I wanted to like this spot, but it all came down to the food; it just wasn’t good enough to make me come back. Sure—if you wanted a drink only, then by all means waltz right in. The vibes and atmosphere are what make Chez Jay what it is. The chef felt stuck in the past with the cookery: thickened, heavy French‑style sauces, cream‑based, giving me an “old school” spirit. This can, in some ways, be nostalgic and provoke happy memories, but it hadn’t worked on me. Then take America, which is already a country that has an issue with moderation, and we are doomed. Two big wedges of salad on a plate, a couple of tomatoes on the side, with some dressing, felt lazy, yet it wasn’t terrible to eat. Some button mushrooms drowned in a litre of their sauce (OK, I have exaggerated on that measurement) made me wonder why, and the prawns themselves—I wasn’t even sure about them (at least they had been cleaned, though). Well, everything is all clear in just one paragraph. What more could I possibly write about now?
I wasn’t entirely shocked; I knew it could swing either way, but I prepared to take a risk. I was suspicious due to how long it has been standing. According to its website, since 1959 Chez Jay has been a well‑known hideaway, an historic landmark on Ocean Avenue. It has history behind those doors. It is known as a celebrity hangout since the 60s. Whenever I read anything of this nature, my barrier goes up, because the food is not normally the focus. What takes over is the venue itself—the fame and the name—what people solely rely on. Why would they possibly need to try with the food? They can get by coasting along. But what if I am mistaken, and they think they are doing well and truly believe they are serving great food? Unfortunately, then they need a reality check.
I did enjoy the energy, and the service was friendly, but this is not adequate. I want to be fed properly as well, with the food seen as the star, not the famous posters on the walls and the decoration. I don’t go out to eat as a secondary factor, even though it’s not always only about the food. Restaurants are like puzzles, fitting all the pieces together, making sure they are placed tightly, everything working well. The piece missing here was the cooking. Come further into the present day and improve the level, and then you will have a dive bar worth stopping by for.
