It feels like Houston's/Hillstone--but executed better than what Hillstone's management has turned it into. Service: Outstanding. Kids: Genuinely welcomed. Food: Comparable, possibly even better--particularly the ribs and the chicken Most importantly, the atmosphere is positive and inviting, without the tense management vibe we've experienced elsewhere. read more

I had been to a J. Alexander's over 25 years ago in Florida and didn't like it, so when my husband made reservations here, I wasn't too thrilled, but wanted to give it a chance. Sadly the food is as bad as I remember. We ordered the devil eggs, and an avocado bomb as our appetizers. The eggs were old and stale and the avocado bomb was no better. For our main dish, we ordered the fish special and crab cakes. The lemon fish was good, but the crab cakes were not fresh. If you're looking for fine dining or fresh food, this is not the place! read more

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I came here for my friend's birthday and made a reservation for two at 7:30 PM under my name. I arrived early and let the host know I had a reservation but would sit at the bar while I waited. She barely acknowledged me and just said "okay," without confirming anything. The bar was very busy, so it took a little while to get a menu, which was understandable. I ordered a glass of champagne while waiting. My friend (the birthday girl) arrived at 7:28 PM and checked in with the host because I had a feeling my reservation hadn't been noted. The host told her they would let us know when the table was ready. Around 7:40 PM we still hadn't heard anything, so we stepped outside for about five minutes to take pictures. When we came back and asked about our table, the host told us they had already had one ready and were waiting for us to tell them we were ready to sit. This was confusing since that was never communicated to us. Once seated, we ordered another glass of champagne, the avocado bomb, and crab cakes. My champagne didn't arrive until I asked about it, and the waiter had to come back to confirm what I ordered. Throughout the meal, the waiter repeatedly tried to clear our plates while we were still eating. At one point, he cleared our avocado bomb even though we weren't finished with it and still had a full cup of chips. Later, he removed the plate and utensils my friend was using and never brought replacements. The food itself was genuinely very good, but unfortunately the service really took away from the experience. The evening started off poorly with the host interaction and continued with several service issues throughout the meal. read more

J. Alexander's - Receipt - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Front desk staff was like dealing with the Gestapo. Manager was the worst. Waiter was very accommodating until the hostess and manager got involved. One guest ordered a "steak" and if you like grilled fat go for it. The ahi tuna salad was not good at all. No taste and a very odd color. Blue/gray. I've had food poisoning before and never want it again. I will not be returning to this restaurant. Too many mess ups, bad food, bad management and front desk staff was rude. Zero rating. read more

My prime rib and mashed potatoes were perfect. Ambiance was nice, service was great. Be sure to make a reservation.

This place was my boyfriend and I's fancy dinner for our 7th anniversary trip. We dressed all fancy and got to enjoy ourselves. The service was amazing, and the place was very nice. Definitely more pricey so not an every day thing if we lived in the area. But we had a really good time. read more

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This is an elevated dining spot with soft romantic lighting, chandeliers, and a large central bar. The atmosphere felt upscale yet comfortable. There were many families there and other guests celebrating prom. I was surprised to learn they don't offer a happy hour at all. I ordered the mac and cheese, which was creamy, well-seasoned, and likely made with a white cheese blend. It was rich and satisfying. The burger I paired it with was classic and filling. Nothing groundbreaking, but it did the job. Even though it was a Saturday night, I was seated at a full table rather than being directed to the bar, which I appreciated since I was dining solo. The service was quick and friendly, and I liked having the option to substitute fries with mac and cheese, without any upcharge. read more

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Absolutely wonderful service and ambiance . I finally made time to visit this location and I wasn't disappointed . I've been dining with them for years at other locations and I didn't realize that they had opened a location in this area . Some must have items are the smoked salmon dip and the steak Maui . Also the prime rib is a must have . Definitely a great experience as always . read more

J. Alexander's - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I went here for a dinner date with my sister, and the ambience was upscale, but laid-back at the same time which I like. We each ordered a different steak and they were both very good but the highlight of the night was the carrot cake. I've never really been a fan of carrot cake although it is my sister's favorite, but I can say without a doubt. This is one of the best desserts I've ever tasted. Just be careful, cause it will definitely burn your mouth! The food wasn't anything to write home about, but I will absolutely be coming back for the carrot cake and maybe their other desserts read more

