Jackson 20From scratch deliciousI went to Jackson 20 for Father's Day with 5 members of my family. We made a reservation and only had to wait about 10 minutes (because we were early) and did so at the bar. The bartender was great and I liked the old world feel to the bar. The service was nice, a little slow (had to keep asking for refills on bottomless mimosas), but the food was good. The ambiance was modern chic with an intimate feel. It was a little hard to converse across the table because the tables were wide and there was a bridal shower next to us, but we managed. All the food was made from scratch and plentiful, down to the ketchup.6/16/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome dinner and bar!!!I was supposed to meet friends for a late dinner and they flaked on me. So instead of taking a table, I went to the bar. The bar was nearly at full seating capacity (it was about 9pm) and half of the people there were finishing dinner and half were just drinking. I couldn't decide what to have so I told Justin, the bartender, to make me something with bourbon. He came up with a cocktail that had ginger beer, bourbon, and some citrus and cherry flavors and was PERFECT to start off. I had their special burger for dinner (topped with a blue-cheddar and foie gras) and he made a bourbon, blackberry, and basil drink to go with it!
Very good experience and I WILL return...both for food and for drinks!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Late Night, Last Minute StopWas making last minute, late night dinner plans and this place was great. Even though they close at 11pm they still took us at 10:45. Even though it was the end of the night they provided us with great service. The food was very good as well. I was pleased to see they had daily specials and still offered them late into the evening. I had the spare ribs which were only $12!
Definitely going back.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great dinnerWe treat ourselves to Jackson 20 at least a few times a year and are never disappointed. This visit was no exception. Our server, David was awesome! He is so knowledgeable and takes the time to walk you through the specials and offerings. He makes excellent recommendations too. The rib appetizer was huge and delicious! David's recommended Cabernet was fabulous.
Go to Jackson 20, request David's section and enjoy!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAttended the pig party. FoodAttended the pig party. Food and music were great. The Chef carving the pig talked me in to trying a pork cheek - it was delicious.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMPig partyThe food was delicious and band was great but 'party' wasn't the right word for the too tame crowd.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMVery Good as UsualThis was my third time visiting Jackson 20 and as in past visits the food and drinks were excellent. The noise level low on this particular evening which is always appreciated (not that it can be changed!) My only real complaint was the speed of the bartender, it should not take 15-20 minutes to make two drinks when the bar isn't busy at all. This won't stop me from coming back but hopefully they take note!6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch was excellent. FreshBrunch was excellent. Fresh fruits was excellent as was the French Toast and sausage. I had unlimited Mimosas for $13. As soon as I was near finishing, the waiter was there with another mimosa. The waiter was excellent, anticipating our every need. We did not feel rushed. Would definitely come again!6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely best experienceAbsolutely best experience anytime we dine here for brunch!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMJ 20Excellent meal and very attentive staff. Food is terrific and many different items.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFtom wine to the food, awesome!We were set promptly and right away made to feel at home.. Food was great. It was very flsvorful, seasoned well, with Goo d portion sizes. Wine menu extensive. Bartender after dinner were great and would fix anything you wanted.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat breakfast fare - waffles,Great breakfast fare - waffles, eggs (omelets and scrambled), and traditional breakfast meats.
