Junction Steakhouse and Sports Bar

Reviews & Tips

• 0

  We 'won' a gift card and I knew from the reviews this was going to be a rocky night.  And it was pretty much like the other reviews have stated.  The service was horrid and the food was just OK.  We watched others that came in later getting served before us, as well as food actually arriving with the bill and no one checking back with us.  All the usual mistakes to piss a customer off.    Yes I saved on the tip.  
  Blah, blah, blah.........just go elsewhere where your business is appreciated.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.16.13 Steve W.

  • Report
• 0

  My wife and I enjoy eating and relaxing at the Junction Steakhouse.  The waitresses are friendly, the food is good and the atmosphere is relaxing.  Over the years we have tried several east county restaurants and have found the Junction to be the best.  The quality of meat they offer is outstanding, the wide variety of salads are excellent.  It would be nice if they changed the vegetables but other then that I would recommend the Junction.  
  
  There is a room off the restaurant that can be used for a small get together, which holds about 60 people.  We recently had a mini reunion in the room and it was great along with the service provided by April, Ashley and Shilo.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 05.15.13 Bill P.

  • Report
• 0

  Good breakfast.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.16.12 Michele W.

  • Report
• 0

  My family and I went here for breakfast this morning.  We got there about 9:30 and walked in surprised to find we were one of 3 patrons.  It was dead quiet and the hostess/server/cook was the only employee there.  Besides the fact that it was weirdly quiet, the atmosphere was OK.We had to whisper in order for the rest of the patrons not to hear our entire conversation.  So after 5 min. we asked her, "Is there music supposed to be on or something" and she replied "Oh yeah, I forgot!"  Anyways, my dad ordered a bloody mary, which was awful.  I asked for an iced coffee which I received 20 min. later and another "Oh I forgot all about it!" came in response.  Then I received my eggs benedict and the english muffin was black.   She also was next to our table when my 9 month old dropped a toy and she looked at it on the ground and said "Im not falling for that."  Maybe handing it to me would have been a better gesture?  She also was NEVER around, always in the back doing god knows what.  Our food took 45 minutes to come out even though the restaurant was EMPTY.
  
  It was just an awful, annoying experience and we will never be going back.  I will be discouraging others from visiting this place as well.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 04.14.12 Allison C.

  • Report
• 0

  The first time we went here we sat in the bar area it was loud and it took a bit for the one server to come and get our order but it was sooo good.Before we ordered the table next to us was telling the waitress that their  fish tacos wasn't as good as it was last time they were there. The waitress said that the B chefs had just gotten off work and that was probably why, I was a bit nervous to order but , the Prime rib sandwich was the bomb, I got it with the home made potato chips.
  This time we went back just for that and we decided to sit in the restaurant side. It was very quiet, not even low music in the bathroom and there were 2 other tables their besides us. We weren't over the top loud but it seriously felt like we were in a library. My husband and I ordered the prime rib sandwich and my friend got a salad. Our sandwich's weren't as great as they had been the last time and the one server (a different one) wasn't very attentive to our table. She forgot the horseradish sauce that came with the order and by the time she brought it we were half done with our food. Needless to say I think we got the B chefs as well as the B waitress...
  
  I'm willing to try this place again because the Prime Rib Sandwich is to die for if the A team is working. If I do try it again I'll go to the bar side and talk to the waitress about the chefs before ordering. Hopefully it will be good. I'd really like to give this place more stars because the first experience was outstanding but we'll have to see.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.29.12 Sharon W.

  • Report
• 0

  Live around the corner so have been going for years (beginning back when it was Jamacha Junction- 1990)- I must say that it has really gone downhill.  The service was great from 5:30-6:15 at the bar.  Unfortunately, that is where any resemblance of customer service ended.  It took over an hour to get our bill despite the fact that we had our credit cards out.   (we finally got out of there at 7:30).  I ended up walking over to where the kitchen is in order to get a 'to go' box as my requests were ignored.  Spoke to Manager- Shilo- who basically told us that they are short staffed and are unable to provide the service- and then a snide 'sorry'.  I had to get 'to go' boxes for the couple next to us as they also had been ready to leave.  I am 52 years old and have never, ever failed to leave at least a 15% tip.  I did not leave a tip that night- maybe if the servers (who I must say work their butts off) continue to get short changed in tips- they will accomplish what the customers are unable to do- get more staff- and maybe a customer service class for the manager.  Hopefully, after what I have noticed is high staff turnover, Junction will realize the benefit of customer loyalty and hire enough staff to return to the days when the service was exceptional.  
  
