J&J Bourbon Bar & Grill

Oh if only Unilocal allowed for negative star ratings. I can’t say anything awful about this place that isn’t already laid out in reviews below.
Also, the few five-​star reviews seem as though they were written by stakeholders.
Long story short — this place is clown shoes. Do not give them money.

Summary of Horrors:
1) They no longer have delicious bagels.
**The server said they were «inconsistent» which I thought meant they weren’t selling well but after reading the other reviews it appears the bagels just started sucking after the workers from Belly General left or were fired or whatever.
2) I ordered a fresh squeezed orange juice and after 15 minutes of waiting for it I went to the counter to ask again for my orange juice… which had just been given to another customer who ordered after me! That was the last orange juice…
**I wasn’t charged for the grapefruit juice I settled for (which was honestly only appropriate) but the server pointed it out to me twice which just made me feel awkward.
3) We were never given menus… Water was delivered to table about 20 – 25 minutes after sitting down. (There was one other table and about 2 – 3 patrons seated at the bar).
4) It’s about 11am and they are blaring music so loud we had to yell. We got lucky it was motown/​funk and not EDM all things considered.
5) About ten minutes after ordering, they tell us one of their very few brunch items was not actually available. The fact the cashier didn’t already know they were completely out of kale is a good sign of a poorly managed restaurant.
6) Coffee finally comes and was pre-​prepared with loads of cream and sugar after nobody asked how we took our coffee — we had to request black coffee.
7) Poor cook makes my food twice because the cashier put my order in twice!
8) Ladies’ bathroom was out of toilet paper AND paper towels (this was particularly traumatizing because I had just drank a lot of coffee with my breakfast). There wasn’t even a hand dryer so I had to use my dress.
9) Food was edible but did not come with silverware although silverware was clearly requisite.
10) Not particularly awful but they forgot to bring us a pen with the check and then when we asked for one we received a non-​functional pen. The entire ordeal took like 15 minutes.
NOTE: Of course, I don’t mean to lay all the blame on the server. He was the only one working and was clearly new to the restaurant if not new to food service in general. Despite his errors, he was polite and did not charge us for our coffee. The management of this establishment clearly does not know what they’re doing and obviously lacks any closing/​opening procedures. I imagine some rich person owns this place and hired their idiot cousin/​buddy as GM. I will never go back and recommend you spend your money literally anywhere else (McDonald’s, etc… seriously — you’re better off there). If you skim the other reviews you’ll find that people have consistently made similar complaints since this place took the reigns from Belly’s. If I owned this restaurant I would fire the GM immediately.
TL;DR ¹⁰⁄₁₀ WOULD NEVER RETURN

Very nice server. Def over priced especially when they over charge– check your tab. They actually served warm beer from the back. Very strange place.

Went here on a recent trip to Atlanta. We arrived to meet a group of people and it turned out that the bar was getting ready to close. So this review is based strictly off of customer service and their bourbon.
Since this was a bourbon bar, I was interested in trying something a little different. And even though the bartenders were obviously closing everything down, they were genuinely happy to have us. They graciously told us that this would be last call, but were still willing to take the time to talk through their selection. I don’t remember what I got, but I do remember it was quite tasty.
I would love to come back and spend a little more time here. The décor was really cool and the bourbon was plentiful. My kind of spot.

I really wanted this place to be something great. A bourbon bar? Near my apt? Yes, please. But unfortunately, I think this place needs time to figure out what it is.
A few friends and I decided to head to the highlands for a night out. We figured we’d start at the «new bourbon bar» because bourbon. It wasn’t very crowded when we arrived, which seemed normal for ⁷⁄₈ on a Saturday night. So no surprises there. We were pretty quickly seated (at a table with white linens, so it’s a restaurant? With hookahs on every other table. So it’s a hookah bar?), and our server was a lovely gentleman. Once we cracked open the menu, we were all surprised to see they served apps like calamari and entrees like salmon. Seemed a bit different for a bar, but OK. It wasn’t anything that we couldn’t get at any restaurant if that had been what we were looking for. But we were at a bar. Thinking we would order «bar food.»
Excited about trying the bourbon, we asked what to expect of «the bourbon flight,» only to be told that we just choose a few bourbons from what they carry at the bar. Nothing that is planned. So, just buy a few shots? Interesting. We could do that anywhere. It wasn’t what we expected.
We also noticed the music was a bit disco-​ey. I don’t know how else to describe it. Once we noticed the music, we looked around a bit, only to see there was a dance area with party lights and a disco ball of sorts. And helium balloons. So, it’s a club?
It’s a bar, a sit-​down restaurant, a club, and a hookah bar? It’s just too much. I think they should get rid of the hookahs, get rid of all the dining tables, leave the bench booth seating, add smaller cocktail tables and two to four-​seater high-​tops throughout the bar space, giving this an actual bar atmosphere. And serve bourbon flights with specialty bourbons in the way of a tasting. With bar food options that pair well with bourbon, with suggestions on pairings, maybe.
As it is now, it’s a little confusing. I know it’s new, and they are probably just trying to figure out what works, and I totally get that. So, I’ll check back in a few months. But for now, I will likely visit the other bars in the neighborhood.

