This restaurant is going from bad to worst. The WORST service.
We went to have lunch, 10 minutes after we were seated, we had to ask for a waiter to take our order. Then we had to wait another 40 minutes waiting for our food, and still did not get any food. They totally forgot about us. We had to leave to go back to work " hungry". We told the manager we are leaving and her response was " OK ".
This place needs to shape up and get some training in how to run a business.
I stayed at the Portola Hotel and Spa with my 4 kids (ages 6 months to 13 years) and decided to eat here rather than go back to the wharf. Walking in, it seemed a little too fancy for our family. We were asked if we wanted to leave the stroller with the host. However, the host and waitstaff were very gracious and accommodating. They were very personable and made my kids feel welcomed. My plate was excellent (I ordered the Grilled Lamb Takka) and the kids didn't complain about their food choices either.
Review Source:Appetizers were unique and tasty. The savory Panna Cotta was especially fun.
Service was pleasant and accommodating.
The entrees we ordered let us down, however. Steak was overcooked for what we requested and the Signature Sole was lacking in seasoning. Seems like the entrees need some updating.
Appetizers we tried were unique and incredibly flavorful! Butternut squash ravioloni and sweet corn Panna cotta. Deserts were also a highlight: vanilla bean creme brûlée and lemon ginger cheesecake. Great flavor combos! Service was also excellent. Entrees we had were pretty standard with expected flavors but I imagine there are some more adventurous things worth trying
Review Source:Had a great dinner here. Â Came with a Travelzoo voucher, which I was concerned about because you have to present it in advance. Â However, the wait staff was incredibly friendly and did not act snobby about it like some other restaurants have been known to do. Â The food was excellent, atmosphere was very pleasant, and we both had a lovely time. Â Would definitely visit again.
Review Source:My family and I went to Jacks this past Saturday for an early dinner after my Dad was left drooling from a review mentioning their raw bar. Â We opted for an early 5:30 dinner because Open Table indicated only 5:30 and 8 were the open reservation spots left available. Â I understand that a number of tables are reserved for phone reservations and walk-ins but jeez... Â Even for 5:30 the restaurant was largely empty (when we left around 6:45, the restaurant was empty save a total of maybe 10 tables amongst the many). Â We were seated promptly by the hostess and I can't lie, I felt like I aged 15 years upon entering the restaurant. Â The music (soft rock/jazz), decor and empty tables didn't feel too welcoming and didn't match my vibe. Â However, it should be noted the wait staff was friendly and even dropped the 15% locals discount (applicable any day and time) on our bill. Â As for the food, let's say I was left rather wanting.
We opted to start with the rock cod ceviché, a 1/2 dozen of raw oysters and steamed clams.  The ceviché was definitely missing something.  Overall not bad flavor but lacking a note that made it more than meh.  The oysters were a bit blander than I prefer as well, neither noticeably sweet or briny.  A heavy squeeze of lemon helped as the mignonette was too sweet for my taste.  Note, the oysters were slightly warmer than I prefer seeing as they should always be stored on ice.  They were closer to room temperature than ice cold.  But, it should be noted no one got sick from the raw goods.  Lastly, the steamed clams weren't bad as they had a nice kick to the broth.  I was disappointed that I didn't see any bits of chorizo to nibble on as the dish mentioned.
The entrees of the night were the sole, scallops with papardelle pasta and the lamb. Â All were fairly forgettable. Â The sole was cooked well thought the sauce was heavier than the description implied. Â The scallops were beautifully seared but the accompanying pasta was rubbery and flavorless amongst a bed of creamy/heavy sauce. Â The lamb wasn't bad except the yogurt sauce (thankfully on the side) tasted MUCH more like tartar sauce than any yogurt sauce I've ever had. Â
All in all we gave Jacks a fair shot and walked away pretty disappointed. Â Nothing shockingly bad or sickening but far below my family's standards.
Do NOT leave without a bowl of signature crab chowder.
