Pescatarian Verdict: #stlouispescatarianapproved Ok fine JJ's has earned the right to call itself a classic. It opened in 1985 and has remained an independent KC restaurant ever since. We started with the lobster and shrimp purses, and the goat cheese in the dish was my favorite surprise. Very creamy and tangy. Then I went with the tuna steak over asparagus. And I have to give JJ's credit for cutting the tuna for you. It's the small things. Loved it! read more

Amazing to think JJ's has been a Kansas City institution for more than 41 years. It's one of the city's longest-running independent restaurants. Last night was our first visit. We were entertaining out-of-town guests, and with their hotel literally next door, JJ's seemed like the perfect choice. Before making the reservation, I read quite a few Yelp reviews. Opinions seemed surprisingly divided. Some called it one of the best restaurants in Kansas City, while others questioned the food, service, and value. I was hoping our experience would fall into the first category. Unfortunately, it didn't. One thing that's immediately apparent is JJ's extraordinary wine program. The wine list is extensive and impressive, and we enjoyed a wonderful bottle of 2021 Caymus. In fact, the wine was easily one of the highlights of our evening. Where the experience fell short was everything else. When you're paying $56 for Ahi Tuna and $79 for the signature JJ's Pride steak, the expectations naturally rise. Our server, who mentioned she had been there only two months, was pleasant, but the overall level of service never matched the caliber of restaurant or the prices. I look for knowledgeable recommendations, polished service, and a meal that flows effortlessly. We never quite felt that. We sampled several dishes that are frequently recommended. The Paco's Shrimp and the Steamed Mussels were enjoyable, but neither stood out. I was surprised that no bread accompanied the mussels to soak up the broth. When we asked for some, it appeared as a $5 charge on the bill. That felt unnecessary and left the wrong impression. The JJ's Pride steak was cooked exactly as requested and was probably the best entrée we ordered. The Ahi Tuna was my biggest disappointment. While it appeared to be cooked to the proper temperature, the heavy chili crisp topping overwhelmed the tuna's natural flavor. It simply wasn't as memorable as I had expected. Our total bill exceeded $600 (before tip), including $165 for the wine. At that price point, I expect an experience I'll be talking about for weeks. Instead, the evening was simply... good. Not bad, but not memorable either. Perhaps we ordered the wrong dishes, although many of our selections are among those most often recommended. I kept waiting for something that made me think, "Now I understand why people rave about this place." That moment never came. I'm glad we finally experienced JJ's, but based on this visit, I don't see us returning. read more

We had drinks and food out on the deck on one of the nicest nights of the whole summer... 73° and a lovely light breeze! JJ's had an extensive and handsome bar area, and an enormous wine list. The specialty cocktail menu is small and required too much explaining to make them sound good. Our server was friendly and answered all our questions about food and beverage. We made it clear all 4 of us needed separate checks. Even though she took the time with each of us to make sure we were getting a drink we'd love, when she brought them to the table she kept giving them to the wrong person. She left work before we finished our food and drinks, and when another server came to collect our dishes, he asked if we wanted separate checks! We said that's what we asked for. Turned out the previous server had NOT divided them, so we had let him know who had what. Then he left to figure them up and came back with the wrong people's stuff on the wrong checks! One person in our party ordered the two lobster tails for $65. It was clear they were hard to get out of the shells, and he said they were dry and tough. He didn't touch the asparagus,, which didn't look all that good anyway. But he said nothing and paid for a not-very-good almost $100 dinner. Another person ordered Limoncello cake, and those of us who tasted it thought it was dry and mediocre. And the last food item was the lobster bisque, which came in a beautiful hammered bowl about 8" across and the soup area took up the middle 3" across, which looked more like a "taste" of soup than a cup of soup. So... Zero out of 5 stars for the food. Three for the drinks, and 4 for the servers, who were friendly, chatty, and informative, but couldn't remember who ordered what when delivering it, even though In total, we only ordered 3 food items and 4 beverages. I've never seen servers so confused, especially when there weren't a lot of other diners. Between the highly overinflated prices, and far less than stellar food, the overall score was: I would never go back! read more

