Jack's Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in San Bruno

They refuse to substitute or even take off sides… This was never an issue before but for some reason they no longer substitute a side or remove it.

I can’t have spinach and when my husband ordered me the chicken Marsala that comes with spinach through door dash, I called the restaurant to request a substitute. The lady who tried to take care of this simple request for me was super sweet but she was told (I’m assuming by the kitchen or possibly the manager) that they couldn’t substitute so I asked if they could just remove it altogether and she said they told her it’s impossible because the spinach is mixed in with the sauce, which is weird because I’ve ordered this dish at least three times before and they never said this.

So I asked if I could just replace it with another dish entirely. She asked what I’d like and I asked for the blackened catfish which was the same in price.

After putting me on hold she came back and told me they wouldn’t allow that either!! She said I would have to cancel my order and get a refund but couldn’t do that through them since I ordered through doorsash.

I figured I’d just try to remove the spinach myself and told her I’d just keep my order.

So once we got it I saw right away that the spinach was NOT mixed in at all!! But placed directly under the chicken! So they just lied to me! They could have easily omitted the spinach after all! Why lie though? Why not just accommodate this simple request? It was never a problem before. (I want to emphasize that I don’t believe the lady I spoke to intentionally lied, I believe she was told to tell me this)

So on top of it all the Marsala sauce was completely watered down, barely any flavor and the chicken was dried out! Completely disappointed! I used to love this restaurant. Bottom line if you have an allergy or intolerance to a particular side on a dish keep in mind they will not substitute or even take it...

The Good: This restaurant delivers on the fundamentals. The staff radiates genuine warmth and enthusiasm, creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to return. The extensive menu offers something for everyone, including a well-thought-out kids' selection and full bar service. Families will appreciate the spacious booths perfect for larger groups, while sports fans can catch the game on multiple large screens. The interior, though showing its age, is well-maintained and clean. Parking is hassle-free with additional overflow space available.

Gluten-Free options = Valiant Effort, but....: While the menu clearly marks gluten-free options—a promising start—the execution reveals concerning gaps in staff training. Our server enthusiastically offered regular sourdough bread after we mentioned having a celiac guest, genuinely believing it was gluten-free. More troubling, the "gluten-free" tabbouleh arrived with cracked wheat, a basic oversight that could have serious consequences for sensitive diners. The kitchen did accommodate our request to prepare a burger separately with a GF bun, showing willingness when properly guided.

The Bottom Line: This restaurant has the ingredients for success: friendly service, diverse menu, and family-friendly amenities. However, the disconnect between gluten-free menu labeling and actual knowledge creates a potentially dangerous situation for those with celiac disease or severe sensitivities. With proper staff education, this could easily become a reliable option for gluten-free diners.

Atmosphere: Lively but not overwhelming—you'll hear your conversation clearly despite the energetic...

Ima be so honest with you. Fabulous resturant. Let me set the scene, me and my friend are on a roadtrip. I'm no longer allowed on my phone because I've almost driven us off the road a couple of times so I tell then "Hey, I'm hungry find a restaurant because I'm not allowed on my phone anymore". My friend finds this restaurant and omg everything was amazing. The service was wonderful (he told us his name and it didn't even go through one ear istg). We got several refills, food came out quick, we got bread, and he was super chill. Let me tell you about the resturant. The ambiance was immaculate. Children were well behaved (just a general note, staff couldn't do anything if they weren't), the lighting was cute, the seats comfy, etc. Beautifully furnished as well might I add. Food was incredible. I know from this rambling review it sounds like I had several too many to drink but I assure you, I am as sober as a hamster. However, if it was possible to get drunk off of cheese, I accomplished it. We got the I got Jack's Alfredo Rigatoni or whatever it was. It was so good, seasoned perfectly. Tasted spectacular. So much chicken. My friend got the plain mac n cheese, I have HIGH standards (I'm the Simon Cowell of the mac n cheese world). This was GOOD mac n cheese, Fabulous cheese pull. Lots of flavor. Good cheesy top. Omg. We also added a side of shrimp, I was thinking that we would be eating like a little monkey dish of shrimp (5-10 shrimp), there was a large portion of those little shrimp (it was bay shrimp, easily 30-50). If we come back to SAN FRAN, you can be rest assured that we will be...