J & M Cafe
201 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98104
J & M Cafe Menu
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Address :
201 1st Ave S
Seattle, WA, 98104 - Phone (206) 402-6654
- Website https://www.jandmcafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 10:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
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Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
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Ty K.
Lets be real I have not ordered to much food from them. The stuff I have ordered came in small quantities but was fantastic. The price was fair for bar food. With all that being said I go for the drinks. I has been a tradition to go and hangout at J&M before every Sounders home match. We always get a beer tower of Super Goose. It's great beer! I want one of the towers and joke with the staff about it. The staff is pretty good. Some of them get more personal than others but they are all pleasant to have. Like I said its a tradition to go back and with season tickets I will for sure be back many more times.
(5)Stephen M.
A very liberal HH makes this a good spot to stop by on the way home after work. Bartenders and servers make the rounds frequently, refilling glasses, taking orders, and delivers what looks to be better-than-bar food. There's a huge back area that works for office HH, but the crowd stays in the front. Recommend.
(4)Jeff H.
Meh. I've experienced better pretty much sums up J&M Cafe for me. Nothing really stands out on a positive front, though shooting pool in the back is fun (however, the tables themselves aren't in the best playing shape). One thing I'd pass along to the bar manager(s) here, when your waitstaff asks someone if they'd like their drink to be a double, they aren't expecting to pay double the price of a single. Explain to me how there's any value in that for the customer whatsoever. The point of offering a double has to be beneficial for both the bar and the customer. Bar makes one drink instead of two which increases production and eases the burden on the bartenders. The customer gets what amounts to a second drink at a discounted rate (usually 1.5x the cost of a single drink; $10 for a single, $15 for a double). Just something to consider...
(2)Liz O.
Who puts Bud Light in a Moscow Mule instead of ginger beer? J & M Cafe. What's even more surprising is the server noticed this mistake, still served the drinks to us, and then when we complained she admitted that she saw the bartender pour the Bud Light in. What the whatttt. Anyway, J & M Cafe serves fried food and has karaoke. For that, I give 3 stars. Total dive bar feel, but one of the larger bars in the area so seating is always available.
(3)Claudia C.
A much better experience tonight. The guy at the bar makes a bom mojito. I saw him muddle the lime and mint and maybe it was just a few juicy limes but it was sooo good. I also got a Washington Apple but I think it didn't have any cranberry juice. I like crown royal so I wasn't going to complain. He made me a keylime pie drink last. It was super sweet but with the lime garnish added in it was great. Took the sweet edge off and added the sour from the lime. James? Jason? Jessy? I donno... Long-ish wavy brown hair. Great bartender
(5)Vivian H.
My BF's boss invited everyone and their +1's to a Mariners game. They decided to eat at J&M Cafe before the game. Since I was late, I ended up sharing with my BF, who had ordered the portobello burger with an added hamburger patty. Not sure why he wanted to order it like that, but he did. The burger was juicy and flavorful on a wonderfully toasted bun. It was really good, but there was no portobello! Oh well. The fries that it came with were crispy and addicting. Not a bad place for burgers and beer when you're in the area.
(3)Toni Rose D.
My partner and I were visiting the area and we wanted to have a feel of a bar full of Seattle Seahawks fans. This definitely met the criteria. The ambiance was nice; however they do keep the door open so sitting by the bar was a bit chilly. Our bartender, Mimia, was super friendly and amazing. We ordered a mushroom and Swiss burger to share and we were impressed with it. It did come with a plethora of French fries, and it was delicious. This restaurant does offer beer towers so if you're into that, they have a pretty good deal for it. They do have numerous TVs, and the Seahawks game started playing, the place is deafening. The sound system was way loud for my liking. I was craving something sweet so I asked if they had any desserts. At first, Mimia stated that they didn't have dessert then came back and said they had an apple pie. I should've been skeptical, but I love apple pies. It was the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth when it comes to apple pies. It was disgusting. The ice cream that came with it was good, and I tried to finish the pie, but oh my gosh, for the first time ever, I couldn't finish something. It was that bad. The appearance of the apple pie should've warned me; it looked like it was processed or bought somewhere that doesn't normally specialize or sell apple pies. Because of that experience, I wanted to give this a 1 star, but Mimia was awesome. Tip: do NOT order the apple pie. Keep your money and go somewhere else for dessert.
(3)Marc S.
Decent place for a casual lunch and drinks. I had a blood mary which was not as spicy as I prefer but still tasty. The portobello burger was delicious, very flavorful. Server was friendly and attentive. Overall decent venue for a casual lunch. Not all that unique but satisfactory.
(3)Admal R.
Pretty decent place overall. Great happy hour prices.
(4)Joshua N.
Atmosphere is very cool. Setting is in a historical building from 1889. Service was off a bit but the food was decent and the "perfect" Bloody Mary was very refreshing.
(3)Ewan H.
Not a bad pub for Pioneer Square. Honey Badger and Spicy Burgers are both great as is the Blackened Cod. Had one bad experience here where I ended up with something in my burger. They handled it well though and comped mine and my friends meal. That's what you want to see as far as service.
(4)Heather C.
The vibe of this bar is awesome! SEA-HAWKS!!!! The food is absolutely terrible however, the service is very good. Our server told us to call her "T" and if we wanted something to signal her that way as well. She kept on coming threw and made sure we were good with our drinks and asked us if we needed anything. I ordered the portobello mushroom burger with fries. It was horrible and my fries were cold. I did not want to return it because it was so busy. If I have to wait close to one hour for my food it better be warm. All and all this bar is definitely worth the time to check out and like many others have said the customer service is awesome.
(3)Paul M.
Ordered a bacon cheeseburger, which was very good. Came with a mountain of fries. Seriously, 3 people could feast on the pile of fries that come with a burger. Wings were good also. Lively, loud atmosphere, lots of flat screens, a Sea-HAWKS chant broke out while we were there, even though football season had not yet started. Good service, old school environment mixed with sports bar-ish flavors.Went there last weekend,
(4)Frank F.
We popped in here mid-afternoon on a Saturday to escape a rain shower and have a pint while waiting for a nearby tour. 1. College football on multiple TVs. 2. Lots of brew on tap. 3. Big. 4. Lots of dark wood and brass. 5. Old. 6. Slightly grungy, in the good way. I'd go back.
(4)Maria Conchita G.
We absolutely loved this place! It's off the beaten path just like we like. Looks like a locals bar the staff there is so friendly not pretentious at all. Very large space. We love it so much we went 3 times (on our 4 day stay) for drinks and light meal...we got so lucky on Thursday they had a live band and they were amazing!!! It was one of our favorite things to do while in Seattle.
(5)Heather l.
Worst service I've ever had. The bartender was some asshole with a long beard and a douchy hat. I would complain to management, but from the reviews they are even worse.. Probably why the bartender was such a dick! We walked in and it took him 10 min get our order, which we had to wave him down for and he told us he had to help everyone else first ( WTF?) he didn't even ask us what beers we wanted, just poured them. We ordered two beers and two waters, never got the waters. When my friend went back up to get them, he yelled at her saying that he already helped us and we had to wait for everyone else to be helped first. He finally gave us a pitcher of water while making smart ass rude comments.... I have no idea what we did wrong other than walk in to the bar while he was having a bad night. I have never in my entire life been treated this way and I am applaud that someone would act this way to people who have done nothing wrong. When we went to leave I could tell my husband was going to say something and I didn't want to start anything, so I told him to just leave it alone and let's go. The bartender got in his face and started repeating me in a whiny voice and mocking me. I have no idea what was wrong with him, he may have been having personal issues, but that's not my problem and it's not right to take it out on a customer. My husband is a bartender in Pioneer Square and recommends restaurants and bars to tourists all the time... This will not be one of them and I will make sure to spread the word to everyone who will listen to NEVER visit this establishment. Word travels. I hope they fire the jerk.
(1)Amanda K.
