Jack's Wife Freda

JWF consistently has the most delicious (all day) brunch. No matter the location, it will be lively, but they manage to get our order correctly and quickly every time. Servers/Hosts are friendly, we had reservations for Sunday Brunch, were seated quickly and our food was prepared exactly the way we ordered it — Shakshuka and Maya’s Bfast Bowl w/ medium poached eggs. The entrees are slightly higher priced than they need to be, as portions are moderate but $8 for iced tea (which is more than a speciality coffee) is way too high — is our only complaint.

Everything about this place was just okay, in my opinion. The waffle was the biggest disappointment for me. Instead of a crispy outer texture, the whole thing was soft like a pancake, with an overwhelming taste of rosewater. I didn't mind the flavor profile. It was just too much, and the texture was unforgivable.

Stopped in for dinner. Lovely open restaurant with a laid back vibe. Great service and looked after us well all night. For the food we ordered the prices were on the high side for the portion size. Never the less the Jack's Burger was cooked to perfection and flavourful.

TLDR; Skip this overhyped establishment!! Prices are not proportional to the serving size nor taste. Ambiance (1/5): Holy cow, get ready to scream to hear your guests just sitting across from you!! From volume alone, the dining experience was miserable. It was a humid summer night and they left the window/doors wide open so the inside was not cool. Midway into the dinner, they finally closed the doors. Service (3/5): It was difficult to get service because they were busy and it was hard to catch their attention (again due to noise). I would suggest that the tables have a pitcher to refill water ourselves! Note that there is a 20% auto gratuity added. Food: Every dish was very mid. Halloumi (3 pieces) (4/5): The seasoned grapes on top were a nice add. Sadly, the portion size is too small for the price. Slightly too salty though. Fried Zucchini (4/5): Lovely outer crust to the batter but bland without the creamy dipping sauce. Salmon Burger (3/5): This reminded me of a crab cake with a nice outer crust but bland without any sort of sauce. The side of fries are a perfect crunch. Preggo Burger (4/5): I loved the seasoning to the steak which was cooked to a wonderful, tender, medium-rare. The spicy green sauce complemented the burger and has a nice spicy kick. The side of arugula salad was bitter and basically without any taste! It was basically a dollop of lettuce with no other veggie topped or garnish. Bread held the burger very well.

A great spot for meeting people, if you're okay with shouting across the table. Inside, it is extremely loud and chaotic. However, the food was good and the service was quick. It is quite overhyped in my opinion, and if you want a quieter spot to eat, I would find a different restaurant.

We were seated by the host who was very friendly & welcoming! My steak & eggs was great, the waffle was okay and shakshouka was delicious as well. Attentive service, good quality food and pleasant ambiance.

I ordered the Mimi’s salmon burger with fries and added avacado. Was delicious, I asked for extra of the special sauce on the side but never got it.. it was still a good experience friendly staff and it always is busy here! So the rest of the food has to be good but I always get the salmon burger

This were our place to brunch before we left new york, it was really good! Loved the flavors and staff were friendly too :)

JWF consistently has the most delicious (all day) brunch. No matter the location, it will be lively, but they manage to get our order correctly and quickly every time. Servers/Hosts are friendly, we had reservations for Sunday Brunch, were seated quickly and our food was prepared exactly the way we ordered it — Shakshuka and Maya’s Bfast Bowl w/ medium poached eggs. The entrees are slightly higher priced than they need to be, as portions are moderate but $8 for iced tea (which is more than a speciality coffee) is way too high — is our only complaint.

Everything about this place was just okay, in my opinion. The waffle was the biggest disappointment for me. Instead of a crispy outer texture, the whole thing was soft like a pancake, with an overwhelming taste of rosewater. I didn't mind the flavor profile. It was just too much, and the texture was unforgivable.

Stopped in for dinner. Lovely open restaurant with a laid back vibe. Great service and looked after us well all night. For the food we ordered the prices were on the high side for the portion size. Never the less the Jack's Burger was cooked to perfection and flavourful.

TLDR; Skip this overhyped establishment!! Prices are not proportional to the serving size nor taste. Ambiance (1/5): Holy cow, get ready to scream to hear your guests just sitting across from you!! From volume alone, the dining experience was miserable. It was a humid summer night and they left the window/doors wide open so the inside was not cool. Midway into the dinner, they finally closed the doors. Service (3/5): It was difficult to get service because they were busy and it was hard to catch their attention (again due to noise). I would suggest that the tables have a pitcher to refill water ourselves! Note that there is a 20% auto gratuity added. Food: Every dish was very mid. Halloumi (3 pieces) (4/5): The seasoned grapes on top were a nice add. Sadly, the portion size is too small for the price. Slightly too salty though. Fried Zucchini (4/5): Lovely outer crust to the batter but bland without the creamy dipping sauce. Salmon Burger (3/5): This reminded me of a crab cake with a nice outer crust but bland without any sort of sauce. The side of fries are a perfect crunch. Preggo Burger (4/5): I loved the seasoning to the steak which was cooked to a wonderful, tender, medium-rare. The spicy green sauce complemented the burger and has a nice spicy kick. The side of arugula salad was bitter and basically without any taste! It was basically a dollop of lettuce with no other veggie topped or garnish. Bread held the burger very well.

