I visited J. Alexander's, and if you're not familiar with the Oak Brook area, just know this restaurant sits a little back in the cut. So make sure you're paying close attention to your GPS when you're heading there. The good news is it's located in a mall area, so there's plenty of parking, which makes it very convenient. The atmosphere is not overly upscale, but it definitely still gives fine dining energy. The low lighting creates a more intimate vibe, making it a great place for a date night, dinner with friends, or even a relaxed evening meal. The food is consistently good, and the drinks are always on point. This time I ordered the baby back ribs with mashed potatoes, and it was my first time trying that dish there. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone good, and the mashed potatoes were a perfect pairing. My friend ordered the pork chop, butterflied and cut open, and she said it was simply amazing. Now let me get to the real reason I keep coming back. The carrot cake. I have had carrot cake from big-name bakeries and small local mom-and-pop spots, and I'm telling you right now, J. Alexander's has the best carrot cake in the world. If anyone wants to debate that, please let me know where I should go try another slice... or better yet, buy me one so we can compare! Because of that carrot cake alone, J. Alexander's will always be in my Top 10. So yes, the food is good, the drinks are great, the atmosphere is nice... read more

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My boyfriend and I went to J.Alexander's for our anniversary. The food was amazing as expected. I had the cesar salad and the Hyde i think it's called it was a regular grilled chicken sandwich with small cut fries. My boyfriend had the salmon and rice with mac and cheese. The service was amazing my server was top of the line. She checked up on us every chance she got she made us laugh and enjoy our experience even more. The ambiance was amazing very light dim with a touch of romance giving it the right atmosphere for us. We also received a special cake for our anniversary which was a plus. 100/10 read more

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The ambiance is great! Excellent service and the has never disappoint. We frequent this establishment often and never have I experienced bad service, or food. Great menu. My favorite entree is the French dip! Thinly sliced and cooked to perfection medium rare! They have the Auju ever! The fries are shoe string thin and not sure what seasoning they sprinkle on them but you won't stop eating them . The Alex salad is the right portion to share with two. Overall no complaints about this restaurant. Sorry I forgot to get a picture of my French dip sandwich. read more

J. Alexander's - Alex Salad with blue cheese dressing. - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

"Usually" a good prime rib. Last time was a disappointment so we r goin back Friday 6/19 hopefully they come thru for us and give us a outstanding prime rib SJK read more

J. Alexander's - Prime rib med rare 9/20. Our 50th Anniversary - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

We had made reservations to eat here at this restaurant due to never eating here before. Due to traffic we were unable to make our reservation on time and when we arrived they said they could still accommodate us. After waiting for about 10 min they came to tell us they no longer could accommodate us unless we were willing to wait 2 hours which we did not want to do. The ambiance in the restaurant was very beautiful. Even the bathroom was very nice. The menu you looked like it was going to have some good food but unfortunately we would not be able to stay and see about it due to the long wait. read more

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I've been coming to this location for years and years. My parents used to love it here and we always finished our evening with their most amazing carrot cake. These days, my husband and I will sit at the bar and order a couple drinks and our meal. The bartenders there are on point, very professional and efficient. Service is always wonderful and the food is amazing. read more

I went for dinner last night with 2 friends. The meal was good and I received helpful advice from our server on what wine to get based on my palate preference. My veggie burger was delicious and the shoelace fries equally addicting. Unfortunately, after we ordered coffee following our meal, our server completely disappeared. We waited 20 mins for the dessert menu and a 2nd cup of coffee but then left. read more

J. Alexander's - Dining room - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

This has always been one of our go to special occasion restaurants. Today we brought our dear friend who was celebrating her 75th birthday. We raved about the food, ambiance and service. Unfortunately today turned out to be the exception. Our friend ordered the branzino which was one of the daily specials. It was loaded with bones. We mentioned it to our server and he acted like this was to be expected but he would mention it to his manager. If he did it was never acknowledged. I don't believe a fine dining restaurant should be serving fish with bones. A few maybe but throughout the serving, I think not. At least the carrot cake they brought out for her birthday was delicious. read more

