Jones

12/29/2007 Posted by rkhona

I was a little worried about the service when I read the previous reviews, but management must have taken notice because the service was IMPECCABLE!!! Everyone was extraordinarily friendly from the host to bartender to waiter. We were updated 3x about when our table would be ready, while we were waiting at the bar. Then the manager actually came over to our table to check up on everything. And when I accidentally left my doggie bag, the manager looked all over the restaurant to find it. And the food was delish!! I ordered the salmon and my friend ordered the tilapia both dishes just melted in your mouth. The decor was cute 70's rec room, but not overly kitschy. And the music was great too. Listening to the Stones while dining is a nice respite from the normal lounge music drone. I am from South Jersey but I live in NY and eat out a lot so I'm really picky, but I was pleasantly surprised at the level of service and quality of food. I'll be back!!

Pros: food, service, music, atmosphere

Cons: none

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

12/27/2007 Posted by robmac898

Went to dinner with a friend, the wait for less than five minutes, which is particularly speedy in a restaurant like this in Philadelphia. The waiters were pleasant and very straightforward about the food, however, they trick you into buying FIJI water instead of tap and thats a $5 dollar extra for like half a glass. MAKE SURE YOU JUST ASK FOR TAP WATER! Overall, the food is very delicious. Dumplings and Mac and Cheese are unbelievable. Had the Thanksgiving Dinner, and it was awesome. The bill for 3 appetizers, two entrees and that stupid water just cracked 50 bucks. Very reasonable for the amount of food served.

Pros: Dumplings, Mac N Cheese, Thanksgiving Dinner

Cons: Bad Parking, Forced to pay extra for water, not cool

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

12/24/2007 Posted by phlfrdm

My husband and I love eating at Jones - it has the classiness of a Starr restaurant without being overly pretentious like some of the others! The Asian dumpling appetizers are a treat. The Meatloaf is an absolute MUST, and the fried chicken is also very yummy. Cocktails here are absolutely deelish. Pasta dishes are just okay here, but if you are eating here in the first place, most likely you came for the homestyle dishes, not the pasta (go across the street for La Scala's for that !)

Pros: Meatloaf

Cons: often hard to get a table, not the cheapest, don't take reservations for smaller parties

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

11/01/2007 Posted by ihadpaisleys1st

Finally ventured to Jones which looked phenomenal from outside! Great atmosphere-The menu however is inconsistent. We opted to go all appetizers for our dinner because the entrees were ridiculously over priced. Vegetarians beware-the only thing on the menu for you is Vegetarian Lasagna at $14 for a measly portion (the guy next to us got stuck with) And vegans-forget about it! Anyway, of course we had the mac+cheese (best in the city?) not really. But still very good. The chicken nachos were WELL worth the $11 (the only thing worth the price) as they were impossible for our party of 5 to finish. But the other apps were totally lacking. Tuna tacos? egh. tiny and boring for $10+. A salad is never worth $12 but i guess it's large enough for 2 to share. The pirogies- only (4) and very tiny and zero wow factor. The entire meal was not exactly affordable for what you're getting. Make reservations or you will wait-outside. The staff was THE highlight of the evening. Our waiter was AWESOME and really on point. A rarity in center city. Overall i don't know that I would go back-but then again-a college students' budget might not be who their catering to. If that's the case though maybe they should improve their boring menu. BLAH.

Pros: Service, Atmosphere

Cons: Prices & Portions. Variety.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

10/18/2007 Posted by cherylbug

Had dinner last night with 3 girlfriends, we were quickly seated and definitely attended to by our server. We shared the mac 'n cheese which was delicious as well as the pierogies which I thought were ok. I ordered the meatloaf and wanted to sub creamed spinach for the buttered peas which was not allowed. Overall, I'd say the meal was very average.

