This place is pro. I only went for lunch, but there are certain things I look for in restaurants, and the little things all stood out to me like a sore thumb (in a good way). The staff could not have been more attentive, well timed, or more appropriately behaved. For example, there was a table of obnoxious people and their kids, about 12 total, and when they left the employees had the tables split up and the mess cleaned up in about 3 minutes. Then the manager was making notes of scratches in the wood for someone to touch up. Details. A couple more nice touches were the hostesses opening the door for us, the waiter taking our leftovers away to box them up for us (pet peeve when waiters toss you boxes on your table at nice places), and when he brought them back, he placed them on the coat rack ring on the side so you're not talking over a big bag of leftovers. I also noticed another waitress hang a diner's coat on those rings that are right next to the table. Really, all in all, this is how dining is supposed to be. Other people talked enough about the food that was very good. My date had a chicken salad and subbed the grilled chicken for the fried chicken and that chicken breast was perfect, if not only 30 seconds underdone if I have to be extremely picky, but way to err on the side of underdone without a hint of it actually being undercooked. Very tender and juicy. I had the rotisserie chicken that was very tasty, but I actually thought the white meat splintered apart a little too much and was on the dry side. Tough to nail a slow cook for lunch, though. It was still very tasty and the dark meat part was awesome. Sure, you can come here and drop $200 on two people if you're indulging, but our meal for two was $43, which is less than I drop on sushi. One of my favorite things to do is go to places like this and find something for $10-15. You really do benefit from a high quality establishment even if you don't drop a lot of money.
(5)
Katie S.
It's not THAT expensive...sheesh. Dinner for three with appetizer (the spinach queso dip is excellent!) and a tasty dessert rang in at just under $140.00 (not including tip). With outstanding service (thanks, Daniel) and perfect steaks (the filet for husband & me - the NY strip for our son), the price is totally appropriate and worth it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a good steak dinner & an overall lovely night out.
(4)
Carly B.
Why oh why does this place have to make my wallet cry? Our hostess did not start the evening off well (she gets a sad, single star). She buzzed our beeper for the table and then told us it would be another minute, which turned into 10. We lost our seats and stood awkwardly by the cold door. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint! I devoured the cypress salad with glee. With 1/2 avocado, loads of bacon and homemade croutons how could I be full (hehe) of anything, but joy? Boytoy ordered the French dip sandwich with fries. Was definitely the best one I've ever tried. 4 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. The waitress wasn't super attentive and disappeared for about 15 minutes after our initial drink order.
(4)
Beth G.
I wish I could give more stars. Used to love love love this place. When they changed their menu and their take out we stopped going as frequently. Almost stopped cold tell unless friends want to go and we begrudgingly go. Salads are good and prime rib sandwich used to be the eat until they cut it in half and raised the price. So sad to see it change so much and not for the better when ll these new places are sprouting.
(2)
D F.
Slipping. Not sure what happened here, they used to be super consistent and great at attending to their customers. We arrived and there was trash spilling out of the ashtray by the door. The brass on the door was filthy. We were seated in a booth in the bar area, and it took several minutes for someone to come by. Eating with two small kids we had the whole order ready to go when she arrived. Service was sub-par, empty glasses, no follow-up once food was dropped. Food portions are smaller, prices up. No leather sleeve for the check, it was just dropped on the table in passing. This is a far cry from the J. Alexander's of years ago.
(2)
Dee B.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend. The waitress was very nice & sociable. I ordered a turkey burger for $12 and it was amazing. One of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. It was thick and juicy.. had lots of flavor. I love the fresh roma tomatos served with the burger and the well seasoned peppered skinny fries. I will definately be back for more. And for dessert, I had the carrot cake... which is absolutely phenominal. So moist and delicious. The slice was huge, well worth my $7. That was one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had... besides my grama's. But definately thee best substitute ever. My friend ordered the rotissere chicken with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. Now that meal was also delicious. The chicken wasn't dry and the chocolate cake was rich, but not overwhelmingly chocolately... it was definately ediable. Unlike some chocolate cakes you take 2 bites and you're done cause its to rich & powerful. No regrets on our part. Let's just end this review with this message... this was one very satisfying lunches to date. Both meals were definately winners.
(5)
Collin K.
Came here during the lunch rush during the week. We were seated immediately. Our server was very quick with getting our drink and food orders, and I was surprised by how fast our food came out. The restaurant was packed, but they did a fantastic job getting everyone in and out without the feeling of being pushed out. I got the shrimp tacos with bang bang sauce, and they were fantastic. On a previous trip I had the seared ahi tuna and salad. And I can't decide which one I liked better. If only I could get both. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Nikki B.
The original J Alexanders on white bridge road has never lost its mojo! While the chain has expanded to many states since this concept restaurant started the story, this home town gem keeps it real. Two of my favorite menu items are the spinach queso (to die for cheesy goodness) and the French dip sandwich. The sandwich cannot be rivaled anywhere at any other restaurant. You can tell they don't just shave prime rib from a dried out piece of prime rib. It's the good stuff! And the smear of creamy horseradish is not overpowering. Nothing is over the top here. It's just right. My husband's favorite is the rattlesnake pasta. The perfect consistency for the noodles they use. Last but certainly not least, save room for the carrot cake or very best chocolate cake. Incredible. Order it even if you have to take it home. It's good to see our little home town gem has grown up, but never forgot where it came from!
(5)
Nick T.
A consistent favorite since I moved to Nashville 10+ years ago. Great food, great service, every single time. Never had a bad visit.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I come for the service. I stay for the consistently delicious food. I meet someone interesting ever time I sit at the bar, including the staff. My favorite encounter was a mellow Mom talk conversation with Halle Barry. (Sp?) not sure about spelling but I'm sure it was her! I've also heard rumors of many country stars eating here. I also enjoy the locals hanging in the bar...everyone from realtors to politicians to Ironmen (seriously.) I wish I could afford to come more! A perfect Saturday would be lunch here with a massage at Basic Kneads down the street.
(5)
Andy B.
This place is pro. I only went for lunch, but there are certain things I look for in restaurants, and the little things all stood out to me like a sore thumb (in a good way). The staff could not have been more attentive, well timed, or more appropriately behaved. For example, there was a table of obnoxious people and their kids, about 12 total, and when they left the employees had the tables split up and the mess cleaned up in about 3 minutes. Then the manager was making notes of scratches in the wood for someone to touch up. Details. A couple more nice touches were the hostesses opening the door for us, the waiter taking our leftovers away to box them up for us (pet peeve when waiters toss you boxes on your table at nice places), and when he brought them back, he placed them on the coat rack ring on the side so you're not talking over a big bag of leftovers. I also noticed another waitress hang a diner's coat on those rings that are right next to the table. Really, all in all, this is how dining is supposed to be. Other people talked enough about the food that was very good. My date had a chicken salad and subbed the grilled chicken for the fried chicken and that chicken breast was perfect, if not only 30 seconds underdone if I have to be extremely picky, but way to err on the side of underdone without a hint of it actually being undercooked. Very tender and juicy. I had the rotisserie chicken that was very tasty, but I actually thought the white meat splintered apart a little too much and was on the dry side. Tough to nail a slow cook for lunch, though. It was still very tasty and the dark meat part was awesome. Sure, you can come here and drop $200 on two people if you're indulging, but our meal for two was $43, which is less than I drop on sushi. One of my favorite things to do is go to places like this and find something for $10-15. You really do benefit from a high quality establishment even if you don't drop a lot of money.
(5)
Katie S.
It's not THAT expensive...sheesh. Dinner for three with appetizer (the spinach queso dip is excellent!) and a tasty dessert rang in at just under $140.00 (not including tip). With outstanding service (thanks, Daniel) and perfect steaks (the filet for husband & me - the NY strip for our son), the price is totally appropriate and worth it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a good steak dinner & an overall lovely night out.
(4)
D P.
My husband and I stopped by this afternoon. We were not disappointed. I got the made in house veggie burger. I have tried many veggie burgers but this one is outstanding!! Just the right amount of their tasty sauce and the ingredients are fresh!! My husband got their steak burger and he was impressed with the taste and quality as well. We both ordered the fries. They are very thin but not soggy and greasy as one might expect. We thought they were tasty too!! The service was very good from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The price for two quality burgers and fries was really not bad. My veggie burger was $11 and his steak burger was $12. We have been to all three locations and have yet to be disappointed!!
(4)
Kirk M.
Its easy to overlook reviewing a place that has been an on and off part of the routine for a long time. I really like this place. The people are nice, the food is good, the atmosphere is good, the prices are reasonable, and its nice and clean. The staff is obviously well trained and perform their duties with smiles on their faces. Whether its just a quick beer on the way home, or several at the bar while watching a game on TV, or a full dinner....its consistently good. The only thing I would change is that they dont take to-go orders over the phone. But, perhaps that's why everything else works so well.
(4)
David H.
Best food! Best service. I've never had a bad meal here!! And I visit often..
(5)
Lauren S.
Overall: Delicious, hearty eats with great service. Food/Drinks: I'm honestly not a huge red meat fan (then why the heck am I at a steak place, right?) but they do have other options! The fish tacos are filling without being heavy. If you really want a belt buster, go for the mac & cheese. It's amazing, but you will need to work out for 3 hours the next day. There is a fairly good wine list and a few cocktails as well. Service: I have always had good service, in fact, I would be more surprised if I didn't. I think it's part of their schtick to act a certain way/say certain things. I always end up eating in a booth in the bar area, it's a great place to people watch. You never know who will show up to this off-the-beaten-path location! Cost: Entrees are in the teens, sides are about $4 and wine runs the range from $7 for a basic glass and goes up from there.
(4)
S B.
On my last visit I had the veggie plate (roasted acorn squash, grilled zucchini, heriloom tomatoes with olive oil and basil and wild rice and orzo mixture). It was all the perfect temperature and flavor. Nice.
(5)
James W.
Met an old friend here for dinner, it had to have been over 5 years since the las visit. I Liked this one because the food and service is always a lovely experience. As Southern as it is the style and ambiance is always so comfortable. I ordered the catch of the day, Don't know who or where it was caght but it was great, had the chef to sear it with house seasoned mashed potatoes, red wine gravy sauteed mushrooms, aparagus, and red wine. Nothing else just a happy man.... its hard to eat, smile, and talk.... :)
(4)
Carly B.
Why oh why does this place have to make my wallet cry? Our hostess did not start the evening off well (she gets a sad, single star). She buzzed our beeper for the table and then told us it would be another minute, which turned into 10. We lost our seats and stood awkwardly by the cold door. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint! I devoured the cypress salad with glee. With 1/2 avocado, loads of bacon and homemade croutons how could I be full (hehe) of anything, but joy? Boytoy ordered the French dip sandwich with fries. Was definitely the best one I've ever tried. 4 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. The waitress wasn't super attentive and disappeared for about 15 minutes after our initial drink order.
(4)
Beth G.
I wish I could give more stars. Used to love love love this place. When they changed their menu and their take out we stopped going as frequently. Almost stopped cold tell unless friends want to go and we begrudgingly go. Salads are good and prime rib sandwich used to be the eat until they cut it in half and raised the price. So sad to see it change so much and not for the better when ll these new places are sprouting.
(2)
Nick T.
A consistent favorite since I moved to Nashville 10+ years ago. Great food, great service, every single time. Never had a bad visit.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I come for the service. I stay for the consistently delicious food. I meet someone interesting ever time I sit at the bar, including the staff. My favorite encounter was a mellow Mom talk conversation with Halle Barry. (Sp?) not sure about spelling but I'm sure it was her! I've also heard rumors of many country stars eating here. I also enjoy the locals hanging in the bar...everyone from realtors to politicians to Ironmen (seriously.) I wish I could afford to come more! A perfect Saturday would be lunch here with a massage at Basic Kneads down the street.
(5)
D F.
Slipping. Not sure what happened here, they used to be super consistent and great at attending to their customers. We arrived and there was trash spilling out of the ashtray by the door. The brass on the door was filthy. We were seated in a booth in the bar area, and it took several minutes for someone to come by. Eating with two small kids we had the whole order ready to go when she arrived. Service was sub-par, empty glasses, no follow-up once food was dropped. Food portions are smaller, prices up. No leather sleeve for the check, it was just dropped on the table in passing. This is a far cry from the J. Alexander's of years ago.
(2)
Miranda P.
Wonderful meal and very nice atmosphere. The hosts were welcoming and the server was timely and friendly. The food was incredible. Their burger and artichoke Is my favorite. There Mac and cheese is impeccable and is a must the. I will say they changed their mash potatoes recipe and they were actually really bad and I would not get them. But overall great location and lovely mean!
(5)
Dee B.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend. The waitress was very nice & sociable. I ordered a turkey burger for $12 and it was amazing. One of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. It was thick and juicy.. had lots of flavor. I love the fresh roma tomatos served with the burger and the well seasoned peppered skinny fries. I will definately be back for more. And for dessert, I had the carrot cake... which is absolutely phenominal. So moist and delicious. The slice was huge, well worth my $7. That was one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had... besides my grama's. But definately thee best substitute ever. My friend ordered the rotissere chicken with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. Now that meal was also delicious. The chicken wasn't dry and the chocolate cake was rich, but not overwhelmingly chocolately... it was definately ediable. Unlike some chocolate cakes you take 2 bites and you're done cause its to rich & powerful. No regrets on our part. Let's just end this review with this message... this was one very satisfying lunches to date. Both meals were definately winners.
(5)
Collin K.
Came here during the lunch rush during the week. We were seated immediately. Our server was very quick with getting our drink and food orders, and I was surprised by how fast our food came out. The restaurant was packed, but they did a fantastic job getting everyone in and out without the feeling of being pushed out. I got the shrimp tacos with bang bang sauce, and they were fantastic. On a previous trip I had the seared ahi tuna and salad. And I can't decide which one I liked better. If only I could get both. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jason B.
I don't typically review chains, but J. Alexanders isn't a mega-chain so to speak. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal at J. Alexanders. My favorite menu item is the prime rib sandwich. A great piece of meat on good crusty bread....its hard to go wrong. Their salmon is also really good, and I like that cook it to more of a medium-rare to medium temp. The service is always really good, however, I don't understand why 3 or 4 different servers may help you over the course of one meal. I wish they would change the menu a bit more often. I have 2 or 3 items that I typically fall back on. Even the specials they offer tend to rotate between 2 or 3 items. Overall, J. Alexanders is a nice versatile place. It is appropriate for a business lunch, a nice little date night, or even a family dinner.
(4)
Francine V.
Great restaurant and staff. I had the best French dip ever. I loved the decor, it reminded me of a restaurant on nyc the odeon in TriBeCa.
(5)
Bridget S.
We have been here a few times and the food is always great. I took my hubby for his birthday dinner last Saturday. Overall a very nice experience. Great food, service and atmosphere. Unpretentious, dress in jeans, casual or dressy all are acceptable here. Now for the food...my hubby had the seared ahi tuna....PERFECT and most of all FRESH! I had the filet, perfect...not over salted and the portion was size was great, (I had to take my baked potato home the steak was that large). My daughter had the steak and fries...she love the meal. On a lunch visit in the past we I had their signature chicken salad..a MUST try.delicious and enough for two. We will return.
(4)
Kevin H.
I love eating here after a long work week. Nothing gives me a pat on the back like a good steak. The service here is always impeccable and I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or prepared incorrectly. Pro-tips: Bread is free, but you have to ask for it. The steak Maui is where it's at.
(4)
Brad H.
Went here with my family couple weeks ago had a great. I always come here and order their steaks they can never go wrong. I order the prime rib steak and yummy. The waitress was cute but a little energetic with her job, but I guess she loves what she does.
(5)
Diana S.
I love, love love the grilled chicken salad, and though it is $14, it is large enough to make 2 meals for almost anyone. The same applies to most of the meals here - really good quality, expensive but large servings. The menu stays the same through the seasons, with grilled salmon, chicken, steaks, burgers, crab cakes and other tried and true restaurant choices done to perfection. They have the best carrot cake ever - it is served warm and is all kinds of delicious - gooey, sweet, crunchy and riddled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Haven't tried the other desserts but my guess is they are just as good. Another thing that J. Alexander's does extremely well is vegetables. Rather than going with the tired mixed veg of several squashes and carrots, they offer seasonal vegetables along with their specials, and they are unusual and delicious choices, such as winter squash with cinnamon butter in winter and sliced heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Order a plate of 3 veggies and you will get enough for 2. BTW, customer service is great as well. After all this applause, I have to include the cons. This is a small chain that is priced like a local, chef-owned restaurant, although I do, again have to stress the gargantuan proportions. However, no matter how large the size, there is still no justification for charging FOURTEEN dollars for guacamole and chips. I mean, come ON.
(4)
David J.
Very good! Ordered a fillet minion for $32. Very good but a little under done, overall I would for sure go back on special occasions.
(4)
Piper P.
Stopped in after a long drive back from Birmingham. Always a treat. The wait staff is amazing and so is the food. We started with grilled artichoke, which are the best I have ever eaten. Wine and then the wonderful salmon. Couldn't have been better.
(5)
Bridgette C.
There is a little secret J Alexander's is keeping from you, and it's their one yet delicious brunch offering. A delicious quiche with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. If this one dish is telling of everything J Alexander's has to offer then I will be back. Admittedly I hadn't gone because, when I have the option to go out to eat, this place just never crossed my mind. Plus I didn't realize there was this location on White Bridge, which lacks the college crowd of its West End sister. Here the crowd was mostly locals, and it was a much more relaxed environment. The bartender was on point (because as you may have noticed in my reviews I enjoy sitting at the bars of restaurants, so many interesting people...) and it was because of him that I tried this surprise breakfast concoction to begin with. The side salad is dressed with champagne vinaigrette and I must have again on any salad on their menu. They have some of the best French-press coffee you can get outside of a coffee house. Overall a great place that I had misjudged and I will happily come back.
(4)
Jean W.
I was there this month for the first time and it was great. I ordered the Scottish salmon and was so glad I did. It was the best I ever had. A small container of sauce accompanied it and it was good as well. I didn't order any sides and I'm glad I didn't. The salmon was served with a heaping amount of an interesting combination of corn, beans, raisins and other ingredients. It sounds awful, but trust me it was very tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. The drinks were generous and strong. One of our party had a Manhattan and it came not only as an adequate amount in a glass, it also had a buddy along with it - the rest of the drink was in a small cylinder resting in another glass of cold-water. Apparently you get the full-measure. Another companion ordered the prime rib and pronounced it excellent. The salads were huge. Service was pleasant and efficient. In summation, enough of an overall food experience to return.
(5)
Christian P.
Worst experience I've ever had at J. Alexander's, unfortunately! I've eaten at the three locations probably over 100 times in my two decades in Nashville, as J Alexander's has always been my go to for reliable food and good service. I usually find this location a little calmer than West End, and there's even a former VU football celebrity (think Music City Bowl '08) who works here and is a very good waiter! However, I ate this afternoon alone at about 3:30pm. I was seated at a booth and even asked the hostess if it was okay to be taking up a booth as a party of one. She said not to worry about it. I then waited about 10 min. for my waitress to come to the table, and when she did, I went ahead and placed my drink and food order: unsweet tea, chili, and a salad. She wasn't friendly and seemed bothered by my being there. She also never brought water to my table like they do with all tables (the carafe plus glasses), but I didn't ask b/c I didn't want to be difficult. About 5 min. later, my tea comes, and the glass has a visible piece of food stuck to it. No big deal, I asked for another. About 5 min. later, my chili arrives (from the manager), and I mentioned that I still didn't have a drink. About 10 min. later, my tea and salad arrive, as I'm finishing my chili. Then, I finish my salad and drink and wait 10 or so min. (no one has asked if my food was as ordered, etc) until another waitress simply brings the check. I ask for a refill, she offers a to-go glass, and about ten min. later, I get it. For the first time in my life, I did not leave a tip, as I went for the majority of my meal without a beverage (and usually, they are so good at refills) and clearly felt as though I was a burden to the staff by being there alone. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's hard to enjoy rather spicy chili without anything to drink, even water! The place was packed and I would have been happy to sit at the bar, had they insinuated that to be more appropriate. I also would have been more understanding of the slowness, had it not been to spend 30 seconds putting ice and tea in a glass. I noticed two other waitress at tables near mine who wished the patrons a Happy Valentine's Day, told them of the soup (I had to ask), brought multiple refills, inquired how their food tasted, asked if they wanted dessert, etc, but I unfortunately didn't get any of that. Just a disappointing experience...especially when eating alone on Valentine's Day was a little awkward as is!
(1)
Jim M.
Not sure who J. Alexander is but he would have not been impressed with our experience. This used to be our favorite "date" night, local place. Generally, predictable quality and service. Everybody has a bad day, but they blew this one at every turn. Sat in bar to watch NCAA. Food server did not want to get me an Arnold Palmer? Food was slow, no drink refille, burger came out wrong temperature. Had to get up to find server to send food back, had to get up to get refills. No food quality check. Manager did come by and we explained what a poor experience we had...he never returned. In fact, he was leaving the restaurant at the same time we were? Guess his need to get home was greater than the need to check on his customers. Hope he caught the end of the NCAA's. Not sure we will be back? I am usually a GREAT tipper considering that is how I put myself through college. Admittedly, left 10%. iF they had comped anything, would have made it up to server. It is not about the $$$, it was about poor service. Nashville has too many restaurants to have this experience. Next time it's Urban Grub, Mafioza's, or Pinewood Social.
(1)
Jermaine H.
I got the rotisserie chicken and my girlfriend ate the ribs. My food tasted great but I think my portion was a little small. Food was fresh and tasty good, my mashed potatoes were great. My girlfriend's food on the other hand was a little overcooked. It visually look great but the sauce covered up the overcooked portions. My drinks were refilled all the time. The waitress was great. We both said that we will come back. It was not worth the hour wait but it was close.
(3)
Zaq H.
It is rare to find a chef that can Pittsburgh a steak as good as Melvin. Mine was superb!
(5)
Beth H.
Very tasty. I went on a tuesday night and it was packed! I only waited a little while before I got seated. I ordered Alex's Salad to start and the filet mignon with the loaded baked potato. Totally delicious, and reasonably priced.
(4)
Connie A.
I eat at J Alexander's on White Bridge several times a week.I have always been able to get a half glass of wine.After drinking one glass I only want a half glass.I learned last night I could no longer get that,I would have to get a full glass.Please,return to your half glass.We are there constantly and love it!
(5)
Mary R.
The baby back ribs are to die for! Best I've ever had. The sauce is perfect. I can't name a single thing that is wrong with it! They should have the ribs on every menu but they only have them at this location so I come here whenever I get that rib craving. Their fries are the perfect little salted shoe strings, yum! My kids also love the jacks chicken tenders.
(4)
Kristina L.
Based on the reviews I feel like a bit of a schmuck just giving this place two stars. The service was fine; however, the food was just so blah I cannot even be bothered to round up. To me, J. Alexander's has always been a very pricey lunch spot for just average food. I went there today with a few co-workers and had a tuna burger. It was just "meh". Honestly, not a whole lot of flavor going on with it at all. It seemed to lack all seasoning, including salt and was on the dry side. Another person at the table ordered it as well and she and I were both equally disappointed in what we got. For just that burger, fries, and a glass of water, my total was $19.34! An automatic 15% was added on since there were six in our party. While I am fine with that because the service was attentive, it was not brought to our attention. Instead, one of us noticed it and let the others know before they tacked on 15-20% of their own on top of the automatic amount. It may have been written somewhere on the menu; however, I think it would have been nice if the server would have brought this to our attention. If he had, I would probably have added a couple of bucks onto the total because the $2.45 tip that was automatically added seemed a bit low to me. For $19.34, I could go to Gabby's twice and have wonderful food. The only thing I truly enjoyed was my fries. Shoestring fries that were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It was the highlight of my food and that's not saying much for the amount of money I shelled out for something lackluster. It's kind of a glorified O'Charley's if you really want to know. It's never been a place that has had a "wow" factor for me. Basically it is just food to ward off the rumbling in my belly. I'd really prefer to not go back and suffer through the mediocrity and hype.
(2)
Ryan P.
From my tip: The excellent Thai Kai Salad is no longer on the menu but is still available on request. This J. Alexander's doesn't feel quite as nice as the ones in Cool Springs or West End, but the food is the same. I had the black bean soup and the Cajun Trout, both of which were excellent. Our server was attentive and quick, and the food was right out of the oven. Their salads are also good if you want to avoid the post-lunch coma.
(4)
Pamela H.
Very reliable. Food is made to order and I'm never disappointed. My husband and I usually have salmon with rice and orzo side. I like that the salmon is prepared medium rare. The carrot cake is amazing and the coffee is perfect. This is our go-to restaurant. There are food runners and table bussers so that explains the multiple wait staff that serves each table. The mac and cheese and creamed spinach sides are delicious too!
(5)
Stephen L.
One of my favorite places to eat on the planet! Very classy. Very good vibe. Fast service and incredible fresh food quality. The "not your ordinary Mac n cheese" is the best I've ever had! The chicken tenders are so juicy and hand breaded. I go here once a week.
(5)
Shooter S.
Great place for lunch. It is never too crowded (But just enough) and they can get you in an out fairly quickly. Dinner can sometimes be tricky. The menu is very consistent. The Salmon and the Ribs are my two favorites. They also have some of the best bartenders in town!
(4)
Nickie G.
Hrrrm, maybe I'm turning into a real food snob or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing because this place was just OK to me. I met my parents and my brother here for a birthday night dinner since my dad and I were both celebrating birthdays! Yay! The atmosphere is nice with a dimly lit room, swank decor - definitely felt more upscale casual. It actually reminded me a bit of a lesser Houston's. The menu also reminded me of Houston's (btw OH HOW I MISS YOU HOUSTON'S). Steaks were prominent on the menu, huge salad entree options, fish and chicken dishes for the people who don't like steak, and decadent desserts. I was kind of excited since you can't go wrong with this kind of menu. But it wasn't quite Houston's. I got the steak Maui because I thought, hey, maybe it is like the Hawaiian steak at the aforementioned establishment. It was a ribeye (I think) and cooked perfect medium rare. However, I found the steak kind of chewy and stringy as well as too fatty (which I know is par for the course with that cut). I liked the marinade and the flavor but I just wasn't in LOVE with it. The BF had a steak also and had very similar comments. Desserts were a treat! Chocolate cake with ice cream - HUGE and decadent. The carrot cake was interesting - more dense than usual carrot cake I've had and warm with melty sugary icing on top. There was literally NOTHING wrong with this. For once I actually took something home in a leftover box and ate the rest of that bad boy later in the night. Hey, twas my birthday, I can eat if I want to!! Overall an A-OK joint and I really think I need to go back and try something else to give it a fair shot. I'm not giving up on you J. Alexander's!!
(3)
Asheia W.
