Jax

Dale and I went to Jax about a week ago. Hard to believe the place is 90 years old. 

It was really busy in Nordeast due to Art-A-Whirl and the restaurant was hoppin" too. The parking lot was crowded enough we had to park as far over as Pheasant Run.

I started with the Up North Old Fashioned and Dale began with wine. I got the pot roast and Dale got the chicken. 

To finish up I got a Golden Cadillac. I hadn't had one for a while and it was delicious. 

What's in a Golden Cadillac? The above is from acouplecooks.com. 

Brunch at Jax

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Decided to head up to Jax for brunch on this nice spring day. 

I started with a Bloody Mary. I think they use a Polish vodka. 

We sat by the window overlooking the patio. Dale ordered and omelette and I had the prime rib hash. 

When finished we stepped out on to the patio check things out.

We checked out the trout stream for Captain Jack but didn't see him because he is very elusive. 

The daffodils on the patio looked great.

And so did the tulips in the parking lot.  So glad to see signs of spring. 

Fun to be back at Jax. It's been a while. 

Brunch at Jax

Sunday, May 2, 2021

Today we headed Nordeast for brunch at Jax. It's been just over a couple months since restaurants opened up for in-person dining back in February. 

Started with a Bloody Mary. I love their mix. Dale went with coffee. 

Masks are required while not eating or drinking and of course when moving about the restaurant. Tables are still distanced due to Covid regulations. The patio was open and the trout stream had water in it but no trout so Captain Jack was nowhere to be seen. 

"The Polish," which is scrambled eggs, a Polish sausage, and pierogis is what I ordered. Quite yummy if I do say. Dale had the Waldorf salad. I would have loved to do their brunch buffet but that's a no-go due to Covid regulations. 

Our server told us she had a tough week and had devised a plan to deal with people who are driving her crazy. We asked if we were on the list and she told us we were nowhere close. Thank goodness! Her plan wouldn't have ended well for anyone subject to it. 

Dining Out at Jax

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Dale and I haven't dined inside since we took Mom to Jax back in June of 2020 when restaurants reopened for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic lockdown in March of that year. I made that reservation online and realized afterward that I hadn't made it specifically for the patio since we weren't comfortable eating inside. I called the next day to see if I could request a change. The person who answered the phone sounded like a twelve year old and assured me that, yes, our reservation was indeed for the patio. Turned out it wasn't. When we arrived they had no record that the reservation was for the patio and couldn't seat us there because it was full. We decided we were okay with the dining room since not many people were in it. 

   

We decided we were ready to try indoor dining since I've had the first dose of the vaccine and Dale is feeling more comfortable about it. We're both back at our workplaces now after months of working from home so we've become a little more comfortable with the idea of indoor spaces. I made a reservation for Jax. We both identified that we were a tad nervous but, more than that, a little jazzed. 

       

To put us in the mood we listened to Jackpot! The Las Vegas Story on the drive over to the restaurant. It's a 1990s era compilation CD of space-age bachelor-pad pop with a Las Vegas twist. 

I started with a Sidecar and Dale had red wine. 

   

Our appetizer was the onion rings and they couldn't be more perfect. They came with ketchup and a creamy sriracha sauce dip which was spot on.

   

For dinner I had Uncle Joe's prime rib sandwich on rye while Dale had the chicken pot pie. Both were amazing. 

   

Dale skipped dessert but I couldn't pass up a Pink Squirrel. I had been way too long. It was heaven and well worth the wait.

  

The main dining room was quite full however we were seated in the back dining room which was mostly empty on our arrival. However, it quickly filled up and it was encouraging to see Jax doing such good business. On the drive home we each remarked more than once how wonderful it was to eat inside at a restaurant. It's been way too long and I hope to never take it for granted again!

Thanksgiving 2020

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Thanksgiving was scaled back this year due to the pandemic. We often head out to visit Pete & family for the holiday but that was not to be this year. When we've been in town for the holiday over the last few years we've gone out to eat. Also, due to the fact Covid-19 cases are surging again we decided not to have Mom over. We did, however, run a care package to her after we finished our dinner today. 

