Jimmy's Place

After living in Forest Park for a couple of years, My husband and I decided to try this place tonight. We... more

After living in Forest Park for a couple of years, My husband and I decided to try this place tonight. We had heard several people talk about it, a... more

I ordered cavatelli with vodka sauce, a side of meatballs, a mozzarella and basil salad, and eggplant parm.... more

I ordered cavatelli with vodka sauce, a side of meatballs, a mozzarella and basil salad, and eggplant parm. If there is really vodka in that sauce... more

I have been to Jimmy's for over a year and love the food.... but the service stinks! Time after time I keep expecting my last time to be a fluke and to have a great experience, but I always leave disapointed. Generally, the waitresses appear either bored or too busy to be attentive and I am talking bare bones ( checking drinks, inquiring about the meal) I have been to other restaurants where the waitstaff appear robotic and I usually don't take it personally.... but at Jimmy's the waitstaff can be charming and talkative, very attentive...but to only select tables! Pros: Great homemade food !! Pizza is to die for!!!!! Cons: Terrible service if you are not a regular more

This place came highly recommended and through several visits for several years it was consistently fantastic. The owner is a great presence and he set a friendly tone for the place. It has great local flavor and a strong crew of loyalists. The guy definately earned it -for years it's been good - the food is first rate. The service however has become infatuated with a sincere version of Ed Debevic's (almost). Some of the servers seem to be channeling Flo from Mel's Diner. I love a joint where you get good unpretentious service however Jimmy's is being hurt by bad service. It also smacks of a joint where the servers are taking on to many tables. What happens is what has happened to us when its busy - you get servers who almost say - chop chop - rarely smile and cowtow to regulars at the expense of those of us who only go once a month. That's a shame. Overall - good food and some smiling staff but if you expect reasonably good service your odds are 50 -50. That is a crying shame because the kitchen executes very well and its a cool place. Gotta say I've never had a bad meal or service when its just been me and the mrs. but after bragging the place up and taking family and friends I've had two distinctly poor experiences and a few that were close. We like friendly service and the feeling that we're not some annoying responsibility between smokes - especially when we're bringing family and friends. Since the addition was put on it seems that half the service staff has developed a hash house attitude. This place could be a true classic if their service staff got over the ""it's Jimmy's"" attitude and realized that ""it's Jimmy's"" is not an excuse to give crappy service. One year ago it woulda been a 10 - what a difference a year, and service with a frown, makes. Still, friggin awesome vodka sauce and I'd order their Cavatelli from Judas as long as I got it - its that good. Pros: Great food Cons: bad servers who somehow justify lackluster service by saying "it's Jimmy's" more