I was very pleased with my experience here. This location doesn't seem as upscale as the West End location, however I was pleased with the short wait time on a Friday night. Everything was carefully prepared and brought to the table with care. They even brought my straw out on a plate. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and the Mac and Cheese. I was very pleased with the large portion sizes! The Salmon was prepared perfectly with accompanying tartar sauce. The Macaroni and cheese was baked well, crispy on top and warm and moist on the inside. Excellent customer service from the wait staff as well.
(4)
Justin M.
Hey guys. So it's really not often I leave a five star rating for restaurants but that could simply be because there aren't that many in my area. Today was the first day I went to a J. Alexander's and I gotta say-it was fantastic. My girlfriend wanted me to try their macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and chicken. We split the portion and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Everything was cooked excellently and the chicken was so tender and the broccoli so fresh. The food was hot and the service was great. For dessert we got the carrot cake, a very large slice of it. It was warm and luscious and melt-in-your-mouth good. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kathy C.
The only J Alexanders I've been to is on White Bridge. The atmosphere is great...a bit dark, intimate, classy. Just the way I like it. The food is good. I've never had anything I didn't like enough to order again. The staff is familiar with everything on the menu and can answer any question you throw at them about the appetizers, entrees or wine. When I eat out, I want it to be an experience. I want to be catered to. I want great food and wine. Our server introduced us to a wine yesterday that was very reasonable and now-my new favorite. I'm a food snob, and I like this restaurant. Wine starts at $7 a glass and goes up from there. Entrees start at about $14, appetizers start at about $5. I've eaten here for lunch and dinner a few times. Whether there's two of us or 10, the service and food has always been outstanding.
(5)
Foodie A.
Food is always very good, using good quality ingredients and is very consistent each time we dine. Always a great experience!
(5)
Chris W.
Great place for lunch. Had the salmon and campari tomatoes. The salmon was marinated and cooked to perfection. Basically melted in my mouth. Was a hit, 3 other folks in my group also ordered the same dish and were highly pleased. Nice atmosphere, very much felt the same as a Houston's.
(4)
BethAnn S.
I'm going with 3 stars because this place is just that "A-ok" which is more a smack at their new crazy high new pricing than anything else. The food is standard steak house fare but quite good good and frankly they should charge you just to go in and smell the place as the waft of their fire and rotisserie items is to die for. Or so you think until you get the menu where a French Dip sandwich will set you back $17. That's a sandwich folks and we're in a Nashville strip mall, not NYC. Sadly, this kind of price inflation is clearly thinning the herds as the night we were there last week was dead leaving 3 staff members to wait on us virtually non-stop. What use to be a place you could go with your family for dinner that was several notches over the standard chain fare has lost its place in my opinion. If I'm going to drop $100 on entrees and a shared appetizer for 2 (and no wine!) I'll be hitting Flemings or Stony River.
(3)
LM C.
Best caesar salad in Nashville, and a very nice steak.
Look out Houston's! You have met your match! J.Alexanders so happens to be the stepsister of Houston's. You can definitely tell by the restaurant's style and ambiance. They both sport that trademark classy atmosphere that get when you enter a Hillstone owned restaurant. I'm a regular at Houston's in Irvine,ca, been going there since I was in preschool and I completely adore the food both have to offer but J.Alexanders sadly has overtaken Houston's throne in my book! This one of the main reason why I love coming to Tennessee on my vacations. I was introduced to J.Alexanders back in the late 90s by my Grandparents, they always raved about this place and they so happen to eat here after church every Sunday. The first time I came to this place, I fell in love with it and I felt right at home(since they had almost everything I would get a Houston's). I always used to get their chicken tenders(which are delicious), but now that i'm older I have moved on to other things. For a starter, I always get their Caesar . One of the best Caesar Salads I've ever had in my life, They give you a great portion, and I deeply love the creamy garlicky dressing tossed in the salad topped with the their Parmesan cheese and fresh hot deep fried croutons . It's to die for! I may warn you,the salad portions here are huge!!! A side salad is equivalent to a dinner salad, i'm not joking one bit. These Salads here make the Houston's side salads look as small as those $1.00 salads at Wendy's. The true highlight of this place in my opinion is their Danish Baby back ribs! Much like Houston's, these are Fall out of the bone fork and knife ribs and they are smothered in their tasty Plum Creek B.B.Q sauce(which is slightly sweeter than Houston's), it's Coleslaw(I always substitute for their shoestring fries) and Tequila beans! Both side dishes definitely add to the meal making it delicious beyond words! These ribs have taken the Crown from Houston's! The only thing this place doesn't have is the out of this world Chicago Spinach dip! But hey, this Place proven it's self to be the better restaurant . I also have to say the Service here is Fantastic, after all this is a five star restaurant so what do you think you'll except? :D I truly recommend this place from the bottom of my heart! The food is amazing, Service is awesome, the restaurant is classy and sophisticated, words just cannot express how much I love this place! J. Alexanders deserves more than 5 stars!
(5)
Robby H.
Great relaxed bar with nice jazz. Atmosphere is terrific, brick fireplaces and dark wood. Food is always good.
(4)
Katie I.
One of our favorite go-to restaurants. Everything is consistenly good here. Wish it was a little more kid-friendly so we could go there more often. Great bar. LOVE the ladder and hook merlot. the best! salads are the best. I'm so critical, and every veggie is perfectly cut, fresh and the greens are fresh, awesome salad dressings. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the chic salad sandwich. Other than that, the fish, steaks and burgers are great. Chic tenders are fab. Love the fries and soup. It is the closest thing to old-school Houston's. Love J's! Oh..and the carrot cake is freaking amazing! i don't even like carrot cake and it is the BEST! a must try!
(5)
Faith J.
I liked this J Alexanders way better than the other ones I have gone to. At least here the bartender will respond when you wave the down, or shoot a flair gun in the air. The other ones I have been to they are too busy socializing with each other to take care of their customers.
(5)
Sharon K.
J Alexander's is a regional chain with locations scattered across the Southern and Midwestern parts of the States, and most importantly with two locations in Nashville. I had the pleasure of going to the location on West End Ave in Nashville. J Alexander's is just straight up new American Cuisine. They serve steaks, chicken dishes, and fish. The staples of all American style dinners. So when you are here you might as well dive in and order a steak. The restaurant building has a nice vibe, they have low lighting and over-sized booths. It just looks like the kind of place that serves steaks, all the tables and furniture look, well, sturdy. I took my family here for a meal when they were last in town. We had a big booth in the front room. Our server was really pleasant and charming even. Dinner here with wine and desert will run you about $40 and up per person, FYI.
(4)
Claire B.
The reasons to eat here: #1 The carrot cake: the best anywhere, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever! #2 The chocolate molten cake: gooey chocolate, that's all I need to say #3 The ribs: also the best of any chain-like restaurant #4 The burger: since Beethoven's closed, probably Nashville's best upscale burger #5 The salad: best honey mustard dressing, diced cucumbers and a sweet iced croissant that somehow goes perfectly with the salad #6 The Asian Chicken Salad: it's huge but so delicious I can eat it all There are many many more reasons, but check these out and get back to me.
(4)
Bill S.
Warning: High-Standard of Service, you may feel the need to over-tip. This place feels like an upscale restaurant from the 1920's or something. From the moment I set foot in the door, it was first-class treatment all the way. During our brief dinner, we interfaced with everyone from the hostess, bartender, server & manager and were treated very well by all parties. They've raised the bar on customer service; everyone working here is very outgoing & friendly. They will pamper you if you let them. As far as chains go, this is what Outback used to be, before they went all "Applebee's" on me. I had a similar experience as Erin D. Their definition of 'medium' is on the rare side. Which is fine with me; why ruin a good piece of meat by burning it right? My friend's steak was undercooked to his liking and they were prompt about getting it fixed for him. Food: 8/10 - Customer Service: 10/10 - Overall Satisfaction: 10/10
(5)
Jane S.
Had a delicious steak there tonight. And the service! The service sets the standard for what good service ought to be. My steak was slightly overdone, and the manager himself came over to apologize. And he himself brought my perfectly cooked new steak out. Charming and gracious! What more could a girl ask?
(5)
Erin D.
My friends Jon and Jamey brought me out here for my birthday on Sunday night. I had never been and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the service. I will be back. I had a very odd experience but they handled themselves so well. First off, my friend Jamey's steak was extremely undercooked and they graciously took care of it. Then, I took a bite into my burger (Bacon & Swiss, sooo yumm) and discovered a piece of wax paper stuck to my lettuce. The manager, who had stopped by about the steak, walked up just as I found this little surprise. Not only did they take care of our dinner (an appetizer, three entrees and dessert) but the manager gave me a $25 gift certificate. It wasn't the greatest experience but they really took care of it. In other food reviews, I loved their spinach queso, but the chips were a little over salty. The creme brulee was so yummy too.
(5)
John G.
If there was a three-and-a-half star rating, I would give it that. I had quite possibly the best corn bread and worst vege-burger I have ever had all in one sitting. To echo the other thoughts listed here, the service is very good, and the food consistant. For a lunch, it gets a bit pricey, when you can get comparable food at Germantown Cafe for less money. I would go back, but wouldn't make elaborate plans about it.
(4)
Sith P.
Fantastic - great service from the moment you enter the door, delicious food at reasonable prices, great drinks and nice atmosphere - can I say more. It's definitely my wife's favorite restaurant - you always know that you're going to have a great meal with superb service there!
(5)
J I.
Want a rip-off? Dine at J. Alexander's. Direct quote from the manager at J. Alexander's tonight: "Yes, our prices go up when it gets dark outside." (After I tried to place a to go order for a cup of Chicken Pasta soup. The price went from $5 to $6 just because they are now on the dinner menu.) ABSURD!!!
(1)
Colette R.
Service was impeccable. Had the shrimp with cilantro, I believe there were a dozen of them and couldn't finish it. My date had the fish tacos and was pleased. A definite go back .
(4)
Biff Y.
I had a very nice dinner here tonight. We started with the huevos rolls which had all kinds of rich savory goodness, including chicken and black bean. I've had this sort of "southwest style egg roll" before, but I thought this was nicely done. I think the salsa had some cucumber in it too, which was pretty nice. I split the Alex's salad with someone else, and I chose the cilantro vinaigrette, which was a little sweet and had an Asian feel to it. I'd definitely get that again if I the chance. For the entree, I had the salmon special. The server told us that it was Norwegian, which she confirmed to be wild. It was very good - it didn't have that overly fattiness of the farmed stuff. It came with this cold wild rice salad with cranberries in it - I think I like it better than the salmon. The sides were also great - we ordered the tequila beans and the mac & cheese. The mac and cheese were good, but I thought the tequila beans were REALLY good. Nice rich barbecue style sauce that wasn't overly sweet - although I admit not really detecting the tequila. So with one appetizer, a split salad (which was plenty), an entree each (one salmon, one prime rib), two sides, one glass of wine and two glasses of Blue Moon (mmmmmmmmm), the bill came to about $90 before tips. I'm sure you can eat for cheaper if you get sandwiches or burgers. The service was great. Our server Jamie was very engaging, she dealt with our crap with humor, and she explained the stuff on the menu without having that "I know what's haute cuisine" air of snootiness that drives me nuts. (Like, I hate being lectured about how I should order brown rice instead of white rice - I won't mention any names, but the initials are PFC. Hahahaha.) She seemed very honest about what she felt were the best dishes (even joking that "I know you're supposed to recommend the most expensive stuff, but...") So 5 stars for Jamie and the other service staff.
(4)
Michael C.
Locals who want to seem hip and urbane will point out that this is a "chain." But the food is very good. The service is top-notice. If you slapped on a different name, this is where all the wanna-be foodies/hipsters/locals would dine. But, again, it's a "chain," and thus can't be any good. Of course the food here is actually tasty. So the pretenders would therefore not appreciate it.
(4)
Lauren B.
J Alexander's is a classy/slightly more upscale version of Applebee's. The food is good.. but definitely has the taste and ambience of a chain-restaurant.
(4)
Lloyd R.
This establishment exceeded my expectations and provided amazing service and food. I am from Nashville and came back home to show my girlfriend what the great state of Tennessee has to offer when it comes to southern dinning. The atmosphere wad very mellow and inviting. The lighting over each table made it seem like there was a dim spotlight over each person. The food was amazing and the portions were huge! The service was fast and friendly. If your in Nashville please go to j Alexanders for a exceptional dinning experience!
(5)
Sissy D.
Good quality food, great staff. Always happy with this place.
(4)
kristen p.
I just ate lunch here with my best friend and her mom. I wasn't really excited about going since it's a chain and all but I was excited to hang out with them. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. During their lunch rush we waited 5 minutes for a table. Please note that if you are trying to be healthy this is not the place to go because after being seated they brought us a basket of fresh, warm croissants with a side of honey butter. Our waiter was very nice. After chatting a while they brought us our food. It didn't occur to us that it had been an exceptional amount of time. But shortly after we received our food the manager came to our table and started apologizing that it had taken so long and comped our meal. We were kind of confused by this and wondered if he had mistaken our table for another. The second time the manager walked by us he apologized again and said that it was not our servers fault. We really thought that he had the wrong table now so when our waiter came back we asked. Apparently the manager just thought that our food had taken too long to prepare and comped it. They never thought that we were upset. I guess that pretty much boils down to unexpected excellent service. The food was really good too. I had the veggie burger and it was so moist and delish. it came with a haystack of tiny fries that were really good too. Like I said... not healthy. But very yummy and even better because it was free.
(5)
Julia B.
It just never disappoints! You know you'll get a good meal, it's my family's go-to for after church lunches. This week I had Parmesean-crusted cod served over a spicy marinara with grilled zucchini. Healthy, yummy, perfectly cooked, and just-right portion. I'll take it!
(4)
Mr Mrs J.
I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :)
(3)
Joe C.
Have been to this restaurant many times. It's a nice restaurant and the staffs are very friendly and professional. I like their seared mahi. The Steaks are pretty good, too.
(3)
Shooter S.
Great place for lunch. It is never too crowded (But just enough) and they can get you in an out fairly quickly. Dinner can sometimes be tricky. The menu is very consistent. The Salmon and the Ribs are my two favorites. They also have some of the best bartenders in town!
(4)
Nickie G.
Hrrrm, maybe I'm turning into a real food snob or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing because this place was just OK to me. I met my parents and my brother here for a birthday night dinner since my dad and I were both celebrating birthdays! Yay! The atmosphere is nice with a dimly lit room, swank decor - definitely felt more upscale casual. It actually reminded me a bit of a lesser Houston's. The menu also reminded me of Houston's (btw OH HOW I MISS YOU HOUSTON'S). Steaks were prominent on the menu, huge salad entree options, fish and chicken dishes for the people who don't like steak, and decadent desserts. I was kind of excited since you can't go wrong with this kind of menu. But it wasn't quite Houston's. I got the steak Maui because I thought, hey, maybe it is like the Hawaiian steak at the aforementioned establishment. It was a ribeye (I think) and cooked perfect medium rare. However, I found the steak kind of chewy and stringy as well as too fatty (which I know is par for the course with that cut). I liked the marinade and the flavor but I just wasn't in LOVE with it. The BF had a steak also and had very similar comments. Desserts were a treat! Chocolate cake with ice cream - HUGE and decadent. The carrot cake was interesting - more dense than usual carrot cake I've had and warm with melty sugary icing on top. There was literally NOTHING wrong with this. For once I actually took something home in a leftover box and ate the rest of that bad boy later in the night. Hey, twas my birthday, I can eat if I want to!! Overall an A-OK joint and I really think I need to go back and try something else to give it a fair shot. I'm not giving up on you J. Alexander's!!
(3)
Asheia W.
I was very pleased with my experience here. This location doesn't seem as upscale as the West End location, however I was pleased with the short wait time on a Friday night. Everything was carefully prepared and brought to the table with care. They even brought my straw out on a plate. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and the Mac and Cheese. I was very pleased with the large portion sizes! The Salmon was prepared perfectly with accompanying tartar sauce. The Macaroni and cheese was baked well, crispy on top and warm and moist on the inside. Excellent customer service from the wait staff as well.
(4)
Justin M.
Hey guys. So it's really not often I leave a five star rating for restaurants but that could simply be because there aren't that many in my area. Today was the first day I went to a J. Alexander's and I gotta say-it was fantastic. My girlfriend wanted me to try their macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and chicken. We split the portion and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Everything was cooked excellently and the chicken was so tender and the broccoli so fresh. The food was hot and the service was great. For dessert we got the carrot cake, a very large slice of it. It was warm and luscious and melt-in-your-mouth good. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Bill S.
Warning: High-Standard of Service, you may feel the need to over-tip. This place feels like an upscale restaurant from the 1920's or something. From the moment I set foot in the door, it was first-class treatment all the way. During our brief dinner, we interfaced with everyone from the hostess, bartender, server & manager and were treated very well by all parties. They've raised the bar on customer service; everyone working here is very outgoing & friendly. They will pamper you if you let them. As far as chains go, this is what Outback used to be, before they went all "Applebee's" on me. I had a similar experience as Erin D. Their definition of 'medium' is on the rare side. Which is fine with me; why ruin a good piece of meat by burning it right? My friend's steak was undercooked to his liking and they were prompt about getting it fixed for him. Food: 8/10 - Customer Service: 10/10 - Overall Satisfaction: 10/10
(5)
Jane S.
Had a delicious steak there tonight. And the service! The service sets the standard for what good service ought to be. My steak was slightly overdone, and the manager himself came over to apologize. And he himself brought my perfectly cooked new steak out. Charming and gracious! What more could a girl ask?
(5)
Erin D.
My friends Jon and Jamey brought me out here for my birthday on Sunday night. I had never been and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the service. I will be back. I had a very odd experience but they handled themselves so well. First off, my friend Jamey's steak was extremely undercooked and they graciously took care of it. Then, I took a bite into my burger (Bacon & Swiss, sooo yumm) and discovered a piece of wax paper stuck to my lettuce. The manager, who had stopped by about the steak, walked up just as I found this little surprise. Not only did they take care of our dinner (an appetizer, three entrees and dessert) but the manager gave me a $25 gift certificate. It wasn't the greatest experience but they really took care of it. In other food reviews, I loved their spinach queso, but the chips were a little over salty. The creme brulee was so yummy too.
(5)
John G.
If there was a three-and-a-half star rating, I would give it that. I had quite possibly the best corn bread and worst vege-burger I have ever had all in one sitting. To echo the other thoughts listed here, the service is very good, and the food consistant. For a lunch, it gets a bit pricey, when you can get comparable food at Germantown Cafe for less money. I would go back, but wouldn't make elaborate plans about it.
(4)
Jason B.
I don't typically review chains, but J. Alexanders isn't a mega-chain so to speak. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal at J. Alexanders. My favorite menu item is the prime rib sandwich. A great piece of meat on good crusty bread....its hard to go wrong. Their salmon is also really good, and I like that cook it to more of a medium-rare to medium temp. The service is always really good, however, I don't understand why 3 or 4 different servers may help you over the course of one meal. I wish they would change the menu a bit more often. I have 2 or 3 items that I typically fall back on. Even the specials they offer tend to rotate between 2 or 3 items. Overall, J. Alexanders is a nice versatile place. It is appropriate for a business lunch, a nice little date night, or even a family dinner.
(4)
Francine V.
Great restaurant and staff. I had the best French dip ever. I loved the decor, it reminded me of a restaurant on nyc the odeon in TriBeCa.
(5)
Bridget S.
We have been here a few times and the food is always great. I took my hubby for his birthday dinner last Saturday. Overall a very nice experience. Great food, service and atmosphere. Unpretentious, dress in jeans, casual or dressy all are acceptable here. Now for the food...my hubby had the seared ahi tuna....PERFECT and most of all FRESH! I had the filet, perfect...not over salted and the portion was size was great, (I had to take my baked potato home the steak was that large). My daughter had the steak and fries...she love the meal. On a lunch visit in the past we I had their signature chicken salad..a MUST try.delicious and enough for two. We will return.
(4)
Nickie G.
Hrrrm, maybe I'm turning into a real food snob or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing because this place was just OK to me. I met my parents and my brother here for a birthday night dinner since my dad and I were both celebrating birthdays! Yay! The atmosphere is nice with a dimly lit room, swank decor - definitely felt more upscale casual. It actually reminded me a bit of a lesser Houston's. The menu also reminded me of Houston's (btw OH HOW I MISS YOU HOUSTON'S). Steaks were prominent on the menu, huge salad entree options, fish and chicken dishes for the people who don't like steak, and decadent desserts. I was kind of excited since you can't go wrong with this kind of menu. But it wasn't quite Houston's. I got the steak Maui because I thought, hey, maybe it is like the Hawaiian steak at the aforementioned establishment. It was a ribeye (I think) and cooked perfect medium rare. However, I found the steak kind of chewy and stringy as well as too fatty (which I know is par for the course with that cut). I liked the marinade and the flavor but I just wasn't in LOVE with it. The BF had a steak also and had very similar comments. Desserts were a treat! Chocolate cake with ice cream - HUGE and decadent. The carrot cake was interesting - more dense than usual carrot cake I've had and warm with melty sugary icing on top. There was literally NOTHING wrong with this. For once I actually took something home in a leftover box and ate the rest of that bad boy later in the night. Hey, twas my birthday, I can eat if I want to!! Overall an A-OK joint and I really think I need to go back and try something else to give it a fair shot. I'm not giving up on you J. Alexander's!!
(3)
Asheia W.
I was very pleased with my experience here. This location doesn't seem as upscale as the West End location, however I was pleased with the short wait time on a Friday night. Everything was carefully prepared and brought to the table with care. They even brought my straw out on a plate. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and the Mac and Cheese. I was very pleased with the large portion sizes! The Salmon was prepared perfectly with accompanying tartar sauce. The Macaroni and cheese was baked well, crispy on top and warm and moist on the inside. Excellent customer service from the wait staff as well.
(4)
Justin M.
Hey guys. So it's really not often I leave a five star rating for restaurants but that could simply be because there aren't that many in my area. Today was the first day I went to a J. Alexander's and I gotta say-it was fantastic. My girlfriend wanted me to try their macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and chicken. We split the portion and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Everything was cooked excellently and the chicken was so tender and the broccoli so fresh. The food was hot and the service was great. For dessert we got the carrot cake, a very large slice of it. It was warm and luscious and melt-in-your-mouth good. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
James W.
Met an old friend here for dinner, it had to have been over 5 years since the las visit. I Liked this one because the food and service is always a lovely experience. As Southern as it is the style and ambiance is always so comfortable. I ordered the catch of the day, Don't know who or where it was caght but it was great, had the chef to sear it with house seasoned mashed potatoes, red wine gravy sauteed mushrooms, aparagus, and red wine. Nothing else just a happy man.... its hard to eat, smile, and talk.... :)
(4)
Diana S.
I love, love love the grilled chicken salad, and though it is $14, it is large enough to make 2 meals for almost anyone. The same applies to most of the meals here - really good quality, expensive but large servings. The menu stays the same through the seasons, with grilled salmon, chicken, steaks, burgers, crab cakes and other tried and true restaurant choices done to perfection. They have the best carrot cake ever - it is served warm and is all kinds of delicious - gooey, sweet, crunchy and riddled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Haven't tried the other desserts but my guess is they are just as good. Another thing that J. Alexander's does extremely well is vegetables. Rather than going with the tired mixed veg of several squashes and carrots, they offer seasonal vegetables along with their specials, and they are unusual and delicious choices, such as winter squash with cinnamon butter in winter and sliced heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Order a plate of 3 veggies and you will get enough for 2. BTW, customer service is great as well. After all this applause, I have to include the cons. This is a small chain that is priced like a local, chef-owned restaurant, although I do, again have to stress the gargantuan proportions. However, no matter how large the size, there is still no justification for charging FOURTEEN dollars for guacamole and chips. I mean, come ON.
(4)
David J.
Very good! Ordered a fillet minion for $32. Very good but a little under done, overall I would for sure go back on special occasions.
(4)
Piper P.
Stopped in after a long drive back from Birmingham. Always a treat. The wait staff is amazing and so is the food. We started with grilled artichoke, which are the best I have ever eaten. Wine and then the wonderful salmon. Couldn't have been better.
(5)
Bridgette C.
There is a little secret J Alexander's is keeping from you, and it's their one yet delicious brunch offering. A delicious quiche with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. If this one dish is telling of everything J Alexander's has to offer then I will be back. Admittedly I hadn't gone because, when I have the option to go out to eat, this place just never crossed my mind. Plus I didn't realize there was this location on White Bridge, which lacks the college crowd of its West End sister. Here the crowd was mostly locals, and it was a much more relaxed environment. The bartender was on point (because as you may have noticed in my reviews I enjoy sitting at the bars of restaurants, so many interesting people...) and it was because of him that I tried this surprise breakfast concoction to begin with. The side salad is dressed with champagne vinaigrette and I must have again on any salad on their menu. They have some of the best French-press coffee you can get outside of a coffee house. Overall a great place that I had misjudged and I will happily come back.
(4)
Jean W.
I was there this month for the first time and it was great. I ordered the Scottish salmon and was so glad I did. It was the best I ever had. A small container of sauce accompanied it and it was good as well. I didn't order any sides and I'm glad I didn't. The salmon was served with a heaping amount of an interesting combination of corn, beans, raisins and other ingredients. It sounds awful, but trust me it was very tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. The drinks were generous and strong. One of our party had a Manhattan and it came not only as an adequate amount in a glass, it also had a buddy along with it - the rest of the drink was in a small cylinder resting in another glass of cold-water. Apparently you get the full-measure. Another companion ordered the prime rib and pronounced it excellent. The salads were huge. Service was pleasant and efficient. In summation, enough of an overall food experience to return.
(5)
Christian P.
Worst experience I've ever had at J. Alexander's, unfortunately! I've eaten at the three locations probably over 100 times in my two decades in Nashville, as J Alexander's has always been my go to for reliable food and good service. I usually find this location a little calmer than West End, and there's even a former VU football celebrity (think Music City Bowl '08) who works here and is a very good waiter! However, I ate this afternoon alone at about 3:30pm. I was seated at a booth and even asked the hostess if it was okay to be taking up a booth as a party of one. She said not to worry about it. I then waited about 10 min. for my waitress to come to the table, and when she did, I went ahead and placed my drink and food order: unsweet tea, chili, and a salad. She wasn't friendly and seemed bothered by my being there. She also never brought water to my table like they do with all tables (the carafe plus glasses), but I didn't ask b/c I didn't want to be difficult. About 5 min. later, my tea comes, and the glass has a visible piece of food stuck to it. No big deal, I asked for another. About 5 min. later, my chili arrives (from the manager), and I mentioned that I still didn't have a drink. About 10 min. later, my tea and salad arrive, as I'm finishing my chili. Then, I finish my salad and drink and wait 10 or so min. (no one has asked if my food was as ordered, etc) until another waitress simply brings the check. I ask for a refill, she offers a to-go glass, and about ten min. later, I get it. For the first time in my life, I did not leave a tip, as I went for the majority of my meal without a beverage (and usually, they are so good at refills) and clearly felt as though I was a burden to the staff by being there alone. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's hard to enjoy rather spicy chili without anything to drink, even water! The place was packed and I would have been happy to sit at the bar, had they insinuated that to be more appropriate. I also would have been more understanding of the slowness, had it not been to spend 30 seconds putting ice and tea in a glass. I noticed two other waitress at tables near mine who wished the patrons a Happy Valentine's Day, told them of the soup (I had to ask), brought multiple refills, inquired how their food tasted, asked if they wanted dessert, etc, but I unfortunately didn't get any of that. Just a disappointing experience...especially when eating alone on Valentine's Day was a little awkward as is!