Seriously had three different servers walk past us 4 times, no body stopped to help us. We had to ask a bus boy to go get us a server and then he couldn't remember our order. Not terribly impressed.
(1)Elle G.
This place has been around for years! It has changed management since I was in my early 20's and its cleaned up a lot and serves good bar food now. I came here for the Super Bowl party. It was great and a good deal for reserving a table. We had a great waitress, got our drinks and food fast until it became packed (we expected that!) Unfortunately, when the tab came things got messy. we weren't told we had a limit on splitting the bill prior and we ended up with a $500 tab. We personally had kept track with our Note app on our iPhone of every single drink, food, coffee ordered. when the bill game there was about $125 of food/ drinks on there that we never ordered. With it being the super bowl I wasn't upset, I would never people able to serve like our waitress did, so I waited until she wasn't busy to go over the tab. In the end it was a he- said she- said battle and she insisted she brought us meals that no one at our table ate and pitchers of beer we didn't order. Like I said we had kept track of all our orders to prevent confusion and I was sober cause I was the driver. Sometimes I feel like staff at bars don't take you serious or just act like "oh you had 2 drinks over 8 hours you're drunk and don't know what you had for lunch" and charge you what the will. Our waitress was great, especially for such a huge day, but I still paid over $100 of food and drinks that weren't had at our table cause she insisted we were wrong. So, that was too bad. This place is a staple in Pioneer Square, and I've been a customer for 9 years with my friends. It wouldn't hurt to trust some of your regulars and treat them like people, instead of drunks who don't know whats going on.
(3)Heather K.
Love this bar! It's a beautiful, warm wood bar with lots of seating. Also has a selection of TVs if you want to watch sports in the area. I believe there is also outdoor seating if you want to brave the open square & do some people watching. Prices seem fair, Moscow Mules are delicious, staff is very friendly (always makes me laugh) and the food is OK.
(3)Veronika R.
New Orleans appeal in Seattle! Great atmosphere. They had an amazing band playing and we were able to walk right in to a stage-front table. Music was top notch! We didn't have any food, but things arriving at other tables smelled AMAZING! Some of the servers are fantastic, some not so attentive. Our server was dropping the ball, another waitress from another section however was picking up his slack (she was so great we tipped her instead of our server).
(4)Shantel Z.
Probably the worst service I've ever had. Waitress did not check up with us for at least 30 min after bringing the food, which I she had she would've known that my order was completely wrong. I specifically said I want my burger well done and NO PINK. It came out completely pink.
(1)Carolyn H.
I have had two experienced at this place... Experience #1: Absolutely terrible service. We literally had to wave down anyone we could find to give us our bill. Unfortunately that didn't work and we ended up leaving a pile of cash on the table. I am sure it was enough to cover the bill, but I'm not sure how much was tip. On a more positive note, the food was delicious. We ordered long islands, various mixed drinks, white pizza, and wings. Everything was great. Experience #2: The server was really attentive and helpful. Unfortunately, we ordered burgers and a chicken sandwich. The black and blue burger was just weird. It seemed like more of a spicy buffalo burger with a hint of blue cheese. The chicken sandwich was average. I ordered a side salad with my sandwich and was not exactly delighted with the room temperature lettuce. I guess I never thought eating lettuce at room temp would be a big deal, but it really is nasty. Sooooo overall, I give this place 3 stars. My suggestion... Go when there isn't a big game going on for good service and stick to the appetizer and pizza menus.
(3)Jennifer H.
Best burger and Bloody Mary ever!!!! This was our first stop in Seattle. Very laid back atmosphere with friendly service. Perfect start to our visit in Seattle.
(5)Jeff H.
Hung out here while doing a crawl through Seattle. Beer taps were plentiful, with a selection of house cocktails and all the usual hard liquors and wine. The bar had a great, old feel, with lots of comforting wood and dark tones. Didn't stay for the food, but at 9:30 at night there were plenty of people in the place already. Hard to rate a place off how well they can pour a tap of Mac and Jack, but the bartender was on top of the game, seemed to know his regulars, and made my girlfriend's mixed drink to her liking. So there you go.
(3)Steve H.
I stopped in here to wait for a tour that I was taking across the street. I'll admit I'm sorta spoiled by local and craft beer selections and they didn't have much as far as that here. The waiter here was very slow and we were in a hurry as we were just hoping to grab a few drinks before our tour. There was almost no one in the bar and we didn't order any mixed drinks and it took nearly 15 minutes to get out order. I did get a 10 dollar glass of Blanton's Whiskey which always makes me happy. I would skip this place, it doesn't have anything special to offer and it doesn't stand out at all.
(2)Sprinkles M.
Stopped in for a drink on their patio. Waitress was attentive to us. Chatted with a patron that had his cute Labor-Doodle with him. Stars based on service alone since we didn't eat.
(3)Claude B.
5 stars for the happy hour! 2.50 for local beers 3-6pm. Decent happy hour food. The oyster po'boy is bomb. Decent live music every now and then.
(5)Kytu I.
If you are African-American or Latino you will want to steer clear of this place. I went to this place after work with my co workers for happy hours. I was the only African American in the party along with 6 whites and 1Mexican. When we arrived there was a white women sitting at the bar who nicely moved down a chair so that our party could sit together. I sat in the seat and was told by a female bartender with long dark hair that I couldn't sit there it was to close to the bar walk up. Instantly I thought to myself why was it ok for the woman but not me but I kept it to myself. Everyone ordered their drinks and our Mexican friend was passed over and I was asked for ID, no problem. I am 50yrs old and we have co workers that are in there 20's that wasn't ID'd. I handed over my drivers license and was told it had a crack in it so I couldn't be served. My co workers became upset and asked for management. He came out looked me over and our Mexican coworker mentioned that he had been totally looked passed also. The manager said she has the right to refuse to serve whomever she liked. Everyone was pissed except me, heck I didn't care to spend my hard earned money in a place this blatantly RACIST anyhow. We all walked out and even the woman that had been there when we arrived was like wow and walked out also
(1)Rachael E.
I came here for lunch after a tour. I ordered the black and bleu burger (with no lettuce, French fries as a side). The burger was on point: big, juicy, and nap-inducing from the resulting food baby. The fries were so good! My bestie and I kept saying that over and over as we devoured them.
(4)Shawn S.
We stopped here on the way to the oldest pub I. Seattle and couldn't leave. Great tap beers, and the best ACDC cover band ever. For no cover! Servers were on it, tables /seating were plentiful! and there was a sports bar in the back. For food, we only saw a sign that said "chili" but they have other food too. I think many bachelorette parties stop here on the way to Cowgirls.
(4)Brenda D.
Waited 1.40 for food and it was burnt...awesome. won't come here again...upon talking to staff they proved they are upstanding going above and beyond with customer service. Review changed because of the way you handled the situation. Thank you.
(4)Reza V.
It's a good hang out and they have live music ,it's not a very fancy place but I like it Try the bloody merry it's good . The service is great very friendly .
(4)Nadeem K.
Had a great time at the J & M Cafe last weekend. I went there with some friends on a saturday night. There was live music, we played pool, had some good food and drinks. Nothing was over priced and we didn't have to wait long. It was definitely busy, but not so packed you couldn't move. Their Reuben is amazing! We will return!
(4)Shekina C.
Food was good and probably more convenient since arrived in Seattle so late and was looking all over for a place to eat. Very excited to see this spot open and they were able to serve us quickly so that we could make the next leg of our trip on time. Very spacious, clean and the portions are huge!
(3)Cindy P.