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This was my final Restaurant Week meal (i went to 3 other places). The cocktail (gin blossom) was great, but a salad and salmon were the only gluten-free options and they were both pretty ordinary. The salmon and broccolini were cooked well but the risotto was undercooked (crunchy in the middle). The fudgy ganache ball, the only dessert option, was also kind of ordinary. I thought restaurants would take the opportunity to really shine, to try to impress, but that was not my experience. Particularly surprising was how indifferent the service was. The bill was almost $90, I didnt feel like what I got was worth that much money money. We had a drink in the bar after we finished dinner and the service was much more attentive and friendly, which made the dinner service even more apathetic by comparison. I went to the same restaurant for happy hour about a month ago and got mussels in curry cream sauce that were amazing, so perhaps my expectations were too high. read more

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Excellent happy hour in the bar with fantastic service by Devin. Very warm and comfortable vibe in the bar area. I would love to be a regular here! 5 stars for the bar!!! Dinner in the restaurant with Erin was very pleasant. We started with the shrimp appetizer and if you are not a fan of horseradish, don't be scared off by the description (I'm glad I talked myself into trying it). The flavors in the cream sauce balanced the normally strong flavor of horseradish and it was excellent. Hubby had the ribeye and mashed potatoes and I tried the crab cakes and beet salad. I was very happy with my choices and the two made for a nice entree. Either would have been too small on their own. Dinner was good and we would recommend it, but we probably won't rush back just because it's a fairly pricey meal and it wasn't exceptional in our minds. read more

JJ's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Friday Hally Hour experience which starts at 3 We tried several of the dish's and wow the pizza of the day had quite a kick with jalapeños & andouille sausage!!! The mussels are in a curry sauce which is definitely different but all seemed to enjoy. Great service and nice size portions! Too hot for the patio but it Looked beautiful read more

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Known in Kansas City for its extensive wine list our glasses were never empty. And the food was on point. A few of the standouts are the crab cakes - one of the best I have had in the city. Cooked to perfection and full of fresh flavors. Paco shrimp for an irresistible kick. The KC strip was mouthwatering. Melt in your mouth perfection. The brussell sprouts covered in a sweet teriyaki sauce was a happy accident that is a tasty treat! I could list everything I loved - because there's a lot. So if you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience with a great outdoor patio this is your spot! read more

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Good place service was fast . The food was OK we'll come back. We had a couple of people at our table that was not 100% on the food.

The most beautiful dining room in the city since the American closed. Lighting, misic perfect. The wine list is the best in the midwest. Bonus: the noise level is unobtrusive. You can actually converse with your guests. read more

We went for Valentine's Day and they had a prix fixe menu for dinner. The soup was just okay, nothing special. The crab cake was good! I didn't like that the steaks did not come with vegetables or have the option to add any vegetables. The steaks were flavorful and well-cooked, but slightly under salted. The potatoes were delicious! The berry tiramisu dessert was good, but the chocolate ganache was made with rum (which wasn't included on the menu) & it didn't taste cooked out at all. It was a very strong alcohol flavor that was off putting. Overall, the meal was good, but not worth the price for what it was in my opinion. All of the staff were very nice though! The service was excellent. read more

Delicious and wonderful experience. My husband and I went here for date night and unknowingly picked the opening weekend of restaurant week. Despite being incredibly busy, the staff was still attentive and efficient. Delicious cocktails and mocktails. The lobster goat cheese purse is to die for. Amazing onion soup, the wild boar ragu was perfectly braised, and a classic KC steak. read more

Food was terrible. Ordered Medium steak and it came out well done. Sent it back and it actually came back 15 minutes later and was well done again. Wild boar pasta was bland and tasted like it came out of a can. Waiters and staff were great but food is horrible. Will NOT go back. I think if you're just doing the bar it's probably fine but dinner was pathetic for the price. read more

JJ's Restaurant in the Country Club Plaza is one spot you do not want to miss out on! If you are a local or simply visiting JJ's, you will want to add it to your list of places to dine. Every course is unique, delicious, and fresh. Must try menu items include: The Paco Shrimp (bacon wrapped shrimp with horseradish), the Lobster Mac & Cheese, the Chilean Sea Bass served with fiddlehead ferns, and ANY of the steaks. End your meal with the Olive Oil Cake and the Chocolate Ganache Cake! Relax on the patio, sit at the bar area, or the snag a table. Check out JJ's asap! read more

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Blah, meh. Food was nothing to write home about. We had the medallions, wild boar pasta, onion soup and some salads. Nothing extraordinary. There were 4 of dining, in from out of town. The service however was excellent !!!!! Attentive and efficient. read more

