Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

The Red Bar: Collinsville restaurant issues the Giant Joe challenge

It was Melissa Williams who volunteered her husband, B.J., for the Giant Joe challenge.

They were dining with family and friends at The Red Bar, which opened in September on Belt Line Road in Collinsville. Melissa guessed that B.J., 26, of Highland, could eat a 10-inch-diameter sloppy Joe and a pile of sweet-potato fries in 30 minutes, winning a free meal and getting his photo posted on the wall.

"You've never seen anybody eat like him," she said.

"I do like food," B.J. admitted.

"He has been at my house and eaten two T-bone steaks, no problem," said his mother-in-law, Carol Maack, 51, of Collinsville.

Waitress Jeni Markezich brought out a large platter with the Giant Joe, which includes three pounds of ground beef and sauce on a 14-ounce bun.

"No one's ever finished it," she said. "They always have more time -- at least 15 minutes. They're just full."

Jeni set a timer next to the platter, kicking off the challenge.

B.J.'s strategy was to open the sandwich, spread half the meat on each bun and eat it with a fork. He made steady progress the first 10 minutes, then slowed down.

"I'm not going to do it," B.J. announced with about half the sandwich gone. "It's just not going to happen. That's a lot of bread. It just swells up inside you."

The Giant Joe is one of 10 "gourmet" sloppy Joes on The Red Bar menu.

The restaurant also serves appetizers, salads, 10 varieties of half-pound, deep-fried franks, other sandwiches and specialty items such as fried pickles, frog legs, crab cakes and Tater Tot nachos.

"We wanted to offer bar food that people are familiar with but also include items you don't usually find at other restaurants and bars," said co-owner Rob Juelfs, 35, of Columbia, a St. Louis brokerage-firm employee.

Rob's partners are Jason Kent, 34, of Caseyville, a printer in Maryland Heights, Mo.; and Jason's twin brother, Eric Kent, of Collinsville.

They also own Friday's in Belleville and Collinsville. Eric is general manager of all three restaurants.

The Red Bar has a different menu, but the same goals -- quality food, generous portions, reasonable prices and friendly service.

"We try to make lunches as quick as possible," Rob said. "We know that most people have a time limit."

The stucco building on Belt Line Road used to house L.J. Ducks. The new owners painted it red inside and out, refurbished the horseshoe-shaped bar and filled two dining rooms with red tables.

One room includes dart boards, video bowling and space for live bands on weekends.

The back door leads to a large beer garden with a wooden fence and -- you guessed it --red umbrellas on wrought-iron tables.

"We want to grow vines on it," Rob said, pointing to a metal-frame canopy over the beer garden.

Rob and the Kent brothers bought the first Friday's in Belleville in 2003, almost on a whim. They stopped by for a drink and discovered it had closed due to the owner's death.

"We didn't plan on (buying a restaurant)," Jason said. "It just happened. It was basically the right price at the right time."

None of the three had restaurant experience, but they did well enough to open a second location in Collinsville in 2006.

"We knew we didn't know anything," Rob said. "But we knew we needed to learn what makes customers happy."

The Red Bar is at 416 Belt Line Road in Collinsville, across from Subway.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday and Noon to 1 a.m. on Sunday. The kitchen closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call 223-8822.

At a glance

What: The Red Bar

Where: 416 Belt Line Road in Collinsville

Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday and Noon to 1 a.m. on Sunday; the kitchen closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday

Information: Call 223-8822.

On the menu:

Deep-Fried Pickles -- Eight zesty spears fried to perfection; $4.95.

Sloppy Tots or Sloppy Nachos -- Tater Tots or tortilla chips topped with sloppy Joe mix, nacho cheese and jalapenos; $4.95.

Frog Legs -- Half pound of hoppers that taste like chicken; $7.95 includes traditional or sweet-potato fries.

Sloppy Rob -- A sloppy Joe topped with beer-battered onion rings and American cheese; $5.95 includes traditional or sweet-potato fries and a pickle.

Chihuahua Dog -- A 10-inch, half-pound, deep-fried frank smeared with refried beans and topped with shredded cheddar and sliced jalapenos; $5.95 includes traditional or sweet-potato fries.