Jebz Restaurant
Categories: Diners, American (Traditional) [Edit]
39742 Cedar Blvd(at Mowry School Rd)
Newark, CA 94560 (510) 661-0355
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
168 reviews
Hayward, CA
"Just rating on their dessert...i had the tres leches...and omg its heaven!! chocolate tres leches with strawberries...i could eat a whole…" read more »
39 Reviews for Jebz Restaurant
We've been to Jebz several times since it opened. We were thrilled to find a non-chain restaurant nearby. The clam chowder was exceptional, real clams and very creamy. Their sandwiches are just ok, nothing great for the price. The salads are good and the entrees are good too. The calamari are not the pre-fab strips served at some other establishments. The meatloaf is decent, but the mashed potato that comes with it lacks a little flavor. My husband enjoyed the lamb and my brother thought the steak was pretty good. The only dessert we've tried is the warm chocolate cake with bananas and I have to say, I craved that for the rest of my pregnancy! Overall, a decent alternative to chain restaurants in the Newark-Fremont area.
I don't know what some of these people are thinking, but this place is great. They have quality food for a good price and top notch service.
My gf and I have tried quite a few entrees and have never been disappointed. My personal favorite is the Rosemary Chicken. I always substitute the squash for some sauteed spinach.. and the garlic mashed potatoes it comes with is delicious.
Some others we have tried are the salmon, meatloaf, burger (tastes hella good with avocados), steak, and fish and chips. If you still have room, desserts are really good -- we'd recommend the banana split.
I love the service here. They're friendly, attentive, and always check up on us to see if we need anything. What more can you really ask for? The chef, Joe, even comes out to introduce himself to us and see how we like the food. No other restaurant in the area shows that kind of hospitality.
Jebz also has a full bar and is open later than other restaurants in the area, which makes it a great place to grab a bite late night.
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I heard about this place from a friend and decided to check it out. She had really liked it, and I do alot by friend recommendations. To sum it up, I will not be going back, nor will I recommend it to anyone.
My husband, mom, and I went on a weeknight. It's cute inside, small and cozy. We got a table fairly quickly. The waitstaff didn't seem to be too quick on the draw, but it's something I can deal with.
The three of us all had something different and I sampled them all:
Meatloaf - This was my choice since who doesn't love a little meatloaf comfort food. The slices were very thin and very dry and tasted more like tofu then meat. It was smothered in less then appetizing mushrooms, but the sauce was okay. I substituted the mac & cheese for garlic mashed. They were okay once you added more then a few shakes of salt & pepper. The steamed vegetables were a little over steamed!
Rosemary Chicken - My mom's choice. It was fair. The chicken was a little dry and even though she was supposed to get the rice they served her the same flavorless garlic mashed...
Salmon - My husbands choice and my far the tastiest. Salmon & rice were good, veggies again a little over steamed...
Not to give up hope on a new place we opted for some dessert. I ordered a mocha which had a terrible coffee to chocolate ratio. My mom got the chocolate cake with caramelized bananas. The bananas were good, but the cake had the consistency of a two week old brownie. The hubby and I split the poached pear and it was definitely the saving grace of our evening and the difference between one star and two. However still not good enough to get me to go back unless it's just for that!
Coincidence or not all three of our stomachs hurt the next day. I hate to blame a restaurant, but ti seemed awfully weird the three of us got sick at once.
Basically I'm still on a mission to find a good place to eat in Newark.
The first time I went here was for a afternoon lunch which was a grilled chicken sandwich with caramelized onions and a cup of the best seafood chowder I have had yet. Over time I have gone back for dinner and dessert many times so I enjoy the meals. Calamari, prawns & avocado salad, pan seared steak. Looking for a little more responsive time with the service but overall great people, cozy place and close to home.
I LOVE this place!
The food is sooo good! I have been here many times and have yet to find a reason to complain. I am a really picky eater so for any restaurant to please me is a big deal in my book. I recommend the rosemary chicken...oh, and try the macaroni and cheese while you're there.
The service: Awesome
The server Joe is one of the nicest guys you will meet. That goes for the chef Joe as well. (I believe they are cousins) I love the family aspect of it the place....owned by family, treat you like family. There aren't many restaurants I go to where I leave knowing everyones names.
So would I recommend this place??
Well I've brought my family and friends here and they all enjoyed themselves...so yes! =oD
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I was on my way to grab a quick lunch, with Taco Bell in mind. Knowing myself I should of went with my first gut instinct, but I got distracted. As my car approached a stop, I looked over to my right remembering a new restaurant that opened a while back....Jebz.
My friend/co-worker and I ate there when they first opened I remember the food wasn't so bad and decided to give it another whirl.
I was quickly greeted by the waitress and she immediately handed me a menu so I could order. I ordered a Italian sausage sandwich which comes with fries and a cup of their seafood bisque. I ask the girl if I could pay more for garlic fries and it was not a problem. The price of the meal on the menu outside was $6.95, but i was charged $7.95...I wasn't going to make a scene over a dollar, and it cost an additional .75 for garlic fries...which was fair enough.
