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JAlexander's
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
10 reviews for JAlexander's
I was in search of the impossible: a non-chain restaurant in Florida that didn't suck. Every where you turn in Florida there is a chain, or fast food. Where is the cool local place I want to give business to? Sure I am not a local, so I bet I am missing some critical place I need to go to, but what else can I do when all I've got is Yelp and a GPS?
So I am driving around aimlessly looking for food when I spot this place. I have never heard of it, so I assume it's not a chain. I go in - menu seems decent - reviews on Yelp ok.
Sit down at the bar - friendly/knowledgeable bar tenders - they know the wines, the food, and most of the patrons sitting at the bar. Including one interesting older man who apparently had been going there for dinner for about 9 years (and was going to drive home - I was happy I was not on the road for that - he could barely stand).
Anyway, the wine was excellent and the food was really good (although portions are gigantic - the dessert could feed a family of 5 for a week). I was very pleased with my meal and have returned several times since (always a good experience and good food).
The only downfall - I realized after the first visit that this too was a chain. However, I think the food is definitely decent enough to keep coming back (although I still am in search for a non-chain in the Fort Lauderdale area).
This place is "Alright". it's not the best i've ever had. And i'm still not sure why my friend loves it there so much...
that being said.
a good dish: (not super yummy, but tasty)
- Prime Rib. good. meat was cooked to order. but flavor was just alright, it can be made better in my oven.
- mac and cheese w/ truffle- tasty. different.
- alex's salad - good, lots of croutons, which is a plus...
- carrot cake- this is good but you can taste the gobs of butter they use... and there are a ton of walnuts in it. and everytime i think i'm getting a raisin, it's a walnut. meh.
- - salmon dip. it was super smokey. Good, but more on the smokey side, if that's your thing.
- Cilantro Shrimp... worth trying once.
(and apparently the Seared Tuna is the best here. which is what my friend orders time and time again, but then I don't like the hot/cold mixed together in my fish... so Its just not for me. but if you like it. you should try it!)
blah- why did i waste my money?
- salmon. it was tasteless. and that little bit of crispy-ness that i like on salmon, wasn't there. it was just a flaccid piece of fish.
Anyway- I come here again and again, b/c of other friends requests... it's alright. a nice date place. full bar. friendly staff. dark romantic atmosphere. not too loud, that you can't hold a normal conversation.
(but personally, I don't specifically crave it here...)
Meh? A-Ok? Meh? A-Ok? Yelp copywriters... ya killin' me.
Alright - I'm going with three stars. This place is one of the very few near my office where I can escape to have an ok/ tasty, chatty lunch and a decent glass of red wine --on occasion-- when I really need to wash away the caked-on residue of numbsculls - I mean, my beloved co-workers.
The Thai Chicken salad is consistently good -- it's the dressing. It's also ginormous. I always have enough to take back to the office - to put in the fridge and then forget I put it there. Today I enjoyed their Veggie Sampler which was damn good. You select 4 items from the Sides menu - which includes veggies of the day, cous cous and some other tastings. The grilled Zucchini was really perfectly done. Broccoli and beefsteak tomatoes and the tabouleh/cous cous side were prepared just right - perfect texture. Simple fare, but Def.- A-ok.
My friends chowed down burgers and fries and chicken fingers and mac and cheese. I felt surprisingly fresh. I licked my plate clean but they all took back their little to-go boxes - to forget back at the office fridge.
Make note: The Happy Hour here is def A-OK- bordering on the "Yay, I'm a Fan" -- when the two-for-one Pomegranate Martinis kick in --and you're with your bestests friends (you know, the numbsculls from the office.)
I was definitely surprised to see so few reviews because this place was crowded. I think it's because the location is a bit hidden on Broward Ave.
Anyway, I'm giving this place 4 stars because of the MACARONI AND CHEESE, decor, KEY LIME PIE and Carrot cake.
Our party of 6 started off with the cheese and spinach dip which didn't impress me at all but it wasn't bad. We never received any bread while we waited so I don't know what the bread mention below is about.
Beyond appetizers, I ordered the Steak and Fries and a side of the Mac & Cheese (I'm a mac and cheese woman and will try it everywhere I go). Now, the steak? It was okay. I've definitely had way better. If this is one of the better steak locales in FL, then I feel sorry for the locals because I'm sure you could make something better in your backyard. However, it wasn't inedible and it was still moist though I like mine cooked medium-well, so they didn't lose any major stars there.
