Insider Pages Reviews for J Restaurant & Lounge

3 Stars: Not bad... (by JonSoleymani)

JonSoleymani — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Not a bad place, but they did screw up our reservation. We had a party of 30 for drinks, and they completely screwed it up, suddenly charging people.

They ended up fixing it by refunding our money, giving us a larger reserved section, and comping us a bottle of champagne.

Fun place, worth going to and trying it out.

5 Stars: Nice Patio (by troywarkentin)

troywarkentin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Good place to unwind

4 Stars: Nice Lounge area. (by v735)

v735 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Nice lounge/patio club indoors modern and well serviced.

It felt like more of an Asian atmosphere (did not mind it) for those who are looking for that type of community and spot.

overall i think it was nice and i had a great time.

3 Stars: yep!! (by Poeticalmath)

Poeticalmath — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

great family atmosphere. nice setting.... the ambiance really captures the experience. order, eat, enjoy...

1 Stars: Terrible Terrible Terrible (by Avid7CA)

Avid7CA — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The food was honestly terrible. It felt like fine dining (setting-wise) with cafeteria style food being served. We started the night with the Fritto Misto platter... how hard is it to screw up tempura? They managed. The dinners in general were average at best. The saddest part of the night was the fact that there was not one other table on a Friday night around 9:00pm. Our server was excellent, the hostess friendly and the rest of the staff were both attractive and highly diligent. Too bad they don't have their own food working for them...

5 Stars: Best Bachelorette Party Ever! (by thecentars)

thecentars — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

This is the best place for a Bachelorette Party--hands down! The bar is swanky and subdued--great lighting, great design features--a great place if you're not into the gaudy and annoying "Hollywood" bars that pepper the Sunset Strip. We opted for bottle service which was, in my opinion, the only way to go if you're with a large group. The music was great all night--a good mix with a little for everyone. The drinks were awesome (the Mango Mojito's were absolutely delicious). Our server, the bartenders, and the management helped make this one of the most enjoyable nights I've had out in L.A. Glad we made the trip downtown--it was well worth it!

5 Stars: Friday Lunch (by everything_once)

everything_once — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

They have $3 martinis at lunch! What can I say? Well, Ahi Tare Tare was very good. Risotto was OK. Not crowded at lunch on Friday so nice and private. The back patio is really nice. Have to try next time

5 Stars: Football will NEVER be the same! (by diggle83)

diggle83 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

My friend wanted to go to brunch at a place I'd never been too... and now, will never forget. J's was out of the blue....I never saw it coming. Great, great, great! Okay, so we had some freakishly amazing omelettes and tried to find the bottom of our "bottomless mimosas". Safe to say..never happened. :) Our server Melissa never stopped pouring, how often does that happen... that you actually get ALL you can drink? Never.. except here at J's.
But that's not the best part. So we had a Superbowl party to go to and kick back, relax, hang with or friends.....Never happened. We Never left. We called our friends and told them to get down here! It was twenty bucks! All you can eat and drink. One more time... twenty buck.
Beer garden upstairs, Buffet of snack perfection, Beer pong tournament outside on the hugest patio ever! They were building projection screens through out the place so everyone could have a sweet view of the game. (even though I counted at least 5 plasmas) Go big or go home!
The whole scene started to freak us out in a good way, why.. it was like we walked into J's personal Superbowl party and they couldn't be happier we stayed! Getting a drink from the bar was a breeze too. It was Superbowl sunday and the bar staff never looked away from the bar! How wierd is that! ( okay, well no one in the world was doing anything the last 10 minutes of the game, but if I wanted a drink I'm sure it would have happened.)
Safe to say, Never expected this kind of fun at a bar.
We'll be going this weekend to check things out "club wise" and let you know.
As for Sundays' at J Lounge.
We'll be there!

4 Stars: J lounge (by liltamby5)

liltamby5 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The biggest lounge I have been to. They have an outdoor patio and an indoor area with seating and a full bar. There was an event going on when I went, so it was a little different, but interesting. Great place to just lounge and kick back and people watch.

4 Stars: Romantic scenery (by Abigail C.)

Abigail C. — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:25:00 GMT

This place felt so cozy. Nice relaxing atmosphere outside. Had dimmed lights and music playing. The restaurant inside is also nice, very romantic, good for a date. The club is atmosphere is great, just didn't like the music they were playing towards the end of the night.

5 Stars: Awesome Inauguration Gala event coming up...great cause! (by Gala2009)

Gala2009 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

J Lounge is hosting the official Los Angeles 2009 Inauguration Gala on January 20th. Great concept called The People's Party - in celebration of Obama and local philanthropists. Red Carpet Entry * Live Performances * Slide Show tribute to Barack Obama and the advancement of change in our society * Award Ceremony honoring individuals that have dedicated their lives to community service and philanthropy * There will also be televisions throughout the venue broadcasting the telecast of the Washington DC inauguration and galas. All proceeds go to three charities in the city...

Full details and tickets at 2009lainauguralgala dot com

1 Stars: STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY. (by dwarte)

dwarte — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

it's 7:00 am on new years day and i am up just to post a bad review about this dumpster called j lounge. that's how bad it is.
on of my friends came across this club/resturant and was fooled by few fake good reviews and convinced a group of us to spend new years eve there.
even though tickets were purchased a month ago and were in hand we still had to wait in linnnnnnnnnne for no apparent reasons other than the management trying to create a fake vibe for the place.
once inside we were met with 3 portable plastic toilets to the right serving the whole first floor crowd, imagine having to wait in line in a new years party for half and hour to take a leak in a pitch black dark nasty portable toilet.
so the party program was:
an hour in line out side to get in...WITH TICKETS PURCHASED IN ADVANCE IN HAND.
1/2 hour in line to take a leak.
45 minutes in line to get a stupid drink.
and while at it listing to some lame a** music from a lame a** sound system, in a completely fake atmosphere and a fake not know any better crowd.
unless you are one of those losers who would shed out $3000+ for a VIP table, you'll be ignored, disrespected and not get you 1/5 of your money worth of service, drinks or food.

4 Stars: very good (by Manuel P.)

Manuel P. — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:43:00 GMT

Fantastic place if you want to go with wife or husband. It has a nice atmosphere. The waitress extremely attentive and nice. We enjoyed our dinner in this place.

5 Stars: Salsa in the City, ect.. (by believeinurcat)

believeinurcat — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I discovered J lounge early this year, and have been meaning to write something on here for a while!! I have a tendency to be critical of restaurants as I was in the hospitality industry for almost 10 years. And like most people, I don't have a tolerence for haughty attitudes, neglect, or bad management. That being said....
I have to say, on my numerous visits everyone was extremely friendly, from the smiling hostesses, who seemed classy, to the unique bartenders, to the professional servers. I have run into a couple of the managers as well and even the owner on occasion and they seem to recognize me too. How nice! Or, could it be the "good to see you again....(like everybody else)" face?? haha...no, actually they knew my name. Maybe I go to often!!? Well it is close by, and easy parking, so who can blame me?
My favorite night is Wednesdays when they do salsa. For those of us who aren't pros, its an intimate atmosphere with lots of guys willing to show you the steps!! They also have a group lesson, though I usually get there too late to really enjoy it!! I would suggest calling before you come in, as I noticed lately they close for a lot of private events on that night.
Hmmm....what else can I say? They have fun djs on the weekend, and their french toast and bottomless mimosas rock too!!

5 Stars: Brunch = Bottomless Mimosas? I'm in! (by escapedreams)

escapedreams — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

J-Lounge has a great brunch! I'd love to see more people there. It's a great view from the patio, as you sip the BOTTOMLESS mimosas (and they're not in the slightest bit stingy with the Champaign or overly watered down with too much OJ)!

This is definetly an awesome place to stop in for a classy brunch without breaking the bank. Two of us left for under $40!

If you live downtown, you must support this place.

