JB Kitchen & Bar

Great! Came to celebrate a birthday service and food was great!

Formerly Badrutts, they are in a seemingly privileged spot in Brickell, ubiquitous and convenient.
The service has been consistently good and they have some pretty good appetizers, must confessed that I have only been here to enjoy a couple of drinks with friends and some quick food, but I have totally enjoyed it as such.
I owe to the place to return for dinner but for now, it is a recommend as a happy hour spot.

The classy neighborhood bar has arrived!
JB has become our go to spot to grab a well-​mixed drink, some yummy food and catch-​up in a comfortable, gorgeous environment. Whether recovering from a work day or starting the weekend festivities, its always a good time.
The staff is charming and welcoming and the happy hour specials are a steal. The happy hour food specials are also a bargain and most importantly delicious! My favs are the short rib sliders and the artichoke dip (the accompanying wonton chips are a nice touch). Not on the happy hour special, but oh so worth it, are the tuna tartare and lobster mac and cheese.
The space, aside from being elegantly causal, is nicely laid out with a good size bar and some inside lounging near it and the outside terrace is great even on a hot Miami night.
In short, I always depart with a smile on my face (cue the Cheers theme).

Remember that TV show «Friends?» Remember how they would all gather at their local coffee house to lounge around and chit-​chat? Well, this is that kind of place for me… trading the coffee for hard liquor, of course!
I love JB Kitchen for the mere fact that when the girls get together here, we have a fabulous time! The restaurant itself is gorgeous and we’ve taken a liking to the fabulous Tuna Tartare (one of the best I’ve tasted) and the lobster mac & cheese! My favorite poison is the Strawberry Fizz, a muddled strawberries and vodka addiction!
We always have a great time at JB, the service is top-​notch and the place has a great vibe… especially when we arrive! ;-)

Finally! Something to counteract the ghastly cheesiness (think graphic button down shirts and dresses made out of sausage casing) that has overrun the Mary Brickell area.
Thank you, JB Kitchen & Bar. In my book you’ve managed the happy hour trifecta. The interiors are simple and stylish. The bartenders are friendly and serve up a stiff drink. And the food is tasty. Plus, at $ 4 to $ 6 during happy hour, you can sample a few apps and small plates without any ticket remorse. I personally keep coming back for the sliders.
I’ve yet to try their brunch. But after several recommendations from local aficionados, I may wander over this Sunday. Overall, a breath of fresh air in an area otherwise doused with cheap cologne.

We had the best seats during the disheartening US loss to Ghana during the 2010 World Cup. JB is a gorgeous, open space with a decent sized bar. The Tuna Tartare ($ 16) is very good, as are the sliders.
Their World Cup specials include $ 11 pitchers of Sam Adams… That’s pretty amazing. I mean, it’s Sam Adams Boston Ale or Summer Ale (Summer isn’t as good)… great beers! What a steal!
The bartenders are really cool… great service.

Debating between 2.5 — 3 stars…
Dear JB Kitchen,
There are so many mixed emotions when it comes to my feelings about you, I just don’t know where to begin. First, let me say that I have been here about 3 or 4 times now– a couple of Friday evenings, and a Thursday (all happy hour times).
The service is very hit or miss, and I find that I spend more of my time looking for a server than actually enjoying my meal. Just this past Friday, in particular, our service was very slow and it actually made us leave earlier than we would have.
During Happy Hour, you get pretty packed, but the vibe is often killed by the DJ playing music so loud that my ears ring and head pounds to the beat. But still, there is lots of people watching to be done.
I will say that there are quite a few reasonably priced ($ 4 — $ 6) appetizers during HH, which makes it easy to sample a little bit of everything. Beers are also really cheap at $ 2.50 each; even for a Newcastle!
You now also offer specials for the World Cup, but because of that, you don’t offer your regular HH specials. Sigh. One can never win. One of the World Cup specials is a pitcher of Mojitos, however, the bartender failed at making a Mojito. Our pitcher only contained 2 wedges of lime (for the ENTIRE pitcher) and a mint leaf (A mint leaf). We ended up having to order lime and mint from the waitress (which took about 20 minutes, and I still had to go back to the bar myself to steal more limes), and basically making our own.
In your defense, all of the food we tried (from the World Cup specials) was pretty good. We tried the Guacamole with chips, the Empanadas, the Sliders, and Chicken Enhiladas. The only thing I didn’t like were the enchiladas. Everything else was stellar.
Like I said, very mixed emotions. I am not sure if I will make it a point to come back, but maybe if it’s a group consensus I can be swayed.
I hope you shape up or you may end up shipping out soon.
In all honesty,
SabrinaAnna*