(1)
Miranda P.
Wonderful meal and very nice atmosphere. The hosts were welcoming and the server was timely and friendly. The food was incredible. Their burger and artichoke Is my favorite. There Mac and cheese is impeccable and is a must the. I will say they changed their mash potatoes recipe and they were actually really bad and I would not get them. But overall great location and lovely mean!
(5)
James W.
Met an old friend here for dinner, it had to have been over 5 years since the las visit. I Liked this one because the food and service is always a lovely experience. As Southern as it is the style and ambiance is always so comfortable. I ordered the catch of the day, Don't know who or where it was caght but it was great, had the chef to sear it with house seasoned mashed potatoes, red wine gravy sauteed mushrooms, aparagus, and red wine. Nothing else just a happy man.... its hard to eat, smile, and talk.... :)
(4)
Jim M.
Not sure who J. Alexander is but he would have not been impressed with our experience. This used to be our favorite "date" night, local place. Generally, predictable quality and service. Everybody has a bad day, but they blew this one at every turn. Sat in bar to watch NCAA. Food server did not want to get me an Arnold Palmer? Food was slow, no drink refille, burger came out wrong temperature. Had to get up to find server to send food back, had to get up to get refills. No food quality check. Manager did come by and we explained what a poor experience we had...he never returned. In fact, he was leaving the restaurant at the same time we were? Guess his need to get home was greater than the need to check on his customers. Hope he caught the end of the NCAA's. Not sure we will be back? I am usually a GREAT tipper considering that is how I put myself through college. Admittedly, left 10%. iF they had comped anything, would have made it up to server. It is not about the $$$, it was about poor service. Nashville has too many restaurants to have this experience. Next time it's Urban Grub, Mafioza's, or Pinewood Social.
(1)
Jermaine H.
I got the rotisserie chicken and my girlfriend ate the ribs. My food tasted great but I think my portion was a little small. Food was fresh and tasty good, my mashed potatoes were great. My girlfriend's food on the other hand was a little overcooked. It visually look great but the sauce covered up the overcooked portions. My drinks were refilled all the time. The waitress was great. We both said that we will come back. It was not worth the hour wait but it was close.
(3)
Zaq H.
It is rare to find a chef that can Pittsburgh a steak as good as Melvin. Mine was superb!
(5)
Beth H.
Very tasty. I went on a tuesday night and it was packed! I only waited a little while before I got seated. I ordered Alex's Salad to start and the filet mignon with the loaded baked potato. Totally delicious, and reasonably priced.
(4)
Connie A.
I eat at J Alexander's on White Bridge several times a week.I have always been able to get a half glass of wine.After drinking one glass I only want a half glass.I learned last night I could no longer get that,I would have to get a full glass.Please,return to your half glass.We are there constantly and love it!
(5)
Mary R.
The baby back ribs are to die for! Best I've ever had. The sauce is perfect. I can't name a single thing that is wrong with it! They should have the ribs on every menu but they only have them at this location so I come here whenever I get that rib craving. Their fries are the perfect little salted shoe strings, yum! My kids also love the jacks chicken tenders.
(4)
Kristina L.
Based on the reviews I feel like a bit of a schmuck just giving this place two stars. The service was fine; however, the food was just so blah I cannot even be bothered to round up. To me, J. Alexander's has always been a very pricey lunch spot for just average food. I went there today with a few co-workers and had a tuna burger. It was just "meh". Honestly, not a whole lot of flavor going on with it at all. It seemed to lack all seasoning, including salt and was on the dry side. Another person at the table ordered it as well and she and I were both equally disappointed in what we got. For just that burger, fries, and a glass of water, my total was $19.34! An automatic 15% was added on since there were six in our party. While I am fine with that because the service was attentive, it was not brought to our attention. Instead, one of us noticed it and let the others know before they tacked on 15-20% of their own on top of the automatic amount. It may have been written somewhere on the menu; however, I think it would have been nice if the server would have brought this to our attention. If he had, I would probably have added a couple of bucks onto the total because the $2.45 tip that was automatically added seemed a bit low to me. For $19.34, I could go to Gabby's twice and have wonderful food. The only thing I truly enjoyed was my fries. Shoestring fries that were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It was the highlight of my food and that's not saying much for the amount of money I shelled out for something lackluster. It's kind of a glorified O'Charley's if you really want to know. It's never been a place that has had a "wow" factor for me. Basically it is just food to ward off the rumbling in my belly. I'd really prefer to not go back and suffer through the mediocrity and hype.
(2)
Ryan P.
From my tip: The excellent Thai Kai Salad is no longer on the menu but is still available on request. This J. Alexander's doesn't feel quite as nice as the ones in Cool Springs or West End, but the food is the same. I had the black bean soup and the Cajun Trout, both of which were excellent. Our server was attentive and quick, and the food was right out of the oven. Their salads are also good if you want to avoid the post-lunch coma.
(4)
Pamela H.
Very reliable. Food is made to order and I'm never disappointed. My husband and I usually have salmon with rice and orzo side. I like that the salmon is prepared medium rare. The carrot cake is amazing and the coffee is perfect. This is our go-to restaurant. There are food runners and table bussers so that explains the multiple wait staff that serves each table. The mac and cheese and creamed spinach sides are delicious too!
(5)
Stephen L.
One of my favorite places to eat on the planet! Very classy. Very good vibe. Fast service and incredible fresh food quality. The "not your ordinary Mac n cheese" is the best I've ever had! The chicken tenders are so juicy and hand breaded. I go here once a week.
(5)
Shooter S.
Great place for lunch. It is never too crowded (But just enough) and they can get you in an out fairly quickly. Dinner can sometimes be tricky. The menu is very consistent. The Salmon and the Ribs are my two favorites. They also have some of the best bartenders in town!
(4)
Kathy C.
The only J Alexanders I've been to is on White Bridge. The atmosphere is great...a bit dark, intimate, classy. Just the way I like it. The food is good. I've never had anything I didn't like enough to order again. The staff is familiar with everything on the menu and can answer any question you throw at them about the appetizers, entrees or wine. When I eat out, I want it to be an experience. I want to be catered to. I want great food and wine. Our server introduced us to a wine yesterday that was very reasonable and now-my new favorite. I'm a food snob, and I like this restaurant. Wine starts at $7 a glass and goes up from there. Entrees start at about $14, appetizers start at about $5. I've eaten here for lunch and dinner a few times. Whether there's two of us or 10, the service and food has always been outstanding.
(5)
Foodie A.
Food is always very good, using good quality ingredients and is very consistent each time we dine. Always a great experience!
(5)
Chris W.
Great place for lunch. Had the salmon and campari tomatoes. The salmon was marinated and cooked to perfection. Basically melted in my mouth. Was a hit, 3 other folks in my group also ordered the same dish and were highly pleased. Nice atmosphere, very much felt the same as a Houston's.
(4)
BethAnn S.
I'm going with 3 stars because this place is just that "A-ok" which is more a smack at their new crazy high new pricing than anything else. The food is standard steak house fare but quite good good and frankly they should charge you just to go in and smell the place as the waft of their fire and rotisserie items is to die for. Or so you think until you get the menu where a French Dip sandwich will set you back $17. That's a sandwich folks and we're in a Nashville strip mall, not NYC. Sadly, this kind of price inflation is clearly thinning the herds as the night we were there last week was dead leaving 3 staff members to wait on us virtually non-stop. What use to be a place you could go with your family for dinner that was several notches over the standard chain fare has lost its place in my opinion. If I'm going to drop $100 on entrees and a shared appetizer for 2 (and no wine!) I'll be hitting Flemings or Stony River.
(3)
LM C.
Best caesar salad in Nashville, and a very nice steak.
My husband and I stopped by this afternoon. We were not disappointed. I got the made in house veggie burger. I have tried many veggie burgers but this one is outstanding!! Just the right amount of their tasty sauce and the ingredients are fresh!! My husband got their steak burger and he was impressed with the taste and quality as well. We both ordered the fries. They are very thin but not soggy and greasy as one might expect. We thought they were tasty too!! The service was very good from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The price for two quality burgers and fries was really not bad. My veggie burger was $11 and his steak burger was $12. We have been to all three locations and have yet to be disappointed!!
(4)
Kirk M.
Its easy to overlook reviewing a place that has been an on and off part of the routine for a long time. I really like this place. The people are nice, the food is good, the atmosphere is good, the prices are reasonable, and its nice and clean. The staff is obviously well trained and perform their duties with smiles on their faces. Whether its just a quick beer on the way home, or several at the bar while watching a game on TV, or a full dinner....its consistently good. The only thing I would change is that they dont take to-go orders over the phone. But, perhaps that's why everything else works so well.
(4)
David H.
Best food! Best service. I've never had a bad meal here!! And I visit often..
(5)
Lauren S.
Overall: Delicious, hearty eats with great service. Food/Drinks: I'm honestly not a huge red meat fan (then why the heck am I at a steak place, right?) but they do have other options! The fish tacos are filling without being heavy. If you really want a belt buster, go for the mac & cheese. It's amazing, but you will need to work out for 3 hours the next day. There is a fairly good wine list and a few cocktails as well. Service: I have always had good service, in fact, I would be more surprised if I didn't. I think it's part of their schtick to act a certain way/say certain things. I always end up eating in a booth in the bar area, it's a great place to people watch. You never know who will show up to this off-the-beaten-path location! Cost: Entrees are in the teens, sides are about $4 and wine runs the range from $7 for a basic glass and goes up from there.
(4)
S B.
On my last visit I had the veggie plate (roasted acorn squash, grilled zucchini, heriloom tomatoes with olive oil and basil and wild rice and orzo mixture). It was all the perfect temperature and flavor. Nice.
(5)
Kevin H.
I love eating here after a long work week. Nothing gives me a pat on the back like a good steak. The service here is always impeccable and I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or prepared incorrectly. Pro-tips: Bread is free, but you have to ask for it. The steak Maui is where it's at.
(4)
Brad H.
Went here with my family couple weeks ago had a great. I always come here and order their steaks they can never go wrong. I order the prime rib steak and yummy. The waitress was cute but a little energetic with her job, but I guess she loves what she does.
(5)
Rj S.
Look out Houston's! You have met your match! J.Alexanders so happens to be the stepsister of Houston's. You can definitely tell by the restaurant's style and ambiance. They both sport that trademark classy atmosphere that get when you enter a Hillstone owned restaurant. I'm a regular at Houston's in Irvine,ca, been going there since I was in preschool and I completely adore the food both have to offer but J.Alexanders sadly has overtaken Houston's throne in my book! This one of the main reason why I love coming to Tennessee on my vacations. I was introduced to J.Alexanders back in the late 90s by my Grandparents, they always raved about this place and they so happen to eat here after church every Sunday. The first time I came to this place, I fell in love with it and I felt right at home(since they had almost everything I would get a Houston's). I always used to get their chicken tenders(which are delicious), but now that i'm older I have moved on to other things. For a starter, I always get their Caesar . One of the best Caesar Salads I've ever had in my life, They give you a great portion, and I deeply love the creamy garlicky dressing tossed in the salad topped with the their Parmesan cheese and fresh hot deep fried croutons . It's to die for! I may warn you,the salad portions here are huge!!! A side salad is equivalent to a dinner salad, i'm not joking one bit. These Salads here make the Houston's side salads look as small as those $1.00 salads at Wendy's. The true highlight of this place in my opinion is their Danish Baby back ribs! Much like Houston's, these are Fall out of the bone fork and knife ribs and they are smothered in their tasty Plum Creek B.B.Q sauce(which is slightly sweeter than Houston's), it's Coleslaw(I always substitute for their shoestring fries) and Tequila beans! Both side dishes definitely add to the meal making it delicious beyond words! These ribs have taken the Crown from Houston's! The only thing this place doesn't have is the out of this world Chicago Spinach dip! But hey, this Place proven it's self to be the better restaurant . I also have to say the Service here is Fantastic, after all this is a five star restaurant so what do you think you'll except? :D I truly recommend this place from the bottom of my heart! The food is amazing, Service is awesome, the restaurant is classy and sophisticated, words just cannot express how much I love this place! J. Alexanders deserves more than 5 stars!
(5)
Robby H.
Great relaxed bar with nice jazz. Atmosphere is terrific, brick fireplaces and dark wood. Food is always good.
(4)
Katie I.
One of our favorite go-to restaurants. Everything is consistenly good here. Wish it was a little more kid-friendly so we could go there more often. Great bar. LOVE the ladder and hook merlot. the best! salads are the best. I'm so critical, and every veggie is perfectly cut, fresh and the greens are fresh, awesome salad dressings. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the chic salad sandwich. Other than that, the fish, steaks and burgers are great. Chic tenders are fab. Love the fries and soup. It is the closest thing to old-school Houston's. Love J's! Oh..and the carrot cake is freaking amazing! i don't even like carrot cake and it is the BEST! a must try!
(5)
Faith J.
I liked this J Alexanders way better than the other ones I have gone to. At least here the bartender will respond when you wave the down, or shoot a flair gun in the air. The other ones I have been to they are too busy socializing with each other to take care of their customers.
(5)
Sharon K.
J Alexander's is a regional chain with locations scattered across the Southern and Midwestern parts of the States, and most importantly with two locations in Nashville. I had the pleasure of going to the location on West End Ave in Nashville. J Alexander's is just straight up new American Cuisine. They serve steaks, chicken dishes, and fish. The staples of all American style dinners. So when you are here you might as well dive in and order a steak. The restaurant building has a nice vibe, they have low lighting and over-sized booths. It just looks like the kind of place that serves steaks, all the tables and furniture look, well, sturdy. I took my family here for a meal when they were last in town. We had a big booth in the front room. Our server was really pleasant and charming even. Dinner here with wine and desert will run you about $40 and up per person, FYI.
(4)
Claire B.
The reasons to eat here: #1 The carrot cake: the best anywhere, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever! #2 The chocolate molten cake: gooey chocolate, that's all I need to say #3 The ribs: also the best of any chain-like restaurant #4 The burger: since Beethoven's closed, probably Nashville's best upscale burger #5 The salad: best honey mustard dressing, diced cucumbers and a sweet iced croissant that somehow goes perfectly with the salad #6 The Asian Chicken Salad: it's huge but so delicious I can eat it all There are many many more reasons, but check these out and get back to me.
(4)
Bill S.
Warning: High-Standard of Service, you may feel the need to over-tip. This place feels like an upscale restaurant from the 1920's or something. From the moment I set foot in the door, it was first-class treatment all the way. During our brief dinner, we interfaced with everyone from the hostess, bartender, server & manager and were treated very well by all parties. They've raised the bar on customer service; everyone working here is very outgoing & friendly. They will pamper you if you let them. As far as chains go, this is what Outback used to be, before they went all "Applebee's" on me. I had a similar experience as Erin D. Their definition of 'medium' is on the rare side. Which is fine with me; why ruin a good piece of meat by burning it right? My friend's steak was undercooked to his liking and they were prompt about getting it fixed for him. Food: 8/10 - Customer Service: 10/10 - Overall Satisfaction: 10/10
(5)
Jane S.
Had a delicious steak there tonight. And the service! The service sets the standard for what good service ought to be. My steak was slightly overdone, and the manager himself came over to apologize. And he himself brought my perfectly cooked new steak out. Charming and gracious! What more could a girl ask?
(5)
Erin D.
My friends Jon and Jamey brought me out here for my birthday on Sunday night. I had never been and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the service. I will be back. I had a very odd experience but they handled themselves so well. First off, my friend Jamey's steak was extremely undercooked and they graciously took care of it. Then, I took a bite into my burger (Bacon & Swiss, sooo yumm) and discovered a piece of wax paper stuck to my lettuce. The manager, who had stopped by about the steak, walked up just as I found this little surprise. Not only did they take care of our dinner (an appetizer, three entrees and dessert) but the manager gave me a $25 gift certificate. It wasn't the greatest experience but they really took care of it. In other food reviews, I loved their spinach queso, but the chips were a little over salty. The creme brulee was so yummy too.
(5)
John G.
If there was a three-and-a-half star rating, I would give it that. I had quite possibly the best corn bread and worst vege-burger I have ever had all in one sitting. To echo the other thoughts listed here, the service is very good, and the food consistant. For a lunch, it gets a bit pricey, when you can get comparable food at Germantown Cafe for less money. I would go back, but wouldn't make elaborate plans about it.
(4)
Sith P.
Fantastic - great service from the moment you enter the door, delicious food at reasonable prices, great drinks and nice atmosphere - can I say more. It's definitely my wife's favorite restaurant - you always know that you're going to have a great meal with superb service there!
(5)
J I.
Want a rip-off? Dine at J. Alexander's. Direct quote from the manager at J. Alexander's tonight: "Yes, our prices go up when it gets dark outside." (After I tried to place a to go order for a cup of Chicken Pasta soup. The price went from $5 to $6 just because they are now on the dinner menu.) ABSURD!!!
(1)
Colette R.
Service was impeccable. Had the shrimp with cilantro, I believe there were a dozen of them and couldn't finish it. My date had the fish tacos and was pleased. A definite go back .
(4)
Biff Y.
I had a very nice dinner here tonight. We started with the huevos rolls which had all kinds of rich savory goodness, including chicken and black bean. I've had this sort of "southwest style egg roll" before, but I thought this was nicely done. I think the salsa had some cucumber in it too, which was pretty nice. I split the Alex's salad with someone else, and I chose the cilantro vinaigrette, which was a little sweet and had an Asian feel to it. I'd definitely get that again if I the chance. For the entree, I had the salmon special. The server told us that it was Norwegian, which she confirmed to be wild. It was very good - it didn't have that overly fattiness of the farmed stuff. It came with this cold wild rice salad with cranberries in it - I think I like it better than the salmon. The sides were also great - we ordered the tequila beans and the mac & cheese. The mac and cheese were good, but I thought the tequila beans were REALLY good. Nice rich barbecue style sauce that wasn't overly sweet - although I admit not really detecting the tequila. So with one appetizer, a split salad (which was plenty), an entree each (one salmon, one prime rib), two sides, one glass of wine and two glasses of Blue Moon (mmmmmmmmm), the bill came to about $90 before tips. I'm sure you can eat for cheaper if you get sandwiches or burgers. The service was great. Our server Jamie was very engaging, she dealt with our crap with humor, and she explained the stuff on the menu without having that "I know what's haute cuisine" air of snootiness that drives me nuts. (Like, I hate being lectured about how I should order brown rice instead of white rice - I won't mention any names, but the initials are PFC. Hahahaha.) She seemed very honest about what she felt were the best dishes (even joking that "I know you're supposed to recommend the most expensive stuff, but...") So 5 stars for Jamie and the other service staff.
(4)
Michael C.
Locals who want to seem hip and urbane will point out that this is a "chain." But the food is very good. The service is top-notice. If you slapped on a different name, this is where all the wanna-be foodies/hipsters/locals would dine. But, again, it's a "chain," and thus can't be any good. Of course the food here is actually tasty. So the pretenders would therefore not appreciate it.
(4)
Lauren B.
J Alexander's is a classy/slightly more upscale version of Applebee's. The food is good.. but definitely has the taste and ambience of a chain-restaurant.
(4)
Lloyd R.
This establishment exceeded my expectations and provided amazing service and food. I am from Nashville and came back home to show my girlfriend what the great state of Tennessee has to offer when it comes to southern dinning. The atmosphere wad very mellow and inviting. The lighting over each table made it seem like there was a dim spotlight over each person. The food was amazing and the portions were huge! The service was fast and friendly. If your in Nashville please go to j Alexanders for a exceptional dinning experience!
(5)
Sissy D.
Good quality food, great staff. Always happy with this place.
(4)
kristen p.
I just ate lunch here with my best friend and her mom. I wasn't really excited about going since it's a chain and all but I was excited to hang out with them. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. During their lunch rush we waited 5 minutes for a table. Please note that if you are trying to be healthy this is not the place to go because after being seated they brought us a basket of fresh, warm croissants with a side of honey butter. Our waiter was very nice. After chatting a while they brought us our food. It didn't occur to us that it had been an exceptional amount of time. But shortly after we received our food the manager came to our table and started apologizing that it had taken so long and comped our meal. We were kind of confused by this and wondered if he had mistaken our table for another. The second time the manager walked by us he apologized again and said that it was not our servers fault. We really thought that he had the wrong table now so when our waiter came back we asked. Apparently the manager just thought that our food had taken too long to prepare and comped it. They never thought that we were upset. I guess that pretty much boils down to unexpected excellent service. The food was really good too. I had the veggie burger and it was so moist and delish. it came with a haystack of tiny fries that were really good too. Like I said... not healthy. But very yummy and even better because it was free.
(5)
Julia B.
It just never disappoints! You know you'll get a good meal, it's my family's go-to for after church lunches. This week I had Parmesean-crusted cod served over a spicy marinara with grilled zucchini. Healthy, yummy, perfectly cooked, and just-right portion. I'll take it!
(4)
Mr Mrs J.
I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :)
(3)
Joe C.
Have been to this restaurant many times. It's a nice restaurant and the staffs are very friendly and professional. I like their seared mahi. The Steaks are pretty good, too.
(3)
Kathy C.
The only J Alexanders I've been to is on White Bridge. The atmosphere is great...a bit dark, intimate, classy. Just the way I like it. The food is good. I've never had anything I didn't like enough to order again. The staff is familiar with everything on the menu and can answer any question you throw at them about the appetizers, entrees or wine. When I eat out, I want it to be an experience. I want to be catered to. I want great food and wine. Our server introduced us to a wine yesterday that was very reasonable and now-my new favorite. I'm a food snob, and I like this restaurant. Wine starts at $7 a glass and goes up from there. Entrees start at about $14, appetizers start at about $5. I've eaten here for lunch and dinner a few times. Whether there's two of us or 10, the service and food has always been outstanding.
(5)
Foodie A.
Food is always very good, using good quality ingredients and is very consistent each time we dine. Always a great experience!
(5)
Chris W.
Great place for lunch. Had the salmon and campari tomatoes. The salmon was marinated and cooked to perfection. Basically melted in my mouth. Was a hit, 3 other folks in my group also ordered the same dish and were highly pleased. Nice atmosphere, very much felt the same as a Houston's.
(4)
BethAnn S.
I'm going with 3 stars because this place is just that "A-ok" which is more a smack at their new crazy high new pricing than anything else. The food is standard steak house fare but quite good good and frankly they should charge you just to go in and smell the place as the waft of their fire and rotisserie items is to die for. Or so you think until you get the menu where a French Dip sandwich will set you back $17. That's a sandwich folks and we're in a Nashville strip mall, not NYC. Sadly, this kind of price inflation is clearly thinning the herds as the night we were there last week was dead leaving 3 staff members to wait on us virtually non-stop. What use to be a place you could go with your family for dinner that was several notches over the standard chain fare has lost its place in my opinion. If I'm going to drop $100 on entrees and a shared appetizer for 2 (and no wine!) I'll be hitting Flemings or Stony River.
(3)
LM C.
Best caesar salad in Nashville, and a very nice steak.
I love, love love the grilled chicken salad, and though it is $14, it is large enough to make 2 meals for almost anyone. The same applies to most of the meals here - really good quality, expensive but large servings. The menu stays the same through the seasons, with grilled salmon, chicken, steaks, burgers, crab cakes and other tried and true restaurant choices done to perfection. They have the best carrot cake ever - it is served warm and is all kinds of delicious - gooey, sweet, crunchy and riddled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Haven't tried the other desserts but my guess is they are just as good. Another thing that J. Alexander's does extremely well is vegetables. Rather than going with the tired mixed veg of several squashes and carrots, they offer seasonal vegetables along with their specials, and they are unusual and delicious choices, such as winter squash with cinnamon butter in winter and sliced heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Order a plate of 3 veggies and you will get enough for 2. BTW, customer service is great as well. After all this applause, I have to include the cons. This is a small chain that is priced like a local, chef-owned restaurant, although I do, again have to stress the gargantuan proportions. However, no matter how large the size, there is still no justification for charging FOURTEEN dollars for guacamole and chips. I mean, come ON.
(4)
David J.
Very good! Ordered a fillet minion for $32. Very good but a little under done, overall I would for sure go back on special occasions.
(4)
Piper P.
Stopped in after a long drive back from Birmingham. Always a treat. The wait staff is amazing and so is the food. We started with grilled artichoke, which are the best I have ever eaten. Wine and then the wonderful salmon. Couldn't have been better.
(5)
Kevin H.
I love eating here after a long work week. Nothing gives me a pat on the back like a good steak. The service here is always impeccable and I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or prepared incorrectly. Pro-tips: Bread is free, but you have to ask for it. The steak Maui is where it's at.
(4)
Brad H.
Went here with my family couple weeks ago had a great. I always come here and order their steaks they can never go wrong. I order the prime rib steak and yummy. The waitress was cute but a little energetic with her job, but I guess she loves what she does.
(5)
Stephen L.
One of my favorite places to eat on the planet! Very classy. Very good vibe. Fast service and incredible fresh food quality. The "not your ordinary Mac n cheese" is the best I've ever had! The chicken tenders are so juicy and hand breaded. I go here once a week.
(5)
Nikki B.
The original J Alexanders on white bridge road has never lost its mojo! While the chain has expanded to many states since this concept restaurant started the story, this home town gem keeps it real. Two of my favorite menu items are the spinach queso (to die for cheesy goodness) and the French dip sandwich. The sandwich cannot be rivaled anywhere at any other restaurant. You can tell they don't just shave prime rib from a dried out piece of prime rib. It's the good stuff! And the smear of creamy horseradish is not overpowering. Nothing is over the top here. It's just right. My husband's favorite is the rattlesnake pasta. The perfect consistency for the noodles they use. Last but certainly not least, save room for the carrot cake or very best chocolate cake. Incredible. Order it even if you have to take it home. It's good to see our little home town gem has grown up, but never forgot where it came from!
(5)
Nick T.
