Jack and Janelle’s Country Kitchen
801 E Main St, Cortez, CO, 81321
Jack and Janelle’s Country Kitchen Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Cortez for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cortez for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cortez for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
801 E Main St
Cortez, CO, 81321 - Phone (970) 565-2572
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Jennifer S.
Great Service! Jack and Janelle are wonderful people who serve a delicious breakfast where the coffee flows as easily as the conversation.
(5)L K.
This place was so-so. It takes a looooooooooong time to get served, so if you're in a rush to hit the road, you may want to consider another option. The food was good, definitely had some grease to it, which after camping was a good thing. The service went from completely utilitarian/efficient (ie no small talk, lets get to the point) to friendly towards the end. Overall- 3.5 stars for food, 3 stars for service.
(3)Adrienne G.
One of the locals recommended Jack and Janelle's & we ended up eating here twice 1st visit was brunch - Eggs, Hash Browns, & Griddle Cakes for my travel buddy - hash browns were of the shredded potato variety (which is not my taste) but buddy said she liked them just fine I stuck w/ a big ole stack of Griddle Cakes - they were so appropriately named & delightfully met my every expectation of what a yummy griddle cake should be. See....pancakes are fluffy & cakey where griddle cakes are light & fluffy but they also have this undertone of cooking oil that's part of the batter, that makes them different from a pancake.....it's a very small distinction but a distinction nonetheless ( ...AND being a true Southern Belle & growing up w/ this distinction makes me an expert here ) 2nd visit was for a late lunch - props for even being open on July 4th. Most eateries in Cortez were closed Buddy chose the Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes, peas & carrots.....she said it was decent but pretty bland. I chose the Grilled Cheese w/ French Fries. That grilled cheese was fried dry & this warrants huge bonus points in my book b/c I prefer a dry-grill!! Lots of melty, string-pulling cheese & the bread was grilled so it was crunchy yet still soft on the inside Fries were shoestring & perfectly crunchy / soft as well.....big score for me So overall, have to say w/ the SUPER nice waitstaff & yummy diner fare, yup, we're fans!
(4)Stan P.
Old school roadside dinner with old school wait staff and charm. Well worth the stop for breakfast.
(4)Ann V.
Their chicken fried steak dish should not have been advertised as their signature dish because it was definitely flavorless and looked very unappetizing. Staff was very friendly but that's about it. Maybe i'll have to try their breakfast or something. We'll see. Sidenote - they had a customer come in who smelled like she hasn't showered in a month - I'm not sure what their restaurant policy is regarding this but it def made my stomach turn.
(1)Garen M.
A decent small town diner. Locally owned, the owner was even one of the waiters. Food is staple diner fare. I had catfish, my lady had a chicken breast salad. Both were good.
(3)Brett J.
Adequate service, sub-par food. Don't get the "chicken colorado." it is a tasteless mess of bland chicken and boiled vegetables. Keep driving.
(1)Brett J.
I wish I could give this restaurant no stars. Adequate service, sub-par food. Don't get the "chicken colorado." it is a tasteless mess of bland chicken and boiled vegetables. The wait staff were disinterested, at best, and didn't notice or care that nobody at our table actually ate the food. Maybe they were having a bad day. I don't know. Keep driving.
(1)Claire P.
In search of a difficult to find Navajo Taco in Navajo Country we Yelped and found Jim and Janelle's. Fortunately it was their Tuesday special. My husband's craving was satisfied and exceeded expectations - a generous portion of filling and fixings atop golden brown homemade fry bread. He somehow forced himself to finish the entire serving. I had a delicious tuna sandwich on whole grain bread. Lots of tuna and sliced tomato on the freshest bread. Delicious! We ended our meal sharing the Chocolate Cream Pie - also homemade and perfect!. Jim is a great chef and a charming host. Cozy casual coffee-shop type atmosphere with lots of local patrons and local atmosphere. My Cortez pick - can't wait to drive through again.
(5)Kyle P.
Craving breakfast for dinner? This is the place! Huge portions and prompt service. Owner stopped by booth several times to ensure we had all we needed. Great pancakes and hash-browns. Very reasonable pricing combined with home style atmosphere. All food cooked to perfection and served hot.
(4)Rondi V.
Stumbled onto this place while staying in Cortez and what a little gem! Great food, family-run and well priced. I would definitely stop again if in the area.
(3)Roy C.
