Loved it. Its the kind of place retro style movies are made about telling the simple but heart-warming story of the depressing life of a resilient waitress. Yes its tiny, yes the staff don't offer restaurant quality service but the girl who looked after us was friendly and cheerful. We had a seat outside, its in the middle of town next to a main road and a car park so that again means it will never be a four or five star place. Twice we had beggars trying to panhandle from us while we were eating but one look from my husband and they cleared off quickly. (This seems to be a standard problem anywhere outside in central Sac though). The food is greasy and not at all suitable for a healthy diet but then you would be stupid to go there if that's what you are looking for. Its not quick but then again if you want fast food go to McDonalds. Our food was tasty, hot and the portions are huge. In a nutshell, its a fun experience but it is exactly what its supposed to be, an old-school greasy American diner. Don't go expecting anything other than that and you'll love it too. N.B. No credit cards accepted or restroom available!
(4)
Jill J.
Worth going to for two big reasons: #1 the waitstaff is unbelievably friendly, and I mean genuinely friendly. #2 the building is historic and you just don't see many around anymore. Think about it, when was the last time you walked into a diner with just a row of seats along the lunch counter? The food was good too...just would not be my main reason for going there. When I go back it will be to rub shoulders (literally) with my fellow man/woman and be greeted like I was family.
(3)
Aaron S.
I have been here a few times, but have never ordered their sweet potato fries until last week. I ordered the Old Fashioned Burger with sweet potato fries. The burger was great as usual. It had the right amount of every condiment. The bun wasn't soggy or overly toasted...it was just right and the burger was tasty. The sweet potato fries are worth the trip. When I've ordered sweet potato fries at other venues their either overly sweet or overly salted. These were perfect. I polished-off every fry.
(4)
J. F.
Definitely worth visiting! It is a bit cramped, but they are quick to get your order. The food is wonderful. I will be back again!
(5)
Kaycie L.
My niece and I were craving for breakfast and there was no better place than Jim-Denny's. i tried "The Stack" for the first time and it was delicious! It's layered with gravy, extra krispy hash browns, sausages, over easy eggs and cheese. I had wheat bread on the side. The portion was big enough for the both of us, but my niece ordered number 5. It was her first time there and here's her response as a 10 year old, "This place is soooo cool! It's like the oldies like on t.v... the people here are very nice. Can we come here again?"
(5)
Bernadette R.
This place is horrible! My review is based on their hours of operation. I've tried going there twice, once on a Sunday, and the other on a Monday between their normal business hours of 7 AM to 3 PM. Both of those times I have tried calling before hand to pre-order, but there is no answering machine, so I just went to the location and they were closed both times. I needed to use my Groupon before it expired, but the place isn't even open half the time! They probably want people to go there after the Groupon expires to try and make more money so they're closing shop on purpose. I mean what are the odds of going twice during their hours of operation and having it be closed? They should at least have an answering machine that states if its closed or not. It was a complete waste of time going out there. Just call and make sure someone answers before you waste your time to discover that they are closed.
(1)
Candace Y.
After many years of living in the area and hearing about the burgers here, I finally made it over to have one. (I'll give it a 3.5 in stars) At lunchtime, they seem to do a brisk business. On a hot midday, we walked in and were asked "here or to-go?" "To go". We were told to go outside to the window for to-go orders. We went out to the designated ordering location , ordered a 1/3 lb burger and a burger with a green pepper on it, fries, and strawberry lemonades. There're a couple of shade structures set up that aren't very cool because any heat is trapped underneath the shade area. We found it to be several degrees cooler to stand over near the tree and the grease/biodiesel recycling receptacle. The burgers were large & juicy with good flavor. The fries were of the shoe string variety and were crispy. The lemonade was good, but a trifle on the "too sweet" side. I'd definitely go back, but not on a hot day. I know it's too small inside to have people wait there. However, the waiting area needs a fan or something to make waiting in the heat a bit more comfortable.
(3)
Alexandra P.
A little expensive but service was great. I was in Sacramento with my school and me and my friends were looking for something that wasn't a deli :P The service was wonderful (which is why I gave them an extra star) the lady was suuuper nice and wasn't at all annoyed with my pickiness of no tomatoes, lettuce, pickles...etc The food was delicious. I would come back but if I have extra to spend.
(4)
Ken K.
A real local gem. Lunch menu is nice and it isn't hard to spot or get to know regulars, but breakfast is where its at. As seen on several TV shows both locally and nationally this place may very well have the biggest pancake on the planet. Their small pancake is the size of a dinner plate. Their "Hubcap" pancake is just that, the size of a hubcap. The place is small, in every respect, small counter style dinning area, small kitchen / cooking area. So I like getting there a little early or a little late to avoid the crowd. There has been owner and manager changes in the past couple of years including a management change a few months ago. The new management is really picking it up and bringing this place back to its former glory. If you've not been recently, I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Lien V.
Loves the fluffy pancakes!! Overall the food is amazing! My friend and I are actually heading there for lunch today... cant wait! If you havent been to Jim-Dennys make sure you go real early or kinda late closer to 3pm. It does get busy and crowded because it is really small.
(5)
Tiffany L.
I used to live around the corner...literally....While I was in the early and unknowing stages of preggo eggo, I was wondering why the hell I was so hungry....My favorite thing to get her is a "simple " ham and cheese croissant... huge you almost want to barf it up to eat it again...jkjk...Its not the best place to dine in, but shoot, its got history, and its original...You CAN order to go- and its ready in great time-I love that the person sitting at the end of the 10 seater bar has to answer the take out phone...Most the food is cooked right there in front of you behind the bar- and damn its hot/fresh! I love their early hours as well! this is probably the best greasy spoon in town-
(5)
Christy M.
Grab one of the eight seats inside Jim Denny's and get ready for a damn great burger. The Joey burger, which I love for both its juicy tastiness and its name, is near perfect. The two members of the very exclusive and elusive Burger of the Month (BotM) club agreed - two thumbs up and likely one of the best burgers in Sacramento.
(4)
Angela H.
Had a BLT with fries. It was good but not worth almost $10 not including a drink. One of the waitresses, if you want to call her that, was snotty and I didn't see the cook wash her hands. Won't be coming back. Hope this place goes out of business.
(1)
Nicole J.
We finally made it here-- Tuesday morning right when they opened at 7am for breakfast. I ordered the mini? regular? breakfast--eggs (over med-hard) bacon, crisy hashbrownds and a pancake. Hands down the pancake was the best thing (and I'm more of a waffle girl myself). The rest of the breakfast was "good". I liked the 'homey' feel of it. There seemed to be alot of regulars cuz the two gals behind the counter greeted them by name. We could see the food being made right in front of us on a little grill and the cook made it look easy. she was also cool for listening and answering quetions from us while she was cooking. I'd come back to try lunch. One other note: They change $2 for coffee.
(3)
Bryan J.
Ok, so I've been wanting to go here forever and a day and this morning I went. Good stuff. My brother and I went at 8am and had breakfast. Breakfast is kinda hard to f**k up and really, at a diner, one can't go in with expectations - so, I didn't. Now, I know darn good and well, I wouldn't be in a very good mood if I had to work 8 hours in a space the size of my laundry room and deal with the homeless all day, but, (here I go again...) if there is one thing that get's people to come back, it's making them feel welcome. Not that I didn't feel welcome, just like... NEXT! What do you want? Whatever. Like I said, no expectations. (Even though I tipped 35%) I suppose I wanted something along the line of the TV show from the 70's/80's "Alice"... where the hell is Flo when you need her??? Anyway, I ordered the breakfast burrito ($8.00) as I was starving. Two scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, home-style potatoes, salsa and choice of bacon, sausage or ham all wrapped up in a tortilla. No, I didn't get extra cheese, even though I wanted to. It was just as expected, gi-frigging-normous. Really good for what I paid - (I could only eat half.) But again, it's diner food so, no diatribe about earthiness and balance... My brother had the Breakfast Sandwich ($6.75) Two scrambled eggs with choice of bacon, sausage or ham served on choice of bread - white for him. And, that's exactly what he got. He enjoyed every last bite. Really want to go back and have a burger/chili burger. I'll have to starve myself again for that. I understand they are huge, too. There is room for about ten people in the whole place so, go early or bring your patience. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
(4)
Michelle K.
I mean is a dive diner, so you can't come here expecting it to be something else. I'm ok with that part. Our food was just ok. My husband enjoyed the pancake. I had some and it was tasty. My omelet was, eh. The part that was frustrating was the service. We ordered at the walk up, the gal taking our offer wasn't very bright so it turned into a more painful ordering process than it had to be. We ordered water and coffee, which she said she'd bring out, but after 20 minutes I went and had to ask for our drinks. Then when our food finally came out (probably another 15 minutes later), my order was wrong. When I asked the server about it, she tells me they had run out of what I asked for so that's why I got what was on my plate instead. What? Who does that? Whatever. I mean I ate it, but it was unusual. Normally, you're told when they've run out of something...Right? The food wasn't good enough to justify the wait in my opinion. I'm not saying this place is horrible, I'm just saying I don't plan on going back for breakfast.
(2)
Zizzle D.
I was staying at the Sheraton in downtown SAC and was looking for a good breakfast spot. I stumbled across Jim-Denny's. It's tiny with all counter seating with old swivel stools that are duck tapped together. Dude taking the orders asks for your name to put on the order ticket. He then proceeds to call you by name the rest of your stay, including a nice "Have a nice day Dean". That's just old school customer services. If you like greasy spoon breakfast joints, this is place is your spot. Portions are huge, food is good, service is great. The only complaint I have is that there is a For Sale in front. I hope somebody buys it and keeps it the exact same.
(5)
Don F.
I need to set the stage for this experience. So we were staying in Sacramento for a competition my wife was involved with. She is a bikini competitor and has a very strict diet for months at a time. She gets very few opportunities to have a cheat meal so when she does it has to be GOOD! Her competition was Saturday night, and Sunday am we decided to go get pancakes. We asked our friendly staff at the hotel we were staying at ( Sheridan Grand 12th and J street ) where is the best place to have pancakes. They all immediately said Jim Denny's. So we started our walk for about 3 blocks. We came upon this very very small little burger joint that looks like a complete dive, no disrespect intended. only about 12 to 15 chairs butted up to 2 bars. One facing the cooking area and one the opposite. We proceeded to order our breakfast. my wife ordered the hubcap i believe. When the breakfast came out much to our surprise the pancake was the size of a hubcap, clearing up the thought process on the name. My wife was elated. Long story shorter, we ate our breakfast and was blown away. It was fantastic. I love the staff. I talked to the customer sitting on my lap, ( next to me lol ) and had a great time. This is not just a great place to eat but a must experience. Next time I'm in Sacramento, this is where i will be. Dieters don't bother, this is for foodies.
(5)
Jay S.
The menu looks expanded since our first visit about 5 years ago...but I've dreamed of Jim-Denny since that visit...often. Add a star if you're into old diners or eateries. It's not as good as it was before...the burgers were so killer and retro ($7-10). When I say retro - I mean the fat content was really high & gave the burgers crazy flavour. When I say killer - they were enormous. The shakes were Jim Gaffigan- style, simply delightful "melted ice cream" in a huge cup. Those things changed by our last visit. Now it's not quite as decadent. But we're talking about going from epic to very good burger here. I don't really care about the other stuff....I don't take cues from food tv about these types of places. SUPER RESPECT to Jim-Denny's for keeping the interior & exterior so intact from...what looks like the 1930's-early 1940's. The wooden interior still has an old phone & architectural details in place. That alone makes it a must stop for those who worship mid-century eateries.
(3)
Kym W.
Fun experience for my kids and I. I ordered one Big Breakfast for the kids to share and a bowl of oatmeal for myself since I am in a diet. We placed our order inside and went outside to sit at one of the two outside tables to wait for our food. We waited and waited and waited waited for what seemed like eternity. After about 30 mins they finally brought our food. It was a standard American breakfast with one huge pancake the size of the entire plate, 2 sausage links, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 eggs and hash browns. The kids were tickled to see such a big pancake and quickly went in on it. They enjoyed the sausage and the eggs, my son didn't care for the bacon because he said it had too much fat on it. The oatmeal was thick and hearty, I believe it was steel cut and it had some hidden taste in it, not sure exactly what, maybe a hint of cranberry or orange or something. Can't figure out exactly what it was, BUT, I didn't like it. Being that I am on a diet, I ate it anyway so that I would not be tempted to eat any of the kids food. Just before we left the owner Lee or Mom (as she told me she is referred to) came outside to sit at the other table outside and started talking to us. We sat and talked about life and raising kids and food for about 20 mins, very nice lady! Overall it was a fun experience, the kids enjoyed it and we can now say that we have been to jim- Denny's!
(3)
Geraldine J.
There weren't many places open within walking distance near our hotel, so we decided to come here. It's a very small diner, with great service. Probably best to come early to snag a more comfortable seat. From the reviews, we had to try the pancakes which were amazing. I got a breakfast burrito which was super yummy, but a bit disappointed in the salsa because it was from a bottle. Definitely worth trying.
(4)
Neil Z.
Visited from out of town. This is just what I wanted. The place is like out of a movie. real narrow and long bar with pretty much nowhere else to eat. Nothing commercial or tourist about this place. They make this pancake which you know by now is called the hubcap. I saw one being eaten. People were taking pictures of it. I am a little guy so needles to say, I was certain to make sure I did not get that. I found and ordered a Short Stack which was described as 2 Mini Pancakes. I literally just pasted the description from the website. It was clearly supposed to be small pancakes. I also got bacon. The bacon was good, the syrup was good, and the pancakes were pretty good. However, the cook plopped down not one, but two "hubcaps". I only got charged for the mini but I mean, come on. I had two throw out at least 2 pounds of food.
(4)
Emily Z.
Pros: Best pancakesss Friendly servers Cute seating Pretty good eggs and hash browns. The bacon is rly nice too Cons: Everything is huge af
(4)
Jeeno M.
I saw Jim-Denny's on the food network and was excited to see a local restaurant on television so I had to come here. I didn't realize how small the place is until I walked in. The diner seats maybe a good 15 people. I came here with my girlfriend during brunch hours and was lucky to be able to sit down. The service was slow and did not pay any attention to us. After a while of waiting, I realized that people that came in after us were receiving their food before us. I didn't think that was right. Maybe because they were regulars or because they had the opportunity to sit at the bar right in front of the kitchen might have been the reason, but we are still paying customers and would like to be treated equally. What I ordered was the combo platter. This was hash browns, toast, two over easy eggs, and sausages. Everything that I ordered was so poorly cooked. I felt like the ingredients were literally frozen minutes ago and bought from the local savemart store. If I wanted to make a breakfast that should have costed me $5 and under each, I would have done the shopping and cooking myself at home. The eggs were greasy, the toast was burnt, the sausages were barely warm, and the hash browns weren't salted and tasted like they were not fresh. Now after being dissatisfied with consuming my whole meal, I look over and my girlfriend is barely receiving her french toast meal. Her meal was also poorly made; as if they were in a hurry to close down and scraped the last of the bread into the 7 hour old egg batter which would be made into "french toast". The french toast was soggy due to too much oil and its presentation was sickly. Again, I could have easily made better french toast with a better presentation. It might have been that I came to Jim Denny's and ordered the wrong thing. Maybe I should have ordered the pancakes. The pancakes had reviews saying that they were fluffy and delicious from both yelp and the food network. If I ever decide to give Jim Denny's a second chance, the hubcap is probably what I will go for, but until then, I am very dissatisfied with my first experience there.
(2)
Alyssa Mae C.
We ordered a couple of superburgers to-go. They tasted comparable to other local burger joints. I can appreciate the history behind this spot, but I'll have to pass from now on.
(3)
Britt V.
My boyfriend '& I decided to try something new for lunch today. So he picked Jim Denny's. This restaurant is very small. Luckily there was only one family to be served ahead of us. I went with the veggie burger '& fries ..my boyfriend had a regular burger with chilli cheese fries. I wasn't expecting the food to be as delicious as it was. The portion was just right for my size. The taste was amazing. We will most definitely be returning !
(5)
Anthony K.
Well sadly I'm disappointed in the hype. I ordered The Works omelet and it was underwhelming, unseasoned, and super greasy. I understand grease is amazing, but not when it covers the entire omelet and all the inside filling. I feel like I need a coronary. The hash browns were mushy also, I've had better at a Dennys (The chain restaurants). Well sadly, I won't be coming here again.
(1)
Kim S.
Saw the giant pancake on Man Vs. Food and needed to make this a stop on our vacation to Sacramento! We were not disappointed! The food was yummy and the staff were very friendly!
(5)
Ben H L.
It's kind of odd that Jim-Denny's gets some decent exposure through various cooking shows and it still has just a middle of the road review average. In essence, a lot of people expect way more than they should from what is essentially a greasy spoon diner. Do they do gluten free or egg substitute omelettes? I'm not exactly sure but I wouldn't count on it. The flat top that they use is small so the cook usually is preparing one ticket at a time. He or she is usually on their own too as I saw that deep fried stuff like fries or mixed ice cream shakes happened in another room. Is the coffee high quality or even at a Starbucks like standard? Having ordered some, I can definitely say no. But, again, I wasn't expecting it to be. I wanted greasy spoon food and they absolutely delivered. Out of the two things I tried, the breakfast burrito and a build your own omelette, I have to say that I liked the omelette best. When combined with the hash browns and toast, it really is a great meal. Mixing/matching bread, hash browns, and omelette was amusing! The breakfast burrito was huge and tasted great still melting hot cheese from the grill but the omelette was still my favorite. Now that I've been here, would I go back? Probably not likely as even waiting for a to-go order here is a bit of a challenge considering the lack of seating/standing room in here. I think any diner that I find will seem super spacious compared to Jim-Denny's but as always, the food always will determine all.
(3)
Scott S.
I can see why Jim Dennys has been around since 1934... I'm sitting next to the biggest pancake I've even seen. It has to be 20 inches across and is known as the hub cap. You can get the hubcap with spokes if you dare.. the spokes are 8 finely cooked peices of bacon!!! This is a great place to go if your hungry but a bad place if your on a diet... Enjoy...
(4)
Tuekeha H.
Waited for food here for an hour and fifteen minutes. The excitement around the food was gone and when I did get my food it was sub par from what I expected. There aren't more than 15 people in this place at any given time. Pancakes, eggs and hashbrowns should never take that long to make.
(1)
Tracie C.
This is what a diner should be like. Friendly staff and old-school atmosphere make this a great find. Been here since 1934! Says a lot to be here that long. Simple, straight forward menu with everything cooked fresh. Good coffee too. Had the "Big Breakfast" and it was an excellent choice. Mostly the authentic atmosphere makes this place great and I will definitely be back.
(4)
M A.
OK, I came here because the Man V Food show. It was great for what it was and what it claims to be. I ordered the big breakfast because I had to have one of their pancakes. It came with a "mini" pancake that covered the entire plate and was thick! I finished my whole breakfast because I'm no quitter! I was full for the rest of the day! While I was there I saw them make several different burger options and the pastrami burger made me want to stop eating my breakfast and order a burger! It looked and smelled awesome! So, bottom line, this is a great diner spot, it is very small, does not have a restroom, but has an awesome feel to it. I look at it as a novelty as I don't live downtown. I would eat here again if I am in the area as the food was great! But, I am not here often.
(4)
Leslie B.
Unimpressed. Not my style. The seating is horrible here. It's uncomfortable, there's no restrooms and the food tastes like typical frozen diner food. There really isn't service either. You have to shout over the people sitting at the counter to order, nobody coming around to give refills and the prices are a bit expensive for the poor quality food. I get some people might find this place charming; however, I found it uncomfortable, over priced and the food is meh.
(2)
Ashley H.
Super hot to eat here...temperature wise, but the food is great!!!! Waiting is not great though, they have very few places to sit.
(4)
Samantha T.
AMAZING FOOD! Small but really cool vibe. I had a wonderful breakfast and a shake and let me tell you best breakfast I've had in a long time. This is a Sacto staple and after enjoying the food I know why!!!
(5)
Rancher R.
Classic cafe. Opened in 1934 and it feels like they haven't changed a thing. Oh, you can get custom omelette switch healthy things and the simple stuff too.
(4)
Jeff L.
The service wasn't as bad as i read on the reviews but their food handling is definitely lazy. I love the divey feel but I couldn't ignore the frozen patty taste and dryness in the inside and super-greasy on the outside. I ordered a double patty super burger. The fries were a bit on the greasy side too. Based on their food handling I only had half the shake. I ate $18 of food and I don't mean literally. It's a lot cheaper, cleaner, fresher and faster at in and out. So when I pay $18 I expect my food to at least taste better than in and out. I gave them a star for the banana they put in my bag since its the only thing I didn't toss.
(1)
Elvia A.
Food was great, the place is adorable and the employees are very friendly and helpful! Wish they were closer to home. Very happy customer.
(5)
Nicol M.
Food was fast and hot, great eggs. We had the big breakfast and the works. They were both great. The works had very light and soft eggs, and nice combo of flavors too. Service was very open and friendly. Tight fit cause location is small but worth the wait. Best omelet I've ever had.
(5)
Phil P.
Best breakfast in town!! I Highly recommend this place if you're in the area and the prices are perfect. Totally worth it.
(5)
Rion R.
Jim-Dennys is a solid local small tight knit breakfast and burger joint. I went in for breakfast and the area where food is cooked and where the bar is has no more than 15 seats. Great for someone traveling alone. I spent $11 before tip on the big breakfast and it was like being at home. Nothing out of this world but good food at a fair price. If you are big and tall you are going to have a difficult time at the bar. All in all a great small local place to get a solid meal.
(4)
Rikki T.
Went here over the weekend with my family, and while the food was good I'm sad to say the experience as a whole was underwhelming. The staff: I get its a diner but we're still paying customer. No greeting at the door. Took over ten minutes to even get water and coffee. When we finally ordered, my boyfriend asked to leave out mushrooms from his omelette and the cook said, "I hate when people change things!" Calm down Emerill you make friggin pancakes and omelettes. The setting: This joint is not family friendly. One high chair, and no indoor seating that makes using the high chair easy to eat with your child. We sat on elevated bar seating while our child sat behind us without a place to eat his meal. This place is also located just on the cusp of where downtown gets really crappy. A scabby bum walked in, no one even batted an eye. It was gross, not what I wanted while eating. The food: Best pancake I've ever had. Omelette was great too, especially without the mushrooms! My coffee was so watered down I could almost see through it. So Man vs. Food had it right, the food is bomb but I doubt I'll go back because the rest of my experience was less than good.
(3)
Anne W.
I really wanted to like this place but I've been twice. Once for breakfast and once for a burger. It was unimpressive and plain.
(2)
Glenda M.
Saw this on "man vs food", great family restaurant. No public restrooms, so go before or wait until after. Great customer service and the food was amazing!!! The pic is of a "small" breakfast!!
(5)
Jesse P.
Just had breakfast at this most awesome place. The pancakes we large and definitely in charge, the hash browns were so good, and the atmosphere was tight! You must make this a place to visit if you ever come through to Sacramento.
(5)
Erik U.
A sign on their wall reads "Enter as strangers leave as friends." and that's exactly how I'd describe our recent breakfast at Jim-Dennys. When you walk in for the first time, it's hard to know what to expect. This is a small place - like really small - with only a few stools at the counter and along the opposing wall. I'd imagine it can get pretty crowded at peak breakfast times, but thankfully we found there was plenty of room on our recent Saturday morning visit. A few moments after we walked in the door, the ladies behind the counter welcomed us and our 2 1/2 year old son and chatted with him about Jake and the Neverland Pirates - after noticing the shirt he was wearing with characters from the show. From our stools opposite the counter, we shouted our orders: The small breakfast (pancake, egg, bacon/sausage), a breakfast burrito for my wife and the kids breakfast (pancake, bacon/sausage, milk). In such close quarters, you can't help but strike up a conversation with the other diners. We were lucky enough to meet some great people who kept us all entertained while we all waited for our food. As expected, the pancakes are huge and it's worth mentioning a "small" breakfast was plenty big enough to satisfy a decent appetite. The food was great, but it's really the people at Jim-Denny's that make the experience so memorable. Feeling stuffed and happy, we walked out the door to begin our day, We said goodbye to our new friends and they handed our son some candy for the road.
(5)
Jen L.
If you're a pancake fan and enjoy a home town diner atmosphere this is the place for you! I saw the Yelp reviews about their "Hubcap Pancake" and had to check it out. As other reviews have reported, the diner is a small establishment with about 10 stools at the diner bar, and some low seatng across the back wall with the same amount of stools. If you're not comfortable sitting next to a stranger or making friends with the locals, go somewhere else. I grew up going out to breakfast at places like this with my dad, so I love this kind of atmosphere. Not feeling up to the challenge of the famous Hubcap Pancake I opted for the "Small Breakfast" which included one of their "mini" pancakes. If you were Paul Bunyan you might see this as a mini pancake, but for the rest of us mere mortals this was a big awesome pancake! I quickly made friends with the woman doing the cooking and taking the orders. She asks for your name for the order and uses your first name like you live down the block. I told her I'd see her next time and fully intend to make it here for breakfast the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Angie M.
Ummmmm malts! Had a chilli cheese burger and it was super good. I can't do spicy but they were nice enough to give me a sample of the chilli beforehand . Not a fan of the steak fries but that's more a personal preference. Very little seating so be prepared to eat and don't bring a huge group.
(4)
Victoria H.
