Feels like a hometown family restaurant. Great food! A little more than I was expecting to spend but still good.
(4)
Melissa R.
We stopped in Meridian while on a road trip and decided to try out Jakers. It was the first and will be the last time that I dine there. The entire experience was a disaster from the start. There were some good aspects but the negatives completely outweighed the positive. First, we had a three year old with us and when trying to decide what to choose for her, I asked the server if the Mac & Cheese was from Kraft. She assured me it wasn't from Kraft and made fresh in house...what we received - Kraft Mac & Cheese. Okay, it's fine if they serve kraft, but it would prefer honesty as I would have simply chosen something else off the menu. Second, I asked for garlic fries and was served regular fries. Service was so incredibly slow, even though it was a slow night, that they ended up fixing the fries after everyone had eaten. We also asked if the lemonades had free refills and the server said yes - and we received the ticket with the refills charged. It was fixed...but it took some time. When we ordered drinks, we asked for water and it never came until we reminded her. We ordered a small scoop of ice cream for our toddler for dessert and waited thirty minutes until she came by and told us goodnight. We reminded her about the dessert and it turns out the ticket never printed. Seriously it was one thing after another. My husband did like the "evil Thai salad" and I liked the burger; however, in all honesty it was just okay. The food was "ok" and super overpriced! When visiting Boise again, we will not be dining here again.
(2)
Joe G.
Wonderful food and amazing service. We will definitely be back and for sure spread the word. Thank you
(5)
Ruby R.
The moon shone bright on that November eve, it all happened upon a Tuesday. Barbara says, "Shall we try Jakers?" "Sure!" I replied. Upon entrance the air felt an uncomfortable cold. The young hostess notified us of a twenty minute wait so we decided to endure. We then Noticed several empty tables available. I figured they were reserved. Twenty minutes later we were notified of a vacancy and we're led to a large area containing at least ten vacant tables. I soon deducted that the ink embedded in my skin accompanied by a sweet mullet had placed us away from the general public. We can't recall what Barbara ordered as it proved extremely forgettable. I got some southwest burger that featured mostly pickled ingredients which rendered the entire experience into a vinegar soaked nightmare. Needless to say, we will not be returning. The only reason I gave it two stars is due to the waiter, Paul, I believe was his name.
(2)
Mike R.
Great place for a late night snack. Always happy hour, and their happy hour menu is really good ( except maybe the oddly pre shaped calamari ). Good drinks, great salad bar, and a very upscale decor. Dinner menu is good also.
(4)
Larry E.
Stopped in for a quick lunch. They had their buffet up and running, but decided against it. Was just looking for something light. Really nothing light on the menu, at least light in Senior citizen terms. Ended up having the finger steak and my wife had a salad. Both were okay, but not what we were looking for. Can't fault them, rating comes from our needs not their service. Did have their Bloody Mary bar - neat idea!
(3)
K J.
Worst mojitos ever......pure club soda with one shredded up mint leaf inside. We should have sent them back, but politely tried choking them down instead. My trout was extremely dry and chicken parm mediocre at best. Staff is friendly, but I wouldn't go here again.
(2)
Cory P.
This place is great, great then they bomb and do something stupid like run out of their tasty bread and or another staple entree food.i like jakers,i want to live jakers but dang if our bad experiences out way are good ones
(3)
George J.
Quality food & reasonable prices. Bleu chop salad w/entree is fantastic if you love bleu cheese
(5)
Brian H.
This place seems to have an identity crisis. The presence of TV's showing ESPN around the entire restaurant doesn't gel with the swankier decor. Is Jakers supposed to be fine dining or a sports bar? By trying to do both, you get neither to me. Our server Phil was fantastic. I chatted with my dinner date for a long time before we ended up ordering, but we were never pushed or hurried despite the restaurant being packed. He had a keener eye than most on when he should and shouldn't approach our table. Funny, gracious-- this was some of the best service I've had in Boise. Unfortunately my food was overpriced mediocrity, and that's an automatic two stars from me. The proprietor from one of my favorite places to eat at in Boise says Jakers is in his top 3 in the valley, so I went based on his recommendation. He told me you can't go wrong with the beef or salmon there. But Jakers was pushing a Lobster Fest that week, and I got sucked into that. I opted for lobster ravioli with some lobster bisque. The bisque had a nice chunk of lobster in it but the soup was unremarkable. The lobster filling in the ravioli was lacking, and the dense cream sauce that accompanied it overpowered what little of the lobster I could actually taste. The asparagus that came with it were small and mushy like they had come from out of a can. Even if they didn't, they weren't prepared well. Definitely not worth the $19 I was charged. Shoulda gone with the beef. It's conceivable I may come back for it unless the Double R Ranch beef they use can be found somewhere over-the-counter in town. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Response to owner's comments below: Your response is appreciated (sadly not too many owners take the time to respond). However the proprietor that I mentioned above no longer recommends your establishment after having a couple subpar experiences there with the beef after I had posted my review. Given the prices of the entrees, returning to Jakers is a risk I'm no longer willing to take. Give Phil a raise though.
(2)
Kent G.
Although I have had one or two mediocre experiences (OK, one very bad one) overall my lunch experiences are great with dinner not so much. The more crowded the place is the slower the service but the food is just great. I had the Turkey Swiss sandwich today and it was awesome. The service was great today as well. Over all it is a place worth going to. If you ever have a bad experience ask for the owner/manager and she will make sure you're taken care of.
(4)
Shellby R.
i dont know what the other reviewers were smokin but this place rocks. the food was phenomenal and the service was excellent. good salad bar and really good entree salads, fresh ingredients friendly staff. the waiter even saw that i had swiped my husbands lemon and put in in my coke when he brought my refill there was another lemon! we had the lobster mac n cheese, the evil thai beef salad (actual name) and the advocado and crab salad. everything was superb!
(5)
Dubya R.
Bad enough that their food is generic pub grub, but then there's this (posted to FB by a friend of mine). Don't know about you, but it sure makes me not want to give them a dime of my money: Jakers (of Meridian) took out a full page ad in the Idaho Statesman (which must have cost a pretty penny). It reads: "Thanks to Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, our Federal Legislator, and especially Barney Frank, home equity, IRA, and 401k values are depressed. So here's what we've done for those who have been affected by reduced asset values....." It then goes on to describe their menu and prices. And is signed by Jake.
