Don’t forget to enter both my Tuttorosso and Lone Star Steakhouse giveaways. I’ll pick three winners this weekend!
The other day Kevin and I were in the restaurant row area and decided to grab lunch with Kevin’s step mom at J. Alexander’s. They are a contemporary American restaurant chain with locations scattered across the country. They have a pretty similar menu to our beloved Hillstone. I think I actually may have been craving Hillstone because I ordered pretty much my standard go-tos that I would get there. To start, we ordered grilled artichokes, drawing the first Hillstone comparison.
The grilled artichokes at J. Alexander weren’t as large as the ones at Hillstone nor were they as flavorful, but they were still incredibly tasty. I really liked the salty seasoning they put on the artichokes.
I ordered the veggie burger, and once again, it just wasn’t Hillstone. For my side, I ordered mac and cheese.
The burger was good, but in my opinion, Hillstone just has the best veggie burgers. The mac and cheese was wonderful. It had bits of onion in it, different cheeses (not your typical cheddar) and the top was nice and crunchy from being baked. I love the pieces of dried out pasta, like the edge of lasagna. I could have probably eaten two ramekins of mac and cheese.
Kevin ordered chicken tenders, and Kevin’s step mom ordered a cheeseburger.
J. Alexander’s seems to really know what they’re doing with their sides. Their fries are really good, and I’ve also had their loaded baked potato before (delicious). Even though I was feeling the Hillstone vibe, it really is a good restaurant in its own right. The service is good, and it’s great for a classier lunch.
Tomorrow is my last day of work until the new year. I’m excited to launch into my first Christmas as a married woman. I’m still in awe that it’s only five days away. Where did the year go?
What is your favorite type of mac and cheese? My sister makes a great mac and cheese with fontina, gruyere, blue cheese and bacon. It’s heavenly.
