As much as it annoys me that GAR basically markets the exact same restaurant just in different form all over the place, as much as it annoys me that there is at least a 60 minute way at any time to get into one, and as much as it annoys me that Jackson's has gratuitous use of adjectives in its name, I still actually enjoyed the food that I had here. It was a bit pricier than I'd care for, but overall it was a decent dining experience, I just wish it had more unique options over all the other GAR establishments. I came on a Friday night and fortunately we called ahead for seating and were told an hour wait. We arrived at the appropriate time but were still told a 20 minute wait. We almost left because it was so crowded and so loud. This is not the place for a relaxing dinner. Fortunately we were seated at a large semicircular booth which was off the side of the main dining...arena so it was a little bit quieter. Our party ordered the lobster mac 'n cheese which was ok but not as good as it could've been. The lobster chunks were huge, but VERY chewy, and there wasn't a whole lot of flavor. And our waiter didn't go it any favors by describing the dish as "noodles, velveeta, ham, and lobster". I ordered the spicy pecan and cranberry (I think that's what it was called) salad which had a very good champagne vinaigrette dressing and great texture with pecans, dried fruit, and a delicious fried goat cheese medallion. I would've liked more of it for the price, but from an enjoyment standpoint it was very good. While I enjoyed my food, I just don't think it's worth the wait, the crowd, and the price. Fortunately my sugar mama had a gift certificate which helped relieve some of the pressure on my credit card. I doubt I'll return, but if someone really wanted to come here I probably wouldn't protest too much.
(3)
Nicole R.
Meh. Jackson's is just another "Great American Restaurant" - and if they weren't called the "Great American Restaurants" I probably wouldn't say "Great". There's really no other way to cut it, it's just like Sweetwater, Arties and Coastal Flatts - super similar menu and slightly overpriced. The Crab Imperial dip was phenomenal as per usual, and the cheeseburger was decent too but not for a ten dollar burger. Service was great, ambiance was stellar, food was run-of-the-mill and prices were a bit much. I think that about says it.
(3)
Michelle P.
After visiting almost all of the Great American Restaurants i think i have come to the following conclusion: I'm just not cool enough to patronize them. I just dont get the hype. My ideal friday night is not waiting over an hour in a crowded, noisy bar, paying $7 for a watered down cocktail and then finally being seated, in an equally noisy area, only to be served fairly decent food that i could make at home and paying a ridiculous cost for it. But thats what you get at any of the GAR. We did the call ahead seating and when we arrived at our appropriate time, were told we had another 30 minutes to wait. We almost left, but stuck it out and only ended up waiting about 10. Once we were seated, we were met with one of the nicest waiters i've encountered and easily handled our multiple questions and requests (like water without ice to cure my hiccups).My diet coke was never left empty (maybe thats why i had the hiccups) and he was a nice guy too. So the food. The portions seemed way smaller than other places. I always get the same thing (chophouse salad with chicken) and they charged me $8 for the chicken! That seemed VERY high for some chicken add on. The food itself was decent, just nothing too exciting. The lobster mac and cheese was somewhat of a small portion for an appetizer, but i will say there were large chunks of lobster in it, so i guess it was worth the price. Still i was slightly more disappointed in my food then i typically am. Overall, i really just think i'm not cool enough to enjoy this GAR.
(3)
Rachel E.
My boyfriend and I were famished after his move to a new apartment. I've been to the other Great American restaurants and have had great experiences with the meals and services. I was excited when I noticed Jackson's serves lobster rolls. The first and last time I ate a lobster roll was a year ago in Boston. This was probably just as good as the original. My boyfriend's prime rib was a massive 16 oz.!!! It took up his entire plate. The steak was succulent...not too dry nor bloody. Service is top notch. Supposedly there are a team of waiters in each section. It's nice to get refills without asking.
(5)
M M.
This is another good addition to the Great American restaurants group. That said, the menu is mostly an overlap of the other locations such as Sweetwater Grill, Coastal Flats, Artie's, and Grand Carlyle. I was thinking they were trying to do a "best of" menu in tribute to the late Bill Jackson. So, good food, well prepared, but not too exciting. I didn't feel like trying the sushi there since that is more of a specialist meal for me, not an expensive appetizer to have before baby back ribs. It's definitely busy, so be sure to call ahead. The bar is noisy and crowded- fun for some...
(4)
Jason V.
My fiancee and I love Jacksons. Yes. It is just like Sweetwater and Coastal Flats, but we think the food is actually better than those. My fiancee usually gets their fish special/halibut. It is always cooked to perfection and is delicious. My personal favorite item on the menu is the duck burger, though I'm not such a fan of the cold rice salad that comes with it, I usually sub fries. My only complaint about Jacksons is that it is like a meat market for the bar-goers, but the dining area is always comfortable and the food has always been delicious. One of our favorite restaurants in Reston Town Center.
(4)
Ryan E.
Ahhhh, Reston Town Center. Where is that, you ask? "I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen." Ok, so obviously not Aspen. But my first visit there could have fooled me. As I drove into the parking garage next to Jackson's, I couldn't help notice the beater cars parked just in front. An Aston Martin DBS and a Nissan GT-R (R35). Pffffffttt. I can't believe the losers that drive those things..... *wiping drool from mouth* This is a review of Jackson's, right? Ok, sorry. Anyways, as I walked toward the restaurant, to the immediate left of my dream machines, stood the patio. Packed. Absolutely nowhere to sit or barely even stand. So, I met up with a friend and went inside. Same scenario. We weren't there to eat, only to drink our dinner, so we were lucky enough to find a spot at the bar just as some others were leaving. Now, this being a GAR, I won't really add much as far as food and drink selection go that haven't already been said about these places. Thusfar, I've found both to be consistently solid no matter which particular place I'm at. What I am compelled to comment on is the setting and atmosphere which it provides. I had a great time here with my friends swigging beers for a couple hours, people watching, and stirring up conversation with some barstool neighbors. Quite busy during happy hour, so if you're going to eat be prepared to wait, and usually hard to find a spot in the bar/patio as well. But overall, from a happy hour perspective, the drinks are good, and the crowd is more than interesting :)
(4)
Cory L.
Dont know how to give this a 2.5 star....ok, so anyways, been here 5 times. yadayada.....nothing special, same food as its siblings (Tavern, Flats etc). Sparing you the dramatics... Food ok - Salty Meats ok - Lobster Roll - first time was good..the next two I had..SALTY and I like salty food, I love Spam, im from Hawaii) Desert - Average The "bread" - excellento Bar - Crazy People - If you want to be around insecure doods who spray a lil too much cologne and dont know how to wear the right size slacks or dress shirts....this watering hole is full of those type of un-alpha males. oh, and for the guys who have to drive around the Lucky Bar in your supposedly "pimp" rides, going round and round the block twenty two times so you can park right in front..get a life....and to the guys with the loud bikes who have to park and ride loudly in front...get a life. Oh, the Service tho was excellent..they just need to improve on the food!
(3)
Janet S.
Went here for a girls' night out. It's part of the Great American restaurant chain, with its solid food and service. They have the sea bass from Coastal Flats and some interesting sushi rolls with macademia nuts. They have the donuts and bread here too. Yum...
(4)
Wai T.
Great food. Expensive, but very good. As many has mentioned, this is part of a small somewhat local chain of restaurant with different brand name. Namely, it is the cadillac version of Costal Flat. Their price for lunch is similar to Costal Flat's dinner. Now, the food is very good. Apple-to-apple, we had the "Hong Kong Sea Bass" in both location, and it's clear to everyone that the one at Jackson's is far superior. That was what my wife had. From recommendation of a neighbor, I ordered the crab cake. Unlike most other places, their crab cake is not spelled with a "p" at the end. It's not overwhelmed with the chesapeake spice thingy and you can taste the chunks of crab. It's all-chunk crab cake, so no filling, no flakes. Just chunk. We also had the spicy tuna sushi for appetizer, and it was not a disappointment either. OK, they might not be sushi experts, but their freshness definitely earns all the brownie points to compensate the lack of sushi making skill. We'll definitely go back again and again, after saving up 3 weeks on dollar-menu, that is...
(5)
Rob G.
Food was awesome! Hanger steak was perfect as was the filet...super tender and juicy and all the sides/appetizers were perfect. Service was top-notch!
(5)
Frank W.
Good food and great service. I think it's a little bit overpriced but still 4stars. The beer selection could be better for a restaurant which is so closely aligned with Sweetwater.
(4)
Meghann J.
Having grown up going to Mikes American Grill and Carlye Grand and now living basically next door to Sweet Water Grill, I know what to expect. Really they are all about the same, great service, pretty much the same menu with a modification here or there and lots of hype. My experience here was about the same as any other GAR when it first opens. We called ahead, so our wait was only about 10 minutes once we got there (even though we were first told itd be perhaps another 30), but the place was PACKED. But then again, what isnt always packed in its first year in Reston Town Center? Yes it is noisey, but what GAR isnt? Our server was fantastic and engaged us in conversation. The waiter was fun and worked with all of our requests, he was also happy to joke around with us. I ordered the lobster mac for the table as an appetizer. I thought it was pretty decent, and I would order it again. For my meal I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, which is a GAR standby, this is easily one of my favorite Grilled Chicken Sandwichs. The flavor is great. Boyfriend ate the other 1/2 of it the next day for lunch and he even commented that cold, it was a pretty kick ass chicken sandwich. I would easily head back here for lunch, but will likely wait a bit for the hype to die down before heading back for dinner on a Friday night.
(3)
John E.
Ok, so this review is mainly for the happy hour... The food is pretty good, but a bit overpriced. The bartenders are probably the best part of your experience. They likely have been trained to ask your name, shake your hand and treat customers well. Overall, the clientle are geared toward the corporate side with little diversity. Not the most exciting place for meeting interesting people...
(3)
Nandina J.
2 stars! Gasp! But let me explain.... 2 stars for the food. 4 stars for the service. Food wins out over service all the time, so the star rating is based on that. For a Wednesday night, it was super crowded. As said in other reviews, this place is LOUD! When you walk in, the bar is right there so it's pretty loud. When you're seated, it's much better, but still pretty loud. We were the farthest away you could get from the bar and were able to have normal conversations. I'm not sure how loud it would be right next to the bar though. My friends got there earlier than we did so they had ordered appetizers before hand. I do give kudos for the deviled eggs and bacon. They were pretty tasty. I really like bacon as well so that was delish to have the sweet and salty taste. The calamari was also pretty good, the taste was a nice change from the norm. I decided to give the lobster roll a try along with a side of the mac and cheese. I suggest going with another dish. The coleslaw was nice and crunchy, not too mayo-ey. The corn was pretty good since it was grilled. I would definitely not order the lobster roll again. There were huge pieces of lobster with some salad-y stuff on a hot dog roll. I would have liked it....but it was SO salty!!!!! I ended up not eating the whole thing because it was so salty. The same goes for the mac and cheese. The cheese had a good flavor, but the salt was so overwhelming. I think I drank at least 3 glasses of water tonight. Two of my friends ordered ribeyes and one friend ordered the prime rib. All of them got sent back due to the cooking not being what they wanted. The two ribeyes were medium, not medium rare and the prime rib was too rare. I don't really fault the restaurant too much for this one. Just an observation really. The service was good though and one of the managers came by and made sure the meats were okay. However, again, my food was way too salty and I was kind of disappointed. One of my friends had really hyped up the place so I was coming with pretty high expectations. Maybe I'll try going back again sometime later and try something that may not have as much salt. Time to go have a few more glasses of water.
(2)
Charlotte B.
MAINE-STYLE LOBSTER ROLL SANDWICH! Very satisfying lobster roll, heavy on the lobster and with the perfect crusty, buttery roll. Served with excellent coleslaw (tangy) and char-grilled corn (sweet, smoky). A good value at $19, especially compared to the lobster roll at Tackle Box in Georgetown, which although also tasty, is small and leaves you hungry.
(4)
Mark C.
This place is alright... Wish they had more than 10000 dudes in the bar area at all times. Its somewhat nice in the summer time when the outdoor patio is open but other than that its average at best. There are never any specials and they close early.
(3)
sherri s.
A rather large restaurant and only one table left open for lunch...says it must be a great place to dine! And it was! Service was amazing! Refill drinks brought over without even asking! The menu is just right...lots of nice choices and not overwhelming. I chose the smoked salmon ($16.00) and my coworker chose the steak Frites ($16.00) YUMMMM! My salmon was one of the best ever! It was cooked perfectly with such a great flavor...I wanted to lick my plate! The rice had grapes in it which was interesting but I prefer no grapes. My coworker raved about the steak and it did look delicious. I deducted one star because our ice tea cost $2.95 each...I know this is Reston, but come on...that is not necessary. It is a T-bag and H2O!! Anyway...I would recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Pete L.
Went to Jackson's for late evening for drinks and appetizers... place looks like with dark wood bars and tables, with two bars one near the dinning area and one more closed off for smoking area and for out door seating area for warm weather. Over all I could give 3 stars for food and service but place is way too loud to be an ideal place to seat down dinner. It's more for night out drinking club place with out any music. There are alway lots of people at both bars to meet and meet up with friends for drinks but I don't think I'll be going back for dinner any time soon.
(2)
Liam O.
Jackson's is great. Went here for lunch about a month ago. They, of course, have the typical awesome Great American menu, plus they have sushi! And it was quite good, too. I had the shrimp and macadamia nut sushi rolls and they were awesome. This place is definitely a solid restaurant and well worth a visit, I look forward to a chance to come back here for dinner some time.
(4)
Cindy B.
Thanks to other Yelpers who recommended the salmon, it's become the only thing I order here. They marinate, smoke and grill it. Then they top it with a creole mustard sauce. Super delish. I also love the asparagus that goes with it, cooked perfectly every time. Not too wild about the candied rice that goes with it, I usually ask for a substitution. When it's not busy we get the best service and are well attended too. When it's busy service is great but the servers are more spread out. Can't complain, either way it's decent service.
(4)
Lynne C.
My suggestion--don't bother; the Cheesecake Factory is much better!! We called twice last night to ask about beers and the length of the wait. Both times the receptionist barked something and when I asked the next question I realized she had hung up. I was so annoyed I called and asked for the manager--Eric. He apologized, said to please come to dinner and he'd make it right. He did come to our table, said the phones malfunctioned for a couple of minutes and said he'd make an adjustment on our bill. Our bill reflected NO adjustment. The receptionist is rude, the manager insincere, and the food fair. Don't bother!!
(1)
Lauren R.
Let's be honest, pretty much all of the Reston Town Center restaurants are overpriced. (Thank goodness for four dollar sandwiches at Potbelly.) Anyway, I'm quite disappointed that as soon as I end my two year tenure in Reston and finally leave behind my desk with a window view of endless construction sites (and businesses that have looked aaaalmost ready for months now), AT LAST the new restaurants open. I'd say Jackson's was worth the wait, and I'm slightly jealous that my friends at work have this fun new place to add to what was getting to be a tired lunch rotation. I really liked the atmosphere and menu, all of the food that came to our table looked good, and the salad I ordered was excellent. After a disappointing re-opening of ATR, Jackson's fills a needed space as a fun bar/restaurant that is thankfully missing the stuffiness theme of Mortons, McCormick's, and Clydes - it feels like a place where I'd actually want to go and hang out after work. So I'm not surprised to read reviews that so many people, um, are.
(4)
Robert M.
I ate at Jackson's for the first time last night and I have to say I was very happy with the experience. I liked the style of the place, and the service was good, but the food, at least what I tried, was simply terrific! I wasn't in the mood for a full-blown, four course meal but that worked out just fine because when I looked over the menu, the item that caught my eye was the deviled egg appetizer. You see, I wasn't able to go to my mom's for Thanksgiving this year and she always makes deviled eggs because she knows I love them, once a year anyway. So I ordered the deviled eggs, which are served with spiced walnuts on top and with bacon strips cured with sugar. To continue the eggs and bacon theme, I also ordered the spinach salad, which comes with bacon bits, egg, apples, walnuts, & Pomerey mustard vinaigrette. I hate to admit it, and I will not tell her, but the deviled eggs were even better than mom's, and the taste of the eggs and the taste of the sweet bacon were perfectly complimentary. I'm sure I was smiling and rolling my eyes while muttering "mmm, mmm, mmm" the whole time I was eating this dish. The spinach salad was also very good. I loved the dressing in particular. I could take or leave the apple pieces and the bacon bits were a bit on the hard/chewy side (in fact, after I commented on this to the waiter, he informed me that the kitchen was changing out the bacon used on the salad because this had already become apparent). I would also have liked a bit more spinach. The toppings somewhat overwhelmed the spinach. Nevertheless, I did happily eat every little bite of it. So, I will definitely be returning, repeatedly, to try more of the menu at Jackson's. Although, I will need to prepare my budget before moving on to the entrees.
(4)
Bethany R.
We've lived in Reston for over a year and have always wanted to go to Jackson's but was afraid to brave the crowds. We went this weekend and were SO GLAD we did! The bar was packed but after a very short wait we got our drinks and were able to be seated almost immediately after that. Go ahead and do yourself a favor and order the double dip to start and the crab cakes for your entree. You will not be sorry!! So good! Great service! Definitely going back!
(4)
Huntting B.
Best food in the world? No. But from my first time here I can tell that its a place that probably gives consistent service and a good product. I had the steak and frites. I'm not normally one for hanger steak, almost always seems over done and lacks in juiciness. Thankfully that wasn't the case. The sauce was simple and the fries were rather tasty. They were a little "water happy" but I'd rather them refill my water constantly than to forget about it and have me need to chase someone down to get a drink. The food came out prompt and I was able to have a good business meeting. This place is really well suited if you are having a business meeting, particularly if you are doing so with someone you haven't met before. Sign in, give them the name of the person you are waiting to meet and when the other person shows up, they'll do the same and they'll check to see if they're there. This might seem like an odd item to highlight, but if you have ever gone to a meeting at a restaurant and not known what to expect of the person you were meeting, then you know how awkward it can feel as you wait. "Was that him, is that the guy?" Even with how well they handle it, someone still approached me thinking I was their noon interview. =)
(4)
Dusk D.
Don't let the constantly crowded bar fool you. There may, indeed, be room to sit down inside! In fact, it's often less busy at the tables. The food, like with all GAR places, is superb. It's a great brunch spot. The Bubble and Squeak (chicken and eggs) is much richer than you might expect, so don't let it fool you. The bread is, as always, fantastic, and will fill you up fast if you let it. Apparently the deviled eggs are outstanding as well (not my thing, but my friends all adore them).
(4)
Irene C.
I came here yesterday for lunch for the first time. I am a frequent at Sweetwater and Coastal Flatts and I actually had no idea that Jacksons was part of the Great American Foods Chain until yesterday. The menu was the same as the ones from the other chain restaurants with a few slight variations. I ordered the Chicken and Havarti Cheese Sandwich. The Chicken was tender but the bread itself was VERY buttery and oily... a little too much for my taste :( I was also expecting the skinny fries much like the ones I would get with my sandwich at Sweetwater or Coastal Flatts but to my dismay, I received the handcut potato-ey fries :( Too mushy & potato-ey for my taste :( The waiter was very nice but forgot our rolls!! Ususally, the rolls are supposed to come out as soon as we order. We looked around and none of the other tables had rolls so we had to ask the waiter for them and then they brought them out. I guess they are available upon request??? I was slightly disappointed with the rolls they brought out. They tasted too doughy, too oily, and too fried compared to the ones at Sweetwater. Sandwich was $9.50.. $0.50 more than Sweetwater & Coastalls unless they upped their prices! Still a great deal though. I would come back & order another dish if I was in the area but I persoanlly wouldn't drive out of the way to eat here.
(3)
Heather R.
My husband and I stopped in for brunch/lunch today, and just sort of felt "meh" about it. There were some positives to this place, which I'll detail, but ultimately our lackluster entrees caused me to rate this place 2 stars. Pros: The service is fantastic. Drinks come quickly, the specials are explained fully, and the servers are super friendly. This is true of all Great American Restaurants. We are always really happy with the servers. We did experience a little bump in the road with our server today, which I'll note below, but, generally, we're always happy with their table service. The bread was yummy. They had little sugar covered doughnuts, and carrot walnut bread. Both were fantastic, and they're always willing to re-fill your basket. For first time visitors, I'd note that this restaurant is all booths (except for the bar area). It's super nice and comfy! Cons: I got the avocado, beet, goat cheese and chicken salad. Parts of it were great. The dressing was tangy, and the chicken and beets were delicious as well. There was virtually no lettuce in my salad, though, so towards the end it became an awkward meal of beets, chicken and goat cheese. I really wished it had more mixed greens in there. And maybe pecans or walnuts instead of pine nuts. The pine nuts didn't add enough of a crunch. And personally I think the beets would be even better if they were lightly pickled before going on the salad. My husband got the crab cake eggs benedict. He said the hollandaise and crab cakes were delicious, but did not like the biscuits. I have to say, they didn't look appetizing, either. They were way too crumbly, almost like scones, and weren't fluffy like normal biscuits. He really couldn't eat more than a bite or two of them. My husband had actually asked for french fries instead of biscuits. Our waitress was kind of odd, and said she'd have to check with her manager. She never came back to update us, but his entree came out with biscuits and fries. Then we got our bill and she had charged us $4 for fries, without telling us there would be an up-charge. Like I said, the rest of the service was great today, and normally we get great service at all the GARs, but we were surprised by this. Overall, with all the other options in RTC, it's unlikely we'd go back to Jacksons anytime soon, especially since we think the other GARs have better food and service.
(2)
Sean L.
Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge Hurricane Irene's weekend, didn't want to go too far from home to dine, decided to try out this closed to ours based on friend's recommendation. I was very satisfied after dining here since FINALLY I found my best lobster roll in DC. Jackson is always packed during weekend, you can always spot full of people either dining inside or standing around outside bar. My very first impression was this is a typical American Pub to hang out, to social, to party, but not necessary offer good quality food. Guess I was wrong, this is definitely a repeat restaurant for me! Location: Reston town center, VA Parking: town center garage Decoration: American casual Cost: $$$ Service: knowledge and very attentive **** Lavatory: average business clean **** Atmosphere: casual ***.5 Food: **** Recommendation: highly **** Some of highlights: * Mushroom cream soup * Hot Spinach, Parmesan & Artichoke Dip * Jackson's Lobster Roll ***** (best, second to from Boston) * Grill Chicken & Havarti Cheese * Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding
(4)
Ashley H.
I like all of the Great American Restaurants! While Jacksons is not my FAVORITE of all of them, the customer service, and quality of the food are fantastic. Last weekend, a friend and I went to the restaurant (it was his first time). It was a Saturday night, so you'd expect a wait anywhere. Well, we waited beyond our normal wait time, and although we were three drinks in and not that bothered, the moment we got to the table, both our server and management immediately apologized for our long wait and offered us a free appetizer to tie us over until our meal. To me, that is customer service and the reason why we pick Jacksons over many of the restaurants in the Reston Town Center. I suggest you get there and eat an ozzie roll or two!
(4)
Melody P.
AWFUL. Don't waste your time when there are TONS of other restaurants and bars in Reston Town Center. Beyond the rude staff & management team, you can also avoid the flock of creeps that tend to linger at the outdoor bar. The food is not up to par with other Great American Restaurants... and if you have a shellfish allergy (like me), be sure to check your food (even if you inform your waiter/waitress)...
(1)
Ross A.
I've experienced better food at home. It's a chain restaurant. The food is ok. Not great. Go there to meet up with friends and drink.
(3)
Nathan H.
Had the "two awesome dips" appetizer and the rib eye. The dips were amazing and the steak was solid. I also enjoyed their Jackson's lager. The service was great and the atmosphere was fun/casual.
(4)
Barbara L.
Food is pretty good. The staff is attentive and friendly. Mixed drinks aren't all that so usually it's beer here. Love sitting outside on the patio when weather permits.
(4)
Bill G.
Good food, excellent service. Prices are a bit high but worth it for the crisp, attentive service.
(5)
Nicole H.
Very friendly staff. Love the vibe and the enviroment. They food is just lovely! We had crabcakes and salmon and it was perfect! I love their bread too! Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)
Jess V.
Consistency - that's what we experience every time we eat at Jackson's. And it's consistently good, which makes it even better. I don't stray far from my staples on the menu, but I've never tried anything that I hated because it was prepared improperly. The service is always tops, and we've never had an issue on that front. The managers seem to actually care about their job, and it's rare that we don't get a visit from the MOD to see how everything is. The bar scene gets crazy, especially during the summer, but it's great people/cougar watching, and is good for those group HHs you know your office wants to have. Prices are in line with everything else in the town center, and we've never had sticker shock at the bill.
(5)
M. L.
Recently went here for the first time, I was initially surprised by how packed the place was. Granted, it was a Friday night so I expected it. We arrived around 7:30pm but surprisingly didn't have to wait long for a table. There are a TON of staff, any time my water was below half-way a new person was there to refill it. I think our waiter got slammed though, because he disappeared after taking our orders. He never came by to check on us, which would have been a problem if there weren't 17 other people checking on us. That was the last we saw of our waiter though, maybe they share tables? Either way, the food was delicious. We had to sweet and sour calamari which was amazing. Very interesting, it tastes exactly how it sounds... basically sweet and sour chicken, sub the chicken for calamari. There were 3 of us sharing the appetizer, so it was just barely enough for us. For dinner I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich. The serving size was huge so I had to take half of it home, very good though. It was a little pricey for my taste. Their french dip sandwich was $19!!!! I was dying to try that but couldn't bring myself to spend them much on basically a roast beef sandwich. The atmosphere was very mixed. The outside bar was packed with people in their upper 20's, lower 30's while the restaurant itself had families, dates, parties, etc. Pretty much a restaurant perfect for any occasion and it doesn't get too loud inside the restaurant. Overall, a great place and I will be back again.
(4)
mike b.
My wife and I brought our in-laws here from out of town. The menu managed to satisfy a vegan, a vegetarian, 2 serious carnivores, and someone with a gluten allergy. They screwed up a salad order, but quickly remedied it without needing to be told, didn't charge us for the salad and didn't charge us for dessert. Thanks.
(4)
S S.
Really shitty beer!
(2)
A H.
One of my favorite restaurants. Always a good meal and excellent service. Rarely have a wait, and we use "call ahead." We used to only go here for special occasions but because we always feel that we get a good meal we go quite often.
(5)
Tuesday's S.
If you don't have to wait to be seated, it's 5 stars. Great menu, great food, quick service, fun atmosphere. Terrific burger, terrific fries, terrific french dip. I usually order the waldorf steak salad - yum, yum, yum. If you didn't eat yourself to death on the Ozzie rolls (mmm, Ozzie rolls - little balls of dough deliciousness that you want to stuff in your pockets like a squirrel hoards nuts), you might have room for the Great American Restaurants' flourless chocolate waffle. Perfection. Brunch is great (and then the Ozzie rolls are coated in cinnamon and sugar - yes please!). A great place for guests, too.
(5)
Anita B.
The atmosphere is great but the rest leaves a lot to be desired. Our food was cold. Not warm but actually cold.
(2)
Kimberly M.
If in Reston Town Center please know that you have several culinary choices! JMF is fine for burgers and prime rib- aduh, aduh, that's all folks!
(2)
Joe G.
If you've ever eaten at a Great American Restaurant, you know what to expect here. Shared wait staff tending to your every need and the food is freshly and well prepared. At times the staff can be overly intrusive, like when they reach across diners to pick up a straw wrapper from the opposite end of the table. Service has typically been pretty prompt when I've eaten there with the possible exception of weekends at lunch time. For some reason the brunch menu slows the kitchen down. It would be nice if they made changes to their menu from time to time, but that seems to be a GAR standard: Pick a menu and stick with it indefinitely. The French Dip sandwich is usually tasty albeit a bit salty. The prime rib, fish and chips, lobster roll and chicken with harvarti sandwich are also solid choices. This restaurant comes in a close second to Ozzie's as my favorite GAR restaurant. One of the better dining options in the Town Center.
(4)
Alyssa K.
Typical Great American fare with Disney World service. (borrowed that from Sietsema). Ribeye was fair, chopped salad was nice and herby, frites were hot and crisp. Donut biscuits never fail to satisfy. Call ahead made it easy to get seated for 5 on a Saturday during prime time, which was nice.
(3)
Adrienne D.
We had lunch here today. The customer service was excellent. We had the nicest waiter and he made several suggestions off the menu. We both had the crab cake roll. I had finished mine & thought it was awesome. I cleaned my plate. The fries were seasoned perfectly. Much to my dismay, I looked at my friend & she was trying not to gag. She had a black hair IN her crab cake. Our waiter took it away & a manager came over immediately & took her meal off our check. They were very professional & apologetic. However, now I'm wishing I had watched every bite I ate. I'm giving it two stars because regardless minus the hair the food was very good.
(2)
Lianne F.
Been meaning to write a review of this place ever since it opened last winter! This is part of the Great American Restaurant chain so if you like Coastal Flats and Sweetwater, you will love this as well. They do have some of the staples from both places (excellent lobster roll and roast chicken salad to name a few) BUT they also have some yummy bar food as well...deviled eggs w/sugar cured bacon, truffle fries, lobster mac and cheese!! Oh and did I mention the BACON?? Yummm. GreaThe service is great (but as other reviewers noted sometimes the wait/host staff can border on being overbearing....kinda true LOL) Ohhhh and the bread is stellar...those little unsweetened donut things are the bane of my existence LOL.
(4)
Vishal S.
I have walked past Jackson's on a few occasions but my friend suggested we meet up for lunch here so I decided to give this place a try. I love their other location - Sweet Water and was expecting it to match up to them. Decor and ambiance is nice - nice big open floor plan that has a nice welcome look! We got there at 11:45 and most tables were already occupied - that is always nice to see! Menu has good selection for lunch but I did not know how to react to see sushi and salad and sandwiches all on the same menu. This generally is a sign of a confused master chef! We ordered Deviled Eggs for appetizer and I ordered chicken, avocado, and beet salad for my main course. Prices are a bit on the higher side even for lunch but the portions were huge. Deviled eggs were good and the bacon had a nice sweet touch that went well with the dish. Salad, as mentioned earlier, was huge and very fresh and yummy. I liked the beet in the salad but I think they overpowered the salad a bit. But there was enough of pine nuts, goat cheese, and chicken with a tasty dressing to not kill the salad. We were stuffed at the end of the meal and though the quantity justified the price, I believe a smaller plate with a bit more reasonable pricing for lunch would seal the deal for this to be a lunch favorite for many.
(3)
Jason F.
I ate here last night with a dining companion for dinner. The restaurant is nicely decorated and when sitting down the lamps look like how I imagine a large amount of lit Chinese Lanterns would. It also has a large open kitchen and so it was nice to see all that was happening. For dinner I started out with the appetizer special which was a crab dip while my dining companion had the lobster bisque. My dip was very good and had capers and a few other items besides crab that I could not distinguish and came served with a type of large cracker. The lobster bisque looked nice with a design drawn in white over the mostly beige-ish colored soup and my dining companion told me that he liked it. For my entree I settled upon the Chicken, Avocado & Beet salad while my dining companion ordered the Sauteed Shrimp & Chicken. Both items came out looking nice with lots of color in each. My dining companion thought that his was enjoyable but noted that he had never tasted sauce that was as limey as the one on his pasta. My salad ended up tasting good with a large amount of roasted red and white beets, pine nuts, chicken and globs of goat cheese on top. The service was also excellent with 3 different servers helping out with our table that never let our drinks go empty. The bottom line for me is that I would probably eat here again in the future. The food was solid if unspectacular while the service was great.
(4)
Ticha B.
This restaurant was on and poppin' on a Wednesday night! The "lounge" was crazy packed, and we had to wait about 20 mins for a table for 2. Good food, good service and atmosphere...and it wasn't too pricey. That commends a 5-star! I had the: AWESOME medium rare Jackson's Rib Eye marinated in Worcestershire...campari tomatoes w. blue cheese vinaigrette, french fries with the AWESOME spinach salad that was so big. The bread rolls were tasty and good too...never had something that was a cross between a plain donut and bread roll (salty and sweet) at the same time. The wait was kind of long for almost 800pm, but the waiter, waitresses and hostesses were friendly and nice. I'll go back if I'm in the neighborhood. A+!
(5)
Raena D.
Just wanted to post an update that I went for dinner last weekend and the sweet potato fries are gone :-( It must have been a while since I last ordered them, but since I mentioned them in my previous review I thought I would pass this along. On a better note- I did try one of the appetizer specials and wish they had it all the time. Ahi tuna tacos! If the server mentions them to you be sure to try them out. The soft 'taco shell' is actually more like a crisp rice paper and the aioli sauce with the crunchy vegetables makes for a light and perfect precourse.
(4)
David T.
I absolutely LOVE this place. This, IMO, is the best of the Mike's Great American Restaurants chain. I'd definitely try the deviled eggs for app, and salmon for entree. Wine list and drink menu are great, too! Every time I'm out near Reston, I visit. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kevin A.
I don't really see what all the hubbub with this place is about. A group of 10 of us went here this past Saturday night because one of our group wanted seafood. That was the first problem. The place is not really set up for large groups as they have no tables, only booths that they say can fit 5 to 6. Perhaps, if all 5 or 6 are under 5'6" an weigh under 125. If you have a group or realistically sized people and want any amount leg and elbow room so you can enjoy your meal, then it's more like 4 ppl in the smaller booths and 5 in the large ones. And on busy nights they apparently won't even try to seat larger groups near each other. In our case, 5 of us wound up on one side of the place and the other 5 three rows of away. The waitstaff was fast, pleasant and attentive. The menu provides a fair variety of choices. In our subgroup 2 people ordered the French Dip, which they only serve cooked to ways, dead and still mooing (very well done and extremely rare). One of each was ordered. The well done was too well done but the guy eating the rare liked it. To be fair though, the waiter did warn that the well done really was. I forget what entree the other two ordered but both had the Lobster Mac and Cheese as an add-on with their meals and raved over it. One commenting that there seemed to be more lobster than macs in his. I ordered the lump crab cakes with a baked spud. Not traditional crab cakes. These were not made into patties and pan fried but rather seemingly scoops with breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top and put under a Salamander or baked. They were actually quite good. Large chucks of crab meat with some manor of seasoned (i think) mayo, with no filling, and moist. The potato was good as well. With that said the stuff is WAY over priced for what you are getting. The food was good but certainly not the best I've ever had. And considering that these prices are entree only, not worth it in my opinion. At these prices, I'd hit the nearby Morton's for a steak or McCormick & Schmick's for seafood. Oh, and their policy of no take home because their food is just "too good" to be taken home and reheated is an enormous and undeserved conceit on there part, in my opinion. It'd also a bit ballsy to be telling people what they can and can't do with their food once they've bought and paid for it! There are a lot of option for dinner at the Reston Town Center and I think I'll stick to some of those in the future.
(2)
Michael M.
One of the best watering holes in town. The food is great and the staff is exceptional. Try the lobster Mac and cheese and you'll understand why the place is even busy for lunch
(4)
Barry S.
For some odd reason, they seem to have a take out option. So I went there with my girlfriend and we received rather poor service from the bartender, as we waited at least 10 minutes just to place an order (and it wasn't all that busy at the inside bar) while the bartender talked with his loner friend, who happened to be sitting at the bar. I've eaten here several times before. It's decent, nothing to rave about. I really don't understand their rule that baseball hats are prohibited in the bar area after a certain time (like 8PM). If this is an attempt to class the joint up, it fails. I'm not sure how people can wear things like flip flops and massive gold chains around their necks but no caps. I used to live at the Town Center, so I"m well aware of the crowd - mainly professional, older 20s - early 40s, with a oddballs thrown in. While I can appreciate that Jackson's apparently doesn't want to become the trash can known as Bailey's (in Arlington), it's not a high end stakehouse or even Passion Fish, which is, undoubtedly, a notch (or two) up in class. It's Reston, it's the summer.....why selectively enforce prohibiting certain accessories? I would go back for a sit down meal just to give it another chance, but there are other options.
(3)
THRIFT m.
Ordered fries and drinks during Happy Hour. Fries are mediocre at best. Drinks were okay. Definitely for the older single crowd.
(2)
Grace L.
Two co-workers and I dined at Jackson's for the first time. One of them ordered "Two Cool Dips" and got an unpleasant surprise when the queso dip was cold. (She may not have paid attention to the description on the menu. But, our waitress said the dip caused a lot of confusion.) Two of us ordered prime rib. And, it was excellent. Not too fatty & cooked according to the description on the menu. My only complaint was that my medium rare prime rib was barely lukewarm. My co-worker's well done (yuck!) prime rib was hot. The salads were great, and the warm bread was delicious. The service was excellent. We'd all return to Jackson's, although I don't think any of us would order the Cool Dips again.
If I could base a review on the food alone, I'd rate Jackson's considerably higher. In fact, the salmon they serve is one of the best I've ever had; I also can't recall ever being disappointed with ANYTHING on their menu. However, as others have pointed out, management has some very questionable, inconsistent, and most importantly--unwritten--policies that go a long way toward ruining the experience. And this is a shame, because this was once a favorite in Reston. The problem is with the bar after 9PM, and a "no hats" policy that suddenly rears its ugly head, no pun intended. Keep in mind, Jackson's is hardly a formal restaurant; and while I don't typically go out to dinner wearing a hat, the bar is another thing. (In fact, as I later learned, they don't ask patrons in the restaurant/seating area to remove their hats--just those at the bar). On the night I experienced this, I had been at the bar with a group of friends since roughly 7PM, and had just ordered another beer when a hostess playfully removed my hat. Thinking she was joking, (and/or hadn't noticed my wedding ring) I replaced it and carried on. Moments later, however, a considerably less friendly gentleman approached and explained that they have a "no hats" policy starting at 9PM. When I asked why, he simply said, "It's just something we do". I explained that under normal circumstances, I'd like to comply. But I'd been wearing a hat all day, and I simply wasn't comfortable taking it off for the remainder of the night. If I were bald, it wouldn't have been an issue, I continued. He seemed determined to stand there until I took the hat off, nonetheless. When I offered to simply finish my beer and leave, he suggested that he would have to TAKE the beer from me, if I wasn't willing to remove my hat--which was not the best approach, to say the least. I reminded him that there had been no written rule about the hats when I entered, nor had anyone informed me before I purchased the drink I was now holding. Calmly, I again suggested that he allow me to finish the drink I had paid for--or he could find himself wearing said drink. Fortunately for us both, he relented; although he continued to stare at me from a distance as if I were a criminal. As promised, I finished the drink, left, and have not been back since. Naturally, I contacted Jackson's management the next day to voice my complaint. I learned from the manager that the "no hats" policy was something that they were trying to implement as a means of minimizing late night troubles they'd been experiencing from some of the "Reston youths" who frequent the bar. The rationale being that drunken youths might be less likely to start fights if there are fewer rival team hats in their sight. While there may be some logic there, I explained that the hat I'd been wearing bore no logos whatsoever. And again, the policy wasn't made public in any way. To his credit, he agreed with me and apologized for the experience. He also sent me a $50 gift card good for any of the Great American Restaurants franchises, which I promptly used at Artie's instead. Hopefully, Jackson's will find a way to resolve their issues with a relatively small contingent of riff raff, rather than continue to allow it to affect their clientele as a whole. That, or simply close the bar early. The restaurant deserves much better.
(3)
Stacy B.
I like to call it "cougar and yuppie-ville". Because that's the basic clientele. Based on food and service, I would without a doubt give Jackson's 5 stars - as I would any other Great American Restaurant. They are all excellent. But, unfortunately upon entrance to Jackson's and it's insanely overcrowded bars, you will be taken aback by the ruckus. The mgmt hasn't been able to tame this place since it's doors first opened. The bars are so jam packed, 80% of the people are usually drunk and God forbid you go to the outdoor bar - you might get burned by a cigarette. Their no hat policy is just a joke, because it isn't the "young crowd" starting the fights at all. I've been there twice where middle-aged, white color business people have gotten into drunken shouting and pushing matches. So, please don't blame the kids with this one! lol It's all the fault of drunken ADULTS. So, basically - definitely go there for the food but if you want to have a chill time at a bar then walk yourself down to McCormicks, Mon Ami or another spot where the patrons are a little more reserved and a lot less drunk!
(3)
Mr J.
Good food, but the atmosphere of the restaurant feels prepped by a little too much Marketing studies or calculation. The food is tasty but does not feel too far from the Sysco truck. There is a common look and taste among the scene at Reston Town Center that only a few restaurants depart from. In other words, there is nothing that stands out here (the menu selections could be found at M&S, Clyde's, Paolo's, etc).
(3)
Nina B.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place stuck in the middle of Reston Town Center. I went there during the daytime on a weekend, and I gathered that this place really caters to the corporate lunch crowds. Yet it still had a decent crowd. The bar was empty, but I could tell that it could be a good place to watch a game with the large TVs strategically placed. The food was pretty good, too. Their bread basket is something special, and their butter is flavored quite nicely. I went with a risotto shrimp dish that was cooked perfectly, including the veggies. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods again, I'd give it a go.
(4)
David R.
The honeymoon is over. Walked past Jackson's the other night and cookie cutter guys (you know the type - broad shoulders, tall, no hair) as far as the eyes can see. Any woman walking in here alone is putting herself at risk. The bar is noisy. The food is not as good as Artie's or Coastal Flats. Never again.
(2)
Tracy C.
Jackson's is a great place to go for a casual dinner although I am not a huge fan of going in there during happy hour. I also don't like the fact that there is a smoking area and that you can smell the smoke within the vicinity when you are inside the building if you are in the bar area. Other than that, the food is decent for the type of restaurant Jackson's is although some of it is a bit overpriced for my taste. But if you are looking for a casual place to eat dinner with some friends, this a great restaurant for it. The waitstaff has always been pretty friendly, courteous, and quick...sometimes you have to wait just a bit longer when they are really busy but other than no complaints on service here.
(3)
Boon K.
I came here because I had a layoff at Dulles and need to get my Iphone fixed ASAP. We had time for lunch and this place was right there. I am so glad to find this place, the lobster roll was really good and service was great.
(4)
Ellie B.
My husband's favorite place to dine. We've come here for date nights, afternoon lunches, birthday dinners, ect. and have had the same experience EVERY TIME. Fast and friendly customer service, friendly waiters and waitresses who are very personable, and friendly management who've often stopped in just to chat. Even the cooks are so wonderful!! Come here and you won't be sorry!! Awesome service, and amazing food!!! We're so in love with this place, we even waited for over an hour to get a table!! And I'm hardly the type of person to do that!! We are very loyal to this place, and will continue to be!! It's on the more expensive side, but anything you order off the menu is worth it, and the staff makes it even more sweet!!
(5)
Lisa G.
I love this place and have never had a bad meal here. Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere.
(5)
Nick S.
I have very limited experience with Jackson's but the experience I do excellent! I test ate the PRIME RIB steak and sandwich. Both excellent. Unbeatable flavor. Besides, how can you have a bad review to a place that serves mini doughnuts as complimentary bread? You can't. Try it!
(4)
Blake A.
Jacksons is so incredibly good for the price that I can't explain it in words. Honestly the food quality is equivalent to Capital Grille but with a more interesting menu. My wife and I do the 45 minute drive at least once a week - something we could of never imagined ourselves doing - but the food is so good it's worth it!
(5)
K B.
Jackson's has a nice Sunday bunch menu and have a special bread selection that are pretty yummy too. Similar to their sister restaurant Arties near Old Town Fairfax. Wonderful layout for a happy hour too - two bar areas gives you plenty of room to mingle for lunch or after work. Two palms up for munchin' brunch and the chain's signature marinated, smoked, and then hickory grilled Salmon Filet (Aside: the Salmon is the simply delicious and the best that I have EVER had.
(4)
Craig H.
We've walked by Jackson's a number of times headed to other places and steered clear due to the crowds. We finally stopped and I can see why they are popular. The decor is creative, the service was very pleasant, the menu is varied, and the items we ordered were very well prepared.
(4)
Sophie G.
Bad mojitos - too sweet. Kind of a douchy crowd. Ugly uniforms. I guess if you're in the area, it's a good place to grab a drink outside.
(3)
Kat L.
Lunch review! Went with a pretty lady, and the wait at 1145 was 20 minutes for a table. Eff that we sat at the bar. The bartenders were really sweet, and attentive. Pretty too. I had a salad, and a side of spinach. The spinach came out really fast and it was left behind the bar for about 8 minutes until my salad came out.. awkward. The food was good, seemed to be fresh, and the patrons were mixed. Loads of professionals, and yet tons of people super casual (like me!)
(4)
Jessica S.
The staff was very helpful. They share tables so there was always someone to help get us extra items for our food. We were seated right away and the restrooms were very clean. Only downside was the burger. Very plain and nothing to make me want an $11 burger with just cheese on it. The price I thought was over priced for what it is. There are many burger places with a better taste and price and they would offer more toppings. The free bread however was amazing! Even the burger bun was great. I believe they have fresh delivered everyday. That was a nice touch. Over all nothing too amazing for my meal.
(4)
Andy P.
It has a a great outside bar if you like to watch the show Two & a Half Men over and over again. Good food and drink but Erik, the manager, d*ck.
(2)
Aboud Y.
The quintessential Reston restaurant. When I think of Reston, I immediately think of Jackson's. The food is good (and surprisingly well executed with a menu that ranges from mac and cheese to sushi!), the bartenders are great, and the atmosphere has a fun vibe (particularly in the summer). When in Reston, I will undoubtedly make a stop here.
(4)
Chad K.
If you're just going for dinner this is an ok place. Overpriced for what it is tho, mediocre sea food. Now if you are going to the bar, like so many people hanging outside on those nice days. I would never go here for drinks, period. The only thing at the bar are 30 something's trying to be young and the douche level is off the charts!! Also, no drink specials ever. In the town center there are quite a few good places to socialize over a cocktail. This place however is not one of them.
(2)
Sean H.
The food here is spectacular. Whenever I go to VA I make a point to try and stop in here and get the roast beef sandwich, it's amazing. I've had a number of other dishes here, but the roast beef is just tops. The waiters and waitresses have always been excellent here. My lady friend and I tend to be chatty at times and the staff here has always enjoyed a little back and forth with us. We always tip well here, we can't help it. Also, they make a top notch mojito. If you are in Reston, check this place out. It is most excellent.
(4)
Devin C.
Food was good. Service was terrible and that ruined the entire experience. They are staffed with a lot of people who seem to just wander around all the time, but none of those people could coordinate our meal properly. The overall goal seemed to be clearing us out to get the table open again, but then it took forever to get us our check, so they couldn't even do that right. The waiter guy was nice enough, but he didn't show up at the right time to offer any drink refills. He gave the typical "how's everything?" during the salad course. Another guy brought out the entrees before anyone had cleared the salad plates and he acted like that was really inconvenient for him. Then we asked for a to-go box for half a sandwich and a plate of fries and the dude brought a really tiny dessert container that was way too small. (Apparently other Yelpers weren't even allowed to have their leftovers to go... If that had happened to us, I think there might have been a steak knife stuck in someone's arm.) The other negative reviews here also make me regret going there. I wasn't wearing a hat, but I would not have appreciated someone telling me to take it off. Same for some of their other arbitrary rules that others have mentioned. Oh yeah, the food. Decent, but overpriced. I liked the hanger steak and fries, but my wife thought the meat looked more rare than medium rare. Bread was really good too, but you can get the same stuff at the other places these people own.
(1)
Michael M.
The grouper fingers were fantastic and I'm not even a fish guy. Their coleslaw is different than any other that I've had but it was very good. The staff was friendly and service was great even during the busy lunch crowd.
(5)
Fadi N.
Great for lunch during the week. Always busy. I get one thing there although I've tried everything. I get the grilled salmon salad
(4)
Jess C.
So I just gave Sweetwater 5 stars - why 3 stars for Jacksons which serves practically the same menu? Well I came here for lunch and hate spending $15 on a salad but I do it anyway just to be healthy. The salad options were decent but in no way as extensive as American Cafe, and the chicken was pretty tasty in my chicken, beet, avocado salad. While the salad itself was way better than the one at American Cafe and only slightly more expensive, $14 is really still too steep for a salad of that caliber. I've had better. I would come back but get something different for lunch.
(3)
Elaine N.
We enjoy the outside bar... Love the GAR restaurants... I love the Blackberry Lemonade drink.... Deviled eggs are yummy! We love the brunch menu.... Salads are big and fresh... Delicious...
(4)
Michelle N.
I really love this place and I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I pretty much love all of the restaurants in the Great American Restaurants chain. Around the time it first opened, I insisted my flag football team eat here just once, so we could check it out. Our first time there we sat out on the patio and it was wonderful. Beautiful day, tables pulled together, and yummy food. I tried the "two cool dips" and instantly became addicted. I never really was a guacamole fan but after eating the dip, I was hooked. The cheese dip was amazing as well. It's more like a cheese ball though, and less like a queso dip as you would imagine. And despite having cottage cheese in it (yuck) I still loved it! Just don't let me see them mix the cottage cheese in :D Asking for chip refills was not a problem. I also shared a couple of sushi rolls with one of my friends (we were excited at all the choices, didn't realize we ordered too much food). It was delicious... for a non Asian restaurant. I've definitely had better sushi elsewhere, but was pretty impressed with what Jackson's had to offer. The rest of the group got a variety of items that they all enjoyed but we all agreed this place is a bit pricey for a post-game lunch. But I was determined to come back for more cool dips! The only thing that was strange was that we had to order AT the bar, get drinks AT the bar, pick up the food AT the bar. Unlike Coastal Flats, nothing was really brought out to us. However, it did make things easy when it came time to pay because we were able to tell the bartender what we had instead of dealing with the annoyances of splitting a check. The second time I came back we sat at the indoor bar at the counter and had a similar experience, except they brought the food to us. Once again, I enjoyed dip. I came back a third time and actually sat in the dining area and that was pleasant as well. ordered the cool dips again :p In terms of bar atmosphere, this definitely seems the place to be. When I came for dinner the place was packed, just as you would expect at Coastal Flats or Sweetwater Tavern. I'm not sure what it is about these places as they don't offer happy hour specials, but there's something about the atmosphere that makes you want to come back. I guess my point out of this whole review is this place is definitely worth checking out, and order the two cool dips.
(4)
A. S.
Went here for Sunday brunch. If you don't eat eggs, your options are limited in terms of breakfasty items. I ended up getting the grouper fingers. They were fine (they tasted the same as the ones they serve at Coastal Flats), but it was sort of an odd meal at that time of day. Service was good. I'd never before had a bloody mary and wanted to try one but wasn't sure I'd like it. The waitress said theirs was the best and offered to let me try it and replace it for free if I didn't like it, which I thought was really nice. So I tried it, thought it tasted like tomato juice (not passing judgment on their preparation--I guess I'm just not a bloody mary fan), and got a mimosa instead. It was much better.
(3)
Arjun D.
I grew up in Reston and loved going to Reston town center to hang out on weekends. Recently I was back in town and went to Jackson for a drink and could not believe how crappy my experience was. I was at the indoor bar, which was oddly roped off for some reason and people were just sloppy in there. The crowd was definitely older, mostly trophy wives & cougars out for a night on the town. The thing that turned me off so much was the place cleared out at 11:30 and when I asked the bartender for a shot, he said it was restaurant policy to not serve shots after a certain time, not sure what time that was, but it was only 11:45...overall, the food is on par with all the other great American food establishments, nothing special. I guess its just suited for the the older crowd that don't know how to have fun...
(2)
Brittany H.
another Great American restaurant. Loves it. Seared tuna salad... nailed it. ozio rolls.. perfected it... every time. Not too much of a contrast from the other restaurants .. so they got the consistency down pat. Nice job.
(4)
Saurabh G.
Disclaimer(s): 1. I have never had food here. 2. I have never been in the inside/lounge area to but goto the restrooms. 3. I tip massively, so I get better service than you ever will. 4. I have never left this place in a sober state. 5. I am probably not sober right now. Now, before I begin, let me say that I had no idea what GAR stood for. So, instead of reading the reviews more thoroughly, I just searched for the term online. Let's just say that Urban Dictionary is awesome. So, what's not to like about this place? Awesome location, very open interior, nice patio, hot people, cougars, strong drinks, and then me on a Friday night. OK, there's one thing to dislike, and that is stupid crybabies looking to pick up fights. Seriously, dude, don't even start. I am not responsible for your girl leaving you hanging at a bar. I am not responsible for the tears in your eyes. And, finally, if you start, you're going to end up in prison. Oh well, at least I have fun EVERY-TIME I am here, and that's a good thing. I love the address - intersection of Democracy Drive and Discovery Street. If you're feeling All American, Freedom Drive is just a block away. If you are feeling adventurous, Explorer Street is the place to be after a night of heavy drinking. It's so awesome to be able to park for free, in stark contrast with the DC situation. Also, if you decide to move on and watch a movie, there's a theater within 2 minutes of walking. The crowd is mostly working professional gentry. Every now and then, you even see someone pulling up a stroller inside, or some popped-collar bro revving up his Corvette. But, that's besides the point. In terms of the bar scenario, this place gets crowded (an understatement) during the weekend evenings. Luckily, they don't play crappy music, so you can still hear the people around you, which deserves 2 stars in itself. Actually, let me bump this place up to 4 stars (from 3). I love the service, the quality of drinks, and the ambience. One of these days, I am going to get food here, but I don't know if I could avoid the temptation to just goto the bar outside and get my crunk on. Namaste!
(4)
Julia B.
I have visited this place a few times and the food has been 90% yummy and the service has always been average+. The Last time I was there we had a great server! I think his name started with and E!? He was Spanish. We could see him in the mirror getting our tea! Its nice to see a place with an open kitchen! He did have a fun personality and joked with us being restaurant reviewers! He was very professional and talked to us about the foods with recommendations. Everything was good! His best recommendation was the Creme Brulee!! Creme Brulee this good here!!! WOW We are going to go back just for Creme Brulee!! It was a great size to split but the fat me wants a whole one to myself! We well be back in a few weeks!
(5)
Mike M.
How have I not reviewed this yet? The comments on the bar are valid. Cougars and yuppies abound, but I still like the bar areas until they get too packed. Service at the bars has always been good for me and my guests. The real draw for me here is the dining room. I've had most everything on the menu in the past few years, and I've never been disappointed. As with the other ARG spots, the bread is great and warm and makes the table right away. I really enjoy their lobster roll (pricy but good), their apps and their salads. Desserts are limited but very good. The waitstaff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. It might seem contradictory, but it would be nice to see some new stuff on the menu. I don't know what to pull off, but I don't think the menu has changed a bit since Jackson's opened.
(4)
Susan L.
We ate here for my birthday a month or so ago. We didn't have reservations and were able to get seated after about a 30-45 minute wait. The atmosphere is very appealing. We were comp'd the deviled eggs by the waitress which are their specialy. They are just ok, nothing to get excited about (my mom makes much better!). I ordered the filet and my husband the ribeye (I think). Both were overcooked and they had filet'd the filet without asking. Good thing the manager gave me a coupon to come back. Nothing else on the plate was too great. I think they gave me a scoop of ice cream for my bday, nothing more. Bottom line, great atmosphere but don't expect a lot out of the food.
(3)
Foodie C.
Great Service Food is what you expect of GAR chain...which is very good & consistant Great ambiance wish they would change up the menu a bit
(4)
sam w.
Jacksons is different depending upon if you go for lunch, dinner or at night on the wknd. For lunch and dinner- yes! The good is great, never disappointed however its a pick me up spot generally for business travelers and you will always find interesting people hanging out at the bar. At night on the wknd is a different crowd- I dont care for it, but if your a college kid or in your 30's and still want to act like your in school, than this is the place for you during the wknd. Again- food is awesome.
(3)
Kevin L.
A solid add to the Reston Town Center food scene. Admittedly, I think my favorite red-head and I agreed on the fact that this joint tries to do way too many different things. Fascinating? For sure. Successful? For the most part. Yeah - there's "sushi" here. There are maybe six or seven different types of rolls, of which we agreed to try the crispy shrimp and macadamia nut roll. Served with three different types of dipping sauces, including some kind of mustardy concoction, a sweet miso sauce, and what appeared to be a spicy aioli, I enjoyed it best with regular soy sauce and wasabi. The roll had great texture - the macadamia nuts and crisp cucumber lending some crunch to eat bite. The cool factor upped the value of the dish, but I probably wouldn't order it again for the $10 price tag. We ended up splitting the spinach, parmesan, artichoke dip and the lobster roll special. We destroyed the artichoke dip - but that seems to be a pretty standard appetizer that's hard to mess up. Of note, the chips were crispy and solid. The lobster roll was hugely piled with juicy, sweet lobster meat. Unfortunately, it seemed like it was just mayo and lobster - not much additional flavor. Definitely didn't compare against Hank's. The cole slaw it came with was a winner - I liked the hint of mustard in the dressing. It was the grilled(?) corn on the cob that won me over. I'm not sure if it was because it seemed drenched in butter, or that it was the most perfectly cooked corn ever. Great -slight- crust of char on a few pieces, but it only added to the flavor, not like when you grill corn on the 'que and it ends up with one side being black and dry. Nope. Each and every kernel was still moist and sweet and buttery. If only I could replicate this at home... I'd have to start taking Lipitor. Heads up - the Lucky Lounge (I couldn't figure out where exactly the lounge part of the restaurant was - the outdoor bar? The indoor bar?) Lager was pretty enjoyable. Although there's no happy hour, a glass of this stuff runs about $5. Reasonable, if not affordable. It was a nice move up from the Stella I nursed earlier - not too hoppy, but a decent light amber ale. As usual, this GAR didn't fail, and considering it's the first week in operation, they're doing a bang-up job. Hope that things just keep going up from here, Jackson's.
(4)
Mama P.
We hang out at the inside bar it was pack but bartender was really good and quick to get our drinks order.
(4)
Sean R.
There are great restaurants that carry a large price tag and deserve to. This isn't one of them. Nicely decorated interior, however food is pretentious and mediocre. Good luck getting a drink at the bar too. If your idea of a night out is lackluster service and overpriced food then come here. However, if you're in Reston Town Center seeking great food, just go across the street to Uncle Julio's.
(2)
Dottsy Z.
4.5 stars I know this place is amazing because I think about the meal that I had there MONTHS later and I wish I could make it back there. Alas, we're thousands of miles apart and with no plans to see each other any time soon. So I write. I arrived with my friend and I wasn't STARVING, but I was hungry. We had a brief wait before we were seated. I took the wait time to take a look around and what I saw was a very large 50's diner-esque, packed restaurant! I was thinking "Hmm...kitchy!". We were seated in a large booth and were greeted by our waiter. He was busy, but he was attentive. We ordered our drinks and were left to look over the menu. Our waiter came by and suggested we try the lobster mac and cheese, Ok! For my dinner I ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll and Yellowtail Rainbow Roll. Yep, you read right! This was no burger and fries joint! Yeah, they offered that stuff, but they also offered other, high quality food! While we were waiting for our food, our server brought out the AMAZING, life changing hot rolls. They weren't huge rolls, but the were perfect and SO warm, and melt in your mouth! Mmm! The lobster mac and cheese arrived and we dug in. Oh my sweet mother Gertie!!! It was SO effing good! I like the chunks of lobster and I like the well made mac and cheese. It was made with REAL cheese. Honestly, that could have been my meal, but I still had rolls coming! My rolls arrived. MMMMM! Those were good too! The rolls were well made with fresh fish. The side sauce that the yellowtail roll came with was SO good, I had to ask for more! So you see why I dream about the food. Everything was really good! The one thing that I didn't care for is that our server was was swamped but there seemed to be some staff that was standing around and not really helpful while our guy was busting a$$, so that's half a star deduction. Other than that, everything was really good! The dishes were well executed, and our server was really nice! Oh Jackson's, we may be apart, but you have a special place in my heart...*sigh*
(4)
Rozh M.
Lovely place yummy food even though the menu is very limited, however the service on June 2, 2010 around 1pm at the bar was awful, started it out with a bad attitude from one of the bartender. I asked for havarti grilled chicken without roasted pepper, my sandwich came with roasted pepper, I thought I should enlighten the bartender, and the respond back from the bartender was 'I'm sure the kitchen didn't put roasted pepper in your sandwich on purpose ' that was exact word from her. i didn't want a free sandwich!! my myself coming from a restaurant business, i thought it was an unpleasant experience. and I wouldn't just complain for nothing!!
(2)
Rowena E.
Jackson's was nice and new, but wasn't really impressed with this experience. sad since i usually like GAR restaurants. maybe i just ordered the wrong stuff and they're still ironing out some kinks? got the macadamia nut and shrimp sushi and a salad for lunch, and shared the deviled eggs starter. deviled eggs were nice and liked the crispy sweet bacon, and you can't go wrong with salad. the sushi was OK, surprisingly very filling (8 pieces but the macadamia nuts definitely have impact), however, it was missing something flavor wise... not sure what, but it needed something else in the roll. the accompanying sauces were interesting. service was fair, although it was a little confusing on who was waiting on our table at first, since it seemed like 5 different people came by. but when my sushi came they forgot to bring the chopsticks and soy. of course that was when the staff for the entire section disappeared for some reason. after finally reappearing to provide the check, i had to ask twice to get chopsticks and soy. if you go here, maybe stick to the entrees and sandwiches. my friends got the french dip sandwich and duck burger which looked much better than my selection.
(2)
Jaime L.
I have mixed feelings for this restaurant, and before I continue I'd like to mention I've only been here three times. Jackson's got pretty popular within days of its opening, which wasn't too surprising. Their food was typical for this type of restaurant, and outrageously overpriced, which I guess it also rather typical. I've attempted to go here a few times recently but was instantly turned off when I saw the disorganized crowd huddled over the bar and the large crowd waiting for their tables. This is to no fault of Jackson's, it just means they are really great. I think it's a bit ridiculous, though, that you have to wait a good thirty minutes if you want to eat between 5-9. If you don't mind waiting or the huge and incredibly loud crowds, be sure to try the Coconut Shrimp Rolls. For the amount they give you (and of course considering the fact that it's sushi), the $12 it costs is well worth it. I could probably live off of these things if offered the opportunity. I don't specifically remember what else I ate here, but their food is absolutely delicious, especially their fresh salads! Their staff is incredibly attentive and friendly, always checking up on you to make sure you're enjoying your meal. If the atmosphere of this restaurant is something you don't mind or enjoy, you'll LOVE this restaurant- I can guarantee that. Though if you don't find the atmosphere enjoyable at all, this restaurant is simply not for you. Mmmmm, Coconut Shrimp Rolls. GO GET THEM NOW!! You can thank me later!
(4)
Min Sae C.
Had my first bad experience with Great American Restaurants recently on a busy Friday night. First the host misquoted our time. She told us 45 - 55 minutes. We were seated at 1 hour 20 minutes. Not a big deal, but definitely a bit annoying. My wife, and I started off with the calamari, and lobster bisque. Both were good, but nothing special. I don't know if it is just me, but it seems like everyone is using the same Mae-Ploy Thai chili sauce on their crispy calamari dishes. The Lobster Bisque could have used a bit more lobster. I would rename this essence of lobster bisque. Entree - this is where things get ugly. I had to try their Hangar Steak, having had the Hangar steak at Ray's in Arlington. I should have know better. I can appreciate meat that isn't marinated. Sometimes it is nice to just let the natural flavors of the meat take over. HOWEVER, this steak wasn't seasoned at all, and the steak was very chewey. Its amazing what a little salt & pepper adds to a dish. I did something that I have only done a handful of times. I had to return the dish. I ordered a good old cheeseburger (medium), and the burger is the only reason why I am giving 2 stars instead of 1. It was one of the juiciest, flavorful burgers I have had in a while. My wife's steak salad wasn't much better than my Hangar steak. It was underseasoned, but it at least had a hint of flavor. After tasting her steak I knew that my steak wasn't seasoned at all. Her salad was also overdressed, and the dressing was overpowering. Our server's did a good job of maintaining our table, and the manager stopped by to drop off the burger himself. It was a nice touch, and we appreciated that they didn't try to make any excuses or try to tell me that I didn't know what I was talking about. I was very surprised to have such a mediocre experience, but this just shows that even the best restaurants make mistakes once in a while.
(2)
J G.
***4.5 Stars*** My wife and I went there for lunch and it was great experience. I had the prime rib french dip and she had the grilled chicken. Both were amazing, particularly the french dip. The prime rib was done perfectly for my taste, a nice medium rare and the meat was tender and not too fatty. The bread was very good, seemed fresh baked with a touch of mayo. The jus was perfect, warm rich and plentiful. My wife's chicken was also perfectly cooked, tasty and tender. There were several large slices of breast and some thigh, no bones. The skin was nice and crispy. The chicken came atop a very nice creamy vinaigrette type sauce accompanied by a very good rice salad (mixed with grapes, almonds and cranberries). And two giant asparagus stalks. I seriously have never seen asparagus that big. Being in the Town Center, I expected it to be more expensive than it was. The french dip was $17 which is competitive to other places, like Blue Ridge Grill or Norton's American Grill. The chicken was only $12. I reluctantly deducted half a star because it took a long time for our food to come out, but it was worth the wait. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Rob H.
Went there recently for lunch -- had the deviled eggs with bacon and the $18 French Dip. Worth. Every. Penny.
(4)
Nick A.
We are big fans of all Great American Restaurants - would do lunch or dinner there at least one a month (some times twice in the same day!) The place is cool, and everything is always in order (just like it's sister Great American Restaurants). Also like it's sister restaurants, it sources all of it's bread from their bakery (Best Buns in Shirlington). Unlike the other restaurants, they didn't know that their burger buns had milk in them. Not usually a big deal, but they insisted that it was dairy free and my little daughter, who has a severe dairy allergy, had a reaction. We grew to trust this family of restaurants, and after many, many trips to the various other locations, Jackson's failed us. In later talks with the management, they profusely apologized, promised that they were reviewing their food allergy procedures and offered a gift card. All nice gestures, but for now I'm taking a break from the Great American Restaurants.
(2)
Michael K.
Went here for a late dinner with Friends, sat and ate at the bar simply so we could enjoy some amazing people watching, and my one buddy could talk to the extremely cool bartender (who's name I'm manged to forget). All sorts of people showed up over the 2.5 hours we lingered there, older folks, twenty-somethings and of course us... and there was a interesting shift and old patrons moved out and new ones moved in on about a 45 mins schedule. The food was decent, not great, the duck burger was over spiced but the wild rice salad (a new one for me) was fantastic. The Grouper fingers my buddy got we just OK, however the fish of the day (think it was rockfish) my other dining companion raved about. So there you go, one great, one good and one not so good plate. A little pricey for what it was, I mean come on it's still Reston (I can say this, I grew up here), but for RTC not that bad Bottom line, decent food, great people watching, especially for a Wednesday, I can imagine the weekends are PACKED, nuts to butts.. so if that's what your looking for then by all means
(3)
Tammy S.
Food and atmospere are nice and fun. I think all of the food that comes out of the Great American Restaurant chain is good and this specific locale is good b/c there menu differs from the other ones and has a bit more flair, but not enough to pay the extra price or fight a crowd. I think it's just a too bit hyped up as a social spot. I do enjoy going here for drinks and apps b/c it's a good place to meet up with friends (single or not). It's a bit overrated when thinking of this place as a hip hot spot. Or...because it is a HOT spot I think it's lost a little bit of its' charm. Does that make sense? I love the deviled eggs! The drinks are a little over priced as well.
(3)
Patrice L.
I'd rate this place higher if the prices were lower. $19 for a french dip sandwich is crazy so I don't go as often as I used to. For my husband and I to each get a french dip and iced tea for lunch, it would come to over $50. The service is usually really good as they work in teams and drinks won't get anywhere close to empty. Besides the french dip, I also like the salads and LOVE the aussie rolls (the donut like rolls in the bread basket). I also like that they bring the check early at lunch time in case you are in a hurry to get back to work.
(3)
Emily H.
After two attempts to prove itself, I will never go back which is disappointing because I think both Sweet Water and Coastal Flatts are great. For my first time, I dined around 7 on a Saturday night with three other guests. My husband and his mom ordered the same entree, the salmon, and then the other two had different selections. The food runners brought my husband and me out 2 rockfish, 1 salmon and a burger. We mentioned to the waiter that my husband did not order the rockfish; he took it back and a little while later brought out a very undercooked salmon. My husband had to again send it back. I guess what they say is 3rd time's a charm, well finally my husband was presented a properly cooked salmon and got to enjoy his meal. However, the rest of us had already finished our meals. So the manager stopped by and we told him how disappointed we were and he gave us a gift card stating that "our next meal is on him". My husband and I went back a week later to give Jackson's the opportunity to redeem itself - not so much! First, there was only $20 on the gift card - "next meal on him", I don't think so! Our appetizer was pretty good, spinach and artichoke dip. I ordered the Seared Tuna salad with avocado and beets. My husband ordered the Sea Bass with sauteed spinach and soy sauce. My salad was medoicre, the tuna was cooked well, but there were 4 tiny pieces (yes, I counted) of avocado and the beets were chunks and the same size as the tuna pieces - my salad should have been called "beet salad with seared tuna" and not have mentioned the avocado. My husband's dish was disappointing all around! It was an EXTREMELY bland piece of expensive fish in a pool of soy sauce. My husband couldn't look at soy sauce for at least 2 weeks after. The spinach didn't have a flavor because of the overpowering flavor of soy sauce. Needless to say, I will never return to Jackson's for more than a beer.
(1)
Todd H.
Jackson's and the other members of this restaurant group appear to have broad appeal. Perhaps one of the main reasons is the layout of their restaurants. Most incorporate a U shaped bar that encourages bar service and lively patrons and a large wide open seating area. The percussion energy of the bar tends edge out into the restaurant provoking the feel of the theatric intermission. Service is generally good and this tends to gloss over the restaurant's culinary shortcomings. Reston Town Center needed a large casual bar of this nature and when weather permits the bar is full of beer chugging middle age yuppies and cosmo swirling MILF. The open, energetic and casual elements come together to produce a playful collegiate atmosphere. Still there is something about this restaurant group that gets under my skin and Jackson's is no different. Perhaps it's due to the over use of tacky wall murals or the contrite and aloof nature of some of the servers. This place just takes itself too seriously without a good reason. The bartenders are mostly working drones towing the party line. For the most part, nothing more than cutesy brainwashed fembots or unimpressive boys with underdeveloped personality and depth. The heavy handedness of management's cult like control is evident and it's as if Dr. No is watching us from an unknown place. Jackson's is part of a successful restaurant group and although one might disagree, success is still the ultimate yardstick. They are perhaps the best in this particular genre of restaurant. Management gets my kudos for producing a rather unsophisticated popular restaurant with good food and the unique ability to make my skin crawl at the very same time.
Great visit! Lobster Mac andCheese, grilled chicken and cheddr cheeseburger all excellent! Service outstanding!
(5)
Ateet A.
I think its 3.5 stars really as i have had good times and a couple of OK times. So I went there again today and in total I have been to this restaurant over 20 times and I do like their food. They have a good variety of food, a good variety of drinks and I do enjoy my time there. Lets not forget the amazing Aussie rolls that are served by them but made the Best Buns Company, totally amazing, I could go there just for those and the interesting tasty butter that they come with. I like the Rib-eye for a lunch, the fish and chips is good, the calamari is an interesting twist which actually is good. They have 2 decent sushi rolls, burgers is good, two dips, deviled eggs. and then today's special Flounder piccata withe caulifower mash and asparagus with lemon caper sauce which was actually really good. As usual, I will be going back again. definitely a good addition to the Reston Town Center and their bar is packed when the weather is nice.
(4)
Dustin S.
Another "Great American Restaurant"... Basically, if you like one (Sweetwater, Arties) you like em all. Good food, nice atmosphere. The difference with Jacksons, in my opinion, is the bar. The indoor/outdoor setup is sweet and the bartenders are on point.
(4)
Kristen G.
We were pretty excited to try Jacksons since we are big fans of Sweetwater, Silverado, Arties and Coastal Flats but I guess the best word to describe Jackson's is confused. They have a retro decor with the hostesses wearing bowling shirts and some neon but the menu is all over the place with sushi and mac and cheese and hong kong sea bass. And the prices are higher than average and seem off balance. My mahi mahi was $15 while my friends french dip sandwich with fries was $17. The deviled eggs were outstanding---I don't usually like deviled eggs and these were pretty amazing. I think they need to refine the menu and try to figure out where they are trying to go with this place. Maybe create some new dishes not tried before at their other restaurants.
(2)
I. P.
What is going on with GAR these days??? The food is fine but the service is lagging. Visited Jackson's today and had a problem with the bill. We had ordered a kid's meal that included a beverage. I specifically asked the waiter if a lemonade would be ok as the meal-inclusive beverage (I did this because we recently had a problem with beverage issues at another GAR location). He said "yes." When we asked about the added charge for the lemonade he said that there was nothing he could do about it, that beverages were charged at the bar. So, here we did not order any other kid's beverage except for the lemonade, and we still have to pay extra even after we verified that it was included in the meal. We would have asked for the manager after I asked the waiter 3x about this charge hoping he could accomodate us,but we had guests we had invited to lunch and two little kids in tow who were getting antsy. Overall, the waiter performed well with taking the order and bringing out the food. Perhaps he was just following GAR's policy all too fervently, and I wasn't going to embarass my guests over a drink charge. We are loyal regulars and lately GAR's service has falled behind. I know I confirmed the beverage and the waiter heard differently. Great American Restaurants is starting the lose the "great" part in the service department. It's a small thing that can ruin the entire experience.
(2)
Nicole C.
While out on a trip in Reston last week we walked around and stumbled upon Jackson's. The neon sign reading: "Lobster Rolls" had us at hello. My husband ordered a really big steak, not the best steak (a little too much fat) - but very good flavor. My lobster roll was spot on and I consider myself quite the lobster roll snob. We look forward to a return visit or many I should say once we're in the area (we're moving). This is one of those old style restaurants. They have good service and a really diverse menu. The homemade berry shortcake was a very delightful and FRESH end to a lovely meal. Make sure you share on desserts and appetizers, they're not shy about serving sizes.
(4)
Ris M.
The service here is sloooow. We went before the dinner rush on a Saturday night and it took them over an hour to bring out our food. The food was ok, but nothing to write home about. The menu is very meat-heavy and in general very pricey for what you get. I generally like the Great American Restaurant chain, but try Sweetwater or Coastal Flats for a better experience. This place might get better in time with some more attention to customer service and a menu with wider variety. Until then, skip it and spend your money across the street at Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe.
(2)
L F G.
*additional update* After being irritated about not getting the gift card, I did end up calling the restaurant just to let them know. They sent a $50 card to my home address this time (my work was right across the street). I still haven't been back to this location. But recently, I received a message through Yelp - indicating the great american restaurant chain operations team were concerned about my review and wanted to talk to me. I left my work number, and 2-3 days later received a call from the regional manager - who had spoken with the store manager. We talked a bit, and she did mention that they've now updated their training program, and the food expediters (not the runners, but the ones on the line that check the food) are now wearing hair nets to avoid this (does this mean i'm not the only lucky recipient of hair in their food here?). We did talk and they were very apologetic that the previous concern regarding hair wasn't properly addressed in the first call, and that they were glad to hear we had received a gift card - as they wanted to send us another one if we hadn't. They were very concerned with righting the negative impression and gave us the opportunity to come back and share our comments with them. From a customer service perspective - this place has it right. They train the staff well - from the hostess to the food runners - and they do care about having a good experience. I just don't know though. 2 hairs in 2 visits. Not only that, but the 2nd time, the hair was right on the white plate, clear as day. Shouldn't the food expediter seen that? Maybe one day i'll go back to Jacksons. For now, I no longer work directly in the area and i'm not really pressed to make a trip out there. But i'll upgrade for the customer follow up and attempted care. That's more than a lot of places do.
(2)
Ed P.
the staff is rude. Just left there at lunch. Seating people without any concern for walk in's. Went to big bowl across the street. Much better service. Treated like a person, not a $ bill.
(1)
Crystal A.
My father in law is a regular here so sometimes we go with him to happy hour. Great service, wonderful atmosphere. Sushi is AMAZING (California rolls) and I really liked the Calamari as well. But--BEWARE. It gets packed SUPER DUPER FAST!! =)
(4)
Ken E.
For being right in the middle of a ridiculously overpriced area, Jacksons manages to be the right balance of price and value. Some of the items on the menu appear to be a little steep ($20 French Dip) where others are a pretty good deal ($28 16 oz Prime Rib(35-40 day dry aged)). The wait staff also is well educated in the items on the menu and was able to add a few suggestions when needed. The lobster roll was good but most likely not what I would order again due to it being a little bland. The few problems we had were minor and I would definitely go here again.
(4)
S B.
Until yesterday I have dined at Jacksons several times and until now have not had any unpleasant experiences. I do like the food and hope the Great American Restaurant Management team reads this review and makes an effort to improve the seating services. I am 36 weeks pregnant and have an 18 month old boy. Given how busy Jacksons is I called the restaurant yesterday at 7 pm to take advantage of their call ahead seating service. I informed them that I would be there in 30 minutes and the hostess I spoke to informed me that it would be no problem. We ended up getting to the restaurant 25 minutes after I placed the call. When I checked in the hostess informed me that there would be a wait. When I inquired how long the wait time would be I was told 5-15 minutes. I was a bit annoyed but was willing to wait 5-15 minutes versus carrying a young toddler out in the rain to find another restaurant. Another couple who did not do call ahead seating arrived right after us and were told 15-25 minutes. Anyway long story short we ended up waiting another 20 minutes for our table. Given the fact that we did call ahead seating and arrived 5 minutes prior to our arrival time the hostesses should have made a better effort to accomodate us or at least forewarn us when I made the call that there would be a wait.
(1)
Melissa K.
I wanted to take my boyfriend somewhere special for his birthday. We had a wonderful evening. Great service and incredible food!!! Prime rib = awesome!!
(4)
Michelle B.
Visited Jackson's while on business. Really happening bar scene. The service was just okay....the bartender seemed to forget about me for a while and I had to work to get his attention to place a dinner order ... but it wasn't all that bad, as it was a great crowd. Got the mahi mahi special, which came with an orzo side and a delicious sauce. Enjoyed the overall experience.
(3)
Liz S.
Really good, although I was expecting more choices on the menu. Cool place, nice atmosphere. Next time I will try the lobster macaroni- their crab roll was ok, but really hard to eat. The roll was a little tough and flavorless. They should have put more sauce on the crab roll and less lettuce. But im a saucy person, so the normal person might not like so much sauce.
(4)
Stephen C.
Ate there this evening with my wife. Staff was bright, perky, and attentive. I had lobster bisque (really good!) and the Roasted Chicken Salad which was a large portion and something I might consider again. I thought the chicken was in short supply when I had it served to me but it was generous, just somewhat hidden. My wife the lobster roll; the fries were good (does that say much about the lobster?) and the lobster had probably been frozen - sorta bland and mushy; certainly not on our list for a repeat although the restaurant probably is. I'm from New England so I should have known better than to order lobster but I had been hopeful that my wife would enjoy it, she only had part of it.
(3)
Ross R.
This joint is a little bit out of its depth. $15 for a french dip? $16 for 2 small crab cakes on a bun? Frites? I don't think so, more like fries with bubbly texture, like they were cooked in dirty fry oil. Service was nice, but they hostess botched the wait time by a good 10 min at lunch time, when that actually matters.
(3)
Wayne S.
The wife and I ate here tonight. We arrived early (430PM) so there was no wait or crowd. Our waiter was very good and very attentive. I ordered the Blackened Prime Rib and the wife got the Crab Cakes. The PR was one of the best I've had in years. The seasoning was excellent. The wife loved her Crab Cakes and everything was else was good as well. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
DINING D.
I went for the grand opening, and have been back twice since then. Unfortunately, the bar is the only place that pulls in any business. Its been packed every night, but it certainly isn't because of the food. The menu leaves much to be desired, and what it does offer, is not very appetizing. Who wants to eat hard boiled eggs, with a big heap of greasy bacon strips piled in the middle for an appetizer? The bar is always busy as Jacksons is the new, "hot spot" of RTC, but it would be nice if they didn't serve you Merlot in a chilled glass, after they'd kept the wine in a cooler. All in all, this restaurant is not a dining experience I would write home about.
(2)
jac j.
We love Jackson's! Have been there 5 times and all were good although the last venture in was mediocre. We adore the deviled eggs and the salads. The steaks are not great value for the money. Most of the time the service is good, although being seniors, I suspect this place is really more for a younger crowd. Regardless of age, we will still go for the deviled eggs and the salads which are oh so flavorful! Then, after dinner, we head over to Edibles Incredible Desserts for some great dessert and we justify the dessert with the two block walk! Isn't Reston great?!
(4)
John R.
Went here for my birthday with my family....food was good...i was able to call an hour ahead on a busy friday night and was seated within 10mins of arriving there...i like all the Great American Restaurants and liked this one as well...my only problem is the selection on the menu is very similar to the others, which i understand since the concept behind the restaurant is Jackson's favorite dishes from his other places....we started off with some deviled eggs and crab dip...both of which were good....i just thought it wouldve been a better dish had they chopped the bacon up and put it on the eggs themselves...as for my entree..i ordered the duck burger, so did my brother and my sister's fiancee...i must say...the that was something new and i enjoyed every bite of it...the burger itself amaazing..and wild rice on the side...good compliment to the flavors of the burger...i tasted a piece of my mom's ribeye...which is different from the drunken ribeye of sweetwater....it was cooked perfectly and very flavorfull as well...for desert we ordered the classic chocolate waffle, cherry bread pudding and carrot cake...all were good...overall i was happy we went there for my birthday and cant wait to go back for happy hour....i hope they get some new items on the menu though...
(4)
Adrienne A.
Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge is enjoying its 15 minutes of fame, what with being the new darling of the Reston Town Center and all. It's not *undeserved" mind you, it's just that they need to be careful not too get too big for their britches. Noticed on the last couple of trips that the bar staff in particular seems to think they are ALL THAT. Dude, you're tending bar, not deciding who gets past the velvet rope at Hef's place . . .also, there was a tiny bit of hanky panky on one of our checks one night (at the outside bar) so I am just sayin' . . . Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge would do well to watch their Ps and Qs because it's a fun place to go and we like it, but folks can only be so patient when there are plenty but plenty of other watering holes. On the upside: The food is darn good, so they've got *that* going for them. The salmon is excellent, steaks also good, salads consistently yummy.
(3)
Chloe Y.
I went here for lunch and my food was pretty good (crab cakes). The waiter was attentive and friendly. My only problem was that they ran out of take out bags. I would go again.
(4)
Marie A.
Came here on a Sat night. It was packed, so that was annoying. People kept bumping into us. My friend said her amaretto sour was horrible.
(2)
Jake S.
I've been to Jackson's quite a bit since they've opened their doors in Reston. This place has got damn good food and understands the time of day they operate in. What that means is that at lunch, they understand folks are on their lunch hours and will be pretty quick and at dinner it's a much more relaxed pace. My only complaint is that they don't serve the prime rib french dip at dinner, by far my favorite thing on the menu. The Steak Frites are excellent and their standard GAR appetizers are as good as any Coastal Flats or Sweet Water. That being said, their Sushi was, suprisingly, excellent. The California rolls and the fresh sushi were very flavorful and have great accompanying sauces. I highly reccomend for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Kay H.
Mmmmm. I am a fan of Coastal Flats and Great American Restaurants so I was happy to see the all star items on the menu PLUS sushi! I made sure to try food that was only @ Jackson's so I had the Veggie Rainbow Roll, the Aged Prime Rib and the Lemon Meringue Pie. Service was great and the food was DELISH! Oh man, too bad it takes almost an hour for me to get there, but I'll be back. One fine day.
(5)
J L.
Delicious. Great food and service. Very consistent. We have been going here since it opened in the town center. We have never been disappointed.
(4)
Calvin T.
Read through other reviews here. I have been back to this place several times since I discovered it over the holidays. My friends work in the area and like to try new places. I have to say, this place is like any other American fare. It is over priced and the food is bla bla. I had their hamburger, salmon and duck. I would not suggest those dishes. All I like is the Blue Moon.
(2)
Christine M.
This is one of my fall time favorites everything from the staff to the food is amazing! Things that I would recommend: calling ahead! this place usually has a wait for dinner and they do not take reservations & eat the donut bread! Apps: Calamari -- amazing. Deviled Eggs- you need to try these, the bacon is unreal. Entrees: Sea Bass - melts in your mouth Filet- good not my favorite Roast Chicken Salad- very hearty meal and a great combo of flavors I also highly recommend the dirty martinis-- about $6 for their house liquor you can't go wrong.
(4)
Rami S.
What's not to like?! Perfect Happy Hour place in the Reston Town Center! Usually very busy but a pretty spacious bar area and a second outdoor bar... it's really strange to see some people out there in cold weather but not me. The drinks are a little expensive but generous portions, just the way I like them. The food is very good, my favorite being the fish and chips which are perfectly crispy and awesome. The other items on the menu including the steaks and even sushi rolls are very good. The service has always been very prompt and I've been there many times. Overall, I really enjoy the hustle and bustle and friendly service here. Ok, note to self - tomorrow is Friday!
(4)
Scott Z.
Jackson's is a good bar/restaurant. Depends on what night you get there, but it can sometimes be crazy crowded. It's a place that corporate types and the mid-to-upscale folks go to have too many drinks, eat pricey (but worth it) food, and tell stories of their great accomplishments in the fine art of douchebaggery or cougarism. As a former resident of the area, I witnessed Jackson's first hand a few times...the loud restuarant the bustling of well-trained servers. The clank of fork, knife, and spoon as the embarrassingly wealthy eat more, drink more, and talk more. But Jackson's is also a bar experience...one just perched before the main dining room, and one up a few steps that can be opened to the elements when the weather is good. The bartenders are well trained, mostly friendly, and do their part to fuel the alcohol-laden craziness that is this "restaurant". -Parking is ample within the Reston Towne Center, though you may need to walk a bit from your Mercedes to the front door. -Prices are high, but that's Northern Va for you. Unless you're eating at McDonald's or Panera, just expect to pay a lot for food and drink. Strangely enough Jackson's eclectic menu is very worth it. With good salads, sushi rolls, and a deep tasty menu. -Service is very good...but it takes good servers to deal with such a terrible clientele. The bar staff is top-notch...really attentive to all, fast, and friendly. Jackson's is what it is...just a place for grown-ups to go and let loose. Corporate-types let the ties open a bit, ladies let the skirts open a bit (okay, a lot), and generally one of those "anything can happen" places. Want a drink and an app...this is the place for you. Want to get an STD from 48 year old divorced woman who is trying hard to act 22...this is the place for you. Want to eat tasty food, prepared well, and listen to people bitch about 1st world problems...than this...is the place for you. Enjoy the experience...you'll never look at it the same again.
(4)
Caroline M.
