Jackson 20 Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

  • Lissa K.

    I am only giving this restaurant two stars for their consistency. Before you go getting all excited that they are consistent, reading to find out where they are consistent. Their service consistently sucks! Our family comes to Hotel Monaco every time we cannot stay at our local home for any reason (recent power outages, this time). We come for the hotel, but end up eating at Jackson 20 for convenience. Yesterday afternoon my five year old daughter and I went down for a slate lunch. There were about five tables seated and one server as far as I could tell. We waited about fifteen minutes before i asked the hostess about a server. She seemed surprised that i was bothered by sitting with a hungry five year old for fifteen minutes without even a glass of water in front of us. I stared the server down and he finally came over and asked if anyone had been to us, yet. I told him that nobody had and he gave an exasperated look as if he was going to sweep in an rescue us. He took our order and informed me that in order to get my daughter lemonade he would have to go all the way into the back. Was I supposed to feel bad? We waited about another fifteen minutes and watched a table that sat long after us eat their food. The waiter walked past us once or twice and my daughter repeated that she was starving. I looked back in the kitchen and saw even our own waiter eating from a plate on the food line in the expo window. (big health no-no). He saw me looking at him and eventually showed up with sliders for my daughter. I then sat for another ten minutes or so until my pulled pork sliders arrived. Neither of these dishes should have taken more than ten minutes. I have so many issues here that I don't even know where to start. Any common sense person knows not to leave a child waiting in a restaurant...particularly. Hungry child. He never offered bred or even a cup of fruit for her to nosh on, but he made sure he was fed. I asked for the check so we could get out and back to our room, being exhausted from being displaced from our home, and he dropped it off an disappeared for at least another ten minutes. I put my credit card in the book handmade it clear by moving the book around on the table and even holding it up in my hand. I finally just charged the food to my room and left. I was horrified when I got back to my room to find a note from the server taped to m y door. The note was apologetic, but I felt very uncomfortable about the fact that a server had followed me out of the restaurant and to my room, particularly having a child with me. Fst forward to the next morning, I am sitting in my room waiting for. Room service order from J20, that was placed on our door last night for 7:15. It is now 8:15 and I am pissed! I just received a phone call from guest services an hour later and the order was lost, so now my THREE children and I will sit hungrily without coffee in our room and wait another 45 minutes as we were quoted apologetically for our free food. I am sorry to say that this might be the last time we ever stay here at this hotel as room service and the convenience if dining are important factors for our young family...what a shame!

    (2)
  • Tina A.

    Amazing brunch! I had the Chesapeake Eggs and hash browns. Bottomless mimosas was a nice touch.

    (4)
  • P P.

    My dog gives it a 5 star for doggie happy hour, but unfortunately I cannot agree. This is our 4th happy hour and it is great fun for our dog. There are 30-50 people there, which is not much, but the service is usually dreadful. They often have only one server and they seem to be taught to avoid eye contact. Tonight was particularly bad, we arrived about 6:25 and there were two servers, both of which ignored us. After about 5 minutes the woman disappeared and we did not see her for a long time. The guy was tending the beer and wine "bar" and waiting tables. At about 6:35 he came over to our double table and started to clear off the debris from the previous patrons. He asked if we had served - no. I said I would have the BBQ Sliders and a Pale Ale, my wife said a vodka and diet coke. I said better order two it might be while, so she ordered a double. The guy takes off, leaving half the debris behind. She said, we have plenty of time until Happy Hour ends at 7, I didn't need to order two. I said remember last time? Just wait. Time goes by, nothing. More time, my wife is ready to order her meal. More time. Finally he swings by "sorry, have to go inside for you diet coke, I'll get your beer". (I had seen him go inside about 10 times already) He goes to his beer stand and grabs it and brings one setting of silverware. Debris still on table next to us. He brings me a beer, I say, "hmmm, not a Pale Ale, a Pilsner, I guess that's fine". He doesn't say he will swap it or they were out or sorry. No biggie, but still, your trying to earn a tip. My wife orders her burger, medium rare, no cheese. More time. The first waitress still AWOL. A hostess shows up with some wine for the bar and a drink on her tray that looks like ours. It looks pretty dark, like not much vodka. For a double you expect light brown indicating more vodka less coke. My wife tastes it and asks me to see if I taste vodka. Not really. Maybe? Not a double for sure. I am a light drinker and can feel the alcohol pretty fast, not this time. Flag down the hostess who assures us she asked the inside bar tender if it was a double and he said yes. We disagree and she kindly agrees to pour one herself. This comes out nice and light brown and tastes like a real drink. She lets us keep the diluted one - nice save. The missing waitress shows up about 7pm with the burger. It has cheese of course. She asks about my sliders. Never showed up and I ordered way before my wife. Cancel it. So the hostess should get a 5 star for bailing out the staff, on the other hand maybe she should have taken control earlier. As I said, this happens every doggie happy hour, no one could be surprised. I don't blame the bar tender, people are coming directly to him, how is he going to make it to 10-12 tables? So, if you go, go directly to the bar and have him enter your order there and pick up your beer or wine while you are at it. Food: average. Price: generally high. 3 BBQ sliders for $5 at happy hour is a good deal. $5 mixed drink a good deal, my beer was somehow $1.84. Very odd, but a great deal for a can. $5 for 3 half deviled eggs is not a good deal. The hamburger was $15, no happy hour special and it is not any near a $15 burger. For that I can get a Kobi Beef burger in Georgetown that will give you a burgasm. This place is supposed to be top notch and if the service was fast and the burger was great, I might understand $15 for it, but it is not. I will still be back for the dog, I get smarter each time.

    (2)
  • Donna B.

    My husband and I stopped here for breakfast on a Sunday morning. We sat outside, which was very pleasant. The waiter didn't come to the table for 10 minutes after we sat down. We ordered ice coffee, fruit plate and yogurt parfait with a side of hash browns. The iced coffee tasted like water. The fruit plate was good, although there was approximately 5 bites worth of fruit on the plate. the parfait was acceptable and the hash browns were mediocre. The waiter brought the spoon for the parfait and ketchup for the hash browns when we were almost finished with the meal. We overheard other diners telling their waiters of wrong orders. So for $30, we got a mediocre meal and poor service. Weeard other diners telling their waiters of wrong orders. Will not go back.

    (1)
  • Roger M.

    Jackson 20 is located in prime territory in the heart of Old Town, right on King Town and essentially on the site of the first casualty in the U.S. Civil War. One couldn't ask for a more historic, convenient, and comfortable spot from which to view the passing pedestrian traffic. We sat outdoors on a pleasant September Saturday, and were very pleased with the setting, the service, and the wonderful location. Jackson 20 serves a number of nice wines and locally-produced (Port City) beers, which made us very happy on a warm weekend afternoon. The service was pleasant, very responsive, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. This is a restaurant, though, and unfortunately it gets poor marks on its food -- at least, it gets poor marks on the food we tasted. My partner's crab cake appetizer was good but not fabulous (quite a bit of filler), and the accompanying fried-green tomato was more-or-less flavorless. My chicken-friend steak with hash brown and scrambled eggs was a real disappointment -- the steak inside the insipid fried batter was paper-thin, void of flavor or texture, and thoroughly insubstantial. Other diners at our table ordered the BLT sandwich with a fried egg, and although it looked colorful and therefore interesting it didn't taste much better than the doggie treat our thoughtful waitress brought us for our canine companion Buster. Okay, so we got ring-side seats on King Street in September, on the weekend of the Alexandria Art Festival. That rates an A+. We had great, friendly service. That rates an A+. They serve very fresh Port City beer and good wines, and are friendly to pets. that rates an A+. On the value-for-money scale (outside dining, good and friendly service, great location, mediocre food) they probably rate a B or a B-. Their food, unfortunately, lacks flavor, spice, backbone, and personality. That rates a C-. On the overall scale, I think we're talking about a B or a B-. Not bad, and you really can't do much better for outside dining on lower King Street, but not a world class, "wow, I'm coming back here EVERY time I visit Alexandria" visit.

    (3)
  • Laura G.

    I organized a large dinner here (12 people) for a bachelorette party on a Saturday night. The restaurant helped me to come up with an individualized menu for the occasion with my own title at the top. We were initially scheduled for an early dinner, but the restaurant was VERY accomodating when I called to change the time at the last minute after we were unable to make it there at the scheduled time due to unforseen circumstances. When we got there, the table was ready with our menus. The food and service were great! I really enjoyed the mushroom gnocchi! They also checked in with me by email to see how everything went after the event. I would definitely visit this restaurant again!

    (5)
  • Nikki B.

    Don't be fooled... This is not some ordinary restaurant attached to a swanky hotel (Hotel Monaco) . Jackson 20 is where Backdoor Bar-­B­-Que meets Downtown City Chic! Jackson20 has all your fav "porky" dishes but slightly upscale with the down home flavor you crave. This is just a local favorite of mine and I go here all the time. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and BRUNCH!! Just give me a reason and I'm there! Jackson20 is always the meetup spot for me and my girlfriends or catching up with family. The Staff is great and will assist you in whatever you may need. For instance one time I didn't know the parking meter code or app to pay for parking. The Manager himself walked about a block in the cold just for me to get the information. Lets just say...I felt "special" . Now onto the food! The menu is limited but when you do just about everything right you don't need an extensive menu. Here are a few of my favs: Breakfast - ­ Everything is pretty much a la carte ­ I normally go with the "Three Eggs" Any way you want and it comes with Bacon or Fresh Ham, Hash Browns and Toast, then I normally add Pancakes or Cheddar Grits. Lunch - Pull Pork Sliders or the Fried Cod Fish Sandwich are both great choices! Also the Tavern Burger, The Wedge Salad or "Make your Own" Salad and add on the Lima Bean & Ham Soup or French Onion Soup. Delish!! Dinner - Ribs! Ribs! Ribs! You just cant go wrong with that. Corn & Ham Fritters for Appetizer.(served all day long) . The Side dishes are just okay nothing to write home about. The main focus is on the meat and the main entrees. Brunch - No more Bottomless Mimosas ! :-­( They stopped due to VA laws. Now they serve regular mimosas for $3, specialty Mimosas (avg price $10-­$12) or you can get a bottle of Champagne w/ OJ for $25. The best Brunch Food Item is the B.E.L.T ! Or opt for the other breakfast items. Ps. Also during the Fall season Jackson 20 has a "Pig Party" once a month which is an awesome event to attend . Also, during the the Pig Party season, I believe you can Special Order your own roasted pig and they will Roast a whole pig for you to pick­up and take home.. How cool is that????

    (4)
  • Ben T.

    We risked our lives to come here one snowy evening in Alexandria and it was still packed. :) Jackson 20 is the perfect example of the increase in quality hotel restaurants. Nice open dining room greets you as you walk in. The bar is overlooking on the left which also boarders the kitchen. This is a place where I could come again because they serve classic dishes that always impress. We were excited for an excellent wine selection. Our meal was prepared quickly and cooked well. The menu is one where I was stuck between a number of options which leads me to believe that I will be returning. As for King Street goes I would place Jackson 20 in the upper half. I was satisfied with all aspects of the dinner and left wanting more.

    (3)
  • Joseph W.

    Good atmosphere, good food, service was great. I would go back. Gf liked it so I am happy.

    (4)
  • Andrew L.

    I have come to Jackson 20 for cocktails and appetizers several times. The pierogies and fried green tomatos I've had are both quite good, but I would mostly like to focus on the cocktails. Since the whole craft cocktail movement started 5-6 years ago, I've tried pretty much all the big spots in the area: PX, Gibson, etc. However, Jackson 20 has been THE best experience I've had, and I've never needed a reservation for the bar. The bartenders have never failed to put on a great show (last time, the guy sitting next to me had a cocktail that involved a crystal skull full of smoke and setting some thyme on fire), and make an even better drink. It's got to the point where I simply trust the bartenders enough to tell them what I like, and let them get to work. As I noted in one of my other reviews, I am NOT happy with what PX has become--if you want the best cocktail in Old Town and likely the DC area, have a seat at the bar in Hotel Monaco.

    (5)
  • Amber H.

    Would give it 2.5 stars but was told by the wife that since I can't do half stars to round up. It was very very loud. Small space with my large groups. We met friends for brunch/lunch and the waiter could barely be heard and it was difficult to hold a conversation. The menu was completely different than the one they had online to include their choice of alcoholic beverages. The food was mediocre at best. Plenty of other fun places to eat downtown. Definitely a pass for us.

    (3)
  • Jake P.

    To keep it short and simple... My wife and I come here a couple times a month and have always really dug the place. It's one of the few local restaurants that really, really put some care and love into the food, service and experience as a whole. Last time we were there we had a credit card issue that I noticed the next day. One phone calll and one of the managers Andy took control of the situation without skipping a beat. He turned us from occasional bar patrons to loyal and lifelong customers in the time it takes to make a Negroni... Be awesome and spend some time here. You will leave happy and saucy and full and whatever else you want to be and you'll be wanting more. Cheers to a real restaurant who truly wants to make your night great. Oh yea... When your patting Andy on the back for this one during the team meeting, go ahead and give him a paid night off or something. I bet he makes you a ton of money....

    (5)
  • See W.

    So I've been here a few times and let me just start of with you better be prepared to spend some cash! Drinks are prob the most expensive in the Old Town Alexandria area. That being said they are good. The bartenders def know what they are doing. The food is very good too. The ribs literally fell off the bone. So good. The Mac and cheese is excellent. Bathrooms are clean. No prob there. The floors, yes the floors. They can be quite slippery! Not sure why but I've seen plenty of people slip. No falls. Just pay attention when walking to the bathroom. If this place was priced better is give it 5 stars. It's just crazy expensive. For 2 for dinner with 1 drink each the price was $150 before tip! That's just a lot of the old town area.

    (4)
  • RaShonda R.

    I'd heard of Jackson 20 for a while but had never been as we don't frequent VA. When my fiance's Uncle was in town, he asked us to choose a place in Old Town Alexandria, near where he stayed I instantly thought about Jackson 20. I made reservations online the night before, there were plenty of time slots available for Sunday at dinner time. It's a cute spot with nice decor in the interior. I was slightly disappointed that we couldn't sit outside since they only have 2-tops on their patio. Anyway, our waiter Anwar came over and took our drink orders. They had your classic Manhattan and my drink the Mexico City was practically a Manhattan but with tequila, it was ok. We ordered the corn and ham fritters because they had a promotion where if you took a picture with Bessie, a large copper pig, and tagged it them on Facebook you'd receive that appetizer for free. Wasn't impressed with the fritters. They could've been fried longer, there wasn't much ham, and the avocado dipping sauce had no flavor. Fortunately, they were free. We also ordered the Garden Tomato Salad, that was definitely the highlight of our meal. It included a variety of tomatoes, a little burratta, and a delicious onion marmalade. For our entrees we had the Bison Hanger Steak, Spare Ribs, and the Crabs and Grits. Our Uncle was unimpressed with the hanger steak and said even though he ordered it medium (based on our server's recommendation) it was still hard to chew. My fiance had the ribs. They were nicely seasoned and the sauce was tasty. As for my crabs and grits, they were really lightly fried soft shell crabs in grits. Not at all what I expected, but I should have asked how the crab was prepared. The sauce and the grits were good but I wasn't feeling the crab. Overall, I'd have to say we were less than impressed with our food selection. The service was great and Anwar was there just enough to check to see how every thing was going and to take our drink orders. It's always nice to venture out but I doubt we'll be back.

    (3)
  • Tracy L.

    "3.5 stars" PROS: -Very friendly wait staff and hostess. -You can stop by for drinks at the lounge space or sit down for a meal at the dining area. Your choice. -Serves fine southern food, with many BBQ and seafood dishes. -Try the blended Cabernet-Merlot-Syrah from Rook. Very nice. -Pot roast is pretty tasty and reminiscent of the beef bourguignon from Poste, the DC-based brasserie. Both restaurants are owned by the same group and so that's not a surprise. -The decor is on the "dark brown" side and works well with the elegant ambiance. -The pig-shaped napkin holders are endearing. CONS: -Quite pricey. Be prepared to spend if you want to order food. -The catfish entree has too many fried elements. The fish is fried and so is the okra. -Some dining tables are right in the lounge area and if you're having dinner there, it could get a bit distracting, with chatty drinkers right around you. Try to ask for a table away from the bar if you want peace. -This is not really a con but an observation: it seems as though Jackson 20 is (or tries to be) a high-end restaurant but all the servers wear a polo short and jeans as their uniform. Should I call that casual chic? -I'm not a fan of the use of space here. It's nice to have room but the restaurant looks too empty and lobby-like for my taste. SOME USEFUL TIPS -Make reservations for dinner on weekends. -The crowd is a mix of yuppies and Old Town families.

    (4)
  • Matthew W.

    Great place to grab a drink and food. I have been to the bar many times for a nice drink and great bar tenders. However, on Saturday my son and my extended family went for brunch and it was great. Just what I needed! So, go check them out for a drink, bar food or brunch.

    (4)
  • G B.

    The food was great. Very true to the menu and tasty.

    (4)
  • Asiah G.

    Went here for my birthday for 2012 & 2013, & it was great both times! However, my second time was better! The biscuits they gave us as an appetizer literally melt in your mouth. The cornbread was great too, we had a server who at first seemed like he hated his job but he loosened up. Now on to the entrees! I ordered the fried chicken w/ mash potatoes & the quinoa mix of vegetable (which I didn't like). The chicken and mash potatoes were amazing though. The chicken was juicy, had a nice crunchy coating while the mash potatoes were nice & creamy. Also, the portions are huge! The atmosphere is among the most comfortable I've ever been in. It's truly an experience w/ the decor & very cozy. The prices aren't too outrageous especially for the amount of food you get. & it's nestled in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. The only reason I took off a star is because of the Mac & cheese- they changed the recipe from the last time but it still lacks a dose of southern comfort. My mom complained there was too much nutmeg & I'd agree.. They must be experimenting, hopefully one day they'll get it right.

    (4)
  • Elsa M.

    I feel bad giving this place only two stars, but seriously - this is the most lackluster eating establishment I have ever been to that's been connected to a hotel as fine as The Monaco. Our server was meh; our food was meh; and the ambiance was meh meh. Seriously - it took me forever to find something to order because nothing on the menu looked that great to begin with and when I finally settled upon something (a salad), even that was just meh. They try to be fancy pants (keep in mind, it's just regular American food) with fried frog legs, etc., but honestly, the menu just doesn't register. If you are staying at the Monaco (and you should because it is awesome), walk elsewhere in Old Alexandria and eat there. There are plenty of options. Don't waste your time at Jackson 20.

    (2)
  • Sara L.

    I kind of don't want to make a review on this restaurant, because I don't want it to get too crowded.... but Jackson 20 has the best bar in Old Town by far... but for one reason and the reason's name is Dean. Dean, the bar-tender, is HILARIOUS, and he will make you feel like you've been friends for years! I've moved around so much that I've never really had a bar "where everyone knows your name," like Cheers, but this is definitely one of those bars. All of the drinks that he makes are like artistic creations with fresh ingredients! I go to this bar/restaurant as frequent as I possibly can. Every time that I go, it's a great experience with new friends and new stories.

    (5)
  • Jade R.

    Alright. Brunch was DECENT. The bottomless mimosas are the way to go. Three of us had the B.E.L.T (Bacon, eggs lettuce, tomato) and only one came with bacon? ... I didn't order an E.L.T... The best part about it though, is that we didn't even realize there was no bacon until later tonight! Sooo those bottomless mimosas did their job! The other ordered the turkey/avocado pita.. it looked fresh and delicious, and she said it was great.. I just ate the chips off her plate -- those were good :) We ordered the crab cake as an appetizer - this was by far the best thing I ate here. As a side, we ordered the Cheddar Grits... Now, I have never had grits before, and let me just say, Jackson 20 did not make me love them.... they were runny and pretty horrible. We barely touched it. ( I received confirmation that they taste waaaaay better than what we had.. so I'll give the grits another shot!)

    (3)
  • E. A.

    My boyfriend and I came here for appetizers on a Saturday night out in Old Town and it was for the most part delicious. We ordered the Tots, deviled eggs and the lobster dip. The atmosphere was very nice and our waitress was excellent, making sure we were ok throughout the entire stay. All in all it was a very pleasant experience. I'm giving it 4 stars because the food wasn't something to rave about EXCEPT the lobster dip. That dip was so addicting, creamy, cheesy and had huge CHUNKS of lobster. I was impressed with how much lobster there was. They didn't skimp on the lobster and that was great. The tots were disgusting. I had one and I couldn't eat any more. I feel like they were potatoes mixed with bread instead of just all potato. They were thick, slightly burned and the 3 ketchups were sweet and didn't go well with them. The deviled eggs were great but I think it's pretty hard to mess up deviled eggs. But try the lobster dip! I was full and still stuffed my face with it because it tasted so good!

    (4)
  • Carol W.

    I've been here several times now. Twice for breakfast and twice for drinking. The brunch is great. Get the bottomless mimosa's you won't be sorry. Get the grits too.....very creamy and probably not good for you which is why they were most likely so tasty. I know my BF as a huge fan of the coffee. I unfortunately found it bitter to my taste. The other really good part of breakfast was the biscuits and gravy. I grew up on this stuff so I can say without a doubt that Jackson 20 knows their stuff. The biscuits were nice and flaky and the gravy not overly seasoned with just the right amount of creaminess. I'm pretty sure they used some of the bacon grease from the applewood bacon since there was that flavor in the gravy. Very good stuff. I would definitely like to come back here and try a few of their other breakfast dishes. Last night we came by for drinks. The boys got beer - I was feeling a little more experimental so I got one of their specialty drinks. It was called the honeysuckle. It was a good drink don't get me wrong, but perhaps just a little too tart; I felt like it was missing something. Again - grew up with wild honeysuckle growing all around me so perhaps in my mind I was looking for that "flavor". I think next time I've got to try the Virginian Gentleman (and a few others that piqued my iinterested)...guess that just means we will have to go back for more exploring one night

    (4)
  • Christine Z.

    Walking around Alexandria for the first time we weren't sure about where to go. We found Jackson20 and saw a good amount of people there, and after consulting Yelp, of course, we decided to try it. We were seated promptly, and had our drink order taken after a while. Everything about the restaurant was well done. The menus were different but were straight forward, which I liked. The decor made for a great, relaxed ambiance. I ordered the omelet , which by far exceeded any expectations. The chopped up scallions gave the omelet the extra "umph" that any regular ham and cheese omelet needs. There were enough scallions to give it a good flavor, but not too much that you would need thirty mints afterwards to get the flavor out. A small amount of cheese helped it get a more distinguished flavor profile, and not just leave you with eggs and cheese for breakfast. The filling was very well distributed through out the omelet. The egg was also fluffy and seasoned very well. The pancakes were also cooked amazingly. Although they were very thin, the fluffiness was still there, and even had a different taste than your ordinary chain restaurant pancake. The staff was also very kind and helpful, and frequently came by to see if we needed anything. Try it and enjoy!

    (5)
  • Dawn S.

    I had the delightfully refreshing "delayed flight" drink and the salad bar with the salmon. The salmon was perfectly cooked and had a lovely light crust the champaign vinaigrette was perfect and the sides were delicious. The service was great.

    (4)
  • Tonya B.

    This is a very special place, the wait staff gave impeccable service. My son and I enjoyed the food. The food was excellent and my taste buds are dancing in mouth.

    (5)
  • Sirrah M.

    Delicious! We ordered the antelope kabobs and the chicken. Both were exceptional. Husband had the Virginia Gentleman, which has a kick for a person that doesn't drink much, but great flavor.

    (5)
  • Joshua B.

    Who knew that you good do such amazing things with pork and that barbecue could be so much more! Don't get me wrong I love barbecue, I just didn't know it could be done on this level of dining. I went to Jackson 20 with a group of friends for Winter Restaurant week. The great thing about Jackson 20 is practically their entire menu is available for restaurant week, with the exception of their ribs and kielbasa. It is definitely one of the best values and one of the better dining options of the event. I came here on the recommendation of diningDC.net's Top 20 restaurant week picks for 2012. We made a 915 reservation around 800pm and were seated promptly upon arrival. The ambiance was lively, the bar area was pretty busy and the restaurant was full. There was also a wedding going on in the banquet facilities, but it didn't effect our experience at all. The decor is pretty fresh, it has a very North Carolina hipster kind of vibe If you've been to Ashville you know what I'm talking about. A lot of old things you might find at a farm, country store, or distillery, that just work. Now on to good part. There beer, wine, and cocktail menu was extensive. They do some great things with bourbon. Some of the standouts were the Virginia Gentleman, Black Currant Whiskey Sour, and their Jackson 20 Manhattan. For my first course I had the 3 Little Pigs, which were 3 sweet potato biscuit sliders. One slider was pulled pork, the other fresh bacon, and the third was pig head (fried pig cheeks). The pig cheek was amazing, if you haven't had them before it is a real treat. Other appetizers ordered by the group were Shrimp Fritters, Frog Legs, and Crab Cakes. All were good, but the 3 Little Pigs was the stand out. For my main course I ordered the Pork Chop which is considered one of the best dishes on the menu. For the restaurant week menu the Pork Chop and 7 Steak come with a $10 up charge( $45). The Pork Chop was double cut, thick, well seasoned, stuffed with apples and served with collard greens and a sweet potato topped with molasses, brown sugar and bacon. I thought it was good but the others in the group that it was great. It was just a tad over cooked to me. When I return (that's right I'm going back) I will try the Jackson 20 ham steak, all their pork is locally sourced and excellent. Everything was fresh, local, and of good quality. Other standout entrees at the table were the Pot Roast, and BBQ chicken. The 7 steak was good, but don't waste your opportunity on it. There are plenty of steak houses in the area. The dessert menu wasn't exactly my thing. I'm more of a custard kind of guy. Others enjoyed the pecan pie and grasshopper pie (Oreo and whipped mint cream in a graham cracker crust). All in all it was a great experience. The food and cocktails were excellent, the vibe was just right. I will definitely come back. This is a great spot for a celebration, date night, or just looking to have a nice night out on the town.

    (4)
  • Good E.

    came here for brunch , we sat on outside patio which was nice , the food 1. shrimp appetizers: very tasty, they are huge, we got four and that was plenty for 2 people 2. pulled pork sandwich : tasty , but honestly not as good as rockland bbq, it came with slaw and fries(or potato salad), the portion was quite large ambience: patio seating was quite nice and the weather was quite good for it parking: is an issue, but its old town so i knew that going in in a nutshell, this place is definitely worth a try!

    (4)
  • Megan M.

    I really wanted to like this place but I just didn't. We went for a work celebration. It also happened to be Restaurant week but the restaurant was certainly NOT busy. I can say I've had MUCH better elsewhere (primarily from my own kitchen) We started with the ham and cheese crocketts - OMG those were good but then again usually fried things are good!! Some of the others in our group had a cesear salad which is pretty hard to mess up. My dinner was the strognoff - yuck. I should have sent it back and got something else. The short rib came on one side of the plate and the noodles on the other. The noodles were over salted, over seasoned and just way to rich. The short rib was completely unseasoned and lacked in flavor. I had maybe half and couldn't eat anymore. The rest of the table had things like the salmon (good), the steak (underseasoned and bored) and the shrimp/grits which was ok. The drinks on the other hand are actually what's saving this from me giving a 1star. I had both a washington apple martini and a honeysuckle martini. The service was VERY good but then again with a table for 12 and the added tip I expected that.

    (2)
  • Scott K.

    I enjoyed my meal there but indefinitely didn't enjoy the busy bar scene and having people stand right by my table. MAKE SURE you don't get seated in the table right next to the bar unless you don't mind people bumping into you or getting in your way. The food wasn't the best and I would've given this place four stars but my experience brought this place down to three. It was so bad that our waiter had to come several times to remind the bar squatters that we were only a few feet from them. Again, the food wasn't much to rave about and I may try this place out again in the future.

    (3)
  • Angie T.

    I came here for lunch with my co-workers. The restaurant was not busy at all for peak lunch hour in Old Town Alexandria. It's a nice little restaurant who's specialty is everything pork related. It is a very nice restaurant that you would think is an upscale restaurant but they served more downscale food in a fancy way at a pretty moderate price. They served sandwiches and sloppy joes. Overall, it was ok. The service was a bit slow so don't expect to come there to grab a quick lunch.

    (3)
  • Kadian F.

    Went for brunch with a group of friends. I had the Eggs Chesapeake which was good. But most importantly I had the bottomless mimosas. The mimosas were good. Strong but not too strong so I was able to partake of a number of glasses. I enjoyed the decor and vibe of the restaurant and the service was ok.

    (4)
  • S H.

    I had high hopes for Jackson 20, based on a "top eight" barbecue review I had read last week. Excellent service, bringing it up a star. I had the ribs, my wife had the beef stroganoff. Ribs were cooked well, but the sauce was much too vinegar-ey. It needed to be cooked down for another few hours. The short ribs stroganoff was also good, but lacked a depth to it. Maybe more cooking down, maybe more "marrow taste". We stayed at the attached Hotel Monaco and had continental breakfast included. There were about 10 choices for the free breakfast, including a plain bagel and cream cheese, one egg and toast, JUST a side of bacon, and pastry/croissant with fruit. An acceptable snack to tide you over to an early lunch, at best.

    (3)
  • F T.

    I've been there for good times, but most recently it was so bad that we will probably never return. We stopped in on a rainy Saturday afternoon for drinks and dessert. Unfortunately, our table service was quite slow after being nonexistent, and the abandoned table behind us had been left unbussed so long that fruit flies had begun to congregate. The chocolate cake was hardly presented as promised. It turns out that their idea of "cake" is served frozen and is actually 70% frosting. The server didn't even notice that this was not enjoyed and instead just brought the check. In the end, it's not the $20 for my beer that is most disappointing. Servers and certainly management) should not allow these types of experiences and do more to ensure that their customers are pleased. We will not be back!

    (1)
  • Caitlin C.

    Enjoyed a Sunday brunch here on a recent stay at Hotel Monaco. Everything was perfectly serviceable and the prices were in line with the quality of the food, but I can't say anything was particularly memorable. I had the Eggs Chesapeake which was basically a benedict with a crabcake. My only complaint about it is that the crabcake subbed for both the ham and the english muffin. I think a little starch on the bottom would have greatly improved the dish and given a little something more to soak up the egg yoke and hollandaise sauce, but I was more than happy to use the tasty hashbrowns for that. The coffee was bold and tasty. My boyfriend had the three egg meal and again everything was fresh and cooked appropriately. The major downfall of the meal was the atmosphere and the service. The restaurant was very loud and cramped and the tables for two were strangely long. The combination made it almost impossible for my boyfriend and I to have a conversation over our meal. Instead we spent most of breakfast listening to the conversations going on at the nearly adjoining tables to our left and right. The cramped arrangement and weirdly shaped tables also made it impossible for me to hear anything our waiter said (who was also rather mumbly) and very difficult for him to perform tasks like handing me my food and refilling my coffee. I feel weird even complaining about something like the tables but it really was so extremely odd and pronounced. Our waiter was harried and bordering on brusque and my coffee cup sat empty so long that I finished my meal and didn't want any more. It also took 5 minutes for my boyfriend's toast to finally come out. I'd also recomend checking out the menu before you go because it was a bit limited. While the food was good and the location can't be beat, the diner quality service isn't what's expected at this price point. Next time, I'll just order room service.

    (3)
  • Word Traveler M.

    My bf and I wanted to have lunch on Father's Day but walked out after hostess was rude by showing favoritism to a couple behind us.

    (1)
  • Rob H.

    We have had better food at the airport... Totally overrated. I'd return to hang out at the bar but I wouldn't waste my money ~ there are far too many great places to eat in Alexandria.

    (1)
  • Nick G.

    This is a very solid place. We stopped in for an early dinner on a Saturday evening, and had a great meal. The charcuterie and cheese plate, which we split between three of us, were varied, delicious, and very reasonably priced. The rest of the menu, however, was a touch on the expensive side. We all three enjoyed our meals a lot--I would definitely go back. The amish chicken with veggies and mash potatoes was honestly perfect. Friendly, polite service & great location. Highly recommended.

    (4)
  • Chris R.

    Meh - plenty of places much better in Old Towne for a bite or a drink. Very busy, fast moving crowd and mediocre beer and food menu. I'll eat breakfast there or have one beer while waiting for colleagues at the hotel, other than that - I am out of there.

    (2)
  • Kim R.

    The one star is for the bread pudding. It was excellent. Unfortunately, I had the house-made kielbasa for dinner. If you are going to make your own sausage, it should be better than what I can buy at the grocery store. It was far, far worse...and much more expensive.

    (1)
  • Monica M.

    This place is fantastic for Brunch! They've got a lot of great options, and we ate here this past weekend with a party of 8. They handled us really well, and we were all impressed with our food. I ordered the B.E.L.T - bacon, eggs, lettuce and fried green tomato - and seriously had to keep myself from inhaling it. I eat really heathly about 95% of the time, and normally that would be off the menu - but I had just done a triahtlon and wanted the calories, yo! I definitely got them there - real bacon, and the fluffiest Texas toast i've had outside of Texas. Oh baby. The kids ordered the waffles - and I got to taste them - and they were really light and airy, and tasted kind of crepe like. I was impressed. Other dishes that the group ordered - crab cake eggs benedict, Turkey avocado wrap, pancakes, and an omelet - we were all quite pleased. The spicy bloody mary we had was definitely satisfactory. And uh, can I mention the $11 bottomless mimosa? It was the perfect amount of champagne with a little OJ on top. We'd definitely go back.

    (4)
  • Joseph M.

    Food poisoning from the trout!

    (1)
  • Mike O.

    Macaroni and cheese is huge and very delicious. Prices are a little bit on the high side, but waiter was very good. Nice decor and convenient location. I plan come here again real soon

    (4)
  • J P.

    Great food... very nice! Toooo LOUD!!!!! with the prices that they charge you think they could invest in some sound proofing LOL

    (3)
  • Michelle B.

    I've been to Jackson 20 on two occasions and enjoyed the food. Great crabcake and oysters for an appetizer. The bread in this place is greasy as heck, but yummy. So far, I have tried the rockfish, steak and pork belly. All are packed with flavor and very filling. The pork belly has a lot of fat on it, but the meat tastes great. For dessert, I was not a fan of the key lime tart because it seemed more like lemon meringue, but the chocolate dessert tasted pretty good. I think I will try the lamb shank or the ribs next time.

    (4)
  • Matt D.

    One of these days I'll post a coherent, well-thought out re-review of J20. But for now, if you go there and a tall guy named Justin is behind the bar...then grab a bar stool and stick around. Let him know what you're into and he'll navigate you through the cocktail menu. If you're luck he'll serve you a drink recipe he's been kicking around in his head. Forget the food. It's good, maybe even great. I mean they blanche their fries in duck fat for God's sake, but the service and cocktails at the bar are second to none. Everywhere I go, I compare my experience to Justin and Jackson 20. Those of you in the professional world know how hard it is to recruit someone you can trust to deliver your company's vision to a client. Justin nails it. He's an asset to Kimpton and Jackson 20. I hope they realize it. Thanks J for the many fantastic conversations and libations! See you soon!

    (5)
  • Will C.

    I came here during "DC Restaurant Week" for lunch. Not having heard much about this place, my expectations were a bit tempered-- that is, until I saw the regular menu pricing. Then, my expectations went up way up. To be blunt. This is not a cheap restaurant. And, one of those restaurants that you should take advantage of trying during a 'restaurant week'. We got the special restaurant week menu, which consisted of an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $20. The clam chowder was decent as a starter item, but I wouldn't pay $9 menu price for it. It is small. And, there aren't visible chunks of clam meat to be found in the soup. The basil aoli salmon was small in proportion size. Flavor-wise, it was a bit dry and actually, rather under-whelming. I just don't know how this restaurant justifies making patrons pay $19 for this entree. Dessert was the peach cobbler. This was arguably the best dish of the meal. Unfortunately, by this time, service had been so painfully slow, and it took so long for dishes to be served out to us, that there really wasn't time to savor every bite. $9 for dessert. Again, a bit pricey. Overall, I'm glad I tried Jackson 20 during "Restaurant Week." I feel like I got sample for what was to come: average food at high prices. Pro's: - It's in old town - comfy booths and good ambience Con's: - pricey - average food quality - slow service

    (3)
  • Brian A.

    Good breakfast and the cocktails last night at the bar were delicious. Jennifer is a lemon drop connoisseur. She ordered a strawberry lemon drop last night and loved it. Sugared martini rim and real strawberries in the purée. I had a Green Flash IPA. I'm a San Diego native.

    (4)
  • Frank J.

    Tasty breakfast. Relaxing atmosphere with old town feel. Hash browns had great texture and flavor. Side of scrambled eggs were plain. Salmon and bagel was really enjoyable. Coffee wasn't great, but at least it was strong. Service was fast. Will be going back!

    (4)
  • PauLine R.

    i made dinner reservations here because of a recommendation of a friend. we got prime parking (right outside of the restaurant) and were seated right away. service was kind of slow and it didn't seem like he wasn't comprehending what we were saying/asking, but things picked up once our food arrived. the food, itself, was phenomenal and i have no complaints. warning: they put pork in a lot of what they serve. but you can graciously ask them to 86 the pig :)

    (3)
  • Marivic L.

    Two of my friends and my hubs accompanied me to Jackson 20 today because I made them (haha) to take advantage of Restaurant Week. I figured it was a good way to try this place out. I like the feel of the place. It feels warm, and who doesn't like pig napkin rings? The hostess was super-friendly and talkative as well. I ordered the shrimp fritters. Wow, they don't skimp. They were 3 HUGE fritters, so I gave one to my friend. Good flavor, chunks of shrimp, not greasy, and good accompanying sauce. Yum. For my entree, I got the penne with cheese and it was good but needed more salt or pepper - maybe both. On a good note, I tried the hubs' oyster po' boy. WOW. Talk about great. Full, big oysters, good flavor, fried well. Dessert was sweet potato creme brulee. Subtle sweet potato flavor and creamy. Yum. I also tried the hubs' chocolate pecan pie. That thing was WAY heavy on the chocolate and super rich. If you love REALLY sweet, you'd love that dessert, otherwise, stay away from it. Actually, I like really sweet things and was happy I didn't order it. It was huge. Maybe if the portion was half the size, it would have made more sense. You HAD to eat each bite with the fresh whipped cream, just to cut through the sweet chocolate taste. My other friends got the crab cake. They're from Maryland and gave it a thumbs up. All in all, it was a great lunch for a REALLY great price. I also found out that this place gives a 20% discount on regular days, for peeps who work in the area. I'm sure I'll be back.

    (3)
  • Tara M.

    Food was very good, though a bit salty. Love the hen of the woods mushrooms. For service, I give it a zero. We were seated outside on a hot evening and it took 35 minutes to get drinks and bread - and I am pregnant so was already not too happy. I ordered the Bison steak. I never had bison before and the waitress asked how I would like it cooked, I said medium and then asked her if that would be bloody - she said a bit, so I changed it to medium well. When the bison came out, I told her it was like shoe leather. She then told me that the chef recommends medium rare for bison. Well, she should have told me that before or offered me another entree or dessert or something - nope...I would come back if service was better.

    (3)
  • Rachael W.

    Been here a couple of times and have loved every bit of it - except the last time. Server was AWFUL. Very flat, unenthusiastic and could have cared less that we were customers. Would probably have let us go pick up our own food at the window if he could. Marie is awesome however. She really loves her job (or appears to)! Have eaten a few things on the menu and loved all of it EXCEPT the Fried Chicken which would have been enough for two but we were told it wasn't and the Mac N' Cheese (w/meat) was only okay. Will definitely go back though. Also, they are on the old-timey drinks kick and they do a good job at it.

    (4)
  • Natalie K.

    I went to Jackson 20 Sunday for brunch. Given the fact that there were 7 of us, I made a reservation. The woman who answered the phone was very nice! When I asked for an 11:30am or Noon reservation she said that Noon would work better with their current lineup of reservations. Fine by me. She asked if there were any dietary restrictions or celebrations she should make note of. I informed her that we have 2 vegetarians and a vegan dining with us that Sunday and she replied, "Of course, not a problem. Our chef would be happy to accommodate those needs. We have a code for that. I'll write it down right next to your reservation. Just remind your server when you arrive and they'll be happy to accommodate your needs." Fantastic! We arrived about 10 minutes early on Sunday and were seated right away. The décor is modern with the bar along the left wall and a big open room for table seating. The majority of us ordered the $9 Bottomless Mimosas to start off and then got to the food. I ordered the Eggs Chesapeake (Poached Eggs, Virginia Crab Cakes, Old Bay Hollandaise). They were delicious. Hash browns were quite tasty as well. The vegan diner told the waitress (as I was instructed to on the phone) that she was a vegan and was wondering if the chef would be able to accommodate her, seeing no vegan options on the menu. The waitress went to speak to the chef and returned with the reply that, "What's available is what's on the menu." What a let down. Don't promise that you're going to accommodate me if, in fact, you're not going to. She ordered the Turkey Avacado Pita (Roast Turkey Breast, Avocado, Hummus, Mixed Greens on a Toasted Pita) without the Turkey. Our waitress said she felt bad, but again, tell the woman on the phone not to promise something you can't deliver. The waitress was very attentive (maybe too attentive?) We got the bill when there were still two plates on the table (and people eating off of them). My mom looked at the bill, and then my father and said, "No dessert?" To be fair my water and mimosa glass were always full and everyone enjoyed their food. I'd recommend Jackson 20 for a nice brunch, but check out the menu ahead of time.

    (3)
  • Victoria G.

    Excellent brunch! Try the B.E.L.T. Oh and can't forget bottomless mimosas. :)

    (4)
  • Jon K.

    A solid 4 stars..... This is a solid choice in Old Town Alexandria. The restaurant is connected to some swank hotel and I have had the opportunity to eat here several times. My wife being in the timeshare business at one time did a lot of functions with Jackson 20 and Hotel Monaco. First off, the food here is Southern Style and it's very good. A few of the things I have had on the menu are the oysters, crab cakes, meatloaf, steak, ribs, and tuna. Not once have I had a bad meal here, and I have always had impeccable service as well. They have an outside area as well if you would like to do some people watching. Check out Jacksons 20 in Old Town, it's well worth it!

    (4)
  • Claire G.

    Lunched here a few weeks ago with a good friend of mine, and rather enjoyed it! It was a gorgeous day, so we sat outside. I was hurtin' big time, though. Mega hangover! The waiter asked what he could get us for drinks and my response was, "Water. Now. Keep it comin'." He was a good sport and did just that! Meanwhile my friend had bottomless mimosas that he kept full to the brim. Like the BRIM BRIM. I think he was pour-flirting with her :) The burger was just what I needed to bring me to life. Fantastic! And so well presented on the plate. My friend had some big toast sandwich that she also really enjoyed. All the while, water and mimosas were constantly being refilled. It was the best possible way to come out of a hangover so I could enjoy some King Street shopping.

    (4)
  • Molly L.

    My favorite thing about Jackson 20 is that I can sit outside with my dog on nice days. The food is also pretty good, especially the bar menu.

    (4)
  • Tim R.

    Great place for weekend brunch but service is lousy during week. No hostess, had to seat ourselves, had to ask for menu, and food taking forever. 30 minutes for pancakes? And still waiting.

    (2)
  • Elisabeth P.

    My fiance and I go to Jackson 20 roughly 2 times per month. We're in LOVE! (That might explain why we're getting married at the Hotel Monaco... the catering is done out of J20!) We've gone for both brunch and dinner and both menus are fantastic. I particularly love the Virginia Gentleman drink - a lovely whiskey and lemon concoction. Jay can't get enough of the shrimp fritters and I highly recommend the vegetable napolean. Whatever the season, it's always made from the perfect vegetable set and great grains.

    (5)
  • Gregg M.

    It had been a while since the gf and I had last tried Jackson 20 for brunch. So after our Saturday morning trip to the Alexandria Farmers' Market, we decided to give it another go. We started off with coffee ($2.50). Jackson 20's brew was robust and a really good, bottomless cup of coffee. We split an order of Biscuit and Gravy ($8), which was a buttermilk biscuit topped with pork sausage gravy. While the biscuit was hot and fluffy, it was surprisingly (and disappointingly) salty, which made this breakfast staple inedible and made the $8 price very hard to swallow. A more successful dish (although still a bit expensive) was my B.E.L.T., bacon, over easy eggs, lettuce, and fried green tomato between slices of toasted brioche ($12). Their take on the classic BLT was a well conceived and well executed. In the end, Jackson 20 offered a decent but pricey brunch that doesn't quite deliver the bang for the buck.

    (3)
  • Ale B.

    Wow. I loved the food here, and the staff was great. My mom and I were in town traveling here from Chicago. We just wanted a drink and an appetizer. David-our waiter, was extremely accommodating to everything we asked for ( since some of it was not on the menu), and even gave us a scoop of locally made vanilla gelato at the end of our app/dinner meal. It was greatly appreciated and we would have stayed for a real dinner if the rest of our party wasn't elsewhere already. Great food, great staff, accommodating service. Very 5 star. Thank you David!

    (5)
  • Karen P.

    Breakfast review only; The DH and I went here for breakfast - I got the Eggs Benedict, he got the Eggs Chesapeake and we shared a bit of a small stack and some bacon. Let me say first - you are in a very nice place. The ambiance and decor are very lovely - it's on king street very close to old town with all the shops and anything else you'd like to see. Eggs Benedict - absolutely the best I've ever had. The English muffin was buttery and crisp to hold up to the poached egg and hollandaise. Ham was practically not there, but admittedly it's not the star of the dish. Hash brown on the side - pretty looking but a bit oily/greasy for my tastes. Eggs Chesapeake - My husband said that it was okay. I tasted a bit o it myself and he was right. It was simply okay. Same with his hash brown, a bit on the oily/greasy side. Bacon - Seriously? For the price ($5) We got a LOT, but quantity doesn't make up for the serious lack of quality. I could have bought my own bacon and made it tons better then those flavorless strips of meat. Short Stack - Again for the price ($6) I could have made my own a ton better then these. We both also had hot chocolate. Sub-par to barely flavored hot milk at the best. All in all - it had some good points, an not so good ones. For the overall price of $64 with a modest tip for the barely there waitress we won't be going back. Seriously though - if you do decide to give it a try, the Eggs Benedict was pretty darn awesome and the only reason they got 2 stars.

    (2)
  • Ashley D.