My meal was ready within 10 minutes as the waitress entailed, so off i left a happy camper. I immediately open my box to scope out my food in my car, everything was perfect except for the fact that I got regular fries instead of garlic fries...I was a little bit disappointed and decided making the fuss and returning was not worth it and just journeyed back to work.
I return to my cubicle to enjoy my lunch, right off the bat, I noticed a big pool of orange grease to the right of my styrofoam container, I quickly assemble my sandwich and began eating. After my first bite, lettuce bits and sausage bits came flying out. I have a pet peeve with burgers and sandwiches, I expect to be able to pick it up/eat it with ease. If I wanted to pick up crap, I would of ordered a salad. I guess the sandwich has potential....the flavors are there but it is definitely not eater-friendly. I literally went through like 7 napkins, having to degrease my fingers each bite.
The sandwich could of been a success:
A) The foccacia bun was toasted and not soggy
B) The sausage was cut into bigger slices to maintain stability
C) The sausage was drained after it was cook to prevent a river of grease from running
The only thing memorable from the sandwich was the fire roasted peppers and sauteed onions.
Sadly, even the fries were a disappointment... thick cut steak fries that were soggy.
The seafood bisque was hard to get down despite drenching it with black pepper., there was this weird bread tasting bite to it, I did not enjoy it at all. I did appreciate the massive amount of fish chunks in it though.
Lunch is always my highlight of the work day, Jebz did not cut it for me, I sit here wishing I just would of gone to Taco Hell to be satisfied with my Chalupa and Double Meat Burrito for .89
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I like Jebz because it offers ample portions of good food in a comfortable setting with good service. Think of it as upscale 'diner' food with a few international choices... and a full bar!
Let me give you a run-down of all the dishes on our table :
- prawn & avocado salad : fresh ingredients, good presentation, and tasty over-all, but a little too oily. A tangy / spicy dressing with less oil might actually make the dish better, especially for summer.
- spinach salad : tasty but could have used a little more 'crunch' in the form of onions or more nuts or something.
- paella (a special) : lots of flavor and taste. plenty of seafood & sausages.
- meat-loaf with mac-and-cheese: My wife ordered this, and I stole some from her plate. It was good! I like that they give you some vegetables along with the decadent cheesy-mac.
- cedar-plank salmon: received a thumbs-up from both people who tried it.
- some kind of burger-and-fries with avocado and other fixin's : a little difficult to assemble and eat, due to the large piece of avocado, but it also received a thumbs-up for taste. We all tried the fries (big, thick-cut pieces, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside), which were excellent.
- bread-pudding: it was a little dry... could have done with more flavor / taste on this one.
- hot-chocolate: two thumbs up! ...definitely the best hot chocolate I have had in a long while.
Over-all, Jebz gets a thumbs-up for taste, portion size, presentation, service and ambiance (quite comfy and nice for a strip-mall).
On the negative side:
- if you are used to paying less than $10 for meat-loaf at a diner, $14 might seem a little expensive,
- Also, based on our meatloaf experience, consistency might be a bit of a problem ... Jebz still has to convince me that they can deliver the same taste over and over.
- Finally, I have to mention the excess of oil. No one expects diner food to be very healthy, but both my dishes seemed to have quite a bit of extra oil, which could easily have been drained out or not added to begin with.
Nevertheless, I had a good experience with the food and service, and will definitely go back to try more items from the menu in the near future.
There were a couple new restaurants that we had wanted to try out in the area. So, for dinner we decided to flip a coin and it landed in Jebz favor.
It was a Saturday night around 7pm when we arrived at Jebz, and surprisingly it was quite popular. I wasn't expecting a big crowd, but there was about 5-6 other parties there enjoying dinner as well. Though 5 or 6 groups doesn't seem like a lot, it was for this smaller venue. Despite the busy and active atmosphere, we were seated promptly.
By the name and description of the restaurant, I was expecting a southern style comfort food (diner style)... but to my surprise, it was "fancy" comfort food. Some would maybe call it modern food, which a small down home twist.
I went with a group of 4, and we all ordered something different. For appetizers we shared ceasar salad (average to good), calamari (good texture, cooked perfectly, but very salty), and the seafood bisque (very good, and cheesy).
For our main courses we chose the classic Mama's Meatloaf (w/Mac and Cheese), the Fish and Chips, Goulash, and a bigger bowl of seafood bisque. Out of the all the dishes, I personally like all of them, but the meatloaf with mac and cheese was my favorite. There wasn't a lot of bold flavors in the meatloaf, but I am a traditionalist when it comes to food like that. Also, the mac and cheese wasn't too buttery or greasy, so that also was a plus. However, others in my group weren't as impressed with this dish.
