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. 

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!

Jax Cafe

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Dale and I celebrated my birthday tonight and we had the good fortune of being joined by our good friends, Maggie and Cindi. As part of my recent supper club kick I chose Jax Cafe in Minneapolis as the restaurant.

The parking lot at Jax has the rows labeled like avenues. We parked on Sirloin Strip which is right next to Lobster Lane.

The gals met us at the restaurant at 6:30. Our waitress, Sheila, took our drink order. I asked for and Old-Fashioned cocktail and before I could request that it be made with brandy, she gave me the choice of just that along with whiskey or bourbon. I went with brandy (Wisconsin style) as that's my favorite spirit to add to the drink.

While waiting for our drinks to come, the family of four at the table next to us got their food order. The father got prime rib and the portion they set in front of him was HUGE. He put his hands to his mouth and actually let out a giggle of delight when he first saw it. The mother was given the same thing. The son, who looked to be 7 years old or so, was also given the same  although his looked to have a side of mashed potatoes. The daughter, who was about 3 or 4, was given small bites from her mother's plate along with a little bit of mashed potato. They all finished those huge portions of beef. I was impressed.

Anyway, I had originally intended to order the trout which you can net in the restaurant's own trout stream on their outdoor patio. I've heard they take your picture during the netting which they then put in a photo sleeve with the caption "I caught my limit at Jax." They have it ready to send home with you when you leave.

Despite originally wanting the trout, the family with the three huge orders of steak had me salivating for it so badly that I had to change my mind. I just couldn't get that beef out of my head.

We all had a lovely salad of field greens, strawberries, and balsamic vinegar. I had the 14 oz. slow roasted prime rib which came with au-jus, horseradish sauce, and a baked potato with sour cream - totally old school. It was divine. By divine I mean it was soft and tender and practically melted in my mouth. I made the right choice. The trout can wait until next time.

Our server, Sheila, was a great gal. Supper club servers are always awesome and she really is one of the best I've worked with. I think she took a shine to me too.

I'd heard that Jax did personalized matchbooks so I asked the host. He said they made little notepads as well. I ordered four of those for the four of us (see top photo).

For dessert Cindi and I each ordered ice cream drinks. I got the grasshopper and Cindi got the pink squirrel. 

The recipe for the grasshopper is as follows:

1 part ice cream (or cream)
1 part creme de menthe
1 part creme de cacao

When made with cream I suppose a shaker with ice would be the appropriate preparation. With ice cream, a blender. 

The recipe for the pink squirrel is as follows:

1 part ice cream (or cream)
1 part cream de noyaux
1 part creme de cacao

Same preparation.

Great restaurant, great food, great company, great evening. Dale loved it so much he wants to go for his birthday too. I hope the trout is ready for me.