Jennifer James 101
4615-A Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87110
Jennifer James 101 Menu
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Main
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Sweets
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Main
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Sweets
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Address :
4615-A Menaul Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM, 87110 - Phone (505) 884-3860
- Website https://www.jenniferjames101.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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Wes T.
Once again, Albuquerque shows me a little, inconspicuous eatery that would be at home in more culinary-favored cities such as San Francisco or New York. JJ101 seems to take a cue from Berkeley's Alice Waters, with a seasonal menu that is constantly under change, and a variety of menu items that will tantalize you and maybe even surprise you. The layout is very open, with not a door between the front and back of the building. For a "chef's table" type experience, try to be seated in the back against the wall. You'll feel like you're in the kitchen. I had the chickpea fries to start, and then the wagyu flank steak, both of which were amazing. The fries were something I've never encountered before, and were served with a garlic aioli and a curry ketchup.The wagyu was cooked perfectly, and when paired with a Syrah, pretty close to divine on the palate. On that note, their wine list is pretty nice. They offer full and half bottles, with a few beers, too. I'm not usually a dessert person, but they had basil ice cream with dark chocolate, so I was tempted. It was delicious, and only enhanced by the porto they had. All in all, this is a very good restaurant, but be prepared to pay for the good food you're going to consume. Quality of this sort don't come cheap.
(5)Karen R.
The food at Jennifer James is amazing! My husband and I had the chickpea fries, beet salad, a half rack of lamb, and an excellent bottle of wine. We ended the evening with a shot of caramel & sea salt goodness. Yum yum! Jennifer made me a fan of lamb after many bad experiences. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the location...in a strip mall with a really dark parking lot.
(4)Rob P.
Misfortune became good fortune as I had to unexpectedly overnight in Albuquerque after experiencing car problems, as mid-western engines are wont to due in such elevations. After a good on-line search, I decided on Jennifer James 101 as a local yet eclectic meal. Though I arrived within minutes of the kitchen closing, the staff and chefs welcomed me as they would family; just what this wearied traveler needed. No such thing as a quick perusal of the menu as every item seemed a winner. Tired and hungry, could I limit myself to one? To open, I opted for the sumac-spiced lamb meatballs, sourced from nearby Dunhill Farms. Outstanding texture and flavor, paired nicely with a greek-style herbed yoghurt. Portions were perfect for a starter. Main course was the almond-crusted Halibut. Cooked to perfection, it was accompanied by sautéed fennel and asparagus, a bright orange/saffron aioli, and a green pea pancake that was straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, and made you feel just as happy. Dessert was my Waterloo. With so many great choices, gluttony came to the table as I had the bread pudding with a split of champagne. As a bread-pudding aficionado, I deemed theirs to be outstanding. Light and custardy seems like a contradiction in terms. Not here. Then on to a chocolate ganache with a mixed berry coulis that I just HAD to try, naturally with a glass of port. By this time, most of the side work was done. The servers, chefs, and I carries on a lively conversation through an open kitchen; the best accompaniment to an outstanding meal. I'm fortunate enough to be able to make what I like to eat, but if they were next door, my house wouldn't need a kitchen. Imaginative spins on classic foods with masterful preparation, all served by a kind, energetic and knowledgable staff. Jennifer James 101, though named for it's simplicity (think 1st level college courses), is a 101 on a scale of 1 to 10. Thanks, Chefs!
(5)Karen E.
Love this place. Have eaten here three times and the food has been incredible each time. The hamburger, the most basic thing on the menu is mouth-wateringly good. The chick pea fries are amazing. All the salads are delicious. The steak I had was AMAZing. The gnocchi was like buttah (butter.) The bread and butter they bring to the table can shut everybody up. YUM I don't have any complaints. Just a request: please handcraft your own beverages. OMG. They'd be so yummy and I know they'd sell like hotcakes. This is where I plan to trot the foodie-out-of-towners who come to visit me. Save room for dessert!
(4)Joey S.
This is THE "foodie find" in ABQ. I hate that term but it's appropriate. Smallish dining room and menu, which allows JJ to focus on getting things plated and cooked perfectly. Great whole sea bass special, Bacon Steak (Pork Belly), Chorizo and Garlic Cream stuffed Pepper, and superb salads. Sit near the open kitchen if you like to watch the show. Would return anytime.
(4)Krystin B.
Wonderful! I had the honey lime quail with sweet potatoes... SO GOOD! Cooked perfectly, great service, and many of the veggies were locally grown.
(5)Derrick N.
As a Christmas gift for my brother and his wife who recently had their first child, I arranged for a night out on the town including dinner at what was supposed to be one of the best restaurants in Albuquerque: Jennifer James 101. They chose to schedule their night out for Valentine's day and I was pleasantly surprised by how I was accommodated by the staff. I made the reservations and called back later to leave my credit card details, made plans for them to be presented with a bottle of wine when they were seated, and was even told that it was a very thoughtful gift. Unfortunately a family member went to the hospital on the morning of Valentine's day and I was asked by my brother if they could reschedule for the next weekend. I called Jennifer James 101 in the morning and left a voicemail asking them to confirm that the couple could come the next weekend instead. The return call I received was a 180 degree difference from the pleasant service I had received before: I was told that they would not be willing to change the reservations unless they could speak with those who would be dining in the restaurant. As the person who was giving this experience as a gift, coordinating the reservations, and paying for the meal, I told her that I would be her point of contact. She said that she was not comfortable with that and that I would need to choose a different restaurant; and so I have. Please use my experience as a cautionary tale as this is not the level of service one would expect from what is rumored to be a world class restaurant.
(1)Lauren H.
That was really good, was what I kept saying over and over again. To start we had a complimentary sample of their homemade sweet pickles which were quit delish. Then for starters, my table all got the butter lettuce salad with thick slices of bacon, walnuts and a house vinaigrette- all plates were kicked clean! For entrees we had the Christmas duck with a sweet cabbage slaw, trout with a warm caper potato salad, sole with fried risotto balls and perfectly cooked spinach and a burger and fries. Everyone at the table was perfectly happy with the choices they made, with nothing to spare on their plates. The only reason this is not getting five stars is the location. The outside( a little strip mall right off of Menaul ) does not do the inside justice. None the less, I will be back again!
(4)Karla L.
WOW - this is one of my new favorite places! Of course, I didn't have room for dessert after the glorious blue cheese and walnut salad, and Halibut cheeks (both specials), however I sure did want some! I'll be back again soon - wish it could be on my weekly rotation!
(5)Michelle E.