I wish i had listened to my husband when he said this place is not the same since it went under new ownership. I spent 47.00 on burgers i could have made at home and got same results for way less. Their burgers litterly reminds me of the burgers you would get for lunch in grade school. All quality left when orignal owner sold. And not to mention i was charged for added avacado and they didnt pay any attention to their ticket and i go home to find the avacado not there, cheap burger at expensive price. And husband said the sake had a chemically taste. This is sad when we would of had better quality at mcdonalds and saved money. Never again!
(1)
Andrea A.
Great food! It is a bit tight space but the food and service make up for it. Also if you sit by the phone you must answer it:)
(5)
Joshua B.
Love this little 10 seat diner it's such a neat historical place went for breakfast they cook it right in front of you and have been there since the 30s and still has all the personality of that time. The pancakes are delicious definitely going there for one of the legendary burgers
(5)
lisa k.
The service is good, but this is not a relaxing eat in for family especially when it's busy. The food is a below mediocre. Coffee was really watered. This place is plainly overrated.
(2)
Kimberli T.
Super friendly and cozy place to eat. The food was good and well prepared. They definitely make you feel like part of the family. We will definitely be returning!
(5)
Stephany M.
The food was amazing. Comfort food. They made special dishes for my gluten free kids.
(5)
Linz E.
The clerk at our hotel recommended this place to us so we thought we'd mosey on over. It's really a hole-in-the-wall, which is never necessarily a bad thing, but the small size of it was. It can seat only a few inside, and has a smattering of tables outside. We had to lurk over a dining family and wait for them to leave so we could get a table, which is rude, but even the staff told us it was the only way to insure a seat. The food was alright. The portions were large, particularly the pancakes. A mini-pancake here is much larger than your standard diner pancake. But it wasn't anything exceptional, and I'd say overall it wasn't worth the wait or the hassle. The service left something to be desired, but the place was hopping. I should clarify: the waitstaff was nice, just inattentive. I am not a coffee drinker, but the other three in my group were, and I'll just say they weren't upset that they didn't get refills.
(2)
Joanna W.
Awful service. We were waiting for at least an hour and all the staff was ignoring us. There were lots of people who came in after us and got served before us. We asked where our food was and they looked baffled. We got our food right after we asked. Shocker! I always leave a tip but this place did not even deserve a tip, let alone our business ever again.
(1)
Michelle H.
This place is wild! It's teeny tiny. Don't blink or you'll miss it. When the map says it's on the corner of 12th and I, you almost have to stop to see it - unless, of course, it's being swarmed at breakfast or lunchtime. It's appears quite unassuming, but it's a GEM! Yummy comfort food, made to order, right in front of you. If you can manage to go when the crowds die down, you'll get some honest-to-goodness we've-been-friends-forever treatment. I know I'm dating myself (no one else will - just a little joking), but it's a lot like the feel of Cheers, the old TV show. I'll be going back. Just not too often, as I'm trying not to get chubby.
(5)
Chris K.
If I manage to drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn, this is the go to place for the best breakfast around and quick, delightfully sarcastic service. Seating is LIMITED, as in 10 small bar seats and 6 small back wall stools. Get here EARLY or eat outside and like it. They don't bring it outside, you have to order and wait by the door then take it out and bring it back. I always get an omelet or breakfast burrito, or if I'm really hungry I get the works, which is like the cook tripped holding a tray of all the ingredients, and they landed on the griddle, then she decided to cook it all in one massive pile. They don't ask and it's not on the menu, but you can sub a massive pancake for the choice of toast. Those who are culinary masochists can order the hubcap, a massive pancake that even two people could not consume in a sitting, I've never ordered it, but I've seen it made, good lord. It is actual hubcap size, puts an extra large pizza to shame. Honestly, go here for breakfast, you will be full.
(5)
Chris K.
We shared the hubcap. It was huge and fantastic. Got in early Sunday and enjoyed watching the food get cooked. Best part was watching the massive pancake cook and then the flip. This is definitely my new favorite breakfast stop now. Can't wait to try the burgers and such. The only negative is the place is small but if you get there at the right time you will be happy. The service was excellent and everyone was nice and helpful.
(5)
Mei W.
Came here on a weekend to try out their breakfast with my husband. I ordered their massive 17 inch pancake while my hubby ordered the traditional breakfast platter which consists of eggs, hash brown and ham. Pancake was okay; nothing spectacular other than the size. Hubby's breakfast tasted bland with no flavoring what so ever. Considering this place is super tiny (size of a trailer), it's bar-style seating where you can also see your food being cooked right in front of you. I was pretty grossed out when I saw the cook not washing her hands before digging into a plastic ice cream tub (I guess they stored the uncooked hash brown potatoes) and sprinkled the shredded potatoes onto the pan grill. Also, in between witnessing her writing down orders from patrons and clearing dishes off the counter - she walks back over to the grill and uses her bare hands to help move the pancake off the grill and onto my plate! Yek! Don't they have regulations on handling food in accordance to the health department?! She should have at least wore plastic gloves instead of handling food with her bare hands! Well, thank goodness I didn't get sick from eating at this place. Wouldn't risk another chance eating here again.
(1)
Patti R.
VERY POOR SERVICE. 50+ minute wait for food after being told 20, and we were charged ahead of time so we couldn't just walk out. Talk about being held captive! Others who came in after us were served including a family from out of town who ordered a boatload of food after us. Plus we were sitting outside in 100 degree heat. Not good at all. I know a place cant be great all of the time, but this was ridiculous
(1)
Helen H.
Limited parking and limited seating, but luckily my friend and I got here at a good time for breakfast. The only reason I wanted to come here was because it was featured on Man v. Food. I wouldn't want to order a "Hubcap" because the pancake spills over onto the counter, and I'm not sure how clean it is. I ordered "The Works" (3 egg omelet with cheese, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, green chilies, tomatoes, spinach, sausage, and bacon), which was also featured on the show. It came with a side of hash browns. It's big enough to share. The thing that makes it special is its size, but overall it was ok. On another note, when the woman was making my omelet, I saw her pick a piece of eggshell out with her bare hands. I don't know how I feel about that...
(3)
Dan N.
Wonderful greasy spoon diner with a very vintage feel.. loved sitting at the old counter. Burgers are very good (much better than Squeeze Inn or Burgers & Brew)- I loved the patty melt. And the breakfasts! Whoa. So many choices in all different sizes. Great service too. This place is unique and definitely deserves a visit!
(4)
Jodi B.
Absolutely the best pancakes we've ever had! And the staff are awesome and so friendly! We will definitely be back in our next trip to Sacramento
(5)
Yvette G.
I like the limited space. It forces you to interact with the other customers. Staff is very nice. I read other yelp comments that complained that the workers used bare hands when handling food. The woman who made my breakfast used gloves. I ordered Katie's "Just Right" Breakfast. Potatoes, eggs, and sausage was good, but nothing to brag about. The mini pancake was nice and fluffy. I'm not a big pancake person, but the pancake was my favorite part of the breakfast.
(3)
Sharon Y.
Great little place!! My family all liked the food. Really small inside but so homey!!! Loved it!
(4)
Nikki R.
Really good food and service. The place is really small though and it got hot in there but other than that, really good!
(4)
Kayla S.
This is a very small hole in the wall food joint but it's the best breakfast I've ever had. The portions are amazing and the hub cap, which is a pancake the size of a hub cap, is hugeeeeee and delicious! I recommend everyone to go early to get seats.
(5)
Mitch R.
This breakfast looked good on yelp and yes the pancake was more impressive in person, as I soon found out looks can be deceiving. It was about an 4 on a 1-10 scale with 10 being the best. The thing that bothered me was if you want clean water or water cup, order bottled or ask to wash the cup yourself before hand. The cup had more grease in it that the sausage did. Don't let me forget to mention the utensils, nasty also plus the counter was dirty as the floor. With all that's said service was great but in this case the place was so filthy that great service couldn't carry it. So this is my first grade F for a yelp review.
(1)
A W.
The service and food has went downhill ever since the previous owner who left.. (who were great by the way) the foods crappy now along with the service. ...ever since the badly cook food and service I got ive just stop going there all together and just taken my business else where!!
(1)
Max P.
Cheap. Solid. That's about it.
(3)
Corin I.
Classic burger joint! I love the old timey feel and the tiny location. Definitely a must try
(3)
Cindi R.
I've been coming here every week for years! The staff are wonderful and make every effort to get to know you. The food is fabulous and cooked right in front of you. My favorite breakfast is biscuits and gravy with eggs and bacon. You never leave hungry and the menu has lots of good choices. The pancakes are also out of this world and the hubcap is a work of art!
(5)
Elizabeth G.
We may very well be back. The food was incredible, the staff phenomenal, & the details made for an awesome experience. Every little detail made for a memorable lunch. The staff was amazingly attentive - from bread service to refilling water, describing the menu, drink suggestions, the staff works as an amazing team and nothing is left unattended. Bravo!
(5)
Robert C.
We were looking for a good breakfast place near the hotel and this place popped up. Initial impression was a bit lackluster. It was a hot summer day in the 100s and as we approached the small restaurant was already packed. They offered us a chair outside which we weren't to excited for but took as we were hungry now and to lazy to walk anywhere else at that point. Their customer service was a good effort which I have to give props for. It's a mom and pop feel that has a grill with love. It's not a healthy bar for smoothies or any of that. That being said one of our friends has strict dietary needs and they really tried hard to meet our needs specifically for that. As for food quality I'll give it thumbs up but it didn't blow me away. We didn't get the hubcap but we still got a good helping of stuff. Eggs were eggs and hash browns were hash browns. Pancakes were pretty good though. Seems made from scratch vs some company instabatter. No surprises or delights. Overall ild say go but get a seat inside if possible and include the pancakes in your meal somehow.
(3)
Julie H.
Total dive burger joint that sells pancakes Burger was good, fries weren't. Had cheeseburger and fries, fries were plain and soft. I think 10 seats inside and a few tables outside in the parking-lot
(4)
Tomas X.
Enjoyed a nice breakfast at the outside seating area at this very cool retro diner. While the 10 stool counter looked fun and interesting, it is such a beautiful morning, outside was our choice. Really good bacon, eggs and hash browns grilled just the way we prefer. Unique and funky 1930's kinda place.
(4)
Norma A.
Yes, this place is still the small hole in the wall cranking out some deliciously huge portions of food.. This is our first time back since the original owners old the place and let me say it is even better. You have an all gal crew running the show and friendly conversations are had while you wait. I really enjoy the tight quarters but be warned this place does have a wait. Well worth it. I enjoyed the omelet with everything! I loved it plus could visit this place without getting the famous "Hub Cap" (minus the spokes). It does spark conversations and I don't mind. I took the leftovers because yes there will be leftovers. I would suggest getting here early and don't forget to bring a bunch of quarters since parking is limited and street parking is metered parking.
(4)
David S.
I'd been wanting to go to this place for a long time after seeing the pancake on Man vs. Food. Finally had an opportunity & I was not disappointed. The place is SMALL! Not allot of seats or elbow room, & the grill is small too, so expect a wait if there's a full counter when you arrive. Fortunately I was not in a hurry & I was warned my food would take @ 20 minutes. Had an excellent breakfast including 1 "mini" pancake that hung off the sides of my plate. Can't wait till I have a chance to tackle a "hubcap", the single largest pancake you're ever likely to see. Think Uncle Buck for those of you that remember that movie.
(4)
Eric K.
This review is based mainly on the unique experience where you won't be able to get anywhere else in Sacramento. Had the Jim Denny's giant omelet and the hubcap pancake. I would just pay to watch the ladies make the giant pancake. The food tastes great and its nothing spectacular but its really about the specialty plates here. There are definitely many options out there in terms of good breakfast joints but where else can you get a pancake the size of a tire and an omelet that perfectly represents the letters U-S-A.
(4)
Emmalouise B.
** As seen on Man V Food ** Come: For the huge ass Pancakes Stay: For the friendly staff and locals Leave: Completely stuffed! During our visit to the area my husband and I were staying at the local Sheraton and unimpressed with their Breakfast offerings I cracked out the trusty Yelp app to find somewhere to fill our belly's. A quick search for 'breakfast' brings this spot up first on the list showing that it was about a quarter of a mile away. Having a quick glance at the menu it looked like the sort of thing we were after so I made note of it as a possible spot... That was until I noticed that it was on Man V Food and they have a giant Pancake amongst it's offerings called ''The Hubcap'', sounds good right? The place is pretty small - inside has seating for 16 people plus one highchair ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… & yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ) with 5 additional tables outside. It's all open too ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ) so you can see the grill and watch your food being cooked which is a big plus for me. I hate not seeing what's going on with my food. Naturally my husband and I ordered The Hubcap with Spokes ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ) to share. Just to see if we could actually eat it all. As the grill is pretty small the food does take time, we waited about 45 minutes as the Pancakes are so big they can only fit one of the grill at a time. As for the food, the pictures really do not show just how big The Hubcap is! On the TV show they said it was 13 inches but comparing it to the size of the plate and cutlery I would say it's actually closer to 15, maybe even 16. That's a whole lot of Pancake! Despite the size it was cooked nicely, the side my husband was eating from was about half an inch thicker than the side I was but it was cooked properly all the way through, Kudos to the cook for that. The Bacon was really good too and not being much of a fan of 'American Bacon' (more fat than meat) I was really pleased to see it was thick cut with very little fat and was nice and crisply cooked. Although we were pretty damn hungry we didn't manage to eat it all despite our desperate attempts (see remnants: yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ). I couldn't possibly see one person eating all of this and not feeling very sick afterwards as it can easily feed a family of 4. Drinks are a little pricey though as one small OJ was about $3:50 but you can't really complain when you're paying $12:50 for a ginormous breakfast. They have to make money somewhere after all. Side note - Since the Man V Food on which Jim-Denny's was featured On 29th Sept 2010 the diner went up for sale (on 18th oct 2010) and has therefore changed hands but they have still kept the same menu and serving what they became famous for. Well worth a visit if you're staying in the area, even if it's just to see the true size of the Pancakes in person. Just bring your appetite!
(4)
L L.
It's alright for breakfast. Hubs ordered the big breakfast while I nibbled on a few bites. It's a small breakfast joint with no parking. One must park on the street, which is metered. Pancakes were a bit burnt. Overall, it works for a quick breakfast bite.
(3)
Victor M. R.
The food was fabulous and the service was even better. A place to keep coming back to.
(5)
Mike H.
I felt like I went back in time or transported to New York or Boston or something when I walked into this place. You can tell it has been here for a loooooong time!! Not so much in a bad way though... just a lot of history! We went to the Oktoberfest party on Friday night and found ourselves in desperate need of a breakfast burrito in the morning..... Yelp came through and found this gem for us!! YUM! They make everything in front of you..... even the potatoes in the burrito are freshly, cracks the eggs and cooks the bacon... all from scratch!! Wrapped it all up in a yummy tortilla and I walked it home! Happy we found this place... It says it has famous burgers so I am excited to go back and try it out again but if the burger is anything like the burrito I am sure it will satisfy! :)
(4)
Jamie O.
Absolutely loved Jim Denny's!! We didn't have their famous Pancakes but the elected was really good and the portions were way more than I could eat. Most of all, the staff was friendly. Friendly enough for us to go back the second day before we left Sacramento.
(4)
Robert F.
Great little old, charming greasy spoon breakfast Beware, the "mini" pancake is the size of a dinner plate.
(4)
Jenneil P.
We intended to check out Jim-Denny's famous breakfast, but arrived too late. Their online information regarding breakfast hours are conflicting and appear to change often. They have 2 websites and I am not sure which one is the official or current one. ( jimdennys.net and jim-dennys.com ). Currently, the .net site states breakfast is served until 1pm, but the other one which I referenced prior to heading over there doesn't list breakfast hours at all. The first thing i noticed was the smell of the grill as we walked inside. It makes you drool. I ordered the Patty Melt and it was pure cheesy goodness. I will definitely be going back to try their breakfast. My friend ordered the Tj's California Dreamin' Sandwich and was not impressed, however. Also, be advised that parking in the rear is reserved for employees only. An employee putting away the outdoor furniture watched us park and go inside, but never advised us not to park there even after asking him if they were still open. About a half hour later when our food arrived, the kitchen staff told us we had to move our car. It might help if their signage was a bit more clear. Currently, the only parking signs are on the building and lead me to believe that you cannot park in those areas only.
(4)
Brittany F.
I am a breakfast person and this place blew me away. Yes it is small space wise but the omelet the size of an elephants foot made up for that! Thank goodness we shared one!! I will definitely be back!
(4)
John D.
Went there with 5 buddies and ordered breakfast burritos. 1 hr. later we walked out totally disappointed. Every 15 minutes the guy behind the counter said "5 min". Had high expectations of great food but this was horrible. Couldn't post without leaving a star. I would've gave a 1/2 star.
(1)
Philip V.
MAN V.S. FOOD! Ever since I've watched that entertaining show on the Travel Channel, I've wanted to try one of their challenges. Jim-Denny's was featured on an episode and since I was in the area, I happily obliged... ----The Food---- Hubcap Pancake w/ Spokes ($12.50)- The name of these pancakes entail the size of it. They're ginormous. These griddle cakes are the size of a hubcap and comically, the eggs, bacon, and sausages are placed in a way to resemble the spokes. With such quantity, I was expecting the quality to be sacrificed, but it was a suprisingly soft and fluffy pancake. Love how they have crispy edges too. I enjoyed it!...at least a third of it...hahaha. MAN VS FOOD FAIL. Since these things are so huge, they get a little soggy once it sits there for a while. When that happens, it becomes unappealing to eat. This meal comes with one pancake, 6 sausages, 6 strips of bacon, and 1 egg. ------ Verdict: 3.5 Stars. Everything served here is titanic sized. Based on the pancake alone, I'd give it four stars, but wouldn't indulge in the challenge again. The reason for the deduction of a half-star is due to their fly problem. There must have been 20-30 flies buzzing around the tiny restaurant while I was eating at the stool bar. It became unappetizing to eat after a while and tiring to swat the flies. The restaurant only seats about 10-12 people inside and has a seating area outside too, but since the employees rush in and out so often, the door remains open. Solve that and this historic location will get 4 stars from me, easy. Extra Notes: -Accepts Credit Card -Takes a while for food to come out, but they only have one grill and a couple waitresses, so be patient! -Seats 10-12 people inside, 3-4 tables outside -Decor is homey -I feel restaurant could be cleaner--and flies are a problem -Closed at 3PM Daily -Restroom available
(3)
Jess R.
I loved this place, and I usually don't post many reviews unless it's really good or really bad. I would come here once a year on a trip. Usually there's a wait to sit down but this year I waited over an hour for a breakfast burrito and we ended up walking out without getting food. Very disappointed in service and how un-prepared they were in stocking food to serve there customers. Tasty food but don't go hungry
(1)
Jill P.
We went for breakfast, so that is all this review is for. It's very small, but it wasn't that crowded when we got there. We still waited about 45 minutes for our food after we ordered though. The food was just ok, your average breakfast, nothing special. Apparently their real stars are their hamburgers, so maybe we will give them another try. No extra hipster brownie points from me for being a greasy spoon. I'm from a small town where most places are greasy spoons, and being such is not a novelty, just the way it is.
(2)
r k.
I think the breakfast is better than the burgers but I don't really come here for the food. I come here and sit at the counter because it's a throwback to another time. Food does the job and you won't leave hungry. I read a lot of service complaints below but severs have always been nice. The owners daughter is very nice and even offered to give me a drink to go. If your in a rush go to McJunk, etc.
(4)
Patrick H.
Great place to get burgers downtown. They also make huge pancakes (size of a manhole cover) and gigantic omelettes that were worthy to be featured in the man vs. food show. The oversized proportions are a fun novelty but the actual food is just average.
(4)
Luis M.
This place! I love this place I've had the omelette and the chicken fiesta sandwich and they are both aaamazing. I really wanna go back there again, they have very friendly staff , they make you feel at home :) I simply love this place when you feel like having some good breakfast come to this place, and have a shake for me, because I'm on a diet :(
(5)
Annalissa C.
French toast!!!!!! To die for.... Worth the long wait! Family owned and they all were beyond helpful and entertaining! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Nichole G.
Great place for breakfast and/or lunch. Much of their food potions are so huge you can enjoy them for two meals. Their 'mini' pancakes are the size of a skillet. I have not been brave enough to try the Hubcap Pancake with spokes Challenge but one day I just might. The coffee is delicious with fresh cream. It is served in a variety of kitschy mugs. My favorite is the one with the hour glass on the handle and a clock at the bottom and it is says 'Time for Coffee.' The cheeseburger was pretty good too. I love the atmosphere. It feels like you are hanging out in a friend's kitchen, shootin the breeze while they cook your meal. Stop in sometime to this dive of a diner and you will be pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Lou L.
Yummy! Ate a very tasty "old fashioned" hamburger with fries. So good! Can't wait to have hangover breakfast here on the weekends! Their pancakes are HUGE!
(4)
The Fredster G.
This place was right around the corner from our hotel in Sac,... I have a 1/2 pound burger on a french roll, and fries..... I had to go to sleep right after eating...lol...
(5)
Glen G.
This place was shown on Man vs Food and loved the idea of the huge pancakes and omelets. The pancake was so BIG, the butter was the size of my face. Great, for carb loading before a run. I had the 'Works' omelet and was equally enjoyable!
(4)
Jeff C.
I've had Jim Denny's twice now. I wanted to make sure the first time wasn't a fluke. Both times, I've thoroughly enjoyed the food. I work downtown and the first time I tried take-away. The neat box packaging they do for your burger is nice, clean and smart. They make sure to separate everything (ingredients) allowing you to build the burger yourself so that the everything remains as fresh as possible when you open the box and chow down for lunch. The second time, I took a friend here for lunch. The diner is small, and the building is almost literally a shack. However, it was a nice hometown personal feel to eating at the small bar inside. The staff was very nice and friendly. Food was pretty prompt and very fresh. The Burgers are delicious and juicy. Ingredients are fresh, and the burgers come straight off the grill, nothing like cheap McDonald's Microwave burgers. This place definitely has one of the better burgers in town, definitely give this place a try.
(5)
Alyssa A.
Today was my second time eating here. The first time i went on my lunch break and that wasn't a good idea because I ended up waiting for my food for pretty much my whole lunch hour. I got the 5 cent burger with fries. It was really good. It was the perfect size for how hungry I was. I also got the strawberry lemonade to me it was just too sweet. Today I decided to get the same thing but my experience was completely different. I called ahead so I wouldn't have to wait. They were actually really quick today. Maybe it's because I took a later lunch. I had the 5 cent burger again and the potato salad. I didn't like the potato salad at all. Im not a big fan of mustard and there was a lot in there. My burger was really oily and the patty was really small. I ended up having half of my bread and no more meat. I paid $7 and i really dont think what i got was worth $7. I think this place is really a hit or miss it depends on what time you go.
(3)
Nicolette R.
First timer here, I've always heard such great things about this place I just never remember to eat there. Its only 3 blocks from my work! As pictured its very charming and I could tell the 'regulars' as they glared at me walking through the door - can be a little uncomfortable but hey I can handle it. The girls behind the counter were very kind and attentive and patient with my questions as to what kind of cheese they had and if I could get ketchup added to my burger. I looked over the menu as I waited and saw the breakfast items, if breakfast is as good as their burgers I will definitely be back! I got the Old Fashioned burger and I can't pinpoint what it was about it but it was just soooo delicious!!! The burger was definitely salty but i am a salt lover so that was A-okay with me. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try breakfast or lunch!
(4)
Christopher N.
The epiphany of awesome, this place has a behemoth of a pancake for $4. If they had a pancake challenge, that would be it!! The atmosphere is very friendly and great fresh tasting breakfast. The waitresses and chef makes you feel as if you were family! This location is a small shack with little parking around it, but if you could find one nearby, cross your fingers for a seat inside! I would drive past 100 Denny's just to get to this one Jim-Denny's just because this place has never disappointed me!
(5)
Christopher N.
Jim Denny's, thank you. Thank you for an awesome breakfast yesterday, I couldn't be more pleased. I'm sorry I didn't know that you were a mere 2 block from my house, I promise I will come visit more often. Are you hungry and want delicious food in a comfortable setting? ...come here. You wont be disappointed.
(5)
E C.
We wandered in after 1 pm so the place was not crowded. All of us ordered burgers plus fries and a chocolate malt. The service was very friendly, helpful and quick. The burgers were great as were the sides and the drinks. Lots of bantering between the staff and customers which gave the place a lot of warmth. I am definitely coming back, in the off peak hours, as it takes a lot of time to finish off the meal. Meanwhile I won't even think of eating again for a couple of days. Enjoyed this place and it is a lot easier to get into than the Squeeze Inn.
(4)
greg C.
Didn't even know about pancakes (missed the Man vs. Food episode) but JIm-Denny's are the best burgers in Sacramento. I've been to Squeeze-Inn, Nationwide Freezer Meats and all the popular chains but Jim-Denny's burgers are the juiciest, best flavored meat of all. If you go for a pancake, have someone order a burger at least to get a taste.
(4)
Jessica G.
I have never eaten breakfast at Jim-Denny's so this review is entirely based on lunches I have eaten there. I live in Roseville. It's kind of a long way from Jim-Denny's. But my friends and I will drive all the way down just to have lunch here. The first time we went to Jim-Denny's was solely based on driving by on a day of cruising around in the area. I love how tiny it is and how ramshackle it looks. The food is great and the staff is super-friendly. We joked around with them and when I went back with one of my friends just recently, they even remembered who we were. It's always a good meal at a cool place with a ton of character.
