Jimmy’s Charhouse
2290 Point Blvd, Elgin, IL, 60123
Jimmy’s Charhouse Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Elgin for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Elgin for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Elgin for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2290 Point Blvd
Elgin, IL, 60123 - Phone (847) 783-0200
- Website https://www.jimmyscharhouseelgin.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Jeff S.
Stay away! Service was slow. Even the salad dressing was watery.
(1)Scott S.
Attended Jimmys on Christmas Eve. The place was very busy but from the moment we sat down until the moment we left we were very pleased. The food was great. I had one of my favorites the half Grecian chicken with the loaded mash. Everyone in our party of 8 ordered something different and we were all pleased. The service was great and the staff did a great job even though it was busy. We will be back!
(4)Kamilah S.
My boyfriend and I came here for an early lunch, 11:51am on a Saturday, to be exact and had excellent food. I had the French onion soup, excellent and not to many onions, how I like my French onion soup to be, the lamb chops cooked to medium with an fantastic lemon, garlic, olive oil, parsley sauce spooned over the chops and I had my boyfriends salad. My boyfriend had the steak cooked to medium, it was not seasoned to his liking, but after he put some A1 sauce over the steak it tasted better. Chris, our waiter, was great, very attentive. If we are ever in the area again, we will definitely come back.
(5)Julio O.
The bread tastes bad. So I read the reviews on yelp and saw how bad they were and decided to leave.
(2)Czarina M.
Since we moved to Elgin a few years ago I've always wanted to try their catering. For Mother's Day, there was really no time and we didn't really want to pay for an elaborate feast. So with a small budget in mind, we called Jimmy's Charhouse and ordered one big pan of shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, 10 big pork chops, 2 roasted chicken and a slab of ribs. The price was a little under $110.00. They also have us 3 sides, lots of breads and soup. It was AMAZING!! There were at least 10 of us Nd still had plenty of leftovers. Totally worth it!! Highly recommended
(5)Derek R.
I can cook better at home. I had the "Angus" New York Strip which for starters came blackened. I know it is a "charhouse" but cut me some slack here. It was close to medium rare like I ordered it, well at least on one side of the steak. The other side was medium. I wanted to grab the salt and pepper shakers from my table and hand them to the cooks in the back so they can season future steaks before they are cooked. Three steaks at my table and that was the story for every one, uneven cook and bare meat thrown on a grill with no seasoning. Someone else ordered the medallions. They came out with this weird crust baked on top which was very unappetizing and came with the wrong side. Two of the medallions were cooked med rare like ordered and one was well done. These are 3 oz each this is not hard! When this was brought to the attention of the waitress she took them back and brought instead a New York Strip which was requested. Her reason for the bad cook on the steaks was that the wrong order was brought out hence the wrong sides. I was wondering why someone would order 2 med rare and one well done. The garlic mashed potatoes that had been ordered at the table were fine, could have used a little more seasoning but better flavor than anything else I tasted. Someone got the regular backed potato which came with no salt or butter and just a side of sour cream. It looked like a giant overcooked peanut with a little cut on the top. I got the loaded which was a bigger mistake than the regular. It came with bacon bits on the inside and a greasy, melted glob of cheese oozing out from top. It was disgusting. I tried to pull most of the solid piece of grease from the top and it took most of the bacon bits with it. For my veggies I got two slices of dry carrot and a piece of broccoli that had more stem than floret. They tried to charge us for the steak order we sent back but we corrected them and they fixed it. Take 2 seconds to check the accuracy of a ticket before you deliver it to your customer, especially when something has been changed! I ALMOST FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS! The place was covered, and I mean covered in dust. Any surface that wasn't normally used was layered. There was a ledge dividing booths right next to me at about forehead level and it was covered in dust as well as the knick knacks sitting on it. They have little displays on a higher level with old-timey stuff and from 50 ft away I could see the layers of dust on them. Dust so was so undisturbed for so long that there was no more room for it on things and was hanging off the sides. How does a manager, employee, anyone walk around there and not see this?! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING, CLEAN YOUR DINING ROOM! I don't know how anybody can go in there more than once, there is not one good thing about this place This place wins my worst steakhouse in Illinois award.
(1)Jackie N.
Very disappointing. Had steak and lobster; the filet was tough without much flavor, and the lobster had no flavor either. As I've seen other reviewers state "they need to season their food". The only good thing was the bread and chicken rice soup, which was served before the meal. My husband's steak was tough, and he said it tasted like shoe leather.
(1)Liz W.
Terrible dining experience. Waiter was rushing. Temperature was hot and humid. When I asked to cook it off, the request was scoffed at. When I complained to the hostess, she rolled her eyes and said a disingenuous, "sorry". Most unpleasant hour and a half. Will try very hard to never go back
(1)Lucas C.
Food- started off with the saganaki? Which was a little on the greasy side, but not bad. French onion soup was next which is baked to yummy perfection. For dinner I had the special a bacon wrapped filet and lobster. This was disappointing. After one bite of the filet I realized it was gone, because it was bite size! It was a good one bite, but obviously that was not enough for dinner. The lobster tail had a whopping 3 WHOLE BITES, but it was chewy and lacked flavor. The mashed potatoes were not fresh and tasted terrible. The one golden dish was the half chicken Grecian style. Seasoned perfectly and so juicy and tender. Service- our waiter was really weird and kept filling our ordered drinks up with water.
(3)Joe B.
For the price...head over to Nikos or Houlihans down the road (Randall) you will be MUCH happier with the flavors of the food. Porterhouse was very uneventful and flavorless for the price. Blue cheese on the salad was watery and no crumbles. Mashed potatoes and vegetables were very good. Staff was friendly but not attentive. This was our first time at Jimmys Charhouse and will be our last as well which is disappointing as we were looking for a solid steak place close to the highway.
(2)Charlotte W.
Twice I have been to Jimmy's Charhouse. First time was on a date with my boyfriend and the food was good; second time was as a large party after his sister's graduation for dinner and I wasn't as pleased. Jimmy's is located off of Randall Rd in Elgin by the entrance/exit ramp of 90 near the Country Inn and Suites. The atmosphere of the place is fine and clean, nothing extraordinary but not unpleasant. There is a bar portion, dining room, and spaces for large parties. The staff seems to be generally good, I have no complaints there. They bring you some bread prior to your meal which is nice if you're starving! Bathrooms have always been clean when I went as well. First time I went I ordered some sort of half roasted chicken with some lemon sauce and potatoes and veggies-- I loved it! Great flavor and large portion so I took some home. Boyfriend got a steak cooked to order (medium-rare) which was also good and large enough for leftovers. Second time I ordered the chicken marsala and was pretty disappointed with the quality. The flavor wasn't bad, I may just be a snob when it comes to this dish, but the texture of the sauce seemed almost grainy curdled in consistency with a heaping side of rice and some veggies. I want mine rich, smooth, bursting with flavor and heaped with mushrooms. Sigh... I don't know if it can just be contributed to the size of our party but I think not. At the hour we came the restaurant was not at all busy yet they hadn't already closed either. Also this time around my boyfriend's steak was overcooked-- Medium-well instead of medium-rare. Prices aren't bad, affordable if you're wanting steak without paying an arm and a leg. I would call this a casual restaurant with an affordable nicer menu. I didn't appreciate the barbaric family we had sitting next to us on my first visit, but otherwise it has a civilized clientele. It isn't a favorite of mine, but I wouldn't write it off as a bad option. I've had a good experience and a meh one, I'd be willing to try it again.
(3)Michele S.
Long story short, service is good, erring on the side of crazy in that they are really wanting to take your plate.....really hustling to take your plate. They seem like they are PUSHING you out the door the min you sit down, this on a Monday at 515 and only half full. The minute we put our fork down, "Do you want a box?"....no, just taking a break/drink/talking! So, super attentive. Food is plain. Veggies, plain. Baked Potato, sour cream or butter only. French onion soup...had no cheese, and was super salty. Surf and turf was bland. Shrimp dejoghne was good, but saganaki was not. Pork chops looked ok. As I understand,the greek chicken is where its at. Walking out, the host didn't bother to say goodbye.
(1)Kim C.
If I could give this place a negative I would. Made reservations but yet had to wait 45 minutes for our table. Then it was just one disaster after another. Food was cold. Manage did not have the nerve to come over and talk to us.
(1)Yen L.
We were off to a bit of a rough start with Jimmy's. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait, and it was over 45 minutes before they actually called us. It was having a gift card that kept us hanging in there for the extra 15 or so minutes. But once we were seated, Mitch, our server, was fantastic. The place was packed and he was clearly running around a lot, but we never felt pressured by him to hurry up with our orders, and he took time to make sure he had our orders correct before placing them. He was attentive to our bread basket and drinks, and was so very prompt and pleasant. I wasn't too impressed with the food. The bread was nice and warm, and the shrimp tortilla soup was flavorful. Sadly, my medium-rare prime rib had the color of medium-rare, but the chew of medium. The vegetables were cooked pretty well, still had nice crunch, and my fries were good. My husband's NY strip steak was done right and tasted great. We ordered the apple crisp for dessert and it was respectable. I'd say the redeeming factor for our visit was Mitch's service. I couldn't have asked for a better server in the midst of such a busy Saturday night rush. He made up for the lack of consideration at the hostess station.
(3)Kevin L.
Awful. With a capital A. Steak was tiny and chewy. Chicken Parm was tasteless and pasta was like Chef Boyrdee
(1)Michelle T.
Had my rehearsal dinner here 9-5-14 because it was right next to my hotel and my last experience a while ago wasn't bad. However not this time. The service was horrible. There was only one waitress for 30 people. I could hardly find her to get drinks. The food really wasn't all that good. I had the steak and a lot of my guests had the burgers. Very disappointing experience. I will not go back nor do I recommend this place for an event or dinning out in general. For all the money that was spent you are better off going to apple bees.
(1)Ikaika P.
I had the porterhouse for $30, it was plain. I had to season it and request steak sauce. Ordered it medium well but it was only medium well next to the bone, should've went medium. Otherwise uneventful.
(2)Jerry G.
I've been here a number of times in the past, have since moved out of state, and thought that I would meet my cousin here for dinner while in the area. She had a commitment that night at 7:30 so we eat an earlier dinner than normal. The bar seemed to be full of a regular after work crowd. The restaurant was pretty empty at first but by the time we left (6:30pm) it was starting to fill up. My cousin and I shared a shrimp appetizer called the Mediterranean Shrimp. Shrimp sauteed in olive oil and fresh garlic, with tomatoes and bell peppers, topped with feta and fontanella cheese and then baked. I remembered more of a sharper cheese taste which complemented the garlic better. But it was still decent. My cousin had a chopped salad and I had the twin filet Mignon steaks medium rare with a side of mixed vegetables. I'm starting to hit a hot streak because the steak was cooked just right, medium rare. The atmosphere here is comfortable. The tables seem close but not so close that you could participate in your neighbors conversation if you wanted to. All in all, it was a pleasant experience. The waiter brought my drink while I waited for my cousin to show up and did enough fly bys to catch us when we wanted some more water or another drink. He did his job. All in all, I'd go back when in the area again.
(4)NomNomNom H.
Called the restaurant and told them about the sub-par food. Talked to Scott and he apologized and said the next meal is on him. Finally, was in that area and redeemed my meal. Was afraid that I would be giving a hard time, but Scott remembered and meal was on him. Great customer service, but the food was disappointing. Tried chicken dishes because the steak were unsatisfactory. Chicken was dried and had no flavor. I think there's a shortage of seasoning at the restaurant. Will not be going back again. Really did want to like the place though.
(2)Layda C.
Was here when they opened - not impressed. Decided to try them again (10yrs later?) Greek chicken cabob appetizer was awesome -garlic and oregano dressing over tender moist chicken! Wow! Twin fillet entre was perfectly cooked and good quality - chopped salad entre was so large we took half home . Staff was stretched, restaurant was very crowded - Saturday night before mother's day - but they hustled to keep on top of everything. Overall a good experience. We shouldn't have waited so long to return! We will be back!
(4)Mike M.
Stopped in for a steak sandwich and they were out of skirt steak. Was actually hoping for a ribeye sandwich. Ask the bartender (lauren) to check and she never came back. When she came back several minutes later, she asked me if I was ready to order. I politely said, I was waiting for you to check on the sandwich. She totally looked like I had never spoken to her before. The other bartender was equally overwhelmed and told me he would follow up on her (but never did). This was a Monday night & not very busy. I was here a few years ago and had a not so great experience, but thought I would give another try. Oh well... Won't be back a third time.
(1)Rick B.
My son and I were here in town for a college visit. The Hotel we stayed at recommended Jimmy's so you think it must be OK since their reputation is on the line as well. I'll make this quick. The great bread they talk about, we never got any. The Wings we ordered as an appetizer we some of the worst ever. I wasn't that hungry so instead of getting a full blown meal, I ordered the French Onion Soup and Crap Cakes from the appetizer menu. The French Onion soup had some strange spice that I could not identify but it made it sweet...YUK! I sent it back! When I got the Crab Cakes they looked good. They were crispy on the outside but as soon as I took a bite it was like putting baby food in my mouth. They were HORRIBLE; not to mention very salty. As an avid viewer of Restaurant Impossible, I was picturing Chef Robert Irvine spitting it out. I'm not that bold. I just ate the outside crispy part and the waitress never asked. If my Son chooses to go to college here, I won't be spending any time at Jimmy's!
(1)Joe H.
3.5 stars to be fair. Outstanding customer service. Sub par food. I will give them the benefit of the doubt since it was Easter and fairly busy. Broad selection and a nice little wine list.
(3)Kari D.
I ordered the ribeye. It came blackened but was rare. The rare part was ok. Very chewy lots of fat. Very hard to cut. No seasoning. Shook the whole table trying to cut it. Potato was warm/cold. The veggies carrots and broccoli mushy. I was so surprised at this meal. I have been here many times and enjoyed my meal. Wasted my money this time.
(1)Katy K.
Portions are huge here! I've never had a bad meal either. The atmosphere is nice. I really enjoying coming here for dinner & would recommend it to friends/family.
(4)Kaye D.
The restaurant itself is kind of dim and it made me feel as if it were evening/night time outside already even though we came in for lunch. Our server introduced himself and brought our drink order. It took a good 10-15 minutes before we flagged him down to order lunch. The lunch menu was quite expansive, but we decided on a Mushroom Swiss Burger - medium well (Charbroiled Burgers) and Chicken Marsala (Jimmy's Favorites). The Chicken Marsala was good, not dry. If I were in the mood for that dish, I would have eaten more off my husband's plate. The burger was juicy, but not enough for it to run down my hands. The proportion of burger and fries was right (but I'm not the biggest fries fan). The husband ate most of them. Once again, our server disappeared somewhere and had to be flagged down to get our check. The restaurant was slowing down from the lunch rush when we came in and glancing around the restaurant, the customers were businessmen (likely out for lunch) and older people (correct terminology?). I'm not going out of the way to eat here. If we're around the area, it'll at least be on the list of food possibilities.
(3)Sunny M.