3 Stars: Asian Atmosphere (by Violet735)

Violet735 — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Well i did not mind it ,but once you go to the lounge area it's just a nice look really relaxed with a big asian crowed. went to the club area and it was the same. but hey it depends who you roll and how you roll had a good time with my peeps.**WARNING** Very expensive for drinks lets say to coronas about 14$ no go

3 Stars: Nice Decor and Space. (by sylvanhills)

sylvanhills — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I have eaten here many times. When this place first opened, the staff was pretty awesome and the original chef was on spot. But now, I feel it is best if you just have a salads, burger and/or pizza instead of trying to go big. The food is good but just isn't worth the top dollar. The beer selection is nice and have some nice cocktails too, though a bit pricey. The wine list has a good selection of old world and new world at decent prices. Depending on who is your server, service is a gamble and the knowledgeable staff is absent. The French manager dude has some real skills and the bartenders are cool. The dessert menu can be forgetable as they need to improve. J Restaurant and Lounge is cool during the weekdays when you just want to chill, drink, eat, smoke and watch some sports and girls. But, the weekends are to be avoided unless you wanna be hanging with amatuers and wanna be's all crowded together smelling like garlic.

3 Stars: Great Patio (by judyjhong)

judyjhong — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food is mediocre at best. You can't put teriyaki sauce on everything and call it fusion. But the patio is great for apres work cocktails!

2 Stars: Expensive Drinks (by mortgageme)

mortgageme — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I visited J Lounge on a Friday night late October, I was impressed with the place. One thing I wasn't impressed with was the drink prices, there seems to be a difference in how much you pay for a drink depending where and who you order it from. My friend and I ordered 2 apple martini's in the downstairs outside patio and paid $25.

We went upstairs and wanted to order food but we were told that all the seating sections were going to be bottle service only in a few minutes, so we didn't order. We went over to the upstairs bar near the smoking patio and the 2 male bartenders were rude, unattentive and more interested in carrying long winded conversations with friends than in providing service to the paying customers. I had the unforunate luck to end up with some guy named "AL" with bushy hair, this guy ignored me, despite me standing there directly in front of him. He proceeded to point over me and ask some of his buddies what did they want a drink, like I was invisible. When his I asked him if he didn't see me, he again asked his friends what did they want. His friend saw how this dude "Al" was ignoring me and told him to go ahead and take my drink order. I ordered and he charged me $15 dollars and said there was a 15% gratuity added. I couldn't believe this guy, aren't places supposed to let you know ahead of time they are adding gratuity?

Other than that the place was cool, the manager took care of it and the security staff was nice too. The music was so, so a little too retro sometimes and the all bottle service areas are a bit overboard. The crowd was mixed, mostly Asian. The patio area is beautiful but I would hesitate to go back.

4 Stars: Nice downtown restaurant (by famousblueraincoat)

famousblueraincoat — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The first time i walked in here i thought "chicago." It didn't look like an LA restaurant to me. I like the space, even though it is quite large. The downstairs is nice for casual dinner. The food is good, not spectacular but good. Frederic, the manager/sommelier is a treat. I wish the wine list were more reflective of his scope and talent, but they are growing it. The patio is really pretty too, very nicely layed out with good views of parts of the skyline. I like the upstairs cigar patio as well, but I'm not as wild about the dance area. It's a little cheesy, and can attract big USC frat crowds.

1 Stars: WARNING: J LOUNGE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE BTTR BIZ BUREAU WEB SITE... Any self respecting human being should avoid this dump (by darkandstormey)

darkandstormey — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I am on the verge of breaking up with my girlfriend for making me attend her sister's birthday party at J's Lounge. The dump charged $225 for each bottle of Absolute and automatically applied 18% gratuity; in addition to charging our party for 4 bottles; instead of the 2 we ordered. On top of that, the waitress pocketed $160-$180 cash. The credit for the cash did not appear on any of the inflated bills. We are going to file a police report for running up our cards and overcharging. The short teen-age Pilipino manager dismissed our concerns. He feigned surprise and maintained innocence. I am surprised that the place is still in business. The place is largely unappealing. It smelled and there were only 2 bathrooms, with one stall each, serving a couple hundred low-class people. I recommend going to Chili's or TGI Friday's for 1/50 the cost for a similar experience. The best thing about the joint is the army of JC Penny suite-wearing half-witted bouncers/security guards whom walked around trying to appear important.

1 Stars: What Happened? (by leparisienne)

leparisienne — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went there based on the good reviews and was I surprised. I ordered fetuccine which arrived as a plate of mushy slop. I checked on the menu recently and it's no longer offered, maybe that's why, too many people complained?? Then there's the service. I have always received good service at every place and have a good attitude towards service personnel, and this was the first time in my life where a server's behavior was outright rude. Maybe it was something in the water that night, I paid an expensive price for awful food and rude service. Another friend of mine several days ago despite my warning and also did not enjoy her experience.

1 Stars: avoid (period) (by johnalee)

johnalee — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

if you're asian, your probably not getting in.. the bouncer at the door on saturday nights is a bit selective on what kind of people get in.

4 Stars: Fun spot (by cshin65)

cshin65 — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Great place for after work drinks or a fun night out with friends! They have multiple rooms with a different vibe. A place to dance and lounge upstairs. A small outdoor space for smokers to look up at the skylight. A HUGE outdoor area with cabanas and a fire pit to mingle and cozy up with someone. :)

4 Stars: Loved it (by la_sinead)

la_sinead — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

loved it went last thursday for dinner,. food was great, portions where good!!! upstairs is super cool and the biggest patio I have ever seen, can't wait to go again. DJ starts at 10pm! if you are not too full after. Oh try the bed or roses cocktail!

5 Stars: YYUUMM (by sparkleface1)

sparkleface1 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food was great, the service was great. I really dugg this place and I think that everyone should try it out!

1 Stars: Should be called "Busby's Downtown" (by beachcruiser)

beachcruiser — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place is definitely a joke. It wants SO badly to be hip, trendy and Hollywood, but it instead comes off as a frat house with good lighting. Cavernous and empty describes both the space and it's soul. Just depressing to be there. The management appears VERY young and inexperienced - just a lot of guys in cheap looking suits trying to do their best Sopranos impression. The staff in the bars, however, were competent and engaging (granted, it was a slow night). The food and the drinks are WAY OVERPRICED! I can tell that they're trying to acheive something more than simple bar food (it is tolerable in that respect), but this is not a restaurant! It's a GIANT bar! You can't be all things to all people - choose one or the other or be mediocre at both. That's what this place is - mediocre. At least there's actually people at Busby's.

5 Stars: ABSOLUTELY MASTERFUL (by burbanblu43)

burbanblu43 — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

PROMPT SEATING, IMPECABLE SERVICE, AWESOME AMBIANCE, AND A FASCINATING MENU. The food prepared was absolutely exquisite, the service unmatched!!! My wife and I had an absolutely amazing time, we let the chef surprise us with our entire meal, and we couldn't be happier. Excellent service, PERFECT DATE ATMOSPHERE!!!!!

1 Stars: Unprofessional Management (by 955df)

955df — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I was one of the audience members who were at the J Lounge & Restaurant to see the Tina Kim comedy show on July 26, 2007 but the show was canceled about one hour before it was supposed to open. As we were standing on the sidewalk before going inside, Tina came out and told us the owner Sergio Dovarro had just canceled the show on her after being rude and disrespectful to her. J Lounge & Restaurant overbooked the space (letting other people sit in the space that was supposed to be reserved for the paying show audience -- who would have otherwise spent a lot on the drinks and food from which the restaurant would have profited.) That was very disappointing since I know Tina would never cancel her own show no matter what. I was so offended by the way the restaurant owner treated her and also because of the fact that he didn't have any respect for the audience members (who planned on seeing the show for weeks in advance and drove hours to get there) either. I would never go to the J Lounge & Restaurant again. They don't deserve my business as well as the business of about 200 other people who were there to see the Tina Kim show.

5 Stars: Provence Magnifique (by foodkritiq)

foodkritiq — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

For someone that spends so much time in the South of France I am so pleased that there is a restaurant that pays attention to detail and is definetly using only the best ingredients. I do not usually write reviews but this time I just had to. For anyone who wants great food check this spot out and make sure to ask for the chef. He comes out to the tables. He took care of us so I am sure he will do the same for everyone. I definitely will be back.

3 Stars: not very diverse.. (by hw1234)

hw1234 — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The drinks are overpriced and not very strong. The patio is nice and large. If you are asian you'll love it-because basically thats all there is. Music is ok...