(5)
Jen B.
I am only giving 4 stars because I don't believe I can honestly give a 5 star after only one visit. But I want to. My bf and I just recently moved in a few blocks away and decided to go for breakfast this morning. Be warned the inside is *tiny*. Teeny-tiny. You get to watch most of your food being cooked 3 feet away. The portions are HUGE and tasty. As one of the waiters put it when we asked about lunch portions "There ain't nothin thrifty up in here." The staff was awesome, laughing and joking with customers. If it takes some time to get food, it doesn't seem like a big deal. Even the other patrons were friendly. I feel like too big of a dork going back for lunch today, but I will probably update this once we actually do. Update 06/14/08 Ok, so we went for lunch. I am upping this to 5 because I've had 2 meals and feel it's officially OK to do so. Staff, still awesome. Food, still awesome. Chili cheese fries, NUMMY. Bf had the patty melt, and I had the egg-cellent tuna salad. HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THIS MYSELF? My co-worker says they also sell this at Bon Air, but my two favorite types of salad on one sandwich. GENIUS! Anyway, they are still deserving of 5 stars IMHO. I think I will have to go back for a burger though. Maybe Friday night.
(5)
Bill W.
Small, but very underrated in food quality.
(5)
Rob R.
Simply the best diner in town! Scott's "Just Right" Breakfast plate ($9) is clearly enough for two people. I'll definitely get PJ's "Just a Little" Breakfast ($7) the next time I go.
(5)
Sadie M.
Excellent pancakes! Great prices and friendly people! Call your order in ahead and pick it up, they are FAST. The actual restaurant is VERY small, it consists of one bar with approx 10 stools to sit at, no tables and max capacity is about 12-14 people (there is a stand up bar behind the real bar where you can stand and eat at). But the food is OUTSTANDING!!!
(5)
Adam T.
I ate breakfast at Jim Denny's this summer. I was pretty hungry when I went in so ordered the short stack of pancakes, which I heard was huge. It comes out and is one giant pancake overlapping the plate, probably a foot in diameter, and thick! The flavor of the pancakes isn't anything to write home about, but it's absolutely a great place to carbo load. Don't expect to get in right away if things are busy, the place is about as big as the average home kitchen, if not smaller. They cook the food on the grill right there in front of you, so it's cool to watch. The people that work at Jim Denny's are friendly.
(4)
Steve R.
I finally made it here to eat! After seeing this place on Man Vs Food i new i wanted to check it out. It was very good! Its a little pricey, not too bad but for the large portion size and the quality of food your getting thats expected. I got a chicken sandwich, with Jack cheese, avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato, and a side salad. My wife got the breakfast with 1 egg, hashbrowns, bacon, and a huge pancake the size of the plate. I have no complaints about the food, the restaurant is a little place, not very much seating and the parking sucks, but every waitress was VERY nice. We have a baby and they brought us out a highchair, and made sure we had everything we needed. I will definitely eat here again when im in the area!
(4)
Linda W.
When my sister first took me here I was like this place looks ghetto. Its super small and they had cheap plastic tables and chairs. We sat outside because there wasn't any room inside the place. My sister ordered for me because i had no clue what to get. My sister ordered us some eggs, sausages and a small stack pancake. The food was great and it came out quickly! The pancake was super fluffy and huge! It was the size of my head and we couldn't even finish it! The place might look ghetto but the food is awesome!
(4)
Raylan G.
Our Saturday visit was good, The Works omelet and pancake were cooked to perfection by a young lady at the tiny griddle. No homefries due to the upcoming Jazz Festival later in the day,so they deep fried frozen hashbrowns like you get at McD's, could have done without that. Sacramento has lots of breakfast choices,but this place is cool and has oldschool charm, keep your expectations reasonable and you'll like this place just fine, Warm syrup would have been a nice touch for a place known for pancakes. I counted 18 seats at this little joint.
(3)
Hollywood V.
Have always had a soft spot for this place. Sad to see it's up for sale.
(5)
Mike F.
I love this place. Delicious and greasy burgers. Cramped quarters with only 13 stools at the counter. Pancakes as big as an Irishman's head. The chili is bomb. And when they have the tortilla soup, order it, and then thank the owner, Patsy.
(5)
Jim H.
Years and years of driving past Jim Denny's on 12th St. I mean years!! Each time I drive past I say, someday I'm going to have lunch there. Someday. Well, today my W and I finally did it. What a great experience it was. Sitting at the counter and absorbing the atmosphere. Watching the well experienced workers hustling and completing the many orders. Watching the burgers cook right in front of you is a wonderful experience as well. I ordered a cheese burger (pepper jack) grilled onions and some bacon with fries. W ordered old fashion burger with fries and diet pepsi. It was great seeing the bacon frying away on the flat top next to the burger patties. I guess even if you don't order bacon you can't help but get a little flavor from the bacon grease on the flat top. (extra bonus) The burgers hit the spot. Very good burger in deed. Gonna go back and give the pastrami sandwich a try and the milk shake. It looked pretty good to me. Now as I drive buy I know exactly what's going on in that little building! Good stuff!
(4)
Ana M.
Havent been here in a while as the store hours close a bit early for me but they have the BEST fries in town. The best cheeseburger as well. Only other burger that i can compare it to is the one at J's Cafe....but nevertheless, last time i was there the atmosphere was fun and the employees were wonderful. The milkshakes are pretty damn good and gigantic too. Well worth the money.......the food is great!
(5)
Don C.
Well the Weasel took a break from the tattoo convention Sat. and went with some buddies looking for food....Well kiss my grits....its Jim Denny's .....I've seen and heard of this place for ...well lets just say an awful long time.....A Sacramento landmark.... Don't get to excited with the size of this place....its small....but packs a lot of flavor.....I ordered the chili cheese dog....actually wanted a burger...butt after seeing the persons next to me eating this cheesedog..I just had to have one.... My buddies all ordered the burgers..... Food was served up rather quickly...And was I glad to get the cheesedog....it was great....one of the best ever.... My buddies burgers all looked good....but who cared....I had my Chili cheesedog... The staff was great....telling us about the history of this joint.... I couldn't ask for a better lunch....I was stuffed and wasn't hungry the rest of the day....I 'll be back as Arnold said... Chili Cheesedog with fries and ice tea....Apx. $10....not too bad for downtown....Stop in and tell them the Weasel sent ya.... This is a taste from the past....heart burn city....ya baby....its where all the doctors say not to eat....but the little person in your head says YES! This was my experience ...hope yours is as good... Weasel...
Deliciouso! I love this place from the decor to the food. Great big menu and good sized portions. The shakes are super good.
(5)
Michael R.
Heres another joint I visited that I saw on the food network. Talking about a hole in the wall....this is a very small hole in the wall! Service is not that good, only about 8-10 chairs, little pricy, and parking is non existent. The food was good and the bad service was made up by very friendly servers. Been there twice and I would go again. The works breakfast was good both times. Maybe I will try them for lunch some time....Cool place and you should try at least once!!!
(3)
Carol P.
Fast, friendly, no-nonsense service. My 1/3 pound beef "Joey" was around $8. My friend had the "old fashioned", priced around $5, which had the thinnest patty ever ( definitely go with a bigger burger). Seemed a little over-priced...but hey, that's ok...if it's good I don't mind paying more. Not greasy, juicy patty, good bun. The fries rivaled McDonalds (which I am a big fan of). I guess you're also paying for a bit of history and nostalgia. This is a real diner and a real dive (flies and all). It's also the most real burger you'll have in Sacramento.
(4)
Tom L.
This very small place whips out the most rockin food from that corner griddle. And everyone is super friendly. We immediately felt comfortable to order anything and everything. The actually building has about 8 barstools where you can check out the cooking action. There's also about 4 stools that face the window. There are tables outside- cold in the winter, so bring a coat! This is breakfast comfort food at its best. Hash browns, french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, and the famous pancakes. We wanted to change our order every time we saw all this yummy food coming off the grill. The cook makes everything to order as she chats with everyone. How fun is that? Though it was hard to choose,we ended up ordering the spinach and mushroom omelette (fresh spinach and mushrooms). This was served with extra crispy hashbrowns and toast. We also had the 2 bacon/2sausage/2 eggs/hashbrown meal that came with a massive light and fluffly pancake. Load up the butter and syrup. needless to say- we were full for the rest of the day. We'll be back here for sure
(4)
Robin T.
So a couple of friends and hubby and I decided to try out the Jim-Denny's burgers, head-to-head with Willie's. (We're doing Squeeze Inn vs. Nationwide next.) The burgers from Jim-Denny's were monstrously big but so was the price tag. $9.50 for a cheeseburger is too steep! Yes, it was scrumptious but I'm not sure it was worth the price tag. The burger: juicy, on a nice bun, cheese perfectly melted. Tomato sliced a bit too thick. Yummy grilled onions and nice, crisp lettuce. Price: Too high. It did beat the pants off the Willie's cheeseburger, but then again, the W's burger was 4 bucks less.
(3)
Chelle M.
I can't really say enough good things about this diner. I dread Sundays and Mondays because Jim Denny's isnt open. If you are looking for down home diner grub in a friendly atmosphere, this is the place.
(5)
NB B.
We had BREAKFAST: OK I'll give it a 5, why not? I mean where else do you get a pancake described by the waiter as 'it's as big as a hubcap,' no really it is! That alone deserves a 5 for novelty alone. Aside from the ginormous pancake my wife had -- my eggs and side of cottage cheese with hash browns was copious and tasty. We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed. The waiter was cool too. He looked like Morgan Spurlock from Supersize me and was funny and a good waiter. The place looks like it might fall over at any moment but that's part of it's charm.
(5)
Lindsey S.
I think I just found my new favorite spot in Sacramento! I have driven by a hundred times and always looked at the dilapidated building and thought it probably has fantastic food, I was not disappointed. I was actually surprised by the quality of the food and the friendly ambiance. My boyfriend and I both ordered Chorizo breakfast burritos and I actually laughed when the waitress put the thing in front of me. It was HUGE! I only ate about half, but it was delicious and just as good heated up for lunch later on. The waitress and cook both suggested a few toppings for my burrito, and brought out samples of each. I was surprised that their recommendation of gravy on my burrito was really tasty. All of the food coming out of the kitchen looked delicious and all of the other diners seemed very impressed with their meals. Not only was the food awesome, but the service and ambiance were just as good. Family owned and operated, everyone working seemed genuinely happy to be there and were excited for new comers to try their food. A fellow diner ordered a chocolate malt and when the order was echoed back to the cook, he yelped with excitement. He then personally delivered the malt to the diner and asked him to taste it right away and let him know if it wasn't the best malt he'd ever tasted. The diner agreed that it was. I highly recommend Jim Denny's. A great restaurant to support and bring your local $$'s to
(5)
Will N.
Saw good reviews of this place (but didn't realize they were mostly from when under previous ownership). I like going into a place where they offer a sincere smile- These new owners were over the top and not sincere. When I asked why no website, they trash talked in unsitely detail about the previous owners, which I found both off putting and unprofessional. They told me food would be ready in 20 minutes- took approx 40. Ordered an omelete- BLAND- Had veggies inside that looked like they just steamed inside the omelete. No salt or spices that I could detect. Later I realized that the good reviews are from when it was under previous ownership. I wish I could say something positive but there just wasn't anything. This place is not going to last. =(
(1)
Lisa M.
Visited Sacramento for a conference and found this place on Yelp and had to try it. Our group went every morning and a few times for lunch tried something new each time. From the huge pancakes called the Hubcap, to the massive omelets or amazing french toast, everything was great in this little hole in the wall. We will be back next year.
(5)
Michele J.
Originally wanted to eat here for breakfast but, they stop serving breakfast at 10 am. So I thought I would settle for a burger. The cook walked over to me and asked what I was craving. I told him breakfast. Sorry how about a hamburger? All of the sudden he named off all these different hamburgers he had made that were not on the menu. At first I thought, this Guy is pulling my leg. So I went along with him and ordered a cheeseburger with 4 different cheeses, sauted onions and mushrooms on a quarter pound burgar. When I took my first bite my husband told me to shoosh because I was moaning. If you want a burglary this little shack is the place to go for lunch. Ask the cook what kind of burgar does he recommend before you look at the menu.
(5)
D. A.
jim-dennys.com A total dive that I'll be returning to. Side by side seating at the counter. On the last hour before closing on a Saturday, there were only a few customers sitting inside but the phone-in orders were all of a sudden surging. The counters, the bolt down stools, the walls, are all worn down, giving it character and a comfortable feel. Everything is wiped down but no matter what, slightly greasy to the touch. Regardless, if a few of my fries dropped onto the counter, I'd probably trust that I wouldn't die if I ate 'em. Not that I'd make this a habit! Not listed in the on line menu, I ordered the biggest thing they currently had on their PAPER menu... a Joanna Burger. At $8.50, you get 2 big patties in your burger. I ordered mine medium rare, with grilled onions, jack cheese and cheddar cheese. Fries or choice of other sides are included. The counter lady and cook were friendly. The patties, onions AND the buns were all cooked on that greasy grill. With the cook prepping all of the orders, it was fun observing the slow moving wave of grease being pushed into the grease trap by spatula. The burger order was delivered in a basket and dripping hot. On the side was 2 thick slices of tomatoes, a huge slab of lettuce and some pickles. The combination of burger patties, lettuce, bun, onions and cheese was so thick, that I could barely fit it into my mouth. I had to take a bite out of the burger first, then take a bite out of either a piece of tomato or pickle. The burger dripping scenes in the Carl's JR commercials have nothing on my Joanna burger. Getting to the end of the burger, the grease actually got the remaining pickle and tomato to stick to the bottom of the bottom bun. A 5 star rating for that wonderful burger experience. Highly recommended to warm and clog your heart. The best grease burger I've had in a long time. Negatives. - Fries. About the size of McDonald's fries (3/16" thick), I wasn't impressed with the combination seasoning and salt - there was too much of both. I'll see if it's possible the next time - I'll try to order the fries without any seasoning or salt, and salt them on my own. If it weren't for the seasoning and salt, I think I would've enjoyed the fries. - Room temperature. With the summer day at about 90 degrees, the ceiling mounted, old air conditioning unit was working at maybe, 75% efficiency. It was good enough to keep things bearable inside the diner though. - Parking. With the diner on a lot, all of the parking spots were taken up by the Jim-Denny's crew. Jim-Denny's shares the lot with a printing company - the majority of the parking spots are marked for the printing company. I had to find nearby metered parking on the street. Update 6/26/2007. I ordered the fries without seasoning or salt this time. It's safe to say that the fries were pretty good!
(5)
kate r.
Perfect "nickel burger" and fries for about $4.50, cheese, mushrooms, are extras but thats ok. My boyfriend once tried a burger with peanut butter on it in Hawaii and we have been on the search to find another place that serves up a similar burger. When I checked the menu online it noted that peanut butter was a $.75 extra, just like cheese and mushrooms. I told him about it and that was the only motivation he needed. He was very happy with the burger, the cook even asked if he wanted the peanut butter on both sides of the bun and the burger itself.
(5)
Jacob C.
I have a fetish for greezy hamburger stans an this is up their with the best, great burger, and the reuben is amazing. Plus it just looks cool, takes you back to the days grandpa used to talk about.
(5)
Ang C.
With all of the hoopla surrounding Squeeze Inn especially after they were featured in an episode on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," it is a shame that Jim Denny's was not represented in Sacramento. First of all, despite that they use a local hamburger patty vendor that many Sacramento restaurants use, I find it amazing that they can take a bland manufactured hamburger patty and turn it into something extroridinary. In my book, no matter what flaws the restaurant has, there is no way I can knock any stars off because of the talent of the cook. I really cannot find any flaws with Jim Denny's. It is a nice cozy place with a very friendly staff that is family owned that followed the rich tradition of the establishment. On another note, they also serve breakfast and there is no better bang for your buck than breakfast at Jim Denny's. I have ordered a pancake and boy was it a massive pancake as it more than covered the plate that it was served in and on top of that there was a huge portion of hash browns, eggs, sausage and bacon. I swear, this is the first time in my life that I have not finished a breakfast meal ever. Forget what you know about breakfast diners in Sac, this is the place to go for a tasty and hearty breakfast. So now, my dilemma is whether to have breakfast or lunch on weekends here.
(5)
Angie P.
I don't know if I'd call it the best best best burger I've had in Sacramento, but it's certainly enjoyable. Add a thick blackberry shake and I'll call it even. And the potato salad, chili and cole slaw were all big hits, too. Note to self: Must get over there for hubcap-sized pancakes ASAP!
(4)
Desiree L.
Pancake heaven!!!! The mini pancakes.. aren't so mini. Everything is freshly made and the staff is great. This place only has about 20 seats but they make it work. I can't wait to be in Sacramento again :)
(5)
C H.
A tiny little burger shack at 12th and H. I never got to try it because it was only open for lunch, but now they are open for dinner, until 9 on Saturdays... I went out with some hungover friends in search of some greasy hamburgers and found that Cookie's had already closed! So we drove around aimlessly looking for a great cheeseburger, but Willie's wasn't going to cut it. I drove and drove, cruising the grid for about 30 minutes until I saw a beautiful light in the distance. It was an "Open" sign at Jim-Denny's; I knew that fate had brought us there. We stepped inside and saw a long counter with room for about 10 diners. The menu had several sizes and varieties of burgers ranging from a little McDonalds happy meal sized burger to a one lb monstrosity. Most are priced around $6-$8 (including your choice of fries, potato salad, or mac salad. They also have milkshakes for $4. The menu details the long history of Jim-Denny's, dating back to the mid 1930's. I had the smaller burger with colby cheese; my friends had the 1/3 and 1/2 lb burger with bacon; they were beautiful, juicy, and perfectly cooked. The fries were nice and greasy. I wasn't too impressed with the potato salad.
(4)
Rick D.
My Wife and I have been going here for over 3 years. They know us by name and treat us as one of the family. That is what makes this restaurant so special in my book. The food is also great but being part of the Jim Dennys family is much more important to us. I love the Eggselent tuna. It's the best.
(5)
Marisa L.
Though billed as "the busiest 10 seats in Sacramento", the friendly owners-staff at Jim Denny's let you take your time savoring a meal. I stopped in here for a Saturday AM brunch on a recent weekend in Sac, on the recommendation of staff at the nearby hostel. Your meal takes awhile to be served if only because everything is cooked on one grill in the front window of this trailer-sized restaurant. But I was entertained by conversation going back and forth over the counter, as the staff talked and joked with the regulars. I had chicken apple sausage with two eggs and a side of biscuits and gravy... and yes, I managed to pack it all down, all of that heavy delicious comfort food. Biscuits and gravy were especially good. OJ wasn't fresh squeezed but I suppose that oranges are more $$ these days. Price was just about right for a breakfast of this size ($11 for my meal, w/o tip.) I'd love to come back for their pancakes, which are bigger than you'd believe... I watched the cook ladle melted butter onto the pancake as it cooked, so it must have tasted so rich. A lot of the regulars were ordering the "Morning Drew", which I didn't get b/c of the ham (I don't eat red meat) but looked delicious.
(4)
A T.
Had breakfast over the weekend. Great service and great food. Pancakes were great and conversation pleasant.
(4)
Tiffany D.
Wifey and I went to Jim Denny's for lunch. We lived in midtown for a little over a year and aways drove by this place when they were closed. (Their hours are a little un accommodating, but if you have a good place, then i guess you don't need to be open at all convenient times for the world). Anyway, came by when they were open, and were greeted by a really pleasant man outside who recommended this turkey sandwich (whose name i unfortunately do no not remember right now). Anyway, we went inside, wife got the burger, i got the turkey sandwich. The food was amazing! Greasy deliciousness. The lady who took our order could have been a little more pleasant to be around, but I'll just ignore that as she could have had a bad day... and the food made up for it. Great place... if you can make it there during one of their infrequent times of being open, then i definitely recommend coming here.
(5)
Harrybobo L.
Good service, lousy food. Very pricey. Had biscuits and gravy, eggs, and bacon. Good Java City coffee and quick order up but food and atmosphere does not reflect high prices. The restaurant is located along 12th Street and I Street and consists of no more than an 9seat counter smaller than the former Squeeze Inn. Lunch menu comprised of burgers, sandwiches and salads.
(2)
Rick N.
Cute place but underwhelming burgers n fries - service with attitude and frying pan to the back of the head smarts
(2)
James W.
If you want to eat, DON'T GO HERE. I waited for an hour and my breakfast never came. However, people that came when I was at about the 50 minute mark got their food before me. Completely disorganized staff.
(1)
Quani L.
Great breakfast! Fast and friendly service...pancakes are CRAZY big... Bring your Bunyan appetite! (Weekday in 9-11 a.m.)
(4)
Daniel D.
Didn't realize this place was on man vs. food. Saw the episode yesterday, mvf visited when it was under the old management. After seeing how awesome the breakfast was in the "old days" I'm deducting another star. Sad...sad....sad...
(1)
Dan N.
Best fries I've ever had in my life. Great burgers & chili too.
(5)
Ryan L.
Went here for lunch for the first time a while ago, this place is my kinda place. Employees bantering everyone with joy, lots of laughs in this place. While up near Spokane WA over this past July 4th, I was in a brand new Zips (WA's Mcdonalds), which I saw a framed picture of this exact restaurant on the wall with the original owner standing out front. Pretty cool! I ordered a burger which I couldn't finish, was decent, the fries were good also, very large portions, come hungry. I'm wondering about the breakfast here, I need to get up early and just go!
(4)
Rudy G.
We really looked forward to hitting Jim-Denny's for breakfast. We felt like we were let down. We chose to eat outside since the counter was full. We ordered a short stack and the 'just right' breakfast. I felt that the pancake was a disappointment. Despite the size, the flavor was miniscule. The 'just right' breakfast was also just so-so. Our entire breakfast experience took us an hour and a half to complete. Much too long for breakfast. We'll go back to try the burgers but will not return for breakfast.
(2)
Hannah M.
I am currently in bed with my laptop perched on my belly, my belly that is full of only half the short stack. The other half waits in the fridge for when I wake up from the coma I'm about to slip into.
(5)
Mustafa N.
I just ate here yesterday. I ordered the hubcap and it was literally the best pankcake everrrr! On top of that the customer service was amazing! Very very friendly people working there and I will def eat there again.
(5)
Bob D.
Nothing more than a greasy spoon with slow (albeit friendly) service. Don't be fooled by the small diner atmosphere - the food here is nothing special. You'd be better off at Denny's. I won't be back.
(2)
Brittany A.
I finally got a chance to go down to Jim-Denny's after seeing it on a national tv show (man vs food... or something.) My sister and I were so excited to try the big pancakes that they offer! The pancakes were awful. They weren't flavorful and they were "spongy" instead of "fluffy"... my sister didn't enjoy her hash browns either, they were frozen before cooking. And to top it off it was just expensive for what it was... possibly because they have gotten some national publicity. I have a hard time believing the "old" Jim-Denny's tasted like this... and if it did it had no business getting that type of attention! To say the least, we wished we would have just gone to IHOP.
(1)
Lola D.
I went here this morning for hangover breakfast and couldn't have been more happy. I had the bee gees in a major way and desperately needed some grub to absorb the alcohol. We went in and thank god I wasn't having my claustrophobic hangover, because the place is tiny. I got simple food, but then, I'm a simple gal. Two eggs, home fries and toast. All the bomb, all made right in front of me. Bonus points to the chef giving me a sample of her new special of the week, the potato pancake. It was good, I hurt myself trying to cram it down. In fact, over 12 hours later, I'm still pretty full from breakfast. What more could a girl ask for. Greasy spoon style food made with love and a little sassiness. Definitely coming back.I only wish they had a little baileys for my coffee...
(4)
Frank M.
Superburger is pretty huge. Probably the greasiest diner I have been to. A bit overpriced, check the menu online.
(4)
Adam G.
Checked Jim Denny's out for breakfast a couple weekends back. My wife had read about the huge pancakes and massive everything omelet. She gave me instructions to order those items and they would be big enough for us to split. Well, it would have been big enough for FOUR people to split. Pancake was huge- about the size of a garbage can lid (Oscar the grouch garbage can). The omelet really did have everything in it and was also huge. Usually when there are too many ingredients the flavors of the items run together- but every item had a great flavor. This place obviously knows what it's doing in the kitchen and at the grill. The staff and customers are cool. When I called the order in I thought a new employee answered the phone; I could hear him double-checking everything I said with someone else. When I got there, I noticed a sign that proclaimed "If you sit next to the phone, you must answer and take orders". Now I think the guy did a pretty good job. Prices are very good. Anyways- I definitely would recommend checking this place out.
(5)
Lyn D.
Went for lunch. Great hole in the wall kinda place. Great service, good food and good iced tea. Separate side window for outside and take out orders. Definitely going to make a point of coming back for breakfast soon.
(4)
Donnie A.
You can't beat this place especially for breakfast (best in town), biggest pancakes I've ever seen. I have never ordered anything i didn't love, even my first peanut butter burger (that day's special). Totally the best french fries in town, (get em with the chili too). And the service, wow, the friendliest people in town!!!!! One warning, try not to go during lunch hour, with only a few seats in this wonderfully historic diner it fills up fast!
(5)
Sunday M.
One word: PANCAKE! Ooooooooh they are gigantic & delicious! Went there for lunch one day & the burger was pretty good - but I love the breakfast. I dig the fact that everything is cooked right in front of you and the staff there are all super snarky with each other; it's absolutely entertaining! Go for breakfast!
(4)
Grant R.
