Lovely anniversary dinner with my wife. Everything was wonderful and our server, Nick, was fantastic. Only two tiny recommdations because I am a nutty perfectionist. Instead of the cherries with the foil gras, I would have preferred a cherry reduction drizzle and I would have served the caviar garnish with the halibut in a way that kept it cold. Serving it on top of hot fish warmed it which made it less enjoyable. Still a five star experience and we'll be back soon. This restaurant is just what WC needs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elizabeth Gombosi
Love it here! Sitting outside on a Saturday night feels like an evening in Europe. Lovely and obviously well trained waitstaff. The drinks are clear and fresh with good selections. Food is lovely, could be a few more options to choose Vegan but enjoyed Veg and Fish options! Finally grabbed a photo! Cocktails and dessert, anyone?!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bethany Bones
We enjoyed a fantastic four course meal at Jolene’s last night. We had been to the bar a few times before (also adore their bar and bartenders!), but this was our first experience in the dining room. We especially enjoyed the mushroom bisque, Parisian gnocchi, wagyu coulotte, and duck breast. We finished the evening with a lovely crème brûlée paired with smooth and rich espresso and cappuccino. All drinks were great, including our cocktails with dinner. Everything about our experience was 5-star quality. The food - its scent, taste, texture - all incredible. The service was also excellent. Our server, I believe his name was Nick, was very attentive. We stayed for a full 2 hours enjoying each course and conversation in the dining room. Looking forward to more evenings to enjoy at Jolene’s!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K B
Beautiful restaurant. Waitress was not great. However, the men bringing out food were great! Food is crazy small portions. The scallop dish was literally 1.5 scallops. ($23) The tuna was very good. Gnocchi was ehh. Duck was tasty, but just such small portions. Spent over $460 for two couples and we all left underwhelmed and hungry.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Cooper King
Went to Jolene’s on 9/19 and it exceeded my expectations and was some of the best food I’ve had at a restaurant. The beets, scallops and cowboy steak were all incredible. For desert we had the crème brûlée and it was the perfect ending to our meal. Everything about Jolene’s was wonderful and I will definitely be dining in again in the future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John
I'm really impressed with this place and I don't give 5 star reviews easily, but Jolene's really earned it. Right now it still seems under the radar, but comparing favorably to Andiario in presentation, freshness, and execution, I don't expect it to stay hidden for very long. Do not let fear of mispronouncing a French word or a misplaced perception of pretentiousness dissuade you from trying Jolene's - it's amazing, and worth going outside your comfort zone for. And while I'll say it's not cheap, it is accurately priced. And it stands confidently among the very best restaurants in the Philly suburbs.
Food: I was wowed by nearly everything brought out in three dinner courses (and some of my wife's food too), and a couple dishes were just good. All of the dishes had a laser focus on detail which came through in both taste and presentation - just lots of little things done right. For 3 examples: 1) A twist on Vichyssoise, with the cold soup poured over an accent of a delightful crumble medley. 2) Fresh scallops seared separately from the rest of the Bouillabaisse to achieve the right temperature and texture, then added in at plating. 3) steak tartare with the texture and freshness of Tuna sashimi, so perfectly spiced that it tasted cooked, sitting among the best beef experiences I've had in a long time. Wines by the glass were French only and presented 16 well selected and fairly priced choices. I had no trouble pairing my wines to each course with some baseline knowledge of French wine, and got to try a few things new to me.
Service: Grest restaurant service should feel simultaneously intimate and anonymous while providing guidance and reassurance. Our server Nick nailed it and was an excellent guide. He is clearly passionate about his work and is well informed, but also smart enough to shift gears and stand back to let the food and wine do the talking. He was ever present when needed and blended into the wallpaper when not, but was never far - threading this needle is difficult for many servers to pull off but it separates the best from the rest. And this is not to diminish the rest of the staff who worked hand in glove as a team, not missing any details, and coming together to make Jolene's a memorable experience.
