Mary T.

My never-ending brunch jones and my Fantasea coupon led me to select Big Jones for a Sunday brunch with friends. I'm going to tell you a little secret, you can make brunch reservations for Big Jones on Open Table (thank yous in the form of drinks are always appreciated). I arrived late (surprise, surprise) and was greeted with some beignets on the table. I didn't notice them on the menu, so I'll venture to say it was a little lagniappe - very nice touch. They were wonderful, airy, sweet balls of dough, not overly fried or oily like many I've tried. If they made this a menu item, I would've totally ordered a plate for myself. Or, if I had arrived first to brunch I might have eaten the whole plate and denied their existence when the others arrived, despite any telltale powdered sugar evidence. Who knows? Anyway, for my meal I ordered the Cajun Pancakes and a mimosa. When I think cajun, I think spice; I know it's not accurate, but usually in the Midwest that's what you can expect to get. Not true at Big Jones, as the server explained they were crepe-like pancakes served with preserves, powdered sugar and cane syrup. They are a bit thicker than crepes, reminding me of the Palacsinta or Hungarian pancakes I grew up on. Presentation-wise, they were definitely the most boring looking dish on our table, but taste-wise I was quite pleased. I tried a bite of my friend's buckwheat pancakes; while they generously filled out her plate, they really didn't wow me at all. Rather bland, in my opinion. My mimosa was fabulous, a great balance of champagne and what seemed like freshly squeezed OJ, definitely not Tropicana. If I could have afforded it, I would knocked back about 4 more of these. Since I arrived late, I didn't have much of a chance to check out my surroundings. The room is long and narrow, bright with a quaint Southern charm. Our table wasn't my favorite, right by the door and close to a curtain cordoning off the waiting area. As the waiting area filled up, there were a few accidental nudges by waiting customers on the other side. Service was fine; attentive, knowledgeable and cordial, but definitely lacking in enthusiasm.

Rhonda G.

I think our server needed a red bull or something, but what she lacked in energy the food made up for in flavor. New Orleans eggs with crab cakes, potatoes O'Brien, Delicious! I probably should have only eaten half but the poached egg was staring at me like a huge eye, taunting me! Had to show him who was in charge! Coffee is nice and strong though i'm not a huge fan of the simple sugar. I remember when simple sugar came in a white packet labeled "sugar", ah the good old days :) Classy looking joint (velvet curtains aren't just for stages you know), pricing was reasonable and the food was good, which translates to hell yeah i'm going back! I think I've got a Love Jones for Big Jones brunch. See what I did there?

Amy M.

Amazing food amazing drinks amazing service!!! A must in Andersonville!!! I had the chicken and dumplings and my sister had the burger food was AWESOME!

Dan G.

I really had a wonderful time here at Big Jones for brunch. There were 5 of us and we made reservations for 2pm. And of course we missed our bus and we're going to be late. I called to tell them we were going to be late and they assured me we would get a table no problem. We showed up about 24 minutes late to be exact. We were asked about our fun walk and was told a table would be ready for us shortly. We introduced ourselves to the bar and were welcomed with some brunch libations that we won't soon forget. I got their Big Jones Screwdriver which had to be the best screwdriver I have. Strong the way I like it, and the addition of the aquavit and fresh squeezed OJ made this screwdriver a monster of a drink. The others in my party enjoyed their bloody Mary's. I was told they were the best they ever have had. Watching the bartender make the bloody Mary was interesting to watch. The addition of freshly grated horseradish made it that much more special. After a couple of drinks we were seated. All of us were feeling a bit bubbly and had been looking at the menu for a while so we knew what we wanted. We started our brunch with the Tete de Cochon which is a nice way of saying headcheese, the Boudin Rouge or blood sausage, and. I was surprised how good the headcheese was. I worked in a deli for a long time and always found that stuff to be well....gross. This stuff was fresh tasting, spicy, and had the right mix of gelatin and pig goodies. The blood sausage was a little disappointing they cut it up thin and didn't really give us much either. I was really excited for this and was let down. We also ordered a basket of the Sally Lunn bread, it is served with preserves and butter. Who ever Sally Lunn was, she could make a mean bread. Sweet, crusty, and plain delicious. But things were soon brought back up with my meal. I ordered a special called the Simple New Orleans Special. Which came with eggs your way, hash browns, and some more Sally Lunn bread. and two, what I fill call shrimp stuffed hush-puppies. Let me tell you hush-puppies are a personal fave, and if you put a great seafood filling inside, you have a lifelong customer. They were perfect. The eggs and hash browns were well done as well but those little balls of joy is all I can think about lately (make your own joke if you want to). The others in my party enjoyed the Gumbo (which I got a taste of and was spectacular), Big Jones Benedict, Eggs New Orleans (looked amazing too), and the Bacon and Swiss omelet. All were scarfed down and talked about for a while. Overall we had a great experience here. They were very accommodating and made great drinks and even more important the food. The service was on par but nothing to special. I will come here again. I need to try dinner!

Carol K.

Text message during a boring meeting: "Do you like fried chicken?" I hide my phone under the table and surreptitiously look around to make sure no one is noticing before I text back: "Yes. When? Where?" And as I waited for the response, my mouth watered with the thought. "Big Jones. Tuesdays". And with that as my invite- I headed north to try out this southern eating place that I had first been introduced to at the Yelp Fantasea event. The simple interior reminded me of a soda shop- cute little tables and chairs that made for a comfortable, casual feeling. We lucked out and got a table right in the front window so I could watch people walk by on this cool Spring evening. We started with the fried green tomatoes which were quite good- topped with pickled shrimp and roumelade sauce. And then the chicken came out with mashed potatoes and greens. While it was good- the chicken was a little salty for me. The better choice at our table? The pulled pork sandwich topped with slaw and served with a side of fried okra. Delicious! We washed it all down with a PBR (or two) and just sat and relaxed like we had just eaten a Thanksgiving dinner. Service was just okay on the night we were there. Our server was a bit distracted, didn't list any specials for us (although we heard her do it at the other tables) and we had to flag her down to get a drink refill and our bill. We actually ended up taking our bill to the bar manager to get it paid since she never came back. An off night? I don't know. Parking is easy in this area (try one of the side streets- the meters stop at 6) Text message on way home: "You gonna Yelp this?" Me: "Yep"

Tanya M.

I ate at Big Jones for brunch for the first time over the weekend and it was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S. I had 2 last minute additions to our reservation and they were super accommodating. The service was so good, none of us noticed when our waters were being re-filled or when are finished plates were taken, things would just magically appear and disappear when needed! Now on to the glorious food...everything tasted so fresh and homemade! The beignets were scrumptious...we also ordered the corn muffins with the honey butter -they melted in your mouth! For our entrees...I personally had the Eggs New Orleans which made everyone at my table very jealous. Other entrees that were ordered: Benedict, Simple Breakfast, Biscuits & Gravy, Shrimp & Grits, Hominy & Eggs, Fried Plaintains - all you could hear at our table was "mmmmmmmm." Everything tasted wonderfully delicious and all 6 of us said how we can't wait to be back.

Jennifer C.

I went to Big Jones last night with two local friends. I had Yelped it and it looked like it was popular I liked the vibe of the menu and my friends hadnt been in a few years so we made reservations for 7:15. We got a seat at the time of our reservation. Our server was phenomenal . Full of personality. Loved him. He knew the menu well and all of his reccomendations were great! I got the Crawfish Etouffee and it was fresh and light and unlike any other I have had. It had some crunchy celery and onion in there and I loved my dish I finished the bowl clean. We also tried the Liver Boudin and that was full of flavor and Goat cheese croquette of some kind which was also delicious. My friend got the Chicken and Dumplings she is a chef and said the dumplings were really heavy and her husband had the pork and he said he wouldn't get it again as it was a little tough but I loved my meal! And I think it is just the right size inside! Oh and the Cornbread! Delish. I am not even a big cornbread fan but moist and yummmy! Especially with that butter they bring! I will be back sometime for sure! Would like to do the Boarding house lunch!

Liz T.

$20 for brunch which consisted of orange juice and an omelette. Was it good? Sure it was. Was it amazing? No it wasn't. I have to say - Big Jones just isn't for me. I will say that the decor and atmosphere here are great. It's a good room to be in. It's just expensive for what it is. I want my southern food experience to be fun one. This is the kind of place where you would be embarrassed if you scratched your knife on your plate.

Kymberly J.

The decor is pretty darn cool along with the service but the food was just meh. We were greeted emphatically by the host who informed us they were just switching over the dinner menu. darn it! I really wanted to try the brunch. I suppose the prices for dinner would be OK if we were there for actual dinner but in the middle of the afternoon I dont want to pay $21 for chicken and dumplings. The chicken was juicy but not too flavorful and the plate was only sprinkled with veggies. I had to give my boy friend one of my two cheddar biscuits to round out his chicken dish. I had the BBQ pork shoulder. It was tangy as I had been informed. It was topped with coleslaw - different and necessary since the meat was dry. Fried okra pickles came with the pork - the best part of the meal! Crunchy and sans the slimy middle you'd find in other forms of okra. I loved the tasteful, simple decor and the warm hospitality but not so much on the food. I would, however, go back to give it another try.

Connie S.

Great food! and hospitality - it was so nice to be greeted as a guest upon arrival. Service great. Each of us had a different brunch item plus we ordered some of the sides (biscuits, etc) - everyone was pleased. Will go back! only reason giving it 4 instead of a 5 is the noise level. But once you 'adapt' we could communicate fine with our party.

Karol S.

Came here for brunch and loved it. I highly recommend it to anyone who visits Chicago and wants to get out of the downtown area. They start you off with complimentary beignets--fresh out of the fryer and topped with powder sugar. WHAT A TREAT! Eggs new orleans--very good, the crab cakes are not as thick as I expected but they were full of flavor. I realized that there was very little bread crumbs and other filling in the cakes---it was all about the crab. the popover in which the crab cake and egg sits is a nice alternative to the traditional english muffin. and the creamy cheese grits--YUM. Gumbo ya ya--it was NOT the envisioned tomato-based shrimp gumbo. It was chicken and their homemade andouille sausage in a dark, smoky roux. Delicious with a spicy kick to it. I had never had anything like it, and i LOVED it. impeccable service!

Rachel S.

Pros: Takes reservations, food is wonderful and authentic, located in Andersonville with lots of walkable stuff nearby, they have beignets. Cons: Service is average at best. Your drinks won't be refilled and there will be some guaranteed awkward moments with your server. Been here twice now and had the eggs benedict with pork shoulder (incredible), grits (creamy and delish), sweet tea (perfect amount of sweet), biscuits (soft and moist), crab cakes benedict, and beignets. I have not been impressed with the service and the staff here needs some serious coaching/training/development. -I've never had a single drink refilled proactively and neither have my friends/family. -The server asked my friend how he wanted his potatoes, then when the potatoes o'brien didn't come out with the meal, my friend asked for them and the waiter said, "Your meal doesn't come with potatoes." Then my friend said, "Then why did you ask me how I wanted my potatoes?" And the server said, "I probably did, but they don't come with it." -I came in on a Saturday around 2pm when the restaurant was only about 20% full and a server dropped 3 glasses in the dining room and they shattered. Accidents happen, but the loud crashing and breaking noises aren't pleasant when you're trying to catch up with a friend. -We asked for beignets and the server said they ran out, but were making fresh ones. Our food came out, then the beignets followed about 2 minutes later. They were room temperature and did not taste fresh. The restaurant was only 20% full at the time and I'm not sure what the issue was. I really, really want this to be my favorite brunch spot in Chicago, but I can't get past the awkward wait staff. The food is great though, so 4 stars it is.

Kathy K.

I liked this place. The food was tasty and the service was good but not for the price. $80 for 3 people to eat brunch is pretty steep. This is Andersonville not the Gold Coast. This is a southern style cafe. I don't remember anything being this expensive when I lived in the south. For about $16 I got a what was their version of an eggs benedict which were served with popovers instead of english muffins and a tiny crabcake. My husband's shrimp and grits were good but the portion size was very small as were the shrimp. Again, the food was tasty and I'd try it once but it was way too expensive for a basic brunch, "southern" or not.

Jen B.

Kinda pretentious-y brunch spot with delicious Southern food. The Hominy & Farm Egg Scramble is exactly the kind of savory dish I go nuts over. Eggs, beans, hominy and a spicy tomato sauce, plus avocado and sour cream. Holy yes. Mimosa is also great. Note that the wait for two top at 11 on Sunday was nonexistent, although the place filled up soon after. And boo for brunching at a high top table - really kills the kick back and relax vibe of eating/drinking away your hangover.

Erin L.

I had the Antebellum Rice Waffle with duck & it was awesome! Not too filling, great flavors & definitely different than anything else I've had. Great choice of hot tea, too. I'll be back.

An P.

Big Jones Big Frog Legs Big Deep Fried Mashed Potato While Big Jones likely is known for its brunch, I made an online reservation courtesy of their web site ( bigjoneschicago.com ) that set it up through Open Table for dinner. Upon arriving for 7:30pm for dinner my jaw dropped as there was only one other group eating in the restaurant! Had Yelp been wrong? Had my hopes been dashed? Should I have gone for brunch instead of dinner? Some Big Easy music played in the background and I sat waiting for the rest of my group. The problem of emptiness soon rectified itself as people started filling the seats, mind you it was a snowy mess outside and difficult to park with all the mess out there. I ordered a Jasmine Blossom Tea for my hurting throat and it was magnificent. Brought to me in a small glass teapot, there was a Jasmine Blossom in hot water and the water turned to tea and I was delighted with bagless tea! Now to the nitty gritty: Fried Frog Legs: $12 These four frog legs came in a delicious orange sauce breaded crisp like Popeye's without sacrificing the integrity of the reptilian meat. Reptilian these legs did nary taste and delightful it was to sink my teeth into fried crispiness of fine southern frog legs! The most amazing thing of this dish is not the frog legs or the sauce itself. I found myself savoring every last bit of mushroom that accompanied my frog legs because the mushrooms packed a dense flavor of sweetness, sourness, and a saucy air of miracle about it. Mad props to the wizards of Big Jones as I wish I had ordered two or three orders of frog leg! Tallgrass Beef Burger - $14 The burger came with a healthy portion of cajun fries loaded up with herbs and spices that was a bit overwhelming. Fortunately for me, these fries came with garlic aioli similar to what you'd find at Hopleaf, so I could dip the fries in and not be inundated by the multitude of herbs on these fries. The burger itself was large and came on an interesting roll/bun kind of tasting like potato bread. The burger was very soft and tasted delightful. The softness of the burger and the onions made it comforting to eat. I took it home for leftovers and ate it cold since it was so tasty! Deep Fried Mash Potato - $4 Generally, these mash potatoes come with the steak, but I couldn't feel good about myself if I left without trying some! They made me a giant helping of deep fried mash potato as a side and I was able to split it with the other four people sitting at my table so that we could all have a little. Delightfully breaded but a bit oversalty. This dish would be ideal with some gravy to offset the saltiness of the crust. There was so much food all around I got to sample some halibut, gumbo, and some of the free cornbread. For dessert we rocked the cool Sweet Potato-Sorghum Pie with some ice cream in it and some fresh out the oven Mississippi Mud Pie. During dinner I can swear I drank 12 cups of tea and ungodly amounts of water. I really can't remember the last time I ever went out and had a 2.5 hour dinner on an idle Thursday for no good reason at all. Marvelous food and a great time to be had in these doors. Big Jones FTW!

Annie D.

Brunch is a hot commodity in Chicago, it seems, so the fella and I called ahead to inquire about the wait at Big Jones last weekend. The hostess popped us on the list via phone, which was unexpected but super nice of her, and we were seated within a few minutes of our arrival into this cute bistro. Good thing, because there isn't much room to wait inside. It's close quarters and loud in the front area, so we were glad to be stuck in the small back area. Our server endeared himself to me when he was greeting us and accidentally threw a ramekin full of sugar cubes at me (I caught it, like a champ). Normally, throwing food at a customer wouldn't score points, but this guy was so charming and on top of everything else that it didn't really matter. The beignets were a-mazing as only hot, fried, powdered-sugar-dusted dough balls can be. My boyfriend ordered biscuits too, and they came with honey butter and raspberry jam that were both excellent. I wish they had biscuits and gravy on the menu here. I really do. We ended up splitting the Eggs New Orleans and the Corn Cakes. The Corn Cakes are savory and come with black beans, salsa verde, avocado, sour cream, green onions and your choice of eggs (I went with poached). They were good, but there was room for improvement, albeit slight. Chorizo would be awesome and a maybe slight crispness to the pancakes for texture. I liked the Eggs New Orleans a little better. This is their version of an eggs bennie, made with popovers, blue crab cakes, poached eggs and béarnaise. The popover and the crab cakes were both tasty (not stingy on the crab) and the poached eggs on both dishes were absolutely perfect. Add a little hot sauce and you're in business. Also of note: -They use Intelligentsia coffee here. I just had a delicious regular cup of coffee and it was refilled liberally. -Savory waffle with duck confit. Why didn't I order this? The Yelps will never know. I have to go back and eat it.

Margaret D.

Came for restaurant week, glad we did. Small and cozy, so not overly crowded and noisy. Food was great, tried the crab fritters, fried oysters on toast, the cornbread of course, flatiron steak, trout curry, meyer lemon pie and coconut cream cake. We would eat it all again. Portions are not gigantic, so order either a couple of apps or more than the entree, but we left full. And the bar. Excellent list of liquors, some nice local and regional choices, not just your typical middle and top shelf choices you can get anywhere. They know their bourbon, they've got a passport program to sample,and challenge you to try all 46!

Sarah M.

Shortest, most halfassed review I've ever done.. but... Dear Big Jones, I want to marry your cheese grits. Love, Sarah (brunch is amazing. I recommend reservations. Great food, great brunch cocktail menu, such a wonderful perk of living in Aville)

Cassidy P.

Came here once for brunch and had the corncakes (tasty!), but what compelled me to update my review was the lunch I ate here a couple days ago: Carolina Shrimp Cake Sandwich. Un-freakin'-believable. Just try it; I dare you not to like it.

Eujin A.

Amazing Chicken Lunch Special!!!! Service was EXCELLENT, kid friendly, and the portions are LARGE! I really enjoyed the chicken! Amazing, juicy and well done. Thank You Big Jones. We will see you in the near future :)

Missy B.

We decided not to wait 30 minutes at our usual brunch spot and ventured down the street to find a new place. I hesitated to write a review only because I don't want anyone to find out about this place. This spot is cute and roomy, didn't hesitate when I mentioned we have a stroller, big mugs of good coffee, and when I wrapped my lips around that warm, powdered......beignet, I knew this was our "new place." Everything was delicious.

Jeffrey G.

An update.... Paul, the owner, very graciously reached out after reading of our unfortunate experience and made a very kind offer to try and rectify the situation with assurances that the waiter situation had been....resolved. An extra star for effort. As I did mention in my review, we had a very pleasant experience the first time we were there so it seems like trying dinner with reset expectations seems likely in our future.

bonnie p.

My new favorite local place for weekend breakfast, and after last nights dinner it's on my short list of great dining choices in Andersonville! The breakfast is always amazing, awesome strong coffee, free beignets and have not found a thing I didn't love on the menu. Last night we went for dinner, we had stuffed squash blossoms for an appetizer (yeowza) a lovely wine that our knowledgeable waiter recommended and for entree... the Catfish which was sitting on a green curry sauce with rice and greens. YUM, the BF had the Pork which was also incredible. I'm afraid to have a dessert there because i'm certain I would be addicted. The service is always friendly and skilled and the prices are very much in line with the quality of the food etc. Love this place - but if ya'll start showing up there on the weekends for brunch and I have to start waiting outside like they do at M Henry then I'll have to kill you.

Eric S.

AWESOME!!! Sunday brunch...everything was wonderful

Zenia R.

hot damn you're good! not only was my dish good (i took the easy route and went with the burger) but i couldn't stop eating from everyone's plates. to start with they offered us the most scrumptious corn bread and sweet butter, i think i could make a meal out of that and the cheddar grits. the summer drinks we're also outstanding, i had the blood and sand which was a favorite of mine in LA and hadn't had since. it was a great experience and i will most definitely be returning.

Marisa F.

small portions. too expensive. average taste. although i'd still like to try the b-fast.

sarah s.

This place excels in inconsistency. The hubby and I love brunch, so we went here for his birthday breakfast last week. We ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes to start, which were fabulous, but we asked for them to be served with our meals, which they were not, which I could deal with if it weren't for what followed. I ordered the Creole Creme Cheese Omelet and he had the Big Jones Square Breakfast. It must have been birthday luck because his was a simple breakfast cooked to perfection. Mine, however, was not. The spices used in the omelet completely overtook the thing, but that still was not my problem. The omelet was so rubbery you could bounce it off the floor and I am entirely convinced this was due to the fact that it had been kept warm in the oven for eternity while waiting to be served. The cheese grits suffered the same rubbery fate. I just wish they would have been served when they were made so I could write an accurate review. So, alas, my experience was not great but the hubby was perfectly pleased. We returned this weekend in need of a pick-me-up after a Halloween party. I thought I would give something simpler a go and got the Two-Egg Breakfast with Fried Green Tomatoes on the side. My poor tomatoes were burned to a crisp, but the rest was delish. The hubby repeated his breakfast, but found his sausage and bacon to both be way overcooked. You might luck out and get the good stuff. Or you might not. Head here if you're a gambler. And just on a personal note, I enjoy my Southern food with a touch of love of comfy coziness. This place is not as fancy as it thinks it is. And with the crazy inconsistencies, it's way overpriced. It's a shame, cause it could be so good.

quinton g.

i went to lunch with a friend to Bigjones. I had the sweet tea and the gumbo and my friend had the shrimp burger and we finished things off with a mudslide dessert. THe gumbo was very tasty. It could have had more okra or other creole ingredients but still nice. The shrimp burger was tasty as well. The place is a little over priced for what u get but still is a nice joint. I would like to come back and look at the dinner menu.

Gerardo A.

I have been going to Big Jones' Sunday Brunch since the first Sunday in March with my family. We LOVE every dish that we ordered. Krista and Terry are marvelous servers. Kudos to the management and waitstaff of Big Jones for being accomodating to those who have food allergies.

Chris A.

Since moving here from South Carolina a few years ago, we've been craving some good southern food. Brunch at Big Jones did not disappoint. We will definitely be back! Reservations a must, parking can be difficult so allow time

Rod C.

The Fried Chicken here is awesome! Awesome: Fried Chicken Pimiento Cheeseburger Sweet tea served with sugar cubes Good Outdoor patio Never had a bad meal here Bad Might have to wait a bit for brunch as this is Andersonville and this place is popular!

Ben T.

My wife and I live in the neighborhood, had been to Big Jones a couple of times (she always thought the food was too salty, while I generally enjoyed it), and then, a month or so ago, we decided to pop in with our 18 month old son around 5:00 PM (yay kids) on a Saturday night. There were two tables seated when we came in, but otherwise the dining room was completely empty. The hostess made a big fuss about seeing if she could find space for us, and then ended up seating us in a hidden back alcove, which is behind a divider (you can't see the nice dining room from behind it, much less any windows. If you've been to the restaurant, chances are you don't even know it's there). We were all alone back there, apart from the restaurant manager, who was seated at a table next to us counting money. We got up to leave right away. And before you point out that, hey, maybe the entire restaurant was booked up with soon-to-arrive reservations, the money counting manager asked us -- on our way out -- whether we were unhappy with our table? After saying yes, we were unhappy with our table, both he and the original hostess that seated us in the isolated back room figured out that, lo-and-behold, there was in fact space in the empty dining room for us and offered to get us a new table. Too late. We are never going back to Big Jones, and will never recommend this place to our friends -- especially friends with kids. That night, we decided to go down the way to Mixteco (Montrose and Ashland) and had a great meal at a restaurant that was happy to accommodate us and our young (very well behaved) son. We've had no other experiences like this --- either before or after our Big Jones visit.

Nada R.

I am not here for the trendy brunch, the shrimp and grits, the fried chicken dinners or Tasso-anything. Plenty of other people are willing contend with all that. I'm here for cocktails, appetizers, and sparkling conversation. Make no mistake, this is the best cocktail bar in the neighborhood.

Frances A.

Amelia was a decent server. She was really nice and knew the menu. We started off with the beignets which were really good initially. Powderiest fluffiest sugar. But the actual dough was quite dry. We then had the popovers which also were fluffy, but cold. They took awhile to come out, so I feel like they were either forgotten or just sitting for awhile. Pretty disappointing. A simple Cajun breakfast was definitely simple but done pretty well - except... the crawfish boudin patties. They collapsed way too easily, and were sooo dry. The cornbread, I didn't even want to touch. It was hard. The eggs and the potatoes thankfully made up for my disappointment. My El Popo was potent. Enjoyed it very much. The mixture of egg white/lemon/rye/lime/mezcal/bitters was a surprise at every sip. Not so sure if worth the trek to Andersonville, overall though.

Justin B.

The pork duet, red velvet cake, biscuits and cornbread were all stand out. Add in the bourbon-of-the-month taster and excellent service and I am saddened it took me almost 20 months to get to Big Jones after moving to Chicago. It's a little far from my Bucktown location but on a Sunday evening with free parking, I'm willing to make the jaunt up there.

Anna K.

Great southern food with a modern twist. First of all, I LOVE PICKLES. This place must go through gallons of vinegar a week with the amount of pickling that goes on here. For starters we had the pickle platter. Only one of the items was a traditional pickle, think beans, okra, pearl onions, cabbage, etc. It also comes with a great home made sweet butter and bread. Ordered the shrimp burger with voodoo greens and my friend order the shrimp grits. The grits are hands down the best cheese grits I've had. Grits are hit or miss, but these grits are very on! They are topped with the shrimp as well as a lovely gravy. They completely exceeded expectations. The shrimp burger was like a crab cake tops with a cole slaw on a pretzel like bun. The voodoo greens on the side were not what I expected. At first I wasn't sure if I liked them, but then they grew on me. They were pickled but had peppers as well for added kick

David R.

As much as I love Big Jones, I had never paid much attention to their sandwiches until I read items about their pimento cheese burger almost simultaneously in TimeOut and Chicago magazines. The praise piqued my interest, and upon closer investigation, I found that Big Jones' menu features sandwich options just as appetizing as the regular entrees. So I resolved to try a tantalizing triumvirate of sandwiches: the cheese burger, the pork shoulder, and the shrimp po boy. Verdict: Big Jones does the Earl proud. Each of these sandwiches is very good (or better) but has one single flaw. The burger is a big, sloppy, decadent, delicious mess. I eat cheeseburgers so rarely, and this one is worth the splurge. Bun, beef, cheese, grilled onions, and chow chow all sing in harmony. The cheese sings too loudly for me; tone it down by about a third and this would be the perfect burger. The po boy is grand but the roll is too thick. I attacked this thing with a knife and fork, and left a third of the bread on my plate. Also, when the shrimp cools, the breading becomes a little mushy and the whole package loses some of its zing. Make sure and eat this up quick. The pork shoulder was my favorite of the three. In fact, the only "flaw" with this sandwich is that there is too much filling for the bun. It is so rich that I could hardly stand to finish it (though I did). The pork is delicious enough, but with the mustard sauce and slaw this becomes a transcendent sandwich. But I would have liked some of that extra po boy bun to temper the overwhelming flavor. As much as I loved the pork shoulder, I have to say that the best thing that I ate during this entire three-meal sandwich survey was the creamed barley side dish. Absolute heaven. It was barley, peas, mushrooms, and onions; I don't know what the chef does to this stuff, but the effect is wonderful. Big Jones keeps coming up with new reasons to count it as one of my favorite restaurants in the city. And I still haven't had the boarding house lunch...

Jen K.

My cousin and I were looking to go somewhere different for lunch and I stumbled upon this place on Yelp. Both of us don't have any experience with real southern food so we weren't really sure what to expect. Our waiter was nice. There was this dish on the menu, Fried Sweetbread Waffles (I think that's what it was called...can't remember the actual name) and my cousin and I couldn't figure out what sweetbread was. We thought it might be similar to chicken and waffles but it wasn't. We asked our waiter who tried to explain to us that sweetbread was some meat from the neck of some animal that gets fried. In hindsight, we could've googled it but my cousin decided to be adventurous and ordered that. I order the Big Jones Benedict with a side of buttered grits. I had amazing grits before and wanted to see if this would be good too. Our waiter started us off by bringing some beignets. My cousin and I were confused because we didn't ordered it but soon guessed that they were probably complimentary since other tables were getting them as well. The beignets were really good. I could've ate a dozen plates of those. My Big Jones Benedict was delicious. I'd skip the butter grits though. It wasn't terrible but I had better. My cousin's sweetbread waffles was a different story. We were worried about how the sweetbread would taste and it turned out to be delicious. The waffle though...not so much. The waffle was mushy and I can't explain the flavor but it was not tasty at all. When our waiter came by and asked how things were, we were honest and said that everything tasted good except for the waffles. It had an off flavor and we couldn't tell if that's just how it's suppose to be (some weird spice maybe?) or if it was maybe the greens that were on top of the waffle that caused that weird flavor. The waiter was nice and asked if we would like something else but we declined as we didn't feel too optimistic to try anything else. When our bill came, the waiter gave us 50% off the sweetbread waffles since we didn't like it. We were surprised by that and to be honest, I was going to cross this place off for future visits. But because of that waiter's conscientious gesture, I think I'll probably give this place another try and maybe pick something from their weekday lunch or dinner menu.

Brian F.

I really love this tiny little restaurant. I tried the Eggs New Orleans and it was phenomenal. Delicious combination of crab cakes over popovers with poached eggs and béarnaise sauce instead of hollandaise. A great classic reimagined. They served my 2 year old son some beignets and of course he was covered from head to toe with powdered sugar. He absolutely loved them! Oh and for those coffee lovers. They serve the perfect (rather large) cup of coffee. This is a unique restaurant and I will be back!

Amy Y.

Good food but pricey and small portions. I have been here for dinner and brunch. Atmosphere is lovely. Food is good. They serve you begnets for brunch which is nice. Good selection of savory items for brunch which is welcomed. Service staff is attentive. Honestly I wished I could say more other than I was still hungry at end of my meal but that really summed up my experience. Come if you have small appetite though.

FalconsFans I.

Big Jones does N'awlins food better than anyplace in Chicago, which admittedly isn't that difficult to do. That said, it is one of my "fix" joints when I need some home food (I'm from Georgia), so go there if you want a reasonable facsimile of real southern grub. On point: sweet tea, cornbread, beignets, fried chicken (although The Roost has the BEST southern fried chicken in Chicago). Lacking: HEAT!!! Cajun is supposed to have some kick. I understand that midwesterners can't handle spice at all, but this is cajun food! I don't expect to get a real forehead sweat working, but cajun is almost by definition spicy. Also, the hushpuppies weren't fried up correctly, but that might've just been the fry guy that night. Anybody wanting cajun food but can't handle heat, this is a great place. If you're looking for a traditional crawdad-boil kind of place... get a flight to Louis Armstrong!

Adrian J.

Meals were delicious, just see all the other reviews if you want more details. The food did take a while to come out so do not expect a quick in and out if you come for brunch. The service was below average. This was due to us being seated at the bar where the bartender was clearly out of it. No greeting, no smiles, just a dead look on his face. Definitely a four star place but I had to knock it down one due to the lackluster service from the bartender.

Rhea G.

We are pretty big fans of Big Jones because I love southern food. Also the fact that they serve beignets as their complimentary snack before you order your food instead of a bread basket is one of my favorite things about this place. They frequently have a long wait if you haven't made a reservation which can be a bummer but all in all is a great place to go!

Laura C.

Big Jones has a two page menu. It shouldn't be that hard to decide, but for me, I'm picky. So I chose two things, and of course, they were out of both. A disappointing start, but they made up for it with their starter beignets. Bready and sweet, they provided a glimpse of what was to come. We chose the Tete de Cochon, hoping it was close to either Longman & Eagle or Girl & The Goat's pig faces, but it was just average. Not a huge fan of pates in the first place, but I wanted to give it a shot. The bourbon brown sugar mustard was better than the pig. Next up was the crab cake eggs benedict which stole the show. We gobbled this up like there was no tomorrow. Then, just because it sounded different, we tried the Avendaw spoonbread, which was a skillet of greasy grits and runny eggs. The menu warns you about the 20 minute wait; I'll warn you that it's not worth it. Because the crab cakes were so good, I'd give it another shot. Maybe then they'll have the two items that were 86'd the day I went.

Brad C.

The Fried Chicken! Enough said...

Angel K.

My husband and baby son took me to Big Jones for Mother's Day brunch. It was a beautiful day and alfresco dining was available, so we sat outside. The outdoor area was a perfect area to celebrate my first Mother's day. I wasn't expecting any fanfare or balloons and streamers for Mother's day, but the server didn't even acknowledge the holiday. Clearly I was with my 4 month old son and husband, it was on the day of Mother's Day... A "Happy Mother's Day" would have sufficed. She was personality plus..... *sarcastic* No love in her delivery, order taking, not even a thank you for coming. I've been a server for a number of years, I've not seen such lackluster service in a long time. The food was ok in my book. I think I may have been impressed more had the service been better.

Karen S.

So good! My friends that lived in London for a long time. They said the eggs Benedict was the best outside of London. The service was excellent too!

Elizabeth L.

My boyfriend and I came here for a late brunch on a gorgeous Saturday morning. Restaurant is very cozy and hosts were very welcoming. While being seated, we asked our host what the best thing on the menu was.. and he responded with no hesitation "eggs benedict." With that level of certainty, of course we had to get it! We shared the eggs benedict and the french toast. Both were terrific. Boyfriend said the eggs benedict was one of the best he's had in a while. The ham, sauce, bread, all worked so well together. The hashbrowns were amazing as well! The french toast were delicious and super light! They had this apple caramel sauce and a marscapone (or whipped) cream on the side. Coffee was excellent and we had no complaints! We will definitely be back for the corn cakes and banana pancakes!

Stephanie A.

Good service, nice atmosphere, great food. I had the Big Jones Benedict which was delicious and a fresh mimosa. I'll be back for brunch here more often.

Tlafi K.

The service was just okay. The chicken didn't have much flavor. The voodoo greens were too salty. I enjoyed the Mamosa! Had me feeling great.

Chris A.

I made a reservation for dinner based on the overall good Yelp reviews and I have to say my expectations were exceeded. The decor was very nice southern contemporary without being overdone. The service was excellent from the minute we sat down to the time we left. Unfortunately, I didn't get the name of our server, but she was attentive and knowledgable, but not overbearing. The food: We started with the pimento cheese and corn bread. The pimento cheese was very fresh and had some excellent pickled peppers mixed in. The corn bread was out of this world. It came with a salted butter that really made the flavor pop. There were 4 of us for dinner and all but myself got the pimento cheese burger. They all raved about it and I snuck a bite which was the most melt-in-your-mouth burger I've ever tasted. I had the shrimp and grits which was excellent...great deep mushroom flavor with perfectly cooked shrimp. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back.

Amy D.

Bottom line: Not sure if its worth it. Time: Grabbing an early Thursday night dinner with a friend. - Came before the dinner rush Service: Ehhh - Although waiter was present, he wasn't as attentive. - Kitchen took forever! Food: BURNT! - Totally looking forward to my gumbo, but it came out burnt and super bitter! - Took really long to make and was super disappointed Enjoy the warm colors and feel of the place, however the food! Heard so many things about this place but I was very disappointing.

Terese C.

We ate here last night with another couple. Had the liver fritters, fried green tomatoes and potato & cheese fritters; and they were extremely good. I had the shrimp and grits, and it was very good. Their custard pie with raspberries and mint ice cream was out of this world. We really wanted their southern fried chicken but they only serve it M-Th. We plan to go back specifically for that! Can't wait.

Jennifer E.

Went here for Sunday brunch this summer and it was lovely overall. I loved the beignets...reminds me of my vacation in NOLA. I had the shrimp and grits and the grits were cheesy just how I like it. I took one star off because of the service... it wasn't a busy Sunday and it took a while to get drinks (not food) to be served.

Michael H.

4 Stars for now until I go back for some mains!! First off, the inside is southern style and very well laid out/ great space here. Great menu with all kinds of Southern Food and many very old recipes as stated on the menu. I tried a couple apps and thought they were great with the Cajun Fritters being the standout. Service was great at the bar with Andy as he is very knowledgeable about the food & drink.. always a plus! Don't miss the CORNBREAD/ absolutely perfect with that honey butter.. gtfjd

O K.

Came here for dinner. Nice ambience. Quick, attentive staff. We were, however, disappointed with the food. The fried chicken was good but nothing spectacular. The cornbread was bland. The gumbo was really salty, and the pork duet was ok but the side dishes that accompanied it were again mediocre. I'm sure people live it but just didn't fit our tastes (and we LOVE southern food).

Francesca B.

I went here on a first date last night (02/01). The food was AMAZING. I'm a sarcastic individual so I mentioned to the waiter, "the fried chicken better be so good I can feel my ancestors," among other black references. He handled it very well and never directly responded to the comments....he was good, real good (I tried, trust me). I now know the history of the fried chicken recipe and the waiter earned a $20 tip. We shared the crab cakes, half fried chicken, and corn bread for $37, not bad. I will be back in the future, no complaints, it does have a modern twist but the traditional taste is still present. Compliments to the chef and apologies to the waiter.....that is all.

Rahshonda K.

I have gone to BJ's twice and each and every time I have been blown away. How about I have walked past this place fifty billion times and never ever knew it existed. In my own neighborhood at that. SMH! I totally wish they would bring back the Boarding House Special which consisted of family style feast Southern Style! The server was good and very personable. I loved the salad was so fresh and yummy the fried okra was so good. Chicken was fried to perfection and just plain ole good!!!! Its definitely on my list of going back again!!!

Joy H.

One of my favorites in the Andersonville area. Really yummy southern comfort foods served with a modern twist. Delicious drinks. Great bourbon selection.

Lola K P.

Have been here for brunch several times, the food itself I would rate 4 stars, have ordered the shrimp and grits, really like. Beignets yummy, reminds me of New Orleans. Cute little place, good ambiance, unless you get seated near the front where it's cold in winter, or everyone who's waiting is breathing over your shoulder and drooling over your food, LOL. 3 stars is for the hit and miss service, and when they miss, it's a bad miss. The last time just left a bad taste, and we haven't been back since (it's been a while now). Seemed like a table of 6 was too much for the server to handle - he kept forgetting multiple things, screwed up the orders, and got an attitude when we asked (very sweetly) multiple times for these multiple things. The final straw was when we were all done, and he started bitching about us to the front desk girls, not realizing he was blocking one of us behind him to the front door who heard the whole thing. Not good.

Steven N.

This review is only applicable to the brunch menu that is served Saturday and Sunday since I have not had the pleasure of trying their dinner or lunch menu. I will update this once I go back! That being said, I love the brunch here. True New Orleans/Southern styled brunch menu with a lot of seafood options, which I love. I had the Bayou Teche, Eggs New Orlean, and a Simple Cajun Breakfast. All were phenomenal. Only negative was one aspect of the Bayou Teche; a little too much cream cheese for me(I scraped half of it off). Other than that the food is always phenomenal. I always try to take out of town guests here as I know they will really like it. The coffee is intellegensia, the orange juice is made in house and the drinks are draft cocktails with bitters and from what I could see when I ate at the bar all the mixers are made in house as well. If you go for dinner, definitely skip the wine menu and go for the drinks. Definitely much more worth it. Only reason why I didn't rate it a five because the service is hit or miss. I've been here four times; twice I would rate the service poor and the other two times it was great. Hostest staff and manager always are helpful and really nice when first arriving.

Joann H.

This restaurant was delicious. The husband and I decided to stop in here and try their dish. What a great rounding of flavors. I had a southern catfish dish with plaintains and rice. delish. Here's the kick on something plain. The husband had scrambled eggs and potatoes. He went bonkers on how delicious the eggs were. How can scrambled eggs taste amazing?!! Well my husband said they were so flavorful, buttery and just overall tasty, he had to find out who the owner was to compliment him on the simple strategy and delicious execution of breakfast/brunch. Win!

Faye B.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday with my sister and husband. I thought it would be a little more crowded, but thankfully it wasn't or maybe it was just more of an early brunch than usual. The menu looked so good with all the Southern inspired food we were pretty excited. Bread options looked so good that we decided to try the popovers. Meh, they were just okay. Just like the little oversized beignets they serve. Over sugared and a bit dense. The food was good. Nothing stood out all that much although I have to say their potatoes O'brien were pretty tasty.

Vanessa G.

This review is strictly in response to their Thanksgiving day program, a prix fixe menu that was priced at $45 per person. I feel compelled to write this review because of how underwhelming it all was, from the very beginning. First of all, $45 per person was low compared to the other offerings in the city, but ultimately very, very high for the quality of the final product and the overall experience. For starters, the waitstaff seemed quite pained that evening. I hate writing reviews based on service because I was a waitress for a few years and know how thankless the job can be. But holy bojangles, our waitress couldn't wait to get us out of there, she looked so depressed and defeated. In response to the food, it was also generally very underwhelming. About as sad as our waitress, I would say. The bread, butter and jam combination was nice but that was as good as the starter got. It contained a number of pickled vegetables and fruits, beer cheese and olives. Sounds good in theory, but none of it really stood out. We ordered the fried turkey main course, which came with cranberries and giblet gravy. Again, all very tempting in theory but literally every single item on both of our plates was cold. Okay, not icy to the touch but somewhere below room temperature? Also mildly depressing. The turkey was dry, and I didn't get any skin so there was virtually no discernible difference between it and normal, roasted turkey. Where was the fried part? This main course was also accompanied by a roasted vegetable dish (green beans and brussels sprouts) served family style, which would have been good had they been hot. Or even warm. They weren't. The green beans were quite cold, wet and firm. They needed something--please see the the green bean dish at Girl & the Goat. The dessert was just okay. I normally vacuum dessert off of my plate because I'm gross, but I don't know. I couldn't and I didn't. With two glasses of wine, my boyfriend and I spent close to $130. I could have eaten like a KING for $130 at Longman & Eagle or Tanta or Ruxbin or Yusho or The Bristol. I feel like this is the saddest story I've ever Yelped. You win some, you lose some, right? I don't think I'll ever be back.

Meredith K.

I came here a few times after it opened and then haven't been back for years. I'm not sure why. Its still pretty great! This time I was here for brunch. I think I had only been here for dinner. To start I was so glad that they take reservations. Its crazy crowded! And loud. But in a good way. We were seated within a few mins of the rez. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They're there to get you in and get you out. We started with some bloody marys and an old fashioned since they're brown liquor people. All of the drinks were fantastic. I liked the pickled okra. Then everyone gets beignets. They're lovely! We also wanted some popovers to start. It was like an eggy fried dough with the best butter and jam. I couldn't stop. I had the corn cakes with an egg on top. Wow that was so satisfying! Its these huge corn cakes with a little cheese, some red sauce that's not spicy, black beans on the bottom and a little creme fraiche and avocado. My boyfriend got the onion and bacon omelet and he loved it. We left very happy and satisfied. Will be back again for more brunch and dinner.

Farrah W.

Decided to give this place a second chance after a mediocre first attempt. Sadly, it was a HUGE disappointment again. I had the simple breakfast and it was so bland. The grits had a rice like texture which is wrong. Im from Mississippi and there is nothing southern or cajun about this food. My friend had the fish and grits and it was bland as well. It was all very disappointing and kind of expensive. I wont go back.

Jennifer G.

I'm in love with Big Jones after visiting for the first time last week. Where to start...the service, the food, the atmosphere... Okay, the food. No, really, the FOOD. I tried the fired green tomatoes, corn bead, chicken and dumplings, and a bit of a friend's pimiento cheese burger. The fried green tomatoes were perfect: Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, generously sized, and covered in yummy sauce and pickled relish. The cornbread will become my new go-to comfort food in Chicago. It's cooked in its own cast iron skillet and is everything my grandma's cornbread always wished it could be. (Sorry grandma.) You can taste the bacon fat it's cooked in, and the green onions add a nice bit of spice. Even without the perfectly sweetened honey butter, the cornbread stays moist and perfect, but that doesn't mean you should skip the butter. The pimiento cheese was great, and I'll be back to try it as an appetizer with crackers. The burger was ginormous and could easily feed two people, especially since the home fries are also generously served. My chicken and dumplings were good, not amazing and pale in comparison to the bread and tomatoes, but good. The broth was a bit too watery for my tastes, and the dumplings were a tad on the doughy side. The service was just as amazing as the food. Drinks were filled promptly and the timing of the courses was perfect. The server wiped down the table and brought new silverware between appetizers and dinner, which added a nice touch. The waitress and the busser were both very nice, and answered any questions we had. I also appreciated the drink menu, which features a good selection of bourbon. We sat on the patio, and it was quiet and lovely; a nice get away tucked out of the way in bustling Andersonville. I thought the inside looked comfortable, too, and will try the dining room next time. There seemed to be a few tables tucked away from the rest to offer a very private experience if desired.

Nicki K.

Open Easter Sunday when many others were not - already a good start. Pretty busy inside, but got a table right away - even better. The coffee is great, the tea selection is wide and impressive. Water stayed full. Waiter had perfect timing and the food? The food was DELICIOUS. The Bayou Teche omelet with hashbrowns will be mine again. My friend also loved her dish as well. First and only experience this far, but I recommend it because I will gladly go back.

Stephanie L.

Paula Dean would be jealous of this place. OIL AND BUTTA! YUM! First, they give you these delicious beignets covered in powder sugar. HEAVEN! MMMmm, what a good way to get the brunch started! The popovers were delicious with butter and grape jam. The shrimp and grits were excellent. There was tons of shrimp! Cheesy, ooey, gooey grits...nothing like that to get your morning started right. The crabcake benedict was delicious as well! I would have like a little more of the cake to bring out the crab, but overall it was good. The bread was a little hard to cut...I am not sure why. Overall, the breakfast of CHAMPIONS was had here...or I should say, the breakfast of a fat camp :) It was worth it though. Every last bite that went into my mouth, I didnt regret. The service was pretty good. There was a couple of times I would have liked more water or coffee, but it only took a sec for someone to come by. Overall, it was a great little brunch. The price was A-OK. It was like $40 for two...not terrible for large seafood portions and popovers :)

Linda A.

Our large-ish family of 7 enjoyed a practically perfect Christmas Eve feast at Big Jones. All four courses of the fare offered on the special prix fixe menu were wonderful...I think we managed to try everything between the seven of us. Drinks were festive and imaginative and the service was perfect. We've been to Big Jones before and enjoyed it but they outdid themselves this time. Can't wait to get back to Chicago again!

Jeffrey K.

Good food, good drinks, good eye-candy but a bit loud, crowded and under air conditioned. Still Big Jones is a dandy brunch and dinner spot with a New Orleans flair.

Joe M.

Very disappointing dinner. Having lived in southern Louisiana for 8 years, I do know something about authentic Louisiana cuisine. You should pass on their gumbo ya ya - it was extremely dark, bitter and salty. Not sure if that is the normal recipe or if it was an off night. I've just never had gumbo this bad before. Our waiter did remove it from our bill - no hassle - which I think was very courteous and professional. The cornbread was very tasty, the andouille sausage was just meh. I don't imagine we will visit again.

E M.

I love the experience of Big Jones. I felt like I was on vacation. I definitely felt like I was somewhere else in the country. The bacon is a whole other food group unto itself. Quality is in the wait staff, the ingredients, the presentation, the musical selection, the fine utensils, the coffee creamer, the extra plates brought out when beignets dirty them, THE BEIGNETS themselves, the amazing coffee that I swear is not from this earth... I mean, the flavors are great. The chives, the cheeses, the eggs. Everything's as it's supposed to be, and it makes it alllll worth it.

Brittany B.

This has been my favorite brunch so far in Andersonville. I got the chilaquiles and they were incredible - lots of cheese, just how I like them! Brunch comes with popovers or biscuits, which are also great. I was happy to see a pickled okra on my bloody mary, but it was not very interesting otherwise - I hear they are bringing in a new bar director and menu though, so I'm curious to try again. Dinner has few vegetarian options and is pricier than brunch, but the wait staff is really helpful in planning your meal. They also had some really great dry cider on tap when we were there in March.

meredith d.

We love this place - and its sazeracs! Service is friendly and efficient, and my only reservation is that some of the food (which is all based on authentic "heritage" recipes) can be bland. Shrimp and grits may be an authentic Southern food staple, but it's just not real exciting to eat. Their chicken and dumplings had a watery gravy, though it was nicely seasoned. But their fried chicken is to die for, and their boudin is wonderful. There is a lot on the menu that is quite delicious, and that keeps us coming back. And did I mention the sazeracs?

Clay K.

If there were a sixth star I'd give it to them. We went to the place for brunch. It takes reservations and that's highly recommended as it is very busy - and for good reason. This is a place that without a hint of pretense serves up some of the most delicious and unique brunch food I've ever had. We chose this place by virtue of reading various menus. The menu provides so many delectable descriptions that we didn't know where to start. We started at the bar with a bloody mary. There was no huge skewer of accompaniments with it, but oh, wow the flavor. They make many items in house here, including unique cured meats, one of them is house-made Worsteshire! The flavor was amazing. They also grated fresh horseradish on top. They bring you complimentary bennies when you sit down - try not to spoil your appetite on those! We started with two dishes from the entree side of the menu: Bayou Teche Louisiana crawfish, spicy smoked andouille, and cream cheese, with bearnaise sauce and scallions, choose potatoes or creamy grits. And Hominy and Farm Egg Scramble Homemade hominy scrambled with Moore Family Farm eggs, served with black beans, spicy tomato sauce, avocado, and sour cream. The first bite of each was one of those amazing moments when you know the long cab ride from downtown was well worth it. This is comfort food that is prepared with such care and attention to detail that it is simply rapturous. Both dishes were beyond delicous. We then tried a sampling from their meats, the Tasso. It's like a super cured ham with really intense flavor. Again it had us reaching for superlatives. We had some popovers with that and they were light and flakey. This is a place that I can not wait to get back to! I should also mention the friendly service. Our party went from 5 to 2 then to 3 and I know that was a pain for them but they accomodated us nonetheless and with kindness and a smile. The waiters (there were two because we switched tables mid-stream) were both pleasant and very helpful in describing the menu items. As good as it gets. We will be back!

Allen J.

I was shocked by my poor experience at Big Jones, after having not been back since moving away from the east side of Chicago. My husband and our friend were out for a celebration. I made a reservation via Open Table on Saturday for brunch at 12:15 on Sunday. When we arrived (on-time), we were informed there was a wait for a table. We've been to brunch before in Chicago, so we get that it's busy and a scene. But I've never before waited 20+ minutes for a table WITH a reservation with no apology or compensation. Once we were sat, we felt rushed through our meal. Items kept getting cleared immediately during our meal, including plates and drink glasses (including water) not completely empty. Towards the end of our meal, instead of being offered coffee or dessert, we were instead told that they were setting up for a large top, and asked if a table could be abutted to our table, the staff put the table against ours. The message by this point was received. The food was OK, minus dry pancakes. To our waiter's credit, he came back after our credit cards were processed to see of anything had been amiss during our dining experience. We did not bring any of what I wrote to his attention, as we felt uncomfortable after our experience. To his credit, he did charge my husband for only one of his two orange juices. I might be back, but definitely not for brunch, and definitely not when I need to be anywhere afterwards.

Stephen S.

Big Jones was squarely a 3.5 for me. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt though because I came for brunch and they give out house beignets. Fry dough, coat in powdered sugar, and give it to me for free? Yeah, you get the extra half star. Entered up splitting the corn griddle cakes, the french toast and a side of the fried plantains. I though the corn griddle cakes and french toast would be an odd side-by-side pairing but in fact the griddle cakes were a tad sweeter than I expected and the french toast not quite as much. The cornflour lend a sweetness that was balanced by the cheddar cheese baked in side and the tomato sauce. I actually thought the tomato sauce was sweeter than it was spicy but again this helped the french toast pairing. The french toast was light and coconut-y with a banana anglaise and rhubarb sauce pairing that added just the right amount of sweetness. This wouldn't be a dish I'd want by itself for lunch but as a shared plate it was just right. Fried plantains? Pretty good and I loved the honey it was served in. In short, the food was solid, home-y and kind of what I expected for southern inspired brunch.

G A.

One of my favorite breakfast spots. Delicious southern inspired food.Beignets and shrimp and grits were my favorite.Fried chicken and gumbo were just ok.Extra star for great service and lovely atmosphere!

Cindy L.

I came here for brunch a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved it! I had a sweet tea and the Big Jone's benedict and I had to force myself to slow down from eating it too fast because it was so so delicious. The ambience is super cute and very homey - good for a small brunch date with a few people - I wouldn't go with more than 4. The best part is they bring you beignets to start, just like a traditional New Orleans restaurant. The service was great and very attentive. The prices are a little high for brunch but the overall experience is what you're paying for and I would do it once a month if I could.

Anna H.

Fried chicken is good. Takes 30 minutes, so order appropriately. Shrimp and grits were good satisfactory. Good but nothing to write home about. Cocktails are delicious and actually made by mixologists.

Jennifer L.

This restaurant is an elegant, modern, warm and inviting gem serving Southern food. You would totally not expect a place like this to be located on this strip of Clark Street. My boyfriend and I stopped in around 2:30 for an extremely late lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The host asked us if we had reservations, which we did not. We were offered a seat at a high top by the bar, which we took. I was a bit disappointed that we could not sit at a table and also saw some open tables by the window, but perhaps they were already reserved. The beverages are excellent. My boyfriend enjoyed his Intelligentsia coffee and our server was good about providing him with refills. For all you tea lovers, their tea menu was extensive! I had the green rooibos - sweet African red tea, which was amazing. I haven't really had tea in the proper way so I was impressed with its presentation. It came with a little pitcher for my tea, which stayed hot the whole time. My teacup came with a saucer and was on a wooden block. The tea was superb! It had just the right amount of sweetness, which I enjoyed. I would definitely come back for that. As for our entrees, my boyfriend ordered the Egg New Orleans, which is crab cakes with a poached egg, popovers and Bearnaise sauce, which came with potatoes. I had the bacon, baby Swiss cheese and onion omelet, which was served with creamy grits. We got complimentary beignets, which were coated with powdered sugar to start our meal. They were delicious and not artificially sweet like I have had at other places. I would highly recommend ordering the Eggs New Orleans because they were amazing. I absolutely loved the creaminess of the egg that mixed well with the crab cake. The popovers were cooked well and give the dish a nice touch. His potatoes looked really good too, but I didn't get to try a bite of them. As for my dish, it was OK, but just ordinary. I did enjoy the crunchy pieces of bacon that were in my omelet, but I wished I would have tried something new. The cheesy grits however, were awesome! Service was good. I could tell that our server was busy handling lots of tables, but she did a great job checking up on us, offering help if we needed it and being polite and professional. I did find it weird that we were not charge for my boyfriend's coffee so we made up for it by tipping a bit more. Overall, I had a great experience here and I definitely would come back again for brunch or may even try their dinner. They have an excellent selection of whiskey for those that enjoy that.