After reading strong reviews on yelp, I had high expectations for Jennifer James 101. Unfortunately, I was very unimpressed. The ambiance was plain and service was very slow and neglectful; it took forever to even get our drinks and we found ourselves constantly flagging down the server instead of being checked on. Although my date found the food to be impressive, I found my salad to be good but my salmon entree to be just average. After a mediocre first experience, we decided to try again and make another reservation a few weeks later, this past weekend. This time I called five minutes before our reservation time while en route to the restaurant to confirm. The hostess actually had the audacity to tell me "I think they've already started shutting down the kitchen." I was shocked she would mention closing the kitchen before a standing reservation. This is highly unprofessional and I can't imagine the motivation behind such a statement, true or false. We spent almost $200 including tip for our first dining experience and we were not about to give such a rude staff and chef that money again after hearing that remark. Appalled by such lack of customer service, we decided to go to Zinc in Nob Hill and had an excellent meal served by a wonderful waiter, with none of the attitude of JJ101.
(1)Charles K.
Absolutely magnificent. JJ101 is a jewel of fine dining in an otherwise dismal area of Albuquerque. Everything brought to our table was executed perfectly. The crab cake appetizer was presented with an apricot sauce that complimented it perfectly. With the size and heartiness of the crab cake, we skipped the Caesar salad and went straight to the trout entree (from the Julia Child 100th birthday menu). The head/skin on preparation and presentation served with a caper sauce produced the best fish dish I have ever experienced.
(5)Michael G.
Fantastic. A small, unpretentious place. A great place for a date (if your date likes good food and is slightly open minded/adventurous when it comes to cuisine). It's definitely a "nice" place and is upscale in it's own way, but the decor and ambiance are slightly below the quality of the food - which is the way it should be in my opinion. If the wall paper is better than the food you've got a problem, that certainly isn't the case here. There is a very good chance the chef/proprietor herself will be serving you and if she does you likely won't even know. This is not a prima donna chef ran restaurant, and the food is definitely on par or above with what little "we are fancy" attitude the place does have. The food itself is way above par for Albuquerque and even for New Mexico. It's everything Scalo's and Seasons wishes it was (but is scared to be). It's a wonderful melange of contradictions; simple yet adventurous, warm and inviting while challenging, innovative while also comforting. Most importantly though it is always truly delicious. This is an especially fun place to go with a group of four for a birthday, the kind of place to have a bottle of wine and relax in. It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall with its strip-mall location which gives it a feeling of being "a special/secret find". I don't want to over sell it, this isn't write to mom great, it's not brag to your New York friends about great, but it is damned good. It definitely achieves exactly what it is setting out to do and by doing so has made it's own unassuming but indelible mark on the food landscape of the city.
(5)G P.
High quality food, well prepared, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. We've never had a bad meal. Maybe once, a particular dish was just pretty good. Typically, the food is amazing. The soup (yes, soup) is always extraordinary. Also, the variety of desserts is always impressive. I think the popcorn ice cream was maybe the best thing I've ever eaten.
(5)Daniel E.
I had know for weeks that I was going to be in ABQ, and being that I work in a restaurant and cook for a living I really wanted to eat some place special, after that is what a dining experience should be. After researching the area extensively I decided upon JJ101. Holy crap did I hit the jackpot. The restaurant is located in an indescript strip mall but is still easy to find. Inside is a lovely fine dining establishment with an open kitchen and a wonderful decor that appears to mirror the season (it was October as there were large gourds used as decor). The gm and hostess were very attentive and warm as we waited for our reservation. There aren't a ton of tables so if some people linger and chat it can always cause a small wait, but hey no biggie as a small wait can always increase the anticipation of what is to come. Service-wise the staff was on point. Everything was right. Water glasses were kept full, the servers were attentive, everything was replaced and cleaned when it needed to be, and the overall demeanor was warm, friendly, inviting, and just happy to have us there dining...what more can you ask for. Our server KNEW this menu. If you had a question he had an answer and his recommendations were top notch. One of The other servers who worked at another restaurant in SF came by to introduce himself and it's always cool to see the extended restaurant family where you are. Finally the food. The reason one should go out to eat. If this was Chef James' 101 course than I would take it again. The food was so good. The chickpea fries were wonderfully fried to gbd (golden, brown, delicious) while still being creamy on the inside. Think a firm polenta married hummous and was this fried and that's what this was. The salads we had were fresh and unique. The mixed baby greens with the cider vin, shaved pear, and young basque sheep's milk cheese was a great combo but it was the arugula, plum, black pepper vin with hazelnuts that I will be attempting to rip off for the next couple weeks until we run out of plums at the ferry building market in SF. Fourth we had the garnish to the sweetbreads plate (I am a vegetarian, so sweetbreads not really my thing) which was roasted banana squash, medjool dates, Serrano chiles, and almonds all of which was damn good. For the entrees my dad had the roast duck breast with the red chile sauce and stuffed buckwheat crepe which he quite enjoyed while I went with the North African spiced roast vegetables over cous-cous which was uber flavorful and one of the better vegetarian entrees I have eaten at not-necessarily vegetarian restaurants. The desserts were yet again another highlight even though I really don't have much of a sweet tooth. The "ugly tart" as it is referred to on the menu was as our server described: "like the best oatmeal cookie you've ever eaten." My dad had the crisp which he wasn't totally thrilled with (I thought It was good), but he can be snobbish and picky when it comes to apple-based desserts. The last thing I would like to add is just how awesome it was to see this kitchen work. Two cooks, a TEAM of servers and staff that did what was needed when it was needed ( I haven't seen people act this was since I was in the restaurant courses at the CIA), and an overall attitude and demeanor that was calm, cool, collected and just an beautiful thing to observe and be fed by. If you haven't figured it out yet I loved this place, and the next time I am out here visiting my folks I will absolutely be coming back. Everyone needs to stop by ad take a lesson in Jennifer James 101.
(5)Joel D.
Six of us had dinner here, four adults and two children. My nine year old granddaughter is not an adventurous diner, so there was a tense moment until the waitress and chef helped us figure out some comfort food for her. When we shared some desserts, she really liked the carrot cake, so we got another order of that, which she practically inhaled. Adventure beckons. My daughter and daughter-in-law shared the polenta and turnip dish and were quite happy to have such a delicious vegetarian entree. I started with the squash soup, delicious but not something I consider to be a real challenge to get right. My halibut and chanterelle entree was another matter entirely. Great quality halibut and cooked perfectly, the best piece of fish that I have had in at least two years. At dessert time I concentrated mostly on the seasonal fruit crisp and ice cream, so wonderful that I was seriously considering following my granddaughter's lead and ordering another one. The wine list was quite interesting, and I saw several wines that I would have liked to try. What I ordered was the 2011 Bien Nacido Chardonnay, a wonderful understated sort of chardonnay. This wine was of interest since Bien Nacido vineyard supplies grapes to my favorite California winery. I was unaware that the vineyard had started up a winery. This I found out from our waitress, who in addition to being knowledgeable also gave us great service. We would all love to have some more meals here.
(5)Zach B.
Kind of a hole in the wall location, and not too impressive setting. But food was tasty and unique. Pork Belly Bites were delicious. Black Cod dish was pretty good. I like the fact that their menu changes often. Good friendly service.