Visited J-D's the other day for the first time in years. It's a family-run operation now... nice people. The food was good, but kinda dear. $9.20 for my pastrami sandwich. I couldn't help thinking about the pastrami at Subway... a third larger, loaded with produce, and a buck or two less.
(3)
Lauren L.
Wow! I am seriously impressed! Not only do they make everything to order right in front of you, but all the veggies for the scrams were fresh cut and all the eggs are cracked right then and there. I was able to order egg whites and they were real, instead of from a jar. They served us up fast, with good strong coffee. I would go back here again and again for breakfast!
(4)
Sy D.
We bellied up to the bar on a crisp Saturday morning for a real breakfast, and we were tickled pink with the results. I had the works omelet with hash browns and a short stack, the wife had the standard eggs, hash browns, sausage and pancake. The portions were huge, well worth the $35 tab in my opinion. While it took almost 45 minutes to get our order we were able to chat, enjoy our coffee and watch the cook work her ass off on the grill - she deserves every penny she makes, awesome young lady. My omelet was perfect, not greasy and the vegetables were prepared so they did not cause the omelet to be runny and wet. The hash browns were crisp, flaky and right off the grill. The pancakes lived up to their hype - huge, fluffy and a wonderful flavor - served with just the right amount of butter. A wonderful dining experience - although I could have done without all the democrats who were in town spouting all their BS while I tried to enjoy my breakfast.
(4)
Ian K.
I eat here one or two times a week for breakfast. I love it! The food is great, the staff is friendly, and the portions are huge. The best pancakes in Sacramento! Thank you, you have earned yourself a loyal customer for life! See ya soon.
(5)
Jennfier Y.
Taste: 10 stars Ambiance: hahahahahaha Really really yummy, kind of expensive though. Doesn't stop me from walking 6 blocks for lunch though. Hard to find a seat, inside or outside. Had to listen to the lady screaming at some "non-customers" to get off her property cause they were cussing, but she did so like this "this is a f*****g family restaurant, get the f*** off my property"! to which my lunch buddies and I had a great laugh...
(4)
Brandi S.
I had been passing this place for years and FINALLY made it inside. It completely lived up to it's reputation. The fries are good, service quick and friendly. A great little diner with a mean burger. Quite possibly the best in town.
(5)
Keith D.
Wow is all that can be said. A great Greasy spoon seats about 7. I have only been there for breakfast which actually would keep one full for about a week which is why I have never gone for Lunch. I find it a great start to a weekend. Pancakes that would work as a manhole cover.
(5)
Catherine F.
As advertised, a funky hole-in-the-wall diner with excellent, ample breakfast in the true diner style, down-home service. I was thrilled to find this on yelp during a business trip and was very happy with my breakfast here,
(5)
Stacey W.
Had breakfast for the first time here and it was delicious. The french toast was wonderful. Love the atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)
Terry G.
I love little places like this. A friend and I stopped by for an early lunch, but they only serve from the breakfast menu until Noon. So, I had the short stack - which is a single HUGE pancake!! Since we went for a burger I'll have to come back again.I loved the small cramped counter which allowed us to strike up a conversation with a couple from Mexico City that was travellng to the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The staff was very friendly anf helpful too.
(4)
Joel Y.
Great deal on a great burger. Everything is cooked fresh to order and they do a great job. The new ownership (its been a while) has done a lot to make make it less crowded in the little box that makes up the eatery. Take outs have a separate window to order. Wasn't brave enough to try it, but any place that has a one pound burger is got to be good.
(4)
melissa s.
we had the hugest pancake ever today! the wait was super long (probably because of the recent airing of MVF) the pancacke was so big, we didn't order anything else. next time i'm going to stick to the smaller cake and try something else too.
(4)
Lysa S.
Only been here for breakfast twice. But it was good, typical greasy spoon. The chicken apple sausage is really good though. Pancake ridiculously huge, but good.
(3)
Ben W.
Went in on a weekday and was told immediately upon opening the door to "get out of the way" by a blonde waitress who was trying to get outside with dishes. Was then shouted at over the counter by another waitress that they stopped serving breakfast 20 minutes early. Never coming back here again; no parking, no room in diner and the worst service I've ever had for only being inside a place under two minutes. Avoid like the plague.
(1)
James L.
Don't let the size and look of the place deter you from eating here. Yes, it is small -- holds maybe a dozen people inside. But, after a long night of visiting my old watering holes, I head over here first thing in the morning. Since I don't eat pork, I like that this place offers different types of protein, like turkey and chicken sausages -- and these aren't the small breakfast sausage links, but jumbo size. Add three sunny side up eggs, crispy hashbrown, toast, and large cup of coffee, I'm ready to face the world.
(4)
mahi m.
Amazing burgers. Not safe for vegetarians. Sure, they have veggie stuff on the menu, but it's all about the grill and you know that ain't tofu grease. A colleague turned me on to this after a long day walking the halls of "the building" and now it's the highlight of any trip to Sacto. Maybe not every trip, or my arteries won't make it to age 40.
(5)
Rebecca C.
Jim-Denny's is a dive... but that's part of its charm. I came here based on a recommendation from a co-worker [and confirmed by yelpers] and I'm so glad I did! I've been driving past it for over 10 years and was never tempted to stop because it looks shady from the outside. I missed breakfast, but stayed for lunch because I was too intrigued once I got inside to pass it up. It was about half the size of a train car and seating is *limited.* Fortunately, the people who eat there seem pretty friendly and were willing to reconfigure to allow for me and my lunching companion to sit together. I ordered the "Old-Fashioned 5 Cent Burger" and my friend ordered the "Kevin's Unusual Rueben Sandwich" and a chocolate shake. My 5 Cent Burger was huge [I was told it was "small"] so I'm curious to see what a "large" is to them. I got it with grilled onions and sat right in front of the grill and got to watch it constructed up close. It was delicious. My friend's Rueben must have been good as well because he devoured it silently [he's normally a talker]. I did sample his chocolate shake however and it was delicious... beware however, if you order a shake its more like 'two shakes' because they give you the rest of it in the stainless steel cup it was made in [and it is a LOT]! I will definitely be back for breakfast... only downside to Jim-Denny's is the fact that they're closed Sunday:(
(5)
Randy M.
A Sacramento institution, Jim Denny's is an unassuming, no-nonsense burger joint that serves up some of the very best American grub in Northern California, and a low price. The food portions are large, messy and delicious. A simple joint, serving simple food, at a great price. You will walk away and not feel hungry for hours.
(5)
Heather W.
I've heard so many great things about this little 12th street hole in the wall, so I was really excited to try their burgers for the first time today. I decided to phone in my order and eat at home since i've heard the place is real small inside. The outside is adorable, a total 50's era burger shack. Gotta love that! Picked up my order at the side window and chatted with their really friendly staff. Shared a blackberry shake with my hubby while waiting for our food. It was very, very tasty. Nice and thick and had real blackberries in it. Not sure it's worth $4.50, but it was good. Got the burgers and fries home and was ready to dig in. The fries weren't bad. They were the thinner shoe-string type. Reminded me of McDonald's fries but not as heavy and greasy tasting. I like thicker cut fries, but these weren't bad. Next I tacked my burger. I got the 1/3 lb. Joey burger with grilled onions and cheddar. I must say I was underwhelmed overall. The best thing about my burger was the bun which had a sweetness to it that I really liked. The meat on my burger was on the thin side and slightly charred on the outside, creating a little bit of a smokey crust, which overpowered the taste of the meat. I like my burgers more on the well done side, but this seemed a bit overcooked even for me. Other than that, toppings include standard mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, which you assemble yourself. It just wasn't that impressive overall. I couldn't really taste the grilled onions or the cheese. For $8.25, I expected a lot more. For that price, I really prefer Nationwide Meats' burgers, which use much better, tastier meat. Plus, Nationwide serves the thickest fries in town, so I think I've determined my favorite burger spot now. I would go back to JD's if I was craving a thick, tasty shake though!
(3)
Derek T.
Great burgers, and amazing fries! I've had their mushroom burger and just a cheeseburger and both were incredible. Their fries have always been fresh and perfectly cooked. not too thick, not to burnt. I got a breakfast burrito here too and it was little intimidating. I can put away a lot of food but this thing was made with at least 2 potatos, and the sausage wasnt like chorizo, it was whole links of sausage, which was pretty good. But yeah, watch out for breakfast, its insanely large. The only thing I didnt like about this place is I wasnt sure if I was supposed to order at the back door and pick up at the front, or order at the front and eat at the front, it was kind of confusing. I usually just play it by ear everytime I go there. anyway, enjoy if your on your way home on the 160 south.
(5)
Victoria N.
Best burgers I've had to date. Since eating here, it has raised my standard. Thick, juicy, burgers full of flavor. As an indecisive person, it's hard to choose what to get, but it seems that no matter what you get, it turns out right.
(5)
Reina M.
greasy spoon, love it! i've only been here for breakfast, and takeout all 3 times at that, but the service is fast and the portions are large. the omelette especially is huge (although i did finish it, since i was coming from an exhausting boxing workout). can't wait to try lunch there.
(4)
Jessica H.
Ok, I know that people think Jim-Denny's is soooo good, but I cannot say the same. The first time I went, I loved my breakfast (not any better than Denny's, but still good) and Patsy was a great cook. Kinda expensive for what you got (It cost $30 for both of us). We went back for lunch the next week, and had a horrible service experience. The employees were completely rude. My burger was ok, but not very flavorful, and no better than In-n-Out, for about 4 times the cost (Again, about $30 for both of us). Hubby went to put ketchup on his fries and the ketchup was rancid. We thought we'd stick with breakfast, and went back for my birthday. We got there at 10:05, asked if it was possible to get breakfast. We were told that if we wanted breakfast, we should have gotten there 5 minutes earlier. Seriously? Like this is McDonalds and you "have" to change the menu over? The breakfast food wasn't even put away, and you're being rude? For the amount of money this costs and the quality of service, I'm going to find another greasy spoon.
(2)
Mike G.
So from the outside this place looks like nothing more than shack. As soon as I walked inside though, I knew that the food would be good. I walk inside and there was a bar to my right, big enough for six people but probably sitting eight without a single inch to spare. That was just about it, so my buddy and I decided to order from the outside window and sit at some of the outside tables we had seen. The menu is pretty much what you would hope for from a little burger joint: about 6 different variety of burgers, maybe another six different types of sandwiches and a few other odds and ends. If it isn't clear by now, this is lunch time. I decide to go with the Rueben, fries and a strawberry lemonade. The lemonade was good but it was so sweet that once I stopped drinking it I am fairly certain I suffered from withdrawal symptoms. The fries were tasty, just a tad to thick to be called shoestring fries, but thinner than a standard french fry, and the seasoning they use is really tasty, I only wish they had put more on. And the rueben was good, really good. The pastrami was moist but not too fatty, which might sound like a weird comment but you would be amazed at how many reubens I've had with either really dried out pastrami or pastrami with more fat than meat. Everything was really good. The food really stood out and I am excited to go back. I guess the only real negatives to Jim Denny's were the fact that the strawberry lemonade was too sweet and I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon due to the food.
(4)
Lydia R.
I am currently in a coma state of burger bliss after visiting this joint. Read about it here and had to try the open faced chili cheese burger once I saw the picture. My boyfriend and I decided to split that behemoth and good thing that picture didn't't lie, it's a MEAL. I was a little bummed about a $1.25 fee to split because I thought we might get less, but was totally wrong. They gave us just as much chili goodness on our separate plates as we would have received had we not split. For $15 bucks including drink we ate like kings and left felling more then satisfied. Just don't look at the grease coming off the grill behind the counter and the burger will go down much easier. While there, we heard good things about the 1/2 pound burger from some of the regular lunch crowd so that's next on the list to try. The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable considering it is a small place. They do a good job of cutting down on congestion by having people order to-go orders and patio meals outside at the side window. Definitely going back!
(4)
Andi R.
Checked this place out after seeing they had top reviews. I don't regret it for a second! While this place is very quaint, the service is exceptional! Everyone there really make your experience a great one. Plus their food was really good!
(4)
Candyce A.
Was visiting the best friend, and we decided to take a short walk to Jim Denny's, as her sister recommended it. I was a little hesitant going inside, as I was afraid to smell like burger grill all day, since I had just washed my hair, but I let it go, and I am glad I did. We all ponied up to the counter (granted, the 5 of us didn't get to sit all together- but i was just happy we got seats inside) and ordered. Boy did we come at the right time, as we got to take advantage of the secret Saturday special as part of their 75 year anniversary. 5 CENT BURGERS!!! We were informed later by the grill cooking grandma (and the cashier is her grand-daughter) that from noon to 3, the second Saturday of each month they are having different specials. And this month happened to be their Original 5 cent burger for... 5 cents. I was excited. The boy got 3 burgers, I wound up eating 2 (after one, I felt guilty, but asked for another), and he got a whopping $4.75 shake, and we spent $5.37! My bff's sister ordered the ortega burger and an iced tea (stupid- helllllooo? 5 cent burgers?) and she spent more than $11. Nuff said.... except that they were awesome, and the bun was my fav part. The banter of the ladies at the counter made it fun, nothing like a fun grandma throwing food at her employees.
(5)
Ross C.
This place was great. I brought 3 kids and we sat at the counter. The staff was great. My 90 pound girls each ate one "mini" pancake in addition to the rest of their breakfast. This "mini" pancake was the size of a large pizza. I had a taste and it was perfection. Another group came in and got the regular pancake, which was the size of the entire grill. We had a great time at this place and would highly recommend!
(5)
Michelle W.
jim denny's is in the top 3 cheeseburger spots. i can never choose what to order, and everything is delicious. you can sit outside, or you can sit in the small inside at the counter and watch your food being prepared. so so so good. im hungry just thinking about the delicious bleu cheese burger my bf got last time. it was a special and extra tasty.
(5)
David C.
Best burger's I've had in Sacramento, hands-down. Opt for the burgers with the large patties - they are very juicy when cooked. Tiny place - you'll smell like grease if you sit next to the grill - sit outside if weather permits... Haven't tried anything but the burgers - sandwiches sound good, and breakfast menu looks decent. Only thing visibly lacking is onion rings. Oh - tried the chili-cheese fries once, and the chili was very watery - burger more than made up for it though.
(5)
ellen c.
the BEST hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes i have ever had in my life, plus the service is good and the place is neat-o.
(5)
Li M.
We'd been wanting to go here for a while, and we were not disappointed! Service is warm and friendly! Amazing place for a very reasonable price. Food is really delicious, thr sourdough toast was very fresh and yummy! Finally I found my little country diner! Make sure you stop by here, you will not regret it!
(5)
Kara B.
100 reviews . . . Damn, I need to get a life, or some sleep. But, Yelp is so "fun, useful, cool . . . and cathartic" (acronym for ya?). 100th for a place that will make it to 100 years, soon enough. What other place in the area can boast damn-near 75 years of seasoning their grill . . .now that's some serious seasoning (I am only hoping my cast iron skillet will someday attain a fraction of that kind of seasoning). I will always have nostalgic memories of Jim-Denny's, when my mom would very rarely treat me to a day with her at work - an office job back in the days when you would see a big harvest-gold or avocado-green ashtray on every desk, and chain smoking in the office was the norm. The highlight of those smoke-filled days at work with mom, was firing all of her co-workers and then walking across the street to get a burger at Jim-Denny's. Today (some 20-odd years later), Jim-Denny's is starting to become part of my Sunday graze-fest. This place is tiny and will always be tiny, as it's on some kind of historical building list and cannot expand. Yet, somehow they were even able to fit a Christmas tree in there last month. And, food-of-unusual-size is getting grilled up nicely from such a matchbox of a place. Seriously. Hollow yourself out. Really. Make sure you're all good and empty (whatever it is you need to do *cough* colonic *cough*). Because I don't think there's a human alive that has ever finished the "Scott's Just Right Breakfast". "Just Right"? Just right for whom? Paul Bunyan or a small country, maybe. I have a friend who IS hollow, and can put a hurtin' on Bunyan-esque meals, but this hollow pal couldn't finish the Scott's "just right" breakfast, which includes that MONGO pancake. Yes, the pancakes are touted as being larger than your head. As I have a pinhead, that's not hard to accomplish. Butt, J Lo could make full-coverage bikini bottoms with this pancake. On my last visit, there was joint razzing of a fairly large dude that ordered this breakfast. I, and other strangers at the counter warned him. Luckily, Patsy (manning the grill) offered to hold off cooking the rest of his breakfast while he tried to make a dent in that pancake. . . Well, needless to say, Patsy didn't have to break a sweat and cook up the rest of his meal. And, another luckily . . . If you really want a pancake, without bustin a gut, you can add a mini (yeah, mini, as in Jim-Denny's skewed idea of mini) pancake for a buck. I am in love with the banana pancake, but they also have other changing flavors such as peach, pumpkin, chocolate chip, apple cinnamon - so be sure to ask what flavors they are doing that day. This is also a place that I can even feel comfortable dining alone - because it's so small, you'll never be quite alone here, and will eventually end up chatting with the owners and other customers. Love that I could pick out a cute little Christmas-themed mug for my coffee; it just adds to the warm-fuzzies I get eating a nice hot breakfast there. Check out the specials posted up behind the counter. I lust for the "Stack" (it may not be one of the specials, but they can still make it). It's a delicious sausage gravy, that I would love to swim in, topped with hash browns, 3 eggs - any style, 3 slabs of bacon, or sausage, and cheese. I also ask for some of their homemade salsa on the side - yummy. Then I add on a "mini" pancake for a buck - yeah, I usually end up noshing on these leftovers all day. Breakfast ONLY on Sundays, so don't go expecting to get a burger - just grub down on a delicious breakfast. Poor schmucks . . . I've seen a few customers leave after finding out they couldn't get a burger on Sunday - they don't know what they're missing - oh well, more room at the tiny counter. I'm gonna get out of my Sunday rut soon, and make an effort to go there when they're making burgers again, just for the sheer fact that you can add a side of bacon, and side of peanut butter to the burgers! Makes me wanna kiss that metal cock statue out in front - oh yeah, I did.
(5)
Lesina G.
Wish we made it in time for breakfast! As far as the burgers go they were good but didn't blow either of us away. Staff was super nice and attentive. Overall good experience.
(3)
Kimi M.
This is a great little dive diner with a nice nostalgic flair. The staff is friendly and make you feel at home. You also get to cozy it up with the other guests because the space is so tight inside. For more space you can sit outside and order from their outside window. I went on a Sunday about noon so there was definitely a brunch rush. I think we waited about 45min. for the food to come out so if you're looking for faster service come earlier or later. They are really good at keeping you hydrated at least. So I ordered The Works with hash browns & sourdough toast. The omelet was delicious. All of the ingredients that went into it melded together well. The hash browns were a little underdone but the servings were ginormous! The sourdough toast were nice thick pieces but they too could have been toasted a bit more. My hubby ordered the BLT sandwich. It was OK. The bacon was not crispy. He also asked for extra mayo on the side and they only gave him a knife-ful. Why not at least a dollop? All in all this is a good place to try at least once. I still want to go back to try their hubcap sized pancake and I would definitely order The Works again.
(4)
Elizabeth O.
It's been yrs since my last time eatin here & they were great. So i brought my grandaughter in for bkft on a saturday. Got there bout 9:30AM & the place was packed. So we were told 2 order @ the 2go window located outside in the back of the building. I was warned our bkft would take bout 1/2 hr. waitress said she would set up a table 4 us when she was free which nvr happened. A table bcame clear aft bout a 10 mn wait.. Also they were out of ice tea, Go figure.1 waitress was already on break, smoking @ the employees table. The food was nothing i would be willing to come back for. The service was below acceptable, even my grandaughter was not pleased. Other then havin other customers taking pics of the building there is nothing outstanding bout this place.
(1)
Lindsey Y.
I'm sorta disappointed. I was hoping for something original but the burger wasn't very fulfilling. It was boring, the meat was generic flavored and not juicy. So, think in-n-out, double the price, make it hard to get to = Jim Denny's and more hassle than it's worth. We got two burgers, they came with fries, the price was $20. This would be good if the food lived up to the hype. I've had much better. Don't get me wrong, it is totally edible. Just not special. Despite that... Maybe this is not the place for lunch...I may try breakfast before I make a final decision.
(2)
Jennifer N.
I drove by Jim-Denny's a while back, totally taken a back by the fact I didn't know this place existed. Promised myself that one day I'd give it a go. Then totally forgot about it. Last month my daughter showed me a book that recommended it as a hamburger joint to try... further intrigued I mentally noted in bright bold flashing font to not forget. This morning my stomach signaled my brain that it needed a food adventure. The first thing to pop in my cluttered brain... Jim-Denny's. When we arrived we were the second group to order. Outdoor seating was plenty. With four kids in tow, we stood outside the building huddled around the order window inspecting the menu. A hubcap with spokes for me and my 14y/o son. Megaburger and a side of fries for my two daughters. And lastly for the finicky 8 y/o son an Old Fashion burger with only lettuce and a side of Macaroni Salad. Once we settled down to wait for our order, the place started getting busy. In no time flat, all the tables were spoken for. It took about twenty minutes for my ginormous pancake to make my acquaintance and another ten for the burgers to follow. Just as expected the pancake was huge, fluffy, and dense. The egg, bacon and sausage tasted like egg, bacon, and sausage. Four large burger patties and regular old hamburger bun with sparse veggies made up the Megaburger. All the food was nothing to be getting all hyped about. Well, apart from the big assed pancake. The damage to my wallet--- $35 with one cup of joe and a soda. A little steep for me, but now I can say we went there... All in all, I give the food 2 stars and 1 star for the wait staff who kept to their timely rounds and made sure we were enjoying our stay. Would I come back again? Imano...
(3)
Rachel W.
THIS IS THEEEE BREAKFAST KING! HUGE pancakes..delucious everything ohhhh mannn.. Hole in the wall place but hekka awsome!!
(5)
Vincenzo C.
Delicious food, the wait sucked but once we had the food it was well worth the wait. Parking is scarce, I mean come on it is downtown. Only one cook and it's the tinniest place ever but will be back for sure. First time there and wont be my last time.
(4)
Jill M.
I will mourn the loss of Jim-Denny's in my life. So sad that the new owners fired Patsy and all the staff 2 weeks before Christmas, without any notice. This was after they asked Patsy to stay on, and that they had PROMISED that they wanted to keep everything the same. I will never return to Jim-Denny's. I will miss their great breakfasts and watching Patsy at the grill! Shame on you Ken!!!!!!!!! I love Jim Denny's for Breakfast. I always get the omelette, and it always comes with lots of veggies. I get the bacon on the side with hash browns. I get a dollar pancake instead of toast. I never can finish the breakfast and save it for the next day (or the last time when I ate it as a midnight snack!). I miss Patsy, but I know she is happy in her new home. Monica has done a great job for taking over for Patsy. I wish I could come there with my wheelchair. But since they are a historical landmark, they cannot make changes to the building. I don't begrudge them that. When it is warm, I can sit outside. Or when I am back out of the wheelchair, I will come to the counter.
(1)
Mike P.
1 star for a good pancake. This place was not what I expected from the other reviews! I expected a small efficient operation with great food. What I got was a small place that had a staff that bordered on rude, was extremely slow and food that other than the pancake was lack luster and non descript. The grill person made one plate at a time and that was with a full time assistant prepping every thing for her. They never had coffee ready when you needed some and the staff talked as though they were at home in private complaining about other staff and their inadequacies. It was very uncomfortable and unprofessional. I do not know who holds the reins at this place but they better take off the blinders and pay attention before the notoriety of TV wears off and this little restaurant has to stand on it's own again. I also believe the sign notifying customers that they have no customer restroom facilities per court order is very classy. Sorry but this place was an huge let down!
(1)
E P H.
It's small and good!!!!! Did i say it was small. The staff is wonderful and friendly. The small pancake is big also, beware! We got there real early so we could get a bench to sit on. I enjoyed the food and the best part...they cook the food in the front so you can see. One of the best breakfast I've enjoyed.
(5)
D A.
We've visited this place a couple of times and this last experience will be our last. I'm a stickler for customer service and this joint lacks that completely. Food......I might as well stay home and cook myself. Potatoes were dry, to the point that they crumbled when I put my fork in them. Bacon was way over cooked and they forgot part of our order. When we finally got their attention to let them know, they brought it out with no apologies or anything. Worst biscuits and gravy I've ever had. They didn't even look appetizing. Pancakes were fine....but it's pretty hard to screw up a pancake.
(1)
Halani X.
I love unpretentious burger places and this place is one of them. When you walk in be sure to check the board for the specials. Otherwise, the burgers are a great choice. Get them with your choice of cheese and a side. If you are going to eat outside or to-go, order from the back window.
(4)
Wayne V.
Great service and good foods. The "Hubcap with Stokes" is the way to go when you are hungry or need a food challenge. "The Works" was something a coworker got and it was well worth the price. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was due to their lunch menu. I know they have lunch specials everyday but I've seen a mushroom burger on their menu forever. And I did order a Jim's Original Burger that was pretty much a 2-meat patty burger that could be made at home. Great omelettes and great pancakes to make up for their lack of originality in burgers. I am planning to go back when I get my next paycheck! - Vue
(4)
Amanda Mae S.
Attempted hubcap with spokes with my hubby and failed. :( haha but good predictable breakfast and fun to watch them make the monster pancake! Fun experience :)
(4)
Mark G.
WOW ----the (enter superlative of your choice, ad infinitum) breakfast I've had, EVER!! I enjoyed a HUGE omelette with mushrooms, spinich and peppers. My daughter had a more standard eggs and bacon -- but everything was GREAT! Small, diner feel --- lotsa history here folks--A Must Visit.
