J Alexander's changing MSC?

November 17, 2025 07:00PM

I see J Alexander's dinner shops listed with the "smart" company for $150 reimbursement only. It apparently still requires the bar visit too. The "knee injury" company reimbursed more didn't they or were they $150 also? I've done the lunch shops for $75 since you don't have to mess with the bar visit but haven't done the dinner in the past 10 years. I think they were with a different company back then. Has anyone picked one up with the "smart" company?

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November 17, 2025 07:26PM

The one here is sitting with no takers. I am not interested since you have to purchase alcoholic beverages at the bar and at the table. I believe the one with the knee jerk company does not require 4 alcoholic beverages total, appetizer AND dessert. I would consider if it was a table visit only. There is no way a shopper can stay within reimbursement on this one (even with the cheapest items).

November 17, 2025 10:07PM

There is a J Alexander near me that just built from the ground up. I think they open today 11/17.

i doubt they are in the rotation to be shopped this month. I will need to see if they are there for December or January. I'm willing to possibly try it, if it's not a heinous report/scenario.

November 18, 2025 12:49AM

I saw that as well. Another higher end place from what appears to be the same ownership/(franchise?) group is available as well.

I did the JA a couple of months ago at lunch, for two of us it was $92 against a $75 reimbursement but this was a friend I wanted to take to lunch so I didn't mind.

One thing to note is that the JA closest to me is part of Resy, so if you have an AMEX card which gives you quarterly or semi-annual rebates at Resy locations, you can double dip.

November 18, 2025 05:32PM

@DRJ wrote:

I see J Alexander's dinner shops listed with the "smart" company for $150 reimbursement only. It apparently still requires the bar visit too. The "knee injury" company reimbursed more didn't they or were they $150 also? I've done the lunch shops for $75 since you don't have to mess with the bar visit but haven't done the dinner in the past 10 years. I think they were with a different company back then. Has anyone picked one up with the "smart" company?

Knee injury company was $150 for dinner also (I did one in August).

@gigishopper - You're only required to order 1 alcoholic beverage at the bar and none at the table. From the comments/requirements:
"2 drinks at bar (if this is a Dinner with Bar Visit shop; 1 alcoholic)
2 drinks at table (not required to be alcoholic)"

I've tried to pick up 2 different dinner shops in the last day, but both got taken by someone else (self-assign was not available to me). 4 JA/SR lunch shops are still available, and I'm debating those, but they are not nearby.

November 18, 2025 06:45PM

The ones I saw were dinner shops:

You may order anything you want, as long as it includes 2 drinks (alcoholic drink required for DINNER shops), 1 appetizer, 1 salad (if entree does not include a salad), 2 entrees, 1 dessert

Even with only 1 alcoholic drink purchased at the bar AND dinner menu prices, I feel like most people would go over reimbursement by quite a bit.

@soonerself wrote:

@DRJ wrote:

I see J Alexander's dinner shops listed with the "smart" company for $150 reimbursement only. It apparently still requires the bar visit too. The "knee injury" company reimbursed more didn't they or were they $150 also? I've done the lunch shops for $75 since you don't have to mess with the bar visit but haven't done the dinner in the past 10 years. I think they were with a different company back then. Has anyone picked one up with the "smart" company?

Knee injury company was $150 for dinner also (I did one in August).

@gigishopper - You're only required to order 1 alcoholic beverage at the bar and none at the table. From the comments/requirements:
"2 drinks at bar (if this is a Dinner with Bar Visit shop; 1 alcoholic)
2 drinks at table (not required to be alcoholic)"

I've tried to pick up 2 different dinner shops in the last day, but both got taken by someone else (self-assign was not available to me). 4 JA/SR lunch shops are still available, and I'm debating those, but they are not nearby.

November 18, 2025 07:22PM

@gigishopper wrote:

Even with only 1 alcoholic drink purchased at the bar AND dinner menu prices, I feel like most people would go over reimbursement by quite a bit.

FWIW, when I did a dinner shop in August, I was $13 under, and that was with a cocktail, tea, appetizer, two entrees (one was a full rack of ribs), and dessert. You can order a salad as one of your entree sides. According to these guidelines, I would have to order two more (non-alcoholic) drinks, which would still have me under the $150.

When I did the Stoney River shop in Feb., I was $10 over, but that was with two alcoholic drinks and prime rib as one of my entrees.

I agree that if both people ordered cocktails, more expensive entrees (steaks), etc., it would go over...but it's fairly easy to keep it under or close to the $150.

November 18, 2025 07:51PM

I'm not sure where you live, but the cheapest cocktail drink here is $13. You said you were $13 under. That would put you $13 over plus additional tip. I did not see beer on the menu. I did a Stoney River back in February and after tip, I was only $4 over. I'm looking at the online menu only. Perhaps there are drink specials that I can't see.

@soonerself wrote:

@gigishopper wrote:

Even with only 1 alcoholic drink purchased at the bar AND dinner menu prices, I feel like most people would go over reimbursement by quite a bit.

FWIW, when I did a dinner shop in August, I was $13 under, and that was with a cocktail, tea, appetizer, two entrees (one was a full rack of ribs), and dessert. You can order a salad as one of your entree sides. According to these guidelines, I would have to order two more (non-alcoholic) drinks, which would still have me under the $150.

When I did the Stoney River shop in Feb., I was $10 over, but that was with two alcoholic drinks and prime rib as one of my entrees.

I agree that if both people ordered cocktails, more expensive entrees (steaks), etc., it would go over...but it's fairly easy to keep it under or close to the $150.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2025 07:53PM by gigishopper.

December 01, 2025 07:10PM

I just did the SR lunch shop, and it was $150. There were no dinner shops available at the time. However, I just logged in, and they are now being offered. Does anyone know their rotation schedule?

December 05, 2025 10:07AM

I just did one. We spent about $222.00, so definitely over the $150. However, I’ve been wanting to try JAlex (never tried it before).
We both got steak entrees, so that was $105 before tax and tip for just the entrees.
If I was doing a shop with a decent FEE, like $25 or more, I would probably try to stay under the reimbursement. But when there’s no fee, I look upon it as a discount on our meals. Why go eat something that you don’t care about (I mean, unless you’re starving)?
Admittedly, I much prefer the restaurant shops that reimburse enough to cover everything, but I’m still willing to do these once in a while, just to eat at a place I normally would have trouble fitting into my budget at a much lower cost.

December 05, 2025 04:20PM

I picked up a JA shop for this weekend. I’ve been there several times in the past, and really enjoy their food. And since we’re doing lunch there, we should be able to walk out without spending the full amount. IMO, there’s no reason to eat steak before 6pm!

December 05, 2025 05:12PM

@Shar27 wrote:

I picked up a JA shop for this weekend. I’ve been there several times in the past, and really enjoy their food. And since we’re doing lunch there, we should be able to walk out without spending the full amount. IMO, there’s no reason to eat steak before 6pm!

Respectfully disagree! I am happy to have steak and eggs for breakfast on special occasions. There is no wrong time for steak.

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