Best chicken fried steak (with eggs and hash browns) I've had in a long time. I couldn't eat it all. Good service and quick prep. They have lots of good choices for breakfast. Best biscuits I've seen, light and tasty. Highly recommend this place. Across from city park.
(5)Carmen C.
Cortez is a very friendly quiet little town. We were here on Christmas day and all restaurants were closed. The only open place open was Jack and Janelle's and they were closing as we were about to enter. They let us in anyway so we wouldn't have to go hungry on Chritmas night. We were not rushed and had the option of ordering from the menu or going with the Christmas buffet which included the holiday staples: ham, turkey, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies. It also included a slice of pumpkin pie. The 3 stars are for the overall experience. The service was good and very friendly. The food however wouldn't get more than 2 stars. I really wanted to like the food because they were so nice and let us in late but unfortunately it was not great. I also missed some sort of biscuit to go with the gravy.
(3)Marcia M.
As soon as we pull into a new town we find locals to ask about restaurants...sometimes they try to impress us with their best restaurants, and often they give us just what we ask for, good solid local grub. We hit pay dirt this time. Crispy-crunchy-cornbread rolled-deep fried-thinly filleted catfish, sweet hushpuppies, coleslaw, fries and a salad bar for around eight bucks? Did I mention all you can eat? And an owner that makes you feel like a local? Or the locals who treat you like friends? Yep, this IS as good as it gets. Jack, you made us believers. We will be making your restaurant our favorite stop every time we pass through Cortez. Thank you for a great experience!
(5)Dennis J.
In Cortez to visit Mesa Verde, we stumbled across Jack & Janelle's when looking for a dinner option and wanting to have something local - not a chain. Staff was very friendly - the owner was making the rounds checking in on people, welcoming them, offering coffee refills. I would describe the menu offerings as "simple country fare" - chicken fried steak, meatloaf, that sort of thing. They did have a nice salad bar to make your own salad, with plenty of options. The night we were there they were offering an all-you could eat "catfish buffet" but it looked like the buffet only included the deep-fried catfish and one side. Overall, decent food for the family, but nothing to write home about. No beer, wine, etc available, which was also a little sad.
(3)Jeff I.
I've only eaten here once, and it was towards the end of the day, so I can empathize with 'tired' nature of the staff, who were still friendly, but not absolutely on top of their game (not just the waitress.) But first impressions are hard to re-do, and in reality, a restaurant is only as good as its last service. Chicken Fried Steak was hand-breaded (a plus) but amazingly thinly flattened. I've never had one that thin in Texas, but they say all things are bigger in Texas. I can't attest to the potential high quality of the other menu items, and may give this stop another chance on my next pass through Cortez. The Staff: Very pleasant, but somewhat aloof. The Service: Slow. Painfully slow. The Food: While the food wasn't cold when it landed on our table, neither was it hot, rather somewhere in that lukewarm limbo. I'm pretty sure that instead of milk, egg wash, or seasoned flour; I got served a steak dredged in flour without any wash, and without any salt, pepper, or spices. The smashed potatoes were good, complete with the chunks, as I like it. The gravy, though, was as bland as the flour used to bread the steak. Seemed to me it could have likely been just flour and water. With every bite, I felt much like I imagine Robert Irvine feels when he encounters a lackluster gem with such potential. Sorry Jack and Janelle. You can do better. It wouldn't be costly, and you've got potential to boom. Think of your customers like plants: Feed 'em and water 'em, don't burn 'em. They'll give you fruit.
(2)Michelle C.
Friendly staffs and prompt service. Had dinner and buffet breakfast here. I had ribs special and hubby had burger, and niece had steak. They were all good. Especially my ribs:)) Sunday breakfast was good value and plenty variety to have. Sweet family style. Will come again if we back to this corner of the world!
(4)Erin O.
If you love good ol' country greasy spoon breakfast, this is the spot for you. Complete with a waitress who calls everyone "hon'," reminds you the gentleman always pays the tab when she drops it off, and has worked there so long you can hardly read the logo on her shirt. Went here with my dad and we both agreed - good ol' down home cooking. He had ham steak with hashbrowns and eggs, and I just had eggs and hashbrowns.
(5)J In AZ G.
