Barbara’s Bits & Bites: Campus Jax combines ‘brain food’ and entertainment

As I venture out to discover and re-discover fun places to eat locally for this monthly column, I rarely get to meet the owners of these establishments.

But this month, when I stopped into Campus Jax, 3950 Campus Drive in Newport Beach, I chatted with owner Jack Jasper about his restaurant, which opened Nov. 1. Jasper owned and operated Jack’s Shrimp on Coast Highway for 23 years.

With his lease up for renewal, and wanting to re-invent his restaurant concept, Jasper felt the time was right to make a move. And the constant construction on PCH between Dover Drive and Superior Avenue impacting his business wasn’t thrilling him either.

He’d been eyeing the Hogue Barmichael’s location on Campus Drive for some time. Opportunity came knocking when that restaurant closed in September.

Campus Jax has ample parking, a pet-friendly patio and is currently open from 4 p.m. on for happy hour and dinner.

Plans to serve lunch begin Dec. 1.

Jasper calls his new restaurant an “a mindful kitchen, brasserie and supper club,” describing his reasoning on the restaurant website, campusjacks.com.

He refers to the term “mindful” as being “conscious or aware of something, promoting well-being and health, having compassion for all, taking time for what matters, and enjoying life!”

Brasserie is an unpretentious restaurant with a relaxed setting that serves drinks, especially beer, single dishes, hearty food and other meals, he says.

He blends this with the supper club concept, combining dining with entertainment.

With these in mind he’s created a décor that is both warm and welcoming.

With a long bar along one side, and an open ceiling with red, painted air ducts, the place has a warehouse feel that’s funky and fun.

Lighting is low, but not so dark you can’t read the menu.

This is a good-size restaurant with tables and booths for dining taking up the center space. Off to the far corner is a stage for the live jazz music Campus Jax offers on weekends.

I was there for dinner. The menu was well-priced. The food was healthy and tasty.

Jasper says he cooks with “brain food” and is not a fan of processed foods, corn syrup or sugar.

The focus is on “great-tasting soulful dishes with high-quality ingredients, while having an equal emphasis on plant-based and superfood dishes with naturally occurring health benefits,” he writes on the website.

Jasper told me since his mom suffered from Alzheimer’s disease he is very into “brain foods.”

On the menu, Brainstorm, $13, consists of boneless chicken, broccoli, roma tomato, olive oil, garlic, onion, white wine, basil and Parmesan over brown rice. It was quite tasty.

Other bowl dishes include BBQ Pork, $9, made with brown rice, barbecued, pulled pork, house-made slaw, ancho chili sauce and dill pickle slices.

There’s also the Quinoa-wah Bowl, $10, with toasted quinoa, zucchini, squash, fresh spinach, walnuts, feta and orange blossom vinaigrette.

The Miboso Bowl (mind-body-soul), $11, has garlic, onion, basil pesto, red bell pepper, kale, edamame, Bragg’s sauce, brown rice and broccoli.

For fans of the old Jack’s Shrimp, look to the portion of the menu called CLASSIC JAX, which includes JACKrice, $15, hormone-free, boneless chicken breasts, Jack’s spicy-savory sauce over herbed, long-grain and wild rice.

And then there’s his classic: JACKshrimp & Bread, half order $14, full order $19, wild-caught gulf shrimp in Jack’s spicy savory sauce, served up with C’est Si Bon French bread.

Now I’m not a fan of peeling shrimp, and if you ask them they will peel it for you before serving. Jasper says I’m not alone in my dislike, but cooking the shrimp in the shell makes for a better-tasting dish.

There’s also Jambalaya, $15, andouille sausage, chicken breast, onions and green bell peppers over herbed rice; and Spicy Creole Pasta, $17, andouille sausage, chicken, bell peppers, onions and fire roasted tomatoes in a red pepper cream sauce over penne with Parmesan.

Vegetarians should try the Mardi Gras Pasta, $14, yellow squash and zucchini in a fire-roasted tomato cream sauce over penne with Parmesan cheese.

On the salad menu we had the Blue Cheese, Beet & Walnut Salad, $10, oven roasted beets, romaine lettuce, California walnuts, blue cheese dressing. It was quite good.

The happy hour menu also has some tasty treats. I suggest the two Blackened Tri-Tip tacos, $7, which were yummy.

There’s also Cajun Gulf Shrimp taco, Jack spiced salmon and avocado tacos, and cornmeal-crusted catfish and black bean tacos. Each dish is $7 and comes with two tacos.

I enjoyed visiting with Jasper, as well as the food. Campus Jax just might turn into my new favorite neighborhood place.

BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at [email protected]. Listen to her weekly radio segment on “Sunday Brunch with Tom and Lynn” from 11 a.m. to noon on KOCI/101.5 FM.