The J-Bay Bar & Grill, formerly Juanita Bay Pub on NE 120th, is open and their bar is attracting a consistent crowd already. The parking lot looks jammed every night! The first thing they did right was that they got the s-t-i-n-k of the previous establishment out of there. I don't know how they did it- aerators, sandblasting, fresh paint, Glade plug-ins, magic spells?? Whatever it was, it makes a huge difference to inhale some clear air when you walk in.
They have definitely up-scaled it from its previous stature. There are lots of TV's and a big open bar area with lots of seating and plenty of tall boobily fishnet ladies to fetch you a cold brewsky or martini. It's no wonder there's mostly dudes in there, but with the football games going in HD, it's a fair argument that could be the lure too. Sad to say it's not the food- I had some creole prawns and Steve had the roasted vegetable penne pasta - maybe the dining area is bland to match the cuisine, but they are still working the kinks out I'm sure. If I was looking for a casual local spot to have a beer (and maybe a burger would have been a better choice) and watch a game it would be a GREAT spot to hang out in the bar.
So, go try it out for yourself and let us know what you think. Steve is already asking to go back- he may have mumbled something about the thigh-high patent boots but I can't be sure ;-). ~j
I had to laugh at your comments about the stink. Wasn't that THE WORST?
The decor is great-but the "concept" (upscale "Hooters") isn't my thing. The place is full of aging letharios!!
Posted by: Val | January 23, 2009 at 01:21 PM
This place is bad news.............I recommend staying away from here on Friday and Saturday nights! Shady dealings going on in this place.
Posted by: Pete | January 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Shady dealings go on everywhere in kirkland. JBay's shouldn't be singled out for that.
Posted by: Michael | January 31, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Not a fan. Clean up your act Jbay... Hoping for something with a little more class in Juanita. Martini bar anyone???... PLEASE.
Posted by: Jesse | January 31, 2009 at 05:52 PM
The did a great job remodeling, but I doubt that I will be back much. The food was decent, the drinks were good, but the waitresses dressed like hookers which made the place seem tasteless. They make a comment on their menu to "bring the family" but with the attire of the staff, it's not a family friendly establishment at all.
Posted by: Jayson | February 03, 2009 at 04:27 PM
they say family restaurant, but don't have a kids menu. the server was super friendly, but they do look like hookers. one leaned over the bar and I saw WAY too much...
Posted by: oncebitten | February 10, 2009 at 12:31 PM
The food was amazing the first time I went there (I had the french dip and they used some rub on the meat that was out of this world. The owner said it was her own recipe.) It was their opening day the owners were making sure everything went smoothly. But ever since then the food has not been impressive (no more rub :( ). Also, the dining area seems really open like there is no privacy for a nice date and isn't very inviting to sit there.
Posted by: Chris | February 11, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Like Chris, I too went for lunch their opening day and was delighted by the Turkey-piled-high sandwich and hot perfect fries - unfortunately I've been back twice and the same order was 1/2 the amount of turkey and cold (and fewer) fries. Bad Move J-Bay.
And why do they dress like hookers? My husband and I call them J-Sluts? LOL.
Posted by: ms.chocolate | February 19, 2009 at 07:42 PM
family restaurant my a$$. i dont want to have to explain to my 6 year old why the servers are wearing shirts and no pants....skirts so short that a t-shirt would cover more. god forbid someone drops a fork on the floor, you will definitely get a "table with a view"
I have nothing wrong with servers dressing this way, just don't lead us to believe you are a family restaurant. our server HAD TO ASK the kitchen what was on the "kid's menu" obviously, a big family crowd at J-Bay. And don't have the kitchen be in eyesight of the dining room if your food is going to sit up there for 10 minutes (not kidding) before our server stops talking on his cell phone to bring it to us.
we will not bring the kids back, and we probably won't come back either, far better places in kirkland to spend your money than to waste it here
Posted by: Simon Deter | February 24, 2009 at 03:07 PM
on the contrary, j bay seems to have definitely skipped a beat. It may not have ever had one honestly.
Service, slow
Drinks, ok...but as far as getting a refil, see "Service"
Ambiance, are we a bar? are we a restaurant, or are we a strip club?
Decor, nothing says classy like a tv fireplace (the best I could explain it, see for yourself)
Dining Room, very nice, but also VERY empty, two tables on the night we went in (Monday)
Food, bar food, nothing special. I will say this, I'm not coming to a place like this to spend 30 bucks on a steak....nice try.
Overall, 1.5/5 won't be back, too many great bars in the area. Too many nice restaurants in the area. No point in getting a lame half #$@ attempt at one place trying to do both...and not doing either
Posted by: Matt Goodman | February 25, 2009 at 03:39 PM
Went in Thursday to see if it reall is as bad as it says it is. this place should have "cocaine" by eric clapton playing over the loud speakers all night. Shady and dark, perfect place to draw the crowd they are getting. Hope it works out for you, the only time we would ever come back is to have a beer before going to a real bar and grill. Not a dive bar where the slums of Kirkland seem to hangout and make their living. and let's not even talk about the fact that you call yourself a family restaurant. I wanna know where you get off calling yourself a restaurant at all. YOUR FOOD IS HORRIBLE, your servers are pretty.....bad at their job. Shut it down before the cops do it for you.
