New Chef Means a New Menu at Jose Pistola’s


Casey Parker and Joe Gunn’s Jose Pistola’s has been a great place for beer since it opened. But the food has definitely had its ups and downs. But with hiring of Adán Trinidad, food will be one more reason to head to the Center City bar. Trinidad has most recently working and creating menus for Richard Sandoval Restaurants. He is known to Philadelphians for his time as chef de cuisine at Fish and his stint at Stephen Starr’s El Vez.

Trinidad has just rolled out a new menu which is much much more aggressive than some of its past efforts. The Mexican menu features multiple types of guacamole and salsa plus some exciting ceviche, queso fundido and sopes. Of special note is the Random section of the menu which includes mole meatballs and carnitas steamed buns.

Jose Pistola’s Menu

GUACAMOLE

Traditional     avacado, tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime

Spicy Tuna     sambal, scallion, sesame seeds

Huitlacoche     maitake mushroom, epazote, tomato, red onion

Pomegranate Mango     tomato, red onion, cialntro, sweet balsamic

SALSA

Pico de Gallo     tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime

Sikil Pak     pepitas, roasted tomato, habanero, lime

Salsa Borracha     pasilla chiles, orange, garlic, oinion, tequila

Queso Parker     cheddar, Monterrey, Chihuahua, chipoltle peppers

SOUP & SALAD

Tortilla Soup     pasilla chicken broth, pulled chicken, avacado, crema, queso fesco

Baby Head Lettuce Salad     tomato, red onion, corn, baby heads, cucumber, avacado, sherry honey vinaigrette

Caesar Salad     Believe it or not the Caesar salad originated in Mexico by some Italian guy. Ours has romain, cotija cheese, and smoky anchovie vinaigrette

CEVICHE

Made by drowning fish in acid or something like that.

Tuna     lemon grass, coconut, red onion, cilantro, orange

Shrimp     tomato, avacado, habanero, cilantro, onion

QUESO FUNDIDO

Translates to Little Cheese Fun

Chorizo     sala, borracha

Mushroom     maitake, epazote

Tacos (2 per order)

Goat     cilanto, oinon, pasilla, and chipotle salsa

Spicy Pork     pineapple, kimchi, cilantro

Short Rib     chipotle, onion, cilantro

Pork Belly     beans, crema, cilantro, onion, salsa borracha

Chicken Tinga     onion, cilantro, quso fresco

Portabello     corn, tomato, onion, cialntro, queso cotija

Grouper     spicy mayo, pickled cabbage

SOPES (2 per order)

Goat     cilanto, oinon, pasilla, and chipotle salsa

Spicy Pork     pineapple, kimchi, cilantro

Short Rib     chipotle, onion, cilantro

Pork Belly     beans, crema, cilantro, onion, salsa borracha

Chicken Tinga     onion, cilantro, quso fresco

Portabello     corn, tomato, onion, cialntro, queso cotija

BURRITOS

rice, black beans, crema, tomato, pickeled jalepeno, pickeled onion, cheese, cilantro
Choice of: goat, spicy pork, short rib, pork belly, chicken, portabello, or soy chorizo

QUESADILLAS

cheese blend, black beans, corn, pickled onions, tomatoes, jalepenos, crema, cilantro
Choice of: goat, spicy pork, short rib, pork belly, chicken, portabello, or soy chorizo

NACHOS

Mexican Cheese blend, crema, tomato, refried pinto beans, cilantro, pickled jalepeno and onion
Add: guac, goat, spicy pork, short rib, pork belly, chicken, portabello, or soy chorizo

RANDOM

Carnitas Steamed Buns     Guacamole, chipotle aioli, pickeld jalepenos

Mama Mole Meatballs     Beef, pork, and veal meatballs in the chef’s mom’s mole recipe. Gracias again Mrs. Trinidad.

Pistolas burger
Half pound angus patty, topped with bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche roll

Wings     Large wings served with bleu cheese
Pistolas’ Hot, BBQ or Smoked

Jose Pistola’s [Official Site]

Photo via Star Chefs