We went to Jimmy's Charhouse for Thanksgiving dinner as it was one of the only places open in the area. I was not at all happy with our experience-- the food was awful. We're not a very picky bunch, we eat most anything and are pretty tolerant and forgiving when it comes to quality. The Service: The place was packed being a holiday. It was hectic and the wait staff was doing their best to keep up-- I think they did a great job. Nothing but thumbs up for the great servers and staff. Pre-meal: The warm bread and butter was pretty good so I thought we were off to a great start. My fiancé ordered a Manhattan and it was the first drink in his 45 years he's ever had to return. It was undrinkable. We think the bartender mixed up the ratio of vermouth to rye (My uncle had a bourbon Manhattan and it was just as bad) and used (waaayyyy too much) dry vermouth instead of sweet. Also no bitters. It was AWFUL! But okay fine, he returned it immediately and wasn't charged. Things happen. No biggie, right? Unfortunately, the poor quality didn't end there. Appetizers: We ordered the calamari (average), saganaki (average) and stuffed mushrooms (I couldn't stand them. The stuffing was awful.). Overall not the best I've ever had but not horrible either. At this point I figured liking 2 out of 3 appetizers wasn't bad and maybe it was just me who didn't like the stuffed mushrooms. Soup & Salad: I ordered a salad instead of soup and regretted my decision as soon as I tasted both. The baked French onion soup was pretty good. The salad was AWFUL. How the heck do you mess up a salad!? I didn't think it was possible. The lettuce wasn't the freshest but it was the blue cheese dressing that was nearly inedible. It was almost as if they mixed up random things from the kitchen (I don't know-- sour cream, some spices, a little ranch, something that looks a little lumpy, etc.) and just decided to call it blue cheese dressing. Seriously. What??! No clue what it really was. The main course: I ordered the prime sirloin & lobster tail. The steak was as bland as all get-out. My 18yo daughter had the 10oz sirloin also and turned to me after her first few bites and said "welp, this is the most expensive TV dinner steak I've ever had!" She hit the nail on the head. It tasted like a frozen steak and even the grill marks were suspiciously perfect. Like the grill-marks on Banquet Salisbury Steaks. The term "shoe leather" was tossed the table around a number of times. I had to drown it in A1 (which I usually never use) to get it down. Even then I only ate about ¼ of it. The prices are nearly on par with some of the better Chicago steak houses like Wildfire. I wasn't expecting Wildfire quality out of this place but I wasn't expecting something this bad either. I was expecting something along the lines of Outback Steakhouse quality food. Generally, you can still find decent quality steaks at chain restaurants. You know, not steak that makes you quiver with delight (like Wildfire or Flemming's) but steak that makes you go "Hmm, that was pretty good. Hey, for a chain place at least it wasn't awful, right?! *chuckle chuckle*" Lobster was okaaaayyy. Just okaaaayyy. It was overdone and lacking flavor. But compared to the lackluster, shoe leather steak, it was heaven. The (real) mashed potatoes were good. I wished I had just ordered a huge plate of those. Other orders at our table were turkey club sandwich (good), halibut (decent), special turkey holiday dinner (good), roasted pork (Pork ok, stuffing awful according to the person who ordered it--both exceptionally salty. Mashed potatoes decent.). I will not be back to Jimmy's Charhouse. If I somehow find myself there forced against my will, I'll order a less expensive dish like a sandwich. It was frankly too much money for subpar food. Paying $26 for something that tasted like TV dinner is ridiculous. Also, when I go out to eat at a place like this I'd like to at least have one thing that I take a bite of that makes me say to who I'm with, "mmmm, that's really good. Hey, here-- you've got to try a bite." Nothing I had at Jimmy's made me do that. Nothing even close. Even the good things I call good simply because they were "not bad." Walking away thinking "I didn't quite have to spit out any of the food" isn't the mark of a good restaurant. I would have been happier at a TGI Friday's (which is saying a lot).
(1)Sherry B.
Moved into to area recently. I was looking forward to coming here for awhile. Started off really great. Appetizer excellent. Spinach artichoke dip delicious, soup fantastic (creamy chicken wild rice). Ribs I ordered were completely discussing. The sole of my shoe would have been easier to chew. I ordered a full slab thinking I can give my hubby some. We didn't even eat half the slab. The waiter said. "Yeah they are really tough i thought you know that" really?? Cause thinking you are a charhouse you could cook a slab of ribs. And he didn't take anything off the bill. My husband ordered the lobster tail & sirloin special. The lobster was very chewy and fishy. No butter sauce with it either. My daughters Patty melt was the best meal we received last night. Very disappointed. I guess we are gonna go to famous Dave's next time. It'll be editable and cheaper.
(3)Jennifer L.
I came here with a big group of girls on a Thursday evening. Our waitress seemed nice and the service was good. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and the pacing of the meal seemed good. It took a little bit from the salads to the main course and a little bit for my water refill to be brought out. The location is OK - right off the highway, but seemed a bit dark, dreary and depressing on the inside. I will have to revise my review if I come again because I was feeling sick to my stomach and couldn't touch my delicious looking BLT.
(3)Kelsey A.
Overall my date and I had a great meal here. Our waitress, Denise, was one of the best the both of us have ever had at a restaurant. She was very accommodating and friendly. We ordered the saganaki as an appetizer and it was amazing. The only downfall was how long we waited for our meals. It was at least 45 minutes. However, the kitchen accidentally made me a smaller steak than what I ordered, and before I had time to notice it, Denise said they were already making me a second additional steak at no cost. Excellent customer service. I would have just like to have been informed that some of the things she suggested (garlic mashed potatoes) costs extra because we didn't know until we got our check. Otherwise, we had a great experience and will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)Amanda B.
My boyfriend and I ate here tonight and got Dan; a young brown haired guy as our server. He was by far the best server we have had at any place in a long time. Super informative and attentive. And nice. We willmost definitely be coming back here and requesting dan as our server. Food and drinks were amazing too. 5 stars to this place.
(5)Geoff R.
Was with a group of 23 for dinner. The service was good, the bar was great, the prices are reasonable and if you stay in the hotel next door you get 10% off your bill. I will be going back. The bread is hot and fresh.
(3)Jennifer S.
Why? Why oh why aren't you as good as you used to be, Jimmy's Charhouse? Such a disappointment. We have been coming to Jimmy's for quite a few years. Mom lives a few miles west. Dad lives a few miles north. It seems to be a popular destination for family dinner. We even threw my mom's surprise 50th birthday party here in their banquet room a couple years ago. Mom had a gift certificate. It was grandma's birthday and she wanted to go to Jimmy's for lunch. So, four of us headed out for a rare mid-week lunch. We arrived after 1pm, so the restaurant wasn't too crowded. We ordered some crab cakes to start. Four greasy, very fishy smelling, very flat cakes arrived. Grandma had one bite and declared that she couldn't eat them. My mom won't waste food, so she ate hers. My son is my 15 year old eating machine, so he ate his and then complained about the smell. I nibbled and debated sending them back, but the waiter didn't return until the entrees arrived, so I kept my mouth shut. So there is no confusion, I won't order those again. There is always warm Italian bread (and plenty of butter) on the table. It's crusty and delicious. Come for the free bread. Stay for...the free bread. Grandma has been eating like a bird lately, so she chose baked French onion soup as her meal. The cheese was loaded on there, but it was not baked nicely. She pulled the whole blob off, put it on her plate and worked on the soup. Which was cold. :-( Now, to put this in perspective...grandma does NOT complain. She'll eat expired yogurt. She freezes meat and yells at us if we throw it away it it's been around for a couple years. The crab cake and the soup really must not have been any good. Or she absolutely would have eaten both. My son ordered an Italian chicken sandwich. He ate half and most of his French fries. He thought the sandwich was bland...so says the eating machine. Mom and I ordered the same burger. Hers with cheese and mine without. I opted for mashed potatoes. Mom went for rice pilaf. My burger was ordered as medium. It arrived completely well done. No waiter = no complaining from me. I literally would have needed to get up and wander around to find someone to complain to. Mom's burger was cooked medium rare as requested. My mashed potatoes were plentiful, but I only nibbled seeing as I had a hankering for a juicy burger. Carry out containers arrived to bring home food to some of the family dogs (not mine, but mom and grandma's). The check didn't take long and I was grateful because I was ready to leave. Side story? I was really annoyed with our server. He really gave me the impression that he didn't want to be there. I mention this to my mom (the one who won't waste food) and she comes up with the reason as to why he doesn't want to be here. Basically, she blames the crappy economy and that he was probably a business exec somewhere at sometime, lost his job and is forced to be a server to support his family. *sigh* Now, I am forced to tip this guy well when he didn't earn it out of guilt for my mom's made up, but could be true, story. So I overtipped him. But I won't be back unless forced by the other side of the family.
(2)Rick M.
Had an experience a few years ago that drove me away. Went back at the request of one of my kids for their Birthday. Been back twice since and they have won me back. Rare!
(5)Sarah B.
I was in town for a business trip and took one of my customers out to dinner here. It was very disappointing. One person in our party had the liver and it was grossly overcooked. It was ordered medium and came to the table charred. Two people in our party had the surf and turf. The steak was OK - nothing great but at least it was cooked properly for both of us. The lobster tail, however, was not. It was way overcooked and appeared that it had sat under the heat lamp for too long. It was tougher than the steak. The veggies served on the side of the meals were obviously from frozen and tasteless. top it all off, the service was VERY slow. Our server was nice enough but inattentive. We waited a very long time to receive the bill and then waited another long while for him to bring the slip back for signing. it weren't for the 10% off with showing our hotel room keys and the fact that my employer was paying for the meal, I would have raised hell for the quality of the service and meal. Big bill for crummy service and crappy food.
(1)Kathy K.
I ordered a chef's special tonight, a blue cheese steak. When it arrived, I tried 8 different points on the steak from which to slice it, and couldn't get my knife through one of them because of the strands of grizzle. I returned it, and to my complete amazement, it was RETURNED to the table a couple of minutes later with the following comment from the line chief: they're all going to be like that, so just eat it. We've come to Jimmy's a lot. My husband loves their fettucini alfredo, and I'm pretty sure it's the best thing on their menu, because it is generously sized and well made. I've never been a huge fan of the restaurant, but the place is always crowded, so I thought maybe I had just had some bad luck getting a good steak. But this was the first time a steak was un-cuttable, and it was the first time I ever returned anything there. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I expect such an utter lack of customer service or respect for my business as I did tonight. We won't be back. Apparently, they do enough business that the loss of a customer doesn't affect them.
(1)Mari W.
I've been going to jimmys charhouse for years. Greek chicken and garlic mashed potatoes are my favorite! The ribs are equally as good. I can't say anything bad about this place...plus their family meal prices and selection is spot on!! Love this place!!! It's not really fancy, they've got great food, prices are good...just try it!
(5)Charles S.
Good, not great, food. My top sirloin steak was a good cut. It was a nice medium-rare, as ordered. But it had ZERO seasoning and no crust to speak of. This preparation was in no way on par with a great steakhouse. The service was impeccable, with our wait staff in near-constant contact with us, but not in an overbearing and annoying way. There was condensation dripping from the A/C system so there were drops of water landing on me, on my table and in my food. UNcool. The prices are good here, but the food is just okay. I could 2 or 3 stars here, but since Jimmy's is trying to be a high-end establishment, I'll rate it accordingly.
(2)Joe S.
Warm bread to start was fantastic. NY Strip was delicious and our waitress Denise was very pleasant. Great overall experience.
(4)Richard R.
I guess it took three years for me to forget why we stopped coming here, but it didn't take long to remember after yesterday's visit. I don't know what has happened to a place we used to enjoy coming to, we waited 35 minutes from the time our waiter took our drink order to be asked about any kind of food order, so I made sure to order both appetizer's and entree's at the same time as our waiter who was non-existent for most of the evening seemed to be in a rush once he did stop by to visit.. My son and I both ordered the same thing, the surf and turf special...which was a six ounce lobster tail and filet. When our food did arrive (quickly I might add) we both thought we had bit in to some shell, but when we turned our lobster tails over we noticed they were burnt...how do you burn a lobster tail? So we moved on to the filet...we both quit eating after sawing through the huge veins of fat in the middle of both of them, not to mention that there was absolutely no seasoning? I honestly think they may have been frozen. Luckily my Dad and stepdad both enjoyed their meals so it wasn't a total loss for Father's Day. I personally won't be back.
(2)Maurissa S.
I don't know why this place has such a low rating. My fiance and I came here for dinner and both agreed that our food was delicious. He got the New York strip medium rare and I got the top sirloin well done. Both of our steaks were prepared perfectly. We also liked our soups and the wait staff was attentive and friendly. The only issue I did have was with the rice pilaf because it wasn't a pilaf; it was Spanish rice, but was still good. Also, I loved the decor! It felt like we were sitting on a veranda.
(4)Rosie F.
This place is by far the saddest excuse for a steak house I have ever seen. My first clue should have been that we were seated immediately at 7pm on a Friday night with no reservations. The service was horrible - our server had no business waiting tables, maybe it was his first day? Totally incompetent, overwhelmed, flustered and bumbling. I felt bad for him. After we paid, he brought the wrong credit card back to the table. Someone else got my credit card!?!? Great. The food may be worth two stars - I will say the goat cheese appetizer was really good. There was an upcharge for a Caesar salad, my prime rib came out well done, my baked potato tasted like it was rotten and our drinks were never refilled. My husband ordered the pork and chicken combo and said it was average at best. As we were leaving, nobody thanked us or said goodbye, I guess the three people standing there were too busy talking amongst themselves to acknowledge us. This was a complete waste of $70. I will never go back, even if the next meal was on the house. Keep it.
(1)Jen R.
Highly disappointed when I took my hubby here for Father's Day. Couldn't cook our steaks. Ordered medium because we like them pink, moist, but my steak was served on plate of blood. Hubby's too. I knew before I cut into it that it was rare. Rare doesn't describe it, still mooing would be more appropriate. There was hardly a sear, even the ends were dripping blood. Sent them back to be refired. One (the thicker cut) was returned still rare, not even medium-rare. Mine had an uneven cook-the ends well done, no pink, and center still bloody. We expected a charhouse to know how to cook a steak, especially for the price. Won't return.
(2)Ben Y.
I'd give 4 stars for my medium rare rib eye & an excellent tiramisu (as good as maggianos) And 2 stars for a pretty crumby wait staff. Bad first impression.
(3)Gerhard G.
I was last night the first time ad Jimmy's char house and I have to say it was excellent . I have had liver and it was outstanding with bacon and onions . Also the waiter was very polite he didn't came every second and ask if everything is ok. Good job.
(5)Amber S.
I was so excited to find this location after the one in Naperville closed about 4 years ago. I remember eating amazing food for a decent price and returning many times. I guess these locations are not related in any way. My husband and I went here for a Sunday lunch date around 2pm. It was dead besides a party going on in a separate room that did not disturb our dining experience. On the plus side, the service was very fast. We ordered right away, our drinks stayed full, and our calamari came at lightning speed. The calamari was really good. I also asked for some marinara sauce to dip it in, very good as well. The salad didn't seem fresh, and I had to pick out a brown rimmed leaf. I only ate about 10% of it and could not finish after seeing that. My husband ordered a porterhouse medium rare al forno w/ fries. He liked it fine. I ordered the steak and lobster w/ mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were not even warm and neigther of us touched them after the first bite. The lobster tail was rubbery(I had to cut it w/ a steak knife). And my steak tasted very off. I should have sent the whole meal back but the first impression was all I needed. Unfortunately we will not be returning.
