We visited Zookie’s after the lunch hour on 4/26/2024. The restaurant/bar is described as a “mellow, family-owned sports bar providing multiple T.V.s, pool tables & a variety of grill fare.” When we were there, there were about 10-12 patrons at the huge wraparound bar and no one at the tables. There was a single bartender, Jennifer, minding all the patrons. It is a fairly dark place with typical T.V.s and memorabilia on the walls.
The Sandwich
The tender, juicy beef was well seasoned. It was a generous serving and hung over the roll, making a beautiful presentation.
The roll was fresh and well-baked. The toppings were sprinkled on the bun rather than dipping the roll in a tray of toppings. I much prefer the “sprinkle” method, but there was not enough caraway in this case, and the salt was not as present as I liked.
The horseradish was relatively mild; it had not been discolored yet, but it was an old batch.
The sandwich construction was good, but it did start to fall apart a bit. The Au Jus was good but served in a tiny cup that eliminated dipping. All the other elements were in line. Score 9/10
The Side
The side was homemade chips. They were fresh and well-made. My only objection is that they were not seasoned (at all), so they have minimal flavor. Score 9/10
The Restaurant
The restaurant was clean and well-decorated. The service was excellent, and Jennifer took good care of us while dealing with a bar full of men hitting on her. My only concern was a slight off-odor in the bar area – admittedly so subtle that my wife did not pick it up, but I did. Score 9.5/10
SCORE:
The overall restaurant rating is an A. Darn, it's a good sandwich in a bar setting.