    We had an early bird dinner here recently and were very pleased with the experience. First of all, although I wouldn't exactly say that Jackson 20 is the ideal place to dine with kids, for a higher-end establishment it's pretty kid-friendly. They do have a kids' menu and cater to families staying at the hotel, and our waitress and busboy were very patient with our baby, who decided midway through the meal that tossing pieces of bread over his head would be a good way to entertain himself. Sigh. The fact that everyone kept smiling at us even throughout his baby antics made me feel welcome. When I wasn't wrangling my almost-toddler I was attempting to enjoy all of the food and beverages that landed on our extra-wide table. I can never resist deviled eggs on an appetizer menu, and the ones at Jackson 20 were flavored with a touch of jalapeno, a nice twist on the fad. For my entree I had the goat, which was good but not particularly noteworthy. The pimento cheese ravioli that accompanied it was amazing, though (I could have eaten an entire plate of those!), and the sweet potato puree had a good kick to it. I cleaned my plate. The cocktails were a highlight of the meal. I had a Virginia Apple, which was sweet but good, and a Honeysuckle, which was dangerously good. We don't live anywhere near Alexandria so I'm not sure if we'll make a special trip to return when there are so many other restaurants we'd like to try, but anyone in the neighborhood should give it a shot.

    (4)
  • emma c.

    The food saves the service. My sister and I had lunch here on what I thought was a slow Monday. There were probably 4 or 5 other tables with 3 servers between them. Our server wasn't very attentive. My sister had to ask for a refill on her water from across the room. He came by first to take our drink order, second our food order, dropped off some cornbread, delivered our food, then finally to hand us the check. It wasn't busy at all and thank goodness for the chefs in the back who made our food with purpose, otherwise I would want to strike another star. I only took off one star because their weakness may just be with this one server. Let me get to the food... The food here is great. The mini cornbread muffins are soft, moist, and delicious. I had the Turkey Avocado Pita. Tastes great and is oh so savory.. left my mouth watering even after I finished it. The entree came with kettle chips which were surprisingly good. I'm normally not a fan because kettle chips are really hard and too crispy, but these are cut very thin and rival regular potato chips. I can't remember what my sister had, it was a chicken sandwich with fresh mozzarella on Cibatta bread. I was really great. I can't complain about the food. This would be a great place to come if you are in the area.

    (4)
  • Alicia G.

    The group I was with may or may not have tried to crash a Sweet Sixteen party here on Friday night before security trailed us..er, them down. Allegedly, that is. Security was "nice" enough to show us the way to the bar and we were soon seated and glancing over the wine menu. You would think that if the hotel staff was so on top of the game to shoo us away from the ballroom to the bar that the hotel restaurant/bar staff would be the same? Not so. It was 5-10 minutes before we were greeted and ordered 1 of the 20 for $20 bottles of wine. The wine was presented by a different server and then she took off. It was at least an hour before the server checked on us again. Within that hour period, we found that the wine we selected wasn't really that good. We also were "lucky" enough to receive a live 'almost-like-sex' show from the couple sitting nearby (ugh, so gross!). I can safely say that you should pass on this place - you'll be sorely disappointed.

    (2)
  • Boon K.

    Walking when there was a rain storm the Hostess was just mean and clueless how to handle the situation. She told me that all their tables are full and we can head to the bar. I ask if she can take my name down so she a table is available she can let us know. She said she only takes name for reservation for dinner. Are you Seriously!!! Then I saw a table for two open and went back to ask her about it and she told me there is table that just paid and we can take that one. Why not the one that is available and clean? Anyways what made the experience worst she told us to stand next to the dirty table to ensure we got it. Weird. Pass that horrible experience, we order the shrimp fritters, fried green tomatoes, bbq pork sliders, ribs, and the peach/blackberry cobbler. The shrimp fritters and bbq pork slider were my favorite. The fried green tomatoes were ok and the ribs were dry. The cobbler was good. The waitress made the experience better but I am not sure I would give it another chance as nothing really wow me to come back to get past the hostess.

    (2)
  • Bridget R.

    I have been to Jackson 20 twice and both times the food and service was fantastic. The menu is a fun interpretation of southern comfort food; my guests were able to sample really satiating dishes like the Crawfish and Grits, Bucket of Fried Chicken, and Trout Marguery. The wine list was well-varied in price and selection and we chose the server's recommendation- a subtly fruity and smooth Chilean carmenere. The server brought the table a chocolate pecan pie on the house to celebrate my father's birthday. The attentive service and well-executed food made it a great celebration for us. I also like the decor and little things that make Jackson 20 a unique dining experience in Old Town. The menus are printed on a rough piece of "parchment-like" paper and are tied to tin jackets. The napkin rings are pewter pigs (I believe as a 'nod' to President Jackson's farmer roots?) and the open kitchen concept leaves the place feeling contemporary and lively. This establishment is quite noisy, however, and if you want something intimate and romantic, this may not be the best place to dine. Jackson 20 is great for groups and for those looking for a fun dining experience. Also, the happy hour menu for food and drink specials looks good and I hope to try that soon.

    (4)
  • Collin F.

    We came for the burger and we left thoroughly impressed. Jackson 20 is one of the fancier places we've been to on our burger quest, but don't let their swanky digs scare you away. I mean, come on, they serve Schlitz, PBR and Stroh's, so they can' t be that uptight, right? But the important thing is, their food is on point. The J20 burger is what we'd call a fancy-a$$ burger, but it works and it's really good. It's got mountaineer cheese, bacon, apple cider slaw and a barbecue aioli and together they make for a hell of a burger. For $14, it's worth it. We also ordered up their shrimp fritters and they were freakin' great. Eat them. Eat them now. Check out our full review and a bunch of pics that'll give you hunger pangs at BurgerDays.com : burgerdays.com/?p=96

    (4)
  • Paul F.

    Great appetizers, great bar tender, great food. I had the kielbasa and it was very good. Will return to try out more of the menu.

    (4)
  • Ryan J.

    Sat outside on a beautiful day for brunch, opted for the bottomless mimosas. Problem was the mimosas were warm and weak. Hoped for a better eggs benny, but it was lukewarm and pretty bland. Won't be returning at this price point.

    (2)
  • Robyn B.

    During Restaurant Week, we had dinner here. They offered everything on their menu, except the ribs, as part of the RW 3 course dinner. We arrived at 7 on a Thursday and by 7:30 it was slammed. Great food, interesting cocktail combinations, good wine list, but once it got busy, the service became slim to none. We it took about 15 minutes of sitting with no water or cocktails before we could get someones attention for refills. Once pointed out, the restaurant manager came over to make sure things flowed from then on, but shouldn't have to do that to get decent service. Great southern food, incredible steak, so worth going if you are willing to risk the service.

    (4)
  • Reviewer V.

    Oh, Jackson 20 - I want to love you more than I do, but I'm sorry to say that it's just not going to work out between us. I had last visited J20 - located in Old Town's Hotel Monaco - for Mother's Day brunch. We were happy with the spread, so I was eager to return for dinner. Plus the place offered a beer that I was anxious to try (21st Amendment, Back in Black). So we landed a couple of gift certificates, booked on OpenTable, and were well on our way. J20 was busy Friday night, but our server made some immediate, spot-on beer recommendations. The hubs started with Back in Black (which turned out to be too hoppy for my taste - perhaps this was an omen?) while I fully enjoyed an Old Chub Scottish Ale. We ordered appetizers, and that leads me to Mistake No. 1. I ordered the pied de cochon (foot of pig for you non-francophiles). I have eaten pied de cochon in Paris, and loved the crisped pork and rich pork fat. Unfortunately, J20 approaches the dish a bit differently, serving up "picked and pressed pork trotter" accompanied by a pan-fried sunny-side-up egg with frisee and sauce charcuterie. Sure - if this translates to grinding up a pig's foot into an unappetizing brown-grey paste, then lightly frying it into a patty shape. This odd pig foot patty was extra unique in that its charred areas were left battling to the death against the overall mushy, grainy texture. The server, probably observing my less-than-thrilled look, suggested that the egg would help give the dish "a creamier texture." Yes, perhaps, for the three bites afforded by the yolk. I left the last few bites on my plate - I just could not bring myself to eat them - and naively figured I would at least enjoy the greens. Mistake No. 2 - the accompanying frisee was topped with an over-salted charcuterie sauce. Fail. Meanwhile, the hubs chose Oyster Rockefeller, six baked Rappahannock oysters topped with herb butter. They were decent enough, but nowhere near our amazing oyster experience at Kushi. At least his oysters had been left well enough alone, and not ground up into an insulting, sad oyster paste. Hmph. Thankfully our "main" beers arrived, and my Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager (which smells and tastes like pure dark honey) cheered me up. I chalked up the pig foot patty as collateral damage - perhaps I shouldn't have tried a chef's interpretation of something that should remain uniquely French - and moved on to the main. Mistake No. 3 was ordering the "local fish of the day," which was bluefish topped with a Chesapeake crab sauce, accompanied by a green bean casserole. I should have read between the lines when the server mentioned that bluefish is "an oilier fish." Not only was the bluefish taste overpowering, but I removed seven bones from three bites of fish. Seriously, people? I decreed it unpalatable and survived on the far more edible dollop of Chesapeake crab sauce, then picked at the green bean casserole, aka green beans in an anemic cheese sauce topped with fried onions. Fail again. Even the hubs' main, the full rack of barbecued pork ribs, failed to impress, with the sauce cloying and sticky. If you want amazing, fall-off-the-bone ribs, please check out Founding Farmers' pork ribs. However, J20 did serve up two nice sides - apple cider coleslaw, which was tart, crunchy and fresh, and a light, creamy mac n'cheese that wasn't overly decadent. Sides 2, Mains 0. Overall, I was disappointed. I would return for brunch, or for Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager, but never again for dinner. If we had not paid for the dinner with gift certificates, I would have strongly inquired about the chef's reasoning behind the preparation of the pied de cochon, as well as the bluefish. Really, really underwhelming. This review was published on spoonandforkdc.com

    (2)
  • Mariah S.

    Had a reservation at 10:45am Sunday and we arrived a few minutes late. The personable hostess greeted us promptly and we were seated right away. I'd say the restaurant was about 3/4 full, and I think a large party of 10 people walked in shortly before we did because it took a few minutes before a food server got to us. Nonetheless, we got our orders in and the food arrived in about 10 minutes. The coffee was outstanding -- full-bodied, served steaming hot out of a stainless steel carafe, so all was right with the world. It was a classy casual, relaxed setting with tasteful decor and plenty of natural light. We ordered scrambled eggs, applewood bacon, hashbrowns, and multi-grain toast. My eggs were gently cooked and had a velvety buttery taste. Next time I will try the biscuits and gravy, and a waffle topped with fresh berries.

    (4)
  • Michelle I.

    My husband and I came here to grab drinks at the bar before a party at the hotel. The bar area is nice, but a little small. Since it was early though, we didn't have a problem getting a seat. They have a big wine list, but we just got beer and house cocktails. My favorite house cocktail was the Honeysuckle (Absolut Ruby Red Vodka, grapefruit juice, honey, and ginger beer). My husband liked the Virginia Gentleman (Gentleman Jack, American Honey Liquer, bitters and lemon juice, and ginger beer. The house cocktails are a little pricey $10-$13. Thankfully, my husband's colleague picked up the tab! Overall, a good option for those who want to grab a glass of wine or cocktail with a friend after work or late night.

    (3)
  • Margeaux C.

    My boyfriend and I opted for Jackson 20 after trying to decide where to have lunch. We were pleasantly surprised by our experience: Dayna was our server, and she couldn't have been nicer. The food was excellent: pulled pork barbecue, mac and cheese, turkey avocado pita sandwich, and (the best) Mexican chocolate cherry bread pudding -- everything was just wonderful! Service was exceptional. The atmosphere is warm and just quiet enough to allow for conversation. We would definitely eat there again!

    (5)
  • Courtney R.

    I have returned to J20 a few times since my initial review, enjoying brunch and mostly enjoying dinner. The brunch is awesome. I had the Eggs Chesapeake (Benedict with crab) and it was delectable. The cocktails here are great, maybe it's because I'm drinking martinis now and don't normally screw around with specialty cocktails. Dinner last week was above average. I got the kielbasa, grilled and charred to my liking--half burnt, to be honest, which I adore but doesn't fly in most restaurants. It came with corn on the cobb (ill-matched, but good), sauerkraut (just like Mom used to dump out of a can) and baked beans that hadn't been soaked long enough. Aside from the 'basa, the highlight of the dish was some grilled toast/breadsticks rubbed down with garlic. I need to haunt this joint more. I think I will.

    (4)
  • Elena L.

    Disappointed with the mac and cheese. As part of my quest to find the best DC area mac and cheese, I ordered these to see how they'd compare with the current top contender. All in all, the mac was disappointing. First off, it was expensive, and you get a lot, but it's not all that tasty. Somehow there's mac, but no cheese. It tasted more like noodles with onions and herbs. I might return to try something else, but I won't be back for the mac.

    (2)
  • Ryan S.

    The food is good & the price is right. For a hotel chain, it's great. Always roo for improvement, but we like this place. Friendly staff, good food and good drinks. Like the seating outside too! Watch out for the "bottomless" mimosas, there's a bottom. We felt a little ripped off. Overall it was a good experience though.

    (3)
  • Yolanda B.

    Great hotel restaurant! Love the atmosphere! I only had a few appetizers so I really can't comment on their full menu but I saw a duck plate come out of the kitchen and it looked wonderful!

    (5)
  • Brendan C.

    Literally, if I could eat here, every Friday and Saturday night, I would. I love this place. I still dream sometimes about the ham hocks and pork belly, and that crazy mac n' cheese entree. This is fine Southern cooking and a really relaxed (without being down home) atmosphere.

    (5)
  • Melonie F.

    Good brunch spot in Old Town Alexandria.....$9 bottomless mimosas Simple food offerings and attentive wait staff. Hot coffee....hot omelette....cold mimosas

    (3)
  • R L.

    Visited during Restaurant Week. Was looking for a fun brunch place where I could take a date. Looked at other reviews on Yelp and you guys were right - this place is GOOD. Breakfast was amazing - we had the biscuit with gravy, eggs benedict and ended with the float flight. It was all amazing and my date especially appreciated the bottomless mimosas. Service was attentive and good for us and the atmosphere is nice. I think we've found a new brunch place.

    (4)
  • Danielle W.

    This review is for happy hour only. We work nearby so a group of us went in to celebrate and have a few drinks. The place is very nice, as it is part of a nice hotel, but the bar is not very spacious, so if a lot of people would have been there, it definitely would have felt cramped. As it was the place wasn't too busy, so we had a few drinks. Their happy hour specials are actually pretty good, although figuring out what a "working man's beer" is can be a little cryptic... The beers on special are all in cans, but all random/different very good beers, so it turned out well. The bartender wasn't great. He kinda acted like he was doing us some sort of favor by allowing us to order drinks for him even though there was barely anyone else there. Just seemed like a guy who hated his job. I'd check it out again to try some of the different beers, but not the best atmosphere if you're looking to socialize.

    (3)
  • Scott E.

    Terrible service at brunch. I had dinner here twice and loved it but I had brunch here yesterday and the service was astonishingly bad. The table was set improperly, the food took forever to come, and we had a dozen other small problems such as they were out of bagels (at 9:30 am) and were out of crab meat for their signature dish. We had friends in from out of town we wanted to impress and paid the high prices to go to Jackson 20 and regretted it.

    (2)
  • Rachel W.

    Ok. So this is totally belated but here it is... Went for restaurant week brunch and it was THE. BEST. BRUNCH. EVER. We added on the bottomless mimosas for $9 because, well, why not? The Eggs Benedict were incredible. The Eggs Chesapeake were equally incredible. The Wedge Salad almost made me die. Yes, a salad that is normally the most ho-hum part was also, incredible. A perfectly crisp wedge of iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, a fromagerie style slice of blue cheese, pickled onions, and *pork belly*. Oh, pork belly.... The service was great as well. Very attentive but not overly so. My date was making him work with all the mimosa refills and he never missed a beat. Even added some "knowing glances" to me after he filled his 4th glass. This place was everything a restaurant week deal is supposed to be. Left me full, a little drunk, and totally satisfied. I plan on going back soon and often.

    (5)
  • Becky H.

    This is my new go-to restaurant in Old Town. I went recently on a Saturday night at 7pm (earning 1000 OpenTable points!). The place was pretty busy, in fact almost totally full. It has a very cool atmosphere and a pretty wood bar. My date and I started off with some really stellar cocktails recommended to us by our server, who was very friendly and helpful. (Get a Virginia Gentleman if you like whiskey. So good.) My date had the house-smoked kielbasa and loved it. I appreciated that they had a vegetarian option, as many Southern restaurants do not. It was a "vegetable plate" with lots of good stuff on it -- the cheesiest grits ever, green beans with a vinaigrette dressing, fried green tomatoes, a spinach salad... Oh, and the biscuits and cornbread that come with the meal rock too. I'd definitely come back here the next time I'm in Alexandria and in the mood for good food that's not too fancy/expensive.

    (4)
  • Nina B.

    I'm always cautious of the new restaurant, that is charging high prices for the name (attached to the Hotel Monaco). But, this place really surpassed expectations. The food is traditional American style cuisine, with a very much southern influence. Everything was delicious. The service was excellent, and the restaurant manager was extremely gracious to us (especially after we told him we were locals). I love places that actually want repeat customers. Way better than Restaurant Eve, and slightly more affordable. Outdoor seating opens up in April '08.

    (5)
  • Jeremy J.

    Jane is the hostess. Thank God for Jane. Because our waitress seemed stymied by our choice in wine and was somewhat distant the whole night. Our food was good, not stellar (we had bison, goat, and ribs), and the service was inattentive -- our Durango-born waitress notwithstanding, one plate of three was bussed away and the rest of our party sat there with dirty, empty plates. Thank god we had good wine. As we approached the end of our meal, I spotted a creepy-crawly scurrying across the floor. Turns out it was a large cockroach. I stomped it and returned to my meal. Moments later, Jane the Hostess, is over my shoulder as asking if everything is all right. I say yes and then mention the squashed bug under the edge of our table. She looks, is taken aback, and says she will tell the manager right away. A good while later, after one of our three plates was taken away, the manager comes over, seemingly unaware of the "water bug," to check on us. I point out the roach to him as an air-quote-water-bug-air-quote, and he says that "summers are the worst for water bugs. We have a guy who comes once a month to spray, but it's just the perimeter. They still find their way in." He then smiles politely and walks away. Another few minutes pass. Two of our three plates are still on the table. Our wine is almost empty; we're ready to go. Our waitress ultimately returns, takes our remaining plates, forgets to offer us dessert, and brings us our requested bill. As I'm signing the check, Jane the Hostess returns and asks if the manager came by. I say yes, that he he seemed a little cavalier about the bug, which is still next to my foot, and he walked on to check another table. She seemed perplexed. We pay and leave. But thank God for Jane. As we were leaving, she grabs my elbow and places two 20% off coupons in my hand. "These don't expire, ever," she says. "I hope you decide to come back. It was a pleasure to have you." Jane the Hostess, from the very beginning, seemed genuinely concerned that we were sitting at a "very nice table" and that the "water bug" was addressed, and that we should be apologized to. Thank God for Jane.

    (1)
  • Katrina C.

    I came here for restaurant week with several of my coworkers here back in January, and had a good time. We had made a reservation since there were about 8 of us, but it wasn't really necessary as the place was pretty empty. For the appetizer course, I started with the Caesar salad, and I think almost all of us enjoyed the fried chicken as our main course. The skin was crispy and hot, and the meat was juicy and flavorful. It came with french fries, which were just okay. For dessert, I had the seasonal gelato, which I believe was vanilla. Nothing super special. Our sever was very pushy on the lunch menu, which really turned off a lot of my coworkers. In addition, considering the restaurant was near empty, he was very slow and inattentive.

    (3)
  • Chelsea A.

    This is going to become a stop every time I'm in DC. The Brunch menu is awesome! I can't stop thinking about the Biscuits and Gravy. We also got the eggs benedict and the slow cooked beef brisket hash. They were both very delicious. You're lucky if you go with someone who's willing to share their plate! Also something I really loved about this place was that you can see right through the kitchen. The atmosphere is just great, along with the decor. Afterwards take a little stroll on the waterfront.

    (5)
  • Nicole K.

    Hubby and I made a reservation thru open table b/c it was a 1000pt reservation. Was surprised to see it was a restaurant in Hotel Monaco. Hostess was nice, and the area was fairly empty. We got there @ 4:45 pm for a 5:00 reservation. We were sat immediately to have drinks before the kitchen opened. Hubby had beer, I had wine. Both were decent priced and had an ok selection. Appetizer was a bean and ham salad to split (plenty for two). Dinner - hubby got the bison hangar steak (good) and I got the small portion of the shrimp and grits (awesome; and the small is huge). Total cost was $101. Not a bad price for the food. Will come back someday, but I'm not going to canx plans to be there anytime soon.

    (4)
  • Melissa P.

    I generally use yelp to warn others about places not to waist your money. However, I had incredible service by bartender Al (5-27) and felt it was important to write a review on his behalf. Al is extremely knowledgable in whiskey and bourbon and his service is exceptional. A gentlemen at the bar told me Al is the best bartender in DC. I would have to agree.

    (5)
  • Kimberly W.

    I've been here twice for brunch and have enjoyed my experience each time. After reading some of the reviews, I was worried about the service, but after experiencing two different hostesses and two different servers, I can say the service I experienced was great. The hostesses were accommodating, and the servers were knowledgeable and attentive. As for the food, I enjoyed it. It was about what I would expect. I had the eggs benedict the first time and the french toast the second time. Both were good. I would say I wish that SOMETHING came with the french toast, and I didn't have to order a la carte, but I see that is common around here. Also, the french toast is made with raisin bread. Now like most level headed people, I believe raisins shouldn't be in things, but this was actually quite good. It's also worth noting that the second time I went was during the St. Patrick's Day Parade which meant it was pretty busy. Even with the crowd, the service was still fantastic. I plan on making this my go-to place for out of town guests and when I want something reliable. Tip: Make a reservation online through yelp. I did it the morning of both times and had no problems. I do tend to go to brunch earlier (10-11) rather than later so I can't speak to the late crowd. One more thing: What happened to the bottomless mimosas? Everyone keeps asking me if I had them, but they were $3 (still not bad) when I went there. Bring back the bottomless mimosas!

    (4)
  • Kathy M.

    Came here a couple of years ago and food was good (nothing to brag about) so I came back just because I was in the neighborhood. I order a glass of wine and the Pimento Cheese Ravioli which was REALLY GOOD, After my food was served my waiter never came back, as I sat waiting I notice other people had bread baskets and was offered refills and dessert. So the service is not the best

    (3)
  • Dan C.

    I went for brunch as part of a party of six on Sunday, November 2. I had high expectations, as three members of our party had previously dined at Jackson 20 for dinner, and provided a strong recommendation. The space was refined without being over-the-top, and the Southern brunch menu had me excited. Unfortunately, that was where things topped-out. To start, we ordered two of the fried green tomato apps and the biscuit & sausage gravy for the table to share. The fried green tomatoes were soggy and limp, and not crispy as I've enjoyed throughout the South. I had to use a knife to cut the tomatoes. Fried green tomatoes don't have much flavor on their own, and are all about the texture, so one can imagine how disappointing this was. The biscuit was huge and decent enough (moist, but perhaps a bit doughy and dense), but was covered with bacon gravy, and not the advertised sausage. We also ordered a side of the Anson Mills cheese grits. Anson Mills are heirloom grits from Columbia, South Carolina and are served in numerous fine dining restaurants throughout the country. Ours arrived with a porridge consistency and had a milky taste. The cheese was lazily thrown on top before the dish was put under a salamander. What a waste of an excellent top-notch ingredient. As an entree, I ordered the pork barbecue sliders with a side of Benton's bacon. The barbecue was tasty, with a nice sweet-and-smoky flavor, but there was only a forkful on each of three tiny, over-toasted sesame rolls (there was char on top of the rolls), so it was hard to get a sense of the dish. Please consider using two larger soft rolls (brioche), which are far more appropriate. Maybe for $13, you can put a whole two forkfuls on each of two rolls. Just a thought. The side of bacon that arrived looked, smelled, and tasted like it came off the Sysco truck. When I pointed out to the waiter that this was not, in fact, the Benton's that I ordered, he became indignant and insisted that it *was* Benton's. Benton's is a premium smoked bacon from Tennessee, and has a distinctive color, thickness, and flavor, and the smell can't be missed across the table. I was served ordinary table bacon (for $6, no less), and I started to get pissed that the waiter told me--in so many words--that I was lying about an ingredient I've eaten dozens of times. Benton's is a high-end product and could never be mistaken for ordinary grocery store bacon. The manager did come to the table and thanked me for pointing this out, so that the staff could be properly trained. Why a brunch chef chooses to carry three types of bacon (apparently, there is a peppered bacon that they use on one item) is beyond me, especially, as the waiter later told me, they don't serve very much bacon during dinner service. My girlfriend ordered the turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese, avocado, arugula, and tomato on harvest bread. She left the dill aioli off (she doesn't eat mayonnaise), but complained that the turkey was dry. The Swiss cheese was melted and cold, which she found quite unpalatable. Not-quite-half the sandwich made it into her belly. I know that folks in the DC area gladly overpay for crap every day of the week. But I think the brunch chef at Jackson 20 has committed too many sins against Southern cooking to even use this as an excuse. The cut for two of us, including tax and tip, was $80, and none of the food was any good. I've had far better meals at the pancake shop in my neighborhood, for a quarter of the price.

    (2)
  • Katherine L.

    Came here for brunch today and extremely disappointed to see they no longer offer bottomless mimosas at brunch. Now I'm going to have a find a new go to spot for brunch. It was far less crowded than normal at the restaurant as I figure the bottomless mimosa was their big draw.

    (3)
  • Giovanna P.

    We headed over here after a few drinks at Bar PX because we were craving a charcuterie board! When we arrived we ordered 2 drinks: Lee's Temptations & Virginia Gentleman. They were both nice strong drinks in the correct way, mixed well, and a large size. They definitely helped keep our buzz from Bar PX. We immediately ordered the charcuterie board since we were starving. The board came with an array of salami, lard, pickle, whole grain mustard, pickled onions, and other daily meat choices. It was a great app to enjoy our drinks. We followed that by ordering the gnocchi app which was delicately tossed in cream with perfectly seared pieces of panchetta. For our main course we proceeded by sharing the duck breast with farro and brussel sprouts. The flavor was also amazing on this dish however the duck was a little too overcooked. We informed the waiter and he agreed with us and offered a dessert on the house since we didn't want to send the duck back but wanted to let them know it was too well done. I've never been a huge fan of eating at restaurants inside hotels but the food was amazing and the restaurant really did a great job. I will definitely be back again to try their talked about brunch!

    (4)
  • Ken C.

    I am a little surprise about this place always with long wait for brunch. Since this place is within the area of the hotel, so do expect to pay extra more for the same quality of food. I didn't get a chance to see how serve on table because I hate to wait. So, we end up at the bar which actually much faster service and side talk with the bartender and visitor from out of town. The food is OK and nothing outstanding or bad. I need to go back for happy hour or dinner to feel the atmosphere. It is a good place is popular for family and groups. However, I think the night will be the best for couple.

    (3)
  • CK C.

    I always sit at the bar and the bartenders provide excellent customer service, I don't feel that I am just another customer. Andy always remember my choice of beverage. My new fav spot.

    (5)
  • Aiyana M.

    I only go here for brunch on a Saturday and pretty much get the same thing....they are consistently good. Love the mimosas...only they used to do bottomless and now it's like I think 3 bucks a glass. :-( The ambiance is sophisticated & nice and of course it's in Old Town so there's plenty to do when you're done.

    (4)
  • Michelle C.

    My only experience with Jackson 20 was for some drinks at the bar on Saturday night. There was a nice selection of wines by the glass and I enjoyed a crisp white so much that I took notes so I can attempt to track a bottle down at home. The beer selection was solid and included several offerings from Bell's, a favorite of mine. The bartender made a tasty espresso martini to my specifications. Not sure about the food but this was a solid spot for a drink at the hotel.

    (3)
  • Aubree W.

    Me and a group of friends went here for brunch on New Years Day. (We made reservations) Service: Service was slow. The waiter seemed like he was possible distracted by something going on in his personal life perhaps...im not sure. He gave us water without straws and when we asked for straws he only brought one back to the table, there were 5 of us. When our food came several of us needed ketchup. He brought out 1 small container of ketchup in one of those little dishes for the whole table. So we had to ask for even more ketchup. He never came to check on us to see if we wanted refills or if everything was alright with our meal. It was kind of like he disappeared. It also took us forever to get our check because like I said he disappeared. Food: I ordered the French Toast (which was made on raisin bread) with a side of sausage links. The food was ok but nothing to write home about. They have $3 mimosas which was awesome though. All in all I'd have to say my visit here was just ok and I won't be returning. There are better brunches out there.

    (2)
  • Jade Y.

    Apparently a 3-star yelp rating means the experience was "A-OK", which is exactly what it was. There was nothing wrong with our meal, but the food was not particularly spectacular either. Welcome to "fine Southern dining". We ordered the squash blossoms and tuna carpaccio for appetizers. The squash blossoms were stuffed with hummus, deep fried, and accompanied by a cucumber yogurt mint salad. Not bad. The tuna carpaccio was thinly sliced, covered with herbs/spcies, and came with some wafers. Also not bad. For our entrees we ordered the half-rack ribs and the softshell crab with grits. The grits in the crab dish had a nice texture but were too salty. The half-rack was nicely cooked, but was nothing special. To be completely honest, I've had much better bbq that did not cost an arm and leg (our bill came out to be a little over $100 including tax/tip). Bottom line? Again, nothing wrong with the food. If you're in the area or are staying at the Hotel Monaco, go for it and come to your own conclusions. I'm just not necessarily compelled to come back.

    (3)
  • Giancarlo B.

    I have eaten lunch here several times and came for dinner the other night. It was absolutely phenomenal! We had an heirloom tomato salad which was made with pepper jelly and fresh burata served with a smudge of candied red onion that was a fantastic combination! The fried green tomatoes were delicious with a house made sauce and cooked to perfection with a nice light breaded coating. I had the soft shell crab and grits that were oh so good, the grits were delicious and were not drenched with butter like so many other places. The grits also had a very nice texture. My friend had a NY strip that was tender and delicious. We split the banana pudding which was just amazing! I forgot to mention the iceberg wedge lettuce we also split served with a wedge of blue cheese and a few slices of crispy bacon. The overall meal was just fantastic, our waitress was charming and attentive as well. We had the opportunity to speak to Chris the manager who we could tell was so into making everyone's experience exceptional! We can't wait to return and try so many good things we saw on the menu.

    (5)
  • Lynne V.

    5 stars for the bartender Adam, 3 stars for the food. I sat at the bar because I wanted to watch the playoff game, but I needed something nonalcoholic. Adam made me a mocktail that tasted like summer in January! It was a fresh berry lemonade, more tart than sweet, with a bright hint of lime. He told me that it was a special he created with his niece - sweet! I can only imagine that the regular cocktails are just as delicious. He was attentive and friendly, even though there was a steady stream of other orders. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger, which came with coleslaw, fries, and pickles. The pickles were the best part. They were thick cut and sweet/ tart. The cheeseburger was huge but the flavor was average. The coleslaw was mostly soupy dressing, with very few veggies. The dressing was average - not that different in flavor from what you buy in the supermarket. The fries were soggy, not crisp at all. I love fries and rarely leave any on the plate, but I didn't finish these. Overall, the ambiance was nice - not too loud, and great for conversation. I will absolutely be back for drinks, but I'll probably skip the food or opt for simple bar snacks.

    (3)
  • Bryce A.

    A group of 6 of us decided to celebrate finishing our 10 mile run with brunch and some bottomless mimosas at Jackson 20. We ate inside, though it looked like there was also patio seating in the front and courtyard tables in the back. I'm not sure what it is like on non-George Washington Parkway Classic weekends, but on this particular Sunday the place was packed, so I would recommend reservations. Food was a mixed bag. Several people in my party had the Eggs Benedict. They were very good, and if that was the only item everyone had ordered this review would be an easy 4. The eggs were poached perfectly and the hash browns came with what I think was a homemade ketchup. Unfortunately, the other dishes were not quite up to par. I ordered the Turkey Avocado, which was really dry. It was alright once I added some of my salad dressing to it, but that is really something that should not have to be done with a sandwich/pita. One of my friends got an order including biscuits which seemed like the dough had been handled too much - decent taste, but they were kind of dense and cakey. Service was good. The waitstaff made a couple of minor errors with our orders, but our waitress fixed them pretty quickly. The bottomless mimosas were great and if they turned out to have a bottom, it was only for a very brief period of time. The waitstaff kept up with filling our waters too. Our waitress was friendly throughout our visit and happy to split the check when we were done. Overall, great service and decent prices, but hit-and-miss food. Might be willing to go back, but if I do I may just get the Eggs Benedict.

    (3)
  • Travis S.

    Easter brunch was amazing! I am glad we had reservations because if not the wait would have been dreadful. They menu had a lot of options and the food was delicious. The buffet was 45 per person and kids under 5 eat for free.I had blueberry pancakes and a create your own omelette for the first meal very tasty. Second plate was all fruit fresh and sweet. The service was great by the way if parking is an issue park at the hotel next door for $6.00 can't be the price.

    (5)
  • Anna L.

    We've been here for brunch a few times now and drinks in the evening just once. The bar is definitely busy on a weekend night, but service was spot on and we never had to wait long at all. Service at brunch was equally good - greeted promptly, food arrived quickly and bottomless Mimosas and waters kept full. Usually I am very pleased with my selections. I've tried the biscuits and gravy as well as the eggs benedict and farmer's omelet. All were good, not the best I have ever had, but definitely not the worst either. I will say I find the brunch menu fairly limited - basic choices but nothing really outside the box. This time I noticed the B.E.L.T. on the menu which was described as bacon, over easy egg, lettuce and fried green tomato on toasted brioche. I love fried green tomatoes so this definitely piqued my interest. The sandwich was served with hash browns - these were ok, but somewhat reminiscent of the frozen variety. Apparently I am not familiar with what brioche truly is because both times I have ordered it, it reminded me of really thick icebox toast - not what I expected. There was very little bacon on my sandwich (not even two half slices - it was barely noticeable), my egg, sadly, was not cooked over easy as specified and there was an abundance of iceberg lettuce. The fried green tomato was ok - just not as crisp and flavorful as I expected. My sandwich was actually a bit on the cool side which might explain the hardened egg yolk. If I were basing on my review on this meal alone, it would not be three stars. My husband and friends seemed to enjoy their selections so I'll chock it up to a bad selection on my part. The mimosas were good and kept full. The dinner reviews seem to receive better ratings so I would definitely stop back sometime to give them a try. I might look elsewhere for more variety for brunch.

    (3)
  • Chris S.

    Forget about it. Best in Old Town. Start with the fritters, fill up on the steak, close out with the espresso martini. You won't be disappointed! Warning, this is Americana. the drinks are mostly whiskey-based.

    (5)
  • TamandJojo J.

    My fiancé and I stumbled across this gem for brunch. I randomly found this restaurant based on Google and location and I was not disappointed. Though the search engine mentioned unlimited mimosas that promotion was no longer valid. I ordered the eggs Benedict and my partner ordered the 3 eggs any style. Everything was fresh and the hash browns were amazing, I only wished I had more. Will add this location in our brunch rotation.

    (4)
  • Tom G.

    Ughh. Very disappointed. We went for the Thanksgiving buffet in the ballroom. The food was very good; wide variety and very nicely prepared. The ballroom was a square room with uncomfortable seating and literally no decorations. Felt like a warehouse. Service was as bad as it could be - could not find our waiter on several occasions. We ended up busing the table ourselves after our soup. Could not get him to bring additional drinks, so ended up going to the bar ourselves. $45 each plus drinks for this mess. It only got 2 stars because of the quality of the food.

    (2)
  • K T.

    $12 for a shitty, non-adorned cocktail from an asshole bartender. Hell no, never again. The bar itself is gorgeous, attached to the amazing (see my review) hotel Monaco. But to order a specialty cocktail, not get the fresh pear adornment that should come with it, AND you have no personality??? No. Wait. You do. The personality of a MF. You don't have to kiss my ass while taking my money, but don't make me feel like I'm imposing on your evening when this is your job, jackass. Thank God I was there with good friends and stayed nice...

    (2)
  • Christine A.

    We went to Jackson 20 for dinner during restaurant week. As others have written, given the prices of the meals, we expected something a little better. We had the shrimp fritters and wedge salad for appetizers; stuffed pork chops and steak for the entree; chocolate pudding and the grasshopper pie for desert. Again for the price point this restaurant demands, there is a level of expectation that they provide us something a bit more. There was nothing imaginative about how the meal was prepared (unless you call adding bacon and ham to things as imaginative). My shrimp fitters was a bit over cooked and the pork was dry. The service was good. The wait staff was attentive. We ordered a bottle of wine from their 20/20 list which turned out they did not have, so they offered us a comparable (slightly better wine) for the same price -which we appreciated. We went on a Saturday night, so it was packed with large groups. Not necessarily a negative but just something to consider when making plans. Overall, the food was kinda meh. I'm glad we tried it. I'm very glad we tried it during restaurant week. I don't think we'll be returning anytime soon though.

    (3)
  • Chris F.

    We had a very good meal at Jackson 20, an early dinner before a movie. We weren't really expecting such a rich and heavy Southern food experience, we were thinking more "New American"-style, but it's pretty down-home southern food, just a little pricier and fancier. The fried green tomatoes were delicious and a bargain at $5 (happy hour), especially for the value. They wash down really well with a cold beer. Happy Hour is a good deal by the way, the ham sliders were also very good ($5) and you can get pretty good craft beers for $5 as well. The best part of Jackson 20 was the service. Our waitress, Kristina, was quick, knowledgeable, friendly and quick in the order and the food. She gave us some great recommendations (the Audrey 2 cocktail, which my fiancée loved, and also on dessert). She clearly knows the menu and enjoys the food and drinks herself, which is a good sign. The only reason to downgrade it is that you get relatively "low cuisine" food at "high cuisine" prices. The entrees are generally $25-35, which brings any decent meal for two to $100 or more after tip. Which is hard in this economy, but especially when you're getting a bucket of fried chicken wings or BBQ pork. Overall a good meal, and upscale Southern food is a good addition to the downtown area. We'll go back, especially for happy hour.

    (4)
  • Hannah B.

    I had been here for dinner a couple times, and decided to give it a try for lunch one day since I work in the hood. We started with shrimp fritters with a great aioli sauce. Then I had the pulled pork sandwich with onion rings and my dining companion had the salad with chicken. The pulled pork sandwich was awesome. This place is known for its southern style cooking and sauces. (Note: the steak with bernaise was the best sauce I've ever had, I wanted to lick the plate.)...back to my lunch entree. I have to say I was disappointed in the Onion Rings, while the batter was great the onion did not seem cooked enough it was a bit crunchy. However, I would definitely go back for dinner, especially since every bottle of wine is $20.

    (4)
  • Soneyet M.

    Dear God: Thank you for creating Jackson 20. This is my 2nd time here, but my first time for dinner. My BF and I went on V-day eve and it was spectacular. Honestly, I cannot remember a meal that good. NOTE: Me and my BF split dinners; it cuts calories, leaves room for dessert, and makes the bill more manageable. Appetizer was a crabcake. Goodness gracious sakes! I mean...holy crap. Then the short rib. Now we havent even beef in forever but dear God in heaven that was so unfreaking believeable. Then there were the small cornbread muffins with the maple butter. Oh, and the service was good too even for a busy night. I AM IN LOVE! I am not a chocolate person, but the trio of ice cream sandwiches was good. I probably would have liked it more if I like chocolate or mint choc ice cream, but that was my fault. Not theirs. LOVE LOVE LOVE...seriously...I hear music.

    (5)
  • Hank P.

    Update: went to Jackson 20 for a second time...again, fabulous. My party had crab cakes and a special Chef's Salad that had homemade tater tots (nothing like Ore Ida Tater Tots!) was fantastic (but could have used a little more turkey in it!). Service was great as well. Original Post: Went to Jackson 20 on a whim while walking around Old Town. Didn't have a reservation (but they were willing to put us on a 20 min waiting list...not bad), but there were openings at the bar, so ate there. It was great. Fried Green tomatoes were yummy. BBQ chicken with smashed potatoes were awesome (though probably artery clogging!). Spinach salad with feta was fabulous. Sort of yuppie place, very nice ambiance and decor. Bartender was excellent (and we didn't drink!) Great place to take someone for their birthday or other occasion. Not the cheapest, but not the most $$ either for this quality of meal and dining experience.

    (5)
  • Dimitri P.

    Had dinner here with friends during Restaurant Week (Summer 2011). After spending two years in good old Coastal Georgia, Jackson 20 was not all that I was expecting. Maybe my expectations were too high but Jackson 20 was less than spectacular. The Mac-and-Cheese wasn't all that and was missing its faithful companion, fried chicken. The menu was definitely missing some southern staples like: kale, shrimp and grits, okra, dumplings and many pork dishes. The deserts were also less than stellar. Come on no peach cobbler levees velvet cake!! The drinks were ok and the corn bread was really good. Overall, I will probably visit again.... I forgot to mention, do not sit near the bar if you want to hear anyone else sitting at the table!!

    (3)
  • Maggie H.

    This place is AMAZING. Been there twice, can't really go wrong. Great decor, food, cocktails and $20 bottles of wine. Service both times was top notch--the servers knew everything about menu! Very much recommend the fried chicken--best I've ever had! Odd comment--but the menus are also very cool made of metal and leather. . .

    (5)
  • E T.

    Heard about doggy happy hour, Tues/Thur during the warmer months. In the court yard inside the hotel, dozen of dogs and drinks. Cheap happy hour. Have not eaten as I did not want to have food on the table with all the dogs. Great guy who works there that just cruises around handing out dog treats. Tables, chairs, lounges, steps away to the inside lounge which looks really nice. A great patio out front for people watching and dog friendly aswell.

    (5)
  • Steve V.

    Easily 4.5 This is Southern food done right. Plain and simple. The atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated. However they serve their friend chicken (it must actually be fried in a cast iron dutch oven) on a chicken shaped cutting board. We went in with no reservations on Saturday night (eek!) and had to wait about 35 minutes at the bar (where there were seats). Their bar menu alone has me planning my return. Everything we saw passing by looked and smelled amazing. Having the servers and staff dressed slightly more casual than the employees of many other old town establishments really adds to the feel inside this restaurant. They seem happy to be at work. I know I am happy wearing jeans, and would be happier if I could wear them at work. In my opinion this was is a must try place. The experience is well worth it. It may not be an everyday place but it must be a sometimes place.

    (4)
  • Piya V.

    I was there for a late Brunch (1:30PM) this is my first time there and by far i do like it. I have to admit it is a bit loud and the waiter is a bit rough and not as warm but it doesn't bother me too much. I got the Eggs Chesapeake and LOVE IT, it is Eggs Benedict but instead of an English muffin they use crab cake. Also the hash brown is so good, they cook it just the way I like it. A bunch of my friends got the bottom less mimosa at $12 /person that was a pretty good deal.

    (4)
  • Emily D.

    We came here for brunch in early January and had an okay experience but really nothing to write home about. Our party of 4 started out with a round of different concoctions of mimosas which was lots of fun. I had the B.E.L.T. which is nothing that I normally would order which I think is where I went wrong. My boyfriend ordered the eggs Chesapeake and loved it and my best friend enjoyed her grilled flank. Service was okay-they weren't busy at all yet we still had trouble keeping our water glasses filled and getting even half of a smile from our waitress. I do love the decor-lots of wood on the inside and pigs everywhere, even on the napkin holders! I doubt I will return since there seems to be tons of other adorable spots to check out in old town Alexandria.

    (3)
  • Erin P.

    I never have written a yelp review until now. I had to spread the world about this amazing restaurant!! Jackson 20 is by far the best place for brunch in Old Town. Not only is the food out of this world delicious and fresh, the staff is extremely friendly, especially the General Manager. Every time me and my boyfriend go to eat at Jackson 20, we always feel at home. The staff remembers us and what we like to order. We never leave remotely disappointed with the quality of service or the food and we have been going for the past year and a half! They also have delicious mimosas, which are made from fresh orange juice - best and most refreshing beverage on a Sat or Sunday morning by far! OH and forget about the sausage and biscuits - they are my favorite! I honestly cannot say enough about this restaurant. It is the only place that I don't feel guilty for splurging a little and eating out. ANYTIME I have friends visiting, I always take them to Jackson 20 for brunch and it is ALWAYS a great time. If you haven't eaten here yet, you are truly missing out! Thank you Jackson 20 for making my weekends!!!

    (5)
  • Michelle B.

    I'll give this place a C. First impression wasn't great, but I'm in a good mood, so I'll give them a pass. We arrived to an empty hostess stand (not a big deal) and when the well-appointed older hostess appeared, I was greeted with a smile and "We're only seating reservations." That was the welcome I received at Jackson 20. I understand that there will be instances when a restaurant is booked, but the proper thing to do would have been to a) actually GREET me and b) note that the restaurant was booked but possibly suggest sitting in the bar area. After notifying the woman that I indeed had reservations (and who wouldn't on a Saturday during Restaurant Week?), we were led to a table by the kitchen and notified that we were being seated there so that we wouldn't be subject to the draft of the entrance door. I really didn't mind being able to see into the kitchen, but I did think the hostess was over explaining a bit. Moving on, our waitress was cheerful and deemed most everything "amazing," so not terribly partial. The apps were the highlight of the meal. Shrimp fritters were pretty good -- tasted like conch fritters, but, you know...with shrimp. I enjoyed the trio of pork sliders that consisted of pulled pork, pork belly, and pork jowl. If the apps had been served just a bit hotter, they would have garnered 2 thumbs up. Entrees were blackened catfish and chicken confit. I did not care for the blackened catfish entrée. It wasn't seasoned enough and it was only blackened on one side. As a result, the texture of the other side was sort of slimy and I did not like that. It was accompanied by a side of hush puppies and that was a nice touch because you don't find them in every restaurant, but, again, not seasoned enough and lacked flavor. My bf enjoyed the chicken confit; he found it well-seasoned and the spaghetti squash that accompanied it was tasty. The cocktail menu is FAR more interesting than the food menu and, if I were to return, I would head directly to the bar. The best of which was a drink with Hendrick's gin and muddled grapes (can't recall the name of it). Dessert was a bit of a letdown, but I don't find many restaurants that excel with this course anyway. I had the grasshopper pie and it was a sliver of a serving, more like a 3-4 bite tasting (maybe due to Restaurant Week). Nothing remarkable about that or the chocolate cake. I'd place Jackson 20 firmly in the average food/ambiance category and give an "A" for cocktails.

    (3)
  • Nathan K.