The service was less than impressive though I felt like it was limited to the ability of our waiter alone. Everyone else seemed to be on their game. When we ordered drinks, even though someone in our party wanted to make a toast, we had to wait a good 5 more minutes for my drink because they "didn't have everything at one bar." Further, someone ordered soup and it never came. Since the "someone" was 7 years old and they really wanted soup, when they put on the unhappy face, we flagged down our waiter for the mishap. Later, he took it off the bill so again no loss of stars.
In general, I must say the portions at this place are HUGE. My main entree alone was probably 3 servings of steak and fries. So, I think the prices are reasonable. If you care about calories, ask them to put half of anything in a box because it will still be big when it hits the table.
Now - I've saved the best for last ... I would go back to this location solely for the $4 Mac and Cheese. And I would happily order two of them (though one was actually one serving) as my main entree. I likened the amazingness of this mac and choose to that of Z'Tejas in Texas and even though I've never experimented with drugs, I would also liken it to crack-cocaine because it's fantastically addicting. I seriously couldn't get enough of this stuff. It had some flaky baked cheese but the pasta was perfect - not hard or too soft and mushy. Then there was a creamy cheesy part as well; True heaven in your mouth.
Also, the decor was really nice - the location feels very open and roomy but the tables are set-up in a way that makes secluded enough that your table feels like it's all too yourself at the same time. Impressive design and probably a good place for a date. It wasn't terribly loud and we didn't wait long to be seated.
We topped off the occasion with key lime pie, carrot cake and chocolate cake. I only tried the first two and am still in shock when I think about how big they were. One of anything is more than enough for two people. I can put away food like nobody's business, but even I couldn't complete my half of the carrot cake (but I did try the key lime pie which maybe took up some room).
So all-in-all, 4 stars. I probably would have given it a three, but for the reasons mentioned in the first (or second paragraph), I bumped it up. Good food alone won't raise any stars, but outstanding macaroni and cheese? Now that requires some elevation. Oh Macaroni cheese, how I love thee!
The salads here really stand out. They are quite delicious and large and I recommend the ranch dressing! Unfortunately, the salads no longer come with your meal and you have to pay extra for them though I would still say it's worth it. The Spinach dip is fabulous, one of the best I've ever had and the tortilla chips are great.
As for the main course, the prime rib is the star here. Super tasty, warm and tender with very good au-jus.
average lunch place, a little over priced for Broward Blvd in Plantation, I felt I was in a poor man's Houston's, with over priced salads, fish and steaks.The service was ok, we finally received our croissants on the 3rd request as we finished our lunch. Would not be my first choice in Plantation.
Very good american atmosphere, prices are not soo bad. The food is great. Appetizers i always get the huevos rolls which are fabulous --a must try, their loaded baked potato which is a side but is so huge and yummy i have ordered as a meal by itself. I have ordered the Mr.Jack's chicken tender platter which if chicken tenders are your thing, you will love this, The plate is piled high and it is so good, you can order your sides whioch I recommend loaded baked potato and tequila beans. Also have ordered steak frites with butter sauce, yummy!! and My boyfriend always orders the maui steak he just loves it. Dessert I have only tried their cappucino but it is very good.
A Houston's rip-off? First of all, Houston's is a steakhouse and I don't think they invited them. Seondly if there's a cheaper Houston's, then sign me up! Yes J Alexander's is a steakhouse and the food is great and the atmosphere is woodsy. There also happens to not be a Houston's anywhere near here so if I was in Plantation I would check out J Alexander's.
I stand by my previous statement that you can always judge a good steakhouse by the bread. The bread here is delicious and if I remember correctly I think they serve it with a compound butter. Good dished here include the salmon and the seared tuna salad. Both are winners. I've never tried the prime rib or the steak but I hear they are delicious..and yes, the service is excellent. Everything here is just the way it should be...good and simple. I think this resaurant's only downfall is it's slightly out of the way location. If this was a restaurant on Las Olas, they would be cleaning up and have about 100+ yelp reviews.
A Houston's rip off with a larger menu, cheaper prices and mediocre food. They just miss the fine details Houston's captures from the food down to the interior design of the space.
I had my sole waitering experience here, and it was brutal! (Notice how impeccably ironed your waiter's shirt is - if it's not, report it to the manager and they will be immediately sent home.) But, the prime rib and other things were fabulous (though I always went home smelling like au jus). And, even after working here, I often choose JAlexanders because the food is so fresh and tasty. Try the caesar salad and the Maui steak. Nice woodsy, bricky interior, and obviously great service (if they hired moi).
