Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill

Well now I can say I’ve had a bad experience. I went a few weeks ago after a craving for poutine and it was the most awful poutine I’ve ever had. There was three times the amount of cheese curds than needed… and they were all super cold non melted. The gravy was literally the consistency of water. I should have sent it back but I’d already complained because both my iced tea and my ginger ale were as tasty as water. The waitress told me it was their brand of iced tea but I’ve had their iced tea before and it used to have flavor.
They got rid of their delicious beef dip too…

Processed cheese-​ew. There were way too many screens. You can’t focus on the person you’re talking to.
Our drink orders were forgot multiple times.
The waitress was rather rude too us.
The atmosphere was nice but it tried way too hard to be «hip».
The nachos were terrible. The vegetables seemed to be out of a can. Cheese was very greesy.
Will never be back.

First Unilocal check-​in here, but have been here at least twice before. I like the concept — large open space with the long bar and large panel of individual tv screens. The décor is varied and interestimg which creates an atmosphere conducive to noisy chatter — this a good thing! The friendly hostess greeted us and lead us to a small booth. I hadn’t noticed on previous visits, but children are allowed so there were a number of families adding to the busy Saturday lunch.
Our server was quick to set us up with drinks and she quickly pointed out specials. Quick deliberation and we took her recommendation of bruschetta. This appie arrived quickly and was good. We ordered. our meals — I had a chicken sandwich and caesar salad and my co-​dining Babe had something similar (damn, if I can remember the menu names). Regardless, the food arrived after a short wait. Both meals were fresh and hot. Mine was pretty good if not overwhelming in size. Salad was good. Co-diner’s opinion was same as mine decent, but not something to rave about.
I like this spot, but it is not a place I would normally frequent.
I concur with a few of the other reviewers in that flies seem to be an issue. We were pestered by a couple of flies. I can appreciate that they like to dine out too, but they should be relegated to the dumpster out back!

This place is always hit and miss but decent for the kids meals. The floor below our table was covered in food, toys and old menus on this visit and our table and the one beside had no cutlery. The lady beside us was using her plastic toy from her drink to hold her steak while she cut it. Service was mediocre at best with their new menu. Wholly price increases on the new menu, good thing that basically every other meal is free here because the kitchen and service are always so inconsistent.
They missed items in our order the server never returned after asking our drink order, 7 tables were left un-​bussed, food was cold when delivered etc etc. this was their last chance, especially after the manager came over and was completely unresponsive to our complaints. There is a reason this is the Jacks in western Canada.

Went a couple of days ago with friends and really liked the food there, and the waiters were great! you get a lot of food for the price you pay, and the drinks were absolutely amazing! will definitely go back again when I’m back in that area

This is an awesome restaurant. Usually busy but worth the wait. Great value for a family night out.

It was the winter. We saw regular flies and fruit fly. I don’t want to see their kitchen. Unacceptable! Winter. What a build up!
That was my 1^st and last time.

Had the Thai noodle dish with chicken and it was one of the blandest things I’ve eaten in years. Service was spotty as they seemed to forget about us a few times even though it wasn’t busy and they had plenty of staff.
Décor is nice and the place is clean though, but not really somewhere I’d want to make a return visit to.

Really good! Came here a couple days ago with my squad and we were seated at the booth near the bar. Love all the TVs the place has and the t-​shirts that the servers wear, some favorites: «Odd numbers literally can’t even», «I can’t finish anyth», etc.
Food’s really good. Got the fish and chips with the gold yukon fries and that was great. The bruschetta is amazing.
The blue lemonade from the alcohol menu is really nice, but the hawaiian punch drink tasted like cough medicine, so don’t get that one.
It was also my friend’s birthday and all the servers came out, told him to stand on his seat and dance along to I’m a Little Teapot with them as they sang it, it was cute.
+ Good food
+ Good service
+ Affordable
No real cons.

You know those satisfaction surveys usually attached to receipts that enter you in various contests, give you a coupon or just allow you to rant? Well I do those as well lol :-). Following my previous Jack Astor’s visit I completed the survey on the receipt; it was in-​line with the review I wrote for Jack Astor’s here down to mentioning the small seating issue we encountered. (Please see previous review below for a review of our last visit)
What really caught me off guard is that the Manager CJ actually took the time to send me a reply! Given the situation was minor and didn’t escalate, I wasn’t expecting any sort of response and was just happy to enter a contest. But he thanked me for my survey and went as far as to invite for Game 4 of the Flames/​Ducks series with some special arrangements /​compliments, WOW! Pretty huge since it’s undoubtedly going to be a full restaurant, it was last time! I was trying to think back to a time a manager went above and beyond to take the time and write me like this and I couldn’t. I think this is the first time anyone has! Jack Astor’s and CJ have definitely earned an ongoing customer in me, this is exceptional service! I had to decline his offer for the game invitation due to prior commitments, but I will be back for a visit (hopefully soon)!
Cheers!

I used to work here when it first opened many years ago. The crazy atmosphere was always fun. They certainly have muted their tone since though. But in a good way. I’d say atmosphere is just more a typical lounge like restaurant.
The best part though, is the food. For over a decade I have LOVED their bow tie pasta. I always ask for the kitchen to spice it up for me and they nail it every time! The way the chicken is done is so perfect! And this is coming from someone who only meat I do eat is chicken, says a lot.
I don’t live in that part of the city anymore but it’s certainly worth the trip to the south end for their food.