(2)Mike C.
This place was average. Went on a Tuesday night and was seated right away. Service was attentive and quick. Ordered the NY Strip, Medium Rare, Salad and the loaded mashed potatoes on a recommendation from my hotel which also got me 10% off. Salad was brought out lightning fast and wasn't bad. I would rather them wait a few minutes so I could at least think some time went in to preparing it. The steak came out was tough and lacked seasoning and had WAY too much "juice" on it. The loaded mashed potatoes which was an upcharge was just mashed potatoes with cheese and bacon mixed in, nothing exceptional. All in all, it was passable, the restaurant on the inside is nice and like I said it was an average experience.
(3)Connie B.
We were there at about 6:30 on saturday night.It was awful!! There was six women,and our waiter was so ignorant we should've left.But stupid us stayed for more ignorance.3 of us were ordering the 'SPECIAL' Prime rib,they were out of it.We weren't told this until after we ordered.6:30 and they are out of it?Then we didn't see our waiter for at least another 10 min.But we did see him waiting on a group of 5 like they were the only people in the place.My steak came and I ordered it med.WELL,it came as bloody as if they threw it on the grill browned it and put it on a dish.We were all disappointed.2 people ordered the pasta with chicken there was 2 pieces of chicken and 2 lbs.of pasta,very bland!The whole experience was awful,and we will never go back!!It was just AWFUL!!
(1)Juice R.
been going there for group lunch for few years now. it's just another local place that i never felt need to review but the latest visit might be last. with a medium group of casually dressed, well behaved business associates walked in with half of us getting wrong order, few burgers tasting like they have been a left over steak in previous lives and wait staff that showed up at the table grand total of 4 times during hour and twenty minutes, and argues against customer when he's filing a complaint with management, then management taking the side of wait staff who's lying to avoid blame, repeat business is hard to give n prior visits, food was okay, service wasn't terrible, always had plenty of seating with cute/rustic looking interior that was decently kept clean..
(2)CheLynn T.
The atmosphere and smell are breath taking. I couldn't wait to try the food!! However, what a disappointment...... the food is DISGUSTING! My husband ordered the French onion soup & his bread was a rock. The waitress said it was suppose to soak!! I ordered the filet mignon & ate 3 bites. I couldn't even stomach it w A1 steak sauce. My mashed potatoes had the grossest bitter taste. It reminded me of what poison would taste like. I traded for my husbands loaded baked potatoe & that was like rubber. It tasted like they baked it, put it in the freezer & nuked it. The cheese on top was hard. It really wasn't loaded with much of anything but rubbery cheese. My husband ordered the London broil & it looked like TV Dinner meat. It was all cooked differently. Very gross food. We still gag when we talk about this place. The manager was nice & gave us free drinks. I just wish I had the money back I spent on this place to go to Outback Steakhouse!!!
(1)Jake C.
Jimmy's gets 5 stars for only Wednesday promo of 1/2 appetizers and $5.00 Martini. Awesome deal. Was even better until the older women bartender cried about making too many different martini's. you could actual get at the time $5 kettle and grey goose vodka. Not anymore but the absolute blue cheese dirty is still worth the $5. Hit the bar area to get this awesome deal!!
(5)Tracy T.
Went to Jimmy's Saturday night. We have been going there for years and have usually enjoyed our meals. Things can sometimes be hit or miss; mainly they tend to over cook everything, including steaks and pork chops. But Saturday, I ordered the chopped salad, which I normally order with no meat and always enjoy, but this time almost all of the lettuce was brown. Kinda gross, so I really didn't enjoy it this time. We also ordered the quesadilla appetizer, which was quite good. But when I pay 10 plus dollars for a salad, the lettuce had better be fresh.
(3)Steve S.
My new bride and I had our wedding and reception at Jimmy's in Elgin in January, 2014. The staff and manager were great to work with and very accommodating. They do not have any sound system in the room, so I had to bring in my own system. They set up the room just like we discussed and they were very professional. We had the buffet of fish, steak, and chicken. We also enjoyed salad, potatoes and vegetables. Everyone I heard from said they loved the food and service. They had to bring out more fish because it was so good. The price was very reasonable and the service was excellent. We've eaten there for holidays in the past years, and have always had good food.
(4)Hiwin C.
Descent food; however, stuffy attitude of personnel. Eaten their multiple times because it's convenient. Not always clean. A bit too dark interior for my taste. Seems like a business lunch place . . . again probably due to location and the limited comparable options in that vicinity.
(2)Ken K.
Possibly the most uneven meal I've ever had.......here's the details: Ambiance - 3 stars - nice enough place, clean, waitress was very nice, but a lot of people there (7PM on a Friday) that probably shouldn't buy green Bananas, but Del Webb next exit over.... Appetizers - 5 Stars - possibly the best Shrimp DeJonge (sp?) I ever had - lots of meaty shrimp in a breading and sauce that was flavorful without being overpowering with garlic Soup Salad - 1 Star - the WORST French onion soup I ever had - tasted like watered down broth - don't think I found an onion in there (and to top it off, paid an extra 2.50 for it) wife's salad was blah with no croutons of any kind. Entrée 1 - Pork Chops - 3 Stars - whole reason we went here was because the Libertyville one had the best port chops I ever had @6 years ago - these were fine - but not memorable Entrée 2 - Filet Trio - 1 Star - sorriest excuse for filets I ever saw - "filets" were no more than inch thick - and blah - $27 bucks for these 3 pieces of meat that tasted like the cheapest $3.99lb steaks at Jewel - topped with sauces to mask their inadequacies - they were so bad, I took a picture (will see if there is a way I can post to Yelp - never took a picture before - but you wouldn't believe how bad they were without seeing picture) So to summarize - we would give it another shot, just for the Shrimp DeJonge - but we'll probably go with a burger next time - this place can't screw up a burger, can they?
(2)Helen L.
We visited Jimmy's on a Friday night at 7:00 PM. It was fairly easy to get reservations so that was a plus for us. We were seated immediately and were surprised the the restaurant was not more crowded. They sat us way in the back of the restaurant, the very last table. We weren't sure why, but we didn't care as long as the food and service was good. Our server showed up right after we sat down, brought us bread and took our drink order. It only took a few minutes for our drinks and by then we were ready to order. I have to say that the pace was just right, we didn't feel rushed nor did we feel like we were waiting long for anything. I had the French Onion Soup, which was very good. I was just finishing my soup when the server brought us our meals. I had the Chicken Artichoke (Sautéed chicken breast, artichoke hearts and lemon butter sauce, served with rice pilaf). The chicken itself was good but sauce and artichokes were a little salty and the rice pilaf was a little undercooked. (I'm not thrilled about hard rice.) My husband had the Prime Top Sirloin, which he said was good and I have to assume that was true because he finished it all. All-in-all, I'd have to say it was okay. Would we go back? It's not on the top of our list, but also not the bottom either.
(3)Jay M.
The steaks are disappointing and lots of Italian food cooked by Mexican chef who puts cumin in everything including the red sauce ruining the dish unless you're Mexican or love cumin. I don't. Based on the quality, it's way overpriced and tha salads suck as well. How do you screw up a salad?
(2)D. V.
They have the best chicken brochettes,so tender and so much flavor. Love the rice too ! We have not been to this location. Our waiter, Jimmy was great ! Great service.
(4)Michael F.
A dinner stop on our long car trip. The hotel next door gave us 10% coupons, and it was nice to just walk over. That said, it was only OK. My medium-rare was more like medium. The potato was not fluffy. The greek salad was not small as advertised, but ok for an iceberg salad. My wife liked her Four Slider special, and kid enjoyed the roast chicken. Service was fairly attentive, but not that well trained. (Hello! Don't parade a bus pan through the dining room and have it hanging over people's tables or food!) (Don't pour my wine glass from my newly opened bottle all the way to the top of the glass!). Our actual server (these last complaints involved other people) was a delight and she made sure little one got her food fast, etc. Definitely busy and loud, but not unpleasant loud. Not a bad choice, and the prices are reasonable. Think they could do a bit better though.
(3)Sara L.
Always come here with my girls or old co workers for a drink to catch up. We normally go to the bar area and hit up the menu there. There normally isn't a wait and half off apps after 4p...sweet! The bartenders are pretty good on keeping your glass full and the food is pretty good. The appetizers they have in the bar are the same as the restaurant and the size large portion.
(3)Dana C.
My fiance and I went here last Friday for a celebratory dinner. The service was excellent (until she brought us the bill) and the food was average. When our server brought our bill, we noticed there was an 18% auto-gratuity added in. The restaurant policy (clearly stated at the bottom of each page of the menu) is that auto-gratuities will be added to parties of 6 or more. We were a party of 2. I can only assume that our server either didn't think we looked the type to tip properly, or was hoping we wouldn't notice the auto-gratuity added in and would tip her twice. What's unfortunate is that our server was excellent and would have received well above the 18% had she not insulted us with the auto-gratuity. We will never eat at this restaurant again, nor will we recommend it to anyone.
(2)John O.
I only had drinks and an appetizer so I don't know how much I'm aloud to write about this establishment. Service was good, drinks were good, the stuffed mushrooms weren't bad, but it is a dark place. Well the bar area was. I may have to go back to give it a real review. That's all for now!
(3)Nikki S.
I went here with some co-workers for lunch and have to say it was average. The steak sandwich I had was a little on the tough side cutting into but everything else we dined on was good.
(3)Kim G.
For what is supposed to be a good steakhouse this is a major miss. My $20 6oz filet was 1/3 the size of what I buy at jewel. When I complained the manager brought over a steak 2X the size of what I was served explaining to me what a 6oz filet looks like. Since I only eat filet - this was insulting. As a matter of fact my friends filet was twice the size of the one they brought me. Drive by...don't waste your money on this place.
(1)Nick M.
It's a meh kind of place. Out with the family for dinner one night and decided on Jimmy's. I Don't normally go for the chain kind of places but Jimmy's had good qualities. Our waitress was perfect, taking care of 6 of the pickiest eaters with ease. I will say I didn't quite understand was the decor of the place, it's a char house but it's designed for an Italian restaurant. My problem with most chains is that packs you in so tightly that your elbow is the persons soup be hide you and it's extremely loud. Surprising enough Jimmy's wasn't too bad, lots of space and I didn't have to yell to talk to the people across the table. The food wasn't anything to rave about but it's nothing to condemn either. Obviously they have terrific burger and steaks, cooked perfectly. The fish wasn't the freshest (at least not to me) and the chicken was a little over grilled. I would recommend staying away from the Shrimp de Jonghe (which I do anyways but even my mother didn't like it and she loves those), it was just nasty. The portions were huge, way too much food but I guess that can be a good thing if you like leftovers. We were all so stuffed that there was no room for desert. I can't say that I would go back but it wasn't a completely awful experience.
(2)A J.
Went with a large group for dinner. Good soup, good potatoes, good salmon (according to my stepmom). Burger, ribs, and pork chops were all hard and overcooked. Master how to cook the meat here & you will definitely do much better!
(2)Jim S.
Good value for the money spent. My wife and I dined there this evening. She had the sirloin steak and lobster, I had a 6oz fillet. Both steaks were very good, and she was pleased with the lobster. We started with the French Onion soup. It was decent, but a bit bland. The cheese topping was very plentiful. The bread was fresh and hot. The steak quality was good, but of course not in the Ruths Chris or Mortons league. Still, better than I expected for the price. I asked for a small side of Fettuccine Alfredo to be subbed for my potato. The serving I received was HUGE. The pasta was pretty good too. In summary, I'd go back if I want steak at a reasonable price.
(3)Doug H.
This place is great. Excellent food and service. Everything was cooked to perfection. We had two young kids who split a meal. The server delivered the food evenly split on two separate plates. The price was a bit high, but you expect to pay more for quality food at an upscale restaurant. This was my third time here, and I will continue to come back.
(5)Karen W.
Service was impeccable even though we had "special" request for our order. Food is awesome & portions are huge when it comes to the pasta! Nothing like warm bread and warm butter too. Can't wait to go back1
(5)Paul K.
Very good martinis an good appetizer specials at the bar. Huge plate of calamari for $4. Now the bad. Steaks are average at best. Got a baked potato full of mold. Wine list leaves A LOT to be desired. Will I go back? Maybe in the winter if they still have the appetizer special at the bar. Will never eat dinner here again.
(2)AF W.
Went with a very large group, steak was good, baked potato so so. Would go back to try with my wife next time in town. Beer was cold, good wait staff.
(3)Susan D.
We haven't been to Jimmy's in a long time so were excited to get back. Only to find that my favorite chicken dish is no longer on the menu and the salads have been downgraded from awesome to really lame. Mine was watery lettuce with not much else to it. We were excited to hear that peppercorn ranch was one of the choices, and our server picked up on that and brought us extra, but it didn't seem much zippier than plain ranch. We did love the warm bread, and our meals were fine. My prime rib was a little pinker than I like and it didn't have a lot of flavor, but it was OK. Our server was very nice and attentive. Kept our drinks full and attended to our needs. But overall things do seem to be going a bit downhill here, with the extra charges for anything "extra" you'd like, to the dining room itself. We usually were seated in a booth, but this time were given a table, which seemed very close to the other tables. Felt like I could look over the shoulder of the diner behind me. Is IS nice of them to offer 10% off if you are staying at the Country Inn next door. That was a nice perk.
(3)E M.
Still a disappointment. The first time two of our seafood combo entrées came with salmon which was never mentioned on the menu. The two ordering these hate salmon and would have never ordered them knowing salmon was included. Sent them back and made new selections which of course meant that the 4 of us couldn't dine together. Most recent visit, the Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup for one guest contained no chicken or rice. Rotisserie Roasted Pork entrée, consisted of 3 VERY thin slices of pork which meant it was dry. The pork was definitely the minor player on the plate, maybe 3 ounces. There were more sliced carrots than pork! The "real" mashed potatoes on another plate were real as they had a huge piece of a halved potato buried in them. NOT smooth and creamy. When the waitress was told about this, she stated it was a potato. Duh! Should I be glad that it was a potato and not some other foreign object? And then she asked if she should bring a replacement. Duh! The experience was ruined. These restaurants really need to pay attention to consistent quality! I doubt that I would give them another chance.
(1)Larry S.
If you take my recommendation and dine here try the steak and lobster for $24.95. This is a meal that I am fond of but rarely order because it is usually priced at far more than I want to pay. Jimmy's offers it for an attractive price. Lobster was a good size and the steak was PRIME top sirloin (butt steak) which is a less expensive but very flavorful steak. My steak was done medium-rare (as ordered).
(4)Madeline D.
Stopped by over the weekend because since moving out here, we have passed by several times. I'm sorry but my Surf & Turf was not all that. The lobster was over done and the char fillet was char and not so tasty. My husband's porterhouse looked like a Denny's steak. Pretty bad after waiting an hour for a table also......
