went here for a bridal brunch celebration with my bridal party on a saturday around 11, we waited to be seated until around noon and the service was slow, we didn't get our food until around 1. i thought the quality of the food didn't match up to how long we had to wait for it and then the crazy amount we paid for it. all in all i wouldn't waste your time, it's pretty to look at from outside but not worth your time or money in the end. read more

Amazing food, great service, and classy ambience. They have a great brunch menu and you don't often have to wait too long.

J Wilson's is just ok. Nothing terrible, but also nothing notable. We requested a more private table, and were seated directly in the middle of a section--not quite private enough! We moved to a booth along the side, and that was much better. We ordered a cheese platter as an appetizer, and agreed it was nothing special, as the cheeses were pretty bland and the crackers and bread were also just ok. I ordered the filet, and my husband ordered the waves of grain vegetarian option. The filet was underwhelming. My husband has cooked better steaks for me at home in our cast iron skillet and oven. Almost no special herbs or spices to elevate the flavor. The waves of grain dish had a good flavor, but the portion was TINY. We ended up splitting my steak. Altogether, it felt like a mid-to-higher level chain restaurant. But nowhere near as great as similar chain restaurants like Cooper's Hawk. read more

If you're on the west side of Lawrence on a Sunday morning and are craving a great breakfast, do a Google map search for 'The Big Biscuit'. Once you spend 15 minutes looking for a parking space in the large lot, go inside and give a wink to the huge crowd waiting for a table. Then, walk a few doors down to JW on the corner. Get greeted at the door, and seated right away. Indulge and treat yourself to great service, food and adult beverages. Everyone's happy, the mix of the crowd is great, and the wait staff couldn't be more attentive. The English Breakfast is recommended. read more

J. Wilson's - New American Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Today my husband and I went to J Wilson's for the first time. First of all, the food was amazing! What really made our visit special was the service. Sierra was our server and she went out of her way to make us feel welcome, especially when she learned we had just moved to Lawrence six weeks ago. She brought us the most incredible dessert to welcome us. A few minutes later, the manager, Lisa came to our table to also welcome us to Lawrence. My husband and I walked away with the most incredible experience. This is our new favorite restaurant and we will definitely be back. The service, the food, and the ambience is not to be missed. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Lawrence. I have some dietary considerations and they are always very considerate and careful to ensure that I don't have an adverse reaction. The wait staff at imagine read more

Great food, primarily locally sourced. Nice atmosphere. Fun menu. Has several areas a large party can sit fairly exclusively.

Went in for a light brunch to split as we had a large early dinner planned. We will definitely be back. Everything had so much flavor. Ever the fruit plate was special. Looking forward to trying the biscuits and gravy or a benedick. This visit tries one of the sammies with sausage and it was tasty. Bloody Mary to wash it down was also yummy. read more

Excellent food, great atmosphere! The pasta was delicious and the service was superb.

Wine selection was disappointing. It's in a very random area but when you walk in it's classy and has a good ambiance

Monochrome design. Ambiance is great if you like dining in low light which I do! Food was good. Nice place to bring a date and there are rooms for larger parties separated by drapery. read more

I never write bad reviews but unfortunately it really just was not good. Giving 3 stars because their brunch is great but dinner was less than great. Our dinner was the worst meal we have had in awhile. It is typical Midwestern fancy where it seems high quality but it is just masked by ridiculously large portions and tons of cream, butter and salt. I have never tasted saltier food. We felt gross after leaving. Will return for brunch in the future but not dinner. The sommelier was the best part and a great touch. read more

The meal was fantastic, I had the Bourbon chicken and my wife had Jalapeño Jack burger. Both were incredible! The service was very attentive and timely and Bruce the Sommelier and the Nancy the owner were a complete pleasure to interact with. It was completely affordable! The wine flight was Great that Bruce prepared for our meals. The atmosphere was 5 star quality. We are Jayhawk season ticket holders and will be back!!!! read more

Stopped in Lawrence on a road trip out west. J Wilson's is a great farm to table restaurant. We sat at the bar and really enjoyed the salmon and trout dishes for dinner. Good wine list and friendly staff. read more

Great food, interesting menu and a killer happy hour. Serving staff was lovely and very helpful, offering recommendations.

Moved to the neighborhood recently and hadn't tried this place. It is in a shopping mall and I never really understood what it was or where the entrance was even. I finally tried it and was pleasantly surprised. I tried happy hour first and it was great. Excellent cocktails and appetizers. It is also really nice inside, so great place to go for a drink. I went back for dinner another night and hand a great experience too. Several things on the menu looked excellent and I really enjoyed the bourbon chicken. Again, the drinks were excellent and the service was great. Friendly and attentive staff, great atmosphere, and excellent cocktails and food. Will be going back soon! read more

Best restaurant in Lawrence, hands down. The quality of the food is exceptional and the atmosphere is warm and elegant.

