Jack's Wife Freda — Restaurant in New York

I had discovered this spot on Instagram and added it to my list of places to eat in NYC, prior to the Pandemic. I was finally able to eat to here a couple weeks ago! I can see why it is so popular. First impressions, it is super cute outside, the menu and the sugar packs are also cute. Certainly a cute brunch spot.

They do not do reservations which is part of the reason for the 4-star review. Most places, especially popular places have gone to reservations. I was dreading a long wait especially since I came at 1pm on a sunny Saturday. To my surprise, even with the long line, they were able to seat my party of 4 within 15 minutes. We were seated outside. There are outside seating set up our front with cover and a fans. I did not get to see what it looked like inside.

I think reservations would help this restaurant because people could pick their seating (inside or outside), you have an idea of how many staff you'll need and just be able to plan ahead better. On the flip side I can understand that they don't need to do such planning because this place is already popular. In addition, their menu is not very complicated so it's easy to keep the food on-hand.

The sever was pleasant but he was not very knowledge of the menu. He also got one of our orders wrong and he kept forgetting our drinks or the extra ice we asked for.

The food!!!! So good! All my friends loved their dishes. We all ordered different things. Together we ordered (2) Jack's Burger (but received a Duck Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich instead of (2) burgers) Maya's Breakfast Bowl and Rosewater Waffle. We didn't even complain about the wrong order because my friend ended up loving her Duck Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich. I don't even think I chewed my Maya's Breakfast Bowl because it was just so delicious.

My friends didn't have much of an opinion on their alcoholic drinks. Freda's Bloody Mary was a no for me. It was super spicy, I couldn't taste the tomato juice or Vodka.

Overall, I would like to eat here again and hopefully the service improves...

TLDR; bad service, mediocre food, tiny, weak but overpriced drinks. Take your +- $100 elsewhere for a better dinner, there are tons of options.

I visited the establishment twice, the first time they refused to seat us until the whole party was present for the reservation and then when everyone arrived they said it was past the 15minute window. It was my friends birthday and they just turned her away. Id get it if it was a weekend or peak hours, it was Sunday night. The host was very rude and not accommodating. The second time another friend reserved a table for her birthday and this time she was seated before we all arrived. So not sure which one is their policy. The place was not full but for some reason it feels very noisy inside. Service was sub par: forgotten drinks, late / lukewarm appetizers which could be understandable if the server also wasn’t making weird and judgmental remarks on our private conversations.

Food was mediocre and not Mediterranean by any means, this is coming from someone who’s lived in the Mediterranean region. There aren’t a lot of options, which sets an expectation for a few good dishes but the taste left much to be desired.

Drinks are all tiny and you can’t taste the alcohol in them. It was like drinking a refresher but paying $25 for half the size.

My experience with the place is not positive and I won’t be returning when there are so many better options in this city. I don’t care much for outdoor decorations when I’m not enjoying the food, service or the company of my friends...

I recently dined at Jack’s Wife Frieda after deciding against another restaurant with an impossibly long line. The frigid outdoor temperature certainly encouraged my decision!

Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by Mike, who I believe is a manager. While awaiting my friend, Mike graciously seated me in a comfortable corner booth. We engaged in a pleasant conversation about barbershops, exchanging compliments on our respective beards. Mike was incredibly kind, attentive, and a pleasure to speak with.

The service throughout the meal was exceptional. Each waitstaff member who attended to our table was both pleasant and knowledgeable, contributing significantly to a positive dining experience.

My friend and I both ordered what appeared to be panko-crusted chicken breast served with a small salad and mashed potatoes. The chicken and salad were delicious. However, I found the mashed potatoes to be slightly underseasoned to my personal preference. This is not to imply that they were unseasoned, but rather that the seasoning did not quite meet my individual taste. As a guest, I prefer to avoid requesting additional salt and pepper at the table to prevent any potential misinterpretation.

Overall, I would rate my visit to JWF a nine out of ten. The ambiance was delightful, with a comfortable level of occupancy. The A1 customer service truly elevated the...