Delish! And $ 6 martinis on a Friday night. Hope this place pops off soon, I’d hate to see them close.
We came on a Friday night and it was super quiet — not a good sign. But, the service was excellent and the food totally hit the spot. No complaints.
The atmosphere on the inside isn’t really my thing — kinda loud & over-​the-​top-​modern. I prefer more of a laid-​back scene. The outdoor is really nice though — they have covered tables and it’s very pleasant.
We had rock shrimp as an app (everyone at happy hour raved about them, and they were so right) — soooo delicious. Could have eaten them all myself (and I tried to, LOL). Also had an artichoke dip that was warm, creamy and fabulous.
For dinner I had the caprese sandwich. Came on a huge, long, fresh piece of baguette, and the mozzarella was fresh and delicious. One of the best caprese sandwiches I’ve ever had, hands down.
Did I mention the $ 6 martinis? Hello Fridays — such a nice touch. Come on people, what are you waiting for?! Patronize this place! You won’t regret it.

I can’t figure out why no one comes here… A friend came down to hang out for a night from Ft. Lauderdale and we decided to go grab dinner at JB’s since we had been there for happy hour before but never to eat. We figured maybe the food was horrid and that’s why its never busy. We were SO wrong! Everything was soooo goooooddddddd! The service was great– the manager was helpful — other servers were helpful and friendly, not sure if everyone was just bored or not but jeesshhh I just don’t know why that place isn’t packed ALL day. The ambiance inside is laid back and the décor is über cool, the staff is friendly, the food is great… location? I think the location is pretty perfect as well!
How is it that Piola next door is packed and there food is nothing special but you def. PAY a price, while next door JB’s is just sitting quietly. Maybe the explosion is coming & its just taken a while to catch on… not sure but either way, go in with some people and you will def. enjoy EVERYTHING.

Went there for the Happy Hour. It started out nice and quiet and we had a nice little patio outside that we enjoyed before it got too packed. After a few $ 2.50 beers and a rock shrimp plate later, I was feeling pretty good.
The service was good, as the manager was trying to make sure we were taken of. Don’t know if he knew we were Unilocalers or not, but he was trying to keep up with us and I think we tired him out by the end of it. I didn’t get too much service from him as I kept my own tab inside so I wouldn’t have to be mixed up in the drunken «who drank what» game.
The service started out really well, but as the night got later, the busier it got and the service slipped a little. It is not the servers fault as they were trying to keep up as best as they could.
Five Stars cause of the awesome specials they had. I was there for about 5 – 6 hours and was so exited that my bill came out to be about $ 31.00 and that is including tip.
***Be aware that they automatically charge an 18% gratuity***

This review is for Happy Hour. Went here on a Friday night early around 6 PM. Excited to see what they were all about, then I was told it was the same owner as Badrutt’s. Never did I like the previous restaurant so my thoughts were oh no this is not going to be good. We sat outside on comfy chairs, weather was perfect and the staff was taking great care of our group. Honestly, they were all working so very hard to make sure we were happy and taken care of.
Wow, we ordered three Rock Shrimp Appetizers, slightly breaded, excellent flavor, man they were awesome! Of course we shared and it seemed they were a huge hit for everyone. No doubt I would come back just for that. We also tried the Artichoke and Spinach Dip, which was very good as well. Chips were light and abundant, good creamy consistency in the dip.
Originally I started drinking Margarita’s, yes they make one heck of a good margarita, only problem, it was small for $ 11. Five guzzles and ooops I was done. So, after drinking two I ordered a bottle of wine. The wine list is very small, with five choices of each varietal. They really need a better wine list especially for the type of food they have on their menu. I ordered a bottle of Mark West Pinot Noir from Sonoma for $ 28, it was OK.
The outside area is so relaxing and comfy. The DJ was playing some great tunes and I really appreciated the volume. He kept it low enough so you could still talk without screaming to each other. It was very cool!
The inside is very modern, chic, white leather booths, orange hues, clean and crisp with a large bar to the right when you walk in.
The menu for dinner is simple with burgers, salads, pasta dishes, chicken sandwiches, some fish and steak entrée’s. Price ranges from $ 12– $ 29. I thought the prices were a bit steep for the type of food. But hey when I go back for dinner, (which I will) we will see if the quality matches the prices.
Joe, was the manager and he was wonderful! He never stopped running around helping out and making sure every person was taken care of. As time past they did get really busy and I felt they could have used a few more waiters. Our waiter was nice, he just seemed slow and confused, maybe he was still learning. All in all Joe made me want to come back as he did take very good care of us. Excellent manager, who gives Superior Service! He needs some good help though.
Bathrooms were clean and stocked well… bonus!
Looking forward to coming back for dinner one night. But they have a great Happy Hour so I am sure I will be checking that out again real soon.
Great time was had…

