Julep is a really fantastic counter-part to the restaurants situated in North Jackson in the Highland Park Plaza off of Northside Drive. I've been many times, and I've always found the food to be mouthwatering and unique. They're known for their honey chicken sandwiches (wow), but they also serve a great fried green tomato napoleon, eggplant fries, and crawfish etoufee. Sometimes, they get busy and service is a little slow, but the staff is always really pleasant and eager to please. Brunch is fantastic - their Sriracha-covered eggs Benedict is my absolute favorite. Recommended: Fried Chicken Sandwich, Eggplant Fries, Fried Green Tomato Napoleon, Brunch
(5)
Rachel P.
Julep is SO good! It's somewhere between casual and slightly more upscale. While it maintains a casual, chill vibe, it's definitely a little bit on the pricier side. It's nothing outrageous though! I wouldn't call it over priced. It's not the sort of place you would wanna wear your sweaty workout clothes to, but it's also a place where you could definitely wear jeans and a good tee. The servers here are all super friendly, outgoing and helpful. They're always ready to help you make a menu decision, though you really can't go wrong at Julep. All the food is super fantastic. I think they've definitely got one of the best brunches in town, for sure. Their fried chicken is off the chain. They've got a full bar with tons of great drink options, from cocktails to craft beers. Julep's kitchen is open until 11, which makes it one of the few (non fast food) locales where you can eat a late dinner! Definitely stop in here and try it out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Bill M.
I attempted to call and order a take out dinner on Friday however I was informed that they were out of Pasta. Not sure how a restaurant runs out of something simple like that on a weekend night but whatever. I love their pasta so I attempted to eat dinner tonight as well. I arrived at 8:20 however and was informed I could not be served because the kitchen was about to close. I am not one of those folks that goes in last minute normally however tonight was spur of the moment and there was no effort whatsoever to try to be accommodating. We were basically shooed out the door. I will not be going back. This used to be one of my favourite places but obviously things have changed here and not in a good way. Oh and according to what is advertised they are supposed to stop serving food at 9.
(1)
Billy P.
Luv it! Gotta gotta try it.... seriously peeeeepz! The honey glazed fried chicken with green beans should please anyone.
(5)
Marcel M.
Brunch is great, they serve chicken and waffles even though it's not on the brunch menu. Two for one Moses.
(4)
Meagan A.
Great cocktail menu!! I came here with two girlfriends this past Tuesday for drinks after work. I got the Rude Cosmo (Cosmo with tequila) and it was totally worth it! I'm a fan of Cosmos and tequila, so this drink was right up my alley. I also got the chocolate martini which was pretty standard. Since the bar area was already full -on a random Tuesday at that- we sat at a table in the restaurant and ended up getting appetizers: eggplant fries and crawfish egg rolls. Both were very tasty. The hot rolls that were brought to the table were melt-in-your-mouth good! I would definitely go back for another drinks night. I can't wait to try the Bellini martini that I saw on the menu.
(5)
Beth C.
Went for Sunday brunch with friends and kids. Nice atmosphere, food was delicious and came out promptly once we'd ordered. Only let down was the staff; very few smiles and pretty inattentive. It took us a quite a while to get drinks and order food.
(4)
Mal W.
Fried chicken good as always...however experience ruined by horrific service. Slow, inattentive and lazy...made worse by mangers sitting around idly watching it happen. A close look at every server confirms a "couldn't give a crap" attitude running rampant. Two big thumbs down.
Not consistent. Out of the 10 times I have been they have made major mistakes 50% of the time. They are not so easy going on fixing their mistakes. I always go for the Tuna Steak, I'm sure I'll go get it again and pray that they get the order correct. Don't think you will be impressed by the Fried Chicken!!!
(2)
Ashley W.
Smaller than expected. But the decor is lovely. I tried the crawfish penne pasta and it was spectacular. If your not a big drinker I would recommend the Parisian pear. It was tasteful. Everything was lovely until this thick unfamiliar obnoxious aroma arose. And i just had the leave. Other than that the time frame I chose was very good. Which was 3:30-5p. It wasn't crowded at all.
(3)
Jess H.
I have only dined at Juleps a few times in the past, but it has always been a pleasant experience. Most of our previous visits were for drinks more than for the food. It is a swanky little bar with a nice atmosphere- great for a girls night out! But while we were home for the holidays, I decided to take my boyfriend for lunch because we planned to do a little shopping in Highland Village. Overall, the food was good. We ordered fried pimento and cheese balls as an appetizer- pretty good! And for lunch, I had the chicken salad salad, and I certainly cannot complain. My only disappointment was that for the amount of people dining in the restaurant at the time, the service was pretty slow. Other than that, it was another positive experience, and I am sure that we will be back eventually.
(4)
Nicole O.
I agree with previous reviews... I loved the tuna, but half of it was sinewy, the other was delicious! The Cajun sauce was amazing! I guess it was a a busy night (but when we got there it was empty) because there was no bread left and they were out of other things on the menu. The pics of the food posted here were so so different from what we got- the chicken ( though amazing if you like honey sweet taste) was small. The portions for the prices were a total ripoff. The wait staff was so nice and accommodating, though the hostess rolled her eyes when I explained the light in the bathroom was out, she told the waitress to tell me to jiggle the handle-- which the waitress was normal and polite enough to ask her to please take care of it. The nice waitress was the best part of the experience- to her-- "thanks!!!"
(3)
Amanda S.
I have to start this review by saying Julep used to be one of the best restaurants to go to in Jackson. There are amazing places everywhere, but this one used to be top notch. HOWEVER, the last 6 visits I have over the past year have resulted in disappointment. It is not the food, but rather the SMELL of the restaurant. The smell ranges from bleach to rotten fruit to other unsavory smells. Before ordering coffee with my most recent visit for Sunday brunch, I had to leave as the smell was overwhelming and not at all appetizing. I told the manager why I was leaving. It was clear that he knew the place smelled terrible, but no explanation was given. This restaurant has got to undergo a deep-clean and soon! It will be a while before I attempt to eat here again. I am sad to see Julep lose itself as one of the best places to eat, especially since cleaning would be an easy fix!
(2)
Coral E.
Julep has had mixed reviews from me. Sometimes I LOVE what I get, the next time I'm disappointed. However, the service is always excellent, the restaurant has great atmosphere and is clean and the food always comes out in a reasonable amount of time. And your best bet for delicious food at Julep - BRUNCH! Things I recommend: portobello fries, eggplant fries, fried chicken, shrimp & grits & anything on their brunch menu Don't recommend: Spicy Cobb Salad (very little flavor, very little dressing, very few toppings), catfish taco (bland), pimento cheese BLT (tasted like store bought pimento cheese)
(3)
Melissa L.
I used to love Julep, but the last two visits have been disappointing. Tonight they were out of two appetizers, served me the wrong wine, were out of most beers, described a salad as spicy (it wasn't), and never offered a free appetizers or any compensation. We (use to) bring clients and guests there, but not anymore.
(2)
Paul H.
Although parking can be hectic, it's worth the trouble to get this awesome food. There is so much to choose from, fish tacos, tuna tower, brunch on the weekend, but the eggplant fries are by far my favorite. Take the time to experience this cuisine and enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)
Haley B.
I grew up going to Julep, and it's always on my list to visit when I'm home during the holidays. After today, I will never go back again. The service has gotten worse every time I've visited in the past few years. Today, my mom and I stopped by for some wine and sat in the (not crowded) bar area around 4:30. We weren't acknowledged for about 5 minutes, and I finally asked if our table was okay. The lady behind the bar said yes, gave us a menu, and walked away.. But no drink order. After another 5 minutes when the other guy was slowly delivering drinks, she pulled out the cash register to count the money. There were several people, including us, with no drinks.. Yet you are going to count money now? Not very good management skills. We took that as our cue to leave and went to a much nicer neighboring restaurant, where we promptly received our wine. Sad to see this great place has turned into this!
(1)
Jamie M.
My first visit to Julep was for brunch. I love brunch. I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, something I love to eat at brunch. Their version did not disappoint. You feel better about eating Julep's shrimp and grits, because in addition to the jumbo shrimp, grits and butter, they also add roasted corn, red onions and sweet peppers so you feel you are at least getting some healthy veggies out the deal. *smile* The portion is plentiful and the dish is delicious. Since then, my office has ordered from Julep several times, so I've had the pleasure of sampling many other things on the menu. The strawberry pecan salad is delicious...anything with strawberries and goat cheese is a winner in my book. The fried chicken sandwich comes with a honey rosemary glaze that really sets it apart from your typical dry chicken sandwich. The seared tuna in the seared tuna salad was cooked just right, and the cucumber sherry vinaigrette dressing is a yummy compliment. Julep has a very inventive menu that you can't find in most places in Jackson. I definitely recommend you try.
(4)
Sharon C.
When working in Jackson, I make sure I stop by to eat in Julep. Though their menu is limited (meaning, it hasn't changed over the course of the 2 years I've been going their for dinner), the food is consistent! I always sit in the bar area & the service is always quick! Bartenders are very personable & make your time their enjoyable. You have to get Julep's Award-Winning Fried Chicken; nothing but lightly fried sweet goodness. And plus, when will you ever have a chance to brag to your cronies that you ate a meal voted TOP TEN IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY? Yes to Gulf Shrimp & Grits Yes to the bathroom after Pimento Cheese Fritters Yes to Crawfish Egg Rolls Yezzzz to Eggplant Fries Heck to the Yes to Cajun Crawfish Penne Pasta (feeling spicy...add some shrimp!) Catfish Taco - if this is your first time having catfish tacos, I wouldn't encourage it. They're decent, but not my favorite. Overall - good eaten & great times off I-55!!
(5)
Kayla R.
They need to get it together. Shrimp and grits is flavorless. The fried chicken is supposed to have honey on it, not be doused in it. Also it tasted like it was cooked in old grease. Not good at all. Mashed potatoes were dry. And the tuna tower tastes like it was made with three day old rice.
Used to be my favorite for brunch, hands down! Unfortunately the last couple of attempts to dine here have been thwarted by poor customer service. On my last visit I was served my mimosa in an obviously dirty flute and then they were out of shrimp toast and eggplant fries. I was seated 30 minutes after they opened for business. I hope they're able to correct the issues because I'd love to give them an opportunity to be on my list of favorites again!
(1)
Melissa E.
Horrible service and food. After being seated in the bar area we waited a few minutes before being asked for our drink order. We got our drinks promptly and then asked for a menu. We ordered the pimento cheese fritters and the soybeans off the late night menu. The fritters probably would have been good if they had been warm. Instead they were cold and disgusting. The soybeans were supposed to come in vinaigrette. The beans were swimming in it and were also not very appetizing. To top everything off after our food came out our server just quit waiting on us. We couldn't even ask to order something else.Two pretty girls, his guy pals, and his food that he was eating at the bar in front of other customers seemed to get all of his attention while ourselves and the two tables beside us suffered. Finally had to ask for our check from another server. Needless to say we won't be coming back
(2)
Robert R.
Excellent food and service. We had the shrimp and grits and the Julep chicken salad. Both were fantastic. We are on a road trip and it is close to the highway. We almost got scared off by some of the Yelp reviews but glad we didn't.
(5)
Cameron P.
Great atmosphere and vibe. However, service was pretty slow, and we were one of maybe 4 tables at the time. The food was just mediocre. I should have tried the fried chicken (apparently that is what they are known for). I ordered the stuffed chicken breast which is supposed to be stuffed with spinach, but it wasn't. Comes with a side of steamed brocoli that was drenched in butter. I like butter, but this was system overload. I would go back and give it another shot, but I wouldn't be excited about going back.
(2)
Brian G.
I just had the worst experience of my life at your restaurant. I ordered a burger and the server dropped the bun. I sat here while my guests ate for about 5 minutes before I got another bun for my burger. The same server ran several entrees out before I got my burger. I asked the bartender for the manager and he said that he was "it at the moment" and that there was nothing else he could do because they were closing the kitchen. He kept saying"sorry" but made absolutely zero effort to mollify me or the situation. In fact he's spending so much time at the bar playing with his friends that he couldn't take care of you ally's dining room guests. I am very disappointed and I am still hungry!!!!.
(1)
Priya S.
I've only been here a few times so bear with me on the few items I have to review. I'll try to make it short and sweet. Atmosphere: Decor is modern and cute. Good lighting. Great place for a date you want to have a nice dinner with. I love their clear modern chairs and tables. The famous fried chicken: The green beans are the best thing in this dish. Otherwise, this chicken is NOT award-winning (by USA magazine?). I and several other friends have gotten this and were disappointed by the amount of oil. It was still tasty but definitely shouldn't claim the title of an award. Eggplant fries: Quite delicious. Me and friend ate them quickly. Pimento cheese fritters: My friends loved these. I did NOT. The batter was thick and I don't think I'm a fan of pimento cheese. Cajun Crawfish pasta: This is pretty good. Several of my friends love this one. I liked it a lot, the crawfish was delicious. It is a tad salty and the bread served with it a little oily. Still the best thing I've had here so far. Bread pudding dessert: This was alright. I was not impressed. Overly sweet and thick. The ice cream was good though, then again how do you mess up ice cream. The Wedding Cake Martini: This was a hit amongst all the ladies in my group. It is sweet, fruity and delicious. Stay away from it if you don't like sweet drinks. I think it was super refreshing and light. Good job, Julep. Birthday celebrations are fun here cause you get free ice cream and a candle! So that's sweet. Also, LIKE them on facebook, you'll get a free appetizer!! So yeah, so far the food I've had is OK but I would definitely still come back here for the great setting and to try their other food and drinks. It's one of the nice restaurants in Jackson.
(3)
Holly M.
I work in Jackson one week every year, and I always eat here at least once. It's upscale southern cuisine, which I love. My favorites are the Shrimp and Grits, the Julep House Salad (I've tried to recreate the pepper jelly dressing at home), the Strawberry Pecan Salad, and the quiche. I've also never been led astray by trying the specials. Long story short, I've never disliked anything I've ordered.
(5)
Andrea D.
Julep is one of my favorite places to go to in the Jackson area. I went here on a Saturday with some girlfriends for brunch. I ordered the shrimp and grits along with the champagne cobbler to drink. Both were very good. Julep remains high on my list.
(4)
Jaleh S.
Julep is a casual restaurant trying to be formal. The plastic chairs are not hip but rather cause hip discomfort. I've been here four times and have officially tried every pescatarian friendly meal. (Seafood and vegetarian)The Catfish Taco is not really a taco, the Crawfish Pasta is ok, the Mahi Mahi sandwich doesn't have much flavor. But if you eat chicken, the Chicken sandwich is supposed to be amazing. Overall this place is pretty boring...as is the rest of Jackson.
(2)
Dreka G.
I have heard a lot about this award winning fried chicken and I had to try it. I could see why it would win, it's certainly a delicious dish. I would give it an award for the most unique fried chicken for sure. For traditional fried chicken I would still prefer to have Two Sisters. The green beans that came with the chicken were the real star for me, believe it or not! Those veggies were amazing! Beignets were pretty good too, I mean who doesn't like fried dough and powdered sugar!! My very picky little boy inhaled their French toast so I guess that was good also!
(4)
Jeff R.
This is in my top five Jackson restaurants I love the southern twist to the many menu options. The catfish taco and spicy Cobb salad are two of my lunch favorites.
(5)
Yoori C.
Four friends and I were casually dressed and wondered if we would be too much so, but it was fine. Dimly lit in the restaurant side with candles at the tables gave me the feeling that this would be a great date place or family dinner/friend gathering restaurant. Everything tasted great and carefully prepared. I basically recommend everything I ate. dead guy beer, split fried green tomato appetizer, and fried chicken with honey glaze and green beans & mashed potaters claimed famous via usa today which really is good - $25.12 *bathroom is a bit hard to get to when the bar (full) is packed. restaurant is also connected to small shopping center through the back
(4)
Mike S.
Quite simply the best piece of fried chicken I've eaten. The unique glaze they use is just amazing. I came, I scarfed, I left. It was that simple.
(5)
Luana C.
This was the first restaurant I came to when moving from California to Mississippi! I ordered the green tomatoes and blackened tuna filet. The food was good, but a bit salty for my taste. I've found that the food in general in the South is a bit saltier than what I'm used to, so it may be to taste for others. However, it was a cute restaurant with lively atmosphere and plenty of parking. I may have to try the fried chicken or catfish taco to be blown away next time!
(3)
Lei B.
I learned from my last experience and decided to order takeout instead of taking a chance on bad service again. Even ordering takeout was bad too. I got the catfish taco with a side of eggplant fries. Now I think this I where thing go wrong. I paid with a credit card and handed me the copy to sign. I always have the dillema or whether I should add tip for takeout. This time I decided against it. I left for a few minutes to the ladies room. When I returned I saw a brown bag on their counter. The lady who took my order was chatting it up with some coworkers. Maybe that order wasn't mine. I started just chatting away on my phone maybe 5-10 minutes pass by an she finally gives me the bag that's been waiting there all that time! That just annoyed the hell out of me, especially since it was past 9pm and I was starving. I finally got to my car and opened up my food. I looked around the bag and there were no plastic utensils or napkins. Ugh how annoying. Well the food was just ok. The eggplant fries were pretty salty but the catfish "taco" was actually in a tortilla wrap and it was pretty good.
(3)
Dena S.
We've been to Julep a couple of times recently. Seated at the bar, you tend to get better service than in the dining room. Our last visit was to the dining room. I orderd Catfish Tacos, which were described as Blackened catfish, caramelized onions, pepper jack and remoulade in a jalapeno-cheddar tortilla on the menu. What came out was more like a blackened catfish quesadilla wrapped up like a burrito. So, Amy S. is correct, they are misnamed on the menu. I thought they tasted ok, but there was so much cheese in there, you couldn't really taste the fish. So, I'll probably go back to Julep again, but I'll sit at the bar and order something else.
(3)
Quincy S.
This is gourmet cooking with a southern flair. Like Emeril meets Paula Deen. The unusual, but excellent selection of food (butterbean humus, portabella fries) will definitely be a treat for you. Their fried chicken was voted Top 10 in the nation by USA Today a few years back and they weren't lying. It's good chicken. Very good. Not traditional fried chicken, but I'll let you visit to see what I'm talking about. When they bring the chicken out, it won't look like anything you've seen at KFC. The desserts are wonderful. They have a selection of cake that will bring you to tears. Red Velvet, Irish Creme, Almond Wedding Cake, etc. I can never decide on which one I want and the slices are too big to try them all. The atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is above-average. Great place to have a date.
(4)
Eliza T.
Only had drinks and appetizers. The one star is for the eggplant fries which were delicious but definitely greasy and salty...but it was exactly what we needed at the time. The server was nice enough initially but our experience quickly went down the drains. He suggested the raspberry martini went we said we wanted to try one of their signature drinks but something NOT sweet. Not only were our martinis super sweet, they tasted disgustingly like Robitussin cough syrup. When we told him this, he took our drinks away and replaced them with our "usual" drinks of choice. When we got the bill, however, those high-on-price-low-on-taste martinis were left on there and made up 50% of our check!! For something that we each took one sip from and refused to drink any more, the right think for any server and establishment to do would be to deduct it from the bill...ESP when he recommended the drink despite us being clear on what we didn't want our drinks to taste like! Highly doubt I'd come back.
(1)
Shelby D.
I love Julep! I seriously CRAVE their fried chicken and sweet potatoe risotto all the time. The atmosphere is great and they are always really accomadating about large groups. My only problem with Julep is that the service is really slow. Sometimes, it will be minutes and minutes without my water being refilled. Or one time, our server didn't even bring out our dinner rolls before the meal. That really is the only drawback though. The food is delicious! I have never heard anyone say they weren't satisfied with their food.
(4)
Jenny G.
I've been to Julep twice. The first visit was pretty good. The fried green tomato napoleon was to die for. The pecan crusted chicken, while good, was way too much food and very dense. The service was good and overall it was a very enjoyable experience. Visit #2 was like being in a totally different restaurant. The quality of the food was poor and the service was non-existent. Not worth the effort.
(2)
Johnny K.
Good chicken
(3)
Kevin L.