Posted by: TC | February 28, 2009 at 05:56 PM
First of all, I just want to thank the Kirkland weblog for not having reviews "disappear" because they are too negative.
Posted by: Matt D. | March 01, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Thank you Kirkland Wblog for leaving all reviews on your site.
That being said here is a very short part of a conversation I overheard at the bar last night at the infamous J Bay "Hey (friend's name) I'm heading to the bathroom for a bump, wanna come." In the words of Ron Burgandy, stay classy J Bay. Glad to see people have been talking about this being an issue in your restaurant since it opened, and its nice to see you have done nothing about it. Luckily, your food and service (both equally bad) isn't forcing me to question my ethics/safety for good food and great service. Such a shame because there is a great need for a nice family bar and grill restaurant in Kirkland that isn't a chain, too bad it won't be J Bay. No self respecting parent would be caught dead bringing their children into this place. PS where did the middleaged Asian bartender/manager go? I think his name was Chris or Kevin??? He was about the only good thing you had going.
Posted by: Matt D. | March 01, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I had heard the rumors about the new Pub. I am sad. I have been twice ,,, won't be back. Watching the owners and servers drink behind the bar only makes me wonder how long they will be up and running. Its almost like they ran out of money in the lower part of the place. I think the STINK wasn't worked out in the bathrooms. Work on that would ya. A kids place, I would have to explain a working girl to my kids if I brought them in there. Lets all meet back there when they get shut down and a real business owner get a hold of it.
Posted by: Librarian | March 03, 2009 at 08:05 AM
Came on here with the intention of writing a review of my "experience" (if you can call it that) but everyone has already summed it up perfectly for me. It was a complete waste of time and money and I am certain I will only come back when it is another restaurant owned by somebody else who takes pride in their restaurant and respects their servers enough to let them wear clothes. PS my roommate's gf used to work there there and she says all the employees are paid in cash under the table. Judging by the employees drinking behind the bar and the rumors about the drugs, it's all par for the course at JBay.
Posted by: Telling it like it is... | March 03, 2009 at 11:37 PM
I have been to Jbay a handful of times and when I read these blogs, I just shake my head. It might not be exactly a family restaurant where you would bring the kids, but its still a fun spot to meet up for a drink. When all of you say terrible things about the servers there it makes me feel like you are insecure and cant stand having a beautiful woman serving you. Get over yourself and let this new place work all of the kinks out....
Posted by: chica2 | March 06, 2009 at 02:09 PM
I totally disagree with all of these posts.
To start with, if you go to the website I see no mention of "family" anywhere, so it sounds like all of these posts are people just looking for something to complain about. It's a bar, people, hence the name "J Bay Bar & Grill" !!!
I have a great time whenever I go, the staff is awesome and very friendly. J Bay is starting to get some very good bands in, karoake during the week, and will always take a minute to put a local game on the tv for you. How many times do you go to a "sports bar" and the staff acts like you're asking for their first born whenever you just want a channel changed to the game? J Bay always knows to have the game on with a VERY cold beer ready. I think it's probably the coldest bottles of beer in Kirkland. Look, if you're looking for a family dining experience I doubt you brought them to the old J Bay either (unless you were insane!). So it is what it is, a nite spot on the eastside; a badly needed upgrade in Kirkland from the other bars here. I just don't think we need yet another Timeout, Shark, LakeStreet, Tiki Joes, Pub 85, Liquid Lime, Waldos, etc. How many more of those do we need over here anyway? Those bars have their place, which can be fun, but if you want to step up the night a little now there is another option, too.
And please stop complaining about the dress of the staff, it makes you sound very jealous and misplaced. At least they take care in themselves and look nice - at the other bars in town it looks like the staff just woke up and walked in, backwards hat, no shave, dungy clothes, etc.
Overall, I highly recommend J Bay and hope it does well, this side of town needs a respectable lounge where you can get a good cocktail in a proper glass (no plastic cups there!).
Posted by: Red | March 07, 2009 at 11:11 AM
I DISAGREE WITH ALL THE BAD REP THAT THIS BAR IS GETTING U R IN KIRKLAND AND THERE ARE BAD THINGS GOING ON EVERYWHERE. THA DRINKS ARE GREAT THE WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THERES ALWAYS A GOOD GAME ON I THINK MOST OF THESE BLOGS ARE UNFOUNDED!!!!!
Posted by: JOEY | March 11, 2009 at 07:40 PM
J bay is what it is. Its a bar with a dining room. If you don't wanna bring your kids, then don't. I have been in a couple times and while I didn't see any kids there, it doesn't seem like that's the clientale that they are afer....kids don't seem to put down shots like they used to.
This isn't very tough to figure out. All the complaints seem to be about a bar and grill not being a family restaurant. That being said, its nice to see that a restuarant actually makes an attempt to accomidate to families. And while they might not have all the kinks worked out, calm down, leave the kids at home, and grab a cold beer. Take this place for what it is (and not what you think it should be) and you will be pleasently surprised.
