Josh G.
Yelp
Quick disclaimer that this review is solely about the restaurant portion of Jedidiah Hawkins (and not the Inn). For those that are confused by this, you can totally stay at Jedediah Hawkins, but you're also entirely allowed to just have a fantastical dinner, like my wife and I did for her summer birthday a few months back.
Well actually, there's reason we wanted to come here for a while and that was due to Jedediah also being able to host weddings. We looked into JHI as a venue, but in the end we realized it wasn't for us and instead got to check the place out for a special occasion (a la her birthday). The place feels like a little Victorian bed and breakfast when walking around on the grounds and once inside, the seating areas and ambiance emanates an older take to them, like dining in a historic house. It wasn't necessarily special, but lended itself well to the vibe.
Wait staff was relatively on point and our waitress (as well as a few other employees) were very friendly. The menu prices were also friendly enough for this slightly pricier spot. Not a huge menu, but enough choices for the two of us to find several tasty meal options. We began with the truffle fingerling fries that had parmesan and chive on them with a side of crème fraiche. They were absolutely delicious. Crispy with a nice, soft potato interior.
For the main meals, the wife got the 1/2 roasted chicken with lemon jus, cheddar grits, and broccolini (which was all superb) while I went with the mushroom and black truffle risotto (which was outstanding). Both dishes had flavors that really popped and from presentation to tastes, everything was spot on. Oh, and so was the crusty bread slices and spread given to start (almost forgot about that!).
What I also can't forget to mention is a part of Jedediah that might not technically count as the restaurant: the speakeasy. It's nothing elaborate, but right near the entrance to the dining room is a slightly hidden gated off stairway which (if it's not reserved) can be entered in where you'll find a bar and a handful of tables and seats. This spot was something we really wanted to try to check out and luckily no one was using it the night we came. Our waitress even offered for us to have dessert down there (which was awesome) and one of the managers delivered everything down.
What did we have as the final portion of our meal? Some beignets with cardamom sugar, ricotta, and strawberry sauce (which were definitely tasty, but didn't live up to Cafe Du Monde in NOLA) and some after dinner drinks of an Irish coffee with Jameson and a blackberry-based cocktail on the main menu that I decided to save for having with dessert. It was a sweet way to end a fantastic trip to Jedediah Hawkins.
Overall, Jedediah Hawkins is a wonderful spot to have a meal. It might not necessarily be an everyday dining location as it has a specific old school vibe to it, but then again, if you can afford it, the menu, staff, and space comes together to warrant a trip almost any time as well as an easy five stars for this review. And if you're too full after eating, you could always stay there and review that experience. Bonus!