Delight your senses (and Katrina victims) with a March meal at Jax
Most restaurants reserve their wait lists for the weekends. But the wait list at Jax Fish House flips its pages every night of the week, as the restaurant never stops hopping.
In March especially, one can expect to see a flurry of activity at 928 Pearl St. It’s the 10th Annual Oyster Month at Jax, and according to General Manager Iva Townsend, it’s one of the most flourishing years yet.
“Oyster Month used to be centered primarily around our oyster eating contest. But it’s evolved into a more charitable event,” Townsend said, adding that the celebration is now more involved with things like wine and beer pairings and special dinners.
Oyster Month is certainly a reason to visit Jax on any night of the week, since they offer a variety of special deals and events throughout March. For example, one can get ten oysters for $10 all month long, and for every oyster ordered in March, the restaurant will donate 5 cents to a rebuilding project in New Orleans. Nightly oyster specials are also featured, as well as an Oyster Month signature drink, according to www.oystermonth.com.
“We’re a small restaurant, so we always feel busy,” Townsend said. “But during Oyster Month we get even busier. Oyster sales jump significantly. We try to get guests to try oysters if they haven’t before, and during Oyster Month they can do it more affordably.”
The celebration also involves various weekly specials. From March 10th through March 14th customers enjoyed Oyster Flight Week, during which the restaurant offered 6 oysters paired with three wines or three beers. March 17th through March 21st is Oyster Fixe Week and a special prix fixe menu is offered in addition to the regular array of delicious seafood. Finally, on March 26th the restaurant will be hosting an Oyster Eating Contest. Our server informed us that applicants should expect to down approximately 98 oysters in 90 seconds. Those interested can sign up at www.oystermonth.com or call 303.444.1811.
Yet perhaps the most special thing about Jax’s Oyster Month is its dedication to charity.
“We’ve partnered with Make It Right, a foundation that helps rebuild homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Townsend said. “This has raised our sales, and proceeds from Oyster Month go towards the foundation.”
Those looking to enjoy delicious oysters at Jax can feel good knowing their purchases will benefit those in need.
I visited Jax on a Tuesday evening and arrived to a restaurant bustling with people and voices. My guests and I were told that we’d have to wait a while at the bar, yet this was no problem because the bar scene is lively and delightful under-the-sea décor adorns the restaurant.
Thirty minutes later with drinks in hand, we were led to a table in the small yet cozy dining area.
The prix fixe Oyster Dinner ($30) came in three courses. The first was Russian Style Kumamoto Oysters topped with caviar and cr