My friend and I visited JJ's for the first time for restaurant week. The ambience was very nice, the service was excellent, and the food was very good. The dessert was to die for! We also really enjoyed the wine. read more

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I had a bad experience at J J's on 8/17/25. First of all I of my fellow guests ordered Calamari but had to send it back. She said it was just like rubber. Next our other orders for 6 people did not go through and had 2 be ordered again. Took far too long. Won't go back there again ! Also parking is very difficult and hard to find J J's once you're in building. Not sure how they received their high rating read more

I have been going to JJ's since its initial opening. Since then, the original JJ's, owned and first opened by Jimmy Franze, had a gas explosion and was destroyed. A young server was killed. JJ's has always been one of my favorite restaurants. Last night, May 2, a group of 12 of us dined at the JJ's that reopened several years ago in an office building nearby the destroyed restaurant. We were SHOCKED to be told we would all be dividing the groups total ticket(plus 20% tip) by 12!! One of our group members had a bowl of soup and a salad and a glass of water. Another gal had a salad and a side of mashed potatoes. Others had the table had $80 steaks, appetizers, desserts, etc. Some of the group drank alcoholic drinks, others did not. This payment method is atrocious!! It makes people afraid to order what they really want, ashamed to make others pay for their dinner! We were all aghast! I spoke with the manager on duty who indicated the present owner wanted it that way. (Mr. Franze is no longer the owner). I have dined in most notable restaurants in KC and have never encountered this bizarre and unacceptable payment process! The only reason I gave them a 3 is because the food is still good, albeit overpriced. Our server was dismissive on several occasions but would then return to being a decent server. Had extremely mixed emotions about her. IF this payment arrangement hadn't been in place, I would have probably enjoyed my evening much more. As it stands, I will NOT be returning to JJ's until this situation is rectified! It is so unfair, misleading, and complicated. On top of having to split the check 12 ways, they would accept no more than 3 credit cards. What a joke! For a couple or two couples dining together, this BS would be fine. For a large party, it is disappointing and a disaster!! By the way, it was a Saturday night and the once bustling JJ's was nearly empty. Maybe many others feel the same way. Fix it!! read more

This place was life changing. The staff was incredible. The atmosphere was romantic. The food was out of this world. Our waiter was extremely helpful and accommodating. I would recommend this place to everyone but it is on the pricier side. However, it's more than just a dinner. It's an experience and worth every penny! SN, this restaurant doesn't have a parking garage so we had to park on the street. We were lucky to find a good spot right across the street from the restaurant. Lastly, I ordered the wild boar ragu which was delectable and even better the next day when reheated. read more

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Love the patio, service is always amazing, nice happy hour, great wines. Miss the Paco shrimp on HH. My only disappointment is the mussels with so much curry making it bright yellow and overpowering. The traditional simple prep is delicious so I wish that was an alt option! read more

JJ's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

we ate here last year and it was so good. we were disappointed this visit. the beet salad was tasty but so much smaller than we've had in the past. lobster bisque was very good but again a much smaller portion than we've had in the past. wild boar was a good portion but rather bland. we've had better pulled pork at bbq joints. service was sub par we were the only table and seemed to be an after thought. again the service on previous visit made the meal extra special. there was a party going on in the main dining room even with the doors closed it was difficult for o carry on a conversation. overall not worth the 45 min drive. we won't be back even with money left on our gift certificate. read more

It's been many years since I've visited JJ's restaurant. I was interested in a dining experience and had fond memories of the Paco Shrimp. Please note that you can park in the garage below the building and receive validation for your ticket when dining. J Js has one of the most extensive wine lists in greater Kansas City. However, I was thirsty for an old-fashioned, which was quite nice however, the "good value" maraschino cheery diminished the experience just a little bit. I was expecting more of a brandy infused cherry at a restaurant like JJ's. We had to start with the Paco Shrimp, which was a little underwhelming. One would think that an appetizer that comes in a quantity of two or four would use a #12 or #16 shrimp versus a #60. For dinner, we had the ribeye with potatoes, au gratin, and chicken Marcella, which is served with mashed potatoes. Both entrées were done well and very flavorful. For dessert, we shared the chocolate layered cake, which was delicious. read more

