JK's at Forest Grove
Review guidelines:
1 Fork = I would rather eat dog food.2 Forks = I would eat there if I was starving.
3 Forks = Not bad; someplace I would occasionally consider eating.
4 Forks = A good place to eat; I will put it into my rotation of places I dine frequently.
5 Forks = One of my all time favorites!
One caveat to note – I am allergic to fish and seafood, so if you are looking for those recommendations, you will have to consult someone else.
Because I have a daughter-in-law with Celiac and a really good friend who is Vegetarian, I will try to point out whether those options are present when I review a restaurant.
November 25, 2015 - Lunch
JK’s at Forest Grove
4636 Old Boonesboro Rd.Winchester, KY 40391
859-744-4444
I had never heard of this place until a friend requested that I review it. It seems that Winchester/Clark County is swarming with new little roadside diners in the vintage/shabby chic/general store motif (see previous reviews of Graze and Herbe). JK’s is similar, but has a smaller dining room than the other two. This appears to be a family run business. Dad was taking orders and running the cash register. Grandma was the food runner. I could see several adults who appeared to be related expediting orders and cooking in the back. The tables are crammed very close together and the dining rooms appeared to be decorated with things found at somebody’s yard sale. There is a cooler where customers get their own drink and a basket for selecting potato chips. Menus are written on several blackboards behind the cash register.
I made the mistake of arriving around the peak lunch hour. The parking lot was full and the line to order was out the door. To be fair, when people ordered, they were told the wait for their food would be about 30 minutes. Mine turned out to be more like 45 minutes. I ordered one of the specials which was two barbecued pork tacos with a side of chips and salsa. When I finally got them, they were good. The pork was moist and tender, if a little on the sweet side. I later learned that JK’s smokes their own barbecue. The taco shells were soft tortillas and the pork was topped with a sweet creamy cole slaw and sliced banana peppers. The cole slaw was a little runny. In hindsight, I should have added some hot sauce from a bottle on the table, because the overall taste was a little too sweet for my liking. My lunch was approximately $9.00 including tax.
JK’s is a wide spot in the road between Winchester and the KY River, just off the main highway 627. Because of the location, JK’s has a captive market. I was amazed at how customers they had per hour. However, the crowd quickly overwhelms the kitchen staff. JK’s has some serious operations/execution problems. Also, after glancing into the kitchen, I would venture to say that the Clark County health dept/food inspector has not visited often OR has turned a blind eye to the state of the kitchen. That said, the location is drawing a crowd and the food is decent. I did observe that everything coming out of the kitchen looked very fresh and made from scratch. Also the menu prices are very cheap for the portions served. With a little help from someone who knows restaurant operations, JK’s has the potential to be a winner.
Check out JK’s menu and hours of operation at: https://www.facebook.com/JKsAtForestGrove/
Gluten Free Options – none advertised.
Vegetarian Options – none advertised.
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