Amazing restaurant in such a cool little town. I've been through Cortez a few times in the past couple of years and this restaurant is simply fantastic. Everyone was extremely friendly and Jack, the owner, was walking around and talking to everyone. I had read that their Chicken Fried Steak was the best, so I had to try that, and yes, it is the best. We also had soup, Fish & Chips, and the chicken tenders and everyone said their food was excellent. There were 6 of us in our party and we spent a total of $45 on dinner. UNBELIEVABLE! If you're ever in the area, definitely visit Jack & Janelle's, oh, and Mesa Verde too :-).
(5)Charity K.
We stopped by Jack and Janelle's on the way out of town on the urging of the locals. We were getting breakfast, which isn't my favorite meal of the day. I decided to get the South of the Border, which the table agreed looked the best out of what we ordered. It was fairly bland. Though, I didn't get it with sausage or avocado, and I didn't use the salsa. My dad thought it was good. The only specific complaints I heard were that the oatmeal was cold, the cream cheese tasted "weird," and it was just ok. We had ordered some french toast based on promises of vanilla scented butter (though I thought it was vanilla in the toast itself). We did not detect vanilla though. Barbara, our server, was extremly helpful, nice, and fast. The bathrooms left something to be desired in the functioning realm. Overall it was just ok.
(3)Lisa M.
Father's day BBQ was all over cooked and greasy. Pass this place by and go have pizza down the street!
(1)A A.
Referred by a local for their Navajo taco after a disappointing Navajo taco experience at Mesa Verde. A true mom-n-pop establishment--my family enjoys finding them because they are a rarity in the big city. Friendly staff, good food. It seemed that a lot locals frequent the restaurant. I don't quite understand the Colorado palate though--the taco was bland. However, the homemade blackberry cobbler was excellent. Free refills on soda. We would come back again if we returned to the area.
(4)Elissa N.
I wasn't impressed with my ham, eggs and hashbrowns by my husbands chicken fried steak and eggs was to die for! They served it with two biscuits and gravy on the side. It was the best chicken fried steak my husband has ever had!
(3)Carol B.
Sorry to say, we had a bad experience at Jack & Janell's... we were traveling through Cortez and decided to stop at a local mom and pops country kitchen for breakfast, we ordered Jacks breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, hash browns and biscuits and gravy, everything was bland, the eggs undercooked... we stopped halfway through our meal and immediately after I was violently sick!! It doesn't make for a pleasant long drive home to Arizona and it killed our Labor day, I feel like crap!!
(1)Jessica S.
This place is so down-home it hurts. When you walk in, you're overwhelmed by an assortment of religious quotes, crosses on the wall, and a display honoring America's Veterans. If it weren't for all the beaten-up diner furniture, it would feel like a visit to your great-aunt's house. The great aunt it reminds you of is the one who doesn't clean before you visit, and has neighbors over when you arrive. Still, there's nothing like her home cooking, and that's what you get here: perfectly cooked, satisfying food. We stopped in for breakfast before a long day of hiking, and were all pleased with our eggs, crispy hash browns, bacon, and toast. The small sized juice is a large elsewhere. Everything was good and we all cleaned our plates. I'd have breakfast here any time.
(4)Jack W.
We visited Cortez for the local touristy stuff. We went from hotel to hotel traveling across Colorado and ended up staying in Cortez for 2 days. We were so sick of the horrible free hotel breakfasts, fast food and eating out of a cooler. We asked the clerk at the front desk and they recommended Jack and Janelle's which was less than a block from the hotel. Great home-cooking!! The owner checks on all of the tables and when asked about the food is proud of his product. We ended up eating 2 dinners, 2 deserts (we never order desert) and a breakfast there and loved everything. We found out after the first dinner that they made "Navajo Tacos" and my wife ordered it on the 2nd dinner. They only offer them a couple of days per week and it wasn't available that day. The owner special made it for my wife anyways. It was so huge that we all got a taste. I'd never eat a normal taco again of we could get those where we live. The food is great, the people are friendly and fun to be around. They support veterans more than any business I have ever experienced.
(5)Amy W.
Seating was quick. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I ordered the pasta and it was a huge portion, like I only expected half the amount for what I paid for. Salad bar was good. Yes, that leads me to say, pricing was cheap (I almost felt like I was stealing with the good pricing).
(5)Janett L.
Yummy, affordable and the lightest flakiest biscuits ever! Jack, the owner, is super friendly and entertaining. This is a good-ole-country cafe. If you like home cooking, stop here!
(5)Marie S.
Very friendly staff. Mediocre to bland food. Ordered the chicken fried steak and green chile... There wasn't enough salt and pepper or hot sauce to flavor this. First time yelp has disappointed me.