No stars. Worst bar or whatever it is in Atlanta. Have some dignity and don’t waste your money.

It’s too bad you can’t leave negative stars. The worst bar in Virginia Highlands by far. Unfortunately they hired the wrong staff. The bartenders are horrible. They don’t know how to make drinks and there is absolutely no sense of urgency behind the bar whatsoever. This place is definitely going to go out of business or be bought out by another owner. I had the calamari one night and it was nothing to write home about. Cheap and chewy.

I have to agree with Eric C’s review below: This bar has an identity crisis. Is it a bourbon bar? A restaurant? A dive? Upscale? A hookah lounge? It’s trying to be all of those things, but succeeding in none.
Let’s start with the positive. The bar is in the same space that used to be Belly (a little bakery place). The interior has the same upscale-​rustic feel and the walls display the liquor beautifully. The lighting is good, with a warm feel without being overpowering. They’ve done things right in this respect.
Unfortunately, this atmosphere is wasted since the bar can’t figure out what it wants to be. The «bourbon bar» idea is a good one, but the bottles I mentioned earlier hardly feature the bourbon or whisky. The bartenders lack the knowledge to recommend bourbons as pairings or standalone drinks to the patrons. If you are going to advertise a focus on bourbon, I expect the staff to be able to help me if I need a recommendation.
Next, the bar suffers from bipolar pricing. The cocktails are expensive and underwhelming. However, their big drawing point is $ 2 Fireball shots (at least on the Friday we visited). Which customers are you trying to target? Are you upscale? A cheap place to get hammered? I’m down for either, but you need to pick an identity and stick with it to be successful.
Let me relate a story to illustrate my point. My girlfriend and I were walking down the street, not planning on stopping at J&J. As we waited at the stoplight, a semi-​tipsy woman came out of the bar and started talking to us. She was curious about the pub crawl that was in the neighborhood. We told her about it, and she said we should come in and get $ 2 Fireball shots. She ambled back inside. We thought the whole situation was pretty funny so we decided to see what was going on inside. It turns out, one of the bartenders asked her to go out and try to recruit some customers even though she was on a date at the time. I guess they were both drunk or curious enough to do it. A more professional staff would not send customers out into the street to do their marketing. It was really, really weird.
Once we were in the door, we realized that the staff was indeed unprofessional. I won’t name names, but their overall attitude was aloof, bored, or some combination of the two. They were unable to offer recommendations and had a better-​than-​you attitude that we’ve all encountered before at the bar. On the plus side, they worked hard to peddle the $ 2 Fireball, even though that type of loss-​leader isn’t going to bring in a crowd who would appreciate a variety of bourbon. Who do you want your customer to be? Again, either one is fine, but you have to pick one and stick with it.
Finally, I have to comment on the bizarre idea that this is also a hookah bar. We were sitting at the bar and noticed a single sad hookah pipe. We asked if they served hookah and were told that yes, they did. We asked what flavors they had, and if they had any fresh fruit hookah. The staff looked at us with utter confusion in their eyes. They had no idea what flavors they had, nor how fresh fruit could be used to enhance hookah. I’m not trying to sound like a snob — it’s fine if you don’t know the intricacies of hookah — but why do you have it at your bar if you’re not going to properly market or support it? Why is hookah even in here? Isn’t this a bourbon bar? What about those shots? Or the restaurant? It’s so strange!
I really disliked this place. From the obnoxious staff to the lack of knowledge, there is little to recommend here. My advice to the owners would be to select an identity (dive? upscale? hookah?) and deliver on that identity. Find consistency and a unified approach. Look carefully at the staff and decide if they are appropriate representatives for you and your brand.