(4)Ted R.
Once again the fellow Yelpers hit the nail on the head. This place rivals any restaurant I have eaten at. The service was attentive and friendly. Quick but not rushed. We had Veal sweetbread and an Arugula Plum Salad that were both very good. For the entree my wife had the Bass. It is grilled and served whole (head and all). Perfectly cooked and served at the right temp. I had the Red wine braised wild boar. As tender as anything meat I have ever enjoyed. The creamed polenta was hot and tasty. Because the meal was so good we opted to try 3 desserts. Red Plum Semifreddo Chocolate and caramel pot du creme and the Ugly tart cookie Trying turned out to be consuming. Lastly they served an excellent french press and when it was served the server informed me that it had only steeped for 1 minute. Most excellent. service! Open a place in Seattle!!!
(5)Jes W.
Wow! We has a great meal here-- thanks to the yelp recs! The food was wonderful, and definitely get coffee after dinner. It's really , really good! On Thursday night if you make reservations you can reserve a special. It looked wonderful.! This is a great place!
(5)Kyra K.
Pretty good food and friendly, prompt service. However, the servers were also surprisingly pushy and the atmosphere felt stingy, which detracted from the experience. (Having to "warn the kitchen" that they were seating two people without reservations, asking "What wine will you be having" instead of "if", suggesting the two most expensive entrees, urging us to order salads & more appetizers after we already ordered the aforementioned entrees and an appetizer, giving each customer exactly one slice of bread, clearing the bread plates immediately afterwards without offering more, placing dessert menus in front of us after the main course without prompting, offering coffee twice with the dessert...) For a restaurant that seems to aim for modern classiness, this was a setback. On to better things, however. - Bread: Chewy, flavorful, delicious - Soy glazed chicken wings: Slightly too spiced for my taste and with slightly dry drumettes, but the wings were cooked well - "famous" deviled eggs: Far too strong on the mustard for me - Ribeye with sherry-shallot butter: Perfectly medium rare and flavorful (and I appreciated that the waitress specifically asked if the temperature was to my liking), with decent potato wedges/fries on the side - Halibut: Nicely breaded and cooked, though I didn't care for the odd carrot + rice side - Lemon pot de creme: Tart, fresh, and tasty! It also happened to pair well with the other dessert... - Strawberry rhubarb crisp: Odd at first bite, but increasingly delicious as we ate the whole thing - some with bites of the lemon creme. The only issue was a lack of crunch in the "crisp", which was entirely soft. I would go back for the dessert, to try other entrees, and to see if the weird service is consistent.
(4)Kitty F.
After dining here several more times since my first review, I've decided to up my rating to the full five stars. Why? JJ101 consistently has the BEST staff in Abq. Prompt, attentive, welcoming, polite, but never overbearing. I have the impression that good waitstaff is hard to come by in this town (based on experiences at other restaurants), so I hope these guys stick around!
(5)Richard M.
I had their winter 2013 menu was not the best the lamb hearts we started out with was good. The rest was ok. Steak was too salty and the curry just was not hitting the spot.
(3)Garth O.
Seriously..... we cant accommodate moderate sized parties without renting out the whole restaurant? Decent food overall but not my fave.
(3)Alexis J.
Small menu, with gems like duck breast in a rich red chile sauce and chocolate pot de creme. Starting the meal off with an amuse bouche of house-made pickles really sets the tone. A nice casual dining spot, though with stellar seasonal dishes.
(4)Rand R.
We recently dined here on New Year's Eve for JJ101's special prix fixe 5-course meal. Overall we were delighted with the experience. The food was delightful -- deviled egg with caviar, cream of celery root and black truffle soup with a delightful buttery parmesan roll, roasted beet and stilton salad, lobster with a delightful browned butter sauce, and a fantastic dessert combo of just made carmel apple fritter and a chocolate pot de creme. Fantastic! It was pretty pricey, particularly when the bar tab and added gratuity were factored in, but well worth it for an extra special celebration. The only negative we had came at the beginning--we were seated but waited a fairly long time without a visit from the waitstaff. I had to flag her down and ask that she take a drink order to get us started. At the very high price of the dinner, one should reasonably expect the best service. After this initial bump in the road, it was smooth and attentive for the rest of our 2.5 hour meal. Carefully selected menu, locally sourced food where possible, and a nice open kitchen. I've been following Jennifer since she was a sous chef at Chef du Jour. She's a real pro and so, so friendly. I appreciate her approach to food.
(4)gerard n.
Wonderful dinner! Fresh ingredients, imaginative presentation, unique flavor or combinations. Located incongruously in a strip mall between some fast foods joints. Once inside you are in a welcoming space with bright colors. Try the lusty monk devices eggs, the beef tartare, and the Arugula salad. Entrees are all good - esp the pot a feu. Tasty deserts too. Service is spot on. Snag a seat adjacent tithe kitchen and watch the magic. Jennifer and the staff are welcoming. Enjoy!
(4)Jeff P.
Location is weird. Food was mediocre. Service was a little snooty for the Querque. I appreciate that the menu was creative, but this place was just ok.
(3)Cris B.
Very nice find if a place that exists on well deserved word-of-mouth. Great service, a reasonably priced wine list, and a very small but tasty menu. Small portions but therefore perfect size. Jazz music I liked but my wife didn't. Don't be out off by the tiny strip mall location, but also don't be choosy when faced with limited but daily menu. And all the food was really good.
(4)Lyssa D.
Ok, Happy Valentines Day, I had a great meal at JJ's. it was a prix fixe menu, and it was totally wonderful. My sweetie was out of town so I went out with a bunch of friends, and had a fabulous dinner. I highly recommend!
(5)Nicole O.
We went for a girlfriends birthday. All 7 of us had an amazing time. The food and wine was delicious. The service was great and I would return with my husband for a date night. I would only recommend more By the Glass options, I know my girlfriends all have different taste profiles when it comes to wine.
(4)Jessica B.
I love this restaurant! Jennifer is one of the best chefs in Albuquerque so everything on the menu is fantastic! I always try something different and have never been disappointed!
(5)Ryan D.
