Worst Experience
Written: Nov 30 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: With as many servers as we had, how badly things were coordinated was amazing.
Cons: Everything
The Bottom Line: There are so many great dining experiences in Chicago. If you can't find another place to eat and have to rely on a name brand, then you deserve this place.
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| travelmess's Full Review: J. Alexander's Corporation |
This place just opened in Chicago. Way overpriced - quantity overtakes quality in the fast lane. They should have waited until they got at least the service right. Sunday evening and the place is pretty empty. The server attacked us and was obnoxious most of the evening, pushing for no good reason while at the end of the meal telling us we could sit as long as we liked. The menu has some scary items, many of which should be classic preparations but this organization has the gall to modify them with horrendous results. We were 5. Most wines are not available by the glass; the beer selection is mediocre. Our host who knows wines couldn't find one to his liking; I am a beer person and couldn't find one to mine. The drinks came out haphazardly. Chicago is a water town to begin with and only 2 glasses were poured. Ice tea was not available - it was being brewed. 1 of 2 diet cokes arrived - the other took until a few minutes before the main courses arrived. They were out of their daily soup! I ordered a field green salad which was mediocre -- greens, too many fried wonton strips, not enough nuts, dressing ok, and a croissant with sweet butter drizzled over it -- this place was starting to feel more like a pricey Cracker Barrel by the minute - the salad was difficult to eat to say the least -- the dressing just couldn't keep things together and the wonton and nuts all sank to the bottom. The others ordered 2 appetizers and the server TOTALLY forgot them -- chips, salsa and con queso dip -- how could anyone forget that? I also don't like servers in all black: I expect white, so I can sense the cleanliness. Main courses: mine was the "Cilantro Shrimp"; lovely presentation but concurrently overly spicy and bitter both the shrimp and the so-called cole slaw - after two shrimp I gave up and that was the last thing I ate. 1 had the prime rib sandwich which seemed generous but was almost medium well when the party ordered it medium rare and was riddled with fat - he gave up after about half -- the fries, which are tinier than McDonald's, went cold too quickly. Our third entree was the "Pasta Ya Ya", a generous trough of penne with chicken and red sauce - thank goodness it was too basic to screw up. The 4th diner also ordered the Cilantro Shrimp -- several glasses of water later she gave up. The 5th diner ordered the Grilled Tuna - which was properly seared - but it was offered with wasabi which luckily was put on the side. There were crab cakes on the menu too but the mustard sauce sounded like a terrible match -- in fact that is the biggest problem -- the chef's palate must have been burned while in culinary school -- he or she has no sense of matching whatsoever. A manager tried to offer me another dish or a drink but I declined -- I don't do that and frankly what I saw made me suspect that there would be anything I might enjoy. At the end dessert was comp'd because they forgot the appetizers. There are a total of 3 desserts - 3 rich cakes. Period. Thank goodness they had ice cream for 1 diner. I would have enjoyed a sorbet or something with fresh fruit -- the closes they had available was a cheesecake with raspberry sauce -- I declined. 2 diners ordered the carrot cake, which came like a slab, warm, with a gooey vanilla sauce over the top -- again destroy a classic -- too many raisins, crumbly, no real carrot to be seen. And NO coffee or tea was ever offered - just more water, finally ice tea, and over-iced diet cokes. I guess this kind of place will go over big in areas where people really have few really good restaurants or have no clue what fine cuisine should be. In Chicago, this place is embarrassing, and should be eaten alive.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
travelmess
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Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 0 members
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