(2)Kevin L.
Great food especially breakfast. Super friendly help. Owner is really nice. Hash brown potatoes where cooked perfectly. On our way through to Ouray....
(5)Mandi C.
We stopped here based on the good reviews for a quick and delicious breakfast. What we received, however, was subpar at best. The man who seated us was very friendly and promptly brought us our beverages. Our waitress was nice and the food was delivered quickly - perhaps too quickly. I ordered French Toast and a side of hashbrowns. The French Toast was quite delicious and their cinnamon/vanilla batter was tasty! The hashbrowns, on the other hand, were a grey color. They appeared to be saturated in grease and smelled like dirt. Needless to say, I didn't eat them. I would have sent them back but our waitress delivered our check and never returned. My husband ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs. The chicken fried steak was pretty good, but his hashbrowns were also grey. One of his over-easy eggs was fried, but our waitress remedied this quickly. The gravy was flavorless, floury and cold despite the plate being hot. The biscuit portion of the biscuits and gravy were quite good - light and flaky. Perhaps a new cook was working the kitchen today?
(2)D D.
Stay away from this place. My wife read all the glowing reviews & was going to surprise me that she found a Country cooking type restaurant, on the way to Mesa Verde. I'm not always discouraged by curb appeal as some of the worst looking building have the best food. The wife had the special (fish) & I had the meatloaf. Both were so bad we couldn't eat it. The waitress came around after awhile to drop off the ticket, seen we still had almost full plates & were getting ready to leave & did not ever ask if it was OK. I think she knew it bad. How they got such high reviews is a mystery. Eat at your own risk.
(1)Dann G.
Looking for some good homemade food and the locals all recommended this place. Amazing service and funny/personable servers. Very affordable. It's easily 5 stars.
(5)Kerry H.
We are visiting Cortez for a week. We explored the restaurant.com site and found this gem! We stopped in for a late dinner on our first night in town. Dinner was great. The boys got the Chicken Fried Steak. While it needed salt, it was tender and tasty! My daughter got the French Dip. The dip and the meat were yummy but the bread was not a good flavor. I ordered the French Chicken and it was AMAZING! I plan to copy it when I get home! We have a few more days in town and hope to make it in for the Tuesday special: Navajo Tacos!
(4)David P.
We"te on our wsy to Durango and eere looking for someplace to eat. Good americsn food and good service. My wife had the pasta primavera. Homemade sauce and good ingredients. Yum
(4)Brian G.
Good, small town down home cooking. A great eatery with great people and proud of their great community to boot. Food quality is good, atmosphere is good, prices are amazing. I really can't think of anything negative to say. Finding this gem in Cortez has made my trips here even better. It's one thing to have great scenery & great trails, but to have a great restaurant to come back to dinner at it's just awesome.
(4)R. H.
The food here is fine. It's a very popular place (especially after church lets out, which we found). The service was pretty good, and the employees were friendly. We were satisfied with our meals-- Good hearty food-- But nothing outstanding.
(3)Jonathon L.
As far as Cortez this is the place to eat! Being from TX I get homesick for certain foods, this trip to Cortez I was in one heck of a mood for Chicken Fried Steak, this place serves some awesome home made CFS, it needs a little salt but other than that it's awesome! It's served with lumpy mashed potatoes and green beans, it was just what the Dr. ordered. As if that wasn't enough we went there one night for breakfast...Biscuits and Gravy...that is all. I had it with eggs, sausage (some of the best I've had), hash browns and pancakes, I was in breakfast food heaven! this is truly a culinary gem in Cortez and officially my favorite place to eat.
(5)C W.
Fun homestyle atmosphere. The owner spent time making our family feel welcome and shared some of his favorite menu items with us. I enjoyed the chicken fried steak and my son loved the salmon. The green chili fries were a nice appetizer and well worth the extra treadmill time. Great food at great prices. Family owned homestyle cooking places like this seem to be getting more difficult to find. Well worth the stop when in Cortez.
(4)Dan B.
A great place for Navajo tacos. I'm not sure how Clair's husband finished his, but my hat's off to him. The beans actually taste like beans and dish is all around fantastic.
(4)Tamara L.
I loved this place. After a week of traveling this is the best meal I've had. They were friendly and amiable to all my special requests. Our party of 8 was well received and our food came quick and hot. Big servings, my teenage boys weren't able to finish their meals. Their review was "YES!!" This place would be a regular stop for us if it were in our town.
