Look at you, right back here at mmm-yoso!!! probably looking for food blogging. Kirk and Ed (from Yuma) are each busy with 'research' for future posts and Cathy is writing today, with 'results'.
Mission Gorge Road, just North of Interstate 8 is a mish-mash of businesses. Bookended by Starbucks, surrounding new and used car dealerships, banks, drug stores, numerous fast food drive thru lanes, a pizza parlor, sit down restaurants, a great vegan donut shop, as well as a Kaiser Hospital and Clinic. There are also more than several Purveyors of adult beverages which also sell food in this area of town.JT's is located closest to the Interstate, on the East side, just across from Rose Toyota and a few blocks South of Iowa Meat farms (sister of Seisel's Meats). The plain exterior is not a signal of things to come.
The bar area has seemingly endless adult beverage choices, numerous televisions, seating and there are pool and ping pong tables in the back. There are several chalkboards mentioning beer specials, or you can ask. Menus are on tables. You walk up to the bar to order.
Always on the lookout for specials, the back of the menu is usually what I read first.
However, the bottom of the front page caught my eye on our first visit- beef from Iowa Meat Farms. Ground fresh daily.
Here are the center pages, if you are interested. Don't pay too much attention though...the menu is going to be changing up soon. The same talented people who make the wonderful food I'm about to show you will be working on a new menu with all fresh (as in nothing frozen) items. Currently, the potstickers and fries and tots are frozen items.
Basic Burger (cooked to a perfect medium rare, as I had ordered) ($8). Served on a fresh, toasted bun with crispy lettuce, tomato and onion, this is one of the best I've had in a while. It's 1/2 pound before cooking.
Since it was a Monday, the $3 wings were calling. Medium Buffalo and Teriyaki were our chosen flavors this visit. The wings were meaty, fried crispy and the flavors not overwhelming (the Teriyaki was not sweet, a plus in my book).
Another visit, on a Friday, had The Mister ordering a 16 ounce Cream Ale from (local) Mother Earth Brewing ($5).
Friday Fish Sandwich ($6.25) was quite large, with the cheese melted into the bun, a nice touch. The fish was moist and the batter light, almost fluffy crispy. The cole slaw here is excellent, by the way.
Sides can be fries, tots, slaw or a side salad. You can see fresh mushrooms on the salad, since they use fresh mushrooms for the beer battered mushroom basket.
This visit, The Mister ordered the bacon and Bleu burger ($9.25). Again, the cheese melted into the bun-toasty bleu cheese...so good. You can see the bacon and now can imagine how good it was. It was, it was.
Breakfast on Sunday is a whole other post...
JT's Pub & Grill 5821 Mission Gorge Road 92120 (619)280-4698 Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m, Sunday 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Website
Freshly ground beef for the burger is definitely a plus. It would be awesome if they make their own tators.
Posted by: Nhbilly | Wednesday, 28 January 2015 at 07:04 PM
Definitely, Bill; Iowa Meat Farms is a real butcher shop (and closer to home for us) with great quality. The first time we ordered at JTs, the bartender casually mentioned the tots and fries were frozen. Can't wait to try the upgraded menu, which I'm sure they won't start until after Super Bowl Sunday.
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 06:07 AM
Thanks for this. I live up the hill and pass this place often. I will definitely check out the burger
Posted by: jack | Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 07:37 AM
Mmm... Bacon burger. :-)
Posted by: Soo H | Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 08:56 AM
We seem to be driving down the hill and stopping to eat in that nice neighborhood lately, jack (Plenty of places where I can get a post and good food). Almost every Pub/Bar serves fresh -not frozen- burgers (which they mention as you order) and I think JT's is the best of the bunch.
The thick, non-greasy, perfectly cooked bacon, combined with melted browned bleu cheese is addictive, Soo.
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 10:18 AM
Another find, Cathy. That food looks good, and fresh is best.
Posted by: Ed (from Yuma) | Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 01:25 PM
The Mister has been having unusual cravings lately, Ed. Stopping here was always on our short list and I'm so happy we did.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 30 January 2015 at 05:31 AM