JCT Kitchen & Bar

 

6

11

Leigh P.

Oakland, CA

Sit at the bar - 5 stars (of course the service is going to be quicker)
Sit at a table - 4 stars
Sit on the floor - if they let you
Stand on your head - enough already

Whatever the case, order the mussels.
I mean, yeah, bacon makes everything awesome,
but with mussels? Exponentially awesome.

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23

24

tami h.

Decatur, GA

Most of my experiences with JCT have been favorable, food-wise. Dishes such as the shrimp and grits (those grits are AMAZING), the veggie plate, the truffle fries, and the shrimp and avocado salad are all solid. I don't get the hullabaloo about the fried chicken. Hello...ummm...Watershed? Popeyes on Ponce (RIP)? The mac n cheese sucks. The desserts are pretty good - the meyer lemon "doughnuts" with espresso ice cream were  fabulous on my last visit.

Service, on the other hand, has always weirded me out a little bit. The first few times I dined there, I felt like it was a band of carnies running the room. On the last visit at lunch, our server was sweet and unobtrusive.

Last night a friend of mine and I hit the Thursday evening happy hour event upstairs at the bar. The cocktails were good and $5 a pop - try the blueberry lemonade martini. They have great noshes for $1 a piece. We got there early - at 5 when they opened - and by 7 the place was packed with more than its fair share of displaced Buckheadites. Not my crowd.

Also, the valet made a big stink about our cars being parked in the lot even though WE were there before HE was. He hounded us upstairs about taking our keys and then pressed us to find out if he "needed to bring them back". We were so rubbed the wrong way - harassing us about the car in order to park it and make a tip - that I wont be back for a while simply out of principal.

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Elite '08

59

76

Scott M.

Marietta, GA

So I have a few pet peeves.  a) People overstaying their welcome, b) people that call me but have nothing to say and c)  people that recommend restaurants to me w/o respecting who i am when it comes to this food thing---- I am SERIOUS about this SON (ref. Dave Chappelle).  

Anyways, JCT came as one of those recommendations.  The guilty party is well aware of my dissatisfication...but I'll leave that alone.

So if you are going to scream about certain dishes at a restaurant be willing to back those up with full reimbursement if they arent what they say they are.

The guilty parties at JCT Kitchen (to name a few):

a) JCT Onion Rings--- they basically give you a big azz pile of onion rings stacked one on top of the other, so it looks like you are staring at an onion ring tee-pee.  While it looks cool, you start eating the onion rings and thinking..."this isnt that great."

b) Parmesan Fries-- I thought I was going to taste these damn fries and my draws were going to slide off...thats what I thought.  Reality was, these fries were a bit over cooked with a sloppy presentation, and sprinkled with a parmesan..for those that know me, I have a "What the hell is this look"---insert look after fries.

c)  Springer Mountain Fried Chicken-- now if you know my reviews, you KNOW that I KNOW fried chicken...I know fried Chicken like Jay Z knows Rap, like Michael Jordan knows basketball, Like Obama knows he's gonna win the Democratic nomination...so dont try and tell me about fried chicken...this is what I DO.  So when a menu says that I need to show up early for some fried chicken...I shows up EARLY (yeah i said shows).  I coulda been late for that....pretty good presentation, and the chicken wasnt bad, but now i had my "this is some b----ish look on my face, and I couldnt wait to tell the person that recommended this (shall remain nameless), how wack this place was.

But there is good in everything---- so I actually like the decor in JCT Kitchen..its southern with a bit of contemporary flair...the bar seems like it would be really cool at night with a small group of friends.  I see potential for this spot, but I just cant co-sign the food...I am sorry.

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Elite '08

35

127

Naoya W.

Atlanta, GA

4.5 stars really...

I'm fortunate enough to have a friend that works here as a server, so I got the inside scoop on what to order for my first experience here.

We were advised to not get the burger today as the grill man was not on point, so the Roaring 40s burger will have to wait for the next go around...

We had a hard time choosing between the Grilled Cheese and the Club sandwich, so we got both, and shared them once they got to the table. I started with the club... The sandwich was quite tasty with it's blue cheese and peppery bacon. The chicken was well cooked, and the bread it came sandwiched between was nice and artisnal. The fries that accompanied the sandwich were amazing. Our friend suggested to upgrade the fries to their truffle oil fries. What a great suggestion! They were extremely well done... with oil and cheese sprinkled all over. Quite the tasty side.

