KJ's Steakhouse — Restaurant in Florida

Let me begin with a disclaimer that I NEVER write reviews. When I have a bad experience I usually chalk it up to someone's having an off day, extenuating circumstances, etc. I worked in F&B for 20 years and people that know me know that to say I am generous with my understanding, patience and gratuity is an understatement. This might be the most disappointing dinner I've ever had. We've been dining here for 2+ years and was our "go to" place for a steak that wasn't a chain (I try to avoid "chain" restaurant groups when I can). The food was always cooked correctly and the prices weren't ridiculous. We arrive and are promptly seated after a quick chat with the host that tells us that we are only the 3rd table this evening (7pm reservation). Not 10 minutes later the host seats a young lady and her small child in the booth DIRECTLY across from us. The entire side of booths was open..........only one other table came in after us and before them. At this point we still didn't have our drinks......3rd table in the place??? Server, Dustin (who did the best he could with what he had to work with), arrives to take our order and apologizes that he still doesn't have our drinks (Heineken-bottle, Pinot Noir - glass). He told us about a few new items on the menu and we decided to try a couple of them out. They are misleading you with their descriptions of their entree's and I'm quite certain the new chef/cook has very little respect for the food that he/she is serving. Both of our steaks were significantly undercooked and my wife's lobster was overcooked (chewy). My steak was too thin to send back, maybe an 8 oz. cut, and was definitely not even a Prime cut. I paid for a 10 oz. Wagyu Strip, that they were nice enough to leave the cap on and season with enough pepper to call it Au Poivre. Never mind that the table across from us now has a 3rd individual that can't seem to get the right "Long Island" after he drinks half of it for the 3rd time. Once we had enough of the company next to us, we went to the empty bar, where we told our server to meet us to pay our tab. Which, he was prompt about. We thought one more beverage to swallow our pride would be okay. Too bad we waited another 10 minutes and had to ask the bartender for another with only one other individual sitting at the 20 person bar. We of-course had our empties towards the edge and cash on the bar. Obviously, we will never be back. I just want people that used to frequent this establishment to try elsewhere. This is a complete waste of your time and most importantly your money. Not that it should matter..... it was our...

Our 12th Anniversary, celebrated on our actual 3rd leap year anniversary, took an unexpected turn leading us to KJ's Steakhouse, a decision that transformed our evening from disappointing to unforgettable. Having left another high-end establishment in Fort Myers due to a reservation mishap and lack of acknowledgment for our special day, we arrived at KJ's without expectations or a reservation, merely hoping for a quiet dinner to salvage the night.

The moment we stepped into KJ's Steakhouse, the atmosphere changed. We were greeted by Autumn, the hostess, who upon hearing about our earlier experience, immediately set into motion a series of events that made our night incredibly special. Her empathy and quick action were just the beginning of an outstanding display of teamwork and hospitality.

Lucas, our server, exemplified exceptional service, going above and beyond to ensure our evening was memorable. His attentiveness and genuine care added a personal touch to our dinner, making us feel truly celebrated. The General Manager, Mike, although working behind the scenes, played a crucial role in orchestrating this wonderful experience. His subtle, yet impactful involvement was evident, and his leadership clearly reflected in the seamless cooperation and positive attitude of his team.

Sage and Melissa, two other servers, added to the cheer with their heartfelt congratulations and enthusiasm, making us feel like part of the KJ's family. Their actions, along with the rest of the team's, showcased a remarkable level of camaraderie and dedication to guest satisfaction.

KJ's Steakhouse not only salvaged our anniversary but turned it into one of the most memorable celebrations we've ever had. The contrast between our initial disappointment and the warmth we received at KJ's couldn't be starker. This experience demonstrated the power of exceptional hospitality and the impact it can have on special occasions.

Thank you, Autumn, Lucas, Mike, Sage, and Melissa, for turning our evening around and giving us a leap year anniversary we will treasure forever. Your collective efforts, kindness, and professionalism exemplify the best of what dining out can offer. KJ's Steakhouse truly rocks, and it's not just the food that makes a restaurant great—it's the people. We cannot recommend KJ's Steakhouse enough to anyone looking for a place that goes the extra mile to make your special moments...

High hopes, yet very disappointing! Came in for the dinner for 2 tomahawk steak dinner. We ordered our meal, steak to be medium rare. Tried the deviled eggs for an appetizer, they were ok. Salad was good. Steak came out, looked amazing. Cut the steak and it was completely raw and cold. I would say the steak was roughly 2.5 inches thick. I would say a good 1.5 inches ok the center of the steak was red and cold. Definitely rare. Which on a 1 inch steak maybe not a big deal but on this thickness, it’s too raw. We waited patiently for about 10 minutes for the server to circle back, showed her the steak and she immediately apologized. She said we will get you another steak, our apologies. No big deal, we order another drink, about 15 minutes later another steak comes out. This one is cut up into about 6 pieces, and is cooked medium. Upon further inspection, it’s the same steak we sent back. So this steak came to our table, we cut into it, tried a piece, sat on our table for 10 minutes waiting on the server, then went back to the kitchen, recooked and cut into smaller pieces, and reserved to us. The steak was like shoe leather at this point. We had a few bites, pushed the plate to the end of the table and continued our beverage. The waitress came back around 15 minutes or so after, asked how our steak was and we told her tough as shoe leather, it’s why we haven’t ate it. She apologized, but that was it. No how can we make this right, let me comp your steak, maybe a gift card to come back and give us another shot, nothing. So in the awkward silence I asked for my bill and the dessert to go.

Horrible experience, the steak was awful. Service was not good, and the establishment made no effort to satisfy the customer. Who puts a steak back on the grill and cuts it up??? Then reserves it?!?!? Should have walked when that happened.

Not the experience we were hoping for. Definitely will...