Jennifer H.

I don't know WHAT part of the South this cuisine is from, but with a mother from Shreveport and a father from Atalanta, I was FAR from impressed. The food was unbelievably bland. A few highlights: their playlist and being initiated into The Big Jones's Bourbon Society.

Elizabeth W.

This is the place I take my parents every time they are in town. We have yet to be disappointed. We usually go for the brunch and some of our favorite dishes include the Corn Griddle Cakes, the Shrimp & Grits, and the Streusel Pancakes -- sometimes apple and sometimes raspberry. And of course, a big shoutout to the plethora of carbs: the popovers, the cornbread, the biscuits and the beignets. Man, those beignets are so good! The service is always nice and the ambience is a nice touch. This is definitely one of the best neighborhood establishments in Andersonville.

L. Danovia ..

My hubby and I visited this establishment because a friend of mine told me about the beignets. I LOVE beignets. Well, I can say that they are not a disappointment. I had a gumbo that was very good and my husband had the Big Jones Benedict that he loved. We will definitely return and if you like beignets like I do, go visit.. and visit soon!

Terri R.

I am so afraid that this little place will become even more popular than it already is and we won't be able to get in. But man oh man is it delicious. Everything we had for brunch was perfect. The cocktails and beer list are perfectly crafted to start the meal and be drinkable for just waking up. The beignets that are so sweetly placed on our table as a gift are so amazing--not too sweet, the perfect crumb. I may never be able to eat Cafe du Monde beignets again. I had the NOLA brunch which was bedouin, fried crispy tender. Came with two perfect eggs, corn bread that was rich and dense with corn pieces. Also came with the most amazingly delicious grits ever, made with cream and cheese and butter. No--not healthy. But when it tastes this good, who cares. My wife had eggs and tasso on popovers. Amazing. We will definitely be back for dinner. This is the kind of place I want to go back to again and again and just work my way through the menu. The service was delightful, too. A win!

Jay N.

I really wanted to like this place. My expectations may have set me up for the fall, but I have had similar biases before other places and they didn't disappoint. Located on a familiar stretch of Clark, parking can be pretty inconsistent but I was able to find street parking easily on a Friday. The host was welcoming and gave me options to seat at a high table near the bar or along the wall toward the back. There are some tables by the window but it is pretty open in the middle bar area before it narrows down toward the bathrooms in back. Although the food came from this back area, it didn't feel intruding upon my personal space. People were sat at tables throughout despite only have 2 servers rather than cornered. Because there were only 2 servers during a Friday lunch, service was spotty and inconsistent. I ordered the boarding house lunch so that I could try a few things at once. I didn't order a drink at the beginning but decided to later on yet there was no one around. The lunch came about 25 minutes later and it was served after 2 tables near me were saved the same thing. There was no update on the timing or apology for the tardiness of the meal considering that the website states that you could come and go within an hour. The food itself was ordinary. The fried chicken was tasty and hot but that was pretty much it. The small biscuit was dry, the gravy on the mashed potatoes had started to congeal, and the voodoo greens were quite watery. Nearly 5 minutes later, a plate of corn bread came out and when I put the sweet cream butter on, it never melted. The red beans and rice were good but the banana pudding was only ok. I really wanted to like the meal and the food, but it was so ordinary that I am not inclined to come back considering the distance to travel. If you're in the area, it's a decent place to try a couple of things, but I'd be careful with the expectations.

Beth T.

Everything we had was delicious. HIghly recommend!

Summer F.

This cozy Andersonville spot is great. The courteous staff squeezed us in on a busy morning. Fresh beignets delivered to the table quickly made the trip worth it. Crab cakes, French toast, omelette all top notch. Even the kids meal was nicely priced for a nice little plate of food an adult could eat (seriously thank you for that). A very good experience overall.

Gloria R.

The only thing good at that restaurant was the drink I had. The rest of the food was not good. The area I was sitting in was cold, everytime someone left I would freeze. They should put better heating in the place

Ari R.

The blood sausage was delicious

joshua b.

The wife and I are BIG fans of this place. The Fried chic is the best we have found in the city and its local and farm raised and organic. Everything we have tried there is great except the fried okra and pickles we didn't find very tasty. On our last trip we tried the strawberry shortcake and WOW was it super tasty.

Karen C.

De-freaking-licious. Finally went to Big Jones for dinner, after having it on my to-visit list for a year or so. We started with the pickle platter, and everything on it was so good... a nice variety of different veggies that are pickled, along with good ol' regular pickled cucumbers, all in seemingly different brines. For my entree, I had the Chicken & Dumplings... I come from a long line of chicken & dumpling eating, something my grandpa never let me forget, and I still love them. So obviously I had to try what Big Jones had to offer. SO. GOOD. Butter beans, carrots, chicken, yummy dumplings... I loved it and it brought back great childhood memories. The boy had the Crawfish Etouffee, which I took a taste of, and that was really, really good as well. I thought it would be a lot spicier, but it was perfect. Our waiter was great, very knowledgeable & attentive... it was a really good experience overall, and I can't wait to go back & try other things on the menu... Fried Chicken dinner, I'm lookin' at you...

Adam D.

Venture the streets of Andersonville but don't overlook the gems hidden in plain sight. Myself and two of my friends were bound to experience something 'different' for our 'date night' Saturday before hitting up the club. We skimmed a few restaurant blogs and came across Big Jones. I'll be honest, walking in I was a little skeptical that we would be enjoying a delicious meal from an establishment who's street view is a little lacking, but as we settled we realized were were definitely not in our usual diner. The atmosphere is delightful, soft colors, warm woods, old style fabrics and seating. The waitstaff unique and entertaining, engaging and warm as she presented us with our menus and discussed with us our plans for the evening. The food and liquor was a bit pricey, but most certainly enjoyable. The wine was delicious and being a bit of a Merlot snob I would have to say the 2006 Bordeaux superior they served was some of the best Merlot I've had in a while. I will warn, don't come here expecting huge portions or a lot of selections. They've done a great job making the perfect plate for your dining experience, and selecting meals true to their design. With a few biscuits & jam, corn-bread, and blood sausage we were primed for our meal. I ordered the Chicken and dumplings; and oh, the taste. The first bite sent me on a memory filled journey of mom's cookin'. Perfectly seasoned and portioned enough to have me questioning whether or not I had it in me to finish my plate, which I most certainly wanted to, therefore did! I'd recommend coming with a small group, anything over six people, and I'd say you'd be too large and too noise for the space available.

Sarah Y.

Deep south in the windy city makes this southern girl happy! We had the boarding house lunch, which adds up to a half fried chicken per person, with mashed potatoes and meaty gravy, collard greens, and red beans, biscuits and cornbread as sides, with banana pudding at the end. It is food porno at it's best when it's all laid out on the table. Although the execution is great, and the space is also very adorable, I think they miss the mark slightly on dirty, lardy, simmered all day southern cooking. Overall, the items were dressed up, and detracted from the gluttony that is southern food. My favorites (read: most indulgent) were the hot cornbread muffins with sweet butter, and the thick chunky mashed potatoes with very savory gravy. I am not a huge fan of the cornmeal batter that the chicken was fried in, because it wasn't terribly flavorful, thick, or indulgent. But that's a small ding...it is fried chicken after all. The dark meat was running with juices and very moist, but the white meat was a bit flavorless and stringy. I didn't very much like the collard greens. I ate it because it was the only green on the table, but it had a distinctly medicinal taste, like too much anise or licorice. The banana pudding was also just okay. The service was sweet and laidback, and although we walked in mid-afternoon with few patrons, we didn't feel rushed to finish while they prepare the place for dinner service. The server we had was delightful, but perhaps too laidback, as some of our items, like the biscuits, didn't come out because he took a very long chat with another table.

Jim H.

Had dinner with the family, though the server said everything was just awesome, it wasn't. The shrimp grits was soupy, the etouffee was soupy. However we , like everyone said everything was awesome and went on our merry way, because I found out if you don't adhere you get snubbed, evidently the restaurant always knows better.

Alia H.

Fried chicken is amazing, as well as the catfish dish. I have been here many times and is a nice, creative food experience. Oh and the biscuits..... yum

J D.

This is my favorite Andersonville spot! Service is always perfect, food is out of this world, and they have excellent sweet tea for an establishment in a Northern state. I love the fact that I can go and have a great burger and not spend a lot of money, or you can spend if you want to on an entree. Fried chicken dinner night is a must, it's awesome but it is something you can only do once in a while, unless you want to triple in size. I will always come back.

Suzanne B.

Nice atmosphere however on Sunday Morning at 10:00am they were out of two items we wanted on the menu. The waiter came across as snobby and the baby cockroach we saw crawling along the chair rail above our table made us squirm. The food was really good though. Just clean up the front of he house.

Sarah R.

We were walking in the area and stopped in after seeing the menu in the window and the sign up front saying they offered craft cocktails. Really enjoyed the meal. I ordered a tasty gin cocktail called Distant Star. My friend had a blood mary that included a spear of picked okra. We ordered the pickle tasting which included house made bread. I had the shrimp burger which was tasty. My friend's entree came with ham fat fries and he said they were outstanding. I will be coming back here.

Monica G.

This place is fantastic. As comforting as food can get. Also I had good tea. And the chairs are very pretty.

Amy S.

Amazing brunch. The complimentary beignets are incredible. We also got the fresh-baked Sally Lunn, which has a nice almost sourdough tang, and I ordered the Corn Griddle Cakes which were delectable savory pancakes with black beans, cheese, green tomato sauce, and avocado. My dining companion ordered the cheesy Pimento omelet, which was also very good. Will definitely come back.

Jim M.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Pretty busy and loud, but not too loud, we had reservations and were seated immediately. Had the Gumbo Ya-Ya which was quite good, very savory, excellent spice level, possibly a little too salty if I was going to start splitting hairs. The crawfish etouffee was even better, totally delicious. Heavy with butter and lemon and wine sauce and jam packed with tasty crawfish. Being a big fan of spicy food I appreciated both of these dishes. We also had an appetizer that consisted of smoked sliced duck meat with cumin and pepper and pimento cheese, slightly above average.

Blair B.

Beignets + everything else = deliciousness

Jack P.

My taste buds thank you, Big Jones, for a pleasant weekday adventure. I frankly had not expected the remarkably creative and original menu, and I learned that the Boarding House lunch special is something I will probably never order. That was hardly a problem with all the other choices. The lunch menu has an array of charcuterie, lip-service no doubt to the Cajun and 'Nawlins French influences. And here are some other items I have not seen elsewhere in town: a pickle tasting with butter and bread, potato and goat cheese croquettes, Roasted king trumpet, maitake, and shiitake mushrooms with fresh garlic and thyme, served with creamy grits, sawmill gravy, and piccalilli, a Carolina Shrimp burger with spicy mayo and chow-chow, a side of buttered popcorn rice, and a dessert like warm coriander oat cake. All in all, a nicely limited collection of pates, sandwiches, lunch platters, sides and desserts. I ordered the Carolina Shrimp burger and a side of Voodoo Greens. My lunch buddy went meatless with the Roasted Mushrooms and Grits. A small plate of corn muffins arrived. They were warm and soft little numbers we enjoyed with fresh butter. We cooed with joy over the tender pieces of real corn. They got me with the muffins. My burger was like a wider and flatter crab cake on a bun, and the flavors were perfectly balanced with sweet and hot, and the crunchy chow-chow. My greens were so well flavored and earthy with just enough vinegar that they tasted like meat! The greens were collard and kale. My friend worked on his shrooms and grits very diligentlly but i did not manage a taste. He devoured it all. The $16.00 Boarding House lunch special is always fried chicken I learned. Alas, I'm not a fried chicken fan. But I was amazed when I watched our neighbors get their platter for two. It was a very generous serving. Southern desserts almost always seduce me, but I resisted the call of the sugar sirens this time. I may have to return for one of their half dozen or so pies, cakes or tarts. I'd love to order Peanut Gooey Butter Cake in my best Bubba accent. I cannot fail to mention our server who is clearly in love with the place and the food. She helped us make choices and made lunch here both fun and memorable. The place is brimming with originality and fine southern regional offerings. Dinner or brunch here in the future is definitely on the agenda.

Mike G.

My girlfriend and I went for dinner on a Thursday night and split the fried chicken and a handful of snacks/sides. THE GOOD: The fried chicken was fantastic, heavily seasoned, moist, with a crunchy cornmeal crust, and some of the best I've had in Chicago. The shrimp and grits were also amazing, the best I've had outside of Louisiana. The tete de cochon (pig head pate) was quite good, but a very rustic version that squeamish eaters might not enjoy. The bartender also made a great Sazerac. THE BAD: The Brussels sprouts were overly salted and undercooked but were still edible. The biscuits on the other hand, were pathetic. They were dense, dry and tasted more of leavening than anything else. They were also really tiny for the price. I found it really odd that the biscuits could be so bad when they did everything else so well. Overall, a very good meal and we will be back for the grits and the chicken. But next time I'll try some different sides.

Irene P.

One of the things I loved best about living in Andersonville two years back was living right around the corner from this place. God. Best brunch ever. (And incidentally, best hangover cure ever.) Gumbo? Amahzing. Benedict? Amahzing. Grits? Amahzing. But the best thing offered here? The FREE beignets they bring you in lieu of pre-meal bread. Seriously, these folks have ruined all other beignets in the world for me for the rest of my life. And they're FREE!?!

Eileen Z.

Favorite above favorites: Roast Duck Breast, circa 1805 with creamed Brewster oat groats, confit rutabagas, heirloom apple and hickory nut salad, bourbon jus. And my verdict on the Big Jones vs. The Southern fried chicken debate? BIG JONES.

Anna P.

Best drinks around. The dinner is exceptional as well. Big Jones is a sweet intimate restaurant that is filled with charm and great food. The drinks are amazing.

Matt R.

Been avoiding this place for a while due to the mixed reviews, but went for Restaurant Week and really liked it. Food ranged from exceptional (gumbo z'herbes, corncakes, crawfish etouffe, braised greens) to meh (fried chicken, boudin balls, King Cake). Service was great, but that may be because we were one of only three tables during the big snowstorm. Props to them for being open and honoring existing reservations. Absolute winner for me was their homemade tonic. Best gin and tonic I've had in A'ville, by far.

Phillip C.

I went there for lunch in the middle of the week. Right off the bat I was not impressed. The place seemed dingy and the staff seemed tentative and confused. I wanted to try the fried chicken but didn't want to wait 30 minutes. I got something that sounded interesting. It was supposed to be a burger with mushroom gravy and a hash brown patty. What came was nothing close. There was a burger but it was on a bun, and there was no mushroom gravy and no hash browns. It had some Asian style coleslaw that was not in the description. I asked the waiter if there was supposed to hash browns and this threw him and he was confused. He came back from the kitchen telling me that they forgot the hash browns and he would be bringing me some. He did and they were like bad-diner hash brown, hastily prepared. I then mentioned that this did not seem like what I ordered and he finally fessed up and told me something about a mix up with the changing of the menus. He gave me a free dessert, which I did not like at all. It was bad enough to not get what I ordered. But for the waiter to not know the menu and misinform me...I will not be back.

Paul S.

Wonderful breakfast menu. AA +

Yotam B.

A very good Sunday brunch. Loved the complementary beignets. Benedicts were also a success (especially the ones with the crab cakes). Also the bourbon selection they offer is very imppresive (we didn't try though - brunch after all...). If you live nearby it's a great place to eat at, if you're coming from downtown especially for that (like our party did) maybe you have other options more nearby.

V. N.

Big disappointment....While I love the fact that Big Jones serves farm-to-table food, they unfortunately don't have a clue as to how to prepare it. The fried chicken was bland, slightly bitter, dark brown (instead of golden), and not in the least bit juicy or succulent. It doesn't come with any biscuits or cornbread, but they gave us some subpar cold bread upon request that tasted like bad grocery store bread with a smidgeon of butter and had the gall to charge us $5 for it. The staff is awkward and unprofessional; we felt uncomfortable and uninvited the whole evening as if we were somehow intruding on a private event. The lights are bright at night, and the vibe is anything but romantic. We won't be returning.

Melissa H.

Went to Big Jones in Andersonville last night, what a disappointment! Service was okay, drinks were small, & food was overpriced, bland & uneventful. Too many GOOD restaurants in Chicago to give it another try. Waste of my time!!!! :((

Brian B.

Last night we wanted to try a new place that we have not been to yet since moving to the uptown 2 years ago, so we (partner, mother in law and myself) decided to try Big Jones. The service started out slow and they were quite empty with abundance of employees. We started out with the pickle tasting. The tasting was interesting but was a little pricy for pickles. For our entrees we ordered the chicken and dumplings, gumbo and the catfish. The entrees were quite different than anticipated but were good. The gumbo and dumplings were quite watery for my preference and the catfish dinner was overpriced. 21 dollars for a small piece of catfish? Come on, I believe the dinner was over priced by $7. We are going back though, have to see why the fried chicken is $21. The chicken is suppose the be really good, so have to see if it's worth it.

Jennie C.

Having heard good things about Big Jones, I made reservations through Yelp for brunch. Strangely, I get an email a few days before my reservation saying that it was canceled by the restaurant. When I called to inquire, the first person I spoke to said she couldn't find my res in the system (ummm...likely because it was CANCELED), then put me on hold...forever. Until someone else picked up the phone and I had to repeat the same conversation, including the part where they confirm my res isn't in the system. Fortunately this second person had enough common sense to put my res in again. I came in on a Saturday for brunch and it wasn't very crowded at 11am. Really liked the airy feel of the dining room. While we were studying the menu, we got complimentary beignets buried in powdered sugar. The beignets were nice and warm, and surprisingly not cloyingly sweet. We ordered the eggs New Orleans, bacon & onion omelet and cajun pancakes.The eggs New Orleans were fantastic with runny yolk and flavorful crabcakes. The omelet was standard fare. Cajun pancakes were a tad sweet, with all that powdered sugar and maple syrup. I think I'd come back to try more of their savory dishes, but will steer clear of the sweets (this coming from someone with a huge sweet tooth is saying something). The food gets 4 stars, but I docked 1 for the disorganized staff.

Katie S.

Went for dinner, I bet brunch is better. We ordered the Boucherie Board, the Shrimp & Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, and the Baby Lettuce Salad. We told our server he could bring the dishes as they were ready, but I guess we should've been more particular, because they came in the completely opposite order than we would've expected. (Shrimp & Grits first, long before anything else, and Lettuce Salad last, almost an afterthought) Shrimp & Grits needed a lot of seasoning (but was good once corrected!), Salad was overdressed, Fried Green Tomatoes were AWESOME. As for the Boucherie , I enjoyed most of their pickled offerings, but the meats themselves were not really impressive. Also, the server mixed up the Andouille and the Boudin Rouge, but bravo he stuck to his guns when we questioned it. Almost had me convinced (despite my taste buds) however I heard him telling the bartender he "totally guessed." :)

Jill A.

Big Jones recently changed their menu, so a few things I wanted to order from my last visit weren't available anymore, but we got a bread plate, crab cakes and catfish to share and it was all just fantastic. We also had a few cocktails and they and the service were really great, too. Our waiter was attentive and well-informed, and the hurricanes really pack a wallop. These are not the red powdered mix-based hurricanes they sell to tourists at Mardi Gras, these are the real deal. We will come back again soon, one of the best dinners I've had in Andersonville lately.

Zoe W.

There were 3 of us early Sat. eve. Service was excellent. The 2008 Bordeaux wine was excellent, once it had breathed. We found it odd that they did not serve it in red wine glasses; their excuse was they don't have room so they just have one size of glass! The pheasant terrine was very good, but could have been made with another protein- I think 'pheasant' just sounds more upscale so they can charge more. The entrees were both a disappointment: the chicken-fried veal steak was tough and sinewy (veal?), the sauce skimpy, the barley a bit too al dente; the 'pulled chicken' managed to be dry even in gravy and the dumplings uninspired. The pots de crème were more like tartes de crème- enormous! The chocolate flavor was good, but if they were going to slather the dish with peanuts, they could have mentioned it in the menu. I prefer my pots de crème in tiny pots (after a big dinner) and without nuts! I found the prices exaggerated. As for 'quaint and adorable', well I don't think so- it's just a long, narrow space with forgettable art works. I don't see going back.

Dontay R.

So tonight, my boyfriend and I went to Big Jones. The place looked great--Loved the chairs. and the back bar wall. The lack of bar backlighting and typical mirror made me feel as though I was in a place that needed no mirrors or camera tricks to ensure and an engaging and enjoyable experience. First, let me say that I would dine again at Big Jones. Perhaps it was the night or my palate, but most of what I ate had a strong sour notes. Lots of pickled garnish and vinegary sides was a bit overwhelming. When I'm not tending the stove, I like to meander through a menu--Taking my time to visit with "snacks" and appetizers--entrees are shared and so is the joy. Our server, who took a ridiculously long time to acknowledge our presence, was polite and seemed excited about our plan to take it easy and savor the journey. Overall I think was a nice dinning experience and I will be sure to return. FULL DISCLOSURE: I wrote this ages ago and didn't realize that I had not posted it.

Jacob J.

Its been a couple months since meeting them recently that I developed a Love Jones for Big Jones. Saw a couple reviews by friends on Yelp, passed by the lovely spot and decided to try them for our usual Sunday Brunch group. We were all excited, a group of seven and we dined outside on the so called patio. It's a small patio so a group of our size and a boisterous bunch at that, got a lot of stares and gawking looks. The outside patio is a few tabletops for twos mostly and less than twenty can sit out there. Needless to say, it's cozy and everyone is a part of your conversation. Just for the sake of mention, on the first visit out there between the hostess and our waitress, there was an air of "stuck uppity" which we found disconcerting. Like I said a boisterous bunch, after a few mimosas we didn't care much. Brunch menu was exciting and though we hit them pretty late that Sunday we still got to score a few beignets! The chef prepares some badass beignets here. Note; regardless of the time you visit, if the chef feels like they have the time he / she will send them to your table gratis. Please don't waste the gesture. During our brunch we sampled many dishes and our group is a sharing bunch, so we enjoyed the food thoroughly. For starters I ordered some griddle cakes. Imagine thin crepes with honey butter and black fruit preserves. The perfect anytime dish. Anytime like; imagine you met an Okcupid date here. You knew going in, it was going to be bad but because (smartly) you chose the venue to be here, you turned an otherwise bad date into a tasty one. Or at least I did. Joining their bourbon club was another great idea. Joining was free and gets you a free pour of their monthly selection any time you stop in for a meal. So far I've enjoyed my experiences dining and stopping in for bourbon pours. Entertaining a date or a group of friends it's been good. I've seen some reviews on Yelp by parents and their reviews are mixed. In my experience so far, it's an adult friendly place but child friendly, I think there could be an accident waiting to happen.

Joshua N.

Upgrade! Stopped in to Big Jones for lunch today for the first time in like three years and completely enjoyed it. The pimiento burger brilliant. Two thin patties instead of one huge one for double the char flavor and tons of little chopped up veggies in the slaw. Winner. Also tried the grits with morel and maitake mushrooms and loved it. Not sure what the crowd is like at night, but Friday lunch was great.

Leah S.

This place is delicious! Staff are very knowledgeable and attentive while also giving you your space to converse and enjoy your meal. I tried the fried chicken and it was wonderful. Expertly cooked and the portion was huge. I ended up taking home the biggest piece plus the collards it came with. I'm only taking one star away for it being SO LOUD inside the dining room. Thankfully the weather was good enough that we could sit outside where it was quieter and could hear ourselves talk to each other.

Colleen C.

Yeah, I'm layin' down a 5-star brunch at Big Jones. Yeah. Yeah. YEAH! Also, it may be the only Sunday brunch for which I've arrived before they opened (9am, in this case). I felt like a doorbuster mama Walmart at Christmas. I NEED THOSE BEIGNETS! I WILL BE THE FIRST TO GET THEM! Just kidding, it's because I foolishly registered for the Ravenswood Run 5k way back when I was in Germany with nothing to do on the weekends but run. Running does not require German skills, as it turns out...and they have nice parks. Anyway I was up super duper early and done with the race by 845am, so we were in the prime brunch zone. No lines at 9am folks, you heard it here first...I wasn't even sure what this time of day looked like. Made a quick reservation (just in case!) via Open Table/Yelp app, strolled in, were seated among a few other early risers (I felt like it was a secret club!)...and began our lovely brunching. I knew it would be a good day when I saw the size of the coffee cups, and that it was filled immediately upon sitting. Ya do me right, Big Jones, ya do me right. Great first impression. Our group of 3 decides on the following: an order of cornbread biscuits (with pepper jam!), the baked French Toast, Corn Griddle Cakes & the Cajun Teche Omelette. I sampled all, and all were delicious. The Corn Griddle Cakes were the clear winner...a teensy bit sweet, but full of wonderful savories, and the perfectly runny egg. Wonderful. Luckily my gal pal likes to share! The complimentary beignets to the table as a starter were quite the luxury, and I the powdered sugar misted about like fairy dust. The dust of fairies greets you at brunch this early! Our server: Adolfo (I believe) was great. Attentive, quick, charming. From start to finish not a beat was missed. My coffee never reached less than half full! This was marvelous. At $54+ tip for a 3-person brunch it works out to roughly a bit over $20 pp (no booze for us). Well worth it in this Southern-inspired bistro with plenty of table room, friendly servers, HUGE coffee cups, great food and inspired service at 9am. Props to Big Jones, I'm a believer. (beignets!)

Jennifer L.

Do this place right. 1. Make a reservation or go early when you brunch here. My book club had to bat two months in a row to get in here. If you show up on Sunday after 10am without a reservation, you are not even likely to make it to the hostess stand. Sunday at 9am with a reservation and you get an open and airy dining experience with jives well with the whole polished plantation look they have goin' on here. (Subtext to all this: I hate the Chicago brunch scene.) 2. Get bacon or something ham-heavy. Someone else got a side of bacon and was thick and well-cooked, to the point of an art piece. 2, cont'd. There are free beignets (like table bread). So if you're one of those "Sweet or savory? Sweet or savory?" internally conflicted diners, weight yourself towards savory. This isn't to say the pancakes didn't look delcious, but you are already going to start your meal with powdered sugar on your collar. Normally that shame is reserved for syrup sleeves at the END of the meal. Here, start with shame. These are my 2 and 1/2 cents. I'd be back soon, but it's on the same street as the Hopeleaf, where I'm loyal to a fault.

Margot F.

Go there for brunch. I would every day if I could figure out how. They bring Louisiana to your table the minute you sit down. And the waiter is just as excited to tell you about the food and what his favorites will be as you will be to eat it. I am not a breakfast person. I am not a brunch person. I am a Big Jones person.

Frank T.

A nice place much larger than it looks from the outside. No wait, quick service. After we placed our drink order, five beignets arrived warm airy and well powdered with confection sugar. A great start. The bar was very well stocked and almost made you want to order a whiskey or bourbon up. It was too early for that. The menu options are great. The descriptions made you want to order one of everything. My wife had the gluten free waffles which were crisp and soft in the inside. She thoroughly enjoyed along with a side of two small pieces of ham. The ham was okay but needed a little more salt. Grandson had the cajun pancake/griddle cakes that were really crepes. He really enjoyed them. I had the biscuit and "dirt" gravy. It was served with greens and a biscuit. A poached egg atop each. The gravy was really a broth like sauce with bits of ham (I think). I had expected the roux gravy with a lot of flavor this had neither flour nor flavor. The egg yolk had no flavor. Such a disappointment. The greens were perfect and the biscuit had a weird metallic after taste. I would not order this again. Service was outstanding.

Jason C.

Awesome looking menu so far If you want a southern style breakfast, I definitely recommend this place...The only complaint I had was the corn griddle cakes had too much "stuff" ladled all over them, I prefer a cleaner looking meal where I add the toppings myself...flavors were good and worked well together.

Betty L.

I went here for Chicago Restaurant Week 2014 and everything was great and the service was amazing. Our server was really friendly and we invited him to even join us because he was so nice! On to the food though which was delicious. We had the deviled crab fritters and crispy fried oysters for appetizers. Both were perfectly fried and very tasty. For entrees, we had the rabbit over risotto and the flatiron steak. The steak was perfectly cooked and pretty much melted in my mouth. The rabbit risotto was the best rabbit and risotto I have ever tasted. I only wish the servings were bigger since everything tasted so good. The dessert was pretty good as well but I would definitely go back for the entrees and would love to try the fried chicken.

Brooke B.

Ok, I've been here twice now and both times I've left slightly pffted at the service and less than attentive staff, which I think reflected my opinion of the food. This last time is warranting the review because I agree with some other folks that the service is either really high or really low. My first visit, it was just weird. Our waitress was cuckoo...just an odd duck. Albeit she took care of us well, she gave me goosebumps a couple times because of her weird sayings and uncomfortable questions. The second time (and sorry, but prolly the last time I'll go) I checked in with my party, and because of the narrow waiting space, stepped off to the side to allow other people to check in....and watched as we were disregarded and party after party got sat before us. That host stand needs some help...I finally said something and then we were sat immediately. Where we had a very lovely water boy keeping our water glasses full...but no waitress. Finally, when the water boy came to fill our glasses for the second time, we again had to draw attention to the fact that a server hadn't visited us yet. And immediately the manager was there, apologetically to take a drink order. But still no server. Hmphf. We finally placed our order and received beignets while we waited. That were cold...which is a bummer because these babies should melt in your mouth. Our food quickly arrived thereafter and was ok. I got the Eggs New Orleans w/ grits. Served on popovers...I think I may have preferred english muffins because the popovers were hard to cut and keep everything intact. But still yummy. The manager was nice enough to discount our drinks from the check...but we still felt slightly neglected by the end of our meal based on our experience.

Jane R.

Delicious and authentic food with friendly and accommodating service. I especially appreciated our server's knowledge of the gluten free options on their menu. I was able to enjoy gluten free fried catfish for brunch and an off menu fudge dessert! Get a reservation and eat your heart out!

Sara V.

Oh yes. I never see this place when I'm walking in the 'hood. Even after being made aware of its existence last year after MONTHS of walking by it erry day, I still forget that it exists or even where it's located. Which is probably a good thing for the size of my thighs. Brunch: Mimosas are divine. Was that hand-squeezed OJ I detected? Bloody Mary (tasted companion's) was tasty tasty and strong! Food was a big yes. Corn Griddle Cakes were amazing and I am so happy my server recommended them over my other choice (which I will be trying next time). She said the spicy tomato sauce that comes with them was to die for. She was not wrong folks! I would have gladly accepted a big ol' bowl of that to slurp. Just that. Nothing else. Farmer's Breakfast was also good and my companion managed to finish her plate (I was less than able to make more than a dent in mine). Biscuits were okay. Beignet's were also okay. Yummy both but not amazing. Still I ain't about to look a powdered gift horse in the mouth. Service was excellent. Knowledgeable, checked in on us just enough, and helpful. However there is something about the accoustics (perhaps?) of this place because every time I've been there I find it incredibly difficult to hear a goddamn thing. It's as if someone's stuffed cotton balls in my ears and I know I'm not the only one. I refuse to forget Big Jones' existence yet again. REFUSE.

Dennis J.

Andersonville. I always feel out of place when I end up here, and not just because it's awkward to get to by car (or train). I'm just not cool enough. But, let's move on to the food. I don't have much expertise in Southern food, I've never been down there so I can't vouch for authenticity, just what I enjoyed. Eugene's Breakfast in Mobile, circa 1930 (Farm-raised Alabama catfish fried in gold rice and corn flour breading with fried plantains, black beans, and buttered aromatic southern rice ): This was delicious. The breading is dense and flavorful without being too heavy and overpowering the catfish, the beans are cooked just right and the rice and plantains pull together all the flavors. Probably the best dish of the four that we got at brunch. Unfortunately, I can't remember what anybody else got because this one sticks out so much in my memory. The atmosphere is casual and cozy and the service has been good both times I went. Not too pricey either. I really want to come back and try their fried chicken.

Johnny R.

Summary: John really liked Big Jones. So John, his wife Anne and their friends Gary and Stephanie like to go out to eat on a regular basis. John and Gary are shall we say... Picky. Not about the furnishings, the prices, or even the neighborhood. Nope, just about the food. Big Jones has been on their list of places to try for a few years, the online praise for the fried chicken calling to them like lissome sirens luring in sailors in olden days. We went to Big Jones for dinner last weekend. No fried chicken on the weekend. No problemo, I don't look for fried chicken when dining out unless I'm on the road or eating out with the whole family. So let me just say... Wonderful. Heirloom Southern Cooking. Indeed. I get it. Mission accomplished. We started off with some cocktails, and I had the Sazerac. I vaguely know it's an older cocktail, but that's about it. I'm not a cocktail guy but I enjoyed it. I wanted another one which means I liked it. Let's get to the food. Appetizers: Cajun Liver Fritters Tete de Cochon Fried Green Tomatoes The fritters were savory, not uber liver'y and very nicely prepared. The Tete de Cochon was savory and offset by a nice dark jam. We adorned our bread with the aforementioned toppings and enjoyed. I've gone through life never having fried green tomatoes before, and they were tasty, and honestly, kinda cool. I like to fry everything so I liked how they were fried on the outside but still juicy on the inside. Entree Soft Shell Crabs + Rice, a special and also seasonal Etouffee Shrimp and Grits Yours truly got the Soft Shell Crabs, and oh my! So good. The crabs were outstanding, and the rice had I think Asparagus in it, and it was just perfect. Great savory flavors. It was a wild rice of some sort and the seasoning was delicous. I couldn't figure out what it was, it eluded me. I'm betting a lot of cool things, maybe a little wine, a little soy, hard to say. I like that I couldn't figure it out. My dinnermates had the Etouffee and one had the Shrimp and Grits. Very nice. Perfect. I sort of finished everyone else's plates. We had a nice Chenin Blanc with dinner (thank you for the suggestion Alison!), I believe it was the 2007 Régis Cruchet sec, Vouvray, France. Crisp, nice fresh citrus notes, a nice clean wine that didn't compete but that nicely accompanied our entrees. Desert: Bourbon Raisin Bread Pudding The beignet style desert (I don't recall the name) We fought over the beignet style desert, getting loud and frantic. The bread pudding was still very good, but it was like comparing a Ferrari to something that is 7/8's as good as a Ferrari. It was still very good, but the beignets sailed off with the gold. Let me say, the reviews I've read on here for some reason made me think that this place was going to be more about comfort food, which can sometimes means big portions but short on flavor. Big Jones from a dinner standpoint was a standout for me. I couldn't have been more pleased with the flavors, the care and attention that went into the sauces and food preparation, and the even the timing of the food was perfect. Thanks you guys for a memorable dining experience.

Realtor Karl B.

Not my style... Didn't like the cider (tasted like champagne) and the bloody mary didn't taste right. The free cornbread with butter was too bland. Fried chicken portion was huge, but nothing special. Shrimp and grits was ok. Didn't like the crawfish entouree. Didn't like the fried clams - too salty and no tartar sauce was available. Only highlight was the soup of the day - clam chowder. Prices are just way too high.

Scott W.

We went for Thanksgiving dinner, and what a feast! The Chatham Artillery Punch was great, the oyster stew, navy bean soup and gumbo were hearty and flavorful, the crab cakes were yum, and we tried all the desserts on the special menu: coconut cake, sweet potato pie, and bourbon bread pudding, which were delicious. They also had Pappy Van Winkle on the extensive whiskey menu and oh my, what a treat! It was all spot on, and the service was fantastic, attentive and pleasant. We're looking forward to our next visit.

Uyen O.

Awesome southern style food, and they give you beignets on the house!

Jon D.

Girlfriend and I were decided to get out of the neighborhood and try somewhere new for a Sunday brunch. She's gluten free (gfGF), and more than one Yelp review pointed me towards Big Jones. We weren't disappointed. I'm going to say I can't be mad for being sat at the bar at around 11am on a Sunday, that was my idiot fault for deciding to eat so late (there was around a 20 minute wait for tables). The barman was funny, outgoing, and very helpful, albeit a bit of an enabler. I wasn't planning to drink, but I asked what would be a good brunch cocktail and he came back with a corpse reviver (the gin based version). I'm never one to say no to an old-timey drink, and lemme tell you, it was one HELL of a good brunch cocktail. gfGF got a bloody which was spicy and topped with fresh horseradish. Complimentary biegnets are light, fluffy, and delectable. She couldn't eat them, but I stepped up to the plate, so no biggie. The menu seemed to feature a lot of traditional southern cooking using buttermilk, hominy, tasso, etc. Seeing the words "reconstruction era" bought me a great deal of glee, for some reason. It was just good, honest seeming food, with a lot of love behind the menu. I was eyeing the Gumbo ya-ya, buckwheat banana pancakes, and shrimp and grits, but ended up with eggs, boudin, grits and cornbread, all fantastic. The eggs were buttery and smooth, the boudin bursting with flavor, and the cornbread... I've never liked cornbread, but this stuff changed my mind. Girlfriend went for the hominy and eggs, which came off to me as a good, hearty, farmhands breakfast. We were both stuffed. The restaurant seems to source as much as they can from local suppliers, including meat, eggs, and dairy. Their shrimp is gulf-shrimp, and their crab is Pontchartrain. They do all their own charcuterie in house from local pork. I'll be honest, I don't remember what was explained as gluten free, but they were very accommodating, and there were enough options to keep us satisfied. The coffee was above standard, the bathrooms were clean, and all of the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Its a wonderful neighborhood spot, and I can't wait to come back for a dinner so I can sample that wall of too-many-bourbons-to-count.

Amanda M.

We've been to Big Jones for brunch once and dinner twice. It's not some place we can afford to go to very often but when we want truly delicious southern comfort food and some whiskey/bourbon this is the place we'll make a reservation for. I've always had a reservation and I'm not sure it will be easy to get in without one unless it is weekday lunches. The atmosphere is casual but still feels like a nice night out. I had the special this time which was hog collar and was seriously one of the most delicious things I have eaten in a very long time (imagine corned beef texture with the flavor of lightly candied bacon) but my husband's catfish was amazing too; very crispy and really battered in corn meal - not flour with a little corn meal added. Also his grits and greens were such a perfect balance of flavors. We also had some bourbon with dinner and although they have an extensive list there are no descriptions of the bourbons and we spent a lot of the beginning of our meal looking up the menu on our phones. Our waitress tried to make a good suggestion but I have to admit the easy sipper I was given was more of a mixer and not that good neat. That is the only reason I held off on giving a 5 star review. (Take a tip from Hop Leaf and give us a bigger menu with more descriptions so we can more confidently make selections from your whiskey/bourbon menu!)

Bart S.

The owner of Big Jones wrote me and asked me to take down my review.. out of respect for the fact that I did not eat there, I took it down, I emailed him back with my thoughts, which went unanswered. It is nice to know that Yelp can make a difference. Here is the review I took down: (now back) I admit, I am a sucker for advertising, and although technically speaking this was not an ad, but the Hungry Hound stopped by Big Jones for lunch and sold me on the fried chicken. The Hungry Hound on ABC7 loves every where he goes, nothing is ever negative with Steve Dolinsky. OK, I get that. My mistake, was going there for dinner and hoping for that same fried chicken as seen on TV....IT IS NOT ON THE DINNER MENU. That's me bad, for not looking on line before making my way into Andersonville to enjoy what looked to be pretty good. For a so called Southern place....the prices were downtown Chicago. The least expensive thing on the menu was a 14 dollar hamburger. I walked out. I wanted the chicken, no chicken. No me. (that was the review from last week) Now...the owner pointed out to me, they have 3 items on their menu for 12 dollars, including a bowl of gumbo. Sorry, I missed that!~ A friend of mine was at Big Jones and told me he had the 3 piece rabbit dinner. He said the pieces were small (tiny bunny) that he got 4 pieces and it was one of the best meals he ever had. I asked the owner, again about his chicken!~ My question was, "If you come here for lunch, and you order the fixed price 16 dollar chicken dinner, do you have to have at least 2 people at the table order this?" I contend, if your fried chicken is as good as ABC7 reported on, without making clear it was only a lunch item, why not adjust your menu, make a four piece or two piece dinner entree?

K. D.

My group had a great time. The food was tasty and the waiter did his best to stay on top of our table's needs.

Heidi L.

Big Jones is the place that caused me to start Yelping again. I came here for dinner but saw that it was underrepresented in the reviews...so I'm going to have to come back for brunch soon :) My friend and I were trying to decide on dinner and we ended up stumbling in based on what I had heard about the Carriage House meal. Obviously that wasn't going on then but the menu looked intriguing. The restaurant wasn't really full at all (we came around 6 on a weekday), and we were promptly seated. We ended up ordering the pork shoulder sandwich, the fried green tomatoes, and the fried clams, plus two drinks (Artillery House Punch, the other one was gin based and had lavender/honey...just can't remember the name). Drinks were strong and well made. We both agreed that the sandwich was the favorite of our dishes -- pretty darn amazing and a (relative) steal at $13. The meat packs a lot of heat, the vinegar slaw was excellent, and the accompanying handful fries (which are more like jojos) were surprisingly crispy. The fried green tomatoes were kind of underwhelming (five half slices at $12?) but were surprisingly filling -- we found the accompanying paste to be a little too rich. Finally, fried clams were solid -- the flavor of the aioli was bright, and in fact we're hoping to reverse engineer it for our own gatherings. You will get some cornbread at the beginning of the meal and to be honest, we were a little underwhelmed -- the texture was good but there's not really much flavor. The ambience and service straddles a fine line between precious and too precious, so take that as you will (i.e. they list the dates of recipes on the menu, we were told each "element" of the meal). But in our experience, the service was pretty friendly.

Adam W.

Cool atmosphere with food that you won't find everywhere, but overpriced. The cornbread was pretty good, but don't expect anything big. A different bread (whose name I forget but it's made with egg) was pathetic - $5 for 4 tiny (and I mean TINY) slices. The crawfish etoufée was delicious. Service was attentive and friendly.

Claude P.

Pretty good stuff. I lived in Atlanta for 2-3 years and so that qualifies me as nothing but a poser who moved to Atlanta for a little. But I still enjoyed this place. Not super high end, not super low end, a good date place if your date doesn't mind have fried chicken juice smeared all over their face. And if they don't, why are you dating them? Stick with the menu for dessert. We asked for something not on there, and were told the chef would do it but wasn't hot on doing it, and I should have listened to the pro. It wasn't BAD, but not as awesome sounding as the menu stuff. Customer's not always right, listen to the pros fools! Would return. Blah blah blah. Yall.

Andy P.

Delicious dinner! Everything was wonderful. We had the shrimp and grits, the chicken and dumplings, the swamp salad, the rutabaga bisque, the savanna catfish, the savanna rice, and the butter beans. My favorite was the catfish followed closely by the shrimp and grits or the chicken and dumplings. But we were far from a consensus. Everybody had a different favorite. The waitress was really friendly too.

Jennifer C.

Do you know where Ferriday, LA is? Probably not. Now, go an hour in [it doesn't really matter] direction and THAT is where my mother's family is from. My mother's clan hails from the place in Northeastern Louisiana where Google Maps GAVE UP. I know this because I got all sorts of JD Salinger lost trying to get to the ancestral home. So to say that my mother and I know a little bit about southern country cooking is like saying that John Mayer knows a little bit about being a racist dick. I was excited when I found Big Jones [and even more excited that they could squeeze my mother and me in for Mother's Day brunch]. I wanted to give my mom the prospect of "home-cooking" that she hasn't had since her childhood. Don't get me wrong. The staff was incredibly patient, and the food was great...but calling Big Jones "southern country food" is akin to calling Chipotle "Mexican Cuisine". A more accurate description of Big Jones' cuisine would be a "Mash-up of all of the best that the south has to offer for Yankees who are counting calories and cholesterol levels". Sorry, Big Jones, but Beignets are NOT country and REAL grits don't automatically come with cheese. Your food is good, though, so I'll probably be back.

Kris B.

Big Jones is a great spot for brunch. Warm beignets arrive at your table while you peruse the menu. Leaf-lard biscuits are tender & delicious, and some of our favorite entrees are the Eggs New Orleans and Simple Cajun Breakfast. Great Creole flavors. At night, they have an EXTENSIVE whiskey menu and knowledgeable bar staff. The pimento cheeseburger is to die for. Lovely ambiance & friendly waitstaff. One of the best on the main drag of Clark Ave. in Andersonville. They accept reservations on Open Table, but if you get there right when they open on Saturday or Sunday, you can walk right in for brunch.

Evan S.

Fabulous brunch, especially if you live on the north side of town (read: for us Evanston-ites, make the trip!) Great little cozy spot, not very wide but deep into the block (like a NYC-style place). The menu is full of your southern favorites with a flair of New Orleans / TRUE SOUTHERN amidst all of the viddles. I had the Eggs New Orleans (Ponchartrain blue crab cakes with poached eggs, popovers, and bearnaise sauce, served with Potatoes O'Brien). In a word: delectable. This will be a great look for groups, birthdays, brunch, dinner, etc.

Krystle P.

Took my mom for her birthday, it was an amazing time. The server was great and so was the food! It's such as cute little fancy place.

Mike R.

Having heard about this restaurant not too long ago, I decided to go randomly the other day since I am such a big fan of southern food (even though I'm not from the south, but we'll keep that a secret). Upon arrival, I noticed how clean the restaurant was and the nice southern decor. It definitely reminded me of some restaurants I ate at last time I was in South Carolina, which was definitely a good thing. From the moment we walked in, we were treated very nicely by the staff. Through the whole thing, our waiter was great. He was probably one of the most genuine waiters I've had in a long time actually. Now for the food. First of all, the beignets were great. I wasn't super hungry and was trying to save room for the main course, but I found myself eating them uncontrollably. I ended up ordering the Shrimp & Grits while my girlfriend, who had never had southern food before, ordered the Gumbo Ya-Ya. Personally, I found my Shrimp & Grits to be great. They were seasoned just right, with the right amount of cheese for the grits, and a nice touch with scallions on top. As far as my girlfriend's Gumbo goes, it was good, but I've had better. Personally, I found it a little too salty for some reason. Even with the salt it wasn't too bad, but if that was toned down a little bit, it would taste a lot better in my opinion. Overall, the food we had was good, although could be a little better. No big complaints though, and the staff was great. One of the more pleasant dining experiences I've had in awhile.

Melanie S.

Sadly, I'm deducting two stars for a once-beloved venue that featured one of the better incarnations of my not-so-guilty pleasure: fried chicken. I had one of those $10 A La Cards that would expire on 12/31. I hate seeing coupons wasted so I made a reservation for BJ for a Tuesday night in December, which was the night they featured their vaunted fried chicken special. I hadn't been there in a while, so I called the day before to confirm that they were still serving fried chicken on Tuesdays. Turns out that they serve it 5 days a week! The bad news: it's now served at lunch, M-F, as their Boarding House prix-fixe lunch. Well, I work M-F, as does a good deal of the population, so that posed a problem; I canceled my reservation and had to figure out an alternate plan. The week after Xmas is slow in our office so I decided to burn through a vacation day that Friday, all in the name of feasting on fried chicken and using up my soon-to-be-expired coupon. I enlisted my fellow-fried-chicken-fanatic friend, Jennifer I, to embark on the feast with me. We made a reservation and we were all set. She arrived before I did and already had an iced tea and I ordered their lemonade. After about 10 minutes, I had to politely remind our server that I still hadn't gotten it, and after another couple of minutes, he brought it over. All would be forgiven once I dug into my fried chicken... The Boarding House lunch, at $16, is a pretty sweet deal, featuring fried chicken (duh), biscuits and cornbread, mashed potatoes, red beans and rice, voodoo greens, and sweet potato pie for dessert. The only caveat is that it requires total table participation. Momentary panic set in when it occurred to me that perhaps Jennifer would not be in the mood for fried chicken that particular day, leaving me no choice but to order something else and well as tearfully have to end our friendship on the spot. I needn't have worried; she is my comrade in all things fried chicken, so we both gleefully placed our orders. Our server proclaimed it would take 30 minutes, which we were fine with; we weren't in a hurry and good fried chicken takes time. The odd thing was that it seemed like he was trying to talk us out of ordering it. As if! The chicken arrives and looks fantastic. 8 pieces of plump, golden, crispy fried chicken are set down in front of us. We both immediately reach for a breast, help ourselves to the sides (except for the biscuits which hadn't arrived; more on that later) and dig in. After the beautiful crust was eaten, we started in on the rest, only to realize it was undercooked. It wasn't chicken tartare, but I'm pretty sure properly cooked chicken isn't supposed to be pink. As much as we didn't want to, we had to send it back. We called the waiter over and had him take a look at the chicken. He acknowledged that it looked pink and took our plates away. In all fairness, the rest of the pieces were fine so we ate those while we waited for the breasts to be replaced. He came back several minutes later and explained that chef told him that they go by the internal temperature of the chicken and that they were satisfied that it was cooked properly, but as a courtesy, they dropped it back in the fryer for a few more minutes. We still maintain that properly cooked chicken should not be pinkish-grey, but we appreciated that they "humored" us by cooking it a bit longer. When our plates were brought back, the sides that we previously heaped on them were gone, but no offer to bring more was made. Bummer, but I wanted to concentrate on my chicken anyway. We weren't even sure we were brought out our respective pieces (how did they know whose piece was whose?) but again, we let it slide. Luckily, Jen and I often swap spit (no, not really) so we're okay with each other's germs. Again, the chicken was STILL undercooked. We didn't want to deal with it again, so we just ate the parts that were okay, but really, wtf? It's also about this time that we realize we hadn't yet gotten our biscuits, so we ask about them. Server promises they're coming. Another 20 minutes go by and he assures us that they're "still baking." By now we've long since finished our food. After that every time our server passes our table he won't make eye contact with us, because, as you guessed it, there's still no biscuits. Oh, but we're not giving up. We want our biscuits! By now it's almost comical, but we still decide they're worth waiting for. Server drops off our dessert, which oddly, has now turned into bread pudding instead of sweet potato pie. The bread pudding is sprinkled with nuts (which I can't eat), so I push my bread pudding to the side, still eagerly anticipating those biscuits. Biscuits finally come with the check. We asked to get them wrapped and settle up. They didn't end up taking the A La Card as it's not valid with prix-fixe, but comp our drinks. Fine, but after 2.5 hours and the other issues, it was too little, too late.

Elyse C.

I live in Andersonville and have been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Great dishes, great staff, cute and nice decor. I will be going back and recommend this place to everyone!

Jim D.

Drinks were overpriced and small. Chicken was bland. Beet salad was small for price. Service was very good.

Sheri M.

Intelligentsia Coffee!!!

Tricia D.

A Big Jones brunch had been on my list for ever and ever. Previously, I had only been here for dinner, which had to have been a couple years ago. On this occasion, I had a hankering for a burger, so the house ground beef burger was all mine. And it was some of the freshest meat I've eaten in a long time! So juicy, so tender. The burger was a little heavy on the garlic aioli though. I'm not too crazy about Cajun seasoned fries either, as they leave a MSG-y aftertaste in my mouth, but all the more room for dessert... ... which was red velvet cake! It's baked to order and takes about 20 minutes. Accompanied by toffee(?) brittle and housemade ice cream, this dessert was a winner. +100 on Open Table. +100 imaginary points for complimentary beignets too!

Cameron H.

A friend of mine happened to be in the area, so I decided on this place as I know he loves this type of food. Everything we had was delicious.. From the shrimp and grits, pork shoulder sandwich, chicken n dumplings, to the catfish and grits, everyone loved their dish. I love that this place is in Andersonville and adds a different flavor to what is offered in the area. From what I've heard the breakfast/brunch is fantastic. Will have to try it soon!!!

Christiana S.

What can I say? I LOVE this place. I live in Dallas, but get to Chicago once in a while. This place always gets at least one visit from me, if not more. The restaurant chef/owner really cares about where the food comes from. I had a chance to chat with him, and he told me that everywhere the meat and dairy comes from, he has visited personally and knows the farm. All of his food comes from as local as possible, and everything is from the US, even the seafood. The man cultures his own sour cream for crying out loud! Fantastic! But aside from that...the food is just down right delicious. It's rich, southern, home-cooked food that I didn't grow up with (being from southern Indiana originally), but it always makes me smile and feel like I just had a meal from grandma. I love the cocktails this restaurant serves. They are strong and always made the old-fashioned way. The amaretto sours are clearly made with real fresh lemons and not that awful sour-mix used by so many bars these days. Can I take this place back to Dallas with me? I want to eat here weekly.

Bill C.

Slowwwwww. When it takes two hours from the time of putting your name in for a table for two, to the time you get your food, there is a major problem, not only with the restaurant, but with me for waiting.

Jonah E.

Mediocre food. Really good cauliflower and grits. Burnt tasting gumbo. Ok on other items, but tragically impossible to get past the awful service. Sat with nearly full drinks. Ordered half full. Saw the bar put up the bottle and waited with empty glasses for 10 minutes. Missed ordered items, as if never received. Never asked how things were... Thought about dessert and decided to leave.

Robert D.

New Years Eve dinner was excellent! The service is always perfect and the food was interesting and very tasty. We have only had good food at Big Jones. I didn't give them 5 stars simply because the 4th course, the steak, was somewhat dry and not tender. Everything else was superb though! This is our "go-to" restaurant when we want to impress visitors and not break the bank. The prices are very reasonable for the level of excellence!

Kate N.

Great brunch!! I came here a couple of weeks ago for brunch with a girlfriend. We had reservations and we showed up an hour early, which I am sure is annoying, but the hostess was very accommodating and sweet and sat us early. I had a cappuccino that was made perfectly to start. I ordered the Wood-roasted Asparagus and Goat Cheese Omelette with creamy grits. By far the best omelette I have ever had. My friend ordered banana pancakes and she absolutely loved them. I can't wait to go back and try other menu items.

Lee P.

