J. Alexander’s is a restaurant that offers quality American food – think wood-fired steaks, juicy burgers, tasty salads, and much more. Each restaurant also offers their own special menu options on a rotating basis. The food is served in an upscale atmosphere, but not so upscale that it is out of reach of the average American budget.
The corporation that owns this restaurant actually has a collection of three separate restaurants, which also includes Redlands Grill and Stoney River. Each restaurant offers similar menu options and a full-service bar. The restaurants are located in fifteen states, the majority of which are in the South and the Midwest.
| Item | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Soups & Starters | ||
| Chef's Daily Soup or Chicken Pasta Soup | $7.00 | |
| Deviled Eggs | Finished with sugar-cured bacon and homemade pickle relish | $8.00 |
| Mr. Jack's Crispy Chicken | Hand-breaded tenders, served with french fries | $14.00 |
| Mexico City Spinach con Queso | Served with warm tortilla chips | $13.00 |
| Fire-Grilled Artichokes | Seasoned with herb butter. With rémoulade | $13.00 |
| Calamari | Seasoned, breaded and deep fried. Served with marinara sauce | $17.00 |
| Chef's Daily Soup or Chicken Pasta Soup | $6.00 | |
| Deviled Eggs | Finished with sugar-cured bacon and homemade pickle relish | $8.00 |
| Mr. Jack's Crispy Chicken | Hand-breaded tenders, served with french fries | $13.00 |
| Mexico City Spinach con Queso | Served with warm tortilla chips | $12.00 |
| Fire-Grilled Artichokes | Seasoned with herb butter. With rémoulade | $13.00 |
| Calamari | Seasoned, breaded and deep fried. Served with marinara sauce | $16.00 |
| Salads | ||
| Alex's Salad | Bacon, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons | $10.00 |
| Original Caesar Salad | Croutons and Reggiano Parmesan | $10.00 |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | Tortilla strips, Feta cheese, olives, tomatoes with white wine vinaigrette | $15.00 |
| Redwood Salad | Rotisserie chicken, pecans, avocado, tomatoes, bacon, cheese, croutons and ranch dressing | $17.00 |
| Thai Kai Salad | Chicken, mixed greens, peanuts tossed in a cilantro vinaigrette with Thai peanut sauce | $16.00 |
| Asian Ahi Tuna Salad* | Seared rare with field greens, wasabi in a cilantro vinaigrette | $20.00 |
| Alex's Salad | Bacon, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons | $10.00 |
| Original Caesar Salad | Croutons and Reggiano Parmesan | $10.00 |
| Alex's or Caesar Salad with Soup | $14.00 | |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | Tortilla strips, Feta cheese, olives, tomatoes with white wine vinaigrette | $15.00 |
| Redwood Salad | Rotisserie chicken, pecans, avocado, tomatoes, bacon, cheese, croutons and ranch dressing | $17.00 |
| Thai Kai Salad | Chicken, mixed greens, peanuts tossed in a cilantro vinaigrette with Thai peanut sauce | $15.00 |
| Asian Ahi Tuna Salad* | Seared rare with field greens, wasabi in a cilantro vinaigrette | $20.00 |
| Burgers, Sandwiches & Small Plates | ||
| We grind fresh chuck daily for our hand-pattied burgers | ||
| Veggie Burger | Made in-house, topped with Monterey Jack | $14.00 |
| Old Fashioned Cheeseburger* | With Tillamook cheddar | $15.00 |
| Steak Burger* | Ground beef tenderloin and ribeye, Tillamook cheddar, grilled onions and Kiawah Island dressing | $16.00 |
| Croque Madame* | Classic grilled Gruyère cheese and smoked ham sandwich topped with an egg sunny side up | $16.00 |
| French Dip* | Sliced Prime Rib, baguette and horseradish | $20.00 |
| Hyde Park | Grilled chicken breast topped with Monterey Jack | $14.00 |
| Country Club | Ham, turkey, two cheeses, bacon and mayonnaise | $15.00 |
| Fish Sandwich | Cut fresh daily with french fries | $16.00 |
