J. Pepper's Southern Grille — Restaurant in Kernersville

I have had my last meal at this restaurant. My son and I usually look forward to eating here The prices are kind of high, but the serving sizes are better than usual and the food is fresh and original. However, tonight we went there because another place we eat at was closed due to electrical issues. We went with our normal high expectations not realizing things have changed and not for the better. We had to wait only a few moments which was fine. We were seated and greeted by our waitress. Drinks were delivered correctly and promptly. Because neither of us were terribly hungry, we decided to order an appetizer and an entrée to share thinking this would be plenty. We ordered the pepper ahi tuna (appetizer) and the blackened Mahi Mahi with grits and spinach. We waited quite some time knowing that fresh food takes a bit to cook and they were very busy. The food came and this is where it begins to go terribly wrong. There were about 7 1/4 inch slivers of tuna measuring about 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch with a small cup of some sort of dipping sauce, a dollop of Wasabi, and some sort of garnish for $12. The tuna tasted fine even though it was a bit dry. Next there was literally one small piece of Mahi Mahi (which I'm guessing was less than 4 ounces precooked), maybe 1/4 cup fresh spinach cooked, on a layer of grits (about 1/2 inch thick). The plate both of these were served on was about 2/3 the size of the plates they used to serve on and neither plate was even 50% covered. That dish was $18. There were zero sides such as salad or soup or even a vegetable/potato to accommodate such small servings. We were offered rolls which the waitress forgot to bring out while we were waiting. I have a dietary restriction which I'm not supposed to eat bread for a while. But because there wasn't enough to share, I took a very small nugget of fish, a couple pieces of spinach, and a quarter sized bit of grits and 3 slices of tuna as my meal and ate the roll so that my son would have more to eat. I ate part of a roll only because I was hungry. Don't get me wrong, the food's flavor measured up as usual but the value absolutely wasn't there. I told the waitress that the servings were way less than what they used to be and she offered to talk to Emily (manager). Instead of greeting her guests and discussing the matter, Emily decided to send our waitress back with a message that the servings were smaller but the prices dropped by $6. First of all, Emily, I didn't stay to discuss this with you as you amply showed me how much you really didn't care by sending a waitress to do a manager's job. Secondly, everybody I spoke to apologized both for the serving sizes and the lack of a manager except for...well you the manager. I told the waitress and the cashier two things. 1) I'll never be back and 2) I'd make sure I mention my experience to anyone who listens. You see Emily I might only be one person. What you fail to realize is I blog about any good or bad experience and some people do read them and make decisions based on reviews. What disappoints me the very most about J. Peppers isn't even the ridiculously small portions or the high prices associated with it. What disappoints me the most is the management that doesn't think enough of paying regular guests to come over to my table to even try to make it right. I'm only sorry that I won't get to eat here again based on those decisions you made tonight sealing your fate with me. Finally, I am only too happy to pay for decent food and good service. Service was where you failed miserably tonight. Hope you figure it out at some point while you still have a job in the food and hospitality...

I have lived in Kernersville and have come to this restaurant for many years since I moved here! It has been one of the few good sit down restaurants here in town. I messaged out of concern about my most recent experiences at J Peppers and never heard back, the people at the restaurant could care less in the store and via the contact on their website. It has steadily declined and I do not think I will return.

First issue we experience was them closing before hours with no update on Google hours or sign on the door. The hostess wasn't even pleasant when telling us, just rude. We went back twice and had these experiences;

When my main entree came out  it was shared with me that it looked like I had shorted on my meatloaf. I suppose the kitchen ran out and just gave me the last end piece which was severely as well as abnormally small and burnt. I agreed and shared my concern and I was told they ran out and maybe next time they would have more to fill the order. My girlfriend ordered an entree and fifteen minutes or so later our waiter told us that it was sold out. She ordered another entree and then was told it was sold out also. After she ordered another entree, we were told when the food came she could pick another side since the kitchen was out of a side also. Her grit cakes she had got were cold which was unfortunate also. Then we get the bill. There was a completely extra entree on there. I asked for it to be taken care of so he did. Then he brings the correct bill. However after he runs my card then brings a different receipt which was for the entree removed. He had split the ticket and mixed them up on the computer. We waited probably another 10 minutes for him to come to the table to get that fixed then we left. Bummer but figured we would try one more time.

The third time we have an issue, we come into the restaurant after the gym a little after 7. There are only maybe four others here. The kitchen was blaring rap music from behind the wall and it was full of cursing and inappropriate lyrics. I don’t like rap and even if I did I certainly don’t particularly expect to hear it in restaurants that would typically be family friendly or “classy.” When I walked by the kitchen to go to the bathroom two employees were just leaning against the counter on their phones and another was scratching his nose in the kitchen with his bare hands. Made me question the food hygiene. Ordered our food and it wasn’t 100% correct. My Caesar dressing tasted like mustard and was full of mustard seed. I asked about it and he said it was Caesar. Then he asked the kitchen and they said they put too much mustard seed in it and didn't fix it. I have had the Caesar a ton and it tasted nothing like it. So our waiter said “good thing it is just a mistake.” So I stuck it out with my dressing. When getting our bill yet again, it was incorrect it had an extra drink on it. Just odd because two times in a row this has happened with the same waiter. Only good thing was he was friendly otherwise and refilled drinks.

I’m sure I’m forgetting some things. It is sad to see this place steadily decline downhill. I have always enjoyed it here however I can’t count on what I used to while dining here.

If this review is discredited, I'll post pictures and videos to support...

I only have one word to describe J. Pepper's: Phenominal. A friend drove up for a visit, and my father and I wanted to take her to eat. My Aunt had said J. Pepper's was good, so we decided to give it a try. She was not lying!!! My friend wanted the fried pickle app, and my Dad wanted the pimento cheese app. Let me tell you, I do not like either, but I tried them. Because you never know, right? OMG! I'll eat BOTH at J. Pepper's every time we go!!! The fried pickles are pickle slices, not chips. The pickle was crunchy, not a slimey jar pickle with to much vinegar. And, the aioli sauce they came with was yummy! The pimento cheese is not the nasty deli tub stuff. It's homemade and so is the pepper jelly that comes with it. Let me tell, if they sold that pepper jelly I'd be buying it!!! It's not the jiggly jar stuff. My friend is not a pimento cheese fan either, and she got an order to take home with her! It is THAT good! And, that was just the apps. She got the French Dip, my Dad got the Mahi Mahi, and I got the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. We all tried each. We could not decide which we liked better! The French Dip was tender, the Mahi Mahi was perfectly cooked and seasoned, my flatbread had a great flavor and was not greasy at all. The Mahi Mahi came with shrimp and grits. Let me tell you, they serve that as an entre by itself and I WILL be ordering it next time!!!! She got the sweet potato fries. I do not like sweet potatoes in general. Theirs were crunch on the outside, but tender inside and lightly coated in I think cinnamon and sugar. They were so good! Our server was super friendly and did an excellent job. The owner was actually stopping by the tables. He was super nice!!! Come to find out J. Pepper's is a local family restaurant. We were shocked!!! We thought it might be a regional chain. The flavors and menu items are definitely not the normal, run-of-the-mill fare expected for a family restaurant. She does not normally leave Google reviews, that's me. But, J. Pepper's was so good she beat me to it. All three of us would recommend J. Pepper's. The only "proplem" eating here in the future is going to be deciding what to order because it is all...