Salesman's Guide to New Jersey

Every Tuesday I drive along the northern portions of the Jersey Shore.  Invariably, my last stop is to vist a couple of wine shops in Red Bank.  And in between appointments, I head over to No Joe’s Café on Broad Street.  I first encountered No Joe’s about a year ago as I needed a bite to eat to get me through the rest of my day.  Ever since my first bowl of soup and Grilled Veggie Burger wrap, I have been hooked. 

No Joe’s motto is “No Ordinary Joe and Joe Mama’s Soup-A-Rama.”  How can you not walk into an eatery with that on its sign?  Red Bank, filled with boutique shops, a number of wine stores and eclectic eateries, has been home to No Joe’s since 1993.  Their breakfast and lunch menu features soups and a number of salads and sandwiches.  I have had a number of their sandwiches and they seem to be made with an eye on delivering fresh and flavorful ingredients.  And the menu suits all tastes as sandwiches range from a packed BLT to Grilled Portobello with various delights that feature goat cheese, fresh mozzarella and varying condiments such as pesto and chipotle mayo.  Alfalfa sprouts even make an appearance on a sandwich or two.

As for their coffee, it’s delicious.  I am a fan of the dark roasted Sledgehammer blend.  They also have a slew of coffee house favorites ranging from espresso to café au lait and spiced chai.  No Joe’s also offers a selection of beans to take home for home brewing.  And if you want to indulge your sweet tooth, the pastry case at the register is difficult to ignore.