August 25, 2022

Joint (dʒɔɪnt) – American slang for informal restaurant or bar. Not to be confused with “classy joint” a place with cloth tablecloths. This place had the plastic place mat kind of table covering with some kind of laminated top, easy to wipe spills. The booth seat was comfortable but it swayed when the person in the booth behind me moved.

I’m hanging with my father-in-law Jim today and we’ve got a craving for some simple breakfast grub. It’s a beautiful sunny Thursday morning, the temperature is about 80.

We’re trying a new spot, Peach’s, a chain breakfast restaurant here in the Sarasota area. We like joints, for us it’s all about the food. No pretensions please, just good hot food with fresh hot coffee at a fair price. It’s a sin to screw up breakfast food although many restaurants do.

The waitress is at our table just as we sit down. “What’ll you have to drink?” she asks in a friendly voice. Quick service, nice.

She quickly comes by with piping hot coffee for the both of us, leaded for Jim, decaf for me. So far so good.

Pick up the Pieces by Average White Band is playing on the box, great song.

I order my usual, 2 eggs over easy, hash browns, bacon and toast. Jim orders pancakes with a side of bacon.

She takes our order and plugs it into a small handheld device, hmmmm nifty use of technology.

Our cups of Joe are fresh and hot. Before I know it another waitress comes by with pots in both hands asking to refill, I didn’t even have to ask, double nice.

The meal comes and its solid, everything is hot right off the griddle. Jim attacks the super-sized pancakes with a spoon cutting them into manageable pieces. I was about to suggest using a fork, but he’s got a piece of flapjack with syrup nicely placed on his spoon. Good call.

After our meals, we lingered and sipped the bottomless cups of coffee. The meal was solid, the coffee excellent, we’ve been to many local breakfast places and more often than not, the experience is a disappointment. This place was a pleasant surprise.

We left the restaurant and walked the short distance to the car. I looked at Jim and said, whew it’s going to be another hot one.