Came here for a nice date night pre-show dinner before going to see a play at Drury Lane. The waitstaff was attentive and the food was great. I had the pecan coated trout which was good. I switched the coleslaw side for the broccoli and it was very good. Perfect cooked. The trout could have had more sauce on it. My husband had the pork chop and also liked that a lot. I also had a fleur-de-lis martini that was delicious. The place is large and was a great date night location. I would suggest it for dinner if you are in the area and looking for a nicer dinner experience. read more

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Sorry, J. Alexander's - you've lost me. Came tonight for our daughter's 17th birthday. It's been her birthday request since she was 5yo. I'll start with the positives: service was very attentive, amazing and courteous. Now on to the food. Queso dip was served with stale chips and jarred salsa - used to be freshly fried chips and pico Chicken tenders were soggy. Not fried to order. Not crispy. Especially a bummer bc they used to be our bday girl's all time favorite. Poke bowl: fresh tuna, but ridiculously sweet and oversauced in general. Steak frites: meat was fair, it's always supposed to be a skinny steak so medium rare can be hard to do. But the quality of the meat isn't what it I used to be. Honestly, the only thing that stayed consistently good are the french fries and the honey mustard. I recommend just getting that to go and calling it a day or maybe just don't go at all. It's honestly sad to me. It used to be a really solid place. Stop cutting corners and make food fresh please. People pay a premium to eat here and the quality has really slipped on the food. But once again, the server was amazing and lovely and really took amazing care of us so I honestly feel bad for the staff working there because there will likely be fewer people coming back given the food quality. read more

The food here is pretty good. The drinks were very good. The portion size of the dishes were big. The waiter was really nice. We even met the manager, she brought over the complimentary birthday carrot cake which was moist and good. I just hoped for a little more variety of the food. I love salmon and I wasn't impressed with the option. read more

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Haven't been here in a very long time. Wife and I were invited out for a birthday dinner with another couple. The restaruant decor was the same. Wood, dimly lit, ample seating, even at the beginning of the dinner rush on a Saturday. Our server was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu. The food came of timely and prepare to specifications. I had a NY Strip, medium well, with NYO mac and cheese. The steak was cooked perfectly and the Mac and cheese was tasty. But the old fashioned I had before the entree arrived was a plesant surprise. I've had more than a few old fashions and this was one of the better ones. I was a stiff drink initally with a smooth finish. Great for sipping. WIfe had cajun pcan crusted trout with a loaded baked potato and cole slaw. Prefect portion size. Trout was prepared skin side down. The wife appreaicated that. Ovesized baked potato was perfect but ordered additional toppings on the side. Pomegranate martini strong but enjoyable. Overall, a very good dining experience. Maybe we'll reconsider this place for a date night destination. read more

We knew that this restaurant has been around, but we always "take our time" before we try anything. Like usual, we are always looking to try different restaurants and of course we always read the reviews, check out the menu and have a discussion about it all before we go. Yes, it's that important. We made reservations for a Saturday afternoon and got seated right away. Joe was our waiter. The booth was really nice and so was the ambiance. For the drinks, I got a cranberry juice and he got the lemon drop mojito. His drink was nice and tart. The cranberry juice was just ok. Our friends recommended the chicken pasta soup and Alex's salad. So that's what we started with. My husband knows that I'm a harsh critic (the female version of Gordon Ramsey) and a very picky eater, so he let me taste everything first. I went through the soup with a spoon to see what was in it. It consisted of chicken pieces with penne pasta and a variety of vegetables in a cream based broth. It was sprinkled with parsley. I wasn't sure about it so I took a small bite just to see. It was surprisingly delicious! A little salty, but still acceptable. Everything in the soup blended together perfectly. He agreed. Next was Alex's salad...it was amazing! One of the best salads I had in a long time. Fresh and tasty ingredients, but the ranch dressing and the croutons were top tier. We both absolutely loved it! In the meantime, the service was slightly off. Joe forgot our extra ranch dressing and only gave us 3 paper napkins for the both of us. What are we supposed to do with just 3 napkins? We definitely needed more than 3. Ok, back to the food... For the main dish we wanted to try something "safe" since this was our first time here. We both ordered the steak burger. According to the menu, the beef is made from tenderloin and ribeye on a brioche bun. Instead of fries, we got the smashed potatoes. Ohhh mmm gee! We had steak burgers in the past, tasting like regular burgers. This J. Alexander burger actually tastes like steak! Annnddd the bun was fresh and toasted to perfection. The smashed potatoes were delicious too. No need for salt, pepper or gravy. It was perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. Who knew that basic items on the menu (soup, salad, side) to be this damn good?! Everything was delicious, but the service was still slightly off. I told my husband that I would give this restaurant 4 stars because of the service. He told me to give it 5 because Joe really tried and to give him a benefit of the doubt. I wasn't totally convinced until a bit later. Remember what I said earlier in this review? I am a harsh critic. A female Gordon Ramsey. I critique everything and everyone when a review is being made by us. We received the check. $92 and some change. Ok, cool. After my husband paid the bill, Joe returned and thanked my husband and addressed him. By his last NAME. Out of all of the restaurants my husband and I ate out of over the years, NOBODY has ever addressed my husband by his name. That means sooo much! And because of that, Joe totally redeemed himself and now I'm writing this 5 star review for everyone to see. Yes, we will be back for more! read more