A great spot for meeting people, if you're okay with shouting across the table. Inside, it is extremely loud and chaotic. However, the food was good and the service was quick. It is quite overhyped in my opinion, and if you want a quieter spot to eat, I would find a different restaurant.

We were seated by the host who was very friendly & welcoming! My steak & eggs was great, the waffle was okay and shakshouka was delicious as well. Attentive service, good quality food and pleasant ambiance.

I ordered the Mimi’s salmon burger with fries and added avacado. Was delicious, I asked for extra of the special sauce on the side but never got it.. it was still a good experience friendly staff and it always is busy here! So the rest of the food has to be good but I always get the salmon burger

This were our place to brunch before we left new york, it was really good! Loved the flavors and staff were friendly too :)

Got the special red shakshouka with bacon which was so tomato-y and flavorful and phenomenal. The eggs were a tad overcooked - no runny yolk The green shakshouka on the og menu was also good but reminded me a little of salsa? Eggs were runny here Portions aren't as filling as you might hope for brunch PS: when they ask salad or fries as your side, GET FRIES. The salad was a bed of arugula with pickled onions -- no sauce -- the pickled onions are the sauce. One of the more lack luster salads I've had in my literal life Classic tourist NYC brunch place! Hit or miss depending on your menu choice!

TLDR; Skip this overhyped establishment!! Prices are not proportional to the serving size nor taste. Ambiance (1/5): Holy cow, get ready to scream to hear your guests just sitting across from you!! From volume alone, the dining experience was miserable. It was a humid summer night and they left the window/doors wide open so the inside was not cool. Midway into the dinner, they finally closed the doors. Service (3/5): It was difficult to get service because they were busy and it was hard to catch their attention (again due to noise). I would suggest that the tables have a pitcher to refill water ourselves! Note that there is a 20% auto gratuity added. Food: Every dish was very mid. Halloumi (3 pieces) (4/5): The seasoned grapes on top were a nice add. Sadly, the portion size is too small for the price. Slightly too salty though. Fried Zucchini (4/5): Lovely outer crust to the batter but bland without the creamy dipping sauce. Salmon Burger (3/5): This reminded me of a crab cake with a nice outer crust but bland without any sort of sauce. The side of fries are a perfect crunch. Preggo Burger (4/5): I loved the seasoning to the steak which was cooked to a wonderful, tender, medium-rare. The spicy green sauce complemented the burger and has a nice spicy kick. The side of arugula salad was bitter and basically without any taste! It was basically a dollop of lettuce with no other veggie topped or garnish. Bread held the burger very well.

The biggest thing to know about this restaurant is that it is LOUD. You can be sitting right next to someone and not hear them, and then everyone raises their voice to try and be heard, which makes things worse. The food is just okay; we had appetizers that were good and entrees that were bad. By far the biggest pro of this place was the attentive and sweet waiter. That said, I have no interest in ever visiting one of these locations again.

We enjoyed this restaurant for breakfast. Our server, Grace? was awesome, helpful and gave us excellent service. We were there 10/10. Great food diversity.

This is such a solid brunch/lunch spot that it is no wonder that they have expanded to a few locations. My mom and I were able to grab a last minute brunch reservation here last Sunday for a break during our shopping day. It was definitely packed! And a little slippery due to all the rain, but we had a lovely time and didn't feel rushed at all. We especially liked their eggs benedict special that was smoked salmon on a homemade potato latka.

I had a very good brunch at Jack's Wife Freda. My dad and I shared the poached eggs with tomato and halloumi, and the special eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Both were delicious - especially the poached eggs with tomato and halloumi - it was so unique tasting and bursting with flavor. The presentation of the food was also amazing - the colors were so vibrant and the food looked appetizing. The restaurant itself has a very aesthetic vibe - it's perfect for a chic and cute weekend brunch. The service is great, and the servers are very friendly. The reason I gave this place a 3 is because the portions were very small - I got up afterwards still feeling quite hungry. However, other than the portions, I had a positive experience!

I've been hearing about this place on social media for years but this was my first time coming here. The staff was extremely friendly and do a great job making sure our cups of water are refilled. My friend and I also ordered the cantaloupe juice which I really enjoyed! It was fresh and tasted really sweet. I ordered the green shakshuka which was really interesting since it was essentially a cooked egg white with green tomato sauce and 2 egg yolks on top. We also ordered the cheesecake to share, which tasted really heavy so I wasn't able to finish it but was interesting to try. The place itself is cutely decorated.

