[kertionderf]

The best smoked meat, although not cheap was at a garishly decorated place in the 900 block West Broadway called 'Joker's Wild'. It closed a few years ago. It was run as a retirement project by Arnie Freedman, who made all his bucks starting Tru-Value Optical. Joker's had it's own smokehouse and the stuff they served was as close to the real thing as you could get and it put Kaplan's to shame at the time. Arnie liked Jazz and even hired a few groups to play on week-ends for awhile. I always seemed to run into Fraser MacPherson in there during the days and had many a pleasant afternoon hanging with Fras. As it was right around the corner from the Musicians' Assoc. office you never knew who you would run into. Eventually Arnie, after some nasty stuff by the building's owner, closed the place.......he'd made his money and didn't need the hassle. He told me his only regret was that he didn't buy the building in the first place........had he done that the place would probably still be there. Freedman knew what he was doing when it came to food. Kaplan's has improved under the new ownership but it's too expensive and too ersatz. Sabra down the block on Oak and 22nd isn't bad though. I agree with Brian about Siegel's and the 24 hour thing is a plus. Bring back Rubin's on Granville!