Pros: Ambience, Mac N Cheese

Cons: Overly Salted Meatloaf, Pricey

06/10/2007 Posted by mscheirey

My wife and I go to Jones often and are never disappointed. Definitely some of the he best mac n cheese ever. Don't expect to go witha big group and get seated right away though...go during an off-peak hour and you'll be fine.

Pros: great food, great atmosphere

Cons: parking

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

04/14/2007 Posted by pennfoodies

is not steven starr's forte...standard fare fails to surprise...ok food, fun atmosphere...not his best

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/25/2007 Posted by chociay

On Sat Jan. 20th me and 11 of my friends attempted to meet for dinner for my 30th birthday. So much for eating. I had checked out the website and called the week before. I was told that reservations are not taken but a party of 12 can be accomodated. That was a lie. We arrived around 7pm and were told it would be about an hour wait for our party to be seated. After about an hour and a half we asked the hostess what time we could expect to be seated. She said another 30-40 minutes. We had all waited this long so whats another half an hour. In the meantime we were at the bar having a few drinks. Around 9pm we asked again when we would be seated......but more waiting. At this point everyone starting to get drunk and the future isn't looking good. After more waiting....we speak with the general manager Brenda Blevins. She wasn't too enthusiastic about making the situation right considering we have waited about two and a half hours at this point but she did send appetizers for us to the crowded bar. Eating was a bit awkward in this tight space. After speaking with Brenda Blevins again....we were told that we could not be accomodated. So basically after my party was squeezed out of a couple hundred dollars while waiting at the bar for dinner....we were told to LEAVE. This isn't the first time that I've attempted to have dinner at a Steven Starr restaurant but it most certainly will be the last. This whole experience is a digrace to the organization.

Pros: I actually found a good parking spot

Cons: Never got to eat...what a way to celebrate your birthday

01/22/2007 Posted by sweenie76

Large parties beware. Last Saturday we had a large party of 12. When we called ahead, we were told that they did not take reservations so we would have to come in to put our name on the list. When I arrived it was crowded and asked the hostess if they could handle a party of 12. Her answer was yes, but it will be about an hour. Being understanding that it is not easy to seat a party of 12, I thought this was great. So we sat at the bar to have a few drinks and wait. An hour passes, and we ask how much longer... 30 to 45 minutes more... OK, we are still all chatting so we stick it out. Keep in mind, we are ordering drink after expensive drink on empty stomachs... After 2 hours of waiting, we ask again... We are told that we will be sat within 30 minutes, and just hold on. At this point we volunteered to split into two groups of 6 as long as we could have tables nearby. After 2 and a half hours (at this point it is getting late, it is after 9) we are told that the tables that are seated are not leaving and we should go elsewhere if we want to eat. At this point, we are very hungry, we have all been drinking so no one can drive, it is 20 degrees outside so no one wants to walk someplace else, it is late, and we have already dropped well over $100 at their bar and still no one could accomodate us. The Thai place called Aqua across the street was very nice in seating us immediately and explained that this happens OFTEN. If Jones was unable to seat our party, they should have told us from the start and we would have gone elsewhere. Instead they ruined our night completely. The situation was handled poorly and I will be avoiding all Steven Starr spots in the future.

Pros: Food looked good

Cons: Never got to taste it...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

12/29/2006 Posted by andreat88

Over powering Music to the point you have to almost yell to the others at your table. Very rude Host who will forget you are waiting for a table even if you are the only ones there and standing next to him. Over priced skimpy appetizers. ( 3 tiny pierogies right out of the Mrs. T's box for $7) Mediocre tasting food. Anyone who does not mind paying too much for heated frozen dinners would love this place. Avoid it. Not worth the time or the money. Comfort food? Someone read their advertisements without actually eating there. Adding Worcestershire to the frozen stew does not make it homemade folks. $6 for Iced Tea in a glass filled with so many mint leaves you wonder whether to drink it or plant it is a bit over the top. Too many great Philly restaurants to bother with this one.

Cons: Frozen Food meant to seem homemade. Get real.