Giving 3.5 stars. The location and space was very cute - Good lighting, comfortable seating, coat rack, decorations, and good Jack's Wife Freda branding. The food was tasty, portions are on the smaller side. I got the Madame Freda. Tasted great - the cheese and duck prosciutto were flavorful and gave this dish a fun twist! Salad was just arugula and pickled onions, which was tasty but plain. Service was overall great. One of the waiters, who wasn't even assigned to our table, brought over some sauces that he recommended when he saw the dishes we got, and checked back in about how we liked it. Waitstaff was attentive- Clearing away dishes quick, and our water/coffee was seldom empty. We did have a reservation and reservation confirmation, but the restaurant did not have record of it, which was a bummer. We were luckily able to get seated anyways since we had an early time. However, we weren't even there an hour before we were told that they needed the table for a reservation, and asked if they could make our coffee's too go. Empathize with the restaurant being busy, but was a bummer we couldn't stay longer! Note that still, the waitstaff is great! Not a go-to spot for me, but was nice to try!

This meal was everything! The food was so delicious. Felt light and healthy but did not skimp on flavor. The green hot sauce had the most perfect kick. We got a side of steak because we were feeling the protein that day, and it did not disappoint. Perfectly cooked and so flavorful. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We sat inside in a cute little corner booth toward the front, and the open windows and doors up feont was perfect for a comfortable and airy dining experience. Love this place!

The brunch is just ok. It's not my favorite in the city but I do come here at times to meet eith friends I haven't seen in a while or out of time for a few reasons. It's a lovely space, the service is great and you can catchup during the meal and they give a reasonable time to enjoy your meal and catch up. It's easy for everyone to get to. Fried Zucchini Chips Green Shakshuka Duck bacon egg - i would have liked to taste more of the duck bacon

Ok Ok, I know these restaurants are very popular, and there'sthere's a lot of fuzz about them, but the way I see it they're good to sit and have a coffee while watching people on the street but not so much to go there for breakfast. I had a very wishy-washy experience here and I think I was taken advantage of... As you can see in my bill, I ordered a regular coffee with a shot of espresso and with Tax and tip i ended paying over $12 for a lukewarm coffee. More than at the Ritz. Needless to say, I also paid $20 for a couple of sunny side-up eggs with a little bit of green salsa spread on top. I do not recommend this place at all because it's bad and expensive.

I agree with other Yelpers - the portion size is quite small here in comparison to what they are charging. This place is expensive overall. The food is quite average and nothing quite special to pay that much. Even their mint lemonade and cantaloupe juice is $10 - quite a rip off!! The poached egg on grilled halloumi was nice. The burger was quite average and French fries were nice. The service is a bit slow in comparison to other restaurants in NYC. But they were super nice in their behaviour. The ambience could be quite loud!! I think this is one of the noisiest restaurants I have been to in the city. But of course you get immune to it after sometime. They had even put a table at the front door, covering like half of the entrance. Haha. Overall not that impressed to come back here again.

I had the short rib burger and French fries. The burger was a solid showing. I wasn't particularly impressed with the fried onions on top, they seemed unnecessary and almost distracted from the meat. I didn't take them off so I suppose that's on me. The fries were like a hybrid of string and steak, a more thick string potato fry. I would assess them an 8 out of 10. They are the kind of fry that cries for tons of ketchup and as most chi chi spots these days they came with a thimble. Not enough.

I must admit that my overall experience left something to be desired. I ordered the Green Shakshuka and the Mediterranean Breakfast, hoping for a flavorful and satisfying meal. Unfortunately, I found both dishes to be rather underwhelming. Let's start with the Green Shakshuka. The presentation was visually appealing, and I appreciated the vibrant green color of the dish. However, when it came to taste, it fell short. The flavors were lacking depth, and the overall seasoning was bland. I was hoping for a burst of spices and herbs, but instead, I was met with a disappointingly mild dish. As for the Mediterranean Breakfast, it included eggs, pita, avocado, and a cucumber salad. While the eggs were cooked adequately, they lacked any notable seasoning or excitement. They were simply plain and unremarkable. The pita was decent but nothing exceptional, and unfortunately, the avocado and cucumber salad left much to be desired. The avocado lacked seasoning and was uninteresting, while the cucumber salad was limp and lacked any crunch or tang. On a positive note, the service at Jack's Wife Freda was friendly and attentive. The staff members were polite and accommodating, which added a pleasant touch to the dining experience. The ambiance of the restaurant was also inviting, with a cozy and stylish interior that made for a comfortable setting. In summary, while Jack's Wife Freda has a charming atmosphere and friendly service, the food fell short of my expectations. The Green Shakshuka lacked flavor, and the Mediterranean Breakfast was a combination of unseasoned elements. It's possible that other menu items might fare better, but based on my experience, I can only give it a three out of five-star rating. Not worth the wait.