This restaurant was excellent. A place for food-lovers... and foodies* too I guess. I love the open kitchen (one of the signs of a quality chef-run restaurant) and the tighter seating because eating out is supposed to be a social experience. The food was made by a place and people in good spirits. There is just something about eats that are made and served by people who enjoy doing it, and not in a fake, brown-nosing kind of way. I'm not talking metaphysical BS about energy and other nonsensical things that make me want to have a brain-fart. I simply mean to imply that the food, mood, and experience go a step up in quality. I had the simple green salad. It was great, though the dressing was a tad too sweet for my taste... no biggie. My duck with rice and chard were excellent too. Lastly, the little caramel creme sweet with a glass of madeira was amazing. Though the desert rocked my world, the salad and duck didn't blow me away. How do I put it? It was just top-notch and puts a smile on your face. If I come back through Albuquerque, this will be my first stop. Bravo and cheers. * If you foodies out there are going to sit next to me in nice restaurants and not socialize with anyone else around you, please do your best to keep to yourself your non sequitur dribble of wannabe food-intellect and randomized comments about worldly travels that are a sad attempt to build a veneer of social-affluence. It's funny how your volume goes up as you try to drop names and places. Uhg. And if you are going to be so pretentious to not finish your properly-portioned meals, it's okay to get a to-go box. I'm sure no one will make fun of you because none of us really want to socialize with you anyway. But then again, you might not of had enough time to ask for one because you kept on using words like "fantastic" and "fabulous" over and over again while trying to get the server to pass on your regards to the chef who was just 15 feet away. Uhg. Don't you have a home?
(5)Erik E.
Easily one of if not the best fine dining in Albuquerque. One visit and you can see why Jennifer James has been nominated again and again by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef in the Southwest (she WILL win at some point). This is a MUST VISIT place for out-of-town foodie types when passing through New Mexico. It's the kind of place that usually would gravitate toward Phoenix, Santa Fe, or Las Vegas. Thankfully, Jennifer James has a soft spot for ABQ and sees to it that we are all fed well. I've uploaded a few pictures. Suffice it to say the food is shear awesomeitude! I will also mention that this is one of the few restaurants in town that has impeccable service. And by impeccable, I mean comfortable, attentive, trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. ... Okay, I might've gotten a little carried away, but you get the idea.
(5)Tawnya M.
I need to give this resturant another shot I think. I ordered the special that day which was not discribed well. It was a braised meat, I want to say short rib or pork belly...which I love, however it was not clear until it arrived that it was stroganoff. Not a very classy or tasty dish, but maybe it was an off day for them. The waitress was greag as was the bread and ambiance. Unfortunately the two ladies in the open style kitchen did not seem happy about being there that day, happiness bleeds into food as does discord. I love the idea of this restaurant and what they are trying to achieve and because of that I will try them again.
(2)Laurie G.
We have dined at Jennifer James many times over the last couple years and had recommend the restaurant to all of our friends. Unfortunately, we had 1 disappointing dinner experience and 2 very disappointing service experiences with the same server at Jennifer James. In the first instance, two entrees did not agree my partner and, as a result, she did not eat her food that evening. In the second instance, the service was very poor and the server was insulting. He was so rude (and we tried to speak with someone about it, but was told no one was available) that we did not leave a tip, something we had never done before at any restaurant and it should be noted that we always leave a generous gratuity as we know how hard people work to serve others having worked as a server in the past. Instead of calling or emailing us directly and finding out what happened and why a longstanding patron acted out of character, one of the owners called me back after I left a reservation request to literally yell at me because we had expressed dissatisfaction about the food in the first scenario and the server in the second scenario. Unfortunately, the owner was not interested in listening at all. She just wanted to blame us for being dissatisfied and express her rage. It was truly a bizarre, unprofessional, and shocking phone call and I've never experienced anything like it before. As a result of this experience, we can no longer recommend Jennifer James. Patrons beware if you even think of expressing your dissatisfaction in one form or another. Jennifer James is not interested in listening and you will be demonized and potentially banned from the restaurant for doing so. Perhaps, this insane behavior is why they consistently do not receive the James Beard award?
(1)Heidi G.
Hands down the best restaurant in Albuquerque. The menu changes seasonally and is always so good. The decor is modern and the staff pays attention to detail. If you like great food and exemplary service... Eat here. It's the finest dining abq has to offer!
(5)Dan S.
Just a terribly overrated place; the reasons this is one star and not two are the arrogant and bad service, and the general lack of selection. I'm honestly embarrassed that this receives such good reviews, given that ABQ lives in the shadow of Santa Fe. There are easily two dozen (or more) places with superior food, and just about anywhere could top the service. Details: salt, salt and more salt in the soups ... entrees not timed well. Unimaginative combinations ... no need to go on. Go elsewhere.
(1)Margaret M.
For what you pay, which is moderate to high, I can only give 3.5 stars for which yelp has no half sizes (and it fell closer to 3 than 4). After water it took 20 min.s to get drinks. Refills? Tricky... Solution - order by the bottle? OR more attentive waitstaff? The food - hit & miss. Avacado, Serrano, beet salad = winner. Mussels w/ chorizo = good unless you score two bad mussels, interesting flavor profile (pun intended). Watching chefs sneak bites at closing? Do they lick their fingers too? I don't mean to sound dismal - there is potential here, but service and behind the scenes just needs a little polishing for it to really shine.
(3)Larry C.
About as good as it gets in Albuquerque. The wife and I went here on Tuesday 4/24 for a birthday dinner and we were pleasantly surprised. This relatively small restaurant has a very European vibe to it. Situated in a strip mall it is easily missed. Once inside the decor is cool and sophisticated. The menu is small, about 8 entrees and half a dozen starters, with the usual 2 or 3 chef's specials every night. Since this was our first visit, we ordered relatively conservatively. We started with the roast artichoke, which was excellent. Cooked well, and seasoned with an olive oil, garlic and capers. It was tender and flavorful. My wife had the halibut and I had the filet. Both were cooked properly. There is a horrible tendency in NM to over cook fish. Fortunately They didn't. The fish was moist and delicious. The filet, ordered medium rare, was coked to order with a warm red center. For desert we split the lemon pie with sweet and sour cream. What a treat, it was superb, and a not over the top desert. Since I have had many upscale dinners ruined by terrible restaurant coffee, I was happy to see that they served a French press of fresh coffee. The wine list is small but thoughtful. I usually order conservative dishes when I first try a restaurant. After all, if they can't cook a simple dish, I don't expect they will be successful at something more complex. However, after this wonderful experience, we will definitely be more adventuresome when we return.
(5)Randolph C.
Driving across the US from Metro DC I had one of the best surprise meals in a long time. This rivals any of the 5 star places in the the major markets. Everything was delicious, in a this small quaint venue with excellent service. The menu changes frequently but I had Local greens salad with fresh plums and Duck for a main course. The duck was prepared perfectly was served with Kale and cilantro. The chile gravy and cilantro added a touch of the southwest which was fitting for Albuquerque. Finished with ice wine and Chocolate-Carmel mousse. If you want a unexpected culinary delight while in New Mexico Jennifer James 101 does it right. Cheers.
(5)Chris R.
Wow, in AB! This was very, very nice. Salmon was prepared perfectly. Served with a cole slaw that was tangy and delicious. Unpretentious, relaxing, good service. Not expensive. Coming back.
(5)Pier S.
