According to their website "We wanted to create a neighborhood restaurant that reminds you of being at mama's house on Sunday: our menu is based on simple comfort food where the taste and quality stand for what we believe in. Come to Jack's and you will get a full experience—not only with our food but also great service."
Jack's is located on Killingworth Road in the same small plaza with the Post Office. They are only open until noon on Sunday so get there early and expect to have to wait to be seated.
We stopped this past Sunday after church and there were three parties in front of us waiting to be seated. It took about 10 minutes to get our seat and then no time at all to get our cups of coffee and have our food delivered.
I ordered the special of the day French toast. It was served with strawberry cream cheese and sliced fresh strawberries and powdered sugar on top. It is described as stuffed but it is two separate pieces of French toast one laid slightly over the other, the cream cheese is not inside the French toast as stuffed implied it is spread on the lower piece. It was, however, delicious.
My husband ordered three scrambled eggs, well-done homefries, and rye toast. The eggs were perfectly cooked. We also ordered a side of bacon which consisted of three pieces of well cooked thick sliced bacon. It is pricey at $3.25 but very good so worth the price.
Service was good, not perfect since our orange juice never arrived but good and friendly. We always enjoy our breakfast here and usually don't come on Sundays so waiting is usually not an issue.
If you want a better than average breakfast and friend service, Jack's will fill the bill.
Located at 9 North Main Street, J. Christian is housed in a 1920's former bank which took three years to renovate. The interior is very attractive with a grand staircase and stained glass ceiling and Tiffany-style chandelier. The bar is located to the left when you enter and on a Saturday night without a reservation ,you may end up sitting at the bar like we did.
Executive Chef Jonathan Harris offers an eclectic menu that uses the freshest locally sourced ingredients combined with his southern roots. The bar is beautiful and you won't feel short-changed for having to dine here.A mezzanine area up is also available at the top of the grand staircase.
We ordered drinks which were delivered promptly. It took quite a lot longer to place our food order. As it got busier, the level of service slipped and we saw one couple get up and walk out after not getting served. Having said that, our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and we didn't have anything to complain about.
My friend ordered the salmon which came with slivers of pear on top and a delicious risotto underneath. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with the black pepper gravy, mashed potatoes and collard greens which I asked to swap off for the Brussels sprouts. It was a very good decision, no matter how good the collards might have been, the Brussels sprouts were outstanding.
I love fried chicken and this one met every expectation I could have had. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It was a huge portion with two pieces of chicken. I wish we had had room for dessert but we did not. I do however look forward to returning here to try some of the other offerings.
J. Christians is open for dinner Mon-Saturday. Check their website for exact times and to check out a sample menu. The menu I saw on the site did not match the one we saw at the restaurant so only use it as a guide.
Last night I attended the Celtic Women performance at the Oakdale Music Theater in Wallingford. The venue has changed a great deal over the years but it is well setup and allows great viewing. What I didn't like was being told that no photography was allowed. While I understand no recording of the performance, photos are another story all together.
Obviously I didn't listen.
This is their 10th anniversary tour and while obviously you can't see them in Connecticut this year, you can make plans to see them next year. The performance benefits CPTV which is a very good thing.
Quite a few things are going on this weekend in Connecticut. Two of them were previously postponed.
Hebron
This is Maple Festival Weekend in Hebron. Events will be taking place from 10am to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Plenty of things to see and do and lots of good food will be offered. You can visit one or all of the three sugar houses in town and see how maple sugar is made.
Events include an ice cream eating contest, craft show, blacksmithing demonstration, a pancake breakfast, tour of the synagogue, candle making and wood working demonstrations. Every member of the family will find something of interest to enjoy.
Hartford
The St. Patrick's Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday on Capitol Avenue near the State Capitol. It turns left on Main Street, a left on Asylum, a left on Ford Street, and then ends by the Memorial Arch. It attracts a large crowd so plan to come early and stake out your spot to view the festivities.
On Sunday, the Max's O'Hartford 5K will take place. Race start is on Trumbull street in front of the XL Center and adult take off time is 1p.m. The wee ones take off at 12:30 p.m. This event is the finale of what has been a week of Irish festivities in Hartford. Costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded. You will be entertained by Irish bagpipes and Celtic fiddlers. Food will be available from the Max Restaurant Group and Thomas Hooker beer. A good time will be had by all.
Mystic
Mystic will also host an Irish Parade. It will kick off at 1 p.m. and will last for 3 hours. It begins at Mystic Seaport and is a true celebration of Irish heritage.
There is always something interesting going on in Connecticut. To find out more about these and other events visit the official Connecticut tourism site.
I was born in Connecticut and have lived here all my life. I love this state and want to share some of the things I love about it.
We have four very distinctive seasons in Connecticut. Sometimes like this year, they overlap but every one of them has its own charms.
I plan to talk about the places I enjoy visiting, dining and shopping. I will review some businesses but only if I have actually visited.
Anyone who knows me at all can attest to the fact that I get around a lot and eat out frequently. I will be reviewing local dining and giving honest feedback and what there is to love and what to avoid.
As long as it is locally or family owned, it may find its way onto my blog. If you want to invite me to visit I will be happy to come and help get the word out. I support local but I will be brutally honest.
I hope you will join as we celebrate all things Connecticut.
