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Jak's Grill

4 star rating
based on 58 reviews

Category: Steakhouses  [Edit]

14 Front St N
(between Alder Pl & Andrews St)
Issaquah, WA 98027
(425) 837-8834
Price Range:
$$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

58 reviews for Jak's Grill

Review Highlights   

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"The steaks are yummy and the potato pancakes are exceptional." (in 8 reviews)
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"The filet mignon benedict was also very good." (in 8 reviews)
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"Best steaks in Seattle, and ask for the UFO potatoes." (in 28 reviews)
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Photo of Richard D.

 

0

11

Richard D.

Renton, WA

4 star rating
9/8/2009

I've been here a dozen times and have only been disappointed with the food once.  I have gotten their burger once (it was great) and all the other times.  Their ribeye was good, their filet maximillian is good, the only steak I didn't like was their Top Sirloin, but I've never ordered that type of steak and I never will again anywhere.  The salad with blue cheese dressing is good.  The server also brought me their house vinaigrette to try with the blue cheese and she was absolutely spot on when mixing blue cheeses and vinaigrette, it wasperfect.  

Every server/bartender I've had gave exceptional service and I always tip liberally when I leave.  

There are three reasons I gave 4 out of 5 stars.  Price: I remember when their prices were a little more reasonable.  I still think it's great food for the price, but it used to be a bargain for high quality meat. Reservations, they do NOT take them.  And, Seats.  You can tell they skimped on the buildout b/c the wood finishes aren't as nicely lacquered as they should be and the seats for the benches are not padded as all good steakhouses should be.  It can get uncomfortable when you're having a long dinner.

However, food, service and wine selection is top notch.

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6

18

Rebecca S.

Belltown, Seattle, WA

2 star rating
11/18/2009

I used to go here with my work for lunch regularly, and I never understood the hype. Sure, it's better than a lot of what's in Issaquah, but that really doesn't say much. The menu is just so uninventive and the food just tastes generic.

I usually ordered the chicken caesar salad and a diet RC cola (yes, RC is all they served, wtf right). The chicken was decent, but the dressing was not. Some serious overkill on the garlic and anchovy paste. Luckily, the croutons and sourdough bread on the side were good. The service was always fair, and the waitresses all had personalities which can be good or bad depending on who was serving.

Another time I came for brunch with family. I ordered orange juice and eggs benedict. I was disappointed that the orange juice wasn't fresh and that my hash browns were straight from the freezer. The waitress was also crass, but maybe it's because she was working on Easter.

If you want generic, run of the mill American food without any thought or excitement, Jak's might as well be your place.

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3

11

Keane N.

Bellevue, WA

5 star rating
8/26/2009

In one moment, I changed the way I looked at hamburgers.  As funny as that sounds, it's totally true.

I saw Jak's burger was reviewed high on a local magazine as one of the best burgers in Seattle.  I had the chance to meet a friend in Issaquah, so I chose Jak's to give it a try.  Some of their steaks are amazing and some of their specials were hard to turn down, but I was committed to trying this hamburger.

I ordered it with Bleu Cheese.  WOW.  Then the waitress told me it's $5 during happy hour!  

If you're in a mood for a REALLY good burger, you've got to try it.

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2

34

Jen S.

Issaquah, WA

4 star rating
10/31/2009

The do not take reservations, so be prepared to WAIT AND WAIT on the weekends, but it is worth it and is much better than higher priced steak houses in Bellevue.  There is also a great bar inside and if it is full, a martini bar next door.  Steaks are a great value for this area and their specials change quite a bit and are very good as well.  Once you actually get seated, the service is great.  Little slower at lunch time, but no real price difference between the two meals.

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Elite '09

63

107

Rebecca R.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
8/17/2009

The food here is lip smackingly good, always fresh and at the perfect temperature. The staff is kick ass, with awesome attitudes, and most are pretty good looking (bonus)!

This place is mid range to pricey, but well worth it. Try happy hour fir some great deals. At dinner, my man and I shared the ravioli with mixed grilled veggies ($20) and a half spinach salad ($8). Manny's Pale Ales were $5.

Oh.... And do try the dessert called Lovin Spoonful; it's the best frigging chocolate cake ever. Ask them to leave it under the heat lamp for a few to warm it, it makes it that much better!