| Veggie Burger | Made in-house, topped with Monterey Jack | $13.00 |
| Old Fashioned Cheeseburger* | With Tillamook cheddar | $14.00 |
| Steak Burger* | Ground beef tenderloin and ribeye, Tillamook cheddar, grilled onions and Kiawah Island dressing | $15.00 |
| Croque Madame* | Classic grilled Gruyère cheese and smoked ham sandwich topped with an egg sunny side up | $16.00 |
| French Dip* | Sliced Prime Rib, baguette and horseradish | $19.00 |
| Hyde Park | Grilled chicken breast topped with Monterey Jack | $13.00 |
| Country Club | Ham, turkey, two cheeses, bacon and mayonnaise | $15.00 |
| Fish Sandwich | Cut fresh daily with french fries | $16.00 |
| Taco Platters | ||
| Steak* (or Chicken) | Lettuce, sour cream sauce, Monterey Jack, fresh cilantro and pico de gallo salsa | $16.00 |
| Fish | Daily fish selections, deep fried, avocado, chili mayonnaise | $17.00 |
| Steak* (Or Chicken) | Lettuce, sour cream sauce, Monterey Jack, fresh cilantro and pico de gallo salsa | $15.00 |
| Fish | Daily fish selections, deep fried, avocado, chili mayonnaise | $16.00 |
| Steaks & Prime Rib | ||
| All steaks are finished with Maître d' butter, except for marinated steaks | ||
| Steak 'N' Fries* | A French Brasserie style steak with garlic, served with french fries | $26.00 |
| New York Strip* | Aged beef with NYO mac & cheese | $35.00 |
| Steak Maui* | Marinated ribeye with "Smashed Potatoes" | $35.00 |
| Filet Mignon with Béarnaise* | Center cut, baked potato | $35.00 |
| Slow Roasted Prime Rib* | Aged Mid-Western beef served au jus with "Smashed Potatoes" | $28.00 |
| Steak 'N' Fries* | A French Brasserie style steak with garlic, served with french fries | $25.00 |
| New York Strip* | Aged beef with NYO mac & cheese | $35.00 |
| Steak Maui* | Marinated ribeye with "Smashed Potatoes" | $34.00 |
| Filet Mignon with Béarnaise* | Center cut, baked potato | $35.00 |
| Slow Roasted Prime Rib* | Aged Mid-Western beef served au jus with "Smashed Potatoes" | $28.00 |
| Specialties | ||
| Alex's or Caesar salad to accompany your entrée $6 / Split Plate charge $3 | ||
| Grilled Scottish Salmon* | Fresh cold water salmon | $29.00 |
| Today's Featured Fish* | We offer a wide selection of fresh paneed or hardwood-grilled seafood every day | $ |
| Ahi Tuna Filet* | Topped with wasabi mayonnaise. Served with "Smashed Potatoes," tomatoes, and a Toro dipping sauce | $29.00 |
| Cilantro Shrimp | Tiger shrimp with cilantro oil and cajun spices, served with cole slaw | $24.00 |
| Carolina Crab Cakes | Coastal recipe. Jumbo lump crab meat, chili mayonnaise and mustard sauce. With french fries (LA) | $ |
| Rotisserie Chicken | One-half chicken roasted and seasoned with our special herb blend. Served with "Smashed Potatoes" | $19.00 |
| Mr. Jack's Crispy Chicken Platter | South Carolina low country recipe with french fries and cole slaw | $19.00 |
| Rattlesnake Tagliatelle | Southwestern spices, peppers and chicken | $18.00 |
| Grilled Pork Tenderloin* | Cured in-house with Thai "Bang Bang" sauce and "Smashed Potatoes" | $23.00 |
| Barbecue Baby Back Ribs | Served with Plum Creek BBQ sauce, french fries and cole slaw | $28.00 |
| Grilled Scottish Salmon* | Fresh cold water salmon | $22.00 |
| Today's Featured Fish* | We offer a wide selection of fresh paneed or hardwood-grilled seafood every day | $ |
| Ahi Tuna Filet* | Topped with wasabi mayonnaise. Served with "Smashed Potatoes," tomatoes, and a Toro dipping sauce | $28.00 |
| Cilantro Shrimp | Tiger shrimp with cilantro oil and cajun spices, served with cole slaw | $23.00 |
| Carolina Crab Cakes | Coastal recipe. Jumbo lump crab meat, chili mayonnaise and mustard sauce. With french fries (LA) | $ |
