Excellent happy hour great burgers bountiful martinis nice bar staff highly recommended

Food was delicious and service was too! We were there for a bachelorette dinner and waitress even took us outside to an awesome spot behind the restaurant to take our picture! Definitely will return when in the area again! read more

Had a great atmosphere but seems overpriced for what it is. Service was with a smile but sadly the knowledge of the service staff was poor.

Ate at J. Bistro's last week for the first time since moving back to the area. The decor reminds me of places you'd find in NYC and Philly. Started with something I'd never had before, a Pickle Martini, made with house-made bread/butter pickles. Now, I am more partial to dill pickles, but the combination of the sweetness of the pickles combined with the vodka and vermouth was so purr-fect, I ended up having 2 of them! Our server Sue told us about the specials, and since it was a warm summer night and I was looking for lighter dinner fare, and my dining partner was vegan, we both opted for the fresh corn salad. This was no small salad! A bed of greens, cherry tomatoes, slices of avocado, diced fresh mozzarella and fresh sliced corn off the cob, all topped with (I think house-made)Green Goddess dressing. (since this was a week ago, I know I'm leaving some ingredients out, I'm thinking chopped egg and thin sliced onions...maybe!). The salad just hit the spot. We split an order of bruschetta, which was also tasty, and I was full; Or so I thought! My dining partner said she just had to have Chef Brian's flour-less chocolate cake, so, ok twist my arm...I'll have dessert. Sue listed the desserts and the homemade Key Lime pie piqued my interest. The pie was so light and flavorful, that I didn't leave one crumb. I had a taste of the chocolate cake and omg, talk about chocolate ecstasy! Can't remember when I've had a more delicious taste. The suggestion was made to order a piece for each of us to take home, and I have to tell you, I am savoring each bite of that cake, one bite a day as it is very rich, but soooo delicious. J, Bistro is definitely my new go to restaurant in Sandusky! read more

This was amazing. You just don't find food like this in this area. What a find! We order the steak and the sea bass and tegu wee excellent. And the had a banana cake that was the best I have ever had. Go! read more

J Bistro Downtown - Steak was excellent - New American Near Me - Sandusky, Ohio

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We had not been to JBistro for about a year and thought we would support this local establishment. Reservations were made, and although we were the first patrons for the evening, we were sat smack dap in the center of the restaurant. We asked to move to a move private spot and we accommodated. Our server was friendly,and attentive, however as our dinner service progressed, we felt rushed as our food was brought out quickly. We had barely enough time to enjoy our appetizers before dinner was brought. Our server was aware that this was a celebratory dinner. The beer drinkers in our party enjoyed their drinks, but the mixed drinks did not taste like the drinks we ordered and were not finished. We had been told that there was an amazing bartender working at the bistro. Items on the menu were very similar to the items at a restaurant called Nemo's in Avon- ( we were just there this week). Our dinner was a hit or miss. The loaded Mac and cheese was delicious, but the bbq salmon and shrimp was just okay, and the lobster fettuccini was far better at Nemo's. The lobster was described as a 4oz tail, but was presented as though it was pounded out to look larger. Several in our group ordered dessert- again we were celebrating. The apple crisp was to be served warmed, but sadly ours was served cold and not "finished" in the oven. When we inquired about the temperature, our server was shocked to know that it wasn't warmed- when she was the one that served the obviously cold plates to our group. Our bill was brought to the table and again, we felt rushed to leave. It should be noted that there were several open tables available ( to be used during this social distancing time) and no one was waiting to be seated. Somewhat disappointed in our evening out. read more

We had a wonderful experience at J Bistro! The food was excellent! Some favorites were the Beet salad, the filet mignon, and the creme brûlée. Our service was fantastic! Our waitress, Sue, was very friendly and timely. The hostess always made sure our waters were filled and the bartender did an excellent job with our bar drinks. We can't wait to go back. We definitely recommend going to this restaurant!! read more

