Jefferson's — Restaurant in Joplin

Came here to celebrate my birthday with my family. The moment we walked up to the front podium thing, we were greeted and told to wait by one of the waitresses. So far, understandable. A different waitress comes to assist us and does amazingly. We're then seated at our table, and it took a little while, but a bit later the original waitress, Lexus, who said she would be with us in a minute comes and begins to take our drink and appetizer order. This may have been the only good part of this review as she quickly got our drinks and brought them out. But then it quickly turns into a horrible experience. The appetizer we ordered, the Buffalo Chicken Nachos, took 35 minutes to show up only for it to look like a 2 year old plated our food. They put the nacho cheese and diced tomatoes at the bottom of the dish, then the tortilla chips and then tossed on chopped up fried chicken tenders. Not to mention, the portion size was less than adequate for the time it took. We got a medium-sized bowl of this when they basically took enough time for them to make a giant platter. Then there was the main course. I ordered the Jalapeño Burger (pictures will be provided of what i received). I asked them to make it extra hot because I've been working on building my spice tolerance. Now for something named the Jalapeño Burger, I expected it to have a decent amount of jalapeños on this, wouldn't you? Like if that was the signature ingredient for this dish, I expect it to be plentiful. Now, what I imagined and what I received were two vastly different things. I got a plain looking burger with only 4 small slices of jalapeños on it. I was not impressed. Neither was my family. To top it all off, the behavior of our waitress, Lexus, was extremely unprofessional. Her attitude and demeanor displayed that she clearly didn't want to be there. Now, as a fellow worker in the restaurant industry, I get it. Customer service work sucks. But it is literally part of your job to make sure that your customers have a good experience. The attitude, behavior, and service exhibited during this visit were absolutely horrendous, and frankly, my family and I will not be returning to this restaurant. The only thing Jefferson's has going for it is the good deal on drinks, and that's not enough to overlook...

Our server Emma has consistently exceeded expectations, proving to be a standout server whose performance simply shines. From the moment you are seated, Emma's presence elevates the dining experience to a whole new level. Her approach to service is a perfect blend of professionalism and personal touch, making every diner feel both respected and warmly welcomed.

One of Emma’s most commendable traits is her attention to detail. Whether it’s remembering your drink preferences or the subtleties in how you like your meal prepared, she ensures that every aspect of your dining experience is precisely to your liking. This level of personalized attention is a rare find and truly sets Emma apart from her peers.

Emma's knowledge of the menu is thorough and impressive. She provides expert recommendations that cater not just to the tastes of her guests but also to their dietary needs and preferences, making each course a delightful discovery. Her descriptions of dishes are not only informative but also convey her genuine enthusiasm for the cuisine, which enhances the overall enjoyment of the meal.

Moreover, Emma’s timing is impeccable. She knows exactly when to check in on your table for feedback or additional needs without ever making her presence feel intrusive. This perfect balance ensures that all your dining needs are met while allowing you to enjoy your meal and company without interruption.

Emma's warm and engaging personality makes her not just a server but a true host. She has a unique ability to connect with guests, which brings a level of comfort and enjoyment to the dining experience that is both memorable and refreshing.

In every interaction, Emma demonstrates a commitment to excellence that is both admirable and inspiring. Her dedication not only reflects well on her as an individual but also enhances the reputation of the establishment. Anyone looking for a model of exceptional service would do well to observe Emma in action. She is truly a gem who contributes immensely to making any dining experience...

The service was adequate and the restaurant was clean enough. The oysters rockefeller, and the baked oysters were good. Market price that day was $27.99 a dozen, which seemed a little pricey. I like a dry rub on wings instead of a sauce, so I asked for a selection of dry rubs, and they told me which ones were dry. But they're not dry. I got the Mediterranean and apparently after they deep fry the breaded boneless nuggets they soak them in butter... 🤦🤷 .. "so the rub adheres to the surface". Which is really dumb, because you don't need butter to make seasoning stick to things that just came out of a fryer, and the server should mention that "oh by the way these will be drenched and butter that will collect in pools on your plate". On top of that they were pretty much flavorless. They tasted like fryer oil that needed to be changed. We went there because we heard they had grilled oysters which we eat at Turtleheads all the time, and very much enjoy. We were told they were out of grilled oysters. I asked why they couldn't just grill the ones they were serving raw, and apparently they came in frozen and already grilled. We had the fried pickles also which were decent. Prepackaged, also. So all in all our first visit will probably be our last visit. There's no compelling...