Joe's Deli & Restaurant-- Rocky River, OH [$$]

This week we dined at Joe's in Rocky River. We didn't quite fit into the regular crowd age group, however, knowing it had recently been under construction to be expanded, the place looked great! Even with the expansion, we still had to wait about ten minutes to be seated. After being shown to our table, we noticed that the menu only had about two vegetarian entree choices for Shannon. But, no matter! Both ordered delightful lunches.
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Grace:
I have been going to Joe's since I was about two years old. I always loved how there was a cloth checker board at a table in the waiting area, but now it is no more. Despite this disappointment, at least Shannon and I didn't have to wait around for the entirety of a checkers game to be seated. The newly constructed restaurant is much more modern and simple than the old building was, seeing as the old one had green carpeting with pink seating. Eek. Having previously tasted the chicken salad years before, I basically already knew what I was going to choose. I opted for wheat bread, and was also pretty disappointed that my sandwich used to come with chips but again...is no more. If I would have known that, I would have ordered a side. When the lonely sandwich came, the chicken salad was placed in the center of the wheat bread in a perfectly round circle, like scooped ice cream. The lettuce is always very fresh and I especially loved the pickle on the side! Despite the differences I saw, I will continue to come back to Joe's for the rest of the time I'm in Cleveland. But obviously I'll just have to play checkers on my new iPhone while waiting.
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Shannon:
I was quite taken by the entire appetizers menu, it being mainly vegetarian options.  However my hunger was too big for an appetizer.  Sadly none of the soups were vegetarian.  Today is soup weather.  (Most days are for me.)  The two obvious items for me were either a veggie melt sandwich or a portabella mushroom burger.  I read and reread the descriptions of each to familiarize myself with their differences.  The biggest deciding factor was the portabella burger's inclusion of a pickle.  (My love of pickles is both new and intoxicating.)  So I ordered this, which also came with fries.  When it arrived it already wasn't staying together.  The mushroom was stacked with a roasted red pepper, melted mozzarella, two tomato slice, a large lettuce leaf, with a side of mayo.  I wisely cut the sandwich in half, since between bites I had to reassemble several times.  The portabella mushroom was marinated in garlic and olive oil, and it was certainly delicious.  The fries came in a spiral cone on the side, and were just the right amount of crispy.  And the pickle was as enjoyable as I suspected it would be (and was gone in seconds).  I was quite full by the end of my meal, I nearly finished all of my sandwich.  Towards the end the contents really didn't want to stay together no matter how much effort I put into it, so I focused more on the fries.  This was a very nice place.  I hadn't ever been to Joe's before, so I don't know how the decor compares prior to expansion.  I would certainly go back for some of those appetizers and that veggie melt sandwich.  I would also have liked to play checkers, but alas.
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Waiting area/Dessert case

Chicken salad sandwich

Fries in spiral cone holder

Portabella burger

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Joe's is fairly priced and clearly very popular.  It's a great place to go for any deli sandwich or for more elaborate dinner items.  However, not a place for vegetarian soup-lovers or people who want to eat out on Sundays.  Otherwise, it's a meal worth having!