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    J. Alexander's

    3.7 (330 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

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    J. ALEXANDER'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - J. Alexander's

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    Alex Salad
    Jeff M.

    It's been over 20 years since I first had J Alexander's. I remember it being very good back then when it first opened. Today decades later it still holds its place as an upscale casual dining restaurant. The restaurant is well preserved, clean and not run down. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. Unfortunately it was a work lunch and we couldn't enjoy a good cocktail or sample the wine list. I'll save it for next time, which will not be 20 years away.

    Percy N.

    To celebrate my birthday, my family took me to one of my favorites: J. Alexander's. The Alex's salad is always top choice. My son and grandson chose the Caesar Salad which they loved. I always go for a medium prime rib-that they make to perfection. I was surprised my wife didn't take the crab cakes. She had the Fish tacos as did my grandson. They were messy and tasty. My son had the New York strip steak. My daughter-in-law had the Cypress salad as her meal. She enjoyed it. The waitress was on the spot with drinks. She reminded us of the free carrot cake for the birthday boy (me), but forgot to ask my grandson and daughter-in-law (who were sharing) in asking their order. The place was hopping. It seemed busier than the last time we were there. We arrived 5 minutes early, but our table was ready when we arrived.

    Spinach con Queso
    Anna Y.

    I am surprised I've never been to J. Alexander's sooner! We came after work for a post day happy hour, the bar area is a great spot to sit in and chat with friends for a bite and a drink. This queso was amazing! The service was great and quick, and they have a large menu. I will be back for sure!

    Chicken pasta
    Kirby H.

    Pleasantly surprised, deviled eggs with maple bacon on top were great. We also had the queso, which was excellent, my chicken piccata was extremely good. Others had the steak salad any chicken pasta. Never a bad meal here.

    Waiting for our party of 12 to show up and watching the staff professionally taking care of business. :)
    April H.

    J Alexander's has been around for years. They are known for good food, great service and beautiful ambiance and the Rookwood location has all of that. My party of 12 weren't all on time, but the staff got those of who were there seated at two tables next to each other. And our server, a kind young woman named Reagan, busily started taking drink orders. I think hosting big parties is one thing that J Alexanders does VERY well. Fortunately the rest of my group arrived at the same time and Reagan was on top of it. Drinks were immediately brought out. Orders taken and it felt like minutes and our whole table was being served our food at once. (This is what I mean by consistently good service here especially with big groups) I ordered the French Dip with horseradish and au jus and fries. Hubby got their cheeseburger and fries. We normally get their prime rib but we decided for lunch to sandwiches. First off, the bread was perfect for dipping in the au jus, crusty on the outside but softer on the inside..mmm. The beef was shaved and piled high. I did have to ask for horseradish as there wasn't much on the one half and none on the second half. (Reagan was so accommodating.) Without the horseradish sauce, which was mild and not at all spicy, the sandwich was a little bland. The horseradish really helped kick it up a notch. The au jus was good but could have been a little more beefy tasting for my palette. My hubby liked his cheeseburger but said it could have had a little more flavor in the meat. Both of us were delightfully surprised how good the matchstick fries were. We've had other things here besides their steaks and prime rib like Chicken Alfredo and said the same thing, it was good but was bland. Could use some garlic, mushrooms and color like spinach or broccoli to make it great. We'll still eat here again though because their steaks and garlic smashed potatoes or even loaded potatoes are so delicious and you can't get much better with their service. To sum it up: We both love J Alexanders for their impeccable service especially for groups. We feel like they need more umami flavors in their food. But, if you're on a low sodium diet this is perfection. Stick with their beef suppers because they do steak very well.

    Salad
    Connie H.

    We always have a wonderful experience at J Alexander's. Our server was Bailey, and he was impressive. Was a very nice guy kept coming around to check on us and make sure everything was all right, kept us all refilled and even brought out a birthday dessert. The food was amazing. Loved the salad. It was just perfect.

    Salad (minus cheese and croutons), calamari

    The place was well-maintained and had a beautiful interior. Wait staff were helpful and appropriately dressed for the atmosphere. Food was delicious! I had cilantro vinaigrette on a salad, and the roasted chicken dish. 5/5 stars right there. My husband enjoyed his calamari appetizer and steak dinner. We will definitely come back!

    Fresh grilled trout on top of slaw. YUMMY!!!
    Alan F.

