What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, American, Steakhouse, Seafood, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Special occasions, Romantic, Large groups, Bar scene, Business meetings
Location and contact
Menu
Starters
House-cured Slab Bacon
extra thick cut, whiskey bbq sauce, arugula, grape tomatoes
$10
Calamari Fritti*
sriracha chive buttermilk sauce
$10
Brie En Croute
granny smith apples, pecan praline sauce
$10
Smoked Duck & Goat Cheese Spring Rolls*
pickled cabbage, garlic thai chili sauce
$12
New Orleans Barbeque Shrimp*
garlic, butter, herbs, grilled garlic bread
$10
Lobster Brie Quesadilla*
yellow tomato pico, chipotle crème fraîche
$12
Is this restaurant good for business meetings?
Details
PRICE RANGE
$50.00 – $150.00
CUISINES
American, Steakhouse, Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
647 reviews
Excellent
531
Very good
77
Average
23
Poor
9
Terrible
7
SuperArch
York9 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
Wow. What another superb night! Every time I visit family in Gulf Shores, typically annually in winter, it always includes an evening at Jesses, Magnolia Springs. It never disappoints. You can't go wrong with anything! Delicious cocktails, and with six of us, we did a lot of sampling. Started with the boutique oysters, complimented with the Jesse oysters, baby green and Caesar salads, housemade bread (only minor negative comment of the evening: really have a problem with being charged for bread, but again...minor) and the baked brie with roasted apples and praline pecan sauce blew me away. Hoped to make the splurge for a dry-aged ribeye but had to settle for the house cut due to their being out of the dry-aged with the holiday rush. Using the word settle loosely because was not much of a settle, enjoyed every bite. Praise for all the other main courses ordered across the board, including a crab cake, prime skirt and a filet. Creamed spinach may sound pedestrian but upgrade your side to it and you won't be disappointed. And a very sincere heartfelt thank you to front-of-house Clayton and our veteran waitress Janey. This was a special night celebrating a relative's ongoing struggle with a serious health issue, and they pulled off a wonderful dessert surprise request that was a moving end to a memorable evening. Already looking forward to next year's visit!
Written January 13, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dreamtravelreviewer
315 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
This restaurant is the local favorite in a historic building! Everyone comes here for a special night out and it is easy to see why. The service is solid and attentive even the host station (which often lacks the necessary expertise). The appetizers were stunning - my favorite dish was the fried green tomatoes! The BBQ shrimp had a kick and were nice and large gulf shrimp. The shrimp and grits could use a little more spice - maybe have a spice continuum with mild to spicy? Overall I liked shrimp and grits better from Beachwalk in Destin, FL. Prices were decent given that dining was elevated but seems like having bread or biscuits complimentary with the table makes sense or would be at least a nice touch. Bread was $7 on appetizer menu. We ordered a bottle of wine and appreciated the selection on the wine list. Expanding healthy choices would improve my rating as there are plenty of Southern restaurants even farm to table ones across the country but not many that leave you feeling good. For that reason I prefer the Hope Farm in Fairhope overall for a nice meal at lunch or dinner in the area. It should also be noted that Magnolia Springs is rural Alabama in the middle of nowhere. It is worth the drive but I'd go for lunch next time.
Written December 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cecily C
Kingston upon Thames3 contributions
Sep 2024 • family
Extraordinary and a solid recommendation! My father used to live across the street when it was a grocer, and we stopped in to celebrate his 79th birthday. We were overwhelmed by not only the incredible quality of the lite bites we ordered (melted brie with pecans and apples, and the friend green tomatoes with shrimp, okra and corn relish), but also by the high quality of the wines and the exceptionally professional and friendly service. Of all the states we've visited and lived in, rarely have we had such an exceptional experience! Many thanks to Corey and the staff!