As for the fish and chips, I like how they the cut the fish and thin strips and lightly flour them before frying them up (almost like a calamari). This made for a lighter feel for the fish and chips than normally thought of when I go to a normal fish and chips house. I would definitely come back here for this dish when I am craving such a thing.
As for the goulash, I didn't get enough of it to give it a fair review, so I will wait until next time. However, those who did said it was good and hearty, but were not over-impressed with it.
By the time we finished our supper, we were too full to try any of the desserts. From what the friendly waitress told us, the desserts would be something that I would want to come back for. Also, the table next to us got a delicious looking chocolate cake, but they were rude and wouldn't give us a sample.
I would also like to give compliments to the decor of the place as well as the service. The decor was subtle and classy, which made for a comfortable setting.
I would probably go back here in the future to try the desserts and other dishes, but won't be rushing tonight. Maybe next week...
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See posted pictures for reference.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/28/2008
Jebz describes itself as "American Comfort Food with International Influences". I failed to see how… Read more »
Jello shots? Yep. But, not what you expect. Jello thrown into a shot glass with rum poured over it. Completely difficult to shoot, gotta eat it wtih a spoon.
I had the fish and chips...and I thought it was really good. Not greasy. Good portions.
Boyfriend had pork chop...came to him smothered in BBQ sauce. He no likey.
Friend had goolash. He seemed just okay with it.
This place is good, but not super. But, definitely needed in Fremont/Newark area.
Earlier today, I tried to convince someone to come here (I think I succeeded). She had been previously turned off by the name. I think it conjured some sort of "Redneckz X-Treme!" image for her (there's a new TV show for you!). The name is actually the owner's initials, so relax!
Another element that may put off some people is that it's not really a casual restaurant but it's not really a white-tablecloth/cloth-napkin restaurant. The service is friendly but very casual; there are diner-style condiments on the table ... but the menu and the overall atmosphere kind of contradict those elements. That's OK. The menu also has lower prices than you would expect from a white-tablecloth place, so it's all good.
How's the food? Well, so far we're 3 for 3 with their dinner entrees (most are around $10-15). The goulash was just incredibly delicious. I don't know a thing about real goulash, but this was very nicely seasoned, savory, rich, and complex. So good. Previously, I had the roasted chicken, which was also excellent (if oversized!), with a very good squash accompaniment and nice garlic mashed potatoes. Mr. R. had meatloaf both times, because he liked it and enjoyed the creamy macaroni and cheese side. I'm very pleased that the vegetable accompaniments to their entrees have thus far always been excellent, something a lot of restaurants fail to manage.
We've tried two desserts so far: the impressive brick of bread pudding (with caramel sauce and heavily cinnamoned real whipped cream, which I could eat on its own), and the warm chocolate cake (everyone does this, I know) with caramelized bananas (that's what made it different and better).
I'm worried about the future of JEBZ because it's on Cedar, near a school and kind of between Manna and the mall area. It's not easy to stumble across accidentally, particularly if you live in Fremont. (I learned about it on Yelp myself!) So if you like it, let people know. We really need more cuisine choices in this area!
Minus points: Usually a little on the cold side; 2-seater tables are a little crowded with the condiments; very strange acoustics--the tables nearest the door on the non-bar side can be heard clearly several tables away. Posted hours are significantly later than their actual hours, so don't expect them to still be seating diners at 10 or 11 (but DO go late! let's give them enough traffic that they'll NEED to stay open!). Finally, brunch was a bit of a letdown--too conventional, nothing very interesting.
I have two suggestions for JEBZ: 1) Advertising blitz (get the live music events on upcoming.org and so forth). 2) Brunch overhaul. Check out the breakfast menu at Crest Cafe in San Diego. That's the sort of thing that would complement the rest of the menu and make it stand out--otherwise I might as well go for the $5.50 breakfast at La Pinata. With an improved brunch, I'd give 5 stars.
Anyway, major kudos to JEBZ for filling a much-needed niche in the Tri-City area. If you want non-diner, non-sandwich American or Californian cuisine, you now have two choices (JEBZ and Essanay). Check it out sooner rather than later, so we can have it stick around.
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This place is freaking good!
Boy the food is just over the top - all I can say is save room for desert and make sure you share it. The deserts are huge, as a matter of fact all the servings are big.
Lax service takes away one star. Actually the service is not bad, just not enough servers for the business and the folks working seem a bit overwhelmed. They better get used to it because this place is going to be a popular spot.
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I went here because of the reviews from Yelp and I have to say I was totally disappointed! I gave Jebz a fair shot, but I think they are just OK. For what you get for the price I'd say it's not worth going to ever again.
The service wasn't all that great, our waitress was nice but very young and didn't seem to be that knowledgeable. Also it looked like she had the whole place to herself so she was probably busy.
