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    J. Alexander's

    3.5 (285 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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    J. ALEXANDER'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - J. Alexander's

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    French Dip sandwich ($24 as of 11/2025) and fries were simply fantastic
    North C.

    This review is for an early dinner at the two in the dining room on a Saturday night in mid-November. By our unofficial count, this is the tenth J. Alexanders or Redlands we have eaten at in our travels and they are consistency amazing. service: Wyatt was an excellent hospitality professional. As always with J. Alexanders, every member of the waitstaff was unfailing amazing. bar: I drank a Rhinegeist Truth IPA and thought it an excellent beer. Full bar with very impressive offerings. food: My French Dip sandwich ($24) and fries were simply fantastic. My wife's favorite salad, Thai Kai was also just great ($18). Everything on their menu is highly recommended. details: The place was packed on a Saturday night. We barely snuck in early at 5pm, but reservations highly recommended. Plenty of surface parking right outside.

    "Not your ordinary Mac n cheese"

    They served me old Mac n cheese on a $68 carry out order. I use Resy with my AmEx to find good restaurants, I'll definitely give feedback about this restaurant. The bag had no cutlery or napkins. Like they just threw it together. Second try at this restaurant. First time the steak was like shoe leather. So, I decided I actually wanted to have my Mac n cheese so I called the restaurant to ask for a fresh order. The manager is truly the problem. He was very arrogant and made me feel like it was impossible for them to have made an error. When I returned the order the young hostess looked at it and acknowledged it should not have been served like that. The manager never offered a professional response or even a polite response, he just looked bothered. I'll go to Chappy's next time.

    Doppelgänger
    John D.

    I'm a fan of J Alexander's so I decided to stop in Monday night for a night cap. I had the Kentucky Old Fashioned and the Doppelgänger. The Old Fashioned was my favorite. The bartender was very knowledgeable about the cocktail menu. I was here at the end of the evening, so the bar area was not very crowded. Maybe 6 people total. I did not have any food, although their menu was quite tempting.

    Bill A.

    Tried this on a recommendation. I had the emerald shrimp with a side Cesar. The cesar was simple and pretty good, the only feedback for the cesar was that is was overdressed a little bit. The emerald shrimp had a nice light fry and good flavor. The others in my party had the jumbo shrimp and cajun trout. They both like their meals. I had an old fashioned and it was made very well. Not too sweet with a kick. Our server was J and and she did a great job all night. Nice quiet atmosphere and lighting dimmed to the right hue.

    Lemon drop
    Tamika J.

    Went to J. Alexander's for my boyfriend's early birthday dinner. Our waitress did not make our experience better. My boyfriend ordered the rattlesnake pasta and was pleased with portions. We noticed the chicken was sliced very small and was hard to find. I ordered the salmon and macaroni & cheese. The macaroni and cheese was sweeter than I've had here. The salmon was grilled perfectly and was definitely the favorite part of the meal. Lastly, my boyfriend was given a piece of cake for his bday. The waitress did not ask what type of cake we wanted. We had to get her attention after walking away to tell her what type of cake we wanted. The cake was oily and was dense. The carrot cake was one of favorites, but not anymore.

    Mac and cheese
    Kimberly M.

    We came to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday because she's a big fan of prime rib. J. Alexander's has a wonderful prime rib and a beautiful atmosphere. It is perfect for celebration. Our service was admittedly very slow and we had trouble figuring out who our server was for the first half of our meal. However, once we ordered, the food was delicious big shout out to those shoestring french fries. *chef kiss* I also want to highlight the martinis. They are $14 (outside of happy hour) but they are served with enough for 1 1/2 martinis. I enjoyed the pear martini on this visit. I would return for happy hour!

    Kim S.

    We hadn't been to J Alexander's in years and are so glad we returned! We came mid-afternoon, so were seated in the bar right away. The restaurant looked the pretty much the same but perhaps refreshed from the last time we were there. Our server was very cheerful and attentive. My husband and I wanted to share a salad to start, so they divided that in the kitchen for us so we didn't have to try to do that at the table. The salad was very fresh and the blue cheese dressing was amazing! We both ordered the prime rib and smashed potatoes for dinner, and what a good call that was! We ordered the smaller cute of prime rib but it was a very generous serving. Both the prime rib and mashed potatoes were delicious. We will make sure not to wait so long to return this time around!

    Calamari
    Dody E.

    Not sure why this has low reviews. Great food. Extremely friendly staff. Lovely atmosphere. Perfect place for a night out. Calamari was great!

    A plate of perfection, beautiful med rare prime rib, amazing smashed red potato's and a nice size au jus for dipping
    Dan S.

    We were coming home from a festival and decided we were hungry. I have not been here since before Covid but the thought of nice piece of prime rib sounded perfect. I was not disappointed; the service was on point as expected. We split the Alex salad; they were nice enough to plate it for us in the kitchen. The prime rib was cooked a perfect medium rare and the horseradish dip was tasty with a little kick. I really liked the tea cup of au jus, it was the perfect size to dip into. We skipped desert but I think I need to go back soon and grab that carrot cake. Overall, tasty food with excellent service. We plan to come back soon!