A consistent favorite since I moved to Nashville 10+ years ago. Great food, great service, every single time. Never had a bad visit.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I come for the service. I stay for the consistently delicious food. I meet someone interesting ever time I sit at the bar, including the staff. My favorite encounter was a mellow Mom talk conversation with Halle Barry. (Sp?) not sure about spelling but I'm sure it was her! I've also heard rumors of many country stars eating here. I also enjoy the locals hanging in the bar...everyone from realtors to politicians to Ironmen (seriously.) I wish I could afford to come more! A perfect Saturday would be lunch here with a massage at Basic Kneads down the street.
(5)
Andy B.
This place is pro. I only went for lunch, but there are certain things I look for in restaurants, and the little things all stood out to me like a sore thumb (in a good way). The staff could not have been more attentive, well timed, or more appropriately behaved. For example, there was a table of obnoxious people and their kids, about 12 total, and when they left the employees had the tables split up and the mess cleaned up in about 3 minutes. Then the manager was making notes of scratches in the wood for someone to touch up. Details. A couple more nice touches were the hostesses opening the door for us, the waiter taking our leftovers away to box them up for us (pet peeve when waiters toss you boxes on your table at nice places), and when he brought them back, he placed them on the coat rack ring on the side so you're not talking over a big bag of leftovers. I also noticed another waitress hang a diner's coat on those rings that are right next to the table. Really, all in all, this is how dining is supposed to be. Other people talked enough about the food that was very good. My date had a chicken salad and subbed the grilled chicken for the fried chicken and that chicken breast was perfect, if not only 30 seconds underdone if I have to be extremely picky, but way to err on the side of underdone without a hint of it actually being undercooked. Very tender and juicy. I had the rotisserie chicken that was very tasty, but I actually thought the white meat splintered apart a little too much and was on the dry side. Tough to nail a slow cook for lunch, though. It was still very tasty and the dark meat part was awesome. Sure, you can come here and drop $200 on two people if you're indulging, but our meal for two was $43, which is less than I drop on sushi. One of my favorite things to do is go to places like this and find something for $10-15. You really do benefit from a high quality establishment even if you don't drop a lot of money.
(5)
Katie S.
It's not THAT expensive...sheesh. Dinner for three with appetizer (the spinach queso dip is excellent!) and a tasty dessert rang in at just under $140.00 (not including tip). With outstanding service (thanks, Daniel) and perfect steaks (the filet for husband & me - the NY strip for our son), the price is totally appropriate and worth it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a good steak dinner & an overall lovely night out.
(4)
Carly B.
Why oh why does this place have to make my wallet cry? Our hostess did not start the evening off well (she gets a sad, single star). She buzzed our beeper for the table and then told us it would be another minute, which turned into 10. We lost our seats and stood awkwardly by the cold door. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint! I devoured the cypress salad with glee. With 1/2 avocado, loads of bacon and homemade croutons how could I be full (hehe) of anything, but joy? Boytoy ordered the French dip sandwich with fries. Was definitely the best one I've ever tried. 4 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. The waitress wasn't super attentive and disappeared for about 15 minutes after our initial drink order.
(4)
Beth G.
I wish I could give more stars. Used to love love love this place. When they changed their menu and their take out we stopped going as frequently. Almost stopped cold tell unless friends want to go and we begrudgingly go. Salads are good and prime rib sandwich used to be the eat until they cut it in half and raised the price. So sad to see it change so much and not for the better when ll these new places are sprouting.
(2)
D F.
Slipping. Not sure what happened here, they used to be super consistent and great at attending to their customers. We arrived and there was trash spilling out of the ashtray by the door. The brass on the door was filthy. We were seated in a booth in the bar area, and it took several minutes for someone to come by. Eating with two small kids we had the whole order ready to go when she arrived. Service was sub-par, empty glasses, no follow-up once food was dropped. Food portions are smaller, prices up. No leather sleeve for the check, it was just dropped on the table in passing. This is a far cry from the J. Alexander's of years ago.
(2)
Dee B.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend. The waitress was very nice & sociable. I ordered a turkey burger for $12 and it was amazing. One of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. It was thick and juicy.. had lots of flavor. I love the fresh roma tomatos served with the burger and the well seasoned peppered skinny fries. I will definately be back for more. And for dessert, I had the carrot cake... which is absolutely phenominal. So moist and delicious. The slice was huge, well worth my $7. That was one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had... besides my grama's. But definately thee best substitute ever. My friend ordered the rotissere chicken with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. Now that meal was also delicious. The chicken wasn't dry and the chocolate cake was rich, but not overwhelmingly chocolately... it was definately ediable. Unlike some chocolate cakes you take 2 bites and you're done cause its to rich & powerful. No regrets on our part. Let's just end this review with this message... this was one very satisfying lunches to date. Both meals were definately winners.
(5)
Collin K.
Came here during the lunch rush during the week. We were seated immediately. Our server was very quick with getting our drink and food orders, and I was surprised by how fast our food came out. The restaurant was packed, but they did a fantastic job getting everyone in and out without the feeling of being pushed out. I got the shrimp tacos with bang bang sauce, and they were fantastic. On a previous trip I had the seared ahi tuna and salad. And I can't decide which one I liked better. If only I could get both. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jason B.
I don't typically review chains, but J. Alexanders isn't a mega-chain so to speak. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal at J. Alexanders. My favorite menu item is the prime rib sandwich. A great piece of meat on good crusty bread....its hard to go wrong. Their salmon is also really good, and I like that cook it to more of a medium-rare to medium temp. The service is always really good, however, I don't understand why 3 or 4 different servers may help you over the course of one meal. I wish they would change the menu a bit more often. I have 2 or 3 items that I typically fall back on. Even the specials they offer tend to rotate between 2 or 3 items. Overall, J. Alexanders is a nice versatile place. It is appropriate for a business lunch, a nice little date night, or even a family dinner.
(4)
Francine V.
Great restaurant and staff. I had the best French dip ever. I loved the decor, it reminded me of a restaurant on nyc the odeon in TriBeCa.
(5)
Bridget S.
We have been here a few times and the food is always great. I took my hubby for his birthday dinner last Saturday. Overall a very nice experience. Great food, service and atmosphere. Unpretentious, dress in jeans, casual or dressy all are acceptable here. Now for the food...my hubby had the seared ahi tuna....PERFECT and most of all FRESH! I had the filet, perfect...not over salted and the portion was size was great, (I had to take my baked potato home the steak was that large). My daughter had the steak and fries...she love the meal. On a lunch visit in the past we I had their signature chicken salad..a MUST try.delicious and enough for two. We will return.
(4)
Bridgette C.
There is a little secret J Alexander's is keeping from you, and it's their one yet delicious brunch offering. A delicious quiche with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. If this one dish is telling of everything J Alexander's has to offer then I will be back. Admittedly I hadn't gone because, when I have the option to go out to eat, this place just never crossed my mind. Plus I didn't realize there was this location on White Bridge, which lacks the college crowd of its West End sister. Here the crowd was mostly locals, and it was a much more relaxed environment. The bartender was on point (because as you may have noticed in my reviews I enjoy sitting at the bars of restaurants, so many interesting people...) and it was because of him that I tried this surprise breakfast concoction to begin with. The side salad is dressed with champagne vinaigrette and I must have again on any salad on their menu. They have some of the best French-press coffee you can get outside of a coffee house. Overall a great place that I had misjudged and I will happily come back.
(4)
Jean W.
I was there this month for the first time and it was great. I ordered the Scottish salmon and was so glad I did. It was the best I ever had. A small container of sauce accompanied it and it was good as well. I didn't order any sides and I'm glad I didn't. The salmon was served with a heaping amount of an interesting combination of corn, beans, raisins and other ingredients. It sounds awful, but trust me it was very tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. The drinks were generous and strong. One of our party had a Manhattan and it came not only as an adequate amount in a glass, it also had a buddy along with it - the rest of the drink was in a small cylinder resting in another glass of cold-water. Apparently you get the full-measure. Another companion ordered the prime rib and pronounced it excellent. The salads were huge. Service was pleasant and efficient. In summation, enough of an overall food experience to return.
(5)
Christian P.
Worst experience I've ever had at J. Alexander's, unfortunately! I've eaten at the three locations probably over 100 times in my two decades in Nashville, as J Alexander's has always been my go to for reliable food and good service. I usually find this location a little calmer than West End, and there's even a former VU football celebrity (think Music City Bowl '08) who works here and is a very good waiter! However, I ate this afternoon alone at about 3:30pm. I was seated at a booth and even asked the hostess if it was okay to be taking up a booth as a party of one. She said not to worry about it. I then waited about 10 min. for my waitress to come to the table, and when she did, I went ahead and placed my drink and food order: unsweet tea, chili, and a salad. She wasn't friendly and seemed bothered by my being there. She also never brought water to my table like they do with all tables (the carafe plus glasses), but I didn't ask b/c I didn't want to be difficult. About 5 min. later, my tea comes, and the glass has a visible piece of food stuck to it. No big deal, I asked for another. About 5 min. later, my chili arrives (from the manager), and I mentioned that I still didn't have a drink. About 10 min. later, my tea and salad arrive, as I'm finishing my chili. Then, I finish my salad and drink and wait 10 or so min. (no one has asked if my food was as ordered, etc) until another waitress simply brings the check. I ask for a refill, she offers a to-go glass, and about ten min. later, I get it. For the first time in my life, I did not leave a tip, as I went for the majority of my meal without a beverage (and usually, they are so good at refills) and clearly felt as though I was a burden to the staff by being there alone. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's hard to enjoy rather spicy chili without anything to drink, even water! The place was packed and I would have been happy to sit at the bar, had they insinuated that to be more appropriate. I also would have been more understanding of the slowness, had it not been to spend 30 seconds putting ice and tea in a glass. I noticed two other waitress at tables near mine who wished the patrons a Happy Valentine's Day, told them of the soup (I had to ask), brought multiple refills, inquired how their food tasted, asked if they wanted dessert, etc, but I unfortunately didn't get any of that. Just a disappointing experience...especially when eating alone on Valentine's Day was a little awkward as is!
(1)
Miranda P.
Wonderful meal and very nice atmosphere. The hosts were welcoming and the server was timely and friendly. The food was incredible. Their burger and artichoke Is my favorite. There Mac and cheese is impeccable and is a must the. I will say they changed their mash potatoes recipe and they were actually really bad and I would not get them. But overall great location and lovely mean!
(5)
Jim M.
Not sure who J. Alexander is but he would have not been impressed with our experience. This used to be our favorite "date" night, local place. Generally, predictable quality and service. Everybody has a bad day, but they blew this one at every turn. Sat in bar to watch NCAA. Food server did not want to get me an Arnold Palmer? Food was slow, no drink refille, burger came out wrong temperature. Had to get up to find server to send food back, had to get up to get refills. No food quality check. Manager did come by and we explained what a poor experience we had...he never returned. In fact, he was leaving the restaurant at the same time we were? Guess his need to get home was greater than the need to check on his customers. Hope he caught the end of the NCAA's. Not sure we will be back? I am usually a GREAT tipper considering that is how I put myself through college. Admittedly, left 10%. iF they had comped anything, would have made it up to server. It is not about the $$$, it was about poor service. Nashville has too many restaurants to have this experience. Next time it's Urban Grub, Mafioza's, or Pinewood Social.
(1)
Jermaine H.
I got the rotisserie chicken and my girlfriend ate the ribs. My food tasted great but I think my portion was a little small. Food was fresh and tasty good, my mashed potatoes were great. My girlfriend's food on the other hand was a little overcooked. It visually look great but the sauce covered up the overcooked portions. My drinks were refilled all the time. The waitress was great. We both said that we will come back. It was not worth the hour wait but it was close.
(3)
Zaq H.
It is rare to find a chef that can Pittsburgh a steak as good as Melvin. Mine was superb!
(5)
Beth H.
Very tasty. I went on a tuesday night and it was packed! I only waited a little while before I got seated. I ordered Alex's Salad to start and the filet mignon with the loaded baked potato. Totally delicious, and reasonably priced.
(4)
Connie A.
I eat at J Alexander's on White Bridge several times a week.I have always been able to get a half glass of wine.After drinking one glass I only want a half glass.I learned last night I could no longer get that,I would have to get a full glass.Please,return to your half glass.We are there constantly and love it!
(5)
Mary R.
The baby back ribs are to die for! Best I've ever had. The sauce is perfect. I can't name a single thing that is wrong with it! They should have the ribs on every menu but they only have them at this location so I come here whenever I get that rib craving. Their fries are the perfect little salted shoe strings, yum! My kids also love the jacks chicken tenders.
(4)
Kristina L.
Based on the reviews I feel like a bit of a schmuck just giving this place two stars. The service was fine; however, the food was just so blah I cannot even be bothered to round up. To me, J. Alexander's has always been a very pricey lunch spot for just average food. I went there today with a few co-workers and had a tuna burger. It was just "meh". Honestly, not a whole lot of flavor going on with it at all. It seemed to lack all seasoning, including salt and was on the dry side. Another person at the table ordered it as well and she and I were both equally disappointed in what we got. For just that burger, fries, and a glass of water, my total was $19.34! An automatic 15% was added on since there were six in our party. While I am fine with that because the service was attentive, it was not brought to our attention. Instead, one of us noticed it and let the others know before they tacked on 15-20% of their own on top of the automatic amount. It may have been written somewhere on the menu; however, I think it would have been nice if the server would have brought this to our attention. If he had, I would probably have added a couple of bucks onto the total because the $2.45 tip that was automatically added seemed a bit low to me. For $19.34, I could go to Gabby's twice and have wonderful food. The only thing I truly enjoyed was my fries. Shoestring fries that were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It was the highlight of my food and that's not saying much for the amount of money I shelled out for something lackluster. It's kind of a glorified O'Charley's if you really want to know. It's never been a place that has had a "wow" factor for me. Basically it is just food to ward off the rumbling in my belly. I'd really prefer to not go back and suffer through the mediocrity and hype.
(2)
Ryan P.
From my tip: The excellent Thai Kai Salad is no longer on the menu but is still available on request. This J. Alexander's doesn't feel quite as nice as the ones in Cool Springs or West End, but the food is the same. I had the black bean soup and the Cajun Trout, both of which were excellent. Our server was attentive and quick, and the food was right out of the oven. Their salads are also good if you want to avoid the post-lunch coma.
(4)
Pamela H.
Very reliable. Food is made to order and I'm never disappointed. My husband and I usually have salmon with rice and orzo side. I like that the salmon is prepared medium rare. The carrot cake is amazing and the coffee is perfect. This is our go-to restaurant. There are food runners and table bussers so that explains the multiple wait staff that serves each table. The mac and cheese and creamed spinach sides are delicious too!
(5)
D P.
My husband and I stopped by this afternoon. We were not disappointed. I got the made in house veggie burger. I have tried many veggie burgers but this one is outstanding!! Just the right amount of their tasty sauce and the ingredients are fresh!! My husband got their steak burger and he was impressed with the taste and quality as well. We both ordered the fries. They are very thin but not soggy and greasy as one might expect. We thought they were tasty too!! The service was very good from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The price for two quality burgers and fries was really not bad. My veggie burger was $11 and his steak burger was $12. We have been to all three locations and have yet to be disappointed!!
(4)
Kirk M.
Its easy to overlook reviewing a place that has been an on and off part of the routine for a long time. I really like this place. The people are nice, the food is good, the atmosphere is good, the prices are reasonable, and its nice and clean. The staff is obviously well trained and perform their duties with smiles on their faces. Whether its just a quick beer on the way home, or several at the bar while watching a game on TV, or a full dinner....its consistently good. The only thing I would change is that they dont take to-go orders over the phone. But, perhaps that's why everything else works so well.
(4)
David H.
Best food! Best service. I've never had a bad meal here!! And I visit often..
(5)
Lauren S.
Overall: Delicious, hearty eats with great service. Food/Drinks: I'm honestly not a huge red meat fan (then why the heck am I at a steak place, right?) but they do have other options! The fish tacos are filling without being heavy. If you really want a belt buster, go for the mac & cheese. It's amazing, but you will need to work out for 3 hours the next day. There is a fairly good wine list and a few cocktails as well. Service: I have always had good service, in fact, I would be more surprised if I didn't. I think it's part of their schtick to act a certain way/say certain things. I always end up eating in a booth in the bar area, it's a great place to people watch. You never know who will show up to this off-the-beaten-path location! Cost: Entrees are in the teens, sides are about $4 and wine runs the range from $7 for a basic glass and goes up from there.
(4)
S B.
On my last visit I had the veggie plate (roasted acorn squash, grilled zucchini, heriloom tomatoes with olive oil and basil and wild rice and orzo mixture). It was all the perfect temperature and flavor. Nice.
(5)
Rj S.
Look out Houston's! You have met your match! J.Alexanders so happens to be the stepsister of Houston's. You can definitely tell by the restaurant's style and ambiance. They both sport that trademark classy atmosphere that get when you enter a Hillstone owned restaurant. I'm a regular at Houston's in Irvine,ca, been going there since I was in preschool and I completely adore the food both have to offer but J.Alexanders sadly has overtaken Houston's throne in my book! This one of the main reason why I love coming to Tennessee on my vacations. I was introduced to J.Alexanders back in the late 90s by my Grandparents, they always raved about this place and they so happen to eat here after church every Sunday. The first time I came to this place, I fell in love with it and I felt right at home(since they had almost everything I would get a Houston's). I always used to get their chicken tenders(which are delicious), but now that i'm older I have moved on to other things. For a starter, I always get their Caesar . One of the best Caesar Salads I've ever had in my life, They give you a great portion, and I deeply love the creamy garlicky dressing tossed in the salad topped with the their Parmesan cheese and fresh hot deep fried croutons . It's to die for! I may warn you,the salad portions here are huge!!! A side salad is equivalent to a dinner salad, i'm not joking one bit. These Salads here make the Houston's side salads look as small as those $1.00 salads at Wendy's. The true highlight of this place in my opinion is their Danish Baby back ribs! Much like Houston's, these are Fall out of the bone fork and knife ribs and they are smothered in their tasty Plum Creek B.B.Q sauce(which is slightly sweeter than Houston's), it's Coleslaw(I always substitute for their shoestring fries) and Tequila beans! Both side dishes definitely add to the meal making it delicious beyond words! These ribs have taken the Crown from Houston's! The only thing this place doesn't have is the out of this world Chicago Spinach dip! But hey, this Place proven it's self to be the better restaurant . I also have to say the Service here is Fantastic, after all this is a five star restaurant so what do you think you'll except? :D I truly recommend this place from the bottom of my heart! The food is amazing, Service is awesome, the restaurant is classy and sophisticated, words just cannot express how much I love this place! J. Alexanders deserves more than 5 stars!
(5)
Robby H.
Great relaxed bar with nice jazz. Atmosphere is terrific, brick fireplaces and dark wood. Food is always good.
(4)
Katie I.
One of our favorite go-to restaurants. Everything is consistenly good here. Wish it was a little more kid-friendly so we could go there more often. Great bar. LOVE the ladder and hook merlot. the best! salads are the best. I'm so critical, and every veggie is perfectly cut, fresh and the greens are fresh, awesome salad dressings. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the chic salad sandwich. Other than that, the fish, steaks and burgers are great. Chic tenders are fab. Love the fries and soup. It is the closest thing to old-school Houston's. Love J's! Oh..and the carrot cake is freaking amazing! i don't even like carrot cake and it is the BEST! a must try!
(5)
Faith J.
I liked this J Alexanders way better than the other ones I have gone to. At least here the bartender will respond when you wave the down, or shoot a flair gun in the air. The other ones I have been to they are too busy socializing with each other to take care of their customers.
(5)
Sharon K.
J Alexander's is a regional chain with locations scattered across the Southern and Midwestern parts of the States, and most importantly with two locations in Nashville. I had the pleasure of going to the location on West End Ave in Nashville. J Alexander's is just straight up new American Cuisine. They serve steaks, chicken dishes, and fish. The staples of all American style dinners. So when you are here you might as well dive in and order a steak. The restaurant building has a nice vibe, they have low lighting and over-sized booths. It just looks like the kind of place that serves steaks, all the tables and furniture look, well, sturdy. I took my family here for a meal when they were last in town. We had a big booth in the front room. Our server was really pleasant and charming even. Dinner here with wine and desert will run you about $40 and up per person, FYI.
(4)
Claire B.
The reasons to eat here: #1 The carrot cake: the best anywhere, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever! #2 The chocolate molten cake: gooey chocolate, that's all I need to say #3 The ribs: also the best of any chain-like restaurant #4 The burger: since Beethoven's closed, probably Nashville's best upscale burger #5 The salad: best honey mustard dressing, diced cucumbers and a sweet iced croissant that somehow goes perfectly with the salad #6 The Asian Chicken Salad: it's huge but so delicious I can eat it all There are many many more reasons, but check these out and get back to me.
(4)
kristen p.
I just ate lunch here with my best friend and her mom. I wasn't really excited about going since it's a chain and all but I was excited to hang out with them. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. During their lunch rush we waited 5 minutes for a table. Please note that if you are trying to be healthy this is not the place to go because after being seated they brought us a basket of fresh, warm croissants with a side of honey butter. Our waiter was very nice. After chatting a while they brought us our food. It didn't occur to us that it had been an exceptional amount of time. But shortly after we received our food the manager came to our table and started apologizing that it had taken so long and comped our meal. We were kind of confused by this and wondered if he had mistaken our table for another. The second time the manager walked by us he apologized again and said that it was not our servers fault. We really thought that he had the wrong table now so when our waiter came back we asked. Apparently the manager just thought that our food had taken too long to prepare and comped it. They never thought that we were upset. I guess that pretty much boils down to unexpected excellent service. The food was really good too. I had the veggie burger and it was so moist and delish. it came with a haystack of tiny fries that were really good too. Like I said... not healthy. But very yummy and even better because it was free.
(5)
Julia B.
It just never disappoints! You know you'll get a good meal, it's my family's go-to for after church lunches. This week I had Parmesean-crusted cod served over a spicy marinara with grilled zucchini. Healthy, yummy, perfectly cooked, and just-right portion. I'll take it!
(4)
Mr Mrs J.
I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :)
(3)
Joe C.
Have been to this restaurant many times. It's a nice restaurant and the staffs are very friendly and professional. I like their seared mahi. The Steaks are pretty good, too.
(3)
Sith P.
Fantastic - great service from the moment you enter the door, delicious food at reasonable prices, great drinks and nice atmosphere - can I say more. It's definitely my wife's favorite restaurant - you always know that you're going to have a great meal with superb service there!
(5)
J I.
Want a rip-off? Dine at J. Alexander's. Direct quote from the manager at J. Alexander's tonight: "Yes, our prices go up when it gets dark outside." (After I tried to place a to go order for a cup of Chicken Pasta soup. The price went from $5 to $6 just because they are now on the dinner menu.) ABSURD!!!
(1)
Colette R.
Service was impeccable. Had the shrimp with cilantro, I believe there were a dozen of them and couldn't finish it. My date had the fish tacos and was pleased. A definite go back .
(4)
Biff Y.
I had a very nice dinner here tonight. We started with the huevos rolls which had all kinds of rich savory goodness, including chicken and black bean. I've had this sort of "southwest style egg roll" before, but I thought this was nicely done. I think the salsa had some cucumber in it too, which was pretty nice. I split the Alex's salad with someone else, and I chose the cilantro vinaigrette, which was a little sweet and had an Asian feel to it. I'd definitely get that again if I the chance. For the entree, I had the salmon special. The server told us that it was Norwegian, which she confirmed to be wild. It was very good - it didn't have that overly fattiness of the farmed stuff. It came with this cold wild rice salad with cranberries in it - I think I like it better than the salmon. The sides were also great - we ordered the tequila beans and the mac & cheese. The mac and cheese were good, but I thought the tequila beans were REALLY good. Nice rich barbecue style sauce that wasn't overly sweet - although I admit not really detecting the tequila. So with one appetizer, a split salad (which was plenty), an entree each (one salmon, one prime rib), two sides, one glass of wine and two glasses of Blue Moon (mmmmmmmmm), the bill came to about $90 before tips. I'm sure you can eat for cheaper if you get sandwiches or burgers. The service was great. Our server Jamie was very engaging, she dealt with our crap with humor, and she explained the stuff on the menu without having that "I know what's haute cuisine" air of snootiness that drives me nuts. (Like, I hate being lectured about how I should order brown rice instead of white rice - I won't mention any names, but the initials are PFC. Hahahaha.) She seemed very honest about what she felt were the best dishes (even joking that "I know you're supposed to recommend the most expensive stuff, but...") So 5 stars for Jamie and the other service staff.
(4)
Michael C.
Locals who want to seem hip and urbane will point out that this is a "chain." But the food is very good. The service is top-notice. If you slapped on a different name, this is where all the wanna-be foodies/hipsters/locals would dine. But, again, it's a "chain," and thus can't be any good. Of course the food here is actually tasty. So the pretenders would therefore not appreciate it.
(4)
Lauren B.
J Alexander's is a classy/slightly more upscale version of Applebee's. The food is good.. but definitely has the taste and ambience of a chain-restaurant.
(4)
Lloyd R.
This establishment exceeded my expectations and provided amazing service and food. I am from Nashville and came back home to show my girlfriend what the great state of Tennessee has to offer when it comes to southern dinning. The atmosphere wad very mellow and inviting. The lighting over each table made it seem like there was a dim spotlight over each person. The food was amazing and the portions were huge! The service was fast and friendly. If your in Nashville please go to j Alexanders for a exceptional dinning experience!
(5)
Sissy D.
Good quality food, great staff. Always happy with this place.
(4)
Nikki B.
The original J Alexanders on white bridge road has never lost its mojo! While the chain has expanded to many states since this concept restaurant started the story, this home town gem keeps it real. Two of my favorite menu items are the spinach queso (to die for cheesy goodness) and the French dip sandwich. The sandwich cannot be rivaled anywhere at any other restaurant. You can tell they don't just shave prime rib from a dried out piece of prime rib. It's the good stuff! And the smear of creamy horseradish is not overpowering. Nothing is over the top here. It's just right. My husband's favorite is the rattlesnake pasta. The perfect consistency for the noodles they use. Last but certainly not least, save room for the carrot cake or very best chocolate cake. Incredible. Order it even if you have to take it home. It's good to see our little home town gem has grown up, but never forgot where it came from!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No 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 : No
Andy B.
