Restaurant Information:

54 Great Jones Street 

 New York, NY 10012-1115 
Get Directions 

(212) 674-9304    

greatjones.com

Service 13/20 or 65%

  • Hostess(5/5 points)

The hostess was quick to take my name and our party.  She gave us an accurate estimate of when the table would be available.  We were then invited to have a drink at the bar, which we did.  What pushed her up higher was that when our table was ready and our party wasn’t complete, she told me, “you better just sit there or some one else will try to take your table.”  This is exactly what should be done, not turn people away until their party is complete, as most NYC restaurants do.

  • Promptness(2/5 points)

This place was packed and from what I could tell there were only two waitresses.  They need at least three for a weekend brunch shift.  Otherwise, I think two would be sufficient.  Great Jones would have normally earned a three for this, but it was very obvious that the woman working the bar didn’t know what she was doing and that only compounded the problem further.

  • Alertness(3/5 points)

    This place really is stretched thin. They need at least a bus boy, a drink runner, or another hostess badly. I think our waitress did a great job, but the bartender was just horrible so this evens out at a three.

  • Friendliness(3/5 points)

    The people are friendly but not overly so. It’s about what you would expect, nothing really special.


Food and Drink (12/20) or 60%

  • Price(3/5 points)

    I’d say the food is priced perfectly for what you get, but the drinks are overpriced here.

  • Quality of Food(3/5 points)

    Everything on the menu sounds delicious, looks delicious, but the taste kind of lets you down compeltely. The pancakes were top notch and I highly advise you to go that route. I had the smothered biscuits with sausage gravy and eggs that were just as bland as could be. The did have grits—I love love love grits—but they were really overcooked.

  • Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)

    The coffee is okay, their selection of beers is small, but they have a full bar. I would also like to add that I was horrified by pours on my draft beers. I watched her pour, dump half of it because of foam, repour and still end up with far more foam than any one ever should have. My roommate seemed to really like her lemonade-vodka drink. I really hope she’s a part owner and doesn’t mind wasting money or she quickly gets replaced.

  • Presentation(2/5 points)

    So disappointing. So so disappointing. Everything was just slapped on the plate. The food itself looked delicious, but just so sloppy. I was less than impressed.

    Decor and Space 12/20 or 60%

    • Cleanliness(3/5 points)

      The place looked about as clean as you would expect. I really don’t remember anything remarkable.

    • Theme(1/5 points)

      This place is the broadway show of brunch theme-wise. Everything is bright and there are nicknacks scattered about the place alluding to a theme but not really committing to it. I kind of hate places that do this because it feels so forced. I can’t really get on board with your Lousiana/New Orleans/South theme when 1) I’ve been to all those places and this is a tacky interpretation of them 2) the entire staff looks like hipsters 3) the mediocre friendliness compounds the problem. I would love to overhaul the décor of this place; it’s really almost insulting.

    • Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

    This place actually does a really good job of fitting enough seats in the small space with out making things uncomfortable. I think they might be able to put a stool or two more at the bar, but that’s just me being picky.

    • Location(4/5 points)

      It’s a short distance from the subway, but NOHO guarantees some excellent eye candy for patrons. An example, two women from Agent Provocateur walked in dressed in the best stockings I think I’ve ever seen and sat down at the bar two seats away from a woman I could swear was Farrah Fausset. I wish they would knock down the walls in front and put much larger windows in for the people watching alone.


    Bonus(5 points)

    Minus One Point for the three fingers of foam on my first beer; that’s the perfect way to not impress a patron.

    Overall Score 37/60 with bonus 36/60 or 60%