Written September 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RRam
3 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
I've eaten at Jesse's dozens of times over the past 10 years or so, and I can't remember the last time I wrote a bad review about anything. This is the second time in the past couple of years we've had a similar problem so I feel compelled. The first was a couples dinner where we had still not been served entrees 3 hours after sitting down and one couple had to leave with food in a box to relieve their babysitter. You can absolutely have a great meal here, and given our area that's a rare thing to be able to say. Last night was an absolute disaster. Went for a Monday birthday dinner with my two tweens in tow. Seated fairly quickly with reservations, ordered drinks and apps that came out promptly and were delicious. We ordered the rest of our meal when the apps came out and then sat for (I'm not embellishing) 60 minutes before we were served our salads and bread. Another 45 minutes still without entrees. We asked about 40 minutes in if they could please just bring out the kids meals (simple pasta noodles) and an hour later that still hadn't arrived. The waitress came over privately and apologized saying "I'm so sorry this is absolutely ridiculous and there's nothing I can do", so it's clear the issue is kitchen and management. Manager came out and said it will just be 3-4 minutes as we were debating leaving, 30! minutes later still nothing and no visits from staff. Asked to put our food in boxes as we had been waiting over 2 hours on a Monday night after our order was made. They took half off the bill (still paid over 100 dollars) and got home to find 3 items missing and the basically raw steak and fish below. It ended up in the garbage which is how we were treated. Ruined our birthday dinner and sadly after over a decade of support we'll never be back. I wouldn't be writing a public review but to not even give a clear explanation for what was wrong, to not get the children a bowl of pasta if there was some huge delay / kitchen issue with main entrees even after being asked, and to still have the audacity to charge us when we're walking out gives a very clear impression of the management's quality.
Written November 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuck's Travels
Mobile489 contributions
Dec 2023 • couples
Usually very happy. This was sort of weird. Made a 1:30 lunch thinking have plenty of time to have a relaxed lunch. The nice waitress was accommodating and discussed selections, etc. Well we placed order for two steak dishes both on menu. So about 30 minutes in she comes and tell us they were going to substitute my cut for a smaller different cut. She said no and then the chef assured her I would get what I ordered. So a few minutes later she said waiting for egg to cook, so another 5-minutes and finally there. Some of my pieces well were well done and others were med rare as suggested. The waitress was a good sport as were we but dang. A free piece of cheesecake puts a better taste in your mouth but just get it right in a timely fashion and keep the cake.
Written December 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelli S
Chattanooga195 contributions
May 2024 • family
That was an amazing dinner! The atmosphere, service and most importantly the food was delicious! I am so happy to have gone here vacationing with my family. The crawfish Mac n cheese is a must! The fish and steak on the main menu were perfectly cooked and accompanied.
Written May 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lhellender
Cooper City39 contributions
Apr 2024 • friends
Wow- we came to celebrate my birthday while visiting the area. Every bite from start to finish was unforgettable. The bread service was melt in your mouth with their house made olive and herb butter. I had the 6 ounce tenderloin perfectly prepared with the bone marrow butter as an add on not necessary but absolutely delicious. I choose the risotto and green beans. For dessert the lemon tiramisu was a perfect finish to this amazing meal. Our waiter Chauncey was helpful, attentive and personal. We live in Ft.Lauderdale where 5 star restaurants are numerous. This place would hold its own in any big city scene.
Can’t wait to return on our next visit.
Written April 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ZTeller
Woodstock21 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Sadly, Jesse’s has changed and Not for the better! We travel through the area and always had a dinner at Jesse’s which was very good. However this year 3/2024 was a sad and disappointing meal! The drinks were watered down and missing standard garnish. Salad was small and skimpy amount of dressing, which made it a joke for the price. Food was just ok, not good. We thought ownership must have changed, but were told no. Maybe Chef had changed. Mentioned bad meal to friends who also go to Jesse’s and they had a resounding agreement of their meal a few days earlier. Too bad! Use to be very good.
Written April 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl B
Thibodaux78 contributions
May 2024 • couples
We were looking forward to eating here but left disappointed. We only ordered appetizers for our lunch. I had fried green tomatoes with a very seasoned/spicy ( almost too spicy ) to enjoy. My husband had a very expensive crab cake ( very small) with sauce on the side. He said very little crab and mostly seasoned bread filling. It was maybe a 3 inch single crab cake.
Noticed nearby tables probably did not enjoy their meals as several looked like only a few bites were taken of their meals and they refused takeout boxes.