I had the best meal here last night while traveling for business. I sat at the bar and was treated exceptionally by the lovely bar tender. I had a happy hour peartini which was perfect, the beat salad was to die for and the perch dinner was plentiful and delicious. read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem. They were very accommodating of our two kids (9 and 13) by making them burger and mac n cheese. My husband and I had a delicious Malbec, the bruschetta, the chicken fettuccine, the filet mignon and the key lime cheesecake. Just an outstanding meal and service. read more

Great atmosphere and layout! Best dinner in downtown Sandusky! Things I've had on a scale of 1-10 Sea Bass 10 Beef tartare 9 Bone marrow app 7 Pork chop 8 Dirty Martini 10 read more

I highly recommend J Bistro if you're a fan of delicious food with a beautiful presentation. Seriously, if I had to choose a place for a "last meal" this would definitely be it. The ambiance in the restaurant is elegant and bit classy looking but they had new age music playing that gave it a "hip" feel to it all. The service from our waitress was incredible, and the manager even stopped at our table to make sure we were having a great experience. I cannot wait to visit again to try more of the items on their menu! read more

J Bistro Downtown - Stone Fired Chorizo Pizza With Goat Cheese... MMMmmm!! - New American Near Me - Sandusky, Ohio

What a wonderful restaurant. Had the Grouper Special this evening amazing along with the lobster bisque.

In town for the weekend and decided to try this place because of the reviews and photos of food. Turns out yelp is from an old menu and they dont serve anything that is shown. It is over priced, small portions and very bland read more

We made a reservation, but probably didn't need one in March. We were in town at Great Wolf Lodge, and wanted a higher end meal at someplace that wasn't a national chain restaurant. I was eager to try the Chilean Sea Bass, but they didn't feature it. I had the Blackened Grouper with a Cajun Cream Sauce. Husband had the pork chops, and my older son had the tuna featured dish. All were tasty, and the service was good. Note: They don't have a kids menu but offered to make my 8 year old pasta (there were a few options) or a burger and fries. It was a VERY large burger. Not sure when they serve their fries (I didn't see them on the dinner menu) but they were yummy, and the 8 year old had to fight off French fry thieves from everyone at the table. All in all, a good meal and I would definitely go back. read more

After 10 hours at the park we found J Bistro. It was FANTASTIC! Service was very friendly (even though we were dressed in not our best clothes from the park). Extensive wine list and very high end food. After eating around the corner at Crush we were a bit sketchy as that experience was less than average. Pleasantly surprised and will be back for sure on our next trip to Sandusky. read more

J Bistro Downtown - Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Sandusky, Ohio

I was nervous as I searched for the J Bistro ratings. I've had great experiences here, but it just doesn't seem to get the traffic and attention that the places around the corner do. I thought mine might be one of the few 5-star reviews. I'm pleased to see that's not the case. I agree with all of the other 5-star reviews, but I'll add an above-and-beyond: We made reservations for 14 people on summer Saturday dinner (and then we brought 15 people). We all expected to wait, to be served at different times, or have a cold plate here and there - all normal occurrences with a huge party. None of that happened. We were seated right away and served right away. No attitude, no stress, no delay and the typical GREAT FOOD at reasonable prices. Thanks J. Bistro, for doing a consistently good job. Please keep it up. read more

There was no host/ess greeting parties upon arrival. Restaurant was busier than staff expected (even though it was Saturday night of a holiday weekend) and they were down a bartender, so service was slow. Food was really good. read more

The food and service were both excellent. We had the crab Mac and cheese as an appetizer which was amazing. We also tried the Brussels sprouts which were also incredible! I think the Brussels were probably our favorite, but the short rib pasta dish didn't disappoint as well. Service was great as too - we sat in the bar area and the bartender was highly attentive without being overwhelming. We definitely didn't expect a place like this in Sandusky, but we were very impressed and would be back if we made it back to the area. read more