I had the pleasure of eating here on 12/27/12 - think it was the 3rd or 4th time. Sometimes you have a good experience, go back, so so, you go back again and wonder why you gave it another shot. NOT the case here - every time has been perfection. Mi hombre had the ruby trout, which came with "mustardy" green lentils and a celery salad (can't speak to the trout but the sides were different and interesting), I had the risotto (creamy earthy mushroom yum) and we both had the curry cauliflower soup. The soup had a nice subtle curry flavor and the Faze Battaglia, Verdicchio is the right wine to go with it. We were stuffed but that didn't stop us from ordering dessert and coffee. I have no idea the how the lime caviar on the chocolate pots de creme is made but I won't soon forget the intense taste. The servers are friendly and unobtrusive and I really like seeing the owners working the stove. I'm not a food snob, detest the word/notion "foodie" but damn, I love this place! It would make me move to Albuquerque and never look back. I gotta add that I feel for the guy who reviewed this place and had to sit next to the insufferable "foodie" crowd. They tend to congregate at what they perceive is "the best" and just have to let strangers know how special they are. I'd like to remind those "foodies" that they did not invent Food - NO ONE is interested in their banal snobbery. Please, do everyone who wants a night out without their pretentious prattle a huge favor and go buy organic everything (hopefully it comes from the third world where it gets washed with bleach, sprayed silly and then shipped to Whole Foods), stay home and Cook Your Special Food at your double oven 20 burner stoves and knock yourselves out.
(5)Robin C.
We had the $25.00 dinner special of salad, lamb and beef meatballs with polenta in tomato sauce and a chocolate dessert that was like a huge truffle. Everything was incredibly tasty. We were the earliest customers, so the service was great. Everyone was friendly. A very attractive place - some of the seating is practically in the kitchen. Nice selection of wines; quite a few half bottles. We've eaten here before and felt then that every course was the best we'd ever had. We still marvel over the apple crisp. When I read the on-line menus I often have to google some of their food terms as they're unfamiliar and JJ101 doesn't explain. You have to have an adventurous spirit for some of the entrees, but we've never been disappointed.
(5)Neil K.
Excellent in all aspects. Had a 3 course meal with bread. It was flawless.
(5)Borjangles N.
I have to give this place some kudos. Holy cow, they make some phenomenal, over the top, extremely well throughout dishes. The cook is a genius with pairings. From, the appetizer to the dessert, this is one of the best restaurants in town. It's food is hip, contemporary, and well-rounded. It may be in a odd location, but this is one restaurant foodies have to try. oh and yes, they change up their menus. It's an actual fine dining establishment that takes pride in their food and what they serve to customers!
(5)Lil L.
We came here on a Saturday night while visiting New Mexico for the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Here are a few pros and cons that compose my rating of 2 stars: Pros: -Nice Ambiance -They have Fiji water -Open kitchen so you can see the people at work and a 'clean kitchen' :) -The dessert was the best part of the meal ... It was a caramel tart with sea salt or something. -They were quick to fill our water during dinner ... Cons: -We sat down and got our menus...it took nearly 25 minutes for the waiter to come by to introduce herself and take our order.... (aggravation begins... ) -We waited another 10 minutes before getting our complimentary bread and sweet butter. - Our waiter was rather awkward.... I dont know if it is the fact that she was new or shy. But you could barely hear her when giving recommendations, taking order, or even coming by to attempt to make casual talk. She just seemed ...socially awkward... -We had the foie gras ... and I was not impressed. Ive only had it 2 other times, so maybe not enough to compare. But the texture was too creamy and too rich. I was expecting a pineapple jelly or some sort of garnish with it. But it came with a few leaves of salad. The salad alone was good but it just didnt taste well with the foie gras ... they didnt compliment each other. -I ordered the rib eye. It was perfectly cooked medium rare...However ...it was unevenly and overly salted in many areas of the steak. -One of the bus boys had an arm full of tattoos and he rolled his sleeves up so it was up in your face when he passed by or served you. Not to discriminate but ...if I am in a fancy restaurant... and I am paying $35 for a piece of meat and $7 water.... please keep your body art on the street or in your clothes. In conclusion.... My friends and I are from California so we are no stranger to fine wine and dining. If you are going to put a slab of meat in front of me for $35 bucks, you better much sure its so impeccably made that I'm gonna lick my plate when I'm done. And in this case, I would have been licking a plate of salt. The rib eye was so drenched in salt I couldnt finish my meal. 3 of us ordered rib eyes and we all agreed...the chef over did it with the salt. In all honesty - Jennifer James 101 ... if you want to put that type of price tag on your food, live up to it, own up to it. I dont think I will be going back or recommending people to go there. Good atmosphere, wrong type of people running the tables. Food - inconsistent. It didnt taste like the 5/5 star reviews that we read on Yelp before going there. I left the restaurant very disappointed. It just didnt hit the spot. The 2nd night in NM ...we yelped a 4/5 star vietnamese restaurant to get some 'beef noodle pho soup.' $5.75 a bowl and it hit a homerun with me.
(2)Danny D.
Fantastic. Friendly happy open customer service. Bargain pricing (well I'm not from NM so who knows, but it feels really cheap compared to Santa Barbara). Amazing trout, perfectly cooked with a little crisp, yum. The deciles eggs were quite nice. You can tell the chef/owner is really passionate about her food, it's lovely. Pleasure to eat here can't wait to come back and try other things and leave room for desert! :)
(5)Kimmy V.
I love this restaurant, quality food is served here. Make an appointment for this restaurant as seating is limited. Its really hard to find a good restaurants these days that you can actually sit down with a date and actually hear the conversation you are having; however, Jennifer James101 defintely delivers. If you are lucky you can make reservations to be seated at a table behind the kitchen to see the Chef in action. We've gone here at least twice and will be coming back again. Her menus change from season to season and has speciality menus on occassion. On the occassion we've been at Jennifer James we have ordered their spare ribs, rib eye, foie gras, mushroom soup, green salad, chocolate Pot de creme, and basil mint ice cream. Try smearing on your foie gras on your bread....just awesome! Everything was delicious and has so much depth. They also serve warm ciabbatta bread with honey butter on the side. The meats that I have ordered at the restaurant were velvetty and so flavorful. I have not tried any fish or poultry items so I cannot comment, but A+ on the meats. Jennifer James, thanks for giving me faith that there is good quality food in ABQ!
(5)Debbie H.
We are here in Albuquerque thinking that the only food is Mexican and Thai (llok at the yelp reviews!!!), but as we continue to scroll through the restaurants we find JJ101. OK, I say. This is looking good as my stomach needs a rest from the hot and spicy stuff. Well, the place is fabulous. We had the rib eye special. Now I have eaten steak at every....yes every, famous steakhouse in the US....this was right up there with every one of them. In fact, I would say it was better than most. Nick was our waiter, he was very good. And a cutie!! Pasta was great, salad yummy.......we are fans. Go here and go now!!
(5)B. D.