The food overall is just so-so. We ordered the Calamari and I must say it was EXCELLENT in my opinion. Unfortunately that was the only excellent thing. I had the Lamb shank, which was pretty good but the mushrooms that came with it tasted kind of weird, and the polenta was just OK. My bf had the meatloaf and it was disappointing, just very bland. Overall I was talking about rating this place a 3, but he suggested a 2 and we figured Chilli's would be a 3, Black Angus a 4 etc (so you get the idea).
To be honest I doubt this place will last.
Don't judge a book by it's cover, or a restaurant by it's name and location.
Jebz is nestled in a brand new strip mall behind Newpark Maii. I think just the name might detract people from even trying it out, because its such a short, easy name to syay, it might sound like a truck stop or a diner (Mel's, Ed's, Joe's). But for the brave suburbanite who takes that chance to stop and smell the inside story, they are rewarded with something unlike anything currently in town.
The "Comfort Food" subtitle is only part of the reality that goes on in here. Roast chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes, those are all on the menu. But the artful way they are presented on the plate gives you a eeling that the chef really likes to cook. Portions are decent, and the prices reasonable. Decor was above average for what you might think "comfort food" patrons demand. I'd call it tastefully aesthetic.
They had a couple of Ahi Tuna dishes, and interesting sounding sandwiches and burger variants (like a spicy Chipotle). There's a nice bar to eat at also, for you soloists.
Our server seemed kind of new to the job, but we got our food in a timely manner, so no biggie there.
Update: On a return trip, I ordered the Cedar Plank Salmon. It literally comes on a blackened plank of wood. That's high concept! And it was delicious too. However, lactards beware: The brown rice and veggies, that come with it, are drenched in butter. I supposed that is what makes it "comfortable" . Argula salad with poached pears was excellent.
Service this time was great!
Go Jebz!
The warm chocolate cake dessert was decadent and huge. Comfy? uh huh!
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We have gone to Jebz three times now. Every time has been wonderful. It concerns me that there doesn't seem to be many patrons. Come on people!!! We finally get a non-chain restaurant. It is something new besides an all-you-can eat Chinese buffet. If this place doesn't survive it will truly be a loss.
The decor is very nice. The service is always good. The food is wonderful. We haven't had a bad meal yet. We are working our way through the menu.
We both had the meatloaf the first visit. Nice crunch, wonderfully different white mushroom gravy, creamy macaroni and cheese. And as for the Yelper who said the veggies were like hockey pucks? Ours were tender crisp. The calamari appetizer is a must-have. The chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream and caramelized bananas put us over the edge. Practically needed a crane to get us out of our seats.
Took our son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter the next time. Had the lamb shank. No gamey taste. Ours was nice and hot (unlike another Yelper) and fall-off-the-bone tender. Polenta was done nicely. Hubby had the fish and chips. Not greasy and very good. The arugula salad with poached pears, brie, and almonds was very different and well done. The chef seems to like to present "tall" food. His salads are quite tall. :) The goulash was a little spicy with nice tender potatoes. I would have preferred a little less goulash served with some veggies. It was very tasty but too much of a good thing. I had the Jamaican Rum creme brulee. Yummmm. Nice crust with an interesting flavor twist. Creamy pudding. Again...bring on the crane.
Third visit we shared the calamari and the ahi tuna tartare with a chili glaze. Very tender and nice heat on the tuna. I had the fish and chips...it was next on the list. Hubby had the lamb shank. Both were as good as the first time.
All in all, Jebz has provided us with good service, pleasant ambiance, and very well prepared and presented food.
If the people in this area do not support this worthy business, you deserve what you get. More Chili's, Hooters, Claim Jumpers, and a million more Chinese buffets. Sheesh!
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Hmm. Far from fantastic.
I wanted to like this place, promise, I really did. Afterall, I'm one meatloaf lovin' asian girl! So the bf and I decided to try this place out tonight for dinner based on the reviews we've read.
We entered the restaurant, which was empty, and the sweaty chef (owner?) was kicking back on the bench in the entryway, talking it up with a friend on his cell phone. He nodded at us and said "What's goin' on man" to my bf, like a bouncer at a club... weird.
We ended up ordering the calamari, and just as David H. describes, the plate was blanketed in an explosion of parsley. It looked like a patch of astroturf had literally hit the fan all over our food. The parsley wasn't the only thing in excess on our plate. The calamari was heavily seasoned in some salt/paprika blend and it was incredibly salty. They clearly were trying to make the dishes look vibrant and colorful through garnish, this was just to much. We considered sending it back, but decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and instead, wiped down each piece as we ate it.
But then the entrees came. The waitress nearly dropped my meatloaf plate in my lap because the plate was too hot for her to handle. BF had ordered the fish and chips and we immediately noticed the same red tinge of salty seasoning on the fish that had coated the calamari (not to mention the parsley.. again!). He took a bite and balked at how salty it was. I, still wanting to like the place, told him it couldn't be that bad and he was overreacting. But then I tasted it. It was sooo salty. And I'm known to be a fan of over seasoning, but this was just too much. It was pucker your lips, smack your tongue, feel sorry for slugs salty.
