Kevin Jenkins
Finally, a very good TRUE brunch buffet!
On Superbowl Sunday Karen and I decided to try the brunch buffet at a BBQ place in Woodstock called JD’s (the original) not downtown or the lake!
We go to JD’S a couple of times a month for ok bbq (best around in my opinion but I am very picky on bbq) JD”S has been plugging this generation of brunch for awhile.
I find most buffets to be medi0cre at best food temps being a huge issue as most hot to warm food is on the cool side for all of the dishes, and as a “brunch” goes, there is more “br” breakfast food and very little “unch” lunch/dinner type maine dishes.
JD’S was a very pleasant surprise…about 50/50 br and unch!
The breakfast side, everything you could want from very fresh looking fresh fruit, cheese grits, scrambled eggs (firm not soupy), rustic sausage patties, southern fried potatoes, French toast (cut into quarters…liked that) and lest I forget the eggs benedict station, eggs your way station and fresh waffles made to order. Everything med to hot!
Now for the “unch” to start, Prime rib station ( withe horseradish sauce and au jus), frseh hand battered chicken tenders, FRESH oysters on the half shell, and appropriate sauce/horseradish, then mixed greens salad station with a nice mayo potatoe salad, pan fried fresh carrots and green beans, smoked meatloaf, poached salmon, smoked chicken, smoked pork loin and yes smoked brisket (hot, glistening and fresh). Now, JD’s also provides non-alcoholic beverages in the brunch.
The food was kept fresh and warm to hot due to the constant attention paid by the staff to the stations, not overloading and leaving…checking and refilling more often.
We had the pleasure of having our server Madison complimenting the experience with her fun and attentive demeanor,(no piles of plates, no empty drinks) just very good service!
For the two of us $74 dollars including tax! Very good value for a great spread of food…now, for us, once a month will be all we can hold, however, I could easily see others making it more frequently.. for us , not the price, it’s the carbs I can’t resist pounding down.
Overall a 4.5 out of 5 from us and I hope it keeps up that way…I have a feeling it will!
The brunch is only offered Sunday’s from 10 – 2.
I recommend giving it a shot but come hungry! Warning: the selection is so good and tempting your gorged before you know it and the misery factor can be very high…I couldn’t partake of our Superbowl party and wasn’t able to consume food for almost 24 hrs…in all honesty, partly my fault!
p.s. I almost forgot the biscuits and gravy…
… moreelizabeth camacho
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE. Worst bbq ever had. Our waitress Courtney was friendly but seemed new. We ordered the baby back ribs plate ($24) with mac n cheese baked beans and garlic toast. The ribs had two separate from the larger portion of ribs. They were very dry with only a strong smoke flavor. The larger portion of the ribs were pink slimy and cold to the touch visually and texturally unappealing. The mac n cheese seemed over cooked the shells were mushy and unflavored kinda tasted watered down. The baked beans tasted like they came straight out of a can and the garlic toast was only toasted on one side tasted like a soggy garlic bread but was edible. We also ordered the brisket plate ($25) with fries and mac n cheese and garlic toast. The brisket was dry other than the quarter inch of slimy fat on each slice. The only flavor was a very strong smoke flavor it was slightly better than the ribs. The fries were golden hot crispy and flavorful with a nice portion size . The sides other than the fries come in small 2ounce cups usually used for creamer or sauces. We also ordered a two piece catfish plate ($17) with baked beans mac n cheese and toast before we knew how unsatisfying our meals would be. When Courtney came to check on us we told her about the ribs and she said oh wow let me go show someone. She then returned without the plate and with our check and an excuse of they are pork ribs and because they are high in fat content thats why they were pink . Never once did a manager or supervisor come out to see why we sent a full plate minus two ribs back . No apology for our dissatisfaction from Courtney or anyone. Just a $78 bill for less than par food. From our own experience with smoking and grilling all types of meats we have never had slimy pink baby back ribs no matter how much fat was on them. Usually the fat cooks down into the meat giving it flavor and tenderizing it. We will never go back to this place and anyone who asks us about them we will share our experience.
