Butt-bootin’ burgers
When they really like something, Jim and Julie say it kicks ass. They came to town for Hot August Nights and stayed because they love Reno.
We took them to PJ & Company, and I lost count of the times they used their favorite expression. They drank massive, icy, slushy margaritas ($6) to cool off from the Reno heat while they looked over the menu.
Michael and I get burgers at PJ’s all the time. His standard is the bacon burger with blue cheese ($7.50), while I go for the Gold Coast burger ($7.50) with alfalfa sprouts, a heap of guacamole and Monterey Jack cheese. Burgers come with a juicy slice of tomato, a pile of lettuce, a beautiful slice of red onion and real pickle slices. They’re served open-faced, too, so you can ogle the fixin’s before you dive in.
As much as I love their french fries, I request a half-order, or else I either end up not finishing my hamburger or not finishing off the heaping mound of fries.
Michael gets onion rings—sometimes with a side of ranch dressing.
As always, our server brought over chips and homemade salsa when we sat down. Jim and Julie were totally impressed.
“This is kick-ass salsa,” Julie said.
“No,” Jim said, “these chips kick ass.”
I guided them back to the menu. Another minute discussing the salsa was another minute my hamburger was not cooking.
Jim and Julie went into a private discussion on the quality of the salsa, identifying every single ingredient. Julie started writing the ingredients on a napkin.
I ordered a margarita for myself; we were going to be here a while. After they moved from the salsa back to the menu, they lingered over each item: Jim read the ingredients out loud, and a discussion ensued. When they moved from burgers to salads, I told them the cobb salad is the best in Reno.
“It kicks ass,” Michael added.
Julie cursed under her breath. “Nothing is ever easy. Do I get a hamburger or the best cobb salad in Reno?”
Jim turned to the back of the menu. He, too, cursed. “We’re gonna have to come back here for breakfast before we take off.”
Michael and I just smiled at them, our incredibly dear, passionate friends.
Julie ended up with a Gold Coast burger, too, and Jim had a southwest turkey burger ($7.50) with guacamole and Monterey Jack cheese. The ground turkey was just as juicy as the beef, he said.
The burgers were as good as the company. The crowd at PJ’s is steady and regular. We sat in the dining room with our friends, but usually we sit in the cozy bar at a tall table amid the five TVs tuned to sports.
After we finished our burgers, Julie pointed out a couple decked out in black denim and leather getting onto a hog out front. We told them the show ‘n’ shines at PJ’s are a hoot.
“That’d kick ass," Jim said, "if you’re into biking and all."