIUM, as the burger had plenty of juice. I LOVED how the nine-month aged cheddar cheese was melted over the thick strips of bacon, enveloping them in a cheesy-burger pocket...Kept everything put! The fries alongside were perfection. Crispy. Not too thin (fast-food-esque), not too thick (very starchy)... just right! And at $9.99, you're definitely getting quality for your dollar. Just one tip: if you're getting a to-go order, wash it all down with a 2L bottle of soda from home and save the almost $4 for Joe's miniscule fountain soda!
Review at a glance: Juicy burger. Great service. Onion ring garnish. Pickle included. To-go, the way to go. Steamy bread. Feelin' good with poppy seeds. Try cheeseburger on your pizza. Moist. Towelette.
And the overall rating is...
4-Patty Prize!!!!
Close to perfect! Definitely a must-try. Check out Joe's site for more locations around NJ. And hey, if you happen to completely disagree with me and absolutely HATE the burger, maybe you can get it comp'ed!