Currently bottom of the totem pole for the eateries I've had here. Classy enough from its decor, but the poor waitstaff is so overworked. Admittedly, we came during Restaurant Week and our waiter kept apologizing for how hard they had gotten hit. We did the prix fixe menu, choosing the tuna tower, which was a layered cylinder of rice, cubes of raw tuna, avocado. Julienned strips of fried crisps and wasabi mayo sauce finished it off. Not a bad appetizer, though hard to eat with just a fork since I expected to scoop it up with chips or something. Probably the peak of the meal since it's hard to mes up this flavor combo. Our main entree literally took an hour. When the sad little triangles of fried catfish and onion showed up with a side of fries, it definitely wasn't worth the wait. Weird fried taco skins made it look like a seafood hot pocket and the fish had all dried up. Even hungry, the fish wasn't appetizing. Dessert was a letdown too. Bread pudding was clearly just two slices of bread with a custard set upon it, so it was more like a sheet cake than anything else, with ice cream lobbed atop it. Total was $30. Glad we decided to just do little shared tastes, or otherwise, we'd be way more unhappy wallet-wise. My Southern Pecan was tasty at least?
(2)
Eva and Zach A.
Whatever you order it is exactly what it says it is. Real quick. Closest to the diners on the NE coast that Jackson has to offer. Really pleasantly surprised and one of the few place down here that we really liked the food.
(5)
Lan D.
Mississippi conjures images of southern comfort food, not high end chef creations like you might find on either coast. Julep Restaurant is a pleasant find in Jackson, Mississippi, giving the state capitol a lot more culinary credibility in my book than I would think to give at first thought. The food is as good as you would find in California and the service is very attentive, at least when I went. I would go again.
(4)
Andrew F.
My wife and I went here to check out what was supposed to be some delicious fried chicken. I have to say, the fried chicken was good! Food: We started with the "Redneck" Sausage and Cheese Plate. This was OVER-sized. The sausages were delicious, but the cheeses tasted like standard grocery-market cheeses. It would be awesome if they downsized the AMOUNT of cheese and upsized the QUALITY of the cheese (we could have split this and a salad for a full meal for 2!). My wife had the fried chicken. I don't usually eat fried chicken, but after tasting it she proceeded to stab me 2x as I tried to steal more bites. Their fried chicken was DELICIOUS!!! I strongly recommend it and prepare yourself for a bit of honey! I had the Citrus Chipotle BBQ chicken. It was tasty and hit the spot! We split the bread pudding for dessert and were quite satisfied. It was a little too sweet for me again due to the huge portion of syrup poured on top! Service: Our waiter was friendly and jovial through the entire meal. He was on throughout the entire meal and made great recommendations. The bar was a little lacking, I ordered an Old-Fashioned. Something went way amiss in the making as what I got was a glass with ice, whiskey, and a cherry. I'm not sure any bitters or simple syrup were used!
(4)
Nick D.
Julep is a delight in the ways of afternoon eats for the uptown part of Jackson MS. For all the previous Yelps about its service and food bringing this place down to 3 1/2 stars is unacceptable! From the outside the place looks like something from a run-down urban failure. But on the inside...well let's just say didn't your parents ever tell you "not to judge a book by its cover?" I went there with my girlfriend and two friends for brunch on a Saturday after being in town for some other adventures. I enjoyed a delicious take on the omelet - a Gouda melted mushroom 3 egg mound of awesome. I could only eat half as the Gouda was so rich after our beignets. Oh did I fail to mention those? Because well I am still dreaming about the gigantic take on the New Orleans beignet. We had a dozen and well I have to admit I ate my three with a simply robust house coffee. But we still had 3 left over they were so much to handle as an appetizer. Or if you even indulged in the 2 for 1 Mimosas, which the ladies did. However, neither the special of the day - 2 buttermilk blueberry pancakes with turkey sausage (also delightful) - nor the beignets can compare to Julep's fried chick breast. In the entrance, their waiting section boasts of Julelp's fried chicken being ranked Top 10 by USA Today. Of course, you don't really give this much thought. But we warned, you should! Julelp's fried chicken is TO DIE FOR. Flat out the best restaurant fried chicken I have ever had. Anywhere. Anytime. So make sure you go during lunch or brunch, and give this place your full stomach with some good friends.
(5)
Annica J.
The food was pretty good and had a nice selection to choose from. I got the shrimp and grits and they were ok but can not compare to the Parker House's shrimp and grits. My husband really enjoyed his steak but loved the egg rolls that had black-eyed peas and turnip greens. The restaurant had an intimate feel to it. I would not take my small children here.
(3)
Vim I.
I'm a little surprised by the low ratings that some yelpers have given Julep. This is definitely an all-time favorite place to go in Jackson. I miss it now that I live in Memphis. It's moderately priced, and I love the ambiance with its vibrant green colors and exposed brick. The honey glazed chicken was always a favorite of mine, but there are so many other dishes that are just as good. A recent appetizer i had was the Tuna Tower which was like a big-helping of a spicy tuna roll. It was delicious! I loved Julep so much that I asked them to cater my wedding reception.
(5)
Amber A.
A bit on the expensive side yes but NOBODY NOBODY does fried chicken like this! A Must have! The other must have is a slice of "wedding cake". Worth every penny! Big enough for 2 people. Wish I lived closer!
(4)
Daniel A.
Been here a couple of time and I can definitely say that I enjoy this restaurant. The first time I went in, the service started off kinda shaky. One of the waitresses was confused as to why I was there, but I think the fact that I had my DSLR with me threw her off, so I can forgive that haha. The quality of the service definitely picked up after I was seated. The food itself is definitely amazing. I've eaten the stuffed chicken and the crawfish etoufee, both of which greeted my palette with a nice mix of flavors that you only get at so many restaurants. The stuffed chicken was topped with this light, yet flavorful sauce that added to the taste of the already well seasoned chicken stuffed with delicious cheese and spinach. The fact that it was stuffed with cheese made me nervous when I ordered, but it wasn't cheesey at all. The etoufee was just the right size for me. If you're expecting a huge deep bowl, this isn't it, but if you're expecting well seasoned deliciousness, go for it. I have to go the Jackson area often for awhile, so I'll be back.
(4)
Emily M.
This is my absolute favorite place to eat in Jackson. I haven't ever had a bad experience here. I have never had bad service or rude waitstaff here either. Some of the reviews were very surprising. I have been coming here for years, and it has always been consistently good. The cheese fritters, soybeans and butterbean hummus are wonderful apps, and the fried chicken and strawberry salad are also great. I love the eggplant fries as well.
(5)
Leonard R.
This restaurant has an interesting menu but the service was rushed and the food uneven. We ordered the Southern Fried Chicken. It was very good and some of the best I have had. However, the mashed potatoes and green beans were cold and just ok. My wife said it looked like they were put on the plate long in advance and cooled off waiting for the chicken). I had the banana's foster bread pudding. It was good (huge portions), tasty and warm. The service was quite rushed. We were asked for our drink order about 30 seconds after we were seated and handed menu's. Also, the waitress dropped off the check at the table before we had even finished desert. Our entree's were served before we could finish the appetizer (fried green tomatoes). Since the place was mostly empty (6:30 pm on a Wednesday night) we were a little surprised we couldn't enjoy a more relaxed meal. We did notice the bar side was more crowded than the dinner side. Based on the menu and some of the reviews, we thought it would be better.
(3)
Christopher P.
The wife and I have been eating here for a few years now, and we've never been disappointed. On our first visit, we tried the butterbean hummus appetizer, and I ended up begging for the recipe. No joy there, but I've managed to work it out (pretty damn close, anyway). My wife had the shrimp and grits, and when I ordered my filet mignon "Pittsburgh rare", the server didn't even bat an eye. PERFECT martinis. What really impressed me was how knowledgable the staff are. Want a glass of wine with dinner? The servers are above-par in their sommelier skills, and the bartenders have a nice, steady hand when they pour a good Scotch. If you go when there's live music, it's never too loud or conversation dampening - usually just the right amount of good background volume. Mr. Murphy and his team have done a wonderful job bringing a blue-ribbon twist to traditional Southern fare. Kudos, sir!
(4)
LeeAnne J.
On trips to Mississippi to visit my sister (a student at Belhaven), Julep quickly became a family favorite. It has a very hip-cool vibe reminiscent of home (California) and stays open late with live music. Start with comforting pimento cheese fritters--spicy, deep-fried cheese balls, with traditional Southern comeback sauce for dipping. Also quite tasty are the steamed soybeans, which are tossed in a flavorful citrus vinaigrette--an interesting twist. The restaurant's award-winning fried chicken is a must-order entree, with a large perfectly fried piece of breast meat topped with OMG amazing honey rosemary glaze. I'm still dreaming about this dish! (BTW, the chicken can also be ordered grilled, but why!? Live a little.) It is served with blackened and seasoned green beans and mashed potatoes. I'd review another dish, but I never ordered anything but this on my visits! Only downside: A single women's bathroom. Waiting for it in a line that occasionally runs long through the middle of the bar area isn't terribly fun.
(5)
Lidia G.
We stopped at this place driving from Memphis to New Orleans for lunch. It was a very nice alternative to a fast food place. Loved the decor of this place! Also, the menu options were very healthy. Salads and quiches are wonderful. I wish they had some hot tea. Ice tea and lemonade are available instead (one need to remember this is Deep South). Heard that their fried chicken is good but did not order it. Overall service was fast and food was excellent for on the road option.
(4)
Dacre K.
May be difficult finding if you're not from around here. Good place for groups. Cool bar. Food was good, nothing jumped out as exceptional, everything was good though.
(3)
J L.
So good. Must return if I find myself driving across the country again.
(5)
Amy L.
I thought the third time would be the charm, but apparently no matter how many times you go, the staff are just unfriendly. I think if you are going to spend almost $40 on lunch, a little kindness is warranted from the staff. I had the pimento cheese fritters and they were quite good. I decided to try the award-winning fried chicken. I'm not sure why it is award-winning. While it had a honey flavor to it, it was extremely greasy. The grease rolled on over to the green beans and mashed potatoes, both of which were nothing out of the ordinary. I was pretty disappointed in paying this price for lunch and have it be so underwhelming and greasy. I've given Julep the good college try but I'm done. I can get much better food at half the price and be treated nicely at the same time.
(2)
Chip W.
It's ok. Good location. Decent decor...rather loud when busy. Good food but not great food by my standards. Substandard service...obviously need to know hostess or waitstaff to get waited on.
(3)
hobo s.
I've been here twice now, and both times have been enjoyable enough. The first time I had roasted chicken, probably with some form of potato and veg. I remember it being tasty enough, but we sat near the bar, not great. The second time I had the grilled mahi mahi sandwich and it was quite good. A nice spice on the fish as well as in the remoulade. I would have preferred it come with something other than fries, and I probably could have asked, but didn't. Solid food. If you're into the bar-hopping or trendy restaurant scenes, you'll probably like this place. If not, and if you can come when it isn't too crowded, it's enjoyable. Not a place I would have chosen, but not bad for dinner either.
(3)
Greg W.
over priced and poor food preparation. My fried chicken was more like a sparrow. It was greasy, and Wal-mart chicken has better flavor. My wife had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was WAY overcooked, and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. It seemed to us that the restaurant was living on a dream of times past. We went to Juleps because we like to find the "best" food in a city we are visiting, and we actively searched out the place. If that is the best Jackson has to offer, I feel sorry for them. I think the check was around $50 for two for lunch...........no drinks. If the food was phenominal, maybe...........but it wasnt.
(1)
Stephanie B.
There is a wide variety of menu items to choose from. I had the catfish taco with eggplant fries. The "taco" is actually a burrito, but man was it good! The eggplant fries were great, too. My only complaint is that they don't serve any draft beer here, only bottles. Kind of strange for a nice place like this...
Went with a group of friends. The staff was very accommodating after a few table switches and the number of guests in our party. We ordered the eggplant fries, pimento cheese fritters, portabella fries, pimento cheese fritters and the steamed soy beans as appetizers. They were fantastic! The bread was really good too. All of our steak orders were messed up and given to the wrong person. Easily fixed but it was after it was cut in to our steaks and things like that. The mashed potatoes with feta cheese was AMAZING. Steaks were good too. The person we were there to celebrate tried to pay the bill and gave her credit card to our waiter. Another friend of ours talked to the waiter and gave him his card instead to use. He was given the check to sign. He realized after we left the restaurant that he double tipped. When we all got back from our trip, it turns out that the person we were celebrating's card was charged after all and not our other friend's. So that kinda sucked. She wound up paying for her celebration dinner. I guess it's unfair of me to give only 3 stars because of that mess up but it was a special occasion and we really rather she didn't have to pay for a large bill like that.
(3)
Alan S.
Probably my favorite restaurant in Jackson. Julep puts a trendy, modern spin on southern cooking. The brunch offers a few of their usual staples like shrimp and grits and their famous honey rosemary glazed fried chicken. My personal favorite is the Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict. Brunch is served with homemade biscuits and jam, and you can always order New Orleans style Beignets. They have unique salad and appetizer options like the strawberry pecan salad, a "redneck" sausage and cheese plate, and shrimp toast. All the entrees are good too, but the only thing I ever order is the sashimi grade Blackened Tuna, as raw as possible. Perfect restaurant for brunch, dinner, late night cocktails, or catering.
(5)
David T.
Came here on a business trip, went to dinner with two other colleagues. Service was a bit weak here, could have just been our waiter. We weren't ready to order our wine when he first stopped by, then waited another 10 minutes for him to come back to take our drink order. His attitude was inconsistent -- one time he was marginally friendly, other times he was abrupt and cheerless. I was mildly annoyed with his lack of friendliness which bordered on rudeness, but I was willing to overlook it since the reviews on the food here seemed pretty positive. We started with the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which was excellent. For dinner, we all decided to try the fried chicken, since it was a specialty here. It had a bit of a honey glaze on it which my my colleagues described as "interesting," but which I thought to be excellent. The inside was moist while the outside was crunchy, and the salty sweet flavor of the chicken was very satisfying. I concluded my meal with a bananas foster bread pudding, which was also excellent. If I come back to Jackson, Julep will definitely be on my return list.
(3)
Niki L.
Dissapointing. It was really nice inside, loved the atmosphere. It's not their fault that I really don't care for goat cheese... but the fried green tomato napoleon wasn't that great in my opinion ($12). Definately some flavors missing there and the tomatoes weren't even that good (and I'm a huge fan). I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad ($15?)and my boyfriend got their "Famous Fried Chicken" ($17). The salad wasn't great at all. The Ahi itself was over seasoned and over cooked and wasn't a very good cut. The cucumber vinaigrette was another miss, hardly any acidity or sweetness to it except for a bit of vinegar soaked into the cucumber bits and the rest of it oily. They really needed a bit more vinegar and some lemon juice in there. The greens and almonds were good even though I couldn't tell they were wasabi'd. At any rate unsatisfying for the price. The chicken was really well cooked and I liked the honey glaze. The mashed potatoes and green beans that came with it were nothing amazing. I thought it was too expensive, I've had way better for less... Service was good.
(2)
Tracey W.
The French fried eggplant appetizer is worth the trip ! The Crawfish etouffe was disappointing . Tasted the flour too much in the sauce . The fried chicken was good. Has a sweet sauce on it . Great service.
(3)
Sam C.
One of my favorite places to eat if I HAVE to be in Jackson. Worth stopping by if you're in the area. Good beer selection too
(4)
Buster B.
A great place to eat and stay for drinks at the bar (or have drinks at the bar, then eat, then return to the bar). The establishment is usually packed with locals at night and on the weekends. They often have live bands that are actually pretty good. It can get loud, so I definitely recommend not bringing kids during those times. The food is great and the wine is moderately priced. The atmosphere is fun and the crowd is mostly professionals in their mid-twenties to upper thirties. They have a great drink menu and a large variety of beers. I've gone with my brother a couple of times, thinking that it would be a crappy outing, but we actually had a blast.
(4)
Jennifer C.
this place used to be one of my favorite places to eat but... the quality of the food varies from day to day and the prices are ok for the food what to order: catfish tacos - add $3 for a side of portabello fries: catfish wrap/taco is good and huge, sometimes its better on certain days, guess it depends on the chef. portabello fries - huge fan, love the horseradish dipping sauce. jackson is all about portabello fries. i think walker's has the best but julep's does them pretty good fried green tomato/crab benedict on sunday brunch - pretty good on sundays plus their rolls with honey butter are my favorite in town. yummy. strawberry goat cheese salad - good but ppl can make this at home nowadays, if you aren't that person, then just order it there, they do a pretty good job. what not to order: shrimp toast - greasy cheese toast with shrimp, not that great shrimp and grits - not the best you could get, go over across the street to bon ami if you want some good shrimp and grits overall it has a great atmosphere for hanging out after work with ok food, not many places like it in jackson in terms of atmosphere so not a bad place to go.
(3)
William S.
The food had great potential but came out coldish. The fried chicken could have been the best I ever ate if it had been warm and a bit juicier. The service was very poor though.
(3)
Herman S.
When you first sit down you are greeted with a basket of soft, warm yummy rolls. Rolls that are so decadent you feel guilty for asking 2nds to use them to soak up the sauce from your entree...the Crawfish Etoufee. One might even image slathering ones naked body in butter and laying in a tub of these rolls to butter them. I've had the Julep filet with rosemary demi-glace a few times. Sometimes it's great, sometimes just ok (like when I ordered for lunch). But the Fried Chicken breast was what I always would get, until I tried the Crawfish Etoufee. If I can tear myself away from those dishes I want to try the Cajun Crawfish Pasta & Citrus Chipotle BBQ Chicken.
(4)
Karen A.
I had just arrived at the JAN airport and was looking for a place to eat in downtown Jackson with reasonable prices and casual atmosphere. We used the AAA ratings on our nav GPS to help locate Julep. This was my first dining experience in MS and it was very pleasurable! Once I saw the fried green tomatoes appetizer on the menu, I knew I was in the right place. The goat cheese adds just the right touch, almost like a California version of the good old favorite. Although since I've returned home to Sacramento CA, I can only find 2 restaurants here in Sac that serve fried green tomatoes. Back to Julep, I ordered a glass of Oregon Riesling because I was looking for something other than the typical Napa/Sonoma wines that are so plentiful here in Sac -- it was wonderful! For dinner I had the shrimp and grits, which was excellent! Very nice dinner, very reasonable prices.
(4)
Pamela L.
Fried green tomato napolean is fantastic and is my very favorite thing on the menu. Add a side of gouda grits for a great brunch or lunch. Fried chicken plate is fabulous. The honey glaze is so yummy. The chicken is so crispy and very tasty. Eggplant fries are good with this. Catfish tacos are good, but I don't like the sauce on them - I don't generally like sauces though so this is a personal problem. Burgers are pretty good. Service is hit or miss here, though. If you order coffee, they won't refill it. You'll have to ask. That irritates me to no end. The main dining room is noisy. Once they bring you the check, they expect you to leave. No lingering to talk - they won't bring you more drink, they just ignore you and give you dirty looks from afar. Food is good, but not a place if you want to linger and talk.
(3)
P C.
The exceedingly poor service here outweighs both the quality of the food and drinks. It's not worth spending hard earned money at a place where a server ignores you, then brings you the wrong order, is not gracious about it, and then assumes that the change from your bill is automatically his as a tip! You can't pay me to come back here, and it's a shame as I'm looking for good places to hang while visiting my hometown.
(1)
Amy S.
Came here on a road trip. Reviews for the fried chicken were good, and it was really good (although I would have preferred a marinade without honey - a bit overly sweet for my tastes). My sister ordered the catfish tacos, which were subpar and misnamed. They were served in a red (sundried tomato?) wrap with melted cheese (?!). It is in a strip mall, and the ambience in the restaurant is soulless. A previous review led us to believe this place would have character, but it's more like a bland, suburban outpost with little personality.
When you first sit down you are greeted with a basket of soft, warm yummy rolls. Rolls that are so decadent you feel guilty for asking 2nds to use them to soak up the sauce from your entree...the Crawfish Etoufee. One might even image slathering ones naked body in butter and laying in a tub of these rolls to butter them. I've had the Julep filet with rosemary demi-glace a few times. Sometimes it's great, sometimes just ok (like when I ordered for lunch). But the Fried Chicken breast was what I always would get, until I tried the Crawfish Etoufee. If I can tear myself away from those dishes I want to try the Cajun Crawfish Pasta & Citrus Chipotle BBQ Chicken.
(4)
M P.