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We had a birthday reservation at 7:30pm and we arrived a few minutes early. It took 25 minutes to be seated as the place was very busy. Erin was our server and she was awesome. Very attentive service! The food was so delicious. I had the Steak Maui marinated ribeye. The Filet Mignon was fantastic. The French dip torched it. Nothing better. Frankly the best we've had in a long time. The complimentary carrot cake was delicious. I would recommend this place but at a time whenever it's not so busy. Overall it's a good place to dine. read more

J. Alexander's - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

I wanted to treat my sister for her birthday at J. Alexander's in Oak Brook. We had a very pleasant experience with our server, Madison. She was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu items. We started with the Hong Kong Shrimp Appetizer; it was enough for three to four people, with plenty of shrimp and a tangy salad dressing. My sister ordered a house salad, and I ordered the Red River Chili. For my main course, I ordered the pork chop with Apricot Glaze, which was delicious, along with crisp broccoli and smashed potatoes. My sister ordered the French Dip Sandwich with au jus and shoestring fries. It was so big that she took half of it home. We ordered Carrot Cake (a little too sweet for me), a big seller on the dessert menu, and coffee. I would encourage you to make reservations. We would go back in a heartbeat. There's plenty of parking. read more

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Bring. Back. David. My family has been coming to J. Alexander's for over 30 years (it was one of my Dad's favorite spots) -- practically long enough to have our own booth named after us. My Dad passed away 3 years ago-- and we have continued to come to J.Alexanders in honor of him and a place he loved very much-- but after tonight, we will not be returning. Sorry Dad!! We were treated like a group of teenagers trying to sneak Mike's Hard Lemonade into prom. The server actually questioned our IDs... while we were sitting next to our mother. If anyone's trying to underage drink, I promise you it's not happening at J. Alexander's. Then they brought over a manager like we were part of some elaborate fake-ID crime ring. This isn't Leo DiCaprio in "Catch me if you can" for christ sake. The whole staff looked like they could use a stiff drink themselves -- or maybe just a hug and an hour call with their therapist. Ever since David left, the place has gone down hill. We got up, walked out, and ended the night with Ditka's pot roast nachos instead -- which, by the way, made J. Alexander's look like an airport to-go Chili's. Farewell J. Alexander's! read more

We went to J Alexander's in Oak Brook yesterday. Had a great meal. Our server, Alex, was very attentive and did a wonderful job. We will definitely go back there again. read more

One of our favorite places to go for dinner in the area. Everything is always cooked to perfection and the presentation is fabulous. Service and atmosphere are great as well. Highly recommend. read more

20 years and still my favorite restaurant. Best salad around. Lots to choose from diverse menu. My favorite since it started

I haven't been to this restaurant since they closed the one that was in Chicago. So when I went I had great expectations since I used to patronize them all the time. It was pretty crowded on a Sat evening, luckily we had reservations so we were Sat fairly quickly. The atmosphere was ok. The lightening was dim so a bit hard to read the menus. David was our host and he was engaging. The chicken pasta soup was surprisingly delicious. I had 1 of the specials of the evening which was kabob on rice. The kabob was actually seasoned pretty well. My friend had the red snapper, a special. He liked it but I personally thought it needed more seasoning. He also put salt and pepper on it after I tasted it. I didn't have a bad experience just not sure I would take the drive to go to this particular restaurant. read more

