rev:text
| - A friend of mine who is diabetic and is on a restricted diet opted to eat at Gus' as per my suggestion prior to catching WWE Monday Night Raw at the Consol Energy Center recently and left satisfied, their vegan, organic, and gluten-free menu items proving to be more than edible for him. Not a single complaint had he.
Mine were few and minor. My Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired Cowabunga burger had on it avocado that was slightly under-ripe and a colorful red pepper aioli that I wish had more zip to it. Despite that, the char-grilled beef was cooked to a medium-rare that was nearly ideal and topped with a juicy grilled pineapple ring that brought with it sweetness, acidity, and overall Polynesian thwack. The toasted bun had just enough chew and crispness to it, and the bundle of Belgian frites that accompanied the burger was a twice-cooked, brittle, fluffy, expertly seasoned fryolator accomplishment.
Speaking of things that emerge from bubbling vats of hot fat, the deep fried Oreos or "Fried Chocolate Cream Cookies" as Gus calls them, were effortlessly guilt-inducing and conjured memories of carnivals past. The white filling of each Oreo became a luscious buttercream as the chocolate discs morphed into so much warm cake from the internal steam that was created by the hearty, elastic pancake batter that encased everything. Nutella was served as a dipping sauce, recalling a rich ganache in this barfood scenario.
The garage-like decor is a little unfinished, unintentionally giving the place a dive-ish charm that some may find off-putting initially. Nevertheless, the smiling, cartoony, almost iconic visage of "Gus" himself will greet you as you break the threshold to this fun, clever, pop culture-loving restaurant in which folks from across the spectrum should find themselves welcome.
P.S. CASH ONLY!!! I thoughtlessly failed to research this part ahead of time and somehow didn't notice the signs. An ATM is on the premises, thankfully.
P.P.S. Gus' ENTIRE food menu is half-off on Mondays. Burgers are half-off on Tuesdays. Gus' also holds open mic nights and the like complete with DJ's. Keep up with them via social media and enjoy yourselves.
P.P.P.S. Our server was an absolute doll.
|