(1)
Liz H.
Always enjoy going for the happy hour food and drinks
(4)
Beauford W.
If you don't think there enough Applebees and TGI Fridays in this town this might be your place. There's really nothing special about Jakers Bar and Grill. The old Jakers on Park Center Pond seemed to be more of a steak and prime rib restaurant. I had a hard time deciphering the theme of the new Jakers. Is it Asian fusion with mid-western comfort food? Whatever it is there is one thing for certain.. Old people love Jakers! When you walk in you can't help but notice the number of blue and grey haired people. (I have quite a bit of gray. Hence the 3 stars) I had the chicken lettuce wraps. It wasn't terrible or memorable. I followed up my wraps with their prime rib. It was decent but somewhere between integrating the Asian fling, the fiesta enchilads, and the Maui mahi surf tacos, Jakers lost it's edge. They used to be a top notch steak house. Now, I lament to say it, they've become like Fridays. Fufu drinks, jack of all cuisines and master of none. This town deserves a dedicated steak house. I don't want to have to drive down to Chandlers and plop down 60 bucks every time I have a craving for a decent steak.
(3)
Amy A.
I am in Meridian performing (I'm a comedian, not a stripper) at the Bull's Head Pub down the street from this restaurant. I walked over for lunch and was happy to see a decent salad bar. I HEART salad bars. And they have a soup bar which was really good. I got an all-you-can-eat salad/soup bar for only $5.99 and it came with these little yummy dough balls they called "scones". They were more like doughnuts served with honey butter and they were YUM!! My whole meal, with a soda, was under $9. For a Los Angeles girl, this is like a bargain basement super discount deal price. I was VERY happy with the food and prices. I didn't order "regular" food from the menu, and maybe it is unremarkable like the other reviews say. Now, the real poop: I'm only giving 3 stars because the service was pretty lame. I had to stand and wait a few minutes before the host came to seat me and the restaurant wasn't busy. I arrived after major lunch rush - around 1:30pm. My server seemed really blah and hating her job and could care less about earning a tip. She didn't smile, wasn't pleasant, etc. It took a long time for me to get my bill when I was done. So that was lame. Overall, loved my lunch, didn't love the restaurant. I'm still going back for lunch today though because I don't have a car and it's convenient to my hotel.
(3)
none y.
Awesome Food!!! Lobster bisque, Lobster Alfredo...TO DIE FOR!!! I went there Saturday night, I made reservations and passed the 1 hour wait line (BIG THUMBS UP TO RESERVATIONS!!!) I had a glass of the "Menage a Trois " red wine, I could not believe the great taste of that wine! It floored me! Anyway, we hat the Lobster bisque soup, I could not believe it was just part of the meal, tasty like no other, with giant chunks of lobster! My wife had the Lobster Alfredo, same as the soup, more lobster than you can shake a stick at. I had the prime rib, I have to admin, it was not the best. I love my prime rib with the horseradish sauce on it, not au jus. This came swimming in au jus, literally swimming. That might be great for some people, just not my taste. All in all, we will go back again and again, just not for the prime rib.
(5)
Kris B.
We have been to Jakers a number of times, always with a professional and friendly greeting and good friendly service. We have loved our food selections-- the ribs are yummy, really good salads, nice beverage selection and always well made and presented. They can be pricey, but portions are a good size to plan on taking half home for another night, and they also run some great specials and happy hours.
(4)
Steve M.
Generic stuff. Unimpressive wait staff and unremarkable food. I don't know how this local guy managed to give his restaurant a "chain" feel but its a real shame. I would have given this only 2 stars if it had not been for the Idaho Statesman advertisement. Kind of makes me want to go back just out of principle....
(3)
Ben W.
One of the best prime rib dips (french dip) in the valley. They also have good fries and the little complimentary scones are very tasty. I've also tried their ribs and they were very good as well.
(4)
Hope R.
Jakers is good for sandwiches, pastas, chicken and steak. Lobster is good and affordable when they have it. Great buffets for New Years and Christmas.
(4)
Joanne K.
very impressed .. nice selection .. very diverse menu .. something for everyone .. we were are party of 7 .. felt comfortable .. lots of space .. excellant service .. great speed of service .. big portions .. would most definitely return .. mahalo!
I've been to Jakers many times but I haven't strayed from getting the French Dip sandwich. With all but one experience, the meal turned out very well and I cleaned my plate. The scones are also super tasty. Have to hold back from eating other dinner guests' share. My friend loves their potato soup (that's saying a lot because she makes amazing potato soup).
(3)
Phillip D.
I am from Texas, so I love a good Chicken Fried Steak. Problem is that so far, I have yet to find one in the Boise area. When I brought my family here. I saw a Chicken Fried Steak (CFS) on the menu, so I thought, why not try it. You never know, right? The steak came out and I could tell right away, that it was not a real Texas style CFS, but I tried to keep an open mind. I did not take long for my open mind to close up. I could see the grease swimming on the top of the steak. Still, I wanted to believe that it was possible to northerners to cook a CFS. I was not going to give up just yet. A good CFS should have a very crispy coating on it just like Fried Chicken, and it should not be greasy. I have talked to a lot of places on this and so many of them say that its not possible to fry without being greasy. I tell each that this is because they dont know what they are doing. It is certainly possible to fry without the food being greasy. You just have to know what you are doing. The coating on this CFS was was soggy and it looked awful. The gravy was not a good flour gravy, but it off color of white like they used way too much grease to make it. Some of the CFS meat was tender, as it should be. But about 1/4 of the meat was so tough, I had to spit it out. The flavor of the CFS was pretty non-existant. The bottom line here is that Jakers has no clue how to fry. I had the same bad experience with their Steak Fingers. On a scale of 1 -10, I give it a -2. If I were to judge it based on a real Texas Chicken Fried Steak, I would give is a -5. On the upside, I tried some of my daughters Sirlion steak and it was good. I would say it was as good or better than the one had Texas Roadhouse. Of course here, the sirloin steak is quite a bit more expensive that Roadhouse. So, If you have been searching all over Boise for a good CFS like me, dont waste your time with this one.