Setting: They've done such a great job attending to lots of little details comparing favorably to Parc in Philly or Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas. The visual style threads the needle well between old and new, respecting both the place it's located and the fresh menu. As the bar and dining room filled up it did not get excessively noisy, and hushed conversation was still possible. Being able to see the bar but not be in the bar added visual interest. Even the bathrooms were intentional - accessible through one pink mystery door in the back of the bar, revealing a well composed unisex bathroom lobby and full privacy rooms.
In short, I'm coming back. Hopefully for many years to come. I had high expectations and they were exceeded. There's enough in this current menu to keep coming back, and when the newness wears off I would encourage them to consider offering or converting to a prix fixe menu once people understand what Jolene's is about. For a completely different experience I want to come back on a cold day to sit at the bar with the onion soup and a beer. They will probably tempt me into staying and spending more than I intended, but it will be ok. My only regret will be I'm not getting the full sit down service.
To wrap I'll quote a famous chef who says that perfection is lots of little things done right. While Jolene's isn't quite perfect yet, it's close enough, and they are surely on that road.
Food - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 4.5/5 Comfort - 4/5 Value - 5/5
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zachary Kinion
Great atmosphere, food, and drinks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Me And
I disliked the food. Then, I saw my statement credit that they charged my credit card more than what I signed. Avoid.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Eduardo Otero
Jolene’s offers an excellent selection of traditional French cuisine prepared with excellent ingredients and very well done. We sat outside (summer weekends) and the service was outstanding. Also they have a very selection of wines by the glass which is rare. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Navid Alamatsaz
Food was ok. Looked like a fancy restaurant great for first dates, but it really wasn’t.
Jolene’s is a beautiful addition to the West Chester dining scene. The atmosphere and service are top-notch, but what really sets it apart is the unique menu in a town full of familiar options. Perfect for a date night or for casual bites and cocktails at the bar after work.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julie Avrutine Joiner
My husband and I saw some negative reviews before going to Jolene’s and I’m glad we weren’t deterred because we had a lovely experience. Yes, the menu is pricey and the portions on the smaller side. But we really enjoyed everything from our cocktails (the gin with bubbly one was my favorite), to our apps (the salad with beets stood out to me), to our second course (the gnocchi was delicious as well as the tuna tartare), and lastly to our entrees where I enjoyed the duck and my husband the steak. The service was also very good. Our server made helpful recommendations and the staff was quick to clear our plates between courses, but not too quick as to make us feel rushed. Come prepared to spend at least $100 per person if you are drinking, which may not be the norm for WC, but we really enjoyed ourselves.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler Beeson
Do not be deterred by some negative reviews. Jolene’s provided us with top tier service, excellent food, and a dynamic drink list. We shared cod croquettes, bluefin tuna crudo, steak tartare, blue crab gnocchi, and duck entree. For dessert, we chose the chocolate mousse and lemon olive oil cake with cardamom ice cream. My wife’s French 29 was perfect, and I loved the French cidre, imported from Brittany, which you simply don’t see every day. If I were to make one critique, the croquette and duck could have been served a touch warmer, however, we loved the flavor, ambience, and service all around. We can’t wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sabur IM
I didn't get the opportunity to explore the full menu however I'll be back to test things out. More than likely that 4 will become a 5 in the very near future! The service was amazing and the atmosphere was incredible! Perfect place for adults to be social, go on a date, happy hour, all purpose spot that you'll love!
While you're there, get the bourbon espresso martini, aka The Mr. Harrisburg!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Bill Wellen
We tried to get into WC Seafood Kitchen but there was no room at the inn. We had always intended to try Jolene's so the three of us moseyed on down the street. I so wanted it to be great, but it's a one and done for me. Service was slow, even though the place was nearly empty. My Old Fashioned became a Very Old Fashioned. The portions are tiny. The foie gras was the size and thickness of a silver dollar. A tasty bite, but that was it. The bouillabaisse was a few pieces of seafood added to a broth with good enough flavor. The halibut portion was small as well. The duck breast was overdone. We did enjoy the chocolate mousse. And they charged us $16.00 for tap water out of a glass bottle. It's very expensive and there is not enough there to become a destination restaurant. I'm sorry, we just didn't get enough value for our hard-earned money. On the bright side, they don't have to spend any money for doggy bags or go boxes. For the record, we were only offered sparkling or still water.