5 Stars: Great Restaurant (by rickpick)

rickpick — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I had a fantstic dinner with my wife and friends. This place really knows what's important in a restaurant. They truly demonstrated that they understand food. Highly recommend to all that appreciate great food.

2 Stars: If you are Asian then you will fit in perfectly! (by mehendi)

mehendi — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Everyone in the club was of Asian decent, there was not mixed crowd! I ordered 3 specialty drinks that they have on their drink menu which was Mango Mojitos...the bartender was idiot and made 3 regular mojitos and it dawned on him later that he made a mistake and then later went to go make the mango mojitos and tells me that they are all out. What a weirdo! The music was ok, the place has a huge outdoor patio in case you're looking for freash air. The music was average. The guys were not cute except for one! There were places to sit .....I guess you can gather that since it's a Lounge! I would not recommend this place if you are looking for diversity.

3 Stars: Go for the wine and dinner...avoid the "club" area (by ashuri)

ashuri — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The sommelier(who also happens to be the manager) is fantastic (Frederic Hemon)...he knows his s it about wine and food...avoid the "club" space at all costs...have dinner, relax order a wine that comes from Lebonon(yes!!)

The $18 drink prices(yes $18) and the crowds are to be avoided in the "club" area...would go again just for dinner...

1 Stars: Never again!! Arrogant and uptight! (by sk0ttyt00h0tty)

sk0ttyt00h0tty — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I remember the days when a lounge was a place you could go to have a few drinks in a relaxed atmoshphere. That's just what J Lounge USED to be. When the place first opened I was able get there before 10 pm and walk in and have a drink without being hassled. The patio in the back is beautiful with a fire pit and tables for those who got there early enough to snag one. Nowadays, however, no one is allowed at the bars until 10 pm and a line forms out the door and everyone is charged an entrance fee...both men and women. The dress code is ridiculously strict. I had to argue with the bouncer, who was actually pretty friendly, for five minutes to let me in because I had some white on my shoes. I was told I would have to ask a guy who I assume was either the manager or the owner, who was standing just inside the doorway glaring at patrons as they entered to make sure the dress code was being enforced. When I attempted to speak with him he ignored me and walked up to the bouncer...I assume to reprimand him for letting me in. After getting in I walked out to the patio to grab a table, but noticed that all the tables are now reserved for bottle service only. Drinks are grossly overpriced, and management is arrogant and exude an attitude of superiority toward their patrons. My friends and I were all surprised and disappointed at the sudden turn for the worse J Lounge has taken. If they continue down this path, J Lounge is going to fizzle out fast. I assure you, any good reviews posted were either posted by J Lounge management/staff or were posted months ago when this place was actually enjoyable. Never again!

1 Stars: are you kidding me? arrogant and rude!! (by draftdude1)

draftdude1 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

How about waiting an hour for appetizers and 30 minutes for drinks that had been sitting at the bar waiting for the waitress to bring them to us. Then getting attitude from the managment that it was our fault because we ordered the food from the waitress rather than the bartender. even the busboy got into the act and defended the fact that our food didnt come out on time because there was an error and our food was given to someone else. when we pointed out that others were getting their food, we were told it was because they preordered their food! The least they could have done was tell us of the faux paus. instead we had to track them down!

WORST SERVICE AND OUTRIGHT RUDE!!

5 Stars: Pefect atmosphere (by vmartin121)

vmartin121 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Our party of 6 arrived at J Restaurant & Lounge on a Saturday at 5:00 P.M. The restaurant did not open until 6:00 P.M. but we were escorted to the back patio area and before we knew it, they opened the bar and bar food was brought to us. It was calamari and pita bread slices. They were both excellent. We all ordered mojitos and I can tell you they are one of the best in town! Promptly at 6:00 they came outside to let us know that the table was ready. The food was absolutely wonderful. The service was impecable. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. We all had a great time and would definitely recommend it very highly

1 Stars: WORST BAR IN LA (by njackson82)

njackson82 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Wonder what the "J" stands for in J Lounge??? It stands for JOKE. This place is just that. A JOKE. While the facade it puts on reminds its patrons of a place that once had class and character, this newly renovated and "revamped" lounge is by far the worst experience I have had in LA in a long time. Stemming from a chef who's bases his cooking on the notion that "spices were invented to cover the rancidity of meat" J Restaurant and Lounge takes its terrible attention to quality of food and carries it over into their service and drinks. Overpriced drinks, which I'm immune to these days in LA and don't mind paying for when service is friendly, are coupled with attitudinal bartenders and unknowledgable waitresses. If you like waiting half an hour to get a drink, then when you order have the bar tender scoff at you and swear under his breath because he doesn't want to make the signature drink they advertise, then this place is for you. Oh and if you like an overly cocky owner who is just as unfriendly and scummy as the place he operates, then by all means, check it out for yourself. STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS. If I was able to, I'd score this negative stars. FYI too, I have been to this place more than once, always with the hopes of it changing because I like the decor, and each time I had a worse experience and been more disappointed always leaving upset.
Just so you know, after speaking with an ex J Lounge employee, the only positive reviews about this place are from the owner under false city search names. Joke Lounge is not worth your time, energy, headache, or money!

1 Stars: J stands for JUNK (by hrant)

hrant — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Rude management. Descent food. OK bar. Nice view.

It was my girlfriend's birthday and she was forced to make dinner reservations at 7:15 because the restaurant was booked with "reservations" for 8 o'clock. However, as 8:00 rolls around the place is COMPLETELY EMPTY with us and a small family of four sitting at the WORST tables in the house.

The management seemed to be very comfortable with treating diners like dirt, just because it was a saturday night and they had a line of like 3 people standing outside. Also, it seemed rather odd that a restaurant has a "No Birthdays" policy. Lucky for us though, our waiter was gracious enough to fixed us up a small dessert with a candle in it.

My advise, don't go for dinner. But i guess the bar is OK. Even though there are dozens of better bars to chose from in LA with better locations and friendlier service.

And, I forgot to mention that the drinks at the bar were overpriced, yet they were still weak.

4 Stars: Awesome view (by john2801)

john2801 — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

OK so you aren't going there for the food if you do go there for dinner like I did....oops. I ordered pasta with mussles and the shells were there but no mussells. My best gues is that they did me a favor...lesson learned its a bar - order bar food.

Anyway
The drinks are legit from standard mixed drinks to the more exotic cocktails- service is standard and friendly. But the bar has a phenomenal view of downtown, a great patio you almost feel like you are in someone's backyard, maybe in NYC. They draw a fun, very good looking & well styled crowd - definetely a good spot to meet people dancing or outside chatting. In my opinion the bar offers something for everyone, just not dinner. (fyi the bar food is solid)

1 Stars: WORST SERVICE! (by lindawamu)

lindawamu — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

WORST service! IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR CHAIR IN THE PATIO AREA MAKE SURE YOU GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE. THE SHORT HAIR WAITRESS TOOK TWO OF OUR CHAIRS AWAY AND WANT TO KICK US OUT, ALSO TOLD US THEY ARE NOT IN CITY SEARCH. GUESS WHAT I HOPE YOU ARE READING THIS BECAUSE I FOUND YOU! Drinks are good they will add 18% tip on your tab no need to park valet, there is a $5 parking near by

1 Stars: worst service, incorrect menu, pricey drinks (by barbfred)

barbfred — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

worst place I have EVER been to.... the service was bad, the food was worse, and the drinks were so overprices it was a joke.
do not listen to the fake reviews posted by the staff - this place is BAD!

3 Stars: Awesome place (by jlrobe)

jlrobe — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place is great. The bouncers were actually REALLY nice when we went. In LA, that is SUPER rare. The decor is great, the dance floor was large and well air conditioned. There are TONS of places to sit down, which I love. THere are plasma TV's strategically positioned throughout this space. The space is really well designed. There is a patio (which isnt that smokey at all) that is awesome. There are 6 cabanas, its own bar, and a superb view of the downtown skyline and a really cool fire pit. You even get the view of the Eastern. All in all, the club was very balanced between lounge and dance club. I will definitely go back again. If the crowd continues to be chill, and the bouncers continue to be cool, this will be on my regular rotation.