    My wife enjoyed a salad, "They combined ingredients that surprised me." And the corn bread was delish. BUT! I had the kielbasa & kraut. Meh . . . The kielbasa (maybe all kielbasa) was quite salty. OK, so then you should rinse the kraut and maybe add potatoes to make a contrast. Nope, very sour kraut. Well, there was a nice little bowl of baked beans--delish sauce, but beans weren't cooked and the meat chunks were jerky. And half a cob of roasted corn--THAT was pretty good! Had the gazpacho--too much vinegar. Dang shame. $28 bucks wasted by me. My wife liked hers.

    (2)
  • Michael T.

    Mediocre is the one word that sums up my Sunday brunch here. To be honest, this is nothing more than a hotel restaurant. Could have gone to the Sheraton or Hilton or Embassy suite and got the same quality. Wouldn't go back if the meal was free nor would I ever recommend them based on my experience. I had an over salty Bloody Mary. My hashbrowns were over cooked to the point of all crunch and no flavor, NOT golden brown, and they looked like a processed frozen brick dropped on the skillet and cooked. The Virginia ham that came with the dish was nothing more than a piece of Canadian bacon cut up. Was really looking forward to the chance to try Virginia ham. Pretty sad really. You'd think the eggs would be hard to screw up but there was so much oil between the eggs and hashbrowns my tongue felt like it was drug through an oil spill in the gulf. I've had better at the Royal dinner up the street and many other dinners around the county. Granted, I'm sure the chef is not back there making hashbrowns, eggs, and pathetic ham on a Sunday morning, but it comes down to training the line how to uphold the standard and quality the chef wants. The wait staff was nice and cordial, so I can't knock them on that. There is no way this place should be rated on average above a 3 star. They came highly recommended and was a total strike out.

    (1)
  • Matthew Y.

    Went for Doggy Happy Hour, which is hosted by Hotel Monaco and Jackson 20. It was a great setting, lots of dogs, a great courtyard, a great beer menu (21st amendment, Avery IPA, Mama's Little Yella Pils, etc...) and a great bar menu. We each had a beer, a delicious warm pretzel with german mustard and garlic spread, and our bill was only $16. Staff is patient and quick considering the amount of dogs around and it is a great place for locals and guests to mingle after work.

    (4)
  • Grace P.

    My girlfriends and I had dinner there last Sat night. The service was a little slow - the restaurant was crowded but there wasn't a wait to get in or anything. The cocktail menu seemed to have an usual amount of spicy drinks (which is only good if you're in the mood for a spicy drink, right?) The Paloma seemed to be a hit as it showed up in a pretty martini glass and was a lovely yellow with the little habenaro caviar sitting at the bottom. The food was pretty good. Corn and ham fritters were tasty, but overcooked, shrimp and grits half portion was huge but the shrimp were overcooked and mealy, the butter lettuce salad was delicious, fried green tomatoes delicious. My friends ordered the pork osso bucco and said it was very tasty. The service was slow on drinks, very, very, very slow so slow that the waiter realized it and gave us two free cocktails. He did separate the checks which was very nice.

    (3)
  • AC P.

    Awesome brunch! Went there on Sunday with the in-laws and we had an excellent brunch. Only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because I wish they had a few more items to choose from. Service, ambiance, prices, and food were all fantastic!

    (4)
  • Donald W.

    Regarding stars: I generally avoid 5-starring a restaurant based on one visit. Enjoyment factor for this initial visit: Definitely 5-star! = = = = = = = We are frequent visitors to Old Town Alexandria. Hotel Monaco was our hotel this time, and being old and tired, with no dinner reservations, we made our way next door to Jackson 20. Fantastic! This was our first meal there. The hostess said she had a great waiter for us, and was she right! Danylo guided us through the meal with charm and friendliness and competence. My "Path Valley" salad (9$) was basic fare, and was distinguished neither by taste nor ingredients. A two or three star salad at most. My "Beef Brisket" entree (25$) was well-presented and was delicious. It is a slow roasted, smoked Wagyu beef. Wagyu shares some connection to the better known, super-expensive Kobe beef, but I don't know cattle very well. Just be fore-warned that it is very highly marbled. Actually, Danylo disclosed that when I ordered it. In other words, stay away from Wagyu if you are on a low-fat diet. *lol* But the taste is wonderful and luxurious. My beef was accompanied by "Crispy Marrow Potatoes"--something new for me. I found them very good, but I forgot to ask the staff about what makes for a crispy, marrow potato. (Google time!) The side creamed spinach was excellent with the beef, but I was getting full, so I did not finish this. Derek, one of the chefs, brought us four complimentary Ham Biscuit Sliders early on in our dining. They were very good. My wine selections were a glass of Forest Glen Pinot Noir (8$) and a Paso Creek Merlot (10$). Both were excellent, but I tend to favor the flavor of a Pinot Noir. No dessert for me. I was full. Just point me to my Hotel Monaco room and tuck me in after a wonderful meal at Jackson 20. Thanks, Danylo and Derek for a great evening.

    (4)
  • Mia A.

    A friend and I went there for brunch, both our first time. Great atmosphere, but the food was not that great. I had a Pazzanini* sandwich lol or something like that. All it was was a big slice of cold mozzarella cheese and arugula on "grilled" bread. That was the only vegetarian option. BOO! Bottomless mimosas were listed for $9 bucks online, but were $13 when we got there. They were bottomless, so I didn't complain (lol). I will be back for the bottomless mimosas, hopefully they will have upgraded their brunch menu. I do suggest that you make your reservations in advance! I did, as soon as we walked in, we were seated :) Service was fast also.

    (3)
  • Mary P.

    I was excited upon entry. The decor is upscale but old fashioned at the same time. Today is the 3 course meal for $20 Special (w/ "I Voted" sticker) the host at the door told the couple behind us about the special but only welcomed us upon entry. We asked our waiter about the special but he said the lamb chops are gone and they substituted it for a pork loin. The waiter gave us a bowl of mini cornbread muffins & butter and then left. We had to get him to ask for saucers (other patrons had plates for their appetizers)...The meals were an hour wait...I didn't know mine had nuts in the sauce until I received it. (I'm deathly allergic to nuts so I'm cautious and had my friend taste it and there are almonds in it.) The manager was super friendly and got the chef to remake it without the sauce (although they should note it in the menu going forward for anyone else with allergies). The service was friendly, the food was okay (the ribs are awesome) but nothing else wow'd us.

    (3)
  • Mike R.

    So I'm writing 2 reviews of weekend meals and both are very much affected by expectations...I had low expectations for this place and was pleasantly surprised. In retrospect, I'm not sure why I had turned my nose up at this place, but for whatever reason I had. Just to set the stage, we went for a restaurant week brunch, so 3 courses off their sunday brunch menu. We started with shrimp fritters and a salad. The salad was well dressed and a nice combination of flavors (ham, capers, egg, cherry tomatoes, etc.). My wife liked the shrimp fritters which were plentiful and large (alas I am allergic to crustaceans so none for me). For the mains I had a chicken fried steak with eggs and a skillet potato hash. The gravy served with the steak was wonderful. It's been a long time since I've had chicken fried anything, but I have a feeling I'll be eating this again in the near future. It was very tasty and not overly greasy. The potato has was also a star. My wife opted for a crab cake and egg concoction so again I'm left with her impressions which were very good. Her dish looked a little small, but after the shrimp fritters she wasn't complaining. I'm not really a dessert guy, so my opinion shouldn't really count. They were adequate. I had a pecan pie with porter ice cream (I have my doubts that the ice cream was anything but vanilla) and my wife had a float flight. Four different miniature floats...great idea, but they were nothing special. The beer geek in me has to note that they have Oscar Blues Gordon on draft...not something you see everyday especially from a place with only 4 taps. My wife did the bottomless mimosa for $9. I'm not sure she got her money's worth as getting a refill wasn't exactly a speedy proposition. The servers dropped by pretty infrequently. I'm looking forward to trying this place again for lunch or dinner. I saw several sandwiches walk by (burger, pulled pork, chicken) and they all looked big and tasty. I'll echo a previous reviewers sentiment on the heat. It wasn't scorching inside, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. They had some floor unit fans, but the was little to no cool air inside...it was just very stagnant. Perhaps I'll wait until fall to come back.

    (4)
  • Sieg F.

    You expect more from a restaurant when entrees are high $20s - mid $30s. The side salad was SALTY that it hurts your teeth. The burger was ok, I ordered medium but came out well done and the bun is just big that it over powered the burger itself. For $15, the burger is way over priced compared the $12 burger from Rustico and $11.95 Chef Geoff burger, which I both love. My wife ordered the well recommended pork chop, the taste was ok. There's collared greens in this dish that was not specified in the menu. The host was friendly, the waiter was very nice recommended a good wine. The wait for food was a little long but tolerable.

    (2)
  • Lou C.

    This restaurant is connected to the Hotel Monaco on King Street in Old Town. I had a really enjoyable meal at Jackson 20. The food has a "Carolina influence" The stuffed pork chops were divine! My partner had the macaroni and cheese which I tasted and also thought was good. The service was friendly, refills were promptly brought when necessary. The only drawback is their prices! The two of us dropped $85 with no alcoholic beverages and no dessert.

    (4)
  • Eboni P.

    Went in a Thursday evening about a hour before happy hour ended! I let the boys do the food picking because they had been and I had not. The ambiance is very trendy upscale boutique like! They ordered everything food wise off the hour happy menu. They have cheap happy hour beer and wine but no cocktails :(! I ordered a rum and coke without the lime but guess what the lime still was on there! Oh well! The food came and it looked UHHMAZING! It was really good food! From the mini sliders to the pretzel with cheese. I felt like it was kid food with a great adult twist! The only reason I did not give it 4 stars is because my rum and coke was watered down! Maybe I will try a martini next time because those came out looking great! Other than that I will definitely be returning very soon!

    (3)
  • Eva D.

    Great place. I would definitely go back there! And I loved the fries.

    (4)
  • K E.

    Very solid and tasty brunch menu. I had the Eggs Benedict with Crab Cakes and my husband had the Bagel and Lox. We both enjoyed our meals A LOT. Even though we didn't order them, it is worth mentioning that Jackson 20 has bottomless mimosas for $11. Pretty awesome deal! So why only 3 stars? Well, the service was SLOOOOOOOW...like super slow. Like we got our entrees before our coffee even made it to the table. Pretty damn ridiculous. The redeeming factor was the very generous and understanding manager. When he heard that we received our entrees before our beverages, he was pretty appauled and thanked us for letting him know. When our check arrived, he ran over to our table and said "let me adjust that for you two." We thought it was a very nice gesture simply thinking that he would give a discount or comp our coffees. He did MUCH more than that...he took care of our whole damn tab, apologized for the service, and invited us to come and visit again! We were shocked and very thankful at the gesture. This guy could teach other restaurant managers a thing or 2 about good customer service ( yelp.com/biz/virtue-feed… ). Considering the food was great, I think we will be back to (hopefully) update this review with higher marks.

    (3)
  • erin s.

    had brunch here a few weeks ago.Again I wish places could be rated in various categories rather than one overall rating. The food was pretty good. A little over priced for what it was, but I enjoyed my eggs Chesapeake and the hash browns were nice and crispy. I'd give the food 3.5 stars. The decor was nice...4 stars. So the biggest reason for a low rating...comfort...0 stars. It was 90 outside that day and sadly we were relieved to walk outside after brunch. At least there was a breeze out there. No idea what the temp was inside, but it was unbearable and I was wearing a sleeveless summer dress. We asked the waiter if they could turn down the AC. His response 'I have been saying that for months.' Ummm...OK. So no sure if they are just cheap with the AC or what, but I would expect more from a place charging what they do for a meal. The restrooms are off the hotel lobby and the AC was blasting there and in the lobby. So my advice...hold off on Jackson 20 until the winter or fall, but who knows, maybe then it will be freezing inside.

    (2)
  • Sage C.

    Food time and again has been less than good. I have come for happy hours, breakfast, dinner. Not worth the money - many other places to visit in Old Town.

    (1)
  • Jason P.

    I ate lunch here in the middle of May. I ordered the open-face chicken salad sandwich. The chicken salad was really tasty and the cornbread that it topped was sweet and delicious. The cornbread was crumbly and pretty thick, which made it difficult to eat without a fork. The green bean salad that came with it was just really unappetizing. The green beans were very under-cooked and still had the stems on them, which made chewing them a chore. Every once in a while a hard stem would stab the roof of my mouth or get lodged in between my teeth. If the sandwich was served with a different side, the dish would be a winner. The service could have been better. I sat for a long time before anyone took my order or brought me my check and my water was never refilled. I was sitting outside, so maybe that accounts for it. The bill came to around $15 with tax and tip and I would not pay that much for the same experience again.

    (3)
  • Sheri I.

    Good food nice atmosphere, thought it a bit strange that a drink (fresh) that was accidentally knocked over didn't get replaced although I was charged for it. The lack of follow up with that instance may keep me from returning. Bummer, just moved to old town and looking for my favs, this place isn't going to make the grade.

    (3)
  • Bryan I.

    Pretzels are great, service is great, nachos are one of a kind. Skip the ribs If you are from below the mason dixon.

    (4)
  • Christy C.

    Went for restaurant week with another couple and the food was good, but service was rushed. I get it; it's restaurant week, but I don't think two hours for a party of four to have three courses is excessive! 9Especially when no one was waiting for a table.) The waiter rushed us from the start when he wanted to know all three course selections up front. He wasn't overly pleased when we said we wanted to wait and order our courses separately. Was pleased that almost the entire menu was available for restaurant week, which is one of the reasons we selected this restaurant. We've been before and had great food and service, but this time it was just okay.

    (2)
  • Eric L.

    Dear Jackson 20 Servers, Please don't attempt to impress me with your memory; write the order on a pad and get it correct That impresses me. Step two: make sure that customers are happy with the meal. Isn't that in the Server 101 course? Maybe you registered late and missed the first few lectures. Most servers are skilled at checking the quality of the meal just as the customer's face is full of food. Better servers seem to time the question so well that responses must come in the form of hand gestures and muffled grunts. If you missed that class, please check for the online replay of the lecture or get notes from other classmates. Not checking with the customer only compounds problems that may have occurred. We all make mistakes; don't make yours worse! So that's enough of my rant; flame off! On a positive note, the manager did check in after the meal was done and discounted the tab. The food was fine but there seemed to be a shortage of servers or some other glitch in the front of the house. The chef came to the table beside me and apologized for something, which makes me think that there was a problem in the back of the house too. Was this a bad day or was it something more? There are too many good restaurants in the area to return and determine the answer. I suspect this will be my only review of Jackson 20.

    (1)
  • Greg Q.

    We happened upon this place to grab a drink before dinner at Restaurant Eve. The staff were incredibly friendly and the bar was a comfortable place to grab a glass of wine. We didn't snack on any of the bar food..but it looked great. I'm definitely going to stop by again the next time that I'm in Old Town.

    (4)
  • Angela G.

    Jackson 20 does not skimp on portions, that's for sure. If anything they were a bit too generous for a three-course meal! I was stuffed--overly stuffed--plus I brought some of the entrée home. Hats off for opening up the entire menu for Alexandria Restaurant Week. (Way too many of the other Alex. Restaurants offered very limited menus). And we were not rushed during our meal by any means (and that has been known to happen during RW promotions). I wavered between a three and a four for this restaurant...wish I could do a 3.5. I think it's a matter of my personal taste, as Southern cuisine--"neuvo" or otherwise-- is not usually on the top of my list of favorites, but as that cuisine goes, it was delicious. The décor and service were warm (save for a glitch b/t the first two courses), and bonus points for the decor coordinating menu design, cute silver pig napkin rings, and a full menu for Rest. Week. And my friends said they would definitely come back and bring others here...so I'll go with the four. Started off with some tasty breads: some sort of sweet bread and mini corn muffins, with a delicious sweet cream butter. The Pumpkin and Parsnip soup, with toasted pumpkin seeds and a bit of maple cream was my first course ...delicious, loved the occasional pumpkin seeds. But a huge bowl...this and the bread probably would have filled me up for the evening! My dinner companion who grew up by the sea and knows her way around a crab cake deemed the Virginia Crab Cake with fried green tomato very worthy. Our third friend liked her Path Valley salad, with a nice light sherry-walnut vinaigrette and braised apples. I took the suggestion of our server Justin and tried the Apple Stuffed Pork Chops with roasted sweet potato (smothered in molasses, brown sugar and a bit of bacon). It also came with another side of braised collard greens I believe...which I actually liked...and one of my friends thought were especially good. The pork chop was definitely very thick, not dry at all (which often happens with PCs), very flavorful, and very filling. I'm a sucker for a good sweet potato and liked that part of the entrée best of all. Both of my friends ordered the beef brisket and said the slow roasted Wagyu beef was very tender. My sample was delicious. Justin explained that it was highly marbled. The dish came with crispy marrow potatoes, creamed spinach with a crunchy panko liked breaded topping (really good), and horseradish...just enough not to be overpowering, according to my friend. I liked the dessert the best. Two of us ordered the Butternut Squash Bread Pudding, very creamy and delicious, yet surprisingly light. A scoop of yummy praline ice cream topped it off, with caramel sauce drizzled over the bread pudding and the plate. Our other friend enjoyed the sweet potato crème brulee. The only real criticism was the time it took between the first and second course....a really extra long time, definitely longer than normal, way too much time than it should...we were looking around and wondering what had happened. But the food was delicious...and again very generous portions. Overall the service was attentive...our water glasses were always full and Justin enthusiastically shared his favorites and answered any questions we had. (We did not ask him about the delay between the first two courses, as he seemed busy with other customers). We were not rushed at all...which can happen during a restaurant week promotion. And especially high marks to the hostess who was very warm and friendly. Jackson 20 also had a nice warm décor...more on the subdued side, cozy yet elegant. How can you not like the silver pig napkin rings that match the large silver statue of a pig at the entrance. I thought they had one of the most interesting/decorative menus that really coordinate with the décor...someone really thought about that. Interesting wallpaper and screens, a beautiful stained glass like window with washes of blue. The restaurant connects to the Hotel Monaco...so you get to use the hotel lobby bathrooms, which are very nice. I especially liked the red and white wallpaper and overall décor of the bathrooms as well.

    (4)
  • Lorenzo W.

    First off I want to say I had the best steak of my life at Jackson 20. It was our anniversary weekend and we had dinner reservations. The atmosphere was jumping. Even though this restaurant is in a hotel don't be fooled, both are top notch. We had the pulled pork fritters which weren't as good as we had hoped, but still very good. Then the steak came out and it was delicious. Everything on the plate was delicious, even the onion straw that was over the mashed potatoes. Normally onion straw is just for decoration, but everything on the plate was just excellent. I have had steak at major steakhouses like Morton's and Ruth Criss and even though I am sure they are better some nights, not on this one. I love food and especially steaks and listen to me when I say that if you like steak then you should get on over to Jackson 20 in Old Towne as soon as you can. And if you really want to go all out, book a room at the Hotel Monaco that its located in, you won't be sorry.

    (4)
  • Kate C.

    I'd argue 'Meh" would be a compliment for this place. My Sunday brunch dining experience at this less than stellar establishment was nothing to write home about, so instead I'll yelp about it... Ambiance - 1 star - It's a shame that the ambiance itself disappointed because it's not a bad location off King Street, next to the Hotel Monaco. But the only thing enjoyable about the ambiance is the iron piggy napkin holders, I wanted to enjoy it, I really did. Service - Negative 1 star - The server was visibly offended that I didn't go for one of their $10 Mimosas. I ordered a coffee and a glass of water and she all but rolled her eyes. She didn't bother to come around to refill my coffee. Food - 1 Star - The brunch menu was very slim pickins'. It was basically omelet or burger. I ordered biscuits and gravy, or more appropriately, BISCUIT and gravy. One, singular biscuit for about 9 bucks. I could have chowed down a short-stack of biscuits and gravy, but that's just me after an evening cozying up with my good friend, Jameson. I considered ordering a side of ham, but couldn't justify shelling out 5 bones for a slice of ham. Complete rip-off. Overall - 1 Star. Steer clear. Nothing about the experience was all too wonderful. I have no desire to return to this little number, and regretted not rolling out of bed to hit up IHOP.

    (1)
  • Marie P.

    Cocktails here on a Friday night make me happy. I tried the Honeysuckle and the Socialite and enjoyed them both. The honeysuckle was a bit too sweet for my taste (the name should give that away) while the Socialite was a frothy concoction of yumminess. It has a relaxed atmosphere, modern and trendy decor with nice service. Our waitress Nicky was great.

    (4)
  • Kate N.

    So I cannot comment much on Jackson 20's menu -- my boyfriend and I went here for a happy hour one day. What I can say is that it's got a cool interior, a delicious beer selection, and some really good fries. Now -- vegetarians be warned that the fries are cooked in duck fat (which I realized too late, whoops). But since I tried them, I can attest to you meat eaters out there that they are tasty! They make my list of tasty french fries.

    (4)
  • John S.

    Had drinks and apps with friends this weekend and was pleased with food and service. Guys behind the bar were professionals who could make a solid cocktail including my beloved Manhattan which I am pretty picky about. We just had apps but I particularly liked the frog legs, perfectly fried with a spice habanero jam style sauce which worked well. Muffaleta sliders were well done, good bread, stellar ingredients. Biggest praise was that it was restaurant week which I normally deplore, but food was solid and well executed. Will come back to further explore menu.

    (4)
  • Jory S.

    Halle-freakin- lujah!!!! FINALLY!! A decent meal in this town! Thank the gods! I have been staying here for four days so far and there is nothing good to write home about... until now. They always have a 20/20 wine menu: twenty bottle options for twenty bones. Yummy. We were here for restaurant week; Three courses for $35. Everything I got was great: shrimp and scallop sausage, rock-fish (yes, yes, yes, right there cowboy! Mama likey!, don't stop!) and the Apple Trio for dessert. The fish was cooked to perfection and great in flavor... Now, let me expand on the Trio of Titillation: hot apple cider, mini apple pie a la mode, and 3 mini candied apples. This has BY FAR been the best meal this week. Everything we had was great. I would recommend this place to my bestest- bestest food-critic friend. If you're in town, go here. Really, just go here. I ate so much it hurt, but I just couldn't stop. It tastes so good when it hits the lips... and I had some making up to do!

    (5)
  • Caroline V.

    Good ol' southern food. I've been here for dinner (inside), drinks (outside) and brunch on a Sunday. The menu is very pork-friendly, which is why I love it, but tricky for some of my non-pork eating friends. There is usually more than one good fish or seafood option. Do make a reservation, even on a Sunday at 2 pm the place was full enough that a res was needed. Prices are not cheap but not ridiculous. Drinks in the courtyard are nice, especially for bigger groups.

    (4)
  • Michele W.

    This restaurant has a fabulous atmosphere, right in the heart of old town. The service was fantastic, the food was good not great, but I would still go back. The only problem I had was with the desserts. I ordered the strawberry cake. The server didn't bother to let me know that this cake was going to be ice cold. I thought it would be room temperature. It was so cold I didn't even bother to eat it. I took it to go and gave it to my mother the next day. I would never get that cake again.

    (4)
  • James G.

    Get the ribeye! The food, ambiance, and service was very good. Oh yeah, did I say get the ribeye?

    (4)
  • nathan g.

    Made reservations at OpenTable (which is great except for the mildly annoying 9000 confirmations, but that's another Yelp! review) and noted in our e-reservation that we'd be celebrating our wedding anniversary there with dinner on the 28th. We arrived to be greeted by the hostess who wanted to congratulate us on our 28 years of marriage. My lovely (39 year old) wife barely recoiled while I explained that today was the 28th, and actually, the 25th was our 7th year anniversary. We were promptly seated and met by our waitress who believed herself to be pretty smart in congratulating us on our 25th anniversary. Ok, I know the restaurant's southern cuisine, but 14 year old brides? Eleven year olds getting married? Hey, I've lived in Virginia for more than 10 years and that one even shook me a little bit. The waitress had brought with her, however, a couple of glasses of complimentary celebratory champagne. Big fun. Ordered one of the wines off of the $20 list. Good enough for $20. We ordered the fried green tomatoes with arugula salad, blue crab buttermilk dressing as an appetizer ($12). Spectacular. Great mix of hot and cold, perfectly cooked crunchy southern fried food. Soon after we'd finished, the waitress brought over an appetizer order of the jumbo lump crab cake with seasonal slaw and mustard aioli--The-Chef-wanted-you-to-try-this-happyannive­rsary ($15). Living around here, as you can imagine, one eats some crab cakes. These were exceptional. Hint of something unusual. Cinnamon? The slaw was fresh and asparagus-y. Just wonderful. I ordered the rockfish served with red quinoa, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, with butter sauce ($26), and my wife ordered the brook trout that came with crawfish etoufée, and smothered okra ($22). She's one to pick the one with the okra side every time. We ordered an extra side of braised collard greens with smoked bacon and caramelized onions to share ($6). The waitress returned in a couple of minutes to pour wine and let us know that they were out of the rockfish, and I switched over to the grilled veal meat loaf, roasted red potatoes, green beans, with house made ketchup ($19). The meals were presented beautifully. I'm pretty sure that our waitress went off by then. Someone else brought the plates. Some host guy stops by to chat, ask if everything's ok. Then chat some more. I mean, he was nice enough, pleasant (manager? hotel concierge? hanger-on? don't know.). Yeah, everything was ok. Onto the meat. Literally, figuratively. My veal meatloaf was superb. The housemade ketchup was a little sour, but it imparted a wonderful counterpoint to the grill flavor. The green beans were perfect. The potatoes, surprisingly underdone. Everything on the plate was so perfect, I kept trying to reconcile how that could be, but yeah. underdone. The veal was so good, I kept my standard veal joke to myself because I know it always embarrasses my wife (How's your dinner sir? I couldn't be enjoying it more had I tortured the calf myself). But I digress. This was seriously good. Different. Unusual. Special. Major. Also? A portion for two. The leftover veal was dinner again another night. The collard greens were ordinary. Fine. My wife completely and utterly endorsed her plate, said everything on it was really good, really worked. We had something of a wait to get our server back to take an order for coffee ($2.50) and bring the dessert menu. The coffee was drinkable. We ordered some sort of chocolate pot de crème to share for dessert which was excellent, and delivered with the wonderful "and-of-course-this-is-on-us-happy-anniversary." To sum up--exceptional food, serious pricing for Old Town (yet, we got about $50 in free food--apps, champagne, dessert--just kind of because we asked), and fawning and somewhat misguided service. But this seemed like a real restaurant. Serving food that you don't get in the 40 other adjacent restaurants. This was really, really good, but we wanted it to be just a tiny bit better. But it was really, really, REALLY good. I wouldn't hesitate to go back again. And again. Great. Heartily recommended. We had a terrific meal here. Better than almost any I've had in that neighborhood in the time I've lived around here. And like Todd S, I'm glad that I didn't check on Yelp! before dining there. This one actually makes me kind of need to call the regular Yelpers on this. My takeaway from reading their notes is that a group came in on a Friday night, tried unsuccessfully to crash a party in the hotel, got caught and chided, went to the bar and ordered the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, and then they have the audacity to complain that the service wasn't up to snuff? Kid stuff. This is a really good restaurant for this neighborhood.

    (4)
  • Adam S.

    We were seated right away, though the hostess was complaining to a co-worker about another issue, in front of us. They appear to be understaffed. It took ome time for the waitress to come over. Our appetizer arrived, we got our plates just about half way through the course.Once our main dish arrived, the food runner asked if I needed ketchup, to which I replied yes. I never got it..

    (2)
  • Jason R.

    Just ate here. The Mac & cheese was massive and tasted excellent. The service was good just on the slow side. Kind of pricey but was par for the area

    (4)
  • Kathleen M.

    "Meh" would be correct. The bar is beautiful, yes, but when you and your group realize they'd rather be at the themed Sweet Sixteen occurring in one of the hotel ballrooms, you know you've got to be doing something wrong. Service was incredibly inattentive and slow. Sure, a bottle of wine will only set you back $20, but its *really* shitty wine. Yep, even YELPERS left a good bit behind on our exit. And that just ain't right.

    (2)
  • Joel S.

    The food is OK but the service is exceptional. Not sure I would go again though.

    (3)
  • Carol R.

    Second time I went to Jackson 20. The first was with my brother and sister in law during the week in the summer over a year ago. The food was excellent and the cocktails interesting. Since it was uncrowded, had a very pleasant evening. Went back this January and was not nearly so impressed. On the plus side, the barbeque chicken was perfectly cooked and delicious, and the trout was also nicly prepared. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating. On the downside, the pecan pie was cold and so thin it was more like a pecan cookie. Also, the restaurant was very crowded and so noisy could hardly hear my partner speak. They also seated us near the door and we had cold blasts of wind every few minutes as other customers entered or left. Overall, a decent place to go at off hours when it is not too cold outside. Good food, but do not expect fine dining.

    (3)
  • Natalie J.

    Love this place! We were staying at Hotel Monaco and stopped there for a drink. We sat at the, bartender was great. He bought us shots on the house, which were the best raz commies i have ever had. We ended up ordering the farm cheese...agreat snack and interesting experience. I would have headed back for last call but was too drunk for public...

    (5)
  • Erik V.

    Great service, great atmosphere, great place to catch up with friends. Rich behind the bar knows how to make a great drink.

    (5)
  • Stacey D.

    I can't put zero stars? We came in on a Saturday morning, my husband, myself and my younger sister. Despite it being busy, we were seated immediately. And it all went downhill from there. The waiter, no older than my husband or I (late 20s) showed up and immediately seemed bored with us. He wasn't even remotely helpful. He seemed annoyed that he'd received a table of 20-somethings in their jeans (gasp! I know it's Old Town, but I don't shop in my Sunday finest). The food took a while, long enough to get annoyed, but not quite long enough for me to hunt someone down, and it was nothing special. The waiter couldn't be bothered to drop if off himself (we could see his whole area and into the kitchen, he wasn't busy). And he couldn't be bothered to check in on us himself. The good news is, with his terrible service, if he figured we weren't going to tip well since we were younger and in jeans, he was right. Of course, it was his service, not us. Had the food been spectacular, I may have risked it again. But with mediocre food and terrible service, I won't be going back, period.

    (1)
  • Andrew F.

    A must try in Old Town for a special occasion. I had a pork belly entree and the table shared a few appetizers. Since we hadn't been to Jackson 20 before, our server brought us complimentary appetizers of pickled shrimp and fried green tomatoes. Definitely should be slightly dressed up to eat here, but I don't think it's necessary.

    (4)
  • M B.

    Went down to DC area to visit my brother--this is his go to place. While I wasn't a big fan of the waiter (who pushed the most expensive wines and entrees), the food was fantastic. I got the crab & Fried green tomato app as an entree (best FGT I've ever eaten!), which turned out to be a perfect size for me since I filled up a bit on the amazing biscuits and my boyfriend ordered the full rack of ribs, which seriously fell. off. the. bone. I helped him clean his plate. The reason I'm giving it only 3 stars: the noise level. It was seriously loud--like "at a punk rock club" loud. We went with my parents who can have a hard time hearing and had to spend most of the night shouting at them.

    (3)
  • Yuna C.

    Wait was so long even though we had a reservation. They have some great looking things on the menu but we had been sitting for our food or so long I was just hungry and cranky. I got the burger with onion rings and they over fried them. The food was okay but unfortunately not worth the wait. We had a party of 9 and no one really enjoyed their meal. This restaurant did not deliver..oh well.

    (2)
  • Angelique A.

    Incredibly great service at an incredibly dog-friendly place! Great food too. I had the gazpacho and the fried green tomatoes, both were excellent my friend had the fried green tomatoes as well. The gazpacho came with some sort of yogurty-flavored sorbet in the middle of it with a sprig of basil. It was DELIGHTFUL (especially when you want something refreshing after a long walk). We stopped in after a 4.5 mile walk and both of us were a little tuckered, but my 11 year old Chihuahua-mix was more than a little tuckered and very thirsty (and he refuses to drink out of the community dog dishes that everyone in Old Town puts out for the dogs - he must be a bit of a "diva", but thanks to everyone in Old Town who does that). As soon as we sat down the extremely friendly hostess brought him his very own clean dog dish and then filled it with fresh, cold ice water and gave him some treats....heaven for both of us! I'm a dog person and having a place like this so close to home (I live in Old Town) that is so dog and people friendly means that I'll be frequenting much more often. Thanks to all of their great staff tonight who kept all 3 of us hydrated, fed and ready for the 1.5 miles more to get home. Loved it!!!!

    (5)
  • Rosie E.

    This place used to have great brunch. It seems that every time I return the service gets worse. I had the eggs Benedict. They were good, but not great. The service and atmosphere is what made this visit less than satisfactory. The server brought my check less than halfway through my meal, he returned to check the bill before i finished eating. The restaurant was no where near full so I don't see what the rush was. I could have ignored that, but through most of meal i heard the hostess and another female employee gripe ( a little too loud)about a customer ( possibly a coworker, but sounded like a customer). This what not the brunch experience we were looking for on a Sunday morning.

    (2)
  • Mary Jo Lisa C.

    Went to Jackson 20 during a holiday weekend. It was surprisingly busy, but then realized they were all out of towners. This restaurant is attached to a hotel. That should have been our first indication. The service was great and so were the drinks and appetizers. The gnocchi and French onion soup were awesome and I would recommend. However, the main course was lacking in taste and flavor. The chicken dish was ok, and not very creative. The baby back ribs were cold and yet charred and the BBQ sauce had a lot of vinegar in it. The worst part of both dishes were the mashed potatoes. They were clearly boxed and not homemade. The cooks only used water to mix them because they had zero flavor. When this was brought up to the waitress she said they were homemade and that the cooks were pretty good at whipping them up. Lol. I love waitstaff that doesn't listen. I might go back for a drink and apps on my way to another restaurant...actually, probably not. Also, the table next to us was having a similar experience. The couple was commenting to each other the lack of taste in their meals. Did I mention how pricey this place is? It's pricey. So many other options in old town. Don't bother coming here. I feel bad for the tourists that end up eating here.

    (2)
  • Jessi B.

    delicious mimosas, decadent french toast, perfectly crispy hash browns, and insanely fast and friendly service. what's not to like?! this place is delicious!

    (4)
  • debbie a.

    Mediocrity.... I came here with a party of 5 during restaurant week to experience a southern gastronomical journey.... We all left unsatisfied. While the decor is nice - country/industrial chic and the service was just so-so (probably because our party of 6 automatically had tip of 19% added to it) the food was... just..so.. uninspired. None of the flavors seemed well integrated with each other.... and everything was just off. The ONLY good thing was the awesome biscuits that come at the beginning of the meal... Appetizers: Deviled Eggs - "ok" Beet Salad "just ok" Bitter Green Salad "the crispy sliced pig's ear is cripsy but has no flavor... the salad is SUPER bitter, and I like bitter salads.." Chicken and Dumplings "all I can taste is paste..flour paste" Entrees: Fried chicken - "crispy but not seasoned evenly" Trout with Almonds and beurre blanc with Kale and Apples "I dont get why the apples were even there... to balance the kale? the Kale was ok, but it doesnt make sense with the trout.. it did add to the flavor complexity or anything..." Charcoal roasted Goat "Oh its like pulled pork, but with Goat. The ravioli tastes like it was stuffed with the powdered Kraft Mac'nCheese Cheese..... NOT good" Beef Stroganoff... the short ribs were cooked well, but the pureed peas made no sense.. and I like peas" Fried Green Tomatoes.. "eh" Dessert: Banana Pudding - pretty good, but the burnt banana chips were kind of too bitter to even be added Mexican Chocolate Cherry Bread pudding - crunchy topping was ok, but it tasted burnt and the coffee ice cream didnt really go well with the dish Apple Cobbler - some of apple chunks are COLD and the crumble/cobbler bit has burnt pieces.... Overall, we aren't coming back... everything was just not worth the cost..

    (2)
  • Jennifer C.

    The drinks are great and I was seated right away. I ordered the kielbasa and pierogies. It was so good, that now I only make my own pierogies if I also make kielbasa to go with it! Lovely Old Town spot.

    (4)
  • Domonique W.

    I am still having dreams about how good the B.E.L.T (minus the B for me) was!! Like amazingly good, the best brunch sandwich I have ever had! This place is super busy for brunch, best to make a reservation if you can. Seating at the bar is first come first served.

    (5)
  • Cherie B.

    The staff was completely accommodating of my large party (on a slow night) however, they gave us the rudest waitress I've encountered in a long while. She literally questioned the tables intelligence, never returned to the table once the food was ordered until we found her and didn't tell us her name until we asked due to the fact the table was appalled at how rude she was acting. The food was ok and I'm ok not to return. I think they are ok with that as well. Sidenote: a southern themed restaurant with NO hot sauce is not fit to be bothered with. Shout out to the manager Helene for being totally accommodating!

    (3)
  • Alex F.

    Went here for Christmas Eve dinner to get a "fancy dinner" and was not disappointed. The atmosphere in this place is pretty cool, good decor and sound level. Not super intimate and has more of a lunchy feel to it, but I was not disappointed. We started with the American cheese plate, which came quickly and was delicious. I was impressed with the high quality and variety of cheeses that were from this side of the Mississippi! For my entree, I ordered the Braised Pork Osso Bucco and my wife got the Crispy Skin Scottish Salmon. Both were delicious and were exactly what we were looking for on our night out. The polenta went so well with the braised pork and was cooked perfectly. I got a Jackson 20 Gin and Tonic to start, and I don't think I would order this again. It wasn't really anything special, though it was on the specialty cocktail menu. Didn't taste any of the additions that were listed on the menu, like the ginger or the herbs. My wife's 2 Sins cocktail was excellent, though. One complaint I have about the inside is that they don't have a double door on the entrance, so any time someone opens the door and you're sitting in the first couple of rows of tables, you get a cold blast from the outside. It's very noticeable and kind of distracting. The service here is good, the waiter was very attentive and our food was served at an appropriate time. The waiter served me a great glass of wine that went well with the braised pork (I don't know anything about wine, so he made me a recommendation). Also, he was knowledgable about the menu items and seemed to have tried many of them. Overall, great dinner experience and I would go back there again.

    (4)
  • Keri B.

    Not that great. We ordered a burger and a hangar steak, both medium rare. The steak was a full medium to mid-well, and very tough. The burger was well done. Neither were seasoned well. The burger came with fries, but we had to ask twice to get ketchup to go with the fries.

    (2)
  • Adrienne L.

    I'd really forgotten about how the D.C. area thinks its food is so diverse and amazing and cute, but if you've lived in another major city, you'll quickly find this hype to be just that. My amish chicken was pretty bland, and I didn't even finish the side of potatoes. If I'm not finishing a side of potatoes, I was either served 2 pounds of them or they weren't very good. It was the latter, unfortunately. We didn't even stay for dessert, because I'm not a believer in calories just because. I should have known better to try Southern food in what is absolutely not the South.

    (2)
  • Lori W.

    Andy = best hot buttered rum drink EVER. Guilty as charged...I had three. Able to take the Old Town Trolley back up King Street and walk home. Tator tots with 3 dipping sauces - yummy! Cheese plate - delicious cheeses but rather small portions. Had read about this drink on line and my 3 gfs and I went there for drinks. Head to Jackson 20 before this drink goes away for the next seasonal drink.

    (5)
  • Michelle C.

    They have under $20 wine list. Love it! Fried green tomatoes- It was my first time having this dish ever. But from the comments of my colleagues who are well-versed in fried green tomatoes, the tomatoes were cut a bit too thick. Wedge salad- blue cheese dressing was amazing! Thick, creamy, and very complimenting. Shrimp & Grits- AWESOME main dish! By the time entrees came out, I was a little tanked from cocktails and $20 bottles of wine, but from what I can remember, it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I ate it all. the whole thing. Not a single grit left. Very creamy grits, perfectly-cooked shrimp (so big and juicy it could have been prawns). Dessert- I don't even know what it's called.. All I know is it had some mint cake thing with melted marshmallows smeared across the plate and it was beautiful! I've got several pictures uploaded because I don't remember enough after the fried green tomatoes, but trust me... food was great!! Service- Must have been great because we were never short on wine!

    (4)
  • Randy G.

    We stopped in here one evening to watch the football game when we noticed the fried green tomatoes on the menu. I can't pass this up! They arrived as they should, deliciously golden brown fried, deliciously cut thick, and deliciously sweet. You won't be disappointed. Since they delivered one nice late evening snack, I was hoping that they would do the same with breakfast. I tried their Eggs Chesapeake: two sunny side eggs on top of crab patties with a side of hash browns. I would take this instead of eggs benedict anytime. Who needs the english muffin or ham when you can have a crab patty. What's nice is the crab cuts through the dense flavor of the eggs and sauce so that its not missed. It has all the delicious crab flavor I was hoping for. When you add the hash browns, it completes it with the grease and crunch. Not to mention, it looks so clean when they cut it precisely in their presentation. FYI, if you order the fruit plate, be prepared to share it with someone. It feeds two.

    (4)
  • Tricia W.

    Good food, excellent service, and quite convenient for hotel guests. No fifth star basically because the pricing at dinner was a little disproportionate, when one considers numerous other fine dining options within easy walking distance. Yes, those others are pricey as well. Breakfast, on the other hand is a very good value. You don't get the "hotel restaurant" vibe here at all by the way.

    (4)
  • Joey W.

    I'm docking a star because the bar tender is an egotistical arse. That won't stop me from going back for amazing food though ... I'll just steer clear of the bar. I've been here for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Every time the food is spot on and I love the "anything but average" menu. The servers Re great, helpful, and really personable. Definitely go and try something new! Oh! And order the Beet Eater. Ah-mah-zing!

    (4)
  • John S.

    We had a great breakfast. Our server Leo was great. He did a great job taking care of our special needs. I love Jackson 20 because they are the only place in town that serves actual hash browns in addition to home fries.

    (4)
  • Thomas J.

    After front-loading my hours, this work week, left work earlyish to get a head start on the holiday weekend. Got home and wife asked if we could go to lunch. I said, "sure, where". She replied "Old Town?" Parking in Old Town is always kinda dicey, so parked in the first free spot on King Street we could find. It was about a half block up from Jackson 20.Wife noticed the folks sitting at the outdoor seating and looked at menu posted outside the front door. Selection looked suitable, so went inside to get service. Place is nicely appointed. The kitchen is decently open and inviting looking. Bar appears to be well stocked. Hostess sat us and gave us menus. We each ordered off the specialty cocktail menu. Wife's was apparently some gin-based drink that she really liked. I ordered the "Hemingway Daquiri". Interesting drink. Starts out with a really pleasant smell and taste. Unfortunately, as you breath in after swallowing, it finishes really poorly - almost a patchouli like taste. So, either don't breath after drinking or pick something else to drink. I ordered the ruben for my main. Really competently-made. Starts with a really nice marble rye, topped with a conservative amount of meat and a really decent sauerkraut, and just enough dressing to add flavor but not so much to make a mess. Came with herbed fries, what seemed like it coulda been house-made ketchup and some really nice house-made fries. Wife had ordered the wedge salad. It was a bit minimalistic in its presentation: a wedge of iceburg with a slice of bacon balanced on top and a wedge of blue cheese on the side. Came with house-made pickled onions. Side note: if you take a picture of yourself with their pig statue and post it to FaceBook, they apparently give you a free appetizer. The day we were in, it was their fritters. The fritters were rather tasty. The dipping sauce could have afforded to be a bit zestier, but, overall was really damned good - especially for being free.

    (4)
  • Caro B.

    This review is solely about the bar. Andy, one of the bartenders, is a genius. If you happen to be a fan of bourbon then you're cheating yourself by skipping this spot which features a number of interesting cocktails with a bourbon base. However, if you're willing to be adventurous just talk to the bartenders because they are really masters of their craft. I had an incredible smoked old fashioned with a twist. That was months ago and I am still telling people about it like it was yesterday. I do not do this often people. The snacks they have at the bar are good; we've tried the pretzels a few times and enjoyed them each time. Since this is still a hotel restaurant drinks are not cheap; however, they are worth every penny. Life is too short to drink bad/weak cocktails. In a city like Alexandria and a touristy location like King Street with lots of bars and restaurants, Jackson 20 stands out as a great pre or post-dinner drink spot.

    (5)
  • Matthew D.

    My wife, son, and I tried Jackson 20 for the first time for Sunday brunch. It was great! That atmosphere is nice, the service was friendly, and the food was very tasty. I had the brisket hash, my wife had the B.E.L.T, and my son had the raisin cinnamon french toast. We also shared an order of the ham and corn fritters. All was excellent. We'll definitely be back and look forward to trying it for dinner too.

    (4)
  • Mattie C.

    First off, this place is attached to the Monaco Hotel, so expect it to be expensive. Secondly, just a random comment, but I HATE the decor, both within the hotel and in the restaurant - its like this funky modern really bright design and none of us liked it at all. As for the food, I had a turkey avocado sandwich, which was good, but not particularly memorable. I wish they had more than one omelette option, because that is what I had initially wanted but I didn't like the ham one they had on the menu. The bagel with lox looked good, but came with an almost comically small portion of side onions. And it cost $12! It is difficult to shell out that amount of money for such a common food as a bagel. I don't know.. I recommend looking at the menu before going for brunch because I feel like the options are limited of the common brunch foods and expensive at that. Without the turkey avocado sandwich or the burger, I'm not sure what on the menu I would want to order, though maybe that is a personal taste thing. As for the service, it is a dilemma for me because on one hand, I like servers who are friendly and engaging and consider that good service. On the other hand, it can be overdone. Our waitress was very nice, but EXTREMELY chatty. It was a little awkward because we would get stuck in conversation with her and it would be hard to get a word in edgewise or to politely end the conversation. It got a little bit annoying in all honesty and was disruptive. So, for me this place is a tad too expensive, the menu items are OK-ish and the overly friendly service made me feel a little uncomfortable and I didn't like the ambiance. With all the other good places, around here I have to say this is a "skip it."

    (2)
  • Taz P.

    HOLY RA!!! The bar-b-que ribs are mouth watering and sooooo good!!! This is a definitely good place to eat. Also great services and great sitting!

    (5)
  • Edward B.

    Had reservations for dinner on New Year's Eve with 2 friends. We were seated late, at a bar table in the crowded lounge. The service was poor, the highly touted "moonshine" drinks tasted like cough syrup, the food was adequate though uninspired. The corn fritters with avocado dip were good though. But you'd have to be a real sadist to screw up fried corn fritters. The staff at Jackson 20 wasn't sadistic, just in over their heads, at least from my experience.

    (2)
  • Charles R.

    Place has changed the menu and the inside since the last time I was there. Really miss the great fried chicken they had, but the pork chop special was outstanding. Party of 8 and the service was very good. Everyone had a good meal and the cocktails are well made. The bar used to be more of a hot spot, but maybe we hit it on a off night.