I have lived in Reston for a while and never went to Jacksons, thinking it was too crowded and over-hyped. I finally took a chance on it and at there Valentines weekend. It completely changed my mind- I will DEFINITELY be coming back. The crab and corn chowder was amazing and the bread pudding was too. The sushi was ok, not the best I've had but it's not known for it's sushi so I'm not that mad :)
(4)
Lakiya P.
This is my favorite spot that my bf and I went to eat. The steak was on point plus the sides with a nice glass of wine. It was worth the price. Im glad we stumbled across this place. I would go every week if I could. Great service and setting. Food came out quick and to perfection. Worth my hr and a half drive
(5)
Teresa H.
Recently visited for the first time when family came to town. The weekend menu included a wonderful brunch option (oh how I wanted the French toast, but my diet pointed me to the salad selections). All the meals were good, and the deviled eggs -YUM!! They were busy, so the service was just average but no complaints, it just took longer than desired to get drink refills when beverages were empty. We will go back next time we are in the town center.
(4)
Dmitry D.
Just like any other great American restaurant this pave had great service and everything was cooked perfectly. We cane for brunch can't go wrong. I forgot what we ordered but I remember 3 app and 2 main course with one day to share. We will be back. I'm back dating some reviews like this one sorry about not being specific.
(5)
Jeffrey C.
We came here as alternate venue to watch some World Cup action and meet friends during the summer. Not knowing what to expect I can say that we were easily pleased. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was great. The service at the bar was wonderful. If you are in the Reston a Town Center this place is worth the visit.
(4)
Denise L.
Tasty food, excellent service and cozy environment all come to mind when I think of Jackson's. However, those qualities are to be expected if youre familiar with this chain. Jackson's is one of those restaurants that you can visit time and time again. Great for grabbing lunch, celebrating birthdays, family gatherings, girls night out, etc. There is something here for everyone. One of my faves on the menu is the fried grouper fingers. They're worth everything single calorie. I also like the donut holes and sweet butter. If you're in VA and searching for a place to unwind while enjoying a bite, Jackson's is it! :-)
(4)
Mary L.
Reston has a cute downtown with many options to eat at. My friend took me here the first time but I specifically requested to come back here the second. The server brings you out fresh bread which reminds me a little bit of beignets but a little less sweet. They come out hot with this delicious sweet butter. Extremely tasty and yummy! I had to stop myself from wanting to fill up on them. I have only ordered one thing from here: the French Dip sandwich. It is that good. You get a plethora of meat in your sandwich and a side of delicious, flavorful au jus that transforms your sandwich from being good to awesome. The au jus comes out hot and added with your sandwich is great. The side of fries were decent but honestly, every time I go there I am just focused on my french dip. There seemed to be a lot of after hour cocktail people accumulating around the bar. The inside had a nice, comfortable, darker toned vibe as well. Service was not bad and my drink was not neglected too much. Overall: decent service + fill-me-up-before-my-meal bread + delicious french dip = an awesome option for dinner or lunch in Reston when I'm there again.
(4)
Amy B.
In general, I really enjoy the Great American Restaurants. However, Jacksons is subpar at best. Sure it's a great location and they have a large outside bar area. But it becomes SO packed for happy hour with douchey overgrown bro's, I just don't see the appeal. If I remember correctly, they don't really have any happy hour deals anyways. More importantly, I've come across some really rude service members there, which is odd because I know GAR is all about service. I've also seen bar staff drink shots with what appeared to be regular customers, this was on a friday at like 11:30 am.. I've worked in the service industry before, and I've indulged in a drink or two with regular customers after my shift is over, but it seems unprofessional to do while so many customers are around. As far as the food goes I would give it a solid B. Some of the menu items are a little bland. The sushi is decent, the mac and cheese is soooo good, and the bread is always delicious.
(2)
Christine C.
Best deviled eggs of my life! Great Art Deco atmosphere! The rolls are to die for!!! Awesome salads! FYI: Bar does not stock energy drinks nor do they have espresso.
(5)
Samantha H.
I love how consistent the food, drinks, and service is at Jackson's. My favorite is their brunch accompanied with a bacon bloody mary. I had a solo brunch at the bar and it was delicious and the bar tender was friendly as always. I always recommend Jackson's to anyone that asks about food in Reston Town Center.
(5)
Melissa J.
My husband and I love this place. I think it's the best food in the town center. Reasonably priced and delicious, I have never had anything but exceptional service. The free savory donuts that they give you before your meal makes every experience at Jacksons something to look forward to. The place is a go-to favorite every time we can't think of something to eat.
(5)
Howie O.
Crushed by it's own success. During happy hour it can be difficult to get a drink because of how busy it gets. I would like to see them actually adhere to the capacity limit set and I am sure it would be a lot better.
(3)
Aaryn P.
I like the type of chain this restaurant is a part of - only wish they had them where I'm from instead of just on the east coast. My husband loves their mushroom soup and gets it every time he goes to MD, DC or VA. We stopped by this Jackson's because we were staying at the Hyatt and it was excellent as usual. We've had many, many things at here - this time my husband had the new lobster salad, and I had some sort of balsamic chicken...both were great. Four stars!
(4)
Greg D.
Food is always terrific. Reasonable prices. Superb service. My favorite restaurant in Reston Town Center.
(4)
Carolyn Y.
Jackson's is my favorite restaurant in the Reston Town Center! I like the atmosphere. The service has always been top notch. The menu is unique without being pretentious. The lobster roll is my favorite!
(5)
Nilly R.
This restaurant is defiantly a really good atmosphere. The bar is always popping at night time. The staff is extremely friendly. The bartenders really know what they are doing. The only downside is that the drinks and food are pricey and the label this place has. I would label this as the cheaters bar of northern virginia. There are always a bunch of married men there looking for a one night stand. Just about every time I've been here, I've had a middle age man try to make a move on me. When I walked to the bathroom, I felt like a celebrity with all the men that turned to look at me. This is also a popular bar for divorcees so I guess that's a plus if you are single and older. I would say the crowd here is late 30s to late 50s.
(3)
Rachel B.
The food is fabulous; I strongly recommend the Nantucket Scramble and bacon bloody marys. The sweet bread that they bring out is to die for and the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. The problem is getting the above mentioned food. I've been to this restaurant several times and the service is more miss than hit. I've waited more than 40 minutes for food without getting bread or water refills. At the same time, sometimes the food comes out immediately and the server is great. The bigger problem is that you don't know who you're going to get, and the waiter turn over is so high at this establishment that I haven't found someone that I can rely upon. If Jackson's fixed the server problem, they would probably be a 4.5/5 restaurant. It has potential but has yet to live up to it.
(3)
Lindsay C.
Waiter was great. Food was awesome. I'd recommend this place. Love the Great American food chain.
(4)
Drew S.
Although it is not a sushi restaurant per se, the Spicy Tuna at Jackson's is some of the best I have ever had. It's good enough that I get one roll for an appetizer and a second as the entree. The menu has an interesting blend of choices and you can't go wrong!
(4)
Mickey C.
Had their cheddar burger. Fries acceptable. Burger cooked properly EXCEPT it was a salt burger. Question of chef: Has ANYONE ever returned a burger asking for more salt? Too bad. Other than that prices for alcohol was through the roof. Price of one glass of wine would almost buy the bottle! A six pack of their beer would be WELL OVER the cost of a case! Avoid paying for the alcohol as it is very over priced.
(3)
Jack K.
The smoked trout appetizer alone rates five stars... Really nice experience today, as my burger was prepared correctly and was very tasty. Our server was a very nice young lady who took good care of us. Hadn't been to Jackson's in a while, so I'm really glad that we went there today.
(5)
Lolah B.
Great food but service sucks! Size per plate is tiny. Food is great tho. Mixed drinks like their mojito & long island tastes good too. I think we paid $7-9 per cocktail drink we ordered ? I forgot but nothing less than $5 for a cocktail mixed drink.
(3)
Cynthia G.
We were looking for some place just to grab a quick lunch but was surprised to find such a gem! Best brunch ive ever had! Will for sure be back!
(5)
Joel L.
Two hungry people off of a trans Atlantic flight looking for relief from hotel food. So, Jump in the car and we find this place. Pretty good choice. Two steak frites with salads, perfectly done. Served hot and full of flavor and tender. Great find for us.
(4)
Sarah G.
Claim to have something called 'low gluten'. Celiacs beware. The listing of this place as gluten free on yelp is misleading. This should be corrected.
(1)
A W.
Good food, a nice place to go with friends. Nice to be able to sit outside.
(4)
eugine p.
The tuna poke app is really good! A different twist to the poke you get in hawaii. Definitely try it out!
(5)
Vanessa B.
We've been to Jackson's a number of times, and we really like it here. Their calamari is outstanding. The lobster roll is delicious, and my husband likes the grouper fingers. Their salads are very good as well. The service is hit or miss, but overall we really enjoy eating here.
(4)
Shirley D.
My overall experience was phenomenal. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and the service was excellent. The complimentary bread basket was basically a basket of warmed donuts. It was amazing. I ordered the house salmon special of the day and it was delicious!
(5)
Max D.
Been here a few times. The food is just as good as you would expect for GAR. My Bartender the last time I went was very friendly and welcoming too (can't remember his name). I honestly always have good experiences here with service and food, I just don't personally know many people that come too often.
(4)
Doug V.
Go with friends frequently for the Thurs/Fri evening social scene. Really the place to be at peak, evening hours. Lots of attractive people drinking and looking around at the bar. Singles scene, couples, ok for even mature folks.... Food is not pretentious and great for the price. Able to migrate from bar to the comfortable dining room. Very well executed concept and consistent with good service.
(4)
Alice A.
Went there for lunch, had a valentine's day special cocktail which was great (fresh berries and champagne ). Our server Josue was really extremely nice and smily. The host as well. There isn't and large choice on the menu but good variety (sushi salad burgers and some other dishes with eggs and chicken veggies) . Didn't see the crab cakes advertised on the front of the building. We had burgers and chicken perfectly cooked (rare to have a real rear meat around the area). Service was quick and the food was great. Definitely recommend !
(5)
Chris S.
It's fine. A decent GAR. Usually crowded and kind of a scene. But overall not a bad choice for American food.
(3)
Charles K.
No issues good or bad. I sat at the bar and had the steak sandwich, which was basically a french dip. Drinks were good, bartenders friendly. No complaints.
(3)
Katie B.
BEST rolls you will eat in your entire life They are overpriced but not compared to anywhere else in RTC The outdoor bar is a lot of fun but mostly 30 and up
(4)
Lhynette C. A.
One can never go wrong with the Great American Restaurant chains. I went to dinner here last night and their bar areas are always packed! Everything they serve at Jackson's is sooooooo good! Never a miss and always a hit! I love love love the Lobster roll and corn on the cob. I usually don't like having a mayonnaise mixed with the lobster when i have a lobster roll...but Jackson's don't really put a lot so it still tastes good. The Calamari app is also good. It has an asian sweet and sour flavor to it. I've also tried the lobster bisque...I can go on and on with the whole menu, overall a great place to go to if you're looking for consistency. The service is always good, the servers are on point and very attentive.
(3)
Scott H.
I've got a love/hate relationship with Jackson's, which I realize is a weird intro to a 5-star review. The truth is that every time I've been to Jackson's I have loved everything about the food and the service. I'm typically not a huge fan of the GAR restaurants, but Jackson's is an exception. The hate comes in because they simply get WAY crowded during lunch and happy hour. But if you're smart and go during a non-peak time you'll get an excellent dining experience and one of the best values for your food dollar among the pricey RTC restaurants. I've tried many times to get my wife to go to Jackson's with me, but have scared her off with stories of the large crowds at lunch and in the evening. But a couple of weeks back my wife and I had to run some morning errands and then she was going to drop me off at my office in Reston. We got into Reston at about 11AM, and I sold her on the fact that this is the PERFECT time to hit up Jackson's. She bought, and we arrived a little after 11 to a mostly empty and stunningly quiet restaurant. Jackson's has a nice variety of selections on the menu, including several options that fit with our low-carb diets. But all of that goes out the window when they bring the bread to the table. Those little donut-like things are like bread crack. And the deviled eggs are awesome - $8 for a half-dozen for an appetizer is reasonable, but when they say "with sugar-cured bacon" they don't just mean in the eggs - they give you two pieces of this sweet, pork-candy goodness. We both did big salads for entrees, and Jackson's has an awesome selection with the option of adding protein to any of them. My wife ordered a chopped house salad with beef added and raved about how well-seasoned and perfectly cooked the filets were. I went with the short-smoked salmon salad ... every GAR restaurant serves their version of this salad, but Jackson's is a little bit different, and better. The salmon has a great smokiness to it (although my wife thought it was a bit over-powering for her pallet) and it comes with another of those awesome deviled eggs. And add goat cheese for a $1 - yes please! My wife and I enjoyed our meals thoroughly and thought that it was reasonably priced, especially for RTC. But she started to see the "hate" part of my Jackson's relationship when it got to be about 11:45 and the lunch patrons flocked in. Quicker than a hiccup, Jackson's was packed. Later that week we went to The Counter for restaurant week and parked in the attached garage and exited near Jackson's. My wife was shocked at the crowded bar at the tail end of happy hour, and the patrons stumbling out of there. And I honestly don't see what the fuss is about for happy hour. Their beer selection is mostly pedestrian. Sure, they have their house-branded pale ale and lager. (Made by the Sweetwater brewmasters I assume. I've had neither - I'm not much of a lager person, but I hear the pale ale is pretty good.) Outside of that, it's your usual wannabe hipster craft and import selection. (Blue Moon, Sam Adams, Guinness, Stella) I guess the attraction is the outdoor bar where all the 40-somethings are reliving their better days at Jimmy Buffett concerts. Despite that bit of haterade, I do love Jackson's enough to give them 5-stars ... just as long as I go before the lunch crowd or in-between lunch and happy hour.
(5)
Lisa D.
The service at this restaurant is amazing! Especially, when considering their prices. It's a casual place with fantastic food. Love their salmon and salads. Ozzie rolls are to die for and you can always count on a great drink. Probably my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Rick R.
Wow. The experiences don't get any better, every time I try. I keep wanting to like this place. They don't really care.
(2)
Eric J.
I liked that they did something different with their calamari. Normally, everyone just cooks it lightly, and flours them lightly, with a light pinch of salt. This, here, they said, let's make some orange chicken calamari, and they did just that. Hey, it caught me off-guard. I had no idea what kind was coming out, I just asked for their calamari. It was a good difference. The lobster roll. Full of lobster, but also a bit much with the sauce. I would have enjoyed it much better if there were very little sauce. I could have just done away with all the sauce and have it replaced with some sort of lemony zest to pour over it. I wanted the lobster to be full of a lobstery taste, not drizzled in sauce. Still, a good amount of lobster, so I'll give them that.
(4)
Keith B.
I came here on a whim with a friend and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is trendy without being pretentious, and the staff was very attentive. The food was AMAZING and though the items were not listed as healthy, there were a lot of light options. I highly recommend the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp.
(5)
Alex V.
I stopped in here for lunch the other before a business meeting. The crab cake sandwich was really good. I was impressed, especially for a chain restaurant. The service was very attentive, and the place has an upscale vibe.
(4)
Boo Y.
Been here a few times. I'm always underwhelmed by the food. Not sure why I go back, slow learner I guess. Don't be a slow learner. Go elsewhere in the town center.
(1)
Sarah W.
Hubby and I love all the restaurants in this chain. Their seared tuna salad is deliciousness. Their lobster roll rocks. I love the too cool dips. The desserts are really good - they have a new chocolate cake and some banana thing - all were delicious.
(5)
Wonder K.
This place can get really loud sometimes but It's a great GAR joint. Good happy hour scene as well.
(4)
K. R.
Good food and service overshadowed by wannabe "go-getters" flexing their plastic at the bar while dressed in their last season J Crew. We used to go here all the time, but the drinking crowd is just plain douchey. If you avoid it and go for lunch or a post happy hour dinner you'll be content. The menu is typical of the GAR chain; general American fare that has a little something for everyone. The only out of place thing is the sushi on the menu.... and they could do without it. Oh, and they don't take reservations.
(3)
Chris R.
Had never been here before, but a friend suggested it. It's all part of the Great American Restaurants (Coastal Flats, Mike's American, etc.) which is good because the atmosphere is the same with all their restaurants and the service is really consistent too. I had the Roast Chicken Salad which was really good. The chicken was cooked perfectly and it was just all around a really good meal. The service was good and like I said, it's pretty much consistant accross all these restaurants, but it get's a little confusing. A waiter takes our drink order, someone else brings them. A waitress takes the food order order, someone else brings it to us. At one point, I asked the waitress for more bread, she said she'd go get it, but when she came back, she had no bread and was taking someone else's order. Thinking she forgot, I asked a food runner for more and he said he'd go get it. The original guy (the one that took our drink order) brought the bread I ordered from the waitress then the food runner brought more. Someone completely differently took our payment...I was so confused. Confusion aside, it's really good. I'll definitely go back.
(4)
Natasha P.
Went here for a drink on 5/8/15 it was ok but the bartender was not personable. We asked what specials do you have he responded no price specials. That's not what we asked ass ! Our bartender left and we needed to close the tab you would think someone would ask us if we need more drinks nope nothing. So we just asked someone to close our tab. Anyways drinks average this was my first and last time here.
(1)
Melissa D.
One of the top 3 on my favorite GAR list. We typically sit at the bar, I prefer the outside bar and am always thrilled when Glendon is working out there, he is one of my favorite bartenders; always friendly, funny, courteous, and happy to be there. On this particular night, we experienced a big storm and were drenched by the time we made it to the already full bar around 7..we sat ourselves at one of the side bars closest to the door in hopes that 2 bar stools would open up before our entrees came, we ended up moving to have our last drink at the bar which was totally fine. To start, we had the chipotle chicken wings..YUM and spicy, the tuna poke 2.0, and a spinach salad with bacon and eggs..I was all about the wings and tuna. For entrees we had the Worcestershire Ribeye- HOLY MOLY- and the always fantastic French Dip. Yet another happy, satisfying, friendly trip, can't wait to come back.
(5)
Michael K.
This place is always hopping and for good reason as the food and service are excellent. I can't pass on their French Dip sandwich that is unbelievably tasty and fresh. This last visit I was offered to add cheese to it for the first time and that made it even better. The portion though is huge and I frequently end up taking half home. You can swap out the default fries with any of several other sides including their veggie of the day which I typically go for. They did get rid of my favorite beer on tap recently (Jackson Lager) which is a bit of a bummer. Their Pilsner though is a close second and hits the spot for me. Service is always first rate here as they use a team approach to make sure everything is perfect for you. My only small warning is that I don't find Jackson's suitable for groups bigger than 5 or 6 people. They just really aren't setup to accommodate larger groups.
(4)
Pegah Y.
I had a great experience at Jackson's. I visited early on a weekday lunch and the service was great and the food was superb. I ordered the Lobster Club Salad (lobster salad from the meat of a 1.25 pound lobster...with mixed field greens, tomatoes, avocado, roasted corn, maple bacon, a deviled egg & champagne vinaigrette) and it was DELICIOUS. One of the best salads I have ever had. It was pricey - $19, but definitely worth it. It was filling and came with all my favorite ingredients - avocado, maple bacon, lobster... I am sold! And the bread and butter they bring out at the beginning is also excellent. It's really not as fancy or stuffy as it seems from outside. And the service was excellent. I would definitely recommend Jackson's as a good lunch spot in Reston Town Center. I definitely recommend their salads!
(4)
Kelly S.
Love this place and we dine here 2-4 times a month Great steaks, crab cakes, bacon cheeseburgers, lemon marshmallow meringue pie, really we've liked everything we've had here. The staff has always be attentive and courteous also. They do a great job of making you feel welcomed and serving delicious food!
(5)
Kate H.
Jackson's is one of my favorite restaurants in RTC. It's casual and fun, but most importantly, the food is consistently delicious and the service can't be beat. Before you can blink, your straw wrapper has been picked up, your drink refilled, and a ridiculous basket of freshly baked breads appears at your table. My favorite offerings, in no particular order: * Spinach, parmesan & artichoke Dip, w/ tortilla chips ($10) * Waldorf Steak Salad - grilled filet, blue cheese, walnuts, apples, etc. ($17) * French Dip - thinly sliced prime rib on a buttery roll, w/ fries & au jus ($19) * Grouper Fingers - fried fish and chips w/ amazing tartar sauce ($15) * Lobster Roll - just what you'd imagine, w/ fries and corn on the cob (market, but usually around $20) Happy hour is usually bustling here, especially in the summer when the "garage doors" open and the bar turns from the inside to the outside. If you are a kitchen fan like me, ask to sit near the open kitchen here for a good view of the chefs and food prep team. No reservations, but call-ahead sitting reduces the wait. Expect a 20-40 minute wait anytime after noon, and longer on a weekend. Note - if you are dining with more than six, you may be squeezed into one of their larger booths or split up. No tables to be pushed together here -- booth rows fill the floor space.
(4)
Amy T.
Female bartender was amazing, however the other male bartenders were terrible. I watched them selectively ignore people and the drinks tasted like bad medicine. Not worth the tab we spent.
(2)
Xuan-Lise C.
Kind of expensive, but the food at Great American Restaurants is never disappointing. We made reservations for a thursday night, it was pretty busy. We started with the shrimp and macadamia nut sushi, don't bother with soy sauce, the sauces on the plate are great, it has great crunch and is just different enough. We then ordered the crab cake sandwich and the steak frites. The fries were delicious, the crab cake is always great. I think I don't like hanger steak, but the flavor was great. It's just a bit chewy for my taste. We will definitely be back, as it's a bit more on my way home than sweet water. The service is very fast, so if you're saving one last bite, make sure to put your plate out of their reach! I also felt like dinner service was very fast, and some nights we're in a rush, but I kind of wanted to just sit and relax. Regardless, the experience and food are great, we'll definitely come back.
(4)
Gabriel D.
Here on a business Trip from VA, the establishment is clean and very large, bar area for the singles and bussiness trip hookups, and restaurant area, busy and lots of activity, the food was pretty damn good, the prime rib i had, 20 oz was cooked perfectly, and yes I ate the whole thing, don't judge me, I know I'm fat. The candied bacon deviled eggs were a very nice combination and I could have ate the whole plate of those also! Most likely a location i will come back to when I return for further training in the area and kinda wish this was down in Va beach.
(4)
Katie S.
Jackson's is my go to restaurant in RTC. Lunch/dinner/happy hour are great times here. The service and food are both excellent representations of the GAR brand. The deviled eggs, calamari, lobster roll and steak frites are my favorite things off of the menu. I agree with others, if you are going for lunch, you want to shoot to get there by 11 to be seated promptly. If you are going later I suggest calling ahead so you are not surprised by the wait. But keep in mind, it's busy for a reason. Like most GAR restaurants, the kitchen is partially open, which allows for a window into the restaurant business that I find fascinating. Watching the back of the house during a busy shift is like watching a symphony; everyone working together to produce a beautiful product. It's really cool for a food geek like me. Happy hours here can be pretty crazy too, but the bar staff is well prepared and with the multiple bars (one inside, one outside) you will be able to get a drink... even if sometimes you can't hear the person next to you. In the summer the outside patio is one of the best places to people watch in all of RTC though and they just made the entire property non-smoking (love that!).
(5)
Matthieu K.
You get a 1 today Jackson's. That's right ... a 1. Called ahead and when we showed up at 730pm on a Weds, the hostess told me the wait for a table for 2 was 30 mins. Same as people walking in off the street? Really? Why call ahead then? I have been dining @ your restaurants for a decade, no issues. Further, I explained that my dinner companion was my 9 year old who'd just got 8 stitches ... And still nothing? Big fail Jackson's.
(1)
Jan W.
Steak Frites were right on, and oddly I enjoyed the salad. Even on a busy Friday night, service at the bar was pretty darn good, a rarity in the region.
(3)
Alvin C.
I was in the area on business, and needed a place to eat for lunch. There was a soul food place on Elden in Herndon that I used to love, but sadly it seems to be closed (thanks to Yelp that I didn't do a wasted trip). I was interested in local fare instead of a chain. I yelped this place, and my boss and I ate here. The service was good, the front desk was prompt. We were walk-ins, but we were promptly seated, orders taken, food served. I'm kind of sorry it was a work lunch, because according to the presentation and plating of the food it seems evident to me that there were more interesting things to order than what we got. We were filling the hole for lunch, rather than pleasure dining. I'd definitely return, and hopefully get to try more of the fare. But as it was, it was a pleasure to visit and lunch here.
(3)
Trisha H.
I would definitely recommend this place if you are out on the town in Reston on the weekend. They have a great outdoor space, open to the bar. They have some interesting bar-type foods - you have to try their deviled eggs. They come with this delicious caramelized bacon: to die for. The waiters/waitresses were efficient and friendly, and the night-life atmosphere is very welcoming.
(4)
Marvin M.
Big place that seems to stay busy. Nice size bar that is handy when they are busy. Jackson Pale Ale is good. The wait staff is outstanding. Multiple people managed our table of 6 people and all knew exactly what we were drinking. Seamless integration of multiple servers. Well done!
(4)
Dee B.
So I thought it might be a safe bet to order the lobster roll. The lobster was tough and I didn't finish it. How did they redeem themselves? Excellent service and the deviled eggs with sugared bacon. Maybe you didn't hear me, the deviled eggs with SUGARED BACON! Yes, bacon makes everything better.
(3)
Nabeel A.
I had a business lunch meeting at Jacksons yesterday. In regards to the food, I had their cheeseburger and it was okay (nothing special). My main issue was with the servers who kept coming back to "check" on us. I believe during our stay we were visited by the waitress at least 7-8 times. It almost felt like they wanted us out of there and it was almost impossible to carry on a conversation because we kept getting interrupted.
(3)
Matt D.
Good food. Alot of milfs and real chill out door bar during the summer even though it gets way to packed. Overall good experience for 23-35 year old dudes looking for a hot older lady. Met a 34 year old when I was 23 . Good times..
(4)
Erik R.
I was enjoying a few drinks at the bar with a couple of friends, until a drunk overweight guy bumped into me. Immediately, he wanted to become physical... i deferred, and he continued to try to initiate a physical confrontation. Then the bartender came over and asked my friend I to leave-maybe he was friends with the drunk guy. We immediatley left and do not intemd to return.
(1)
Sam G.
I love coming here especially sitting in the outdoor bar section! Talia is usually my bar tender whom is amazing every time I sit with her. She is always quick with service and drink making. I don't like waiting very long and she definitely makes it so I don't have too. I usually order the deviled eggs and French Dip two of my favorite items! I just cant stay away their amazing every time!! I would highly recommend coming in here for lunch when the crowd isnt so thick. That way you can enjoy your meal without having to bump elbows with the unfortunately rich douche bags that seem to hang around there at night. All and all this place is amazing and I will continue to come here all of the time!
(4)
Nicole S.
Delish from apps to the entree best in Reston!
(5)
Erica W.
FOOD: Good. SERVICE: Good ATMOSPHERE: Lively (even on a Sunday night) FOOD: Based on the prices on the menu, I expected the food to be decent here. Surprisingly, I think the lobster roll was excellent. The lobster was fresh and tender, and the chopped celery was crisp. Relative to the $17 deal for Luke's Lobster in DC (which is a rip off), Jackson's gives a decent sized portion of lobster. My friend ordered the steak frites, and I was also surprised that it was pretty good! She had it cooked medium (which was cooked perfectly - yes, reddish in color as it should be). SERVICE: The bread basket was filled a bit sparsely...two thin slices of bread and two donut-like rolls. The waiter did not offers or attempt to refill our water, tea or soft drinks (until he prematurely delivered the check). I am not a fan of having the check left in front of me at a table unless it's a "quick eats" sort of joint. I think it was pretty rude for the waiter to come by and leave the bill receipt when we just got dessert...Even worse, when we got our credit cards and receipts to sign off, the waiter stood next to our table. ATMOSPHERE: More of a place for a casual group dinner (tables probably seat groups of 2-4 most comfortably), though on the pricier side. Definitely not a place to take someone on a romantic or a first date (unless you are just grabbing drinks at the bar) because there are no barriers between tables. So when the place was packed, it was hard to carry a conversation. But then when the place cleared out, I could sense people at other tables listening in to our conversations. I think this is a good spot for the sports bar (super large flatscreens), but I doubt I will have dinner here again because of the service.
(3)
Reshawna L.
I am still in love with The Great American Restaurant brand in the new year. I have added Jackson's to my list of restaurants to visit at least once a month. This restaurant specialty is sushi. Try the Firecracker shrimp sushi dish.
(5)
JR A.
Food and drink Is ok, bar gets really crowded on weekends. Check this a dress code starting at 9pm no hats of any sort oh sorry is this a club?
(3)
Laura B.
Jackson's is always my number one when I recommend places to eat in the town center. Wonderful service, delicious menu and a great atmosphere. Whether you visit for dinner or for drinks, you really can't go wrong. Bartenders are very friendly and efficient, both indoor and outdoor. The food is excellent- something on the menu for everyone. The deviled eggs appetizer is a must.
(5)
Ellen S.
I wanted to try this place out while in town for a business meeting, unfortunately, they would not accept a lunch reservation, their loss.
(1)
Cary C.
Basically: really reliably delicious food, but they need to change their menu a little already. Used to go all the time, and now we never are in the mood to go here because their menu hasn't changed in 5 years...spice it up a little!
(4)
Karisa D.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants of the Great American Restaurant group. Let me start by saying that the service was excellent, I'm sorry for those of you who disagree with me. Our waiter was attentive, polite, and made great food suggestions. The waiters help each other, I don't think my beverage glass was ever less than half full the entire time I was there. The food was just as good as the service. I had the Waldorf Steak Salad and my boyfriend had the Slowly Roasted French Dip. The salad was so good, the steak was cooked to my tastes and complimented the salad well. They even accommodated my substitution request of changing the cheese from bleu cheese to goat cheese. I was told the French Dip was amazing as well; I only got a small bite! Great food, fun atmosphere, and excellent service!
(4)
Andrea A.
I came here with some friends and we sat at the bar. I totally forget his name but the guy that was working at the bar was a nice jolly man. The Crab and corn chowder is delicious!!
(4)
Rich W.
This is a great restaurant .... the name says it all I like to spoil myself and clients here... must try
(5)
Melissa P.
Phenomenal food and service!! Two bars, one inside and one outside. Great bartenders, fun atmosphere. Love coming here.
(5)
Kim H.
I've been here a handful of times for happy hour and dinner. During the work week (hh), Jackson's is overcrowded with yuppies. Eh, if that's not your thing then order some food. The bartenders are very attentive and friendly. The food is basically a recycled Sweetwater Tavern menu and since I love SWT, I'm a fan of this place. I've tried the following: Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad asparagus, tomatoes and field greens w. champagne vinaigrette & a deviled egg with spiced pecans Slow Roasted French Dip thinly sliced prime rib on a Best Buns butter roll hand cut fries & au jus OMG, the salmon salad is absolutely fantastic!!! The deviled egg with bacon is a genius touch. They even have them as appetizers and for good reason. The french dip was also very good - if you like meat, this will hit the spot.
(4)
Daniel A.
Decent selection of wines by the glass, definitely something for everyone. Nice rib eye, perfectly cooked; one disappointment was the addition of melted butter over top of it. I'd rather taste a perfect steak than have butter running over it. Chop salad was good, had dressing on side so I could control how much. Others said the salads were overloaded with dressing.
(3)
Chau T.
Service here is always consistent & good. Food selection is wide & all the dishes I have tried are tasty. Among my favorite, the sea bass, calamari, lobster roll, salmon salad, or chicken & beet salad. The bread basket they give every table is always a winner, ozzie rolls rule!
(5)
Leslie S.
I went here on a Saturday night with a couple friends for dinner. We did the call ahead seating. Upon arriving, we still waited over an hour for a table. After an hour, we went to the hostess stand to find out what was taking so long and they sat us immediately. AKA they forgot about us. We sat down and our server was all over us about getting us more drinks but we weren't ready and just ordered waters. After ordering, we noticed that everyone around us had bread at their table. We did not. It took requesting it three times to get the bread. In fact, our entrees arrived before the bread did. He also at no point came to refill our water glasses. As soon as we were done eating, we were offered coffee or dessert and when we declined, the check was immediately placed on the table. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. First of all, we still all had alcoholic beverages in front of us and were planning on staying for another drink and to chat. Second of all, how ironic that you were too busy to get us bread or refill our water glasses, but you can't wait to give us our check. We got up and went back to the bar to have another drink since obviously our server didn't want to make money. I asked the bartender if they had red bull behind the bar and she looked at me like I was crazy and said "no" very rudely. Overall, the food was very good, but the service was not. I probably wouldn't eat here again at those prices. There are nicer places in Reston that have way better service.
(2)
Alicja J.
I've been to Jackson's a few times in the past year, and have mostly positive things to say. For one: the bread. It is the best bread ever! Another thing I like is the staff; they are all very nice and attentive (most of the time). The last time I went, the only thing that bothered me was the fact that the waitress seemed to forget about us while we were waiting for our check. I can deal with it though, considering this happened on a Saturday night (and they were extremely busy). The food is good, the atmosphere is fun. Definitely a good place for a date or even just going out with friends.
(4)
Ed V.
We had the Lobster Rolls and they were amazing! The bread was perfect complement to the lobster. The sweetness of the bread made the roll a culinary delight! The lobster roll was better than the ones at had in New England! I highly recommend them! They are accompanied with delicious fries and BBQ sweet corn. The fries and corn were both very tasty. Next time I am in Reston I will definitely get my lobster roll fix and Jackson's!
(5)
Mike S.
Exactly the high quality service and experience you expect from a Great American Restaurant. I've been coming back for years. The bar scene is great. Very friendly and responsive bartenders. Also a nod to the half-outdoor Lucky Lounge (the premier spot to pick up/be picked up by cougars in/from the Reston/Great Falls area). The food is really good, and weekend brunch is great. A few highlights are the 2 scoops dip appetizer, the deviled eggs, the lobster roll, and the sushi.
(4)
Brittany J.
This was really good a-little-better-than-casual dining. It's in the same consortium as Coastal Flats which was REALLY good when it first came out and has declined since turning into a bigger chain (per usual). But my review from beginning to end of the visit. The decor is cute: like classy Americana bowling alley. There's a big tribute to the late owner on the left wall that's worth reading. There seemed to be some confusion with the hostess stand where we were all just kind of looking at each other for several minutes while we were waiting to be taken to our table (it was not crowded at all). Our server was fine; very expeditious and not too helicopter-y, but nothing really notable. I wanted to try a cocktail but since I was with family I got wine instead. It's a limited list of glasses (plenty of bottles), but I found something I wanted to drink. We ordered a spinach dip, really tasty and packed full of what tasted like fresh spinach which was exciting. Sometimes when you order spinach dip you wonder if there's any vegetation in it or just green food coloring and "spinach flavoring." It's served with tortilla chips rather than crostini or anything else, just as an FYI. I really wanted to try the deviled eggs and some of the soups, but that will have to wait until next time. The bread basket is also a true assortment including, sourdough, some delicious fried things, and a possible rye of varying degrees served with a slightly sweet herb butter. It would be nice if they were all warm, but my wheat-addicted butt still ate the cold pieces. I ordered the sesame-encrusted tuna salad (salad with big hunks of tuna cooked to order, not the mayonnaise mixture they serve at the church picnic), and my family members ordered the salmon salad and the grouper special. All the fish was cooked perfectly.. My salad was HEAVY on the beets and light on the avocado, much to my chagrin, but still delicious. Whatever citrus vinaigrette they're using is heavenly. Afterward, I got the white chocolate bread pudding to go because although I was full, I couldn't pass up the chance to test out once of my litmus dishes for the quality of a restaurant. Let's just say although I would definitely choose to leave out the raspberry parts of the sauce, the pudding didn't make it all the way home. It did taste more like pound cake than bread pudding, but I'm sure that has to do with the sheer amount of butter included in this particular recipe. Yum :-9 There was a weird moment toward the end of our dinner where they dimmed the lights pretty significantly. As in, I could no longer fully see my plate. But I'm really interested in their crab cake, cocktails, and the starters I mentioned before so I'm sure I"ll be back to sit at the bar or outside once it gets warm!
(4)
Ann S.
This is our fallback restaurant when we can't decide what we want to eat - they have a decent selection. The food is usually very good, and the service is great. The servers have each other's backs - at other restaurants one might sit for a long time trying to get a particular server's attention, never happens at Jackson's. Someone is always available to get a table what it needs.
(4)
Monsieur F.
I went here for the second time last night. It was just as good as the first. I had the ribeye, again, and it was done just right. I cleaned the whole plate. I had the chop house salad which was great. The lady and I split the flourless chocolate waffles. I also had two beers: Jackson's Lager and Jackson's Pale Ale. Both hit the spot. One person at our table seemed disappointed that the steak comes with fries instead of a baked potato. I'm sure if you just ask you can have your wish. It's a bit noisy in here simply because this is seems to be a hotspot in Reston where a ton of business are nearby, so there's usually a packed bar. If I worked nearby, I'd come here for happy hour, too. Crowd is a little older but I really don't care. People are people. However, it's not club loud or anything like that. We sat at an actual table instead of at the bar, and we could hear each other just fine. I'm sure if you sat at the bar, you would likely have to speak up. I'm not super critical like most on Yelp who think they are a culinary expert writing for a newspaper. I'm just an average guy. I honestly only care about the food, the price of said food, and the amount of food received at a restaurant and little else. This restaurant, although slightly high in price, lives up to delviering a satisfying amount of food for the price paid. Tasty to boot!
(5)
Jenn K.
So, I have two other reviews already for Jacksons. I would just like to add that my steak tonight (Steak Frites but subbed Frites for broccolini) really hit the spot! 5 star top notch. Not fatty, tender, perfect seasoning. Melt in your mouth. I cleaned my plate.
(5)
JJ R.
Good food. Great service. Consistent. Good prices. Good booth seats. Never been disappointed. Only negative is the meat market at its outdoor bar.
(4)
Anthony A.
I have dined here twice and both time the meals were excellent. The salmon was cooked to perfection the second meal was steak! The hickory smoke flavor came through with a nice smooth taste, it did not overwhelm the meat! I will be back again!
(5)
Ali Z.
Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite restaurants in Northern VA. The service here is top notch, and the food is always consistently good. For a while I had thought about coming here for their weekend brunch. i figured you can't go wrong, since their lunch and dinners are always amazing. As you would expect at any Great American Restaurant, the menu choices are limited. I was looking for a breakfast item, so I passed on the crab dish and a few other choices. Really the french toast is one of your only choices. I didn't think it was anything special and too sweet. The potatoes it came with were good. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner, but wasn't impressed with their brunch options and my meal. For $36 for 2 people (we had a juice and a coffee along with our 2 entrees), there are better choices around here.
(3)
Glenn C.
Jackson's is one of my favorite spots in Reston. It offers a great, diverse menu, two fantastic bars, and the best outdoor patio area in Reston Town Center. Starting with the menu, you'll immediately be pleased with the number of options it gives you: steak, chicken, fish, pork, burgers and sandwiches, sushi, and inventive salads. Their surf and turf is great: a filet and crab cake served with fries. Not only is the filet tender, juicy, and flavorful, but the crab cake is 95% lump crab meat, not those cakes which are almost all filler. Topping it all off, though, are the fries. Jackson's has some of the best french fries I've ever had. They are on the level of Thrasher's- the best (normally beach-side) fries I can remember ever having. Whatever you get, be sure to try some fries along with it- you won't regret it. The decor is smart and classy, with dark wood and steel accents all over the place, set off with frosted glass sconces and chandeliers. This carries over to the bar area, too. Speaking of the bar, it's amazing. Or more accurately, they are amazing, as there is not only a bar within the dining room, but one on the upper deck next to the patio as well. Both offer multiple TVs to catch the game on, and both are consistently packed with a fun and diverse crowd. The best feature of the lot is the upper bar. It's raised up on the rest of the restaurant, which gives it a cool feel and look. Best of all, however, is the patio. The patio connects directly to the upper bar, with doors on either side allowing access back and forth between the two spaces. During the warmer months, the windows are drawn up, opening the bar to the patio and allowing fresh air to breeze through. Even during the colder months, though, the patio is still open. It's situated below an awning which not only shields it from the elements, but provides warmth as well: heat lamps run the entire length of the patio. They are high-powered enough to where you can comfortably sit outside for an hour during the dead of winter. There's always a crowd enjoying this space, and because it lays directly on the sidewalk, it offers up wonderful people-watching opportunities. All in all, Jackson's is a great choice for dinner or drinks. The bar crowd tends to hover around a 35-45 range, but even if you're younger you'll fit right in. One of the premier destinations in Reston Town Center, bar none.
(4)
Paul B.
The food at Jackson's isn't bad. The atmosphere and the service are both pretty good too. Overall, it's not a bad restaurant. Ordinarily, I would give such a restaurant a higher rating, but I feel like they're far overpriced for what you get. That's not to say that a lot of the other food in the area isn't overpriced.... I just don't think it's worth it at Jackson's. Also, it seems awfully popular for what it is. It's decent, but it's not the best place in town or anything. So crowded though.... It's not bad. If you go to Jackson's you'll probably enjoy the food and have a good time overall.
I came really late on saturday night after my boyfriends college summer league baseball game with both of our families and a few of his friends. They close at 12 but my mom showed up to take our orders at 11:20. They happily took all the orders and kept the food nice and warm until the rest of us arrived after the game at 11:40, only 20 minutes before their dining closed. We ate our whole meal and it was wonderful. The waiter was nothing but kind even though we were "those people" who showed up right before closing. My boyfriend got the Rib-eye steak and it was HUGE, my friend got the chicken and was it was also superb. Two of us got the fried grouper and it tasted so fresh but not too fishy. I highly suggest it. Really yummy. The ambience was quite nice too--with nice big leather booths for every guest!
(5)
Jenn G.
Pretty much exactly what you'd expect for a restaurant in Reston Town Center. Large and fairly generic, but good food and good service. Not the kind of place I'd make a trip out to dine at specifically, but a more than adequate option when you need a break from shopping. I got the grab roll which was quite good and I would definitley recommend. The fries were good and that's pretty much sums it up. Probably good group dinners or after-work events. Like I said, I'd go back if I was hungry and in the area, but wouldn't seek it out.
(3)
Dominique F.
This review is only based on a drink after work and the service at the store. My pomegranate margarita was good, however the service at the bar was pretty slow and it wasn't even that busy YET! Plus the bartender made a pomegranate mojito by mistake, and I guess she had to throw it away? :( Oh well, I might come again for actual food, until then: Adieu!
(3)
Angel W.
I have been a huge fan of Jackson's, per my two previous 5 star reviews. In those reviews I raved about the veggie platter. However, last time I visited they changed the platter by removing the warm thin beans & fingerling potatoes from the dish. They basically ruined the great thing they had going. The potato option totally evened out the rest of the dish and has now been substitured by flavorless steamed spinach. So, basically now the platter is an overload of vegetables (aparagus, spinach, rice, beets, corn on the cob and tomatoes). What were they thinking?? I hope they get it together soon. This was my go to place, and was the one place I could take my meat eating friends and actually enjoy an interesting entree, as a vegetarian.
(2)
Kelly S.
Visited for a business lunch and was pleased. The rolls are delicious -- especially the ones that are sweet, almost donut-tasting. I got the french dip sandwich and thought it was very good. We had good service by the waiter and were all pleased with our meals. Nothing other than what I've said was stand-out, but I also don't have anything bad to say. Maybe a little pricey for a lunch, but I was in the DC area, so I totally understand.
(4)
Layla L.
I was really reluctant to dine here... considering the atmosphere I thought it would just be another typical american restaurant with blah food and burgers on their menu, but I was so wrong. Their hickory smoked salmon salad is incredible!!! I've never had salmon with such a good flavor. Their spinach artichoke dip is also really great and the bread they serve comes as little balls of deep fried deliciousness with sweet butter. Love it! (skip dessert and go across the street to Pitango for the best gelato you've ever had! or to red velvet cupcakes for some delicious cake)
(4)
Bruce J.
Wow, talk about fantastic food. We dined on Christmas Eve and had a great meal. My wife had the Crabcake & Filet Mignon meal which she claimed the best ever. I enjoyed a very good Aged Prime Rib. However, the best part of the meal was Billy's Chopped Salad, which I highly recommend. The restaurant is broken down into comfortable and quiet booths which made our meal more enjoyable. We also enjoyed the soft lighting above the table. The service was excellent. Overall a very enjoyable experience.
(5)
LaTanya GeminiondaRise J.
I went here for an early dinner for my birthday. I had the jumbo lump crab cake entree with a summer salad on the side. It was very delicious. I sat at the bar and Dave was very nice & pleasant. He recommended the summer salad as an alternative to the fries. The crab cake full of lump meat almost no filler I'm not a slaw fan but the one they make was tasty. I would definitely like to try them again. Threason why they get 3 stars is they don't have any happy hour specials and the crabcake was just a little salty when mixed with the remoulade sauce.
(3)
Terrance C.
I used to call this place the toolbox because of the people who came here. I normally went to the American Tap Room across the street... But oh how the tides have turned! Consider me a regular at Jackson's!
(4)
Robert C.
I was excited about meeting a friend for lunch today at Jackson's, but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed when it was all said and done. It's a beautiful restaurant, well presented staff, and even the food was good (while slightly over-priced). But the service left something to be desired. When I arrived first, a friendly greeting by the host. But when I asked to be seated, knowing my friend was just moments behind, I was told to wait until they got here and let them know when I was ready. Well, I was ready then! As I waited, I then saw the hosts seat several other individuals who were waiting for their companions as well, so finally I asked a different host if I could be seated, and they accommodated me. Table service wasn't any better. Before my friend and I could even say hello, the server was there asking what we wanted to drink. No friendly hello, how are you, or any type of introduction, just what do you want to drink. She seemed to not be paying attention to the fact we were catching up and wanted a minute, rather she kept coming over and over to see if we were ready until finally she said, just put your menus to the side when you're ready. After our food came, which was timely, we never saw our server again. No "how is everything", she just disappeared. When she came back by finally, she just dropped the check when my friend and I wanted another drink! How do you drop a check when guests aren't done yet?! When we asked to split checks, they couldn't even do that! Said their system would show it all seperate, but how was my friend supposed to expense their lunch if the whole bill is together. Overall, food and atmosphere were good, but service needs some work. Looking the part and acting the part are two different things and from my experience, their acting needs some serious lessons.
(2)
Chris P.
Amazing food and service. The hickory grilled food is outstanding, and the servers all work seamlessly as a team to take care of you. The bar is packed on weekends so be prepared to wait a while to fulfill drink orders. Great place to bring a date on a weeknight, or friends for partying on Fridays!
(4)
Elaine M.
Pros: Great service, modern decor. Those fried round bread things with the accompanying flavored butter (SO GOOD). The prime rib sandwich. Cons: Relatively small menu selection. Some of the dishes are way too heavily salted (I'm looking at you, crab cakes).
(4)
Daniel C.
Au jus sandwich is to die for. too bad the price has raised to $19 for a frakkin sandwich in just a few years. Hong Kong sea bass surprisingly tastes freakin as good as some Chinese restaurants. Totally didn't expect it. Salmon salad is great with giant Asparagus Steak salad not so good. huge chunks of steak... which is pretty stupid for a salad. Should be sliced thin. Fried Dough appetizer is good. They have it at all the other branches of Great American Restaurants. Food is good but little on the pricier side for what you get. Also, some servers don't know what the heck they're doing. They pour water into your Sprite... yeah. this happened twice. It tries to be pretty classy but for "Great American Restaurant" choices I'd rather go to Sweet Water Tavern in Centreville, VA. Food, Service and price is better for pretty much the same stuff. So my tip is. If you want your monies worth. Order the salmon. and if someone else is paying then order the Au jus sandwich. Otherwise, there are better places. ^__^
(3)
Jack N.
I eat at Jackson's semi-frrequently. You see, I travel to Herndon regularly, and have developed a stable of places to go with my colleagues. Jackson's has yet to disappoint. I know it's kind of a meat market, but we never go there for the bar scene, just dinner. I'm from New England, and heartily endorse their Lobster Roll. Authentic as if I'm in Kennebunkport, it comes on a grilled New England-style hot dog bun. The meat is tender and delicate and there's plenty of it. The deviled eggs, the tuna sushi have both endorsed by our group. I also really like their steak salad with champagne dressing. Service has always been professional and polite, and we've not had any inordinately-long waits so far in over six times visiting. So, yeah, Jackson's is in Reston Town Center and is easy to mock, but dammit the food is good, the service is professional, and there's plenty of free parking right next door. How can I hate on that?
(4)
Christine T.
I waited along time to come here everytime I walked past on the weekend this place was hoppin. So I went here for lunch so see what the draw is and to avoid the big crowds. The food was ok. They have a lot of seafood here which I'm not into. I got a chicken dish which was ok but not great. I doubt I'll return.
(3)
Kristie C.
Cool sports bar, food was mediocre for the price. Strange -- they also offer sushi here. Seared tuna salad wasn't anything spectacular. Service was somewhat slow. Reston's generally a cool area, I'd probably try elsewhere for a more "local" experience.. perhaps mon ami gabi?
(3)
Laura L.
Jackson's, in three words, is Reston Yuppie Central. Both the indoor bar and outdoor patio bar are par for the sausage fest course so both are best avoided unless you like getting hit on by men who are old enough to be your dad. I came here with a few of my friends and were told that our wait would be around 20 minutes but we were thankfully seated after only waiting about 5 minutes. Potential sausage fest, averted! What to say about the menu... well, seeing as to how Jackson's is part of the Great American Restaurants' empire, you know that you can expect. Decent-tasting food which is usually overpriced. Jackson's has sushi but it is best to avoided (and saved for... well... a sushi restaurant). Me personally, I had the smoked salmon filet for dinner. It was tasty but nothing out of the ordinary. Which brings me to this: is Jackson's worth visiting again? With unmemorable food plus yuppie dude clientele? Not so much.
(2)
Lyndsey C.
Love the ambience of this place and atmosphere. Always good food and drinks. Solid choice and fun place for grabbing a drink.
(4)
Ryan W.
My favorite restaurant near my house. The brews are good, a little pricey, but Jackson's Pale is tasty. Call ahead as it gets busy being right in the town center. The honey butter and bread is the best in the area. Comes with your meal and the calamari is to die for, yeah I said it. If you want a somewhat healthy entree, get the chicken salad with the egg and pecans, great stuff. The lobster roll is great too if you feel like filling up.
(4)
Faheem R.
Summary: Not horrible, not great. I'd rather spend my time exploring new places than going back, but I wouldn't be upset if I was with someone who really wanted to go. Food: Ordered the Crab Cake Sandwich and the Lobster Roll. Both were pretty identical - except the Lobster Roll came with corn on the cob. Portions were good, but I would expect that given the prices they charge. The seasoning used in the crab cake was pretty good. The lobster was cooked well - the only issue was that they overstuffed lettuce in the roll so it started to fall apart a bit which was annoying. Fries were well seasoned. Overall, pretty solid food, but nothing mind blowing. Service: Average - nothing really notable. Ambiance: Again, average and nothing really notable. This whole place has a generic, sterile, corporate vibe to it. Wait time: Got there around 7pm on a Saturday night and waited about 25 minutes for a two-top. Silly me, being new to the suburbs, learned that you can actually call ahead and get on the waitlist. So I'd recommend doing that instead of what I did. Miscellaneous observations: They have sushi on the menu, but I would honestly question your judgment if you ordered sushi here...
(3)
Mike C.
Jackson's is definitely one of my favorite spots in Reston Town Center. The service in the dining area is fantastic and the bartenders are cool and always working hard to mix up your favorite beverage. I've had many entrees from their menu and I've enjoyed them all. It's a busy place so plan to wait for a table during peak times.
(5)
Nick H.
For those of you who don't know, there's a chain of restaurants called the Great American Restaurants. These restaurants each share a similar style of restaurant and food prep while maintaining their unique value in terms of diversity of menu. Jacksons, in Reston Town Center, belongs to this chain and is among my favorites. No doubt, you've heard of some of the other restaurants (the seafood themed Coastal Flats, the microbrewery Sweetwater Tavern, the all-american cafe Mike's American Grill, etc.) but Jacksons remains one of my favorites because of its location. The Reston Town Center is a hot spot for weekend or even weeknight excursions with everything it has to offer. As for the restaurant itself, there are a number of amazing dishes. The fried calamari appetizer here is perhaps the best fried calamari I've ever had. The crab cakes and deviled eggs are great as well. And anyone who's ever been to any Great American Restaurant will tell you that the "Ozzie Rolls" that come free with your meal are to die for...and will often have you asking the wait staff for multiple refills of your bread basket. If you're in the RTC area, Jacksons needs to be your next visit.
(5)
Jane C.
I always enjoy going to Jackson's for really good and fine food. I have brought several guests as well, and has become a favorite for all. Now whenever out of towners visit, they ask when do we get to go to Jackson's. I can always depend on this place for fine service, great food, great drinks. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and all was good. I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes, but when I know it will be busy I do call ahead.
(5)
Heather C.
I dare you to find something not to love about this place. The decor is beautiful. They keep it classy with great customer service I've never had a bad meal- they have a menu that works for everyone ! So many choices but they still keep it simple. LOVE the deviled eggs (and thats coming from a girl who usually cant even handle the smell of them) I love the chicken salad with beets for lunch its hearty and delicious (they dont skimp on all the good stuff like beets avocado chicken like other places tend to in salads). I feel boring posting about the salad here of all things -- There are so many fun yummy adventurous options ! They also have a great brunch on Sundays I love the outdoor bar area. The mojito's are pricey but worth it ! There's no place in NoVa that can make a better mojito. All of the staff is so friendly and on top of it, especially Talia behind the bar (I'm positive I'm spelling her name wrong) she's like wonder woman !
(5)
U.S. A.
Like all of the Great American Restaurant locations, their service is top notch. I've always been happy with the food. Tonight I was in the mood for a steak, I joked with the waitress not to mix up my steak with my wifes as I wanted it rare! Well when I cut into it that was not the case, my wife had medium rare, but mine was medium. The waitress saw my comparing and quickly asked if everything was alright, I said it wasn't really rare, but I don't want to waste food. She jumped away and the manager came over and insisted on fixing it. He left the potato and mushrooms for me to eat and came back in a few minutes with a properly cooked rare steak with the fixin's. It was delicious and I was happy that he fixed the error. The food is always good, but like always the service is top notch!
(5)
Randy B.
Boom, bitches! I got the Grouper fingers and LOVED IT. Everyone else in my party seemed to really like there food as well. However, I was surrounded by douche bags. The place is populated by nothing but douches, which made me consider for a brief second that I may also be a douche. Not the case, I just didn't know any better. Also, our server wasn't the most polite I've ever had, but she made up for it by being so hot I had to physically restrain myself from molesting her.
(4)
Rindy N.
Meh. Went here twice. While service is exceptional. Food definitely doesn't justify the price--even if the price was lower. Hub, ordered a roast beef sandwich, which was the blandest of bland. And the accompanying au jus, was just laden with salt. It had no remnants of the beefy flavor, which essentially was an au jus is supposed to be--the juices from the beef thats been roasting, then you add you soy sauce or worcestshire*** (I probably spelling this wrong) Anyways--my meal the lump crab me was decent, cole slaw had no flavor. There was another meal hub ordered, seafood based--very salty, fish was wiggly--chewy skin which is gross. No flavor and like a teaspoon of rice with a 30 dollar price tag. Price is not the issue--I would just like some good, memorable food, that relies less on salt and more on layers of flavors. Especially when paying 30+ dollars on a dish. The saving grace is that damn bread pudding. I will continue to go there for the sole purpose of that damn bread pudding. Gosh, it is so good. And also drinks aren't bad. I am surprised this place get this many 5 star reviews...
(3)
Victoria V.
Came here for lunch today. This was my second time here. I sat outside at the bar. Chris was really friendly and took care of me right away. I was in the mood for something lighter so I had the Chicken, Avocado & Beet Salad (fresh roasted beets, pine nuts, goat cheese and red grape tomatoes with mixed greens and citrus vinaigrette). It came out pretty fast and it was delicious. I enjoyed my meal in a laid back atmosphere and my glass was never empty. The time before I came with a group of my girlfriends. We sat in a comfortable booth inside and I had the delicious Jackson's Lobster Roll. Lots of lobster and it was dressed lightly and simply with mayo on a traditional grilled split top roll. It came with grilled corn on the cob and fries. One of the best ones I've had outside Baltimore. The presentation was really nice. I will definitely be coming back to dine here.
(4)
Christina O.
I enjoy having brunch here. We are always seated right away, the service is great and the food (and coffee) are delicious.
(4)
Shanell G.
I had the pleasure of dining at Jackson's on a late Friday evening in July. This was my second visit to the restaurant over the past few years. However, each visit was delightful and pleasing. The food was delicious, as I indulged in a filet of sea bass while my date had the smoked salmon. Both dishes were well prepared. I ate mine and the majority of his. :) Because we ordered just before the dinner menu cut-off time of 11pm, we were the last people in the dining room. However, the bar remained open until 2a.m. Although we were lingering guests, the service was still great and our waitress remained cordial. The ambiance of the restaurant is appealing for both groups and couples. The dining room is a large open area and can be rather noisy when filled. The bar area is separated from the dining room, which allows differing experiences at Jackson's. Overall, I have absolutely no complaints about the restaurant and look forward to returning.
(4)
Alan S.
Sunday family brunch: Overall a solid meal. Food was quite tasty. I had the chicken and havarti sandwich with red peppers - it was perfect. My wife had a chop salad that was quite tasty. The kids meals hit the mark too, as far as quality. Service was OK; a little slow. Only critique - the price was over the top for what we got. For a place that seems to pride itself on "keeping it real," when it comes to the price...not so much. Otherwise I would have given them 4 stars.
(3)
Ali M.
Jackson's always provides consistent quality and service. Salmon Salad is the best in town.
(5)
Emily N.
If i could i would give them a 4.5 stars! Located right in Reston Town Center with tons of parking garages and spots all around it making it very accessible. With a huge sign going up and down the building it's very easy to spot them from a mile away. My boyfriend and i entered and then placed our name down. We were told that it was going to be a 10-15 minute wait. 10 minutes passed and then 15 then 20. We noticed that the people that came in after us were being seated before us. As our stomach began to rumble, we grew impatient. Getting ready to leave, the hostess asked us if she could see our buzzer. Long behold there was a mix up. When they realized how long we've been waiting for they accommodated us right away. After that confusion, it all went up hill from there. My boyfriend had ordered their Cheese Burger with an extra side of their Ham Mac and Cheese. While i had ordered their Rustic Cream of Mushroom followed by their Grilled Chicken & Harvarti Cheese. While we waited for our food their amazing bread basket and butter came out. Not only does this restaurant fall under a huge umbrella of other restaurants but the cool thing about it is that they all have similar menus. And the bread is no exception. They offer this type of bread that taste like a savory donut. Accompanied with the butter it was perfect. My soup came out and let's just say it was delicious. Warm and buttery. Reminded me of a deconstructed yet pureed version of the broth from a French Onion soup. Then our meal came out. My boyfriend's burger was perfectly cooked. Nice and pink in the center and a good hardy crunch to it. A simply classic done right with just the right amount of seasonings and fries to go along with it. The mac and cheese was alright. Nothing to complain about. Though it did some more cheese and less bread crumbs. My Chicken Sandwich was delicious. Again a simply dish yet done right. The citrus mayo really did zing to a simplistic chicken sandwich. With our meal winding down, we had stuffed our faces with enough food that we just didn't have any room for dessert. Really wished we could have though. With service being nice and very welcoming, overall a very good experience. And prices are more than reasonable for the portion and quality of the food.
(4)
Ian K.
Went in for a late lunch on Saturday, which turned out to be brunch, because they serve brunch on Saturdays... who knew. So, decent offering of brunch/lunch offerings. Friendly greeting and then an interminable wait for drinks, then a wave-down of the waiter for refills. He was definitely off his game and apologized several times. The lobster bisque, which when he explained it, sounded delicious. Too bad he never brought it. Lunch/brunch was good. Best thing was the brioche french toast our kids ordered. So good that we ordered another one for them to share because the serving size was a bit small ($5 for half a slice of brioche plus fruit and an store bought apple sauce cup). The wait for the second order was long, and long.. and we asked for it to be canceled and then it miraculously appeared. The check came and I just knew the bisque would be on the bill... and it was. I asked for it to be removed and the waiter - again - apologized for forgetting it. I guess waiters dish out the soup themselves and he never got around to it. So, no matter that the food was tasty, the inattentive service lost it for us. We were pretty disappointed considering how great the reviews generally are. It wasn't that it was crowded, it was just slow and distracted service.
(3)
Rob B.
This group produces some great restaurants. I knew going in that it would be good. It's a modern casual supper club with a modern menu. Decor and our server were beautiful. But beauty only goes skin deep and getting a refill or the wine you ordered, was somewhat painful. The down side of team service is no one knows how your meal is going. The food was nice, the calamari tasty but too sweet to finish as well the Asian fish was nice, but the sauce was very sweet. Prime Rib nice but heavily brined in salt. I am being picky, I would go back but would love it better if they backed down on the salt and sugar. Oh and the bread, fried dough was addictive. We will be back!
(4)
Catherine G.
Sure, its a chain...but its a better chain restaurant than most. I like their staffing organization..though I think Coastal Flats does it a tad bit better. Still, their service is consistent, I never freak out about using their restrooms and the food is relatively above average. It's American cuisine, but if you are in the mood for a french dip lets say, it can be a really good. For the most part, they have never disappointed me. And I just got off my addiction to their corn on the cob that comes with the lobster roll. I asked about that corn on the cob once and it was pretty complicated but the server seemed to think it was marinated in soy sauce and sugar??? (I dunno, I may of heard wrong.) Last time I went, the corn wasn't quite as good, but then again, it could be my taste buds. Be ready for a jungle up near the bar area and a lot of noise in the evenings. Still, its a good time with friends and we always enjoy ourselves when we're there.
(4)
Joe B.
service was great had my drinks in less than 3 minutes orders the short smoked salmon which was delicious, and came out within 15 minutes, my glass never got below halfway before being refilled, the servers are very friendly and knowledgeable on the menu,
(4)
Victoria S.
I have to change my rating to 5 STARS because I am in love with Jackson's since I moved to Reston. I am the Duchess of Jackson's because I frequent this establishment at least once week, hence my 30 check-ins. I go sometimes 4 days in a row on a good week. Love all the bartenders here, they are great! But it's not for those who take themselves way too serious. It's a meat-market but it's all in good fun and ladies, you know you'll get a look or two here so no need to all fancy-crazy just bring a smile and you'll be the belle of the ball.
(5)
JP A.
Lobster roll, lobster roll, lobster roll. On point. Great beers on tap. Definitely a solid spot to hit up.
(4)
Kelly C.
I came here with a friend for dinner to celebrate her birthday after hearing good things about the food. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip to start- DELICIOUS. It wasn't too spinachy or too artichokey, as some dips can end up being. We were in the middle of eating our dip with the chips that came with it when one of the servers (NOT ours) comes to our table and tells us he has to get us more of the rolls to eat the dip with. He comes back with an additional basket of the rolls (the table usually comes with some bread and rolls to start) and tells us to fill the inside of the roll with the dip and eat it that way. This was pretty much so life changing that I felt the need to write a review and post it on here. That server was AWESOME for letting us know his secret ... so I figured I should share the love. After the appetizer, we each ordered a salad (going light because we wanted gelato after). I got the tuna salad and my friend got the chicken salad. Both were great and a perfect amount of food. They were also both full with enough flavor that neither really needed dressing if you're not a big salad dressing type person. Overall, awesome meal!
(4)
Chrissy P.
Good service but I find the food pretty average. I ordered a salad that was overdressed for my liking and the tortilla chips that came with my appetizer were too salty. Seems decent for throwing back some drinks with friends but I wouldn't return for food.
(3)
Rachel M.
The food is definitely 4 and 5 stars...but the service within the last week hit a low for me comparing to the AMAZING service we usually get from all the other Great American restaurants (coastal flats, ozzies, sweetwater). Last thursday, when we sat down, it took time for the server to take our drink order. then to order our meals. Note: we could barely hear the server give out the specials (unless she was new, then we totally understand). Once we received our order servers never came to check on us if we needed more drinks, food. the server also picked up a dish when our guest was not even done with their food. When we were done we sat there waiting for our server to come back with the check and we had to flag someone for it. Last night, i went to meet up with friends and they had ordered my food 10 min prior to me arriving. Right when i sat they started to complain about the service. The server did not give them the specials nor did he offer bread. They had to flag another server to give their appetizer order and it took 50 minutes to get their meal. I have never received this kind of service before so I just wanted to put it out there so this can be corrected esp if they have to measure up to the other Great American establishments nearby.
(2)
Justin B.
The food is consistently good, as you'd expect from this group of restaurants. The Sunday brunch is pretty awesome, and my personal favorite is the Prime Rib Dip sandwich. The one drawback to the place is that during the evenings (particularly weekday evenings), the noise from the bar is absolutely unbearable. So, 3 stars during the evenings. 4 stars any other time.
(4)
S L.
Overall, this place is pretty "meh." Maybe I'm a jerk for saying this, but I really don't get what's so amazing about this place, when it is mediocre at best. Really, is Reston/Herndon so lame that people flock to this establishment for a good time? That doesn't say much in my book. If such is the case, I'd just as soon sacrifice some of my beer money on gasoline, and shlep out to Arlington and DC. Why? Let me count the ways.. This generic, Ruby Tuesday-esque establishment somehow gets away with DC prices. In the land of large parking lots and 6-lane bumf_ck roads, you shouldn't be shelling out 8 bucks for a rail mixed drink. Maybe I'm a spendthrift, maybe I'm not, but that just doesn't make sense to me. From what I hear, their bar is supposed to be a "meat market" of sorts. That's all well and good, depending on what your scene is. When I went to a happy hour on the patio there, it kind of reminded me of one of those "CEO and Office Ho" costume parties from college. The CEO's being your basic, shlubby DC-area WASPs, mostly golf-loving sales guys and software developpers (some of whom may be married, fully open about it, and looking for a "side salad" romp of sorts), who typically are within the ages of 35 and 60. Probably not anyone worth giving the time of day to unless you're black-out drunk, but if you're looking for a free drink or six, Old Spice and his merry band of suit-clad colleagues will have no problem footing the tab (god knows they have the money for it, and they're not afraid to tell you). Likewise, there are the "Office Ho's," apple of the CEOs' eyes. Many of these ladies are much younger than their suitors, presumably better looking, single, and have substantially less income. They strut into the place with a few buttons on their polo and oxford shirts unbuttoned, and with their office slacks a couple sizes too small after a few too many happy hours on top of a sedentary lifestyle. None the less, they are cute! And unless a lady is bag-over-head-worthy ugly, scoring a free drink or even a phone number here is not rocket science. And lastly, you have the Cougars. These ladies are also key players to the Jackson's Meat Market. Some of my guy friends rave about their past one-night romps with these tan booth orange, botox babes. They have money, they work hard, and from what I hear, they put out. Apart from the three-ring circus of a bar scene that this place boasts, er, offers (I'm not sure the meat market is worth boasting about), the food is fairly good. The waitstaff and bartenders are very friendly and accomodating. The clientele, however, is a trainwreck. Definitely good people-watching, though, and I would recommend going there just once, just to say that you've been. It's almost a rite of passage, out here in the old 'Burbs.
(3)
Keith M.
Didn't have to be wait to be seated as another review said, but just like many of the other Great American Restaurants, Jackson's food is spot on. Went there tonight with family. We ordered the Salmon which was AMAZING, the Hong Kong Sea Bass also AMAZING (cooked perfectly on a bed of steamed spinach in some sort of soy sauce blend), and Steak salad which I didn't taste, but heard no complaints about. As with all other Great American Restaurants they have Ozzie rolls which are hot and buttery deliciousness and a nice amount of variety in the drink menu. The dessert was great too. we ordered the mixed berry shortcake. HIGHLY RECOMMEND !! (but the flourless chocolate waffle is also good) The service was really good and the waiter popped up the second someone's water glass went dry every time. The pricing was average and the food was well worth it. I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in Reston Town Center.
(5)
Jolene L.
Filet is amazing... cooked perfectly, seasoned just right, super tender; just the way a filet should be! Crab cake left something to be desired... too many bread crumbs, they overpowered everything else, couldn't even finish. Salads came out before appetizer was done, server apologized though. Dinners came out soon after salads. Service was too quick, felt a bit rushed. Kid's steak was a little flavorless & dry. Chicken was moist and deeeeeelicious! Salads were also quite yummy. Bar made PERFECT vodka & tonics.
(4)
Kat M.
Jackson's is the kind of place to which we go when we don't want to stay in. It's sometimes an afterthought, but we're always glad we went! The food at Jackson's is good - but they are purveyors of more "Perfect Cokes" than any other place I've ever been. To explain: a "Perfect Coke" gets the perfect balance between the syrup and the soda. They're supremely satisfying and quite rare, and I get them very often at Jackson's. As for the food, I love the lobster macaroni and cheese, and am always impressed that they don't skimp on the lobster. The french dip is very good, and I also like the grilled chicken salad with beets. Another dish that I get pretty often is the seared tuna salad - always great. The service is always pretty good; I can think of a few servers who are very good, and none who aren't. They keep the refills of those Perfect Coke's coming, for sure! Sometimes the line of patrons waiting looks daunting, but we have always been seated quickly - after just a short wait. So, overall, Jackson's gets my endorsement!
(4)
Graham C.
I really thought the reviews would be higher for this place...huh. I went here because I was intrigued by the GAR family and I was meeting someone from Dulles, so I chose Jackson's. When we got there around 7ish, the wait was 15-20 minutes, so we stood outside and waited about 15-20 minutes. They have a bar and a patio on the sidewalk and it was packed on a Tuesday. But then again, if I lived or worked in Reston, I'd drink on a Tuesday too. So we were sat in a booth and ordered the deviled eggs. I also got the steak salad and the other people got the spinach salad with chicken and the chicken sandwich with mac and cheese. So the deviled eggs were great. They were topped with bacon, and had onions inside them, but the bacon was the stuff that food critics pleasure themselves to. 3 strips of crispy thick bacon drizzled in what I think was honey. It made me feel funny in my pants is all I know. The salads were good. They weren't stingy on the blue cheese in my salad which could be a little overpowering. My friend didn't finish her sandwich and asked for a box to go. They gave her one with the date, the food item and the restaurant written on i. I gotta say that doesn't happen often for me, but I give the place an A for service almost on that alone. Good attention to detail. I liked that money from dessert goes to charity. I also liked the back story that Jackson's was dedicated to a chef they had who got ALS and died. There's a mural with his name on it and its clear from the menu that this restaurant was a labor of love for the owners and a great homage to a lost friend. I only wish this place was closer. I feel dumb driving from U Street this far for American food.
(5)
Ives Y.
The food and service here is always great! And the food is pretty fresh as well. Their Deviled Eggs is definitely a must try! They have specks of water chestnuts and is served with bacon. =) I'm a huge carnivore and the rib eye here doesn't disappoint. Word to the wise. Don't go there too late, or they're run out of their yummy and fresh foods. It is a bummer that they don't have more, but I also love the fact that they limit the amount of food that they serve each day, so that they're not wasteful. The servers are very personable and accommodating. Definitely one of my favorite places in the Reston Area.
(4)
David N.
For a Wednesday night, this place was rockin. Had a few pale ales at the bar before sitting down for dinner. Wait staff was great, and attentive. Deviled eggs were a nice start, and I chose the grilled grouper special which was served on a bed of grits. $ was reasonable as well. So, if you are looking for a sedate, quiet place, with boring menu items, and crappy waiters, don't go here.
(4)
Chris R.
Nice place, good energy, clean and new. The two bars are great and the outside configuration looks like a fun place to hang out. My group was under-whelmed with the food however, and would not classify it as Mighty-Fine. I had the famous lobster roll, which is abut the size of a twinkie, and about half what you would expect in Boston. The kicker for me was the large chunk of very thick lobster shell that almost took out a porcelain on-lay on one of my molars, ouch!! I was a little gun-shy after that. Certainly a high quality place, but felt a bit chain like, and food was below expectations. I'll be at Clydes next time for a business lunch.
(3)
Katie P.
I don't feel that I'm cool enough to do the bar area, but the restaurant is wonderful. We've come here many times over the past few months and I have always been pleased with my food. The last time we went, I got the salmon fillet with rice and asparagus. Hands down the best salmon I've ever had. The rice and asparagus were also delicious, but I couldn't stop thinking about that salmon. The glaze. Drool worthy indeed. My husband got the crab cakes and he really liked them. I also tried a bite and thought they were good. (Still nothing compared to my salmon!) The servers are *really* on top of things: you never have to wait for a drink refill, it's rare for an empty plate to sit on your table for more than 30 seconds, the check is ready right when you need it, etc. We go out of our way to eat here since it's always a positive experience. If you're walking around Reston Town Center and need a place to eat, I highly recommend Jackson's.
(5)
Neal E.
Another lunch time visit to Jackson's - this time I had the Crab Cake Roll. It comes with a side of an interesting potato salad - there is a cold and a crisp element to the salad - might have been bits of Apple in it - I was not sure. The Roll comes with two small crab cakes sitting on top of a chopped lettuce mixture and stuffed into what looks like a cross between a hot dog bun and a roll. The crab cakes were tasty! Potato salad was also good. I would order this again!
(4)
A Cream Puff With Apricots D.
I've been at this place a few time, I like the place and the fact that they have outside seat, specially I like the part of the bar which is outside.
(4)
Kerry R.
My boyfriend and I took a trip over to Jackson's yesterday. I used to work for Coastal Flats of Fairfax, so I admit that I came in with a biased opinion. I knew that the food I was about to have would live up to the GAR standards, and it did. My parents are both huge fans of Sweetwater Tavern as well. The decor had a 80's motif with crazy lights hanging from the ceiling. Once we sat down, we were greeted immediately by our server. He told us the day's specials and offered us some of the delicious breads. I looked through the menu, and saw a few items that stood out to me. The sushi items seemed pretty interesting. The only two that I recognized were the california roll and the spicy tuna roll. However, on the down side, all of the sushi was a tad overpriced(10 to 12 dollars). I also felt that if I got the sushi, I wouldn't be able to eat my whole meal unless my boyfriend(who is not as big of a sushi fan as me) had some. I ended up getting the crab cake roll(which is also served at Coastal Flats) with a side of the ham and cheese macaroni. It was delicious, but a tad filling. My boyfriend had the steak frites with handcut fries. We both enjoyed our meals, but were unable to get dessert. Hopefully, next time I go to Jackson's, I can try the chocolate mousse. Its one of my favorite desserts. Overall, the staff was kind and the food was delicious. No real complaints! My only word of advice would be to go during the day. Since it is a new restaurant and a GAR, it tends to get pretty busy on the weekend and at night. :)
(4)
May Y.
Meh, indeed. My coworkers adore this place, but I've yet to have it blow my mind. The food isn't bad, but it's nothing that I would remember as excellent. I've gone a few times, and is it a bad sign that I can't really remember what I had? A salad that was surprisingly small for $14 and a soup that was over-salted. I would say that the ambiance and decor is great, but the same goes for many of the chain restaurants in the town center. They have an outdoor, heated bar that looks pretty awesome and I hear it can get pretty packed at night. I must say that because I'm not a huge meat person it's probably influenced my opinion about this place. I'm not big on sandwiches twice the size of my face, unfortunately. Overall, while it's a crowd-pleaser, I'm never actually inclined to suggest it.
(3)
Todd P.
We stopped here on a whim on our way back to Arlington from Loudoun just because we like the restaurants in the Great American chain and wanted to give it a try. I don't know if I would drive back out to Reston just to eat here, but if in the neighborhood I would definitely go back. We tried the deviled eggs which were really good, and I had the fish and chips which was good (though not better or worse than the fish and chips at Coastal Flats).
(4)
Stephanie T.
My friends and I came here one weeknight around 7pm. I was first to arrive and, in the 20 minutes or so that I waited for them in the front entrance, I managed to feel extremely uncomfortable. (Granted, this is probably due to my already socially awkward nature.) At 7pm (I believe their happy hour runs late), the bar area is TEEMING with yuppies - more than I've ever seen in one location at any given point in time. Now, I can't really blame Jackson's for the gentrification of Reston, Virginia, but I can however say that the layout of the restaurant isn't exactly conducive to a quiet and pleasant dinner with friends. The meal itself was hardly memorable. Their menu is NOT vegetarian-friendly whatsoever. For whatever reason (beyond me), I decided to get the California roll, which certainly was a bizarre choice at a GAR. Words fail to describe how odd this sushi tasted - much unlike any California roll I've had before. While it didn't test my gag reflexes, I cannot safely say that I exactly enjoyed it. The environment is about as fabricated as it gets. In comparison to other restaurants part of the GAR collective, I would definitely rank this in the lower half. The 1950's decor is somewhat cheesy and completely uninspired (wow, did they really think they were first to create a restaurant revolving around a 1950's theme? Come on.) If anything, the environment is reminiscent of an upgraded Silver Diner or Amphora. Price-wise, it's nothing too extravagant but I certainly wouldn't call it cheap either. Unless you're a yuppy who enjoys loud and seemingly endless happy hours at inauthentic restaurants (hey, more power to you if you are), you, too, will probably feel pretty awkward here.
(2)
Cory M.
Our second trip was similar to the first, but this time we tried different menu items. The Deviled Eggs with Bacon is certainly unusual but it's really incredible. The deviled eggs are topped with crushed sweet sugar pecans and tiny chopped chives. The bacon is not crisp but it's not meant to be - it is sugar-cured and delectable. The crab cakes here are served with traditional french fries opposed to the shoestring ones at the sister locations - much better. Unfortunately, as with our first visit, we received undercooked fish. This time it was the short smoked salmon. No worries though as it was remedied quickly. The salmon comes with a wild rice mixture that, I think, aims a little too high. Wild rice, mushrooms, grapes, celery, and more - all of high quality - adds up to too many strong flavors. The focus should be on the salmon.
(5)
Danforth Ridgewell Rutherford V.
Worked out two straight hours, and was starving...showed up here for dinner couldn't find a single thing on the menu that appealed to me. Filet mignon and crab cakes, lobster bisque, cleverly named cheeseburger, nondescript salmon dish smoked with something or other...this menu is like a copy of a copy of a bad menu from 1998. Left without eating, ended up eating at Chipotle, which was probably twice as good as anything on this tired menu, at 1/3 the cost. How many NOVA restaurants can have the exact same menu? Can we slap a white sticker somewhere on the front door that says "generic corporate garbage" on these psuedo-fine dining places so those of us who care don't waste our time?
(1)
Josh Y.
7/25/2009, 6:30pm dinner. My first time to this "new" restaurant in Reston Town Center. As soon as we walked in, the restaurant immediately gave me a very obvious impression of a popular chain. I am not a fan of chains, but I liked their decoration. With a call-ahead, waited for 8 minutes. Not bad for a Saturday night. 1. Service: I would give them 4 stars. Our waiter was busy running 4 or 5 tables. But very attentive and polite to each table. However, he talked too fast that I could not catch the details of each special he mentioned. 2. Hong Kong Style Sea Bass: Steamed with julienned ginger, green onion and red peeper on a bed of spinach and a scoop of sticky rice swimming in the soy sauce and sherry wine sauce. My sea bass fillet was sliced into 6 pieces and steamed just right. Great job on that. However, if I did not pay attention while eating that fish, I could have choked, because of 2 fish bones about 1 inch long each. The sauce smelled nice but was sickeningly salty. that sauce literally spoiled the entire dish. 3. A friend had a grilled rock fish with couscous. Again, her fish was well prepared. but couscous was very salty. If she says salty, that is really really salty. 4. Another friend had a fillet Mignon with sauteed potatoes and onion. That came with a house salad. His salad had very tasty dressing. The fillet was literally melted in his mouth. I guess they did a good job on that fillet. However, too much onion. 5. Desserts: White Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding: good but not standing out. Lemon "Marshmallow Meringue" Pie: average. Overall, I would say if you like this chain and don't mind getting your tongue irritated by their salty food, you probably would like this restaurant.
(3)
Dan W.
** 2.5 stars ** On the way back from Dulles, we decided to try out the newest of the Great American Restaurants. It's so safe and vanilla. There is a lot of re-hash between Coastal, Mike's and Carlyle, and the new dishes are not OMG great. Everything is ...yikes...nice. Nothing new really stands out. If this were a food review, 2 stars at most. I'm surprised that as novices they can extract so much money for their sushi from unwary customers. I tried their spicy tuna roll, because I was expecting maybe a new twist or something for $12. I do commend them on using fresh #1 tuna loin for their roll vs. the frozen, processed, day-glo red version other cheap places use. However, $12? Their use of jicama as an ingredient was interesting because it added a twinge of sweetness to the taste, but $12 interesting it is not. For that price, I could have gotten 2 spicy tuna rolls elsewhere - hold the jicama. Everything was oversalted. The soups. The hand-cut fries. The duck burger. Salt is a crutch for a chef. It is a type of flavor enhancer and they really use a lot of it. We shared the bisque amongst 3 people so that not any one of us had to ingest all that sodium. I guess we could have returned it, but for what? Another oversalty bowl of soup. Split 3 ways it wasn't going to fill any of us up or kill any of us. Besides, the flavor was OK and could have stood on its own, if Jackson's had the guts to temper the salt shaker. All in all, I have to up the score because they always have clean, wide-open, comfortable dining rooms with well-trained servers in a well-designed spaces. And their consistency of the food is always there, too. Be it good or be it bad. They should get credit for executing that every time. Food wise, you'll never get great, but you'll never get awful, either. It's just safe. So, for that, it gets the average safe rating. Wonder if this restaurant group has any true new ideas for a restaurant, anymore. Someone behind me just said their bar is great and a lot of fun, though. So, maybe, drinks are the way to go.
(2)
Ryan M.
Keep wanting to like Jackson's better, especially given my love for the Great American Restaurants chain, but it keeps being just *ok*. The food is alright (except the Two Cool Dips, which is blegh). The Chop House Salad and French Dip are both pretty great. Service tends to be good, but not as solid as some of the other restaurants in the brand. Great decor and popular happy hour spot, but the food and service keep being just lackluster enough to prevent a 4-star rating.
(3)
Nicole S.
DONT GO HERE! Management & bar staff are racist. They refused to serve my hispanic husband even though he presented his US govt issued green card AND passport because they said he needed a STATE issued form of ID.
(1)
Felix C.
Had the Lobster Roll and it was quite nice. It doesn't compare to Legal Seafoods lobster roll but it was worth going back for. The atmosphere was very bar'sy and it can get a little loud but I would go again.
(3)
Jay C.
We had dinner here on Sunday night and this was our first time trying this restaurant. We've been to most of the GAR restaurants (sweetwater is our go-to), so this was on our list to see how it compares. For the most part, their food across all restaurants is very similar. My dirty martini was quite good and my wife's blackberry lemonade was quite delicious as well. I ordered the fish and chips and she got the tuna salad. The Breakdown: * Fish and chips was amazing...probably the best I've ever had. Beer battered grouper is quite delectable. Coleslaw was awesome (I never eat coleslaw) and the fries were a 9 out of 10. I would definitely get this again. * My wife said the tuna salad was very good. She got one at Mon Am Gabi the previous week and could barely finish it. She stated this was much better, but likes the one we make at home the best. * They forgot our Ossi (sp?) rolls. We didn't care that much b/c we stopped before for drinks and an app at another place. But they did tell us 2X that they would be on their way. * The men's bathroom could have been cleaner. The urinals smelled like...you guessed it...urine. Someone is not doing their job when they check off that little sheet in the B-room (Don't just check it...clean it!!!) * The server taking the order from the table across from us was incredibly distracting. I think it's good to connect with your patrons...but no need to put on a show....but, it seems like you worked at TGIF's before this so it is somewhat understandable. * The noise level is comparable to a bingo hall right after someone wins. I've noticed in Sweetwater that they have sound diffusers in the ceiling...perhaps Jackson's should do the same...or maybe this is the vibe that they are going for??? Regardless, we could barely here the music that was playing. Bottom line: for my time there, my recommendation is to go for the food, not for the service (which is odd for a GAR), and try not to use the bathroom...or if you have to... don't be surprised if it smells like a porta-potty.
(3)
Michael M.
Visited Jackson's tonight with friends. My first impressions where on how limited the menu was. There are only 4-5 options under each category. Sometimes this allows a restaurant to focus on select items and make them very well. That wasn't the case. I got the crab cake sandwich which reminded me of a hot dog ( size wise ). Unfortunately the fries were the best part of the meal. The burger which my companions got was better, but not worth the $10 it cost. They do have some reasonable beers on tap, but the waiter initially brought me an ale rather than the lager I ordered. The waiter didn't seem that interested in seeing how we were doing either.
(2)
Roberta C.
I took friends to Jacksons based on reviews about their fab lobster roll. Not being from Maine, I probably don't know what it's supposed to taste like, but I wasn't impressed. I didn't care for the celery bits in it and the dressing was bland. I far prefer the tasty lobster rolls at Luke's Lobsters in DC. That being said we enjoyed everything else about the place -- the look, the service. We were there during their normally busy lunchtime; our check was brought to us even before we looked at the dessert menu. Guess they're more accustomed to people in a hurry. But I would return to check out other menu items.
(4)
Dave P.
If you do call-ahead, it goes a long way towards making this place more palatable. 90-120 minute waits are insane. The menu is all over the place. Sushi, Salad, Steak, Crab Cakes. I'm a little leery of a place that tells you on the menu, "Hey, if the Sushi takes some time, bear with us, we're still learning." Obviously those folks have never had a bad piece of sushi that made them sick. This place is loud. The current trend of restaurants to build with only hard surfaces, no rugs or other sound absorbing bits in the walls and ceilings creates a seating space that to hear the person across the table requires more than a raised voice at times. With 2 bars, one inside and one (which appears to allow smoking) outside, Jacksons has become a favorite for happy hours and what passes for the Reston Meat Market. We'll go back, probably for lunch and see if the impression improves at all.
(3)
Kathryn R.
If you like the other GAR restaurants, you will like Jackson's as well. The food is top notch--my husband went crazy over their deviled eggs--and the customer service is great. My only issue is how crowded it is, but considering how mediocre most of the nearby restaurants are, I am not surprised.
(4)
Daniel H.
Not bad, but good luck hearing anybody at the bar.
(3)
Laura C.
The food is great, but you can never get in the bar because it's always packed. This tells you that its popular, but also extremely annoying. Either way, pretty good place.
(3)
Darren G.
The food is okay but honestly it's a bit pricey for the quality. Where this place really excels is its outdoor bar on a warm summer night where you can have a brew beneath the city lights and watch the world go by. I'd avoid the in-house beer though: it really pales compared to the big names.