In the end. My opinion is to go check it out for yourself. In the downtown renassaince, places are up and down and everyone has their own opinions. It is best to check places out once a month and see whats going down. Stop being afraid of downtown, and come check it out and form your own opinions

5 Stars: Celebrating a special occasion (by wagnermj)

wagnermj — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Taking advantage of living downtown, my wife and I decided to celebrate a special occasion (a birthday) by "walking" to J restaurant for dinner on a Friday night. We had reservations for 8 p.m. After a nice stroll from our loft, we arrived to find this great place. We were greated very warmly and shown to our booth. The atmosphere is great, nice furnishings and very romantic. I will say that this it is a very large restaurant according to LA standards. The service was great, attentive but not bothersome. The wine and drink choices were abundant. The wine list is sufficeint, but as I say in all my review of restaurants, ease up on the corkage fee, allow patrons to at least bring their own bottle of wine. The food was outstanding and portions large (important to me since I am a big guy (athletic build) and like to eat), since sharing is our thing. We had the calamari and ceasar salad which were both very good. The hot bread and butter is a nice touch. We had the roasted pork and mashed potatoes which could have only been improved upon if they would have served it on a warmed plate. But for the quantity and quality, it was delicious and more than enough for the two of us. We were there for about an hour and half, very leisurely dinner and then took a tour of the place. The lounge upstairs is nice, the outside atrium/patio area (similar to that of the Golden Gopher) was nice, especially with the window and the plasma screen TV nicely aligned was cool. This would be a nice place for an after dinner drink. I know that there are some unhappy folks with the lounge staff, but for a nice dinner, close to home for us, it was a great evening and would definetly return. We are looking forward to this summer and hopefuly some happy hours on the back patio.

5 Stars: best mojito!! (by laney0409)

laney0409 — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Wow, this place is great! It is romantic and the atmosphere is amazing. I dont recommend you come in your sneakers, baggy jeans and Sean Paul t-shirt. This place is classy and if you want to go to a place with kids and teens this is not the place for you! Plus the place is HUGE! There are areas for everyone. I'd say the younger crowd is up stairs on the dance floor! Plus all the Plasma add a lil something different. The paintings are amazing! The one near the restroom on the third floor of the Beetles is unbelieveable! Its a beautiful place and I highly recommend it! Best mojitos i've ever had!

1 Stars: A Hollywood wannabe with an ego too big for its establishment (by iopener)

iopener — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I remember when this place was unpretentious, friendly. What a difference a few months makes, eh J Lounge? The doormen (in particular the chubby guy with short hair that looks like a ninja turtle) have no sense of humbleness or hospitality. They present themselves with classless arrogance and take their paltry hourly wage job way too seriously. They're unaccommodating, when they don't even need to be. Trust me, with staff like this it won't be long until the novelty fades and this place dies out. There are far nicer places than this one, The Edison for one, that will be better worth your time. If you want Hollywood, go there. No need to put up with the mini-me Hollywood attitude here. My friends and I will NOT be returning again. Good job J Lounge, you just lost about 40 patrons in one night. ______

Here's a tip: J Lounge flagrance knows no boundaries. Check your receipts when you pay by credit card. They'll add an 18% "service" fee on drinks. J Lounge will then conveniently add a tip line even after they charge you the 18% fee. Sometimes you'll get the extra receipt with the service charge shown. Sometimes you won't. Be wary.

3 Stars: Be warned (by dwoodla)

dwoodla — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

While the J Lounge's strength is in its large open venue, this place leaves a lot to be desired. For one, its management is clearly untrained and has no sense of hospitality (with the exception of the servers, bartenders, and the guy who hands you paper towels in the bathroom). As for the Managers and the bouncers, beware. They are obnoxious, rude, and for some reason forget they are not on Hollywood Blvd catering to the likes of young JT or Paris Hilton, but overseeing an establishment that is blocks away from Skid Row. A bouncer told my friend he didn't like the collar on his shirt and almost refused him entry! But what is truly laughable is the J Lounge's third reich enforcement of their shoe policy. They will pretend to sweat you on your trendy pair of sneakers (the same ones you can wear into Area and Hyde), but will with painstaking reluctance let you in after some bodyguard huddling and play calling. But the real joke is once you get inside, and find yourselves surrounded by a crowd that could mislead you into thinking you just stepped into the throes of another downtown venue, the LA City Jail. Don't drop the soap!

In short, if you must party in downtown, go to Edison. Otherwise take yourself up the 101 to Hollywood.

5 Stars: Great after a day's work... (by miksteller)

miksteller — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My father booked two tables for our family party last thursday night at J Lounge. What can I say ? This place might be paradise, but then paradise doesn't close at 11pm. Still, this is a great place to roll the end of the afternoon into the evening, especially after a day's work.

1 Stars: One of the WORST places to go, staff is RUDE and ARROGANT for no reason. (by lacat)

lacat — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I have been to J Lounge on 4 occasions, each one progressively worse than the last. I will NEVER go back there. The rudeness and arrogance of the staff completely negate any small positives J's has to offer. While J lounge claims that there is no cover before 10 pm, what the sneaky management does is prevent people from going in, claiming that it actually doesnt "open" until 10 pm. We had had a guestlist sent in specifically so as to not have to deal with this hassle and had agreed to reserve an area upstairs for $600. The bouncers walk away from you when you are trying to talk to them, even when we told them that we had arranged for a reservation space. After 30 minutes of this BS, we left - J Lounge can thank its bouncers for losing out on a fair chunk of revenue (we had 60+ people in or group). On another occasion, after having my ID checked, I started going inside only to have the bouncer grab my arm and say extremely rudely, "you have to wait here, i didn't say you could go in yet." because he had to check the rest of my friends' IDs? Um, it's cold out and you should neither be speaking to people like that nor should you touch your patrons. Finally, the last time I went, I had friends dining inside and had planned to meet them for dessert so that we could all go upstairs together. When I got to the door, the bouncer told me that I could not go in to see my friends, because I did not have "dinner reservations." And the fact that a group of my friends were already inside eating made no difference, I could not go in to look for them. Overall customer service standards are nonexistent at this place, and the general disdain that everyone working here shows towards patrons is disgusting. I've never experienced this level of rudeness anywere - completely unwarranted, as the music is spotty to poor, drinks are ridiculously overpriced and let's face it - it's downtown LA, a few blocks from skid row, not Hollywood. Beware - J lounge is TERRIBLE.

5 Stars: Great adress for fans of Mediterraneen Food (by howardlina)

howardlina — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to J Lounge last saturday night to celebrate my wife's birthday. The dining room was pretty crowded and noisy. But thought it is a great adress for both fans of Mediterraneen food and anyone counting their dollars. The voluminous menu here offers generally excellent food tour of Europe with dishes from South of France and Italia.

1 Stars: Stay away from this place (by qwert80)

qwert80 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My friends and I went there on a Friday couple weeks ago, and had the most horrible experience. The management at the lounge was rude and frustrating. We were there for about an hour ordering drinks after drinks and ended up leaving after an argument with the management. They moved a chair (cushion) that my sister was using, and when we told them we were using it, he manager said in the most pretentious tone, "we're doing you a favor by letting you sit here" and then started to walk away. I would never return to this place ever again.

3 Stars: First and Last time I will go to J Lounge. Worst Management/Customer Service Ever! (by businesstycoon)

businesstycoon — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Last night a friend and I celebrated our b-days at J Lounge. We had reserved a couple of tables in the upper lounge area. We wanted the night to go smoothly so that we could enjoy ourselves, but the J Lounge management made it difficult for us to do so:
*When I made my reservation I wasn?t told about the ?business/casual? dress code. The management wouldn?t let my bf & the other b-day girl?s bf in bc they weren?t in the dress code. We are all bus. students. Our closets are full of bus./casual attire. If we had been told that there was a dress code, our bf?s would have come in the dress code. My bf drove home to change, but the other girl?s bf could not do so. Management let him in after he pointed out that other patrons w/ sneakers on were being admitted.

*The doormen told me that my guests arriving after 11 pm would have to pay a cover charge. I told them that I had called twice to confirm that no one on my guest list would have to pay a cover charge the entire night. They said they would ?take care of it? & not charge my guests. Unfortunately, about 30 min. later 4 of my friends arrived & had to pay the cover. I talked to management about this and they returned the money, but it was frustrating having to deal w/this matter.