Almost off my soap box. I know one of their former chefs :) so I won't comment on the food as , but I will say the JBay is doing what they can to provide a nice clean bar and grill for the people of Kirkland to go and enjoy. And yeah, the servers are hot, stop bickering and get over it.
Posted by: Michael Lopata | March 11, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Nice comments for the J Bay ? These must be coming from the staff or owners trying fend off the cops who are on the way. As far as the family restaurant , who really cares about that, its the drugs dealing in the bathroom, all staff drinking while on shift. Long Long waits for everthing, food and drink,,,, stuff like that. If you have outstanding warrants or any trouble with the coppers I would stay out of the JB. It could and will buy you trouble. Oh and where oh where did they purchase those TV's??? From what store? Hmmm??? Just saying....
Posted by: Amy | March 15, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Starting at the top and working my wy down...
Val - So correct! If you want to see middleaged (and older) men gawck and continuously hit on girls 1/4 of their age then this is the place for you.
Pete - Had it pegged from the very beginning. Walked into the bathroom on a Friday night and three guys huddled by the sink scattered as fast as they could and pretended to be asking about directions. Nice cover up, sorry I walked in on your drug deal.
Michael (1) - True, but take a look at the back of the menu and notcie where it says that J Bay is a family place. This type of stuff doesn't go on at TGI Friday's, a real family place
Jesse - J Bay sums up everything that is wrong with the Juanita area, and you are right, a classy bar with a drug-free bathroom is exactly what Juanita needs.
Jayson - Correct on the remodel, it is nice. However, I am completely with you on not going back much, I like knowing that if I walk into a place, I will be be able to walk out safely.
oncebitten - Glad you got a table with "a view" :) we had to look the backyard of the place. It's the best way I can put it.
Chris - So true, I went in the beginning of Feb. and had some really great food. A buddy of mine wanted to try it out last weekend, so we went back, the food has definitely taken a hit.....a big one!
ms. chocolate - Could not agree more, I was surprised when I handed my server cash for my bill that she didn't automatically start giving me a lap dance
Simon Deter - Kinda hard to promote a restuarant as family oriented with a non existant kid's menu :) Unfortunately, you are not the only one whose food sat in the kitchen for 10-15 minutes before somoeone finally brought it to us, and didn't even notice the 4 empty drinks that we had
Matt Goodman - They still haven't found the beat. Great point about being a poor attempt at both a bar and a restuarant.
TC - Didn't hear cocaine on the speakers, but we saw it in the bathroom
Matt D - you aren't talking about yelp are you :) It's true, I have been to places where the amazing food can outweigh the poor service or the decor. Unfortunately, the decore is the only thing this place has going for it anymore
Librarian - couldn't have said it better. Is it too much to ask for to have the owner's have HALF a clue what they are doing. This place could fail in 20 different ways, and I'm sure it will
Telling it like it is... - Sounds like Jbay is in a class all by itself...wonder why :)
chica2 - from what i gather, the place has been open since late last year. those kinks you are talking about are no longer kinks, they are the way it's gonna be. You can't have servers dressed like hookers, staff that drinks on the job and continuousy overservers, no security to keep the scum out, and then hope that it will all take care of itself. It is what it is
Red - Do you still work there?
Joey - most of these blogs founded...looks like you are in the minority. Hope you are going in 6 times a week to keep this place afloat
Michael Lopata - Have some food, then you will need to write different review :)
Amy - The people at Jbay (and every other restaurant in the world) need to realize that the only blogs easier to pick out than rants by ex-employers is blogs by current employers and owners :). And to answer your question about those tvs....its amazing how much money you can save by paying your employees under the table and dodging taxes. Of course, I am just going by what 'telling it like it is...' wrote. But yeah, if you are buying those tv's legally and legitally, you should have bought a couple less and worked on the bathrooms. Good god
Alright, that's it, anxious to read some more "positive reviews" from employees, i mean patrons. That is, if anyone still goes there
Posted by: In a Nutshell | March 16, 2009 at 04:32 PM
Horrible service, never received our order. Frankly would never go there again, not worth it.
Posted by: Lois | March 19, 2009 at 04:44 PM
what a waste of time and money....and to all of those bloggers who never got your food, consider yourselves lucky. our food was terrible, cold and greasy....come to think of it, a lot like the shady owner who was walking around the whole night flirting with every server there...and flirting is putting it mildly....creepy. spend more time talking to customers and less time trying to bang every server you hired (wonder how that interview process went, was it held in your bedroom) and maybe someone will have something good to say about your place.....i mean other than your friends who are writing these postive revies for you.
Posted by: seriously? | April 09, 2009 at 01:07 PM
It's a bar people.. lighten up!!
Posted by: juanita neighbor | April 10, 2009 at 09:06 AM
to juanita neighbor - yes, it is a bar....just not a very good one
Posted by: Simon Deter | April 12, 2009 at 04:38 PM