SWITCH!

Next plate to come in front of me is the grilled cheese... A nice mix of cheeses and some nice thick slices of tomato... and hidden in all the goodness is a couple of basil leaves. nice... The bread, which is thickly sliced, was tasty, but flimsy as well... I wished that they had used a thicker, sturdier bread especially since it's got a fresh tomato in it. Nonetheless, paired with their tasty tomato soup, which by the way was the real reason I even considered the dish, it was a great choice. The soup was extremely flavorful and zesty. The cup that it came in just  invited you to dip the sandwich into it.

We were also brought a sample of their mac and cheese... "Everyone seems to rave about it." said our friend... Personally I enjoyed the flavors, but I missed the texture. I was looking for the crusty top that I include when I make a mac and cheese. No breadcrumb topping, just a nice smooth/velvety cheese with well cooked mac. Again, tasty, but not my cup of tea.

All in all, it was a great experience, and I am ashamed that it took me so long to finally get over there to eat; especially since our friend has been working there for a while now...

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Elite '08

264

131

Eric S.

Atlanta, GA

Choo choo, Choo choo. Come on ride that train. Choo choo train, come on ride that train. The choo choo train

Yeah, you know how the song goes.

**DISCLAIMER** The funny thing is, that several people I know didn't know what JCT stands for. If you still don't know, then here you go. JCT = Junction. And there's your lesson for the day.

I had a chance to check out JCT last night with some friends and to catch some live music on the patio. I have to agree with most of the reviews I read as the upstairs bar/patio area to JCT is a really great place to hang out at. Inside the bar, dim lighting sets the mood, while oil lamps out on the patio add ambiance.
The patio wraps around the entire corner end of the building so your pretty much guaranteed a nice view of the Atlanta sky line as Michael E mentioned.

I concur......with every thing Herman says in his review (the Hermanator) f JCT. Plenty of outdoor seating, a great beer selection (New Castle. YES!) and an enticing menu.

Service was not so fast, but everyone was very friendly and kept things going for a busy Thursday night. From what I understand it's not normally this/that busy on a Thursday night. I don't know, it must have been the warm spring Atlanta air that brought everyone out. The crowd was great and gave off one of those really, really fun Thursday night vibes. It wasn't over crowded and it wasn't under crowded. Just right!

I like live music. I like being out doors; so when you can combine the 2, you get a double whammy sammy. There was a solo singer/song writer/ guitar player in the corner belting out some pretty sweet tunes. He kept it live the entire night. He even played a private gig for a birthday table. I like it when the artist comes down to talk to the supporters. Nice!

Although I didn't try the food, but I was able to get my eye on several dishes so I KNOW it looks good. After close inspection of the menu, I KNOW it's going to be good. I'm not sure if I would try the resto (Kit's word) as it's not my bag baby, but I will certainly go back to the upstairs bar.

What can I say?!?!?! JCT is a fun place.

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1

2

Jim C.

Atlanta, GA

JCT:

There are less than a handful of Atlanta restaurants that have truly impressed me. JCT is one of them. JCT or "Junction" is so named for it's proximity to the rail line which the facility hugs to the North. There is something to be said about hearing the rumble of the train and blow of the horn during a terrific meal that serves as a reminder to a by-gone-era.

This place exudes sheik and possesses a sophisticated yet non-pretentious feel, which I truly love. It could be the separate bar on the upper level with the romantic view of the city and train tracks. It could also be the Zen garden out back located under the soft incandescent glow of replica rail station lights, but what I think makes this place really special is the way it portrays an all American dining experience by offering great food, terrific service, and a wonderful atmosphere.

JCT was created from the aftermath of a restaurant called "Commune". I had never dinned at Commune so I could not tell you where JCT stands in comparison. What I can tell you is that JCT, Toulouse, and Float Away Cafe are three separate appendages of the same culinary animal. At all three, the emphasis is the food first, service second, and atmosphere third.

Our party arrived at 8:50p and had placed an advance reservation on Opentable.com for 9:00p. We checked in with the hostess and we were told they would have everything ready at 9:00p on the dot. That gave us a good excuse to go up to the second level, order some well deserved cocktails, and take in the clear view of the midtown/downtown skyline.