(3)
Mike M.
sat at the bar for a qucik lunch (which took 45 minutes). Nice menu - I opted for the seared tuna salad. Overdressed, undertuna-ed, but big enough to fill. Halfway through lunch the specials were explained to someone sitting next to me. Specials?? Why didn't I hear about the specials. At the very least they kept my soda water topped off..
(3)
Heartgood V.
Love open airy feel of the restaurant, their bread selection & their service Limited selection for vegetarians but their warm goat cheese salad and almond wild rice are good. They also have good desserts flour less waffle and white chocolate bread pudding are amazing!
(4)
Kristen W.
I like this place. My husband and I stopped here for dinner after work one night and even though there was a crowd, we were seated right away. The space is big, airy, and has lots of booths (versus tables packed together), so you feel like you're getting some privacy. And the food here is really good. Heavy, but good. It's standard American fare, with a few "foodie" twists. My husband and I had the deviled eggs (which come with bacon that basically tastes like candy - so delicious), lobster bisque, goat cheese and cranberry salad, lobster mac n cheese and a filet mignon & crabcake dish. Lots of food for sure, but almost all of it was prepared perfectly and tasted fantastic. What I really wanted to write about was the service - to say it was outstanding would be an understatement. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying, and when my husband happened to mention that he wasn't happy with how his filet mignon came out, both the waiter and then later the manager came over and offered to remake the dish at no cost, etc. It's kind of what you'd expect, yet I've seen it happen so many times that if you mention your food not being prepared the way you requested, the staff either does nothing or treats you poorly for sending it back. I've never, ever had both the waiter and the manager stop by and offer to send it back FOR us. We didn't have time to wait for another steak, so we declined their offer - and when we got the check they had taken the dish off our bill. Like I said, as I'm writing about this, it seems like this would be common sense customer service to do that, yet in many places it seems like common sense customer service is not so important anymore. I was impressed and I'd recommend this place.
(5)
John W.
Good but not great. Bar was busy. We were in a group of about 15. Everyone had a pretty fun time. I'm not a drinker - asked for an O'Douls, Sharps, Buckler, St Pauli NA - nope, didn't have anything of the sort. So I had a Saratoga water. Dinner. I had the crab dip as an appetizer. Yummy! Entree, I picked the Hong Kong style Sea Bass. It was only okay. A little bit bland and seemed overcooked to me. The rice wasn't good at all. Molded into a sticky ball tasting like bland risotto. Others at my table had the Mahi Mahi and a fillet (I think it was the Steak Frittes on the menu). Both at my table seemed pleased with with their food. Portions were fine and we were too full for desert. We had two waiters - one evidently went off shift during our meal. First was great, second was only so so. Aloof and distracted. Restaurant was busy and noisy but not overly so. I'd go back but I'd probably order the "red meat".
(3)
Kristen R.
If you don't mind the old men acting like they are still in college... .you'll be fine. Food is awesome.
(5)
S U.
Glad we YELPed this place ourselves! Definitely great service! Soda refills and water never stopped. Never once asked for refills! Lobster mac n cheese pretty yummy!!!! Sushi small, but not bad. Didn't like the cilantro in one of the rolls. Hubby had the French dip and loved it. Mainly had it due to a previous review. My son's burger was quite tasty too!!!! House salad, yum! All very good! We were stuck In DC as our transfer plane back to California was cancelled. Making the best of our situation. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Gerardo O.
While looking for a bite near Washington Dulles airport, Yelp led me to this place. I'd say it lives up to the hype. Definitely enjoyed the casual unpretentious atmosphere, combined with very tasty food. It's the kind of place that is good for almost any occasion, and it's worth repeated visits to try the diverse menu. If you haven't been here before, give it a try (I would favor sitting at the bar, to interact with the other patrons and bartenders).
(4)
Tuan N.
Cool bar, food is alittle pricey for the portions you get but thats just me
(3)
Jason T.
I went to Jackson's for the first time last night with some clients. The food was excellent and there was a wide variety of cuisine to choose from. It is a great atmosphere and the servers were all polite and helpful. It is a little pricey, but worth it! I will go back soon!
(5)
Jacqueline C.
Pretty fun happy hour, lots of singles. Bar food ok but not great. I do love the calamari after a few drinks!
(3)
Mike T.
probably one of my favorite restaurants hands down. sea bass, tuna salad, and prime rib are always reliable favorites.
(5)
Shannon H.
In my humble opinion, there are very few restaurants that I enjoy in the Reston/Herndon area. This is unfortunate, since I work wayyy out here off the toll road. By far, my favorite place for lunch, dinner, or drinks is Jackson's, located in Reston Town Center. I've never had a bad meal here. The food is yummy! Let me break it down for you: The bread: It's to die for. I don't want to fill up on 'empty carbs,' but their little round rolls are heavenly. They taste like warm Krispy Kreme donuts (minus the glaze- duh). Dinner: I recommend the Sea Bass with sticky rice and soy. It's yummy! Light and flavorful. Lunch: I love the shrimp and macadamia nut sushi roll or the crab cake sandwich. I know it sounds weird ordering sushi at a 'non-sushi' joint, but they do a good job. Always fresh and the macadamia nuts offer an awesome crunch. The crab cake sandwich is super yummy. I recommend getting the wild rice for your side (instead of boring french fries). The wild rice is awesome...it has grapes, slivered almonds, celery. Very good. Dessert: I recommend the flour less chocolate waffle. Yum, yum, yum. Even more delightful, for my gluten-challenged friends, they can eat this because it's gluten free (big hit with my sister)! It's warm, chocolaty, and is served with vanilla ice cream. Totally worth saving room for. Cocktail wise: Jackson's makes a pretty mean Mojito (complete with real sugar cane) for north of Miami. Another yummy cocktail, that's also a delightful conversation starter, is their Smoking Cosmo. The Cosmopolitan is served with dry ice which keeps it ice cold while making your drink look like it could be served at Hogwarts. Finally, if you are into Cougar Hunting, like some of my male friends, this is where you should bring your hunting license. The Cougars abound with their fake chests, full makeup and designer bags. Watching them prowl around is entertaining any night of the week. Only downsides: Cant seat a party bigger than 6. Limited (too small) outdoor bar and seating. Median age is probably 35 so it's not a joint I go to to find me a man.
(4)
April Y.
As far as happy hour venues go, this is probably the place to be at RTC. But only if you're looking for ambiance, and only if you're there during happy hour on a weeknight. The scene is drastically different on weekends. (It ceases to be the young professional crowd and becomes the douchey frat boy club.) The lack of happy hour specials is extremely disappointing, but they serve good Riesling and a few of the appetizers are good enough to make a whole meal out of. My favorite is the spinach artichoke dip, although at $10 it's a little steep for something I could make in my own microwave. I went through a phase where I liked Jackson's, then decided it was too much of a meat market so I steered clear for a while, but now I'm back to liking it again. It gets pretty crowded so finding a seat somewhere is a challenge. I like being able to sit outside, although that's where all the smokers congregate, which makes the air quite stifling to us non-smokers. When I go there, I mainly go for the wine and the appetizers and the fact that it's where people I know are going to be. If they created a happy hour specials menu, I'd instantly add one more star to my rating.
(3)
Inigo M.
Dotted with local office crowd on the usual Friday night.
(3)
Doug K.
Had the French Dip today - first time that I've had a French Dip since I can remember - was incredible. One of my colleagues has been raving about this dish and it lived up to his recommendation. Service here as it is with all GARs was excellent. Glad I arrived at 11:30, when leaving an hour later the wait line to get in was daunting! Jackson's is a regular lunch stop for me, check it out!
(4)
Dave F.
I ordered the cheddar cheese burger & blue moon beer. Overall very happy! Excellent wait staff, a perfectly cooked burger, great fries and a reasonable price. This was my 3rd visit and it's very likely I'll return for more.
(4)
Timothy B.
Best brunch I have ever had and it lasts until 3pm on Sunday, so it's easy to catch if you are a late sleeper like me. I have taken over 8 friends there for their brunch and they love it. There normal dinner menu is also great, but the best part is the Deviled Eggs appetizer all day long. The best bacon ever. It has a very relaxed atmosphere in the dining area. I've only been in the bar area once or twice, but it gets too crouded for me. i only like bars where I can get drinks right away and hear the person next to me, where the bar tender knows you by first name and treats you like a friend. Having been here enough to see how the bar goes. The dining is great though with good service overall.
(5)
H.A. T.
OK, so I'm really a fan particularly of the sesame crusted seared tuna salad. This is the kind of salad that I'm talking about! I've been to this establishment a few times, once for dinner, another time just for drinks and this time for lunch. It's always full and lively. The bar scene is quite a scene... The wait staff is very professional and seem like they are having fun. It's not the kind of place you go for a romantic evening, no, you go for a little bit of see and being seen. I would probably not consider this type of place to be my choice if I have one, but it'll do for a fun place in the 'burbs. Dined 11/11/10
(3)
amy k.
Three words: awesome lobster roll. It had a TON of lobster meat and a nice, buttery roll. Also,our waiter was awesome and ultra-friendly. It's a busy place, but still pretty cozy and comfortable. I'm looking forward to trying a lot more of their food.
(4)
Zac R.
Our go to restaurant. Great food, great service, and great atmosphere
(4)
Nicole G.
The staff drank the kool-aid, or something! They were extremely friendly, to the point I thought I had left the east coast. The food was good, though I don't have much to base my opinion on; my friend and I both ordered the Lobster Roll. I have to say, I grew up in Cape Cod, so may not be the best critic here, but found the lobster quite tough. But the roll was grilled just right and the fries and corn on the cob were delicious. Great atmosphere, friendly people, we'll be back.
(4)
Dennis M.
Big fan of this place. They do not take reservations is my only complaint. They do have call ahead seating. The food is always consistently good. Atmosphere is also good. You can even sit outside at the bar on a nice day. They could use more tables and chairs out there. It's also close to shopping and night life. It's worth going. I love the salads and the trout is really good as well.
(4)
Robert S.
Outstanding service, outstanding food. The only thing I don't like is they don't take reservations so you have to wait for a table most of the time. I especially like their salads and salad dressings. In the evening it is quite the hang out with the outdoor bar scene.
(5)
Irving H.
Went there for a work lunch and had a great experience. The service is always great at the Great American chain restaurants. The food was very good. I had the lobster roll - sweet, succulent, huge pieces of lobster dressed in a light mayonnaise dressing in a tiny toasted hot dog bun. Served with corn on the cob but I couldn't eat it because it would be too much of a mess in front of the co-workers. It looked good though - grilled in the husk. Highly recommended - clean, open dining area with two bar areas. attentive service and yummy food. Perfect for a casual night out.
(4)
Kevin B.
I really like Jackson's a lot. It has a decent atmosphere, good food and a ton of hotties in next to nothing seem to always hang out there so the eye candy is great. My wife love to go there for apps and I have never been disappointed in the sushi here. Though they own Sweetwater, the beer selection here is fairly tame. I normally drink the Jacksons pale which in my opinion is a decent American pale. My only beef with this restaurant is their weird inconsistent policies. For example if you come in before 8 and are on the patio you can wear a baseball cap, but at 8 they walk around and make you take your baseball cap off but my buddy had on like a chairman Mao style hat, basically a flat top cap with a brim, and he could keep his on? Either no hats or let people wear hats, its not like this place is super classy. Seems kind of a BS policy. Also a guy in front of me at the bar tried to order shots at 9:15 and the bartender was like "I'll do it for you but we don't do shots after 9" WTF? You are a bar but you don't serve shots after 9? So if I ordered a whiskey straight at 9:30 would you serve it, but if I ordered a shot of whiskey you wouldn't? just seems crazy to me. They would get 4 stars from me if they didn't have these asinine policies, but I do like the food.... and the hotties.
(3)
Gina L.
Let me start off by saying that I've never really tried their food... BUT... I have enjoyed a handful of happy hours and evenings out in the outdoor bar area. Let me just say... this is the "IT" place to be for happy hour or a weekend hangout in Reston. This place overflows with people in their 20's and 30's... with a handful from the 40+ group. A great place to have weird / fun / interesting bar conversations with strangers... and definitely a place to scope out eye candy all night long!!! My only complaint is seating! There needs to be more seating for an open / outdoor bar~ We were standing around for a good 4 hours or so without any seating or tables! If you are ever near Reston and looking for a fun bar to socialize at... look here!
(4)
D V.
I had a great experience at Jackson's recently. The servers were great and so was the food. Even the manager was very accommodating when we had a minor issue with a dish.
(5)
Peter O.
Really terrific place - the crab cakes were superb - and the service was top notch. The food runners were attentive and asked if we needed anything further! Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and when another server picked up our table (shift change?) she knew what beer I had ordered when asking me if I'd like another. Great interior atmosphere and lighting, a welcome addition to the otherwise boring and uninteresting Reston Town Center bar/restaurant biz.
(4)
Alexandar I.
Came here for lunch with coworkers. Their bread, just like all the other Great American restaurants, is delicious and a perfect way to start a meal. We ordered the Calamari as an appetizer which was glazed with a very good sauce. Per my coworker's recommendation, I had the Salmon Salad which was awesome. It was perfectly grilled, probably some of the best salmon I've had. The deviled egg that came with the salad was also very good. Overall great experience, give it a try. I will be coming back for sure.
(4)
Katie M.
I'm just not sure where to start. Snotty hostess tells our party that the booths only fit 6 (we were a party of 7), and the best she can do is split us up into 2 separate seating arrangements. Nope, that won't work...we were out to celebrate a birthday and it's just no fun to split up the good times. I ask if 7 can fit with a chair, and she replies "booths fit SIX". Hmmmm, their booths are pretty big. After a scan of the nearly empty dining room (it was 9PM on a weeknight), we decide we'll squish into one booth. Another round of "booths fit SIX". Honey, I heard you the first time. It gets better. Ms. fit SIX then commented "There is no cock-tailing in the dining room. That's for dining only". A) We weren't dressed for a night on the town, and it was more than obvious that we weren't a loud and rowdy bunch and B) Yes, we were hungry. Mind you, she never asked if we were or weren't eating...and if we were just drinking, wouldn't a group of 7 just go to the bar instead of trying to squeeze into a booth??? Just sayin'. I get the reason for corporate policy (must like their "no, we don't do takeout due to not being able to guarantee the quality of their food once it leaves the restaurant" another one I don't like.), but a group of 7 seasoned women have better things to do than party crash the dining room. (And for the record, we did eat. A lot. And drank, too. With the hostess's attitude we easily could've voted with our feet, taking our business elsewhere. Salads and service were passable. Drink orders were a bit slow. But they did split up the checks and make an effort to run separate cards for us, which I acknowledge is a pain for the server, but the kindness was reflected his tip).
(2)
M B.
Great food and lively bar in an excellent location. A unique approach to American food-- I reccommend the spinach and artichoke dip. :)
(5)
Joanne F.
My favorite of the great american restaurant chain. The atmosphere is great, service is phenomenal, and food is delicious. Go here!
(4)
T S.
Seems like a fun place to go for happy hour. I was taken there for my bday lunch and i had the truffle fries...wow, good stuff! I also had the salad and everything on the table (i tried all my friends dishes) were very tasty. It does seem like it gets to be a bit of a meat market in the evenings though, but it was fun for lunch.
(3)
B W.
Plastic food menu typical for the company that owns this place. Expect it to be noisy, crowded and over priced. Nothing special and expect a long wait at lunchtime. This is a cattle call type establishment for professionals who want large portions of bland food and wait staff who wish they had a professional job.
(2)
too s.
Was in Jackson's last night hoping to get the French Dip, but it was sold out. Instead I ordered the Cheddar Burger. Let me tell ya, this was one of the best burger's I have ever had! Fantastic. The burger was large, the flavor was incredible and it came with fresh cut fries. Even though Jackson's isn't one of the many places that makes burger's their specialty, Jackson's hits the burger way out of the ballpark!
(5)
Kevin H.
My wife and I have been huge fans of the Great American Restaurant chain since we moved down here in 2004. As residents of Leesburg we go to the Sterling Sweetwater quite often for dinner, or for drinks and happy hour with our friends. Jacksons actually gives us a nice place to swing by on our way home seeing as we both work in Tysons. The only problem I have with Jackson's isn't even their fault. Because of their GREAT location, they tend to attract a LOT of douchebags who want to be seen along the main drive of the Reston Town Center. Case in point, our last trip, a guy pulled his BMW M3 from a spot on the road in front of Rio Grand, to right in front of Jacksons; all while having one of his boys stand in the parking space, JUST so he could show it off. Little tip here; you're trying to hard, you're a douche. Anyways, on to Jacksons itself. First off, our favorite bartender from Sweetwater Sterlling Brandy works behind the bar. When she is tending I don't have to tell her what my wife and I drink, she knows, and she takes care of us. It is employees like her that keep us coming to Jacksons and Sweetwater, you just cannot replace a fantastic server or bartender. Unlike Sweetwater Jacksons isn't a micro-brew so they have a wide selection of beers, the liquor is just as plentiful as it is at Sweetwater. The food is what you would expect, although the menu here differs significantly from the other restaurants, which is nice. They serve sushi which I have yet to try. The duck burger which I ordered on my last visit was amazing. Duck is such an easy protein to mess up, but they have gotten it right here. The meat was juicy, and had that nice saltiness to it that gives duck its unique taste. The rice side that came with it really wasn't my bag, but I would order this dish again and get fries on the side instead. Another GAR hit, we'll be here quite often for happy hour outside.
(5)
Dwayne H.
the deviled eggs are goooood jackson's has above average food, above average bar tenders and above average crowds...the place gets pretty crowded, but it's a fun spot. about as good as it gets in Reston. they close a little early for those looking to make a late night out of things...luckily for me, i'm now old and ready for bed by 11. if you find yourself in Reston and need some lunch or after work drinks, this is the place to go. the dining area is pretty nice as well...have been there with an infant for lunch/dinner...and with a bunch of guys acting like infants for late night beers...perfect fit all around.
(4)
Valerie Emma C.
Given the price of food and drinks, I had high expectations. I asked for medium rare salmon, it came to me fully cooked... how disappointing. This is part of the Great American Restaurant chain, and I feel it completely falls below par. It offers a great nightlife and bar atmosphere, and I love that it is just a hop and a skip away from Red Velvet, but the service is NOTHING to brag about. Probably won't being going back, since RTC offers so many other options.
(2)
Sach Bob C.
Love the Great American Restaurants but this one is a cut above the rest for 1 reason: THE PRIME RIB SANDWICH!!!!
(4)
tiffany n.
Having grown up in Reston I will probably be buried there someday. Now that I live in Great Falls, I still consider the Town Center my "backyard". I probably couldn't count the number of times I have eaten at Clyde's in Reston and would probably have never gone to Jackson's were it not for my teenage daughter. Let's face it; Jackson's is hipper and newer than Clyde's. If I am not careful here I will end up writing a review of Clyde's. Bottom line, Jackson's seems a bit pricier, has a more open feel and has a bit more energy than Clyde's. The Salmon Salad I had was very fresh and cooked to order, something that I have never been offered with this dish. My children and I were plied with bread that can only be described as a fried donut without the glaze. I avoided eating these at all cost, but the kids wolfed them down. I would rate this as a first rate, but rather pricey, family place that the kids love. If I was alone or with a date I would prefer Clyde's, but then again, I'm no youngster. Kind of a Clyde's for the hipper crowd. Our waiter was very attentive.
(4)
alison h.
Consistently good food. I have been there 5 times. Love the macadamian shrimp sushi, the lobster roll is jammed packed with luscious lobster, the lobster mac and cheese is delicious, and the service is attentive.
(4)
Jason S.
Nothing special to say about this place. Good, but not great. It's the same stuff as Coastal Flats. If you want a basic lunch or dinner, why not. Don't go if you're looking for that special night out with the wife. Bar scene is packed.
(3)
Lily B.
as part of great american restaurants, I find that the wait staff and the bread products are usually great, and Jackson's pleased as usual. the menus are not as extensive at great american restaurants as i would like compared to some other town center restaurants. but i will definitely be back for the deviled eggs with bacon appetizer, and the sea bass entree. Lots of families with children, just FYI.
(4)
Antonio M.
Forget the bad reviews - there are few restaurant chains that are as consistently good as the GAR group and Jacksons is no exception. I eat out regularly at restaurants in this class and I often eat at Coastal Flats, Jacksons, and Sweetwater. They are all more similar than different. The best dishes are the fresh seafood items and the specials. My favorites here include the Mahi X2 (normally served), Lobster Roll, the Grouper and Flounder (occasionally served) and the Beef Tips and BBQ ribs (Coastal Flats). The Deviled Egg and Calamari appetizers are also great (Jacksons and Coastal Flats respectively). Annoying servers, not a particularly relaxing experience with the hyperactive service and a bit overpriced perhaps ,but most locations are all high-end and the prices match others in the area. If you place your dining out priorities on the food then this place comes out on top. You can go out to Rio Grande, Mccormick and Schmidt, Clydes, etc but none will deliver the food you get at the GAR locations.
(4)
John R.
I've lived in town for two months and had always been scared to try this restaurant because I assumed the prices would be outrageous. While expensive, it was much more affordable than I'd thought it was going to, and the food was a steal. My prime rib reuben was fantastic, and even though I don't like seafood, my girlfriend's crab cakes were delicious. The waitress took great care of us and was very professional. Great experience, great food, great restaurant.
(5)
Sky O.
The hosts are not organized, our call ahead were messed up. We waited 20 min more but still can't be seated until I demand a table and pointed out their mistake. No apology for their mistake. Food is just their usual standard, good, portion is huge. Waiter was attentive. Service is a bit slow, no prime rib when I decided to order something different. After all, Sweet Water Tavern and Coastal Flats are much better.
(3)
Kimberly K.
3.5 stars We had a wonderful meal here. The hostess were friendly. We tried calling ahead to reserve a table, but they didn't allow us to do that for a Friday night. You have to arrive early and get a buzzer. Wait was about 40 mins. Our server was attentive for the most part. As the restaurant started to get more full, I did find myself having to ask another server to grab a couple of things for us. Employees are quick and friendly. Their complimentary bread basket is delicious (as usual). The ozzie rolls are always a hit. Fried doughnut hole bread things, can't go wrong with that. They also offer raisin bread and one other kind. Love that you can ask for more. Everyone enjoyed their dishes. I ordered the Crabcakes, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Not a whole lot of filler with loads of crab pieces. Perfect. Came with a generous serving of cole slaw and fries. Everything was seasoned well and tasted fresh. Tried a bit of the Grouper Fingers dish and it was awesome. So lightly battered, crisp, and seasoned perfectly. I actually enjoyed this dish more than mine. The infamous Flourless Chocolate Waffle is the only way to end a tasty meal at a Great American Restaurant. Lightly crisp chocolate waffle with a ooey gooey chocolatey center. Homemade whipped cream. Vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of caramel sauce. It's all topped with a light dust of powdered sugar. It's a chocolate lovers dream come true. Overall, I'm glad we tried this place out. The food was good and the company was even better :D
(4)
Daniella B.
This place is like a traditional diner with a seafood twist. Considering this, its a little over priced for what it is. Also, can you believe there's no wifi?! The beer selection is pretty minimal which also sucks. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which pretty much fell apart as soon as I tried to pick it up. That was pretty disappointing. The servers are very helpful and attentive. Their bread basket is also too good!
(3)
Johnny T.
Lance, Lance, Lance! You are the man! I'm only here for a week and I've been eating at all of the local spots. I was going to get their salmon dish but my coworkers and I were talking about ribeyes from last night and Lance came to the table. I asked them how their steaks were and told him I had a great steak last night. He said their ribeye is comparable and it would not let me down. I said I'll take his word and ordered the steak medium-rare. We also ordered some appetizers one was a seafood spring roll (I wasn't paying attention when my coworkers ordered it) but it was light and fresh. Not bad but it wasn't too special either. We also ordered Ahi Poke on what seemed like seaweed but it was hard like cooked wonton. I'm not exactly sure what it was but the ahi tasted fresh and the avocados and lime complemented the dish well. The steak came out with a nice char. There was plenty of marble but unfortunately it was closer to medium-well. I still ate the steak and didn't complain. When Lance came back I t9ld him the steak was ok but it was over cooked. I cut a piece and showed him. And immediately he apologized and asked to take it back and replace my meal. I told him no need. I ate more than half and didn't finish it because it was full. I will still pay for a meal I ate. He thanked me but ended up speaking with his manager and his manager came by and comped the meal. Again I expressed that I was happy and this was unnecessary. The manager said too late, it's already removed. Lance came back after and asked if his manager approached me. I said yes and told him this wasn't necessary. He told me "if we couldn't provide the best steak, at least well provide the best service." talk about a winner! Wonderful service! Thank you for treating me as a valued guest. You will have my business when I come and visit our eastcoast office.
(5)
Michelle B.
I am a big fan of the Great American Restaurant chain and I have been eating at Jackson's since it open in Reston since I work across the street. Like all the restaurants in this chain, the host(ess), waiter(tress) work well together and the place is always inviting. It is a great place for lunch, to meet up after work as well as brunch on the weekends. Some of my favorites are: *Deviled Eggs with sugar cured bacon *Roasted Chicken Salad *Calamari *Crunchy Shrimp & Macadamia Roll Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecan Salad *Waldorf Steak Salad *Brioche French Toast (brunch) *Chicken & Waffles (brunch) Because the place is so crowded all the time an especially when the weather is nice on any given day, earlier in the week is easier, 11:30 for lunch or wait until 1:30, early dinners are good and exactly around 11:00 for brunch. Sometimes you can be fooled that it is too crowded for a sit down meal just because the bar area and patio is full. Always my top choice when someone ask me where to eat at the Reston Town Center.
(5)
Babak Bobby J.
Very basic. It's on the same level as Chilli's or TGI Fridays. I'll go back to try some other items on the food and drink menu but it's going to be an uphill battle to get me on board. On the plus side the people there are very friendly. ps They have four small TV's with basic cable. Step your game up Jackson's...
(2)
Charles H.
Generally speaking, I like all of the restaurants in the Great American Restaurants chain, and Jackson's is no exception. The service is generally good, and the food is good as well. Despite the obvious attempts to differentiate the restaurants in this chain from each other, through, the menus are surprisingly lacking in creativity, with a lot of overlap from one to the next. The good thing is, if you like the food at one, you'll generally like it at all. The bad thing is, it's all pretty much the same. Oh, and get the chopped salad as an appetizer, it's so good! The one thing I find very difficult to deal with is the overall noise level in this particular restaurant. They get a really good bar crowd, and the bar is not separated enough from the dining floor - so the noise just kind of rolls over any attempt at conversation at tables. This, in turn, makes diners speak much louder to compensate ... which only makes the noise level worse. I'd give the place 4 stars if the noise wasn't such a turn-off. Still, it's always a good time. I recommend it for a night out with friends, but not for a date night, or with your old Aunt Millie and her bad ear.
(3)
Bekim V.
I frequently eat lunch at Jackson's and they never disappoint. There food is always consistent and amongst the best for bar style good. Amongst my favorite dishes are Tuna Poke 2.0, seared tuna salad and the chicken, beat and avocado salad. If being healthy doesn't matter then order there cheese burger. It's the best burger in the Reston Town Center. Lastly, make sure to try their seasonal desert.
(5)
Bro H.
Bar: 0 stars Restaurant: Haven't been, but I trust in Great American Restaurants This is the worst bar ever. You can't smoke outside, even the rail drinks are over five bucks, and they have weird rules on clothing. There are a billion people here, all of whom presumably like to party at bars in Reston Town Center, which means I don't want to meet them. That said, I've never been to a Great American Restaurant with bad food, and I doubt this is an exception, so I'm bumping my score up to three by default. I don't even know why I wrote this.
(3)
Karen M.
The fiance and I came for dinner and only had a 20 minute wait on a Saturday. That was fine, we went to the bar to wait it out. The bar was decent sized and had about 5 beers on tap. The fiance got the Rhino on tap and I got the Jackson's Pale Ale which I was told was their recipe, but Dominion brews. It was pretty good, although a bit darker than what I was expecting for a Pale Ale. When we got our table, our waiter brought us a basket of bread. The "star" of the bread bowl were these small fried dough balls, kind of like a donut without the sugar. For dinner, I ordered the ahi tuna salad and the fiance got shrimp and chicken pasta. Mine was good, and the fiance liked his. But I wouldn't say these dishes were so memorable where I'd tell all our friends to go order them. Overall, Jackson's was ok. I'm not sure if they have any tables with chairs as I just remember seeing all booths, so that was a little weird. Parking is easy in the garage right above and this area of Reston is pretty cool. I'd go back, but I wouldn't put it on our regular rotation.
(3)
Bekah M.
We went for Mother's Day. I ordered the salmon and it came with a rice dish. We got our bread and butter, which I'd started eating and noticed there was dishwater in the bottom of the butter ramekin...that was nasty...the other ramekin had it too.... Cocktail was just "ok", nothing I'd be anxious to go back for. But the real issue was when I got a bite of my rice side and there was a long black hair halfway in my mouth partly chewed and part hanging out.....I was so grossed out, nauseated and turned off by that. We had to flag someone down to help us, because our waitress wouldn't come back to check on our food (brought by food runners). So my kids and husband are sitting not eating because it's Mother's Day, and I got hair in my food and actually partially ate it....they all felt awful and didn't want to eat until my new plate got there, but I insisted they go ahead. My new plate took quite a while, so everyone was pretty much done by the time my plate came. And I was so grossed out, I could barely eat. I believe they took off my meal from the check, and gave us one dessert to share between the four of us, but honestly, I feel they should have taken off more. It was Mother's Day, and my meal/day was pretty gross after dishwater butter and hair in my rice. If it would have been some of the better restaurants I've been to, they would have taken off the whole bill, or bought drinks. Something more then just my food, which we had to wait on and unenjoyable too. It was quite unfortunate, because it's my first Mother's Day in 13 years my husband was home to take us out.
(1)
Norma G.
The salads here do not disappoint. I had the Lobster Club, and my friend had the Sesame Crusted Tuna Salad. I enjoyed my salad but would have preferred no mayo on my lobster. My friend's salad looked even better and had a lower price point. Next time I'm in the area I'm getting her salad. The bite of tuna I tried was delicious.
(4)
Rob B.
This is hands down my favorite place to eat in RTC. The food & service is top notch as you'd expect in any of the Great American Restaurants. The guys who started this a long time ago got the formula right and almost any restaurant out there can learn from them. Weekend brunch - may be the best chicken and waffles I've had...they even put bacon in the syrup. Do yourself a favor and eat here when you're in RTC...you won't regret it.
(5)
K. Anand S.
Great place for a meal at Reston town center. Good selections on the menu. I had sea bass and it was great! The sauce and rice accompaniment elevated the dish even more. Service was very crisp and quick.
(4)
Eric S.
Got the Crab cakes. They were some of the best I have had. Cool atmosphere and great service!
(5)
Tricia J.
We stopped in for a drink and ended up staying for a couple. Great place for food and drink. And the folks behind the bar are wonderful. We had a couple of appetizers and met a wonderful group of people here. I say stop by and have a drink or two. And ask for Vernon. =)
(5)
Dave H.
Love Jackson's for brunch every Sunday (and the occasional dinner if we are in the area). I don't know how Great American Restaurants does it but the quality of their food, service, and management are amazingly consistent at a high level. We split the french toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon for lunch with a deviled egg as an appetizer. It's getting to the point that the super friendly front desk team could almost tell me what table number we are at and I'll find it on my own - maybe a sign I come here to often but man, it is so good. The management team is quick to action on the rare times when things don't go perfectly (such a rare occurrence that it actually stands out). The French Dip is our go-to for dinner (once or twice a month) and it is big enough for two of us to share and mouth watering good.
(5)
Tatiana M.
Lobster rolls = 5 stars Catch of the day trout = 5 stars Deviled eggs = 5 stars Tuna nachos = 5 stars Caipirinha = 5 stars Service = 5 stars Will definitely come back!!!
(5)
I C.
This one is my favorite of the great american rest chain. I like most of the items on the menu. I think they have one of the best burgers and love the shoe string fries!!! Food is a lil on the saltier side, but that's what you expect when you go out to eat. It is a bit noisy, but we still enjoyed it. They don't take reservations, but allow "call ahead", so you don't have to wait so long.
(4)
Julie S.
First time dining at this location (but a fan of the various other restaurants in the GAR family.) We went for an early dinner on Thurs. and got there about 4:30 and the inside was pretty dead with maybe 2 other tables occupied. (Outside Bar area was filled and kept right on filling up the whole time we were there.) Food was very tasty. Hubs got the Prime Rib 20oz with spinach salad w/walnuts and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got the roasted chicken with the wild rice/almond/cranberries/grapes ($15). What a unique side dish!! I really enjoyed the medley of flavors with it. I also ordered a side chopped house salad ($8.00). Chopped house salad was really tasty with the roasted corn and scallions in it. Bread basket was delish (those Ozzie rolls are awesome!) Waiters were on point with refills and clearing plates. It took a little longer to get the check, but we didnt mind. No dessert for us (we were stuffed.) Will definitely be back to check out other dishes on the menu. Also saw the brunch menu as we were walking out and that intrigued us too.
(4)
Nicola M.
Started with the tuna poke - small portion for the money but totally worth it - amazing! We also got the firecracker rock shrimp roll - which was pretty much a shrimp tempura roll - good, but nothing special. The lobster club salad was excellent! A half of a deviled egg, bacon with a hint of maple, fresh corn,lobster salad with champagne vinagarette. I would totally recommend it.
(4)
Kyle S.
The absolute worst restaurant I've been to. For beers, they have miller lite, bud lite, and about 3 other variations of beer colored water. Food is expensive (and probably overpriced), tbh we were out the door after one look at the menu; service was bad as well. Very gimmicky and over-the-top atmosphere. Basically, its a glorified Applebee's. As a reference point for my review- I'm not a picky person, and have only given one '1 star' review on here. I feel this was worthy of such a review (even without trying the food), for even the best food in the world could not undue the tastelessness of the menu/atmosphere. I am quite sure that that only an idiot would intentionally go here.
(1)
O G.
These people are truly commuted to great food and great service. Everything they do is amazing. I live in the Town Center and eat there at least twice monthly. I have tried everything on the menu and all of it is 5 star work. The hickory wood fired flavor in their burger will make you a believer. My wife hates fishy tasting fish - this is the only place she will eat Salmon. Can't say enough good about the place.
(5)
Tana V.
This is always a great place to grab a bite. I always order one of two things - the seabass or the lobster roll. They've never let me down and the food has always been consistent. Great place with plenty of eye candy for those who like to people watch. :p
(4)
Food E.
Good food, chaotic service. I've eaten here a few times and my experience is always the same: the food is fine but the service is awful. There are lots of people in the dining room running around, working harder not smarter. Their concept is for a team of servers to wait on you, which should be better than one assigned waiter but, in practice, you end up being ignored by everyone. I had to wait for a drink, for refills, for some ketchup, and to order dessert. But guess what? They were really punctual with the check! All-in-all this was a disappointing meal. I won't be going back.
(2)
V H.
Holy moly! This is one of the best places I've eaten at in a while. Super service, great atmosphere, and did I say bacon? Bacon, yum! :-) :-)
(5)
Janet K.
We decided to try Jackson's after watching my nephew play hockey at the World Games and what a great idea that was! The food was delicious and the staff was awesome. We will definitely keep Jackson's on our list.
(5)
Mike W.
I came here with some of my coworkers to watch one of the World Cup games and ate at the bar. Beer selection was "meh" but it got a 4-star review for one reason and one reason alone. I got the Penne Primavera (not what most people would probably get here) and it. was. exceptional. I was shocked. Alright, it wasn't a 5-star pasta dish but the sauce was definitely full of flavor. I could taste each of the ingredients, the broccolini, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, arugula, basil, garlic, separately. And united. It was magic in a bowl. The best part of the meal? The U.S. Won that day!
(4)
Anna L.
So Jackson's is another in the GAR chain and with over 450 reviews already, there is not much I can contribute that hasn't already been said. The food and customer service are great here just as in the other GAR restaurants. I find the menu at Jackson's a bit more varied - it seems to be a combination of menu items from other GAR locations. They even offer sushi which if I have to be honest wouldn't normally be my first choice at this type of restaurant. We have tried many dishes here to include the deviled eggs, lobster club salad, slow roasted French dip and the crunchy shrimp macadamia roll along with the steaks and seafood served at other GAR locations. Let me start by saying how surprised I was about the sushi roll. It was tasty and fresh - no not up to the quality of maybe the Sea Pearl, but Jackson's is not a seafood/sushi restaurant. I was going order the lobster roll during our last stop in, but Nancy recommended the lobster club salad and I am so glad she did since I missed that on their menu. This was a huge mound of lobster salad perched atop mixed field greens, avocado, roasted corn and maple bacon with a drizzle of champagne vinaigrette and a deviled egg on the side. So delicious and so filling. The French dip here is better than what they serve at Ozzie's - I think it's the way they toast the roll. I also prefer the hand cut fries served at Jackson's to shoestrings. We really enjoy the outdoor bar and would probably stop in more often if it were not so insanely busy during happy hour. People are packed in like sardines and while they seem to be having a good time, my husband and I prefer a more relaxed environment. Once the crowds roll in, it gets quite loud as well making conversation difficult. I am sure the dining room is not as hectic, but we so much prefer the outdoor experience especially in the warmer months.
(4)
Victoria L.
So my sister made reservations a couple hours before heading here for my dad's birthday dinner. When we arrived at 5:45 we got seated right away. As the hostess was walking us to our table, the manager stopped to tell us welcome and he hopes we have a great dinner. I thought that was very nice because you don't usually see the managers walking and talking. We were greeted promptly by Josue who told us the specials and even gave suggestions for appetizers. It is a must to order the sweet and spicy calamari and I am so happy it tasted like the Costal Flatts calamari. I am obsessed, its sweet but has a spicy kick to it. I usually eat it all but since my family of 5 was there, we had to share. (darnit!!!) Josue brought out the fabulous bread, my favorite are ozzie rolls and they were hot, fresh out the oven with that eatable butter. Yum! I ended up ordering the wood grilled filet mignon and it was fantastic! It was well-seasoned and full of flavor. It was juicy and succulent and cooked perfectly to my liking (medium). For dessert, my sister and I surprised my dad with a happy birthday on the warm white chocolate bread pudding. Oh my goodness it tasted like an angel was making it in the kitchen - NO LIE! It was amazingly delicious, it came out nice and warm with vanilla ice cream on top. The bourbon custard sauce topped it off and paired perfectly with the bread pudding. Perfect way to end the night. Josue was an excellent waiter. He was attentive the whole time, refilling our drinks before we even finished, bringing the ozzie rolls (because I told him to keep em coming) and just constantly making sure we were happy. All the employees we encountered were friendly from the runners to the managers. One of my favorite GA restaurants and will be back here for sure to try the other foods.
(5)
Roseann M.
My friend from Tyson's Corners and I ended up here for dinner on a recent Saturday night because the Mexican place across the street had a forty-five minute line. I really wanted Mexican food, but there was no way I was going to stand in line for that long. It looked like every restaurant in the Reston Town Center had a line at 7:30 on a Saturday night, but the friend said, let's check out Jackson's. She claimed that she'd eaten at a number of the restaurants owned by the same company and had never had a bad meal. There was no line for inside seating at Jackson's. Any other time, on a similar Saturday night in a similar popular area, I'd wonder if that was a bad sign. But I was willing to try it, based on Chris' recommendation and the fact that I was (a) really getting hungry and (b) absolutely hate to stand in line. We had a very friendly, efficient young man for our waiter - sorry, I did not get his name. Shortly we had our waters and a bowl of bread with butter. The bread was really excellent. I went with an adult beverage, since I was the tourist and not driving; a lovely red Spanish Tempranillo, which cost $6.00. Boy was that good. The fact that it ws $6, instead of $8 or $10, only made it taste better. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and was very pleasantly surprised to see I actually had several selections to choose from. We started with salads; I had the Warm Goat Cheese and Spiced Pecan, and Chris had the Mixed Field Greens. Both were excellent. For dinner, I just had the Mushroom Soup. Excellent as well. Don't remember what Chris had - sorry! - but she enjoyed it. Chris asked me if I wanted dessert. We got a list of 3 desserts from the waiter, and none of them really appealed. I thought that meant we weren't hungry, but Chris, God bless her, asked if there was something that wasn't on the menu. There was! A shortcake with mixed berries. Oh boy, was that delicious. Jackson's also offers a gluten free menu, which seems like a smart thing to do. Along with the vegetarian choices, they make it easy for people with sensitivities or specific preferences to be served. The one thing I thought might be a little problematic was that so much of the food seems to be prepared ahead of time. Chris asked if we could get the macaroni and cheese without the lobster; nope, prepared ahead of time. She asked for a salad substitution; nope, couldn't do that either. The food really was very good, don't get me wrong, but I do find it surprising that some simple requests can't be accommodated. The prices seemed reasonable to me. We were in a tourist area, kind of upscale, and I'm from Chicago, the most expensive urban area in the country, outside of Williston, North Dakota (really). I'd be happy to eat at Jackson's again, or to try another restaurant in the corporate group.
(4)
Tami C.
Went with some work friends for a couple of drinks - had the bartender (Andrew I think) make a less than sweet mojito...it was amazing! Looking forward to the next trip to the area!
(3)
Kelly J.
I have to say I was very satisfied with the treatment my family and I received last night. 2 out of 5 of us have food allergies and 2 more have certain dietary food restrictions due (not due to allergies). I am the one where both over laps and I felt that Jackson's really paid attention to the things I said and delivered. When ordering the menu was double checked for ingredients, but our waiter went through it one by one anyway. When asked to have my food cooked without butter or oils, the kitchen staff cooked it completely separate of the main grille. One person in the party even ordered something with a food allergen in it and I was warned not to try it because of it's ingredients. I've only had food allergies for a few years now, but I have never gotten so much feedback from the restaurant that I felt completely safe from any issues happening. It's nice to encounter a staff that is knowledgeable about the ingredients and cares about the people they are serving.
(5)
Lynn N.
Went here for the first time the other day for lunch. I spoiled myself with the lobster cob salad which was absolutely amazing. Totally worth it. I'd like to come back again and try other things on the menu. Also had really good service, I came with a big group and the waitress was on point. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for. In this case, I'll pay for the good food and great service. Definitely coming back in the future.
(5)
Gurpal K.
This place is amazing. It is always a great time with great food! Can never go wrong with their chicken entrees and bread pudding. Service was good as well.
(4)
Boris S.
Mac 'N Cheese w. Ham $4 (3/5 NOMs) Forget fries with your burger, get Mac n Cheese. YES YES YES!!! That is whole lot of mac for just $4. This one side order can pretty much fill me up. Whole lot of mac and cheese going on there. It's suppose to be Mac N Cheese with Ham, but I didn't really taste any ham. I think all the cheesiness just overpowered it. I love ham and was a bit disappointed. Still this is a great side order or maybe your whole lunch. Cheddar Cheeseburger (3/5 NOMs) Might place, doesn't always have mighty things. Meat patty was pretty good, their medium is pink in the middle and it was very juicy soft with nice flavors. You can really taste the cheese, they put so much. For the most part the meat patty is really what matters, but this burger felt a bit boring. It was good, but not great. I was expecting more from this place and after it came highly recommended. Its possible I been spoiled too much by all these crazy burgers we have popping up everywhere.
(3)
Summer B.
We came here last minute to celebrate my BFF birthday. They have a great menu and the appetizers are fulfilling alone. The deviled eggs are great (hands down) and the firecracker Maki rolls are delicious. I has the crab cake sandwich and the macaroni and cheese. Channing had a Bourbon Smash and my BFF had a Mango Martini they both enjoyed their drinks. I of course had my Blue Moon and it was iced cold. We would highly recommend this place and we will definitely return again! Not to mention the amazing customer service. Channing's Choice.
(5)
Nixo A.
Don t understand the 3.5 stars rating. What s not to like here? Service is nice, efficient and fast. The burger was cooked rear as requested, with a superior quality juicy meat. The hickory chicken was of the best I ate lately, fine crust, tender and so tasteful. Very good food for the price, closer to 5 than 3 stars
(5)
Chakriya L.
I go here fairly often bc I live in Reston & the atmosphere here is always lively. Even on weekdays. The outdoor bar area is great for grabbing drinks with friends & relaxing. Indoors, the wait staff is always courteous & I've never had an unpleasant time here. It's a nice run-of -the-mill, casual restaurant. As for the food, I always order their calamari. Whether at the bar or if I'm dining. I love their sweet & sour calamari (same as Coastal Flats calamari). You get a fresh(hot) delicious basket of bread if you get a table but usually there is about a 30-45 minute wait on weekends for dinner(7-8). I usually order their jumbo lump crab cake sandwich or grilled chicken & Havarti cheese sandwich. Those never disappoint. Portions are huge so you can split with a friend. Also, really like their chicken, avocado & beet salad. Fresh & filling. Stay away from their sushi. It's what you would expect from an American chain restaurant.
(4)
Y C.
My first time to this restaurant. Ordered Chicken and mushroom pasta. It was great. Loved their rolls, same as what are served at Coastal Flats.
(4)
Ryan H.
Great American Restaurants are always reliable: the food is great, the service is impeccable, and they all look classy. Had a great experience Friday--I ordered the salmon tempura, the deviled eggs, a delicious garlic wings special they had us try out, and a fresh draft beer. Our server was great; very entertaining, informative, generous, and responsive. All the food was delicious. No complaints!
(5)
Caitlin B.
Sean, the bartender, is relatively rude. He's made several passes at my group of friends and I. I tried to be pleasant but he continued to act pompous and self-interested. I used to love coming here when Chris was the bartender, but after this experience, I do not think I will return. I will also pass this on to my parents, who used to be weekly customers. Yet Sean "doesn't know my parents." Rude. There are plenty of other great places in RTC to dine. Pass.
(3)
Shani L.
Guess who's back? Jackson's I usually go around for lunch about 5 times a month. I stopped going because the quality of the food had begun to decline from really good to simply average. About a week ago, we went back and the food was superb -- back to the level of level of quality as when they first opened. Have they changed the head chef? increased quality control? whatever it is, please keep it up and we'll return as regulars. Tip: the restaurant is crowded and loud during the height of happy hour on Th-Fri and on Sat lunch and dinner. So dine early in the week or on Sun if you want to have a conversation without a lot of background noise.
(3)
Chris H.
Always good. Great soups, deviled eggs are spectacular. The rib eye is always good but the prime rib is top notch. Service is great. We always have a good meal here. This is our second time here this week.
(5)
Matt Y.
This restaurant is without a doubt the best restaurant in the Reston area. The food is fantastic. The deviled eggs and bacon appetizer is our favorite. The eggs are fresh tasting, the filling far superior to any I've had with great flavor, and fluffy consistency with the slight crunch of jicama. The bacon was thick cut with just the right amount of sweet, and cooked perfectly with a nice crunch. You should definitely try it. The sweet and sour calamari is the best I've ever had. Not to tough, and not over coated. I've had the prime rib, which was very good. The French dip which was fantastic due to the superior quality of meat used. I've also enjoyed the crab cake and filet mignon. So far everything I've had has been excellent.
(5)
Jamie B.
Decided to try this placed based on all of the good reviews and the great looking menu. Started off with the Deviled Eggs and Sugar Cured Bacon. YUM! Every meal should start off like that. I went with the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass based on the waiters recommendation. It was cooked perfectly and was full of flavor. I would defiantly come back next time in town.
(4)
Ali N.
Absolute best place to eat There are no words to describe service food and the feel of the restaurant
(5)
Bob H.
Was promptly seated and staff when sat down was great!! Ordered the grouper fingers on the menu only to be told it's cod and haven't changed the menu. The order was disgusting! Extremely greasy and fish was on top of fries and fries where greasy as well!! The presentation was poor at best reminded all of fast food nothing good for the high price. My husband on the other hand liked his burger very juicy and tasty! The waiter never once came back to our table to ask how our meal was or if we needed more drinks, poorly trained! Let's just say the bathrooms needed to be cleaned. For a first time experience poor at best and I won't be back as their are so many other restaurants!
(3)
Chris S.
Eh, just like most of the other Great American Restaurants, Jackson's just doesn't do anything for me. Service was good, they train their staff very well, all friendly, nice smiles and helpful. The food I ordered was all over the place, I started with the lobster bisque and finished with a baked potato. The lobster bisque was decent, a little too strong on the cream and little to light on the lobster but the overall dish provide a nice flavor. The baked potato was a baked potato, you can't really go wrong or mess up a baked potato so they did a good job with that one. Like I said before Jackson's just didn't appeal to me, it is just too generic, too regular, too pedestrian, that doesn't make it bad but it just gives me no reason to return.
(2)
DC C.
I come in on occasional Fridays to treat myself to the best classic cheesburger in the Metro area. Melts in your mouth.
(5)
Greg M.
Jackson's is one of the best places in NoVA - nay the DMV. A member of GAR - you are guaranteed excellent service, a lively crowd, good food on a short menu, and friendly folks all around. We brought some family from out of town here on a Thursday night - they were impressed by the packed crowd and everyone having a good time - it's a positive place! The food - like all GAR entries - is excellent. This last visit I enjoyed the grouper fingers. Grouper is not always the most popular but is absolutely one of the most succulent ocean fish to enjoy - they cooked it perfectly to provide the firm flesh the right amount of flavor and texture. Was at least a full fillet served fingered and well-presented. Garage parking nearby of course, and always call ahead to ensure a spot. Remember they're not good for large groups - can fit a max of 6 adults - no large tables. Finish off your dinner with Patango's across the street.
(5)
Ross E.
Jackson's is one of the "Great American Restaurants," a series of related restaurants that includes Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats. They have many similar recipes, and a similar abundance of fish (always a fresh fish of the day). The food is always good, and the service is polite, prompt, helpful, and overall a great staff. If you haven't had their complementary beignets with honey butter, you're going to ruin your appetite for dinner by filling up on them (we usually ask them to skip the rest of the complementary bread and just bring the beignets). Also, compared to many places in Reston Town Center, Jackson's is much more affordable. It's become a Valentine's Day tradition to go to Jackson's/Coastal Flats, and we just keep coming back for more!
(5)
Janelle P.
I love all the Great American Restaurants, and while Jackson's isn't my favorite out of all of them I do love that they offer many seafood options! Excellent burgers!
(5)
Sibyl J.
Thank you awesome waiter (Dave?) so wise of your noms. I was suggested the Tuna Poke 2.0 appetizer, and had the fish fingers (do fish have fingers? Alton B. says no! but oh they were tasty!) and my friend had the lobster bisque and one of their sushis, I don't remember which. Our waiter was very knowledgeable, telling us about the dishes, what his favorites were, and even telling us what was special with Jackson's versus the other Great American Restaurants. Overall everything was super tasty, but what I remember most was the Poke 2.0. It was truly different than anything I've had, cold high quality tuna, the creamy guacamole, the tang of the ginger the spice of the mayo, and the crisy nori chip. omg, it was truly this multi-layered just fun experience. Food hasn't surprised me like that in awhile. I am so thankful he suggested that. My goodness, I may have to head back there soon now, I think I just talked myself into it! I did notice they had brunch while I was waiting to be seated!
(5)
Le L.
I came here on a weekday for lunch with the boyfriend because we wanted to try something new. The place was right in the Reston Town Center, so finding parking around lunch time was a challenge. Some parking garages are for employees around it, so permits are needed ( DO NOT PARK THERE). Street parkings are available but time limit of ONE hour so of course no good. There is one parking for customers but even though it said "NO COMMUTER PARKING" but we had to go out to all the way 5th level for parking. We arrived at the place around 11:30AM for lunch and the line was so long to the door, I guess everyone decided to take lunch around the same time. They seated us in like 5 minutes so it wasn't too bad I guess. The place was really crowded for lunch on a Thursday afternoon so it was a little surprising to me. We sat at the booth, near the kitchen so it was crowded since severs walked in and out all the time. I ordered sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the burger.... We underestimated the portion, because it was huge. I could have share my sandwich with my boyfriend, since I couldn't finish it. The fries was good, it wasn't like original cheap fries, it was gourmet fries and definitely didn't have a lot of oil which is good. The burger was medium well and it was just perfect, the taste was just like real BBQ burger. I definitely enjoyed their burger more than the sandwich. I didn't like the sandwich much because it was too greasy for me compared to the burger one. The price is a bit overpriced for lunch.( I don't think they have lunch or dinner, they use the same menu for both). The have other items on the menu too and mostly are from $15 and up, so if you are looking for something simple and easy to eat for lunch. This place is definitely not for you. I didn't like their service because I had to ask several times for water, napkins and even to clean out the table. I was a bit disappointed, but I guess it was crowded so they were all over the place. I wouldn't come back to try because their price is not ideal, and it is a chain restaurant with Mike's Grill, Coastal Flats, etc. So I would try other restaurants instead.
(3)
Brian S.
I've been to Jacksons a few times and to me it's pretty much the same as sweet water, outside of the fact that they serve sushi...Despite that it's still an awesome place to go. I usually get the prim rib and the chop house salad, and to me they're both delicious. It can get pretty crowded sometimes, especially when it's warm out and the patios opened up since it's in Reston. Definitely a spot worth checking out though!
(4)
Carly I.
I've only been to Jackson's once during lunchtime and we had a pretty good experience. The food and service were food but I definitely wasn't wowed by anything. I had a salad with seared tuna and my friend had a lobster roll. We both enjoyed our meals but I wouldn't go again just for the food. It seems like a more fun atmosphere at night (with the outdoor bar) so I would consider going back with friends around dinner time.
(3)
Nick K.
Great atmosphere. Sushi never disappoints. Good brunch options but the lunch menu is the best.
(4)
Daniel K.
Big chain restaurant. The bar looked cool but the restaurant was pretty average. Service good. Tables were all booths, I wouldn't go with more than 5.
(2)
Jessica G.
I came here for the first time last night. My group waited about 35 minutes to be seated. I found out about call ahead seating so I'll be sure to do that next time. We ordered the deviled eggs for an appetizer. They are AMAZEBALLS!!! Some of the best deviled eggs I've ever had. For my entree, I ordered the salmon. It was extremely tasty. Very few places know how to cook an amazing salmon, and this place is one of them. Chefs recommendation for this dish is cooked medium. Definitely go with the recommendation! No dessert for me because I have to eat pretty healthy. However, it looked like they had some nice options. I look forward to coming back here.
(4)
Stan M.
Service was phenomenal -- from EVERYONE who works there. They all work together to provide the best service possible. And the food -- a complete party in my mouth. Wow.
(5)
Bob s.
Great food, reasonably priced. This is the 2nd time I've eaten her and the food was was amazing both times; I had the rainbow trout special btw.
(5)
Lynn S.
Terrific sirloin tip salad with blue cheese and walnuts truly impressed me. It was fresh, tasty and a filling meal. Service could have been more responsive, but this is still one of the most pleasant places to eat in Reston Town Center. I do however, avoid their bar area...too rowdy for me.
(4)
Jennifer K.
what is so special about this place? I can name a few. Service is excellent, definitely uphold greater American restaurants reputation. I enjoy the interactions with servers and bartenders. They are very accommodating and you will always find or see people cleaning up places through out the night and ask for assistance. I come here often for lunch, dinner, happy hour and... Weekend nights. Food is great, I have tried almost everything except for a few dish that I am allergic to and price is reasonable. Love the atmosphere for happy hour, you get to interact with a lot of local business professional as well as ones who are traveling for business. It's a lot of fun!
(5)
Calvin S.
Great service and great food. The servers all look out for each others tables and really know what they are doing.
(4)
Hee L.
4.5 stars! This review is based strictly my experiences at the bar. Well, because I have never dined in the actual seating area. Just the bar. You can kind of see a theme in my reviews. I like the bar. I always sit at the bar. I like to have a cocktail or a glass of wine. Or three. Now leave me alone! =) My favorite bartender has moved away and I miss him. Chris Martin or C-Mart for short. He was awesome sauce. Not that the other bartenders aren't awesome sauce either. Neil is really cool too! The bartenders here are great! Sit at the bar! Food has always been on point (but what else do I expect from a GAR?). I have not gotten a thing I didn't like. I especially love the deviled eggs and the guacamole and red pepper dip appetizers. They even have sushi here. Have not tried that, but the guests next to me ordered it and visually, it looked good. They have awesome mac and cheese here. Don't even get me started on the bread basket. The infamous ozzie rolls. Don't ever come to restaurants like these if you are trying to watch your weight or if you are on a diet. I thank GAR's mostly for my expanding waistline. =)
(4)
C R.
Went on a Tuesday night and it was bumpin. This seems to be where its at on a weekday night. Had calamari, lobster roll and salmonm/rice-ish stuff. Also comes with a variety of complimentary bread. Overall, food was good. Calamari was a good choice. The bread is tasty, especially the donut hole looking one. I was not a big fan of the lobster roll, but the fries were alright and corn was goodddd. The salmon, I had for leftovers and it was just as good. The "rice" was interesting..filled with lots of flavor..a bit sweet. The ambiance is nice. Active, even on a weekday night. I would not mind coming back.
(4)
TV N.
The food here is superb! Among my favorites are the Tuna Poke, Jackson's Ribeye, Sea Bass, and Chicken and Shrimp Penne Pasta in Tequila Lime Sauce! Oh! And of course, the ozzie rolls with lots of butter! The menu is very similar to the other GAR restaurants with a few minor tweaks here and there. Parking isn't too bad as there are multiple parking garages.
(5)
Olukemi A.
I got a cheese burger and boy was it good! I enjoy the Great American restaurants because I know I'm going to get quality service and food. It was my first time at Jackson's in Reston but I am very pleased.
(4)
Yaka H.
Wait time here can be pretty rough, so we just opted to grab seats at one of the bars. As usual, service was very friendly and accommodating. Bartenders were attentive and constantly filling drinks. Food was consistent like other visits. The deviled eggs are creamy and luscious, but has crunchy bites of pecans, apples, and candied bacon to play along. SX had the French Dip and enjoyed it, though did make a complaint that the accompanying au jus was on the salty side. I had the waldorf steak salad which was wonderful and probably one of the best salads I've had from a restaurant in awhile. Everything was fresh and had the crunchy, savory, sweet balance going throughout. It was chunks of steak instead of slices of steak and they were all cooked to order (medium), which made the salad that wonderful.
(4)
Ann B.
Jackson's is part of the Great American Restaurant chain. Like Coastal Flats and Sweetwater Tavern, I have a good experience nearly everytime. Their service is always prompt and attentive. Since the menu has little variety from their sister restaurants there's not much to say, everything is always good. Fajitas, drunken ribeye, etc.
(4)
Nicole L.
I am not a huge chain restaraunt fan, but I was really impressed by this place. The servers were dressed very sharp, excellent service and delicous fresh food. Had the lobster roll and my boyfriend had the prime rib sandwich. He said it was the best he ever had. Medium rare and sliced fresh, can't go wrong there! Lobster roll was fresh lobster and the grilled corn was delish! I enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaraunt and it was very comfortable. A little pricey so not as often as I may like to go. Will be trying Artie's next. Strange how it's difficult to find a variety of seafood places (like seafood shack type places) being in DC/east coast and so close to the water (as opposed to AZ where I am from). Excellent food AND excellent service, rare find as well.
(5)
Fadi S.
Among my favorite restaurant in Reston area . Love this place . Foods are great .I have been here more times . i love this chain of restaurant !!
(4)
Justin C.
Jacksons is a Great American Restaurant, with that being said. It is one of the better ones. If you go on the weekends be prepared to wait, the place is usually packed. The bar usually fills up by 6-7pm on most days of the week, especially the outside patio area. They allow smoking on outside patio, maybe that's half the reason. The bar does have rules, so be warned if you are wearing a hat of any kind past 9pm. The service and experience here is generally pretty solid. The food is good and the price is fair. I have no problem recommending Jacksons, but if you're in Town Center it's not always my go to.
(4)
Sonja T.
I love my girl Talia! She is by far one of the sweetest people, and tries very hard to accommodate her guests! We had the short smoked salmon, smoking hot as always!
(5)
K F.
We have been to Jackson's three times in the past month for business as well as an evening out. Overall our experiences have been very good. The food is very good and we really enjoy the Ozzie rolls, salmon and steak. The restaurant is very busy so if you don't plan ahead you can have a long wait. The waiter / waitress staff are generally good but it can be hit or miss. We would recommend Jackson's for a nice evening out for business or with friends.
(4)
Matt H.
The food was average, the service was very good, the hostesses had no clue what was going on and people that arrived after us were being seated before us. Management did react to the complaint and gave us a free appetizer. The hostesses just need training.
(3)
Ethan Z.
Jackson's was quickly a hit when it first opened. The atmosphere is typical of all the Great American restaurants. It can get loud. They don't take actual reservations...but you can call ahead and get your name on the list a little early. If there's more than a 30-45min wait we usually explore the plethora of options within walking distance. The food is (again) typical of the GAR family which means it's solid. Nothing amazing, nothing terrible. A few standout items can be found but everything is pretty safe. During the summers the outdoor patio bar is typically a loud meat market for all the local businesses in RTC.
Jackson's and all of the Great American Restaurants are truly the best. I haven't found a place that I like as much as these restaurants. I would highly recommend the spinach dip, crab cakes, crab cake sandwich and flour-less chocolate waffle. Everything is amazing!
(5)
Alec R.
Part of the Great American "chain" Jackson's provides the same very high quality, family friendly dining experience. The hickory grilled chicken and shrimp rolls were excellent, and the kids menu offered a good variety, although we would have preferred the option of leaving the ham out of the Mac and Cheese. Like all GA restaurants, Jackson's also has a good selection of wines, beer and cocktails (of which I can recommend the Ginger Lime Martini). Despite its claim to being a "nostalgic nod to mid century Americana and comfort food classics and some unexpected twists (a la sushi) in an upbeat 1940's dinner house" the setting seemed fairly generic with a few token items, e.g. neon clocks, to give it a slightly kitschy feel.
(4)
T B.
We had a great dinner at Jackson's last night. It was the first time I tried their deviled eggs and they were so delicious we talked about cracking the recipe for half the drive home. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays with lights a trim along with huge poinsettias. And for some reason there was an unusually high number of people dressed as Santa and elves hanging out at the bar. Very funny!
(5)
Chris T.
Great food at decent prices and in a good atmosphere. Service is great and the waiters are extremely attentive. My personal favorites are their salmon entree, chopped salad and their bread
(4)
Jim H.
Nice place up in Reston Towne Centre....portion sizes are pretty small to be honest and it's the only reason I didnt give it 4-stars....waiter was excellent, food was good, no issues there....just the portion sizes
(3)
Robert R.
Been to this location a couple of times and its been great each time. The food is always top notch and the service too. I like the multiple server concept....glasses are never empty and the used plates and silverware are promptly taken care of. The deviled egg app is one of my weaknesses and the main reason is the bacon! I don't think i have every had such sweet, dreamy bacon. Almost gives you a head rush. Beers are good (I had their name plate beer) .
(5)
RMthree M.
This place is amazing! I've been here numerous times and I've never had an issue. For starters, the drinks are always fairly good and made quickly. We've say at the indoor bar and had them sent to our table. The food is always good! As for the food, we've enjoyed the grouper fingers, lobster roll and sushi the most. The grouper fingers are great and so light. The lobster roll is overflowing with meat and so tender. As for the sushi...it was an impulse reaction to get it...and I'm glad I did. It was not much food but the amount of tuna I got in my tuna roll was amazing. There were large chunks and it came with a nice sauce on the plate. The atmosphere is great, the outdoor seating is great and expect a wait, they are great at what they do and everyone knows it. It's worth the wait.
(5)
Jenny S.
Jacksons is another addition to the Great American Restaurant chain and as much as I love Sweetwater, I knew I would like this place too. They have great happy hour specials, not only is Jacksons in a great location in Reston Town Center, but it's also a great atmosphere. Every time my friends and I get here for HH, it is crowded, both the inside and outside bar. Their cocktail drinks are a bit pricier, but I think it's on par with being in Reston. The bartenders are very attentive and know how to work with the busy crowds every night. Jackson provides the same quality in both food and service as you would expect at any of their other chain restaurants.
(3)
Robin S.
Brunch here was pretty good. There is ample seating, the prices are reasonable, and my french dip was excellent. I can't stand when french dip sandwiches are made with cold cuts... this was fresh, rare beef. The service was very good, although I'm not sure who our server was. It seemed like the servers shared tables. It was definitely worth a visit!
(4)
Food L.
I've been here for multiple business lunches. The food is always great...Def. recommend the Calamari,Chicken Sandwich, and Tuna Salad. One down side is this place gets packed during lunch time. It's insane. You can't make reservations, but you can call ahead if you're like 15 minutes away. I guess that helps a little... Overall solid spot. Comfy food and environment. I wouldn't recommend this place for a date, it's more of a hang out feel.
(4)
Amanda M.
I've lost count of the number of times that I have been to Jackson's. The service is always 5 stars. The food fluctuates between 3 and 5 stars. This most recent visit it was a 5 star. A friend and I stopped in for a late dinner on a Tuesday night and decided to share the lobster roll and the crab cakes. The crab cakes were served with fries and coleslaw yelp.com/user_local_phot… and the lobster roll came with fries and grilled corn on the cob. yelp.com/user_local_phot… I can usually take or leave the fries and coleslaw at restaurants, but I had a hard time keeping myself from devouring the fries and there was something about the coleslaw at Jackson's that was addicting. Oh and the corn on the cob was lovely - salty, smoky, and just a little crispy. Both the crab cakes and the lobster roll were tasty. Lobster is often a bit too sweet for me but the savoriness of the butter on the toasted roll and the tanginess of the mayo balanced the sweetness perfectly. The crab cakes were just the right size - I'm tired of crab cakes so large that they are soggy in the middle. I would much rather get a smaller crab cake and have it cooked correctly. Jackson's is a sure bet. There will always be something on the menu to please everyone. The service (at least mine) is always spot on. And the food has never disappointed. Now, all that being said I wouldn't go out of my way to drive to Reston Town Center just to go to Jackson's. But, if you do, get the deviled eggs (maple glazed bacon and deviled egss - heaven).
(4)
Ariel S.
I went on a Saturday for lunch and the wait to be seated wasn't bad at all. But if you go after work on a week day... prepare for it to be really crowded! The appetizers were really good! But the sushi was awful! I'd go again, but get a different entree.
(3)
Ningxi X.
The calamri is interesting. It's sweet (and kind of soggy) instead of savory and crispy. I believe Jackson's uses its own sauce and recipe to cook it. I'm not a fan of food served sweet when it's usually supposed to be savory, but it's a nice switch-up at least for the summer weather. My colleagues and I came here for happy hour -- that is, came here during conventional happy hour time while paying non-happy-hour prices since Jackson's doesn't actually have happy hour specials. Get ready to pay $9 for one drink, folks. The mango martini is wayyy too weak. And not chilled enough. Perhaps it was just a one-time bad experience, but I expected better for the price I was paying. Had the sushi and it was pretty good. Margaritas are solid. The place is usually packed -- the patio, anyway -- even sans a happy hour menu. the biggest draw might therefore be the space and layout, aka the outdoor patio. It's pretty spacious inside, with comfy booths and all, but people prefer swarming to the patio where a full bar can be found. It's not bad for people watching (Reston standards anyway).
(3)
Joseph S.
We had an outstanding brunch today. The service was outstanding, not crowded and we had a great time. French toast was delicious and the Chicken and Waffles were tasty. The chicken had a bit of a kick (spicey) and the waffles were a little hard. Would definitely visit again.
(4)
Mike A.
Roasted corn is worth the trip. Deviled eggs with glazed pecans and bacon. Umm wow.
(4)
Linda C.
Jackson's is another one of the Great American Restaurants, which include Sweetwater, Coastal Flats, Ozzies, Artie's and several others. Since it is part of the GAR chain, the menu is unfortunately quite similar to all of the above restaurants. There are a few items that are different, but for better or worse, you can pretty much get the same thing no matter which GAR you go to. This place is in the heart of Reston Town Center, and you can tell they are doing a booming Happy Hour business by the number of people hanging off the patio every evening. My hubby and I came in to see if we could get dinner, but with a 45 minute wait on a Tuesday evening, we decided to head off to somewhere else. We did stop by the bar while we contemplated whether we felt like waiting or not. The bar was crowded both inside and out (and it was 95 degrees out there!). We opted to sit inside where it was nice and cool. The bar area was not particularly well maintained, however, and there were leftover beer bottles and dinner dishes on the countertop. Yuk. I have eaten at Jackson's in the past, and the service is always good. The food is usually good too; I just wish they would vary up the menu a bit more.
(3)
Ruth C.
I love James L.'s review every time I read it, because it's so true. But that's one of the two reasons I always sit at the bar. Three if you factor in a choice of bars if you're in the company of smokers or non. Though getting chatted up by creepy drunk men in their forties certainly makes it less appealing. Officially, I could be considered to be stalking Neil the bartender. I can't get over the resemblance. I even chatted up the seating host/hostesses about his Tuesday-Friday work schedule (the two girls had no idea who BC was, but the guy totally made the connection to Burn Notice). Seriously won't even stop in unless he's working, that's how crazy I am. But Nicole's an equally friendly bartender, even if she's just admiring my pink pack of imports. Yay for purse hooks. Ozzie rolls are like crack. Donut holes dusted in cinnamon and brown sugar, with whipped butter on the side. Lobster roll was fattening, generously slawed onto a slice of buttery texas toast. I don't think the grilled & buttered corn on the cob should have been that much better than the sandwich itself, but oh well. Fries were average. Three bathrooms to the left behind the bar near the kitchen, labeled "his", "hers", and "theirs". I am amazed at my self-discipline at not making a lot of bad jokes about that third one.
(3)
Bruce M.
Very good restaurant. My wife and I had the Lobster Bisque and the French Dip. Both were excellent. Our waitress, Patricia, was very helpful, knowledgeable and attentive. Ask for her when you go.
(5)
Larry K.
Jackson's is one of our family's favorite places for dinner. The wait can be long on the weekends (which is actually an indication of how good the food is), but they do have call-ahead, which can cut the time. The service is very good -- always friendly, knowledgeable, efficient, and helpful. And the food is quite good: fresh ingredients, well prepared. The menu is not terribly extensive, but the preparations are highly reliable. Downsides? It can be a bit noisy on crowded Friday and Saturday nights. And there are no reservations. But in recommending Jackson's, I have no reservations either!
(4)
Jade N.
The food is similar to all the other Great American restaurants , however there are a few menu items specific to just this one. The devil end eggs and bacon is a great app but is very filling. The sushi rolls are ok, but lack taste. For dinner I ordered the Honk kong style tuna which was delicious and I would definitly reccomdendation it. The service is excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgable. Although the food and service here are good for the most part I cannot give Jackson's a higher rating because it pisses me off that they offer no happy hour specials. This place is way too over pretentious and acts far too privliged in my opinion. Many of the other places RTC offer happy hour specials and I think it's just super ridiculous Jackson's does not. The crowd at the bar is super eclectic however there did appear to be a large portion of douchbagy guys and an over abundance of gentlemen and ladies trying a bit to hard to look... and act like the cool kids in the club. If looking for food the food and service are ok, however if you are looking for the bar scene the lack of any happy hour specials is very disappointing.
(2)
Michael T.
My family and I ate a casual lunch here. Service was ok since the waitress seemed to be in a hurry and was not overly friendly. She didn't offer the kids any drawing paper or crayons. Their famous appetizer bread was mushy, french dip sandwich was tasteless, fries were soggy, and the warm chocolate waffle dessert was served cold. The only redeeming aspect of the lunch was the mixed green salad had a nice light dressing (but how could you really mess that up.) Also, we asked them to bring out another warm chocolate waffle dessert and the manager came over to apologize. Nonetheless, the food was overpriced. We could have received better value eating at other restaurants at Reston Town Center. We don't mind spending $$$ at Arties or Coastal Flats, but at this particular chain we were disappointed in the quality of the food and service. Sorry Jackson's Mighty Fine Food, we will not be coming back. It was a mighty big disappointment.
(2)
Nadine F.
Taken on its own merits, Jackson's would probably only get three stars, but it's pretty good if you're only comparing it to other places in Reston Town Center. Though it lacks any type of character whatsover, I've been pretty happy with the food every time I've gone, and they have quite a few healthier selections. Despite their lack of happy hour specials, the bar is somehow always packed, though it seems pretty easy to get a real table. Related to that, bar service is slow and spotty, whereas table service is very attentive.
(4)
Miranda F.
Jackson's is such a wonderful place in Reston to venture to for food and drinks. I've been here multiple times for happy hours and had some of the "bar" food /appetizers, which were all really delicious. Chose Jackson's for my birthday brunch and wasn't disappointed at all. From the mimosa to the banana raisin bread to the Bubble & Squeak, everything was amazing! Got the BBBC Brioche French Toast for my son and from the bites I could steal from him, that was equally impressive. Our server was wonderful and did everything he could for us to enjoy our visit even bringing ginger ale and plain bread for a girl suffering from the night before ha! I plan on coming here more often beyond my typical happy hours.
(5)
Lina T.
I'm giving 4 stars solely on food. I'm a fan of all the Great American restaurants. All their food is very similar and they're all delicious. I usually get the Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad. It's one of my favorites!! It has asparagus, tomatoes, deviled egg, spiced pecans with champagne vinaigrette. It's a salad full of awesomeness. Sweet Water Tavern has the same salad but no egg and asparagus which is disappointing so it's much better to go to Jackson's if you want this particular salad. I would give this place 2 stars for environment. I love Jackson's for their food but this place is cougar town (surprise surprise). I used to come here a lot for happy hour. This place is ALWAYS jam packed. It's impossible to get a seat at the bar and it's hard to move around. You can pretty much smell everyone's sweat (during the hot weather). Gross. This place and just about every place in Reston Town Center is an older crowd. If you're looking to be around people in their 20's to 30's....this is not the place to go. It gets noisy and it can be pretty obnoxious sometimes. I actually almost whooped this old man's ass for trying to start a fight with my friend all because he ACCIDENTALLY bumped into him. I mean helloooooo when you're in a jam packed bar where you can barely move, you're going to bump into everyone. This place can be a disaster sometimes. I've seen fights break out and really drunk people being dumb. Anyway, if you want good food, want to people watch, and don't mind it being a huge cluster f**k, I recommend coming here. Otherwise, go some place else for drinks.
(4)
Tino D.
I've been here twice now, and each time I left disappointed. I really wanted to like it because it's a 5 minute walk from my house, but the food is very generic and bland. I tried the lobster roll the first time, it was okay but way too much mayo and filler, not enough lobster. The service here isn't great either. One time we were seated and waited about 15 minutes with no service - they didn't even bring us water or place settings. I finally had to flag somebody down and complain until our server showed up.
(2)
Terra G.
I'm a HUGE fan of all GAR chains so it pains me to give Jackson's a rating less than 5 stars... However, I ordered the sea bass and it was probably the most disgusting food I've ever put in my mouth. I mean, how was I to expect to be served a bowl full of soy sauce? And that was the only flavor on the plate. The fish was bland, the spinach was bland, the rice was bland. Why, you may ask, would I give Jackson's a 4-star rating based on such a horrible lunch? Because 1) service was impeccable, 2) I know if I had complained, I would have been brought a new meal, 3) the rest of the menu looked amazing, and 4) my other lunch guests thoroughly enjoyed their meals. So my advice... CALL AHEAD, ENJOY THE SERVICE AND SKIP THE SEA BASS!
(4)
Annie C.
THIS REVIEW IS JUST 1.5 STARS!!! My boyfriend and I came on a sunday afternoon for lunch. It was such a nice day outside so we figured we would eat at the outdoor bar area. When we walked in we were greeted by the hostess who directed us over to the bar and said it was self seating. We went outside and picked a hightop table. On the tables there is a sign that said "service at the bar" at the bar there were 2 bartenders a male and a female. My boyfriend came over to the bar to ask for menus the male bartender gave him 1 menu. So he came back a second time to ask if that was just the brunch menu and if there was a second menu. When he came up to the bar the 2 bartenders wornt doing anything other than talking and flirting around with each other and my boyfriend was completely ignored for about 4-5 mins. They looked and saw him waiting and went about their conversation continuing to ignore him. I was disgusted by the customer service they were giving and their flirting that I just said screw the nice weather we'll eat inside. So we went back inside to the kind hostess who then walked us to our seats. We also had a nice waiter who took our orders promtly, checked up on us periodically, and got our food in a timely manner. We ordered the Deviled eggs with bacon as an appetizer, im not a deviled eggs person but according to my boyfriend they were average. I really liked the sweetened bacon. I ordered the steak and eggs, the steak was very good and very well made to order. My boyfriend got their french toast. it was nothing special. very filling though. The eggs and hash browns/ potatos on our plates however were... gross. it was egg substitute, very powdery. Overall you can thank the hostess, server, and steak for the 1.5 stars, and thank the bartenders for it only being 1.5 stars and not more. I probably won't be coming back again.
(2)
Mike B.
My favorite appetizer here is the Two Cool Dips. For an entree you can't go wrong with any of the steaks of the Grilled Chicken Sandwich
(4)
J P.
Ordered the lobster bisque. It was actually pretty good. Also ordered the crab cake. Crab cakes come in two versions...good and bad. These fit into the good category...more crab than filling...what more can you say.
(4)
Joey C.
I really like Jackson's. I consider it among the best the Carlyle company's Great American Restaurants has to offer. Attentive and pleasant staff, who seem to truly enjoy their jobs (I presume that they are trained well and compensated accordingly) and who work as a well oiled machine. Terrific layout and atmosphere. Food is almost always excellent and never less than "very good." GAR has built a solid foundational pattern for their restaurants and this location is at the top.
(5)
George Y.
If you like freshly made food to order or if you are allergic to or dislike any ingredients, then this is not the place for you. Food is prepared ahead of time, including their sushi and rolls. Their kitchen has no desire to remake any of the food.
(1)
Susan F.
Mango Martini=heaven.... Dinner otherwise dinner here was good....I got the steak frites. My husband had the tuna special and he REALLY enjoyed it. Yay for having a "theirs" restroom and being so family friendly!!! :)
(4)
Yelpowitz E.
Wow. I just had a fantastic dinner! Loved everything from the bread to the dessert. I had sushi to start -and a bite of mushroom soup that was amazing. For entree, pecan crusted trout and again, a bite of the lobster sandwich dish with the most delicious corn I've ever tasted... Then bread pudding for dessert. I would recommend everything I had. It's absolutely delicious! Service was very friendly and highly attentive. Will come again soon for more deliciousness =P
(5)
Neal C.
Good food but when it's cold outside and colder inside doesn't make for good dining. They also said they couldn't do anything about it. What a lie!
(2)
ap m.
Only reason I find myself at Reston Town Center is b/c of work. Reston/ Dulles/ Herndon- it's like you need a passport to go over there. It's definitely not a city landscape. You have to drive around for lunch, so gave this place a try. Ppl who know the area suggested it and I was pleased. Originally came in thinking it's a basic american restaurant, nothing fancy- but the flavoring in their dishes surprised me in a good way. Loved the puffs that cone out instead of bread slices. I could eat those all day. I tried the chicken avacado beet salad and LOVED it! Was expecting to taste something with simple seasoning- but the dressing was very nice. Something that I never tasted before. Salad was light but very filling. Also the service was good. It's lunchtime so food has to be ordered and arrivingly quickly - which is exactly what happened- max was 10 min. Not sure if i would go again to try other dishes, but I'd go back just for that salad.
(3)
Kimberly W.
They have a great selection, wonderful drinks, and a friendly atmosphere. The bar gets really crazy in the evening time, but we went for lunch and it was chill. We went with my Nephew (he's 2) and he really enjoys their Mac and Cheese. Most delicious mac and cheese off a kids menu I've ever seen, that is for sure. Best thing on the menu is probably the Prime Rib Dip sandwich. Its just wonderful. Everything else is really good too, and they have some vegetarian options; but that sandwich is pretty impressive. I highly suggest checking it out next time you're in Reston. Its in the Town Center where there are so many places to go, and things to see, its quite a nice place.
(4)
John D.
Food was good, service was great. Nothing memorable about the place, as the menu has a lot of overlap with Coastal and Sweetwater. It's a good place for a business lunch, as the service is fast.
(4)
Deanna J.
Overpriced and not much on the menu. Older people think this place is really cool-what a joke. Only 35+ go here.
(2)
Kelly K.
I like the dining room at this restaurant. They have comfortable booths and the acoustics are great. The staff is very polite and well trained. They greeted us at the door and sat us promptly. The waitress was knowledgeable although her responses were alittle canned and phoney. Service was prompt and they start you out with some slices of what tasted like banana bread and mini sugar donuts-both which are tasty. The reason I rating this place two stars though is based on the food. The french toast did not seem like it was french toast. It seemed to be prefab cinnamon bread that was dipped in mini toasted crumbs. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they do not even do any egg wash and frying on site. It seem mass produced and then just heated up. It was served with a big mound of tasteless scrambled eggs that were like fast food eggs. The bacon was encrusted with maple sugar. I have never seen bacon like this...it was like bacon candy. Another dish we tried was fish and chips which was really blah and served with a strange slaw which seemed like tasteless mini chunks of cabbage in lots of mayo. The fries were tasteless the fish was like standard frozen fish. The prices were high considering the food was verging on fast food fare. Too bad the food was blah! I like the place and the service---though at the end of the day I dine out for the food. Cannot recommend.
(2)
Les D.
Jackson's is the place, so I've been told. It's great, if you like to be where it's happening, and if you're at Reston Town Center, chances are you do. Me? Not so much. But there's nothing wrong with trendy people crowded together on a blistering cold winter night. The food was decent. No complaints, but not terribly impressed. Had the grouper special. they were out of grouper and substituted with mahi mahi. That's fine. It was pretty slathered in butter. Came with a side of mushroom risotto stuff. Again, that's fine. Also had thick stalk asparagus. Now that was very good. Rarely do I see thick asparagus, and it can't be that easy to get right. Well done on that. Manager asked us about our experience. Always a good sign. gave her the thumbs up. Service was decent. I think they must recruit from some local cheerleader camp. Never have I seen so many perky young ladies in one restaurant. Probably explains why all the Reston white collar dudes pack the place after work. Jackson's is a decent restaurant. I had heard it billed as a destination. I can't say that it's that. Serves as a nice after work bar and a neighborhood restaurant, but I can't go higher than that. The menu is just too safe.
(2)
Alyvia M.
Where can you get deviled eggs, spicy tuna, lobster rolls, hand cut fries, burgers, lobster bisque, steak frites, lobster Mac n' cheese? Jacksons! Wham bam thank you ma'am!
(4)
E S.
Review is for their BRUNCH It is fantastic, we tried the scrambled eggs, poached eggs with crab and biscuits and filet w/eggs (a fancy steak and eggs!). Their bloody mary's are nice and spicy and during brunch the bread basket comes with cinnamon sugar ozzie rolls and banana bread. The standout for me was probably the poached eggs with crab over biscuits. Fantastic brunch! Will be back again!
(5)
Michael M.
I had the prime rib blackened as suggested by our server. It was rare and just a blackened sear on each side still leaving it medium rare as he described. This was the best prime rib that I have ever had! The bar area was standing room only on a Thursday night which is not the California Orange county close up at 10:00 pm crowd that we have become accustomed to.
(5)
Daniel W.
A little overpriced and I don't get how they serve brunch until 4 pm but hey the food was pretty good and the service is top notch. Our server Kevin, was so awesome that I thought to myself over and over again why he was working there and not a fine dining establishment. he was just that good. I would have given this place 3 stars but he was just that good.
(4)
Rick W.
Excellent dinner, Tuesday night place was packed only took 15 minutes to be seated. Deviled eggs were awesome with crispy maple bacon, and the lobster Mac was ridiculous. The filet was good, drinks were strong. I would go back
(4)
Jessica P.
Always packed for happy hour, a favorite of the after work crowd. The drinks are a bit expensive but the atmosphere and outdoor patio make up for that. The food is good, but I prefer Coastal Flats (same management company) at Tyson's Corner. The service is fantastic, however, you won't be disappointed with dinner here!
(3)
Shannon H.
My husband and I have eaten here a couple of times and we've been to several other Great American Restaurants in the chain many many times. For the most part, I only have good things to say about any of these restaurants. Jackson's is a great place to have dinner and a great place to hang out for drinks. It's in an ideal location in Reston Town Center. Whenever we've eaten at Jackson's, the food is pretty fantastic. I was incredibly surprised at how good the sushi was. The salads are better than any I've had. And I LOVE the sauteed goat cheese. Our last visit was a good experience for the most part. Surprisingly, the food took FOREVER, which has never happened to us at any of the Great American Restaurants. We were with friends and having a good time, so we didn't notice it at first. The manager came over and apologized that our sushi was taking so long. Once the sushi was cleared, it took about 20 minutes for our salads and another 30 minutes or so for our entrees. Like I said, that's not the norm. I think it must have been an off night. We weren't even there at prime dinner time. Regardless of the less than perfect service that ONE time, it's one of the best restaurants in the area. Recommend it to anyone.
(4)
James R.
Had a business trip this past week in Reston, VA...and stayed at the Hyatt Regency, which is smack dab in the middle of about 100 restaurants. No kidding. One of the ones we visited was Jackson's, based on the number of good reviews. First off, great bar area...lots of professionals, getting their drink on and letting loose on a Tuesday night. While it's a little cold right now, I can see their outside area would be an awesome spot for a cold drink and people watching. So there were 4 of us and were told it was about a 5-15 minute wait. No problem. Pager went off and we had to wait just a minute or two longer while they were putting the final touches on our table. Sat down...ordered some beers...and looked over the menu. Pretty good selection here. My buddy and ordered the Prime Rib and my other two colleagues ordered up Salmon and Tuna. But let me mention the free bread...so basically you get two kinds. Some normal bread which looked like it might have raisins in it. But the ones that catches your attention is the little balls of fried dough. Really warm and good...ya felt like ya wanted some powdered sugar and cinnamon, they way you get a carnival. Good start. Christina, our waitress...was a gem. Now by gem I mean...personable, charming, attractive, attentive, funny...did I mention attractive? Very good at her job... Out comes the food and long story short...very good. Everyone enjoyed their entree...mine was a medium rare prime rib, huge baked potato and some creamy horseradish on the side. Since we didn't get apps, we started deciding on dessert...only to find out they were going to comp us a dessert or two for making us wait. Really? We didn't wait all that long...I think they felt bad they paged us only to wait a bit longer. Regardless, one of the hostesses came out and confirmed that our two desserts were comped. Best piece of Lemon Meringue Pie I've had...at Christina's recommendation of being her fave. And the other was a flour-less waffle with ice cream...really good as well. Nice touch. I think my colleagues were onto my crush for the waitress...and encouraged me to talk to her...but hey, what's a guy from Boston going to say to her being in Reston. Granted, I might move there just for a remote chance to take her out for coffee...but I digress. Barring my smitten kitten bias, the place had a nice environment...great attention to service...and a decent meal to boot. Check it out and let us know!