Went with a group of friends. The staff was very accommodating after a few table switches and the number of guests in our party. We ordered the eggplant fries, pimento cheese fritters, portabella fries, pimento cheese fritters and the steamed soy beans as appetizers. They were fantastic! The bread was really good too. All of our steak orders were messed up and given to the wrong person. Easily fixed but it was after it was cut in to our steaks and things like that. The mashed potatoes with feta cheese was AMAZING. Steaks were good too. The person we were there to celebrate tried to pay the bill and gave her credit card to our waiter. Another friend of ours talked to the waiter and gave him his card instead to use. He was given the check to sign. He realized after we left the restaurant that he double tipped. When we all got back from our trip, it turns out that the person we were celebrating's card was charged after all and not our other friend's. So that kinda sucked. She wound up paying for her celebration dinner. I guess it's unfair of me to give only 3 stars because of that mess up but it was a special occasion and we really rather she didn't have to pay for a large bill like that.
(3)
Mal W.
Fried chicken good as always...however experience ruined by horrific service. Slow, inattentive and lazy...made worse by mangers sitting around idly watching it happen. A close look at every server confirms a "couldn't give a crap" attitude running rampant. Two big thumbs down.
Not consistent. Out of the 10 times I have been they have made major mistakes 50% of the time. They are not so easy going on fixing their mistakes. I always go for the Tuna Steak, I'm sure I'll go get it again and pray that they get the order correct. Don't think you will be impressed by the Fried Chicken!!!
(2)
Ryan K.
Julep is a really fantastic counter-part to the restaurants situated in North Jackson in the Highland Park Plaza off of Northside Drive. I've been many times, and I've always found the food to be mouthwatering and unique. They're known for their honey chicken sandwiches (wow), but they also serve a great fried green tomato napoleon, eggplant fries, and crawfish etoufee. Sometimes, they get busy and service is a little slow, but the staff is always really pleasant and eager to please. Brunch is fantastic - their Sriracha-covered eggs Benedict is my absolute favorite. Recommended: Fried Chicken Sandwich, Eggplant Fries, Fried Green Tomato Napoleon, Brunch
(5)
Rachel P.
Julep is SO good! It's somewhere between casual and slightly more upscale. While it maintains a casual, chill vibe, it's definitely a little bit on the pricier side. It's nothing outrageous though! I wouldn't call it over priced. It's not the sort of place you would wanna wear your sweaty workout clothes to, but it's also a place where you could definitely wear jeans and a good tee. The servers here are all super friendly, outgoing and helpful. They're always ready to help you make a menu decision, though you really can't go wrong at Julep. All the food is super fantastic. I think they've definitely got one of the best brunches in town, for sure. Their fried chicken is off the chain. They've got a full bar with tons of great drink options, from cocktails to craft beers. Julep's kitchen is open until 11, which makes it one of the few (non fast food) locales where you can eat a late dinner! Definitely stop in here and try it out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Bill M.
I attempted to call and order a take out dinner on Friday however I was informed that they were out of Pasta. Not sure how a restaurant runs out of something simple like that on a weekend night but whatever. I love their pasta so I attempted to eat dinner tonight as well. I arrived at 8:20 however and was informed I could not be served because the kitchen was about to close. I am not one of those folks that goes in last minute normally however tonight was spur of the moment and there was no effort whatsoever to try to be accommodating. We were basically shooed out the door. I will not be going back. This used to be one of my favourite places but obviously things have changed here and not in a good way. Oh and according to what is advertised they are supposed to stop serving food at 9.
(1)
Billy P.
Luv it! Gotta gotta try it.... seriously peeeeepz! The honey glazed fried chicken with green beans should please anyone.
(5)
Marcel M.
Brunch is great, they serve chicken and waffles even though it's not on the brunch menu. Two for one Moses.
(4)
Meagan A.
Great cocktail menu!! I came here with two girlfriends this past Tuesday for drinks after work. I got the Rude Cosmo (Cosmo with tequila) and it was totally worth it! I'm a fan of Cosmos and tequila, so this drink was right up my alley. I also got the chocolate martini which was pretty standard. Since the bar area was already full -on a random Tuesday at that- we sat at a table in the restaurant and ended up getting appetizers: eggplant fries and crawfish egg rolls. Both were very tasty. The hot rolls that were brought to the table were melt-in-your-mouth good! I would definitely go back for another drinks night. I can't wait to try the Bellini martini that I saw on the menu.
(5)
Beth C.
Went for Sunday brunch with friends and kids. Nice atmosphere, food was delicious and came out promptly once we'd ordered. Only let down was the staff; very few smiles and pretty inattentive. It took us a quite a while to get drinks and order food.
(4)
Ashley W.
Smaller than expected. But the decor is lovely. I tried the crawfish penne pasta and it was spectacular. If your not a big drinker I would recommend the Parisian pear. It was tasteful. Everything was lovely until this thick unfamiliar obnoxious aroma arose. And i just had the leave. Other than that the time frame I chose was very good. Which was 3:30-5p. It wasn't crowded at all.
(3)
Jess H.
I have only dined at Juleps a few times in the past, but it has always been a pleasant experience. Most of our previous visits were for drinks more than for the food. It is a swanky little bar with a nice atmosphere- great for a girls night out! But while we were home for the holidays, I decided to take my boyfriend for lunch because we planned to do a little shopping in Highland Village. Overall, the food was good. We ordered fried pimento and cheese balls as an appetizer- pretty good! And for lunch, I had the chicken salad salad, and I certainly cannot complain. My only disappointment was that for the amount of people dining in the restaurant at the time, the service was pretty slow. Other than that, it was another positive experience, and I am sure that we will be back eventually.
(4)
Nicole O.
I agree with previous reviews... I loved the tuna, but half of it was sinewy, the other was delicious! The Cajun sauce was amazing! I guess it was a a busy night (but when we got there it was empty) because there was no bread left and they were out of other things on the menu. The pics of the food posted here were so so different from what we got- the chicken ( though amazing if you like honey sweet taste) was small. The portions for the prices were a total ripoff. The wait staff was so nice and accommodating, though the hostess rolled her eyes when I explained the light in the bathroom was out, she told the waitress to tell me to jiggle the handle-- which the waitress was normal and polite enough to ask her to please take care of it. The nice waitress was the best part of the experience- to her-- "thanks!!!"
(3)
Amanda S.
I have to start this review by saying Julep used to be one of the best restaurants to go to in Jackson. There are amazing places everywhere, but this one used to be top notch. HOWEVER, the last 6 visits I have over the past year have resulted in disappointment. It is not the food, but rather the SMELL of the restaurant. The smell ranges from bleach to rotten fruit to other unsavory smells. Before ordering coffee with my most recent visit for Sunday brunch, I had to leave as the smell was overwhelming and not at all appetizing. I told the manager why I was leaving. It was clear that he knew the place smelled terrible, but no explanation was given. This restaurant has got to undergo a deep-clean and soon! It will be a while before I attempt to eat here again. I am sad to see Julep lose itself as one of the best places to eat, especially since cleaning would be an easy fix!
(2)
Coral E.
Julep has had mixed reviews from me. Sometimes I LOVE what I get, the next time I'm disappointed. However, the service is always excellent, the restaurant has great atmosphere and is clean and the food always comes out in a reasonable amount of time. And your best bet for delicious food at Julep - BRUNCH! Things I recommend: portobello fries, eggplant fries, fried chicken, shrimp & grits & anything on their brunch menu Don't recommend: Spicy Cobb Salad (very little flavor, very little dressing, very few toppings), catfish taco (bland), pimento cheese BLT (tasted like store bought pimento cheese)
(3)
Melissa L.
I used to love Julep, but the last two visits have been disappointing. Tonight they were out of two appetizers, served me the wrong wine, were out of most beers, described a salad as spicy (it wasn't), and never offered a free appetizers or any compensation. We (use to) bring clients and guests there, but not anymore.
(2)
Haley B.
I grew up going to Julep, and it's always on my list to visit when I'm home during the holidays. After today, I will never go back again. The service has gotten worse every time I've visited in the past few years. Today, my mom and I stopped by for some wine and sat in the (not crowded) bar area around 4:30. We weren't acknowledged for about 5 minutes, and I finally asked if our table was okay. The lady behind the bar said yes, gave us a menu, and walked away.. But no drink order. After another 5 minutes when the other guy was slowly delivering drinks, she pulled out the cash register to count the money. There were several people, including us, with no drinks.. Yet you are going to count money now? Not very good management skills. We took that as our cue to leave and went to a much nicer neighboring restaurant, where we promptly received our wine. Sad to see this great place has turned into this!
(1)
Jamie M.
My first visit to Julep was for brunch. I love brunch. I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, something I love to eat at brunch. Their version did not disappoint. You feel better about eating Julep's shrimp and grits, because in addition to the jumbo shrimp, grits and butter, they also add roasted corn, red onions and sweet peppers so you feel you are at least getting some healthy veggies out the deal. *smile* The portion is plentiful and the dish is delicious. Since then, my office has ordered from Julep several times, so I've had the pleasure of sampling many other things on the menu. The strawberry pecan salad is delicious...anything with strawberries and goat cheese is a winner in my book. The fried chicken sandwich comes with a honey rosemary glaze that really sets it apart from your typical dry chicken sandwich. The seared tuna in the seared tuna salad was cooked just right, and the cucumber sherry vinaigrette dressing is a yummy compliment. Julep has a very inventive menu that you can't find in most places in Jackson. I definitely recommend you try.
(4)
Sharon C.
When working in Jackson, I make sure I stop by to eat in Julep. Though their menu is limited (meaning, it hasn't changed over the course of the 2 years I've been going their for dinner), the food is consistent! I always sit in the bar area & the service is always quick! Bartenders are very personable & make your time their enjoyable. You have to get Julep's Award-Winning Fried Chicken; nothing but lightly fried sweet goodness. And plus, when will you ever have a chance to brag to your cronies that you ate a meal voted TOP TEN IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY? Yes to Gulf Shrimp & Grits Yes to the bathroom after Pimento Cheese Fritters Yes to Crawfish Egg Rolls Yezzzz to Eggplant Fries Heck to the Yes to Cajun Crawfish Penne Pasta (feeling spicy...add some shrimp!) Catfish Taco - if this is your first time having catfish tacos, I wouldn't encourage it. They're decent, but not my favorite. Overall - good eaten & great times off I-55!!
(5)
Kayla R.
They need to get it together. Shrimp and grits is flavorless. The fried chicken is supposed to have honey on it, not be doused in it. Also it tasted like it was cooked in old grease. Not good at all. Mashed potatoes were dry. And the tuna tower tastes like it was made with three day old rice.
(1)
Paul H.
Although parking can be hectic, it's worth the trouble to get this awesome food. There is so much to choose from, fish tacos, tuna tower, brunch on the weekend, but the eggplant fries are by far my favorite. Take the time to experience this cuisine and enjoy the atmosphere.
Used to be my favorite for brunch, hands down! Unfortunately the last couple of attempts to dine here have been thwarted by poor customer service. On my last visit I was served my mimosa in an obviously dirty flute and then they were out of shrimp toast and eggplant fries. I was seated 30 minutes after they opened for business. I hope they're able to correct the issues because I'd love to give them an opportunity to be on my list of favorites again!
(1)
Melissa E.
Horrible service and food. After being seated in the bar area we waited a few minutes before being asked for our drink order. We got our drinks promptly and then asked for a menu. We ordered the pimento cheese fritters and the soybeans off the late night menu. The fritters probably would have been good if they had been warm. Instead they were cold and disgusting. The soybeans were supposed to come in vinaigrette. The beans were swimming in it and were also not very appetizing. To top everything off after our food came out our server just quit waiting on us. We couldn't even ask to order something else.Two pretty girls, his guy pals, and his food that he was eating at the bar in front of other customers seemed to get all of his attention while ourselves and the two tables beside us suffered. Finally had to ask for our check from another server. Needless to say we won't be coming back
(2)
Robert R.
Excellent food and service. We had the shrimp and grits and the Julep chicken salad. Both were fantastic. We are on a road trip and it is close to the highway. We almost got scared off by some of the Yelp reviews but glad we didn't.
(5)
Cameron P.
Great atmosphere and vibe. However, service was pretty slow, and we were one of maybe 4 tables at the time. The food was just mediocre. I should have tried the fried chicken (apparently that is what they are known for). I ordered the stuffed chicken breast which is supposed to be stuffed with spinach, but it wasn't. Comes with a side of steamed brocoli that was drenched in butter. I like butter, but this was system overload. I would go back and give it another shot, but I wouldn't be excited about going back.
(2)
Brian G.
I just had the worst experience of my life at your restaurant. I ordered a burger and the server dropped the bun. I sat here while my guests ate for about 5 minutes before I got another bun for my burger. The same server ran several entrees out before I got my burger. I asked the bartender for the manager and he said that he was "it at the moment" and that there was nothing else he could do because they were closing the kitchen. He kept saying"sorry" but made absolutely zero effort to mollify me or the situation. In fact he's spending so much time at the bar playing with his friends that he couldn't take care of you ally's dining room guests. I am very disappointed and I am still hungry!!!!.
(1)
Dreka G.
I have heard a lot about this award winning fried chicken and I had to try it. I could see why it would win, it's certainly a delicious dish. I would give it an award for the most unique fried chicken for sure. For traditional fried chicken I would still prefer to have Two Sisters. The green beans that came with the chicken were the real star for me, believe it or not! Those veggies were amazing! Beignets were pretty good too, I mean who doesn't like fried dough and powdered sugar!! My very picky little boy inhaled their French toast so I guess that was good also!
(4)
Jeff R.
This is in my top five Jackson restaurants I love the southern twist to the many menu options. The catfish taco and spicy Cobb salad are two of my lunch favorites.
(5)
Priya S.
I've only been here a few times so bear with me on the few items I have to review. I'll try to make it short and sweet. Atmosphere: Decor is modern and cute. Good lighting. Great place for a date you want to have a nice dinner with. I love their clear modern chairs and tables. The famous fried chicken: The green beans are the best thing in this dish. Otherwise, this chicken is NOT award-winning (by USA magazine?). I and several other friends have gotten this and were disappointed by the amount of oil. It was still tasty but definitely shouldn't claim the title of an award. Eggplant fries: Quite delicious. Me and friend ate them quickly. Pimento cheese fritters: My friends loved these. I did NOT. The batter was thick and I don't think I'm a fan of pimento cheese. Cajun Crawfish pasta: This is pretty good. Several of my friends love this one. I liked it a lot, the crawfish was delicious. It is a tad salty and the bread served with it a little oily. Still the best thing I've had here so far. Bread pudding dessert: This was alright. I was not impressed. Overly sweet and thick. The ice cream was good though, then again how do you mess up ice cream. The Wedding Cake Martini: This was a hit amongst all the ladies in my group. It is sweet, fruity and delicious. Stay away from it if you don't like sweet drinks. I think it was super refreshing and light. Good job, Julep. Birthday celebrations are fun here cause you get free ice cream and a candle! So that's sweet. Also, LIKE them on facebook, you'll get a free appetizer!! So yeah, so far the food I've had is OK but I would definitely still come back here for the great setting and to try their other food and drinks. It's one of the nice restaurants in Jackson.
(3)
Holly M.
I work in Jackson one week every year, and I always eat here at least once. It's upscale southern cuisine, which I love. My favorites are the Shrimp and Grits, the Julep House Salad (I've tried to recreate the pepper jelly dressing at home), the Strawberry Pecan Salad, and the quiche. I've also never been led astray by trying the specials. Long story short, I've never disliked anything I've ordered.
(5)
Andrea D.
Julep is one of my favorite places to go to in the Jackson area. I went here on a Saturday with some girlfriends for brunch. I ordered the shrimp and grits along with the champagne cobbler to drink. Both were very good. Julep remains high on my list.
(4)
Jaleh S.
Julep is a casual restaurant trying to be formal. The plastic chairs are not hip but rather cause hip discomfort. I've been here four times and have officially tried every pescatarian friendly meal. (Seafood and vegetarian)The Catfish Taco is not really a taco, the Crawfish Pasta is ok, the Mahi Mahi sandwich doesn't have much flavor. But if you eat chicken, the Chicken sandwich is supposed to be amazing. Overall this place is pretty boring...as is the rest of Jackson.
(2)
Yoori C.
Four friends and I were casually dressed and wondered if we would be too much so, but it was fine. Dimly lit in the restaurant side with candles at the tables gave me the feeling that this would be a great date place or family dinner/friend gathering restaurant. Everything tasted great and carefully prepared. I basically recommend everything I ate. dead guy beer, split fried green tomato appetizer, and fried chicken with honey glaze and green beans & mashed potaters claimed famous via usa today which really is good - $25.12 *bathroom is a bit hard to get to when the bar (full) is packed. restaurant is also connected to small shopping center through the back
(4)
Mike S.
Quite simply the best piece of fried chicken I've eaten. The unique glaze they use is just amazing. I came, I scarfed, I left. It was that simple.
(5)
Luana C.
This was the first restaurant I came to when moving from California to Mississippi! I ordered the green tomatoes and blackened tuna filet. The food was good, but a bit salty for my taste. I've found that the food in general in the South is a bit saltier than what I'm used to, so it may be to taste for others. However, it was a cute restaurant with lively atmosphere and plenty of parking. I may have to try the fried chicken or catfish taco to be blown away next time!
(3)
Lei B.
I learned from my last experience and decided to order takeout instead of taking a chance on bad service again. Even ordering takeout was bad too. I got the catfish taco with a side of eggplant fries. Now I think this I where thing go wrong. I paid with a credit card and handed me the copy to sign. I always have the dillema or whether I should add tip for takeout. This time I decided against it. I left for a few minutes to the ladies room. When I returned I saw a brown bag on their counter. The lady who took my order was chatting it up with some coworkers. Maybe that order wasn't mine. I started just chatting away on my phone maybe 5-10 minutes pass by an she finally gives me the bag that's been waiting there all that time! That just annoyed the hell out of me, especially since it was past 9pm and I was starving. I finally got to my car and opened up my food. I looked around the bag and there were no plastic utensils or napkins. Ugh how annoying. Well the food was just ok. The eggplant fries were pretty salty but the catfish "taco" was actually in a tortilla wrap and it was pretty good.
(3)
Kevin L.
Currently bottom of the totem pole for the eateries I've had here. Classy enough from its decor, but the poor waitstaff is so overworked. Admittedly, we came during Restaurant Week and our waiter kept apologizing for how hard they had gotten hit. We did the prix fixe menu, choosing the tuna tower, which was a layered cylinder of rice, cubes of raw tuna, avocado. Julienned strips of fried crisps and wasabi mayo sauce finished it off. Not a bad appetizer, though hard to eat with just a fork since I expected to scoop it up with chips or something. Probably the peak of the meal since it's hard to mes up this flavor combo. Our main entree literally took an hour. When the sad little triangles of fried catfish and onion showed up with a side of fries, it definitely wasn't worth the wait. Weird fried taco skins made it look like a seafood hot pocket and the fish had all dried up. Even hungry, the fish wasn't appetizing. Dessert was a letdown too. Bread pudding was clearly just two slices of bread with a custard set upon it, so it was more like a sheet cake than anything else, with ice cream lobbed atop it. Total was $30. Glad we decided to just do little shared tastes, or otherwise, we'd be way more unhappy wallet-wise. My Southern Pecan was tasty at least?
(2)
Eva and Zach A.
Whatever you order it is exactly what it says it is. Real quick. Closest to the diners on the NE coast that Jackson has to offer. Really pleasantly surprised and one of the few place down here that we really liked the food.
(5)
Lan D.
Mississippi conjures images of southern comfort food, not high end chef creations like you might find on either coast. Julep Restaurant is a pleasant find in Jackson, Mississippi, giving the state capitol a lot more culinary credibility in my book than I would think to give at first thought. The food is as good as you would find in California and the service is very attentive, at least when I went. I would go again.
(4)
Andrew F.
My wife and I went here to check out what was supposed to be some delicious fried chicken. I have to say, the fried chicken was good! Food: We started with the "Redneck" Sausage and Cheese Plate. This was OVER-sized. The sausages were delicious, but the cheeses tasted like standard grocery-market cheeses. It would be awesome if they downsized the AMOUNT of cheese and upsized the QUALITY of the cheese (we could have split this and a salad for a full meal for 2!). My wife had the fried chicken. I don't usually eat fried chicken, but after tasting it she proceeded to stab me 2x as I tried to steal more bites. Their fried chicken was DELICIOUS!!! I strongly recommend it and prepare yourself for a bit of honey! I had the Citrus Chipotle BBQ chicken. It was tasty and hit the spot! We split the bread pudding for dessert and were quite satisfied. It was a little too sweet for me again due to the huge portion of syrup poured on top! Service: Our waiter was friendly and jovial through the entire meal. He was on throughout the entire meal and made great recommendations. The bar was a little lacking, I ordered an Old-Fashioned. Something went way amiss in the making as what I got was a glass with ice, whiskey, and a cherry. I'm not sure any bitters or simple syrup were used!
