I was hanging out with Big Daddy and his crew down at the 4040 (an Indy Rock venue) and while a boring band hit the stage, I decided to hit the bricks and pop into Smokey Joe's for a review because I doubt that The Dog, a staunch Drexel Man would willingly enter Penn territory to cover a Penn bar.  At least here you will get an honest review.

So with Indy Techno in my head and the beginnings of a headache from drinking too much Thai beer (actually malt liquor) at dinner, I headed towards Smokey Joe's.

When I got there, the place was pretty empty so it gave me plenty of time to start writing this review.  Upon entering Smokey Joe's you have to ascend a couple of stairs to get to the bar and eating area. This is a typical bar and eating (I dare not call it restaurant) establishment.  It reminded me of a Friday’s but where Friday’s is camp, Smoke Joe’s is authentic (Smokey Joe’s also had a lot less bric-a-brac around—thank God).

There is no mistaking it, Smokey Joe's is a Penn bar; thus it is a college bar, and the taps reflect it: Coors, Bud Light, Rolling Rock, Yuengling, and for those with a refined taste, Guinness.  Considering that Penn is a bourgeois school, I was shocked to see all proletariat beers.  (Yes, Guinness might be received over here as a  trendy beer here in the States, but it is the drink of the Irish masses and Irish masses are proletariat.)

The walls are covered with Penn sport photos of the great Penn athletes. (Great Penn athletes. . . Isn't that an oxymoron like military intelligence?). Needless to say, the patrons are locals and Penn students. The bar tender Joe asked me right away what type of crowd was at the 4040. I was surprised and he said that most 21 to 30 year olds that he never saw before are from the 4040. He also said that the blue splotch of a stamp on my hand was also a give-away.

Smokey Joe's is a very nice bar and actually the nicest and cleanest college bar that I was in.  Cheers to Smokey Joe’s.

- As reviewed by The Nutty Irishman

His other reviews include: Brasils, The Erin Pub, The Elephant and Castle, Oscar's Tavern, The Samson Street Oyster House,  Maggie O'Neal's, Barnaby's, Shampoo, Rio, The Great American Pub, The Boat House & Valley Forge Brewing Company.