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To the delight of 500 Club regulars (who have always had to walk an absurd amount of blocks all the way down to Mission Street to get a decent burrito for their drink-cushion), an East Coast-style deli called Clare's has made its future presence known on 17th and Guerrero streets. According to Mission Mission, "'East coast style fun' better involve slamming back cases of Harpoon UFO and watching Irish people have fist fights." But that's not what the opening of this deli says to us. We're thinking pastrami. For real. Miller's East Coast Deli has got to stop being the only game in town. David Sax pointed out to us a couple weeks ago that somebody is bound to give deli meat the whole 4505 Meats treatment. Let's hope this is it.

Clare’s East Coast Delicatessen SAY WHAT? [Mission Mission]

• Carol Ness got by Meridian for a somewhat ambivalent two-star review, though it sounds like the fare is solid. "Meridian's approach to good pub grub is to fancy up typical bar offerings - wings get a lemongrass sesame barbecue sauce, fries are either medium-cut organic ($4), Parmesan garlic ($6) or delicious wedges browned in duck fat." [SF Chronicle]

The standoff between Original Joe's and Uptown Joe's — slated this month for the former Hotel Majestic — has gone legal. Scoop reported today that the Duggan family this week sued the folks behind Uptown Joe's for copyright infringement. "According to the suit, the Duggan family was approached about reopening Original Joe's in the Hotel Majestic, calling it 'Uptown Joe's.' Despite the family's rejection of the idea, the defendants carried out a plan to replicate Original Joe's, including hiring ex-employees, according to the documents." Meanwhile, the fire-damaged Original Joe's has been silent on a possible reopening date, but as John Duggan's Fish & Farm partner Frank Klein noted in 140 characters last week, "Original Joe's gearing up to re-establish the domain and launch fresh. Copy cats beware; advice to you; seek neutral counsel."

Inside Scoop [SF Chronicle]

Earlier: Original Joe's Fired Up Over Perceived Knock-Off [Grub Street SF]