| Rotisserie Chicken | One-half chicken roasted and seasoned with our special herb blend. Served with "Smashed Potatoes" | $19.00 |
| Mr. Jack's Crispy Chicken Platter | South Carolina low country recipe with french fries and cole slaw | $18.00 |
| Rattlesnake Tagliatelle | Southwestern spices, peppers and chicken | $17.00 |
| Grilled Pork Tenderloin* | Cured in-house with Thai "Bang Bang" sauce and "Smashed Potatoes" | $22.00 |
| Barbecue Baby Back Ribs | Served with Plum Creek BBQ sauce, french fries and cole slaw | $28.00 |
| Side Items | ||
| All $5 | ||
| French Fries | ||
| Southern Cole Slaw | ||
| Broccoli | ||
| Orzo & Wild Rice | ||
| Israeli Couscous | ||
| Heirloom Beets | ||
| Smashed Potatoes | ||
| Not Your Ordinary Mac & Cheese | ||
| Loaded Baked Potato | ||
| Ripened Tomatoes | ||
| French Fries | ||
| Southern Cole Slaw | ||
| Broccoli | ||
| Orzo & Wild Rice | ||
| Israeli Couscous | ||
| Heirloom Beets | ||
| Smashed Potatoes | ||
| Not Your Ordinary Mac & Cheese | ||
| Loaded Baked Potato | ||
| Ripened Tomatoes | ||
| Housemade Desserts | ||
| Suggested tableside by server | ||
| French Press Coffee | $3.00 - $9.00 | |
| French Press Coffee | $3.00 - $9.00 | |
History
The company was founded in 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee, by three businessmen – Jack C. Massey, Earl Beasley, Jr., and John Neff, Jr. The company was then called Volunteer Capital Corporation. Volunteer Capital originally focused on leasing equipment. It then moved to fast food and then purchased a chain of family-style dining restaurants called Mrs. Winner’s Chicken and Biscuit.
In 1982, Volunteer Capital changed it’s name to Winners Corp. The Winner’s restaurants struggled and started losing money throughout the mid to late 80’s. The company was bought out by RTM Inc. in 1989, and Lonnie J. Stout II became chairman after the death of Jack C. Massey in February 1990. The company changed its name back to Volunteer Capital and decided to focus on opening a new line of casual dining restaurants.
In May 1991, the corporation opened their first restaurant, also in Nashville, Tennessee. The restaurant was located on a road that was known to locals as “Death Row” because so many previous businesses on the road had failed. Fortunately, this did not hold true for J. Alexander’s, as the restaurant was an immediate success.
The corporation continued to add new restaurants and expanded exponentially throughout the 90’s. In 1997, the name was changed to J. Alexander’s Corporation. Fidelity National Financial bought the company in 2012.
Review
J. Alexander’s has a wonderful variety of menu options, the most popular of which are the marinated steaks and tender prime rib. For those who want to veer away from the red meat, the seafood and chicken dishes are excellent as well. One popular dinner item is the Rattlesnake Pasta, with a mixture of Southwestern spices, peppers, and chicken.
Although the restaurant is officially considered casual dining, it has a more high-class atmosphere that might be encountered at a more upscale restaurant, but more affordable prices on the menu. These prices include $6-$13 appetizers, a wide variety of salads that cost anywhere from about $10-$19, burgers and sandwiches that range from $12-$21, main entrees from about $16-$33, and desserts around $7-$8. Cocktails and drinks average about $10-$12.
The restaurant boasts attentive and friendly service. Taste of the food is flavorful and delicious. High marks also for food presentation and variety of menu items.
The hygiene of the restaurant is very clean and the ambiance is pleasant. There are around 30 restaurant locations throughout the Midwest and the South, so there are plenty of opportunities to access the unique dining experience offered by J. Alexander’s.