The new Jackson’s Gastropub and Grille at 8245 N. Silverbell Road has been hailed as one in a string of new gastropub concepts, but that seems somewhat inaccurate. Aspiring gastropub, perhaps, but certainly not of the caliber most think of when the term “gastropub” is employed.
Not that it isn’t fine in its own right, but those expecting gastropub-style food might be underwhelmed. It appears much more like sports-bar fare – including numerous references to motorcycles on the menu, which screams sports or biker bar – and what decor there is looks like what one finds on the walls at a Famous Sam’s. It has only been open a month though, so it’s anybody’s guess as to what the future may bring.
The beer selection is all the usual suspects – again, almost identical to what you find at a pub, not a gastropub – which seemed to be plenty to keep the almost packed house happy this Saturday. It appears the surrounding Continental Ranch neighborhood needed such a venue, and Jackson’s Gastropub and Grille looks to be fulfilling that need just fine.
But as we basked in the bright glow of four enormous televisions tuned to ultimate fighting and the karaoke guy started warming up his gear, it felt so much like a sports bar that I wanted to run outside and peel the letters “gastropub” from the banner affixed to the exterior. With a few new letters one could rearrange the sign to say “sportsbar,” which would be a better explanation of what’s happening inside anyway.
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2012.
Good for you Adam, keep up the fight against false advertisement in eateries.
Now if we can rip off the “Italian food” label on Olive Garden’s we will achieve total victory!
A prize to the first person who can name every restaurant that has occupied this space.
Adam: I would like to vote for us not to buy into the snobbery that accompanies a transitory term like “gastropub,” which I understand is already on the way out in some of our larger Western cities. We should admit that Tucson is for the most part a sportsbar town, but it also supports some excellent higher end food outlets that don’t need to have a trendy name attached to them. Worst of all, though, is the name “gastropub” itself, which I find particularly unappetizing—just the wrong combination of consonants and vowels—and then there’s knowledge that the term originated in London, which is best known for a lot of cool things, of which gourmet food is not one. Let’s tear down those letters and see what else we might be able to spell with them.
so what did you have to eat?
Gastropub being a kicked up pub concept with elevated food fare.
What is a Pub? A Public House to drink and socialize
So you went to a Gastropub (food & pub) and saw sports? so where’s the review of the food?
I agree with Adam’s reactions: I live nearby, have visited each of the previous establishments several times before giving up because of the sports bar element (at times unpleasantly so.) I have visited Jackson’s 4 times now, and am to date dissappointed in the same ways. Food is good so far, but not my top priority: good beer and comfortable, pleasant bar environment are.
So far: the bartenders have been very good; the visual environment OK (better than previous, and better than most sportsbars); the beer good (though selection inconsistent and currently no IPA or Pale Ale); the ambient music has been terrible (Top 40); and the table staff young and sportsbar-ish (at one point obnoxiously so – I left in a hurry). The place has sound problems – only takes one oblivious conversation to make the place LOUD, and patrons and staff seem to like it that way. It is clear that IF a different environment was intended, there has been no direction or training yet with the staff.
Before I tell the rest of Tucson not to bother (unless you live next door), I have opened a conversation with the chef/manager, who seemed to understand my comments. This is the third alleged “gastropub” in town that has dissappointed (haven’t been over to Union yet.)
Dobbie: We have a policy that we do not review a restaurant until it has been open for several months, and I’m not a restaurant reviewer, which is why I report on these things in the manner above. The intent is to give our readers a snapshot of what to expect without crossing into the territory of a restaurant review.