J. Alexander's - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I went in thinking 'man, if this is 80% as good as houston's thats still a great restaurant'. It wasnt. The service was way worse, the apps didnt compare. Copying houston's is a great idea but it could have been done better. The service was the most glaring downgrade from houston's, and perhaps thats why it was fairly empty on a saturday at 1 pm. 2 days later and the roof of my mouth is still cut up from the salmon dip crostinis. read more

Like Houston's/Hillstone but I like the menu better. Excellent salads and really great baked potatoes. Good semi-reasonably priced wines and consistently great service. Love the atmosphere and dark clubby ambiance. It's always fun to sit in the bar booths for a lively atmosphere. read more

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I went here back in April. Had a wonderful experience here for my Grandpa's birthday! Love the atmosphere, our waiter was so wonderful. I got the Brassiere Chicken, soooo delicious. read more

Food and deft service top notch as usual. Ambiance at Sunday lunch is quiet and restful, if a bit nondescript. Be advised that San Pellegrino water with its crisp, clean, clear finish is no longer available and has been replaced with Saratoga water which tastes like sparkling tap water - don't waste your money! read more

Service was lacking. We were taken to a small, dark booth. We requested a different booth that was well lit. The waiter accommodated us. We were very happy with the larger, brighter booth. One of the hostesses walked past us and looked us over and then looked at the booth she had originally given us. Her vibe was annoyance. Very soon after the "manager" who did not introduce himself to us came to tell us he'd prefer us to move to a smaller table. As we were waiting on another guest to arrive we said we were very comfortable and happy where we were. He said it was a booth they usually keep reserved for other guests and he would go check to see if it was booked. He returned and yes it was booked so we'd have to move. We should have left right then. We moved again to a table that was across from a group of very loud and boisterous people making conversation for us difficult. Surely, they could have done better. The waiter was extremely nice and accommodating. If not for him we would have gotten up and left. As it is, we will probably never return. Neither the manager nor the hostess ever returned to see if we were ok or if there was anything else we'd like or even to apologize to us for moving us from a reserved table to a smaller table. By the way, the "reserved" table was NEVER occupied by any guests. In addition, the restaurant was not busy with many empty tables to accommodate larger groups. It was clear the manager lied to us. This was inexcusable service to patrons who are frequent guests at this restaurant. It was a very uncomfortable meal. read more

Went here for a business dinner. Got appetizers for the table. Decent and friendly service. + Queso was good (chips were plain) + Candied bacon that came with the deviled eggs were great, good addition! + Calamari was nicely fried + Solid carrot cake, fairly sweet frosting on top - I don't recall if it was on the menu, but the ribeye I got was covered in a sweet sauce (the waitress mentioned it but I didn't think it would be coated in it...) - They renamed the restaurant, but they're still using the plates with the old name, which is confusing I think for the price and the options you have available all over Houston, J. Alexander's fits right in the middle, not particularly memorable and a little expensive, perfect for that expensed dinner with the head of HR. read more

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I went to the restaurant for a lunch meeting. The setting is great for this type of meeting, or a nice date/quiet dinner party. The restaurant is what you would expect from a traditional steakhouse. Great service, the food is consistently good, the ambiance is elevated, and the overall experience is great. (Tip: Other than steaks their sandwiches are also really good!) read more

I'm very familiar with this restaurant brand and have loved each visit for several years. I recently celebrated my birthday with my family and they comfortably seated the five of us at a spacious round table. Our server was perfect with her interactions allowing us to take our time to enjoy each other and ensure we received our beverages and food at the right time. We started with the Calamari which was very tender with a marinara that was thick and full of flavor. My entree was Crab Cakes which were loaded with large lumps of crab meat. The chili mayo could have had more spice but didn't distract from the meal. Their deserts are excellent but my favorite is the chocolate cake. I'll never leave the restaurant without a slice to go. read more

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This review is long overdue. I come to J. Alexander (or get it delivered) for one thing: the artichokes! These artichokes are the best thing in Houston.‍‍ I order them 2 to 3 times a month. There are very few places that have great fire roasted artichokes: Hillstone (sometimes) The Rustic These are better than both places. HOWEVER, the dipping sauce is a horrible accompaniment for artichokes. I'm not even sure what it is, but there's nothing acidic or garlicky and it needs both. It's good on salmon, not artichokes. I wish they would swap this out!!! I've started making a homemade lemon garlic aïoli and it's the PERFECT accompaniment. Literally five ingredients and if you make the aïoli from scratch, it's seven. Please change out the accompanying sauce. It's the wrong flavor profile for artichokes. TY TY TY.. i'll still keep coming back whether you change it out or not. But I'm glad I finally have the correct sauce. It's a game changer!!!! Other noteworthy menu items are the steak burger. Do not get the regular cheeseburger, get the steak burger. It's a million times better. The club sandwich is elite AF but holy crap, I gained 2 pounds after eating it. Saltyyyyyyyy. And the Cypress Salad, very good! But it's all about those artichokes! Love you, J. Alexander!!! Xx read more