(5)
paul a.
This is a tiny little throwback diner with good greasy food. We went here for breakfast this morning and it was surprisingly empty. Just after we ordered, we found ourselves as the only two people in the 10 or 12 available indoor seats on a Saturday morning. I would expect it to be way more crowded. I got the breakfast burrito which was huge, but not amazingly flavorful. But the side of gravy was great. And my partner got the pancake which was again spectacular in size, but not taste. And the wait staff was a bit scatterbrained and seemed new, but I can deal with that since they were pretty genuine and friendly. Don't go here if you're a strict vegetarian. There's one tiny grill in front of the bar and there's only one set of grill utensils in use.
(3)
Bill A.
I went to Jim Denny's for breakfast about eight o'clock on a Saturday morning. I lucky to find a seat at the counter, because shortly afterwards the place filled up with standing room only. I ordered a pancake breakfast for about eight dollars, and the friendly person on the counter told me I didn't want that. What? I wanted pancakes. Why wouldn't I want the pancake breakfast? Well, she said, it's really big, enough for at least two or three people. Wait a minute, when I'm hungry, I can eat enough for two or three people... Well, She convinced me to order another breakfast that included a side of pancakes. I was in the mood for some eggs anyway. This breakfast came with your choice of potatoes. I couldn't decide between hash browns and country potatoes, so she said I could have half and half. What service! Suggesting off-the-menu changes. When the meal came, I realized she was right. The pancake "side" appeared to be two large, thick pancakes that could have been a meal in itself. I saw them making the "medium sized pancake" and it appeared to be a foot in diameter. She told me the "big pancake" was much bigger. Well, the eggs, and potatoes were delicious, and I barely finished the pancake "side". Next time I come here for breakfast, I'll have to bring help. Maybe we'll try the pancake breakfast. One more thing, for which I added a star: When two seats opened up, the counter person asked us to slide down so two people could sit together at the end. It was like a party atmosphere, with all of us changing seats and sliding our plates and silverware down the counter. I ended up talking to the people next to me for the rest of my meal.
(5)
Robert A.
The worst service ever. I walked in and there was one person and was told it would be 1 hour before she could cook anything for me. Really?? The place is 250 square feet with 10 customers and you only have one person working the grill. Wish yelp had a zero star because I would use that instead. Sorry but pass on this place.
(1)
MIKE V.
One of the best diners in town. Portions are big and the food is great. The only thing was some of the waitresses seemed they hated their lives working there and the famous giant pancake was basically touching the dirty counter when it was served to me.
(4)
China D.
Food was ok, the first time I went there in August they had a girl that worked there that was awesome, she greeted you and gave great service, but the couple times when I recently went back she wasn't there and the service was horrible. Recommend to look for the girl with the arm tattoo in a Cal hat, if she's not working go somewhere else.
(1)
Jimmy P.
Was on business for a night and felt like having a good breakfast diner style. Very small place to eat, but the atmosphere is amazing. Only seating is at the counter, which makes this place even more enjoyable. I had the ham steak, with two eggs and hashbrowns. Food reminded me of a New Jersey diner....and thats a pretty good compliment. Definitely stop by if you are in the area!
(4)
Aaron F.
Great food. Very nice people working there.
(5)
Bonny T.
The one star is for the nice lady cooking. My experience was ok. The food wasn't that great. It said all breakfast come with a biscuit and I want to add gravy. The lady told me it didn't come with it. So I paid $3.25 for a half a biscuit and a side of gravy. The hash brown not crispy and way too much salt. Sausage is like what you get at denny. The eggs were undercooked. The best thing there was the bacon. Nice and crispy. And they say the pancake was good tasted like box mix. I'm never coming again. It was a rip off and nasty.
(1)
Abel G.
Saw this on Man V Food and went with my wife. Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant. Parking is very limited but the food and staff were great. Helpful, courteous and delicious food. We had a great time and would go again. The patrons were also great. Small place, limited seating so everyone gets to talk with others.
(5)
Albert W.
It reminds me a old soda fountain place. Is it good.. it's okay... but you really go there for the history. If you want a good burger, I'd go somewhere else.
(3)
Ryan K.
This morning I decided to try Jim Denny's breakfast but got a little caught up at work, so I went back to try something else for lunch. I tried the Superburger and heavens to murgatroyd it was damn super! The fries were better this time but I am still curious to actually sit down at the place and eat to get fresh cooked fries (which i won't mind at all as long as the younger, hot waitress with the tattoo on her arm is there.) One of these days I will make it to get their breakfast though! *shakes fist* I'll get you next time pankcakes! neeexxxttt tiiimmmeee!
(5)
Austin S.
3.5 stars Came in here for lunch on a pseudo whim. I was actually looking for a breakfast spot, but by the time we got there, it was too late for breakfast and the craving had already passed. The place is a small joint, with about 8 stools at the counter, about 4 seats at the back counter, and a handful of tables outside. We were able to snag 2 stools at the counter at the end, right in front of the griddle. The young woman (maybe early-mid 20s?) taking orders was very nice and cute I might add and the lady working the griddle was on top of her game, getting the food out with speed and accuracy. I ordered the famous "Superburger" which was a 1/2 lb patty with lettuce, tomato, onions (grilled or raw) and a choice of mayo and mustard, served with a side of fries, mac salad, potato salad or.... I forget if there was anything else. I got grilled onions and I added cheese, which was extra (boo!!!). The burger was in the shape of an oval yet the bun was round *shrug* The burger was hot and fresh, then again it should be because it was cooked just a mere 3 feet from me. The shoe string fries arrived straight from the fryer and were crispy. It wasn't THE best burger I've had, but it was hot and fresh, so how can you argue with that? Slightly overpriced IMO, but not outrageous.
(3)
Bob K.
Just a more recent update. Burgers are still really good but I think the quality has slipped since the last visit..... I miss Jim : ( I have been going to Jim Denny's for about 30 yrs. God.... I can't believe its been that long. Anyhow the place has not changed much. There have been several owners. The burgers with each owner have been VERY good but will never be as good as Jim's. I used to get the super cheeseburger #1 . My mouth is watering as I speak. Things change a little in 30 years so now my wife and I split a #1 or get the smaller burger. Its important to strike up some conversations with the help. They have always been friendly and that has always added to the ambiance of this place. Also not that this is VERY casual dining and a real (not fake) throw back to the 30's and 40's. The place has the best hamburgers and buns in town.
(4)
Moo N.
So, I'm sorry to say, that things have gone downhill at this place... I went there about a year and a half ago and had the most WONDERFUL experience. This last time was not nearly as wonderful... We sat outside (loved that but wish they could have put all of the tables in the shade instead of just two of them). We wanted to get a dessert for breakfast (why not, eh?)., but they were already out... I ordered a scramble instead of an omelette (I like a bite of everything all at once) but it was brought out as an omelette and with very little cheese. The hash browns were not very crispy or delicious, more like Denny's, not the Jim Denny's I have come to know and love. For almost $30.00 for my breakfast and my husband's I expected higher quality, faster service... I don't think I will be back.
(2)
Sarah G.
I never listen. Why do I read reviews if I never listen??? I read yelp reviews and they all seem to say the pancakes are out of control. Do I believe them?? Nope! Jim-Dennys is pretty dive-y. A counter and some stools...thats about it....but thats the way I like it! When writing down your order they also ask your name (nice touch). Me and my husband both ordered the "mini breakfast". I mean it is called "mini" right??? How much food could there be. Let me just tell you, the single pancake that you get in the "mini" was humongous and oh so yummy. I don't think i can even describe how huge and thick it was...I mean it was bigger than the plate it was on! I honestly think i ate like 1/3rd of it....maybe less. The rest was all good too...eggs, bacon, good hashbrowns....it was all top notch. I have only had breakfast here but they were switching over to lunch as we were leaving and those burgers (esp the ones with chilli pilled sky high) looked delish.
(4)
Miroslav B.
What can there be said the pancakes are well, very LARGE but other than that the food is alright and there is limited seating.
(3)
R S.
I first went there in 1965 with my grandfather and he started in late 30s . This place should not be able to use the name Jim would have burnt the place down before he would leave it in hands like this !!! 3 or 4 owners after Jim and only the first that kept up the quality Jim had . I'm sorry people can not experience the original J D why ???? Would you change something that was sooo good for sooo long ?? It sucks
(1)
Winston C.
Tiny crowded greasy spoon- the menu is surprisingly unique with a couple of variations to traditional fare. Be warned- there is no restroom!
(3)
Flora D.
I've been meaning to write an update for a while now. It's time. I have not been back, but a while ago I did get a response from the owner herself! She explained some things and was very concerned with my experience. I have to express... after a recent bad experience with a really poorly run business, how refreshing and rare it is to be taken care of like that. Jim-Denny's is a small family run business and for many reasons is a great place. (Their breakfast is a greasy delight!) But best of all is the care they obviously have for their lil' diner and their family (extended family of customers included.) Thank you Jim-Denny's.
(3)
Danny K.
If you saw this on tv like I did, don't believe the hype! The venue is old, filled with old americana antiques and photos of the og Jim and crew. It's small, seating maybe 10 people comfortably. That also means you'll likely be waiting for a while, especially over the weekend. The food was good and the porportions were very generous, prices seem to be a bit high. The reason for the two stars, I could make this at home any day, so can you. If I'm out for breakfast, I'd rather have something different. At least have a secret ingredient or an old grill that gives off that old flavor. It's just simple breakfast food, one step above Dennys, but double the price. I think something was lost with the new owners. I wish I was here when the og crew was, must have been something else.
(1)
Drue C.
Let me start by saying I do not know too many restaurants that will let you walk in at 3 and serve you with no rush when they close at 3. If it was me I would be yelling that you have one minute to shove that food down your gullet and get the hell out. Maybe this is why I am not in the restaurant business and why this unassuming little landmark has been for so very long. This place has one damn good burger that comes in one "heart attack waiting to happen" size and style after another. You can pretty much get it exactly how you want it and most likely will not be able to finish it. You will then, hours later, be cutting your arm self mutilation style, possibly in hatch marks that spell out Jim-Denny's, to punish yourself for being so stupid as to let that third of a burger sit on your plate so lonely and rejected. Knock that shit off you lunatic. For a more productive self destruction you can go back and order another one as many times and as often as you want. You may die young, but it will be worth it.
(5)
Hillery G.
The Pancake was very good. I would definately eat it again.
(3)
Johnny K.
My name is jasoN and im a special needs person...I love jim dennys and the hubcap is my fave....I have a hard time reading and talking so its really nice how jessica and the other girls there take care of me and make sure im happy...I dont think i ever had a better,smarter waitress then jessica...I dont even have to ask for stuff and she just does it....I wanna open up my own jim dennys type spot some day and hire her and make a million bucks...Shes the best! I went in there today and to my suprise there was some new face there....KNowing how wonderfull they are there i was excited to meeet her....Her name was coke or crystal or something.....She was nice but jessica is my fave......................................ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
(5)
Mere M.
Obviously, this place is amazing. The food is good. The price is right. And the dining area...sucks, which in some ways adds to its charm. I usually get take out because I hate the uncertainty of knowing if I'll be able to sit or not. I HIGHLY recommend the biscuits and gravy. The pancakes are delish. And my boyfriend recently had the works and he loved it.
(5)
Mr. O.
Small, greasy to the senses, old, but not clean describes the facility. The food is from yesterday's all American diet. Big fat nasty hamburgers, fries and assorted crap. So if you have diabetes, heart disease or even cancer this place is where Americans go to remember why they are dying so fast from food we should all avoid.
(1)
Lisa W.
Had breakfast here ... ordered the daily special --- THE STACK , consisted of toast (on the side), white gravy on the bottom with hash browns, meat (choice of 3 strips of bacon or 3 links of sausage), two eggs, and cheese on top. I split this dish with my hubby --- total enough for the both of us. We also ordered a little pancake that was the size of a steering wheel! Hubby and I also split that! Coffee is decent. The staff was entertaining! The lady (I think her name was Patty) cooking was a riot --- she had a salty attitude to her staff and made fun of customers --- but sooo funny! Our waitress Monica bantered back and forth with Patty. I loved it! It was a pretty long wait because poor Patty had this crazy to go order that she had to make. But the wait was fine because we were entertained by Salty Patty! Will come back to try the burgers!
(4)
Kristin W.
Cramped space, but delicious breakfast food! The pancakes are among the best I've ever had, and they're gigantic. Everything else we ordered was great too (coffee, sausage, hash browns, eggs). I'd definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a semi-quirky breakfast spot.
(5)
Susan F.
Greasy, tasteless food. Filthy, depressing decor. Incompetent, rude servers. DON'T EAT HERE! I'd give them fewer-than-zero stars, if that were possible.
(1)
Julie D.
Jim-Denny's is great! Good food & great people! 15 seats in the entire joint make it that much more of an experience. Come strangers, leave friends.
(4)
larry c.
It is a classic place to eat..enjoy the fact we still have places like this...I was there today and it was packed with college sports directors and one of the vendors bought the house breakfast...a nice random act....we need to preserve places like this because when they are gone we are left with chains
(5)
Tiffany L.
Came here for lunch on a Friday. The girls were very business-y and not very welcoming. We sat outside which was nice; there are several bar stools inside. There are around 5-6 tables outside with umbrellas. There was a limited menu because of a festival that day. I had the breakfast sandwich with a side of hash browns and my friend got the breakfast burrito and a pancake. We split it up to share. The pancake was good and big. Moist and fluffy! We weren't able to finish it. The hash browns were tasty and crunchy the way I like them, but were soiled in oil! There was probably a teaspoon of oil left when I tried to drain it off the hash brown. The breakfast sandwich had a maple-y type of flavor. I think it was the croissant bread they used. There was nothing special about; cheese, egg and bacon. The breakfast burrito was decent, but I could have made it at home! Definitely nothing special about that either. Based on the food we ate today I would not go again. But the works omelet in the other Yelp pictures looks good! We'll have to go again when the menu isn't slimmed down. *Update* 9/22/2011 Went here again last week to try their famous The Works Omelette. My bf got one of the burgers and chili fries. Although my omelette was good, it wasn't anything special, as was the burger. It seemed like seasoning was lacking. Disappointingly, the fries were cold and the chili did not look appetizing, nor was it tasty. Lots of runny beans and no meat. A sad 2nd round, and there will not be a third.
(1)
Stephanie W.
I went to Jim Denny's this weekend while visiting my family as we desperately searched on a Saturday morning for a good, traditional breakfast. While driving through downtown, we noticed that Jim Denny's, my father's favorite hamburger place from 20 years ago, is now open of breakfast. Of course, we had to stop inside. The 3 of us sat outside at the plastic picnic tables as there is nowhere to sit inside. It has about 8 barstools and nothing else. However, the morning was warm and the outside was pleasant with little traffic on 12th street. A waitress came out, took our order, and promptly returned with coffee and tea for the three of us. We split a Works omelet ($11) and a short stack of pancakes ($4.50). We considered getting the tall stack at first, but our waitress dissuaded us because she said the short stack would be enough for us, even if we were splitting. (First time someone has ever recommended that I don't buy something). The works omelet included EVERYTHING from the list of ingredients to build your own omelet. A 3 egg omelet becomes easily enough for 3 people when you stuff it full of bacon, sausage, pepper, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, cheese and a few other things I can't remember. It came with a mountain of perfectly crispy hashbrowns. The pancake was massive and we were so happy we ordered the short stack (1 single pancake). It was about an inch and a half thick and the size of a hubcap (I am not exaggerating about the size). We split this and still had a quarter of a pancake to bring home to my grandmother. The pancake was amazingly light/fluffy for being that size and was perfectly crispy on the outside. The service was exceptionally friendly and the price came out to $25 before tax and tip. Considering this included $1.75 for a plate split and $6 for our coffees, I consider that a pretty good price for our meal. I have yet to try their burgers, but I will be back again, guaranteed. However, I must dock them 1 star because the place is just so damn small and there's rarely ever parking.
(4)
Serena Q.
Jim-Denny's breakfast makes an epic mockery of every other breakfast joint in the Sacramento-Placer-El Dorado-Yolo-Solano-Amador county area. Seriously - I dare you to tell me a better place to grab a big, old fashioned down home meal on the weekend. You can't. Hash browns are perfect. Absolutely perfect. Not soggy or too greasy. Crispy on top with a perfect consistency underneath. Eggs are like your grandma would make you when you were a kid - filled with TLC. The pancakes have been written about enough on here but let me add to the consensus that yes, they are huge. What has not been properly addressed is the fact that they are also really freaking tasty. Let's put it this was - I NEVER order pancakes (I am much more into the savory than the sweet when it comes to breakfast) but when I go to Jim Denny's I will oftentimes share a dollar pancake with my dining companion just because they are so damn good. As for lunch, you can't go wrong with any one of their awesome burgers. I quit eating meat about 4 months ago and recently had the veggie burger at Jim-Denny's and was equally satisfied. Now, I am not one of these crazy vegetarians who won't eat anything that even touches meat, so I could care less about the fact that they cook the veggie patty on their famed grill. The veggie patty is covered with perfectly grilled mushrooms and onions, and the whole wheat bun is smeared with avocado. I was feeling like a fatty, so I even ordered cheddar cheese. I ate every bite and walked out moaning about the deliciousness. They also do daily specials and these are oftentimes the way to go. The soups are always homeade and really, really good too.
(5)
Jen L.
Jim-Denny's is a great place for breakfast AND lunch! My dining buddy and I made a nice leisurely visit last Wednesday morning. It wasn't too crowded, and the street parking was decent for a weekday (parking was metered). We sat at the counter, which is the only and the best seat in the house. (There's outdoor seating, but it was too cold that day.) JD's has an authentic "diner" feel to it. Servers/Cooks were nice and friendly - but mind your manners and don't give any sass. Any self-respecting patron of a diner would know that servers at places like JD's, which are old-school diners dishing good food - can also dish out something else too. :) It's part of the charm and locals like me appreciate it. (There was lively banter amongst the customers and the JD's staff - and it was HILARIOUS, warm, and family-like - which makes this place even better.) For breakfast - my friend and I ordered: ME: "Scott's Just Right Breakfast " - 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, potatoes, and 1 pancake. **WARNING** = Pancake is the size of a steering wheel. The other reviewers were NOT kidding about this one. The LARGE pancake was delicious and fluffy. Not doughy. I barely made a dent in it. My only criticism is that the potatoes were really bland. Everything else was perfect. Next time, I'll order the more manageable "PJ's Little Breakfast". FRIEND: Ordered an omelet. He chose his own fixin' which was spinach, apple-sausage, cheese, and mushrooms. My friend enjoyed the omelet and the portion was so bug, only 2/3 of it was eaten. Coffee is freshly brewed. One of the servers kindly chopped my pancake into quarters, so I can take it home. Yes, I barely made a dent in my pancake. :P Overall - friendly and fast service, awesome diner ambiance, and super solid food. Don't come here if you're on a diet and get easily tempted by the greasy menu items. Also, I'm not sure if the syrup for the pancakes is *real maple syrup*, but at a place like JD's - who cares?. This is not a place for the pretentious. 'll be back again for the burgers (it's been awhile) and will certainly do another review. :)
(4)
Cranky Greg M.
This place is great, but very small. Inside dining is a bar and a very tight squeeze. I ate outside in what is basically the parking lot on plastic tables, but yesterday was such a gorgeous day, I sure as hell wasn't complaining. Our waitress was outstanding. She was very friendly and attentive. Jim-Denny's has the biggest pancakes I have ever seen. I got one pancake and couldn't eat it all, and I usually eat everything. My eggs were good and so was the bacon and coffee. Everyonein my party was satisfied. One word of warning: this isn't a place to hurry and eat and go. It takes a while for the food, and if you have a party of more than two, the food arrives when it is ready, not at the same time. That's not a problem with me if I am not in a hurry, and if it isn't a problem with you, I suggest you get on down to Jim-Denny's and have yourself a damn good breakfast!!
(4)
T. C.
After a failed date attempt here (it would actually be a terrible place for a date, I don't know what I was thinking, even if you were trying for something original and kitchsy. You would either sit inside and walk out smelling like a grease trap or you could sit outside and dodge kids who were trying to play tag in the parking lot), I ended up going with a co-worker. The burgers are massive. My coworker and I got the "special" burger that was being feature which involved french fries in the burger, split an order of fries and chili beans (our brilliant idea was to make chili fries on our own). We couldn't even fit them in our mouths and like 5 year olds, had to ask the kitchen for a knife so we could cut the burgers in half. The chili was pretty darn good although too saucy to make proper chili fries ourselves. I went back to work and promptly fell asleep under my desk. I also didn't eat again for the rest of the week. Yum yum in my tum tum but be prepared to weigh an additional five pounds upon leaving. Also, bring wetnaps. Lots and lots of wetnaps.
(4)
corrine b.
I went to this place thinking it would be awesome considering all the 5 star reviews on this website, but was very unimpressed when I went. While most of the employees were very friendly, the one cooking the burgers had an attitude with both the customers and his coworkers. I also saw him put one of the cooking utensils on the ground and kick it (hopefully he was not planning on using it again until it got washed...). Speaking of dirty, my boyfriend noticed lots of dirt and dust on the floor, windowsills, and ledge near the grill. I would have liked to know what kind of sanitation rating they got. They used what looked like frozen burger patties, and you could definitely taste something funky in the meat. I got a mouthful of gristle at one point in my meal. Honestly, if the burgers were at least good, I would have been able to look past all the other problems there, but they weren't. At all. We ordered 2 burgers and 2 fries to-go and it took- get this- 35 minutes to receive our meals! It was ridiculous! The cook was grilling a maximum of two burgers at a time on the grill when he could have easily fit at least five or six. No one tried at all to hurry things along. Not to mention, it was a little spendy. 25 bucks for two burgers and two fries. I will not go back to this place again.
(1)
samantha s.
Well, things have changed a bit since the last time I was here. The food is good, but not great, and for the price, you'd expect great. Not a bad place though if you're in the area (which I am), but I wouldn't make a trek to get there. Now I haven't tried breakfast. If it's a great as I hear, I'll add another star for sure.
(3)
Sarah T.
3.5 stars if I could - gets the 4 because of the potential. We headed to Jim Denny's today - hoping to get breakfast. Alas, they stop serving b-fast at 12pm and we rolled in at 12:20pm. We re-grouped quickly though and went for the Double Jack and the Pastrami Sandwich with Chili Cheese Fries. As an East Coaster I should have known better ordering a pastrami sandwich in CA, but for California Pastrami it was good enough and I was hungry. MB's burger was really great though. Save the burger, everything seemed a little underseasoned for my taste, especially the pastrami. Also, the roll was flimsy even though it was lovingly toasted by the woman preparing our food, and there was not enough cheese on the chili cheese fries. Pluses - the place couldn't be more adorable, the menu selection is varied and the service is attentive and lively. The Diet Coke comes in HUGE cups with the perfect amount of crushed ice. We had a great time and will absolutely go back to Jim Denny's.
(4)
Food S.
The $11.50 'The Works' omelet didn't have the same ingredients as shown in the TV show. The hash browns were average at best. The same goes for the omelet. It tasted only average at best. Nevertheless, the large pancake was very good.
(3)
Ryan R.
Good but overhyped. I'd probably give them a 3.5 if I could but I rounded up to 4 because of their supposed historical significance. My wife and I went there for breakfast and were immediately surprised at how small it is. Seriously its really, really small! Not a bad thing but something to keep in mind if you were thinking of bringing a large group. The food came really quickly and its cool that you can sit and watch them make it. The atmosphere was certainly unique and that gave it big points in my book. The problem was the food. It wasn't bad. It just didn't seem like anything special. My wife's breakfast burrito was good. But we've both had better at burrito shops. I had the "Just right" breakfast with a downgraded pancake. The pancake was fantastic. Better than pancake circus. Probably the best I've ever had honestly. The hash browns were crispy, the way I like them, but seemed to be lacking in flavor. The eggs were cooked softer than I ordered them and didn't taste like much. The sausage was mediocre and the bacon was good but not great. Overall the meal was solid all around but the only thing that stood out was the pancakes. This all would have been more tolerable if it weren't for the fact that the food seemed just a tad overpriced for what you got. Not ridiculous but we walked out with a bill of about 20 dollars. Frankly most of the reason I'm giving it 4 stars is for ambiance. It really is a pretty cool little place and its certainly worth going once. I'm not sure I'll be back.
(4)
Lucius M.
Yummy Everything omelette. Ordered one for two of us and it was plenty. The staff was plenty attentive, but be patient because there's going to be a wait.
(5)
Helena W.
Went here for lunch with two friends and it was very busy at 11am on a Wednesday. We all ordered regular cheeseburgers and milkshakes but I ordered my cheeseburger with grilled onions. Everything was cheesy, greasy, and good. I am picky about my grilled onions and I'm glad Jim-Denny's took the time to grill them until they were nicely browned and caramelized. The milkshakes were thick and they had a variety of flavors (I got peanut butter and it was just the right amount, not too overwhelming). You can eat inside at the counter but there are not that many stools. Outside they have wobbly patio tables with umbrellas. The portions were big, the staff was friendly, never hesitating to getting us extra napkins (which you will need!), but would I eat there more than once a week like most of the regulars? Probably not because I would hate to be the youngest in my family to die of a heart attack. But if you're looking good, greasy, diner food, this is a great find.