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Elite '09

42

152

Michelle U.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/9/2009

This is the kind of steakhouse you grew up knowing - the kind that brings back memories of family dinners packed with great conversation over steak and potatoes.  You know this type of place, right?  Traditional dark decor, oversized mahogany booths with wide bench seats and lots of leg room, and of course, plenty of menu options.

Jaks served up some great grub...hearty steaks, tender salmon, and heaping platefuls of veggies and potato sides.  While I didn't opt for the traditional steak, my meal of copper river salmon, garlic-mashed potatoes, and broccoli were both plentiful and utterly delicious.  I was definitely pleased with my meal.  My bf got the rib eye steak with a gorgonzola marinade which he could not stop raving about!

I'm eager to check out Jak's for brunch, the menu is packed with lots of hearty breakfast dishes that sound divine!

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0

16

James R.

Snoqualmie, WA

5 star rating
8/5/2009

Have been here at least a couple dozen times in the last few years.  Best steaks in Seattle, and ask for the UFO potatoes.  Not on the menu, you won't regret it.

If you go on a Friday or Saturday, you will have a 1-2 hour wait.  To us that's part of the charm, we use the time to have a drink or three at Room 38 a couple doors down.  Jak's will call you when your table is ready.

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1

36

Justin H.

Issaquah, WA

4 star rating
9/6/2009

Jak's has an amazing cholla bread french toast at brunch. It's really worth getting up for.

The restaurant itself is really nice. Everyone's very polite and the service is pretty good.

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0

7

Kuhal E.

London W1

UK

2 star rating
9/27/2009

Ordered the Sirloin Steak, after being informed by the Waitress that it was more tender than the New York Strip. It arrived shortly after, but was nigh on impossible to cut, and impossible to chew or swallow. It was sent back, and replaced with a New York Strip. We were given a free dessert, and a free drink for our pains, but the overall experience was that the quality should have been better for the prices paid. The New York Strip was better than the Sirloin, but not great. The Desserts were decent and edible.

I have eaten better Steak, many times. Maybe Jak's feels it's reputation outweighs the need to provide good quality meat all of the time. There is no way that an experienced Chef would not have known that the Sirloin was tough and sinewy.

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Elite '09

46

77

Kevin W.

Issaquah, WA

5 star rating
6/4/2009

Great local steak house.
Filet Mignon with snow crab
and Sirloin was yum

I no longer need to go to Daniel's to satisfy my carnivorous desires.

Creamed spinach was disappointing; but potato pancakes blew me away.

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4

7

Steven N.

Issaquah, WA

5 star rating
8/17/2009

Headed down to Jak's on a Saturday night, only to be told there was an hour and a half wait !

Went back the following night at 5pm - 20 minute wait for a table.

Well ... the wait was worth it. Steaks are absolutely top notch - I had the prime top sirloin and my lady the filet mignon. The filet was so soft, it was unbelievable: one of the best steaks I've tried in a long time. Sirloin was pretty good too - not overly tough and cooked to perfection.

Definitely can't wait to get back to Jak's!

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23

162

SANDY P.

Sacramento, CA

4 star rating
7/23/2009 3 photos

Came here on a Sunday afternoon, the place was not as busy.  We got seated right away.

I ordered the Mediterranean spiced beef skewers drizzled with Gorgonzola cheese and sun dried tomatoes with french fries. I loved how the  fries tasted with the cheese. We also get a salad with our dish with bread, they also sprinkle cracked pepper on your salad.

I couldn't finish my meal. It was so good. Loved the service, they were very nice. My sis had the Thai Coconut Crab legs wrapped in banana leaves, and my cousin had the sirloin petite which she did not finish! Everyone said their food tasted great!

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9

10

Peter U.

Redmond, WA

4 star rating
3/12/2009

I'm embarrassed to say I made the O-Face while eating the Fillet Mignon today. I ordered medium-rare. It took minimal effort cutting through the steak, so tender, and as I slowly put a piece in my mouth the meat just melted away on my tongue.... ummm yeah lol, it was delicious! Potato pancakes were great too. Staff wasn't naggy, but made sure we were taken care of. Got to be honest though I wasn't really paying attention to staff, since I was giving my food the sex eyes.

