J. Alexander's Restaurant — Restaurant in Jacksonville

it pains me to have to write this. i’ve been going to J. Alexander’s for years, and my go-to has always been the steak and fries. it became one of my favorite dishes because the steak used to be really good. not quite a filet mignon, but close. it was a thick, dark, high-quality cut that was always cooked perfectly. it was an amazing deal for the price. this past time, though (Nov. 1st, 2025 around 5pm)…what came out was nothing like before. the steak was thin, flat, light brown, and looked like something you’d get at a cheap bar or chain spot. honestly, more like something from Miller’s Ale House than J. Alexander’s. i noticed the difference immediately and had to brace myself for the disappointment. it definitely looked how it tasted, like a lower quality cut. it’s obvious they’ve changed what they’re serving but kept the same price. you can tell they’re also trying to make it look like you’re getting more by making it “bigger”, but the quality just isn’t there.

what’s frustrating is that i’ve supported this place for years. i even went on my birthday this year because of how much i liked that steak and fries. and the fact that it was reasonably priced at around $35. but now it feels like they’re cutting corners and hoping people won’t notice…or dare i say, lowering the quality on purpose to push people toward the more expensive options. now any response to complaints will be, “if you want a good steak pay more for the filet.” i didn’t feel like possibly being gaslighted by the manager so i thought to just bite my tongue and write a review. shrinkflation and cheap substitutions have become the norm, and it’s disappointing to see a place like this fall into that trap. i couldn’t even finish my steak because of how put off i was and took the rest home for my dad…so i certainly will not be back to J Alexander’s. they had something great, and they ruined it by trying to pass off a cheaper steak as the same thing. it’s just not worth it anymore. i hope management takes this feedback seriously and brings back the quality steaks they used to serve, but i won’t...

This place LEAVES me disappointed. After a $200 bill. 1/3 enjoyed the meal. Two of us ordered medium rare steaks a NY strip and ribeye, instead receive two RARE steaks. I expect a steakhouse to serve a properly cooked steak.I don’t think I’ll be giving this place another try. Apparently the trout was very good which was the one happy person. The warm carrot cake was also very exceptionable. The marinade on Maui ribeye marinade reminded me of the grocery stores steak marinade Dale’s. The lighting is very dim, I have very good eye sight and don’t wear glasses but find the dim lighting a little too dim.

EDIT: after my review I was contacted directly by the manager and given gift cards to come try J Alexanders again. I was pretty surprised that the manager would extent such a welcome, unfortunately my second experience was worse and only solidified for me why I will not come here again. If I could say one thing it is this: this is basically an Applebees A+. The onion rings are unsalted. Their salad undressed. They brought bacon on salad when my guest doesn’t eat pork. Their servers lack experience and I saw them ignore cashing out my check while the servers and the ones cleaning tables sat one table away munching food down, while I am suppose to be having some food experience. I’m sorry staff should not be eating at the tables one table away while I’m paying for the experience. The booths I sat in were unsanitary and not clean, full of prior guest left over food, dirt, salt I dunno. When I shared my experience with the manager or service person she was apologetic and tried to offer me my gift card back but I didn’t even want that back because I didn’t even want to come back and eat J Alexander for free. Come here for poor service, mediocre food, and poor lighting /...

I wish I had photos to add, but I don't. As appetizers we had the grilled artichokes, and two orders of the fried shrimp. My mom ordered a burger, well done, loaded mashed potatoes, and a salad. I ordered the Salmon, loaded mashed potatoes, and a Ceasar salad, my daughter had the full rack of ribs and mash potatoes.

My mom sent her burger back )because there was pink in it and got the Salmon like me.

J. Alexander's was so awesome! From the food to the wait staff Aldo, and Hostess Macy. My mom is so hard to please, she had not ONE complaint, even after sending her burger back. They took her burger and gave her a nice piece of Salmon and new loaded mashed potatoes.

Aldo suggested trying the char grilled artichokes. Omgggg just do it! The dip on the side pairs so well!! The fried shrimp came with a spicy cocktail sauce and a house made sauce as well. That was the best cocktail sauce I have ever had. It wasn't too spicy. It was full of flavor and not bland. I mixed the sauces.

The salmon was grilled to perfect and well done. Paired with another sauce which was awesome. The mashed potatoes were chef's kiss! The ribs, my daughter quietly demolished. They were falling off the bone! She said they were so good. I have never seen her finish a rack of ribs in one seating. She would barely eat them, but not those.

Everything was top tier! The hot damp napkins four our hands! Was icing on the cake! We also had a female waitress, I'm sorry, I don't recall her name, but she was on point and very attentive. My mom has fallen in love will you all, and that's very hard to do.

Thank you all for such great service and food. We...