We've been to J&M Cafe a few times on our visits across the water. It's been about the same experience every time! Food is amazing, service is severely lacking... guess that must be the norm. On this particular visit, it was before the Mariners game on a beautiful late afternoon so we sat outside. Our server approached quickly enough and provided menus and took our drink orders. So far so good! She was maybe training another server?? If she was training him, that's where some of the problem may be! She was very awkward with him and didn't quite seem to know what to "do" with him trailing after her! The drinks didn't take too long to get there, thank goodness since it was only water and a can of hard cider! We then placed our food order (just some appetizers) and that's where things started falling apart! We waited... and waited... and then waited a little more! By the time the food got there, all waters were empty and hard cider nearly gone. Figured I'd order another when she refilled the waters... oops, bad idea since the water never got refilled! She never did come back... thought maybe she left for the day! Nope! I found her when I went in to get our check after waiting entirely too long for her return. On prior visits, it's been the same idea, friendly service during seating and drink orders then nothing. So, flag down a server, any server/busboy/manager, if you want one, otherwise you'll never be served! The food gets all the stars, all to itself!! I absolutely love the wings and will stop in specifically just to order wings! Although doused in a bit too much sauce, the crunch is undeniably addicting! Every single wing, all the way down to the last one, has an incredible crunch factor with tender juicy chicken waiting to melt in your mouth! The pulled pork sliders are tender, soft and perfectly pillowy with just the right amount of BBQ sauce to make you want just one more! And if you like sloppy joes, you've gotta try J&M's! Packed with flavor and perfectly sloppy! Everything we've tried has been spot on wonderful and is the only reason we return! If management/ownership could get the whole service thing straightened out, this would definitely be the go-to place. The atmosphere is cool and vintage and warm, the live music is nice and the space is good... just need some servers that care.
(3)Mitch B.
Horrible establishment and they cater to homey pos 49er fans that try to fight paying customers. Stay away F-
(1)Michele J.
Really fun environment. They have a great selection of burgers and there prices are very reliable. There are also a couple of other fun spots to stop by that are right by it.
(4)James P.
This place is probably fine if all your looking for is cheap beer. The food was really bad. I got a chicken sandwich with a side salad. I admit I should lose my man card for ordering a grilled chicken sammich and a salad at a bar but that doesn't change the fact that the chicken was scorched on the outside, raw on the inside, and the lettuce for the salad was rotten.
(2)Jessica M.
I hate giving 5 stars away so easily when I like a place, but I gotta give J&M a 5 star rating. I came here after hearing about it from a few other people who were in the Pioneer Square area. When I first saw the building, I was a little turned off -- it looked like a creepy dive bar in the heart of creepyville (I.E. that portion of Pioneer Square). However, I decided to walk in anyway, and I'm glad I did! The inside looks drastically different than the exterior. The inside has a very nice old feel to it. The bar is very long and the bartenders I have met have all been super friendly, which is a HUGE plus in my book. They could use a few more beers on tap, but for what they offer, they're doing just fine. They also have quite the collection of liquor! I have had a few things to eat from J&M so far and I have enjoyed every one. My favorite was the buffalo chicken sandwich, which I will be coming back for very, very soon. On one occasion, while drinking a beer, I got a bad case of the munchies! I ordered a plate of fries for around $3 thinking I'd get a little side plate of fries. WRONG! I got a gigantic plate of fries with a bowl of awesome tarter sauce for dipping. There was NO way I could have eaten the whole thing, so you do get a bang for your buck (which is nice, compared to other portions of downtown Seattle). If you're downtown, this is a fun place to grab a bite for lunch/dinner or after hitting the bars. Lots of TV, and they have a stage for music, which I assume is on the weekends or something like that. Check it out! I'll probably see you there.
(5)Jay G.
If I could give it a zero I would. I made an order for delivery and two hours later they still never showed up. Worst thing about it is they confirmed it was on route. Thanks for wasting two hours of my life, I even called up spoke with someone ho said they couldn't contact the driver and to call back. Then they never answered there phone and closed.... You guys are terrible I'll never give it a second try.
(1)Naima G.
The oldest bar in Seattle....The J & M! From start to finish the J & M delivers excellent service and quality food. In addition they have a variety of live music that is top notch. Anyone visiting Seattle or local Seattle folks must make a stop at The J & M!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!
(5)Maren H.
Burgers, yes burgers here are amazing. Now if you are wiling to forgo the meat and get Portobello mushroom burger you will not be disappointed. It's AMAZING the best mushroom burger I have EVER EVER had! The place is cute and is one of those old establishments that have been in Seattle forever...my big problem here is that it doesn't feel very clean. I could be wrong but that made me a bit uncomfortable.
(3)Paul H.
Yelp should have a ZERO star rating, it would be appropriate for this dump.
(1)Ryan W.
Nothing is better after a long day of work than a bar that offers live music, stiff drinks and good food! The J&M is this spot! Their burgers are big and delicious and their happy menu is all $0.99!!! Yes, HH items are well presented and individual sized but what do you expect for a buck!?! The best part of the (Wednesday) night was seeing Ian Crawford of Panic! at the Disco come up and jam w/the band!
(5)Ron P.
I was with a group of friends visiting Seattle for a Mariners' game on a Saturday night. After the game we wandered around the stadium area, stopping in a few bars for drinks. The J&M Cafe was the second spot we visited, arriving just before midnight. The place was busy but no lineup so we headed in. There is a stage at the back so we were looking forward to hearing some live music. Even though this bar is open until 2:00am, unfortunately the band had already finished their last set for the night. I guess the musicians wanted to go out and have some fun of their own. Well if you're not going to play we won't be buying the CD's & merchandise you're trying to sell us! This is a mid-sized bar and the room had a good vibe. After sitting down we were ignored or just not noticed so I got the first round directly from the walk up bar, bartender was top notch! But after that, the table servers changed up and Brittany arrived in our section. She was awesome and professional, took care of everything until we left! We didn't eat and I'm not sure how late their kitchen is open. And I guess I'm used to a later night so would have to plan to arrive here earlier to hear some live music next time. SUMMARY Next time I'm visiting Seattle and want to have some fun on a weekend I will make sure to visit the J&M Cafe. I recommend it as a spot to visit if you're hanging out in this area of Seattle.
(4)Edgar V.
We dropped by for the World Cup final. The breakfast was okay and I enjoyed the atmosphere. This is a solid spot to drop by for a game and judging by the numerous beer runs I assume the selection is extensive. There is also a pool table towards the back of the restaurant.
(3)Lilani E.
Everyone that worked there was really nice. The service was slow and the food was really disappointing. I had the blackened cod sandwich. The fries were soggy (oil was not hot enough or old) and the cod was over seasoned with the dry rub. I was STARVING and didn't finish my food...that's a tell tale sign of mediocrity. It's in an ideal location and like I said everyone that worked that was friendly and attentive.
(2)Alice A.
Great bar service. Good TVs for sports. Huge basket of fries for 3 bucks. Bloody Mary is amazing. Yummy all around.
(5)T-Gib R.
I will not come here any time soon......yeah it was hot , server was not bad. But it was the G.M.s behavior that will make me think twice before I return.... he was more than rude to the band that was playing that night SO unprofessional. .... never have I seen some one in charge of a bar act in such a manner. Thank god for my boss!!!!!
(1)M. C.
I really enjoy going to this bar. I always run into the usual cast of neighborhood characters,business owners, bar owners, and neighbors from my building. On the weekends it can be kind of crazy and sometimes if I want more of a mellow night were I just want to sit and talk then i may skip it for Pioneer Saloon or even E. Smith across the street, but I love J&M all the same.
(5)Lynzee M.
Come for the live music... NOT for the food or service. We hand fries (soggy) wings (ok) sliders (dry). But the the live blue band was great!
(2)DeAnne E.
My coworker and I walked in and we found a table near the cooking station. Five minutes later a server arrived and she apologized for taking so long. She said that she thought her other coworker was going to serve us but apparently he didn't feel like stopping by. Dude was slacking big time. She took our order but had to come back because she forgot it. I really felt sorry for her because she was running around the place trying to help everyone by herself. I had the classic chicken burger. My coworker had the portobello burger. We missed the 1/2 off burger lunch special which ended at 1pm. That would have been awesome if we got the special because the burger was average and I paid the full amount for it. I wouldn't come back here for the food. I thought it would be a good lunch spot but it's really for just an after work or pre/post game hangout.
