We ate here last Thursday evening. Parking is a little tough as there are only 4 spots out front and you have to go through the adjacent parking lot to the lot at the rear. Atmosphere is casual rather like a large house. The food is comfort food with a shouthern influence. We started with the truffle fries with parmesan cheese shavings, thin and crisp and very good not greasy at all. I had an order of the onion soup which was excellent, good beef base lot's of onion flavor and covered and I do mean covered with cheese well baked on top. The three diners ordered Meatloaf, Chicken Pot Pie and Crispy Duck. All were very well prepared and very good. The pot pie was literally enough food for two, we brought half home and it was lunch for two the next day, chock full of chicken and veggies with a very nice sauce. Meatloaf was tender and moist, also a very generous portion a small amount came home with us and the duck was cooked to perfection crispy on the outside while being tender and moist on the inside with a honey glaze sauce. Each entree comes with two sides or a salad, the salad was fresh and crisp if not unspectacular. The sides that we ordered were cheesy mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts with pistachios  and the green bean casserole all were very good. For desert we had an warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and coffee both very good.
Overall this was a very good meal, it is mostly an older crowd (not trendy at all), the service was excellent and extremely attentive. Interestingly enough all the servers were female and a little bit more mature than one usually finds in most local restaurants. Â If you are more into flair and glitz, prefer a trendy atmosphere with lot's of people watching and are interested in unique food pairings then this probably isn't your kind of place. But if you are looking for a good hearty meal with generous portions, a some what homey atmosphere, good service and reasonable prices this is a winner. It's the kind of food I wish my mom had made. Â
4.5 Stars
I usually visit Fort Lauderdale every few months for maintenance of my bike. I was walking around looking for lunch having quality food. I found it, indeed! The passion they took in just the tea was apparent. They sweeten ever so gently and present it in a clear handled-jar. You can tell it was homemade. My first course was their daily soup, turkey and corn. The soup was chunky , flavorful, and presented on a white, classic cup having character. The soup had wonderful colors and vibrant flavors while the turkey was tender and the corn sweet. Other vegetables were found adding to the depth of the soup. My main course consisted of the shirt rib sandwich. The first bite told my brain I could only finish half the sandwich due to its richness. The sandwich included caramelized onions and Serrano pepper mayo on a kaiser roll. Every bite was delicious and rich. a table next to me ordered one to share! My choice of side included brussel sprouts leaves with pistachios. The sweetness from steaming the sprouts ten sautéing it in butter I presume worked very well in making every leaf earthy, sweet and nutty. I paced myself and eventually finished my meal. Service was exceptional as my main server and his teammate ensured I enjoyed the food, my drink was tipped off, and I was comfortable. I'd definitely be back and wouldn't mind exploring dinner.
Review Source:Have been serveral times for lunch and dinner. Â Today, the bill came to something and 40 cents. Â Tried to pay with some loose change including 20 pennies. Â Waitress told me, "We don't do pennies". Â And was serious. She made me take back the coins and only give her silver. Â She then said we always round up our bills so that we don't have any pennies." Â "There is no slot for them". Â
Well, that was embarrassing and silly. Â Won't ever be back. Â Lost a customer of 20 pennies.
If you want some good "home cooking", you can get it at The Mason Jar. Â Its not the prettiest place, but the food is fresh and well made. Â I had the beef short ribs and they were outstanding. Â Very flavorful and so tender that they fell off the bone and no need for a knife. Â Sides were good: Â mac and cheese and green bean casserole. Â Friends had the skirt steak and liked it very much, along with the wedge salad, lobster bisque and ravioli. Â Chocolate bomba for dessert was a good way to end.
We had no problem getting a table on Friday night at 8, but it was as busy as I had ever seen it.
Overall, just a good place for good food that I am glad is close by.
I can see why my Dad really likes this place. It has that warm homey feeling that so many of the Fort Lauderdale and Boca restaurants lack with all of their chrome and shiny things. Instead, this feels like you've been invited to dine in someone's house. Starting with the parking lot that's a bit tight. :)
Inside, a handful of tables and chairs spaced nicely so that you can enjoy your own meal and talk without having to listen to the folks at the next table over. Great service from what I understand are regulars who have been running this place for a long while.
