TJs on the Avenue in Mentor, Ohio.
This place never ceases to amaze me. It is just a single place without corporate ties, as far as I know, that has some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten. One of my goals is to find the best veal parm in the area, well, bar none, this has been consistently THE best. I have tried many places and, except for some cooked especially for me by the owner of the Lakeshore Lounge, nothing can touch TJs.
My companion and I went on Sunday, 6 January 2008, at approximately 4pm. There were a few people in the waiting area which was confusing at first, but when we asked one of the servers told us to just go up toward the seating area and we would quickly be given a table. She was absolutely correct. Our server was quick to tell us she would be right with us and she was.
Jackie took our drink order and immediately returned, after dropping a plate behind us and making sure we knew that she was trying to entertain the dining room. She then dropped her pen and in a most endearing and self-deprecating manner said it was "just one of those days." We ordered a Veal Parmigana and a Chicken Francaise. My companion LOVED the bread sticks, I, though knowing full well how bad it is for me, would have preferred to have extra butter, but thought better than to ask. She returned within about two minutes with our salad which was quite decent in size and had cucumber, red onion as well as diced tomato and black olives.
Our meals arrived just as the salad was complete, perfect timing, which seems to be very rare these days. My companion's meal occupied two plates to ensure the distinction of the flavors I would imagine, while mine was on one large platter. The pounded was about eight inches by about four and covered, not overbearingly, with a WONDERFUL tomato sauce and some mozzarella cheese. This came with a healthy side of freshly made pasta. The Francaise was pounded chicken breast nearly the same size with a light breading and a lemon based sauce. To me, the lemon was overpowering and took away from the taste of the chicken and the breading, but I don't like chicken breast anyway.
Our server was there when we needed her and was incredibly personable. She acted as if she was truly interested in our opinions and that she could be our friend for the moments we were within TJs. I have to say that in the past year or so that I have been writing these, Jackie is probably the BEST server I have encountered. Managers, use her to show others how it's done. In fact, if you read my other writings here, you will see you might want to hire her out as a consultant. Kudos to you, Jackie. Thanks for a wonderful experience, and kudos to the cook as well.
One suggestion: Tell people where the bathrooms are upon their seating. I hate to have to look around and then walk to explore, especially in a dining room as open as TJs.
(Buggsy (Lori) was that you I saw in the kitchen with your coat on? If so and you own or manage this place, you have done a superb job!)
My companion and I went on Sunday, 6 January 2008, at approximately 4pm. There were a few people in the waiting area which was confusing at first, but when we asked one of the servers told us to just go up toward the seating area and we would quickly be given a table. She was absolutely correct. Our server was quick to tell us she would be right with us and she was.
Jackie took our drink order and immediately returned, after dropping a plate behind us and making sure we knew that she was trying to entertain the dining room. She then dropped her pen and in a most endearing and self-deprecating manner said it was "just one of those days." We ordered a Veal Parmigana and a Chicken Francaise. My companion LOVED the bread sticks, I, though knowing full well how bad it is for me, would have preferred to have extra butter, but thought better than to ask. She returned within about two minutes with our salad which was quite decent in size and had cucumber, red onion as well as diced tomato and black olives.
Our meals arrived just as the salad was complete, perfect timing, which seems to be very rare these days. My companion's meal occupied two plates to ensure the distinction of the flavors I would imagine, while mine was on one large platter. The pounded was about eight inches by about four and covered, not overbearingly, with a WONDERFUL tomato sauce and some mozzarella cheese. This came with a healthy side of freshly made pasta. The Francaise was pounded chicken breast nearly the same size with a light breading and a lemon based sauce. To me, the lemon was overpowering and took away from the taste of the chicken and the breading, but I don't like chicken breast anyway.
Our server was there when we needed her and was incredibly personable. She acted as if she was truly interested in our opinions and that she could be our friend for the moments we were within TJs. I have to say that in the past year or so that I have been writing these, Jackie is probably the BEST server I have encountered. Managers, use her to show others how it's done. In fact, if you read my other writings here, you will see you might want to hire her out as a consultant. Kudos to you, Jackie. Thanks for a wonderful experience, and kudos to the cook as well.
One suggestion: Tell people where the bathrooms are upon their seating. I hate to have to look around and then walk to explore, especially in a dining room as open as TJs.
(Buggsy (Lori) was that you I saw in the kitchen with your coat on? If so and you own or manage this place, you have done a superb job!)
posted by johnathan e at 3:01 PM
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