(2)Theresa B.
Found out they're having karaoke on Monday nights! Such a cool thing to add to the Pioneer Square area of downtown! Food is great and service is awesome, fun bar staff and Karaoke host! They have a contest too, can win $50. Good times!
(5)Alyssa H.
Another super-old saloon in Pioneer Square, The J&M Café, is two doors down from The Central Saloon. Classic and well-maintained, The J&M Café is aesthetically very similar to Central, so I can imagine many people hop from one to the other. Most of the patrons are fixated on the flat screen televisions, cheering their precious Seahawks on to victory. I'm focused on downing vodka and orange juice. Seattle, fuck yeah! The Cobb salad the pink-haired lady sitting next to us ordered looked pretty good...
(4)Heather M.
I like it here. Just saying. Very saloon. Historic place. I like to go there again when the weather warms up. It has a cold breeze during the fall.
(4)Pamela C.
We popped into the J and M for breakfast this past weekend. While our table service was great overall... The food was some of the worst I've ever had. Dry, burned and crumbly corned beef hash and my friends didn't even finish theirs. Too bad as the atmosphere is great.
(2)Mike D.
Went here for late night on a Tuesday night so my review is based off that only. What an awesome feel for a Tuesday night in Seattle. Definitely a dive bar but that's what made it so memorable. We were there for open mix night but was for bands vs just singers. Real jazzy feel. Clientele is "mixed" so all depends on what you are looking for. I loved it though.
(5)Karlee K.
My husband and I stopped here before a sounders game. The service sucks more than the food which is saying something. I got the black and blue burger. I asked for no onions and I received a onion covered burger with blue cheese on the side. Not sure how that works but whatever. It was busy, I'll give them that. Buy there's a reason I saw two people dine and dash. Once you get your food, your server goes back to Narnia and it takes forever for them to come back. We may come back.
(2)Bruce E.
Stopped by today for lunch. Never heard of the place before, it was just a random stop. Can't believe I've never been here before. The look and feel of the bar was pretty nice. Tables are to the rear. (Just couldn't get the nerve to sit at the table on the stage.) I stopped in with a coworker. Didn't spend much time looking at the menu or prices. Another random move, I ordered the BLT and fries. This was an awesome BLT. Okay, if you order it as a "healthy alternative" or you're watching your weight, it's not a good one. But, if you're looking for flavor, this is it. This was stacked with a ton of bacon. And it was a double-decker with the extra slice of bread in the middle. Our waitress was really nice and very prompt with service. Then I got the check. With a soft drink, the BLT and my coworker order a sandwich as well, the total bill was right around $20. Can't beat that with a stick! I would have rated this four stars because I really didn't care for the fries - they were greasy - but, because the bacon was so great on the BLT, I'm going with the five stars. More than made up for the fries.
(5)Luis R.
Here with a few friends having a good time. Nick has been really attentive and has made sure we are happy and has given us good service. He checks up on us to make sure we are good. I'll recommend for anyone to come and have fun. Music is awesome too!
(5)Seth J.
I ordered sloppy joes and they were just how I like em'...nice and sllllllloppppppppy
(5)Angie L.
I love this place especially on Wednesday night. they have an awesome blues band. Great bartenders a full bar but most of all they got cold beer good appetizers selection. It has a New Orleans feel to it. What can I say I just love this place.
(5)Susan W.
I don't know that I've ever eaten anything here. Normally just run in for a quick shot on the way to a game. Good size pour for $5. Pretty full before a game but the place is good size so you can almost always find a place to squeeze in.
(3)Patricia H.
stopped in after work for some cocktails and supper. I ordered a Reuben and he had a mushroom swiss burger. They were both very good. We had however ordered an appetizer which never arrived but wasn't on our bill so no biggy. Our drinks were prompt and tasty and the bartender was very nice. We were able to eat and drink happily for 2 at about $50 which gets kinda tough in the square. Good stuff.
(4)Chad S.
Before new ownership a few years back, this was a great place that supported the city and treated fans exceptionally. Then the new ownership stepped in and first off, raised prices drastically and also hosted all SF Niners fans, not for a regular season game (still unacceptable) but for the actual NFC Championship game in 2013. All Seattle citizens should actively see to it this place gets zero business from locals.
(1)Lauren J.
Came here with my boyfriend to play pool. Katrina was taking care of us, and from hello to goodbye she was smiling her pretty pearly whites. So nice to see someone genuinely happy to serve their guests, it is something I don't see as often as I would like anymore. We played pool, ate appetizers, drank, and were merry. As we were about to leave the bar, we sat at the bar for one last drink and discovered that our very confident and wonderful bartender was only on her second day. Since my boyfriend and I have both been in the industry for a while we were so excited for this girls natural feel and vibe behind the bar. We stayed for yet another drink and Katrina was chatting with us and checking on us all night. We absolutely loved her. Go, just to see this natural-born bartender rockin' it!
(5)Jeff K.
It looks like a complete dive when you look at it, but the food is terrific. I had the J & m spicy burger which was terrific.
(4)Dave L.
Some of the bartenders are very inattentive but I like the management. I have brought a few events here before and each time we were treated well. The drinks are priced right and the food is good & cheap. I look forward to working with them again.
(4)Jason H.
Ass-clownery. Went there and tried told them at 8:30 I want end to be out of there for the 10 pm show at the comedy club and the waitress (very nicely) said food (burgers) would take 45 minutes. The place wasn't 1/3 full, band was 60+ and drink I got still took too long. I appreciate her honesty. Apparently under new management and apparently young management without a clue. Disappointing for this iconic place.
(1)Travis P.
Good food. Relaxed atmosphere during the day. Live music at night. Hamburger was good. French fries were great. Also had the chili. Spicy but good. One of if not the oldest bar in Seattle. Has part of the old underground city underneath it.
(5)Will M.
I'm not sure why this place has low ratings. Don't get me wrong, I've walked past it a million times and always thought... Ugh, just another bar with noisy football fans. Boy was I wrong! My roommate and I decided to eat here the other Sunday because we didn't feel like our usual hike up to Pike Place for brunch. We noticed the burger menu on the outside wall and decided to give it a shot. These burgers were huge! So good and I just couldn't begin to describe how happy I was. I had the Black and Bleu burger and he had some spicy burger I think. I definitely recommend it! Just maybe not during a game day.
(4)Morgan B.
Worst restaurant in Seattle. From the very start of our vacation dining experience, everything we ordered was brought out wrong, overcooked or cold. We watched tables sit down , get served and pay their bill before we even received our appetizers. Finally our server said they "lost" our ticket (45 minutes later) and she would rush our order. Don't worry our meals were delivered completely wrong and we never received an apology. The manager never once came over to see us or apologize. Don't worry we won't be back and if you don't want to waste 2 hours of your day waiting for food you never will eat I'd suggest you avoid this "restaurant" as well.
(1)Jon V.
Cons: * The cod sandwich was rubbery and tasteless. * a friend cut her lip on a shard of glass found in her glass of water. Waitress was informed right away and was very helpful. Manager refused to offer any help or compensation, he was more concerned with standing out front hassling people to come in while leaving the waitress to deal with the issue herself. * the band was just awful. Guitar/bass/drums were ok. But there was really no reason to mic up the sax and trumpet players when you're in such a small place. The singer was terrible. The trumpet would often go off on a tangent in the wrong key. Now for the pros... * our waitress was very sweet and helpful. * Their Bloody Mary's are delicious. * the building is from the 1880's and really cool to look at. * walls covered in old photos of iconic rock stars. Overall I would not come back.
(1)Christina S.