*When I had to pay for the 3 bottles, the other b-day girl & I told the waitress to split the difference btwn. our credit cards. As we were paying, we were harassed 3 to 4 times to leave the club because they were closed . Our waitress came back w/ receipts that were overcharging us by more than $300. We told her & management that this was incorrect. They went back a 2nd time to fix this and came back again w/ receipts that were overcharging us. I don?t know if they thought we were dumb/drunk USC girls & that they could hustle us out of money, or if they were dumb themselves & did not know how to do basic math. Finally , the 3rd time around the receipts were correct.

Go to the Standard or Edison if you want to party in downtown.

5 Stars: Great Lounge! (by hkwong34)

hkwong34 — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to J Lounge because one of my friends was celebrating her birthday there. We arrived a bit early and decided to grab a quick bite prior to our long night of drinking. Our server Crystal was very knowledgeable about the food and made a few recommendations. The service there was excellent and comfortable, something extremely rare in more trendy restaurants nowadays. Being am ex-server myself, I am extremely particular to the close attention I received by our waitress. The lounge is small but very happening as the DJ played the regular hits. The smoking patio is adequate I guess since I never ventured out there. We had table service and the pricing was excellent compared to the premium you would usually pay at a Hollywood club. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a lounge or a smaller club on a Friday night.

5 Stars: Friday night hotspot - Great service and good food! (by egulletlife)

egulletlife — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

visited the restaurant per a recommendation by a friend who raved about the service and quality of the ingredients. i was a little hesitant at first as this area was located in a unique neighborhood. however, our server, crystal, made us feel right at home. she was very patient with our group (there were 8 of us) and not once did we have to look up or try to establish eye contact for a refill on our drinks or to request something. refreshing to finally have great service at a l.a. restaurant! on to the food. crystal recommended the salmon and it was a great choice. it was not dry and the sauteed carrots were cooked/seasoned perfectly as well. truly a great dish. worth trying is the tuna tartare and the crab cakes (tasty but a little greasy for me). oh yeah, don't forget to check out their full-service bar. had a couple drinks with michael. very cool guy that knows his drinks, was very accomodating and took care of all of us. will def be back again. great food, great service, great drinks.

5 Stars: Always tasty (by rogerdt)

rogerdt — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've heard so much about this restaurant, so I had to go for myself and was not disappointed. Try the soup of the day. They are always tasty. Very romantic place. Would highly recommend to anyone.

5 Stars: Pleasant surprise (by iadualc06)

iadualc06 — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I visited the Restaurant last wednesday and I was pleasantly surprised at how busy it was at midday. I think this is a good sign as long as the service is equally good which it was. The tuna tartare was nice and fresh. I enjoyed the Pizza Siciliana. yummmmmy! My friend had the J burger which was throughly enjoyed. Great Lunch and I would definetly recommend the restaurant to others.

5 Stars: Saturday's keep going (by cariws)

cariws — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

A two floor ( and one Lounge ) club where Saturday night seeps into Sunday and the party people just keep going. The party's started in the first Lounge with resident DJ Carlos showing the dance floor how it's done. But if it gets too much, kick back in the Lounge or patio with a pit fire and romantic private cabanas.

5 Stars: Nice wine selection (by sarahclays)

sarahclays — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

J Restaurant presents constantly evolving menus and a carefully matched wine list. All designed to reflect an ethos of innovation and creativity.

5 Stars: Remarkable dinner (by robmils)

robmils — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Wow! The one word which repeadly tripped from my tongue and onto the gilded dinner plate as I relaxed in the Heaven is... J Lounge Restaurant.
J Restaurant has that magical quality that really marks an amazing dowtown restaurant out from a crowd of merely remarkable ones. Some people call it the X-Factor, I call it the J factor.
I could, without difficulty, go on and write an essay celebrating J Lounge's triumph in reaching out to my heart in such a savage fashion... but I won't because I have a hot date with one of those latina supermodels in ten minutes. Guess where I'm taking her.

PS. Extended thanks to Sergio for the Mango Mojito cocktail. Wow!

3 Stars: Great Friday (by rjw06)

rjw06 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

A couple of buddies & I came into J last Friday night & had a blast. We kicked back on the cigar lounge, smoked cigars, had a few cocktails & ate some amazing pizza!! We even made friends with one of the cocktail waitressess who made our evening even more fun!! Andrea was so friendly & all smiles, in fact we're going back tonight!! This just might be the regular Friday night hang out we've been looking for since moving downtown. Haven't had dinner there yet but I highly reccomend the lounge!!

5 Stars: PRE CONCERT JEWEL (by coen234)

coen234 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Came with my husband before a night at the Disney concert hall. We live in the west side and were pleased to find this restaurant. We took Olive North to the concert hall and found the Valet convenient. Great food, ambiance and a nice time. Highly recommend.

4 Stars: Great Steaks (by barboo)

barboo — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Had a great time there last night. Lauren is an absolutely fantastic server. I look forward to going back and sampling their wine menu.

5 Stars: Best Mediterrean Food outside France (by mattmelner)

mattmelner — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Definitly one of the best Mediterrean restaurant outside France. The J Lounge Restaurant has atmosphere, fantastic food and is an escape from Los Angeles. They also have the friendliest bartenders ever. Thank you for this great experience Sebastien.

5 Stars: GREAT VIBE "THE REAL DOWNTOWN" (by espel)

espel — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went out for a Sturday night I can finally say that downtown has a venue that you can eat and enjoy an after dinner drink at the same location. This place is exclusive and inclusive at the same time. They let you know your special and at the same time there is no pretentious "Hollywood Types - Standard Types" walking the floor. Hey great job and KUDOS to bartender Johnny for making my wife and I the mango mojitos...Delicious

5 Stars: Where Class, Elegance and a good time in still exist in downtown Los Angeles (by kenfernandez)

kenfernandez — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

To be honest, before I went to the J Lounge I read the reviews both negative and positive and was really skeptical about checking this place out, but as faith would have it I ended up at The J Lounge for a friends birthday party and was blown away. I have ran some of the most upscale Lounges, Nightclubs, and Restaurants for the past 10 years and was raised in a family who was in the service industry. So I have a very High Standard to satisfy, when it comes to Lounges and Restaurants. Happy to say J Lounge met them with flying colors, The Place to start of is wonderful. and classy. and for those who miss that New York loft mystique this is the place for you. The Food was fairly priced and delicious, the ambiance was very warm and comfortable, you could tell from the start that the staff and management took time to make sure everyone was comfortable.

I was so happy with the place that I decided to celebrate my birthday here, and that in itself was an experience. Me being the one who is always running things at events. I expected to have a few mishaps threw out the night cause unfortunately those things happen. Folks! the night was perfect, all my guest who happen to be in the entertainment or service industry were very impressed with the place, the drinks were great and my waitress Carlisle was outstanding, she made sure everyone was taken care of with there drinks, but at the same time she made sure everyone was having a good time not to mention was very knowledgeable when it came to the different drinks and liquors.

So it is clear to see that this is this New York natives new favorite spot... but I Highly Recommend that you see for yourself what classy service this place is all about.

3 Stars: Great Ambience, Ruined by Poor Service (by sprfly)

sprfly — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I recently had a bad experience at J Lounge so I decided to read its reviews to see if it was just me...and my gosh, I echo the reviews about bad service. The first 2 times we went on a Friday night, I thought it was such a great hang out spot and told everyone about it. The third time ruined it all. A cocktail server dropped a glass in the smoking patio, which my friends and I all saw, and I guess she never came back to clean it up, because later on that evening, a friend stepped in it unknowingly while standing around the heat lamp, and the glass cut her foot. After cleaning up in the bathroom, she notified the owner and Sommelier and the best they could do was offer a questionably genuine apology and 2 free drinks. That was unfortunate because anyone less forgiving than my friend might have taken legal action because a patron getting injured due to staff negligence is unacceptable. Knowing that, I would think the management staff would be more doting or apologize profusely or offer a free dinner or something. Not a chance. It was as if they didn't care if we ever came back. The Sommelier asked us to email him the incident for documentation purposes, and once that email was sent, there was no response or acknowledgement. I agree with the other reviewers that professionalism and customer service is highly lacking and if the business really wants to be successful, management needs to seriously consider dropping their arrogant attitudes and respect all paying customers. Might I also add that I overheard one of the management staff tell a patron who was waiting outside the business, on the sidewalk for the valet, to leave because he was standing there "a little too long". I don't know what kind of clientele they are trying to target, but if attorneys and highly successful downtowners are asked to leave, I question how long this place will last as a "hotspot". I thought I found a great place, but too bad, I will never go back there again.