The day melted away seemingly quite quickly due food prep here and there throughout. There was time in between for the scaled back Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. . .

...and a Bloody Mary. . .

...and the coloring of the turkey in the Star Tribune. 

We ate at 3:15. Dinner was awesome and we watched a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. 

After we ate we got Athena taken care of and then ran a care package over to Mom. She met us at the entry to her building with her mask on and seemed pretty excited to be getting delivery on Thanksgiving. She texted me that she was impressed with the amount of food. She also texted how delicious she though it was. Pictured above are Mom and I during a pre-pandemic Thanksgiving. I believe the photo was taken at Jax in 2015. 

Paul & Alice

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Dale and I joined our friend Warren's family for dinner at Jax Cafe to help his parents celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. Warren reserved the University Room  and covered appetizers and dessert for everyone. It was so good to help his parents, Paul & Alice, celebrate. We felt honored to be included. 

Jax Cafe With Friends

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Cindi made reservations at Jax Cafe for tonight and invited me and Dale, Wyn and James K., and, of course, Maggie. Dale and I arrived first. I ordered a martini at the bar while we waited. Wyn and James were next to arrive. When Wyn saw me she said, "Joe you are my spirit animal!" I asked her why but honestly I was so stunned to find out I'm someone's spirit animal that now I can't even remember what she said although I believe it had something to do with my affinity for gin martinis. She ordered one for herself while James ordered a beer.

We were seated when Cindi and Maggie arrived. Cindi ordered a gin martini as well. It really is amazing how much influence I have. 

Wyn was so excited to be at Jax. She told me she's known about it for 20 years and has always wanted to go. The experience eluded her until now. She wasn't sure what to order so I heartily endorsed the steak because, well, it is Jax after all. We each got the slow roasted prime rib which was 14 ounces of heaven on a plate. We both loved it. 

Our server was named Sandy which was auspicious as I've been texting Cindi pictures of pink squirrels all week to get her psyched for dessert and one of the pictures I sent was of Sandy Squirrel from the Sponge Bob television show. It HAD to be a sign that our waitress ended up being named Sandy. She took really good care of us providing awesome service the entire evening. 

Wyn, Cindi, and I each ordered a pink squirrel for dessert. 

Cindi even had matchbooks made for the event.

Thanksgiving 2016 - With Dale

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Dale had every intention of cooking for Thanksgiving this year but we caved a couple days ahead and decided to make reservations. Last year we went with Jax Cafe, which was awesome, but this year I decided to try the Normandy Kitchen at the Normandy Inn in downtown Minneapolis. Mom took the above photo of Dale and me.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - With Mom

Dale took this picture of Mom and me at Jax Cafe.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Pecan Pie

Dessert didn't come with Dale's dinner but it did with Mom's and mine. She ordered the pumpkin pie but I went with the pecan which I haven't had in ages. It was great.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Thanksgiving Salmon

Mom and I both ordered the turkey dinner. Dale ordered salmon. He told our waiter, Jim, that he just had to be the iconoclast. When Jim brought our food he set Dale's plate in front of him and said, "Here you go Mr. Fancypants." I found that amusing.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Old Fashioned

Mom arrived at our place at 3:30 so we could make our 4:00 reservation. I ordered a brandy old fashioned and Mom and Dale both had wine.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Something Different

From Dale's blog:

"We've been struggling with what to make for Thanksgiving. Certainly turkey, maybe cranberries, stuffing and sweet potatoes but it seemed unexciting somehow. So yesterday we decided to make something completely different. Reservations. Best. Decision. Ever. It has freed up today completely, and while I love to cook, this year preparing Thanksgiving dinner just seemed like another chore."

Both of us are exhausted. It was so freeing to take planning and executing Thanksgiving dinner of our plates. I got the idea on Sunday when a friend at church told us he and his husband would be going to the Normandy Kitchen for the big day. I didn't say anything to Dale right away but we toyed with the idea when we were at the Red Stag Tuesday night. Dale brought it up again yesterday morning as we drove to the gym. I made reservations for Jax after we got home.