We ordered the cheesecake... I can't say it was the best, but it was good. Definitely come here for the steaks, its expensive, but its definitely worth the money. Plus Issaquah is the cutest town ever! If your on a date, you can go the theatre (a real one) afterwards for a romantic evening... or go next door the bar and get wasted... whatevs.

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Elite '09

17

138

Rosemarie d.

Hayward, CA

4 star rating
5/4/2009

Ended up here for a birthday dinner... Other diners here are right - they don't take reservations... someone from our group went to the restaurant early and put our name down - and apparently you can tell them "around" what time your party will arrive.  They also won't seat you unless your entire group is there... but don't fret: while you wait, they will serve you drinks - mmmmm.

Service was good. The mushrooms are AWESOME. The bread was delish - but I simply love bread. I ordered the huge lobster mac and cheese - seriously... HUGE. but it was great. My bf ordered some steak trio... it was 3 different cuts of steak prepared 3 different ways... DELICIOUS.

Of course, as expected, this place is a bit pricey - but well worth the money.

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0

6

Matthew M.

Snoqualmie, WA

5 star rating
8/12/2009

There is nothing greater in the world than a well aged steak.   A noisy, even raucous (at least on Friday and Saturdays), well priced steakhouse makes this the special treat for birthdays, Bris' or really any occasion.   The staff is helpful, salad plates chilled and the UFO's utterly fantastic.  Does it mean anything that I eat my veggies when I go to Jaks? It's that good!

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2

25

cubs w.

Issaquah, WA

2 star rating
6/7/2009

It is OK.  My preferred cut is a filet, and the filet here is sub-par.  I know people say fat and bone adds to the flavor, but people who like filets don't like any fat on their meat.

The filet here has way too much fat, so I think it is a bad filet.  For some reason they don't reservations either, so you always have to wait.  The prices have gone up too, so its not the bargain it once was.

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1

11

Anthony W.

Bellevue, WA

5 star rating
6/3/2009

Absolutely my favorite steak place hands down. Dare I say better than Peter Luger's. The fact that you can get some of the best meat in town with such perfect, friendly, relaxed attitude and that much more enjoyable when it's so cheap comparably.

The biggest pain is the wait for a table, but worth every minute and plus it gives me time for them to decant a bottle of wine before I sit down for dinner.

My absolute favorite has to be the potato pancakes. With the best ribeye EVER. The ribeye is served with shredded fresh horseradish thats been tossed in a little lime juice, sugar and salt. It is by far the best topping I have ever had on my steak. I can't eat steaks anymore without it. It makes it that much better. Regarding the potato pancakes, I have yet to figure out exactly what goes into it to recreate it. They are bloody fantastic. Creamed spinach is also great here, but sometimes a bit too creamy.

I have also tried the filet mignon which is great and the double cut porterhouse, but better at Daniel's, however the ribeye is still my favorite.

The service is perfect in my opinion. No snobby servers, just friendly and always there when you need them. (Hint: If you bring a bottle of great wine and share a glass with the server they will usually "forgot" to charge you corkage).

I have brought many friends and relatives from out of town here and I get calls about how they are thinking about how good the steak was and wishing they could get it.

Update: They do brunch on the weekend, which many people don't know about yet and can easily get a table. The best deal: 10oz NY strip with eggs and home fries although I got the potato pancakes of course. The filet mignon benedict was also very good. The omelets are HUGE.

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0

7

Angel M.

Issaquah, WA

5 star rating
8/26/2009

The best blue cheese and bacon burger in Washington!

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Photo of Valerie Q.

 

1

15

Valerie Q.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/23/2009

Been there a few times for steak, pork chops (very tasty!) , dinner salads, and burgers. No complaints across the board! Oh, and the bartender pours a mean rum and coke:-) Can be a bit pricey... I've spent $150+ on dinner and drinks for three at one point, but the food and good times were worth it.

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Elite '09

150

504

Jens J.

Portland, OR

4 star rating
10/3/2008

JaK's is in a non-descript building at the corner of Sunset and Front that  you wouldn't even notice driving by.  

And yet, JaK's probably is the best dining in Issaquah.  Penny and I both ordered ribeye steaks.  And as you would expect at JaK's, steaks were tender and cooked properly.  Entrees come with decent sides.  I love the stuffed potato pancakes.  Also, salad comes automatically with your entree.