3.5 stars I came to Jacks Wife Freda for brunch in a group of 4 at 11:30AM on a Sunday morning. We had a reservation which I definitely suggest since this place can get very packed on weekends. I have not been to the other locations but I thought this was a really cute casual spot that feels very lively. The tables are super close together so there is not that much room around you but it is manageable. Our server was very attentive and got our orders right after arriving. We ordered some drip coffee which was good and I believe had free refills. For food we got: Roasted cauliflower: did not take a picture of this but it was probably my favorite thing! It came with this creamy sauce, capers, and little pieces of raw cauliflower that gave it some extra texture. The cauliflower was roasted to perfection. Really enjoyed this! Halloumi: also very good! Came with grapes which gave a very nice sweet/savory contrast. Thin slices of halloumi. Good appetizer for sharing although the portion size is definitely small if you are a halloumi lover. Did not take pics. Green shakshuka: for how hyped up this is, I was truly pretty underwhelmed. I felt that the shakshuka lacked flavor and was a little bit too watery. The challah toast was pretty good but again I feel like a lot of the charm of the bread was lost with the shakshuka. Would probably order a different entree next time since I felt this one was lacking and did not feel rich enough for what I hope in shakshuka. Overall, I thought this place was a cute brunch spot. You definitely need a reservation since it gets pretty full and there are some good dishes. They have pretty healthy options on the menu and you leave feeling light and clean but also not hungry. The food might be overrated but there is nice ambiance and good service. I don't know if I would seek out this place again but if I did return I definitely want to give other main dishes a chance.

- Food 9/10 - Service 10/10 - very helpful but not overbearing just how i like. Ambiance is very chill. It's a Tuesday afternoon. Decent tunes, not too loud. Would recommend.

FABULOUS dining experience! From the minute we stepped in, we had a lovely greeting from the hostess who led us to our table of choice towards the back. Our waiter was very professional, prompt, & provided exceptional service. The drinks were delicious and the food was plated beautifully and each dish (2 apps/2 entrees) were incredible. I HIGHLY recommend!!!

I came here with a friend for brunch after seeing so many of my friends trying their Green Shakshuka. We went on a weekday for brunch and were immediately seated. Their menu has some classic brunch items, with some room for more experimental options as well. My friend and I shared a Rosewater Waffler and Green Shakshuka. The rosewater is really noticeable in the waffle, in a good way! I wish there had been more fruits, though. The Green Shakshuka was watery but was fun to eat. By far, the standout piece was the challah toast that came out with the shakshuka... it was as fluffy as a cloud. If there was a way to get that bread delivered to me fresh every day, I would definitely seize the opportunity. My friend also opted for coffee, which he said was pretty standard. Our server graciously gave us an additional side of challah toast and checked in on us throughout our meal without hovering over us too much. Overall, this is a cute brunch spot to go to with some friends! The food is light for the price you're paying, so expect to go there more for the social experience than to get a filling meal.

Two stars for the wonderful service because I think I'd give it a one star for the food. The food was pretty bland and was giving nothing, I ordered the Shakshuka and two appetizers to share and all three were very mid, not a lot of flavor and pretty overpriced. I did love that they brought out extra fresh pita and bread without us having to ask or wait. We went on a Friday for brunch and it was pretty nice and calm, I didn't love how close the tables were, it was hard to get in and out of my seat without rubbing my bottom on the table next to us. I guess this is expected in New York so not a huge complaint.

Super popular brunch spot for when you have guests from out of town. The brunch menu has a lot of "safe" options (eggs, yogurt, waffles, sandwiches, etc) but still feels different enough from the usual diner brunch fare. We had an early brunch reservation, which meant we were able to finish eating just as the restaurant started getting packed. It feels a little cramped once every table is full. The green shakshuka was good, but after our meal everyone agreed that the food was pretty light and we would probably be hungry again soon lol. Overall it was nice to finally try, but not sure I'd go out of my way to eat here again.

1/1 Ambience; .5/2 Food; 1/1 Service; 0/1 Value The vibes are like an upscale American diner meets influenced by Middle Eastern flavors. I was pretty much influenced through Instagram pictures into coming for a casual brunch with a friend, and through the lens the experience didn't disappoint. The warm restaurant interiors, beautiful exteriors with flowers and outdoor dining, and dishes yielded aesthetically pleasing photos (the custom sugar packets are adorable!), but that's about as far as the niceties went. My friend and I had shared the green shakshuka and Maya's breakfast bowl. The breakfast bowl was rather bland and unspecial, whereas the the shakshuka tasted like poached eggs in a watery, non-spicy salsa verde. The challah served alongside the shakshuka was fluffy and delicious, but I just wish I had more than two small pieces of it. I had a latte that also tasted a bit watered down. The prices do not justify the small portions of the food by any means, given that it was very underwhelming. We went for a Saturday brunch, and the restaurant was packed. Despite that, the service was pleasant and attentive. Overall, we found Jack's Wife Freda to be very overhyped through social media. It felt stylish, but with little substance given the high cost for unsatisfying flavors in small portions in an otherwise charming restaurant.