Additionally, the fries were also covered in a snowy blanket of salt flakes. While those brushed off fairly easily, still, it was an excessive amount of salt!
We kept quiet, both picking away at my (underwhelming) meatloaf until the waitress came by and asked how it was. We told her the fish and chips dish was much to salty and inedible, and she looked completely unaware of what she should do if someone sent back a dish. She simply picked up the plate and said, "umm I'll tell them."
She never came back to ask us if we'd like the dish re-prepared or if we'd like to order something else, so we just sat in a stupor for a while. A few minutes later, she came back with a new plate of fish and chips, but this time, something was missing. The plate was bare of any garnish, any seasoning, anything at all! Not one sprinkle of salt, not one shake of paprika, not even one tuft of parsley! I was tempted to take a picture of the before and after versions of the dish, it was so bizarre. The first dish looked like mardi gras, the new dish looked like, well, the opposite of mardi gras. It looked like a kids meal.
We kind of chuckled at first because it was such a vast difference from what they previously served to us, but then realized we had just received the gentleman's version of spit in our food. Now, I understand that we sent back our food because it was over seasoned, but to then receive it back without ANY seasoning at all?
Now I realize how this is probably coming across... but I promise, I am not at all a nit-picky food snob that always finds something to complain about. In fact, I RARELY send back my food. I've even insisted on paying for soup with a bug in it because I felt it wasnt their fault that the bug had wings. But I know when I'm being given the finger, and this was one of those times. I almost applaud the chef for being so clever.. maybe thats why I'm giving 2 stars instead of just 1.
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FINALLY! A non-chain restaurant in my area. Let's all please take a moment and celebrate.
...
ok, so I had never heard of Jebz until my Mom told me it was recommended by a patient of hers. So, my sister, Mom and i had a girls night out and headed to Jebz for some american comfort food. This place is a little tucked away and, in my opinion, should be a lot busier than it was. The food was fantastic (try the arugala salad with brie and poached pears) and the service was great. Our waiter was a little more chatty than I like but the special attention from the chef was appreciated so i'll let those two factors even themselves out. The dessert menu is also delish so be sure to save room for that.
Give Jebz a try, it's super affordable and well worth it for the home-cooked meal away from home.
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Pretty tasty comfort food. I went to the grand opening and they were having a huge party.
I got to try the mac & cheese, roasted pork, clam chowder, hungarian goulash, penne with red sauce, bread & chicken on a lettuce leaf. All were good, some (like the mac & cheese and goulash) were really rich so I was stuffed by the end of the night.
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Date night sans kids so the hubby and I hit up Jebz on Cedar Blvd. in Newark. American Comfort Food with International Influence? Let's roll. Easy access from the main road with lots of parking. Nice start.
We get seated quickly in the bar portion of the restaurant. My husband jokes that we were "banished", since all the other customers were on the other side of the restaurant. Whatevs, it made for more privacy. We order the calamari which comes out quick...a little too quick. Presentation is wonderful. Taste...pretty good, except it started getting starchy after a few bites. Hence the tomatoes. I ordered the meatloaf with mac n' cheese, and my husband orders the lamb shank. Both entrees take a little longer to arrive, but the hostess/server is very attentive and checks on us regularly. Nice, I like that. My meatloaf is tasty, moist and hot. I like it, but it's nothing special. My husband's lamb shank & polenta is delicious and falling off the bone. This is obviously a dish they have mastered. Going for the gusto we order dessert...creme brulee. Not the best I've ever had, but it was decent...can't complain. Overall Jebz is good, but nothing to write home (or Yelp) about. LOL.
Jebz's food is absolutely DELICIOUS & FRESH!!! On their website, it says "It's rustic, robust & bold!" and that's exactly the feel that you get eating here. The menu has an eclectic mix of simple but fancied up items, all incredibly well made.
House Burger with a side of Garlic Fries ($6.75): So yummy. The server didn't ask how I wanted the meat cooked so I was worried that it'd come out overcooked but it came out perfectly! It's cooked at about medium well (hey, it's gotta be this way to prevent food poisoning). It was well seasoned and easy to bite in. Comes with some fresh greens & raw onions. The burger comes with a side of regular steak fries but you can upgrade to cajun fries (extra $.50) or garlic fries (extra $.75). There's also a vegetarian option for this dish too!
The downfall is that every side, literally every side, costs an extra $1-$3. Cheese costs an extra $1 and even though it looks like one measley slice of cheese, the swiss was very rich and delicious. Avocados are an extra $2 but they literally give you half an avocado on the burger. I also saw brie on there but it was $3!
On every table, they have the most random combination of sauces: ketchup, dijon mustard & tapatio (which is so cool because you can only find these at taquerias!).
