Philly File reviews Jones Restaurant on Chestnut Street

By Eric Donovan
Collegian Staff
September 26, 2007

Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr gets it right again with the addition of Jones Restaurant to his line of renowned Philly restaurants, which include Buddakhan, Tangerine, The Continental and Washington Square. At 700 Chestnut Street, Jones Restaurant is in the heart of the city and continues Starr’s legacy of affordable dining and a relaxing atmosphere.

Jones is a restaurant unlike any other I have ever visited. Its décor, reminiscent of the Brady Bunch with a contemporary edge, creates a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere as you enjoy your meal with a few friends. The music is fun, contemporary and spun by a DJ almost nightly. Almost immediately upon entering, you know you are going to have a good time.

Jones is, to put it simply, an all-American soul food restaurant, touting entrees such as its signature fried chicken and waffle, as well as Thanksgiving dinner, with all the trimmings and tomato soup with grilled cheese. Jones offers an array of other foods, including seafood, sandwiches and salads. Each dish is quite affordable, too, with the most expensive dish, filet mignon being $24.50, making this a great alternative to the pricey restaurants featured in Philly’s Restaurant Week.

My overall experience with the restaurant has been quite positive. I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to be seated, a rarity at restaurants these days. The waitstaff was accommodating, continually checking on us and refilling our drinks, which I find to be the mark of a great restaurant. Even the wait time for our food was minimal. We ordered, promptly received our appetizers, and finished them just as we were getting our next course. It was efficient and quite enjoyable.

I first enjoyed Jones Chicken Nachos ($7), which was more satisfying with each bite. Presentation was nothing to write home about, but the nachos were delicious. The chips were fresh and crunchy and layered in black beans and a lime sour cream. The portion was enough for the five others I was with, so it was definitely worth it. In fact, we could not even finish the dish.

As for the entrée, I chose the Cobb Salad with chicken, crispy smoked bacon, egg, bleu cheese, and avocado ($11.50). The price was worth it for the amount of salad I actually got. It was tossed wonderfully, so each bite was dressed just enough. Salad presentation included a rather large bowl, keeping the dish as a whole very clean and nonetheless delicious.

Finally, moving into the grand finale of the meal, I chose the Campfire Craving. It contained graham crackers, a fudge brownie, vanilla ice cream and toasted marshmallows. It tasted like a s’more, and was reminiscent of the campfire it claims to be named after. For around $10, it serves two to four people. Unfortunately, it is not currently listed on the menu, even though it is one of the most popular dishes. However, the Peanut Butter Pie ($7) with caramelized banana and whipped cream is a more than worthy substitute.

Jones is a trendy restaurant great for anyone looking for a night on the town, living the city life, eating great food and saving money. I recommend it to all and assure you a great time will be had. My dinner at Jones Restaurant was so good that after writing this review and looking back on the great food, I might just go down there again this weekend.

donovane1@lasalle.edu