The upper bar has a fantastic selection of wine including a delicious favorite of mine "Kaiken Malbec", which you can conveniently find at our local wine shop "Brix" in Edgewood. The unique and great thing about this upper bar/waiting area is the fact that it is not crowded. There is plenty of room to mill about and have a conversation without shouting over background noise, or just lounge out on the cedar benches and stools if you like.

Not in the mood for a full blown meal? Just chill out for the entire evening up there and order from a selection of delicious meat and cheese plates while enjoying a romantic view of the city: just you, your cocktail, and someone special.

Wow, 9:00p already? So we went back to the hostess and we were promptly seated outside by the Zen garden, a great spot to land. This was my second visit to JCT so I wanted to order differently than the time before. I ordered the Skirt Steak on Arugula salad bed. [Before I elaborate further, I want to tell you that JCT is mostly good, hardy American food with a gourmet twist. If you are thinking of "gourmet" as an appetizer portion with a $30 price tag, you have nothing to fear at JCT. Rest assured, the meals I have eaten and spied were all nicely portioned.] So, the steak was seasoned with a soy based marinade and cooked perfectly. I subbed the fries for field peas as I am not a "fry guy". The peas were nicely seasoned with thyme and a pinch of salt.

By the end of the meal my plate was spotless. Another person in our party ordered the Pork Rack. Although my skirt steak was great, that damn Pork Rack looked fantastic! It had a near perfect sear on the outside and, honestly, it looked like a commercial when he cut into it (so pink and juicy). I'm told it was very tasty. Needless to say, it will be my next meal at JCT.

Dessert time! I ordered the blueberry beignets. I hesitated when my wife told the server she was going to have some of mine, and I promptly suggested a second order! (I'm a big eater) The server assured me that there was plenty for both of us. Damned, if she wasn't right. We received four, large, blueberry beignets fried to perfection. Yum!

The damage? Not bad. Entres range from $12-$29 so there is something at every price point. Now comes the best part. We walked out of the restaurant and right past the valet, whom I gave a dirty look, as we had parked in the "self park" section of the lot. I absolutely detest valet parking and often find myself frequenting certain great restaurants less than I should due to this arcane service. Thankfully, JCT offers a truly optional valet service. See you at the Junction!

-Ciao

http://jctkitchen.com/

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Elite '08

549

387

Deanna J.

Atlanta, GA

The interior of here is very white, classic and clean feeling. So much so, that if you happened to spill a red strawberry smoothie on the floor, then it could be mistaken for modern art. It has a soft feel, and during my lunch trip here was filled with plenty o' ladies who lunch. There's more than one 'upscale Southern' spot to choose from in our 'New South' city, and JCT easily joins those ranks.

It was an easy call to get the fried chicken salad . . . lettuce with a topping of fried (yes, I'm a fan of contradictions) . . . and with a huge side of mac and cheese (the true standard as to how any establishment's cooking would hold up as to how truly good they are at Southern). Both met expectations, and they get bonus Southern Points for having a well mannered waiter.

And anywhere that finishes off a meal with a giant (like, Guinness World Records huge) candy dispenser is ok in my book.

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7

15

Tony C.

Atlanta, GA

I have to say that those truffle fries rock. Combine them with the Soft Shell Crab sandwich and that's a great Saturday lunch. Finish with a Lemon donuts with Espresso Ice Cream and that's a sure fire recipe for a nap. My friend had a Bloody Mary with the Shrimp and Grits. Judging from her reaction they were both a hit.

We went back to enjoy the Bar at JCT and found it to be quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, the valet seems to have quite the attitude. I think they need to reevaluate which direction the money flows. I'll chose to spend my money somewhere else next time and take a star away because of this experience.

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1

45

J H.

Decatur, GA

this place is okay, but nothing special. If you are looking to impress, go upstairs to Bacchanalia - much better and worth the difference in price for the experience.

The service is friendly at JCT, but the decor made me feel like I was sitting in a women's magazine.

The food was hit or miss. The fries are OK, but people would shovel a tower of Checkers fries into their faces if it were sitting in front of them.

