J Christians

Granted it was a Wednesday night and not busy by any means… but the service was great and the food was absolutely AMAZING. I had the seared scallops and my date had the duck breast. I posted picks. I would definitely go back. Also the building is historic and very beautiful.

Atmosphere and staff were wonderful. We visited on a pretty frigid night, and where they originally reserved a table was near the door. I inquired if there was a warmer area of the restaurant they could move us to, and within just a few minutes they switched some things around and were able to accommodate us. Everyone from the hostess to the bus boy was very friendly, and I always appreciate a restaurant that stays on top of your water glass!
For dinner I ordered the Ahi Ahi and it was ok. It was a little overcooked for my taste and I felt like the pineapple salsa was a little sparse. I’m not usually a big rice fan but I did enjoy the coconut rice quite a bit. I ordered the sweet potato gnocchi as a side and that was absolutely AMAZING. I will probably come back and give another one of their Entrées a chance just so I can get some more of that gnocchi.
Beware that the dessert menu posted on their website is out of date. We were a little disappointed at the end of the night to find out our top 2 choices were no longer being served :(We ended up ordering the flour-​less chocolate cake which was very good. It was very rich with more of a fudge-​like consistency, and the drizzle of raspberry syrup really complimented the cake well. We actually took the cake to go so that we could eat it a-​la-​mode … but I think it would have been pretty good even without our enhancements. Overall a good experience!

We went with a group of 9. The food and service was amazing. Restaurant was beautiful and we would recommend it highly.

After staring in the window and wondering what fine dining must be like, my boyfriend and I used a Christmas gift card to have a date night at J Christian’s. We each ordered a beer, and were excited that they had some nice craft options. We ordered the mac and cheese to start, which we couldn’t finish between the two of us. It was the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. So creamy and tons of bacon mixed in. I also had the short rib tacos. Who’d have thought that mashed potatoes on a taco could be so perfect? I finished up with a pear basil cosmo, which was creative and yummy but a bit too sweet for me. The service was great too; always had a full glass of water and didn’t wait long at all. We made a reservation just in case. I will probably only come back here for special occasions or happy hour due to the price, but I will say it’s worth the money for a nice night out.

Great atmosphere and menu/​ingredients. Each time here I was helping host work colleagues from around the US and Mexico and making sure we feed them well so far from home. Always able to get in groups of 8 – 10 with a quick phone call (watch their hours, they are not likely to pick up the phone much before 4:30 PM during the week). Great wines to choose from, and entrees from fish to pasta to meat. I see a seasonal twist to the entrees depending on when we stop in. My last visit I had a special that I believe was pork saltimbocca with collard greens, risotto, bacon and probably more but I was inhaling this dish so fast I forgot the full list of components. What I know was it was outstanding. Not one to shy away from dessert I made it my mission to enjoy every single bite of an order of Beignets. This place stays on the go-​to list and we always impress our guests with dinner at this great restaurant in a unique, historical setting.

My new favorite restaurant! Everything here is great, but I would highly recommend the chicken milano or the crab cakes!

I was staying in Wallingford for the weekend and Unilocal had given J Christians as 4.5 stars. I thought — why not? Let’s try it…
Needless to say, I started with the risotto which ended up having maple syrup in it. I had to send it back. As my second option, I ordered the chicken Milano. It was mediocre at best. I would not recommend this place.

Check out this spot for happy hour! 430 – 630 on weekdays. they usually have a decent list of cocktails and a beer special, but the food menu is killer. Try the short rib tacos ($ 3), dollop of mashed potatoes, generous portion of braised short rib, topped with crispy onions all on a tortilla. (Could use some type of acid on top, maybe pickled red onion to cut the richness)
Truffle fries a great. comes with a lemon aioli.
Mac and cheese also a great find, huge portion for $ 5, creamy deliciousness.

I’m conflicted about J. Christians. Until The Library opened recently, it was the most upscale restaurant in Wallingford. It’s a beautiful, beautiful space — formerly a bank and then a bookstore, now a restaurant. They’ve highlighted the best parts of the building and dressed up the other areas. The bar is gorgeous, as are the high ceilings. You just feel fancier being inside.
However.
It’s really, really expensive. The food is good, but you don’t get much for the price. We were going to get some apps to share between the group, until we looked at the bar menu and decided to go elsewhere for more affordable food. It’s a place you go out for a nice dinner, not somewhere you stop by with friends.

MMMMMM truffle fries! Very good!
For dinner the special pork tenderloin was very good, tender nice sauce too.
Drinks were made well. Water re-​filled quickly… love that!

Came in on a quiet Monday evening. We drove down from Massachusetts to celebrate our anniversary and found that there are few nice restaurants open on Mondays. Although the hours are short, only open from 4 – 9, the food was excellent and the service was friendly and professional.

So it’s been a while since I had been there so I gave them another shot. We ended up having our company Christmas party there. The food was great! I would definit

J. Christians is an overall good restaurant. It has a diverse menu that focus in southern america style. I found it very unique how they turned an old bank into a restaurant offering an unique interior décor. I thought of giving this place 3 starts, but I it is worthy of 4 because of the classy ambience and amazing man courses.
Drinks: Wine selection needs more attention. For the caliber J. Christian is pushing, they would benefit from a more diverse wine selection. Prices were in line for what they had. I did not try the bar drinks, but I will try it next time.
Appetizers: Here is were I think they fell short. We ordered 3 items as follows:
1. Fried calamari — Well seasoned and lightly battered, but it could be crispier. Also was not a fan of the double sauces offered, marinara and tartar. They could drop one and focus in making a better marinara or a completely different unique fusion.
2. Truffle Fries — They were very good and we cleaned the plate, but we just felt they were not as crispy as they should have been.
3. Ceviche — I am used to more traditional ceviche, and here I missed all the juices. The scallops and shrimp were served semi-​dry on a bed of lettuce with diced up mangos. very disappointed!
Dinner: Big, big points here. we loved all the main courses… I loved my pork chops, and my friends also loved their entries.
1. I ordered the pork chops. Perfect grill marks, perfectly cooked and the glaze amazing. I loved the collard greens and the creamy sweet potato mash.
2. My girlfriend and a friend both ordered the short ribs and they loved every bit of it.
3. Another friend ordered the shrimp and grits. It looked very good, but tasted even better. For sure I will be ordering it next time. I did get a taste and the grits were creamy and spicy. The sausage brought it to another level.
Service: Server was very attentive, the food was delivered hot, and water refills were always done promptly. Food time from order to delivery was perfectly timed despite being very ground. I think they did a good job here.
Deserts: not ordered.
Overall J. Christians has great potential. Good chef in the kitchen and good atmosphere. I would definitely be returning, and bringing more friends.