Where else in Atlanta are you going to get your breakfast bagel with a shot of Makers Mark to start your day?
Come enjoy 120+ bourbons, a crowd-​pleasing menu, and some dedicated business owners who will do anything to make you happy. I walked in with a friend who wanted ramen, the dude was like «give me a pack and I’ll chef it up!» Another time I stopped in for a drink and asked how much fries were. The server returned like, «The kitchen was shut down, but they opened it back up for you, dude!» Unnecessary, but get that sale, bro!
The two things this place does best is atmosphere and bourbon. The garage door windows are an incredible asset that you have to go down Highland into Inman Park to enjoy at bonked out places like Fritti and Sotto Sotto. At night, there is a low light atmosphere which is pretty pleasant. The bar’s LED fluorescence clash with the yellow ambient light, but it’s all good.
J&J is not the best, but it’s a work in progress and with some tweaks to the menu ($ 22 crab cakes? Come on, son!) this could be an okay scenario.
TL;DR: Drinks are good, food is whatever, service was good for me, atmosphere is weird but worth checking into.

I would agree that the negative reviewers got here first. This is a great neighborhood spot to stop in after work and have a highball of your favorite whiskey. The bartenders are fantastic and it didn’t take Nick and Wendell long to know me by name and pour my Henry McKenna before i even sat down. The music and the atmosphere is light and a great spot to unwind with friends. Don’t knock it until your try it!

Obviously the vocal minority got here first. Disregard the negative comments before me. This is an awesome bourbon bar with great music (A+++ sound system) band great food. Some great obscure bourbons on deck. I’m a super bourbon nerd and still saw a few that I’ve yet to try. Food menu is very diverse and delicious. Great bar. Great hospitality.

Best bagels, fast service, the cinnamon raisin bagel is totally addicting. Great little neighborhood spot for a quick bite and coffee.

Stopped in for dinner in the midst of a pub crawl in the highlands. I like what they’re trying to do, it has a cool vibe. The menu is pretty basic, it won’t win any awards, but it’s serviceable.
I am a huge wing fan, so of course that’s what I ordered. They are tiny, but they were pretty flavorful. The Mac N Cheese was also very good. We ended up with some fried shrimp after a snafu with the waiter, and those were great.

Sadly, even the bagels are unreliable now. I popped over for a Sunday treat and took home one of the worst excuses for a bagel I’ve had in a long while. Pale and doughy and either uncooked or undercooked, with a sparse sprinkling of sesame. Nothing like what Belly used to provide. Also they were out of one or more spreads. Wish I could restart my Sunday and head anywhere else.

I don’t even know where to start here. This was honestly one of my strangest outings ever. The restaurant seems to have an identity crisis. J&J can’t seem to decide if it wants to be a neighborhood bar, a classy joint, a night club, a breakfast joint, or a hookah lounge.
The drink prices are high. I asked for a makers mark on the rocks and was brought a single shot in a tumbler glass ($ 7.50). Now I can’t comment on the food since we didn’t eat, but based on other Unilocal reviews I’ve seen I wouldn’t touch it. Now, in their defense they did bring me a new drink since my wife and a couple of others complained about the service and drink portions.
Also, the service is slow. Bring cash and don’t even attempt to split a check. That’s a 30 minute ordeal.
My favorite part of the night was the fact that they brought in a separate individual to sell hookah ($ 20) to each table. The guy comes up and begins to read off the flavors and states that «pirates cove» is one of the options. I stop him right there and ask what «pirates cove» tastes like. To my disbelief he had no idea. Who sells a product that they know absolutely nothing about. Thankfully since they were so incompetent they forgot to charge us for the hookah. Now, in normal situations I’d say something and pay for it, but since correcting that bill would be another 20 minute affair we simply left.
I honestly don’t know how this place has lasted as long as it has.

Will be very surprised if this place is still here in 6 months. Ordered a Manhattan with well liquor (Kentucky Gentleman). The «bartender» had to look up how to make it on her phone. When I got it, it tasted like crap. About 5 minutes later she came back over and told me she forgot to add the bitters — and proceeded to splash bitters into a half drunk glass. Not sure what the biggest surprise was — a bourbon bar with a breakfast menu that doesn’t know how make a classic Manhattan or the fact that it cost me $ 8 with well and not made correctly.
I miss Belly.