Desserts are satisfactory.  We ordered the chocolate cake and the peach cobbler.  The multi-layer piece of cake was good with a bit of a red fruit sauce (not exactly cherry and not exactly raspberry).  The cobbler, this time around, was just OK.  It would have been better if the peaches were cut into smaller pieces and was just a bit sweeter.  Fortunately the Porteguese port provided a nice balance to the cobbler.

Even on weekdays, seating fills up fast for dinner.  You might get here as early as 6:00 and still have a bit of a wait for a table.

Service and atmosphere are fine here.

Not just steak here...they also have seafood (tonight they had as a special a parmesan-crusted halibut) and burgers and sandwiches as well.

And don't forget they have a full bar.  Since the bartender was cute,  I will overlook that on my second martini, the splash of Cointreau I requested was something else I didn't recognize.  Penny thought I should have squawked, but I didn't care so much.

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Photo of Manda S.

 

3

15

Manda S.

Snoqualmie, WA

4 star rating
7/25/2009

I love me some Jak's Grill! To be fair, I have only been there twice - and both times for lunch - but both times it was de-lish. The first time, I had a halibut and pesto sandwich - not a regular menu item, but something on the specials menu. The halibut was cooked perfectly, the pesto was packed with flavor (but not overwhelming) and even the side salad with balsamic was tasty. The second time, I had the chophouse dip - this was AMAZING. Packed with flavor, juicy, great consistency, and perfectly cooked medium. For a steakhouse, the menu items for lunch are very reasonable and service is great. Love it!

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0

7

angela h.

Bellevue, WA

5 star rating
7/30/2009

I've come in a couple times, had the best ribeye steaks here once, and the best burgers ever, so well marinated, and none of any flavour overwhelming the other. Also they will cook to order a true Texas medium rare vs. the Seattle places which always manage to overdo my steak and burgers. Seattlelites can't do steak, but by golly this place can!

* Cannot however, attest to the filet or other cuts, since I only like my meat well marbled with fat.

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0

13

Jeff B.

Bonney Lake, WA

4 star rating
3/6/2009

LOVE THE FOOD!  Seriously, this place has great food.  The steaks are delectable, the desserts are scrumptious, and the service is pretty good as well.  Once you're seated, everything is great.....

Once you are seated, that is!  It took us 2 hours to get a seat at 6 PM on a Saturday night!  They don't do reservations, but it looks like they don't need to.  It was packed.  However, they at least served us drinks even though we weren't at the bar while we were waiting.

It's a noisy atmosphere, but very lively and vivacious.  The decor is very low key, but in good taste.  

I strongly recommend coming here and trying them out!  It's a great place to eat and just enjoy an evening.  Just don't expect a nice quick meal!

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Elite '09

18

156

Vince N.

Renton, WA

3 star rating
1/24/2009

Good Steaks in Issaquah, go figure!

Jak's serves tasty steaks for a decent price.

I wouldn't say it's the best steak out there, but for the price and location, the food is good.

The wait for a table can be long, but it's worth your while if you have to eat here.

The atmosphere is nice, very casual and dark. The service can be great, it's just hit and miss.

Nothing super fancy here except for the food.

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1

37

Bon Vivan T.

Issaquah, WA

3 star rating
4/29/2009

Jak's used to be my favorite steak house, until my wife and I had undercooked steak (ordered medium - got raw) on three separate occasions.  Jak's used to prepare the best, most mouthwatering Filet I've ever had.  The first time we encountered "the new badness", we returned the steak - and received the same steak back in about 5-10 minutes - just cooked more.  The problem is that we had already cut into our steaks, releasing the juices.  The recooked steak was now tough and chewy.  We went back the next time, figuring that our previous visit was a fluke - it wasn't.  Undercooked and raw, despite ordering medium.  I ate mine because the previously described shoe-steak was considerably worse than undercooked meat, while my wife just ate the salad and took home a doggie bag to feed hers to our dog.  The last time I had an undercooked steak was with a group (I had no choice in location).  Despite my previous two unsatisfactory dinners, I was still hopeful - I was wrong.  My steak was again undercooked.  That said, Jak's still makes an outstanding hamburger, and their grilled veggie plate is delicious (still).

