Restaurant Review - JP's Restaurant and Pub

166 Milk Street (Westmeadow Plaza)
Westborough, MA 01581

508-366-0627

I was in the mood for some comfort food. Having heard good things over the years about JP’s, it was worth a trip. Yes, I’d tried years ago and hadn’t been back.

The restaurant has a front and back entrance. The “back” door has an awning saying “ENTRANCE,” so I headed in past the empty bread racks and rodenticide dispenser. Upon entering, the overwhelming smell of popcorn hit me….very reminiscent of the old Piccadilly Pub (the one in the basement near the rotary.)   The old Piccadilly Pub was great…as a small neighborhood pub…I like places like that!

JP’s inside is made up of a long 15 seat bar running most of the length of one side of the interior, with the remaining public area being an “L” shaped area with around 20 tables. There are three large TVs, with sports pictures/memorabilia on the walls.

As a single person on this trip out, I would normally head to the bar, and the bar at JP’s was full. Wondering over to the waitress station, I asked if it was open seating. “Yes, sit anywhere,” said the busgirl. “How many in your party,” interjected a waitress. “One.”  “Then sit at one of the small tables.”

Hmmm. I wasn’t feeling the love. I wasn’t feeling the obligatory artificial rapport.

Years ago I worked for a company with a plant in Crossville, TN. When asking about a “local” bar, the hotel told us about a place at the end of a road. Upon entering, the entire energetic establishment went silent. People we knew from the plant turned away. One gent offered, “If you want to be welcome here, you need to buy him a beer,” pointing to a blind man. Once the man had a beer, the entire place came alive and we had a fabulous time.

I looked all around JPs, and couldn’t find the key to unlocking the place. I was an interloper and was not welcome. I had the same experience at the years ago, when a neighbor assured me I would be safe as long as I went there with him…and have never been back.

JP’s is owned by Joseph Antonio of Westborough, and the Commonwealth’s records show an incorporation date of January 1, 1981. 30 years in business…a good run. And the place is busy, OK, this has to be ok.

Horseshoes is a simple game. You toss a horseshoe at a stake 40 feet away, and get points for throwing ringers or for being closest to the stake. My waitress, Janice, is who I want play horseshoes with me. She was a pro at tossing things onto the table, although ten or so kernels of popcorn fell out of the bowl when she tossed it on the table.

At this point, I honestly debated leaving. It’s not that I was angry. I was frightened. “Run for your lives people!”

And…I still wanted some comfort food.

So I ordered a beverage, and some food, and settled in.

My menu never was taken away, so I sat there taking pictures of it since JPs doesn’t have a web site. It’s relatively inexpensive. The crowd seemed to be made up of couples (who were dining and had probably come to JPs for years) and a 30-40 something crowd at the bar. The bar definitely seemed to be the place to be….with a standing room crowd developing.

The salad was simple, and very tasty. In fact, the salad was really good with the house Italian.

I went with the fried chicken dinner, with my choice of baked, mashed, German or French fries (I selected German.)

Janice tossed the fried chicken on the table piping hot, the way I like it. Yet, it had zero flavor. Normally the batter for fried chicken has some seasoning, heck KFC has 11 herbs and spices. I couldn’t taste anything.

The German potatoes and butternut squash were served close to room temperature. I started thinking about the Board of Health, and ?  Hmm, pass.

So I was disappointed. I like and had some high expectations for JPs. The bar crowd seemed energetic, and friendly with each other. I suspect it’s a great place to drop in and have an adult beverage while catching a game if you are with a regular.

It’s obviously a popular pub, with a solid following, and I wish them nothing but the best.

As a restaurant….it’s a miss.

JP’s is CASH ONLY.

Hours

I called for their hours…and nobody answered the phone.

s  gets a RED LIGHT…Save your time and money

About the RAG scale:

       Green Light – Go and enjoy

       Amber Light – Use caution

       Red Light – Save your time and money

The Author

Gary Kelley has lived in Westborough since 1994. His reviews are what he would tell friends, and are not an academic analysis. You can follow him @glkelley or www.garylkelley.com