J. Alexander's Restaurant — Restaurant in Toledo

My wife and I have been going to J. Alexander in Toledo for 7 years now. It used to be excellent and our favorite place, over the last couple years we have seen it continually decline in quality and service. In my entire life I have only ever left 2 bad reviews for restaurants and both times now it has been for J. Alexander in Toledo. Last night was the last straw for us. We went in at 7pm intending to just sit at the bar for a drink and dinner. Bar was full but there were tables so we took a table. We were seated and after two different servers told us "your server will be over shortly" our server finally showed up. We placed drink orders, I got a bourbon on the rocks and my wife ordered a "Duke" martini which is her favorite. My bourbon came with one small chunk of ice and her martini was straight Gin. Fortunately we did slip in a order of smoked salmon dip when we ordered our drinks because it was quite a wait before we were able to order dinner. I order the Filet and my wife ordered Ahi Tuna. My steak showed up and it was not a very high quality cut, flavor was ok but not their usual standard. My wifes Ahi Tuna was supposed to just be barely seared, It showed up well done. We both had broccoli and there was a sauce/seasoning on it that made it inedible. We would have loved to have ordered desert or another drink but after our food arrived our waitress never bothered to stop and check on us much. She asked 1 time if we wanted boxes and then repeatedly walked past us without acknowledging us again. After about 15 minutes of waiting we finally had to stand up and find ANOTHER server to ask for our check as we were very ready to leave. To make things worse we were seated next to a table that had small kids, the kids being there wasn't the problem, it was the Parents that were letting them roll around on the floor, run around the restaurant, yell, bump into tables, etc... At a restaurant that claims to be as high class as J. Alexander they should have enough courtesy to their other guest to ask the parents to control...

Webster’s dictionary defines perfection as… some sort of nonsense because it does not explicitly say “Dinner at J Alexander’s with Reece as your server.” We all work hard for our money and nights out are sometimes rare and exceedingly special, so when the food or service is not up to par it can be a disastrous let down.

Luckily, my wife and I have found the perfect antidote to this devastating disappointment. Simply make a reservation at J’s and request Reece as your server. As fantastic and delectable as the food was, Reece surpassed our expectations even more than the elegant dishes he served us. Pure professionalism with a genuine smile and a sense that he really cared about our satisfaction, instead of just suggesting the most expensive thing on the menu. These types of selfless and empathic servers, or any salesman working on commission, are exceedingly rare and absolutely deserve to be recognized.

Joan, the Front of House Manager, was similarly attentive and courteous. After speaking with her, it made complete sense why the service was so excellent because with someone like her training your employees there’s a slim chance you’ll be disappointed in any way.

Thank you Reece. We were coming out to celebrate the life of someone who was taken too soon, and your kind and wholesome demeanor helped us enjoy a meal in Roger’s honor. It really meant a lot to both of us, and we both cannot wait to come back and sit in your section again.

You seriously cannot go wrong choosing J’s for a meal for any occasion. It is the perfect balance between posh and laid back, and the kitchen staff and bartenders are so darn good you will leave with only one regret… and that is that you aren’t hungry enough to have another meal.

Thank you for the amazing experience and and we both cannot wait to see you again, the...

My partner and I love J Alexanders ever since we went to the Cincinnati location 6 months ago. When we seen Toledo had one, we had to go. In it's own, this location is great. Fairly quick walk in wait time. The food was good and the service was good too. It's hard not to compare it to Cincinnati since we had such an incredible experience there. We both agree that our local Cincinnati location was better in terms of food. The ribs here in Toledo were not as tender, the salad had different croutons (we fell in love with the croutons that cincinnati j alexanders had, these were disappointing in comparison), and the cake slice was smaller. The table candles at this location were fake candles which I was surprised to see. Maybe a fire hazard for real ones, but the real candlelit dinner in Cincinnati just gave the experience a more romantic ambiance to it. I tried the mac n cheese this time. It's cool that it comes in it's own dish but I didn't care for the taste. My partner ended up eating it for me. He said his chicken sandwich was good. As a stand alone, this location was excellent. Now we want to travel to all the J Alexanders locations and compare them all. It will be hard to top the perfect food and service we received in Cincinnati. You have to try that chocolate cake! You could get away with around $50-60 for a dinner for 2, but our bill was $100 with tip since we got 2 salads as well as a dessert. Well worth the prices here. I appreciate the quietness of the dining experience and the lack of children present. Mainly adults dine here and that just adds to how much I enjoy eating at J Alexanders. You can bring your child as long as it is quiet, well mannered, and well behaved. Please don't ruin the fine dining...