10/08/09

Never a bad time

by Lizzard

I have been to Jax to celebrate some special life events and anniversaries and they have never let me down. Service is always wonderful, it is always perfectly clean and elegant. When I walk in I love seeing some "old timers" having a drink at the bar. From my first time to my last they have always been patient and understanding no matter how picky I was. A wonderful place to sit and really ENJOY a meal. The food is wonderful and I want to know how to have my food come out that good in my kitchen. I love that I have been treated with the same respect if I walked in looking my best or when I had only 5 min to get ready for my date.

• Pros: Wonderful Food, Service that never misses a beat
• Cons: none so far

05/19/09

I feel bad, but just a terrible experience

by Clivus123

I feel bad as the reviews on here were quite good, but my experience was horrible. I usually will try a place twice just in case the first time was a fluke, but I just can't bring myself to go again!

I took my wife to Jax's Dec. 08. I called for reservations and specifically told them I was coming for anniversary. When we arrived, it took 30 minutes past reserved time to get a table. When we were seated, it was next to 2 tables, each with 10+ guys drinking to the point of falling over and extremely loud. The food was great, but completely overshadowed by the ambiance. My wife and I ate in complete silence because we could not hear each other talk. I did not complain as the entire restaurant was so loud, there was nowhere we could have moved. I do think the waiting staff should realize that a couple on their anniversary should not be seated by 20 drunk, loud men, however.

That night, I wrote an e-mail to Jax owner explaining my experience. I left my number, e-mail address, and home address and heard nothing back. If they don't have the time for me, then I don't have the patience for a 2nd visit.

Will not be going back.

• Pros: good food
• Cons: loud, poor waiting staff

02/06/09

worth it

by rillemx

I've been going here since I was a kid. The food is consistently delicious and although it's a bit pricey, you get what you pay for.

09/12/08

Great experience all around

by wyeth

Went there last night with my wife and we both left really impressed.I'm surprised by a few of the negative reviews I've read here.Our service was fantastic.We had 4 different people wait on us and all were friendly and attentive.The steak melted in our mouths and the lobster was delicious and fresh.Our drinks were well made.The dining room had a very nice ambience, an old style feel with a pianist. The only negative thing I could say was that the asparagus stocks were so large we only got about 5 and it would have been nice to have more tips.

Great place! Will happily go back.

• Pros: delicious food and attentive service
• Cons: none really

09/06/08

BEST STEAKHOUSE IN TOWN!

by ryan507

By far my the best steakhouse in town!! The attention to detail with the steaks is so refreshing the seasoning on the steaks are amazing!! Jax is a great place to sit outside or inside the service is alwasys awesome! I went here for a suprise birthday party and we had a fairly large group our food came out quick and we were treated great!

• Pros: service, steaks, parking!

07/29/08

Heaven on Earth

by RJMlinar

I have been going to Jax Cafe in Beautiful Nordeast Minneapolis since 1965. Over the years I have had club and business meetings, and business and personal lunches/dinners/brunches at Jax. I had my retirement party in the Cosmopolitan Room in 2002 with 150 guests. My church celebrated our 90th Anniversary with a dinner for 255 happy guests. I continue to see past business associates, who I previously introduced to Jax, coming in to entertain their current business contacts and to enjoy their own personal and family celebrations. The pianist plays my favorite song, "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. That's what I always receive at Jax is, "My Way". The food is of the highest quality, the service is excellent and friendly, and the managerial staff is always congenial and professional.

06/21/08

sophomorics & weak apologies, and at the same price you'd pay at a REAL premium steak house

by unclebad

Went to Jax for a biz dinner with clients. 7pm reservation on a Thursday night. Table wasn't ready. Had us stand in the middle of the dining room while they shuffled tables and chairs. After we sat, we noticed that our waitress was nice but overwhelmed, while the menu and wine list was, well, let's just say it was underwhelming. I was expecting a better wine list than one I'd see at a Holiday Inn Room Service menu!

Our frazzled waitress poured wine (finally) and then took our order. She told us they were out of prime rib -- which at 7:30 is totally inexcusable! When it was time for us to get soup, they only had enough for 2 of our 3 orders. My guests had to rock paper scissors for their soup!! Our second bottle of wine took 15 minutes to arrive after ordering, so we had no wine with our soups and salads.

When the steaks arrived they were not properly cooked -- 3 were perfect as expected, 3 were overdone. A rare steak was cooked medium well and was returned. Then the baby-faced manager named Mike who had been apologizing to us all night tried to tell my guest he did not know what a rare steak looked like, that the lighting was bad, and that we should go back into the kitchen to see what it really looked like. After he was done insulting my guest, I told him to get out of my face and leave us alone to eat our mediocre meal. (I was furious!!)

By this time, the waitress was really apologetic, but as well intentioned as people may be, this restaurant was an amateur attempt at a fine steak house. Yes, they comped us a couple of the dinners, but I was on an expense account. I wasn't looking to save money -- I wanted a great meal.

If I want apologies and excuses for dinner, I'll eat somewhere cheaper. If I want a good $35 steak in MSP, I'll avoid Jax and will go to Manny's or Murray's, where they hire adults that know what they are doing. After all, if I am paying that much for a meal, I expect professionalism, not sophomorics and apologies.

• Pros: plenty of parking
• Cons: weak kitchen, weak wine list, weak service

04/29/08

Excellent brunch, cozy atmosphere

by nicolemariedaily

I have been to Jax several times for brunch and for corporate parties. I have not been for dinner. The staff has always been kind and attentive, but not pushy or too chatty. The brunch has an excellent variety of dishes.

02/11/08

Let's face it, picking your own fish to cook up is still cool

by fitz_skeets

Been there a few times and given the popularity, I'm always surprised more restaurants don't have their own fish ponds. That unique feature plus the ambience and the service is what keeps me coming back when I'm in town. It's true that the menu could be updated and that the owners might be making a mistake by sticking to the basic things the "old regulars" like.

• Pros: trout pond
• Cons: menu is slow to change

07/29/07

Jax Cafe

by bluesmojo

My daugher and son inlaw had a great reception there. A night to remember. The staff was very nice. However as I have talked to many family and friends they told me there steaks were to raw to eat. At $50.00 a plate this was very sad to hear. We had almost 200 people so you can imagine the cost. We did request medium.