5 Stars: Very Impressed..... (by cubarcn)

cubarcn — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I was just looking at some reviews from resturants in the area and i came arcoss J lounge and i was very surprised about the reactions from people about J lounge. I went there about a week ago for dinner and for some drinks upstairs at the lounge. Dinner was pretty good, it was something different compared to other resturants in the the area and it gives off a totally different vibe, a good one. I tried the calamari and its was by far the best i've had in awhile, It wasn't to dry and it wasn't to salty. For dinner i had the roast pork and it was very good.. it was very soft and tender. The service was decent plus you have to keep in mind that they're only been open for awhile so they have to get all the kinks out but overall i think it was pretty good. Then after we had dinner we went upstairs for some drinks in the lounge. I love the setting and the decor, It reminds me of a Miami meets New York kind of scene. The dj played good music and everyone was dancing. I liked how he changed it up and he played different kinds of music. Overall i had a pretty good time with all my friends. At the end of the night i found out that after 10 o'clock the have a 10 dollar cover charge which isn't that bad compared to other lounge and some people were complaining but I was like com'on if you cant pay 10 bucks to get in then you're not goin to spend anything at the bar.. if you go out you're there to go out and spend money If not then just stay home and watch a movie..

1 Stars: BEWARE - POSITIVE REVIEWS ARE FAKE. READ ALL REVIEWS TO FIND TRUTH (by peter_noonan)

peter_noonan — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I just came on here to see what other people thought of J Lounge because I?ve been and wasn?t happy. I wasn?t going to write a review but the review from ?frenchyfred? grabbed my attention. At 1st I found it a bit odd that the review was so over the top endorsing the place?how many times did ?frenchy? visit? He seems ready to sound off on every night of the week, lots of items and even lunch...wow he must have visited a lot. Here?s another explanation, the sommelier?WHO IS FRENCH?also happens to be named FREDERIC. FRENCH+FREDERIC=FRENCHYFRED. Hmmm it all makes sense now. No wonder frenchyfred likes the place so much. There?s also the 100% positive review from garie?who?s never reviewed anything else and seems to think J Lounge is the best place ever!! (yes, he likes to use lots of exclamation points). Come on. Does this sound real:?I really love the attention to detail, my girlfriend was so happy!...Everyone from the server, to our very own cocktail server gave us the attention we were looking for! If only more people knew about J Lounge, they would apprecitaie [sic, um is that French?] the gorgeous decor, delicious gourmet food, and beautiful views of the downtown skyline.? Hmm and it?s funny both of these reviews (frenchyfred + garie) came on THE SAME DAY. But really, this desperate effort by management is reflective of how the place is run. 1st they can?t speak English even when they?re trying to post fake positive reviews. This is how the server was when I went there for dinner two weeks ago. Not really sure if he spoke English because we didn?t get much attention. 2nd, they think that positive reviews can outweigh slow, inefficient, arrogant service. The place is superficially beautiful (we agree on that) but underneath..not so much. Other reviewers sum up the dinner section nicely-it is OVER PRICED. Third, they really do think they?re special. What they don?t understand is a special reputation has to be earned. Good luck management-keep the fake reviews coming

5 Stars: Hottest lounge in town! (by prrican)

prrican — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

If you're looking for a hip yet classy spot the J Lounge is it! I have visited this restaurant several times but my favorite time is at night. You can see the downtown city lights from the upstairs lounge and from the awesome patio with private cabanas. It's a great place to hold an event. The staff is courteous and professional. The menu has a variety to choose from to please everyone. I have referred many people and received positive feedback. Spread the word!!!

5 Stars: Best place to celebrate! (by garie)

garie — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The best place to celebrate!!
I recently put together a birthday party at J lounge for my girlfriend's 30th this past weekend... turned out to be the best celebration we have spent together in 5 years! All it took was making reservations with the hostess for bottle service in the lounge, which was very affordable considering I was able to have a 40 person guestlist at the door.
We started out with dinner around 8pm. Everyting from the tuna tartar to the fork tender filet was superb!! Everyone was highly impressed with thier meal, as well as the vast and unique wine selection. Kudos on the presentation of the wine as well, it really makes this restaurant stand out. The delivery of the cake was also exceptional, with a special decoration designed on every plate! We loved the attention to detail, my girlfriend was so happy!
We continued up to the second floor lounge where we had a great vip spot reserved on the dance floor, and we danced the night away. Everyone from the server, to our very own cocktail server gave us the attention we were looking for! If more people knew about J lounge, they would apprectaie the gorgoeus decor, delicious gourmet food, and beautiful views of the downtown skyline...BY FAR THE BEST PLACE TO CELEBRATE A SPECIAL NIGHT!! We will definately be regulars at this hot new spot!

1 Stars: J LOUNGE -BANNED!! (by sillygirl1980)

sillygirl1980 — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

BANNED!!!! I went there on Friday night with my boyfriend to have a nice dinner. 1. hostess would not seat us at first because we didn't have a reservation and the place was half empty. 2. service sucked: did not refill my water and server was not friendly and barely spoke english 3. food arrived very slow 4. my boyfriend had the chicken entree which was was completely dry and worse than fast food chicken. 5. i had a salmon plate in which the salmon was cold and the middle was still pink. overall, this place was a rip off for the quality or should i say lack of quality on the food and service.

5 Stars: New Hotest spot in downtown... (by frenchyfred)

frenchyfred — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went few diffrent times as i always do to rate a place. Happy hours during the week to enjoy the delicious pizzas, bar menu after a basket ball game(the J burger is fantastic), wenesday/thursday USC party, fridays and saturdays clubbing...I got to have dinner with my friends and a large party for a birthday. I never got dissappointed. The summer looks good with enormous outdoor patio. All the friends i took to J got impressed with the set up. The view of downtown is incredible. I highly recommend J for any time...Got to try lunch...

1 Stars: J Lounge = Terrible (by j_richtarsc)

j_richtarsc — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place is such a waste. One of my friends had a bunch of us go for her bday party on Friday night. Lots of USC girls/guys there ready to have a good time. I think lots of people are hoping the place will be the new spot. But NO. We had dinner--overpriced. Would have rather stayed and had USC food on campus. Waiter wasn't friendly even though we were spending lots. Slow service. Rude bouncer. OH then lots more people came and we were looking to party. But it took FOREVER to get a drink. Ummm, excuse me---do you want my money??? It was unreal.
THe music was all over the place too. Everyone I was with tried to make the best of it but after about an hour we were all ready to head back to campus and up some parties instead. We were all wishing the 90 was open. Only problem...we couldn't get taxis. There were about 25 of us and it took forever to get them. We asked some people at the place to call us some taxis and they refused. One guy said, "don't you have a cell phone?"
Just a terrible experience. Will not go back.

2 Stars: WHAT A WASTE OF A GOOD SPACE!!!! (by jenlu102)

jenlu102 — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

A friend & I went for dinner as we were meeting a large group (about 100 people) for a friends birthday party. The ambiance was great- but the food- HORRIBLE. Ceaser salad tasted like it was made with mustard only, calamari tasted like friend chicken, & the ahi- a mess. To top it off- out waitress was slow as could be & didn't know anything about any item on the menu or any drink at the bar. PLUS, at the end of our meal, we were told that they "did not split checks"!!!!!!! Be warned! Bring cash! Even for 2 people like us- the manager finally ok'd it but they made a big deal out of it. Later we went to the outdoor space for the party- but the patrons overall were snoody, unattractive, & unfriendly. The only pros were the design of the place & the fact that the bartenders made strong drinks- probably because the place was mostly empty & they were trying to get rid of the liquor. If you have to go- DO NOT EAT THERE- i had other friend who ate there that night also & their food was horrible as well. For the money it was a waste. SKIP THIS PLACE!