This place is pro. I only went for lunch, but there are certain things I look for in restaurants, and the little things all stood out to me like a sore thumb (in a good way). The staff could not have been more attentive, well timed, or more appropriately behaved. For example, there was a table of obnoxious people and their kids, about 12 total, and when they left the employees had the tables split up and the mess cleaned up in about 3 minutes. Then the manager was making notes of scratches in the wood for someone to touch up. Details. A couple more nice touches were the hostesses opening the door for us, the waiter taking our leftovers away to box them up for us (pet peeve when waiters toss you boxes on your table at nice places), and when he brought them back, he placed them on the coat rack ring on the side so you're not talking over a big bag of leftovers. I also noticed another waitress hang a diner's coat on those rings that are right next to the table. Really, all in all, this is how dining is supposed to be. Other people talked enough about the food that was very good. My date had a chicken salad and subbed the grilled chicken for the fried chicken and that chicken breast was perfect, if not only 30 seconds underdone if I have to be extremely picky, but way to err on the side of underdone without a hint of it actually being undercooked. Very tender and juicy. I had the rotisserie chicken that was very tasty, but I actually thought the white meat splintered apart a little too much and was on the dry side. Tough to nail a slow cook for lunch, though. It was still very tasty and the dark meat part was awesome. Sure, you can come here and drop $200 on two people if you're indulging, but our meal for two was $43, which is less than I drop on sushi. One of my favorite things to do is go to places like this and find something for $10-15. You really do benefit from a high quality establishment even if you don't drop a lot of money.
(5)Katie S.
It's not THAT expensive...sheesh. Dinner for three with appetizer (the spinach queso dip is excellent!) and a tasty dessert rang in at just under $140.00 (not including tip). With outstanding service (thanks, Daniel) and perfect steaks (the filet for husband & me - the NY strip for our son), the price is totally appropriate and worth it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a good steak dinner & an overall lovely night out.
(4)Carly B.
Why oh why does this place have to make my wallet cry? Our hostess did not start the evening off well (she gets a sad, single star). She buzzed our beeper for the table and then told us it would be another minute, which turned into 10. We lost our seats and stood awkwardly by the cold door. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint! I devoured the cypress salad with glee. With 1/2 avocado, loads of bacon and homemade croutons how could I be full (hehe) of anything, but joy? Boytoy ordered the French dip sandwich with fries. Was definitely the best one I've ever tried. 4 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. The waitress wasn't super attentive and disappeared for about 15 minutes after our initial drink order.
(4)Beth G.
I wish I could give more stars. Used to love love love this place. When they changed their menu and their take out we stopped going as frequently. Almost stopped cold tell unless friends want to go and we begrudgingly go. Salads are good and prime rib sandwich used to be the eat until they cut it in half and raised the price. So sad to see it change so much and not for the better when ll these new places are sprouting.
(2)D F.
Slipping. Not sure what happened here, they used to be super consistent and great at attending to their customers. We arrived and there was trash spilling out of the ashtray by the door. The brass on the door was filthy. We were seated in a booth in the bar area, and it took several minutes for someone to come by. Eating with two small kids we had the whole order ready to go when she arrived. Service was sub-par, empty glasses, no follow-up once food was dropped. Food portions are smaller, prices up. No leather sleeve for the check, it was just dropped on the table in passing. This is a far cry from the J. Alexander's of years ago.
(2)Dee B.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend. The waitress was very nice & sociable. I ordered a turkey burger for $12 and it was amazing. One of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. It was thick and juicy.. had lots of flavor. I love the fresh roma tomatos served with the burger and the well seasoned peppered skinny fries. I will definately be back for more. And for dessert, I had the carrot cake... which is absolutely phenominal. So moist and delicious. The slice was huge, well worth my $7. That was one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had... besides my grama's. But definately thee best substitute ever. My friend ordered the rotissere chicken with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. Now that meal was also delicious. The chicken wasn't dry and the chocolate cake was rich, but not overwhelmingly chocolately... it was definately ediable. Unlike some chocolate cakes you take 2 bites and you're done cause its to rich & powerful. No regrets on our part. Let's just end this review with this message... this was one very satisfying lunches to date. Both meals were definately winners.
(5)Collin K.
Came here during the lunch rush during the week. We were seated immediately. Our server was very quick with getting our drink and food orders, and I was surprised by how fast our food came out. The restaurant was packed, but they did a fantastic job getting everyone in and out without the feeling of being pushed out. I got the shrimp tacos with bang bang sauce, and they were fantastic. On a previous trip I had the seared ahi tuna and salad. And I can't decide which one I liked better. If only I could get both. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Nikki B.
The original J Alexanders on white bridge road has never lost its mojo! While the chain has expanded to many states since this concept restaurant started the story, this home town gem keeps it real. Two of my favorite menu items are the spinach queso (to die for cheesy goodness) and the French dip sandwich. The sandwich cannot be rivaled anywhere at any other restaurant. You can tell they don't just shave prime rib from a dried out piece of prime rib. It's the good stuff! And the smear of creamy horseradish is not overpowering. Nothing is over the top here. It's just right. My husband's favorite is the rattlesnake pasta. The perfect consistency for the noodles they use. Last but certainly not least, save room for the carrot cake or very best chocolate cake. Incredible. Order it even if you have to take it home. It's good to see our little home town gem has grown up, but never forgot where it came from!
(5)Nick T.
A consistent favorite since I moved to Nashville 10+ years ago. Great food, great service, every single time. Never had a bad visit.
(5)Jennifer L.
I come for the service. I stay for the consistently delicious food. I meet someone interesting ever time I sit at the bar, including the staff. My favorite encounter was a mellow Mom talk conversation with Halle Barry. (Sp?) not sure about spelling but I'm sure it was her! I've also heard rumors of many country stars eating here. I also enjoy the locals hanging in the bar...everyone from realtors to politicians to Ironmen (seriously.) I wish I could afford to come more! A perfect Saturday would be lunch here with a massage at Basic Kneads down the street.
(5)Andy B.
This place is pro. I only went for lunch, but there are certain things I look for in restaurants, and the little things all stood out to me like a sore thumb (in a good way). The staff could not have been more attentive, well timed, or more appropriately behaved. For example, there was a table of obnoxious people and their kids, about 12 total, and when they left the employees had the tables split up and the mess cleaned up in about 3 minutes. Then the manager was making notes of scratches in the wood for someone to touch up. Details. A couple more nice touches were the hostesses opening the door for us, the waiter taking our leftovers away to box them up for us (pet peeve when waiters toss you boxes on your table at nice places), and when he brought them back, he placed them on the coat rack ring on the side so you're not talking over a big bag of leftovers. I also noticed another waitress hang a diner's coat on those rings that are right next to the table. Really, all in all, this is how dining is supposed to be. Other people talked enough about the food that was very good. My date had a chicken salad and subbed the grilled chicken for the fried chicken and that chicken breast was perfect, if not only 30 seconds underdone if I have to be extremely picky, but way to err on the side of underdone without a hint of it actually being undercooked. Very tender and juicy. I had the rotisserie chicken that was very tasty, but I actually thought the white meat splintered apart a little too much and was on the dry side. Tough to nail a slow cook for lunch, though. It was still very tasty and the dark meat part was awesome. Sure, you can come here and drop $200 on two people if you're indulging, but our meal for two was $43, which is less than I drop on sushi. One of my favorite things to do is go to places like this and find something for $10-15. You really do benefit from a high quality establishment even if you don't drop a lot of money.
(5)Katie S.
It's not THAT expensive...sheesh. Dinner for three with appetizer (the spinach queso dip is excellent!) and a tasty dessert rang in at just under $140.00 (not including tip). With outstanding service (thanks, Daniel) and perfect steaks (the filet for husband & me - the NY strip for our son), the price is totally appropriate and worth it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a good steak dinner & an overall lovely night out.
(4)D P.
My husband and I stopped by this afternoon. We were not disappointed. I got the made in house veggie burger. I have tried many veggie burgers but this one is outstanding!! Just the right amount of their tasty sauce and the ingredients are fresh!! My husband got their steak burger and he was impressed with the taste and quality as well. We both ordered the fries. They are very thin but not soggy and greasy as one might expect. We thought they were tasty too!! The service was very good from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The price for two quality burgers and fries was really not bad. My veggie burger was $11 and his steak burger was $12. We have been to all three locations and have yet to be disappointed!!
(4)Kirk M.
Its easy to overlook reviewing a place that has been an on and off part of the routine for a long time. I really like this place. The people are nice, the food is good, the atmosphere is good, the prices are reasonable, and its nice and clean. The staff is obviously well trained and perform their duties with smiles on their faces. Whether its just a quick beer on the way home, or several at the bar while watching a game on TV, or a full dinner....its consistently good. The only thing I would change is that they dont take to-go orders over the phone. But, perhaps that's why everything else works so well.
(4)David H.
Best food! Best service. I've never had a bad meal here!! And I visit often..
(5)Lauren S.
Overall: Delicious, hearty eats with great service. Food/Drinks: I'm honestly not a huge red meat fan (then why the heck am I at a steak place, right?) but they do have other options! The fish tacos are filling without being heavy. If you really want a belt buster, go for the mac & cheese. It's amazing, but you will need to work out for 3 hours the next day. There is a fairly good wine list and a few cocktails as well. Service: I have always had good service, in fact, I would be more surprised if I didn't. I think it's part of their schtick to act a certain way/say certain things. I always end up eating in a booth in the bar area, it's a great place to people watch. You never know who will show up to this off-the-beaten-path location! Cost: Entrees are in the teens, sides are about $4 and wine runs the range from $7 for a basic glass and goes up from there.
(4)S B.
On my last visit I had the veggie plate (roasted acorn squash, grilled zucchini, heriloom tomatoes with olive oil and basil and wild rice and orzo mixture). It was all the perfect temperature and flavor. Nice.
(5)James W.
Met an old friend here for dinner, it had to have been over 5 years since the las visit. I Liked this one because the food and service is always a lovely experience. As Southern as it is the style and ambiance is always so comfortable. I ordered the catch of the day, Don't know who or where it was caght but it was great, had the chef to sear it with house seasoned mashed potatoes, red wine gravy sauteed mushrooms, aparagus, and red wine. Nothing else just a happy man.... its hard to eat, smile, and talk.... :)
(4)Carly B.
Why oh why does this place have to make my wallet cry? Our hostess did not start the evening off well (she gets a sad, single star). She buzzed our beeper for the table and then told us it would be another minute, which turned into 10. We lost our seats and stood awkwardly by the cold door. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint! I devoured the cypress salad with glee. With 1/2 avocado, loads of bacon and homemade croutons how could I be full (hehe) of anything, but joy? Boytoy ordered the French dip sandwich with fries. Was definitely the best one I've ever tried. 4 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. The waitress wasn't super attentive and disappeared for about 15 minutes after our initial drink order.
(4)Beth G.
I wish I could give more stars. Used to love love love this place. When they changed their menu and their take out we stopped going as frequently. Almost stopped cold tell unless friends want to go and we begrudgingly go. Salads are good and prime rib sandwich used to be the eat until they cut it in half and raised the price. So sad to see it change so much and not for the better when ll these new places are sprouting.
(2)Nick T.
A consistent favorite since I moved to Nashville 10+ years ago. Great food, great service, every single time. Never had a bad visit.
(5)Jennifer L.
I come for the service. I stay for the consistently delicious food. I meet someone interesting ever time I sit at the bar, including the staff. My favorite encounter was a mellow Mom talk conversation with Halle Barry. (Sp?) not sure about spelling but I'm sure it was her! I've also heard rumors of many country stars eating here. I also enjoy the locals hanging in the bar...everyone from realtors to politicians to Ironmen (seriously.) I wish I could afford to come more! A perfect Saturday would be lunch here with a massage at Basic Kneads down the street.
(5)D F.
Slipping. Not sure what happened here, they used to be super consistent and great at attending to their customers. We arrived and there was trash spilling out of the ashtray by the door. The brass on the door was filthy. We were seated in a booth in the bar area, and it took several minutes for someone to come by. Eating with two small kids we had the whole order ready to go when she arrived. Service was sub-par, empty glasses, no follow-up once food was dropped. Food portions are smaller, prices up. No leather sleeve for the check, it was just dropped on the table in passing. This is a far cry from the J. Alexander's of years ago.
(2)Miranda P.
Wonderful meal and very nice atmosphere. The hosts were welcoming and the server was timely and friendly. The food was incredible. Their burger and artichoke Is my favorite. There Mac and cheese is impeccable and is a must the. I will say they changed their mash potatoes recipe and they were actually really bad and I would not get them. But overall great location and lovely mean!
(5)Dee B.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend. The waitress was very nice & sociable. I ordered a turkey burger for $12 and it was amazing. One of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. It was thick and juicy.. had lots of flavor. I love the fresh roma tomatos served with the burger and the well seasoned peppered skinny fries. I will definately be back for more. And for dessert, I had the carrot cake... which is absolutely phenominal. So moist and delicious. The slice was huge, well worth my $7. That was one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had... besides my grama's. But definately thee best substitute ever. My friend ordered the rotissere chicken with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. Now that meal was also delicious. The chicken wasn't dry and the chocolate cake was rich, but not overwhelmingly chocolately... it was definately ediable. Unlike some chocolate cakes you take 2 bites and you're done cause its to rich & powerful. No regrets on our part. Let's just end this review with this message... this was one very satisfying lunches to date. Both meals were definately winners.
(5)Collin K.
Came here during the lunch rush during the week. We were seated immediately. Our server was very quick with getting our drink and food orders, and I was surprised by how fast our food came out. The restaurant was packed, but they did a fantastic job getting everyone in and out without the feeling of being pushed out. I got the shrimp tacos with bang bang sauce, and they were fantastic. On a previous trip I had the seared ahi tuna and salad. And I can't decide which one I liked better. If only I could get both. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jason B.
I don't typically review chains, but J. Alexanders isn't a mega-chain so to speak. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal at J. Alexanders. My favorite menu item is the prime rib sandwich. A great piece of meat on good crusty bread....its hard to go wrong. Their salmon is also really good, and I like that cook it to more of a medium-rare to medium temp. The service is always really good, however, I don't understand why 3 or 4 different servers may help you over the course of one meal. I wish they would change the menu a bit more often. I have 2 or 3 items that I typically fall back on. Even the specials they offer tend to rotate between 2 or 3 items. Overall, J. Alexanders is a nice versatile place. It is appropriate for a business lunch, a nice little date night, or even a family dinner.
(4)Francine V.
Great restaurant and staff. I had the best French dip ever. I loved the decor, it reminded me of a restaurant on nyc the odeon in TriBeCa.
(5)Bridget S.
We have been here a few times and the food is always great. I took my hubby for his birthday dinner last Saturday. Overall a very nice experience. Great food, service and atmosphere. Unpretentious, dress in jeans, casual or dressy all are acceptable here. Now for the food...my hubby had the seared ahi tuna....PERFECT and most of all FRESH! I had the filet, perfect...not over salted and the portion was size was great, (I had to take my baked potato home the steak was that large). My daughter had the steak and fries...she love the meal. On a lunch visit in the past we I had their signature chicken salad..a MUST try.delicious and enough for two. We will return.
(4)Kevin H.
I love eating here after a long work week. Nothing gives me a pat on the back like a good steak. The service here is always impeccable and I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or prepared incorrectly. Pro-tips: Bread is free, but you have to ask for it. The steak Maui is where it's at.
(4)Brad H.
Went here with my family couple weeks ago had a great. I always come here and order their steaks they can never go wrong. I order the prime rib steak and yummy. The waitress was cute but a little energetic with her job, but I guess she loves what she does.
(5)Diana S.
I love, love love the grilled chicken salad, and though it is $14, it is large enough to make 2 meals for almost anyone. The same applies to most of the meals here - really good quality, expensive but large servings. The menu stays the same through the seasons, with grilled salmon, chicken, steaks, burgers, crab cakes and other tried and true restaurant choices done to perfection. They have the best carrot cake ever - it is served warm and is all kinds of delicious - gooey, sweet, crunchy and riddled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Haven't tried the other desserts but my guess is they are just as good. Another thing that J. Alexander's does extremely well is vegetables. Rather than going with the tired mixed veg of several squashes and carrots, they offer seasonal vegetables along with their specials, and they are unusual and delicious choices, such as winter squash with cinnamon butter in winter and sliced heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Order a plate of 3 veggies and you will get enough for 2. BTW, customer service is great as well. After all this applause, I have to include the cons. This is a small chain that is priced like a local, chef-owned restaurant, although I do, again have to stress the gargantuan proportions. However, no matter how large the size, there is still no justification for charging FOURTEEN dollars for guacamole and chips. I mean, come ON.
(4)David J.
Very good! Ordered a fillet minion for $32. Very good but a little under done, overall I would for sure go back on special occasions.
(4)Piper P.
Stopped in after a long drive back from Birmingham. Always a treat. The wait staff is amazing and so is the food. We started with grilled artichoke, which are the best I have ever eaten. Wine and then the wonderful salmon. Couldn't have been better.
(5)Bridgette C.
There is a little secret J Alexander's is keeping from you, and it's their one yet delicious brunch offering. A delicious quiche with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. If this one dish is telling of everything J Alexander's has to offer then I will be back. Admittedly I hadn't gone because, when I have the option to go out to eat, this place just never crossed my mind. Plus I didn't realize there was this location on White Bridge, which lacks the college crowd of its West End sister. Here the crowd was mostly locals, and it was a much more relaxed environment. The bartender was on point (because as you may have noticed in my reviews I enjoy sitting at the bars of restaurants, so many interesting people...) and it was because of him that I tried this surprise breakfast concoction to begin with. The side salad is dressed with champagne vinaigrette and I must have again on any salad on their menu. They have some of the best French-press coffee you can get outside of a coffee house. Overall a great place that I had misjudged and I will happily come back.
(4)Jean W.
I was there this month for the first time and it was great. I ordered the Scottish salmon and was so glad I did. It was the best I ever had. A small container of sauce accompanied it and it was good as well. I didn't order any sides and I'm glad I didn't. The salmon was served with a heaping amount of an interesting combination of corn, beans, raisins and other ingredients. It sounds awful, but trust me it was very tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. The drinks were generous and strong. One of our party had a Manhattan and it came not only as an adequate amount in a glass, it also had a buddy along with it - the rest of the drink was in a small cylinder resting in another glass of cold-water. Apparently you get the full-measure. Another companion ordered the prime rib and pronounced it excellent. The salads were huge. Service was pleasant and efficient. In summation, enough of an overall food experience to return.
(5)Christian P.
Worst experience I've ever had at J. Alexander's, unfortunately! I've eaten at the three locations probably over 100 times in my two decades in Nashville, as J Alexander's has always been my go to for reliable food and good service. I usually find this location a little calmer than West End, and there's even a former VU football celebrity (think Music City Bowl '08) who works here and is a very good waiter! However, I ate this afternoon alone at about 3:30pm. I was seated at a booth and even asked the hostess if it was okay to be taking up a booth as a party of one. She said not to worry about it. I then waited about 10 min. for my waitress to come to the table, and when she did, I went ahead and placed my drink and food order: unsweet tea, chili, and a salad. She wasn't friendly and seemed bothered by my being there. She also never brought water to my table like they do with all tables (the carafe plus glasses), but I didn't ask b/c I didn't want to be difficult. About 5 min. later, my tea comes, and the glass has a visible piece of food stuck to it. No big deal, I asked for another. About 5 min. later, my chili arrives (from the manager), and I mentioned that I still didn't have a drink. About 10 min. later, my tea and salad arrive, as I'm finishing my chili. Then, I finish my salad and drink and wait 10 or so min. (no one has asked if my food was as ordered, etc) until another waitress simply brings the check. I ask for a refill, she offers a to-go glass, and about ten min. later, I get it. For the first time in my life, I did not leave a tip, as I went for the majority of my meal without a beverage (and usually, they are so good at refills) and clearly felt as though I was a burden to the staff by being there alone. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's hard to enjoy rather spicy chili without anything to drink, even water! The place was packed and I would have been happy to sit at the bar, had they insinuated that to be more appropriate. I also would have been more understanding of the slowness, had it not been to spend 30 seconds putting ice and tea in a glass. I noticed two other waitress at tables near mine who wished the patrons a Happy Valentine's Day, told them of the soup (I had to ask), brought multiple refills, inquired how their food tasted, asked if they wanted dessert, etc, but I unfortunately didn't get any of that. Just a disappointing experience...especially when eating alone on Valentine's Day was a little awkward as is!
(1)Jim M.
Not sure who J. Alexander is but he would have not been impressed with our experience. This used to be our favorite "date" night, local place. Generally, predictable quality and service. Everybody has a bad day, but they blew this one at every turn. Sat in bar to watch NCAA. Food server did not want to get me an Arnold Palmer? Food was slow, no drink refille, burger came out wrong temperature. Had to get up to find server to send food back, had to get up to get refills. No food quality check. Manager did come by and we explained what a poor experience we had...he never returned. In fact, he was leaving the restaurant at the same time we were? Guess his need to get home was greater than the need to check on his customers. Hope he caught the end of the NCAA's. Not sure we will be back? I am usually a GREAT tipper considering that is how I put myself through college. Admittedly, left 10%. iF they had comped anything, would have made it up to server. It is not about the $$$, it was about poor service. Nashville has too many restaurants to have this experience. Next time it's Urban Grub, Mafioza's, or Pinewood Social.
(1)Jermaine H.
I got the rotisserie chicken and my girlfriend ate the ribs. My food tasted great but I think my portion was a little small. Food was fresh and tasty good, my mashed potatoes were great. My girlfriend's food on the other hand was a little overcooked. It visually look great but the sauce covered up the overcooked portions. My drinks were refilled all the time. The waitress was great. We both said that we will come back. It was not worth the hour wait but it was close.
(3)Zaq H.
It is rare to find a chef that can Pittsburgh a steak as good as Melvin. Mine was superb!
(5)Beth H.
Very tasty. I went on a tuesday night and it was packed! I only waited a little while before I got seated. I ordered Alex's Salad to start and the filet mignon with the loaded baked potato. Totally delicious, and reasonably priced.
(4)Connie A.
I eat at J Alexander's on White Bridge several times a week.I have always been able to get a half glass of wine.After drinking one glass I only want a half glass.I learned last night I could no longer get that,I would have to get a full glass.Please,return to your half glass.We are there constantly and love it!
(5)Mary R.
The baby back ribs are to die for! Best I've ever had. The sauce is perfect. I can't name a single thing that is wrong with it! They should have the ribs on every menu but they only have them at this location so I come here whenever I get that rib craving. Their fries are the perfect little salted shoe strings, yum! My kids also love the jacks chicken tenders.
(4)Kristina L.
Based on the reviews I feel like a bit of a schmuck just giving this place two stars. The service was fine; however, the food was just so blah I cannot even be bothered to round up. To me, J. Alexander's has always been a very pricey lunch spot for just average food. I went there today with a few co-workers and had a tuna burger. It was just "meh". Honestly, not a whole lot of flavor going on with it at all. It seemed to lack all seasoning, including salt and was on the dry side. Another person at the table ordered it as well and she and I were both equally disappointed in what we got. For just that burger, fries, and a glass of water, my total was $19.34! An automatic 15% was added on since there were six in our party. While I am fine with that because the service was attentive, it was not brought to our attention. Instead, one of us noticed it and let the others know before they tacked on 15-20% of their own on top of the automatic amount. It may have been written somewhere on the menu; however, I think it would have been nice if the server would have brought this to our attention. If he had, I would probably have added a couple of bucks onto the total because the $2.45 tip that was automatically added seemed a bit low to me. For $19.34, I could go to Gabby's twice and have wonderful food. The only thing I truly enjoyed was my fries. Shoestring fries that were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It was the highlight of my food and that's not saying much for the amount of money I shelled out for something lackluster. It's kind of a glorified O'Charley's if you really want to know. It's never been a place that has had a "wow" factor for me. Basically it is just food to ward off the rumbling in my belly. I'd really prefer to not go back and suffer through the mediocrity and hype.
(2)Ryan P.
From my tip: The excellent Thai Kai Salad is no longer on the menu but is still available on request. This J. Alexander's doesn't feel quite as nice as the ones in Cool Springs or West End, but the food is the same. I had the black bean soup and the Cajun Trout, both of which were excellent. Our server was attentive and quick, and the food was right out of the oven. Their salads are also good if you want to avoid the post-lunch coma.
(4)Pamela H.
Very reliable. Food is made to order and I'm never disappointed. My husband and I usually have salmon with rice and orzo side. I like that the salmon is prepared medium rare. The carrot cake is amazing and the coffee is perfect. This is our go-to restaurant. There are food runners and table bussers so that explains the multiple wait staff that serves each table. The mac and cheese and creamed spinach sides are delicious too!
(5)Stephen L.
One of my favorite places to eat on the planet! Very classy. Very good vibe. Fast service and incredible fresh food quality. The "not your ordinary Mac n cheese" is the best I've ever had! The chicken tenders are so juicy and hand breaded. I go here once a week.
(5)Shooter S.
Great place for lunch. It is never too crowded (But just enough) and they can get you in an out fairly quickly. Dinner can sometimes be tricky. The menu is very consistent. The Salmon and the Ribs are my two favorites. They also have some of the best bartenders in town!
(4)Nickie G.
Hrrrm, maybe I'm turning into a real food snob or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing because this place was just OK to me. I met my parents and my brother here for a birthday night dinner since my dad and I were both celebrating birthdays! Yay! The atmosphere is nice with a dimly lit room, swank decor - definitely felt more upscale casual. It actually reminded me a bit of a lesser Houston's. The menu also reminded me of Houston's (btw OH HOW I MISS YOU HOUSTON'S). Steaks were prominent on the menu, huge salad entree options, fish and chicken dishes for the people who don't like steak, and decadent desserts. I was kind of excited since you can't go wrong with this kind of menu. But it wasn't quite Houston's. I got the steak Maui because I thought, hey, maybe it is like the Hawaiian steak at the aforementioned establishment. It was a ribeye (I think) and cooked perfect medium rare. However, I found the steak kind of chewy and stringy as well as too fatty (which I know is par for the course with that cut). I liked the marinade and the flavor but I just wasn't in LOVE with it. The BF had a steak also and had very similar comments. Desserts were a treat! Chocolate cake with ice cream - HUGE and decadent. The carrot cake was interesting - more dense than usual carrot cake I've had and warm with melty sugary icing on top. There was literally NOTHING wrong with this. For once I actually took something home in a leftover box and ate the rest of that bad boy later in the night. Hey, twas my birthday, I can eat if I want to!! Overall an A-OK joint and I really think I need to go back and try something else to give it a fair shot. I'm not giving up on you J. Alexander's!!
(3)Asheia W.
I was very pleased with my experience here. This location doesn't seem as upscale as the West End location, however I was pleased with the short wait time on a Friday night. Everything was carefully prepared and brought to the table with care. They even brought my straw out on a plate. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and the Mac and Cheese. I was very pleased with the large portion sizes! The Salmon was prepared perfectly with accompanying tartar sauce. The Macaroni and cheese was baked well, crispy on top and warm and moist on the inside. Excellent customer service from the wait staff as well.
(4)Justin M.
