J. Alexander's - Cleveland, OH

J. Alexander's is not your typical chain restaurant and if you've been hesitant to try it just for that reason, banish those thoughts right now! J. Alexander's has more than a few locations around the country and that just means you have a dependable option for great phone in a great atmosphere. Known for their wood-fired tastings you can find a wide selection of burgers, steaks and seafood.

I will admit I don't usually start off a post talking about what I had to drink, especially if it's not the rare spirit I'll have every now and then. But I must tell you about Fever Tree Ginger Ale. I love trying non-traditional "gourmet" sodas if you will. I'm glad I tried Fever Tree's because it's made with 3 different kinds of ginger, cane sugar and spring water. It had a nice mild ginger flavor and I could drink it without feeling guilty since it was made with real sugar and water. I will be on the lookout from now on for Fever Tree Ginger Ale.  

And alas, the true star of dinner, slow roasted prime rib. It was tender and was simply seasoned. It was good portion too. I love the au jus that was served on the side. Nothing is better than dipping the prime rib into it's soulmate of a dipping sauce. It comes with a side of mashed potatoes, but I opted for the Not Your Ordinary Mac & Cheese. My friend highly recommended the mac & cheese saying it was the best mac & cheese she's ever had. I would have to agree because it was just the cheesiest mac & cheese I've ever had. It was topped with a bread crumble that was perfectly toasted. I usually don't eat all of my sides, but this mac & cheese definitely lived up to it's name and I ate every single bite. 

Check out J. Alexander's website to see if there's one near you. Or if you're like me somewhere you'll be headed to soon. It's a reasonably priced upscale restaurant that offers a wide variety of great food.