Jo's cafe is a lot smaller, more intimate, and busier than I thought it would be. Jo's has take out as well as dine in service, so when you first walk in the door there is a small clutch of people sitting on a few chairs waiting to get their food. Making your way past them there are 4 tables which are usually full, and about 10 stools (the old kind that are bolted to the ground with padded circular tops that swivel) parked against the counter. Directly behind the counter are 2 busy waitresses and a huge griddle crowded with bacon, eggs, omelets, toast, sausage, frying onion, and hash browns in various states of doneness.

The service is quick and to the point, and matches the atmosphere of the place. With so many people eating and so much going on in a small place, the cafe seems very active. People are talking to each other, the phone is ringing, regulars are coming in to be greeted by other regulars, the waitresses are shouting orders to the cook, and he is dropping orders as fast as he can just to keep his head above water. Some people are relaxing after church, but most people seem to be fueling up to start the day

The fuel is good, very good. I had breakfast, Hoffel Poffel and my friend had a typical breakfast, french toast, eggs, toast, and a side of sausage. The food was excellent. Because the place is so small and the pace so fast, our food was set down in front of us basically right off the griddle, and because everything is cooked on the same griddle you get a mingling of flavors that makes a good breakfast very comfortable.

This entry will be less about a place, and more about one specific dish, hoffel poffel

You can find hoffel poffel at Joe's Cafe on 3519 West Silver Spring in Milwaukee.

Hoffel poffel is basically scrambled eggs with onion, fried potatoes, think chunks of fried salami, and topped with melted cheese. Hoffel poffel is a true heart attack breakfast, but they serve you so much, and it is so thick, that if you eat it a little later in the morning, you don't really need to eat again until dinner. This is your all day biking fuel, hangover cure and brunch all rolled into one.

And the taste is as good as it looks, trust me. The salami is spicy and salty, mixing perfectly with the eggs and potato. The cheese on top is great, but could be a touch better if it were cheese sauce rather than a melted cheese slice, although that would detract a little bit from the grittiness of the dish. The plate of food is served with a side of buttered white toast, and if you really want you can add a side of bacon.