Jo-Jo's

110 24th, Pittsburgh, PA - (412) 261-0280

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Posted By Michael Stern on 3/8/2008 4:57:00 PM

Located at the far end of Pittsburgh’s colorful Strip district (where the all-night produce market thrives) Jo-Jo’s is one of a handful of places that serves sit-down meals to night owls. “Breakfast served all day everyday,” Jo-Jo’s menu announces (meaning until the place closes, about 1:30pm), but it’s about 2 in the morning when life gets interesting at the counter and long tables of this café located in a former gas station. As the music clubs close and truckers arrive to conduct business at the produce terminal a few blocks away, the late and early shifts come together in this boisterous establishment to eat huge breakfast omelets cooked in individual skillets and served with pre-buttered slabs of Italian toast.

Most spectacular of the omelet repertoire is the Jo-Jo special, filled with a rainbow of vegetables, hot or sweet sausage chunks, and a heap of soft home fried potatoes, all of which barely fit inside the half-circle formed by folding over the triple-egg challenge. French fries are popular, too, ordered on the side of a meat loaf sandwich in lieu of home fries, and frequently served underneath a blanket of dark brown gravy.

While the majority of Jo-Jo’s customers are sober responsible folks who simply happen to be out late at night, chances are good you will meet a handful of, shall we say, eccentric types who drink too much. One superfan of the big omelet very carefully and precisely explained that he comes to the restaurant every morning about four for the purpose of drinking a Jo-Jo omelet after eating beer all night.

Scorecard

Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace

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"Here it is... the King of Pittsburgh breakfast, the Jo-Jo omelet."
Cliff Strutz

"It's a joy to watch Frank Mannetti, proprietor and chef, assemble a Jo-Jo special omelet at the grill. This one is hot and ready to be served."
Michael Stern

"Even though the Jo-Jo omelet is the star of the menu, they have plenty of other good things to offer, including their excellent French toast."
Cliff Strutz

"Jo-Jo's during the morning breakfast crush. Expect to have a short wait for a precious seat during peak hours."
Cliff Strutz

"Even though Jo-Jo's is a bit run down and could use a good paint job, they do have interesting art on the outside walls. This view is of the back outside wall of the restaurant."
Cliff Strutz

"3am at Jo-Jo's: inside, the counter and tables are crowded with hungry night owls. "
Michael Stern

"Most Jo-Jo's regulars never see the place like this ... in the sunlight."
Michael Stern