Hubby and I decided we wanted steak, and help led us to this place. We called and they could get us right in on a Saturday at 7, but it was a game weekend in Lawrence. The decor is nice. Neutral, dim lighting. Reminds me of a nice place you'd eat at in a casino. Our wait staff were good, attentive. Our favorite staff member was Bruce. He is the house sommelier. Rewind to what we ordered. I selected the pasta carbonara with pork belly and peas, sundried tomatoes in a cream sauce. My hubby ordered some kind of seafood dish with mussels and shrimp. Both were good. My dish disappointed me because the pork belly looked like it was stewed. It would have been an altogether better dish had they crisped it and garnished it at the end. Hubs dish took a lot of flavors from India. Unfortunately we had gorged ourselves at noon at an Indian place and he just didn't want to eat it again so soon. We ordered dessert, not any real stellar options but pairing with wine is fun. Give it a try. This is a special go to place when you are celebrating something or just out on Saturday looking for good fun and good food. read more

I was really looking forward to this visit after my brother and his wife raved about this place. We started with the grazing board which could have easily been a meal in itself. I'm not sure the three of us were even able to finish it! The pickled green beans were by far my favorite thing on the board. We also had the crab cakes which were filled with crab and super delicious. I ended up choosing the seafood pan roast which was a bath of yummy goodness. I'm a self proclaimed seafood snob and was very impressed with the tenderness of the cod and the excellent taste of the broth and crab. Hands down, will be getting this again. The restaurant was busy but you wouldn't have known it by the privacy of the large booths and acoustics of the restaurant. The staff was very accommodating to all of my questions and when they didn't know, they checked and came back to tell me. My only complaint was that I ordered a very dirty martini and it came with barely any olive juice. It didn't stop me from tossing it back, but it would have been more enjoyable with a little added olive sodium:) The chef also came out to greet us which was a nice addition to dinner. I will be back! read more

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Just found out that one of my favorite cooks from the old Paradise Café works here and went to dinner immediately! Great food!! Like the new atmosphere too! read more

After eating here two times I give it a solid 4/5 stars. I have had both dinner and brunch. Drinks are very reasonably priced and the food is great. Don't miss the sweet potato fries, they are excellent. I would say they just need to work out a few kinks in things like service timing, bar service, etc. but overall I see this place being very successful this side of Lawrence and one of my go-to places for a nice meal with friends or family when they come in town! read more

J. Wilson's - 3 for $12 wine flights - New American Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Stopped in for brunch last Sunday. The food was good, but the service was better. Definitely try the Hard Up Mimosa! This will definitely be a go to for us. read more

I have eaten at J. Wilson's several times and have concluded it is my favorite restaurant in Lawrence - breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The food is always excellent and the service is good, very personal. The atmosphere is calm and it is the best place for conversations. The layout and decor are very nice, since their remodeling a few years back. They have a fine bar with a good selection of craft beers, wine, tequila, and excellent mixed drinks. I highly recommend this restaurant on the far west side of Lawrence - 6th & Wakarusa - about a mile south of I-70 and K-10 highways intersection. read more

I love dining out and have no problem throwing down $$$$ for great food. With that said I am disappointed with J Wilson's. My husband and I decided to check out the restaurant after reading reviews and the menu. The service is gratuitous and the space pleasant. He opted for a steak, loaded baked potato and kale. I love short ribs and crave gnocchi. The steak was a bit over cooked for my taste, but he felt it was fine. The kale was really good and I'm not a kale person. My meal was not good. The short rib ragu was very fatty and salty. Eh, not good. The gnocchi unfortunately altered from chewy to rubbery. So sad, what a bummer. We did indulge and chose wine with our meals. The best part. I only nibbled in my dinner, the salt, fat, and texture was just too off putting and not tasty. The cost for the quality of at least my meal was off putting as well. Though it was our first visit I doubt we will return. Too expensive to be disappointed. read more

My boyfriend and I visited J Wilson's as an early Valentines Day dinner date. We were greeted by Kieran, a very friendly host who sat us immediately. There were very few other diners in the restaurant, which we liked because it seemed as if we had our own private area of the restaurant all to ourselves. I have Celiac disease and have to eat a very strict gluten-free diet, so going out to eat can sometimes be tricky. Luckily, our server was very nice, and super helpful in making menu recommendations that were suitable for my dietary restrictions. The kitchen did make a mistake in serving me something that was not gluten-free however, but we sent it back before I had eaten anything so luckily there was no harm done. I'd definitely like to come back and try their Sunday Brunch. read more

We made reservations here for Mother's Day and we had a great time! The food was fabulous (minus the grits, which weren't as good as I had hoped for) and most everything we would order again! We even ordered there coffee cake (pictured with the home fries) as an "appetizer" and for dessert! Chandler was our server and she was so cheerful and professional. We'll ask for her when we go back! The menu isn't real extensive but I think everybody can find something they like. For 5 adults to eat, including 3 mimosas, the appetizers and 4 desserts, our total was $120 which I feel is very reasonable for Mother's Day. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit and we will go back next time we are in Lawrence! read more

J. Wilson's - New American Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I am not in love with this place. We had poor service and the food was mediocre and uncreative at best. My steak was very chewy. The menu while sounding creative really was not. The appetizers tasted like cardboard. My husband's fish was no better. We will not be back. read more

Perfect atmosphere with great service! The food was absolutely delicious. It's pricy but worth every cent!