Brought a group of 9 persons for dinner last night and loved the place ! We had the salmon, bass, steak, and a north african couscous-like dishes and all the dishes had loads of flavors (especially the couscous) and were perfectly prepared. Service was attentive without being obtrusive. All in all, a great find in ABQ :)
(5)Eric And Jennifer R.
We had 3-4 business dinners at JJ101. We wanted to impress our candidates we were recruiting. The building does not look like much. I drove by it the first time I went there. Don't let the exterior fool you. It is a culinary experience you must try in Albuquerque. Reservations recommended. The menu changes with the seasons. However, a few items stay on the menu such as the chickpea fries, deviled eggs, wings, and braised beef. Our group has tried everything on the menu including the desserts. We left with empty plates. She creates creative combinations with texture and layers of flavor. You can watch Chef James create her dishes in the kitchen. The service is excellent. They are attentive and discrete. Appetizers are $6-10; salads $14-27; entree $14-35; desserts $10-12. Very reasonable for the dining experience -equivalent to top restaurants in Chicago, New York and San Fran. Every candidate we brought to JJ101 accepted our offer. A plus for us!
(5)Eddie L.
A very unassuming storefront and located on a strip mall right next to a burger joint. A small intimate place with seating for 40. White table cloth and modern decor. The squash soup was so smooth and natural tasting; I can only taste the squash and butter. Simple accompaniments(romaine lettuce and tomatoes) with the perfect pork belly-crispy on the outside and melt in the mouth fat. The sauce, oh how wonderfully spicy, is a perfect match for the pork belly. The service was great, attentive yet non-intrusive. The brownie dessert was delightful, especially paired with the banana ice-cream. Taste like they mushed ripe banana and blended with plain ice-cream. The only negative, which took away a star, was that the dinner roll was way too crunchy so the crumps were all over the place.
(4)Brandon S.
I'm going to agree with Mark P. down below and say this is one of Albuquerque's best. I have been here twice and have never been disappointed. I actually found this restaurant by searching the 2011 James Beard Foundation awards - Jennifer James was named Best Chef of the Southwest and I can see why. If you're in the neighborhood stop by, but make sure to make reservations because there is usually a wait.
(4)Frances S.
Good! We were happy with the quiet feel and the halibut and steak we ordered were very good. Good wine suggestions. We'd definitely go back.
(5)Liz K.
Primary course started out a little rough but the secondary course-ribeye for my husband and the vegetable tartin for me was wonderful. Our desserts were very delicious-chocolate pudding and a chocolate layer cake-YUM. Could have done without the mini-cookie however.
(4)Lynne H.
It's hard to pigeonhole the type of food served here. My spouse called it American comfort food taken to its limit, and I guess that's as good a description as any. Stripped down to the basics, my dinner was nothing more than salad, potato pancakes, grilled poultry, and egg custard. My spouse's dinner consisted of chicken vegetable soup, potato pancakes, stew with mashed potatoes, and brownie with ice cream for dessert. But the interpretation of these humble dishes is what makes Jennifer James one of the most popular chefs in town. We started with chicken and vegetable soup (for my spouse), a salad (for me) and smoked trout potato fritters (shared). The soup was full flavored but nothing unusual. The salad (arugula, thinly sliced celery, walnut halves, fig bits, and cheese slivers) was a delicious combination. If you like smoked fish, though, as we do, the fritters are a must-have if they're being offered that day. Mashed potato and bits of smoked trout were rolled into small logs and flash fried, and served on a bed of arugula, pickled onions, and pecan halves. The taste of hot smoky fish smiting one in the face at that first bite was memorable. For entrees we chose the grilled quail and the citrus braised lamb. The two quail were deboned, smoky, and tender, and served with a small square of pecan pie topped with foie gras, a combination that worked surprisingly well. It's odd to think of foie gras as being used to cut the taste of anything, but its slight meatiness really did balance the sweetness of the pecan pie. And the lamb? Perfectly trimmed, fork-tender chunks of lamb meat and intense lamb gravy ladled over mashed potatoes, topped with a scoop of goat cheese to enhance the lamb flavor even further. Mmmmmm. The evening's meal culminated with a perfect brownie (chewy and crusty at the same time) topped with a scoop of mint ice cream that tasted of fresh peppermint, and a flan that perfectly balanced creaminess and egginess. (I hate it when restaurants advertise flan and then serve a creme brulee that's all cream and no egg, but this was just right.) The total bill (which also included decaf coffee for two, and a glass of California merlot) came to right around $100. If the meal had been around $75, we would have thought it a reasonable value. As it was, we felt it was a bit expensive. But the food was great, and we'll likely come back again for special occasions, just not as often as we would if it were prices were a bit lower. Reservations recommended.
(4)Maggie P.
If you love good food, you'd be crazy not to eat here. I know others feel this way because I saw three people eating there alone. I had the crab cake starter, which was full of crab and yummy mayo. The greens that came with it were the freshest greens I have had in a while. Then I had the duck with fried kale and scalloped potatoes and parsnips. I finished every bite. I loved that my table looked directly into the kitchen and I could see all of the action. That was a real treat. If I ever hear of people going to Albuquerque, I'll definitely be recommending Jennifer James.
(5)Alice S.
This was my favorite fine dining ABQ restaurant until my birthday dinner 12/11. Two of us got lamb, medium rare. It came to the table VERY rare, so my friend sent her's back for more cooking. I (mistakenly, in retrospect) kept mine. The meat was incredibly tough--really almost impossible to chew! I wish I'd sent it back and asked for something else, but didn't want to make a fuss at the time. Everything else I've ever had there has been top notch. DON'T GET THE LAMB! I went there w/ my sister, visiting from MA two years ago, and I recall her saying her lamb was tough, also, but I thought she maybe was just being picky.
(4)Patrick F.
Hands down the best meal I've had in Albuquerque in the 3 years I've lived here. Each course is amazing. It's a small restaurant and the owner can be seen as the hostess/waitress/cook throughout the night, very hands on and her love of food is very evident.
(5)Randy T.
Wow! What a taste bud treat. This was a first time. Did not know it even existed. Thank you sunny for gift certificate. First where on Menual is this place. Thank goodness for map quest. This place is in no where land but worth the find. Upon entering the place we were greeted by a warm welcoming guy. I thought maybe I was under dressed wearing jeans n sweater but no, he was more casual than us, but very pleasant. We were seated, the room is small with tables close to one another, no problem. Staff were friendly, knowledgeable about wines and food for the evening. Deviled egg half was creamy and very tasty. Omg, the soup was to die for, creamy, flavorful, and for once hoy. Thank you. The beets and pork belly was a taste bud delight, flavorful, unique, and well displayed. Ig you like lobster this is the place, especially if you don't mind the risotto tasting fishy. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection, omg. Carrots were tender unfortunately the mashed potatoes were a disappointment, very tasteless. But wait, the desserts were incredible. The apple tart was crunchy, flavorful with powdered sugar and size of a walnut, I wanted more! The chocolate pudding was soooo good and I don't like pudding. It was rich in chocolate and topped with very thick creamy whipped topping. Over all everything was so tasty, well presented, but extremely small in portions and extremely high in price. We had water and a glass of prosecco for $213.00. They automatically added 20 percent for tip. It was great what was there but way over priced.
