J-Prime Steakhouse — Restaurant in San Antonio

We were very excited to add another steakhouse to our list of favs, but this experience fell way below expectations. Our favorite steak place is Bob’s Steak & Chophouse. We’ve also gone to Silo, Ruth Chris, The Palm(which we enjoy all) & Perry’s @ La Cantera (overrated). Sorry I digress—it isn’t often we go out high end 4 steak, but when we do we want to be wowed. Walking up we had huge expectations—the parking lot was filled w/over a dozen extremely high end automobiles. Initially walking in it was upscale, modern decor (a plus), until we got put all the way in the back in an area they were renovating & it was a huge difference frm the front to the back. Yes we understand—expansion & renovation—but we got put way in the back where all the staff were going in & out constantly, in & out. My husband didn’t care, but it was behind my back & it got a bit tiring after awhile—do I need to move in more, is something gonna drop on my head—let’s just say I had a constant breeze. Our waiter, great kid, he informed us he was new 2 the waitstaff (had worked his way up from the back). Again great kid, but at our age (47 & 51) I left my kids @ home & I’m not @ a Texas Roadhouse. This was a much needed Date Nite! The bread & butter was good. I had some concoction that was recommended—I should have stuck w/either a dirty martini or an old fashion, but I didn’t want 2 be disappointed so I went 4 the wine (it was excellent). We ordered the tomahawk & mashed spuds to share. My salad, caesar was extremely watered down & flavorless I didn’t eat it, my husband’s regular salad also underwhelming. The small palette cleaners where a nice touch, but it didn’t save the meal. The tomahawk was lackluster. How do u screw up the main course? Honestly I can cook a mean steak & that’s not how I want to judge my beef. It was cooked correctly (medium w/some medium rare), but it was bland. You know how when u put a perfectly cooked piece of steak in ur mouth & your tastebuds explode. Its not necessarily the cut, or the seasoning or the aging or the sear it’s all if those infused together to create a perfect harmonious balance where u can honestly say if this is the last meal I eat (and Gosh I hope it isn’t) I just died & went to meat heaven. Unfortunately this was none of those! U also know you have a phenomenal steak when u take any leftovers home, warm it up the next day & it’s still awesome—again, nope! The side spuds were okay too—not inedible, but nothing to note. We decided to order the chocolate cake (really more to take home to our boys—9 & 11) & honestly THAT was the best part! It had a thousand perfectly balanced layers, the perfect amount of sweet, not overpowering, moist & we got a piece that was size of a small chihuahua! Our cane corso, Maximus, also luv’d his bone—they were kind enough to wrap it up. Lastly, the ambiance as we hung out for about 2.5+ hours (two glasses of wine 4 me & 3 IPA’s for my husband later) was more of a see & b seen kind of place. In the end we were actually glad we got stuck in BFE. We prefer a more understated elegance that’s more up our alley. Unfortunately this will probably be our last visit. This could have been a one off, but a) we are too old 4 this, b) I don’t want to spend (if this is our last meal) eating something sub par especially given the cost and rare high end Date Nites we go to w/our busy schedules and finally, c) we have had way better cow from a Texas Roadhouse (try the bone in rib-eye—was there just last weekend w/the kids) & that is...

Came out for dinner to celebrate a birthday. Hostess immediately found the reservation, recognized the special occasion, and had someone take us to our table. Upon sitting down, several staff members came by to acknowledge the occasion and waiter (Matias) introduced himself and his assistant. Matias spent about 5 minutes thoroughly explaining the menu, offerings, specials, recommendations, pairings, and taking appetizer & drink orders.

Started off with a bottle of white wine, octopus ceviche, half dozen fresh oysters, lobster bisque, and a salad. To help with the timing of the courses, also placed the main dishes of bone-in filet steak, NY strip steak, ribeye steak, and combo of bacon-wrapped filet and ribeye steaks. For the sides, ordered the brussels sprouts, creamy potatoes, shrimp risotto, and creamed spinach.

All the courses were well timed, leaving plenty of time for conversation and to enjoy each dish. All the appetizers were amazing from the thick cuts of octopus in the ceviche, to the extremely fresh oysters, to the deep taste of the bisque with large chunks of lobsters. Before bring out the meals, they brought out a light sorbet to cleanse the palate.

All the steaks were nice cuts of meat and cooked exactly as ordered. Every bite was juicy and each steak had its own personality. The sides were all good, but my favorites were the shrimp risotto and the creamed spinach. The brussels sprouts were good, but I personally like them charred and crispy all the way through, but these were softer towards the middle.

To close out out the meal, they brought out a slice of birthday cake, but we also ordered the crème brulee and banana fosters with some coffee and a carajillo. The desserts and drinks were extremely delicious. The crème brulee had the perfect crisp of caramelized sugar over the custard. The bananas foster was even better as it was flambeed tableside and served with a generous serving of gelato. The carajillo was a nice combination of the espresso with licor 43.

Overall, it's not just about the meal, but the experience. J-Prime made sure we enjoyed the experience over several, well-timed courses. Matias did a great job of leading the experience and making the birthday memorable. Food was absolutely delicious, but the service made it...

WOW! What an amazing steakhouse experience, and I say experience because that's what dining here is. From the excellent and friendly wait staff who you can tell enjoy working here down to the hot hand towel they give you after dinner. I was thoroughly impressed and so surprised by all the little extras this place has.

They start you off with a pallet teaser and were kind enough to alter mine as I am allergic to seafood. Next everyone at the table gets their own bread plate with two little breads and their own garlic butter ( as a breadl over this is appreciated. I've never seen it before at ANY steakhouse I have been to and I have been to a lot of steakhouses) Bread was warm and delicious. The drink I had was the Todo Amor and it is possibly the best drink I have ever had out at any restaurant. It's perfect for those who want something sweet and don't want to taste the alcohol but still get the benefits ; )

After the bread and your first course if you ordered one, they bring out lemon sorbet to cleanse the pallet. It was the perfect sweet, sour-pucker combination of refreshing. Next, it's on to the main course. J Prime Steakhouse as a wonderful variety of foods that aren't just steaks or your typical affair of the average stake house. I only like chicken parmigiana from one other steakhouse here in DWF so when I saw it on the menu. I knew I had to try it. It was AMAZING. Chicken melts in your mouth. The homemade pasta accompaniment was also fresh and tasty. I wish I had taken a picture of it before I wolfed down half because the picture below does not do it justice. My father ordered the regular ribeye and bake potato and said it was wonderful.

And here is where it gets extra and I'm all for it. After dinner they bring you a hot towel to cleanse your hands. It was like dinner and a mini-spa treatment I did not expect. We, of course, had to try a dessert and it was hard to narrow it down because they had a lot to chose from. Our waiter picked between out two picks. We got the carrot cake which is colossal but oh so yummy you will have left overs of everything or you better have a big party.

All in all I am only saddened because this place is so far away. Feel free to come to Frisco or anywhere in the DFW metroplex. But, not going to lie, this place is...