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| - It's been nearly a decade since I last set foot in J's. Since that time I've grown to hate chain restaurants and attempt to avoid them as much as possible (J's is a corporate chain if you're not aware). In fact, if it was not for a guests birthday dinner, I would have not even bothered to try it again. But nevertheless, I ended up there last night for dinner.
I'll start with the good.
The ambiance is nice; dark wood, dark lighting, modern open kitchen, and rustic elements such as the timber wood ceiling provide a nice atmosphere. I was surprised that even though the place has been around for more than ten years, the decor does not look dated even though it is exactly as I remember it years ago.
The other good... the fact that they have Orin Swift Cellars, The Prisoner, by the glass. The Prisoner is a Napa Valley meritage red that is fantastic. To find it on the menu by the glass is rare and an excellent selection.
Now to the bad
First is service. Service was adequate until the point in which our entrees were brought out, which was a complete cluster-F. Four different people brought out five entrees at different times over a period of a couple of minutes, and then everyone just disappeared! The birthday guest of honor was missing bread, I was missing requested butter for the baked potato, and my wife was missing a fork. We had to flag down a floor manager twice to get any of our missing items. The waitress was completely MIA. She never came back to ask how everything was, never took additional order for drinks, and she was still MIA when the entire table finished their meals and we had to flag down another manager to ask what is going on. Then the waitress suddenly appeared to ask for dessert and hand us our check. I understand that at J's other waitresses and waiters bring out guests entrees when busy, but for our main waitress never to check the table after all entrees were received is unacceptable.
Second is the food. I general, the five guests at the table enjoyed their food, but nothing exceptional or memorable. I had the filet with broccoli and baked potato and was disappointed by the dryness of the filet. Had the service been exception, I may have overlooked the dryness; but combine a $28 filet, that is overcooked, and terrible service, I left scratching my head wondering what I just paid so much for.
After spending $28 for a filet, and $26 on two glasses of The Prisoner, I left the restaurant unsatisfied (price not including entree's ordered by others at my table). There are just so many other excellent restaurants in that price range; why tolerate this? Hell, I live in Hudson and I could have hit One Red Door, Rosewood Grill, or Northend Wine Market and had even a better meal and excellent service for the same price range for only a short five minute drive from my house. Better yet, for $10-$20 more, I could have gone to Downtown 140 and had a five star experience.
Unless you are selecting sandwiches, or some lower cost menu options, entrees end up being near upscale food prices, but with crappy casual restaurant service and food prepared by a bunch of line cooks.
My advice, look beyond J's and seek out other establishments, preferably one that is independently owned with a culinary trained head chef that is actually present and is involved making every dish and checks quality. It is so much easier to do better in the same price range or for even less money.
Anyone raking this place five stars must have burned out taste buds and very low expectations.
I would have given it one star, but for having The Prisoner by the glass, J's got two.
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