Recent girlfriend getaway, we three had a fine lunch doing what we love - "sharing" lots of choices. Loved the soup, a warm asian chicken salad, garlic fries, sirloin steak sandwich. The salad bar (which we didnt try) looked incredible, if I worked nearby I would be here for lunch often just for that.
The menu changes, but the chowder is permanent, we were told.
The interior is dark wood, cushy seats, seafaring of course with models of ships - and while that sounds stuffy, it actually FELT comfortable and easy.
And, our waiter, Able was probably the best waiter I have experienced in years. His recommendations were spot-on, his timing of the dishes absolutely perfect, I almost got the sense he OWNED the place, he was so good. Â
It is in a hotel - the Portola - so make the effort to find it. And they validate the parking, ANOTHER great feature if you want to enjoy the wharf.
Being in downtown Monterey, we wanted a nice meal and decided to take a look at Jacks' new menu. Â Jacks had been solid for American fare for a while, but with the updated menu, the food has elevated to innovative and interesting.
So, the choices have become far more intriguing  Given the  new sides with the main dishes, it was difficult to pick one choice that didn't have some interesting component.
The GF ended up with the Little Gems salad, which was like a deconstructed wedge salad with thin wheels of crispy pancetta. Â The presentation was really impressive but wasn't so stacked that it was hard to tackle. Â The salad and dressing were complementary and well-received. Â She also ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca, which came with mashed potatoes and crispy pancetta bits and haricot vert (green beans). Â The chicken was juicy and perfectly cooked. Â The lemony-ness was nicely cut by the salty flavor but not overwhelming to the chicken breast. Â The mashed potatoes also balanced the flavors and the well-cooked green beans helped to round out the plate.
I had ordered the Lamb Takka with harissa vegetables with couscous with cherries. Â First, I was pleased that the portion was good. Â I think that sometimes hotel restaurants overcompensate for lackluster food with gigantic portions. Â The balance of portion size allowed me to eat everything, feel satisfied and not like I was overstuffed. I ordered the lamb medium-well and the skewered meat came still very tender and flavorful. Â The harissa vegetables had excellent flavor with the subtle heat of the harissa that left me smacking my lips in joy. Â But, I think my favorite was the couscous with cherries--the cherries were reconstituted and just added the sweetness needed to balance the heat of the veggies and the savoriness of the meat skewers.
In the past, I think reviews have said that the service has been poor. Â I couldn't disagree more. Â Not only was our server, Mack, knowledgeable, pleasant, and attentive but several other managers stopped by to check on us.
Perhaps, the only complaint I have is that all the Chef's Specials on the menu had bacon in them. Â Yes, I know the trend is to have bacon in everything--but I would have liked to see an option without bacon or more vegetable focused. Â Oh, Â I also miss the olive tapenade with our bread.
Overall, I was pretty impressed and believe that Jacks is now on par or better than many of the other restaurants in the area that claim to have bold American cooking. Â I would definitely go back.
We went in for lunch on a Monday afternoon and got sat right away. The interior is wood, dark, and borderline-Art Deco. I loved it so much! Â A solid 4 stars - Even though the service was slow for a not busy lunch (15 min to get soup), and the waiter asst. refilled my boyfriends soda with the wrong soda.
The lunch menu is small, but has something for everyone. Â My Cobb Salad was huge and was also my dinner that night. Â My boyfriend got the classic Club Sandwich and it was toasted perfectly. His side salad was a decent size too.
We shared a cup of their Corn & Crab Chowder. Holy Smokes. This soup was to die for! Full of potatoes, onions, celery, corn, Dungeness crab bits... it was amazing.
Lunch for two was just under $30. Â We peeked at the dinner menu on the way out, and although it's the fancy restaurant at the Portola Plaza, the prices were on par (or lower than) with Carmel's dining establishments. There was a risotto with my name on it. We'll be back.
We were off to a real slow start... On-time for our 7pm reservation. Didn't get a glass of water until 7:35 at this very empty restaurant on a quiet Wednesday night. A pleasant, but obviously untrained waiter kept getting lost in this cavernous place.
