A new restaurant is a lot like the potential to be great, but it has to find its niche. Think of the Corner as the ACC. It's the home of the big boys and it doesn't tolerate weakness.
That's the feeling we got from dining at "jab'rewoke'," a restaurant in dire need of a name with fewer special characters. It's not a bad restaurant and it could be a decent addition to the Corner with some work. Currently, though, it's an awkward new place to eat that's not too sure how it fits into the University scheme.
"Jab'rewoke' henceforth referred to as the Jab, is trying hard to replace the Greenskeeper, which unceremoniously closed with most students gone during Winter Break.
There's nothing wrong with change. We welcome it, as long as it's for the better. However, we'll need to see a little more evidence before we declare the Jab as an actual improvement.
We're sure the Jab will discover that being a Corner establishment has its responsibilities, the first and foremost one being to maintain a well-stocked bar. Basically reusing the same bar from the Greenskeeper, the Jab has plenty of drinks and mixes available.
The Jab hasn't had time to come up with any signature drinks, and while that's not a big problem, there's no better way to separate oneself from the slew of other nearby bars like a unique, killer drink.
Half bar, half restaurant, the Jab lacks an extensive menu, but we weren't expecting one. Of course, part of the reason is that the staff is still experimenting with different dishes.
During our visit, we ordered off the preview menu, which apparently means that some of the items on it may not make the final cut. That aside, we feel we had a decent enough taste of what the Jab has to offer.
A little background: "Jabberwocky" is a children's poem by Lewis Carroll, and in keeping with the literary theme, the Jab tries to be cute by laying out the menu to resemble a dictionary. The names of the entrees are spelled out in individual syllables and the ingredients are listed as alternate definitions. It's a nice idea but poorly executed because it makes deciding on dishes a needlessly painful task. This probably won't be as big a problem once the regulars start coming, but the unaccustomed visitor doesn't need the headache.
For appetizers, the Jab offers pretty standard fare. We tried the cheese fries ($3.45) and the buffalo wings ($5.45/dozen). The fries were really good, but we weren't big fans of the cheese on top; the wings were a little dry, and the hot, original BBQ, honey mustard, and sweet bourbon BBQ sauces were run of the mill. Granted, after a few drinks, we don't think anyone will care.
The Jab is home to a specialty burger called a "slider." Almost identical in appearance and taste to a White Castle burger, these small but tasty sandwiches will please most everyone, and is exactly the type of food item a bar should serve.
They're pretty cheap, with the triple available for $3.50 and a dozen for $10.
After the sliders, the Jab shows its awkward, "we're not sure what to do" side and pulls out the "Featured Dinners" section of the menu.
All these dishes are pasta-based. The bow-tied rainbow pesto ($8.95, or $10.95 with shrimp) was the best of our choices, but the cook was a little too crazy with the pesto. The garlic bread served with each of these dishes was delicious, and while we opted not to, you can order a salad with each of these dinners for an additional $1.25.
If you like pasta or seafood, then shy away from the lobster ravioli ($11.95). We would've rather spent the money on a couple of cans of Chef Boyardee, or at least another drink of an alcoholic nature. The lobster was nowhere to be found, and whatever was inside that pasta didn't have claws.
We were informed by our waiter that, again, these dishes were subject to change in the coming weeks and months. For the Jab's sake, we hope they rethink this portion of the menu.
On the other hand, the sandwiches, with Boar's Head meats and cheeses, are a safe bet. The Cally chicken ($3.95), a mix of chicken, provolone and pineapples, is a tasty treat.
Another recommendation is the Jabberwock ($3.95), consisting of turkey, ham, swiss and bacon. We stand by the opinion that you can't go wrong putting bacon on a sandwich.
The service at the Jab was quick and courteous. They had no problem wrapping up the large amount of food we had left over.
Just like the Greenskeeper, the Jab has a stage where musicians and other acts will perform. While our dinner had no such entertainment, the well-positioned television sets were great for watching the AFC Championship, even if the result was lamentable.
We recommend that you visit the Jab -- the managers and wait staff probably are eager to hear comments from patrons. Don't be afraid to suggest something.
In the end, we hope that the Jab, unlike our basketball team, is able to adapt to the situation, learn from its mistakes and eventually become a force to be reckoned with.
Welcome to the Corner, and good luck.
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