I had a few hours before I had to get to the Seattle airport before my flight home, so I was walking around looking for somewhere to eat. I'm so glad I decided to eat here! I ordered the blackened cod sandwich which was excellent...just the right amount of spice, and the fish was flaky and tender. I ordered it with the side salad which was made with fresh lettuce (not bagged iceberg, yay!). And my waiter was great...friendly and attentive. Overall great food and great service!!
(5)Daren D.
Aside from the band being a bit too loud for my taste (maybe it's my low tolerance for loud music...? =p), I'd say this made for a nice evening. I'd just gotten off work and lookin' for someplace to try. I'd no idea a band was plaing, but no big, the bouncer was cool & friendly, I paid the 1 buck cover and proceeded to the bar. Got me some great nachos, 1 ok skewer item off the late HH menu and a drink. The bartender was cool and the nice server who brought my nachos dropped the skewer. No big, I can wait. She returns swiftly. The band music was great and I heard some familiar old tunes - which, of course, I only remember the music and not the name/band - so that was awesome. It was cool and it sounds like the burger is recommended.
(4)Shea S.
Bad food, terrible service...I highly recommend finding another place in the area (there are a ton of other bars down there).
(1)Sundee M.
There were 6 of us in Seattle to celebrate our daughters 21st birthday. We were staying in Pioneer Square and wanted a decent bar with food close to our hotel, (we had about an hour before our Christmas cruise). In our walking around we found the J&M. The food was very yummy and the service so good we stayed on schedule. Would definitely go back.
(5)Stephanie B.
Would not know much about the food... We went for lunch, the service went from bad to awful. The waitress took 10 min to approach us, it took 15 min to get chipds, salsa and wings. 30 minutes later she returned to tells us they "lost are order". By this time there were only 2 other tables left in the whole place. She retook our order. It sat in the warmer for 10 mins while she took a break. Then it was wrong. The manager was aware and never came over and apologized. He left his server blowing in the wind. We left promising to let the world know just how bad the place is. We wasted 90 minutes. Got a hot dog from a food truck which was much better! One star is one too many
(1)Amara D.
Great old Seattle feel for anyone really digging into the city's history. A big space with a big bar. I stopped in during a Seahawks game and was happy to see some locals enjoying the game with a good brew. Sure, the burgers are just burgers but the price is right and the atmosphere makes this a great lunch stop. Note, there is a large bar so I bet the bartender could whip up something special to bring back that Wild West spirit.
(4)Heather S.
Let's see, crappy food & crappier service. How had this place been in business so long? They messed up every order at our table. EVERY. ORDER. 20 minute wait for one beer. I won't waste anymore money or time here.
(1)Jon C.
Had a BBQ Bacon cheese burger, it was awesome. The burger comes with fries or chips, both are made in-house. Take the chips, they come with an awesome onion dip. Beer was cold & refreshing. Staff was knowledgable, helpful, and enthusiadtic. Very well priced.
(5)s z.
The bartender was not the friendliest. I wanted to get something to drink, but I would have felt kind of bad if I had gotten a drink and didn't leave a tip. The bartender just wasn't that friendly. I believe her name is Vanessa. She was really eager to get us to leave. We were there last night at around midnight. They don't close until 2 am, so I'm not sure why she was giving us an ultimatum to drink or leave. Sure she could have been working a long day. Sure she could have had some shit going on in her personal life. Sure, I've considered it all, but I still think she was a little snarky and unpleasant. I'm not the biggest fan of this place, but if I happen upon it again one day, I'll give it another shot. On a positive note, this place has really good ice cubes.
(2)Gillian W.
Went here over the weekend, stopped in Saturday afternoon (late) for beverages and a some food. The game was on and lots of noisy, inconsiderate folks here. Clapping and whistling every second. While I admire enthusiasm, after you clapped in my ear like 5 times in a row, I may be contemplated for a bar fight (not my style). The staff were very friendly here and nice to us. Burned an easy couple of hours. I thought we'd been in here before but not totally sure. Would stop in again on the way back..
(4)The-Hoa H.
I'm a huge fan of the live music at the New Orlean's restaurant right across the street. A friend and I were directed over to this J&M cafe by a few of the musicians inside the new orlean's restaurant packing their equipment to head over to play across the street since that was their next stop. It's interesting how the same artists who can play amazing jazz in one restaurant can so easily switch to old school rock in another themed restaurant. Upon entering we were carded. The place was dimly lit and a decor that spoke of "we made use of whatever furniture we could find" type of look. That didn't deter me whatsoever. The bar had a ginormous selection of liquors. The bartender was very friendly and the music did not disappoint.
(4)Opal D.
The menu is boring. The back bar is more cozy than the front. Fairly unremarkable, just a bar with bar food. Note: For street parking be sure to pay attention to the signs - some are metered until 8pm now while some are still only metered till 6pm!
(3)Jonathan F.
A friend and I went to the J&M to watch the Husky game. We were thrilled to see that they were one of a few places in the area to have cable vs direct TV and were able to play the game even though it was on the Pac-12 network. We walked in and got a great table with a view of their projection screen. We were super happy with the setup and game watching ability. That was the high point, because from that point forward, we hated our experience. While the game was playing, a band setup and did a little sound checking during while the game was on. We began to notice how important this band was to the bar staff because 5 separate times someone came over to warn us that in a few minutes they would be moving our table--while we were sitting there watching the game--over a few feet to prepare for the game. Once our table was moved and the game finished, we decided to stick around a little longer and watch the band. At this point, the extra chairs at the table were removed and we were told the table is considered a 2-top when bands played. We also noticed that anyone who went to the center of the bar to dance was quickly told they couldn't dance with a drink. This seemed odd because they don't have a dance floor and it seemed to prohibit people from dancing. At this point, a couple of friends who we hadn't seen in a while walked in, grabbed chairs and sat down with us, and the server quickly came over to repeat that the table was 2 top. We told him we would keep as close to the wall as possible and out of the way (and there was nothing or no one within 3 feet of us or our table). Later, the server returned to say that my friends leg was protruding from under the table and that the manager was asking for us to relocate. I asked for the manger but that person never came. We paid our bill and left with a sour taste for this place.
(2)Jasmine M.
Currently the lunch deal is all sammich burgers are 1/2 off, making them between $5 and $6 a piece. Each sammich comes with a choice of fries or green salad. The fries are like shoestring fries but with the potato skin still on. They are hearty and tasty. But I've been opting for the green salad, which has its own heartiness featuring mushrooms, cucumbers, and red onions. There's a balsamic vinegar dressing, and a garlicky/dill Ranch-like dressing, and a bleu cheese dressing. All very good, just depends on your mood. As far as the burger sammiches go: I've had the mushroom/Swiss (REALLY good! robust beef patty on a roll more than bun, that's been slightly grilled, fully loaded with pickles, tomato, and lettuce), the blackened cod (probably my favorite fish burger now in Seattle, messy it is but so tasty you can't fault it for that), the salmon burger (really crumbly and hearty with good seasoning, maybe a tad overcooked but definitely still palatable), and the chicken burger (which has a generous but not overly big piece of perfectly grilled chicken that is neither under-cooked, nor overcooked). The lunch 1/2 deal is such a screaming deal that you have to be advised that a soda or ice tea will run you $3. Also, good, friendly service, every time.
(4)Ivan L.
J & M makes a wicked mean burger for lunch. I forget what the lunch special price is. Something cheaper than it should be. Splurge on a beer, maybe two. The pulled pork sammich is also really good.
(3)Joel V.