Good southern cooking, kicked up a notch. I insisted that we start with the fried pickles, because my Dad and his girlfriend had never had such a thing. Rather than rounded slices, these were long and thin slivers in a tasty batter and hot as all get out from the fryer. And a nice small pot of a tangy dip that went perfectly.
For mains, I had the pork chop with mac & cheese and the brussels sprouts. The chop was a good three inches thick and topped with a cherry sauce. Perfectly cooked, more than half of this monster went home because I had to eat all of the two sides. I've never had pistachios with my sprouts and further, I've never had them "leaved" like this. They're usually whole. What a great idea!
My dad had the meatloaf and his girlfriend had the skirt steak. And again, more than half of each of these went home too. So much food!
For dessert, we split a piece of the apple crumble with a scoop of lovely french vanilla ice cream.
Excellent meal and I can't wait to come back.
Within its class, which is relatively simple cuisine (sort of like an American bistro), this is very good indeed. Â Chicken pot pie is outstanding, with large clean pieces of white meat, diced carrots, peas, all in a thick and flavorful cream base, as it's called for. Â I took a chance on the duck, which can be tricky, usually either too dry or too fatty, and it was perfect here. Â The shoestring potatoes are crispy, hot, and light, the meatloaf (huge portion) moist and meaty, and the sides otherwise modest but well prepared. Â
Service was friendly, efficient, and informal, as befits the style of the restaurant.
Prices are low, dinner mains running $15-22. Â The wine list is modest and well priced.
Parking is awkward, the approach being from the street behind the restaurant, but not a big deal.
GREAT RESTAURANT
We were 4 for dinner last night and had a wonderful experience.
Chicken Pot Pie...a winner
Meat Loaf... a winner
Short Ribs, another winner...
You can't go wrong....
If the parking in front is full, actually, go around behind the building, there is ample off street parking and an entrance from the back...
Had lunch here last week. Â Their lunch selection is great. Â I had the special when I was there. Â A Briskett sandwich which was DEEElicious. Â I got the side of sweet potato mash which was yummy as well. Â There were six of us and everyone enjoyed what they had. Â Service was very good and our teas were never more than half empty. Â Would definitely recommend if you are looking for some delicious comfort food for lunch.
Review Source:i came here with a large party on a saturday night and everyone's meal was fantastic. the inside was quaint and homey, like being at your grandmother's house. the staff was very friendly and willing to answer any questions you had about the menu. i sampled around the table, so i can speak for everyone.
since we knew the portions were huge, we didn't even bother to order apps. the meatloaf was awesome, the country fried chicken was delicious, the braised short ribs were excellent, and the chicken pot pie was great too. all the sides were fantastic, from the mac & cheese and corn spoonbread, to the glazed carrots and brussell sprouts with pistachios.
we had to try some desserts too, and they were all amazing. we sampled their apple cobbler, strawberry & chocolate pie, and this frozen lemonade torte which was so refreshing.
the chef here clearly takes pride in his offerings, and it shows in the dishes. this is great comfort food at a reasonable price. please come check this place out for yourself, you won't be disappointed.
Reservations for a group of 4 and seated promptly at 6 30. Curtis, our server, was pleasant and efficient from start to finish. Impressed with the menu because there is truely something for everyone. Decent wine by the glass or bottle.
Skipped apps because read how large the portions are. Glad we did. I had the crispy duck , cheesy mashed potatoes and the famous brussels sproats. Fantastic. Other diners had grilled pork tenderloin with pineapple jalapeno sauce, crab cakes and salmon with a citrus sauce. All amazed at quality of the entrees.We split aslice of flourless chocolate cake for desert. It was warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.Yum!
Don't let the name and somewhat casual setting fool you. This is not a Cracker Barrel. This is serious food served in a casual setting.