(1)Chris M.
Nice "middle-scale" dining in Elgin. Good selection and solid service. Took my daughter here for lunch and had a strip steak sandwich that was very good and cooked to order. Good variety of daily specials. Their balsamic salad dressing might just be the best I have ever had.
(3)Shuk A.
I have at jimmys 3 times and everytime i have been pleased this is a hidden treasure awesome food and great service. Jimmys is absolutley reasonably priced and you are full by the time you leave there. Pork chops are amazing there rice pilaf tasty and if you just want appetizers there its like ordering a dinner you wont be dissapointed.
(5)Kate C.
Last week we ordered take out. It reminded me that they have really good food here. Also, their take out orders are very reasonable. There is so much food! We have also ate inside the resturant.
(4)Cynthia K.
This was our first visit for a late afternoon weekend. It is dark in here and 30 minutes into our meal they turned the lights down - maybe atmosphere for the senior set? :-) The menu is extensive, but typical chop house offerings. Prices are fine for the large plates of food given. We liked the Italian bread served with plenty of butter. Our dinner salads were the only thumbs down - watery lettuce with just a few shavings of carrot and radish. I had the rotisserie chicken and roast pork with mashed potatoes, walnut stuffing and brocoli and carrots. The meat was prepared nicely - the chicken was not dry, the roast pork was tender. I liked both the stuffing and potatoes. My leftovers were all still tasty the next day. My husband had their BBQ ribs - tender and tangy. We had no room for dessert. Staff was nice enough.
(3)Irene W.
Ordered Top Sirloin dinner medium rare with a baked potato and salad to go. The steak was tendon-y and cooked medium. The baked potato and salad was average. Nothing to write home about. They need to something about the plastic utensils, since it didn't do anything to my steak. I was better off having my steak barbarian-styled. Overall, you're better off traveling further for better steak.
(1)Ryan H.
Wow has this place slipped! I ordered surf and turf. The steak was like shoe leather (ordered med. rare), so much so that I could not even finish it. The lobster tail was flavorless. Iced tea is still weak. Salad was predictably "OK" (how do you mess up a salad?). On the plus side, the free dessert I received (to compensate for the unedible steak) was Tiramisu and it was one of the better ones I have had. I will not be going back to Jimmy's any time soon.
(1)Kristin D.
I have read the reviews below and I never really thought of this as a steakhouse, nor would I order a steak here, but everything else I have eaten (I have been here 20+ times over the years) has been great! And the service is also good. Some of my favorites are the burgers and the greek salad.
(5)Julie P.
I'm not sure what's up with all the negative reviews, as I have eaten here quite a few times and enjoyed it. It's down the street from my office, so very convenient and has a large menu with good specials. I usually get the skirt steak with a horseradish/cheese crust, and it's always really good! The house salad comes with a really garlicky house vinaigrette dressing that might be too much for some but I love it. The stuffed mushroom appetizer is also good.
(3)Carol J.
I've been here a few times, once when my mom was dying so I didn't review it because I thought I might be a little skewed. I went again on Thursday night with my suburban MILFy best friend and I realized, its pretty much the same. A small family owned chain of four or five still kind of has an independent vibe to it. The decor is nothing, looks kind of like someone hit the sale bins at Marshall's and T.J Maxx and slapped it all up on the wall. The menus is pretty expansive with basics and a few specialty items. Wine list is okay. Again, we are dealing with the 'burbs, but I would like to think the restaurant thinks its guests are people with a touch of sophistication. While being seated, after standing in the entry, waiting for the host/manager (whichever) to finish discussing his after work plans with a co worker, another server stopped him (with us in tow) to advise him that "Lucy" was to be seated next. Okay, not my problem who is up in the rotation and really unprofessional on her part. After being seated,we ordered drinks. I ordered Reisling, my friend a martini. The drinks were dropped, mine a turned Chardonnay with a chunk of cork in it that tasted much like what I would imagine a oak barrel to taste like if I licked the inside of it. Fifteen minutes later, another server happened by and happily returned the wine for me. WTF? In all fairness to the server, there was a PITA couple that completely and totally monopolized her. I was amazed at her patience because they were wearing ME out. Anyway, their food came out before our order was even taken. Food was decent, 10 oz Prime strip was on special for $12.95. Not gonna find that at Gibson's anytime soon. With a salad, vegetables and fluffy baked potato. Do I believe it was really Prime? No, but it wasn't bad. Salad was good, ranch dressing was yummy. Crusty, warm bread=awesome. The rest of the menu seemed reasonably priced and from the previous visits , nothing has changed. We checked out the bar area but it really seemed to be full of business travelers and people cheating on their spouses so we took a pass. Better than Outback but its no Gene & Georgetti or Chop House.
(3)Scott S.
My wife and I wanted to try something new for our 12yr anniversary. She was googling steak restaurants and came upon jimmy's charhouse. There are many mixed reviews on this place but we took the chance and tried it. Wow, so good! The food was incredible and price wasn't bad either. We started with a potato skin appetizer. It was perfect! We then got salads which were fantastic! The bread we got was warm and soft. It did dry out a bit but we didn't eat it right away. Then for our entrée. My wife got the pork chops and I had a new York strip steak. All the food was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. There was so much food we couldn't eat it all. Our experience with our server Manny was great! We had fresh drinks and he continually checked on us. All in all jimmy's charhouse did not disappoint!
(5)Ari K.
I don't know what was worse, the service or the meal. Never have I had a steak so dry and flavorless. Seriously, so awful that I created a yelp account just now, at the table to warn people away. Don't do it. Go to Mcdonalds, get a burrito at the gas station, or eat dirt. ANYTHING would be better than coming here.
(1)Dan S.
Disappointing all around. We went there as a group of 9 to celebrate a birthday. My girlfriend and I looked at the menu ahead of time, and were both excited about the sound of their Charhouse burger. To start, the bread was good - served warm. However my mother first sent back a slimy lemon. Then, appetizers were ok. When the main course came out, four of us who ordered the Charhouse burger were all very underwhelmed. The onion strings were skimpy, and the chipotle mayo was not so much an aioli as just a spicy sauce. The first bite was blah. I felt like my burger was made with old meat, and could only eat about half. Curious if the other three who ordered the same thing were enjoying their burgers, I asked. Every one was very unimpressed, and my mother agreed the meat was not fresh. On the other side of the table, my grandmother mentioned her steak was very stringy, and hard to cut. The consensus around the table was that of a disappointing experience, and that we would not return. The experience was clear to me because I could see four examples of the same burger, all unimpressive and nobody enjoying them. I will at least give credit to the server who handled everything well enough.
(2)Richard K.
I havent been here for years....since my last review. I made a point to come back to yelp to let you all know how bad this place was last night. Awful. This place has really went downhill. Never again. Our food was cold, seemed like it was premade and sitting under a heat lamp. Ribs were very dry and chicken was god awful. I will never go back.
(1)Bob L.
After living in the area for 20 years, this was my first time here. I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. The food was good, service was outstanding and you really get a lot for your money! Calimari app was great, steaks were tasty, salads were huge, and the desert was really good. After this meal, I will be back. I was a bit worried as it doesn't get too many stars, not sure why after what I experienced??
(4)Sam S.
P Bad experience, not much choice, small variety of food, one type soup for dinner and is Sunday. The restaurant was better now is only looking good inside we all was very disappointed. Our Sunday dinner was destroyed
(2)Dan S.
Our food was terrible. Saganaki came with no.pita, my caesar was drenched in ranch dressing, yuck! Iceberg, super processed flavorless parm and kraft ranch do not a caesar make. We stopped in before a long drive, should have hit Mc Donalds. I certainly would have enjoyed my meal more
(2)Pedram S.
The absolute worst tasting food I have ever had in my life! There is no flavor in their food whatsoever! We ended up leaving half of our food untouched!
(1)Don D.
Went there last week. Rib & chicken combo was terrible. Portion size was not accurate, ribs were tough and warm at best. Told waiter and he was told by the manager it won't happen next time. I spoke to manager and said I would not return because he did not handle the situation correctly. Don't waste your time going here!
(1)Robert M.
Tried again because friends wanted,2,go. All I can say is how can a steak place have horrible steaks
(1)Dmitry K.
Quick synopsis of our after business meeting dinner: When I've asked for 'Rare', I've got near 'Well Done' gray chunk of meat; Campbell's canned soup would have been better than the one that was offered, which consisted of weak and thin sour-flavored "broth" with few beans free-floating in it. Three slices of boiled carrot and one broccoli was counted as side of vegetables; tomatoes in the salad needed about an extra month on the vine before they could have been considered ripe; service was negligent: when waitress asked how our food was, our response was plain and simple: overcooked! She simply turned and walked away. This place could be used as one of the worst examples of chain restaurants American suburbia can produce. Quality food place it is not. There are plenty of places out there that would be delighted to have your business and offer an actual food in return vs. this place with food-service fare that cooked by somebody who obviously not carrying about food, returning customers or service.
(1)Katy D.
He and I ate there on a Thursday night recently. Mark was our server. The place was clean, the lighting perfect, the hostess friendly. We had a scrumptious goat cheese app. The cocktail was perfect, with a large wedge of lime to garnish! Yummy. I had the grouper (yummy) and he the chopped steak. It is a good price performer. We will go back!
(4)Amanda S.
Jimmy's used to be A LOT better. And I mean A LOT. I went there when I graduated high school for dinner with my family and had a great time and a great meal. That was 5 years ago. I went with my family after graduating college this year and was shocked at how much this place now sucks. The filet had zero taste, it was so dried out and the vegetables that came with it were not very appealing. I also could have broken a tooth on the toasted bread that came with the goat cheese. I don't know what happened but the place is nowhere near as enjoyable as it used to be. The one plus side of this place is that they have some fun and interesting martinis that are very tasty. The service remains mediocre and the ambiance is nice but that's not really all I'm looking for in a chophouse.
(2)jason c.
We went there later on a saturday and also had to wait about 20 min past our reservation. The food was so so, except for the caesar salad which was one of the worst i have had. Overall besides the food be nothing to great the service was bad, it seemed like our server was way overwhelmed and dropped our check down before we even had a chance to ask for coffee or dessert. The place used to hold itself to a higher standard than it does now. not a fan anymore.
(2)Burbalicious X.
I am stumped by all the negative reviews. We had dinner here last night w/friends and thought it was quite good (especially for the price). Service was good and once we made it clear we were there to stay for a while, they did not rush us. Good menu selection - something for everyone. Prices were very reasonable. I had a 6oz filet for $20 that inclued salad and potato. And the meat was quite good and cooked as requested.
(4)M.K. O.
I don't usually have high expectations for chain restaurants, so to be disappointed with already low expectations really takes some effort. The food here was remarkably mediocre, but the service was awful. Several dishes that we didn't order were brought to the table and then sat there for ~10 minutes while we flagged down our waitress to tell her that we didn't these things. When our food finally arrived, it was cold and the sides were incorrect.
(2)Mike T.
I'm shocked by the poor reviews here. We haven't been here in over six months, but every time we've gone we've gotten good food and good service. I love their burgers here, they are big and delicious. The garlic mashed potatoes are to die for. I'm curious to go back now after all the bad reviews, I'll have to check it out again.
(4)John H.
If you enjoy eating poorly prepared food in a giant warehouse, you'll find happiness here. We went with a group from work, all ten in our party were disappointed with the food and service. I got broiled cod and it was dry and bony. Steaks were thin, chewy and overpriced. Tobacco is still king here, too. I went with my family once, too, because my wife wanted to try it, and this outing fell far short of her expectations. She ordered grilled chicken and it too was dry and stringy served with a watery salad and a baked potatoe that had been on hold way too long.
(1)Sherry D.
Have been going here for years. It's not Ruth's Chris, but it's pretty good food for reasonable prices. Any pasta you order will be TOO MUCH. They use an entire 1 lb package. I'm serious. It's absurd. But...you do get bread, salad and vegetables, and a side dish (potato/rice) with your entree, which these days in such an ala carte world, it nice. All the fish tends to be very oily. I ordered whitefish and it came swimming in olive oil. Be specific if you want it dry. Same thing with the pasta. Mom got pasta prima vera and there was an inch of oil swimming at the bottom of the bowl. However....to be fair, the chicken or beef brochette is nicely done, the chopped steak is decent, the pork tenderloin is good, and all the burgers are tasty. We don't regularly order steaks as it is NOT, to me, a steakhouse. Then again, they don't charge $45 for a ribeye like at the famous houses either. So...you get what you pay for. They make a nice sized cocktail without ridiculous prices. The wine list is not very extensive, but adequate. All in all, we probably go there once or twice a month (it's a perfect meeting place right in the middle for our combined families) and always get very friendly servers. The front of house people are not the friendliest, but maybe because they are related to the owners? I don't know, but we've always felt a little unwelcome by them, as opposed to the servers.
(3)Brian G.
Convieniently located right next to our hotel, we walked over to Jimmy's and enjoyed a couple of good meals here. Steak not to die for but solid good, warm chewy bread (which I love). The selection of beers was not very much as I remember, and the service was decent. I'd eat here again while in Elgin.
(3)Tracy K.
Okay, I get that this place is a steak house. Meat is what they do. I do not eat meat, but the majority of my friends and family do, so I have ended up here a handful of times. They enjoy the food and keep going back, so perhaps my review is way off.. but this is what I thought of it: The space itself is nice. Its relatively dark, spacious and the room flows well. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The service has been efficient and friendly enough. Everything else is good.. and then there's the food. Pasta with marinara sauce? Nope. Their marinara has chicken flavoring in it. Fettuccine alfredo? Not so much. It too is flavored with chicken broth. So what else is there? Some iceberg lettuce with a shred of carrot and cherry tomato? Oh boy. Three pounds of linguine drenched in olive oil and garlic with a few steamed veggies thrown in? Eh, sure. I can and do make it at home, but I guess its cool to drop $15 on it at a restaurant too. EDIT: Their website is out of date; the only vegetarian pasta dish they used to have is no longer on the menu. When I asked for it this weekend, the waitress instead suggested the one with grilled chicken.. yeah, thanks. We were here on a busy Saturday night. Service in the bar was good, but out in the dining area? That kinda defeats the purpose. Also, they pack 'em in like sardines here. Clearly this place is all about quantity over quality.
(1)Angela P.
I have to give Jimmy's a 2 for their EXCELLENT shrimp de jonghe!!! It is seriously one of the best I have had anywhere. But everything else, not so good. We really didn't like their steaks or pork chops. Everything was overcooked for our tastes and pretty flavorless. The service is okay, but it is just not an overall inviting place to be. It is very dark and just not welcoming. I would go there to get the shrimp to go and that's about it!
(2)Robb W.
This place is always packed and I do not understand why. Their prices are that of a good chicago steak house only the food quality is that of a cheap diner. I ordered a filet mignon with a lobster tail and it was right around $50 which is what you would pay at a Chicago Prime House or a Wildfire. What I got was a fatty piece of meat and a lobster tail that could have been served at Red Lobster. The hostess and management team looks and act very snotty as well. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. We too went here because of the coupon in the weekly flyer. Now I understand why then need coupons to justify the bad quality and overpriced food.
