BIGG Daddy's Philly Steak House Open In Adams
Xavier Jones grills up Philly cheese steaks in his new eatery on Commercial Street in Adams.
Philadelphia native Xavier Jones said he wanted to bring something special to the area, something natives may have never really experienced in its true form.
"You go to Subway and they put this precooked processed meat on and they toast the bun and there are other places that are just steak and cheese," Jones said. "People travel from all over the world to go get a Philly cheese steak, why not bring Philly cheese steak to the mecca of New England."
The chef has been in the area for some time, involved in restaurants up and down the county as well as other parts of Western Massachusetts. He moved back to the Berkshires to help open the former Spice in Pittsfield but over time has been involved in The Press Box and most recently Paddy's Bistro in Dalton, among others.
He said he also was going to be involved in an expansion of On A Roll Café, but Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts graduate knew it wasn't for him.
Jones was driving through Adams and couldn't find a place to eat and felt a Philly cheese steak restaurant was just what the town needed.
Once he found the 85 Commercial St. location next to the Viking Pub, he realized it was the perfect fit for what he wanted to do.
"I looked at a bunch of places but this right here seemed perfect. I came up and looked at it and studied it and found that this was the perfect spot to do take out delivery," he said. "Plus it was a triple threat: take out, delivery and the Viking Pub — our food is served right in the pub."
The eatery opened earlier in January and Jones said all his ingredients are fresh and made in house. Currently, he offers 13 different cheese steaks that range from a BBQ bacon to a pizza.
He said he also serves specialties inspired by his hometown such as the Rocky, the Philadelphia and the Broad Street Bully.
He added that there is nothing ordinary about his menu.
"It is not just your normal sandwich and there is some history behind everything I make," Jones said. "I use Cajun spices from the Mediterranean on my chicken breast that gets dressed in South African fruit. So you aren't just going to come in here and get a plain chicken sandwich."
"I want to mix some flavors and give Adams something that they never had before," he said.
Jones also has visions of teaming up with local businesses to have them create their own sandwiches.
"I blow that business up on Facebook and that business does the same for me so we build the economy together," Jones said. "That is what it is all about in the Berkshires. Let's help the next man."
The eatery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 10 p.m.
Jones said he urges people to stop down and try something different.
"The thing is a lot of people open up pizza places and whatnot because they inherit it or they know that pizza is a good money," Jones said. "The thing for me is it is a passion, and it is something that I grew up eating and it is something that I love."
Bigg Daddy's number is 413-749-7098; find more information on the Facebook page.
Tags: new business, restaurants,
