Suspect Trashes Trendy NYC Steakhouse on Valentine's Day

A 36-year-old man allegedly broke into Uncle Jack's Steakhouse, drank expensive gin, and caused thousands in damages.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A 36-year-old man named Jonathan Jones is accused of breaking into Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Manhattan in the early hours of Valentine's Day, smashing through the front window, grabbing a $50 bottle of gin, and then going on a rampage, causing around $4,000 in damages by hurling the bottle at the bar and destroying bottles of tequila, wine, and Scotch. Jones then allegedly punched someone on the street before being arrested and charged with burglary, robbery, and criminal mischief.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the challenges restaurants face with property crime, especially in high-traffic areas like Manhattan's West Side. While the steakhouse was able to quickly clean up and open for the busy Valentine's Day crowd, the break-in raises concerns about security and the need for businesses to protect themselves against potential vandalism and theft.

The details

According to police and restaurant manager Muhammed Yaseen, Jones first broke into Uncle Jack's Steakhouse around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 14th. He smashed through the front window, grabbed a $50 bottle of Botanist gin, took a drink, and then proceeded to wreck the bar area, hurling the bottle and destroying bottles of tequila, wine, and Chivas Regal Scotch. Yaseen estimated the total damages at around $4,000. Bizarrely, Jones also pulled the fire alarm before fleeing the scene.

  • The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 - Valentine's Day.
  • Jones was arrested shortly after the steakhouse break-in for allegedly punching someone on the street.

The players

Jonathan Jones

A 36-year-old man who is accused of breaking into Uncle Jack's Steakhouse, drinking expensive gin, and causing thousands in damages.

Uncle Jack's Steakhouse

A trendy steakhouse located on Manhattan's West Side that was the target of the Valentine's Day break-in and vandalism.

Muhammed Yaseen

The manager of Uncle Jack's Steakhouse who described the incident and the damages caused.

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What they’re saying

“It was a lot of damage. He was passing by. He had a shopping bag in his hand. He put his shopping bag down and it's like, 'Let me just break in here.'”

— Muhammed Yaseen, Manager, Uncle Jack's Steakhouse

“He took a really good sip [of the gin]. At least he didn't go for the meat. There was a huge meat display. We were worried that he was going to go there and grab meat. There's a lot of expensive Kobe and Waygu there.”

— Muhammed Yaseen, Manager, Uncle Jack's Steakhouse

What’s next

The outcome of Jonathan Jones' arraignment is still unclear, and it remains to be seen if he will face additional charges or consequences for the Valentine's Day incident at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge restaurants face with property crime, even on busy holidays like Valentine's Day. While Uncle Jack's was able to quickly clean up and reopen, the break-in raises concerns about security and the need for businesses to protect themselves against potential vandalism and theft.