(2)Richard K.
I havent been here for years....since my last review. I made a point to come back to yelp to let you all know how bad this place was last night. Awful. This place has really went downhill. Never again. Our food was cold, seemed like it was premade and sitting under a heat lamp. Ribs were very dry and chicken was god awful. I will never go back.
(1)Bob L.
After living in the area for 20 years, this was my first time here. I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. The food was good, service was outstanding and you really get a lot for your money! Calimari app was great, steaks were tasty, salads were huge, and the desert was really good. After this meal, I will be back. I was a bit worried as it doesn't get too many stars, not sure why after what I experienced??
(4)Sam S.
P Bad experience, not much choice, small variety of food, one type soup for dinner and is Sunday. The restaurant was better now is only looking good inside we all was very disappointed. Our Sunday dinner was destroyed
(2)Dan S.
Our food was terrible. Saganaki came with no.pita, my caesar was drenched in ranch dressing, yuck! Iceberg, super processed flavorless parm and kraft ranch do not a caesar make. We stopped in before a long drive, should have hit Mc Donalds. I certainly would have enjoyed my meal more
(2)Pedram S.
The absolute worst tasting food I have ever had in my life! There is no flavor in their food whatsoever! We ended up leaving half of our food untouched!
(1)Don D.
Went there last week. Rib & chicken combo was terrible. Portion size was not accurate, ribs were tough and warm at best. Told waiter and he was told by the manager it won't happen next time. I spoke to manager and said I would not return because he did not handle the situation correctly. Don't waste your time going here!
(1)Robert M.
Tried again because friends wanted,2,go. All I can say is how can a steak place have horrible steaks
(1)Scott S.
My wife and I wanted to try something new for our 12yr anniversary. She was googling steak restaurants and came upon jimmy's charhouse. There are many mixed reviews on this place but we took the chance and tried it. Wow, so good! The food was incredible and price wasn't bad either. We started with a potato skin appetizer. It was perfect! We then got salads which were fantastic! The bread we got was warm and soft. It did dry out a bit but we didn't eat it right away. Then for our entrée. My wife got the pork chops and I had a new York strip steak. All the food was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. There was so much food we couldn't eat it all. Our experience with our server Manny was great! We had fresh drinks and he continually checked on us. All in all jimmy's charhouse did not disappoint!
(5)Ari K.
I don't know what was worse, the service or the meal. Never have I had a steak so dry and flavorless. Seriously, so awful that I created a yelp account just now, at the table to warn people away. Don't do it. Go to Mcdonalds, get a burrito at the gas station, or eat dirt. ANYTHING would be better than coming here.
(1)Dan S.
Disappointing all around. We went there as a group of 9 to celebrate a birthday. My girlfriend and I looked at the menu ahead of time, and were both excited about the sound of their Charhouse burger. To start, the bread was good - served warm. However my mother first sent back a slimy lemon. Then, appetizers were ok. When the main course came out, four of us who ordered the Charhouse burger were all very underwhelmed. The onion strings were skimpy, and the chipotle mayo was not so much an aioli as just a spicy sauce. The first bite was blah. I felt like my burger was made with old meat, and could only eat about half. Curious if the other three who ordered the same thing were enjoying their burgers, I asked. Every one was very unimpressed, and my mother agreed the meat was not fresh. On the other side of the table, my grandmother mentioned her steak was very stringy, and hard to cut. The consensus around the table was that of a disappointing experience, and that we would not return. The experience was clear to me because I could see four examples of the same burger, all unimpressive and nobody enjoying them. I will at least give credit to the server who handled everything well enough.
(2)Derek R.
I can cook better at home. I had the "Angus" New York Strip which for starters came blackened. I know it is a "charhouse" but cut me some slack here. It was close to medium rare like I ordered it, well at least on one side of the steak. The other side was medium. I wanted to grab the salt and pepper shakers from my table and hand them to the cooks in the back so they can season future steaks before they are cooked. Three steaks at my table and that was the story for every one, uneven cook and bare meat thrown on a grill with no seasoning. Someone else ordered the medallions. They came out with this weird crust baked on top which was very unappetizing and came with the wrong side. Two of the medallions were cooked med rare like ordered and one was well done. These are 3 oz each this is not hard! When this was brought to the attention of the waitress she took them back and brought instead a New York Strip which was requested. Her reason for the bad cook on the steaks was that the wrong order was brought out hence the wrong sides. I was wondering why someone would order 2 med rare and one well done. The garlic mashed potatoes that had been ordered at the table were fine, could have used a little more seasoning but better flavor than anything else I tasted. Someone got the regular backed potato which came with no salt or butter and just a side of sour cream. It looked like a giant overcooked peanut with a little cut on the top. I got the loaded which was a bigger mistake than the regular. It came with bacon bits on the inside and a greasy, melted glob of cheese oozing out from top. It was disgusting. I tried to pull most of the solid piece of grease from the top and it took most of the bacon bits with it. For my veggies I got two slices of dry carrot and a piece of broccoli that had more stem than floret. They tried to charge us for the steak order we sent back but we corrected them and they fixed it. Take 2 seconds to check the accuracy of a ticket before you deliver it to your customer, especially when something has been changed! I ALMOST FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS! The place was covered, and I mean covered in dust. Any surface that wasn't normally used was layered. There was a ledge dividing booths right next to me at about forehead level and it was covered in dust as well as the knick knacks sitting on it. They have little displays on a higher level with old-timey stuff and from 50 ft away I could see the layers of dust on them. Dust so was so undisturbed for so long that there was no more room for it on things and was hanging off the sides. How does a manager, employee, anyone walk around there and not see this?! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING, CLEAN YOUR DINING ROOM! I don't know how anybody can go in there more than once, there is not one good thing about this place This place wins my worst steakhouse in Illinois award.
(1)Jackie N.
Very disappointing. Had steak and lobster; the filet was tough without much flavor, and the lobster had no flavor either. As I've seen other reviewers state "they need to season their food". The only good thing was the bread and chicken rice soup, which was served before the meal. My husband's steak was tough, and he said it tasted like shoe leather.
(1)Liz W.
Terrible dining experience. Waiter was rushing. Temperature was hot and humid. When I asked to cook it off, the request was scoffed at. When I complained to the hostess, she rolled her eyes and said a disingenuous, "sorry". Most unpleasant hour and a half. Will try very hard to never go back
(1)Julio O.
The bread tastes bad. So I read the reviews on yelp and saw how bad they were and decided to leave.
(2)Lucas C.
Food- started off with the saganaki? Which was a little on the greasy side, but not bad. French onion soup was next which is baked to yummy perfection. For dinner I had the special a bacon wrapped filet and lobster. This was disappointing. After one bite of the filet I realized it was gone, because it was bite size! It was a good one bite, but obviously that was not enough for dinner. The lobster tail had a whopping 3 WHOLE BITES, but it was chewy and lacked flavor. The mashed potatoes were not fresh and tasted terrible. The one golden dish was the half chicken Grecian style. Seasoned perfectly and so juicy and tender. Service- our waiter was really weird and kept filling our ordered drinks up with water.
(3)Joe B.
For the price...head over to Nikos or Houlihans down the road (Randall) you will be MUCH happier with the flavors of the food. Porterhouse was very uneventful and flavorless for the price. Blue cheese on the salad was watery and no crumbles. Mashed potatoes and vegetables were very good. Staff was friendly but not attentive. This was our first time at Jimmys Charhouse and will be our last as well which is disappointing as we were looking for a solid steak place close to the highway.
(2)Charlotte W.
Twice I have been to Jimmy's Charhouse. First time was on a date with my boyfriend and the food was good; second time was as a large party after his sister's graduation for dinner and I wasn't as pleased. Jimmy's is located off of Randall Rd in Elgin by the entrance/exit ramp of 90 near the Country Inn and Suites. The atmosphere of the place is fine and clean, nothing extraordinary but not unpleasant. There is a bar portion, dining room, and spaces for large parties. The staff seems to be generally good, I have no complaints there. They bring you some bread prior to your meal which is nice if you're starving! Bathrooms have always been clean when I went as well. First time I went I ordered some sort of half roasted chicken with some lemon sauce and potatoes and veggies-- I loved it! Great flavor and large portion so I took some home. Boyfriend got a steak cooked to order (medium-rare) which was also good and large enough for leftovers. Second time I ordered the chicken marsala and was pretty disappointed with the quality. The flavor wasn't bad, I may just be a snob when it comes to this dish, but the texture of the sauce seemed almost grainy curdled in consistency with a heaping side of rice and some veggies. I want mine rich, smooth, bursting with flavor and heaped with mushrooms. Sigh... I don't know if it can just be contributed to the size of our party but I think not. At the hour we came the restaurant was not at all busy yet they hadn't already closed either. Also this time around my boyfriend's steak was overcooked-- Medium-well instead of medium-rare. Prices aren't bad, affordable if you're wanting steak without paying an arm and a leg. I would call this a casual restaurant with an affordable nicer menu. I didn't appreciate the barbaric family we had sitting next to us on my first visit, but otherwise it has a civilized clientele. It isn't a favorite of mine, but I wouldn't write it off as a bad option. I've had a good experience and a meh one, I'd be willing to try it again.
(3)Michele S.
Long story short, service is good, erring on the side of crazy in that they are really wanting to take your plate.....really hustling to take your plate. They seem like they are PUSHING you out the door the min you sit down, this on a Monday at 515 and only half full. The minute we put our fork down, "Do you want a box?"....no, just taking a break/drink/talking! So, super attentive. Food is plain. Veggies, plain. Baked Potato, sour cream or butter only. French onion soup...had no cheese, and was super salty. Surf and turf was bland. Shrimp dejoghne was good, but saganaki was not. Pork chops looked ok. As I understand,the greek chicken is where its at. Walking out, the host didn't bother to say goodbye.
(1)Kim C.
If I could give this place a negative I would. Made reservations but yet had to wait 45 minutes for our table. Then it was just one disaster after another. Food was cold. Manage did not have the nerve to come over and talk to us.
(1)Yen L.
We were off to a bit of a rough start with Jimmy's. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait, and it was over 45 minutes before they actually called us. It was having a gift card that kept us hanging in there for the extra 15 or so minutes. But once we were seated, Mitch, our server, was fantastic. The place was packed and he was clearly running around a lot, but we never felt pressured by him to hurry up with our orders, and he took time to make sure he had our orders correct before placing them. He was attentive to our bread basket and drinks, and was so very prompt and pleasant. I wasn't too impressed with the food. The bread was nice and warm, and the shrimp tortilla soup was flavorful. Sadly, my medium-rare prime rib had the color of medium-rare, but the chew of medium. The vegetables were cooked pretty well, still had nice crunch, and my fries were good. My husband's NY strip steak was done right and tasted great. We ordered the apple crisp for dessert and it was respectable. I'd say the redeeming factor for our visit was Mitch's service. I couldn't have asked for a better server in the midst of such a busy Saturday night rush. He made up for the lack of consideration at the hostess station.
(3)Kevin L.
Awful. With a capital A. Steak was tiny and chewy. Chicken Parm was tasteless and pasta was like Chef Boyrdee
(1)Michelle T.
Had my rehearsal dinner here 9-5-14 because it was right next to my hotel and my last experience a while ago wasn't bad. However not this time. The service was horrible. There was only one waitress for 30 people. I could hardly find her to get drinks. The food really wasn't all that good. I had the steak and a lot of my guests had the burgers. Very disappointing experience. I will not go back nor do I recommend this place for an event or dinning out in general. For all the money that was spent you are better off going to apple bees.
(1)Ikaika P.
I had the porterhouse for $30, it was plain. I had to season it and request steak sauce. Ordered it medium well but it was only medium well next to the bone, should've went medium. Otherwise uneventful.
(2)Jerry G.
I've been here a number of times in the past, have since moved out of state, and thought that I would meet my cousin here for dinner while in the area. She had a commitment that night at 7:30 so we eat an earlier dinner than normal. The bar seemed to be full of a regular after work crowd. The restaurant was pretty empty at first but by the time we left (6:30pm) it was starting to fill up. My cousin and I shared a shrimp appetizer called the Mediterranean Shrimp. Shrimp sauteed in olive oil and fresh garlic, with tomatoes and bell peppers, topped with feta and fontanella cheese and then baked. I remembered more of a sharper cheese taste which complemented the garlic better. But it was still decent. My cousin had a chopped salad and I had the twin filet Mignon steaks medium rare with a side of mixed vegetables. I'm starting to hit a hot streak because the steak was cooked just right, medium rare. The atmosphere here is comfortable. The tables seem close but not so close that you could participate in your neighbors conversation if you wanted to. All in all, it was a pleasant experience. The waiter brought my drink while I waited for my cousin to show up and did enough fly bys to catch us when we wanted some more water or another drink. He did his job. All in all, I'd go back when in the area again.
(4)NomNomNom H.
Called the restaurant and told them about the sub-par food. Talked to Scott and he apologized and said the next meal is on him. Finally, was in that area and redeemed my meal. Was afraid that I would be giving a hard time, but Scott remembered and meal was on him. Great customer service, but the food was disappointing. Tried chicken dishes because the steak were unsatisfactory. Chicken was dried and had no flavor. I think there's a shortage of seasoning at the restaurant. Will not be going back again. Really did want to like the place though.
(2)Layda C.
Was here when they opened - not impressed. Decided to try them again (10yrs later?) Greek chicken cabob appetizer was awesome -garlic and oregano dressing over tender moist chicken! Wow! Twin fillet entre was perfectly cooked and good quality - chopped salad entre was so large we took half home . Staff was stretched, restaurant was very crowded - Saturday night before mother's day - but they hustled to keep on top of everything. Overall a good experience. We shouldn't have waited so long to return! We will be back!
(4)Mike M.
Stopped in for a steak sandwich and they were out of skirt steak. Was actually hoping for a ribeye sandwich. Ask the bartender (lauren) to check and she never came back. When she came back several minutes later, she asked me if I was ready to order. I politely said, I was waiting for you to check on the sandwich. She totally looked like I had never spoken to her before. The other bartender was equally overwhelmed and told me he would follow up on her (but never did). This was a Monday night & not very busy. I was here a few years ago and had a not so great experience, but thought I would give another try. Oh well... Won't be back a third time.
(1)Rick B.
My son and I were here in town for a college visit. The Hotel we stayed at recommended Jimmy's so you think it must be OK since their reputation is on the line as well. I'll make this quick. The great bread they talk about, we never got any. The Wings we ordered as an appetizer we some of the worst ever. I wasn't that hungry so instead of getting a full blown meal, I ordered the French Onion Soup and Crap Cakes from the appetizer menu. The French Onion soup had some strange spice that I could not identify but it made it sweet...YUK! I sent it back! When I got the Crab Cakes they looked good. They were crispy on the outside but as soon as I took a bite it was like putting baby food in my mouth. They were HORRIBLE; not to mention very salty. As an avid viewer of Restaurant Impossible, I was picturing Chef Robert Irvine spitting it out. I'm not that bold. I just ate the outside crispy part and the waitress never asked. If my Son chooses to go to college here, I won't be spending any time at Jimmy's!