Very yummy . Worker very nice nice seats. i went there 15 may 2023. i love waffles I go again.

This place is very busy ! It is extremely loud and you for sure need a reservation if not you will be waiting a good 15-20 mins. It's super cramped too. I will say though I'm happy I made a reservation because I was seated immediately. I ordered the spaghetti with chicken meatballs. It tasted great i enjoyed the meatballs the most. But eating the spaghetti sauce and noodles it was on the salty side. I'm not sure if it was the sauce itself that had too much salt but every bite was salty instead of tomatoey. My friend got the chicken prego sandwich comes with a side of fries or salad she said she enjoyed it. We also got a raspberry drink because they didn't have their seasonal drink it was really good I don't know the name because the waitress's recommended that drink instead but it was overall really good. The wait for the food was about 20-25 mins but other than that it's a decent place definetly not for a conversation area because everyone else around us very loud. The cost of the two meals and two drinks ended up being $90 .. so about $45 each which is in the high side but your typical New York dine out experience.

I came here on a Thursday night for dinner at 6 pm with a group. This location is smaller than I thought but I liked how intimate it was. Later in the evening, they dimmed the lights and it really added to the ambiance. Our server was attentive and took a group picture for us! I got the cantaloupe mimosa ($15) and the chicken prego sandwich and added white cheddar cheese ($22). The sandwich came with a generous amount of fries that I couldn't finish. The sandwich was on a ciabatta bread and I think the ratio of chicken and aioli sauce was perfect! The mimosa was not that sweet and had a great flavor.

While planning our trip to NYC we looked at several places where to eat. Jacks Wife's Fredas menu sounded interesting and delicious so we made a reservation to have Brunch there. When we arrived, the bar was open so we decided to sit there. Service was quick, and they gifted us 2 mimosas to celebrate our anniversary. I ordered a latte as well (need my coffee!) and they serve it with the cute designs with the frothed milk. As soon as I saw the Mediterranean breakfast I knew that's what I wanted to have. Sounded fresh and flavorful, and very in tune with the restaurant's food theme. I added the duck bacon on the side, and absolutely loved all of it. Now, be careful with the green sauce on the side... it's SPICY! Loved this place and its staff. Go give them a try if you haven't already.

The food was very fresh and clean but nothing mind blowing. Your classic American style brunch that was very busy

I'm addicted to the zucchini chips with paprika aioli! The Kale salad with Tarragon dressing was delicious as well. The food is clean and healthy for the most part. Service was good but the restaurant was extremely loud, to the point of being uncomfortable. I plan on ordering out rather than eating in.

The food was really good. We had the halloumi for the table which was a small portion and a bit spicy but good. The zucchini chips were amazing and a good portion. I got the mashed avocado on bread with a piece of halloumi ($4 more). It was good and I was glad it came with French fries otherwise it wouldn't have been enough food. The waitress taking care of our group was great. Fast with the water refills. I got something on my dress and she saw and brought me soda water to clean it. I would come back.

TLDR: Decent choice for Mediterranean brunch or a quick meetup with friends. I'd ask for the most popular choices because there are a lot of options on the menu. Came in for an early breakfast and went with the Green Shakshuka and Madame Freda. The Shakshuka is basically a green tomatillo variant of the traditional dish. The Madame Freda is similar to a croque madame but with duck prosciutto. Between the two, the croque was more interesting. The shakshuka while unique we didn't love, I think the acidity from the tomatillo felt repetitive after a few bites. The spritz was good but didn't love the cantaloupe bellini. I probably would get the straight up cantaloupe juice next time.

Jack's Wife Freda has had a lot of reviews and is a very popular restaurant. I didn't understand the hype, but I do now! For one, the menu is great. There are so many different choices for all different tastes and dietary restrictions. Although some simpler dishes are a tad expensive, I appreciate the menu options and the dishes I had tasted really good. The staff is really nice and the decorations on the outside are very cute! A great vibe all around but could definitely be overwhelming in the cramped space when it's more crowded. Maya 's Grain Bowl: 9/10 I love a warm grain bowl and everything in this bowl tastes great together! I loved the squash, roasted tomatoes, and the eggs made it very filling. The green sauce that came on the side was also delicious. House Salad: 8/10 This salad is a bit simple, and I would have appreciated the leaves and radishes being more bite sized. I personally don't love tarragon, but the tarragon dressing was well liked by my mom who does. It's a very light salad and a bit small, so I would recommend a protein. We got the chicken kebab with it. Chicken kebab: 8.5/10 The chicken was really well cooked and pretty nicely seasoned. It wasn't too dry. I think this is a big pricey for one kebab and wish the spices came through more. Overall I will definitely be back for a lunch or brunch and am excited to try more menu items!