We started with a hearty bowl of tomato bisque that was tasty if not a bit thick and a wedge salad with fresh local produce that was slightly underdressed.
I had the beef tenderloin from a local ranch that was absolutely perfect. The other main was a grilled piece of salmon that was very dry, probably "fresh frozen" and completely overcooked.
Uneven is probably the operative word here.
For dessert we shared a creme brule that was quite good, with fresh strawberries, and an unfortunate looking slice of biscotti (I think) on top. Â Creme brule would have been fine on its own, the strawberries added a nice note, but biscotti? Â Come on; edit yourself.
To finish, a well made capuchino served in a quart-sized cup and room temperature espresso.
Did I mention uneven yet?
I would come back - it's a very nice, comfortable spot; some moments of very fine cooking along with a few potholes; a pleasant staff; nice ambiance; clean. And, they took the salmon off the bill.
With a little more TLC, Jacks might be a tough table to come by on a Wednesday night.
I like this place for breakfast and you cannot beat bottomless mimosas $17. Â Fresh Belgian waffles, Jason's amazing scones, and ready made omelets make this place a great brunch spot.
The service is always top notch and you can't beat a breakfast buffet that has lychees on it! Â
The place is old school with heavy dark wood paneling, but more reminiscent of a law library, rather than the last Brady Bunch episode.
They have a lovely little patio you can also eat on, when the weather is nice. Â You can park for three hours in the Portico Hotel garage and get it validated at the restaurant. Â Â
I would definitely recommend a trip here to get your eat on!
Yumm-o!
I had planned on stoppin' in  for a cheap Peter B's lunch----did not know they stopped opening for lunch about three weeks ago :O  This is only on weekday, they still open for lunch on weekends.
So I stopped in to Jack's. Â Heard rumors about the C restaurant manager moving here a couple weeks ago.
Had been here off and on for some very quality meals, like a comforting chicken pot pie in puff pastry, and brunches on special occasions.
Well, I started off coming late, and they accomodated me when I explained that I thought PB's was open.....
So the great service set the tone, they didn't make me feel rushed at all. Â I started with crab and corn chowder. Â It was sooo good. Â Dining out nearly everyday, it's rare to have that surprising "mmmmm" moment. Â Their chowder was creamy and hot, and garnished with tiny crispy onions. Â Those little touches that you expect on a special evening out, not just another lunch on the wharf. Â It had big chunks of fresh crab, and I know fresh. Â Fresh tastes like the ocean, not fishy or canned.
They offer what you'd expect on a lunch menu, really heavy on the sandwich items. Â I had their veggie sandwich, and it's good. I asked to leave off the sauce but their bread is delicious and lightly toasted and the veggies were grilled. Â I opted for the housemade potato chips at $4 a pop. Â I don't regret it, they're housemade and still hot to the touch when brought out. Â Lightly seasoned and salted with sea salt. Â
Looking forward to many more lunches out on the patio on a beautiful day and a dinner, also.
I'm still here, btw, the guy let me linger and I'm enjoying jazzy soul music over the speakers in the sun on a cushioned bench ......One last note: locals get 15% off the bill. Â This discount is in effect 7 days a week, except for holidays.
Had brunch at Jack's this past Sunday with a group of visiting friends. It was $17.95 for a buffet that included "bottomless" mimosas! The pastries are fresh baked (their scones are famous and justly so), abundant sides (bacon, chicken apple sausages, home style potatos,etc.) and they had an omlette bar that made to order. The cook (Linda?) was incredibly gracious and friendly and the omelette I had was one of the best. Additionally, our very accommodating server offered to get us waffles or pancakes (Belgium style small waffles that were light and delicious) made to order and there was no additional charge.
We were a tad hesitant to go to Jack's as it's a "hotel restaurant" but the interior has been significantly upgraded, beautiful wood paneled walls and a new chef combined to make it the perfect end to my friend's visit. We will most definitely be back and my wife and I (locals) intend to go there soon for dinner. Enjoy!