Lovely anniversary dinner with my wife. Everything was wonderful and our server, Nick, was fantastic. Only two tiny recommdations because I am a nutty perfectionist. Instead of the cherries with the foil gras, I would have preferred a cherry reduction drizzle and I would have served the caviar garnish with the halibut in a way that kept it cold. Serving it on top of hot fish warmed it which made it less enjoyable. Still a five star experience and we'll be back soon. This restaurant is just what WC needs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love it here! Sitting outside on a Saturday night feels like an evening in Europe. Lovely and obviously well trained waitstaff. The drinks are clear and fresh with good selections. Food is lovely, could be a few more options to choose Vegan but enjoyed Veg and Fish options!
Finally grabbed a photo! Cocktails and dessert, anyone?!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We enjoyed a fantastic four course meal at Jolene’s last night. We had been to the bar a few times before (also adore their bar and bartenders!), but this was our first experience in the dining room. We especially enjoyed the mushroom bisque, Parisian gnocchi, wagyu coulotte, and duck breast. We finished the evening with a lovely crème brûlée paired with smooth and rich espresso and cappuccino. All drinks were great, including our cocktails with dinner. Everything about our experience was 5-star quality. The food - its scent, taste, texture - all incredible. The service was also excellent. Our server, I believe his name was Nick, was very attentive. We stayed for a full 2 hours enjoying each course and conversation in the dining room. Looking forward to more evenings to enjoy at Jolene’s!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful restaurant. Waitress was not great. However, the men bringing out food were great! Food is crazy small portions. The scallop dish was literally 1.5 scallops. ($23) The tuna was very good. Gnocchi was ehh. Duck was tasty, but just such small portions. Spent over $460 for two couples and we all left underwhelmed and hungry.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Went to Jolene’s on 9/19 and it exceeded my expectations and was some of the best food I’ve had at a restaurant. The beets, scallops and cowboy steak were all incredible. For desert we had the crème brûlée and it was the perfect ending to our meal. Everything about Jolene’s was wonderful and I will definitely be dining in again in the future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm really impressed with this place and I don't give 5 star reviews easily, but Jolene's really earned it. Right now it still seems under the radar, but comparing favorably to Andiario in presentation, freshness, and execution, I don't expect it to stay hidden for very long. Do not let fear of mispronouncing a French word or a misplaced perception of pretentiousness dissuade you from trying Jolene's - it's amazing, and worth going outside your comfort zone for. And while I'll say it's not cheap, it is accurately priced. And it stands confidently among the very best restaurants in the Philly suburbs.
Food: I was wowed by nearly everything brought out in three dinner courses (and some of my wife's food too), and a couple dishes were just good. All of the dishes had a laser focus on detail which came through in both taste and presentation - just lots of little things done right. For 3 examples: 1) A twist on Vichyssoise, with the cold soup poured over an accent of a delightful crumble medley. 2) Fresh scallops seared separately from the rest of the Bouillabaisse to achieve the right temperature and texture, then added in at plating. 3) steak tartare with the texture and freshness of Tuna sashimi, so perfectly spiced that it tasted cooked, sitting among the best beef experiences I've had in a long time. Wines by the glass were French only and presented 16 well selected and fairly priced choices. I had no trouble pairing my wines to each course with some baseline knowledge of French wine, and got to try a few things new to me.
Service: Grest restaurant service should feel simultaneously intimate and anonymous while providing guidance and reassurance. Our server Nick nailed it and was an excellent guide. He is clearly passionate about his work and is well informed, but also smart enough to shift gears and stand back to let the food and wine do the talking. He was ever present when needed and blended into the wallpaper when not, but was never far - threading this needle is difficult for many servers to pull off but it separates the best from the rest. And this is not to diminish the rest of the staff who worked hand in glove as a team, not missing any details, and coming together to make Jolene's a memorable experience.
