Jamul 23 serves decent seafood for a hefty eighty dollar price tag per person. The dining area was relatively small, although I enjoyed the natural lighting from the glass windows that filled the space with beautiful sunshine throughout our meal. Most tables were on the smaller side, and larger groups should make a reservation for any chance of being seated comfortably.
The selection of food was rather limited, and there seemed to be a shortage of servers. No one came to take our drink orders until we had already finished a plate or two of food. Drink options were not listed, but they included green tea, hot or iced, sodas, and fruit juices such as pineapple, apple, orange, and cranberry. Each table was set with baskets of bread, butter, and Jamul labeled water bottles. Since we were a larger group, plates quickly piled up, making it difficult to eat comfortably. Our server occasionally cleared a few plates but did not consistently return to remove the rest.
I was disappointed by the limited variety of options. Additionally, the layout of dishes and condiments did not feel intuitive.
Lobster came in two forms, steamed or fried. I personally preferred the fried version because it had slightly more seasoning. These would have benefited from lemon and butter, which were placed on separate tables and not easy to find.
The crab lacked proper tools, as no crackers were provided. The steamed preparation felt plain, and I wished there had been a more creative crab or lobster focused dish such as an entree or soup.
The salad station offered two choices, caprese and Caesar. The vegetables were standard, with two dressing options available.
The prime rib was extremely dry and lacked au jus. The available condiments included mint jelly, plain horseradish, and creamy horseradish. The creamy horseradish was very mild and needed more intensity. Service at the carving station was also lacking, as no one was consistently present to serve duck, salmon, sirloin, or prime rib, which caused delays.
The duck was the worst item I tried. It was severely overcooked, difficult to chew, and lacked seasoning, making the texture unpleasant.
The scallops were small but tender and slightly sweet. They were not especially plump, but they were clean and not fishy.
The oysters were slightly oversteamed, resulting in a somewhat rubbery texture. However, the mignonette sauce was enjoyable. I also wish there had been raw oyster options.
The clam chowder was somewhat watery but had a pleasant sweetness from the clams and paired well with the complimentary bread.
The creme brulee was surprisingly limited in quantity. When we returned for more, we were told they had run out, even though the buffet was still open for several more hours. The sugar topping had a nice crisp texture without being overly burned. The custard was slightly loose but had a strong vanilla flavor.
The macarons were small and extremely sweet. I wished the fillings had been fresher to balance the sweetness. The raspberry flavor was the most enjoyable due to its slight tartness, although it was still quite sweet overall.
The eclairs had a chocolate filling, but the pastry exterior was stale. It resembled a donut that had been left out too long, becoming oily and limp.
The soft serve was not listed on the menu, but we were informed about it separately. Only vanilla was available, with toppings such as nuts or caramel. The ice cream was bland, and the toppings were minimal. The overall flavor lacked richness and depth.
I also wish items had been labeled clearly, especially the desserts. I could only identify them based on prior experience at other buffets. Each item should have been properly labeled, including any potential allergens such as nuts.
The meats were poorly executed, so I found myself returning to the same three items: lobster, scallops, and oysters. Strangely, several items ran out before eight in the evening, further limiting our choices. This included fruit and creme brulee, which felt unreasonable given the eighty dollar price. Overall, the service was disappointing from the initial reservation through the end of our meal. The experience left our group feeling that we would have been better off buying lobster tails and vanilla ice cream ourselves rather than spending so much on this visit. read more