Critic's Review

J Alexander’s is a a chain restaurant with a unique, steakhouse type menu. It reminds me of Houlihan’s up north (you NYers will catch my drift), or Houston’s. Its clean lines with dark wood trim has a clubby feel. The bar area has 2 TVs and a few booths. The bar here is not constructed for short people; its too high to eat comfortably. Either that, or the stools are too short. I’m 5′8″ and I was a bit uncomfortable. I confirmed this with a women who was about 5′3″ who said she felt like she needed a high chair.

The wine list is fairly extensive for a place like this, but there’s little excuse for the zero Italian wine choices.

Unlike most chains, J Alexander’s is not cheap. Prices lean towards expensive. There is no lunch menu, and most of the entries are $20+, so unless you’re up for a burger or a salad its a bit expensive for lunch. Meats don’t come with a vegetable; so it will be extra for a full meal. You can sub out the starch for another side. They do have a salmon lunch selection (8oz vs the 11oz serverd for dinner) for $16. thats a solid value. Its served with a dill sauce that’s more like tartar sauce, but it pairs well with the fish.

This place is known for its prime rib, available as a 12oz ($24) or 16oz ($28) “extra thick” cut, served with your choice of mashed or baked potato. The grade of meat here is select, which is 2 grades below the prime grade meats served at most high end steakhouses such as Ruth’s Chris. The higher the grade of meat, the more “marbling”, which is essentially fat. Fat is what gives meat its decadent taste, which is why steak usually tastes better at a restaurant than from a supermarket (Supermarkets have “choice” grade meat). Select meats are super-lean, which means “healthier” to the sushi and greens crowd, and “dry and tasteless” to food aficionados. Note that the Outback serves choice meats (one grade higher), so for $20.95 you get a 16oz prime rib at the Outback which is a better grade of meat that includes a vegetable.

Note that brocolli is served with some sort of garlic/shallot seasoning that I don’t personally care for, so beware if you prefer your broccoli with salt and butter as I do.

All in all, J Alexander’s is a nice place with an interesting menu. Portions are large, but its not a place for someone on a budget.