Very nice, super clean-looking place. My wife would call it charming. Serious but focused southern menu. Next time I'm going for the fried chicken. But today I am here for the highly-rated Pimento Cheeseburger. My food critic friend, Kevin Pang (Chicago Tribune), has raved about the Pimento Cheeseburger. Great egg bun. Two patties in there. And all this stuff. That should call this the "whole lotta shit goin' on burger". Some sort of cheese, southern dry cole slaw, homemade pickles, onions, "heirloom" pimentos, plus some white stuff I couldn't identify. Definitely a knife and fork burger. It was a very filling meal, but I couldn't taste the ground beef. Too much of everything except ground beef taste. Like I said, I'll come back for the fried chicken.

Katie B.

Pricey but delish for brunch or dinner! Very true to Nola style food!

Mahsa T.

It's already been established that brunch is my favorite meal of the day so I love finding new places that have a unique take on it. So you have Southern food on one hand and brunch on the other, and you put your hands together, and what you get my friend is Big Jones. To start, I have to mention that this place is adorable, beautifully decorated, a feast for your eyes as you wait for your breakfast. I love that they take reservations on Open Table so you don't have to wait. Great location on this "restaurant strip" on Clark in Andersonville. Easy street parking. Andersonville is the new Bucktown, fewer hipsters, easier parking, less wait, great food. I ordered the "Simple Southern Breakfast" which came with two farm eggs (I got 'em scrambled), with something that tasted like a crab cake, plus creamy cheese grits, and cornbread--all for $9, great deal. I'm usually not a fan of grits, but I had to give them another try since the server said their grits are awesome. I still think potatoes are better than grits, but these grits were better than what I've had before. Eggs were terrific, crab cake thingy was delicious, cornbread was awesome, oh how I love cornbread. Yum. My friend ordered the "Big Jones Benedict" which came with smoked ham simmered in Kilgus Farmstead cream, served on a traditional farmstead biscuit with poached eggs and potatoes. I had a taste of it and it was delicious, the biscuit was phenomenal. The Bloody Mary--get it! It's good, garnished with a pickle and okra, it's got kick and there's nothing better than a good Bloody Mary to help you get over your hangover from the night before. Great coffee served in big mugs and refilled promptly. Great, friendly service. Big Jones is my new brunch bff.

Annie C.

I'm not sure where to begin. I went with a couple of friends tonight and we were super hungry, I knew I was. I was brought here by a friend since he gave me a $10 off certificate. I imagined it to be a very southern style, go big, go home concept. I imagined big plates with lots of food. We had no idea what to order on the menu, everything looked good, but expensive nonetheless. So we decided to go with the family meal. $25 for 5 courses is a big steal since most of their dinner entrees were $20+. We also started off with the crab cakes. They were definitely amazing, especially the Louis dressing served with it. Although I was surprised to see only 2 tiny crab cakes since they were so pricey. I should've known better. Anyways, we started off with the Lakeside Fish Gumbo. Okay, this was TO DIE for! It was just what we needed on a cold night in Chicago. The seasoning and the fish and the bacon was just perfect. It was served with this yummy moist aromatic rice that was good by itself too! They were very generous with the amount of fish and bacon that was in the gumbo as well. The next course was the Skillet Cracklin' Cornbread. It was a mighty fine portion of cornbread with bacon and scallions on the bottom, heck the cracklin' part. I was a bit overwhelmed by corn bread because they served it before the gumbo course. Our third course was the Deviled Crab and Red Rice. The deviled crab was underwhelming, the smell and taste of white wine was too heavily present and the crostini that was served with it was sprinkled with way too much salt so they gave us some benne wafers instead which made the dish better. As for the red rice, this was a big hit in my book. It's just hands down so good. The sides of the caste iron cookware it came in was so yummy since the ride on the sides were a little crusty and burnt. The texture and taste of the sausage and the tomatoes were delicious! Our fourth course was the meatloaf with collard greens. The meatloaf was so yummy. The sides seemed to be breaded and I just kept grabbing for more even though I was so full. Although the collard greens were way too salty because of the smoked jowl. Lastly our dessert was baked apples. They served two apples on the plate and they did not look appetizing. They were brown and wrinkly with cream surrounding them. Unfortunately we just picked apart the apple and had a couple of bites. Overall the meal was okay. The family meal is definitely the way to go if you want to get a good deal out of it. Just make sure you're hungry. But what I noticed during the whole entire meal is that my friends and I kept grabbing for our water glasses. Everything just seemed over salted. They definitely seemed understaffed when I went, but everyone was super nice and seemed to go out of their way to help better your meal. I'm not sure if I'd go back again, I think I'd want to try their brunch. Anyways, I'm full for the rest of my life now!

B.R. S.

My husband and I went here for the first time last night with some friends. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could but I rounded up because the first round of drinks were on the house! Our apps came before our drinks did and we never complained but they were very apologetic and offered to pay for our drinks before we even said anything. For starters we had the croquettes, crab cakes, and fried clams. All was very tasty. I love crabs and anytime I see crab cakes on the menu, I am on it! I've had better crab cakes elsewhere but I was still satisfied here. We ordered quite of bit of appetizers so I was already pretty full by the time my pork shoulder sandwich came out. I thought it was a little on the dry side but still tasted good. My husband got the shrimp po boy and he loved it. The side of fries were very salty (which is actually how I prefer it) and the ranch like dressing that came with it was mediocre. I was eyeing my friend's crawfish étouffée so if I come back, I'll definitely be ordering that.

Jonathan Z.

The food is delicious but don't bother making a reservation: I have never been seated anywhere near the time I made a reservation for. Also, for my veggie people this isn't a place you would seek out because unless you want a breakfast that is basically dessert, which is sometimes delicious!

Hayley H.

Best breakfast I've had in a long time. Cajun/Southern homestyle cookin'. We avoided this place for a while because the chef is a big asshole to delivery drivers. And I have one very close to my heart. But my delivery man swallowed his pride because of what all the Yelpers said.... We are both glad he did. We had the farmstead biscuits, made to order. The jelly is what really makes you swoon. Chicken and waffles, that morning. I sure do hope it stays. Its just ridiculously good. Dont question it, just get it. The Eggs New Orleans is also amazing. But if I could do it all over, I'd get 2 chicken and waffles. just go. Enjoy the biscuits.

Mike H.

The hubby and I have been meaning to get to this place ever since we relocated from Atlanta two years ago. We finally gave it a whirl. Pretty good, but I agree with other readers that it is slightly inconsistent. First let me get this out of the way: We both know Southern cooking. He spent his undergrad years in Baton Rouge, so you can't fool him on the Cajun. I grew up in North Carolina and love to cook anything Southern. It is how I learned to cook, where I learned to cook, and I still use recipes I have modified from some of the greats of the South, including the now media-damaged Paula Deen, who can still cook her butt off. I was excited to see several Southern faves on the menu. The delivery was good on several things, but where the restaurant missed, it missed badly. My first concern was upon ordering my Hurricane. Hurricanes are a very delicate drink to successfully execute for any bartender. I was trying to decide between the Hurricane and The Chatham Artillery Punch, to which, to his credit, the server tried to steer me. I asked him, several times however, which drink was sweeter. He evaded the simple answer, almost as if that would have been insulting to either drink. He used all of the catch phrases needed to sidestep my question, but I would have thought more highly of his knowledge had he just answered my direct question. Sometimes you just want a sweet drink, or not, and do not care if the drink in question, is "light, crisp, refreshing, momentous." Hurricanes require balance to be successful; otherwise, they taste like $10 cough syrup. I will just say mine was not successful in its balance. We ordered Fried Green Tomatoes and Pimento Cheese for appetizers. Fried Green Tomatoes are a favorite of both of us, and the hubby had never had Pimento Cheese, which is one of my favorite recipes to make. (He is very picky and has never eaten my recipe when I've prepared it.) The tomatoes were very well done, sauced appropriately as well. Very good dish. The Pimento Cheese was more disappointing. Pimento Cheese should be creamy, not diced. It's all about how finely you grate or shred the ingredients and blend them together. Ours was more like some diced pimentos and cheddar cheese that had been diced and stirred together, not blended, although the menu introduces them as "blended." It also did not have a lot of flavor of seasonings that usually make this Southern favorite amazing. I understand food deconstruction and taking a dish and making it all your own, but sometimes when you do that you vary too much from the original, and you let your fans down. I would not order it again. For our entrees, the hubby got the baby back ribs special, and I did the Savannah fish fry from the regular menu. The ribs were awesome! Perfectly seasoned, they should be a regular on the menu. The side of okra was incredible as well; the okra was in a tomato sauce but was still not slimy, as some okra can be. The fish fry was very disappointing. The batter on the fish wasn't impressive, and the fish itself was a little tough and rubbery. The grits were good, as were the greens, the oyster gravy was okay, but the hush puppies were bad. Hush puppies should be light and not dense, and these were too "meal-y" and heavy. The hubby, a big, big fan of hush puppies, took one bite and didn't finish it. The heaviness made the texture too much like paste. Regrettably, we passed up dessert, because the hubby wanted frozen yogurt. Yes, I was mad at him for that. We will just have to return for those. I don't think this is a bad place at all. It's just hard to pass off Southern dishes to Southerners who take their eats seriously. Perhaps they are trying to put a spin on some traditional staples, but don't stray too far. Those of us who know better will call you out on it. It's definitely worth a second, or third, visit, but they are inconsistent, and I hope they get those things figured out.

Janice G.

People are pleasant enough but the food was not good. The gumbo tasted like the roux was burned and the chicken and dumplings were watery. And do not get the cheese fritters, if one fell on your foot it would hurt , they were that hard.

KELLIE K.

Run. Not for exercise. Get yourself there now to experience Big Jones's revamped menu. If you don't run, you'll regret missing out on two words: fried chicken. What, Kellie K?? Hasn't Big Jones always served fried chicken? Why, yes, but only once during the week. Lucky for us, the new menu gives us the opportunity to eat family style and knocks it right out of the park. At lunchtime, the Boarding House Lunch offers fried chicken, biscuits, sides, and dessert, all enough to induce an afternoon food coma and reduce any hope of productivity. Don't order an appetizer. While you can dine alone, this style of dining is best done with at least one other person and plenty of time (enjoy your food and company!). The chicken is tender, juicy, and the outside perfectly crunchy. The biscuits are light and flaky with tasty preserves for spreading. Mashed potatoes, gravy, voodoo greens, and beans and rice round out the meal and fill every every remaining crevice in your belly. I've heard the sweet tea is pretty darn good. If you don't have anywhere responsible to go for the afternoon, try a Sazerac or two. Similarly, a seasonal Family Meal is served up for dinnertime. I'll definitely be back to give that a whirl. I've been here a number of times and each time has gotten better and better. I won't even go into their homemade andouille, because that would be another two paragraphs of drool-worthy words. Fried chicken should be enough, shouldn't it? Grab your family, a pal or two, and an empty belly, and run. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Michelle U.

Really enjoyed our brunch here! And the fact that they take reservations. The flavors were authentic and delicious. We had a New Orleans crab cake benedict, grits, cheddar biscuits, a spicy pork shoulder posole with delicious cole slaw, collard greens, hashbrowns and biscuits and gravy. We definitely got full. Happy tummies. The portions aren't overwhelming, but they aren't dainty either. The beignets were nice, but not as light and fluffy as I prefer in a beignet. Also, there weren't enough to split evenly amongst our table. And who wants to be the meany that took the last beignet? Service was great. Definitely recommend trying out Big Jones! I'll be back for some whisky and dinner.

Lindsey O.

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, the meal fell short. Today, we traveled up to Andersonville to look at some real estate. While up there, we thought 'why not get some brunch?' I researched and found 'Big Jones'. I know Southern cooking. My mother was born and raised in the south, we spent our summers in Charleston as a kid, and hell - I've read every Pat Conroy book ever written. I was pumped to learn there was a southern brunch location in the city. Long story short - the main meal missed the mark significantly. Here's the run down, I ordered: - Glass of Tea - there is a choice of 12+ different hot teas and several cold teas. It is nice to have such a wide selection, and all the tea was loose (no bags), served in your own miniature kettle. Good Stuff - Check - Complimentary beignets - Tasty, light, an flakey. Good Stuff - Check - Eggs New Orleans This dish is a Eggs benedict but replace the ham with a crab 'dabble.' I say 'dabble' because the small amount of crab meat could not by any standard be considered a cake. To replace the large amount of crab you are missing, they replace the base with a popovers. Pop overs are like muffins without insides. They have a croissant consistency (buttery, flakey). Here were the problems : - The crab dabble had shell in it. It was great crunching into it and having a mouthful of mystery. - The pop over was burnt and the flavor just stayed in your mouth. No amount of hollandaise was saving it. - The eggs were over cooked (like they had been sitting under a heat lamp for too long) This dish is $17, and my bf ordered the same thing. $54.60 later ... we left disappointed. Hope your experience was better than ours.

Maria P.

Meh! I wanted to love this place. My husband wanted to love this place. And well no such luck. They start you off with fresh, warm beignets. Then it all went downhill from there. The service was horrendous, inattentive, and careless. This might account for the unnecessary 25 minute wait on a Sunday morning. The food lacked flavor and excitement, and when you have competition like Floriole and Over Easy, this place pales in comparison.

Liz A.

This place was such a nice surprise! I found this place because I needed to make a reservation for a group in this area, and the other reviews certainly made it sound worth trying. I had one picky eater in the group, and he even enjoyed what he ordered. I will definitely be going back here. The food is unlike all the other standard Chicago restaurants, and everything I sampled was very good.

Stella A.

I went here for Valentine's Day and I was kinda disappointed. They offered a prix fixe tasting menu for the holiday as the only option. I understand that it would make things a lot easier on the staff and allow things to run smoother all across the board. However, if you're going to offer a prix fix tasting menu for your customers, at least have it consist of some of the things your restaurant is known for. A hint of something at least. I went to the restaurant expecting good southern food with somewhat of a modern twist, what I got was just the modern twist. Let me start off with the best parts of the meal: The popovers were delicious. They were light and crispy. They were so good on their own, they didn't even need the honey and butter that came with them (those were good too though). The seared striped sea bass was good. The dessert was amazing. It was Chocolate Chess Pie with candied walnuts and banana ice cream. It was really rich and chocolatey. The other parts of the meal ranged from just ok to inedible. I can appreciate the creativity and inventiveness of the culinary arts, like that of the crawfish and lobster chowder. It had truffle froth on the top. Creative and inventive. The soup was just ok. The creative twist didn't enhance the flavor or the eating experience. The warm brussels sprouts salad was also ok. The sirloin was a disaster. It was not edible. I had a difficult time cutting it. What was more annoying was that it VERY chewy and hard to eat, so I was done with that. The sirloin came with something called a salsify. I've never had it before but it sort of looks like a carrot but completely tasteless. In my opinion, something that doesn't enhance flavors or adds to a dining experience shouldn't be added to the meal. I do have to say that everything was presented beautifully and the service was great. Our server was really pleasant and everything flowed in a timely manner. I just wish my experience had more of that southern cooking that Big Jones was known for.

Rachel S.

Big Jones is one of those restaurants that meets any occasion and makes it better. Whether you are looking for a spot for lunch on your day off, a location for a birthday dinner, taking your parents out to eat, or looking for an after-dinner drink and dessert spot, Big Jones will make it work. I have been here three times and have tried a number of items on the menu. All the recipes they use are vintage recipes from the deep south, including the mixed drinks and other beverage options. Straight up delicious antique ways of cooking the soul-food you've always wanted. In addition to being pretty niche in terms of menu, Big Jones locally sources all of their food and changes the menu based on the season. Most notable from my meals here would be the fried chicken dinner, with mashed potatoes and roux gravy, voodoo greens, red beans and rice, and a giant biscuit. Also, I loved the pork with sweet potato hash, which I tried to recreate, but I couldn't get the same impossible balance between sweet, salty, crispy and creamy sweet potato-soft. I wasn't able to get my hands on any myself, but I have heard from many people that the sweet potato chocolate pot de creme is to die for. Layers of sweet potato and chocolate with bourbon, no one is mad about that. It sells out when they have it. That's just the food! The service is fantastic! We've always been very well taken care of and our favorite server is Michael, who is the sweetest man and the most competent server I have encountered in a long time (and I dine out a lot). We will continue to go here again and again. Keep up the good work, Big Jones!

Andrea W.

We tried the Boarding House Lunch for dinner (saw it on 190 North). This was the best fried chicken I ever had, very, very crispy and so simple, but elegant. The dinner comes with a relish tray, corn bread muffins, honey butter, biscuits, greens, red beans & rice and banana pudding. The red beans and rice and banana pudding were just okay, but everything was superb. Actually, now that I think about it I did not like the pudding, but everything else was so good I did not really care. I do not like relish trays, but this one made me clean my plate and look forward to coming again to just have that with drinks. The portions were huge and had enough leftovers for a another full meal. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely. Simple, quiet shady/cool on a warm day. Service was friendly and attentive. Looking forward to trying them for brunch.

Jennie T.

I loved the cornbread! They were piping hot, straight out of the oven. Mmm, yum! I ordered the sweet tea and my friend ordered the ginger beer. I have this thing where I just have to order sweet tea every time I go to a Southern restaurant, but I never actually like it because they're always too sweet for me. I really don't know why I do it, but that's just my thing. I would recommend the ginger beer though (it's not really beer, kind of like how ginger ale isn't really an ale). The fried green tomatoes were amazing! I loved it. I also loved my friend's shrimp and grits more than I liked the eggs New Orleans that I got. Something about the bread they used for the eggs New Orleans didn't sit right with me. It was like a sweet dinner roll type of hamburger bun... I didn't like it. I tried eating the crab cakes by itself and it was too salty. In the end, I felt full from the corn bread and the tomatoes (and taking spoonfuls of my friend's delicious shrimp and grits -- they are much less oily than the shrimp and grits I ate in Atlanta and the shrimps tasted that much more fresher too -- strange because I had my first shrimp and grits at an organic restaurant). Southern American breakfasts are just about the only type of American breakfasts that I like (I'm not fond of eggs/bacons, pancakes, waffles, etc.), and I will definitely be back for the fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits. Yummy.

Diana T.

Why beignets instead of bread isn't standard everywhere is beyond me. Plain bread pales in comparison to fried dough topped with powered sugar. The brunch here is amazing. There are so many options to choose from so it's hard to know where to begin but from the looks of the people next to us you cannot go wrong. I got the Corn Griddle Cakes which, if you've never had them before, are like sweet corn pancakes and they come with a big serving of scrambled eggs on top, a tomato, almost salsa-like sauce, avocado and sour cream, all served over a bed of black beans. A great combination of sweet and savory if you can't decide what you're in the mood for. My friend go the Eggs New Orleans, one of their best dishes. It's their take of Eggs Benedict. Best part is probably the popover instead of an English muffin, and that's really all you need to know to order it. Service here is great. They are very quick, without feeling like you are rushed. Definitely make a reservation on OpenTable for brunch because they are getting very popular very quickly and no one wants to stand in line on a Sunday morning watching everyone else enjoy a meal.

Steph C.

I have now been here for both dinner and brunch. The food and service were both exceptional on our two visits. At brunch, we were served complimentary beignets, which were super fresh. If it were socially acceptable, I would have licked the powdered sugar off the plate they were served on... Alas, I think that would have embarrassed my dear husband and disgusted our neighbors. So, I highly recommend this place. The charcuterie for dinner and the corn cakes at brunch were both amazing, but, really, so was everything!

Jennifer F.

I really like the atmosphere at this place. It is simple, clean and classic not kitschy Southern. Last time I went, I tried the fried okra which is not to be missed. I have only been there for lunch but really want to try their brunch. I usually get the Shrimps and Grits. It's good. Not crazy, blow your mind good, but hearty and tasty with a generous amount of shrimp. To be honest, I have not tried it but I have seen it being brought to other tables enough to know their fried chicken looks fantastic!

Lauren B.

If I could give zero stars... I would have! THEIR IGNORANCE NEARLY KILLED ME! My parents had gone to Big Jone's for lunch. They had a terrible experience as well, but I will not recount their experience, as I was not there. I will only recount my experience. Because of their experience at Big Jone's they had several pieces of left over fried chicken and brought it home to me for dinner. I had food allergies, so my mom, being very diligent, and not wanting to see me sick asked if the chicken was safe for me to eat. The waiter quickly replied with 'yeah, it's fine'. When I returned home from work my mom told me that it was in the fridge, but she asked me to call and double check because she didn't particularly trust the server at lunch. So, I called. the man on the phone basically said "no, we don't use nut oil" and that was it. So, I proceeded to eat, cautiously. Within 15 minutes my tongue and throat had begun to swell. I quickly administered an epi pen. But, I think this is something to note. IF YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES, BEWARE!

Kristy F.

We ordered the family set menu meal which came with the pickle tasting appetizer, cornbread, two chickens, mashed potatoes, collard greens, beans and rice, biscuits and banana creme pudding. Pickle plate was interesting and the egg salad was tasty but overall I wouldn't recommend ordering it. The cornbread was good, the HOT and steamy chicken was just ok. Surprisingly not that flavorful although it wasn't overly greasy either. The collard greens were vinegary and a bit heavy for my taste buds. The beans and rice were standard and unremarkable. The biscuits were dense, crumbly but slightly undercooked (ask for honey) and the banana pudding dessert topped with a ton of whipped cream was meh. Overall the meal was just ok but the service was extremely slooooow and inattentive. I thought the restaurant had a good vibe but the service has definite room for improvement...too much waiting and needing to ask for things (like refills, reminding about the refills already asked for, serving spoons, butter...) I probably wouldn't return or recommend the place but if you go I suggest trying the cornbread and ordering a different dessert.

kim b.

Wanna really try the fried chicken lunch...family style, $16/person with additional sides and dessert.

Gerald M.

I was not impressed. This is not your Nawlins creole good. It's more like a grocery store deli attempt at creole food. The food is fresh but the flavor is bland.

Kimber R.

After several years of wonderful experiences at this establishment, it really does pain me to have to write this review. Today, I joined a colleague for lunch and decided to try the pimiento cheese sandwich, which I had heard good things about. Everything I've had here has been excellent, so I was excited to try this dish. How very disappointed I was! The menu describes the sandwich as being "toasted" but what I received was simply a pile of cold, grated cheese with some peppers and onions on top sandwiched between some toasted bread. Now, the menu said nothing about the sandwich being served cold, so needless to say the melty deliciousness I anticipated was nowhere to be found. Now, to be fair, apparently eating a pile of cold, grated cheese that looks like vomit is some kind of thing people actually do, but I was not informed about this reality by the waiter or anyone at the restaurant. When I told the waiter this was not something I expected and I did not want it, he asked if I wanted something else--I refused--and then he just left the plate sitting there while I sat fuming. Because so few people were in the dining room, I could hear the waiter talking to another staff member, whom I'm guessing is a manager, and I anticipated having someone come to the table to explain that this is simply how the dish is made, we're sorry you don't like it and we want to make sure you leave happy. None of this was done. The waiter was conspicuously trying to avoid me, and seemed terrified to return to the table lest I snap at him, because by this time I was livid. It is so unreasonable that a diner should be expected to have some kind of knowledge about a regional dish, which this apparently was, and be expected to deal with it if it's not to their liking. My colleague picked up the check as this was a work meeting, and it wasn't until we left the restaurant that she sheepishly admitted that-surprise, surprise-the restaurant had charged us for the dish that I had returned completely untouched! She just didn't want to make a scene and she was mortified that I had sent the dish back. But, the restaurant really left a bad taste in my mouth when I returned home and posted to Facebook my experience--and when I went back to see if there was a response, I found that not only was my comment deleted, but that I had been blocked from future commenting! My husband went in and commented with his account and his comment was also deleted shortly after posting it! Now, social media is what I do for a living and this is absolutely anathema! You don't delete and ban people who have legitimate complaints--you address them and ask them what you can do better next time! I had a bad experience at Lady Grey this summer and made sure to leave a comment card explaining exactly what went wrong--and they went out of their way to ensure that we had an outstanding experience on our return trip, which they comped completely. Up to this point, I would never have expected this kind of "noob move" from a place as good as Big Jones, but simply because they are unwilling to treat me like a human being I will not only never return, but I'll no longer be scheduling work lunches or celebration brunches there either. Au revoir, Big Jones!

k e.

The food is outstanding! The management leaves a little something to be desired. I've been here for brunch of a few times with and without reservations and the host staff can't ever seem to get their act together. Not just asking us to wait longer to be seated for our reservation - which is fine, I understand, it's a small place and the tables aren't ready - but they are always visibly flustered and stressed out. But, once you get past that, it is a ride on the delicious train. I've only been here for brunch, but it is outstanding. I love grits and, truth be told, I haven't had any really good grits in Chicago. But these grits deliver. The eggs New Orleans is definitely my favorite dish (with a grits substitute for the potatoes). It's poached eggs on top of a crab cake on top of a popover covered in bearnaise sauce. Incredible. They also have some really good and interesting brunch cocktails. The place is pretty small so I would definitely suggest making a reservation. I need to come back for dinner one of these days!

Triphena W.

The family style fried chicken lunch is delicious! $16 per person. You won't leave hungry. Huge platter of white and dark meat fried to order (takes about 30 minutes to cook). There were three other tables who ordered the fried chicken lunch when I was there, and all of us had leftover chicken because they give you so much. This lunch includes several excellent sides worth saving room for: corn bread, biscuits, mashed potatoes, collard greens, beans and rice, and dessert (changes but ours was sweet potato pie). The fried chicken has a wonderful "crunch" when you bite in, and it's not greasy like it oftentimes is at chain restaurants. Service at Big Jones is always notable- friendly, attentive, professional. Highly recommend trying the fried chicken lunch!

Yaeko M.

We have been living in Andersonville for almost one year and finally we made it go to Big Jones. I was excited. We went for brunch and we ordered Big Jones Benedict and Gumbo Ya-Ya. The food were o-kay but just because I expected a lot better than Okay so i was little bit disapponted. I have been walking pass in front of the restaurant on weekends and saw full of people. It looks and it is popular place for breakfast and brunch. I expected something WOW about the food but the food we ordered were typical, nothing special. I liked the coffee in a big mug. The ambience and service were very nice.

Samuel M.

I guess they're trying to refine just about every cuisine these days. Upscale sandwich, poutine, and even street food restaurants are all the rage in Chicago. I think Southern food is the easiest to mess up when gussied up - much of its allure comes from the rough-around-the-edges, homemade character, which can easily be lost (see: Q). All would-be Dixie debutantes would be well-served to see how Big Jones does it. The meal starts with homemade cornbread, rich and buttery, somehow still moist despite the small size, and with real corn kernels on the inside. Perfect. Reasonably priced charcuterie is a nice addition; Andouille sausage ($5), served with homemade rye bread, is the standout here. Tea-brined and wood-grilled pork loin ($17) is audaciously served medium-rare, and accompanied with a seasonal sweet potato and bacon hash. This was one of the best dishes I've had all year. Mixed greens ($7 for a large) are a welcome accompaniment - piquant in flavor, cooked low and slow with a ham hock, and doused in flavorful pot likker, just the way they ought to be. Pricing is very reasonable for food of this caliber, and service is personal without being cloying. All in all, it's nice to see a well-executed effort at gussying up a Spartan cuisine for once. Because it is able to pull off this exceedingly rare feat, Big Jones is an absolute homerun. I'll definitely be back for the fried chicken lunch, and likely for many dinners.

Emily L.

The boyfriend and I had the boarding house lunch. There was a TON of food, and it was delicious! We made a valiant effort, but still had a lot of food left on the table. I would suggest either skipping breakfast or getting a humongous bag of leftovers. Sadly, we were going to be out and about for the rest of the day, without access to a fridge. The boarding house lunch included: - Biscuits and cornbread with homemade preserves and whipped butter - yum, I could not get enough of the biscuits and the preserves - Fried chicken - from the website: "Cooked according to Edna Lewis's recipe in fresh leaf lard with butter and a ham hock, in a cast iron kettle." I did not realize that the chicken was fried in lard. That explains why this chicken was so ridiculously crispy, addictive, greasy, and filling. (We ate lunch at 11 am and felt uncomfortably full for the rest of the day. A day of walking around did not make us hungry enough for our 5 pm dinner...) Of course, the breast pieces were the weakest link. Pretty dry and probably would have benefited from a dunk in the gravy. I skipped the white meat and instead attacked the drumstick, thigh, and wing. The dark meat was definitely where it was at. I am usually not a chicken wing fan (all skin and bones...), but this one was delicious. I will not eat chicken skin unless it's perfectly fried to a crisp, and of course this chicken skin was perfect. Note: grease will get all over your plate, table, napkin, hands, and mouth... I probably should have gotten a beverage other than water to help cut the grease. If the server was grossed out by me, he was kind enough to hide his disgust. But then, he also had a greased-up hipster mustache. - Mashed potatoes and gumbo gravy - I thought these were ok, not the greatest, not the worst. The boyfriend liked them better than I did. I didn't eat very much of them in order to eat MORE CHICKEN. - Voodoo greens - pretty good and a much-needed counterpoint to all of the lard. - Red beans and rice - also pretty tasty and another break from the greasiness. - Banana pudding for dessert - yum! A fairly light, not humongous, and tasty end to the meal. The pudding contained sliced bananas, whipped cream, and was topped with some coconut flakes. I feel like I'll need to work out a ton (not only burn calories but also train my stomach to consume more) in order to come back for the boarding house lunch again... but it's a workout regimen I would gladly undertake.

Patty F.

Delicious food and great service. I went there for a Saturday brunch and thankfully I booked a reservation because there were a lot of people out. The size of the restaurant is about on par with other brunch places in Andersonville and Edgewater, you're going to be sitting close to your neighbors. Be friendly, the food's too good to get territorial about someone touching you. I ordered the dish with grits, eggs, boudin, and corn bread. Delicious! The coffee was delicious as well and came with this frothy cream (amazing). Before my food came we were served with bignets and while I've never had one before, I can definitely see the draw. The waitstaff was helpful when I was uncertain, courteous, and friendly. The ambiance was nice as well. My friend and I weren't screaming over the background to talk to each other. I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes.

Timo R.

I absolutely love this place. If you want Southern food with gourmet flair, I can't think of a better place within my walking radius. Potato and Goat Cheese Croquettes, Farmhouse Chicken and Dumplings (circa 1920), Sour Cherry Bavarian Cream Tart... need I go on? One of my friends who I've eaten here with is completely gaga over the corn muffins.

Danny W.

Disregard my previous review. I was obviously back much faster than I anticipated (I'm not one to turn down free food; I see you, Dad!). The service was top notch this morning. Same time frame from my first visit so maybe it was just an aberration that day? The food, like last time, was again excellent. Our group split the eggs new orleans, corn cakes, popovers and andouille. Everything was consumed quickly, but the andouille was the star here. In house charcuterie is tough to compete with. The beignets at the end of the meal were again a nice touch. I'll be back, sooner than later.

Sarah S.

Fried Chicken! Mashed Potatoes! Greens! Pudding! Sweet Tea! My friend and I did the Boarding House lunch, which is an AMAZING value for what you get: for two people, they give you an entire chicken, perfectly seasoned and fried, and sides, for $16 a person. Everything was amazing, start to finish: the cornbread was delicious, and have bits of sweet corn in it. The chicken itself was also amazing, but the star of the side dishes was the mashed potatoes with gumbo gravy. I barely had room for the banana pudding for dessert, but it changed all my preconceived notions about banana pudding, and was awesome. Service is great and super friendly, the restaurant is quiet and easy to have a conversation in, and they give you SO MUCH food that I have an entire meal of leftovers sitting in my fridge.

Amy J.

Over-priced. Portions are SMALL!! I would go to Longman and Eagle or Vincent instead. Much better food and portions that are filling. Very disapointed.

Kristina R.

Warning. If you are planning to come for the boarding house fried chicken lunch EVERYONE at the table must "participate". My brother in from Italy and my mother from South Carolina came to visit and we decided to try it for lunch. My brother does not care for chicken so we asked the waiter if she and I could have the chicken and just to pretend he was not at our table and allow him to order something else. The waiter said NO. The whole table must order the chicken. And we said really?, can't you make an exception?, and he said no, but I can offer you the dinner portion which is a half chicken with two sides for $20. We point out it is less food at a higher price. And he says something about giving us some time to come to a decision. So we decide to get chicken sandwiches instead. Next part is my brother asks if he can have some bread for the side for his dish which is a soupy grits and shrimp. The waiter looks perplexed. And my brother said again is it possible to get some bread, which most restaurants do offer. The waiter comes back with 4 half slices of toast with a jam and butter and we are charged $4 for the bread. As a server he should have said sorry we don't have dinner bread you are accustomed to as a side but we do have this bread on the menu. But he didn't, he just brought the bread and charged us. Aaron was his name. He was nice but this was not professional service. But if you want the lunch good luck, this is from their website and notice it says requested NOT required....A BOARDING HOUSE LUNCH circa 1933 available 11am - 3pm, Monday - Friday * $17 per person, children under 12 $1 per year * Family style, total table participation requested

Leslie G.

I've been here multiple times for both brunch and dinner, but more often for brunch. There's nothing wrong with the dinner options, but I feel like the brunch dishes deliver a little more consistently. Most recently I came here for brunch on a Sunday around 11 am. There was no wait (I actually can't remember a time I've ever had to wait here). They bring beignets to start, which are always delicious. I could eat a whole meal of just those! I ordered the cheddar corn cakes, which I've had before and always like. I was not disappointed this time either. In the past, I've ordered the two-egg breakfast and the migas, which are also great. I'm sure I've ordered other things as well. They do change their menu a few times a year. One additional thing to note about Big Jones is that they do Thanksgiving dinner every year. I've come here with my parents for the past two years and we've really enjoyed it both times. The menu changes a bit each year, but it's a basic Southern Thanksgiving. The first year we came, we had turducken and last year we had deep-fried turkey. One recommendation: make a Thanksgiving reservation for earlier in the day. We came around 5 pm last year and they were clearly already running out of food since some of the side dishes were different from what was on the menu. The portion sizes also seemed to vary wildly from table to table. If we come back this year, I plan to do so in the early afternoon.

Janet V.

The owner greeted us at the door right away and was very friendly. The place is kind of small, but it's decorated very nicely. You can dress up or wear jeans and dress it down here, either way goes! Our waiter came to take our drink order within seconds. He was very attentive and friendly. He was also very helpful when asked questions about the menu. The food was so original, fresh and flavorful. I wish there were more items on the menu! The burger is one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life. I will be returning!

Joel N.

Ordered the fried chicken and it was so dried out that I am still shaking the crumbs out of my clothes. Bread pudding dessert comes with banana ice cream and they were out of it. Staff is very inattentive.

Robert C.

Big Jones was alright, but a bit too much for what I was expecting. Perhaps we should have tried brunch instead of dinner? Staff was very friendly and helpful when ordering. They were also very attentive, though it wasn't a peak dinner hour at the time. My girlfriend and I started with the croquets, which were amazing, but simply not worth it at $8 for three little lumps. I had the pork shoulder, which was a bit too flavorful for me (I was practically inhaling vinegar with each bite) and fell apart due to the weight, though I should have expected that. The fries were pretty exquisite, in all of their beef fat glory. She had the chicken and dumplings, which were very pleasant. For desert, we had the blueberry oat cake, fresh out of the oven, which was delicious. The blueberry compote and Cherokee mint ice cream went with it perfectly, as did my Intelligentsia coffee. Overall, it was decent, but I wouldn't shell the amount I did to come here again.

Carleen E.

Came here with no expectations whatsoever - I blindly tagged along to a dinner I was somewhat invited to. :] Thanks guys! This place did not disappoint in any way whatsoever. Our reservation at 7:30 didn't matter to us, we got there at 6:45 and we were seated immediately. Grabbed some drinks, I got the American Orange something or other Punch..I was expecting a bright fruity drink! Did not get that..I should've read the description more closely. oh well, still tasted exactly what it was supposed to taste like. My fault! Our party of 5 ordered the cajun liver boudin fritters (i hate liver, but Big Jones made these perfectly..how did you season this?), creole fried clams (came with a nice light salad and sauce - WOW!), and the butcher's block that came with a ton of different "charcuterie" (head cheese, pates, quince, lots of firsts for moi and all very delicious!) Main dish - SHRIMP AND GRITS. Highly recommend. I couldn't stop saying "omg..this is so good.." I'm pretty sure I was really annoying with my unthoughtful comments of the flavor of the food..but really..it was sooo good. I can't even think straight..I wanna go back. I wanna live in Andersonville. I want to grow a beard so they'd consider hiring me as a server. Just go!

RJ W.

Went back with friends and had a completely different experience at dinner than we had at breakfast. Our waiter was Andy who was one of the best waiters we have had in a long time. Cocktails he recommended were spot on, food was fantastic, the service, including the bussers, was as good as any I have experienced in fine dining. I am a bit perplexed, although selfishly happy, that this place is not packed. Highly recommend.

Oscar the Death Cat B.

Four years later, finally decided to give Mr. Jones another chance. The experience was far more pleasant this time, went in with a reservation and was seated almost on-time. Very few walk-ins waiting, so I guess the annoying new-kid-on-the-block hype has finally settled down after all this time. Service was far less flaky this visit, and the food was generally still delicious, especially the begniets and the grits. They still need to work on the consistency of their biscuits, the ones that came with the biscuits and gravy were somewhat hard & overcooked, but the ones we got plain on the side were light & fluffy. The catfish looked spectacular but unfortunately did not have room for that - maybe that will be atop my list for my next visit (which hopefully will not be another four years away).

Joe E.

Big Jones definitely offers one of the most authentic Southern style, soul food meals I have ever eaten (outside of being in the south). Their boarding house lunch special is easily one of the greatest values in Chicago, and I believe everyone should try it! They offer southern classics like fried chicken and greens and they do it all for a great price. The sheer amount of food is unreal and the atmosphere of the restaurant is very comforting. It would have received a perfect rating if it wasn't for the dry biscuit... yes a dry biscuit can ruin perfection. Anyway, I can't rate the other food outside of this lunch special at the moment; but from what I have eaten, I will definitely come back and recommend everyone to come try the place!

Connie L.

Best fried chicken in Chicago. I miss Southern food. This is a great place to get my fix.

Maria P.

Went here with a friend and loved it! The decor was simple yet cute and we sat by the window allowing for people watching and sunshine. First we had a drink at the bar, a very tasty bloody mary while we waited for our table. We had a very knowledgeable waiter who was friendly and offered descriptive suggestions about what to order. My friend had the shrimp and grits before but we figured we'd try something new. We split the andouille sausage and crayfish omelet with grits (delicious) and the ham eggs benedict. Presentation was elegant and the portions perfect. After the beignets there was no room for desert but I would go back there again next time I'm in the windy city! Bravo Big Jones for creating a New Orleans style dining experience at reasonable prices.

Jessie R.

Amazing! Creole, southern, butter-infused yet light and refreshing. I went for brunch, used an A La Card ($10 off!) and I will definitely be going back. The eggs benedict on biscuits were especically incredible.

Faye I.

We had the Boarding House special yesterday with friends. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had, and the sides were great too. For $17 per person, it was a ton of food and we left feeling very satisfied. I also ordered a rhubarb julep, but was informed thy were out of the rhubarb component until that evening. They offered to make a regular julep instead and it was fantastic! It was a little pricy, but I felt really special drinking it out of the julep cup. My only real criticism was that the breads were overdone. I had heard great things about the biscuits, but they were hard and almost burnt. The butter and jam served long with the biscuits and cornbread was nice, but the bread was a disappointment. We waiting for about a half an hour for the chicken to be made (worth the wait), and the breads came out with the chicken. In the time we waiting, they could have remade the biscuits to ensure they were up to snuff.

Brookley C.

Real stick to your ribs type food that is very comforting in the winter months. We took my parents (visiting from out of town) for dinner and they enjoyed it very much. Menu standouts included Chicken Livers, Shrimp and Grits and Crawfish Etouffee.

Kendrick W.

Definitely a great Brunch. While I wasn't blown away by the beignets, they were complimentary and that started things off well. Their scone is worth every penny and one of the best I've ever had. Everything was delicious, the waiter was informative and the slaughter their own pig so the bacon is fresh! It's a large place and they didn't overcrowd it by squeezing in too many tables, so it was decidedly quieter than other popular brunch places nearby. This place is definitely the place to go in Andersonville.

Richie D.

Big Jones could be compared to the Paula Dean of Chicago's restaurant scene, that is if you scratch all the butter. So notable that they: -Remain Eco-friendly with sustainability, especially with their seafood selection, and are a Certified Green restaurant (2 stars on the scale: bamboo floors, Organic/locally-grown and locally-raised ingredients, website powered by renewable energy, and more!). -Are present at the Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Saturdays providing cooking recipe demonstrations. They also buy many of their ingredients, vegetables, and fruits, plus the flowers for table decor there. -Possess one of the best fan clubs with fabulous benefits (birthday/anniversary vouchers, invitation-only wine tastings, etc). Also, they are active electronically on their blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Note: If you join their Dining Club, the anniversary voucher good for "Two complimentary entrees with cocktails for your big day" is too good to be true and really is "Buy two entrees, get two cocktails on the house." -Host many events that promote and benefit many not-for-profit organizations (such as the Gulf Recovery through a shrimp dinner) -A dish for everyone's diet and taste buds (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, low-cal; They make exceptions!). -Part of Open Table to easily make a reservation. -I finally made it on a Tuesday for Fried Chicken Night which is HUGE and delicious! Three large pieces of chicken are served with corn muffins, mashed potatoes, 'voodoo' greens and a buscuit. BJ recently made the Top Ten Friend Chicken list by Bon Appetit! critics. Congrats! For these reasons and more, Big Jones is in my top three "Go To" restaurants when friends/family visit, I'm asking for a Yelper dining recommendation or I'm not sure what I have a taste for...

Milo M.

Imagine a mouth watering smoked (pulled) pork shoulder sandwich with a tangy mustard sauce. Faint peppery heat blends with the tender, juicy shreds of pork prepared with a vinegar-like-tanginess yielding a smoky depth of flavor. Nicely done... their burger is exceptional as well- and already well known. The broader menu is more eclectic (southern comfort food) which I leave you to explore. Oh, and, they bring WARM corn bread to every table (or beignets if during brunch). Such a nice touch, appropriate for the atmosphere and theme of the place. Finally, they have an extensive tea (and iced tea) selection which for the uninitiated is far better than "tea" anywhere other than a "high tea" experience at a five star hotel. This place is like a good friend, reliable, comforting and consistent.

David S.

Very disappointing visit to this restaurant. Ten minutes after being seated, someone finally stopped by for drink orders and we asked to place our order. Upon ordering their Boarding House Lunch, we were told they were out of fried chicken. We heard an excuse about it being featured somewhere and demand was high. They serve this lunch from 11-3 everyday, and it was 12:30!! And the place wasn't even FULL! We decided to try and find something else on the menu. Well, another ten minutes passed without so much as a glance our way. So we left, very unsatisfied. I hope they start ordering more chicken in to cover maybe two hours worth of patrons.

alex r.

I went to Big Jones with family for dinner once during the summer. And then recently for brunch. I will say their brunch is phenomenal and I highly recommend it. Their menu has a Southern, down-home influence. Their attention to detail with ingredients was GREAT. I also enjoyed their presentation as well. You're going to pay a little more so be sure to settle up, grab a drink, and enjoy yourself.

chel s.

The atmosphere great, very relax and modern. The food on the other hand was bland. I was looking for an authentic southern food with lots of flavor. We ordered shrimp and grits and gumbo with a side of corn bread. I noticed that there's a constant flow of people but I am still not impress with the food.

Glen W.

Excellent southern brunch, up there with Nana for the best of its style in Chicago. Wide range of baked goods and exceptional corn cakes.

Teresa Z.

I ate there for Sunday brunch. The waiter was fantastic, but my crab cakes were cold and a little fishy. I have eaten many crab cakes and these were not good at all. My husband enjoyed his food. I will come back they do have a great menu selection I think I just ordered the wrong thing that day

Bill D.

I love the food in this place. I went a couple months ago and the service was horrible. Very slow. So as I usually do, I went elsewhere to give it some time to change back to what I remember. Went there today with the in-laws. Horrible service. Just one server for the whole front room. He was busting his butt. There were two other employees that were at the host stand, behind the bar, etc. and they did nothing to help the server. I flagged down what I thought was the manager and asked for service. He went to the second guy, who then went to the server to have him come over. Really crap management.

Nick H.

The space itself is the biggest asset of Big Jones. I enjoyed the wall-hangings, the tables, the chairs, the layout. All of that was well done. The service was fine. Our waiter was friendly and accommodating Though I found the service a bit slow, it was not egregiously so. Perhaps this is part of the southern motif. The food is fine. The cornbread is very good. I got the gumbo appetizer and would agree with others who have complained that it was a bit burned. Again, not enough for me to write it off completely, but I will not likely order it on a return visit. My date had the cucumber soup which was apparently top notch and unexpectedly a little spicy. I got the chicken and dumplings entree. Another reviewer complained of the amount of cracked pepper put onto the dish as well as the lackluster lima beans come butter beans. Both complaints were valid, but overall the dish was fine. I don't think that it was worth $14, but it was enjoyable. If you go in expecting the service to be a little slow and the food to be fine, but not quite worth the price, Big Jones will hit the spot. Should I find myself pining for southern food within walking distance, I'll be coming back.

Brandon V.

I booked a table for two at Big Jones for the Sunday night before Valentine's Day. Based on Yelp reviews, I expected to like it, but as it turns out, I loved it. I had the Ranch Burger, which comes with Rice Tots (like Tater Tots, only made from Rice!) and Chipotle Ketchup. My date had the Sweet Tea-Infused Pork Chop, which was also scrumptious. The restaurant was surprisingly dead and the staff were very friendly and efficient. Our waiter was very sweet but seemed a bit nervous. We thought maybe he was new. All the same, we enjoyed the entire experience and will definitely be back, as well as recommending to friends.

Candice G.

I took the BF here for brunch on his B-Day because of their presence at Yelp Fantasea where my 'Mel' fell in LOVE with Big Jones. All in all, our meal was pretty good (maybe borderline okay) and the service was peculiar at best. With breakfast at $80 for 2 people and only one bloody mary, I will likely not be back... not with service that weirds me out, at least. Our server was so bizarre. Like children of the corn bizarre. We would order, we would say thank you upon her dropping food off and taking plates away and she would not respond at all. Just had a weird smirk on her face. She didn't seem crabby, just seemed like she disliked customers. As one of only 2 tables in the place, I'd say that she was not super busy and not taking out a busy brunch on us. Really though, if you ordered food at a restaurant and all the server did was stare at you, down at her notepad and then walk away, you'd be uncomfortable too. I like a little acknowledgement, just a little. please. For breakfast we got a mixture of things, including: The Beignets: Fabulous! Defo the hit of the meal. How can you go wrong with sugary, fluffy, doughy delights like these. The gumbo ya ya- BF thoroughly enjoyed - but he likes all gumbo, really. The Eggs New Orleans, Lump crab cakes on fresh popovers with poached eggs, béarnaise sauce, and potatoes O'Brie. They were sooo very dry and almost sandy tasting. Can't say I was a fan, at all. The Lafourche, which is a Louisiana crawfish, jalapeno, wild mushrooms, cream cheese, bearnaise sauce. I couldn't taste the jalapenos at all, the bearnaise sauce was bland and overall, tasted like something I could've gotten at a much lesser restaurant. The service was certainly 2 stars and was best summed up when the other (and only) table in the restaurant, who was sat directly next to us, said, "maybe we should go, I don't think they want us here" after the server begrudgingly took their drink order and would answer their questions with blank stares and short, terse, one word answers. The food was a 3 - 3.5. For the price and flavor together it was just not a hit. Nothing was bad but nothing was as fantastic as I had been expecting. The ambiance and decor were great though. Had the the service been better, I could probably ignore that our food was just okay and give the 4 star bump but sadly, that was not the case and the poor attitude of our server very much dictated how we felt about our meal.

Megan G.

I've been back to Big Jones (largely against my will) for brunch a few times since 2009. I've never found anything to make me change my opinion that they have great service and mediocre food. However, lately I've had a weird craving for fried chicken. On my last day of winter vacation I decided to give Big Jones the benefit of the doubt and swing by for the Boarding House lunch, which is only served from 11-3 Monday to Friday. And, wow. The Boarding House lunch is only $16 per person (though Big Jones does request it be ordered by every one at the table) which given Big Jones normal prices is an amazing deal. Everything we were brought was fantastic. The meal starts with cornbread and biscuits (though for some reason we weren't given biscuits, though tables around us were). I didn't miss the biscuits since I far prefer cornbread. And this is good cornbread - moist, slightly sweet, with whole corn kernels. Then your table is barraged with fried chicken (1/2 chicken per diner), mashed potatoes and gumbo gravy, greens, and red beans and rice. I wasn't awed by the greens, but I never like greens. Everything else was amazing - I'm not the biggest gravy fan, but whatever gumbo gravy is I wanted to drink it. The red beans and rice, which can be tremendously bland, were deliciously spicy. And the chicken. Oh, the chicken. It was perfectly cooked with a flaky, tasty coating. To finish you get banana pudding for dessert, which is great, because I don't think I could have fit anything but a semi-solid in my ridiculously full stomach. So I'm leaving Big Jones at three stars, because I've had more disappointing visits than great ones. But I will say, if your schedule allows get the Boarding House lunch (skip brunch). You can bet I'll be back here next time I have a weekday off!

Adi S.

Went to Big Jones with a group of friends. I thought this place had a cozy yet lively atmosphere, which included bar and table seating. I had the chicken and dumplings, which were vibrantly presented on the plate and were fresh to taste. My personal preference would have been a thicker base on this dish. I also tried the croquettes and crab cakes as appetizers. The crab cakes were done differently than the typical Maryland style, but nonetheless they were fresh and the mint sauce was a pleasant and welcome variation. My only reservations about this place are the prices of the entrees and some of the atypical takes on classic dishes.

Angie R.

Delicious Southern food. Went here for breakfast and had the goat cheese and tomato omelet... amaaaazing. Coffee was good too. Heads up... they take reservations even for breakfast. So though it might look like there are plenty of tables available, they might be saved for reservations and you might have to wait.

Matthew V.

This place is just spectacular. I've been several times for dinner (it's a great date spot), but just recently started going for brunch... I've been the past two Sundays in a row, as a matter of fact. The typical wait for brunch is around 30 - 45 minutes, I'd say... But they take reservations, which is pretty a-typical for a brunch spot in general... Let alone in Andersonville. The mimosas are wonderful... Definitely made with fresh-squeezed orange juice and, at $6 a piece, they're totally worth it. Yesterday, I tried the Bloody Mary and it was exactly how I like it... Full of flavor with just the right amount of heat (and the raw okra garnish gives it a great Southern flair). I tried the gumbo yesterday for the first time and it was amazing. I've read a couple of reviews stating that it wasn't a typical gumbo, as it's made with a dark roux and that some people (who ordered it regardless) just weren't all that into it. But I definitely was! It might be more of an acquired taste... Like a mole sauce. It's thick, dark, smokey and absolutely amazing. Everyone ordered different entrees (Cajun pancakes that were shared, Eggs New Orleans, Bayou Teche and a fried catfish and plantain entree whose name escapes me) and we passed around bites... Absolutely everything was incredible and I'd order any of those entrees again in a heartbeat. There was a minor (very minor... Extremely minor) mishap with the food arriving at the same time and our server was so nice and apologetic about the whole thing. Seriously... Nobody at the table was even remotely negatively affected by this slight (very slight) error (if you'd even call it an 'error') and it certainly didn't have a negative impact on our experience at all. Nevertheless, the server and whom I'm assuming is the manager (I believe his name is Dave) went completely above and beyond to make sure that we enjoyed ourselves, loved the food and would make a return visit. I have every intention of making many, many more. We all left with full stomaches, minor buzzes and really, really great moods. If you haven't been to Big Jones by now, you're really doing yourself a disservice. I absolutely love every single thing about this place. Major kudos to the staff, the management, the chef... You guys have got a really great thing going.

Emann B.

Had lunch with friends on a Saturday. I had reservations and the table was ready to go upon arrival. Really fantastic service! Attentive, funny, engaging, big smile. What more can you ask for from a server? Loved the food. We had omelets, plantains, catfish, Eggs New Orleans (my order really tasty and satisfying, eggs poached perfectly), grits, bacon (nice and thick, heh heh), and that slightly sweet thick sliced bread with salted butter and that rich dark jammy thing. Heaven! I was full and still managed to shove down two more slices. Had a sazerac, a bit pricey at $12 but a cocktail is necessary at brunch with fun friends, no?

Matt G.

Darned it!!!! I HATE it when I LOVE a place and then they go and ruin it. Went in last night for dinner and thought that the Family Style Lenten menu looked good. Not what I might have normally done there, but it looked like a decent amount of food and I could take the kiddos. Well, something has happened to the service (or they don't ramp up until after 8p). LONG WAITS between courses, mediocre small portions, and just so-so flavor/presentation. The lenten soup was OK, not really that hot when it hit the table. The fritters were doughy on the inside, and the trout was just a general pain in the ass to manage while still being on the bone (with skin, thank you very little). The fish would have been bait on any boat on the lake, but that was our main entree for three of us. Really? Cream puffs were good, not great. $75 out the door for two adults and a child. Still hungry when I left (and damn disappointed).

Eduardo M.

I came here on a whim. We were in need of food, and dammit, this place had an open table. The atmosphere is great, makes you feel like you're not in the city anymore - so this helps out a lot in creating a relaxed atmosphere. I tried one of their signature drinks the nanhattam (something like that, it wasn't really spelled "manhatten" in the menu - just try it, damn you! it's good). While I did not order the shrimp and grits for myself, I was assured they were quite tasty. I had a pork dish (can't remember it right now) but it was most excellent. In all, trust this place, you won't be disappointed.

Howard L.

Daughter treated us here for Sunday brunch. It was an ok place to try. Overall, it was pricey and very loud, but you do get served fresh ingredients. A $4 cappuccino was tiny (smallest to date from anywhere). The complimentary fresh, powdered beignets were nice, and heavier and more doughy than those served at Cafe du Monde in NO. I had a $14 catfish and grits, and the catfish was fresh, but it was small, and on the surprisingly bland side. Wife had fried green tomatoes and eggs benedict that she liked. I had a taste and it was a litle tangy for my taste. Overall, it looks like a nice and vibrant place to be seen in Andersonville. I probably won't be back for brunch though, as there are others to try.

Jamie H.