    This was HALF a salad! Delicious!

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    Page 8 of 8

    Ask the Community - J. Alexander's

    Sonora Grill

    Sonora Grill

    4.5
    (23 reviews)
    9.8 mi

    Sonora Grill Seafood Steak Bar & Grill…read more A note on stars; Sonora Grille is on Burkhardt, and in a small strip mall; I am not inclined to award a strip mall restaurant 5 stars; however.... PULPO BRASAS v PULPO KORA Our server suggested Brasas because she thought Kora was too spicey for us - bad advice - we recommend Kora. What does octopus taste like? Not chicken, not lobster, not...; octopus taste like octopus, and Sonora Grill offers best octopus in Dayton. Began researching Yelp for special Birthday restaurant - usually goto Flemings, Oceano, and/or similar properties. Travel Tip: do check menu Spanish definitions to avoid order errors. An advantage of residing in the Greater Dayton Metropolitan Area is the fact that there are several dining options and Sonora Grille was not on our radar. Also there seems to be a healthy turnover of restaurant properties, and we do attempt to be aware of our options. Our search: Yelp Best Seafood restaurants Greater Dayton Metropolitan Area. One expects Jays and Oceano to be listed; however, there are a few which we would not list. Reviews and ratings can be subjective, and personal preferences may vary; we have no interest in sports bars or "loud" fried food eateries. We can depend upon Yelp whilst researching: Here are 5 Star Reviews for Sonora. Several of these reviews encouraged us to visit Sonora Grill Seafood Steak Bar & Grill. Phenomenal and authentic food... Best tasting OCTOPUS, in Ohio of all places!! Did not expect a fancy seafood place inside of a latin market! I was looking for the perfect place that serves steak and seafood for my husband's birthday..... This place is a hidden gem.... Best food I have ever had in Ohio, great service as well.... We have studied the menu and our plan: FRITURAS DE MAR 21.99 bring 2 small plates to divide Calamari rings, octopus pieces, and seasoned shrimp coated in crispy flour, served with tartar and chipotle dressing. CALDO BIRRIA -- 20.99 serve in two bowls Caldo birria, also known as birria en caldo, is a rich and flavorful Mexican stew that has gained immense popularity for its tender meat and savory broth. PULPO BRASAS 28.99 Perfectly cooked in a butter marinade with garlic, soy sauce, and chipotle served with rice and salad. Mounted on corn husks. FILETE NAYARIT 24.99 Curvina fillet covered with shrimp, octopus, and garlic bell peppers served with rice and salad. Pasta del Mare Seafood mix cooked in tomato sauce, onion with fettuccine pasta. Churro's We do expect to request take away boxes following dining. Throughout our 60 year relationship, my wife enjoys desert as an appetizer, and today is no exception. The Churro's are delivered in a flash; we discovered this special treat nearly 50 years ago during an expedition to Spain and Portugal. The very best Churro's were prepared by roadside vendors, and our friends, Bill and Ellen Rose agreed. I also requested that CALDO BIRRIA be served prior to the entrees, and this is a delightful dish. As experienced Sunday Diners, we arrive at 11:00am to avoid the "church rush." Church folks have not yet discovered this excellent venue. Venue: a distinct Hispanic dining event; large, well-lighted restaurant with very loud music - we encouraged management to decrease volume. Sophia was our delightful young server; her English was passable; she did not quite understand why my wife wanted churros as an appetizer, but the churros soon came, and my wife observed that these taste like Spain. Sonora Grille reminded us of some fine restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. My dear wife finally elected CAMARONES AL GRILL, and we offer 5 stars to menu and to dining. Overall a Five Star experience; pays to get off the beaten path. Following lunch, my wife suggests an Open House to view Benham Grove venues for an upcoming event. Next she opts for a Sunday Estate Sale....

    I am on an enchilada tour at Sonora. They have so many options I can try a new one every visit. And…read moreI shall! Everything I've had here has been great. This place is a severely underrated gem.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Garlic Octopus
    Garlic Octopus
    Ribeye steak, potato, and grilled veggies

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    Ribeye steak, potato, and grilled veggies
    Jollity

    Jollity

    4.4
    (126 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    Jollity is a very aptly named, up-beat restaurant with small menu, craft entrees and good vibes all…read morearound. The inside is a bit small but cozy with the kitchen in broad view. The menu rotates roughly every quarter, and given the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, the selection is a bit limited -- handful of vegetarian small plates, a few meat and a few seafood options. For the non-drinkers, they had two non-alcoholic cocktails available, but no NA beer. Beware though, as the NA cocktails were still around $11, which I always find frustrating as they are basically flavored sugar water. We tried the blackhawk beef burger and koji-aged ribeye. The blackhawk burger was a smash burger (thin patties, melted cheese), that tasted delicious. The ribeye was just as expected and cooked as ordered. The star of each of the entrees, however, was the thin cut, crispy fries. Good thing the fries were delicious because the sauces that came with it were quite bland -- would've preferred ketchup. For dessert we tried the bay leaf cheesecake. It was alright, had a subtle smokey flavor that I think threw us off a bit (although that was obviously the point given the bay leaf). Our server Renee was friendly and everything was prompt. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and the food was pretty good. Although, given the limited number of options on the menu, you'll definitely want to look at it ahead of time to make sure there is something that suits your palate.