Service is great. With a party of 7, we were the only ones there during lunch on a Friday. Some couples came in a little later. The chef saw us out there and even though we weren't ready to order, he came out to ask if any of us knew what we wanted so that he could start prepping. I thought that was pretty cool... he's also super friendly. It looked like it was just him and a sous chef in the back (you can peep into the kitchen a little). The food came out in a timely manner anyway.
Before I give it 5 stars, I want to visit again and try something else. The dinner menu looks spectacular with meatloaf, mac n cheese, ahi tuna salad, pork chop, etc. The variety sounds so appealing.
**UPDATED 6/5/08: Unfortunately, I have to lower the stars from 4 to 3. I came here and tried both the burger and the grilled ham/cheddar in sourdough. The meat patty in the burger was very dry. The sourdough in the sandwich was over cooked and too hard. Sad... At least this time the food came out a lot quicker.
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Just went here tonight with a gf from work. I thought it was great...and even better it's down the street from home!!
I had the salmon with veggies and subbed the rice for mashers...hmmmm! I should have only eaten half to have leftover for tomorrow...but I was hungry. Now I am stuffed!
My gf has been there quite a few times and has enjoyed many of the other dishes...oh yeah I had the clam chowder...clams were enormous!! And my gal pal had the spinach with candied walnuts...the dressing on this was really yummy! I don't think it was expensive...we paid $54 for 2 salmon plates, salad, cup of soup, AND 2 glasses of wine. HMmmm...there was a delicious shiraz!
I want to go back to have the meatloaf...which I think so weird...let's go to a restaurant to have meatloaf....but it looked really good!
Service was good...we were there chatting FOREVER and never felt like the server wanted us to leave...in fact they kept re-filling our water glasses. The chief dude kept coming out of the kitchen to check up on us too...that was cute!
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The best so far my husband and I drive round and round fremont,newark,union city,and hope to find something we dont do fast food unless its a must,but when we went to JEBZ finally its a place for us,its clean,its fresh,the chef was nice,the food was so tempting to try more than one entree,like many of you others i am tired of all you can eat places that you wonder if youll get sick later or be lucky. study the menu see what you would like or not like dont hesitate to ask for them not to put something on,or add more of something, my husband and i promised each other to split our choices ,so we tasted each .That did not happen we did not want to give up our second half ,it was so good,we will be back.
Excellent comfort food! This place is kinda hidden in yet another strip mall fairly close to the high school, but once inside, it seems comfortable, though somewhat trying to be upscale. The service was prompt and efficient, even while apparently training a new employee (how to pour a beer, for example).
My wife had the goulash. Even though a 2nd gen Slovenian, she was almost convinced her mother was in the kitchen helping put it all together; a high compliment. I had the braised lamb shank. The meat was tender and the sauce was excellent. The accompanying polenta was creamy and surprisingly excellent for such a normally mundane dish. The beers were cold and the service was quick. There are still a number of things on the menu we want to try, so we will definitely be back.
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UPDATE, 2ND VISIT, 5/02/08:
Uh Oh. It looks like this place is going to be one of those hit-or-miss types. I ordered the pan seared ribe eye steak. Everything about it was wrong - very overcooked, very thin piece of meat that seemed to have been beaten flat to tenderize it. The consistency was that of calf liver. I hate sending stuff back but this was just too bad to bear, so I called the waiter and the owner (who happened to be near) over and told them about it. The owner agreed immediately that it was obviously overcooked (easy to see) and offered to replace it. I ordered the meatloaf, instead, since I'd had it the last time and hoped it would be as good again. It was. Incidentally, the waiter, who was a joy to deal with, said they had one cook who speaks very little english and blamed it on him. I say that's the owner's fault for hiring someone who can't understand something as basic as how long to cook a steak.
Overall, the issue was handled well (the owner also comp'd me a glass of wine), but my confidence in this place took a huge hit over this. In addition, the meatloaf came with macaroni and cheese - which I had raved about the first time I had it. This time it was a pale and poor imitation of what it had been the first time. This version was only slightly better than Kraft-in-a-box. Again, this makes me feel this place will be hit-or-miss and I hate that. I want to be able to depend on the same level of quality when I order something I've had before. I don't want it to be a gamble where I have to face the risk that I'll hate my food and either have to send it back or eat something subpar.
My husband had the lamb shanks and gave it a 7 on a scale of 1-10.
This place is still new and I'm hoping they'll get their act together. Right now, it looks like the owner is spending way too much time schmoozing and trying to act like a celebrity at the customers' tables, instead of being in the kitchen. He seems to be the cook who creates the scrumptious stuff - and it's apparent that everything depends on him. I'm considering that if I go here again, maybe I'll ask that my food only be prepared by him (Joseph) and see what happens.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Aaaaah! Thank you, Yelpers! What a splendid meal! It's the darnedest combination: down home comfort food served in the style of very fine restaurants. It's nearly incongruous but your stomach won't care about that as it goes in to paroxisms of pleasure.