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Beautiful ambiance. Our server, Emily, was exceptional. Coming to our table, at just the right time, refilling our beverages, making suggestions. My Salmon, was so fresh, and flavorful. The Steak and Fries, was delicious, the steak, grilled to perfection. Manager Katie, was dealing with the kitchen, and the other staff, amazing! read more

Had a party of six. I called ahead to ask if we could add one more. Nope! can't do it. So, my daughter had to stay home while the grownups celebrated Grandmas birthday. I won't be back. read more

I've been going to J Alexander's for years. I was kinda disappointed with the quality of the food. We ordered the crab cakes previously this was an appetizer now it's an entree it comes with fries and coleslaw . The food arrived fast but cold and greasy I didn't enjoy it at all the Elite Margarita was awful the service was good the ambiance was nice read more

J. Alexander's - Elite Margarita - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

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Once again... J.Alexander hit it out of the park! I just love this place. I celebrated my birthday... it was absolutely beautiful. read more

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Overpriced and overrated..I ordered a new york steak and its was bloody really bad so I asked them to recooked but only the strip from the ones I cute not the whole steak....its was so disappointing .I WONDER EVER GO BACK! read more

My mother and I love coming here! Great steaks and we love their grilled artichoke appetizer. read more

Every picture tells a story don't it? 02/15/26 I have waited a couple of weeks to write this review for a clearer and fair perspective. My family party of 6 was treated by our 90 year old mom, and grandmother to a wonderful meal served by a great staff. My wife and I have been going to J.Alexanders since 94 or 95. A lot of good meals. Even when we got transferred to Texas for 10 years it was our go to restaurant when we came home to visit. It's true that nothing lasts forever. The meal was still great. The service was wonderful. What changed was the soul of a business in this case a restaurant. Every picture tells a story don't it? https://photos.app.goo.gl/KFSg6gUt3kzFRWq57 My wife and I came out to a busted out window. Disappointed and aggravated. Not angry yet. I went in to talk to the manager on duty about 4:15 pm. I asked if he could check the cameras and he said he couldn't and he personally did not have access to them. He said I would have to get a warrant. Frustrated I went back to my car and called the police. They came shortly and were great. They checked things out,they checked the lot for other car damage. One police officer went in to talk to the manager and came out irritated just like me after talking to the manager. He told the officer that he would have to get a warrant. No judge is going to issue a warrant for a broken out window. I went back in to talk to the manager again. I walked up to him with a refrained voice, no yelling. I did use sarcasm when I thanked him for helping the officer and me. His reply was telling. It was like I was talking to a 13 year old. He said " Well I didn't break your window." Then he began to tell me how the officer was rude and disrespectful. The officer talked about protecting his customers.My response was good I am glad he was. I was hoping it would wake him up to his duty as a human being. After this I said "So my family drops over $300 , my window gets broken out and you're the victim. Do you even listen to yourself? Then I said you didn't even give the officer the General Managers number. Of which he said the police officer never asked for it. I find it hard to believe the officer would make up a lie about not being given the number because of corporate policies. He gave me the general manager's card, I thanked him and I left. Welcome to the jungle. Great food, wonderful staff. Just know that the meal is at your own peril. The cameras are there for themselves and apparently criminals.They are a false sense of security for customers. Management, upper management and owners of J. Alexander cares about your money and could care less about you. For My wife and I it was a window but what if? After all the manager didn't break my window. read more

It was a very impressive experience and I've been eating out a lot! The menu options are substantial as well as the portions size. The service was very good and I think the ambiance was perfect for a date night. I can't wait to go back. read more

Another winner!! This time, I got the Ahi Tuna salad with cucumbers and carrots added on. It was like a Tuna sushi roll when taking a bite with all the elements (tuna, wasabi, wonton, cucumber, carrot, and the ginger dressing). This place has not seemed to miss yet. Once again, if you're interested in getting a drink - try the martinis! It's a 2 for 1. Mine came with blue cheese olives which were stuffed to the MAX with flavor. read more