(5)Kevin L.
Great food especially breakfast. Super friendly help. Owner is really nice. Hash brown potatoes where cooked perfectly. On our way through to Ouray....
(5)Carol B.
Sorry to say, we had a bad experience at Jack & Janell's... we were traveling through Cortez and decided to stop at a local mom and pops country kitchen for breakfast, we ordered Jacks breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, hash browns and biscuits and gravy, everything was bland, the eggs undercooked... we stopped halfway through our meal and immediately after I was violently sick!! It doesn't make for a pleasant long drive home to Arizona and it killed our Labor day, I feel like crap!!
(1)Jessica S.
This place is so down-home it hurts. When you walk in, you're overwhelmed by an assortment of religious quotes, crosses on the wall, and a display honoring America's Veterans. If it weren't for all the beaten-up diner furniture, it would feel like a visit to your great-aunt's house. The great aunt it reminds you of is the one who doesn't clean before you visit, and has neighbors over when you arrive. Still, there's nothing like her home cooking, and that's what you get here: perfectly cooked, satisfying food. We stopped in for breakfast before a long day of hiking, and were all pleased with our eggs, crispy hash browns, bacon, and toast. The small sized juice is a large elsewhere. Everything was good and we all cleaned our plates. I'd have breakfast here any time.
(4)Jeff I.
I've only eaten here once, and it was towards the end of the day, so I can empathize with 'tired' nature of the staff, who were still friendly, but not absolutely on top of their game (not just the waitress.) But first impressions are hard to re-do, and in reality, a restaurant is only as good as its last service. Chicken Fried Steak was hand-breaded (a plus) but amazingly thinly flattened. I've never had one that thin in Texas, but they say all things are bigger in Texas. I can't attest to the potential high quality of the other menu items, and may give this stop another chance on my next pass through Cortez. The Staff: Very pleasant, but somewhat aloof. The Service: Slow. Painfully slow. The Food: While the food wasn't cold when it landed on our table, neither was it hot, rather somewhere in that lukewarm limbo. I'm pretty sure that instead of milk, egg wash, or seasoned flour; I got served a steak dredged in flour without any wash, and without any salt, pepper, or spices. The smashed potatoes were good, complete with the chunks, as I like it. The gravy, though, was as bland as the flour used to bread the steak. Seemed to me it could have likely been just flour and water. With every bite, I felt much like I imagine Robert Irvine feels when he encounters a lackluster gem with such potential. Sorry Jack and Janelle. You can do better. It wouldn't be costly, and you've got potential to boom. Think of your customers like plants: Feed 'em and water 'em, don't burn 'em. They'll give you fruit.
(2)Michelle C.
Friendly staffs and prompt service. Had dinner and buffet breakfast here. I had ribs special and hubby had burger, and niece had steak. They were all good. Especially my ribs:)) Sunday breakfast was good value and plenty variety to have. Sweet family style. Will come again if we back to this corner of the world!
(4)J In AZ G.
Amazing restaurant in such a cool little town. I've been through Cortez a few times in the past couple of years and this restaurant is simply fantastic. Everyone was extremely friendly and Jack, the owner, was walking around and talking to everyone. I had read that their Chicken Fried Steak was the best, so I had to try that, and yes, it is the best. We also had soup, Fish & Chips, and the chicken tenders and everyone said their food was excellent. There were 6 of us in our party and we spent a total of $45 on dinner. UNBELIEVABLE! If you're ever in the area, definitely visit Jack & Janelle's, oh, and Mesa Verde too :-).
(5)Charity K.
We stopped by Jack and Janelle's on the way out of town on the urging of the locals. We were getting breakfast, which isn't my favorite meal of the day. I decided to get the South of the Border, which the table agreed looked the best out of what we ordered. It was fairly bland. Though, I didn't get it with sausage or avocado, and I didn't use the salsa. My dad thought it was good. The only specific complaints I heard were that the oatmeal was cold, the cream cheese tasted "weird," and it was just ok. We had ordered some french toast based on promises of vanilla scented butter (though I thought it was vanilla in the toast itself). We did not detect vanilla though. Barbara, our server, was extremly helpful, nice, and fast. The bathrooms left something to be desired in the functioning realm. Overall it was just ok.
(3)Lisa M.