Our meals were beautiful in presentation and delicious in taste. We ordered the Pork Shank, Salmon, and Filet meals. The service was spot on and sensitive to a food allergy we had in our group of 6. We were initially a little put off on the prices, but the portions were filling, the quality of ingredients excellent, the ambiance relaxing and fresh. A visit well-worth making! read more

The food at J Bistro is excellent. They manage to have something for everyone without a very long menu. I prefer to visit at lunch for gourmet sandwiches, flatbreads, soups and salads. They've got a lot of unique options on the menu, so I almost hate to recommend it, but the burger and fries are amazing! Wonderful service and a happy hour worth mentioning! read more

Walked in at 8pm, only 6 of us and the staff acted like there was no way they could possibly serve us. Empty tables everywhere but sheer panic on their faces...walked out as you should probably do. read more

This restaurant is delicious. They always have some good specials. They have a unique appetizer made with brussel sprouts. Make sure you try them. You can sit outside in the summer time. But the atmosphere is also good on the inside. It's a quaint restaurant. They also have a nice bar and wine selection. read more

We sailed here today and got a tip at the yc to come to j bistro. The decor and resultant ambiance is the first wonderful thing you assimilate as you wonder why this place exists in downtown Sandusky. Of course you have already met Philip who is the best! The food is nothing less than amazing and the frosting is Frank on the piano. I am in love with this place. read more

The food is amazing. Our sever was fun. She told me about two wine selections. I couldn't decide so she gave me a generous sample of each. My husband had the grouper special, YUMM and I had the king crab risotto. They both were winners. Only sad that I was too full to try the creme brûlée. read more

The usual Exquisite meal this evening in so many ways! Kara, Chef Brian and staff, thank you for a memorable evening out! read more

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I have had J Bistro on my wish list for a while. This week I finally made it over there. With a bit of bad luck an epic blizzard hit Cleveland precisely on that day. There was havoc on the roads, so it took me much longer than what it would usually take, but on a normal day this is an easy drive from Cleveland, if anyone is visiting the city or passing by. If you are going to Sandusky to have fun at Cedar Point you should also make sure to stop there for dinner after all those crazy rides. The food and the service were absolutely worth that difficult drive day. The service is flawless, the venue is very agreeable, and the food was amazing. I had the Prince Edward Island mussels with chorizo and tomatoes (perfectly done, the sauce is very well done), the oven-roasted mushroom pizza and the pistachio creme brulée. And would have loved to try so many more things on their menu, so I am sure I will have to go back. Five stars. read more

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Food was decent. Not a big selection and severely lacking chicken options. They wanted $23 for spaghetti and meatballs. The food wasnt really the issue as much as the waitress. I'm pretty sure she was drunk. She had to be asked three times for rolls, and that was after she told us she was bringing out rolls. Empty water glass for 10 minutes, she didnt bother to clear away our empty plates and the desert I ordered to go was pathetic. Chocolate flourless cake was the littlest thing you could imagine, smashed, looked like she picked it out of the trash and smashed it in the container. Of course I didnt see it until much later. By biggest regret was that we tipped her. She was pleasant, if that counts for anything. One expects a dinner of over $100 to be an enjoyable experience. Food was a 6/10 value was 3/10 ambiance was a 9/10 waitress was a 2/10. I should also mention there was literally two people there when she was waiting on us. By the way, NONE of the items featured on Yelp! were on the menu. read more

Stopped through Sandusky and was thankful to have found this place. I follow a kosher and paleo-style diet, and the salad and brussel sprouts hit the spot with no guilt (once bacon was removed). Delicious and nutritious. Hope they will start to offer more grain-free items for everyone's benefit. read more

Wonderful experience, our server Sarah was fantastic. We started with Mussels and General Tso Brussels Sprouts which everyone loved, to a completely different taste experience with the wedge salad, to fresh main meals topped by three different and amazing desserts that completely capped off the evening. Highly recommend this gem when looking for a relaxing and fulfilling evening. read more