  Of note- this was not my only recent bad customer experience in the past 6 months- but finally pushed me over the edge.  I hope they improve because the steak bites (especially during happy hour) are great.  For now, I will go to Outback across the street.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.22.12 Trish M.

  • Report
• 0

  This place looked like a morgue when we walked in.  There was no music, no one was talking, the 18 tvs were on but there was no sound.....just a real drag for a place touting "happy hour".  Also why don't they have any happy hour drink specials?  The place is nicely set up and I imagine that it might be different during game days but I just wouldn't go back after this experience.  Also it was either the beer or the glass that smelled of straight ass bleach, I could still taste it after we left.  Save your money and drink at home or go somewhere where they actually have happy hour drink specials.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 09.28.11 Julie M.

  • Report
• 0

  I gave this joint two tries before writing this review.  I also phoned the manager, and she was pretty much un-concerned with my displeasure so I will spell it out for the rest of you.
  
  Not aknowledged upon entering the restaurant
  (the hostess was too busy flirting with customers)
  
  When we finally were seated, she just pointed to a table and said you can sit there - SHE DID NOT GIVE US ANY MENUS.  After waiting about 10 minutes, I got up from the table and asked her for some, she brought them over and threw them on the table.  Unbelievable!
  
  It took over twenty minutes for the waitress (named Brenda) to say "I'll be with you in a minute"
  
  She never brought the water we asked for
  
  The salad was warm, and on a WARM PLATE.
  
  When the entrees finally arrived - OVER 1 HOUR AFTER ORDERING,
  She  had screwed up two of the four orders at our table.  Said the kitchen messed it up.  NO, I think SHE WROTE THE ORDER WRONG.
  
  Then proceeded to try and switch the steaks herself at the table?  TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.
  
  I am hoping to have my call returned by the manager whom I was told is named Jenna.  I left a message today.
  
  Don't eat here unless you want the wrong food, and want to be treated like crap.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.10.11 Saundra H.

  • Report
• 0

  I'm not sure if this place will last... it's not that the food is bad. It's just not worth the high cost. They don't offer anything spectacular that I can't get someplace else.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.25.11 Laura S.

  • Report
• 0

  Went there as a party of 4 on 1/13/11. We went to the bar side of the place. The renovations are GREAT! However, service was slow, and was finally met by a waitress with a "deer in the headlights look." The chow was good, although it arrived none to quick. What really got to us was around 8:45p, on a Thursday, our waitress came around to ask if we wanted anything else. We said no thanks and let her know we were done and ready for our bill. Well, she cleared our table and that apparently was that! No bill, no eye contact, no nothing! We could have just as easily have walked out at that point. We watched her flirt at the bar for a good 20 minutes. At 9:15p, we had to interrupt her at the juke box to ask for our check. She nodded yes and then spent another 10 minutes at the dang juke box! When she finally got back to our table, I asked her if she found the music she wanted. She said yes and mumbled something about having to put a few songs in to get it going again. At that point we were so frustrated w/ the service that we told her we hoped it was worth the tip she wasn't going to get.
  
  I gotta tell ya - the food was good if you have the time to wait for it. But if you're looking for attentive service - this place has a lot to be desired!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 01.13.11 Gail M.

  • Report
• 0

  I went to the Jamacha Grill the other day to meet up with some friends to watch Monday Night Football. I was expecting just other ghetto ass east county dive bar. When I walked in I was pleasantly surprised that it is really nice. It is a large well lit clean bar with plenty of seating They have 2 or 3 pool tables. A dart board and a full size shuffle board table. They also have a pretty good selection of beers on tap. If your looking for a good bar in El Cajon. My first choice would be Main Tap Tavern but this would be a good runner up.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 10.12.10 Brian C.