This is the jacks burger and it cost 22 dollars with fries. I think this isn't really acceptable for a 22 dollar burger.

After seeing this place all over Tik Tok and Instagram, it's safe to say we had high expectations. I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint! We expected it to be pretty crowded considering it's popularity, but walked right in and got an outdoor table. The decor and aesthetics of this spot are definitely on point and create a great atmosphere! I ordered the Mediterranean breakfast and a cappuccino. Both were delicious, especially the labneh that came with the breakfast! My friend got the eggplant baguette, which I did not try but also looked delicious! I highly recommend trying out one of their many locations around the city!

This location is a small but cute place. Makes you feel like you walked into the kitchen of your grandparents. The food was good overall! We got the wings and I did the special which was the Benedict. I wish the Benedict had a better platting but overall everything was tasty!

Nothing too special about the food. Got the shakshouka and it was pretty bland and not worth the price in my opinion. Pretty loud and crowded venue. Would probably not visit again

We had reservations and came here for dinner on a Saturday night. I ordered the Peri-Peri Chicken Wings with a side of Fries. Everything was very good! The wings were flavorful and juicy. The service was also excellent! Our server Sierra made sure we had everything we needed, and our glasses were never empty. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to come back and try their brunch!

I keep coming back here because I love the food and it's a nice, casual, not so pricey spot for dinner in the area. It's great for a meal with a few friends, especially when you don't want to break the bank, but I wouldn't come here if you're really trying to catch up with someone. It is... so loud. I'm not sure if I'm just old now but the acoustics are so off inside and I constantly find that I can only hear the people directly next to me. Not ideal for a large group (and I've come with a large group on 2 separate occasions now), unless you simply want a space with a big table and decently priced food and don't actually want to hear or talk to the people in your group. All that said, I will keep coming back (and recommend you do, too!!) because it's a solid spot with solid food and good drinks. It feels very New York and is a fun vibe. The breakfast menu items are awesome, but I keep going back to the steak and fries. Delicious. Perfectly cooked. And the fries are top notch. I love this place, I just wish I could hear better lol.

Pretty place for really good Mediterranean food! Chicken Kebab -$22 (5/5) Tthe chicken was well cooked and flavorful. I liked the sauce and the cucumber salad paired really well with everything. The couscous was warm and good with the chicken. Overall everything went well with each other! While the food was good, I did not really like the cocktails that we ordered (La Vida Loca, Hot Toddy). I also went on a Thursday night and it was too loud inside. So I will probably not recommend this place for a quiet date but I will come back for brunch!

Great name. A while back, I had passed by the original SoHo location on Lafayette several times when I stayed down there, but I never made it in because it was always packed. Now it appears to have grown to six locations (with two in Japan), and Jamie W. and I happened to be strolling in the West Village when we came upon the Carmine Street location. It was definitely bustling with a convivial vibe but also more spacious with a table immediately available for us. Owner Dean Jankelowitz named his restaurant for his Jewish grandmother from South Africa, and it's her bouffant hairdo that's on the logo. His cooking influences come from there, Israel, and the Lower East Side. I also saw Peri-Peri Chicken and Vegetable Curry Bowl, so let's just call it global cuisine. First things first though, I ordered the $15 Pimm's Cup #1, quite refreshing with cucumber, lemonade, mint, and ginger added to the Pimm's (photo: https://bit.ly/3QhSizk). Jamie saved his calories for the food and ordered the $25 Spaghetti & Chicken Meatballs and took the option of spaghetti squash over pasta (photo: https://bit.ly/3SH0bzN). It was swimming in Freda's tomato sauce, but it was delicious home cooking. I went for the $21 Chicken Kebab which placed a hefty skewer of grilled peri-peri marinated chicken over a bowl of couscous and chopped Israeli-style salad (photo: https://bit.ly/3AcOjhN). Pretty simple but quite filling with the savory poultry. We also went for two of their signature sides to share. The $14 Fried Zucchini Chips were quite addictive with a smoked paprika aioli and probably a healthier alternative to fries (photo: https://bit.ly/3wiMKN9). The standout, however, was the $16 Grilled Halloumi served with sweet marinated seedless grapes and shredded basil (photo: https://bit.ly/3AeilS8). We actually had grilled halloumi at the beginning of our vacation, so I guess we completed our halloumi circle. I think Freda would appreciate that. FOOD - 4 stars...fresh-tasting comfort food with a Mediterranean twist, at least with what we ordered AMBIANCE - 4 stars...social vibe and comfortably casual SERVICE - 4 stars...the server was extremely helpful and patient TOTAL - 4 stars...Freda would be pleased with what a friendly popular hangout her grandson has opened in the West Village RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2YS9ELs