Stopped in downtown Seattle with a few hours to kill before our flight back home, and looked for somewhere to grab a decent lunch. My initial observation, is that there aren't that many restaurants in Seattle. Most places were a bar or a coffee shop. Whole town kinda has a Haight/Ashbury feel to it. We found the J&M Cafe and Cardroom, which falls under the "bar" category. It actually looked like a very cool place to grab a beer on a Friday or Saturday night. It is big and spacious, with a giant bar, and a stage where they have live music. They also had 10 or so big flatscreens on the walls showing the LLWS Elimination Game at that time. We ate inside, and the servers were nice broads. I ordered the Nachos (with chips, Cardroom chili, cheddar, pico and crema) and my boy, Albs, had the Philly Cheesesteak. The Nachos were decent, the serving was smaller than I had hoped for - but the chili was excellent on it. I can definitely taste the quality beer that they cooked the chili in. A touch greasy, but it did the trick. The cheesesteak across the table looked amazing, but he thought it was way too greasy and just 'aight.' All in all, probably a better place to drink, but the food was pretty ok as well...
(3)Jaswant A. S.
Went here to check out jam night and the Cory Wilds band. The band was playing very well and they played a lot of Hendrix covers. Our server was very attentive and made sure we were never thirsty. I couldn't quite put my finger on it but I thought the band was rather subdued for a band playing Hendrix type material. But after reading some of the other reviews I guess the management demands that every band plays at really low volume. I'm used to seeing bands play with lots of volume especially if it is Hendrix type material. Perhaps I'd have to see Cory Wilds somewhere they aren't uptight about volume levels to see him actually fully rave up and rock out. This type of volume level isn't for a rock club but more for a Vegas style piano lounge full of retired men in white shoes and their cougarly wives.
(3)Lee W.
They used to have a $1 Happy Hour. $1 chicken skewers $1 steak skewers $1 quesadillas $1 veggie plate $1 Genesse beer (yes, it tastes like ass) Alas, last time I was in the bartender said the deal was done. Either they weren't doing it because it was a Sounders game that night or they really were losing money serving food and beer for only a dollar. Like some tween's facebook status is reminding us all right now: Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
(3)Ted C.
I met up with my buddies here who had just started to drink in mass quantities. They had already ordered 9 Jager bombs but hadn't accounted for me. That was quickly remedied-well not so quickly but still. We ordered a lot and we got drunk...a lot and we were obnoxious, a lot. 2 pitchers, 2 rounds of Jager bombs, a round of kamikazes and assorted beers later with multiple purchasers were handled pretty well. Our waitress seemed like she would rather be somewhere else but was pretty friendly and attentive to us. This would be a more glowing review but I bought the second round of 10 Jager bombs which I was told by my friends was $6 a pop. My check came out to $80 which even according to my drunk math came out to more than six bucks. Eh, a little disappointed and a little sad about this place.
(2)Christina T.
Great live band on Saturday night after watching a Mariners game. Both Sounders and Mariners fans were packed inside. They had TV's, pool tables and a decent beer selection. It is definitely divey but makes for great people watching. Sunday we walked by it on the way to another Mariners game and the place was packed with people watching the Seahawks on TV. Seems like a great place to catch a game too. I especially loved their live music though!
(3)Linda C.
I've only been here once and it was during lunch. Loved the Spicy Burger and come to found out it was half off due to their lunch special (I call it a lunch special as it was available until 1pm - 1/2 off any burger). Definitely order the side of homemade chips that comes with the burger since it has the great onion sauce/dip. Which is great with the chips but even butter with the burger. Its a classic american bar feel and the kitchen is in the front so you can see everything that is going on. The staff for the most part is friendly, nothing over the top and no one was rude.
(4)Angel A.
Stopped in after work for a solo dinner. Happy to see that they have my favorite beer on tap. Service was slow at first, but that's to be expected a the bartenders were busy. I had the j&m spicy with house cut fries and the suggested garlic onion sauce. All if it was super good, the burger was huge and took the rest home. What I love is the wine on tap by Proletariat, the Bordeaux is delicious. My only complaint is the music choice seemed a put off for the location, top 40s, but other than that hinges were great. I'll definitely be coming back for happy hour. I think I found my spot in pioneer square.
(4)Phillip P.
Great Bar Menu!! And speedy service. So a group of us were on our way to M's game, and we popped in here for some pre game sustenance. The four of us bellied up to the bar with about a half hour before game time. The bartender knowing that we were headed to the game made sure to get our orders in quickly. Three burgers a club sandwich and a couple beers apiece and we made it to the game on time. Well done J&M well done. The burgers here are the go to, nice juicy and never frozen taste (The way a burger should be).
(4)Michael D.
This review is only for the Burgers. The burgers here are why there are $7 burgers! they are increadable! Im a big fan of them. The stage of these wonderful sandwiches is a historic x-hotel. Service is always decent for us.
(4)Ian B.
I like this place for pub food and watching sports, and the location is very convenient. Theres a good variety of menu items and burgers ranging from more portabello burgers to more all amercian items for the carnivores out there. At times, it can get a little bit loud here, especially if sports fans are doing pre-game stuff. It is what it is: convenient and affordable pub food. :)
(3)Angelica A.
Love this place! Never a dull moment. Live music, pool, and amazing bartenders.
(5)Travis S.
Right now I'm a fan of the J&M Cafe. 11am-1pm is half off their burgers which are pretty good. That with a cherry coke and I can have an excellent $10 lunch. Burgers have a good ratio of quality ingredients. I've had the fries which are nice and crisp and the salads which are fresh. Kitchen is right in front as well so they dont' hide anything. +1 for trust factor.
(4)Agnus R.
I paid $10.00 to see a band there that I liked and they got thrown out after 2 songs for being "too loud". They weren't too loud and I was standing next to the stage when the cheesehead manager started losing his shit and screaming at the musicians. I wasn't given a refund on my cover. Seriously, if this is how you treat your musicians and the people that pay to see them, I'll just go see bands at the Central instead. Thanks Assholes!
(1)Rafael H.
Was there having some Beers after work. Very friendly bartender and a nice look and feel. Will be back soon to try the food.
(4)Sally B.
THIS BAR IS A WORTHLESS PIECE OF CRAP. IF YOU ARE A BAND LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PLAY, KEEP WALKING. My boyfriend's band was set to play there on Friday night. They spent a bunch of time waiting around on stage before they got to play, and when they finally started, the sound wasn't too great (sound guy's fault). The guys couldn't hear themselves. They were apparently asked to turn down once which they did... then right after their third song, some manager guy came up and said "You're done. You're too loud!" The guy was a total dick about it. The band had some choice words for him, and the bar refused to give refunds of the $10 cover. My friend and I were standing at the bar later and some dude came up to us to say how sorry he was that the band got cut off, "well you know we've got condos upstairs and...yeah...they just needed to turn down... But they're always allowed back!! They're more than welcome!!" When asking the guy what he had to do with the bar he said, "oh you know... part owner..." Turns out, according to the bouncer, he was just some regular who doesn't own shit. CREEPER. THE PLACE WAS FULL OF THEM!! We told the creeper that if he thinks they'll ever play there ever again he is sorely mistaken. And if he thinks ANY of their band friends will even think about playing there, he has another thing coming. And by the way, if you are silly enough to buy a friggin' condo above a bar in Pioneer Square, you're going to have to know what you're getting yourself into: General loudness (IE ROCK AND ROLL) especially on a Friday night. Deal with it. The bartender was pretty rad, and the rest of the staff was generally decent. Whoever ACTUALLY owns this establishment should be ashamed of the monkeys they put in charge that night, since they basically ruined their chances of ever having good live music there ever again. They dug a grave, put their entertainment reputation in, and buried it alive. Good goin'. I will never be giving my money to this place again because they're a bunch of whiny pansies who apparently can't handle decent music. Suck it up, or don't build a giant stage with a ridiculous PA system and offer to have bands play there. Also, train your sound guy!!! He should have been the one to turn down the whole system. Don't blame the band, and don't punish them for your crappy sound engineering.
(1)Tina P.
The best lunch spot if you are looking to feed two for the price of one. The service can be slow but you can't complain when they have a variety of 1/2 price sandwiches to chose from. Plus, it's quiet enough to have a decent conversation without having to yell over the normal lunch time hustle and bustle. I highly recommend sitting down before noon and be the first to be served!