(3)Jerry M.
went for a friends birthday last night. excellent soups, great wines and a fantastic menu. excellent service and completely fresh produce. A must visit when in albuquerque or if you live here and enjoy great food.
(4)Cassidy Z.
How it took my husband and I so long to check out this local fine dining establishment is beyond me but we are so glad we did. Everything was WONDERFUL from beginning to end. Our server greeted us with a smile and was very attentive (but not overly) throughout the entire experience. They have a very nice, well-rounded wine list (minimal beer options) from $25 bottles to the incredibly expensive. We opted for a crisp brut rosé and were very happy. We started our meal with the shrimp, greens and grits appetizer, which was DELICIOUS. The shrimp were large and perfectly cooked--paired with the greens and creamy grits was nothing short of divine. (If you get the large order, this could easily be an incredibly satisfying main course.) We also each had a half deviled egg, the chef speciality, which was also great. For dinner, I started with their light summer salad, a refreshing mix of greens, avocado, cucumber and a lime vinaigrette. This was followed by the bbq pork collar which was melt-in-my-mouth tender. My husband had the prime rib, while the others in our party had the carrot and pork soup (YUM) and the light order of the sweet corn tamale. Overall, their menu is small and navigable, with lots of incredible options for a discerning diner. For dessert, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the sea salt caramel mousse, the perfect blend of sweet and salty. I finished the meal with a french press coffee. The restaurant is small, maybe serving 40 people at maximum, so make sure and get a reservation!
(5)Travel'en C.
Very good food - delicious, nicely seasoned, not overly salted like some higher-end places tend to lean. From the moment we walked In and were greeted by the very cute/friendly hostess to desert, everything was really top shelf. So... Why only four stars on ask? Well, there was four of us and when we got the bill, we asked to simply have it cut down the middle, split up evenly over two cards...simple enough. I've waited tables for years when I was younger - I never put up a fuss right? Anyway, the lady/server who brought us out bill, who was also different than the server we originally thought we had (although the server assistant was really the only person providing service to our table FYI), this new person went on to tell us that there was going to be an automatic 20% gratuity added to a split check. I said really, there's only four of us and we just wanted cut down the middle and supposed we wanted to add more gratuity??? Anyway, they added it. Lol. Unbelievable. We weren't a party of 8 or asking to have it broken out either... Pretty simple math - divide by two. Lol. Well, I signed the credit card slip that had the 20% gratuity added and we left. After a nice meal, what do you think the four of us talked about as we walked out? Lol. That rule of theirs is a bold assumption that really infers that Amal groups who ask to split the bill are inherently cheap - lol. At least that how it made is feel. I entertain weekly 1-3 nights a week for business throughout many states. I've never experienced this before for a small group of four. You might want to rethink this rule Jen. :(. Not exactly the last thing you'd want your guest to think-talk about as they leave.
(4)Jordana G.
Champagne by the glass is lovely. Larger than average amount in the glass, more like 8 oz instead of 5. So few places offer it. Had a savory watermelon salad with ricotta salata, mint and black pepper. Light and delicious. The fresh figs with fried pork jowl and caramelized onions were a tad sweet, but very good. Duck breast rubbed with lavender and peaches was delicious. Crispy skin and cooked perfectly. Basil ice cream and salted caramel custard were spectacular desserts. Excellent service, attentive but not stifling. Modern decor tastefully done. Open kitchen. Very professional, very urban. Felt like we were dining in a major city, not ABQ.
(5)Nita M.
We went because we had a gift card. Truthfully I never heard of this place before and it's right by my house! Below is how the evening went: 1. I called to make the suggested reservation and was told, "I don't know, we just may not have space for you." We were the only table for a half hour. 2. There were a lot of people working who loved paying attention to each other but paid little attention to us. They were very friendly with each other but very snobbish with us. 3. The food was good but I can get the same quality for the same price at other restaurants I like better. Except for the fries. They cook them to a crisp because it's "their way" so unless you want to chip a tooth, don't order fries. 4. I was done eating before my husband and my plate wasn't cleared until my husband was done 10 minutes later (even though our table was walked by several times by employees including our server). 5. The chef/owner? Talked to every table in the restaurant except us. I see no need to return. The server seemed very put off that I only tipped her 15%. She's lucky she got that much.
(1)Heidi B.
I love love love Jennifer James. Everything I've had has been fantastic. It's definitely worth the price. Everywhere else I've been in town with comparable prices just let me down. My only complaint is I don't always love what's on the menu (I'm picky), but it changes seasonally, so I just have to be patient. I also really like that so much of the food is local and organic. High quality food and great taste.
(5)Juan F.
I believe this is my second one star review in my many years on yelp. Where do I begin? The restaurant wants desperately to be considered a gourmet sanctuary for the culinary elite of Albuquerque. Their menu prices fit the bill for gourmet, but nothing else does. The restaurant is tucked into a dimly lit strip center with a confused parking situation. You can't easily find the thing from the street because they're too good for a decent sign, or any sort of advertisement. The ambiance is more lawyers office than classy cuisine. Its in a very small space that seats around 30, but is somehow not cozy or inviting at all. They had a wait staff of I think five for this tiny restaurant, but still took a very long time to come and take our drink orders, an even longer time to take our orders, and yet still longer for the food. In all I think it was about 45-50 minutes from being seated before we were eating. Our plates also sat empty on the table for a good ten minutes before being removed. Now, apparently this restaurant changes their menu every season. Its a gimmick high end fares (or at least restaurants wishing to be high end, like this one) use so they can have a very simple 4 or 5 item menu but convince people to return because it will be a different 4 or 5 item menu at a later date. Its a good gimmick when your food is exceptional and people wish to return to try something new from you. I'll never return, so it's lost on me, The menu they currently have ("Winterim 2014", or what a clever portmanteau!) has two vegetarian options, both of them salads. As a vegetarian, this was very disappointing. Usually the more gourmet restaurants pride themselves on catering to different appetites, but not this one. The salad I ordered was itself maybe a quarter portion of a salad at a normal restaurant, and contained lettuce and walnuts and dressing, and that was it. So if you are a vegetarian, don't even bother walking in the door. Of the six people with us who weren't vegetarian and who ordered four different entrees, all but one were dramatically unimpressed with their meals. The pork was overdone and leathery, while the other fares were rated at best "so-so" by my co-diners. I left disappointed, and so did most of the party with us. I was only happy that, unlike the rest of the party, my measly salad was only $10 instead of the $20-40 entrees everyone else was saddled with. So if you are a meat eater, you could walk in the door, but you're probably better off walking into the cafeteria style burger joint next door.