Wanted to order something different for lunch so i placed a takeout order from here after spending about 30 mins looking on yelp as to whaat to eat.boy did i choose the right place. Called them and placed an order for their fried chicken sandwich with a side of homemade french fries, and mac n cheese. got there the front entrance parking was full, drove around back, plenty of parking. Â nice place very traditional home ambiance. Pretty packed when i got there and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Staff was very friendly and polite, got my order in minutes and went home to enjoy.
 First off the french fries were delicious. they are more like shoestring cut fries but still very well prepared. The mac and cheese was also very delicious, not too cheesy and creamy yet not overly baked. when i ordered the fried chicken sandwich i was envisioning a typical round sandwich, i was wrong. it was a big portion of wonderfully cooked fried chicken on a nice sized hoagie roll which had arugula pesto spread on it. wow this was one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had in a while. The chicken was moist, tender and flavorful and the zestyness of the pesto added a perfect kick to the sandwich.
 Its safe to say im a satisfied customer and i will be coming back soon. Next time ill try the mason jar burger which was my original choice.
Huge and delicious cobb salad! Â Cobb like wow! Â Very clean bathrooms. Â On a jaunty walk around town, this was exactly what I needed. Â From the service during our lunch I could tell they weren't really ready for a busy service but hey, we were very happy today and you're as good as your last meal.
Review Source:The Mason Jar cafe succeeds in being a homey place with homey decor surroundings and service--Jerry, our server, and (we didn't get his name) the gentleman who aided him were excellent, once again disproving all these people who complain about service in restaurants--where are they eating?
The food was 'comfy' too in the sense that it would be what mom would make and serve in your kitchen--good but not memorable.
We went there for lunch with Allen having the meatloaf sandwich and a side of  corn spoon bread ($10) with a can of coke ($2.25) while I had the Mason Jar Burger (cheddar cheese and bacon) with a side of macaroni & cheese ($9) and coffee ($2.25).
For dessert we shared a 'sampler' ($10) which had frozen lemonade pie, fudge sundae cake and strawberry pie--the first was outstanding.
The Mason Jar was a pleasant, comfy experience and the second, and much better, country cooking experience.
Good food and service, but don't trust them with your debit or credit card. Â For my second visit to Mason Jar, I took my mom for dinner. Â The restaurant charged my debit card three times for the same meal. Â Assuming an honest mistake had been made. Â I called and was told by staff that the owner will be calling me the following day to discuss. Â After not hearing back from the owner I was told by staff that "the owners are just too slammed with the lunch rush to talk to me now". Â So I filed a dispute with my credit union and plan to let everyone know that customer service and "doing the right thing" take a back seat to making money during the lunch rush.
Review Source:The inside setting and food items make me think I might be at grandma's house out in the country. The décor and general ambiance exudes a country, albeit frumpy, kind of feeling with its richer tones and more traditional furnishings. In all it comes off very nicely and I have to admit that I like it, which is a good compliment, since my preferred style is one that kicks more to exotic.
The food is kind of country too, being basically a menu comprised of "comfort food" all prepared in a home style of cooking with items like fried chicken, meatloaf and strawberry chocolate pie; although on my first visit I went for the special of fish tacos which proved themselves to be delicious.
The portions served are, to say the least, larger than those served in most restaurants and all of the prices reasonable.
One outstanding feature that I particularly liked was the service staff also had that warm, friendly sort of laid back, polite, easy going country style themselves; nothing was done in rush or at least they didn't make it appear that is was. Â
One thing, sort of funny in a way and being a peccadillo entirely of my own, is that I happen to loath "mason jars." Having been raised in the backwoods of impoverished Appalachia I had to deal with those darn things every fall, canning enough food to ward off a winter of starvation. Consequently, I never found anything delightful, romantic or amusing about those stupid gull damn'd, *(^%$# , no good, ughly, worthless jars. So, when my ice tea came served in one, it took me a moment to come to my senses and realize that, after all, I was seated in the Mason Jar Café. Thank goodness, however, their jars were only pseudo in that it they have handles and aren't at all the same as those I had come to bitterly hate as a child. Â
For a good tip, there are more than the three regular and one handicapped parking spaces to the Mason Jar Café that one sees when approaching it off of Federal Highway. If you cut around to the backside, there is plenty of parking along with another entrance way through the rear.