Hey guys. So it's really not often I leave a five star rating for restaurants but that could simply be because there aren't that many in my area. Today was the first day I went to a J. Alexander's and I gotta say-it was fantastic. My girlfriend wanted me to try their macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and chicken. We split the portion and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Everything was cooked excellently and the chicken was so tender and the broccoli so fresh. The food was hot and the service was great. For dessert we got the carrot cake, a very large slice of it. It was warm and luscious and melt-in-your-mouth good. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Kathy C.
The only J Alexanders I've been to is on White Bridge. The atmosphere is great...a bit dark, intimate, classy. Just the way I like it. The food is good. I've never had anything I didn't like enough to order again. The staff is familiar with everything on the menu and can answer any question you throw at them about the appetizers, entrees or wine. When I eat out, I want it to be an experience. I want to be catered to. I want great food and wine. Our server introduced us to a wine yesterday that was very reasonable and now-my new favorite. I'm a food snob, and I like this restaurant. Wine starts at $7 a glass and goes up from there. Entrees start at about $14, appetizers start at about $5. I've eaten here for lunch and dinner a few times. Whether there's two of us or 10, the service and food has always been outstanding.
(5)Foodie A.
Food is always very good, using good quality ingredients and is very consistent each time we dine. Always a great experience!
(5)Chris W.
Great place for lunch. Had the salmon and campari tomatoes. The salmon was marinated and cooked to perfection. Basically melted in my mouth. Was a hit, 3 other folks in my group also ordered the same dish and were highly pleased. Nice atmosphere, very much felt the same as a Houston's.
(4)BethAnn S.
I'm going with 3 stars because this place is just that "A-ok" which is more a smack at their new crazy high new pricing than anything else. The food is standard steak house fare but quite good good and frankly they should charge you just to go in and smell the place as the waft of their fire and rotisserie items is to die for. Or so you think until you get the menu where a French Dip sandwich will set you back $17. That's a sandwich folks and we're in a Nashville strip mall, not NYC. Sadly, this kind of price inflation is clearly thinning the herds as the night we were there last week was dead leaving 3 staff members to wait on us virtually non-stop. What use to be a place you could go with your family for dinner that was several notches over the standard chain fare has lost its place in my opinion. If I'm going to drop $100 on entrees and a shared appetizer for 2 (and no wine!) I'll be hitting Flemings or Stony River.
(3)LM C.
Best caesar salad in Nashville, and a very nice steak.
(4)Brandi H.
I haven't always been a fan of J Alexander's. I always found it overpriced for adequate food. I went last night and had the chefs special- a bleu cheese encrusted filet- and WOW. The steak, the mashed potatoes..... Both were perfection. When our server suggested dessert my fiancé and I waved him off until he mentioned off-the-menu creme brûlée... A weakness of mine... Also well worth it. I've avoided this place in the past but will definitely be back.
(5)Rj S.
Look out Houston's! You have met your match! J.Alexanders so happens to be the stepsister of Houston's. You can definitely tell by the restaurant's style and ambiance. They both sport that trademark classy atmosphere that get when you enter a Hillstone owned restaurant. I'm a regular at Houston's in Irvine,ca, been going there since I was in preschool and I completely adore the food both have to offer but J.Alexanders sadly has overtaken Houston's throne in my book! This one of the main reason why I love coming to Tennessee on my vacations. I was introduced to J.Alexanders back in the late 90s by my Grandparents, they always raved about this place and they so happen to eat here after church every Sunday. The first time I came to this place, I fell in love with it and I felt right at home(since they had almost everything I would get a Houston's). I always used to get their chicken tenders(which are delicious), but now that i'm older I have moved on to other things. For a starter, I always get their Caesar . One of the best Caesar Salads I've ever had in my life, They give you a great portion, and I deeply love the creamy garlicky dressing tossed in the salad topped with the their Parmesan cheese and fresh hot deep fried croutons . It's to die for! I may warn you,the salad portions here are huge!!! A side salad is equivalent to a dinner salad, i'm not joking one bit. These Salads here make the Houston's side salads look as small as those $1.00 salads at Wendy's. The true highlight of this place in my opinion is their Danish Baby back ribs! Much like Houston's, these are Fall out of the bone fork and knife ribs and they are smothered in their tasty Plum Creek B.B.Q sauce(which is slightly sweeter than Houston's), it's Coleslaw(I always substitute for their shoestring fries) and Tequila beans! Both side dishes definitely add to the meal making it delicious beyond words! These ribs have taken the Crown from Houston's! The only thing this place doesn't have is the out of this world Chicago Spinach dip! But hey, this Place proven it's self to be the better restaurant . I also have to say the Service here is Fantastic, after all this is a five star restaurant so what do you think you'll except? :D I truly recommend this place from the bottom of my heart! The food is amazing, Service is awesome, the restaurant is classy and sophisticated, words just cannot express how much I love this place! J. Alexanders deserves more than 5 stars!
(5)Robby H.
Great relaxed bar with nice jazz. Atmosphere is terrific, brick fireplaces and dark wood. Food is always good.
(4)Katie I.
One of our favorite go-to restaurants. Everything is consistenly good here. Wish it was a little more kid-friendly so we could go there more often. Great bar. LOVE the ladder and hook merlot. the best! salads are the best. I'm so critical, and every veggie is perfectly cut, fresh and the greens are fresh, awesome salad dressings. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the chic salad sandwich. Other than that, the fish, steaks and burgers are great. Chic tenders are fab. Love the fries and soup. It is the closest thing to old-school Houston's. Love J's! Oh..and the carrot cake is freaking amazing! i don't even like carrot cake and it is the BEST! a must try!
(5)Faith J.
I liked this J Alexanders way better than the other ones I have gone to. At least here the bartender will respond when you wave the down, or shoot a flair gun in the air. The other ones I have been to they are too busy socializing with each other to take care of their customers.
(5)Sharon K.
J Alexander's is a regional chain with locations scattered across the Southern and Midwestern parts of the States, and most importantly with two locations in Nashville. I had the pleasure of going to the location on West End Ave in Nashville. J Alexander's is just straight up new American Cuisine. They serve steaks, chicken dishes, and fish. The staples of all American style dinners. So when you are here you might as well dive in and order a steak. The restaurant building has a nice vibe, they have low lighting and over-sized booths. It just looks like the kind of place that serves steaks, all the tables and furniture look, well, sturdy. I took my family here for a meal when they were last in town. We had a big booth in the front room. Our server was really pleasant and charming even. Dinner here with wine and desert will run you about $40 and up per person, FYI.
(4)Claire B.
The reasons to eat here: #1 The carrot cake: the best anywhere, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever! #2 The chocolate molten cake: gooey chocolate, that's all I need to say #3 The ribs: also the best of any chain-like restaurant #4 The burger: since Beethoven's closed, probably Nashville's best upscale burger #5 The salad: best honey mustard dressing, diced cucumbers and a sweet iced croissant that somehow goes perfectly with the salad #6 The Asian Chicken Salad: it's huge but so delicious I can eat it all There are many many more reasons, but check these out and get back to me.
(4)Bill S.
Warning: High-Standard of Service, you may feel the need to over-tip. This place feels like an upscale restaurant from the 1920's or something. From the moment I set foot in the door, it was first-class treatment all the way. During our brief dinner, we interfaced with everyone from the hostess, bartender, server & manager and were treated very well by all parties. They've raised the bar on customer service; everyone working here is very outgoing & friendly. They will pamper you if you let them. As far as chains go, this is what Outback used to be, before they went all "Applebee's" on me. I had a similar experience as Erin D. Their definition of 'medium' is on the rare side. Which is fine with me; why ruin a good piece of meat by burning it right? My friend's steak was undercooked to his liking and they were prompt about getting it fixed for him. Food: 8/10 - Customer Service: 10/10 - Overall Satisfaction: 10/10
(5)Jane S.
Had a delicious steak there tonight. And the service! The service sets the standard for what good service ought to be. My steak was slightly overdone, and the manager himself came over to apologize. And he himself brought my perfectly cooked new steak out. Charming and gracious! What more could a girl ask?
(5)Erin D.
My friends Jon and Jamey brought me out here for my birthday on Sunday night. I had never been and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the service. I will be back. I had a very odd experience but they handled themselves so well. First off, my friend Jamey's steak was extremely undercooked and they graciously took care of it. Then, I took a bite into my burger (Bacon & Swiss, sooo yumm) and discovered a piece of wax paper stuck to my lettuce. The manager, who had stopped by about the steak, walked up just as I found this little surprise. Not only did they take care of our dinner (an appetizer, three entrees and dessert) but the manager gave me a $25 gift certificate. It wasn't the greatest experience but they really took care of it. In other food reviews, I loved their spinach queso, but the chips were a little over salty. The creme brulee was so yummy too.
(5)John G.
If there was a three-and-a-half star rating, I would give it that. I had quite possibly the best corn bread and worst vege-burger I have ever had all in one sitting. To echo the other thoughts listed here, the service is very good, and the food consistant. For a lunch, it gets a bit pricey, when you can get comparable food at Germantown Cafe for less money. I would go back, but wouldn't make elaborate plans about it.
(4)Sith P.
Fantastic - great service from the moment you enter the door, delicious food at reasonable prices, great drinks and nice atmosphere - can I say more. It's definitely my wife's favorite restaurant - you always know that you're going to have a great meal with superb service there!
(5)J I.
Want a rip-off? Dine at J. Alexander's. Direct quote from the manager at J. Alexander's tonight: "Yes, our prices go up when it gets dark outside." (After I tried to place a to go order for a cup of Chicken Pasta soup. The price went from $5 to $6 just because they are now on the dinner menu.) ABSURD!!!
(1)Colette R.
Service was impeccable. Had the shrimp with cilantro, I believe there were a dozen of them and couldn't finish it. My date had the fish tacos and was pleased. A definite go back .
(4)Biff Y.
I had a very nice dinner here tonight. We started with the huevos rolls which had all kinds of rich savory goodness, including chicken and black bean. I've had this sort of "southwest style egg roll" before, but I thought this was nicely done. I think the salsa had some cucumber in it too, which was pretty nice. I split the Alex's salad with someone else, and I chose the cilantro vinaigrette, which was a little sweet and had an Asian feel to it. I'd definitely get that again if I the chance. For the entree, I had the salmon special. The server told us that it was Norwegian, which she confirmed to be wild. It was very good - it didn't have that overly fattiness of the farmed stuff. It came with this cold wild rice salad with cranberries in it - I think I like it better than the salmon. The sides were also great - we ordered the tequila beans and the mac & cheese. The mac and cheese were good, but I thought the tequila beans were REALLY good. Nice rich barbecue style sauce that wasn't overly sweet - although I admit not really detecting the tequila. So with one appetizer, a split salad (which was plenty), an entree each (one salmon, one prime rib), two sides, one glass of wine and two glasses of Blue Moon (mmmmmmmmm), the bill came to about $90 before tips. I'm sure you can eat for cheaper if you get sandwiches or burgers. The service was great. Our server Jamie was very engaging, she dealt with our crap with humor, and she explained the stuff on the menu without having that "I know what's haute cuisine" air of snootiness that drives me nuts. (Like, I hate being lectured about how I should order brown rice instead of white rice - I won't mention any names, but the initials are PFC. Hahahaha.) She seemed very honest about what she felt were the best dishes (even joking that "I know you're supposed to recommend the most expensive stuff, but...") So 5 stars for Jamie and the other service staff.
(4)Michael C.
Locals who want to seem hip and urbane will point out that this is a "chain." But the food is very good. The service is top-notice. If you slapped on a different name, this is where all the wanna-be foodies/hipsters/locals would dine. But, again, it's a "chain," and thus can't be any good. Of course the food here is actually tasty. So the pretenders would therefore not appreciate it.
(4)Lauren B.
J Alexander's is a classy/slightly more upscale version of Applebee's. The food is good.. but definitely has the taste and ambience of a chain-restaurant.
(4)Lloyd R.
This establishment exceeded my expectations and provided amazing service and food. I am from Nashville and came back home to show my girlfriend what the great state of Tennessee has to offer when it comes to southern dinning. The atmosphere wad very mellow and inviting. The lighting over each table made it seem like there was a dim spotlight over each person. The food was amazing and the portions were huge! The service was fast and friendly. If your in Nashville please go to j Alexanders for a exceptional dinning experience!
(5)Sissy D.
Good quality food, great staff. Always happy with this place.
(4)kristen p.
I just ate lunch here with my best friend and her mom. I wasn't really excited about going since it's a chain and all but I was excited to hang out with them. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. During their lunch rush we waited 5 minutes for a table. Please note that if you are trying to be healthy this is not the place to go because after being seated they brought us a basket of fresh, warm croissants with a side of honey butter. Our waiter was very nice. After chatting a while they brought us our food. It didn't occur to us that it had been an exceptional amount of time. But shortly after we received our food the manager came to our table and started apologizing that it had taken so long and comped our meal. We were kind of confused by this and wondered if he had mistaken our table for another. The second time the manager walked by us he apologized again and said that it was not our servers fault. We really thought that he had the wrong table now so when our waiter came back we asked. Apparently the manager just thought that our food had taken too long to prepare and comped it. They never thought that we were upset. I guess that pretty much boils down to unexpected excellent service. The food was really good too. I had the veggie burger and it was so moist and delish. it came with a haystack of tiny fries that were really good too. Like I said... not healthy. But very yummy and even better because it was free.
(5)Julia B.
It just never disappoints! You know you'll get a good meal, it's my family's go-to for after church lunches. This week I had Parmesean-crusted cod served over a spicy marinara with grilled zucchini. Healthy, yummy, perfectly cooked, and just-right portion. I'll take it!
(4)Mr Mrs J.
I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :)
(3)Joe C.
Have been to this restaurant many times. It's a nice restaurant and the staffs are very friendly and professional. I like their seared mahi. The Steaks are pretty good, too.
(3)Shooter S.
Great place for lunch. It is never too crowded (But just enough) and they can get you in an out fairly quickly. Dinner can sometimes be tricky. The menu is very consistent. The Salmon and the Ribs are my two favorites. They also have some of the best bartenders in town!
(4)Nickie G.
Hrrrm, maybe I'm turning into a real food snob or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing because this place was just OK to me. I met my parents and my brother here for a birthday night dinner since my dad and I were both celebrating birthdays! Yay! The atmosphere is nice with a dimly lit room, swank decor - definitely felt more upscale casual. It actually reminded me a bit of a lesser Houston's. The menu also reminded me of Houston's (btw OH HOW I MISS YOU HOUSTON'S). Steaks were prominent on the menu, huge salad entree options, fish and chicken dishes for the people who don't like steak, and decadent desserts. I was kind of excited since you can't go wrong with this kind of menu. But it wasn't quite Houston's. I got the steak Maui because I thought, hey, maybe it is like the Hawaiian steak at the aforementioned establishment. It was a ribeye (I think) and cooked perfect medium rare. However, I found the steak kind of chewy and stringy as well as too fatty (which I know is par for the course with that cut). I liked the marinade and the flavor but I just wasn't in LOVE with it. The BF had a steak also and had very similar comments. Desserts were a treat! Chocolate cake with ice cream - HUGE and decadent. The carrot cake was interesting - more dense than usual carrot cake I've had and warm with melty sugary icing on top. There was literally NOTHING wrong with this. For once I actually took something home in a leftover box and ate the rest of that bad boy later in the night. Hey, twas my birthday, I can eat if I want to!! Overall an A-OK joint and I really think I need to go back and try something else to give it a fair shot. I'm not giving up on you J. Alexander's!!
(3)Asheia W.
I was very pleased with my experience here. This location doesn't seem as upscale as the West End location, however I was pleased with the short wait time on a Friday night. Everything was carefully prepared and brought to the table with care. They even brought my straw out on a plate. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and the Mac and Cheese. I was very pleased with the large portion sizes! The Salmon was prepared perfectly with accompanying tartar sauce. The Macaroni and cheese was baked well, crispy on top and warm and moist on the inside. Excellent customer service from the wait staff as well.
(4)Justin M.
Hey guys. So it's really not often I leave a five star rating for restaurants but that could simply be because there aren't that many in my area. Today was the first day I went to a J. Alexander's and I gotta say-it was fantastic. My girlfriend wanted me to try their macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and chicken. We split the portion and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Everything was cooked excellently and the chicken was so tender and the broccoli so fresh. The food was hot and the service was great. For dessert we got the carrot cake, a very large slice of it. It was warm and luscious and melt-in-your-mouth good. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Bill S.
Warning: High-Standard of Service, you may feel the need to over-tip. This place feels like an upscale restaurant from the 1920's or something. From the moment I set foot in the door, it was first-class treatment all the way. During our brief dinner, we interfaced with everyone from the hostess, bartender, server & manager and were treated very well by all parties. They've raised the bar on customer service; everyone working here is very outgoing & friendly. They will pamper you if you let them. As far as chains go, this is what Outback used to be, before they went all "Applebee's" on me. I had a similar experience as Erin D. Their definition of 'medium' is on the rare side. Which is fine with me; why ruin a good piece of meat by burning it right? My friend's steak was undercooked to his liking and they were prompt about getting it fixed for him. Food: 8/10 - Customer Service: 10/10 - Overall Satisfaction: 10/10
(5)Jane S.
Had a delicious steak there tonight. And the service! The service sets the standard for what good service ought to be. My steak was slightly overdone, and the manager himself came over to apologize. And he himself brought my perfectly cooked new steak out. Charming and gracious! What more could a girl ask?
(5)Erin D.
My friends Jon and Jamey brought me out here for my birthday on Sunday night. I had never been and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the service. I will be back. I had a very odd experience but they handled themselves so well. First off, my friend Jamey's steak was extremely undercooked and they graciously took care of it. Then, I took a bite into my burger (Bacon & Swiss, sooo yumm) and discovered a piece of wax paper stuck to my lettuce. The manager, who had stopped by about the steak, walked up just as I found this little surprise. Not only did they take care of our dinner (an appetizer, three entrees and dessert) but the manager gave me a $25 gift certificate. It wasn't the greatest experience but they really took care of it. In other food reviews, I loved their spinach queso, but the chips were a little over salty. The creme brulee was so yummy too.
(5)John G.
If there was a three-and-a-half star rating, I would give it that. I had quite possibly the best corn bread and worst vege-burger I have ever had all in one sitting. To echo the other thoughts listed here, the service is very good, and the food consistant. For a lunch, it gets a bit pricey, when you can get comparable food at Germantown Cafe for less money. I would go back, but wouldn't make elaborate plans about it.
(4)Jason B.
I don't typically review chains, but J. Alexanders isn't a mega-chain so to speak. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal at J. Alexanders. My favorite menu item is the prime rib sandwich. A great piece of meat on good crusty bread....its hard to go wrong. Their salmon is also really good, and I like that cook it to more of a medium-rare to medium temp. The service is always really good, however, I don't understand why 3 or 4 different servers may help you over the course of one meal. I wish they would change the menu a bit more often. I have 2 or 3 items that I typically fall back on. Even the specials they offer tend to rotate between 2 or 3 items. Overall, J. Alexanders is a nice versatile place. It is appropriate for a business lunch, a nice little date night, or even a family dinner.
(4)Francine V.
Great restaurant and staff. I had the best French dip ever. I loved the decor, it reminded me of a restaurant on nyc the odeon in TriBeCa.
(5)Bridget S.
We have been here a few times and the food is always great. I took my hubby for his birthday dinner last Saturday. Overall a very nice experience. Great food, service and atmosphere. Unpretentious, dress in jeans, casual or dressy all are acceptable here. Now for the food...my hubby had the seared ahi tuna....PERFECT and most of all FRESH! I had the filet, perfect...not over salted and the portion was size was great, (I had to take my baked potato home the steak was that large). My daughter had the steak and fries...she love the meal. On a lunch visit in the past we I had their signature chicken salad..a MUST try.delicious and enough for two. We will return.
(4)Nickie G.
Hrrrm, maybe I'm turning into a real food snob or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing because this place was just OK to me. I met my parents and my brother here for a birthday night dinner since my dad and I were both celebrating birthdays! Yay! The atmosphere is nice with a dimly lit room, swank decor - definitely felt more upscale casual. It actually reminded me a bit of a lesser Houston's. The menu also reminded me of Houston's (btw OH HOW I MISS YOU HOUSTON'S). Steaks were prominent on the menu, huge salad entree options, fish and chicken dishes for the people who don't like steak, and decadent desserts. I was kind of excited since you can't go wrong with this kind of menu. But it wasn't quite Houston's. I got the steak Maui because I thought, hey, maybe it is like the Hawaiian steak at the aforementioned establishment. It was a ribeye (I think) and cooked perfect medium rare. However, I found the steak kind of chewy and stringy as well as too fatty (which I know is par for the course with that cut). I liked the marinade and the flavor but I just wasn't in LOVE with it. The BF had a steak also and had very similar comments. Desserts were a treat! Chocolate cake with ice cream - HUGE and decadent. The carrot cake was interesting - more dense than usual carrot cake I've had and warm with melty sugary icing on top. There was literally NOTHING wrong with this. For once I actually took something home in a leftover box and ate the rest of that bad boy later in the night. Hey, twas my birthday, I can eat if I want to!! Overall an A-OK joint and I really think I need to go back and try something else to give it a fair shot. I'm not giving up on you J. Alexander's!!
(3)Asheia W.
I was very pleased with my experience here. This location doesn't seem as upscale as the West End location, however I was pleased with the short wait time on a Friday night. Everything was carefully prepared and brought to the table with care. They even brought my straw out on a plate. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and the Mac and Cheese. I was very pleased with the large portion sizes! The Salmon was prepared perfectly with accompanying tartar sauce. The Macaroni and cheese was baked well, crispy on top and warm and moist on the inside. Excellent customer service from the wait staff as well.
(4)Justin M.
Hey guys. So it's really not often I leave a five star rating for restaurants but that could simply be because there aren't that many in my area. Today was the first day I went to a J. Alexander's and I gotta say-it was fantastic. My girlfriend wanted me to try their macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and chicken. We split the portion and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Everything was cooked excellently and the chicken was so tender and the broccoli so fresh. The food was hot and the service was great. For dessert we got the carrot cake, a very large slice of it. It was warm and luscious and melt-in-your-mouth good. Highly recommend this place.
(5)James W.
Met an old friend here for dinner, it had to have been over 5 years since the las visit. I Liked this one because the food and service is always a lovely experience. As Southern as it is the style and ambiance is always so comfortable. I ordered the catch of the day, Don't know who or where it was caght but it was great, had the chef to sear it with house seasoned mashed potatoes, red wine gravy sauteed mushrooms, aparagus, and red wine. Nothing else just a happy man.... its hard to eat, smile, and talk.... :)
(4)Diana S.
I love, love love the grilled chicken salad, and though it is $14, it is large enough to make 2 meals for almost anyone. The same applies to most of the meals here - really good quality, expensive but large servings. The menu stays the same through the seasons, with grilled salmon, chicken, steaks, burgers, crab cakes and other tried and true restaurant choices done to perfection. They have the best carrot cake ever - it is served warm and is all kinds of delicious - gooey, sweet, crunchy and riddled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Haven't tried the other desserts but my guess is they are just as good. Another thing that J. Alexander's does extremely well is vegetables. Rather than going with the tired mixed veg of several squashes and carrots, they offer seasonal vegetables along with their specials, and they are unusual and delicious choices, such as winter squash with cinnamon butter in winter and sliced heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Order a plate of 3 veggies and you will get enough for 2. BTW, customer service is great as well. After all this applause, I have to include the cons. This is a small chain that is priced like a local, chef-owned restaurant, although I do, again have to stress the gargantuan proportions. However, no matter how large the size, there is still no justification for charging FOURTEEN dollars for guacamole and chips. I mean, come ON.
(4)David J.
Very good! Ordered a fillet minion for $32. Very good but a little under done, overall I would for sure go back on special occasions.
(4)Piper P.
Stopped in after a long drive back from Birmingham. Always a treat. The wait staff is amazing and so is the food. We started with grilled artichoke, which are the best I have ever eaten. Wine and then the wonderful salmon. Couldn't have been better.
(5)Bridgette C.
There is a little secret J Alexander's is keeping from you, and it's their one yet delicious brunch offering. A delicious quiche with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. If this one dish is telling of everything J Alexander's has to offer then I will be back. Admittedly I hadn't gone because, when I have the option to go out to eat, this place just never crossed my mind. Plus I didn't realize there was this location on White Bridge, which lacks the college crowd of its West End sister. Here the crowd was mostly locals, and it was a much more relaxed environment. The bartender was on point (because as you may have noticed in my reviews I enjoy sitting at the bars of restaurants, so many interesting people...) and it was because of him that I tried this surprise breakfast concoction to begin with. The side salad is dressed with champagne vinaigrette and I must have again on any salad on their menu. They have some of the best French-press coffee you can get outside of a coffee house. Overall a great place that I had misjudged and I will happily come back.
(4)Jean W.
I was there this month for the first time and it was great. I ordered the Scottish salmon and was so glad I did. It was the best I ever had. A small container of sauce accompanied it and it was good as well. I didn't order any sides and I'm glad I didn't. The salmon was served with a heaping amount of an interesting combination of corn, beans, raisins and other ingredients. It sounds awful, but trust me it was very tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. The drinks were generous and strong. One of our party had a Manhattan and it came not only as an adequate amount in a glass, it also had a buddy along with it - the rest of the drink was in a small cylinder resting in another glass of cold-water. Apparently you get the full-measure. Another companion ordered the prime rib and pronounced it excellent. The salads were huge. Service was pleasant and efficient. In summation, enough of an overall food experience to return.
(5)Christian P.
Worst experience I've ever had at J. Alexander's, unfortunately! I've eaten at the three locations probably over 100 times in my two decades in Nashville, as J Alexander's has always been my go to for reliable food and good service. I usually find this location a little calmer than West End, and there's even a former VU football celebrity (think Music City Bowl '08) who works here and is a very good waiter! However, I ate this afternoon alone at about 3:30pm. I was seated at a booth and even asked the hostess if it was okay to be taking up a booth as a party of one. She said not to worry about it. I then waited about 10 min. for my waitress to come to the table, and when she did, I went ahead and placed my drink and food order: unsweet tea, chili, and a salad. She wasn't friendly and seemed bothered by my being there. She also never brought water to my table like they do with all tables (the carafe plus glasses), but I didn't ask b/c I didn't want to be difficult. About 5 min. later, my tea comes, and the glass has a visible piece of food stuck to it. No big deal, I asked for another. About 5 min. later, my chili arrives (from the manager), and I mentioned that I still didn't have a drink. About 10 min. later, my tea and salad arrive, as I'm finishing my chili. Then, I finish my salad and drink and wait 10 or so min. (no one has asked if my food was as ordered, etc) until another waitress simply brings the check. I ask for a refill, she offers a to-go glass, and about ten min. later, I get it. For the first time in my life, I did not leave a tip, as I went for the majority of my meal without a beverage (and usually, they are so good at refills) and clearly felt as though I was a burden to the staff by being there alone. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's hard to enjoy rather spicy chili without anything to drink, even water! The place was packed and I would have been happy to sit at the bar, had they insinuated that to be more appropriate. I also would have been more understanding of the slowness, had it not been to spend 30 seconds putting ice and tea in a glass. I noticed two other waitress at tables near mine who wished the patrons a Happy Valentine's Day, told them of the soup (I had to ask), brought multiple refills, inquired how their food tasted, asked if they wanted dessert, etc, but I unfortunately didn't get any of that. Just a disappointing experience...especially when eating alone on Valentine's Day was a little awkward as is!
