This is a long-time favorite spot for us. Â We enjoy discovering new wines here all the time, and we like to have dinner there. Â The porch is great when the weather is nice. Â We especially like it when there is live music. Â Since it is a house, there are all different areas, and each one has a slightly different feel.
Review Source:This bar concept is really neat and innovative. Basically you get to choose if you want a taste (1 oz), half glass (3 oz) or full glass (6 oz) of each wine they offer. I found several varietals from California winemakers that I'd always been meaning to try but had found their per glass or bottle price too steep. For those wines, I was able to sample just a taste which was really awesome. The price per ounce varies greatly on the cost of the wine bottle itself, but I was able to find options between $1-7 per ounce, with the majority of the taste being around the $2-3 mark.
In terms of ambiance, this lovely wine bar is located in a historic residence that has been rehabbed on the inside to house a sleek, and modern bar. The front parlor is a lovely place for a drink or if the weather is cooperative, out on the patio.
This bar is great for wine newbies who want to try a bit of everything or sample different selections as their palates mature. I really hope to see this concept expand to other bars and forms of alcohol.
I came here with two wine enthusiasts, the type of people who pick up a bottle of wine and look at the front of the bottle to decide if they are interested. Going to the wine store with them takes at least half an hour. Based on the previous reviews I assumed that we would either love it or think that the idea was neat but the execution was lacking. By the end of the night we agreed with the later: the execution was lacking.
Wino #1 and I tried a number of whites and one or two reds. Wino #2 tried a number of reds. Some of the wines were good. However by the end of the night the winos agreed- the selection wasn't very good and as a result the wine wasn't great. We would have preferred better bottles and higher prices. Although, Wino #1 did point out that the target market appeared to be ladies who like moscato because that kept running out.
Like a number of other reviews I had a Groupon. The Groupon was good for either two appetizers or the cheese/meat plate. We ordered the seared tuna, crab cakes, and the cheese plate. We tried to order the beef dish but it was sold out. The tuna was alright. The color was right but the flavor was a bit bland and overpowered by the spicy exterior. The crab cakes were my favorite dish. They weren't too bready and had nice crab flavor. They came with a spicy Asian sauce and a strawberry sauce. The cheese plate had a 5 pieces each of goat cheese with a rosemary rind, asiago, fresh mozzarella, smoked gouda, and cheddar; all of which probably came from Publix, which is pretty annoying. Cheese and wine go together and of all the dishes this one should be done right.
Like I said before, the execution here is lacking. We did enjoying sipping wine on their patio and made tentative plans of coming back with a deck of cards. However, the quality might send our card game somewhere else.
Well I've been here twice and I have to agree with most of the other folks reviewing this place. Â Good concept, good staff, nice place but expensive, limited wine selection and the people working there have no clue about the wines that evening.
I don't mind the machines, cards or any of that, the food I have had I enjoyed and overall I usually have a decent enough time. Â It's just always so expensive!
So not saying don't go just be prepared to spend a little more than you might think.
Umm, yeah...No.
1 half glass of wine from the aforementioned dispensers, 1 glass of house wine, 2 tapas: $45. Without the Groupon for 2 tapas I would have felt totally ripped off. I still kinda do because I paid $16 for the Groupon.
The wines were fine, but not a large selection. The Ahi tuna was not the deep red color I've come to expect, but had a light pink hue. Blah.
The seared beef tenderloin was passable, but for $16 it should have been a lot better. Actually had a smell and taste that reminded me of roast beef. Not what they were going for I imagine.
If you just came into some money through the lottery or divorce, you might like JJ's. It just felt like a poser to me. Looks prosperous from a distance, but when you get up close you realize the watch you thought was a Rolex is really a Timex.
And they charged me $1 for bread. Seriously? Afraid so.
