Big Jones — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Lackluster taste, nice presentation, inconsistent quality but the flavors are not what you would expect from the menu descriptions. We will not return or recommend this place to others. Maybe lunch or brunch are better. I wish I could post a more positive review given all the accolades that chef Paul has received.

My friend picked Big Jones for dinner because a food site said it was a Michelin  rated restaurant that served southern and cajun food. We started with the charcuterie board. It was very good. The bread and biscuits were also very good.

This is were it started to go south.

My wife ordered the kohilrabi soup. It was served at room temperature. We asked the waiter to have it heated to a proper temperature. It was very good after being reheated.

The gumbo had an odd flavor.I thought that the meat was overcooked almost like a burnt taste. Possibly from the smoked andouille sausage.    My friend commented that It was missing the flavors you would typically get in a gumbo.I told the waiter it tasted odd and his responded in an unconcerned manner.

Our main courses consisted of Fried chicken, crawfish etouffee , with brussel sprouts and mac and cheese as sides.

The Crawfish Etouffee –did not have a buttery, rich or flavorful sauce. It had a thin vinegar tasting sauce. There was plenty of peeled crawfish tails and the presentation was nice. It also was served at room temperature and needed to be reheated. When it was returned the waiter commented , "here you are sir it's 180 degrees. "

The half of fried chicken is one of their signature dishes and I was expecting a great chicken dish. Disappointed! It was properly cooked but was not flavorful, and for $25 plus tax and tip, $32 bucks it definitely isn't worth the price. I heard another customer say he would have been better off getting Kentucky Fried Chicken at a fraction of the cost.I agree it would have been more flavorful.

The Brussel sprouts were very good. The macaroni and cheese had a good flavor but the macaroni was overcooked and added a pasty consistency to the dish.

After reading the reviews it is obvious to me that there are inconsistencies in the quality of the...

I’d been eyeing Big Jones for a while—part Southern charm, part foodie ambition. So this weekend, I finally rounded up the troops and headed over, belly full of anticipation. Let’s just say... things didn’t quite sizzle the way I’d hoped.

First letdown: I came craving a classic Southern staple—fried green tomatoes—only to find out they don’t serve them at brunch. Wait, what? That’s like going to a jazz club and being told the saxophone’s on vacation. One star gone right there.

Next, we were seated... and then we waited. And waited. Nearly 40 minutes passed before any food graced our table. I get slow-cooked Southern hospitality, but this was bordering on Southern hostage situation. There goes another star.

By the time the food arrived, we were down to 3 stars—each meal had to earn its keep. We ordered three dishes: shrimp & grits (my personal favorite), fried chicken (white meat), and biscuit & gravy.

Let’s start with the shrimp & grits, which tragically turned out to be the low point of the meal. The grits were loose and lacking that buttery, creamy soul they’re known for. The shrimp? Dull, chewy, and suspiciously reminiscent of a recent freezer reunion. The sauce tried to pull things together, but the flavors never really mingled—they just kind of coexisted awkwardly, like strangers on a long elevator ride.

The biscuit and gravy was... fine. The biscuit was fluffy enough, but not the kind that makes you close your eyes and whisper “amen.” The gravy had nice depth, with a decent sausage bite, but nothing that would make me write home to grandma.

Now, the fried chicken? Finally, a win. Crispy, juicy, well-seasoned—everything you'd hope for in a Southern bird. The accompanying sauces were on point too. But then came the sides: rice and beans with sweet potato purée. I appreciate the creativity, but the combo didn’t play well on my palate.

In the end, Big Jones felt more like Big Letdown. Friendly vibes and solid chicken, yes—but too many misses and too long a wait to justify a return. If I do go back, it’ll be for dinner, and I’ll make those fried green tomatoes...

I first went here in June of 2022. The experience was really underwhelming, as the food was just OK, the service was just OK, and the wait was extremely long.

I wanted to give them another chance, so some friends and I came in for restaurant week. The space is really nice, it feels cozy but still like a nice restaurant. There's a surprising amount of seating considering the place isn't very large. It wasn't too busy for a Saturday night.

Our server was awesome. I forget his name but he was super kind, really funny, and mostly left us alone for the dinner as we didn't need a whole lot of attention. Really enjoyed that!

The restaurant week menu was 3 courses with a cornbread plate. The appetizers were delicious but wow. I could not believe how small they were. It was the size of something I'd expect in a 10 course tasting menu-- which this was NOT. While it was extremely flavorful, pretty, and well put together, it was simply way too small of a portion. It felt a little comedic to call it an appetizer, more like a 2-bite snack. The cornbread was insanely good, but again, a small portion. For 4 of us, we got a tiny skillet of cornbread. The entrees were medium sized, and most of the people at my table just thought it was OK or good. My fried chicken was delicious and a pretty large portion. Can't say the same for everyone else, as their main was not very large and everyone finished it way before I finished mine. The desserts were the same as the appetizers; very, very good, but very, very small. Which is fine for desserts normally, if there wasn't a portion issue with the appetizer and cornbread.

Overall, the food was really good but it was definitely not worth the 42 dollars plus tax and tip. If the appetizer was 3-4 times as big, I think it would have been 5 stars, but unfortunately there was just not enough food (and at a Southern place?...