    (4)
  • Jonathan A.

    Ate here with colleagues from work on a business trip and I was underwhelmed. Brisket was more fat than meat, shrimp and grits had an odd taste (not rotten but just like they mixed ingredients that didn't go together), they didn't have several beers listed on the beer list, and our server seemed distracted. Wasn't horrible but wasn't very good either. I'd stick with other much better options in the area.

    (2)
  • Will G.

    Average at best. Loud and busy but not in a good way. Vibe was touristy, overcrowded with no flow. My wife noticed trash on the floor as we walked into the restaurant. Claudia was our server and was great. But, right off the bat she had to tell us that they were out of short ribs. Let's see, 7:30 PM on Saturday night and they're out of a menu staple. Not good. We ordered drinks (the Hemingway Daiquiri was probably the highlight of the night) and several appetizers and wanted the deviled eggs. We were told 1 1/2 eggs (three halves for $7). We were wondering what they did with the other half of whole egg but they took care of us and brought four halves. After all was said and done, the deviled eggs had too much paprika and and tasted just like hard boiled eggs with no additional flavor. We also ordered the Charcuterie Board which was very good except we noticed that the fatback was not on the tray. Claudia checked, and they were out of that too. Oops, two menu staples on a Saturday night and they're out and the fatback is one reason my friend wanted the tray in the first place. In addition, the whole Board seemed a bit sparse for the price. The fried green tomatoes had too much batter and were just OK, not very thick and not very crisp. The squash blossoms were stuffed with hummus which was the only flavor that really jumped out in the bite. The four of us ordered our entrees after we ate our starters and after 45 minutes the entrees never showed up. We chose to cancel the order and leave and while we were waiting for our check we noticed a kitchen worker carrying in three or four vacuum packed packages of kielbasa sausage, right through the restaurant. I'm glad now that the entrees never showed up because I ordered the kielbasa. This calls into question the freshness of the rest of the food on the menu. So, in summary: Food and specialty drinks were generally good but not good enough to overcome the fact that they were out of a couple of items, the place was very loud, the menu items are way over-priced for the quantity of food received and the view of the vacuum packed kielbasa walking through the restaurant. We did not have a good experience we won't return to Jackson 20.

    (2)
  • Michael M.

    I went here during a business trip while staying in Alexandria and it was a good experience. The trout almondine and hanger steak were quite good. Interesting and tasty salads as well. The place has a nice twist on southern food and I recommend it if in town.

    (4)
  • Megan T.

    Jackson 20 is perfect for happy hour! The bartenders are always friendly, and it's quite a deal. If you're going to have dinner, I recommend starting with happy hour and then taking advantage of the outdoor seating, which will give you a charming view of King St. The food is southern-- and delicious!

    (4)
  • Danielle S.

    MINUS ONE STAR for taking away the Mimosa menu. Now, their brunch has only OJ and champagne, like any other brunch. No more pear or grapefruit mimosa. Boo!

    (4)
  • Krista B.

    My bf and I enjoyed a late brunch here on Saturday. I called that morning to make a reservation and the very friendly hostess advised there was plenty of room. She was also friendly when I called back a short time later to change the reservation to a later time (darn traffic). Though there looked like there was outside seating available when we arrived, we were seated inside and told there was a wait to sit outside. No biggie, it was very nice inside. I loved the exposed brick walls, open airy space and lovely chandeliers and snazzy lighting! We were offered mimosas almost immediately and our drinks arrived very quick. Our waiter was patient with us as I had a hard time decided what I wanted. They do offer bottomless mimosas, and they were prompt at refilling-my bf never had an empty glass! I also got coffee. I settled on an array of items since I couldn't choose- I had the three eggs any style, which I got all egg whites, with sausage and hash browns. I also ordered their greek yogurt parfait and grits without the cheese. The bf ordered their biscuit and gravy with a side of over easy eggs. The eggs and hash browns were great - a nice portion and crispy hash browns, just the way I like them! The sausage was unique- it definitely had a red wine flavor to it. I wasn't fond of it, but the bf said it was ok. The greek yogurt parfait came in a shallow bowl with yogurt, berries and granola that had slivered almonds and golden raisins. Even though I hate raisins, this was good. The yogurt was definitely tangy- it was greek yogurt after all!- but a bit thin/runny- perhaps house made yogurt? I was good nonetheless. The grits came in a cast iron pan- a huge serving, too! I was not a fan, the texture was very much like thick and mushy steel cut oats. The bf said his biscuit and gravy was just ok, not impressed as the ratio was off- more biscuit than gravy. Overall I enjoyed the brunch here. They have a good variety of egg options, as well as waffles a la mode. Next time I will definitely get the waffles! They also offer sandwiches that looked mighty tasty. Price was a bit steep, but our food arrived fast and hot, the drinks were flowing, they accommodated my requests to change items (egg whites, no cheese grits), the hostesses were friendly and it was a nice atmosphere. I would also like to dine outside too- maybe they have a separate reservation for outside or its in-person wait list only? FYI- they stop seating Saturday brunch at 2:15 and have breakfast until 10:30. It looks pretty fancy inside, but many people were casually dressed (including us!) and a couple people colored-out from a local color run.

    (3)
  • Stephanie G.

    I've never ordered room service before so I'm not sure if my expectations for the quality of food are too high and who knows, maybe dining inside their actual restaurant makes a difference, but I was definitely not satisfied with my meal. I ordered the Steak and Fries from their room service menu which costed a total of $35 dollars after the fees. Not only was it super pricey, but the steak was bland (I couldn't eat it without dipping it in the steak sauce) and the fries were really soggy. Very disappointing. The only reason I'm giving this place 3 stars instead of 2 is that I actually came here twice for drinks during my stay at Hotel Monaco and I had good experiences. I thought they made their drinks well and there is plentiful table seating so you don't have to crowd around the bar area.

    (3)
  • Amanda N.

    We didn't have a reservation for a Saturday night dinner but we were able to get seated immediately. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. Once we devoured the bread and butter they gave at the beginning, she asked if we wanted more and we said "OF COURSE! IT"S DELICIOUS!!!!" I ordered the drinks were so pricey so we decided not to get any. $13 for a cocktail, NO SIR. Stuck to water. The ambience and decor was great. I ordered the goat. Everything but the goat on the plate was awesome. The corn, ravioli, sweet potato puree, etc. That part was good, but the braised goat was a big disappointment. It wasn't moist, it was a bit salty for me (then again, I have a low salt tolerance). I also had the trout almondine. It was meh. Nothing special. Nothing stood out. I believe that this place is over priced!

    (3)
  • Adam S.

    We sat at the bar at 8:30 pm on a Sunday and the restaurant wasn't busy at all. The bartender that had a goatee and tattooed sleeves paid more attention to his inventory list than to the customers. He finally asked us if we wanted anything after sitting there for about 20 minutes. We ordered two cocktails, the 2 sins and the Lee's temptation, and they were both overpowering with liquor and tasted really bad. We ordered the sliders, deviled eggs, and the cheese plate. The sliders were amazing!! The deviled eggs were good and the cheese plate was also good. I asked my girlfriend for some more cheese off of the cheese plate and right before she went to grab me some the bartender grabbed the plate and threw it out! I was pretty annoyed. The service made us uncomfortable and not welcome. All I heard them talking about was what time they were getting off and where they were going in DC to party. Bottom line...I will try it again, purely for the food, because it was very tasty but I will not be ordering anything from the bar.

    (2)
  • LaShanta H.

    My husband & I went here last night for a quick happy hour. The food was great, but the service was terrible. We sat at the bar, which usually ensures really good service. Not this time..... We ordered 4 out of the 5 food items that were offered and 2 drinks each. The food was wonderful, but the dirty plates sat in front of us for at least 30 minutes after we finished. My wine glass was empty for at least 20 minutes with no inquiry of whether I wants another drink. In fact, not once did either of the bartenders ask us if we wanted or needed anything else. Not. One. Time. I had to flag them down to get the plates cleared and get a glass of water. And we were sitting right in front of them AT THE BAR. It would have required little to no effort to check on us. One if them (I think his name was Justin) did replace my pork sliders that came out ice cold. That was awesome of him! But he never initiated any contact to check on us. I know bartenders don't love happy hour patrons, but I think our bar tab was more than most couples that came in at the same time and sat at the bar. That all made me kind of frustrated. It wasn't even that busy at the bar. Not sure if I will come back. Not even for the amazing fried green tomatoes and the deviled eggs.

    (2)
  • Gus S.

    They no longer offer "bottomless mimosas" for brunch....but will sell you a magnum of champagne and refill OJ for $25.00. I had the bison steak and eggs...not bad but not very big either for $20.00. If you're looking for definite portions and a decent atmosphere its a good place. Definitely not for someone looking for large quantity.

    (3)
  • Charles H.

    J20 is an awesome place to celebrate a special occasion! During one such event we dined on: * Shrimp Fritters * Caesar salad * Trout Almondine * Pork Chop Four shrimp fritters were delivered to our table on a spread of comeback sauce. The sauce resembled a spicy thousand island dressing. The Caesar salad was nicely prepared with fresh Romaine, classic Caesar dressing, croutons, and anchovies. Normally I do not eat anchovies but I have to admit it was a nice pairing along with the fresh thinly slice Parmesan. The Trout Almondine came with a lemon brown butter sauce, a fried apple cut evenly and braised kale. I believe this was my first braised kale experience. Fortunately the texture resembled spinach greens. One of few veggies I'll eat. The pork chop also came with a fried apple yet paired with a baked sweet potato covered with molasses, brown sugar, and bacon. To my surprise, we finished all of our food even the salad. Although the dishes above were cooked to perfection and tasted great, it did win me over as an all time favorite. However, I am willing to try a variety of their food during brunch in the near future.

    (3)
  • Erica Y.

    We tried brunch here last Sunday and the place was jam packed. We arrived right on time for our 11:30 reservation, and the table was not ready. The hostess told us we can wait at the bar and the first round of drinks are on her. That was a nice gesture. My friend and I both got a mimosa to try, she tried Poinsettia which is Champagne, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice, and it was delicious, light and bubbly. I tried Ma'mosa which is Champagne, Grand Marnier, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, it was way too strong and way too sweet for me, I would pass next time and get the Poinsettia for sure. They came to get us to our table about 15 minutes later. The place is packed so tables are very close to one another. But you don't have to worry about other people eavesdropping as the place is so loud you can't hear anyone. I think that's my biggest issue with this restaurant, it's the noise. Our waitress was nice, and we got a lot of food to try for two girls. We ordered Shrimp Fritters, Virginia Crab Cake, Three Egg Omelet, Cheese Grits, and biscuit with jam and butter (as a side). Loved everything. Shrimp Fritters are delicious, although on the salty side. Love the crab cake and the fried green tomato that comes with it. Wish there's no onion in the salad, but I know next time to ask them to hold the onion. I am not a grits person but the cheese grits was creamy and very good. The biscuit was ridiculously big and very good with jam and butter. Oh, how can I forget the hash brown! It's so cripsy and the best I've ever had! Definitely would come back for the food and the mimosa (next time might do the bottomless for $12). I would love to try their Turkey Avocado Pita or BELT! Regarding the once a month pig roast, it's usually on the 2nd Wednesday night, unless it's a 5 week month then it's on the 3rd Wednesday. It's $40 a person all you can eat and it's in their courtyard. I am looking forward to trying that at least once this summer.

    (4)
  • Amanda M.

    I've been here a few times, once for dinner and twice for brunch. The most recent visit was for brunch this past Sunday. Both my friend and I forgot it was Easter (heathens) and Jackson 20 was packed when we arrived around 11:30. We were lucky enough to get the last two empty seats at the bar. Between the diners seated at the bar and making drinks for the entire restaurant, the bartender was slammed but she did everything with a smile and was a joy. I ordered the bottomless mimosa for $12. With the price for the specialty mimosas set at $8, $9, or $10 - it was a good deal. My friend had the bloody mary - it was average. We are both spoiled by places like Whitlow's where we can make our own bloodies. I wasn't starving so I ordered the biscuit and gravy. One large biscuit and gravy. I've had this before at Jackson 20 and have to say that this visit I was disappointed. The biscuit was a bit hard and they had cut it in half, buttered it, and it appeared as if it had been placed on the griddle. Not what I expect or like in a biscuit. Now, the gravy on the other hand? Amazing. It is described as a pork sausage gravy (aren't they all?) but this one had a sweetness to it (maple syrup possibly) and also some sage. In addition to the sausage, it looked and tasted as if there were a few chunks of ham/thick cut bacon in the gravy. If the biscuit had been better, I would have given Jackson 20 four stars. My friend had the bagel and lox and a side of cheesy grits. She was disappointed that the red onions weren't raw, that there wasn't any lemon, and that the cream cheese wasn't whipped. The grits were creamy, cheesy, and smooth. And served in a cute little cast iron dish. Small little changes would have earned Jackson 20 a fourth star. I will return sometime soon and give it another try.

    (3)
  • David H.

    Only tried drinks here but very friendly service, they know their stuff here. I enjoyed the "Old Hickory" which is a rye whiskey drink named after Andrew Jackson of course. They also have top notch biscuits and cornbread to be sure to give a basket of these a try. I'll be back for a meal here and one interesting note, the first casualty of the Civil War died in this building. There's a plaque describing it out front or get your waiter to tell the entertaining story.

    (4)
  • Marissa C.

    The two best thing about Jackson 20: the rustic interior and the delicious cocktails! I started with the honeysuckle cocktail which has ruby red vodka, grapefruit juice, honey syrup and muddled ginger. The drink was really delicious and refreshing. For dinner, I ordered the Kielbasa entree which comes with pierogies, sauerkraut, and beer mustard - I was impressed by the portion size. The kielbasa was really delicious with a snappy outside and moist interior, and the sauerkraut was great as well. My friend had the pork ribs which come with apple cider slaw and macaroni salad. This was really the only let-down of the dining experience. I was pretty unimpressed with the tenderness of the ribs. (If you've read my previous reviews you know I'm a stickler for falling-off-the-bones barbecue). The flavor profile was great, and they give you an extra side of bbq sauce to add as you go along, but I really don't think I should have to naw and pull to get the rib meat off the bone...just sayin' The sides were all delicious, the bread basket that they put on the table is phenomenal. Our server was helpful and knowledgeable, and if you score a window seat it makes for some great people watching on King St.

    (3)
  • Maddison F.

    It was my last day of vacation in DC and my friend and I were wanting to grab some brunch before my flight. She's a local and said Jackson 20 has a great brunch so we wound up there. I had initially ordered the Chesapeake Benedict, eggs poached hard, and my friend ordered the French toast, we sipped some bottomless mimosas while waiting for the meal. About 30 minutes had passed and our server came up to us, asked what we ordered (shouldnt he have already known?) and went in the kitchen to check. He then brought our food out and left. Our food was COLD and my eggs were very runny. Apparently a food runner couldn't find our table so just left the food in the kitchen. Both of us coming from the restaurant industry, we asked our server to re-fire the food since it was inedible. He then came out 5 minutes later, said the kitchen was closed and they wouldn't make the food again. After he saw the looks on our face he said he would go back into the kitchen and see what he could do. He came out 5 minutes later and said they had "made new dishes"...nope, it was microwaved or reheated somehow. Shouldn't the restaurant know that leaving runny eggs out for 30+ minutes and reheating them is a serious risk of food poisoning?! At this point I refused to eat my dish. We had asked for a manager but a manager never came to our table and instead relayed his or her messages through the hostess. Their way of remediating the problem was to give us an extra mimosa (since the brunch window had passed) and offer to open the kitchen up, make us new dishes (making it sound like an utter inconvenience for all) and not take ANYTHING off the check. I'm not sure where they learned customer service but it's not up to an average standard. My flight departure was fast approaching and we asked for our food to go as I had to be in DC within the hour. Needless to say next visit to DC I definitely won't be going back and my DC friends haven't either. The "to-go" food was mediocre at best. Mimosas were great!

    (1)
  • Lily L.

    Time of Review: *May 11 @ 11:00am, brunch for 5 Jackson 20 is located inside the Hotel Monaco. Service: * The service was pretty good, and everything happened in a fairly timely manner. Food Quality/Selection: * The brunch menu is an okay size and has most of the popular dishes like waffles, egg dishes, and sandwiches for those who may prefer non-breakfast foods. I ordered the eggs benedict that was presented beautifully with a side of hash browns. The Virginia ham was a bit too salty for me though, but that's just personal preference as Virginia ham tends to be salty. Cost: * Probably between a 2 and 3 dollar signs, not cheap but not through the roof either. Parking: Depending on when you arrive, there may or may not be 2-hour metered parking on the streets. of course you can always pay a little more to park in a nearby garage.

    (3)
  • Ericka C.

    Bottomless Mimosa's were great & priced under $15. I sat outside on the patio and had a great time. I'll check this place out again.

    (4)
  • Jillian B.

    So after a few months of living in OT, we decided to give Jackson 20 another chance (partially because I was feeling a bit bad about not giving them a second chance and also I wanted a 1,000 pt reservation on OpenTable). They definitely turned it around for us this time and I am convinced it was all because our waitress Kaylin set a great tone for our evening. She was friendly and knew the menu - a huge improvement from our last encounter! Our food and drinks were great. I had the Hemingway Daiquiri, gazpacho on the menu, and the special of bison brisket. All were great, delicious and an awesome combo of flavors. I think the chef does a great job of combining different textures as well. Great evening. We will definitely recommend Jackson 20 now and I am sure we will be back. I'm glad we gave it another chance!

    (4)
  • Brian G.

    One of the top brunch spots in Old Town. Consistent across the board when it comes to what you order. You can get filled on any one of the entrees that they have for brunch. Service is usually top notch as well. Make sure you make a reservation for brunch though which can get quite crowded. The waiters make sure that your bottomless mimosas glass never gets empty. That is really important when you are going with a big group who want to get their money's worth on a Saturday or Sunday morning. It's great for parties and they can handle a table of 8+ very well. We stopped in on Sunday morning with some friends and had a great time. Jane who works at the front during Happy Hour and dinner time during the week is one of our favorite people in Old Town. She always takes care of us. Must hit if you are looking for a good spot in Old Town.

    (4)
  • Julie B.

    The cocktails were great and I liked the atmosphere. The bison steak was delicious. The mushroom gnocchi was ok. I didn't like the lobster dip app. It was pricy for what it was. We had a big group and had a great time. I had issues with my food but they were very accommodating.

    (3)
  • Charmie S.

    So Jackson and I did lunch this time. He picked up the tab. But even if he didn't, I still would have been back. Manager Becky took care of us. We had 2 of the house burgers: J20 burgers. They were done just to our taste. Giovanni our server even brought us corn and ham fritters to try. He gave us recommendations and let us enjoy the meal. The fritters...that is a unique app! Well seasoned and crispy on the outside. I was actually pretty full with the app. It's that good. The burgers were medium well as I requested and the plate came with a hefty salad! Overall, I am glad Jackson gave me another chance to like him. This is much in part to Becky Bray. Jackson understands what customer service is all about and made sure we did, too. Thank you!

    (5)
  • Pete A.

    I would not typically go to a hotel restaurant, but Jackson 20 is the exception. Been several times and each time is terrific. The charcuterie plate is OUTSTANDING!! The Pilsner on tap is my favorite and its delicious. Prices are a touch high, but I'll cope. Definitely will be back.

    (4)
  • Alex N.

    I imagine (hope) this was an isolated incident, a result of poor hiring/training/management or a combination of the three. First, on the positive side, we arrived at 9:25pm for our 9:30pm reservation and were shown outside as requested. The hostess was pleasant and presented my girlfriend and I with the menus, gave us our servers name, and wished us a nice meal. The basket of pre-meal biscuits and cornbread muffins were wonderful. The bison hangar steak and cedar plank salmon were also great. Conversely... Our server was so bad that I questioned if he hated money, as his service suggested that tips were of no importance to him. Here are the high(low)lights of the meal... - While our table was open at the time I had made the reservation, we were sat at a table with tiny puddles of condensation that hadn't been wiped down from the previous diners. - Our server (arriving 10 minutes after we sat) never introduced himself/welcomed us in/apologized for taking 10 minutes to recognize our presence. Simply, "What would you guys like to drink tonight?" - Cocktail took an especially long time to arrive, though this could easily be the result of a weeded service bar. He gets a pass here. One should note that the cocktail delivery would be the last time our server visited the table until we had finished our entrees. But I digress. - A gentleman in suit delivered our entrees, I assume he was the manager which makes it more embarrassing that he did not recognize that both of our waters were empty. - Water glasses would remain empty throughout the entire entree. - After we had both finished eating, our server arrived to ask if we were enjoying everything. Hahahaha. It was at this point that he recognized a friend in a passing car and had a short conversation with him over our table. As it would have been rude to interrupt a reunion, we let him finish and then requested a refill of our waters. He would oblige eventually but only after leaving the restaurant to continue the reunion on the sidewalk. Seriously. Again, the food was good and the other servers working outside seemed friendly, knowledgeable, and keen to the idea that service is directly proportional to tip percentage. Will we be back? Probably not.

    (2)
  • Katharine G.

    I still like this place a lot, but you have to pick the right dishes. Last night, we had the crabcake (tasted funny), butter lettuce salad (too sweet), ribeye (amazing and huge!), beef stroganoff (wonderful), strawberry shortcake (good!) and plum clobber (just okay). We love the wallet-saving $20 bottles of wine. We had the shiraz and it was fine. The service by Ted and the greeting by hostess Jane made us feel welcomed and treasured. We will be back soon.

    (4)
  • John S.

    Located within a Kimpton hotel, you get a fairly decent ambiance. That's about the sum of what I have to say good about the place. The service is sub-par. And the food leaves a lot to be desired. Our party had 6 people, and no one sang any praises for their food. The best pick was deviled eggs appetizer. I would wholly stay away from the painted NY steak (it was dry and yet undercooked for medium rare at the same time -- quite a feat). If you find yourself here and you like spaghetti, go for it -- with meatballs. But for $26 or so for spaghetti, you might hate yourself. Again, the waitstaff was totally underwhelming. I actually found myself *thirsty* during the meal (if you can believe it) because of the lack of attention we got during the meal. And that's saying something; we had some pretty ladies with us ;).

    (2)
  • Adam W.

    We visited Jackson 20 for brunch on Saturday, Aug 30. There was a moderately sized crowd enjoying the standard decor of your in-house hotel restaurant. We started with the country ham and corn fritters. Absolutely delicious. The order came with about six fritters and a very different, but very tasty, avocado ranch. The rest of brunch was standard: nothing glowing to report, nothing bad to criticize. I ordered the turkey sandwich, which also included the avocado ranch. The girlfriend ordered a farmers omelette, which was standard and bottomless mimosas for $15. Okay restaurant. With plenty of great options in the Old Town area, I think I'll probably check out other places in the future before Jackson 20. However the convenience for guests of the Hotel Monaco will ensure its survival.

    (3)
  • Christa F.

    This is one of my favorite brunch spots in the area. Two words - bottomless mimosas! Says it all, right there! Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I've sampled my way through most of the brunch menu and can vouch for almost all of it. The eggs benedict is a favorite (particularly with the crab cake), so are the different sandwiches, and the soups. Oh, but stay away from the shrimp fritters because they kind of stink. If you are fortunate enough to dine here in the spring or summer, sample the gazpacho. It is unforgettable and I die a little inside when I eat here and it is out of season. The service is amazing! You will never get acquainted with the bottom of your champagne flute or water glass. My only complaint is that it can get very noisy and crowded at times.

    (4)
  • Jodi M.

    One of my favorite brunch spots! Amazing food and unlimited mimosas. It gets a bit crowded during weekend brunch, so you may want to make reservations.

    (5)
  • Nina R.

    Decided to check out Jackson 20 for Alexandria Restaurant Week, 3 course prix-fixe dinner for $35. One word....HEAVEN!! I made reservations through Open Table for a group. The menu on their website was abbreviated so I called the restaurant directly to make sure I understood the prix-fixe dinner options. They were very accommodating and called me the day before to confirm. 1st course: Wedge salad with blue cheese, pickled onions and bacon bits. Crisp and refreshing. Awesome. 2nd course: the half rack of the bbq ribs, + collard greens + mac-n-cheese. Also Awesome. The ribs were full of smoky flavor, fall off the bone tender, the collards had delicious flavor, and the mac-n-cheese was superb and gourmet like. Fancy cheese or something. I couldn't finish the entire meal so I had it wrapped to go. 3rd course: some sort of apple cobbler with nuts, almonds and small scoop vanilla ice cream. I was seriously not impressed with the dessert. My friends ordered the bread pudding and they said it was awesome. I was too full to sample their dessert. Everyone in my party really enjoyed their meal. We're not picture takers but each meal was presented like a work of art. Spirits were on the pricey side in my opinion, like $12 for a cocktail, $11 for a glass of Pinot. I ordered 2 glasses of wine and only wished I had shared a bottle of wine with someone instead. I was so impressed with this place. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Geoff And Jenni G.

    We stayed for 3 nights at the Kimpton and had continental breakfast included in our rate, which was served at Jackson 20. We found the inconsistency unbelievable and the staff somewhat surly, unhelpful and unknowledgeable. - Day 1 - no choices on tea (loose leaf in a pot), no options for not wanting an awful looking muffin and very poor service - Day 2 - choices for tea (loose leaf in a pot), given the option to exchange the awful looking muffin for toast and also told we could have oatmeal instead of the continental breakfast (we did)... service better - Day 3 - choices for tea (teabag in a mug), had to ask for toast instead of the muffin and got half as much toast as the day before (1 slice) and when we asked to exchange the continental for oatmeal were told that wasn't possible (eventually they did but it took a while!)... service slow/painful... All in all, very inconsistent and not that great... maybe they should adopt some standards! ;-)

    (2)
  • Sonia T.

    On a trip back to my old stomping grounds of DC, I decided to spend the evening in Old Town, actually spend the day and evening while my s/o was at work. I wanted to wander around on my own, do some shopping, and soak up the gorgeous fall weather. That I did, until I started raining on my head. I ducked into the first place I saw, which was Jackson 20. Attached to one of the Kimpton's, Jackson doesn't have your normal hotel-y bar/restie feel. It could easily stand alone with out the Kimpton name. I had to laugh coming all the way from Texas, looking over the menu to see a bunch of barbque places. There was no way in hell this place could compete with anything from the South? Certainly not our home grown kick ass mac and cheese. I mean, places in Houston will ribbons for their mac and cheese. I was feeling adventurous, so I ordered one mac and cheese and one Maryland crabcake app. I also grabbed a very good glass of Chardonnay, and am now kicking myself for not remembering the name. Grabbing a seat at the bar looking out the window gave me a great seat to people watch in the rain. I was shocked. This mac and cheese rivaled ANYTHING I had had in Houston. It was served in a little pan, with the crispy top, exactly the way I like mine. It was delicious. I had BEG the bartender to take it away, PLEASE! The crabcake was remarkable. Super fresh, super lumpy, and the sided fried tomato was interesting. My only complaint was that I wanted to bring my s/o back for dinner or drinks, and each time we went back they were packed! Good problem for them to have. Without a doubt, I will be back for that mac and cheese!

    (4)
  • AJ D.

    They have great lunch specials around $10 to help attract the daytime crowd. The space is gorgeous, the service is good but I wasn't wowed by any of the food. I'll definitely be trying this place again maybe for dinner to see if I have a different experience.

    (3)
  • Rachel W.

    What a great restaurant! I've been meaning to review it for a while-- but its a definite 'go to' date night restaurant. Excellent service, great cocktails, beautiful setting and quality menu items. My boyfriend and I have been for dinner and happy hour a few times and cannot wait for the spring for the doggie happy hour!

    (5)
  • kathy j.

    December 11, 2011 TERRIBLE! by kjt9572 (1 review) Had lunch there a few wks ago. Waitress substituted the wine we had ordered with a similar one because they were out of our first choice. We tasted it & liked it and said okay (she had already filled the glasses...couldn't very well say no..and it was good), but then charged us the higher price for it. Tacky. She could have asked us first and we could have ordered another wine that was the same price as the original. My friend's salad wasn't anything like it was described on the menu (missing ingredients, substitutions, about 3 bites of chicken). She told the waitress (whom we had to track down by going to the hostess at the front) and she apologized and brought her another salad, although the second one was also not accurate. My sandwich, which was supposed to be roast turkey, was actually deli turkey meat from Giant, although it wasn't so bad. The waitress was apologetic for the kitchen, but it was not a good dining experience. I think she did deduct something from the check, but it didn't make up for the bad food. Seems like this is just one of many Old Town restaurants that are catering to tourists (people who generally don't return) and ignoring the locals. A shame

    (1)
  • Heather D.

    2.5 STARS, for potential. After seeing Nina's stellar review of this place, I jumped at the chance to try it for a special night. I'd give the food 3 stars and the service 2 stars. Made an easy reservation an hour in advance. Once we arrived we were seated promptly. However, it took about 10 minutes to receive water and get asked for a drink order. We had hoped to start with a cocktail and some appetizers, and then move on to one of their wines, of which they have 20 bottles priced at $20. However, after picking two drinks from their special list of no more than 12, we waited for 10 minutes. Finally the waiter came back to say that something was "frozen" and it would take a couple more minutes. We decided to order our appetizers. Ten minutes later, I received my drink, with a promise that my date's drink would come in a few minutes. Our appetizers arrived. Finally, after waiting over 30 minutes to get said drink, we finally got the waiter to suggest that it may be better to order a different drink. I guess the huckleberry jam that went into the drink was still frozen. But, come on! When you have a limited cocktail list, all ingredients should be ready come dinnertime, or let the patrons know right away! Thus we ended up not getting wine, as we were drinking our cocktails through the rest of the meal. Some of the food was very good, while other items were just okay. For the appetizers, I got the split-pea soup, which was hot and smoky but lacking in flavor. My date got the shrimp in ham gravy on a biscuit that Tom Seitsema raves about in his review. It was pretty good, but the biscuit was rock hard. For entrees, we shared the rockfish, which was delicious in a creamy corn sauce and the roasted chicken. The chicken was very good, surrounded by roasted shallots and garlic, but probably could have been cooked a bit longer. For dessert, we shared the buttermilk pie, and while it felt rather light, it was quite bland. The manager was friendly, coming over during dinner to ask how things were. By this time the waiter had said my date's drink was complimentary, which was helpful. Overall, it has potential, but there were timing issues and problems with the staff which led to a halting meal. Maybe in a couple months it is worth another try.

    (2)
  • S. P.

    This is hard - I've been here for happy hours, dinner and brunch and my experience varied wildly. Happy hours and dinners were fine - the outdoor patio seating is great, the servers/waitstaff are really good (especially given how hectic it can get) and it's a pretty nice spot. Doggie happy hours are especially great (for dog owners) and the place gets mad props for handling that craziness so well. The happy hour food is pretty tasty for the price and the beers are a great deal. But then I went for brunch and it was beyond awful. I had biscuits and gravy and the biscuits were actually RAW in the middle - I mean sticky, gooey dough and everything. Someone else ordered soup, which came out lukewarm, and upon a request to have it reheated, they brought back a thermonuclear bowl that held lukewarm soup. The omelets were rubbery (perhaps under a heat lamp for too long?). Someone at our table ordered hot tea, which just never showed up. The waiter who took our order never came back to our table - ended up having to discuss the food issues directly with the manager. The manager did comp us for the problems. So, I'm having to give them only 3 stars - if it wasn't for the brunch, they'd get 4 - make sure to visit them for happy hour!!

    (3)
  • Kirk B.

    Ate here for restaurant week and made the mistake of getting their "bucket of chicken". I could have gotten a better bucket at KFC. Mostly greasy breading a backbone.

    (3)
  • Catherine M.

    Invited friends to dinner at Jackson 20 Friday night. First time for all of us. Service was superb. Food was hit or miss. My friend said the cobb salad at $19 was the best she'd ever had. Her husband seemed to enjoy his Caesar salad and goat entree. My husband like his catfish at $27, but the hushpuppies were really bad (hard, doughy); he doesn't think it was a good value. And my shrimp and grits entree was a real disappointment - not good and expensive at $27. Would probably go again and have the cobb salad. Really appreciated the good service.

    (3)
  • Michael W.

    Had Thanksgiving dinner at Jackson 20. There was a limited menu. The food was excellent. The restaurant was crowded and hectic. I was impressed on how the whole house staff came together to make the service work. From the manager to bus staff, everyone's effort was designed to make the diner's experience good. I will definitely go back to sample the full menu. Nice appointments and atmosphere.

    (4)
  • Brittany W.

    food is really good, nice and quiet inside

    (4)
  • E M.

    The decor is nice, rich, surprising for its origins (this is the old Holiday Inn in Old Town). The corn muffin starter was good - and butter was creamery fresh in texture - I wish there were more than 2 in the basket. The food is colorful and summery (hence the seasonal influence), but my roasted chicken salad was a little gritty and gristley - which is not A-OK. Bread pudding is rich and full of cinnamoness. I can see why people would like to use this as a happy hour spot, as the restaurant's bar is modern and expansive. The menu is not "exciting" but its not completely dull either. I think its good for the occassional lunch (the goat cheese and blackberries were the best part of the lunch).

    (2)
  • Todd J.

    We had a table for 4 @ on Saturday night 4-10-10. Quick Review: The food is not worth it. The specialty drinks are not that great and the wine selection is so / so. The atmosphere is decent, but better for bar drinks / apps than for dinner. I have been here for drinks - the bar is a good place to chill out for a drink, the bar apps are good too -home made tater tots are great. The dining room decor feels modern but warm so thought I'd try for dinner. I was optomistic. The "chef specialty" of the night; apple stuffed pork chop - the pork was dry, not succulent. The short ribs were fantastic. The brisket was soso. The "pulled pork" sando was actually sliced pork which was dry and both the fries and thepork were cold which was gross. Also be warned that the room is pretty loud when @ capacity. overall: this place is not recomended, you can get better food in old town @ similar or lower (firehouse chophouse) price points. While I like the style and the interior, the atmosphere is better served for a bar. Maybe they will execute on the food when it's not peak hours on a Saturday? but the food in my experience fell flat. Conclusion: Dinner @ your own risk. Better for beer @ the bar and an app.

    (2)
  • Sharie B.

    As a frequent guest at the anchor hotel, Hotel Monaco, I have eaten at Jackson 20 twice. Always a sucker for nuevo Southern cuisine I had to try it out. Tonight had the Oyster Po Boy appetizer. 3 wonderfully fried oysters on an open faced brioche with cole slaw and two bites of fatback. Not too bad. Sitting in my room now looking down at the doggie happy hour going on out back. At least 50 dogs and owners chowing down out here. The creative menu gets a 4.25 stars. Prices are abit on the high side but overall OK. Received a comp glass of wine at check-in today but forgot to bring the card to the restaurant. So I guess I will be eating here again a third time next time I am in town.

    (3)
  • Suzanne P.

    SO you want a fancy bourbon drink in a hopping bar with people over age 30 (which I am)? Then Jackson 20 is for you. Want to save a little cash and get a quick beer? It's not for you. This is a newish place in Old Town that caters to a different crowd than Clarendon, for example. Some tourists, some locals, but everyone is dressed nice and the bartenders wear puffy shirts. Cant speak to the food, but the drinks were decent, just pricey.

    (2)
  • Gin B.

    I went for the third time on Sunday for restaurant week. Previously I had gone for breakfast and just for drinks. First of all, our server was really great. I always admire good service. the food was excellent as well. The corn muffins are seriously incredible - not too sweet which is my issue with other places. The chicken fried steak is some of the best I've found in the area. As a southerner, this is a biggie for me. The biscuit and gravy was good but different as it was made with sweet sausage rather than the spicy kind. The crab cakes my friends had looked incredible as well as the asparagus slaw. My fiance vegetarian option of baked penne was actually really tasty. Often times when pasta is the only vegetarian option its pretty bad. Thankfully, it was yum-o. The drinks are interesting and tasty but very pricey. I always judge a restaurant by if I think "hey, next time my parents visit i'm going to bring them here" and that's pretty much what i thought!

    (4)
  • Jo P.

    Although the food was great is was so loud that we couldn't enjoy our meal and were in a booth that was so warped I sank in cushion. Good service, good food but tooooooo much noise. We will return but not on the wknd.

    (3)
  • kathleen M.

    One of the worst meals I've had in a long time-over priced and poorly cooked. About a quarter cup of arugula and half a beet for $12 in the beet salad. I grew up in Baltimore and that was not/not rockfish on my plate. My husband's chicken and dumplings--a mess-a total mess. The worst: the pineapply upside down cake was HARD because it was stale and there were ice clumps in the accompanying ice cream. This desert should not have been served. I can't believe we paid for this. Awful. Just awful.

    (1)
  • Cheryl Q.

    Should be 3.5 stars. Went to dinner with a large party of 12 at Jackson 20 on a Tuesday evening and was able to get in with no problems. Had a reservation at 8pm and was seated promptly. We ordered several appetizers to go around, including the shrimp w/biscuits, crabcakes w/apple slaw and deep BBQ chicken w/slaw. Appetizers were delicious - really liked the apple slaw. I ordered the rockfish, based on a recommendation of someone who had been to Jackson 20 previously. Other orders included the veal meatloaf, short ribs, rib eye and bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. Our party waited for awhile for our food and ordered drinks during the wait. We also ordered many drinks; however, were not brought back to our table timely. We kindly reminded our waitress that we were waiting for drinks to come. Overall, the food was delicious; however, the service was slow for our large party.

    (3)
  • Susan S.

    an excellent meal, wonderful drinks, and even nicer and professional staff. the short ribs and the smoked caeser were best of our table's selection. Just an all around great dining experience, something that is all too rare these days. i would go back in a minute.

    (5)
  • Eric G.

    This is my first 5 star review. Southern Comfort food at its finest. "Fall off the bone" ribs never really meant anything until tonight. I almost didn't order them because of my attire. Fantastic mac 'n cheese and apple cider slaw to go with it. The pre-meal bread bowl was like dessert. The butter tasted like sweet corn bread, no lie. Great cocktails and service. 5 stars.

    (5)
  • Bobbi R.

    This place is adorable and has two outdoor seating options. We sat street-side and just stopped in for a drink and a snack. Service was sloooooowwwww. It took at least 15 minutes for a server to appear. The beer selection is quite nice -- some really cool canned options that you won't expect. Watch out though -- they're $8 a piece unless you're there at happy hour. We did have the fresh pretzel with beer cheese dip and it was simply divine. I'll definitely go back but may opt to sit at the bar.

    (3)
  • J P.

    Jackson 20 is in my taste bud wheelhouse and perhaps the best restaurant week LUNCH I have ever had (out of around a dozen). The staff is extremely helpful and the owner/manager gave unexpected attention to our experience. Do not let the connection to a Kimpton hotel fool you either, this is a great stand alone restaurant. If the thought of southern comfort food excites you, get over to Jackson 20, it does a great job with the dishes and exceeds other area restaurants that try the same approach like (such asBuck's and Art and Soul).

    (5)
  • Todd S.

    I sure am glad that my wife and I didn't check yelp before deciding to go to Jackson 20 for drinks and a bite. Given many of the reviews we might have skipped it. That would have been our loss. We sat at the bar and were served by Marcus who was just great. Marcus helped us figure out the perfect cocktails and food for our mood. I had the signature Manhatten which was easily the best Manhatten this longtime Manhatten drinker has ever had. Trust me when I say this is high praise. If you order this, ask for extra cherries... I know, cherries? It comes with these wonderful tiny brandied cherries that are like a little dessert at the bottom of your glass. At $11. It is a pricey drink but between the qualty ingredients and the great flavor I was not complaining and ordered a second round. My wife had the Jackson lime which is a vodka drink that bears a striking resemblence to a liquid version of key lime pie. Yimmy but she ordered a regular cocktail for her next round. Kinda a dessertish drink. We had fried green tomatoes with lump crabmeat topping them. They were delis. Marcus steered us right by suggesting the cranberry bread pudding with apple cider ice cream. This capped off the evening perfectly. We can't wait to come back and enjoy some of the entrees as they looked amazing. If you don't mind paying for high end comfort food than Jackson 20 should not be missed. Ask for Marcus. He rules.

    (5)
  • Tabetha J.

    Wow. Richmond's fine southern comfort meets old town Alexandria's atmospheric cobblestone and dark leathery ambiance. Pick a place, wander around until you find something that catches your eye.....I hadn't been to Old Town in awhile and the only thing I could think of was Flying Fish restaurant - a sushi restaurant that was new like 3 years ago. So after driving around and weaving through the streets around King Street, the Hotel Monaco sign caught my eye and then a dark little restaurant next to it caught my attention. Jackson 20. What kind of place would this be? Parked, entered, and 'table for 2' - still having no idea what was in store. Not to be disappointed, there was a full wine list of bottles at $20 per bottle. NICE and NOTED for going back with a larger group. I was thirsty for vodka, so I had a signature Honeysuckle martini. It was okay. This whole 'muddled' fruits/vegetables/herbs thing can be weird sometimes and 'muddled' ginger with floating ice pieces (unstrained) was a little odd. The food + the atmosphere were perfect. Great service, GREAT menu design (graphic designers will love the whole industrial/tavernish concept). This place is absolutely perfect for Alexandria. Only one year old? It will definitely be a mainstay. Who has had creamed corn made with crisp fresh corn kernels, crusted with parmesan? Corn biscuits with sweet maple butter, fried chicken on a large bed of very dark greens....pork chop w/warm grilled peach...some kind of pecan dessert w/brandy ice cream...and single espresso (of course) to end. Magnificent. Brooklynites will love the Richmondness of this Alexandria hang. Blue Bottle anyone?

    (5)
  • Katie F.

    Just a fancy hotel restaurant/bar if you ask me. I went with some friends last night to get a drink, and the bar area was insufficient. Even though the kitchen as closed, the hostess was resistant to letting people sit at dining tables. This place needs to get over itself.

    (2)
  • SC O.

    We stopped in here for a drink before dinner. I didn't expect much but we ended up really enjoying ourselves. The bartender(s) were nice, although not really very chatty, they were quick to take our order and let us unwind. The mixed drinks had some fun options, loved the Diablo. The hotel/restaurant location is a terrific spot so I imagine the restaurant will continue to get busier. Definitely recommended for a drink and the menu looked appetizing...we will certainly give the fried green tomatoes a go next time we stop in.

    (3)
  • Chang Y.

    My wife and I finally tried it after watching the place undergo renovations, and waiting for the restuarant to get its bearings. Ahmed at the bar was gracious and friendly. The grapefruit cocktail and the Maker's Mark julep were creative and really good. For apps, the shrimp corndog and fried green tomatoes were tasty and well presented. For mains, we tried the ribeye - great smokey flavor, and the shrimp louise salad, which had an excellent sauce. The food is american with a low country accent. It's a little heavy but delicious and still forward thinking. Decor is contemporary upscale pub and succeeds in combining style with warmth. The manager made a point of checking on us as well. Local Alexandrians, we'll definitely be back, both for drinks and meals.

    (4)
  • Jim H.

    Don't give up your reservations at Eve, Majestic or even Perfect Pita, this place needs a time out. We arrived at 6:30 to await our friend from Miami who we invited to our first visit. We were going to be seated near the bar where the noise was already loud so, asked for another table next to the window near the entrance. As reviewed by previous yelpers, we ordered drinks and waited long. Ours arrived, then our guest and we waited again until his drink arrived . What could they possibly be doing at the bar that impedes delivery of a simple glass of wine or scotch. We placed our food order and did not notice time as we were engaged in our conversation although straining (nose to nose)to hear words over the noise of voices, glassware, cutlery and heels. Does the Monaco not believe in tablecloths or is this some perverted twist on "going green." Then, our appetizers arrived; fried oysters, pea and mushroom soups with cutlery but no napkins. I waved over Jane (as waiter was lost) at the check in (there were 3 ladies there) and she brought over napkins, bread basket and butter plates. We all agreed the appetizers were great. We then asked for glasses of wine. Entrees arrived but no new cutlery and no wine. Jane said she would have manager speak to me. No show. Midway through eating, wine arrived and I asked for manager again. This time he came and I left table to speak with him so to avoid further embarrassment to our out of town guest. Basically, he had 3 no-shows of staff. I said that we sat at 6:30 and there were probably 5 tables occupied and there was no excuse for missing the basics - napkins, cutlery, water, bread and butter. Enough said. At least one of us had wanted to try the much praised rockfish but, oh no, said waiter - it is out of season. It sounded as though he had repeated this many times. Our entrees were short ribs which our guest liked, the pork tenderloin and the special trout stuffed with crabmeat (like the rockfish -said waiter) Unremarkable on all counts. The breads were a hit as was the bread pudding dessert that was shared. In sum -put down some rugs and tableclothes, invest in experienced staff (or training) and put some more "punch" into entrees. Finally, as others have mentioned outdoor dining, I checked the courtyard when we arrived. It was doggy happy hour so we passed. Later, I checked again and there were people sitting at many tables but were not having food just drinks - no pakins, cutlery, etc. A drab courtyard , it needs some landscaping and, of course, tableclothes. I seem to remember that in good southern restaurants, they are required. I will look for further reviews for signs of improvement. Until then, hold your reservations elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Brandon L.

    As lunch places go, their north carolina BBQ sandwich has me still thinking about it!

    (5)
  • T G.

    If Jackson 20 can improve their service and get organized, this place will be a real value with a cuisine flair and excellent location. The food was 4.5 stars--good flavors, large portions. The starters--corn chowder, green tomatoes, and shrimp fritters were all delicious with their own robust flavors. The portions were large enough to be a small meal. The mains--pork chop and ribs had deep, slow cooked flavors, the rockfish was bland. The location is great. Sit on the front, outside tables for great people watching. The back patio looked like a zoo, and maybe that is what caused service to be so SLOW. 2 1/2 hours dinner on a Tuesday night??? We were confused by multiple waiters addressing our table. We asked for a drink refill 3 times before it came 30 minutes later. I am surprised for a Kimpton hotel (or attached to a Kimpton hotel) that service would be an issue. Service and long cook times/logistics are fix-able, if Jackson20 can fix it, then its going to be 5 stars because the food is excellent taste and value.

    (3)
  • Shara P.

    I don't know if they would do this all the time or if I just looked desperate but when I was REALLY pregnant I asked for something they had just taken off the menu a few weeks before and the GM had the kitchen make it for me! Now thats service!

    (5)
  • Jessica M.