I previously gave 3 stars. The food is just too good for 3 stars. It could even be 5 if it wasn't for the horrendous wait! Came back 2 more times, everything tastes great! The sides are fantastic, but they only have 1 waiter for the whole restaurant! What's up with that. One other person takes care of drink orders, but we never get the food in under 30 minutes. Add another 10 minutes just to pay. Nightmare. However, with that said, the food actually is worth the wait and I will continue to suck up the wait and come to the restaurant.
Review Source:Have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally did. Â Overall I was pleased with my dinner experience. Â The restaurant is decorated in a very country style. Â Not hip or chic in any way. Â Parking is a bit confusing but just know you can park all the way behind the restaurant--its a little bit of an adventure.
We were greeted and waited on by the owner of the restaurant who was very friendly and welcoming. Â For appetizers, we had the pigs in a blanket and goat cheese in phyllo dough with a raspberry jam. Â Both were good. Â I really liked the pigs in a blanket though. Â They were not doughy and the cocktail wiener was flavorful and juicy. Â For my entree I had the short ribs with mac and cheese and sweet potato mash. Â The portion size was huge. Â Four massive short ribs were very tasty, and tender but entirely too much food. Â The sweet potato mash was the standout as far as sides went. Â My girlfriend had the fried chicken which was also massive but very good. Â I liked the unsweetened iced tea I had, and for some strange reason I just enjoy drinking out of the mason jar glasses they use.
This was a good spot for comfort food. Â However, this may seem like an odd complaint, but the portions are entirely too big, which left me feeling guilty for two reasons: Â 1) I overate and made my stomach hurt; and 2) I had to waste an entire short rib and half a chicken dish since leftovers were not to be taken home by us (our choice). Â The food is so rich, a smaller size would be sufficient. Â Next time I go, I will likely share an entree.
The very best "Upscale Comfort Food" in Fort Lauderdale. On a Saturday evening, the W and I and our friends in Broward County dropped in for dinner. We started with the Pigs in a Blanket (love these!) and Phyllo Triangles (goat cheese, cranberries & mushrooms). We brought out own bottle of Pinot and the very friendly staff uncorked in minutes after we sat down. There were so many dishes on the menu that I liked, I had a difficult time time making a decision. One of my buddies and I ended up sharing the Chicken Fried Steak and Beef Schnitzel. You get to choose 2 sides and I went for the Mac & Cheese and Fries. My buddy had the Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. The Chicken Fried Steak was thick, but with the gravy was incredible. The Beef Schnitzel was good, but not as great as the Chicken Fried Steak. My buddy's GF ordered the Walnut Crusted Mahi Mahi (one of their signature dishes, a great pick!). The W had the Shrimp Fra Diablo including a side of Crusted Corn Bread (real kernels of corn, very buttery).
There was not much room for dessert, but how could we leave without sampling the Frozen Lemonade Pie and a Chocolate Cake with a Vanilla Ice Cream that was out of this world.
Overall, a delicious meal from the owners of Las Olas Cafe that moved their restaurant after May 2010. I'll need to come back for lunch for Janice's Meat Loaf or the Chicken Pot Pie!
The service was outstanding, friendly and homey. When taking our order, the waitress pulled up a chair to the table and chatted with us. The parking is in back and it was not very crowded for a Saturday evening. If you want to avoid the Las Olas crowds and tourists, this is the place!
Husband and I originally discovered this restaurant through Yelp, so Thanks! Â We found just what we were looking for: A local restaurant making good food from great ingredients. Â The Crab Chowder was creamy, but could have used a bit more crab, and crab taste, in the soup. Â Goat Cheese, Cranberry, mushroom phyllo triangles were creative and presented beautifully, but the cheese needed a bit more sweet to cut through what we refer to as "goaty-ness".
We loved the sides, with choices like green bean casserole and brussel sprouts with pistachios that you just don't see on menus. Â Each entree came with a choice of two from a list of 8, and we were each able to get 2 we really liked. Â I ordered the skirt steak with adobo sauce, and it arrived perfectly cooked at medium rare. it was delicious! Â Husband ordered short ribs which were also braised perfectly, and the sauce was rich and delicious!