    Stopped in at J. Alexander's while passing through Cincinnati. Easy access right off the interstate. Nice place! Interior was very welcoming with an open kitchen and many large wooden tables. Our server was gracious and took care of us right away. Food was delicious! Our party got fish tacos, prime rib, fresh trout, and a veggie burger. I am not sure what was best, but the prime rib was a BIG piece and had a crispy spice rub on the outside. Perfectly cooked and delicious! The trout was likely the winner. It was a huge piece and perfectly cooked. Fish tacos were just OK. The fish was perfect but there was too much slaw. The menu didn't say it had slaw and had I known I could have left it off. Still, they were delicious, but would have been way better without the slaw. Overall a great lunch that we all enjoyed. If you are looking for great food right off the highway then you should give this place a try!

    Lump crab dip
    Sarah M.

    We had a lovely evening at dinner here. Food was absolutely delicious. We ate solely off of the "seasonal menu" which was a little card they brought to us to accompany the normal menus. On it was this delicious lump crab dip that was to DIE for. I could have just eaten a bowl of that over and over again. We also both got a seasonal filet with red mashed potatoes, 2 stalks of asparagus and béarnaise sauce. The steak was cooked to perfection and was a great portion for the price. We finished the night off with the seasonal white chocolate cheesecake with fresh raspberry sauce. The crust on the cheesecake was this delicate graham cracker crust. The raspberry sauce you could tell was homemade and DID NOT taste artificial which was a plus in my book. Drinks were great as well. Ambiance is very classy. I took off a star because we were quoted a 25 minute wait and ended up waiting over 45 minutes with no update from hostess staff and until I walked up to the host stand at the 45 minute mark did the hostess then conveniently seat us. Makes me wonder if she forgot about us on the list because we were seated immediately after I walked up. So hostess staff either needs to quote better wait times or else keep an eye on the walk ins and remember that they are paying customers too.

    Barbecue Baby Back Ribs, French Fries, coleslaw
    Jennifer H.

    We went Sunday evening for dinner. We were immediately set at our table, we had a reservation. The hostess was friendly & welcoming. Upon entry, it was an open concept. The bar was to the left, infront was the kitchen & the seating area to the right. The restaurant is beautiful & elegant. Our waitress, Ashly attended to us quickly taking our drink order. She answered our menu questions & took our order. We had the NY strip which came with MAC & cheese (you can switch the side) & the Baby back ribs which came with fries & coleslaw. The NY strip was cooked perfectly (medium) & very tasty. There was no special seasoning, just the seared grilled flavor. The Mac & cheese were fantastic. It had such a yummy unique flavor I asked the waitress what cheese was this made with (Gruyère & Parmesan). The baby back ribs were so tender the meat was falling off the bone. The barbecue sauce was thick & sweet. The coleslaw was finely shredded & a creamy mayonnaise base. The French fries were shoestring style & nothing unique.

    Glenn C.

    Decent food, but definitely not gourmet. I had the maui steak which was a ribeye and mashed potatoes. Very good with pineapple flavoring. Didn't taste the brown sugar. 45 dollars is a little high. I had to pay 7 dollars for over-buttered broccoli. Hardboiled eggs appertizer was fine but pricey. My wife got a chicken Asian salad. Service was spotty. Took 4 requests to get an iced tea refill and alcoholic cider came witout a glass. Just putting a can on the table is bad given the nice ambiance. Should have had bread and main dish came out too fast. Waitress didn't know the menu.

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    6 days ago

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    5 months ago

    The food and atmosphere is always excellent - the wait staff are friendly and competent -

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    1 year ago

    Well-staffed, efficient, friendly service! Excellent food and drinks! Will definitely go back!!

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Great service and food. The staff were friendly and professional. The restaurant was cleaning and very relaxing

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    2 years ago

    Great variety and one of the best loaded baked potatoes I've had out. Definitely recommended!

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    1 year ago

    Always a winner! Food and service are reliable and excellent . The portions are good for sharing and the cocktails are generous.