Mehmet, our server, was great! Thank you.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this restaurant. GreatI love this restaurant. Great food, great bar and great service.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreatI had a great experience at Jackson 20 except for my server. She was totally uninterested in waiting on me and my friends despite our $100 plus tab. I received better service from the bus boys and other servers. If I return, I would request a different server because the food was great.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMShrimp & GritsI wanted to go to Jackson 20 specifically for the shrimp & grits and I wasn't disappointed. Deep, full flavor AND the shrimp was head-on! We started with a fantastic selection of oysters and the deviled eggs. My wife got the salmon for her main course. She's not one for "medium rare" but I tried a bite just to see. While cooked all the way through, it was moist and delicious. Service was very good. Our server took the time to warn us the bread pudding was pretty big and recommended we split it. So glad we did. We were stuffed and had to take half home with us. All in all a great meal and we're definitely going back.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMPleasantly surprised aboutPleasantly surprised about the excellent food. Waiter was great and the food was amazing!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMHat tip to Jackson 20We had outstanding service and they cheerfully made room for our extra diners. All of the food is really good, especially their fried chicken.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect!My daughter & I wanted a special location for girls' weekend dinner and this was just Perfect! Service, food, wine - everything was outstanding!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFrequent diner and have neverFrequent diner and have never had a poor experience. Waitstaff is very attentive but not overbearing. Quality of food is sublime.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ambiance and service.We were a little hesitant about the table location at the end of the bar but it turned out great. Both the waiter, staff and restaurant manager were great and very friendly and helpful.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BrunchMy parents visited me in DC this past week, and, seeing it was Mother's Day on Sunday, decided to treat them to brunch at Jackson 20. I have gone to brunch often here and Sunday was once again a great time. The food is great, the service excellent and we all enjoyed ourselves.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLimited lunch menu but theLimited lunch menu but the BBQ salmon was very good as were the shrimp and grits -- good southern cooking.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall, even for a hotel restaurantGreat food and service, but overall a small, crowded room with no ambience to speak of. As a hotel restaurant that's not uncommon, but I had expected more from a Kimpton. Because the bar seats less than 20 and others had already been allowed to crowd the small standing area, we opted for an outdoor table to have a couple drinks before our reservation. The cocktails really are a treat. Even the most basic, the J20 Manhattan is unique enough - using sherry instead of vermouth and a brandied cherry. Five star cocktails like these deserve a bigger bar. Overall, fantastic food, craft cocktails, and service - just in a one-room restaurant off a hotel lobby. Where J20 lacks in ambience, the food will certainly make up for it.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI love the food at JacksonI love the food at Jackson 20. The fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, as well as the Mexican bread pudding, were all amazing. Whenever I am in Old Town I try to stop by and push the group Im with to go to Jackson. If you like farm to table southern food with an environmentally concious chef, this is the place for you.
David, our waiter, was also terrific. We will ask to sit with him every time we return.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMShort, thoughtful menu, dishesShort, thoughtful menu, dishes well prepared, good value/portion sizes. Excellent collard greens, still thinking about them 2 days later. Waiter needed a little more training on food preparations but otherwise good.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMStaff was able to accommodateStaff was able to accommodate us when we got there a little earlier than our reservation. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Food was great!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food--fresh and inventiveWait staff gave great recommendations--Entrees--the pork special with red peas and the trout almondine placed on a delicious bed of kale. Appetizers--the deviled eggs were great and were beautifully presented. The Virginia crabcake was moist and mostly crabmeat--no filler...placed on a wonderful arugula salad. Highly recommend those appetizers! Very fresh food with inventive presentations and flavorful combinations.
a side note--It is a busy place as it's part of the Monaco Hotel. We ended up by the hotel door so there was a lot of back and forth traffic between the bar and the hotel. Also the decibel level is a bit high; slate flooring doesn't sound so hard to have a conversation.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch with a punchThe Mimosas were fantastic and they also have an excellent beer selection. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs which was hearty and tasty, but a bit strange because it didn't come with toast/biscuit. My friend ordered the Eggs Benedict with Crab Cakes and enjoyed every bite.
The restaurant was extremely loud when we were there. Several large groups of people drinking Mimosas contributed to that.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWife and I had dinner hereWife and I had dinner here and overall enjoyed ourselves. Service was quick and efficient. Almost too quick, as we had our appetizer a good 2-3 minutes before the cocktails we ordered at the same time. Food was very good and the waiter's suggestions for wine pairing worked well.
The best compliment I'd give them is this - I felt like we got the quality expected for the price. There are way too many places in this price range that fail to deliver what Jackson 20 does.