(1)Joe H.
3.5 stars to be fair. Outstanding customer service. Sub par food. I will give them the benefit of the doubt since it was Easter and fairly busy. Broad selection and a nice little wine list.
(3)Kari D.
I ordered the ribeye. It came blackened but was rare. The rare part was ok. Very chewy lots of fat. Very hard to cut. No seasoning. Shook the whole table trying to cut it. Potato was warm/cold. The veggies carrots and broccoli mushy. I was so surprised at this meal. I have been here many times and enjoyed my meal. Wasted my money this time.
(1)Katy K.
Portions are huge here! I've never had a bad meal either. The atmosphere is nice. I really enjoying coming here for dinner & would recommend it to friends/family.
(4)Kaye D.
The restaurant itself is kind of dim and it made me feel as if it were evening/night time outside already even though we came in for lunch. Our server introduced himself and brought our drink order. It took a good 10-15 minutes before we flagged him down to order lunch. The lunch menu was quite expansive, but we decided on a Mushroom Swiss Burger - medium well (Charbroiled Burgers) and Chicken Marsala (Jimmy's Favorites). The Chicken Marsala was good, not dry. If I were in the mood for that dish, I would have eaten more off my husband's plate. The burger was juicy, but not enough for it to run down my hands. The proportion of burger and fries was right (but I'm not the biggest fries fan). The husband ate most of them. Once again, our server disappeared somewhere and had to be flagged down to get our check. The restaurant was slowing down from the lunch rush when we came in and glancing around the restaurant, the customers were businessmen (likely out for lunch) and older people (correct terminology?). I'm not going out of the way to eat here. If we're around the area, it'll at least be on the list of food possibilities.
(3)Sunny M.
We went to Jimmy's Charhouse for Thanksgiving dinner as it was one of the only places open in the area. I was not at all happy with our experience-- the food was awful. We're not a very picky bunch, we eat most anything and are pretty tolerant and forgiving when it comes to quality. The Service: The place was packed being a holiday. It was hectic and the wait staff was doing their best to keep up-- I think they did a great job. Nothing but thumbs up for the great servers and staff. Pre-meal: The warm bread and butter was pretty good so I thought we were off to a great start. My fiancé ordered a Manhattan and it was the first drink in his 45 years he's ever had to return. It was undrinkable. We think the bartender mixed up the ratio of vermouth to rye (My uncle had a bourbon Manhattan and it was just as bad) and used (waaayyyy too much) dry vermouth instead of sweet. Also no bitters. It was AWFUL! But okay fine, he returned it immediately and wasn't charged. Things happen. No biggie, right? Unfortunately, the poor quality didn't end there. Appetizers: We ordered the calamari (average), saganaki (average) and stuffed mushrooms (I couldn't stand them. The stuffing was awful.). Overall not the best I've ever had but not horrible either. At this point I figured liking 2 out of 3 appetizers wasn't bad and maybe it was just me who didn't like the stuffed mushrooms. Soup & Salad: I ordered a salad instead of soup and regretted my decision as soon as I tasted both. The baked French onion soup was pretty good. The salad was AWFUL. How the heck do you mess up a salad!? I didn't think it was possible. The lettuce wasn't the freshest but it was the blue cheese dressing that was nearly inedible. It was almost as if they mixed up random things from the kitchen (I don't know-- sour cream, some spices, a little ranch, something that looks a little lumpy, etc.) and just decided to call it blue cheese dressing. Seriously. What??! No clue what it really was. The main course: I ordered the prime sirloin & lobster tail. The steak was as bland as all get-out. My 18yo daughter had the 10oz sirloin also and turned to me after her first few bites and said "welp, this is the most expensive TV dinner steak I've ever had!" She hit the nail on the head. It tasted like a frozen steak and even the grill marks were suspiciously perfect. Like the grill-marks on Banquet Salisbury Steaks. The term "shoe leather" was tossed the table around a number of times. I had to drown it in A1 (which I usually never use) to get it down. Even then I only ate about ¼ of it. The prices are nearly on par with some of the better Chicago steak houses like Wildfire. I wasn't expecting Wildfire quality out of this place but I wasn't expecting something this bad either. I was expecting something along the lines of Outback Steakhouse quality food. Generally, you can still find decent quality steaks at chain restaurants. You know, not steak that makes you quiver with delight (like Wildfire or Flemming's) but steak that makes you go "Hmm, that was pretty good. Hey, for a chain place at least it wasn't awful, right?! *chuckle chuckle*" Lobster was okaaaayyy. Just okaaaayyy. It was overdone and lacking flavor. But compared to the lackluster, shoe leather steak, it was heaven. The (real) mashed potatoes were good. I wished I had just ordered a huge plate of those. Other orders at our table were turkey club sandwich (good), halibut (decent), special turkey holiday dinner (good), roasted pork (Pork ok, stuffing awful according to the person who ordered it--both exceptionally salty. Mashed potatoes decent.). I will not be back to Jimmy's Charhouse. If I somehow find myself there forced against my will, I'll order a less expensive dish like a sandwich. It was frankly too much money for subpar food. Paying $26 for something that tasted like TV dinner is ridiculous. Also, when I go out to eat at a place like this I'd like to at least have one thing that I take a bite of that makes me say to who I'm with, "mmmm, that's really good. Hey, here-- you've got to try a bite." Nothing I had at Jimmy's made me do that. Nothing even close. Even the good things I call good simply because they were "not bad." Walking away thinking "I didn't quite have to spit out any of the food" isn't the mark of a good restaurant. I would have been happier at a TGI Friday's (which is saying a lot).
(1)Scott S.
Attended Jimmys on Christmas Eve. The place was very busy but from the moment we sat down until the moment we left we were very pleased. The food was great. I had one of my favorites the half Grecian chicken with the loaded mash. Everyone in our party of 8 ordered something different and we were all pleased. The service was great and the staff did a great job even though it was busy. We will be back!
(4)Kamilah S.
My boyfriend and I came here for an early lunch, 11:51am on a Saturday, to be exact and had excellent food. I had the French onion soup, excellent and not to many onions, how I like my French onion soup to be, the lamb chops cooked to medium with an fantastic lemon, garlic, olive oil, parsley sauce spooned over the chops and I had my boyfriends salad. My boyfriend had the steak cooked to medium, it was not seasoned to his liking, but after he put some A1 sauce over the steak it tasted better. Chris, our waiter, was great, very attentive. If we are ever in the area again, we will definitely come back.
(5)Sherry B.
Moved into to area recently. I was looking forward to coming here for awhile. Started off really great. Appetizer excellent. Spinach artichoke dip delicious, soup fantastic (creamy chicken wild rice). Ribs I ordered were completely discussing. The sole of my shoe would have been easier to chew. I ordered a full slab thinking I can give my hubby some. We didn't even eat half the slab. The waiter said. "Yeah they are really tough i thought you know that" really?? Cause thinking you are a charhouse you could cook a slab of ribs. And he didn't take anything off the bill. My husband ordered the lobster tail & sirloin special. The lobster was very chewy and fishy. No butter sauce with it either. My daughters Patty melt was the best meal we received last night. Very disappointed. I guess we are gonna go to famous Dave's next time. It'll be editable and cheaper.
(3)Czarina M.
Since we moved to Elgin a few years ago I've always wanted to try their catering. For Mother's Day, there was really no time and we didn't really want to pay for an elaborate feast. So with a small budget in mind, we called Jimmy's Charhouse and ordered one big pan of shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, 10 big pork chops, 2 roasted chicken and a slab of ribs. The price was a little under $110.00. They also have us 3 sides, lots of breads and soup. It was AMAZING!! There were at least 10 of us Nd still had plenty of leftovers. Totally worth it!! Highly recommended
(5)Jennifer L.
I came here with a big group of girls on a Thursday evening. Our waitress seemed nice and the service was good. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and the pacing of the meal seemed good. It took a little bit from the salads to the main course and a little bit for my water refill to be brought out. The location is OK - right off the highway, but seemed a bit dark, dreary and depressing on the inside. I will have to revise my review if I come again because I was feeling sick to my stomach and couldn't touch my delicious looking BLT.
(3)Jennifer S.
Why? Why oh why aren't you as good as you used to be, Jimmy's Charhouse? Such a disappointment. We have been coming to Jimmy's for quite a few years. Mom lives a few miles west. Dad lives a few miles north. It seems to be a popular destination for family dinner. We even threw my mom's surprise 50th birthday party here in their banquet room a couple years ago. Mom had a gift certificate. It was grandma's birthday and she wanted to go to Jimmy's for lunch. So, four of us headed out for a rare mid-week lunch. We arrived after 1pm, so the restaurant wasn't too crowded. We ordered some crab cakes to start. Four greasy, very fishy smelling, very flat cakes arrived. Grandma had one bite and declared that she couldn't eat them. My mom won't waste food, so she ate hers. My son is my 15 year old eating machine, so he ate his and then complained about the smell. I nibbled and debated sending them back, but the waiter didn't return until the entrees arrived, so I kept my mouth shut. So there is no confusion, I won't order those again. There is always warm Italian bread (and plenty of butter) on the table. It's crusty and delicious. Come for the free bread. Stay for...the free bread. Grandma has been eating like a bird lately, so she chose baked French onion soup as her meal. The cheese was loaded on there, but it was not baked nicely. She pulled the whole blob off, put it on her plate and worked on the soup. Which was cold. :-( Now, to put this in perspective...grandma does NOT complain. She'll eat expired yogurt. She freezes meat and yells at us if we throw it away it it's been around for a couple years. The crab cake and the soup really must not have been any good. Or she absolutely would have eaten both. My son ordered an Italian chicken sandwich. He ate half and most of his French fries. He thought the sandwich was bland...so says the eating machine. Mom and I ordered the same burger. Hers with cheese and mine without. I opted for mashed potatoes. Mom went for rice pilaf. My burger was ordered as medium. It arrived completely well done. No waiter = no complaining from me. I literally would have needed to get up and wander around to find someone to complain to. Mom's burger was cooked medium rare as requested. My mashed potatoes were plentiful, but I only nibbled seeing as I had a hankering for a juicy burger. Carry out containers arrived to bring home food to some of the family dogs (not mine, but mom and grandma's). The check didn't take long and I was grateful because I was ready to leave. Side story? I was really annoyed with our server. He really gave me the impression that he didn't want to be there. I mention this to my mom (the one who won't waste food) and she comes up with the reason as to why he doesn't want to be here. Basically, she blames the crappy economy and that he was probably a business exec somewhere at sometime, lost his job and is forced to be a server to support his family. *sigh* Now, I am forced to tip this guy well when he didn't earn it out of guilt for my mom's made up, but could be true, story. So I overtipped him. But I won't be back unless forced by the other side of the family.
(2)Rick M.
Had an experience a few years ago that drove me away. Went back at the request of one of my kids for their Birthday. Been back twice since and they have won me back. Rare!
(5)Kelsey A.
Overall my date and I had a great meal here. Our waitress, Denise, was one of the best the both of us have ever had at a restaurant. She was very accommodating and friendly. We ordered the saganaki as an appetizer and it was amazing. The only downfall was how long we waited for our meals. It was at least 45 minutes. However, the kitchen accidentally made me a smaller steak than what I ordered, and before I had time to notice it, Denise said they were already making me a second additional steak at no cost. Excellent customer service. I would have just like to have been informed that some of the things she suggested (garlic mashed potatoes) costs extra because we didn't know until we got our check. Otherwise, we had a great experience and will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)Amanda B.
My boyfriend and I ate here tonight and got Dan; a young brown haired guy as our server. He was by far the best server we have had at any place in a long time. Super informative and attentive. And nice. We willmost definitely be coming back here and requesting dan as our server. Food and drinks were amazing too. 5 stars to this place.
(5)Sarah B.
I was in town for a business trip and took one of my customers out to dinner here. It was very disappointing. One person in our party had the liver and it was grossly overcooked. It was ordered medium and came to the table charred. Two people in our party had the surf and turf. The steak was OK - nothing great but at least it was cooked properly for both of us. The lobster tail, however, was not. It was way overcooked and appeared that it had sat under the heat lamp for too long. It was tougher than the steak. The veggies served on the side of the meals were obviously from frozen and tasteless. top it all off, the service was VERY slow. Our server was nice enough but inattentive. We waited a very long time to receive the bill and then waited another long while for him to bring the slip back for signing. it weren't for the 10% off with showing our hotel room keys and the fact that my employer was paying for the meal, I would have raised hell for the quality of the service and meal. Big bill for crummy service and crappy food.
(1)Kathy K.
I ordered a chef's special tonight, a blue cheese steak. When it arrived, I tried 8 different points on the steak from which to slice it, and couldn't get my knife through one of them because of the strands of grizzle. I returned it, and to my complete amazement, it was RETURNED to the table a couple of minutes later with the following comment from the line chief: they're all going to be like that, so just eat it. We've come to Jimmy's a lot. My husband loves their fettucini alfredo, and I'm pretty sure it's the best thing on their menu, because it is generously sized and well made. I've never been a huge fan of the restaurant, but the place is always crowded, so I thought maybe I had just had some bad luck getting a good steak. But this was the first time a steak was un-cuttable, and it was the first time I ever returned anything there. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I expect such an utter lack of customer service or respect for my business as I did tonight. We won't be back. Apparently, they do enough business that the loss of a customer doesn't affect them.
(1)Mari W.
I've been going to jimmys charhouse for years. Greek chicken and garlic mashed potatoes are my favorite! The ribs are equally as good. I can't say anything bad about this place...plus their family meal prices and selection is spot on!! Love this place!!! It's not really fancy, they've got great food, prices are good...just try it!
(5)Charles S.
Good, not great, food. My top sirloin steak was a good cut. It was a nice medium-rare, as ordered. But it had ZERO seasoning and no crust to speak of. This preparation was in no way on par with a great steakhouse. The service was impeccable, with our wait staff in near-constant contact with us, but not in an overbearing and annoying way. There was condensation dripping from the A/C system so there were drops of water landing on me, on my table and in my food. UNcool. The prices are good here, but the food is just okay. I could 2 or 3 stars here, but since Jimmy's is trying to be a high-end establishment, I'll rate it accordingly.
(2)Joe S.
Warm bread to start was fantastic. NY Strip was delicious and our waitress Denise was very pleasant. Great overall experience.
(4)Geoff R.
Was with a group of 23 for dinner. The service was good, the bar was great, the prices are reasonable and if you stay in the hotel next door you get 10% off your bill. I will be going back. The bread is hot and fresh.
(3)Richard R.
I guess it took three years for me to forget why we stopped coming here, but it didn't take long to remember after yesterday's visit. I don't know what has happened to a place we used to enjoy coming to, we waited 35 minutes from the time our waiter took our drink order to be asked about any kind of food order, so I made sure to order both appetizer's and entree's at the same time as our waiter who was non-existent for most of the evening seemed to be in a rush once he did stop by to visit.. My son and I both ordered the same thing, the surf and turf special...which was a six ounce lobster tail and filet. When our food did arrive (quickly I might add) we both thought we had bit in to some shell, but when we turned our lobster tails over we noticed they were burnt...how do you burn a lobster tail? So we moved on to the filet...we both quit eating after sawing through the huge veins of fat in the middle of both of them, not to mention that there was absolutely no seasoning? I honestly think they may have been frozen. Luckily my Dad and stepdad both enjoyed their meals so it wasn't a total loss for Father's Day. I personally won't be back.