Father's day BBQ was all over cooked and greasy. Pass this place by and go have pizza down the street!
(1)A A.
Referred by a local for their Navajo taco after a disappointing Navajo taco experience at Mesa Verde. A true mom-n-pop establishment--my family enjoys finding them because they are a rarity in the big city. Friendly staff, good food. It seemed that a lot locals frequent the restaurant. I don't quite understand the Colorado palate though--the taco was bland. However, the homemade blackberry cobbler was excellent. Free refills on soda. We would come back again if we returned to the area.
(4)Carmen C.
Cortez is a very friendly quiet little town. We were here on Christmas day and all restaurants were closed. The only open place open was Jack and Janelle's and they were closing as we were about to enter. They let us in anyway so we wouldn't have to go hungry on Chritmas night. We were not rushed and had the option of ordering from the menu or going with the Christmas buffet which included the holiday staples: ham, turkey, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies. It also included a slice of pumpkin pie. The 3 stars are for the overall experience. The service was good and very friendly. The food however wouldn't get more than 2 stars. I really wanted to like the food because they were so nice and let us in late but unfortunately it was not great. I also missed some sort of biscuit to go with the gravy.
(3)Marcia M.
As soon as we pull into a new town we find locals to ask about restaurants...sometimes they try to impress us with their best restaurants, and often they give us just what we ask for, good solid local grub. We hit pay dirt this time. Crispy-crunchy-cornbread rolled-deep fried-thinly filleted catfish, sweet hushpuppies, coleslaw, fries and a salad bar for around eight bucks? Did I mention all you can eat? And an owner that makes you feel like a local? Or the locals who treat you like friends? Yep, this IS as good as it gets. Jack, you made us believers. We will be making your restaurant our favorite stop every time we pass through Cortez. Thank you for a great experience!
(5)Dennis J.
In Cortez to visit Mesa Verde, we stumbled across Jack & Janelle's when looking for a dinner option and wanting to have something local - not a chain. Staff was very friendly - the owner was making the rounds checking in on people, welcoming them, offering coffee refills. I would describe the menu offerings as "simple country fare" - chicken fried steak, meatloaf, that sort of thing. They did have a nice salad bar to make your own salad, with plenty of options. The night we were there they were offering an all-you could eat "catfish buffet" but it looked like the buffet only included the deep-fried catfish and one side. Overall, decent food for the family, but nothing to write home about. No beer, wine, etc available, which was also a little sad.
(3)Erin O.
If you love good ol' country greasy spoon breakfast, this is the spot for you. Complete with a waitress who calls everyone "hon'," reminds you the gentleman always pays the tab when she drops it off, and has worked there so long you can hardly read the logo on her shirt. Went here with my dad and we both agreed - good ol' down home cooking. He had ham steak with hashbrowns and eggs, and I just had eggs and hashbrowns.
(5)Jack W.
We visited Cortez for the local touristy stuff. We went from hotel to hotel traveling across Colorado and ended up staying in Cortez for 2 days. We were so sick of the horrible free hotel breakfasts, fast food and eating out of a cooler. We asked the clerk at the front desk and they recommended Jack and Janelle's which was less than a block from the hotel. Great home-cooking!! The owner checks on all of the tables and when asked about the food is proud of his product. We ended up eating 2 dinners, 2 deserts (we never order desert) and a breakfast there and loved everything. We found out after the first dinner that they made "Navajo Tacos" and my wife ordered it on the 2nd dinner. They only offer them a couple of days per week and it wasn't available that day. The owner special made it for my wife anyways. It was so huge that we all got a taste. I'd never eat a normal taco again of we could get those where we live. The food is great, the people are friendly and fun to be around. They support veterans more than any business I have ever experienced.
(5)Amy W.
Seating was quick. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I ordered the pasta and it was a huge portion, like I only expected half the amount for what I paid for. Salad bar was good. Yes, that leads me to say, pricing was cheap (I almost felt like I was stealing with the good pricing).
(5)Janett L.
Yummy, affordable and the lightest flakiest biscuits ever! Jack, the owner, is super friendly and entertaining. This is a good-ole-country cafe. If you like home cooking, stop here!
(5)Marie S.
Very friendly staff. Mediocre to bland food. Ordered the chicken fried steak and green chile... There wasn't enough salt and pepper or hot sauce to flavor this. First time yelp has disappointed me.
(2)Mandi C.