We were so surprised and stoked to have such a smooth and solid dinner tonight. Â I bought a Groupon for Jack's for shits and giggles. Â I grew up here and have spent much time in the lounge but not that many locals I know frequent here. Â Their lunch salad buffet is their best bet but after tonight's dinner... I'm not so sure. Â We got our bottle and 2 apps which we paid close to nothing for. Â We wanted something refreshing so we chose a chilled white for our 9pm Monday night reservation... wait. Â Whaty!?!
For those of you who are not local you know that this alone is quite special... a restaurant open until 9pm is an anomaly. Â They were open until 10pm tonight. Â We ordered the Artisan Salad with Beets and Tuna Carpaccio and since we were enjoying it all so much (my gentleman friend ate it all) we ordered the Half Chicken served with carrots and peas and whipped potatoes with gravy.
As some of you may know I am severely allergic to wheat so Dan, our server was extremely careful and very gluten-free knowledgeable and cautious which we were both very surprised to see and appreciative. Â
I'd definitely go back for dinner and of course lunch. Â Their food is better than average and we left very satisfied with the service, gluten-free friendly attitude and especially the top notch service.
The rest of the Portola: decent. This restaurant? Don't waste your time.
Had a date here, and we were seated quickly. That's about where the good things end, because we waited at least another half hour before we ORDERED food. Â There were several other empty seats, so it's not like they were packed for business.
Nearly an hour had passed before we FINALLY received our food, though at least the waiting staff recognized our discontent and were repeatedly apologetic. Â The food was okay, but not even good enough to remember. Â After one hour, it just didn't matter anymore.
Oh yeah, one more thing: we charged the fee to a different card, to keep it separate from our room fees. Â In the morning at checkout, an additional fee from the restaurant had still been added to our room. Â They said this would be fixed, but it's now in my debit history. Â Fixed my @$$!
We stayed 2 nights at the Portola Hotel & Spa. Â Our first evening we had dinner at Jacks for our anniversary. Â The food & service were good; so, we made reservations for brunch at 10:30 am. We arreived at 10:15 AM, were seated and a waiter brought water. Â Then, Â 5-6 minutes later, he returned saying the Chef said to tell us dining was closed and to come back in 1-hour for lunch!
Our reservation was not honored and we felt slighted.
I was staying in the hotel over Thanksgiving with my young children. We enjoyed Jacks the first night of our stay. The 5 year old had soup, the 7 year old shared my steak and a children's item.
The food was delicious and the service gracious.
All in all a great experience that all of us enjoyed!
This review is not for the restaurant, just for the lounge.
It is great! The service is perfect and the drinks' prices are incredibly reasonable. The atmosphere is super relaxing and it is never crowded. Also, there is free wi-fi!!!
I honestly thought the place would be really expensive since it is so fancy and all, but let me tell you that it is cheaper than probably all the places in the area.
The only thing I would add to the place: a espresso machine for delicious coffee :)
We came into Jack's Sunday ready to partake in their great salad bar. Â Upon arriving, we found out that the salad bar is only served on the weekdays. Â After scanning their lunch menu, we decided we'd try something off their menu. With reasonably-priced menu items like Prawn Wraps, Seafood Pasta, Seafood Chowder, Grilled Swordfish and Cheeseburgers and a very comfortable setting, we didn't need much convincing.
Located inside the beautiful Portola Plaza Hotel and a sand pebble's throw from Fisherman's Wharf, you can immerse yourself in their spacious nautica-themed dining room while you savor some fresh local cuisine. At night, you can relax on their expansive patio with cozy brick firepits and look out at the illuminated boats along the wharf.
For entrees, we ordered the Wild Coho Salmon Sandwich and the Grilled Prawn Wrap. We were both partial to the Salmon Sandwich. The Salmon Sandwich ($9.95) was very flavorful with generous fresh salmon, fresh mango salsa and served on a toasted ciabatta roll. The Prawn Wrap could have used more shrimp and less coleslaw and aoili sauce but for an asking price of only $8.95, it's still a pretty good deal. And all selections come with your choice of fries, salad, coleslaw or pasta salad. The service was outstanding and our server, Alberto, was so attentive and warm. He was very sweet and natural.