(4)
Elvis A.
Awesome food and drinking establishment! The Quality is unsurpassed and the variety is unique! Hard to find a restaurant with processes achieving 6Sigma levels. GAR rocks it always! !
(5)
Jim A.
This is my go-to spot to meet customers and to take my employees out to now and then. I have not had anything that has not been at the very least above average if not great. I love the sesame crusted tuna salad- fantastic! When I'm a little more hungry I go for the french dip, which might be the best I have ever had. The cheeseburgers are also terrific. The servers are always attentive and professional. The bar up front is nice and the bartenders have plenty of personality. Love this place.
(4)
Nana K.
Love all the Great American restaurants, this one in particular is very clean and friendly! I had the warm goat cheese salad and lobster bisque. Equally wonderful but I couldn't finish everything! Great and wonderful food
(3)
Joann B.
I can't attest to much at Jackson's since I've only been there twice. The first time was for drinks on a Saturday afternoon and the service wasn't too welcoming or helpful. I wanted a snack but looked at what was being offered and didn't see anything appealing. Second time was for Sunday brunch, so the four stars is solely for my food. My friend had the french toast - she didn't say much about it, but she did eat most of it, so I'll assume she liked it. I had the bubble and squeak: crispy pan fried chicken breast, poached eggs & low country gravy w. homemade biscuits I had been craving chicken and waffles and this was the closest I was going to get. It was perfect. All of it together was pretty damn good. I generally like my gravy on the spicy side, but this was a good combination of egg, creamy gravy and chicken. The chicken wasn't dry and I wish I had more gravy for the flaky biscuits. I think their brunch menu is a little bit on the small side, but I'm willing to head back to try more.
(4)
Tom B.
Food is really good. Go see Chris on the weekends he's at the lower bar. He's a great guy, and makes is a mean drink. The upper bar is great. They have infrared heating. Doesn't keep you warm when it gets too cold. The salmon and French dip are excellent. One of the better eats in Reston town Center. Best of all, as with all restaurants at Reston town Center, free parking
(4)
H H.
Food and Service I like Jacksons, but I come there ALWAYS ordering the same thing, occasionally the calamari, the field greens with warm goat cheese and champagne dressing salad and the filet minon which never displeases me. Never had an issue with service and when a mistake is made (it happens) the manager is always quick to swoop in with an apology. UGH My complaint, the place is NOISY, the accustics SUCK. Never go here for a first date because half the time you will be saying "huh?" The kids menu is also pretty lousy. Most kids dont want lumpy ham in their mac and cheese. My daughter usually finds something to eat, but she complains everytime that they need to consult some children before creating the menu. Happy Hour Great for the happy hour "meat market" (and meat market it is) especially if you are in the 30 and under crowd. Jackson's seems to have an over abundance of creepy singleton men (ie with no wingmen) hanging around the bar trying to pick up drunk women. Twice at happy hour I have had to have the bartender physically oust some creepy guy who would not stop bothering me or my girlfriends, and other women have told me they have experienced this too. The outside bar is nice but very smokey.
(4)
Quianna R.
Great Happy Hr Outside during the summer. Also they have the best rib eye ever (Marinaded wonderfully) and the chopped house salad is to die for Nom Nom
(4)
Don Diego D.
Jackson's experience starts from a great greeting from the hostesses. Always smiley and willing to help. This is a large restaurant and despite this they are extremely consistent with their customer service. They must have amazing training systems in place. The food is great to even fine and very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend any dish they have with seared tuna. Their tuna is amazing when served rare. It is like butter and you do not even need a knife to cut it.
(5)
Sam C.
Good food, nice vibe. Ate at this place with a bunch of co-workers on a business outing. Note that there is no private room at this facility so we had to split our group into 4 tables. Despite the goodness of the food, wouldn't come back for a business outing for that reason. On to the food, good quality stuff. Had a Krispy Kreme donut type of thing in their bread that was simply awesome. Had to lick those as the bread was served so none of my co-eaters would be enticed to take them from me. Steak Frites was good quality stuff and was served as asked (i.e., medium rare had a warm red center to it). Frankly, I think the Steak Frites at Mon Ami Gabi is better across the street but this was a close second. My table mates all raved about their meals and there were no leftovers I could find. They have a sidewalk bar adjacent to the dining room. Place to see and be seen so far as I can tell. Filled with yuppie singles (it looked to me anyway) enjoying a drink after hours. Even for an old married guy like me, was fun fun to be back in that atmosphere. Would be happy to come back here again .... just not with a group that exceeds about 6 people if you all want to dine together.
(4)
Alexis Y.
I have been here more times than I care to admit for lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Food and service is consistently excellent. Their menu is special/creative with lots of traditional items without doing anything too strange. The decor is diner-inspired with high ceilings and an open kitchen. They have recently improved the dining space by sound-proofing. My biggest complaint is that they have only booths and small tables, and cannot accommodate groups over 6 (even with a chair pulled up). There are dozens of times I was with a group that wanted to go there but realized we wouldn't be able to sit together. It tends to be crowded, so it's best to get there early for lunch or dinner if possible. here are large wrap-around bars inside and outside, including 4-5 outside patio tables. It is a little pricey but I feel it's well worth it for the quality. TIPS: They don't take reservations but they do have call-ahead seating, which I have used to be seated within 10 minutes of arriving many times on nights when they were packed. The best place to park is in the attached garage, but go in the entrance on the opposite side from Jackson's by the Fidelity sign and take the ramp down for the easiest/fastest parking. Detailed feedback on some of their menu is below for those who are interested, but I most highly recommend their salmon salad or entree and the Bread Pudding! - Bread - they offer a complimentary bread basket that includes sweet whipped butter and their famous "Aussie Rolls" which are basically fresh delicious unglazed donut holes. They melt in your mouth and everyone I've seen try them loves them, including me and I'm not a fan of donuts. Make sure you get one for each person! - Deviled eggs - I have one pretty much every time I go...some of the best I've had with toasted pecans on top, they add one to some salads as a nice bonus! - Two Cool Dips (roasted red pepper cheese ball and guacamole) - I got this for the first time with a group recently - it was excellent and the cheese ball was HUGE! It's a great value for the price. We ended up getting a couple more baskets of chips and still couldn't finish it. It was a perfect balance of sharp cheese and roasted red pepper, and the guacamole was a bit chunky for my taste but very fresh and well-seasoned. - Spinach and Artichoke Dip - I've had it and think it was good, but not particularly memorable. - Sweet and Sour Calamari - excellent, always cooked perfectly with just the right about of batter and a delicious Asian glaze. - Lobster Bisque - as good as I've had. - Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad - one of my favorite meals of all time, I highly recommend it for any salmon lovers. You can add white cheddar, blue, or goat cheese - I'm obsessed with cheese but I find it flavorful enough without any. - Lobster Roll - I've heard mediocre reviews. - French Dip - this seems to be their least popular option in my experience, it is large and piled high with med-rare roast beef, which I like but I think some people are squeamish about red meat that isn't cooked thoroughly. - Crab Cake (entree and sandwich) - large, packed with crab, and everyone seems to love it. - Grouper Fingers - friends have liked it but doesn't seem out of the ordinary. - Salmon Filet - also excellent like in the salad with a nice mustard sauce and an interesting "wild rice salad" (worth trying at least once). - I've tasted many of their fish specials and they are always excellent. - Steaks are good and the Ribeye tends to be the favorite, but the prime rib gets mixed reviews. - Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle - interesting/different and very good, I believe it is gluten free. - White Chocolate Bread Pudding - I tried this recently for the first time. It was more soft cake texture than pudding, shaped as a mini bundt cake. Everyone at the table loved it and two friends even said it was "the best dessert they ever had" - very high praise! I am not big on desserts but tasted a bit and agree it was impressive.
(5)
Ted L.
Racist! I was standing next to a table with another couple on the other side of the table on a crowded nite. The girl at this table complained that we were pushing the table to her rib cage? The manager and the employees told me and my friend to leave. We never had a chance to explain. Never been so insulted ever. Never will I recommend this place. And the owner should know of this unless he/she doesn't care either. Btw, one blk, one or two asians and primarily caucasion. I don't recommend anyone unless you're white and ignorant about sterotypes and racism.
(1)
Sapna B.
Came here with a girlfriend last night to catch up after a loooooong time! This was right on par with the other Great American Restaurants. Everything was similar. Was surprised at how crowded it was on a Wednesday night! I think most people were trying to eat outside so we grabbed an indoor table so we didn't have to wait. I ordered a glass of Riesling and the Grouper Fingers. I LOVED how crispy the Grouper Fingers were and it also came with cole slaw and french fries. The french fries were perfectly seasoned. I usually don't like cole slaw because there is too much mayonnaise but I LOVED this cole slaw!! Had a great meal. Would definitely come back!
(4)
Thant T.
One of my favorite places in RTC, used to come here a lot when i lived around there. Come here more for drink than food but the food is good. I usually get the crab cakes, they're a bit different from the normal ones you think of, they aren't fried into a patty. Basically lots of lump crab meat and filling piled up. The bar is my favorite part, esp when it's warm and you can go to the outside portion. When i first started going there it was a bit of an older crowd but the past couple times ive gone there the crowd seems more young professional.
(4)
Bianca B.
The restaurant itself is very nice and in a nice area. Set up a lot like BJs Brewhouse. I was happy to see a gluten free menu which made my hint for dinner much easier. I had the Hong Kong style tuna which was cooked perfectly! The waitress was nice however I finished my wine and drank my water, and 3 other friends gave me their waters. Not once did I get asked if I want a refill :( which I wanted for my wine. All in all food was delicious and the place was nice.
(4)
Samera N.
Aweful asked for a menu to order food the bartender just threw it over and walked away. Maybe management doesn't want to make money! Miss my service in cali!
(1)
John Paul D.
My wife and I stopped in and enjoyed a bite. The atmosphere was great. Service was solid. The appetizer was good and the lobster roll great for a lobster lover. Fries were fresh and tastey. The burger I got was dripping and oozing with fat and it was so rich eating half of it upset my stomach. Flavorful and unfinishable. In general a nice place. Next time we will go to passion fish, which was the other highly recommended restaurant in the reston town center.
(3)
Jen T.
Jackson's is the least favorite of the Great American Restaurant branch. Nothing special but your standard menu options. I prefer more rustic breads rather than just the sweet carrot bread and doughnuts served on weekend brunches. Ordered the Roasted chicken spinach salad and a side of wild rice salad (can't have a meal without carbs. I'm Asian!) I don't get the fruits in their foods. The spinach salad had apples and the wild rice had lots of grapes. I liked the deviled egg in my salad but overall the salads were super sweet. I could have ordered without the apple but wanted to give fruit in food another try. I'm not the only one who feels this way because my BF was turned off by their Mahi Mahi special when he heard it came with a watermelon salsa. So he ordered the lobster Mac and cheese off their appetizer menu. I was a little annoyed by their overly attentive servers which made it very uncomfortable to have a conversation without feeling like we are being spied or eavesdropped. I couldn't wait to leave. Later, BF came home and had leftover sliders that I made the night before.
(3)
Izzy H.
Cougar townnnnn. Lol. Ok in all seriousness. The food is good. My favorite are the fries simply because I like those thin crunchy fries. I usually come here for happy hour and it's always enjoyable.
(3)
cherry p.
The food, drinks, atmosphere and service are excellent. It would be nice if they had happy hour specials.
(5)
Lynn B.
Nothing remotely interesting about this place. Servers clock watching, bartenders leaning. My burger was good. That is the best I can saw about this place. Disinterested employees
(2)
Daniella H.
We dined at Jackson's before the lunch rush on a Saturday....about 1130a and were seated immediately. By the time we left, the restaurant was packed. Food and service were both fantastic. I had the grouper fingers with a garden salad and it came with cole slaw. I'm not a big cole slaw fan at all, but I liked Jackson's. Not sure what it was, but it had a much better flavor and wasn't nearly as bitter as some cole slaws can be. The grouper fingers were awesome...also not typically a fan of fried foods, but I ordered per the recommendation of a family member and inhaled every bite. It was lightly battered, and the pieces of fish were meaty and chunky and didn't fall apart. I stole some of my husband's french friends and they were awesome! There aren't many places where you can tell actually tell they're freshly cut potatoes rather than frozen, but it was obvious these were fresh and perfectly cooked for that awesome combination of hot soft and crunchy! Can't wait to go back and try other dishes!
(5)
John C.
Great food and great times. Many menu items to choose from. Can be casual or dressy, great bar as well
(5)
Eric N.
In all my times at Jackson's, I've never actually eaten there. I'm glad I grabbed a quick bite to eat though after the Great Grapes wine festival this past weekend. After downing many glasses of wine at the festival (thanks Kimberly!) both my friend and I headed down to Jackson's for some food to soak up the wine. Jackson's was still surprisingly busy between lunch and dinner hours on a Sunday with most of the seats at the bar taken. We were lucky enough to get two. Both of us order their burger, which was only $11 and came with a side of fries. The burger was cooked to my liking perfectly (medium rare) and the fries were quite good. For RTC pricing, it wasn't bad. What I liked most though was not the food, but how well the bartender prepared an Old Fashioned. With Maker's Mark, the old fashioned glass was filled to the top and the cost was only $8. Sure, we aren't in Arlington or DC, but $8 for a well prepared Old Fashioned with Maker's is definitely note worthy. Living closer out this way, I might have to make a return trip just for it. The bartender was also very attentive, another plus. Total bill with food was only $35. Although it is rare that I hang out in Reston, the next times I do I'll most likely head to Jackson's. Then again, for food it is hard to go wrong with the Great American Restaurant group.
(4)
Tiffanie B.
Absolutely LOVE the lobster roll here!! The grilled corn on the cob & fries to accompany are great as well! I can't bring myself to order anything else because this is just so good! Bartenders & staff are always pleasant. But the crowd can be a little snobby at times in the bar area. However, I can get along with anyone after a glass of wine...or 2.
(4)
Doug S.
What do you want from a restaurant... I want one thing.....consistent good food. Jackson's has yet to disappoint. Weather it is for a business lunch or a private dinner I always leave feeling great about my meal. With so many choices out there spending money on a hit or miss meal is not worth it. Jackson's is one of my few go to places.
(4)
Emily L.
This restaurant is by far my favorite in Reston so far. For a formal dinner it's decently priced, the service is friendly, and if you call ahead you don't have to wait long at all. I had a party of 12 with me and because we called ahead, we were able to get seated within 10 minutes on a busy Saturday around dinner time (parties larger than 5-6 people usually require splitting between 2+ tables).
(5)
Allison B.
Every time I come here I am less impressed and slightly more and more offended. The last time I was here a friend of mine was kicked out for wearing a hat. He is religious and does not allow his head to go uncovered. This was greatly offensive. This most recent time the bouncer got in an argument with a friend wearing a backpack. He rides a motorcycle and has nowhere else to leave his things. I would understand if this place was a 5 star restaurant but we were on the patio (that SMELLED LIKE URINE). Very unpleasant. I won't be coming back. Drinks are over priced and staff is rude.
(1)
Kyle T.
Hey! So let's get this started... If this place was anywhere else besides the Reston town center I would probably give it a 3-4 BUT since it's in the god forsaken hell hole of bad overpriced food it's by far the best thing in the center. I have come back here now 3 times after trying almost every other restaurant in the town center. Their French Dip is awesome! Nicely cooked to a medium rare it just melts in your mouth. The service the first time I was here was mediocre but the next two times it was great. I will note that this place does get busy during lunch hours and dinner time so if you don't want to have to wait make sure you come earlier or later then the average meal times.
(5)
Jon L.
Mighty Fine indeed. Marie and I went here for lunch today. We arrived about 1230p and were immediately seated. I had the Crab & Corn Chowder and Hickory Grilled Chicken with rosemary vinaigrette and wild rice salad. She had the Roasted Chicken salad. We were both very pleased with the freshness, quality, presentation and flavor of our food. The service was exceptional, Wendy took good care of us and we never lacked for anything.
(5)
Ashley I.
I love every appetizer on the menu, the bar staff is very friendly and attentive. Sushi is great too! Usually come here for work happy hours, the crowd during happy hour is late 20s to mid 30s.
(3)
Jey J.
Ozzie rolls are the best. That and the Hong Kong sea bass are my favorite among other amazing dishes. Their prime rib is never a disappointment either!
(4)
Tommy P.
Happened to be in town for work and met up with my buddy Spencer [from the area - guess you can call him a "local"] for a late dinner and drinks. Absolutely loved being able to dine "Al Fresco" [not sure who he is but kudos for inventing patio dining] and it was a nice late summer evening. Definitely a fan of the Reston Town Center area in general... Solid craft beers on tap [had about fifteen before switching to Coors Light] and my Caesar salad was very delicious - way better than Chili's! The outdoor dining is next to the sidewalk so Spencer and I tried a little bit of "cat-calling". We weren't getting any responses until I threw a crouton at a pretty lady walking by, but she poured my Coors Light on me and stormed off. The restaurant should consider putting a net or fence up in case this becomes an issue for diners. I'd come back, but I may have to try some of the other restaurants in the neighborhood first!
(4)
Andrea P.
My favorite restaurant in the RTC. Everything I've ever ordered on the menu has been fantastic and the cheeseburger is phenomenal. Great atmosphere, but can get pretty crowded on the weekends.
(5)
Ginger H.
I've dined at Jackson's on a few occasions. Like the other Great American Restaurants, the food quality and service are always good. However for me, this one is probably my least favorite, as I have preferred dishes at Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats. Besides, Jackson's has a lot of competition at Reston Town Center (RTC). If given the choice between Jackson's and some of the other RTC restaurants, Jackson's wouldn't be my first choice. But based on the consistently large crowds and long wait times, they seem to be holding their own quite well.
(3)
H. Y.
This place is really good! Food and service was impressive and I'd definitely go again. I got the cheeseburger
(5)
Rebecka A.
Tasty limoncello martini and the two dips appetizer was super good. The guac is delightfully chunky, not too strongly flavored (not overly garlicky) and a great companion to the heavier cheesy red pepper dip. The chips were warm and toasty. We also admired the booth-filled room, which didn't have those awkward tables no one ever wants to sit at. Coat hooks by each booth.
(3)
M U.
Jackson's is my favorite spot in Reston Town Center. When the weathers nice out, the outdoor bar has an incredible view to see and be seen. Happy hours here get loud and packed. The bartenders are always on their game. Equal ratio of men to women here. Will be going back soon.
(5)
Helen Z.
It's always difficult to give 5 stars after ordering just one thing at a restaurant so take this rating with a grain of salt in knowing all I had was the smoked salmon salad. That being said, the salad was DELICIOUS. The salmon was by far the best filet of salmon I've ever had. I absolutely loved the smokey flavor and wish I could order salmon cooked like this at every restaurant. I also got it medium rare and the fish was cooked exactly to my specification. Plus, it was just the right level of flavor so that I felt I didn't even need to use the tartar sauce I asked for on the side. The deviled egg in the salad was tasty too. Very well seasoned. My one complaint was I couldn't find the pecans at first in the dish before I realized the three tiny pieces of pecan on my egg were all that was included. The restaurant in general is a very well-decorated place. It's fashioned kind of like an American bar-esque area. Definitely a place where you can tell the interior designer put a lot of thought into selecting furniture pieces and wall decorations. I counted at least 6 different types of lamps! Our server was very friendly as well and did a good job taking our orders. Now that I'm writing this review, I miss that smoked salmon. I hope I have another chance to taste it!
(5)
Shellie D.
I had a year long hiatus from Jackson's and this place used to be my favorite restaurant. I guess I did not experience Sweetwater Tavern at the time that this restaurant took the number one seat in my book. So after much anticipation, I dragged my friend to visit Jackson's and he was delighted to know that it is a Great American Restaurant. Well, the food was good but the menu was lacking. I usually order ribeyes and was very disappointed to find out that French fries came with the ribeye and the restaurant no longer allowed you to substitute your sides. This sucked because I try to avoid French Fries like the black plague, and I am already eating a fat piece of beef, why do I need more fat added on top of that. So after crying a river, my waiter expressed my concerns to the manager and he allowed me to have my baked potato and spinach. He actually gave me two sides! I wasn't expecting this much but I really am glad to see that they value their customers. I am still a bit disappointed about the menu options and I think they should try to give a bit more variety.
(4)
Chris K.
We often visit Jackson's after work as our company's watering hole. It is great restaurant that sits in prime real estate within the Reston Town Center. As this is part of the Great American Restaurant Association you can expect similar menu items as Mike's American Grill, Coastal Flatts, and Carlyle. As always with the aforementioned restaurants, you can expect a clean dining room and excellent service. The menu focused and doesn't give diners informatoin overload. I always recommend the lobster roll. Plenty of lobster squeezed into a buttered and toasted roll, grilled corn on the cob, and french fries. The real gem of this location is the Lucky's Lounge (semi outdoor patio and bar). It's a great place to sit, enjoy drinks and food when the weather allows. In the event that the weather is nice, make sure to get there early as table and sitting space is limited at and around the bar. The only con is that there is no happy hour deals, other than it is a great establishment.
(4)
Carly C.
I like most Great American Restaurants, so it isn't a surprise I like Jackson's. We've had most of their steaks (hangar, filet, etc.) and didn't find them to be as good as at the other GARs. The reason we go to Jackson's is for the Prime Rib French Dip sandwich. I haven't had a better one yet. It better be the best at $18! Don't forget to ask for horseradish cream on the side - yum! I'm not fond of their french fries, though. They are skin on hand cut fries, I prefer SW's shoestrings. But, all in all, Jackson's is just as consistent as the rest of the chains.
(4)
Aleesha P.
Yes, OK, they are the child of a chain. So, we cut you some slack for all of your inadequacies don't we? Why not do the same for them. Four stars because I always have a stellar time when I go out to Jacksons. The food isn't always 4 start quality, but never below a 3 1/2, and the service has always been 5 stars for me. Yes, there's a long wait at 6 PM on Friday night, so just don't go then. Duh. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table here, but that's also because I go at off times, 4PM on a Sunday, 9PM on a Monday, etc. The food is good. Comparable quality to Coastal's if that's your thing. They start you off with those to die for Ozzie (sp?) rolls with sweet better. Be careful, a few too many off those can kill off your appetite right quick. For app's I either get the calamari (with a sweet/spicy thai sauce and fried string beans) or spinach dip (you can't go wrong with this). I've recently discovered their deviled eggs. Jesus Christ, where have these been all my life? A bite of egg a bite off that ridiculously yummy bacon, what more can a girl want? Oh yeah, either a blue moon or glass of Cab for me thanks. They have a decent beer and wine selection, both in terms of selection and price. They also have this wicked Cosmo which smokes (dry ice) when served, I've never consumed it, but one of my friends swears by them, although they are a bit pricey (about $9). For dinner I've only ever had their steak. Either the hanger or Fillet, which they do well, not as good as Ray's, but hey, Ray's doesn't have the same ambiance either. Dessert isn't really anything to write home about. Service, like I said before, is great. Everyone's friendly and attentive. Drinks never go empty, unless you want them to, and I've never had to "flag" down a waiter for any reason. If our waiter is busy another one always seems to appear. Go team service. Yes it's the baby of a chain, yes it can get busy, but it's always great times, good food, great service.
(4)
Greg P.
Great service, attentive staff. Always a good time.
(4)
Diann B.
**We arrived for afternoon drinks and stayed for lunch. We sat at the bar and had the delight of meeting, Lacey, our bartender. Fun, attentive, witty, wise, and cute she advised us as we are tourists and bonded with our local dear friend, Robin. (They even knew some of the same people). She poured a wicked Perfect Margarita. My husband enjoyed the Lucky Lager,a beer on tap. Robin partook in an occasional shot of Sauza. **The restaurant's decor is FABULOUS down to the bathrooms. (Oh yeah..the tile is beautiful and I captured it on my iPhone). Photos to follow. **The fare that we sampled: BBQ Chicken Salad includes chicken, spinach, apple, egg, and ohhh those candied walnuts.. mmm mmm. My husband and I shared it. He enjoyed the mustard vinegariatte (on the side). I had the Ranch. YUMMY! Robin ate the Steak Frite. WOWEE KAZOWEE! Oh yeah.. I said it. Uh Huh. That red wine sauce, over the scrumptious perfectly cooked steak bites, & Lacey made Robin a customer who vows to return. **Lacey works Monday through Friday lunchtime. **Other fun staff that we met: Winston (animated & fun) & Anne (simply hilarious with a quick wit). I would request her as our server if Lacey wasn't available.
(5)
Rob S.
I was looking for Passion Fish, in the same block, but decided that Jackson's looked interesting instead. I was promptly seated, and a waiter appeared right away. Before I could order a drink, he launched into "tonight's specials" and told me about them. I told him that I wanted a glass of wine and he took off to get it. When he came back with my wine, he immediately asked me if I wanted to order, and I felt really rushed. I ordered a bowl of lobster bisque and one of the fish specials. I had a sip of my wine, and the waiter put the soup down, before he even had brought the bread. I finished the soup and a moment later the waiter took the bowl and another server brought me my entree. It was a great presentation but the swordfish was dry. I didn't see my server again until I finished, and he appeared as soon as I put my fork down, with the bill, asking me if I was ready to settle up. I was so put off I told him I wanted another glass of wine and had thought about ordering dessert, and asked if he was in a hurry to have me leave. He apologized and said I could stay as long as I wanted. A few minutes later he brought the wine, but forgot about the dessert menu. A manager arrived a few minutes later and told me that "so and so" wasn't trying to rush me, but didn't apologize or ask me why I felt rushed out of the place. When I caught the waiter's eye, I asked for my bill, paid it and left. I won't go back and now that I know that it is a larger chain including Sweetwater's I'll avoid them as well. I wanted to try someplace new, but I should have continued down the street to Clydes, or McCormick and Schmicks, where I know I would have been treated like a valued customer.
(1)
Michele D.
I met a dear friend one rainy Saturday evening so we could catch up after not having seen each other in so long. We started at the outdoor patio, which I am now a huge fan of. The only bad thing about it is this is where the smokers tend to hang out, so if you're not a smoker, choose your seat wisely. After a few drinks we moved to the inside bar and decided to order some food. We both ordered the same salad because my friend raved about how much he loves it and orders it -all- the time. I figured I've give it a shot. If you like salmon and you want something that's not so heavy, you must, must, must get their salmon salad. Picture mixed field greens, asparagus, tomatoes on the bottom and a -huge- piece of salmon on top. I am not kidding. This is not an appetizer size portion of fish. And it is delicious. There's a side serving of a potato salad that doesn't taste half bad, but the salad, which comes with a champagne vinaigrette is absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to return to Jackson's and have it again. Service at the outdoor bar was shit (I wish I would have gotten the girls name), but the folks at the indoor bar rocked customer service like nobody's business. Still love this place, so glad they came to the RTC!
(4)
shar w.
Went there today with several friends and had one of the worst experiences we have ever had at a restaurant. We did not like the wine (and we have had it before) so the manager Jamie actually had the edacity to tell us it tasted just fine and he would taste the next bottle we choose with us. I have never been so offended.---- who is the customer??? MY tuna wa not cooked per my request and no one apologized. We hav ebeen regulars there for quite some time because of a Manager there named Juan who always made sure our food and drink was as we liked. My friends and I will never go back! No happy hour with many friens or dinner. My next note goes to my facebook friends. Ohhh and this was my birthday celebration??
(1)
Candace C.
I'll jump right into this one--i started with the $7 eggs and they were GOOD. I know this is trendy right now, but had it not been for the sugar cured bacon, $7 eggs would be on a long list of extravagent purchases last month. That bacon--they should sell plates of that alone--unless you do not eat pork, MAKE SURE YOU ORDER something with the BACON. If you only want to try the eggs, a few of the salads come with a deviled egg on the side, so save that $7 for dessert. :) For my main course, I had the prime rib and while it was good, it was expensive by prime rib standards, especially because there is only one size cut. The $24 price tag affords you a 12oz cut and a house salad. 12oz? I got 22oz from Wildfire for $30 and I thought it was quite good. That being said, I really liked my house salad, but it was a little heavy on the dressing. My bf had the salmon salad and it was DRENCHED with dressing---more noticeably (greens completely wilted) so because the vinagrette was lighter and spread out more. I highly suggest ordering all dressings on the side. The highlight of this place for us was service. We had wonderful service throughout the meal. Next time we're in Reston, we might go back or we might head to the Counter across the street..who knows. It's not a bad option in that cluster of dining establishments, it's just not special either.
(3)
Heather W.
Consistent and yummy. I can always rely on good food and great service.
(5)
Chris R.
Wow! Great brunches (get the Bubble and Squeak)...awesome Cheeseburgers and also salads. All fresh and made precisely to your liking. Service...can't get any better, just like all other Great American restaurants. The team service approach works well for them. Sunday brunches on the patio, no better way to go. Call ahead though if you go after 6 30 to get your name on the list.
(5)
mimmie h.
Jackson's is a great addition to the Reston Town Center improvements. I've enjoyed my meals at both occasions I've dined here. I would prefer this place over the other Coastal Flats and Sweetwater chains... perhaps because I've been to the other ones once too many times? :) I've tried the Lobster Roll and the Prime Rib and both are excellent. The Lobster Roll was filled with huge chunks of lobster meat and the Prime Rib made me feel like a happy Flintstone with it's size and coming served bone in. Get it... you'll see what I mean.
(4)
Yvonne S.
I ate here on a weeknight with my husband. He travels to this area often and has eaten here many times. This was my first experience. They have a large, varied menu and we both had wonderful food. Service was excellent and several people waited on us from taking our order, to filling our drinks, bringing out the food and the bill. They are on their toes! It was very busy and loud and I would avoid the bar area altogether, unless that is what you are looking for. I would eat here again for sure.
(4)
Anthony M.
Food - 2 Stars. People watching - 5 stars. It's the only "bumpin" place in Reston. Male/Female ratio at the bar - 1 star. It should be called Jackson's Mighty Fine Sausage Fest.
(3)
Molly T.
Jackson's Restaurant is a wonderful addition to the Great American Restaurants(GAR) Chain. As with the others(Mike's, Sweetwater, Carlyle, Coastal Flats) there are many "oldie- but goodies," and with Jackson's comes some new additions to the menu. I think that Jackson's Menu most closely resembles the menu at Coastal Flats with more emphasis on seafood. Unlike the other GAR, Jackson's offers Sushi. The Mac & Cheese Side plate with Ham is INCREDIBLE. Little curly noodles, perfectly cooked with many delicious cheeses. This option also comes with Lobster, which of course is amazing, but I have to say the cheaper side order is better for the price. Because of the heavy cheesy-flavor, the lobster seems to get a bit lost. Skip the Wild Rice Salad w. Almonds. Just as it sounds, but the couple times I've tried it, it's been pretty bland and dry.. Go for the Sauteed Butter Spinach instead. M'mm. Also, it's definitely worth trying the Deviled Eggs w. Spiced Pecans & Sugar Cured Bacon. I dream about them, seriously. The bacon is so crisp and tasty. A wonderful compliment to the rich filing and texture of the boiled eggs. For dessert, the Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding is wonderful. If you like bread pudding, this is heavenly. Jackson's also has Lemon Meringue and Carrot Cake, which are not seen at the other GAR. They also offer a Kid's Menu and a Tasty Vegetarian Platter. Prices are reasonable. Portions are good. Service is always incredible.
(4)
Andria O.
Jackson's is pretty much the same thing as Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats, as others have said. However, Sweetwater Tavern has the blue crab fritters. Jackson's does not. So I can only go three stars. For now. Unless it one day ends up on the menu. But Jackson's is a decent option within the mini-city that Reston Town Center has become over the years. They make good mixed drinks. Service has always been cordial. The food is a little overpriced - but then, most everything is a little overpriced at RTC. You'll be mostly satisfied when you leave Jackson's every time. That's good enough for three stars in my book.
(3)
Bridget S.
The Boyfriend and I passed by Jackson's on many a night, and saw many a tipsy boy and girl hanging out on the patio. Looked like a happening place, so when were were looking for somewhere to catch a drink and people watch in VA on a cold and overcast Saturday night, he suggested Jackson's. There are ALWAYS people at Jackson's. It was a cute place - nice interior, and although we weren't that hungry, we ordered the lobster mac and cheese (YUMMY) and sushi (yes, I ordered sushi from a non-sushi establishment. I figured if they could do sushi well, when it's NOT their specialty, the food that they DO specialize in had to be GREAT - my logic may be off, but it works for me). The yellowtail rainbow roll was tasty and very fresh! -1 star for not having that many beers - I am a wine drinker by choice, but every now and again (like last night) I like to foray into the beerland. . .there were only 8 types, if I remember. The BF had a very good Pinot Noir (Lyseth, I think). +1 star for a VERY nice waitstaff - from the hostess to the managers, everyone seemed to be attentive, well spoken, fast, and helpful. I will be back.
(4)
Laura L.
This is my go to place. Anniversaries, birthdays, mother's day... I love the crab cakes or crab cake benedict for brunch. French toast is amazing for brunch as well. Salads - including Chop House, are great. SeaBass was very good as well (but I still LOVE the crab cakes). I've never been there with family and friends who didn't love their meal. The Great American Restaurants chain has always been my favorite, and Jackson's is top notch. Great service and food. Wonderful with kids especially at brunch. Can get very crowded during peak times, and can be loud, but I LOVE IT!
(5)
Jomo K.
Great for a night out... Whether you are looking for after work cocktails, late evening cocktails, or dinner. You'll find quite a few folks that work in the area, but that adds to the likability of the place. The food is excellent. The outdoor bar--- well, it's sorta smoky-- so if you hate smoke, don't venture outdoors. The bar indoors is large, and very nice (and clean). As for the food- EVERYTHING is good. The burgers are perfect. I'd highly recommend Jackson's...
(4)
Diane W.
The best food I have had since I moved to Virgina. I am not so impressed with the hostess station. The area is loud as it is next to the bar and I feel like they are screaming at me! However, when you get to your table and order your food you know longer remember holding your ears! The wait service is very attentive and really want to help you enjoy your dinner. Order the ginger line martini and the sea bass.
(5)
Charissa J.
I've been here a few times. Always had a good time. Fun place for happy hour and hanging out with friends. Food has always been good. Great crowds and atmosphere. One of my favorites when bar hopping around the Town Center on a Saturday night.
(5)
Laura P.
I have to say - I love all of the Great American Restaurants. Since moving from the area, I haven't had Jackson's in a couple years. It did not disappoint. I loved the crab and corn chowder. I had a large lump crab cake also - good but not amazing. The highlight of GAR is always the mojito - hands down my go-to drink there.
(4)
James W.
Jackson's is close to work so I hit the bar for lunch. Just ice tea and a french dip and back to work. Service at the bar is fast, friendly and fun. I am a big fan of French Dips and they got this one just right. Hand cut fries to top it off. I could have that for lunch everyday! Always a fan of Great American Restaurants. Jackson's is a fine example of all the years of hard work they put into mixing great food with great service and a great atmosphere. You can never order the wrong thing and if you cannot make up your mind, ask. And if you don't like it, let them know. They will fix it.
(4)
Jorina N.
I really had no expectations coming here. Just wanted to try something new in the town center. We definitely went to the right place tonight. My fiance had the rosemary roasted chicken. You really can't go wrong with this dish. The meat was very moist and flavorful. We were most impressed with the wild rice that it came with. It had the perfect blend of taste and texture--nutty, sweet and crunchy! The portion was plentiful and enough to feed a hungry man! For me, I decided to go vegetarian....which is very unusual, however, not to say I don't like veggies...just not as the main entree! BUT thought I should be adventurous for a day! As soon as the dish came out, the presentation "wowed" me and the Pavlovian theory went into effect! I was salivating! It was everything I had expected and more! The portion was very generous and every item on that dish was superb! I never felt so happy ordering a non-steak dish and be satisfied!! The staff was friendly. They really do try to cater to you. I overheard the customer a table over asking their server if he knew if the stores nearby were still open since yesterday was closed from the blizzard. Within minutes, the manager came over to find out which stores they had in mind so she can call and check for them! I was impressed! That was a very nice gesture!! I am definitely coming back!
(4)
Nicole T.
I was in town for one day and Jackson's was recommended to me. I was seated very quickly and my drink order was taken right away. I ordered a mango rum martini which was good. I also ordered the crab and corn chowder and crab cake roll. The crab and corn chowder was very hearty and tasty. After I finished the chowder the waiter took the bowl and it took about ten minutes for him to bring the crab cake roll. It would have been great if it was ready after I completed the chowder or if the waiter informed me that it would take awhile. Otherwise the food and service was good. I would try this place again if I'm in town.
(4)
Iain B.
This past weekend we made our second trip to Jackson's, this time for my wife's birthday. We had a call ahead reservation for 6:15 Saturday night and we were seated immediately. Our waitress was quick to the table and was on the ball, she hung in there with my mom's usual indecisiveness which can make even the best of wait staff beg for mercy. For appetizers we started with the always awesome, "and totally unbeatable by any other restaurant i've ever been to", spinach & artichoke dip Seriously, this is THE best s&a dip you'll find anywhere. I've had it at many other places and it's always subpar in comparison. We also ordered the Coconut Shrimp and the Unagi rolls. I didn't have the Coconut Shrimp roll but everyone at the table liked them a lot. Now, the unagi roll. It's $10. That may seem like a lot for unagi but you've just gotta put it into perspective: 1) Generally when you order unagi in any sushi place you get two pieces nigiri style (ie slab of eel on top of rice ball) 2) Every place I've ever ordered unagi it's $4.50 - $5 for those 2 pieces. The unagi roll here at Jackson's is 8 large pieces of maki with both bbq eel and avocado wrapped around the top. The inside is filled with rice, crab and (i think) asparagus. This roll is the bomb, it's downright awesome. If you're wondering if it's worth the $10 it totally is. For entrees I had the filet with fries, dad had the daily special of seared halibut, mom had the cheese burger and my wife had the crab cakes. As usual all the entrees were spot on and very good. For dessert my wife got an order of their Lemon "Marshmallow Meringue" Pie to go. It was really, really good. The marshmallow meringue is just epic. Anyway, another great dining experience at a GAR restaurant.
(5)
John K.
Jacksons = Sweet Water Tavern = Coastal Flats All owned by the same company. When we first walked in, even the waitress asks the obligatory "Have you been here before?" We say no. Then she responds with "Oh, have you been to Sweetwater Tavern?" We say yes. Then she says "oh it's pretty much the same thing" I heard that it's a pretty popular spot for drinks and the bar was PACKED. I'm not sure if they have any specials or a specialty drink that's a must have, but I sure did see a lot of people there. Maybe Albert Haynesworth was downing some Blue Moon's.
(3)
Ahnya N.
Good food, but it was a little loud because of the bar. Food was good. Drinks were better.
(3)
S S.
Jackson's is part of the Great American Restaurants. This company has mastered the art of timely, tasty and innovative food. If you are going for lunch or dinner, your service will be prompt, your order will be correct and the food will come out near perfection. I love the filet mignon, crab cake, chop house salad and their soup selection. What takes the prize are their Ozzy rolls. You'll want seconds of bread...I actually don't like bread except from this place! The bar scene is crowded and fun. Drinks are made better than any other place in the area. Sometimes a little bit of a cougar-fest but that provides for some entertainment for me and my girlfriends. I'm not a big fan of their fish or sushi but hey you can't do everything perfect!
(5)
Keith B.
Like the other restaurants in the Great American Restaurant group, another solid choice. It has the same excellent quality of ingredients and service you come to expect from this group. The deviled egg appetizer is a real winner here. My wife loves their sushi as well. For me, I usually go for the cheeseburger which is always a solid choice. The seating is all booths which is nice and the ambience feels a little like the inside of an old tobacco warehouse with the exposed brick walls. The only real complaint is the bar here, like most of the bars in the the Reston Town Center becomes a pick-up scene for folks looking for a drink and a companion. So it tends to get loud weekdays after work. The outside bar area is fenced off, but it is usually so jam packed to capacity that I get sense of looking at yuppie refugee camp. To get in you must pass the bar which has a the smell of a mixture of Axe body spray, cigarette smoke, beer sweat, and desperation. Still, I love this place...just not at night.
(4)
Amanda B.
Visited Jackson's on a Wednesday for lunch. The place was packed at 11:30 and the lobby never seemed to empty the entire time I was there. We were seated within about twenty minutes and our waiter was immediately at our table to take our drink order. Our waiter was an adorable kid who looked barely eighteen. This is of no importance other than the fact that one of the ladies I was dining with mentioned she would like for him to be her Boy Toy. I find this endlessly entertaining. Our drinks arrived promptly, our order was taken and our food arrived quickly. I had the salad again and also had some frites. Excellent! The frites alone are reason enough for me to return to Jackson's. We had a chocolate waffle for dessert and YUM. Also, excellent. Overall, another excellent experience at Jackson's.
(3)
Bill B.
This is a review of Great American Restaurant's as much as it is of Jackson's. This is also a review of the perfect Cheddar Cheeseburger because since first ordering the Cheeseburger at a Sweetwater a couple of years back I find it hard to order anything else and the Cheeseburger is offered at all of the Great American Restaurants including Jackson's. My wife and I usually sit at the bar and order the chopped salad to split and the Cheeseburger medium rare to split and always find it to be plenty of food. Of the 20 or so times that I've order the Cheeseburger it is consistently excellent. And I know many of you will probably say the best Burger in town would be at Ray's Hell Burger but I've eaten both and while I give Ray's two thumbs up for Toppings creativity, the pure flavor of the burger itself is still best at Great American. We feel so strongly about this that we had to ask the manger what makes it so good. First it is hickory grilled which adds a lot of flavor right their, we were also told that Great American grinds their own meat on premises which guarantees freshness. It's an 80 / 20 mix of beef but I would swear it closer to 75 / 25 and nothing is added to the meat except Salt, Pepper and Garlic Salt. I've mentioned the Burger at Sweetwater or Jackson's to many but most never think of a burger and go for the more popular dishes. This weekend I took my 16 yr old son to Jacksons, he had the Burger per my suggestion and after one bite all he had to say was "Wow, this is good". Try the burger, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Eclectic N.
I just recently reviewed another GAR restaurant in this area (Sweet Water) and gave it the same rating although I enjoyed this place much more. The entire dining experience was great all around except that our server appeared to be very new and they left her flying solo and wounded. She tried her hardest, but that made things quite uncomfortable. Opening a wine bottle was entertaining to say the least and after two tries and 3 people, they finally conquered the bottle. We had a red Zinfandel (2006 Murphy-Goode - Snake Eyes) from Sonoma that I was already familiar with. It normally sells for $35 in a wine shop and we picked it up here for $56 which was very fair and we didn't feel gouged like some restaurants that mark things up 200%. It paired perfectly with everyone's dish except for the sea bass. The down side of this meal was the portions. Everything tasted so good, but a lot was wasted as nobody could finish their plate. Their little bread rolls looked amazing, but I resisted. I could see the butter melting on them, so I knew they were piping hot. We then ordered a serving of fried green tomatoes. These were very plump and delicious. They weren't too greasy and they were covered in mixed greens and red pepper. I only had one bite, but I think this was my favorite mouthful that I had all evening and the rest of the food was excellent. I ordered the "small 12 ounce" prime rib. My meal also came with a very large baked potato and a side salad. I requested a Caesar, but there isn't one on the menu. I was told that the closest I could get was a chopped salad. The salad arrived first and it was the size of an entree salad at most places. It filled a large plate and it was about 4 inches high. It was very rich and it had to be extremely calorie laden. I knew with big calories came big responsibility and pretty much polished it off. The prime rib seemed to show up just as the laundry basket of salad in my gut settled. It look delicious and was rare just as I ordered. I looked like it could have been the one pound cut. It was so tender that it could almost be eaten with a straw. I enjoyed 3/4s of it before I had to throw in the towel or throw up. It was much better than I could have expected from a chain. I didn't even get to touch the Galapagos Sea Turtle sized baked potato that inhabited the other side of my plate. I stole one spoonful which turned out to be mostly butter and sour cream. They were beautiful with a casing of salt on the skin. It was sad as I had to watch 3 of these dissappear from the table at the end...what a waste. another guest had the Ahi tuna and stated that it was just perfect and flavorful. He was actually the only one that could have probably eaten more at the end, although is order of fries filled the void. The othe person had Hong Kong Sea Bass and stated it was one of the better restaurant fish dishes that he's had in a while. there are several other things that I wished I could have tried, but I would have never survived to write another review. Pricing was more than fair for what we received. Hi quality meals for 4 men and wine for under $200. The ambiance was very modern and welcoming. I'm told on Thursday nights, this place is hopping and has amazing energy. I plan to be back again, although there apear to be several other nice restaurants in this nice little area of Reston.
(4)
Howie H.
Danilo and I must be the only people eating at the same Jackson's in Reston. This restaurant is not up to par with the others in the chain of Great American Restaurants. I must say that the place looked nice upon walking in and we figured that we would have a new Sweet Water on our hands. Correction, we have Jackson's in the Town Center and now I realize why there are not more of them around. The hostesses were very nice as they always are at Sweet Water. The waiter was also sincere and very conversational. I was scared at first to order some simple sushi roles from a place that is not known for sushi, but hey, California Rolls are difficult to mess up. Jackson's took the gold medal in this department. Take it from me as I am originally from Taiwan and lived in Japan. I prefer sashimi but will always give rolls a shot especially at American restaurants who like to create fusion dishes or deliver their perspective of an Asian dish. Some times you are pleasantly surprised and sometimes you want to vomit. Jackson's was the latter. We absolutely love deviled eggs so we ordered these with the rolls. Now, we all know that deviled eggs can be made in many different ways. Some people use more hot sauce, mustard, horseradish, and some people use more vinegar. Deviled eggs are often made at home for parties, holidays, and work pot lucks. If a restaurant is going to have a staple American home made dish on their menu, they should only put it on the menu if it stands out. Not only did the deviled eggs not stand out, it was bland. It was very disappointing as deviled eggs are very easy to make and these had to have been the worst batch I have tasted since......well since I have been in the United States and that dates back to 1986 when the NY Mets won their last World Series. At this point, we are hoping the Hong Kong Sea Bass would be decent and Jackson's could make a decent recovery. Sea Bass is a delicious fish and the way they were preparing it with leaf spinach, ginger, sherry, and scallion sounded awesome. Kudos to this place for messing up yet another dish. The Sea Bass tasted like a white piece of rubbery nothing. It didn't taste like fish. The sauce was too sweet and the sticky rice was not rice. I'm Asian and this was NOT rice. It got to be too much that I had to tell the waiter. I will say this, Great American Restaurants still have great service and wanted to take care of the dish for me and gave me a gift certificate. I insisted that I did not need a gift certificate and would pay for my meal. I do not believe in returning dishes for gift cards...if I ordered it, I will pay for it no matter how good or how awful. This comes from working in the service industry for over 12 years. The manager insisted I take it so I did and I gave it to someone at work as I did not care to go back there ever again. I know I know, I could have used the gift card at other places, but the awful food made my stomach hurt and it also caused a brain fart as well so I was not thinking straight as I could have gone to Sweet Water with it. None the less, Jackson's is a nice looking place with horrible food. Horrible is being kind. And the no hat policy at the bar...are we in DC at a swanky lounge? I think not, let me remind Jackson's that we are in Reston Virginia and the reason people frequent establishments in Reston is because they do not have to deal with dress codes and a stuck up attitude. Jackson's apparently thinks different.
(1)
David K.
I really like this place. Great menu, food is well prepared, service is always great. Nice bar up top.
(4)
Bil G.
Went here on Sunday for the brunch. The Washingtonian had a write-up on brunches and Jackson's was written-up as being a good place. But unfortunately due to traffic by the time I got there at 3:15 brunch was over. Ordered the combo dish of guacamole and queso. Got a strange dish of chunky guacamole and a solid queso. I ended up sending that back. Got it replaced with a spinach dip which was good. Ordered the combo of crab cake and filet. The crab cake was good but a little fishy tasting. Filet was cooked medium rare, just the way I ordered it and the filet was a good quality, nice and tender. My waitress Holly was GREAT. She told me to ask for her when I next come back, hopefully to get brunch. The menu said fresh fish and I was glad as I would hate for the fish not to be fresh. Unfortunately it didn't tell you what kind of fresh fish?! The menu also had grouper fingers and I didn't even know that groupers had fingers!? The bread with butter was good. This restaurant was the ONLY one I ever went to that didn't cut the lime to fit on the glass rim. Cutting the lime to fit on the glass rim just makes it harder to squeeze and they also served it on the side instead of throwing it in the tea for you to try and fish it out with your spoon like some places. And instead of the waitress running up and pouring in more tea in your half empty glass thereby ruining your properly limed and sweetened tea they bring you a fresh glass of tea and more lime wedges. What a place. I was impressed. I'll sure ask for Holly the next time I go in though apparently she only works there on Sundays. I thought her last name was SerChk as that was on the receipt, Holly SerChk but she said that it was not her last name but stood for Service Check!! The desserts were all over $6 and that included the ubiquitous bread pudding which I understand is made with stale bread so they don't have to throw it out?! Stale bread for $6!! So I passed on the dessert.
(4)
Kevin S.
This place is mediocre at best. Seriously, did the area need another "Great American Restaurant?" Methinks it didn't. Totally underwhelming.
(2)
Mary L.
I'm sorry... did I just freaking see LOBSTER Mac & Cheese with ham on the menu? I think I did... and you know what I got it! And that was definitely a great life choice. Jackson's, I wonder if we were married in another life. How did you know I love lobster? How did you know I like my Mac & Cheese with ham? How did you know to put the two together and BAKE them in a crockery of deliciousness? And why are your deviled eggs so good? Why?! But minus one star because what possessed you to dip bacon in maple syrup? That's not okay. How can you destroy the taste of bacon like that? It's okay, not all marriages are perfect, I forgive you only if you PROMISE to make me lobster Mac & Cheese for the REST of my life.
(4)
Danilo B.
This place thinks that they are a 5 star "upscale" restaurant when their food, decor and management are quite the opposite. (Just because you're close to Morton's and Passion Fish does NOT put you in the same realm as they are) Food is just ok compared to other Great American restaurants. And it's not consistent. When they're busy, kitchen runs behind and food can take quite a while. And they have the most ridiculous drinking rules and dress code I've ever heard... - No shots after 9pm - No shooters after 10pm - 6 (sometimes 5) drink maximum - here's the kicker...they'll serve a 100lb woman 6 martinis (which are actually 2 drinks' worth of alcohol per martini) over a period of 3 hours, but they won't serve a 240lb man 6 beers over the course of 6 hours. - No baseball hats - but cowboy hats, hoodies, military hats and others are ok. - Baseball hats aren't ok, but a wife beater, 10 year old jeans with holes in them and sneakers are ok. Seriously?! Jackson's is a disgrace to the Great American Restaurants chain (which I love especially Sweetwater Tavern and Carlyle Grand).
(1)
Eric G.
ok, i'm rating purely on the food. The deviled eggs are the best I ever had. Secret ingredients with strips of sweet bacon. I've lived in the south and who knew you didnt have to paprika deviled eggs. Their lobster roll is awesome, huge amount of lobster with just enough sauce. We did come back to have drinks at the outside bar for happy hour - thats another review entirely. lol.
(4)
Dave C.
Lunch on the terrace is nice. The lobster roll is excellent
(4)
Keo S.
At first glance, I thought this place would be just like any other chain restaurant. I'm glad that I was mistaken. The service was impeccable and the wait staff really worked well as team in terms of food running and being as attentive as possible. The calamari was very good and only Legal Seafood in Boston beats it. I had the Sea Bass and my companions had the Ribeye special and we couldn't get enough. I was really excited to see that they had cauliflower mash which is something that I make at home as an alternative to mash potatoes. Great healthy options. Anyway, we were so stuffed and yet we had to try the Flourless Chocolate Waffle. 5 days later and we are all still raving about it. It's one of the best deserts that I've ever had and can't wait to bring people there to try it. All in all, it was a great experience and highly recommend it as a medium priced restaurant where you will receive high quality food, service, and will have great time in general.
(5)
Susan H.
Before we went here today, I was seriously thinking of updating my review. Our experience today prompted me to get off the fence and start writing! We've gotten to really like Jackson's. Since my previous review, I've tried the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass and my husband has had their fillet. The sea bass is very tasty and well presented. The soy sherry broth with sesame ginger sauce compliments rather than overpowers the taste of the sea bass. My husband raves about the roasted mushrooms that come with the wood grilled fillet. In fact, one night when we went with my dad, who had the mushroom soup, I suggest to my husband that he offer my dad one of his roasted mushrooms. My husband said that they were too good to share LOL! Of course, we still love those heavenly deviled eggs and the oh so tasty bacon that comes with them! Well...tonight my husband ordered the fillet and asked that it be cooked medium. When it came it was medium rare. The server came by and my husband pointed this out to him. Then the server offered to take it back to the kitchen. My husband said, he'd eat it the way it is but just wanted to point this out so the kitchen will know about it. After that, a woman came to our table and said we were going to get a free dessert. My husband said it wasn't necessary but she said "I have to do this". (BTW, the lemon merengue pie is delicious!) On top of that, the manager came by, apologized and said he would give us a gift certificate that was enough for a free fillet next time! We thanked him and told him that we would have come back anyway! I also told him that I was going to update my review on Yelp LOL! He said that was nice but said he wasn't doing this for that reason (Right Answer!). The customer service here is excellent! I suspect that it's like that at the other Great American Restaurants. Recently, when we were at Artie's, we were seated next to a table with loud, obnoxious screaming kids. Although, we didn't complain about it, we still got an apology and a free dessert. We are so impressed with Jackson's! Of course, we will be back. You know, we should try more restaurants at Reston Town Center but Jacksons's always calls to us now LOL!
(5)
CA A.
Jackson's is consistently good. We were there last night with another couple and had a great time. For appetizer we had the fircracker calamari, which is soooo good, (but a bit too sweet for my taste). Of course their bread basket is yummy. My husband had steak frites (hangar steak with french fries served french bistro style) and I had the hong kong style sea bass. The steak frites was great served medium, and the french fries are skin-on and tasty. The sea bass I've had a few times there and it's cooked perfectly and the sauce they serve it with (over steamed spinach and sticky rice) is delicious. They serve it with just a scoop of rice, so it's not too much. We generally are fans of this restaurant group with Coastal Flats being another go -to for when we're in Virginia.
(4)
Scott H.
We meet some friends here on Saturday night, and even though we had to wait for almost an hour for our table at 9 o'clock at night, the place wasn't half bad. The food was pretty good, but I would have to say over priced. The devil eggs with maple syrup was outstanding.
(3)
Jane J.
The place is spacious, and its decor feels like a cross between a microbrewery and motorcycle shop. Kitchen is an open one, which means you can see what is going on, which for germophobes may be reassuring. That said I found this place pricey, and felt that the portions were small .... A place like this you expect large portion entrees with enough for a leftover bag, but this was not the case.......
(3)
Jennifer S.
Met a friend here for dinner tonight! The decor was nice and comfortable, the service was friendly and attentive and the food was yummy. I enjoyed the grilled shrimp with mediterranean orzo salad, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes - delicious!
(4)
Ryan W.
We've been to Jackson's numerous times, usually on our way to or from Dulles, since its Reston Town Center location isn't convenient to where we live. It's a good choice for us since the casual atmosphere and straightforward menu is conducive to kids. Is Jackson's perfect? No, but the service is usually attentive, the food is usually very good, and those signature donut-like bread balls are out of this world.
(4)
Hummad H.
On my last night in Reston, I went to Jackson's with a friend for dinner. We got the Spicy Tuna sushi as an appetizer. It was ok, but wasn't spicy at all. We were craving steak, so based on the recommendation from our server, I got the ribeye (12 oz), and my friend got a filet (8 oz) Both were very good, but not nearly big enough. The ribeye was marinated overnight, so that gave it a nice intense flavor. Dinner also came with salad and fries / baked potato. The food was good, as was the service.
(3)
Rahul J.
Answer the questions: Do you like cougars around? y/n Do you like being bullied into ordering more food than is necessary? y/n Do you like the cheesecake factory mentality of an everythingsonitmenu? y/n If that's two out of three, you'll like Jacksons.
(2)
Paras G.
The food here is expensive, you pay for what you get. It is a high class restaurant, with great service and good to go to on a weeknight for happy hour. The place is packed with young professionals and adult drinking crowd. I hate asparagus, but the way they seasoned it here, i ate it all up. Been here twice, i think its expensive but not over priced compared to the other restaurants in the Reston Town Center. Good experiences both times, never had to wait too long and food was delicious.
(5)
Adam F.
A bit noisy, but pretty good food.
(4)
Lucky D.
Like the clean decor and modern look. Great outside bar area. Was not impressed with the menu. Very limited and some things are grossly over priced. $18 for a French Dip sandwich is appalling!! The outdoor bar service is poor. 2 bartender and no cocktail server. Everyone orders from the bar. Since it is too much for only 2 staff members, the wait is long and getting their attention when not sitting at the rail is difficult. Same when it comes to bill paying time. During my visit I experienced the day and evening bartenders. Both shifts showed no personality and friendliness. They were simply too busy and one additional team member would have corrected that problem. We tried the Calamari, it was good. Kinda spicy and different. The chicken sandwich was ok, Crispy, but too greasy from the mayo and buttered bread. The cheeseburger was, well a cheeseburger. Don't go for the service, don't go for the food, certainly don't go for the prices, but perhaps to enjoy the outside seating. But then on the other hand, nearly all the joints in Reston Town Center offer that.
(2)
Shaggy L.
I been to this place 3-4 times and like the beer selection. I love the ozzie rolls bread basket which is complimentary and always request for refills. The deviled eggs appetizer is to die for. There is nothing special abt their entree items. bottom line: Only pulling factor for me is the bar place and the free bread basket.
(3)
Nova E.
I have frequent this place many times and I've never been disappointed. The staff is always on top of their game and the food is always consistent. Just about everything on the menu is delicious. My go to is the chicken salad and filet. The mojitos are very good as well.
(5)
John K.
My wife and I finally got to try this place Wednesday night after running into amazingly long waits (1 HR+) multiple times. Going at 5:30 on a weeknight paid off! She had the fish special (trout?) and I had the filet and crabcake. Both meals were good. I think her fish was probably a little better than my dish - definitely better than the fish I had at McCormick's down the street (which has gone downhill). The mixed drinks were just OK. Service was fast and friendly. Overall the meal was good, but the prices are a little high for what you get - which knocked my review from 4 to 3 stars. I also wouldn't wait to eat here - Mon Ami Gabi and The Counter across the street are both good alternatives if the line is long.
(3)
Paige E.
I have always been a fan of Sweetwater Tavern, so of course I like Jackson's. I am in love with their lobster bisque, and was lucky yesterday that it was the soup of the day. So soooooo good. Also like the goat cheese salad with spiced pecans. Not a fan of the sushi they have on their menu, because it's weird east-coast imitation try-too-hard sushi. I'll take sushi in CA anytime over VA sushi. I still enjoy Sweetwater more, but Jackson's is tasty and definitely does the trick. Oh, and they have Ozzies! These little round rolls in the bread basket that are so good and melt in your mouth! I'm sure they're a zillion calories each but you only live once, right? :)
(4)
Emma H.
The lobster roll and service was great!!!! I would definitely go back.
(5)
Sogol G.
hmmmm....well, We sat at the bar and just had an appetizer, which was good. Good Service. Interior design of this place is modern and nice and has a large restaurant. The main thing that grabbed my attention was the crowd of the bar. This bar for sure has an older crowd. I may return to this bar.
(3)
Andrew H.
Was walking around the Reston Town Center when I found this place. It seemed like a popular place with the amount of people that were there. My family was seated and waited on in a timely manor. The wait staff is vast and we were sitting next to the wait staff ordering area so got to see a little more on how they run. Waiters work areas and provide minor helps through out an area. Jackson's was very kid friendly and cooked an excellent salmon for my son. I had a french dip sandwich which was prepared with plenty of meat and au jour. My wife had a crab sandwich that came in hot dog buns and tasted balanced with crab and sauce. Would eat there again next time I am in Reston Town Center.
(5)
Amanda K.
This is one of my favorite places to dine in the RTC. I will say that the drinks and foods are a little on the higher side but that is consistent with any place for dining in the RTC. I would recommend the yellow-tail rainbow sushi roll which will get you a decent size roll for around $11. I tried the raspberry lemon drop martini this evening (based upon a friend's recommendation) and it didn't disappoint. It can be a little on the sweeter side so it isn't for everyone. As many people have mentioned in other postings, the Ozzie rolls are delicious and can be consumed in large masses. The only gripe I had this time was with the service. Many of the servers were too overly enthusiastic. I hate when people are being fake and it was quite obvious. Also somehow my table ended up with a team of waiters which caused a little confusing on getting our check. Besides that everything was great and make sure to grab a piece of candy (or 4!) on the way out.
(4)
John R.
Stopped in for dinner on a Monday night on my way back from Dulles (decided to get dinner and wait out the traffic a bit). The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is decorated quite nicely and this measures up the the calibre of other Great American restaurants. This location seemed a little smaller than some of the other ones; fine for a weeknight, probably crowded on the weekend. I started with the lobster bisque (only available part of the week), which was EXCELLENT followed by the French Dip. Good sandwich and fries. My only real complaint was the price but hey, it's Reston so they can get away with $20 for a sandwich. P.S. If you park in the garage remember which one you're in since there are two nearby and they are NOT connected.
(4)
Drew S.
Haven't tried the food yet, but the bartenders are friendly and quick to get your order.
(4)
Bobby B.
This place blows.... hard. I went there 3 weeks ago to have a Fri night dinner with 3 buddies of mine. With appetizers, drinks and entrees we dropped approx $250 in the 60-90min we were in the restaurant. My wife and her gf had just concluded a movie nearby and stopped in the bar at Jackson's. So naturally, when we finished our meal we were intending to go to the bar area and say hello to my wife and have a drink there. As we make our way into the bar area, an employee immediately approaches me to say I cannot wear a hat in the bar area after 9pm. Say what!! Mind you, I'm a 40yr old dude wearing a Nats hat, forward. Not some young jackass with his pants falling down and hat on sideways....but a mature (mature looking anyways) grown man who just spent a decent amount of money in their dining area, and I'm now being told I can't stay if I have a hat on. Lame! From what I've observed the handful of times I've walked by this place at night, their bar seems to attract droves of desperate cougars and no shortage of D-Bags eager to mingle with them. I'm guessing the high propensity for douchebaggery is the root cause of this dumb (and outdated) rule of 'no hats'. But seriously....does the hat really make trouble? No. D-Bags will be D-Bags with or without a hat. 'No Hat' rule is the most ineffective, dumb-assed rule ever established. Enough about that....let's talk about the food for a minute. I've been happily going to GAR establishments for over 20yrs. Been to Mike's American well over 100 times and to Coastal, Sweetwater, Ozzie's and Artie's dozens of times. Food and service has always been top notch and the very few times something may have been less than perfect, a manager stepped right in and made things right. As for my lone experience with this Jackson's place.....I ordered the Steak Frites and I was terribly disappointed. It was bland, poorly prepared and I left more on the plate than I put in my stomach. Needless to say I will not be back to this establishment....what with their lousy Steak Frites and baseless bar rules. However, I will continue to dine at other GAR locations that have proven themselves time and time again.
(1)
Gary H.
I have been in Reston for a few weeks on business. This place is a gem. Always happening...great food...nice atmosphere. My favorite in the Town Center.
(5)
Karen C.
Food 4 stars Ambiance 4 stars Service 2 stars We had to ask for: straws for our drinks, refills of our bread, drink refills, and our bill. That's way too much effort for our meal. Food was good, not too loud but definitely a social meetingplace.
(3)
Amanda N.
French Fries are amazing! Actually everything we have tried is great. We enjoy taking the family here for brunch on weekends.
(5)
J L.
Nice atmosphere. Don't be scared away by the boisterous outdoor bar crowd. Inside, the place is very nice. Even when crowded, you can still be seated quickly or find a seat at or near the bar. Food is good. Dishes are unique but not quite as good as Sweetwater or Coastal. Some (e.g., sushi) are overpriced, some (e.g., sandwiches & burgers) are a bargain. Reception is cordial and efficient, but some servers and the main bartenders seem to have an attitude. I've never seen anyone at the main bar really enjoying themselves. Just parking themselves before the movies or having a quick drink before moving on. Easily four stars except for that attitude. I've walked out too many times feeling like I've spent too much but was not cool enough for the bartenders.
(3)
Carmen M.
absurd mob of people outside! my expectations for the lobster rolls just went way up! --though they were out of lobster rolls (*%&#!) the service was great, and the salmon with mango and watermelon was to-die-for. oh, the calamari appetizer... sweet, literally, and savory. and not fried, for a change. delicious!
(4)
Chuck W.
Welcome to the douche bag factory. This place ties with the tap room for douche-ness My first and LAST time there was cut short by their 2100 no hat rule for guys I suffered earlier in the day from an awful haircut. I was at the OUTSIDE bar and asked to remove my hat or leave. I appreciate not allowing hats inside in fact I hate seeing folks wear baseball hats at restaurants but this is a bar ... A douche bar but a bar... Thanks great amrican restaurants for saving my money from all your not so fine properties
(1)
Chris C.
The bar is ok for the atmosphere and outdoor access, but the food here has been pretty inconsistent for me - lunch food is decent, but dinners have generally been pretty disappointing, despite the wait staff being good by Town Center standards.
(2)
Biff Y.
So I can't stop eating the Ozzie rolls. My doctor says cut down on the carbs, but when they come to the table warm and I slather that sweet honey butter - yeah, I'm downing a few before any ordered food hits the table. I think this was the main reason this place gets bumped to 4 stars. I think the food is well prepared, although nothing on it is spectacular. I like the fact that I can always get grilled fish (to counter the excess carb intake), and they do a nice job with them, never overcooking them. I'm a fan of the chopped salad - it's got a nice texture with a good combination of leafy and other "crunch" with cheesiness and creaminess, and I like the sweetness of the corn. I also enjoy the sesame crusted tuna salad - there is a nice little zip to it. The service is always good, and the wait staff is always attentive. The only downside is that I never seem to be able to get any seats outside... One of these days.
(4)
Lauren M.
Food: Sunday Brunch is fantastic! Their famous Ozzie Rolls are covered in sugar and the rest of the bread basket had yummy banana nut bread. I ordered their Sauteed Jumbo Lump Crab Cake served Benedict style and thought the hollandaise and biscuit tasted great (and the crab was plentiful). The others at my table ordered the Chicken & Havarti Sandwich (which I've had and surprisingly love since I usually don't go for sandwiches at places like these... I'm more tempted by gut-busting entrees) and the weirdly-named Bubble and Squeak. Everyone was pleased and would definitely order what they had again. Service: I used to work at another Great American Restaurant so I know what goes into the outstanding service and thought our team did a great job. Groups: We had a party of 6 which was easily accommodated in one of their half-crescent booths. I would not recommend parties larger than this since there are only booths (pretty standard at Great American Restaurants).
(4)
Steve O.
I've tried Jackson's Mighty twice now. Experiences from both times... eh... food is OK (overpriced IMO) but service and atmosphere is extremely good. More on the service in a bit... Lobster mac and cheese (delicious), deviled eggs with bacon (I said bacon, how can it be nothing short of amazing), steak salad (eh...), french dip sandwich (decent but for some reason I expected it to knock me off my chair... it didn't). I'm a big fan with the set up of the restaurant. Open space, tons of booths, separate, enclosed smoking/bar, and outside seating too. The service was good. Too good. And in a slightly weird way if that makes sense. Someone else wrote that they were overbearing. While I wouldn't go that far, they did have a strange Stepford Wives kinda thing going on - nice, cordial, talkative but almost robotic and sterile. I'll have to try it again and give an update.
(3)
Teddy k.
Because it's in Reston Town Center, I go to Jackson's because if I don't want expensive seafood, Counter Burger, or Tex-Mex, Jackson's is probably the alternative with the most choices. But how is the food? Being part of the Great American Restaurant local chain, Jackson's is popular. And with good reason - the service is usually very good and helpful, the beers are varied and at a fair price. The atmosphere is loud and fun. And the decor is colorful and whimsical. However, because it is part of Great American Restaurants, the food is no better than it would be at Sweetwater Tavern or Coastal Flats. There are some varied offerings that you won't see at the other restaurants, like sushi, but generally if you've liked it at Sweetwater or Artie's, you'll like it here. The problem lies in that nothing stands out because of the safe menu. Everything is at least average to very good and served in generous portions, but if you're looking for that one standout dish, I don't believe you'll find it here. However, I do enjoy the deviled eggs with crispy bacon, the shrimp and crab fritters, the ubiquitous Ozzie Rolls, and the french dip sandwich. Reston Town Center has many options, but Jackson's is the safe choice whenever I want to meet friends. The food is generally safe, and the atmosphere is pretty fun for gatherings. However, I would say it is not "Mighty Fine Food," but more "Above Average Food."
(3)
Anna P.
I was taken here by my husband for my birthday and it was not quite what we expected. Unlike the other Great American Restaurant chains (Sweetwater Tavern, Coastal Flatts), the bar area was not separated from the rest of the restaurant very well. We hit it as the "after-work bar crowd" were arriving and it got louder by the second. Not the best but certainly not a problem. Deviled Eggs with Bacon were SO DELICIOUS. Epic. Only restaurant we've found that makes this southern classic! YUM!
(4)
Alice B.
Sometimes, I have a hard time being truly enthusiastic about suburban dining. Jackson's is a big exception. I love the ambience here. It is a great looking space, both the bar and the restaurant. The big windows and the view out onto the street (with few cars and some pedestrian traffic) give it a nice, city feel. The big booths are cozy for a big party or for two. And compared to the other Great American restaurants, Jackson's is amazingly quiet, even when it is full. The service is also so much better than the other Great Americans. The servers just seem to be a little more grown up. We recently had a nice talk with one of the servers there about the menu, wine and cocktails--a conversation I don't think the blathering, overly cheerful servers at the other Great Americans could carry off. The servers at the other places also do something that drives me crazy as a super-slow eater. When the others at my table are done and I am still eating, the servers take everyone's plates but mine, so that I feel like I am eating alone in front of an audience. I hate this, and it does not usually happen at good restaurants. At Jackson's, the servers just don't disturb the table until service is actually appropriate. As for food, I've never had a bad meal here. I tend to get the fish specials, and they are always cooked just right and are very flavorful. Most of the people I eat with tend to get steaks, often the fillet and crabcake, which are excellent. I also highly recommend any special cheesecakes you find on their menu. The pumpkin cheesecake around Thanksgiving was delicious. Also, most importantly by far, the menu of featured cocktails is great. There is a martini with ginger that I tend to get, but I will certainly make an effort to work my way through the entire list.
(4)
James B.
Had dinner in the "Lounge" today. My order got lost somehow, and when the server realized the mistake, the manager came out to apologize and in about 10 minutes my order was ready. They comp'd the food, too. So, they turned a mistake into something positive. Great burger, too. I ordered it medium rare and it came out MEDIUM RARE!
(4)
Carolyn F.
I have always experienced terrific service at Jackson's. The atmosphere is fun and playful and the food is consistently good.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I used to come here all the time when they opened as a: I'm a huge fan of the Great American Restaurant chain and b: they have one of the nicest outside terraces in RTC. Always a happening place for HH as well. So coming back to the area after a two-year hiatus, a lunch invite brought me back today. Along with some of my old favorites, the specials sounded amazing. I ordered the tuna tartare on gazpacho with cucumber. It was fabulous. The flavors married harmoniously with the fish. Service as always was stellar. Looking forward to more meals again here.
(5)
Its Y.
I wasn't severed alcohol to my table because allegedly 2 ladies in my group who just arrived stumbled in the lobby. Soon after, two different ladies (arriving at the same time) in the group were served alcohol. The manager came out to explain (nothing besides a threat to call the police and an invalid claim to comp drinks we already had) and they took away 7 drinks we purchased. He later claimed 1 of the purchasers didn't want refunded (another false claim) and wouldn't refund anything. This was a nice place to have a drink or 2 but is now ruled by lazy people who do not care about consumers. I wish they could have found a compromise but it was not in their agenda.
(1)
Li Z.
Went to check this restaurant out since it seemed to be the most bustling location in Reston Town Center. I would have given this restaurant a 5 if it wasn't for the service. We had the prime rib and their ribeye which were both fantastically amazing. However, we did wait for a while just to be seated even though there were tables available. After we were seated, the server took a while to get to us, and even longer to bring us our drinks. There were also some mistakes with our food that we specifically asked for as well as bringing the wrong app. Overall, the food was what made the difference for me, I'd go back again to try at some point to see if the service gets a littler better.
(3)
Josh C.
This is one of the many restaurants owned by same company here at Reston Town Center. My coworkers and I came here after a long day at work looking for some good food. I got the grilled chicken / citrus wild rice salad. The wild rice was on the sweeter side - I actually couldn't finish it because it was a little TOO sweet for my tastes, but I think there are some people who would really enjoy it. They have an extensive drink menu as well that unfortunately I didn't get to try, so I can't vouch for any of them in particular. Service was great, and the waiters/waitresses were able to help us out with everything/anything we needed.
(3)
Lyn L.
Stopped in for dessert and a drink and found a couple of seats at the bar. The bartender's weren't rude but they also acted like they were better than most. I asked about the various bourbon selections and they acted put out. We ordered one round of drinks and enjoyed our desserts. Although my friend would have enjoyed more beverages, I didn't want to give this place any more business. It wasn't busy and it was mid-week after 8:00pm. I am not sure if these bartenders thought they were better than most but they certainly could use a few lessons on customer service. There are so many restaurants and bars in the Reston town Center, I don't think I won't miss this place.
(1)
Hannah E.
It's been awhile since I visited Jackson's But my friend from DC wanted to do Happy Hour, and Jackson's is always pretty lively during that time, so that's where I suggested we go. We arrived around 6pm, and the outside patio at the bar was packed, but the inside had enough room for us. We were greeted promptly and served quickly. We eventually decided to eat dinner in the main dining room. We both ordered the roasted chicken salad. I haven't ordered a salad at Jackson's before, but it was a great choice! The salad was very big and very satisfying .Tons of chicken breast, very fresh spinach and lettuce mix, blue cheese (so good) and pecans and apple pieces. I opted for the dressing on the side, but it was very good.Light , flavorful and with a sweet honey dijon flavor . I ended up still having half a salad left after eating it for nearly an hour. If you visit there and want something healthier and different try a salad! I'm looking forward to trying the salmon salad next visit .
(5)
Jeff W.
I travel to Reston, VA every six weeks as my office headquarters is there. When I am there I go to Jacksons at least twice. The service is great the beer is cold and the food is tasty. If you like appetizers I recommend the bacon, which is honey glazed, calamari, and the deviled eggs. For dinner any of the steaks or their french dip. I ordered a salad with my meal and it was huge and fresh too! I look forward to Jacksons next month once again!!!
(5)
Victor H.
Took the roommate here to show him around the area. He was blown away by the experience. I wasn't because I expect it from this place. Fortunately they met my expectations. Their sushi (shrimp and macadamia nut specifically) is a much better quality than what I had last time I was here. Had a more traditional sushi flavor and loved the sauces. My roommate hates sushi due to a bad experience in FL, but he's back on the sushi train after tasting it here. I had the lobster roll while my roommate had the French dip. No complaints as both sandwiches were unbelievably delicious. We finished it off with the white chocolate bread pudding and the featured white chocolate cheesecake desserts which put us both in a satisfying food coma and sugar rush. Service was great. Multiple servers came by to chat with us and crack a few jokes. A job well done to our primary server Samiha who was exceptional and hospitable. What's with these 3-3.5 star ratings people? This place gets 6 stars if you ask me!
(5)
George C.
Cool atmosphere. Good service. Food...meh The deviled eggs and table bread were pretty good but my French Dip was a bloody mess. It was served pretty much raw, which is ok. But man it's a poorly constructed sandwich. It was such a sloppy mess that I had to go into fork and knife mode right from first bite. Meat falling out and good luck trying to dip the sandwich in the aus ju.
(3)
Joann M.
Amazing filet tonight. Perfectly cooked. Simply seasoned and seared. FABULOUS! Just had to get that out! Hubby and I share our entrees most days and tonight was no exception. Opted for the 8 Oz portion which was perfect between the two of us. I love how these folks use a team for each section. While one person is usually the lead for your table I like how everyone is available to help. So there always seems to be someone in the section. In use as well is a microphone system which keeps things flowing smoothly from front to back of house. Only odd thing I noticed is that they don't have any bags with the take away boxes in the section. They had to go to the back to retrieve. In general I think if you bring someone a takeaway box a bag should also at least be offered. So why not 5 stars? Two reasons.... first is the lack of seating in a table arrangement. This is a place of booths. I find this problematic for folks who don't fit in a booth, can't slide into one, etc. the second is menu related. A set menu works but sometimes I am looking for something different. On the other hand this is setup so I know what to expect. AND they can perfect these options.
(4)
Angela K.
Jackson's has officially become one of my favorites. I highly recommend the Tuna Poke 2.0. It's absolutely delicious!! There's a little avocado, ginger, good chunks of tuna with some spicy mayo and sriracha... YUM! I've been trying to diet recently so I tried the Vegetable Platter, and it far exceeded any expectations I had for a "veggie platter". I always love roasted corn, and the wild rice with almonds was really good. The food is a bit pricey, but based on what I got it was definitely worth it.
(4)
Amber S.
I like the atmosphere at jacksons. The night life is fun and laid back. The bar area can get a but crowded however, people make space.
The food bordered drastically on the edge of too much salt. One bite would be a perfect blend of flavor, and the next would be salt, salt and more salt. This made for a very unbalanced meal. I got the Bubble and Squeak, which was a combination of fried chicken and poached eggs. What wasn't overly salted was pretty tasty. The chicken was crispy, the eggs poached...Well, a little too over poached to be honest (it didn't have a creamy / runny yolk), and the sauce that topped it had a nice flavor. This all tied together with the very delicious biscuit underneath - Again, when you didn't get the salty bites. Overall this place really had potential to be a great go to spot for fantastic food. Sadly, it was too unbalanced. I'm not a big salt eater to begin with, so when someone overdoes it, it's really noticeable to me. Salt should be one of those things that patrons add themselves - In my personal opinion - And this was exactly why I feel that way.
(3)
Aimee K.
I felt certain that if we hadn't chosen to stop at this restaurant, the excessively solicitous Embassy Suites shuttle driver may very well have orbited the Town Center forever, pissing off drivers at each and every corner. He flagged this one as very good so we detoured here from the place my business cohorts had originally chosen. It was probably not the best idea though there was no wait and the service was remarkably professional, friendly and quick. It's an upscale shopping center and its restaurants are dressed to match the occasion. The interior reminded me of a chain, but not of one in particular. Oak-like finishes, waiters in black and the abundance of the color green. The website says it's nostalgic American cuisine with unexpected twists in an upbeat 1940's style dinner house. Sounds about on the nose to me. We comprised a party of four. One had steak, one had a burger, one had a lobster salad, another the lobster roll and I had the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp determined to try some East side seafood. I got to try a piece of the lobster roll and though I don't care for mayonnaise, I have to admit that bit was sweet and luscious! My six shrimp were a tad overcooked and the orzo salad that came with was good but nothing extraordinary. My shrimp cost $19 and my glass of merlot cost $8.50 so about on par with dinner at an average steakhouse. Everything tasted fine, no illness ensued back at the hotel and I didn't over-do it (I usually skip dinner) so all was well with the world.
(3)
Kelly K.
TL;DR: Service on the patio is horrible, but the food was on par with the Great American Restaurants group. I'm being extremely generous with 3 stars. 4 for food, 2 for the service. Our group of four found a high table in the patio for dinner on a Monday night. We flagged down the server for a few menus and later realized the plaque on the table says to "ask for service at the bar." A bartender came by to take our drink orders. He didn't make it clear whether we should give him our food orders or go to the bar. The bartender didn't come by our table again, so we met him at the bar and gave him our orders/asked for refills. We ordered the chopped house salad, lobster bisque, prime rib, chicken/shrimp pasta, rib eye, and chicken sandwich. Half of our group had already finished their entrees when the bar manager (Maddie) realized they had completely missed putting in the order for the rib eye and sandwich. She apologized profusely for the mistake and said it was on its way. When the orders finally arrived, they brought a LOBSTER ROLL instead of the chicken sandwich. Ironically, they messed up the order for the pregnant one in our group. Maddie apologized again and offered to bring us free shots and dessert for the complications. I appreciated how she handled the situation, but the male bartender avoided us the rest of the night and failed to own up to his mistakes.
(3)
Beheshta B.
Went here for a drink bartender was not sooo interacting. I asked him if there was any happy hour or specials he gave me a smart answer without actually answering my question. -_- the drink look amazing tasted OK. love the patio bar. probably wouldn't go here again though.
(2)
Shashi B.
When I polled my colleagues about a place to go out for lunch, several of them voted for Jacksons. Since it was Friday and it was going to be 6 of us, we called ahead and they reserved a table for us. The restaurant is staffed to be hospitable and provide great service. It seems like every staff member you pass plays a role in your welcome and the manager seemed to be everywhere. There was one mixup in the drink order that was cheerfully acknowledged and replaced. I ordered a Chicken, avocado and beet salad as did 2 other team members and it was very tasty. Refills of water and drinks was very prompt and it seems like the restaurant has teams of roving staff to take care of tables in addition to your table's specific service ninja. Very impressed with the way the restaurant was run and the food was great, I was surprised by the "Mighty Fine Sushi" on the menu in an otherwise American food restaurant. My colleagues told me the Sushi was vry good or rather "Mighty Fine" as the tag line for Jacksons goes. This was my 3rd visit and would recommend it and will visit again.
(5)
Aziz M.
I usually like to eat in this place, but not after this past weekend's experience. I called 25 minutes earlier than my party's start, arrived on time, seated immediately, and had the rudest server I ever had to deal with in my 3 years living here. Terrible attitude, poor service, and arguing with me on whether I should be getting sauce, drink, etc.. I regret tipping him, and should have escalated that to the manager, but that's why there's yelp. Ps, I am giving them two stars because I liked the food over the years (mahi-mahi, veggie platter, and French dip, to name some). Otherwise, they should deserve no stars at all.
(2)
Antonia S.
Sat outside and waited and waited and waited to be served. Facially recognized locals get served first, so get used to it. Burger good, wine okay. Lots of tipsy 30 plus people. All in all an okay hang out. They are what they present.
(3)
Karen K.
You can't go wrong with any restaurant in The Great American Restaurant family, and Jackson's lives up to the chain's reputation. Great food, great service! I had the grilled cheese that I believe is new to the lunch menu and it was so good! It's a comfortable place to be and both the food and service never disappoint!
(5)
Marcelle A.
Wasn't to impressed with the food . Restaurant had a lot of people in it . I think this place is more of a happy hour/meet up place compared to food. Other than that it was great time with family
(3)
Brittany B.
This one of my favorite restaurants in the area! The food is always really good. Be warned, they get really busy around happy hour and on weekends for dinner. Speaking of happy hour, the outdoors seating for the bar has a nice atmosphere for young professionals and their mojitos are amazing!
(5)
Priscilla Y.
Jackson's is a very retro-looking Great American Restaurant. Decorations are kind of cheesy, but the food is very good. Their starter bread is very soft and fresh. It taste like an unsweet donut! Mixed Green Salad: My friend swore that it is to die for. It is just the champagne vinaigrette dressing that is really good. The rest was just plain lettuce and spinach with cranberries and cherry tomatoes. Unless it comes free with your entree, skip it. Lobster Club Salad: This is definitely worth getting. One pound of fresh lobster chunks with avocado, bacon, grilled corn, deviled egg, and cherry tomatoes on top of a bed of mixed field greens and champagne vinaigrette. Mix it all together and it's just stellar. I loved it! 5 star salad! Jumbo Lump Crabcake: It was alright. The crabcake was fried with some panko-type breading so it was greasy and the crab meat was too loose. It comes with fries and slaw. Jackson's Rib Eye: It was very soft and tender, but the marinade kind of ruined it because of the sweetness. Comes with a side of fries and mixed green salad. Creme Brulee: Yum! It was very creamy like mousse. A good ending to a lovely meal. All in all, for a chain restaurant, the food at Jackson's is really good. It's consistent like it's sister restaurant Coastal Flats. They have similar menu items. Service was alright. Their pagers either has some issues or the hostess did something wrong. The hostesses said they paged us, but the pager never flashed or vibrated. They made it seem like it was our fault for missing our table call. If it went off, I would have noticed it. I'm not blind. This place can get pretty packed so if you know you want to dine here, it's better to make reservations. It seems like a great place to grab drinks.
(4)
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Address :Reston Town Center,11927 Democracy Dr
Reston, VA, 20190
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jeff W.
As much as it annoys me that GAR basically markets the exact same restaurant just in different form all over the place, as much as it annoys me that there is at least a 60 minute way at any time to get into one, and as much as it annoys me that Jackson's has gratuitous use of adjectives in its name, I still actually enjoyed the food that I had here. It was a bit pricier than I'd care for, but overall it was a decent dining experience, I just wish it had more unique options over all the other GAR establishments. I came on a Friday night and fortunately we called ahead for seating and were told an hour wait. We arrived at the appropriate time but were still told a 20 minute wait. We almost left because it was so crowded and so loud. This is not the place for a relaxing dinner. Fortunately we were seated at a large semicircular booth which was off the side of the main dining...arena so it was a little bit quieter. Our party ordered the lobster mac 'n cheese which was ok but not as good as it could've been. The lobster chunks were huge, but VERY chewy, and there wasn't a whole lot of flavor. And our waiter didn't go it any favors by describing the dish as "noodles, velveeta, ham, and lobster". I ordered the spicy pecan and cranberry (I think that's what it was called) salad which had a very good champagne vinaigrette dressing and great texture with pecans, dried fruit, and a delicious fried goat cheese medallion. I would've liked more of it for the price, but from an enjoyment standpoint it was very good. While I enjoyed my food, I just don't think it's worth the wait, the crowd, and the price. Fortunately my sugar mama had a gift certificate which helped relieve some of the pressure on my credit card. I doubt I'll return, but if someone really wanted to come here I probably wouldn't protest too much.
(3)Nicole R.
Meh. Jackson's is just another "Great American Restaurant" - and if they weren't called the "Great American Restaurants" I probably wouldn't say "Great". There's really no other way to cut it, it's just like Sweetwater, Arties and Coastal Flatts - super similar menu and slightly overpriced. The Crab Imperial dip was phenomenal as per usual, and the cheeseburger was decent too but not for a ten dollar burger. Service was great, ambiance was stellar, food was run-of-the-mill and prices were a bit much. I think that about says it.