    Went to Jackson 20 last weekend to hit up the bar after dinner. Was able to find space at about 9pm on a Saturday night, which was pretty cool since we got turned away from the Px without a reservation (had to try - we're moving soon.) The bartender made a decent margarita (after I verified they didn't use sour mix with my Patron.) I would say the crowd is mixed, but it was lively while we were there and we had a nice view of the open kitchen. I'm convinced the chef and sous were too cozy to just be colleagues - so people watching was great. The hostess was prompt and friendly - even offered to let us take our drinks to the hotel lobby if there was no room at the bar. Overall, a nice place for a few after dinner cocktails. Very expensive (drinkwise) though.

    (3)
  • Whitney H.

    GREAT breakfast! Could have had some more options--maybe a fruit plate or something not quite as heavy, but what I got was great! I got the Chesapeake eggs benedict (or whatever it was--crab cakes with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce--wow!), and I was utterly satisfied. The waiter was attentive, and the food was fantastic. Nothing else needs to be said!

    (5)
  • Mari S.

    I had dinner there- a few times. But, this review is strictly bar. 20 wines under 20. To be perfectly clear - that's Twenty Wines under Twenty Dollars. To be perfectly crystal clear - that's Twenty BOTTLES of Wines under Twenty Bucks. One Yuppie Food Stamp. One Jackson - (get it? - Jackson/20). And damned good ones, too. One of my favorite Aussie Importers is Grateful Palate, and there are plenty o' selections from them. Go with the Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Won't do you wrong. And you'll look ubercool sipping a wine with an Evil label... Docked it one star because you can't grab a burger at the bar. How sad is that?

    (4)
  • Jack F.

    This review is limited to breakfast service at Jackson 20. I find it unusual for the waiter to order for us cups of coffee without asking but he ended up being friendly enough that I'll excuse this discretion. Coffee, after all, is free for hotel guests in the lobby. We ordered the Country Fried Steak, which turns out to be a very hearty and coma-inducing selection. Expect a morning nap after just waking up. J20's version is much better when compared against the version offered at Ted's Bulletin. J20's version is slightly more oily but it's lighter on the batter and offers much more meat to the plate. Better yet, it's topped with eggs (any way you call it) and a wonderful sausage gravy with a hint of maple syrup. The Eggs Chesapeake on the other hand was missing the customary English muffin. The crab cakes were also very thin (thin silver dollar pancakes). We much rather enjoyed the fried steak instead. It's a decent restaurant that I'd be willing to return next time for lunch or dinner. [Original visit: July 24, 2010]

    (3)
  • john m.

    My GF and I went to Jackson 20 on a total whim. We spent the day in Washington DC and wanted to find a nice place for dinner. We picked up a town guide in our hotel and one of the places advertised was Jackson 20. We had no idea how charming Old Town Alexandria was, or even that it existed. About an hour or so before we wanted to have dinner, we called up and made a reservation. We were immediately taken back by the fact that they asked if we had any special occasion or if anyone had any food allergies. They wanted to make sure that we were completely covered in case we had any kind of special circumstance involved. Anyway, when we showed up, we were seated right away. An earlier reviewer said that they didn't like the ambiance... we loved it... it was a great blend of modern meets contemporary styling. The lighting was great to give it the right amount of atmosphere. I can only describe it as mellow yet electric at the same time... I'll get the only negative of the evening out of the way right now... we waited a bit to get our water and first drink. And when I say a bit, I mean, maybe 10 minutes... not too bad, but not that great either. If that is the worst part of the review I can give, you can imagine that we had a wonderful meal. We started off the dinner with a few drinks. I had a chocolate martini and she had some kind of bar specialty. I could have had a little more vodka in mine and less godiva chocolate, but what are you going to do? For our meals, I had the Virginia Macaroni & Cheese Casserole with Bacon, Ham Hock and she hadBarbecued Pork RIbs with Apple Cider Cole Slaw and a side sweet potato. My Mac & Cheese was great!!! It would have been the perfect dish if they made the pasta fresh, or even used larger macaroni, but that's nitpicking. I mean, how many places really make their own pasta. The bacon was a great touch as it had a smokey flavor to it... just wonderful!!!! My GF's ribs were ridiculously tender and had a robust flavor and her sweet potato was the equivalent of... crack!!!! It was that good. Each bite just made me want more and more!!! Overall, the service at Jackson 20 was pretty good, the ambiance was great and the food was highly enjoyable. I feel sorry that other's who posted reviews before me weren't happy with their meals. I highly recommend the restaurant and would go there again.

    (4)
  • Nick G.

    Amazing burger, fruit platter, drinks and service. Highly recommend!

    (4)
  • Catalina A.

    Bottom line: The service is awful! I want to badly to enjoy this place, but the servers won't let me! They won't bring me my drinks, disappear for long periods of time, and are unfamiliar with their own menu. Where did they find these people? I've been to Jackson 20 three times, so I think I'm a Jackson 20 expert. The first time, i thought the waiter was having a bad night. So, I came back again, and asked for another waiter/waitress. Well, she was worse than the first guy. But the food was still great (I love the fried green tomatoes and the chowder). Tonight, my last time at Jackson 20, the waitress was awful ... again! Oh, on a positive note, it's a really great decor. You'll have lots of time to enjoy it as you wait for your drinks and meal.

    (2)
  • John R.

    Service alone brought this place down. Made a lunch reservation for 10 people, we explained that we had a very tight time commitment and absolutely had to be out by 1p.m., if they couldn't do it, we'd go somewhere we could count on. They promised and so we went to J20. The restaurant was nearly empty, 10 minutes to 1 and half the meals were brought out. We paid and made it out the door at 1:15, with the other half of the meals in styrofoam containers. They still charged us a mandatory tip. If I had the time, I might have made a bigger deal of it. Instead, I just won't go there again. To top it off, the food was only average. I was very disappointed. I love the Klimpton chains and I had high expectations for their newest addition to Old Town. I wish I'd dragged everyone over to Zabado's (the falafel crack place).

    (2)
  • Kate M.

    We wandered in for brunch on a Saturday morning and were very pleased! The restaurant was lively but our server was still very attentive and helpful. The menu was more extensive than many brunch offerings, and wasn't overpriced, unlike a lot of other restaurants in Old Town Alexandria. I had the Eggs Chesapeake, which were incredible, and came with the best hash browns that I've ever had. Jackson 20 put a lot of effort into presentation - my boyfriend got scrambled eggs and they had little scallions on top and the beautiful hash browns as well. This was an affordable but nice place that was comfortable and delicious. It has an extensive bar and a really cool feel, too. I felt like we could've been charged much more and I still would've been happy - a steal for a good brunch!

    (4)
  • Trishan A.

    As the wife commented - I could cook a better meal and I'm not a great chef. Caesar salad came with a watery, bland dressing and the strangest anchovies I've ever had. Ribs were nicely cooked but the sauce was overly sweet. Mac and cheese came out in a cast iron mini-pot so it looked good but was cold and tasteless. Wife's chicken fried tempeh was very creative and the execution was alright though the chard was way overcooked. Best part of the meal was the biscuits and maple butter! I might be a California cuisine snob but this place doesn't really stack up in my books. Servers were nice thought and it seemed like a fun place, kinda.

    (2)
  • Mike L.

    Let's just say, I almost want to give this one star just to deter people away, because I don't want one of my favorite restaurants getting popular and trendy, opening multiple locations, and ruining how amazing it is now.

    (5)
  • Iz A.

    How have I not reviewed J20 yet?! I LOVE THIS PLACE! Be prepared to dine amongst locals and tourists alike since it's down in the heart of historic Old Town and adjacent to the fabulous Hotel Monaco Alexandria. For lunch, try the chicken salad sandwich, which is chicken salad perfection served open face on corn bread with a side of yummy green beans. The salads are great but you're at J20 so indulge! Order the ribs or the J20 burger, you won't be disappointed. They have great beers whether on tap, bottled or canned. The wine and specialty cocktail lists are excellent and the dessert menu is fantastic. Oh, pecan pie, how I love thee! I'm a big fan of Chef Dennis Marron, also the exec chef of The Grille at Morrison House. Chef Dennis has done an awesome job turning J20 into a pork-centric paradise with seasonal pig roasts, pork and pinot dinners, and all things deliciously piggy. Bonus: the staff is great! They truly are a fun bunch of foodies serving up great service and excellent grub in a beautiful setting. Whether you're sitting at the bar, dining on the banquette or enjoying a beautiful day in the courtyard, you can't go wrong with J20!

    (5)
  • Laura V.

    Jackson 20 is the brand new restaurant and bar located in the brand spanking new Hotel Monaco in Old Town. The GVsBF and I just checked out the place and here's the first report... TONS of potential. Great location, really neat decor and cool space. It's cozy and elegant at the same time. However, since the place just opened, they have a lot of kinks to work out. On this particular evening, we came for drinks only and the bar was packed. It's very clear that people in Alexandria have been waiting a long time for an upscale bar. We tried two of the signature cocktails - he had the Honeysuckle, I had the Passion Fruit cocktail. Both were quite good. But, it took our bartender about 10 minutes to make them. They are clearly still learning the ropes. I can't wait to come back after a few weeks to see how this place is coming along. Hopefully, they will be more in sync, and more comfortable in their environment. On another note, the menu looked fantastic! All of the meals we watched come out of the kitchen were quite impressive. Nice sized entrees and lovely salads. The executive chef was wandering around talking to the patrons too, just to make sure everyone was happy. I really think this place is going to do great. Old Town needs it. I can venture a guess that I will be upping the stars very soon. To note: If the bar is crowded, order your drink and then hop on over to the hotel lobby and have a seat in one of the comfy chairs. We confirmed with the doorman on our way out that this is not only acceptable, it will be encouraged. Somewhere along the line, they'll probably have servers in there as well and that will be a great place to cozy up with a drink and some conversation. Head on over to Jackson 20 soon! I think it's going to be a hit.

    (3)
  • Sofia W.

    I came with family for dinner, and although our server was pleasant, he was incredibly slow. The ambiance was so so and almost had a sports bar feel, and none of the Southern Charm as advertised on the website. The food, was not that great. I had the cod that was covered in something that tastes like granola. It could have been good, but I do not think it was executed well. Don't think that I'll be going back.

    (2)
  • Leigh K.

    Wow, I wish I had popped on Yelp before making my way here for brunch on Saturday. It's okay, but when I am home and my parents are treating me, I like to go places that are amazing. The brunch menu was pretty boring. Wish I had been able to eat dinner here which looks pretty good. What I ordered was alright but expensive and not top notch. Our waiter was nice but then disappeared for 10 minutes after we were done with our meal? I had the Field Greens salad which was tasty but the Granny Smith apples were absolutely too tart to even eat. The Three Cheese Baked Penne was really good and the portion was large. I would definitely eat that again. Perhaps next time I am in my home town I will come here again but for dinner. Take note, the Hotel Monaco's garage is terrifying. Really tight spots and narrow aisles to drive through. Avoid it at all costs.

    (3)
  • Seio O.

    Really like the decoration of the restaurant. Inside looks classy and plenty of outside area both front and back. We sat at the front and it was great for people watching. I had a brunch there and the biscuits were great. The gravy was superb. I ordered grilled frank and it was alright. Nothing special. The steak fries were good, it was supposed to be cooked in the duck fat. Homemade ketchup was also great. My friend ordered eggs chesapeake which was great, the combination of porched eggs and the crab cake was great! Their bbq pulled pork sandwich was also a fancy take on it and it was good. The service was very slow. overall good experience.

    (4)
  • Carolyn B.

    We tried this restaurant when we had family staying in the Hotel Monaco. The hotel is great. This place was very disappointing, Started off strange when the host snipped at us that she was moving as "fast as she could" Huh?? No one had said a thing to her about being too slow. We were a large party with kids, and could only think she thought she was being addressed when we were talking to a kid? puzzling. The food looked interesting, southern focused. It wasn't. I was just not that flavorful. The kids meals were overpriced at $12 a pop for standard, hot dogs and hamburger fare. The service was super slow. Our waiter was helpful, just not that available and food too a long long time to come out. We had a very small issue a the kids meal and they did generously remove it from the bill. Other than that, not impressive in quality or service. Many other better options in the area.

    (2)
  • Akil B.

    Had Brunch, sparse menu, had 3 egg breakfast with pancakes. Pancakeswere good, syrup was runny, fruit was fresh, eggs cooked without any seasoning, hashbrowns were minimal, decent brunch overall. Bottomless Mimosas are a winner for $9 with purchase of entree.

    (4)
  • Bill H.

    Great everything. Period.

    (4)
  • Talia N.

    On Sunday, August 7th I needed a nice place in Old Town to have brunch with my family from out of town. I asked a fellow colleague whether I should go to BRABO or Jackson 20. They insisted I try the shrimp fritters at Jackson 20, so that's where we went :-) It was such an amazing experience. Your staff is awesome especially our server David. So I was convinced I would go back to Jackson 20 the following weekend :-) This time, I brought some co-workers that work for all different Kimpton properties. We had a blast! Donna and Woods were more than amazing and it was just a very good time. I cannot express how memorable each one of these experiences were for me. I wish Jackson 20 could be a ritual weekend thing for me :-) You guys over there are doing great things and I totally appreciate all the hard work and dedication you guys illustrate to ensure your guests have an absolute amazing time when they walk in those doors. Thank you for everything and I will be back as many weekends as I can make it and bring a different gang each time!

    (5)
  • Angela R.

    We ate brunch during restaurant week and it was very delicious. I had the BELT. The bread is to die for a made from a local market. My friend had the chicken fried steak. It was also very good and the price was cheaper than other restaurants that participated. The only disappointment was that the ambiance was more of a chain type and very loud.

    (3)
  • Charlemange F.

    I've only been here for the doggy happy hour, so that is what this review is based on, not the indoor restaurant. There is a nice set up with booths and small tables to enjoy a drink and have some food from the bar menu. There is a table with a cold water spigot and some dog bowls you can fill for your pet. We had the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and french fries off of the bar menu. All were very tasty. They also gave us each a complimentary deviled egg which was very good too. I asked for a beer on tap, but it came from a can. I can't remember what ale it was, but it was good. Staff and patrons were friendly. The dogs were well behaved, for the most part. I made sure that my dog got to run around and get exercise before taking her to the restaurant. I would definitely come here again and bring both my dogs next time. I'll probably return when the weather cools down.

    (4)
  • Asia M.

    Stumbled across this gem looking for a place to have brunch with my sister-friends. We easily found parking and walked in. Initially we were told that the wait was about 30-40minutes because we did not have a reservation. However, a pub table opened up and we were seated within 10min. The hostess was very nice and welcoming and our waiter was quick to take our order. We ordered Mimosas and the waiter kept topping us off- complimentary. Our food was delivers quickly. 2 of us had breakfast and the other had a sandwich. The sand which was HUGE and she had to take half home. My friend said it was delicious. The breakfast items were also good. I had sausage and gravy over biscuits. The biscuits were a little hard and I had to ask for more gravy to soften them a bit. The waiter quick bought me out a small bowl as I requested. This restaurant gets service and I appreciate it! Nothing turns me off more that poor service. The atmosphere was also nice. It was clean and nicely decorated. I live in Maryland, but would definitely return if in the area!! Good job Jackson20 :)

    (4)
  • Christopher S.

    While frequenting the Old Town farmer's market this past weekend, I couldn't help but notice the folks dining outside and unabashedly ogling their plates and drawing in the smells wafting out from this cafe attached to the Hotel Monaco. Despite the modest composite rating on Yelp, I would have to say for brunch they earn 5 stars in my book, particularly for the B.E.L.T. What's this you say? Having been a longstanding fan of the classic BLT, this is an amped up version that will have you loosening your B.E.L.T. afterwards since it turns up the original to a volume of 11 on a scale of 10. As you can see from my photo with the cross-sectional shot, the sandwich is anchored by fluffy yet crispy brioche toasted to buttery perfection, layered with the slightest patina of mayo, thick crispy Applewood smoked bacon, iceberg lettuce, a sunny side up fried egg (the E in the BELT), and the piece de resistance, a fried green tomato. Let that wrinkle your brain for a moment. It is the ultimate BLT and earns a place in my pantheon of sandwich perfection since you'd be hard-pressed to find a better version anywhere and I could not help cracking a smile with each successive bite. What brought me in to try out this place however was not the BELT but the vast number of folks who had an accompaniment of hashbrowns as I was strolling along the patio and had it not been for the unexpected brilliance of the sandwich, the hashbrowns would not have had its thunder stolen since they were also a testament to deep-fried virtuosity. Regardless of what your fancy is to savory or sweet when it comes to brunch, the hashbrowns are an absolute must! One is presented with a generous rectangle of shredded potatoes that are crispy on the outside like a freshly baked croissant but with a creamy velvety interior like dauphinoise potatoes. Definitely plan on bringing more guests with me to sample other Southern-inspired items such as the corn and country ham fritters, beef brisket hash, biscuits with country gravy, cinnamon-raisin French toast, and the Anson Mills cheddar grits. Chef Brian McPherson, you have earned yourself a loyal fan! Pro-tip: While the weather is still nice, request a seat outside on a Saturday morning, perfect for people-watching, enjoying live music across the street from the farmer's market, and earning envious stares from hungry passersby.

    (5)
  • Paige A.

    Just finished a light meal at the bar. It was perfect after a full day of travel. The endive salad was crisp, tart, crunchy, with a bit of salt from the hard cheese. Pure taste bud delight. Husband had the brisket and it fell apart as it should, if not more. I enjoyed the decadent gnocchi carbonara, the ultimate comfort food. If visual quantity is your goal then go elsewhere; this is quality for the eye and taste buds.

    (4)
  • Kari S.

    Went here for brunch this morning and had a pretty good experience. I ordered the B.E.L.T. and it was of good quality. My only critique would be that the waiter tried to rush us (and we had probably only been there start to finish for 40 minutes.) My husband had finished his meal rather quickly, and I was only halfway through mine when the waiter dropped the check.. Anyways, I would come back because of the bottomless mimosas. This would be a huge bonus when I have my friends come to visit from NY.

    (3)
  • Kate M.

    My fiance and I spent the afternoon in Old Town and had head good things about it so decided to try it. We both loved it. I had the crab cake app which was very good and fairly large so by the time I got to my catfish which was also awesome. Dave had the clam chowder which he loved and the ribs which he loved. We both started with specialty whiskey cocktails and moved to wine with dinner and had no complaints. The decor is comfortable streamlined vintage feel. It was about 4pm on a Sunday so it was pretty quiet, I can't comment to what it would be like full. We were in a leisurely mood and told the waitress that, and she was attentive but not hovering. We were there for the shirt change and both mangers stopped and checked on us. Over all a great dining experience.

    (4)
  • shawn g.

    Jackson 20 has a few things going for it, like the location, and being the hotel restaurant for a Kimpton Hotel, which trades in cool and hip. The cocktails were all spot on, I had the pleasure to sip the J20 Manhattan, Old Hickory (yum), and the Can-Can Martini. They also have a 20/20 list of 20 reds & whites (10 each) that are all $20/bottle. A nice touch. They also have some great canned beers on tap (skip the canned beers in cans for $8 and head straight for the draft). When it came to the food portion of the meal, I wasn't as impressed. The Woman and I split the Smoked Caesar, which was good, but not much more notable than a regular Caesar Salad. We also shared The Combo Plate aka Kimbo Slice which had Ribs, Kielbasa, Fried Chicken and fixin's. The pork ribs were good, but slathered in sauce, with an accompanying dish of sauce on the side. The Kielbasa was probably my favorite, and the fried chicken breading was far too crunchy and thick. Potatoes were delicious, but when aren't they? Maybe I'm jaded from a recent trip to Texas for BBQ, but I was hoping for a bit more. Service was attentive without smothering.

    (3)
  • Dcgirl T.

    Uhm uhm uhm...$120 for an appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 drinks. That would be cool, IF; our waiter didn't rub his hand across his buzz cut every 5 seconds, the bartender actually knew how to mix drinks and the food had any real flavor. I'm not a fan of servers who touch any part of thier face/hair/body or eat/drink in plain view while serving me. I just think it's dirty and unprofessional. My friend enjoyed the oyster appetizer and his beer. I wanted to get the fried chicken and sub collards and mac and cheese- even at an upcharge. The waiter said it wasn't possible. At about $20 for chicken (I think) it ought to be. He said the fried chicken wasn't "typical" and I probably would not enjoy it anyway...??? I ended up ordering the steak and fries off the bar menu and my friend got the trout. Our food was in fact, shockingly under seasoned. I am the type of person who uses very little salt, but this was just bland. The steak was tough as if it had been thawed and cooked too quickly. My friend agreed with the under seasoning thing. On the positive side- we were warmly greeted and addressed by name, and the spot is cozy and beautifully decorated. Vegetarians be warned- this is a virtual porkfest. From the little pig decorations to the actual menu. Many vegetables unnecessarily cooked with pork and fries prepared with duck fat. All I kept thinking on the way home is we could have eaten at Outback, bought a tank of gas and even a few groceries for what we spent. Just wasn't an enjoyable experience.

    (2)
  • Roll T.

    2.50 stars. There is no question that Jackson 20 is extraordinarily overpriced with respect to the culinary aspects of the restaurant. Thankfully, I do not have a barometer for their allegedly ridiculous service. I will say that the short glimpse I had of their customers noted a 30+ bar including some surprisingly attractive people. As for the food, however, I've just had better at the same price point. The butter lettuce salad I had was simply large pieces of lettuce decked with blue cheese and moderately sized studs of bacon. I wasn't upset about the quantity of the order, but rather with the lack of imagination. When they did try to be creative, they failed. For example, the meatloaf sandwich curiously included bacon. It just tasted odd with the meatloaf. Why not add chantrelles or something really interesting that actually goes with meatloaf? But I digress; the food wasn't remarkable, but it was slightly better than average. Based on my experience here, I would likely suggest it as a spot for a drink with a date, but I wouldn't buy dinner here when there are so many other options that provide better taste at a simliar price.

    (3)
  • John B.

    My wife and I ate dinner here last night (Wednesday). It was fairly uncrowded when we left around 7:30. The food was really good, hence 5 stars. We shared the chowder of the day (corn and seafood), then my wife had Virginia Macaroni & Cheese Casserole and I had the Short Rib. Both were excellent; the short rib was amazingly tender and the accompanying turnip greens were great. About the only off-note was the braised turnips, which I thought were just bland. Add the full basket of small rolls and small cornbread pieces, and maple butter, and one of the 20 wines for $20, and it was a wonderful meal.

    (5)
  • Brenda B.

    Three friends and I went to Jackson 20 on President's Day about 2 weeks after opening. It was a Monday night around 8 pm and was not busy at all. I loved the atmosphere, it was open and yet warm with the dark wood and muted lighting. The hostess was very nice and for once, not a high school girl with an attitude. The waiter, George, was very nice and very informed. He had answers to all my questions and made a recommendation for the rockfish. I tried my friends' meals and had a few tastes of some appetizers everything was very good but the rockfish was excellent. George also said the merlot was great and it was, the house merlot by the glass. I am going to find it in a store or online because it was great and not expensive. The dessert we had was buttermilk pie, whoa, that was oddly wonderful. The hotel lobby was beautiful and inviting so next time I will have a drink there like the first reviewer mentioned. I can't wait for warmer weather when the courtyard opens. Doggy happy hour is coming soon!

    (4)
  • Lindsay S.

    went for brunch here after reading a good review on "thelistareyouonit.com" and let me tell you, it was pretty bad. my husband ordered an omelette that was completely raw eggs on the inside. i had the eggs benedict and they were very "meh". and on top of the crappy food, the waitress was rude and slow, despite the place being practically empty. dunno about the lunch and dinner, but the brunch was crap with a capital C

    (2)
  • Karisa D.

    ***Restaurant Week Review*** Jackson 20 is located inside the Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria. I have always wanted to try this restaurant so we took the restaurant week opportunity and ate here for lunch. We were greeted, seated immediately, and brought water for the table. I like when restaurants leave a bottle/pitcher of water at the table because then I don't have to keep looking for water. Which on hot summer days is appreciated. We looked over the lunch menu and made our decisions. I decided on deviled eggs for my starter, then the lunch line which consists of your choice of protein and side- I chose the pulled pork, cole slaw, and macaroni and cheese. For dessert, we all chose the champagne mango gelato with cookie. My fiance chose the same dish except he had caesar salad as his starter and baked beans as his side. The menu has an pseduo open kitchen so if you're seated at the right spot you can see what's going on. Our food was paced well and came out relatively quickly. It wasn't super busy for lunch but there were still a fair amount of diners. The deviled eggs were good, nothing over the top, but still good. The pulled pork was delicious! The barbecue sauce was good, the meat, tender and flavorful, and plenty to go around. The cole slaw was a bit too vinegar flavored for my taste. The mac and cheese was solid. The dessert was a perfect end to our lovely meal. We definitely ate more than we initially planned to for lunch but it was worth it. Service was good throughout our meal. Our server was busy but attentive to our table. Jackson 20 is a good option for southern comfort inspired food in Old Town.

    (4)
  • Kendal Ann M.

    After the terrible service at brunch I would never come back, nor would I recommend this place. So many people speak so highly of this place for happy hour, so I figured the brunch couldn't be bad. I came to Jackson 20 for a monthly brunch with a few of my girlfriends and from the moment we stepped foot in the restaurant until we left it was a disaster area. Each time the waiter came to the table we had to request new menus and waters. Finally, our entire party showed up and we were ready to order--the waiter came back and I presume it was the hostess who finally brought us 6 other menus--we told her thanks, but we shared the one menu and wouldn't be needed the additionals. At this point, the waiter had walked away when we told him we were ready to order and we then needed to reflag him down. In additon to this, we waited 20 minutes and 3 requests for our check before it was brought to our table. Sadly, the food was mediocre and nothing really jumped off the menu to begin with. Bottom line, there are much better options in Old Town don't waste your time at this Yuppie establishment who won't take the time to show some common courtesy.

    (1)
  • Matt R.

    The house-cured prosciutto with super thin sliced melon, ramps and blackberries was a fantastic intro to our meal. Accompany that with a very very well made Manhattan and a different version using some french fernet, a bitters substitute with a kick. The Goat with sweet potato ravioli was perfectly cooked and fantastic. You don't see goat on a menu very often and glad this was executed perfectly. Without question, I'll be dining here again. Service was well executed and timely. Finished off with a very nice Irish coffee. I can say without question that I will be dining here in the future

    (5)
  • Susan H.

    My husband says "3 stars" while I say "4 stars". So...it averages out to 3 1/2 stars. We were here on a Thursday night around 5:30 p.m. At that time, the place wasn't busy so we were seated immediately. It didn't take long for our server to come to the table. She brought along another server (someone in training? an assistant server?). Both were friendly and efficient plus the server was well versed when it came to the menu. Having looked at the menu prior to coming here, we both knew what we wanted. For drinks, I had a passion fruit rickey which had Tanqueray gin in it. I enjoyed my drink as the passion fruit flavoring was quite prominent. My husband was really happy to see that they had Anchor Steam beer on the menu---and it was actually in stock! Recently, we went to two different restaurants that had it on the menu but not in stock so he was impressed to find that it was available here. Each table is given a basket with 3 mini-biscuits and 3 mini-cornbread muffins plus some whipped butter. We both enjoyed these. While the biscuits were dense, they were also moist. The cornbread was quite tasty---again, moist plus not too dense. For my main course I ordered pan roasted Amish chicken. Before ordering, I asked the server if it was white meat or a mix of dark and white meat. It turns out to be a mix and is French cut which means that most of the bones are removed. This dish also has " buttermilk mashed potatoes, veggies of the day (asparagus and green beans) and chicken jus". I was impressed with this dish. The chicken had crispy skin yet moist, flavorful meat---this even applies to the white meat! The veggies were cooked nicely tender crisp. The asparagus was cut into small pieces. The mashed potatoes were creamy. If only there was more of the chicken jus... My husband ordered applewood smoked kielbasa. This dish consists of "pierogies, choucroute, whole grain mustard jus and sour cream" on the side. I had to google choucroute. It is a French word which means in English "dressed sauerkraut" and is considered to be an Alsatian dish. The sauerkraut is heated with either a dry white wine or some stock and there are various versions of this dish. My husband said that what was in his dish was mixed with whole grain mustard. All that said, while he likes sauerkraut, he didn't really care for this version. He also said that is pierogies were on the overcooked side and were bland plus he thought that the kielbasa seemed a bit overgrilled. Nevertheless, he did eat everything on his plate! He did say that if we ate here again, he would try a different dish. So...a mixed bag. I would consider coming here again, while my husband is less enthused by the idea. Still, service was excellent. The manager even stopped by to ask how things were, which is always nice to see...

    (4)
  • Sam M.

    Sat outside and enjoyed a nice lunch here the other day. The BBQ they used on our sandwiches was quite tasty and not too sweet. Our server was pleasant even though we were really the only ones sitting outside at the time. The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is I thought they could offer a better lunch deal/price, but it wasn't over-the-top expensive.

    (4)
  • Kristi R.

    My girlfriends and I returned to Jackson 20 tonight for a round of cocktails and small bites before taking a stroll around Old Town. I was greeted by the bartender immediately even though they were extremely busy. Many places you go this is easily missed, extra points guys! The new cocktail menu was amazing. They even had one with Moonshine.

    (5)
  • Rachel N.

    We had a wonderful Saturday brunch here! Service, atmosphere and food were all great! I was disappointed at first that they don't serve 'lunch' on weekends but quickly realized the 'brunch' menu had a variety of sandwiches and other lunch-type food. More so than your typical brunch menu. I had the turkey sandwich on rye with avocado and arugula. It was super tasty and the ingredients were really fresh. The fries were AMAZING. My fiancé had the burger and said it was really good - a tad greasy but overall really good. He got hash browns as a side they were crispy and tasty. The bloody mary was also refreshing but it was tough to drink with a straw because it was chunky and the straw kept clogging. Also, we didn't make reservations but a ton of people coming in at the same time as us had reservations. We were seated pretty fast but the place got busier as we ate. Next time we want to try the B.E.L.T. sandwich - bacon, egg, fried green tomato.

    (5)
  • Angelo R.

    Last day in DC and was craving for a hearty brunch. Found this place on Yelp but had mixed reviews. Took a chance and was not disappointed. Sat at the bar cause opting for a table was about 20 - 30 minutes. Bartender immediately greeted and offered something to drink. Mimosas no...but coffee please. After a night of drinking I just had to be good :) Ordered Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Hash - over easy eggs, green peppers, sweet onion served with Idaho potatoes and toast. Wow! Brisket was tender and once I mushed eggs together with it...heaven! Definitely a very filling breakfast. My bartender was very attentive with an old skool attitude. He knew all the regulars by name. I loved watching the somewhat open kitchen and intoxicating smell of dishes coming out from it. Will pay another visit next time and try their dinner menu.

    (5)
  • Phoenix Simone W.

    I came here twice for brunch and both times were unsatisfying. Hotel restaurants are generally not my cup of tea, but this one was especially bad. It's a pretty nice place on the inside, and has a large amount of tables, but it fills up quick so make a reservation beforehand. Both times it took longer than it should have to get menus and waters. The most recent time, it took more than 30 minutes to be given menus, so we ended up sharing 2 for the whole table. When they finally brought out the rest of the menus, we were ready to order anyway. The food and drinks were nothing special, and our server seemed to know very little about the menu. There are so many other great places to eat in Old Town, so I would recommend elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Benjamin D.

    I've been here 4 or 5 times over the last 6 months. Very solid. It's comfort food. Comfort cocktails, too. Definitely order the Presidential Punch to start with. The Mac and cheese and the short ribs are great, too. This place is very underrated.

    (4)
  • Carolyn D.

    We were guests at the Hotel Monaco and decided to meet friends for dinner at this adjoining restaurant. I really liked the atmosphere and food quality was very good, but, I found it quite overpriced for the portion sizes. I think most of our friends left generally disappointed as they were still hungry, after dropping $60-80 per couple! Some of us actually went to a local pub afterwards to grab another bite to feel satisfied. I really liked the selection of cocktails and appreciated the local ingredient, seasonal options and housemade charcuterie. We shared the kielbasa and pierogi plate, the beet salad and deviled eggs. The Lady Lazarus cocktail with Bols​ Genever, Smoked Syrah Syrup, Orange, Orange Marigold was most excellent! They definitely put a lot of thought into this craft cocktail. Based on our experience, would probably not return for dinner, but, their brunch menu does look tempting. May have to try that sometime.

    (3)
  • Mrs S.

    The food here is delicious and creative and they change it up for different seasons. The service is friendly and professional. There have been times where we have waited, but it has always been an acceptable amount of time and only when they are swamped. I recommend full rack of BBQ Ribs with collard greens mac & cheese, big and delicious. (Virgin) Bloody Mary's are fabulous! Nice meeting place for friends, worth the time and money it can be expensive Photo of the ribs is from our first visit 2014 we have been back several times with other married couples for dinners and cocktails

    (4)
  • Joey N.

    I've walked by this place several times while on lunch and finally decided to pop in. The hostess opened the door for me and was just a sweetheart. I don't know her name. The restaurant itself is adorable and I decided to sit at the bar since I was pressed for time. Mike was my bartender. He was very attentive, funny, and seems to like his job (a rarity these days). I ordered a glass of rose, tavern burger, and strawberry shortcake. The kitchen is semi open, so it's nice to be able to watch the "action". I can't remember the name of the rose, but it's the only one on the menu per glass. It was decent enough. The tavern burger? I loooove a good burger and this was by far the best burger I've ever had in northern VA. It was juicy, well cooked, and perfectly seasoned. It's a pretty nice portion, so I'd caution against appetizers, as you may be too stuffed to eat the burger. The fries were kinda bland, but ketchup solves that problem. The strawberry shortcake was just oh-kay. Nothing to write home about. There is this cheesecake like filling on the 2nd layer that's awesome though. I will certainly be back to try other dishes and I highly recommend taking advantage of the patio in warm months.

    (5)
  • Corina H.

    It took me over a year to make a visit and so wish I had sooner! Food is fantastic, a refreshing approach to simple dishes but with layers of flavor. I also love the farm to table mission. The food is the reason to go but seriously the service here steals the show, I'm a self admitted high maintenance diner and uber critical of restaurant service. I've spent many years working in the service industry and have many friends and family in the restaurant business- by far some of the best service I've had.

    (5)
  • Jacinda T.

    We came here after making some stops at a few bars for drinks and snacks, so we weren't terribly hungry but had to stop by on the rec of a friend. We were lucky enough to be seated right away, although our table caught the freezing draft every time the door was open. Since Jackson 20 is in a hotel, I'm pretty surprised they don't have revolving doors to conserve energy and keep the cold out. (Side note: for whatever reason, I used to be terrified of those revolving doors when I first moved to the east coast, but now I don't understand why everyone doesn't have them- winters are too cold here!) Anywho, we decided to share an app and entree (a pattern that will soon emerge, if anyone actually follows anything I write. hey, a girl can dream...) They brought out a bread basket to start, with mini cornbread muffins (which I wasn't a huge fan of but the boy was) and mini biscuits (which I liked). We got the ham and corn fritters as our app and a half rack of ribs with mac n cheese for our entree. The fritters were tasty and very fried. Can't go wrong with fried. There was also an avocado aioli of some sort. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone good. Have you ever heard of anyone complaining about their ribs being too tender that they couldn't make a mess with all the sauce and waste precious energy trying to gnaw meat off those bones? Yea, me neither. If you're having a hard time deciding what to get, try the ribs. The service was great, and the restaurant itself was classy but homey, dim but not too dark. Older clientele but I like it.

    (4)
  • Michele B.

    When I used to live in the area I would go to Jackson 20 all the time for drinks or brunch. I am sad to say they've changed their cocktail menu and bar food. I asked the bartender if he could make a drink that used to be on the menu (basically their twist on a cosmo) but he laughed and told me that was so 2 years ago. I'd understand if it was a drink they no longer had the ingredients for, but I was disappointed he wouldn't make the drink I wanted, especially since there was nothing on their new cocktail list that sounded appealing. Brunch however was as good as I remembered. They have some fun items on their brunch menu like the B.E.L.T (bacon, egg, lettuce and fried green tomato) sandwich. The eggs Benedict have never let me down! They also have an option for never-ending mimosa's during brunch for $14. They aren't kidding either, your glass never gets emptied. They continually walk around with pitchers of mimosas to top you off!

    (4)
  • Bryan P.

    Food here is for the indulgent. You will not be disappointed with the flavor. The downside is the coffee. It's unacceptable to serve mediocre coffee at a restaurant with these prices. It's even more unacceptable to serve beans from anything other than a local roaster. We have some of the best roasters on the Eastern Seaboard just down the street, but Jackson 20 is using beans from a roaster on the opposite side of the country. You might forgive them if they'd chosen Stumptown, Blue Bottle, etc., but they chose a mediocre roaster with mediocre beans. What a shame.

    (3)
  • Bruce K.

    Oh no. I have to finish this one. I've gotten so wrapped up on things to do I forgot to finish my time in DC (a trip I went last year) and what I had was some amazing oysters. I walked in here with a fellow yelper, because well lets face it sometimes you need some help with a place that's a little unknown to you. One thing he told me that I had to have in DC was their variety of oysters. Luckily, there were some on the menu and we were at the right time to get different types of oysters. The wait staff was wonderful and helpful, as we were pretty choosy on what we wanted. We decided to get a variety and a combination of oysters, as our adventures going out to eat everywhere was starting to fill us up. (We had just came from eating Japanese food down the street.) We had a couple glasses of wine, savored every last oyster, and headed back out. The crowd here was quite relaxed, with a nice bar and I believe it was part of a hotel. Now, if I was staying here, I would probably do that to start off the night. Some oysters, then a little couple glasses of wine and then head out to eat more. If I'm ever in the area, I'll definitely come here and try out their other menu items (plus the oysters). I enjoyed my experience and am looking forward to more experiences.

    (4)
  • Dan D.

    I will now compare Jackson 20 with the Jackson 5: I've been a fan of the J5 for years. Classy music with a family vibe. Was little Michael talented, or what?!? Music-wise, it's point J5. What a great place is J20: Fine food, friendly service, large portions, fair prices...just a nice dining experience. Food-wise, it's J20. We started with the corn fritters, of course. Five big, tasty ones with a spicy avocado sauce. Yup. I had the Carolina pork sliders with a Port City brew, she had a crazy BLT with a Manhattan and a Virginia Gentleman. The "BELT" had fried green tomatoes and a fried egg. Point J20. So there ya go; on this occasion, tasty chow won out over sweet soul music. Highly recommended.

    (4)
  • Yasmine B.

    Just came out from a fabulous dinner at Jackson 20. All I can say is 'get the trout'! What a fantastic dish - the 'hen of the woods' mushrooms are an incredible pairing - the taste is exquisite!

    (4)
  • Lindsay W.

    Enjoyed my breakfast here this morning. The downsides (but small deals): scary wobbly table and waiting 15 minutes for our server to come by. Upside: server apologized for delay. The space is very pretty as a restaurant of Hotel Monaco. I'm not sure if you can sit in the courtyard while you eat, but if possible, you should, because it's beautiful. I got the bagel with smoked salmon and it was excellent. My colleague got the 2 egg breakfast and said it was also very good. Not too overpriced how some hotel restaurants can be, but not sure how the dinner menu is.

    (4)
  • Danielle S.

    Visited during Summer restaurant week. At first I was thrown off by a large wiry hair in our bread basket. But dinner was tasty. The crab cake appetizer was pretty good. I had the trout entree which was a large portion. Very light and it could have used a little more seasoning. My friend got the pot roast which looked awesome. She loved it. I loved the strawberry cake dessert! Would come back to try something different, but only at restaurant week price.

    (3)
  • C V.

    I've come here three times, and feel pretty comfortable discussing the brunch. Service is slow, although waiters are friendly when they finally come around. Foodwise, there is plenty of both good and bad to be found. The first time was a while ago, and not much proved memorable. The second time I ordered the chicken fried steak, which comes with two eggs, hash brown, and sausage gravy. The steak was inedible and the eggs were slightly overcooked, but the hash brown and gravy were awesome. I also got the green tea tropical, which was lovely. The third time I got three eggs for the price of two, which comes with a choice of meat, hash browns, and two pieces of toast. The eggs were fine this time, and the hash brown was excellent once again. The sausage was the best I've ever had. It was crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and incredibly flavorful. I would come again just for that. The tea was bitter this time, and I suspect the water was either too hot or had been sitting too long when it came out to the table. Overall, it has nice decor and friendly staff, but the food itself is very hit or miss.

    (3)
  • Lexie R.

    Wasn't a huge fan of the dinner menu when I tried it out once, but brunching here at least once is a must -- but be sure to make reservations are there is frequently a line out the door, especially in the colder months. First off, the bottomless mimosas are a great deal and the waiters make sure to keep them coming so you get your money's worth. This makes Jackson 20 a good option for larger groups. Secondly, you can't just go with an entree. The appetizers are delicious in their own right. The biscuits and gravy are some of the best in the metro area, which is over-saturated with restaurants billing themselves as purveyors of Southern cuisine. The crab cakes are also a tasty option -- with the right ratio of crab to mayo. If you're looking for a breakfast-y meal, go with the Eggs Chesapeake. For more lunch-y items, the B.E.L.T. is delicious (I like to add melted cheese) as is the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich.

    (4)
  • Cara B.

    Holy Pig. My boyfriend's been wanting to try this since we moved here in January, so to surprise him for his birthday last week, I made a reservation. I left a little note on OpenTable saying, "It's my boyfriend's birthday!"--not thinking that would actually do anything. Just to be cutesy. Boy, was I wrong. The pleasant hostess seated us immediately, and then walked over to her stand and grabbed something and handed it to my boyfriend. It was a birthday card! Hand-written! She (or someone) had written an adorable birthday note to him on a cute Oink! Happy Birthday! card. Precious. THEN our server, Ted, came over and gave us the most mouth-watering description of his favorite dishes on the menu, as well as some of the specials. Let me just say that I've worked in the service industry for ten years now and I WISH I'd had Ted to train me on how to sell an item. We got everything. As he walked away, he told us, "And make sure you make room for dessert! I'll get you two of them FREE for your birthday!" Wow. The whole experience was incredible. Ted, the hostess, the added birthday surprises... I just hope I tipped him enough... (Also, one note: We were seated at the table directly next to the host stand, so I spent a lot of time eavesdropping on incoming wannabe customers. What can I say- I've been a host for 5 years. Anyway, folks, don't come in to a place with this kind of immaculate reputation between the hours of 6pm and 830pm expecting to be seated within an hour. It's just not going to happen. And don't, subsequently, berate the hostesses or give them a sigh of exasperation. It's not their fault. On that note, the hostesses were extremely amiable and took all of the irritated faces and comments very well. Brava!) We will certainly be back!!!!

    (5)
  • Rocco P.

    Sat outside with my dog but it would be very pleasant if they swept their out door eating area and got rid of cigarets butts etc.

    (2)
  • Kay G.

    Dinner last night with my new boyfriend .... The only reason I'm giving 1 star is for the hostess who was the only woman working. 15 mins at the table no water or drinks. I flagged down a guy I'd seen working bar on a previous visit who seemed bothered that we needed food and drinks. He took our order. Drinks out 10 mins later which were good.... but again no waiter:-( Food came out 15 mins later. No waiter!!! The food was OK ..... After a 20 min wait we flagged down a bored waiter to pay the bill. For $100 I'd have liked better service.

    (1)
  • Mai T.

    We decided to eat out for Thanksgiving Dinner this year so I did my due diligence and searched high and low for the perfect place for us: good place for kids, buffet style, and decent variety. Reviews for Jackson 20 seemed above average. The items on the menu posted on the web was not extensive but good enough. And I also have to admit that I was late in making reservations so many other buffet styled places were booked although there weren't that many choices in the first place. Most were pre fixe menus which we did not want because of the kids. At first, they said they would not be able to accommodate us because they were completely booked and then called back later to say if we ate early enough, which we were fine with (as in 3:30 pm), they would have a table available. Seating was fairly quick although we were not seated in the main ballroom where the buffet was but in a side room. This room was plain as was the table. It was as if it was thrown together last minute and to accommodate extra people because they were overbooked. [light bulb]: ahh, that's why they were able to seat us after saying no. The only benefit was that it was quiet because there weren't as many tables. Then the waitress who was friendly enough seemed like she was a hostess that was just asked to cover the "extra" room as a waitress. She was very inexperienced but did try to provide a good and friendly service though a bit inadequate. The FOOD: less than mediocre. This is food that I could've cooked myself although I have to say I would do a better job. I'm not sure if it's our palate that is different from other reviewers who have said that the Thanksgiving buffet food was good, or that we went at a wrong year for Thanksgiving but I thought the food was just barely OK. Both the turkey and the ham were on the dry side without a lot of flavor. Ditto on the salmon. The pumpkin soup was lacking in flavor and the salad selections seemed like they just emptied some bagged mixed greens into a big bowl without any effort. Something my husband could've done. So I guess when I saw the menu I was expecting some type of effort in making the salads and appetizers, like a real chef would do. It was as if an extra assistant of some sort was asked to cook the Thanksgiving meal and the real chef was busy cooking in the main kitchen for the hotel's main restaurant which apparently gets more raves about their food. I don't mean to insult the chef but come on, please put some effort into it. From someone who is an avid cook, I know what food can taste like when it's made without any effort. So maybe we should've dined in the main dining room and not ordered the Turkey or ham but since it was Thanksgiving.....and I was told that the turkey served in the main restaurant was the same as the buffet. I do have to say one of the desserts, pecan pie I think, was not bad but the apple crisp was way too soupy. All in all, I guess I was just disappointed that we paid $45/pp for this meal. It was more like a $20-25 meal which I would've been okay with it but to charge that much, I expect better. I have been to numerous Sunday brunches that charge that amount and offer more with better quality. I didn't even mind being seated in the "side room" but at least make an effort to make it nice and festive which is easy enough to do. This experience is making me rethink about ever eating out for Thanksgiving again unless I'm back in Boston and can go to Turner Fisheries in Backbay. I would give them one star but I feel bad since I don't like giving out one stars but this experience may just be an anomaly. At least the place was fairly clean and had a really nice bathroom.

    (2)
  • Kim S.

    Stopped in here to fuel up for a day of shopping in Old Town. Saw ham and cheese croquettes on the menu outside - SOLD! We had a seat at the bar and got a couple drinks, their cocktails and bar service was excellent. Perusing the menu. My much anticipated ham and cheese croquettes had mysteriously dropped off the list. Major pet peeve. At least indicate the menu posted outside is a sample. Slightly crushed i ordered some soup and a mac and cheese side - can't go wrong with mac and cheese right? Wrong. It was so bland that my friend (who probably can't find a salt shaker in her own house) was pouring it on like crack. Even that didn't help. It sat unfinished, which is somehow a crime in the presence of two women. Overall I was underwhelmed but I would return for drinks.

    (3)
  • Annette A.