Omg where to start? They were fantastic! We decided to take the kids for dinner and we had amazing service our food was quick and delicious! The kids enjoyed the colouring table and the free desert! Well moms loved our radiator marinated garlic chicken! We had three servers bring us our food along with fresh pepper and parmesan cheese! Totally pampered meal service! Was very pleasant we make it a ritual now when we take the kids out :)

Me and my husband went there for his birthday and this place turned out to be really good. Very open, ambiance is very nice, lively music yet not loud. Liked the menu and the taste. Will definitely go back there again.

Chermayn, Colin and I went to Jack Astor’s on friday night. we braved the snow, after a little mishap, we arrived safely.
when we got there, the place was surprisingly quiet… again because of the snow we just had.
we ordered and food came such an awesome reasonable time, our server Kevin was AWESOME! so cool. He said that he have been there for few months… we were like… it doesnt see like it, you know the stuff you tell us the things you recommended was awesome.
LOVE LOVE LOVE, the only thin… portion got a little bit smaller. service was amazing. had vanilla coke, cherry orange coke… yummmy

I gave it any star rating at all because our server, also the bartender, was a nice dude and was clearly trying. Our Shanghai wraps tasted like pure oil. The steak was solid cooked while we asked for a medium. My Shrimp tasted like they used salt as a spice — gross. I won’t be back. Used to be one of my favorite chains.

Second time I’ve been here. First time with the boys. Like any Saturday night it was extremely busy. We had a party of 8 and were seated within 30 minutes. The service was slow but very accommodating. They brought out the kids meals quickly but faltered on the adult’s meals. We ended up leaving and having our meals packed to go because the kids were done 1.5 hours in. But I have to give credit to management. They took our entrees off the final bill. I was not expecting that whatsoever.
You have to try their lobster crab dip appetizer. It’s really good.
I had their Brie Burger. Very good combination of fixings and Brie cheese. I recommend it.
I would come back again.

«Jack Astor’s» … is a terrible name.
In fact, it is so terrible that it is the primary reason that I didn’t set foot in this restaurant for some time.
Also, knowing it was a chain, hearing it wasn’t that great, were all contributing factors to avoiding it.
But after being dragged here one night, I finally tried their food … and was surprisingly blown away.
Everything is clean and well prepared.
The thing that amazes me the most is that their «Holy Smoke BBQ Burger» is downright near burger perfection. As burgers go, the whole thing is pretty much exactly, in my opinion, what a burger should be. Gooey processed cheese, thick bacon, crispy onions, spicy mayo and a bun that is absolutely to die for.
I’m not sure if it’s a recent development or not, but they claim that now their burgers take their inspiration from Warren Leruth, an American restaurateur who the Jack Astor’s menu claims to have perfected the burger. I find it hard to disagree.

Recommended 3.5 Stars
Pros: roomy place, decent décor, clean
Cons: some menu items should be updated or dropped
I went here during the day for a late lunch. The restaurant was only about 20% full.
My server was quite nice, and she came by regularly to check on me. I had the bacon cheeseburger with french fries. The burger came with shredded cheddar cheese on it which was not melted and there was a pile of it. I scraped off the excess cheese and ate the burger which was hot, and that’s something I check for in hamburgers. No one wants to get e-​Coli! The burgers on the menu weren’t blowing my mind for originality, but it is a chain restaurant.
Price-​wise it’s average. So expect to pay around $ 15 each person plus tip and taxes.
The best way to describe this place is what the other reviewer said, it’s «Ho-​hum».
Nothing wrong with that, as long as it stays consistently a solid 3.5 stars. I will likely go back but I’m not going to be a regular.
Advice for the owners: maybe just update the menu a bit or check every plate going out and try to make the best presentation you can with what you have to work with if the menu is set by the corporation.

Very good chain food, specialty dishes each season, this month sweeter entrees than usual.
Safe bets are the bread dishes, garlic or cheese garlic, burgers are good, «chinese» dishes pretty good, pastas ok.
Servers all young and eager. Watch for the auto 18% on groups.

Okay, the family and I were driving south on Macleod Trail last Friday and were looking for a place to eat. I was in the mood for Chinese, or Vietnamese. I was quickly shot down, and told how unhealthy those choices were. Okay so we passed Ginger Beef, Rice for King, Kinjo’s. I know Kinjo’s is Japanese, but we had Japanese last week. My kids see Macdonald’s, and say why don’t we eat there. They always want to eat there. I said no way, lets pick something a little healthier.
Then we get to the traffic lights approaching Southland Dr. I see Jack Astor’s. «Hey, what about Jack Astor’s»? my kids start to laugh because I say the word ass. We haven’t been since this place was Fuddruckers.
I have to say the inside has changed quite a bit, since I last stepped foot into this place. We were greeted by three hostesses, then quickly seated to a booth on the back of the restaurant. I proceeded to look at the menu, and thought to myself am I getting old or what? I can hardly make out the print on the menu. It was so dark, I could hardly make out the print. Two waitresses then came to our table and introduced themselves and wrote their names on the throw away paper lining the table. Like Montana’s, the one girl’s name was KT.
Since I was in the mood for some Chinese, I saw on the menu a spicy chicken dish that was accompanied with fresh veggies and steamed rice.
I know, I know, should’ve known better then to order a Chinese dish at a western styled restaurant, that was more burger and salad like.
The chicken, was these little cubes of chicken (like the kind you buy frozen at Co-​op.) spicy, and the rice was soggy in the middle and dry around the edges. I think I got the bottom of the rice cooker. The veggies on the other hand were okay. The other items ordered was a burger, that was okay (nothing special) and yam fries and a salad. I also have to mention that my dinner was like $ 17.00.
I thought that was a lot for something that didn’t even taste as good as a Swansons frozen T.V. dinner.
I won’t be back for a LONG TIME !
When I do, I’ll order something different.
In closing, I would like to add that I was surprised at the amount of families eating here.