J Ford's Black Angus — Restaurant in Terre Haute

To be honest, I am probably the harshest critique to visit here. Being not only a Chef, but head Matre'd for Princess Ann's Engagement in London and having dined at restaurants all over the world. I really. Really wanted to give this place a good review but it's not possible.

First of all the restaurant is very nice, the decor is excellent and the service all around is superb. What got me was two crucial things.

I really hate it when I come into a restaurant as a solo dinner, and treated like a sub par person by the Hostess and instantly shuffled off to the bar area to dine. I did not come here to get a snack. I came to experience ALL aspects of dinning. Luckily Chris my waiter never made me feel that way, and was always attentive. Just could not help to notice all the other diners coming in after me, being taken to the main restaurant.

The second thing was the food. I am sorry, but next to Bob Even's, it was the single blandest dinner I have had, and I used to live in England. I know I am in Indiana, not Chicago, London, Dallas or Rome, and the restaurant needs to cater its flavor to the local population, but there was alot of room to do both.

To start with I had the Special appetizer, what they called a Chili Relleno egg roll with black beans. Now I have had a Relleno before in Indiana, up in South Bend, and all it was was a stuffed bell pepper. So shame on me for trying it again in Indiana.

If you dont know, a Chili Relleno is normally an Anaheim or Serono pepper, stuffed with either cheese, or meat and cheese breaded and either fried or baked. I have had them battered, rolled in bread crumbs,or wrapped in a crepe. The key ingredients are Chili and cheese. There was very little evidence of any cheese and what's spicy flavor came not from the egg roll but the Aoli sauce drizzled over it. It looked good just failed to trigger any passionate flavor.

I next had a Ceasar salad. There was nothing special here. Even though I was assured they make the dressing here, it lacked the eggness and bite of a good homemade Ceasar dressing. I couldn't tell if they had put any Dijon mustard in the dressing as a binding agent or any of the capers, let alone the saltiness of the anchovies.

The next dish was what I had read on line and what had drawn me to come here. A Roasted Duck Confetti. I was so hoping that this would be the dish to rectify everything. It came out looking beautiful, nice presentation, color, it just lacked any flavor. The mash had a very faint hint of thyme that was almost lost in the hard water flavor that permeat the potatoes, like they had been over boiled. It was as if no dairy had been used to puree the potatoes.

The two duck legs were obviously slow cooked to the point that any flavor was mush. Duck has an AMAZING flavor which always draws my attention. Yet here it reminded me of a pork smoker who is all proud about the rub, but once you are past the skin, it's just pulp meat to be flavored by sauce. I don't normally use salt and pepper on a chef's creation, but it needed something. Even the Gruyere cheese on the duck lacked flavor and would have been better used in the potatoes. I am sorry to ditch on a fellow chef, and I could have just gotten a fluke of a duck, or the Indiana pallet is just not up to Parr as the rest of the world.

Dinner here was not bad on the whole. The quality of the various food items and professionalism of the staff was very evident. In fact the waiters, food runners, were to be highly praised. They did not rush the dinner, nor make me feel in anyway uneasy. Quick with water service and decrumbing my table. They all were staff members I would be proud to work with.

And as I said at the beginning, I am probably the harshest critique to have dined here. But with so many new restaurants popping up everywhere. And the imagination of some of these younger Chefs really coming up with new ideas. Tonight's meal just did not impress. Not the best $100 I have spent.

On service I give them a solid 9, but on food or the...

J. Ford’s used to be my favorite place to go for celebration dinners. My firm even moved our Christmas party there (it had been at another “fancy” local establishment for years) at my recommendation. My most recent experience, however, makes me doubt that I’ll be back. Out for a celebratory “girls night” with a friend who has restrictive dietary preferences (vegan). In the past, she has called ahead and they have been able to prepare something special for her, that has been delicious. This time she did the same and was told they would be able to accommodate her as before. Unfortunately, when we got to the restaurant for our reservation, that was not the case. Our server checked and said they could NOT prepare something similar to what she’d had before and could only recommend omitting things from menu items. Even though we weren’t complaining, she still brought the owner out to tell us they couldn’t go off menu. Very illogical and disappointing that a place that prides itself on its chef can’t go off menu. She ended up ordering the meatball entree without the meatballs and the broccoli and cheese without the cheese. Essentially penne and red sauce and steamed broccoli. Nothing was added to fill out the sauce such as additional veggies and the broccoli was not alternatively seasoned - plain steamed broccoli. The most disappointing/upsetting/shocking part is that when she received her bill, she was charged full menu price. $40+ for pasta and sauce and some plain steamed broccoli. When she asked if that was accurate, the server informed us they don’t adjust prices. I understand in the case of a simple substitution, but she was missing the bulk of each dish. For a place that falls into the higher end, they are sadly inflexible. As far as my meal, it was fine, with the mashed potatoes being the star of the show. I typically love their fried portobellos and truffle fries, but they seemed more greasy than they’ve been in the past and actually upset my stomach a bit. After the response to a previous negative review, I’m a bit hesitant to post this, but it was such a disappointing experience it cast a bit of a shadow over the night, and I feel guilty for having suggested J. Ford’s, when my friend had such a negative experience and mine was just alright. I doubt I will be recommending J. Ford’s to anyone...

J Ford's Black Angus in Terre Haute, IN, provided an exceptional dining experience that exceeded all expectations. Perfect for a special evening out, this restaurant is a true gem.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The service was impeccable, with staff attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, ensuring that every aspect of our meal was perfect.

We started our evening with the Wedge Salad, which was not only delicious but also a work of art. The presentation was stunning, with fresh ingredients and a dressing that tied everything together perfectly. It was crisp, refreshing, and a great start to our meal.

Following the salad, we were treated to complementary warm bread with hand-crafted butter options. The Blue Cheese Butter was a sinfully brilliant addition, enhancing the freshly baked bread in a way that was truly divine.

Our server recited the specials and menu with the enthusiasm and precision of a voice actor auditioning for the role of expert server. He was fantastic, and impressively, he was just in training. His kindness, intelligence, and attentiveness significantly elevated our dining experience.

For the main course, we had the ravioli special, and it was divine. The Butternut Squash ravioli, served in a rich and creamy lobster sauce, was a delightful combination of flavors that melted in our mouths. It was a perfect blend of sweet and savory, and the sauce complemented the ravioli beautifully.

For drinks, the gin martini was expertly crafted, offering a refreshing and smooth taste that perfectly accompanied our meal.

To finish, we indulged in the outstanding cheesecake. It was the perfect end to an amazing dining experience, with a creamy texture and a flavor that left us wanting more.

We dined in a back private room, which made for a delightful and intimate dining experience.

J Ford's Black Angus is a top-tier restaurant that I highly recommend for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a fantastic meal. The combination of exceptional food, beautiful presentation, and outstanding service makes it a must-visit in...