Blues and barbecue find a home in downtown Anoka
by Mandy Moran Froemming
Union editor
The owners and managers of a new downtown Anoka restaurant and bar are hoping blues and barbecue hit just the right note.
Jake and Elwood’s BBQ Joint is a family affair, owned and operated by Michelle (left) and Pete Benincasa, along with Anthony Benincasa and Gina Winsperger (not pictured).
Jake and Elwood’s BBQ Joint and Blues Room opened earlier this month, bring a southern style of food to the corner of First Avenue and Jackson Street, just across from Anoka City Hall.
The restaurant is owned by the Benincasa family, including husband and wife Pete and Michelle Benincasa, Anthony Benincasa and his fiancée Gina Winsperger.
Just open two weeks, already Pete says they are getting the thumbs up from new customers.
“Anoka already has a lot of burger and wing places,” said Pete. “We wanted to do something different. And blues and barbecue have always gone together.”
The restaurant is named for the infamous characters from the 1980s hit movie “Blues Brothers” played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
Plans for the new addition to Anoka’s restaurant scene came together quickly.
“We started putting together a made-from-scratch menu,” said Pete, after being approached by his nephew Anthony, who had learned the space, formerly Lumpy’s Velvet Lounge, had become available.
Michelle and Gina handle the front of the house, while Pete is hands-on in the kitchen and Anthony takes care of the bar.
The focus, is on high quality food.
“We’re a little bit off the beaten path here,” said Pete. “But people will walk the extra block if they know the food is good.”
The barbecue is Louisiana style, and all of the smoking is done on site. There are number of rib, chicken, brisket and pork combinations, complete with tasty sides including corn bread, potato salad and coleslaw. From sweet to spicy, there are several choices of barbecue sauces for the ribs and wings. He describes the menu as ‘picnic style’ and Jake and Elwood’s also caters to take out orders.
Pete’s signature dish is the spicy green beans, deep fried and served with a Szechuan sauce.
The corn bread has also been an early customer favorite, he said.
Daily $6 lunch specials and a nightly dinner special feature some favorites of this southern-styled food.
For the Benincasa family, roots in the restaurant industry run deep.
Pete has been involved in owning and managing a long list of Twin Cities establishments, including Buena Sera, Philbert’s, William’s Uptown and most recently the Boathouse on Lake Minnetonka.
Anthony has established many connections with customers in the area from his work at Moonrock Grill in Champlin (now closed) as well as Buffalo Wild Wings.
Pete feels a hands on approach to the business will be the key to long-lasting success.
The lower level has been fitted with a bar, and there is a small stage for entertainment and seating for about 50.
“We’re really going for a lounge-style atmosphere down there,” said Pete
On the weekends, two or three piece rock and blues bands play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Jake and Elwood’s late-night crowd leans more towards those who want to enjoy a good meal with their night out.
Pete said they are also considering bringing comedy acts to the lower level lounge.
The kitchen is open until 10 p.m. though the week and 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with the full menu available. Pizza is available until midnight.
Jake and Elwood’s does have a late-night liquor license, allowing them to stay open until 2 a.m. on the weekends. Pull tabs will also likely be available in the near future.
Jake and Elwood’s BBQ Joint is located at 2016 First Ave. The bar is open daily at 11 a.m. and closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Mandy Moran Froemming is at editor.anokaunion@ecm-inc.com
There used to be two excellent spots in Anoka to get burgers and a glass of Grain Belt Premium or Hamm’s beer; the Idle Hour on Main Street and the Herr Schmidt Inn on Jackson Street. It was said that the burgers were good at those places because of the decades of grease build up on the grill. You could also shoot pool at the Idle Hour and you had to be alert to the cry, “rack ‘em Roy” or you might miss your cue, so to speak. If you craved broasted chicken, you motored over to the Red Feather on west Main Street, near the Rum River bridge. Our late and dear friend Jack Blesi, May his memory be eternal, always referred to the Red Feather as the “Scarlet Plume” a testimony to Jack’s tendency for hyperbole. If you could have but one friend in this life, you would want it to be Jack. If you lusted after an exceptionally good burger, you crossed the Mississippi over to Champlin and settled in to eat one of those magnificent creations of Joe Green. If you had a hankering for Bar-b-Que ribs, you piled in a car and tootled up Highway 169 to Dan Law’s Bar-b-Que; the food there was outstanding and so was Mr. Law. Law’s was located just east of the intersection of US 169 and Nowthen Blvd. Dan Law was a treasure of humanity and we are all the better for having known him. I will try the Jake and Elwood’s BBQ Joint and Blues Room but they are up against some stiff competition from Anoka’s past.
Can’t wait to play there…”we really need this gig.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxxJi7UkY00
Is jake and elwoods shut down?