Jar - PK's Review

Move over Dakota, The Lodge, Sterling, etc. etc. etc. - Jar is the Hollywood steakhouse to fall in love in, and with.

Place: Jar, Saturday, 1/7 - 6:00 PM
Myself + 2 guests (Mom and Dad)


Ratings in brief:

Ambiance - B+
Lighting is a little bit *too* muted, but the decor is full of chocolatey warm tones and gorgeous circular patterns. Plus, the tables are perfectly spaced, and the bar is lovely.
Service - B
Solid, not exceptional.
Food (Taste) - B+
Across the board, very, VERY good food.
Food (Presentation) - B
Simple and elegant presentations.
Wine/Drinks - B
Full bar and decent wine list - I had a bold and tasty Bourdeaux (by the glass).
Value - B+
Each dish was stacked with premium, fresh ingredients and made with love you could feel - worth every penny.
Overall Experience - B+
All things considered, this is my favorite steak experience in LA so far.

Mom and Dad were in town, and although they are not Chows, I still aimed to please. They are down-home Montana small-town peeps, so although I had never been, I trusted Jar to deliver a lovely convergence of American comfort food in a decided LA venue.
She shoots, she scores.

The interior floods you with comfort and warmth. We were seated immediately by a very sweet hostess and scored a perfect table along the back wall - private, but perfect for people watching.

I set the scene by announcing the check would be mine, and insisted they order up a storm. Here's the lowdown:

DRINKS
I was the only alcoholic - sipping a La Corbet Bourdeaux that kicked my taste buds into submission with every lovely swallow. Yum.

BREAD
We were served crusty sourdough goodness with butter right away - nothing creative, but a magnificent textured bread indeed.

APPETIZERS
We started with a special - Shrimp and Crab Cakes with Garlic Aioli. *Really* good - small little morsels with virtually no detectable filler, and the sauce had a fantastic garlic punch.
Next up - Lobster and Roasted Tomato Soup, another special. The rich lobster flavor and smokey tomato taste punched through beautifully - no cream, no excessive saltiness - one of the best soups I've ever slurped.
Mom had a Celery and Greens Salad with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Pecans - she raved and ate every last bite.

ENTREES
I had another special - an Australian Kobe Hanger Steak, medium rare. This was the only minor disappointment of the evening - it didn't compare to traditional kobe beef (not that I expected it to, really), and I wasn't mad about the texture. The flavor and cut were marvelous - not a bad dish by any means, but it didn't blow my mind. What DID blow my mind, however, was the Lobster Bernaise dipping sauce - if I could have slurped the remains in private without gaining another ten pounds, I would have been the Happiest Girl Alive. Damn that was tasty.
Dad had another special - Seared Sea Scallops with a Ground Mustard Sauce. Spectacular. About 8 medium sized morsels were served with a lightly spicey mustard dip, and it was really divine.
Mom had the Bone-In Rib-Eye - out of this world. Let me say it again - Out. Of. This. World.

SIDES
I had the best side ever created in the history of (wo)man - Purple Japanese Yams with Creme Fraiche and Chives. OH MY GOD. Sublty sweet, melt-in-your mouth yumminess with the slather of cream and chive-y bite -we all flipped for this.
Dad had Mashed Potatoes - too creamy for my taste but still really fab.
Mom had the Garlic French Fries - crispy and salty and perfectly gourmet.

No dessert for us - we indulged a little too much in the mains.
I did polish off the meal with a superbly brewed Espresso, and that was the perfect ending.

The bill, with 4 appetizers, 3 entress, 3 sides, sodas, sparkling water, espresso, and a glass of wine was $195. Definitely worth it.

I am going back to try that beautiful looking pork chop. For starters.

Chow, 'Hounds,
poetkitty

[kelvlam]

finally found a review-review! thx PoetKitty :-)

Thanks for the review, I will make a point to eat there on my next trip to L.A. Sounds great!

Your reviews are the absolute BEST! This one actually made my stomach growl (then again, I'm just about to take a lamb shank Osso Bucco outa the oven...)

No, seriously, that was an incredible write-up. I honestly can't wait to go there, and I rarely do steak.

Thanks, PK.

I'm blushing! Such high-praise from THE Max Million!

I rarely do steak either, my friend, but after frustrating experiences at Boa and Dakota and many other LaLaland meat-mansions, I now know Jar is the spot to live it up.

Osso Bucco? Ohmagod, email some over!

:)
pk

Excellent review as usual PK....you just decided my next b'day dinner spot! :-)

PK,

I love reading your reviews, they are quite comprehensive. I agree, Jar serves one of the best, if not THE best ribeye steaks in LA, and I've been to many of LA's steakhouses. Another thing worth checking out are the Ipswitch fried clams.

Thanks!

What?? a B+
you seemed to enjoy it so well and you said it was the best place in L.A. - but yet you give it a B+??? This makes no sense to me. Jar IS one of the BEST staek houses in LA - underated too! I give it an A!

Garnish Girl, I agree with you whole-heartedly, but due to the not-so-spectacular service AND my strict grading scale, the B+ is very valid.
My highest marks to date have been for Urasawa - you gotta leave room for the out-of-this-world experiences, that's my motto :)

pk

Thanks for the fine review, as it has girded my resolve to make reservations at Jar early in this new year...Lastly, you mentioned 4 appetizers in the tabulation of the bill, but only reviewed 3. What was the fourth??

Attention to detail - A+ :)

Both my father and I ordered the Lobster and Tomato Soup, so those two coupled with Mom's salad and the shared Shrimp and Crab cakes tallied 4.

Yes! Get thee to Jar!

pk

Next time? Save room for the Banana Cream Pie with the caramel sauce.

Nice writeup - thanks.

PK,

a suggestion- lobster bernaise + Jar's fries. There might not be anything better.

Andrew

Honey, I did just that - and I couldn't agree more. Words escape me, but drool does not.

:)
pk

we were also there sat - 6:30 with the rose' bday in the center of the place - you missed the 3 no-brainer's - jar salad - like a slaw, the pot roast and the DESERTS - I don't even like deserts and there's are the best - the jar pudding is over the top. lets not forget the wine list, beside camp and mel prob the best in the city and many affordable finds - they have lots of southern rhones for the mid-40's - great list, if you like wine and are up on what is hot you will love it. The sides are also over the top = best fries in the city, just try and find better - easy parking across the street if you are valet phobic - the place rocks and has very much overtaken lucques as my place of choice

Hah - the famous Kurt was in the house! I saw your table, actually - I was the uber-tall blonde along the back wall, behind the hostess stand, sitting with the lovely 'rents.

We were *that* close to getting the pudding, but feared an overload.

Love all the recommendations - can't wait to try 'em all, thank you!

pk

Nice one, PK.

If you are a martini drinker, they make mean ones at JAR. Saddle up to the bar before your reservation, imbibe, and simultaneously indulge in the best (homemade) potato chips and horseradish-cream dipping sauce known to (wo)man.

Jar Restaurant Inc
[phone]
[phone]
[phone]
8225 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048

http://www.thejar.com/

Rabo, you rock - I am a Martini mayven and I will absolutely be taking your advice.
:)

pk