I had the meatloaf, which comes with macaroni and cheese plus veggies of the day. It's the best meatloaf I've ever had. Undoubtedly the meat is a combination of something more than ground beef (veal perhaps?). The mushrooom sauce over it makes it even that much better. Again, it tops any mushroom sauce I've ever had anywhere. The macaroni and cheese is extraordinary. It tastes like what I make when I'm in the mood to put in a lot of work and time (with very upgrade sharp cheese to keep the flavor after it's melted); I never thought I'd find that taste in a restaurant. Scrumptious!
My sweetie had the Hungarian goulash (a stew) and gave it high marks. I tasted it, of course. It was good but it wouldn't be one of my favorites because I don't like paprika. The meat was high quality, tender and tasty, so much better than you usually find in a dish like this.
Our salads rank at the top of the scale, too. Thanks to Yelpers, I had the arugula and pear salad. Sweetie had the baby spinach salad with blue cheese. Presentation gets 6 stars! Beautiful! The taste matched the presentation, too, and that's not always the case. I don't really like salads but these salads are so out of the ordinary that I can't possibly convey how delicious they are.
Service was attentive and competent. Our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and everything that was supposed to be hot was, indeed, hot.
Warning: it looks like this place has been discovered. When we arrived at 5:30PM (on a Friday night), we were one of only two tables. When we left at 6:30PM, every table was taken and there were two sets of people waiting. That doesn't seem like it would be an unreasonable wait but I suggest you try it now before it becomes even more popular.
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I was skeptical at first. Our party of three walked in (with reservations) and there was no host(ess). We waited a few minutes and then just sat down. There was one waiter for the joint....there must have been about 20 people there for early dinner. I started to think that a McD's cheeseburger...
Then they turned it around. The food came out really fast. Portions were fine and the food tasted fresh and hearty. I had the fish & chips, which were strips that tasted more like chinese salt and pepper fish than your run o' the mill cod bricks. Who doesn't love salt and pepper fish?
My compadres had meatloaf and rosemary chicken. Both were good. The mac & cheese was a cholesterol bomb, but really good.
I would give this place four stars if the decor and ambiance were better. I kinda felt like I was in a cafeteria in a strip mall, half of which was true. I would give it another star if it was not in Newark.
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No fancy advertising for JEBZ as word spreaded way too quickly about how good their food is. Guess that holds true for almost any good restaurant, no matter what cuisine it is. Was pretty impressed with JEBZ the first time I was here with my bff and it's only 5 minutes drive from my house. So for the second time, I went here with my hubby for Valentine's. And he was quite impressed as well! He loved it since it was local and we didn't have to go through all that 'valentine's chaos'. And the food was excellent! Menu was pre-fixed. Yeah, that's how they get you for V-day but it's all good when you support good local restaurants especially the new ones. Service was pretty 'homey'...The bartender was so accomodating since I couldn't have champagne and the personable chef always took the time to chit chat with you no matter what. So besides the food, you totally feel 'at home'.
Some must-try-items: Hot chocolate...da bomb! The yummy salads...like the arugula salad with poached pears and brie. The ciopino...loaded with seafood and rich in flavor! yum! The warm brownie with ice cream and caramelized bananas...totally hits the spot! So we were told to come back for breakfast as they claim they have some killer omelets! Can't wait!
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Really good food, I am new to the area and this is one of the few places that I have been a couple time already. The salmon is really good and cooked very well. The fish and chips are also very nice for lunch and the turkey sandwich is very filling. The place is great with really good service and it helps that the cook is the owner and he is very friendly also. It is in a very hard to find location because it is not in any main streets but if youre in the area and need some lunch, I recommend this place highly. New business.
This restaurant was recommended to me by a coworker, so I went for lunch. I got a spinach salad with sliced pears, bleu cheese, and walnuts. It was delicious. The portions were somewhat smaller than your average restaurant, but the prices were also low. Maybe dinner portions and prices are different. I'll definitely be back to try them out for dinner too. It may be a strange element to comment on, but I especially enjoyed how they chopped the pears. I've gotten pears on salads at many restaurants and have never seen them sliced so thinly.
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Food: 5 stars. Really good. Their menu is varied, and I was eyeing items coming out of the kitchen. Portion size is good.
Price: 4 stars. Jebz is not expensize, about what you would pay for most sit down restaurants. Then again, it is definitely not the place to stretch $5. Since the food quality is good, however, you are definitely receiving value. Drinks are affordable.
Service: 4 stars. Service is competent and attentive, but not yet at the 5 star, know your neighbor - joke around level.
Ambience: 3: I can't quite identify it, but there is some kind of disconnect between the high food quality and Jebz's furnishing and lay out. While everything is new, it occupies neither of these two extremes: run down, kick your feet up, comfortable, nor fancy dark room white tablecloth with candle.