This is one of those places that pretentiously pronounces a laundry list of ingredients, then gives you a big plate with a little arty pile of food that doesn't quite match up to the description. The ribs were pretty good, but combined with the potatoes like that, I was constantly reminded of a Hungry Man TV dinner.

The one part of the meal that was kickass was dessert. The ginger cake with lemon cream is truly amazing, and the coconut rum cake is also VERY good.

I say grab taqueria for dinner, then head here for dessert and a drink.

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Elite '08

163

64

Michael E.

Atlanta, GA

I recently enjoyed a cocktail (or four) here while overlooking the train tracks, the renovation of the White Provisions building and midtown Atlanta. I love this place, the area and the general vibe. Great place for a cocktail after work with really delicious garlic fries, too.  Check it out.

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Elite '08

25

95

Laura M.

Atlanta, GA

Took my boyfriend here for his 28th birthday and I love this space. The interiors are so beautiful and calm, while not feeling stuffy.  The crowd is a little older, but they're still pretty rowdy.  

He had scallops, which are his favorite and thought they were wonderful.  We also had the fries with parmesan and truffle oil, which are so light and crispy.

I had the traditional fried chicken and of course, mac & cheese!

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Elite '08

99

175

Joel C.

Atlanta, GA

Just got back from celebrating Leslie E. 28th Birthday....Happy Birthday Leslie!  Leslie has always wanted to try out JCT Kitchen so I rounded up as many people possible to celebrate her special day...or week or month...she likes to extend the celebrations of her birth!

First off, shout outs to: Leslie, David, Torrie, Aaron, John, Egan, Q, and Calvin

Anyways, after hanging out at the bar for a good 10-15 minutes to drink and wait for the rest of the party, we were quickly seated in the middle of the restaurant.  It was somewhat busy, but we were all able to hear one another converse.  The service was amazing from start to finish.  Our waitress was lively and fun and she managed to perfect everything.  Of course we jinxed her and she ended up dropping one of the wine glasses she had in her hand....I mean she was holding 9 of them!  

Onto the food!  We started with a couple of appetizers:  Goat Cheese spread, truffle fries and house pickles.  All delicious and a bit different than what you would expect.  The entrees ordered were the spring mountain chicken, fried egg burger, steak and potatoes, and trout.  Everything was great and well portioned.  Most people wanted the fried chicken but they ran out...so everyone went with the baked chicken instead but with the mac and cheese.  The mac and cheese was very good....very creamy!

We ended the night with Leslie selecting the Lemon Donuts for dessert.  It tasted a bit like a beignet!  If it were me I would have chosen the Chocolate Fried Pies or the Rootbeer Float...again the Southern Boy in me would expect to get this!  I love this place and really enjoying hanging out at the bar upstairs.  It's a totally different vibe to hang out an chill than any other establishment in Atlanta.

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Elite '08

1132

1657

MiRIAM w.

Washington, DC

Before I land at ATL I start thinking about fried chicken. I can't help it. After sinking my teeth into both a Dolly Parton-sized fried chicken breast at Carver's and a juicy thigh at South City Kitchen during my last visit I was thinking I might've exhausted the best offerings. As it turns out, JCT's another excellent example of Atlanta's wonderful tradition of new southern cooking!

The fried chicken came with a bowl of mild macaroni and cheese and a side of crisp green beans. I highly recommend washing it all down with a glass of lemonade!

Also, five stars for the JCT soundtrack! Don't change a thing about it!

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2

40

Herman N.

Atlanta, GA

A wonderful discovery. I spent last night here for a friend's birthday celebration, and found it perfect for just that: a gathering place for friends (we had about a dozen in our party and found it perfectly comfortable on a Wednesday evening) desiring great beer, tasty snacks and excellent porch ambience. JCT sports a fantastic view of the skyline, comfortable/ample seating, a truly solid beer selection and a nice menu. I'll be coming back to try out the proper restaurant located below.

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13

17

Harrison C.