Written May 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rphsharon
Orange Beach6 contributions
May 2022 • none
We have been to Jesse's a few times and have had great experiences in the past. Not so much this time. We made reservations about two weeks ago for a special birthday dinner; and when the time came for us to be seated, they put us in a table at the bar instead of the restaurant itself. It was loud and not special at all; this is where they seat people without reservations; so what was the point in making a reservation at all. We had a member of our party with celiac disease, and when we asked our server, Sean, about whether a specific dish had wheat in it, he literally told us, "I only get paid $4 an hour, and that is not enough to know about gluten." That kind of glib reaction to a medical condition set a bad tone for the rest of our dinner. Next time we will just ask the chef to come out, bc I am sure he would have had a much more gracious reaction. The appetizers we had were good; the oysters Jesse and mussels were especially good. The salads were great as well-- the beet salad and the mixed green house salad. Two in our party ordered seafood and were very pleased. Two ordered steaks. The waiter brought out a fried dish to the person who could not have wheat; absolutely not what he had ordered. He had ordered a steak. So, we had to wait while it was prepared and it arrived well after everyone else's meal. The ribeye when it arrived was not cooked well and seemed to be an inferior cut that one would expect from such a lauded establishment. Dessert was not worth mentioning.
Written May 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glenn W
Gulf Shores6 contributions
Dec 2023 • friends
Quick and to the point. I had a Burger at Coastal and it was the best burger I have ever eaten. I thought I would compare with Jesses. Big mistake. I split the burger in half I had ordered medium rare. I took a few bites and it was mushy as in rare. I showed the waitress the burger and asked if this was the way medium rare is cooked. She said yes. I felt I was eating Tartare. I did take the other half home but I can’t bring myself to eat it. In the future I will stay away from the Chopped Burger.
Written December 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
267tinad
Gulf Shores38 contributions
Sep 2022 • couples
After hearing about how great Jesse’s was for several years, my husband made a reservation three weeks prior for my birthday. We arrived at 6:50 pm for our 7 pm reservation and weren’t seated til just before 7:30. Not a big deal as yet.
We ordered appetizers, drinks and dinners at the same time. The baked Brie was a winner. Then it was about a half hour before our food arrived. My husband order the filet and I ordered the scallops. My meal was awesome!
My husband had to request a steak knife twice. His medium rare filet was well cooked on the outside but rare in the middle and was definitely not fork tender as everyone told us. Definitely needed the steak knife. The broccoli rabe was undercooked and not even al dente.
Dessert took another 20 minutes to arrive.
We got the impression they were understaffed. The waiter said the grill was not big enough to keep up with the previous demand from a customer surge?
We watched one table send back one persons food three times at least for the wrong item. Several other tables walked out after drinks. Everyone obviously was waiting way too long. After being seated at 7:30, we got in our vehicle to leave at 9:40.
Won’t be returning!
Written September 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MississippiGirl
Fairhope77 contributions
Nov 2023 • business
Thank you Jesse’s for accommodating our large party of 28 last night. Everyone had a great time and the food was excellent. Our servers were amazing and everyone was so impressed and happy with their drinks and entrees. We enjoyed everything and can’t say enough about our experience. Your general manager David Latano was so very helpful helping us make the perfect menu selections. Again, Thank you.
Written November 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin H
Fairhope20 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
A standard in fine dining has seemingly decided to forego the care of their flagship restaurant and shift all resources to their new facility. Waitstaff and services are top notch but the tables and mothball smells from the forward dining room tend to make you think you are having tea at your Great Aunt’s home decorated in the 60’s. Group of 4 seated at a table so small there was no room for entree’s, or any dinnerware. The dinner selection was good, not great but the experience was not on par with what they are capable of. With so many more options in this area you may want to seriously consider if you want your entree or appetizers sitting on a delivery cart instead of your table. Yes we had reservations for four, yes we were on time, yes we dine there semi regularly, yes this was extremely sub par. To reinforce the wait and service staff were and are top notch but they have to work with what they are given.
Written February 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laverne s
18 contributions
Jun 2023 • couples
My husband loved his fish sandwich , but I was not impressed with the crispy chicken sandwich I ordered. There is a strange spicy tomato glaze on top and the chicken was tough. The side salad was very crisp and hood and the fries were also very good. It was our servers first day and he did a terrific job. We enjoyed meeting him.
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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