(4)
Nick D.
Julep is a delight in the ways of afternoon eats for the uptown part of Jackson MS. For all the previous Yelps about its service and food bringing this place down to 3 1/2 stars is unacceptable! From the outside the place looks like something from a run-down urban failure. But on the inside...well let's just say didn't your parents ever tell you "not to judge a book by its cover?" I went there with my girlfriend and two friends for brunch on a Saturday after being in town for some other adventures. I enjoyed a delicious take on the omelet - a Gouda melted mushroom 3 egg mound of awesome. I could only eat half as the Gouda was so rich after our beignets. Oh did I fail to mention those? Because well I am still dreaming about the gigantic take on the New Orleans beignet. We had a dozen and well I have to admit I ate my three with a simply robust house coffee. But we still had 3 left over they were so much to handle as an appetizer. Or if you even indulged in the 2 for 1 Mimosas, which the ladies did. However, neither the special of the day - 2 buttermilk blueberry pancakes with turkey sausage (also delightful) - nor the beignets can compare to Julep's fried chick breast. In the entrance, their waiting section boasts of Julelp's fried chicken being ranked Top 10 by USA Today. Of course, you don't really give this much thought. But we warned, you should! Julelp's fried chicken is TO DIE FOR. Flat out the best restaurant fried chicken I have ever had. Anywhere. Anytime. So make sure you go during lunch or brunch, and give this place your full stomach with some good friends.
(5)
Annica J.
The food was pretty good and had a nice selection to choose from. I got the shrimp and grits and they were ok but can not compare to the Parker House's shrimp and grits. My husband really enjoyed his steak but loved the egg rolls that had black-eyed peas and turnip greens. The restaurant had an intimate feel to it. I would not take my small children here.
(3)
Vim I.
I'm a little surprised by the low ratings that some yelpers have given Julep. This is definitely an all-time favorite place to go in Jackson. I miss it now that I live in Memphis. It's moderately priced, and I love the ambiance with its vibrant green colors and exposed brick. The honey glazed chicken was always a favorite of mine, but there are so many other dishes that are just as good. A recent appetizer i had was the Tuna Tower which was like a big-helping of a spicy tuna roll. It was delicious! I loved Julep so much that I asked them to cater my wedding reception.
(5)
Dena S.
We've been to Julep a couple of times recently. Seated at the bar, you tend to get better service than in the dining room. Our last visit was to the dining room. I orderd Catfish Tacos, which were described as Blackened catfish, caramelized onions, pepper jack and remoulade in a jalapeno-cheddar tortilla on the menu. What came out was more like a blackened catfish quesadilla wrapped up like a burrito. So, Amy S. is correct, they are misnamed on the menu. I thought they tasted ok, but there was so much cheese in there, you couldn't really taste the fish. So, I'll probably go back to Julep again, but I'll sit at the bar and order something else.
(3)
William S.
The food had great potential but came out coldish. The fried chicken could have been the best I ever ate if it had been warm and a bit juicier. The service was very poor though.
(3)
Daniel A.
Been here a couple of time and I can definitely say that I enjoy this restaurant. The first time I went in, the service started off kinda shaky. One of the waitresses was confused as to why I was there, but I think the fact that I had my DSLR with me threw her off, so I can forgive that haha. The quality of the service definitely picked up after I was seated. The food itself is definitely amazing. I've eaten the stuffed chicken and the crawfish etoufee, both of which greeted my palette with a nice mix of flavors that you only get at so many restaurants. The stuffed chicken was topped with this light, yet flavorful sauce that added to the taste of the already well seasoned chicken stuffed with delicious cheese and spinach. The fact that it was stuffed with cheese made me nervous when I ordered, but it wasn't cheesey at all. The etoufee was just the right size for me. If you're expecting a huge deep bowl, this isn't it, but if you're expecting well seasoned deliciousness, go for it. I have to go the Jackson area often for awhile, so I'll be back.
(4)
Emily M.
This is my absolute favorite place to eat in Jackson. I haven't ever had a bad experience here. I have never had bad service or rude waitstaff here either. Some of the reviews were very surprising. I have been coming here for years, and it has always been consistently good. The cheese fritters, soybeans and butterbean hummus are wonderful apps, and the fried chicken and strawberry salad are also great. I love the eggplant fries as well.
(5)
Leonard R.
This restaurant has an interesting menu but the service was rushed and the food uneven. We ordered the Southern Fried Chicken. It was very good and some of the best I have had. However, the mashed potatoes and green beans were cold and just ok. My wife said it looked like they were put on the plate long in advance and cooled off waiting for the chicken). I had the banana's foster bread pudding. It was good (huge portions), tasty and warm. The service was quite rushed. We were asked for our drink order about 30 seconds after we were seated and handed menu's. Also, the waitress dropped off the check at the table before we had even finished desert. Our entree's were served before we could finish the appetizer (fried green tomatoes). Since the place was mostly empty (6:30 pm on a Wednesday night) we were a little surprised we couldn't enjoy a more relaxed meal. We did notice the bar side was more crowded than the dinner side. Based on the menu and some of the reviews, we thought it would be better.
(3)
Christopher P.
The wife and I have been eating here for a few years now, and we've never been disappointed. On our first visit, we tried the butterbean hummus appetizer, and I ended up begging for the recipe. No joy there, but I've managed to work it out (pretty damn close, anyway). My wife had the shrimp and grits, and when I ordered my filet mignon "Pittsburgh rare", the server didn't even bat an eye. PERFECT martinis. What really impressed me was how knowledgable the staff are. Want a glass of wine with dinner? The servers are above-par in their sommelier skills, and the bartenders have a nice, steady hand when they pour a good Scotch. If you go when there's live music, it's never too loud or conversation dampening - usually just the right amount of good background volume. Mr. Murphy and his team have done a wonderful job bringing a blue-ribbon twist to traditional Southern fare. Kudos, sir!
(4)
LeeAnne J.
On trips to Mississippi to visit my sister (a student at Belhaven), Julep quickly became a family favorite. It has a very hip-cool vibe reminiscent of home (California) and stays open late with live music. Start with comforting pimento cheese fritters--spicy, deep-fried cheese balls, with traditional Southern comeback sauce for dipping. Also quite tasty are the steamed soybeans, which are tossed in a flavorful citrus vinaigrette--an interesting twist. The restaurant's award-winning fried chicken is a must-order entree, with a large perfectly fried piece of breast meat topped with OMG amazing honey rosemary glaze. I'm still dreaming about this dish! (BTW, the chicken can also be ordered grilled, but why!? Live a little.) It is served with blackened and seasoned green beans and mashed potatoes. I'd review another dish, but I never ordered anything but this on my visits! Only downside: A single women's bathroom. Waiting for it in a line that occasionally runs long through the middle of the bar area isn't terribly fun.
(5)
Lidia G.
We stopped at this place driving from Memphis to New Orleans for lunch. It was a very nice alternative to a fast food place. Loved the decor of this place! Also, the menu options were very healthy. Salads and quiches are wonderful. I wish they had some hot tea. Ice tea and lemonade are available instead (one need to remember this is Deep South). Heard that their fried chicken is good but did not order it. Overall service was fast and food was excellent for on the road option.
(4)
Dacre K.
May be difficult finding if you're not from around here. Good place for groups. Cool bar. Food was good, nothing jumped out as exceptional, everything was good though.
(3)
J L.
So good. Must return if I find myself driving across the country again.
(5)
Amy L.
I thought the third time would be the charm, but apparently no matter how many times you go, the staff are just unfriendly. I think if you are going to spend almost $40 on lunch, a little kindness is warranted from the staff. I had the pimento cheese fritters and they were quite good. I decided to try the award-winning fried chicken. I'm not sure why it is award-winning. While it had a honey flavor to it, it was extremely greasy. The grease rolled on over to the green beans and mashed potatoes, both of which were nothing out of the ordinary. I was pretty disappointed in paying this price for lunch and have it be so underwhelming and greasy. I've given Julep the good college try but I'm done. I can get much better food at half the price and be treated nicely at the same time.
(2)
Chip W.
It's ok. Good location. Decent decor...rather loud when busy. Good food but not great food by my standards. Substandard service...obviously need to know hostess or waitstaff to get waited on.
(3)
hobo s.
I've been here twice now, and both times have been enjoyable enough. The first time I had roasted chicken, probably with some form of potato and veg. I remember it being tasty enough, but we sat near the bar, not great. The second time I had the grilled mahi mahi sandwich and it was quite good. A nice spice on the fish as well as in the remoulade. I would have preferred it come with something other than fries, and I probably could have asked, but didn't. Solid food. If you're into the bar-hopping or trendy restaurant scenes, you'll probably like this place. If not, and if you can come when it isn't too crowded, it's enjoyable. Not a place I would have chosen, but not bad for dinner either.
(3)
Greg W.
over priced and poor food preparation. My fried chicken was more like a sparrow. It was greasy, and Wal-mart chicken has better flavor. My wife had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was WAY overcooked, and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. It seemed to us that the restaurant was living on a dream of times past. We went to Juleps because we like to find the "best" food in a city we are visiting, and we actively searched out the place. If that is the best Jackson has to offer, I feel sorry for them. I think the check was around $50 for two for lunch...........no drinks. If the food was phenominal, maybe...........but it wasnt.
(1)
Alan S.
Probably my favorite restaurant in Jackson. Julep puts a trendy, modern spin on southern cooking. The brunch offers a few of their usual staples like shrimp and grits and their famous honey rosemary glazed fried chicken. My personal favorite is the Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict. Brunch is served with homemade biscuits and jam, and you can always order New Orleans style Beignets. They have unique salad and appetizer options like the strawberry pecan salad, a "redneck" sausage and cheese plate, and shrimp toast. All the entrees are good too, but the only thing I ever order is the sashimi grade Blackened Tuna, as raw as possible. Perfect restaurant for brunch, dinner, late night cocktails, or catering.
(5)
Stephanie B.
There is a wide variety of menu items to choose from. I had the catfish taco with eggplant fries. The "taco" is actually a burrito, but man was it good! The eggplant fries were great, too. My only complaint is that they don't serve any draft beer here, only bottles. Kind of strange for a nice place like this...
(3)
David T.
Came here on a business trip, went to dinner with two other colleagues. Service was a bit weak here, could have just been our waiter. We weren't ready to order our wine when he first stopped by, then waited another 10 minutes for him to come back to take our drink order. His attitude was inconsistent -- one time he was marginally friendly, other times he was abrupt and cheerless. I was mildly annoyed with his lack of friendliness which bordered on rudeness, but I was willing to overlook it since the reviews on the food here seemed pretty positive. We started with the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which was excellent. For dinner, we all decided to try the fried chicken, since it was a specialty here. It had a bit of a honey glaze on it which my my colleagues described as "interesting," but which I thought to be excellent. The inside was moist while the outside was crunchy, and the salty sweet flavor of the chicken was very satisfying. I concluded my meal with a bananas foster bread pudding, which was also excellent. If I come back to Jackson, Julep will definitely be on my return list.
(3)
Niki L.
Dissapointing. It was really nice inside, loved the atmosphere. It's not their fault that I really don't care for goat cheese... but the fried green tomato napoleon wasn't that great in my opinion ($12). Definately some flavors missing there and the tomatoes weren't even that good (and I'm a huge fan). I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad ($15?)and my boyfriend got their "Famous Fried Chicken" ($17). The salad wasn't great at all. The Ahi itself was over seasoned and over cooked and wasn't a very good cut. The cucumber vinaigrette was another miss, hardly any acidity or sweetness to it except for a bit of vinegar soaked into the cucumber bits and the rest of it oily. They really needed a bit more vinegar and some lemon juice in there. The greens and almonds were good even though I couldn't tell they were wasabi'd. At any rate unsatisfying for the price. The chicken was really well cooked and I liked the honey glaze. The mashed potatoes and green beans that came with it were nothing amazing. I thought it was too expensive, I've had way better for less... Service was good.
(2)
Tracey W.
The French fried eggplant appetizer is worth the trip ! The Crawfish etouffe was disappointing . Tasted the flour too much in the sauce . The fried chicken was good. Has a sweet sauce on it . Great service.
(3)
Sam C.
One of my favorite places to eat if I HAVE to be in Jackson. Worth stopping by if you're in the area. Good beer selection too
(4)
Jennifer C.
this place used to be one of my favorite places to eat but... the quality of the food varies from day to day and the prices are ok for the food what to order: catfish tacos - add $3 for a side of portabello fries: catfish wrap/taco is good and huge, sometimes its better on certain days, guess it depends on the chef. portabello fries - huge fan, love the horseradish dipping sauce. jackson is all about portabello fries. i think walker's has the best but julep's does them pretty good fried green tomato/crab benedict on sunday brunch - pretty good on sundays plus their rolls with honey butter are my favorite in town. yummy. strawberry goat cheese salad - good but ppl can make this at home nowadays, if you aren't that person, then just order it there, they do a pretty good job. what not to order: shrimp toast - greasy cheese toast with shrimp, not that great shrimp and grits - not the best you could get, go over across the street to bon ami if you want some good shrimp and grits overall it has a great atmosphere for hanging out after work with ok food, not many places like it in jackson in terms of atmosphere so not a bad place to go.
(3)
Amber A.
A bit on the expensive side yes but NOBODY NOBODY does fried chicken like this! A Must have! The other must have is a slice of "wedding cake". Worth every penny! Big enough for 2 people. Wish I lived closer!
(4)
Buster B.
A great place to eat and stay for drinks at the bar (or have drinks at the bar, then eat, then return to the bar). The establishment is usually packed with locals at night and on the weekends. They often have live bands that are actually pretty good. It can get loud, so I definitely recommend not bringing kids during those times. The food is great and the wine is moderately priced. The atmosphere is fun and the crowd is mostly professionals in their mid-twenties to upper thirties. They have a great drink menu and a large variety of beers. I've gone with my brother a couple of times, thinking that it would be a crappy outing, but we actually had a blast.
(4)
Karen A.
I had just arrived at the JAN airport and was looking for a place to eat in downtown Jackson with reasonable prices and casual atmosphere. We used the AAA ratings on our nav GPS to help locate Julep. This was my first dining experience in MS and it was very pleasurable! Once I saw the fried green tomatoes appetizer on the menu, I knew I was in the right place. The goat cheese adds just the right touch, almost like a California version of the good old favorite. Although since I've returned home to Sacramento CA, I can only find 2 restaurants here in Sac that serve fried green tomatoes. Back to Julep, I ordered a glass of Oregon Riesling because I was looking for something other than the typical Napa/Sonoma wines that are so plentiful here in Sac -- it was wonderful! For dinner I had the shrimp and grits, which was excellent! Very nice dinner, very reasonable prices.
(4)
Pamela L.
Fried green tomato napolean is fantastic and is my very favorite thing on the menu. Add a side of gouda grits for a great brunch or lunch. Fried chicken plate is fabulous. The honey glaze is so yummy. The chicken is so crispy and very tasty. Eggplant fries are good with this. Catfish tacos are good, but I don't like the sauce on them - I don't generally like sauces though so this is a personal problem. Burgers are pretty good. Service is hit or miss here, though. If you order coffee, they won't refill it. You'll have to ask. That irritates me to no end. The main dining room is noisy. Once they bring you the check, they expect you to leave. No lingering to talk - they won't bring you more drink, they just ignore you and give you dirty looks from afar. Food is good, but not a place if you want to linger and talk.
(3)
P C.
The exceedingly poor service here outweighs both the quality of the food and drinks. It's not worth spending hard earned money at a place where a server ignores you, then brings you the wrong order, is not gracious about it, and then assumes that the change from your bill is automatically his as a tip! You can't pay me to come back here, and it's a shame as I'm looking for good places to hang while visiting my hometown.
(1)
Quincy S.
This is gourmet cooking with a southern flair. Like Emeril meets Paula Deen. The unusual, but excellent selection of food (butterbean humus, portabella fries) will definitely be a treat for you. Their fried chicken was voted Top 10 in the nation by USA Today a few years back and they weren't lying. It's good chicken. Very good. Not traditional fried chicken, but I'll let you visit to see what I'm talking about. When they bring the chicken out, it won't look like anything you've seen at KFC. The desserts are wonderful. They have a selection of cake that will bring you to tears. Red Velvet, Irish Creme, Almond Wedding Cake, etc. I can never decide on which one I want and the slices are too big to try them all. The atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is above-average. Great place to have a date.
(4)
Eliza T.
Only had drinks and appetizers. The one star is for the eggplant fries which were delicious but definitely greasy and salty...but it was exactly what we needed at the time. The server was nice enough initially but our experience quickly went down the drains. He suggested the raspberry martini went we said we wanted to try one of their signature drinks but something NOT sweet. Not only were our martinis super sweet, they tasted disgustingly like Robitussin cough syrup. When we told him this, he took our drinks away and replaced them with our "usual" drinks of choice. When we got the bill, however, those high-on-price-low-on-taste martinis were left on there and made up 50% of our check!! For something that we each took one sip from and refused to drink any more, the right think for any server and establishment to do would be to deduct it from the bill...ESP when he recommended the drink despite us being clear on what we didn't want our drinks to taste like! Highly doubt I'd come back.
(1)
Shelby D.
I love Julep! I seriously CRAVE their fried chicken and sweet potatoe risotto all the time. The atmosphere is great and they are always really accomadating about large groups. My only problem with Julep is that the service is really slow. Sometimes, it will be minutes and minutes without my water being refilled. Or one time, our server didn't even bring out our dinner rolls before the meal. That really is the only drawback though. The food is delicious! I have never heard anyone say they weren't satisfied with their food.
(4)
Jenny G.
I've been to Julep twice. The first visit was pretty good. The fried green tomato napoleon was to die for. The pecan crusted chicken, while good, was way too much food and very dense. The service was good and overall it was a very enjoyable experience. Visit #2 was like being in a totally different restaurant. The quality of the food was poor and the service was non-existent. Not worth the effort.
(2)
Johnny K.
Good chicken
(3)
Amy S.
Came here on a road trip. Reviews for the fried chicken were good, and it was really good (although I would have preferred a marinade without honey - a bit overly sweet for my tastes). My sister ordered the catfish tacos, which were subpar and misnamed. They were served in a red (sundried tomato?) wrap with melted cheese (?!). It is in a strip mall, and the ambience in the restaurant is soulless. A previous review led us to believe this place would have character, but it's more like a bland, suburban outpost with little personality.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ryan K.
Julep is a really fantastic counter-part to the restaurants situated in North Jackson in the Highland Park Plaza off of Northside Drive. I've been many times, and I've always found the food to be mouthwatering and unique. They're known for their honey chicken sandwiches (wow), but they also serve a great fried green tomato napoleon, eggplant fries, and crawfish etoufee. Sometimes, they get busy and service is a little slow, but the staff is always really pleasant and eager to please. Brunch is fantastic - their Sriracha-covered eggs Benedict is my absolute favorite. Recommended: Fried Chicken Sandwich, Eggplant Fries, Fried Green Tomato Napoleon, Brunch
(5)Rachel P.
Julep is SO good! It's somewhere between casual and slightly more upscale. While it maintains a casual, chill vibe, it's definitely a little bit on the pricier side. It's nothing outrageous though! I wouldn't call it over priced. It's not the sort of place you would wanna wear your sweaty workout clothes to, but it's also a place where you could definitely wear jeans and a good tee. The servers here are all super friendly, outgoing and helpful. They're always ready to help you make a menu decision, though you really can't go wrong at Julep. All the food is super fantastic. I think they've definitely got one of the best brunches in town, for sure. Their fried chicken is off the chain. They've got a full bar with tons of great drink options, from cocktails to craft beers. Julep's kitchen is open until 11, which makes it one of the few (non fast food) locales where you can eat a late dinner! Definitely stop in here and try it out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Bill M.
I attempted to call and order a take out dinner on Friday however I was informed that they were out of Pasta. Not sure how a restaurant runs out of something simple like that on a weekend night but whatever. I love their pasta so I attempted to eat dinner tonight as well. I arrived at 8:20 however and was informed I could not be served because the kitchen was about to close. I am not one of those folks that goes in last minute normally however tonight was spur of the moment and there was no effort whatsoever to try to be accommodating. We were basically shooed out the door. I will not be going back. This used to be one of my favourite places but obviously things have changed here and not in a good way. Oh and according to what is advertised they are supposed to stop serving food at 9.