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    J. Alexander's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - J. Alexander's

    Bonefish Grill

    Bonefish Grill

    3.9
    (211 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Let me begin by saying that this would have been a five star rating if the manager had made the…read morerounds of the dining room as I would have shared out these concerns to them directly and would have felt confident that they would have been easily resolved to my satisfaction. Upon arrival, we were promptly greeted and the hostess indicated that she would try to find a place for us to sit (party of 2, later dining, multiple open tables). She checked with another hostess to confirm that the table she had selected would be acceptable (perhaps in training?) and then indicated that they could seet us and that hopefully one of the servers would want to serve us. This choice of words seemed odd, but we went with it. The server who "decided" to take care of us was pleasant and eager to please. We had no complaints with her other than some lack of forethought with regard to refilling glasses (she asked permission each time, even when glasses were less than half full) and clearing empty, dirty plates from the table. She seemed genuinely interested in making sure that we had a good experience (and we largely did). We elected to get the mixed grill for two which was promising. The variety was nice and it allowed us to try some things we might not have gotten otherwise. We chose salads and brussels sprouts and cauliflower for our included add ons. The salad was delightful! It came with black olives which thankfully were whole because I don't like them and gave them to my husband. They left beind a briney taste which I normally would not enjoy, but it elevated an already supurb offering. The salad included pine nuts and hearts of palm and it came standard with a citrus vinegarette. It was a promising start to the meal, despite bread being delayed due to a backup in the kitchen. Our sides, main, and bread arrived at the same time. The sides were delicious! The main came with four offerings: shrimp, tuna, salmon, and a whitefish that was forgettable. The flavor of all was good, however the salmon and the questionable whitefish were overcooked and our server didn't check on us until we were so far into the meal that we would not have been comfortable asking that they be returned for a more propper cook. There was a table tent offering a coconut pie that was right up my alley and left me desiring it throughout my meal, so despite my being quite satisfied from the main dishes, I went ahead and got it (good job, marketing team!). My husband went with the flourless brownie with hazelnuts and ice cream. The pie was superb! It was served warm and there was no doubt that it was coconut. I forced myself to eat all of it (which wasn't difficult due to how good it tasted). My husband offered me a taste of his brownie and under other circumstances, I would have accepted, but I was too full to even have one more bite. Towards the end of the meal, I noticed that my glass had a chip in it. This was not problematic for me since I was drinking from a straw. We did point this out to the server and she immediately offered to get me a new glass. I declined as I was not in fear of there being glass in my drink, but just wanted them to know to take it out of the circulation. Overall, the meal was fine although the pace was uneven. There was a slow start and then a gap between when we ordered dessert and were served it. It seemed that most of our challenges were related to kitchen timing and then other staff who were newer in their positions. I see room for growth and imagine that if we return and see these employees still there that the challenges that were noted will no longer be issues. Again, a conversation with a manager would have given us the opportunity to share these observations (and maybe enjoy our fish more). The entire meal cost $75 which felt like a value considering how much food we had and the overall quality of the offerings (save the fish which I have talked about enough). We are AARP members so we received an additional 10% discount which was effortless to receive. I always enjoy dining here and hope to be able to retun again soon!

    I won't ever be back due to awful food…read more We started with bang bang shrimp. I see mention of this in lots of reviews and I just don't understand the appeal. It was shrimp coated in mayo - not even crispy as the coating was soggy. It's definitely missing the bang! Was very bland. The maho was good, at least they do fish right but the fries were the only side that was edible. Do not get the bacon Mac and cheese - it is the worst Mac and cheese that I have ever had. So bland and flavorless. The. Russel sprouts were not good either. The waitress was wonderful and any stars are just for her. She saw that we didn't eat the food and didn't charge for the premium sides. She knew instantly and asked if it was bland. At least I know and won't ever be tempted again.

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    Bonefish Grill
    Bonefish Grill
    Bonefish Grill

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    Lobsta Bakes of Maine

    Lobsta Bakes of Maine

    4.7
    (53 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    Another place on our list to visit - the new shop with the new owners. They were customers and…read morebought from Mark who was the original founder. We stopped by after a visit to the Newtown Candy shop. We took some lobster roll kits and clam chowder home. They pride themselves on fresh seafood regularly flown in from around the world. Their pricing is double Jungle Jims and triple kroger. Can't say good or bad until we try the fresh fish. For example they have many types of Salmon from around the globe. $49.99 for Sea Bass is pricey for me. I think Halibut was $39.99 a pound and the salmon was $20-$30 a pound. They also make their own sides. The clam chowder had too many potatoes. On Friday and Saturday nights they cook a few meals out back in a small tent/room. Main items are Lobster Rolls and Fish n chips.

    Just happened to pop into this shop on a whim after passing it many times over the years. Wow, was…read moreI impressed with all they had to offer! In fact, I was so taken by the owner sharing the history of Lobsta Bakes and all of the items that are made onsite, that I completely forgot to take photos with one exception: the menu! They have a small space to serve dinner on weekends with a menu that changes often. From fresh fish to chowder, crab cakes, Lobster rolls, sauces, pies, and much more, this is a place you have to visit! I bought some clam chowder, lobster roll kits, crab cakes and lobster quiche- all were fantastic!