    Jackson 20 is a good "go to" if I want my date to have good food and a good atmosphere. I love the outdoor seating (always my preference) and I love the vibe inside. This morning was a breakfast meeting with my PA. We had much to discuss and that was a good spot for our objectives although the server didn't appropriately observe the intensity of our conversation before endeavoring to make friendly conversation with us. My oatmeal was over sweetened but I blamed myself for not asking for the sugar on the side. Waitress was nice and chatty but a little tone-deaf to the fact that we were trying to have a business meeting. Prompt service though!

    (4)
  • Veronica H.

    Great service, good food, nice atmosphere! We stayed at the Hotel Monaco which is the hotel to which this restaurant belongs. My husband and I went here for a nice date night on our visit to Alexandria. It was restaurant week, but we did not partake. I had the salmon and hubs had the rib eye. We also took a pic with the pig up front and posted it on Facebook for some free shrimp fritters. We both enjoyed our meals and the fritters. Hubs thoroughly enjoyed his Virginia Gentlemen's cocktail. He went back to the bar the next day with a friend and as it turns out, the bartender is one of the top 5 Kimpton bartenders in the country! Hubs and his friend really enjoyed talking to the bartender that evening. My only complaint was that the salmon seemed like it was cooked in too much oil.

    (4)
  • T A.

    Not bad, not bad at all... Came in for brunch after a morning run to Old Town without a reservation. 10 minute wait, although the table we were eventually seated at was empty from the time we walked in. Service was friendly but a little too slow. Food was tasty - the B.E.L.T. was delicious and from what we could see the other breakfast selections looks yummy. I'd give it another try.

    (3)
  • S P.

    went there for brunch with a girlfriend visiting town. She enjoyed the all you can drink mimosas for 13 dollars but it was mostly orange juice according to her statement. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered the crab cake with an aioli sauce and my friend the egg sandwich with fried pickle and bacon with hash browns. My crab cake was okay. I've had way better and it was on top of way too much aioli that my entire crab cake was soaked in the sauce. Had a bite of my friends hash browns which were extremely greasy. The restaurant wasn't bad. It wasn't great either. Nothing to write home about.

    (2)
  • Dillon C.

    Amazing atmosphere and great food but the hostess was extremely RUDE. This elderly woman dressed all jolly in red and white was the worst I've ever met. As an Event Marketing Manager and Event Planner I was extremely disgusted with the way she represented Kimpton Hotels. As my family and I walked though the door, her angry stare could burn a hole right through you. Unfortunately as we walked from the Kimpton's sister property where we were staying to Jackson 20, we were 8-10 minutes late for our reservation. As we entered the restaurant, the hostess immediately told us (before even saying welcome or even Happy Thanksgiving) Kitchen's CLOSED! I informed her I had a 7:00pm reservation and it was only 7:08pm; she didn't bother to care and continued saying Kitchens CLOSED sorry! I then asked her, if the kitchen closes at 7:00pm, why take a 7:00pm reservation; doesn't make any sense. And serious lady, it's thanksgiving why turn my family away. She then continued to accuse me that she told me when she called me...now I was pissed. First she left me a message asking for a CC number; second I called and they were busy so she took my card in a rush. As I got more and more upset, I asked to speak to someone else. Instead of bringing a manager, she said I'm going to ask the chef (rudely). As she left for a few minutes she came back (with a bigger attitude), her next line was "fine, you have 2-minutes to select what you want". Literally if all the other restaurants weren't booked out, I would have told this lady to go F**K herself but I remained calm. Who tells a family of 6 with 2 kids they have 2 minutes to select what they want to eat. Anyways, I will never eat at this restaurant anymore. As a planner, I will never use this place nor will recommend it to anyone. Although they have good food, no one should be treated that way on Thanksgiving. Anyways, after we sat for dinner; another couple arrived and she politely sat them without giving them a hard time. After sitting that couple, she quickly grabbed her purse and jetted out the restaurant. I decided to stop by at the Kimpton's Hotel and requested information for both General Managers (Hotel and Restaurant). This way, coming Monday, I will send them an email. I decided to rate this a 1 star not because of the food but because of the experience. Our waiter TED was amazing. Although the experience of getting our table was terrible - Ted and the chef done an amazing job with DELICIOUS food.

    (1)
  • Sean S.

    -Reservation for 7:15... sat at 7:25... and we were not apologized for that... -Great cocktails -Great Apps and Entrees -Great Desert We were brought our desert, took the first bite and the waitress put our bill on the table (this was 45min after being sa

    (1)
  • Rosalyyn C.

    The food is great. They have the best raw oysters i've ever had in my life. We tried one of there 20 dollar wine bottles and it tasted and smelled delicious. The food is fresh and the server was cool and recommended the right options. I had there lamb dish and it was cooked perfectly! Great place to people watch. The music selection needs some work, made for some good laughs though.

    (4)
  • Amanda E.

    There are few things you can bet on in life, and one is that Kimpton Hotels care about the quality of their in-house restaurant. Jackson 20 is no exception. I made a reservation for six a few days before the first Saturday in December, not thinking of the insanity that is Old Town during the holidays. If the idea of street parking makes you go numb, you can parkin the hotel garage just around the corner. The restaurant was bumping, as expected, filled with holiday revelers, holiday and/or wedding party guests and tourists, but we fortunately found our way to the bar and ordered cocktails while we waited for our table. They make a solid Manhattan and the Honeysuckle specialty cocktail is divine. Really great menu that has something for everyone - so go with a larger group so you get to sample it all! We started with the cheese and charcuterie platters - the latter having a substantial serving of country pate, sorpressata, ham and other delights. Everyone was happy with their main selections including: beef stroganoff, lamb with pimento ravioli (what!?), Amish Chicken and a fish special. The Stroganoff was fancied up with super tender braised short ribs, fresh made pasta and peas. This ain't your lunch lady's Stroganoff. Don't miss the chocolate bread pudding. It's all of it. We'll definitely be back for more as there were plenty of dishes that caught our eye - especially the collard greens and shrimp and grits!

    (4)
  • Li S.

    Came here for late night drinks. The drinks were great but the service was horrible. Our waiter would rarely come to our table and we would have to flag him down. When we ordered our second round of drinks it took him over 30 minutes to bring our drinks and the place wasn't even busy.

    (2)
  • Bud J.

    Been here a few times and the experience depends on the item you order and the service your receive. Most times in a solid 4 stars, other times it's a 3. The service at times is sloppy and the food at times is underwhelming (note: Mac and cheese side item). But other items, like their summer gazpacho, burgers and fries, and charcoal goat with pimento cheese ravioli was quite good. Worth a try to figure out the best items to order.

    (3)
  • Clea B.

    The bar is understaffed and the bartenders don't bother to acknowledge waiting customers. A friend and I took our business elsewhere after waiting ten minutes without even getting eye contact.

    (1)
  • Daniel B.

    So apparently I am one of the first to finish the "Sloppy Brian". I can see why, this is a serious Dagwood of a sandwich, 2 levels with the meats packed high. This is a really great place to grab a bite to eat. I came here with my GF (surprising her after being away for 3 weeks thanks to Uncle Sam) so we came here for lunch. The bread was awesome, the food was well crafted and tasty enough for me to devour, and the staff were courteous and prompt. Too bad I wasn't able to take them up on the beer they offered for finishing the sandwich... It wouldn't have fit anyway.

    (4)
  • Harold S.

    Good brunch place on the weekends (try to get a reservation if you are coming here, it might be difficult to get a table for walk-ins). Bottomless mimosa and great crab eggs Benedict. Omelette was all right, nothing too fancy.

    (3)
  • Dee S.

    I go there for breakfast a lot on the weekends and the food is always great. The eggs are so fresh they taste great. Everything is good and cooked just the way I ask. The bottomless Mimosas are great! Coffee is very good. I go there a lot for happy hour and their menu is very good and changes often for happy hour and lunch. They have seasonal things. Right now they have a Hot Dog to die for. Apparently they make it in-house. Don't know what the seasonings are, but it's probably the best hot dog I've ever had and they grill the roll takes like on fire grill. Comes with their home made chips, home made pickle and home made Dijon mustard. Super good. The deviled eggs are excellent. The fried green tomatoes are just okay. My mother made those a lot and I prefer the style that's more crispy. The grits taste good, but they are too thin and runny. Grits are supposed to be thick and course, not texture like cream of wheat. You should be able to eat grits with a fork, here they are runny in a bowl so you have to eat them with a spoon like cream of wheat. Again, they do taste good. The hash browns are very good and friend in real butter, so they get a great texture and color and flavor. The hamburger sliders are good, the BBQ is very good, so far I've only had a couple of things that I didn't care for. Lunch menu items are also very good. The bartenders are very good and are able to create a lot of specialty drinks if that's your think. They've always been very nice and provided me good service (recently). The new staff is super good. The previous staff and when they first opened left a lot to be desired - I had all but quit going there. But the new bartenders are all good and helpful and friendly and the food is very good. Highly recommend a visit here for happy hour or breakfast.

    (4)
  • Mitzi G.

    My review is for brunch only. Old Town is a tourist trap. Up and down King Street there are a variety of restaurants, but most are filled with poor quality food, fannie packs and sneakers. Since brunch is our favorite weekend meal, a meal we like to stretch out over the course of a leisurely morning...we were delighted to find Jackson 20! It is one of the only suitable brunch destinations for a local in Old Town. The food is delicious, the staff is professional, the atmosphere is classy but not stuffy. It's quite chic in fact and very comfortable. Everything is reasonably priced. The only reason I didn't leave it with 5 stars is because their espresso machine has been broken quite a bit and they overbook reservations so locals can't just pop in on a whim.

    (4)
  • April S.

    I thoroughly enjoyed dining at Jackson 20. The hostess was super sweet and our server was direct and helpful. We started with some oysters, deviled eggs, and a couple wedge salads. All just fine. The real explosion came at the meal. My sister (beef stroganoff) and I (shrimp & grits) scraped out plates cleaned and considered licking our plates but decided against it, if only for propriety's sake. Our husbands (bbq ribs, bison steak) left food on their plates...somehow. Incredible feats of willpower, I say. The wine list is great! We were there on 50% off bottle night, but decided on one from the $20 menu and were very pleased. The hostess, server, and expeditor were all aware of my gluten allergy and made me feel very safe.

    (4)
  • Leah K.

    Great service. Delicious food. They have tots with pulled pork, fried green tomatoes and the food is almost always excellent -- definitely the best upscale southern in the area.

    (4)
  • Tony P.

    This review is for the Pig-a-palooza event. My friends had invited me to this event for a birthday celebration and by the end of the event, we vowed to make it a monthly attendance. The live band and food were outstanding. The courtyard is a great venue for sitting down with friends and eating a beautifully prepared whole roast pig. The crispy skin and the delectable meat are mouth watering. There are some great in-house made bbq sauces available. My favorite is the habanero bbq sauce that had a great kick. There are also plenty of traditional side dishes (potato salad, cole slaw, smoked corn, cornbread with maple butter, green bean salad, soft rolls) to go with the pig. And the dessert offering of pies is excellent! They could do with offering a more extensive beer list. But overall, if you like roast pig, this should be on your must attend list.

    (4)
  • Vika P.

    Very good brunch. Decent pricing for food. The Bloody Mary was simple but delicious and I would recommend the Eggs Chesapeake . My least favorite part of the dining experience was the decor. It has a strange mixture of antique and an attempt at modern lights. Not a fan.

    (4)
  • Lindsey T.

    Food was generally good. Amish chicken was flavorful. Mashed potatoes hit the spot on a cold snowy day. Bread basket (mini biscuits and cornbread muffins) was oily and way too crunchy. Service was slow. It took forever to get our check. Seating was cramped. A couple was seated very close to us, practically touching. It was difficult to concentrate on our own conversations.

    (3)
  • RJ L.

    I can't say enough good about the service here. After we eloped, my wife and I had our friends here for our impromptu reception dinner. I called ahead for the reservation and when they asked if it was a special occasion, I lied and said, "yes!" Unprompted at the dinner, they brought champagne, (yes from France) for everyone on the house and later threw in a bottle of wine. The food was rustic and delicious, and we can't wait to return.

    (5)
  • Rebecca M.

    You know, I am just not a fan of hotel restaurants. I thought BRABO was grossly overrated, and I am not keen to Zola in DC. However, Jackson 20 does a good job of detracting from the fact that they are a hotel restaurant and focusing their clientele on the food and delicious drinks. I had a very good fish dish (though nothing to write home about) but my boyfriend's macaroni and cheese with bacon was absolutely to die for. The cheese was creamy and perfectly salty, and the bacon was interspersed so that you felt like you had just enough. The one major downside I saw to this place was that it is fairly pricey for the type of vibe they are going for. I think cocktails averaged $14 each and a main course was tough to find under $20.

    (4)
  • Mia v.

    Went for brunch after seeing great reviews - left wondering why the place has so many stellar reviews. Met up with a friend, greeted by friendly hostess and immediately seated by the window. So far so good. Service was attentive and helpful, but the food was rather bland or had an odd pairing of flavors that did not quite go together. For an appetizer, I had the Gazpacho with Fleur de Sel ice cream, which sounded delicious on paper, but ended up being a disaster - the sweetness of the "ice cream" muddled the fresh taste of the tart gazpacho broth. We also asked for something like a bread basket, and the person bringing the food (not our waitress) said that they don't offer anything like that. Would it be too much for my friend to get a small piece of bread while I have my appetizer? We would've been happy to pay for it extra. Moving onto entrees, my friend had the Eggs Benedict, which she said was average. I had the Pulled BBQ Sandwich, which was drowning in BBQ sauce that did not have much flavor, and the potato salad and cole slaw needed a heavy hand of salt. Quite disappointed. Great location in the heart of Old Town, but don't think I will be going back.

    (2)
  • LeeAnn G.

    Jackson 20 is one of my favorites for happy hour or a happy lunch. The atmosphere is relaxed yet fun and it is easy to find a spot for a small group. There are always great deals like the 20 bottles of wine under $20 and $5 appetizers during happy hour. The service here is a little spotty and ranges from completely careless to funny and playful, but the delicious food, great wines and fair price outweigh even their worst servers.

    (4)
  • Matt S.

    I'm the father of a 2-year-old, and Jackson 20 has become our favorite place for a weekend breakfast or brunch in Old Town because they are so child-friendly, they're open early, and their food is good. The whole staff is very friendly, in particular Donna who knows our daughter by name and greets her when we come in. They're very accommodating with requests for child seats and cups with straws, and they have a child's menu that she can draw on with crayons. Also, because the restaurant is attached to the Hotel Monaco, it's easy to take our daughter to the hotel courtyard or lobby to stretch her legs a little before the food comes. Their breakfast food is very good, my personal favorite is their biscuits & gravy with a side of eggs but everything I've tried has been good.

    (4)
  • Angela F.

    Extensive drink menu and really delicious deviled eggs...like wow!

    (4)
  • Row Bear F.

    Great for a hotel restaurant. Patio is awesome! And their coffee is the best in town, by a country mile. Service is usually top notch, but they feel a bit scattered on the weekends. Even so, they would be 4 stars, but the omelettes almost always come out watery and the weekday breakfast menu isn't too imaginative.

    (3)
  • Mikey T.

    My experience was pretty much like Chris' below. Slooooooow service. The hostess was able to seat us right away, at an outside table. Then it went downhill from there. We ordered the biscuits and gravy to share, the chicken fried steak and eggs, and the omelet. There wasn't enough gravy for the biscuits. The steak was over-fried and dry. The batter was too flaky and fell off too quickly. The gravy for the steak (which apparenlty was different from the biscuit sausage gravy) was too sweet. The omelet was so-so. The toast for the omelet, which the server promised us at least 3 times to bring over, never showed up. At least the hash browns (cut in a cute rectangle) were delicious. And did I mention slow service? It's fine if you have your food already and have all noon to kill, but it's not fun waiting for the menu, waiting for the water/drinks, waiting for the appetizer, waiting for the toast, waiting for the utensils, waiting for... you get the drift. Unlike Chris though, I'd love to go back and give them another try (driving into DC for brunch every weekend does take a toll!). Until then, two-stars it is! Tip: If you're lucky, you might be able to snag a last-minute reservation through OpenTable.

    (2)
  • kristen h.

    Thanks to Jackson 20, I was able to ring in my 30th birthday with a bang! Every single person, from busboys to our waiter to the managers, helped make sure that my friends and I were not only happy with our food, but also with our entire dining experience. For appetizers, we had the deviled eggs, crab cakes, and the shrimp fritters. The deviled eggs had a great habanero spice to them, and the crab cakes came with a terrifically tangy fried green tomato! We had the kielbasa, the pulled pork sandwich, and the osso buco for entrees. There wasn't a thing left on the plates! For dessert, we had a chocolate mint cake with amazing homemade marshmallows, banana pudding, and a sweet and spicy bread pudding. It's hard to tell you what we liked best--it was all so amazing! This restaurant simply can't disappoint!

    (5)
  • Danielle C.

    The food tasted great.

    (3)
  • Brittany T.

    Adorable spot with lots of drink choices. The $5 happy hour appetizers are a great idea. At happy hour the bar was pretty empty but if you are meeting a friend to chat, that is probably a good thing! We had the sliders and they were perfect for $5.

    (4)
  • victoria c.

    This was delicious, deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes. The short ribs were excellent too! I wold have given 5 stars , but the apple cobbler was under cooked and not gooey enough.

    (4)
  • Julien W.

    This is a decent place with good food. It's basically the Hotel Monaco's restaurant. I'm sure it's amazing for room service. As a restaurant itself, it lacks a bit of attention from its service staff. The food itself is a light and done well, but seems to rely on appearance and not necessarily the flavor. I'd come back again because it's a good place with a good outdoor section, but it didn't leave me wowed

    (3)
  • Chaz S.

    Summation: What's less than 1 star? After a long day sightseeing, my family and I decided to spend the night in, so we ordered take-out from Jackson 20. Couple of salads, soup, sides, and two entrees. Big mistake. One item (shrimp / grits) was missing and the rest of the hot dishes (mashes potatoes, soup, roasted goat) was ice cold. Now, some may say it's cold here in DC tonight (and it is), the travel time, from restaurant to opening of the containers, was less than 10 minutes. In a heated vehicle. I arrived on time to pick up the food. I called the restaurant back, merely wishing to have the missing entree removed from my bill ($109 + tip). The gent who answered the phone told me they'd take all the hot items off my tab. We shall see. As to the salads (caesar and beet), they were pedestrian at best. With lots of options on King, I'd opine Jackson 20 would be at the bottom of my list.

    (1)
  • Andrea H.

    I was very disappointed they took the pineapple upside cake off the menu. The fried chicken was fresh but needed some more seasoning. I'd still come back though. My first few times going a few years ago places Jackson 20 dear to my heart.

    (3)
  • Must Be Nice V.

    If you're looking for the perfect Sunday brunch in Old Town, look no further! This is it! Bottomless Mimosas and an expansive menu. The food is great but not excellent which is why we only gave it 4 stars. However, the service and $12 bottomless mimosas more than make up for that "great not excellent" taste. We might just be foodies being picky! :) Overall, we give it a Must Be Nice seal of approval!

    (4)
  • Adrianna S.

    BEST MEAL I HAVE HAD IN ALL OF 2012. I mean it.. going to this place was like stumbling into Stan Lee on the street corner of my town: a rare moment. I ordered off the menu that featured two entrees and a dessert for your meal. I had the tomato salad, the bison steak (medium rare), and grasshopper pie for dessert. I have never tasted so much deliciousness in my life. The tomato salad is unlike anything you have tasted, that vegetable is a delicacy at Jackson 20. The steak I had and the flavors it delivered is something I STILL day dream about on every lunch hour. The grasshopper pie was a rare find (mint filling over oreo crust and marshmallow fluff), it took me back to my childhood. **I literally have never had a better meal than what I mentioned above. The service from my waiter was mediocre, but the manager was extremely nice and attentive. If you are ever in Virginia you MUST stop by this restaurant (located in a hotel). I hope your experience is as great as mine was.

    (5)
  • Joan C.

    We hosted a grooms dinner in the courtyard of the Hotel Monaco in Alexandria, Virginia. The food was EXCELLENT! It started with a delicious fresh tomato and mozzarella salad, followed by the most delicious filet mignon cooked to perfection and capped off with fresh strawberry shortcake that was AMAZING! My guests still are raving about the chef. Highly recommend for your event or dinner

    (5)
  • Gregg S.

    Took the gf here last night and this review will solely based on food and service in the dining area. Did not have a chance to give the bar a go. The host who took our reservation, Jane, was very warm and inviting and more than gracious when we had to push it back two times because of traffic accidents coming from DC. Our server, Ted (I believe, I have a terrible memory) was one of the funniest and memorable (aside from name) servers I've ever had. He was informative but not overly chatty. His recommendations were all spot on. The girlfriend got the "A Draft of Route 74" made with Absolut Citron, Watermelon Water, Orange Liqueur and more. Really refreshing and deceptively strong. I had the Hemmingway Daquiri which tasted good but a bit too bitter for her taste. Also, as I found out later, it's a clear rum base, which I'm allergic to, but that was my fault for not asking. My second drink, was the "Virginia Gentleman", which I am not. It was made with Gentleman Jack, American Honey Liqueuer, Ginger Beer, Lemon and another thing, probably bitters. It was insanely good. But that's because I drink whiskey, like any real man should. We had the Big Eye Tuna Carpaccio and it was probably my favorite I've had anywhere I've eaten in the country. Nice big pieces of sushi grade tuna in a kaffir lime-infused olive oil and the perfectly tasty benne wafers to put them on. They took the time to let us know that the herbs it was garnished with also came from the rooftop garden, SO COOL! To be honest, this appetizer set such a high bar for the rest of the night, I don't think it was met with any other dish, it was *that* good. She had the Garden Tomato Salad and I ate the Southern Field Pea Salad, really just perfect recommendations for the both of us. Hers had locally sourced beautiful tomatoes and mine was really hearty and bold from the country ham. It was not too smoky and not overly meaty for a salad, terrific balance. For our entrees, we had the bison which was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was accompanied by quinoa cakes (a clever twist on a food I only eat when I'm cutting weight) and it was amazeballs. Lastly, our dessert was the Lemon Ricotta cheesecake. It was super smooth and velvety. Like eating a cloud.... made of cheesecake. It comes topped with lavender-infused honey (I couldn't taste the lavender but I was like 3 drinks in) and accompanied with lemon curd which isn't overly tangy. Also, a few candied blueberries and almond brittle. Really cool presentation. Overall, it was a great venture back to Alexandria dining, I think that Hotel Monaco really has secured a winner in this restaurant. I'll mirror Lily L.'s statements in her Yelp review. It's probably between a $$ and $$$ restaurant. Not super expensive for what you get, but it's not going to be as inexpensive as a hole-in-the wall joint either. Bottom line, if you want some deliciously strong drinks and good grub near the courthouse part of Alexandria, this is a very solid choice.

    (5)
  • Pita B.

    I have gone to Jackson 20 on several occasions and usually really enjoy the food, atmosphere, service, etc. Unfortunately, yesterday, I had every impression I had of the restaurant changed forever. I went in with a group of about 8-10 professional adults that had a reservation for brunch for weeks, and we chose Jackson 20 based on my recommendation (How embarrassed am I now?) My food? The B.E.L.T. sandwich that I ALWAYS order and is ALWAYS delicious- was instead, cold, smaller than normal, and bread was different, and just all around something I'd never order again. Other guests in my party also had to ask "where is the xyz that I ordered to accompany my meal?" The server was not great, mostly just, average.. The kicker was the "new" hostess that came and asked our group to be quiet and stated that the group was "loud". Hmm. The entire restaurant is loud due to the acoustics and etc. of the restaurant, not any one group dining in the restaurant. In fact, it was hard to even HEAR in the restaurant. The "not new" hostess apologized and tried to explain, agreeing that she had to yell in order to even speak to me. Ultimately, this is a very distasteful way to speak with guests patronizing your restaurant that are not conducting themselves in any inappropriate or disruptive manner. I am sad to say that I cannot go back to Jackson 20, but not so sad because it appears that much has changed.

    (2)
  • Sal P.

    WHY I WENT: - Happy hour with friends. WHAT I LIKED: - Definitely funky, well-made cocktails. - YUMMY food. I think our favorite was the fried green tomatoes! THINGS I LEARNED THE HARD WAY: - I went expecting a happy hour special on the cocktails, but oh well - it's a pretty good deal on beers. - A bit on the pricey side, but what you'd expect, I suppose. - Not my favorite ambiance - a bit on the yuppie side

    (4)
  • Anne S.

    Best brunch in Old Town. For one of the fancier resturants in Old town the prices were incredible and the food was exceptional. I crave the mac-n-cheese in my sleep.

    (5)
  • Leslie J.

    Loved this place for dinner, and even more so for Sunday brunch!! 6 syllables for ya: bottomless "ma'mosas" Must order: Eggs Chesapeake* Poached Eggs, Virginia Crab Cakes, Old Bay Hollandaise WITH A SIDE OF HASH BROWNS Their hash browns are a MUST-TRY and a little bit of heaven..so soft and buttery..not grainy or mealy - just AWESOMENESS in your mouth =]

    (4)
  • Chelsea K.

    Came here on Saturday for brunch, awesome food, and awesome service (props, Hector!!!) The bottomless mimosas were flowing the entire time, and we really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. Bottomless drinks @ brunch is rare in Alexandria, so Jackson 20 fills that void for me!

    (4)
  • Bevan C.

    Went in for Sunday brunch. A very eclectic set up with contemporary decorations and a very cool menu. Definitely try the bottomless mimosas or the Tango mimosa to supplement your meal. I had this fantastic dish called Chesapeake Benedict, a combination of poached eggs, crab meat and Hollandaise sauce served with a side of hash browns. Wait staff was a bit slow on the service, but their polite demeanor did help to level it out. The outside dining area allows dogs which makes me add another half star to my rank.

    (4)
  • Agave B.

    Beef stroganoff is a must!! Tender, melt-in-your-mouth shortribs & a decadent sauce over egg noodles & mushrooms are to die for!! The English pea purée complemented the dish extremely well. I've visited a second time only to find the outstanding consistency in the beef stroganoff (My husband ordered it) as well as the energetic server! I ordered the shrimp & grits which was delightful. There were both head-on shrimp and peeled shrimp tails. (I love shrimp head). I am definitely returning. Frequently.

    (5)
  • Brian M.

    Great service, awesome food with good presentation. Creative, tasty drinks. Huge wine list, decent beer list, had some good craft beers. Being a "beer snob", I would always like to see a bigger beer list. Chef Blair did an amazing job, he came to our table several times and gave some great suggestions. I can't wait for April, when they start their yappy hour, so we can bring the dogs!

    (5)
  • R H.

    5 stars!!! What a lovely spot. Went for brunch on a Sunday at 11:30 am. No reservations and only a 30 minute wait. The food was delicious. Appropriate serving sizes... May be a little on the pricey side, but a bottomless mimosa will make you forget your sticker shock. Must note that banana pudding dessert was absolutely to die for. I would love to go back for an evening of coffee and dessert! Yummy!

    (5)
  • Josh S.

    You cannot miss with Jackson 20. I'm not even sure where to start with this review. For starters, check out their website ( jackson20.com ) to read about the awesomeness. Here is what you need to know: Jackson 20 is awesome and is pork and Virginia centric. As soon as you walk in there is a giant metal pig tastefully (trust me) there to greet you. That is your first clue about what you are about to experience. If you grab a table the napkin rings are little pigs as well. The menu pays homage to Virginia and specifically local ingredients. The cocktails are very good, especially their bourbon drinks (yes, remember your history and you will know bourbon was from Virginia). The menu can be described as a modern version of comfort food - perfectly worth of Old Town. Don't think for a second this is some sort of trade on Georgia Browns, it is it's own. I have to admit I have had almost everything on the bar menu - you can't go wrong with the tots, deviled eggs, or the burger. I have not had one less than terrific item off of the regular menu. Seriously, the Virginia Cheddar Mac N Cheese might change your life. The 7 steak - just try it! It is amusing to listen to tourists eat there rave about the food and "having no idea." Parking is actually easy to find on the street (side streets) or use the parking garage right next door on Pitt. You should also know that Jackson 20 is attached to the Hotel Monaco - a Kimpton property (great hotel by itself). Also, during the warm months they host a doggy happy hour in the courtyard so bring your four legged friend. Lastly, they have a mailing list and a facebook page to join if you want to keep up with that they have going on - worth it for the special events.

    (5)
  • John H.

    Our first visit to Jackson 20 turned out be a pleasant surprise. We had looked at this restaurant in the past and somehow never made it, but finally we were able make a last minute reservation. The food here was excellent! The homemade biscuits were great! Far better than the usual mundane bread served by other establishments, even the high end ones! I had the cedar plank salmon and roasted cauliflower and I have to say I was impressed. She had the curry goat which was good as well. I would recommend everyone try the banana pudding for dessert. They have a winner on their hands with this one! The crowd has nice and the noise level was moderate. A great place to dine and I will definitely be returning. A must visit for those serial restaurant diners like myself.

    (4)
  • Jenn G.

    Went for brunch back in October when my mom was in town. It was really nice weather, so a great day to sit outside in the patio seating. We had brought our dog with us too and I love that Jackson 20 is dog friendly and lets you bring your pet with you in the outdoor seating. My biggest annoyance was that the brunch menu was really small and limited. I had the crab cakes, which were solid, but there weren't that many options to choose from, especially as a quasi-veggie. We had good service and a good meal, but I will try some place new next time I'm brunching in Alexandria.

    (3)
  • Tracy N.

    Eat at the bar! The sliders, fries, chips, and little ham stuffed things are awesome. Haven't ventured onto the main menu yet but I've heard good things. My only complaint is that its a little pretentious and overpriced.

    (4)
  • Sharon S.

    Overall: service was so poor that they comped our meal without having to ask. (if I could have put a lower rating I would have) When we arrived, the place was half full. We were told there was a 15 minute wait bc they "didn't want to over seat and wanted to ensure good service". After 15 minutes we were seated, we ordered, and waited... The table next to us was seated, served, and finished eating before our food came out. When our food came out 2 of the 3 orders were incorrect. When I mentioned we ordered something different the server snapped and said "well if you want something different you will have to wait at least 30 minutes". The waitress saw this and said she would speak to the chef. She then came back and said, "the chef said your order will be put at the bottom of the pile". We then asked for the manager. We explained to the manager how ironic it was that we had to wait for a table to ensure good service, we had not received it, and no one seemed interested in helping. The manager apologized and said she would take care of it. We then watched the tables around us get served. After what seemed like more than enough time we asked the manager again... She went into the kitchen and came out with our food. She apologized again and said she would comp our breakfast. She also gave us her card for next time we re in town. Nice sentiment however not likely going back. Note: the food was good when it arrived. Husband had Western Omelet, son had egg white omelet with spinach and cheese, I had the Greek yogurt.

    (1)
  • Eve L.

    Good wine selection, delicious brunch, fun to sit at the bar and knock a few back (especially if you're into before-dinner-drinks while staying at Hotel Monaco). We've come for brunch and loved it (lots of choices) ... and we've come for dinner (love their NY strip with a side of mashed potatoes. We've always had good luck with service and really great food.

    (5)
  • Courtney C.

    After being seated and ordered for 15 min, they informed me the meal was not available. The server was attentive until then but alas a 2 star review for not having food on your menu available. And the kitchen delay in letting the server know.

    (2)
  • Sweet N.

    Its okay. The food was decent. I wasn't that impressed. Ive had better food. However, my brother in law really liked it. Not sure if I would go back. The bartender sucked.

    (2)
  • Ryan E.

    BBQ, Steaks, breakfasts with unlimited mimosas!! Amazing food!! Don't pass this place up.

    (5)
  • Jeremy C.

    Breakfast was phenomenal and Service was great as well. Had the B-E-L-T sandwich and would highly recommend! Coffee was great which is key!

    (4)
  • Erik T.

    Drink presentation was impressive but food quality left a lot to be desired. Great atmosphere but came here for the food and left pretty disappointed.

    (3)
  • Ki C.

    I'm hooked on Kimpton properties and J20 is another fine example of the consistency in excellence in food and service. Anuod? Gave fantastic service and the food was a delight. The half price bottle of wine deal is a great reason to go on a Monday night.

    (5)
  • Elated J.

    I would have to say this was a great brunch! Brunch is my favorite meal of the day...sadly, it's not easy to find a good brunch in northern Va. My fiancé and I took a stroll through town and decided to stop here for brunch. I had the eggs, hashbrowns, and grits. He had eggs, hashbrowns, and salmon...neither of us eats pork! There was a $6 up charge for salmon, which I thought was over the top for folks who just don't eat pork! We thoroughly enjoyed! I only give it 3 stars because of all the pork options and non-vegetarian sides. They also can get pretty crowded on Saturday, but we still were seated quickly and without problem! You will have to add a fair amount of salt to your food because they don't cook with much seasoning. With that said, the food is tasty! We would go back for sure.

    (3)
  • Audra B.

    My husband and I sat outside on a warm summer night. Our table was wobbly, which got annoying very quickly. We had complimentry biscuits and corn muffins. The biscuits were fluffy and buttery, while the corn muffins weren't anything special. We had a few oysters that were OK. I will stick to Old Ebbit for my oysters. We also had a half of a cheese plate that was fantastic. I had a burger that was nothing special AT ALL. Fresh cut fries and coleslaw were the highlight of my plate. My husband had the ribs with collards and mac and cheese. Ribs were ok, collards were tender and flavorful, mac and cheese was rich and delicious. I would go back and try some other menu items.

    (2)
  • Brandy H.

    Quick Review: This was mine and my husband's second time here, this time we brought friends. The first time we went, (aprox. Fall 2011) the drinks were great and the bartender was awesome. We really enjoyed our first visit and thought highly of this place, enough to bring our friends back for some Old Town 'bar-hopping". When we arrived yesterday around 330 (very odd time) it was not overly busy, only 4 other people sitting at the bar, but within 10 minutes it was PACKED. I think there was an event going on at the hotel next door and it was ridiculous. We luckily had a seat, but only one bartender. My girlfriend was the first to order a drink and she received hers very shortly after ordering. The bartender was nice and seemed to know what he was doing...And then he started having issues. I really do not think they were his fault. For example, none of the beer/punch taps were working! They were spewing everywhere if anything came out of them at all. He was out of ingredients, and I do not think he was expecting his bar to get THAT busy so quickly. He easily fell behind on drinks, and we finally received ours. Others started crowding around us and made us feel uncomfortable, but we still sat there and enjoyed our drinks. Since the punch on tap was not working, the bartender made our friend a mojito instead, which was quite lovely. I actually felt really bad for the bartender and I know he wished all of his equipment worked. He also needed some help behind the bar, especially with the surge of patrons that flooded the place. I believe we will go back, hopefully on a better evening for the staff and equipment, but I do not think our friends had a good first impression, but perhaps they will give it another chance at some point.

    (3)
  • Meaghan M.

    Two words: Bottomless. Mimosas. For some of us the review of Jackson 20's brunch could stop there and that would be enough said. However, Jackson 20 offers so much more. The food is great and the atmosphere is perfect for a bright and sunny Saturday or Sunday morning of hustle and bustle. The crowd ranges from those just leaving church to those who are perhaps nursing a hangover or just arriving to their hotel from the night before. (It's connected to Hotel Monaco) It seems everybody knows Jackson 20's brunch is hands down one of the best in the area. The food is DELICIOUS! Always tastes fresh, is served at the appropriate temperature and arrives in a reasonable amount of time. Nobody likes waiting forever for cold eggs and/or waffles. Which by the way theirs are great! Oh and did I mention the bottomless mimosas!? Yes! And when I say bottomless it's a true bottomless. Your glass is refilled consistently as long as you're seated at your table. No matter what stage of the meal you are in. So please be adequately prepared to indulge and delight in their brunch service. The only complaint I had/have is actually in relation one of the best things they offer: the mimosas. There seems to be no standard recipe used or one person making the pitchers of mimosas so their quality is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes you get champagne with a drip drop of OJ (personal fave!) and other times you get what could probably be given to my three year old at snack time. What kind of alleviates this problem is that if you don't like it just down it and wait for a refill! Also the frequency with which they are refilled really depends on the sharpness and observation habits of your waiter(ess). The flutes on the table next to us were always full! We found ourselves waiting a little longer and more often than we liked to get ours refilled. But at the end of the day they were refilled. All in all I love this place. The food is delicious, the crowd is classy and fun, and the mimosas are BOTTOMLESS. Now that I have adequately revealed myself as a complete lush I hope you'll enjoy brunch at Jackson 20 asap. BTW: reservations are HIGHLY recommended!

    (4)
  • V N.

    2* based on a one and only breakfast experience. Positives: Location. Location if you're staying at the hotel. The pancake style hashbrown was decent and visually appealing. They provided an activity sheet and crayons for the kids. Milk for the coffe came in a chilled metal mini pitcher that kept the milk cold. If you're into these details but not the food then the place gets 3.5 stars for effort. Negatives: Disordered service. Service staff obviously discombobulated, when it came to who they were serving, and which patrons hadn't placed orders yet. There also was a lot of purposeless motion and activity among wait staff. It took 25 minutes to take our order and another 35 minutes to get our food. We were told that delays were due to one chef only in the kitchen... Really? No refills on my coffee. Orange juice actually didn't taste good; CVS was across the street and we actually wondered if they carried Tropicana... Omelet tasted like a quiche. Ham too salty. Over easy egg was closer to over medium. Food way over priced. Breakfast was half the price across the street, and the food was better there too.

    (2)
  • Nelson M.

    Great menu! Style and great customer service! Great location. Gosh, it's all good! Really!

    (5)
  • Meg H.

    I really wanted to LOOOOVE this place. It's swanky, in the hotel, and a great 10 minute walk from my house. Went to brunch today and felt it was average. I made a reservation, walked in the hostess clearly didn't have my reservation. They gave us a make shift table in the middle of the aisle. SO I felt waiters brushing by me every five minutes as they walked through. Not a great start! Our waitress seemed VERY stressed and frazzled. She took our orders and brought out our food. You know it's bad when you notice and think about how the waitress is completely absent. I ordered the bottomless mimosa...obviously...and it was strong and tasty. I had 3 so for the $12 price I felt good about it. I ordered the eggs chesapeake, which was eggs benedict with crab cake. Mine was ok, i've had better crab eggs benedict in DC but it was passable. My friend ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which for one had a great presentation coming out. She said it was delish. Overall it was a fun brunch, and Jackson 20 isn't a BAD option for brunch but i'd rather sit outside next time.

    (3)
  • Jim K.

    As far as restaurants connected to hotels, this place is pretty great. Good bartenders (that make killer Dark and Stormys) and everything I've tried there has been delish. A solid stop.

    (4)
  • Gary B.

    Good to great food, spotty service. Once the entrée is served service is pretty much done. One person ordered bottomless drinks. The bottom was still there once the main plates were served. The inside is very very loud, but the outside seemed like a great place to sit when the temp is 80 and below.

    (3)
  • Jason B.

    Stopped by for Mother's Day brunch on a whim. They told us they were booked with reservations, but would try to seat us in 30 minutes. 5 minutes later we were seated with our 2 year old and had a great experience. The service was great. The B.E.L.T. sandwich was incredible and definitely plan to go back just for that. The omlet was less than stellar, with the eggs being too think and not enough stuff packed in the middle. The potatoes were good and my daughter enjoyed the pancakes. Definitely plan to return.

    (4)
  • Jen K.

    I went here for Thanksgiving Dinner and for Alexandria Restaurant Week, each time it was so delicious, I felt like I was in food coma when I left. The staff is really friendly and the service is good. Great place for a date or to take family when they are in town, you will have a very enjoyable, delicious meal for sure.

    (5)
  • Rebecca M.

    I came here for brunch with two of my friends. The food was nice and so was the unlimited mimosas. The service was okay, but I kept feeling like they were just trying to give us the check and get out. If you serve unlimited mimosas... people are going to stay for a little while. Just sayin'!

    (3)
  • Christopher R.

    Want really amazing food and great atmosphere for any occasion? THIS is your place. An absolute gem in the touristiest part of Old Town. My favorite = The pretzel as an appetizer and a burger for the main dish (healthy, I know!)

    (4)
  • Chris S.

    I'll be upfront and admit I have a favorite brunch spot. Being a dutiful yelp elite, I felt as though I would be neglecting my quest by not being more open to a variety of venues. This is how I ended up at Jackson 20. On a beautiful memorial day weekend, we were seated outside (along old towns famous Duke St.) what to eat... I almost opted for the BELT, but knowing I had a long day coming up I wanted something heartier. J20 Burger it was. I ordered my Burger medium ( expecting medium well) and waited. And waited. And waited. This is where I point out that the service was inconceivably slow. Refills, check ins, check retrieval, everything. Slow. Never once was there an apology or explanation. That must be the Jackson 20 way. I digress. The Burger comes (well). I'll be upfront. It was average with the only pop coming from the thick cut baccon and the delicious cheese. The fries were less than tasty and never once was the option of ketchup offered. My wife's omelet came undercooked, missing toast. I'm a 20% tipper. I understand it's a busy job. I understand. On this trip I broke rank and left 15. My wife was only able to convince me up from 10 because ' I asked for no scallions and there were no scallions on my omelet '. Will I return? Probably not. The price was high and The satisfaction was low.

    (2)
  • Brindley F.

    You can't beat $13 bottomless mimosas! But the service was horrible at 1pm on a Sunday. We usually had to snag other waitors to refill our drinks.

    (3)
  • Teal G.

    I heard Jackson 20 was pretty good for standard american fare and I would say they lived up to that expectation. First, the ambiance is great. Low lighting but too dim. Nice touches abound with piggie napkin holders, cool lamps, and other nice, unexpected touches. My favorite unexpected touch was that my tea came with a rubber duckie infuser. The rubber duckie floated around my tea until my tea had properly steeped. Adorable! However, the tea was $4 for a mug and not $4 good. I went there for breakfast and had the pancakes. The pancakes were plentiful and sweet. Nothing special or fancy but good ole' standard buttermilk. The bacon was fine but I got some chuff from the waitress for requesting them chewy not crisp. Speaking of the waitress. While she was nice and attentive, it seemed like she would be more at home in a late night diner then a higher class place like Jackson 20. She was pretty chatty and seemed totally ok with interrupting my friend and I's conversation. Still, it's hard to get friendly service and I guess I can't begrudge overly friendly service too much. I would definitely go back, I just won't be running back. Nice touches and decent food but nothing to really wow.

    (3)
  • Lisa P.

    We came here for thanksgiving and loved it, especially the shrimp and grits. Their take on it was head on shrimp, lots of Tasso ham so you didn't need hot sauce and a lovely sauce that melted all of the ingredients. Tonight there was very little Tasso, shrimp with tails but no heads and spare heads. Where did these heads come from? From someone who got the correctly made dish? Also, the bartenders. Didn't know much about their wine except to upsell. I would love to get the meals ingot before but this was subpar.

    (1)
  • Charlemange F.

    I've only been here for the doggy happy hour, so that is what this review is based on, not the indoor restaurant. There is a nice set up with booths and small tables to enjoy a drink and have some food from the bar menu. There is a table with a cold water spigot and some dog bowls you can fill for your pet. We had the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and french fries off of the bar menu. All were very tasty. They also gave us each a complimentary deviled egg which was very good too. I asked for a beer on tap, but it came from a can. I can't remember what ale it was, but it was good. Staff and patrons were friendly. The dogs were well behaved, for the most part. I made sure that my dog got to run around and get exercise before taking her to the restaurant. I would definitely come here again and bring both my dogs next time. I'll probably return when the weather cools down.

    (4)
  • Asia M.

    Stumbled across this gem looking for a place to have brunch with my sister-friends. We easily found parking and walked in. Initially we were told that the wait was about 30-40minutes because we did not have a reservation. However, a pub table opened up and we were seated within 10min. The hostess was very nice and welcoming and our waiter was quick to take our order. We ordered Mimosas and the waiter kept topping us off- complimentary. Our food was delivers quickly. 2 of us had breakfast and the other had a sandwich. The sand which was HUGE and she had to take half home. My friend said it was delicious. The breakfast items were also good. I had sausage and gravy over biscuits. The biscuits were a little hard and I had to ask for more gravy to soften them a bit. The waiter quick bought me out a small bowl as I requested. This restaurant gets service and I appreciate it! Nothing turns me off more that poor service. The atmosphere was also nice. It was clean and nicely decorated. I live in Maryland, but would definitely return if in the area!! Good job Jackson20 :)

    (4)
  • Christopher S.

    While frequenting the Old Town farmer's market this past weekend, I couldn't help but notice the folks dining outside and unabashedly ogling their plates and drawing in the smells wafting out from this cafe attached to the Hotel Monaco. Despite the modest composite rating on Yelp, I would have to say for brunch they earn 5 stars in my book, particularly for the B.E.L.T. What's this you say? Having been a longstanding fan of the classic BLT, this is an amped up version that will have you loosening your B.E.L.T. afterwards since it turns up the original to a volume of 11 on a scale of 10. As you can see from my photo with the cross-sectional shot, the sandwich is anchored by fluffy yet crispy brioche toasted to buttery perfection, layered with the slightest patina of mayo, thick crispy Applewood smoked bacon, iceberg lettuce, a sunny side up fried egg (the E in the BELT), and the piece de resistance, a fried green tomato. Let that wrinkle your brain for a moment. It is the ultimate BLT and earns a place in my pantheon of sandwich perfection since you'd be hard-pressed to find a better version anywhere and I could not help cracking a smile with each successive bite. What brought me in to try out this place however was not the BELT but the vast number of folks who had an accompaniment of hashbrowns as I was strolling along the patio and had it not been for the unexpected brilliance of the sandwich, the hashbrowns would not have had its thunder stolen since they were also a testament to deep-fried virtuosity. Regardless of what your fancy is to savory or sweet when it comes to brunch, the hashbrowns are an absolute must! One is presented with a generous rectangle of shredded potatoes that are crispy on the outside like a freshly baked croissant but with a creamy velvety interior like dauphinoise potatoes. Definitely plan on bringing more guests with me to sample other Southern-inspired items such as the corn and country ham fritters, beef brisket hash, biscuits with country gravy, cinnamon-raisin French toast, and the Anson Mills cheddar grits. Chef Brian McPherson, you have earned yourself a loyal fan! Pro-tip: While the weather is still nice, request a seat outside on a Saturday morning, perfect for people-watching, enjoying live music across the street from the farmer's market, and earning envious stares from hungry passersby.

    (5)
  • Karisa D.