I came out for happy hour on a Friday and it the place was already busy. The specials were great — 2.50 for beer regardless if it was draft, bottle and/​or imported. I decided to give the rock shrimp a try and was not dissappointed.
The shrimp is battered and comes with a very spicy, tasty sauce that was delicious. The bartenders were friendly and even though was place was slammed one introduced himself by name. There was a manager working the patio that kept making sure everyone was happy. The restaurant itself is very elegant and I’d come back to have a full meal.
The patio is set up nicely and overlooks the street which is nice. And this is kinda weird to mention but the urinals in the mens’ room is pimp. If you’re not a dude you’re missing out. Great service, great prices for their drinks and a great location = great fun and 5 stars.

Being that there are so many good brunch spots on the beach, there is no reason for me to leave the beach for brunch other than to meet up with some good friends — so that being said, if those friends live in Brickel area — this is my spot.
$ 25 is a little high for the amount of variety they server but not the quality.
I really like the laid back sanctuary of the outside seating and pleasant staff. They have fruit and juices like you would expect and a good chef on the eggs station making you dish to your liking — bonus was turkey as a choice.
The french toast was insanely good even foodie Eschel was impressed and the cheese cake was so good after one bite — I stopped smiled and asked for a glass of milk because it took me back to some child yummy good place.
Overall a good time and if I had the time — I would have paid extra for the all you can drink mimosa too.

Had an enjoyable Sunday brunch with some fellow Unilocalers yesterday.
$ 25 is a bit much, given the rather limited selection, but they throw in a mimosa or a bloody Mary for the price of admission, and they’ve got excellent French toast (crispy on the outside yet has that custard-​like texture in the middle) and a dangerously good Oreo cheesecake.
These facts, along with good service and an omelet station got me to roll-​up my three to a four star review.

My only complaint is that the Eggs Benedict didn’t have enough Hollandaise sauce — and even with that JB Kitchen is a 5-​star Brunch.
I met up with some Unilocal friends for an awesome brunch and great conversation Sunday. The selection was OK, for me as they had my brunch staples, right down to the sweets. I dare to say that the french toast was among the best I’ve had, with a soft texture and lingering sweetness. On the savory end, I was pleasantly surprised by caprese salad and omelet. The mimosa was great; just enough to give you a buzz and maintain a lively conversation.
Like a few Unilocalers said, it’s basic and functional on the food. They even add a minimum gratuity. However, they had very attentive service; they even accommodated a special dietary request.
I certainly see myself having brunch at JB Kitchen again!

I’m a fan of simplicity. A $ 25 brunch buffet in Brickell which means walking distance is about as simple as it can get. The set up isn’t fancy but it is practical, you have the de rigueur stations and servings: omelet, carving, pastries, french toast, etc. While not vast it is satisfying and the price tag includes a Mimosa or Bloody Mary. For another $ 20, totaling $ 45 you can make it All You Can Drink and All You Can Eat.
For Brickellites searching for a lazy or hangover Sunday brunch:
— without lines
— without wait times
— without screaming children
— without a dress code
— without a need to look around for your car keys
but with fantastic service and a quiet vibe look no further than JBs.
Just be aware that this is a no frills set up, and it has minimal options but for $ 25 it’s A-​ok.

My family & I went for Easter Sunday brunch and I’m so glad I picked this place to go. They were having a good deal of $ 24.95 per person for an endless buffet that included eggs benedict, fruits, cheeses, prosciutto, French toast, potatoes, muffins, salmon, bagels, salad .just endless amounts of food… And they even had a chef out front custom making any kind of omelet u want.
The staff was absolutely wonderful ! We had 2 or 3 waiters refilling drinks, giving us new silverware after each plate, and just being very comforting. My grandmother kept telling the waiters how much she loved their personalities lol
My hubby & I will definetly have to come back for dinner!