By the way - the meat wasn't the only area where quality has suffered at Jak's.  They used to serve you excellent, delicious Broccoli with the dinner.  That changed when they went with this crap called Broccolini - stringy green stuff, whatever that is.  It looked like a cheap alternative to quality sides - something that was irritating.  Hey Jak's management - if you're going to charge big-league prices, don't serve up this awful excuse for Broccoli.  Your customers don't like it.

Jak's used to be a 5-star restaurant, but my last three visits were in the 2-star league.  This winds up getting Jak's 3-stars in this review.

My note to Jak's management:  please restore this place to the previous goodness.  Don't take the lazy way out and let this become another has-been.  Spend some quality time in the kitchen.  Reeducate the cooks.  Make 100% sure that, what you send out on that plate is your best effort - it'll serve you well.

BTW:  the drinks from the crowded bar are still top-notch.

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0

43

Suzi S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
7/21/2009

LOVED that we walked in after 10:00pm and were seated right away for dinner. The hostess didn't announce that they'd be closing in X amount of time or that we had a limited menu to choose from because of the late hour like some places do - IT WAS GREAT!   We started with the Gorgonzola spinach dip with pita chips.  I'm not into cooked spinach, but this was very good as was the warm bread with butter that was brought to the table with our salads.   Expect a classic meal here, soup or salad and two sides...no ala carte BS.  Shocker, - I had the filet Mignon. It was very good, cooked perfectly, very flavorful and served at just the right temperature. There are many sauces offered that can be added to any of the steaks upon request.  My companion had the stuffed halibut and said it was to-die-for. The dessert menu looked great and had lots of variety, but I was too full to order anything after the complete meal with appetizer. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes offered on the menu. The restaurant is dark and loud, but not too loud. The bar is very small and totally open which adds to the good energy and vibe. This was a very nice adult dinning experience. I've eaten here maybe five times, mostly during the normal dinner hour, and I don't ever remember seeing any kids running around so maybe you'll have a nice adult dinning experience too!

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2

7

Rodney C.

Renton, WA

5 star rating
6/15/2009

I needed a place to take a friend for breakfast for her birthday and someone suggested Jak's.  I been to the one in West Seattle and knew they had great food for dinner but never knew they served breakfast.  This was a great choice and will be heading there again for breakfast and dinner.  I had the Jak Bene which is a potato cake, topped with filet mignon (Med Rare), poached egg and hollandaise sauce, you have to go and try it.

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0

24

Ben R.

Issaquah, WA

5 star rating
3/29/2009

I love Jak's.  I suppose my review could be summed up with those three words.  I have been going to Jak's when I feel like a good steak since I moved to Seattle about five years ago.  The food is great, service is attentive but not intrusive, and the price is a steal compared to higher priced steak houses.  The decor is what you would expect, lots of wood and dim lighting.  I have never had a bad experience at any of the Jak's locations.  The only downside in my mind is the wait time you can experience during peak dining times and that you can't make reservations.  I suppose the wait is a testament to how many people enjoy the food and are willing to wait.

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21

Jensen H.

Bellevue, WA

4 star rating
3/14/2008

Their no reservations policy is absurd and hostile.  We'd come here at least twice as often if we knew we didn't have to stand around for an hour or else eat dinner right before they close.

The seats, hard wooden benches, are like sitting on a midwestern church pew.  They're uncomfortable, and designed so that you won't linger (therefore freeing up your table for more of the mob who's standing around waiting by the entrance.)

That said, the food is pretty good, especially if you factor in the price compared to other steakhouses (like Daniel's or El Gaucho.)  I've had a few good steaks here.

Get the real, grated horseradish.  It's fantastic.  Also get the potato pancakes which, while probably 1000 calories each, are very nearly worth it.

Stay away from the premium salads, overpriced steak toppers, and the like.  They're not very good and certainly not worth the money.

If you want to have a great piece of meat and don't mind waiting, you'll get a good deal at Jak's.

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9

75

Megan H.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
4/3/2008

I loooooooooooooove Jak's! Everything from their dinner salad with blue cheese to their yummmy steaks. I gave up meat, but I might cheat for a Jak's steak. So good! But they are always busy at dinnertime. I'm talking an hour long wait at least, and they don't take reservations.  Even their bar is too full to wait in most of the time. But you can go next door to the bar and they'll call over there when your table is up.