J. Alexander's - Fire roasted artichokes - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

J. Alexander's is the perfect spot for consistently delicious American food. The restaurant provides amazing service, in a classy yet not pretentious, no fuss, atmosphere with meals that you know will always hit the spot. If you go, you must try the smoked salmon dip and the deviled eggs to start. The spinach queso is another crowd favorite, but to me, there are better quesos out there. All of the salads are very good. However, one of my absolute favorites on the menu is the French Dip - the prime rib is sliced perfectly thin and the bread is pillowy soft. J. Alexander's is very accommodating and will let you substitute any side for another. While their fries are delicious, when I'm feeling healthier I order the steamed broccoli. It very good and seasoned with just the right amount of lemon. J. Alexander's is a clear winner all around! read more

J. Alexander's - French Dip sandwich - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Visited this restaurant for the first time and loved it! Came here on a Wednesday night around 6pm, we did not have a reservation but was seated right away. Our waitress was polite and attentive, she saw we had a hangry toddler and offered to bring us some apps right away which I really appreciated. The food was better than I expected! Everything was fresh and flavorful, prime rib was very tasty as was my wife's crab cakes. They even had a wine special where they gave 10 different wine bottles for $25 only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The restaurant itself was clean and ambiance was great. We will definitely be back one day!! read more

J. Alexander's - Prime rib - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I visited J. Alexander's for the first time with a friend who had been there once before. While the appetizers were promising the avocado bomb with tuna, crab meat, and chips, as well as the roasted artichoke, were both delicious the rest of the experience fell flat due to poor service and a shocking food quality issue. Our waiter, Sebastian, started off okay but became hard to find as the meal progressed. It was difficult to get beverage refills or address any issues, as he seemed to vanish after taking our order. We had high hopes based on the appetizers. My friend ordered the prime rib, and I chose the trout. The prime rib was cooked to the right temperature (medium), but it lacked flavor. The food was brought out by another server since Sebastian was nowhere to be found, and we had to rely on others for help. When my trout arrived, there was an immediate smell of fecal or spoilage coming from the plate. Hoping it was just the seasoning, I took a small bite, only to confirm the fish was completely spoiled and unfit for consumption. Having been in the restaurant and catering industry for over 20 years, I recognized this as a serious food safety issue that could lead to food poisoning. Unable to find Sebastian, I asked for the manager, Alex. I explained the situation and asked him to smell and inspect the fish, emphasizing the potential contamination risk to their grill or other seafood dishes. He took the plate and asked what I wanted instead, so I opted for the prime rib, assuming it was already pre-roasted and would arrive quicker. Unfortunately, I waited a long time for the replacement dish while my friend awkwardly ate her meal alone. Even more disappointing, Alex never returned to update me on the situation or apologize. Instead, our waiter reappeared after a long absence, informing us that the trout was indeed spoiled, and they had stopped serving it for the evening. While they removed the spoiled fish from the bill, I was still charged for the prime rib. I wasn't expecting a comped meal, but at the very least, I expected the manager to care enough to follow up personally and address the issue properly. The lack of concern made it feel like serving spoiled food was a normal occurrence at this restaurant. For a place with such a good reputation, the service and management were far below the standard of other restaurants I've visited, even those in the Galleria area. It's unfortunate that what could have been a great experience turned into a disappointing and unappetizing evening. read more

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We wanted to try something new and this place didn't disappoint. The atmosphere is nice but not pretentious. Steaks were very good /seasoned well. We loved the Mac n cheese. The carrot cake is a must! read more

If you offer a full slate of steaks then you need to know how to get doneness right. Medium rare came out overcooked, and on redo it seems they were worried to overcook it again so it came out blue. A restaurant of this caliber should be able to get medium rare right every time. Mac and cheese had WAY too much parm, which gave it the dreaded butyric acid vomit taste. On top of that, service was pretty slow and generally inattentive, and the restaurant wasn't particularly busy. Minor but annoying...no bread for the table or mints for the way out. Comes off a little cheap. read more

As good a salad (whichever it was I don't remember) as ever I had and great soup as well!