We popped in for Sunday morning bagels (expecting this to still be the old restaurant). The girl who took our order behind counter acted as if she would rather be literally anywhere else on the planet. After we had paid and she gave us her ticket, she said there was only one person in the back so it might be a few minutes.
There were a number of people sitting at a hightop tables and it seemed to be bustling, but then we realized the people that were there had gotten bagels to go and had been in there for over half an hour waiting for their food.
So we sat down to drink our coffee and observed. This guy from the back would appear frantically shuttling food orders, he was busting his butt; the girl in the front was doing nothing and really should’ve offered to help deliver the food.
By the time our bagels arrived 30 minutes later, everyone else had left, and I suspect none of them will be back.
I’ve never had bagels in a place where there is a wall of bourbon and spirits, so I’m not sure if they know what they want to be. While trying to figure out, they should at least put a person with a smile in the front to increase the odds of somebody coming back for potential second bad experience.

The best part of this dining experience was the bartender. Other reviewers have reported that she’s a first-​time bartender; that may be true, but she makes up for it with friendliness and attentiveness.
Drinks — we had a Bourbon tea (strong and without the lemon garnish and had a slight coffee taste) and the Kentucky Mule Kick which was a too sweet Moscow mule.
The food was mediocre. I ordered the cheeseburger. It was a double, two slices American cheese, and a house (?) sauce which was pretty good. However it also came with ketchup (reminded me of fast food). I wish the bun was toasted or at least warm. The burger came with fries — crispy and not bad. I wouldn’t get again.
My date had the fried chicken plate which came with mac n cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. I am a southerner — I have had countless fried chicken meals in my life. I expected better from a southern bourbon bar. The chicken itself was fine, but the greens were tough and the cornbread tasted like Jiffy. the mac n cheese was good though.
My date and I were one of only three (small) parties there. I almost got locked in the bathroom (the knob on the top deadbolt came off in my hand). Read other reviews regarding décor, music, and vibe — they’re not wrong. While I appreciate that they don’t play country music, some softer music and softer lighting would go a long way in creating a more romantic atmosphere for a Tuesday dinner 8pm.
I’d be willing to return if I heard there were menu and ambiance changes but until then there are too many other great places to eat in Atlanta!

I live down the street and want this place to succeed. Keep trying guys, but you’re vibe and design are not on the same page. You’re a southern bourbon bar… with a very southern vibe… but you’re playing EDM and top 20’s music. Then they changed music to irish… bourbon is from kentucky. Lighting is bright, the place doesn’t feel warm or cozy like an upscale bourbon bar. Who are you trying to be?
Also, you’re a bourbon bar and you have a Malibu sunset, a raspberry martini, and a fruity Moscow mule as 3 of your 6 signature cocktails… no bourbon menu?! Do know how many people would come by if you had a deep bourbon list?
The menu is lacking… talapia?! Come on… not very classy. Your a grille right? How about stuff from the grille, ribs as a small plate or other cool grilled stuff.
Overall just seems pretty half ass. Vibe is off, menu is off, and nothing matches the concept people expect with the look and name of the place.
Also…“your wood chip wings with special sauce” were fried and have no sauce… wood chips are used for smoking… so FYI, that’s implied.
Best of luck.

J&J replaced Belly in VaHi, and I drove by a few times while they were sprucing the place up. I’m trying to get more into bourbon, so I thought this place would be right up my alley.
I really wasn’t impressed. Their bourbon selection was sub par for a bourbon bar. It looked like someone went to a package store and picked up a bunch of random bottles. The selection wasn’t curated at all, and from what I could tell the it looked pretty run of the mill. There are plenty of other bourbon bars around that have a spectacular selection (Southern Art, Pinewood, etc.)
I felt like a beer, so I asked for one of the bottles that was on display. They didn’t have it. I asked for my second choice. Didn’t have it. Asked for my third choice. Didn’t have it. At this point, I asked the bartender, «So, what beers *do* you have?»
I noticed they didn’t have a website or Facebook page, so I asked when they were going to put those up. The bartender told me that the owner wanted to rely on word of mouth solely, and not do any marketing. Very strange strategy, so I guess it’s good that Unilocal exists!
Also, their menu had typos.