Jax Cafe
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This was our first trip to a Supper Club... What a great experience. When I first stepped into Jax I felt transported back to the early 1900 when it was founded. Reservations are highly recommended and very easy to make online. They have an extensive Cocktail and Wine menu and plenty of varieties of beer. I started with the Bailey's Chocolate Martini, which was like Dessert in a glass. When I first saw it, I thought the Dinner menu looked relatively small, but after studying it I realized it had all the right things and plenty of options to choose from. Our server, Angela, was fantastic. Very attentive, but not hovering. She told us about the specials of the day, all of which sounded scrumptious. We chose to go with no appetizers but started with salads and a basket of warm bread. I had their house salad, which was very similar to a Cesar salad and topped with the perfect amount of dressing. I ordered the smothered ribeye steak; my wife got their 14 oz Prime Rib. The ribeye was perfectly cooked, a pan seared and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It was mothered with mushrooms and onions over a generous serving of Hash Browns. The combination of all items was mouthwatering. My wife thought her prime rib had too much fat, tough to judge when it comes to prime rib, but the meat was delicious. We finished our meals by sharing a piece of their delicious Chocolate Bailey’s cake. What a great evening. Be prepared to spend a good amount of money, but to me, it was worth every cent.
Steve KuzmeskiSteve Kuzmeski
00
Our group of friends has been going to Jax for about 10 years. Until the need for their latest interior renovation, we used the front group seating area and it has been idea. This time, it was beautiful weather and we fit in on the back patio. We were in the shade under an overhead cover and near the restaurant’s back entrance. We enjoyed the exceptional view of their gardens. So full of color! And nice to walk around and view the flowerpots up close after we ate. While Jax sits on the corner of a busy intersection, ample parking is available in the lot just across on the eastside. And that keeps you out of the faster traffic on University Ave when crossing the street to eat. They offer a nice variety on the menu for brunch and dinners. Several in our party are pleased with their drink menu. The food is consistently good. I ordered the prime rib hash, and there was hardly any prime rib in it. The fried green tomatoes are delightful – a fun way to eat your vegetables. The Classic Eggs Benedict is excellent, as is the Prime Rib, Au Jus. When it comes to salads, I highly recommend their Berries and Fried Goat Cheese Salad. This summer they seem to be a bit short on staff – like just about everyone. They were good at refilling coffee and mimosas. We really enjoyed the Sunday buffets they once held. The spread and staff were truly exceptional. I recommend that you sit on the outdoor patio if weather permits!
Jeannie HillJeannie Hill
40
A very special place and experience. We went for my mom's birthday. Every staff interaction made us feel like the most important guests. Our server John was one of the best servers I've ever had. I can be picky with my food, and feel (particularly at fancy restaurants) that I can make tastier food, and that you're really just paying for the ambience. That's partly true here, but nothing disappointed me. All was cooked well, with attention to detail. The only flop of the night was at the end when my mom's bread pudding dessert was inexplicably served cold and rock hard. We sent it back and exchanged for creme brulee. We enjoyed the walleye (flaky and rich), pork chops (good crust, flavor, and nice cinnamon apples), mashed potatoes, kings cut prime rib, crab legs, salmon, and lobster roll. I jokingly get szechuan green beans at every American restaurant if it's on the menu, knowing full well it won't be like real Chinese szechuan green beans (which I adore), and this place, while inauthentic, had good flavor and spice. Atmosphere is outstanding. The charming outdoor stream and area was a pleasure. As I said, our service was phenomenal. Glancing around at other tables and other servers, I had the sense that we got particularly lucky with the skill of our server, but that's always the case at fancy joints in my experience. A spendy night, well worth it for a special occasion like this.
Adam JassAdam Jass
00
I hadn't been here in years, but recently did for my birthday. Let me start by saying that I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to return. I enjoyed my visit and plan to return again soon. The food was absolutely delicious. Appetizers were the pierogi's, and the spinach artichoke dip. Both dishes were exceptional. I recommend the spinach artichoke dip. I had the smothered ribeye and my wife had the salmon with garlic and capers. The steak was cooked perfectly and without a lot of fat or gristle to be found. The mushrooms and onions were carmelized nicely and everything was seasoned just right. The salmon was amazing too! It bursted with garlic flavor and held a rich buttery flavor too. If I wasn't such a sucker for a steak when dining out, I would have chosen the salmon in a heartbeat. Neither dish disappointed. The service was a bit off. Our server asked if we'd like cracked pepper for our salad. We indicated yes, but it never came. While we were enjoying our appetizers, one of the wait staff bringing water asked us if we were ready for our check. I thought that was rude as we hadn't had our meal yet. The atmosphere was nice and there were two other patrons near us also celebrating their birth, so apparently this is the place to be for a celebration. I'd have given this a 5 star rating if it hasn't been for the nuisance fruit flies I saw and had to bat away periodically.
Jason ReilingJason Reiling
00
One of the best restaurants in Minneapolis. Jax is a wonderful restaurant and location to celebrate a life event, a holiday or simply enjoy a fabulous meal. Upon entering Jax through either the front door (on University avenue) or the side door, you will notice Jax is a formal and elegant location. Guests will walk through the bar - which has a beautiful 80 year old (?) bar and shelves upon shelves of alcohol to choose from. The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and provide amazingly quick service. There is plenty of seating in the bar - both at the bar as well as several high-top tables and booths. Full menu is available in the bar. The bar is a great place to enjoy a pre-meal cocktail or simply drop-in for a drink anytime of the day. When eating in the dining room, all guests must check-in with the maitre d'. There is plenty of tables and Jax can handle large groups of people. They can also make certain areas private with curtains. The menu rarely changes although they have daily specials. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and work in teams to make sure your water glasses never go empty or dirty plates sit around too long. Great desserts. There is an outdoor area that is open (weather permitting) that has a stream running through it. Jax is great for celebrating Mothers Day/Easter/Prom/Grooms Dinners for weddings/etc.
Nick Halverson VSBNick Halverson VSB
20
We made reservations about a month in advance to spend Valentines Day at Jax. Started with an old fashioned with bacon in it, which was sweet and interesting, and a baked goat cheese with tomatoes and crostini. The cheese was crumbly instead of soft and creamy as I expected, but was a great combination of flavors. I started with a "house" salad, which is a caesar - and probably one of the best Ceasars I've had in recent memory (generous dressing without it being wet, and buttery croutons with just the right amount of parmesan). BF devoured his clam chowder too, with only good things to say. The entrees were perfection. The 6oz filet mignon is perfect for a multi-course dinner, and the mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy and flavorful. The asparagus was enormous and can easily be split between 3 hungry people. Prime rib was perfectly prepared as well. Both desserts were delicious, and worth the calories. We compared this to our NYE meal at Capital Grille in St Paul and said we'd put Jax in first place. My one complaint was that our table was in the middle of the room, right in front of the doors to the kitchen. The constant flow of traffic is disruptive and I was constantly being jostled by servers rushing past. I would absolutely ask for a different table in the future, even if it meant waiting slightly longer for a different seat.
Casi BCasi B
00
Nearby Attractions Of Jax Cafe
The Barber Sharp
Theater Latté Da
Ritz Theater
Casket Arts Building
Siwek Lumber & Millwork Corp - NE MPLS
MN Firefighters Museum
Northeast Fitness
Bottineau Field Park
Northeast Hair and Co.
SALON abe

