02/02/09

This place is awesome

by tarheelsfanbybirth

I'm a total foodie and I've lived in Paris and New York. Jujube could be located in a much larger city and still crush the competition. Their food is mouth watering and creative. Charlie is a fantastic owner who really seems to care about his customers.

I can't say enough great things about this place!

• Pros: Food is fresh, creative and portions are generous
• Cons: At times it can be cold in there

10/15/08

Great Vegetarian Options

by mapmantx

As a vegetarian, I am always on the lookout for restaurants that have meatless entrees that have been created from the ground up as opposed to having to subtract the meat from one. The Soy section of the menu gave me hope and the execution left me wanting more.

Our server was knowledgeable and prompt. Our table was offered some privacy by the hanging curtains between our table and the next. My girlfriend and I felt that we really lucked out and will definitely be back.

08/03/08

Fantastic food, rock solid service

by spaceshipp

Our first visit to Jujube won't be our last. The wonton soup was delicious, and the teas are quite nice. Creme brulee was the best I have had in the triangle thus far. Our server was very polite and attentive. We walked in a busy Saturday evening, were seated with minimal wait time, and the food came out promptly after order. Way to go, Jujube!

07/12/08

Gotta order the Wontons!

by Sn0wbird

We have been to JuJebes several times and it is our new favorite place in Chapel Hill. The short rib wontons are to die for! We can't come to the resturant without ordering these wonderful things. Sitting at the bar can be a bit warm but its the best seat in the house and the chef is really nice and engaging with our questions and comments. Love this Place!

• Pros: Great food and service
• Cons: A bit noisy, but what place in the triangle isn't?

06/16/08

Delicious, but $5 for 4 little vegetable dumplings?

by salonsearch

In New York's Chinatown you can get 6 dumplings double the size of Jujube's. They only give you 4 and it took 20 minutes to get them to go.

They were delicious, however.

• Pros: Nice ambience
• Cons: Not good for lunch crowd - take out.

01/26/08

Just average

by sarahcraychee

We went to Jujube on a Friday night at about 8:30. We had planned to go earlier, but when we called to make a reservation (just in case), we were told there would be no available tables until 8:30. We arrived about 15 minutes early. Our tables wasn't ready, but the hostess seated us at the bar where we had some wine and beer. We were seated a few minutes late right near the bar, and our waitress came right over to take our order. We enjoyed the dumplings, but I felt that both the main dishes were lacking something. We got Kung Pao chicken and a noodle dish, both of which were heavy on the scallions and celery. I couldn't taste the ginger in the noodles, and there was just no kick (maybe they need to use more garlic or red peppers or something). We wee also pretty cold during our dining experience-ever time someone opens th door, cold air rushes by the bar and the tables behind it, which is where we were seated.

Overall, I'd say Jujube is pretty average, and we were disappointed based on all of the rave reviews. I don't think we will return.

• Pros: Clean, nice decor
• Cons: Cold near the front door, food was bland, drinks were expensive

11/19/07

My favorite CH restaurant

by foodloverinnc

I LOVE this restaurant! I eat there at least once per week. The restaurant staff really knows how to cater to their customers. I went in there for their Late Night Tapas (special occasion) and they were having a private wine tasting dinner. In addition to allowing my date and I partake in our own private wine tasting, they held a bottle of our favorite wine from that night for our next trip in. We didn't even ask them to do so! Honestly, I've had everything on the menu. If you like seafood and spicy dished, the curry is to die for. Both types of dumplings are very good, but I do prefer the pork and cabbage. In terms of specialty drinks, The Whippet is amazing. But, be careful -- they go down way to easy and before you know it your chop stick skills become a little uncoordinated. Oh, and Stephanie is our regular waitress -- she is the best!

• Pros: food is amazing; drinks are perfectly blended; dessert is to die for
• Cons: The dining room can get a little hot when they are busy from all the cooking

10/18/07

Great Asian-Fusion!

by stuartb

My wife and I have been to Jujube several times and consider it one of the best restaurants in the Triangle. The food is consistently excellent and I enjoy the atmosphere, particularly when sitting on the side with the open kitchen. Chef Deal is clearly passionate about food, given the attention to detail and his willingness to experiment and innovate. Jujube frequently offers tasting menus to showcase new items. I?ve never had the same meal twice and I?ve never been disappointed. My favorite experience so far has been a beer tasting event, where each course was paired with a Dogfish Head microbrew. One piece of advice for those thinking about going to Jujube for the first time: the more adventurous you are with your menu selections, the more you will be rewarded. I can understand how someone might be disappointed after ordering Kung Pao Chicken or a basic noodle dish. Go for the gusto! Finally, I find it interesting that some of the reviews complain about the service. It never crossed my mind as being extraordinarily good or bad - maybe I?m too busy enjoying the food to take careful notice.

10/09/07

Eh.

by spinningninny

After reading so many recommendations for Jujube, and after hearing about it from several Chapel Hill friends, a group of us from Durham headed over last night. I don't know what I was expecting, but I don't think I was expecting a restaurant tucked in the back corner of a strip mall. (To my credit, I am still transitioning from DC to NC and I try not to judge a book by its' cover.) At 7pm, it was incredibly empty and we were seated immediately. One of the members of our party of four went to wash her hands, and I was surprised that the server came to take our drink order while she was away.

After she got back, our drinks came and our server then took her drink order.

After reviewing the menu and specials, our server returned to tell us about the specials, which consisted of her reading the specials from the menu...and giving us no new information. I guess I was hoping that she would have tried them and could tell me a little bit about them.

We started with the sweet potato fritters and the salad rolls, which I enjoyed very much.

I ordered the blanched noodles with spicy yellow curry, coconut milk, carrots, lime, and cilantro. It was a very large dish, which seemed endless and left me with well more than I could consume at lunch. It was a little bland for my tastes without much zing. The flavors seemed to be pretty standard for a Thai place, but somewhat Americanized.

I thought the service was pretty poor. We were there for over an hour and my water glass sat empty for much of the meal. The servers repeatedly reached across people in our party to set dishes and glasses in front of other people.

Overall, I'd say my experience wasn't very good. The food was mediocre and service was a step below that.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere
• Cons: Food and service are no where near top notch!

07/17/07

Great bar service

by susiedix

I have been to Jujube several times, most recently on a Tuesday night. We walked right up to the bar, and were served promptly.

I usually sit at the bar, which never disappoints. The regular bartender is friendly and knowledgeable about the cocktails as well as the food- he offered great recommendations. I have worked in restaurants and have learned that the best way to get a good meal is to ask the staff what their favorites are- my dad had the sea bass special, and I had the hanger steak (both recommended by the bartender) and we were both impressed. We both had cocktails to start (to have with our dumpling appetizer, which was awesome), and then ordered wine before our food came. I ordered without really thinking about what I'd ordered for dinner- then when my meal came, the bartender brought over a complimentary glass of wine that he thought would go well with my meal- it was fabulous.

I do not understand the bad reviews- I have never had a bad experience at Jujube, and my latest was above and beyond expectations.

• Pros: service, good value