We'll go back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial placeLove their food. Most unusual menu. Reasonable prices. Great deal on bottles of wine.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWent there for Saturday brunch.Went there for Saturday brunch. Was told we would be sat in 15 minutes, took more like a half hour but no big deal because I was enjoying the bottomless mimosas at the bar. When we were seated, our waiter was friendly and prompt. Our food was absolutely delicious! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to others!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were seated immediatelyWe were seated immediately upon arrival even though we arrived a few minutes ahead of our reservation time. Our waiter had an in depth knowledge of both the menu and the food preparation process. He was efficient, easy to speak with, offered recommendations when asked and was not pushy. The food was absolutley fabulous. We will definitely go back when we return to the area in the future.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMLove Jackson 20!!!Love love love this place!!! Staff is attentive, food is great, great feel/ambiance, great people watching along King street! Will def keep coming back!!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat mixed drinks and food menuWent here for a date on Friday night. We arrived 30 minutes before our reservation and they sat us down with no problem. We sat right by the bar and the enterance to the kitchen. It was a little loud but I loved how open the kitchen was. I drank the Mint Sidecar and my boyfriend had the Redskin; both were delicious. A server dropped a glass by us so the kitchen gave us a free order of Fried Green Tomatoes to apologize. It was really unnecessary but those tomatoes were delicious. Definitely check them out. I got the Salmon which was beautifully plated and seasoned with lots of fresh rosemary. My boyfriend got the Amish Chicken which was served with delicious mashed potatoes and veggies. We were too full for dessert but they all looked good.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMA little overpriced but great mealWe had an early Friday night dinner (530 reservations) and didn't find noise an issue, but I could see how that might happen to other diners. Food was terrific but a bit overpriced. Kids menu was limited although they were great with her, learning and referring to her by name and asking her how her dinner was. It's worth the trip for the less-price sensitive. I liked the funky decor and it was a fun place to take an out of town friend.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA great lunch spot! Went withA great lunch spot! Went with my sisters and mom and we loved the food. The salad bar is a cute, different item on the menu, and the sisters raved about the chicken salad!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for Easter Brunch.We went for Easter Brunch. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We were a little early for our reservation and they seated almost right away. We had an 18 month old and they made sure to bring out toast right away so we had something to feed her while the rest of the food was being prepared. The food was excellent! Waitstaff was quick and polite. The bottomless mimosa never got below 1/4 full. Highly recommend.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMEaster brunch.Great service and food. Attentive staff that met you feel at home. My Mom and myself totally enjoyed the meal.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMMy First Time at Jackson 20This was my first time at the restaurant, and was pleasantly surprised. There was valet parking at a reasonable price, there was a warm greasing at the door, and a nice table for two, a tad long but still nice. We had a very nice server who made several really good suggestions, and the service was prompt.
The menu was quite limited but offered really good choices; the ribs are really good. The only wrinkle in the evening was the noise level that increased through the evening as the bar, which is not separated from the dining room, began to fill up. At one point it was hard to hear my companion.
I also recommend the Banana Pudding.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AM5 Stars! Outstanding.I am continually impressed with the food, service, friendly staff, and overall ambiance of my new favorite Old Town restaurant.
Keep up the good work!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a wonderful brunchWe had a wonderful brunch there and I will certainly return. The price was quite good, too. However, it was quite noisy for a Sunday Brunch crowd and I had some difficulty hearing my brunch partner.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Dining experience but LOUD!!Overall Jackson20 was an excellent experience. The food was great along with the service. If you are looking for a somewhat quiet place this is not for you as it was unbelievably loud and to make it even worse the tables are about 6-8 inches too long so you find yourself yelling to have a conversation.
I will be going back for sure even though it was loud because the food and overall experience were very positive.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed our dinnerEnjoyed everything about our dining experience. Loved the drinks, entree, and dessert Grasshopper pie!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was delicious. TheyThe food was delicious. They were very accommodating to my food allergies. The Manager was very gracious when they had to redo my meal. The bar was quite but quaint. The atmosphere is more traditional but with a modern flair. It was a wonderful experience. I will be visiting again on my next trip to town.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place. Lots of fun,Great place. Lots of fun, great food and most attentive waiter we've had in a long time. We will definitely choose Jackson 20 again.3/3/2013 12:00:00 AMSolid restaurant, not without flawsJackson 20 has good service and reasonably tasty food, but I thought it tried too hard to make comfort food into haute cuisine. If you want to be inventive, fine, but one must be careful when messing with classic.1/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Brunch ChoiceHad brunch and was impressed. Our food was prepared as ordered and presented perfectly.
The restaurant was packed, but service was spot on.1/27/2013 12:00:00 AMConveniently next to Hotel MonacoWe had made an opentable reservation, but requested to sit at the bar and the lovely hostess gave us our credit anyway. We found the atomosphere very friendly--the hotel next door is dog friendly and lots of furbabies in the lobby. Was spectacular to watch them play. We ordered the goat off the regular menu (bar menu had a good selection as well), with side of mac/cheese. Was very tasty. Parking can be scarce in Alexandria especially on a saturday evening. Restaurant offers valet parking (thru hotel) for $6 per vehicle. In general, we enjoyed our evening and would definitely be back12/8/2012 12:00:00 AMExcellent food & service!We loved Jackson 20! It's a very cute spot & relaxed scene. We had a great view of the kitchen. We started w/cheese assortment & beet salad, then had the shrimp & grits & bison which were both cooked to perfection. Ended it with a grasshopper pie & mexican chocolate cherry bread pudding. Everything we had was excellent! Wished we had room to have more drinks & food, but we were so full. I didn’t even finish my dinner & dessert! I only regret one thing, I should have asked for biscuits & cornbread to bring home. OMG! It was soooo good. Our server and manager were both awesome. They was extremely helpful, funny & always made sure we had everything we needed. I felt the food and service were both comparable to the Blue Duck Tavern.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AM