A few weeks ago Jeremy had family in town visiting from London, and we wanted to get together for a nice meal somewhere in Delray Beach.  Since we’re the ones who know the best spots in town (obviously!) we were in charge of picking a restaurant that our guests would love.

For the two years that we’ve been dating, Jeremy and I have been meaning to try out J&J’s Seafood Bar & Grill on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach.  As a seafood lover, just reading their menu makes my mouth water, and every time I’ve jogged by and looked at the specials written on the chalkboard out front I’d make a mental note to try it out.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long to experience J&J’s because I was definitely missing out all this time. I’ve heard so many great things about J&J’s from friends who have been regulars for years so I don’t know what I was thinking. Located on a block of Atlantic Ave. that doesn’t get nearly as much traffic, I’ve seen multiple businesses fail around there.  A restaurant has to be really good to survive there, and J&J’s has been going strong for about 14 years.  That says a lot.

We called to make a reservation one day in advance and were lucky enough to get a table for 10 people on a Friday night (in season).  Not only was it great to see and catch up with the whole family, but having 10 people meant that I got to taste many dishes off J&J’s menu.

For starters, we ordered truffle seafood mac n’ cheese and calamari for the table.  The mac and cheese was rich, delicious and just the right portion size for an appetizer.  My only recommendation to the chef would be to put a little more seafood (shrimp, scallops and lobster) in it.  The crispy calamari, served with a spicy Asian glaze rather than the traditional marinara, was cooked perfectly and delicious.

Choosing just one entrée to order was a bit of a challenge, but luckily everyone was more than happy to share.  I went with the J&J Tower, which consists of a 5oz juicy filet mignon topped with a crab cake and two grilled shrimp over mashed potatoes and veggies with a veal demi-glaze and lemon buerre blanc.  It was the perfect combination of land and sea, and it was delicious.

I also got to try out the coconut curry shrimp and scallops and nut crusted snapper, which were excellent.  We finished out the meal with a homemade crème brule, a berry tart and a flourless chocolate cake.

Overall, I had a great experience at J&J’s.  Our server was knowledgeable and made great suggestions on what to eat and drink. She was also attentive and took great care of us as a large party.  Now when my friends rave about J&J’s, I understand why.  And like many of them, I could totally see myself becoming a regular.

Food- A

Drinks- A

Service- A

Overall- A

J&J’s Seafood Bar and Grille is located at 634 E Atlantic Ave  Delray Beach, FL 33483; (561) 272-3390