Story

Chef Javier Montano starting his culinary career in Albuquerque in the 1990's where he worked at Scalo and the very first Il Vicino. He moved to San Francisco in 1997 where he would work at world renowned restaurants including Rubicon, Acquerello, Dio Deka, and Limon. He spent 4 years as the corporate chef of Electronic Arts where he ran a culinary team of up to 40 people cooking for up to 1500 people a day. He moved back to the land of enchantment in 2016 and opened up Malaguena's Latin Tapas Food truck with his wife. They won the local hero award for "Best Food Truck" in 2019 by Edible New Mexico.

Summers spent at his grandparents ranch in Northern NM would start Javier’s love of the cattle, ranching and steak. It was his stepfather Jay Don Burkett who would introduce him to a proper steak dinner. Young Javi was hooked. Steak would come to represent a connection to the land and our ancestors.

Jay Don’s chophouse will feature all New Mexico beef, a meat aging room, and local produce.  A modern steakhouse with big city food and small town hospitality.  A place where people to eat, drink and enjoy.