Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern (JFAT), a waterfront restaurant at 4990 N. Harbor Drive, offers American comfort food and some healthy options, too. The concept, derived on the back of a napkin, was rooted in Jimmy Duval’s childhood. His mother passed away when he was 5 years old and his father, an Air Force colonel, needed to cook for three children, which meant that he needed to prepare simple food at a fast pace. Jimmy’s father soon taught Jimmy how to cook out of necessity. Jimmy enjoyed it, and he started adding the flare and flavors he learned from his Jamaican nanny to his dishes. Restaurants and food became Jimmy’s passion. He took to adding the phrase “my famous” as the pre-emptive title to any grub he created, said David Wilhelm, managing partner of JFAT. Duval and Todd Hatch, of Hatch Design Group in Orange County, were the originators of the napkin business plan, but neither had enough experience to move the plan forward. That was when the pair decided to bring on Wilhelm as managing partner. Wilhelm had 30 years of experience in concept development in the area of restaurants. “The food is the kind of food that you can eat every week,” Wilhelm said. Executive chef James Nunn said he uses the freshest ingredients and tries to use locally harvested and grown produce whenever possible. “We were discovered pretty quickly by Yelpers and food bloggers,” Wilhelm said. This might be because of the menu, boasting items like Southern cheddar and pimento dip with warm corn tortilla chips; meatloaf with bacon rainbow served with mashed potatoes, veggies and herb gravy; and the popular brunch item, Bubba, a house-made buttermilk biscuit served with fried chicken, bacon, cheddar, sausage gravy and tater tots. The one dessert menu item is vanilla bean ice cream with hot fudge, warm chocolate chip cookies, salted skin-on peanuts and whipped cream. The dish is meant to be shared. “It’s all about the bar being the focal point,” Wilhelm said. The bar serves up hand-shaken cocktails, as well as an assortment of West Coast microbrews. However, the American fare runs true to the bar, as JFAT has Pabst Blue Ribbon served in a can. Of course, if guests ask, they can have the beer poured into a glass. “We’re big into using organic and renewable whenever possible,” Wilhelm said. “It’s part of how we do business.” The structure is made partly from recycled wood. The floors are concrete and the surroundings give an urban, rustic feel, Wilhelm said. Guests can sit on the waterfront patio by the fireplace or inside the contemporary, industrial Northwest-looking building on the cozy seating. “It’s a very relaxed atmosphere,” Wilhelm said. “It’s very casual, and it’s adjacent to a green park.” The restaurant opens every day at 11:30 a.m., except on Sundays when it opens at 10 a.m. for brunch. The eatery serves brunch, lunch and dinner and offers a full bar. For more information, call (619) 226-2103, or visit www.j-fat.com.