(4)
Derek S.
the food was not only large, but very tastey as well. the tire spoke can definitely be shared with another person. the pancake was moist, fluffy and cooked to perfection. both the bacon and sausage were good, so you can't go wrong either way. the staff was friendly, funny and very entertaining. if you sit outside, be aware that the homeless people in the area will try to come up to your table and ask for money.
(4)
A G.
Cheap with huge portions. I just got oatmeal and fresh fruit, but my boyfriend got an omelette packed with cheese and came with huge pieces of Texas style toast. The guys next to us got the dollar pancakes which spilled over the large plate they were on. Got there a few minutes after opening on a thursday and it was empty, which added to the cozy-comfortable vibe.
(4)
Leticia M.
I see this place everyday on my way to work off the lightrail and have worked at the Cal/EPA for over 2 years now and finally had the courage to step in a couple weeks ago. I'll be honest, from the outside it looked a little shady. I've been there 4 times since then and love it. The inside is not what you would think it is, it's really nice and clean and had a classic diner feel to it. I had the double burger with a side of fries the first time around, and eventually got to eat the 5 cent burger with a side of chili the next 2 times, and a pancake just today. All their food is really flavorful and delicious. The staff is so friendly and fun, and although the food is a bit pricey (which is the only downside), it's extremely filling, which I think totally makes up for it. I also love all the choices of sides you are allowed to choose from with the burgers and sandwhiches. The options are a big cup of chili, potato salad, green salad something else I'm probably forgetting, and fries. The restaurant is EXTREMELY SMALL, and it sucks because EVERYWHERE downtown is crowded as hell if you eat anywhere from 11:30 to 1:00. I started going there at 1:45 or 2:30 for lunch and it is a huge relief not having to stand in line, so I advise to wait to eat later, especially with this place, during the week. I will be back at this place again and again I'm sure.
(4)
Nina H.
I really like the atmosphere at Jim Denny's. It's such a small little place with only a couple of seat and the people working there are all pretty nice. The people eating there seem like they are all pretty relaxed. It's what a diner should be, just miniaturized. As for the food, it's pretty good. I've been here once for lunch and today for breakfast. I decided today was pancake day, I wanted to try these amazing pancakes at Jim Denny's. I went around my office and picked up order, I had about 5 total and phoned them in. One person had ordered the short stack, basically one of the normal- huge pancakes. When I listed this the person over the phone was like, "that's one pancake", and I was like yea that's what he wants. So then she was like, "you realize it'll take a long time right to make", I ask her how long and she says 20 min, and I tell her that's fine. And then she says "Are you sure, it's the size of a tire rim." So I asked the guy again if he wanted it, and so he went the next size down. The mini. She tells me the order should be ready in 45 min. I come in 45 min to pick it up and it is all bagged (Three bags. from the looks of it we looked like we could be feeding 10 ppl not just 5), they still need to tally the account, which they did, and I pay for the items. Now the food, I had the Mini Jim and a side of bacon. The pancake itself overflowed out of the styrofoam, it was huge. For $2, it was a great deal, but it was just an ok pancake, but what can you expect? You can't expect a $10 pancake for $2. It was a bit too dense for my liking but it was still good. I'd get it again if I wanted a quick pancake. The bacon was also surprisingly good, it was not the super thin wimpy kind I had expected. But a pretty thick crunchy piece that was not burnt. Yay! Co-workers got the one egg breakfast with an english muffin and potatoes (said it was good, but nothing special), PJ's just a little breakfast (It was huge- came in two boxes, I think he got like a pound of potatoes (and it says half order) I think he liked it..., biscuits and gravy (this looked actually surprisingly good to me country gravy with what looked like mushrooms over a biscuit), and the works omelette (I was disappointed when I saw this, it was supposed to be massive according to the reviews but it barely filled half the box, it came with a side of hash browns (in the same box), and a biscuit (But the biscuit wasn't there! We were shorted a biscuit!!! She told me she liked the omelet but also thought it would be bigger she had seen pics b4 so maybe the portion for takeout is just smaller? Cost is the same though...) I felt bad about the biscuit bc I hadn't checked the orders to verify if everything was there, too many bags and boxes. So for breakfast pretty good, but not mind blowing. Kind of sad co-worker was talked out of the regular size pancake there... I wanted to see it for novelty sake, esp since the mini was so huge. Next time... I've also tried the hamburger in the past, I had the small burger, like the 50 cent one that costs like $5.50. It was pretty good, very greasy and small. I like that they will grill onions on request and they come out really nice. The chili here was also really good. It's nice and thick with a good flavor and I like eating the melted cheese on the top. I'd def come back to this place since it is so close to work and convenient. But I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here and eat. I would def say a solid three stars.
(3)
Jo E.
This place is small from the outside, and tiny from the inside. There are 10 seats at the counter, and a few more behind. My friend and I had arrived for a Saturday morning breakfast, and we were happy that there were 2 of the last seats available by the phone when we walked in. I ordered the #4, and the guy that took my order (one of 2 people who were working the joint) warned me that the size pancake that came with it would use up all the batter they had in the place (joking, of course.). I finished most of my meal, and was pleased that they ginormous pancake was still pretty light for being so huge- and it was cooked on the hot plate perfectly- slightly crispy at the edges, even, and not at all raw in the middle. The coffee was good and the refills came easily. My order was supposed to come with 2 bacon and 2 sausage, but I was mistakenly served all bacon. When I pointed it out, they cooked some sausage for me right away and fixed the problem without the typical eye-roll. Good thing, because the bacon was a little too limp for my liking. Even though the temperature of the establishment was a bit chilly, I figured that as the hours went on, the inside must get pretty warm. It's super tiny, and the one cooking surface is right there behind the bar- which I am sure heats up the joint pretty quick, especially in the summer months. I enjoyed watching the lady that runs the restaurant cracking eggs and flipping pancakes- it felt like I was at someones house and Mom was cooking up a tasty meal for me and my friends. Super casual ambiance, and the food's not so bad either.
(4)
Charlie F.
A few months ago my most cherished dining partner and I were invited to a wedding in the great city of Sacramento (*snicker*). Since I'm far too cheap to pay $30 for the two of us to take a shuttle to our hotel, I had my good college buddy Joey pick us up with the lure of free food. Primarily hunting for brunch food in downtown Sacramento, we stumbled across a large sign. JIM- DENNY's Lunch The ragged looking shack filled with people sitting at a counter top pushed us to figure out why people were eating here (that and no other restaurant seemed to be open at 10am as well as an awesome looking metal chicken). This restaurant is a great example of a restaurant that lives on the idea of a short order cook. Greasy, big and hearty portions of food heaped on large heavy plates. Since the inside was completely packed (and smokey, greasy, and hot) we sat outside on a cool Sacramento morning. Yes, you're absolutely right, their outside looks like the outdoor furnishing section of a Target/Wal-Mart. These seats were not at all comfortable... which only got worse due to the food taking 30+ minutes to come out. Was the food worth the wait? I'm not going to lie to you dear reader, at a restaurant like this you will not be blown away by the complex layers of flavor or the teasing of your taste buds with ingredients that tickle your grain. What you get are big portions of decent food at a decent price. First up, the breakfast burrito. This burrito was so large, they couldn't fully wrap it up.. so you couldn't lift it up and bite into it. It's served with salsa, guac, and sour cream. The burrito is filled with sausage, ham, potatoes, egg, tomatoes, pepper, and cheese. Nothing was undercook/overcooked, it was properly seasoned. All check marks for your standard breakfast burrito. Next up, the oiliest dish I have ever laid my eyes on. A Breakfast Croissant sandwich. Stuffed with a 6 strips of bacon, egg, cheddar cheese and super buttery croissant, the sandwich made me fat just by looking at it. But what more can you ask for? When you want a breakfast sandwich it has all the ingredients necessary. I'd like a few slices of tomatoes, but *shrug* I think the purveyors of the restaurant would disagree and take away from the idea of "FATTENING LARGE PORTIONS". Now comes Jim Denny's version of Denny's Grand Slam breakfast. This is a major league grand slam, not a AA minor league one from Denny's. Heaps of crisp hash brown, thick sausage, perfectly runny sunny eggs that just drip over the has browns, and delicious thick bacon. To top it off, the largest pancake I have ever laid my eyes on. (Knife used to show how large it was) I could not even finish half of this pancake. It was so thick, doughy, and sweet.. mouthfuls of happiness. Mr. Pancake face approves of this large and filling meal!
(4)
Larry P.
I waited in line for over a 1/2 hour because I wanted to try their "famous burger". What a huge let down. the burger tasted like grease and had absolutly no seasoning, not even salt and pepper. Just where did all the hype come from? All the reviews I read talked about the large portions but I didn't see this. the fries were the same size as a small fry at McDonalds and the lettuce,onion and tomato was almost non existant.
(1)
Jason G.
Pretty good breakfast - the standard 2 eggs, 2 sausages, 2 bacon, potatoes, and a "mini pancake." The pancake was a little over done and not as fluffy and flavorful as last time.
(3)
Samantha L.
Pros: -Humongous hubcap pancake (approximately 5 full pancake meals) -Large omelet with choice of add-ins (I chose chillies, peppers, mushrooms, onions) -Watching the meal being cooked right in front of you. Cons: -I saw the Krusteaz (pancake) mix; why don't they make them from scratch? -My toast was forgotten. When I got it, I wasn't offered jelly either. -Salsa (taste like Pace) was not brought out even when requested. -Limited seating, sticky also. -Staff talks/gossips about their personal lives while working and some of it doesn't seem very appropriate) My overall opinion is that there are much better breakfast options in Sacramento. But if you are going to come anyway, check-in on Foursquare for $5 off your purchase of $10 or more.
(2)
Mike O.
This place is amazing. A true traditional spoon that is tiny, cramped, not open for business enough, filled with staff who are yelling at each other... but it's so worth it. The atmosphere alone would be enough to make this place the coolest place in town, but it turns out the food is mind blowing diner food, too. Be warned - the food does go down hard and will sit in your gut a while, but that's part of the charm. I love every single bit of this place. It kills me. Wish it was open more often, but I take what I can get!
(5)
Robert H.
Don't waste your time horrible service, the person taking orders didn't know how a line works. Stood there for 10 minutes was totally ignored, then left when they took orders from people who came in after me.
(1)
Jana C.
Mystery solved: under new management for half year now.. hence the reason why this is going *under* and sinking faster than the Titanic. Playing solely on the laurels of its long-standing history...that plus the fact that Man vs. Food stopped by for a showing once upon a time. TSK How can they get away charging Rudy's Cant Fail cafe prices when there's nothing to show for the rip-off, save an above average experience flapjack? Service was agonizingly slow (many walked out while waiting), place is so small, there isn't a bathroom to be had (total seating is about 15, *uncomfortably*... They messed up on my order, this after 23 minutes of waiting for a 'smaller order' breakfast. No apologies for giving me hash browns instead of the "extra crispy" home potatoes I ordered. The fired me up some, and by the time I held my bacon and soft egg at bay for it, they came to me BARELY EVEN COOKED THROUGH---forget the extra crispy! I'll not return again. Indubitably one of the places in my hometown which don't deserve anything but a scolding. Horrible experience...came away mumbling under my breath that I even left a tip above 10%.
(1)
Natali K.
Very lazy staff. Came at 1pm and was told they stopped serving breakfast even though the sign says they serve breakfast until 2:30pm.
(1)
Joseph C.
I thought the pancake was gonna b dry on the inside cuz of its size but it was moist and fantastic. Awesome hole in the wall joint
(5)
Gerardo F.
Overall, i'd say that Jim-Denny's was a decent experience. As the mighty Adam Richman did in ManVFood, I went there for the ^pancakes. They were certainly big, but not as big as I'd imagined, but it was still pretty good. I also got coffee and orange juice (not the best I've had, but still tasty), as well as eggs and bacon that were ok. But what drags this joint down are the mediocre service, dirtiness of the table, and excruciating smel of grease that infests the entire restaurant.
(3)
Sarah I.
Stopped by for lunch today at 2 an was super excited to try them. When we walked in you could immediately feel the tension of the staff not wanting to serve another customer. We ordered the turkey sandwich only to be told they ran out of turkey earlier in the day. How do you run out earlier in the day when 1/2 your lunch items have turkey? I worked in restaurants and we always went out and made sure we had the product needed to serve the customer. I would imagine if I had asked for a burger they would have told me they were out of beef. Poor staff attitude and poor service won't have me coming back here anytime soon.
(1)
Caitlin S.
Time-warp! Places like this don't seem to exist around town anymore. Small place, one counter and some outside tables. Small menu - sandwiches and melts for lunch. Fries, of course. Shakes. I tried one of each and took a seat by the cook at the counter - right by the door. Call me anachronistic, but I like sitting practically shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers. It makes me feel part of the Sacramento community. The food was good too. Nothing incredible - but my BLT was very solid and the shake was a level more. Jim-Denny's is good for a casual lunch, great for people watching and essential for getting at Sacramento's vibe.
(4)
Brian N.
Mmmmmm good. Got a 3 egg omelette that looked like 5 eggs. Me and my girl are stuffed. Took 25 min to get food but worth it sitting outside was nice.
(5)
Ryan F.
This place has a nice, old school diner feel. Be warned that there's no air conditioning so while they do their best with tons of fans it gets pretty hot in the tiny little restaurant. Worth going to for the experience, but I don't see becoming a regular. The prices are reasonable and the food is good, but it's not spectacular or particularly noteworthy in any way.
(4)
Sara B.
Amazing! I can't say enough good things about this place. Came for the first time and will be back many more! The staff are so friendly and personable. They have nailed customer service. Janice's jalapeño poppers (on Wednesdays) are a must! Such a fantastic addition to the menu. Best we've had. Whether you're in the mood for breakfast or lunch, you can't go wrong!
(5)
Sam L.
Been here for 6 days and was frustrated because I could not find any farmer's market. Suddenly I looked up and saw some kid running around with happy parents around. then I parked my bike and opened the door of the rather small isolated building and it was full of people eating what seemed to be breakfast. so I figured that I would eat there. So I stepped outside (to keep an eye on my bike), and asked the extremely friendly patrons and workers, family and friends run business what was good (great!). Being American or some derivation of it, the food was amazingly tasty! The beans on my chili fries were freshly made (not canned) and the chicken strips tasted better, in the unique Bina sandwich. The only thing was the wait time between ordering and serving was long-- but it was well worth it.
(4)
Kelly N.
Excellent food! The best breakfast we have had since moving to the Sacramento area almost 2 years ago.
(5)
Jessica S.
I've now been to Jim-Denny's twice and both times the service was very personable and friendly. I ordered the Double Burger and the Patty Melt respectively, and on the most recent visit I also tried the Jalapeno Poppers. The Jalapeno Poppers were interesting. They were half a Jalapeno stuffed with Sausage and Cream Cheese and wrapped in bacon, then deep fried. Very tasty. The Double Burger had good toppings and the quality of meat was easy to spot, however the meat itself had no really good distinguishing flavor making the while thing rather tasteless. It was surprising since you could see the quality of the food was fairly high. The Patty Melt was two meat patties covered in cheese, onions, and thousand island sauce toasted on rye with vegetable toppings. Again the meat was flavorless and took away from the rest of the potential flavors of the meal. In the end the potential was there for greatness, but both times it came down to the seasoning used on the meat patties. I've heard better thing regarding their breakfast, so that might be a better bet, though I don't see me attempting the restaurant in the near future, except for some Wednesday Poppers.
(3)
Ernestine B.
Such a dissapointment. My boyfriend and I have been excited to come and try the famous hub cap for quite a while now since seeing the restaraunt on Food Network, but this morning was a complete disaster for our brunch. We parked about a block away and fed the meter for an hour, which should have been plenty of time to get in and out and enjoy brunch on a thursday morning, right?... wrong! We didn't mind walking in to see a small family waiting and another young couple in front of us. We didn't mind the fact that we had to stand in a really small walkway that forced me into the back corner when people were trying to walk in and out the door. What we did not appreciate was the fact that we had been there for 20 minutes and no one behind the counter ever greeted us when the sign clearly states "Enter as strangers, leave as friends." There were no smiles to be seen the entirety of our dining experience. Before we even got seated we had to help get some seats bussed and cleared of dishes, which wouldn't have irked me if maybe there was a sign saying please help the staff by clearing your own dishes or if someone had spoken a word or two to us besides "what would you like?" After we sat down no one acknowledged us for a good 5 or 10 minutes... not even for a glass of water. When we finally were acknowledged the young girl who was taking our order was neither friendly nor polite and looked like she hated her job. That's too bad cause there are a lot of people who would love to have her job. Two ladies who were probably regulars because they were obviously state workers had come in behind us in line, and were getting their order written up before us when my boyfriend finally spoke up and said "hey do you mind taking our order, we were here before they were?" Normally we would'nt care about something like that but we are still on the meter outside and it had already been a half hour since we stepped inside. I ordered the Hub Cap and my boyfriend ordered the lasagna and asked if they could hold the onions but they were unable to accomadate his desire for no onions so he ordered the Breakfast burrito and a chocolate milkshake instead. Trying to make peace with the ladies behind us in line my boyfriend graciously bussed the seats in the back corner that had been unbussed by the patrons who had left their mess and hadn't bothered to take it to the front counter (the staff should have been on top of that anyways, not my boyfriend) he asked the 2 ladies if they would like to sit after he had cleared the table and they said "no we're not staying." Maybe they were the smart ones because a few minutes later their was a mix up between the young man serving us and them our milkshakes and it became a scene. Finally 20 minutes later the same 2 ladies that ordered after us had gotten their food and left. We were fuming by that point. My boyfriend got served his breakfast burrito 10 minutes before my Hub cap came. (which in our experience is a big restaraunt no no, we should have been served at the same time. I had to go back out to the car and feed the meter for another 45 minutes just to be sure we would have enough time. The food was only ok. The burrito contained hash browns that were'nt really browned but dark on one side and uncooked on the other and it was light on the bacon. My pancake was huge and wouldn't fit on any plate that they had (weird) but only ok but nothing to write home about. We paid as soon as we could fearing that it would take long time to get our boxes and go. My boyfriend wanted to speak to the manager but after he saw how disorganized and disaarayed he was, we decided to just let yelp do the talking. In short we will never come to Jim Denny's again. P.S.I get it that sometimes you get busy but it takes 1 second to smile at a brand new customer.
(1)
Raf G.
Food was ok, I would give it 3 stars, but for a bacon cheese burger with avocado, fries and a cup of chili, $15 is more than most restaurants charge for a nice sitdown meal. For such a small place with outside plastic tables you'd think it'd be much less. Food was ok and good, but for those prices I think not... waaay too expensive for this ambiance... Pish Posh! LOL
(2)
Lori I.
Lots of food. Too much hype. I arrived at 7:03am on a Saturday morning. At first we were the only ones there, so I thought I had the wrong place. When you walk into this tiny little shack, there are maybe only 10-12 seats total. This place has gone through many changes of ownership during its 77 year run, but my only experience was a few weeks ago and while it was pleasant and I enjoyed my food, I don't get why it was featured on the Food Network except that this place offers a TON of food, but no official food challenge (YET).... I ordered the BACON WITH EGGS AND HASH BROWNS which were good home cooking. Nothing fancy here. We also had THE HUBCAP WITH SPOKES, which is the largest fluffiest pancake I've ever seen, with your choice of bacon or sausage (or we chose 3 of each), and your choice of egg. You need to eat it "rip n dip" style so that your pancakes don't get soggy, because even for the largest eaters, you will end up taking most of this pancake home. There was a guy who stopped in and wanted to eat something to help him get to Lake Tahoe on his bike (!!) but this might be the wrong place to look for something like that because I just wanted to go back to sleep after I left this place.
(3)
Valerie B.
I had terrible service when I visited the other day. I came in a little before lunch service so it was not extremely busy, but the whole 30+min I waited for my meal there were flies everywhere and the counters were not cleaned at all. I walked out before my food even arrived. I would like to try this place out again, but not anytime soon.
(1)
Valerie L.
LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!!! Unfortunately I didn't even have the opportunity to eat at this burger joint because they were closed! My rating is based purely on Jim-Denny's false advertisement! Their website (and Yelp) clearly says they are opened seven days a week from 7am to 3pm, so when I arrived today (Monday) at 11:30am I was not expecting a sign on the door that said closed...waste of my time!!!
(1)
Ryan H.
Decided to try it since we were in the area. The inside was so packed that there was no where to sit even with a few empty chairs there were just to many people at the counter to squeeze by. The employees were friendly and we ended up eating outside. I got the hubcap "huge" pancake with eggs and sausage. It was average nothing really special. My only complaint about eating outside were the people just staring at us waiting for us to leave so they can have our table. Kinda felt like we were at a zoo. It also kinda makes you feel like an ass when you see homeless people digging through trash cans across the way and people are eating a quarter of a pancake the size of a car tire then throwing the rest away.
(3)
Kris S.
very small place, but it delivers with food. I had a really good breakfast burrito from this place, will return on my next visit to Sacramento.
(4)
Luis S.
This place is a hidden gem! Don't be fooled by the exterior, this is high quality diner food. Had the Big Breakfast with hashbrowns and a mini pancake, & Small Breakfast with bacon and cheese home fries. Bacon was meaty and good. There is nothing "mini" about their flapjack. It was the circumference of a large plate. Fluffy and delicious. I'm coming back to take their Challenge!
(5)
LeeLee L.
Where to start..... hmmm lets start with the rude ass server with red and black hair. She had no type of customer service and she had this bitch look on her face through our whole visit there which was about an hour and a half because it took them forever to even remember that we were ready to go. She seemed as if she was not happy about working and was super non enthusiastic. As far as the food, it was ok. Worth the wait, definitely NOT! I could of had a better meal at IHOP or even at Mcdonalds, on top of that they forgot about a part of my order so when it came to pay I let another know that I never got my potatoes and the red head looked at me crazy. I honestly felt like slapping her. Thankfully we finally got out of there. This was my first and ABSOLUTELY my last visit to Jim-Denny's I hope that place reads this and gives a training on customer service.
(1)
Paul E. G.
Limited space food is worth the wait! The service SUCKS! But if your a hood it seems the girls will take care of you! lol Can you say cheeeeese burger!!!
(4)
Josh E.
Just went here for the first time yesterday afternoon. A buddy of mine really digs the food, plus I had seen this place on Man Vs Food, so I was interested in trying it out. It really is a little hole in the wall, tiny little place. If there is more than 5 people in there, you are gonna be pretty much elbow to elbow. First off...the coffee was pretty good, which is the first thing I look for in a good breakfast place. I chose the big pancake with eggs, sausage and bacon. The portion is gigantic. They have to put down 4 different place mats for this meal, because the normal sized plates they use are nowhere near large enough to contain the huge portion. You are cutting your pancake up on a place mat, on the table. The pancake was nice and fluffy and they cooked my eggs perfectly. All in all, I was not blown away and really don't see what all the hoopla is about. It was ok. To me, the portion size thing is nothing but gimmick and I will never order it again. My buddy got an omelet (which was also quite large) that looked and smelled amazing. I also saw and smelled the dishes of other patrons around me, all amazing. For now I give the place 4 stars because I am eager to get back there and try some of these other dishes. The only other thing I would say about this place, is that if it is busy, I will definitely keep walking. Its just too small to handle any volume of customers
(4)
Isaiah M.
This place sucks. Plain and simple. Terrible food, worst service imaginable, no pancake can salvage getting ignored in a tiny 8 seat restaurant! You can't edit your order at all, the potatoes and eggs I got were very sub par, and as I said before, the service was just absolutely unacceptable. The restaurant is set up for close, personal contact with the cooks and staff, but when they just leave you and acknowledge you only to give you the check (no coffee refills or anything!), I gotta say leaves a pretty bad taste in your mouth. Definitely worst dining experience I've had in a while.
(1)
Jose Luis C.
This reminds me of the old Squeeze Inn location on Fruitridge. You are really packed in tight, and there's only seats for maybe 10 people at the bar. Quaint, but maybe get there a little earlier or later. My friend got the garlic swiss burger and liked it. I got the double patty "Super" with cheese and bacon add-ons, fries, and a Pepsi. Delicious! Confusingly, all the burgers are labeled "Super Burgers," so even though I ordered a single patty super burger, the waitress served me the double patty "Super" burger (especially named "super") and had no apologies for the confusion. And the customer service is generally that flavor:: "What can I get ya?" with no smiles or niceties. Frankly, that's expected at a greasy spoon. But they should really fix the menu. Only one burger is super. Also, I saw the leftovers of somebody's gigantic pancake. It was easily 20 inches in diameter, hanging over the sides of the plate like a limp sombrero hat brim. Crazy. This place probably got an extra star just because I LOVE the fine crushed ice they put in the sodas. It reminds me of old timey restaurants. They also offered me a to-go cup for my soda, a nice touch. Overall, they're a little brusk, but the food is great and I would go back.
(4)
Caitlin R.
I went there for breakfast with my husband. The food was really good - good old fashioned breakfast. The pancakes were the best I have ever had, I have no idea what makes them so good, but they were fantastic. The portions are huge! My husband and I could could have shared one of our breakfast meals. My main problem with this place (and why they only got three stars) was because of the service. It took 45 minutes to get our breakfast - which was nothing fancy and shouldn't have taken that long. Another group of people had to ask for theirs to go because they ran out of time to sit and eat. They had good food and great pancakes, but nothing so fantastic that I want to spend an hour and half (minimum) having breakfast. They should at least warn about how slow they are. The server/woman at the window was very nice - she kept apologizing for the wait and it seemed like she was embarrassed abut how slow our food was being prepared. I doubt I will be coming back.