Atlanta, GA

So the first time here I went for a quick lunch idea (my close favorite Figo was looking its usual busyness) and I think that was probably my best idea of the last decade (being 23 that's saying alot!) Ok, so I'm exaggerating a little, but I'm sure you get the idea, I myself first had the skirt steak, and while that in itself was yummy, succulent, and other double meaning slightly sounding dirty words of culinary descriptives; it was nothing compared to her dish, no, not the chicken, which was also...(see above statements), but the Mac & cheese was the one that stole my heart. Now as a 2 time former college student, I consider myself a bit of a microwave master in the culinary arts, as well as holding my own in a conventional kitchen as well, but this dish made me rethink my childhood. It was so good, a complete home run off the rookie that never was much more than a side dish. Needless to say I get it almost every time i go regardless of the main dish I get (and they never seem to mind, shaking their heads as if I was not the first to request it in the last 10 seconds) Then again....I say all that knowing I might have had way too many of the vodka lemonades, those deserve another whole review too. So in a nutshell, go there, eat what you want, and if you feel daring, ask for a small serving of the magic mac & cheese and see if it doesn't change your perspective on life, or at least make the drive home in downtown traffic seem pretty worth it ;)

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8

57

Melissa S.

Atlanta, GA

YUMMY - absolutely unmistakably one of the best in ATL!!  The food is southern comfort food in its "Sunday go to meeting" clothes.  Flavors are amazing. We had the fried okra with clams - which was awesome. The Okra was lightly fried - so it didn't seem too heavy. For dinner I had the crab cake app. It was all crab cake and yummy. My beau had the baked organic chicken with green beans and mac & cheese.  It was mouth watering, roll your eyes back in your head good.  The decor is really cool and pleasant - modern meets pottery barn. Service was great.

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5

14

seth r.

GA

When the best thing about a meal is the french fries, hopefully your bill was about $5. Unfortunately, this was not the case with our JCT experience.  

While the scene inside JCT was nice, and I actually thought the menu looked excellent - neither the environment nor the food met my expectations.

We started with the truffle-fries which were excellent, and the butter (w/bread) was also remarkable. However, the rest of the dinner was mediocre at best. Two of us had the salmon, but at different temperatures (I was given the medium one even though I ordered medium rare) - however, we did switch half way into it. Also, all 4 of us remarked that our food was overly salted. Our friend Carol left half of her steak on the plate. I, however, fought mine down.

When we told the waiter of the above - I'm not sure he said anything, but I think he might have said 'Oh'. Not exactly what we were looking for.

Lastly, and this will make me sound like I am 90 - it was just too loud in there. The acoustics were horrible. We were at a small table of 4 and it was impossible to hear.

I have gone to many 'niceish' restaurants that are so/so, but this one was just bad, which surprise me after some high praise from other friends.

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Elite '08

16

54

Gabriel L.

Atlanta, GA

Went there for lunch with a co-worker.  Food was decent upscale renditions of southern classics, but overall I wasn't really wowed.  The food is good, but for what you get, it's a little pricey.  I got the fried chicken which was ok, and it came with some decent, very cheesey mac-n-cheese.  My co-worker got the shrimp and grits which was pretty meager in quantity... definitely not enough food (come on, how much would a couple more frozen shrimp and another scoop of grits really cost you guys?).  The only stand-out was the mussels appetizer, which had a great broth and good, solid chunks of a nice peppery bacon.  From a service perspective, I would also rate them as sub-par.  I asked for all dark meat for my chicken, and then the guy who brought it out said it was all white meat.  I told him that I ordered all dark, at which point he said he couldn't tell the difference because he doesn't eat chicken, took it back to the kitchen, they told him it was all dark, and in the end it was one dark, one white.  That's just moronic and really inexcusable for a place that with as much pretense as JCT.  I don't care if you're vegetarian or even vegan; if you're going to work as a waitron at a restaurant, know your products.  Our main waitress also never dropped by to refill my sweet tea until after we had signed our credit card bills and were ready to leave... that's not particularly attentitive service either.  I really wanted to like this place and had high hopes for it, but I left disappointed.

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2

9

Rob D.

Atlanta, GA

My fiance and I decided to check J.C.T. out as a possible venue for our wedding reception.  Having dined there on occasion, this was the first time I went there with a specific agenda to review them.

Overall decor is very neutral in color, with heavy use of white and beige.  Nothing pops, other than the over-sized lampshades that cover the overhead lighting along the pillars.  Not necessarily a complaint however it very much conveys the feeling of a place suitable for a cozy dinner or family affair.  Although curtains have been added around the pillars to reduce noise (reason given by the receptionist), it also breaks-up the space nicely- however, it did little to reduce noise.  The low ceilings and concrete will not allow for a quiet dinner for two.