3 Stars: Please don't go here... so bad! (by conncort)

conncort — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I visited J Lounge last Saturday for what was supposed to be a fun night out dancing with the girls. First off, parking was good, was only $5, lots of it. But had I known how much this place sucked then I wouldn't have paid it, but instead tried to get street parking somewhere. We weren't on the guestlist so cover was $10. Again, would have been fine... but not for this place, someone should pay me more than $10 to go there again. At the door, the "bouncer" was extremely rude. I was the first in line to show I.D., and he told me not to go anyhwere, but I tried to step to the side to make room for my friends to show him their I.D. and he touched my shoulder and said to me, i already told you to stay. I cant believe this place allows them to talk to their patrons like that! But whatever, i wasnt gonna let him ruin my night... No, because that was taken care of by the pathetic DJ. It was the most infuriating thing to want to dance, but then to have the worlds worst music be played. for example, he would play Beyonce, but he would play her slowest song, and he wouldnt even try to up the tempo, then next he would play a latino rap, then next some song i never heard before. when we asked him to play something else, he rudely replied that he saw people dancing so he could not be doing that bad. he didnt even understand that the people that were dancing were like us and just wanted to dance, despite his effed up music selections. The drinks were not very good either and for being such a big bar, it took like 5 minutes to get our drinks. By the end of the night, some drunk girl had passed out, and again, as security went by me to get her to the bathroom he pushed me to the side, so apparently its okay if i fall down but not for the drunk girl. The only reason why I got a citysearch account was just to let everyone know this place was terrible and to not waste their money. Perhaps the night i went to was bad, but i still dont think I will ever go again. :(

1 Stars: Very mediocre and overpriced (by sdbcruise)

sdbcruise — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We were VERY disappointed by J. We arrived early and sat at the bar upstairs (also no valet in sight so we had to park in a lot nearby). The bartender was not there but his "assistant " was there. We had to wait for the glass of champagne as it wasn't at the bar upstairs (had to run downstairs). Shouldn't the restaurant be prepared if they are open for business????!!! The glass of champagne and martini were $30 (give me a break). The food was SO uninteresting and mediocre that I can't even relay what it was....I can tell you that my partner had the salad with the poached egg on top which was in fact "hard boiled." When we told the waiter he basically shrugged his shoulders. My short ribs were ok but nothing outstanding or interesting. We dine out OFTEN and spend a lot of money at great restaurants....like an earlier review....this is the first time I've been compelled to write a bad review. My advise is to choose a Patina restaurant or Roys nearby....skip J.....

5 Stars: Place to celebrate (by drlee15)

drlee15 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

What a great place to have a birthday. I recently held my 30th birthday at J Lounge with 30 of my friends. We had appetizers and bottle service on the dance floor and had such a great time. It was a Saturday so it got pretty packed but we danced the night away and couldn't believe we were downtown. The ambiance was nothing short of class and style. The waitress was very knowledgable and prompt (and not to mention very cute) She catered to our every need treating us like real VIP and even referred to me by name all night! My only complaint is the rude manager that I originally booked my table with...not very customer friendly. Overall my friends and I had a super time and would all highly reccomend this place for any party or celebration.

2 Stars: Major Let Down (by blueeyebetty)

blueeyebetty — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I am a frequent reader of City Search restaurant reviews, however this is the first tine I have experienced a meal that was so terrible that I felt compelled to write a review of my own. I ate at J last night (2/3/07) with my hubby and two friends. We all appreciate good food, service, and wine, and we were totally willing to spend some $$$ for it. Unfortunatly we all found J to be major disappointment. The food sucked and the service was amatuerish and fair at the very best.

Firstly the food: the calamari appetizer was very salty and overfried with way more fried bits than actual squid, the shortribs were coated in a thick white film of lard which made threm look and taste terrible (we sent them back), and my salmon was decent for the first 3 bights until I got to the wet and raw center. The flatiron steak was well, "flat" - no flavor and a terribly rough texture, the filet was plain tasting as well. We ordered bread pudding for dessert which was sold out, so we opted for the apple strudel and chocolate dome instead, both desserts were fine but they couldn't redeem such a lousy meal.

The service was not great, nobody ever refilled my hubby's iced tea glass even once, and the waiter was a bit of a smart alec who could have cared less if we were happy or not. The somallier was actually quite kind and professional and provided the only example of the quality of service that one expects when paying about $80 per person for dinner. Overall, this place was a complete waste of money.

3 Stars: great customer service (by hezakiah)

hezakiah — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

had a great time for second night in a row. should go and hang out after work! they love me and they have cigars!

2 Stars: I agree...bad service!!!! (by guapa03)

guapa03 — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

my best friend and i planned on having our 30th bday party at J's a week ago. we went to J's for drinks one night and loved it so much that we wanted our party there. we talked to the hostess who was very nice and accomadating and she took down our info and said see you then! a week later we received an email confirming our party. we thought wow this is great-laid back and chill that's what we wanted. well it was too good to be true. to our dismay the week of the party we were told that we would need to reserve a table-especially if we wanted our party to be accomadated without paying $10! what $10?! and that reserving a table means having bottle service...what's interesting is that we were asked to send in a guest list so that there would be no problems...whatever J's! when i spoke to one of the managers he wasn't even trying to rectify their mistake for not giving us the right information. he even lied saying that he called me a week prior a left a message about this. J's get it together, read your reviews everyone says how great the place is but the overall theme is that your service is bad!

5 Stars: Thank You J Lounge !!!!! (by realestate_broker)

realestate_broker — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place as it all......
Once you try this place you?re hooked. My friend and I went there and had an early dinner before going to a basketball game at staple center. ( It is very close )
The service was outstanding and the food was fabulous. I can still remember the butter squash soup was soooo delicious. They did a great job there from the mood lighting to background music. I like it when you can carry a conversation at your table and still enjoy the background music playing.
Before leaving we walked around and scoped out the place to find a cigar lovers' paradise on the second floor.
After the game we went back to J lounge were we took advantage of there fine cigars and Louis XIII.
This is the place when going to downtown....

3 Stars: good spot for happy hour, not so much for dinner (by pinays)

pinays — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

i just had drinks and dinner there. first, the drinks. i thought it was a good place to meet people from downtown. can't beat the free pizza during happy hour. the happy hour space was also large and can fit a large group of friends. during warmer months, i am sure the outside patio is great; they do have heat lamps but i was just too wimpy to go outside. second, the dining experience. i was really excited to come here as an after-work dinner place. i was sorely disappointed though. the mac and cheese came in cold and we had to ask to get it re-heated -- which they happily did. (i have no problem with the service, which was pretty good). when it finally came in re-heated, it was just too bland. my friend liked the burger. i thought the crab cakes were average. i also had a side of spinach, which was also average. overall, i would probably go back for happy hour but not for dinner.

5 Stars: Something for everyone (by dtsohotrightnow)

dtsohotrightnow — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This place has something to suit every going-outer's fancy. A big dancefloor, intimate lounge areas, a sports bar, a huge outdoor area with cabanas...whatever you're looking for in your nightspot you'll find it here. I haven't dined here, but this is a great place to grab drinks. Very chic, urban and upscale.

5 Stars: Great Atomsphere, Nice Food but Drinks are okay (by brianl1999)

brianl1999 — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The restaurant has nice atomsphere. The service was good. Most of the dishes we ordered were delicious especially the crab cake. The only glitch was the drink. I felt the drink was overpriced and the flavor was sub-par. The dance floor is rather narrow but the lounge area was very cozy. Otherwise, it was a really nice experience.

3 Stars: HORRIBLE SERVICE, Excellent Food (by nnehme)

nnehme — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I was born and raised in LA and have traveled all over the world and visited many restaurants. I know the difference between good service and bad service...and this was BAD. Restauranteurs should know that what keeps people coming back is the food and the service. First, the hostess wasn't very friendly and this is your first reflection of the restaurant - very unwelcoming. Then we went upstairs to the lounge to have a cocktail before dinner and it took about 15 minutes before the waitress came over and then stood there while we looked at the menu that she just handed us instead of saying, "i'll give you a couple minutes to decide." Then when we asked for the bill, it took another 15-20 before we decided to just leave and go downstairs to have dinner. Service at dinner was better than the lounge, but still leaves a lot to be desired. Don't pour the new wine into the old glass!!! Where have these servers been trained??? Spend a little time educating your staff on the proper service protocol and maybe you won't have bad reviews! I will leave you with the one positive...The food was excellent. The mac and cheese was to die for as was the chicken stuffed with sundried tomatoes, blue cheese on top of spinach and polenta. DELICIOUS! Before you open a new restaurant, spend a little time making sure your staff is well-trained.