… moreJoe Stika
Wife and I went for dinner.
We wanted to try the fried pickles! Absolutely delicious and you get a skillet full of them! I had the smoked chicken breast, fries and okra. I could eat half if it because it was so much food!
Our waitress Meagan was awesome!!
… moreNikki Sommer
First time at JD’s in downtown Woodstock. The young man who seated us was super friendly and very patient with me while I was trying to decide where to sit. Went at lunch time on Sunday, wasn’t very busy. Our server Cal was the best. Offered great recommendations and couldn’t have been any nicer. Our food was great. My cheeseburger was super tasty and my husband couldn’t stop talking about how awesome his blackened grouper sandwich was. The atmosphere and Cal made our first time at JD’s a great Sunday lunch date for me and my husband. We will be going back for sure.
… moreMiranda Arrington
Brunch was delicious, pricey but all you can eat and it was so good
… moreFree (Free)
MiKay Lee was an awesome server. She was very attentive to my husband Having a low sugar incident. She brought out our food very quickly. She actually bought him out something sweet to raise his blood sugar up. I appreciate your service, very friendly And personable thank you for your service.
… moreStacey Blanton
Not sure what’s going on with this restaurant but I will no longer be giving JD’s in Woodstock my business. I paid almost $50 for two plates and one of the sides was left off the most expensive of the plates, not to mention the sauce (Carolina) was pathetic, the food was cold (and my food as even colder after trekking back to the restaurant 10 miles to pick up a side of even colder fries), the Mac & Cheese tasted like a cup of vinegar had been dumped in it, and the portions were less than acceptable for the price paid. Honestly, I have had better barbecue and brisket from Arby’s. The fries I returned for appeared to have been forgotten with the order and were sitting on the counter when I arrived. Nothing extra for the trouble, barely an apology for the inconvenience. I expect more from an established, reputable, locally owned restaurant. I have had better food and service from a fast food chain. My husband and I work very hard for our money and decided to splurge on a nice meal tonight after a long week but instead it left us both disgusted and at each others throats due to the less than pleasurable meal and the price we paid to get it. I have left a picture below of the fries I had to return to pick up and I wasn’t even offered fresh and hot fries maybe even a few extra fries for my trouble?!
… moreHelen Garcia
My husband and I used to love this BBQ place. Before it even changed locations. I would recommend this to family and friends. I even ordered multiple times for our staff events. As it stands today, I would not return to their location until the words of customers are taken seriously and addressed. The beef brisket plate that I ordered in the restaurant was the worst beef brisket I have ever had. I am not one to exaggerate but it felt like I was chewing rubber. I almost choked trying to swallow down the chewy piece of “meat” I had in my mouth. I tried to finish my food because it was not cheap but I just could not chew through it. My husband ended up ordering pulled pork to replace the rubber meat he was also eating. Management, I hope you take this criticism seriously and make some changes for the sake of the restaurants reputation.
… moreMelinda Brazelton
Always great food! I had never had the wings but they were fall of the bone and delicious!
… moreTom Walsh
Good solid down home. Southern BBQ place. Today was her anniversary special and actually we get pulled pork sandwiches for $1. So that was an amazing deal..
We had great service from the host of the status to our server and also other people ran the food so they’re working as a team. It was good to see.
Our sandwiches for excellent. I really enjoyed the sweet sauce on one. Then I have the spicy sauce on the other and both for excellent. It. Fries are very good, fresh and seasoned very well.
Family downfall the visit was when we were leaving. The pit master who was getting the ribs out of the smoker had a cigarette hang out of his mouth while he was taking them out. Who’s having to reach up to get the ribs out of the top and then bend down. Put them on a car to take him in there and when he’s bending down with a car has had this right over the ribs that he’s putting in the cart to bring inside with cigarette and his mouth. I did not think that was very good.
But I don’t think that the management’s going to read the review so you just have to take it for what it’s worth. I guess a little cigarette ash is not much different than the char and the burn ends lol
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