After waiting over five minutes for service at our table (didn't appear to be short-staffed), we ordered drinks and the fried oysters as an appetizer.  Service from there on was quick- no complaints there.  At first bite, the oysters were very tasty, however both of us soon realized the "fried" part of the oysters over-powers the rest of the ingredients.  They use a very thick batter on these.  As well, it is a little heavy on the salt.  The accompanying small bed of spinach and bacon chunks did nothing to temper the saltiness.  It really felt as if you were biting into a large piece of partially fried batter.

Bread and butter came complimentary with our appetizer.  The bread was fresh (no complaints there) and the butter was VERY good.  Very creamy with a hint of honey.

Onto the entrees...

The chicken and dumplings I ordered, while presented well, was not exactly what I was expecting.  They certainly do their own take on it, or rather, different from the bowl of boiled chicken and large dumplings my Mom and Grandmother make.  The center of the dish contained two very small chicken thighs that looked to be baked.  Surrounding them were the dumplings- four balls of dough about the size of small walnut.  Garnishing the dish were four small, "organic" carrots.  The chicken was marginal at best.  Not much flavor and the texture was very dry, yet mushy.  The dumplings did not provide much contrast in texture, nor tasted of much.  The carrots were soft and tasted as if they were boiled in butter.  I realize this review is probably coming off as quite harsh.  My meal wasn't horrible, it just wasn't that great at all.

My fiance had the bacon-wrapped trout, which was actually quite good, although again, there was a heavy hand with the salt.

We did not opt for dessert, so no review there.

Overall, it's a very nice space, and for the most part, attentive staff.  The food, however, does not live up to the price-point and presentation.  Promising, but there's some work to do.

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59

59

Molly D.

Atlanta, GA

I have gone here twice and both times it was excellent and we had a wonderful time.  The shrimp and Grits are to die for.  The salmon is great and even the chicken is delicious.  It is REALLY loud inside though, which is unfortunate, but they have outdoor seating that is very pleasant and overlooks the courtyard.  I love the atmosphere of this place, the decor is very mod and peaceful so you aren't over stimulated.  This restaurant is not one of those that needs to over compensate on decor to distract you from poor food quality.  I have never had anything bad there nor anyone I have gone with.  The fried apple pie is AMAZING!

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1

6

Mason S.

Smyrna, GA

A friend and I went to JCT on a Friday with last-minute reservations and had no problems being seated within ten minutes of arrival.  Very professional service and fantastic food are hallmarks of this restaurant!  My friend and I started with the truffle-parmesan fries which were fantastic!  She had the "chicken and dumplings" which was a chicken leg stewed in red wine along with bacon and mushrooms.  She was slightly disappointed with it but, for the life of me, I can't remember why.  I had the fried chicken with mac and cheese and green beans.  It was really good and the chicken was not dry at all.  I had read several reviews stating that the fried chicken was dried out...not the night I went!  The restaurant also has a great rooftop deck that I want to visit as soon as the weather cools down a bit.

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14

28

Steakhead ..

Atlanta, GA

What's in a name? When it comes to Ford Fry, the chef at JCT Kitchen and Bar, I guess it's fitting that his signature dish is fried chicken. Fried chicken seems to be quite the Atlanta culinary rage these days. At the top of the list is the Tuesday night special at Watershed, which has gotten Scott Peacock national acclaim. The fried bird at JCT is getting very complementary comparisons to the Decatur hotspot. But unlike Watershed, it's a menu staple every night, without the fear of running out by 7pm.

JCT Kitchen is located in the Westside Urban Market on Howell Mill Rd. (in the same complex as Bacchanalia and Taqueria del Sol).The dcor is very bright and open with a French country motif, which fits in well with the classic Southern fare that adorns the menu. There is even a small patio for outdoor dining.

We started off with the White Bean Bruschetta, which is more like a bean dip spread on toast. The spread is seasoned with olive oil and garlic and is most yummy. Of course, I had to order the fried chicken for my entre. And I gotta say, this fried chicken is a far cry from the bucket of the Colonel's Extra Crispy that I remember as a kid. The meat was tender, juicy (not greasy), and the breading had a decent spice to it. Served with a side of mac and cheese and green beans, this is a great fix your comfort-food jones.