(1)
Christina F.
Clean restaurant good service but honestly not anything exceptional especially for the price not my cup of tea but my date took me there so I guess free food and good conversion made it OK.
(2)
Jessica C.
Great Lobster!! Great Wine!!! Our waiter was wonderful and even brought a snack tray of veggies for the kids.
(5)
Taylor P.
Perfect Cedar Plank Salmon, service was amazing and the ambiance was awesome. What a perfect yummy welcome to Idaho!!
(5)
Sherry S.
We walked in here during a Friday happy hour and sat ourselves down at the bar stools. We JUST got in after driving 7 hours and were thirsty and hungry. Our bartender was wonderful from the start. They were really swamped but she took the time to tell us what the happy hour was all about. She was patient with our special needs when it came time to place our drink and food order. She followed all special instructions and even told us to order an item that was less expensive and we would not be sorry. On top of that she brought us over some of their honey rolls right out of the oven. Our salads were amazing, huge, fresh, and tasty. We ordered the crab and avocado salads. They've got tons of dressings that they make and she suggested miso vinaigrette and so glad she did as it was perfect on the salads. It was Jake and you know I mean it when I say that!
This was our first time to Jakers. My husband and I came in for lunch. First decor....not over the top but cozy. Our server was excellent, his name was Justin. He explained everything to us and was right on point at the right times. Second...food. I had the French dip sandwich. It was one of the best I have ever had. My husband had the prime rib and believe me he is picky....and has has over 30 yrs experience in the restaurant business. He loved it!! Third...desert YUMMMMM cheesecake!!!! Ok....we are new to the area and have tried many local restaurants so far. We will be regulars.
(5)
JoAn E.
I have been to Jaker's many times but have never written a review. It is really an unremarkable restaurant but I have a few things that I enjoy like the salad bar which is why I come back every so often. Last Friday evening my son and I decided to go for a late dinner. We got there 15 minutes before late night happy hour. The host seemed really insistent on us seating ourselves at the bar lounge. When saw the high tables I said I would rather a regular table but again he said that the seats were comfortable so I figured okay maybe we will get better service there an agreed. Unfortunately that did not turn out to be the case. It would be 10 minutes before a server would come and ask us if anyone had helped us. When I said no she said she would be right back with menus and water. It would be another 10 minutes before a different server would come by with menus. It was okay because other than being hungry I was not in a hurry and was really waiting for happy hour to start. So $3 off Tapas menu we decided to order from it during happy hour. We got a garden salad which was basic but good. We also ordered the calamari, baked potato and the prime rib sliders. The calamari was terrible...tasted mushy like they were not fully cooked but over fried and full of grease. The baked potato was good but average. The prime sliders were delicious and melted in your mouth. I would get that again but that is how all the food is here either a hit or miss. Through out all of this our server was AWOL. We needed a bit more ranch for our salads so got tired of waiting and just went to the salad bar for more dressing. Little things like that. We had to get a different server to let her know that we were interested in dessert. She asked what we wanted (we had no dessert menus) and my son requested an Oreo milkshake. When our regular server brought the shake he said it was quite a production to find Oreos to make the shake. I didn't know if that was supposed to make us feel good or bad? We were appreciative regardless and the shake actually tasted pretty good. I wish I could give Jaker's more stars but 3 stars is how I left feeling for the price, service and food quality. You just either make your peace with it or you don't.
(3)
Lee L.
MERIDIAN, ID: Jakers is an institution in this part of Idaho. Just a terrific all-around restaurant that delights the senses. The ambience is fancier than a neighborhood grill but not stuffy, ideal for a business meeting or a casual night out. They have amazing scones that come with every meal. FOOD Lobster Avocado Sandwich (5 stars); This sandwich rocked. Spicy queso, lobster, and generous portions of avocado atop Texas toast. Drunken Noodles (4 stars): Good, flavorful noodles with a sweetish sauce. Burgers (4 stars): They are good restaurant style burgers, served up big and a little dry.
(4)
Shea M.
We ate here tonight with a party of 30. Matt was our waiter. He was absolutely outstanding. He was quick on refills, polite, and knowledgable. He and the cooks had our food out in a timely fashion and the food is always delicious. I will always highly recommend them any time to anyone. We go there regularly just my husband and I so we knew they would be amazing. So happy with how it all went. Thanks Matt and Jakers staff!!! We had a great 100th birthday celebration. Ps love your new patio seating area! Such a necessary add on.
(5)
Bethany B.
Most disgusting place I've ever ate at in my life (no joke). Not ONE thing tasted good on anyone's plate. I can't believe we had to pay for that garbage of a meal.
(1)
Sarah M.
After a 20 minute wait and 3 waitresses that helped literally every table around us, i had to go to the hostess station to ask for a waitress... To which a waitress not so happily came over another 5 minutes later, and blamed it on the hostess, instead of a hello or good evening. It wasn't even busy... I've been really excited to try this place, but was not impressed. Felt like a burden to the staff, had to ask for the lemons 4 times for my salmon, by the time i got t, my salmon was cold... And that was only the beginning. Didn't offer to compensate for anything, not hospitable... Won't go again. Very disappointed.
(1)
Christopher S.
First time at Jakers was a Friday evening with the girlfriend. The food was pretty dang good. Prime rib was cooked exactly how we asked (rare-Med rare) and the prime rib sandwich was great as well. The au jus was probably among the saltiest I've ever had. For what you're paying I could see getting a little more soup or side. Service wasn't bad. Overall pretty good experience.
(4)
David B.
The food was amazing, so they get 5 stars for the food!!! We came for the Mother$$$ Day Brunch, very disappointed, the buffet was 90% seafood. The only non seafood items where Prime Rib (amazing), potatoes au gratin (good), & salad bar (fair). Lot's of seafood my wife loved. Service was poor and lay out of buffet was very bad, no flow, people bumping into to each other. Bottom line great food just wish I would have come on a different day.
(3)
Jill L.
Wow!! This was our first time at Jakers. Good happy hour beer prices and discounted appetizers, can't beat that. The reason I gave this 5 stars is for the delicious French dip - soooo delicious. We had good service as well. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Christina M.