We stopped here based on the good reviews for a quick and delicious breakfast. What we received, however, was subpar at best. The man who seated us was very friendly and promptly brought us our beverages. Our waitress was nice and the food was delivered quickly - perhaps too quickly. I ordered French Toast and a side of hashbrowns. The French Toast was quite delicious and their cinnamon/vanilla batter was tasty! The hashbrowns, on the other hand, were a grey color. They appeared to be saturated in grease and smelled like dirt. Needless to say, I didn't eat them. I would have sent them back but our waitress delivered our check and never returned. My husband ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs. The chicken fried steak was pretty good, but his hashbrowns were also grey. One of his over-easy eggs was fried, but our waitress remedied this quickly. The gravy was flavorless, floury and cold despite the plate being hot. The biscuit portion of the biscuits and gravy were quite good - light and flaky. Perhaps a new cook was working the kitchen today?
(2)D D.
Stay away from this place. My wife read all the glowing reviews & was going to surprise me that she found a Country cooking type restaurant, on the way to Mesa Verde. I'm not always discouraged by curb appeal as some of the worst looking building have the best food. The wife had the special (fish) & I had the meatloaf. Both were so bad we couldn't eat it. The waitress came around after awhile to drop off the ticket, seen we still had almost full plates & were getting ready to leave & did not ever ask if it was OK. I think she knew it bad. How they got such high reviews is a mystery. Eat at your own risk.
(1)Dann G.
Looking for some good homemade food and the locals all recommended this place. Amazing service and funny/personable servers. Very affordable. It's easily 5 stars.
(5)Brian G.
Good, small town down home cooking. A great eatery with great people and proud of their great community to boot. Food quality is good, atmosphere is good, prices are amazing. I really can't think of anything negative to say. Finding this gem in Cortez has made my trips here even better. It's one thing to have great scenery & great trails, but to have a great restaurant to come back to dinner at it's just awesome.
(4)R. H.
The food here is fine. It's a very popular place (especially after church lets out, which we found). The service was pretty good, and the employees were friendly. We were satisfied with our meals-- Good hearty food-- But nothing outstanding.
(3)Jonathon L.
As far as Cortez this is the place to eat! Being from TX I get homesick for certain foods, this trip to Cortez I was in one heck of a mood for Chicken Fried Steak, this place serves some awesome home made CFS, it needs a little salt but other than that it's awesome! It's served with lumpy mashed potatoes and green beans, it was just what the Dr. ordered. As if that wasn't enough we went there one night for breakfast...Biscuits and Gravy...that is all. I had it with eggs, sausage (some of the best I've had), hash browns and pancakes, I was in breakfast food heaven! this is truly a culinary gem in Cortez and officially my favorite place to eat.
(5)C W.
Fun homestyle atmosphere. The owner spent time making our family feel welcome and shared some of his favorite menu items with us. I enjoyed the chicken fried steak and my son loved the salmon. The green chili fries were a nice appetizer and well worth the extra treadmill time. Great food at great prices. Family owned homestyle cooking places like this seem to be getting more difficult to find. Well worth the stop when in Cortez.
(4)Dan B.
A great place for Navajo tacos. I'm not sure how Clair's husband finished his, but my hat's off to him. The beans actually taste like beans and dish is all around fantastic.
(4)Tamara L.
I loved this place. After a week of traveling this is the best meal I've had. They were friendly and amiable to all my special requests. Our party of 8 was well received and our food came quick and hot. Big servings, my teenage boys weren't able to finish their meals. Their review was "YES!!" This place would be a regular stop for us if it were in our town.
(5)Kerry H.
We are visiting Cortez for a week. We explored the restaurant.com site and found this gem! We stopped in for a late dinner on our first night in town. Dinner was great. The boys got the Chicken Fried Steak. While it needed salt, it was tender and tasty! My daughter got the French Dip. The dip and the meat were yummy but the bread was not a good flavor. I ordered the French Chicken and it was AMAZING! I plan to copy it when I get home! We have a few more days in town and hope to make it in for the Tuesday special: Navajo Tacos!
(4)David P.
We"te on our wsy to Durango and eere looking for someplace to eat. Good americsn food and good service. My wife had the pasta primavera. Homemade sauce and good ingredients. Yum
(4)Jennifer S.
Great Service! Jack and Janelle are wonderful people who serve a delicious breakfast where the coffee flows as easily as the conversation.
(5)L K.
