Jean's Beans: Watertown, NY

Our latest venture was to Jean's Beans in Watertown, NY.  Opened in 1953, Jean's Beans is run and operated by Hilda Fuller and her family, making this a true North Country gem.  We'd heard quite a bit about this local shop from our friends and coworkers and were definitely expecting some delicious food and great prices.  Unfortunately it makes us sad to say that while the prices were right, we found the food to be less than exceptional.

Kelly and Jessica's Meal: Fried Chicken Sandwich with Fries and Homemade Mac 'n Cheese


This fried chicken sandwich definitely could be categorized as Southern Comfort Food. For $7.00 I got this baby with 2 sides and the fixins (including lettuce, onion, tomatoes) which included the restaurant's own special blend of mayonnaise. The mayo easily can be described as the best part of the sandwich so if you're going to go with the chicken, you must get it with the mayo. As for the fries they weren't as crisp as we would like. The Mac and Cheese was hearty and chunky and according to the servers one of the most popular sides Jean's Beans has to offer. To be honest I wanted to rave about this meal but sadly I can't. It was a bit too greasy for my tastes and left me feeling full despite not eating but half of my lunch. Again this is just my personal opinion, but I felt the food was a little heavy and in retrospect I should have gone with one of their large, yummy looking salads.
Jessica opted for the same meal and unfortunately had the same response.  Both the sandwich and the fries left us feeling so full and loaded down that neither of us ate for the rest of the evening.  In fact, the meal left such a hard feeling in our stomachs that neither of us ate until lunch the next day-a full 24 hours after our meal. So be warned those of you who you have sensitive stomachs.  There will be grease and plenty of it!

We should also note that Jean's Beans has a buffet-style set up with many, many different sides to choose from including Baked Ziti, Potato Salad, meatballs and of course, beans!  The buffet did look incredible and seemed like an option that would be perfect for a hungry guy on his lunch break.
We are also lucky enough to have a guest editor today. Our friend and coworker Tom also tried Jean's but unlike the Diner Dames, Tom was delighted by his meal. Here is his review:

Tom's Lunch:

Let me start off by saying, unlike the girls, I have been to Jean’s many times, so let me make this clear. If you want to stay on a diet, Jean’s Beans is not for you. If you have an aversion to grease, Jean’s Beans is not for you. If you want good fried seafood and homemade rolls, salads, and baked goods, and plan on packing on a few pounds, then you’re in the right place.
My selection today was a fish sandwich (haddock) with a side of fries. It should be noted they offer sweet potato fries, which I madly covet when the opportunity arises, sadly I didn’t know they served those until after I placed my order. I opted for a side of chicken nuggets instead of salads or baked goods, and I wouldn’t touch them until the day after. There’s a good reason for that, though – the slab of fish on my sandwich was about 1.5 inches thick! I bit into it, and it absolutely melted in my mouth. The roll was tasty and thick enough to absorb any wayward grease, of which there was surprisingly little – a bit of it was trapped with the fish under the breading.
Thing is, it’s almost too heavy. It’s no fun to chow down on a great, greasy sandwich only to nod off at work an hour later. Well, maybe it is fun, but the boss frowns upon it, so… yeah. If the question is, “Can the fried goods stand alone?” I have to admit that the answer is: Not really. The fish comes closest to succeeding with this, but almost everything they offer only achieves “great” status when it’s mated with something else.
For what it is – simple comfort food and homemade baked goods – it’s really good, and priced reasonably. Example: my greasy cornucopia cost just under ten dollars. But if you love seafood and don’t mind digesting a bit of grease, you need to pay them a visit.
Recommendation: Fried haddock, side of coleslaw, tartar sauce, mac & cheese, baked ziti, their breads & baked goods (but not the fudge)


Dessert: Apple Pie


The crust was crispy, flaky and delicious.  The apples baked inside were tasty as well, but soft and cut into smaller slices than you would normally find with a pie. It should be noted though that all of the desserts at Jean's are made in house from scratch.  They also sell a variety of other sweet treats including fudge and donuts as well as various types of bread.  Jess and I did try the peanut butter fudge but regretfully we were unimpressed with that as well.  The consistency of the fudge was very soft and it did not harden even after being placed for several hours in the refrigerator.  It was very sugary and sweet, and not the kind of fudge we were personally used to.
We did however hear quite a few positive reviews on the turnovers as well as their in-house donuts.  Our coworker also had the Haddock sandwich and assures us that it was tasty and he felt fine the rest of the evening.  If we do go back to Jean's, we plan on trying out those recommended dishes.

Summary:
Overall we found the staff at Jean's Beans to be very friendly and welcoming.  We just wished the food was as delightful as the people who work there!  Again this is just our personal opinion and do encourage you to give them a go.  It says a lot that they have been up and running for almost 70 years.  When a family-owned business has been successful that long, they surely must be doing something right!
You can also view their entire menu by clicking HERE

Specialties:
Appetizer - The Sweet Potato Fries
Breakfast - The Filled Donuts
Lunch/Dinner- The Haddock Sandwich with their homemade rolls
Dessert: Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Other Info:
Where: 259 Eastern Blvd, Watertown
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday, 6:30AM - 7PM ; Sunday 11AM-6PM
To Go Orders: Yes
Catering: Yes
Seating: Limited (Bar stools and a small island facing the wall if you want to eat in); Primarily for carry-out
Atmosphere: Downhome, friendly
How Long in Business: Almost 70 years!
Family Friendly: Yes if you plan to carry out
Who Owns It: Neil and Hilda Fuller
Most Likely to Hear: "Those are homemade!"

A peak inside (click photo for enlarged version)