I had a great experience here when I came last Thursday. I got a coupon for "Buy One Entree, Get one Free" at the Yelp Fantasea event, so I figured I had better try it out! We started out with some Fried Green Tomatoes, they were great. And then they brought out some Corn Muffins, which I was not expecting, but was quite pleasantly surprised to get! My friend and I both decided to get the Shrimp and Grits, which were also really good. There was some mushrooms and some sort of meat (I wasn't quite sure what kind) mixed in with a sauce. There was quite a bit of shrimp in the dish also, which made me quite happy! Our server was very attentive, we were there about 7ish and it wasn't very busy, so that probably helped. But, she was very nice and made sure that we enjoyed everything.

Caroline M.

To make a long story short, I pretty much liked everything they put in front of me. Drinks: -- Death of St. Germain (Gin, St Germain, Curacao & lemon) Food: -- Bread service was delish....piping hot corncakes & honey butter. -- Pork Belly with little pancakes...this dish was like breakfast. Bacon + mini pancakes, um YES! :) -- Beet salad was great. The cheese provided a nice balance...plus I can now say I like like beets (as long as it's served with cheese). -- Gumbo. I don't think I've ever had it before, but I did like it. I was expecting it to be really spicy, but it wasn't too bad. -- Pulled pork shoulder sandwich with fried okra. Eh, it was alright. The slaw was disappointing--where was the flavor? -- Take a pass on the bread pudding and request more corn cakes and honey butter! Also note: Make a reservation (they are on Opentable). If you're over 5'2", don't sit at the bar. It's like sitting in a cramped airplane. Dress in layers, as it was uncomfortably warm in the restaurant.

Steve M.

Big jones is deliciously delicious. Big time. I first encountered Big Jones at the Yelp/Shedd Aquarium event this winter. Their pimiento cheese/andouille sausage crackers were killer. I knew right then and there that the restaurant would be calling my name. And, I'm happy to say it did. And it won. First of all, I grew up on southern food. And, Big Jones kills it. Best shrimp and grits I've ever had in my life. CHEESE GRITS, people. With andouille sausage! Add: crawfish fritters (!), deliciously flaky fish and some hand crafted cocktails to the bill and you've got one seriously happy guy on your hands. Those shrimp and grits though. Life changing. I am drooling...

Ben H.

Being married to a Southerner, we couldn't pass this place up. And what do you know, it's legit. We went for brunch. I'd never understood why people voluntarily eat grits until I went here, they were absolutely amazeballs. Go and be happy. The food is not what you think of as classic southern, it seems quite innovative in many respects.

Slu S.

Being married to a woman who split time between Southern and Deep Southern homes growing up, Big Jones was both a great find and a dangerous find. We have been a few times for brunch and when I ask where she wants to go, invariably, she says Big Jones and I don't mind. They take reservations which is great because I don't wait for brunch. Brunch waits for me. The eggs romero is one of the best brunch foods, that I have had this side of Irish Breakfast. Poached eggs over pulled pork over grits with a drizzle of Carolina BBQ sauce (basically cider vinegar with spices). It was great. With the poached eggs, it was unctuous with funky, salty pork and sour sauce all over a bed of sweet and salty grits. My wife read that they serve pimento cheese which apparently is the Cheese Curd of the South (by that I mean that it is an embarrassingly humble nostalgic treat). After sampling some, she made me drive around the city looking for some. Did I mention that they offer complimentary beignets? They do.

Christine H.

Really great food. But the prices are hit or miss. You can eat cheap or you can really empty your wallet. So many great things on the menu it is hard to choose. Charleston Mule is an awesome drink! I enjoyed the apps more than my meal...

Brian R.

I have been here several times and think the food is absolutely delicious. The service has always been great as well. Sadly, what brought me to Yelp was the fact that my most recent trip to Big Jones was ruined by a loud and rude kitchen staffer that seemed to have no respect for those of us who were seated in the back...........or his co-workers for that matter. Definitely will keep coming, but will be requesting a table near the windows.

Ellen P.

Big Jones just improves on knowing, and after my visit last weekend with mom I decided an update was in order. We arrived Sunday at prime brunch hour, to find Mark (one of the owners) up to his eyeballs with patrons, both walk-ins and the more organized reservation types. I volunteered us to sit at the bar, Mark hesitated, said he could offer us a table in 30 mins; mom, from out of town, replied that she had a packed day and needed to get back on the road ASAP. Mark asked for 5 minutes, after which we were seated at the very busy bar with the caveat that "we were going to become very familiar with the restaurant business in these seats." What happened next was that the bar staff (one of whom was in training) was superlative, simultaneously making drinks and serving brunch while being personable and funny - never once showing any sign of stress. (Maybe they drink Hurricanes on break?) Warm beignets and coffee served promptly, mom was in love. Then came brunch: The Country Breakfast for me (which included "straight up collard greens" - which I ate and LOVED), and Corn cakes (think pancakes) with black beans, sour cream, eggs etc for mom - absolute heaven. Will go back, again and again, because the food is great and the people here clearly love what they do and their clientele. Highly recommended!

Karen L.

Although I am not a huge fan of southern food, I really enjoyed Big Jones! Went there on the weekend for brunch and was very pleasantly surprised at all the options on the menu. I had a hard time deciding between the shrimp and grits or the cheddar corn cakes. Actually, there were a few other things on there I wanted to try, as well! I finally decided on the corn cakes with a side of okra. (Talk about a heavy meal!) The corn cake dish was HUGE and was good. Next time I would probably split it with someone. The fried okra came with a yummy sauce and was lightly breaded and fried. Very delicious! The atmosphere and decor was really nothing that impressive but nothing to complain about. Our server was just okay, though. She was a little flighty and wasn't the best with our table, but nothing horrible. I definitely do want to go back and try the dinner. Maybe Big Jones can change my views on Southern Food!

Joel G.

Four words: Tuesday Fried Chicken Special!!

Aaron K.

After 2 visits here the food earns 3 stars but the cocktails give it 4. Brunch here was decent, but not overwhelming. Both the Andouille and Sweet Potato Biscuits and the poached eggs were good...but not great. I think a sazerac or 2 could have definitely taken the edge off the Sunday chill, but unfortunately these did not fit in the schedule. My second visit was all about the drinks, but the desserts at Big Jones more than exceeded expectations. In that vein I would highly recommend the Mississippi Mud Pie. Crispy marshmallow, chocolate and pecans with caramel is scrumptious combination. The drinks were excellently prepared and the man behind the bar definitely knows his bourbon and whiskey cocktails. Looking back on the night, I had one of the best sazeracs I have had in Andersonville in quite some time as well as one of the better scotch cocktails I have had overall. Definite whiskey excellence. A solid spot in Andersonville that calls for further visits. Given the location and unique food perspective I am sure we will be back.

Elizabeth H.

Man, I love Big Jones. I've been there at least 5 times over the past year, and it's always been consistently good. The highlights: They typically give each table freshly-made beignets. Mmmmm. nothing quite like freshly hot fried dough first thing in the morning. And I'm not joking. Yummers. Also, the cheddar cheese biscuits are amazing. It's difficult to describe them without using expletives. Dinner: Fried green Tomatoes (when they have them) are excellent. Boucherie Plate an array of charcuterie. Each are delectable. The burger is damn fine. The shrimp and grits are tasty. I will say the pork loin and the cat fish are a little meh. But the fried deliciousness that accompanies it (a hushpuppy for the cat fish and a Cajun pork boudin ball for the pork loin) are crunchy, fatty amazingness. Also, the specials that I've sampled are some of the best food I've had there (a duck breast one night and amberjack another night). So, if you're torn about getting the special, get it. Finally, the staff is courteous, efficient and helpful. If Big Jones were a man at a bar, I would totally try to take him home.

Daniel P.

I don't know if I just got there before the crowd or whether the ridiculous Chicago winter was forcing people to stay in bed longer on when I was there last Sunday, but I was surprised that our party of 5 were immediately seated for brunch. We didn't even have to wait until our 5th person was there to sit down. I guess I'm just used to waiting forever no matter where I go for Sunday brunch. Especially when I'm at a restaurant with such good food and service! Everyone there was incredibly friendly. Almost immediately after being seated we were given a plate of beignets and our drink orders were on the way. (I was desperate for coffee, but they had a great list of brunch cocktails that were tempting me.) I had my usual eggs benedict, but this was not the usual eggs benedict. The hollandaise sauce was fantastic, and instead it was served on a puff-pastry instead of a traditional english muffin. But I think the thing I loved the most was the Fried Green Tomato appetizer. They were SO crispy and served with an awesome remoulade and pickled shrimp on top. I would go back just for those. I live in the Loop so I don't trek up to Andersonville nearly enough, but if I find myself in the area again on a Sunday morning, you can bet I'll be at Big Jones. (In fact, if Spring comes this year, I probably would haul myself up there just to eat here.)

David K.

We went there for Sunday Brunch. The food was decent, but not anything I'd be dying to have again. To be fair though, I am not exactly a Southern/Creole food connoisseur so I can not speak to the authenticity of it. We started off with the Crawfish Fritters (simply because they were out of the Crab Cakes), it was pretty decent, but nothing too special. For my entree, I had the Andouille Sausage & Sweet Potato Biscuits. The sausage felt like it was over-cooked as the casing was extremely tough and the meat just felt rubbery. The biscuits were pretty good though. Overall, the entree had a good mix of salty and sweet. The service was excellent. Very attentive and responsive and extremely friendly. I'd want to try other places before going back to this place.

Molly L.

Being that my boyfriend and I are both from the South, we were intrigued and decided to try Big Jones for weekend brunch. Let's just say that I was quite jealous of what my boyfriend ordered. I got two poached eggs over corn cakes and red beans. He got, basically, crab cakes benedict. Yea, he won. My corncakes were underwhelming, and my eggs were overcooked. His, on the other hand, had deliciously runny eggs on top of crab cakes on top of some sort of brioche yumminess. I tried to switch...he wasn't fooled. Otherwise, the coffee was just alright, but the little beignets (their New Orleans take on a breakfast bread basket?) to start the meal were a nice treat. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was lovely. But most importantly, my dish was mediocre, and I wouldn't come running back for hit or miss food.

Karyn K.

Yum! Great southern food right in Andersonville. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious. I also had the Hibiscus Margarita--you should have one. The best part was that our server heard my friend mention that she was going to order something for her husband and brought out cornbread on the house for my friend to take home!

Carly O.

Big Jones: you make me happy. I like your contemporary style, your accommodating service, your organic grapefruit juice and your Southern food. Corn cakes with black beans and eggs? Yes please. Carolina pulled pork sandwich served with perfectly cooked fries? Don't mind if I do. Spicy Andouille sausage? Make that a double order. This isn't a place I could go to more than once or twice a month, simply because the novelty would wear thin. However, the next time you have friends or family in town, or someone who doesn't normally venture north, take them here for brunch. They'll enjoy it.

roberta l.

Thanks to the owners last personal message to me explaining the staffs behavior. I had to drop it down to one star. Never returning again.

Keely B.

Big Jones opened up in my former hood, and my neighbor was working in the kitchen, so I thought I'd show a little love. I stopped by this place for brunch twice. My first complaint is the lack of decent vegetarian friendly menu items. I think there were maybe two things on the menu I could eat (and I will point out that I also eat chicken and crab). I ordered each of them once, and frankly...they were only ok, and that may be overly generous. I understand that they like their meat in the South, but how hard is it to make eggs and grits? Fried okra? I also ordered a cocktail which tasted a bit like dirty water, and the service seemed a touch...snobbish? My companions seemed to enjoy their food, so I'm assuming that their meaty items are much better. And it IS super-cute, so if you're a carnivore, you can give it a shot.

Colleen F.

I frequent this place fairly often for Sunday brunch. The beignets they start every table off with are delicious and fluffy. They are occasionally permeated with that well known old oil taste but usually they're great. I generally get the eggs benedict which I love because it comes with thick cuts of tasso ham. They have a few other versions as well for you non-traditional benedict lovers. I think a fried green tomato version is one of them. They have a nice cocktail list as well, featuring liquors like St. Germaine and Pernod and the drinks are good. Not sure that I would venture here for dinner but it will remain a go to for my favorite meal of the week, brunch!

Tim L.

I recently ate here for both brunch and dinner and while most of what we had was very good (dinner: chicken fried steak, veggie gumbo; brunch: New Orleans Benedict), I think the highlight was our server Laura. As a former server I know it's a tough job, dishes aren't always on time from the kitchen and diners can be pretty pissy and feel entitled for dropping $20 on a place, but she was one of the most friendly servers I've had. She knew every dish on the menu and was very helpful when our dinner party asked about 15 questions. Also I honestly can't imagine why this place isn't more crowded, even with the economy being horrible there is still way too long of lines at much less interesting places. I won't name them but I live in Bucktown and I don't have to look far for mediocre spots. If you're there for dinner make sure to save room for a slice of red velvet cake. Some of the best I've had and I like their use of beets rather than red #40. Say yes to all that is great about beets, no to associated neurotoxicity.

Francis K.

Pathetic really! We'd heard about this place from a friend, but we forgot about it for a long time. On the day we chose to go here we spent over 45 minutes trying to find its name, only remembering that it had a silly sounding name. I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader if the name suits the place. Big Jones (argh! I need to know the story behind it) is not a Frat Bar or even restaurant. Sorry people that's what your name evokes. It is a REALLY REALLY good restaurant. There are other items on their menu that I intend to taste again but on my first visit the sirloin steak's description caught the eye, while the missus tried their signature catfish. We were both blown away by how good our meals were. Since it is a cajun joint it would be a crime not to eat some Gumbo which we did. I part regretted eating this because I wanted more but needed to save room for dinner. Finally and as important, the service was efficient, friendly and unobtrusive. Bottom line, why on earth did it take me this long!?

Dianna D.

I've now been to Big Jones twice and have sampled their brunch AND their dinner. Man, this is one of my new favorite places! My brunch (which was months ago) was delicious - I had the Cajun Pancakes and my friend had an omelette. The topper? for dessert we had the "personal size red velvet cake". They bake them one at a time and you have to give them about 15 minutes notice. Delicious. On that delicious meal, I chose Big Jones to bring an out of town friend. This time, I was trying the dinner. Just wonderful - great service, great food. I'll defintely be back.

Elizabeth M.

I took my boyfriend to Big Jones for his birthday last weekend and we had an incredible, delicious, lovely meal. Start to finish, every drink and dish was delicious, and our waitress was incredibly attentive and thoughtful. Thumbs up to the soundtrack in the background, the incredible cocktails (like the Sazerac), the black-eyed pea cakes, crab cakes, and holy sugarcubes, the desserts. Absolutely my new favorite restaurant, and I'm dying to try breakfast there sometime soon. I was so happy with our evening there that I wrote a glowing review on Chicago Metblog. (Don't know if I can post links here, but I didn't want to just cut-and-paste the whole thing.) chicago.metblogs.com/200…

Melissa S.

I went here a few months ago and I'm STILL thinking about my meal here. Everything was sooo delicious, from the hibiscus tea to the fried green tomatoes. New Orleans' Tourism board should give these guys a commission... boy and I picked a place for our weeklong summer break and New Orleans was my pick thanks to a reading of A Confederacy of Dunces and my memories of Big Jones. THAT is how good that one dinner was. More pluses... it's a really sweet date spot, a unique idea (the only other Southern place I know is heaven on seven, which is way too expensive for what you get), and the service is top notch.

Amy J.

I'm giving Big Jones a solid 4. I wish we had sat in the front- that's my only complaint. Our table of 3 was in the back which felt like kind of an attached room with little of the same charm from the dining room. That aside, service was good, food was great. We had frog legs to start- yum, gigantic mixed green salads all around- barely dressed, but good, the corn bread they bring you is really tasty, I wanted to not to eat it but couldnt' help myself. Then I did shrimp and grits that had litlte bits of sausage in it- so rich and so good. Other dishes at the table were pork chops and a fish special. All of it was very tasty and fresh with lots of flavor. And we couldn't miss dessert- the bread pudding with a really good caramel sauce. Again, had to refrain from licking the plate.

L A.

LOVE IT!!!!! I came to visit family in Chicago for the holidays and found this place through Yelpers. Being from San Francisco, I have my nose a little out of joint and have pretty high standards for good food but Big Jones shut me up fast. The ambiance is simple and elegant like a spot that you would find in New Orleans. We had a bunch of their appetizers and there were all incredible. The crawfish fritters were especially good. When I asked out absolutely adorable waiter, Danny, what he recommended off of the menu he told me the burger. WHAT?? This is a cajun spot!! But that was the recommendation and I went for it. One thing that I loved it that you could choose a side item like friend okra (sooo goooood) and mac and cheese (OMG!!!). The burger came out perfect. Juicy with fontina cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms. It was a lot of food and I couldn't even think of finishing it. Everything else that came out to my friends was equally good. Grits and shrimp, pulled pork sandwich, pecan crusted catfish. All super good. Oh yeah. We had desert and that was even incredible. Go there If you have a hankering for cajun or just wanting good food. You will not regret it.

Chris V.

I've been here twice for brunch and was impressed both times! Big Jones is Southern coastal cooking- I grew up in the Florida Panhandle and my family is from New Orleans, so I know the food. Big Jones delivers. One thing that struck me was how fresh all the ingredients tasted and how balanced the flavors in each dish were. Big Jones relies on local and sustainable farms for most of their food, and I tasted the difference of that attention to detail in the food. The beignets are not quite the same as you'd get in the French Quarter at Cafe du Monde- Big Jones gives them a bit of a tangier, yeastier flavor (almost like a sweet sourdough), but they are still a deliciously indulgent appetizer. I've had the Eggs New Orleans and the Cheddar Corn Cakes. Both were excellent, but I preferred the Eggs New Orleans- tasty crab cakes and an amazing sauce. The Cheddar Corn Cakes were a bit on the salty side (granted I prefer less salt in general in favor of other spices), but overall yummy and more than satisfying. My sister had the grits and loved 'em. The sweet potato biscuits were okay, but a bit dry. The staff has been very friendly and the service quick both times I've visited- other yelpers must have visited on busier days (although both of my visits were on weekends around 11:00am, seems prime time for brunch). Overall, I would recommend Big Jones for a change of pace for brunch. If anyone in your party is vegetarian, however, most of the dishes will be off limits, as they often involve seafood or pork in one form or another. I'm sure they'll still find something tasty, they just won't have as many options.

Louie U.

Great food, good service worth the trip and expense! The ambiance is wonderfully lush with Louisiana style backdrops and well balanced in their use of whites and colors to give the place an authentic look. That being said, the food, the flavor, the overall experience was just divine. Service was prompt and extremely helpful. While the service was great and the food lived up to it promise of authentic creole cuisine. the gumbo ya-ya itself had a borderline dark-burnt roux which gave the dish a unique positive flavor. i just wish they didnt burn my andouille sausage in the process. top it off with a wonderful ice cream desert i forgot what it's called but it had ginger ice cream, peach sauce and a bunch of other delicious goodies.

Caroline T.

This place is my new favorite spot in Chicago. Shrimp & Grits are phenomenal! The gumbo ya ya is better than my momma's and the cornbread gives my grandma's recipe a run for it's money. I'm originally from Georgia and have been looking for a place that would satisfy my craving for the kind of food you can only find in the south and Big Jones, as far as I can tell, is NAILING IT.

Rob H.

Delicious food made with extremely high quality ingredients. The menu is on the small side, but I like that because I know that everything is a house specialty. The waitstaff was very attentive and very friendly. As you walk in they also hand you a plate of fresh Beignets that melt in your mouth And it only gets better from there. All of the drinks are delicious (we all shared around the table) and very unique. My burger was absolutely stunning. Perfectly dressed and seasoned and more than enough to fill the hungriest customer. It was a bit pricey, but no more so than any other place around andersonville. All in all, a grea

jen m.

Organic food makes me warm and fuzzy. I never would have thought that Southern cooking and organic go together! Most southern foods are loaded with heavy ingredients but Big Jones' fare doesn't fit that bill. Ingredients melded together light and perfectly. We came on a weekday hoping for their brunch menu. Unfortunately they don't serve the full brunch menu on weekdays but they do provide some options of brunch items on the menu. Starters: Fried green tomatoes and an organic beet salad. Delish! The fried green tomatoes weren't heavily breaded and the remoulade with pickled shrimp was a perfect complement. The beet salad made me a believer in beets! I didn't realize that mustard dressing w/cheese and beets make a great salad. Drinks: pomegranate sweet tea, ginger sweet tea and a hot tea. The sweet tea came in a cute carafe and had the syrups in little cute cups that fit on top of the carafe! The hot tea was also in a cute setting, so much attention to detail. Main entrees: Eggs New Orleans, Eggs Alexander, and the 2 egg breakfast. We also asked for sides of red beans and cornbread stuffing (no cornbread stuffing so they brought us tasty cornbread which was a welcoming substitution). HOLY food-gasm!! Everything was superb; hash browns were crispy, pop overs light and not too doughy, eggs perfectly cooked, crab cakes had a good amount of crab, cheesy grits were nice and cheesy. Portions are big, we had so much food leftover! Didn't have time for dessert, we were on a time constraint. The service is a bit on the slower side but it would have been a nice welcome if we didn't have to be somewhere right after. They pay close attention to detail and let you enjoy your food, no rushing here.

Kristan L.

I had a scramble with hominy, black beans, avocado and some sort of tomato sauce and it was amazing. The coffee was great, the bacon side dish was awesome and the beignets (is that how you spell it?) were moist and delicious. I had never had a beignet before, but I definitely will again. I'll totally go back. Thanks Darick!

Adam S.

If you've never had good soul food, or live in the neighborhood of Big Jones, try this place and you will probably like it. If you have had any good soul food, you will be disappointed. There were 6 of us. Two people got the fried catfish sandwiches with fried okra. They loved it. The rest of us got "fried catfish" with homestyle mashed potatos. Gross. Undercooked and chewy (yes, chewy) fish and the dryest mashed potatos I have ever had. The appetizers were ok but nothing special and we were disappointed in the main entrees so we did not even try for desert. Not good. Try Table 52 instead. Service was good and the place was warm and welcoming but this did not make up for the average at best food.

Don T.

Love Love this place. Firstly, the food is just really damn good. Im from eastern NC and this is truly adventerous & authentic tasty southern goods. Yeah its fancified a bit and portions are medium size for real traditional southern plates.. and thats all good with me. The cocktail menu is delish and a fun companion. The first time we went we sat with a waiter named Andy who helped make the experience, super professional and knowlegeable everything. We always request to sit with him now so I cant speak the rest of the service - The adult coffee drinks & deserts make my heart go boom! I dont think its too pricy for the quality of the experience but its not a once a week place either, I reserve for friends, special occasions, etc.

Ryan P.

I loved it. I went for lunch with a friend and it was amazing. I had a lovely tea that was served properly and a very tasty salad with chicken and cornbread. Yum! p.s. even the bathroom is pleasant.

Johanna N.

I have gone for brunch a few times at Big Jones. It is the perfect brunch place. First, the space is bright and cheery and spacious. The tables are spaced so that you are not to packed in with your neighbor but there still is a cozy buzz to the place. Second, they serve you biegnets like they do bread and olive oil in an Italian restaurant -- Free! Finally, the menu is exhaustive and covers everything from french toast to fried green tomatoes. I had a fried egg sandwich the first time, coconut pancakes the second time, and a fried green tomato BLT the third time. There is literally something for everyone on this menu. I highly recommend anything that has bacon. They do bacon right!

Lois A.

At first after being told they had run out of peaches and I couldn't have a peach bellini I was going to go with a mimosa. Then they brought out my boyfriend's huge steaming hot coffee. Yum, intelligentsia coffee is the way to my heart and thank you Big Jones for saving me from an afternoon drunk, I had the Carolina pulled pork sandwich with chow-chow slaw on it. It was exactly what I had been hoping it would be. A little soggy because I wasn't on the ball and ate my salad first but still totally delicious. My boyfriend had the Eggs New Orleans and this was better than any eggs my aunt in New Orleans has ever made for me. Maybe because she pours a whole jar of tabasco sauce on everything. Big Jones did it right. The crab was really yummy and the béarnaise sauce was excellent. My only regret is that we were too full to order anything more. There are many things on that menu I will need to try.

Kathy R.

When my friend Sharon told me to pick a place for dinner in Andersonville, I knew just where to go. Here: yelp.com/list_details?li… I trust John B.'s reviews, and he didn't disappoint. We had a great dinner at Big Jones. I had the Tallgrass Beef burger, which was wonderful: enormous patty of grass-fed beef, Worcestershire, wild mushrooms, onion, Fontina and garlic aioli. Incredibly tasty and too big to finish in one sitting; I finished it the next day for lunch. My side salad was good, with a citrus-y balsamic dressing. Sharon ordered a fish entree, which I forget, but she enjoyed it also. The dining room itself is warm and elegant. We ate here on a Monday night, and we practically had the entire place to ourselves for most of the meal. (go Monday if you don't like crowds). Our server was friendly and attentive. Drink refills were promptly offered and, at one point, he replaced my dirty knife that I'd used to put spread on a cracker. (my friend urged me to put more spread on a different cracker, to see if he'd replace that knife, too). For dessert we split the Mississippi Mud Pie, which was truly decadent and too big to finish. We felt free to linger and, eventually, left happy and sated. I'd happily return to try some other dishes here.

Thomas M.

Haven't been for dinner - just for brunch. It used to be a surefire backup when m.henry had lines snaking around the block, but Big Jones' own popularity seems to be growing on weekend mornings too. And with good reason. My favorite indulgence is the Sally Lunn French Toast. It tends to be served with whatever is seasonal, but my first experience was divine. Thick, gooey, cakey bread topped with glazed peaches, drizzled generously with creme anglaise, and sprinkled with praline pecans. It's simply unforgettable. And anyplace that offers complimentary beignets with your coffee has more than earned my adoration!

Yo U.

The servers here were very friendly on the day that I visited, if a touch informal and way too unpolished. One of the owners was careful to introduce himself to me, to apologize that things so were hectic in the dining room, and to thank me for my business, though. That was appreciated. The burger, while good, was not the best I have had and it is three or four dollars too expensive for what you get. I am glad that I gave Big Jones a whirl, but I am unlikely to rush back for more.

Jeremy B.

Hmmm, I don't know what to think of this place. The concept is good, the menu items unique....both usually good things, right? But after my meal I left with just a "eh" and don't have a huge desire to go back, and don't know why. Service was ok - friendly and helpful with the menu, but not so attentive and often had to flag him down to get another glass of wine.

Alison B.

This place is a gem! Southern food on a slighty higher scale. Good date spot, with a decently priced prix fixed menu. They brought us some homeade crackers with a pepper jelly to start (no charge), and they were a nice touch. I enjoyed the Creole Duck Confit Salad - defintely an entree and not a before meal salad.The drink to try is the Carolina Julep. It is deadly, and I mean deadly as in you can't taste the alcohol at all, which means downing two or three could put you out if you aren't careful. Our server was quite attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, and strangley all the servers there tonight were tall, thin dark headed males. Very interesting. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was the noise level and lack of acoustics made it difficult to hear my friends across the table. Otherwise a great experience!

Leah M.

Big Jones is AMAZING! My favorite neighborhood joint. What I love about this place, aside from the fact that their food is incredibly fresh, quirky, inventive, and delicious- is their stellar service! Andy is the sweetest guy and a great server. I am vegan and I cannot tell you how wonderful they have been and how many times they have gone out of their way to accommodate my diet. They have some great things on the menu that are vegan or can be altered to be vegan. They have made me special dishes when I let them know I am coming in advance. Most notably, the chef made our table vegan snicker doodle cookies one night after having a nice three hour evening there. He came out to the table and explained to us that he realized he was out of soy flour and decided to make them out of pulverized almonds instead. I mean, really? That is amazing. And thoughtful. Warm vegan snicker doodle cookies made from fresh pulverized almonds on the fly? Please patronize this restaurant. They deserve to stay around for years and years to come. You will not be disappointed. The menu is seasonal, the iced tea and cocktails are great, and in the summer they bring boiled peanuts to your table when you sit down. It's like a drive halfway to the gulf coast of Florida and stopping on the side of the road for boiled peanuts heaven. And being from the South, I appreciate their food and service even more. A great place to dine with friends and people from out of town. Big Jones, I love you, and me and my Mom will be there for Mother's Day.

Gregg T.

This place does amazing things with the pig. I've tried it many, many ways, and they never fail to amaze. I've found the service to be good, leaning towards very good. The atmosphere is nice, if nothing overwhelming. The back patio is indeed a treat, in season. The drinks situation is very good, but the cocktails are needlessly overpriced (although they do make a tasty Sazerac), and the beer selection could be expanded. The real (5)star here is the food. The passion the restaurant has for its ingredients and the possibilities they present--all with a delightful eye on history--has shone forth in every meal I've had there. I had a suckling pig with greens over grits that literally made me cry it was so good. A delightful serving of ham--with greens, cheddar grits and amazing butterbeans--was a close second. Their attention to detail in their food, and their ability to make a stellar relish tray or wonderful pimento cheese, keeps Big Jones in my top-tier of Chicago restaurants.

Nikol Z.

Bloody marys were amazing!! Every single thing that was ordered was very tasty. I had the black beans with eggs and the red salsa on them were very yummy but i wish it had been more spicy. My husband got the egg new orleans and i WISH i had ordered that, mmm mm mm. Also the biscuits with the spicy jelly made my day.

Barbara A.

Been wanting to check out Big Jones for a while now as I have only ever heard good things and I stand behind the crowd. It was about a 25 minute wait Sunday afternoon around 1:15pm for three people. Once we sat down our waiter was extremely friendly, nice, and helpful. Coffee was delicious and was served up with four perfectly fried and powder sugared beignets. I had the biscuits and debri gravy with the gravy on the side. I am not a gravy fan and this gravy was delicious. It wasn't heavy or sickening and had just the right smooth breakfast meat taste. The poached eggs were perfectly cooked, the greens were a great addition as they had a sort of vinegary kick, and the biscuit was moist and buttery. I also had a $6 bloody mary, which was a perfectly small sized, spicy, horseradishy morning cocktail. A friend had the corn cakes and they were also really well done and a HUGE portion. All three of us brought food home and paid about $30 each with a cocktail and coffee. DEFINITELY recommend Big Jones, especially for a cozy winter morning brunch.

Chris S.

Went there for the first time today for lunch. I really liked the place. Great atmosphere. You feel like you're in somebody's home and you definitely don't feel like you're in Chicago. Had the eggs Benedict. It was pretty good but I wouldn't say great. Loved the hash browns and the beignets. They made a pretty good bloody mary too. I definitely want to try this place for dinner and will go back. Wait staff was a bit slow but very friendly.

Shar B.

Love Big Jones! They have by far the best ginger beer I've ever had. Go there and get this! They make it from scratch. I usually have at least 2 glasses That's before I start drinking the other craft cocktails. YUM! Oh and the service and food are so so so good. It's a wonderful indulgence to go to Big Jones and a great addition to the neighborhood! Popovers with your eggs benedict! Woohoo! Shrimp and grits! Yeah! I think I want to go here tonight for our date night :)

Rebecca P.

We have been reading about Big Jones on best Chicago brunch lists for a while and finally decided to try it out. We hadn't been before only due to the fact that we live in the South Loop and just don't get up to Andersonville a lot. First, they take reservations, which for a brunch place, is awesome, and especially since we went on New Years Day. We took my dad who is a breakfast and southern food fanatic and everything was amazing. The staff was extremely courteous, efficient, and stayed in the background but they were all very attentive and professional. The options are endless on the menu, and we tried so many things I have never had (hog jowls, anyone?). We started with the popovers, tried some french toast, hominy, and omelettes. I wish we could have had more, but we were too stuffed! I would definitely recommend to others. My mom had a bloody mary, but I was unfortunately too hungover from the night before to really enjoy any cocktails.

Michael S.

I'm one of those Chicago transplants--born in New Orleans then moved up north. With that said, I love this place. The gumbo is an absolute must. The only I prefer is my grandfathers. Go during brunch-ish hours so you're sure to get complimentary beignets--which are delicious. I normally wouldn't order burger at a genre specific restaurant like this, as burgers can be found everywhere, but the ones here are incredible. Huge. Great bun. Great cheese and toppings. Then there is the garlic aioli. I hate mayo, but I cannot get enough of the garlic aioli. It's made fresh, and puts everything over the top. Thank god they over-slather the burger in it, so fries can pick up the drippings. They also have a great bar with a very knowledgeable staff for after hours entertainment.

Chris m.

I thought this place was OK. I had been here awhile ago and didn't love it (can't remember why). I went there early Saturday night. The service was excellent and super friendly. I loved the corn muffins. The pickle sampler thing I would probably skip in the future, although I don't regret trying something once. We shared dishes. I loved the fried clams, which I haven't had in years. They were amazing! The Goat cheese/potato balls I didn't like, I don't know why, could have had to do with the anchovy dressing meeting the pungent goat cheese flavor. To me not a great complement, and I am not an anchovy nor goat cheese lightweight. My friend had the chicken and dumplings. My opinion is that the dumplings seemed tough and hard and the broth was salty. And I love salt! Should dumplings be hard? I don't know, maybe that's a New Orleans thing. Actually the clams were pretty salty too, but I didn't mind. My friend also had the gumbo, which to me tasted like some super rich dark thin Campbell's type soup that had too much worcester sauce in it. Just didn't really care for it. Is that the way it's supposed to be? I don't know, I always thought gumbo should be full of stuff (or is that jambalaya). The crawfish etoufee was out of my budget at $23. Anyway, it was all amusing but not that great food-wise. I like a lot of similar samplings at Wishbone (including shrimp and grits). I obv. am not an expert on Cajun/Creole, whatever this is called. But give it a try, maybe it's great for you! It was a pleasant experience, but the dishes were all flawed in my opinion.

Suzy D.

My husband and I were dropping off some clothes at Brown Elephant and decided to stop and grab brunch in Andersonville. We figured we'd try out Big Jones. The decor was right up my alley. I loved the green wallpaper and the cute tables. Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating. We started with the fried green tomatoes and the crawfish fritters. Both of these appetizers were totally delicious. Perhaps the level of the starters set the bar too high for the entrees. I had the grilled andouille and eggs. The andouille sausage was very hearty and slightly spicy. The eggs were cooked perfectly too but the hominy was not my thing. I guess I've never really had hominy before but it was very bland and just kind of meh. I would have rather had some cheesy grits. My husband had the butchers breakfast which came with eggs, grits, some greens and chaudin (pork liver sausage). It was decent but nothing too outstanding. Also, our bill for brunch came to 55. Kind of pricey for brunch, granted we did get some appetizers. The appetizers were delicious though!!

Ryan M.

After spending the previous week in New Orleans and thoroughly enjoying the Southern, Creole, and Cajun cuisine of the region, my cravings continued upon returning to Chicago. I could have died for some spicy Gumbo or Jambalaya or maybe a tasty, sugary sweet Beignet or slice of Red Velvet Cake... I found Big Jones on Yelp, checked out the menu and was pretty intrigued. The other day I decided it was the day to fill my taste buds and stomach with some southern wonders. Upon walking into the restaurant, I really was struck by the design. It reminded me of the charming, old world Galatoires Restaurant in New Orleans, but mixed with a good dose of modern urban chic. For 7pm on a Monday the restaurant seemed oddly dead, I believe there was one other table occupied. It would fill up a little more as the evening progressed, but still an underwhelming crowd. Our waiter and the rest of the staff were extremely attentive and helpful, but something was amiss. The service seemed friendly, but still cold and uptight. I would have loved a little more relaxed and warm staff. The menu looked great - a ton of delicious looking choices. I asked the waiter what was the best entree the on the menu and he recommended the Country Friend Steak and the Gumbo. For appetizers we ended up ordering the Beet Salad and the Gumbo. The salad was very good. The Gumbo was good, but not great. I found that it was thin and seemed to resemble a spicy vegetable beef soup more than anything. They also brought out cornbread, which again was good, but nothing great. It was moist, but just bland. For entrees we ordered the Country Friend Steak, which was good, but nothing special. I did find the deep friend mashed potatoes very interesting, though. We also ordered the Pulled Pork Sandwich, which was good. For dessert we had the Red Velvet Cake. It took about 25mins for the dessert to come out. We thought they just forgot about us - I mean how long does it take to get a slice of cake? What they didn't tell us was that it was made-on-order. Which is great, but we need to be informed of that. As for the cake itself: like all the dishes, it was good (a bit too dry), but nothing great. It did have a tasty sweet cream on top. Everything at Big Jones looked great: the restaurant itself, the menu, the actual presentation of the food... but the food itself was ultimately very underwhelming - seemed to have a lot of style, but little substance.

Emily Y.

I had a great experience at Big Jones that left me hankering to try more of the menu! I went for a late light lunch with a girlfriend and we both ordered the house salad and a cup of soup -- her the shrimp and crawfish bisque, me the gumbo. Both soups were outstanding (I stole a taste of the bisque, of course). The gumbo was nice and spicy, plenty of big hunks of sausage and seafood and lots of those good southern veggies like okra. The house salads were a delight, with fresh greens, candied pecans, apples, blue cheese and a light vinagrette dressing. We both had a house-brewed ginger beer (non-alcoholic) which were wonderfully light and refreshing. Before the meal, our server brought out some fantastic little corn muffins and some sort of sweet bread (as in flour and water, not innards), which was a great added touch to the meal. Service was perfection--it being midday and one of the only tables in the restaurant probably helped. The decor is quite lovely -- I especially dig the chairs and bar. I can't wait to come back to try their dinner menu and one of those amazing looking cocktails! Then it will be a big five stars for Big Jones for sure. :)

Nicole M.

Big Jones is one of my favorite brunch spots (I've never been for dinner, but I hear it's fantastic), and in spite of the lackluster experience I had on my most recent visit, I'm still giving this place four stars (if it disappoints again, I will reevaluate!). Usually at brunch, we are promptly given warm and delicious beignets covered in powdered sugar - no dice this last time, and I certainly hope it was a one time omission, as these little treats are such a nice touch to enjoy with coffee while waiting for our meal. I really like the omelets and cheesy grits, but on my last visit, both my partner and I opted to try the Eggs Benedict instead. It's served on popovers, which is lovely in concept, but didn't quite work in terms of execution. The popovers were soggy, one of my eggs overcooked, and hashbrown potatoes served on the side were bland and grossly undercooked (I probably should have requested a substitution of cheesy grits!). The upside to the meal were the great brunch cocktails - a sazerac and gin fizz. The service is always attentive without being overbearing. I definitely recommend making a reservation, which is not hard to do at all. This last time we went, I booked us a spot for 10:45 a.m. on Sunday through Open Table that morning when I woke up!

Alison D.

Yum. This is a great newer place that deserves more business (it's never been crowded when I've eaten there, including Saturday dinner). Best parts? The warm beignets (sp?) that come with brunch (mmmmm .... ) and the catfish entree on the dinner menu (who knew that catfish could be so tasty?). They lose a star because the ambiance doesn't seem quite right - it feels a little un-cozy, and the temperature always seems wrong. All in all, though, this is a great spot that deserves to succeed, so eat there!

Gregory L.

So, my wife and I ate here in November and had an otherworldly experience with a prix fixe meal that centered around an AMAZING fried chicken, so I decided to go back with a friend recently was decidedly underwhelmed. I ordered the Grilled Niman Ranch NY Strip and was really disappointed. Their shtick was that the steak was too good to do a traditional chicken fried steak, so instead, they breaded and deep fried mashed potatoes. The steak was luke warm, surprisingly flavorless, lacked appropriate sear and needed salt. It really makes me doubt that the cut of meat was "as advertised". And despite the promise and seemingly "comfort-food" description of the potato side, it too was bland and heavy in a way that frites, home cut fries or a twice baked potato wouldn't have been. It only eeked out three stars because I owed Big Jones for the November meal that I never rated. Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but in a restaurant, it is a must.

W.I.N. A.

I hit Big Jones with some friends on a Saturday evening, based on the raves another friend had given their brunch. Their coastal and creole food with a twist is just the right kind of comfort. I started with the Blue crab cheesecake, followed by the fried chicken salad and one of the best sidecars I've had in a while. All were very good. The blue crab cheesecake was a real standout, served as it was with a drizzle of five-pepper jelly that struck just the right balance of sweet and savory. One of my dining compatriots made a meal of appetizers and sides, opting for the bean salad and pulled pork topped grit-cakes. The grit cakes were delicious, and judging from the fact that my pal polished off her bean salad with a satisfied smile, I gathered that was alright, too, The only blemish for the evening was my other friend's selection, the ham and cheese sandwich with a mac-and-cheese side. The ham was thick and tasty, but she didn't like the pimento cheese it was paired with at all. The mac was also pretty uninspired, though not actually bad. But perhaps in an era of mac that's been buttered, bechameled, truffled and smoked by every chef this side of the Mason Dixon, we expected too much. In all, two out of three diners in my party really enjoyed our meal, and will happily head back for an evening of fresh, seasonal, coastal-inspired fare.

Anthony S.

The brunch here is phenomenal! The pop-ups are to die for. Awesome southern creole style comfort food. You will love it!

Bharat W.

Great decor and service was superb. Had the bayou teche omelette, crawfish fritters, and cajun pancakes. Can't go wrong with this place.

Steven W.

I've dined at big jones on several occasions with family and friends and have ALWAYS had a good experience. If I had to describe the food with one word it would be RICH, which is not to say that it lacks finesse - there is plenty of that too! The only dish I recall not loving was at brunch nearly a year ago - pulled pork and grits - which had delightfully rich grits but nearly inedible pork due to an over-vinegared barbeque sauce. However, for that one poor dish, there have been 30 great ones! On the same visit I ordered a ramos gin fizz (one of my favorite cocktails for the morning after) which arrived without key components - namely cream and egg whites. What I was served is know as a silver fizz, not a ramos. Oh well! It was still delightful regardless! On subsequent visits the fried artichoke hearts, beet salad, fried chicken, shrimp and grits and anything pork related have been stellar! The service is always warm and welcoming and I love eating there!

Kate I.

This is my favorite restaurant in the city. Truly. The food is outstanding and the service is friendly. I lived in New Orleans for a number of years and this is the only southern food restaurant in Chicago that I think would make it down there. In fact, Big Jones would thrive in the Big Easy. We're lucky to have you here!

Katie P.

What an awesome place to have brunch! A friend and I darkened this doorstep on a Saturday early afternoon and it's only hours later and I'm dreaming of when I can go back and what I can get. We started out with perfectly brewed Intelligentsia coffee in enormous mugs served with cream and...wait...a bottle of simple syrup to sweeten. Loved that touch. Following shortly behind were beignets which we perfectly light, fluffy and sweet. And free. Oh yeah. After considering most of the specialties, I chose the Eggs New Orleans and it was possible the best breakfast choice I've made all year. Perfectly poached, perfectly beautiful eggs sitting on top of savory crab cakes sitting on top of the most wonder popovers, all generously drizzled with a tangy hollandaise. Clearly, I was looking for low fat options (um...no). This was a great meal. My friend ordered a similar breakfast but it came with a piece of sirloin (cooked perfectly medium, I might add) resting on top of grits cakes. I left loving mine but ultimately wishing I had hers but not wanting to give up mine. The service was fantastic (thank you Nathan with your very cute Southern accent...from Virginia)--very attentive. My only beef and it's a very small one--the food was only lukewarm when it arrived at the table. I wish it had been a little warmer but that really doesn't detract from my experience in the least. It was wonderful. And any excuse I have to go back I will take with no hesitation. I can't wait!

Sarah W.

Truly one of my favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Both the food and service is excellent! If you like southern food, I definitely recommend it!

Charlie B.

I am updating my score after a second visit. I went with a group on Friday and most of us did the $29 table menu. It was a steal and all the food was great. I will be back again!

Will H.

As a native Southerner, I was skeptical about brunch at Big Jones. My concern was the use of the terms "low country" and "cajun/creole" in the same sentence to describe the same place. This may seem petty, but to me these two terms mean two completely different things. When I hear "Low country" I think of the flavors & elements of coastal Carolina (mainly Charleston & surrounding areas). "Cajun" & "Creole" mean for me New Orleans & the Mississippi Delta. In my mind, the two together are too much; too broad of a reach. Luckily, I was wrong. We started brunch with fried green tomatoes. Not normal brunch fare, but I couldn't pass up the chance to try. The tomatoes were great - still a little firm. The batter was perfect. My wife had Eggs New Orleans. The hollandaise was outta sight. I ordered shrimp & grits. The shrimp were cooked to perfection but the grits were the best. Maybe it's just been too long since I've had grits, but I thought Big Jones' grits were right on with the perfect combination of "gritty" crunch and creaminess. I skipped the brunch coffee & went straight to the sweet tea. Mmmm! Good enough to make this Southerner homesick. The service lacked a bit. When it was time for the check our otherwise attentive waitress was no where to be found. Nearby waitress chatter about other guests and the kitchen staff detracted from our overall dining experience.

Diana C.

Flawless.

Theresa K.

I came here for a Saturday afternoon brunch and found the experience to be less than satisfying. The food is delicious but pretty pricey (well over $10/plate). I was surprised to see such an extensive menu of teas. My table ordered and split the following items: - Sally Lunn French Toast: raspberry jelly, coconut pudding, crystallized coffee - Leek and Mushroom: fresh goat cheese, melted leeks, market mushrooms - Migas: farm egg and corn tortilla scramble, tomato, chilies, black beans, spicy red sauce, avocado, sour cream I love that they bring you delicious complimentary pastry puffs while you wait for your meal! The problem I had with Big Jones was the poor service. We spent over 1 and half hours dining here. The place was half full and not incredibly busy, yet it took our server well over 15 minutes to even get our order. And waiting for the check was painfully longer - I had to run back to my car and insert more money into the meter even though I already paid for 90 minutes. Every time I asked the server for something she was rude and never came by to check up on me. The worst was when I forgot my coupon after the check came by, she refused to void the check (yeah, I know it might be a pain in the ass, but I've worked other jobs before and had to deal with situations like these - it sucks, but you just deal with it). When my companion requested a manager, our server claimed that she needed the manger to void the check and recharge me the lesser amount. But then she ended up doing it anyways! It took her under one minute! I know it's my own fault, but I'm still a customer and was being very nice and funny about the whole situation, yet she could be anything but the exact opposite. Thumbs down. I'm sorry to have been such a inconvenience, but I was being very nice about the whole thing!

Bridget D.

I went here by myself for an early dinner on a Saturday, about 4:00 or so. I had squash soup, which was good but not particularly noteworthy. Campbell's makes a version that tastes similar. For dinner, I had the grit cakes which were not noteworthy. Too expensive for me to bother with again.

Zena V.

I got to experience Big Jones Catering last night, so I wanted to write a little update to recommend that as well! My favorite dish that was delivered was the blackened chicken salad sandwhich. It kicked in all the right ways! All of the food was yummy, kept very well in the catering containers, and well matched with dips and dressings. Delivery was prompt and setup was quick and easy! Thank you AGAIN Big Jones!

Lauren H.

The hamburger is amazing. The craft beer selection makes me wiggly. In fact, all of the booze makes me wiggly. The selection is unique, and if you happen to pop in when the owner is bartending, he will talk your ear off. Actually, any of the servers will talk your ear off. I like a waitstaff that knows their booze. Our waitress more or less demanded that we get dessert, and threw it in for free. It was a few months ago, but I'm pretty sure it was Mississippi Mud Pie and it was tasty. The marshmallows on top were vaguely citrusey and quite delicious.

Becky S.

My husband and I had brunch here on Sunday. The food was delicious but the service was not great. Our waitress would disappear for long periods and things that should not take long (glass of orange juice, bill, etc.) took forever. But the food was so good, I am willing to give 4 stars. We started off with drinks -- me with a fresh squeezed glass of OJ (yum!) and husband with the Charleston Mule, which he enjoyed so much he had two! Then they brought out the delicious complimentary beignets. YUM YUM YUM! I love beignets, and these were perfect. For brunch, husband had the Blackened Chicken Cornbread Salad, which he enjoyed, and I had the Eggs New Orleans, which were truly delicious. I finished the entire plate...so good! I also want to mention that I love when brunch places take reservations. I hate the hassle of an hour wait when I am super hungry. I would go back here for the food and the fact that they take reservations, but I would expect it to be a long brunch based on the service.

John G.

Breakfast was good... Dinner was great!

Jennifer N.

i write this review for one simple item on the dessert menu: Sea Island Benne & Honey Cake, with butter roux icing. I went on the Andersonville Dessert Crawl yesterday, and was reminded about the cake & butter roux icing. Could eat this for days. Just make me a large tub of it all, I'll pick it up every Monday out back in the alley. Simple exchange of money for goods- please no questions, just assume i'm "sharing" with others.

Jason T.

We had a wonderful brunch here. There were so many things I wanted to try on the menu. Everything I had was delicious. I also really appreciate that they try to use sustainable/ethically sourced meat. I can't wait to go back for more brunch or to try dinner.

carolyn h.

The decor is cute and nice, food was not good. You can tell they thought about it a lot when they were planning the restarant. The waiter was very kind and nice. With that said, they get a one because the food was awful. Issues: 1) I was a little annoyed because everytime I looked around there was a kid running around away from his table. I "get" that you can't always control kids. But at an establishment where you have to make reservations for brunch they should figure that out and do something. I can't be the only person in the world who doesn't want to have toddlers running around my table when I'm trying to enjoy brunch. I understand that kids behaivor isn't the fualt of the restaurant, but they didnt do anything to help the situation. I can handle it at a restarant that is less formal, doesn't take reservations, has a childrens menu, but at a place like this with the prices of the food it's innapropriate. 2) The pulled pork sandwich was awful. I'm an eater (and I have the hips to prove it) and I didn't finish this plate. That's how bad it was. The Pork was dry and lacked BBQ flavor. The only taste that came out of it was vineger. In fact I wouldn't be hugely surprised if the chef uses a vineger based BBQ sauce but he is missing some other key ingredients or the proportions are way off in his recipe. The meat itself was very dry. Another big no no with pulled pork. The meat is supposed to be tender as a result of the slow cooking of the meat over the BBQ. The bread was soggy, flavorless and didn't hold the sandwhich together. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a hamburger bun from the bread isle of jewel. when I tried to eat is like a sandwhich the bottom of the bun was so mushy and soacked through that hald of the meat fell through and my fingers were covered in soggy bread. Ewww gross. The fries were not seasoned enough and were cold. Sorry Big Jones, I won't be back. Your food is a bust, the atmosphere just isn't that cool with the neighborhood you are in there are better option out there.

Mary F.

Have been to Big Jones twice now with hubby. Both times have been a hit. Hubby is rather old school when it comes to his soul food, so this nouveau Southern cuisine is a bit over the top for him (braised rabbit and similar) so he sticks to the bbq sandwich or the chicken fried something. Last night I had red wine and hubby had an Old Fashioned, and shared a Mint Julep. Hubby was skeptical of their ability to make a "real" Southern drink but he was quite impressed (I'm talking about the Mint Julep - perfectly muddled). For an app we had the beet salad and I would have licked the plate had the place not been so full of other patrons. For din din I had two apps - the sauteed mushrooms on grits and the smaller portion of the chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. Hubby had the pulled pork sandwich with fries. I wanted okra, but hey...it was his meal. Food quality was excellent. Even the fries were great and I'm not a fried potato person. The roux in my gumbo was wonderfully spiced and the sauteed mushrooms were wonderful. Our waiter brought us the okra anyway "to try" (he heard me whining about it), with a side of green goddess dressing. It's sooo good. Just like mom's okra (if you have a southern mommy). My only issue is the cornbread they bring out at the start of the meal. As with most midwestern restaurants that serve cornbread (unless it's really old school), is that "cornbread" it's more of a "corn cupcake". In my mind, there should be a crunchy snap to cornbread (hence, far more cornmeal than flour) and absolutely no sweetness to it. But to each his own. Hey, it comes with the meal gratis. Otherwise, excellent food with lovely plate presentation. Love the interior of this place. Seating is quite comfortable. Great vibe in the restaurant on the whole. Great restaurant. Never done brunch, but will in the future.

Mill V.

I adore this place! I'm not a born Southern, but I consider myself a lover of it's food. This place is the best to hit Andersonville since whenever. When we walked in, it felt like a posh Southern tea house. One star is taken away because they didn't have sweet Southern tea. We started with boiled peanuts, which is like their bread and butter. I never have had them, and they were amazingly addictive. it really brings the legume flavor out. I even peeked at Lee Brother's cookbook to make mine own at home. We got chicken livers to start.These puppies were huge compared to what I usually cook. But DAMN cornmeal GOOD. Underneath them was a buttery piece of bread and FRESH succotash. We decided to eat order a sandwich and split, which was a great idea. Everything on the menu looked amazing though. We got the Pulled Pork and the Hamburger. The Pulled Pork was divinly good, with it's vingery bite and the chow chow was great with it. The burger was actually really good too. The cheese was amazing on it. The bread with each sandwiches were doughy good, too. We each got mac and cheese. It was ok, alittle watered down, not enough salt, but could of been incredible if fixed. I would go again in a heartbeat!

Brian C.

I took my wife here a few weeks ago (sorry for the delayed review!) and we had the a really great time. Which kind of makes it hard to be a good reviewer, but I'll do my best to dissect everything: 1. Menu - the menu item all looked really good but the specials were really too amazing to pass up. All had really decent price points 2. the food - how in the world can you pass up anything that has deep fried mash potatoes. WHOA! Those were awesome. err... what I got to eat of them - my wife kept stealing them. Next time, I'm going to order a side of them for her, so I get to savor my own :-) 3. The service - our waiter was really really good. Professional - Polite but personable, made excellent recommendations, and was fast and efficient. - it's clear to the eye that this place is well managed in all aspects. Loved this place and I look forward to coming back!

Bob D.