    Had dinner here with my family (all 10 of us!) this past weekend, and I'm still thinking about that…read moreribeye... The moment we stepped in, the modern aesthetic hit perfectly - clean lines, mood lighting, and just enough buzz to feel energetic without drowning out conversation. Our family gathering was greeted immediately by staff who seemed genuinely stoked to have us there. Major points for making a large group feel welcome! The menu is refreshingly concise - none of that overwhelming novel-length situation that makes you second-guess yourself three times. Their drink selection strikes that perfect balance too - enough variety in wines/beers/cocktails to satisfy everyone. They've got some non-alcoholic options as well. We started with the Kimchi Pancake and Brussels Sprouts for the table. Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about the pancake (kimchi can be hit or miss for me), but this was a revelation. The kimchi flavor was present but not overwhelming - just enough kick that played perfectly with the shiso and wasabi remoulade. And those Brussels? It's packed with flavor and disappeared in approximately 3.5 seconds... Maybe less! For my main course, went with my cousin's recommendation - the Koji Aged Ribeye. When it arrived I initially thought "that's it?" But this steak is deceptive. The thick cut topped with Togarashi Butter was significantly more filling than it looked. Cooked to absolute perfection, and that butter situation on top? A flavor bomb of sweet-spicy-savory that had me contemplating licking the plate - don't worry, I didn't! My taste buds were begging for more even when my stomach waved the white flag. That's when you know it's good. If you're anywhere near downtown Dayton, make Jollity a priority stop. Not sure when I'll be back in Ohio again, but would definitely have this resto on my return list.

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    Jollity
    Jollity
    Jollity

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    The Foundry Rooftop

    The Foundry Rooftop

    4.0
    (201 reviews)
    9.1 mi
    $$$
    Rooftop seating
    Full bar

    Why did I wait so long before coming here? They have an amazing happy hour Monday- Thursday with…read more50% off select appetizers and drinks. We ordered the potato app and it was amazing, the mushroom pizza was EXCELLENT and the charcuterie board was fancy! I highly recommend this place, the views are incredible and the service was top notch. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were friendly and attentive. I can't wait to go back!!!!

    The Foundry Rooftop is the restaurant at the AC hotel. I decided to try it after a long day of…read moretravel from the west coast. The Foundry stays open late (food til 10 pm) so it was a great option. I sat at the bar and had the following: -Bbq short rib (3.5/5; pretty tasty. Short rib was tender and bbq sauce had a nice kick. The rice wasn't cooked properly so it was hard. I wanted to like this dish more...I think the traditional pairing of short rib w mashed potatoes would have been better) -Deviled eggs (3/5; these are mixed w avocado which makes them unique. Unfortunately, the flavor was lacking and needed some spice (Dijon, salt, pickles?) I wouldn't get these again -Oaxacan old fashioned (5/5; this old fashioned was made with tequila and mezcal and a flamed orange peel. The smokiness of this drink was super satisfying) Overall, the drink was amazing, service was great and food was alright.

    Photos
    Food at The Foundry
    Food at The Foundry
    Rooftop Seating at The Foundry
    Rooftop Seating at The Foundry
    Seating at The Foundry

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    Seating at The Foundry
    Grist

    Grist

    4.8
    (221 reviews)
    8.6 mi
    $$

    Simply amazing. We didn't have a reservation, and couldn't have gotten one anyway, because they…read morewere booked solid for two weeks out. So we just walked in, and the host was kind enough to let us sit at the little bar area near the window. I like their ordering system. You have many options --- go up to the cash register and order there, order from the server who comes by your table (or in our case, bar), or use your phone by scanning the QR code. And if you use your phone, each person in your party can do it themselves on their own phone. Regardless, it all gets added to the same order for the same table. Pretty slick. At the end, when it comes time to pay, the app lets you split the check however you want, and you can even see the name of the person that ordered each item. The food was incredible. It's not cheap, and the portions are a little smaller than some might expect at an Italian restaurant. But for us, it was filling enough. I personally had the raviolo, which was delicious. Little did I know that in Italian, "raviolo" is singular while "ravioli" is plural. So I got one giant raviolo on my plate (see picture). I didn't care much for the runny egg yolk on top, but it was as advertised on the menu. All the other food orders were amazing, especially the desserts. I'd definitely come back once my food budget resets.

    Unbelievable spot in downtown Dayton. Grist is an Italian eatery with pasta, salads, sandwiches and…read morepastries. The Italian Stallion sandwich is too good to be true! The bread is a treat in itself! Top it off with some black truffle chips and you're set! I cannot wait to go back. Where's the 6 stars on Yelp?

    Photos
    Kitchen Area
    Kitchen Area
    ‍Tagliatelle alla Bolognese
    ‍Tagliatelle alla Bolognese
    Shrimp and saffron risotto with fresh herbed foam.

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    Shrimp and saffron risotto with fresh herbed foam.

    J. Alexander's - steak - Updated June 2026

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