I was in town for a baby shower-i went there around 1.00pm, the last day of my trip i had lunch with a friend, she suggested them, we both had the salad bar, $9.99 which had a great variety of fruit, spinach, romaine,shrimp, chicken breast, strawberries. i also had a big huge glass of raspberry ice tea with berries in it :) the rest of my group arrived to Jakers during Happy Hour and were very pleased with the variety on the menu. They ordered several items on the menu. then shared them,The delivery of each item was quick and the portions for a happy hour item was really good. they reported that they wish they had known about it earlier in the trip. my daughter,that loves in the area couldn't believe how reasonable it was, her hubby takes her there and dinner for 2 always runs over a $100 with drinks. Areas for improvement : have the soup and salad together in one place, or consider serving the soup via the wait staff. We were not asked for refills on the drinks even once. Wiping down the table is nice,but please dry it too! Didn't like putting my new Coach fabric purse or phone down on the wet surface. offer sugar or honey with unsweetened teas, my only choice was artificial sweetener
(4)
Jaylene G.
I LOVE Jakers! So does my entire family! It is a great treat every time we go! The service is awesome and the food outstanding! I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Sandra C.
We arrived to Jakers during Happy Hour and I was very pleased with the variety on the menu. We ordered several items on the menu. The delivery of each item was quick and the portions for a happy hour item was really good. We got full eating from the happy hour menu. The staff was very friendly and attentive, clean restaurant...I had a feeling of wanting to return the next day but we were departing Idaho.
(4)
Mandee R.
Went here last Friday for dinner with friends. Food is sub par. Do not order the steak and lobster for their special for the month of February! Total Joke! The best thing about this place is their darn rolls they serve. Those were pretty good I'd have to admit. Service was also good and they were really busy.
(2)
Jodi S.
This is now my new favorite happy hour! It is very clean, great service, excellent food, and wonderful prices. They have happy hour every day and always at the bar top. It's a great place to take the whole family or to go watch a game. I highly recommend Jakers!!!
(5)
Joy S.
Came in to have dinner and was seated and waited 15 minutes and no one even came by to ask us for a drink order. Decided to be fair and set a timer for 2 minutes to see if anyone would even acknowledge us. Nope! They seemed properly staffed but obviously totally disorganized. We left without ordering and they even thanked us on our way out! What a waste of time!
(1)
Tony H.
This place gets worse and worse everytime I go there. I go out to Meridian for business and have frequented this place numerous times. First time was amazing. Second time (next day) was OK. Then the rest was just blah. Not worth the money they charge for sure. One memorable time, I waited over an hour for my salad. And my party's steak was unseasoned and well done (asked for medium rare). Never going back. Too many other places to go.
(2)
Timmy B.
The service my girlfriend and I got was excellent, very friendly, polite and had a great sense of humor. We received our food really quick. We were in and out in about an hour and a half which was faster than I expected. I ordered a rare steak, and received a perfectly cooked rare steak, warm and juicy that literally melted in my mouth. With a excellent seer on the outside. My baked potato was delicious. The calamari I had was very delicious as well. It is a bit spendy In my opinion but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend this restaurant. And will be going back.
(5)
Matthew M.
Their French dip is what I will measure all French dips against for life. The prime rib was tender, juicy and melted in my mouth. The scones to start the meal with a honey butter was amazing and then I can a chocolate brownie a la mode that was also ridiculously good. My server, Tasha, was an excellent server. Great experience.
(5)
Laura S.
The Gorgonzola fries are fantastic! Would order then again in a heartbeat. Nice atmosphere and the staff was great!
(5)
Candace M.
Jakers can be hit or miss depending on what you order. If you order correctly.... woo hoo! I've been about 5 times, here are my recommendations: Mango Lemonade Tender Steak Bites (I dream about these! So yummy) Evil Jungle Thai Steak Salad Side salads - Iceberg wedge and chopped bleu are SOOOOOOOO good. Almond-crusted Chicken Ribeye Steak Skip the Prime Rib and the Ahi Tuna. Show up between 4-6 pm and you can enjoy 1/2 price appetizers.
(3)
Zack A.
Went in for Sunday brunch buffet and at $15 a person will not be returning. The French Toast was burned the cooks came and looked at it about 4 times, hmmm wonder why no ones eating it? The omelet was ok bit greasy though. Much rather go to C barrel way better food for way less. Servers seemed to be playing around over heard the hostess say to our waiter he was disgusting.
(1)
Kevin H.
Sometimes when life throws you a lemon, you make lemon aid. Some other times, you just walk away and never look back. Close the chapter and move on -- Jakers is like this fo rme: I want to forget all about the horrible experience I had there with my family. Too bad, becasue I've always thought "I should eat there someday becasue it looks like a classy joint" .. but words can't even begin to describe the disappointment I had with the food and the service. Well one does come to mind, and I've already said it above: horrible. Never going back, never looking back ..............
(1)
Robert B.
Good place for a business lunch. Salad bar and soup bar is a plus.
(4)
Doug T.
The service was pretty good, maybe even excellent. The food, however, was mediocre at best. The place was packed the night we went so I figured the food must be awesome, but it was disappointing. We won't be back...sorry Jake.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes
Jacob L.
Feels like a hometown family restaurant. Great food! A little more than I was expecting to spend but still good.
(4)Melissa R.
We stopped in Meridian while on a road trip and decided to try out Jakers. It was the first and will be the last time that I dine there. The entire experience was a disaster from the start. There were some good aspects but the negatives completely outweighed the positive. First, we had a three year old with us and when trying to decide what to choose for her, I asked the server if the Mac & Cheese was from Kraft. She assured me it wasn't from Kraft and made fresh in house...what we received - Kraft Mac & Cheese. Okay, it's fine if they serve kraft, but it would prefer honesty as I would have simply chosen something else off the menu. Second, I asked for garlic fries and was served regular fries. Service was so incredibly slow, even though it was a slow night, that they ended up fixing the fries after everyone had eaten. We also asked if the lemonades had free refills and the server said yes - and we received the ticket with the refills charged. It was fixed...but it took some time. When we ordered drinks, we asked for water and it never came until we reminded her. We ordered a small scoop of ice cream for our toddler for dessert and waited thirty minutes until she came by and told us goodnight. We reminded her about the dessert and it turns out the ticket never printed. Seriously it was one thing after another. My husband did like the "evil Thai salad" and I liked the burger; however, in all honesty it was just okay. The food was "ok" and super overpriced! When visiting Boise again, we will not be dining here again.