Came last night for the "lost Southern foods dinner." sponsored by Slow Food Chicago. A great concept and a meal. We sat communally with some slow food regulars, good conversation ranging from the Civil war to some Cheese shop in my hood that I was unaware of. Chef Paul came out and explained about ingredients that are fast disappearing from our dinner tables, Southern ones specifically. From rice grains related to arborio to peas and charcuterie methods that are dying. Get to the food Bob! The first course advertised as Sea Island red pea cappuccino, was a soup of pureed red peas reminiscent of a black eyed pea, but round and buttery in flavor, speckled with puffed Carolina gold rice, it was topped with a bacon foam and a pickled ramp. I dove straight into the ramp, I love ramps, and it gave me flashbacks to some of my early culinary memories. The bacon froth was subtle and amazing. The puffed rice gave some texture to an earthy and well balanced first course. Second course was three different house made charcuterie, head cheese, andouille, and chaudin. I had never heard of chaudin and was excited to get at it, a pate'esque meat studded with rice, kind of Boudin for the sophisticant. The head cheese stole the show, at my table there was some apprehension but once fork hit mouth it vanished. The head cheese was not gelatinous in the least bit, rich and meaty, the flavor of pork was pure and unadulterated. The andouille was the best I have ever had, Chef Paul explained his difficulties in finding great Andouille which led him to make his own. This tender subtle sausage was unlike the rubbery, smoky salty versions I have had. As if these three things were not enough they were topped with a couple of whole grain mustards, a "chow chow" (Chef referred to it as a relish but my old farmer in NC would have called that a chow chow and threatened a beating if you called it any thing else.) There was also a touch of pickled cabbage and a slice of Pan Perdu. Then the dish was topped, as if it needed anything else, with a pickled Laughing Bird shrimp, sweet, crispy and delicious. Third course, a simple salad that gave the pallet time to recover, shaved asparagus, lettuce and black benne paste ( a type of sesame seed) the salad was light and refreshing. Fourth, a Duck Gumbo. Any traditionalist knows that gumbo is all about the roux, just about anything can go in, as long as "in" has a roux. After the meal Chef explained he made the roux with duck fat which has a fairly high smoke point and is the reason for the incredible depth of flavor. Another example of Chef Paul's dedication to Southern food culture is his Tasso ham which of course they make in house, lean slightly smoky from hanging over smoldering pecan wood. On top of the gumbo were hot and sour mustard greens, amazing! Every time I get greens I say "damn these are the best greens ever" and rarely am I in the South. Popcorn rice was served in the gumbo and was aromatic and buttery. Dessert, Calas, Pumpkin Seed Pralines, Lemon Ice Cream, and coconut foam. Don't know what calas are? Wikipedia calls them rice cakes, but that does not do them justice, they are crispy, slightly chewy, rich and covered in powdered sugar quite addicting. The pralines (pronounced Praw-leens in the South) were amazing as well, chewy, caramel and nutty, they were perfectly matched with the lemon ice cream and the coconut foam. This meal in some ways was exactly like dining in the South, A wonderful host that spent days preparing your food and effortlessly serves it up with good conversation and great libation. I left this event satisfied, home sick, angry (I am always angry) full, motivated and in awe. Chefs need a vision to truly show what they are capable of, this was Chef Paul's Magnum Opus. For now any way.

Gregory L.

Can't give it five stars, since I was only there once for lunch. But what a great lunch it was. I had the Crab Cake salad, which melted like butter on my tongue. The crab cakes were offset by a bed of greens that also had artichoke hearts, jicama, red pepper, and I believe slivered green tomatoes. Wow. The wait staff was as friendly as could be, given the fact that my friend and I only ordered water with the meal. And the gospel music played in the background was a hoot. Go, and bring your best friends.

Rebecca S.

If I were just judging the ambiance and service of this place, I'd give it 5 stars. I loved the decor, it was very comfortable and homey, yet elegant. The service was great-- our waiter was extremely polite and helpful, not pushy or a "know it all" type at all, like you find at many nice restaurants. Another reason i would've given Big Jones 5 stars were the corn muffins! They were amazing, and our waiter brought out extra when we asked for them. Now, the reason I had to give it 3 stars is because our entrees weren't that great. My boyfriend got the gumbo, and it wasn't at all what he wanted in gumbo. He said it tasted more like chili, or sloppy joe. So, not the best. I got the only vegetarian entree, which I can't remember the name of and it's not on the website's menu, but it was some type of grain-ish thing, kind of like rice, with vegetables and absinthe soaked raisins. My problem with this dish was the another reason why my boyfriend didn't like the gumbo-- it was EXTREMELY salty. Almost too salty to eat... and I like salt, so yes, it was very salty. I wasn't that happy about it. So since the entree is one of the most important things, I give this place 3 stars.

Allison G.

What happened here? After many return trips, Big Jones simply has not sustained itself. Something seems to get missed/screwed up every time we visit and last time the eggs benedict just tasted funky. I think it was the brioche which, instead of being light and airy, was soggy. Plus, the $6 cheddar/herb croquettes, which sounded yummy, came out looking like 3 mini corn-dogs; thick breading and way too brown. Yuck. And, they got rid of the shrimp and biscuits. We are done with Big Jones.

Allie B.

Absolutely fabulous brunch experience. I had the cheddar omelet and grits and my husband had the popover/crabcake/benedict. Both were delicious and beautifully prepared. The coffee smelled fantastic and the touch of having simple syrup on the table instead of sugar was a real southern treat I haven't seen since my grandparents were alive and living in Baton Rouge. The owner came over and introduced himself and explained that his partner was the chef. Just a wonderful experience all around. I'm really looking forward to going back for their Monday night prix-fixe dinner special!

John B.

Big Jones occupies half of the space left vacant when Augie's closed more than 6 months ago. I've been waiting for something -- anything! -- to open here, so when I saw activity over the past month, I was excited. The sign on the wall indicated a web site for "bigjoneschicago," which made me fear this was going to be a chain joint. Luckily, my fears were unfounded. The restaurant features "Southern Coastal" cuisine, which made as much sense to me as it does to you right now. I was thinking Carolina, but the menu posted in the window seemed more New Orleans. If you think "hurricane alley," you've got the region just about right. Some Creole, some seafood, some fried green tomatoes. Whatever it is, it works. The decor was just what I needed on a chilly day in April. The room is wide open, with pastel walls (seafoam, salmon), bamboo flooring and accents, plantation-style chairs and paper lanterns. Very spring. Full length windows let the sunlight stream in, and curtains drape along the walls. I stopped in mid-afternoon, which is "tea" -- light plates, sandwiches, and desserts, and lots of tea. I had the tasso ham and cheese sandwich, which is served with a side of fries and fried onions and okra. I could have made a meal of the side. I skipped the tea and had the home brewed ginger beer, which was delicious. But more gingery than you may be used to. If it was later in the day, or if my schedule was free, I might have gone for a sazerac. Since I am a pig, I forced myself to have a piece of rum raisin bread pudding. I like my bread pudding with a bit more texture, but it was good. Jones also serves brunch from 11 to 2, and dinner starting at 5. I passed by the restaurant about noon on Sunday, and it was packed. Not a surprise on a weekend, but forewarned is forearmed. I looked at the dinner menu, and in addition to the standard gumbo and etouffee, there are some very intriguing choices. Jalapeno Gator Sausage. Fried Chicken Salad. Brunswick Stew made with rabbit, not the chicken which is often substituted. Tallgrass beef is served both as a steak (sirloin) and a burger. Which ties in with Big Jones' desire to serve local and organic ingredients. Other reviews have complained about the service, but I found everyone very welcoming, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Granted, this was a Monday afternoon, rather than a Saturday night. The restaurant is still a work in progress. Quite literally -- there was some construction going on while I was there. But I'm looking forward to having more meals here.

Angelique Z.

Ok. I have to preface this review with the fact that I am making comparisons to the foods I grew up; so don't get up in arms since it's only a 3 star review. Big Jones is a nice brunch and dinner spot in the Andersonville neighborhood serving up Canjun/Creol food in a bright and airy space with lots of beautiful atmospheric touches. Things that are always consistent, the few times I've been in the last month: the coffee has always been spectacular, the beignets always warm, airy, and melty on the tongue, the staff always friendly and efficent. There are some dishes on the menu that I find to be real winners. Both my boyfriend and I loved the Carolina Pulled Pork Benedicts but thought the standard Benedict, was a little heavy on the ham and a bit dry. My ham and pimento cheese sandwich was a little overwhelming; the sandwich was so big that after a while the flavors were no longer appetizing a quarter through. (I boxed it up and too it home for left overs). I thought the Andouille & Sweet Potato Biscuits were a real standout; covered in holy trinity gravy (celery, onion, bell pepper) the savory and the mild sweetness came together very well. I think it's a pretty credible attempt at Creole food and will certainly go back if only for the beignets, which my boyfriend can't get enough of and now asks if I can make every few days. IBig Jones is good, but it's not my mother's food. I

Laura S.

Weird dinner here. Wanted to love it - did the Thanksgiving price fixe, showed up ready for hot Southern fun. Apps were awesome, then it went downhill...they forgot one of our courses, then the waiter all but disappeared. Didn't offer us coffee, never said thanks, and my coat was on the floor of the coat room. The waiter's reccomendations were also spot-off. Chose my entree by his suggestion, and it was like catering food. Wah.

Chimmeree G.

Finally went to Big Jones two weeks ago, had the burger - it was phenomenal. Left me jonesing big time for another one. But when I went in today the waitress suggested I try the gumbo and guess what - equally impressive! Big jones is a little pricey for casual lunch time dinning, so maybe that's why it took me so long to finally get in there. However I am so SO glad I finally did. The flavors and the quality of the food at Big Jones are an exceptional treat. The atmosphere is really charming - it all works. Big Jones elevates the already lovely neighborhood of Andersonville.

Theresa D.

I went here for my birthday brunch. They accommodated a party of 10 and sat us even though the whole party hadn't arrived. They were patient with our party considering I had lots of stragglers coming in late past the time of the reservation. While I thought my french toast was just ok I really liked the appetizers we ordered- crawfish fritters and cheddar biscuits. I also tried a lot of my friends food and they were really tasty (corn cakes, eggs benedict). I probably just ordered the wrong thing, I would definitely come back and try something else on the menu. Our server was also very helpful in answering our questions about the menu and was tentative to our table.

Erik S.

A great new spot, especially for breakfast (as if Andersonville needs more of those, with Pauline's, Ann Sather's, Kopi, etc.)! I went for weekend breakfast. They serve Beignet covered in powdered sugar (just like at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans), which were great. We had the ginger sweet tea; it seems expensive at $3.50, but the presentation and quantity more than make up for the perceived cost (heck, Starbucks charges more for coffee). It's served in a tall carafe with at least three glasses worth of tea, with the flavor syrup in a smaller carafe nested in the larger, so you can mix your own. My girlfriend had the shrimp biscuits and gravy, which she enjoyed, and I had the sweet potato biscuits with andouille sausage. Delicious (certainly heavy for breakfast, but just the right portion). Overall a very pleasant experience. Southern hospitality is alive and well at Big Jones. A creative culinary twist on classic coastal southern fare.

Joe L.

I really enjoyed my experience at this place. It was a little farther up north than I usually go but Southern comfort food was awesome. I had the pulled pork which was good but could have used more sauce. Biscuits served as the table bread were excellent.

Susan H.

My friend Casey and I had a great dining experience. It was my 36th birthday and our waiter took excellent care of us. We ordered the Tuesday special, Fried Chicken and it was delicious. It came with cornbread and mashed potatos and greens. Plus, we enjoyed the Tuesday special of $5.00 Margaritas. I highly recommend the Pomegranate. It was yummy! To top it all off our waiter treated us to a slice of red velvet cake. It was a great dining experience and a memorable birthday! I also have been here for brunch a number of times and recommend that as well. They have awesome fried green tomatos too. This has become one of my favorite dining destinations!

Jordan B.

Wow, just wow. It was really cool to go there in the afternoon and have tea. The service was amazing. One of the owners even came over to check on us and ask our opinion about the place. I ordered the Tallgrass Beef Burger. It was large, juicy, perfectly cooked, and tasty. The "a' plenty" that it came with was great as well. In fact, I enjoyed the food so much I went back two days later for dinner and was again floored with how great the service and the food were. If you are there for dinner and enjoy spicy food, you HAVE to try the Jalapeno Gator Sausage. I'll leave it at that. Now quit reading my review and go eat already!

Paulina M.

Soooo good...I came here for a breakfast/lunch after another place was closed, and I am so glad that ended up being the case. I don't remember the appetizer or breakfast I had but I do remember liking it, and being crazy stuffed. But what I really remember are the beignettes. OMG. This was a surprise that came with the coffee or tea (not sure which) that we did not order but was a "free" side. These pseudo doughnuts with powder were MMMazing. I spent that night comparing prices for deep friers b/c I wanted to make them so much (I also searched for places I could get them in Chicago but didn't come up with much). The rose tea was great as well, but the beignettes.

Emma M.

This is by far my favorite brunch place. We called them Sunday morning and asked if we could make a reservation for that morning. When we walked in there they had a table waiting for us and still had about a 45 minute wait. I felt like I was sitting in the old south- Savannah or charleston. The decor was great. I seriously had the hardest time deciding what to eat. Everything looked and smelled amazing. I wasn't extremely hungry since we just walked a mile in sweltering heat so I just ordered 2 eggs, cheese grits, toast and bacon. The cheese grits are to die for. I also tasted my friends fish and grits which melted in my mouth. They also served us bignettes (spelling?) for free which were delicious! I will have the pancakes next time. Can't wait to go back!

grant s.

We went for a "business lunch" and were there for over 2 hours. We met Paul the owner, really nice and helpful with the menu, and Terry our waitress. She clearly conveyed the passion and commitment they are about at Big Jones! We started with fried green tomatoes. Light, delicious, and full of flavor. I had the grassfed beef burger. Yummy! The macaroni and cheese is REAL GOOD (check my profile) and I had to order 1 more to go. Marlene had pulled pork sandwich (which I tasted) and it pulled my tastebuds right to attention. Jesse had Gumbo and it was down right tasty too. I'm going back for dinner.

Mike S.

I've been here twice, once for brunch and once for dinner. Both times, I didn't want to leave. The atmosphere is kind of "southern minimalist" (or something like that), the ingredients are local and fresh, and the dishes have unique flavors -- the gumbo makes me want to happy dance.

Douglas O.

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Mike D.

Since we only just visited once I can't go 5 stars - but it's definitely a possibility after another stop. We started with the potato croquettes which were pretty good. Nothing earth shattering, but a tasty start. For our mains I had the burger with fontina cheese, which was the best burger I've had in some time. I go medium on burgers, and it's surprisingly rare (no pun intended) to actually get a medium burger. But this was spot on. My wife had the scallops special which she liked a lot. For dessert it was the red velvet cake, which I've never had before. Who knew beets could make for a good sweet, but there it is. Very tasty! Lots more to try - we'll definitely be back.

Joel C.

What a difference a few months make. Obviously, Big Jones has taken a lot of the criticism on this site to heart, because my second experience at this Southern Coastal Cuisine spot reversed all of my sad experiences with everything on the line: brunch with the IN LAWS! I've been meaning to go back and give Big Jones a second shot. I had hoped that the flops of my initial experience would just amount to kinks of a new establishment, I am thrilled to admit that they have been worked out! Sure, I was in for brunch, but what I experienced the second time around was an entirely perfect dining experience, full of exciting and unique menu options, perfect preparation and brilliant service! Beignets are as advertised: light, moist, buttery and sweet. Cocktails are refreshing and unique--a greyhound cooler was the perfect post-party remedy. Sharers rejoice! A very diverse menu offers savory new-school takes on Southern Comfort food, incorporating spicy, buttery and fresh into every bite. It is only with friends that you can dig that fork into the many options that seemed to be prepared to perfection all around us. My Eggs Rochambeau were addicting and likely horrible for me. Sirloin slices were rare and juicy, sitting above some of the best potato pancakes I've ever had..better than my mom's latkes! The Tasso ham & cheese sandwich is delicious, perfectly crispy and rich. Those damned fried onions, potatoes and okra with a zippy cream dipping sauce are awesome! My mother-in-law's fried green tomato BLT was the perfect combination of tangy, salty, crispy and creamy. Seriously, I don't think I stopped eating, whether it be off of my own plate or someone else's. I trashed the grits in my last review. I loooooove grits. I am so excited at how nicely prepared the cheese grits were this time around. Perfect! Creamy, cheesy, buttery, damn! A little hot sauce on top and you have a knockout compliment, as if one was necessary. I'm such a pig, I ordered them as a side. I'm very glad I did. Service has a taken a huge leap forward. Our server was bubbly, gracious and happy to have us. Front staff were incredibly polite and offered happy waves to us on our way out. I would highly recommend Big Jones for brunch. A combination of unique offerings, great hangover cocktails and friendly service make it the perfect place to take in a slow Sunday morning. The flavors and people will be sure to brighten your day. I'll be back soon to try dinner again. Welcome to Andersonville, Big Jones!

David Steven R.

We went there for Xmas Eve dinner, 2010. The food was excellent, but the portion sizes -- except for the Prime Rib and dessert -- were absurdly small. This was a pricey meal, and I expected more than two slices of beet on a plate (I'm not exaggerating).

Robert S.

I had the most amazing dining experience last night at Big Jones! The place is swanky. I love the colors and the neat tables and chairs. very upscale but managed to keep a southern feel. The paintings were also interesting. We ordered sweet tea first, and they brought a out a bottle of simple syrup with our tea so we could make it as sweet as we wanted. Brilliant! We ordered the Crawfish Croquettes for an appetizer. I was sad that there were only three... until I took a bite. There was so much flavor in each bite, it was definitely worth the price. The accompanying spicy mayo was tasty. For the main course, I ordered the special- I have no idea what the name of it was, but it was THE BEST PORK CHOP I HAVE EVER HAD. The meat was succulent, and it was drizzled in savory sauce with perfect spiciness. The pork chop was served on some excellent cheese grits, with a wonderful spicy okra/ rice/bacon mix on the side. I could eat this every day i think. WOW. My sweetea had the Fried Green Tomato BLT and she was just as impressed with the quality and flavor. Our waiter was on the ball. Very attentive without crowding. He kept up the great service, even bringing us new forks for each course, and keeping our tea filled. Our main courses took a little while, but he kept us informed in the meantime. I told him I would come back every week if they added the pork chop to the permanent menu. We shared a Red Velvet cake for dessert, and it too was delicious. I can't wait to go back! Good thing Big Jones is only a few blocks from home.

Mike D.

I came in with my girlfriend for an early dinner. We were seated quickly as we were the second couple in the restaurant. The waitress gave us the specials and stared at us for a few seconds without saying anything. After a few awkward moments I gave her my drink order and that got us a few minutes to decide what were going to eat. I ordered the Smoked Pork shoulder and Crispy Pork Belly, and she had the Crab Cake and the Burger. All in all I cannot complain a lick about the food. The Pork Belly had some great tastes, and both of our entrees were tasty. Not enough for 5 stars, but enough for 4. What knocked off the last star was the slightly offputting service. It wasn't bad, I just felt awkward all evening. From the awkward pre-order situation to having to practically get into a staring contest to get her attention, it just felt like we werent a priority.

Philip D.

Eggs New Orleans, Intelligentsia Coffee, Corpse Reviver cocktail, very attentive and friendly service. Best brunch I've had in some time, and also a plus that they stay open all day so a late brunch goer as myself can stop in right before 3 and not have to feel rushed because the place is closing. Will be back to try the Golden Graham Pancakes!

Daniel S.

This place is superbly executed! From the ample cocktail menu to the starters to the entrees, everything is cajun to the core! I had the pleasure of dining here last week, and very attentive and knowledgeable service helped us sample of bit of everything. In terms of starters, the shrimp is not to go unnoticed, nor are the ribs or gumbo for a main course. If you are looking for a solid cajun experience from cocktail through desert, Big Jones cannot be beat!

Mabrie B.

How did I get so lucky! I now have the best southern food restaurant just down the street from my house! Me and friend walked aimlessly down Clark st. And wondered into this new place. First we we were enamored with the charming, warm decor. We started with a mint juleps that was so perfectly made! A nice balance between the liquor and mint flavor. Next we ordered an appetizer, the relish plate. The server then brought out boiled peanuts...WOW what a treat! The relish plate was delicious but had I known I'd be getting the peanuts I'd of skipped it. I had a fried green tomato sandwich that was WAY too hard to pick up and eat but was yummy! And followed dinner with a red velvet cake made with beets. It was a little dry but i was so full and pleased with the rest of my meal I wasn't complaining. Over all this southern style restaurant was a hit! I'm telling everyone I know to check it out! So...GO!!!!!

natalie v.

I went here for brunch a few weeks ago. It was hard to make a decision on what to order, since so many things looked great. I settled on the Eggs Romero (poached eggs, potato cakes, pulled pork with a bbq sauce). I never finish my food, but forced myself to eat all of this. I didn't want to leave anything on my plate because it was so good. The sauce was nice and tangy, not sweet. I can't wait to go back to try their dinner.

Elizabeth H.

I was surprised to see such a high amount of low and so-so reviews for this place... but maybe I just got lucky? Anyway, in my few experiences this place has been wonderful. The food is always very fresh and the dishes are pretty creative. I have tried a few teas and liked all of the wait staff's suggestions. So far, I have not experienced these insane lines/waits that everyone keeps talking about, but it's possible I am just lucking out with lunch hour as opposed to weekend brunch outings. But the place is pretty tiny, so I can see where you would have to wait on a weekend. M. Henry (down the street) was the same way until they were able to expand a few years after they opened. The price for food is not ultra cheap, but the portions are more than enough to share, so it's a good way to cut the cost a bit. The waitresses are also very friendly and seem to have great suggestions. I really recommend giving this new little spot a try. It seems like it will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

Dr. M.

So after waiting months to try this place out, I was finally able to satisfy my curiosity - yes, curiosity in this instance...killed the cat! In search of southern soul food, I made my way to Big Jones. I was immediately impressed with the decor & the atmosphere. After being seated, I was furthered impressed with the waiter (Andy) and attendant (Mike). However, I was not so impressed with the food or their selection (lack thereof). I had the crab cakes, which were Ok and very (did I say extremely) small. They were paper-thin & I did my best to keep them from floating away. These "crab-crackers" were delicately placed on a pile of cubed potatoes; making them appear hearty (I got a hearty laugh at this magical feat). My "Voodoo Greens" were missing the conjured up spirit of spice, but the cornbread made the greens more palatable. Oh yeah, my friend had the $14.00 hamburger & fries...I've had better burgers at Culvers! At least the alcoholic drinks made me delusional enough to enjoy the experience...oh yeah & Andy...and Mike! So, you are definitely paying for the service (excellent), atmosphere & decor. As far as the food...I think I'll try the place next door. Sorry Big Jones...you have to do better

Alison F.

Glad to have you Big Jones, you take slightly heavy and meaty and put it on the pedestal it deserves. I had the Fried Green tomato BLT - amazing - the tangy tomato complemented the rich and perfectly cooked bacon. My friend had the burger, which might be my new favorite in the 'hood. I heard the sausage dishes were great - although I didn't try them myself - and they had a good selection of microbrews. My only disappointments were two bland dishes: (a comment that I read below from others) the chicken liver appetizer reminded me of a McD's nugget, and the mac-and-cheese was nearly completely lacking in flavor. But all in all a great new addition to the dinner scene.

david b.

There is a certain vibe that a restaurant that gets the concept and is trying to make it exudes. Enter Big Jones. Remember when restaurants didn't reek of corporate clustafug? Enter Big Jones. Once walked in for brunch, every customer in shorts and flipflops and the host looked like he stepped out of Hugo Boss ad. And once asked for two wines neither which they had, so waiter brought out third wine on the house. nice menu allows allows for light or entree style eating - whateva your creole loving ass desire.

Erin T.

I'm looking forward to having actual dinner here. I came by myself during tea time (like 2:30 or 3:00, so I could have a pot of tea and a little snack and enjoy my book. I felt a little weird, since there was no one else by his or herself, and in fact there was only one other table occupied. Hearing all about the tea made me think this would be more like a coffee house, or a relaxation room or something. But even though it's more like a restaurant, I had a nice time sitting in the window and drinking my lovely tea. I also had the crab salad, which was crisp and tasty, and the deviled eggs. Not the best deviled eggs in the whole word, but I would sure as hell eat them (and I did). Looking forward to trying the food at a regular mealtime.

Laurie V.

I was attracted to Big Jones because I thought that the menu was unique to the neighborhood and that it stood out in that overwhelming row of restaurants. And of course the Daily Candy suggestion didn't hurt! We went on a busy Thursday night but were quickly seated. Our server was very friendly and gave great suggestions. All of the food was presented well-you could tell that everything was put on the plate with care and garnished nicely. The appetizers were delicious-we had a Crab & Wild Mushroom Pie which was like a savory empanada. We also had the Potato Herb Croquettes which just melted in my mouth. I didn't think the Pickled Bean Salad sounded appetizing on the menu but I am glad my husband was adventurous because it was one of the highlights of the meal. I had the house salad which was fresh, but not as tasty as the other salad. My husband ordered the Tallgrass Beef Burger and it was delicious! I would totally go back for that. And I will quite confidently say it was the best macaroni and cheese ever. I had the Baby Back Ribs which were cooked well-pulled right off the bone and nicely seasoned. And we loved that Plenty (fried onion, potato, okra medley.). I will say that the peach fried ice cream was a little bland, but the mud pie was rich and delicious. I have read the other reviews and I hope people give this new venture a chance. I was a little leery of going to a brand new place but was really pleased with the experience. For being new they had a lot of things going right and I think that with a little time this place could really be fantastic.

jillian d.

Big Jones, your name is well-deserved. The best thing about this place is the unique menu and ambiance - I have not found another place like this in Chicago. Okay, okay, I have never been to New Orleans so I can't give the genuine seal of approval, however it's very pleasant and makes you feel like you are somewhere else. After discussion with the hostess/bartender the unique menu is ever-changing due to seasonal fresh ingredients - this is down to the complimentary tasters (equivalent to bread and butter) which could include cornbread cakes with butter or spicy oil with crackers. Check this out Chicago: Pre-fix 4-course menu Monday-Friday for $25!!!!!!!!! holy, holy. I kid you not. Who likes to eat like a queen besides me? Sign yourself up for this treat. Other specials listed on the menu and also brunch available. As a bonus, upon my first visit, coupon for free appetizer with entree purchase for next time. Drinks are fabulous and unique to the new orleans style - pomegranate margaritas are good. Old fashioned cherry cola (vodka) great given I'm not even a vodka drinker. Drink prices are in medium range. Casual seating at the bar for appetizers, drinks or seating at tables available as well. I really hope this business makes it though "these tough economic times". Prices on main menu are a bit high, but worth it. Just go and have an appetizer and drink. Make friends.

Anna C.

Best. Brunch. Ever. Beignets, delicious coffee and you cant go wrong with whatever you decide to order that day. My favorite.

Kari P.

My husband and I noticed this place today, and stopped in for lunch. The decor is pretty nice, with a Southern theme that isn't overwhelming. The menu isn't huge, but it has a good variety, and there weren't too many things I didn't want to try. We were served beignettes before the meal, which were pretty tasty. We both ordered iced tea (one pomegranate and one passion fruit), and both were delicious. They bring the iced tea in a carafe for each person, then bring your flavor in a separate beaker-like thing so that you can add as much or little as you would like. Because we are like large children, we enjoyed this. My husband said, "I like it, it's like science." But seriously, it was very good. Besides the iced teas, they have an extensive hot tea menu that looked good as well. We ordered the Shrimp Burger and the Fried Green Tomato BLT. Both were really flavorful, and the green sauce that comes with the side dish was great on the side and the sandwiches. The side is a mix of fried okra, fried onions, and french fries. I didn't think I would like it because the fries looked overcooked and I've never had okra, but all of it was very good. The waitress was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. She said that they have only been open for about a week and a half. We asked to see a dinner menu and were excited to return for several things on that menu. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised. I have never really had "upscale Southern" cuisine before, though Big Jones made it work well. We will definitely be returning.

Morgan O.

Excellent and creative. Those are the 2 words I would use to describe dinner at Big Jones. It's unique and delicious. The spicy pork small plate is divine and the shrimp and grits were fab. Between the 3 people dining with me, there were a couple of so-so plates including the cod in curry sauce and picollo dish which is entirely vegan. If it weren't for those "blah" moments, I would have thrown out 5 stars. Great food, great service, lovely atmosphere.

Kirk J.

I loved it. My wife and I have been twice and the experience both times were very nice. Beautiful decor, obscure southern soul music, attentive wait staff, and very good food. I especially enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with the spicy mac & cheese on the side. Make sure you get the sweet tea made with simple syrup. They have good vegetarian options as well. My wife had black bean fritters with a side salad with home made green goddess dressing. YUM! They do cook some dishes with peanut oil so be careful. If you have food allergies let them know. It made me feel like I was in Savannah again.

Vera J.

Sorry Jones, but you are far less sexy than the Indiana variety. First off, experience #1 here involved me asking for coffee with cream, and you bringing me a cafe au lait and charging me extra. And then being rude when I pointed it out. Experience #2 involved your restaurant being almost entirely empty, and still having to wait 15 minutes for you to bring back my credit card when I attempted to pay. Experience #3 takes the cake, with you deciding not to write down our order (which granted, had a few substitutions due to vegetarianism), you bringing me a meal without the substitution (but still charging me for it) and you bringing my friend a completely different meal than she asked for and not bothering to come back to the table after serving us to let us tell you it was wrong. So we ate what we were given, and then when we pointed out, upon receiving the bill, that you'd given us multiple wrong things and charged us for them, you got angry at us. And then told us you were frustrated because you just wanted us to be happy. The food could be better, since this place is more expensive than most of the other brunch places in the hood. And since there are so many amazing ones in the area (Tweet, M. Henry, Taste of Heaven) I think I will go there next time. 3 times was not the charm, and I have gotten all Temple of Doom, with no sexy Harrison Ford. I'm Jonesin for something else.

David G.

Well, we actually did eat here. Friday, relatively early in the evening. They put us as a couple in a back room that was dominated by a table of 8 or so people who were having a grand time. Their boisterousness was a somewhat good sign until we realized that they didn't even have their drinks yet. It was tough to hold a steady side conversation without being drowned out. Great space for a small semi-private party, but a bad one for multiple conversations. Regardless of atmosphere, we were enticed by the menu's Louisana style offerings. As such, one of us had the gumbo, the other got a shrimpburger. Both arrived in relatively short time, but were a bit bland. We were really hoping for some actual spice, but to no avail. Perhaps if we go back we could specify to increase the heat? The gumbo's presentation, consistency, and many of its flavors were there, but it really lacked any umph. The shrimpburger seemed to have not been seasoned at all. The waitstaff helped make up for the lacking food and atmosphere. Our waiter was attentive and considerate. We will try this place again if only because of that and a hope that the kitchen will up the heat (and flavor) quotient in the near future.

I recently ate at Big Jones for the first time, and it won't be the last. Big Jones is a Southern/Creole/Cajun style restaurant, serving lunch and dinner 7 days a week, and breakfast on the weekends. We went for Sunday brunch. The storefront-type restaurant is nicely and creatively decorated. The service was very good: attentive server and bus people, as well as an accomodating host. The food.very good! I had a bacon-cheddar-green onion omelet, served with a side of potatoes O'Brien. Both were very good: most noticeably, neither the omelet nor the potatoes were greasy in the least (something that seems to happen too often at brunch). My friends both had the corncakes with eggs and red beans. Also worth noting: they have a tea menu, which is exciting for a tea fan like me. Also, they serve beignets as kind of breakfast bread basket. I didn't think the beignets were as good as I've had in New Orleans, but then again we're in Chicago, not New Orleans! I don't know another place in Chicago that serves beignets, so it was nice to have them. I give Big Jones three stars instead of four only because I think it's a bit pricey. I think the price is justified (good ingredients, good cooking), but it's a bit more than we usually spend at brunch. I'll definitely go back!

Gerty L.

I was a little surprised at how small the restaurant is. The entry door was separated from the dining room with a heavy velvet curtain and our table felt very drafty. The menu was interesting. We tried the Gumbo, Shrimp over Grits and the Burger. Everything was well done except for the Gumbo which was made with a dark roux. It came out a tad dark that we had a hard time visually identifying the ingredients of the dish. Service was good and waitress was friendly.

Stephanie A.

I couldn't love this place more. Amazing drinks (the gin fizz is to die for!), fantastic food (god I crave the hominy and egg scramble), and super nice and efficient wait staff make this place my go-to weekend brunch place. And don't even get me started on the powdered sugar pastry goodness that they serve to everyone before your meal. OK, have to go wipe the drool from my desk!

Genevieve K.

I needed a change-up from Charlie's Ale House, and Big Jones proved to have an equally lovely menu selection all its own. I had the salad with 2 BIG crab cakes on top and my bf had the burger. Everything was tasty (yes, I tasted both meals), they brought out a little appetizer of corn bread crackers and cream cheese spread while we waited, and feeling like a splurge I ordered the cranberry almond bread pudding to go. The bread pudding didn't get added to the bill, so (like idiots) we brought the waiter's attention to it - then . . . the magic words were uttered: "Oh - no- it's free dessert night." Magic!! The bread pudding was delicious in addition to being free: it was more almondy- not the usual gooey and caramely, which suited me just fine. I can't wait to go back on a Tuesday for Fried Chicken night!

kris r.

I had a wonderful birthday brunch at Big Jones today. The food was amazing and the waiter was very attentive. The service wasn't fast, so be prepared for a slow paced meal and rest assured that the meal will be worth it! Our party tried the Eggs New Orleans, Corn Cakes, and the burger and they were all fantastic. And the beignets were the best I've ever had!

Garin J.

Being the offspring of two South Siders, I never tasted anything remotely southern until I went to college down in mid Illinois. Even then it was dumpster quality at best, but I grew to appreciate the necessary spice and thick flavors of southern and especially cajun cooking. I had Big Jones over a month ago so I can't quite remember all the appetizers we had, but the crab cakes were so good I contemplated throwing out all my thousands of years of instilled civility to kill my table mates for more, it was like learning to share all over again. For dinner I had the alligator sausage. Boss. Yes that's a descriptive word from the 90s but it can't be helped. The sausage was full of flavor and coupled nicely with some assorted greens. It went welll with the scottish ale I had off the beer list too. Quick word on the beer list, it will definitely open you up to a great new assortment of brews, but if you're a traditionalist, they got PBR. The atmosphere was very pleasent, it helped that we spent most of our meal as practically the only customers. The staff was friendly, good conversationalists, and even demostrated where parts of the pig came from using their own bodies. This only got weird once, but my knowledge of select cuts of meat will never be the same.

michael b.

Wow less than half full on a Saturday and for good reason. We used to love this place but the service has declined and prices have gone through the roof. Food was good besides cold beignets coming out 1 minute before food and a half a rotten avocado on the corn cake dish. Ordered a sausage dish that never came. We are done with big jones unless we have a big party on sat or sun and are desperate for a table

S H.

Had a great experience at Big Jones. The food was amazing and the bartender makes some fabulous drinks. The place was super busy but we were seated promptly for our reservation. My favorite dish was an appetizer - the Crawfish Gnochhi. Also had a fried chicken salad that was superb. The batter on the chicken was addictive. Shrimp and grits were tasty, tasty, tasty. All in all, a great dining experience for a special occasion or when you've got some money to burn. I am still craving everything...

Beth S.

Melt-in-your-mouth, sinfully delicious. I had the corn cakes and it was heaven. Our server was a delight. Definitely do not go here, so that I can be sure I get a table every time ;-)

Lesley W.

Four stars for the food, 2 for the service. Our waitress was either high or mentally challenged. I can deal with slow service (about 10-15 minutes between each drink order and receiving a drink), but her inability to remember anything was frightening. I placed an order and rather than write it down, she would start to repeat it, then say "wait I forgot, what did you want?" This process was repeated at least twice more as she headed toward the kitchen and needed to be reminded of our order. She was incredibly slow on the check and tried to have us order dessert and coffee before our entree arrived. I'm pretty sure she had forgotten to put our entree order in entirely. Had we ordered coffee, no meal. I'm usually pretty forgiving of mistakes- being a waitress is a largely thankless task, but her incompetence nearly ruined the meal.

Eric F.

This place is fantastic. Went for brunch and I have zero complaints. Service was good, food was great. They have a ton of delicious gluten free options too!

Mary W.

I was sad when Augie's closed, and I probably will always be a bit nostalgic about the place. BUT Big Jones was excellent right off! The service was fun and friendly, we all loved the food - I had the Eggs Logan ( I think that's what it was called): poached eggs on top of potato cakes with pulled pork and this super-yummy, vinegar-y spicy sauce. YUM! My friend had the Andouille and sweet potato biscuits, which we all also loved, and the boys had Fried Green Tomato BLTs - loved! I really loved the yummy crunchy fried bits that came with the sandwiches. The beignets were good, and we also all got Ginger Dimples to drink - OH YUM!! Love it, glad they're in the neighborhood! A welcome addition to Andersonville and our new favorite breakfast spot! :))

Karen S.

Had a great dinner at Big Jones! The food was great, as were the drinks!The staff was very helpful with making recommendations and answering any questions we had about the menu. . ..Another bonus? The chef supports local farms which totally rocks! Would definitely go back!

Thea C.

Some friends took me there for dinner and I was very pleasantly surprised. I am gluten intolerant, and at first looking at the menu I wasn't sure there would be anything I could eat, between breadcrumbs, deep fried things and cornbread. But then I asked our waiter about gluten-free options, and it turned out they have lots! The cornbread they brought before the meal was gluten-free and delicious, then for my entree I got deep-fried catfish (battered in rice flour) with greens and cheese grits - YUM! They even had a gluten-free dessert -- a chocolate tart with a somewhat odd but still tasty accompaniment of cream cheese frosting, raspberry granola (made from puffed rice), pumpkin butter and a truffle. The service was great, and the food was delicious (and a lot was local, organic, and/or sustainably raised). It was so exciting to be able to eat 3 courses of foods I usually wouldn't dare touch in a restaurant. Thank you for a scrumptious meal!

Quantas G.

I am a southern boy. I love southern food, soul food, southern comfort food, etc. My momma is well known and regarded for her soul food straight from the low country of South Carolina. Given that, I enjoyed the food at Big Jones. The dishes were flavorful and inventive. However I do take issue with the accompanying pretentious and price. And I assure that some of the things good southern food is NOT is pretentious or pricey. It comes from the soul. It's made with cheap ingredients. Have you ever shopped for catfish, collard greens, sweet potatoes or cabbage? There are some of the cheapest things you can find. I don't knock them for putting twist on the classics but altering the essence of the dish and charging a buttload for it goes against the heart of southern cooking. If you do give Big Jones a 'go' I recommend the Chef's special of the day. The three courses gives you a chance to try different dishes. I started with a bitter green salad with a vinaigrette. (Never heard of it in southern cooking but oh well.) It was good but didn't remind me of anything remotely southern. The cornbread was a little dry and unimpressive. My entire was a great southern staple of fish and grits. I had the blackened catfish with smooth & velvety cheese grits. This dish was spot on...except for a weird and overly sweet pecan sauce over top of the fish. Next time I would order it without the pecan glaze and save it for some pancakes. I finished my meal with red velvet cake. It was good but not necessarily noteworthy. The question remains: would I return? The answer is yes if my momma came to town. I want her to try it because there's not many places you can have fussy southern food.

Ang R.

Three and a half. The consensus is dead-on. The beignet treat to start out the meal was a nice surprise, and I have to say, the non-menu mimosa was fine (and CHEAP, I thought). I also LOVED the fried green tomatoes. The remoulade on them was delicious, although I didn't like the pickled shrimp so much. I think that's an just a taste issue, however, and not so much that the shrimp were bad. Other people at the table enjoyed pumpkin pancakes; other people at the table did not enjoy the baked apple very much. (It wasn't done enough inside.) My boyfriend had the cottage cheese pancakes, and like them--I had a bite, and thought they were quite good. I had the Eggs Romero, and I think I'm just not a huge grits fan. But I adored the pulled pork (and the BBQ sauce), and the poached eggs were...poached eggs. I'd love to try dinner here, and I'd even like to make a return brunch trip, to try something else. I'm not sure it's quite worth the haul to Andersonville all the time, but it's worth it every once in a while.

Melissa H.

Fried okra, how do I love thee?? Let me count the ways...1,2,3,4,5,6 - hey, where'd the rest of my fried okra go?!?! That my friends, may have been the only downside to Big Jones. When something says that it comes with fries and okra I expected almost equal amounts of both. Not a hundred potato sticks and 6 delectable fried bits o' heaven. Alas, this was the case. Next time, I will order an entire side. That being said, the BJ is pretty good in my humble Southern raised opinion. Appetizers...The fried green tomatoes? TO.DIE.FOR. The only place in the city that I've found that they were actually "green" tomatoes, served with a remoulade which is just a fancy name there for spicy mayonnaise. The chedder herb croquettes? Ooey cheesy herby fried goodness, swimming in a pool of green goddess dressing. Are we sensing a theme here? Fried. It be good. Dinner...I order the Baby Back Ribs. Not amazing, but not awful. I like my ribs wet, some like them dry. These were kinda in the middle, so that was weird. They probably could've been smoked longer because they weren't as fallin' off the bone as they should have been, but tenderness aside the flavor was okay. I won't go into another fried okra diatribe...you know how I feel about that already. Other courses ordered at my table were the Shrimp and Grits, the Pecan Catfish, and the Porterhouse. Ain't nothing wrong with a creamy cheesy bowl of grits, with or without the shrimp, and the catfish had a mustard sauce on it that I would be happy at any point in time to lick off any willing friend or stranger. My dad ate the porterhouse before I could get a taste; so my guess is that it was good. Dessert: I'm biased here. I'm a pastry chef, and almost never order dessert because I'm always disappointed. Well, I'm going 50/50 on this one. The Apple Crumble Fruit Tart - skip it. I don't know why they didn't peel the apples beforehand, but it gave the tart a rubbery consistency. the brown sugar ice cream that they served with it was too frozen, super icey and over-churned. Not good. However...the Mississippi Mud Pie was awesome. Warm fudgy chocolaty heaven on a plate. With unsweetened whipped cream - which was fine because it didn't need any more suga'. Oh, and it was topped with toasted mini marshmallows. I love toasted mini marshmallows. Overall, service was, well - odd. They weren't busy, and one second our server was hovering and the next he'd up and disappeared on us. I liked the atmosphere, the lighting, the curtains...and clean, nice smelling bathrooms but not in an over-sterlized Clorox kind of way. Mmmm....fried okra.

Eleabir D.

Yummiest lunch at Big Jones today! Chicken salad to die for. . .extremely time consuming to make I'm sure as well as delicious. Generous portion of succulent raspberries as well as other fruit, corn muffins, etc. Heavenly ginger iced tea. And Aaron, the waiter was helpful as well as friendly. So nice! Thank you!

Allison E.

Siiiiiiiigh. Lovely. Just, lovely. I had such a nice meal here that I am still mooning over it in my memories. I had the special, which turned out to be venison with venison sausage, zucchini pancake, bacon, a blueberry reduction, and a bunch of other deliciousness. Maybe it sounds like a strange combination but It worked deliciously. It was eyes rolled back in head good. I was so thrilled as I love love love venison and only get to eat it rarely. OH! and the cornbread cakes with honey butter were no joke! We topped of the meal with the red velvet cake, and, as an extra bonus, our server announced to my dining companion and I, that the chef had been experimenting, and presented us with two dark dark chocolate truffles. I am officially in love with Big Jones. Surprise truffles? Be still my beating heart.

Vanessa V.

I'm so conflicted about Big Jones. We had a great dinner here a couple of months ago--rabbit confit with noodles and a very flavorful roasted fish--which was obviously so good that I actually remember what we ordered weeks later. So we returned for brunch recently and had indifferent service and mediocre food. After being seated, it took so long for us to even get water that I asked the hostess if we had a server, and then it still took several more minutes for us to actually see said server; it did not improve from there. Of the food we got, the beignets and the pork terrines were both quite tasty, but both of our popovers were overcooked and some of my potatoes were actually burned. The eggs and meat were fine, which--isn't cooking eggs correctly harder than not burning potatoes? I considered sending it back, but our server was so MIA and the food so slow to begin with that it wasn't worth the bother. So I'm on the fence and I'm not really sure which is real Big Jones. We'll probably return since our dinner experience was so good, but I would certainly not go back for brunch.

Katie C.

Not bad, but not thrilling either. Our waiter was helpful and attentive, the dessert, bread pudding was the best part of the meal. A little over priced but not too bad. I was there for dinner, I hear they have great brunch, so if I return it will be for that.

Janet T.

So I went here tonight to take a friend out for her birthday--seemed like a good choice: great neighborhood, beautiful website, fun menu. We arrived and were seated immediately (we did have reservations). But then the "I'm too good for you" waiter showed up, read off some specials then left us to ourselves for the next 15 or so minutes. We ordered the potato croquettes and the pulled pork grits thing for appetizers. potato croquettes were fine, but not great. The pulled pork things were tangy and tasty but the execution on the grits was just so-so. I asked what a "Pilau" was and the waiter said--"It just means Pilaf"...which I take to mean American fried rice or Rice-a-Roni. What actually showed up was something more like shrimp and oyster (2--I counted) tomato soup with rice on the side. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good--it was something I'd make at home if I were trying to figure out how to clean out my fridge and I had too many tomatoes, some shrimp, and some oysters. My friend had the Fried Green Tomato BLT which looked impressive, but she ended up eating around the bread which was kind of sweet and voluminous, so she basically ended up with bacon and fried green tomatoes for dinner. And they DO take your plates and silverware super quickly! After all of this, we didn't have the nerve to try the red velvet cake--which looked the wrong color on the table next to ours anyway, so we decided to go down the street to "Taste of Heaven" and share a lovely piece of banana boston creme cake. Big Jones = Big disappointment.

Sandi S.

Okay, I would've said "Yay! I'm a fan" (4 stars) only when I went to dip into my yummy leftovers - still yummy ice cold, btw - they had only packaged the meat and not the sides! I was more excited for the cheesy grits and greens this morning than the catfish (which was still plump and moist out of the fridge), but alas, the busboy made the executive decision that I wouldn't want it. My group and I were so full after sampling so many apps (I will get to those) that I barely touched the entree, so it was a HUGE disappointment to not get the grits and greens that had come w/ my meal. ]o: The apps we tried ... fried green tomatoes, crawfish fritters, frog legs, cheddar croquettes, & house boucherie ... Fried Green Tomatoes: LOVED them! My friend Keren thought they were too hard, but a green tomato is unripe and hard by nature. I don't think I'd want a flavorful, crispy outside followed by a hot, mushy inside. The tomato being of a hearty consistency worked for me and my hubby. PS: The remolaude was FAN-TAS-TIC! Crawfish Fritters: Not a fan of these. Keren's & my hubby liked them, but K thought they tasted too fishy, and I thought they were more falafel than fritter. Froglegs: Tastes just like chicken! (Only chewier.) Seriously, it was a good experience having never tried them before. The bread-coating may've been a little too much though, it took away from the meat, but the legs were served with another KILLER sauce - sort of a marsala take that we all sopped up with the bread. Cheddar Croquettes: I really dug this one - crispy, flavorful outside, gooey, cheesy inside, & accompanied by another yummy sauce, like a mix b/w a green godess dressing and jalapeños. (This joint really should jar and sell their sauces!) K had a different idea of what a croqutte should be - something more along the lines of a puff pastry - but the deep-fried preparation rang true to me. House Boucherie: My hubby had asked for a small sample of the head cheese first which the waitress happily obliged. I tried head cheese for the first time in my life, folks, and it was scrumptious! There was a slight consistency issue at first (half lunchmeat, half jello-y), but when the taste expanded, I really enjoyed it! It was zesty like a good deli Genoa salami and the gents loved it equally. All the meats and pickled veggies on the platter are made in-house and you could really taste the quality. Entrees we tried ... gumbo, pecan catfish, peach tea pork chop, shrimp & grits, benne chicken ... Gumbo: So I'm used to Zatarain's (what I use @ home) and I was initially put off by the deep brown color and hit-you-over-the-head bold flavor @ Big Jones, but after I got over the side-by-side comparison, I really enjoyed Big Jones' gumbo and there was definitely an authenticity about it. Pecan Catfish: My entree. The one that was sent home sans grits & greens. The catfish was plump and juicy and well seasoned and not at all fishy tasting. I thought there would be more pecan flavor infused into the pan-fried breaded sear, but there were plenty of crunchy, sauteed pecans embellishing the plate. The grits were a little stiffer than I had anticipated, but I attributed that to all the cheese. They were tasty on their own w/out me salt-and-peppering (which weren't even on the tables). The greens were sweet and sassy and simply delicious. Peach Tea Pork Chop: This chop could stand next to ANY steak and hold it's own. Served medium-rare-to-medium, it was a tender, savory, healthy portion adorned with cubed sweet potatoes in a thick, sweet gravy/sauce that spoke very southern to me. Shrimp & Grits: K's hubby ordered this one. He felt like it was a titch cold, but he acknowledged that it was probably prepared first and waiting on the others. He stirred it around and the creaminess was quickly restored and he said it was very good. If this was served with the same shrimp that adorned the green tomatoes app (I had forgot to mention that), I gotta believe it was excellent. Benne Chicken: K ordered this dish and wasn't madly in love w/ it. Granted, we were full from the apps, but her reaction to it was pretty reserved. She said the chicken was good, but she didn't like the sauce. I went home with her leftover chicken, and honestly, it was just average. Decor ... fancier than I expected. I'd rather a grittier appearance, but it was nice. Service ... the waitress was great and accomodating. She forgot one cocktail round, but she laughed at her own "oops" in a way that was forgiving and endearing. The busser on the other hand was attentive to the point of being near annoying. The restaurant swaps out silverware/plates after every course and for me, it was too much. I love exemplary customer service, but in this case, the above and beyond was intrusive. We'd be in the middle of an antimated conversation, and he'd be up in us clearing the table ruining the moment, not to mention, leaving a crucial part of my entree out of the to-go package.

Jacob T.

One of my favorite restaurants in Andersonville... if not the city. Have been for dinner once and brunch once. Both fabulous. The warm beignets with brunch are a great way to wake your palate up for the delicious-ness to come. I had the country breakfast with cheese grits to die for. For dinner, the shrimp and grits and their gumbo du jour are both good choices. The interior along with the food transport you to the South. You must go! I still have yet to try the desserts.

Robert B.

This place seems to already have some buzz in the neighborhood, and I was really looking forward to trying this place out...but, sadly, I wasn't too impressed. First off, the layout is not ideal for dining - essentially an expanded hallway with waitstaff and busboys running everywhere. We made reservations, and were seated right in the middle of all the action - a table in the middle of the hallway, next to the bar and just across from the kitchen doorway. I think I was knocked three times while dining by the bustling staff. Not to mention you have someone's butt in your face since everyone is standing around the bar waiting to be seated. Also, the lighting was far too bright. The food was okay - the gator sausage is pretty good. But I just felt rushed the entire time. Our waitress was efficient, but abrupt. It's not worth another trip for me.

Kori M.

So I know that I ate here. In fact I ate here in June. Unfortunately, I really don't remember what I ate or if I liked it or not. That's a bad sign. I do remember the place was very cute on the inside. A little cramped but we got a great window seat. It's a shame that I remember the decor more then I remember the food. Maybe I didn't eat the right stuff. Maybe the native New Orleanian in me won't let me remember. Either way I know it wasn't terrible (I would have remembered that) but apparently it didn't wow me either.

T M.

Made reservations for Saturday at 11:30 was seated promptly. Service was good however, my date felt like we were being rushed through Brunch and our table was being eyed by the maitre d. We had the migas and the pumpkin pancakes. The eggs were great. The pumpkin pancakes...not so much. The crawfish fritters and beignets were good. The red velvet cake was not really red velvet cake as mentioned b4. However, the cream cheese icecream made this little faux pas inconsequential. Will try again soon. There's too much on the menu to let some "seasonal addition" deter future visits

Patrick P.

Had a wonderful dinner here with my friend who just moved to the neighborhood. We were just walking down the street looking for chow and decided on this. Great decision! Perfect mix of casual and fancy. Nice staff. Delicious food. Comfort food without feeling nasty afterward! I had the shrimp with cheese grits, it was wonderful. My cup of coffee was disappointing (milk is NOT half&half!) but it didn't really matter by then.

Jessica M.

To start off: The food tastes good. I really want to give this place more stars, but honestly, we were so put off by the service and ridiculousness that I am not going back. We arrived around 11:45 on a Sunday for brunch. It was rather busy, but there was no line. We were seated by one of the owners, which was cool-- then the server came by, introduced herself, left for ten minutes, came back and introduced herself again, then took our drink and food orders. We ordered Crawfish Boudin Fritters, Sweet Potato Biscuits as apps, and Migas,two orders of Eggs New Orleans, and chicken fingers (for the two year old that was with us) as entrees. There was an issue requesting scrambled eggs instead of poached on one of the Eggs New Orleans ("I'm not sure if we can do that, I'll have to clear that with Chef first", the server stated. -- Note: She did not refer to him as "the Chef", but as "Chef") and for the kid's meal there was an issue with figuring out what veggie sticks were (whether raw, cooked, potato-chip-ish or what) and he ended up getting served french fries despite a lengthy discussion regarding interest in the veggie sticks. Ordering was an irritating experience as the waitress didn't know how to describe ANY of the food or drinks we had questions about, and then made us feel like we were the biggest jerks on the planet for wasting her time and "altering" the Chef's Masterpiece. It was silly that one would have to "ask Chef" as to whether or not my eggs could be scrambled. They are eggs. There are a bunch of other dishes that offer scrambled eggs-- so I'm not asking for them to be stirred with a unicorn horn or anything ridiculous. All but one drink arrived, as they were "working on" the Bloody Mary that was ordered (it arrived about ten minutes later)...and once we got our food (which was delicious) my friend asked the waitress to order a Creole Croque Madame to go for her husband who was unable to join us. At this point, every table around us had packed up their little to-go boxes and left, we were the only people in the back room. The waitress came back a few minutes later and told us that Chef would not make the Creole Croque Madame, and that they could not fulfill to-go orders as there were too many customers to serve. Really!? Too busy to make an entree. Why not just make the sandwich and stick it in a box?! Had we ordered dessert would we not have been able to receive it? Or would they have been "too busy" to make that as well? Please tell "Chef" that he needs to hire competent a waitstaff and that if a customer would like to order something off the menu they should be able to receive it-- scrambled, in a box, or any other way within reason. And what the hell are Veggie Sticks?! We never did find out. - Don't refer to someone I don't know as "Chef"...unless his first name is Chef...just say "the chef" - Know your menu and be able to explain it if you're a server - Allow your customers to order what they want! Turning away orders is absurd. - In response to the owner's comment: We didn't feel the "happy to fulfill requests" vibe in the least.

Amy M.