The concept is a fun idea, but I found it expensive and a little intimidating since the dispensers are in the other rooms of the house. Â The porch is great and we were greeted by the really nice owner. Â The service was extremely slow...20 minutes to refill an empty water glass. Â Like most of the reviews, the food has no taste and was not presented well. Â We had the seared ahi (room temp - ick), turkey sliders (bland and overcooked), french onion soup that was not hot and had no flavor. Â The antipasto plate ($24) was the worst. Â It was average cheeses Publix would sell...cheddar, mozzarella, manchego and the meats were salami, roast beef, etc...so unimpressive, especially for the price. I might bring someone back to see the dispensers, but I wouldn't return as a local. Â Such a great idea in an awesome location...poor execution and quality.
Review Source:The staff was friendly and the place is in a cool old house. That's the only good part, so it's worthy of two stars.
The system is confusing if your a first timer, the waitress had to really explain it -not relaxing or romantic to feel dumb. The wine is dispensed through a plastic tube in a machine that is a mix between Dave & Busters, a pop machine outside a Big Kmart, and a cigarette machine found in the corner of a dirty sports bar. I didn't like it. You had to hand them a credit card before you get past the entry way and they give you this charge card like your at some kind of "fun zone" arcade. If they had just handed me a cup full of golden tokens it would have been better.
You have to pay an average of $2 just to taste a wine. At any other wine bar I've been to, a tasting is free, as it should be. The staff had zero knowledge of the wine, which is a problem because I don't know anything about wine. That left me having to shell out $2 over and over until I could find one I liked. I found one I liked... $8 later. That could have been solved by a knowledgeable staff that recommended something to my explained preference. Too bad.
We ordered a cheese plate. It was $15 and It sucked. They put a bland mozzarella and a weird mango cheese thing. It was presented terribly. There should be some mixed nuts on the side along with some fresh cold grapes and an array of crackers. Nope, just cheese lined up in a row like a kindergartener folded his sliced Kraft cheddar into four squares and served it to his mommy for lunch. Presentation is half the battle, they lost.
My wife and I ended up getting a cold bottle of wine and sneaking into a local upscale condo complex with an outdoor pool and hot tub. I only had to jump one fence. It was 20 times cheaper and 100 times better than sitting at JJ's.
We will not be back.
Great place! The wine dispensers allow you to taste at your own speed. The food is fabulous, especially the chocolate fondue. Â The outside deck is perfect on a summer evening. Â We have only known about this place for a month and have already been there twice! Â Highly recommend for a fun date night.
Review Source:Went last night for the first time: cool atmosphere but extremely over priced. The tapas should be priced at no more than half of what they asked: $9 for four slices of toasted bread with a sprinkle of blue cheese and a drizzle if fig reduction? A cheese platter with two slices each of 5 cheeses for $14? Â What we had was delicious but $$$. The staff was nice but less than informed on the wines. A gentleman asked one of the main waitresses for a bold, smokey red and she couldn't direct him to one. The live music was good but way too loud for the venue; no chance of conversation in the room they were in. I might go back if I eat somewhere else and want an after dinner glass of wine; I might not.
Review Source:This place was great! I found the place through sharing spree. There was absolutely no problem when I gave them my gift certificate especially since it wasn't expired. The experience was wonderful. The staff was attentive and  very welcoming. The food was exceptional. The atmosphere was warm and unique. Will definitely go back again and its a hike for me. It took 45 minutes to get there but again it was worth it!
Review Source:JJ's is a million dollar idea with 10-cent execution.
Well, maybe it's not that bad. But our first visit left us with something to be desired.
The idea is awesome--wine-dispensing machines throughout a loungey, low-lit, soothing environment allow you to insert a card and pay for whatever wine suits your fancy--in taste, half-glass, and full-glass increments.
That last part is where the trouble starts. First, if you're truly interested in doing a tasting, you're going to shell out $1-$3 per taste, which is definitely a taste--not more than a few sips.
If you're us, however, you'll insert your card, select a more expensive wine (something like $5.75 for a half class), push the button, and get almost exactly a "taste" portion. Then you'll head to the front counter, inquire about what was going on with that, and the host will kind of shrug and say "It's the luck of the draw sometimes."