They are really reasonable for a steakhouse too. By far my favorite.

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1

69

Kristen A.

Issaquah, WA

3 star rating
9/9/2008

Pros:
Great Food
Not overpriced
Good for people watching

Cons:
No reservations - and you will most likely wait 1 hour+ for a table
When its busy the service isn't that great
The seats are uncomfortable - wooden benches?
If you sit near the window in the winter prepared to be cold - their windows are single paned.

One visit our waiter brought all but one plate of food - and then didn't bring that last one until over 10 minutes later. We were all forced to eat while my dad was waiting for his food, because otherwise our steaks would get cold. I think thats a big no no of any restaurant. And when it did come out - it was the wrong thing. Our waters were empty quiet frequently, and we also had to wait on our glasses of wine. At least at Iris the service is good.

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Photo of Julia Z.

Elite '09

208

477

Julia Z.

Bellevue, WA

1 star rating
2/27/2007 2 photos

The service here is snobby, the steaks are sub-par (corn fed is SO 90's; if you want REALLY high-quality steaks, you need to find grass fed beef!), and it's super-dark in this restaurant. Couple that with long lines because they don't take any reservations, and screw it, I'd rather go to the Keg (and it's rare for me to choose a chain over a locally-owned establishment). http://www.yelp.com/bi... for the Factoria Keg outlet, the best one around.

If politics matter to you, JaK's is owned by staunch Republicans; they were rude to Democratic canvassers in Issaquah in 2004 when they stopped in for lunch once (by accident, for sure).

The food is just OK; plating is sometimes awkward or careless, and I've sent two steaks back here because they were overcooked (out of four visits). I don't get what the uproar is about this restaurant.

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Elite '09

308

244

Janeane S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
5/15/2007

Outstanding steak!   I don't even care that we had to wait almost two hours for a table on a busy Saturday night.  I can't remember what  cut of steak I ordered (it's been a while), but I assure you it was delicious.  I love that the steak comes with a baked potato (with the works) and veggies, instead of a la carte.  We also ordered a side of sauteed mushrooms, which were amazing.  

The lighting was dark enough to be intimate, but not so dark we couldn't read the menu.  The service was timely and unintrusive.  I really can't think of a single thing to complain about!  Oh, except that it's out in BF Issaquah.  Boo!  And I'm not trekking all the way to West Seattle either!

The prices seemed reasonable, for a nice steak restaurant.  I don't know what the bill came to since I never saw it.  Woo hoo for dates!  ;)

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2

23

Kjell S.

Tacoma, WA

4 star rating
4/29/2009

"Jac's" would be more of an appropriate title than "Jak's", because it would make sense that the "K" was removed (rather than the "C"), because they would use the "K" to add even more to their delicious steakk!

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Photo of Gavin N.

Elite '09

130

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Gavin N.

Bellevue, WA

5 star rating
10/30/2007 3 photos

Being the Carnivore that I am, I decided my birthday dinner would be a good excuse for visiting JG (Jak's Grill) for the first time.  I've heard warnings about their wait times as they do not take reservations. Surprisingly we got a table for five in three minutes (it might've helped that it was a Monday night).   I like how the environment was set up in a way where you would fit in regardless if you decided to dress up or be casual for the night.

   The service was perfect: we were greeted kindly by the hostess, our server(s) made sure our water glasses were never empty, asked us if we had any questions, took our orders and served our food quickly, offered fresh ground pepper, checked on us occasionally without being annoying, quickly took care of a friend's being cooked a little too rare, and even applauded me on my way out having properly demolished the 41 oz porterhouse, and every side along with it.

 Now onto the food, I'll start with the bad first. The creamed spinach was just okay, and the lettuce in my salad I wish was cut into slightly smaller bites. That's It. The Good: Sourdough bread was warm and delicious, the butter (I know it's just butter) warm and super easy to spread, salad was tossed, crisp and delicious.  Sauted mushrooms were possibly the best sauted mushrooms I've EVER had. And the 41 oz porterhouse steak, was perfectly cooked to order (medium-rare of course), delicious, and one of the best steaks I've ever had as well...BTW...it's now almost noon and I'm still full from last night.