I was disappointed by Big Jones. I got there at 9am on a Sunday for brunch and there were already people waiting at the door to be let in. We got a seat right away. (I refuse to be put on a wait for a place that I don't know is going to be excellent.) Three out of the four beignets that were brought to us were great. The fourth was crunchy. Potato chip crunchy. That ain't what a beignet should be; it really shouldn't have been served. I had the egg breakfast with grits and the crawfish fritters. The grits were good, but not exceptional. The toast was bland, and no toppings (jam, butter) for it were offered. The crawfish fritters were yummy, though. Had a nice spicy kick to them and good chunks of crawfish. Might have been nice to have a creamy sauce to balance the spice. My friend had an omlette, which he said was good, but not great. The coffee cups are huge and cafe au lait is a nice touch. They also have a good selection of hot teas of all different sorts -- black, white, red, etc. Our server was friendly and chatty, but not overly so. When she made a mistake on my friend's order, she comped his breakfast. All in all, it just seemed a little too bland for my taste. When I think of southern cooking, I think of big flavor, and that seemed to be missing from Big Jones. I might go back to see if dinner is any better, and for the crawfish fritters.

Sonia R.

*sigh* As a southern gal living in Chicago for 9 years I was super excited when I got my daily candy about this place. The first thing I did was gather my Ladies Who Launch gal pals and made a brunch date. As a southerner I know what southern food should taste like. I was hoping the menu would be more authentic southern food, not GOURMET southern food that it's trying to be. We are going to try and give Big Joes another run for the money. Hopefully very soon. Still worth checking out.

Marsha F.

They need to work on their drinks!

Que C.

Well not as good as what I want it to be, I have fairly given Big Jones four chances to make me happy. The only reason why I am upgrading you from your previous 1 star review is because I am willing to admit I was a little harsh and your little bignes are so good. Breakfast and brunch is your saving grace... but I can't change what I feel about your dinners. Previous 1 Star Review: Utter Disappointment were the words uttered from the four of us that dined at big jones this past sunday evening. Who ever wrote the menu is genius because everything sounded amazing, unfortunately the food doesn't live up to the descriptions. What is popcorn rice? which seems to be the standard side with all the entrees....we still don't know as it was suspiciously like jasmine rice in appearance, taste and texture. The consensus was that every dish was like someone was trying to mimic Paula Deen's foodnetwork show without ever having experienced the food for themselves. It was like no one took the time to learn about this food in it's true cultural setting with all the romanticism surrounding it. The food was not even technically correct and the biggest problem: SOULLESS. The flavor is not there in this overrated daily candy hyped restaurant. And it is pretty sad when a braised rabbit comes out dry and tasting of leftover chicken. What was even worse is that while we were eating the staff was putting up the chairs on the tables and sweeping the floors at 9:45. Obviously the front of the house has no charm as well.

Dan N.

Took my wife for a nice holiday lunch and had read allot about the Fried Chicken...so we got the Family Style Boarding House lunch. It might be the best deal in town, the portions were enormous and all excellent. We ate left overs for 2 days. The Chicken is great the mashed and Gravy excellent , the Greens we some of the best I have had. Made me realize I dont use near enough vinegar in mine own. Some of our favorite things were the little things, the cornbread and honey butter and the best raspberry preserves I have ever eaten was served with the Biscuits. There was also a wonderful pepper jam that must be mentioned. We has some great Sweet tea also. I have read about some of the service issues and maybe it was because we were there at lunch and it was not very crowded but the service was perfect, our server was great very friendly and informative it really could not have been any better unless he paid the bill. It was some of the better service I have had at any restaurant any where!

Kelly G.

I went to Big Jones for their fix prix menu on Thanksgiving, and I wasn't disappointed. Let's go through the Pros and Cons, shall we? Pros: Great atmosphere, though tiny, I liked the feel of the place The crabcake with fried green tomato? AMAZING. There are no other words. It was the best part of the meal, hands down. The salad, with palm hearts and a tasty dressing was pretty good. The steak was cooked to perfection and had good flavor, and was tender The creamed spinach with tomatoes was shockingly excellent Good selection of local beers Cons: Small children in the back room? Seriously, you are going to shove a small child with us back in the cramped "party room"? Not cool. Thankfully the child fell asleep during the meal. They ran out of fried mashed potatoes - which was supposed to come with the steak. I was pretty sad as I had been looking forward to them. The other potato options were fries and hashbrowns. Seriously, with the amount I paid you were going to give me FRIES? I got them, and was highly disappointed. The entrees took FOREVER. At least 30 minutes if not more. We were compensated with a round of free drinks, which was nice. The waitress kept forgetting to bring us water, or ask us if we wanted more beer. I know it was busy, but they had ample staff. At least she was nice. My friend asked for her steak well done, and it was brought out medium rare. I know this is how the steak is "supposed" to be enjoyed, but give the lady what she wants! The steak was already sliced, and we would have had to wait forever for them to fire a whole new steak. There was no whipped cream on the sweet potato pie, which it desperately needed, especially when it was served with a pepper jelly ice cream. Despite the cons, the food was pretty fantastic for the most part. While I may not come back for a fix prix menu again (too pricey) I will DEFINITELY be back on a regular day - especially to get crab cakes or fried green tomatoes again!!!!

Jims L.

Cute brunch place as a nice change from typical pancakes, omlettes, and french toast menu.

John W.

Maybe I should go back for dinner before I give a rating and review but their brunch was good. If you like crawfish and or gay waiters, this is the place for you. First off, you get a side of Beignets for free. I had some sort of weird biscuits and gravy but it was brown gravy and red sausage. Not exactly what I was expecting and I was a little disappointed when I saw it but it ended up being really good. I kept seeing other plates of food which looked delicious but I have no idea what they were. Will need to go back for the baby back ribs and then give a full review. The bottom line is that it's a really nice place and it isn't very crowded so it's worth trying and will probably be better than M Henry but without the wait. UPDATE: Fried Chicken night is on Tuesdays. I wouldn't recommend missing that.

Britt K.

Yummy! The brunch food was delicious, along with a big cup of rich coffee. In addition, this place is beautifully decorated with a Southern Country touch. I could hang out at Big Jones all day with my girlfriends!

Connie W.

Wonderful dinner experience. Tasteful, soothing ambiance. Affordably priced. Exceptional service. Our waitress, Laura was very attentive and made perfect recommendations for wine and dessert. Food was amazing. Incredibly flavorful heirloom tomato appetizer. I'm trying to watch calories, so ordered one of the fish specials for the evening - walleye - which was cooked to perfection (I believe the waitress said "bronzed" (almost blackened)) with just the right amount of cajun seasoning and wonderful side servings of roasted potatos and succotash (which I hated as a kid, never ever ordered again until today and found I loved it - here at least). Absolutely delicious - and healthy - the perfect combo for me right now. My husband ordered the gumbo ya-ya which came with sides of saffron and a spicy sauce so it can be tailored exactly to your taste and consistency. Ya-ya! Heavenly peach tart with homemade blueberry ice cream and whipped cream. (which of course I only had a taste of ;) ) There was no one at the host stand when we left, but as we stepped out the door, the host came running out onto the sidewalk to thank us for coming. Could not have asked for a more welcoming atmosphere and satisfying dining experience! Well - maybe just one thing. We recently returned from Charleston, SC and had a fabulously decadent dinner of shrimp and grits. Hope to see that on Big Jones' menu some time!!

Leigh R.

Mmm. Comfort food. You don't even need to read the rest of this review because if you like hearty southern food, you just need to go. Now. Stop reading and go. (Ok, if you must read, you must.) First off, no idea that the decor was going to be so....nice. Yet, it still felt homey and warm. Our server admitted that he was a little overextended (my words) but my hub and I were in no rush and if you have ever been to a restaurant in the south, well, you know "slow." We started with the pulled pork grit cakes and the shrimp and crawfish bisque. Both were delicious though one more pinch of salt in the soup and it would have been overkill. I had the chicken fried steak and my hub had the ribs. His ribs were tasty but we suspect they were boiled because the bones came completely clean. His fried okra was also overbattered. But, alas, who doesn't love fried anything? Speaking of fried anything, my chicken fried steak was fantastic. Oy. So good. It was served with a white gravy, crazy amazing mashed potatoes and greens (which were forgettable. I really didn't order chicken fried steak with my daily allowance of vegetables in mind.) (Sidebar: it was served with white gravy and on a recent episode of Throwdown, the Queen of Butter and Mayonnaise, Paula Deen, tells Bobby Flay that real southern chicken fried steak is served with brown gravy not white gravy. Take from that what you wish.) Lastly, we had the red velvet for dessert. The cake sucked. The icing was heavenly. Because my heaven is made of cream cheese icing.

Daniil V.

You Should: Stay Away Sizzle: What is Gullah for awful? Juice: Where the F@#K are my hush puppies and honey butter? Or service, seasoning, and flavor? Check Please: $$

ann d.

dinner for two. drinks with absinthe YUM YUM YUM crab cakes and fried green tomatoes were very good. not sure why the tomatoes had shrimp with them; and though i like shrimp, i would have been very content with just the tomatoes. a small detail. we both had the carolina bass - cooked to perfection. the coffee was good, the cake was good. service was pleasant but not ingratiating; but if our server had come around at just the right time, i would have asked for some chiles. not that he was inattentive. the food was tasty, but just a little bland. southern food should bite back.

Dan M.

Again, had a wonderful brunch there. All fo the food was well prepared and our female server was very attentive without being overbearing. I had teh eggs benedict on popovers which was so good. I like the addition of adding berries to the end of the brunch. The only thing that would have been better is the acoustics which caused me to have a problem hearing my friends talk.

Alex F.

I had a great time here. I ordered the frog legs and the etoufee. The frog legs were crispy and delicious. The etoufee was really interesting. I wouldn't say it was the best i'd ever had (they used chips or something so I felt like I was eating cajun nachos), but it was interesting and tasty enough. The food is sort of pricy, and the servings are not the typical jumbo XL, so I wouldn't come here starving, but overall, I was impressed with the menu and had some fun.

Melissa T.

The food and beverage are very good. But that's not what this review is about. I give this restaurant 5 stars based on service alone. The staff are the perfect blend of friendly, genuine, attentive, and polite without being over the top. I could gush over Andrew (our usual server) forever. He is the server by which I compare all others. I always have a very pleasant experience at Big Jones.

Beba B.

Pleasant place, but slippery floors; nice decor, a very nice waiter for lunch... attentive and cordial; food... good complimentary corn bread and butter. However, I was not impressed, really, with Eggs New Orleans nor the Migas brunch-type selections for lunch. The crab cakes on the ENO nothing to write home about, the brioche was not flaky, the potatoes a bit cold. So, I did like the details of cloth napkins, nice china and silverware but, at least for me, lacking in the food (brunch) department. Perhaps will try for dinner, but I doubt it.

Doreen M.

Warm, inviting, low-key. Friendly and attentive staff. I've been here with my family a few times and we love NO style cooking! For Thanksgiving, we had reservations with a delay, understandable with a busy holiday. The host was wonderful and offered us comp drinks and appetizers. Once we were seated with the rest of our party our dinner was wonderful! My only wish is that Big Jones offered a more generous portion. I still am a happy visitor thought!

Brian K.

I really like this place, even though I've only been there for brunch. The first person you usually encounter when you walk in the door is the owner, I really like this and it show that someone really cares about you and the business. If you are coming in a group over two, you should really call ahead or you will most likely be waiting an hour or two for a table. I've never made a reservation for a couple yet and I've only had to wait once. The food is very good, kind of an odd combination of Low-Country South Carolina and New Orleans but it works. My wife usually orders the crab cake Benedict and I usually order something else and the crab cake is almost always the best thing on the table and everything is pretty good. The drinks are good, if you like a morning cocktail and the coffee is good too. The service is great, they are attentive without hovering and friendly to boot. If you have a choice, don't set in the way-back, it is lonely. Overall a great place for brunch, although crowded, good for a date or when you have out of town guest.

Emily H.

This place was super for brunch. We had about a 30 minute wait, but it was well worth it. Staff was friendly and professional. There were about a zillion things I could have ordered, but I went with the eggs new orleans and ate everything on my plate. My husband ate the pulled pork with grits...which were equally as enjoyable. I will be back for sure!

Cecelia M.

I wish I could give this place 1 star and keep it my secret. However, then they might go out of business and there would be no place to go in the city for the melting, puffy, sweet and delicious beignets or the wonderful and singular Carolina gold rice dishes, or the amazing heart-attack inducing burger or the best brunches. Or, their delicious and well-made old-school cocktails. Also, the coffee they serve at brunch is divine - I think it has some chicory in it. And, its served with real cream on the side. This restaurant is creole/southern food done with, as much as possible, local, sustainable, organic produce, meats and dairy. The atmosphere is laid back and cheerful. The waiters are adorable -- young-ish, a little twee, a little nerdy, professional, attentive and all, earnestly, very into the food they are serving. They like it when you ask questions because they can then demonstrate how much they know about the ingredients and preparation. So, make Big Jones a regular spot for you and your closest friends but try not to let too many people in on it.

Stephanie S.

I live in Andersonville and I've passed this place numerous times while running errands. I decided to stop in for dinner several weeks ago (I think it was Oct 9th). It was around 6:30 so the place was pretty empty fwhen I first arrived. The interior is laid out nicely and decorated quite tatstefully. The service is friendly. However, since there were only a few other occupied tables, I shouldn't have had to wait almost 10 minutes for a glass of wine. For an appetizer, I was going to try the gumbo, but the waiter (a very personable guy, by the way) steered me away from it. He told that it just wasn't that good lately. So, I opted for the the crawfish fritters. Interesting is the only way I can describe this dish. The flavor was actually good, but the rice gave the whole thing a weird feel in my mouth. I'm used to any kind of seafood cake/fritter made with bread crumbs, not rice. I should have paid closer attention the the menu. The order comes with 3 decent (not huge) fritters. However, the chef is a bit stingy with the cayenne mayo, only squiting a thin, decorative squiggle on each one. I had to ask for extra just to taste it. My biggest complaint with the dish was the fact that it was lukewarm. I know this is a southern restaurant, but geez. Just reading the descriptions under the "Hearty Entrees" section of the menu gave me a tummy ache. I opted for the pecan catfish, off the "Light Entree" section of the menu. The fish was lightly battered with cornmeal seasoned just right. It was then fried and topped with a delicious sauce with pecans in it. The mashed potatoes were bland and cold. No seasoning to them at all. Not even salt. The organic greens consisted of one leaf of a par-boiled, cold, tough unknown green (I think it was a collard green). The only thing warm in this dish was the fish, which I actually had to let cool down before I could eat it. Between the appezitzer, entree and 2 glasses of wine, my tab came to $48. A bit steep for what I thought was just mediocre food. I did mention to my waiter that he should let the chef know that he's serving up cold food. Since my fish was piping hot, I don't think it's a matter of the plates sitting, waiting to be picked up. I can sum up my visit in one word. Overrated. I don't think I'll be giving Big Jones another visit. I work hard for my money and once a restuarant let's me down, it doesn't get another chance. I can't justify another visit with the huge choices Chicago has to offer.

Derek S.

I am a frequent traveler and several restaurants in Chicago are great, but Big Jones was an absolute pleasure. I'm a fit guy but ordered several things just to taste them, but I did share of course. I thought the service was superb and one of the owners was hosting and made you feel quite comfortable as well! I think this restaurant is a MUST GO and I promise you will love it!

Jenni S.

We FINALLY made it back here for brunch--I had a taste for fried-green tomatoes, and some strong coffee. Just as fabulous as dinner--the fried greens were AMAZING, and the rochambeau (steak, eggs, and potato cakes) was just out of this world--tender steak, crispy 'tater cakes, and perfectly poached eggs (HATE when they overcook). Service was just as great as it was the last time we dined here, and both coffee and water were refilled constantly.

Jennifer W.

I've had great meals here and also bad meals. Best to do during the week - staff seems overwheled on weekend evenings (last time I went with a party we waited 30+ minutes to get second round of drinks and didn't have anything to drink during the meal). Food has also been served cold. Diners beware.

Michael C.

(Don't judge by the first line . . . ) The very first time I went to Big Jones, I was not impressed. But, they had just opened and I decided to try it again. So glad I did! Much better! I've had great dinners with great service. They have definitely worked out the kinks. I have been back many times. The most memorable experience was during the blizzard in February. They were the only restaurant open in Andersonville at about 3 PM. The owner and one server were trying to help everyone. They did a great job. The food was excellent as always and the service friendly. They did a great job in a difficult situation. Since my partner and I switched to only eating humanely raised, hormone free and antibiotic free meat, it's great to have Big Jones in the area as a lovely choice.

Tari F.

I wanted to like Big Jones. When a friend suggested it for a birthday dinner, I looked over the menu and was instantly excited about the possibility of some decent macaroni and cheese. (I was spoiled by my sojourn in the South, and have found few places to enjoy "real" mac and cheese since moving to Chicago!) The restaurant itself was really lovely. The simple decor evoked a sort of mint-julep-on-the-veranda kind of atmosphere (minus the pop art on one wall that seemed completely incongruent with the peach/mint color scheme). The tables weren't packed in too tightly, and seating was friendly to people of all sizes. The service was uniformly friendly and attentive, too. I started it off with a house made ginger beer....which was really great. It walked the line between too spicy and just spicy enough, which I like in a ginger beer. I got the ham and cheese sandwich with some sort of shrimp spread, and paid an extra $2 for mac and cheese on the side. The good news? The sandwich was tasty, though I had to work for it. The bad news? The ham was *tough* (maybe a little overcooked?), and the bread could not handle its contents and immediately fell apart. Also, the mac and cheese was....I don't even know how to properly describe how unlike any gourmet mac and cheese this was. It wasn't even up to Kraft mac and cheese quality. It was like boiled macaroni under some sort of bread crumb cover...I did not taste a lick of cheese. We also ordered dessert - the red velvet cake (my favorite). While it was not like the traditional red velvet cake that haunts my dreams...it was tasty. The cake itself was lighter than I expected, and had a very light, citrusy flavor; the frosting was some sort of citrus cream cheese, and was the perfect complement. Definitely thumbs up on dessert. Overall, I enjoyed the house-made soda, dessert, and the flavor of the sandwich (if they could just get the textures right, too!). The mac and cheese - which ought to be compulsory for a Southern joint! - was just...sad. That fact, the lack of vegetarian options (seriously, EVERYTHING was covered in ham or bacon), and the price tag, will probably keep me from going back to give Big Jones a second chance. I might consider stopping in for coffee and dessert, but probably not.

Janis W.

When are we going to learn this simple truth? Don't order so many drinks and your bill won't be so high. $100 plus tip. ( 2 of us). I really liked the fried green tomato appetizer. They were out of the ribs, so Dan got 3 appetizers and he liked them all. Hibiscus martini was on special for $5, but the other drinks were $8 or $9 each. My dinner entree was kind of bland, Chicken Bene. I couldn't taste it. But our waiter was topnotch.

Jamie H.

I only need three words to describe this place "best bacon ever". I love a good Chicago brunch and I've been everywhere, Toast, Bristol, Bongo Room, Bacon n Eggs, Tre Kronor, Banana's Foster etc. and this place is on the top of my list. I loved the decor, it was light, refreshing, not overly to-hip-for-Chicago looking. The seats where comfortable and I liked being able to make a reservation through opentable.com . The service was great and I was with a part of 5 and we were demanding. I really liked that the service level and how the treated us brunchers was above the normal regular brunch places, almost to the level of finer dinning where they brought us new silver ware after the free beignets. Yum

Harry L.

Been wanting to try it, wanting to try it, wanting to try it... Finally tonight we tried it. Tuesday night after shopping at gesthemene for trees, etc. The plus: the fried chicken was fresh and fried to order and to a perfect doneness, wherein even the breast meat was juicy and hot. The negative: The chicken, despite all that was good about it lacked in the seasoning department. Also, it was that sort of fried chicken where the coating is that thick hard crunchy corn meal affair. Some people really like that style. I do not. The sides, well there was no choice in the matter, "grilled" sweet corn and sweet potatoe puree. The corn flavorless if you don't count the burned part and the sweet potato, reminiscent of baby food, room temperature and underseasoned also. good for baby, bad for me. We did order a supplement of mac and cheese, not on the menu, per se. It was ok (small ramekin, $6). The service: It reminded me of what you might get from a part timer at Friday's or Chilis and alot of the time gabbing with co-workers/friends at the back of the dining room when he could have paid attention to me, the paying customer. The price: $90 for chicken dinner for two. I'll happily pay that for chicken dinner and have at West Town Tavern, but there, the food is really flavorful and the service great and the atmosphere wonderful. Big Jones was a big let down.

Don F.

Strange reception at door. They seemed confused about why we were there ( to eat at a restaurant). Then, the host shooed us out the door to wait because " the kitchen is yelling at me". Strange and pretentious. We left.

Lindsey B.

My experience at Big Jones was an excellent one. It may have been the "southern coastal" claim (I tend to not like southern cooking, sorry)that made it seem SO awesome when I actually really liked it. We had the prix fixe of $25/person. We started with some cornbread that was hot from the oven with some melty butter.... then we had squash in a sauce that was to die for. It was almost ranch flavored but so much bolder. After that was a salad with plums and a plum dressing. I couldn't believe how good that was. So fresh! For the entree we had the Carolina wreck fish which the waitress said was bass. It was SO fantastic and meaty. It was almost like a steak. There were fingerling potatoes cooked perfectly... I ate everything on my plate. For dessert boyfriend had the Mississippi Mud Pie and I had the bread pudding. He actually said, "This may be the best dessert I've ever had." Wow! That's a compliment from him. My bread pudding was also ridiculously good. I ate until I couldn't stuff any more in my mouth :) It was awesome and all for $62 including our two specialty drinks. (I had the True North Cherry Coke - coke, cherry vodka and brandy cherries. And he had the Charlston Mule - ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice. They were both fabulous too.)

Chip S.

Tried out Big Jones with some friends last week and was glad we did. It was a refreshing experience to try a new restaurant, as well as experimenting with some cuisine other than Italian or Mexican. Portions seemed just right. The prices were not out of control and the service was excellent. I appreciated that I could book a reservation with them using OpenTable.com .

Tara P.

Big Jones passed the Southern diner test. The shrimp and grits were absolutely wonderful - perfect mix of hominy, gravy and mushrooms and they don't skimp on the shrimp. Nice array of hot teas on offer. Good service. We went for brunch and there was no wait for a table of 4, but that's probably a fluke. I have to return at night - dinner with sweet tea will be the true test of the authenticity of Big Jones' southern-ness.

Emily C.

Went on a Sunday night - got there at 8:30 when they stop seating at 9:00 pm. They were very friendly, even though we were obviously going to make them be there a little later than planned. They bring corn bread as a starter, which was really good. Moist and corny (chunks) with a hint of spice! Came super hot and ready to go. First time I've had Fried Green Tomatoes - they were good! I ordered the market lettuce salad. It was pretty good - could have used some fruit/crouton garnish though. For my entree I had the burger. Great mayo/aoli on it. I would have enjoyed some more veggies on the burger, in addition to the mushrooms & onions - like some lettuce/tomato. I passed on the cheese, 'cause it was Gruyere. My hubby got the shrimp and grits. Man, they were pretty good! I've never really had corn grits w/ cheese before - but I liked them. They come with a puree of baked beans, which added a different flavor/texture, but seemed to work well! Didn't get the dessert, because we wanted the Red Velvet, but they were out - what did we expect, closing out the place! I would try again, especially for the brunch. Parent Note - They had a Children's Menu ($7 options) and plenty of high chairs, even though you could tell their other guests were a cautious of us walking in with a little 16 month old. The woman behind the bar was very friendly and was making faces/small talk to our daughter! My burger came with cajun fries, but they weren't overly spicy, so little Lily liked them and kept chomping down on them! Didn't see a changing table, but really wasn't paying attention - Pregnancy Bladder!

Rose G.

Food was good-- not excellent, but perfectly fine. Only complaints-- we had a large party (eight people) and our food took more than an hour to arrive. My steak was cold. Our waiter was VERY nice and made an effort to make food safe for my allergies. I'd consider this a pretty allergy friendly environment- they did a good job overall. I'd go back.

Ann D.

We were on our way to the Jewel to pick up some groceries for dinner and paused to check out the menu posted in the window of Big Jones. Before we knew it, we were sitting down at a table and trying boiled peanuts for the very first time (kind of mushy and cold, though our server sympathized that most Yankees find boiled peanuts a little...unusual). My craving for a burger was nicely satisfied by the truly towering tallgrass option on the menu (though the center was a tad red for medium), and the gumbo ya-ya was good though it could have been warmer. The a'plenty was tasty as promised, and the ginger sweet tea was great - the sweet ginger syrup was sitting in its own small flask perched on top of the sleek pitcher of tea below. We had no room left for dessert, though on our way out we saw a slice of something amazing-looking that made us wish we'd saved some.

Bethany H.

Yummm, I love me some Big Jones! This place has become a regular weekend brunch spot for me and my boyfriend. As I've never had dinner there, I can only comment on their fantastic brunch menu. The meal always starts off right with a plate of complimentary warm beignets covered in powered sugar. For my meal I usually can't resist the crab cake salad. Resting a top of pile of nicely dressed mixed greens and delicious pickled vegetable relish, the crab cakes are meaty and flavorful only made better by the creamy sauce accompanying them. My boyfriend has tried the catfish omelet, corn cakes, and eggs new orleans, all of which were wonderfully executed. Due to my affinity for the crab cakes I've yet to try the whole wheat banana almond pancakes, or s'mores french toast, but am guessing they both lie in my brunch future. Big Jones also offers a wide variety of sweet teas, classic cocktails, as well as many New Orleans favorites. Last weekend we were lucky enough to meet one of the owners, Mark, who was charming. He even made a point of saying goodbye to us as we left. If you want some real comfort food with a lot of class try Big Jones.

newton h.

i have somewhat of a penchant for visiting restaurants which garner reviews with strong feeling on both sides of the fence...i suppose if i was a cat curiosity wouldve done me in long ago. however, big jones has given me one of my lives back! i try not to enter into any dining experience with any preconceived notions. i merely desire good food and friendly service, and am always thrilled to find a set of circumstances remarkeable enough to record. hence my first yelp review. ive actually gnoshed here several times now, usually early in the week, as im a chef and work on the weekends. ive been there when they were surprisingly packed, and ive been there when i wouldnt have been surprised to see tumbleweeds rolling through, and my service and food has been consistently top drawer. from the fried green tomatoes to the gumbo to one of the best burgers in town, big jones does it right. two parting thoughts one-to people complaining about the inauthenticity of the food, you must be nuts, and relax-i lived in and worked in new orleans for ten years and let me assure you that if you plopped this joint down on magazine street no-one would ever imagine they had been invaded by nefarious yankees two-sometimes, especially on weekends and busy days, ie holidays, your food will not come lickety split...deal with it, i did experience a bit of a delay the first visit to bj, but i was more than compensated...try being a nice diner instead of a cantankerous fop! dining out is to be enjoyed and savored, not rushed. so thanks big jones and keep up the good work

Beth H.

Big Jones is a really great southern cookin' restaurant and a rare find in Chicago. Each time I've eaten there I've ordered something different and I haven't been disappointed yet! Recently I ordered the catfish sandwich and it was a generous portion...The flavor was mild and the breading was delicate - not too heavy. The angel biscuits were light and flaky and absolutely delicious with the honey sweet cream butter. YUM! The meal started with some cheddar crackers and 5 pepper jelly. Their sweet tea is great, too! Just like how they make it down south. Big Jones pays close attention to flavors, spices, and accompaniments. They also have an impressive wine and drinks list. If you've never eaten at Big Jones before, try an early dinner so you can get a window table and "people watch" on Clark Street in Andersonville. Big Jones is a delightful restaurant with amazing food and exceptional service.

Clarence E.

I give the food a 2 and the atmosphere a 4. It's a wonderful space to dine in, and the waiter we had was very friendly and personable. I think the restaurant needs to kick the menu up a notch to match the quality of the dinning environment. I'm not saying the food was bad, but it could have had a little more...something to it. Kick? Spice? Flair? I'm not sure what the word is. I do know I'd be happy to go back for another visit to see how the place evolves.

Alana R.

I've never had southern cooking but was here last Sunday for brunch and it was DELICIOUS! My friend and I were pretty quiet becasue we were just enjoying our meals so much. Great service and atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Jeff O.

My partner and I were in for an early dinner on a Wednesday night. He had the pate appetizer followed by a large sirlon steak. I did the gumbo and jumbalaya. All the food was excellent and the service was top notch. I will for sure be going back again.

Stella S.

I went there for lunch with my cousin and her 1 year old - they were accommodating with a high chair. The ambience was nice and our waiter was a doll. The food was okay - I had the breakfast burrito - I typically do not like burritos, but it was the only thing I could find on the menu that seemed to have enough veggies and no meat (other than egg). The coffee was yummy. I would go back, but not before trying other nearby places.

Brian L.

I was in town with co-workers and we hit Big Jones for dinner. The atmosphere was great and the food was fantastic. I would definitely recommend the barbecue shrimp appetizer...and don't forget to mop up the extra sauce with the homemade bread! I had the Tallgrass Beef Burger, which was thick, juicy, and satisfying. Also, I want to note that the serving staff was helpful in explaining the dishes and very knowledgeable about the ingredients and preparation of the items on the menu.

Leo S.

Let me begin with the front of the house; we walked in and the host did not open his mouth to greet us, he merely made a face. That was not a good thing. Our waiter Andy was very attentive and spoke so clearly and so nice that I have to praise this place just for having him. He is a real professional. My friend ordered wine and I ordered a locally produced beer, when my beer came it was at room temperature and sadly not good enough to be consumed that way, but I pointed out and got a cold one in no time; again points for Andy. We noticed that every table had a plate of peanuts and we wonder if we have to order them or if was complementary, in the latter case we felt left out as nobody brought us anything, even a neighboring table that was seated way after us got a plate. Andy again seen to had read our minds and discreetly said something to a busboy and suddenly we had one nice plate of boiled peanuts, never had them before and definitely can live without it, again points for Andy, not so good for the house. We decided to order the crawfish croquettes appetizer. They were bland and over fried, made with rice as a filler which is OK but the overall looks and taste did not amount to more than something made with leftovers and not even the sauce was unique or at the very least appealing. I have to tell you the house is still losing. I ordered the shrimp burger and my friend ordered the shrimp and oyster pilau. The burger was Ok but it tasted funny and when I said funny I mean cheap and not any better than the next greasy spoon burger. The pilau was definitely a complete let down, who thought of charging $18 for canned tomato soup mixed with a few sad shrimps and oysters accompanied by some unappealing rice; was definitely wrong. I don't mind spending money for good food but this was ridiculous, this was an awful dish for an outrageous price tag. I have to say that that our choice of dessert was good, the bread pudding taste homemade but again not any better than that one you get at Country Buffet. Either you improve the quality of your food or you charge accordingly and this would have made our meal no more than $30 instead of $65.

mary b.

love big jones but agree with the guy who said it is a little schezophrenic. have been 3 or 4 times. each time the menu was a little different. went on the 2nd week it opened then a few other times both for lunch and dinner. it's as if they can't quite decide what they are going to be. the decor is like a trendy lincoln park place with a classy, sleek look. great plates, flatware, glassware. service good, great cosmos, which is one of my criteria for a good experience. food consistantly good but could use a touch more new orleans flavor cuz that seems to be what they are trying to be. my only beef was the ladies room, which was a bit like a bathroom in a gas station. I mentioned it the very first time I was there and one of the owners seemed to appreciate the comment. when back a few months later, not only was bathroom still a little gross, but I ripped my shirt on a nail sticking out of the stall door frame. again mentioned it to the other owner and he gave us a $25 gift certificate. I was not looking for a free-bee by complaining. I really like their food and want them to succeed in andersonville. there is a lot of compation with restaurants on clark st. and a sub-par bathroom simply won't cut it. the owner thanked me for coming to him rather than posting it on yelp, which i thought was interesting. if I wouldn't say it in person, I wouldn't say it on yelp, but that's just me! will go back soon and hope the bathroom situation has improved. then it would be 5 stars!

Carri A.

I really want to give this brunch spot another star but I cant bring myself to. Mission: Sunday Brunch. Our waiter was EXTRAORDINARILY slow with absolutely everything, except talking. I was hungover like whoa and needed food STAT. Instead our meal took two hours. The host and hostess were very friendly though and the guys walking around with water made sure our glasses were never empty. I will swear under oath to the high degree of deliciousness of the Fried Green Tomatoes Eggs Benedict. Lovely dish with a lot of creative flare. And I do love flare. And the beignets they brought out for us prior to our meal were amazing! I can hardly ever resist powdered sugar on a pastry. I would love to come back and have a meal when sober, but I just pray that the waitstaff are on their game more on my next visit. OHHH and I would not recommend buying the orange juice. It was $3.50 for about 7-8 ounces of fresh squeezed organic orange juice. Unless Obama squeezed that shit himself, give me more of it or drop the price.

Jennifer S.

I wish I understood why Big Jones is so popular. I've tried it a couple of times and find the food very challenging. On my most recent visit to Big Jones, I tried the Fried Chicken Dinner for $25. You have to have at least two people, full table participation and a big appetite to order this. So, for two of us we were in for $50. For $50 we received a plate of thinly sliced stale rye bread, a small platter of pickled things (including a few strands of pickled asparagus, three tiny pickled strawberries (?), three brown things that looked like week old apricot pits, and a glob of pimento cheese floating in pickle juice), then a plate with three cornbread muffins and a scoop of butter, after a 15-20 pause we received two plates of fried chicken (each plate had a breast, thigh and leg) a small portion of mashed potatoes and gravy, some cooked greens, a small biscuit which resembled hard-tack (aka pirate food) and after a few more minutes one bowl of red beans topped with an ice cream sized scoop of rice. You don't have to have eaten a lot of Southern food, or any really, to know that this is not good food. The meal finishes with banana pudding. Of all that food, the cornbread muffins and the banana pudding were the best things. The rest of it was flavorless at best, off-putting at its worst. Big Jones has one of the prettiest dining rooms in Andersonville. I wish they had the food to go with it. One tip: skip the patio. You might be tempted when the weather is nice, but stick with the lovely dining room.

Julia F.

Big Jones is an overlooked gem on Clark Street, the main stretch of Andersonville bustling with dozens of restaurants all vying for your attention. While Southern-style cuisine isn't my favorite, I found a few tasty, well-presented dishes of good proportions. The New Orleans eggs with crab cakes is one of the best brunch meals I've had in the city. For dinner, the crawfish boudin was a nice appetizer to start -- three perfectly-shaped fried balls of crawfish and sausage with cayenne mayonnaise. I also sampled the sweetbreads appetizer, my first foray into fatty, fried thymus. The verdict: While I wasn't a fan of the calf organs, the leeks and greens on which the sweetbreads were served added tasty vegetables to this heavy, high-fat meal. The house burger with Gruyere -- one of my favorite cheeses -- and garlic aioli satisfied my red meat craving that night. It's no Kuma's burger but still provides a nice hunk of meat with toppings that complement nicely. And who can forget the cornbread -- warm, moist comfort food at its finest served with honey-whipped butter at the start of dinner. I could eat a whole meal of this soft, hearty goodness.

Gareth D.

Overall, Big Jones offers a pleasant dining experience with extremely clean and well thought out food presentation and a more upscale atmosphere and service than what typically comes to mind when I think of Southern comfort food. While it doesn't maintain the historical Swedish theme of the neighborhood, I feel it integrates quite well into the overall feel Andersonville, and offers some nice window-side seating to observe passers by and the atmosphere outside. We enjoyed the 3-course lunch menu, which at about $20, I consider to be a decent value. I was decidedly stuffed upon leaving, and all 3 of the courses (appetizer/main/dessert) were very generous. I did not get the sense that anything was scaled back from what I may have received had I ordered things a la carte. The fried green tomatoes were yummy; if you like these, though, please do go and try them at Erwin on N Halsted as well. My friend received a lot more dressing / remoulade than I, but the food was beautifully presented on both counts. My gumbo was flavorful and completely filled to the brim of the wide soup bowl. The server recommended the pulled pork sandwich (in part because of what is included on the side), and while I was not able to sample it, I would like to return for that.

Eric V.

My first meal at Big Jones was on a Fat Tuesday, so how appropriate for me to finally write my review one Fat Tuesday later. The reservation book was naturally full that night, but we were fortunate to snag two seats at the bar. We ordered off the special Mardi Gras menu; Gumbo for me and Crawfish Etouffee for my missus. The gumbo, served with rice, was dark, rich, and very flavorful. Unfortunately they had run out of oysters for the night (Fried Oyster Po' Boys had sold like hot cakes) so they subbed in some extra perfectly cooked seafood. Though generously packed with crawfish tails, my wife wasn't particularly fond of their etouffee. Perhaps it's because they finished it with cream or didn't use a dark roux? In either case I found it to be decent, but wouldn't necessarily order this version of etouffee again. We kept with the festivities and had some King Cake to finish our meal. Sure enough, we found a little baby Jesus in there (good thing I didn't eat him by accident) and that got us a voucher for a free drink on our next visit. I guess that also made me King for the day, but hopefully they don't make me supply King Cakes for the entire restaurant next time around... Ambiance wise, it's actually quite nice inside. I was expecting something more casual based on the southern cuisine, but this is clearly a dressed up version that would suit a dinner date for two. They also get bonus points for their focus on organic, local, and sustainable food sources. So whether it's Mardi Gras or not, Big Jones is worth a try. They won't throw any beads your way but they will fill you up with some of NOLA's finest.

Christine F.

I have a confession: I've been to Big Jones before for dinner. But it was so long ago, that I don't clearly remember what we had. I would have given it about 3.5 stars at that point in time, but I don't remember enough to write a review. So sue me. Anyway. My husband had just run a sprint triathalon (OMFG) and we were going out to brunch to celebrate. We had been up since 4am and we were super starvin'. We went to Big Jones, since you can't go wrong with New Orleans type of food. We made a res and were seated immediately upon arrival. We both got huge cups of coffee, which was the best coffee I had in a long time. Did they put crack in it? It was addictive, rich, but not too bitter. We got a plate of complimentary beignets, which were HEAAVEENNNLY. Piping hot, fluffy, fresh and coated in powdered sugar. They were gone in about 2 seconds. We both ordered (yeah, we're lame, but it was too good to pass up) the Eggs New Orleans. It was poached eggs, on top of crab cake, on a popover smothered in Bearnaise sauce. There were also fancy hash browned potatoes. Wow, the flavors certainly popped. The popover was hot and had the consistency of a croissant . The crab cake was rich and flavorful. The Bearnaise sauce was buttery and delicious, and the potatoes were just sassy. My only complaint was the egg, which had been poached for too long and the yolk was SOLID :( Total bummer. This is where I had to deduct a star. I would go back here 100% for brunch, because that's where Big Jones seems to shine. It was pricey (15 per plate, eep), so it wouldn't be a regular occurrence, but Big Jones knows how to deliver. I just hope they don't poach their eggs so much, next time.

Tiff H.

Hello, fall. Welcome back after me being all sticky from sweat in my non-AC unit apartment. However, with cold weather, what do I crave? Southern food! Big Jones...definitely bordered on 3-4 stars. I'd give it 3.5 stars if we could have a half system. Basic break down - Long wait, so we were sat at the bar. For 2 entrees, an order of the doughnuts (What are those called again??? They were amazing!!), fried green tomatoes with shrimp, a coffee, an orange juice, a Campari soda, and a 20+% tip...all for $50. Ambiance wasn't so homey and the guy behind the bar was a bit forgetful but was so sweet so it was easy to forgive him. You could tell the servers were a bit overwhelmed bc they were slammed. So after yoga, I just wanted to eat fried food. My fried catfish over grits was absolutely lovely...and the cornbread was fantastic as well. I didn't clean my plate...I could hear my arteries screaming at me. My dish was served with a poached egg on top...not really fan since the yolk broke all over the grits...however, that was my fault since I couldn't decide how to get the egg, so I had the bartender surprise me. Note to self...next time, the fat kid in me wants a fried egg on a separate plate so it doesn't mix with my fried catfish. :) The doughnuts...whatever fancy name they go by...I'm not a foodie, can you tell?...were amazing. No more Dunkin Donuts for me. The fried green tomatoes were great as well...and I couldn't help but think of the movie as I ate. Yes, I am a dork. All in all, everything was fairly good and I felt like everything was worth the price. I will definitely be back. I have been here for dinner before...and I find I definitely prefer their brunch.

lindsey b.

Went here on a Saturday night, where t was busy but not packed. The ambiance was great and made you truly feel like you were in a Restaurant in the south. Our waitress was great and very knowledgable with the menu. We are rookies to the southern style food so we kept it pretty safe. Started with the gumbo ya-ya appetizer. It had great flavor and was spicy without being too much. Also, the cornbread was delicious! So soft and tasty! For our main dishes we got the pork sandwich and pork and beans. Both were excellent. It might have been the best pork sandwich I've ever had. We had one of their punch drinks, very good, very strong! We will definitely be back here again! Can't wait to try some more risky items next time!

Nina H.

I came here for lunch because I work in the area after seeing it on Yelp. Tried the Chicken and Dumplings. The dish was broth based versus the traditionally creamy dish I'm accustomed to. It was pretty decent. A little heavy on the pepper in my opinion. The portion was "just enough" but overvalued for the $13/14 I paid for the dish. The corn bread muffins were delish. I was raised in a house with a chef from the south so I know what corn bread is supposed to taste like. This def wasn't it but was pretty tasty nevertheless. I was kind of surprised I was expected to pay $3 for for the additional muffins I requested after I finished the 2 that my server brought out for free but whatever. I was disappointed that the fried chicken took 20 minutes else I would have gotten that so I could try more from this place with the brunch special. Would I come here again? Maybe. I'm a HUGE southern food fan but this just wasn't making me feel like I was eating what I'd call southern but some northern imitation of my Alabama roots. I'm not a huge fan but maybe I needed to have a drink. That reminds me, I don't even remember seeing sweet tea on their menu!

Moe f.

This place rocks. First off the drinks. The Charleston Mule and Death of St. Germaine were fantastic. Autumn Sangria was so-so. For first courses we got the soup potion gumbo which was huge and spiced just right and the porkbelly-johnny cakes which were nice. Wife went with the pork chop with this amazing sweet potato hash with huge pieces of bacon in it. Loved it. I opted for shrimp and grits which were nice. We decided on the bread pudding for desert which was the only thing that fell flat. Great service, nice atmosphere, definitely will be back.

Allan M.

Well, based on early reviews of this place, and from an LTH Forum discussion, I was half-expecting a mediocre experience from here. But I was really surprised(and delighted) that my low expectations were blown away. Definitely wouldn't put it in my top tier of Andersonville restaurants and bars just yet(a la Calo, Hopleaf, Edgewater Lounge), but who knows if I'll start to appreciate this place more in the future, or less, or what. Will base that on future visits.... Anyway, I came here right around the time they were transitioning from their 'tea' menu to their dinner menu, and noticed what I believed was all(or almost all) the dinner items were on the 'tea' menu. Oddly enough looked at their online menu trying to remember what I ate here, but couldn't find it. I got something with potatoes, rice, and a few other things in it that was decent(lol, certainly dunno why my memory of small details sucks from time to time). Also tried a few other things on the menu too, such as the Gumbo Ya-Ya, and the Tallgrass Beef Burger. Both were surprisingly good, especially the latter. In addition, I liked the fact that the server gave us complimentary boiled peanuts, okra, and 1-2 other vegetables on a dish while the wait for our food took slightly long, as I enjoyed those too. I will add that since I've tried more than enough Southern food in my lifetime to count(thanks to the fact both of my parents were born in the south, tho ironically hadn't had boiled peanuts till going here), I looked at the dessert menu, and thought it was very strange to me that their Red Velvet Cake is made with pomegranate syrup. Especially since all the times I've seen recipes for such, and/or have eaten one, that I've never once seen/eaten one made with that kinda syrup. Still in fairness to them, I'm glad the server I had told me that they serve beignets on weekends, and look forward to trying them on a future visit, if they're as good as what I've heard. Also will look forward to trying other things in the future, such as a drink off their tea menu. Falls short of 3.5 stars, due to the fact most of the menu(tea menu aside, and the only part IMO that wasn't overpriced) was anywhere from $2-4 more expensive than it should've been.

Michelle M.

Big Jones, Just want to commend you for WONDERFUL SERVICE! Went back for some brunch last week Wednesday and I don't remember our kick-ass waiters name but would like you to know that he was fantastic! He made our visit delightful! Keep giving wonderful service and great cafe. Food was even better then the 1st time. Thanks Big Jones

Alaina F.

i think Big Jones deserves four stars. I am reserving one star because the service was pretty slow to start, but our waitress made up for it. A girlfriend and I decided on Big Jones for lunch last Sunday, as we were roaming around Andersonville and everywhere else was packed. We were able to be seated immediately at Big Jones and were quickly led through velvet curtains (a little weird, yes). The host sat us at the very last table in the very back of the restaurant and we felt a little like leppers. We passed at least five open tables on the way back to the tiny corner. Oh well. It took a while for anyone to bring us waters and our server didn't show her face for at least 10 minutes. We asked for waters. I was getting grumpy and prepared for a shit meal and a shit experience. Thankfully, waitress showed up and saved herself from the wrath of hungry Alaina. She took our drink orders and had the drinks in a flash. Momentarily, she returned with an appetizer-type thing that we didn't order - so assumed they were complimentary or what they offer instead of bread. They were the most delicious deep-fried donut-type things. I cannot remember for the life of me what they were called, but they were damn good. Anyways, my girlfriend and I both ordered the tall grass burger which came with fontina cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms and a garlic aioli. We got the aioli on the side, per the server's recommendation, and the burgers were fabulous. Next time I will try the breakfast, as I was staring at other people's dishes and they looked quite good. I would definitely recommend this place - but make sure to be adamant about service. I got the feel that we may have been forgotten back in our corner if we didn't speak up.

Lauren M.

This is without a doubt my new favorite brunch spot. My husband and I ate here last Sunday at noon and despite it being Father's Day and not having a reservation, we were seated right away. The hostess and wait staff were very friendly, helpful and accommodating. We started with the biscuits - the most incredible biscuits I have ever tasted - served with the creamiest butter and delicious home made preserves. Yum! We then decided to share a ton of stuff - bacon, eggs, potatoes, more biscuits (I know... Gluttonous) and the oat, streusel pancakes. I'm not always a fan of bacon and eggs cooked by others - both were incredible!! The pancakes were so ridiculously delicious too - they had a rhubarb compote inside. Service was fantastic and of course we had to box up leftovers. My only (very minor) complaint was that the drinks were thrown together - my husband had a coke and I ordered an orange juice - both were spilled on the outside on the glass - not a huge deal but it made the table sticky. We sat outside on the back patio, lovely but small. Next time I'd sit inside as the decor is very classic. I can't wait to eat here again!! Oh, I didn't even mention the delicious complimentary beignets - also fantastic. I wish I could give Big Jones 10 stars :-)

Thomas S.

Yes, as good as it gets. Perfect gumbo, burger, cornbread (with honey butter) bread service, and crab cakes. The dessert, red velvet cake with frozen cream cheese and coconut brittle was also sublime. Great service. Chef uses 100% local produce - which you can definitely taste. Five-star food with four-star prices. Will come back to try more.

Mrae D.

Wonderful place and the owner will go out his way to make you happy! I am a big fan of BIg Jones.

Chaim L.

Big Jones is to Souther cuisine what Marigold is to Indian - meaning that it stays true to the core flavors of the culinary traditions but tightens up the execution of the dish so the preparation is more deliberate. All of us at the table shared our entres and each were delicious. The service, which I had heard could be sketchy, was solid enough for a busy Saturday night. The southern inspired cocktails are fun and tasty. Can't wait to go back.

Daniel L.

I had the shrimp and grits but i should have had the special of the day, fried chicken. There were many people around us eating the special and I was jealous the whole time. The food was good but it felt a little on the pricey side for what it was. A giant bowl of grits (HUGE) with some shrimp on top. I was pleasantly surprised by the bourbon selection though. Anyways, I'll definitely be back but only for special occasions. Too expensive to work into my regular rotation.

Mandi G.

Very organic. Wednesday nights=cheap daiquiris. Great place for a date.

Liz K.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of Big Jones. Only two things gave it a minus, a hair found in my food, and the fact the red velvet cake didn't really seem like actual red velvet cake (really it was delicious, still). I came here on a Sunday afternoon and was seated quickly. We were given beignets to eat before our food came and we all ordered cocktails (mine being a corpse reviver) which were all great (and there is an amazing selection of liquors here). I had the creole croque madame with grits, which was huge and unique from the traditional style with thicker ham and a bit of added spice. As well, the bread was really tasty and buttery. The red velvet cake for dessert really was delicious, but it just wasn't real red velvet cake. It tasted like homemade cake dyed red with food coloring -- so, good, but not red velvet. Anyway, overall this is a great brunch/lunch place and is priced about the same as most trendy brunch places.

Karen M.

I came here for lunch/brunch last weekend at exactly noon We were seated immediately. The decor is very cute. The coffee cups were huge, and they had real sugar cubes which I loved. The tea service my niece had was impressive as well. We were given free beignets, which were great. Food was awesome: pancakes and eggs

Barbara S.

Maybe there's another Big Jones, because the one we went to was mediocre. First problem: incessant pounding, they were pounding the meat for tenderizing. But to do this during a holiday weekend brunch time was foolish. Waited a very long time until a waitress showed up to bring coffee. Then came the beignets, very hard to chew and not very flavorful. They could never serve those. In New Orlreans. I ordered the Eggs Benedict, the order came quickly, but it was cold. Flavor was good but needed to be hotter. Mt friend ordered y The Benedict with crab cakes added. Hers was also cold and didn't work with the popovers, which were just OK. waitress was pleasant but not very attentive. A second cup of coffee was a long time coming. On the plus side, the coffee was good and hot. Prices were good but if quality isn't there, I don't want to pay anything. I would recommend M Henry, Tweets or Bongo Room if you are in this area. But it was crowded, so maybe they were having an off day.

Rodger P.

OK, so we've been to Big Jones on three consecutive Saturdays for brunch. The food is unbelievably freaking good. The cuisine is "coastal southern" which works out to lots of hearty southern fare with a more than your usual mix of seafood, crabcakes, etc. This isn't diner food -- while brunch is clearly a great idea, it's up a notch from the Golden Nugget. The food is, without question, among my favorites in Chicago. It's also locally and sustainably sourced, which is rad. Things I like there: they do a biscuits and gravy that is so complicated you feel like that traditional white gravy was somehow cheating you. It's a redeye gravy over sweet potato biscuits, and comes with a big pile of southern greens and andoulle sausage. Mwah! The Eggs New Orleans is also ridiculously good. Poached eggs over crab cakes over hash brown potatoes. So money. There's other things to like about Big Jones -- wait staff is friendly and prompt, decor is interesting, drink list is complicated and good (a Bloody Mary is thick with actual spices and veggies, not pulped mixer). But mostly, it's the food. The glorious food. I never have a problem getting seated right away, and at $10-15 for most of the good stuff, it's a steal. We did brunch for two with coffee, ticket was under $30.

Kendrah R.

This is the third time I've had to re-write my review over the last two years because this place is just inconsistent. Their menu goes from great, to good, to worse. Why didn't they just leave things as they were? Cons * Waitstaff is nervous and weird. * They no longer serve grass fed burgers * They took off down-home favorites like fried chicken and replaced with upscale deconstructed chicken and dumplings - gimme a break! * No more salads and sandwiches section of menu - we ate here twice as often with as that made it more affordable or good for a more casual, quick meal. * Laura the waitress moved to Austin. * Bread pudding is too much like noodle kugle. Pros * Note - Their cooking is extremely inconsistent so some of these are the best I've ever had followed by a next visit of disappointment: * Great fried green tomatoes. * Best ever fried okra (except when it wasn't) * Really good cornbread * Great fried chicken salad - where did it go? * Nice and tangy pulled pork.

kathy r.

The fiancé and I went to Big Jones tonight 'cause I had a major hankering for a good Mint Julep. Yep, they delivered - it was delicious. BUT, items from the bar take soooooo loooong. Thirsty, hungry fiancé was not pleased. And our server did not take our order until she delivered our drinks. Grrr. Didn't they know I was hungry and had someplace to be? But then the food started coming out. First was three cornbreads with butter, So yummy... with a smattering of whole corn kernels in them. There was a slight red pepper feel on the tip of the tongue and the cornbread was so soft and moist, it almost fell apart as you were picking it up. Mmmm, divine. For an appetizer we had the Cheddar-Herb Croquettes. Nice flavor and texture - it's served with Green Goddess dressing (I could drink that stuff by the mug full it's so good). The fiancé's entree was Shrimp and Grits (Laughing Bird Caribbean white shrimp, house tasso ham gravy, creamy grits). OhSoGood! He was a bit dismayed with the smallish serving size, but I think that by the time he was finished with his meal he was perfectly satisfied, and not the typical "oh, I ate so much it hurts." The flavors were amazing. He may have even had room for dessert, which *never* happens when we go out! I had the creamy cucumber gazpacho soup and the Roasted Fresh Hearts of Palm salad (cane-glazed pineapple, pea shoots, spiced peanuts, fried shallot, boiled peanut-ginger vinaigrette). Deeeelicious - and the perfect choice for a warm and muggy day. So based on this experience I'm giving Big Jones a fourth star. They need to get the bar service a little better coordinated with the pace of the meal, but the food was spot on. I will definitely be going back! Oh, and they have Metropolitan Brewery beers on the menu. Love to support our local brewery!

Shahna R.

Brunched at Big Jones today because there was a huge line outside of our original destination, M. Henry. Glad we did! With no reservations, the owner politely found us a table and told us not to hesitate to let us know if we needed anything. Classy - thanks, Mark. The beignets arrived promptly with our server and did not disappoint. Since I am gluten free, my 'spare' beignet was quickly saddest up by my excited 7-year old. The coffee came in large mug with raw sugar and yummy cream. Cool kids milk cup was also a hit. Everyone enjoyed their entrees (Migas, French Toast and Country breakfast) and we were all full and happy. Great service, great food - would be a perfect 5, but it was darn chilly in the front of the dining room. There wasn't a line, but we didn't linger because we were cold. I'll be back in the Spring :-)

Keith H.

Big cups of coffee and little beignets greet you here in this hotel lobby southern resturant. By far the best butter grits I've had since leaving the south. I also had the fried catfish which was wonderful and tasty with the grits and eggs. I think this place is the #1 brunch spot in Andersonville. All my friends liked it too. They take reservations and don't seem to have the same sort of crazy wait that other brunch places have. This civilization seems refined beyond compare. I also had some of the best gumbo with rice: so tasty with cut chives and cajun spice and sausage.