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The doors won't open if your handicap untill someone comes out, two very heavy doors they kinda ignore you if you come with someone in a wheelbarrow, like they don't see that you can use some help with the doors very rude read more

I've heard great things about this restaurant and decided to try it for myself. The restaurant is tucked in the back of OakBrook mall (right by Binnys and Great Escape store). The lighting was dim which made it a warm environment. We went in a Friday night, and it was busy. I would suggest making reservations. The staff was super friendly and very attentive. The menu is a typical American restaurant menu. I ordered the Prim Rib. I swapped out the mashed potatoes to broccoli. The prime rib was tender and paired perfectly with the broccoli. The shoestring fries was delicious. My favorite of the evening was the house made dessert. The chocolate cake was warm and went well with the vanilla ice cream. read more

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We had a party of six, normal sized adults this last Saturday. Three men, three women. We were led to a booth that should easily fit four, maybe five. Our knees were touching, and the people in the middle had to struggle to cut their food. Not to mention the heater that was blasting. But no other tables available. I called this morning as we were going to take our daughter and family for dinner this coming Saturday, we have a party of seven. They NO LONGER take reservations for any party over six. They reconfigured the booths, so they only fit six. They put in bigger chairs or something. I don't know who is making these decisions, but after 20 years, we're done. And I'm guessing families that have over six are done as well. The food is good, but look around, there are a LOT of great restaurants that don't squeeze six adults into a booth sized for 4-5. Very disappointing. read more

What an outstanding lunch today! I had been a regular for many years and it was always a favorite, but had been unable to visit for the past few. So glad to return! I had one of the best burgers I've ever had, and I'm very picky about burgers. The beef was excellent, perfectly cooked (rare), on a delicious toasted bun, and well dressed with condiments and veg. The fries were outstanding and plentiful. I typically eat about three french fries, but these were so good that I just kept eating. The ambience is as it always was, friendly, cozy elegance, perfect on a snowy afternoon. Finally, I can't forget the service-- I wish I could remember the server's name, I just know it started with an "L". Outstanding. She was helpful, pleasant and unobtrusive, bringing what we needed before we knew we did, and leaving us to chat away. Thank you so much to the whole staff. I hope to be back soon. read more

Celebrated Easter Sunday with my family at J Alexander's. Service was excellent, parking was easy food was delicious. It was a very enjoyable experience. read more

I can't believe I've never reviewed this restaurant!? Of course I haven't been here for eons maybe before my "Yelp" days? I came here after Christmas for a nice luncheon with my Mom. I always remember their pork chop 20+ years ago being more of a ham flavor which we all LOVED! This was excellent as well but more of the classic pork chop. It was served in an apricot demi glaze with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Yummm!! I've kind of forgotten about this hidden gem but we will be coming back soon!! read more

J. Alexander's - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

We celebrated my husband's birthday and our waitress Daria was attentive and well versed in the menu. Our drinks were running behind and she let us know and continued to check in throughout the meal with conversation. You have to try the crab cakes! My husband has traveled out east and these hands down were the best. No breading 5 oz. Each. We had the marinated ribeye too! Everything was delicious! Thank you, we will be back! read more

J. Alexander's - Crab cakes - New American Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

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Love this place. Have spent New Years Days here, my Daughter's birthday party was there last evening. Love this place It's like a mood lit ski lodge with an excellent staff and wine list. It's cozy and fun. It's next to Oak Brook Mall and one of my favorite stops for dinner and a movie. Go get your girl or gang and go have an enjoyable night out. read more

When I'm craving a great lemon drop, J Alexander's is always my top choice. The bar service is exceptional, with friendly and attentive staff who always greet me with a smile. 10/10 read more

We live nearby and after being curious for so many years, stopped for dinner on a Friday night. We were pleasantly surprised by the low lighting, comfy booths and atmosphere. Food and drinks were prompt. Steak was perfectly cooked & well seasoned. Looking forward to our next trip. read more

Great food and service. Quiet dinner in bar booth for Christmas Eve. Filet with Bernaise was perfectly cooked. Ask for their sourdough bread for the table. Carrot cake never disappoints. read more