Be sure to bring your parking pass into Jack's to get stamped for free validation. The cantankerous ol' woman at the parking booth squawked at me for bringing her a stamped business card instead.
Jack's is great for just about any occasion, from an important business meeting to a romantic interlude. I'd still like to try more off their menu and enjoy some evening cocktails and tapas on their cozy patio.
Hotel restaurants are usually not that good, and this one's no exception. I came here with my sister, and the best part of dinner last night was the bread and the olive oil vinaigrette dipping sauce. I had the Corn and Crab Chowder, which was not bad. Then I was let down by the Dungeness Crab Cakes which were overly salty. Then we shared the $28 Ahi Tuna. I'll admit the sear was perfect, but the outside seasoned black pepper packed unnecessary heat and killed the flavor. Hey, I'm not trying to be mean, but the waiter said that was the best thing on the menu. If that's the best thing on the menu, then I am sorely disappointed.
My sister had the Jack's beer or whatever it's called. She said it wasn't even above average because it was too "hoppy" i.e. bitter. I'm not an expert on beers, but it was so bad, she didn't even drink half of it. At least the waiter was honest enough to tell us not to order the Rye Beer.
The service was good. The ambiance was good. The restaurant, on a Sunday night had only 2 occupied tables. I wonder if this restaurant is losing money.
We just returned home after a fabulous dinner at Jack's in Portola Plaza, Monterey. Â Started with drinks in the lounge; yummy and watched a football game. Â Nice and cozy with the fire blazing and the chairs so comfortable.
Went into the restaurant as soon as it opened for dinner at 5 PM. Â Started with crunchy and fresh crab cakes with aoli sauce. Â We licked the plate. Â Then we shared the Sand Dabs and the Seared Ahi Tuna. Â Both were delicious with their sides. Â The waiter even gave my husband risotto instead of mashed potatoes. Â The service was Excellent. Â Love the ambiance; roaring fire, dark wood paneling, elegant upholstery. Â The place was empty, which suits us, because we like to eat in a quiet and refined restaurant. Â Then we shared the apple/pear tart...again, yum. Â With freshly brewed coffee. Â Did I say the service was excellent? Â We will be back...maybe next week!
This place is head and shoulders above the regular hotel fare. You have a wide choice of meals here--from burgers to haute cuisine. It makes it great for families.
The decor is rich with wood paneling and nautical details--and, importantly, tables that are spaced well apart from one another. This makes for not only and elegant, but a quiet dining experience. We found their pasta dishes (with chicken or fish) to be excellent. They also, to their credit, really know how to make a Ceasar Salad (which is a rarity).
It's not obvious at all, but there is a nice outdoor patio (with heat lamps for chilly days) at lunch time. It's a delightful spot to enjoy a mid-day meal.
We had excellent service on both visits (one dinner and one lunch).
Lunch yesterday: ambience very pleasant, service good, but the food was mediocre. The burger was not served with the caramelized onions (my reason for ordering it) and by the time the onions were served everything was cold. Â My friend ordered a double espresso and received nothing more than a cup of very expensive coffee. She pointed this out to our waiter, who didn't deny the obvious. Â We should have asked to have it taken off the bill. I would have liked a larger selection on the menu, perhaps some of the small plates from the dinner menu. I would have liked
to try the crab/corn soup but that would have been too little alone and too much with the burger meal, which also was more well-done than the requested medium.
Short and sweet...
(1) Validated parking at the lot across from the entrance of the hotel
(2) Â Dark wood, romantic or business like atmosphere
(3) Â Comfortable seating and ample space, no crowding of tables next to each other
(4) Â Waiter was super attentive without being overbearing. Â Recommended great wine and dishes from the menu
(5) Â Additional staff were very friendly and helpful, with smiles on their faces
(6) Â Wine was excellent
(7) Â Food was four star
(8) Â Beautiful hotel it's located in, great location and many nice surrounding shops and other things to see
(9) Â Overall quiet atmosphere, even though a high school prom was being held in the hotel the same night.