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    Lobsta Bakes of Maine
    Lobsta Bakes of Maine
    LOBSTA BAKES SHRIMP PLATTERS & HOME MADE DIPS

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    LOBSTA BAKES SHRIMP PLATTERS & HOME MADE DIPS
    Swampwater Grill

    Swampwater Grill

    4.2
    (484 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    We have been wanting to try this place for awhile now. Went on a Thursday evening, special was…read moreseafood boils and place was crowded. Told it would be 45 minute wait, but seating at bar was first come first serve. So we sat at the bar. Service was great. Brian bartender was top notch and did a great job of explaining menu, drinks and specials. Was not pushy or didn't try to steer us towards one item or another. Jalapeño poppers for appetizer was good. Wife got the swamp water mahi mahi with side of jambalaya. She loved it and only offered me 1 bite! I got the swamp water pasta. This was also fantastic! Portions are large and filling. We didn't try any desserts as there was no room Cool vibe to this place. Nice ambiance. You could tell there were many regulars and everyone was very friendly. Will definitely go back to try the pork chop and the seafood boils next time!! Cost for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 draft beers and 2 wines was under $100. That's a great deal!!

    I love Swampwater Grill! My BFF is an enormous crawfish fan, so we definitely always make it there…read morefor a couple of dinners during the spring season but it's a year-round destination for us. I'm not a crawfish person (too much work) so I usually get the Louisiana BBQ shrimp (which is NOT BBQ sauce - it's like butter and herbs and it's spicy but in a cumin way, not a Tabasco way). This time I got the wings that come with the same sauce and they are 10/10. Ranch dressing is housemade and the real deal. The char-grilled oysters are not to be missed. Happy hour has deals on both food and drink (as all good happy hours should) and includes oysters. Overall, prices are super fair because the portions are huge and most things come with a side or two. The jambalaya is worth bringing home if you don't have room and the cornbread is moist even the next day. And it's weird but I like the side salads, they aren't just white iceberg lettuce and two cherry tomatoes. Service has always been great. You can't get seated until at least half of your party is there but that's fair. We accidentally got a table for six and had eight show up and they just let us pull up a couple chairs and get in their way but acted like it was no big deal. Get there early because it fills up quick, including the parking lot. It's an old-school restaurant and the decor fits. It's got corny signs, tables made out of wine barrels and a fireplace in the corner. There is outside seating that I haven't sat at (I mean it overlooks a parking lot and there is usually someone smoking but at least it's there). There is a grumpy but capable bartender and young people working the host/ess stand who greet you cheerily and always say goodbye on the way out. Swampwater is right next to the Riverside Antique Mall, so make it a day and do some shopping beforehand. Both are more than worth the visit.

    Photos
    Picture looking towards front of restaurant from our bar seats
    Picture looking towards front of restaurant from our bar seats
    Smoked chicken with sides
    Smoked chicken with sides
    Swampwater Grill

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    Alfio's Buon Cibo

    Alfio's Buon Cibo

    4.5
    (451 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    My husband and I recently tried the tasting menu, and every course was thoughtfully prepared and…read morebeautifully presented. The evening started with the arancini, which were perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy inside. The saffron lemon aioli added a bright flavor that paired well with the richness of the dish. The raspberry feta salad was fresh, colorful, and balanced. The sweetness from the berries, crunch from the candied walnuts, and tangy feta worked surprisingly well together. The standout course for me was the scallop over parmesan asparagus risotto. The scallop was cooked perfectly, and the risotto was rich, creamy, and full of flavor without being too heavy. The house-made rigatoni was another favorite. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the combination of sausage, mushrooms, and roasted tomatoes in the cream sauce was comforting and delicious. For the entrée, the filet was tender and flavorful, accompanied by herb butter potatoes, broccolini, and a decadent foie gras butter. Even though it was only a 3 oz portion, it was satisfying after the previous courses. Dessert ended the meal on a high note. The banana pudding tiramisu was creative, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious. The brûléed banana and dulce de leche brought everything together perfectly. The atmosphere was intimate and elegant, service was attentive without being intrusive, and the pacing of the tasting menu was spot on. Every course felt intentional, and the overall experience was memorable. We will definitely be back for another special occasion.