(2)Joe G.
Wonderful food and amazing service. We will definitely be back and for sure spread the word. Thank you
(5)Ruby R.
The moon shone bright on that November eve, it all happened upon a Tuesday. Barbara says, "Shall we try Jakers?" "Sure!" I replied. Upon entrance the air felt an uncomfortable cold. The young hostess notified us of a twenty minute wait so we decided to endure. We then Noticed several empty tables available. I figured they were reserved. Twenty minutes later we were notified of a vacancy and we're led to a large area containing at least ten vacant tables. I soon deducted that the ink embedded in my skin accompanied by a sweet mullet had placed us away from the general public. We can't recall what Barbara ordered as it proved extremely forgettable. I got some southwest burger that featured mostly pickled ingredients which rendered the entire experience into a vinegar soaked nightmare. Needless to say, we will not be returning. The only reason I gave it two stars is due to the waiter, Paul, I believe was his name.
(2)Mike R.
Great place for a late night snack. Always happy hour, and their happy hour menu is really good ( except maybe the oddly pre shaped calamari ). Good drinks, great salad bar, and a very upscale decor. Dinner menu is good also.
(4)Larry E.
Stopped in for a quick lunch. They had their buffet up and running, but decided against it. Was just looking for something light. Really nothing light on the menu, at least light in Senior citizen terms. Ended up having the finger steak and my wife had a salad. Both were okay, but not what we were looking for. Can't fault them, rating comes from our needs not their service. Did have their Bloody Mary bar - neat idea!
(3)K J.
Worst mojitos ever......pure club soda with one shredded up mint leaf inside. We should have sent them back, but politely tried choking them down instead. My trout was extremely dry and chicken parm mediocre at best. Staff is friendly, but I wouldn't go here again.
(2)Cory P.
This place is great, great then they bomb and do something stupid like run out of their tasty bread and or another staple entree food.i like jakers,i want to live jakers but dang if our bad experiences out way are good ones
(3)George J.
Quality food & reasonable prices. Bleu chop salad w/entree is fantastic if you love bleu cheese
(5)Brian H.
This place seems to have an identity crisis. The presence of TV's showing ESPN around the entire restaurant doesn't gel with the swankier decor. Is Jakers supposed to be fine dining or a sports bar? By trying to do both, you get neither to me. Our server Phil was fantastic. I chatted with my dinner date for a long time before we ended up ordering, but we were never pushed or hurried despite the restaurant being packed. He had a keener eye than most on when he should and shouldn't approach our table. Funny, gracious-- this was some of the best service I've had in Boise. Unfortunately my food was overpriced mediocrity, and that's an automatic two stars from me. The proprietor from one of my favorite places to eat at in Boise says Jakers is in his top 3 in the valley, so I went based on his recommendation. He told me you can't go wrong with the beef or salmon there. But Jakers was pushing a Lobster Fest that week, and I got sucked into that. I opted for lobster ravioli with some lobster bisque. The bisque had a nice chunk of lobster in it but the soup was unremarkable. The lobster filling in the ravioli was lacking, and the dense cream sauce that accompanied it overpowered what little of the lobster I could actually taste. The asparagus that came with it were small and mushy like they had come from out of a can. Even if they didn't, they weren't prepared well. Definitely not worth the $19 I was charged. Shoulda gone with the beef. It's conceivable I may come back for it unless the Double R Ranch beef they use can be found somewhere over-the-counter in town. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Response to owner's comments below: Your response is appreciated (sadly not too many owners take the time to respond). However the proprietor that I mentioned above no longer recommends your establishment after having a couple subpar experiences there with the beef after I had posted my review. Given the prices of the entrees, returning to Jakers is a risk I'm no longer willing to take. Give Phil a raise though.
(2)Kent G.
Although I have had one or two mediocre experiences (OK, one very bad one) overall my lunch experiences are great with dinner not so much. The more crowded the place is the slower the service but the food is just great. I had the Turkey Swiss sandwich today and it was awesome. The service was great today as well. Over all it is a place worth going to. If you ever have a bad experience ask for the owner/manager and she will make sure you're taken care of.
(4)Shellby R.
i dont know what the other reviewers were smokin but this place rocks. the food was phenomenal and the service was excellent. good salad bar and really good entree salads, fresh ingredients friendly staff. the waiter even saw that i had swiped my husbands lemon and put in in my coke when he brought my refill there was another lemon! we had the lobster mac n cheese, the evil thai beef salad (actual name) and the advocado and crab salad. everything was superb!
(5)Dubya R.
Bad enough that their food is generic pub grub, but then there's this (posted to FB by a friend of mine). Don't know about you, but it sure makes me not want to give them a dime of my money: Jakers (of Meridian) took out a full page ad in the Idaho Statesman (which must have cost a pretty penny). It reads: "Thanks to Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, our Federal Legislator, and especially Barney Frank, home equity, IRA, and 401k values are depressed. So here's what we've done for those who have been affected by reduced asset values....." It then goes on to describe their menu and prices. And is signed by Jake.
(1)Liz H.
Always enjoy going for the happy hour food and drinks
(4)Beauford W.
If you don't think there enough Applebees and TGI Fridays in this town this might be your place. There's really nothing special about Jakers Bar and Grill. The old Jakers on Park Center Pond seemed to be more of a steak and prime rib restaurant. I had a hard time deciphering the theme of the new Jakers. Is it Asian fusion with mid-western comfort food? Whatever it is there is one thing for certain.. Old people love Jakers! When you walk in you can't help but notice the number of blue and grey haired people. (I have quite a bit of gray. Hence the 3 stars) I had the chicken lettuce wraps. It wasn't terrible or memorable. I followed up my wraps with their prime rib. It was decent but somewhere between integrating the Asian fling, the fiesta enchilads, and the Maui mahi surf tacos, Jakers lost it's edge. They used to be a top notch steak house. Now, I lament to say it, they've become like Fridays. Fufu drinks, jack of all cuisines and master of none. This town deserves a dedicated steak house. I don't want to have to drive down to Chandlers and plop down 60 bucks every time I have a craving for a decent steak.