(4)Berto M.
DO NOT FREQUENT THE J&M CAFE IN PIONEER SQUARE Ok, so we were booked for a show last night at the J&M. Yeah, I know we should have known better, but we don't turn shows down unless we can't make it, or it's pay to play. .... So, the mix for the first band was... interesting. The stage right guitar player was so quiet that I could -see- him playing solos, but couldn't actually hear anything he was playing. Red Flag. Second band, a bit better, but still: deafeningly loud vocals and drums, hardly any guitars. So we get onstage, everything is set up: we stood onstage for about 20 minutes without the mics turned on waiting to line-check. Finally they turned the mics on, and we said "Screw it: they can adjust us on the fly," so we started our set. I asked for some more guitar in my monitor about halfway through. After this song, I asked for more guitar in my monitor. So did our other guitarist. Second song: a bit of an abortion, because I still couldn't hear my guitar. Oh well: it's rock. Song ends: we're asked to turn down. I turn from 5 to 4 on my head. This is not very loud. When we played the Tiger Lounge two weeks ago, I was at 5: and that was just about perfect for that room, which is slightly larger than an average living room. Third song: a bit better, but still: none of us can hear anything. Song ends, the Manager (Who said "I own this place," even though I know he doesn't;) comes up and says we're too loud and that we're cut off. It was delivered with the same condescension as if your dad came in to the garage to tell your band to stop playing because your mom can't hear her soap operas. I'm a grown man, and I've been playing music for quite a while. Don't talk to me like I'm twelve. Note that I was told by the sound guy that I couldn't hear myself because I was too far from my amp. The audience was further from my amp than me! First, I announced through the still-live mic that the J&M had cut us off for being too Rock and Roll, and that we were very sorry that we were too rock and roll for this rock and roll venue, and that if they didn't want rock bands playing loud, they probably shouldn't book rock bands. I then announced that everyone who had paid to see a rock show should please go to the door and demand their money back, since they didn't get what they paid for. The mics were killed, and the GM sent about five members of the security staff to the stage. I don't know what he thought we were going to to, but it was kind of flattering, in an odd way. After pointing out that Nirvana had played there, and there was no way we were louder than them, and also pointing out to security staff that my amp was only on "4," the GM came up and asked if I was going to "shut the fuck up." I told him, "No, I'm not: because I'm apparently too loud." He said they'd be happy to help me get the gear out of the club, and I told him that would be great because I didn't feel like moving it myself. Some random bought me a beer. A bunch of people came up and asked what happened, and I informed them that we were just too loud. I was met with looks of incredulity, and some compliments on the three songs we managed to play. Pretty much everyone left the bar within five minutes of us being cut off. Good call, Manager. I'm sure the actual owner will be very pleased with your brilliant call to cut off the one thing keeping people in your craphole bar spending money. The regular staff was actually really cool and accommodating and nice, so I hope they get better jobs at a venue that isn't made of turds. (One member of the staff said we were actually quieter than the band before us. Ha.) I hope that the J&M has a good time booking Matchbox 20 cover bands, because having rock bands play is clearly not their forte. Don't play there ever, no matter what. Don't eat there, drink there, and certainly don't go to shows there because you probably won't get to see the band you paid for because they'll get cut off, and then they won't get paid either. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they took your burger away from you after a couple of bites because the burger is too beefy. I suppose if you need to pee or something you can go in and pee, but I'd say to pee on the wall. I also wouldn't be opposed to you whipping out your naughty bits in the middle of the room and slathering yourself with mayonnaise. Eff that bar. We will not be back, and we will be making sure that no one we know or care about ever has the opportunity to get so blatantly mistreated again. I hope they go out of business for like the eightieth time.
(1)M R.
The best place to go before a Seahwaks game! Great waitstaff, menu, and atmosphere. Had a wonderful paleo meal - eggs and bacon - with the most amazing grapefruit mimosa!!! Been here twice and will be back! Always a great experience even when they're busy.
(4)Rachel S.
Drink beer here, the liquor is crazy style over priced? $7+ for a well drink? I'm used to paying $12-$14 for a cocktail, and $15 for martini's in cities, but not for this location and ambiance. I got a turkey burger, it's super sausagey but yummy. Had cran sauce and tomato and lettuce and something else good...woulda been amazing with a fried egg. The chef was super cool, nice, and checked on me.
(3)Erik M.
The J&M will always have a special place in my heart, as it was where I spent many an hour commiserating after work with my dot-bomb colleagues back in the early 2000's. After having yet another paycheck bounce (if it came through at all), it was the perfect location from the office for drowning our sorrows in happy hour beer and appetizers. It's also the place where I started many a night during the Mariners magical 2001 season (and disappointment of a postseason). As dance clubs and specialty retail have moved into the neighborhood, the J&M definitely feels like the most authentic of the remaining old school bars in Pioneer Square, and you feel like an old lumberjack or fisherman bellied up to the ancient bar while you down cheap American beer by the pint and feast on piles of fried snacks as you watch the game on the tube. The J&M could easily play up its history and try to snag some of the Seattle Underground Tour touristy traffic, but they seem to be content catering to the locals who call Pioneer Square home, or at least work there, and as long as that is their recipe for keeping the doors open I'll be happy to pay them a visit whenever I'm in the neighborhood.
(3)erica r.
Happy hour prices are good. But their food menu sucks, at least for vegans. There was a tempeh sandwich on the menu, which I tried to order but they said they were out of. So I had french fries. Bleh. Also, it was the weirdest service ever. The server seemed well-intentioned but was odd and made us a little uncomfortable. I liked the decor / atmosphere, but there are so many other places around with better food, so I don't see any reason to go back.
(2)Felipe H.
Do you like horrible service and bland food? How about a bar staff that will ignore you dispite how empty the place may be? If you answered yes to either of these questions then you need to check out J&M cafe! You will love it when their waitress will give you bland stares of disgust whenever you're in dire need of a refill! I went in for their HAPPY HOUR AT 6PM; because according to their website as of 10/7/13 4:49pm they still advertise their happy hour as being from 4-7PM from Mon - Fri. well to my luck there was barkeep that was right in front of me when i came in; however he ignored me for 5 mins. while he had a personal conversation with his fellow barkeeping chum! when the bartender finally tended to my thirst and hunger I asked for the happy hour menu, but he informed me that i was late as it ends at 6pm. I informed the fella that the website lists the happy hour from 4-7pm; he basically said tough shit in a condescending way... that he would have it change. Really? you cant just give me the lousy discount since you have it advertised?
(1)Troy H.
Went here on the suggestion of a local friend. Great burgers, nice atmosphere. Service was good, not great, but good. Gotta love the 1/2 price burgers deal over lunch. Sure, a soda is pricey, but hey, get a beer, relax, and enjoy the food and soak in the environment. Can't speak for all the food, but the black & bleu burger was amazing (well, not so much for my arteries, but hey, I'm on vacation).
(4)Kristy B.
Giving J&M only three stars feels mean. But every time I go in there it's on a game day. It's always crazy busy which is fine, but it's also always under staffed. Unless we go in super early it's nearly impossible to get food. Which is fine. I will just start going in on other days instead. That said - their food is great and their drinks are always strong. Just shy away during football season on Sundays :)
(3)Brian G.
I'm a bartender, so where do I go with my friends to grab a drink and watch the crowd? The J& M Café of course! This is a fine old "classic" bar located right in the middle of Pioneer Square and we knew exactly what we were going to get; a fun time watching the amateurs on St. Patrick's Day, and boy oh boy we were delighted! Five separate five within thirteen minutes of each other, a live band that played through the commotion like pros, wait staff and bartenders who kept their cool and continued to give great service to those of us who knew how to behave and multiple visits by a girl who kept flashing us. Ok, that last part isn't common (I think) but who are we to complain? To be fair, the same group of friends and I went back a week later and still enjoyed ourselves even though there weren't any fights or wild women. The beer was still delicious, the food was ok and the service was nice.