    We had reservations for 6:30pm on Saturday night. We were a little early, but they were able to…read moreseat us right away. The atmosphere is dark and rich, and the seating is very comfortable. All tables have the cutest box-light centerpieces, all with fresh flowers, that added to the ambiance. Our server, Kayla, was smiley and fun! She explained all we needed to know about the nightly specials. She knew the menu well. There were also lovely food runners and other staff that kept our night going smoothly. This is what we had for dinner and our thoughts: Mussels - The PEI mussels were so plump and cooked perfectly. We sopped up all the broth we could with the charred bread pieces. I wanted to pick up the bowl and drink the rest. We order mussels at most places that offer them, and these were the best we have had in Cincinnati. Croquetas - These were interesting. The flavors were good, but we thought the consistency was a little pasty. It was like all the ingredients were blended up together in a, well, paste. Pasta Duo - We chose the Wild Mushroom in vodka sauce, and the Gnocchi Bolognese. We thought the vodka sauce overwhelmed the mushroom in the ravioli and that maybe a lighter sauce would complement the mushroom filling better. However, the sauce was excellent. The gnocchi were pillowy and tasty with the sauce, but there was not much beef in the bolognese. Although these weren't the favorites of the night, they were still very good. Skirt Steak with Chimichurri - OMG! I don't usually order steak out, but serving skirt is rare and it is one of my favorite cuts. It was so tender with a fabulous grill flavor and the most delicious chimichurri. Except for about four bites my wife enjoyed, I ate the whole 10oz steak!! It is pricy, but I would gladly spend the money for this excellent preparation again. The potatoes were roasted and seasoned well, but I wish there were more than five pieces of asparagus for the price. Chocolate Caramel Tiramisu - Very light and chocolatey. Yum! We will be back over and over for the mussels and skirt steak.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Dessert
    Dessert
    Cocktails

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    Cocktails
    Alara

    Alara

    4.5
    (83 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Alara is a fairly new steakhouse in the Cincinnati area. What stood out to us was the outstanding…read moreservice we received. We were greeted upon entering my the host and manager Seated immediately at a pristine table. Our waitress, Devon explained several items on the menu and made recommendations based on customer likes. We started with the focaccia bread. Lightly toasted. With our choice of herb butter or olive oil. Perfect, we ate every bite. Then we had the beet salad Red & Golden beets thinly sliced with fresh herbs and goat cheese. A lot of thought went into making this dish perfect thank you chef My lady ordered the filet and I had the 14oz Choice Strip Steak. Both incredibly tender and served with a variety of sauces. Bone broth, chimichurri, and herb butter. All the sauces were fabulous with me, preferring the bone broth. Our side dish of roasted herbs brussels sprouts, and cauliflower in balsamic glaze, very tasty. We did the big finish with a large slice of delicious carrot cake. The host and the manager Mark came by and checked out on us to make sure everything was perfect, our server Devon made sure everything was perfect & treated us like royalty. Definitely a five star experience

    Phenomenal experience this time around; I went by myself - I made a reservation expecting to be…read moreseated at the bar however the host informed me I would be kept company at the chefs table. (I will be booking this option from now on.) I ordered the surf and turf seasonal option with lobster and filet mignon cooked medium. I was surprised when a sea scallop I didn't order and a small glass of wine spritzer popped up but this is part of the chefs table experience - it was a sea scallop grilled with a chimichurri sauce and some crispy prosciutto. I would have never ordered this on my own so it was nice to try. I am a not a huge seafood person - the minute I cut into it I smelled the sea which was a turn off and I wasn't a fan of the texture but once I cut into tiny pieces and mixed with the sauce and the proscuitto I was able to actually find myself enjoying the dish plus boy did it look pretty coming out! The chefs table is nice because you get to watch everything be cooked - the mac and cheese looks amazing every single time - omg I must try it sometime. My waitress was phenomenal with purple and blue hair and the glittery eye shadow. She was so attentive and helpful. The steak was so juicy and cooked perfectly - I think next time I would get a larger steak or the grilled shrimp option as I wasn't the biggest fan of the lobster tail but still finished it. The salad was okay - I wish it had ranch instead. I also got the orange cream cloud for dessert to go which was shockingly light, airy and delicious - the citrus flavors with the passion fruit are so refreshing. I can't wait to come back and try something new . The place is beautifully decorated and they offer free parking options - the music is very low so you can have a conversation and even the chefs table wasn't too loud even though it was right next to the kitchen.

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    Chilled Seafood Platter

    J. Alexander's - steak - Updated June 2026

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