Pub food or pub-grub. Not meant to be gourmet dining, but generous portions of good tasting food at a reasonable price, to go with the drinks you would have in a pub.

For years under the original management, Mojos simply never lived up to that promise. The catch line was ‘come for the ribs, stay for the blues’. Nice, but without the dedicated equipment of the specialist rib places, the ribs never were that great. The rest of the food? The steaks were pieces of meat that had been beaten with a mallet until you could not tell if it was a burger patty or a steak you were eating. So after a while, I simply gave up on the place, as did almost everybody else, and finally the owners.

When the new owners took over, they struggled for a while with the original setup, until I suppose good sense prevailed, and they brought in a manager by the name of Peter, last name unknown, an Englishman.

Well, I’m pleased to say that Peter has made a tremendous difference there. The food tastes better for sure, but I see his influence most in the little details that show you the kitchen staff care about the meals they send out. Nice gravy to go with your mashed potatoes, a little garnish with the Thai dish or Chicken burger. Little touches really, but they do make a big difference.

My buddy, a professional chef, tried the lamb chops and pronounced them to be pretty good. I have had steaks a few times and they are a vast improvement on the old days. Decent cuts, well prepared, with nice sauce and sides. At the price, they represent pretty good value for money.

An Australian I bumped into saw me eating a chicken burger and ordered one himself. After he finished, he asked me for recommendations for other places that he could go to for dinner the next night, which I duly gave him. The next night, he was back eating a chicken burger like he hadn’t eaten in days. Guess he liked it.

And the ribs? Frankly, if you want great ribs, go to a specialist rib place. Mojos is not and does not now claim to be one.

If you are looking for decent pub-grub, you’ll get it there. Along with live music and a large pool room.

I suppose I really should ask Peter for his last name.