(2)Maurissa S.
I don't know why this place has such a low rating. My fiance and I came here for dinner and both agreed that our food was delicious. He got the New York strip medium rare and I got the top sirloin well done. Both of our steaks were prepared perfectly. We also liked our soups and the wait staff was attentive and friendly. The only issue I did have was with the rice pilaf because it wasn't a pilaf; it was Spanish rice, but was still good. Also, I loved the decor! It felt like we were sitting on a veranda.
(4)Rosie F.
This place is by far the saddest excuse for a steak house I have ever seen. My first clue should have been that we were seated immediately at 7pm on a Friday night with no reservations. The service was horrible - our server had no business waiting tables, maybe it was his first day? Totally incompetent, overwhelmed, flustered and bumbling. I felt bad for him. After we paid, he brought the wrong credit card back to the table. Someone else got my credit card!?!? Great. The food may be worth two stars - I will say the goat cheese appetizer was really good. There was an upcharge for a Caesar salad, my prime rib came out well done, my baked potato tasted like it was rotten and our drinks were never refilled. My husband ordered the pork and chicken combo and said it was average at best. As we were leaving, nobody thanked us or said goodbye, I guess the three people standing there were too busy talking amongst themselves to acknowledge us. This was a complete waste of $70. I will never go back, even if the next meal was on the house. Keep it.
(1)Jen R.
Highly disappointed when I took my hubby here for Father's Day. Couldn't cook our steaks. Ordered medium because we like them pink, moist, but my steak was served on plate of blood. Hubby's too. I knew before I cut into it that it was rare. Rare doesn't describe it, still mooing would be more appropriate. There was hardly a sear, even the ends were dripping blood. Sent them back to be refired. One (the thicker cut) was returned still rare, not even medium-rare. Mine had an uneven cook-the ends well done, no pink, and center still bloody. We expected a charhouse to know how to cook a steak, especially for the price. Won't return.
(2)Ben Y.
I'd give 4 stars for my medium rare rib eye & an excellent tiramisu (as good as maggianos) And 2 stars for a pretty crumby wait staff. Bad first impression.
(3)Gerhard G.
I was last night the first time ad Jimmy's char house and I have to say it was excellent . I have had liver and it was outstanding with bacon and onions . Also the waiter was very polite he didn't came every second and ask if everything is ok. Good job.
(5)Amber S.
I was so excited to find this location after the one in Naperville closed about 4 years ago. I remember eating amazing food for a decent price and returning many times. I guess these locations are not related in any way. My husband and I went here for a Sunday lunch date around 2pm. It was dead besides a party going on in a separate room that did not disturb our dining experience. On the plus side, the service was very fast. We ordered right away, our drinks stayed full, and our calamari came at lightning speed. The calamari was really good. I also asked for some marinara sauce to dip it in, very good as well. The salad didn't seem fresh, and I had to pick out a brown rimmed leaf. I only ate about 10% of it and could not finish after seeing that. My husband ordered a porterhouse medium rare al forno w/ fries. He liked it fine. I ordered the steak and lobster w/ mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were not even warm and neigther of us touched them after the first bite. The lobster tail was rubbery(I had to cut it w/ a steak knife). And my steak tasted very off. I should have sent the whole meal back but the first impression was all I needed. Unfortunately we will not be returning.
(2)Mike C.
This place was average. Went on a Tuesday night and was seated right away. Service was attentive and quick. Ordered the NY Strip, Medium Rare, Salad and the loaded mashed potatoes on a recommendation from my hotel which also got me 10% off. Salad was brought out lightning fast and wasn't bad. I would rather them wait a few minutes so I could at least think some time went in to preparing it. The steak came out was tough and lacked seasoning and had WAY too much "juice" on it. The loaded mashed potatoes which was an upcharge was just mashed potatoes with cheese and bacon mixed in, nothing exceptional. All in all, it was passable, the restaurant on the inside is nice and like I said it was an average experience.
(3)Connie B.
We were there at about 6:30 on saturday night.It was awful!! There was six women,and our waiter was so ignorant we should've left.But stupid us stayed for more ignorance.3 of us were ordering the 'SPECIAL' Prime rib,they were out of it.We weren't told this until after we ordered.6:30 and they are out of it?Then we didn't see our waiter for at least another 10 min.But we did see him waiting on a group of 5 like they were the only people in the place.My steak came and I ordered it med.WELL,it came as bloody as if they threw it on the grill browned it and put it on a dish.We were all disappointed.2 people ordered the pasta with chicken there was 2 pieces of chicken and 2 lbs.of pasta,very bland!The whole experience was awful,and we will never go back!!It was just AWFUL!!
(1)Juice R.
been going there for group lunch for few years now. it's just another local place that i never felt need to review but the latest visit might be last. with a medium group of casually dressed, well behaved business associates walked in with half of us getting wrong order, few burgers tasting like they have been a left over steak in previous lives and wait staff that showed up at the table grand total of 4 times during hour and twenty minutes, and argues against customer when he's filing a complaint with management, then management taking the side of wait staff who's lying to avoid blame, repeat business is hard to give n prior visits, food was okay, service wasn't terrible, always had plenty of seating with cute/rustic looking interior that was decently kept clean..
(2)CheLynn T.
The atmosphere and smell are breath taking. I couldn't wait to try the food!! However, what a disappointment...... the food is DISGUSTING! My husband ordered the French onion soup & his bread was a rock. The waitress said it was suppose to soak!! I ordered the filet mignon & ate 3 bites. I couldn't even stomach it w A1 steak sauce. My mashed potatoes had the grossest bitter taste. It reminded me of what poison would taste like. I traded for my husbands loaded baked potatoe & that was like rubber. It tasted like they baked it, put it in the freezer & nuked it. The cheese on top was hard. It really wasn't loaded with much of anything but rubbery cheese. My husband ordered the London broil & it looked like TV Dinner meat. It was all cooked differently. Very gross food. We still gag when we talk about this place. The manager was nice & gave us free drinks. I just wish I had the money back I spent on this place to go to Outback Steakhouse!!!
(1)Jake C.
Jimmy's gets 5 stars for only Wednesday promo of 1/2 appetizers and $5.00 Martini. Awesome deal. Was even better until the older women bartender cried about making too many different martini's. you could actual get at the time $5 kettle and grey goose vodka. Not anymore but the absolute blue cheese dirty is still worth the $5. Hit the bar area to get this awesome deal!!
(5)Tracy T.
Went to Jimmy's Saturday night. We have been going there for years and have usually enjoyed our meals. Things can sometimes be hit or miss; mainly they tend to over cook everything, including steaks and pork chops. But Saturday, I ordered the chopped salad, which I normally order with no meat and always enjoy, but this time almost all of the lettuce was brown. Kinda gross, so I really didn't enjoy it this time. We also ordered the quesadilla appetizer, which was quite good. But when I pay 10 plus dollars for a salad, the lettuce had better be fresh.
(3)Steve S.
My new bride and I had our wedding and reception at Jimmy's in Elgin in January, 2014. The staff and manager were great to work with and very accommodating. They do not have any sound system in the room, so I had to bring in my own system. They set up the room just like we discussed and they were very professional. We had the buffet of fish, steak, and chicken. We also enjoyed salad, potatoes and vegetables. Everyone I heard from said they loved the food and service. They had to bring out more fish because it was so good. The price was very reasonable and the service was excellent. We've eaten there for holidays in the past years, and have always had good food.
(4)Jeff S.
Stay away! Service was slow. Even the salad dressing was watery.
(1)Hiwin C.
Descent food; however, stuffy attitude of personnel. Eaten their multiple times because it's convenient. Not always clean. A bit too dark interior for my taste. Seems like a business lunch place . . . again probably due to location and the limited comparable options in that vicinity.
(2)A J.
Went with a large group for dinner. Good soup, good potatoes, good salmon (according to my stepmom). Burger, ribs, and pork chops were all hard and overcooked. Master how to cook the meat here & you will definitely do much better!
(2)Jim S.
Good value for the money spent. My wife and I dined there this evening. She had the sirloin steak and lobster, I had a 6oz fillet. Both steaks were very good, and she was pleased with the lobster. We started with the French Onion soup. It was decent, but a bit bland. The cheese topping was very plentiful. The bread was fresh and hot. The steak quality was good, but of course not in the Ruths Chris or Mortons league. Still, better than I expected for the price. I asked for a small side of Fettuccine Alfredo to be subbed for my potato. The serving I received was HUGE. The pasta was pretty good too. In summary, I'd go back if I want steak at a reasonable price.
(3)Ken K.
Possibly the most uneven meal I've ever had.......here's the details: Ambiance - 3 stars - nice enough place, clean, waitress was very nice, but a lot of people there (7PM on a Friday) that probably shouldn't buy green Bananas, but Del Webb next exit over.... Appetizers - 5 Stars - possibly the best Shrimp DeJonge (sp?) I ever had - lots of meaty shrimp in a breading and sauce that was flavorful without being overpowering with garlic Soup Salad - 1 Star - the WORST French onion soup I ever had - tasted like watered down broth - don't think I found an onion in there (and to top it off, paid an extra 2.50 for it) wife's salad was blah with no croutons of any kind. Entrée 1 - Pork Chops - 3 Stars - whole reason we went here was because the Libertyville one had the best port chops I ever had @6 years ago - these were fine - but not memorable Entrée 2 - Filet Trio - 1 Star - sorriest excuse for filets I ever saw - "filets" were no more than inch thick - and blah - $27 bucks for these 3 pieces of meat that tasted like the cheapest $3.99lb steaks at Jewel - topped with sauces to mask their inadequacies - they were so bad, I took a picture (will see if there is a way I can post to Yelp - never took a picture before - but you wouldn't believe how bad they were without seeing picture) So to summarize - we would give it another shot, just for the Shrimp DeJonge - but we'll probably go with a burger next time - this place can't screw up a burger, can they?
(2)Helen L.
We visited Jimmy's on a Friday night at 7:00 PM. It was fairly easy to get reservations so that was a plus for us. We were seated immediately and were surprised the the restaurant was not more crowded. They sat us way in the back of the restaurant, the very last table. We weren't sure why, but we didn't care as long as the food and service was good. Our server showed up right after we sat down, brought us bread and took our drink order. It only took a few minutes for our drinks and by then we were ready to order. I have to say that the pace was just right, we didn't feel rushed nor did we feel like we were waiting long for anything. I had the French Onion Soup, which was very good. I was just finishing my soup when the server brought us our meals. I had the Chicken Artichoke (Sautéed chicken breast, artichoke hearts and lemon butter sauce, served with rice pilaf). The chicken itself was good but sauce and artichokes were a little salty and the rice pilaf was a little undercooked. (I'm not thrilled about hard rice.) My husband had the Prime Top Sirloin, which he said was good and I have to assume that was true because he finished it all. All-in-all, I'd have to say it was okay. Would we go back? It's not on the top of our list, but also not the bottom either.
(3)Jay M.
The steaks are disappointing and lots of Italian food cooked by Mexican chef who puts cumin in everything including the red sauce ruining the dish unless you're Mexican or love cumin. I don't. Based on the quality, it's way overpriced and tha salads suck as well. How do you screw up a salad?
(2)D. V.
They have the best chicken brochettes,so tender and so much flavor. Love the rice too ! We have not been to this location. Our waiter, Jimmy was great ! Great service.
(4)Michael F.
A dinner stop on our long car trip. The hotel next door gave us 10% coupons, and it was nice to just walk over. That said, it was only OK. My medium-rare was more like medium. The potato was not fluffy. The greek salad was not small as advertised, but ok for an iceberg salad. My wife liked her Four Slider special, and kid enjoyed the roast chicken. Service was fairly attentive, but not that well trained. (Hello! Don't parade a bus pan through the dining room and have it hanging over people's tables or food!) (Don't pour my wine glass from my newly opened bottle all the way to the top of the glass!). Our actual server (these last complaints involved other people) was a delight and she made sure little one got her food fast, etc. Definitely busy and loud, but not unpleasant loud. Not a bad choice, and the prices are reasonable. Think they could do a bit better though.
(3)Sara L.
Always come here with my girls or old co workers for a drink to catch up. We normally go to the bar area and hit up the menu there. There normally isn't a wait and half off apps after 4p...sweet! The bartenders are pretty good on keeping your glass full and the food is pretty good. The appetizers they have in the bar are the same as the restaurant and the size large portion.
(3)Dana C.
My fiance and I went here last Friday for a celebratory dinner. The service was excellent (until she brought us the bill) and the food was average. When our server brought our bill, we noticed there was an 18% auto-gratuity added in. The restaurant policy (clearly stated at the bottom of each page of the menu) is that auto-gratuities will be added to parties of 6 or more. We were a party of 2. I can only assume that our server either didn't think we looked the type to tip properly, or was hoping we wouldn't notice the auto-gratuity added in and would tip her twice. What's unfortunate is that our server was excellent and would have received well above the 18% had she not insulted us with the auto-gratuity. We will never eat at this restaurant again, nor will we recommend it to anyone.
(2)Nick M.
It's a meh kind of place. Out with the family for dinner one night and decided on Jimmy's. I Don't normally go for the chain kind of places but Jimmy's had good qualities. Our waitress was perfect, taking care of 6 of the pickiest eaters with ease. I will say I didn't quite understand was the decor of the place, it's a char house but it's designed for an Italian restaurant. My problem with most chains is that packs you in so tightly that your elbow is the persons soup be hide you and it's extremely loud. Surprising enough Jimmy's wasn't too bad, lots of space and I didn't have to yell to talk to the people across the table. The food wasn't anything to rave about but it's nothing to condemn either. Obviously they have terrific burger and steaks, cooked perfectly. The fish wasn't the freshest (at least not to me) and the chicken was a little over grilled. I would recommend staying away from the Shrimp de Jonghe (which I do anyways but even my mother didn't like it and she loves those), it was just nasty. The portions were huge, way too much food but I guess that can be a good thing if you like leftovers. We were all so stuffed that there was no room for desert. I can't say that I would go back but it wasn't a completely awful experience.
(2)Doug H.
This place is great. Excellent food and service. Everything was cooked to perfection. We had two young kids who split a meal. The server delivered the food evenly split on two separate plates. The price was a bit high, but you expect to pay more for quality food at an upscale restaurant. This was my third time here, and I will continue to come back.
(5)Karen W.
Service was impeccable even though we had "special" request for our order. Food is awesome & portions are huge when it comes to the pasta! Nothing like warm bread and warm butter too. Can't wait to go back1
(5)Paul K.
Very good martinis an good appetizer specials at the bar. Huge plate of calamari for $4. Now the bad. Steaks are average at best. Got a baked potato full of mold. Wine list leaves A LOT to be desired. Will I go back? Maybe in the winter if they still have the appetizer special at the bar. Will never eat dinner here again.