  • Report
• 0

  Wow, was I disappointed. Not many places serve liver & onions, but I figured at a $15 price tag this better be good (after all, I know what liver costs). I started out with their New England Clam Chowder because it was a cold & rainy day. After 2 spoonfuls I had to stop. It had an odd, overly sweet taste to it and definitely was not 'traditional'. I couldn't eat any more of it.
  
  I had specifically ordered the liver to be cooked medium rare, because over cooked liver tends to get tough. Well it came medium well, which wasn't the real problem. it had obviously been sauteed in some mystery sauce/glaze, which might have been OK if it had been a regular steak. The flavor put me off from what I had been expecting as a typical liver & onions dish and I was only able to struggle through half the meal.
  
  My waitress asked me how I had liked everything, and when I told her she did offer to have  something different cooked for me to eat. At that point I was not thrilled with the culinary skills of the kitchen so I declined the offer.
  
  No offense, but maybe I should have surmised the quality of the food because all of the other 6-8 customers in the dining room were all 65+ years old.
  
  If someone offered me the same meal @ $5.00, I would not accept it.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 01.27.10 Randy B.

  • Report
• 0

  We love this place, especially for breakfast.  Their breakfast selection is great.  A few of my favorites are the Eggs Benedict (made with thick ham steak), Sweet Potato pancakes, and their breakfast bowls.  Lunch and Dinner are also great.  Never a wait, great for groups and very accommodating to kids.  Highly recommended.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.30.09 Myra G.

  • Report
• 0

  Ok so I've been on a quest to find the most perfect turkey burger and by golly this place sure comes close! I'm pretty new to East County and a friend and I decided to meet up for lunch. Well of course I turned to yelp to guide us in the right direction and came upon Denise Q.'s review for Jamacha. I decided to take a chance and low and behold I was pleaseantly surprised!
  
  Sunday, high morning, chill crowd. I ordered the special Jamacha Sandwich. A nice turkey burger on special bread with a different (but oh-so-tastey) cheese. I fell in love. I think this is the most flavorful turkey burger I have ever had! Not only was the patty moist and rich with seasonings but the bread it was on was slightly toasted and tasted like it was seasoned with buttery herbs and spices. Mmmmmmm. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
  
  My friend ordered the Philly Cheesteak sandwich. Which she said was superb. When you order a sandwich you have your choice of fries or chips. Definitely go with the chips. Not because the fries aren't good but because their chips are freshly made! Oh schnap!! Warm and crunchy and perfectly seasoned they were a perfect side for a perfect sandwich!
  
  And that's just the food! The service was also very awesesome. Our water glasses were always full and we got a lot of attention.... well that might have been because we were two cute single girls but I'm sure the other customers had great service as well. =]
  
  Anyways Jamacha (Bar and) Grille is a nice little place and I can't wait to go back again!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.13.08 Satomi Z.

  • Report
• 0

  I'll admit, I rarely get over to East County, especially since I"m such a PB girl.  But, I do have one friend that lives in El Cajon and sometimes it's just not fair to make her come over to see me all the time.  So last month, a few girlfriends and I met her for brunch in El Cajon at the Jamacha Grille.  
  
  It was super cute inside, with nice paint and decor, though nothing super special it was all put together very nicely.  The waitress we had was sassy and friendly and referred to the restaurant as if it were her own ( we know it's not) was very good at taking care of us.  
  
  Um, 4 hungover girls, and what do we order?  Mimosas, and Mandarin and tonics.........yes I know it was 10am, but give a girl a break, I needed it!  The drinks weren't too strong but had enough alcohol to relieve that dull feeling in my head.  
  
  Foodwise:  I ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs, it was tasty and good, though not done in the traditional way, it had a different texture about it.  But still good nevertheless.  Stephanie had the pancake stack with bacon and it was sooo good, I wish I had ordered, it, soft fluffy pancakes with a delicious homemade syrup on top.  Val and Candice got the Build Your Own Omelets  and the bacon and eggs which looked good also, though I didn't get to try any of it.  All in all, it was definitely a good experience and if I was in the area, again, I would come back and bring other friends!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.23.07 Denise B.

  • Report