Summary: Food: 5 Price: 4 Service: 4 Ambience: 3
While above does not average 5 stars across all categories, the great food over rides much of the other categories. I recommend you go to Jebz and try it out.
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Jebz American Comfort Food combines American classics such as meatloaf and mac&cheese and spruces it up with some culinary elegance. This is not Mom's regular dinner.
Ambiance (4/5): This place is located next to Newpark Mall in the little shopping plaza behind the auto mall area where the somewhat new 7-11 is. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by Joe, a friendly amicable guy who immediately attends to your hungry appetite. It has a nice cozy feel with large windows and a bright yellow wall adorned with these unique looking shield-things. I agree with previous reviewers that it does have a nice homely feel to it.
Food (5/5): Wow. The presentation of the food that you order will really surprise you. I have ordered the Mama's Meatloaf, the Hawaiian Ahi Tuna, Jamaican Creme Brule, Warm Chocolate Cake and a Club Sandwich. The food looks phenomenal. It will really surprise you into thinking that you just spent $30-$50 on something fancy. The last time I saw something that looked so appetizing was when I went to Blowfish on Santana Row.
The food itself tastes great. The unique twists Jebz takes with everyday comfort food really pay off. Take for example the Ahi Tuna Salad, it combines the Tuna with boiled eggs, spinach, feta cheese, fresh tomatoes, different herbs and spices all topped off with a nice vinagarette of some sort. Its wonderful. The way the tastes of the food combine to create a layered flavor is great. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Experience (4/5): Jebz is on its way to become an all time favorite for me. The variety in the menu is good, it keeps me wanting to come back to try something new. The service is attentive and friendly. Joe seems like a really cool guy.
NOTE: I recommend this place for dinner, more than lunch. I noticed they have a bar, but I haven't tried it myself. The food keeps me too full to want to have a drink.
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We went to JEBZ for brunch today after reading all the great reviews here. I really wanted to it to be fantastic, because it would be nice to have another tasty local breakfast option nearby, but was sadly disappointed.
I ordered Honey Wheat Flap Jacks and my husband got the Cinnamon French Toast. The french toast was unremarkable, though not actively bad.
The Flap Jacks, however, were flavorless and soggy, to the point that I think they were undercooked. It was like eating a mouthful of wet wheat bread. The "maple" syrup had no flavor, so the only taste was the two toppings -- powdered sugar and bananas. The dish was bad enough that I sent it back and ordered the Applewood Smoked Bacon and Scrambled Eggs instead.
The bacon was fantastic; the potatoes and eggs were OK, but nothing special.
When the waitress brought us our check, I'd been charged for both the flap jacks and the bacon and eggs. Um, what? You're asking me to pay for something I returned to the kitchen as inedible? Wow. No one from the kitchen or management came to talk with us about it and the waitstaff seemed pretty uninterested as well.
I paid for both my breakfasts, but made sure to let the server know that we wouldn't be back. I've had better food and service at Denny's.
It's a Brand New Restaurant in Newark! I've been anticipating their grand opening for a while, so I was really excited when I happened to pass by and it was finally OPEN!
The inside is very vibrant and bright, but done in a classy way. I liked the jazzy paintings on the walls. It wasn't what I was expecting for a place that touts "comfort food". I figured it would be more like a diner, but it actually is a bit nicer than a diner.
The menu has many interesting sounding salads, sandwiches and pastas. They seem very comfortable with changing out your side of fries for soup or salad.
I ordered the California BLTA, and kept the fries. Probably shouldn't have, though. They're huge and there are lots of them. I ate about four. The sandwich was very tasty, and has garlic mayo instead of the normal kind, and it really made a difference! The bacon was the thick cut bacon (I know! I'm not eating pork, but somehow I did, didn't I? Shut up already, Conscience....) juicy tomatoes, and ripe avocado. It was yummy! But then I overheard the lady next to me saying that she was going to have the shrimp corn chowder bisque.... and I was sad. I didn't know that was even on the menu. It was their Soup of the Day, and my waiter didn't tell me about it. That's okay, though. Next time!
Oh, they serve a few beers and wine, as well as juices and standard sodas. Didn't see any desserts on the menu yet, but it's so new, they probably just need to get in the groove before they start with the sweets.
Give them a try people! The range in prices were from $3.95 for garlic fries to $8.95 for the seared Ahi tuna salad. Great prices!! Check them out!
Update 12/15/07:
Breakfast was yummy! Eggs Benedict with Chipotl Hollandaise sauce! Yum! Plus, their coffee was good and came frequently. I also liked the bacon, although I'm not officially eating bacon anymore.
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Jebz Restaurant tag line is "American comfort food". When I think of comfort food, I think of mashed potatoes and meatloaf, pot roast, chili, and pie a la mode. At Jebz, comfort food is fried calamari, seared ahi tuna salad, warm prawn and avocado salad, broiled cedar plank salmon, and sweet red wine poached pear with cinnamon whipped cream. Does that sound like comfort food menu items? I don