It all depends on what you order. That’s why I don’t claim to be an expert food critic because one item of food may be the one thing that isn’t the best at a restaurant and the rest of the food may be great! I just tell it like it is Willie Mae style.

Walking in Jefferson’s, and not really knowing what kind of establishment it was, my granddaughter and I were told to sit anywhere we like. It was dark with just the windows giving off enough light to read a menu.

I saw a bunch of college paraphernalia and that may be why my granddaughter loved the place – I assumed it was a college hangout or maybe it was just some sort of sports bar. If my granddaughter felt comfortable enough to bring Granny with her then I would try to be “cool” and not mention how dark it was or ask to move to a table with more light. I was determined to “hang” with Natalie and enjoy what she enjoyed.

The menus we were given were charming  they looked like a big two dollar bill – hence the name of the restaurant and the President portrayed on that bill.

I noticed a big sign that said PBR was only two dollars. I knew PBR had something to do with bull riding so I figured it must be a beef dish. When Natalie told me what it really was, I had to snicker. I decided to pass on the PBR.

Since Jefferson’s listed in their title “wings, burgers, oysters” I thought I would try either the wings or the oysters. Their oysters must be pretty good if that is one of their signature items. I never have ordered oysters from anywhere other than a bay or Gulf area. I just never trusted it.

My favorite oyster bar was in Mobile - and I know how to eat them! Natalie just had to have the shrimp jammers appetizer for 7.99 that she insisted I try. She knows I like it spicy – and they were that! Not enough to make my nose run but they certainly did have a kick!

I ordered the Oysters Rockefeller for 8.99 and Natalie ordered a chicken finger basket for 6.99. She orders the same thing wherever she goes, it’s a wonder she doesn’t turn into a chicken.

Even though the menu stated “fresh from the Gulf” when describing their oysters, I knew for that price that they were probably not flown in that day so their fresh from the Gulf oysters had to actually be “freshly frozen oysters from the Gulf”.

One bite and that’s all it took. The smell of the oysters was enough to tell the difference in the bay oysters that I was used to. But the taste was atrocious! I had to push my plate away. It almost reminded me of the slimy mushrooms that I had tried at another restaurant. It was already in my mouth and the longer I thought about what to do with the lump swimming in my mouth, the longer it stayed in my mouth.

Gulp! I swallowed it without really chewing it much. I was not a fan of the fresh from the Gulf critters.

The waitress was very accommodating, noticing that I was not eating my meal. I was thinking about stopping at a Subway on the way home. She apologized and said she would not charge me for them. I didn’t ask her to do that and I did not complain. I don’t like to cause trouble but when asked, I tell the truth! I told her they were the nastiest things I had put in my mouth.

The manager came out and asked me just what it was that I did not like about them and I tried to curtail my honesty so much by just explaining that I could tell the difference in “fresh” seafood and that I just prefer getting my oysters closer to coastal places. She understood.

The jammers were delish – but they can keep those fresh, rocky fellers in their shell! 

Jefferson's Shrimp Jammers