(3)Amy A.
I am in Meridian performing (I'm a comedian, not a stripper) at the Bull's Head Pub down the street from this restaurant. I walked over for lunch and was happy to see a decent salad bar. I HEART salad bars. And they have a soup bar which was really good. I got an all-you-can-eat salad/soup bar for only $5.99 and it came with these little yummy dough balls they called "scones". They were more like doughnuts served with honey butter and they were YUM!! My whole meal, with a soda, was under $9. For a Los Angeles girl, this is like a bargain basement super discount deal price. I was VERY happy with the food and prices. I didn't order "regular" food from the menu, and maybe it is unremarkable like the other reviews say. Now, the real poop: I'm only giving 3 stars because the service was pretty lame. I had to stand and wait a few minutes before the host came to seat me and the restaurant wasn't busy. I arrived after major lunch rush - around 1:30pm. My server seemed really blah and hating her job and could care less about earning a tip. She didn't smile, wasn't pleasant, etc. It took a long time for me to get my bill when I was done. So that was lame. Overall, loved my lunch, didn't love the restaurant. I'm still going back for lunch today though because I don't have a car and it's convenient to my hotel.
(3)none y.
Awesome Food!!! Lobster bisque, Lobster Alfredo...TO DIE FOR!!! I went there Saturday night, I made reservations and passed the 1 hour wait line (BIG THUMBS UP TO RESERVATIONS!!!) I had a glass of the "Menage a Trois " red wine, I could not believe the great taste of that wine! It floored me! Anyway, we hat the Lobster bisque soup, I could not believe it was just part of the meal, tasty like no other, with giant chunks of lobster! My wife had the Lobster Alfredo, same as the soup, more lobster than you can shake a stick at. I had the prime rib, I have to admin, it was not the best. I love my prime rib with the horseradish sauce on it, not au jus. This came swimming in au jus, literally swimming. That might be great for some people, just not my taste. All in all, we will go back again and again, just not for the prime rib.
(5)Kris B.
We have been to Jakers a number of times, always with a professional and friendly greeting and good friendly service. We have loved our food selections-- the ribs are yummy, really good salads, nice beverage selection and always well made and presented. They can be pricey, but portions are a good size to plan on taking half home for another night, and they also run some great specials and happy hours.
(4)Steve M.
Generic stuff. Unimpressive wait staff and unremarkable food. I don't know how this local guy managed to give his restaurant a "chain" feel but its a real shame. I would have given this only 2 stars if it had not been for the Idaho Statesman advertisement. Kind of makes me want to go back just out of principle....
(3)Ben W.
One of the best prime rib dips (french dip) in the valley. They also have good fries and the little complimentary scones are very tasty. I've also tried their ribs and they were very good as well.
(4)Hope R.
Jakers is good for sandwiches, pastas, chicken and steak. Lobster is good and affordable when they have it. Great buffets for New Years and Christmas.
(4)Joanne K.
very impressed .. nice selection .. very diverse menu .. something for everyone .. we were are party of 7 .. felt comfortable .. lots of space .. excellant service .. great speed of service .. big portions .. would most definitely return .. mahalo!
(4)Courtney E.
Our new favorite brunch spot! We took our crew to recover from a long day at the Boise Music Festival... You can't go wrong with Brunch, Bloody Marys & Bottomless mimosas right? They have several buffets... Breakfast, dessert, Bloody Mary, salad. Sooo many things to choose from. The breakfast buffet offered delicious mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, hash browns, omelets, French toast, waffles, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, fresh sliced ham. The desserts were probably my favorite part right up there with bottomless mimosas for $4. So many choices from chocolate silk pie, cheesecake, creme brûlée, etc. I'm also a fan of salad so I loved the salad bar. They have four different salad choices as well as loaded baked potato salad, fresh fruit, yogurt, etc and of course homemade croutons. For being a warm day (already sweating by 11am) it was the perfect place to cool off and unwind. Our server Kayla was a rockstar and kept the mimosas flowing! It is quiet and cool so our group of friends were the loudest bunch in there.
(4)Mary S.
I've been to Jakers many times but I haven't strayed from getting the French Dip sandwich. With all but one experience, the meal turned out very well and I cleaned my plate. The scones are also super tasty. Have to hold back from eating other dinner guests' share. My friend loves their potato soup (that's saying a lot because she makes amazing potato soup).
(3)Phillip D.
I am from Texas, so I love a good Chicken Fried Steak. Problem is that so far, I have yet to find one in the Boise area. When I brought my family here. I saw a Chicken Fried Steak (CFS) on the menu, so I thought, why not try it. You never know, right? The steak came out and I could tell right away, that it was not a real Texas style CFS, but I tried to keep an open mind. I did not take long for my open mind to close up. I could see the grease swimming on the top of the steak. Still, I wanted to believe that it was possible to northerners to cook a CFS. I was not going to give up just yet. A good CFS should have a very crispy coating on it just like Fried Chicken, and it should not be greasy. I have talked to a lot of places on this and so many of them say that its not possible to fry without being greasy. I tell each that this is because they dont know what they are doing. It is certainly possible to fry without the food being greasy. You just have to know what you are doing. The coating on this CFS was was soggy and it looked awful. The gravy was not a good flour gravy, but it off color of white like they used way too much grease to make it. Some of the CFS meat was tender, as it should be. But about 1/4 of the meat was so tough, I had to spit it out. The flavor of the CFS was pretty non-existant. The bottom line here is that Jakers has no clue how to fry. I had the same bad experience with their Steak Fingers. On a scale of 1 -10, I give it a -2. If I were to judge it based on a real Texas Chicken Fried Steak, I would give is a -5. On the upside, I tried some of my daughters Sirlion steak and it was good. I would say it was as good or better than the one had Texas Roadhouse. Of course here, the sirloin steak is quite a bit more expensive that Roadhouse. So, If you have been searching all over Boise for a good CFS like me, dont waste your time with this one.
(1)Christina F.
Clean restaurant good service but honestly not anything exceptional especially for the price not my cup of tea but my date took me there so I guess free food and good conversion made it OK.
(2)Jessica C.
