J Towne Tavern

Reviews 4

A

A Private User

5 STARS NO WAY!! 2 STARS..MAYBE!! Our high hopes for the latest local restaurant opening gone bad. Convenient for me to swing by on my way home from the office. I understand that it takes time to fine tune, which is why I only wanted to write a review after a number of very disappointing visits. My latest experience was the most upsetting. When I arrived, I was greeted nicely as usual and took a seat at the bar where my girlfriend was waiting. We enjoyed a cocktail and then were seated for dinner. Here’s where it all goes downhill! We started off with a second round of drinks – which took way too long. I think they forgot about us and we couldn’t figure out why because it wasn’t busy at all. First, when we ordered the Ahi Tuna Appetizer, they sent us a salad and we sent it back and saw it delivered to another table. When the Ahi Tuna Appetizer finally arrived it was way too small and definitely not the texture or flavor of fine Ahi Tuna that you are paying for. For entrees, I had the Porterhouse Aged Steak and my girlfriend had the Aged Filet Mignon. On the menu, it refers to both cuts being “aged,” but besides both totally over cooked, we both could not detect any aging on the beef. It appears that there may be mis-representations on the menu, and our waitress had no clue when we asked her about the two cuts of beef and the aging process. Both entrees were served with decent sides, nothing inventive, and again nothing of great quality. During dinner we overheard two waitresses’ rather crass exchange and had a dose of too much information. They were chatting up a storm about J.Towne’s own lineup of "reviewers" which were busy posting very favorable reviews. I took a look at google reviews of J.Towne and definitely saw a suspicious pattern -- a mixed bag of real reviews followed by an erroneous flutter of "5-star" reviews within a matter of days! (5-Stars-That’s Crazy!) This confirmed to me “Wowee’s” comment below in reference to the posting of biased reviews. On the way out I bumped into one of the same waitresses who said she was newly hired and just passing through until a better opportunity came along! I found this to be inappropriate. Many of my friends that I have spoken to have had similar disappointing experiences. Im far from a food critic - but I do enjoy quality food and service and J.Towne is a far cry from both. My question was answered when the waitress chuckled and explained to me that the restaurant is operated from the adjoining diner kitchen - WOW! Pancakes & Porterhouse Steaks - you cant do both and it shows! As time goes by, I can see this one quickly becoming an extension of the diner next door. I was looking for another great place to frequent, but I’ll stick with breakfast at the diner – it’s safer but still pricey! At least the surrounding places Like Alice’s have views, the only view I can see here is a bunch of cars in the parking lot and rt. 15 traffic.

AL

alan villa

i had a horrorable experience. started off pretty good. place looks great. try to sits us in the middle of the isle were very one is walking by on both sides, we declined. then sat us near the fire place, good spot. waitress came to take drink order, drinks were o.k., like drinking at TGIFRIDAY. water down. ordered the NY strip med rare , it came to my table cold!!! mash potatoes were cold . waitress came over to take back the plate, returned with same plate with my steak over cooked and dry!!!!! i think they put it the microwave, we asked if she did. her reply was no?!?!!? i ask her to take it back, and make me a new steak med rare. she sent the manager over to speak to us. manager said she was sorry for the error and was getting me a new steak. offer my wife and i free dessert, o.k. great. i love dessert. now they bring me the second steak, guess what. now the steak is well done!!! i guess the jerk in the kitchen does not now what med rare is!!!!! or maybe he over cooked the steak on purpose!!!! now i am really mad!!!! my wife and i tell the waitress to take back the steak. i am done. now it gets better!!! the waitress bring my check over and tells me they are sorry. were is the dessert the manager told us she was getting us!?!?!?!??!?! we ask for the dessert and the waitress was surprised!?!?!!??? what the hell!!! you screwed up my meal twice and no dessert. i guess they are not people of their word!!!! anyway i would not recommend going their. i have eaten at the diner they also own several times(better). the food at j tavern is glorified diner food . over priced and not quality. my wife and i are foodies, we eat out 3 to 4 times a week. so i know what i am talking about. as we are leaving the 2 owner ( same guys who own the diner) tell my wife we are the first to complain. i donot think so, when we first sat down. the group sitting next to us, were also not happy with their meal. and told the waitress. i should have listened to thier complaints ,got up and walked out. very unhappy with the experience!!! poor quailty food and over priced!! had a better steak at longhorn steak!!! should be a shame of themselves!! o.k. good luck

A

A Private User

J Towne Let Down:-( I transferred to the area from Phili. Due to my travels Ive been fortunate to frequent some the best restaurants in the country. Happy to see a new restaurants popping up in the in the area I now call home. This will be the first to several reviews to local restaurants. Stay Tuned. My girlfriends flew in for a visit and I took them to J Towne. We left very disappointed for the $ we spent for poor quality food and inattentive service. We know quality ingredients and these were not! I was embarrassed! I promised them I would take them to a better spot next visit .On the bright side the bartenders were friendly and the drinks were somewhat interesting. The bar was tiny with very few bar seats. This is not a stand alone Tavern. Located in a strip mall literally connected to a diner. Employees were walking back and fourth from diner side. WEIRD!? The general feeling of the Tavern/Diner has a chain like setting. A poor attempt at being a high end restaurant. Sort of out of place for the location. 2 stars is the most I can give. I enjoy dining out and concerned myself a foodie. Ive seen places like this fizzle out quickly. How does a diner and Tavern go together? I have high hopes for other new restaurant popping up in the area soon but for now Ill have to dine else where outside the area.

A

A Private User

ASK WHAT IS IN THE BUTTER! This is a warning to all who are allergic to seafood/shellfish! Today when my family and I decided to go to the J. Towne Tavern and the bread came out with the butter and the butter looked a little strange. So I asked, the waitress, when she finally came around what was in it. She told us that it was butter with lobster and garnishings. I said ok thank you and she left. I myself am not allergic to seafood or shellfish but for the people who are, Id just figure Id let you know because I dont think want you to go to the hospital and I dont think anyone will tell you unless you ask. Also, the service is extremely slow. When my family went at 4pm, we were one of a few people in the restaurant for dinner minus all the people watching a football game at the bar. My sister and grandma order French Onion Soup and the bread was hard on the inside. It then took over an hour to get our dinner. I had order pasta and the kitchen forgot to make it so we waited even longer for that. When the pasta came out it turned out it was way over cooked. It was like mush in your mouth. In general, the restaurant is very claustrophobic. Service is slow and information about specialty butter with a common allergan in it was not provided. Very unhappy today.