(1)Miranda P.
Wonderful meal and very nice atmosphere. The hosts were welcoming and the server was timely and friendly. The food was incredible. Their burger and artichoke Is my favorite. There Mac and cheese is impeccable and is a must the. I will say they changed their mash potatoes recipe and they were actually really bad and I would not get them. But overall great location and lovely mean!
(5)James W.
Met an old friend here for dinner, it had to have been over 5 years since the las visit. I Liked this one because the food and service is always a lovely experience. As Southern as it is the style and ambiance is always so comfortable. I ordered the catch of the day, Don't know who or where it was caght but it was great, had the chef to sear it with house seasoned mashed potatoes, red wine gravy sauteed mushrooms, aparagus, and red wine. Nothing else just a happy man.... its hard to eat, smile, and talk.... :)
(4)Jim M.
Not sure who J. Alexander is but he would have not been impressed with our experience. This used to be our favorite "date" night, local place. Generally, predictable quality and service. Everybody has a bad day, but they blew this one at every turn. Sat in bar to watch NCAA. Food server did not want to get me an Arnold Palmer? Food was slow, no drink refille, burger came out wrong temperature. Had to get up to find server to send food back, had to get up to get refills. No food quality check. Manager did come by and we explained what a poor experience we had...he never returned. In fact, he was leaving the restaurant at the same time we were? Guess his need to get home was greater than the need to check on his customers. Hope he caught the end of the NCAA's. Not sure we will be back? I am usually a GREAT tipper considering that is how I put myself through college. Admittedly, left 10%. iF they had comped anything, would have made it up to server. It is not about the $$$, it was about poor service. Nashville has too many restaurants to have this experience. Next time it's Urban Grub, Mafioza's, or Pinewood Social.
(1)Jermaine H.
I got the rotisserie chicken and my girlfriend ate the ribs. My food tasted great but I think my portion was a little small. Food was fresh and tasty good, my mashed potatoes were great. My girlfriend's food on the other hand was a little overcooked. It visually look great but the sauce covered up the overcooked portions. My drinks were refilled all the time. The waitress was great. We both said that we will come back. It was not worth the hour wait but it was close.
(3)Zaq H.
It is rare to find a chef that can Pittsburgh a steak as good as Melvin. Mine was superb!
(5)Beth H.
Very tasty. I went on a tuesday night and it was packed! I only waited a little while before I got seated. I ordered Alex's Salad to start and the filet mignon with the loaded baked potato. Totally delicious, and reasonably priced.
(4)Connie A.
I eat at J Alexander's on White Bridge several times a week.I have always been able to get a half glass of wine.After drinking one glass I only want a half glass.I learned last night I could no longer get that,I would have to get a full glass.Please,return to your half glass.We are there constantly and love it!
(5)Mary R.
The baby back ribs are to die for! Best I've ever had. The sauce is perfect. I can't name a single thing that is wrong with it! They should have the ribs on every menu but they only have them at this location so I come here whenever I get that rib craving. Their fries are the perfect little salted shoe strings, yum! My kids also love the jacks chicken tenders.
(4)Kristina L.
Based on the reviews I feel like a bit of a schmuck just giving this place two stars. The service was fine; however, the food was just so blah I cannot even be bothered to round up. To me, J. Alexander's has always been a very pricey lunch spot for just average food. I went there today with a few co-workers and had a tuna burger. It was just "meh". Honestly, not a whole lot of flavor going on with it at all. It seemed to lack all seasoning, including salt and was on the dry side. Another person at the table ordered it as well and she and I were both equally disappointed in what we got. For just that burger, fries, and a glass of water, my total was $19.34! An automatic 15% was added on since there were six in our party. While I am fine with that because the service was attentive, it was not brought to our attention. Instead, one of us noticed it and let the others know before they tacked on 15-20% of their own on top of the automatic amount. It may have been written somewhere on the menu; however, I think it would have been nice if the server would have brought this to our attention. If he had, I would probably have added a couple of bucks onto the total because the $2.45 tip that was automatically added seemed a bit low to me. For $19.34, I could go to Gabby's twice and have wonderful food. The only thing I truly enjoyed was my fries. Shoestring fries that were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It was the highlight of my food and that's not saying much for the amount of money I shelled out for something lackluster. It's kind of a glorified O'Charley's if you really want to know. It's never been a place that has had a "wow" factor for me. Basically it is just food to ward off the rumbling in my belly. I'd really prefer to not go back and suffer through the mediocrity and hype.
(2)Ryan P.
From my tip: The excellent Thai Kai Salad is no longer on the menu but is still available on request. This J. Alexander's doesn't feel quite as nice as the ones in Cool Springs or West End, but the food is the same. I had the black bean soup and the Cajun Trout, both of which were excellent. Our server was attentive and quick, and the food was right out of the oven. Their salads are also good if you want to avoid the post-lunch coma.
(4)Pamela H.
Very reliable. Food is made to order and I'm never disappointed. My husband and I usually have salmon with rice and orzo side. I like that the salmon is prepared medium rare. The carrot cake is amazing and the coffee is perfect. This is our go-to restaurant. There are food runners and table bussers so that explains the multiple wait staff that serves each table. The mac and cheese and creamed spinach sides are delicious too!
(5)Stephen L.
One of my favorite places to eat on the planet! Very classy. Very good vibe. Fast service and incredible fresh food quality. The "not your ordinary Mac n cheese" is the best I've ever had! The chicken tenders are so juicy and hand breaded. I go here once a week.
(5)Shooter S.
Great place for lunch. It is never too crowded (But just enough) and they can get you in an out fairly quickly. Dinner can sometimes be tricky. The menu is very consistent. The Salmon and the Ribs are my two favorites. They also have some of the best bartenders in town!
(4)Kathy C.
The only J Alexanders I've been to is on White Bridge. The atmosphere is great...a bit dark, intimate, classy. Just the way I like it. The food is good. I've never had anything I didn't like enough to order again. The staff is familiar with everything on the menu and can answer any question you throw at them about the appetizers, entrees or wine. When I eat out, I want it to be an experience. I want to be catered to. I want great food and wine. Our server introduced us to a wine yesterday that was very reasonable and now-my new favorite. I'm a food snob, and I like this restaurant. Wine starts at $7 a glass and goes up from there. Entrees start at about $14, appetizers start at about $5. I've eaten here for lunch and dinner a few times. Whether there's two of us or 10, the service and food has always been outstanding.
(5)Foodie A.
Food is always very good, using good quality ingredients and is very consistent each time we dine. Always a great experience!
(5)Chris W.
Great place for lunch. Had the salmon and campari tomatoes. The salmon was marinated and cooked to perfection. Basically melted in my mouth. Was a hit, 3 other folks in my group also ordered the same dish and were highly pleased. Nice atmosphere, very much felt the same as a Houston's.
(4)BethAnn S.
I'm going with 3 stars because this place is just that "A-ok" which is more a smack at their new crazy high new pricing than anything else. The food is standard steak house fare but quite good good and frankly they should charge you just to go in and smell the place as the waft of their fire and rotisserie items is to die for. Or so you think until you get the menu where a French Dip sandwich will set you back $17. That's a sandwich folks and we're in a Nashville strip mall, not NYC. Sadly, this kind of price inflation is clearly thinning the herds as the night we were there last week was dead leaving 3 staff members to wait on us virtually non-stop. What use to be a place you could go with your family for dinner that was several notches over the standard chain fare has lost its place in my opinion. If I'm going to drop $100 on entrees and a shared appetizer for 2 (and no wine!) I'll be hitting Flemings or Stony River.
(3)LM C.
Best caesar salad in Nashville, and a very nice steak.
(4)Brandi H.
I haven't always been a fan of J Alexander's. I always found it overpriced for adequate food. I went last night and had the chefs special- a bleu cheese encrusted filet- and WOW. The steak, the mashed potatoes..... Both were perfection. When our server suggested dessert my fiancé and I waved him off until he mentioned off-the-menu creme brûlée... A weakness of mine... Also well worth it. I've avoided this place in the past but will definitely be back.
(5)D P.
My husband and I stopped by this afternoon. We were not disappointed. I got the made in house veggie burger. I have tried many veggie burgers but this one is outstanding!! Just the right amount of their tasty sauce and the ingredients are fresh!! My husband got their steak burger and he was impressed with the taste and quality as well. We both ordered the fries. They are very thin but not soggy and greasy as one might expect. We thought they were tasty too!! The service was very good from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The price for two quality burgers and fries was really not bad. My veggie burger was $11 and his steak burger was $12. We have been to all three locations and have yet to be disappointed!!
(4)Kirk M.
Its easy to overlook reviewing a place that has been an on and off part of the routine for a long time. I really like this place. The people are nice, the food is good, the atmosphere is good, the prices are reasonable, and its nice and clean. The staff is obviously well trained and perform their duties with smiles on their faces. Whether its just a quick beer on the way home, or several at the bar while watching a game on TV, or a full dinner....its consistently good. The only thing I would change is that they dont take to-go orders over the phone. But, perhaps that's why everything else works so well.
(4)David H.
Best food! Best service. I've never had a bad meal here!! And I visit often..
(5)Lauren S.
Overall: Delicious, hearty eats with great service. Food/Drinks: I'm honestly not a huge red meat fan (then why the heck am I at a steak place, right?) but they do have other options! The fish tacos are filling without being heavy. If you really want a belt buster, go for the mac & cheese. It's amazing, but you will need to work out for 3 hours the next day. There is a fairly good wine list and a few cocktails as well. Service: I have always had good service, in fact, I would be more surprised if I didn't. I think it's part of their schtick to act a certain way/say certain things. I always end up eating in a booth in the bar area, it's a great place to people watch. You never know who will show up to this off-the-beaten-path location! Cost: Entrees are in the teens, sides are about $4 and wine runs the range from $7 for a basic glass and goes up from there.
(4)S B.
On my last visit I had the veggie plate (roasted acorn squash, grilled zucchini, heriloom tomatoes with olive oil and basil and wild rice and orzo mixture). It was all the perfect temperature and flavor. Nice.
(5)Kevin H.
I love eating here after a long work week. Nothing gives me a pat on the back like a good steak. The service here is always impeccable and I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or prepared incorrectly. Pro-tips: Bread is free, but you have to ask for it. The steak Maui is where it's at.
(4)Brad H.
Went here with my family couple weeks ago had a great. I always come here and order their steaks they can never go wrong. I order the prime rib steak and yummy. The waitress was cute but a little energetic with her job, but I guess she loves what she does.
(5)Rj S.
Look out Houston's! You have met your match! J.Alexanders so happens to be the stepsister of Houston's. You can definitely tell by the restaurant's style and ambiance. They both sport that trademark classy atmosphere that get when you enter a Hillstone owned restaurant. I'm a regular at Houston's in Irvine,ca, been going there since I was in preschool and I completely adore the food both have to offer but J.Alexanders sadly has overtaken Houston's throne in my book! This one of the main reason why I love coming to Tennessee on my vacations. I was introduced to J.Alexanders back in the late 90s by my Grandparents, they always raved about this place and they so happen to eat here after church every Sunday. The first time I came to this place, I fell in love with it and I felt right at home(since they had almost everything I would get a Houston's). I always used to get their chicken tenders(which are delicious), but now that i'm older I have moved on to other things. For a starter, I always get their Caesar . One of the best Caesar Salads I've ever had in my life, They give you a great portion, and I deeply love the creamy garlicky dressing tossed in the salad topped with the their Parmesan cheese and fresh hot deep fried croutons . It's to die for! I may warn you,the salad portions here are huge!!! A side salad is equivalent to a dinner salad, i'm not joking one bit. These Salads here make the Houston's side salads look as small as those $1.00 salads at Wendy's. The true highlight of this place in my opinion is their Danish Baby back ribs! Much like Houston's, these are Fall out of the bone fork and knife ribs and they are smothered in their tasty Plum Creek B.B.Q sauce(which is slightly sweeter than Houston's), it's Coleslaw(I always substitute for their shoestring fries) and Tequila beans! Both side dishes definitely add to the meal making it delicious beyond words! These ribs have taken the Crown from Houston's! The only thing this place doesn't have is the out of this world Chicago Spinach dip! But hey, this Place proven it's self to be the better restaurant . I also have to say the Service here is Fantastic, after all this is a five star restaurant so what do you think you'll except? :D I truly recommend this place from the bottom of my heart! The food is amazing, Service is awesome, the restaurant is classy and sophisticated, words just cannot express how much I love this place! J. Alexanders deserves more than 5 stars!
(5)Robby H.
Great relaxed bar with nice jazz. Atmosphere is terrific, brick fireplaces and dark wood. Food is always good.
(4)Katie I.
One of our favorite go-to restaurants. Everything is consistenly good here. Wish it was a little more kid-friendly so we could go there more often. Great bar. LOVE the ladder and hook merlot. the best! salads are the best. I'm so critical, and every veggie is perfectly cut, fresh and the greens are fresh, awesome salad dressings. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the chic salad sandwich. Other than that, the fish, steaks and burgers are great. Chic tenders are fab. Love the fries and soup. It is the closest thing to old-school Houston's. Love J's! Oh..and the carrot cake is freaking amazing! i don't even like carrot cake and it is the BEST! a must try!
(5)Faith J.
I liked this J Alexanders way better than the other ones I have gone to. At least here the bartender will respond when you wave the down, or shoot a flair gun in the air. The other ones I have been to they are too busy socializing with each other to take care of their customers.
(5)Sharon K.
J Alexander's is a regional chain with locations scattered across the Southern and Midwestern parts of the States, and most importantly with two locations in Nashville. I had the pleasure of going to the location on West End Ave in Nashville. J Alexander's is just straight up new American Cuisine. They serve steaks, chicken dishes, and fish. The staples of all American style dinners. So when you are here you might as well dive in and order a steak. The restaurant building has a nice vibe, they have low lighting and over-sized booths. It just looks like the kind of place that serves steaks, all the tables and furniture look, well, sturdy. I took my family here for a meal when they were last in town. We had a big booth in the front room. Our server was really pleasant and charming even. Dinner here with wine and desert will run you about $40 and up per person, FYI.
(4)Claire B.
The reasons to eat here: #1 The carrot cake: the best anywhere, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever! #2 The chocolate molten cake: gooey chocolate, that's all I need to say #3 The ribs: also the best of any chain-like restaurant #4 The burger: since Beethoven's closed, probably Nashville's best upscale burger #5 The salad: best honey mustard dressing, diced cucumbers and a sweet iced croissant that somehow goes perfectly with the salad #6 The Asian Chicken Salad: it's huge but so delicious I can eat it all There are many many more reasons, but check these out and get back to me.
(4)Bill S.
Warning: High-Standard of Service, you may feel the need to over-tip. This place feels like an upscale restaurant from the 1920's or something. From the moment I set foot in the door, it was first-class treatment all the way. During our brief dinner, we interfaced with everyone from the hostess, bartender, server & manager and were treated very well by all parties. They've raised the bar on customer service; everyone working here is very outgoing & friendly. They will pamper you if you let them. As far as chains go, this is what Outback used to be, before they went all "Applebee's" on me. I had a similar experience as Erin D. Their definition of 'medium' is on the rare side. Which is fine with me; why ruin a good piece of meat by burning it right? My friend's steak was undercooked to his liking and they were prompt about getting it fixed for him. Food: 8/10 - Customer Service: 10/10 - Overall Satisfaction: 10/10
(5)Jane S.
Had a delicious steak there tonight. And the service! The service sets the standard for what good service ought to be. My steak was slightly overdone, and the manager himself came over to apologize. And he himself brought my perfectly cooked new steak out. Charming and gracious! What more could a girl ask?
(5)Erin D.
My friends Jon and Jamey brought me out here for my birthday on Sunday night. I had never been and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the service. I will be back. I had a very odd experience but they handled themselves so well. First off, my friend Jamey's steak was extremely undercooked and they graciously took care of it. Then, I took a bite into my burger (Bacon & Swiss, sooo yumm) and discovered a piece of wax paper stuck to my lettuce. The manager, who had stopped by about the steak, walked up just as I found this little surprise. Not only did they take care of our dinner (an appetizer, three entrees and dessert) but the manager gave me a $25 gift certificate. It wasn't the greatest experience but they really took care of it. In other food reviews, I loved their spinach queso, but the chips were a little over salty. The creme brulee was so yummy too.
(5)John G.
If there was a three-and-a-half star rating, I would give it that. I had quite possibly the best corn bread and worst vege-burger I have ever had all in one sitting. To echo the other thoughts listed here, the service is very good, and the food consistant. For a lunch, it gets a bit pricey, when you can get comparable food at Germantown Cafe for less money. I would go back, but wouldn't make elaborate plans about it.
(4)Sith P.
Fantastic - great service from the moment you enter the door, delicious food at reasonable prices, great drinks and nice atmosphere - can I say more. It's definitely my wife's favorite restaurant - you always know that you're going to have a great meal with superb service there!
(5)J I.
Want a rip-off? Dine at J. Alexander's. Direct quote from the manager at J. Alexander's tonight: "Yes, our prices go up when it gets dark outside." (After I tried to place a to go order for a cup of Chicken Pasta soup. The price went from $5 to $6 just because they are now on the dinner menu.) ABSURD!!!
(1)Colette R.
Service was impeccable. Had the shrimp with cilantro, I believe there were a dozen of them and couldn't finish it. My date had the fish tacos and was pleased. A definite go back .
(4)Biff Y.
I had a very nice dinner here tonight. We started with the huevos rolls which had all kinds of rich savory goodness, including chicken and black bean. I've had this sort of "southwest style egg roll" before, but I thought this was nicely done. I think the salsa had some cucumber in it too, which was pretty nice. I split the Alex's salad with someone else, and I chose the cilantro vinaigrette, which was a little sweet and had an Asian feel to it. I'd definitely get that again if I the chance. For the entree, I had the salmon special. The server told us that it was Norwegian, which she confirmed to be wild. It was very good - it didn't have that overly fattiness of the farmed stuff. It came with this cold wild rice salad with cranberries in it - I think I like it better than the salmon. The sides were also great - we ordered the tequila beans and the mac & cheese. The mac and cheese were good, but I thought the tequila beans were REALLY good. Nice rich barbecue style sauce that wasn't overly sweet - although I admit not really detecting the tequila. So with one appetizer, a split salad (which was plenty), an entree each (one salmon, one prime rib), two sides, one glass of wine and two glasses of Blue Moon (mmmmmmmmm), the bill came to about $90 before tips. I'm sure you can eat for cheaper if you get sandwiches or burgers. The service was great. Our server Jamie was very engaging, she dealt with our crap with humor, and she explained the stuff on the menu without having that "I know what's haute cuisine" air of snootiness that drives me nuts. (Like, I hate being lectured about how I should order brown rice instead of white rice - I won't mention any names, but the initials are PFC. Hahahaha.) She seemed very honest about what she felt were the best dishes (even joking that "I know you're supposed to recommend the most expensive stuff, but...") So 5 stars for Jamie and the other service staff.
(4)Michael C.
Locals who want to seem hip and urbane will point out that this is a "chain." But the food is very good. The service is top-notice. If you slapped on a different name, this is where all the wanna-be foodies/hipsters/locals would dine. But, again, it's a "chain," and thus can't be any good. Of course the food here is actually tasty. So the pretenders would therefore not appreciate it.
(4)Lauren B.
J Alexander's is a classy/slightly more upscale version of Applebee's. The food is good.. but definitely has the taste and ambience of a chain-restaurant.
(4)Lloyd R.
This establishment exceeded my expectations and provided amazing service and food. I am from Nashville and came back home to show my girlfriend what the great state of Tennessee has to offer when it comes to southern dinning. The atmosphere wad very mellow and inviting. The lighting over each table made it seem like there was a dim spotlight over each person. The food was amazing and the portions were huge! The service was fast and friendly. If your in Nashville please go to j Alexanders for a exceptional dinning experience!
(5)Sissy D.
Good quality food, great staff. Always happy with this place.
(4)kristen p.
I just ate lunch here with my best friend and her mom. I wasn't really excited about going since it's a chain and all but I was excited to hang out with them. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. During their lunch rush we waited 5 minutes for a table. Please note that if you are trying to be healthy this is not the place to go because after being seated they brought us a basket of fresh, warm croissants with a side of honey butter. Our waiter was very nice. After chatting a while they brought us our food. It didn't occur to us that it had been an exceptional amount of time. But shortly after we received our food the manager came to our table and started apologizing that it had taken so long and comped our meal. We were kind of confused by this and wondered if he had mistaken our table for another. The second time the manager walked by us he apologized again and said that it was not our servers fault. We really thought that he had the wrong table now so when our waiter came back we asked. Apparently the manager just thought that our food had taken too long to prepare and comped it. They never thought that we were upset. I guess that pretty much boils down to unexpected excellent service. The food was really good too. I had the veggie burger and it was so moist and delish. it came with a haystack of tiny fries that were really good too. Like I said... not healthy. But very yummy and even better because it was free.
(5)Julia B.
It just never disappoints! You know you'll get a good meal, it's my family's go-to for after church lunches. This week I had Parmesean-crusted cod served over a spicy marinara with grilled zucchini. Healthy, yummy, perfectly cooked, and just-right portion. I'll take it!
(4)Mr Mrs J.
I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :)
(3)Joe C.
Have been to this restaurant many times. It's a nice restaurant and the staffs are very friendly and professional. I like their seared mahi. The Steaks are pretty good, too.
(3)Kathy C.
The only J Alexanders I've been to is on White Bridge. The atmosphere is great...a bit dark, intimate, classy. Just the way I like it. The food is good. I've never had anything I didn't like enough to order again. The staff is familiar with everything on the menu and can answer any question you throw at them about the appetizers, entrees or wine. When I eat out, I want it to be an experience. I want to be catered to. I want great food and wine. Our server introduced us to a wine yesterday that was very reasonable and now-my new favorite. I'm a food snob, and I like this restaurant. Wine starts at $7 a glass and goes up from there. Entrees start at about $14, appetizers start at about $5. I've eaten here for lunch and dinner a few times. Whether there's two of us or 10, the service and food has always been outstanding.
(5)Foodie A.
Food is always very good, using good quality ingredients and is very consistent each time we dine. Always a great experience!
(5)Chris W.
Great place for lunch. Had the salmon and campari tomatoes. The salmon was marinated and cooked to perfection. Basically melted in my mouth. Was a hit, 3 other folks in my group also ordered the same dish and were highly pleased. Nice atmosphere, very much felt the same as a Houston's.
(4)BethAnn S.
I'm going with 3 stars because this place is just that "A-ok" which is more a smack at their new crazy high new pricing than anything else. The food is standard steak house fare but quite good good and frankly they should charge you just to go in and smell the place as the waft of their fire and rotisserie items is to die for. Or so you think until you get the menu where a French Dip sandwich will set you back $17. That's a sandwich folks and we're in a Nashville strip mall, not NYC. Sadly, this kind of price inflation is clearly thinning the herds as the night we were there last week was dead leaving 3 staff members to wait on us virtually non-stop. What use to be a place you could go with your family for dinner that was several notches over the standard chain fare has lost its place in my opinion. If I'm going to drop $100 on entrees and a shared appetizer for 2 (and no wine!) I'll be hitting Flemings or Stony River.
(3)LM C.
Best caesar salad in Nashville, and a very nice steak.
(4)Brandi H.
I haven't always been a fan of J Alexander's. I always found it overpriced for adequate food. I went last night and had the chefs special- a bleu cheese encrusted filet- and WOW. The steak, the mashed potatoes..... Both were perfection. When our server suggested dessert my fiancé and I waved him off until he mentioned off-the-menu creme brûlée... A weakness of mine... Also well worth it. I've avoided this place in the past but will definitely be back.
(5)Diana S.
I love, love love the grilled chicken salad, and though it is $14, it is large enough to make 2 meals for almost anyone. The same applies to most of the meals here - really good quality, expensive but large servings. The menu stays the same through the seasons, with grilled salmon, chicken, steaks, burgers, crab cakes and other tried and true restaurant choices done to perfection. They have the best carrot cake ever - it is served warm and is all kinds of delicious - gooey, sweet, crunchy and riddled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Haven't tried the other desserts but my guess is they are just as good. Another thing that J. Alexander's does extremely well is vegetables. Rather than going with the tired mixed veg of several squashes and carrots, they offer seasonal vegetables along with their specials, and they are unusual and delicious choices, such as winter squash with cinnamon butter in winter and sliced heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Order a plate of 3 veggies and you will get enough for 2. BTW, customer service is great as well. After all this applause, I have to include the cons. This is a small chain that is priced like a local, chef-owned restaurant, although I do, again have to stress the gargantuan proportions. However, no matter how large the size, there is still no justification for charging FOURTEEN dollars for guacamole and chips. I mean, come ON.
(4)David J.
Very good! Ordered a fillet minion for $32. Very good but a little under done, overall I would for sure go back on special occasions.
(4)Piper P.
Stopped in after a long drive back from Birmingham. Always a treat. The wait staff is amazing and so is the food. We started with grilled artichoke, which are the best I have ever eaten. Wine and then the wonderful salmon. Couldn't have been better.
(5)Kevin H.
I love eating here after a long work week. Nothing gives me a pat on the back like a good steak. The service here is always impeccable and I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or prepared incorrectly. Pro-tips: Bread is free, but you have to ask for it. The steak Maui is where it's at.
(4)Brad H.
Went here with my family couple weeks ago had a great. I always come here and order their steaks they can never go wrong. I order the prime rib steak and yummy. The waitress was cute but a little energetic with her job, but I guess she loves what she does.
(5)Stephen L.
One of my favorite places to eat on the planet! Very classy. Very good vibe. Fast service and incredible fresh food quality. The "not your ordinary Mac n cheese" is the best I've ever had! The chicken tenders are so juicy and hand breaded. I go here once a week.
(5)Nikki B.