(3)Michelle P.
After visiting almost all of the Great American Restaurants i think i have come to the following conclusion: I'm just not cool enough to patronize them. I just dont get the hype. My ideal friday night is not waiting over an hour in a crowded, noisy bar, paying $7 for a watered down cocktail and then finally being seated, in an equally noisy area, only to be served fairly decent food that i could make at home and paying a ridiculous cost for it. But thats what you get at any of the GAR. We did the call ahead seating and when we arrived at our appropriate time, were told we had another 30 minutes to wait. We almost left, but stuck it out and only ended up waiting about 10. Once we were seated, we were met with one of the nicest waiters i've encountered and easily handled our multiple questions and requests (like water without ice to cure my hiccups).My diet coke was never left empty (maybe thats why i had the hiccups) and he was a nice guy too. So the food. The portions seemed way smaller than other places. I always get the same thing (chophouse salad with chicken) and they charged me $8 for the chicken! That seemed VERY high for some chicken add on. The food itself was decent, just nothing too exciting. The lobster mac and cheese was somewhat of a small portion for an appetizer, but i will say there were large chunks of lobster in it, so i guess it was worth the price. Still i was slightly more disappointed in my food then i typically am. Overall, i really just think i'm not cool enough to enjoy this GAR.
(3)Rachel E.
My boyfriend and I were famished after his move to a new apartment. I've been to the other Great American restaurants and have had great experiences with the meals and services. I was excited when I noticed Jackson's serves lobster rolls. The first and last time I ate a lobster roll was a year ago in Boston. This was probably just as good as the original. My boyfriend's prime rib was a massive 16 oz.!!! It took up his entire plate. The steak was succulent...not too dry nor bloody. Service is top notch. Supposedly there are a team of waiters in each section. It's nice to get refills without asking.
(5)M M.
This is another good addition to the Great American restaurants group. That said, the menu is mostly an overlap of the other locations such as Sweetwater Grill, Coastal Flats, Artie's, and Grand Carlyle. I was thinking they were trying to do a "best of" menu in tribute to the late Bill Jackson. So, good food, well prepared, but not too exciting. I didn't feel like trying the sushi there since that is more of a specialist meal for me, not an expensive appetizer to have before baby back ribs. It's definitely busy, so be sure to call ahead. The bar is noisy and crowded- fun for some...
(4)Jason V.
My fiancee and I love Jacksons. Yes. It is just like Sweetwater and Coastal Flats, but we think the food is actually better than those. My fiancee usually gets their fish special/halibut. It is always cooked to perfection and is delicious. My personal favorite item on the menu is the duck burger, though I'm not such a fan of the cold rice salad that comes with it, I usually sub fries. My only complaint about Jacksons is that it is like a meat market for the bar-goers, but the dining area is always comfortable and the food has always been delicious. One of our favorite restaurants in Reston Town Center.
(4)Ryan E.
Ahhhh, Reston Town Center. Where is that, you ask? "I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen." Ok, so obviously not Aspen. But my first visit there could have fooled me. As I drove into the parking garage next to Jackson's, I couldn't help notice the beater cars parked just in front. An Aston Martin DBS and a Nissan GT-R (R35). Pffffffttt. I can't believe the losers that drive those things..... *wiping drool from mouth* This is a review of Jackson's, right? Ok, sorry. Anyways, as I walked toward the restaurant, to the immediate left of my dream machines, stood the patio. Packed. Absolutely nowhere to sit or barely even stand. So, I met up with a friend and went inside. Same scenario. We weren't there to eat, only to drink our dinner, so we were lucky enough to find a spot at the bar just as some others were leaving. Now, this being a GAR, I won't really add much as far as food and drink selection go that haven't already been said about these places. Thusfar, I've found both to be consistently solid no matter which particular place I'm at. What I am compelled to comment on is the setting and atmosphere which it provides. I had a great time here with my friends swigging beers for a couple hours, people watching, and stirring up conversation with some barstool neighbors. Quite busy during happy hour, so if you're going to eat be prepared to wait, and usually hard to find a spot in the bar/patio as well. But overall, from a happy hour perspective, the drinks are good, and the crowd is more than interesting :)
(4)Cory L.
Dont know how to give this a 2.5 star....ok, so anyways, been here 5 times. yadayada.....nothing special, same food as its siblings (Tavern, Flats etc). Sparing you the dramatics... Food ok - Salty Meats ok - Lobster Roll - first time was good..the next two I had..SALTY and I like salty food, I love Spam, im from Hawaii) Desert - Average The "bread" - excellento Bar - Crazy People - If you want to be around insecure doods who spray a lil too much cologne and dont know how to wear the right size slacks or dress shirts....this watering hole is full of those type of un-alpha males. oh, and for the guys who have to drive around the Lucky Bar in your supposedly "pimp" rides, going round and round the block twenty two times so you can park right in front..get a life....and to the guys with the loud bikes who have to park and ride loudly in front...get a life. Oh, the Service tho was excellent..they just need to improve on the food!
(3)Janet S.
Went here for a girls' night out. It's part of the Great American restaurant chain, with its solid food and service. They have the sea bass from Coastal Flats and some interesting sushi rolls with macademia nuts. They have the donuts and bread here too. Yum...
(4)Wai T.
Great food. Expensive, but very good. As many has mentioned, this is part of a small somewhat local chain of restaurant with different brand name. Namely, it is the cadillac version of Costal Flat. Their price for lunch is similar to Costal Flat's dinner. Now, the food is very good. Apple-to-apple, we had the "Hong Kong Sea Bass" in both location, and it's clear to everyone that the one at Jackson's is far superior. That was what my wife had. From recommendation of a neighbor, I ordered the crab cake. Unlike most other places, their crab cake is not spelled with a "p" at the end. It's not overwhelmed with the chesapeake spice thingy and you can taste the chunks of crab. It's all-chunk crab cake, so no filling, no flakes. Just chunk. We also had the spicy tuna sushi for appetizer, and it was not a disappointment either. OK, they might not be sushi experts, but their freshness definitely earns all the brownie points to compensate the lack of sushi making skill. We'll definitely go back again and again, after saving up 3 weeks on dollar-menu, that is...
(5)Rob G.
Food was awesome! Hanger steak was perfect as was the filet...super tender and juicy and all the sides/appetizers were perfect. Service was top-notch!
(5)Frank W.
Good food and great service. I think it's a little bit overpriced but still 4stars. The beer selection could be better for a restaurant which is so closely aligned with Sweetwater.
(4)Meghann J.
Having grown up going to Mikes American Grill and Carlye Grand and now living basically next door to Sweet Water Grill, I know what to expect. Really they are all about the same, great service, pretty much the same menu with a modification here or there and lots of hype. My experience here was about the same as any other GAR when it first opens. We called ahead, so our wait was only about 10 minutes once we got there (even though we were first told itd be perhaps another 30), but the place was PACKED. But then again, what isnt always packed in its first year in Reston Town Center? Yes it is noisey, but what GAR isnt? Our server was fantastic and engaged us in conversation. The waiter was fun and worked with all of our requests, he was also happy to joke around with us. I ordered the lobster mac for the table as an appetizer. I thought it was pretty decent, and I would order it again. For my meal I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, which is a GAR standby, this is easily one of my favorite Grilled Chicken Sandwichs. The flavor is great. Boyfriend ate the other 1/2 of it the next day for lunch and he even commented that cold, it was a pretty kick ass chicken sandwich. I would easily head back here for lunch, but will likely wait a bit for the hype to die down before heading back for dinner on a Friday night.
(3)John E.
Ok, so this review is mainly for the happy hour... The food is pretty good, but a bit overpriced. The bartenders are probably the best part of your experience. They likely have been trained to ask your name, shake your hand and treat customers well. Overall, the clientle are geared toward the corporate side with little diversity. Not the most exciting place for meeting interesting people...
(3)Nandina J.
2 stars! Gasp! But let me explain.... 2 stars for the food. 4 stars for the service. Food wins out over service all the time, so the star rating is based on that. For a Wednesday night, it was super crowded. As said in other reviews, this place is LOUD! When you walk in, the bar is right there so it's pretty loud. When you're seated, it's much better, but still pretty loud. We were the farthest away you could get from the bar and were able to have normal conversations. I'm not sure how loud it would be right next to the bar though. My friends got there earlier than we did so they had ordered appetizers before hand. I do give kudos for the deviled eggs and bacon. They were pretty tasty. I really like bacon as well so that was delish to have the sweet and salty taste. The calamari was also pretty good, the taste was a nice change from the norm. I decided to give the lobster roll a try along with a side of the mac and cheese. I suggest going with another dish. The coleslaw was nice and crunchy, not too mayo-ey. The corn was pretty good since it was grilled. I would definitely not order the lobster roll again. There were huge pieces of lobster with some salad-y stuff on a hot dog roll. I would have liked it....but it was SO salty!!!!! I ended up not eating the whole thing because it was so salty. The same goes for the mac and cheese. The cheese had a good flavor, but the salt was so overwhelming. I think I drank at least 3 glasses of water tonight. Two of my friends ordered ribeyes and one friend ordered the prime rib. All of them got sent back due to the cooking not being what they wanted. The two ribeyes were medium, not medium rare and the prime rib was too rare. I don't really fault the restaurant too much for this one. Just an observation really. The service was good though and one of the managers came by and made sure the meats were okay. However, again, my food was way too salty and I was kind of disappointed. One of my friends had really hyped up the place so I was coming with pretty high expectations. Maybe I'll try going back again sometime later and try something that may not have as much salt. Time to go have a few more glasses of water.
(2)Charlotte B.
MAINE-STYLE LOBSTER ROLL SANDWICH! Very satisfying lobster roll, heavy on the lobster and with the perfect crusty, buttery roll. Served with excellent coleslaw (tangy) and char-grilled corn (sweet, smoky). A good value at $19, especially compared to the lobster roll at Tackle Box in Georgetown, which although also tasty, is small and leaves you hungry.
(4)Mark C.
This place is alright... Wish they had more than 10000 dudes in the bar area at all times. Its somewhat nice in the summer time when the outdoor patio is open but other than that its average at best. There are never any specials and they close early.
(3)sherri s.
A rather large restaurant and only one table left open for lunch...says it must be a great place to dine! And it was! Service was amazing! Refill drinks brought over without even asking! The menu is just right...lots of nice choices and not overwhelming. I chose the smoked salmon ($16.00) and my coworker chose the steak Frites ($16.00) YUMMMM! My salmon was one of the best ever! It was cooked perfectly with such a great flavor...I wanted to lick my plate! The rice had grapes in it which was interesting but I prefer no grapes. My coworker raved about the steak and it did look delicious. I deducted one star because our ice tea cost $2.95 each...I know this is Reston, but come on...that is not necessary. It is a T-bag and H2O!! Anyway...I would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Pete L.
Went to Jackson's for late evening for drinks and appetizers... place looks like with dark wood bars and tables, with two bars one near the dinning area and one more closed off for smoking area and for out door seating area for warm weather. Over all I could give 3 stars for food and service but place is way too loud to be an ideal place to seat down dinner. It's more for night out drinking club place with out any music. There are alway lots of people at both bars to meet and meet up with friends for drinks but I don't think I'll be going back for dinner any time soon.
(2)Liam O.
Jackson's is great. Went here for lunch about a month ago. They, of course, have the typical awesome Great American menu, plus they have sushi! And it was quite good, too. I had the shrimp and macadamia nut sushi rolls and they were awesome. This place is definitely a solid restaurant and well worth a visit, I look forward to a chance to come back here for dinner some time.
(4)Cindy B.
Thanks to other Yelpers who recommended the salmon, it's become the only thing I order here. They marinate, smoke and grill it. Then they top it with a creole mustard sauce. Super delish. I also love the asparagus that goes with it, cooked perfectly every time. Not too wild about the candied rice that goes with it, I usually ask for a substitution. When it's not busy we get the best service and are well attended too. When it's busy service is great but the servers are more spread out. Can't complain, either way it's decent service.
(4)Lynne C.
My suggestion--don't bother; the Cheesecake Factory is much better!! We called twice last night to ask about beers and the length of the wait. Both times the receptionist barked something and when I asked the next question I realized she had hung up. I was so annoyed I called and asked for the manager--Eric. He apologized, said to please come to dinner and he'd make it right. He did come to our table, said the phones malfunctioned for a couple of minutes and said he'd make an adjustment on our bill. Our bill reflected NO adjustment. The receptionist is rude, the manager insincere, and the food fair. Don't bother!!
(1)Lauren R.
Let's be honest, pretty much all of the Reston Town Center restaurants are overpriced. (Thank goodness for four dollar sandwiches at Potbelly.) Anyway, I'm quite disappointed that as soon as I end my two year tenure in Reston and finally leave behind my desk with a window view of endless construction sites (and businesses that have looked aaaalmost ready for months now), AT LAST the new restaurants open. I'd say Jackson's was worth the wait, and I'm slightly jealous that my friends at work have this fun new place to add to what was getting to be a tired lunch rotation. I really liked the atmosphere and menu, all of the food that came to our table looked good, and the salad I ordered was excellent. After a disappointing re-opening of ATR, Jackson's fills a needed space as a fun bar/restaurant that is thankfully missing the stuffiness theme of Mortons, McCormick's, and Clydes - it feels like a place where I'd actually want to go and hang out after work. So I'm not surprised to read reviews that so many people, um, are.
(4)Robert M.
I ate at Jackson's for the first time last night and I have to say I was very happy with the experience. I liked the style of the place, and the service was good, but the food, at least what I tried, was simply terrific! I wasn't in the mood for a full-blown, four course meal but that worked out just fine because when I looked over the menu, the item that caught my eye was the deviled egg appetizer. You see, I wasn't able to go to my mom's for Thanksgiving this year and she always makes deviled eggs because she knows I love them, once a year anyway. So I ordered the deviled eggs, which are served with spiced walnuts on top and with bacon strips cured with sugar. To continue the eggs and bacon theme, I also ordered the spinach salad, which comes with bacon bits, egg, apples, walnuts, & Pomerey mustard vinaigrette. I hate to admit it, and I will not tell her, but the deviled eggs were even better than mom's, and the taste of the eggs and the taste of the sweet bacon were perfectly complimentary. I'm sure I was smiling and rolling my eyes while muttering "mmm, mmm, mmm" the whole time I was eating this dish. The spinach salad was also very good. I loved the dressing in particular. I could take or leave the apple pieces and the bacon bits were a bit on the hard/chewy side (in fact, after I commented on this to the waiter, he informed me that the kitchen was changing out the bacon used on the salad because this had already become apparent). I would also have liked a bit more spinach. The toppings somewhat overwhelmed the spinach. Nevertheless, I did happily eat every little bite of it. So, I will definitely be returning, repeatedly, to try more of the menu at Jackson's. Although, I will need to prepare my budget before moving on to the entrees.
(4)Bethany R.
We've lived in Reston for over a year and have always wanted to go to Jackson's but was afraid to brave the crowds. We went this weekend and were SO GLAD we did! The bar was packed but after a very short wait we got our drinks and were able to be seated almost immediately after that. Go ahead and do yourself a favor and order the double dip to start and the crab cakes for your entree. You will not be sorry!! So good! Great service! Definitely going back!
(4)Huntting B.
Best food in the world? No. But from my first time here I can tell that its a place that probably gives consistent service and a good product. I had the steak and frites. I'm not normally one for hanger steak, almost always seems over done and lacks in juiciness. Thankfully that wasn't the case. The sauce was simple and the fries were rather tasty. They were a little "water happy" but I'd rather them refill my water constantly than to forget about it and have me need to chase someone down to get a drink. The food came out prompt and I was able to have a good business meeting. This place is really well suited if you are having a business meeting, particularly if you are doing so with someone you haven't met before. Sign in, give them the name of the person you are waiting to meet and when the other person shows up, they'll do the same and they'll check to see if they're there. This might seem like an odd item to highlight, but if you have ever gone to a meeting at a restaurant and not known what to expect of the person you were meeting, then you know how awkward it can feel as you wait. "Was that him, is that the guy?" Even with how well they handle it, someone still approached me thinking I was their noon interview. =)
(4)Dusk D.
Don't let the constantly crowded bar fool you. There may, indeed, be room to sit down inside! In fact, it's often less busy at the tables. The food, like with all GAR places, is superb. It's a great brunch spot. The Bubble and Squeak (chicken and eggs) is much richer than you might expect, so don't let it fool you. The bread is, as always, fantastic, and will fill you up fast if you let it. Apparently the deviled eggs are outstanding as well (not my thing, but my friends all adore them).
(4)Irene C.
I came here yesterday for lunch for the first time. I am a frequent at Sweetwater and Coastal Flatts and I actually had no idea that Jacksons was part of the Great American Foods Chain until yesterday. The menu was the same as the ones from the other chain restaurants with a few slight variations. I ordered the Chicken and Havarti Cheese Sandwich. The Chicken was tender but the bread itself was VERY buttery and oily... a little too much for my taste :( I was also expecting the skinny fries much like the ones I would get with my sandwich at Sweetwater or Coastal Flatts but to my dismay, I received the handcut potato-ey fries :( Too mushy & potato-ey for my taste :( The waiter was very nice but forgot our rolls!! Ususally, the rolls are supposed to come out as soon as we order. We looked around and none of the other tables had rolls so we had to ask the waiter for them and then they brought them out. I guess they are available upon request??? I was slightly disappointed with the rolls they brought out. They tasted too doughy, too oily, and too fried compared to the ones at Sweetwater. Sandwich was $9.50.. $0.50 more than Sweetwater & Coastalls unless they upped their prices! Still a great deal though. I would come back & order another dish if I was in the area but I persoanlly wouldn't drive out of the way to eat here.
(3)Heather R.
My husband and I stopped in for brunch/lunch today, and just sort of felt "meh" about it. There were some positives to this place, which I'll detail, but ultimately our lackluster entrees caused me to rate this place 2 stars. Pros: The service is fantastic. Drinks come quickly, the specials are explained fully, and the servers are super friendly. This is true of all Great American Restaurants. We are always really happy with the servers. We did experience a little bump in the road with our server today, which I'll note below, but, generally, we're always happy with their table service. The bread was yummy. They had little sugar covered doughnuts, and carrot walnut bread. Both were fantastic, and they're always willing to re-fill your basket. For first time visitors, I'd note that this restaurant is all booths (except for the bar area). It's super nice and comfy! Cons: I got the avocado, beet, goat cheese and chicken salad. Parts of it were great. The dressing was tangy, and the chicken and beets were delicious as well. There was virtually no lettuce in my salad, though, so towards the end it became an awkward meal of beets, chicken and goat cheese. I really wished it had more mixed greens in there. And maybe pecans or walnuts instead of pine nuts. The pine nuts didn't add enough of a crunch. And personally I think the beets would be even better if they were lightly pickled before going on the salad. My husband got the crab cake eggs benedict. He said the hollandaise and crab cakes were delicious, but did not like the biscuits. I have to say, they didn't look appetizing, either. They were way too crumbly, almost like scones, and weren't fluffy like normal biscuits. He really couldn't eat more than a bite or two of them. My husband had actually asked for french fries instead of biscuits. Our waitress was kind of odd, and said she'd have to check with her manager. She never came back to update us, but his entree came out with biscuits and fries. Then we got our bill and she had charged us $4 for fries, without telling us there would be an up-charge. Like I said, the rest of the service was great today, and normally we get great service at all the GARs, but we were surprised by this. Overall, with all the other options in RTC, it's unlikely we'd go back to Jacksons anytime soon, especially since we think the other GARs have better food and service.
(2)Sean L.
Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge Hurricane Irene's weekend, didn't want to go too far from home to dine, decided to try out this closed to ours based on friend's recommendation. I was very satisfied after dining here since FINALLY I found my best lobster roll in DC. Jackson is always packed during weekend, you can always spot full of people either dining inside or standing around outside bar. My very first impression was this is a typical American Pub to hang out, to social, to party, but not necessary offer good quality food. Guess I was wrong, this is definitely a repeat restaurant for me! Location: Reston town center, VA Parking: town center garage Decoration: American casual Cost: $$$ Service: knowledge and very attentive **** Lavatory: average business clean **** Atmosphere: casual ***.5 Food: **** Recommendation: highly **** Some of highlights: * Mushroom cream soup * Hot Spinach, Parmesan & Artichoke Dip * Jackson's Lobster Roll ***** (best, second to from Boston) * Grill Chicken & Havarti Cheese * Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding
(4)Ashley H.
I like all of the Great American Restaurants! While Jacksons is not my FAVORITE of all of them, the customer service, and quality of the food are fantastic. Last weekend, a friend and I went to the restaurant (it was his first time). It was a Saturday night, so you'd expect a wait anywhere. Well, we waited beyond our normal wait time, and although we were three drinks in and not that bothered, the moment we got to the table, both our server and management immediately apologized for our long wait and offered us a free appetizer to tie us over until our meal. To me, that is customer service and the reason why we pick Jacksons over many of the restaurants in the Reston Town Center. I suggest you get there and eat an ozzie roll or two!
(4)Melody P.
AWFUL. Don't waste your time when there are TONS of other restaurants and bars in Reston Town Center. Beyond the rude staff & management team, you can also avoid the flock of creeps that tend to linger at the outdoor bar. The food is not up to par with other Great American Restaurants... and if you have a shellfish allergy (like me), be sure to check your food (even if you inform your waiter/waitress)...
(1)Ross A.
I've experienced better food at home. It's a chain restaurant. The food is ok. Not great. Go there to meet up with friends and drink.
(3)Nathan H.
Had the "two awesome dips" appetizer and the rib eye. The dips were amazing and the steak was solid. I also enjoyed their Jackson's lager. The service was great and the atmosphere was fun/casual.
(4)Barbara L.
Food is pretty good. The staff is attentive and friendly. Mixed drinks aren't all that so usually it's beer here. Love sitting outside on the patio when weather permits.
(4)Bill G.
Good food, excellent service. Prices are a bit high but worth it for the crisp, attentive service.
(5)Nicole H.
Very friendly staff. Love the vibe and the enviroment. They food is just lovely! We had crabcakes and salmon and it was perfect! I love their bread too! Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Jess V.
Consistency - that's what we experience every time we eat at Jackson's. And it's consistently good, which makes it even better. I don't stray far from my staples on the menu, but I've never tried anything that I hated because it was prepared improperly. The service is always tops, and we've never had an issue on that front. The managers seem to actually care about their job, and it's rare that we don't get a visit from the MOD to see how everything is. The bar scene gets crazy, especially during the summer, but it's great people/cougar watching, and is good for those group HHs you know your office wants to have. Prices are in line with everything else in the town center, and we've never had sticker shock at the bill.
(5)M. L.
Recently went here for the first time, I was initially surprised by how packed the place was. Granted, it was a Friday night so I expected it. We arrived around 7:30pm but surprisingly didn't have to wait long for a table. There are a TON of staff, any time my water was below half-way a new person was there to refill it. I think our waiter got slammed though, because he disappeared after taking our orders. He never came by to check on us, which would have been a problem if there weren't 17 other people checking on us. That was the last we saw of our waiter though, maybe they share tables? Either way, the food was delicious. We had to sweet and sour calamari which was amazing. Very interesting, it tastes exactly how it sounds... basically sweet and sour chicken, sub the chicken for calamari. There were 3 of us sharing the appetizer, so it was just barely enough for us. For dinner I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich. The serving size was huge so I had to take half of it home, very good though. It was a little pricey for my taste. Their french dip sandwich was $19!!!! I was dying to try that but couldn't bring myself to spend them much on basically a roast beef sandwich. The atmosphere was very mixed. The outside bar was packed with people in their upper 20's, lower 30's while the restaurant itself had families, dates, parties, etc. Pretty much a restaurant perfect for any occasion and it doesn't get too loud inside the restaurant. Overall, a great place and I will be back again.
(4)mike b.
My wife and I brought our in-laws here from out of town. The menu managed to satisfy a vegan, a vegetarian, 2 serious carnivores, and someone with a gluten allergy. They screwed up a salad order, but quickly remedied it without needing to be told, didn't charge us for the salad and didn't charge us for dessert. Thanks.
(4)S S.
Really shitty beer!
(2)A H.
One of my favorite restaurants. Always a good meal and excellent service. Rarely have a wait, and we use "call ahead." We used to only go here for special occasions but because we always feel that we get a good meal we go quite often.
(5)Tuesday's S.
If you don't have to wait to be seated, it's 5 stars. Great menu, great food, quick service, fun atmosphere. Terrific burger, terrific fries, terrific french dip. I usually order the waldorf steak salad - yum, yum, yum. If you didn't eat yourself to death on the Ozzie rolls (mmm, Ozzie rolls - little balls of dough deliciousness that you want to stuff in your pockets like a squirrel hoards nuts), you might have room for the Great American Restaurants' flourless chocolate waffle. Perfection. Brunch is great (and then the Ozzie rolls are coated in cinnamon and sugar - yes please!). A great place for guests, too.
(5)Anita B.
The atmosphere is great but the rest leaves a lot to be desired. Our food was cold. Not warm but actually cold.
(2)Kimberly M.
If in Reston Town Center please know that you have several culinary choices! JMF is fine for burgers and prime rib- aduh, aduh, that's all folks!
(2)Joe G.
If you've ever eaten at a Great American Restaurant, you know what to expect here. Shared wait staff tending to your every need and the food is freshly and well prepared. At times the staff can be overly intrusive, like when they reach across diners to pick up a straw wrapper from the opposite end of the table. Service has typically been pretty prompt when I've eaten there with the possible exception of weekends at lunch time. For some reason the brunch menu slows the kitchen down. It would be nice if they made changes to their menu from time to time, but that seems to be a GAR standard: Pick a menu and stick with it indefinitely. The French Dip sandwich is usually tasty albeit a bit salty. The prime rib, fish and chips, lobster roll and chicken with harvarti sandwich are also solid choices. This restaurant comes in a close second to Ozzie's as my favorite GAR restaurant. One of the better dining options in the Town Center.
(4)Alyssa K.
Typical Great American fare with Disney World service. (borrowed that from Sietsema). Ribeye was fair, chopped salad was nice and herby, frites were hot and crisp. Donut biscuits never fail to satisfy. Call ahead made it easy to get seated for 5 on a Saturday during prime time, which was nice.
(3)Adrienne D.
We had lunch here today. The customer service was excellent. We had the nicest waiter and he made several suggestions off the menu. We both had the crab cake roll. I had finished mine & thought it was awesome. I cleaned my plate. The fries were seasoned perfectly. Much to my dismay, I looked at my friend & she was trying not to gag. She had a black hair IN her crab cake. Our waiter took it away & a manager came over immediately & took her meal off our check. They were very professional & apologetic. However, now I'm wishing I had watched every bite I ate. I'm giving it two stars because regardless minus the hair the food was very good.
(2)Lianne F.
Been meaning to write a review of this place ever since it opened last winter! This is part of the Great American Restaurant chain so if you like Coastal Flats and Sweetwater, you will love this as well. They do have some of the staples from both places (excellent lobster roll and roast chicken salad to name a few) BUT they also have some yummy bar food as well...deviled eggs w/sugar cured bacon, truffle fries, lobster mac and cheese!! Oh and did I mention the BACON?? Yummm. GreaThe service is great (but as other reviewers noted sometimes the wait/host staff can border on being overbearing....kinda true LOL) Ohhhh and the bread is stellar...those little unsweetened donut things are the bane of my existence LOL.
(4)Vishal S.
I have walked past Jackson's on a few occasions but my friend suggested we meet up for lunch here so I decided to give this place a try. I love their other location - Sweet Water and was expecting it to match up to them. Decor and ambiance is nice - nice big open floor plan that has a nice welcome look! We got there at 11:45 and most tables were already occupied - that is always nice to see! Menu has good selection for lunch but I did not know how to react to see sushi and salad and sandwiches all on the same menu. This generally is a sign of a confused master chef! We ordered Deviled Eggs for appetizer and I ordered chicken, avocado, and beet salad for my main course. Prices are a bit on the higher side even for lunch but the portions were huge. Deviled eggs were good and the bacon had a nice sweet touch that went well with the dish. Salad, as mentioned earlier, was huge and very fresh and yummy. I liked the beet in the salad but I think they overpowered the salad a bit. But there was enough of pine nuts, goat cheese, and chicken with a tasty dressing to not kill the salad. We were stuffed at the end of the meal and though the quantity justified the price, I believe a smaller plate with a bit more reasonable pricing for lunch would seal the deal for this to be a lunch favorite for many.
(3)Jason F.
I ate here last night with a dining companion for dinner. The restaurant is nicely decorated and when sitting down the lamps look like how I imagine a large amount of lit Chinese Lanterns would. It also has a large open kitchen and so it was nice to see all that was happening. For dinner I started out with the appetizer special which was a crab dip while my dining companion had the lobster bisque. My dip was very good and had capers and a few other items besides crab that I could not distinguish and came served with a type of large cracker. The lobster bisque looked nice with a design drawn in white over the mostly beige-ish colored soup and my dining companion told me that he liked it. For my entree I settled upon the Chicken, Avocado & Beet salad while my dining companion ordered the Sauteed Shrimp & Chicken. Both items came out looking nice with lots of color in each. My dining companion thought that his was enjoyable but noted that he had never tasted sauce that was as limey as the one on his pasta. My salad ended up tasting good with a large amount of roasted red and white beets, pine nuts, chicken and globs of goat cheese on top. The service was also excellent with 3 different servers helping out with our table that never let our drinks go empty. The bottom line for me is that I would probably eat here again in the future. The food was solid if unspectacular while the service was great.
(4)Ticha B.
This restaurant was on and poppin' on a Wednesday night! The "lounge" was crazy packed, and we had to wait about 20 mins for a table for 2. Good food, good service and atmosphere...and it wasn't too pricey. That commends a 5-star! I had the: AWESOME medium rare Jackson's Rib Eye marinated in Worcestershire...campari tomatoes w. blue cheese vinaigrette, french fries with the AWESOME spinach salad that was so big. The bread rolls were tasty and good too...never had something that was a cross between a plain donut and bread roll (salty and sweet) at the same time. The wait was kind of long for almost 800pm, but the waiter, waitresses and hostesses were friendly and nice. I'll go back if I'm in the neighborhood. A+!
(5)Raena D.
Just wanted to post an update that I went for dinner last weekend and the sweet potato fries are gone :-( It must have been a while since I last ordered them, but since I mentioned them in my previous review I thought I would pass this along. On a better note- I did try one of the appetizer specials and wish they had it all the time. Ahi tuna tacos! If the server mentions them to you be sure to try them out. The soft 'taco shell' is actually more like a crisp rice paper and the aioli sauce with the crunchy vegetables makes for a light and perfect precourse.
(4)David T.
I absolutely LOVE this place. This, IMO, is the best of the Mike's Great American Restaurants chain. I'd definitely try the deviled eggs for app, and salmon for entree. Wine list and drink menu are great, too! Every time I'm out near Reston, I visit. Highly recommended.
(5)Kevin A.
I don't really see what all the hubbub with this place is about. A group of 10 of us went here this past Saturday night because one of our group wanted seafood. That was the first problem. The place is not really set up for large groups as they have no tables, only booths that they say can fit 5 to 6. Perhaps, if all 5 or 6 are under 5'6" an weigh under 125. If you have a group or realistically sized people and want any amount leg and elbow room so you can enjoy your meal, then it's more like 4 ppl in the smaller booths and 5 in the large ones. And on busy nights they apparently won't even try to seat larger groups near each other. In our case, 5 of us wound up on one side of the place and the other 5 three rows of away. The waitstaff was fast, pleasant and attentive. The menu provides a fair variety of choices. In our subgroup 2 people ordered the French Dip, which they only serve cooked to ways, dead and still mooing (very well done and extremely rare). One of each was ordered. The well done was too well done but the guy eating the rare liked it. To be fair though, the waiter did warn that the well done really was. I forget what entree the other two ordered but both had the Lobster Mac and Cheese as an add-on with their meals and raved over it. One commenting that there seemed to be more lobster than macs in his. I ordered the lump crab cakes with a baked spud. Not traditional crab cakes. These were not made into patties and pan fried but rather seemingly scoops with breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top and put under a Salamander or baked. They were actually quite good. Large chucks of crab meat with some manor of seasoned (i think) mayo, with no filling, and moist. The potato was good as well. With that said the stuff is WAY over priced for what you are getting. The food was good but certainly not the best I've ever had. And considering that these prices are entree only, not worth it in my opinion. At these prices, I'd hit the nearby Morton's for a steak or McCormick & Schmick's for seafood. Oh, and their policy of no take home because their food is just "too good" to be taken home and reheated is an enormous and undeserved conceit on there part, in my opinion. It'd also a bit ballsy to be telling people what they can and can't do with their food once they've bought and paid for it! There are a lot of option for dinner at the Reston Town Center and I think I'll stick to some of those in the future.
(2)Michael M.
One of the best watering holes in town. The food is great and the staff is exceptional. Try the lobster Mac and cheese and you'll understand why the place is even busy for lunch
(4)Barry S.
For some odd reason, they seem to have a take out option. So I went there with my girlfriend and we received rather poor service from the bartender, as we waited at least 10 minutes just to place an order (and it wasn't all that busy at the inside bar) while the bartender talked with his loner friend, who happened to be sitting at the bar. I've eaten here several times before. It's decent, nothing to rave about. I really don't understand their rule that baseball hats are prohibited in the bar area after a certain time (like 8PM). If this is an attempt to class the joint up, it fails. I'm not sure how people can wear things like flip flops and massive gold chains around their necks but no caps. I used to live at the Town Center, so I"m well aware of the crowd - mainly professional, older 20s - early 40s, with a oddballs thrown in. While I can appreciate that Jackson's apparently doesn't want to become the trash can known as Bailey's (in Arlington), it's not a high end stakehouse or even Passion Fish, which is, undoubtedly, a notch (or two) up in class. It's Reston, it's the summer.....why selectively enforce prohibiting certain accessories? I would go back for a sit down meal just to give it another chance, but there are other options.
(3)THRIFT m.
Ordered fries and drinks during Happy Hour. Fries are mediocre at best. Drinks were okay. Definitely for the older single crowd.
(2)Grace L.
Two co-workers and I dined at Jackson's for the first time. One of them ordered "Two Cool Dips" and got an unpleasant surprise when the queso dip was cold. (She may not have paid attention to the description on the menu. But, our waitress said the dip caused a lot of confusion.) Two of us ordered prime rib. And, it was excellent. Not too fatty & cooked according to the description on the menu. My only complaint was that my medium rare prime rib was barely lukewarm. My co-worker's well done (yuck!) prime rib was hot. The salads were great, and the warm bread was delicious. The service was excellent. We'd all return to Jackson's, although I don't think any of us would order the Cool Dips again.
(4)Chris B.
We went to this place one day on a whim. Even though we had just eaten a couple hours before, we cleaned our plates! As soon as we arrived we were greeted immediately and the staff was friendly and attentive throughout the meal! Everyone seemed to work flawlessly as a team to make sure every guests needs were met. The food tasted fresh and flavorful! We ordered the sautéed shrimp and chicken with penne pasta in a tequila lime sauce. It was phenomenal! We also ordered the slow roasted french dip, which was excellent as well. The portion sizes are very generous. Jackson's has easily become a new favorite restaurant for my wife and I.
(5)Richard F.
If I could base a review on the food alone, I'd rate Jackson's considerably higher. In fact, the salmon they serve is one of the best I've ever had; I also can't recall ever being disappointed with ANYTHING on their menu. However, as others have pointed out, management has some very questionable, inconsistent, and most importantly--unwritten--policies that go a long way toward ruining the experience. And this is a shame, because this was once a favorite in Reston. The problem is with the bar after 9PM, and a "no hats" policy that suddenly rears its ugly head, no pun intended. Keep in mind, Jackson's is hardly a formal restaurant; and while I don't typically go out to dinner wearing a hat, the bar is another thing. (In fact, as I later learned, they don't ask patrons in the restaurant/seating area to remove their hats--just those at the bar). On the night I experienced this, I had been at the bar with a group of friends since roughly 7PM, and had just ordered another beer when a hostess playfully removed my hat. Thinking she was joking, (and/or hadn't noticed my wedding ring) I replaced it and carried on. Moments later, however, a considerably less friendly gentleman approached and explained that they have a "no hats" policy starting at 9PM. When I asked why, he simply said, "It's just something we do". I explained that under normal circumstances, I'd like to comply. But I'd been wearing a hat all day, and I simply wasn't comfortable taking it off for the remainder of the night. If I were bald, it wouldn't have been an issue, I continued. He seemed determined to stand there until I took the hat off, nonetheless. When I offered to simply finish my beer and leave, he suggested that he would have to TAKE the beer from me, if I wasn't willing to remove my hat--which was not the best approach, to say the least. I reminded him that there had been no written rule about the hats when I entered, nor had anyone informed me before I purchased the drink I was now holding. Calmly, I again suggested that he allow me to finish the drink I had paid for--or he could find himself wearing said drink. Fortunately for us both, he relented; although he continued to stare at me from a distance as if I were a criminal. As promised, I finished the drink, left, and have not been back since. Naturally, I contacted Jackson's management the next day to voice my complaint. I learned from the manager that the "no hats" policy was something that they were trying to implement as a means of minimizing late night troubles they'd been experiencing from some of the "Reston youths" who frequent the bar. The rationale being that drunken youths might be less likely to start fights if there are fewer rival team hats in their sight. While there may be some logic there, I explained that the hat I'd been wearing bore no logos whatsoever. And again, the policy wasn't made public in any way. To his credit, he agreed with me and apologized for the experience. He also sent me a $50 gift card good for any of the Great American Restaurants franchises, which I promptly used at Artie's instead. Hopefully, Jackson's will find a way to resolve their issues with a relatively small contingent of riff raff, rather than continue to allow it to affect their clientele as a whole. That, or simply close the bar early. The restaurant deserves much better.
(3)Stacy B.
I like to call it "cougar and yuppie-ville". Because that's the basic clientele. Based on food and service, I would without a doubt give Jackson's 5 stars - as I would any other Great American Restaurant. They are all excellent. But, unfortunately upon entrance to Jackson's and it's insanely overcrowded bars, you will be taken aback by the ruckus. The mgmt hasn't been able to tame this place since it's doors first opened. The bars are so jam packed, 80% of the people are usually drunk and God forbid you go to the outdoor bar - you might get burned by a cigarette. Their no hat policy is just a joke, because it isn't the "young crowd" starting the fights at all. I've been there twice where middle-aged, white color business people have gotten into drunken shouting and pushing matches. So, please don't blame the kids with this one! lol It's all the fault of drunken ADULTS. So, basically - definitely go there for the food but if you want to have a chill time at a bar then walk yourself down to McCormicks, Mon Ami or another spot where the patrons are a little more reserved and a lot less drunk!
(3)Mr J.
Good food, but the atmosphere of the restaurant feels prepped by a little too much Marketing studies or calculation. The food is tasty but does not feel too far from the Sysco truck. There is a common look and taste among the scene at Reston Town Center that only a few restaurants depart from. In other words, there is nothing that stands out here (the menu selections could be found at M&S, Clyde's, Paolo's, etc).
(3)Nina B.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place stuck in the middle of Reston Town Center. I went there during the daytime on a weekend, and I gathered that this place really caters to the corporate lunch crowds. Yet it still had a decent crowd. The bar was empty, but I could tell that it could be a good place to watch a game with the large TVs strategically placed. The food was pretty good, too. Their bread basket is something special, and their butter is flavored quite nicely. I went with a risotto shrimp dish that was cooked perfectly, including the veggies. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods again, I'd give it a go.
(4)David R.
The honeymoon is over. Walked past Jackson's the other night and cookie cutter guys (you know the type - broad shoulders, tall, no hair) as far as the eyes can see. Any woman walking in here alone is putting herself at risk. The bar is noisy. The food is not as good as Artie's or Coastal Flats. Never again.
(2)Tracy C.
Jackson's is a great place to go for a casual dinner although I am not a huge fan of going in there during happy hour. I also don't like the fact that there is a smoking area and that you can smell the smoke within the vicinity when you are inside the building if you are in the bar area. Other than that, the food is decent for the type of restaurant Jackson's is although some of it is a bit overpriced for my taste. But if you are looking for a casual place to eat dinner with some friends, this a great restaurant for it. The waitstaff has always been pretty friendly, courteous, and quick...sometimes you have to wait just a bit longer when they are really busy but other than no complaints on service here.
(3)Boon K.
I came here because I had a layoff at Dulles and need to get my Iphone fixed ASAP. We had time for lunch and this place was right there. I am so glad to find this place, the lobster roll was really good and service was great.
(4)Ellie B.
My husband's favorite place to dine. We've come here for date nights, afternoon lunches, birthday dinners, ect. and have had the same experience EVERY TIME. Fast and friendly customer service, friendly waiters and waitresses who are very personable, and friendly management who've often stopped in just to chat. Even the cooks are so wonderful!! Come here and you won't be sorry!! Awesome service, and amazing food!!! We're so in love with this place, we even waited for over an hour to get a table!! And I'm hardly the type of person to do that!! We are very loyal to this place, and will continue to be!! It's on the more expensive side, but anything you order off the menu is worth it, and the staff makes it even more sweet!!
(5)Lisa G.
I love this place and have never had a bad meal here. Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere.
(5)Nick S.
I have very limited experience with Jackson's but the experience I do excellent! I test ate the PRIME RIB steak and sandwich. Both excellent. Unbeatable flavor. Besides, how can you have a bad review to a place that serves mini doughnuts as complimentary bread? You can't. Try it!
(4)Blake A.
Jacksons is so incredibly good for the price that I can't explain it in words. Honestly the food quality is equivalent to Capital Grille but with a more interesting menu. My wife and I do the 45 minute drive at least once a week - something we could of never imagined ourselves doing - but the food is so good it's worth it!
(5)K B.
Jackson's has a nice Sunday bunch menu and have a special bread selection that are pretty yummy too. Similar to their sister restaurant Arties near Old Town Fairfax. Wonderful layout for a happy hour too - two bar areas gives you plenty of room to mingle for lunch or after work. Two palms up for munchin' brunch and the chain's signature marinated, smoked, and then hickory grilled Salmon Filet (Aside: the Salmon is the simply delicious and the best that I have EVER had.
(4)Craig H.
We've walked by Jackson's a number of times headed to other places and steered clear due to the crowds. We finally stopped and I can see why they are popular. The decor is creative, the service was very pleasant, the menu is varied, and the items we ordered were very well prepared.
(4)Sophie G.
Bad mojitos - too sweet. Kind of a douchy crowd. Ugly uniforms. I guess if you're in the area, it's a good place to grab a drink outside.
(3)Kat L.
Lunch review! Went with a pretty lady, and the wait at 1145 was 20 minutes for a table. Eff that we sat at the bar. The bartenders were really sweet, and attentive. Pretty too. I had a salad, and a side of spinach. The spinach came out really fast and it was left behind the bar for about 8 minutes until my salad came out.. awkward. The food was good, seemed to be fresh, and the patrons were mixed. Loads of professionals, and yet tons of people super casual (like me!)
(4)Jessica S.
The staff was very helpful. They share tables so there was always someone to help get us extra items for our food. We were seated right away and the restrooms were very clean. Only downside was the burger. Very plain and nothing to make me want an $11 burger with just cheese on it. The price I thought was over priced for what it is. There are many burger places with a better taste and price and they would offer more toppings. The free bread however was amazing! Even the burger bun was great. I believe they have fresh delivered everyday. That was a nice touch. Over all nothing too amazing for my meal.
(4)Andy P.
It has a a great outside bar if you like to watch the show Two & a Half Men over and over again. Good food and drink but Erik, the manager, d*ck.
(2)Aboud Y.
The quintessential Reston restaurant. When I think of Reston, I immediately think of Jackson's. The food is good (and surprisingly well executed with a menu that ranges from mac and cheese to sushi!), the bartenders are great, and the atmosphere has a fun vibe (particularly in the summer). When in Reston, I will undoubtedly make a stop here.
(4)Chad K.
If you're just going for dinner this is an ok place. Overpriced for what it is tho, mediocre sea food. Now if you are going to the bar, like so many people hanging outside on those nice days. I would never go here for drinks, period. The only thing at the bar are 30 something's trying to be young and the douche level is off the charts!! Also, no drink specials ever. In the town center there are quite a few good places to socialize over a cocktail. This place however is not one of them.
(2)Sean H.
The food here is spectacular. Whenever I go to VA I make a point to try and stop in here and get the roast beef sandwich, it's amazing. I've had a number of other dishes here, but the roast beef is just tops. The waiters and waitresses have always been excellent here. My lady friend and I tend to be chatty at times and the staff here has always enjoyed a little back and forth with us. We always tip well here, we can't help it. Also, they make a top notch mojito. If you are in Reston, check this place out. It is most excellent.
(4)Devin C.
Food was good. Service was terrible and that ruined the entire experience. They are staffed with a lot of people who seem to just wander around all the time, but none of those people could coordinate our meal properly. The overall goal seemed to be clearing us out to get the table open again, but then it took forever to get us our check, so they couldn't even do that right. The waiter guy was nice enough, but he didn't show up at the right time to offer any drink refills. He gave the typical "how's everything?" during the salad course. Another guy brought out the entrees before anyone had cleared the salad plates and he acted like that was really inconvenient for him. Then we asked for a to-go box for half a sandwich and a plate of fries and the dude brought a really tiny dessert container that was way too small. (Apparently other Yelpers weren't even allowed to have their leftovers to go... If that had happened to us, I think there might have been a steak knife stuck in someone's arm.) The other negative reviews here also make me regret going there. I wasn't wearing a hat, but I would not have appreciated someone telling me to take it off. Same for some of their other arbitrary rules that others have mentioned. Oh yeah, the food. Decent, but overpriced. I liked the hanger steak and fries, but my wife thought the meat looked more rare than medium rare. Bread was really good too, but you can get the same stuff at the other places these people own.
(1)Michael M.
The grouper fingers were fantastic and I'm not even a fish guy. Their coleslaw is different than any other that I've had but it was very good. The staff was friendly and service was great even during the busy lunch crowd.
(5)Fadi N.
Great for lunch during the week. Always busy. I get one thing there although I've tried everything. I get the grilled salmon salad
(4)Jess C.
So I just gave Sweetwater 5 stars - why 3 stars for Jacksons which serves practically the same menu? Well I came here for lunch and hate spending $15 on a salad but I do it anyway just to be healthy. The salad options were decent but in no way as extensive as American Cafe, and the chicken was pretty tasty in my chicken, beet, avocado salad. While the salad itself was way better than the one at American Cafe and only slightly more expensive, $14 is really still too steep for a salad of that caliber. I've had better. I would come back but get something different for lunch.
(3)Elaine N.
We enjoy the outside bar... Love the GAR restaurants... I love the Blackberry Lemonade drink.... Deviled eggs are yummy! We love the brunch menu.... Salads are big and fresh... Delicious...
(4)Michelle N.
I really love this place and I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I pretty much love all of the restaurants in the Great American Restaurants chain. Around the time it first opened, I insisted my flag football team eat here just once, so we could check it out. Our first time there we sat out on the patio and it was wonderful. Beautiful day, tables pulled together, and yummy food. I tried the "two cool dips" and instantly became addicted. I never really was a guacamole fan but after eating the dip, I was hooked. The cheese dip was amazing as well. It's more like a cheese ball though, and less like a queso dip as you would imagine. And despite having cottage cheese in it (yuck) I still loved it! Just don't let me see them mix the cottage cheese in :D Asking for chip refills was not a problem. I also shared a couple of sushi rolls with one of my friends (we were excited at all the choices, didn't realize we ordered too much food). It was delicious... for a non Asian restaurant. I've definitely had better sushi elsewhere, but was pretty impressed with what Jackson's had to offer. The rest of the group got a variety of items that they all enjoyed but we all agreed this place is a bit pricey for a post-game lunch. But I was determined to come back for more cool dips! The only thing that was strange was that we had to order AT the bar, get drinks AT the bar, pick up the food AT the bar. Unlike Coastal Flats, nothing was really brought out to us. However, it did make things easy when it came time to pay because we were able to tell the bartender what we had instead of dealing with the annoyances of splitting a check. The second time I came back we sat at the indoor bar at the counter and had a similar experience, except they brought the food to us. Once again, I enjoyed dip. I came back a third time and actually sat in the dining area and that was pleasant as well. ordered the cool dips again :p In terms of bar atmosphere, this definitely seems the place to be. When I came for dinner the place was packed, just as you would expect at Coastal Flats or Sweetwater Tavern. I'm not sure what it is about these places as they don't offer happy hour specials, but there's something about the atmosphere that makes you want to come back. I guess my point out of this whole review is this place is definitely worth checking out, and order the two cool dips.
(4)A. S.
Went here for Sunday brunch. If you don't eat eggs, your options are limited in terms of breakfasty items. I ended up getting the grouper fingers. They were fine (they tasted the same as the ones they serve at Coastal Flats), but it was sort of an odd meal at that time of day. Service was good. I'd never before had a bloody mary and wanted to try one but wasn't sure I'd like it. The waitress said theirs was the best and offered to let me try it and replace it for free if I didn't like it, which I thought was really nice. So I tried it, thought it tasted like tomato juice (not passing judgment on their preparation--I guess I'm just not a bloody mary fan), and got a mimosa instead. It was much better.
(3)Arjun D.
I grew up in Reston and loved going to Reston town center to hang out on weekends. Recently I was back in town and went to Jackson for a drink and could not believe how crappy my experience was. I was at the indoor bar, which was oddly roped off for some reason and people were just sloppy in there. The crowd was definitely older, mostly trophy wives & cougars out for a night on the town. The thing that turned me off so much was the place cleared out at 11:30 and when I asked the bartender for a shot, he said it was restaurant policy to not serve shots after a certain time, not sure what time that was, but it was only 11:45...overall, the food is on par with all the other great American food establishments, nothing special. I guess its just suited for the the older crowd that don't know how to have fun...
(2)Brittany H.
another Great American restaurant. Loves it. Seared tuna salad... nailed it. ozio rolls.. perfected it... every time. Not too much of a contrast from the other restaurants .. so they got the consistency down pat. Nice job.
(4)Saurabh G.
Disclaimer(s): 1. I have never had food here. 2. I have never been in the inside/lounge area to but goto the restrooms. 3. I tip massively, so I get better service than you ever will. 4. I have never left this place in a sober state. 5. I am probably not sober right now. Now, before I begin, let me say that I had no idea what GAR stood for. So, instead of reading the reviews more thoroughly, I just searched for the term online. Let's just say that Urban Dictionary is awesome. So, what's not to like about this place? Awesome location, very open interior, nice patio, hot people, cougars, strong drinks, and then me on a Friday night. OK, there's one thing to dislike, and that is stupid crybabies looking to pick up fights. Seriously, dude, don't even start. I am not responsible for your girl leaving you hanging at a bar. I am not responsible for the tears in your eyes. And, finally, if you start, you're going to end up in prison. Oh well, at least I have fun EVERY-TIME I am here, and that's a good thing. I love the address - intersection of Democracy Drive and Discovery Street. If you're feeling All American, Freedom Drive is just a block away. If you are feeling adventurous, Explorer Street is the place to be after a night of heavy drinking. It's so awesome to be able to park for free, in stark contrast with the DC situation. Also, if you decide to move on and watch a movie, there's a theater within 2 minutes of walking. The crowd is mostly working professional gentry. Every now and then, you even see someone pulling up a stroller inside, or some popped-collar bro revving up his Corvette. But, that's besides the point. In terms of the bar scenario, this place gets crowded (an understatement) during the weekend evenings. Luckily, they don't play crappy music, so you can still hear the people around you, which deserves 2 stars in itself. Actually, let me bump this place up to 4 stars (from 3). I love the service, the quality of drinks, and the ambience. One of these days, I am going to get food here, but I don't know if I could avoid the temptation to just goto the bar outside and get my crunk on. Namaste!
(4)Julia B.
I have visited this place a few times and the food has been 90% yummy and the service has always been average+. The Last time I was there we had a great server! I think his name started with and E!? He was Spanish. We could see him in the mirror getting our tea! Its nice to see a place with an open kitchen! He did have a fun personality and joked with us being restaurant reviewers! He was very professional and talked to us about the foods with recommendations. Everything was good! His best recommendation was the Creme Brulee!! Creme Brulee this good here!!! WOW We are going to go back just for Creme Brulee!! It was a great size to split but the fat me wants a whole one to myself! We well be back in a few weeks!
(5)Mike M.
How have I not reviewed this yet? The comments on the bar are valid. Cougars and yuppies abound, but I still like the bar areas until they get too packed. Service at the bars has always been good for me and my guests. The real draw for me here is the dining room. I've had most everything on the menu in the past few years, and I've never been disappointed. As with the other ARG spots, the bread is great and warm and makes the table right away. I really enjoy their lobster roll (pricy but good), their apps and their salads. Desserts are limited but very good. The waitstaff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. It might seem contradictory, but it would be nice to see some new stuff on the menu. I don't know what to pull off, but I don't think the menu has changed a bit since Jackson's opened.
(4)Susan L.
We ate here for my birthday a month or so ago. We didn't have reservations and were able to get seated after about a 30-45 minute wait. The atmosphere is very appealing. We were comp'd the deviled eggs by the waitress which are their specialy. They are just ok, nothing to get excited about (my mom makes much better!). I ordered the filet and my husband the ribeye (I think). Both were overcooked and they had filet'd the filet without asking. Good thing the manager gave me a coupon to come back. Nothing else on the plate was too great. I think they gave me a scoop of ice cream for my bday, nothing more. Bottom line, great atmosphere but don't expect a lot out of the food.
(3)Foodie C.
Great Service Food is what you expect of GAR chain...which is very good & consistant Great ambiance wish they would change up the menu a bit
(4)sam w.
Jacksons is different depending upon if you go for lunch, dinner or at night on the wknd. For lunch and dinner- yes! The good is great, never disappointed however its a pick me up spot generally for business travelers and you will always find interesting people hanging out at the bar. At night on the wknd is a different crowd- I dont care for it, but if your a college kid or in your 30's and still want to act like your in school, than this is the place for you during the wknd. Again- food is awesome.
(3)Kevin L.
A solid add to the Reston Town Center food scene. Admittedly, I think my favorite red-head and I agreed on the fact that this joint tries to do way too many different things. Fascinating? For sure. Successful? For the most part. Yeah - there's "sushi" here. There are maybe six or seven different types of rolls, of which we agreed to try the crispy shrimp and macadamia nut roll. Served with three different types of dipping sauces, including some kind of mustardy concoction, a sweet miso sauce, and what appeared to be a spicy aioli, I enjoyed it best with regular soy sauce and wasabi. The roll had great texture - the macadamia nuts and crisp cucumber lending some crunch to eat bite. The cool factor upped the value of the dish, but I probably wouldn't order it again for the $10 price tag. We ended up splitting the spinach, parmesan, artichoke dip and the lobster roll special. We destroyed the artichoke dip - but that seems to be a pretty standard appetizer that's hard to mess up. Of note, the chips were crispy and solid. The lobster roll was hugely piled with juicy, sweet lobster meat. Unfortunately, it seemed like it was just mayo and lobster - not much additional flavor. Definitely didn't compare against Hank's. The cole slaw it came with was a winner - I liked the hint of mustard in the dressing. It was the grilled(?) corn on the cob that won me over. I'm not sure if it was because it seemed drenched in butter, or that it was the most perfectly cooked corn ever. Great -slight- crust of char on a few pieces, but it only added to the flavor, not like when you grill corn on the 'que and it ends up with one side being black and dry. Nope. Each and every kernel was still moist and sweet and buttery. If only I could replicate this at home... I'd have to start taking Lipitor. Heads up - the Lucky Lounge (I couldn't figure out where exactly the lounge part of the restaurant was - the outdoor bar? The indoor bar?) Lager was pretty enjoyable. Although there's no happy hour, a glass of this stuff runs about $5. Reasonable, if not affordable. It was a nice move up from the Stella I nursed earlier - not too hoppy, but a decent light amber ale. As usual, this GAR didn't fail, and considering it's the first week in operation, they're doing a bang-up job. Hope that things just keep going up from here, Jackson's.
(4)Mama P.
We hang out at the inside bar it was pack but bartender was really good and quick to get our drinks order.
(4)Sean R.
There are great restaurants that carry a large price tag and deserve to. This isn't one of them. Nicely decorated interior, however food is pretentious and mediocre. Good luck getting a drink at the bar too. If your idea of a night out is lackluster service and overpriced food then come here. However, if you're in Reston Town Center seeking great food, just go across the street to Uncle Julio's.
(2)Dottsy Z.
4.5 stars I know this place is amazing because I think about the meal that I had there MONTHS later and I wish I could make it back there. Alas, we're thousands of miles apart and with no plans to see each other any time soon. So I write. I arrived with my friend and I wasn't STARVING, but I was hungry. We had a brief wait before we were seated. I took the wait time to take a look around and what I saw was a very large 50's diner-esque, packed restaurant! I was thinking "Hmm...kitchy!". We were seated in a large booth and were greeted by our waiter. He was busy, but he was attentive. We ordered our drinks and were left to look over the menu. Our waiter came by and suggested we try the lobster mac and cheese, Ok! For my dinner I ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll and Yellowtail Rainbow Roll. Yep, you read right! This was no burger and fries joint! Yeah, they offered that stuff, but they also offered other, high quality food! While we were waiting for our food, our server brought out the AMAZING, life changing hot rolls. They weren't huge rolls, but the were perfect and SO warm, and melt in your mouth! Mmm! The lobster mac and cheese arrived and we dug in. Oh my sweet mother Gertie!!! It was SO effing good! I like the chunks of lobster and I like the well made mac and cheese. It was made with REAL cheese. Honestly, that could have been my meal, but I still had rolls coming! My rolls arrived. MMMMM! Those were good too! The rolls were well made with fresh fish. The side sauce that the yellowtail roll came with was SO good, I had to ask for more! So you see why I dream about the food. Everything was really good! The one thing that I didn't care for is that our server was was swamped but there seemed to be some staff that was standing around and not really helpful while our guy was busting a$$, so that's half a star deduction. Other than that, everything was really good! The dishes were well executed, and our server was really nice! Oh Jackson's, we may be apart, but you have a special place in my heart...*sigh*
(4)Rozh M.
Lovely place yummy food even though the menu is very limited, however the service on June 2, 2010 around 1pm at the bar was awful, started it out with a bad attitude from one of the bartender. I asked for havarti grilled chicken without roasted pepper, my sandwich came with roasted pepper, I thought I should enlighten the bartender, and the respond back from the bartender was 'I'm sure the kitchen didn't put roasted pepper in your sandwich on purpose ' that was exact word from her. i didn't want a free sandwich!! my myself coming from a restaurant business, i thought it was an unpleasant experience. and I wouldn't just complain for nothing!!
(2)Rowena E.
Jackson's was nice and new, but wasn't really impressed with this experience. sad since i usually like GAR restaurants. maybe i just ordered the wrong stuff and they're still ironing out some kinks? got the macadamia nut and shrimp sushi and a salad for lunch, and shared the deviled eggs starter. deviled eggs were nice and liked the crispy sweet bacon, and you can't go wrong with salad. the sushi was OK, surprisingly very filling (8 pieces but the macadamia nuts definitely have impact), however, it was missing something flavor wise... not sure what, but it needed something else in the roll. the accompanying sauces were interesting. service was fair, although it was a little confusing on who was waiting on our table at first, since it seemed like 5 different people came by. but when my sushi came they forgot to bring the chopsticks and soy. of course that was when the staff for the entire section disappeared for some reason. after finally reappearing to provide the check, i had to ask twice to get chopsticks and soy. if you go here, maybe stick to the entrees and sandwiches. my friends got the french dip sandwich and duck burger which looked much better than my selection.
(2)Jaime L.
I have mixed feelings for this restaurant, and before I continue I'd like to mention I've only been here three times. Jackson's got pretty popular within days of its opening, which wasn't too surprising. Their food was typical for this type of restaurant, and outrageously overpriced, which I guess it also rather typical. I've attempted to go here a few times recently but was instantly turned off when I saw the disorganized crowd huddled over the bar and the large crowd waiting for their tables. This is to no fault of Jackson's, it just means they are really great. I think it's a bit ridiculous, though, that you have to wait a good thirty minutes if you want to eat between 5-9. If you don't mind waiting or the huge and incredibly loud crowds, be sure to try the Coconut Shrimp Rolls. For the amount they give you (and of course considering the fact that it's sushi), the $12 it costs is well worth it. I could probably live off of these things if offered the opportunity. I don't specifically remember what else I ate here, but their food is absolutely delicious, especially their fresh salads! Their staff is incredibly attentive and friendly, always checking up on you to make sure you're enjoying your meal. If the atmosphere of this restaurant is something you don't mind or enjoy, you'll LOVE this restaurant- I can guarantee that. Though if you don't find the atmosphere enjoyable at all, this restaurant is simply not for you. Mmmmm, Coconut Shrimp Rolls. GO GET THEM NOW!! You can thank me later!
(4)Min Sae C.
Had my first bad experience with Great American Restaurants recently on a busy Friday night. First the host misquoted our time. She told us 45 - 55 minutes. We were seated at 1 hour 20 minutes. Not a big deal, but definitely a bit annoying. My wife, and I started off with the calamari, and lobster bisque. Both were good, but nothing special. I don't know if it is just me, but it seems like everyone is using the same Mae-Ploy Thai chili sauce on their crispy calamari dishes. The Lobster Bisque could have used a bit more lobster. I would rename this essence of lobster bisque. Entree - this is where things get ugly. I had to try their Hangar Steak, having had the Hangar steak at Ray's in Arlington. I should have know better. I can appreciate meat that isn't marinated. Sometimes it is nice to just let the natural flavors of the meat take over. HOWEVER, this steak wasn't seasoned at all, and the steak was very chewey. Its amazing what a little salt & pepper adds to a dish. I did something that I have only done a handful of times. I had to return the dish. I ordered a good old cheeseburger (medium), and the burger is the only reason why I am giving 2 stars instead of 1. It was one of the juiciest, flavorful burgers I have had in a while. My wife's steak salad wasn't much better than my Hangar steak. It was underseasoned, but it at least had a hint of flavor. After tasting her steak I knew that my steak wasn't seasoned at all. Her salad was also overdressed, and the dressing was overpowering. Our server's did a good job of maintaining our table, and the manager stopped by to drop off the burger himself. It was a nice touch, and we appreciated that they didn't try to make any excuses or try to tell me that I didn't know what I was talking about. I was very surprised to have such a mediocre experience, but this just shows that even the best restaurants make mistakes once in a while.
(2)J G.
***4.5 Stars*** My wife and I went there for lunch and it was great experience. I had the prime rib french dip and she had the grilled chicken. Both were amazing, particularly the french dip. The prime rib was done perfectly for my taste, a nice medium rare and the meat was tender and not too fatty. The bread was very good, seemed fresh baked with a touch of mayo. The jus was perfect, warm rich and plentiful. My wife's chicken was also perfectly cooked, tasty and tender. There were several large slices of breast and some thigh, no bones. The skin was nice and crispy. The chicken came atop a very nice creamy vinaigrette type sauce accompanied by a very good rice salad (mixed with grapes, almonds and cranberries). And two giant asparagus stalks. I seriously have never seen asparagus that big. Being in the Town Center, I expected it to be more expensive than it was. The french dip was $17 which is competitive to other places, like Blue Ridge Grill or Norton's American Grill. The chicken was only $12. I reluctantly deducted half a star because it took a long time for our food to come out, but it was worth the wait. I will definitely be back.
(4)Rob H.
Went there recently for lunch -- had the deviled eggs with bacon and the $18 French Dip. Worth. Every. Penny.
(4)Nick A.
We are big fans of all Great American Restaurants - would do lunch or dinner there at least one a month (some times twice in the same day!) The place is cool, and everything is always in order (just like it's sister Great American Restaurants). Also like it's sister restaurants, it sources all of it's bread from their bakery (Best Buns in Shirlington). Unlike the other restaurants, they didn't know that their burger buns had milk in them. Not usually a big deal, but they insisted that it was dairy free and my little daughter, who has a severe dairy allergy, had a reaction. We grew to trust this family of restaurants, and after many, many trips to the various other locations, Jackson's failed us. In later talks with the management, they profusely apologized, promised that they were reviewing their food allergy procedures and offered a gift card. All nice gestures, but for now I'm taking a break from the Great American Restaurants.
(2)Michael K.
Went here for a late dinner with Friends, sat and ate at the bar simply so we could enjoy some amazing people watching, and my one buddy could talk to the extremely cool bartender (who's name I'm manged to forget). All sorts of people showed up over the 2.5 hours we lingered there, older folks, twenty-somethings and of course us... and there was a interesting shift and old patrons moved out and new ones moved in on about a 45 mins schedule. The food was decent, not great, the duck burger was over spiced but the wild rice salad (a new one for me) was fantastic. The Grouper fingers my buddy got we just OK, however the fish of the day (think it was rockfish) my other dining companion raved about. So there you go, one great, one good and one not so good plate. A little pricey for what it was, I mean come on it's still Reston (I can say this, I grew up here), but for RTC not that bad Bottom line, decent food, great people watching, especially for a Wednesday, I can imagine the weekends are PACKED, nuts to butts.. so if that's what your looking for then by all means
(3)Tammy S.
Food and atmospere are nice and fun. I think all of the food that comes out of the Great American Restaurant chain is good and this specific locale is good b/c there menu differs from the other ones and has a bit more flair, but not enough to pay the extra price or fight a crowd. I think it's just a too bit hyped up as a social spot. I do enjoy going here for drinks and apps b/c it's a good place to meet up with friends (single or not). It's a bit overrated when thinking of this place as a hip hot spot. Or...because it is a HOT spot I think it's lost a little bit of its' charm. Does that make sense? I love the deviled eggs! The drinks are a little over priced as well.
(3)Patrice L.
I'd rate this place higher if the prices were lower. $19 for a french dip sandwich is crazy so I don't go as often as I used to. For my husband and I to each get a french dip and iced tea for lunch, it would come to over $50. The service is usually really good as they work in teams and drinks won't get anywhere close to empty. Besides the french dip, I also like the salads and LOVE the aussie rolls (the donut like rolls in the bread basket). I also like that they bring the check early at lunch time in case you are in a hurry to get back to work.
(3)Emily H.
After two attempts to prove itself, I will never go back which is disappointing because I think both Sweet Water and Coastal Flatts are great. For my first time, I dined around 7 on a Saturday night with three other guests. My husband and his mom ordered the same entree, the salmon, and then the other two had different selections. The food runners brought my husband and me out 2 rockfish, 1 salmon and a burger. We mentioned to the waiter that my husband did not order the rockfish; he took it back and a little while later brought out a very undercooked salmon. My husband had to again send it back. I guess what they say is 3rd time's a charm, well finally my husband was presented a properly cooked salmon and got to enjoy his meal. However, the rest of us had already finished our meals. So the manager stopped by and we told him how disappointed we were and he gave us a gift card stating that "our next meal is on him". My husband and I went back a week later to give Jackson's the opportunity to redeem itself - not so much! First, there was only $20 on the gift card - "next meal on him", I don't think so! Our appetizer was pretty good, spinach and artichoke dip. I ordered the Seared Tuna salad with avocado and beets. My husband ordered the Sea Bass with sauteed spinach and soy sauce. My salad was medoicre, the tuna was cooked well, but there were 4 tiny pieces (yes, I counted) of avocado and the beets were chunks and the same size as the tuna pieces - my salad should have been called "beet salad with seared tuna" and not have mentioned the avocado. My husband's dish was disappointing all around! It was an EXTREMELY bland piece of expensive fish in a pool of soy sauce. My husband couldn't look at soy sauce for at least 2 weeks after. The spinach didn't have a flavor because of the overpowering flavor of soy sauce. Needless to say, I will never return to Jackson's for more than a beer.
(1)Todd H.
Jackson's and the other members of this restaurant group appear to have broad appeal. Perhaps one of the main reasons is the layout of their restaurants. Most incorporate a U shaped bar that encourages bar service and lively patrons and a large wide open seating area. The percussion energy of the bar tends edge out into the restaurant provoking the feel of the theatric intermission. Service is generally good and this tends to gloss over the restaurant's culinary shortcomings. Reston Town Center needed a large casual bar of this nature and when weather permits the bar is full of beer chugging middle age yuppies and cosmo swirling MILF. The open, energetic and casual elements come together to produce a playful collegiate atmosphere. Still there is something about this restaurant group that gets under my skin and Jackson's is no different. Perhaps it's due to the over use of tacky wall murals or the contrite and aloof nature of some of the servers. This place just takes itself too seriously without a good reason. The bartenders are mostly working drones towing the party line. For the most part, nothing more than cutesy brainwashed fembots or unimpressive boys with underdeveloped personality and depth. The heavy handedness of management's cult like control is evident and it's as if Dr. No is watching us from an unknown place. Jackson's is part of a successful restaurant group and although one might disagree, success is still the ultimate yardstick. They are perhaps the best in this particular genre of restaurant. Management gets my kudos for producing a rather unsophisticated popular restaurant with good food and the unique ability to make my skin crawl at the very same time.
(3)Feedmedc ..
Cost: $14.00, as a starter, also available sans lobster as a side for $4 Size: Filling; add a side salad for your greens Taste: Cheesy but confused The Lowdown: Macaroni and cheese is the mother of comfort foods. We've carved heads in mountains to honor people who have contributed less to human happiness than the simplicity of pasta and melted cheese sauce. And while there's a lot you can do to adorn it - bread crumbs, ground beef, hot peppers - the best mac and cheese can stand alone. But I was intrigued by the notion of Lobster Mac & Cheese when I saw it on the menu at Jackson's. Something in my child brain grabbed hands with my adult mind and suggested that soft pasta, rich cheese and buttery-smooth lobster sounded both elegant and like a no-brainer. The reality falls a little shy of down-home-comfort-meets-the-Hamptons. The macaroni and cheese holds up its end of the bargain. Jackson's makes it with corkscrew pasta and a sauce that meets the triple-test of sturdy, smooth and creamy, without an oily separation. It also has small bits of ham that provide a slight smokiness, and a crunchy topping that contrasts on the tongue with the macaroni. Where the dish fails, though, is the lobster component. On my visit, the shellfish seemed to be a mixed-in afterthought - chewy instead of velvety, and lacking any kind of combination with the flavors of the cheese. While it was a generous handful of lobster meat, the failure for it to work as expected in the dish was a letdown - especially for the price premium. The mac & cheese by itself is very good, and because it's available as a side dish for $4, skip the lobster, go smaller and use the other ten for an entrée to pair it with. Unless your world-view is Velveeta and shells, you won't be left wanting.
(3)Rick M.
Great visit! Lobster Mac andCheese, grilled chicken and cheddr cheeseburger all excellent! Service outstanding!
(5)Ateet A.
I think its 3.5 stars really as i have had good times and a couple of OK times. So I went there again today and in total I have been to this restaurant over 20 times and I do like their food. They have a good variety of food, a good variety of drinks and I do enjoy my time there. Lets not forget the amazing Aussie rolls that are served by them but made the Best Buns Company, totally amazing, I could go there just for those and the interesting tasty butter that they come with. I like the Rib-eye for a lunch, the fish and chips is good, the calamari is an interesting twist which actually is good. They have 2 decent sushi rolls, burgers is good, two dips, deviled eggs. and then today's special Flounder piccata withe caulifower mash and asparagus with lemon caper sauce which was actually really good. As usual, I will be going back again. definitely a good addition to the Reston Town Center and their bar is packed when the weather is nice.
(4)Dustin S.
Another "Great American Restaurant"... Basically, if you like one (Sweetwater, Arties) you like em all. Good food, nice atmosphere. The difference with Jacksons, in my opinion, is the bar. The indoor/outdoor setup is sweet and the bartenders are on point.
(4)Kristen G.
We were pretty excited to try Jacksons since we are big fans of Sweetwater, Silverado, Arties and Coastal Flats but I guess the best word to describe Jackson's is confused. They have a retro decor with the hostesses wearing bowling shirts and some neon but the menu is all over the place with sushi and mac and cheese and hong kong sea bass. And the prices are higher than average and seem off balance. My mahi mahi was $15 while my friends french dip sandwich with fries was $17. The deviled eggs were outstanding---I don't usually like deviled eggs and these were pretty amazing. I think they need to refine the menu and try to figure out where they are trying to go with this place. Maybe create some new dishes not tried before at their other restaurants.
(2)I. P.
What is going on with GAR these days??? The food is fine but the service is lagging. Visited Jackson's today and had a problem with the bill. We had ordered a kid's meal that included a beverage. I specifically asked the waiter if a lemonade would be ok as the meal-inclusive beverage (I did this because we recently had a problem with beverage issues at another GAR location). He said "yes." When we asked about the added charge for the lemonade he said that there was nothing he could do about it, that beverages were charged at the bar. So, here we did not order any other kid's beverage except for the lemonade, and we still have to pay extra even after we verified that it was included in the meal. We would have asked for the manager after I asked the waiter 3x about this charge hoping he could accomodate us,but we had guests we had invited to lunch and two little kids in tow who were getting antsy. Overall, the waiter performed well with taking the order and bringing out the food. Perhaps he was just following GAR's policy all too fervently, and I wasn't going to embarass my guests over a drink charge. We are loyal regulars and lately GAR's service has falled behind. I know I confirmed the beverage and the waiter heard differently. Great American Restaurants is starting the lose the "great" part in the service department. It's a small thing that can ruin the entire experience.
(2)Nicole C.
While out on a trip in Reston last week we walked around and stumbled upon Jackson's. The neon sign reading: "Lobster Rolls" had us at hello. My husband ordered a really big steak, not the best steak (a little too much fat) - but very good flavor. My lobster roll was spot on and I consider myself quite the lobster roll snob. We look forward to a return visit or many I should say once we're in the area (we're moving). This is one of those old style restaurants. They have good service and a really diverse menu. The homemade berry shortcake was a very delightful and FRESH end to a lovely meal. Make sure you share on desserts and appetizers, they're not shy about serving sizes.
(4)Ris M.
The service here is sloooow. We went before the dinner rush on a Saturday night and it took them over an hour to bring out our food. The food was ok, but nothing to write home about. The menu is very meat-heavy and in general very pricey for what you get. I generally like the Great American Restaurant chain, but try Sweetwater or Coastal Flats for a better experience. This place might get better in time with some more attention to customer service and a menu with wider variety. Until then, skip it and spend your money across the street at Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe.
(2)L F G.
*additional update* After being irritated about not getting the gift card, I did end up calling the restaurant just to let them know. They sent a $50 card to my home address this time (my work was right across the street). I still haven't been back to this location. But recently, I received a message through Yelp - indicating the great american restaurant chain operations team were concerned about my review and wanted to talk to me. I left my work number, and 2-3 days later received a call from the regional manager - who had spoken with the store manager. We talked a bit, and she did mention that they've now updated their training program, and the food expediters (not the runners, but the ones on the line that check the food) are now wearing hair nets to avoid this (does this mean i'm not the only lucky recipient of hair in their food here?). We did talk and they were very apologetic that the previous concern regarding hair wasn't properly addressed in the first call, and that they were glad to hear we had received a gift card - as they wanted to send us another one if we hadn't. They were very concerned with righting the negative impression and gave us the opportunity to come back and share our comments with them. From a customer service perspective - this place has it right. They train the staff well - from the hostess to the food runners - and they do care about having a good experience. I just don't know though. 2 hairs in 2 visits. Not only that, but the 2nd time, the hair was right on the white plate, clear as day. Shouldn't the food expediter seen that? Maybe one day i'll go back to Jacksons. For now, I no longer work directly in the area and i'm not really pressed to make a trip out there. But i'll upgrade for the customer follow up and attempted care. That's more than a lot of places do.
(2)Ed P.
the staff is rude. Just left there at lunch. Seating people without any concern for walk in's. Went to big bowl across the street. Much better service. Treated like a person, not a $ bill.
(1)Crystal A.
My father in law is a regular here so sometimes we go with him to happy hour. Great service, wonderful atmosphere. Sushi is AMAZING (California rolls) and I really liked the Calamari as well. But--BEWARE. It gets packed SUPER DUPER FAST!! =)
(4)Ken E.
For being right in the middle of a ridiculously overpriced area, Jacksons manages to be the right balance of price and value. Some of the items on the menu appear to be a little steep ($20 French Dip) where others are a pretty good deal ($28 16 oz Prime Rib(35-40 day dry aged)). The wait staff also is well educated in the items on the menu and was able to add a few suggestions when needed. The lobster roll was good but most likely not what I would order again due to it being a little bland. The few problems we had were minor and I would definitely go here again.
(4)S B.
Until yesterday I have dined at Jacksons several times and until now have not had any unpleasant experiences. I do like the food and hope the Great American Restaurant Management team reads this review and makes an effort to improve the seating services. I am 36 weeks pregnant and have an 18 month old boy. Given how busy Jacksons is I called the restaurant yesterday at 7 pm to take advantage of their call ahead seating service. I informed them that I would be there in 30 minutes and the hostess I spoke to informed me that it would be no problem. We ended up getting to the restaurant 25 minutes after I placed the call. When I checked in the hostess informed me that there would be a wait. When I inquired how long the wait time would be I was told 5-15 minutes. I was a bit annoyed but was willing to wait 5-15 minutes versus carrying a young toddler out in the rain to find another restaurant. Another couple who did not do call ahead seating arrived right after us and were told 15-25 minutes. Anyway long story short we ended up waiting another 20 minutes for our table. Given the fact that we did call ahead seating and arrived 5 minutes prior to our arrival time the hostesses should have made a better effort to accomodate us or at least forewarn us when I made the call that there would be a wait.
(1)Melissa K.
I wanted to take my boyfriend somewhere special for his birthday. We had a wonderful evening. Great service and incredible food!!! Prime rib = awesome!!
(4)Michelle B.
Visited Jackson's while on business. Really happening bar scene. The service was just okay....the bartender seemed to forget about me for a while and I had to work to get his attention to place a dinner order ... but it wasn't all that bad, as it was a great crowd. Got the mahi mahi special, which came with an orzo side and a delicious sauce. Enjoyed the overall experience.
(3)Liz S.
Really good, although I was expecting more choices on the menu. Cool place, nice atmosphere. Next time I will try the lobster macaroni- their crab roll was ok, but really hard to eat. The roll was a little tough and flavorless. They should have put more sauce on the crab roll and less lettuce. But im a saucy person, so the normal person might not like so much sauce.
(4)Stephen C.
Ate there this evening with my wife. Staff was bright, perky, and attentive. I had lobster bisque (really good!) and the Roasted Chicken Salad which was a large portion and something I might consider again. I thought the chicken was in short supply when I had it served to me but it was generous, just somewhat hidden. My wife the lobster roll; the fries were good (does that say much about the lobster?) and the lobster had probably been frozen - sorta bland and mushy; certainly not on our list for a repeat although the restaurant probably is. I'm from New England so I should have known better than to order lobster but I had been hopeful that my wife would enjoy it, she only had part of it.
(3)Ross R.
This joint is a little bit out of its depth. $15 for a french dip? $16 for 2 small crab cakes on a bun? Frites? I don't think so, more like fries with bubbly texture, like they were cooked in dirty fry oil. Service was nice, but they hostess botched the wait time by a good 10 min at lunch time, when that actually matters.
(3)Wayne S.
The wife and I ate here tonight. We arrived early (430PM) so there was no wait or crowd. Our waiter was very good and very attentive. I ordered the Blackened Prime Rib and the wife got the Crab Cakes. The PR was one of the best I've had in years. The seasoning was excellent. The wife loved her Crab Cakes and everything was else was good as well. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)DINING D.
I went for the grand opening, and have been back twice since then. Unfortunately, the bar is the only place that pulls in any business. Its been packed every night, but it certainly isn't because of the food. The menu leaves much to be desired, and what it does offer, is not very appetizing. Who wants to eat hard boiled eggs, with a big heap of greasy bacon strips piled in the middle for an appetizer? The bar is always busy as Jacksons is the new, "hot spot" of RTC, but it would be nice if they didn't serve you Merlot in a chilled glass, after they'd kept the wine in a cooler. All in all, this restaurant is not a dining experience I would write home about.
(2)jac j.
We love Jackson's! Have been there 5 times and all were good although the last venture in was mediocre. We adore the deviled eggs and the salads. The steaks are not great value for the money. Most of the time the service is good, although being seniors, I suspect this place is really more for a younger crowd. Regardless of age, we will still go for the deviled eggs and the salads which are oh so flavorful! Then, after dinner, we head over to Edibles Incredible Desserts for some great dessert and we justify the dessert with the two block walk! Isn't Reston great?!
(4)John R.
Went here for my birthday with my family....food was good...i was able to call an hour ahead on a busy friday night and was seated within 10mins of arriving there...i like all the Great American Restaurants and liked this one as well...my only problem is the selection on the menu is very similar to the others, which i understand since the concept behind the restaurant is Jackson's favorite dishes from his other places....we started off with some deviled eggs and crab dip...both of which were good....i just thought it wouldve been a better dish had they chopped the bacon up and put it on the eggs themselves...as for my entree..i ordered the duck burger, so did my brother and my sister's fiancee...i must say...the that was something new and i enjoyed every bite of it...the burger itself amaazing..and wild rice on the side...good compliment to the flavors of the burger...i tasted a piece of my mom's ribeye...which is different from the drunken ribeye of sweetwater....it was cooked perfectly and very flavorfull as well...for desert we ordered the classic chocolate waffle, cherry bread pudding and carrot cake...all were good...overall i was happy we went there for my birthday and cant wait to go back for happy hour....i hope they get some new items on the menu though...
(4)Adrienne A.
Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge is enjoying its 15 minutes of fame, what with being the new darling of the Reston Town Center and all. It's not *undeserved" mind you, it's just that they need to be careful not too get too big for their britches. Noticed on the last couple of trips that the bar staff in particular seems to think they are ALL THAT. Dude, you're tending bar, not deciding who gets past the velvet rope at Hef's place . . .also, there was a tiny bit of hanky panky on one of our checks one night (at the outside bar) so I am just sayin' . . . Jackson's Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge would do well to watch their Ps and Qs because it's a fun place to go and we like it, but folks can only be so patient when there are plenty but plenty of other watering holes. On the upside: The food is darn good, so they've got *that* going for them. The salmon is excellent, steaks also good, salads consistently yummy.
(3)Chloe Y.
I went here for lunch and my food was pretty good (crab cakes). The waiter was attentive and friendly. My only problem was that they ran out of take out bags. I would go again.
(4)Marie A.
Came here on a Sat night. It was packed, so that was annoying. People kept bumping into us. My friend said her amaretto sour was horrible.
(2)Jake S.
I've been to Jackson's quite a bit since they've opened their doors in Reston. This place has got damn good food and understands the time of day they operate in. What that means is that at lunch, they understand folks are on their lunch hours and will be pretty quick and at dinner it's a much more relaxed pace. My only complaint is that they don't serve the prime rib french dip at dinner, by far my favorite thing on the menu. The Steak Frites are excellent and their standard GAR appetizers are as good as any Coastal Flats or Sweet Water. That being said, their Sushi was, suprisingly, excellent. The California rolls and the fresh sushi were very flavorful and have great accompanying sauces. I highly reccomend for lunch or dinner.
(4)Kay H.
Mmmmm. I am a fan of Coastal Flats and Great American Restaurants so I was happy to see the all star items on the menu PLUS sushi! I made sure to try food that was only @ Jackson's so I had the Veggie Rainbow Roll, the Aged Prime Rib and the Lemon Meringue Pie. Service was great and the food was DELISH! Oh man, too bad it takes almost an hour for me to get there, but I'll be back. One fine day.
(5)J L.
Delicious. Great food and service. Very consistent. We have been going here since it opened in the town center. We have never been disappointed.
(4)Calvin T.
Read through other reviews here. I have been back to this place several times since I discovered it over the holidays. My friends work in the area and like to try new places. I have to say, this place is like any other American fare. It is over priced and the food is bla bla. I had their hamburger, salmon and duck. I would not suggest those dishes. All I like is the Blue Moon.
(2)Christine M.
This is one of my fall time favorites everything from the staff to the food is amazing! Things that I would recommend: calling ahead! this place usually has a wait for dinner and they do not take reservations & eat the donut bread! Apps: Calamari -- amazing. Deviled Eggs- you need to try these, the bacon is unreal. Entrees: Sea Bass - melts in your mouth Filet- good not my favorite Roast Chicken Salad- very hearty meal and a great combo of flavors I also highly recommend the dirty martinis-- about $6 for their house liquor you can't go wrong.
(4)Rami S.
What's not to like?! Perfect Happy Hour place in the Reston Town Center! Usually very busy but a pretty spacious bar area and a second outdoor bar... it's really strange to see some people out there in cold weather but not me. The drinks are a little expensive but generous portions, just the way I like them. The food is very good, my favorite being the fish and chips which are perfectly crispy and awesome. The other items on the menu including the steaks and even sushi rolls are very good. The service has always been very prompt and I've been there many times. Overall, I really enjoy the hustle and bustle and friendly service here. Ok, note to self - tomorrow is Friday!
(4)Scott Z.
Jackson's is a good bar/restaurant. Depends on what night you get there, but it can sometimes be crazy crowded. It's a place that corporate types and the mid-to-upscale folks go to have too many drinks, eat pricey (but worth it) food, and tell stories of their great accomplishments in the fine art of douchebaggery or cougarism. As a former resident of the area, I witnessed Jackson's first hand a few times...the loud restuarant the bustling of well-trained servers. The clank of fork, knife, and spoon as the embarrassingly wealthy eat more, drink more, and talk more. But Jackson's is also a bar experience...one just perched before the main dining room, and one up a few steps that can be opened to the elements when the weather is good. The bartenders are well trained, mostly friendly, and do their part to fuel the alcohol-laden craziness that is this "restaurant". -Parking is ample within the Reston Towne Center, though you may need to walk a bit from your Mercedes to the front door. -Prices are high, but that's Northern Va for you. Unless you're eating at McDonald's or Panera, just expect to pay a lot for food and drink. Strangely enough Jackson's eclectic menu is very worth it. With good salads, sushi rolls, and a deep tasty menu. -Service is very good...but it takes good servers to deal with such a terrible clientele. The bar staff is top-notch...really attentive to all, fast, and friendly. Jackson's is what it is...just a place for grown-ups to go and let loose. Corporate-types let the ties open a bit, ladies let the skirts open a bit (okay, a lot), and generally one of those "anything can happen" places. Want a drink and an app...this is the place for you. Want to get an STD from 48 year old divorced woman who is trying hard to act 22...this is the place for you. Want to eat tasty food, prepared well, and listen to people bitch about 1st world problems...than this...is the place for you. Enjoy the experience...you'll never look at it the same again.
