Jonathan Waxman is an acclaimed American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author, widely recognized as a pioneer of 'California cuisine' in New York City. He is the owner and partner of several notable restaurants...
Jams NYC is a restaurant located within the 1 Hotel Central Park, known for its seasonal, farm-to-table American cuisine crafted by acclaimed Chef Jonathan Waxman. It features an open kitchen, exposed brick, and a beautiful, plant-filled interior, offering a stylish yet comfortable and relaxing ambiance perfect for any meal.
Customers praise Jams NYC for its delicious food, great atmosphere, and excellent, friendly service. The ambiance is frequently highlighted as beautiful, cozy, and relaxing, making it easy to have conversations. While many find the food fresh and well-prepared, some reviews suggest the prices are steep and the dishes, though good, are not always outstanding enough to justify the cost. Popular dishes include the Baja Breakfast, hash cakes, scallops, beet dip with labneh, and fluke crudo.
Additional Details
The restaurant emphasizes seasonal ingredients, leading to a menu that changes throughout the year. It features an open kitchen and exposed brick, contributing to its unique aesthetic. Many guests enjoy the homemade hot sauce.
Jams NYC is suitable for any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brunch, particularly on Saturday mornings, is a popular choice, and reservations are highly recommended.
Awards & Recognition
Best Chef in New York City by James Beard Foundation (for Chef Jonathan Waxman)
4
We visited Jams inside 1 Hotel Central Park for brunch and really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. The interior is beautiful, filled with lots of plants and greenery that make the space feel cozy, warm, and relaxing. The restaurant has a stylish but comfortable vibe, and it’s a nice place to slow down and enjoy brunch in the middle of Manhattan. The staff were friendly and welcoming throughout the visit.
The brunch menu offers a good mix of sweet and savory options, including dishes like French toast, pancakes, omelets, poached eggs, and bagels. Overall, the food and atmosphere made for a very enjoyable brunch experience.
We ordered the “Avocado Toast”, “Spring Frittata”, “Baja Breakfast”, and “Berry & Ricotta Buttermilk Pancakes”. Our favourite was definitely the Baja Breakfast, which had a really nice tangy flavour.
The only small challenge we had was when splitting the bill, as it seemed the supervisor was not very familiar with handling it, so we had to figure it out ourselves in the end. Other than that, it was a very pleasant brunch experience.
The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and it was actually easy to have a conversation since it wasn’t too loud. The service was excellent as well. The only downside was that there’s just one unisex bathroom, and we ended up having to go to the second floor to use the restroom. Other than that, everything was great and we had a really nice experience. Oh, I also love their homemade hot sauce!
Wonderful breakfast place!! Our Saturday morning started off on the right foot because of our delicious food here.
We made a reservation (highly recommend) and were seated immediately. Service was incredibly kind and friendly. We ordered our drinks (a cappuccino and an orange juice), which did take a while. We definitely thought they forgot about our drinks, but they comped my orange juice, so that’s an even trade in my book.
My husband got the BEC with the hash cakes and said it was delicious! They also gave his a delicious hot sauce when he asked for it, which he enjoyed. Those hash cakes were amazing, and they gave him so much he had to share (lol). I got the full brunch, which is a looooot of food, but I enjoyed every bit. The mushrooms were a definite highlight, as was the sourdough. Scrambled eggs were a bit dry, but mixed well with the other food. The bacon was thick and well done. It was delicious!
Overall, great experience, and the ambiance can’t be beat. Service is great and menu items are delicious. I’d change my egg style next time, and maybe try out one of their sweeter breakfast items too!
Great ambiance and excellent service in a highly elegant setting. However, the food doesn't justify the steep prices. We tried the mushrooms, the burger, and two different pastas. While everything was good, it wasn’t outstanding or memorable enough for the cost.
Staple during every trip to NYC. Friend and I make it a point to come here when in town. This place is perfect for any meal of the day. Their farm to table food is so fresh and well prepared, and I love that the menu is seasonal so you can try different things throughout the year.
Have gone for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and their food has never disappointed.
The scallops, beet dip with labneh, fluke crudo, and gnocchi are all amazing.
For breakfast/brunch, i got the lobster benedict. The shrimp and polenta also looked really good but did not get that.
Drinks are also always well made whether hot or cold or with dinner.