On top of everything, the prices at Jak's Grill are a bargain. It's definitely more expensive than places like Outback. However, Jak's serves the same quality steak (if not better) of places like Ruth's Chris, Daniel's Broiler, and Met Grill...at a portion of their prices.  i.e. Ruth's Chris charges more per steak and it's Ala carte, Met Grill for a similar sized porterhouse charges $80, Jaks $53).  BTW $15 corkage fee is very nice as well.  Until I have to wait an hour for a table, how could I not give this place anything but five-stars?!?

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J G.

Duvall, WA

2 star rating
5/11/2007

I used to be a big fan of Jak's. They had the best steak on the Eastside and easily in the top 5 in all of the Seattle area. However the way the restaurant is run, it's just not worth it to save a few dollars. There is absolutely no disputing the steak is fantastic, the salads are not special, and even the drinks are completely random, RC Cola, seriously?

I hate coming back to Jak's because of the service and in how they assign seating. They don't take reservations, your name is put on a list, first come first serve, your entire party must be present in order for you to be seated and then if that weren't enough the area where you're supposed to wait in consists of 2 very small park benches, or a REALLY crowded bar that is very reminiscent of a cattle pen. -insert irony-

So yes, Jaks expects you and your entire party to wait for 2 hours. If your family has been waiting for 2 hours and 15 minutes and your buddy decides to walk across the street to the library, you're out of luck and have to *sign up and wait again*. I wish I could say incidents like this are only limited to weekends however we've found this same scene weeknights at 8:45.

Jak's spent years working up the reputation of having quality food for fair prices and the people who have helped bring its success are the same people being told it's a 2 and a half hour wait. I would rather spend an extra $10 a person and eat when I want to eat.

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Shooter S.

Renton, WA

5 star rating
5/5/2009

Great place for a steak meal. Delicious. Recommended, but plan on waiting for that seat. No worries though. It is worth it.

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Elite '09

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Joshua M.

Portland, OR

3 star rating
8/13/2006

Don't bring in a party of more than 4... the hassle to get seated is not worth it.  My friend was having a going away party, and this is his favorite restaurant.  I think we had a total of 8 people.  We arrived at 7:00pm and were told the wait would be two hours.  When we came back we found out that the only place that we could have been seated was a table in the bar area that was first come first  serve and the hostesses refused to hold it for us.  We eventually had to get a manager involved to be accommodated (which we were once he did get involved).  However the greeting staff was rude and pretty much wasted our time.

Our waitress in the bar area was a brunette with a lot of personality.  I mean that in a good way.  Her service was great and a refreshing change from what we had experienced with the hostess.  I had a petite fillet Mignon that was good.  I was a bit disappointed in their choices in salad dressing, but I didn't exactly come there for salad so that was tolerable.  My wife had the salmon and didn't care for it because it was smoked.  I personally liked the flavor, but it didn't seem like it clearly stated that it was a smoked fish on the menu.

The place was noisy and packed, but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to seek the place out again.  But obviously it is appealing to the Issaquahnians.

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Don L.

Kirkland, WA

3 star rating
6/18/2007

I guess I'll be the "happy medium" between Julia Z and Janeane S. :)

I took some visiting clients out there for steak, having heard that this is THE place to go for steaks. For my experience, I prefer Daniel's Broiler. Jak's is a small, intimate restaurant, but it's pretty dark in there and the wait - WOW. I get the old adage that good things are worth the wait, but this is a bit ridiculous.

At least the bar served good stiff drinks to keep us well lubed until the table was available. Steaks are well prepared, all of ours came out cooked right (and we had an assortment) and the sides were plentiful. I'd say that if you wanted to try it, go for a mid-week evening when the lines hopefully aren't so long.

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Elite '09

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258

Margaret L.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
1/19/2007

I don't think this restaurant is as well-known as other steakhouses (The Met, El Gaucho), but it's well worth a visit. I can only speak to the quality of the Issaquah location, but I've heard good things about the other locations also.

The booths and lighting give the place an intimate feel. Although, as Sarah's pointed out, the salad isn't memorable. But I'm a meat lover, and a well-cooked steak is much more important to me than a salad. I really like the filet mignon.

Make sure to arrive early or be prepared for a long wait (which isn't so bad if you're ready for it...and if you have a beer or glass of wine). This restaurant is perfect for small dinner gatherings.

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