Sitting here enjoying the Sunday brunch. Thanks to the free WiFi and convenient power sources at bar I get catch up on a few emails and watch sports.
Great food, music, and excellent drinks including good choice of drafts. Its really nice to have a neighborhood friendly place in Brickell…

Visited on a Sunday night. Sat at the bar.
The location freaks me out since I associate it with that Brickell crowd — the type of crowd that may not discriminate over quality as long as they are standing in the newest place to be.
I ate the mixed seafood ceviche and the lobster mac n cheese. The ceviche was good and the mac and cheese was amazing — big chucks of lobster, basic mac, good cheese. It got better as I ate it.
I can’t speak to the table service, but the bartender was very friendly, very knowledgeable and a recent transplant from New York City which added an element of authenticity to the place. She let me sample their fruit infused liqours. The Black Cherry infused Makers Mark, with which they prepare the Black Cherry Manhattan, is outstanding. I would probably stop at this place just to take a shot or two of it with friends before starting a night out on the town.
Biggest complaint: This is place will be billed as a gastropub, and from my point of view, a gastropub needs a good beer selection. JB is WAY behind in that category offering only three beers on tap and a few other minimun standards. It’s evident no one focused on the beer menu, it was disregarded. The should fix that.
I think this place has potential. Lets see how it does after the hype wears out. I’ll definately return.

Something about this location is just cursed. It’s in the same spot (and owners) as the ill-​fated Badrutt’s Place and JB’s doesn’t do much better. If you are a fan of short reviews then you only have to read this one little line.
They know how to take something perfectly good and ruin it’s life.
Here are some examples –
Convenient location if you live or work in Brickell… but if you don’t, the parking can really break your heart. All four of the parking machines in the vicinity were only accepting COINS! So if you own a vending machine company or have a roll of quarters left over from laundry day, then you’re good.
Luxuriously decorated inside and out… but what’s the point of having fancy plasmas all over if the volume and captions are off? I’m sure the Shaquille O’Neil MMA training infomercial they had on would have been quite entertaining.
Extensive Menu but don’t go by the one online because that’s only in the chef’s head. Go with the paper menu that has NO PRICES! I’ve eaten at some places that would make even Donald Trump blush, and they still had prices on the menu. You have to have to inform your customers so they know what kind of damage they can do. It’s a very niche market that can whimsically pull out their Black Card (I prefer African-​American Express) and pay the table’s tab. I just don’t think they have anything spectacular to offer that clientele. There was a lot of Blackened this… Certified Angus that… Free Range blah blah… nothing stood out.
Meals arrived promptly but you really have to use your imagination to taste the advertised mushroom in the Truffled Parmesan Fries (don’t worry guys, you can get a free lesson from The Alibi).
Service is excellent… except for me. I was starting to think I had accidentally turned on my Stealth-​Camouflage Unit because the server would not bring me (just me) anything I asked for. It happened three times, but he did remedy the situation by comping the aforementioned fries.
Friendly staff but you know when you’re out in public and you get that queasy feeling when you see parents going ape-​shit on their kids? That’s how the manager was behaving with the staff in earshot of customers! But what can you expect from someone wearing a pink button down, silky lilac scarf and shoes as pointy as a Jambiya dagger?
Music is soothing but more suitable for a Turkish funeral. I think they played Salih Saka’s entire CD. Twice.
Spacious bar but they had an assembly line of staff prepping the watermelon mint drink with an industrial juicer and pouring it into empty Belve bottles. Now stop me if I’m wrong but this should have been done BEFORE opening and was distracting.
During happy-​hour they offer $ 3 drafts, and for their opening night the Cantaloupe Martini and Cherry Manhattan were comp’d…but just wait a little minute, when I tasted the two drinks one was a hideous Watermelon-​Mint Mojito, and a surprisingly delicious Cucumber Martini. Though they didn’t deliver what they promised, I can’t really complain because it was free.
Oh and don’t worry, for your convenience they add 18% to your check. Thanks JB, I usually get very anxious when I have to calculate the tip without my TI-​83.
And who the hell named this place and its predecessor? JB’s Kitchen and Bar sounds like I could expect a cold Pabst, hot BBQ and a Honky Tonk juke box. Badrutt’s place? That doesn’t even sound like a restaurant, sounds more like an ethnic kid’s treehouse. Why not just call it something moronic like Bistro Café (sorry Nordstrom’s).
They are new and I’m being uncharacteristically nice, but they have a good concept and might pleasantly surprise me the second time around… but I doubt it.