(3)
Scott A.
Jim Denny's was fun. Saw a guy order a Hub Cap pancake and it was jaw dropping big....At least enough to feed a family of 4. I split a chili burger with my wife and my son loved his pastrami sandwich. I would go 5 stars, but the fries seemed like frozen ore-idas. This place was rocking on a Saturday morning. Incredibly small and old school. Wait was about 30 minutes, but worth it.
(4)
Danielle A.
I understand that the service is, well, nonexistent, but at least toss a glance at us and maybe we can order. A glance! Please? I'm so hungry. (On another note, their breakfast is so-so.)
(2)
Ryan T.
Showed up ordered our breakfast, after 45 min the cook started saying about 5 min left. Every 10 min he would come out and say almost ready. We waited 1 hour and 16 min and walked out. I literally thought we were being punked or something. Ridiculous service. So much for our annual tradition
(1)
Arm-n-Meg H.
Great "the works" omelette. French toast was really good with peanut butter and banana.
(4)
Dave S.
This place is awesome! The food is amazing, and the portions are just ridiculous. The pancakes are possibly the best plain pancakes I've had. I took off 1 star because the wait can be long if it's crowded, because they only have one cooking area. The prices are a little more than I would hope for, but still reasonable for how much you get. This is my favorite place to eat breakfast!
(4)
Kyle H.
Great food and service. Never had problem or issue with the food. I recommend the breakfast burrito.
(5)
Nancy M.
I went on January 4th around 10 am for breakfast, it was closed!
(1)
M W.
My, my, this is a pretty good breakfast spot. It's a bit of a hole in the wall, but it adds to the character of the place. It serves gigantic sized pancakes that actually look pretty darn good. I haven't had their giant cakes, but the regular sized ones are darn good. Fluffy and moist. Their breakfast burritos are tasty too. Though the food isn't special - it tastes pretty good. It must be the old griddle or something. I'm not sure, but it is good wholesome food. The portions are big so it is a calorie breaker. The area isn't the best, but it is safe to eat outside. I've only been on a Sunday - so it is pretty empty downtown. During week, it is probably busy on the streets, so much more lively if that is something you'd prefer.
(4)
Chrissie O.
So I read the reviews and noticed the mix between good and bad reviews and more bad reviews with the change of ownership. I still decided to give it a shot since this restaurant was right next to the hotel I was staying at. This place was made popular by man vs. food. I haven't seen the episode and I was not about to take that challenge. The pancake is huge. I saw them making a large pancake next to two little ones and that's just scary to eat. For the price, it's better to share pretty much anything on their menu.. I ordered the breakfast burrito. My mistake was that I didn't speak up. I told the girl that was making my food that I wanted sausage and not bacon in my food, but this other girl cooked it with bacon... I even saw it written on the order slip. I decided to eat it anyways and I wasn't a fan. Plus crunchy = broken egg shells. ugh gagg. Even if they were to remake it, I wouldn't want to eat it. It was just made very sloppy. I took a few bites then I was done. I think I would've been happier with a pancake. It did look good when I saw them making it and it didn't have eggs so I wouldn't have had to deal with broken egg shells.. I also thought it would be more popular on a Saturday morning. I slept in and woke up an hour after they opened so I went to the restaurant right away and it was dead. I thought to myself, "nobody likes breakfast in Sacramento?" I didn't get it and then I understood why. If you want to take the challenge then do it, if not then try to find another restaurant to have breakfast at.
(1)
Kimberly G.
Worst experience of my life. Terrible service and the food isn't good enough to forgive it. My coffee cup sat empty for 20 minutes because the waitresses were more into their own conversation rather than my needs. I ordered a pancake to see what all the hoopla was about and it was just about the worse pancake I've ever had. I've made better batter fall-down drunk. It was dry, not blended all the way so I got a nice flour pocket, and the taste was ridiculously bland. They cooked their own personal pancakes faster than they got my order to me. I will absolutely never return and will deter others from wasting their tine and money.
(1)
Scott S.
Cool spot, arguably expensive for what it was, but I did not leave hungry. Chile was good and the burger was above-average, but fast-foodish. The omelet they were making looked good. A good downtown option for less than $10. Surcharge for credit card (which I'm ok w/ if it keeps the cash price down).
(4)
Chris C.
I had the insane large "massive" pancake along with basic breakfast sides (potatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage). You would think it's just a novelty to get a pancake the size of a manhole cover, but It was actually a pretty awesome pancake. Most of the side items were standard diner quality which is fine and pretty much what I expected. My friends got a hot turkey sandwich and a burger, both of which were REALLY delicious. On top of that, the service is fantastic. Super friendly, and funny people working behind the counter. It's a great experience.
(4)
Mike E.
Jim-Denny's was featured on Man vs. Food. Jim-Denny's is a divey breakfast diner in Sacramento and one of the best breakfast spots I've been to. I ordered "The Works" omelet that I saw on Man vs. Food. The works omelet was massive and tasted amazing. It consists of spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomato, green chilies, ham, chicken sausage, pork sausage, bacon, three eggs, jack cheese, and cheddar cheese. The Works omelet also comes with a heaping helping of hash browns, and two slices of toast on the side. Jim-Denny's also makes some of the biggest pancakes that you will ever see. They have the mini-stack, which are far from mini or the hubcap, which is enormous. I'd love to go back and give them a try. Great food, huge portions, great prices, and friendly service, gives Jim-Denny's five stars.
(5)
Chris N.
Like many other Yelpers, I recently stumbled upon an episode of Man vs. Food (not a great show, but it has its moments) that involved a visit to Jim-Denny's. I'd heard a lot about it from friends in the past, so I had to try it out for myself. However I was a bit discouraged when I noticed the "under new management" announcement on Yelp, coupled with reviews that seemed to have rapidly declined since that happened. It's a cute little diner, with an ambiance much like the old Squeeze Inn, where there isn't much room and everybody has to cram together. However I can't help but feel that it's a shadow of its former self... which is perfectly summed up by the picture on the back wall. Jim Denny (I assume) is standing with a big grin and a line of old waitress-type ladies. Then look across to the restaurant today, where you'll find a bunch of young women with neck tattoos and face piercings yelling at each other behind the counter. Something tells me this isn't the Jim-Denny's everyone used to know and love. The breakfast was decent... we didn't go for one of the comically large pancakes that made the place famous, but rather an omelet and hash browns. The omelet was solid, and sizable, but the hash browns were undercooked. Coffee refills were plentiful, and the waitress was friendly (if loud), but I felt that I could have found a better breakfast elsewhere in Midtown. I wish I had visited this place years ago, like I'd always meant to, so that I could give it a fair comparison. But after scanning through old Yelp reviews, I think I can safely say that this place isn't as great as it once was. If you've been searching the world for a big-ass pancake, this is the restaurant for you. If not, there's better food in the neighborhood. Oh, and parking is a bitch to find.
(2)
Devo S.
In all my year's of living in Sacramento, and having passed Jim-Denny's hundreds of times, it took a combination of the place being featured on "Man vs. Food" and a Deal Ticket coupon to bring me in. My question? Why in the hell did I deprive myself of this fine dive before now?! If you haven't been here yet, you owe it to yourself to come and enjoy one of Sacramento's star eateries! I had the croissant breakfast sandwich (they serve breakfast all day, yay!), which was two eggs ( I chose fried) with bacon (I chose over sausage) on a huge, buttery croissant with cheese. I LOVED it!! Hubby had a hankering for pastrami, so he ordered the pastrami sandwich, which was HUGE and full of flavor; hubby loved it, as well as the accompanying beef barley home-made soup. To top it off, we ordered a shake to go, and how could when we not when the enthusiastic server said they were "magical"?! We got one chocolate shake to go, and she was kind/smart enough to split our one shake into two containers...bonus points on the tip for her! And, short of Suzie Burger's chocolate shake which I feel is the best in the universe, the Jim-Denny's chocolate shake was, indeed, magically delicious. I loved this place, and have every intention of frequenting it more often. It's a fun, funky little place, both on the inside and out...there are about 10 counter seats and a few wooden stools behind. It was fun to sit at the counter and watch all the food be made. Even saw a couple of those "The Works" omelets get whipped together....you have GOT to be HUNGRY to eat all that, and it was well-worth being featured on "Man vs. Food". I encourage everyone to eat here at least once. Once you've tried it, you'll want to come back. I know the hubby and I will! :)
(5)
Tommy Nicholas V.
Don't miss this landmark burger joint. Clearly a locals spot for 40 years! Not the same burger Jim used to make - but, it's a good joint.
(5)
Kristen O.
Such horrible service we canceled our order and left. 20+minutes to take our order after being asked twice by the cook if our order had been taken. Then 10 more minutes to get our coffee. Obviously not interested in my business
(1)
Jess C.
BREAKFAST REVIEW: I left stuffed for only $6. $10 gets you a HUGE pancake and a 3-egg omelet. For an extra $2 you can upgrade to get all 12 toppings in your 3-egg omelet! The pancakes are gigantic - seriously like the biggest pancake I've ever seen in my life - and so are the omelets. They don't play around here. The pancakes were heavy and doughy, not light and fluffy like I prefer; maybe because everything is cooked on the same greasy griddle as the bacon, omelets and hashbrowns. I don't think I can come back here anytime soon. My arteries will need at least a month to unclog. Plus, I prefer Nopalitos pancakes and I like that I can order them with fresh bananas. I must admit, the omelets here are pretty legit paired with the home made salsa. Note: cash only. 2 free parking spots available outside their restaurant.
(3)
Sam B.
What a complete and total disappointment. I gave it one shot for lunch under the new ownership, and I wasn't happy. Shot number two for breakfast, and it was even worse. Before I start breaking down the visit, I will provide a huge warning to anyone visiting this place based off of the Man v. Food feature: everything has changed. The menu, the pricing, the food itself. Everything. If you're expecting anything you saw on TV, throw those expectations away and find a new restaurant. This is the same restaurant in name only. Breaking down my visit, first off, same deal as before: this place is no longer the warm and friendly place it was. It's a forced smile, for lack of a better term. They TRY hard to act friendly, but I got my daily dose of eye-rolls from the folks behind the counter. I think the key word there is "act". Second, and probably most disheartening to me, is that the food has changed and it's MUCH worse. The portions were absolutely killed. Remember when the "mini pancake" was an ironic term? Not only is it now a regular pancake, but their breakfast prices increased. $7 used to get you potatoes, eggs, bacon and one of their "mini" pancakes that overflowed a plate. NOW, $7.50 gets you the same bacon and potatoes, about half of the eggs, and MAYBE 1/3 of the pancake. More money for less food? Sounds like a winner to me. Frankly, the taste is missing a lot of the magic it used to have, too. Lastly, multiple times we saw food handled WAY too much when coming off of the grill. French toast was picked up via fingers and placed on a plate, in one instance! Just not acceptable. This used to be my favorite overall burger place in Sacramento. No longer. The king is dead. I will not be back here.
(1)
Phil P.
Great food. Huge 17 inche pancake wow!
(5)
Patrick D.
Jim-Dennys is a Sacramento institution. "The 10 busiest stools in Sacramento." It is cramp and awkward for both employees and customers alike. That is what's cool about it. It brings togetherness and creates a community even if only for the short time you are dining there. The food is hearty, abundant and affordable.
(4)
Mitch A.
Love me some "hole in the wall" joint! This place was great for breakfast, my buddy & I had some grub which was filling and amazing. Highly recommend if you want good all American food with plenty of portion...
(5)
Rubin K.
I'm not sure how generalizable my review is since it is ONLY based on the pancake the size of my hub cap, but nonetheless, I am going to offer my 2cents. On our food adventure up California this became a list minute add-on after seeing the beautiful, gigantic pancakes on Man v Food. Luckily it wasn't too far out of the way (featured on DDD). We honestly were all stuffed after Putah Creek for bfast (also on DDD) then straight to Dad's Kitchen, so when we got to this place we just wanted a taste..a bite, an innocent little nibble just to see if it was worth the hype. So we simply put in a to-go order of a pancake...not the short stack, but the hub sized one. I don't think they knew what to do with it for a to go order, but they ended up folding it many times into one of the standard rectangular to-go containers. While it barely fit, the quality of the food was not sacrificed. I barely needed any syrup for this thing because the pancake itself was soooooo fluffy and delicious and sweet and fluffy (whoops already said that). I wish I was able to enjoy more of this thing, but I'm only one man who really enjoys pancakes. And having something that heavy on top of everything that came before was quite difficult. So here I am rating the pancake a 4. It's not quite a 5 just because I don't think I was able to enjoy it enough to even be a 5. Could it get to a 5 with a second trip, I'd have to try more food and have an empty stomach. It's not a 3 though (at least based off the pancake). There you go, my 2 cents. Take it or leave it.
(4)
Peter P.
Total dive (no restrooms!), but the nicest staff in town. If you have a hankerin' for pancakes, don't miss out on the "Hubcap".
(3)
DeAnna P.
Great little hole in the wall diner. Servers are friendly. Food is really good. Chili is seasoned perfectly, although a bit too many beans. The burger is really good, as are the pancakes. The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is that there is NO BATHROOM. None. Zero. Zilch. Wash your hands before you go and don't drink too much iced tea!!
(4)
Chris H.
Fun atmosphere, vintage place for dining. Until I saw the place on "Man Vs Food," we'd always gone there for take-out hamburgers back when I worked downtown. Just as shown in the TV show, the "Wagon Wheel" is massive, their omelette is tough to eat in one sitting, (also with a "kid sized pancake" that fits the entire plate). Then My sons and I went in for breakfast! Portions were awesome and worth the price. We can eat and even I had to take home leftovers. This is NOT a fine dining establishment people, it's an old fashioned "greasy spoon" and dining in is for fun. I met one of the owners playing poker a few weeks later and he gave me a hand written coupon, (I used it to go with a long-time friend for breakfast later on) and we spoke with another owner on the occasion my sons and I ate. They are ALL friendly and their service is commiserate with the demands of the ordering. It picks up fast and their rush hours are long. (I feel for them as they are crazy busy!). This is a great, unique experience. If you're just looking for the food, get it to go...
(5)
Tuyen L.
I've been hearing about this place for quite a while now. I work only a few blocks away from here and my coworkers and I decided to phone in a breakfast order. We order a few breakfast sandwiches and a breakfast burrito. When we went to go pick up the order it was so busy. The place is really small. I don't think I would personally go sit and eat there only because I don't like eating in small and cramped areas. I would definitely order here again. The breakfast sandwiches were about $7-8 depending on what bread you want it on, and I think they should come with a side of potatoes or hash browns with that price. Other than that everything was really good. I want to try their pancakes. They look soo good and big!! Yay I'm a fan!
(4)
Michele B.
I had a mushroom, spinach and cheese omelette that was out of this world. I started craving one this morning again, unfortunately I am too far for one now. I would definitely return to this establishment again next time I am in town or passing through.
(4)
Frank V.
I showed up with my family for lunch at this place and this place was so compact (no dining tables only bar stool seats) and with only 8 customers inside it's packed. We walked in and staff don't say or greet you. We waited for 30 seconds for any type of service then decided to leave No room to eat and no kind of customer service. The people who work there look like teenagers who don't want to be bothered. The area is ghetto too. Stay clear of this place. Not what you expect after seeing this place on the food network. Waste of time going there. Instead go to Tower Cafe. Much cleaner and better service.
(1)
Rip M.
Ok went to Jim again to see how it was! I don't know if they changed owners again but at least the cook doesn't handle money or the dirty dishes. The same food but now different names. The order is small compared to the days. The cook is rude I didn't make a mistake with my order the waitress did so don't get snotty with me. The cook doesn't enjoy the job. In a bad mood and there was only 5 people in there. This place is going to go out of business. Take some pride or at least pretend to like the customers jeez. Learned my lesson until new owners come thru not ever going back. Can find better for the price.
(2)
Ryan H.
It's okay but not at all great. There are no seats, they are very sticky, they are very slow. Only thing good was the pancakes. Other than that nothing good to say about this place.
(2)
Warren N.
Giant pancakes size of the record player! The owner (Grandpa) was a blast. But the GIANT PANCAKE DOMINATES!!! This place is a hole in the wall that is dying out. Support these establishments.
(5)
Chris C.
-- Nostalgic, mid-20th century atmosphere: Check -- Super friendly, cheerful staff: Check -- Best burger ever: Not so much I wandered in for a late lunch and the atmosphere was awesome. A narrow walkway with a counter and stools on the right with another
From the outside it's a small white and red building. Inside there's a counter, well scrubbed over the years, with a bunch of stools next to the wall. Home of the Hubcab, a gigantic pancake. Get one with spokes made of bacon... Great place for a quick bite, very atmospheric. Enjoy!
(4)
Sam B.
It 's hard to give a review of this place when you're disgustingly stuffed. I came here with a party of 6 and we were lucky enough to have seats available. I came to find out that the dining capacity is no more than maybe 20 people. The interior isn't fancy, but when you walk in you feel like you have been transported backwards in time with its retro decor. I shared with 2 other people their "Works" omelette and a "Hubcap." The omelette was fairly delicious. There were no under cooked portions, despite its large size. This omelette had everything: cheese, mushrooms, spinach, and more that I can't remember. The omelette also came with potatoes on the side, which were very well cooked; I had not a single potato that was under cooked. I know I keep harping on things being under cooked, but I was expecting the dishes to be since they were so large. Overall, I was disgustingly satisfied with the dish. The "Hubcap" pancake was monstrous. It would have been nice the waitress actually gave us like a model or something to show how big it was because the pictures do NO justice. Despite its size, the "Hubcap" was PERFECTLY cooked. The pancake carried that unyielding outside, but the pancake's inside was moist and flaky. Again, I was expecting this thing to be under cooked, but my assumptions were laid to rest. This pancake was so monstrous, it would absorb every bit of syrup I poured on it. Even with 3 people sharing, we could not finish this monster of a pancake. I, again, was disgustingly satisfied. I would love to check out this place again for their lunch menu. If you do come here, expect food acoma. I also highly do not recommend coming here if you have problems controlling your blood sugar or are at risk for diabetes. Cheers.
(4)
Rachel P.
YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! OMG - that was the worst experience I have ever had at a breakfast place. The service was pathetic (I am pretty sure the waitress was stoned and appeared to be only half awake). I ordered biscuits and gravy, a couple of eggs and bacon. The eggs were actually pretty good but everything else was so utterly lacking. The environment was hideous. It was freezing cold, there was NO bathroom (What if I needed to throw up the slop that they were serving? Where could I go?) No tables, only a bar with bar stools that were in such bad shape that the ripped plastic covering the mildewed, soiled cushions were sharp and sticking into my butt. To top off the most horrible morning of recent memory -- a very, old, smelly man came and sat down next to me... I still can't get that raunchy stench out of my nasal memory. Save yourself and stay away from this disaster. I will elaborate solely on the food. My biscuits were hard and cold. The bacon was basically fat and the gravy tasted like (what I would imagine) the butt paste would taste like that I put on my daughter's hiney when she has diaper rash.
(1)
Lauren L.
Jim Denny's looks like a hole in the wall breakfast spot with potential to be out of this wold good. However, it's mediocre at best. My boyfriend ordered the pancake (which is the size of a hubcap) and I got a side of biscuits and gravy and we shared. The pancake was great-nice and fluffy with a good flavor but the biscuits and gravy were less than appetizing. There were chucks of what tasted like old sausage in the gravy and it almost made me sick. The wait staff were friendly to the customers but arguing in the kitchen and joking about how uneducated they all were and where they were going to get their next gang tattoos. Plus, there wasn't enough seating for all the guests. I really don't think a pancake is a good enough reason to come back.
(2)
Mark S.
Here's the good and the bad... First the good: The food was OK, they give you large portions and their signature item is their pancakes that are the size of a large dinner plate and 3/4 of an inch thick. Now the BAD: First, you walk in and see there are only 16 seats in the place. Half of those seats are against the far wall BEHIND the counter seating. There is no access for the staff to get to those seats so when you order, you have to yell it over the patrons sitting at the counter. Since, the place is so small, everyone hears what you order. Bit weird. When your order is up, you have to reach over people eating at the counter to get your food. Practically leaning on them. Awkward to say the least. As for the food, it was just OK and the pancake that is what their known for is bland and a bit gooey. The grill is so small that your the pancakes came out 5min after the rest of our food. Finally, of the four women behind the counter one of the waitress and the cook were having a "Disagreement" and the whole counter had to be subjected to it. I think the people that like this place just like the nostalgia of this quaint little hole in the wall atmosphere. For a better breakfast, go to Pancake Circus, Fox & Goose or Cornerstone.
(2)
Adam L.
Use to like this place. Women worker was not wearing belt and her pants kept falling down to the point where I almost couldn't even eat. Uncooked fries, asked for no mayo, they put mayo. It was a rough meal... I will not be returning after my past experience.
(2)
Nancy T.
This place is a tiny diner. I came here with 2 of my friends and ordered the open faced chili burger. My friends ordered the superbuger? I think that's what it was called. Its a size down from the mega burger. And my other friend ordered the works. My chili burger was ok. The chili wasn't bad, but nothing special about them. Almost like they came straight out from a can. Would have been nice if it had a more homemade touch to it. The works was ok as well. That's only because I'm not a big fan of bell peppers. And there was a LOT of bell peppers in there! So if you like bell peppers then this is your dish! This dish just seemed a little dry. Would have been nice if there was melted cheese on top and more inside of the omelet or even some sort of gravy over it. The super burger was pretty big and came with fries. The patty was cooked to perfection. But I wouldn't call it the best burger in Sac. But still able to satisfy your craving. Next time I'll come back and try the HUBCAP! haha.... I'm probably going to need to be carried out after attempting to eat that!!!
(3)
Amy B.
I was walking from the Convention Center to my hotel wondering what on earth I would eat for lunch before getting on the road to head home. This place caught my eye, mostly because it was directly on my route and I could eat it in my hotel room before I left without having to make an extra stop. I ordered a burger with avocado & cheese and sweet potato fries. Both were very good. I have to admit, I don't eat much meat these days, especially without knowing where it comes from and if it's organic. So considering that I hadn't had a burger in ages, you'll have to take my opinion with a few grains of salt. But overall, the burger had a good taste, wasn't too greasy, and was HUGE (wasn't sure if I could eat the whole thing). The sweet potato fries were also very good and very crisp--also not too greasy. It was a bit pricey for lunch, but it was a good lunch. It was A-OK in my book.
(3)
Steve T.
Felt like I was stepping back in time. Sat at counter and watched my breakfast being cooked on a flat top. Terrific breakfast, generous portions, very friendly staff, great price. If I was staying another night I'd return again tomorrow. The place is cozy- well worth any wait.
(4)
Alex G.
This place is awesome. Even if it wasn't close to my office (which it is) I would still frequent this gem. Yes, it's tiny (max capacity inside is about 20). Yes, you have to wait a while when it's busy. Yes, the food is delicious. Yes, the hubcap with spokes is GIGANTIC. I know that everybody will have varying experiences, but let me just say that I've been many times and the service has always been friendly. If you are having a hard time getting to order, wave them down to get your attention. It's not hard to do! I've always found the staff is friendly, talkative (if you do more than just tell them what you want), and frequently offers to top off my coffee, refill my water, etc. The everything omelet is truly that: spinach, peppers, mushrooms, onions, cheese, and meat. (I'm probably forgetting something). Their pancakes are delicious, and the hubcap with spokes is enough food for two (look it up online, a description doesn't do it justice). Their lunch is solid but unspectacular: burgers and sandwiches are competitively priced, and it's decent but nothing to write home about. I usually just go for breakfast. Don't expect a lavish interior. This place has been around since the Great Depression, and the inside is about as big as a walk-in closet. It's also a historical landmark, which means they don't have to make it wheel-chair accessible (which it's not) or add a bathroom (which they don't have). So be warned!
(5)
huy n.
Went here based on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives or was it Man vs Food? Either way, came here because of them. Ordered the famous pancakes, lived up to the hype. It was delicious! We had our dogs with us so we sat outside... Not the best area to be sitting outside, a little sketchy (nothing the restaurant can do). Had to give it only 3 stars because the service was bad, they didn't seem like they were very happy to be there. Had to ask several times to get a refill and to get my check.
(3)
Feuy S.
I've only been here twice and my most recent visit was a dissapointment. My first visit, I was greeted promptly by the cook/server and she was the sweetest! I ordered the french toast & it was the best french toast I ever had, no joke. She was also really clean, she always wore gloves when handling food. Jim denny's is really small and the server/cook is behind a counter the entire time so you get to see them prepare the food in front of you. My first experience there was great, hence the two stars. My second visit there, not so great. There were different cooks/servers. They coughed into their bare hands, never wore gloves, and burnt our food. It was a bad experience. They also seemed like they didnt wanna be there, which made me...not wanna be there. Honestly, I dont know if I'll be returning. It's too much of a hastle to try to time my visits to when the good server/cook is there.
(2)
Ray C.
Best biscuits and gravy I have had since I was a kid.
(4)
Christopher M.
What a fun little spot. During a business trip to Sacramento, I found this spot thanks to Yelp! It's literally about the size of my living room. Walked in and had to wait about 15 minutes to get a seat. I had a fantastic diner style burger and yummy chili fries! This is a must see joint if you're downtown!
(4)
Jessica M.
