Sure, as a college student you probably don’t want to drop a ton of money on dinner, but the steak (and the atmosphere) at Jack's Bar & Steakhouse is worth it. The restaurant has about three different rooms, a beautiful bar, two mesmerizing Himalayan salt walls, and a sick ceiling that maps stars in the nighttime sky. As if that wasn’t enough, Jack’s menu is pretty great, too. Whether you’re going all out or trying to ball on a budget, Jack’s has a variety of dishes that can satisfy anyone’s cravings (and wallets).
The board of Spoon Yale got invited to a “Social Media Dinner”, where we got to try a ton of things off the menu. Not only were we absolutely stuffed, but we were pleased with the food (and drinks) we sampled and the great service. Take a look at some of our favorites at New Haven’s new steakhouse.
Drinks
Luckily for us, we got to try almost every drink on the menu (as if we needed an excuse to drink on a Thursday night).
One of our favorites was the “Dear Lilah,” made with gin, champagne, lemon juice and St-Germaine liqueur-- all garnished with a flower petal.
If you’re into minty, lime, or cucumber drinks like I am, then you should definitely try the “Uncle Val’s."
... or the Moscow Mule.
Appetizers
From salads to meats and fish, Jack’s offers quite a few appetizer options. We had the "Man’s Salad," a deconstructed salad with tomato slices, bacon, blue cheese, olive oil and crispy onion rings. It was a nice departure from a typical salad that most of us really liked.
For a lighter option, their Beet Salad was also pretty tasty-- red and golden beets combined with kale, pumpkin seeds and some tasty goat cheese croquettes.
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, try the steak tartare. Topped with a cracked quail egg and prepped with toasted anchovy, parmesan and mascarpone sauce, this appetizer was a pleasant surprise. Tartare is definitely not for everyone, but if you’re in the mood, Jack's is pretty great.
Entrees
And now for the most important part: the steak. After trying both the tomahawk chop and filet, I can vouch for the quality of meat Jack’s is serving. While New Haven isn't known for their meats, the Midwest is-- which is exactly where Jack's sources its steak.
Both cuts of steak were really good--juicy, cooked well, seasoned lightly to allow the meat’s flavor to stand out and tender. I would totally eat both meats again, and I hope to try the other cuts on the menu. Seriously, they were so tasty.
We also tried Jack’s Burger, which was a huge hit. It was super flavorful thanks to the caramelized onions, cheese, bacon and aioli sauce that were loaded on top of it. My favorite part, though, was the unique bun choice: ciabatta bread. The crunchiness of the bread paired well with the texture of the bacon for a killer burger (and the fries were nothing to scoff at either).
The menu also features seafood dishes like a Lobster Roll, Salmon, and Bronzino, or a Linguini Cacio e Pepe for those in the mood for pasta. There’s definitely something for everyone (including vegetarians).
Dessert
Don’t let your dinner stop there. Jack’s has some pretty good desserts, too. In fact, our chapter editor, Nicole, called one of their desserts “the best dessert in New Haven,” and I’d have to agree. It’s a Molten Dulce de Leche Cake, and it’s INCREDIBLE. Think soufflé cake full of sweet dulce de leche that oozes right out of it.
If you actually want to share a dessert (and not eat the whole thing yourself), I’d recommend the chocolate fondue that comes with marshmallows, strawberries, biscotti and a crepe, all alongside a mini fondue bowl and tableside campfire. Very cute and very good!
We were so happy to have gone to Jack’s. We had an excellent meal and we're ready to come back. We’re thinking of hitting them up for there Sunday brunch (oh yeah, did I mention they serve brunch, too?). $15 bottomless drinks? We’re sold.