(1)D M.
Simply stated; quaint setting, attentive and friendly staff, and exceptional cuisine. Dine there regularly and highly recommend to anyone. JJ and team are the real deal. DM
(4)Mark R.
Had been meaning to try this restaurant for over a year and it did not disappoint. Really great. Food was amazing. Service was perfect. Ever had chickpea fries? You can here. Could have probably eaten just those all night. Highly recommend the halibut and the sweet corn risotto entrees. Friend said the cheeseburger on the English muffin was the best burger he ever had. Give it a try!
(5)Stephen G.
Jennifer James 101 is serious about haut cuisine, and their menu prices reflect that fact. Every Thursday evening, however, the restaurant offers a special three-course meal for a modest $25 (drinks not included). The menu for the $25 meal is fixed, but you can find out ahead of time what the restaurant will be serving at their website ( jenniferjames101.com ). There are a limited number of $25 meals available so you need to make a reservation and tell them that you want the $25 special. When I partook of the Thursday special, the meal started with a chilled mango soup. The beautiful yellow-orange soup was delicious. In the center of the soup bowl was a mounded mixture of crabmeat morsels, serrano pepper slices, and fresh cilantro. The crab was a match for the sweetness of the mango, and the peppers and cilantro balanced the soup with spice and herb. (I admit that the serrano peppers were too hot for this Connecticut Yankee, and I took most of them out.) This was a great start to the meal. The entrée was grilled ono, a fish that was unknown to me. Ono (which means "good to eat" in Hawaiian) is more commonly known as wahoo. There were two three-inch steaks, each about three-quarter inch thick. Grill marks made the steaks attractive, and they were cooked medium (i.e. cooked completely through). Any further cooking would have made the fish too dry. A small sphere of lime butter added a little richness to the ono. The fish was served with green rice, long-grain rice tossed together with fresh parsley and possibly some other herbs. Cooking rice is tricky. Jennifer Jones did it right with each grain being light, tender, and separate so that it could be easily tossed with the herbs to make a good mixture. The herbs were not minced too much, so they retained their fresh appearance, texture and flavor. The green rice was a fine example of doing the small things right to make a simple dish a memorable one as well. Dessert consisted of a lemon bar with a toasted meringue. The lemon bar wasn't as gooey as grandma's, but it was excellent. The pyramidal meringue was perfectly executed, moist on the inside with just a light char on the outside. The meringue added more moisture to the dish and was a foil for the tart and sweet lemon bar. Like the soup, the ono and the rice, this was a simple dish elevated by perfect execution and something extra and unexpected. I should mention that bread and butter preceded the soup. Service was prompt, friendly, and attentive without being intrusive. With two glasses of wine and two pots of tea with dessert, the total bill (including taxes and tip) was $97. I consider that a bargain.
(5)Jade H.
We really enjoyed the food. Service was wonderful. The only thing that irked me was that no one said goodbye when we left. The menu changes, but if you go soon, I recommend the chickpea fries and the ribeye.
(4)Sachielle S.
Don't believe the hype. The service was mediocre and the food salty. What a waste of my hard earned money.
(1)Danielle S.
Hands down 5 stars. Specials were outstanding. Simplicity is the key and this place made the lock.
(5)Jane V.
We were impressed!! The food and service were great. We went in late August during their tomato season. Everything was savory and loaded with fresh local tomatoes. It was a more expensive meal for us, but worth it. I highly recommend the chickpea fries.
(5)David B.
I had the spiced rubbed lamb shank and it had a wonderful combination of seasonings, texture and flavor. Service was great and coffee with our dessert was served in a French press. This is a great little dinning corner if you are ever this way.
(4)Caroline C.
Again, the genius that is Jennifer James! Just got back from having dinner. We shared the tomato & marinated kale salad & the pickled vegetables & cheese plate. Sounds so simple; but as everyone knows simple is the hardest thing to do because the margin for error is HUGE. We could taste ALL the different flavors accented by the complemented seasonings. So very amazing. My husband ordered the pork & peach entree; so amazing. The pork was tender, perfectly seasoned & just mouth watering with the grilled peaches & arugula salad. I opted for the BEST green chili cheese burger EVER; perfectly salted, juicy, spicy, melt in your mouth great. Dessert was perfect with double shot chocolate mousse. A few bites of sheer decadence on the tongue. Last time we were at JJ101 was when we were married. Chef James has only gotten better with time. Can't wait to see what she does next. Absolutely great cooking.
(5)Cristina M.
Considering this place is near me, it's hard to believe I just now tried it. I think I'm still trying to digest (ha ha, no pun intended) my opinion of the place. I realize it is in a strip mall in a non-distinct part of town (Midtown) so because of that, I think I expected the atmosphere to be slightly cozier and nicer to make up for it. It was nice enough, but I mostly felt like I was eating in any old random restaurant in a strip mall. Maybe the lighting was too bright. Anyway... My colleague and I brought a job candidate to JJ for dinner. Despite what some Yelpers have said, I found the service to be very attentive and not at all rushed, which was quite nice (we spent two hours there). Our server was friendly, funny, and attentive. We started with the chickpea fries which were served with a chipotle ketchup and a chipotle mayo. These were interesting and tasty. I also had a glass of the 2009 Aleo Tempranillo that was a good choice. My main course was the pan-seared scallops that came on a bed of fried brussel sprouts, bacon, and kimchi. Really interesting flavors (spicy!) that I enjoyed. My scallops were cooked to a medium rare and were a great texture--not at all sandy. I was initially surprised at how small the portion was (only three scallops), but honestly, it was plenty of food. My guest also had the scallops, cooked more and without bacon, while my colleague had the duck breast. I didn't ask if the others enjoyed their meals, but they eat everything, so they must have. For dessert we shared the chocolate burrito and what can almost be described as a chocolate creme brulee (no crunchy top). In summary, the atmosphere makes me want to give them 3 stars, but the food and service was about 4.5 stars. I'll give Jennifer James four stars overall and give it another try some time.
(4)Leslie K.
All in all it was a good experience especially since I couldn't find many interesting restaurants while visiting in-laws in Albuquerque. I had seen the chef on some cooking show...although our waiter said she's only been on local TV. Methinks he does not know much. I had the only vegetarian entree on the menu -- a seasonal dish with butternut squash, greens, and other yummy ingredients. We also enjoyed some chickpea fries. My meat-eating friends seemed to enjoy their meals though they moaned and groaned about paying $14 for a hamburger. Maybe that's why there are so foodie restaurants in ALBQ -- no one wants to pay for it. We were offered regular or sparkling water when we sat down; three of our party of 6 chose sparkling. Both waters were poured from non-descript clear bottles. Turns out we were charged about $7 each for the sparkling. That was a bit of an affront, especially when everything is a la carte.
(4)