Going on the recommendation of a friend, we chose Mama Jo's for lunch one weekend afternoon. The restaurant is fairly new, located on the northeast corner of 17th and Walnut streets. We were in the mood for a pleasant and casual dining experience but were somewhat disappointed with certain aspects of the meal.
Appetizer\nWe began our lunch with Uncle Mario's cheese bread for $2.95. This bread, topped with mozzarella cheese, lacked pizzazz. The cheese wasn't entirely melted, and a dipping sauce or garlic seasoning would have enhanced the appetizer's flavor. (Roma tomatoes can be added for $1, but we skipped that option).
Soup\nWe also sampled the restaurant's only two soup options ' "Mama Jo's choice" soup of the day and the chili flavor of the day, both for $2.50 a cup.\nThe soup of the day, made with potatoes, spinach, basil and pork, had a meaty taste. The spinach flavor wasn't overwhelming and was more appetizing than the main course. The Texas chili was just spicy enough, with plenty of kidney beans and large chunks of beef. Overall, it had a good flavor with just the right amount of seasoning.
Main Course\nFor the main course, we sampled the tuna melt sandwich, the chargrilled chicken breast sandwich and the turkey breast sandwich. \nThe tuna melt can be ordered hot or cold, but it arrived at the table at an unpleasant lukewarm temperature. Served on lightly toasted bread, the tuna salad contained olives, which gave it an unusual, overpowering flavor. Even for a true tuna fanatic, this isn't the best way to spend $4.95.\nThe chargrilled chicken breast sandwich didn't seem cooked enough and was too pink. For $4.50, the mediocre sandwich should have come with something other than a pickle slice. But, the complimentary barbeque sauce added a pleasant flavor to the chicken.\nThe breast of turkey sandwich for $4.50 tasted like it was homemade. It too could have been served with some type of side dish other than a pickle slice, but the juicy tomato added a touch of flavor to the otherwise plain sandwich.
Dessert\nMama Jo's offered only two dessert selections, so choosing was pretty easy. We each ordered one.\nThe pineapple cheesecake was disappointing to a true cheesecake fan. The pineapple chunks were an unpleasant interruption to the usual smooth, creamy texture of cheesecake. The crust was soggy as well.\nA more pleasant choice was the Kahlua chocolate mousse pie. Though it could have been served colder, it would be a great choice for chocolate lovers. After so many bites, it was too rich. But, it was the only thing we finished during the entire meal.
Service and atmosphere\nOur waitress was courteous and helpful, offsetting some of our dissatisfaction with food quality. Our drinks were never empty, and the unfinished food was cleared away promptly. \nSurprisingly, Mama Jo's has very little seating. But it does deliver for those who don't want to wait for a table. Lunch prices are all under $5.\nThough we went for lunch, dinner options are available after 5 p.m.\nDinner prices range from $7.95 to $17.95. Vegetarian options, of which there are several, are specially marked on the menu.\nMama Jo's is a decent restaurant if you want to grab a quick lunch, but we don't recommend bringing a date.