Great Lobster!! Great Wine!!! Our waiter was wonderful and even brought a snack tray of veggies for the kids.
(5)Taylor P.
Perfect Cedar Plank Salmon, service was amazing and the ambiance was awesome. What a perfect yummy welcome to Idaho!!
(5)Sherry S.
We walked in here during a Friday happy hour and sat ourselves down at the bar stools. We JUST got in after driving 7 hours and were thirsty and hungry. Our bartender was wonderful from the start. They were really swamped but she took the time to tell us what the happy hour was all about. She was patient with our special needs when it came time to place our drink and food order. She followed all special instructions and even told us to order an item that was less expensive and we would not be sorry. On top of that she brought us over some of their honey rolls right out of the oven. Our salads were amazing, huge, fresh, and tasty. We ordered the crab and avocado salads. They've got tons of dressings that they make and she suggested miso vinaigrette and so glad she did as it was perfect on the salads. It was Jake and you know I mean it when I say that!
(5)Mary A.
It's time for me to do an updated review on Jaker's. We hadn't been here for awhile and as it was on our way to another event last evening we decided to give them a try. We were joined with two friends and the dining experience was good for all. Having smaller appetites we all opted for the Smart Plate Menu. This is a really good bargain because the portions are smaller but also include a soup/salad plus a choice of a side. There are many choices including trout, calves liver and onions, sirloin steak, braised short ribs with mashed potatoes, almond coated chicken breast, and salmon. Quite an assortment for a limited menu and something for everyone. Two of our party chose almond crusted chicken breast----very tender, tasty, with a crunchy coating. I had trout---it's offered two ways---chargrilled with lemon caper butter or pan fried. I chose the grilled, lemon caper version and found it to be nicely cooked and flavored. One in our group had liver and onions---two large thin slices served with crispy bacon, sautéed onions, and two large onion rings on the side. He said it was tender, very tasty and ended up taking some home there was so much! For dessert, my husband and I shared a white brownie sundae, topped with caramel and chocolate sauces. It was good, but a bit sweet. Our friends split the silky chocolate cake and said it was delicious. The four of us expressed disappointment that Jakers no longer offers Mud Pie, which was this incredibly delicious coffee ice cream in a chocolate crust, drizzled with chocolate syrup! Maybe one of these days we'll convince them to bring it back!
(4)Donnell T.
This was our first time to Jakers. My husband and I came in for lunch. First decor....not over the top but cozy. Our server was excellent, his name was Justin. He explained everything to us and was right on point at the right times. Second...food. I had the French dip sandwich. It was one of the best I have ever had. My husband had the prime rib and believe me he is picky....and has has over 30 yrs experience in the restaurant business. He loved it!! Third...desert YUMMMMM cheesecake!!!! Ok....we are new to the area and have tried many local restaurants so far. We will be regulars.
(5)JoAn E.
I have been to Jaker's many times but have never written a review. It is really an unremarkable restaurant but I have a few things that I enjoy like the salad bar which is why I come back every so often. Last Friday evening my son and I decided to go for a late dinner. We got there 15 minutes before late night happy hour. The host seemed really insistent on us seating ourselves at the bar lounge. When saw the high tables I said I would rather a regular table but again he said that the seats were comfortable so I figured okay maybe we will get better service there an agreed. Unfortunately that did not turn out to be the case. It would be 10 minutes before a server would come and ask us if anyone had helped us. When I said no she said she would be right back with menus and water. It would be another 10 minutes before a different server would come by with menus. It was okay because other than being hungry I was not in a hurry and was really waiting for happy hour to start. So $3 off Tapas menu we decided to order from it during happy hour. We got a garden salad which was basic but good. We also ordered the calamari, baked potato and the prime rib sliders. The calamari was terrible...tasted mushy like they were not fully cooked but over fried and full of grease. The baked potato was good but average. The prime sliders were delicious and melted in your mouth. I would get that again but that is how all the food is here either a hit or miss. Through out all of this our server was AWOL. We needed a bit more ranch for our salads so got tired of waiting and just went to the salad bar for more dressing. Little things like that. We had to get a different server to let her know that we were interested in dessert. She asked what we wanted (we had no dessert menus) and my son requested an Oreo milkshake. When our regular server brought the shake he said it was quite a production to find Oreos to make the shake. I didn't know if that was supposed to make us feel good or bad? We were appreciative regardless and the shake actually tasted pretty good. I wish I could give Jaker's more stars but 3 stars is how I left feeling for the price, service and food quality. You just either make your peace with it or you don't.
(3)Lee L.
MERIDIAN, ID: Jakers is an institution in this part of Idaho. Just a terrific all-around restaurant that delights the senses. The ambience is fancier than a neighborhood grill but not stuffy, ideal for a business meeting or a casual night out. They have amazing scones that come with every meal. FOOD Lobster Avocado Sandwich (5 stars); This sandwich rocked. Spicy queso, lobster, and generous portions of avocado atop Texas toast. Drunken Noodles (4 stars): Good, flavorful noodles with a sweetish sauce. Burgers (4 stars): They are good restaurant style burgers, served up big and a little dry.
(4)Shea M.
We ate here tonight with a party of 30. Matt was our waiter. He was absolutely outstanding. He was quick on refills, polite, and knowledgable. He and the cooks had our food out in a timely fashion and the food is always delicious. I will always highly recommend them any time to anyone. We go there regularly just my husband and I so we knew they would be amazing. So happy with how it all went. Thanks Matt and Jakers staff!!! We had a great 100th birthday celebration. Ps love your new patio seating area! Such a necessary add on.
(5)Bethany B.
Most disgusting place I've ever ate at in my life (no joke). Not ONE thing tasted good on anyone's plate. I can't believe we had to pay for that garbage of a meal.
(1)Sarah M.
After a 20 minute wait and 3 waitresses that helped literally every table around us, i had to go to the hostess station to ask for a waitress... To which a waitress not so happily came over another 5 minutes later, and blamed it on the hostess, instead of a hello or good evening. It wasn't even busy... I've been really excited to try this place, but was not impressed. Felt like a burden to the staff, had to ask for the lemons 4 times for my salmon, by the time i got t, my salmon was cold... And that was only the beginning. Didn't offer to compensate for anything, not hospitable... Won't go again. Very disappointed.