I have lived in KC 7 years and somehow never knew JJ's existed and I feel like I've missed out. Ambiance: This is an elegant spot that provides cozy vibes. We went for a birthday dinner and it was the perfect spot. Service was amazing ! (Shoutout Dean) they even gave a free dessert for the birthday girl. Food/Drinks: Everything the table ordered was absolutely delicious. We had the meatballs and cheese platter for apps, and various main dishes that everyone loved. Doesn't seem like there's a bad option. My Chicken Marsala was to die for and honestly who even says that about Chicken Marsala ?? read more

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Everything was great, crab cakes have a little too much filler. Food was fresh, service was amazing. read more

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Great food great service memorable meal. The group ventured north of 435 and our local southern haunts to revisit an old favorite: JJ's. It was one of our spots several times a year before their fire. We enjoyed the underground parking albeit a bit of a search to find it, just circle the block. Validate your ticket. Fabulous Jason served us in the bar for pre dinner drinks, JW Black, Kettle and a new gin from London. Well done. Lobster tails and steaks were superb. Don't miss the long time favorite appetizer Poco shrimp wrapped in bacon. It brought back memories. These are a bit smaller and slightly overcooked than before. We would have paid more for not tiny shrimp. Elini gave great service. Slight complaint the room was quite loud, likely says more about us than the venue. Ha! read more

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This is a premier legacy restaurant in Kansas City. The feta purses and shrimp appetizers are must haves. However, when you need a Kansas City steak, JJs should be at the top of your list. The service is impeccable, but never bougie. JJs also has one of, if not the most extensive, well-curated wine lists in the city. read more

This is a very cute unique spot in KC! I love the light and we didn't have to wait at all. They did good with distancing every table further than 6 ft apart. Very unique, great service and great food, this is a must try! Their Phyllo wrapped Baked Brie was one of the best appetizer I've ever had!! read more

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Was in on business and wanted to get a nice, steak dinner and JJ's did not disappoint! I had browsed the menu before stopping in but the waiter, David, swayed me to try a different cut and side than I had planned on and was very pleased with the suggestion he made (also a less expensive cut than I had planned on). Meal was very well prepared, David was very personable and his service was excellent as were the other members of the staff. Parking in the garage was validated as well. read more

JJ's Restaurant - JJ's Pride - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Beautiful and cozy yet elegant restaurant with delightful entree options and an extensive wine list. I come here especially for the brussel spouts. I've yet to find a restaurant that makes them better. read more

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Just left after sitting at the bar for 20 minutes without any of the several bar staff saying a word to us or clearing the prior customers' used plates. JJ's was a go-to every time we came to town but we won't be back. read more

Came here on a weekday night for happy hour. Perks: the location--near the plaza which is nice if you want to grab dinner and drinks and then make your way to plaza for more bar hopping. They do have a parking garage in the back, and they'll validate your ticket. They also have a HUGE outdoor space so you can eat and drink on the patio which would be lovely in the Spring or Fall. Important to note: JJs is fairly pricey so is not a great place for a casual dinner. Their cocktail menu is pretty good with a lot of seasonal, fun drinks that were delish. The food was okay in my opinion. Portion sizes small compared to price, and was not that impressed from what I got + what my friends got. I would come back for drinks and apps for fancier night out. read more

JJ's Restaurant - Pizza appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We had the Fillet and Lobster Tail. Both were perfectly prepared and out shone two other local Steakhouses we had recently tried in the KC area. Our Server was excellent, and all of the staff we interacted with were kind and professional. JJ's ambiance was intimate and classic. Parking was relatively simple for a downtown location. We parked on the street, but we could have used the parking garage and had it validated. I began with the soup of the day and my wife had a Caesar salad. The soup was good and my wife and I both found that the Caesar salad was dressed perfectly with what seamed to be dressing made in-house. We will definitely be back. read more

JJ's Restaurant - Main Dining Area - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

First time at JJ's and really pleased with our experience. I started with their barrel aged old fashioned. Flavor was great and the barrel aging definitely made it strong. Spouse ordered a glass of dry red wine from their extensive wine menu. Ordered the baked Brie app and wow. So good. Be sure to squeeze the roasted garlic half to get out all the garlic goodness (a waiter saw us struggle and came to our rescue). I got the KC strip cooked medium with mashed potatoes. Fantastic crust on the steak. Creamy delightful potatoes. Spouse got the ribeye medium rare and it was also spectacular. Finished with carrot cake for dessert and spouse had a cup of coffee. They have their own blend of Roasterie coffee and he really enjoyed it! We will be back! read more