(1)Billy P.
Luv it! Gotta gotta try it.... seriously peeeeepz! The honey glazed fried chicken with green beans should please anyone.
(5)Marcel M.
Brunch is great, they serve chicken and waffles even though it's not on the brunch menu. Two for one Moses.
(4)Meagan A.
Great cocktail menu!! I came here with two girlfriends this past Tuesday for drinks after work. I got the Rude Cosmo (Cosmo with tequila) and it was totally worth it! I'm a fan of Cosmos and tequila, so this drink was right up my alley. I also got the chocolate martini which was pretty standard. Since the bar area was already full -on a random Tuesday at that- we sat at a table in the restaurant and ended up getting appetizers: eggplant fries and crawfish egg rolls. Both were very tasty. The hot rolls that were brought to the table were melt-in-your-mouth good! I would definitely go back for another drinks night. I can't wait to try the Bellini martini that I saw on the menu.
(5)Beth C.
Went for Sunday brunch with friends and kids. Nice atmosphere, food was delicious and came out promptly once we'd ordered. Only let down was the staff; very few smiles and pretty inattentive. It took us a quite a while to get drinks and order food.
(4)Mal W.
Fried chicken good as always...however experience ruined by horrific service. Slow, inattentive and lazy...made worse by mangers sitting around idly watching it happen. A close look at every server confirms a "couldn't give a crap" attitude running rampant. Two big thumbs down.
(2)Michael D.
I love the environment. I feel transported to a trendy café in another country or big city when I dine here. I definitely recommend this place for any event.
(5)Jennifer M.
Not consistent. Out of the 10 times I have been they have made major mistakes 50% of the time. They are not so easy going on fixing their mistakes. I always go for the Tuna Steak, I'm sure I'll go get it again and pray that they get the order correct. Don't think you will be impressed by the Fried Chicken!!!
(2)Ashley W.
Smaller than expected. But the decor is lovely. I tried the crawfish penne pasta and it was spectacular. If your not a big drinker I would recommend the Parisian pear. It was tasteful. Everything was lovely until this thick unfamiliar obnoxious aroma arose. And i just had the leave. Other than that the time frame I chose was very good. Which was 3:30-5p. It wasn't crowded at all.
(3)Jess H.
I have only dined at Juleps a few times in the past, but it has always been a pleasant experience. Most of our previous visits were for drinks more than for the food. It is a swanky little bar with a nice atmosphere- great for a girls night out! But while we were home for the holidays, I decided to take my boyfriend for lunch because we planned to do a little shopping in Highland Village. Overall, the food was good. We ordered fried pimento and cheese balls as an appetizer- pretty good! And for lunch, I had the chicken salad salad, and I certainly cannot complain. My only disappointment was that for the amount of people dining in the restaurant at the time, the service was pretty slow. Other than that, it was another positive experience, and I am sure that we will be back eventually.
(4)Nicole O.
I agree with previous reviews... I loved the tuna, but half of it was sinewy, the other was delicious! The Cajun sauce was amazing! I guess it was a a busy night (but when we got there it was empty) because there was no bread left and they were out of other things on the menu. The pics of the food posted here were so so different from what we got- the chicken ( though amazing if you like honey sweet taste) was small. The portions for the prices were a total ripoff. The wait staff was so nice and accommodating, though the hostess rolled her eyes when I explained the light in the bathroom was out, she told the waitress to tell me to jiggle the handle-- which the waitress was normal and polite enough to ask her to please take care of it. The nice waitress was the best part of the experience- to her-- "thanks!!!"
(3)Amanda S.
I have to start this review by saying Julep used to be one of the best restaurants to go to in Jackson. There are amazing places everywhere, but this one used to be top notch. HOWEVER, the last 6 visits I have over the past year have resulted in disappointment. It is not the food, but rather the SMELL of the restaurant. The smell ranges from bleach to rotten fruit to other unsavory smells. Before ordering coffee with my most recent visit for Sunday brunch, I had to leave as the smell was overwhelming and not at all appetizing. I told the manager why I was leaving. It was clear that he knew the place smelled terrible, but no explanation was given. This restaurant has got to undergo a deep-clean and soon! It will be a while before I attempt to eat here again. I am sad to see Julep lose itself as one of the best places to eat, especially since cleaning would be an easy fix!
(2)Coral E.
Julep has had mixed reviews from me. Sometimes I LOVE what I get, the next time I'm disappointed. However, the service is always excellent, the restaurant has great atmosphere and is clean and the food always comes out in a reasonable amount of time. And your best bet for delicious food at Julep - BRUNCH! Things I recommend: portobello fries, eggplant fries, fried chicken, shrimp & grits & anything on their brunch menu Don't recommend: Spicy Cobb Salad (very little flavor, very little dressing, very few toppings), catfish taco (bland), pimento cheese BLT (tasted like store bought pimento cheese)
(3)Melissa L.
I used to love Julep, but the last two visits have been disappointing. Tonight they were out of two appetizers, served me the wrong wine, were out of most beers, described a salad as spicy (it wasn't), and never offered a free appetizers or any compensation. We (use to) bring clients and guests there, but not anymore.
(2)Paul H.
Although parking can be hectic, it's worth the trouble to get this awesome food. There is so much to choose from, fish tacos, tuna tower, brunch on the weekend, but the eggplant fries are by far my favorite. Take the time to experience this cuisine and enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)Haley B.
I grew up going to Julep, and it's always on my list to visit when I'm home during the holidays. After today, I will never go back again. The service has gotten worse every time I've visited in the past few years. Today, my mom and I stopped by for some wine and sat in the (not crowded) bar area around 4:30. We weren't acknowledged for about 5 minutes, and I finally asked if our table was okay. The lady behind the bar said yes, gave us a menu, and walked away.. But no drink order. After another 5 minutes when the other guy was slowly delivering drinks, she pulled out the cash register to count the money. There were several people, including us, with no drinks.. Yet you are going to count money now? Not very good management skills. We took that as our cue to leave and went to a much nicer neighboring restaurant, where we promptly received our wine. Sad to see this great place has turned into this!
(1)Jamie M.
My first visit to Julep was for brunch. I love brunch. I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, something I love to eat at brunch. Their version did not disappoint. You feel better about eating Julep's shrimp and grits, because in addition to the jumbo shrimp, grits and butter, they also add roasted corn, red onions and sweet peppers so you feel you are at least getting some healthy veggies out the deal. *smile* The portion is plentiful and the dish is delicious. Since then, my office has ordered from Julep several times, so I've had the pleasure of sampling many other things on the menu. The strawberry pecan salad is delicious...anything with strawberries and goat cheese is a winner in my book. The fried chicken sandwich comes with a honey rosemary glaze that really sets it apart from your typical dry chicken sandwich. The seared tuna in the seared tuna salad was cooked just right, and the cucumber sherry vinaigrette dressing is a yummy compliment. Julep has a very inventive menu that you can't find in most places in Jackson. I definitely recommend you try.
(4)Sharon C.
When working in Jackson, I make sure I stop by to eat in Julep. Though their menu is limited (meaning, it hasn't changed over the course of the 2 years I've been going their for dinner), the food is consistent! I always sit in the bar area & the service is always quick! Bartenders are very personable & make your time their enjoyable. You have to get Julep's Award-Winning Fried Chicken; nothing but lightly fried sweet goodness. And plus, when will you ever have a chance to brag to your cronies that you ate a meal voted TOP TEN IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY? Yes to Gulf Shrimp & Grits Yes to the bathroom after Pimento Cheese Fritters Yes to Crawfish Egg Rolls Yezzzz to Eggplant Fries Heck to the Yes to Cajun Crawfish Penne Pasta (feeling spicy...add some shrimp!) Catfish Taco - if this is your first time having catfish tacos, I wouldn't encourage it. They're decent, but not my favorite. Overall - good eaten & great times off I-55!!
(5)Kayla R.
They need to get it together. Shrimp and grits is flavorless. The fried chicken is supposed to have honey on it, not be doused in it. Also it tasted like it was cooked in old grease. Not good at all. Mashed potatoes were dry. And the tuna tower tastes like it was made with three day old rice.
(1)Mal M.
This. Was. Awful. The server brought us some biscuits that would rival any rock. When she came over, I beat it on the table as I asked, "Have you tried these?" She claimed to put dinner rolls in the oven that would be ready in five minutes. It's been five hours. I ordered crawfish étouffée. I got etouflour. I would have added hot sauce for flavor, but it was already hot. Hoping the desserts would salvage the meal, I ordered Bailey's cream cake. The server brought no silverware. No problem. I took a nibble with my fingers and passed him back the nondescript cake. "What's wrong with it?" Me: sir, the shorter answer would come from "What's right with it?" In short, the service was poor; the food was worse.
(1)Kim B.
Used to be my favorite for brunch, hands down! Unfortunately the last couple of attempts to dine here have been thwarted by poor customer service. On my last visit I was served my mimosa in an obviously dirty flute and then they were out of shrimp toast and eggplant fries. I was seated 30 minutes after they opened for business. I hope they're able to correct the issues because I'd love to give them an opportunity to be on my list of favorites again!
(1)Melissa E.
Horrible service and food. After being seated in the bar area we waited a few minutes before being asked for our drink order. We got our drinks promptly and then asked for a menu. We ordered the pimento cheese fritters and the soybeans off the late night menu. The fritters probably would have been good if they had been warm. Instead they were cold and disgusting. The soybeans were supposed to come in vinaigrette. The beans were swimming in it and were also not very appetizing. To top everything off after our food came out our server just quit waiting on us. We couldn't even ask to order something else.Two pretty girls, his guy pals, and his food that he was eating at the bar in front of other customers seemed to get all of his attention while ourselves and the two tables beside us suffered. Finally had to ask for our check from another server. Needless to say we won't be coming back
(2)Robert R.
Excellent food and service. We had the shrimp and grits and the Julep chicken salad. Both were fantastic. We are on a road trip and it is close to the highway. We almost got scared off by some of the Yelp reviews but glad we didn't.
(5)Cameron P.
Great atmosphere and vibe. However, service was pretty slow, and we were one of maybe 4 tables at the time. The food was just mediocre. I should have tried the fried chicken (apparently that is what they are known for). I ordered the stuffed chicken breast which is supposed to be stuffed with spinach, but it wasn't. Comes with a side of steamed brocoli that was drenched in butter. I like butter, but this was system overload. I would go back and give it another shot, but I wouldn't be excited about going back.
(2)Brian G.
I just had the worst experience of my life at your restaurant. I ordered a burger and the server dropped the bun. I sat here while my guests ate for about 5 minutes before I got another bun for my burger. The same server ran several entrees out before I got my burger. I asked the bartender for the manager and he said that he was "it at the moment" and that there was nothing else he could do because they were closing the kitchen. He kept saying"sorry" but made absolutely zero effort to mollify me or the situation. In fact he's spending so much time at the bar playing with his friends that he couldn't take care of you ally's dining room guests. I am very disappointed and I am still hungry!!!!.
(1)Priya S.
I've only been here a few times so bear with me on the few items I have to review. I'll try to make it short and sweet. Atmosphere: Decor is modern and cute. Good lighting. Great place for a date you want to have a nice dinner with. I love their clear modern chairs and tables. The famous fried chicken: The green beans are the best thing in this dish. Otherwise, this chicken is NOT award-winning (by USA magazine?). I and several other friends have gotten this and were disappointed by the amount of oil. It was still tasty but definitely shouldn't claim the title of an award. Eggplant fries: Quite delicious. Me and friend ate them quickly. Pimento cheese fritters: My friends loved these. I did NOT. The batter was thick and I don't think I'm a fan of pimento cheese. Cajun Crawfish pasta: This is pretty good. Several of my friends love this one. I liked it a lot, the crawfish was delicious. It is a tad salty and the bread served with it a little oily. Still the best thing I've had here so far. Bread pudding dessert: This was alright. I was not impressed. Overly sweet and thick. The ice cream was good though, then again how do you mess up ice cream. The Wedding Cake Martini: This was a hit amongst all the ladies in my group. It is sweet, fruity and delicious. Stay away from it if you don't like sweet drinks. I think it was super refreshing and light. Good job, Julep. Birthday celebrations are fun here cause you get free ice cream and a candle! So that's sweet. Also, LIKE them on facebook, you'll get a free appetizer!! So yeah, so far the food I've had is OK but I would definitely still come back here for the great setting and to try their other food and drinks. It's one of the nice restaurants in Jackson.
(3)Holly M.
I work in Jackson one week every year, and I always eat here at least once. It's upscale southern cuisine, which I love. My favorites are the Shrimp and Grits, the Julep House Salad (I've tried to recreate the pepper jelly dressing at home), the Strawberry Pecan Salad, and the quiche. I've also never been led astray by trying the specials. Long story short, I've never disliked anything I've ordered.
(5)Andrea D.
Julep is one of my favorite places to go to in the Jackson area. I went here on a Saturday with some girlfriends for brunch. I ordered the shrimp and grits along with the champagne cobbler to drink. Both were very good. Julep remains high on my list.
(4)Jaleh S.
Julep is a casual restaurant trying to be formal. The plastic chairs are not hip but rather cause hip discomfort. I've been here four times and have officially tried every pescatarian friendly meal. (Seafood and vegetarian)The Catfish Taco is not really a taco, the Crawfish Pasta is ok, the Mahi Mahi sandwich doesn't have much flavor. But if you eat chicken, the Chicken sandwich is supposed to be amazing. Overall this place is pretty boring...as is the rest of Jackson.
(2)Dreka G.
I have heard a lot about this award winning fried chicken and I had to try it. I could see why it would win, it's certainly a delicious dish. I would give it an award for the most unique fried chicken for sure. For traditional fried chicken I would still prefer to have Two Sisters. The green beans that came with the chicken were the real star for me, believe it or not! Those veggies were amazing! Beignets were pretty good too, I mean who doesn't like fried dough and powdered sugar!! My very picky little boy inhaled their French toast so I guess that was good also!
(4)Jeff R.
This is in my top five Jackson restaurants I love the southern twist to the many menu options. The catfish taco and spicy Cobb salad are two of my lunch favorites.
(5)Yoori C.
Four friends and I were casually dressed and wondered if we would be too much so, but it was fine. Dimly lit in the restaurant side with candles at the tables gave me the feeling that this would be a great date place or family dinner/friend gathering restaurant. Everything tasted great and carefully prepared. I basically recommend everything I ate. dead guy beer, split fried green tomato appetizer, and fried chicken with honey glaze and green beans & mashed potaters claimed famous via usa today which really is good - $25.12 *bathroom is a bit hard to get to when the bar (full) is packed. restaurant is also connected to small shopping center through the back
(4)Mike S.
Quite simply the best piece of fried chicken I've eaten. The unique glaze they use is just amazing. I came, I scarfed, I left. It was that simple.
(5)Luana C.
This was the first restaurant I came to when moving from California to Mississippi! I ordered the green tomatoes and blackened tuna filet. The food was good, but a bit salty for my taste. I've found that the food in general in the South is a bit saltier than what I'm used to, so it may be to taste for others. However, it was a cute restaurant with lively atmosphere and plenty of parking. I may have to try the fried chicken or catfish taco to be blown away next time!
(3)Lei B.
I learned from my last experience and decided to order takeout instead of taking a chance on bad service again. Even ordering takeout was bad too. I got the catfish taco with a side of eggplant fries. Now I think this I where thing go wrong. I paid with a credit card and handed me the copy to sign. I always have the dillema or whether I should add tip for takeout. This time I decided against it. I left for a few minutes to the ladies room. When I returned I saw a brown bag on their counter. The lady who took my order was chatting it up with some coworkers. Maybe that order wasn't mine. I started just chatting away on my phone maybe 5-10 minutes pass by an she finally gives me the bag that's been waiting there all that time! That just annoyed the hell out of me, especially since it was past 9pm and I was starving. I finally got to my car and opened up my food. I looked around the bag and there were no plastic utensils or napkins. Ugh how annoying. Well the food was just ok. The eggplant fries were pretty salty but the catfish "taco" was actually in a tortilla wrap and it was pretty good.
(3)Dena S.
We've been to Julep a couple of times recently. Seated at the bar, you tend to get better service than in the dining room. Our last visit was to the dining room. I orderd Catfish Tacos, which were described as Blackened catfish, caramelized onions, pepper jack and remoulade in a jalapeno-cheddar tortilla on the menu. What came out was more like a blackened catfish quesadilla wrapped up like a burrito. So, Amy S. is correct, they are misnamed on the menu. I thought they tasted ok, but there was so much cheese in there, you couldn't really taste the fish. So, I'll probably go back to Julep again, but I'll sit at the bar and order something else.
(3)Quincy S.
This is gourmet cooking with a southern flair. Like Emeril meets Paula Deen. The unusual, but excellent selection of food (butterbean humus, portabella fries) will definitely be a treat for you. Their fried chicken was voted Top 10 in the nation by USA Today a few years back and they weren't lying. It's good chicken. Very good. Not traditional fried chicken, but I'll let you visit to see what I'm talking about. When they bring the chicken out, it won't look like anything you've seen at KFC. The desserts are wonderful. They have a selection of cake that will bring you to tears. Red Velvet, Irish Creme, Almond Wedding Cake, etc. I can never decide on which one I want and the slices are too big to try them all. The atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is above-average. Great place to have a date.
(4)Eliza T.
Only had drinks and appetizers. The one star is for the eggplant fries which were delicious but definitely greasy and salty...but it was exactly what we needed at the time. The server was nice enough initially but our experience quickly went down the drains. He suggested the raspberry martini went we said we wanted to try one of their signature drinks but something NOT sweet. Not only were our martinis super sweet, they tasted disgustingly like Robitussin cough syrup. When we told him this, he took our drinks away and replaced them with our "usual" drinks of choice. When we got the bill, however, those high-on-price-low-on-taste martinis were left on there and made up 50% of our check!! For something that we each took one sip from and refused to drink any more, the right think for any server and establishment to do would be to deduct it from the bill...ESP when he recommended the drink despite us being clear on what we didn't want our drinks to taste like! Highly doubt I'd come back.
(1)Shelby D.
I love Julep! I seriously CRAVE their fried chicken and sweet potatoe risotto all the time. The atmosphere is great and they are always really accomadating about large groups. My only problem with Julep is that the service is really slow. Sometimes, it will be minutes and minutes without my water being refilled. Or one time, our server didn't even bring out our dinner rolls before the meal. That really is the only drawback though. The food is delicious! I have never heard anyone say they weren't satisfied with their food.
(4)Jenny G.
I've been to Julep twice. The first visit was pretty good. The fried green tomato napoleon was to die for. The pecan crusted chicken, while good, was way too much food and very dense. The service was good and overall it was a very enjoyable experience. Visit #2 was like being in a totally different restaurant. The quality of the food was poor and the service was non-existent. Not worth the effort.
(2)Johnny K.
Good chicken
(3)Kevin L.
Currently bottom of the totem pole for the eateries I've had here. Classy enough from its decor, but the poor waitstaff is so overworked. Admittedly, we came during Restaurant Week and our waiter kept apologizing for how hard they had gotten hit. We did the prix fixe menu, choosing the tuna tower, which was a layered cylinder of rice, cubes of raw tuna, avocado. Julienned strips of fried crisps and wasabi mayo sauce finished it off. Not a bad appetizer, though hard to eat with just a fork since I expected to scoop it up with chips or something. Probably the peak of the meal since it's hard to mes up this flavor combo. Our main entree literally took an hour. When the sad little triangles of fried catfish and onion showed up with a side of fries, it definitely wasn't worth the wait. Weird fried taco skins made it look like a seafood hot pocket and the fish had all dried up. Even hungry, the fish wasn't appetizing. Dessert was a letdown too. Bread pudding was clearly just two slices of bread with a custard set upon it, so it was more like a sheet cake than anything else, with ice cream lobbed atop it. Total was $30. Glad we decided to just do little shared tastes, or otherwise, we'd be way more unhappy wallet-wise. My Southern Pecan was tasty at least?
(2)Eva and Zach A.
Whatever you order it is exactly what it says it is. Real quick. Closest to the diners on the NE coast that Jackson has to offer. Really pleasantly surprised and one of the few place down here that we really liked the food.
(5)Lan D.