5 Stars: Best Place Downtown!! (by ctoddp)

ctoddp — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Some of the best food in LA!! It knocked me off my feet, and the service was fantastic. Must try the rib eye, it melts in your mouth. I highly recommend J's!! If anyone is in or near the downtown area than this is the perfect place to come for dinner and stay around to drink. I went with a group a friends for my brithday and everything was to the 9s. Everyone in my group was extremely impressed. It so nice to see downtown finally on the uprise, and a restaurant/lounge like this is the perfect addition.

1 Stars: The worst restaurant in LA. (by nikki916)

nikki916 — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to many fabulous restaurants in LA and I'm not sure if my standards are too high or if this place is just below expectation...My friends and I went there on a Sat. night and without a doubt we all concurred this was absolutely the worst dining experience we've ever had in LA. For the price you pay I would not recommend this place to anyone. To start off, we were greeted or not by the inexperienced hostess who stood there and gave us the cold stare as we arrive. Although we had dinner reservation, our table was not ready when we arrive. We then tried to proceed to the bar to grab a drink but were interrupted as the hostess yelled at us and told us that we need to wait in the front as our table get ready. After we got seated, it took 20 minutes before the waiter showed up. Instead of offering us some bread or taking the drink order, he asked us for the main course order immediately. I thought it was rather odd. Most professional and trained staff would have been more organized. We waited for another 30 minutes before our water-down drinks arrived. After we had our bland and tasteless appetizers ( i wanted to ask for ketsup), we waited for at least 45 minutes before the main courses were served. We had chicken, short ribs, lamb, and salmon....All tasteless and unimpressive. The bill came out to over $300 for 3 people and it was a waste of money for such below standard service. The lounge and the crowd were equally unimpressive as the food and the service. To sum up for those who are considering visiting this place. If your idea of a fun time consists of terrible service, tasteless food, uninteresting crowd. And if you want to put up with the attitude and rude remarks from the hostess, this is definitely the place to go.

4 Stars: Nice Experience! (by legalroyalty)

legalroyalty — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went there for a friend's birthday on a Tuesday night. We were a group of nine. My only complaint was the lack of greeting when we walked in. Otherwise, the service was great, the food was great, the ambience was great. We especially liked the the outdoor smoking area. The place is a bit too lit but overall everyone liked it and left satisfied.

3 Stars: Takes a lot for me to motivate to write a bad review but...wow.... (by moleboy)

moleboy — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Girlfriend took me for my birthday and here's how it went down:

1. They made it very clear that we would be able to get a 7:30 res at best. OOOOH, VERY exclusive. When we got there, half full would be generous. When we left at 9. same. On a Saturday.

2. Place was cold as hell, which is fine with me, but not for most ladies.

3. Our waiter..nice guy. NO clue what he was doing, but nice guy. On two occasions another guy had to come by and take drinks orders after noticing us sitting for ages. And then the drinks were wrong. How do you turn a Manhattan into a Lemon Drop? Did I mention the place was almost empty?

4. Her fish, overcooked/flavorless. But she is picky. My short ribs? Sucked. tough and fatty. And it is a sad day when I have ten times better ribs at an Emeril's in freaking ORLANDO a week before.

5. Overall, not absolutely horrible, but don't give me attitude about reservations at an empty restaurant, then charge me $200 for a meal that is not even as good as what I scarfed down at the Red Lion the night before. If you MUST drag your butt to a desolate downtown and to drop a couple bills, just save us all the trouble and go to Houston's.

3 Stars: Needs to step up the service game (by friedneckbones)

friedneckbones — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Js last evening. Easy access and ample parking. Decor is great. Good ambience. We had a range of drinks from Martinis to Mojitos. Martinis are fine - Mojitos just okay. The lounge area is crowded between the small tables and the bar. We ordered a bite - standard fare a burger and a salad. It was nice. The service was lacking. - only one person for a large area. We had to get our own silverware. The open smoking area is good. Bottle service seemed to be good. The cigar selection is not good. I would return for cocktails but if Js is going to charge these prices it needs to step up its service game.

5 Stars: Good bye Standard Hotel downtown, hello J Lounge! (by akira101)

akira101 — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My buddy and i went here last night and from the looks of things, this place will DEFINITELY be the next hot spot in downtown if not all of L.A. The decor is what caught my eye first. It had a NY feel to it whether it be the brick interior, candle lit lounge areas, surrounding lofts, and the skyline view from the outside patio. The space is incredible as well. Enough to occupy thousands. From the outside, i almost missed this spot if it weren't for the huge lit J's in red. Parking was easy as well. A great place for lounging......

5 Stars: Great downtown place (by jess5)

jess5 — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went to their opening last friday and it was amazing. I have been there other days prior and there was not a lot of people but I think once the word is out, it will get packed. Has the hollywood feel with out all the wanabe losers.

3 Stars: Excellent Venue, Not So Great Service (by redbutler)

redbutler — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Wow! That's the word that comes to mind when the back patio, fire pit and delicious food is presented. The upstairs dance area is huge and includes an outdoor cigar patio for all of seasoned smokers. The drawbacks are the poor service (most likely due to J's infancy), and the ssshh talk in the rear patio due to nearby loft dwellers. All in all, a great place. We give it 7 out of 10 and in a few months, that number will most likely climb to an 8 out of 10. -

Cheers -

Red Butler
Concierge Services
RedButler dotcom

4 Stars: Great decor, Friendly bartenders! (by ppxstylez)

ppxstylez — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Checked this place out last Friday and loved the decor. The outside patio is huge and a great place to mingle and meet new people. The upstair bar and dance floor was also really nice. Bartenders were really friendly. Drink prices were about $10 which is typical Hollywood club prices. The dance floor upstairs is pretty roomy but the DJ was not that good at all. The place was pretty empty but the bartender told me that they havent started promoting yet. All in all, I had a good time and would recommend this place.
Definitely an asset to the Downtown area and potential to be a downtown hotspot. Let's hope they dont start charging cover and become all pretentious like the Hollywood bars/clubs...

5 Stars: Best place to dance, spend the nightlife with your true love, and living it up (by mrswesleyjonathan)

mrswesleyjonathan — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I enjoyed the new resturant and lounge in Downtown L.A. where I can just enjoy the good food and party all night long. I've never felt so great in my life once I went there and enjoyed all the good food at reasonable prices, the dancing to the music and enjoying the nighlife at city lights. This is a place to say, " I would go every night with my girls for a girls' night out." I highly recommend this place to anybody. I love L.A.

5 Stars: J - Downtown's Newest Gem!!! (by iksarooveh)

iksarooveh — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I have had the pleasure of getting a sneak peak at this brand new, up and coming restaurant and lounge and I can honestly say that I am waiting with baited breath for the anticipated opening. The decor is classy and stylish. The food and drinks are imaginative, delicious and reasonably priced. This place is just what downtown needs to get the area back on the map. I highly recommend the bartender's tasty concoctions including the specialty mojitos, margaritas and martinis. From the moment you enter J, you'll be amazed not only at the style of this sure-to-be hot spot, but by the spaciousness and warm atmosphere. Large plasma TV's adorn the walls of the VIP room, comfortable suede couches and retro-style ottoman's provide more than enough seating and an outdoor patio, complete with cabanas and a fire pit, allow for extra space, a casual atmosphere and the opportunity for inviting conversation. Although J has an air of classiness and style, it is anything but pretentious...welcoming young professionals and giving them a place to meet, enjoy great company as well as fantastic cuisine. J is surely to become the place to be in downtown!

5 Stars: Great Food, Good Prices, and Friendly Staff (by mixedmedia)

mixedmedia — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I got to check the place out as a friend of a friend who had a pre-opening invite. If this place keeps this up they will quickly become a hot spot! I don't know if I want that to happen or not though! It's so hard to find a place that has great food and a hip and inviting atmosphere that doesn't have everyone flocking to it yet. The outdoor patio with firepit is just cool! Also once you see the VIP Cabana seats outside you'll make it a goal to get your butt in one! What I liked most is the fact taht I would check this place out whether it was just for the restaurant or just the lounge - they're both kicking in their own right.