    ***Restaurant Week Review*** Jackson 20 is located inside the Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria. I have always wanted to try this restaurant so we took the restaurant week opportunity and ate here for lunch. We were greeted, seated immediately, and brought water for the table. I like when restaurants leave a bottle/pitcher of water at the table because then I don't have to keep looking for water. Which on hot summer days is appreciated. We looked over the lunch menu and made our decisions. I decided on deviled eggs for my starter, then the lunch line which consists of your choice of protein and side- I chose the pulled pork, cole slaw, and macaroni and cheese. For dessert, we all chose the champagne mango gelato with cookie. My fiance chose the same dish except he had caesar salad as his starter and baked beans as his side. The menu has an pseduo open kitchen so if you're seated at the right spot you can see what's going on. Our food was paced well and came out relatively quickly. It wasn't super busy for lunch but there were still a fair amount of diners. The deviled eggs were good, nothing over the top, but still good. The pulled pork was delicious! The barbecue sauce was good, the meat, tender and flavorful, and plenty to go around. The cole slaw was a bit too vinegar flavored for my taste. The mac and cheese was solid. The dessert was a perfect end to our lovely meal. We definitely ate more than we initially planned to for lunch but it was worth it. Service was good throughout our meal. Our server was busy but attentive to our table. Jackson 20 is a good option for southern comfort inspired food in Old Town.

    (4)
  • Kendal Ann M.

    After the terrible service at brunch I would never come back, nor would I recommend this place. So many people speak so highly of this place for happy hour, so I figured the brunch couldn't be bad. I came to Jackson 20 for a monthly brunch with a few of my girlfriends and from the moment we stepped foot in the restaurant until we left it was a disaster area. Each time the waiter came to the table we had to request new menus and waters. Finally, our entire party showed up and we were ready to order--the waiter came back and I presume it was the hostess who finally brought us 6 other menus--we told her thanks, but we shared the one menu and wouldn't be needed the additionals. At this point, the waiter had walked away when we told him we were ready to order and we then needed to reflag him down. In additon to this, we waited 20 minutes and 3 requests for our check before it was brought to our table. Sadly, the food was mediocre and nothing really jumped off the menu to begin with. Bottom line, there are much better options in Old Town don't waste your time at this Yuppie establishment who won't take the time to show some common courtesy.

    (1)
  • Mrs S.

    The food here is delicious and creative and they change it up for different seasons. The service is friendly and professional. There have been times where we have waited, but it has always been an acceptable amount of time and only when they are swamped. I recommend full rack of BBQ Ribs with collard greens mac & cheese, big and delicious. (Virgin) Bloody Mary's are fabulous! Nice meeting place for friends, worth the time and money it can be expensive Photo of the ribs is from our first visit 2014 we have been back several times with other married couples for dinners and cocktails

    (4)
  • Susan H.

    My husband says "3 stars" while I say "4 stars". So...it averages out to 3 1/2 stars. We were here on a Thursday night around 5:30 p.m. At that time, the place wasn't busy so we were seated immediately. It didn't take long for our server to come to the table. She brought along another server (someone in training? an assistant server?). Both were friendly and efficient plus the server was well versed when it came to the menu. Having looked at the menu prior to coming here, we both knew what we wanted. For drinks, I had a passion fruit rickey which had Tanqueray gin in it. I enjoyed my drink as the passion fruit flavoring was quite prominent. My husband was really happy to see that they had Anchor Steam beer on the menu---and it was actually in stock! Recently, we went to two different restaurants that had it on the menu but not in stock so he was impressed to find that it was available here. Each table is given a basket with 3 mini-biscuits and 3 mini-cornbread muffins plus some whipped butter. We both enjoyed these. While the biscuits were dense, they were also moist. The cornbread was quite tasty---again, moist plus not too dense. For my main course I ordered pan roasted Amish chicken. Before ordering, I asked the server if it was white meat or a mix of dark and white meat. It turns out to be a mix and is French cut which means that most of the bones are removed. This dish also has " buttermilk mashed potatoes, veggies of the day (asparagus and green beans) and chicken jus". I was impressed with this dish. The chicken had crispy skin yet moist, flavorful meat---this even applies to the white meat! The veggies were cooked nicely tender crisp. The asparagus was cut into small pieces. The mashed potatoes were creamy. If only there was more of the chicken jus... My husband ordered applewood smoked kielbasa. This dish consists of "pierogies, choucroute, whole grain mustard jus and sour cream" on the side. I had to google choucroute. It is a French word which means in English "dressed sauerkraut" and is considered to be an Alsatian dish. The sauerkraut is heated with either a dry white wine or some stock and there are various versions of this dish. My husband said that what was in his dish was mixed with whole grain mustard. All that said, while he likes sauerkraut, he didn't really care for this version. He also said that is pierogies were on the overcooked side and were bland plus he thought that the kielbasa seemed a bit overgrilled. Nevertheless, he did eat everything on his plate! He did say that if we ate here again, he would try a different dish. So...a mixed bag. I would consider coming here again, while my husband is less enthused by the idea. Still, service was excellent. The manager even stopped by to ask how things were, which is always nice to see...

    (4)
  • Paige A.

    Just finished a light meal at the bar. It was perfect after a full day of travel. The endive salad was crisp, tart, crunchy, with a bit of salt from the hard cheese. Pure taste bud delight. Husband had the brisket and it fell apart as it should, if not more. I enjoyed the decadent gnocchi carbonara, the ultimate comfort food. If visual quantity is your goal then go elsewhere; this is quality for the eye and taste buds.

    (4)
  • Rachel N.

    We had a wonderful Saturday brunch here! Service, atmosphere and food were all great! I was disappointed at first that they don't serve 'lunch' on weekends but quickly realized the 'brunch' menu had a variety of sandwiches and other lunch-type food. More so than your typical brunch menu. I had the turkey sandwich on rye with avocado and arugula. It was super tasty and the ingredients were really fresh. The fries were AMAZING. My fiancé had the burger and said it was really good - a tad greasy but overall really good. He got hash browns as a side they were crispy and tasty. The bloody mary was also refreshing but it was tough to drink with a straw because it was chunky and the straw kept clogging. Also, we didn't make reservations but a ton of people coming in at the same time as us had reservations. We were seated pretty fast but the place got busier as we ate. Next time we want to try the B.E.L.T. sandwich - bacon, egg, fried green tomato.

    (5)
  • Angelo R.

    Last day in DC and was craving for a hearty brunch. Found this place on Yelp but had mixed reviews. Took a chance and was not disappointed. Sat at the bar cause opting for a table was about 20 - 30 minutes. Bartender immediately greeted and offered something to drink. Mimosas no...but coffee please. After a night of drinking I just had to be good :) Ordered Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Hash - over easy eggs, green peppers, sweet onion served with Idaho potatoes and toast. Wow! Brisket was tender and once I mushed eggs together with it...heaven! Definitely a very filling breakfast. My bartender was very attentive with an old skool attitude. He knew all the regulars by name. I loved watching the somewhat open kitchen and intoxicating smell of dishes coming out from it. Will pay another visit next time and try their dinner menu.

    (5)
  • Phoenix Simone W.

    I came here twice for brunch and both times were unsatisfying. Hotel restaurants are generally not my cup of tea, but this one was especially bad. It's a pretty nice place on the inside, and has a large amount of tables, but it fills up quick so make a reservation beforehand. Both times it took longer than it should have to get menus and waters. The most recent time, it took more than 30 minutes to be given menus, so we ended up sharing 2 for the whole table. When they finally brought out the rest of the menus, we were ready to order anyway. The food and drinks were nothing special, and our server seemed to know very little about the menu. There are so many other great places to eat in Old Town, so I would recommend elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Michelle B.

    I've been to Jackson 20 on two occasions and enjoyed the food. Great crabcake and oysters for an appetizer. The bread in this place is greasy as heck, but yummy. So far, I have tried the rockfish, steak and pork belly. All are packed with flavor and very filling. The pork belly has a lot of fat on it, but the meat tastes great. For dessert, I was not a fan of the key lime tart because it seemed more like lemon meringue, but the chocolate dessert tasted pretty good. I think I will try the lamb shank or the ribs next time.

    (4)
  • Ryan S.

    The food is good & the price is right. For a hotel chain, it's great. Always roo for improvement, but we like this place. Friendly staff, good food and good drinks. Like the seating outside too! Watch out for the "bottomless" mimosas, there's a bottom. We felt a little ripped off. Overall it was a good experience though.

    (3)
  • Christine Z.

    Walking around Alexandria for the first time we weren't sure about where to go. We found Jackson20 and saw a good amount of people there, and after consulting Yelp, of course, we decided to try it. We were seated promptly, and had our drink order taken after a while. Everything about the restaurant was well done. The menus were different but were straight forward, which I liked. The decor made for a great, relaxed ambiance. I ordered the omelet , which by far exceeded any expectations. The chopped up scallions gave the omelet the extra "umph" that any regular ham and cheese omelet needs. There were enough scallions to give it a good flavor, but not too much that you would need thirty mints afterwards to get the flavor out. A small amount of cheese helped it get a more distinguished flavor profile, and not just leave you with eggs and cheese for breakfast. The filling was very well distributed through out the omelet. The egg was also fluffy and seasoned very well. The pancakes were also cooked amazingly. Although they were very thin, the fluffiness was still there, and even had a different taste than your ordinary chain restaurant pancake. The staff was also very kind and helpful, and frequently came by to see if we needed anything. Try it and enjoy!

    (5)
  • Dawn S.

    I had the delightfully refreshing "delayed flight" drink and the salad bar with the salmon. The salmon was perfectly cooked and had a lovely light crust the champaign vinaigrette was perfect and the sides were delicious. The service was great.

    (4)
  • Tonya B.

    This is a very special place, the wait staff gave impeccable service. My son and I enjoyed the food. The food was excellent and my taste buds are dancing in mouth.

    (5)
  • Sirrah M.

    Delicious! We ordered the antelope kabobs and the chicken. Both were exceptional. Husband had the Virginia Gentleman, which has a kick for a person that doesn't drink much, but great flavor.

    (5)
  • Carolyn D.

    We were guests at the Hotel Monaco and decided to meet friends for dinner at this adjoining restaurant. I really liked the atmosphere and food quality was very good, but, I found it quite overpriced for the portion sizes. I think most of our friends left generally disappointed as they were still hungry, after dropping $60-80 per couple! Some of us actually went to a local pub afterwards to grab another bite to feel satisfied. I really liked the selection of cocktails and appreciated the local ingredient, seasonal options and housemade charcuterie. We shared the kielbasa and pierogi plate, the beet salad and deviled eggs. The Lady Lazarus cocktail with Bols​ Genever, Smoked Syrah Syrup, Orange, Orange Marigold was most excellent! They definitely put a lot of thought into this craft cocktail. Based on our experience, would probably not return for dinner, but, their brunch menu does look tempting. May have to try that sometime.

    (3)
  • Joey N.

    I've walked by this place several times while on lunch and finally decided to pop in. The hostess opened the door for me and was just a sweetheart. I don't know her name. The restaurant itself is adorable and I decided to sit at the bar since I was pressed for time. Mike was my bartender. He was very attentive, funny, and seems to like his job (a rarity these days). I ordered a glass of rose, tavern burger, and strawberry shortcake. The kitchen is semi open, so it's nice to be able to watch the "action". I can't remember the name of the rose, but it's the only one on the menu per glass. It was decent enough. The tavern burger? I loooove a good burger and this was by far the best burger I've ever had in northern VA. It was juicy, well cooked, and perfectly seasoned. It's a pretty nice portion, so I'd caution against appetizers, as you may be too stuffed to eat the burger. The fries were kinda bland, but ketchup solves that problem. The strawberry shortcake was just oh-kay. Nothing to write home about. There is this cheesecake like filling on the 2nd layer that's awesome though. I will certainly be back to try other dishes and I highly recommend taking advantage of the patio in warm months.

    (5)
  • Corina H.

    It took me over a year to make a visit and so wish I had sooner! Food is fantastic, a refreshing approach to simple dishes but with layers of flavor. I also love the farm to table mission. The food is the reason to go but seriously the service here steals the show, I'm a self admitted high maintenance diner and uber critical of restaurant service. I've spent many years working in the service industry and have many friends and family in the restaurant business- by far some of the best service I've had.

    (5)
  • Sam M.

    Sat outside and enjoyed a nice lunch here the other day. The BBQ they used on our sandwiches was quite tasty and not too sweet. Our server was pleasant even though we were really the only ones sitting outside at the time. The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is I thought they could offer a better lunch deal/price, but it wasn't over-the-top expensive.

    (4)
  • Kristi R.

    My girlfriends and I returned to Jackson 20 tonight for a round of cocktails and small bites before taking a stroll around Old Town. I was greeted by the bartender immediately even though they were extremely busy. Many places you go this is easily missed, extra points guys! The new cocktail menu was amazing. They even had one with Moonshine.

    (5)
  • Bryan P.

    Food here is for the indulgent. You will not be disappointed with the flavor. The downside is the coffee. It's unacceptable to serve mediocre coffee at a restaurant with these prices. It's even more unacceptable to serve beans from anything other than a local roaster. We have some of the best roasters on the Eastern Seaboard just down the street, but Jackson 20 is using beans from a roaster on the opposite side of the country. You might forgive them if they'd chosen Stumptown, Blue Bottle, etc., but they chose a mediocre roaster with mediocre beans. What a shame.

    (3)
  • Jacinda T.

    We came here after making some stops at a few bars for drinks and snacks, so we weren't terribly hungry but had to stop by on the rec of a friend. We were lucky enough to be seated right away, although our table caught the freezing draft every time the door was open. Since Jackson 20 is in a hotel, I'm pretty surprised they don't have revolving doors to conserve energy and keep the cold out. (Side note: for whatever reason, I used to be terrified of those revolving doors when I first moved to the east coast, but now I don't understand why everyone doesn't have them- winters are too cold here!) Anywho, we decided to share an app and entree (a pattern that will soon emerge, if anyone actually follows anything I write. hey, a girl can dream...) They brought out a bread basket to start, with mini cornbread muffins (which I wasn't a huge fan of but the boy was) and mini biscuits (which I liked). We got the ham and corn fritters as our app and a half rack of ribs with mac n cheese for our entree. The fritters were tasty and very fried. Can't go wrong with fried. There was also an avocado aioli of some sort. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone good. Have you ever heard of anyone complaining about their ribs being too tender that they couldn't make a mess with all the sauce and waste precious energy trying to gnaw meat off those bones? Yea, me neither. If you're having a hard time deciding what to get, try the ribs. The service was great, and the restaurant itself was classy but homey, dim but not too dark. Older clientele but I like it.

    (4)
  • Michele B.

    When I used to live in the area I would go to Jackson 20 all the time for drinks or brunch. I am sad to say they've changed their cocktail menu and bar food. I asked the bartender if he could make a drink that used to be on the menu (basically their twist on a cosmo) but he laughed and told me that was so 2 years ago. I'd understand if it was a drink they no longer had the ingredients for, but I was disappointed he wouldn't make the drink I wanted, especially since there was nothing on their new cocktail list that sounded appealing. Brunch however was as good as I remembered. They have some fun items on their brunch menu like the B.E.L.T (bacon, egg, lettuce and fried green tomato) sandwich. The eggs Benedict have never let me down! They also have an option for never-ending mimosa's during brunch for $14. They aren't kidding either, your glass never gets emptied. They continually walk around with pitchers of mimosas to top you off!

    (4)
  • Kari S.

    Went here for brunch this morning and had a pretty good experience. I ordered the B.E.L.T. and it was of good quality. My only critique would be that the waiter tried to rush us (and we had probably only been there start to finish for 40 minutes.) My husband had finished his meal rather quickly, and I was only halfway through mine when the waiter dropped the check.. Anyways, I would come back because of the bottomless mimosas. This would be a huge bonus when I have my friends come to visit from NY.

    (3)
  • Bruce K.

    Oh no. I have to finish this one. I've gotten so wrapped up on things to do I forgot to finish my time in DC (a trip I went last year) and what I had was some amazing oysters. I walked in here with a fellow yelper, because well lets face it sometimes you need some help with a place that's a little unknown to you. One thing he told me that I had to have in DC was their variety of oysters. Luckily, there were some on the menu and we were at the right time to get different types of oysters. The wait staff was wonderful and helpful, as we were pretty choosy on what we wanted. We decided to get a variety and a combination of oysters, as our adventures going out to eat everywhere was starting to fill us up. (We had just came from eating Japanese food down the street.) We had a couple glasses of wine, savored every last oyster, and headed back out. The crowd here was quite relaxed, with a nice bar and I believe it was part of a hotel. Now, if I was staying here, I would probably do that to start off the night. Some oysters, then a little couple glasses of wine and then head out to eat more. If I'm ever in the area, I'll definitely come here and try out their other menu items (plus the oysters). I enjoyed my experience and am looking forward to more experiences.

    (4)
  • Dan D.

    I will now compare Jackson 20 with the Jackson 5: I've been a fan of the J5 for years. Classy music with a family vibe. Was little Michael talented, or what?!? Music-wise, it's point J5. What a great place is J20: Fine food, friendly service, large portions, fair prices...just a nice dining experience. Food-wise, it's J20. We started with the corn fritters, of course. Five big, tasty ones with a spicy avocado sauce. Yup. I had the Carolina pork sliders with a Port City brew, she had a crazy BLT with a Manhattan and a Virginia Gentleman. The "BELT" had fried green tomatoes and a fried egg. Point J20. So there ya go; on this occasion, tasty chow won out over sweet soul music. Highly recommended.

    (4)
  • Yasmine B.

    Just came out from a fabulous dinner at Jackson 20. All I can say is 'get the trout'! What a fantastic dish - the 'hen of the woods' mushrooms are an incredible pairing - the taste is exquisite!

    (4)
  • Lindsay W.

    Enjoyed my breakfast here this morning. The downsides (but small deals): scary wobbly table and waiting 15 minutes for our server to come by. Upside: server apologized for delay. The space is very pretty as a restaurant of Hotel Monaco. I'm not sure if you can sit in the courtyard while you eat, but if possible, you should, because it's beautiful. I got the bagel with smoked salmon and it was excellent. My colleague got the 2 egg breakfast and said it was also very good. Not too overpriced how some hotel restaurants can be, but not sure how the dinner menu is.

    (4)
  • Nikki B.

    Don't be fooled... This is not some ordinary restaurant attached to a swanky hotel (Hotel Monaco) . Jackson 20 is where Backdoor Bar-­B­-Que meets Downtown City Chic! Jackson20 has all your fav "porky" dishes but slightly upscale with the down home flavor you crave. This is just a local favorite of mine and I go here all the time. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and BRUNCH!! Just give me a reason and I'm there! Jackson20 is always the meetup spot for me and my girlfriends or catching up with family. The Staff is great and will assist you in whatever you may need. For instance one time I didn't know the parking meter code or app to pay for parking. The Manager himself walked about a block in the cold just for me to get the information. Lets just say...I felt "special" . Now onto the food! The menu is limited but when you do just about everything right you don't need an extensive menu. Here are a few of my favs: Breakfast - ­ Everything is pretty much a la carte ­ I normally go with the "Three Eggs" Any way you want and it comes with Bacon or Fresh Ham, Hash Browns and Toast, then I normally add Pancakes or Cheddar Grits. Lunch - Pull Pork Sliders or the Fried Cod Fish Sandwich are both great choices! Also the Tavern Burger, The Wedge Salad or "Make your Own" Salad and add on the Lima Bean & Ham Soup or French Onion Soup. Delish!! Dinner - Ribs! Ribs! Ribs! You just cant go wrong with that. Corn & Ham Fritters for Appetizer.(served all day long) . The Side dishes are just okay nothing to write home about. The main focus is on the meat and the main entrees. Brunch - No more Bottomless Mimosas ! :-­( They stopped due to VA laws. Now they serve regular mimosas for $3, specialty Mimosas (avg price $10-­$12) or you can get a bottle of Champagne w/ OJ for $25. The best Brunch Food Item is the B.E.L.T ! Or opt for the other breakfast items. Ps. Also during the Fall season Jackson 20 has a "Pig Party" once a month which is an awesome event to attend . Also, during the the Pig Party season, I believe you can Special Order your own roasted pig and they will Roast a whole pig for you to pick­up and take home.. How cool is that????

    (4)
  • Ben T.

    We risked our lives to come here one snowy evening in Alexandria and it was still packed. :) Jackson 20 is the perfect example of the increase in quality hotel restaurants. Nice open dining room greets you as you walk in. The bar is overlooking on the left which also boarders the kitchen. This is a place where I could come again because they serve classic dishes that always impress. We were excited for an excellent wine selection. Our meal was prepared quickly and cooked well. The menu is one where I was stuck between a number of options which leads me to believe that I will be returning. As for King Street goes I would place Jackson 20 in the upper half. I was satisfied with all aspects of the dinner and left wanting more.

    (3)
  • Joseph W.

    Good atmosphere, good food, service was great. I would go back. Gf liked it so I am happy.

    (4)
  • Andrew L.

    I have come to Jackson 20 for cocktails and appetizers several times. The pierogies and fried green tomatos I've had are both quite good, but I would mostly like to focus on the cocktails. Since the whole craft cocktail movement started 5-6 years ago, I've tried pretty much all the big spots in the area: PX, Gibson, etc. However, Jackson 20 has been THE best experience I've had, and I've never needed a reservation for the bar. The bartenders have never failed to put on a great show (last time, the guy sitting next to me had a cocktail that involved a crystal skull full of smoke and setting some thyme on fire), and make an even better drink. It's got to the point where I simply trust the bartenders enough to tell them what I like, and let them get to work. As I noted in one of my other reviews, I am NOT happy with what PX has become--if you want the best cocktail in Old Town and likely the DC area, have a seat at the bar in Hotel Monaco.

    (5)
  • Amber H.

    Would give it 2.5 stars but was told by the wife that since I can't do half stars to round up. It was very very loud. Small space with my large groups. We met friends for brunch/lunch and the waiter could barely be heard and it was difficult to hold a conversation. The menu was completely different than the one they had online to include their choice of alcoholic beverages. The food was mediocre at best. Plenty of other fun places to eat downtown. Definitely a pass for us.

    (3)
  • Jake P.

    To keep it short and simple... My wife and I come here a couple times a month and have always really dug the place. It's one of the few local restaurants that really, really put some care and love into the food, service and experience as a whole. Last time we were there we had a credit card issue that I noticed the next day. One phone calll and one of the managers Andy took control of the situation without skipping a beat. He turned us from occasional bar patrons to loyal and lifelong customers in the time it takes to make a Negroni... Be awesome and spend some time here. You will leave happy and saucy and full and whatever else you want to be and you'll be wanting more. Cheers to a real restaurant who truly wants to make your night great. Oh yea... When your patting Andy on the back for this one during the team meeting, go ahead and give him a paid night off or something. I bet he makes you a ton of money....

    (5)
  • See W.

    So I've been here a few times and let me just start of with you better be prepared to spend some cash! Drinks are prob the most expensive in the Old Town Alexandria area. That being said they are good. The bartenders def know what they are doing. The food is very good too. The ribs literally fell off the bone. So good. The Mac and cheese is excellent. Bathrooms are clean. No prob there. The floors, yes the floors. They can be quite slippery! Not sure why but I've seen plenty of people slip. No falls. Just pay attention when walking to the bathroom. If this place was priced better is give it 5 stars. It's just crazy expensive. For 2 for dinner with 1 drink each the price was $150 before tip! That's just a lot of the old town area.

    (4)
  • RaShonda R.

    I'd heard of Jackson 20 for a while but had never been as we don't frequent VA. When my fiance's Uncle was in town, he asked us to choose a place in Old Town Alexandria, near where he stayed I instantly thought about Jackson 20. I made reservations online the night before, there were plenty of time slots available for Sunday at dinner time. It's a cute spot with nice decor in the interior. I was slightly disappointed that we couldn't sit outside since they only have 2-tops on their patio. Anyway, our waiter Anwar came over and took our drink orders. They had your classic Manhattan and my drink the Mexico City was practically a Manhattan but with tequila, it was ok. We ordered the corn and ham fritters because they had a promotion where if you took a picture with Bessie, a large copper pig, and tagged it them on Facebook you'd receive that appetizer for free. Wasn't impressed with the fritters. They could've been fried longer, there wasn't much ham, and the avocado dipping sauce had no flavor. Fortunately, they were free. We also ordered the Garden Tomato Salad, that was definitely the highlight of our meal. It included a variety of tomatoes, a little burratta, and a delicious onion marmalade. For our entrees we had the Bison Hanger Steak, Spare Ribs, and the Crabs and Grits. Our Uncle was unimpressed with the hanger steak and said even though he ordered it medium (based on our server's recommendation) it was still hard to chew. My fiance had the ribs. They were nicely seasoned and the sauce was tasty. As for my crabs and grits, they were really lightly fried soft shell crabs in grits. Not at all what I expected, but I should have asked how the crab was prepared. The sauce and the grits were good but I wasn't feeling the crab. Overall, I'd have to say we were less than impressed with our food selection. The service was great and Anwar was there just enough to check to see how every thing was going and to take our drink orders. It's always nice to venture out but I doubt we'll be back.

    (3)
  • Sofia W.

    I came with family for dinner, and although our server was pleasant, he was incredibly slow. The ambiance was so so and almost had a sports bar feel, and none of the Southern Charm as advertised on the website. The food, was not that great. I had the cod that was covered in something that tastes like granola. It could have been good, but I do not think it was executed well. Don't think that I'll be going back.

    (2)
  • Matt R.

    The house-cured prosciutto with super thin sliced melon, ramps and blackberries was a fantastic intro to our meal. Accompany that with a very very well made Manhattan and a different version using some french fernet, a bitters substitute with a kick. The Goat with sweet potato ravioli was perfectly cooked and fantastic. You don't see goat on a menu very often and glad this was executed perfectly. Without question, I'll be dining here again. Service was well executed and timely. Finished off with a very nice Irish coffee. I can say without question that I will be dining here in the future

    (5)
  • Travis S.

    Easter brunch was amazing! I am glad we had reservations because if not the wait would have been dreadful. They menu had a lot of options and the food was delicious. The buffet was 45 per person and kids under 5 eat for free.I had blueberry pancakes and a create your own omelette for the first meal very tasty. Second plate was all fruit fresh and sweet. The service was great by the way if parking is an issue park at the hotel next door for $6.00 can't be the price.

    (5)
  • Jeremy J.

    Jane is the hostess. Thank God for Jane. Because our waitress seemed stymied by our choice in wine and was somewhat distant the whole night. Our food was good, not stellar (we had bison, goat, and ribs), and the service was inattentive -- our Durango-born waitress notwithstanding, one plate of three was bussed away and the rest of our party sat there with dirty, empty plates. Thank god we had good wine. As we approached the end of our meal, I spotted a creepy-crawly scurrying across the floor. Turns out it was a large cockroach. I stomped it and returned to my meal. Moments later, Jane the Hostess, is over my shoulder as asking if everything is all right. I say yes and then mention the squashed bug under the edge of our table. She looks, is taken aback, and says she will tell the manager right away. A good while later, after one of our three plates was taken away, the manager comes over, seemingly unaware of the "water bug," to check on us. I point out the roach to him as an air-quote-water-bug-air-quote, and he says that "summers are the worst for water bugs. We have a guy who comes once a month to spray, but it's just the perimeter. They still find their way in." He then smiles politely and walks away. Another few minutes pass. Two of our three plates are still on the table. Our wine is almost empty; we're ready to go. Our waitress ultimately returns, takes our remaining plates, forgets to offer us dessert, and brings us our requested bill. As I'm signing the check, Jane the Hostess returns and asks if the manager came by. I say yes, that he he seemed a little cavalier about the bug, which is still next to my foot, and he walked on to check another table. She seemed perplexed. We pay and leave. But thank God for Jane. As we were leaving, she grabs my elbow and places two 20% off coupons in my hand. "These don't expire, ever," she says. "I hope you decide to come back. It was a pleasure to have you." Jane the Hostess, from the very beginning, seemed genuinely concerned that we were sitting at a "very nice table" and that the "water bug" was addressed, and that we should be apologized to. Thank God for Jane.

    (1)
  • Katrina C.

    I came here for restaurant week with several of my coworkers here back in January, and had a good time. We had made a reservation since there were about 8 of us, but it wasn't really necessary as the place was pretty empty. For the appetizer course, I started with the Caesar salad, and I think almost all of us enjoyed the fried chicken as our main course. The skin was crispy and hot, and the meat was juicy and flavorful. It came with french fries, which were just okay. For dessert, I had the seasonal gelato, which I believe was vanilla. Nothing super special. Our sever was very pushy on the lunch menu, which really turned off a lot of my coworkers. In addition, considering the restaurant was near empty, he was very slow and inattentive.

    (3)
  • Chelsea A.

    This is going to become a stop every time I'm in DC. The Brunch menu is awesome! I can't stop thinking about the Biscuits and Gravy. We also got the eggs benedict and the slow cooked beef brisket hash. They were both very delicious. You're lucky if you go with someone who's willing to share their plate! Also something I really loved about this place was that you can see right through the kitchen. The atmosphere is just great, along with the decor. Afterwards take a little stroll on the waterfront.

    (5)
  • Nicole K.

    Hubby and I made a reservation thru open table b/c it was a 1000pt reservation. Was surprised to see it was a restaurant in Hotel Monaco. Hostess was nice, and the area was fairly empty. We got there @ 4:45 pm for a 5:00 reservation. We were sat immediately to have drinks before the kitchen opened. Hubby had beer, I had wine. Both were decent priced and had an ok selection. Appetizer was a bean and ham salad to split (plenty for two). Dinner - hubby got the bison hangar steak (good) and I got the small portion of the shrimp and grits (awesome; and the small is huge). Total cost was $101. Not a bad price for the food. Will come back someday, but I'm not going to canx plans to be there anytime soon.

    (4)
  • Melissa P.

    I generally use yelp to warn others about places not to waist your money. However, I had incredible service by bartender Al (5-27) and felt it was important to write a review on his behalf. Al is extremely knowledgable in whiskey and bourbon and his service is exceptional. A gentlemen at the bar told me Al is the best bartender in DC. I would have to agree.

    (5)
  • Kimberly W.

    I've been here twice for brunch and have enjoyed my experience each time. After reading some of the reviews, I was worried about the service, but after experiencing two different hostesses and two different servers, I can say the service I experienced was great. The hostesses were accommodating, and the servers were knowledgeable and attentive. As for the food, I enjoyed it. It was about what I would expect. I had the eggs benedict the first time and the french toast the second time. Both were good. I would say I wish that SOMETHING came with the french toast, and I didn't have to order a la carte, but I see that is common around here. Also, the french toast is made with raisin bread. Now like most level headed people, I believe raisins shouldn't be in things, but this was actually quite good. It's also worth noting that the second time I went was during the St. Patrick's Day Parade which meant it was pretty busy. Even with the crowd, the service was still fantastic. I plan on making this my go-to place for out of town guests and when I want something reliable. Tip: Make a reservation online through yelp. I did it the morning of both times and had no problems. I do tend to go to brunch earlier (10-11) rather than later so I can't speak to the late crowd. One more thing: What happened to the bottomless mimosas? Everyone keeps asking me if I had them, but they were $3 (still not bad) when I went there. Bring back the bottomless mimosas!

    (4)
  • Kathy M.

    Came here a couple of years ago and food was good (nothing to brag about) so I came back just because I was in the neighborhood. I order a glass of wine and the Pimento Cheese Ravioli which was REALLY GOOD, After my food was served my waiter never came back, as I sat waiting I notice other people had bread baskets and was offered refills and dessert. So the service is not the best

    (3)
  • Dan C.

    I went for brunch as part of a party of six on Sunday, November 2. I had high expectations, as three members of our party had previously dined at Jackson 20 for dinner, and provided a strong recommendation. The space was refined without being over-the-top, and the Southern brunch menu had me excited. Unfortunately, that was where things topped-out. To start, we ordered two of the fried green tomato apps and the biscuit & sausage gravy for the table to share. The fried green tomatoes were soggy and limp, and not crispy as I've enjoyed throughout the South. I had to use a knife to cut the tomatoes. Fried green tomatoes don't have much flavor on their own, and are all about the texture, so one can imagine how disappointing this was. The biscuit was huge and decent enough (moist, but perhaps a bit doughy and dense), but was covered with bacon gravy, and not the advertised sausage. We also ordered a side of the Anson Mills cheese grits. Anson Mills are heirloom grits from Columbia, South Carolina and are served in numerous fine dining restaurants throughout the country. Ours arrived with a porridge consistency and had a milky taste. The cheese was lazily thrown on top before the dish was put under a salamander. What a waste of an excellent top-notch ingredient. As an entree, I ordered the pork barbecue sliders with a side of Benton's bacon. The barbecue was tasty, with a nice sweet-and-smoky flavor, but there was only a forkful on each of three tiny, over-toasted sesame rolls (there was char on top of the rolls), so it was hard to get a sense of the dish. Please consider using two larger soft rolls (brioche), which are far more appropriate. Maybe for $13, you can put a whole two forkfuls on each of two rolls. Just a thought. The side of bacon that arrived looked, smelled, and tasted like it came off the Sysco truck. When I pointed out to the waiter that this was not, in fact, the Benton's that I ordered, he became indignant and insisted that it *was* Benton's. Benton's is a premium smoked bacon from Tennessee, and has a distinctive color, thickness, and flavor, and the smell can't be missed across the table. I was served ordinary table bacon (for $6, no less), and I started to get pissed that the waiter told me--in so many words--that I was lying about an ingredient I've eaten dozens of times. Benton's is a high-end product and could never be mistaken for ordinary grocery store bacon. The manager did come to the table and thanked me for pointing this out, so that the staff could be properly trained. Why a brunch chef chooses to carry three types of bacon (apparently, there is a peppered bacon that they use on one item) is beyond me, especially, as the waiter later told me, they don't serve very much bacon during dinner service. My girlfriend ordered the turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese, avocado, arugula, and tomato on harvest bread. She left the dill aioli off (she doesn't eat mayonnaise), but complained that the turkey was dry. The Swiss cheese was melted and cold, which she found quite unpalatable. Not-quite-half the sandwich made it into her belly. I know that folks in the DC area gladly overpay for crap every day of the week. But I think the brunch chef at Jackson 20 has committed too many sins against Southern cooking to even use this as an excuse. The cut for two of us, including tax and tip, was $80, and none of the food was any good. I've had far better meals at the pancake shop in my neighborhood, for a quarter of the price.

    (2)
  • Katherine L.

    Came here for brunch today and extremely disappointed to see they no longer offer bottomless mimosas at brunch. Now I'm going to have a find a new go to spot for brunch. It was far less crowded than normal at the restaurant as I figure the bottomless mimosa was their big draw.

    (3)
  • Giovanna P.

    We headed over here after a few drinks at Bar PX because we were craving a charcuterie board! When we arrived we ordered 2 drinks: Lee's Temptations & Virginia Gentleman. They were both nice strong drinks in the correct way, mixed well, and a large size. They definitely helped keep our buzz from Bar PX. We immediately ordered the charcuterie board since we were starving. The board came with an array of salami, lard, pickle, whole grain mustard, pickled onions, and other daily meat choices. It was a great app to enjoy our drinks. We followed that by ordering the gnocchi app which was delicately tossed in cream with perfectly seared pieces of panchetta. For our main course we proceeded by sharing the duck breast with farro and brussel sprouts. The flavor was also amazing on this dish however the duck was a little too overcooked. We informed the waiter and he agreed with us and offered a dessert on the house since we didn't want to send the duck back but wanted to let them know it was too well done. I've never been a huge fan of eating at restaurants inside hotels but the food was amazing and the restaurant really did a great job. I will definitely be back again to try their talked about brunch!

    (4)
  • Ken C.

    I am a little surprise about this place always with long wait for brunch. Since this place is within the area of the hotel, so do expect to pay extra more for the same quality of food. I didn't get a chance to see how serve on table because I hate to wait. So, we end up at the bar which actually much faster service and side talk with the bartender and visitor from out of town. The food is OK and nothing outstanding or bad. I need to go back for happy hour or dinner to feel the atmosphere. It is a good place is popular for family and groups. However, I think the night will be the best for couple.

    (3)
  • CK C.

    I always sit at the bar and the bartenders provide excellent customer service, I don't feel that I am just another customer. Andy always remember my choice of beverage. My new fav spot.

    (5)
  • Aiyana M.

    I only go here for brunch on a Saturday and pretty much get the same thing....they are consistently good. Love the mimosas...only they used to do bottomless and now it's like I think 3 bucks a glass. :-( The ambiance is sophisticated & nice and of course it's in Old Town so there's plenty to do when you're done.

    (4)
  • Michelle C.

    My only experience with Jackson 20 was for some drinks at the bar on Saturday night. There was a nice selection of wines by the glass and I enjoyed a crisp white so much that I took notes so I can attempt to track a bottle down at home. The beer selection was solid and included several offerings from Bell's, a favorite of mine. The bartender made a tasty espresso martini to my specifications. Not sure about the food but this was a solid spot for a drink at the hotel.

    (3)
  • Aubree W.

    Me and a group of friends went here for brunch on New Years Day. (We made reservations) Service: Service was slow. The waiter seemed like he was possible distracted by something going on in his personal life perhaps...im not sure. He gave us water without straws and when we asked for straws he only brought one back to the table, there were 5 of us. When our food came several of us needed ketchup. He brought out 1 small container of ketchup in one of those little dishes for the whole table. So we had to ask for even more ketchup. He never came to check on us to see if we wanted refills or if everything was alright with our meal. It was kind of like he disappeared. It also took us forever to get our check because like I said he disappeared. Food: I ordered the French Toast (which was made on raisin bread) with a side of sausage links. The food was ok but nothing to write home about. They have $3 mimosas which was awesome though. All in all I'd have to say my visit here was just ok and I won't be returning. There are better brunches out there.

    (2)
  • Jade Y.

    Apparently a 3-star yelp rating means the experience was "A-OK", which is exactly what it was. There was nothing wrong with our meal, but the food was not particularly spectacular either. Welcome to "fine Southern dining". We ordered the squash blossoms and tuna carpaccio for appetizers. The squash blossoms were stuffed with hummus, deep fried, and accompanied by a cucumber yogurt mint salad. Not bad. The tuna carpaccio was thinly sliced, covered with herbs/spcies, and came with some wafers. Also not bad. For our entrees we ordered the half-rack ribs and the softshell crab with grits. The grits in the crab dish had a nice texture but were too salty. The half-rack was nicely cooked, but was nothing special. To be completely honest, I've had much better bbq that did not cost an arm and leg (our bill came out to be a little over $100 including tax/tip). Bottom line? Again, nothing wrong with the food. If you're in the area or are staying at the Hotel Monaco, go for it and come to your own conclusions. I'm just not necessarily compelled to come back.

    (3)
  • Giancarlo B.

    I have eaten lunch here several times and came for dinner the other night. It was absolutely phenomenal! We had an heirloom tomato salad which was made with pepper jelly and fresh burata served with a smudge of candied red onion that was a fantastic combination! The fried green tomatoes were delicious with a house made sauce and cooked to perfection with a nice light breaded coating. I had the soft shell crab and grits that were oh so good, the grits were delicious and were not drenched with butter like so many other places. The grits also had a very nice texture. My friend had a NY strip that was tender and delicious. We split the banana pudding which was just amazing! I forgot to mention the iceberg wedge lettuce we also split served with a wedge of blue cheese and a few slices of crispy bacon. The overall meal was just fantastic, our waitress was charming and attentive as well. We had the opportunity to speak to Chris the manager who we could tell was so into making everyone's experience exceptional! We can't wait to return and try so many good things we saw on the menu.

    (5)
  • Lynne V.

    5 stars for the bartender Adam, 3 stars for the food. I sat at the bar because I wanted to watch the playoff game, but I needed something nonalcoholic. Adam made me a mocktail that tasted like summer in January! It was a fresh berry lemonade, more tart than sweet, with a bright hint of lime. He told me that it was a special he created with his niece - sweet! I can only imagine that the regular cocktails are just as delicious. He was attentive and friendly, even though there was a steady stream of other orders. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger, which came with coleslaw, fries, and pickles. The pickles were the best part. They were thick cut and sweet/ tart. The cheeseburger was huge but the flavor was average. The coleslaw was mostly soupy dressing, with very few veggies. The dressing was average - not that different in flavor from what you buy in the supermarket. The fries were soggy, not crisp at all. I love fries and rarely leave any on the plate, but I didn't finish these. Overall, the ambiance was nice - not too loud, and great for conversation. I will absolutely be back for drinks, but I'll probably skip the food or opt for simple bar snacks.

    (3)
  • Bryce A.

    A group of 6 of us decided to celebrate finishing our 10 mile run with brunch and some bottomless mimosas at Jackson 20. We ate inside, though it looked like there was also patio seating in the front and courtyard tables in the back. I'm not sure what it is like on non-George Washington Parkway Classic weekends, but on this particular Sunday the place was packed, so I would recommend reservations. Food was a mixed bag. Several people in my party had the Eggs Benedict. They were very good, and if that was the only item everyone had ordered this review would be an easy 4. The eggs were poached perfectly and the hash browns came with what I think was a homemade ketchup. Unfortunately, the other dishes were not quite up to par. I ordered the Turkey Avocado, which was really dry. It was alright once I added some of my salad dressing to it, but that is really something that should not have to be done with a sandwich/pita. One of my friends got an order including biscuits which seemed like the dough had been handled too much - decent taste, but they were kind of dense and cakey. Service was good. The waitstaff made a couple of minor errors with our orders, but our waitress fixed them pretty quickly. The bottomless mimosas were great and if they turned out to have a bottom, it was only for a very brief period of time. The waitstaff kept up with filling our waters too. Our waitress was friendly throughout our visit and happy to split the check when we were done. Overall, great service and decent prices, but hit-and-miss food. Might be willing to go back, but if I do I may just get the Eggs Benedict.

    (3)
  • Tom G.

    Ughh. Very disappointed. We went for the Thanksgiving buffet in the ballroom. The food was very good; wide variety and very nicely prepared. The ballroom was a square room with uncomfortable seating and literally no decorations. Felt like a warehouse. Service was as bad as it could be - could not find our waiter on several occasions. We ended up busing the table ourselves after our soup. Could not get him to bring additional drinks, so ended up going to the bar ourselves. $45 each plus drinks for this mess. It only got 2 stars because of the quality of the food.

    (2)
  • Anna L.

    We've been here for brunch a few times now and drinks in the evening just once. The bar is definitely busy on a weekend night, but service was spot on and we never had to wait long at all. Service at brunch was equally good - greeted promptly, food arrived quickly and bottomless Mimosas and waters kept full. Usually I am very pleased with my selections. I've tried the biscuits and gravy as well as the eggs benedict and farmer's omelet. All were good, not the best I have ever had, but definitely not the worst either. I will say I find the brunch menu fairly limited - basic choices but nothing really outside the box. This time I noticed the B.E.L.T. on the menu which was described as bacon, over easy egg, lettuce and fried green tomato on toasted brioche. I love fried green tomatoes so this definitely piqued my interest. The sandwich was served with hash browns - these were ok, but somewhat reminiscent of the frozen variety. Apparently I am not familiar with what brioche truly is because both times I have ordered it, it reminded me of really thick icebox toast - not what I expected. There was very little bacon on my sandwich (not even two half slices - it was barely noticeable), my egg, sadly, was not cooked over easy as specified and there was an abundance of iceberg lettuce. The fried green tomato was ok - just not as crisp and flavorful as I expected. My sandwich was actually a bit on the cool side which might explain the hardened egg yolk. If I were basing on my review on this meal alone, it would not be three stars. My husband and friends seemed to enjoy their selections so I'll chock it up to a bad selection on my part. The mimosas were good and kept full. The dinner reviews seem to receive better ratings so I would definitely stop back sometime to give them a try. I might look elsewhere for more variety for brunch.

    (3)
  • Chris S.

    Forget about it. Best in Old Town. Start with the fritters, fill up on the steak, close out with the espresso martini. You won't be disappointed! Warning, this is Americana. the drinks are mostly whiskey-based.

    (5)
  • TamandJojo J.

    My fiancé and I stumbled across this gem for brunch. I randomly found this restaurant based on Google and location and I was not disappointed. Though the search engine mentioned unlimited mimosas that promotion was no longer valid. I ordered the eggs Benedict and my partner ordered the 3 eggs any style. Everything was fresh and the hash browns were amazing, I only wished I had more. Will add this location in our brunch rotation.

    (4)
  • David H.

    Only tried drinks here but very friendly service, they know their stuff here. I enjoyed the "Old Hickory" which is a rye whiskey drink named after Andrew Jackson of course. They also have top notch biscuits and cornbread to be sure to give a basket of these a try. I'll be back for a meal here and one interesting note, the first casualty of the Civil War died in this building. There's a plaque describing it out front or get your waiter to tell the entertaining story.

    (4)
  • Angelique A.

    Incredibly great service at an incredibly dog-friendly place! Great food too. I had the gazpacho and the fried green tomatoes, both were excellent my friend had the fried green tomatoes as well. The gazpacho came with some sort of yogurty-flavored sorbet in the middle of it with a sprig of basil. It was DELIGHTFUL (especially when you want something refreshing after a long walk). We stopped in after a 4.5 mile walk and both of us were a little tuckered, but my 11 year old Chihuahua-mix was more than a little tuckered and very thirsty (and he refuses to drink out of the community dog dishes that everyone in Old Town puts out for the dogs - he must be a bit of a "diva", but thanks to everyone in Old Town who does that). As soon as we sat down the extremely friendly hostess brought him his very own clean dog dish and then filled it with fresh, cold ice water and gave him some treats....heaven for both of us! I'm a dog person and having a place like this so close to home (I live in Old Town) that is so dog and people friendly means that I'll be frequenting much more often. Thanks to all of their great staff tonight who kept all 3 of us hydrated, fed and ready for the 1.5 miles more to get home. Loved it!!!!

    (5)
  • Rosie E.

    This place used to have great brunch. It seems that every time I return the service gets worse. I had the eggs Benedict. They were good, but not great. The service and atmosphere is what made this visit less than satisfactory. The server brought my check less than halfway through my meal, he returned to check the bill before i finished eating. The restaurant was no where near full so I don't see what the rush was. I could have ignored that, but through most of meal i heard the hostess and another female employee gripe ( a little too loud)about a customer ( possibly a coworker, but sounded like a customer). This what not the brunch experience we were looking for on a Sunday morning.

    (2)
  • Mary Jo Lisa C.