(2)AF W.
Went with a very large group, steak was good, baked potato so so. Would go back to try with my wife next time in town. Beer was cold, good wait staff.
(3)John O.
I only had drinks and an appetizer so I don't know how much I'm aloud to write about this establishment. Service was good, drinks were good, the stuffed mushrooms weren't bad, but it is a dark place. Well the bar area was. I may have to go back to give it a real review. That's all for now!
(3)Susan D.
We haven't been to Jimmy's in a long time so were excited to get back. Only to find that my favorite chicken dish is no longer on the menu and the salads have been downgraded from awesome to really lame. Mine was watery lettuce with not much else to it. We were excited to hear that peppercorn ranch was one of the choices, and our server picked up on that and brought us extra, but it didn't seem much zippier than plain ranch. We did love the warm bread, and our meals were fine. My prime rib was a little pinker than I like and it didn't have a lot of flavor, but it was OK. Our server was very nice and attentive. Kept our drinks full and attended to our needs. But overall things do seem to be going a bit downhill here, with the extra charges for anything "extra" you'd like, to the dining room itself. We usually were seated in a booth, but this time were given a table, which seemed very close to the other tables. Felt like I could look over the shoulder of the diner behind me. Is IS nice of them to offer 10% off if you are staying at the Country Inn next door. That was a nice perk.
(3)Kate C.
Last week we ordered take out. It reminded me that they have really good food here. Also, their take out orders are very reasonable. There is so much food! We have also ate inside the resturant.
(4)E M.
Still a disappointment. The first time two of our seafood combo entrées came with salmon which was never mentioned on the menu. The two ordering these hate salmon and would have never ordered them knowing salmon was included. Sent them back and made new selections which of course meant that the 4 of us couldn't dine together. Most recent visit, the Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup for one guest contained no chicken or rice. Rotisserie Roasted Pork entrée, consisted of 3 VERY thin slices of pork which meant it was dry. The pork was definitely the minor player on the plate, maybe 3 ounces. There were more sliced carrots than pork! The "real" mashed potatoes on another plate were real as they had a huge piece of a halved potato buried in them. NOT smooth and creamy. When the waitress was told about this, she stated it was a potato. Duh! Should I be glad that it was a potato and not some other foreign object? And then she asked if she should bring a replacement. Duh! The experience was ruined. These restaurants really need to pay attention to consistent quality! I doubt that I would give them another chance.
(1)Larry S.
If you take my recommendation and dine here try the steak and lobster for $24.95. This is a meal that I am fond of but rarely order because it is usually priced at far more than I want to pay. Jimmy's offers it for an attractive price. Lobster was a good size and the steak was PRIME top sirloin (butt steak) which is a less expensive but very flavorful steak. My steak was done medium-rare (as ordered).
(4)Madeline D.
Stopped by over the weekend because since moving out here, we have passed by several times. I'm sorry but my Surf & Turf was not all that. The lobster was over done and the char fillet was char and not so tasty. My husband's porterhouse looked like a Denny's steak. Pretty bad after waiting an hour for a table also......
(1)Chris M.
Nice "middle-scale" dining in Elgin. Good selection and solid service. Took my daughter here for lunch and had a strip steak sandwich that was very good and cooked to order. Good variety of daily specials. Their balsamic salad dressing might just be the best I have ever had.
(3)Nikki S.
I went here with some co-workers for lunch and have to say it was average. The steak sandwich I had was a little on the tough side cutting into but everything else we dined on was good.
(3)Kim G.
For what is supposed to be a good steakhouse this is a major miss. My $20 6oz filet was 1/3 the size of what I buy at jewel. When I complained the manager brought over a steak 2X the size of what I was served explaining to me what a 6oz filet looks like. Since I only eat filet - this was insulting. As a matter of fact my friends filet was twice the size of the one they brought me. Drive by...don't waste your money on this place.
(1)Shuk A.
I have at jimmys 3 times and everytime i have been pleased this is a hidden treasure awesome food and great service. Jimmys is absolutley reasonably priced and you are full by the time you leave there. Pork chops are amazing there rice pilaf tasty and if you just want appetizers there its like ordering a dinner you wont be dissapointed.
(5)Cynthia K.
This was our first visit for a late afternoon weekend. It is dark in here and 30 minutes into our meal they turned the lights down - maybe atmosphere for the senior set? :-) The menu is extensive, but typical chop house offerings. Prices are fine for the large plates of food given. We liked the Italian bread served with plenty of butter. Our dinner salads were the only thumbs down - watery lettuce with just a few shavings of carrot and radish. I had the rotisserie chicken and roast pork with mashed potatoes, walnut stuffing and brocoli and carrots. The meat was prepared nicely - the chicken was not dry, the roast pork was tender. I liked both the stuffing and potatoes. My leftovers were all still tasty the next day. My husband had their BBQ ribs - tender and tangy. We had no room for dessert. Staff was nice enough.
(3)Irene W.
Ordered Top Sirloin dinner medium rare with a baked potato and salad to go. The steak was tendon-y and cooked medium. The baked potato and salad was average. Nothing to write home about. They need to something about the plastic utensils, since it didn't do anything to my steak. I was better off having my steak barbarian-styled. Overall, you're better off traveling further for better steak.
(1)Ryan H.
Wow has this place slipped! I ordered surf and turf. The steak was like shoe leather (ordered med. rare), so much so that I could not even finish it. The lobster tail was flavorless. Iced tea is still weak. Salad was predictably "OK" (how do you mess up a salad?). On the plus side, the free dessert I received (to compensate for the unedible steak) was Tiramisu and it was one of the better ones I have had. I will not be going back to Jimmy's any time soon.
(1)Kristin D.
I have read the reviews below and I never really thought of this as a steakhouse, nor would I order a steak here, but everything else I have eaten (I have been here 20+ times over the years) has been great! And the service is also good. Some of my favorites are the burgers and the greek salad.
(5)Julie P.
I'm not sure what's up with all the negative reviews, as I have eaten here quite a few times and enjoyed it. It's down the street from my office, so very convenient and has a large menu with good specials. I usually get the skirt steak with a horseradish/cheese crust, and it's always really good! The house salad comes with a really garlicky house vinaigrette dressing that might be too much for some but I love it. The stuffed mushroom appetizer is also good.
(3)Amanda S.
Jimmy's used to be A LOT better. And I mean A LOT. I went there when I graduated high school for dinner with my family and had a great time and a great meal. That was 5 years ago. I went with my family after graduating college this year and was shocked at how much this place now sucks. The filet had zero taste, it was so dried out and the vegetables that came with it were not very appealing. I also could have broken a tooth on the toasted bread that came with the goat cheese. I don't know what happened but the place is nowhere near as enjoyable as it used to be. The one plus side of this place is that they have some fun and interesting martinis that are very tasty. The service remains mediocre and the ambiance is nice but that's not really all I'm looking for in a chophouse.
(2)Carol J.
I've been here a few times, once when my mom was dying so I didn't review it because I thought I might be a little skewed. I went again on Thursday night with my suburban MILFy best friend and I realized, its pretty much the same. A small family owned chain of four or five still kind of has an independent vibe to it. The decor is nothing, looks kind of like someone hit the sale bins at Marshall's and T.J Maxx and slapped it all up on the wall. The menus is pretty expansive with basics and a few specialty items. Wine list is okay. Again, we are dealing with the 'burbs, but I would like to think the restaurant thinks its guests are people with a touch of sophistication. While being seated, after standing in the entry, waiting for the host/manager (whichever) to finish discussing his after work plans with a co worker, another server stopped him (with us in tow) to advise him that "Lucy" was to be seated next. Okay, not my problem who is up in the rotation and really unprofessional on her part. After being seated,we ordered drinks. I ordered Reisling, my friend a martini. The drinks were dropped, mine a turned Chardonnay with a chunk of cork in it that tasted much like what I would imagine a oak barrel to taste like if I licked the inside of it. Fifteen minutes later, another server happened by and happily returned the wine for me. WTF? In all fairness to the server, there was a PITA couple that completely and totally monopolized her. I was amazed at her patience because they were wearing ME out. Anyway, their food came out before our order was even taken. Food was decent, 10 oz Prime strip was on special for $12.95. Not gonna find that at Gibson's anytime soon. With a salad, vegetables and fluffy baked potato. Do I believe it was really Prime? No, but it wasn't bad. Salad was good, ranch dressing was yummy. Crusty, warm bread=awesome. The rest of the menu seemed reasonably priced and from the previous visits , nothing has changed. We checked out the bar area but it really seemed to be full of business travelers and people cheating on their spouses so we took a pass. Better than Outback but its no Gene & Georgetti or Chop House.
(3)Dmitry K.
Quick synopsis of our after business meeting dinner: When I've asked for 'Rare', I've got near 'Well Done' gray chunk of meat; Campbell's canned soup would have been better than the one that was offered, which consisted of weak and thin sour-flavored "broth" with few beans free-floating in it. Three slices of boiled carrot and one broccoli was counted as side of vegetables; tomatoes in the salad needed about an extra month on the vine before they could have been considered ripe; service was negligent: when waitress asked how our food was, our response was plain and simple: overcooked! She simply turned and walked away. This place could be used as one of the worst examples of chain restaurants American suburbia can produce. Quality food place it is not. There are plenty of places out there that would be delighted to have your business and offer an actual food in return vs. this place with food-service fare that cooked by somebody who obviously not carrying about food, returning customers or service.
(1)Katy D.
He and I ate there on a Thursday night recently. Mark was our server. The place was clean, the lighting perfect, the hostess friendly. We had a scrumptious goat cheese app. The cocktail was perfect, with a large wedge of lime to garnish! Yummy. I had the grouper (yummy) and he the chopped steak. It is a good price performer. We will go back!
(4)jason c.
We went there later on a saturday and also had to wait about 20 min past our reservation. The food was so so, except for the caesar salad which was one of the worst i have had. Overall besides the food be nothing to great the service was bad, it seemed like our server was way overwhelmed and dropped our check down before we even had a chance to ask for coffee or dessert. The place used to hold itself to a higher standard than it does now. not a fan anymore.
(2)Burbalicious X.
I am stumped by all the negative reviews. We had dinner here last night w/friends and thought it was quite good (especially for the price). Service was good and once we made it clear we were there to stay for a while, they did not rush us. Good menu selection - something for everyone. Prices were very reasonable. I had a 6oz filet for $20 that inclued salad and potato. And the meat was quite good and cooked as requested.
(4)M.K. O.
I don't usually have high expectations for chain restaurants, so to be disappointed with already low expectations really takes some effort. The food here was remarkably mediocre, but the service was awful. Several dishes that we didn't order were brought to the table and then sat there for ~10 minutes while we flagged down our waitress to tell her that we didn't these things. When our food finally arrived, it was cold and the sides were incorrect.
(2)Sherry D.
Have been going here for years. It's not Ruth's Chris, but it's pretty good food for reasonable prices. Any pasta you order will be TOO MUCH. They use an entire 1 lb package. I'm serious. It's absurd. But...you do get bread, salad and vegetables, and a side dish (potato/rice) with your entree, which these days in such an ala carte world, it nice. All the fish tends to be very oily. I ordered whitefish and it came swimming in olive oil. Be specific if you want it dry. Same thing with the pasta. Mom got pasta prima vera and there was an inch of oil swimming at the bottom of the bowl. However....to be fair, the chicken or beef brochette is nicely done, the chopped steak is decent, the pork tenderloin is good, and all the burgers are tasty. We don't regularly order steaks as it is NOT, to me, a steakhouse. Then again, they don't charge $45 for a ribeye like at the famous houses either. So...you get what you pay for. They make a nice sized cocktail without ridiculous prices. The wine list is not very extensive, but adequate. All in all, we probably go there once or twice a month (it's a perfect meeting place right in the middle for our combined families) and always get very friendly servers. The front of house people are not the friendliest, but maybe because they are related to the owners? I don't know, but we've always felt a little unwelcome by them, as opposed to the servers.
(3)Brian G.
Convieniently located right next to our hotel, we walked over to Jimmy's and enjoyed a couple of good meals here. Steak not to die for but solid good, warm chewy bread (which I love). The selection of beers was not very much as I remember, and the service was decent. I'd eat here again while in Elgin.
(3)Tracy K.
Okay, I get that this place is a steak house. Meat is what they do. I do not eat meat, but the majority of my friends and family do, so I have ended up here a handful of times. They enjoy the food and keep going back, so perhaps my review is way off.. but this is what I thought of it: The space itself is nice. Its relatively dark, spacious and the room flows well. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The service has been efficient and friendly enough. Everything else is good.. and then there's the food. Pasta with marinara sauce? Nope. Their marinara has chicken flavoring in it. Fettuccine alfredo? Not so much. It too is flavored with chicken broth. So what else is there? Some iceberg lettuce with a shred of carrot and cherry tomato? Oh boy. Three pounds of linguine drenched in olive oil and garlic with a few steamed veggies thrown in? Eh, sure. I can and do make it at home, but I guess its cool to drop $15 on it at a restaurant too. EDIT: Their website is out of date; the only vegetarian pasta dish they used to have is no longer on the menu. When I asked for it this weekend, the waitress instead suggested the one with grilled chicken.. yeah, thanks. We were here on a busy Saturday night. Service in the bar was good, but out in the dining area? That kinda defeats the purpose. Also, they pack 'em in like sardines here. Clearly this place is all about quantity over quality.
(1)Angela P.
I have to give Jimmy's a 2 for their EXCELLENT shrimp de jonghe!!! It is seriously one of the best I have had anywhere. But everything else, not so good. We really didn't like their steaks or pork chops. Everything was overcooked for our tastes and pretty flavorless. The service is okay, but it is just not an overall inviting place to be. It is very dark and just not welcoming. I would go there to get the shrimp to go and that's about it!
(2)Mike T.
I'm shocked by the poor reviews here. We haven't been here in over six months, but every time we've gone we've gotten good food and good service. I love their burgers here, they are big and delicious. The garlic mashed potatoes are to die for. I'm curious to go back now after all the bad reviews, I'll have to check it out again.
(4)John H.
If you enjoy eating poorly prepared food in a giant warehouse, you'll find happiness here. We went with a group from work, all ten in our party were disappointed with the food and service. I got broiled cod and it was dry and bony. Steaks were thin, chewy and overpriced. Tobacco is still king here, too. I went with my family once, too, because my wife wanted to try it, and this outing fell far short of her expectations. She ordered grilled chicken and it too was dry and stringy served with a watery salad and a baked potatoe that had been on hold way too long.
(1)Robb W.
This place is always packed and I do not understand why. Their prices are that of a good chicago steak house only the food quality is that of a cheap diner. I ordered a filet mignon with a lobster tail and it was right around $50 which is what you would pay at a Chicago Prime House or a Wildfire. What I got was a fatty piece of meat and a lobster tail that could have been served at Red Lobster. The hostess and management team looks and act very snotty as well. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. We too went here because of the coupon in the weekly flyer. Now I understand why then need coupons to justify the bad quality and overpriced food.
(2)