Now, it didn't turn out as badly as I initially thought it was going to. In the end, we were only charged for a taste portion on the cheated glass. However, I still find this troublesome because 1) the host didn't tell us that, which led us to believe we'd be charged for the full half glass 2) the host/waiter did not bring us the water he said he would bring to our table and 3) No one seemed to make any move to replace the empty bottle. What if that had been my favorite wine ever, and I had wanted more? Too bad, apparently.
The place itself is admirable; everything is extremely clean and has a house-like setting, which allows everyone some element of privacy. I would have liked to see a bit more loungey seating, but I understand why it would be mostly tables and chairs for those who order food or desserts.
So for what JJs earns regarding clever idea, nice atmosphere, and lovely sense of posh, it lacks in customer service, value for the dollar, and comfortable seating.
Will I (or my friends, who actually live nearby) return? Haven't decided. But what I can tell you is that decision will not be "luck of the draw."
I struggle with this review. For the concept and atmosphere, I want to give this place 4-5 stars. But after experiencing the wine selection, lack of knowledge by the owner and staff on the wines, and shocking tab at the end of the night, I wanted to give it 2 stars. So overall, I give it 3 stars. I may or may not go back.
The concept is great. The atmosphere is nice. It was a plus to have a couple of big screens in the bar room since my husband and I were able to watch our college basketball games during our visit. We came pretty much at 4 p.m. when they opened on a Saturday because we had not had lunch and just wanted a light early dinner. We had bought the Groupon deal because we have been meaning to try the place out. We were greeted by the staff and explained the concept of using their debit cards to use the self-serve wine dispensing stations. I am a wine lover, and was excited about being able to do tastings before buying a 1/2 or full pour.
Here's the kicker. The prices are really expensive, especially for the tastings. $1.50-$3.00ish for a small taste! The 1/2 and full pours are more reasonable, but I was disappointed in the wine selection. A few of the wines came from vineyards/wineries that I find commonly on restaurant menus. I was hoping to try wines from vineyards I've never heard of that the owners had researched and enjoyed themselves. I knew they hadn't because I asked our waiter about a Sauvignon Blanc from California (whether it had been oak barreled), and he had to ask the owner, and she came back to me after reading about it and told me the answer. It would be nice to have descriptions of the wines. It would help me not waste a few bucks on a tasting if I knew before what the description was. I have a wine app on my iphone, but I didn't feel like researching everything myself.
As far as food (all tapas) we had a cheese plate, which was very good and the variety of cheeses was nice. We were still hungry, so I had a caprese salad, and my husband had a seared beef tenderloin tapa. My salad was good (typical caprese salad), and my husband enjoyed his beef tenderloin dish (I tried it and thought the beef was very fatty-otherwise the taste was good).
Besides being frustrated about not have wine descriptions before blindly trying random wines, the experience was pleasant. However, we ran up a tab of $80 for what we felt wasn't a whole lot of food or drinks! That was pretty much 4 tastings and two 1/2 glasses for me, 1 full glass and 1 beer for my husband, and for 3 tapas and a dessert. The food was good, but not gourmet by any means.
I feel if the wine selection were a little better and came with a sheet of descriptions, I would come back. This is a great place is you are looking for atmosphere, experience, and hanging out with friends. However, if you are a wine snob looking to try unique wines, you may be disappointed.
I think the idea on paper is fine; I was one of the early visitors, so interested to read about these recent visits & how impressed everyone has been w/the place. I wouldn't go back, even after reading these favorable comments. Frankly, these folks invested an awful lot of money into what could have been an even more prosperous business plan and concept for which Franklin has been and still is ripe! At the time of my visit, which was either late Jan. or early Feb., on a rainy night w/a business associate, I was underwhelmed at the service and total lack of information about the wines & the fact that the staff was ill-informed as well. Likewise, I was underwhelmed by the unoriginal, marginal Costco-like menu. (Wished later I had discovered they had beer b/c I would've preferred that to the then wine choices.) The kicker was that we were paying way too much for these tiny sips*, and there was then no way to keep track of your expenses, what a money pit for the customer. (*At any restaurant worth its salt, tastes of wines offered by the glass are free, but not at J-J's, one has to pay for even a 1 oz. "pour".) As to the furniture? I thought I was in a man's cigar club - huge, overstuffed leather-type chairs & sofas that I would have been lost in had I chosen to sit there. The tables & chairs in the dining area aren't much better; the bar height chairs fit exactly side by side across from another pair of chairs. Definitely watch out for your fingers if you are sitting beside someone! Ouch! So - if this kind of approach is one you would be interested in, go for it, but be prepared to dig deep & spend an awful lot of your hard-earned as you sip & chat & feast on unimaginative nibblings.