28:Mar11:: I began this review shortly about our dinner experience during Labor Day weekend in 2010. Only now discovering that I did not finish it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7Sep11: Â We spent Sunday afternoon at the Greek Festival with my in-laws, who live in the area. They suggested eating at Jacks. Dinner service starts at 5pm, we were the second table to be seated. Service was attentive. Water for the table, cocktails and a bread basket arrived in a timely manner.
For starters, we ordered the fried calamari and steamed mussels in a coconut curry broth with tomatoes, lemongrass and basil. The calamari was tender but the batter was soggy and greasy. I didn't try the sauce on the bottom of the plate but the rest of the table agreed that was it was salty.
The mussels were cooked perfectly, but flavor-wise they were a total miss for me. I was expecting a Thai-inspired coconut curry broth (tomatoes, lemongrass, basil) but this tasted much like the way tinned Madras curry powder smells. (If you are going to use a premixed curry powder, it needs to be fried in a bit of oil first, to get rid of that "raw" taste.) To top it off, it was ... too salty.
For our mains my MIL ordered the risotto, FIL and DH ordered the black cod, I ordered the pork chops. Everything was plated beautifully, looked and smelled delicious. The fish and pork were perfectly grilled but the sauces were ... salty. The risotto was a little too crunchy for everyone's taste. My whipped potatoes had a gluey consistency and tasted like they were made in the early afternoon and held in the oven for too long.
Maybe the kitchen was having a bad day, or perhaps we shouldn't have been one of the first parties in the door. And I can't help but think that the person responsible for making the sauces is a smoker - salt, salt and more salt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
28Mar11:: Unfortunately, I did not write about desserts not do I recall if we ordered them. My lasting impressions of Jacks is that they have a warm ambiance in the dining room. We sat in a booth and it felt quite private; it was perfect for visiting with my in-laws. Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive and we never felt we were being rushed.
I just looked up Jacks current dinner menu on their website (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portolahotel.com%2Fdining%2Fjacks.php&s=dfc71ceebba757ef98a7d338bc7b03a6ba460bdb7c3f0c63965453dd6a6415f2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.portolahotel.…</a>). They appear to have the same menu as when I was there six months ago, but the sauces are different and the accompaniments to the mains are changed up.
Would I go back? Perhaps, but there are other places in the area to explore before I am inclined to dine here again.
To be fair, I've only been to Jack's once, for a half-hour/hour or so, and indulged in a single glass of wine with a friend -- but I loved every moment of it.
The atmosphere was the best part of it all. The dark wood paneling -- the thick, intricate tapestry rugs -- the shelves of hardback books -- the comfy, leather upholstered chairs -- the large paintings -- the fireplaces and the dim lighting made for a warm and inviting setting.
I highly recommend this place if you're looking for somewhere nice and comfortable to spend chit-chatting and just hanging out. I hope to go back one day!
I have eaten here twice now and I will say that it is a perfect spot for discussing business with colleagues over lunch.
The salad bar is great -- it's loaded with all the ingredients you could ever want on your salad: chicken, ham, cheese, veggies, olives, avocado, bacon bits, and several different dressings.
After tax I think the lunch salad bar is about $11, so not too bad.
I wish I could write a better review of Jacks, but after the debacle that was our wedding weekend goodbye breakfast, I was left with such a sour taste in my mouth that I felt it only right to let others know about our problem.
Though we had set up our goodbye breakfast at Jacks MONTHS prior to our wedding (both via email and in a personal meeting with the manager), when the actual day arrived, the staff wasn't expecting us, their private room wasn't set for our group's requirements, the personal signage that was shown to us months before was nowhere in sight, and the restaurant was CLOSING mid-morning to prepare for their Mother's
Day luncheon - an event we had NOT been made aware of, even when we had specifically asked if Mother's Day would cause any problems for our guests.