My wife & I came here for weekend brunch. We both had Benedicts. I had the smoked salmon and she the crab cake. Both were awesome! The capers on mine were a nice touch. The pickley taste of the capers blended nicely with the smokeyness of the salmon. Yum! read more

For an alleged steakhouse, the chef hasn't to slightest notion of how to prepare a steak. One of our party wanted his rare and two others ordered theirs medium rare. They all came medium well. The sides were mediocre and the wine overpriced. The only aspect of our meal that matched the restaurant's reputation was the very good service. read more

Nice wine list with thoughtful pairings to their regular dishes. Honestly, as I scoured the menu I commented to my friend that I liked virtually all of their items, depending on the weather, I suppose. Diverse recipes make this restaurant palatable to groups with varying tastes. The calamari and bay scallops appetizer was perfectly prepared, seasoned, and the right portion to share. I wanted light fare; my garden salad with chicken and egg was made to order with positive enthusiasm (fried egg instead of hardboiled). The staff is intelligent, upbeat, and witty and they have a creative cocktail list to boot. My friend had the salmon and loved that it wasn't overcooked - the layers peeled off and it was succulent, not ropey. J Wilson's serves pleasant vegetable complements on their plates and demonstrate tasteful presentations. I always ask myself why I don't go more often, and it's only because I live downtown and there are 50 food opportunities adjacent to Mass Street. JW's is worth the 3.7 mile "travel," only 10 minutes west of the bustling business and entertainment corridor. read more

Hands down the best dining experience I've had in Lawrence. I've lived in Lawrence for several years but hadn't made it to J. Wilsons, what a mistake! We went during the holidays with my family to meet family friends of 20+ years. We were given a quiet room so we were all able to hear one another, which as we all age is worth its weight in gold! We were immediately greeted by Nancy one of the owners- who was absolutely delightful and made us feel welcomed and was very appreciative we were there. The food was excellent and I was excited to try a new dish (love our regular downtown spots, but it was nice to mix it up!) and everything was very well priced. We will definitely be adding J. Wilson's to our regular rotation! read more

J. Wilson's is our Go to place. We just love the seasonal menu, the focus on sustainability- even with the wine list-, the beautiful decor and the friendly, professional staff! This place covers all the bases and the food is always top notch! read more

We like it a lot. J Wilson's is getting better all the time. The new decor is beautiful, and the chef keeps experimenting and moving forward. It is great now, and I'm really excited to see what it will be like in a few years. We need a proper fine dining restaurant in Lawrence. read more

I love there lemon drop martinis. Martinis are on special on Thursday nights. #girlsnightout.

Our new favorite place for brunch after church. Gorgeous location and superb staff. The Bloody Mary and grapefruit mimosas were perfect. Quinoa salad was delicious. The coffee cake was divine. We highly recommend! read more

This place is a little spendy but the food and drink selections are top notch. The staff were very friendly and I was able to strike up a nice conversation about whiskey with those sitting in the bar area. If you are looking for chef-prepared dinners that taste like the dish was made specifically for you, I'd recommend stopping in and giving them a try. Yummy food and a fair amount of beers on tap to tease the palate read more

J. Wilson's is our go-to place for special occasions and everyday occasions. We met friends out, including my father-in-law for a nice dinner out. We had made reservations for the 5 of us - and they were ready and waiting. As always - food was amazing. I honestly believe they have the best steak filet's in town. Cooked rare/med rare to perfection. Amazing cocktails, wine selection, you name it. Even our non-foodie friend found happiness in a ham and cheese sandwich on sourdough. J. Wilson's never disappoints. read more

If I'm going to travel to west lawrence, this is by far my favorite place to go. The general manager Lisa is so sweet, attentive, and genuinely cares about all of her guests. She is ever present and helpful. The owner Nancy also stopped by to say hello and check on us! Brunch: mimosas are key. Flights are even better! $5 for a flight is the best deal in town. (Natasha at the bar on sundays is a delight) Not to mention the French toast is fantastic and makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The Moroccan eggs at breakfast is killer as well. And the crab cake benny. And "the sandwhich". And basically all of it. Anyway, lunch and dinner are also a complete success here. The craft cocktails are on point! "Make it So" and the seasonal strawberry basil mojito were our first picks, and we reordered more immediately after the first sip. Thanks, Evan! Happy hour is fantastic, bar plates as well. Basically the only bad time to come here would be when they are closed. Fantastic all around. Just finished my last bite of the Chocolate Chip Cookie dome, and already can't wait to come back! Shout outs to some A+ servers Kailin, Jarred, and Reed! read more

Absolutely love this restaurant. Great place to visit with friends or family. Excellent food and a great wine list