Ask for Chevonne!!!!! My boyfriend and I went for date night and she did not disappoint....she suggested every meal and she was spot on. But let me tell you the real thing...my boyfriend dropped money and she immediately called us and said we dropped it he immediately gave it to her out of respect. Excellent server excellent food and excellent experience ask for Chevonne she is top notch!!!! read more

A Welcome Return for J. Alexander's! J. Alexander's has always been one of my favorite restaurants, and I'm thrilled to see it back! The elegant décor makes it an ideal spot for a business lunch or date night. While the menu is smaller than before, the food was absolutely delicious. My only disappointment? They didn't bring back the rattlesnake pasta--my all-time favorite dish. Hopefully, it makes a return in the future! read more

We love the good and service here. Great atmosphere as well. Really wish they had one in Katy!

The service was not bad but it wasn't anything special. The waitress was nice but did not provide accurate information. Another server came to the table to explain to my husband what can and cannot be substituted without a fee, so that was the first issue which was with the ordering. The drinks took a little while to come out. Honestly my husband said his wasn't good and mine really didn't have flavor so that was a fail for both of us. We should have just stuck with water instead of the cocktails. I had the grilled trout which came with a "Cajun" rice and coleslaw. The fish was seasoned perfectly. The issue with the fish was there were tiny bones. It doesn't bother me, but I wish I was notified ahead of time. The Cajun rice was okay but not Cajun I ate all of it though. The coleslaw had no flavor whatsoever so I didn't eat it. Needless to say I left hungry. My husband had the bbq salmon. He said that it tasted good. I asked did it taste like bbq and he said it was just a sweet sauce not really bbq flavor. We got the fries for the baby and they were super thin which is fine but they didn't even have any salt on them. To top it off someone got injured by the stairs (not the restaurant fault) however I stepped in as well as another patron before wait staff did and it seemed like they didn't know what to do. Hopefully they get some more training for when emergencies happen. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of my food this time but like I said the fish was good just everything else was a miss read more

I always order mac and cheese and today it wasn't cheesy or creamy enough. It was actually dry. Two orders with delivery and tip is 30. I might have to give up the mac and cheese. I have been going to Jalexanders since they were located on wilcrest. Silent cries. read more

Update: Not sure what has changed, but the last couple of times I've picked up the Hawaiian ribeye, it has been horrible. I thought it was just a one off about month or so ago when I picked up one, but I decided to treat my friend to a steak yesterday and we placed an order for 2 steaks and a Caesar salad, they were extremely extremely fatty and barely any edible meat. I love a good med rare ribeye, it's my favorite cut. So I understand that there is more marbeling on that cut of steak, but these last 2 times there has been barely any actual meat just a lot of soft fat. For that reason I don't think I'll return. Steaks are too expensive to not have any edible parts on it. read more

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Not a good day JA. One bartender and a busy Sunday night. Adam can't handle this. I cannot even articulate the lack of service. Remember all those others that were kick ass that are gone now? This place is a mess and going back to the horrible Merus Grill days. Sure people are coming, but the service is sucking. Do better. Adam could be better if you gave him an actual other bartender to help. As it is now he's not multi tasking so well. read more

One of my favorite restaurants! I love the ahi tuna salad and orzo and wild rice. Carrot cake is the best I've ever had.

Staff is always accommodating, service amazing (they employ a team of folks, your iced tea is not empty for long), and the food astonishingly consistent! No matter the time of year, server, location, the meals are wonderfully well crafted and identical. I especially like their homemade veggie burger - wish I could buy the patties to cook at home! Their deserts are limited but well done. I could not ask for any changes or improvements to be made. Note that all their tables are bolted to the floor. If you want to seat a group of 11 people for example, they could sit next to on another but not all literally at the same table - I did warn you! read more

Everything was good, went for my mom's birthday. The only thing I was upset about was the cake was not on the house and it was added to the bill. Kinda unfortunate for celebrating a birthday. read more