JJ's Restaurant - Carrot cake - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Our dinner at JJ's was one to return to, we came to KC for a last minute trip to celebrate a weekend away for our 2nd year wedding anniversary and it was a very impressive place from the greeting at the hostess check in to the sit down, staff was top notch, food was even better, for starters we had the meat balls and they were delicious and perfectly seasoned, my husband had the KC strip and asparagus both perfectly prepared and I had the rack of lamb and sautéed spinach and tomatoes, delectable... We had the Pinot noir wine with dinner and a Carmel drizzle and fresh raspberry cheesecake to share.. The ambiance made everything perfect Our waitress Eleni was superb We will visit again ‼ read more

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JJ's restaurant is great for dinner or a quick happy hour. I've been here twice in the past month, and have enjoyed wonderful service on the patio. Their outdoor seating is pretty good, although sometimes I feel my chair is a little close to my neighbor's - but at least it is outdoors. They have pretty lights on the trees, and the backdrop is rather "chill". Their patio is on the second floor, so there isn't too much street noise. There is garage parking underneath the building. The food for happy hour is pretty good. Their calamari is a smaller portion, but definitely hit the spot! The burnt end pizza was delicious!! We ended up ordering two - I think one pizza is good for two not-so-hungry diners. Happy hour drinks are relatively limited, but their full drink menu is also available and I love their cocktails. The dinner menu is quite expansive, and we ended up getting the rib eye which was tender, perfectly seasoned. I think I enjoyed their rib eye more than some other steak restaurants. All in all, I was quite happy with both times I've spent there! read more

Great customer service the food was delicious. Everyone enjoyed everything they ordered. Everyone order 2 bowls of the gumbo it was so good. The wine selection was a wine lovers dream. read more

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We enjoy dining here and our menu favs are Boars Ragu and Osso Buco, but unfortunately Osso Buco is off the menu now. Our waiter Christopher was friendly and helpful. Mike Savage paintings decorate the Dining room walls. We highly recommend JJ's and their extensive wine selection. read more

My first visit here during restaurant week. It did not disappoint. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful. I had paco shrimp and wild boar Ragu. The dessert course was too rich for me. But I will definitely go back to check out their happy hour and do dinner. For first timers- they do have a parking garage but I had to circle around the block because I missed the sign. You could also park at the plaza and walk over to JJ's too. read more

I'm always on the look out for a good Happy Hour spot where I can eat, drink, laugh and drink some more with the girls. JJ's has a fair selection of wine, boulevard beers and cocktails on their HH menu in addition to snacks that you can eat from 4-7PM | DAILY (which is rare). Their pizza and calamari and my "go-to" selections and the ingredients are always fresh. For dinner I had the medallions au poivre with grilled asparagus and it tenderloin was so savory with black peppercorn sauce. While their patio remains open with fire pits and heaters, they've also installed an air filtration systems throughout the restaurant to help eliminate bacteria by 99.7%. So #WhileUAreHere, you can feel safe about their COVID response while dining-in for Happy Hour, I know I did. read more

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Two nights ago it was great at JJ's. I arrived early at the bar and had a glass of the Gruet sparkling from New Mexico. Excellent choice. Massive wine list with wines from all the top wine regions. We started out with the lobster and goat cheese purses. 3 on the plate with a very nice presentation. Rick our waiter was outstanding with a good sense of a humor. The purses are Philo dough wrapped and stuffed with a nice portion of lobster and melted goat cheese. Delicious! For the main course I had the Filet Mignon. A beautiful piece of 8oz cow on my plate. Mooove over! Ordered medium rare this filet was one of the best I ever had. I think Kansas City meat is fantastic. The filet could be cut with a fork but I wanted my slices to look nice so I used a knife. Didn't want someone to think I was a caveman but I am a carnivore! Served with garlic mashed potatoes, a little filet and a scoop of potato makes a create combination. A nice side salad came with the meal and it was a very good simple salad with an Italian dressing. Definitely will be back. Huge dining area. And fantastic bar/wine list make this a complete dining experience. If I lived here I would hang out here. 5 stars The song of this review is "Feeling Good" by Michael Buble. read more

JJ's Restaurant - Front of JJ's is architecturally spectacular with the glass reflections of the main business center building. - Seafood Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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One of my favorite happy hours in town. The ambiance is classy and comfortable. Perfect for a post-work meeting. Delicious snacks and reasonably priced glasses of wine. read more