I had pretty high expectations for Jack's Wife Freda since every location is always packed during brunch hours but I admittedly was disappointed with my experience. I went to the West Village location with some friends around 12:30pm and we were able to be seated immediately with no wait, I'm guessing because it was past peak brunch time. We were seated in the long bench style table in the middle of the restaurant, which seat multiple parties. They also had booth style seating and smaller tables. First thing to note: this restaurant can get LOUD. I'm guessing due to the low ceiling and the packed tables, I was barely able to hear the person sitting across from me! Definitely not a good place to have any sort of long conversations with friends or family. Secondly, the aisles between tables are too narrow, almost in a claustrophobic sense. I was bumped on my head or shoulder at least 3 times during my meal. Twice from servers carrying plates or large crates of glasses, and once from another patron. I am not sure if the other locations are like this, but I will give a 1/5 stars for ambiance/environment. As for the food, I would say it was pretty unremarkable. We got for the table their signature Green Shashuka and a couple of shareable plates (Fried Zucchini Chips, Kefta Kebab and Peri Peri Chicken wings). Portions were on the smaller side, even for the entree dish. The Green Shashuka had 2 small eggs, very runny green sauce, and 2 thin slices of bread. It was pretty good but just way too small. Even if this was an entree for one person (not sharing) it would not be a substantial meal. 3/5 The Zucchini Chips and Peri Peri wings were my favorite! Definitely would recommend these if you go. The chips have good flavor, good crunch and the sauce went well with the dish as well. The wings were a tad too spicy for me, but the chicken was moist and flavorful. 4/5 for both. The Kefta Kebab was... interesting. It's like these persian style meatballs with a tahini dipping sauce and some flatbread. I was not a fan of the flavor profile of the meatballs because it was sweet in a weird way. I think they added too much cinnamon or something so it threw the flavors off. 2/5 Lastly, I think the beverages were overpriced for what they were. I got a plain non-alcoholic mint lemonade for $10. I wasn't expecting the best lemonade ever but it was really sour, had no real mint flavor and simply wasn't worth it. Would I try Jack's Wife Freda again? Maybe. I heard good things about their other brunch options like the Madame Freda, so I might give it another shot. But definitely would not return to the WV location.

Quick recap: - Food: Good - Portion size: Small - Service: Table Service - Environment: Upscale diner feel - $: Overpriced - Perks: Outdoors table Overall? Good food. Small portions. Not the best price to quality ratio. More details: We went there for brunch. We had the Meditterranean breakfast ($17), the poached eggs with roasted tomato and haloumi cheese ($18) and the green shakshuka ($16). We were still starving after eating .The 2 poached eggs being a ridiculously small meal. Maybe the better items are the burgers, if they come with fries. But basically, if you are hungry, I would not go there.

I've walked past the Soho location many times and it's always packed. My friend was visiting from out of town and wanted somewhere that took reservations for a Saturday morning so this was the only Jack's Wife Freda location that took reservations so here we came! There was a large party of 20-30 people in the indoor area of the restaurant so we opted to sit in the limited outdoor foyer seating area. Luckily the weather was a balmy 70 degrees in mid-November which was perfect for the vibe. Our table of 2 at 10:30 AM ordered: -Chicken Prego Sandwich ($20) -Maya's Breakfast Bowl ($23) The fries come with a green chutney and ketchup which was quite interesting, I think I would've preferred the aioli that came on my sandwich but good to try something new I guess. Loved my sandwich and thought it was pretty on-par for a New York brunch place. Fries were cooked well. Service was slow because of that large party but our waitress apologized and informed us so we weren't left in the dark wondering where our food was.

So this was my first time trying out Jack's Wife Freda which is notoriously known as quite possibly the most basic brunch spot in NYC. Is it worth the hype? Sure I guess, it wasn't bad at all but would I return? Unlikely. It is a tad bit on the pricey side but when is brunch not pricey? The food was tasty but not anything special by any means. My friend made the rezzy for this place well in advance (which btw requires a 24 cancellation notice or you'll get charged a fee lol so if you make a reservation make sure you actually plan to go). I scoped out the menu and the Yelp reviews before I went and I'm glad I did. At Mediterranean places I usually get shakshukas for brunch but the reviews all mentioned that it was a little runny and not very filling so I opted for the Mediterranean breakfast. My friend who has been here before once had the shakshuka and said it was good but definitely wouldn't get it again and she instead opted for the poached eggs and roasted tomato and halloumi. The Mediterranean breakfast wasn't anything special neither was the dish my friend got, but it was still tasty and filling. We both enjoyed the pita bread and the little cilantro sauce that came with. The zucchini chips were the star of the show though. Additionally, my friend ordered the bottomless drip coffee and I got a hot matcha. I was hoping they would give me the matcha in a nice mug but they instead put my hot matcha in a glass cup which kind of annoyed me especially because as I added sugar my spoon barely fit inside the cup which was frustrating because my drink spilled over a bit. Overall, food was okay. Bit on the expensive. If you want a good brunch experience with really good food for a better price you'll be able to find it elsewhere in the city. I will not be coming back here.