Review Source:Very unique concept!! My husband and I went here after dinner and enjoyed wine along with the fondue dessert. Would recommend this place if your looking for good wine and a fun/relaxing atmosphere. Thought it was great because you can decide which wine to get along with the serving size (taste, half glass or full glass). They also provide cards that describe the wine as well as what wine goes well with their menu selections.
Review Source:My husband and I went to JJ's Wine Bar for the first time this past Sunday. We were looking for an interesting bar in downtown Franklin and were very pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed this wine bar. It definitely exceeded my expectations, and we found it a very relaxing place with an upscale ambiance, and much to be enjoyed. We chose to sit inside on plush leather furniture, but could have just as easily chosen a table in the outdoor space. The wine was very good, as was the specialty sangria that I had. We met another couple who were also there for the first time and ended up chatting quite some time. We ordered the smoked salmon appetizer and the vegetable wrap - both were excellent. Loved Jill, as she greeted us when we entered and showed us around. Great wine, food, atmosphere, and service. Will go back!
Review Source:This cute little place has the most original concept I've seen in a long time.
When you walk in you receive a debit card that can be used in the self-serve wine dispensing machines. Â There are 3 or 4 different rooms to choose from, with seating options including a tables, comfy couches/chairs and a larger room with a bar.
We started out at a table, but ended up on a couch. Â It's a pretty small place, so as it gets more popular I'm sure seating will be an issue, but we went when it was relatively new, so I don't think word had gotten out yet!
There was a large selection of wine with many reds, whites, blends, etc, etc. Â Even some local Arrington wine! We were told the wine choices change often.
When you stick your debit card in the machine it shows you your balance (pay attention to it, it's easy to run up a nice big bill!). Â You can then select your wine and the size of glass you want. Â You can have a taste for a couple bucks (price depending on the wine), a half glass or full glass. Â
We also ordered the hummus plate, which was amazing. Â The service was great, especially for a place where you mostly serve yourself. Â The staff was very friendly and made the rounds often to make sure no one needed anything besides their self-serve wine.
Unfortunately, we had dinner plans and just went for appetizers and drinks, otherwise I think we would have ended up trying everything on the menu and every wine on the wall!
I recently went to JJ's Wine Bar with several friends. We ate dinner in Franklin and wanted to go out for a drink after and JJ's is where everyone wanted to go! I loved this place!! We were seated outside on the porch.
I loved the concept of ordering taste, half, or full glass. I can see how quickly you can end up with a hefty tab! It could get pretty expensive to drink here, but well worth it! It is so much fun trying different wines.
We decided to order a chocolate fondue, which was amazing! I believe it was priced at $15. Super expensive, but it was nice and most everyone at our table was able to have some.
I think everyone should try this place!
Business partners Jessie Myhre and Jill Pittman confidently named JJ's after themselves. Way to go, J. It's an upscale place to enjoy wine, but a bit more bubbly than Wine Loft or 360. Inert nitrogen gas in their cruvinet wine serving stations keep the wine fresh for days after the bottles of fine wine are opened. It's simple to get a wine debit card from Jill or Jessie and swipe the card to help yourself to a little taste or a glass of some of the wines. The cruvinet system they installed means there is more variety of good wine to choose from at prices cheaper than most wine bars. There are also small food plates and desserts that pair well with the red and white wines.
Review Source:
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