(4)Caroline M.
I have lived in Reston for a while and never went to Jacksons, thinking it was too crowded and over-hyped. I finally took a chance on it and at there Valentines weekend. It completely changed my mind- I will DEFINITELY be coming back. The crab and corn chowder was amazing and the bread pudding was too. The sushi was ok, not the best I've had but it's not known for it's sushi so I'm not that mad :)
(4)Lakiya P.
This is my favorite spot that my bf and I went to eat. The steak was on point plus the sides with a nice glass of wine. It was worth the price. Im glad we stumbled across this place. I would go every week if I could. Great service and setting. Food came out quick and to perfection. Worth my hr and a half drive
(5)Teresa H.
Recently visited for the first time when family came to town. The weekend menu included a wonderful brunch option (oh how I wanted the French toast, but my diet pointed me to the salad selections). All the meals were good, and the deviled eggs -YUM!! They were busy, so the service was just average but no complaints, it just took longer than desired to get drink refills when beverages were empty. We will go back next time we are in the town center.
(4)Dmitry D.
Just like any other great American restaurant this pave had great service and everything was cooked perfectly. We cane for brunch can't go wrong. I forgot what we ordered but I remember 3 app and 2 main course with one day to share. We will be back. I'm back dating some reviews like this one sorry about not being specific.
(5)Jeffrey C.
We came here as alternate venue to watch some World Cup action and meet friends during the summer. Not knowing what to expect I can say that we were easily pleased. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was great. The service at the bar was wonderful. If you are in the Reston a Town Center this place is worth the visit.
(4)Denise L.
Tasty food, excellent service and cozy environment all come to mind when I think of Jackson's. However, those qualities are to be expected if youre familiar with this chain. Jackson's is one of those restaurants that you can visit time and time again. Great for grabbing lunch, celebrating birthdays, family gatherings, girls night out, etc. There is something here for everyone. One of my faves on the menu is the fried grouper fingers. They're worth everything single calorie. I also like the donut holes and sweet butter. If you're in VA and searching for a place to unwind while enjoying a bite, Jackson's is it! :-)
(4)Mary L.
Reston has a cute downtown with many options to eat at. My friend took me here the first time but I specifically requested to come back here the second. The server brings you out fresh bread which reminds me a little bit of beignets but a little less sweet. They come out hot with this delicious sweet butter. Extremely tasty and yummy! I had to stop myself from wanting to fill up on them. I have only ordered one thing from here: the French Dip sandwich. It is that good. You get a plethora of meat in your sandwich and a side of delicious, flavorful au jus that transforms your sandwich from being good to awesome. The au jus comes out hot and added with your sandwich is great. The side of fries were decent but honestly, every time I go there I am just focused on my french dip. There seemed to be a lot of after hour cocktail people accumulating around the bar. The inside had a nice, comfortable, darker toned vibe as well. Service was not bad and my drink was not neglected too much. Overall: decent service + fill-me-up-before-my-meal bread + delicious french dip = an awesome option for dinner or lunch in Reston when I'm there again.
(4)Amy B.
In general, I really enjoy the Great American Restaurants. However, Jacksons is subpar at best. Sure it's a great location and they have a large outside bar area. But it becomes SO packed for happy hour with douchey overgrown bro's, I just don't see the appeal. If I remember correctly, they don't really have any happy hour deals anyways. More importantly, I've come across some really rude service members there, which is odd because I know GAR is all about service. I've also seen bar staff drink shots with what appeared to be regular customers, this was on a friday at like 11:30 am.. I've worked in the service industry before, and I've indulged in a drink or two with regular customers after my shift is over, but it seems unprofessional to do while so many customers are around. As far as the food goes I would give it a solid B. Some of the menu items are a little bland. The sushi is decent, the mac and cheese is soooo good, and the bread is always delicious.
(2)Christine C.
Best deviled eggs of my life! Great Art Deco atmosphere! The rolls are to die for!!! Awesome salads! FYI: Bar does not stock energy drinks nor do they have espresso.
(5)Samantha H.
I love how consistent the food, drinks, and service is at Jackson's. My favorite is their brunch accompanied with a bacon bloody mary. I had a solo brunch at the bar and it was delicious and the bar tender was friendly as always. I always recommend Jackson's to anyone that asks about food in Reston Town Center.
(5)Melissa J.
My husband and I love this place. I think it's the best food in the town center. Reasonably priced and delicious, I have never had anything but exceptional service. The free savory donuts that they give you before your meal makes every experience at Jacksons something to look forward to. The place is a go-to favorite every time we can't think of something to eat.
(5)Howie O.
Crushed by it's own success. During happy hour it can be difficult to get a drink because of how busy it gets. I would like to see them actually adhere to the capacity limit set and I am sure it would be a lot better.
(3)Aaryn P.
I like the type of chain this restaurant is a part of - only wish they had them where I'm from instead of just on the east coast. My husband loves their mushroom soup and gets it every time he goes to MD, DC or VA. We stopped by this Jackson's because we were staying at the Hyatt and it was excellent as usual. We've had many, many things at here - this time my husband had the new lobster salad, and I had some sort of balsamic chicken...both were great. Four stars!
(4)Greg D.
Food is always terrific. Reasonable prices. Superb service. My favorite restaurant in Reston Town Center.
(4)Carolyn Y.
Jackson's is my favorite restaurant in the Reston Town Center! I like the atmosphere. The service has always been top notch. The menu is unique without being pretentious. The lobster roll is my favorite!
(5)Nilly R.
This restaurant is defiantly a really good atmosphere. The bar is always popping at night time. The staff is extremely friendly. The bartenders really know what they are doing. The only downside is that the drinks and food are pricey and the label this place has. I would label this as the cheaters bar of northern virginia. There are always a bunch of married men there looking for a one night stand. Just about every time I've been here, I've had a middle age man try to make a move on me. When I walked to the bathroom, I felt like a celebrity with all the men that turned to look at me. This is also a popular bar for divorcees so I guess that's a plus if you are single and older. I would say the crowd here is late 30s to late 50s.
(3)Rachel B.
The food is fabulous; I strongly recommend the Nantucket Scramble and bacon bloody marys. The sweet bread that they bring out is to die for and the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. The problem is getting the above mentioned food. I've been to this restaurant several times and the service is more miss than hit. I've waited more than 40 minutes for food without getting bread or water refills. At the same time, sometimes the food comes out immediately and the server is great. The bigger problem is that you don't know who you're going to get, and the waiter turn over is so high at this establishment that I haven't found someone that I can rely upon. If Jackson's fixed the server problem, they would probably be a 4.5/5 restaurant. It has potential but has yet to live up to it.
(3)Lindsay C.
Waiter was great. Food was awesome. I'd recommend this place. Love the Great American food chain.
(4)Drew S.
Although it is not a sushi restaurant per se, the Spicy Tuna at Jackson's is some of the best I have ever had. It's good enough that I get one roll for an appetizer and a second as the entree. The menu has an interesting blend of choices and you can't go wrong!
(4)Mickey C.
Had their cheddar burger. Fries acceptable. Burger cooked properly EXCEPT it was a salt burger. Question of chef: Has ANYONE ever returned a burger asking for more salt? Too bad. Other than that prices for alcohol was through the roof. Price of one glass of wine would almost buy the bottle! A six pack of their beer would be WELL OVER the cost of a case! Avoid paying for the alcohol as it is very over priced.
(3)Jack K.
The smoked trout appetizer alone rates five stars... Really nice experience today, as my burger was prepared correctly and was very tasty. Our server was a very nice young lady who took good care of us. Hadn't been to Jackson's in a while, so I'm really glad that we went there today.
(5)Lolah B.
Great food but service sucks! Size per plate is tiny. Food is great tho. Mixed drinks like their mojito & long island tastes good too. I think we paid $7-9 per cocktail drink we ordered ? I forgot but nothing less than $5 for a cocktail mixed drink.
(3)Cynthia G.
We were looking for some place just to grab a quick lunch but was surprised to find such a gem! Best brunch ive ever had! Will for sure be back!
(5)Joel L.
Two hungry people off of a trans Atlantic flight looking for relief from hotel food. So, Jump in the car and we find this place. Pretty good choice. Two steak frites with salads, perfectly done. Served hot and full of flavor and tender. Great find for us.
(4)Sarah G.
Claim to have something called 'low gluten'. Celiacs beware. The listing of this place as gluten free on yelp is misleading. This should be corrected.
(1)A W.
Good food, a nice place to go with friends. Nice to be able to sit outside.
(4)eugine p.
The tuna poke app is really good! A different twist to the poke you get in hawaii. Definitely try it out!
(5)Vanessa B.
We've been to Jackson's a number of times, and we really like it here. Their calamari is outstanding. The lobster roll is delicious, and my husband likes the grouper fingers. Their salads are very good as well. The service is hit or miss, but overall we really enjoy eating here.
(4)Shirley D.
My overall experience was phenomenal. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and the service was excellent. The complimentary bread basket was basically a basket of warmed donuts. It was amazing. I ordered the house salmon special of the day and it was delicious!
(5)Max D.
Been here a few times. The food is just as good as you would expect for GAR. My Bartender the last time I went was very friendly and welcoming too (can't remember his name). I honestly always have good experiences here with service and food, I just don't personally know many people that come too often.
(4)Doug V.
Go with friends frequently for the Thurs/Fri evening social scene. Really the place to be at peak, evening hours. Lots of attractive people drinking and looking around at the bar. Singles scene, couples, ok for even mature folks.... Food is not pretentious and great for the price. Able to migrate from bar to the comfortable dining room. Very well executed concept and consistent with good service.
(4)Alice A.
Went there for lunch, had a valentine's day special cocktail which was great (fresh berries and champagne ). Our server Josue was really extremely nice and smily. The host as well. There isn't and large choice on the menu but good variety (sushi salad burgers and some other dishes with eggs and chicken veggies) . Didn't see the crab cakes advertised on the front of the building. We had burgers and chicken perfectly cooked (rare to have a real rear meat around the area). Service was quick and the food was great. Definitely recommend !
(5)Chris S.
It's fine. A decent GAR. Usually crowded and kind of a scene. But overall not a bad choice for American food.
(3)Charles K.
No issues good or bad. I sat at the bar and had the steak sandwich, which was basically a french dip. Drinks were good, bartenders friendly. No complaints.
(3)Katie B.
BEST rolls you will eat in your entire life They are overpriced but not compared to anywhere else in RTC The outdoor bar is a lot of fun but mostly 30 and up
(4)Lhynette C. A.
One can never go wrong with the Great American Restaurant chains. I went to dinner here last night and their bar areas are always packed! Everything they serve at Jackson's is sooooooo good! Never a miss and always a hit! I love love love the Lobster roll and corn on the cob. I usually don't like having a mayonnaise mixed with the lobster when i have a lobster roll...but Jackson's don't really put a lot so it still tastes good. The Calamari app is also good. It has an asian sweet and sour flavor to it. I've also tried the lobster bisque...I can go on and on with the whole menu, overall a great place to go to if you're looking for consistency. The service is always good, the servers are on point and very attentive.
(3)Scott H.
I've got a love/hate relationship with Jackson's, which I realize is a weird intro to a 5-star review. The truth is that every time I've been to Jackson's I have loved everything about the food and the service. I'm typically not a huge fan of the GAR restaurants, but Jackson's is an exception. The hate comes in because they simply get WAY crowded during lunch and happy hour. But if you're smart and go during a non-peak time you'll get an excellent dining experience and one of the best values for your food dollar among the pricey RTC restaurants. I've tried many times to get my wife to go to Jackson's with me, but have scared her off with stories of the large crowds at lunch and in the evening. But a couple of weeks back my wife and I had to run some morning errands and then she was going to drop me off at my office in Reston. We got into Reston at about 11AM, and I sold her on the fact that this is the PERFECT time to hit up Jackson's. She bought, and we arrived a little after 11 to a mostly empty and stunningly quiet restaurant. Jackson's has a nice variety of selections on the menu, including several options that fit with our low-carb diets. But all of that goes out the window when they bring the bread to the table. Those little donut-like things are like bread crack. And the deviled eggs are awesome - $8 for a half-dozen for an appetizer is reasonable, but when they say "with sugar-cured bacon" they don't just mean in the eggs - they give you two pieces of this sweet, pork-candy goodness. We both did big salads for entrees, and Jackson's has an awesome selection with the option of adding protein to any of them. My wife ordered a chopped house salad with beef added and raved about how well-seasoned and perfectly cooked the filets were. I went with the short-smoked salmon salad ... every GAR restaurant serves their version of this salad, but Jackson's is a little bit different, and better. The salmon has a great smokiness to it (although my wife thought it was a bit over-powering for her pallet) and it comes with another of those awesome deviled eggs. And add goat cheese for a $1 - yes please! My wife and I enjoyed our meals thoroughly and thought that it was reasonably priced, especially for RTC. But she started to see the "hate" part of my Jackson's relationship when it got to be about 11:45 and the lunch patrons flocked in. Quicker than a hiccup, Jackson's was packed. Later that week we went to The Counter for restaurant week and parked in the attached garage and exited near Jackson's. My wife was shocked at the crowded bar at the tail end of happy hour, and the patrons stumbling out of there. And I honestly don't see what the fuss is about for happy hour. Their beer selection is mostly pedestrian. Sure, they have their house-branded pale ale and lager. (Made by the Sweetwater brewmasters I assume. I've had neither - I'm not much of a lager person, but I hear the pale ale is pretty good.) Outside of that, it's your usual wannabe hipster craft and import selection. (Blue Moon, Sam Adams, Guinness, Stella) I guess the attraction is the outdoor bar where all the 40-somethings are reliving their better days at Jimmy Buffett concerts. Despite that bit of haterade, I do love Jackson's enough to give them 5-stars ... just as long as I go before the lunch crowd or in-between lunch and happy hour.
(5)Lisa D.
The service at this restaurant is amazing! Especially, when considering their prices. It's a casual place with fantastic food. Love their salmon and salads. Ozzie rolls are to die for and you can always count on a great drink. Probably my favorite restaurant.
(5)Rick R.
Wow. The experiences don't get any better, every time I try. I keep wanting to like this place. They don't really care.
(2)Eric J.
I liked that they did something different with their calamari. Normally, everyone just cooks it lightly, and flours them lightly, with a light pinch of salt. This, here, they said, let's make some orange chicken calamari, and they did just that. Hey, it caught me off-guard. I had no idea what kind was coming out, I just asked for their calamari. It was a good difference. The lobster roll. Full of lobster, but also a bit much with the sauce. I would have enjoyed it much better if there were very little sauce. I could have just done away with all the sauce and have it replaced with some sort of lemony zest to pour over it. I wanted the lobster to be full of a lobstery taste, not drizzled in sauce. Still, a good amount of lobster, so I'll give them that.
(4)Keith B.
I came here on a whim with a friend and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is trendy without being pretentious, and the staff was very attentive. The food was AMAZING and though the items were not listed as healthy, there were a lot of light options. I highly recommend the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp.
(5)Alex V.
I stopped in here for lunch the other before a business meeting. The crab cake sandwich was really good. I was impressed, especially for a chain restaurant. The service was very attentive, and the place has an upscale vibe.
(4)Boo Y.
Been here a few times. I'm always underwhelmed by the food. Not sure why I go back, slow learner I guess. Don't be a slow learner. Go elsewhere in the town center.
(1)Sarah W.
Hubby and I love all the restaurants in this chain. Their seared tuna salad is deliciousness. Their lobster roll rocks. I love the too cool dips. The desserts are really good - they have a new chocolate cake and some banana thing - all were delicious.
(5)Wonder K.
This place can get really loud sometimes but It's a great GAR joint. Good happy hour scene as well.
(4)K. R.
Good food and service overshadowed by wannabe "go-getters" flexing their plastic at the bar while dressed in their last season J Crew. We used to go here all the time, but the drinking crowd is just plain douchey. If you avoid it and go for lunch or a post happy hour dinner you'll be content. The menu is typical of the GAR chain; general American fare that has a little something for everyone. The only out of place thing is the sushi on the menu.... and they could do without it. Oh, and they don't take reservations.
(3)Chris R.
Had never been here before, but a friend suggested it. It's all part of the Great American Restaurants (Coastal Flats, Mike's American, etc.) which is good because the atmosphere is the same with all their restaurants and the service is really consistent too. I had the Roast Chicken Salad which was really good. The chicken was cooked perfectly and it was just all around a really good meal. The service was good and like I said, it's pretty much consistant accross all these restaurants, but it get's a little confusing. A waiter takes our drink order, someone else brings them. A waitress takes the food order order, someone else brings it to us. At one point, I asked the waitress for more bread, she said she'd go get it, but when she came back, she had no bread and was taking someone else's order. Thinking she forgot, I asked a food runner for more and he said he'd go get it. The original guy (the one that took our drink order) brought the bread I ordered from the waitress then the food runner brought more. Someone completely differently took our payment...I was so confused. Confusion aside, it's really good. I'll definitely go back.
(4)Natasha P.
Went here for a drink on 5/8/15 it was ok but the bartender was not personable. We asked what specials do you have he responded no price specials. That's not what we asked ass ! Our bartender left and we needed to close the tab you would think someone would ask us if we need more drinks nope nothing. So we just asked someone to close our tab. Anyways drinks average this was my first and last time here.
(1)Melissa D.
One of the top 3 on my favorite GAR list. We typically sit at the bar, I prefer the outside bar and am always thrilled when Glendon is working out there, he is one of my favorite bartenders; always friendly, funny, courteous, and happy to be there. On this particular night, we experienced a big storm and were drenched by the time we made it to the already full bar around 7..we sat ourselves at one of the side bars closest to the door in hopes that 2 bar stools would open up before our entrees came, we ended up moving to have our last drink at the bar which was totally fine. To start, we had the chipotle chicken wings..YUM and spicy, the tuna poke 2.0, and a spinach salad with bacon and eggs..I was all about the wings and tuna. For entrees we had the Worcestershire Ribeye- HOLY MOLY- and the always fantastic French Dip. Yet another happy, satisfying, friendly trip, can't wait to come back.
(5)Michael K.
This place is always hopping and for good reason as the food and service are excellent. I can't pass on their French Dip sandwich that is unbelievably tasty and fresh. This last visit I was offered to add cheese to it for the first time and that made it even better. The portion though is huge and I frequently end up taking half home. You can swap out the default fries with any of several other sides including their veggie of the day which I typically go for. They did get rid of my favorite beer on tap recently (Jackson Lager) which is a bit of a bummer. Their Pilsner though is a close second and hits the spot for me. Service is always first rate here as they use a team approach to make sure everything is perfect for you. My only small warning is that I don't find Jackson's suitable for groups bigger than 5 or 6 people. They just really aren't setup to accommodate larger groups.
(4)Pegah Y.
I had a great experience at Jackson's. I visited early on a weekday lunch and the service was great and the food was superb. I ordered the Lobster Club Salad (lobster salad from the meat of a 1.25 pound lobster...with mixed field greens, tomatoes, avocado, roasted corn, maple bacon, a deviled egg & champagne vinaigrette) and it was DELICIOUS. One of the best salads I have ever had. It was pricey - $19, but definitely worth it. It was filling and came with all my favorite ingredients - avocado, maple bacon, lobster... I am sold! And the bread and butter they bring out at the beginning is also excellent. It's really not as fancy or stuffy as it seems from outside. And the service was excellent. I would definitely recommend Jackson's as a good lunch spot in Reston Town Center. I definitely recommend their salads!
(4)Kelly S.
Love this place and we dine here 2-4 times a month Great steaks, crab cakes, bacon cheeseburgers, lemon marshmallow meringue pie, really we've liked everything we've had here. The staff has always be attentive and courteous also. They do a great job of making you feel welcomed and serving delicious food!
(5)Kate H.
Jackson's is one of my favorite restaurants in RTC. It's casual and fun, but most importantly, the food is consistently delicious and the service can't be beat. Before you can blink, your straw wrapper has been picked up, your drink refilled, and a ridiculous basket of freshly baked breads appears at your table. My favorite offerings, in no particular order: * Spinach, parmesan & artichoke Dip, w/ tortilla chips ($10) * Waldorf Steak Salad - grilled filet, blue cheese, walnuts, apples, etc. ($17) * French Dip - thinly sliced prime rib on a buttery roll, w/ fries & au jus ($19) * Grouper Fingers - fried fish and chips w/ amazing tartar sauce ($15) * Lobster Roll - just what you'd imagine, w/ fries and corn on the cob (market, but usually around $20) Happy hour is usually bustling here, especially in the summer when the "garage doors" open and the bar turns from the inside to the outside. If you are a kitchen fan like me, ask to sit near the open kitchen here for a good view of the chefs and food prep team. No reservations, but call-ahead sitting reduces the wait. Expect a 20-40 minute wait anytime after noon, and longer on a weekend. Note - if you are dining with more than six, you may be squeezed into one of their larger booths or split up. No tables to be pushed together here -- booth rows fill the floor space.
(4)Amy T.
Female bartender was amazing, however the other male bartenders were terrible. I watched them selectively ignore people and the drinks tasted like bad medicine. Not worth the tab we spent.
(2)Xuan-Lise C.
Kind of expensive, but the food at Great American Restaurants is never disappointing. We made reservations for a thursday night, it was pretty busy. We started with the shrimp and macadamia nut sushi, don't bother with soy sauce, the sauces on the plate are great, it has great crunch and is just different enough. We then ordered the crab cake sandwich and the steak frites. The fries were delicious, the crab cake is always great. I think I don't like hanger steak, but the flavor was great. It's just a bit chewy for my taste. We will definitely be back, as it's a bit more on my way home than sweet water. The service is very fast, so if you're saving one last bite, make sure to put your plate out of their reach! I also felt like dinner service was very fast, and some nights we're in a rush, but I kind of wanted to just sit and relax. Regardless, the experience and food are great, we'll definitely come back.
(4)Gabriel D.
Here on a business Trip from VA, the establishment is clean and very large, bar area for the singles and bussiness trip hookups, and restaurant area, busy and lots of activity, the food was pretty damn good, the prime rib i had, 20 oz was cooked perfectly, and yes I ate the whole thing, don't judge me, I know I'm fat. The candied bacon deviled eggs were a very nice combination and I could have ate the whole plate of those also! Most likely a location i will come back to when I return for further training in the area and kinda wish this was down in Va beach.
(4)Katie S.
Jackson's is my go to restaurant in RTC. Lunch/dinner/happy hour are great times here. The service and food are both excellent representations of the GAR brand. The deviled eggs, calamari, lobster roll and steak frites are my favorite things off of the menu. I agree with others, if you are going for lunch, you want to shoot to get there by 11 to be seated promptly. If you are going later I suggest calling ahead so you are not surprised by the wait. But keep in mind, it's busy for a reason. Like most GAR restaurants, the kitchen is partially open, which allows for a window into the restaurant business that I find fascinating. Watching the back of the house during a busy shift is like watching a symphony; everyone working together to produce a beautiful product. It's really cool for a food geek like me. Happy hours here can be pretty crazy too, but the bar staff is well prepared and with the multiple bars (one inside, one outside) you will be able to get a drink... even if sometimes you can't hear the person next to you. In the summer the outside patio is one of the best places to people watch in all of RTC though and they just made the entire property non-smoking (love that!).
(5)Matthieu K.
You get a 1 today Jackson's. That's right ... a 1. Called ahead and when we showed up at 730pm on a Weds, the hostess told me the wait for a table for 2 was 30 mins. Same as people walking in off the street? Really? Why call ahead then? I have been dining @ your restaurants for a decade, no issues. Further, I explained that my dinner companion was my 9 year old who'd just got 8 stitches ... And still nothing? Big fail Jackson's.
(1)Jan W.
Steak Frites were right on, and oddly I enjoyed the salad. Even on a busy Friday night, service at the bar was pretty darn good, a rarity in the region.
(3)Alvin C.
I was in the area on business, and needed a place to eat for lunch. There was a soul food place on Elden in Herndon that I used to love, but sadly it seems to be closed (thanks to Yelp that I didn't do a wasted trip). I was interested in local fare instead of a chain. I yelped this place, and my boss and I ate here. The service was good, the front desk was prompt. We were walk-ins, but we were promptly seated, orders taken, food served. I'm kind of sorry it was a work lunch, because according to the presentation and plating of the food it seems evident to me that there were more interesting things to order than what we got. We were filling the hole for lunch, rather than pleasure dining. I'd definitely return, and hopefully get to try more of the fare. But as it was, it was a pleasure to visit and lunch here.
(3)Trisha H.
I would definitely recommend this place if you are out on the town in Reston on the weekend. They have a great outdoor space, open to the bar. They have some interesting bar-type foods - you have to try their deviled eggs. They come with this delicious caramelized bacon: to die for. The waiters/waitresses were efficient and friendly, and the night-life atmosphere is very welcoming.
(4)Marvin M.
Big place that seems to stay busy. Nice size bar that is handy when they are busy. Jackson Pale Ale is good. The wait staff is outstanding. Multiple people managed our table of 6 people and all knew exactly what we were drinking. Seamless integration of multiple servers. Well done!
(4)Dee B.
So I thought it might be a safe bet to order the lobster roll. The lobster was tough and I didn't finish it. How did they redeem themselves? Excellent service and the deviled eggs with sugared bacon. Maybe you didn't hear me, the deviled eggs with SUGARED BACON! Yes, bacon makes everything better.
(3)Nabeel A.
I had a business lunch meeting at Jacksons yesterday. In regards to the food, I had their cheeseburger and it was okay (nothing special). My main issue was with the servers who kept coming back to "check" on us. I believe during our stay we were visited by the waitress at least 7-8 times. It almost felt like they wanted us out of there and it was almost impossible to carry on a conversation because we kept getting interrupted.
(3)Matt D.
Good food. Alot of milfs and real chill out door bar during the summer even though it gets way to packed. Overall good experience for 23-35 year old dudes looking for a hot older lady. Met a 34 year old when I was 23 . Good times..
(4)Erik R.
I was enjoying a few drinks at the bar with a couple of friends, until a drunk overweight guy bumped into me. Immediately, he wanted to become physical... i deferred, and he continued to try to initiate a physical confrontation. Then the bartender came over and asked my friend I to leave-maybe he was friends with the drunk guy. We immediatley left and do not intemd to return.
(1)Sam G.
I love coming here especially sitting in the outdoor bar section! Talia is usually my bar tender whom is amazing every time I sit with her. She is always quick with service and drink making. I don't like waiting very long and she definitely makes it so I don't have too. I usually order the deviled eggs and French Dip two of my favorite items! I just cant stay away their amazing every time!! I would highly recommend coming in here for lunch when the crowd isnt so thick. That way you can enjoy your meal without having to bump elbows with the unfortunately rich douche bags that seem to hang around there at night. All and all this place is amazing and I will continue to come here all of the time!
(4)Nicole S.
Delish from apps to the entree best in Reston!
(5)Erica W.
FOOD: Good. SERVICE: Good ATMOSPHERE: Lively (even on a Sunday night) FOOD: Based on the prices on the menu, I expected the food to be decent here. Surprisingly, I think the lobster roll was excellent. The lobster was fresh and tender, and the chopped celery was crisp. Relative to the $17 deal for Luke's Lobster in DC (which is a rip off), Jackson's gives a decent sized portion of lobster. My friend ordered the steak frites, and I was also surprised that it was pretty good! She had it cooked medium (which was cooked perfectly - yes, reddish in color as it should be). SERVICE: The bread basket was filled a bit sparsely...two thin slices of bread and two donut-like rolls. The waiter did not offers or attempt to refill our water, tea or soft drinks (until he prematurely delivered the check). I am not a fan of having the check left in front of me at a table unless it's a "quick eats" sort of joint. I think it was pretty rude for the waiter to come by and leave the bill receipt when we just got dessert...Even worse, when we got our credit cards and receipts to sign off, the waiter stood next to our table. ATMOSPHERE: More of a place for a casual group dinner (tables probably seat groups of 2-4 most comfortably), though on the pricier side. Definitely not a place to take someone on a romantic or a first date (unless you are just grabbing drinks at the bar) because there are no barriers between tables. So when the place was packed, it was hard to carry a conversation. But then when the place cleared out, I could sense people at other tables listening in to our conversations. I think this is a good spot for the sports bar (super large flatscreens), but I doubt I will have dinner here again because of the service.
(3)Reshawna L.
I am still in love with The Great American Restaurant brand in the new year. I have added Jackson's to my list of restaurants to visit at least once a month. This restaurant specialty is sushi. Try the Firecracker shrimp sushi dish.
(5)JR A.
Food and drink Is ok, bar gets really crowded on weekends. Check this a dress code starting at 9pm no hats of any sort oh sorry is this a club?
(3)Laura B.
Jackson's is always my number one when I recommend places to eat in the town center. Wonderful service, delicious menu and a great atmosphere. Whether you visit for dinner or for drinks, you really can't go wrong. Bartenders are very friendly and efficient, both indoor and outdoor. The food is excellent- something on the menu for everyone. The deviled eggs appetizer is a must.
(5)Ellen S.
I wanted to try this place out while in town for a business meeting, unfortunately, they would not accept a lunch reservation, their loss.
(1)Cary C.
Basically: really reliably delicious food, but they need to change their menu a little already. Used to go all the time, and now we never are in the mood to go here because their menu hasn't changed in 5 years...spice it up a little!
(4)Karisa D.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants of the Great American Restaurant group. Let me start by saying that the service was excellent, I'm sorry for those of you who disagree with me. Our waiter was attentive, polite, and made great food suggestions. The waiters help each other, I don't think my beverage glass was ever less than half full the entire time I was there. The food was just as good as the service. I had the Waldorf Steak Salad and my boyfriend had the Slowly Roasted French Dip. The salad was so good, the steak was cooked to my tastes and complimented the salad well. They even accommodated my substitution request of changing the cheese from bleu cheese to goat cheese. I was told the French Dip was amazing as well; I only got a small bite! Great food, fun atmosphere, and excellent service!
(4)Andrea A.
I came here with some friends and we sat at the bar. I totally forget his name but the guy that was working at the bar was a nice jolly man. The Crab and corn chowder is delicious!!
(4)Rich W.
This is a great restaurant .... the name says it all I like to spoil myself and clients here... must try
(5)Melissa P.
Phenomenal food and service!! Two bars, one inside and one outside. Great bartenders, fun atmosphere. Love coming here.
(5)Kim H.
I've been here a handful of times for happy hour and dinner. During the work week (hh), Jackson's is overcrowded with yuppies. Eh, if that's not your thing then order some food. The bartenders are very attentive and friendly. The food is basically a recycled Sweetwater Tavern menu and since I love SWT, I'm a fan of this place. I've tried the following: Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad asparagus, tomatoes and field greens w. champagne vinaigrette & a deviled egg with spiced pecans Slow Roasted French Dip thinly sliced prime rib on a Best Buns butter roll hand cut fries & au jus OMG, the salmon salad is absolutely fantastic!!! The deviled egg with bacon is a genius touch. They even have them as appetizers and for good reason. The french dip was also very good - if you like meat, this will hit the spot.
(4)Daniel A.
Decent selection of wines by the glass, definitely something for everyone. Nice rib eye, perfectly cooked; one disappointment was the addition of melted butter over top of it. I'd rather taste a perfect steak than have butter running over it. Chop salad was good, had dressing on side so I could control how much. Others said the salads were overloaded with dressing.
(3)Chau T.
Service here is always consistent & good. Food selection is wide & all the dishes I have tried are tasty. Among my favorite, the sea bass, calamari, lobster roll, salmon salad, or chicken & beet salad. The bread basket they give every table is always a winner, ozzie rolls rule!
(5)Leslie S.
I went here on a Saturday night with a couple friends for dinner. We did the call ahead seating. Upon arriving, we still waited over an hour for a table. After an hour, we went to the hostess stand to find out what was taking so long and they sat us immediately. AKA they forgot about us. We sat down and our server was all over us about getting us more drinks but we weren't ready and just ordered waters. After ordering, we noticed that everyone around us had bread at their table. We did not. It took requesting it three times to get the bread. In fact, our entrees arrived before the bread did. He also at no point came to refill our water glasses. As soon as we were done eating, we were offered coffee or dessert and when we declined, the check was immediately placed on the table. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. First of all, we still all had alcoholic beverages in front of us and were planning on staying for another drink and to chat. Second of all, how ironic that you were too busy to get us bread or refill our water glasses, but you can't wait to give us our check. We got up and went back to the bar to have another drink since obviously our server didn't want to make money. I asked the bartender if they had red bull behind the bar and she looked at me like I was crazy and said "no" very rudely. Overall, the food was very good, but the service was not. I probably wouldn't eat here again at those prices. There are nicer places in Reston that have way better service.
(2)Alicja J.
I've been to Jackson's a few times in the past year, and have mostly positive things to say. For one: the bread. It is the best bread ever! Another thing I like is the staff; they are all very nice and attentive (most of the time). The last time I went, the only thing that bothered me was the fact that the waitress seemed to forget about us while we were waiting for our check. I can deal with it though, considering this happened on a Saturday night (and they were extremely busy). The food is good, the atmosphere is fun. Definitely a good place for a date or even just going out with friends.
(4)Ed V.
We had the Lobster Rolls and they were amazing! The bread was perfect complement to the lobster. The sweetness of the bread made the roll a culinary delight! The lobster roll was better than the ones at had in New England! I highly recommend them! They are accompanied with delicious fries and BBQ sweet corn. The fries and corn were both very tasty. Next time I am in Reston I will definitely get my lobster roll fix and Jackson's!
(5)Mike S.
Exactly the high quality service and experience you expect from a Great American Restaurant. I've been coming back for years. The bar scene is great. Very friendly and responsive bartenders. Also a nod to the half-outdoor Lucky Lounge (the premier spot to pick up/be picked up by cougars in/from the Reston/Great Falls area). The food is really good, and weekend brunch is great. A few highlights are the 2 scoops dip appetizer, the deviled eggs, the lobster roll, and the sushi.
(4)Brittany J.
This was really good a-little-better-than-casual dining. It's in the same consortium as Coastal Flats which was REALLY good when it first came out and has declined since turning into a bigger chain (per usual). But my review from beginning to end of the visit. The decor is cute: like classy Americana bowling alley. There's a big tribute to the late owner on the left wall that's worth reading. There seemed to be some confusion with the hostess stand where we were all just kind of looking at each other for several minutes while we were waiting to be taken to our table (it was not crowded at all). Our server was fine; very expeditious and not too helicopter-y, but nothing really notable. I wanted to try a cocktail but since I was with family I got wine instead. It's a limited list of glasses (plenty of bottles), but I found something I wanted to drink. We ordered a spinach dip, really tasty and packed full of what tasted like fresh spinach which was exciting. Sometimes when you order spinach dip you wonder if there's any vegetation in it or just green food coloring and "spinach flavoring." It's served with tortilla chips rather than crostini or anything else, just as an FYI. I really wanted to try the deviled eggs and some of the soups, but that will have to wait until next time. The bread basket is also a true assortment including, sourdough, some delicious fried things, and a possible rye of varying degrees served with a slightly sweet herb butter. It would be nice if they were all warm, but my wheat-addicted butt still ate the cold pieces. I ordered the sesame-encrusted tuna salad (salad with big hunks of tuna cooked to order, not the mayonnaise mixture they serve at the church picnic), and my family members ordered the salmon salad and the grouper special. All the fish was cooked perfectly.. My salad was HEAVY on the beets and light on the avocado, much to my chagrin, but still delicious. Whatever citrus vinaigrette they're using is heavenly. Afterward, I got the white chocolate bread pudding to go because although I was full, I couldn't pass up the chance to test out once of my litmus dishes for the quality of a restaurant. Let's just say although I would definitely choose to leave out the raspberry parts of the sauce, the pudding didn't make it all the way home. It did taste more like pound cake than bread pudding, but I'm sure that has to do with the sheer amount of butter included in this particular recipe. Yum :-9 There was a weird moment toward the end of our dinner where they dimmed the lights pretty significantly. As in, I could no longer fully see my plate. But I'm really interested in their crab cake, cocktails, and the starters I mentioned before so I'm sure I"ll be back to sit at the bar or outside once it gets warm!
(4)Ann S.
This is our fallback restaurant when we can't decide what we want to eat - they have a decent selection. The food is usually very good, and the service is great. The servers have each other's backs - at other restaurants one might sit for a long time trying to get a particular server's attention, never happens at Jackson's. Someone is always available to get a table what it needs.
(4)Monsieur F.
I went here for the second time last night. It was just as good as the first. I had the ribeye, again, and it was done just right. I cleaned the whole plate. I had the chop house salad which was great. The lady and I split the flourless chocolate waffles. I also had two beers: Jackson's Lager and Jackson's Pale Ale. Both hit the spot. One person at our table seemed disappointed that the steak comes with fries instead of a baked potato. I'm sure if you just ask you can have your wish. It's a bit noisy in here simply because this is seems to be a hotspot in Reston where a ton of business are nearby, so there's usually a packed bar. If I worked nearby, I'd come here for happy hour, too. Crowd is a little older but I really don't care. People are people. However, it's not club loud or anything like that. We sat at an actual table instead of at the bar, and we could hear each other just fine. I'm sure if you sat at the bar, you would likely have to speak up. I'm not super critical like most on Yelp who think they are a culinary expert writing for a newspaper. I'm just an average guy. I honestly only care about the food, the price of said food, and the amount of food received at a restaurant and little else. This restaurant, although slightly high in price, lives up to delviering a satisfying amount of food for the price paid. Tasty to boot!
(5)Jenn K.
So, I have two other reviews already for Jacksons. I would just like to add that my steak tonight (Steak Frites but subbed Frites for broccolini) really hit the spot! 5 star top notch. Not fatty, tender, perfect seasoning. Melt in your mouth. I cleaned my plate.
(5)JJ R.
Good food. Great service. Consistent. Good prices. Good booth seats. Never been disappointed. Only negative is the meat market at its outdoor bar.
(4)Anthony A.
I have dined here twice and both time the meals were excellent. The salmon was cooked to perfection the second meal was steak! The hickory smoke flavor came through with a nice smooth taste, it did not overwhelm the meat! I will be back again!
(5)Ali Z.
Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite restaurants in Northern VA. The service here is top notch, and the food is always consistently good. For a while I had thought about coming here for their weekend brunch. i figured you can't go wrong, since their lunch and dinners are always amazing. As you would expect at any Great American Restaurant, the menu choices are limited. I was looking for a breakfast item, so I passed on the crab dish and a few other choices. Really the french toast is one of your only choices. I didn't think it was anything special and too sweet. The potatoes it came with were good. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner, but wasn't impressed with their brunch options and my meal. For $36 for 2 people (we had a juice and a coffee along with our 2 entrees), there are better choices around here.
(3)Glenn C.
Jackson's is one of my favorite spots in Reston. It offers a great, diverse menu, two fantastic bars, and the best outdoor patio area in Reston Town Center. Starting with the menu, you'll immediately be pleased with the number of options it gives you: steak, chicken, fish, pork, burgers and sandwiches, sushi, and inventive salads. Their surf and turf is great: a filet and crab cake served with fries. Not only is the filet tender, juicy, and flavorful, but the crab cake is 95% lump crab meat, not those cakes which are almost all filler. Topping it all off, though, are the fries. Jackson's has some of the best french fries I've ever had. They are on the level of Thrasher's- the best (normally beach-side) fries I can remember ever having. Whatever you get, be sure to try some fries along with it- you won't regret it. The decor is smart and classy, with dark wood and steel accents all over the place, set off with frosted glass sconces and chandeliers. This carries over to the bar area, too. Speaking of the bar, it's amazing. Or more accurately, they are amazing, as there is not only a bar within the dining room, but one on the upper deck next to the patio as well. Both offer multiple TVs to catch the game on, and both are consistently packed with a fun and diverse crowd. The best feature of the lot is the upper bar. It's raised up on the rest of the restaurant, which gives it a cool feel and look. Best of all, however, is the patio. The patio connects directly to the upper bar, with doors on either side allowing access back and forth between the two spaces. During the warmer months, the windows are drawn up, opening the bar to the patio and allowing fresh air to breeze through. Even during the colder months, though, the patio is still open. It's situated below an awning which not only shields it from the elements, but provides warmth as well: heat lamps run the entire length of the patio. They are high-powered enough to where you can comfortably sit outside for an hour during the dead of winter. There's always a crowd enjoying this space, and because it lays directly on the sidewalk, it offers up wonderful people-watching opportunities. All in all, Jackson's is a great choice for dinner or drinks. The bar crowd tends to hover around a 35-45 range, but even if you're younger you'll fit right in. One of the premier destinations in Reston Town Center, bar none.
(4)Paul B.
The food at Jackson's isn't bad. The atmosphere and the service are both pretty good too. Overall, it's not a bad restaurant. Ordinarily, I would give such a restaurant a higher rating, but I feel like they're far overpriced for what you get. That's not to say that a lot of the other food in the area isn't overpriced.... I just don't think it's worth it at Jackson's. Also, it seems awfully popular for what it is. It's decent, but it's not the best place in town or anything. So crowded though.... It's not bad. If you go to Jackson's you'll probably enjoy the food and have a good time overall.
(3)Rupa R.
Lucky lounge is good...
(4)Rebecca M.
Dining Experience is a complete 180 from Bar Experience!! My last experience with Jackson's was at the bar area, which was (as you may read) not for me due to the crowds and my assessment of reasonable price point of alcohol. Recently, I met a dear friend in the dining room area and now understand why Jackson's has been popular with so many Yelpers. Service was at once present, charming, patient, and attentive without cloying. We were served drinks right away and accommodations were made for my friend's beautiful and energetic four year old. We were given time and space to reminisce and catch up on each other's recent news with no pressure to order right away. We ordered steaks-- mine a filet mignon and hers a hanger steak--which were cooked perfectly to order and delivered in a synchronized and timely manner. My baked potato was tender, starchy and filled with butter and the sautéed shrooms which accompanied my entree were succulent and perfectly executed! Grouper fingers with frites were a hit with the little one as well. I got a piece of carrot cake to go and it did not last until dinner the following day--mmmm mmmmmm! I'm still not a huge fan of the ambience, but then again the dining room atmosphere beat the heck out of the crowded bar atmosphere! With such fantastic customer service and a better-than-expected filet, I may be in danger of becoming a fan----of the dining area, that is!
(4)Grace M.
I came really late on saturday night after my boyfriends college summer league baseball game with both of our families and a few of his friends. They close at 12 but my mom showed up to take our orders at 11:20. They happily took all the orders and kept the food nice and warm until the rest of us arrived after the game at 11:40, only 20 minutes before their dining closed. We ate our whole meal and it was wonderful. The waiter was nothing but kind even though we were "those people" who showed up right before closing. My boyfriend got the Rib-eye steak and it was HUGE, my friend got the chicken and was it was also superb. Two of us got the fried grouper and it tasted so fresh but not too fishy. I highly suggest it. Really yummy. The ambience was quite nice too--with nice big leather booths for every guest!
(5)Jenn G.
Pretty much exactly what you'd expect for a restaurant in Reston Town Center. Large and fairly generic, but good food and good service. Not the kind of place I'd make a trip out to dine at specifically, but a more than adequate option when you need a break from shopping. I got the grab roll which was quite good and I would definitley recommend. The fries were good and that's pretty much sums it up. Probably good group dinners or after-work events. Like I said, I'd go back if I was hungry and in the area, but wouldn't seek it out.
(3)Dominique F.
This review is only based on a drink after work and the service at the store. My pomegranate margarita was good, however the service at the bar was pretty slow and it wasn't even that busy YET! Plus the bartender made a pomegranate mojito by mistake, and I guess she had to throw it away? :( Oh well, I might come again for actual food, until then: Adieu!
(3)Angel W.
I have been a huge fan of Jackson's, per my two previous 5 star reviews. In those reviews I raved about the veggie platter. However, last time I visited they changed the platter by removing the warm thin beans & fingerling potatoes from the dish. They basically ruined the great thing they had going. The potato option totally evened out the rest of the dish and has now been substitured by flavorless steamed spinach. So, basically now the platter is an overload of vegetables (aparagus, spinach, rice, beets, corn on the cob and tomatoes). What were they thinking?? I hope they get it together soon. This was my go to place, and was the one place I could take my meat eating friends and actually enjoy an interesting entree, as a vegetarian.
(2)Kelly S.
Visited for a business lunch and was pleased. The rolls are delicious -- especially the ones that are sweet, almost donut-tasting. I got the french dip sandwich and thought it was very good. We had good service by the waiter and were all pleased with our meals. Nothing other than what I've said was stand-out, but I also don't have anything bad to say. Maybe a little pricey for a lunch, but I was in the DC area, so I totally understand.
(4)Layla L.
I was really reluctant to dine here... considering the atmosphere I thought it would just be another typical american restaurant with blah food and burgers on their menu, but I was so wrong. Their hickory smoked salmon salad is incredible!!! I've never had salmon with such a good flavor. Their spinach artichoke dip is also really great and the bread they serve comes as little balls of deep fried deliciousness with sweet butter. Love it! (skip dessert and go across the street to Pitango for the best gelato you've ever had! or to red velvet cupcakes for some delicious cake)
(4)Bruce J.
Wow, talk about fantastic food. We dined on Christmas Eve and had a great meal. My wife had the Crabcake & Filet Mignon meal which she claimed the best ever. I enjoyed a very good Aged Prime Rib. However, the best part of the meal was Billy's Chopped Salad, which I highly recommend. The restaurant is broken down into comfortable and quiet booths which made our meal more enjoyable. We also enjoyed the soft lighting above the table. The service was excellent. Overall a very enjoyable experience.
(5)LaTanya GeminiondaRise J.
I went here for an early dinner for my birthday. I had the jumbo lump crab cake entree with a summer salad on the side. It was very delicious. I sat at the bar and Dave was very nice & pleasant. He recommended the summer salad as an alternative to the fries. The crab cake full of lump meat almost no filler I'm not a slaw fan but the one they make was tasty. I would definitely like to try them again. Threason why they get 3 stars is they don't have any happy hour specials and the crabcake was just a little salty when mixed with the remoulade sauce.
(3)Terrance C.
I used to call this place the toolbox because of the people who came here. I normally went to the American Tap Room across the street... But oh how the tides have turned! Consider me a regular at Jackson's!
(4)Robert C.
I was excited about meeting a friend for lunch today at Jackson's, but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed when it was all said and done. It's a beautiful restaurant, well presented staff, and even the food was good (while slightly over-priced). But the service left something to be desired. When I arrived first, a friendly greeting by the host. But when I asked to be seated, knowing my friend was just moments behind, I was told to wait until they got here and let them know when I was ready. Well, I was ready then! As I waited, I then saw the hosts seat several other individuals who were waiting for their companions as well, so finally I asked a different host if I could be seated, and they accommodated me. Table service wasn't any better. Before my friend and I could even say hello, the server was there asking what we wanted to drink. No friendly hello, how are you, or any type of introduction, just what do you want to drink. She seemed to not be paying attention to the fact we were catching up and wanted a minute, rather she kept coming over and over to see if we were ready until finally she said, just put your menus to the side when you're ready. After our food came, which was timely, we never saw our server again. No "how is everything", she just disappeared. When she came back by finally, she just dropped the check when my friend and I wanted another drink! How do you drop a check when guests aren't done yet?! When we asked to split checks, they couldn't even do that! Said their system would show it all seperate, but how was my friend supposed to expense their lunch if the whole bill is together. Overall, food and atmosphere were good, but service needs some work. Looking the part and acting the part are two different things and from my experience, their acting needs some serious lessons.
(2)Chris P.
Amazing food and service. The hickory grilled food is outstanding, and the servers all work seamlessly as a team to take care of you. The bar is packed on weekends so be prepared to wait a while to fulfill drink orders. Great place to bring a date on a weeknight, or friends for partying on Fridays!
(4)Elaine M.
Pros: Great service, modern decor. Those fried round bread things with the accompanying flavored butter (SO GOOD). The prime rib sandwich. Cons: Relatively small menu selection. Some of the dishes are way too heavily salted (I'm looking at you, crab cakes).
(4)Daniel C.
Au jus sandwich is to die for. too bad the price has raised to $19 for a frakkin sandwich in just a few years. Hong Kong sea bass surprisingly tastes freakin as good as some Chinese restaurants. Totally didn't expect it. Salmon salad is great with giant Asparagus Steak salad not so good. huge chunks of steak... which is pretty stupid for a salad. Should be sliced thin. Fried Dough appetizer is good. They have it at all the other branches of Great American Restaurants. Food is good but little on the pricier side for what you get. Also, some servers don't know what the heck they're doing. They pour water into your Sprite... yeah. this happened twice. It tries to be pretty classy but for "Great American Restaurant" choices I'd rather go to Sweet Water Tavern in Centreville, VA. Food, Service and price is better for pretty much the same stuff. So my tip is. If you want your monies worth. Order the salmon. and if someone else is paying then order the Au jus sandwich. Otherwise, there are better places. ^__^
(3)Jack N.
I eat at Jackson's semi-frrequently. You see, I travel to Herndon regularly, and have developed a stable of places to go with my colleagues. Jackson's has yet to disappoint. I know it's kind of a meat market, but we never go there for the bar scene, just dinner. I'm from New England, and heartily endorse their Lobster Roll. Authentic as if I'm in Kennebunkport, it comes on a grilled New England-style hot dog bun. The meat is tender and delicate and there's plenty of it. The deviled eggs, the tuna sushi have both endorsed by our group. I also really like their steak salad with champagne dressing. Service has always been professional and polite, and we've not had any inordinately-long waits so far in over six times visiting. So, yeah, Jackson's is in Reston Town Center and is easy to mock, but dammit the food is good, the service is professional, and there's plenty of free parking right next door. How can I hate on that?
(4)Christine T.
I waited along time to come here everytime I walked past on the weekend this place was hoppin. So I went here for lunch so see what the draw is and to avoid the big crowds. The food was ok. They have a lot of seafood here which I'm not into. I got a chicken dish which was ok but not great. I doubt I'll return.
(3)Kristie C.
Cool sports bar, food was mediocre for the price. Strange -- they also offer sushi here. Seared tuna salad wasn't anything spectacular. Service was somewhat slow. Reston's generally a cool area, I'd probably try elsewhere for a more "local" experience.. perhaps mon ami gabi?
(3)Laura L.
Jackson's, in three words, is Reston Yuppie Central. Both the indoor bar and outdoor patio bar are par for the sausage fest course so both are best avoided unless you like getting hit on by men who are old enough to be your dad. I came here with a few of my friends and were told that our wait would be around 20 minutes but we were thankfully seated after only waiting about 5 minutes. Potential sausage fest, averted! What to say about the menu... well, seeing as to how Jackson's is part of the Great American Restaurants' empire, you know that you can expect. Decent-tasting food which is usually overpriced. Jackson's has sushi but it is best to avoided (and saved for... well... a sushi restaurant). Me personally, I had the smoked salmon filet for dinner. It was tasty but nothing out of the ordinary. Which brings me to this: is Jackson's worth visiting again? With unmemorable food plus yuppie dude clientele? Not so much.
(2)Lyndsey C.
Love the ambience of this place and atmosphere. Always good food and drinks. Solid choice and fun place for grabbing a drink.
(4)Ryan W.
My favorite restaurant near my house. The brews are good, a little pricey, but Jackson's Pale is tasty. Call ahead as it gets busy being right in the town center. The honey butter and bread is the best in the area. Comes with your meal and the calamari is to die for, yeah I said it. If you want a somewhat healthy entree, get the chicken salad with the egg and pecans, great stuff. The lobster roll is great too if you feel like filling up.
(4)Faheem R.
Summary: Not horrible, not great. I'd rather spend my time exploring new places than going back, but I wouldn't be upset if I was with someone who really wanted to go. Food: Ordered the Crab Cake Sandwich and the Lobster Roll. Both were pretty identical - except the Lobster Roll came with corn on the cob. Portions were good, but I would expect that given the prices they charge. The seasoning used in the crab cake was pretty good. The lobster was cooked well - the only issue was that they overstuffed lettuce in the roll so it started to fall apart a bit which was annoying. Fries were well seasoned. Overall, pretty solid food, but nothing mind blowing. Service: Average - nothing really notable. Ambiance: Again, average and nothing really notable. This whole place has a generic, sterile, corporate vibe to it. Wait time: Got there around 7pm on a Saturday night and waited about 25 minutes for a two-top. Silly me, being new to the suburbs, learned that you can actually call ahead and get on the waitlist. So I'd recommend doing that instead of what I did. Miscellaneous observations: They have sushi on the menu, but I would honestly question your judgment if you ordered sushi here...
(3)Mike C.
Jackson's is definitely one of my favorite spots in Reston Town Center. The service in the dining area is fantastic and the bartenders are cool and always working hard to mix up your favorite beverage. I've had many entrees from their menu and I've enjoyed them all. It's a busy place so plan to wait for a table during peak times.
(5)Nick H.
For those of you who don't know, there's a chain of restaurants called the Great American Restaurants. These restaurants each share a similar style of restaurant and food prep while maintaining their unique value in terms of diversity of menu. Jacksons, in Reston Town Center, belongs to this chain and is among my favorites. No doubt, you've heard of some of the other restaurants (the seafood themed Coastal Flats, the microbrewery Sweetwater Tavern, the all-american cafe Mike's American Grill, etc.) but Jacksons remains one of my favorites because of its location. The Reston Town Center is a hot spot for weekend or even weeknight excursions with everything it has to offer. As for the restaurant itself, there are a number of amazing dishes. The fried calamari appetizer here is perhaps the best fried calamari I've ever had. The crab cakes and deviled eggs are great as well. And anyone who's ever been to any Great American Restaurant will tell you that the "Ozzie Rolls" that come free with your meal are to die for...and will often have you asking the wait staff for multiple refills of your bread basket. If you're in the RTC area, Jacksons needs to be your next visit.
(5)Jane C.
I always enjoy going to Jackson's for really good and fine food. I have brought several guests as well, and has become a favorite for all. Now whenever out of towners visit, they ask when do we get to go to Jackson's. I can always depend on this place for fine service, great food, great drinks. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and all was good. I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes, but when I know it will be busy I do call ahead.
(5)Heather C.
I dare you to find something not to love about this place. The decor is beautiful. They keep it classy with great customer service I've never had a bad meal- they have a menu that works for everyone ! So many choices but they still keep it simple. LOVE the deviled eggs (and thats coming from a girl who usually cant even handle the smell of them) I love the chicken salad with beets for lunch its hearty and delicious (they dont skimp on all the good stuff like beets avocado chicken like other places tend to in salads). I feel boring posting about the salad here of all things -- There are so many fun yummy adventurous options ! They also have a great brunch on Sundays I love the outdoor bar area. The mojito's are pricey but worth it ! There's no place in NoVa that can make a better mojito. All of the staff is so friendly and on top of it, especially Talia behind the bar (I'm positive I'm spelling her name wrong) she's like wonder woman !
(5)U.S. A.
Like all of the Great American Restaurant locations, their service is top notch. I've always been happy with the food. Tonight I was in the mood for a steak, I joked with the waitress not to mix up my steak with my wifes as I wanted it rare! Well when I cut into it that was not the case, my wife had medium rare, but mine was medium. The waitress saw my comparing and quickly asked if everything was alright, I said it wasn't really rare, but I don't want to waste food. She jumped away and the manager came over and insisted on fixing it. He left the potato and mushrooms for me to eat and came back in a few minutes with a properly cooked rare steak with the fixin's. It was delicious and I was happy that he fixed the error. The food is always good, but like always the service is top notch!
(5)Randy B.
Boom, bitches! I got the Grouper fingers and LOVED IT. Everyone else in my party seemed to really like there food as well. However, I was surrounded by douche bags. The place is populated by nothing but douches, which made me consider for a brief second that I may also be a douche. Not the case, I just didn't know any better. Also, our server wasn't the most polite I've ever had, but she made up for it by being so hot I had to physically restrain myself from molesting her.
(4)Rindy N.
Meh. Went here twice. While service is exceptional. Food definitely doesn't justify the price--even if the price was lower. Hub, ordered a roast beef sandwich, which was the blandest of bland. And the accompanying au jus, was just laden with salt. It had no remnants of the beefy flavor, which essentially was an au jus is supposed to be--the juices from the beef thats been roasting, then you add you soy sauce or worcestshire*** (I probably spelling this wrong) Anyways--my meal the lump crab me was decent, cole slaw had no flavor. There was another meal hub ordered, seafood based--very salty, fish was wiggly--chewy skin which is gross. No flavor and like a teaspoon of rice with a 30 dollar price tag. Price is not the issue--I would just like some good, memorable food, that relies less on salt and more on layers of flavors. Especially when paying 30+ dollars on a dish. The saving grace is that damn bread pudding. I will continue to go there for the sole purpose of that damn bread pudding. Gosh, it is so good. And also drinks aren't bad. I am surprised this place get this many 5 star reviews...
(3)Victoria V.
Came here for lunch today. This was my second time here. I sat outside at the bar. Chris was really friendly and took care of me right away. I was in the mood for something lighter so I had the Chicken, Avocado & Beet Salad (fresh roasted beets, pine nuts, goat cheese and red grape tomatoes with mixed greens and citrus vinaigrette). It came out pretty fast and it was delicious. I enjoyed my meal in a laid back atmosphere and my glass was never empty. The time before I came with a group of my girlfriends. We sat in a comfortable booth inside and I had the delicious Jackson's Lobster Roll. Lots of lobster and it was dressed lightly and simply with mayo on a traditional grilled split top roll. It came with grilled corn on the cob and fries. One of the best ones I've had outside Baltimore. The presentation was really nice. I will definitely be coming back to dine here.
(4)Christina O.
I enjoy having brunch here. We are always seated right away, the service is great and the food (and coffee) are delicious.
(4)Shanell G.
I had the pleasure of dining at Jackson's on a late Friday evening in July. This was my second visit to the restaurant over the past few years. However, each visit was delightful and pleasing. The food was delicious, as I indulged in a filet of sea bass while my date had the smoked salmon. Both dishes were well prepared. I ate mine and the majority of his. :) Because we ordered just before the dinner menu cut-off time of 11pm, we were the last people in the dining room. However, the bar remained open until 2a.m. Although we were lingering guests, the service was still great and our waitress remained cordial. The ambiance of the restaurant is appealing for both groups and couples. The dining room is a large open area and can be rather noisy when filled. The bar area is separated from the dining room, which allows differing experiences at Jackson's. Overall, I have absolutely no complaints about the restaurant and look forward to returning.
(4)Alan S.
Sunday family brunch: Overall a solid meal. Food was quite tasty. I had the chicken and havarti sandwich with red peppers - it was perfect. My wife had a chop salad that was quite tasty. The kids meals hit the mark too, as far as quality. Service was OK; a little slow. Only critique - the price was over the top for what we got. For a place that seems to pride itself on "keeping it real," when it comes to the price...not so much. Otherwise I would have given them 4 stars.
(3)Ali M.
Jackson's always provides consistent quality and service. Salmon Salad is the best in town.
(5)Emily N.
If i could i would give them a 4.5 stars! Located right in Reston Town Center with tons of parking garages and spots all around it making it very accessible. With a huge sign going up and down the building it's very easy to spot them from a mile away. My boyfriend and i entered and then placed our name down. We were told that it was going to be a 10-15 minute wait. 10 minutes passed and then 15 then 20. We noticed that the people that came in after us were being seated before us. As our stomach began to rumble, we grew impatient. Getting ready to leave, the hostess asked us if she could see our buzzer. Long behold there was a mix up. When they realized how long we've been waiting for they accommodated us right away. After that confusion, it all went up hill from there. My boyfriend had ordered their Cheese Burger with an extra side of their Ham Mac and Cheese. While i had ordered their Rustic Cream of Mushroom followed by their Grilled Chicken & Harvarti Cheese. While we waited for our food their amazing bread basket and butter came out. Not only does this restaurant fall under a huge umbrella of other restaurants but the cool thing about it is that they all have similar menus. And the bread is no exception. They offer this type of bread that taste like a savory donut. Accompanied with the butter it was perfect. My soup came out and let's just say it was delicious. Warm and buttery. Reminded me of a deconstructed yet pureed version of the broth from a French Onion soup. Then our meal came out. My boyfriend's burger was perfectly cooked. Nice and pink in the center and a good hardy crunch to it. A simply classic done right with just the right amount of seasonings and fries to go along with it. The mac and cheese was alright. Nothing to complain about. Though it did some more cheese and less bread crumbs. My Chicken Sandwich was delicious. Again a simply dish yet done right. The citrus mayo really did zing to a simplistic chicken sandwich. With our meal winding down, we had stuffed our faces with enough food that we just didn't have any room for dessert. Really wished we could have though. With service being nice and very welcoming, overall a very good experience. And prices are more than reasonable for the portion and quality of the food.
(4)Ian K.
Went in for a late lunch on Saturday, which turned out to be brunch, because they serve brunch on Saturdays... who knew. So, decent offering of brunch/lunch offerings. Friendly greeting and then an interminable wait for drinks, then a wave-down of the waiter for refills. He was definitely off his game and apologized several times. The lobster bisque, which when he explained it, sounded delicious. Too bad he never brought it. Lunch/brunch was good. Best thing was the brioche french toast our kids ordered. So good that we ordered another one for them to share because the serving size was a bit small ($5 for half a slice of brioche plus fruit and an store bought apple sauce cup). The wait for the second order was long, and long.. and we asked for it to be canceled and then it miraculously appeared. The check came and I just knew the bisque would be on the bill... and it was. I asked for it to be removed and the waiter - again - apologized for forgetting it. I guess waiters dish out the soup themselves and he never got around to it. So, no matter that the food was tasty, the inattentive service lost it for us. We were pretty disappointed considering how great the reviews generally are. It wasn't that it was crowded, it was just slow and distracted service.
(3)Rob B.
This group produces some great restaurants. I knew going in that it would be good. It's a modern casual supper club with a modern menu. Decor and our server were beautiful. But beauty only goes skin deep and getting a refill or the wine you ordered, was somewhat painful. The down side of team service is no one knows how your meal is going. The food was nice, the calamari tasty but too sweet to finish as well the Asian fish was nice, but the sauce was very sweet. Prime Rib nice but heavily brined in salt. I am being picky, I would go back but would love it better if they backed down on the salt and sugar. Oh and the bread, fried dough was addictive. We will be back!
(4)Catherine G.
Sure, its a chain...but its a better chain restaurant than most. I like their staffing organization..though I think Coastal Flats does it a tad bit better. Still, their service is consistent, I never freak out about using their restrooms and the food is relatively above average. It's American cuisine, but if you are in the mood for a french dip lets say, it can be a really good. For the most part, they have never disappointed me. And I just got off my addiction to their corn on the cob that comes with the lobster roll. I asked about that corn on the cob once and it was pretty complicated but the server seemed to think it was marinated in soy sauce and sugar??? (I dunno, I may of heard wrong.) Last time I went, the corn wasn't quite as good, but then again, it could be my taste buds. Be ready for a jungle up near the bar area and a lot of noise in the evenings. Still, its a good time with friends and we always enjoy ourselves when we're there.
(4)Joe B.
service was great had my drinks in less than 3 minutes orders the short smoked salmon which was delicious, and came out within 15 minutes, my glass never got below halfway before being refilled, the servers are very friendly and knowledgeable on the menu,
(4)Victoria S.
I have to change my rating to 5 STARS because I am in love with Jackson's since I moved to Reston. I am the Duchess of Jackson's because I frequent this establishment at least once week, hence my 30 check-ins. I go sometimes 4 days in a row on a good week. Love all the bartenders here, they are great! But it's not for those who take themselves way too serious. It's a meat-market but it's all in good fun and ladies, you know you'll get a look or two here so no need to all fancy-crazy just bring a smile and you'll be the belle of the ball.
(5)JP A.
Lobster roll, lobster roll, lobster roll. On point. Great beers on tap. Definitely a solid spot to hit up.
(4)Kelly C.
I came here with a friend for dinner to celebrate her birthday after hearing good things about the food. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip to start- DELICIOUS. It wasn't too spinachy or too artichokey, as some dips can end up being. We were in the middle of eating our dip with the chips that came with it when one of the servers (NOT ours) comes to our table and tells us he has to get us more of the rolls to eat the dip with. He comes back with an additional basket of the rolls (the table usually comes with some bread and rolls to start) and tells us to fill the inside of the roll with the dip and eat it that way. This was pretty much so life changing that I felt the need to write a review and post it on here. That server was AWESOME for letting us know his secret ... so I figured I should share the love. After the appetizer, we each ordered a salad (going light because we wanted gelato after). I got the tuna salad and my friend got the chicken salad. Both were great and a perfect amount of food. They were also both full with enough flavor that neither really needed dressing if you're not a big salad dressing type person. Overall, awesome meal!
(4)Chrissy P.
Good service but I find the food pretty average. I ordered a salad that was overdressed for my liking and the tortilla chips that came with my appetizer were too salty. Seems decent for throwing back some drinks with friends but I wouldn't return for food.
(3)Rachel M.
The food is definitely 4 and 5 stars...but the service within the last week hit a low for me comparing to the AMAZING service we usually get from all the other Great American restaurants (coastal flats, ozzies, sweetwater). Last thursday, when we sat down, it took time for the server to take our drink order. then to order our meals. Note: we could barely hear the server give out the specials (unless she was new, then we totally understand). Once we received our order servers never came to check on us if we needed more drinks, food. the server also picked up a dish when our guest was not even done with their food. When we were done we sat there waiting for our server to come back with the check and we had to flag someone for it. Last night, i went to meet up with friends and they had ordered my food 10 min prior to me arriving. Right when i sat they started to complain about the service. The server did not give them the specials nor did he offer bread. They had to flag another server to give their appetizer order and it took 50 minutes to get their meal. I have never received this kind of service before so I just wanted to put it out there so this can be corrected esp if they have to measure up to the other Great American establishments nearby.
(2)Justin B.
The food is consistently good, as you'd expect from this group of restaurants. The Sunday brunch is pretty awesome, and my personal favorite is the Prime Rib Dip sandwich. The one drawback to the place is that during the evenings (particularly weekday evenings), the noise from the bar is absolutely unbearable. So, 3 stars during the evenings. 4 stars any other time.
(4)S L.
Overall, this place is pretty "meh." Maybe I'm a jerk for saying this, but I really don't get what's so amazing about this place, when it is mediocre at best. Really, is Reston/Herndon so lame that people flock to this establishment for a good time? That doesn't say much in my book. If such is the case, I'd just as soon sacrifice some of my beer money on gasoline, and shlep out to Arlington and DC. Why? Let me count the ways.. This generic, Ruby Tuesday-esque establishment somehow gets away with DC prices. In the land of large parking lots and 6-lane bumf_ck roads, you shouldn't be shelling out 8 bucks for a rail mixed drink. Maybe I'm a spendthrift, maybe I'm not, but that just doesn't make sense to me. From what I hear, their bar is supposed to be a "meat market" of sorts. That's all well and good, depending on what your scene is. When I went to a happy hour on the patio there, it kind of reminded me of one of those "CEO and Office Ho" costume parties from college. The CEO's being your basic, shlubby DC-area WASPs, mostly golf-loving sales guys and software developpers (some of whom may be married, fully open about it, and looking for a "side salad" romp of sorts), who typically are within the ages of 35 and 60. Probably not anyone worth giving the time of day to unless you're black-out drunk, but if you're looking for a free drink or six, Old Spice and his merry band of suit-clad colleagues will have no problem footing the tab (god knows they have the money for it, and they're not afraid to tell you). Likewise, there are the "Office Ho's," apple of the CEOs' eyes. Many of these ladies are much younger than their suitors, presumably better looking, single, and have substantially less income. They strut into the place with a few buttons on their polo and oxford shirts unbuttoned, and with their office slacks a couple sizes too small after a few too many happy hours on top of a sedentary lifestyle. None the less, they are cute! And unless a lady is bag-over-head-worthy ugly, scoring a free drink or even a phone number here is not rocket science. And lastly, you have the Cougars. These ladies are also key players to the Jackson's Meat Market. Some of my guy friends rave about their past one-night romps with these tan booth orange, botox babes. They have money, they work hard, and from what I hear, they put out. Apart from the three-ring circus of a bar scene that this place boasts, er, offers (I'm not sure the meat market is worth boasting about), the food is fairly good. The waitstaff and bartenders are very friendly and accomodating. The clientele, however, is a trainwreck. Definitely good people-watching, though, and I would recommend going there just once, just to say that you've been. It's almost a rite of passage, out here in the old 'Burbs.
(3)Keith M.
Didn't have to be wait to be seated as another review said, but just like many of the other Great American Restaurants, Jackson's food is spot on. Went there tonight with family. We ordered the Salmon which was AMAZING, the Hong Kong Sea Bass also AMAZING (cooked perfectly on a bed of steamed spinach in some sort of soy sauce blend), and Steak salad which I didn't taste, but heard no complaints about. As with all other Great American Restaurants they have Ozzie rolls which are hot and buttery deliciousness and a nice amount of variety in the drink menu. The dessert was great too. we ordered the mixed berry shortcake. HIGHLY RECOMMEND !! (but the flourless chocolate waffle is also good) The service was really good and the waiter popped up the second someone's water glass went dry every time. The pricing was average and the food was well worth it. I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in Reston Town Center.
(5)Jolene L.
Filet is amazing... cooked perfectly, seasoned just right, super tender; just the way a filet should be! Crab cake left something to be desired... too many bread crumbs, they overpowered everything else, couldn't even finish. Salads came out before appetizer was done, server apologized though. Dinners came out soon after salads. Service was too quick, felt a bit rushed. Kid's steak was a little flavorless & dry. Chicken was moist and deeeeeelicious! Salads were also quite yummy. Bar made PERFECT vodka & tonics.
(4)Kat M.
Jackson's is the kind of place to which we go when we don't want to stay in. It's sometimes an afterthought, but we're always glad we went! The food at Jackson's is good - but they are purveyors of more "Perfect Cokes" than any other place I've ever been. To explain: a "Perfect Coke" gets the perfect balance between the syrup and the soda. They're supremely satisfying and quite rare, and I get them very often at Jackson's. As for the food, I love the lobster macaroni and cheese, and am always impressed that they don't skimp on the lobster. The french dip is very good, and I also like the grilled chicken salad with beets. Another dish that I get pretty often is the seared tuna salad - always great. The service is always pretty good; I can think of a few servers who are very good, and none who aren't. They keep the refills of those Perfect Coke's coming, for sure! Sometimes the line of patrons waiting looks daunting, but we have always been seated quickly - after just a short wait. So, overall, Jackson's gets my endorsement!
(4)Graham C.
I really thought the reviews would be higher for this place...huh. I went here because I was intrigued by the GAR family and I was meeting someone from Dulles, so I chose Jackson's. When we got there around 7ish, the wait was 15-20 minutes, so we stood outside and waited about 15-20 minutes. They have a bar and a patio on the sidewalk and it was packed on a Tuesday. But then again, if I lived or worked in Reston, I'd drink on a Tuesday too. So we were sat in a booth and ordered the deviled eggs. I also got the steak salad and the other people got the spinach salad with chicken and the chicken sandwich with mac and cheese. So the deviled eggs were great. They were topped with bacon, and had onions inside them, but the bacon was the stuff that food critics pleasure themselves to. 3 strips of crispy thick bacon drizzled in what I think was honey. It made me feel funny in my pants is all I know. The salads were good. They weren't stingy on the blue cheese in my salad which could be a little overpowering. My friend didn't finish her sandwich and asked for a box to go. They gave her one with the date, the food item and the restaurant written on i. I gotta say that doesn't happen often for me, but I give the place an A for service almost on that alone. Good attention to detail. I liked that money from dessert goes to charity. I also liked the back story that Jackson's was dedicated to a chef they had who got ALS and died. There's a mural with his name on it and its clear from the menu that this restaurant was a labor of love for the owners and a great homage to a lost friend. I only wish this place was closer. I feel dumb driving from U Street this far for American food.
(5)Ives Y.
The food and service here is always great! And the food is pretty fresh as well. Their Deviled Eggs is definitely a must try! They have specks of water chestnuts and is served with bacon. =) I'm a huge carnivore and the rib eye here doesn't disappoint. Word to the wise. Don't go there too late, or they're run out of their yummy and fresh foods. It is a bummer that they don't have more, but I also love the fact that they limit the amount of food that they serve each day, so that they're not wasteful. The servers are very personable and accommodating. Definitely one of my favorite places in the Reston Area.
(4)David N.
For a Wednesday night, this place was rockin. Had a few pale ales at the bar before sitting down for dinner. Wait staff was great, and attentive. Deviled eggs were a nice start, and I chose the grilled grouper special which was served on a bed of grits. $ was reasonable as well. So, if you are looking for a sedate, quiet place, with boring menu items, and crappy waiters, don't go here.
(4)Chris R.
Nice place, good energy, clean and new. The two bars are great and the outside configuration looks like a fun place to hang out. My group was under-whelmed with the food however, and would not classify it as Mighty-Fine. I had the famous lobster roll, which is abut the size of a twinkie, and about half what you would expect in Boston. The kicker for me was the large chunk of very thick lobster shell that almost took out a porcelain on-lay on one of my molars, ouch!! I was a little gun-shy after that. Certainly a high quality place, but felt a bit chain like, and food was below expectations. I'll be at Clydes next time for a business lunch.
(3)Katie P.
I don't feel that I'm cool enough to do the bar area, but the restaurant is wonderful. We've come here many times over the past few months and I have always been pleased with my food. The last time we went, I got the salmon fillet with rice and asparagus. Hands down the best salmon I've ever had. The rice and asparagus were also delicious, but I couldn't stop thinking about that salmon. The glaze. Drool worthy indeed. My husband got the crab cakes and he really liked them. I also tried a bite and thought they were good. (Still nothing compared to my salmon!) The servers are *really* on top of things: you never have to wait for a drink refill, it's rare for an empty plate to sit on your table for more than 30 seconds, the check is ready right when you need it, etc. We go out of our way to eat here since it's always a positive experience. If you're walking around Reston Town Center and need a place to eat, I highly recommend Jackson's.
(5)Neal E.
Another lunch time visit to Jackson's - this time I had the Crab Cake Roll. It comes with a side of an interesting potato salad - there is a cold and a crisp element to the salad - might have been bits of Apple in it - I was not sure. The Roll comes with two small crab cakes sitting on top of a chopped lettuce mixture and stuffed into what looks like a cross between a hot dog bun and a roll. The crab cakes were tasty! Potato salad was also good. I would order this again!
(4)A Cream Puff With Apricots D.
I've been at this place a few time, I like the place and the fact that they have outside seat, specially I like the part of the bar which is outside.
(4)Kerry R.
My boyfriend and I took a trip over to Jackson's yesterday. I used to work for Coastal Flats of Fairfax, so I admit that I came in with a biased opinion. I knew that the food I was about to have would live up to the GAR standards, and it did. My parents are both huge fans of Sweetwater Tavern as well. The decor had a 80's motif with crazy lights hanging from the ceiling. Once we sat down, we were greeted immediately by our server. He told us the day's specials and offered us some of the delicious breads. I looked through the menu, and saw a few items that stood out to me. The sushi items seemed pretty interesting. The only two that I recognized were the california roll and the spicy tuna roll. However, on the down side, all of the sushi was a tad overpriced(10 to 12 dollars). I also felt that if I got the sushi, I wouldn't be able to eat my whole meal unless my boyfriend(who is not as big of a sushi fan as me) had some. I ended up getting the crab cake roll(which is also served at Coastal Flats) with a side of the ham and cheese macaroni. It was delicious, but a tad filling. My boyfriend had the steak frites with handcut fries. We both enjoyed our meals, but were unable to get dessert. Hopefully, next time I go to Jackson's, I can try the chocolate mousse. Its one of my favorite desserts. Overall, the staff was kind and the food was delicious. No real complaints! My only word of advice would be to go during the day. Since it is a new restaurant and a GAR, it tends to get pretty busy on the weekend and at night. :)
(4)May Y.
Meh, indeed. My coworkers adore this place, but I've yet to have it blow my mind. The food isn't bad, but it's nothing that I would remember as excellent. I've gone a few times, and is it a bad sign that I can't really remember what I had? A salad that was surprisingly small for $14 and a soup that was over-salted. I would say that the ambiance and decor is great, but the same goes for many of the chain restaurants in the town center. They have an outdoor, heated bar that looks pretty awesome and I hear it can get pretty packed at night. I must say that because I'm not a huge meat person it's probably influenced my opinion about this place. I'm not big on sandwiches twice the size of my face, unfortunately. Overall, while it's a crowd-pleaser, I'm never actually inclined to suggest it.
(3)Todd P.
We stopped here on a whim on our way back to Arlington from Loudoun just because we like the restaurants in the Great American chain and wanted to give it a try. I don't know if I would drive back out to Reston just to eat here, but if in the neighborhood I would definitely go back. We tried the deviled eggs which were really good, and I had the fish and chips which was good (though not better or worse than the fish and chips at Coastal Flats).
(4)Stephanie T.
My friends and I came here one weeknight around 7pm. I was first to arrive and, in the 20 minutes or so that I waited for them in the front entrance, I managed to feel extremely uncomfortable. (Granted, this is probably due to my already socially awkward nature.) At 7pm (I believe their happy hour runs late), the bar area is TEEMING with yuppies - more than I've ever seen in one location at any given point in time. Now, I can't really blame Jackson's for the gentrification of Reston, Virginia, but I can however say that the layout of the restaurant isn't exactly conducive to a quiet and pleasant dinner with friends. The meal itself was hardly memorable. Their menu is NOT vegetarian-friendly whatsoever. For whatever reason (beyond me), I decided to get the California roll, which certainly was a bizarre choice at a GAR. Words fail to describe how odd this sushi tasted - much unlike any California roll I've had before. While it didn't test my gag reflexes, I cannot safely say that I exactly enjoyed it. The environment is about as fabricated as it gets. In comparison to other restaurants part of the GAR collective, I would definitely rank this in the lower half. The 1950's decor is somewhat cheesy and completely uninspired (wow, did they really think they were first to create a restaurant revolving around a 1950's theme? Come on.) If anything, the environment is reminiscent of an upgraded Silver Diner or Amphora. Price-wise, it's nothing too extravagant but I certainly wouldn't call it cheap either. Unless you're a yuppy who enjoys loud and seemingly endless happy hours at inauthentic restaurants (hey, more power to you if you are), you, too, will probably feel pretty awkward here.
(2)Cory M.
Our second trip was similar to the first, but this time we tried different menu items. The Deviled Eggs with Bacon is certainly unusual but it's really incredible. The deviled eggs are topped with crushed sweet sugar pecans and tiny chopped chives. The bacon is not crisp but it's not meant to be - it is sugar-cured and delectable. The crab cakes here are served with traditional french fries opposed to the shoestring ones at the sister locations - much better. Unfortunately, as with our first visit, we received undercooked fish. This time it was the short smoked salmon. No worries though as it was remedied quickly. The salmon comes with a wild rice mixture that, I think, aims a little too high. Wild rice, mushrooms, grapes, celery, and more - all of high quality - adds up to too many strong flavors. The focus should be on the salmon.
(5)Danforth Ridgewell Rutherford V.
Worked out two straight hours, and was starving...showed up here for dinner couldn't find a single thing on the menu that appealed to me. Filet mignon and crab cakes, lobster bisque, cleverly named cheeseburger, nondescript salmon dish smoked with something or other...this menu is like a copy of a copy of a bad menu from 1998. Left without eating, ended up eating at Chipotle, which was probably twice as good as anything on this tired menu, at 1/3 the cost. How many NOVA restaurants can have the exact same menu? Can we slap a white sticker somewhere on the front door that says "generic corporate garbage" on these psuedo-fine dining places so those of us who care don't waste our time?
(1)Josh Y.
7/25/2009, 6:30pm dinner. My first time to this "new" restaurant in Reston Town Center. As soon as we walked in, the restaurant immediately gave me a very obvious impression of a popular chain. I am not a fan of chains, but I liked their decoration. With a call-ahead, waited for 8 minutes. Not bad for a Saturday night. 1. Service: I would give them 4 stars. Our waiter was busy running 4 or 5 tables. But very attentive and polite to each table. However, he talked too fast that I could not catch the details of each special he mentioned. 2. Hong Kong Style Sea Bass: Steamed with julienned ginger, green onion and red peeper on a bed of spinach and a scoop of sticky rice swimming in the soy sauce and sherry wine sauce. My sea bass fillet was sliced into 6 pieces and steamed just right. Great job on that. However, if I did not pay attention while eating that fish, I could have choked, because of 2 fish bones about 1 inch long each. The sauce smelled nice but was sickeningly salty. that sauce literally spoiled the entire dish. 3. A friend had a grilled rock fish with couscous. Again, her fish was well prepared. but couscous was very salty. If she says salty, that is really really salty. 4. Another friend had a fillet Mignon with sauteed potatoes and onion. That came with a house salad. His salad had very tasty dressing. The fillet was literally melted in his mouth. I guess they did a good job on that fillet. However, too much onion. 5. Desserts: White Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding: good but not standing out. Lemon "Marshmallow Meringue" Pie: average. Overall, I would say if you like this chain and don't mind getting your tongue irritated by their salty food, you probably would like this restaurant.
(3)Dan W.
** 2.5 stars ** On the way back from Dulles, we decided to try out the newest of the Great American Restaurants. It's so safe and vanilla. There is a lot of re-hash between Coastal, Mike's and Carlyle, and the new dishes are not OMG great. Everything is ...yikes...nice. Nothing new really stands out. If this were a food review, 2 stars at most. I'm surprised that as novices they can extract so much money for their sushi from unwary customers. I tried their spicy tuna roll, because I was expecting maybe a new twist or something for $12. I do commend them on using fresh #1 tuna loin for their roll vs. the frozen, processed, day-glo red version other cheap places use. However, $12? Their use of jicama as an ingredient was interesting because it added a twinge of sweetness to the taste, but $12 interesting it is not. For that price, I could have gotten 2 spicy tuna rolls elsewhere - hold the jicama. Everything was oversalted. The soups. The hand-cut fries. The duck burger. Salt is a crutch for a chef. It is a type of flavor enhancer and they really use a lot of it. We shared the bisque amongst 3 people so that not any one of us had to ingest all that sodium. I guess we could have returned it, but for what? Another oversalty bowl of soup. Split 3 ways it wasn't going to fill any of us up or kill any of us. Besides, the flavor was OK and could have stood on its own, if Jackson's had the guts to temper the salt shaker. All in all, I have to up the score because they always have clean, wide-open, comfortable dining rooms with well-trained servers in a well-designed spaces. And their consistency of the food is always there, too. Be it good or be it bad. They should get credit for executing that every time. Food wise, you'll never get great, but you'll never get awful, either. It's just safe. So, for that, it gets the average safe rating. Wonder if this restaurant group has any true new ideas for a restaurant, anymore. Someone behind me just said their bar is great and a lot of fun, though. So, maybe, drinks are the way to go.
(2)Ryan M.
Keep wanting to like Jackson's better, especially given my love for the Great American Restaurants chain, but it keeps being just *ok*. The food is alright (except the Two Cool Dips, which is blegh). The Chop House Salad and French Dip are both pretty great. Service tends to be good, but not as solid as some of the other restaurants in the brand. Great decor and popular happy hour spot, but the food and service keep being just lackluster enough to prevent a 4-star rating.
(3)Nicole S.
DONT GO HERE! Management & bar staff are racist. They refused to serve my hispanic husband even though he presented his US govt issued green card AND passport because they said he needed a STATE issued form of ID.
(1)Felix C.
Had the Lobster Roll and it was quite nice. It doesn't compare to Legal Seafoods lobster roll but it was worth going back for. The atmosphere was very bar'sy and it can get a little loud but I would go again.
(3)Jay C.
We had dinner here on Sunday night and this was our first time trying this restaurant. We've been to most of the GAR restaurants (sweetwater is our go-to), so this was on our list to see how it compares. For the most part, their food across all restaurants is very similar. My dirty martini was quite good and my wife's blackberry lemonade was quite delicious as well. I ordered the fish and chips and she got the tuna salad. The Breakdown: * Fish and chips was amazing...probably the best I've ever had. Beer battered grouper is quite delectable. Coleslaw was awesome (I never eat coleslaw) and the fries were a 9 out of 10. I would definitely get this again. * My wife said the tuna salad was very good. She got one at Mon Am Gabi the previous week and could barely finish it. She stated this was much better, but likes the one we make at home the best. * They forgot our Ossi (sp?) rolls. We didn't care that much b/c we stopped before for drinks and an app at another place. But they did tell us 2X that they would be on their way. * The men's bathroom could have been cleaner. The urinals smelled like...you guessed it...urine. Someone is not doing their job when they check off that little sheet in the B-room (Don't just check it...clean it!!!) * The server taking the order from the table across from us was incredibly distracting. I think it's good to connect with your patrons...but no need to put on a show....but, it seems like you worked at TGIF's before this so it is somewhat understandable. * The noise level is comparable to a bingo hall right after someone wins. I've noticed in Sweetwater that they have sound diffusers in the ceiling...perhaps Jackson's should do the same...or maybe this is the vibe that they are going for??? Regardless, we could barely here the music that was playing. Bottom line: for my time there, my recommendation is to go for the food, not for the service (which is odd for a GAR), and try not to use the bathroom...or if you have to... don't be surprised if it smells like a porta-potty.
(3)Michael M.
Visited Jackson's tonight with friends. My first impressions where on how limited the menu was. There are only 4-5 options under each category. Sometimes this allows a restaurant to focus on select items and make them very well. That wasn't the case. I got the crab cake sandwich which reminded me of a hot dog ( size wise ). Unfortunately the fries were the best part of the meal. The burger which my companions got was better, but not worth the $10 it cost. They do have some reasonable beers on tap, but the waiter initially brought me an ale rather than the lager I ordered. The waiter didn't seem that interested in seeing how we were doing either.
(2)Roberta C.
I took friends to Jacksons based on reviews about their fab lobster roll. Not being from Maine, I probably don't know what it's supposed to taste like, but I wasn't impressed. I didn't care for the celery bits in it and the dressing was bland. I far prefer the tasty lobster rolls at Luke's Lobsters in DC. That being said we enjoyed everything else about the place -- the look, the service. We were there during their normally busy lunchtime; our check was brought to us even before we looked at the dessert menu. Guess they're more accustomed to people in a hurry. But I would return to check out other menu items.
(4)Dave P.
If you do call-ahead, it goes a long way towards making this place more palatable. 90-120 minute waits are insane. The menu is all over the place. Sushi, Salad, Steak, Crab Cakes. I'm a little leery of a place that tells you on the menu, "Hey, if the Sushi takes some time, bear with us, we're still learning." Obviously those folks have never had a bad piece of sushi that made them sick. This place is loud. The current trend of restaurants to build with only hard surfaces, no rugs or other sound absorbing bits in the walls and ceilings creates a seating space that to hear the person across the table requires more than a raised voice at times. With 2 bars, one inside and one (which appears to allow smoking) outside, Jacksons has become a favorite for happy hours and what passes for the Reston Meat Market. We'll go back, probably for lunch and see if the impression improves at all.
