02/17/09

Delicious dining experience

by Noelle

I love the sleek 70s swing pad decor. The bar was beautiful, well stocked, well staffed. Cocktails all made with fresh fruit juices, small-label spirits (like Hangar One Vodka)... and delicious.

Now I'm not one (usually) for comfort food, but I ordered the p*t roast (something that at home I would never dream of making or eating). It was juicy, tender and simple. But before that, we shared some items off the "Monday Mozzarella Menu." Huge portions. Incredibly flavorful and unusual concoctions. I especially like the Stracciatella (the creamiest mozzarella variety) with an herb and celery "salad". I've never tasted anything like it.

Wasn't totally impressed with the dinner sides (a bit rich for my taste... in flavor and price I'm afraid).

But our server was absolutely lovely, attentive, and thoughtful in her answers when asked "what would YOU order?"

Will I go again? You betcha.

I love restaurants that give my taste buds a new experience without being pretentious or over-priced. And JAR (stands for Just Another Restaurant) delivered just that.

• Pros: Nice staff, tasty food, delicious cocktails, cool decor
• Cons: pricey sides

10/12/08

The $17 bloody mary

by labz

I stopped in on a recent Sunday afternoon to grab a quick drink. The "house" vodka is Ketel One, which is good, but a relatively small and generally unimpressive bloody mary cost $17. Let me say that again, a bloody mary is $17. Now, I've lived in NYC, Chicago, and been to many fine properties outside the US, and have NEVER seen a $17 bloody mary. Just ridiculous.

• Pros: None that I can think of
• Cons: $17 bloody mary's

10/11/08

The menu sounded great....too bad the preparation wasn't

by ronkraft

24 hours after having dinner at Jar, I am still incensed at the price I paid for the dinner I received last night. I have no problem paying upscale prices for an upscale dining experience. But when you are paying $42 for a Dover Sole entree, and $16 for a side dish of chanterelle mushrooms, you expect the food to be out of this world. It wasn't. The fish was overcooked and seemed lonely resting on a plate all by itself. The mushrooms were tough and their flavor was ordinary. My companion ordered the pork chop at the suggestion of the waiter and had to send it back because it was so tough. His $10 purple yam/creme fraiche/chive side dish turned out to be a whole yam, baked and split in half with a dollop of creme and a pinch of chive, something an amateur cook could easily replicate at home. I don't usually write reviews but have expectations when going to restaurants of this ilk that ALL of their dishes should be worth the high prices they are now charging. I walked out the restaurant last night feeling ripped off, thinking of all of the other great restaurants that I could have chosen to eat at.