Mississippi conjures images of southern comfort food, not high end chef creations like you might find on either coast. Julep Restaurant is a pleasant find in Jackson, Mississippi, giving the state capitol a lot more culinary credibility in my book than I would think to give at first thought. The food is as good as you would find in California and the service is very attentive, at least when I went. I would go again.
(4)Andrew F.
My wife and I went here to check out what was supposed to be some delicious fried chicken. I have to say, the fried chicken was good! Food: We started with the "Redneck" Sausage and Cheese Plate. This was OVER-sized. The sausages were delicious, but the cheeses tasted like standard grocery-market cheeses. It would be awesome if they downsized the AMOUNT of cheese and upsized the QUALITY of the cheese (we could have split this and a salad for a full meal for 2!). My wife had the fried chicken. I don't usually eat fried chicken, but after tasting it she proceeded to stab me 2x as I tried to steal more bites. Their fried chicken was DELICIOUS!!! I strongly recommend it and prepare yourself for a bit of honey! I had the Citrus Chipotle BBQ chicken. It was tasty and hit the spot! We split the bread pudding for dessert and were quite satisfied. It was a little too sweet for me again due to the huge portion of syrup poured on top! Service: Our waiter was friendly and jovial through the entire meal. He was on throughout the entire meal and made great recommendations. The bar was a little lacking, I ordered an Old-Fashioned. Something went way amiss in the making as what I got was a glass with ice, whiskey, and a cherry. I'm not sure any bitters or simple syrup were used!
(4)Nick D.
Julep is a delight in the ways of afternoon eats for the uptown part of Jackson MS. For all the previous Yelps about its service and food bringing this place down to 3 1/2 stars is unacceptable! From the outside the place looks like something from a run-down urban failure. But on the inside...well let's just say didn't your parents ever tell you "not to judge a book by its cover?" I went there with my girlfriend and two friends for brunch on a Saturday after being in town for some other adventures. I enjoyed a delicious take on the omelet - a Gouda melted mushroom 3 egg mound of awesome. I could only eat half as the Gouda was so rich after our beignets. Oh did I fail to mention those? Because well I am still dreaming about the gigantic take on the New Orleans beignet. We had a dozen and well I have to admit I ate my three with a simply robust house coffee. But we still had 3 left over they were so much to handle as an appetizer. Or if you even indulged in the 2 for 1 Mimosas, which the ladies did. However, neither the special of the day - 2 buttermilk blueberry pancakes with turkey sausage (also delightful) - nor the beignets can compare to Julep's fried chick breast. In the entrance, their waiting section boasts of Julelp's fried chicken being ranked Top 10 by USA Today. Of course, you don't really give this much thought. But we warned, you should! Julelp's fried chicken is TO DIE FOR. Flat out the best restaurant fried chicken I have ever had. Anywhere. Anytime. So make sure you go during lunch or brunch, and give this place your full stomach with some good friends.
(5)Annica J.
The food was pretty good and had a nice selection to choose from. I got the shrimp and grits and they were ok but can not compare to the Parker House's shrimp and grits. My husband really enjoyed his steak but loved the egg rolls that had black-eyed peas and turnip greens. The restaurant had an intimate feel to it. I would not take my small children here.
(3)Vim I.
I'm a little surprised by the low ratings that some yelpers have given Julep. This is definitely an all-time favorite place to go in Jackson. I miss it now that I live in Memphis. It's moderately priced, and I love the ambiance with its vibrant green colors and exposed brick. The honey glazed chicken was always a favorite of mine, but there are so many other dishes that are just as good. A recent appetizer i had was the Tuna Tower which was like a big-helping of a spicy tuna roll. It was delicious! I loved Julep so much that I asked them to cater my wedding reception.
(5)Amber A.
A bit on the expensive side yes but NOBODY NOBODY does fried chicken like this! A Must have! The other must have is a slice of "wedding cake". Worth every penny! Big enough for 2 people. Wish I lived closer!
(4)Daniel A.
Been here a couple of time and I can definitely say that I enjoy this restaurant. The first time I went in, the service started off kinda shaky. One of the waitresses was confused as to why I was there, but I think the fact that I had my DSLR with me threw her off, so I can forgive that haha. The quality of the service definitely picked up after I was seated. The food itself is definitely amazing. I've eaten the stuffed chicken and the crawfish etoufee, both of which greeted my palette with a nice mix of flavors that you only get at so many restaurants. The stuffed chicken was topped with this light, yet flavorful sauce that added to the taste of the already well seasoned chicken stuffed with delicious cheese and spinach. The fact that it was stuffed with cheese made me nervous when I ordered, but it wasn't cheesey at all. The etoufee was just the right size for me. If you're expecting a huge deep bowl, this isn't it, but if you're expecting well seasoned deliciousness, go for it. I have to go the Jackson area often for awhile, so I'll be back.
(4)Emily M.
This is my absolute favorite place to eat in Jackson. I haven't ever had a bad experience here. I have never had bad service or rude waitstaff here either. Some of the reviews were very surprising. I have been coming here for years, and it has always been consistently good. The cheese fritters, soybeans and butterbean hummus are wonderful apps, and the fried chicken and strawberry salad are also great. I love the eggplant fries as well.
(5)Leonard R.
This restaurant has an interesting menu but the service was rushed and the food uneven. We ordered the Southern Fried Chicken. It was very good and some of the best I have had. However, the mashed potatoes and green beans were cold and just ok. My wife said it looked like they were put on the plate long in advance and cooled off waiting for the chicken). I had the banana's foster bread pudding. It was good (huge portions), tasty and warm. The service was quite rushed. We were asked for our drink order about 30 seconds after we were seated and handed menu's. Also, the waitress dropped off the check at the table before we had even finished desert. Our entree's were served before we could finish the appetizer (fried green tomatoes). Since the place was mostly empty (6:30 pm on a Wednesday night) we were a little surprised we couldn't enjoy a more relaxed meal. We did notice the bar side was more crowded than the dinner side. Based on the menu and some of the reviews, we thought it would be better.
(3)Christopher P.
The wife and I have been eating here for a few years now, and we've never been disappointed. On our first visit, we tried the butterbean hummus appetizer, and I ended up begging for the recipe. No joy there, but I've managed to work it out (pretty damn close, anyway). My wife had the shrimp and grits, and when I ordered my filet mignon "Pittsburgh rare", the server didn't even bat an eye. PERFECT martinis. What really impressed me was how knowledgable the staff are. Want a glass of wine with dinner? The servers are above-par in their sommelier skills, and the bartenders have a nice, steady hand when they pour a good Scotch. If you go when there's live music, it's never too loud or conversation dampening - usually just the right amount of good background volume. Mr. Murphy and his team have done a wonderful job bringing a blue-ribbon twist to traditional Southern fare. Kudos, sir!
(4)LeeAnne J.
On trips to Mississippi to visit my sister (a student at Belhaven), Julep quickly became a family favorite. It has a very hip-cool vibe reminiscent of home (California) and stays open late with live music. Start with comforting pimento cheese fritters--spicy, deep-fried cheese balls, with traditional Southern comeback sauce for dipping. Also quite tasty are the steamed soybeans, which are tossed in a flavorful citrus vinaigrette--an interesting twist. The restaurant's award-winning fried chicken is a must-order entree, with a large perfectly fried piece of breast meat topped with OMG amazing honey rosemary glaze. I'm still dreaming about this dish! (BTW, the chicken can also be ordered grilled, but why!? Live a little.) It is served with blackened and seasoned green beans and mashed potatoes. I'd review another dish, but I never ordered anything but this on my visits! Only downside: A single women's bathroom. Waiting for it in a line that occasionally runs long through the middle of the bar area isn't terribly fun.
(5)Lidia G.
We stopped at this place driving from Memphis to New Orleans for lunch. It was a very nice alternative to a fast food place. Loved the decor of this place! Also, the menu options were very healthy. Salads and quiches are wonderful. I wish they had some hot tea. Ice tea and lemonade are available instead (one need to remember this is Deep South). Heard that their fried chicken is good but did not order it. Overall service was fast and food was excellent for on the road option.
(4)Dacre K.
May be difficult finding if you're not from around here. Good place for groups. Cool bar. Food was good, nothing jumped out as exceptional, everything was good though.
(3)J L.
So good. Must return if I find myself driving across the country again.
(5)Amy L.
I thought the third time would be the charm, but apparently no matter how many times you go, the staff are just unfriendly. I think if you are going to spend almost $40 on lunch, a little kindness is warranted from the staff. I had the pimento cheese fritters and they were quite good. I decided to try the award-winning fried chicken. I'm not sure why it is award-winning. While it had a honey flavor to it, it was extremely greasy. The grease rolled on over to the green beans and mashed potatoes, both of which were nothing out of the ordinary. I was pretty disappointed in paying this price for lunch and have it be so underwhelming and greasy. I've given Julep the good college try but I'm done. I can get much better food at half the price and be treated nicely at the same time.
(2)Chip W.
It's ok. Good location. Decent decor...rather loud when busy. Good food but not great food by my standards. Substandard service...obviously need to know hostess or waitstaff to get waited on.
(3)hobo s.
I've been here twice now, and both times have been enjoyable enough. The first time I had roasted chicken, probably with some form of potato and veg. I remember it being tasty enough, but we sat near the bar, not great. The second time I had the grilled mahi mahi sandwich and it was quite good. A nice spice on the fish as well as in the remoulade. I would have preferred it come with something other than fries, and I probably could have asked, but didn't. Solid food. If you're into the bar-hopping or trendy restaurant scenes, you'll probably like this place. If not, and if you can come when it isn't too crowded, it's enjoyable. Not a place I would have chosen, but not bad for dinner either.
(3)Greg W.
over priced and poor food preparation. My fried chicken was more like a sparrow. It was greasy, and Wal-mart chicken has better flavor. My wife had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was WAY overcooked, and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. It seemed to us that the restaurant was living on a dream of times past. We went to Juleps because we like to find the "best" food in a city we are visiting, and we actively searched out the place. If that is the best Jackson has to offer, I feel sorry for them. I think the check was around $50 for two for lunch...........no drinks. If the food was phenominal, maybe...........but it wasnt.
(1)Stephanie B.
There is a wide variety of menu items to choose from. I had the catfish taco with eggplant fries. The "taco" is actually a burrito, but man was it good! The eggplant fries were great, too. My only complaint is that they don't serve any draft beer here, only bottles. Kind of strange for a nice place like this...
(3)Gregory G.
During my three month s living in Jackson Mississippi I have made it my job to experience the eateries in the area and they have been wonderful, but this one was the worst of them all. Now the hostess was excellent, but needed to speak up a little because of the energy in Julep, lots of wonderful energy. But I would have to say that the overall experience was fair. My waiter Trannie K..never introduced himself to me and was very distant, maybe he had an off night, is the excuse I used for him. The décor of the restaurant was very retro, it definitely gave you the impression that this place serves to entertain its guest and promises to achieve this by the dimming of the lights and the warming color of Green... He, Trannie, finally came over to ask me what I would like to drink, after 15 minutes of me sitting at the table. I had to initiate the entry order with him. I ordered the stuff baked chicken with chipotle sauce with broccoli and a glass of Merlot. The chicken was tasteless and the broccoli came COLD; I asked that it be taken back and warmed up. Many of the tables were give bread and butter after being seated; I was not given nor offered this appetizing delicacy. After my meal, again I was forced to sit at the table and wait, 15 to 20 minutes, without him asking me anything. I finally got him to come by and he brought me the check, didn't ask if I wanted a piece of cake, served at the table in front of me. I paid and walked out.....Very dissatisfied with my Julep.
(2)M P.
Went with a group of friends. The staff was very accommodating after a few table switches and the number of guests in our party. We ordered the eggplant fries, pimento cheese fritters, portabella fries, pimento cheese fritters and the steamed soy beans as appetizers. They were fantastic! The bread was really good too. All of our steak orders were messed up and given to the wrong person. Easily fixed but it was after it was cut in to our steaks and things like that. The mashed potatoes with feta cheese was AMAZING. Steaks were good too. The person we were there to celebrate tried to pay the bill and gave her credit card to our waiter. Another friend of ours talked to the waiter and gave him his card instead to use. He was given the check to sign. He realized after we left the restaurant that he double tipped. When we all got back from our trip, it turns out that the person we were celebrating's card was charged after all and not our other friend's. So that kinda sucked. She wound up paying for her celebration dinner. I guess it's unfair of me to give only 3 stars because of that mess up but it was a special occasion and we really rather she didn't have to pay for a large bill like that.
(3)Alan S.
Probably my favorite restaurant in Jackson. Julep puts a trendy, modern spin on southern cooking. The brunch offers a few of their usual staples like shrimp and grits and their famous honey rosemary glazed fried chicken. My personal favorite is the Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict. Brunch is served with homemade biscuits and jam, and you can always order New Orleans style Beignets. They have unique salad and appetizer options like the strawberry pecan salad, a "redneck" sausage and cheese plate, and shrimp toast. All the entrees are good too, but the only thing I ever order is the sashimi grade Blackened Tuna, as raw as possible. Perfect restaurant for brunch, dinner, late night cocktails, or catering.
(5)David T.
Came here on a business trip, went to dinner with two other colleagues. Service was a bit weak here, could have just been our waiter. We weren't ready to order our wine when he first stopped by, then waited another 10 minutes for him to come back to take our drink order. His attitude was inconsistent -- one time he was marginally friendly, other times he was abrupt and cheerless. I was mildly annoyed with his lack of friendliness which bordered on rudeness, but I was willing to overlook it since the reviews on the food here seemed pretty positive. We started with the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which was excellent. For dinner, we all decided to try the fried chicken, since it was a specialty here. It had a bit of a honey glaze on it which my my colleagues described as "interesting," but which I thought to be excellent. The inside was moist while the outside was crunchy, and the salty sweet flavor of the chicken was very satisfying. I concluded my meal with a bananas foster bread pudding, which was also excellent. If I come back to Jackson, Julep will definitely be on my return list.
(3)Niki L.
Dissapointing. It was really nice inside, loved the atmosphere. It's not their fault that I really don't care for goat cheese... but the fried green tomato napoleon wasn't that great in my opinion ($12). Definately some flavors missing there and the tomatoes weren't even that good (and I'm a huge fan). I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad ($15?)and my boyfriend got their "Famous Fried Chicken" ($17). The salad wasn't great at all. The Ahi itself was over seasoned and over cooked and wasn't a very good cut. The cucumber vinaigrette was another miss, hardly any acidity or sweetness to it except for a bit of vinegar soaked into the cucumber bits and the rest of it oily. They really needed a bit more vinegar and some lemon juice in there. The greens and almonds were good even though I couldn't tell they were wasabi'd. At any rate unsatisfying for the price. The chicken was really well cooked and I liked the honey glaze. The mashed potatoes and green beans that came with it were nothing amazing. I thought it was too expensive, I've had way better for less... Service was good.
(2)Tracey W.
The French fried eggplant appetizer is worth the trip ! The Crawfish etouffe was disappointing . Tasted the flour too much in the sauce . The fried chicken was good. Has a sweet sauce on it . Great service.
(3)Sam C.
One of my favorite places to eat if I HAVE to be in Jackson. Worth stopping by if you're in the area. Good beer selection too
(4)Buster B.
A great place to eat and stay for drinks at the bar (or have drinks at the bar, then eat, then return to the bar). The establishment is usually packed with locals at night and on the weekends. They often have live bands that are actually pretty good. It can get loud, so I definitely recommend not bringing kids during those times. The food is great and the wine is moderately priced. The atmosphere is fun and the crowd is mostly professionals in their mid-twenties to upper thirties. They have a great drink menu and a large variety of beers. I've gone with my brother a couple of times, thinking that it would be a crappy outing, but we actually had a blast.
(4)Jennifer C.
this place used to be one of my favorite places to eat but... the quality of the food varies from day to day and the prices are ok for the food what to order: catfish tacos - add $3 for a side of portabello fries: catfish wrap/taco is good and huge, sometimes its better on certain days, guess it depends on the chef. portabello fries - huge fan, love the horseradish dipping sauce. jackson is all about portabello fries. i think walker's has the best but julep's does them pretty good fried green tomato/crab benedict on sunday brunch - pretty good on sundays plus their rolls with honey butter are my favorite in town. yummy. strawberry goat cheese salad - good but ppl can make this at home nowadays, if you aren't that person, then just order it there, they do a pretty good job. what not to order: shrimp toast - greasy cheese toast with shrimp, not that great shrimp and grits - not the best you could get, go over across the street to bon ami if you want some good shrimp and grits overall it has a great atmosphere for hanging out after work with ok food, not many places like it in jackson in terms of atmosphere so not a bad place to go.
(3)William S.
The food had great potential but came out coldish. The fried chicken could have been the best I ever ate if it had been warm and a bit juicier. The service was very poor though.
(3)Herman S.
When you first sit down you are greeted with a basket of soft, warm yummy rolls. Rolls that are so decadent you feel guilty for asking 2nds to use them to soak up the sauce from your entree...the Crawfish Etoufee. One might even image slathering ones naked body in butter and laying in a tub of these rolls to butter them. I've had the Julep filet with rosemary demi-glace a few times. Sometimes it's great, sometimes just ok (like when I ordered for lunch). But the Fried Chicken breast was what I always would get, until I tried the Crawfish Etoufee. If I can tear myself away from those dishes I want to try the Cajun Crawfish Pasta & Citrus Chipotle BBQ Chicken.
(4)Karen A.
I had just arrived at the JAN airport and was looking for a place to eat in downtown Jackson with reasonable prices and casual atmosphere. We used the AAA ratings on our nav GPS to help locate Julep. This was my first dining experience in MS and it was very pleasurable! Once I saw the fried green tomatoes appetizer on the menu, I knew I was in the right place. The goat cheese adds just the right touch, almost like a California version of the good old favorite. Although since I've returned home to Sacramento CA, I can only find 2 restaurants here in Sac that serve fried green tomatoes. Back to Julep, I ordered a glass of Oregon Riesling because I was looking for something other than the typical Napa/Sonoma wines that are so plentiful here in Sac -- it was wonderful! For dinner I had the shrimp and grits, which was excellent! Very nice dinner, very reasonable prices.
(4)Pamela L.
Fried green tomato napolean is fantastic and is my very favorite thing on the menu. Add a side of gouda grits for a great brunch or lunch. Fried chicken plate is fabulous. The honey glaze is so yummy. The chicken is so crispy and very tasty. Eggplant fries are good with this. Catfish tacos are good, but I don't like the sauce on them - I don't generally like sauces though so this is a personal problem. Burgers are pretty good. Service is hit or miss here, though. If you order coffee, they won't refill it. You'll have to ask. That irritates me to no end. The main dining room is noisy. Once they bring you the check, they expect you to leave. No lingering to talk - they won't bring you more drink, they just ignore you and give you dirty looks from afar. Food is good, but not a place if you want to linger and talk.
(3)P C.
The exceedingly poor service here outweighs both the quality of the food and drinks. It's not worth spending hard earned money at a place where a server ignores you, then brings you the wrong order, is not gracious about it, and then assumes that the change from your bill is automatically his as a tip! You can't pay me to come back here, and it's a shame as I'm looking for good places to hang while visiting my hometown.
(1)Amy S.
Came here on a road trip. Reviews for the fried chicken were good, and it was really good (although I would have preferred a marinade without honey - a bit overly sweet for my tastes). My sister ordered the catfish tacos, which were subpar and misnamed. They were served in a red (sundried tomato?) wrap with melted cheese (?!). It is in a strip mall, and the ambience in the restaurant is soulless. A previous review led us to believe this place would have character, but it's more like a bland, suburban outpost with little personality.
(3)Gregory G.
During my three month s living in Jackson Mississippi I have made it my job to experience the eateries in the area and they have been wonderful, but this one was the worst of them all. Now the hostess was excellent, but needed to speak up a little because of the energy in Julep, lots of wonderful energy. But I would have to say that the overall experience was fair. My waiter Trannie K..never introduced himself to me and was very distant, maybe he had an off night, is the excuse I used for him. The décor of the restaurant was very retro, it definitely gave you the impression that this place serves to entertain its guest and promises to achieve this by the dimming of the lights and the warming color of Green... He, Trannie, finally came over to ask me what I would like to drink, after 15 minutes of me sitting at the table. I had to initiate the entry order with him. I ordered the stuff baked chicken with chipotle sauce with broccoli and a glass of Merlot. The chicken was tasteless and the broccoli came COLD; I asked that it be taken back and warmed up. Many of the tables were give bread and butter after being seated; I was not given nor offered this appetizing delicacy. After my meal, again I was forced to sit at the table and wait, 15 to 20 minutes, without him asking me anything. I finally got him to come by and he brought me the check, didn't ask if I wanted a piece of cake, served at the table in front of me. I paid and walked out.....Very dissatisfied with my Julep.