(3)Kathryn R.
If you like the other GAR restaurants, you will like Jackson's as well. The food is top notch--my husband went crazy over their deviled eggs--and the customer service is great. My only issue is how crowded it is, but considering how mediocre most of the nearby restaurants are, I am not surprised.
(4)Daniel H.
Not bad, but good luck hearing anybody at the bar.
(3)Laura C.
The food is great, but you can never get in the bar because it's always packed. This tells you that its popular, but also extremely annoying. Either way, pretty good place.
(3)Darren G.
The food is okay but honestly it's a bit pricey for the quality. Where this place really excels is its outdoor bar on a warm summer night where you can have a brew beneath the city lights and watch the world go by. I'd avoid the in-house beer though: it really pales compared to the big names.
(3)Mike M.
sat at the bar for a qucik lunch (which took 45 minutes). Nice menu - I opted for the seared tuna salad. Overdressed, undertuna-ed, but big enough to fill. Halfway through lunch the specials were explained to someone sitting next to me. Specials?? Why didn't I hear about the specials. At the very least they kept my soda water topped off..
(3)Heartgood V.
Love open airy feel of the restaurant, their bread selection & their service Limited selection for vegetarians but their warm goat cheese salad and almond wild rice are good. They also have good desserts flour less waffle and white chocolate bread pudding are amazing!
(4)Kristen W.
I like this place. My husband and I stopped here for dinner after work one night and even though there was a crowd, we were seated right away. The space is big, airy, and has lots of booths (versus tables packed together), so you feel like you're getting some privacy. And the food here is really good. Heavy, but good. It's standard American fare, with a few "foodie" twists. My husband and I had the deviled eggs (which come with bacon that basically tastes like candy - so delicious), lobster bisque, goat cheese and cranberry salad, lobster mac n cheese and a filet mignon & crabcake dish. Lots of food for sure, but almost all of it was prepared perfectly and tasted fantastic. What I really wanted to write about was the service - to say it was outstanding would be an understatement. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying, and when my husband happened to mention that he wasn't happy with how his filet mignon came out, both the waiter and then later the manager came over and offered to remake the dish at no cost, etc. It's kind of what you'd expect, yet I've seen it happen so many times that if you mention your food not being prepared the way you requested, the staff either does nothing or treats you poorly for sending it back. I've never, ever had both the waiter and the manager stop by and offer to send it back FOR us. We didn't have time to wait for another steak, so we declined their offer - and when we got the check they had taken the dish off our bill. Like I said, as I'm writing about this, it seems like this would be common sense customer service to do that, yet in many places it seems like common sense customer service is not so important anymore. I was impressed and I'd recommend this place.
(5)John W.
Good but not great. Bar was busy. We were in a group of about 15. Everyone had a pretty fun time. I'm not a drinker - asked for an O'Douls, Sharps, Buckler, St Pauli NA - nope, didn't have anything of the sort. So I had a Saratoga water. Dinner. I had the crab dip as an appetizer. Yummy! Entree, I picked the Hong Kong style Sea Bass. It was only okay. A little bit bland and seemed overcooked to me. The rice wasn't good at all. Molded into a sticky ball tasting like bland risotto. Others at my table had the Mahi Mahi and a fillet (I think it was the Steak Frittes on the menu). Both at my table seemed pleased with with their food. Portions were fine and we were too full for desert. We had two waiters - one evidently went off shift during our meal. First was great, second was only so so. Aloof and distracted. Restaurant was busy and noisy but not overly so. I'd go back but I'd probably order the "red meat".
(3)Kristen R.
If you don't mind the old men acting like they are still in college... .you'll be fine. Food is awesome.
(5)S U.
Glad we YELPed this place ourselves! Definitely great service! Soda refills and water never stopped. Never once asked for refills! Lobster mac n cheese pretty yummy!!!! Sushi small, but not bad. Didn't like the cilantro in one of the rolls. Hubby had the French dip and loved it. Mainly had it due to a previous review. My son's burger was quite tasty too!!!! House salad, yum! All very good! We were stuck In DC as our transfer plane back to California was cancelled. Making the best of our situation. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)Gerardo O.
While looking for a bite near Washington Dulles airport, Yelp led me to this place. I'd say it lives up to the hype. Definitely enjoyed the casual unpretentious atmosphere, combined with very tasty food. It's the kind of place that is good for almost any occasion, and it's worth repeated visits to try the diverse menu. If you haven't been here before, give it a try (I would favor sitting at the bar, to interact with the other patrons and bartenders).
(4)Tuan N.
Cool bar, food is alittle pricey for the portions you get but thats just me
(3)Jason T.
I went to Jackson's for the first time last night with some clients. The food was excellent and there was a wide variety of cuisine to choose from. It is a great atmosphere and the servers were all polite and helpful. It is a little pricey, but worth it! I will go back soon!
(5)Jacqueline C.
Pretty fun happy hour, lots of singles. Bar food ok but not great. I do love the calamari after a few drinks!
(3)Mike T.
probably one of my favorite restaurants hands down. sea bass, tuna salad, and prime rib are always reliable favorites.
(5)Shannon H.
In my humble opinion, there are very few restaurants that I enjoy in the Reston/Herndon area. This is unfortunate, since I work wayyy out here off the toll road. By far, my favorite place for lunch, dinner, or drinks is Jackson's, located in Reston Town Center. I've never had a bad meal here. The food is yummy! Let me break it down for you: The bread: It's to die for. I don't want to fill up on 'empty carbs,' but their little round rolls are heavenly. They taste like warm Krispy Kreme donuts (minus the glaze- duh). Dinner: I recommend the Sea Bass with sticky rice and soy. It's yummy! Light and flavorful. Lunch: I love the shrimp and macadamia nut sushi roll or the crab cake sandwich. I know it sounds weird ordering sushi at a 'non-sushi' joint, but they do a good job. Always fresh and the macadamia nuts offer an awesome crunch. The crab cake sandwich is super yummy. I recommend getting the wild rice for your side (instead of boring french fries). The wild rice is awesome...it has grapes, slivered almonds, celery. Very good. Dessert: I recommend the flour less chocolate waffle. Yum, yum, yum. Even more delightful, for my gluten-challenged friends, they can eat this because it's gluten free (big hit with my sister)! It's warm, chocolaty, and is served with vanilla ice cream. Totally worth saving room for. Cocktail wise: Jackson's makes a pretty mean Mojito (complete with real sugar cane) for north of Miami. Another yummy cocktail, that's also a delightful conversation starter, is their Smoking Cosmo. The Cosmopolitan is served with dry ice which keeps it ice cold while making your drink look like it could be served at Hogwarts. Finally, if you are into Cougar Hunting, like some of my male friends, this is where you should bring your hunting license. The Cougars abound with their fake chests, full makeup and designer bags. Watching them prowl around is entertaining any night of the week. Only downsides: Cant seat a party bigger than 6. Limited (too small) outdoor bar and seating. Median age is probably 35 so it's not a joint I go to to find me a man.
(4)April Y.
As far as happy hour venues go, this is probably the place to be at RTC. But only if you're looking for ambiance, and only if you're there during happy hour on a weeknight. The scene is drastically different on weekends. (It ceases to be the young professional crowd and becomes the douchey frat boy club.) The lack of happy hour specials is extremely disappointing, but they serve good Riesling and a few of the appetizers are good enough to make a whole meal out of. My favorite is the spinach artichoke dip, although at $10 it's a little steep for something I could make in my own microwave. I went through a phase where I liked Jackson's, then decided it was too much of a meat market so I steered clear for a while, but now I'm back to liking it again. It gets pretty crowded so finding a seat somewhere is a challenge. I like being able to sit outside, although that's where all the smokers congregate, which makes the air quite stifling to us non-smokers. When I go there, I mainly go for the wine and the appetizers and the fact that it's where people I know are going to be. If they created a happy hour specials menu, I'd instantly add one more star to my rating.
(3)Inigo M.
Dotted with local office crowd on the usual Friday night.
(3)Doug K.
Had the French Dip today - first time that I've had a French Dip since I can remember - was incredible. One of my colleagues has been raving about this dish and it lived up to his recommendation. Service here as it is with all GARs was excellent. Glad I arrived at 11:30, when leaving an hour later the wait line to get in was daunting! Jackson's is a regular lunch stop for me, check it out!
(4)Dave F.
I ordered the cheddar cheese burger & blue moon beer. Overall very happy! Excellent wait staff, a perfectly cooked burger, great fries and a reasonable price. This was my 3rd visit and it's very likely I'll return for more.
(4)Timothy B.
Best brunch I have ever had and it lasts until 3pm on Sunday, so it's easy to catch if you are a late sleeper like me. I have taken over 8 friends there for their brunch and they love it. There normal dinner menu is also great, but the best part is the Deviled Eggs appetizer all day long. The best bacon ever. It has a very relaxed atmosphere in the dining area. I've only been in the bar area once or twice, but it gets too crouded for me. i only like bars where I can get drinks right away and hear the person next to me, where the bar tender knows you by first name and treats you like a friend. Having been here enough to see how the bar goes. The dining is great though with good service overall.
(5)H.A. T.
OK, so I'm really a fan particularly of the sesame crusted seared tuna salad. This is the kind of salad that I'm talking about! I've been to this establishment a few times, once for dinner, another time just for drinks and this time for lunch. It's always full and lively. The bar scene is quite a scene... The wait staff is very professional and seem like they are having fun. It's not the kind of place you go for a romantic evening, no, you go for a little bit of see and being seen. I would probably not consider this type of place to be my choice if I have one, but it'll do for a fun place in the 'burbs. Dined 11/11/10
(3)amy k.
Three words: awesome lobster roll. It had a TON of lobster meat and a nice, buttery roll. Also,our waiter was awesome and ultra-friendly. It's a busy place, but still pretty cozy and comfortable. I'm looking forward to trying a lot more of their food.
(4)Zac R.
Our go to restaurant. Great food, great service, and great atmosphere
(4)Nicole G.
The staff drank the kool-aid, or something! They were extremely friendly, to the point I thought I had left the east coast. The food was good, though I don't have much to base my opinion on; my friend and I both ordered the Lobster Roll. I have to say, I grew up in Cape Cod, so may not be the best critic here, but found the lobster quite tough. But the roll was grilled just right and the fries and corn on the cob were delicious. Great atmosphere, friendly people, we'll be back.
(4)Dennis M.
Big fan of this place. They do not take reservations is my only complaint. They do have call ahead seating. The food is always consistently good. Atmosphere is also good. You can even sit outside at the bar on a nice day. They could use more tables and chairs out there. It's also close to shopping and night life. It's worth going. I love the salads and the trout is really good as well.
(4)Robert S.
Outstanding service, outstanding food. The only thing I don't like is they don't take reservations so you have to wait for a table most of the time. I especially like their salads and salad dressings. In the evening it is quite the hang out with the outdoor bar scene.
(5)Irving H.
Went there for a work lunch and had a great experience. The service is always great at the Great American chain restaurants. The food was very good. I had the lobster roll - sweet, succulent, huge pieces of lobster dressed in a light mayonnaise dressing in a tiny toasted hot dog bun. Served with corn on the cob but I couldn't eat it because it would be too much of a mess in front of the co-workers. It looked good though - grilled in the husk. Highly recommended - clean, open dining area with two bar areas. attentive service and yummy food. Perfect for a casual night out.
(4)Kevin B.
I really like Jackson's a lot. It has a decent atmosphere, good food and a ton of hotties in next to nothing seem to always hang out there so the eye candy is great. My wife love to go there for apps and I have never been disappointed in the sushi here. Though they own Sweetwater, the beer selection here is fairly tame. I normally drink the Jacksons pale which in my opinion is a decent American pale. My only beef with this restaurant is their weird inconsistent policies. For example if you come in before 8 and are on the patio you can wear a baseball cap, but at 8 they walk around and make you take your baseball cap off but my buddy had on like a chairman Mao style hat, basically a flat top cap with a brim, and he could keep his on? Either no hats or let people wear hats, its not like this place is super classy. Seems kind of a BS policy. Also a guy in front of me at the bar tried to order shots at 9:15 and the bartender was like "I'll do it for you but we don't do shots after 9" WTF? You are a bar but you don't serve shots after 9? So if I ordered a whiskey straight at 9:30 would you serve it, but if I ordered a shot of whiskey you wouldn't? just seems crazy to me. They would get 4 stars from me if they didn't have these asinine policies, but I do like the food.... and the hotties.
(3)Gina L.
Let me start off by saying that I've never really tried their food... BUT... I have enjoyed a handful of happy hours and evenings out in the outdoor bar area. Let me just say... this is the "IT" place to be for happy hour or a weekend hangout in Reston. This place overflows with people in their 20's and 30's... with a handful from the 40+ group. A great place to have weird / fun / interesting bar conversations with strangers... and definitely a place to scope out eye candy all night long!!! My only complaint is seating! There needs to be more seating for an open / outdoor bar~ We were standing around for a good 4 hours or so without any seating or tables! If you are ever near Reston and looking for a fun bar to socialize at... look here!
(4)D V.
I had a great experience at Jackson's recently. The servers were great and so was the food. Even the manager was very accommodating when we had a minor issue with a dish.
(5)Peter O.
Really terrific place - the crab cakes were superb - and the service was top notch. The food runners were attentive and asked if we needed anything further! Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and when another server picked up our table (shift change?) she knew what beer I had ordered when asking me if I'd like another. Great interior atmosphere and lighting, a welcome addition to the otherwise boring and uninteresting Reston Town Center bar/restaurant biz.
(4)Alexandar I.
Came here for lunch with coworkers. Their bread, just like all the other Great American restaurants, is delicious and a perfect way to start a meal. We ordered the Calamari as an appetizer which was glazed with a very good sauce. Per my coworker's recommendation, I had the Salmon Salad which was awesome. It was perfectly grilled, probably some of the best salmon I've had. The deviled egg that came with the salad was also very good. Overall great experience, give it a try. I will be coming back for sure.
(4)Katie M.
I'm just not sure where to start. Snotty hostess tells our party that the booths only fit 6 (we were a party of 7), and the best she can do is split us up into 2 separate seating arrangements. Nope, that won't work...we were out to celebrate a birthday and it's just no fun to split up the good times. I ask if 7 can fit with a chair, and she replies "booths fit SIX". Hmmmm, their booths are pretty big. After a scan of the nearly empty dining room (it was 9PM on a weeknight), we decide we'll squish into one booth. Another round of "booths fit SIX". Honey, I heard you the first time. It gets better. Ms. fit SIX then commented "There is no cock-tailing in the dining room. That's for dining only". A) We weren't dressed for a night on the town, and it was more than obvious that we weren't a loud and rowdy bunch and B) Yes, we were hungry. Mind you, she never asked if we were or weren't eating...and if we were just drinking, wouldn't a group of 7 just go to the bar instead of trying to squeeze into a booth??? Just sayin'. I get the reason for corporate policy (must like their "no, we don't do takeout due to not being able to guarantee the quality of their food once it leaves the restaurant" another one I don't like.), but a group of 7 seasoned women have better things to do than party crash the dining room. (And for the record, we did eat. A lot. And drank, too. With the hostess's attitude we easily could've voted with our feet, taking our business elsewhere. Salads and service were passable. Drink orders were a bit slow. But they did split up the checks and make an effort to run separate cards for us, which I acknowledge is a pain for the server, but the kindness was reflected his tip).
(2)M B.
Great food and lively bar in an excellent location. A unique approach to American food-- I reccommend the spinach and artichoke dip. :)
(5)Joanne F.
My favorite of the great american restaurant chain. The atmosphere is great, service is phenomenal, and food is delicious. Go here!
(4)T S.
Seems like a fun place to go for happy hour. I was taken there for my bday lunch and i had the truffle fries...wow, good stuff! I also had the salad and everything on the table (i tried all my friends dishes) were very tasty. It does seem like it gets to be a bit of a meat market in the evenings though, but it was fun for lunch.
(3)B W.
Plastic food menu typical for the company that owns this place. Expect it to be noisy, crowded and over priced. Nothing special and expect a long wait at lunchtime. This is a cattle call type establishment for professionals who want large portions of bland food and wait staff who wish they had a professional job.
(2)too s.
Was in Jackson's last night hoping to get the French Dip, but it was sold out. Instead I ordered the Cheddar Burger. Let me tell ya, this was one of the best burger's I have ever had! Fantastic. The burger was large, the flavor was incredible and it came with fresh cut fries. Even though Jackson's isn't one of the many places that makes burger's their specialty, Jackson's hits the burger way out of the ballpark!
(5)Kevin H.
My wife and I have been huge fans of the Great American Restaurant chain since we moved down here in 2004. As residents of Leesburg we go to the Sterling Sweetwater quite often for dinner, or for drinks and happy hour with our friends. Jacksons actually gives us a nice place to swing by on our way home seeing as we both work in Tysons. The only problem I have with Jackson's isn't even their fault. Because of their GREAT location, they tend to attract a LOT of douchebags who want to be seen along the main drive of the Reston Town Center. Case in point, our last trip, a guy pulled his BMW M3 from a spot on the road in front of Rio Grand, to right in front of Jacksons; all while having one of his boys stand in the parking space, JUST so he could show it off. Little tip here; you're trying to hard, you're a douche. Anyways, on to Jacksons itself. First off, our favorite bartender from Sweetwater Sterlling Brandy works behind the bar. When she is tending I don't have to tell her what my wife and I drink, she knows, and she takes care of us. It is employees like her that keep us coming to Jacksons and Sweetwater, you just cannot replace a fantastic server or bartender. Unlike Sweetwater Jacksons isn't a micro-brew so they have a wide selection of beers, the liquor is just as plentiful as it is at Sweetwater. The food is what you would expect, although the menu here differs significantly from the other restaurants, which is nice. They serve sushi which I have yet to try. The duck burger which I ordered on my last visit was amazing. Duck is such an easy protein to mess up, but they have gotten it right here. The meat was juicy, and had that nice saltiness to it that gives duck its unique taste. The rice side that came with it really wasn't my bag, but I would order this dish again and get fries on the side instead. Another GAR hit, we'll be here quite often for happy hour outside.
(5)Dwayne H.
the deviled eggs are goooood jackson's has above average food, above average bar tenders and above average crowds...the place gets pretty crowded, but it's a fun spot. about as good as it gets in Reston. they close a little early for those looking to make a late night out of things...luckily for me, i'm now old and ready for bed by 11. if you find yourself in Reston and need some lunch or after work drinks, this is the place to go. the dining area is pretty nice as well...have been there with an infant for lunch/dinner...and with a bunch of guys acting like infants for late night beers...perfect fit all around.
(4)Valerie Emma C.
Given the price of food and drinks, I had high expectations. I asked for medium rare salmon, it came to me fully cooked... how disappointing. This is part of the Great American Restaurant chain, and I feel it completely falls below par. It offers a great nightlife and bar atmosphere, and I love that it is just a hop and a skip away from Red Velvet, but the service is NOTHING to brag about. Probably won't being going back, since RTC offers so many other options.
(2)Sach Bob C.
Love the Great American Restaurants but this one is a cut above the rest for 1 reason: THE PRIME RIB SANDWICH!!!!
(4)tiffany n.
Having grown up in Reston I will probably be buried there someday. Now that I live in Great Falls, I still consider the Town Center my "backyard". I probably couldn't count the number of times I have eaten at Clyde's in Reston and would probably have never gone to Jackson's were it not for my teenage daughter. Let's face it; Jackson's is hipper and newer than Clyde's. If I am not careful here I will end up writing a review of Clyde's. Bottom line, Jackson's seems a bit pricier, has a more open feel and has a bit more energy than Clyde's. The Salmon Salad I had was very fresh and cooked to order, something that I have never been offered with this dish. My children and I were plied with bread that can only be described as a fried donut without the glaze. I avoided eating these at all cost, but the kids wolfed them down. I would rate this as a first rate, but rather pricey, family place that the kids love. If I was alone or with a date I would prefer Clyde's, but then again, I'm no youngster. Kind of a Clyde's for the hipper crowd. Our waiter was very attentive.
(4)alison h.
Consistently good food. I have been there 5 times. Love the macadamian shrimp sushi, the lobster roll is jammed packed with luscious lobster, the lobster mac and cheese is delicious, and the service is attentive.
(4)Jason S.
Nothing special to say about this place. Good, but not great. It's the same stuff as Coastal Flats. If you want a basic lunch or dinner, why not. Don't go if you're looking for that special night out with the wife. Bar scene is packed.
(3)Lily B.
as part of great american restaurants, I find that the wait staff and the bread products are usually great, and Jackson's pleased as usual. the menus are not as extensive at great american restaurants as i would like compared to some other town center restaurants. but i will definitely be back for the deviled eggs with bacon appetizer, and the sea bass entree. Lots of families with children, just FYI.
(4)Antonio M.
Forget the bad reviews - there are few restaurant chains that are as consistently good as the GAR group and Jacksons is no exception. I eat out regularly at restaurants in this class and I often eat at Coastal Flats, Jacksons, and Sweetwater. They are all more similar than different. The best dishes are the fresh seafood items and the specials. My favorites here include the Mahi X2 (normally served), Lobster Roll, the Grouper and Flounder (occasionally served) and the Beef Tips and BBQ ribs (Coastal Flats). The Deviled Egg and Calamari appetizers are also great (Jacksons and Coastal Flats respectively). Annoying servers, not a particularly relaxing experience with the hyperactive service and a bit overpriced perhaps ,but most locations are all high-end and the prices match others in the area. If you place your dining out priorities on the food then this place comes out on top. You can go out to Rio Grande, Mccormick and Schmidt, Clydes, etc but none will deliver the food you get at the GAR locations.
(4)John R.
I've lived in town for two months and had always been scared to try this restaurant because I assumed the prices would be outrageous. While expensive, it was much more affordable than I'd thought it was going to, and the food was a steal. My prime rib reuben was fantastic, and even though I don't like seafood, my girlfriend's crab cakes were delicious. The waitress took great care of us and was very professional. Great experience, great food, great restaurant.
(5)Sky O.
The hosts are not organized, our call ahead were messed up. We waited 20 min more but still can't be seated until I demand a table and pointed out their mistake. No apology for their mistake. Food is just their usual standard, good, portion is huge. Waiter was attentive. Service is a bit slow, no prime rib when I decided to order something different. After all, Sweet Water Tavern and Coastal Flats are much better.
(3)Kimberly K.
3.5 stars We had a wonderful meal here. The hostess were friendly. We tried calling ahead to reserve a table, but they didn't allow us to do that for a Friday night. You have to arrive early and get a buzzer. Wait was about 40 mins. Our server was attentive for the most part. As the restaurant started to get more full, I did find myself having to ask another server to grab a couple of things for us. Employees are quick and friendly. Their complimentary bread basket is delicious (as usual). The ozzie rolls are always a hit. Fried doughnut hole bread things, can't go wrong with that. They also offer raisin bread and one other kind. Love that you can ask for more. Everyone enjoyed their dishes. I ordered the Crabcakes, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Not a whole lot of filler with loads of crab pieces. Perfect. Came with a generous serving of cole slaw and fries. Everything was seasoned well and tasted fresh. Tried a bit of the Grouper Fingers dish and it was awesome. So lightly battered, crisp, and seasoned perfectly. I actually enjoyed this dish more than mine. The infamous Flourless Chocolate Waffle is the only way to end a tasty meal at a Great American Restaurant. Lightly crisp chocolate waffle with a ooey gooey chocolatey center. Homemade whipped cream. Vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of caramel sauce. It's all topped with a light dust of powdered sugar. It's a chocolate lovers dream come true. Overall, I'm glad we tried this place out. The food was good and the company was even better :D
(4)Daniella B.
This place is like a traditional diner with a seafood twist. Considering this, its a little over priced for what it is. Also, can you believe there's no wifi?! The beer selection is pretty minimal which also sucks. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which pretty much fell apart as soon as I tried to pick it up. That was pretty disappointing. The servers are very helpful and attentive. Their bread basket is also too good!
(3)Johnny T.
Lance, Lance, Lance! You are the man! I'm only here for a week and I've been eating at all of the local spots. I was going to get their salmon dish but my coworkers and I were talking about ribeyes from last night and Lance came to the table. I asked them how their steaks were and told him I had a great steak last night. He said their ribeye is comparable and it would not let me down. I said I'll take his word and ordered the steak medium-rare. We also ordered some appetizers one was a seafood spring roll (I wasn't paying attention when my coworkers ordered it) but it was light and fresh. Not bad but it wasn't too special either. We also ordered Ahi Poke on what seemed like seaweed but it was hard like cooked wonton. I'm not exactly sure what it was but the ahi tasted fresh and the avocados and lime complemented the dish well. The steak came out with a nice char. There was plenty of marble but unfortunately it was closer to medium-well. I still ate the steak and didn't complain. When Lance came back I t9ld him the steak was ok but it was over cooked. I cut a piece and showed him. And immediately he apologized and asked to take it back and replace my meal. I told him no need. I ate more than half and didn't finish it because it was full. I will still pay for a meal I ate. He thanked me but ended up speaking with his manager and his manager came by and comped the meal. Again I expressed that I was happy and this was unnecessary. The manager said too late, it's already removed. Lance came back after and asked if his manager approached me. I said yes and told him this wasn't necessary. He told me "if we couldn't provide the best steak, at least well provide the best service." talk about a winner! Wonderful service! Thank you for treating me as a valued guest. You will have my business when I come and visit our eastcoast office.
(5)Michelle B.
I am a big fan of the Great American Restaurant chain and I have been eating at Jackson's since it open in Reston since I work across the street. Like all the restaurants in this chain, the host(ess), waiter(tress) work well together and the place is always inviting. It is a great place for lunch, to meet up after work as well as brunch on the weekends. Some of my favorites are: *Deviled Eggs with sugar cured bacon *Roasted Chicken Salad *Calamari *Crunchy Shrimp & Macadamia Roll Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecan Salad *Waldorf Steak Salad *Brioche French Toast (brunch) *Chicken & Waffles (brunch) Because the place is so crowded all the time an especially when the weather is nice on any given day, earlier in the week is easier, 11:30 for lunch or wait until 1:30, early dinners are good and exactly around 11:00 for brunch. Sometimes you can be fooled that it is too crowded for a sit down meal just because the bar area and patio is full. Always my top choice when someone ask me where to eat at the Reston Town Center.
(5)Babak Bobby J.
Very basic. It's on the same level as Chilli's or TGI Fridays. I'll go back to try some other items on the food and drink menu but it's going to be an uphill battle to get me on board. On the plus side the people there are very friendly. ps They have four small TV's with basic cable. Step your game up Jackson's...
(2)Charles H.
Generally speaking, I like all of the restaurants in the Great American Restaurants chain, and Jackson's is no exception. The service is generally good, and the food is good as well. Despite the obvious attempts to differentiate the restaurants in this chain from each other, through, the menus are surprisingly lacking in creativity, with a lot of overlap from one to the next. The good thing is, if you like the food at one, you'll generally like it at all. The bad thing is, it's all pretty much the same. Oh, and get the chopped salad as an appetizer, it's so good! The one thing I find very difficult to deal with is the overall noise level in this particular restaurant. They get a really good bar crowd, and the bar is not separated enough from the dining floor - so the noise just kind of rolls over any attempt at conversation at tables. This, in turn, makes diners speak much louder to compensate ... which only makes the noise level worse. I'd give the place 4 stars if the noise wasn't such a turn-off. Still, it's always a good time. I recommend it for a night out with friends, but not for a date night, or with your old Aunt Millie and her bad ear.
(3)Bekim V.
I frequently eat lunch at Jackson's and they never disappoint. There food is always consistent and amongst the best for bar style good. Amongst my favorite dishes are Tuna Poke 2.0, seared tuna salad and the chicken, beat and avocado salad. If being healthy doesn't matter then order there cheese burger. It's the best burger in the Reston Town Center. Lastly, make sure to try their seasonal desert.
(5)Bro H.
Bar: 0 stars Restaurant: Haven't been, but I trust in Great American Restaurants This is the worst bar ever. You can't smoke outside, even the rail drinks are over five bucks, and they have weird rules on clothing. There are a billion people here, all of whom presumably like to party at bars in Reston Town Center, which means I don't want to meet them. That said, I've never been to a Great American Restaurant with bad food, and I doubt this is an exception, so I'm bumping my score up to three by default. I don't even know why I wrote this.
(3)Karen M.
The fiance and I came for dinner and only had a 20 minute wait on a Saturday. That was fine, we went to the bar to wait it out. The bar was decent sized and had about 5 beers on tap. The fiance got the Rhino on tap and I got the Jackson's Pale Ale which I was told was their recipe, but Dominion brews. It was pretty good, although a bit darker than what I was expecting for a Pale Ale. When we got our table, our waiter brought us a basket of bread. The "star" of the bread bowl were these small fried dough balls, kind of like a donut without the sugar. For dinner, I ordered the ahi tuna salad and the fiance got shrimp and chicken pasta. Mine was good, and the fiance liked his. But I wouldn't say these dishes were so memorable where I'd tell all our friends to go order them. Overall, Jackson's was ok. I'm not sure if they have any tables with chairs as I just remember seeing all booths, so that was a little weird. Parking is easy in the garage right above and this area of Reston is pretty cool. I'd go back, but I wouldn't put it on our regular rotation.
(3)Bekah M.
We went for Mother's Day. I ordered the salmon and it came with a rice dish. We got our bread and butter, which I'd started eating and noticed there was dishwater in the bottom of the butter ramekin...that was nasty...the other ramekin had it too.... Cocktail was just "ok", nothing I'd be anxious to go back for. But the real issue was when I got a bite of my rice side and there was a long black hair halfway in my mouth partly chewed and part hanging out.....I was so grossed out, nauseated and turned off by that. We had to flag someone down to help us, because our waitress wouldn't come back to check on our food (brought by food runners). So my kids and husband are sitting not eating because it's Mother's Day, and I got hair in my food and actually partially ate it....they all felt awful and didn't want to eat until my new plate got there, but I insisted they go ahead. My new plate took quite a while, so everyone was pretty much done by the time my plate came. And I was so grossed out, I could barely eat. I believe they took off my meal from the check, and gave us one dessert to share between the four of us, but honestly, I feel they should have taken off more. It was Mother's Day, and my meal/day was pretty gross after dishwater butter and hair in my rice. If it would have been some of the better restaurants I've been to, they would have taken off the whole bill, or bought drinks. Something more then just my food, which we had to wait on and unenjoyable too. It was quite unfortunate, because it's my first Mother's Day in 13 years my husband was home to take us out.
(1)Norma G.
The salads here do not disappoint. I had the Lobster Club, and my friend had the Sesame Crusted Tuna Salad. I enjoyed my salad but would have preferred no mayo on my lobster. My friend's salad looked even better and had a lower price point. Next time I'm in the area I'm getting her salad. The bite of tuna I tried was delicious.
(4)Rob B.
This is hands down my favorite place to eat in RTC. The food & service is top notch as you'd expect in any of the Great American Restaurants. The guys who started this a long time ago got the formula right and almost any restaurant out there can learn from them. Weekend brunch - may be the best chicken and waffles I've had...they even put bacon in the syrup. Do yourself a favor and eat here when you're in RTC...you won't regret it.
(5)K. Anand S.
Great place for a meal at Reston town center. Good selections on the menu. I had sea bass and it was great! The sauce and rice accompaniment elevated the dish even more. Service was very crisp and quick.
(4)Eric S.
Got the Crab cakes. They were some of the best I have had. Cool atmosphere and great service!
(5)Tricia J.
We stopped in for a drink and ended up staying for a couple. Great place for food and drink. And the folks behind the bar are wonderful. We had a couple of appetizers and met a wonderful group of people here. I say stop by and have a drink or two. And ask for Vernon. =)
(5)Dave H.
Love Jackson's for brunch every Sunday (and the occasional dinner if we are in the area). I don't know how Great American Restaurants does it but the quality of their food, service, and management are amazingly consistent at a high level. We split the french toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon for lunch with a deviled egg as an appetizer. It's getting to the point that the super friendly front desk team could almost tell me what table number we are at and I'll find it on my own - maybe a sign I come here to often but man, it is so good. The management team is quick to action on the rare times when things don't go perfectly (such a rare occurrence that it actually stands out). The French Dip is our go-to for dinner (once or twice a month) and it is big enough for two of us to share and mouth watering good.
(5)Tatiana M.
Lobster rolls = 5 stars Catch of the day trout = 5 stars Deviled eggs = 5 stars Tuna nachos = 5 stars Caipirinha = 5 stars Service = 5 stars Will definitely come back!!!
(5)I C.
This one is my favorite of the great american rest chain. I like most of the items on the menu. I think they have one of the best burgers and love the shoe string fries!!! Food is a lil on the saltier side, but that's what you expect when you go out to eat. It is a bit noisy, but we still enjoyed it. They don't take reservations, but allow "call ahead", so you don't have to wait so long.
(4)Julie S.
First time dining at this location (but a fan of the various other restaurants in the GAR family.) We went for an early dinner on Thurs. and got there about 4:30 and the inside was pretty dead with maybe 2 other tables occupied. (Outside Bar area was filled and kept right on filling up the whole time we were there.) Food was very tasty. Hubs got the Prime Rib 20oz with spinach salad w/walnuts and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got the roasted chicken with the wild rice/almond/cranberries/grapes ($15). What a unique side dish!! I really enjoyed the medley of flavors with it. I also ordered a side chopped house salad ($8.00). Chopped house salad was really tasty with the roasted corn and scallions in it. Bread basket was delish (those Ozzie rolls are awesome!) Waiters were on point with refills and clearing plates. It took a little longer to get the check, but we didnt mind. No dessert for us (we were stuffed.) Will definitely be back to check out other dishes on the menu. Also saw the brunch menu as we were walking out and that intrigued us too.
(4)Nicola M.
Started with the tuna poke - small portion for the money but totally worth it - amazing! We also got the firecracker rock shrimp roll - which was pretty much a shrimp tempura roll - good, but nothing special. The lobster club salad was excellent! A half of a deviled egg, bacon with a hint of maple, fresh corn,lobster salad with champagne vinagarette. I would totally recommend it.
(4)Kyle S.
The absolute worst restaurant I've been to. For beers, they have miller lite, bud lite, and about 3 other variations of beer colored water. Food is expensive (and probably overpriced), tbh we were out the door after one look at the menu; service was bad as well. Very gimmicky and over-the-top atmosphere. Basically, its a glorified Applebee's. As a reference point for my review- I'm not a picky person, and have only given one '1 star' review on here. I feel this was worthy of such a review (even without trying the food), for even the best food in the world could not undue the tastelessness of the menu/atmosphere. I am quite sure that that only an idiot would intentionally go here.
(1)O G.
These people are truly commuted to great food and great service. Everything they do is amazing. I live in the Town Center and eat there at least twice monthly. I have tried everything on the menu and all of it is 5 star work. The hickory wood fired flavor in their burger will make you a believer. My wife hates fishy tasting fish - this is the only place she will eat Salmon. Can't say enough good about the place.
(5)Tana V.
This is always a great place to grab a bite. I always order one of two things - the seabass or the lobster roll. They've never let me down and the food has always been consistent. Great place with plenty of eye candy for those who like to people watch. :p
(4)Food E.
Good food, chaotic service. I've eaten here a few times and my experience is always the same: the food is fine but the service is awful. There are lots of people in the dining room running around, working harder not smarter. Their concept is for a team of servers to wait on you, which should be better than one assigned waiter but, in practice, you end up being ignored by everyone. I had to wait for a drink, for refills, for some ketchup, and to order dessert. But guess what? They were really punctual with the check! All-in-all this was a disappointing meal. I won't be going back.
(2)V H.
Holy moly! This is one of the best places I've eaten at in a while. Super service, great atmosphere, and did I say bacon? Bacon, yum! :-) :-)
(5)Janet K.
We decided to try Jackson's after watching my nephew play hockey at the World Games and what a great idea that was! The food was delicious and the staff was awesome. We will definitely keep Jackson's on our list.
(5)Mike W.
I came here with some of my coworkers to watch one of the World Cup games and ate at the bar. Beer selection was "meh" but it got a 4-star review for one reason and one reason alone. I got the Penne Primavera (not what most people would probably get here) and it. was. exceptional. I was shocked. Alright, it wasn't a 5-star pasta dish but the sauce was definitely full of flavor. I could taste each of the ingredients, the broccolini, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, arugula, basil, garlic, separately. And united. It was magic in a bowl. The best part of the meal? The U.S. Won that day!
(4)Anna L.
So Jackson's is another in the GAR chain and with over 450 reviews already, there is not much I can contribute that hasn't already been said. The food and customer service are great here just as in the other GAR restaurants. I find the menu at Jackson's a bit more varied - it seems to be a combination of menu items from other GAR locations. They even offer sushi which if I have to be honest wouldn't normally be my first choice at this type of restaurant. We have tried many dishes here to include the deviled eggs, lobster club salad, slow roasted French dip and the crunchy shrimp macadamia roll along with the steaks and seafood served at other GAR locations. Let me start by saying how surprised I was about the sushi roll. It was tasty and fresh - no not up to the quality of maybe the Sea Pearl, but Jackson's is not a seafood/sushi restaurant. I was going order the lobster roll during our last stop in, but Nancy recommended the lobster club salad and I am so glad she did since I missed that on their menu. This was a huge mound of lobster salad perched atop mixed field greens, avocado, roasted corn and maple bacon with a drizzle of champagne vinaigrette and a deviled egg on the side. So delicious and so filling. The French dip here is better than what they serve at Ozzie's - I think it's the way they toast the roll. I also prefer the hand cut fries served at Jackson's to shoestrings. We really enjoy the outdoor bar and would probably stop in more often if it were not so insanely busy during happy hour. People are packed in like sardines and while they seem to be having a good time, my husband and I prefer a more relaxed environment. Once the crowds roll in, it gets quite loud as well making conversation difficult. I am sure the dining room is not as hectic, but we so much prefer the outdoor experience especially in the warmer months.
(4)Victoria L.
So my sister made reservations a couple hours before heading here for my dad's birthday dinner. When we arrived at 5:45 we got seated right away. As the hostess was walking us to our table, the manager stopped to tell us welcome and he hopes we have a great dinner. I thought that was very nice because you don't usually see the managers walking and talking. We were greeted promptly by Josue who told us the specials and even gave suggestions for appetizers. It is a must to order the sweet and spicy calamari and I am so happy it tasted like the Costal Flatts calamari. I am obsessed, its sweet but has a spicy kick to it. I usually eat it all but since my family of 5 was there, we had to share. (darnit!!!) Josue brought out the fabulous bread, my favorite are ozzie rolls and they were hot, fresh out the oven with that eatable butter. Yum! I ended up ordering the wood grilled filet mignon and it was fantastic! It was well-seasoned and full of flavor. It was juicy and succulent and cooked perfectly to my liking (medium). For dessert, my sister and I surprised my dad with a happy birthday on the warm white chocolate bread pudding. Oh my goodness it tasted like an angel was making it in the kitchen - NO LIE! It was amazingly delicious, it came out nice and warm with vanilla ice cream on top. The bourbon custard sauce topped it off and paired perfectly with the bread pudding. Perfect way to end the night. Josue was an excellent waiter. He was attentive the whole time, refilling our drinks before we even finished, bringing the ozzie rolls (because I told him to keep em coming) and just constantly making sure we were happy. All the employees we encountered were friendly from the runners to the managers. One of my favorite GA restaurants and will be back here for sure to try the other foods.
(5)Roseann M.
My friend from Tyson's Corners and I ended up here for dinner on a recent Saturday night because the Mexican place across the street had a forty-five minute line. I really wanted Mexican food, but there was no way I was going to stand in line for that long. It looked like every restaurant in the Reston Town Center had a line at 7:30 on a Saturday night, but the friend said, let's check out Jackson's. She claimed that she'd eaten at a number of the restaurants owned by the same company and had never had a bad meal. There was no line for inside seating at Jackson's. Any other time, on a similar Saturday night in a similar popular area, I'd wonder if that was a bad sign. But I was willing to try it, based on Chris' recommendation and the fact that I was (a) really getting hungry and (b) absolutely hate to stand in line. We had a very friendly, efficient young man for our waiter - sorry, I did not get his name. Shortly we had our waters and a bowl of bread with butter. The bread was really excellent. I went with an adult beverage, since I was the tourist and not driving; a lovely red Spanish Tempranillo, which cost $6.00. Boy was that good. The fact that it ws $6, instead of $8 or $10, only made it taste better. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and was very pleasantly surprised to see I actually had several selections to choose from. We started with salads; I had the Warm Goat Cheese and Spiced Pecan, and Chris had the Mixed Field Greens. Both were excellent. For dinner, I just had the Mushroom Soup. Excellent as well. Don't remember what Chris had - sorry! - but she enjoyed it. Chris asked me if I wanted dessert. We got a list of 3 desserts from the waiter, and none of them really appealed. I thought that meant we weren't hungry, but Chris, God bless her, asked if there was something that wasn't on the menu. There was! A shortcake with mixed berries. Oh boy, was that delicious. Jackson's also offers a gluten free menu, which seems like a smart thing to do. Along with the vegetarian choices, they make it easy for people with sensitivities or specific preferences to be served. The one thing I thought might be a little problematic was that so much of the food seems to be prepared ahead of time. Chris asked if we could get the macaroni and cheese without the lobster; nope, prepared ahead of time. She asked for a salad substitution; nope, couldn't do that either. The food really was very good, don't get me wrong, but I do find it surprising that some simple requests can't be accommodated. The prices seemed reasonable to me. We were in a tourist area, kind of upscale, and I'm from Chicago, the most expensive urban area in the country, outside of Williston, North Dakota (really). I'd be happy to eat at Jackson's again, or to try another restaurant in the corporate group.
(4)Tami C.
Went with some work friends for a couple of drinks - had the bartender (Andrew I think) make a less than sweet mojito...it was amazing! Looking forward to the next trip to the area!
(3)Kelly J.
I have to say I was very satisfied with the treatment my family and I received last night. 2 out of 5 of us have food allergies and 2 more have certain dietary food restrictions due (not due to allergies). I am the one where both over laps and I felt that Jackson's really paid attention to the things I said and delivered. When ordering the menu was double checked for ingredients, but our waiter went through it one by one anyway. When asked to have my food cooked without butter or oils, the kitchen staff cooked it completely separate of the main grille. One person in the party even ordered something with a food allergen in it and I was warned not to try it because of it's ingredients. I've only had food allergies for a few years now, but I have never gotten so much feedback from the restaurant that I felt completely safe from any issues happening. It's nice to encounter a staff that is knowledgeable about the ingredients and cares about the people they are serving.
(5)Lynn N.
Went here for the first time the other day for lunch. I spoiled myself with the lobster cob salad which was absolutely amazing. Totally worth it. I'd like to come back again and try other things on the menu. Also had really good service, I came with a big group and the waitress was on point. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for. In this case, I'll pay for the good food and great service. Definitely coming back in the future.
(5)Gurpal K.
This place is amazing. It is always a great time with great food! Can never go wrong with their chicken entrees and bread pudding. Service was good as well.
(4)Boris S.
Mac 'N Cheese w. Ham $4 (3/5 NOMs) Forget fries with your burger, get Mac n Cheese. YES YES YES!!! That is whole lot of mac for just $4. This one side order can pretty much fill me up. Whole lot of mac and cheese going on there. It's suppose to be Mac N Cheese with Ham, but I didn't really taste any ham. I think all the cheesiness just overpowered it. I love ham and was a bit disappointed. Still this is a great side order or maybe your whole lunch. Cheddar Cheeseburger (3/5 NOMs) Might place, doesn't always have mighty things. Meat patty was pretty good, their medium is pink in the middle and it was very juicy soft with nice flavors. You can really taste the cheese, they put so much. For the most part the meat patty is really what matters, but this burger felt a bit boring. It was good, but not great. I was expecting more from this place and after it came highly recommended. Its possible I been spoiled too much by all these crazy burgers we have popping up everywhere.
(3)Summer B.
We came here last minute to celebrate my BFF birthday. They have a great menu and the appetizers are fulfilling alone. The deviled eggs are great (hands down) and the firecracker Maki rolls are delicious. I has the crab cake sandwich and the macaroni and cheese. Channing had a Bourbon Smash and my BFF had a Mango Martini they both enjoyed their drinks. I of course had my Blue Moon and it was iced cold. We would highly recommend this place and we will definitely return again! Not to mention the amazing customer service. Channing's Choice.
(5)Nixo A.
Don t understand the 3.5 stars rating. What s not to like here? Service is nice, efficient and fast. The burger was cooked rear as requested, with a superior quality juicy meat. The hickory chicken was of the best I ate lately, fine crust, tender and so tasteful. Very good food for the price, closer to 5 than 3 stars
(5)Chakriya L.
I go here fairly often bc I live in Reston & the atmosphere here is always lively. Even on weekdays. The outdoor bar area is great for grabbing drinks with friends & relaxing. Indoors, the wait staff is always courteous & I've never had an unpleasant time here. It's a nice run-of -the-mill, casual restaurant. As for the food, I always order their calamari. Whether at the bar or if I'm dining. I love their sweet & sour calamari (same as Coastal Flats calamari). You get a fresh(hot) delicious basket of bread if you get a table but usually there is about a 30-45 minute wait on weekends for dinner(7-8). I usually order their jumbo lump crab cake sandwich or grilled chicken & Havarti cheese sandwich. Those never disappoint. Portions are huge so you can split with a friend. Also, really like their chicken, avocado & beet salad. Fresh & filling. Stay away from their sushi. It's what you would expect from an American chain restaurant.
(4)Y C.
My first time to this restaurant. Ordered Chicken and mushroom pasta. It was great. Loved their rolls, same as what are served at Coastal Flats.
(4)Ryan H.
Great American Restaurants are always reliable: the food is great, the service is impeccable, and they all look classy. Had a great experience Friday--I ordered the salmon tempura, the deviled eggs, a delicious garlic wings special they had us try out, and a fresh draft beer. Our server was great; very entertaining, informative, generous, and responsive. All the food was delicious. No complaints!
(5)Caitlin B.
Sean, the bartender, is relatively rude. He's made several passes at my group of friends and I. I tried to be pleasant but he continued to act pompous and self-interested. I used to love coming here when Chris was the bartender, but after this experience, I do not think I will return. I will also pass this on to my parents, who used to be weekly customers. Yet Sean "doesn't know my parents." Rude. There are plenty of other great places in RTC to dine. Pass.
(3)Shani L.
Guess who's back? Jackson's I usually go around for lunch about 5 times a month. I stopped going because the quality of the food had begun to decline from really good to simply average. About a week ago, we went back and the food was superb -- back to the level of level of quality as when they first opened. Have they changed the head chef? increased quality control? whatever it is, please keep it up and we'll return as regulars. Tip: the restaurant is crowded and loud during the height of happy hour on Th-Fri and on Sat lunch and dinner. So dine early in the week or on Sun if you want to have a conversation without a lot of background noise.
(3)Chris H.
Always good. Great soups, deviled eggs are spectacular. The rib eye is always good but the prime rib is top notch. Service is great. We always have a good meal here. This is our second time here this week.
(5)Matt Y.
This restaurant is without a doubt the best restaurant in the Reston area. The food is fantastic. The deviled eggs and bacon appetizer is our favorite. The eggs are fresh tasting, the filling far superior to any I've had with great flavor, and fluffy consistency with the slight crunch of jicama. The bacon was thick cut with just the right amount of sweet, and cooked perfectly with a nice crunch. You should definitely try it. The sweet and sour calamari is the best I've ever had. Not to tough, and not over coated. I've had the prime rib, which was very good. The French dip which was fantastic due to the superior quality of meat used. I've also enjoyed the crab cake and filet mignon. So far everything I've had has been excellent.
(5)Jamie B.
Decided to try this placed based on all of the good reviews and the great looking menu. Started off with the Deviled Eggs and Sugar Cured Bacon. YUM! Every meal should start off like that. I went with the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass based on the waiters recommendation. It was cooked perfectly and was full of flavor. I would defiantly come back next time in town.
(4)Ali N.
Absolute best place to eat There are no words to describe service food and the feel of the restaurant
(5)Bob H.
Was promptly seated and staff when sat down was great!! Ordered the grouper fingers on the menu only to be told it's cod and haven't changed the menu. The order was disgusting! Extremely greasy and fish was on top of fries and fries where greasy as well!! The presentation was poor at best reminded all of fast food nothing good for the high price. My husband on the other hand liked his burger very juicy and tasty! The waiter never once came back to our table to ask how our meal was or if we needed more drinks, poorly trained! Let's just say the bathrooms needed to be cleaned. For a first time experience poor at best and I won't be back as their are so many other restaurants!
(3)Chris S.
Eh, just like most of the other Great American Restaurants, Jackson's just doesn't do anything for me. Service was good, they train their staff very well, all friendly, nice smiles and helpful. The food I ordered was all over the place, I started with the lobster bisque and finished with a baked potato. The lobster bisque was decent, a little too strong on the cream and little to light on the lobster but the overall dish provide a nice flavor. The baked potato was a baked potato, you can't really go wrong or mess up a baked potato so they did a good job with that one. Like I said before Jackson's just didn't appeal to me, it is just too generic, too regular, too pedestrian, that doesn't make it bad but it just gives me no reason to return.
(2)DC C.
I come in on occasional Fridays to treat myself to the best classic cheesburger in the Metro area. Melts in your mouth.
(5)Greg M.
Jackson's is one of the best places in NoVA - nay the DMV. A member of GAR - you are guaranteed excellent service, a lively crowd, good food on a short menu, and friendly folks all around. We brought some family from out of town here on a Thursday night - they were impressed by the packed crowd and everyone having a good time - it's a positive place! The food - like all GAR entries - is excellent. This last visit I enjoyed the grouper fingers. Grouper is not always the most popular but is absolutely one of the most succulent ocean fish to enjoy - they cooked it perfectly to provide the firm flesh the right amount of flavor and texture. Was at least a full fillet served fingered and well-presented. Garage parking nearby of course, and always call ahead to ensure a spot. Remember they're not good for large groups - can fit a max of 6 adults - no large tables. Finish off your dinner with Patango's across the street.
(5)Ross E.
Jackson's is one of the "Great American Restaurants," a series of related restaurants that includes Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats. They have many similar recipes, and a similar abundance of fish (always a fresh fish of the day). The food is always good, and the service is polite, prompt, helpful, and overall a great staff. If you haven't had their complementary beignets with honey butter, you're going to ruin your appetite for dinner by filling up on them (we usually ask them to skip the rest of the complementary bread and just bring the beignets). Also, compared to many places in Reston Town Center, Jackson's is much more affordable. It's become a Valentine's Day tradition to go to Jackson's/Coastal Flats, and we just keep coming back for more!
(5)Janelle P.
I love all the Great American Restaurants, and while Jackson's isn't my favorite out of all of them I do love that they offer many seafood options! Excellent burgers!
(5)Sibyl J.
Thank you awesome waiter (Dave?) so wise of your noms. I was suggested the Tuna Poke 2.0 appetizer, and had the fish fingers (do fish have fingers? Alton B. says no! but oh they were tasty!) and my friend had the lobster bisque and one of their sushis, I don't remember which. Our waiter was very knowledgeable, telling us about the dishes, what his favorites were, and even telling us what was special with Jackson's versus the other Great American Restaurants. Overall everything was super tasty, but what I remember most was the Poke 2.0. It was truly different than anything I've had, cold high quality tuna, the creamy guacamole, the tang of the ginger the spice of the mayo, and the crisy nori chip. omg, it was truly this multi-layered just fun experience. Food hasn't surprised me like that in awhile. I am so thankful he suggested that. My goodness, I may have to head back there soon now, I think I just talked myself into it! I did notice they had brunch while I was waiting to be seated!
(5)Le L.
I came here on a weekday for lunch with the boyfriend because we wanted to try something new. The place was right in the Reston Town Center, so finding parking around lunch time was a challenge. Some parking garages are for employees around it, so permits are needed ( DO NOT PARK THERE). Street parkings are available but time limit of ONE hour so of course no good. There is one parking for customers but even though it said "NO COMMUTER PARKING" but we had to go out to all the way 5th level for parking. We arrived at the place around 11:30AM for lunch and the line was so long to the door, I guess everyone decided to take lunch around the same time. They seated us in like 5 minutes so it wasn't too bad I guess. The place was really crowded for lunch on a Thursday afternoon so it was a little surprising to me. We sat at the booth, near the kitchen so it was crowded since severs walked in and out all the time. I ordered sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the burger.... We underestimated the portion, because it was huge. I could have share my sandwich with my boyfriend, since I couldn't finish it. The fries was good, it wasn't like original cheap fries, it was gourmet fries and definitely didn't have a lot of oil which is good. The burger was medium well and it was just perfect, the taste was just like real BBQ burger. I definitely enjoyed their burger more than the sandwich. I didn't like the sandwich much because it was too greasy for me compared to the burger one. The price is a bit overpriced for lunch.( I don't think they have lunch or dinner, they use the same menu for both). The have other items on the menu too and mostly are from $15 and up, so if you are looking for something simple and easy to eat for lunch. This place is definitely not for you. I didn't like their service because I had to ask several times for water, napkins and even to clean out the table. I was a bit disappointed, but I guess it was crowded so they were all over the place. I wouldn't come back to try because their price is not ideal, and it is a chain restaurant with Mike's Grill, Coastal Flats, etc. So I would try other restaurants instead.
(3)Brian S.
I've been to Jacksons a few times and to me it's pretty much the same as sweet water, outside of the fact that they serve sushi...Despite that it's still an awesome place to go. I usually get the prim rib and the chop house salad, and to me they're both delicious. It can get pretty crowded sometimes, especially when it's warm out and the patios opened up since it's in Reston. Definitely a spot worth checking out though!
(4)Carly I.
I've only been to Jackson's once during lunchtime and we had a pretty good experience. The food and service were food but I definitely wasn't wowed by anything. I had a salad with seared tuna and my friend had a lobster roll. We both enjoyed our meals but I wouldn't go again just for the food. It seems like a more fun atmosphere at night (with the outdoor bar) so I would consider going back with friends around dinner time.
(3)Nick K.
Great atmosphere. Sushi never disappoints. Good brunch options but the lunch menu is the best.
(4)Daniel K.
Big chain restaurant. The bar looked cool but the restaurant was pretty average. Service good. Tables were all booths, I wouldn't go with more than 5.
(2)Jessica G.
I came here for the first time last night. My group waited about 35 minutes to be seated. I found out about call ahead seating so I'll be sure to do that next time. We ordered the deviled eggs for an appetizer. They are AMAZEBALLS!!! Some of the best deviled eggs I've ever had. For my entree, I ordered the salmon. It was extremely tasty. Very few places know how to cook an amazing salmon, and this place is one of them. Chefs recommendation for this dish is cooked medium. Definitely go with the recommendation! No dessert for me because I have to eat pretty healthy. However, it looked like they had some nice options. I look forward to coming back here.
(4)Stan M.
Service was phenomenal -- from EVERYONE who works there. They all work together to provide the best service possible. And the food -- a complete party in my mouth. Wow.
(5)Bob s.
Great food, reasonably priced. This is the 2nd time I've eaten her and the food was was amazing both times; I had the rainbow trout special btw.
(5)Lynn S.
Terrific sirloin tip salad with blue cheese and walnuts truly impressed me. It was fresh, tasty and a filling meal. Service could have been more responsive, but this is still one of the most pleasant places to eat in Reston Town Center. I do however, avoid their bar area...too rowdy for me.
(4)Jennifer K.
what is so special about this place? I can name a few. Service is excellent, definitely uphold greater American restaurants reputation. I enjoy the interactions with servers and bartenders. They are very accommodating and you will always find or see people cleaning up places through out the night and ask for assistance. I come here often for lunch, dinner, happy hour and... Weekend nights. Food is great, I have tried almost everything except for a few dish that I am allergic to and price is reasonable. Love the atmosphere for happy hour, you get to interact with a lot of local business professional as well as ones who are traveling for business. It's a lot of fun!
(5)Calvin S.
Great service and great food. The servers all look out for each others tables and really know what they are doing.
(4)Hee L.
4.5 stars! This review is based strictly my experiences at the bar. Well, because I have never dined in the actual seating area. Just the bar. You can kind of see a theme in my reviews. I like the bar. I always sit at the bar. I like to have a cocktail or a glass of wine. Or three. Now leave me alone! =) My favorite bartender has moved away and I miss him. Chris Martin or C-Mart for short. He was awesome sauce. Not that the other bartenders aren't awesome sauce either. Neil is really cool too! The bartenders here are great! Sit at the bar! Food has always been on point (but what else do I expect from a GAR?). I have not gotten a thing I didn't like. I especially love the deviled eggs and the guacamole and red pepper dip appetizers. They even have sushi here. Have not tried that, but the guests next to me ordered it and visually, it looked good. They have awesome mac and cheese here. Don't even get me started on the bread basket. The infamous ozzie rolls. Don't ever come to restaurants like these if you are trying to watch your weight or if you are on a diet. I thank GAR's mostly for my expanding waistline. =)
(4)C R.
Went on a Tuesday night and it was bumpin. This seems to be where its at on a weekday night. Had calamari, lobster roll and salmonm/rice-ish stuff. Also comes with a variety of complimentary bread. Overall, food was good. Calamari was a good choice. The bread is tasty, especially the donut hole looking one. I was not a big fan of the lobster roll, but the fries were alright and corn was goodddd. The salmon, I had for leftovers and it was just as good. The "rice" was interesting..filled with lots of flavor..a bit sweet. The ambiance is nice. Active, even on a weekday night. I would not mind coming back.
(4)TV N.
The food here is superb! Among my favorites are the Tuna Poke, Jackson's Ribeye, Sea Bass, and Chicken and Shrimp Penne Pasta in Tequila Lime Sauce! Oh! And of course, the ozzie rolls with lots of butter! The menu is very similar to the other GAR restaurants with a few minor tweaks here and there. Parking isn't too bad as there are multiple parking garages.
(5)Olukemi A.
I got a cheese burger and boy was it good! I enjoy the Great American restaurants because I know I'm going to get quality service and food. It was my first time at Jackson's in Reston but I am very pleased.
(4)Yaka H.
Wait time here can be pretty rough, so we just opted to grab seats at one of the bars. As usual, service was very friendly and accommodating. Bartenders were attentive and constantly filling drinks. Food was consistent like other visits. The deviled eggs are creamy and luscious, but has crunchy bites of pecans, apples, and candied bacon to play along. SX had the French Dip and enjoyed it, though did make a complaint that the accompanying au jus was on the salty side. I had the waldorf steak salad which was wonderful and probably one of the best salads I've had from a restaurant in awhile. Everything was fresh and had the crunchy, savory, sweet balance going throughout. It was chunks of steak instead of slices of steak and they were all cooked to order (medium), which made the salad that wonderful.
(4)Ann B.
Jackson's is part of the Great American Restaurant chain. Like Coastal Flats and Sweetwater Tavern, I have a good experience nearly everytime. Their service is always prompt and attentive. Since the menu has little variety from their sister restaurants there's not much to say, everything is always good. Fajitas, drunken ribeye, etc.
(4)Nicole L.
I am not a huge chain restaraunt fan, but I was really impressed by this place. The servers were dressed very sharp, excellent service and delicous fresh food. Had the lobster roll and my boyfriend had the prime rib sandwich. He said it was the best he ever had. Medium rare and sliced fresh, can't go wrong there! Lobster roll was fresh lobster and the grilled corn was delish! I enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaraunt and it was very comfortable. A little pricey so not as often as I may like to go. Will be trying Artie's next. Strange how it's difficult to find a variety of seafood places (like seafood shack type places) being in DC/east coast and so close to the water (as opposed to AZ where I am from). Excellent food AND excellent service, rare find as well.
(5)Fadi S.
Among my favorite restaurant in Reston area . Love this place . Foods are great .I have been here more times . i love this chain of restaurant !!
(4)Justin C.
Jacksons is a Great American Restaurant, with that being said. It is one of the better ones. If you go on the weekends be prepared to wait, the place is usually packed. The bar usually fills up by 6-7pm on most days of the week, especially the outside patio area. They allow smoking on outside patio, maybe that's half the reason. The bar does have rules, so be warned if you are wearing a hat of any kind past 9pm. The service and experience here is generally pretty solid. The food is good and the price is fair. I have no problem recommending Jacksons, but if you're in Town Center it's not always my go to.
(4)Sonja T.
I love my girl Talia! She is by far one of the sweetest people, and tries very hard to accommodate her guests! We had the short smoked salmon, smoking hot as always!
(5)K F.
We have been to Jackson's three times in the past month for business as well as an evening out. Overall our experiences have been very good. The food is very good and we really enjoy the Ozzie rolls, salmon and steak. The restaurant is very busy so if you don't plan ahead you can have a long wait. The waiter / waitress staff are generally good but it can be hit or miss. We would recommend Jackson's for a nice evening out for business or with friends.
(4)Matt H.
The food was average, the service was very good, the hostesses had no clue what was going on and people that arrived after us were being seated before us. Management did react to the complaint and gave us a free appetizer. The hostesses just need training.
(3)Ethan Z.
Jackson's was quickly a hit when it first opened. The atmosphere is typical of all the Great American restaurants. It can get loud. They don't take actual reservations...but you can call ahead and get your name on the list a little early. If there's more than a 30-45min wait we usually explore the plethora of options within walking distance. The food is (again) typical of the GAR family which means it's solid. Nothing amazing, nothing terrible. A few standout items can be found but everything is pretty safe. During the summers the outdoor patio bar is typically a loud meat market for all the local businesses in RTC.
(4)Whitney C.
First of all, I absolutely love all the restaurants that are a part of the Great American Restaurant 'chain', however my fiancé and I particularly love Jackson's because of its location. Located in the heart of Reston Town Center, you'll always find something on the menu to make you want to keep coming back for more. We often take our out-of-town guests to Jackson's on the weekends, and enjoy drinks at the bar while we wait for a table. While I've never had a bad meal at and the service has always been exceptional, try not to drop your jaw when the bill comes, as dinner and drinks can cost you a pretty penny.
(4)Jessica G.
Jackson's and all of the Great American Restaurants are truly the best. I haven't found a place that I like as much as these restaurants. I would highly recommend the spinach dip, crab cakes, crab cake sandwich and flour-less chocolate waffle. Everything is amazing!
(5)Alec R.
Part of the Great American "chain" Jackson's provides the same very high quality, family friendly dining experience. The hickory grilled chicken and shrimp rolls were excellent, and the kids menu offered a good variety, although we would have preferred the option of leaving the ham out of the Mac and Cheese. Like all GA restaurants, Jackson's also has a good selection of wines, beer and cocktails (of which I can recommend the Ginger Lime Martini). Despite its claim to being a "nostalgic nod to mid century Americana and comfort food classics and some unexpected twists (a la sushi) in an upbeat 1940's dinner house" the setting seemed fairly generic with a few token items, e.g. neon clocks, to give it a slightly kitschy feel.
(4)T B.
We had a great dinner at Jackson's last night. It was the first time I tried their deviled eggs and they were so delicious we talked about cracking the recipe for half the drive home. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays with lights a trim along with huge poinsettias. And for some reason there was an unusually high number of people dressed as Santa and elves hanging out at the bar. Very funny!
(5)Chris T.
Great food at decent prices and in a good atmosphere. Service is great and the waiters are extremely attentive. My personal favorites are their salmon entree, chopped salad and their bread
(4)Jim H.
Nice place up in Reston Towne Centre....portion sizes are pretty small to be honest and it's the only reason I didnt give it 4-stars....waiter was excellent, food was good, no issues there....just the portion sizes
(3)Robert R.
Been to this location a couple of times and its been great each time. The food is always top notch and the service too. I like the multiple server concept....glasses are never empty and the used plates and silverware are promptly taken care of. The deviled egg app is one of my weaknesses and the main reason is the bacon! I don't think i have every had such sweet, dreamy bacon. Almost gives you a head rush. Beers are good (I had their name plate beer) .
(5)RMthree M.
This place is amazing! I've been here numerous times and I've never had an issue. For starters, the drinks are always fairly good and made quickly. We've say at the indoor bar and had them sent to our table. The food is always good! As for the food, we've enjoyed the grouper fingers, lobster roll and sushi the most. The grouper fingers are great and so light. The lobster roll is overflowing with meat and so tender. As for the sushi...it was an impulse reaction to get it...and I'm glad I did. It was not much food but the amount of tuna I got in my tuna roll was amazing. There were large chunks and it came with a nice sauce on the plate. The atmosphere is great, the outdoor seating is great and expect a wait, they are great at what they do and everyone knows it. It's worth the wait.
(5)Jenny S.
Jacksons is another addition to the Great American Restaurant chain and as much as I love Sweetwater, I knew I would like this place too. They have great happy hour specials, not only is Jacksons in a great location in Reston Town Center, but it's also a great atmosphere. Every time my friends and I get here for HH, it is crowded, both the inside and outside bar. Their cocktail drinks are a bit pricier, but I think it's on par with being in Reston. The bartenders are very attentive and know how to work with the busy crowds every night. Jackson provides the same quality in both food and service as you would expect at any of their other chain restaurants.
(3)Robin S.
Brunch here was pretty good. There is ample seating, the prices are reasonable, and my french dip was excellent. I can't stand when french dip sandwiches are made with cold cuts... this was fresh, rare beef. The service was very good, although I'm not sure who our server was. It seemed like the servers shared tables. It was definitely worth a visit!
(4)Food L.
I've been here for multiple business lunches. The food is always great...Def. recommend the Calamari,Chicken Sandwich, and Tuna Salad. One down side is this place gets packed during lunch time. It's insane. You can't make reservations, but you can call ahead if you're like 15 minutes away. I guess that helps a little... Overall solid spot. Comfy food and environment. I wouldn't recommend this place for a date, it's more of a hang out feel.
(4)Amanda M.
I've lost count of the number of times that I have been to Jackson's. The service is always 5 stars. The food fluctuates between 3 and 5 stars. This most recent visit it was a 5 star. A friend and I stopped in for a late dinner on a Tuesday night and decided to share the lobster roll and the crab cakes. The crab cakes were served with fries and coleslaw yelp.com/user_local_phot… and the lobster roll came with fries and grilled corn on the cob. yelp.com/user_local_phot… I can usually take or leave the fries and coleslaw at restaurants, but I had a hard time keeping myself from devouring the fries and there was something about the coleslaw at Jackson's that was addicting. Oh and the corn on the cob was lovely - salty, smoky, and just a little crispy. Both the crab cakes and the lobster roll were tasty. Lobster is often a bit too sweet for me but the savoriness of the butter on the toasted roll and the tanginess of the mayo balanced the sweetness perfectly. The crab cakes were just the right size - I'm tired of crab cakes so large that they are soggy in the middle. I would much rather get a smaller crab cake and have it cooked correctly. Jackson's is a sure bet. There will always be something on the menu to please everyone. The service (at least mine) is always spot on. And the food has never disappointed. Now, all that being said I wouldn't go out of my way to drive to Reston Town Center just to go to Jackson's. But, if you do, get the deviled eggs (maple glazed bacon and deviled egss - heaven).
(4)Ariel S.
I went on a Saturday for lunch and the wait to be seated wasn't bad at all. But if you go after work on a week day... prepare for it to be really crowded! The appetizers were really good! But the sushi was awful! I'd go again, but get a different entree.
(3)Ningxi X.
The calamri is interesting. It's sweet (and kind of soggy) instead of savory and crispy. I believe Jackson's uses its own sauce and recipe to cook it. I'm not a fan of food served sweet when it's usually supposed to be savory, but it's a nice switch-up at least for the summer weather. My colleagues and I came here for happy hour -- that is, came here during conventional happy hour time while paying non-happy-hour prices since Jackson's doesn't actually have happy hour specials. Get ready to pay $9 for one drink, folks. The mango martini is wayyy too weak. And not chilled enough. Perhaps it was just a one-time bad experience, but I expected better for the price I was paying. Had the sushi and it was pretty good. Margaritas are solid. The place is usually packed -- the patio, anyway -- even sans a happy hour menu. the biggest draw might therefore be the space and layout, aka the outdoor patio. It's pretty spacious inside, with comfy booths and all, but people prefer swarming to the patio where a full bar can be found. It's not bad for people watching (Reston standards anyway).
(3)Joseph S.
We had an outstanding brunch today. The service was outstanding, not crowded and we had a great time. French toast was delicious and the Chicken and Waffles were tasty. The chicken had a bit of a kick (spicey) and the waffles were a little hard. Would definitely visit again.
(4)Mike A.
Roasted corn is worth the trip. Deviled eggs with glazed pecans and bacon. Umm wow.
(4)Linda C.
Jackson's is another one of the Great American Restaurants, which include Sweetwater, Coastal Flats, Ozzies, Artie's and several others. Since it is part of the GAR chain, the menu is unfortunately quite similar to all of the above restaurants. There are a few items that are different, but for better or worse, you can pretty much get the same thing no matter which GAR you go to. This place is in the heart of Reston Town Center, and you can tell they are doing a booming Happy Hour business by the number of people hanging off the patio every evening. My hubby and I came in to see if we could get dinner, but with a 45 minute wait on a Tuesday evening, we decided to head off to somewhere else. We did stop by the bar while we contemplated whether we felt like waiting or not. The bar was crowded both inside and out (and it was 95 degrees out there!). We opted to sit inside where it was nice and cool. The bar area was not particularly well maintained, however, and there were leftover beer bottles and dinner dishes on the countertop. Yuk. I have eaten at Jackson's in the past, and the service is always good. The food is usually good too; I just wish they would vary up the menu a bit more.
(3)Ruth C.
I love James L.'s review every time I read it, because it's so true. But that's one of the two reasons I always sit at the bar. Three if you factor in a choice of bars if you're in the company of smokers or non. Though getting chatted up by creepy drunk men in their forties certainly makes it less appealing. Officially, I could be considered to be stalking Neil the bartender. I can't get over the resemblance. I even chatted up the seating host/hostesses about his Tuesday-Friday work schedule (the two girls had no idea who BC was, but the guy totally made the connection to Burn Notice). Seriously won't even stop in unless he's working, that's how crazy I am. But Nicole's an equally friendly bartender, even if she's just admiring my pink pack of imports. Yay for purse hooks. Ozzie rolls are like crack. Donut holes dusted in cinnamon and brown sugar, with whipped butter on the side. Lobster roll was fattening, generously slawed onto a slice of buttery texas toast. I don't think the grilled & buttered corn on the cob should have been that much better than the sandwich itself, but oh well. Fries were average. Three bathrooms to the left behind the bar near the kitchen, labeled "his", "hers", and "theirs". I am amazed at my self-discipline at not making a lot of bad jokes about that third one.
(3)Bruce M.
Very good restaurant. My wife and I had the Lobster Bisque and the French Dip. Both were excellent. Our waitress, Patricia, was very helpful, knowledgeable and attentive. Ask for her when you go.
(5)Larry K.
Jackson's is one of our family's favorite places for dinner. The wait can be long on the weekends (which is actually an indication of how good the food is), but they do have call-ahead, which can cut the time. The service is very good -- always friendly, knowledgeable, efficient, and helpful. And the food is quite good: fresh ingredients, well prepared. The menu is not terribly extensive, but the preparations are highly reliable. Downsides? It can be a bit noisy on crowded Friday and Saturday nights. And there are no reservations. But in recommending Jackson's, I have no reservations either!
(4)Jade N.
The food is similar to all the other Great American restaurants , however there are a few menu items specific to just this one. The devil end eggs and bacon is a great app but is very filling. The sushi rolls are ok, but lack taste. For dinner I ordered the Honk kong style tuna which was delicious and I would definitly reccomdendation it. The service is excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgable. Although the food and service here are good for the most part I cannot give Jackson's a higher rating because it pisses me off that they offer no happy hour specials. This place is way too over pretentious and acts far too privliged in my opinion. Many of the other places RTC offer happy hour specials and I think it's just super ridiculous Jackson's does not. The crowd at the bar is super eclectic however there did appear to be a large portion of douchbagy guys and an over abundance of gentlemen and ladies trying a bit to hard to look... and act like the cool kids in the club. If looking for food the food and service are ok, however if you are looking for the bar scene the lack of any happy hour specials is very disappointing.
(2)Michael T.
My family and I ate a casual lunch here. Service was ok since the waitress seemed to be in a hurry and was not overly friendly. She didn't offer the kids any drawing paper or crayons. Their famous appetizer bread was mushy, french dip sandwich was tasteless, fries were soggy, and the warm chocolate waffle dessert was served cold. The only redeeming aspect of the lunch was the mixed green salad had a nice light dressing (but how could you really mess that up.) Also, we asked them to bring out another warm chocolate waffle dessert and the manager came over to apologize. Nonetheless, the food was overpriced. We could have received better value eating at other restaurants at Reston Town Center. We don't mind spending $$$ at Arties or Coastal Flats, but at this particular chain we were disappointed in the quality of the food and service. Sorry Jackson's Mighty Fine Food, we will not be coming back. It was a mighty big disappointment.
(2)Nadine F.
Taken on its own merits, Jackson's would probably only get three stars, but it's pretty good if you're only comparing it to other places in Reston Town Center. Though it lacks any type of character whatsover, I've been pretty happy with the food every time I've gone, and they have quite a few healthier selections. Despite their lack of happy hour specials, the bar is somehow always packed, though it seems pretty easy to get a real table. Related to that, bar service is slow and spotty, whereas table service is very attentive.
(4)Miranda F.
Jackson's is such a wonderful place in Reston to venture to for food and drinks. I've been here multiple times for happy hours and had some of the "bar" food /appetizers, which were all really delicious. Chose Jackson's for my birthday brunch and wasn't disappointed at all. From the mimosa to the banana raisin bread to the Bubble & Squeak, everything was amazing! Got the BBBC Brioche French Toast for my son and from the bites I could steal from him, that was equally impressive. Our server was wonderful and did everything he could for us to enjoy our visit even bringing ginger ale and plain bread for a girl suffering from the night before ha! I plan on coming here more often beyond my typical happy hours.
(5)Lina T.
I'm giving 4 stars solely on food. I'm a fan of all the Great American restaurants. All their food is very similar and they're all delicious. I usually get the Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad. It's one of my favorites!! It has asparagus, tomatoes, deviled egg, spiced pecans with champagne vinaigrette. It's a salad full of awesomeness. Sweet Water Tavern has the same salad but no egg and asparagus which is disappointing so it's much better to go to Jackson's if you want this particular salad. I would give this place 2 stars for environment. I love Jackson's for their food but this place is cougar town (surprise surprise). I used to come here a lot for happy hour. This place is ALWAYS jam packed. It's impossible to get a seat at the bar and it's hard to move around. You can pretty much smell everyone's sweat (during the hot weather). Gross. This place and just about every place in Reston Town Center is an older crowd. If you're looking to be around people in their 20's to 30's....this is not the place to go. It gets noisy and it can be pretty obnoxious sometimes. I actually almost whooped this old man's ass for trying to start a fight with my friend all because he ACCIDENTALLY bumped into him. I mean helloooooo when you're in a jam packed bar where you can barely move, you're going to bump into everyone. This place can be a disaster sometimes. I've seen fights break out and really drunk people being dumb. Anyway, if you want good food, want to people watch, and don't mind it being a huge cluster f**k, I recommend coming here. Otherwise, go some place else for drinks.
(4)Tino D.
I've been here twice now, and each time I left disappointed. I really wanted to like it because it's a 5 minute walk from my house, but the food is very generic and bland. I tried the lobster roll the first time, it was okay but way too much mayo and filler, not enough lobster. The service here isn't great either. One time we were seated and waited about 15 minutes with no service - they didn't even bring us water or place settings. I finally had to flag somebody down and complain until our server showed up.
(2)Terra G.
I'm a HUGE fan of all GAR chains so it pains me to give Jackson's a rating less than 5 stars... However, I ordered the sea bass and it was probably the most disgusting food I've ever put in my mouth. I mean, how was I to expect to be served a bowl full of soy sauce? And that was the only flavor on the plate. The fish was bland, the spinach was bland, the rice was bland. Why, you may ask, would I give Jackson's a 4-star rating based on such a horrible lunch? Because 1) service was impeccable, 2) I know if I had complained, I would have been brought a new meal, 3) the rest of the menu looked amazing, and 4) my other lunch guests thoroughly enjoyed their meals. So my advice... CALL AHEAD, ENJOY THE SERVICE AND SKIP THE SEA BASS!
(4)Annie C.
THIS REVIEW IS JUST 1.5 STARS!!! My boyfriend and I came on a sunday afternoon for lunch. It was such a nice day outside so we figured we would eat at the outdoor bar area. When we walked in we were greeted by the hostess who directed us over to the bar and said it was self seating. We went outside and picked a hightop table. On the tables there is a sign that said "service at the bar" at the bar there were 2 bartenders a male and a female. My boyfriend came over to the bar to ask for menus the male bartender gave him 1 menu. So he came back a second time to ask if that was just the brunch menu and if there was a second menu. When he came up to the bar the 2 bartenders wornt doing anything other than talking and flirting around with each other and my boyfriend was completely ignored for about 4-5 mins. They looked and saw him waiting and went about their conversation continuing to ignore him. I was disgusted by the customer service they were giving and their flirting that I just said screw the nice weather we'll eat inside. So we went back inside to the kind hostess who then walked us to our seats. We also had a nice waiter who took our orders promtly, checked up on us periodically, and got our food in a timely manner. We ordered the Deviled eggs with bacon as an appetizer, im not a deviled eggs person but according to my boyfriend they were average. I really liked the sweetened bacon. I ordered the steak and eggs, the steak was very good and very well made to order. My boyfriend got their french toast. it was nothing special. very filling though. The eggs and hash browns/ potatos on our plates however were... gross. it was egg substitute, very powdery. Overall you can thank the hostess, server, and steak for the 1.5 stars, and thank the bartenders for it only being 1.5 stars and not more. I probably won't be coming back again.
(2)Mike B.
My favorite appetizer here is the Two Cool Dips. For an entree you can't go wrong with any of the steaks of the Grilled Chicken Sandwich
(4)J P.
Ordered the lobster bisque. It was actually pretty good. Also ordered the crab cake. Crab cakes come in two versions...good and bad. These fit into the good category...more crab than filling...what more can you say.
(4)Joey C.
I really like Jackson's. I consider it among the best the Carlyle company's Great American Restaurants has to offer. Attentive and pleasant staff, who seem to truly enjoy their jobs (I presume that they are trained well and compensated accordingly) and who work as a well oiled machine. Terrific layout and atmosphere. Food is almost always excellent and never less than "very good." GAR has built a solid foundational pattern for their restaurants and this location is at the top.
(5)George Y.
If you like freshly made food to order or if you are allergic to or dislike any ingredients, then this is not the place for you. Food is prepared ahead of time, including their sushi and rolls. Their kitchen has no desire to remake any of the food.
(1)Susan F.
Mango Martini=heaven.... Dinner otherwise dinner here was good....I got the steak frites. My husband had the tuna special and he REALLY enjoyed it. Yay for having a "theirs" restroom and being so family friendly!!! :)
(4)Yelpowitz E.
Wow. I just had a fantastic dinner! Loved everything from the bread to the dessert. I had sushi to start -and a bite of mushroom soup that was amazing. For entree, pecan crusted trout and again, a bite of the lobster sandwich dish with the most delicious corn I've ever tasted... Then bread pudding for dessert. I would recommend everything I had. It's absolutely delicious! Service was very friendly and highly attentive. Will come again soon for more deliciousness =P
(5)Neal C.
Good food but when it's cold outside and colder inside doesn't make for good dining. They also said they couldn't do anything about it. What a lie!
(2)ap m.
Only reason I find myself at Reston Town Center is b/c of work. Reston/ Dulles/ Herndon- it's like you need a passport to go over there. It's definitely not a city landscape. You have to drive around for lunch, so gave this place a try. Ppl who know the area suggested it and I was pleased. Originally came in thinking it's a basic american restaurant, nothing fancy- but the flavoring in their dishes surprised me in a good way. Loved the puffs that cone out instead of bread slices. I could eat those all day. I tried the chicken avacado beet salad and LOVED it! Was expecting to taste something with simple seasoning- but the dressing was very nice. Something that I never tasted before. Salad was light but very filling. Also the service was good. It's lunchtime so food has to be ordered and arrivingly quickly - which is exactly what happened- max was 10 min. Not sure if i would go again to try other dishes, but I'd go back just for that salad.
(3)Kimberly W.
They have a great selection, wonderful drinks, and a friendly atmosphere. The bar gets really crazy in the evening time, but we went for lunch and it was chill. We went with my Nephew (he's 2) and he really enjoys their Mac and Cheese. Most delicious mac and cheese off a kids menu I've ever seen, that is for sure. Best thing on the menu is probably the Prime Rib Dip sandwich. Its just wonderful. Everything else is really good too, and they have some vegetarian options; but that sandwich is pretty impressive. I highly suggest checking it out next time you're in Reston. Its in the Town Center where there are so many places to go, and things to see, its quite a nice place.
(4)John D.
Food was good, service was great. Nothing memorable about the place, as the menu has a lot of overlap with Coastal and Sweetwater. It's a good place for a business lunch, as the service is fast.
(4)Deanna J.
Overpriced and not much on the menu. Older people think this place is really cool-what a joke. Only 35+ go here.
(2)Kelly K.
I like the dining room at this restaurant. They have comfortable booths and the acoustics are great. The staff is very polite and well trained. They greeted us at the door and sat us promptly. The waitress was knowledgeable although her responses were alittle canned and phoney. Service was prompt and they start you out with some slices of what tasted like banana bread and mini sugar donuts-both which are tasty. The reason I rating this place two stars though is based on the food. The french toast did not seem like it was french toast. It seemed to be prefab cinnamon bread that was dipped in mini toasted crumbs. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they do not even do any egg wash and frying on site. It seem mass produced and then just heated up. It was served with a big mound of tasteless scrambled eggs that were like fast food eggs. The bacon was encrusted with maple sugar. I have never seen bacon like this...it was like bacon candy. Another dish we tried was fish and chips which was really blah and served with a strange slaw which seemed like tasteless mini chunks of cabbage in lots of mayo. The fries were tasteless the fish was like standard frozen fish. The prices were high considering the food was verging on fast food fare. Too bad the food was blah! I like the place and the service---though at the end of the day I dine out for the food. Cannot recommend.
(2)Les D.
Jackson's is the place, so I've been told. It's great, if you like to be where it's happening, and if you're at Reston Town Center, chances are you do. Me? Not so much. But there's nothing wrong with trendy people crowded together on a blistering cold winter night. The food was decent. No complaints, but not terribly impressed. Had the grouper special. they were out of grouper and substituted with mahi mahi. That's fine. It was pretty slathered in butter. Came with a side of mushroom risotto stuff. Again, that's fine. Also had thick stalk asparagus. Now that was very good. Rarely do I see thick asparagus, and it can't be that easy to get right. Well done on that. Manager asked us about our experience. Always a good sign. gave her the thumbs up. Service was decent. I think they must recruit from some local cheerleader camp. Never have I seen so many perky young ladies in one restaurant. Probably explains why all the Reston white collar dudes pack the place after work. Jackson's is a decent restaurant. I had heard it billed as a destination. I can't say that it's that. Serves as a nice after work bar and a neighborhood restaurant, but I can't go higher than that. The menu is just too safe.
(2)Alyvia M.
Where can you get deviled eggs, spicy tuna, lobster rolls, hand cut fries, burgers, lobster bisque, steak frites, lobster Mac n' cheese? Jacksons! Wham bam thank you ma'am!
(4)E S.
Review is for their BRUNCH It is fantastic, we tried the scrambled eggs, poached eggs with crab and biscuits and filet w/eggs (a fancy steak and eggs!). Their bloody mary's are nice and spicy and during brunch the bread basket comes with cinnamon sugar ozzie rolls and banana bread. The standout for me was probably the poached eggs with crab over biscuits. Fantastic brunch! Will be back again!
(5)Michael M.
I had the prime rib blackened as suggested by our server. It was rare and just a blackened sear on each side still leaving it medium rare as he described. This was the best prime rib that I have ever had! The bar area was standing room only on a Thursday night which is not the California Orange county close up at 10:00 pm crowd that we have become accustomed to.
(5)Daniel W.
A little overpriced and I don't get how they serve brunch until 4 pm but hey the food was pretty good and the service is top notch. Our server Kevin, was so awesome that I thought to myself over and over again why he was working there and not a fine dining establishment. he was just that good. I would have given this place 3 stars but he was just that good.
(4)Rick W.
Excellent dinner, Tuesday night place was packed only took 15 minutes to be seated. Deviled eggs were awesome with crispy maple bacon, and the lobster Mac was ridiculous. The filet was good, drinks were strong. I would go back
(4)Jessica P.
Always packed for happy hour, a favorite of the after work crowd. The drinks are a bit expensive but the atmosphere and outdoor patio make up for that. The food is good, but I prefer Coastal Flats (same management company) at Tyson's Corner. The service is fantastic, however, you won't be disappointed with dinner here!
(3)Shannon H.
My husband and I have eaten here a couple of times and we've been to several other Great American Restaurants in the chain many many times. For the most part, I only have good things to say about any of these restaurants. Jackson's is a great place to have dinner and a great place to hang out for drinks. It's in an ideal location in Reston Town Center. Whenever we've eaten at Jackson's, the food is pretty fantastic. I was incredibly surprised at how good the sushi was. The salads are better than any I've had. And I LOVE the sauteed goat cheese. Our last visit was a good experience for the most part. Surprisingly, the food took FOREVER, which has never happened to us at any of the Great American Restaurants. We were with friends and having a good time, so we didn't notice it at first. The manager came over and apologized that our sushi was taking so long. Once the sushi was cleared, it took about 20 minutes for our salads and another 30 minutes or so for our entrees. Like I said, that's not the norm. I think it must have been an off night. We weren't even there at prime dinner time. Regardless of the less than perfect service that ONE time, it's one of the best restaurants in the area. Recommend it to anyone.
(4)James R.
