Babe's: Is 'Slocum Boy' As Good As Merichka's Poorboy?

JOLIET, IL - I had been holding off writing a food column on Babe's Hot Dogs because, well, practically everybody knows that Babe's has great tasting hot dogs around Joliet. The Facebook page for Babe's is just shy of 6,000 Facebook Likes and Followers. But it had been a long time since I had featured a restaurant around Joliet that offers a great tasting poorboy sandwich. This week, because Babe's on West Jefferson Street is advertising something other than hot dogs, I decided I needed to check it out.

In a clever advertising campaign, Babe's has designed its "Slocum Boy" as its official "Sandwich of the Week." The Slocum Boy is a poorboy sandwich. You can eat it a couple ways.

"Named after the 'Voice of WJOL Scott Slocum,' tender, juicy cubed-steak poorboy, grilled with melted garlic butter on a toasted Milano French roll. It's made to order so let us know your favorite toppings or make it a double!" - Babe's menu

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I did not make it a double. And I did not order it with any side dishes like pickles, onions, lettuce or tomatoes.

I opted to eat it the way the weekday Morning Show host for Joliet's WJOL's AM-1340 news radio station likes his sandwich: I made it a regular poorboy with an order of mozzarella cheese on the toasted bread. Very simple. But, boy was this good.

The Slocum Boy is as good as advertised.

Since I moved back to the Joliet area two summers ago, I've eaten some poorboys at restaurants that were way too dry for my liking.

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But my poorboy for lunch on Thursday at Babe's was truly juicy. And because the french fries at Babe's are always hot and crispy, be sure to treat yourself to the special. Get yourself a soda and an order of fries.

As far as I can remember, Crest Hill's legendary restaurant, Merichka's on Theodore Street, has been the pace car when it comes to finding a delicious poorboy sandwich near Joliet. Our family has gone to Merichka's for poorboys since I went to grade school at St. Mary Nativity.

But after eating at Babe's on Thursday, I realized Merichka's has some friendly competition when it comes to making poorboy sandwiches.