(4)David L.
Great happy hour burgers! Seriously good . Service was understaffed for lunch when we went yesterday, but they took care of us. The buffalo chicken sandwich was great and the side salad above average.
(4)Nicole J.
I'm a huge fan of the J and M. Nestled in it's original home that has been there long before all the stupid dance clubs and techno bars, it has kept it's old school, "I'm just here for beer, friends and music" vibe which I LOVE. I live just up the street from this place and when my friends and I don't have a place in mind to go, the J and M is our GO TO. The band is always good, there is a nice big dance floor, and plenty of tables to get comfy and have a few good drinks. The bouncers are really friendly and you will never find a stuck up patron at the J and M. Come as you are, jeans and all, and you'll fit right in. They have an awesome selection of drinks and their bartenders ROCK at making awesome mixed drinks. You actually get more alcohol then juice, milk, whatever which is nothing to complain about! This bar is such an awesome representation of Seattle. Laid back, a little rebelious, and completely unique. If you haven't checked it out already, GO.
(4)Dawn S.
Great music. Great happy hour. Great barmaid.
(4)Kristin B.
I really like this place. Good food, quick service and good drinks. I'm don't visit all that often, especially now that I'm knocked up, but it's not too out of control douchey at night and we always have a good time. I strongly recommend getting a cheeseburger here. It's huge and really tasty with yummy fries.
(4)Steven B.
The Poutine was disappointing (OK, maybe I'm spoiled from having it in Canada). The cheesesteak sandwhich felt like it was trying too hard... It wasn't *bad*... it just wasn't full of cheese (wiz) and felt like it had too many vegetables. Service was mediocre, despite being really slow on a Tuesday night... I'd say 3 stars for that. Wouldn't really recommend... not that it's /bad/, per se, just that there's got to be something better.
(2)S G.
I'm only been to J&M for happy hours. You can't be their $1 happy hour menu, which also includes $1 beer! That's right! Just $1 for a 16oz glass of beer. Unfortunately, the beer taste like Coors Lite or even a more watered down version of it, but you get what you pay for! Their $1 happy hour food is great, but you end up having to buy multiple plates worth of happy hour food because it's such a small serving of food. It's a great marketing plot because you actually end up paying about the same price as you would at any other "regular" happy hour where the cost of one appetitizer ranges from $5 to $10. I wish there was better eye-candy for us women though. I don't think too many people know about this $1 Happy Hour menu with $1 BEER just yet!
(4)Jon R.
I had the J&M Burger and it was pretty good. The live band was playing 80's tune and were entertaining. The downfall of this place was the limited selection on the menu and our waitress lacked the skills.
(3)Karol B.
A great bar for fun and dancing on a Friday night. The regular band, Herding Cats, takes shouted requests from the 60s to today and does a remarkable job of mimicry. The drummer/lead singer is amazing. The crowd trends older than those bars that cater to the 20 somethings. The staff is attentive, willing to step in at the first sign of trouble. I recommend the J&M for a fun night!
(4)Robert R.
Tasty food, cool history, decent happy hour, equally decent service. For the price, you get about what you pay for, plus a cool historical experience.
(4)Drew H.
I live close to this bar. I love it. If you're complaining about dive bar food you are a fool. The food here is actually really good compared to anything similar. They also do random dishes all the time. Last time they had enchiladas for a daily special. Delicious. I'm 24 years old and more likely to be found at Lucky Strike than 5 Points, but I go to J&M all the time. It's a great place to have a drink with friends and talk with some friendly bartenders and partons. Highly recommend.
(5)Brady A.
Had lunch here. It was ok. Nothing to rave about. Kind of a cool environment, since this was an old saloon/card room almost 100 years ago.
(3)Tessie B.
I am not from Seattle but the fiance and I were visiting and one evening we decided to bar hop Pioneer Square. Our first stop was J&M and we had an amazing time. Our night got even better once the band set up and started playing. I wish I could remember the name of the band, but apparently they play on Fridays. This was the most amazing drummer I've ever seen! He was absolutely amazing and you could tell he was having the time of his life up there! Did not try food - but drinks were excellent!
(4)Jiff M.
Too bad the naked lady and original bar are gone, but otherwise the remodel is a big improvement, especially with a tall stage and live music Wed-Sat. Food is okay but service is hit and miss. For some reason their music is not listed in the weeklies, but they do finally have a web page with a schedule. Good to see them and The Merchants with live music now, helping to fill the void left by the demise of Doc Maynard's, Old Timer's, Larry's, Colourbox, the two Fenixes, Bohemian and OK Hotel.
(3)jack g.
I was here a few days ago and was really impressed. The remodel looks great and the food was awesome. We were there for happy hour which was a total deal. The fried oysters, calamari and clams were all fab and the thick cut bacon was amazing. I will definitely be back.
(5)Grant R.
The bartenders were great. We were here for pre-Seattle Undergound drinks and had such a good time that we came back after the tour for more.
(5)Seattle John M.
If you are young, stupid, broke and full of testosterone, this may be the bar for you. How not to run a bar 101 with a prime location: Chapter 1 should be all about the J & M.
(1)J. N.
Getting my first beer went well. It was quick and cold. There was a live band so it was too loud to talk, which is fine. Let's just say I enjoyed people watching. There were interesting people of all ages doing their dirty and/or crazy dancing. Getting the second beer did not go well. I had to wait a while. Which gave creepy douchebag the opportunity to creep into my peripheral and try talking to me. Finally the bartender asked me for my order and douchebag who doesn't speak or understand english very well did the whole motion of trying to buy my drink and he signaled with his hand to make two of them. Then something was wrong with the tap or the beer wasn't cold. I dunno it was too loud to hear the bartender. I had to choose a different beer. Finally get the beer. And hand my $20 over while douchebag is trying to hand his wallet/card into the bartenders hand as well. As soon as I got my change I walked off. I later discovered that the bartender made me pay for douchebags beer. I even left a tip. Wish I didn't. Next time should hopefully be better. You could at least ask me if I was paying for both beers instead of just taking my money and not talking to me.
(2)Mike C.
Went to the J&M with friends last weekend for dinner. The food was horrible as only one out of 3 took more than 1 bite, but then the music started. We had a great time as the band was fun and a lot of people were enjoying dancing. Made me remember that good music can be much more fun than good food.
(3)David P.
Wonderful historical place, good food and good music.
(5)Carrie L.
Stummbled upon this place while visiting 2 nights in seattle. We like the bar scene for dinner and lots of drinks so this looked like the perfect place to start. The meatball sub was awesome! Just what you need to soak up 15 drinks! We are usually not fans of bands so when they started to set up on a saturday night we were going to finish our drinks and leave but hey this is seattle! So glad we did! The band was Herding Cats and was the best time! What a great place to start the night!
(4)Jen P.
Stopped in Saturday afternoon for lunch while just "bumming around". Which we seem to do a lot of on the weekends. The boy ordered beer battered fish....and I just got a garden salad as we were going to split the fish.......well.........there were only 2 puny pieces.... for $14!!!!! My garden salad on the other hand was amazing..... avocado, bacon, tomato, croutons, homemade ranch dressing..... it was delicious.... but that might have been because I think I got the BLT wedge salad vs the $5 garden salad that I ordered. The bartender was new, so I'll cut him some slack, but I think the most disappointing and annoying thing was, when we got our bill they didn't include the detail. It looked high.....but I couldn't see WHY.... after I left, and we looked at the menu outside, we realized it was probably because we received the wrong salad. Oh well, would have been more impressed if we would have gotten at least ONE more piece of fish.
(3)Jeremiah P.
Classic example of bar food. Wings and Nachos were very bar food like. Iced tea was watered down. It's probably a good bar, but I would hardly call it a "Cafe". They should change the name to J&M Bar and Grill so people know that its a bar and not a place to grab dinner.
(2)