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After 10 years in business, jZ Cool Eatery and Wine Bar on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park has closed.
Owner Jesse Cool announced the closure in an April 16 press release, saying that she plans to open a lunch cafe in the city’s business park area, east of U.S. 101, in June. Meanwhile, Ms. Cool’s catering company is moving into a larger venue in the business park, she said.
In addition to her catering business, Ms. Cool also operates the Flea St. Cafe on Alameda de las Pulgas in Menlo Park, and a cafe in Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center. She advocates the use of organic ingredients from local farms.
“I want to personally thank the community for dining at one of our tables throughout the years,” Ms. Cool said in the press release.
The old J Z Cool was terrific. The new version hasn’t been nearly as good. The #1 change though has been a decline in the quality of food. Under the old model, the food was exceptional. Following the transition over the past year or two, the food has only been so-so, and has likely encouraged Jessie Cool to close the venue since she has other successful ventures nearby. Too bad. It used to be such a great place and with minor changes could have survived and even done exceptional. But with the poorly thought through changes, it really finished the place off. There’s lot of competition in the area, and mistakes like the one that was made can’t be easily (or ever) undone.
As much as I liked the entertainment, the venue was too small for it. We did not enjoy eating with such loud music, and such small portions. I also think that the quality of the food went downhill in the recent year or so. We do wish Jessie well and hope she picks a better model this time. We used to love her food!
I was sorry when jZCool closed … two years ago. The casual eatery was a favorite. I used to eat there once a week or more.
I tried the fancy wine bar incarnation once and had no desire to ever go back.