(2)Herman S.
When you first sit down you are greeted with a basket of soft, warm yummy rolls. Rolls that are so decadent you feel guilty for asking 2nds to use them to soak up the sauce from your entree...the Crawfish Etoufee. One might even image slathering ones naked body in butter and laying in a tub of these rolls to butter them. I've had the Julep filet with rosemary demi-glace a few times. Sometimes it's great, sometimes just ok (like when I ordered for lunch). But the Fried Chicken breast was what I always would get, until I tried the Crawfish Etoufee. If I can tear myself away from those dishes I want to try the Cajun Crawfish Pasta & Citrus Chipotle BBQ Chicken.
(4)M P.
Went with a group of friends. The staff was very accommodating after a few table switches and the number of guests in our party. We ordered the eggplant fries, pimento cheese fritters, portabella fries, pimento cheese fritters and the steamed soy beans as appetizers. They were fantastic! The bread was really good too. All of our steak orders were messed up and given to the wrong person. Easily fixed but it was after it was cut in to our steaks and things like that. The mashed potatoes with feta cheese was AMAZING. Steaks were good too. The person we were there to celebrate tried to pay the bill and gave her credit card to our waiter. Another friend of ours talked to the waiter and gave him his card instead to use. He was given the check to sign. He realized after we left the restaurant that he double tipped. When we all got back from our trip, it turns out that the person we were celebrating's card was charged after all and not our other friend's. So that kinda sucked. She wound up paying for her celebration dinner. I guess it's unfair of me to give only 3 stars because of that mess up but it was a special occasion and we really rather she didn't have to pay for a large bill like that.
(3)Mal W.
Fried chicken good as always...however experience ruined by horrific service. Slow, inattentive and lazy...made worse by mangers sitting around idly watching it happen. A close look at every server confirms a "couldn't give a crap" attitude running rampant. Two big thumbs down.
(2)Michael D.
I love the environment. I feel transported to a trendy café in another country or big city when I dine here. I definitely recommend this place for any event.
(5)Jennifer M.
Not consistent. Out of the 10 times I have been they have made major mistakes 50% of the time. They are not so easy going on fixing their mistakes. I always go for the Tuna Steak, I'm sure I'll go get it again and pray that they get the order correct. Don't think you will be impressed by the Fried Chicken!!!
(2)Ryan K.
Julep is a really fantastic counter-part to the restaurants situated in North Jackson in the Highland Park Plaza off of Northside Drive. I've been many times, and I've always found the food to be mouthwatering and unique. They're known for their honey chicken sandwiches (wow), but they also serve a great fried green tomato napoleon, eggplant fries, and crawfish etoufee. Sometimes, they get busy and service is a little slow, but the staff is always really pleasant and eager to please. Brunch is fantastic - their Sriracha-covered eggs Benedict is my absolute favorite. Recommended: Fried Chicken Sandwich, Eggplant Fries, Fried Green Tomato Napoleon, Brunch
(5)Rachel P.
Julep is SO good! It's somewhere between casual and slightly more upscale. While it maintains a casual, chill vibe, it's definitely a little bit on the pricier side. It's nothing outrageous though! I wouldn't call it over priced. It's not the sort of place you would wanna wear your sweaty workout clothes to, but it's also a place where you could definitely wear jeans and a good tee. The servers here are all super friendly, outgoing and helpful. They're always ready to help you make a menu decision, though you really can't go wrong at Julep. All the food is super fantastic. I think they've definitely got one of the best brunches in town, for sure. Their fried chicken is off the chain. They've got a full bar with tons of great drink options, from cocktails to craft beers. Julep's kitchen is open until 11, which makes it one of the few (non fast food) locales where you can eat a late dinner! Definitely stop in here and try it out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Bill M.
I attempted to call and order a take out dinner on Friday however I was informed that they were out of Pasta. Not sure how a restaurant runs out of something simple like that on a weekend night but whatever. I love their pasta so I attempted to eat dinner tonight as well. I arrived at 8:20 however and was informed I could not be served because the kitchen was about to close. I am not one of those folks that goes in last minute normally however tonight was spur of the moment and there was no effort whatsoever to try to be accommodating. We were basically shooed out the door. I will not be going back. This used to be one of my favourite places but obviously things have changed here and not in a good way. Oh and according to what is advertised they are supposed to stop serving food at 9.
(1)Billy P.
Luv it! Gotta gotta try it.... seriously peeeeepz! The honey glazed fried chicken with green beans should please anyone.
(5)Marcel M.
Brunch is great, they serve chicken and waffles even though it's not on the brunch menu. Two for one Moses.
(4)Meagan A.
Great cocktail menu!! I came here with two girlfriends this past Tuesday for drinks after work. I got the Rude Cosmo (Cosmo with tequila) and it was totally worth it! I'm a fan of Cosmos and tequila, so this drink was right up my alley. I also got the chocolate martini which was pretty standard. Since the bar area was already full -on a random Tuesday at that- we sat at a table in the restaurant and ended up getting appetizers: eggplant fries and crawfish egg rolls. Both were very tasty. The hot rolls that were brought to the table were melt-in-your-mouth good! I would definitely go back for another drinks night. I can't wait to try the Bellini martini that I saw on the menu.
(5)Beth C.
Went for Sunday brunch with friends and kids. Nice atmosphere, food was delicious and came out promptly once we'd ordered. Only let down was the staff; very few smiles and pretty inattentive. It took us a quite a while to get drinks and order food.
(4)Ashley W.
Smaller than expected. But the decor is lovely. I tried the crawfish penne pasta and it was spectacular. If your not a big drinker I would recommend the Parisian pear. It was tasteful. Everything was lovely until this thick unfamiliar obnoxious aroma arose. And i just had the leave. Other than that the time frame I chose was very good. Which was 3:30-5p. It wasn't crowded at all.
(3)Jess H.
I have only dined at Juleps a few times in the past, but it has always been a pleasant experience. Most of our previous visits were for drinks more than for the food. It is a swanky little bar with a nice atmosphere- great for a girls night out! But while we were home for the holidays, I decided to take my boyfriend for lunch because we planned to do a little shopping in Highland Village. Overall, the food was good. We ordered fried pimento and cheese balls as an appetizer- pretty good! And for lunch, I had the chicken salad salad, and I certainly cannot complain. My only disappointment was that for the amount of people dining in the restaurant at the time, the service was pretty slow. Other than that, it was another positive experience, and I am sure that we will be back eventually.
(4)Nicole O.
I agree with previous reviews... I loved the tuna, but half of it was sinewy, the other was delicious! The Cajun sauce was amazing! I guess it was a a busy night (but when we got there it was empty) because there was no bread left and they were out of other things on the menu. The pics of the food posted here were so so different from what we got- the chicken ( though amazing if you like honey sweet taste) was small. The portions for the prices were a total ripoff. The wait staff was so nice and accommodating, though the hostess rolled her eyes when I explained the light in the bathroom was out, she told the waitress to tell me to jiggle the handle-- which the waitress was normal and polite enough to ask her to please take care of it. The nice waitress was the best part of the experience- to her-- "thanks!!!"
(3)Amanda S.
I have to start this review by saying Julep used to be one of the best restaurants to go to in Jackson. There are amazing places everywhere, but this one used to be top notch. HOWEVER, the last 6 visits I have over the past year have resulted in disappointment. It is not the food, but rather the SMELL of the restaurant. The smell ranges from bleach to rotten fruit to other unsavory smells. Before ordering coffee with my most recent visit for Sunday brunch, I had to leave as the smell was overwhelming and not at all appetizing. I told the manager why I was leaving. It was clear that he knew the place smelled terrible, but no explanation was given. This restaurant has got to undergo a deep-clean and soon! It will be a while before I attempt to eat here again. I am sad to see Julep lose itself as one of the best places to eat, especially since cleaning would be an easy fix!
(2)Coral E.
Julep has had mixed reviews from me. Sometimes I LOVE what I get, the next time I'm disappointed. However, the service is always excellent, the restaurant has great atmosphere and is clean and the food always comes out in a reasonable amount of time. And your best bet for delicious food at Julep - BRUNCH! Things I recommend: portobello fries, eggplant fries, fried chicken, shrimp & grits & anything on their brunch menu Don't recommend: Spicy Cobb Salad (very little flavor, very little dressing, very few toppings), catfish taco (bland), pimento cheese BLT (tasted like store bought pimento cheese)
(3)Melissa L.
I used to love Julep, but the last two visits have been disappointing. Tonight they were out of two appetizers, served me the wrong wine, were out of most beers, described a salad as spicy (it wasn't), and never offered a free appetizers or any compensation. We (use to) bring clients and guests there, but not anymore.
(2)Haley B.
I grew up going to Julep, and it's always on my list to visit when I'm home during the holidays. After today, I will never go back again. The service has gotten worse every time I've visited in the past few years. Today, my mom and I stopped by for some wine and sat in the (not crowded) bar area around 4:30. We weren't acknowledged for about 5 minutes, and I finally asked if our table was okay. The lady behind the bar said yes, gave us a menu, and walked away.. But no drink order. After another 5 minutes when the other guy was slowly delivering drinks, she pulled out the cash register to count the money. There were several people, including us, with no drinks.. Yet you are going to count money now? Not very good management skills. We took that as our cue to leave and went to a much nicer neighboring restaurant, where we promptly received our wine. Sad to see this great place has turned into this!
(1)Jamie M.
My first visit to Julep was for brunch. I love brunch. I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, something I love to eat at brunch. Their version did not disappoint. You feel better about eating Julep's shrimp and grits, because in addition to the jumbo shrimp, grits and butter, they also add roasted corn, red onions and sweet peppers so you feel you are at least getting some healthy veggies out the deal. *smile* The portion is plentiful and the dish is delicious. Since then, my office has ordered from Julep several times, so I've had the pleasure of sampling many other things on the menu. The strawberry pecan salad is delicious...anything with strawberries and goat cheese is a winner in my book. The fried chicken sandwich comes with a honey rosemary glaze that really sets it apart from your typical dry chicken sandwich. The seared tuna in the seared tuna salad was cooked just right, and the cucumber sherry vinaigrette dressing is a yummy compliment. Julep has a very inventive menu that you can't find in most places in Jackson. I definitely recommend you try.
(4)Sharon C.
When working in Jackson, I make sure I stop by to eat in Julep. Though their menu is limited (meaning, it hasn't changed over the course of the 2 years I've been going their for dinner), the food is consistent! I always sit in the bar area & the service is always quick! Bartenders are very personable & make your time their enjoyable. You have to get Julep's Award-Winning Fried Chicken; nothing but lightly fried sweet goodness. And plus, when will you ever have a chance to brag to your cronies that you ate a meal voted TOP TEN IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY? Yes to Gulf Shrimp & Grits Yes to the bathroom after Pimento Cheese Fritters Yes to Crawfish Egg Rolls Yezzzz to Eggplant Fries Heck to the Yes to Cajun Crawfish Penne Pasta (feeling spicy...add some shrimp!) Catfish Taco - if this is your first time having catfish tacos, I wouldn't encourage it. They're decent, but not my favorite. Overall - good eaten & great times off I-55!!
(5)Kayla R.
They need to get it together. Shrimp and grits is flavorless. The fried chicken is supposed to have honey on it, not be doused in it. Also it tasted like it was cooked in old grease. Not good at all. Mashed potatoes were dry. And the tuna tower tastes like it was made with three day old rice.
(1)Paul H.
Although parking can be hectic, it's worth the trouble to get this awesome food. There is so much to choose from, fish tacos, tuna tower, brunch on the weekend, but the eggplant fries are by far my favorite. Take the time to experience this cuisine and enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)Mal M.
This. Was. Awful. The server brought us some biscuits that would rival any rock. When she came over, I beat it on the table as I asked, "Have you tried these?" She claimed to put dinner rolls in the oven that would be ready in five minutes. It's been five hours. I ordered crawfish étouffée. I got etouflour. I would have added hot sauce for flavor, but it was already hot. Hoping the desserts would salvage the meal, I ordered Bailey's cream cake. The server brought no silverware. No problem. I took a nibble with my fingers and passed him back the nondescript cake. "What's wrong with it?" Me: sir, the shorter answer would come from "What's right with it?" In short, the service was poor; the food was worse.
(1)Kim B.
Used to be my favorite for brunch, hands down! Unfortunately the last couple of attempts to dine here have been thwarted by poor customer service. On my last visit I was served my mimosa in an obviously dirty flute and then they were out of shrimp toast and eggplant fries. I was seated 30 minutes after they opened for business. I hope they're able to correct the issues because I'd love to give them an opportunity to be on my list of favorites again!
(1)Melissa E.
Horrible service and food. After being seated in the bar area we waited a few minutes before being asked for our drink order. We got our drinks promptly and then asked for a menu. We ordered the pimento cheese fritters and the soybeans off the late night menu. The fritters probably would have been good if they had been warm. Instead they were cold and disgusting. The soybeans were supposed to come in vinaigrette. The beans were swimming in it and were also not very appetizing. To top everything off after our food came out our server just quit waiting on us. We couldn't even ask to order something else.Two pretty girls, his guy pals, and his food that he was eating at the bar in front of other customers seemed to get all of his attention while ourselves and the two tables beside us suffered. Finally had to ask for our check from another server. Needless to say we won't be coming back
(2)Robert R.
Excellent food and service. We had the shrimp and grits and the Julep chicken salad. Both were fantastic. We are on a road trip and it is close to the highway. We almost got scared off by some of the Yelp reviews but glad we didn't.
(5)Cameron P.
Great atmosphere and vibe. However, service was pretty slow, and we were one of maybe 4 tables at the time. The food was just mediocre. I should have tried the fried chicken (apparently that is what they are known for). I ordered the stuffed chicken breast which is supposed to be stuffed with spinach, but it wasn't. Comes with a side of steamed brocoli that was drenched in butter. I like butter, but this was system overload. I would go back and give it another shot, but I wouldn't be excited about going back.
(2)Brian G.
I just had the worst experience of my life at your restaurant. I ordered a burger and the server dropped the bun. I sat here while my guests ate for about 5 minutes before I got another bun for my burger. The same server ran several entrees out before I got my burger. I asked the bartender for the manager and he said that he was "it at the moment" and that there was nothing else he could do because they were closing the kitchen. He kept saying"sorry" but made absolutely zero effort to mollify me or the situation. In fact he's spending so much time at the bar playing with his friends that he couldn't take care of you ally's dining room guests. I am very disappointed and I am still hungry!!!!.
(1)Dreka G.
I have heard a lot about this award winning fried chicken and I had to try it. I could see why it would win, it's certainly a delicious dish. I would give it an award for the most unique fried chicken for sure. For traditional fried chicken I would still prefer to have Two Sisters. The green beans that came with the chicken were the real star for me, believe it or not! Those veggies were amazing! Beignets were pretty good too, I mean who doesn't like fried dough and powdered sugar!! My very picky little boy inhaled their French toast so I guess that was good also!
(4)Jeff R.
This is in my top five Jackson restaurants I love the southern twist to the many menu options. The catfish taco and spicy Cobb salad are two of my lunch favorites.
(5)Priya S.
I've only been here a few times so bear with me on the few items I have to review. I'll try to make it short and sweet. Atmosphere: Decor is modern and cute. Good lighting. Great place for a date you want to have a nice dinner with. I love their clear modern chairs and tables. The famous fried chicken: The green beans are the best thing in this dish. Otherwise, this chicken is NOT award-winning (by USA magazine?). I and several other friends have gotten this and were disappointed by the amount of oil. It was still tasty but definitely shouldn't claim the title of an award. Eggplant fries: Quite delicious. Me and friend ate them quickly. Pimento cheese fritters: My friends loved these. I did NOT. The batter was thick and I don't think I'm a fan of pimento cheese. Cajun Crawfish pasta: This is pretty good. Several of my friends love this one. I liked it a lot, the crawfish was delicious. It is a tad salty and the bread served with it a little oily. Still the best thing I've had here so far. Bread pudding dessert: This was alright. I was not impressed. Overly sweet and thick. The ice cream was good though, then again how do you mess up ice cream. The Wedding Cake Martini: This was a hit amongst all the ladies in my group. It is sweet, fruity and delicious. Stay away from it if you don't like sweet drinks. I think it was super refreshing and light. Good job, Julep. Birthday celebrations are fun here cause you get free ice cream and a candle! So that's sweet. Also, LIKE them on facebook, you'll get a free appetizer!! So yeah, so far the food I've had is OK but I would definitely still come back here for the great setting and to try their other food and drinks. It's one of the nice restaurants in Jackson.
(3)Holly M.
I work in Jackson one week every year, and I always eat here at least once. It's upscale southern cuisine, which I love. My favorites are the Shrimp and Grits, the Julep House Salad (I've tried to recreate the pepper jelly dressing at home), the Strawberry Pecan Salad, and the quiche. I've also never been led astray by trying the specials. Long story short, I've never disliked anything I've ordered.
(5)Andrea D.
Julep is one of my favorite places to go to in the Jackson area. I went here on a Saturday with some girlfriends for brunch. I ordered the shrimp and grits along with the champagne cobbler to drink. Both were very good. Julep remains high on my list.
(4)Jaleh S.
Julep is a casual restaurant trying to be formal. The plastic chairs are not hip but rather cause hip discomfort. I've been here four times and have officially tried every pescatarian friendly meal. (Seafood and vegetarian)The Catfish Taco is not really a taco, the Crawfish Pasta is ok, the Mahi Mahi sandwich doesn't have much flavor. But if you eat chicken, the Chicken sandwich is supposed to be amazing. Overall this place is pretty boring...as is the rest of Jackson.
(2)Yoori C.
Four friends and I were casually dressed and wondered if we would be too much so, but it was fine. Dimly lit in the restaurant side with candles at the tables gave me the feeling that this would be a great date place or family dinner/friend gathering restaurant. Everything tasted great and carefully prepared. I basically recommend everything I ate. dead guy beer, split fried green tomato appetizer, and fried chicken with honey glaze and green beans & mashed potaters claimed famous via usa today which really is good - $25.12 *bathroom is a bit hard to get to when the bar (full) is packed. restaurant is also connected to small shopping center through the back
(4)Mike S.
Quite simply the best piece of fried chicken I've eaten. The unique glaze they use is just amazing. I came, I scarfed, I left. It was that simple.
(5)Luana C.
This was the first restaurant I came to when moving from California to Mississippi! I ordered the green tomatoes and blackened tuna filet. The food was good, but a bit salty for my taste. I've found that the food in general in the South is a bit saltier than what I'm used to, so it may be to taste for others. However, it was a cute restaurant with lively atmosphere and plenty of parking. I may have to try the fried chicken or catfish taco to be blown away next time!
(3)Lei B.
I learned from my last experience and decided to order takeout instead of taking a chance on bad service again. Even ordering takeout was bad too. I got the catfish taco with a side of eggplant fries. Now I think this I where thing go wrong. I paid with a credit card and handed me the copy to sign. I always have the dillema or whether I should add tip for takeout. This time I decided against it. I left for a few minutes to the ladies room. When I returned I saw a brown bag on their counter. The lady who took my order was chatting it up with some coworkers. Maybe that order wasn't mine. I started just chatting away on my phone maybe 5-10 minutes pass by an she finally gives me the bag that's been waiting there all that time! That just annoyed the hell out of me, especially since it was past 9pm and I was starving. I finally got to my car and opened up my food. I looked around the bag and there were no plastic utensils or napkins. Ugh how annoying. Well the food was just ok. The eggplant fries were pretty salty but the catfish "taco" was actually in a tortilla wrap and it was pretty good.
(3)Kevin L.
Currently bottom of the totem pole for the eateries I've had here. Classy enough from its decor, but the poor waitstaff is so overworked. Admittedly, we came during Restaurant Week and our waiter kept apologizing for how hard they had gotten hit. We did the prix fixe menu, choosing the tuna tower, which was a layered cylinder of rice, cubes of raw tuna, avocado. Julienned strips of fried crisps and wasabi mayo sauce finished it off. Not a bad appetizer, though hard to eat with just a fork since I expected to scoop it up with chips or something. Probably the peak of the meal since it's hard to mes up this flavor combo. Our main entree literally took an hour. When the sad little triangles of fried catfish and onion showed up with a side of fries, it definitely wasn't worth the wait. Weird fried taco skins made it look like a seafood hot pocket and the fish had all dried up. Even hungry, the fish wasn't appetizing. Dessert was a letdown too. Bread pudding was clearly just two slices of bread with a custard set upon it, so it was more like a sheet cake than anything else, with ice cream lobbed atop it. Total was $30. Glad we decided to just do little shared tastes, or otherwise, we'd be way more unhappy wallet-wise. My Southern Pecan was tasty at least?
