Jesse's Cafe

I've been spending a great deal of time at Monmouth Medical Center lately.... how wonderful to discover healthy, vegan food so close to the hospital! After a week of eating garbage, it was such a relief to get a meal that actually involved vegetables!

Service was totally fine. The food was nothing exceptional, but it was fresh and good. I got a salad, soup and pita combo lunch deal, and I thought it was a decent deal ($9.99). Mosty, I was happy to be eating something fresh and healthy.

I hope I don't need to spend more time at Monmouth Medical, but if I do, it's reassuring to know I can at least get a vegan meal close by!

Fishing around in my mind for a newer taste of lunch, my mother and I decided to give Jesse's a try. I had eaten there previously - about a year ago - with someone else and recalled enjoying myself. We arrived to a deserted floor, a restaurant festooned in local photographs and paintings. The place has a nice ambience - almost like a Spanish villa in the summer, right as the seasons turn.

We're greeted by the chef-server, and the menu tells the story of Jesse's 22 years in operation. The focus of the restaurant is on fresh, organic ingredients with an international flair. The prices on the menu are reflective of this; don't expect to pay any less than $10 here even on lunch. The menu consists of fairly basic items: sandwiches, salads, wraps, some with an "ethnic" twist (for example, I spied a Thai Tempeh wrap). Jesse's is a restaurant that takes its locality seriously: local photographs decorate the wall, they offer spring cooking classes, and have live jazz performances. In addition to their menu, they also sell numerous books (some from local authors) and several vegan and vegetarian sugared goodies.

I opt for the lunch special - cup of soup, 1/2 a cold pita sandwich, and salad - for $9.99. My mother opts for the tuna salad and avocado wrap and a berry smoothie. The chef-server, though, when asked about the tuna, simply replied "it's delicious." For a restaurant that prides itself on its food selection, its chef seemed unwilling to offer any further description as to how the tuna came to be at Jesse's (presumably by can). The food arrived in short order, and we tucked in. What followed was a mix of disappointment and pleasure.

Stealing a sip, the berry smoothie was absolutely delicious - the right consistency of berry to water that resulted in a semi-thick shake of healthy glory. I wish the same could be said of the salad, the combination of red leaf lettuce and raw cabbage did not produce a nice taste - and the oily, peppery vinaigrette did little to elevate the salad beyond rabbit food. My cold pita sandwich was curried chicken - and this curry was not like any other curry I have had. It was a bit too oily, lacked in the almost sensual, sense-caressing feel and aroma curry leaves in one's mouth, and overall tasted more like a tangy vinaigrette than a curry. The sweet potato and ginger soup, though, was a balanced, creamy cup of heaven with the smallest kiss of ginger at the end.

While Jesse's is definitely an establishment that is true to its vision and commitment of quality ingredients, the execution of those ingredients is a bit touch and go. The prices - especially when compared to other local restaurants - border on the absurd. Our lunch, including a $5 tip, came to over $30. The service, too, was not the best but that's what occurs when your server is also cooking your food. In the end, my feeling is if you want to give something new a try, or if you're a die-hard vegetarian or vegan, then give Jesse's a try or two. Anyone else would be better served at other local establishments within walking distance.

2 1/2 stars (let us give halfsies, Yelp!)

I'm not really sure what the problem was for the reviewer above, but I've been to Jesse's many many times and the food is always excellent.  It's a small, casual place but the service is friendly.  If you're looking for greasy food, go elsewhere; Jesse's menu is veggie-centric and fresh.