Setting: They've done such a great job attending to lots of little details comparing favorably to Parc in Philly or Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas. The visual style threads the needle well between old and new, respecting both the place it's located and the fresh menu. As the bar and dining room filled up it did not get excessively noisy, and hushed conversation was still possible. Being able to see the bar but not be in the bar added visual interest. Even the bathrooms were intentional - accessible through one pink mystery door in the back of the bar, revealing a well composed unisex bathroom lobby and full privacy rooms.
In short, I'm coming back. Hopefully for many years to come. I had high expectations and they were exceeded. There's enough in this current menu to keep coming back, and when the newness wears off I would encourage them to consider offering or converting to a prix fixe menu once people understand what Jolene's is about. For a completely different experience I want to come back on a cold day to sit at the bar with the onion soup and a beer. They will probably tempt me into staying and spending more than I intended, but it will be ok. My only regret will be I'm not getting the full sit down service.
To wrap I'll quote a famous chef who says that perfection is lots of little things done right. While Jolene's isn't quite perfect yet, it's close enough, and they are surely on that road.
Food - 5/5
Service - 5/5
Ambiance - 4.5/5
Comfort - 4/5
Value - 5/5
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great atmosphere, food, and drinks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I disliked the food. Then, I saw my statement credit that they charged my credit card more than what I signed. Avoid.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jolene’s offers an excellent selection of traditional French cuisine prepared with excellent ingredients and very well done. We sat outside (summer weekends) and the service was outstanding. Also they have a very selection of wines by the glass which is rare. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was ok. Looked like a fancy restaurant great for first dates, but it really wasn’t.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Jolene’s is a beautiful addition to the West Chester dining scene. The atmosphere and service are top-notch, but what really sets it apart is the unique menu in a town full of familiar options. Perfect for a date night or for casual bites and cocktails at the bar after work.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I saw some negative reviews before going to Jolene’s and I’m glad we weren’t deterred because we had a lovely experience. Yes, the menu is pricey and the portions on the smaller side. But we really enjoyed everything from our cocktails (the gin with bubbly one was my favorite), to our apps (the salad with beets stood out to me), to our second course (the gnocchi was delicious as well as the tuna tartare), and lastly to our entrees where I enjoyed the duck and my husband the steak. The service was also very good. Our server made helpful recommendations and the staff was quick to clear our plates between courses, but not too quick as to make us feel rushed. Come prepared to spend at least $100 per person if you are drinking, which may not be the norm for WC, but we really enjoyed ourselves.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Do not be deterred by some negative reviews. Jolene’s provided us with top tier service, excellent food, and a dynamic drink list. We shared cod croquettes, bluefin tuna crudo, steak tartare, blue crab gnocchi, and duck entree. For dessert, we chose the chocolate mousse and lemon olive oil cake with cardamom ice cream. My wife’s French 29 was perfect, and I loved the French cidre, imported from Brittany, which you simply don’t see every day. If I were to make one critique, the croquette and duck could have been served a touch warmer, however, we loved the flavor, ambience, and service all around. We can’t wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I didn't get the opportunity to explore the full menu however I'll be back to test things out. More than likely that 4 will become a 5 in the very near future! The service was amazing and the atmosphere was incredible! Perfect place for adults to be social, go on a date, happy hour, all purpose spot that you'll love!
While you're there, get the bourbon espresso martini, aka The Mr. Harrisburg!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We tried to get into WC Seafood Kitchen but there was no room at the inn. We had always intended to try Jolene's so the three of us moseyed on down the street. I so wanted it to be great, but it's a one and done for me. Service was slow, even though the place was nearly empty. My Old Fashioned became a Very Old Fashioned. The portions are tiny. The foie gras was the size and thickness of a silver dollar. A tasty bite, but that was it. The bouillabaisse was a few pieces of seafood added to a broth with good enough flavor. The halibut portion was small as well. The duck breast was overdone. We did enjoy the chocolate mousse. And they charged us $16.00 for tap water out of a glass bottle. It's very expensive and there is not enough there to become a destination restaurant. I'm sorry, we just didn't get enough value for our hard-earned money. On the bright side, they don't have to spend any money for doggy bags or go boxes. For the record, we were only offered sparkling or still water.
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