Smokey Joe's

I was introduced to Smokey Joe's by my high school friend, Richard. He was an undergrad years ago when he suggested this bar. He graduated from the university - he's an engineering major. I've always suggested a cool, chill spot or bar that had a very diverse crowd of us young folk that would accept us as much as their peers from the university. I've been there for a good amount of time and each year I went with him I enjoyed the atmosphere (liquor, ladies and homies). Don't shy away from the experience. You won't regret it.

Well, it's been almost forty years since the last time I stepped into Smokey Joe's. A few things have indeed changed, as you would imagine. Gone are the wretched odors of stale beer, the men's restroom, and of course the smoke. Also absent are the less than prolific carvings on the walls, seating booth frames, and anything else made of wood that were fair game to the scribes who graced the Pennstitution with their prosaic and sometimes poetic pearls intended to be posted in perpetuity. A mixed crowd of students, faculty, and University staff; locals from the bohemian hoods of Baltimore and Cedar Avenues and the low to mid 40's, holding court on the main floor, made for a fun evening my last recent visit. A little nostalgic melancholy made the occurance to me of the notable absence of neo-behives and mullets of the 1980s and of course their counterparts of the 1960's, for better or worse. You'll forgive my digression as I need to tell you of the very friendly and efficient service of the front of the house staff for everything from watching my shopping bags as I visited the restroom to delivering what are still the best wings in the world (I chose the medium hot Buffalo style offered alongside a dry rubbed style) and French fries delivered hot, crisp, but not overly fried as to harness alot of grease. The welcome odor of each having lured me into the joint in the first place definitely a change of pace for the better for the community and this fraternity boy now in his late fifties gracing you with this geeze fest. Conclusion: Go! Go for the nostalgic Spirit but stay for what remains to sustain this establishment: good food and spirits, along with outstanding service and the still graffiti addled men's room off the second floor. Not everything has to change for a great experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved the atmosphere, great service, and spicy food. They also had a solid selection of beers on tap, plenty of crafts and regulars. Fries were well-seasoned, and my cheesesteak had some deliciously spicy sauce on it. Their hot wings were great too. Paired well with Lagunitas. Would definitely recommend to anyone in the area looking for a quiet bar with good food.