I'll keep this short and to the point. Apps came out super fast, deviled eggs which came out in less than 3 minutes. Queso came out a minute behind that. Okay a bit fast, like it was already ordered. Service was good so far. Then it all takes a turn for the worse, the main courses came out steak and fries and crab cakes. Steak was ordered medium came out very well done, Dry and rubbery. Very poor quality and taste. The crab cakes had a weird mustard sauce that was bitter and just had something strange about it. Better off asking for a remoulade on the side. Wanted to let our Service know about the food, but she never came back to the table after the mains were dropped. Had to flag down someone down just to go find her. So we could pay and leave. Was the first visit and the last. Never going back! Service is meh, food is mediocre. Go to Hillstone or Balboa! Anywhere but here. read more

General Description: Upscale American grill type of restaurant. Good: - Service was quick. I came in a little past lunch time on a Friday and it was quite. I'm sure the service would've been the same if it had been busy. - Food was good but nothing special. I wish I tried one of their steak selections, but I wasn't that hungry. - Clean and modern interior. - Lots of parking spots. Bad: n/a Overall: I need to come back and try one of their main dishes in order for me to give them a true 5 star rating. read more

J. Alexander's - Thai Kai salad - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've been to this location many times. Portions and service have been excellent. Last week I had dinner at the bar. There was a lot of regulars that took all the attention of the bartenders ! We were totally ignored! On top of that my favorite salad, the fried chicken salads, was like an appetizer. On the past, I have never been able to finish it! I was never asked how everything was so I wasn't able to share my experience. All our empty glasses and an empty bowl of ice cream stayed on the counter the entire tone we were there. We only stayed a bit longer to watch the astros or I would have not had a second glass of wine... I told the manager about my experience and his rude response was "sorry to hear that" . I was visiting from Florida and wanted to go back for dinner on Friday again to watch the game and have dinner but chose to have dinner at my hotel, St. Regis! Unfortunately I will never go back to the bar there as they obviously only care about locals and tips. We did tip 20% but I wish we hadn't. Time to shuffle up your management !! read more

J. Alexander's - Empty glasses and bowls - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Why 4 stars? Because this was our prime rib spot in Tampa and it was enjoyable here too. --- --- --- I began visiting J Alexander's in Tampa more than ten years ago and it was one of my favorite restaurants in the area. At one time, they had a prime rib sandwich, which was my go-to. They eventually took that off the menu, but would usually stick make it for me upon request. Just before we ultimately decided to move to Houston, we went for one final visit to our beloved spot. Fortunately, they have the same restaurant here in Houston, oddly under a different name. But unfortunately, it's an hour away from our house. But when we were going to be somewhat in the area, I decided to slightly detour us on our route back home and opted to stop here for dinner. This location has a similar vibe to Tampa, with lots of tall booths. And the food was pretty similar, especially the mac-n-cheese, which was identical. We both ordered prime rib and it was a little on the tougher side, but we still very much enjoyed it. My wife made the mistake of ordering hers medium, so I didn't have that much empathy when hers ended up being the tougher of the two. Medium? And you're the mother of my child? One note: horse radish did not come standard with the prime rib, which is the best part. Be sure to ask for that! read more

J. Alexander's - Slow Roasted Prime Rib* - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I was dreaming about the spinach con queso since I left Michigan so I made sure to run, not walk, to J. Alexander. I had to call first because it says they're closed online, they aren't. Got there on a Saturday at 8pm and grabbed a seat at the bar. Eric, our bartender, was such good energy and seemed so kind. The staff was really great and the desserts, along with the spinach con queso made my night :). read more

J. Alexander's - a chocolate cake and ice cream - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Our server was very helpful overall. We warmly greeted. The ordering was uneventful as we knew what we wanted assuming that it would be of the former Houston's caliber. The food came out within 10 minutes which is normal for similar establishments. I may have set up myself for disappointment as again recalling the delight of Houston's prime rib as it was packed with flavor succulent with every bite. Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy! When the dish came out I had the fork and knife at the ready. The disappointment started with the first cut. The meat was rubbery seems like old left over low quality meat. Sure enough first bite paved way to an underwhelming meal. It was disastrous as there was no comparison to that of Houston's. My wife had the Sear Ahi Tuna salad. Again that was one of our go to dish at Houston's. The salad had an overbearing sour taste. Aside from the great service the meal was not close to Houston's caliber. At the end of the meal we each ranked our experience. My wife gave J Alexander a 1 out of 10. I am a bit more considerate of the service so food was a 1 out of 10 but service was a 9 out of 10. Overall I have the experience a solid 4 out of 10. We are unlikely to return. read more