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| - Imagine if you will a big, busy, hokey, old fashioned western-themed family restaurant sitting in the middle of a drab, urban area which has seen nothing but decline over the past few decades. This pretty much describes the "original" Bill Johnson's restaurant, which continues to thrive after 50 years on a still very depressed/depressing stretch of Van Buren St.
The menu offers a large selection of breakfast, burger, steak, and BBQ dishes. I passed on the opportunity to overstuff myself with their pound of onion rings and all-you-can-eat-ribs, instead trying the 4-meat combo. Bill Johnson's claims to be "famous" for their BBQ - I'm not sure that I'd place their food among the top BBQ I've ever tried, but what I had was more than satisfying. Their signature deep dish apple pie also made for a good dessert. They offer discounts on certain menu items if you dine before or after their "peak" dinner hours of 6 PM to 9 PM.
I was somewhat delighted to find that much of the waitstaff seemed to fit in well with the quirky, old fashioned atmosphere of this place - they were entertaining folk, but my dining companion was somewhat bothered by the fact that all the staff seemed to be carrying pistols (I tried to reassure that the guns were probably fake). I believe the other Bill Johnson locations are pretty similar in atmosphere to the Van Buren location, but my Phoenix friends recommend this "original" location for the most authentic experience. Just don't linger too long in the parking lot after your meal or you may find yourself being harrassed by a raggedy prostitute or street person.
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