The Barber Sharp
4.7
(225)Click for details

Theater Latté Da
4.9
(159)Click for details

Ritz Theater
4.8
(167)Click for details

Casket Arts Building
4.7
(152)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Jax Cafe
Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge
Young Joni
Stanley's Northeast Bar Room
Hai Hai
The Anchor Fish & Chips
Mayslack's
Market Bar-B-Que Restaurant And Food Trucks
The Sample Room
Mojo Coffee Gallery
Olive and Lamb

Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge
4.2
(2.3K)Click for details

Young Joni
4.7
(1.7K)Click for details

Stanley's Northeast Bar Room
4.6
(1.6K)Click for details

Hai Hai
4.5
(1.2K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
1928 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Map
Phone
(612) 789-7297 ext. 1
Call
Website
jaxcafe.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(1.2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Circa-1930s landmark serving steaks & seafood in an elegant, old-school setting with a garden patio.
attractions: The Barber Sharp, Theater Latté Da, Ritz Theater, Casket Arts Building, Siwek Lumber & Millwork Corp - NE MPLS, MN Firefighters Museum, Northeast Fitness, Bottineau Field Park, Northeast Hair and Co., SALON abe, restaurants: Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge, Young Joni, Stanley's Northeast Bar Room, Hai Hai, The Anchor Fish & Chips, Mayslack's, Market Bar-B-Que Restaurant And Food Trucks, The Sample Room, Mojo Coffee Gallery, Olive and Lamb