Alicia S.

A great place for a cocktail and apps. I love to get the pickle plate but I dream about their roasted beet salad with goat cheese. Any of their gin cocktails are a go to. If you join their mailing list, they send you a little gift certificate on your birthday! A free drink and dessert! Doesn't expire for like 8 months, so no pressure to go the week of your birthday. THANK YOU BIG JONES for being a great local place with interesting food, a comfortable atmosphere & a rockin' roasted beet salad!!

trina b.

Visited Big Jones for my birthday with my family and we had a fantastic time! We had the best, and I truly mean THE BEST, server ever! His name was Andy and he anticipated everything we needed and wanted and was charming and toed the line nicely between being helpful and friendly and giving us our space. I would go back again just to have that kind of service. Big Jones best hold onto him and keep him happy! Once again the food was wonderful! And if you don't get the Mississippi Mud Pie, you are a crazy fool. And did you know if you fill out a card to be on their mailing list and email list, you will get a card in the mail on your birthday for a free drink and a free dessert?! Now that's smart business. See you in a couple of weeks Big Jones, for my hubby's birthday!

Chris H.

This was our second time at Big Jones for Brunch, and we were not disappointed... I was pleased to see loose-leaf tea on their menu, and their sweet tea appealed to my Tennessee-born and bred wife. We proceeded to make our way through the menu and ended up ordering the Oat and Raisin Scone, the corn cakes with scrambled eggs, and the grits with shrimp... we sat outside on the back patio, enjoyed excellent service, and will be back again before too long. This is the place that Wishbone aspires to be.

Steve D.

Came here with my roommate and another one of our friends. Definately a place you would go on a date, it's that kind of vibe. That said, it was good. For an appetizer we got fried green tomatoes and they were really good. Lightly fried, not too much breading, they had these small, pickled shrimp on top that were quite tasty, and the sauce was also very tasty. Fresh ingredients go a long way. My friend got the roasted chicken for her entree, and I pretty much ate the 1/2 that she didn't. It was good, moist, meaty chicken, pretty much exactly what you'd want. My roommate and I both got the shrimp and grits. Aside from the portion size, which was small, it was excellent. Perfectly cooked shrimp, the tasso gravy was great, and the grits, oh my the grits! If I could mainline cheesy grits I would, and at Big Jones they were great. Out with friends, or on a date, this place is great! Redux: Went back, had the gumbo, had the fried green tomatoes again, so good. Big Jones is worth the trip.

Benjamin C.

Great Bunch! Plenty of Gluten free options! Tasty sweet tea. A MUST EAT!

Justin H.

I've been here for Saturday morning brunch, and overall I have to say that the experience was well worth the price. The food here is hearty but artful. Think of it as "Grandma went to Le Cordon Bleu." I left here feeling satisfied ... not just full or satiated, but with a feeling of happiness. Every aspect of the meal was well prepared, and the coffee kept me planted in my seat for longer than I probably should have stayed. Of course, the warm, doughy beignets didn't help either. Even though I've only been here for brunch, the drink menu looks spectacular -- enough to keep me occupied (and broke) for many a cold Chicago evening. I wish local bars were half so well stocked and mixed. A word to the wise, have patience if you go during peak hours (which is about at any time). The wait can have you standing in the cold, and the time to get your (delicious) meal agonizingly long. My only complaint was that the service was a bit lackluster, with my server almost timid about checking in (I had to work hard to catch his eye). Still, the food more than makes up for everything.

Hand G.

Long wait on for a Sunday brunch but its well worth it. The Eggs New Orleans was the best egg dish I have tried in a while, nice pairing of crab meat, Hollandaise sauce, and great popover. To start we had the gumbo, which I am still dreaming about and fried cauliflower with a pimento cheese sauce. Try this place, I can't wait to go back

Grace G.

Big Jones is a nice restaurant that offers an unexpected take on Southern food. I enjoyed their appetizer platter of pickles, pate, and sausages as well as the shrimp and grits entree. I also enjoyed the warm cornbread muffins with honeybutter which were served to our table. Honestly though, while I enjoyed those dishes I kept feeling like I was looking for something more. Maybe it's because I've been spoiled with sausage and pate platters from the likes of the Purple Pig, but I just felt there was something missing here. While the menu was interesting, it didn't seem complete. Also, throughout the meal portions were smaller than I expected. That said, I did really enjoy their homemade pickles and the shrimp and grits. I believe their menu rotates seasonally, so I will be interested to see what they will be offering this spring.

Tom T.

Southern style cooking found its way north to Andersonville and into my heart. The Boarding House Lunch served fried chicken that made me forget about KFC for a split second, along with collard greens, beans and rice, corn bread and biscuits. Wash it down with a crisp French ale and you have a meal that not only fed my belly, but filled my soul.

Colleen B.

I've only been here a handful of times because it is a little pricey BUT it's definitely worth it. We came here for New Year's Eve and it was a lovely experience. I love the Southern Spice cocktail a little too much. I live close by but I'd say it's definitely worth a trip to Andersonville.

Lili V.

I think I had high expectations going in. We went for brunch on a Saturday. We were happy that they were able to take reservations, were willing to seat us earlier when our plans changed, and the waitress was incredibly nice to us. The food was so so. The portions were nice. The presentation was nice. My eggs Benedict were incredibly salty and the gumbo was okay. Our drinks were also okay. We were expecting to fall in love with the place, and instead we were left thinking we might want to travel to New Orleans to see what gumbo is really all about.

Jay B.

Great place . Good Food. Nice layout. But really needs bigger menu and better service. Enjoyed all my selections were very tastey. But the service needed a little tweaking. Bartender needs to stop sampling every drink with the same straw. Dude thats just gross. I would go back.

Samantha L.

I went here a couple months ago for an impromptu brunch with friends. I think we arrived around 11:30 and were seated right away. It did get a bit crowded when we were leaving so I don't think it is normal not to wait a bit. The food was simply awesome. I ordered the crab cakes benedict and I ate every single bite. The crab cakes were super good, the poached eggs on top were perfect and the sauce was divine. My friend had the gumbo and it was also delicious. They bring beignets to the table, but I agree with other yelpers, powdered sugar got all over the table. The service was not memorable, below average at best. Thinking back I couldn't even tell you if our server was male or female because they barely checked on us during the meal. I remember that we were waiting a while before anyone came to take our order. All in all I think it is a five star place for the food, but I took away a star for the less than awesome service.

Amanda A.

I loved my Sunday brunch here! A friend and I made reservations a few weeks ago (thus bypassing the dreaded Mother's Day scene), and it was great from start to finish. Of course, it's hard not to be gush praise when you start with complimentary beignets. We split the addictive fried green tomatoes, munched happily into our second courses (country breakfast and cheddar corn cakes, with a side of just-right bacon), and then finished the gorge fest with a serving of bread pudding to-go. Yup. Oink. This was a much better meal than my first, where I was silly enough to only order oatmeal.

Emily C.

Delicious, delicious, delicious! We were headed for sushi in Andersonville, but in typical foodie fashion, we happened to read every menu on the windows as we walked by and this place managed to completely change our direction and draw us in. So here's what we ate: Fried green tomatoes with homemade remoulade and pickled shrimp, fresh cornbread with honey butter, pulled pork sandwich, and shrimp & cheese grits. Most everything was amazing, especially the cornbread - hello, this is me, the girl who doesn't even LIKE cornbread, but this stuff was good. It didn't have that faux-sweet flavor and let the honey butter take care of the sweetness as it melted into the piping hot disc-shaped hunks of bread. Mmm. The fried green tomatoes were also excellent to the point where I'd be hard pressed to come here and NOT eat them. The cocktails were of that interesting "Violet Hour" variety where it's not what you see on most menus, which in my mind is a plus. I mostly drank sweet tea though, which is awesome stuff. The one criticism is, unfortunately, the pulled pork. It didn't really have that signature smoky flavor. But everything else was spot-on. My advice is to go here when your stomach is growling and you absolutely need to eat becuase I left feeling HEAVY. That was a lot of butter, fried stuff, and syrup (sweet tea). Note that this is by no means a criticism of anything but my unpreparedness to go in and eat such rich stuff. Trust me, next time I'll prepare as necessary - it's worth it!

Review R.

The atmosphere is great. The music they play is awesome: rare trax from earliest recordings of R&B. Perfect setting for organic/locally grown menu styled in a manner of southern cooking. Just awesome. The bar is great, and they know how to mix a drink. I've eaten here many a time and have never been disappointed. Brunch is the best. So much fun with a group, you and another or yourself. The staff is great too, service is always excellent.

John H.

Just had breakfast at Big Jones for the first time this past Saturday and it was GREAT! I had some of the best Eggs Benedict I've EVER had. The ham was very tasty & they serve it on popovers rather than English muffins...a very nice twist! The hollandaise sauce was PERFECT! Rounded out with freshly squeezed orange juice (very tasty), complimentary beignets (again, very tasty), a warm and cozy atmosphere (both in furnishings AND temperature) and it was a great experience. I've eaten here probably 7 or 8 times since they opened their doors and have NEVER been disappointed. I only wish they would bring back their Mississippi Mud Pie/Cake. BEST dessert on the menu! *hint, hint* Will definitely be back and have taken friends as well as recommended to friends. Keep up the good work!

Jessica R.

I was born and raised in the South so entrées such as: "Shrimp and grits" or "Biscuits and gravy " sets my heart a flutter. Needless to say, I am a poor unemployed graduate student and the prices have kept me from venturing over. Having a dinner date last night with some girlfriends gave me the perfect excuse to spend some money that I don't have. First and foremost, the ambiance is A+. Posh indeed. When you first arrive you are blocked off from the diners by a heavy velvet curtain. Only until the hostess has confirmed your reservation are you allowed past the veil. Secondly, the service....A+. Very hospitable and knowledgeable. Answered all of our questions about drinks, entrées and deserts. The food....here is where I seem to differ from the loyal following of Yelpers who have reviewed Big Jones. I admit that as someone with no money who is hesitant to part with it, my opinion on what makes a good eatery is a bit skewed (Cheap, big portions and consistent quality) from other populations. The prices were just a little bit too overpriced I felt for the quality and size of portions. I ordered the Pork Shoulder (one of the cheaper items on the menu at under $20.00) and while the pork was DELICIOUS, there was not enough ( I would have priced this entree for no more than $10.00, anything more than that would be pushing it). Same with the desserts. Yummy but small. My girlfriends all had ONE alcoholic beverage ($10-12 a pop) and their bills were around $60.00. So, yes the ambiance, the service and the food is good...I still don't find that the small portions makes it worth the price. Maybe, in a couple years when I hopefully have some extra money, I will think differently. Maybe for a special occasion (or someone else is paying) but until then, I wont be returning.

Mark M.

I walked in for brunch and had no wait whatsoever for a table for two. The decor is charming and the staff very friendly and genuine. The menu had many options which made it hard to chose. As we waited for our meal the waiter dropped off mini beignets which was unexpected. My omelet and hash browns was delicious and filling and companions french toast was to die for. Prices seemed right to me. I had to ask for coffee refills but that is only possible complaint. I will be back- perhaps next weekend? to try other things from the menu. Great place for breakfast/brunch.

Brian J.

We had a really bad service experience here the other day, 97.8% of it the as a result of a lousy performance from our server... Might have been new, might have had a [really] bad day, not sure. Throw in a few minor missteps from the kitchen and it was frustrating to the point of just having to laugh. Still, having been to Big Jones a few times before and LOVING it every time, we knew this wasn't the way things normally go -- the exception rather than the rule. Why 5 stars? Because the issues were pointed out to the Chef and he took care of everything -- made it all right. This is the sign of a professionally run kitchen that knows the meaning of customer service. And for that reason, I'll continue to recommend the restaurant to others and patronize it myself. I do have to wonder the reason for having no bartender. It seems the servers would just have a better time at things with a little support staff. I'd love if someone from the restaurant would PM me and tell me the reasoning behind that. Just curious.

Stephanie H.

Big Jones holds a special little place in my heart. Not long after they opened up, I ventured in and was so happy to have done so! First off, the customer service is probably the best I've experienced in the city. The waitstaff is attentive, quick to respond, and really, really friendly. Secondly, the food is really good. I've loved pretty much everything I've had here. The eggs Rochambeau are amazing!! The black eyed pea fritters are delightful. The burger and fries...oh dear god. Everything is high quality! I could drink their sweet tea like it's going out of style. For dessert, definitely get the Mississippi Mud Pie. To die for! The food is definitely rich, so be prepared if you have a sensitive tummy! In my opinion, it's worth every cent. Very reasonable with great service! What else could you ask for??

Jeff V.

Since we were going to be back up north, I decided to try Big Jones for dinner based upon our superb brunch experience there. Dinner did not disappoint. I would say that brunch was better but the dinner was still 5 star. Deviled Crab and Crawfish Boudin appetizers were both excellent. The Spring Lamb entree was fantastic and my wife claims the chicken entree was also top notch. I was hesitant to try dinner at a place I love the brunch so much at but they did not disapoint.

Grace L.

I'm from the South, so I guess that makes me a legit judge of sweet tea in the non-Southern parts of the country, right? And I do like the kind that they have at Big Jones. It's syrupy sweet, just the way we like it in the South. But it has a stronger hint of freshly brewed black tea that is often absent from the classic Southern variety. Served with lots of ice and free refills - perfection. The interior is very modern and well-lit and prices are reasonable. We went for brunch, and the server brought a little complementary plate of the tastiest freshly-fried beignets completely doused in powdered sugar. So good I wouldn't have minded just having coffee and beignets for brunch if that were an option... The brunch menu does not lack in choices, however, and it was difficult to make a decision. I ended up having the corn cakes with Creole-spiced ratatouille and poached eggs. It felt like a healthier alternative with the savory ratatouille full of veggies and the corn cakes bursting with crunchy whole fresh white corn kernels in each bite. The eggs were poached to perfection, runny yolks and all. It was a great, comforting brunch, and with so many menu items, I'll have to be back.

Kevin O.

Very nice server, guided us through the menu. Ordered the crawfish fritters which were nice, but the breading overwhelms the delicate crawfish meat. It was more like an arancini crust. Corn bread was very tasty, complimented nicely with honey butter. Gumbo tasted great, but was not piping hot when it hit the table. About 10 minutes after finishing the gumbo, my stomach started to really rumble. Very rich and delicious, but a bit much for me. Great spirits selection, and knowledgable server, a good restaurant experience overall.

Ludwig D.

One of my favorite spots in Chicago! The place looks great. I have been for Brunch, lunch, brunch and drinks and always have a good time. The ambiance is great, the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The food is always very good (Recently fell in love with their pulled pork sandwich). The free beignets for brunch are to die for! Their extensive iced tea collection is great too. Please bring back the cheese croquettes!

Brian C.

Whenever I come here, I am looking forward to the menu changes. They are always changing it up. Tonight I had a lamb dish, something I was not expecting at a restaurant that serves Southern style cuisine. What really threw me for a loop was hoe the dish was presented. It was a real food porn production this time around. The pieces of lamb were placed in spots throughout the plate. The sauces were streaked across the plate. The salsify was strategically placed by each piece of lamb. I've been there a number of times, but I've never seen food porn at Big Jones before. The wine by the glass menu usually has an interesting choice or two. Tonight I discovered a malbec from the Loire region of France. It tasted nothing like the better known Argentine or Cahors versions, and actually tasted kind of like a Grenache. Anybody who shows some creativity with the wine list scores points in my book. Along with the bread pudding dessert (yes, more food porn), I drank a glass of the Rare Wine Co.'s Charleston Sercial madeira. More bonus points for restaurants that serve madeira, and more points for restaurants that understand that madeira never goes bad. I love port, but I know that most restaurants keep open bottles around well after their shelf life. Big Jones has really stepped up their game in the past year. They have been good with discounts while the economy has been bad. We had the $10 coupon that they let us keep reusing throughout last year. As I mentioned before, the food porn presentations were cool in part because they were not expected. This place has really grown on us.

Matthew J.

Big Jones is a true neighborhood gem. The food is amazing and the staff is so warm and inviting. I always feel at home in at Big Jones. I have hosted birthdays, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Easter and anniversaries here and have NEVER been disappointed. Definitely a great spot for brunch and dinner. A Chicago must.

Mary C.

Yum! I went to dinner at Big Jones with no expectations, just hoping for good fried green tomatoes. The services and ambiance were excellent. The portions are huge. The food was delicious.

Christine D.

Relish tray, get the relish tray. You will love the pimento cheese, okra and pickled watermelon rind. I tried my husband's duck and it was quite tasty. My brother and my friend both had the chicken and dumplings and nothing was left on the plate. My mom gave me some of the picked fried okra that came with her burger and I wish I had more. The amber jack special I had was scrumptuous. The parsnip puree that came with it was so good I wanted to rub it on myself. Unfortunately my entree was very late to the table but Big Jones redeemed themselves. The comped my glass of wine, my entree and when asked if we needed anything else my mom blurts out "champagne". Soon after a bottle of bubbles appeared. Nicely played Big Jones, nicely played.

Chris S.

Great brunch. BIG portions. I had a big plate of eggs, cheese grits, greens, and a huge piece of perfectly flavorful ham. She had the s'mores french toast...well, half of it. The other half came home with us and became dessert after dinner. We also had complimentary beignets and a couple of really good bloody marys. The staff is great, if not slightly rushed during brunch - very friendly nonetheless. Next, dinner.

Rick C.

This place was dope. We showed up on a Friday evening without a reservation. One of the owners was working the door and after about five minutes was able to seat us. That alone was pretty cool because a line was forming with people that had called ahead. We started with the crawfish fritters. I think we got three for an order. A little pricey for the amount you get, but they weren't the least bit greasy or heavy. A good start. The gumbo was outstanding. My wife said she could have easily been satisfied ordering another bowl for her entrée. They give out a complimentary basket of corn cakes, so that was a nice touch. We went with the burger. It was melt in your mouth delicious. Well worth the trip just for that. Our other entrée was the pork shoulder sandwich which was just ok. It was Carolina style, so the sauce was more tangy than sweet. Nothing too great and paled in comparison to the burger. We were too stuffed for dessert, but we'll try some next time. This place really hit the spot on a cold winter day.

Kearby K.

I want to just tell everyone I meet go to here! I eat at a lot of really nice restaurants but this is my absolute favorite place and love how every time I take anyone there how much they enjoy it. The employees are all so great. I love the wait staff. I am excited to see them when I go by. I am sorry this review is not specific because I really like everything! My advice is just try it and you will love it if you agree with my other yelps.

Nick M.

Holy pastels!!! This place just screams "I'm ready for Easter", but it's actually like this year round. The only real thing I have to contribute to Big Jones is watch out for their Bloody Marys... they are dangerous!!! Seriously we both only had two and we were rocked, so much that we took a nap when we got home. As far as brunches are concerned I would say that they are pretty fair. Everything had that healthy and fresh taste to it... even the bacon. My pancakes and eggs were very light and fluffy (yes I said fluffy you got a problem wit dat) but at the same time very filling. The fried tomatoes were excellent as well. The service was great, letting us just enjoy the day. At first I thought that the waiter was a little slow but he was just VERY meticulous and it was so much fun to watch him place everything in front of himself before he brought everything out to a table, almost like an art form. I would go back to try the lunch or dinner menus.

Erica M.

Food was good but very disappointed that the fried chicken is only offered Monday - Thursday. Their excuse was the fryer is to small to handle a large weekend crowd. If its that big of a demand then you should invest in a larger one. Will not be returning because I don't have time to drive here during the week for what I wanted.

Kate H.

"Southern cooking" makes me think of fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, and peach cobbler. But, the focus of Big Jones seems to be New Orleans, rather than the broader region, so tonight's menu featured several crawfish dishes, gumbo, and Big Jones' famed shrimp and grits. Overall, food was quite satisfying and distinct from other Chicago options. The crawfish bisque was creamy and indulgent. The house-made andouille sausage was small but satisfying. Entrees were also tasty but less impressive. I enjoyed the gumbo because of the spicy kick and chunks of meat and pile of rice--it was just what I needed for the draft that was coming in. The famed shrimp and grits were of course delicious, but as I mentioned in passing earlier today, "who doesn't like cheese?" Considering the emphasis on local sourcing, I expected a little more. But, it was definitely something enjoyable and off-the-beaten-path palate-wise. Service was friendly. Our server regularly checked on us to see if we needed anything, but there were other helpers/servers as well, so there were points at which we were getting a series of check-in's. I appreciate the attentiveness--it's certainly better than not getting attention--but there's opportunity for greater smoothness with regularly spaced check-in's. Price: $30-45/person (Entrees $12-$25)

The P.

Great, well seasoned fare and fantastic service. We'll be returning in the not so distant future ...

Rebekah W.

I love Southern food. I grew up eating it, eat it every time I go home to Texas, stockpile recipes in my head to make for myself when I've been good, and when I hear of a good Southern food restaurant far away from the South I have to go. Big Jones hits the nail on the head again and again. The service is friendly. Not Southern friendly, but still, oh so nice. The corn cakes are great. I've yet to dunk them in a bowl of gumbo (shame on me), but the crumbly bread is perfect for a salty roux. Fried green tomatoes are exactly what the name implies. Don't expect a green tomato to knock your socks off, but if it's fried in a cornmeal batter and sprinkled with a little salt, it just might come close. Put it on a sandwich with some butter lettuce and bacon and you've got yourself a meal. But the thing I can't get over, the thing I daydream about, is the shrimp and grits. The shrimp are plump and sweet and as fresh as can be. And I didn't dare ask how they got their grits so creamy - butter, cream, cheese, all of the above. The chef is happy to make something you don't see on the menu, but they've made before (say, fried catfish and eggs on a Wednesday afternoon); the servers make excellent recommendations (ginger sweet tea); and if you eye that bottle of champagne that the bartender is pouring into delicate glasses just right, she'll probably slide a taste of it your way.

Scott B.

I had dinner there last week with a group of 6. Service was excellent. Drinks were excellent. I had the burger which was delicious. Looking back, I would have gotten something other than the fries. They were OK, but the other sides that other people got looked much better. Great experience, I just don't give out 5 stars unless I am craving to go back the next day.

Paul G.

I came here about two months ago, and never got around to writing a review. So when I saw this place rated 4 stars while I was yelping in Andersonville, I was a little shocked. I came here for lunch in the mood for some cajun. We were the only people in the place which should have clued me in. The experience was pretty downhill. I ordered some iced tea and gumbo. The iced tea had a fly in it, which I would have pointed out immediatly but the waiter disappeared until our food came out. Pointing out the fly in the iced tea resulted in an offer to repour the iced tea from the same cooler that the fly was swimming in! I declined and asked for another drink instead. When the gumbo came out it was liquid charcol. I've had a lot of gumbo and been to New Orleans a few times. I've never had runny gumbo and never gumbo that tasted like someone threw it over the coals of a bonfire and scooped it onto my plate. Two bites in, I was ready to leave. Unfortunatly I didn't see the waiter again for 20 minutes. By the time I got the bill, physically chased the waiter down again to pay the bill, I didn't have the energy to point out that they charged me for the fly water tea I didn't drink. No way I'm giving this place a second chance even if people say the brunch is better - A cajun restaurant shouldn't be known for Sunday brunch as their only redeeming factor!

Kristin L.

I've eaten here several times for brunch and dinner. I don't want to overdo the superlatives, but really it's that good. They're generous with anniversary and birthday certificates (free drink AND dessert!). And the fried chicken, offered on Tuesday nights, is phenomenal. I take half home, because it's a huge portion and because I can't forgo the red velvet cake made with beets. Inspired cooking and service.

Sterling M.

THIS RESTAURANT WILL ALLOW YOU TO MAKE RESERVATIONS, BUT WILL NOT HONOR IT UPON YOUR ARRIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A couple of months ago, I dined at Big Jones for the first time. Knowing that it is a very popular breakfast/brunch spot in the city, we were sure to make reservations. When we arrived, they had absolutely no record of us even calling. Fortunately, the wait that day wasn't too long, so we were seated promptly. Little did we know that being seated doesn't actually mean that you will receive any service. (I would compare it to getting excited when a nurse calls your name in a waiting room only to have to wait another hour for the doctor to actually see you.) Once we were finally served it took forever to get coffee and our beignet appetizer arrived AFTER we finished our meal. It was so loud that we were barely even able to hear our server. The food was good so we decided to return, chalking the experience up to an "off" day at the restaurant. So, we made reservations again - this time through Open Table - for a noon brunch this past Sunday, April Fool's Day. The reservation was originally for 2, but we called a couple of hours before arriving and added an extra diner. We were told over the phone that we might have to wait for about 10 minutes upon arrival. No big deal. We arrived exactly at noon. The hostess said, "I see you have reservations for 2?" I had to remind her of the third member of our party. She told us that we would have to wait 25 minutes to be seated. Instead of offering to send us to the bar (increasing revenue for the establishment), she offered to call me on my cell phone in 25 minutes. Since there was nowhere there to wait, we headed over to Hamburger Mary's for a cocktail. In exactly 25 minutes, we walked back over expecting to be seated. We were told that we would have to WAIT ANOTHER 35 MINUTES!!!! They had supposedly attempted to call, but couldn't get through. At any other restaurant my reservation would have been honored. If not, the host/hostess would have been apologetic, we would have been directed to the bar for a drink and we would have been told that the very next available table would be ours (not "hours" lol). At Big Jones, the host very rudely stated, "well, since you didn't answer the phone, you're just going to have to wait." Who says that to customers???? The atmosphere may be cute and the food may be good, but here are way too many great restaurants in the area who provide fantastic customer service. Unless you are visiting the city from out of state or a neighboring burb and just want a trendy dining experience, do not waste your time here.

Moira S.

I went for dinner on a Friday night and really enjoyed my experience at Big Jones. The food was delicious. We had the crawfish boudin and the fried cauliflower for starters and the fried catfish and red snapper on special for entrees. Everything was cooked perfectly and they presented a wonderful blend of flavors. The atmosphere in the restaurant is really pleasant and relaxing and the service was attentive. We will definitely be returning.

Amber N.

Solid 5 stars in every area!! Food, atmosphere, service, everything. Get thee to Big Jones!! This was my second time at Big Jones and it was even better than my first experience. My fiance took me here for my birthday. Big Jones sent my a birthday card coupon for a free drink AND dessert, which I though was extremely generous. Our server, Andy, was completely fantastic. Informative, attentive, pleasant, and sweet. He really enhanced the total dining experience. I really dislike when servers give you attitude and/or aren't very informed about the food. Andy explained the specials in a way that made you want them. He also told us in advance that if I wanted the red velvet cake for dessert it might take 15 min bc they make it once you order it. I appreciated the heads up. The other service was excellent as well - we went on a busy Sat night and our water was constantly filled, silverware and napkins replaced, table washed. Very impressive. I had the crab cakes for starters and cannot say enough about them: light, almost fluffy, with slightly tangy sauce, these were perfection. My mom, fiance and I ordered the house ground burger, which was just as good as I remember it. The bun is truly the perfect weight and the meat is super fresh and high quality. My brother got the bbq pulled pork sandwich, which was also fantastic - had just a slight vinegar taste, in a good way. We had the red velvet cake for dessert with the homemade ice cream and the cake was perfectly crispy on the outside and warm in the middle. The homemade ice cream was to die for. I would describe it as buttercream ice cream? Super rich and creamy....nothing like store bought ice cream. Overall, this was the best birthday dinner ever!! We had so much fun and will definitely be back to try brunch and other items.

Mindy V.

After my trip to Charleston and falling in love with Southern Fare I was so excited to see this place open so I could get my hands on some fried green tomatoes. Thats what I love about the Chi, lots of different and exciting food options. I loved the food, the sweet tea pork chops were good, the fried Chicken salad is incredible, never had more tender delicious chicken and the dressing is to die for. The problem is they just dont have their act together yet. They were out of menus and we waited for 10 minutes just for that. They were out of 2 dishes and the beer we tried to order. Server was nice but slow. I will totally go back and recommend it to anyone, just know that they are still working out some kinks. Next time I hope its better and Ill revise my rating, because its some good grub!

Meredith T.

This place is great if you're looking for something a little different then you typical American grill. I randomly stopped in this place on a Friday night around 7:30pm. We were seated right away, which was a nice surprise given the night and time. The menu isn't huge and if you're a burger and fries type of person, you might be hard-pressed to find something that really speaks to you (they do have a burger on the menu, but it's topped with all sorts of "fussy" toppings). I have to admit, I was a little intimidated by some of my choices. After looking the menu over several times, we decided to forgo entrees altogether and order several appetizers instead (I'm so glad we did). The server, who was very friendly and completely open to talk us through our choices, suggested we try the crab cakes. She also made several other recommendations based on their popularity. As a result we also ordered the fritters and the frog legs to go with the crab cakes. All the dishes arrived hot and every last one of them was delicious (even the frog legs...which I still can't believe I ate). This place is slightly on the pricier side of the fence but the food is delicious, the ambiance is nice and it's something a little different then all the rest.

Kate M.

Big Jones is BIG-time delicious. I had some gumbo there that was to die for, and the chef really cares about his ingredients. Everything was super fresh and incredibly good. A bit of a wait to get in, but well worth it! If you like southern food, you gotta try it out.

Tina S.

I really want to love this place but I couldn't. My server was very odd.....she kept using the wrong pronouns to address our party. "Can we get this out of our waaaayyy?" She was condescending and inauthentic. The lack of authenticity matched the poor food. My mom is from the South and I grew up eating southern food. I thought it was a good choice for my parents since they generally like unfussy food. Sadly, nothing appealed to us on the menu. I had the fried seafood platter, which was pretty good, nothing spectatular and I would've appreciated a heads up on the fact that there were no sides; just fries with it. Do you think I needed more fried stuff with my fried fish? Could I get a side of greens with that? At any rate, it was a total waste of calories. My dad had a pulled pork sandwich that was ok, My mom had the sweet tea brined pork, which was also fair; boyfriend had a burger. There was nothing big or special about anything we had except for the big bill. We also had some very average desert with some weird spicy ice cream......I hope that does not become the next food trend! The only thing that was really good were the homemade corn muffins. Now that was exceptional!!! Last word: Please don't waste your money on this joint.

Adam R.

I've been there 5 times this year and it has alwasy been a great experience with great food. We live in Lincoln Park so its out of the way to go here, but its worth it. If they have fried artichokes, make sure you get those, otherwise go for the Fried green tomtaoes. The porkchop is awesome with with some kind of bacon sauce. I'd say the shrimp and grits is average and the gumbo is above average. I'm not all that into food with andouille spice or whatever it is. Our server is usually kind of odd, but more of an entertaining oddness. Overall, worth working into restaurant rotation for Monday thru Thursday dinner. Just avoid getting too many friend things.

Tirie L.

yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, i got creole in my tummy! and VERY good creole at that. Hubby and I went for Sunday brunch, which is a feat in itself since it's hard to get him out of bed before 2! Which I have to give a hallelujah! that Big Jones serves brunch till 3. The staff was great. The host greeted us warmly and quickly. We sat right away (which I pray won't change when everyone discovers how fabulous this place is!). Our server Alex was wonderful, attentive & well groomed ;) Not hover-y but attentive nonetheless. I do have to say though, the tall male server assistant that filled are waters gave me the stank eye when I thanked him for filling our glasses. what gives?! But Alex did more than make up for it. Now for the food. A PLATE OF HOT, FLUFFY, POWDER SUGARY GOODNESS was placed in front of us. Here's the kicker: we didn't ask for them. EVERYBODY GETS THEM! Anyplace that sticks a plate of beignets just for coming in, is a winner in my book. But the rest of the meal did not disappoint. So here's the breakdown: beignets: freakin awesome. bloody mary: a little sour for my taste, but hubby liked cajun boudin fritters: delish! crunchy on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside. reminiscent of arancini, but not as gummy because the rice is not risotto egg new orleans: yummy! crab cakes & bearnaise sauce were nicely seasoned. the only downside was that the popovers were overcooked therefore a little tough shrimp & grits: OMG. so damn good. grits were creamy. the shrimps were perfectly cooked. and the sauce... ooohh-wee that sauce. at first glance you might think it would be overly seasoned & salty. but the tasso ham is actually slightly sweet and there's a nice balance of flavors. one small side note- hubby got some 4 roses bourbon. is was quite a chintzy pour. a little heavier pour would be appreciated- even if it was only 1 in the afternoon. not trying to be nit-picky, but just a few little things that hopefully the owner(s) may take into consideration. wasn't "perfect" and i don't necessarily think we ever look a "perfect" experience- we would rather have a warm & inviting meal than a cold & "professional" one. so thank you Big Jones for giving us just that. we'll see you again soon! Laissez le Bon temp rouler!

Victoria K.

I really love this place. I've been here 5 times or so, and each time I return after eating other places, the more I love this place. So here is what I love about it: *Death of St. Germain- best gin drink in the neighborhood. It's awesome and I'd come here just for this awesome cocktail. The homemade ginger ale is also quite tasty. *Complimentary Cornbread/Beignets- enough said! They are addictive! *Catfish with a Curry Sauce- Seriously awesome curry which took me off guard because I didn't expect it from a 'southern food' place, but it's great. *Shrimp and Grits- Simple, but so rich and tasty. Besides the food and drink, the fact that this place is consistent every time I've been there is worth a lot. To me, there are many restaurants that can have a fluke good dish once in a while, but a consistent awesome meal and cocktail is worth that fifth star. True, sometimes the staff seems busy or 'hands-off" if you will esp. if they're busy, but I come here to enjoy not only the food and drink, but to enjoy my friends company and conversation so I've never felt ignored or that the service is lacking. For me it's the perfect mix of allowing us to talk and take our time while not feeling pressured to order, eat quickly and leave.

Van D.

Food was good and our waitor was super nice guy. The issue was that the manager really has poor customer service. We had a large group of 14 to celebrate a birthday. We had brought a cake in for the birthday. We understood that they would charge us because we brought a dessert in, but they wanted to charge $4 per person "cutting" charge for the cake. Because we had 14 people, we would have paid $56 just to cut the cake. Absolutely outrageous. Manager was also very rude in explaining their policy to us

David M.

Great place for brunch. Except for some slowwwww service getting bloody marys to our table, everything else was excellent and enjoyable. Try the Hominy & Eggs Scramble!

Heather S.

this place was amazing. perfect. it's everything I ever wanted in a southern food restaurant. I ate fried green tomatoes, and eggs new orleans and sweet potato fries and green goddess dressing and cute little cornbread looking biscuits and pomegranate sweet tea. I felt like a character from Fried Green Tomatoes. One of my favorite meals ever. Definitely going back. I think of it as a really good place to go with lady friends especially for some reason.

Eric M.

So we decided to check this place out for the first time today, and went for lunch around 1:15 p.m. It was almost empty, but looked nice inside. The menu looked decent, if somewhat limited, but when we ordered, one of us wanted to get the 3-course prix fixe, while the other only wanted an entree. Our waiter, who was very nice, told us that if anyone wanted the prix fixe, everyone at the table had to order it. That doesn't seem to make sense, but more to the point, that isn't written on the menu. We asked the waiter to ask the chef/owner about that, and after several requests, the chef/owner, a pale little man, came to our table, looking a bit put out that we were being so bothersome. He was rather snippy and condescending, and told us that this was his policy, and that it would be printed on the next iteration of the menus. He told us that if there were 10 people at our table, all 10 would have to order the prix fixe, or nobody could. Instead of being in any way accommodating, he basically told us that if we didn't play by his (unadvertised) rules, that was our problem. Pretty bad business sense, if you ask me, as we picked up, left a few bucks for the waiter, and told him we wouldn't be back. I don't care how good the food may be at this place, when the owner acts like a snippy little diva, he's not getting my business. There are too many good and friendly places in Andersonville to waste your time or money at this place!

Eliot J.

solid drinks and entrees + over-the-top friendly service = a good choice. keep your expectations for a genuine cajun meal low and you will not be disappointed here.

Brenda D.

I love Big Jones, they are VERY accomidating to Gluten-free dinig. Many of there optiions they can modify for gluten-free. Also the corn bread is gluten-free. I knew I could trust them the fist time since out waitress has celiacs. New favorite!

dan g.

Excellent. I had the biscuts and Sausage with collared greens. Great taste. My friend had the most delicious sausage Patty and syrup and pancakes in her breakfast plate. Will most definatly go here again.

Laura H.

At a fundraiser this Feb, I won a gift certificate for 'brunch for 4' at Big Jones, and after months of planning, we finally went today. I felt like a queen the whole time. The waiter and bartender took really good care of us, and as the gift certificate stipulated, we got a three course chef's brunch. The goat cheese and balck pepper biscuit was very tasty, the eggs benedict with popovers was great, and the dessert was amazing. The chef sent out one of each of four desserts, and we coulnd't decide which was our favorite, the bread pudding or the red velvet cake. My girlfriends kept thanking me for inviting them to this wonderful experience, esp each time the waiter brought us another drink. The Autumn 76 was great, and the Rose Mimosa was very tasty. Overall, it was a wonderful brunch out- I will totally buy a raffle ticket for it again if offered at this year's charity event. Great afternoon!

Joel S.

Best hamburger possible... my pregnant friend said she had a hamburger binge and ate something like 30 hamburgers all over the city and this was the best one. I believe her. Great other options too... from the unique cocktails to fried chicken tuesdays and prix fix Thursdays(not sure if they always have this, but happened upon it during the locavore thing Chicago restaurants were doing in the fall and it was awesome.) Quality products such as Gunthorp Farms and Tallgrass... good wine and beer selection. I've probably been there about ten times since it opened, and my new year's resolution is to go ten more this year!

Justin H.

The service is great. The servers are HOT, and the food is deliciuous. I always get the Glazed Chicken with grits and am always amazed at how yummy it is. Great prices great atmosphere great food. The boiled peanuts are something I got used to after eating just 2 or 3 of them. Very tasty!@

Matt R.

Phenomenal! The food was excellent. The service equally as wonderful. Great menu, drink selection, decor, I have nothing to complain about. Tonight's special was amazing- quail stuffed with sea bass over a gumbo with sausage and chicken on rice. Everything was delightful.

Michael O.

Big Jones is very good for a date. The atmosphere is very simple, but clean and modern. The server we had was very well-informed about the menu and was able to give a lot of detail about each dish we asked about. Jeffrey had the pecan catfish that he said was very good. I had shrimp and grits, also very tasty. I chose this place because it advertises as Southern, which the menu is Southern-modern. This isn't the place to get a heapin' pile of Ma's vittles, the presentation is very pretty. If you go, take the time to order one of the cocktails, strong and yummy!

Sam M.

I only went once for dinner, but my experience was very nice. The service was good and the kitchen was very accommodating. I was dining with a few picky eaters and they were more than willing to make substitutions. The food was above average, but a bit expensive. Although, the portions were quite large, I think that two entrees and a few starters could easily feed three people.

Robert S.

Went for dinner. 2 words: Yawn, Blah. Nothing was very good. I expected a unique experience with the southern flavors promised. Instead I got no imagination. Not a very exciting menu, small portions, bad wine list. Our server was good--she tried a bit too hard...the rest of the staff looked like they were hired for their looks & they all had a bad attitude. Oh & what's up with the boiled, bland peanuts?--I would have prefered them raw. Too many great places around to go back. Sorry. Went back after a friend begged me & it had improved so I raised it a star.

Robyn S.

Right off the bat, I was disappointed in Big Jones. Our group of 5 had a reservation at 8:00pm. We were going to be a bit late, so we called and they said "no problem, get here by 8:15pm." We got there at 8:10pm and the host made us feel like we had created a problem that he was not happy to solve. He told us that we were already late for our reservation ( we told him that we called and someone told us 8:15pm was fine) and since our 5th person wasn't there, he wasn't sure he could seat us. He said that they set aside 2 hours for a party of five, if our fifth person was late, it would hold us up more so than we already were. He was not very friendly or accomodating and made us feel like we were a problem. The weird thing was is that we called and they said 8:15 was fine and our friend was literally 4 minutes away. We told him that we would order as usual and our friend could catch up. So, he begrudgingly sat us. When our 5th friend arrived (4 minutes later), he said "oh yea, your party is here, just walk back until you find them". Our waters did not get refilled - even when asked for more water. The food was mixed reviews by everyone - some liked it, some did not. My one friend had been there before and ordered the same dish - the first time it was amazing, this time, it was flavorless and tasted bitter. It was a vegetarian mushroom entree. All in all, the host should lighten up a bit, they should direct bus boys (or someone) to fill water and maybe after being open awhile longer will be more consistent with the food. The Mississippi mud pie was really good though...

Rachel Y.

My boyfriend and I met two other friends at this restaurant per their suggestion. What a fantastic find! Their drinks were great and their ice teas were fantastic - they serve unsweetened tea to you in a beaker with a small cup of syrup that you add yourself depending on how strong you want the flavoring. For appetizers we shared the pork, fried green tomatoes and the crab cake--all amazing. And for dinner my boyfriend got the fried chicken special and it was out of this world. Melted off the chicken practically and was perfectly seasoned. I had the catfish and grits and might consider getting it for a takeout dish in the future--totally scraped the plate clean. One of our friends is vegan and they have multiple items for her to choose from, which was very good. The server was very nice, the atmosphere was very relaxed and comfortable but still elegant - prices were very reasonable for what we ordered and all in all it was a fantastic experience. Can't wait to go back!

Theo V.

We chose Big Jones because they were close and had an available last minute reservation. We figured if it was disappointing at least we hadn't driven across town. However, I think I can speak for our party that this food is certainly worth a long jaunt. The guys started with some interesting cocktails and the ladies had ginger sweet tea, which has an interesting presentation. Appetizers included crabcakes and fried green tomatos, both served with the same remoulade, both excellent. The crouquettes were deliciously warm and cheesy as well. For entrees, I had the gumbo which was served with sides of pickled serranos an powdered sassafras. The seasoning was right on for my taste. I could have used some bread to sop up the remnants in the bowl! Others got the pork chop and the lamb. Lamb had a sweet tangy BBQ like glaze while the pork was done perfectly with marvelous sweet potatos on the side. We were too stuffed for desert. We will definitely be back.

Cristin M.

I hesitated to go back to Big Jones after my first visit about a year ago (where they basically forgot to put my entree order in and I had to wait for-ever for a lackluster dish), but I'm glad that I finally let my guard down and ventured back. This time I went back for lunch, and their menu had so many good looking options. I finally settled on the cheddar corn cakes (with black beans, eggs of your choice, salsa, sour cream, and gobs of fresh avocado) since I really wanted some sweet tea to drink and couldn't go "double sweet" so early in the day. Wow! The corn cakes turned out to be corn pancakes, one of my favorite things in the world! If I would have known that's what they were like, I would have ordered them on their own. But fear not, the black beans and cheddar that came sandwiched in between the two pancakes, and then topped off with all those goodies didn't detract from anything at all. It was such a good flavor combination and huge portion. My friend and I both ordered them, and we definitely could have split one order between the both of us. The service was also friendly and never left us wanting refills or anything like that. Now that my hope is restored in Big Jones, I won't hesitate to go back.

Just A S.

I'm sure, from the other reviews that this place is spectacular. BUT, when I order a chicken salad and it comes out with grilled dark meat on top (slimy, meager and pitiful-looking), I question the cooks and the waiters sense of quality. It was vile looking and even worse on the palate. I know I subbed grilled meat for fried, but that was ridiculous. So I would say that attentiveness to guest satisfaction and quality control in kitchen are not quite up to par.

Ingrid L.

I went to the opening of Big Jones a few months ago and wanted to visit it again before I reviewed. Although the food was good the first time, the poor service made the meal not so pleasant. After being seated after waiting 20 mins for a table despite plenty of open tables in view, the drinks took another 10 mins to arrive. Then throughout the dinner we were given food we didn't order but our neighbours did. We chalked the whole experience up to the restaurant having teething problems and promised to come back as the food was pretty tasty. Today my boyfriend and I went back for brunch and had a great time. Seating was very prompt and polite. Our waiter DID forget to bring us our menus, but that was the only bad bit of service we received. I got a passionfruit sweet tea which was delicious - not too sweet but with a definite passionfruit flavor - and the Eggs New Orleans. The eggs with lump crab cake were sooo good. Lots of crab and all very well seasoned. My boyfriend got a red tea which came with free refills of hot water and the Eggs Benedict. He said the dish was only lukewarm but decieded not to ask for it to be reheated cause we knew service might take a while, plus it still tasted good. The meal also came with a plate of mini beignets at the start and a small plate of fruit at the end. Overall, we were very pleased with the meal today and would definitely recommend it to our friends. Yes, the food is a little pricey, but it makes up for it with tastiness. Also, the service has noticeably improved since they first opened, so don't let the earlier reviews of poor service put you off.

Klay K.

I went for dinner here a second time a few Fridays ago at 8PM and the place was half full just like it was the previous time I went. The waiter recommended one of their signature drinks after I told him I wanted something similar to an old fashioned. It was ok but tasted mostly of lime juice so not what I expected. The cornbread they served with our crab cake appetizer was delicious and the best food of the night. The cakes were also good. For my entree I ordered the 'pan seared' halibut special which was disappointing. It was breaded and tasted like ordinary fish sticks served with melonball potatoes and ramps. Not what I was expecting and very average but definitely not worth $23, not even close. Our final bill was $75 before tip which was far too much for 2 mediocre entrees/2 mediocre drinks/1 good appetizer. There are just too many better options in the neighborhood for those prices. The staff is very friendly, but I can see why people aren't returning to the restaurant. The value just isn't there. I guess I could try their brunch, but I don't want to be disappointed a 3rd time.

Molly Y.

This place is by far my favorite in Chicago. I went with a friend for a celebration dinner. We shared the crawfish appetizer and literally ended up fork-fighting over it. Their grits are like nothing I have ever tasted, so perfect and creamy. I went about a month ago and have gone at least 3 times now. I had the violet sweet tea the last time I went and all the girls at my table ended up getting one too it was so yummy. Service is wonderful,place is nicely decorated, easy to find. I can not rave enough about it.

John L.

Being from Louisiana I usually take a pass on any place outside of the south offering food described as, "Cajun", "New Orleans", or "southern" because rarely do they get it right. To serve seafood that has been shipped frozen is a sin to call it a "New Orleans" dish. My girlfriend and I passed by Big Jones randomly this afternoon and decided to stop in for brunch. I was reading the menu thinking, "yeah, right" as I browsed over all of the entrees decorated with southern descriptions. Then, the server plopped a plate of beingnets on our table. That's a very New Orleans thing to do right there so I give a star just for that alone. And they tasted pretty authentic. Smaller than New Orleans beingnets but very close in taste. Still not convinced though, I ordered a regular breakfast meal with nothing New Orleans in it. They make their own breakfast sausage and it was amazing! My girlfriend ordered the sweet potato biscuits with andoulle sausage and gravy. I tasted it and was shocked. It was dead on! The gravy was made with a base of onion, bell pepper and celery, the trilogy of all New Orleans dishes, and it was perfect! The sausage was perfect! It was real Louisiana style andoulle sausage, not the Midwest or northern version of it! I was curious to find out if their gulf shrimp was frozen so we asked the server. She said that it was not. What!?! No way! I HAVE to return to this place and sit down with a bowl of gumbo and some seafood and possibly an Abita beer (not sure if they have it) and if it's as tasty and authentic as the brunch today was, then I could become a regular here. Another plus is that they have Crystal hot sauce. I rarely see that outside of Louisiana.

Maya A.

I went to Big Jones a few years ago and remembered the food being great. So I thought that it would be a great place to meet two of my best friends for brunch today. We made a reservation and a table was available for us as soon as we arrived even though the restaurant was busy. One of the owners seated us and politely introduced himself. The food was amazing but the service was a little lacking.

Alvin d.

not sure about dinner, but do go for brunch. their eggs specials are yummy, especially the New Orleans. Fried fish of the day topped with an egg over a yummy pool of grits, my heart hurts but my taste buds say go for it. yes, get the grits! been to dinner there twice, both meals were okay (similar sentiments from friends who've been there), nothing memorable, but could have been my choice of dish as well, I suppose. space: cute enough. service: fair to good. will be back again, not sure how soon (sooner for brunch than dinner), but it is a good addition to cuisine choices in the city.

P Chris B.

My wife and I were in from Minneapolis and spent a day wandering around some of the more charming neighborhoods of Chicago. We wandered into Big Jones, which was busy on a Saturday night, and were attended to immediately. The service was fantastic and the food was even better. Delicious margaritas, fresh out of the oven cornbread muffins followed by some amazing appetizers, which included cheddar herb croquettes, crawfish boudin fritters and lump crabcakes. Our entrees (Carolina Pulled Pork & Shrimp and grits) were done to perfection. We left so satiated that my wife forgot her iphone. Unfortunately, we didn't realize it until we were at the airport. The owner found it, called us and offered to send the the phone to us. That kind of attention to customers in this day and age is rare and greatly appreciated. Andersonville is one of the hippest and coziest neighborhoods in Chicago and Big Jones is it's crown jewel. Needless to say, we'll be back any and every time we're in Chicago.

Brendan F.

I'm not sure who the hater are here but clearly they are crazy or just have it in for this place. I have eaten there regularly for over a year and never had anything less than top notch food and service for fair prices considering what you get. For the record, my (sadly) ex-girlfriend, a die-hard veggie, counts this among her fave spots too because they are so nice and accomodating. Some people get off on trashing their local businesses, but what does that say about them, when it's a neighborhood favorite?

Kate H.

Bleck, bland and overpriced. Even the complimentary bread thingies were bad and burnt. I had the country friend steak and stole a bit of the catfish pecan. The steak was not tender nor was it flavorful. The catfish pecan was pretty much completely devoid of flavor. The place is nice enough inside and the service was good. Sorry, not enough to come close to making up for the unremarkable food.

hugette s.

I've been to Big Jones a handful of times, and I have always left satisfied. I feel lucky to have it in the neighborhood. With the large selection of restaurants around, it is strangely comforting to know it's there to turn to, when you have a hankering for solid filling food! it is definitely my go-to fall-back option for an easy dinner out. It has looked crowded a few times, but we have never had to wait to get a table. Once we sat at the bar. I prefer brunch to dinner. My favorite is the Eggs New Orleans. Despite other yummy looking options on the menu, it is still the best. The beignets are a nice perk, though sometimes they are really amazing and sometimes they are just ok.

nicole u.

oh hells yee-ah! this place is absolute deliciousness. We had a girls night out for my friend Janelle's birthday. Between the four of us we ordered the crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, pecan catfish, burger, pulled pork and jambalaya. the server was very matter of fact and made helpful suggestions (and he was a fox!). he declared the burger "possibly the best in chicago", and he may be right. i was on the fence about ordering the catfish--i've had catfish done way wrong in the past and wasn't sure if i was up for it. i'm glad i went for it--it was crusted with a pecan/butter topping, sat on a big bed of mashed potatoes with some greens on the side. a tad salty, but with the potatoes and greens it made for a great combination. for dessert we tried the red velvet cake and the bread pudding. both were good, but i could have gone for a few more bites of the mac and cheese and skipped dessert. all around fan-freakin'-tastic. i can't wait to try brunch...

Ernest K.

I came here for restaurant week, so the menu was a bit unique from the norm, but since I split two four course meals with my wife, it also means I had a decent sampling of their selections. Service was great, the food not so much. Without getting into much detail, the appetizers (Coush-Coush & Gumbo z'Herbes) were decent; the bread service (Skillet Cheddar Cornbread) was good; the dinners (Alligator & Andouille Sauce Piquant & Crawfish Etouffee) were nothing worth writing home about and the desserts (Calas and Gateaux de Roix) were a flop. For those of you looking for specifics, both dinners tasted like the rice wasn't cooked all the way so it felt like I was constantly biting into hard grain. If you can get past that, then the dish was alright. The gumbo had the perfect amount of spice for my liking, and the coush-coush came with a pleasantly sweet sauce. I was really looking forward to the caramel dipping that came with the Calas, but imagine my disappointment when it ended up being really bitter. The lemon sauce it came with was tasty though. The Gateaux de Roix seemed like it's just glorified, dense white bread on a plate sprinkled with sugar, and with an ice cream scoop on top. My wife chose this place because she wanted to try alligator for the first time, so we definitely don't regret the experience. However, now that she's marked that off her list, we don't plan to make an effort to come back.

LaDarian D.

Great drinks, good beer selection, the best blood sausage I've ever had. The shrimp & greats were amazing. Service is very warm & hospitable. The atmosphere was so comfortable we stayed at least 40 minutes longer than intended & had dessert & sparkling wine. Perfect midweek brunch should you find yourself free for any reason.

T Q.

I got their fried chicken salad and it was one of the best salads ever. Definitely recommend getting their fried chicken

Yvonne I.

This review is for the Sunday brunch I had here recently. We made reservations for a 9:15am seating on a Sunday. My party of four was seated immediately, and initially the restaurant was pretty empty. By 10:30 when we left, almost every seat was filled in the restaurant. If you are planning to come on the weekend, I would suggest that you make a reservation. The meal comes with complementary beignets. They were warm and soft. Looking through the menu at Big Jones was very overwhelming for me, because everything sounded delicious. I opted for the crawfish omelet because I have never had an omelet with any type of seafood inside. It was a great choice. I've never had eggs so fluffy, and they didn't skimp on the crawfish. My only personal dislike was the cream cheese inside, but I knew I was taking a chance with this to begin with. There was more cream cheese inside the omelet than I was expecting. The cheese grits were awesome! You have to try their grits.

J R.

Went there for brunch on Saturday using a reservation. Seated immediately, not very busy. The food was tasty but the service was downright AWFUL. It took 10 minutes for our waitress to get to our table to even take our drink order and I would have forgiven this had I not seen her just standing back by the drink refill station talking to other workers the entire time. After she took our drink order, it was another 10 minutes before I had to actually stop her and ask her to take our order. I've been a waitress for many years and under no circumstances should you ever have to ask your waitress to come take your order. After our order was taken, we NEVER saw the waitress again the whole time we were there. She never returned to our table to refill our drinks/coffee or to ask if we needed anything. The most irritating part about this was watching her stand at the hostess stand talking to the hostess instead of helping us or completely ignoring us when she walked by our table. The place isn't that big so we could see her ignoring us every time she walked by us. When we finished our meal, she never even returned to give us our check. I had to ask another waiter for our bill and then even he returned to our table with an attitude and shoved a small receipt in front of my face asking if this was my order and how i wanted to pay. Once again the most irritating part about this was watching our waitress stand in the doorway between the front and back dining areas and DO NOTHING. I'm not sure if she was having a bad day or not but that service was inexcusable. You don't charge $15 a plate for brunch and then give the CRAPPIEST SERVICE EVER. We will not be returning here which is sad because I was so excited to go here in the first place and that awful waitress put us off of the place forever. I've never had service so bad, not even at the $5 breakfast place by our house. GET IT TOGETHER BIG JONES! Hire some wait staff who have some manners, know how to do their job, and don't look so surly about having to take an order.

