We're so lucky here in Lake County - we have just about every kind of restaurant. And BJ's is an okay addition. If you're a beer drinker with a group of friends and want something better than Fridays... then you found the spot. Atmosphere is benign if not boring. Seating and decor are nothing special and will feel like every other restaurant on the planet.
Let's remember, before we rip them a new one, that the place is new and the staff is too. So yes... there was a little slowness even at 4:30pm. And when our waitress asked if we were ready my husband said simply, "Yes" and she smiled at him and walked away. There were definite hold ups at the POS stations. Which is expected at this stage of the game - people are learning.
BIG alcohol selection. And I do not drink. So I tried their "Botanical Blend" Peach Sunrise. Not bad. Hubby had black cherry root beer- GREAT flavor. Appetizer was spinach stuff mushrooms. MUCH better than Olive Gardens version of same. Not served dripping in oil and grease, with a little bit of cream sauce finish. But holy crap... let's talk menu size. Gordon Ramsey would marinara his pants... waaaaay too many options.
Dinner was Jambalaya for me with a cup of chilli (my weakness) and hubby had deep dish ziti. Chilli was thick, meaty with a great flavor from the beer that's in it. LOVE IT. Jambalaya was one note... and would not stand up to anyone's creole Gram's recipe. It was well cooked. Just no biggie. Hubby said ziti was 4 stars out of 5. He actually ate the whole thing which never happens. With tip we spent $60.
In the end, we'd go back. I'd seriously get take out of just that chilli to be honest... in a bread bowl... score! Give them time to grow. They'll put Max and Erma's under for sure.