We were to sit in their open-door "private" room with our immediate families and had invited all of our other wedding guests to come have breakfast on their own in the restaurant so that we could say goodbye to everyone. Â We made this very clear to the manager when we met with him, and I even asked if he wanted to hire extra staff to accommodate what might end up being a LOT of diners (he said it wouldn't be a problem). Â However, on the day of, we had guests that stood for up to 20 minutes while the hostess ignored them before finally being told that the restaurant was CLOSING at 10am (the exact time of our scheduled breakfast). Â
So, many of our guests were turned away at the door. Â Those few that weren't (those that got there a bit earlier, for the most part), sat down, ordered the breakfast buffet, only to walk up to the buffet and see the food being whisked away - AFTER THEY HAD JUST ORDERED from their server. Â The server's response? Â "Oh yeah, I guess it's closing down now." Â No one got even ONE plate of food - literally, in the 30 seconds between the time they ordered and the time they walked up to the buffet, the food was gone. Â Obviously, they demanded their money back and left.
The only reason my family and I were able to eat was that we just sat down in the private room without asking (didn't think we needed to, of course, and the hostess wasn't around to escort us), and when it became obvious to the manager and servers on duty that a ball had CLEARLY been dropped, they were quick to accommodate us.
I'm not sure what happened, if the general manager I had been dealing with was no longer with the restaurant, or WHAT - I partially blame myself for not doing a follow-up the actual week of the wedding, but I had, oh, a FEW other things on my mind!!! Â Whatever the case, the fact that something as large and important as this (and as potentially money-making for their establishment) was screwed up will forever keep me away from Jacks. Â
Head to Lou Lou's for breakfast instead.
Moms and I stayed at the Portola Hotel for an extended weekend and we were grateful to have a nice restaurant such as Jack's at our fingertips for last minute meals and room service.
We had both breakfast and dinner here and I can honestly say that I enjoyed both equally. We had breakfast on two occasions and I ordered the blueberry pancakes and the steel cut oats. Now, I'm very picky about my pancakes so when I say that they were good, that's actually quite a compliment. They weren't Dotti's comparison worthy but they held their own against some of the better pancakes I've had.
The steel cut oats were also very good. They were extremely creamy and came with raisins, brown sugar and strawberries (we ordered those separately).
For dinner we split the prime rib and mashed potatoes. The meat just melted in our mouths! This is definitely worth ordering here. The artichoke we ordered for an app was just so-so and so was the romaine spears. I also had a cup of their clam/artichoke/corn chowder which was pretty good...heavy but good.
If you're staying in the hotel it's a great option if you don't feel like going too far but I don't know if I would necessarily come to Jack's if I weren't staying at the hotel.
Solid, if not a little pricey. Â I missed the salad bar they used to have, but the renovation they did was gorgeous and made them a bit higher end than a place to find a salad bar at night. Â The seating is a bit odd, in that the booths are awkward to negotiate and far too long for two people. Â The service is AWESOME... some of those people have been there for years making the public and guests happy!
I had a couple of the small plates, all of which were good. Â The calamari was great, and the dungeness crab mini sandwiches were awesome. Â The Cioppino was good, but I must admit I have made it for years and found this one lacking a bit of depth or zest. Â It was less a bouillabaisse than it was a marinara.
It is dark, romantic place if you can get a table or smaller banquette, and the desserts and full drink menu is awesome. Â
They have definitely taken it up a notch since the rennovation, and I really enjoyed it.
This place is terrible.
We came here because we stayed at the Portola Hotel and Spa and Jack's was the only place open at 10 pm. To be fair, their service was pretty good, it was just the food that sucked.
We ordered the hummus dip, steamed clams, crab and artichoke chowder, and some sort of steak. The steamed clams were okay, the crab and artichoke chowder tasted like it came out of a can, and we ordered the steak medium rare but it came out well done. What the heck?
I don't remember how much the meal cost, but I'm sure we paid much more than it was worth.
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