(2)Eva and Zach A.
Whatever you order it is exactly what it says it is. Real quick. Closest to the diners on the NE coast that Jackson has to offer. Really pleasantly surprised and one of the few place down here that we really liked the food.
(5)Lan D.
Mississippi conjures images of southern comfort food, not high end chef creations like you might find on either coast. Julep Restaurant is a pleasant find in Jackson, Mississippi, giving the state capitol a lot more culinary credibility in my book than I would think to give at first thought. The food is as good as you would find in California and the service is very attentive, at least when I went. I would go again.
(4)Andrew F.
My wife and I went here to check out what was supposed to be some delicious fried chicken. I have to say, the fried chicken was good! Food: We started with the "Redneck" Sausage and Cheese Plate. This was OVER-sized. The sausages were delicious, but the cheeses tasted like standard grocery-market cheeses. It would be awesome if they downsized the AMOUNT of cheese and upsized the QUALITY of the cheese (we could have split this and a salad for a full meal for 2!). My wife had the fried chicken. I don't usually eat fried chicken, but after tasting it she proceeded to stab me 2x as I tried to steal more bites. Their fried chicken was DELICIOUS!!! I strongly recommend it and prepare yourself for a bit of honey! I had the Citrus Chipotle BBQ chicken. It was tasty and hit the spot! We split the bread pudding for dessert and were quite satisfied. It was a little too sweet for me again due to the huge portion of syrup poured on top! Service: Our waiter was friendly and jovial through the entire meal. He was on throughout the entire meal and made great recommendations. The bar was a little lacking, I ordered an Old-Fashioned. Something went way amiss in the making as what I got was a glass with ice, whiskey, and a cherry. I'm not sure any bitters or simple syrup were used!
(4)Nick D.
Julep is a delight in the ways of afternoon eats for the uptown part of Jackson MS. For all the previous Yelps about its service and food bringing this place down to 3 1/2 stars is unacceptable! From the outside the place looks like something from a run-down urban failure. But on the inside...well let's just say didn't your parents ever tell you "not to judge a book by its cover?" I went there with my girlfriend and two friends for brunch on a Saturday after being in town for some other adventures. I enjoyed a delicious take on the omelet - a Gouda melted mushroom 3 egg mound of awesome. I could only eat half as the Gouda was so rich after our beignets. Oh did I fail to mention those? Because well I am still dreaming about the gigantic take on the New Orleans beignet. We had a dozen and well I have to admit I ate my three with a simply robust house coffee. But we still had 3 left over they were so much to handle as an appetizer. Or if you even indulged in the 2 for 1 Mimosas, which the ladies did. However, neither the special of the day - 2 buttermilk blueberry pancakes with turkey sausage (also delightful) - nor the beignets can compare to Julep's fried chick breast. In the entrance, their waiting section boasts of Julelp's fried chicken being ranked Top 10 by USA Today. Of course, you don't really give this much thought. But we warned, you should! Julelp's fried chicken is TO DIE FOR. Flat out the best restaurant fried chicken I have ever had. Anywhere. Anytime. So make sure you go during lunch or brunch, and give this place your full stomach with some good friends.
(5)Annica J.
The food was pretty good and had a nice selection to choose from. I got the shrimp and grits and they were ok but can not compare to the Parker House's shrimp and grits. My husband really enjoyed his steak but loved the egg rolls that had black-eyed peas and turnip greens. The restaurant had an intimate feel to it. I would not take my small children here.
(3)Vim I.
I'm a little surprised by the low ratings that some yelpers have given Julep. This is definitely an all-time favorite place to go in Jackson. I miss it now that I live in Memphis. It's moderately priced, and I love the ambiance with its vibrant green colors and exposed brick. The honey glazed chicken was always a favorite of mine, but there are so many other dishes that are just as good. A recent appetizer i had was the Tuna Tower which was like a big-helping of a spicy tuna roll. It was delicious! I loved Julep so much that I asked them to cater my wedding reception.
(5)Dena S.
We've been to Julep a couple of times recently. Seated at the bar, you tend to get better service than in the dining room. Our last visit was to the dining room. I orderd Catfish Tacos, which were described as Blackened catfish, caramelized onions, pepper jack and remoulade in a jalapeno-cheddar tortilla on the menu. What came out was more like a blackened catfish quesadilla wrapped up like a burrito. So, Amy S. is correct, they are misnamed on the menu. I thought they tasted ok, but there was so much cheese in there, you couldn't really taste the fish. So, I'll probably go back to Julep again, but I'll sit at the bar and order something else.
(3)William S.
The food had great potential but came out coldish. The fried chicken could have been the best I ever ate if it had been warm and a bit juicier. The service was very poor though.
(3)Daniel A.
Been here a couple of time and I can definitely say that I enjoy this restaurant. The first time I went in, the service started off kinda shaky. One of the waitresses was confused as to why I was there, but I think the fact that I had my DSLR with me threw her off, so I can forgive that haha. The quality of the service definitely picked up after I was seated. The food itself is definitely amazing. I've eaten the stuffed chicken and the crawfish etoufee, both of which greeted my palette with a nice mix of flavors that you only get at so many restaurants. The stuffed chicken was topped with this light, yet flavorful sauce that added to the taste of the already well seasoned chicken stuffed with delicious cheese and spinach. The fact that it was stuffed with cheese made me nervous when I ordered, but it wasn't cheesey at all. The etoufee was just the right size for me. If you're expecting a huge deep bowl, this isn't it, but if you're expecting well seasoned deliciousness, go for it. I have to go the Jackson area often for awhile, so I'll be back.
(4)Emily M.
This is my absolute favorite place to eat in Jackson. I haven't ever had a bad experience here. I have never had bad service or rude waitstaff here either. Some of the reviews were very surprising. I have been coming here for years, and it has always been consistently good. The cheese fritters, soybeans and butterbean hummus are wonderful apps, and the fried chicken and strawberry salad are also great. I love the eggplant fries as well.
(5)Leonard R.
This restaurant has an interesting menu but the service was rushed and the food uneven. We ordered the Southern Fried Chicken. It was very good and some of the best I have had. However, the mashed potatoes and green beans were cold and just ok. My wife said it looked like they were put on the plate long in advance and cooled off waiting for the chicken). I had the banana's foster bread pudding. It was good (huge portions), tasty and warm. The service was quite rushed. We were asked for our drink order about 30 seconds after we were seated and handed menu's. Also, the waitress dropped off the check at the table before we had even finished desert. Our entree's were served before we could finish the appetizer (fried green tomatoes). Since the place was mostly empty (6:30 pm on a Wednesday night) we were a little surprised we couldn't enjoy a more relaxed meal. We did notice the bar side was more crowded than the dinner side. Based on the menu and some of the reviews, we thought it would be better.
(3)Christopher P.
The wife and I have been eating here for a few years now, and we've never been disappointed. On our first visit, we tried the butterbean hummus appetizer, and I ended up begging for the recipe. No joy there, but I've managed to work it out (pretty damn close, anyway). My wife had the shrimp and grits, and when I ordered my filet mignon "Pittsburgh rare", the server didn't even bat an eye. PERFECT martinis. What really impressed me was how knowledgable the staff are. Want a glass of wine with dinner? The servers are above-par in their sommelier skills, and the bartenders have a nice, steady hand when they pour a good Scotch. If you go when there's live music, it's never too loud or conversation dampening - usually just the right amount of good background volume. Mr. Murphy and his team have done a wonderful job bringing a blue-ribbon twist to traditional Southern fare. Kudos, sir!
(4)LeeAnne J.
On trips to Mississippi to visit my sister (a student at Belhaven), Julep quickly became a family favorite. It has a very hip-cool vibe reminiscent of home (California) and stays open late with live music. Start with comforting pimento cheese fritters--spicy, deep-fried cheese balls, with traditional Southern comeback sauce for dipping. Also quite tasty are the steamed soybeans, which are tossed in a flavorful citrus vinaigrette--an interesting twist. The restaurant's award-winning fried chicken is a must-order entree, with a large perfectly fried piece of breast meat topped with OMG amazing honey rosemary glaze. I'm still dreaming about this dish! (BTW, the chicken can also be ordered grilled, but why!? Live a little.) It is served with blackened and seasoned green beans and mashed potatoes. I'd review another dish, but I never ordered anything but this on my visits! Only downside: A single women's bathroom. Waiting for it in a line that occasionally runs long through the middle of the bar area isn't terribly fun.
(5)Lidia G.
We stopped at this place driving from Memphis to New Orleans for lunch. It was a very nice alternative to a fast food place. Loved the decor of this place! Also, the menu options were very healthy. Salads and quiches are wonderful. I wish they had some hot tea. Ice tea and lemonade are available instead (one need to remember this is Deep South). Heard that their fried chicken is good but did not order it. Overall service was fast and food was excellent for on the road option.
(4)Dacre K.
May be difficult finding if you're not from around here. Good place for groups. Cool bar. Food was good, nothing jumped out as exceptional, everything was good though.
(3)J L.
So good. Must return if I find myself driving across the country again.
(5)Amy L.
I thought the third time would be the charm, but apparently no matter how many times you go, the staff are just unfriendly. I think if you are going to spend almost $40 on lunch, a little kindness is warranted from the staff. I had the pimento cheese fritters and they were quite good. I decided to try the award-winning fried chicken. I'm not sure why it is award-winning. While it had a honey flavor to it, it was extremely greasy. The grease rolled on over to the green beans and mashed potatoes, both of which were nothing out of the ordinary. I was pretty disappointed in paying this price for lunch and have it be so underwhelming and greasy. I've given Julep the good college try but I'm done. I can get much better food at half the price and be treated nicely at the same time.
(2)Chip W.
It's ok. Good location. Decent decor...rather loud when busy. Good food but not great food by my standards. Substandard service...obviously need to know hostess or waitstaff to get waited on.
(3)hobo s.
I've been here twice now, and both times have been enjoyable enough. The first time I had roasted chicken, probably with some form of potato and veg. I remember it being tasty enough, but we sat near the bar, not great. The second time I had the grilled mahi mahi sandwich and it was quite good. A nice spice on the fish as well as in the remoulade. I would have preferred it come with something other than fries, and I probably could have asked, but didn't. Solid food. If you're into the bar-hopping or trendy restaurant scenes, you'll probably like this place. If not, and if you can come when it isn't too crowded, it's enjoyable. Not a place I would have chosen, but not bad for dinner either.
(3)Greg W.
over priced and poor food preparation. My fried chicken was more like a sparrow. It was greasy, and Wal-mart chicken has better flavor. My wife had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was WAY overcooked, and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. It seemed to us that the restaurant was living on a dream of times past. We went to Juleps because we like to find the "best" food in a city we are visiting, and we actively searched out the place. If that is the best Jackson has to offer, I feel sorry for them. I think the check was around $50 for two for lunch...........no drinks. If the food was phenominal, maybe...........but it wasnt.
(1)Alan S.
Probably my favorite restaurant in Jackson. Julep puts a trendy, modern spin on southern cooking. The brunch offers a few of their usual staples like shrimp and grits and their famous honey rosemary glazed fried chicken. My personal favorite is the Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict. Brunch is served with homemade biscuits and jam, and you can always order New Orleans style Beignets. They have unique salad and appetizer options like the strawberry pecan salad, a "redneck" sausage and cheese plate, and shrimp toast. All the entrees are good too, but the only thing I ever order is the sashimi grade Blackened Tuna, as raw as possible. Perfect restaurant for brunch, dinner, late night cocktails, or catering.
(5)Stephanie B.
There is a wide variety of menu items to choose from. I had the catfish taco with eggplant fries. The "taco" is actually a burrito, but man was it good! The eggplant fries were great, too. My only complaint is that they don't serve any draft beer here, only bottles. Kind of strange for a nice place like this...
(3)David T.
Came here on a business trip, went to dinner with two other colleagues. Service was a bit weak here, could have just been our waiter. We weren't ready to order our wine when he first stopped by, then waited another 10 minutes for him to come back to take our drink order. His attitude was inconsistent -- one time he was marginally friendly, other times he was abrupt and cheerless. I was mildly annoyed with his lack of friendliness which bordered on rudeness, but I was willing to overlook it since the reviews on the food here seemed pretty positive. We started with the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which was excellent. For dinner, we all decided to try the fried chicken, since it was a specialty here. It had a bit of a honey glaze on it which my my colleagues described as "interesting," but which I thought to be excellent. The inside was moist while the outside was crunchy, and the salty sweet flavor of the chicken was very satisfying. I concluded my meal with a bananas foster bread pudding, which was also excellent. If I come back to Jackson, Julep will definitely be on my return list.
(3)Niki L.
Dissapointing. It was really nice inside, loved the atmosphere. It's not their fault that I really don't care for goat cheese... but the fried green tomato napoleon wasn't that great in my opinion ($12). Definately some flavors missing there and the tomatoes weren't even that good (and I'm a huge fan). I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad ($15?)and my boyfriend got their "Famous Fried Chicken" ($17). The salad wasn't great at all. The Ahi itself was over seasoned and over cooked and wasn't a very good cut. The cucumber vinaigrette was another miss, hardly any acidity or sweetness to it except for a bit of vinegar soaked into the cucumber bits and the rest of it oily. They really needed a bit more vinegar and some lemon juice in there. The greens and almonds were good even though I couldn't tell they were wasabi'd. At any rate unsatisfying for the price. The chicken was really well cooked and I liked the honey glaze. The mashed potatoes and green beans that came with it were nothing amazing. I thought it was too expensive, I've had way better for less... Service was good.
(2)Tracey W.
The French fried eggplant appetizer is worth the trip ! The Crawfish etouffe was disappointing . Tasted the flour too much in the sauce . The fried chicken was good. Has a sweet sauce on it . Great service.
(3)Sam C.
One of my favorite places to eat if I HAVE to be in Jackson. Worth stopping by if you're in the area. Good beer selection too
(4)Jennifer C.
this place used to be one of my favorite places to eat but... the quality of the food varies from day to day and the prices are ok for the food what to order: catfish tacos - add $3 for a side of portabello fries: catfish wrap/taco is good and huge, sometimes its better on certain days, guess it depends on the chef. portabello fries - huge fan, love the horseradish dipping sauce. jackson is all about portabello fries. i think walker's has the best but julep's does them pretty good fried green tomato/crab benedict on sunday brunch - pretty good on sundays plus their rolls with honey butter are my favorite in town. yummy. strawberry goat cheese salad - good but ppl can make this at home nowadays, if you aren't that person, then just order it there, they do a pretty good job. what not to order: shrimp toast - greasy cheese toast with shrimp, not that great shrimp and grits - not the best you could get, go over across the street to bon ami if you want some good shrimp and grits overall it has a great atmosphere for hanging out after work with ok food, not many places like it in jackson in terms of atmosphere so not a bad place to go.
(3)Amber A.
A bit on the expensive side yes but NOBODY NOBODY does fried chicken like this! A Must have! The other must have is a slice of "wedding cake". Worth every penny! Big enough for 2 people. Wish I lived closer!
(4)Buster B.
A great place to eat and stay for drinks at the bar (or have drinks at the bar, then eat, then return to the bar). The establishment is usually packed with locals at night and on the weekends. They often have live bands that are actually pretty good. It can get loud, so I definitely recommend not bringing kids during those times. The food is great and the wine is moderately priced. The atmosphere is fun and the crowd is mostly professionals in their mid-twenties to upper thirties. They have a great drink menu and a large variety of beers. I've gone with my brother a couple of times, thinking that it would be a crappy outing, but we actually had a blast.
(4)Karen A.
I had just arrived at the JAN airport and was looking for a place to eat in downtown Jackson with reasonable prices and casual atmosphere. We used the AAA ratings on our nav GPS to help locate Julep. This was my first dining experience in MS and it was very pleasurable! Once I saw the fried green tomatoes appetizer on the menu, I knew I was in the right place. The goat cheese adds just the right touch, almost like a California version of the good old favorite. Although since I've returned home to Sacramento CA, I can only find 2 restaurants here in Sac that serve fried green tomatoes. Back to Julep, I ordered a glass of Oregon Riesling because I was looking for something other than the typical Napa/Sonoma wines that are so plentiful here in Sac -- it was wonderful! For dinner I had the shrimp and grits, which was excellent! Very nice dinner, very reasonable prices.
(4)Pamela L.
Fried green tomato napolean is fantastic and is my very favorite thing on the menu. Add a side of gouda grits for a great brunch or lunch. Fried chicken plate is fabulous. The honey glaze is so yummy. The chicken is so crispy and very tasty. Eggplant fries are good with this. Catfish tacos are good, but I don't like the sauce on them - I don't generally like sauces though so this is a personal problem. Burgers are pretty good. Service is hit or miss here, though. If you order coffee, they won't refill it. You'll have to ask. That irritates me to no end. The main dining room is noisy. Once they bring you the check, they expect you to leave. No lingering to talk - they won't bring you more drink, they just ignore you and give you dirty looks from afar. Food is good, but not a place if you want to linger and talk.
(3)P C.
The exceedingly poor service here outweighs both the quality of the food and drinks. It's not worth spending hard earned money at a place where a server ignores you, then brings you the wrong order, is not gracious about it, and then assumes that the change from your bill is automatically his as a tip! You can't pay me to come back here, and it's a shame as I'm looking for good places to hang while visiting my hometown.
(1)Quincy S.
This is gourmet cooking with a southern flair. Like Emeril meets Paula Deen. The unusual, but excellent selection of food (butterbean humus, portabella fries) will definitely be a treat for you. Their fried chicken was voted Top 10 in the nation by USA Today a few years back and they weren't lying. It's good chicken. Very good. Not traditional fried chicken, but I'll let you visit to see what I'm talking about. When they bring the chicken out, it won't look like anything you've seen at KFC. The desserts are wonderful. They have a selection of cake that will bring you to tears. Red Velvet, Irish Creme, Almond Wedding Cake, etc. I can never decide on which one I want and the slices are too big to try them all. The atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is above-average. Great place to have a date.
(4)Eliza T.
Only had drinks and appetizers. The one star is for the eggplant fries which were delicious but definitely greasy and salty...but it was exactly what we needed at the time. The server was nice enough initially but our experience quickly went down the drains. He suggested the raspberry martini went we said we wanted to try one of their signature drinks but something NOT sweet. Not only were our martinis super sweet, they tasted disgustingly like Robitussin cough syrup. When we told him this, he took our drinks away and replaced them with our "usual" drinks of choice. When we got the bill, however, those high-on-price-low-on-taste martinis were left on there and made up 50% of our check!! For something that we each took one sip from and refused to drink any more, the right think for any server and establishment to do would be to deduct it from the bill...ESP when he recommended the drink despite us being clear on what we didn't want our drinks to taste like! Highly doubt I'd come back.
(1)Shelby D.
I love Julep! I seriously CRAVE their fried chicken and sweet potatoe risotto all the time. The atmosphere is great and they are always really accomadating about large groups. My only problem with Julep is that the service is really slow. Sometimes, it will be minutes and minutes without my water being refilled. Or one time, our server didn't even bring out our dinner rolls before the meal. That really is the only drawback though. The food is delicious! I have never heard anyone say they weren't satisfied with their food.
(4)Jenny G.
I've been to Julep twice. The first visit was pretty good. The fried green tomato napoleon was to die for. The pecan crusted chicken, while good, was way too much food and very dense. The service was good and overall it was a very enjoyable experience. Visit #2 was like being in a totally different restaurant. The quality of the food was poor and the service was non-existent. Not worth the effort.
(2)Johnny K.
Good chicken
(3)Amy S.
Came here on a road trip. Reviews for the fried chicken were good, and it was really good (although I would have preferred a marinade without honey - a bit overly sweet for my tastes). My sister ordered the catfish tacos, which were subpar and misnamed. They were served in a red (sundried tomato?) wrap with melted cheese (?!). It is in a strip mall, and the ambience in the restaurant is soulless. A previous review led us to believe this place would have character, but it's more like a bland, suburban outpost with little personality.
(3)