Jacks Smokehouse — Restaurant in Marbella

Our family of 5 ate there last week, and we all agreed no one would ever want to return to Jacks. If not for its location which provides an endless flow of customers, I do not see how they would stay open based on the merits of the food quality.

The best part about this place was the location and the view. That is exceptional. Also, the bartender mixed up some great cocktails for us, so we would also give credit to them for some nice quality drinks.

Beyond that, it is hard to find a positive with our experience.

Our waitress paid no attention to us, was absent for long periods of time when we needed her and we could see her chit-chatting and dancing to the music off in a corner with some other staff instead of tending to our table. She seemed more interested in being there to have a social experience with fellow staff than serving customers. Even when we were visibly annoyed at how long it was taking to leave our table and asked her if we could pay so we could leave, she took another 15 minutes to return to the table all the while we could see her flittering around not doing anything of value so we had to ask someone else to go get the credit card machine for us.

The table service alone would not justify a return trip, and then there is the food...

The food is comparable to below grade TGIFriday's or Chilis type of food from the US. It was sub-par in every aspect and cafeteria grade at best. No one enjoyed the food, nothing was memorable, nothing was worth finishing. We all left half-eaten plates and decided to go get ice cream and crepes on the boardwalk instead of trying to finish it.

The other negative for us was the excessively loud hip-hop music blasted in the inside of the restaurant where we were sitting and somewhat graphic music video's played on the big screen tv's in the restaurant. For a family with young kids, some of the music videos and songs were far too graphic for us to enjoy. While we have nothing against the hip-hop/rap genre, I'm not sure what playing it so loud in a BBQ restaurant accomplishes unless it is attempting to create an atmosphere that distracts from the lack of quality food or service. For us the atmosphere was a turnoff and far too loud to hold a conversation and the videos only negatively reinforced the experience.

Maybe if we were single and in our 20's and we were sitting out front for a few drinks and not getting food or just getting a quick appetizer we would have scored our experience differently. But for a family with young kids looking for a place for an enjoyable, quality dinner, this would never be a contender...

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. Ordered a steak with peppercorn sauce which was fine however they forgot to bring the sauce. Waited about 15 minutes to get it, at this point the steak was cold. I tried to call a waitress (CAROL) who literally yelled in my face 'NO! Uno momento' at this point I was absolutely shocked but gave her the benefit of the doubt thinking maybe she didn't mean to. Gave her another 5 minutes of going back and forth (there was nobody else around I could've asked so I had to ask this ignorant girl again) raised my hand and smiled again, she then held her hand up, widened her eyes and screamed 'NOOO!!! UNO MOMENTO!' To which my friend and I were just dumb struck because she screamed at me Infront of everyone. She then came back after 2 minutes and to which I then tried saying 'no, I don't want to be served by you' but I hadn't even finished my sentence before she gave me a dirty look and walked away before I could even ask for a manager. When I asked someone else and the manager came, he was very apologetic but did nothing. I will never ever ever come here ever again, I will make sure to post this review on every single one of the websites as well as social media. Absolutely shocked at the 'customer service'. Besides the one apology from the manager, nothing was done. So unprofessional and just down right CHEAP. Hire better staff members and teach them...

-10/10 . If I could give zero stars I would . Stood in the door way and patiently waited to be seated. A waiter was cleaning a table inside the door and looked at us pulled out the chair at the table she just cleaned and told us to sit down. We pointed at the table and said this one ? To which she nodded and again gestured towards the table. We sat down and within a minute the front of house manager came storming over in what was visibly a temper and angrily asked us if we were ok . Shocked we said yes and he said what are you doing do you have a reservation we’re fully booked . We explained the waiter told us we could have the table . He was so unprofessional. Making a scene as if we just walked in and sat at the table without asking. He said we could sit at the bar . However after the scene he made and the manner in which he spoke to us there was no way we were giving a cent to this place. Clearly zero customer service skills let alone any common decency or manners. Even a table beside us who overheard the commotion offered us their table as they were leaving . Shocked and appalled by the service. Avoid before he ruins your...