House
07-20-2009, 11:11 AM
The Main course 7-19
Fat Jack’s BBQ
By Mitch Davis
Rating: http://media.philly.com/designimages/starsfive3.gif
A visit to Fat Jack’s BBQ requires that you stand looking up at the dozen signs high on one wall, familiarizing yourself with the menu. There are no printed menus and no table service, except to deliver your order. Then you step over to the order-taker/cashier. Drinks are all self-serve.
Diners must seat themselves at an available table from among only nine in the eat-in section. The small establishment is casual to a fault. It’s all hard surfaces, half-lit by two always-on TVs and the large neon signs in the front windows.
The other half is devoted to order taking, with six chairs for the take-outers to sit while waiting, plus several refrigerator cases for bottled soft drinks and slices of pie and cake desserts.
But you’re not going to Fat Jack’s for ambiance and service. Go there for the barbecue eats.
Fat Jack’s has first-rate “Championship Ribs” that come with a choice of a good, hot or mild barbecue sauce or Memphis-style dry rub. There is also chicken, beef brisket and catfish on “blue plates,” atop salads. Sandwiches, burgers, wings and wraps are also on the menu.
There are many choices of sides, and they include a very excellent potato salad, green beans and ham, barbecue beans, fries, sweet and “smashed” potatoes, slaw, collard greens, onion rings and more.
All the meats are smoked on premises in a large, professional smoker made by Southern Pride Co. in Illinois.
Fat Jack’s is a chain with four locations in south Jersey. This is the first in Pennsylvania.
All the items my two companions and I tried ranged from good to excellent, with the possible exception of a side of the green beans and ham, which somehow was too garlicky and needed salt and pepper. The cornbread was nothing to write home about.
I picked the half slab of ribs combo that came with six ribs and two sides and cornbread ($14.99). Lighter eaters can choose the 1/3 slab of ribs combo with four ribs ($11.49), and drop the sides ($2 less).
The dry-rubbed ribs were very meaty with a delicious smoked taste. The side of red bliss potato salad was superb, but my second side, Kentucky slaw, was not sweet and was too finely chopped.
My L.D.C. (Lovely Dining Companion), a salad savant, chose the “Smokehouse Salad” ($8.99), which sports thick slices of pork, brisket and chicken on top of fresh salad greens and veggies. She picked the bleu cheese dressing on the side.
The salad, served densely packed in an aluminum pan and blanketed with shredded cheese, did not look appetizing, but it tasted fine.
Her sister, Sherrie, decided on a sandwich, Texas beef brisket on a round roll ($7.99). All the sandwiches come with a good-size pile of seasoned Texas fries.
The brisket was satisfyingly tender and tasty. Sherrie said she “just loved the ribs.” The “Sweet Southern Endings” menu offers a selection from the self-serve dessert case. It has pastries such as “Georgia” pecan pie, and “Down Home” bread pudding. The pudding was the one homemade offering, and was large enough for three to four people.
Fat Jack’s accepts print-at-home coupons from www.restaurant.com good for $10 or $25 off.
I would definitely return the next time I am in the mood for some smoked barbecue delights, but will get takeout.
Overall Rating: Good barbecue, especially the ribs and chicken, earn mmm (out of 5 m’s).
To contact Mitch Davis, e-mail him at: MdavisMainCourse@aol.com.
Fat Jack’s BBQ Location: 1041 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley Phone Number: 215-364-8980 Cuisine: Barbecue and sandwiches Ambience: Very casual; half take-out Hours: Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Prices: Appetizers, soups and salads: $5.50 to $9; Sandwiches: $6.50 to $8.50; Entrées: $9 to $18 Alcoholic Beverages: B.Y.O.B. Web site: www.fatjacks.net is under construction
http://www.speakphilly.com/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=45
Fat Jack’s BBQ
By Mitch Davis
Rating: http://media.philly.com/designimages/starsfive3.gif
A visit to Fat Jack’s BBQ requires that you stand looking up at the dozen signs high on one wall, familiarizing yourself with the menu. There are no printed menus and no table service, except to deliver your order. Then you step over to the order-taker/cashier. Drinks are all self-serve.
Diners must seat themselves at an available table from among only nine in the eat-in section. The small establishment is casual to a fault. It’s all hard surfaces, half-lit by two always-on TVs and the large neon signs in the front windows.
The other half is devoted to order taking, with six chairs for the take-outers to sit while waiting, plus several refrigerator cases for bottled soft drinks and slices of pie and cake desserts.
But you’re not going to Fat Jack’s for ambiance and service. Go there for the barbecue eats.
Fat Jack’s has first-rate “Championship Ribs” that come with a choice of a good, hot or mild barbecue sauce or Memphis-style dry rub. There is also chicken, beef brisket and catfish on “blue plates,” atop salads. Sandwiches, burgers, wings and wraps are also on the menu.
There are many choices of sides, and they include a very excellent potato salad, green beans and ham, barbecue beans, fries, sweet and “smashed” potatoes, slaw, collard greens, onion rings and more.
All the meats are smoked on premises in a large, professional smoker made by Southern Pride Co. in Illinois.
Fat Jack’s is a chain with four locations in south Jersey. This is the first in Pennsylvania.
All the items my two companions and I tried ranged from good to excellent, with the possible exception of a side of the green beans and ham, which somehow was too garlicky and needed salt and pepper. The cornbread was nothing to write home about.
I picked the half slab of ribs combo that came with six ribs and two sides and cornbread ($14.99). Lighter eaters can choose the 1/3 slab of ribs combo with four ribs ($11.49), and drop the sides ($2 less).
The dry-rubbed ribs were very meaty with a delicious smoked taste. The side of red bliss potato salad was superb, but my second side, Kentucky slaw, was not sweet and was too finely chopped.
My L.D.C. (Lovely Dining Companion), a salad savant, chose the “Smokehouse Salad” ($8.99), which sports thick slices of pork, brisket and chicken on top of fresh salad greens and veggies. She picked the bleu cheese dressing on the side.
The salad, served densely packed in an aluminum pan and blanketed with shredded cheese, did not look appetizing, but it tasted fine.
Her sister, Sherrie, decided on a sandwich, Texas beef brisket on a round roll ($7.99). All the sandwiches come with a good-size pile of seasoned Texas fries.
The brisket was satisfyingly tender and tasty. Sherrie said she “just loved the ribs.” The “Sweet Southern Endings” menu offers a selection from the self-serve dessert case. It has pastries such as “Georgia” pecan pie, and “Down Home” bread pudding. The pudding was the one homemade offering, and was large enough for three to four people.
Fat Jack’s accepts print-at-home coupons from www.restaurant.com good for $10 or $25 off.
I would definitely return the next time I am in the mood for some smoked barbecue delights, but will get takeout.
Overall Rating: Good barbecue, especially the ribs and chicken, earn mmm (out of 5 m’s).
To contact Mitch Davis, e-mail him at: MdavisMainCourse@aol.com.
Fat Jack’s BBQ Location: 1041 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley Phone Number: 215-364-8980 Cuisine: Barbecue and sandwiches Ambience: Very casual; half take-out Hours: Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Prices: Appetizers, soups and salads: $5.50 to $9; Sandwiches: $6.50 to $8.50; Entrées: $9 to $18 Alcoholic Beverages: B.Y.O.B. Web site: www.fatjacks.net is under construction
http://www.speakphilly.com/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=45