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

10/28/08

The talent behind Jozu and Campanile put a multicultural spin on American comfort food.

by Contributor

In Short
This wide-open space is an elegant shrine to minimalism. Bare walls are softened only by pastel green and yellow paint, so as the evening wears on, and more bon vivants wiggle into sleek, plastic chairs chattering excitedly, the place becomes positively boisterous. Chef Suzanne Tracht has teamed up with Campanile's Mark Peel to serve American comfort food with Asian ingredients. Although steaks and chops anchor the short menu, it's the roasts and braises that really have soul. Chicken, steeped in lemongrass, is roasted golden-brown, while tender pot roast melts in your mouth. Side dishes further the East-meets-West theme: Braised water spinach and duck fried rice are offered alongside creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Desserts steal the show. Banana-cream pie, brimming with bananas and ladled with whipped cream and butterscotch, is a refined rendition of a truck-stop classic.

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.

09/30/08

70's vibe

by diamamamia

I went there cause it was recommended in LA Magazine as a fab brunch place. I was in my brunch phase, so, why not. Our service was professional, they split our meals without asking, which they had an excellent french toast by the way. What I liked about it best is that I felt like I was in another time zone. Or maybe an airport? The decor was quite fascinating. That was my favorite part, the decor. Oh, drinks - mimosa's were good.

• Pros: Decor

09/13/08

Food is not all that!

by junglemom

The food in this place is mediocre. I love the atmosphere - maybe a little too loud. I didn't really enjoy the food. There was nothing special about it :( I treated my family out last night and I was almost embarrassed that I took them there.

• Cons: food is blah...

09/11/08

Welcoming team, great valet and service plus fabulous food!

by DebbieLundberg

From the confirmation call regarding the reservation to the ambiance, service and food, Jar was a welcomed change to some of the places nearby in LA.

The valet was prompt and friendly...even happy to assist. We were early (imagine that with the traffic), and we were greeted with smiles and a ready table.

The french fries could be addictive, but make room for the skirt steak or filet, as they were terrific choices for the two of us...with refills flowing freely and no pressure to buy or get more than desired.

This dining experience was prompt and good without being rushed...check it out!

• Pros: Variety, location, service, taste, attention to diners
• Cons: price on sides

08/24/08

Good food and service

by goodfoodgoodmood

We made reservations and was seated promptly upon arrival. Food flavoring and customer service was excellent. Highly recommend the lemongrass chicken, ribeye, garlic fries, and cream corn. The ambiance was clean, full of energy, and enjoyable.

Only knock on this restaurant is the spacing of tables was fairly cramped and the price was pretty high. However, b/c the food and customer service was exceptional, one could easily look past the minor flaws.

• Pros: customer service, food quality, and ambience
• Cons: costly

08/18/08

Nice brunch spot

by nic_331

I went here a couple weeks ago to meet some friends for brunch. I haven't yet been here for dinner, so I don't know how the two compare, but brunch was really good. I had the lobster benedict -- so did three other people at my table. It looked so tempting we all ordered it, and we all loved it. The service was great and parking was easy. They have valet running for brunch for lazy people like me but there were plenty of places to park on Beverly. I'll have to come back for dinner sometime soon. The dark wood paneling and dim lighting seems like it would set the mood much better for a romantic evening experience rather than brunch. I also heard it was a great place for celeb-spotting. Probably so ... We had the "queen of all media" sitting right next to us.

• Pros: good for brunch

08/12/08

Nice atmosphere; fussy brunch

by MCfromPhilly

Something about entering Jar and I feel like I'm not quite in LA, I can't really explain it. It's very sophisticated and nice without feeling intentional or prissy. On the negative, I didn't appreciate how I felt like I was eating dinner with my neighbors as soon as they sat a party next to us. I could hear every word of their conversation, as they could ours. They could really benefit from pulling out a few tables and spacing them further apart.

Brunch was too fussy for me- no standard sides (you know: the toast, potatoes, fruit). You just get what you order- in my case it was a fairly decent omelette on a huuuge plate garnished with herbs perfectly positioned around it. A dainty porcelain cup for my coffee which was rarely refilled. Perhaps Jar feels they sacrifice sophistication if they serve standard breakfast sides their meals, and you will inherently take that omelette more seriously if it's served alone on a massive plate and garnished with herbs.

Staff was very kind, and parking was easy.

• Pros: Easy parking, not too busy, friendly staff
• Cons: brunch was unsatisfying, seating too close