J. Alexander's Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

Last night we decided to try J. Alexander’s out, this was our first time ever at this , so the atmosphere was beautiful, big beautiful bar, love the decor and lighting, butttt the carpet vibe for flooring is ugly, reminds me of diner vibes when it comes to the flooring, but it is what it is on that.

Service: our server was Lena, and i wasn’t impress with her, she didn’t seem to want to be there and just not into her job last night. Having to asked for water three separate times which it took her that long to bring it, on top of not even ask if we wanted a refill was kind of annoying; when i finished my first cocktail she didn’t even bother to ask if i wanted another in which i had to imply for a new drink. She barely tabled touched and at one point disappeared for 15/20 mins when we got our entree so not really seeing if steaks are cooked to liking as well as sides, when she did come back to clear the table, she asked if we wanted desserts and which one, as if they were on the menu( they are not), so I once again implied what they were she then told us. So service from her wasn’t grand, we also didn’t care for the first app and barely touched it, and when i say, NO ONE, not even a manager came by to check on the issue was interesting to say the least; we still ended up paying for that app( I’m a bartender, so when i see people not enjoying a dish, i make it clear to management to table touch on the issue and make sure its taken off the bill) but that just my style of service.

Now on to the food: the menu is very vague, not much details on the food itself so like you really don’t know what to expect if you’ve never dined at a J. Alexander’s before; the app we got was the fire roasted artichokes, which wasn’t anything great and kind of a pointless dish and once again super vague on the prep, we told the server we didn’t care for it with only one artichoke half eaten due to not liking the dish. We decided and went for a wedge salad in replace of that app, which was good, we both enjoyed that, for the entrees, I got the Maui steak (apparently is a ribeye) was eh okay, the Marinade was very good so I will say that, but the steak did not look like a ribeye. It looked like a beefed up sirloin steak, which was kind of disappointing, My boyfriend got one of the specialty steaks, the Tuscan steak, which was very good he said. Now the side that come with these steaks is only one side and it’s their “smashed” potatoes. I don’t know why they can’t just call them mashed potatoes because mashed and “smashed” are two different ways of potatoes that are prepped and done differently. But mine were cold and his was pretty warm probably because they plated my dish first since I got a rare steak and my boyfriend got a medium, so I just felt like my food sat in the window, once again I’m in the industry so I know when this happens .. We did get dessert. My boyfriend got the Keylime pie, which he said wasn’t that great tasted more like a lemon custard pie. I got the carrot cake which is phenomenal. I absolutely loved my carrot cake, it was warm and the icing was just perfect, so that part was really good on my end.

So the end results, I see this place being more of like let’s get drinks and a few apps or drinks and dessert. I don’t see this as a place i want to dine here for dinner wise, maybe lunch I’d do but not so much to do dinner again. Food is a hit or miss. I would have to say, Wine and cocktail selections great I was happy with those. Service, maybe from a different server things would have been better...

Subject: A Dining Experience We Won’t Forget (Though We Really Wish We Could)

Dear J. Alexanders Team,

We recently decided to give J. Alexanders a try because, well, supporting local chains seemed like a great idea. What we didn’t expect was an experience that’s still “impressing” us 48 hours later—and not in a good way.

Our party dove into your menu with high hopes, ordering a variety of items, sampling a delightful melody of sides with our entrées. With over 50 years of combined culinary experience (yes, we’re counting every home-cooked meal and late-night snack), we thought we’d seen it all—until your steaks made us question whether we were in a steakhouse or shopping for leather goods. The flagship fillets were so overcooked they could’ve been mistaken for shoe insoles. Trying to cut into them felt more like sharpening a blade on a rock than slicing a steak. Another member of our party braved the Mr. Jack’s fried chicken, and let’s just say it came with an extra side of oily aftertaste and questionable texture.

To be fair, the server noticed the carnage on our plates and did their best to make things right. That’s when we realized: this is Naples, where we’re paying premium prices for what I can only describe as “beef jerky with dreams.”

In an attempt to save the night, we swapped out the steaks for burgers after the staff assured us the patties were made of freshly blended meat. I'm not sure where they’re blending it, but I’d bet good money it’s not in a kitchen. The fries and veggies? Well, they were the MVPs of the meal, but the burgers? Rare. And not in the “pleasantly pink” way—more like “call a vet, this thing’s still mooing” kind of rare. As for the cheese, it was so unmelted it might as well have been sculpted from ice. The staff assured us this was cooked properly and poor lighting was causing the perception (we can let the photo talk).

Now, fast-forward 48 hours, and our entire party is still reeling from a bout of IBS, dehydration, and regret. Turns out, when the chef is more focused on mingling with guests than keeping an eye on what’s leaving the kitchen, things go south fast. We even overheard the server requesting a “red check,” which we later learned is a quality control measure, which obviously did not change the outcome.

If you’re on the hunt for an authentic dining experience in Naples, I’d highly recommend Seed to Table or Capital Grille. They’ve got this whole “serving food that people can actually eat” thing down. As for J. Alexanders? It’s a hard zero from us—run by a team of “put-togethers” who look like they just met each other on their way into the kitchen.

Thanks for the unforgettable memories—we’ll be reliving them every time we reach for a glass of water to rehydrate.

Best...

My girlfriend and I visited J. Alexander’s in Naples for the first time to celebrate our anniversary, and we left absolutely blown away by the experience.

From the moment we walked in, we were treated like royalty. Every staff member greeted us with a warm smile and genuine enthusiasm. The atmosphere was lively yet elegant, and it was clear this team takes pride in creating an unforgettable dining experience.

The true star of the night was Zachary, the manager. He was nothing short of a hospitality superhero. From the moment he introduced himself, we knew we were in great hands. Zachary made it a point to check in on us throughout the evening and made spot-on recommendations that exceeded our expectations. The Spinach Con Queso was warm, cheesy perfection, and the Prime Rib? Easily the best we’ve ever had—juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. Zachary’s knowledge of the menu and his ability to understand exactly what we were looking for was impressive.

When he found out we were celebrating our anniversary, he made sure it was an evening to remember. Not only did he arrange a thoughtful handwritten card and a champagne toast, but he also surprised us with a slice of the most incredible carrot cake we’ve ever tasted. It was so rich and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice and a perfectly creamy frosting. These extra touches made us feel truly special.

What really sets J. Alexander’s apart from other restaurants in Naples is the way they make you feel like part of their family. Every staff member we encountered was friendly, professional, and attentive. It’s rare to find a place where every detail—big and small—is handled so seamlessly.

Zachary’s leadership and genuine passion for hospitality made our anniversary dinner unforgettable. J. Alexander’s isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a destination for anyone looking to be wowed. Highly recommend for special occasions or just a fantastic night...