I love the food and the service is good but it can get really noisy which can make it hard to have conversations. Also the tables are small so it can be hard to fit the food on the table.

I walked by Jack's Wife Freda multiple times in SOHO and really wanted to check it out. My friend whom I haven't seen in a while was down, so we met up at the West Village location. The restaurant is cramped with super tiny tables. It's loud and difficult to have any meaningful convo. Food does make up for it though! The Mediterranean Breakfast is super delicious. I liked eating the pita bread with labne (thick, yogurt-like, tart cream cheese) and sliced avo with salt. Chopped salad was light, refreshing, and acted as a palate cleanser. My friend and I both didn't like the cataloupe mimosa much. The puree just did not go well with the cava and it was extremely pulpy.

Extremely overpriced. We ordered the halloumi appetizer and came with the smallest piece of cheese and roasted grapes? We finished it in one bite. The burger came without lettuce and was just ok. The service was mediocre and the atmosphere was not inviting. My mezcal margarita was very tasty and strong tho... if they had happy hour... maybe I'd consider coming back but for what we got and $250? Won't be back

I know this place is extremely overhyped with lines going out the doors every weekend, but honestly, I get it. It's a casual spot, with good food, and good vibes. Every time I see Fried Zucchini on the menu, my entire party already knows it's getting ordered. The zucchinis are soft, crispy, airy, perfectly seasoned and perfectly fried. If zucchini is your thing, you need to order this. We also got the salt & pepper eggplant. This was served with tzatziki which, honestly, I didn't think the combination would be that good, but it was. The eggplants were well very cooked - they had a crunch to them, and were very well seasoned. I of course preferred the zucchini over this, but this was pretty good. We also HAD to get the Halloumi, and as a Lebanese, I like to think I'm a pretty good judge. It was served with spicy honey and grapes? Which I expected to be weird, but was actually DELICIOUS. I tried to recreate this at home but it wasn't as good. Now as for the entrées... - Chicken Kebab: the chicken is very well marinated and is very juicy (not dry at all). I love the spicy sauce that comes with it (I don't know what's in it, but it's very spicy, and very good). The cucumber salad might also be my favorite part of this dish?? The chicken+cucumber combo is really good! My one comment is re: couscous, it's kind of tasteless, but it didn't bother me too much after I mixed it in with the sauce. - Bennie's Chicken Schnitzel: this is actually a favorite amongst my friends. It is also served with the delicious cucumber salad (yum!) but also mashed potatoes, which are actually not bad at all. The schnitzel itself is thin, crispy and overall just yummy. As for the desserts, we tried both the chocolate cake and the cheesecake. The chocolate cake was actually a bit molten which was super unexpected and absolutely delicious. But it was the cheesecake that won my heart. I don't know what exactly is in there, but all I know is that it's caramel-ey and delicious.

Came here on a Saturday morning for brunch with a reservation and we were seated quite quickly. The inside was lively with most tables being occupied and the decorations / decor made the ambiance feel quite nice. We ordered pretty quickly and got our food within a reasonable time as well. The matcha drink was quite bitter so I added sugar myself, but overall I thought it was pretty good as it's what you'd expect and you could adjust sweetness to how you liked after. The eggplant was really delicious - good texture and flavor. The dipping sauce was great as well. Two people in my party got shakshuka including me and both of us enjoyed it a lot. It reminded me of salsa due to its consistency and some of the ingredients they used, but that's not a negative thing. It was really delicious and was a good size! The highlight of the meal was when one of the staff members asked us if we wanted more bread and we said yes, two pieces for both of us. A few minutes later, someone brought out just one slice of bread. The same person who had asked us was like, "Is that all they brought out?" When we said yes, she replied with, "I'm crying," and she put in another order for us after. Super funny and showed her dedication - the environment was pretty busy and hectic so I don't fault anyone for getting the request wrong in the first place. Overall, super solid spot for brunch! Great service, yummy food. Thanks, Jack's!

I love brunch places but this place is extremely overhyped and the food was mid for the price you pay. There's a high price point but the food is something you can create at home. I had the chicken kebab and the chicken was so dry. This place is only good for brunch vibes but I wouldn't expect the food to be fantastic.

My friend was adamant to check this place out and I went with the flow and agreed to join her. The place was nicely packed and and the host was hands down awesome. She asked if we wanted to wait just a tad longer so we can have a better corner seats so I definitely appreciate that kind of service. However, the reason for the 3 stars was my meal. I ordered their chicken schnitzel and I was completely unimpressed. I have never seen chicken cutlet cut so thinly sliced that I was nearly paper-like. I could barely taste the chicken itself and everything about that cutlet was dry and tasteless. . Considering this was my main entrée, I was really expecting more but as they say, expectation only leads to disappointment. As for my mash potatoes and side salad, I thought it was okay. Nothing fancy and nothing extra. Would I come here or to any of their other location. Clearly the answer is no.