This place was so-so. It takes a looooooooooong time to get served, so if you're in a rush to hit the road, you may want to consider another option. The food was good, definitely had some grease to it, which after camping was a good thing. The service went from completely utilitarian/efficient (ie no small talk, lets get to the point) to friendly towards the end. Overall- 3.5 stars for food, 3 stars for service.
(3)Adrienne G.
One of the locals recommended Jack and Janelle's & we ended up eating here twice 1st visit was brunch - Eggs, Hash Browns, & Griddle Cakes for my travel buddy - hash browns were of the shredded potato variety (which is not my taste) but buddy said she liked them just fine I stuck w/ a big ole stack of Griddle Cakes - they were so appropriately named & delightfully met my every expectation of what a yummy griddle cake should be. See....pancakes are fluffy & cakey where griddle cakes are light & fluffy but they also have this undertone of cooking oil that's part of the batter, that makes them different from a pancake.....it's a very small distinction but a distinction nonetheless ( ...AND being a true Southern Belle & growing up w/ this distinction makes me an expert here ) 2nd visit was for a late lunch - props for even being open on July 4th. Most eateries in Cortez were closed Buddy chose the Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes, peas & carrots.....she said it was decent but pretty bland. I chose the Grilled Cheese w/ French Fries. That grilled cheese was fried dry & this warrants huge bonus points in my book b/c I prefer a dry-grill!! Lots of melty, string-pulling cheese & the bread was grilled so it was crunchy yet still soft on the inside Fries were shoestring & perfectly crunchy / soft as well.....big score for me So overall, have to say w/ the SUPER nice waitstaff & yummy diner fare, yup, we're fans!
(4)Stan P.
Old school roadside dinner with old school wait staff and charm. Well worth the stop for breakfast.
(4)Ann V.
Their chicken fried steak dish should not have been advertised as their signature dish because it was definitely flavorless and looked very unappetizing. Staff was very friendly but that's about it. Maybe i'll have to try their breakfast or something. We'll see. Sidenote - they had a customer come in who smelled like she hasn't showered in a month - I'm not sure what their restaurant policy is regarding this but it def made my stomach turn.
(1)Garen M.
A decent small town diner. Locally owned, the owner was even one of the waiters. Food is staple diner fare. I had catfish, my lady had a chicken breast salad. Both were good.
(3)Brett J.
Adequate service, sub-par food. Don't get the "chicken colorado." it is a tasteless mess of bland chicken and boiled vegetables. Keep driving.
(1)Brett J.
I wish I could give this restaurant no stars. Adequate service, sub-par food. Don't get the "chicken colorado." it is a tasteless mess of bland chicken and boiled vegetables. The wait staff were disinterested, at best, and didn't notice or care that nobody at our table actually ate the food. Maybe they were having a bad day. I don't know. Keep driving.
(1)Claire P.
In search of a difficult to find Navajo Taco in Navajo Country we Yelped and found Jim and Janelle's. Fortunately it was their Tuesday special. My husband's craving was satisfied and exceeded expectations - a generous portion of filling and fixings atop golden brown homemade fry bread. He somehow forced himself to finish the entire serving. I had a delicious tuna sandwich on whole grain bread. Lots of tuna and sliced tomato on the freshest bread. Delicious! We ended our meal sharing the Chocolate Cream Pie - also homemade and perfect!. Jim is a great chef and a charming host. Cozy casual coffee-shop type atmosphere with lots of local patrons and local atmosphere. My Cortez pick - can't wait to drive through again.
(5)Kyle P.
Craving breakfast for dinner? This is the place! Huge portions and prompt service. Owner stopped by booth several times to ensure we had all we needed. Great pancakes and hash-browns. Very reasonable pricing combined with home style atmosphere. All food cooked to perfection and served hot.
(4)Rondi V.
Stumbled onto this place while staying in Cortez and what a little gem! Great food, family-run and well priced. I would definitely stop again if in the area.
(3)Roy C.
Best chicken fried steak (with eggs and hash browns) I've had in a long time. I couldn't eat it all. Good service and quick prep. They have lots of good choices for breakfast. Best biscuits I've seen, light and tasty. Highly recommend this place. Across from city park.
(5)Elissa N.
I wasn't impressed with my ham, eggs and hashbrowns by my husbands chicken fried steak and eggs was to die for! They served it with two biscuits and gravy on the side. It was the best chicken fried steak my husband has ever had!
(3)