I highly recommend this restaurant and we will return on our next trip!
I just finished an awesome take out lunch from The Mason Jar. I had to try the tomato soup, with blue cheese and bacon! Yum! It's as good as it sounds, very savory and rich. I also tried the turkey sandwich with avocado. They make this sandwich with thick slices of  fresh roasted turkey and melted brie. What a delicious sandwich and it comes with a side.  All of the sides sounded good but I chose the mac and cheese and it was really really yummy. I can't wait to try the brussel sprouts with pistachios.
I was also happy to see that they brought some favorites off the menu from Las Olas cafe. I always loved the walnut crusted mahi. Can't wait to go back for dinner.
The service was excellent. My server was so sweet and helpful.
Super homey, comfortable, and cozy. Ahhh I swear I was so relaxed I could have mistaken the feeling for being at home over the holidays. Environment: Old Country Buffet meets your Grandma's house? I felt like I was somewhere in the South at a neighborhood diner turned somebody's home. No people, not your average SoFlo greaseball diner. I mean a diner with very, very sweet people, a slow easy pace, lace n doilies, and comfort food oozing with love from the kitchen. Yup, this is Mason Jar Cafe!
My friend from NC brought me here as it's one of her go-to neighborhood lunch joints. We both got the Turkey Avocado on wheat. SO GOOD! Like, I could eat it every day kind and never get bored GOOD! They roast turkeys every few days and that, my friends is what's between the perfectly toasted slices of bread. Got the side of pistachio brussel sprouts which were so great, it would make any non veggie eater a believer! Ice tea came in, of course a cute mason jar. Location is convenient so easy to pop in while shopping. The owner is sweet as she can be, food came quick, and we both left with a warm fuzzies in our tummies.
We were so sorry when Las Olas Cafe lost it's lease but so happy when we found out that they re-opened in Oakland Park. I hope they have much better luck than the previous tenants. I haven't seen a lot of restaurants survive here.
We started with three appetizers. Fried pickles. Fried green tomatoes and french fries with truffle oil and parmesan cheese. The fries were the hands down winner. They slice them on premises so they are super thin and crispy.And everything is better with truffle oil! We had to order more because they were such a big hit!
And the soup was amazing. I had the crab and corn chowder but almost wanted to trade for the tomato gorgonzola bacon soup. Wow. That was soup good soup!
For dinner I had the country fried steak, my husband ordered the short ribs and our friends had the pot pie and meatloaf. fo course, I had to  taste them all. The short ribs were delicious and I enjoyed the chicken fried steak (althought my father in law would argue that IHOP has the winnging recipe on this diet buster dish).
We all tried different side dishes as well. I had high hopes for the macaroni and cheese but the kitchen needs to rework this dish to reach the creamy cheese nirvana I seek. If you like brussel sprouts (to me  they taste like battery acid), my dining partners say they were quite good. The spoon corn bread, green bean casserole and cheesy mash potatoes were all solid.
They have very reasonably priced bottles of wine. The service is very sweet and attentive. Everyone is willing to give you a helping hand when selecting your entree. It's the same kind of feeling you got at Las Olas Cafe. Welcomed.
There is hardly any parking in front of the building so park in the plaza lot next store just to the north.
Don't go expecting a fancy high end meal. Do go expecting some down home, straightforward no frills country home cooking.
We ate there for dinner and were not impressed. The menu is way overpriced ($15 for chicken potpie) and the service is mediocre. They had one waiter. The fried green tomatoes were the worst I have ever had; the breading on top was at best a generic from of Shake-N-Bake and the tomatoes were bitter and very hard. The burger was a 3 out of 10-nothing to write home about, and the French onion soup was just OK. This place has the same owners and chef as the former Las Olas Cafe, so if you liked that place then perhaps you might like it. Definitely not cafe prices. Parking is work in itself as their are only 4-5 spots up front. The rest are in the very back through a tiny alley way or go in through of Bayview Drive in the back (best option). Will not go back.
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