JACKS N JOE (DOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Jacks N Joe
2498 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90007
www.jacksnjoe.com
Tel: 213.748.4565
Cuisine: American
$$ ($15-$30)
Sun, 03/11/2018, 10:00am walk-in
(4 Piglets)

When it's a cold and rainy day in Los Angeles, all you want is something comforting, especially when waking up. It is difficult to get out of the warm bed unless there is something worth it. 

My friend phoned me up in the morning and wanted to get breakfast. The original plan was to get Korean food, but then we managed to take a detour to satisfy our cravings for pancakes. 

Jacks N Joe is a cool and hip breakfast spot located near USC. They are known for their pancakes, which consists of half the menu. 


This ain't no IHOP. The ambiance is a trendy, hipster "ish" diner. It feels like a mom and pop shop and the staff are super friendly.

The kitchen

Bar-top seating

Dining Room

TURKEY BACON ($3.50)

HASHBROWNS ($3.50). This was delicious. It tasted like fresh shredded potatoes that have been cooked perfectly to a nice crispy outer texture. I thoroughly enjoyed eating it. 

MY FAVORITE DISH. TREE HUGGERS ($10.50): 3 Buckwheat Pancakes with House Made Granola, Seasonal Berries, Sweet Orange Butter, Sprinkled with Powdered Sugar. This was delicious. It definitely tasted a bit healthier since it was made with buckwheat. It was soft and moist, with a bit of texture. I like the granola and the fresh berries. It was well-balanced. 

Overall, I thought Jacks N Joe was delicious. My friend and I were able to get in and out pretty quickly without a wait. If you are coming with a large party, I think the wait times could be longer. The staff were very efficient and I really liked the coffee they had as well. I just wish it was a little more conveniently located to me. Additionally, parking can be a bitch during the weekends. 

Notable Dishes: Tree Huggers and Hash Browns  

THE SHERMAN (SHERMAN OAKS, CA)

The Sherman
14633 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.theshermanla.com
Tel: 818.485.2200
Cuisine: American
$$ ($15-$30)
Sat, 2/24/2018, 7:00pm reservation
   (2.5 Piglets)

The Sherman is a restaurant situated on bustling Ventura Blvd in the heart of Sherman Oaks. Centered around fresh, sustainable ingredients, the eatery tries to promote a neighborhood gastropub where locals can go to for a meal and feel like family.

The décor is rustic and urban. The menu is pretty simple and Californian with a hint of Southern cuisine. The service was pretty spotty and could definitely use some improvement.

The bar area

Dining Room

We came here for a birthday dinner and unfortunately, we picked the wrong place to host. There was just too much waiting and the worse part of the whole thing was when it came down to the bill, they were there in a heartbeat to pick up our payment. Anyway, this is what we ordered:

MY FAVORITE DISH. THE SHERMAN BURGER ($17.00): Lemon Basil Aioli, Sharp Cheddar, Sambal Aioli, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Wild Arugula, Red Onion Marmalade, King's Hawaiian Buns, Gremolata Fries. I thought this burger was pretty amazing. It was moist and juicy and perfectly cooked. There was so much flavor going on with this burger. It definitely was messy, but who the freak cares? It's a burger and it's meant to be messy. It was fresh and I would seriously order this again. 

Gremolata Fries

ESPRESSO BRAISED SHORT RIBS ($25.00): Espresso, Cabernet, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Smoked Gouda Mash. Everything about this dish was delicious minus the actual main dish. The meat itself was really dry. The potatoes were super creamy and smooth and the sprouts were delicious. I just wouldn't order this again based on the short ribs. 

S'MORES CHEESECAKE: The cheesecake was good. I didn't think it was amazing. I like the marshmallows. They were toasted and tasted like roasted marshmallows like how s'mores would be. 

Overall, I probably would pass on coming back to the Sherman. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my burger, I just didn't think the wait and the lack in attention to detail for service was worth ignoring. It's also interesting when restaurants are so quick to get the bill when they're so slow in everything else. For that, I'll pass. 


Notable Dishes: The Sherman Burger and Fries