By Guest Writers Mark and Krissy Millner
On a recent rainy Sunday morning my wife and I decided to check out Jefferson Spirits for brunch. Living just up the road in old East Medford, we grabbed our umbrellas, hopped in our car and ventured downtown to have brunch for the first time in our downtown neighborhood.
What took us so long to discover that so many good restaurants are serving up brunch on the weekends? We’ve always enjoyed JS at night, a popular hangout in downtown for knock your socks off cocktails, yummy appetizers and eclectic entrees.
Dennis Clark, the current owner, has really kept the “spirit” alive inside and continues to reinvent JS as a hip spot with good vibes, unique décor and a great bar. With that in mind, we were excited to visit them before noon and on a weekend. As a side note, JS boasts a Speakeasy downstairs currently under renovation to reopen by summer. We can’t wait for that new facelift. They also just completed a covered parklet so when the weather warms up, it’ll be a great place to gather outside.
What we really liked about JS for brunch was how different it feels from the traditional breakfast cafes you typically encounter in town for a weekend cup of coffee with eggs, bacon and hash browns. They were playing some pretty groovy alternative R & B just loud enough to perk you up alongside the perfectly fresh brewed coffee.
Our waiter immediately brought us a large bottle of water for our table and was super upbeat and friendly. We were hungry and excited to see what brunch options of sweet and savory we had to choose from on the menu. There were 10 main dishes in all with a couple of fun and unique appetizers like Sunrise Eggrolls that emphasized flavors of the Southwest and a breakfast charcuterie for large parties.
Having a one-page menu made us happy. Because sometimes trying to decide what to eat on a Sunday morning with too many choices can be a challenge depending on how late you stayed up the night before. You get the idea… We were both feeling like something savory. Krissy chose the English Chutney, three English muffins topped with sweet blackberry jalapeno chutney, capicola ham with an egg on top, feta cheese, green onions and copious amounts of micro greens on top. I was intrigued by the Bread’ em and Spread’ em dish with a bagel topped with tomato, creamy feta basil spread, pickled onion, a sunnyside egg, green onions, and again, covered in fresh micro greens. I have to say, the micro greens were the bomb. It brightened both our plates and tasted yummy with all the other savory ingredients. The portions were generous and nicely plated.
Now if your tastebuds lean to something a little sweeter, JS’s menu has that covered, as well – from bananas filled with house-made yogurt, whipped cream and fruit to parfaits and crepes. The French Toast Pancake Skewer sounded divine with mini-French toast pancakes served with homemade yogurt, stacked in tall layers topped with lemon zest with wild berry compote on the side. Next time…
As we waited on our food, we couldn’t help thinking about how long JS has been in the downtown community serving up great cocktails, good eats and lots of entertainment. It’s definitely a vibrant spot at the east end of Main Street. They’ve been around since 2013, and as I mentioned earlier, we think they are one of the grooviest bars in the Rogue Valley with plenty of high energy and bartenders to boot. And if you’re wanting to have a morning cocktail for brunch, JS doesn’t disappoint. They have concocted a myriad of mimosas, bellinis, and other morning elixirs to compliment your meal. The mixologists at JS know how to make a mean cocktail. You’ll be blown away by their attention to detail and unique blend of ingredients. They are a work of art and a perfect complement to your meal.
So, the next time you’re looking for an alternative place to have some very tasty food and drinks for brunch, with good local vibes in a cool place with a nice staff, you should put Jefferson Spirits on the top of your list.