The original J Alexanders on white bridge road has never lost its mojo! While the chain has expanded to many states since this concept restaurant started the story, this home town gem keeps it real. Two of my favorite menu items are the spinach queso (to die for cheesy goodness) and the French dip sandwich. The sandwich cannot be rivaled anywhere at any other restaurant. You can tell they don't just shave prime rib from a dried out piece of prime rib. It's the good stuff! And the smear of creamy horseradish is not overpowering. Nothing is over the top here. It's just right. My husband's favorite is the rattlesnake pasta. The perfect consistency for the noodles they use. Last but certainly not least, save room for the carrot cake or very best chocolate cake. Incredible. Order it even if you have to take it home. It's good to see our little home town gem has grown up, but never forgot where it came from!
(5)Nick T.
A consistent favorite since I moved to Nashville 10+ years ago. Great food, great service, every single time. Never had a bad visit.
(5)Jennifer L.
I come for the service. I stay for the consistently delicious food. I meet someone interesting ever time I sit at the bar, including the staff. My favorite encounter was a mellow Mom talk conversation with Halle Barry. (Sp?) not sure about spelling but I'm sure it was her! I've also heard rumors of many country stars eating here. I also enjoy the locals hanging in the bar...everyone from realtors to politicians to Ironmen (seriously.) I wish I could afford to come more! A perfect Saturday would be lunch here with a massage at Basic Kneads down the street.
(5)Andy B.
This place is pro. I only went for lunch, but there are certain things I look for in restaurants, and the little things all stood out to me like a sore thumb (in a good way). The staff could not have been more attentive, well timed, or more appropriately behaved. For example, there was a table of obnoxious people and their kids, about 12 total, and when they left the employees had the tables split up and the mess cleaned up in about 3 minutes. Then the manager was making notes of scratches in the wood for someone to touch up. Details. A couple more nice touches were the hostesses opening the door for us, the waiter taking our leftovers away to box them up for us (pet peeve when waiters toss you boxes on your table at nice places), and when he brought them back, he placed them on the coat rack ring on the side so you're not talking over a big bag of leftovers. I also noticed another waitress hang a diner's coat on those rings that are right next to the table. Really, all in all, this is how dining is supposed to be. Other people talked enough about the food that was very good. My date had a chicken salad and subbed the grilled chicken for the fried chicken and that chicken breast was perfect, if not only 30 seconds underdone if I have to be extremely picky, but way to err on the side of underdone without a hint of it actually being undercooked. Very tender and juicy. I had the rotisserie chicken that was very tasty, but I actually thought the white meat splintered apart a little too much and was on the dry side. Tough to nail a slow cook for lunch, though. It was still very tasty and the dark meat part was awesome. Sure, you can come here and drop $200 on two people if you're indulging, but our meal for two was $43, which is less than I drop on sushi. One of my favorite things to do is go to places like this and find something for $10-15. You really do benefit from a high quality establishment even if you don't drop a lot of money.
(5)Katie S.
It's not THAT expensive...sheesh. Dinner for three with appetizer (the spinach queso dip is excellent!) and a tasty dessert rang in at just under $140.00 (not including tip). With outstanding service (thanks, Daniel) and perfect steaks (the filet for husband & me - the NY strip for our son), the price is totally appropriate and worth it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a good steak dinner & an overall lovely night out.
(4)Carly B.
Why oh why does this place have to make my wallet cry? Our hostess did not start the evening off well (she gets a sad, single star). She buzzed our beeper for the table and then told us it would be another minute, which turned into 10. We lost our seats and stood awkwardly by the cold door. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint! I devoured the cypress salad with glee. With 1/2 avocado, loads of bacon and homemade croutons how could I be full (hehe) of anything, but joy? Boytoy ordered the French dip sandwich with fries. Was definitely the best one I've ever tried. 4 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. The waitress wasn't super attentive and disappeared for about 15 minutes after our initial drink order.
(4)Beth G.
I wish I could give more stars. Used to love love love this place. When they changed their menu and their take out we stopped going as frequently. Almost stopped cold tell unless friends want to go and we begrudgingly go. Salads are good and prime rib sandwich used to be the eat until they cut it in half and raised the price. So sad to see it change so much and not for the better when ll these new places are sprouting.
(2)D F.
Slipping. Not sure what happened here, they used to be super consistent and great at attending to their customers. We arrived and there was trash spilling out of the ashtray by the door. The brass on the door was filthy. We were seated in a booth in the bar area, and it took several minutes for someone to come by. Eating with two small kids we had the whole order ready to go when she arrived. Service was sub-par, empty glasses, no follow-up once food was dropped. Food portions are smaller, prices up. No leather sleeve for the check, it was just dropped on the table in passing. This is a far cry from the J. Alexander's of years ago.
(2)Dee B.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend. The waitress was very nice & sociable. I ordered a turkey burger for $12 and it was amazing. One of the best turkey burgers I've had in a long time. It was thick and juicy.. had lots of flavor. I love the fresh roma tomatos served with the burger and the well seasoned peppered skinny fries. I will definately be back for more. And for dessert, I had the carrot cake... which is absolutely phenominal. So moist and delicious. The slice was huge, well worth my $7. That was one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had... besides my grama's. But definately thee best substitute ever. My friend ordered the rotissere chicken with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. Now that meal was also delicious. The chicken wasn't dry and the chocolate cake was rich, but not overwhelmingly chocolately... it was definately ediable. Unlike some chocolate cakes you take 2 bites and you're done cause its to rich & powerful. No regrets on our part. Let's just end this review with this message... this was one very satisfying lunches to date. Both meals were definately winners.
(5)Collin K.
Came here during the lunch rush during the week. We were seated immediately. Our server was very quick with getting our drink and food orders, and I was surprised by how fast our food came out. The restaurant was packed, but they did a fantastic job getting everyone in and out without the feeling of being pushed out. I got the shrimp tacos with bang bang sauce, and they were fantastic. On a previous trip I had the seared ahi tuna and salad. And I can't decide which one I liked better. If only I could get both. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jason B.
I don't typically review chains, but J. Alexanders isn't a mega-chain so to speak. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal at J. Alexanders. My favorite menu item is the prime rib sandwich. A great piece of meat on good crusty bread....its hard to go wrong. Their salmon is also really good, and I like that cook it to more of a medium-rare to medium temp. The service is always really good, however, I don't understand why 3 or 4 different servers may help you over the course of one meal. I wish they would change the menu a bit more often. I have 2 or 3 items that I typically fall back on. Even the specials they offer tend to rotate between 2 or 3 items. Overall, J. Alexanders is a nice versatile place. It is appropriate for a business lunch, a nice little date night, or even a family dinner.
(4)Francine V.
Great restaurant and staff. I had the best French dip ever. I loved the decor, it reminded me of a restaurant on nyc the odeon in TriBeCa.
(5)Bridget S.
We have been here a few times and the food is always great. I took my hubby for his birthday dinner last Saturday. Overall a very nice experience. Great food, service and atmosphere. Unpretentious, dress in jeans, casual or dressy all are acceptable here. Now for the food...my hubby had the seared ahi tuna....PERFECT and most of all FRESH! I had the filet, perfect...not over salted and the portion was size was great, (I had to take my baked potato home the steak was that large). My daughter had the steak and fries...she love the meal. On a lunch visit in the past we I had their signature chicken salad..a MUST try.delicious and enough for two. We will return.
(4)Bridgette C.
There is a little secret J Alexander's is keeping from you, and it's their one yet delicious brunch offering. A delicious quiche with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. If this one dish is telling of everything J Alexander's has to offer then I will be back. Admittedly I hadn't gone because, when I have the option to go out to eat, this place just never crossed my mind. Plus I didn't realize there was this location on White Bridge, which lacks the college crowd of its West End sister. Here the crowd was mostly locals, and it was a much more relaxed environment. The bartender was on point (because as you may have noticed in my reviews I enjoy sitting at the bars of restaurants, so many interesting people...) and it was because of him that I tried this surprise breakfast concoction to begin with. The side salad is dressed with champagne vinaigrette and I must have again on any salad on their menu. They have some of the best French-press coffee you can get outside of a coffee house. Overall a great place that I had misjudged and I will happily come back.
(4)Jean W.
I was there this month for the first time and it was great. I ordered the Scottish salmon and was so glad I did. It was the best I ever had. A small container of sauce accompanied it and it was good as well. I didn't order any sides and I'm glad I didn't. The salmon was served with a heaping amount of an interesting combination of corn, beans, raisins and other ingredients. It sounds awful, but trust me it was very tasty and I couldn't stop eating it. The drinks were generous and strong. One of our party had a Manhattan and it came not only as an adequate amount in a glass, it also had a buddy along with it - the rest of the drink was in a small cylinder resting in another glass of cold-water. Apparently you get the full-measure. Another companion ordered the prime rib and pronounced it excellent. The salads were huge. Service was pleasant and efficient. In summation, enough of an overall food experience to return.
(5)Christian P.
Worst experience I've ever had at J. Alexander's, unfortunately! I've eaten at the three locations probably over 100 times in my two decades in Nashville, as J Alexander's has always been my go to for reliable food and good service. I usually find this location a little calmer than West End, and there's even a former VU football celebrity (think Music City Bowl '08) who works here and is a very good waiter! However, I ate this afternoon alone at about 3:30pm. I was seated at a booth and even asked the hostess if it was okay to be taking up a booth as a party of one. She said not to worry about it. I then waited about 10 min. for my waitress to come to the table, and when she did, I went ahead and placed my drink and food order: unsweet tea, chili, and a salad. She wasn't friendly and seemed bothered by my being there. She also never brought water to my table like they do with all tables (the carafe plus glasses), but I didn't ask b/c I didn't want to be difficult. About 5 min. later, my tea comes, and the glass has a visible piece of food stuck to it. No big deal, I asked for another. About 5 min. later, my chili arrives (from the manager), and I mentioned that I still didn't have a drink. About 10 min. later, my tea and salad arrive, as I'm finishing my chili. Then, I finish my salad and drink and wait 10 or so min. (no one has asked if my food was as ordered, etc) until another waitress simply brings the check. I ask for a refill, she offers a to-go glass, and about ten min. later, I get it. For the first time in my life, I did not leave a tip, as I went for the majority of my meal without a beverage (and usually, they are so good at refills) and clearly felt as though I was a burden to the staff by being there alone. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's hard to enjoy rather spicy chili without anything to drink, even water! The place was packed and I would have been happy to sit at the bar, had they insinuated that to be more appropriate. I also would have been more understanding of the slowness, had it not been to spend 30 seconds putting ice and tea in a glass. I noticed two other waitress at tables near mine who wished the patrons a Happy Valentine's Day, told them of the soup (I had to ask), brought multiple refills, inquired how their food tasted, asked if they wanted dessert, etc, but I unfortunately didn't get any of that. Just a disappointing experience...especially when eating alone on Valentine's Day was a little awkward as is!
(1)Miranda P.
Wonderful meal and very nice atmosphere. The hosts were welcoming and the server was timely and friendly. The food was incredible. Their burger and artichoke Is my favorite. There Mac and cheese is impeccable and is a must the. I will say they changed their mash potatoes recipe and they were actually really bad and I would not get them. But overall great location and lovely mean!
(5)Jim M.
Not sure who J. Alexander is but he would have not been impressed with our experience. This used to be our favorite "date" night, local place. Generally, predictable quality and service. Everybody has a bad day, but they blew this one at every turn. Sat in bar to watch NCAA. Food server did not want to get me an Arnold Palmer? Food was slow, no drink refille, burger came out wrong temperature. Had to get up to find server to send food back, had to get up to get refills. No food quality check. Manager did come by and we explained what a poor experience we had...he never returned. In fact, he was leaving the restaurant at the same time we were? Guess his need to get home was greater than the need to check on his customers. Hope he caught the end of the NCAA's. Not sure we will be back? I am usually a GREAT tipper considering that is how I put myself through college. Admittedly, left 10%. iF they had comped anything, would have made it up to server. It is not about the $$$, it was about poor service. Nashville has too many restaurants to have this experience. Next time it's Urban Grub, Mafioza's, or Pinewood Social.
(1)Jermaine H.
I got the rotisserie chicken and my girlfriend ate the ribs. My food tasted great but I think my portion was a little small. Food was fresh and tasty good, my mashed potatoes were great. My girlfriend's food on the other hand was a little overcooked. It visually look great but the sauce covered up the overcooked portions. My drinks were refilled all the time. The waitress was great. We both said that we will come back. It was not worth the hour wait but it was close.
(3)Zaq H.
It is rare to find a chef that can Pittsburgh a steak as good as Melvin. Mine was superb!
(5)Beth H.
Very tasty. I went on a tuesday night and it was packed! I only waited a little while before I got seated. I ordered Alex's Salad to start and the filet mignon with the loaded baked potato. Totally delicious, and reasonably priced.
(4)Connie A.
I eat at J Alexander's on White Bridge several times a week.I have always been able to get a half glass of wine.After drinking one glass I only want a half glass.I learned last night I could no longer get that,I would have to get a full glass.Please,return to your half glass.We are there constantly and love it!
(5)Mary R.
The baby back ribs are to die for! Best I've ever had. The sauce is perfect. I can't name a single thing that is wrong with it! They should have the ribs on every menu but they only have them at this location so I come here whenever I get that rib craving. Their fries are the perfect little salted shoe strings, yum! My kids also love the jacks chicken tenders.
(4)Kristina L.
Based on the reviews I feel like a bit of a schmuck just giving this place two stars. The service was fine; however, the food was just so blah I cannot even be bothered to round up. To me, J. Alexander's has always been a very pricey lunch spot for just average food. I went there today with a few co-workers and had a tuna burger. It was just "meh". Honestly, not a whole lot of flavor going on with it at all. It seemed to lack all seasoning, including salt and was on the dry side. Another person at the table ordered it as well and she and I were both equally disappointed in what we got. For just that burger, fries, and a glass of water, my total was $19.34! An automatic 15% was added on since there were six in our party. While I am fine with that because the service was attentive, it was not brought to our attention. Instead, one of us noticed it and let the others know before they tacked on 15-20% of their own on top of the automatic amount. It may have been written somewhere on the menu; however, I think it would have been nice if the server would have brought this to our attention. If he had, I would probably have added a couple of bucks onto the total because the $2.45 tip that was automatically added seemed a bit low to me. For $19.34, I could go to Gabby's twice and have wonderful food. The only thing I truly enjoyed was my fries. Shoestring fries that were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It was the highlight of my food and that's not saying much for the amount of money I shelled out for something lackluster. It's kind of a glorified O'Charley's if you really want to know. It's never been a place that has had a "wow" factor for me. Basically it is just food to ward off the rumbling in my belly. I'd really prefer to not go back and suffer through the mediocrity and hype.
(2)Ryan P.
From my tip: The excellent Thai Kai Salad is no longer on the menu but is still available on request. This J. Alexander's doesn't feel quite as nice as the ones in Cool Springs or West End, but the food is the same. I had the black bean soup and the Cajun Trout, both of which were excellent. Our server was attentive and quick, and the food was right out of the oven. Their salads are also good if you want to avoid the post-lunch coma.
(4)Pamela H.
Very reliable. Food is made to order and I'm never disappointed. My husband and I usually have salmon with rice and orzo side. I like that the salmon is prepared medium rare. The carrot cake is amazing and the coffee is perfect. This is our go-to restaurant. There are food runners and table bussers so that explains the multiple wait staff that serves each table. The mac and cheese and creamed spinach sides are delicious too!
(5)D P.
My husband and I stopped by this afternoon. We were not disappointed. I got the made in house veggie burger. I have tried many veggie burgers but this one is outstanding!! Just the right amount of their tasty sauce and the ingredients are fresh!! My husband got their steak burger and he was impressed with the taste and quality as well. We both ordered the fries. They are very thin but not soggy and greasy as one might expect. We thought they were tasty too!! The service was very good from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The price for two quality burgers and fries was really not bad. My veggie burger was $11 and his steak burger was $12. We have been to all three locations and have yet to be disappointed!!
(4)Kirk M.
Its easy to overlook reviewing a place that has been an on and off part of the routine for a long time. I really like this place. The people are nice, the food is good, the atmosphere is good, the prices are reasonable, and its nice and clean. The staff is obviously well trained and perform their duties with smiles on their faces. Whether its just a quick beer on the way home, or several at the bar while watching a game on TV, or a full dinner....its consistently good. The only thing I would change is that they dont take to-go orders over the phone. But, perhaps that's why everything else works so well.
(4)David H.
Best food! Best service. I've never had a bad meal here!! And I visit often..
(5)Lauren S.
Overall: Delicious, hearty eats with great service. Food/Drinks: I'm honestly not a huge red meat fan (then why the heck am I at a steak place, right?) but they do have other options! The fish tacos are filling without being heavy. If you really want a belt buster, go for the mac & cheese. It's amazing, but you will need to work out for 3 hours the next day. There is a fairly good wine list and a few cocktails as well. Service: I have always had good service, in fact, I would be more surprised if I didn't. I think it's part of their schtick to act a certain way/say certain things. I always end up eating in a booth in the bar area, it's a great place to people watch. You never know who will show up to this off-the-beaten-path location! Cost: Entrees are in the teens, sides are about $4 and wine runs the range from $7 for a basic glass and goes up from there.
(4)S B.
On my last visit I had the veggie plate (roasted acorn squash, grilled zucchini, heriloom tomatoes with olive oil and basil and wild rice and orzo mixture). It was all the perfect temperature and flavor. Nice.
(5)Rj S.
Look out Houston's! You have met your match! J.Alexanders so happens to be the stepsister of Houston's. You can definitely tell by the restaurant's style and ambiance. They both sport that trademark classy atmosphere that get when you enter a Hillstone owned restaurant. I'm a regular at Houston's in Irvine,ca, been going there since I was in preschool and I completely adore the food both have to offer but J.Alexanders sadly has overtaken Houston's throne in my book! This one of the main reason why I love coming to Tennessee on my vacations. I was introduced to J.Alexanders back in the late 90s by my Grandparents, they always raved about this place and they so happen to eat here after church every Sunday. The first time I came to this place, I fell in love with it and I felt right at home(since they had almost everything I would get a Houston's). I always used to get their chicken tenders(which are delicious), but now that i'm older I have moved on to other things. For a starter, I always get their Caesar . One of the best Caesar Salads I've ever had in my life, They give you a great portion, and I deeply love the creamy garlicky dressing tossed in the salad topped with the their Parmesan cheese and fresh hot deep fried croutons . It's to die for! I may warn you,the salad portions here are huge!!! A side salad is equivalent to a dinner salad, i'm not joking one bit. These Salads here make the Houston's side salads look as small as those $1.00 salads at Wendy's. The true highlight of this place in my opinion is their Danish Baby back ribs! Much like Houston's, these are Fall out of the bone fork and knife ribs and they are smothered in their tasty Plum Creek B.B.Q sauce(which is slightly sweeter than Houston's), it's Coleslaw(I always substitute for their shoestring fries) and Tequila beans! Both side dishes definitely add to the meal making it delicious beyond words! These ribs have taken the Crown from Houston's! The only thing this place doesn't have is the out of this world Chicago Spinach dip! But hey, this Place proven it's self to be the better restaurant . I also have to say the Service here is Fantastic, after all this is a five star restaurant so what do you think you'll except? :D I truly recommend this place from the bottom of my heart! The food is amazing, Service is awesome, the restaurant is classy and sophisticated, words just cannot express how much I love this place! J. Alexanders deserves more than 5 stars!
(5)Robby H.
Great relaxed bar with nice jazz. Atmosphere is terrific, brick fireplaces and dark wood. Food is always good.
(4)Katie I.
One of our favorite go-to restaurants. Everything is consistenly good here. Wish it was a little more kid-friendly so we could go there more often. Great bar. LOVE the ladder and hook merlot. the best! salads are the best. I'm so critical, and every veggie is perfectly cut, fresh and the greens are fresh, awesome salad dressings. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the chic salad sandwich. Other than that, the fish, steaks and burgers are great. Chic tenders are fab. Love the fries and soup. It is the closest thing to old-school Houston's. Love J's! Oh..and the carrot cake is freaking amazing! i don't even like carrot cake and it is the BEST! a must try!
(5)Faith J.
I liked this J Alexanders way better than the other ones I have gone to. At least here the bartender will respond when you wave the down, or shoot a flair gun in the air. The other ones I have been to they are too busy socializing with each other to take care of their customers.
(5)Sharon K.
J Alexander's is a regional chain with locations scattered across the Southern and Midwestern parts of the States, and most importantly with two locations in Nashville. I had the pleasure of going to the location on West End Ave in Nashville. J Alexander's is just straight up new American Cuisine. They serve steaks, chicken dishes, and fish. The staples of all American style dinners. So when you are here you might as well dive in and order a steak. The restaurant building has a nice vibe, they have low lighting and over-sized booths. It just looks like the kind of place that serves steaks, all the tables and furniture look, well, sturdy. I took my family here for a meal when they were last in town. We had a big booth in the front room. Our server was really pleasant and charming even. Dinner here with wine and desert will run you about $40 and up per person, FYI.
(4)Claire B.
The reasons to eat here: #1 The carrot cake: the best anywhere, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever! #2 The chocolate molten cake: gooey chocolate, that's all I need to say #3 The ribs: also the best of any chain-like restaurant #4 The burger: since Beethoven's closed, probably Nashville's best upscale burger #5 The salad: best honey mustard dressing, diced cucumbers and a sweet iced croissant that somehow goes perfectly with the salad #6 The Asian Chicken Salad: it's huge but so delicious I can eat it all There are many many more reasons, but check these out and get back to me.
(4)kristen p.
I just ate lunch here with my best friend and her mom. I wasn't really excited about going since it's a chain and all but I was excited to hang out with them. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. During their lunch rush we waited 5 minutes for a table. Please note that if you are trying to be healthy this is not the place to go because after being seated they brought us a basket of fresh, warm croissants with a side of honey butter. Our waiter was very nice. After chatting a while they brought us our food. It didn't occur to us that it had been an exceptional amount of time. But shortly after we received our food the manager came to our table and started apologizing that it had taken so long and comped our meal. We were kind of confused by this and wondered if he had mistaken our table for another. The second time the manager walked by us he apologized again and said that it was not our servers fault. We really thought that he had the wrong table now so when our waiter came back we asked. Apparently the manager just thought that our food had taken too long to prepare and comped it. They never thought that we were upset. I guess that pretty much boils down to unexpected excellent service. The food was really good too. I had the veggie burger and it was so moist and delish. it came with a haystack of tiny fries that were really good too. Like I said... not healthy. But very yummy and even better because it was free.
(5)Julia B.
It just never disappoints! You know you'll get a good meal, it's my family's go-to for after church lunches. This week I had Parmesean-crusted cod served over a spicy marinara with grilled zucchini. Healthy, yummy, perfectly cooked, and just-right portion. I'll take it!
(4)Mr Mrs J.
I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :)
(3)Joe C.
Have been to this restaurant many times. It's a nice restaurant and the staffs are very friendly and professional. I like their seared mahi. The Steaks are pretty good, too.
(3)Sith P.
Fantastic - great service from the moment you enter the door, delicious food at reasonable prices, great drinks and nice atmosphere - can I say more. It's definitely my wife's favorite restaurant - you always know that you're going to have a great meal with superb service there!
(5)J I.
Want a rip-off? Dine at J. Alexander's. Direct quote from the manager at J. Alexander's tonight: "Yes, our prices go up when it gets dark outside." (After I tried to place a to go order for a cup of Chicken Pasta soup. The price went from $5 to $6 just because they are now on the dinner menu.) ABSURD!!!
(1)Colette R.
Service was impeccable. Had the shrimp with cilantro, I believe there were a dozen of them and couldn't finish it. My date had the fish tacos and was pleased. A definite go back .
(4)Biff Y.
I had a very nice dinner here tonight. We started with the huevos rolls which had all kinds of rich savory goodness, including chicken and black bean. I've had this sort of "southwest style egg roll" before, but I thought this was nicely done. I think the salsa had some cucumber in it too, which was pretty nice. I split the Alex's salad with someone else, and I chose the cilantro vinaigrette, which was a little sweet and had an Asian feel to it. I'd definitely get that again if I the chance. For the entree, I had the salmon special. The server told us that it was Norwegian, which she confirmed to be wild. It was very good - it didn't have that overly fattiness of the farmed stuff. It came with this cold wild rice salad with cranberries in it - I think I like it better than the salmon. The sides were also great - we ordered the tequila beans and the mac & cheese. The mac and cheese were good, but I thought the tequila beans were REALLY good. Nice rich barbecue style sauce that wasn't overly sweet - although I admit not really detecting the tequila. So with one appetizer, a split salad (which was plenty), an entree each (one salmon, one prime rib), two sides, one glass of wine and two glasses of Blue Moon (mmmmmmmmm), the bill came to about $90 before tips. I'm sure you can eat for cheaper if you get sandwiches or burgers. The service was great. Our server Jamie was very engaging, she dealt with our crap with humor, and she explained the stuff on the menu without having that "I know what's haute cuisine" air of snootiness that drives me nuts. (Like, I hate being lectured about how I should order brown rice instead of white rice - I won't mention any names, but the initials are PFC. Hahahaha.) She seemed very honest about what she felt were the best dishes (even joking that "I know you're supposed to recommend the most expensive stuff, but...") So 5 stars for Jamie and the other service staff.
(4)Michael C.
Locals who want to seem hip and urbane will point out that this is a "chain." But the food is very good. The service is top-notice. If you slapped on a different name, this is where all the wanna-be foodies/hipsters/locals would dine. But, again, it's a "chain," and thus can't be any good. Of course the food here is actually tasty. So the pretenders would therefore not appreciate it.
(4)Lauren B.
J Alexander's is a classy/slightly more upscale version of Applebee's. The food is good.. but definitely has the taste and ambience of a chain-restaurant.
(4)Lloyd R.
This establishment exceeded my expectations and provided amazing service and food. I am from Nashville and came back home to show my girlfriend what the great state of Tennessee has to offer when it comes to southern dinning. The atmosphere wad very mellow and inviting. The lighting over each table made it seem like there was a dim spotlight over each person. The food was amazing and the portions were huge! The service was fast and friendly. If your in Nashville please go to j Alexanders for a exceptional dinning experience!
(5)Sissy D.
Good quality food, great staff. Always happy with this place.
(4)Nikki B.
The original J Alexanders on white bridge road has never lost its mojo! While the chain has expanded to many states since this concept restaurant started the story, this home town gem keeps it real. Two of my favorite menu items are the spinach queso (to die for cheesy goodness) and the French dip sandwich. The sandwich cannot be rivaled anywhere at any other restaurant. You can tell they don't just shave prime rib from a dried out piece of prime rib. It's the good stuff! And the smear of creamy horseradish is not overpowering. Nothing is over the top here. It's just right. My husband's favorite is the rattlesnake pasta. The perfect consistency for the noodles they use. Last but certainly not least, save room for the carrot cake or very best chocolate cake. Incredible. Order it even if you have to take it home. It's good to see our little home town gem has grown up, but never forgot where it came from!
(5)