Angel L.

Made my reservation online and worked out perfectly. The food is definitely something new, especially for the Chicago scene. The only thing I wasn't super in love with were the beignets. They're whole wheat and I'm just not a fan of whole wheat. I ordered the Mobile Catfish and it was suprisingly really fresh. More of a lunch meal vs. a breakfast meal, fyi.

Hannah H.

About a 2-2.5: My friend and I came here for brunch. The restaurant itself is very cute - great ambiance and a nice interior design. They give you their 'homemade' cornbread, which are basically a flattened thicker version of a pancake with whole corns - this was pretty okay and I like the fact that it had whole corn kernels. For appetizers, my friend and I shared the Cheddar Herb Croquettes. It definitely had a soft center, but I thought there weren't much hints to cheese; it did complement well with the sauce that it came with. For my entree, I had the Shrimp and Grits, which were shrimp in a house tasso (spiced ham) gravy with organic hominy grits - I thought the dish was a little bland, but I did appreciate the nicely-sized shrimp. My husband had the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich, which we were not a fan of as the marinated and the quality of the pork was poor. The Gumbo Ya-Ya, as my friend stated, would probably be better in small portions (as a cup size) - the sauce was way too potent with the smokey spices. I am glad I was able to check this place out! +whole kernels in cornbread

Toni E.

This place had good food and reminded me of my stay down in NOLA. The house was packed, and we had made a reservation. From my observation, it seems that they were seating the walkins before they gave us a table (which is my only complaint). The food was great!

Thai S.

The place it's small and quaint...food is worth the wait. I've been to many a brunch place in Chicago and this place may be my top pick. Great menu that is not the norm, so definitely worth trying...corn cakes...mmmmm

Jason A.

Excellent southern food but a bit straight forward. The board appetizer basically allows you to have all their main apps. Tamales and crab cakes were high lights. The fried chicken was good and juicy, lacked a bit of flavor. The best part was the sweet potato hash. A better Table 52 with lower cost. I'll be back but I wish there was a bit more punch.

Sanford R.

We went here to celebrate my wife's birthday. Sadly, the experience was not what we hoped it would be. I actually enjoyed my meal for the most part and the Southern atmosphere, but my wife just didn't like the food here at all. We started the meal with some cornbread, which my wife couldn't stand, but I enjoyed well enough. I ordered the award-winning fried chicken and was pleased with it. I will comment on the enormous size of this plate though as they give you a ton of chicken which can easily be split between two people. My wife ordered the catfish and was very unhappy with it. The server to her credit noticed that my wife was not eating it and asked what she could do. They ended up taking it off the bill and brought us a complimentary dessert. I felt like that was a professional gesture. I have to commend this place for their service. They couldn't please my wife with their food, but we appreciated the effort.

Octavio B.

The meal was decent, it wasn't really what I had expected. The thing that bothered me while I was there was the fact that I was having an epic battle with flies that were buzzing around. I understand one or two but there was a whole colony there, but I think the part that just didnt do it for me was the fact that they billed me incorrectly. On my bank account it showed up on two different occasions even though it was my first time there. Overall, I had a really bad experience both at the restaurant and in my wallet.

Erica L.

The first time I heard about Big Jones was when it was featured in Bon Appetit magazine 1-2 years ago in their fried chicken issue as one of the best places to go in the US for fried chicken. At that time, I believe they were only offering fried chicken one day a week. I'm so glad they expanded to every day. There's nothing like digging into a large platter of hot, crispy, delicious fried chicken on cold winter night. The skin had an indescribable texture that made a wonderful crunching noise when peeling it off the meat and biting down into it. The chicken was juicy, tender, and flavorful. My mouth is watering just remembering how it tastes. Hubby had the chicken and dumplings, which were also good, but nothing beats the fried chicken. The pimento cheese was a great way to start the meal. They also served genuinely sweet, sweet tea! I actually had to water mine down a bit with some ice, just the way I like it. The decor matched the Southern comfort food menu. I loved the hardwood floors, dim lighting, and high-back dining chairs, which reminded me of many restaurants in my former state of NC. Service was great. Our server was quiet, but friendly. He answered our questions about the menu and portions, and helped us pick between dishes since we wanted to try many. Unfortunately, they did get rid of offering the family style dinners, aka a flat rate per person for fried chicken and a choice of several sides. That would have been a great way to sample the sides.

Neamen L.

Best brunch ever. I was a little hesitant due to it being up North but it is a quick trip from the South Loop area. Making a reservation was a great idea as it was packed and we most likely would have had to wait for a table to open up. With the reservation we were seated right away. The service was a bit slow as I only saw one guy in our section towards the front. But the food was amazing. I had the shrimp and grits for an entree and it was very good. I'd highly recommend this place and I will be returning.

Mila L.

I had the pineapple pancakes and they were like dessert! Good ambiance, good service, but thank goodness we made a reservation because it was PACKED on a Saturday morning. Definitely call ahead if you're going on the weekend. Overall, it was a solid brunch experience.

Joe S.

Big Disappointment!!!! Walked in and I knew this was going to be a bad experience. A/C was broke and Restaurant had no windows in August, Really? My party and I consisted of a total of 5 people were seated right away for an early weekend dinner. 15 min. Later we finally got a server to take our drink order. The Bourbon selection was quite impressive. I was the only one in my party that felt I had to sample one of the 30 plus bourbons. My drink came with a long wait again for service, and my drink was less than a shot with one ice cube melting in the glass. My party and I decided to start with the pickle tasting, as I'm a sucker for good pickles. The starter came with one tiny pickle slice and other veggies pickled not very good. All the picked veggies tasted the same. Then finally the main course an hour later. I decided on the pork shoulder sandwich with fries. My wife ordered the Creole Noddles with seafood. My pork shoulder was just ok, lacking pork in between the buns, reminded me of sandwich you might get at a street fair. The fries were subpar, my dish had a side of very watered down ranch dressing, I'm guessing for the fries? My wife's dish looked like a hot mess, which was fitting for the atmosphere of this establishment. Her dish was noddles with a bunch of red sauce, looked like a jar of ragu with a severe lack of seafood!!! Finally the server said they couldn't believe they were open without air and it was so hot. I thought, with the poor service and bad food I can't believe you're open period.

Talin H.

Visited here again this past week for lunch. I am always extremely happy with the food, service and atmosphere here. App: Fried Green Tomatoes. Incredible, cornmeal crust, fresh butter lettuce, best remoulade I've ever had. Just wow. Boudin Rouge: Boudin is a traditional New Orleans blood sausage with rice in it. Be not afraid! It's very mild and delicious. The accompanying pear and onion relish was absolutely phenomenal. I wanted to spoon it into my pocket for later....don't judge. You would've too. Entree: Pork Shoulder sandwich. Delicious, tender meat. Spicy and sour South Carolina-style mustard sauce. Served with fried pickles and okra - again, amazing cornmeal crust.

Ashley C.

For how much money we spent, I was quite disappointed. Here's why: Cornbread was in underwhelming to say the least. It sucked. No salt, mushy. They couldn't make simple cocktails. The service was not good. They only had 2 servers on the floor on a Saturday night. Our waitress didn't even come over to our table until about 20 minutes after we sat down. The shrimp and grits was OKAY, but had too much gravy, and these tiny shrimps that were over cooked. For $16, I expect some nice shrimp. The fried chicken was good, I will give it that. Also, for $12 I would think a Bloody Mary would be at least as big as their water glasses. I would have given it three stars, but I heard great things about this place and was thoroughly disappointed.

Samantha G.

This place gets a lot of hype and I have been wanting to try it for months! Finally made it in on a snowy morning and the place was packed. Seating would've been a while, but there were 2 seats at the bar, so we claimed them quickly! The brunch menu is pretty interesting, so it took some time to decide on what to try. I went with the crab cakes benedict. It was kind of bland. I ate about half of it and didn't want any more. It was a good sized portion, but I stopped eating it because the flavor wasn't worth filling up on. The tables are SUPER close and you get to know your table-neighbors here, as it's a very narrow space. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, or was just having a bad morning, but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I definitely left disappointed. Not sure I need to go back, but I wouldn't refuse if a friend invited me to go with them.

Shereene M.

I wanted to LOVE this place but I didn't. I did like it but it might have been because of what I ordered. We got there right when they opened and it was completely empty. We sat on the back patio which was cute but kind of a strange walk there as you walk through the kitchen kind of. Service was great as we were the only people there. We shared the simple cajun breakfast and black bean soup. Both were fine. Nothing that blew me away. Honestly there were a lot of other things on the menu that I would come back to try.

Sarah V.

Finally. Finally!! God Bless America, I finally made it to Big Jones. People train for and complete marathons in the time it took me to get to BJ's. But I don't recommend a diet of BJ's if marathon training is in your future, FYI. As a Southern gal, I feel it's my duty to report back to my fellow transplants in the Midwest on the goods and not-so-goods of our cherished foods. BJ's is a good one. They concocted a very creative, yet true to style menu of Southern, Deep South, and Creole cooking. (Yeah there's a big difference between the three. You won't find any good Cajun north of the Louisiana border, and you won't find pepperoni rolls south of North Carolina.) Anyway, they compiled complete dishes with complementing flavors from across the vast southern region, and they did an excellent job of it. The menu reads like a journey of the South. Winding through valleys and mountains of aroma, essence, savoriness, and of course twang. Here is what you need to order to experience the full smorgasbord of the South: Gumbo Ya-Ya It all begins with the roux, made in the traditional Cajun style, with our andouille sausage, chicken, pork, and aromatic Arkansas rice Pickle Tasting A sampling of all of our home made pickles with sweet cream butter and home baked Sally Lunn bread Pimiento Cheese Share Cheddar blended with pimientos and out homemage Worchestershire sauce, served with piccalilli and benne crackers Sweet Tea-Brined Pork Loin House butchered and brined pork loin with baked bean puree and sweet potato hash (This is esssential. Just get it and thank me later.) Award-winning Fried Chicken, a la carte Gunthorp Farm chicken brined and fried crisp in house-rendered lard seasoned with a ham bone, with a highly seasoned cornmeal dredge. Served with traditional farmstead biscuits and homemade jam (Also essential) Wash all this down with a Pink Lady No. 2. Follow up that glorious meal with the recommended dessert, and you've almost had a true experience with the South. Now if only they would turn the heat up so the customers don't turn to ice cubes in between courses.

Angela B.

I don't know how they get the omelets so fluffy! They are SO good. I've had the omelet with crayfish and the omelet with bacon: both are equally good. My only complaint about this place is that the beignets are like rocks. After being to cafe dumonde in new orleans, I cannot believe that they dare to call those dense pieces of dough beignets...it's just ridiculous.

Amy S.

Big Jones has been one of my favorite Chicago brunch experiences and the BEST Southern food I've had outside of..well the South. The restaurant itself is small and cozy. Feels like you could be dining in someones (very nicely decorated) home. Our waiter was helpful (and very very cute). They start off your meal with complementary delicious little beingets and I knew we were in for a good meal. Our whole table was more than satisfied with their entree choices; onion and bacon omelette, bayou teche omelette (crawfish, andouille, cream cheese), and eggs New Orleans. I had the corn griddle cakes and was blown away. It was one of the cheaper menu options so I was expecting it to be a bit smaller but boy was I wrong. Three corn cakes stacked layered with a spicy tomato sauce, black beans, and sausage topped with fried eggs and avocados. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'd love to try dinner but I'd also come back for brunch again.

Luci D.

Big Jones messed up. And then Big Jones fixed it. Allow me to explain. A few months back, a group of my friends and I planned a night out at Big Jones. I had raved about this restaurant, being a Southerner, and was eager to share the cuisine with them. We originally started as a group of 8, then went to 6, then back to 8. I made our reservation through OpenTable, changing the reservation every time the number in our party changed. When we went from 6 back to 8, OpenTable showed they no longer could accommodate my party, so I phoned the restaurant and spoke to a lady who assured me there was an easy fix; make two reservations under my name and she'd leave a note that we wanted tables beside each other. Great, I thought. I hung up feeling satisfied that we'd be taken care of. Enter that Saturday night. We ended up being a party of 6 after all, unbeknownst to me until everyone showed up. Big Jones was very busy that night, and when we first arrived, were told that it would be about a half hour before we could be seated. Well, good thing I made that reservation. An HOUR later, we still had not been seated, even after we saw a table of 6 open up. Guess who was seated there? A party of 4 that had come into the restaurant after us. We were dismayed, and the host (who I later found out was actually a bus boy who had been temporarily moved into that position because they were understaffed that night) blamed it on us for changing our party size from 8 to 6. So we left, giving the host instructions that he should call us if a table opened up. We never got that call, and so gave our business to an establishment down the street. A day or two later, I emailed Big Jones to let them know of the problem. I got an email back from the owner very quickly who said he would investigate what happened, and that he'd be back in touch with me soon. Well, one day later, he wrote and offered to pay for my entire party's meals if I could convince them to give Big Jones another shot. So two weeks later, my friends and I were able to coordinate our schedules for another Saturday night out. And boy, did Big Jones roll out the red carpet for us. The owner was waiting at the host stand when we arrived, and once our entire party was present, we were seated. We were given a complimentary bottle of champagne to start the evening. We ordered several appetizers, all of which were amazing. And to my relief, everyone was oohing and awing over the food. I also think we were given their best server, and although I don't remember her name, she was awesome. At the end of the meal, I approached the owner who was seated at the bar to thank him for rectifying the situation we had experienced two weeks prior. He was very nice, and said something along the lines of "If we can't even honor your reservation, we're not doing something right." I asked him if we could get a check despite the fact that he was paying for our dinner so we'd know what to tip our server. When we were presented with the check, EVERYTHING was zeroed out. We were expecting to at least pay for our alcohol, but everything was taken care of. Needless to say, we tipped our server more than the standard 20%. When we left, I asked everyone what they thought. They all said that they'd come back on their own. So, for that, Big Jones, I thank you. Thank you for turning a wrong into a right, thank you for impressing my friends, and thank you for me being able to continue to patronize your restaurant. (PS: This review is a few months behind when this incident actually occurred. I apologize for the belated review.)

Mike W.

Food was excellent, had the pork and steak entrees and crab cake appetizer. Everyone was very friendly, brought our 2 month old with no issues. One of the best bourbon selections I've seen.

Andy C.

We came here for dinner... BIG MISTAKE! I talked my boyfriend into giving it a try, with the promise of amazing cornbread. Top 5 disappointments of the night... 5) Tiny drinks that were missing ingredients. If you can't make a Long Island, just say so... 4) Oysters with Bacon & Gruyere (Sounded interesting) they were just bizarre 3) NO CORNBREAD :( 2) We split 2 entrees, and the pork with bean puree and sweet potato was just foul. 1) BAD Biscuits. Having traveled in the South, I have a certain expectation. I get that they're using a "Historic Recipe" but they shouldn't be so hard that you wonder if the biscuits are as old as the recipe. The patio was nice, the service was fine and the shrimp and grits we ordered as the second entree was the only redeeming part of the meal. I gave this place 5 stars for Brunch, but for Dinner it's a DON'T!

Laura K.

What a gem of a place for brunch! The food was so, incredibly excellent. Southern style deliciousness. I always struggle over the decision to go sweet or savory for brunch. I HIGHLY recommend going savory only. Worth the hike to Andersonville.

David M.

Big Jones was once a favorite restaurant of mine when I lived in Chicago (left about 4 years ago). Went with a good friend this past Saturday, and the best I can say is that it was just ok. At first I thought it was odd that they don't open until 9 a.m. on a Saturday, until i remembered that Andersonville doesn't really wake up before then anyway. That aside, we were promptly seated ("do you have a reservation?" Uh..no). We were the second party there and were seated at the window - great for people watching. The menu is extensive and lots of really good options. I was born and raised in Louisiana, and it all reads very authentically southern with a lot of New Orleans influence. I was looking forward to the complimentary beignets, safely esconced in a blanket of powered sugar. (I miss you, Cafe du Monde!). they were ok. Room temperature and thick and doughy instead of light and pillowy. Ok, they were complimentary. I opted for the onion and bacon omlette withe grits on the side (the other option was potatoes). My friend got a decadant pancake plate that could easily double as a dessert (no judgment - just description). My omlette tasted good, but it was either weeping (watery) or the onions inside were weren't quite dry. The big miss for me were the veneer of grits. While they tasted ok, there was hardly three bites in the schmear that was slid across my plate. Seriously, it was about an ounce, if that. I get that higher end food doesn't align itself with huge portions, but come on. They're grits. A+ on the coffee though. The service was nice, attentive and friendly. I don't think I can recommend Big Jones as without reservation as I once did. More like Medium Jones.

Magen M.

I'm from Louisiana, so I was pretty excited to try some southern/cajun eats. This place wasn't consistent, though. I had the fish with grits and greens. The grits and greens were SO amazing. Just like in my great grandma's kitchen in Louisiana. The fish was terrible. The breading fell off completely and the fish had no taste at all, completely mushy and bland. I had the oyster gravy on the side because I hate gravy and oysters so maybe they count on that to flavor the fish. Either way- no thanks. My date had the fried chicken with greens and some type of potato that was basically a french fry. The chicken was so delicious, really really amazing. The greens again were great, but the potatoes had no salt. We also ordered a bread for before the meal since the chicken takes quite a while to cook. It tasted like wet chalk. Again, no salt. The strawberry jam served with it was good, though. I wouldn't mind returning for the chicken and greens and grits, but I would be scared to try anything else since it's so inconsistent.

Meredith B.

I have been meaning to try Big Jones for ages, and what better time to go in and have brunch than on New Year's Day? My friend and I tromped through the snow to get a table around 1:30 pm on a Wednesday (but basically it was like a weekend, since it was a holiday). The restaurant was full but we didn't wait - part of why we chose the place, compared to 30 minutes at Bongo Room. We got a high-top table near the bar. The atmosphere is appealing. It's not a massive restaurant, but is casually stylish, homey and comfortable. I started with a pot of mint tea, they have a nice selection of looseleaf teas both caffeinated and not. I love this, because if I'm paying money for tea at a restaurant I don't want a store-bought teabag in a little mug. At the end of the meal, they added more hot water so that I could enjoy the tea further. Very comforting on a cold day. My friend said her coffee was wonderful. Everyone gets beignets which is a lovely touch. They are sweet and yummy and dusted in powdered sugar. They are light and delicate, and don't have that heavy, fried, crispy feel. I don't know what texture is more "authentic" but these were definitely great! Brunch entrees took a long time to come, but we were in no hurry and didn't mind. I got the "Eugene's Breakfast in Mobile, circa 1930." Yes, that is what it is called. It is catfish breaded in rice and corn flour (so gluten free, I think, if you care), served with black beans, fried plantains, and buttered rice. The batter was light and crispy, almost like a tempura. All of the components of the dish were well cooked, but I felt that the dish really needed salt and was lacking in general seasoning. I added salt and hot sauce but still felt a little disappointed overall. There was a sort of...I don't know, chutney accompaniment that added a sort of tangy flavor, but I still really wanted something more. The server said this dish was her favorite so I was a bit bummed out! I'd happily come back because I know this is a much-loved restaurant with a lot of great dishes. I just wouldn't order the brunch catfish again. Oh well, better luck next time! I certainly intend for there to be a next time.

Alexandria T.

This was my second visit to Big Jones, and both times, I went for brunch. I love that they serve you beignets while you wait, and they are always out of this world! I started off brunch with a Bloody Mary with came with fresh horseradish, which I loved! I ordered the Bayou Teche omelet without the andouille, and a side of hash browns. My friend ordered the cheese grits as an extra side, and I pretty much ate all of them. Next time, I'd skip the hash browns that are standard and go with the cheese grits, which were delicious! The omelet was also great. It was a little skimpy on the crawfish, but I think that's just because it normally comes with andouille too. While we were still midmeal, the server brought over our check. I hate when servers do that. I know they're always packed, but we were still eating. Two bummers-My friend wanted the Eugene's Breakfast, but after she ordered the server came back and told us they were out of it. And my other friend ordered the gumbo, which she did not like at all. She said the roux tasted like it was scorched. I encourage her to tell the server about it, but she waited until the meal was almost over. She barely touched her plate, which should have indicated to the server that something was wrong, but I guess not. When she told the server, the server took it back to the kitchen and then came back out to inform us the cook tried the roux, off my friend's plate, I don't know, and that it was supposed to taste like that. Ten minutes later, she picked up the check and took it off of our bill. I really love the food at Big Jones, and I think our server was just new and that's why there were minor hiccups with the service.

Annie P.

We had the biscuits and gravy and the crab cake eggs Benedict. They were both awesome but preferred the biscuits and gravy. Service was poor (that's why it lost a star) but will definitely be returning here. Greens were good- if your dish doesn't come with them try ordering some as a side. Beignets were pretty good too. So in general thumbs up just wished we would have had better service (ie not getting things we asked for, not filling our waters). Will come back though despite this

Keriann G.

My partner and I ate here today during lunch because we had an A La Card Chicago discount card. We shared gumbo ya-ya, a fried chicken sandwich, fried pickles, and a fried chicken salad. The gumbo was dark and mediocre. My partner enjoyed his fried chicken sandwich, and we both thought the fried pickles were missing seasoning. They came with a green dip. I didn't like the breading on the pickles. My salad was mediocre. The fried chicken was excellent, but the lettuce didn't taste particularly fresh and the salad itself was bland and soaking in dressing. What made our experience average was the service. Our waitress was one of the very few people staffed during lunch. I'm not sure how many people were in the kitchen, but she was the only one on the floor. She did a fine job, but it was clear that she was taking on too many roles. She was the bartender, busboy, inside waitress, and outside waitress. I understand that lunch is slower than brunch or dinner, but when you have several groups coming in that require attention, one person on the floor simply isn't enough. It shows that this business is either understaffed (whether on purpose or by circumstance), or they are trying to pinch pennies. I wouldn't come back here for the food or service. My experience was average at best. There are more worthwhile restaurants for lunch. Perhaps their brunch or dinner service would be better.

Danielle T.

Long overdue review. My husband took me here for my bday in January bc I'm a lover of a good biscuit and gravy meal. Big Jones hands down serves an amazing version of this meal. They have their own spicy yet soulful twist on this traditional dish that makes it quite unique. Also enjoyed their wide assortment of teas and homemade beignets for dessert. Definitely would go back!

Daniel C.

I went here for my chicago burger club meeting in October. They were extremely accommodating for a party of 9. It was great. Service was quick and they were attentive without being overbearing. The burger was amazing. The menu looked fantastic and I wanted to try everything even tho I was expressly there for the burger. I will be back.

Ryland B.

Not as big as Jones says he is... Introduction was a bit rocky. I sometimes question if I'm treated a certain way due to my ethnicity. This place made me feel that way at first by the preppy male host and dressed up "cuz I gotta go to work" gothic girl bartender that jumped into the middle of a conversation. They both gave my party a hard time about where to sit. We almost walked out. Other people were then seated where we wanted to sit. What's up wit that? Anyway- waitress was very nice. Food was ok. Fried chicken wasn't bad but Mariano's hot bar is better and cost less. Greens were under cooked. Bitter beans were hittin! That means good. If this place was not next to such great restaurants then I would have rated a 3 star. However, I can not recommended a place where food is subpar and service is less to be desired.

Jean P.

The fried chicken was delicious, has its own unique flavor and fried perfectly without being greasy. I didn't dig the vinegary greens that came with it, usually like it more ham hock-like taste. The rice side also was just ok. My nephew had the fried chicken sandwich and thought it was really good, and it was a big portion. He also ordered the gumbo but was disappointed that it didn't seem like it had meat in it ( I think he got what was described on the menu, though)

Jon-Paul V.

We went on our first trip to Big Jones last night for dinner and had an outstanding experience. Not having a reservation for a busy restaurant on a Saturday evening can be stressful and can decrease the fun level of a date night quickly. However, the hostess was very friendly and knew precisely how long the wait would be for a regular table, high top in the bar, and at the bar seating. We waited about 10 minutes for a spot at the bar to open up where Andrew took over our experience. Who knew they had such a large Whiskey list?! My partner was very happy with all that was offered on the Whiskey list and I found a gin cocktail that sounded delicious. The food menu itself is fantastic and everything had our mouths watering (we were both famished and in need of food quickly). We ordered the Skillet Corn Bread, Pork Shoulder sandwich, and Shrimp-n-Grits. As a newly gluten free person, eating out is miserable 95% of the time as most places don't have a large selection of things I can eat that aren't salad. However, Big Jones can make most dishes Gluten-Free if asked when you order. Andrew made it a point to remind us of that several times as it can be a big concern for a lot of people. So just ask and if they can do it Gluten-Free they will. The food was fantastic. Everything was served perfectly seasoned, warm, and cooked to perfection. We both ate until we felt like we were going to burst. If there had been anything leftover to bring home, I'd be eating it and writing this simultaneously. We ordered a second round of drinks during our meal and it was the best decision. Andrew made a cocktail for my partner off of his taste preferences and I had their Chantham Punch. Both drinks were amazing and perfect for our meals. When you are paying between $10-$14 for cocktails you can expect them to be perfect and boozy. Andrew is an excellent bartender and we would go there for drinks any time. Overall, we would recommend this place for sure. The atmosphere, service, food and drinks were all 5 stars for us. We would probably make a reservation next time but it was worth the wait. Big Jones has two new very happy customers.

Yoel J.

This is our go to place when we crave great fried chicken. They offer a complete fried chicken dinner served family style Monday through Friday 5-9pm for only $25 per person. The meal starts with a serving of corn cakes and honey butter followed by a pickle platter which is accompanied with pimento cheese and toast points. These are all excellent starters. I especially enjoyed the pimento cheese. The main course is half a bird per person served with mashed potatoes and gravy, red beans and rice, and collard greens. The chicken is breaded in a crunchy cornmeal crust and so juicy. The sides are all flavorful and accompany the chicken wonderfully. Dessert is a banana cream pudding which is simple and good, but nothing amazing. Still after such a huge meal, a simple dessert is very satisfying. We both ordered the old-fashioned off the cocktail menu which is tasty. The service is attentive, friendly, conversational, but not overbearing. Young, fresh, and charming staff. This is very good looking, refined without being stuffy, restaurant in the middle of one of my favorite neighborhoods. As pretty as it is on the inside, you won't feel bad at all about eating the chicken with your hands.

Lauren F.

Stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night and unfortunately I have to say that I wasn't all that blown away. Great service, great drinks, cool atmosphere, but food that was just good, not really great. We had a group of 6 and that was pretty much the consensus when we left. We started with a few plates for the table and enjoyed all of them-the potato and goat cheese croquettes, andouille, tasso, and fried green tomatoes. For mains I had the pork loin with the baked bean puree and sweet potato hash. Good...but not great. I also tried a few bites of the chicken fried steak and a walleye special and again it was good, but just nothing really special. Even though I wasn't totally impressed, I may just return to give their Pimiento Cheese Burger a go...we all watched a few of these burgers come out to the surrounding tables and began to have a little buyer's remorse. I've also read that they have a really great brunch, so there may just be another visit to Big Jones in my future. Until then, I'm sticking with an "a-ok".

Pierre M.

I came here with my girlfriend Sunday morning after discovering a long line at Bongo Room and Over Easy. I almost decided on Golden House since its delicious, quick and easy, but was in the vicinity of Big Jones so I went there. That was a mistake that'll live in infamy. As we came in I remembered I had taken my mom to Big Jones on Mother's day and paid way too much for our underwhelming meals. I decided to go against my memories, which are usually muddled by years of drinking, and choose to sit on the patio. It would have been nice to be told by the host that the patio umbrellas were broken by a recent Chicago-style monsoon but that was just an oversight, I guess. Forgetting our sun screen, we asked for a different table but that just served to have a different side of our face burned. So as we sat baking in the sun we noticed that there was a larger amount of flies, bees, and moths than average in our vicinity. Quickly, my girlfriend's astute olfactory organs picked up the smell of garbage, which while usually delightful, isn't conducive to a proper brunch, generally. Apparently, the patio is close to the alley/local landfill. We hoped that the meal would make up for the lack of suitable ambience but this was only half true. My girlfriend ordered the, as she said, Big Jones Juicy Eggs (Big Jones Benedict after further inquiries), and I ordered the Buckwheat Banana Pancakes. Our meals came out with free NAHLINS-style beignets, which were quite delicious. Being slightly obese, I always eat my meal and portions of my girlfriend's.. and this time was no different. The food was presented very nicely and I have to give kudos for this fact. Only downer is that right after being served our waitress was yelled at by who I can only imagine was her abusive boyfriend/chef, luckily she laughed it off so our worries quickly dissipated. Also, my pancakes were smothered in salty caramel sauce which made it almost inedible, which is also an abuse of sorts. We inhaled our meals in effort to ward off skin cancer and quickly left. TL;DR summary: Sun in face. Patio smell and infested. My girlfriend's meal was delish. My meal was not. Sad waitress. Left in a hurry. Will never come back again.

Willy P.

wowowowow let me tell you that i have to say that im feeling soooo glad i came in here i was having such a bad day my ex gf christina said to stop texting and i was bout to finish my last two cans of chunklite tuna in water (review to follow - hahahaha jk guys, me!!!!) when i remembered that i still had moeny in my shoe/money box from last easter so i thought hey willy you deserve something niec today lets splurge lets really go for something that makes us happy and i thought hmmm, no not that!!! not that either hahahah you guys know hahahaha. but no, yeah, so though I ended dup her and had some of whatever, ordered witout really looking but was happy to have gotten it out of the way cuz i was nervous someone could smell the cries i'd had earlier in the day btu i dont think they did so. overheard some people who seemed like friends talking about the fried chicken which mdae me feel sad. only complain is christina maybe itll be better tomorrow 4stars

Chadwick S.

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here this evening. Crab cakes were spot on. Fried Chicken with the collard greens and sweet potato hash was easily some of the best I've ever had. All of the food came out tasting superb. The cocktails were on point. I highly recommend the "Springfield rifle." Our service was excellent. (Thanks, Cat!) love the ambience with the good southern blues to add to it all. Great experience & will come back as I am now part of the bourbon club! Cheers!

Joanna H.

What a great find! I came for brunch and it was delicious. Absolutely loved: -Sweet Tea (free refills...yes!!) -Beignets (almost as good as Cafe du Monde) -Eggs benedict (those popovers are DIVINE.) -Skillet cornbread ( OH.MY .YUM. Incredibly flavorful.) I would skip: -Gumbo (It was good, but I've had much better.) -Banana pancakes (Dense, chewy, too sweet and just really hard to eat.) The service was also really great and quick!

Jeremy M.

The fried chicken rocks! The gumbo is amazing. The whiskey selection is far above average.

Kim B.

I was so excited to have dinner at Big Jones. I left extremely disappointed. When my boyfriend and I first arrived, the restaurant was empty while the restaurant next door was packed. Probably a bad sign... We were seated immediately but after that the service did not impress. We definitely expected more attention (and better food) since we were one of 3 tables and we spent over $100 for dinner. I hoped the food would make up for the service but nothing really impressed me. The biscuits, corn bread and charcuterie plate were average. The overly hyped fried chicken was juicy and flavorful but the breading was a weird texture, probably the result of too much corn meal? The crawfish etouffee (which came highly recommended by the waiter) had absolutely NO flavor and was a waste of $20. Even our beverages were disappointing (flavored sweet teas). Do NOT believe the reviews. Save your hard-earned money and try another restaurant (maybe the one next door?)

Trevor M.

We went here for their fried chicken and bisquits. They were delicious and will definitely be back. Service was pretty good but our waitress dissapeared after a little while so we had to find someone else to bring us our check.

Brittany P.

Wow, what a great place. I'm a few miles south, go out of my way to come to this place and pretty much boast about it to everyone. It's a nice New Orleans southern charm, with awesome staff as well. 100% order the pimento burger (extra better for hangover haven as well), it will not disappoint.

Jon T.

Ms T and I made a pilgrimage to Chicago to visit KT. On our first night four of us went to Big Jones for dinner. KT and B had been there before and liked what they had. It features Cajun influenced and Southern food. This always sounds good to me. I started with Gumbo Ya-Ya. It had almost a black roux with andouille, chicken and pork. For as dark as the roux was, I expected more roux flavor, but it was good. When roux is that dark, it can get a little bitter, which I detected. I think it would have benefitted from more holy trinity to add a very slight hint of sweetness. I did not detect any andouille in my serving and found the meats to be a little dried out. I would like to see them move this to a seafood gumbo. Nevertheless, it was better than virtually all gumbo I have had in St Louis. It was served with Arkansas aromatic rice. This is the first time I have eaten domestic aromatic rice and did not find it aromatic like jasmine or basmati, but I liked the brown rice-like chewiness. It works well with brown roux based dishes. Ms T and B had the Shrimp Burger. They both really liked the rich shrimp flavors of the patty. They over applied the homemade, slightly spicy, mayonnaise which made it gooey and difficult to pick up. Both Ms T and B pretty much gave up and ate the shrimp cake and left the soggy bun. This is a minor issue for a very flavorful sandwich in the South Carolina style. KT revisited the Smoked Pork Shoulder sandwich and shared a couple of tangy bites with me. This is excellent, topped with a vinegar slaw. I overwhelmingly prefer vinegar based barbecue on pulled and chopped pork. This one was very good. It is really nice to get pork in the Midwest without the super sweet sauce. It was supposed to be another South Carolina style with mustard based sauce. I did not really detect the mustard as I have experienced in South Carolina, but I would order this any time. I ordered a special of the night, Turkey Etouffe. This was a clear winner. The roux was lighter, more of a red-brown with great flavor. It was buttery and rich, served with the same Arkansas rice. The turkey comprised pieces of leg and thigh meat that was juicy, tender and flavorful. Seasoning was very good with just the right amount of herbs. Again, I can't find Cajun food I like in St Louis. The best I have had was heavy handed with the use of thyme. Not so at Big Jones. I enjoyed this greatly and would compare it to a Chef Paul Prudhomme recipe that we make in our family regularly. Based on testing three menu items and one off-menu item, Big Jones is doing a great job with some gut warming traditional southern dishes. I was impressed with the seasoning and balance which indicates that the chef not only knows what to use in a dish, but also how much.

Frank I.

We were up in the area of Big Jones and were looking for a decent meal. We got that and more. We also happened to hit restaurant week so double bonus. The first course was a fried clams salad with a spicy vinaigrette that was very flavorful. My wife had their famous fried chicken...Don't pass on it...it is wonderful. I had craw-fish etouffee which was very flavorful with a mild zing. I tried the beans and voodoo greens that came with my wife's chicken and was amazed by the flavor. Desserts were wonderful too. Our waiter was pleasant, knew the menu and made some excellent recommendations for us. I can't wait to go back. They are judicious in their use of spice. They use enough to awaken your taste buds but not so much where you can't taste anything else. It allows you to taste the rest of the wonderful flavors they take the time to work into their dishes. Great meal.

Linda B.

I had the fried chicken dinner at Big Jones and...well... The potato croquettes were very good and service was pleasant. But the otherwise the meal was mediocre. All of the breaded products--the cornbread, biscuit, and the breading on the fried chicken--were way too hard. I love biscuits and I took one bite of this one and that was enough. The chicken had no seasoning (or at least not that I could detect) so once you tore off the hard breading, there was nothing enjoyable about it. The collard greens were decent but not that good. Seriously, for fried chicken head to down to Pearl's Place in Bronzeville. It's a whole lot cheaper and a whole lot better. I'm unlikely to go back to Big Jones.

Susan F.

My husband and I saw great reviews of Big Jones on Check Please so we decided to go there for Sunday dinner. The reviewers all bragged about how friendly this place was, southern hospitality and great food. We didn't have the same experience. THE SERVICE: The hostess greeted us and that was about it. We sat at a table that had a broken top that flopped up and almost hit me in the face. A guy came to fill our glasses with water - no greeting, no acknowledgement, NOTHING. Before I could tell him about the table he was gone. A waitress (Allison) served the table behind us. She looked over at us, but quickly turned away when I made eye-contact. So, I assumed she wasn't our waitress. WRONG. After waiting almost 10 minutes, Allison came over and asked us what we wanted to drink. On the menu it reads "allow 30 minutes for fried chicken." So, I told Allison I wanted to go ahead and order the fried chicken because it takes longer and I was hungry. Then, I asked her how long does the corn bread take and she said 10 minutes. So, I placed a corn break order and told her since I was hungry I'd like to get the cornbread as soon as possible. We then told her about the broken table. She said she would take care of it right away. She didn't. Allison brought our drinks and I asked her not to put it on the table because the table pops up on one side. She then said she forgot to fix the table and searched for a new table. At that point, I just sensed she wasn't connecting with us. Then, about 10 minutes later my fried chicken dinner arrived. I was glad, but shocked because the menu said 30 minutes. The cornbread was no where in sight. I asked about the cornbread and Allison said it was ready and she just needed to bring it. WHAT??? I told her I thought that would come out first and she insisted that it was ready she just needed to bring it out. She wasn't getting it - she really wasn't connecting or tuned in to us AT ALL. THE FOOD: Not impressed at all. The fried chicken tasted like fish and I soon figured out they cooked the chicken in the same oil (grease) that they cooked the fish. That is a BIG NO NO in the south. And wasn't this southern cooking? The fried chicken was ok, but I kept thinking, I paid $12 for a thigh & leg. And the half chicken was $25 so I didn't dare order that. $25 for 4 pieces of chicken - REALLY? The collard greens were HORRIBLE. They were extremely salty with too much vinegar. The only thing I liked was the sweet potato hash, which was odd because I don't like sweet potatoes. I only ordered them because my husband wanted them - and he didn't like them. They were finely diced with bacon and brown sugar. A true sweet potato lover will not like this dish because it's too finely diced. My husband ordered the pork shoulder sandwich - again, horrible. He said there was so much vinegar that it ruined the taste of the meat. And the sandwich was small. He liked the fries. SOUTHERN COOKING: I soon realized the chef thinks overly seasoned food means southern cooking. WRONG. A good cook uses seasoning to bring out the flavor of the food. This place drowns their food in seasoning to the point where you can barely swallow it. The fried chicken seasoning was good, but it tasted like fish. And the portions were small. Southern cooking usually means generous portions. My husband's pork sandwich wasn't overflowing with meat and the taste was awful. Because of the bad service and poorly prepared food, we couldn't wait to leave this place. And I kept thinking perhaps Anthony Bourdain was right when he said never eat at a restaurant on a Sunday because that's the chefs off day. And this place was OFF.

Michelle K.

Came here for brunch with a friend the other day but they only serve brunch during the weekends. We ordered off their lunch menu but it was delicious all the same. I ordered the chicken and dumplings and my friend got "A Simple Cajun Breakfast" that came with "two farm eggs with crispy fried Cajun boudin patties, cornbread, and creamy grits". The chicken and dumplings were exceptionally light--I was expecting something heavier and was pleasantly surprised. The dumplings were doughy enough but not so thick that it was difficult to chew or overtly chewy. The flavors of the vegetables came out well in the broth--the cabbage, carrots, and celery to start. It all came together beautifully. I tried the boudin patties that my friend got and it was crispy and flavorful. The cornbread was also yummy but cold! Would have liked it warm, especially because it had corn in it--just the way I like cornbread. Heh. It was a little too buttery for my taste but yummy nonetheless. The decor was simple and contemporary. The windows were large and let in a lot of natural light. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I would like to go back for their brunch and to try their fried chicken!

Not Eileen R.

Seriously some of the best fried chicken EVER! In the past 3months I've been there 4 times both dinner and brunch and I leave pretty fat and happy. Cocktails are strong, biscuits are different, and everything is artisanal. I love that they support local farms that provide sustainable meat. (Conscious carnivore friendly) From the in house charcuterie to the 'fight over the last bite' dessert you can't go wrong. Big Jones is worth the drive to Andersonville.

Wayne H.

I came here because I had an "a la card" to use before it expired. My girlfriend and I were quite disappointed with our breakfast. I had the Simple Cajun breakfast. The cornbread was dry and had no flavor. The grits were very plain. The crispy fried crawfish boudin patties were very dry and whatever they are seasoned with gave me instant cottonmouth. My girlfriend had the Eggs New Orleans. The popovers were flat, quite opposite from popping over. The béarnaise sauce was decent, but the crab cakes were mushy, the poached eggs were inconsistent, and the hash browns were not much to be desired for. Our drinks, a bloody mary and latte were also below average. The one highlight of this place was the service, but unfortunately that is not enough to warrant a second visit. I'm very confused as to why this place is rated as high as it is?

Jul N.

All right. It's a bit pricey so I can't go here much, but everything I've had here is on point. We dined on the back outdoor string-lit patio at the end of summer having meaty hollandaise crab cakes, buttery, crumbly cornbread, and a juicy shrimp burger. Good cocktails too - my "Yesterday's News" (OK I might be off with the exact name but it was something like that) struck me as very fresh, popping with lavendar and spritz. Friendly service!

Dave F.

First time and wow! Extremely happy the family all agreed to share all our meals. Fried chicken is as good as advertised, excellent fish fry and the star in my opinion is the shrimp grits...don't forget the cornbread and crab cakes as starters...

S C.

I was very disappointed in my Brunch experience here. There was a lot of drama at the door, with people waiting to be seated for starters. Our waitress was fine, but showed no enthusiasm when we asked for suggestions. We started with Cheddar biscuits. They were good, not mind blowing. We got the Posole and the Corn Griddle Cakes. The Posole was tasty, the Corn Griddle cakes were a mushy pile of everything, lacking texture. The free Beignets were ok, a bit greasy. The coffee wasn't strong enough, something New Orleans is famous for. I expected a lot more from this meal, based on the hype. I would only come back to here, to try the Fried Chicken.

Jeff S.

Big Jones does simple dishes so so well. The fried chicken is fantastic, the skillet cornbread is amazing, as is the gumbo. Simple basic dishes done incredibly well. The decor and service at Big Jones are nothing to write home about but they don't disappoint. The extensive bourbon list, and tasty cocktails are both nice surprises. If you want southern fare done extremely well in a laid back casual environment Big Jones is your go to place.

Nichole F.

We went here for my birthday dinner and I was definitely impressed! It was so good! We started off with the pickle tasting, potato and goat cheese croquettes and the andouille from the butcher's block. Everything was so tasty! I loved the different pickles and the croquettes were so delicious - we split them between 5 people but if we hadn't, I could have eaten every bite. There was also delicious corn bread with butter! Nom nom nom!! I had the curry catfish for dinner and I savored every bite. It was so good! I loved it and was so sad when it was finished :( They brought out this amazing chocolate mousse for my birthday and wished me a happy birthday (so sweet!!). It was pretty delicious. I want to come back to this restaurant and eat everything on the menu!

Yolanda B.

I made a reservation, but still needed to wait 15-20 mins. The food is decent for a brunch place. I've been to a better brunch place. The blood sausage is a waste of money, very little portion. Dont come here for birthdays because u need to pay $5/person to cut a cake/ outside food.

Melody L.

The food at Big Jones reminds me of my Granny's cooking, and that's about as good as you can get. I would write a 5-start review just based on the sweet tea. Perfect balance of black tea and sugar. Mmmm. My bf and I came here for Valentine's Day Brunch, and had a great time. The Eggs New Orleans were so yummy. Great textures and flavors. My boyfriend tried the omelet with crawfish, etc. (I forgot what it was called), but damn it was good. He asked if he should get the potatoes or grits on the side. I probably disturbed some other customers shouting, "GRITS!"........but I was right. They were stellar. I think the next time I go, I'll try the shrimp and grits.... The staff was lovely...except one slightly rude busboy, but he was busy and it was crowded. Not a huge deal. Also! The music sets the perfect tone for this place. I can't wait to go back!

Sandra A.

We went here to celebrate our engagement two weeks ago. The dining room has an understated elegance to it. The menu is creative and enticing. We had the fried chicken and the pork loin and they were both amazing. The banana pudding is so delicious and worth the 45 minute wait. The service is what really sets this place above the others. It is warm and friendly and just what you need to top off excellent food and drink. Our server made our wonderful day that much better by ensuring our visit was perfect. Thank you!

Neline S.

My friend and I recommended this place to meet up for brunch and what a wonderful place to catch up over Souther food and whisky! Our waitress was very attentive and was nice enough to allow to have whisky tasting in order for me to determine what kind of drink I wanted on this cold, Chicago afternoon. I told her I like the smoky, peaty taste and she recommended the Jefferson 10 year and the Mitchell's 12 year small batch both from Tennessee. Both were served in goblets and and I found Mitchell's smell much more appetizing. I like the smoky, "dirty" smell it had to it and it had a rougher taste. The Jefferson 10 smell sweet and tasted sweeter so I opted for the Mitchell. Furthermore, my friend and I split the plate where she had the pork shoulder sandwich with cheesy grits and I had the pimento cheese double burger with cheesy grits. We never had to ask our waitress to refill our waters and after further discussion, my waitress recommended I join the Bourbon Society and every month they have a bourbon tasting along with a passport where each drink I have is stamped in this little booklet. If I earn enough stamps, I would receive a complimentary dinner and two related bourbon tasting! SCORE! I will definitely be back going through their menu!

Meag H.

Came here Monday night with 3 friends and absolutely loved it! Among the four of us we had: pickles, pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, head cheese, spring pea fritters, crab cakes, pimento cheese burger, creamed chard, shrimp and grits, shrimp sandwich, strawberry shortcake, chocolate bread pudding and many cocktails ($6 on Mondays)!!! Every single thing was absolutely delicious! Service was great too! I'd highly recommend dinner here and look forward to returning for brunch!

Joe L.

So we came for dinner, which might have been the mistake. The restaurant, drinks, and service were fine. We started with the Boucherie Board, which is well worth the $22. Tons of meats and cheeses all made in house according to the menu. I was impressed. I also had the French 25 or 75 can't remember the number, might have been the best tasting tequila drink I have had. It had this fresh oj taste to it. Really enjoyed it That leaves me with dinner. So far before we got dinner everything was big and typical and then dinner shows up. I ordered the Sweet Tea-Brined Pork Loin House butchered and brined pork loin with baked bean puree and sweet potato hash . There was about 6 pieces of pork and without the puree and the hash it was really dry. For $22, I was expecting a lot more I guess. I just wasn't impressed. My buddy had the duck dish, that isn't on the menu online, and he enjoyed it, but also was disappointing in the size. I guess we were not expecting Top Chef sort of plates and that might be our fault. I heard brunch is fantastic and the Fried Chicken, so I might go back for that. So there was some great things and ok things. I think 3 stars is the perfect review ofr my experience.

Terri W.

Enjoyed a casual brunch with a gal pal a few weeks back, sunned on the patio like a lizard, trying to catch the last rays of a quickly fading summer sun! Waitstaff was great, attentive with a little banter but not intrusive. Food was well prepared and the portions Southern-hospitality generous. A steady favorite, Big Jones fits the bill when you've got a hankering for something a little different.

Jaime G.

Found a great little southern place in Andersonville. Big Jones has some tasty eats from New Orleans. Best thing here is not traditional though - the Gumbolaya. Oh so good that you won't stop eating it. Hearty, smokey, spicy, and chocolatety - kind of a good mole meets gumbo. A winner. It's topped with some picked okra and brown rice that makes it delicious. Outside of that, we had the potato and goat cheese croquettes. Very tasty although I yearned for a sauce to dip it in. Then came the corn bread which is complimentary to the table. Warm, right out of the oven, and oh so good. I could live on these. Go just for these! I then tried the chicken and dumplings...good dish but nothing to scream about. Finally, a shout out to the homemade ginger beer. So clean and refreshing. Great pairing so a big bowl of chicken and dumplings. I also really liked the decor - so inviting and fun that makes you want to stay and hangout.

Lillian S.

I have enjoyed the atmosphere at Big Jones a number of time, mainly for lunch and dinner. Up until this month I had not come in for Sunday brunch, but decided to take my father for Father's Day there since he enjoys Southern style cuisine. (Now granted I've been spoiled regarding Cajun/Creole/New Orleans food since my mother hails from the deep South and I was raised on the stuff.) The place was fairly busy, but I had made reservations so we were seated right away. Our server was friendly and prompt throughout the whole meal, but didn't pester us which I always appreciate. The food was, alright. While it was brunch, it still claimed to feature a New Orleans flair, but for the most part it was rather mild and even after several heaping's of hot sauce, I still felt it was on the bland side. I like Big Jones, but for brunch I will have to pass in the future.

Heather P.

Any meal that begins with beignets is A-OK by me! Meaning to try brunch here for so long, I ponied up the energy and courage to take two children under the age of two to brunch in Andersonville. Assuming that being that this was Andersonville, it would be totally kid-friendly was the wrong assumption. I felt very awkward toting the kids through here and you could sorta tell, they weren't accustomed to toddlers. That's not to say that they weren't trying to be accomodating. They were very nice and the owner sat us; which I appreciated. Our server was great. We had the cheddar biscuits. They were just alright, but the butter and the pepper jelly were the stars in my opinion. Everything on the menu sounded so soulfully delicious so I opted for a signature omelet the bayou something or other with crawfish and andouile. I love crawfish, I love andouile, I love omelets...what's not to like?! Apparently, the combination of the three. It just wasn't my cup of tea and I wished I had tried one of the many other menu options I was debating between. Of course I'd come back, sans kids and for sure I'm trying the fried chicken and skipping the biscuits.

Stephanie O.

I really wanted to like this place and made reservations for my boyfriends birthday on a Sat night at the end of March. The Chef/owner, Paul, was standing at the hostess stand when we arrived and the hostess was on the phone. Mr. Fehribach glanced up at us and immediately looked back down without saying a word; and we stood there in silence until the hostess got off of the phone and greeted us. Thanks for the warm welcome, dude!.....STRIKE 1. The food was just OK, very bland and I wouldn't order any of it again other than the fried chicken, but it was a decent meal and we left full. But the horrible service ruined everything. Our female server with the partially shaved head only came by twice during the entire meal and walked past many empty dishes and drinks several times without saying a word. We each only had two cocktails because we simply couldn't get her attention to refill them......STRIKE 2. And for the meal order: our charcuterie came first, followed by our side dish of brussels sprouts (??) followed by the corn bread, followed by our main dishes. Thanks for paying attention to the delivery of courses.....STRIKE 3. Don't waste your money, the food is bland (except for the Brussels sprouts which were so salty we couldn't eat them) and the service is awful!

William B.

I made a reservation for brunch here without even looking at the menu, the website, or any reviews, because my brother-in-law told me to and he has never steered me wrong. Our brunch and Big Jones kept up his perfect record. They were gracious about getting us a table as quickly as they reasonably could, even though we missed our reservation by 20 minutes -- something they didn't have to do but we really appreciated. They then proceeded to serve us some really tasty company-quality southern food. Buckwheat pancakes, despite being covered in syrup and goo, were not too sweet, and had a toothsome texture. Fried boudin sausages and grits were both outstanding -- some of the best examples I have ever had of each. Our waiter vanished so quickly that I did have to steal some salt from a nearby table, though. It's not "southern-fusion" or "modern southern" or "California southern" like most of my other favorite southern brunch restaurants are. It's really more like "really good southern" or "fancy southern." But it's good to remember that southern cuisine dresses up for company really nicely, in a world where dives and roadfood diners have become hot (not that there's anything wrong with that). Now I wonder what they serve the rest of the day.

Roberta W.

Went here with my SO during Restaurant Week. It. Was. Awesome. 1) Food: We ordered the fried green tomatoes, the rye bread plate, and a pot of black-eyed pea and fried hen of the woods mushroom jambalaya to share. The tomatoes were crispy and tart, just right! Even the butter lettuce garnish was obviously extremely fresh (tasted like right out of my garden). The rye was dense, fresh, and perfect, went superbly with the strawberry preserves. The jambalaya had a great kick, and the earthy, funky mushrooms were fried wonderfully, not greasy, but extremely crisp. 5/5. 2) Drink: Ordered an old fashioned: it was a little strong (but then again I'm not really a veteran drinker). The cherry garnish was FANTASTIC, and I'm pretty sure homemade. The drinks' pricing made it pretty unapppealing to order more than one, but the one did hit the spot. 4/5 3) Service: Everyone was extremely prompt, courteous, and professional. We had a reservation for 9:15, got lost and got there at 9:25. They didn't immediately have a table for us, but we were able to sit at the bar. When we did get a table (not more than 10-15 minutes later), the chef came to our table, and said that he had covered our bar told us to enjoy our meal, and that he had taken care of our bar tab for our trouble, which was so sweet, and obviously not required. 5/5 TLDR; 5/5 wanna go back and order everything

Katharine T.

I have been to Big Jones several times and I think each time I go I have an even better experience! I think I prefer Big Jones for dinner over brunch. Either I'm ordering the wrong thing at brunch or am a total wimp, but their brunch is just too rich for me. I've ordered both the Biscuits and Debris Gravy and the Bayou Teche, the latter of which was sooooo rich and intense I could hardly eat a quarter of it. Both dishes were very tasty, great flavors but much too rich for me, maybe I should stop ordering things covered in gravy ... that's a thought. Regardless, what I really enjoy about Big Jones are their sandwiches. I have had their South Carolina Shrimp Burger (yes actual real shrimp chopped up and pressed into a magical burger patty) and their Smoked and Smothered Pork Shoulder Sandwich, the latter being my favorite of the two. If you like a little spicy and vinegar-y pulled pork then this is the sandwich for you. Their pickled veg slaw is awesome, gives the sandwich a real kick and their pork its just delicious. I love sour and spice and pork so this is kind of the greatest sandwich ever. Both sandwiches come with pretty tasty thick cut beef fat fries and some sort of buttermilk dipping sauce. Apparently when I was at Big Jones last my man and my mom weren't that impressed with the fries and sauce. I have no complaints, salty fries and cooling buttermilk dip, yes please. On our last visit my father (fellow yelper Jon T) had their evening special, Turkey Etouffee. From what I sampled it was crazy delicious and I could tell he really enjoyed it. I look forward to trying their specials and branching out from their dinner sandwiches. Big Jones is fast becoming a go to place for the boyfriend and I, outshining the run-of-the-mill burger and sandwich bars along Clark. It's really having a nice having a taste of the south so close to home!