Lady Steakhead did not order as well as I did (after reading my posts for the past 2 years, you'll notice this is a common theme). Her Shellfish Pan Stew, a bouillabaisse with shrimp, clams, mussels and sausage, was good, but not entirely memorable. And it was the one dish on the menu that didn't seem to fit the rest of the country-style offerings. She regretted not going with the shrimp and grits instead. The dessert menu looked very enticing, including a fried apple pie (Ford Fry living up to his name again), but Baby Steakhead was beginning to make it clear that she wanted to head home, so we had to skip it.

Overall, I would definitely recommend JCT Kitchen and Bar. It's a fun, casual environment, and not in the least bit pretentious. The prices for most entrees were in the mid to upper teens, so it's priced in the right range for a neighborhood spot (although my glass of wine cost almost as much as my main course). And if you are in the mood for fried chicken, there is a bird waiting for you six days of the week (closed Sundays).

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$-$$$

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24

68

Karen F.

Atlanta, GA

JCT. Haiku Review

When Buckhead Betty
dreams of life in a farmhouse,
this is where she eats.

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1

16

Contrariwise C.

Atlanta, GA

We have only eaten here once, but really loved the food. I was sorely tempted by my Southern roots to try the fried chicken, but settled for the veggie plate instead. I also asked for 1/2 order of the truffle-parmesan fries because the couple at the next table had shared a taste with us and I was instantly hooked and in need of a small binge. These are the world's best fries. My plate had a nice assortment of perfectly steamed vegetables in a buttery sauce. They were mixed together in a colorful pile on the platter, rather than sitting in separate heaps in the usual southern restaurant fashion. My husband had the shrimp & grits and loved them. JCT serves decent bread, but the whipped butter has some added ingredient (sugar? Splenda?) that gives it an off taste. They only  give you one slice, not a basketful, so if you want more, you have to ask.

Which brings me to: Service.  Not the best. Our waiter, while charming and knowledgeable, was not attentive. When we finally got the check, he never came back to take the credit card. I saw him criss-cross the room many times, but couldn't get his attention. I thought of calling the restaurant on my cell and asking them to send him to our table, but the number wasn't on the check or the desert menu. Finally, I got the busboy to get him. The busboy became emotional, taking my hand and begging forgiveness! WTH?

The other reason I withhold full approval is the noise level. Why do trendy restaurants believe that patrons must shout and repeat themselves during dinner conversation. Is this a method of turning the tables over faster? We almost were screaming at each other. JCT is certainly not the only offender, but it's really, really bad.  I long for the old days of sound-baffling design in restaurants.

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30

Marisa F.

Atlanta, GA

My current favorite restaurant, and my vote for best new addition to the city!
JCT's hidden location (behind Bachanalia, across from the way too crowded Taqueria del Sol... skip the tacos guys, get some fried chicken and truffle oil mac n' cheese!) makes it cute and secretive. For lunch, it's not crowded.
I get the grilled cheese for grownups. its a big buttery texas-toast grilled cheese with 3 cheeses, a tomato, and a basil leaf. Side this with their pureed bean soup, and you've got a recipe for mmmmmmm!
Anyone that went to this space when it was the thai restaurant MUST go back. You won't recognize it! Those black laquered pillars are gone, replaced with an inviting white space that really feels charming, with the daytime sun shining through the open baydoors looking into the garden. Not to mention the neat view of the railroad tracks (Jct. is the abbreviation for a railroad junction btw)
This is not one of those average trendy hotspots! It's classy and delicious.

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34

Brendan S.

Marietta, GA

Lunch at JCT Kitchen & Bar.

I had the friend chicken, mac & cheese and green beans.  It takes them a while to cook it, about 15-20 minutes, so be prepared to wait.  IMHO the fried chicken is better  than Watershed's and as good as Horseradish Grill.   One of my friends had the salmon sandwich and the other had a burger.  Both were very good.  Properly cooked burgers, nice portions, good fries.  Once again,  I stress that if someone orders the chicken, your buddies are going to have to wait a while.  

Prices are about average for this kind of place.The service was not bad, however, there was an order mix-up and it seemed that 3 different people were in charge of our table.  Considering that the place was not even a 1/4 full, this was annoying and disruptive.  All in all,  I would probably go back.

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