    Went to Jackson 20 during a holiday weekend. It was surprisingly busy, but then realized they were all out of towners. This restaurant is attached to a hotel. That should have been our first indication. The service was great and so were the drinks and appetizers. The gnocchi and French onion soup were awesome and I would recommend. However, the main course was lacking in taste and flavor. The chicken dish was ok, and not very creative. The baby back ribs were cold and yet charred and the BBQ sauce had a lot of vinegar in it. The worst part of both dishes were the mashed potatoes. They were clearly boxed and not homemade. The cooks only used water to mix them because they had zero flavor. When this was brought up to the waitress she said they were homemade and that the cooks were pretty good at whipping them up. Lol. I love waitstaff that doesn't listen. I might go back for a drink and apps on my way to another restaurant...actually, probably not. Also, the table next to us was having a similar experience. The couple was commenting to each other the lack of taste in their meals. Did I mention how pricey this place is? It's pricey. So many other options in old town. Don't bother coming here. I feel bad for the tourists that end up eating here.

    (2)
  • Jessi B.

    delicious mimosas, decadent french toast, perfectly crispy hash browns, and insanely fast and friendly service. what's not to like?! this place is delicious!

    (4)
  • debbie a.

    Mediocrity.... I came here with a party of 5 during restaurant week to experience a southern gastronomical journey.... We all left unsatisfied. While the decor is nice - country/industrial chic and the service was just so-so (probably because our party of 6 automatically had tip of 19% added to it) the food was... just..so.. uninspired. None of the flavors seemed well integrated with each other.... and everything was just off. The ONLY good thing was the awesome biscuits that come at the beginning of the meal... Appetizers: Deviled Eggs - "ok" Beet Salad "just ok" Bitter Green Salad "the crispy sliced pig's ear is cripsy but has no flavor... the salad is SUPER bitter, and I like bitter salads.." Chicken and Dumplings "all I can taste is paste..flour paste" Entrees: Fried chicken - "crispy but not seasoned evenly" Trout with Almonds and beurre blanc with Kale and Apples "I dont get why the apples were even there... to balance the kale? the Kale was ok, but it doesnt make sense with the trout.. it did add to the flavor complexity or anything..." Charcoal roasted Goat "Oh its like pulled pork, but with Goat. The ravioli tastes like it was stuffed with the powdered Kraft Mac'nCheese Cheese..... NOT good" Beef Stroganoff... the short ribs were cooked well, but the pureed peas made no sense.. and I like peas" Fried Green Tomatoes.. "eh" Dessert: Banana Pudding - pretty good, but the burnt banana chips were kind of too bitter to even be added Mexican Chocolate Cherry Bread pudding - crunchy topping was ok, but it tasted burnt and the coffee ice cream didnt really go well with the dish Apple Cobbler - some of apple chunks are COLD and the crumble/cobbler bit has burnt pieces.... Overall, we aren't coming back... everything was just not worth the cost..

    (2)
  • Jennifer C.

    The drinks are great and I was seated right away. I ordered the kielbasa and pierogies. It was so good, that now I only make my own pierogies if I also make kielbasa to go with it! Lovely Old Town spot.

    (4)
  • Domonique W.

    I am still having dreams about how good the B.E.L.T (minus the B for me) was!! Like amazingly good, the best brunch sandwich I have ever had! This place is super busy for brunch, best to make a reservation if you can. Seating at the bar is first come first served.

    (5)
  • Cherie B.

    The staff was completely accommodating of my large party (on a slow night) however, they gave us the rudest waitress I've encountered in a long while. She literally questioned the tables intelligence, never returned to the table once the food was ordered until we found her and didn't tell us her name until we asked due to the fact the table was appalled at how rude she was acting. The food was ok and I'm ok not to return. I think they are ok with that as well. Sidenote: a southern themed restaurant with NO hot sauce is not fit to be bothered with. Shout out to the manager Helene for being totally accommodating!

    (3)
  • Alex F.

    Went here for Christmas Eve dinner to get a "fancy dinner" and was not disappointed. The atmosphere in this place is pretty cool, good decor and sound level. Not super intimate and has more of a lunchy feel to it, but I was not disappointed. We started with the American cheese plate, which came quickly and was delicious. I was impressed with the high quality and variety of cheeses that were from this side of the Mississippi! For my entree, I ordered the Braised Pork Osso Bucco and my wife got the Crispy Skin Scottish Salmon. Both were delicious and were exactly what we were looking for on our night out. The polenta went so well with the braised pork and was cooked perfectly. I got a Jackson 20 Gin and Tonic to start, and I don't think I would order this again. It wasn't really anything special, though it was on the specialty cocktail menu. Didn't taste any of the additions that were listed on the menu, like the ginger or the herbs. My wife's 2 Sins cocktail was excellent, though. One complaint I have about the inside is that they don't have a double door on the entrance, so any time someone opens the door and you're sitting in the first couple of rows of tables, you get a cold blast from the outside. It's very noticeable and kind of distracting. The service here is good, the waiter was very attentive and our food was served at an appropriate time. The waiter served me a great glass of wine that went well with the braised pork (I don't know anything about wine, so he made me a recommendation). Also, he was knowledgable about the menu items and seemed to have tried many of them. Overall, great dinner experience and I would go back there again.

    (4)
  • Keri B.

    Not that great. We ordered a burger and a hangar steak, both medium rare. The steak was a full medium to mid-well, and very tough. The burger was well done. Neither were seasoned well. The burger came with fries, but we had to ask twice to get ketchup to go with the fries.

    (2)
  • Adrienne L.

    I'd really forgotten about how the D.C. area thinks its food is so diverse and amazing and cute, but if you've lived in another major city, you'll quickly find this hype to be just that. My amish chicken was pretty bland, and I didn't even finish the side of potatoes. If I'm not finishing a side of potatoes, I was either served 2 pounds of them or they weren't very good. It was the latter, unfortunately. We didn't even stay for dessert, because I'm not a believer in calories just because. I should have known better to try Southern food in what is absolutely not the South.

    (2)
  • Lori W.

    Andy = best hot buttered rum drink EVER. Guilty as charged...I had three. Able to take the Old Town Trolley back up King Street and walk home. Tator tots with 3 dipping sauces - yummy! Cheese plate - delicious cheeses but rather small portions. Had read about this drink on line and my 3 gfs and I went there for drinks. Head to Jackson 20 before this drink goes away for the next seasonal drink.

    (5)
  • Michelle C.

    They have under $20 wine list. Love it! Fried green tomatoes- It was my first time having this dish ever. But from the comments of my colleagues who are well-versed in fried green tomatoes, the tomatoes were cut a bit too thick. Wedge salad- blue cheese dressing was amazing! Thick, creamy, and very complimenting. Shrimp & Grits- AWESOME main dish! By the time entrees came out, I was a little tanked from cocktails and $20 bottles of wine, but from what I can remember, it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I ate it all. the whole thing. Not a single grit left. Very creamy grits, perfectly-cooked shrimp (so big and juicy it could have been prawns). Dessert- I don't even know what it's called.. All I know is it had some mint cake thing with melted marshmallows smeared across the plate and it was beautiful! I've got several pictures uploaded because I don't remember enough after the fried green tomatoes, but trust me... food was great!! Service- Must have been great because we were never short on wine!

    (4)
  • Randy G.

    We stopped in here one evening to watch the football game when we noticed the fried green tomatoes on the menu. I can't pass this up! They arrived as they should, deliciously golden brown fried, deliciously cut thick, and deliciously sweet. You won't be disappointed. Since they delivered one nice late evening snack, I was hoping that they would do the same with breakfast. I tried their Eggs Chesapeake: two sunny side eggs on top of crab patties with a side of hash browns. I would take this instead of eggs benedict anytime. Who needs the english muffin or ham when you can have a crab patty. What's nice is the crab cuts through the dense flavor of the eggs and sauce so that its not missed. It has all the delicious crab flavor I was hoping for. When you add the hash browns, it completes it with the grease and crunch. Not to mention, it looks so clean when they cut it precisely in their presentation. FYI, if you order the fruit plate, be prepared to share it with someone. It feeds two.

    (4)
  • Tricia W.

    Good food, excellent service, and quite convenient for hotel guests. No fifth star basically because the pricing at dinner was a little disproportionate, when one considers numerous other fine dining options within easy walking distance. Yes, those others are pricey as well. Breakfast, on the other hand is a very good value. You don't get the "hotel restaurant" vibe here at all by the way.

    (4)
  • Joey W.

    I'm docking a star because the bar tender is an egotistical arse. That won't stop me from going back for amazing food though ... I'll just steer clear of the bar. I've been here for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Every time the food is spot on and I love the "anything but average" menu. The servers Re great, helpful, and really personable. Definitely go and try something new! Oh! And order the Beet Eater. Ah-mah-zing!

    (4)
  • John S.

    We had a great breakfast. Our server Leo was great. He did a great job taking care of our special needs. I love Jackson 20 because they are the only place in town that serves actual hash browns in addition to home fries.

    (4)
  • Thomas J.

    After front-loading my hours, this work week, left work earlyish to get a head start on the holiday weekend. Got home and wife asked if we could go to lunch. I said, "sure, where". She replied "Old Town?" Parking in Old Town is always kinda dicey, so parked in the first free spot on King Street we could find. It was about a half block up from Jackson 20.Wife noticed the folks sitting at the outdoor seating and looked at menu posted outside the front door. Selection looked suitable, so went inside to get service. Place is nicely appointed. The kitchen is decently open and inviting looking. Bar appears to be well stocked. Hostess sat us and gave us menus. We each ordered off the specialty cocktail menu. Wife's was apparently some gin-based drink that she really liked. I ordered the "Hemingway Daquiri". Interesting drink. Starts out with a really pleasant smell and taste. Unfortunately, as you breath in after swallowing, it finishes really poorly - almost a patchouli like taste. So, either don't breath after drinking or pick something else to drink. I ordered the ruben for my main. Really competently-made. Starts with a really nice marble rye, topped with a conservative amount of meat and a really decent sauerkraut, and just enough dressing to add flavor but not so much to make a mess. Came with herbed fries, what seemed like it coulda been house-made ketchup and some really nice house-made fries. Wife had ordered the wedge salad. It was a bit minimalistic in its presentation: a wedge of iceburg with a slice of bacon balanced on top and a wedge of blue cheese on the side. Came with house-made pickled onions. Side note: if you take a picture of yourself with their pig statue and post it to FaceBook, they apparently give you a free appetizer. The day we were in, it was their fritters. The fritters were rather tasty. The dipping sauce could have afforded to be a bit zestier, but, overall was really damned good - especially for being free.

    (4)
  • Caro B.

    This review is solely about the bar. Andy, one of the bartenders, is a genius. If you happen to be a fan of bourbon then you're cheating yourself by skipping this spot which features a number of interesting cocktails with a bourbon base. However, if you're willing to be adventurous just talk to the bartenders because they are really masters of their craft. I had an incredible smoked old fashioned with a twist. That was months ago and I am still telling people about it like it was yesterday. I do not do this often people. The snacks they have at the bar are good; we've tried the pretzels a few times and enjoyed them each time. Since this is still a hotel restaurant drinks are not cheap; however, they are worth every penny. Life is too short to drink bad/weak cocktails. In a city like Alexandria and a touristy location like King Street with lots of bars and restaurants, Jackson 20 stands out as a great pre or post-dinner drink spot.

    (5)
  • Matthew D.

    My wife, son, and I tried Jackson 20 for the first time for Sunday brunch. It was great! That atmosphere is nice, the service was friendly, and the food was very tasty. I had the brisket hash, my wife had the B.E.L.T, and my son had the raisin cinnamon french toast. We also shared an order of the ham and corn fritters. All was excellent. We'll definitely be back and look forward to trying it for dinner too.

    (4)
  • Mattie C.

    First off, this place is attached to the Monaco Hotel, so expect it to be expensive. Secondly, just a random comment, but I HATE the decor, both within the hotel and in the restaurant - its like this funky modern really bright design and none of us liked it at all. As for the food, I had a turkey avocado sandwich, which was good, but not particularly memorable. I wish they had more than one omelette option, because that is what I had initially wanted but I didn't like the ham one they had on the menu. The bagel with lox looked good, but came with an almost comically small portion of side onions. And it cost $12! It is difficult to shell out that amount of money for such a common food as a bagel. I don't know.. I recommend looking at the menu before going for brunch because I feel like the options are limited of the common brunch foods and expensive at that. Without the turkey avocado sandwich or the burger, I'm not sure what on the menu I would want to order, though maybe that is a personal taste thing. As for the service, it is a dilemma for me because on one hand, I like servers who are friendly and engaging and consider that good service. On the other hand, it can be overdone. Our waitress was very nice, but EXTREMELY chatty. It was a little awkward because we would get stuck in conversation with her and it would be hard to get a word in edgewise or to politely end the conversation. It got a little bit annoying in all honesty and was disruptive. So, for me this place is a tad too expensive, the menu items are OK-ish and the overly friendly service made me feel a little uncomfortable and I didn't like the ambiance. With all the other good places, around here I have to say this is a "skip it."

    (2)
  • Gus S.

    They no longer offer "bottomless mimosas" for brunch....but will sell you a magnum of champagne and refill OJ for $25.00. I had the bison steak and eggs...not bad but not very big either for $20.00. If you're looking for definite portions and a decent atmosphere its a good place. Definitely not for someone looking for large quantity.

    (3)
  • Charles H.

    J20 is an awesome place to celebrate a special occasion! During one such event we dined on: * Shrimp Fritters * Caesar salad * Trout Almondine * Pork Chop Four shrimp fritters were delivered to our table on a spread of comeback sauce. The sauce resembled a spicy thousand island dressing. The Caesar salad was nicely prepared with fresh Romaine, classic Caesar dressing, croutons, and anchovies. Normally I do not eat anchovies but I have to admit it was a nice pairing along with the fresh thinly slice Parmesan. The Trout Almondine came with a lemon brown butter sauce, a fried apple cut evenly and braised kale. I believe this was my first braised kale experience. Fortunately the texture resembled spinach greens. One of few veggies I'll eat. The pork chop also came with a fried apple yet paired with a baked sweet potato covered with molasses, brown sugar, and bacon. To my surprise, we finished all of our food even the salad. Although the dishes above were cooked to perfection and tasted great, it did win me over as an all time favorite. However, I am willing to try a variety of their food during brunch in the near future.

    (3)
  • Erica Y.

    We tried brunch here last Sunday and the place was jam packed. We arrived right on time for our 11:30 reservation, and the table was not ready. The hostess told us we can wait at the bar and the first round of drinks are on her. That was a nice gesture. My friend and I both got a mimosa to try, she tried Poinsettia which is Champagne, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice, and it was delicious, light and bubbly. I tried Ma'mosa which is Champagne, Grand Marnier, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, it was way too strong and way too sweet for me, I would pass next time and get the Poinsettia for sure. They came to get us to our table about 15 minutes later. The place is packed so tables are very close to one another. But you don't have to worry about other people eavesdropping as the place is so loud you can't hear anyone. I think that's my biggest issue with this restaurant, it's the noise. Our waitress was nice, and we got a lot of food to try for two girls. We ordered Shrimp Fritters, Virginia Crab Cake, Three Egg Omelet, Cheese Grits, and biscuit with jam and butter (as a side). Loved everything. Shrimp Fritters are delicious, although on the salty side. Love the crab cake and the fried green tomato that comes with it. Wish there's no onion in the salad, but I know next time to ask them to hold the onion. I am not a grits person but the cheese grits was creamy and very good. The biscuit was ridiculously big and very good with jam and butter. Oh, how can I forget the hash brown! It's so cripsy and the best I've ever had! Definitely would come back for the food and the mimosa (next time might do the bottomless for $12). I would love to try their Turkey Avocado Pita or BELT! Regarding the once a month pig roast, it's usually on the 2nd Wednesday night, unless it's a 5 week month then it's on the 3rd Wednesday. It's $40 a person all you can eat and it's in their courtyard. I am looking forward to trying that at least once this summer.

    (4)
  • Amanda M.

    I've been here a few times, once for dinner and twice for brunch. The most recent visit was for brunch this past Sunday. Both my friend and I forgot it was Easter (heathens) and Jackson 20 was packed when we arrived around 11:30. We were lucky enough to get the last two empty seats at the bar. Between the diners seated at the bar and making drinks for the entire restaurant, the bartender was slammed but she did everything with a smile and was a joy. I ordered the bottomless mimosa for $12. With the price for the specialty mimosas set at $8, $9, or $10 - it was a good deal. My friend had the bloody mary - it was average. We are both spoiled by places like Whitlow's where we can make our own bloodies. I wasn't starving so I ordered the biscuit and gravy. One large biscuit and gravy. I've had this before at Jackson 20 and have to say that this visit I was disappointed. The biscuit was a bit hard and they had cut it in half, buttered it, and it appeared as if it had been placed on the griddle. Not what I expect or like in a biscuit. Now, the gravy on the other hand? Amazing. It is described as a pork sausage gravy (aren't they all?) but this one had a sweetness to it (maple syrup possibly) and also some sage. In addition to the sausage, it looked and tasted as if there were a few chunks of ham/thick cut bacon in the gravy. If the biscuit had been better, I would have given Jackson 20 four stars. My friend had the bagel and lox and a side of cheesy grits. She was disappointed that the red onions weren't raw, that there wasn't any lemon, and that the cream cheese wasn't whipped. The grits were creamy, cheesy, and smooth. And served in a cute little cast iron dish. Small little changes would have earned Jackson 20 a fourth star. I will return sometime soon and give it another try.

    (3)
  • Marissa C.

    The two best thing about Jackson 20: the rustic interior and the delicious cocktails! I started with the honeysuckle cocktail which has ruby red vodka, grapefruit juice, honey syrup and muddled ginger. The drink was really delicious and refreshing. For dinner, I ordered the Kielbasa entree which comes with pierogies, sauerkraut, and beer mustard - I was impressed by the portion size. The kielbasa was really delicious with a snappy outside and moist interior, and the sauerkraut was great as well. My friend had the pork ribs which come with apple cider slaw and macaroni salad. This was really the only let-down of the dining experience. I was pretty unimpressed with the tenderness of the ribs. (If you've read my previous reviews you know I'm a stickler for falling-off-the-bones barbecue). The flavor profile was great, and they give you an extra side of bbq sauce to add as you go along, but I really don't think I should have to naw and pull to get the rib meat off the bone...just sayin' The sides were all delicious, the bread basket that they put on the table is phenomenal. Our server was helpful and knowledgeable, and if you score a window seat it makes for some great people watching on King St.

    (3)
  • Michael M.

    I went here during a business trip while staying in Alexandria and it was a good experience. The trout almondine and hanger steak were quite good. Interesting and tasty salads as well. The place has a nice twist on southern food and I recommend it if in town.

    (4)
  • Maddison F.

    It was my last day of vacation in DC and my friend and I were wanting to grab some brunch before my flight. She's a local and said Jackson 20 has a great brunch so we wound up there. I had initially ordered the Chesapeake Benedict, eggs poached hard, and my friend ordered the French toast, we sipped some bottomless mimosas while waiting for the meal. About 30 minutes had passed and our server came up to us, asked what we ordered (shouldnt he have already known?) and went in the kitchen to check. He then brought our food out and left. Our food was COLD and my eggs were very runny. Apparently a food runner couldn't find our table so just left the food in the kitchen. Both of us coming from the restaurant industry, we asked our server to re-fire the food since it was inedible. He then came out 5 minutes later, said the kitchen was closed and they wouldn't make the food again. After he saw the looks on our face he said he would go back into the kitchen and see what he could do. He came out 5 minutes later and said they had "made new dishes"...nope, it was microwaved or reheated somehow. Shouldn't the restaurant know that leaving runny eggs out for 30+ minutes and reheating them is a serious risk of food poisoning?! At this point I refused to eat my dish. We had asked for a manager but a manager never came to our table and instead relayed his or her messages through the hostess. Their way of remediating the problem was to give us an extra mimosa (since the brunch window had passed) and offer to open the kitchen up, make us new dishes (making it sound like an utter inconvenience for all) and not take ANYTHING off the check. I'm not sure where they learned customer service but it's not up to an average standard. My flight departure was fast approaching and we asked for our food to go as I had to be in DC within the hour. Needless to say next visit to DC I definitely won't be going back and my DC friends haven't either. The "to-go" food was mediocre at best. Mimosas were great!

    (1)
  • Lily L.

    Time of Review: *May 11 @ 11:00am, brunch for 5 Jackson 20 is located inside the Hotel Monaco. Service: * The service was pretty good, and everything happened in a fairly timely manner. Food Quality/Selection: * The brunch menu is an okay size and has most of the popular dishes like waffles, egg dishes, and sandwiches for those who may prefer non-breakfast foods. I ordered the eggs benedict that was presented beautifully with a side of hash browns. The Virginia ham was a bit too salty for me though, but that's just personal preference as Virginia ham tends to be salty. Cost: * Probably between a 2 and 3 dollar signs, not cheap but not through the roof either. Parking: Depending on when you arrive, there may or may not be 2-hour metered parking on the streets. of course you can always pay a little more to park in a nearby garage.

    (3)
  • Ericka C.

    Bottomless Mimosa's were great & priced under $15. I sat outside on the patio and had a great time. I'll check this place out again.

    (4)
  • Jillian B.

    So after a few months of living in OT, we decided to give Jackson 20 another chance (partially because I was feeling a bit bad about not giving them a second chance and also I wanted a 1,000 pt reservation on OpenTable). They definitely turned it around for us this time and I am convinced it was all because our waitress Kaylin set a great tone for our evening. She was friendly and knew the menu - a huge improvement from our last encounter! Our food and drinks were great. I had the Hemingway Daiquiri, gazpacho on the menu, and the special of bison brisket. All were great, delicious and an awesome combo of flavors. I think the chef does a great job of combining different textures as well. Great evening. We will definitely recommend Jackson 20 now and I am sure we will be back. I'm glad we gave it another chance!

    (4)
  • Brian G.

    One of the top brunch spots in Old Town. Consistent across the board when it comes to what you order. You can get filled on any one of the entrees that they have for brunch. Service is usually top notch as well. Make sure you make a reservation for brunch though which can get quite crowded. The waiters make sure that your bottomless mimosas glass never gets empty. That is really important when you are going with a big group who want to get their money's worth on a Saturday or Sunday morning. It's great for parties and they can handle a table of 8+ very well. We stopped in on Sunday morning with some friends and had a great time. Jane who works at the front during Happy Hour and dinner time during the week is one of our favorite people in Old Town. She always takes care of us. Must hit if you are looking for a good spot in Old Town.

    (4)
  • Julie B.

    The cocktails were great and I liked the atmosphere. The bison steak was delicious. The mushroom gnocchi was ok. I didn't like the lobster dip app. It was pricy for what it was. We had a big group and had a great time. I had issues with my food but they were very accommodating.

    (3)
  • Charmie S.

    So Jackson and I did lunch this time. He picked up the tab. But even if he didn't, I still would have been back. Manager Becky took care of us. We had 2 of the house burgers: J20 burgers. They were done just to our taste. Giovanni our server even brought us corn and ham fritters to try. He gave us recommendations and let us enjoy the meal. The fritters...that is a unique app! Well seasoned and crispy on the outside. I was actually pretty full with the app. It's that good. The burgers were medium well as I requested and the plate came with a hefty salad! Overall, I am glad Jackson gave me another chance to like him. This is much in part to Becky Bray. Jackson understands what customer service is all about and made sure we did, too. Thank you!

    (5)
  • Alex N.

    I imagine (hope) this was an isolated incident, a result of poor hiring/training/management or a combination of the three. First, on the positive side, we arrived at 9:25pm for our 9:30pm reservation and were shown outside as requested. The hostess was pleasant and presented my girlfriend and I with the menus, gave us our servers name, and wished us a nice meal. The basket of pre-meal biscuits and cornbread muffins were wonderful. The bison hangar steak and cedar plank salmon were also great. Conversely... Our server was so bad that I questioned if he hated money, as his service suggested that tips were of no importance to him. Here are the high(low)lights of the meal... - While our table was open at the time I had made the reservation, we were sat at a table with tiny puddles of condensation that hadn't been wiped down from the previous diners. - Our server (arriving 10 minutes after we sat) never introduced himself/welcomed us in/apologized for taking 10 minutes to recognize our presence. Simply, "What would you guys like to drink tonight?" - Cocktail took an especially long time to arrive, though this could easily be the result of a weeded service bar. He gets a pass here. One should note that the cocktail delivery would be the last time our server visited the table until we had finished our entrees. But I digress. - A gentleman in suit delivered our entrees, I assume he was the manager which makes it more embarrassing that he did not recognize that both of our waters were empty. - Water glasses would remain empty throughout the entire entree. - After we had both finished eating, our server arrived to ask if we were enjoying everything. Hahahaha. It was at this point that he recognized a friend in a passing car and had a short conversation with him over our table. As it would have been rude to interrupt a reunion, we let him finish and then requested a refill of our waters. He would oblige eventually but only after leaving the restaurant to continue the reunion on the sidewalk. Seriously. Again, the food was good and the other servers working outside seemed friendly, knowledgeable, and keen to the idea that service is directly proportional to tip percentage. Will we be back? Probably not.

    (2)
  • Katharine G.

    I still like this place a lot, but you have to pick the right dishes. Last night, we had the crabcake (tasted funny), butter lettuce salad (too sweet), ribeye (amazing and huge!), beef stroganoff (wonderful), strawberry shortcake (good!) and plum clobber (just okay). We love the wallet-saving $20 bottles of wine. We had the shiraz and it was fine. The service by Ted and the greeting by hostess Jane made us feel welcomed and treasured. We will be back soon.

    (4)
  • John S.

    Located within a Kimpton hotel, you get a fairly decent ambiance. That's about the sum of what I have to say good about the place. The service is sub-par. And the food leaves a lot to be desired. Our party had 6 people, and no one sang any praises for their food. The best pick was deviled eggs appetizer. I would wholly stay away from the painted NY steak (it was dry and yet undercooked for medium rare at the same time -- quite a feat). If you find yourself here and you like spaghetti, go for it -- with meatballs. But for $26 or so for spaghetti, you might hate yourself. Again, the waitstaff was totally underwhelming. I actually found myself *thirsty* during the meal (if you can believe it) because of the lack of attention we got during the meal. And that's saying something; we had some pretty ladies with us ;).

    (2)
  • Adam W.

    We visited Jackson 20 for brunch on Saturday, Aug 30. There was a moderately sized crowd enjoying the standard decor of your in-house hotel restaurant. We started with the country ham and corn fritters. Absolutely delicious. The order came with about six fritters and a very different, but very tasty, avocado ranch. The rest of brunch was standard: nothing glowing to report, nothing bad to criticize. I ordered the turkey sandwich, which also included the avocado ranch. The girlfriend ordered a farmers omelette, which was standard and bottomless mimosas for $15. Okay restaurant. With plenty of great options in the Old Town area, I think I'll probably check out other places in the future before Jackson 20. However the convenience for guests of the Hotel Monaco will ensure its survival.

    (3)
  • Christa F.

    This is one of my favorite brunch spots in the area. Two words - bottomless mimosas! Says it all, right there! Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I've sampled my way through most of the brunch menu and can vouch for almost all of it. The eggs benedict is a favorite (particularly with the crab cake), so are the different sandwiches, and the soups. Oh, but stay away from the shrimp fritters because they kind of stink. If you are fortunate enough to dine here in the spring or summer, sample the gazpacho. It is unforgettable and I die a little inside when I eat here and it is out of season. The service is amazing! You will never get acquainted with the bottom of your champagne flute or water glass. My only complaint is that it can get very noisy and crowded at times.

    (4)
  • Jodi M.

    One of my favorite brunch spots! Amazing food and unlimited mimosas. It gets a bit crowded during weekend brunch, so you may want to make reservations.

    (5)
  • Kay G.

    Dinner last night with my new boyfriend .... The only reason I'm giving 1 star is for the hostess who was the only woman working. 15 mins at the table no water or drinks. I flagged down a guy I'd seen working bar on a previous visit who seemed bothered that we needed food and drinks. He took our order. Drinks out 10 mins later which were good.... but again no waiter:-( Food came out 15 mins later. No waiter!!! The food was OK ..... After a 20 min wait we flagged down a bored waiter to pay the bill. For $100 I'd have liked better service.

    (1)
  • Nina R.

    Decided to check out Jackson 20 for Alexandria Restaurant Week, 3 course prix-fixe dinner for $35. One word....HEAVEN!! I made reservations through Open Table for a group. The menu on their website was abbreviated so I called the restaurant directly to make sure I understood the prix-fixe dinner options. They were very accommodating and called me the day before to confirm. 1st course: Wedge salad with blue cheese, pickled onions and bacon bits. Crisp and refreshing. Awesome. 2nd course: the half rack of the bbq ribs, + collard greens + mac-n-cheese. Also Awesome. The ribs were full of smoky flavor, fall off the bone tender, the collards had delicious flavor, and the mac-n-cheese was superb and gourmet like. Fancy cheese or something. I couldn't finish the entire meal so I had it wrapped to go. 3rd course: some sort of apple cobbler with nuts, almonds and small scoop vanilla ice cream. I was seriously not impressed with the dessert. My friends ordered the bread pudding and they said it was awesome. I was too full to sample their dessert. Everyone in my party really enjoyed their meal. We're not picture takers but each meal was presented like a work of art. Spirits were on the pricey side in my opinion, like $12 for a cocktail, $11 for a glass of Pinot. I ordered 2 glasses of wine and only wished I had shared a bottle of wine with someone instead. I was so impressed with this place. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Pete A.

    I would not typically go to a hotel restaurant, but Jackson 20 is the exception. Been several times and each time is terrific. The charcuterie plate is OUTSTANDING!! The Pilsner on tap is my favorite and its delicious. Prices are a touch high, but I'll cope. Definitely will be back.

    (4)
  • Megan T.

    Jackson 20 is perfect for happy hour! The bartenders are always friendly, and it's quite a deal. If you're going to have dinner, I recommend starting with happy hour and then taking advantage of the outdoor seating, which will give you a charming view of King St. The food is southern-- and delicious!

    (4)
  • Danielle S.

    MINUS ONE STAR for taking away the Mimosa menu. Now, their brunch has only OJ and champagne, like any other brunch. No more pear or grapefruit mimosa. Boo!

    (4)
  • Geoff And Jenni G.

    We stayed for 3 nights at the Kimpton and had continental breakfast included in our rate, which was served at Jackson 20. We found the inconsistency unbelievable and the staff somewhat surly, unhelpful and unknowledgeable. - Day 1 - no choices on tea (loose leaf in a pot), no options for not wanting an awful looking muffin and very poor service - Day 2 - choices for tea (loose leaf in a pot), given the option to exchange the awful looking muffin for toast and also told we could have oatmeal instead of the continental breakfast (we did)... service better - Day 3 - choices for tea (teabag in a mug), had to ask for toast instead of the muffin and got half as much toast as the day before (1 slice) and when we asked to exchange the continental for oatmeal were told that wasn't possible (eventually they did but it took a while!)... service slow/painful... All in all, very inconsistent and not that great... maybe they should adopt some standards! ;-)

    (2)
  • Sonia T.

    On a trip back to my old stomping grounds of DC, I decided to spend the evening in Old Town, actually spend the day and evening while my s/o was at work. I wanted to wander around on my own, do some shopping, and soak up the gorgeous fall weather. That I did, until I started raining on my head. I ducked into the first place I saw, which was Jackson 20. Attached to one of the Kimpton's, Jackson doesn't have your normal hotel-y bar/restie feel. It could easily stand alone with out the Kimpton name. I had to laugh coming all the way from Texas, looking over the menu to see a bunch of barbque places. There was no way in hell this place could compete with anything from the South? Certainly not our home grown kick ass mac and cheese. I mean, places in Houston will ribbons for their mac and cheese. I was feeling adventurous, so I ordered one mac and cheese and one Maryland crabcake app. I also grabbed a very good glass of Chardonnay, and am now kicking myself for not remembering the name. Grabbing a seat at the bar looking out the window gave me a great seat to people watch in the rain. I was shocked. This mac and cheese rivaled ANYTHING I had had in Houston. It was served in a little pan, with the crispy top, exactly the way I like mine. It was delicious. I had BEG the bartender to take it away, PLEASE! The crabcake was remarkable. Super fresh, super lumpy, and the sided fried tomato was interesting. My only complaint was that I wanted to bring my s/o back for dinner or drinks, and each time we went back they were packed! Good problem for them to have. Without a doubt, I will be back for that mac and cheese!

    (4)
  • Josh S.

    You cannot miss with Jackson 20. I'm not even sure where to start with this review. For starters, check out their website ( jackson20.com ) to read about the awesomeness. Here is what you need to know: Jackson 20 is awesome and is pork and Virginia centric. As soon as you walk in there is a giant metal pig tastefully (trust me) there to greet you. That is your first clue about what you are about to experience. If you grab a table the napkin rings are little pigs as well. The menu pays homage to Virginia and specifically local ingredients. The cocktails are very good, especially their bourbon drinks (yes, remember your history and you will know bourbon was from Virginia). The menu can be described as a modern version of comfort food - perfectly worth of Old Town. Don't think for a second this is some sort of trade on Georgia Browns, it is it's own. I have to admit I have had almost everything on the bar menu - you can't go wrong with the tots, deviled eggs, or the burger. I have not had one less than terrific item off of the regular menu. Seriously, the Virginia Cheddar Mac N Cheese might change your life. The 7 steak - just try it! It is amusing to listen to tourists eat there rave about the food and "having no idea." Parking is actually easy to find on the street (side streets) or use the parking garage right next door on Pitt. You should also know that Jackson 20 is attached to the Hotel Monaco - a Kimpton property (great hotel by itself). Also, during the warm months they host a doggy happy hour in the courtyard so bring your four legged friend. Lastly, they have a mailing list and a facebook page to join if you want to keep up with that they have going on - worth it for the special events.

    (5)
  • John H.

    Our first visit to Jackson 20 turned out be a pleasant surprise. We had looked at this restaurant in the past and somehow never made it, but finally we were able make a last minute reservation. The food here was excellent! The homemade biscuits were great! Far better than the usual mundane bread served by other establishments, even the high end ones! I had the cedar plank salmon and roasted cauliflower and I have to say I was impressed. She had the curry goat which was good as well. I would recommend everyone try the banana pudding for dessert. They have a winner on their hands with this one! The crowd has nice and the noise level was moderate. A great place to dine and I will definitely be returning. A must visit for those serial restaurant diners like myself.

    (4)
  • Jenn G.

    Went for brunch back in October when my mom was in town. It was really nice weather, so a great day to sit outside in the patio seating. We had brought our dog with us too and I love that Jackson 20 is dog friendly and lets you bring your pet with you in the outdoor seating. My biggest annoyance was that the brunch menu was really small and limited. I had the crab cakes, which were solid, but there weren't that many options to choose from, especially as a quasi-veggie. We had good service and a good meal, but I will try some place new next time I'm brunching in Alexandria.

    (3)
  • Tracy N.

    Eat at the bar! The sliders, fries, chips, and little ham stuffed things are awesome. Haven't ventured onto the main menu yet but I've heard good things. My only complaint is that its a little pretentious and overpriced.

    (4)
  • Bevan C.

    Went in for Sunday brunch. A very eclectic set up with contemporary decorations and a very cool menu. Definitely try the bottomless mimosas or the Tango mimosa to supplement your meal. I had this fantastic dish called Chesapeake Benedict, a combination of poached eggs, crab meat and Hollandaise sauce served with a side of hash browns. Wait staff was a bit slow on the service, but their polite demeanor did help to level it out. The outside dining area allows dogs which makes me add another half star to my rank.

    (4)
  • Charles R.

    Place has changed the menu and the inside since the last time I was there. Really miss the great fried chicken they had, but the pork chop special was outstanding. Party of 8 and the service was very good. Everyone had a good meal and the cocktails are well made. The bar used to be more of a hot spot, but maybe we hit it on a off night.

    (4)
  • Jonathan A.

    Ate here with colleagues from work on a business trip and I was underwhelmed. Brisket was more fat than meat, shrimp and grits had an odd taste (not rotten but just like they mixed ingredients that didn't go together), they didn't have several beers listed on the beer list, and our server seemed distracted. Wasn't horrible but wasn't very good either. I'd stick with other much better options in the area.

    (2)
  • Sharon S.

    Overall: service was so poor that they comped our meal without having to ask. (if I could have put a lower rating I would have) When we arrived, the place was half full. We were told there was a 15 minute wait bc they "didn't want to over seat and wanted to ensure good service". After 15 minutes we were seated, we ordered, and waited... The table next to us was seated, served, and finished eating before our food came out. When our food came out 2 of the 3 orders were incorrect. When I mentioned we ordered something different the server snapped and said "well if you want something different you will have to wait at least 30 minutes". The waitress saw this and said she would speak to the chef. She then came back and said, "the chef said your order will be put at the bottom of the pile". We then asked for the manager. We explained to the manager how ironic it was that we had to wait for a table to ensure good service, we had not received it, and no one seemed interested in helping. The manager apologized and said she would take care of it. We then watched the tables around us get served. After what seemed like more than enough time we asked the manager again... She went into the kitchen and came out with our food. She apologized again and said she would comp our breakfast. She also gave us her card for next time we re in town. Nice sentiment however not likely going back. Note: the food was good when it arrived. Husband had Western Omelet, son had egg white omelet with spinach and cheese, I had the Greek yogurt.

    (1)
  • Eve L.

    Good wine selection, delicious brunch, fun to sit at the bar and knock a few back (especially if you're into before-dinner-drinks while staying at Hotel Monaco). We've come for brunch and loved it (lots of choices) ... and we've come for dinner (love their NY strip with a side of mashed potatoes. We've always had good luck with service and really great food.

    (5)
  • Courtney C.

    After being seated and ordered for 15 min, they informed me the meal was not available. The server was attentive until then but alas a 2 star review for not having food on your menu available. And the kitchen delay in letting the server know.

    (2)
  • Sweet N.

    Its okay. The food was decent. I wasn't that impressed. Ive had better food. However, my brother in law really liked it. Not sure if I would go back. The bartender sucked.

    (2)
  • Ryan E.

    BBQ, Steaks, breakfasts with unlimited mimosas!! Amazing food!! Don't pass this place up.

    (5)
  • Jeremy C.

    Breakfast was phenomenal and Service was great as well. Had the B-E-L-T sandwich and would highly recommend! Coffee was great which is key!

    (4)
  • Erik T.

    Drink presentation was impressive but food quality left a lot to be desired. Great atmosphere but came here for the food and left pretty disappointed.

    (3)
  • Ki C.

    I'm hooked on Kimpton properties and J20 is another fine example of the consistency in excellence in food and service. Anuod? Gave fantastic service and the food was a delight. The half price bottle of wine deal is a great reason to go on a Monday night.

    (5)
  • Elated J.

    I would have to say this was a great brunch! Brunch is my favorite meal of the day...sadly, it's not easy to find a good brunch in northern Va. My fiancé and I took a stroll through town and decided to stop here for brunch. I had the eggs, hashbrowns, and grits. He had eggs, hashbrowns, and salmon...neither of us eats pork! There was a $6 up charge for salmon, which I thought was over the top for folks who just don't eat pork! We thoroughly enjoyed! I only give it 3 stars because of all the pork options and non-vegetarian sides. They also can get pretty crowded on Saturday, but we still were seated quickly and without problem! You will have to add a fair amount of salt to your food because they don't cook with much seasoning. With that said, the food is tasty! We would go back for sure.

    (3)
  • Audra B.

    My husband and I sat outside on a warm summer night. Our table was wobbly, which got annoying very quickly. We had complimentry biscuits and corn muffins. The biscuits were fluffy and buttery, while the corn muffins weren't anything special. We had a few oysters that were OK. I will stick to Old Ebbit for my oysters. We also had a half of a cheese plate that was fantastic. I had a burger that was nothing special AT ALL. Fresh cut fries and coleslaw were the highlight of my plate. My husband had the ribs with collards and mac and cheese. Ribs were ok, collards were tender and flavorful, mac and cheese was rich and delicious. I would go back and try some other menu items.

    (2)
  • Brandy H.

    Quick Review: This was mine and my husband's second time here, this time we brought friends. The first time we went, (aprox. Fall 2011) the drinks were great and the bartender was awesome. We really enjoyed our first visit and thought highly of this place, enough to bring our friends back for some Old Town 'bar-hopping". When we arrived yesterday around 330 (very odd time) it was not overly busy, only 4 other people sitting at the bar, but within 10 minutes it was PACKED. I think there was an event going on at the hotel next door and it was ridiculous. We luckily had a seat, but only one bartender. My girlfriend was the first to order a drink and she received hers very shortly after ordering. The bartender was nice and seemed to know what he was doing...And then he started having issues. I really do not think they were his fault. For example, none of the beer/punch taps were working! They were spewing everywhere if anything came out of them at all. He was out of ingredients, and I do not think he was expecting his bar to get THAT busy so quickly. He easily fell behind on drinks, and we finally received ours. Others started crowding around us and made us feel uncomfortable, but we still sat there and enjoyed our drinks. Since the punch on tap was not working, the bartender made our friend a mojito instead, which was quite lovely. I actually felt really bad for the bartender and I know he wished all of his equipment worked. He also needed some help behind the bar, especially with the surge of patrons that flooded the place. I believe we will go back, hopefully on a better evening for the staff and equipment, but I do not think our friends had a good first impression, but perhaps they will give it another chance at some point.

    (3)
  • Meaghan M.

    Two words: Bottomless. Mimosas. For some of us the review of Jackson 20's brunch could stop there and that would be enough said. However, Jackson 20 offers so much more. The food is great and the atmosphere is perfect for a bright and sunny Saturday or Sunday morning of hustle and bustle. The crowd ranges from those just leaving church to those who are perhaps nursing a hangover or just arriving to their hotel from the night before. (It's connected to Hotel Monaco) It seems everybody knows Jackson 20's brunch is hands down one of the best in the area. The food is DELICIOUS! Always tastes fresh, is served at the appropriate temperature and arrives in a reasonable amount of time. Nobody likes waiting forever for cold eggs and/or waffles. Which by the way theirs are great! Oh and did I mention the bottomless mimosas!? Yes! And when I say bottomless it's a true bottomless. Your glass is refilled consistently as long as you're seated at your table. No matter what stage of the meal you are in. So please be adequately prepared to indulge and delight in their brunch service. The only complaint I had/have is actually in relation one of the best things they offer: the mimosas. There seems to be no standard recipe used or one person making the pitchers of mimosas so their quality is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes you get champagne with a drip drop of OJ (personal fave!) and other times you get what could probably be given to my three year old at snack time. What kind of alleviates this problem is that if you don't like it just down it and wait for a refill! Also the frequency with which they are refilled really depends on the sharpness and observation habits of your waiter(ess). The flutes on the table next to us were always full! We found ourselves waiting a little longer and more often than we liked to get ours refilled. But at the end of the day they were refilled. All in all I love this place. The food is delicious, the crowd is classy and fun, and the mimosas are BOTTOMLESS. Now that I have adequately revealed myself as a complete lush I hope you'll enjoy brunch at Jackson 20 asap. BTW: reservations are HIGHLY recommended!

    (4)
  • V N.

    2* based on a one and only breakfast experience. Positives: Location. Location if you're staying at the hotel. The pancake style hashbrown was decent and visually appealing. They provided an activity sheet and crayons for the kids. Milk for the coffe came in a chilled metal mini pitcher that kept the milk cold. If you're into these details but not the food then the place gets 3.5 stars for effort. Negatives: Disordered service. Service staff obviously discombobulated, when it came to who they were serving, and which patrons hadn't placed orders yet. There also was a lot of purposeless motion and activity among wait staff. It took 25 minutes to take our order and another 35 minutes to get our food. We were told that delays were due to one chef only in the kitchen... Really? No refills on my coffee. Orange juice actually didn't taste good; CVS was across the street and we actually wondered if they carried Tropicana... Omelet tasted like a quiche. Ham too salty. Over easy egg was closer to over medium. Food way over priced. Breakfast was half the price across the street, and the food was better there too.

    (2)
  • Nelson M.

    Great menu! Style and great customer service! Great location. Gosh, it's all good! Really!

    (5)
  • Meg H.

    I really wanted to LOOOOVE this place. It's swanky, in the hotel, and a great 10 minute walk from my house. Went to brunch today and felt it was average. I made a reservation, walked in the hostess clearly didn't have my reservation. They gave us a make shift table in the middle of the aisle. SO I felt waiters brushing by me every five minutes as they walked through. Not a great start! Our waitress seemed VERY stressed and frazzled. She took our orders and brought out our food. You know it's bad when you notice and think about how the waitress is completely absent. I ordered the bottomless mimosa...obviously...and it was strong and tasty. I had 3 so for the $12 price I felt good about it. I ordered the eggs chesapeake, which was eggs benedict with crab cake. Mine was ok, i've had better crab eggs benedict in DC but it was passable. My friend ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which for one had a great presentation coming out. She said it was delish. Overall it was a fun brunch, and Jackson 20 isn't a BAD option for brunch but i'd rather sit outside next time.

    (3)
  • Jim K.

    As far as restaurants connected to hotels, this place is pretty great. Good bartenders (that make killer Dark and Stormys) and everything I've tried there has been delish. A solid stop.

    (4)
  • Gary B.

    Good to great food, spotty service. Once the entrée is served service is pretty much done. One person ordered bottomless drinks. The bottom was still there once the main plates were served. The inside is very very loud, but the outside seemed like a great place to sit when the temp is 80 and below.

    (3)
  • Jason B.

    Stopped by for Mother's Day brunch on a whim. They told us they were booked with reservations, but would try to seat us in 30 minutes. 5 minutes later we were seated with our 2 year old and had a great experience. The service was great. The B.E.L.T. sandwich was incredible and definitely plan to go back just for that. The omlet was less than stellar, with the eggs being too think and not enough stuff packed in the middle. The potatoes were good and my daughter enjoyed the pancakes. Definitely plan to return.

    (4)
  • Jen K.

    I went here for Thanksgiving Dinner and for Alexandria Restaurant Week, each time it was so delicious, I felt like I was in food coma when I left. The staff is really friendly and the service is good. Great place for a date or to take family when they are in town, you will have a very enjoyable, delicious meal for sure.

    (5)
  • Taz P.

    HOLY RA!!! The bar-b-que ribs are mouth watering and sooooo good!!! This is a definitely good place to eat. Also great services and great sitting!

    (5)
  • Edward B.

    Had reservations for dinner on New Year's Eve with 2 friends. We were seated late, at a bar table in the crowded lounge. The service was poor, the highly touted "moonshine" drinks tasted like cough syrup, the food was adequate though uninspired. The corn fritters with avocado dip were good though. But you'd have to be a real sadist to screw up fried corn fritters. The staff at Jackson 20 wasn't sadistic, just in over their heads, at least from my experience.

    (2)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 2:3
  • Mon : 7:00 am - 2:3

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Valet, Garage, Street, Validated
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Jackson 20

Share with your social network

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.