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After some errands to the credit union, food shopping, drug store, we make plans to meet Joe and Rachel at ‘Jones’. Jones’ is a Steven Starr restaurant at 7th and Chestnut. Jones’ trys to serve homemade comfort food from across the U.S.A.

Rachel and Joe are at the bar when we come in and Barb and I join them. Lime green is a predominate color you notice at Jones’. The atmosphere is light and airy. Comfortable and informal.

Emily, is from McAlisterville, PA in Juniata County. It is near State College, Bucknell, Dickinson College, Shippensburg, and Lockhaven University. Emily lived her early years in Philadelphia, high school in the center of the state, University, in Pittsburgh, and now we are happy to have her back in Philadelphia, tending bar and attending, Philadelphia University.

We were shown to a booth by smiling Amy. So much can be conveyed by a smile and Amy’s made us feel welcome. Nichol was our helpful waitperson. We started with Calamari, which was crispy light with a red sauce and lemon. We liked this Calamari. It stayed crunchy and was tasty.

Joe had the Thanksgiving Dinner with Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. He thought this was good but suspects the stuffing is made in individual ramikins. His was a little burnt. He thought Stovetop was better. But liked the overall dish.

Rachel had Sesame Seared Tuna with coconut rice, snow pea salad and wasabi-sweet soy sauce. This was good but, she thought, overpowered by the soy sauce.

Barbara and I had Shrimp Gumbo. This was a pretty good dish, okra cooked correctly, not slimy, nice roux taste, tomato base, (would have called it jumbalya if I were serving this), shrimp was just a bit underdone, stringy as opposed to meaty. The sausage in the dish was very good and I liked the addition of corn. This gumbo was served over too little rice. Barbara asked for more rice and was brought a small dish, about half a cup full. I used half of it.

Josh, one of the smiling congenial managers stops by our table to see that all is well. We encourage Rachel to tell him about the overpowering Soy sauce on her Tuna. Josh is friendly and suggests next time to ask for the soy sauce on the side.

We mentioned that there was too little rice served with the gumbo. We also suggested they serve some corn bread with the gumbo. Josh appreciated our input. He smiled and said he would tell the chef and corn bread is in the works for future diners.

Joseph and Rachel were off to see “SICKO” at the Ritz movie. We passed on desert and coffee.

The bill included a $3 charge for rice. Our lovely waitperson , Nichol said, ‘that is what they charge’. We asked to see charming Josh. Amy, another manager came to our table and took off the charge. While sitting, Josh came by, and because he was so helpful before we informed him of what transpired.

Charming Josh explained how expensive it was to provide us with the extra half cup…let’s be generous and make it a cup of cooked white rice. We explained we thought there should have been more rice to begin. He explained the dish would then cost more and they were pretty cheap as it was. Rice is a side dish. We suggested ….well, lets just say, his answers, we thought, silly. Especially after giving him free customer feedback. Do you know what it costs to have an opinion survey taken. I did not see rice as a side listed on the menu, and you should not need to order extra with a main dish. But what do I know, I don’t run a restaurant, I just eat at them. But I do know the cost of white rice.

So what did this cost for two martini’s, a glass of wine, one shared appetizer, and four plates. No desert, no coffee. $118.56. That is with $3 taken off for the rice. Good comfort food and value for the money in pleasant surroundings.