Famous Pennstitution offers tasty American fare

Smokey Joe's has been a part of Penn's campus since 1933. For University students, it's a regular hangout with lines stretching out the doors even on weeknights. Visitors to the campus from far and wide often make it a necessary stop on their "must-see" list. Most people pack into the medium-sized establishment on 40th Street after 11 p.m. for the bar scene, leaving the restaurant section largely empty at dinner. But the wide selection of burgers, hot and cold sandwiches and traditional dinners is so reasonably priced that the menu rivals other local institutions like New Deck Tavern or Cavanaugh's. Smoke's truly lives up to its reputation as a campus establishment, with red and blue decor lining the dining room and bar area. Pictures of Penn athletes from as far back as the 1950s and '60s hang on the walls, and the menu boasts such authentic Philadelphia specialties as the "Ben Franklin" and "Frank Rizzo" burgers. Ask any Smoke's regular, and they'll tell you the best bargain on the menu is the "Franklin Field Deal," which, for $7.99, gets you a selected appetizer, entree and bottomless soft drink. As an appetizer, sample the jalapeno poppers ($3.25) -- a lightly breaded spicy pepper filled with creamy cheddar cheese and marinara dipping sauce. Another popular favorite is a heaping platter of buffalo wings, drenched with Smoke's own hot sauce and accompanied by a creamy blue cheese dressing. Our waitress highly recommended the hamburgers, so we sampled the "Ben Franklin" -- a 1/2 lb. beef patty covered with diced onions, mushrooms and peppers with a serving of crispy steak fries. Although the meat wasn't prime filet, what more can you ask for $4.95? Larger entrZes on the menu include the Barbequed Baby Back Ribs, a rack of hearty ribs slathered in a smokey, southern-style sauce. For $7.95, this dish included a side order of a steaming baked potato, cole slaw and sauteed spinach. Don't come to Smoke's expecting dessert -- apparently most people don't order it, our waitress informed us. Luckily, there happened to be an extra apple pie in the kitchen that the chef happily heated up and served with a dollop of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

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