Had a business trip this past week in Reston, VA...and stayed at the Hyatt Regency, which is smack dab in the middle of about 100 restaurants. No kidding. One of the ones we visited was Jackson's, based on the number of good reviews. First off, great bar area...lots of professionals, getting their drink on and letting loose on a Tuesday night. While it's a little cold right now, I can see their outside area would be an awesome spot for a cold drink and people watching. So there were 4 of us and were told it was about a 5-15 minute wait. No problem. Pager went off and we had to wait just a minute or two longer while they were putting the final touches on our table. Sat down...ordered some beers...and looked over the menu. Pretty good selection here. My buddy and ordered the Prime Rib and my other two colleagues ordered up Salmon and Tuna. But let me mention the free bread...so basically you get two kinds. Some normal bread which looked like it might have raisins in it. But the ones that catches your attention is the little balls of fried dough. Really warm and good...ya felt like ya wanted some powdered sugar and cinnamon, they way you get a carnival. Good start. Christina, our waitress...was a gem. Now by gem I mean...personable, charming, attractive, attentive, funny...did I mention attractive? Very good at her job... Out comes the food and long story short...very good. Everyone enjoyed their entree...mine was a medium rare prime rib, huge baked potato and some creamy horseradish on the side. Since we didn't get apps, we started deciding on dessert...only to find out they were going to comp us a dessert or two for making us wait. Really? We didn't wait all that long...I think they felt bad they paged us only to wait a bit longer. Regardless, one of the hostesses came out and confirmed that our two desserts were comped. Best piece of Lemon Meringue Pie I've had...at Christina's recommendation of being her fave. And the other was a flour-less waffle with ice cream...really good as well. Nice touch. I think my colleagues were onto my crush for the waitress...and encouraged me to talk to her...but hey, what's a guy from Boston going to say to her being in Reston. Granted, I might move there just for a remote chance to take her out for coffee...but I digress. Barring my smitten kitten bias, the place had a nice environment...great attention to service...and a decent meal to boot. Check it out and let us know!
(4)Elvis A.
Awesome food and drinking establishment! The Quality is unsurpassed and the variety is unique! Hard to find a restaurant with processes achieving 6Sigma levels. GAR rocks it always! !
(5)Jim A.
This is my go-to spot to meet customers and to take my employees out to now and then. I have not had anything that has not been at the very least above average if not great. I love the sesame crusted tuna salad- fantastic! When I'm a little more hungry I go for the french dip, which might be the best I have ever had. The cheeseburgers are also terrific. The servers are always attentive and professional. The bar up front is nice and the bartenders have plenty of personality. Love this place.
(4)Nana K.
Love all the Great American restaurants, this one in particular is very clean and friendly! I had the warm goat cheese salad and lobster bisque. Equally wonderful but I couldn't finish everything! Great and wonderful food
(3)Joann B.
I can't attest to much at Jackson's since I've only been there twice. The first time was for drinks on a Saturday afternoon and the service wasn't too welcoming or helpful. I wanted a snack but looked at what was being offered and didn't see anything appealing. Second time was for Sunday brunch, so the four stars is solely for my food. My friend had the french toast - she didn't say much about it, but she did eat most of it, so I'll assume she liked it. I had the bubble and squeak: crispy pan fried chicken breast, poached eggs & low country gravy w. homemade biscuits I had been craving chicken and waffles and this was the closest I was going to get. It was perfect. All of it together was pretty damn good. I generally like my gravy on the spicy side, but this was a good combination of egg, creamy gravy and chicken. The chicken wasn't dry and I wish I had more gravy for the flaky biscuits. I think their brunch menu is a little bit on the small side, but I'm willing to head back to try more.
(4)Tom B.
Food is really good. Go see Chris on the weekends he's at the lower bar. He's a great guy, and makes is a mean drink. The upper bar is great. They have infrared heating. Doesn't keep you warm when it gets too cold. The salmon and French dip are excellent. One of the better eats in Reston town Center. Best of all, as with all restaurants at Reston town Center, free parking
(4)H H.
Food and Service I like Jacksons, but I come there ALWAYS ordering the same thing, occasionally the calamari, the field greens with warm goat cheese and champagne dressing salad and the filet minon which never displeases me. Never had an issue with service and when a mistake is made (it happens) the manager is always quick to swoop in with an apology. UGH My complaint, the place is NOISY, the accustics SUCK. Never go here for a first date because half the time you will be saying "huh?" The kids menu is also pretty lousy. Most kids dont want lumpy ham in their mac and cheese. My daughter usually finds something to eat, but she complains everytime that they need to consult some children before creating the menu. Happy Hour Great for the happy hour "meat market" (and meat market it is) especially if you are in the 30 and under crowd. Jackson's seems to have an over abundance of creepy singleton men (ie with no wingmen) hanging around the bar trying to pick up drunk women. Twice at happy hour I have had to have the bartender physically oust some creepy guy who would not stop bothering me or my girlfriends, and other women have told me they have experienced this too. The outside bar is nice but very smokey.
(4)Quianna R.
Great Happy Hr Outside during the summer. Also they have the best rib eye ever (Marinaded wonderfully) and the chopped house salad is to die for Nom Nom
(4)Don Diego D.
Jackson's experience starts from a great greeting from the hostesses. Always smiley and willing to help. This is a large restaurant and despite this they are extremely consistent with their customer service. They must have amazing training systems in place. The food is great to even fine and very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend any dish they have with seared tuna. Their tuna is amazing when served rare. It is like butter and you do not even need a knife to cut it.
(5)Sam C.
Good food, nice vibe. Ate at this place with a bunch of co-workers on a business outing. Note that there is no private room at this facility so we had to split our group into 4 tables. Despite the goodness of the food, wouldn't come back for a business outing for that reason. On to the food, good quality stuff. Had a Krispy Kreme donut type of thing in their bread that was simply awesome. Had to lick those as the bread was served so none of my co-eaters would be enticed to take them from me. Steak Frites was good quality stuff and was served as asked (i.e., medium rare had a warm red center to it). Frankly, I think the Steak Frites at Mon Ami Gabi is better across the street but this was a close second. My table mates all raved about their meals and there were no leftovers I could find. They have a sidewalk bar adjacent to the dining room. Place to see and be seen so far as I can tell. Filled with yuppie singles (it looked to me anyway) enjoying a drink after hours. Even for an old married guy like me, was fun fun to be back in that atmosphere. Would be happy to come back here again .... just not with a group that exceeds about 6 people if you all want to dine together.
(4)Alexis Y.
I have been here more times than I care to admit for lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Food and service is consistently excellent. Their menu is special/creative with lots of traditional items without doing anything too strange. The decor is diner-inspired with high ceilings and an open kitchen. They have recently improved the dining space by sound-proofing. My biggest complaint is that they have only booths and small tables, and cannot accommodate groups over 6 (even with a chair pulled up). There are dozens of times I was with a group that wanted to go there but realized we wouldn't be able to sit together. It tends to be crowded, so it's best to get there early for lunch or dinner if possible. here are large wrap-around bars inside and outside, including 4-5 outside patio tables. It is a little pricey but I feel it's well worth it for the quality. TIPS: They don't take reservations but they do have call-ahead seating, which I have used to be seated within 10 minutes of arriving many times on nights when they were packed. The best place to park is in the attached garage, but go in the entrance on the opposite side from Jackson's by the Fidelity sign and take the ramp down for the easiest/fastest parking. Detailed feedback on some of their menu is below for those who are interested, but I most highly recommend their salmon salad or entree and the Bread Pudding! - Bread - they offer a complimentary bread basket that includes sweet whipped butter and their famous "Aussie Rolls" which are basically fresh delicious unglazed donut holes. They melt in your mouth and everyone I've seen try them loves them, including me and I'm not a fan of donuts. Make sure you get one for each person! - Deviled eggs - I have one pretty much every time I go...some of the best I've had with toasted pecans on top, they add one to some salads as a nice bonus! - Two Cool Dips (roasted red pepper cheese ball and guacamole) - I got this for the first time with a group recently - it was excellent and the cheese ball was HUGE! It's a great value for the price. We ended up getting a couple more baskets of chips and still couldn't finish it. It was a perfect balance of sharp cheese and roasted red pepper, and the guacamole was a bit chunky for my taste but very fresh and well-seasoned. - Spinach and Artichoke Dip - I've had it and think it was good, but not particularly memorable. - Sweet and Sour Calamari - excellent, always cooked perfectly with just the right about of batter and a delicious Asian glaze. - Lobster Bisque - as good as I've had. - Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad - one of my favorite meals of all time, I highly recommend it for any salmon lovers. You can add white cheddar, blue, or goat cheese - I'm obsessed with cheese but I find it flavorful enough without any. - Lobster Roll - I've heard mediocre reviews. - French Dip - this seems to be their least popular option in my experience, it is large and piled high with med-rare roast beef, which I like but I think some people are squeamish about red meat that isn't cooked thoroughly. - Crab Cake (entree and sandwich) - large, packed with crab, and everyone seems to love it. - Grouper Fingers - friends have liked it but doesn't seem out of the ordinary. - Salmon Filet - also excellent like in the salad with a nice mustard sauce and an interesting "wild rice salad" (worth trying at least once). - I've tasted many of their fish specials and they are always excellent. - Steaks are good and the Ribeye tends to be the favorite, but the prime rib gets mixed reviews. - Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle - interesting/different and very good, I believe it is gluten free. - White Chocolate Bread Pudding - I tried this recently for the first time. It was more soft cake texture than pudding, shaped as a mini bundt cake. Everyone at the table loved it and two friends even said it was "the best dessert they ever had" - very high praise! I am not big on desserts but tasted a bit and agree it was impressive.
(5)Ted L.
Racist! I was standing next to a table with another couple on the other side of the table on a crowded nite. The girl at this table complained that we were pushing the table to her rib cage? The manager and the employees told me and my friend to leave. We never had a chance to explain. Never been so insulted ever. Never will I recommend this place. And the owner should know of this unless he/she doesn't care either. Btw, one blk, one or two asians and primarily caucasion. I don't recommend anyone unless you're white and ignorant about sterotypes and racism.
(1)Sapna B.
Came here with a girlfriend last night to catch up after a loooooong time! This was right on par with the other Great American Restaurants. Everything was similar. Was surprised at how crowded it was on a Wednesday night! I think most people were trying to eat outside so we grabbed an indoor table so we didn't have to wait. I ordered a glass of Riesling and the Grouper Fingers. I LOVED how crispy the Grouper Fingers were and it also came with cole slaw and french fries. The french fries were perfectly seasoned. I usually don't like cole slaw because there is too much mayonnaise but I LOVED this cole slaw!! Had a great meal. Would definitely come back!
(4)Thant T.
One of my favorite places in RTC, used to come here a lot when i lived around there. Come here more for drink than food but the food is good. I usually get the crab cakes, they're a bit different from the normal ones you think of, they aren't fried into a patty. Basically lots of lump crab meat and filling piled up. The bar is my favorite part, esp when it's warm and you can go to the outside portion. When i first started going there it was a bit of an older crowd but the past couple times ive gone there the crowd seems more young professional.
(4)Bianca B.
The restaurant itself is very nice and in a nice area. Set up a lot like BJs Brewhouse. I was happy to see a gluten free menu which made my hint for dinner much easier. I had the Hong Kong style tuna which was cooked perfectly! The waitress was nice however I finished my wine and drank my water, and 3 other friends gave me their waters. Not once did I get asked if I want a refill :( which I wanted for my wine. All in all food was delicious and the place was nice.
(4)Samera N.
Aweful asked for a menu to order food the bartender just threw it over and walked away. Maybe management doesn't want to make money! Miss my service in cali!
(1)John Paul D.
My wife and I stopped in and enjoyed a bite. The atmosphere was great. Service was solid. The appetizer was good and the lobster roll great for a lobster lover. Fries were fresh and tastey. The burger I got was dripping and oozing with fat and it was so rich eating half of it upset my stomach. Flavorful and unfinishable. In general a nice place. Next time we will go to passion fish, which was the other highly recommended restaurant in the reston town center.
(3)Jen T.
Jackson's is the least favorite of the Great American Restaurant branch. Nothing special but your standard menu options. I prefer more rustic breads rather than just the sweet carrot bread and doughnuts served on weekend brunches. Ordered the Roasted chicken spinach salad and a side of wild rice salad (can't have a meal without carbs. I'm Asian!) I don't get the fruits in their foods. The spinach salad had apples and the wild rice had lots of grapes. I liked the deviled egg in my salad but overall the salads were super sweet. I could have ordered without the apple but wanted to give fruit in food another try. I'm not the only one who feels this way because my BF was turned off by their Mahi Mahi special when he heard it came with a watermelon salsa. So he ordered the lobster Mac and cheese off their appetizer menu. I was a little annoyed by their overly attentive servers which made it very uncomfortable to have a conversation without feeling like we are being spied or eavesdropped. I couldn't wait to leave. Later, BF came home and had leftover sliders that I made the night before.
(3)Izzy H.
Cougar townnnnn. Lol. Ok in all seriousness. The food is good. My favorite are the fries simply because I like those thin crunchy fries. I usually come here for happy hour and it's always enjoyable.
(3)cherry p.
The food, drinks, atmosphere and service are excellent. It would be nice if they had happy hour specials.
(5)Lynn B.
Nothing remotely interesting about this place. Servers clock watching, bartenders leaning. My burger was good. That is the best I can saw about this place. Disinterested employees
(2)Daniella H.
We dined at Jackson's before the lunch rush on a Saturday....about 1130a and were seated immediately. By the time we left, the restaurant was packed. Food and service were both fantastic. I had the grouper fingers with a garden salad and it came with cole slaw. I'm not a big cole slaw fan at all, but I liked Jackson's. Not sure what it was, but it had a much better flavor and wasn't nearly as bitter as some cole slaws can be. The grouper fingers were awesome...also not typically a fan of fried foods, but I ordered per the recommendation of a family member and inhaled every bite. It was lightly battered, and the pieces of fish were meaty and chunky and didn't fall apart. I stole some of my husband's french friends and they were awesome! There aren't many places where you can tell actually tell they're freshly cut potatoes rather than frozen, but it was obvious these were fresh and perfectly cooked for that awesome combination of hot soft and crunchy! Can't wait to go back and try other dishes!
(5)John C.
Great food and great times. Many menu items to choose from. Can be casual or dressy, great bar as well
(5)Eric N.
In all my times at Jackson's, I've never actually eaten there. I'm glad I grabbed a quick bite to eat though after the Great Grapes wine festival this past weekend. After downing many glasses of wine at the festival (thanks Kimberly!) both my friend and I headed down to Jackson's for some food to soak up the wine. Jackson's was still surprisingly busy between lunch and dinner hours on a Sunday with most of the seats at the bar taken. We were lucky enough to get two. Both of us order their burger, which was only $11 and came with a side of fries. The burger was cooked to my liking perfectly (medium rare) and the fries were quite good. For RTC pricing, it wasn't bad. What I liked most though was not the food, but how well the bartender prepared an Old Fashioned. With Maker's Mark, the old fashioned glass was filled to the top and the cost was only $8. Sure, we aren't in Arlington or DC, but $8 for a well prepared Old Fashioned with Maker's is definitely note worthy. Living closer out this way, I might have to make a return trip just for it. The bartender was also very attentive, another plus. Total bill with food was only $35. Although it is rare that I hang out in Reston, the next times I do I'll most likely head to Jackson's. Then again, for food it is hard to go wrong with the Great American Restaurant group.
(4)Tiffanie B.
Absolutely LOVE the lobster roll here!! The grilled corn on the cob & fries to accompany are great as well! I can't bring myself to order anything else because this is just so good! Bartenders & staff are always pleasant. But the crowd can be a little snobby at times in the bar area. However, I can get along with anyone after a glass of wine...or 2.
(4)Doug S.
What do you want from a restaurant... I want one thing.....consistent good food. Jackson's has yet to disappoint. Weather it is for a business lunch or a private dinner I always leave feeling great about my meal. With so many choices out there spending money on a hit or miss meal is not worth it. Jackson's is one of my few go to places.
(4)Emily L.
This restaurant is by far my favorite in Reston so far. For a formal dinner it's decently priced, the service is friendly, and if you call ahead you don't have to wait long at all. I had a party of 12 with me and because we called ahead, we were able to get seated within 10 minutes on a busy Saturday around dinner time (parties larger than 5-6 people usually require splitting between 2+ tables).
(5)Allison B.
Every time I come here I am less impressed and slightly more and more offended. The last time I was here a friend of mine was kicked out for wearing a hat. He is religious and does not allow his head to go uncovered. This was greatly offensive. This most recent time the bouncer got in an argument with a friend wearing a backpack. He rides a motorcycle and has nowhere else to leave his things. I would understand if this place was a 5 star restaurant but we were on the patio (that SMELLED LIKE URINE). Very unpleasant. I won't be coming back. Drinks are over priced and staff is rude.
(1)Kyle T.
Hey! So let's get this started... If this place was anywhere else besides the Reston town center I would probably give it a 3-4 BUT since it's in the god forsaken hell hole of bad overpriced food it's by far the best thing in the center. I have come back here now 3 times after trying almost every other restaurant in the town center. Their French Dip is awesome! Nicely cooked to a medium rare it just melts in your mouth. The service the first time I was here was mediocre but the next two times it was great. I will note that this place does get busy during lunch hours and dinner time so if you don't want to have to wait make sure you come earlier or later then the average meal times.
(5)Jon L.
Mighty Fine indeed. Marie and I went here for lunch today. We arrived about 1230p and were immediately seated. I had the Crab & Corn Chowder and Hickory Grilled Chicken with rosemary vinaigrette and wild rice salad. She had the Roasted Chicken salad. We were both very pleased with the freshness, quality, presentation and flavor of our food. The service was exceptional, Wendy took good care of us and we never lacked for anything.
(5)Ashley I.
I love every appetizer on the menu, the bar staff is very friendly and attentive. Sushi is great too! Usually come here for work happy hours, the crowd during happy hour is late 20s to mid 30s.
(3)Jey J.
Ozzie rolls are the best. That and the Hong Kong sea bass are my favorite among other amazing dishes. Their prime rib is never a disappointment either!
(4)Tommy P.
Happened to be in town for work and met up with my buddy Spencer [from the area - guess you can call him a "local"] for a late dinner and drinks. Absolutely loved being able to dine "Al Fresco" [not sure who he is but kudos for inventing patio dining] and it was a nice late summer evening. Definitely a fan of the Reston Town Center area in general... Solid craft beers on tap [had about fifteen before switching to Coors Light] and my Caesar salad was very delicious - way better than Chili's! The outdoor dining is next to the sidewalk so Spencer and I tried a little bit of "cat-calling". We weren't getting any responses until I threw a crouton at a pretty lady walking by, but she poured my Coors Light on me and stormed off. The restaurant should consider putting a net or fence up in case this becomes an issue for diners. I'd come back, but I may have to try some of the other restaurants in the neighborhood first!
(4)Andrea P.
My favorite restaurant in the RTC. Everything I've ever ordered on the menu has been fantastic and the cheeseburger is phenomenal. Great atmosphere, but can get pretty crowded on the weekends.
(5)Ginger H.
I've dined at Jackson's on a few occasions. Like the other Great American Restaurants, the food quality and service are always good. However for me, this one is probably my least favorite, as I have preferred dishes at Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats. Besides, Jackson's has a lot of competition at Reston Town Center (RTC). If given the choice between Jackson's and some of the other RTC restaurants, Jackson's wouldn't be my first choice. But based on the consistently large crowds and long wait times, they seem to be holding their own quite well.
(3)H. Y.
This place is really good! Food and service was impressive and I'd definitely go again. I got the cheeseburger
(5)Rebecka A.
Tasty limoncello martini and the two dips appetizer was super good. The guac is delightfully chunky, not too strongly flavored (not overly garlicky) and a great companion to the heavier cheesy red pepper dip. The chips were warm and toasty. We also admired the booth-filled room, which didn't have those awkward tables no one ever wants to sit at. Coat hooks by each booth.
(3)M U.
Jackson's is my favorite spot in Reston Town Center. When the weathers nice out, the outdoor bar has an incredible view to see and be seen. Happy hours here get loud and packed. The bartenders are always on their game. Equal ratio of men to women here. Will be going back soon.
(5)Helen Z.
It's always difficult to give 5 stars after ordering just one thing at a restaurant so take this rating with a grain of salt in knowing all I had was the smoked salmon salad. That being said, the salad was DELICIOUS. The salmon was by far the best filet of salmon I've ever had. I absolutely loved the smokey flavor and wish I could order salmon cooked like this at every restaurant. I also got it medium rare and the fish was cooked exactly to my specification. Plus, it was just the right level of flavor so that I felt I didn't even need to use the tartar sauce I asked for on the side. The deviled egg in the salad was tasty too. Very well seasoned. My one complaint was I couldn't find the pecans at first in the dish before I realized the three tiny pieces of pecan on my egg were all that was included. The restaurant in general is a very well-decorated place. It's fashioned kind of like an American bar-esque area. Definitely a place where you can tell the interior designer put a lot of thought into selecting furniture pieces and wall decorations. I counted at least 6 different types of lamps! Our server was very friendly as well and did a good job taking our orders. Now that I'm writing this review, I miss that smoked salmon. I hope I have another chance to taste it!
(5)Shellie D.
I had a year long hiatus from Jackson's and this place used to be my favorite restaurant. I guess I did not experience Sweetwater Tavern at the time that this restaurant took the number one seat in my book. So after much anticipation, I dragged my friend to visit Jackson's and he was delighted to know that it is a Great American Restaurant. Well, the food was good but the menu was lacking. I usually order ribeyes and was very disappointed to find out that French fries came with the ribeye and the restaurant no longer allowed you to substitute your sides. This sucked because I try to avoid French Fries like the black plague, and I am already eating a fat piece of beef, why do I need more fat added on top of that. So after crying a river, my waiter expressed my concerns to the manager and he allowed me to have my baked potato and spinach. He actually gave me two sides! I wasn't expecting this much but I really am glad to see that they value their customers. I am still a bit disappointed about the menu options and I think they should try to give a bit more variety.
(4)Chris K.
We often visit Jackson's after work as our company's watering hole. It is great restaurant that sits in prime real estate within the Reston Town Center. As this is part of the Great American Restaurant Association you can expect similar menu items as Mike's American Grill, Coastal Flatts, and Carlyle. As always with the aforementioned restaurants, you can expect a clean dining room and excellent service. The menu focused and doesn't give diners informatoin overload. I always recommend the lobster roll. Plenty of lobster squeezed into a buttered and toasted roll, grilled corn on the cob, and french fries. The real gem of this location is the Lucky's Lounge (semi outdoor patio and bar). It's a great place to sit, enjoy drinks and food when the weather allows. In the event that the weather is nice, make sure to get there early as table and sitting space is limited at and around the bar. The only con is that there is no happy hour deals, other than it is a great establishment.
(4)Carly C.
I like most Great American Restaurants, so it isn't a surprise I like Jackson's. We've had most of their steaks (hangar, filet, etc.) and didn't find them to be as good as at the other GARs. The reason we go to Jackson's is for the Prime Rib French Dip sandwich. I haven't had a better one yet. It better be the best at $18! Don't forget to ask for horseradish cream on the side - yum! I'm not fond of their french fries, though. They are skin on hand cut fries, I prefer SW's shoestrings. But, all in all, Jackson's is just as consistent as the rest of the chains.
(4)Aleesha P.
Yes, OK, they are the child of a chain. So, we cut you some slack for all of your inadequacies don't we? Why not do the same for them. Four stars because I always have a stellar time when I go out to Jacksons. The food isn't always 4 start quality, but never below a 3 1/2, and the service has always been 5 stars for me. Yes, there's a long wait at 6 PM on Friday night, so just don't go then. Duh. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table here, but that's also because I go at off times, 4PM on a Sunday, 9PM on a Monday, etc. The food is good. Comparable quality to Coastal's if that's your thing. They start you off with those to die for Ozzie (sp?) rolls with sweet better. Be careful, a few too many off those can kill off your appetite right quick. For app's I either get the calamari (with a sweet/spicy thai sauce and fried string beans) or spinach dip (you can't go wrong with this). I've recently discovered their deviled eggs. Jesus Christ, where have these been all my life? A bite of egg a bite off that ridiculously yummy bacon, what more can a girl want? Oh yeah, either a blue moon or glass of Cab for me thanks. They have a decent beer and wine selection, both in terms of selection and price. They also have this wicked Cosmo which smokes (dry ice) when served, I've never consumed it, but one of my friends swears by them, although they are a bit pricey (about $9). For dinner I've only ever had their steak. Either the hanger or Fillet, which they do well, not as good as Ray's, but hey, Ray's doesn't have the same ambiance either. Dessert isn't really anything to write home about. Service, like I said before, is great. Everyone's friendly and attentive. Drinks never go empty, unless you want them to, and I've never had to "flag" down a waiter for any reason. If our waiter is busy another one always seems to appear. Go team service. Yes it's the baby of a chain, yes it can get busy, but it's always great times, good food, great service.
(4)Greg P.
Great service, attentive staff. Always a good time.
(4)Diann B.
**We arrived for afternoon drinks and stayed for lunch. We sat at the bar and had the delight of meeting, Lacey, our bartender. Fun, attentive, witty, wise, and cute she advised us as we are tourists and bonded with our local dear friend, Robin. (They even knew some of the same people). She poured a wicked Perfect Margarita. My husband enjoyed the Lucky Lager,a beer on tap. Robin partook in an occasional shot of Sauza. **The restaurant's decor is FABULOUS down to the bathrooms. (Oh yeah..the tile is beautiful and I captured it on my iPhone). Photos to follow. **The fare that we sampled: BBQ Chicken Salad includes chicken, spinach, apple, egg, and ohhh those candied walnuts.. mmm mmm. My husband and I shared it. He enjoyed the mustard vinegariatte (on the side). I had the Ranch. YUMMY! Robin ate the Steak Frite. WOWEE KAZOWEE! Oh yeah.. I said it. Uh Huh. That red wine sauce, over the scrumptious perfectly cooked steak bites, & Lacey made Robin a customer who vows to return. **Lacey works Monday through Friday lunchtime. **Other fun staff that we met: Winston (animated & fun) & Anne (simply hilarious with a quick wit). I would request her as our server if Lacey wasn't available.
(5)Rob S.
I was looking for Passion Fish, in the same block, but decided that Jackson's looked interesting instead. I was promptly seated, and a waiter appeared right away. Before I could order a drink, he launched into "tonight's specials" and told me about them. I told him that I wanted a glass of wine and he took off to get it. When he came back with my wine, he immediately asked me if I wanted to order, and I felt really rushed. I ordered a bowl of lobster bisque and one of the fish specials. I had a sip of my wine, and the waiter put the soup down, before he even had brought the bread. I finished the soup and a moment later the waiter took the bowl and another server brought me my entree. It was a great presentation but the swordfish was dry. I didn't see my server again until I finished, and he appeared as soon as I put my fork down, with the bill, asking me if I was ready to settle up. I was so put off I told him I wanted another glass of wine and had thought about ordering dessert, and asked if he was in a hurry to have me leave. He apologized and said I could stay as long as I wanted. A few minutes later he brought the wine, but forgot about the dessert menu. A manager arrived a few minutes later and told me that "so and so" wasn't trying to rush me, but didn't apologize or ask me why I felt rushed out of the place. When I caught the waiter's eye, I asked for my bill, paid it and left. I won't go back and now that I know that it is a larger chain including Sweetwater's I'll avoid them as well. I wanted to try someplace new, but I should have continued down the street to Clydes, or McCormick and Schmicks, where I know I would have been treated like a valued customer.
(1)Michele D.
I met a dear friend one rainy Saturday evening so we could catch up after not having seen each other in so long. We started at the outdoor patio, which I am now a huge fan of. The only bad thing about it is this is where the smokers tend to hang out, so if you're not a smoker, choose your seat wisely. After a few drinks we moved to the inside bar and decided to order some food. We both ordered the same salad because my friend raved about how much he loves it and orders it -all- the time. I figured I've give it a shot. If you like salmon and you want something that's not so heavy, you must, must, must get their salmon salad. Picture mixed field greens, asparagus, tomatoes on the bottom and a -huge- piece of salmon on top. I am not kidding. This is not an appetizer size portion of fish. And it is delicious. There's a side serving of a potato salad that doesn't taste half bad, but the salad, which comes with a champagne vinaigrette is absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to return to Jackson's and have it again. Service at the outdoor bar was shit (I wish I would have gotten the girls name), but the folks at the indoor bar rocked customer service like nobody's business. Still love this place, so glad they came to the RTC!
(4)shar w.
Went there today with several friends and had one of the worst experiences we have ever had at a restaurant. We did not like the wine (and we have had it before) so the manager Jamie actually had the edacity to tell us it tasted just fine and he would taste the next bottle we choose with us. I have never been so offended.---- who is the customer??? MY tuna wa not cooked per my request and no one apologized. We hav ebeen regulars there for quite some time because of a Manager there named Juan who always made sure our food and drink was as we liked. My friends and I will never go back! No happy hour with many friens or dinner. My next note goes to my facebook friends. Ohhh and this was my birthday celebration??
(1)Candace C.
I'll jump right into this one--i started with the $7 eggs and they were GOOD. I know this is trendy right now, but had it not been for the sugar cured bacon, $7 eggs would be on a long list of extravagent purchases last month. That bacon--they should sell plates of that alone--unless you do not eat pork, MAKE SURE YOU ORDER something with the BACON. If you only want to try the eggs, a few of the salads come with a deviled egg on the side, so save that $7 for dessert. :) For my main course, I had the prime rib and while it was good, it was expensive by prime rib standards, especially because there is only one size cut. The $24 price tag affords you a 12oz cut and a house salad. 12oz? I got 22oz from Wildfire for $30 and I thought it was quite good. That being said, I really liked my house salad, but it was a little heavy on the dressing. My bf had the salmon salad and it was DRENCHED with dressing---more noticeably (greens completely wilted) so because the vinagrette was lighter and spread out more. I highly suggest ordering all dressings on the side. The highlight of this place for us was service. We had wonderful service throughout the meal. Next time we're in Reston, we might go back or we might head to the Counter across the street..who knows. It's not a bad option in that cluster of dining establishments, it's just not special either.
(3)Heather W.
Consistent and yummy. I can always rely on good food and great service.
(5)Chris R.
Wow! Great brunches (get the Bubble and Squeak)...awesome Cheeseburgers and also salads. All fresh and made precisely to your liking. Service...can't get any better, just like all other Great American restaurants. The team service approach works well for them. Sunday brunches on the patio, no better way to go. Call ahead though if you go after 6 30 to get your name on the list.
(5)mimmie h.
Jackson's is a great addition to the Reston Town Center improvements. I've enjoyed my meals at both occasions I've dined here. I would prefer this place over the other Coastal Flats and Sweetwater chains... perhaps because I've been to the other ones once too many times? :) I've tried the Lobster Roll and the Prime Rib and both are excellent. The Lobster Roll was filled with huge chunks of lobster meat and the Prime Rib made me feel like a happy Flintstone with it's size and coming served bone in. Get it... you'll see what I mean.
(4)Yvonne S.
I ate here on a weeknight with my husband. He travels to this area often and has eaten here many times. This was my first experience. They have a large, varied menu and we both had wonderful food. Service was excellent and several people waited on us from taking our order, to filling our drinks, bringing out the food and the bill. They are on their toes! It was very busy and loud and I would avoid the bar area altogether, unless that is what you are looking for. I would eat here again for sure.
(4)Anthony M.
Food - 2 Stars. People watching - 5 stars. It's the only "bumpin" place in Reston. Male/Female ratio at the bar - 1 star. It should be called Jackson's Mighty Fine Sausage Fest.
(3)Molly T.
Jackson's Restaurant is a wonderful addition to the Great American Restaurants(GAR) Chain. As with the others(Mike's, Sweetwater, Carlyle, Coastal Flats) there are many "oldie- but goodies," and with Jackson's comes some new additions to the menu. I think that Jackson's Menu most closely resembles the menu at Coastal Flats with more emphasis on seafood. Unlike the other GAR, Jackson's offers Sushi. The Mac & Cheese Side plate with Ham is INCREDIBLE. Little curly noodles, perfectly cooked with many delicious cheeses. This option also comes with Lobster, which of course is amazing, but I have to say the cheaper side order is better for the price. Because of the heavy cheesy-flavor, the lobster seems to get a bit lost. Skip the Wild Rice Salad w. Almonds. Just as it sounds, but the couple times I've tried it, it's been pretty bland and dry.. Go for the Sauteed Butter Spinach instead. M'mm. Also, it's definitely worth trying the Deviled Eggs w. Spiced Pecans & Sugar Cured Bacon. I dream about them, seriously. The bacon is so crisp and tasty. A wonderful compliment to the rich filing and texture of the boiled eggs. For dessert, the Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding is wonderful. If you like bread pudding, this is heavenly. Jackson's also has Lemon Meringue and Carrot Cake, which are not seen at the other GAR. They also offer a Kid's Menu and a Tasty Vegetarian Platter. Prices are reasonable. Portions are good. Service is always incredible.
(4)Andria O.
Jackson's is pretty much the same thing as Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats, as others have said. However, Sweetwater Tavern has the blue crab fritters. Jackson's does not. So I can only go three stars. For now. Unless it one day ends up on the menu. But Jackson's is a decent option within the mini-city that Reston Town Center has become over the years. They make good mixed drinks. Service has always been cordial. The food is a little overpriced - but then, most everything is a little overpriced at RTC. You'll be mostly satisfied when you leave Jackson's every time. That's good enough for three stars in my book.
(3)Bridget S.
The Boyfriend and I passed by Jackson's on many a night, and saw many a tipsy boy and girl hanging out on the patio. Looked like a happening place, so when were were looking for somewhere to catch a drink and people watch in VA on a cold and overcast Saturday night, he suggested Jackson's. There are ALWAYS people at Jackson's. It was a cute place - nice interior, and although we weren't that hungry, we ordered the lobster mac and cheese (YUMMY) and sushi (yes, I ordered sushi from a non-sushi establishment. I figured if they could do sushi well, when it's NOT their specialty, the food that they DO specialize in had to be GREAT - my logic may be off, but it works for me). The yellowtail rainbow roll was tasty and very fresh! -1 star for not having that many beers - I am a wine drinker by choice, but every now and again (like last night) I like to foray into the beerland. . .there were only 8 types, if I remember. The BF had a very good Pinot Noir (Lyseth, I think). +1 star for a VERY nice waitstaff - from the hostess to the managers, everyone seemed to be attentive, well spoken, fast, and helpful. I will be back.
(4)Laura L.
This is my go to place. Anniversaries, birthdays, mother's day... I love the crab cakes or crab cake benedict for brunch. French toast is amazing for brunch as well. Salads - including Chop House, are great. SeaBass was very good as well (but I still LOVE the crab cakes). I've never been there with family and friends who didn't love their meal. The Great American Restaurants chain has always been my favorite, and Jackson's is top notch. Great service and food. Wonderful with kids especially at brunch. Can get very crowded during peak times, and can be loud, but I LOVE IT!
(5)Jomo K.
Great for a night out... Whether you are looking for after work cocktails, late evening cocktails, or dinner. You'll find quite a few folks that work in the area, but that adds to the likability of the place. The food is excellent. The outdoor bar--- well, it's sorta smoky-- so if you hate smoke, don't venture outdoors. The bar indoors is large, and very nice (and clean). As for the food- EVERYTHING is good. The burgers are perfect. I'd highly recommend Jackson's...
(4)Diane W.
The best food I have had since I moved to Virgina. I am not so impressed with the hostess station. The area is loud as it is next to the bar and I feel like they are screaming at me! However, when you get to your table and order your food you know longer remember holding your ears! The wait service is very attentive and really want to help you enjoy your dinner. Order the ginger line martini and the sea bass.
(5)Charissa J.
I've been here a few times. Always had a good time. Fun place for happy hour and hanging out with friends. Food has always been good. Great crowds and atmosphere. One of my favorites when bar hopping around the Town Center on a Saturday night.
(5)Laura P.
I have to say - I love all of the Great American Restaurants. Since moving from the area, I haven't had Jackson's in a couple years. It did not disappoint. I loved the crab and corn chowder. I had a large lump crab cake also - good but not amazing. The highlight of GAR is always the mojito - hands down my go-to drink there.
(4)James W.
Jackson's is close to work so I hit the bar for lunch. Just ice tea and a french dip and back to work. Service at the bar is fast, friendly and fun. I am a big fan of French Dips and they got this one just right. Hand cut fries to top it off. I could have that for lunch everyday! Always a fan of Great American Restaurants. Jackson's is a fine example of all the years of hard work they put into mixing great food with great service and a great atmosphere. You can never order the wrong thing and if you cannot make up your mind, ask. And if you don't like it, let them know. They will fix it.
(4)Jorina N.
I really had no expectations coming here. Just wanted to try something new in the town center. We definitely went to the right place tonight. My fiance had the rosemary roasted chicken. You really can't go wrong with this dish. The meat was very moist and flavorful. We were most impressed with the wild rice that it came with. It had the perfect blend of taste and texture--nutty, sweet and crunchy! The portion was plentiful and enough to feed a hungry man! For me, I decided to go vegetarian....which is very unusual, however, not to say I don't like veggies...just not as the main entree! BUT thought I should be adventurous for a day! As soon as the dish came out, the presentation "wowed" me and the Pavlovian theory went into effect! I was salivating! It was everything I had expected and more! The portion was very generous and every item on that dish was superb! I never felt so happy ordering a non-steak dish and be satisfied!! The staff was friendly. They really do try to cater to you. I overheard the customer a table over asking their server if he knew if the stores nearby were still open since yesterday was closed from the blizzard. Within minutes, the manager came over to find out which stores they had in mind so she can call and check for them! I was impressed! That was a very nice gesture!! I am definitely coming back!
(4)Nicole T.
I was in town for one day and Jackson's was recommended to me. I was seated very quickly and my drink order was taken right away. I ordered a mango rum martini which was good. I also ordered the crab and corn chowder and crab cake roll. The crab and corn chowder was very hearty and tasty. After I finished the chowder the waiter took the bowl and it took about ten minutes for him to bring the crab cake roll. It would have been great if it was ready after I completed the chowder or if the waiter informed me that it would take awhile. Otherwise the food and service was good. I would try this place again if I'm in town.
(4)Iain B.
This past weekend we made our second trip to Jackson's, this time for my wife's birthday. We had a call ahead reservation for 6:15 Saturday night and we were seated immediately. Our waitress was quick to the table and was on the ball, she hung in there with my mom's usual indecisiveness which can make even the best of wait staff beg for mercy. For appetizers we started with the always awesome, "and totally unbeatable by any other restaurant i've ever been to", spinach & artichoke dip Seriously, this is THE best s&a dip you'll find anywhere. I've had it at many other places and it's always subpar in comparison. We also ordered the Coconut Shrimp and the Unagi rolls. I didn't have the Coconut Shrimp roll but everyone at the table liked them a lot. Now, the unagi roll. It's $10. That may seem like a lot for unagi but you've just gotta put it into perspective: 1) Generally when you order unagi in any sushi place you get two pieces nigiri style (ie slab of eel on top of rice ball) 2) Every place I've ever ordered unagi it's $4.50 - $5 for those 2 pieces. The unagi roll here at Jackson's is 8 large pieces of maki with both bbq eel and avocado wrapped around the top. The inside is filled with rice, crab and (i think) asparagus. This roll is the bomb, it's downright awesome. If you're wondering if it's worth the $10 it totally is. For entrees I had the filet with fries, dad had the daily special of seared halibut, mom had the cheese burger and my wife had the crab cakes. As usual all the entrees were spot on and very good. For dessert my wife got an order of their Lemon "Marshmallow Meringue" Pie to go. It was really, really good. The marshmallow meringue is just epic. Anyway, another great dining experience at a GAR restaurant.
(5)John K.
Jacksons = Sweet Water Tavern = Coastal Flats All owned by the same company. When we first walked in, even the waitress asks the obligatory "Have you been here before?" We say no. Then she responds with "Oh, have you been to Sweetwater Tavern?" We say yes. Then she says "oh it's pretty much the same thing" I heard that it's a pretty popular spot for drinks and the bar was PACKED. I'm not sure if they have any specials or a specialty drink that's a must have, but I sure did see a lot of people there. Maybe Albert Haynesworth was downing some Blue Moon's.
(3)Ahnya N.
Good food, but it was a little loud because of the bar. Food was good. Drinks were better.
(3)S S.
Jackson's is part of the Great American Restaurants. This company has mastered the art of timely, tasty and innovative food. If you are going for lunch or dinner, your service will be prompt, your order will be correct and the food will come out near perfection. I love the filet mignon, crab cake, chop house salad and their soup selection. What takes the prize are their Ozzy rolls. You'll want seconds of bread...I actually don't like bread except from this place! The bar scene is crowded and fun. Drinks are made better than any other place in the area. Sometimes a little bit of a cougar-fest but that provides for some entertainment for me and my girlfriends. I'm not a big fan of their fish or sushi but hey you can't do everything perfect!
(5)Keith B.
Like the other restaurants in the Great American Restaurant group, another solid choice. It has the same excellent quality of ingredients and service you come to expect from this group. The deviled egg appetizer is a real winner here. My wife loves their sushi as well. For me, I usually go for the cheeseburger which is always a solid choice. The seating is all booths which is nice and the ambience feels a little like the inside of an old tobacco warehouse with the exposed brick walls. The only real complaint is the bar here, like most of the bars in the the Reston Town Center becomes a pick-up scene for folks looking for a drink and a companion. So it tends to get loud weekdays after work. The outside bar area is fenced off, but it is usually so jam packed to capacity that I get sense of looking at yuppie refugee camp. To get in you must pass the bar which has a the smell of a mixture of Axe body spray, cigarette smoke, beer sweat, and desperation. Still, I love this place...just not at night.
(4)Amanda B.
Visited Jackson's on a Wednesday for lunch. The place was packed at 11:30 and the lobby never seemed to empty the entire time I was there. We were seated within about twenty minutes and our waiter was immediately at our table to take our drink order. Our waiter was an adorable kid who looked barely eighteen. This is of no importance other than the fact that one of the ladies I was dining with mentioned she would like for him to be her Boy Toy. I find this endlessly entertaining. Our drinks arrived promptly, our order was taken and our food arrived quickly. I had the salad again and also had some frites. Excellent! The frites alone are reason enough for me to return to Jackson's. We had a chocolate waffle for dessert and YUM. Also, excellent. Overall, another excellent experience at Jackson's.
(3)Bill B.
This is a review of Great American Restaurant's as much as it is of Jackson's. This is also a review of the perfect Cheddar Cheeseburger because since first ordering the Cheeseburger at a Sweetwater a couple of years back I find it hard to order anything else and the Cheeseburger is offered at all of the Great American Restaurants including Jackson's. My wife and I usually sit at the bar and order the chopped salad to split and the Cheeseburger medium rare to split and always find it to be plenty of food. Of the 20 or so times that I've order the Cheeseburger it is consistently excellent. And I know many of you will probably say the best Burger in town would be at Ray's Hell Burger but I've eaten both and while I give Ray's two thumbs up for Toppings creativity, the pure flavor of the burger itself is still best at Great American. We feel so strongly about this that we had to ask the manger what makes it so good. First it is hickory grilled which adds a lot of flavor right their, we were also told that Great American grinds their own meat on premises which guarantees freshness. It's an 80 / 20 mix of beef but I would swear it closer to 75 / 25 and nothing is added to the meat except Salt, Pepper and Garlic Salt. I've mentioned the Burger at Sweetwater or Jackson's to many but most never think of a burger and go for the more popular dishes. This weekend I took my 16 yr old son to Jacksons, he had the Burger per my suggestion and after one bite all he had to say was "Wow, this is good". Try the burger, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Eclectic N.
I just recently reviewed another GAR restaurant in this area (Sweet Water) and gave it the same rating although I enjoyed this place much more. The entire dining experience was great all around except that our server appeared to be very new and they left her flying solo and wounded. She tried her hardest, but that made things quite uncomfortable. Opening a wine bottle was entertaining to say the least and after two tries and 3 people, they finally conquered the bottle. We had a red Zinfandel (2006 Murphy-Goode - Snake Eyes) from Sonoma that I was already familiar with. It normally sells for $35 in a wine shop and we picked it up here for $56 which was very fair and we didn't feel gouged like some restaurants that mark things up 200%. It paired perfectly with everyone's dish except for the sea bass. The down side of this meal was the portions. Everything tasted so good, but a lot was wasted as nobody could finish their plate. Their little bread rolls looked amazing, but I resisted. I could see the butter melting on them, so I knew they were piping hot. We then ordered a serving of fried green tomatoes. These were very plump and delicious. They weren't too greasy and they were covered in mixed greens and red pepper. I only had one bite, but I think this was my favorite mouthful that I had all evening and the rest of the food was excellent. I ordered the "small 12 ounce" prime rib. My meal also came with a very large baked potato and a side salad. I requested a Caesar, but there isn't one on the menu. I was told that the closest I could get was a chopped salad. The salad arrived first and it was the size of an entree salad at most places. It filled a large plate and it was about 4 inches high. It was very rich and it had to be extremely calorie laden. I knew with big calories came big responsibility and pretty much polished it off. The prime rib seemed to show up just as the laundry basket of salad in my gut settled. It look delicious and was rare just as I ordered. I looked like it could have been the one pound cut. It was so tender that it could almost be eaten with a straw. I enjoyed 3/4s of it before I had to throw in the towel or throw up. It was much better than I could have expected from a chain. I didn't even get to touch the Galapagos Sea Turtle sized baked potato that inhabited the other side of my plate. I stole one spoonful which turned out to be mostly butter and sour cream. They were beautiful with a casing of salt on the skin. It was sad as I had to watch 3 of these dissappear from the table at the end...what a waste. another guest had the Ahi tuna and stated that it was just perfect and flavorful. He was actually the only one that could have probably eaten more at the end, although is order of fries filled the void. The othe person had Hong Kong Sea Bass and stated it was one of the better restaurant fish dishes that he's had in a while. there are several other things that I wished I could have tried, but I would have never survived to write another review. Pricing was more than fair for what we received. Hi quality meals for 4 men and wine for under $200. The ambiance was very modern and welcoming. I'm told on Thursday nights, this place is hopping and has amazing energy. I plan to be back again, although there apear to be several other nice restaurants in this nice little area of Reston.
(4)Howie H.
Danilo and I must be the only people eating at the same Jackson's in Reston. This restaurant is not up to par with the others in the chain of Great American Restaurants. I must say that the place looked nice upon walking in and we figured that we would have a new Sweet Water on our hands. Correction, we have Jackson's in the Town Center and now I realize why there are not more of them around. The hostesses were very nice as they always are at Sweet Water. The waiter was also sincere and very conversational. I was scared at first to order some simple sushi roles from a place that is not known for sushi, but hey, California Rolls are difficult to mess up. Jackson's took the gold medal in this department. Take it from me as I am originally from Taiwan and lived in Japan. I prefer sashimi but will always give rolls a shot especially at American restaurants who like to create fusion dishes or deliver their perspective of an Asian dish. Some times you are pleasantly surprised and sometimes you want to vomit. Jackson's was the latter. We absolutely love deviled eggs so we ordered these with the rolls. Now, we all know that deviled eggs can be made in many different ways. Some people use more hot sauce, mustard, horseradish, and some people use more vinegar. Deviled eggs are often made at home for parties, holidays, and work pot lucks. If a restaurant is going to have a staple American home made dish on their menu, they should only put it on the menu if it stands out. Not only did the deviled eggs not stand out, it was bland. It was very disappointing as deviled eggs are very easy to make and these had to have been the worst batch I have tasted since......well since I have been in the United States and that dates back to 1986 when the NY Mets won their last World Series. At this point, we are hoping the Hong Kong Sea Bass would be decent and Jackson's could make a decent recovery. Sea Bass is a delicious fish and the way they were preparing it with leaf spinach, ginger, sherry, and scallion sounded awesome. Kudos to this place for messing up yet another dish. The Sea Bass tasted like a white piece of rubbery nothing. It didn't taste like fish. The sauce was too sweet and the sticky rice was not rice. I'm Asian and this was NOT rice. It got to be too much that I had to tell the waiter. I will say this, Great American Restaurants still have great service and wanted to take care of the dish for me and gave me a gift certificate. I insisted that I did not need a gift certificate and would pay for my meal. I do not believe in returning dishes for gift cards...if I ordered it, I will pay for it no matter how good or how awful. This comes from working in the service industry for over 12 years. The manager insisted I take it so I did and I gave it to someone at work as I did not care to go back there ever again. I know I know, I could have used the gift card at other places, but the awful food made my stomach hurt and it also caused a brain fart as well so I was not thinking straight as I could have gone to Sweet Water with it. None the less, Jackson's is a nice looking place with horrible food. Horrible is being kind. And the no hat policy at the bar...are we in DC at a swanky lounge? I think not, let me remind Jackson's that we are in Reston Virginia and the reason people frequent establishments in Reston is because they do not have to deal with dress codes and a stuck up attitude. Jackson's apparently thinks different.
(1)David K.
I really like this place. Great menu, food is well prepared, service is always great. Nice bar up top.
(4)Bil G.
Went here on Sunday for the brunch. The Washingtonian had a write-up on brunches and Jackson's was written-up as being a good place. But unfortunately due to traffic by the time I got there at 3:15 brunch was over. Ordered the combo dish of guacamole and queso. Got a strange dish of chunky guacamole and a solid queso. I ended up sending that back. Got it replaced with a spinach dip which was good. Ordered the combo of crab cake and filet. The crab cake was good but a little fishy tasting. Filet was cooked medium rare, just the way I ordered it and the filet was a good quality, nice and tender. My waitress Holly was GREAT. She told me to ask for her when I next come back, hopefully to get brunch. The menu said fresh fish and I was glad as I would hate for the fish not to be fresh. Unfortunately it didn't tell you what kind of fresh fish?! The menu also had grouper fingers and I didn't even know that groupers had fingers!? The bread with butter was good. This restaurant was the ONLY one I ever went to that didn't cut the lime to fit on the glass rim. Cutting the lime to fit on the glass rim just makes it harder to squeeze and they also served it on the side instead of throwing it in the tea for you to try and fish it out with your spoon like some places. And instead of the waitress running up and pouring in more tea in your half empty glass thereby ruining your properly limed and sweetened tea they bring you a fresh glass of tea and more lime wedges. What a place. I was impressed. I'll sure ask for Holly the next time I go in though apparently she only works there on Sundays. I thought her last name was SerChk as that was on the receipt, Holly SerChk but she said that it was not her last name but stood for Service Check!! The desserts were all over $6 and that included the ubiquitous bread pudding which I understand is made with stale bread so they don't have to throw it out?! Stale bread for $6!! So I passed on the dessert.
(4)Kevin S.
This place is mediocre at best. Seriously, did the area need another "Great American Restaurant?" Methinks it didn't. Totally underwhelming.
(2)Mary L.
I'm sorry... did I just freaking see LOBSTER Mac & Cheese with ham on the menu? I think I did... and you know what I got it! And that was definitely a great life choice. Jackson's, I wonder if we were married in another life. How did you know I love lobster? How did you know I like my Mac & Cheese with ham? How did you know to put the two together and BAKE them in a crockery of deliciousness? And why are your deviled eggs so good? Why?! But minus one star because what possessed you to dip bacon in maple syrup? That's not okay. How can you destroy the taste of bacon like that? It's okay, not all marriages are perfect, I forgive you only if you PROMISE to make me lobster Mac & Cheese for the REST of my life.
(4)Danilo B.
This place thinks that they are a 5 star "upscale" restaurant when their food, decor and management are quite the opposite. (Just because you're close to Morton's and Passion Fish does NOT put you in the same realm as they are) Food is just ok compared to other Great American restaurants. And it's not consistent. When they're busy, kitchen runs behind and food can take quite a while. And they have the most ridiculous drinking rules and dress code I've ever heard... - No shots after 9pm - No shooters after 10pm - 6 (sometimes 5) drink maximum - here's the kicker...they'll serve a 100lb woman 6 martinis (which are actually 2 drinks' worth of alcohol per martini) over a period of 3 hours, but they won't serve a 240lb man 6 beers over the course of 6 hours. - No baseball hats - but cowboy hats, hoodies, military hats and others are ok. - Baseball hats aren't ok, but a wife beater, 10 year old jeans with holes in them and sneakers are ok. Seriously?! Jackson's is a disgrace to the Great American Restaurants chain (which I love especially Sweetwater Tavern and Carlyle Grand).
(1)Eric G.
ok, i'm rating purely on the food. The deviled eggs are the best I ever had. Secret ingredients with strips of sweet bacon. I've lived in the south and who knew you didnt have to paprika deviled eggs. Their lobster roll is awesome, huge amount of lobster with just enough sauce. We did come back to have drinks at the outside bar for happy hour - thats another review entirely. lol.
(4)Dave C.
Lunch on the terrace is nice. The lobster roll is excellent
(4)Keo S.
At first glance, I thought this place would be just like any other chain restaurant. I'm glad that I was mistaken. The service was impeccable and the wait staff really worked well as team in terms of food running and being as attentive as possible. The calamari was very good and only Legal Seafood in Boston beats it. I had the Sea Bass and my companions had the Ribeye special and we couldn't get enough. I was really excited to see that they had cauliflower mash which is something that I make at home as an alternative to mash potatoes. Great healthy options. Anyway, we were so stuffed and yet we had to try the Flourless Chocolate Waffle. 5 days later and we are all still raving about it. It's one of the best deserts that I've ever had and can't wait to bring people there to try it. All in all, it was a great experience and highly recommend it as a medium priced restaurant where you will receive high quality food, service, and will have great time in general.
(5)Susan H.
Before we went here today, I was seriously thinking of updating my review. Our experience today prompted me to get off the fence and start writing! We've gotten to really like Jackson's. Since my previous review, I've tried the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass and my husband has had their fillet. The sea bass is very tasty and well presented. The soy sherry broth with sesame ginger sauce compliments rather than overpowers the taste of the sea bass. My husband raves about the roasted mushrooms that come with the wood grilled fillet. In fact, one night when we went with my dad, who had the mushroom soup, I suggest to my husband that he offer my dad one of his roasted mushrooms. My husband said that they were too good to share LOL! Of course, we still love those heavenly deviled eggs and the oh so tasty bacon that comes with them! Well...tonight my husband ordered the fillet and asked that it be cooked medium. When it came it was medium rare. The server came by and my husband pointed this out to him. Then the server offered to take it back to the kitchen. My husband said, he'd eat it the way it is but just wanted to point this out so the kitchen will know about it. After that, a woman came to our table and said we were going to get a free dessert. My husband said it wasn't necessary but she said "I have to do this". (BTW, the lemon merengue pie is delicious!) On top of that, the manager came by, apologized and said he would give us a gift certificate that was enough for a free fillet next time! We thanked him and told him that we would have come back anyway! I also told him that I was going to update my review on Yelp LOL! He said that was nice but said he wasn't doing this for that reason (Right Answer!). The customer service here is excellent! I suspect that it's like that at the other Great American Restaurants. Recently, when we were at Artie's, we were seated next to a table with loud, obnoxious screaming kids. Although, we didn't complain about it, we still got an apology and a free dessert. We are so impressed with Jackson's! Of course, we will be back. You know, we should try more restaurants at Reston Town Center but Jacksons's always calls to us now LOL!
(5)CA A.
Jackson's is consistently good. We were there last night with another couple and had a great time. For appetizer we had the fircracker calamari, which is soooo good, (but a bit too sweet for my taste). Of course their bread basket is yummy. My husband had steak frites (hangar steak with french fries served french bistro style) and I had the hong kong style sea bass. The steak frites was great served medium, and the french fries are skin-on and tasty. The sea bass I've had a few times there and it's cooked perfectly and the sauce they serve it with (over steamed spinach and sticky rice) is delicious. They serve it with just a scoop of rice, so it's not too much. We generally are fans of this restaurant group with Coastal Flats being another go -to for when we're in Virginia.
(4)Scott H.
We meet some friends here on Saturday night, and even though we had to wait for almost an hour for our table at 9 o'clock at night, the place wasn't half bad. The food was pretty good, but I would have to say over priced. The devil eggs with maple syrup was outstanding.
(3)Jane J.
The place is spacious, and its decor feels like a cross between a microbrewery and motorcycle shop. Kitchen is an open one, which means you can see what is going on, which for germophobes may be reassuring. That said I found this place pricey, and felt that the portions were small .... A place like this you expect large portion entrees with enough for a leftover bag, but this was not the case.......
(3)Jennifer S.
Met a friend here for dinner tonight! The decor was nice and comfortable, the service was friendly and attentive and the food was yummy. I enjoyed the grilled shrimp with mediterranean orzo salad, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes - delicious!
(4)Ryan W.
We've been to Jackson's numerous times, usually on our way to or from Dulles, since its Reston Town Center location isn't convenient to where we live. It's a good choice for us since the casual atmosphere and straightforward menu is conducive to kids. Is Jackson's perfect? No, but the service is usually attentive, the food is usually very good, and those signature donut-like bread balls are out of this world.
(4)Hummad H.
On my last night in Reston, I went to Jackson's with a friend for dinner. We got the Spicy Tuna sushi as an appetizer. It was ok, but wasn't spicy at all. We were craving steak, so based on the recommendation from our server, I got the ribeye (12 oz), and my friend got a filet (8 oz) Both were very good, but not nearly big enough. The ribeye was marinated overnight, so that gave it a nice intense flavor. Dinner also came with salad and fries / baked potato. The food was good, as was the service.
(3)Rahul J.
Answer the questions: Do you like cougars around? y/n Do you like being bullied into ordering more food than is necessary? y/n Do you like the cheesecake factory mentality of an everythingsonitmenu? y/n If that's two out of three, you'll like Jacksons.
(2)Paras G.
The food here is expensive, you pay for what you get. It is a high class restaurant, with great service and good to go to on a weeknight for happy hour. The place is packed with young professionals and adult drinking crowd. I hate asparagus, but the way they seasoned it here, i ate it all up. Been here twice, i think its expensive but not over priced compared to the other restaurants in the Reston Town Center. Good experiences both times, never had to wait too long and food was delicious.
(5)Adam F.
A bit noisy, but pretty good food.
(4)Lucky D.
Like the clean decor and modern look. Great outside bar area. Was not impressed with the menu. Very limited and some things are grossly over priced. $18 for a French Dip sandwich is appalling!! The outdoor bar service is poor. 2 bartender and no cocktail server. Everyone orders from the bar. Since it is too much for only 2 staff members, the wait is long and getting their attention when not sitting at the rail is difficult. Same when it comes to bill paying time. During my visit I experienced the day and evening bartenders. Both shifts showed no personality and friendliness. They were simply too busy and one additional team member would have corrected that problem. We tried the Calamari, it was good. Kinda spicy and different. The chicken sandwich was ok, Crispy, but too greasy from the mayo and buttered bread. The cheeseburger was, well a cheeseburger. Don't go for the service, don't go for the food, certainly don't go for the prices, but perhaps to enjoy the outside seating. But then on the other hand, nearly all the joints in Reston Town Center offer that.
(2)Shaggy L.
I been to this place 3-4 times and like the beer selection. I love the ozzie rolls bread basket which is complimentary and always request for refills. The deviled eggs appetizer is to die for. There is nothing special abt their entree items. bottom line: Only pulling factor for me is the bar place and the free bread basket.
(3)Nova E.
I have frequent this place many times and I've never been disappointed. The staff is always on top of their game and the food is always consistent. Just about everything on the menu is delicious. My go to is the chicken salad and filet. The mojitos are very good as well.
(5)John K.
My wife and I finally got to try this place Wednesday night after running into amazingly long waits (1 HR+) multiple times. Going at 5:30 on a weeknight paid off! She had the fish special (trout?) and I had the filet and crabcake. Both meals were good. I think her fish was probably a little better than my dish - definitely better than the fish I had at McCormick's down the street (which has gone downhill). The mixed drinks were just OK. Service was fast and friendly. Overall the meal was good, but the prices are a little high for what you get - which knocked my review from 4 to 3 stars. I also wouldn't wait to eat here - Mon Ami Gabi and The Counter across the street are both good alternatives if the line is long.
(3)Paige E.
I have always been a fan of Sweetwater Tavern, so of course I like Jackson's. I am in love with their lobster bisque, and was lucky yesterday that it was the soup of the day. So soooooo good. Also like the goat cheese salad with spiced pecans. Not a fan of the sushi they have on their menu, because it's weird east-coast imitation try-too-hard sushi. I'll take sushi in CA anytime over VA sushi. I still enjoy Sweetwater more, but Jackson's is tasty and definitely does the trick. Oh, and they have Ozzies! These little round rolls in the bread basket that are so good and melt in your mouth! I'm sure they're a zillion calories each but you only live once, right? :)
(4)Emma H.
The lobster roll and service was great!!!! I would definitely go back.
(5)Sogol G.
hmmmm....well, We sat at the bar and just had an appetizer, which was good. Good Service. Interior design of this place is modern and nice and has a large restaurant. The main thing that grabbed my attention was the crowd of the bar. This bar for sure has an older crowd. I may return to this bar.
(3)Andrew H.
Was walking around the Reston Town Center when I found this place. It seemed like a popular place with the amount of people that were there. My family was seated and waited on in a timely manor. The wait staff is vast and we were sitting next to the wait staff ordering area so got to see a little more on how they run. Waiters work areas and provide minor helps through out an area. Jackson's was very kid friendly and cooked an excellent salmon for my son. I had a french dip sandwich which was prepared with plenty of meat and au jour. My wife had a crab sandwich that came in hot dog buns and tasted balanced with crab and sauce. Would eat there again next time I am in Reston Town Center.
(5)Amanda K.
This is one of my favorite places to dine in the RTC. I will say that the drinks and foods are a little on the higher side but that is consistent with any place for dining in the RTC. I would recommend the yellow-tail rainbow sushi roll which will get you a decent size roll for around $11. I tried the raspberry lemon drop martini this evening (based upon a friend's recommendation) and it didn't disappoint. It can be a little on the sweeter side so it isn't for everyone. As many people have mentioned in other postings, the Ozzie rolls are delicious and can be consumed in large masses. The only gripe I had this time was with the service. Many of the servers were too overly enthusiastic. I hate when people are being fake and it was quite obvious. Also somehow my table ended up with a team of waiters which caused a little confusing on getting our check. Besides that everything was great and make sure to grab a piece of candy (or 4!) on the way out.
(4)John R.
Stopped in for dinner on a Monday night on my way back from Dulles (decided to get dinner and wait out the traffic a bit). The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is decorated quite nicely and this measures up the the calibre of other Great American restaurants. This location seemed a little smaller than some of the other ones; fine for a weeknight, probably crowded on the weekend. I started with the lobster bisque (only available part of the week), which was EXCELLENT followed by the French Dip. Good sandwich and fries. My only real complaint was the price but hey, it's Reston so they can get away with $20 for a sandwich. P.S. If you park in the garage remember which one you're in since there are two nearby and they are NOT connected.
(4)Drew S.
Haven't tried the food yet, but the bartenders are friendly and quick to get your order.
(4)Bobby B.
This place blows.... hard. I went there 3 weeks ago to have a Fri night dinner with 3 buddies of mine. With appetizers, drinks and entrees we dropped approx $250 in the 60-90min we were in the restaurant. My wife and her gf had just concluded a movie nearby and stopped in the bar at Jackson's. So naturally, when we finished our meal we were intending to go to the bar area and say hello to my wife and have a drink there. As we make our way into the bar area, an employee immediately approaches me to say I cannot wear a hat in the bar area after 9pm. Say what!! Mind you, I'm a 40yr old dude wearing a Nats hat, forward. Not some young jackass with his pants falling down and hat on sideways....but a mature (mature looking anyways) grown man who just spent a decent amount of money in their dining area, and I'm now being told I can't stay if I have a hat on. Lame! From what I've observed the handful of times I've walked by this place at night, their bar seems to attract droves of desperate cougars and no shortage of D-Bags eager to mingle with them. I'm guessing the high propensity for douchebaggery is the root cause of this dumb (and outdated) rule of 'no hats'. But seriously....does the hat really make trouble? No. D-Bags will be D-Bags with or without a hat. 'No Hat' rule is the most ineffective, dumb-assed rule ever established. Enough about that....let's talk about the food for a minute. I've been happily going to GAR establishments for over 20yrs. Been to Mike's American well over 100 times and to Coastal, Sweetwater, Ozzie's and Artie's dozens of times. Food and service has always been top notch and the very few times something may have been less than perfect, a manager stepped right in and made things right. As for my lone experience with this Jackson's place.....I ordered the Steak Frites and I was terribly disappointed. It was bland, poorly prepared and I left more on the plate than I put in my stomach. Needless to say I will not be back to this establishment....what with their lousy Steak Frites and baseless bar rules. However, I will continue to dine at other GAR locations that have proven themselves time and time again.
(1)Gary H.
I have been in Reston for a few weeks on business. This place is a gem. Always happening...great food...nice atmosphere. My favorite in the Town Center.
(5)Karen C.
Food 4 stars Ambiance 4 stars Service 2 stars We had to ask for: straws for our drinks, refills of our bread, drink refills, and our bill. That's way too much effort for our meal. Food was good, not too loud but definitely a social meetingplace.
(3)Amanda N.
French Fries are amazing! Actually everything we have tried is great. We enjoy taking the family here for brunch on weekends.
(5)J L.
Nice atmosphere. Don't be scared away by the boisterous outdoor bar crowd. Inside, the place is very nice. Even when crowded, you can still be seated quickly or find a seat at or near the bar. Food is good. Dishes are unique but not quite as good as Sweetwater or Coastal. Some (e.g., sushi) are overpriced, some (e.g., sandwiches & burgers) are a bargain. Reception is cordial and efficient, but some servers and the main bartenders seem to have an attitude. I've never seen anyone at the main bar really enjoying themselves. Just parking themselves before the movies or having a quick drink before moving on. Easily four stars except for that attitude. I've walked out too many times feeling like I've spent too much but was not cool enough for the bartenders.
(3)Carmen M.
absurd mob of people outside! my expectations for the lobster rolls just went way up! --though they were out of lobster rolls (*%&#!) the service was great, and the salmon with mango and watermelon was to-die-for. oh, the calamari appetizer... sweet, literally, and savory. and not fried, for a change. delicious!
(4)Chuck W.
Welcome to the douche bag factory. This place ties with the tap room for douche-ness My first and LAST time there was cut short by their 2100 no hat rule for guys I suffered earlier in the day from an awful haircut. I was at the OUTSIDE bar and asked to remove my hat or leave. I appreciate not allowing hats inside in fact I hate seeing folks wear baseball hats at restaurants but this is a bar ... A douche bar but a bar... Thanks great amrican restaurants for saving my money from all your not so fine properties
(1)Chris C.
The bar is ok for the atmosphere and outdoor access, but the food here has been pretty inconsistent for me - lunch food is decent, but dinners have generally been pretty disappointing, despite the wait staff being good by Town Center standards.
(2)Biff Y.
So I can't stop eating the Ozzie rolls. My doctor says cut down on the carbs, but when they come to the table warm and I slather that sweet honey butter - yeah, I'm downing a few before any ordered food hits the table. I think this was the main reason this place gets bumped to 4 stars. I think the food is well prepared, although nothing on it is spectacular. I like the fact that I can always get grilled fish (to counter the excess carb intake), and they do a nice job with them, never overcooking them. I'm a fan of the chopped salad - it's got a nice texture with a good combination of leafy and other "crunch" with cheesiness and creaminess, and I like the sweetness of the corn. I also enjoy the sesame crusted tuna salad - there is a nice little zip to it. The service is always good, and the wait staff is always attentive. The only downside is that I never seem to be able to get any seats outside... One of these days.
(4)Lauren M.
Food: Sunday Brunch is fantastic! Their famous Ozzie Rolls are covered in sugar and the rest of the bread basket had yummy banana nut bread. I ordered their Sauteed Jumbo Lump Crab Cake served Benedict style and thought the hollandaise and biscuit tasted great (and the crab was plentiful). The others at my table ordered the Chicken & Havarti Sandwich (which I've had and surprisingly love since I usually don't go for sandwiches at places like these... I'm more tempted by gut-busting entrees) and the weirdly-named Bubble and Squeak. Everyone was pleased and would definitely order what they had again. Service: I used to work at another Great American Restaurant so I know what goes into the outstanding service and thought our team did a great job. Groups: We had a party of 6 which was easily accommodated in one of their half-crescent booths. I would not recommend parties larger than this since there are only booths (pretty standard at Great American Restaurants).
(4)Steve O.
I've tried Jackson's Mighty twice now. Experiences from both times... eh... food is OK (overpriced IMO) but service and atmosphere is extremely good. More on the service in a bit... Lobster mac and cheese (delicious), deviled eggs with bacon (I said bacon, how can it be nothing short of amazing), steak salad (eh...), french dip sandwich (decent but for some reason I expected it to knock me off my chair... it didn't). I'm a big fan with the set up of the restaurant. Open space, tons of booths, separate, enclosed smoking/bar, and outside seating too. The service was good. Too good. And in a slightly weird way if that makes sense. Someone else wrote that they were overbearing. While I wouldn't go that far, they did have a strange Stepford Wives kinda thing going on - nice, cordial, talkative but almost robotic and sterile. I'll have to try it again and give an update.
(3)Teddy k.
Because it's in Reston Town Center, I go to Jackson's because if I don't want expensive seafood, Counter Burger, or Tex-Mex, Jackson's is probably the alternative with the most choices. But how is the food? Being part of the Great American Restaurant local chain, Jackson's is popular. And with good reason - the service is usually very good and helpful, the beers are varied and at a fair price. The atmosphere is loud and fun. And the decor is colorful and whimsical. However, because it is part of Great American Restaurants, the food is no better than it would be at Sweetwater Tavern or Coastal Flats. There are some varied offerings that you won't see at the other restaurants, like sushi, but generally if you've liked it at Sweetwater or Artie's, you'll like it here. The problem lies in that nothing stands out because of the safe menu. Everything is at least average to very good and served in generous portions, but if you're looking for that one standout dish, I don't believe you'll find it here. However, I do enjoy the deviled eggs with crispy bacon, the shrimp and crab fritters, the ubiquitous Ozzie Rolls, and the french dip sandwich. Reston Town Center has many options, but Jackson's is the safe choice whenever I want to meet friends. The food is generally safe, and the atmosphere is pretty fun for gatherings. However, I would say it is not "Mighty Fine Food," but more "Above Average Food."
(3)Anna P.
I was taken here by my husband for my birthday and it was not quite what we expected. Unlike the other Great American Restaurant chains (Sweetwater Tavern, Coastal Flatts), the bar area was not separated from the rest of the restaurant very well. We hit it as the "after-work bar crowd" were arriving and it got louder by the second. Not the best but certainly not a problem. Deviled Eggs with Bacon were SO DELICIOUS. Epic. Only restaurant we've found that makes this southern classic! YUM!
(4)Alice B.
Sometimes, I have a hard time being truly enthusiastic about suburban dining. Jackson's is a big exception. I love the ambience here. It is a great looking space, both the bar and the restaurant. The big windows and the view out onto the street (with few cars and some pedestrian traffic) give it a nice, city feel. The big booths are cozy for a big party or for two. And compared to the other Great American restaurants, Jackson's is amazingly quiet, even when it is full. The service is also so much better than the other Great Americans. The servers just seem to be a little more grown up. We recently had a nice talk with one of the servers there about the menu, wine and cocktails--a conversation I don't think the blathering, overly cheerful servers at the other Great Americans could carry off. The servers at the other places also do something that drives me crazy as a super-slow eater. When the others at my table are done and I am still eating, the servers take everyone's plates but mine, so that I feel like I am eating alone in front of an audience. I hate this, and it does not usually happen at good restaurants. At Jackson's, the servers just don't disturb the table until service is actually appropriate. As for food, I've never had a bad meal here. I tend to get the fish specials, and they are always cooked just right and are very flavorful. Most of the people I eat with tend to get steaks, often the fillet and crabcake, which are excellent. I also highly recommend any special cheesecakes you find on their menu. The pumpkin cheesecake around Thanksgiving was delicious. Also, most importantly by far, the menu of featured cocktails is great. There is a martini with ginger that I tend to get, but I will certainly make an effort to work my way through the entire list.
(4)James B.
Had dinner in the "Lounge" today. My order got lost somehow, and when the server realized the mistake, the manager came out to apologize and in about 10 minutes my order was ready. They comp'd the food, too. So, they turned a mistake into something positive. Great burger, too. I ordered it medium rare and it came out MEDIUM RARE!
(4)Carolyn F.
I have always experienced terrific service at Jackson's. The atmosphere is fun and playful and the food is consistently good.
(4)Stephanie S.
I used to come here all the time when they opened as a: I'm a huge fan of the Great American Restaurant chain and b: they have one of the nicest outside terraces in RTC. Always a happening place for HH as well. So coming back to the area after a two-year hiatus, a lunch invite brought me back today. Along with some of my old favorites, the specials sounded amazing. I ordered the tuna tartare on gazpacho with cucumber. It was fabulous. The flavors married harmoniously with the fish. Service as always was stellar. Looking forward to more meals again here.
(5)Its Y.
I wasn't severed alcohol to my table because allegedly 2 ladies in my group who just arrived stumbled in the lobby. Soon after, two different ladies (arriving at the same time) in the group were served alcohol. The manager came out to explain (nothing besides a threat to call the police and an invalid claim to comp drinks we already had) and they took away 7 drinks we purchased. He later claimed 1 of the purchasers didn't want refunded (another false claim) and wouldn't refund anything. This was a nice place to have a drink or 2 but is now ruled by lazy people who do not care about consumers. I wish they could have found a compromise but it was not in their agenda.
(1)Li Z.
Went to check this restaurant out since it seemed to be the most bustling location in Reston Town Center. I would have given this restaurant a 5 if it wasn't for the service. We had the prime rib and their ribeye which were both fantastically amazing. However, we did wait for a while just to be seated even though there were tables available. After we were seated, the server took a while to get to us, and even longer to bring us our drinks. There were also some mistakes with our food that we specifically asked for as well as bringing the wrong app. Overall, the food was what made the difference for me, I'd go back again to try at some point to see if the service gets a littler better.
(3)Josh C.
This is one of the many restaurants owned by same company here at Reston Town Center. My coworkers and I came here after a long day at work looking for some good food. I got the grilled chicken / citrus wild rice salad. The wild rice was on the sweeter side - I actually couldn't finish it because it was a little TOO sweet for my tastes, but I think there are some people who would really enjoy it. They have an extensive drink menu as well that unfortunately I didn't get to try, so I can't vouch for any of them in particular. Service was great, and the waiters/waitresses were able to help us out with everything/anything we needed.
(3)Lyn L.
Stopped in for dessert and a drink and found a couple of seats at the bar. The bartender's weren't rude but they also acted like they were better than most. I asked about the various bourbon selections and they acted put out. We ordered one round of drinks and enjoyed our desserts. Although my friend would have enjoyed more beverages, I didn't want to give this place any more business. It wasn't busy and it was mid-week after 8:00pm. I am not sure if these bartenders thought they were better than most but they certainly could use a few lessons on customer service. There are so many restaurants and bars in the Reston town Center, I don't think I won't miss this place.
(1)Hannah E.
It's been awhile since I visited Jackson's But my friend from DC wanted to do Happy Hour, and Jackson's is always pretty lively during that time, so that's where I suggested we go. We arrived around 6pm, and the outside patio at the bar was packed, but the inside had enough room for us. We were greeted promptly and served quickly. We eventually decided to eat dinner in the main dining room. We both ordered the roasted chicken salad. I haven't ordered a salad at Jackson's before, but it was a great choice! The salad was very big and very satisfying .Tons of chicken breast, very fresh spinach and lettuce mix, blue cheese (so good) and pecans and apple pieces. I opted for the dressing on the side, but it was very good.Light , flavorful and with a sweet honey dijon flavor . I ended up still having half a salad left after eating it for nearly an hour. If you visit there and want something healthier and different try a salad! I'm looking forward to trying the salmon salad next visit .
(5)Jeff W.
I travel to Reston, VA every six weeks as my office headquarters is there. When I am there I go to Jacksons at least twice. The service is great the beer is cold and the food is tasty. If you like appetizers I recommend the bacon, which is honey glazed, calamari, and the deviled eggs. For dinner any of the steaks or their french dip. I ordered a salad with my meal and it was huge and fresh too! I look forward to Jacksons next month once again!!!
(5)Victor H.
Took the roommate here to show him around the area. He was blown away by the experience. I wasn't because I expect it from this place. Fortunately they met my expectations. Their sushi (shrimp and macadamia nut specifically) is a much better quality than what I had last time I was here. Had a more traditional sushi flavor and loved the sauces. My roommate hates sushi due to a bad experience in FL, but he's back on the sushi train after tasting it here. I had the lobster roll while my roommate had the French dip. No complaints as both sandwiches were unbelievably delicious. We finished it off with the white chocolate bread pudding and the featured white chocolate cheesecake desserts which put us both in a satisfying food coma and sugar rush. Service was great. Multiple servers came by to chat with us and crack a few jokes. A job well done to our primary server Samiha who was exceptional and hospitable. What's with these 3-3.5 star ratings people? This place gets 6 stars if you ask me!
(5)George C.
Cool atmosphere. Good service. Food...meh The deviled eggs and table bread were pretty good but my French Dip was a bloody mess. It was served pretty much raw, which is ok. But man it's a poorly constructed sandwich. It was such a sloppy mess that I had to go into fork and knife mode right from first bite. Meat falling out and good luck trying to dip the sandwich in the aus ju.
(3)Joann M.
Amazing filet tonight. Perfectly cooked. Simply seasoned and seared. FABULOUS! Just had to get that out! Hubby and I share our entrees most days and tonight was no exception. Opted for the 8 Oz portion which was perfect between the two of us. I love how these folks use a team for each section. While one person is usually the lead for your table I like how everyone is available to help. So there always seems to be someone in the section. In use as well is a microphone system which keeps things flowing smoothly from front to back of house. Only odd thing I noticed is that they don't have any bags with the take away boxes in the section. They had to go to the back to retrieve. In general I think if you bring someone a takeaway box a bag should also at least be offered. So why not 5 stars? Two reasons.... first is the lack of seating in a table arrangement. This is a place of booths. I find this problematic for folks who don't fit in a booth, can't slide into one, etc. the second is menu related. A set menu works but sometimes I am looking for something different. On the other hand this is setup so I know what to expect. AND they can perfect these options.
(4)Angela K.
Jackson's has officially become one of my favorites. I highly recommend the Tuna Poke 2.0. It's absolutely delicious!! There's a little avocado, ginger, good chunks of tuna with some spicy mayo and sriracha... YUM! I've been trying to diet recently so I tried the Vegetable Platter, and it far exceeded any expectations I had for a "veggie platter". I always love roasted corn, and the wild rice with almonds was really good. The food is a bit pricey, but based on what I got it was definitely worth it.
(4)Amber S.
I like the atmosphere at jacksons. The night life is fun and laid back. The bar area can get a but crowded however, people make space.
(5)Tracy N.
Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars I feel like Ed McMahon of Star Search after writing that (lol). Seriously, everyone is entitled to a bad night, but the service we received on this particular evening wasn't good. Our waiter just couldn't get it together. I know the Great American Restaurant chains pride themselves on professional service and carefully chosen staff, but something wasn't quite right this time. Most waiters' shirts were filthy and unkept. We had to keep looking for someone to get what we needed - rolls, water, check, coffee, clear the table, offer more hot coffee, etc. Managers roamed the aisles but never really were on top of their game. On the other hand, the food was excellent. I ordered the sea bass over sautéed spinach and my friend had the salmon paired with wild rice. He had been talking about this rice since we sat down so I was eager to try it and it was better than he described. I only had a small bite but this almond and grape-laced salad of wild rice was something to write home about. I'm eager to find the recipe and duplicate it at home. THAT good! My meal was pretty good, too. At first, the presentation threw me for a loop because I'm not a huge fan of soy sauce and my fish was engulfed in it. The chef knew what he was doing. The infused flavor it brought to the sea bass and spinach was amazing. Tip: Use the call ahead feature so you can walk in and be seated.
(3)Juicy G.
The food bordered drastically on the edge of too much salt. One bite would be a perfect blend of flavor, and the next would be salt, salt and more salt. This made for a very unbalanced meal. I got the Bubble and Squeak, which was a combination of fried chicken and poached eggs. What wasn't overly salted was pretty tasty. The chicken was crispy, the eggs poached...Well, a little too over poached to be honest (it didn't have a creamy / runny yolk), and the sauce that topped it had a nice flavor. This all tied together with the very delicious biscuit underneath - Again, when you didn't get the salty bites. Overall this place really had potential to be a great go to spot for fantastic food. Sadly, it was too unbalanced. I'm not a big salt eater to begin with, so when someone overdoes it, it's really noticeable to me. Salt should be one of those things that patrons add themselves - In my personal opinion - And this was exactly why I feel that way.
(3)Aimee K.
I felt certain that if we hadn't chosen to stop at this restaurant, the excessively solicitous Embassy Suites shuttle driver may very well have orbited the Town Center forever, pissing off drivers at each and every corner. He flagged this one as very good so we detoured here from the place my business cohorts had originally chosen. It was probably not the best idea though there was no wait and the service was remarkably professional, friendly and quick. It's an upscale shopping center and its restaurants are dressed to match the occasion. The interior reminded me of a chain, but not of one in particular. Oak-like finishes, waiters in black and the abundance of the color green. The website says it's nostalgic American cuisine with unexpected twists in an upbeat 1940's style dinner house. Sounds about on the nose to me. We comprised a party of four. One had steak, one had a burger, one had a lobster salad, another the lobster roll and I had the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp determined to try some East side seafood. I got to try a piece of the lobster roll and though I don't care for mayonnaise, I have to admit that bit was sweet and luscious! My six shrimp were a tad overcooked and the orzo salad that came with was good but nothing extraordinary. My shrimp cost $19 and my glass of merlot cost $8.50 so about on par with dinner at an average steakhouse. Everything tasted fine, no illness ensued back at the hotel and I didn't over-do it (I usually skip dinner) so all was well with the world.
(3)Kelly K.
TL;DR: Service on the patio is horrible, but the food was on par with the Great American Restaurants group. I'm being extremely generous with 3 stars. 4 for food, 2 for the service. Our group of four found a high table in the patio for dinner on a Monday night. We flagged down the server for a few menus and later realized the plaque on the table says to "ask for service at the bar." A bartender came by to take our drink orders. He didn't make it clear whether we should give him our food orders or go to the bar. The bartender didn't come by our table again, so we met him at the bar and gave him our orders/asked for refills. We ordered the chopped house salad, lobster bisque, prime rib, chicken/shrimp pasta, rib eye, and chicken sandwich. Half of our group had already finished their entrees when the bar manager (Maddie) realized they had completely missed putting in the order for the rib eye and sandwich. She apologized profusely for the mistake and said it was on its way. When the orders finally arrived, they brought a LOBSTER ROLL instead of the chicken sandwich. Ironically, they messed up the order for the pregnant one in our group. Maddie apologized again and offered to bring us free shots and dessert for the complications. I appreciated how she handled the situation, but the male bartender avoided us the rest of the night and failed to own up to his mistakes.
(3)Beheshta B.
Went here for a drink bartender was not sooo interacting. I asked him if there was any happy hour or specials he gave me a smart answer without actually answering my question. -_- the drink look amazing tasted OK. love the patio bar. probably wouldn't go here again though.
(2)Shashi B.
When I polled my colleagues about a place to go out for lunch, several of them voted for Jacksons. Since it was Friday and it was going to be 6 of us, we called ahead and they reserved a table for us. The restaurant is staffed to be hospitable and provide great service. It seems like every staff member you pass plays a role in your welcome and the manager seemed to be everywhere. There was one mixup in the drink order that was cheerfully acknowledged and replaced. I ordered a Chicken, avocado and beet salad as did 2 other team members and it was very tasty. Refills of water and drinks was very prompt and it seems like the restaurant has teams of roving staff to take care of tables in addition to your table's specific service ninja. Very impressed with the way the restaurant was run and the food was great, I was surprised by the "Mighty Fine Sushi" on the menu in an otherwise American food restaurant. My colleagues told me the Sushi was vry good or rather "Mighty Fine" as the tag line for Jacksons goes. This was my 3rd visit and would recommend it and will visit again.
(5)Aziz M.
I usually like to eat in this place, but not after this past weekend's experience. I called 25 minutes earlier than my party's start, arrived on time, seated immediately, and had the rudest server I ever had to deal with in my 3 years living here. Terrible attitude, poor service, and arguing with me on whether I should be getting sauce, drink, etc.. I regret tipping him, and should have escalated that to the manager, but that's why there's yelp. Ps, I am giving them two stars because I liked the food over the years (mahi-mahi, veggie platter, and French dip, to name some). Otherwise, they should deserve no stars at all.
(2)Antonia S.
Sat outside and waited and waited and waited to be served. Facially recognized locals get served first, so get used to it. Burger good, wine okay. Lots of tipsy 30 plus people. All in all an okay hang out. They are what they present.
(3)Karen K.
You can't go wrong with any restaurant in The Great American Restaurant family, and Jackson's lives up to the chain's reputation. Great food, great service! I had the grilled cheese that I believe is new to the lunch menu and it was so good! It's a comfortable place to be and both the food and service never disappoint!
(5)Marcelle A.
Wasn't to impressed with the food . Restaurant had a lot of people in it . I think this place is more of a happy hour/meet up place compared to food. Other than that it was great time with family
(3)Brittany B.
This one of my favorite restaurants in the area! The food is always really good. Be warned, they get really busy around happy hour and on weekends for dinner. Speaking of happy hour, the outdoors seating for the bar has a nice atmosphere for young professionals and their mojitos are amazing!
(5)Priscilla Y.
Jackson's is a very retro-looking Great American Restaurant. Decorations are kind of cheesy, but the food is very good. Their starter bread is very soft and fresh. It taste like an unsweet donut! Mixed Green Salad: My friend swore that it is to die for. It is just the champagne vinaigrette dressing that is really good. The rest was just plain lettuce and spinach with cranberries and cherry tomatoes. Unless it comes free with your entree, skip it. Lobster Club Salad: This is definitely worth getting. One pound of fresh lobster chunks with avocado, bacon, grilled corn, deviled egg, and cherry tomatoes on top of a bed of mixed field greens and champagne vinaigrette. Mix it all together and it's just stellar. I loved it! 5 star salad! Jumbo Lump Crabcake: It was alright. The crabcake was fried with some panko-type breading so it was greasy and the crab meat was too loose. It comes with fries and slaw. Jackson's Rib Eye: It was very soft and tender, but the marinade kind of ruined it because of the sweetness. Comes with a side of fries and mixed green salad. Creme Brulee: Yum! It was very creamy like mousse. A good ending to a lovely meal. All in all, for a chain restaurant, the food at Jackson's is really good. It's consistent like it's sister restaurant Coastal Flats. They have similar menu items. Service was alright. Their pagers either has some issues or the hostess did something wrong. The hostesses said they paged us, but the pager never flashed or vibrated. They made it seem like it was our fault for missing our table call. If it went off, I would have noticed it. I'm not blind. This place can get pretty packed so if you know you want to dine here, it's better to make reservations. It seems like a great place to grab drinks.
(4)