Great martinees, love the Brussel sprouts. I didn't have anything else since it was a quick stop but the place is classy and tasty for what little I did have .. I'd recommend it. Kimberley aka jasmine rocks at the bar read more

Just returned from a fabulous meal at J Bistro. Oysters, Brussel sprouts, and the crab pizza (special) appetizers were amazing. The veal manicotti, so rich, so good. Divers scallops with incredible corn risotto. The chicken Florentine over truffled mashed potatoes were delicious. My daughter had the sole special, incredible. The pistachio creme Brule was fresh with a touch of lavender. An unexpected treat in Sandusky, Ohio. Worth every moment of the 15 minute drive from CP. GO!!!! read more

This place has to be one of the best fine dinings in Sandusky. If you are trying to inpress this is the place to go. Great atmosphere great food expect to pay it is pricey. read more

On a trip with my girlfriend, I wanted to take her to the most elegant, romantic place I could find. J Bistro did not disappoint. For appetizers we had the Crispy Brussels sprouts, Duck fat fries, and the "Deconstructed" Deviled eggs. All were spectacular and filling. For our entree we had the Manicotti, and the Chilean sea bass. The Manicotti was creamy and delicious though a lot of the same texture and got old quickly. The Chilean sea bass was delicate and delicious, by far one of my favorite meals. For desert we had the Simply sweet cheesecake which was fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant, very unique and romantic for Sandusky read more

Excellent food, wonderful ambiance, live music on the weekends, and the bar is 1st class. Highly recommended!!

Had a great dinner for 4. Outstanding value, elegant venue! Steak, oyster Rockerfeller, mushroom flatbread, special fish entree. read more

This place is amazing! We loved the decor the second we walked in; comfortable, modern yet classic. Our waitress, Sarah was the sweetest person and seemed to love this resteraunt and her job. We started with the Brussels sprouts and the cauliflower leek soup. Our 10 year old son devoured his soup and portion of sprouts! My husband and I have never had Brussels Sprouts combined with such a delicious and complex variety of flavors. We would also like to recomend thier cucumber martini for you gin fans. It was a spa - holiday get away in a glass! it was a tough decision when it came time to order our entrees. We chose the specials, stuffed salmon with corn risotto and the chicken Florentine with truffle mashed potatoes. The proteins were all perfectly cooked and seasoned well. But let me say, those mashed potatoes were the equivalent of sex on a platter! This is our new favorite restaurant by a landslide. read more

We had the pleasure of enjoying great food, atmosphere and company when we recently reserved the dining room and bar for a private, family occasion. Chef Jesse worked with us to adjust the menu to accommodate our needs, even with us being several states away, while Sarah and the staff were great to work with and most hospitable during the evening at the front of the house. Thanks so much! You helped us make a memorable event! I highly recommend J Bistro Downtown for your special events! read more

Great food and atmosphere, staff was friendly. Meal could have gone at a slightly slower pace.

We were staying at Kalahari and we were looking for a nice meal at a non chain restaurant. We read the reviews and liked them. We drove by twice. The sign is subtle and hard to see in the dark. So once in side, we sat at the bar which is very contemporary and upscale, yet the bartender was very welcoming and personable. We had the bruschetta appetizer, which was excellent. For our entrees, we had Salmon Oscar Special and the Filet Mignon, both came with generous portions of cheddar mashed potatoes and a side of vegetables. Steak was one of the best I've ever had. Well worth the money. Salmon was cooked perfectly. We each had three import beers, they had our favorites and our total bill before tip was $105 dollars. Excellent value for very nice meal in elegant surroundings with very friendly staff. We live 100 miles away and we are coming back! read more

Amazing service and food. Flatbreads are fantastic. Great with kids as well. It's #1 on Yelp for a reason!!!