January 14, 2005

ROAD TRIP: SKYWAY JACK'S


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My son the other day said, "Dad, I feel like just getting in the car and driving."

Which since he's 9 means that he really feels like riding.

So I piled the family into the Big Red Machine and headed south across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Skyway Jack's restaurant.

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Skyway Jack's is a restaurant that used to be adjacent to O'Neill's Marina on the approach to the Skyway Bridge. Everyone who was going boating in south St. Petersburg or those on their way to Bradenton would stop for breakfast.
The last time I was there was probably 25 years ago, when my parents took me for breakfast on our way out on the boat (you could dock your boat behind the restaurant).
Since that time, the Skyway Bridge has been renovated and Jack's had to move because more lanes for the approach highway were needed. It was a long, protracted fight between the restaurant and the DOT officials. Jack's finally lost, but they were able to relocate to a spot farther north on 34th Street.
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The restaurant is nothing to look at, really. (Neither was the previous location.) But what it has is kitsch up the wazoo. This is old St. Pete in it's fading glory.
Get a load of the paintings on the windows:
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I bet the police and the minority community love that one.
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Landscaping isn't really their forte'.
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I think they picked this fountain up from a garage sale at Love Canal.
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As you walk in, you're confronted with a huge testimonial to Skyway Jack, the man who fought the government and lost.
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Yes. Yes they should, Jack.
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Inside, you'll find an odd variety of customers, everyone from young couples to fishermen to retirees to construction workers and bikers.
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Menu? Who needs a stinkin' menu when you've got walls.
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Mmm. Sounds good.
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These are the daily specials.
Remember, no subsitutions.
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Celebrities often dine here.
Who's that in the back at his usual table?
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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis Presley.
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After soaking up all that atmosphere, food is almost secondary.
The bacon was a big hit with my son.
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My order: Fish and Eggs, with a big honkin' biscuit and a side of taters.
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If I could read her mind: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
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The servers were quick, efficient and lovely. And tolerant, to say the least, when you consider the shirts.
Yes, before there was Hooters, there was Skyway Jack's.
The one on the left asked that I not take her photo.
This was her name badge:
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The waitress on the right, who served us our food said:
Skyway7a.jpg
"You don't want your picture taken? What, do you think he thinks you're Dolly Parton or something?"

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Comments

Skyway Jacks is an institution. I'm one of those that make it over to Pinellas very rarely. Skyway Jacks and El Cap are two places excellent enough for me to cross over. I'm sure there are others, but I cannot think of any.

Posted by: Tommy at January 14, 2005 10:34 AM

are you kidding me? EAT there??? i've lived in Pinellas for 9 years, and as often as Ive crossed the Skyway, i've never set a foot in the restaurant.
hmmm, maybe i'll check it out.
(maybe.)
but it better be good, or you're going to have to give up the day job reviewing restaurants.
;)

Posted by: Laura at January 19, 2005 09:33 PM