(1)Christopher S.
First time at Jakers was a Friday evening with the girlfriend. The food was pretty dang good. Prime rib was cooked exactly how we asked (rare-Med rare) and the prime rib sandwich was great as well. The au jus was probably among the saltiest I've ever had. For what you're paying I could see getting a little more soup or side. Service wasn't bad. Overall pretty good experience.
(4)David B.
The food was amazing, so they get 5 stars for the food!!! We came for the Mother$$$ Day Brunch, very disappointed, the buffet was 90% seafood. The only non seafood items where Prime Rib (amazing), potatoes au gratin (good), & salad bar (fair). Lot's of seafood my wife loved. Service was poor and lay out of buffet was very bad, no flow, people bumping into to each other. Bottom line great food just wish I would have come on a different day.
(3)Jill L.
Wow!! This was our first time at Jakers. Good happy hour beer prices and discounted appetizers, can't beat that. The reason I gave this 5 stars is for the delicious French dip - soooo delicious. We had good service as well. We will definitely be back.
(5)Christina M.
I was in town for a baby shower-i went there around 1.00pm, the last day of my trip i had lunch with a friend, she suggested them, we both had the salad bar, $9.99 which had a great variety of fruit, spinach, romaine,shrimp, chicken breast, strawberries. i also had a big huge glass of raspberry ice tea with berries in it :) the rest of my group arrived to Jakers during Happy Hour and were very pleased with the variety on the menu. They ordered several items on the menu. then shared them,The delivery of each item was quick and the portions for a happy hour item was really good. they reported that they wish they had known about it earlier in the trip. my daughter,that loves in the area couldn't believe how reasonable it was, her hubby takes her there and dinner for 2 always runs over a $100 with drinks. Areas for improvement : have the soup and salad together in one place, or consider serving the soup via the wait staff. We were not asked for refills on the drinks even once. Wiping down the table is nice,but please dry it too! Didn't like putting my new Coach fabric purse or phone down on the wet surface. offer sugar or honey with unsweetened teas, my only choice was artificial sweetener
(4)Jaylene G.
I LOVE Jakers! So does my entire family! It is a great treat every time we go! The service is awesome and the food outstanding! I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Sandra C.
We arrived to Jakers during Happy Hour and I was very pleased with the variety on the menu. We ordered several items on the menu. The delivery of each item was quick and the portions for a happy hour item was really good. We got full eating from the happy hour menu. The staff was very friendly and attentive, clean restaurant...I had a feeling of wanting to return the next day but we were departing Idaho.
(4)Mandee R.
Went here last Friday for dinner with friends. Food is sub par. Do not order the steak and lobster for their special for the month of February! Total Joke! The best thing about this place is their darn rolls they serve. Those were pretty good I'd have to admit. Service was also good and they were really busy.
(2)Jodi S.
This is now my new favorite happy hour! It is very clean, great service, excellent food, and wonderful prices. They have happy hour every day and always at the bar top. It's a great place to take the whole family or to go watch a game. I highly recommend Jakers!!!
(5)Joy S.
Came in to have dinner and was seated and waited 15 minutes and no one even came by to ask us for a drink order. Decided to be fair and set a timer for 2 minutes to see if anyone would even acknowledge us. Nope! They seemed properly staffed but obviously totally disorganized. We left without ordering and they even thanked us on our way out! What a waste of time!
(1)Tony H.
This place gets worse and worse everytime I go there. I go out to Meridian for business and have frequented this place numerous times. First time was amazing. Second time (next day) was OK. Then the rest was just blah. Not worth the money they charge for sure. One memorable time, I waited over an hour for my salad. And my party's steak was unseasoned and well done (asked for medium rare). Never going back. Too many other places to go.
(2)Timmy B.
The service my girlfriend and I got was excellent, very friendly, polite and had a great sense of humor. We received our food really quick. We were in and out in about an hour and a half which was faster than I expected. I ordered a rare steak, and received a perfectly cooked rare steak, warm and juicy that literally melted in my mouth. With a excellent seer on the outside. My baked potato was delicious. The calamari I had was very delicious as well. It is a bit spendy In my opinion but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend this restaurant. And will be going back.
(5)Matthew M.
Their French dip is what I will measure all French dips against for life. The prime rib was tender, juicy and melted in my mouth. The scones to start the meal with a honey butter was amazing and then I can a chocolate brownie a la mode that was also ridiculously good. My server, Tasha, was an excellent server. Great experience.
(5)Laura S.
The Gorgonzola fries are fantastic! Would order then again in a heartbeat. Nice atmosphere and the staff was great!
(5)Candace M.
Jakers can be hit or miss depending on what you order. If you order correctly.... woo hoo! I've been about 5 times, here are my recommendations: Mango Lemonade Tender Steak Bites (I dream about these! So yummy) Evil Jungle Thai Steak Salad Side salads - Iceberg wedge and chopped bleu are SOOOOOOOO good. Almond-crusted Chicken Ribeye Steak Skip the Prime Rib and the Ahi Tuna. Show up between 4-6 pm and you can enjoy 1/2 price appetizers.
(3)Zack A.
Went in for Sunday brunch buffet and at $15 a person will not be returning. The French Toast was burned the cooks came and looked at it about 4 times, hmmm wonder why no ones eating it? The omelet was ok bit greasy though. Much rather go to C barrel way better food for way less. Servers seemed to be playing around over heard the hostess say to our waiter he was disgusting.
(1)Kevin H.
Sometimes when life throws you a lemon, you make lemon aid. Some other times, you just walk away and never look back. Close the chapter and move on -- Jakers is like this fo rme: I want to forget all about the horrible experience I had there with my family. Too bad, becasue I've always thought "I should eat there someday becasue it looks like a classy joint" .. but words can't even begin to describe the disappointment I had with the food and the service. Well one does come to mind, and I've already said it above: horrible. Never going back, never looking back ..............
(1)Robert B.
Good place for a business lunch. Salad bar and soup bar is a plus.
(4)Doug T.
The service was pretty good, maybe even excellent. The food, however, was mediocre at best. The place was packed the night we went so I figured the food must be awesome, but it was disappointing. We won't be back...sorry Jake.
(2)