So first off..let me say I am sorry for neglecting my duties as a Yelp-er for the past 9 months. It has been hectic! but I have managed to try a few places in this whole run around crazy time...and one of the first places I went after moving to Sacramento was Jim-Denny's.... It was packed...yes..the place is small but still, doesnt make it any less packed! Waited until they changed from breakfast to lunch...I was in the mood for some meat...so while I waited...listened to the chatter of the regulars with the people behind the counter...and enjoyed a very delicious chocolate malt...that magically appeared from the back of the place by a very cheerful man...who obviously..knows what he is doing!! It was a joy to have all that dairy goodness even tho I am totally lactose intolerant! As the crowed cleared and 2 spots opened up at the counter...and lunch time arrived... I went with a burger...my partner in crime went with...something that had a ton of chili on it...since I am not a fan of chili..I didnt even try it. I watched who turned out to be the grandmother of our counter girl, prep the grill and shout for her supplies from the seemingly endless group of people working in the back. She yammered on with everyone at the counter...our counter girl bitched and moaned as a teenager does...not in any sort of annoying way...I too was a teenage girl at some point... The argument escalated as I chomped on my way to huge burger...to a point where our counter girl..ended up walking out!! She threw down her stuff and quit...right then and there!! The grandmother then tells us that this happens a lot..and that she will be back when she needs money again...haha The feeling of being in someones home...with their drama...their food...able to forget your own...is a really nice experience...I would eat there any time..and all of them are more than welcome in my home... The burger was huge...juicy and covered with all the fixins... they even let me taste the soup of the day which was a stew actually..and it was amazing. Never been much into stew but this one was mmmmm So if you are in the mood...to feel like you are in someones home. Get some news from some locals and leave with about 10lbs added to your waistline... then you need to end up at Jim-Denny's ... Pay attention to their hours tho.. if you want breakfast...you gotta be there.. if you want lunch..you might have to wait.. its one or the other...never both =)
(4)
Paul C.
WTF? This place is a five on the fun, unique, and crazy factors - but a one or two on the variety, healthiness, and cleanliness factors. I need to eat a breakfast here - the reviews look interesting - I have only had lunch three times over ten years. Big fat burgers, fries, and coke. Food served in troughs and buckets in a place smaller than a closet. Bring a fly swatter. If that's what you want then this is the place.
(3)
Mary N.
Went here for lunch of Friday. Had a cheese burger with fries. The cheese burger was very moist with a soft bun. The grilled onions added extra flavor. The only reason I am not giving this place a 5 star is because of the service. They appear to have a bunch of young employees who are not very attentive. None of them were rude to the customers but they seem to be yelling at each other a lot; right in front of the customers sitting at the counter.
(4)
Marja M.
Definitely a case of style over substance. I ordered the breakfast, and while I like the idea of 2 egg and 3 egg options, and the service was fine and ambiance was cool, I really found the bacon to be thin and flimsy, the English muffin bland, and the eggs flavorless. I ordered a cookie dough milkshake to go; a bit runny/thin for my taste but not bad. I would go back, but order something different. Besides the age of the joint, their current claim to fame is an episode of "Man vs. Food," and I believe it involved mondo sized pancakes. Doesn't take credit cards, but will take ATM debit cards. There is a counter with roughly 10 stools, and another bar on the other side, with an additional 5 or 7 stools. For handicapped accessibility, there's a small picnic table set up outside, around the corner from the front door.
(3)
David P.
On my first visit, As I entered this eatery I noticed this place was no bigger than a voting booth [a slight exaggeration ]. There was no place to sit unless you got here once this placed opened at 7:00 in the morning and even then you don't dare leave your seat. I walked to the end of the snack bar and there up against the wall was a paid telephone and there I stood waiting for someone to take my order. Just then the wall phone starts to ring, I'm tossed a pad of paper and a pencil from one of the cooks and told to answer the phone and take their order, after doing so, and only then did the young lady take my order of a very good tasting hamburger cooked to my satisfaction. Because I did such a good job taking an order over the phone I was given a small dish of fries as payment. I continued to go there 6 out of 7 days of my vacation. On the seventh day I was flying back home. Pity. Of all the points of interest that is offered for tourist to visit I did suggest that this little hole in the wall restaurant should be included in places to visit and eat at. I was told at the Sacramento Visitors office that they would take it into consideration. " Enter as a Stranger - Leave as a Friend". This was and will continue to be a Great Place to eat at. Oh! You can bet on it, " I'll Be Back !"..
(4)
Craig M.
They say there is a "first and last for everything." Well I went there for the first time and never going back. I know it was early and the place was busy but the service was horrible, there was no parking! It was not worth the hassle. Also the customers were even rude! Didn't think that was even possible! Then to top it all off, I had a small orange juice and they charged me $3.63! Never again will this business see my business! I recommend the same for other people wanting to check this place out.
(1)
M S.
This is a place to have breakfast on Sunday mornings. I love coming here with my wife and friends. The omelet is great and massive. While the pancakes are awesome and GIGANTIC!!! Its more than enough for three people! This place will need some patience when its busy because of the small facility its hard to get seats.
(5)
Shante E.
This place was a total experience! The pancake was totally like they showed on the food network. talk about ENORMOUS! It was so good--i mean it taste like a pancake from Denny's but only without the fake ingredients. But that was not mainly the reason why this place got 5 stars, it was because of the stories and the service. It's a perfect place if you just want to have a good time and lots of laughter. Everyone seemed such like a family, even though it looked like a shanty, it was a cool place. Me and the hunny bunny stayed and heared stories about how a bum tried to break in and steal some food. :P
(5)
A S.
Nope...don't like this place. Food was nothing special, staff are all tatted up and not put together at all. Doesn't seem appropriate for work presentation. Won't visit again which is too bad since I live a block away!
(1)
Shannon B.
I've been coming to Sacramento for 8 years for an annual conference. It wasn't until this year that I stumbled upon Jim-Denny's. I had my daughter along with me for the trip and we went in one morning for breakfast. I immediately felt comfortable as I have always had a soft spot in my heart for diners. We walked in and luckily there were two empty seats on the bar (the only other 8 seats in the place were taken). So, we ordered our breakfast. We had biscuits and gravy with eggs on top and it was outstanding. It was so good, that the next day we walked in for breakfast, and one of the gals behind the counter remembered my name and took our order. I ordered eggs, bacon and home fries. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. My daughter asked for a regular pancake and the lady, said, "honey, one of those pancakes can feed one or more grown men." So, I asked if they had smaller ones. Fortunately for us they had a "tiny" pancake which was still the size of a plate. My ten-year old daughter was able to finish just a little more than half. Then...later that afternoon I walked over to their pickup window where I got a burger and fries. It too was excellent. What can I say? There is a reason Jim-Denny's is rated as high as it is. The friendliness of the staff is non pretentious, the quality and taste of the food is as good as it gets, and the atmosphere inside is simply comfortable. I'll be back next year. Don't forget my name.
(5)
Michelle L.
Bread too soft for pastrami, waitress's butt crack showing all thru lunch, forgot pickles, eating in a parking lot, tablecloth was sticky, fries not cooked through. Nice owner and food was "ok" but probably not coming back.
(2)
Alex K.
What a gem! The lady at my hotel said this place was on man vs food, and I witnessed firsthand why. The person next to me got a giant pancake - literally as big as a hubcap (I think that's what it was called)! Anyway I opted for a combination omelette and it was fabulous. I'm so glad I found this place. I bet everything is very good here - a must go!
(4)
Rcd M.
So heard about this place called jim-denny's that is really good.. why do i listen to people.. e-n how i give it a shoot. OMFG.. their "megaburger" was so freaken salty.. only took one bit and that was it.. and ther so calll fat fries was hardly cook at all and doesn't taste good. Why people why do you guys thinks it a good place to eat. what a waste. then i order the "The Works" omelets now that was ok.. that's all i got to say about that. e-n how i give my dog the megaburger at least he enjoy the saltiness. Oh yeah the works don't wear any cooking gloves or sandwhich gloves to perpare the food and they go into the backroom. Who's know what they do back there. i'm just saying. Oh yeah one last thing the most important thing is there is "No Bathroom" how are the customer suppose to wash their hands let alone the empolyee to wash their hands. I will not be going there every again... Till next time my food lover.. till next time.
(1)
Paul O.
Awesome little diner the food and staff were great. Conversed with the some members of staff like I've been going there for years. Breakfast was affordable and very filling.
(5)
Darren S.
I've only been to J-D's for breakfast and in a word, it was filling. I got the Works omelette and the Short Stack. If you haven't been, this order shouldn't seem imposing. In the Jim-Denny world a short stack is a single pancake that is larger than a dinner plate and is thicker than two slices of bread. The Works is truly a kitchen sink dish that has chunks, not diced pieces of the house meats and veggies. Over three days, I tried to finish the food that I took away from the diner, but couldn't finish it all. In addition to just being a ton of food, it was one of those meals that didn't taste good after the initial sitting. Besides the food, their coffee was excellent. While I've given them four stars, two of the stars are for the building, servers and crowd. The place has a ton of character and it was really fun to eat there. You can literally rub elbows with the diners next to you and I was able to fit in some conversation with the people around me. Parking's really easy, especially on the weekend as there's an auto shop next door. If you're staying in the Best Western on H Street, you MUST go.
(4)
Carla C.
Great breakfast - we go before 10am and usually find a spot at the counter. My PJ's Junior breakfast was tasty and filling. One egg, 2 bacon, hash browns and plate-sized pancake. #1 daughter deemed her plate tasty too! Everyone pleasant - all around happy feeling (hey! close the door behind you, please!)
(4)
ben b.
Preface: Been going here since I was born and My dad used to eat here after setting pins at the Alhambra Bowl. Lotta history with me and my family and My dad was a friend of the original owner, Jim. Stopped in today before the Jazz festival. Found room at the counter and sat there. For five minutes. No offer of menu, no water, no coffee, no nothing. Another person came in after me and got served and ordered right away while i was left there wondering where the menu was. Finnaly a woman came ot take my order. And it was like being stuck in every diner in America with an endlessloop of waitress salutations. Honey, sweetie etc adnaseum. Way to trying to hard. They shortened the menu (no Omlettes). I noticed chips with burgers, and the HASH BROWNS were the pattie kind that are frozen. Seeing that it got me off breakfast and i ordered a burger with jack cheese. Frozen patty. The waitstaff actually help up the cheese to the light to determine what kind of cheese it was. The burger was lousy. No flavor, It was 8 dollars, with no drink. WTF? for 8 bux the food had better be better than McDonald's. AND IT WASN"T! No FRIES? Frozen greasy hash browns? As more food came off the grill I noticed. The breakfast burrito? Teeny weeny thing and 8 bucks. The food looked terrible and all I could think of is that McDonald's has better breakfasts. And better burgers. And they suck I was really hoping that my experience was a one time thing but apparently it is the rule rather than the exception..
(1)
Jeffrey K.
I saw this Jim Denny's on Man vs. Food a while back, yet I never had the opportunity to go on the various treks up to Nor Cal. After Skydiving one weekend in Acampo, I finally had the chance to stop by. My feelings are a little mixed about the place. First off I'll give a review of the food. I ordered exactly what I saw on Man vs. Food which was the Spoke (The Huge Pancake) and the omelette with everything in it. I will give the food a 4. The pancake was delicious and fluffy and the edges had a great crisp taste to them. I usually don't like pancakes, but I really enjoyed it, and it was impossible to finish. The omelette was good but nothing too special and I felt that there was too much cheese, which is odd considering I love cheese. Now I have to say that the service at this place is absolutely horrendous. First off, the place was not very busy, but a group of 4 had to wait over 45 minutes to get our food. Is there only one cook in the back while the others wait with their thumbs up their butts? When our food finally came, the server asked us if we wanted forks and knives. That would be nice..... Suffice it to say I did not tip very much, and I doubt I'll ever return to this place. For me, it was great to try once, but the service was inexcusable.
(3)
Rob K.
Good food, but its bit of a pain to find a seat sometimes
(3)
angela b.
Amazing, fluffy pancakes. Amazing, deflated prices. Diner feel, excellent service. Sitting outside, when the weather allows, makes this a 4 star joint for breakfast. Love.
(4)
Anastacia C.
I was super excited to get to go to Jim-Denny's for breakfast. It isn't often that I have to avoid having a cocktail with breakfast, but when I must refrain from drinking at brunch, Jim-Denny's is the spot. Well, it was the spot. I am sad to say that the Jim-Denny's I once knew, is no more. I wish I had looked on Yelp before I went to see that it was under new ownership. Where do I begin? I ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of hash browns. The hash browns came to the table first. It took about 5 minutes for the server to return with silverware and napkin. When I asked if I could have new hash browns when my biscuits and gravy were ready, she didn't know the answer (she was about 16 by my estimation) and went to ask. A new server came out and she said she would have them reheated on the grill right before my food was ready. Fine. At this point my friend's breakfast burrito came out. It was ginormous. But she had to pick through about a pound and a half of potatoes to find any cheese or avocado. "I think I should have ordered this without potatoes," she said. My biscuits and gravy finally arrive with my reheated hash browns. The gravy was lukewarm, no flavor to speak of (though there were 4 slices of sausage on the plate amounting to about an ounce of sausage), and it was too sweet. Sweet gravy? Really? The whole meal was gross. I decided that it tasted too terrible to eat. When we went up to the window to pay, the guy had to ask us what we had. And, he finally asked the magic question,"Was it good?" He looked so sure that I would say yes. I just had to shake my head and say,"No. It was horrible." "You really didn't like it," he asked? "I left the whole meal on the table if you need to see it." "But my mom made it." Dude, I'm super sorry that you grew up with that sort of cooking. I'm even more sorry that you think it tastes good. At least they didn't charge me for my meal. I'll give them one star for that.
(1)
Jason H.
First, I have to confess that I've only ever come to Jim-Denny's for breakfast. Their breakfast burrito is huge and adding the sour cream and avocado inside just make it incredible. The salsa's got a bite (albeit mild) and everything inside is just soft and warm and breakfasty with the scrambled eggs and potatoes. Also, often times breakfast burritos tend to get greasy, and at a diner you expect it as well. Not so much here. Then there's the pancake breakfast. Those legendary pancakes. Bigger than your head is probably an understatement. These things are huge and they're thick... a good 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick apiece. Oh so soft on the inside and they're crisp on the outside. If I could criticize anything about them is they don't provide enough butter to finish off a full stack (not as though I could finish both. I barely got through one, and that was with help) Also have to give kudos to the staff here. Always friendly, always a great attitude, they make what could easily become an exercise in frustration with how crowded the place is and the time it takes to get your order. Love it! What else can be said about Jim-Denny's other than it's making some of the greatest breakfasts downtown at very reasonable prices and with operating hours that rival the late Real Pie Company in inconvenient craziness. Is it worth it to work your schedule around that Wed-Sat 7-3 just to find out it's packed and you stand around waiting for a spot at the counter or outside? Absolutely!
(5)
Bruce M.
Ok- it was a long morning in the Capitol- I had a craving for bacon n eggs- and my consultant Beau said we have to go here!! Now this is eating!! Portions were great- eggs perfect- hash browns good- biscuits n gravy- OK- but the over all experience was grrrrreat!!! It's all in the attitude of Krystal, Rocky, Jessica and Danielle. They made ya laugh- made ya feel good to be in their shop and cooked up some good food. Gonna try the burger next time!!! Yeh- it's a go back kinda place- !
(5)
Leilani R.
I ordered the Patty melt with a single patty, and I'm glad I did so. It was sooo good, and I was only able to eat half. Their shakes/malts were very good as well, although I don't think they use flavored ice cream but syrup instead which is a bit of a disappointment. Their sweet potato fries are also very good, but their regular steak fries are a tad bit better so I may have to order those next time.
(4)
Michael W.
I've worked near this dive for 3 years and just tried it. I've been meaning to, but it's always packed. However, today was the day. I had the ortega chili cheese burger, which was small and ended with a pool of grease. Don't get me wrong, the four bites it took to polish that burger off were good ones, but I don't think I'd pay $9 again for that and some steak frys - which were good. They came with low-grade ketchup that I almost wanna call catsup, but I have a hard time trusting the quality of a place who can't be bothered to get Heinz. The biggest plus was the ice in the soda, old-fashion shaved... makes a Pepsi slush almost. That drink was the highlight of Jim Denny's for me.
(3)
Chuck N.
Charming lil' diner. Patsy works the kitchen magic. Tina handles the customers with gusto. The other staff members help them crank out the goods. Quickie: Yes, it's a shack and cramped. And yes, no restroom. Don't be so quick to judge foo! For the amount of food you get per buck, it's worth it. I mean, the grub fills ME up so you know it's legit (because I eat like a mofo, remember?). A lil' overboard on the oil in the food but that can be mitigated with a little hollar. Plus, the people that work there are nice n' cool. If you live in the area, you've got to at least check this place out. If you become a regular, I'll see you there! --------------------------------------------------Â------------------------------------------------- I heart: 1. Lots of grub for the $, lots of it and and most of it is packed with flavor, POW! 2. Nice people, great service - they're locals and attract a lotttta regulars. Constructive Criticism: 1. The lack of a restroom is killer! 2. Depending on the crowd, lag time of food can put a damp on the grubbin' mood. 3. Lighten up on the oil when cooking. Munchies: *Soup-of-the-day -Chile verde fresh ingredients packed with a chilllle bite need to thin out the pork chunks though *Pastrami sandwiches -I've had both, can you tell I like pastrami? Rueben is an acquired taste so I'd go with Sean's *Short stack pancake -Dude, it's bigger than my head and I've got a big head! *TJ's CA Dreamin' Sandwich -Turkey and avocado mixed just right *Monica's Fiesta Chicken Sandwich -Now that's good chicken breast! *Fries -Nice crisp - always takes good coming straight off the greaser. *Cole slaw -Not standard, it's got some zing to it (which is good).
(4)
Nick G.
FAIL!!! Fool me once - shame on you, fool me twice - shame on me, but I was fooled into coming to this place three times in hopes that "maybe this time the food will be better." Well it wasn't. Actually it seemed to get worse every time. I went twice for breakfast, getting the "works" omelet and a pancake each time, and once for lunch, getting the "50's burger", and I didn't leave once thinking anything positive of the experiences. And also, it seems that under the new ownership, things have gotten even worse. The one time I went under the old ownership, I saw potential which then led me there three more times. Unfortunately, this place is now a dump. The prices have gone up, and the quality has gone WAAAAYYY down. For example, the "small" pancake you could order before, that was actually huuuuuuuge, is now not an option, replaced with one that is more than twice the price, for less than half the pancake. The new omelets are disgusting, the burgers are quite possibly the worst I've ever had (made from frozen patties that are put on the grill frozen and right in front of me without shame... definitely without pride). Just awful. This place is living on the reputation of the old ownership, which is long gone. I will not be back a fourth time... very sad... very disappointing.
(1)
Keith R.
Not have again: I like this tiny dive, but their super burger and fries were devoid of flavor and not at all interesting. The Dr. Pepper freeze was good but, again, not all that interesting. Nevertheless, this was decent fare and I'd come back for another visit and try the Hub pancake. Two stars for the food, but an additional one because the staff was very friendly and it was a fun place to go.
(3)
Tom W.
Made a mistake ... Read the old reviews and missed the new ones. Apparently, there is new management :-(( When we first drove up and saw that the Place is really a "hole in the wall" our thinking was that this was good sign. Typically these kind of places have to great to survive. Without going into too much detail ... Service was atrocious, no bathrooms and the food was poor and late. So late, that 40 minutes after 6 of our 8 meals arrived, two hadn't yet turned. Eventually, we cancelled the final two. I suppose it was positive that it was easy to get a refund and an apology for the missing food. This is a place to avoid.
(1)
Brandon L.
I like places that ooze history and character, and this place is it! Old fashioned diner crammed into a little area the size of a closet. It feels like you're on a trains dining car. The help is all sassy young ladies who work in a kitchen that has been directed so similarly for so long that it operates like a Swiss watch. The breakfast is all very straightforward. Eggs served in every way and pancakes....big friggin' pancakes. It is all pretty good and sticks mightily to your ribs. They've got a giant pancake called the wagon wheel with spokes (bacon) and if you can finish it you get some prize like a T-shirt. Someday I just might try that. I liked everything about this place and plan to make it a regular stop for breakfast. I've heard the milkshakes are great....can't wait to try 'em when I stop in for lunch someday. Great service. Wholesome and Hearty meals. Classy and old fashioned. Right on....
(5)
Heather M.
My hubby brought me here. I was speechless upon seeing this place and even more so seeing the size of the building and lack of seating. I like divey-type places and this was def that - a dive. I was open-minded though. Seating was too cramped very uncomfortable. I ordered eggs, bacon, potatoes, etc. It was pretty good. Very greasy though, toooo greasy which is a turn-off for me. I'm glad I tried it here though. A very interesting place - always willing to try whatever. I may give it a whirl again - not opposed, but probably not a place to take my baby with a stroller and all that. A good place for 2 getting a quick bite. Not family- oriented due to lack of comfortable space for a family.
(2)
Thor S.
This was an okay breakfast diner. The owner was trying to be what she thought was helpful, but ended up just being annoying. She should stay out of the restaurant and let her employees take care of business. The food was decent quality but nothing made me want to go there again, ever. If you equate large portions with good food you might like this place more than I did.
(2)
Pritika C.
This place is legit! After a long night of bowling and drinking with friends at Capitol Bowl, the dive bar of bowling alleys, there is nothing better to soak up the alcohol like the goodness that is Jim-Denny's. Good bye loaf of bread and hello HUBCAPs, crispy hash browns, sourdoughs, french toasts, you name it! I have always read great things about Jim-Denny's on Yelp, but my friends and I decided to come here after one of my friend's had seen this restaurant on Man. v. Food on the Food Network. The Location: Those that know me, know I'm a very uncomfortable person. I cannot picture myself coming here by myself, EVER! The restaurant...err, diner, is conveniently situated next to a light rail stop and is sprinkled with vagabonds at every corner. On one side, you have the views of beautiful high rise buildings on the other side, homelessness. It sounds weird to say, but it adds to the charm that is Jim-Denny's. The diner is rather small and looks a little dilapidated...but that's what I expect from an establishment that has been serving the community since 1934. The inside of the diner is elbow to elbow sitting room...I believe it may only sit about 10-15, uncomfortably. Today, my party and I chose to sit outside (because well...there wasn't any room inside for the 5 of us). The Food: Mmm, so good! I had ordered the three eggs (I subbed it with egg whites) with lots of cheese and w/salsa on the side, an English muffin, and crispy golden hash browns. The food was fantastic. I loved the hash browns...crispy, just the way I like it. The salsa w/my cheesy egg whites was great. The English muffin was great, as well. I was not disappointed with my dish. I had also tried the pancake and potatoes from my best friend's dish and I was in heaven. The pancake was as fluffy as a cloud and the potatoes were packed with flavor! All of my friends enjoyed their dish and one of our more ambitious friends had ordered the "HUBCAP" w/the spokes (6 strips of bacon w/one egg). The "HUBCAP" is what they are known for...it's ONE massive pancake that is bigger than your head. The waitress who took our order said the last person to order it, finished it within an hour and a half...our friend finished it within 20 minutes. I think it goes without saying, but I don't think he will be eating for the remainder of the day. We all had a great experience for our first time there. Every aspect of Jim Denny's diner was charming and I could not have envisioned this place to be any different. I look forward to going back...especially, enjoying breakfast outside under the sun in the summer.
(3)
Leigh B.
Food was over-priced and gross. They should really institute a uniform because the cooks belly shirt was not appetizing. The burger took an hour but was some how under cooked. I do not recommend.
(1)
Delilah B.
1 star for Jim Denny, who is very nice and personable. 1 star for the cool looking retro shack and feel. 1 star for outdoor seating. Let's put it this way, by the time we got our breakfast, it was already time for lunch. Was it worth the wait? Nah food was aaaight. We got the Katie Special and the 50's burger to share. Eggs were perfectly cooked, over easy, the hash was nice and crispy but the bacon was barely bacon! The burger meat had great flavor and was nice and juicy. Overall though I think the experience made me forget the food.
(3)
Felicia J.
Saw this place on Man v. Food and since we were coming to the area, DH and I decided to give it a try. We walk in and we're shocked by how small the place is AND they don't have a restroom...hmmm ok. Then we're told it's going to be an hour and a half wait...wow, that's a long time. Well we order and go shopping. They call us when our food is almost ready...nice touch. We head back and of course, the place is still crowded and cramped! We take our plates outside, so we can have some elbow room and the tables aren't clean...sigh!!! I pull out the hand sanitizer and decide to give it a try. We both got #4, with a pancake as big as the plate (and this was SMALL). Well it was greasy and filling, and we decided then that we wouldn't be back. Off we go and within minutes, I'm feeling queasy...crap!!! We had to rush back to our hotel and I got sick, I HATE GETTING SICK.
(1)
Allison C.
Jim Denny's Breakfast Survival Guide: 1. If going on a weekend morning, either get there before opening or bring granola bars to hold you over for the wait. 2. If you're in a group of 3+, bundle up in case you have to sit outside during the cold winter mornings. Gloves will be your best friend. 3. Among three people, you could split the omelet with the works and the "mini" pancake and still have leftovers. Yes, my dining mates do eat a lot so it's more than enough for three people. 3a. They charge for splitting. But for that cheap of a breakfast for three people, can you blame them?! 4. Don't mind bumping elbows with your neighbor at the bar; it all adds to the experience! 5. Say YES to the salsa they offer you for the omelet. 6. Chat with the workers behind the bar. They're nice people! 7. While it may not look like it, there is parking in the tiny lot the building is located. Try to park here before thinking of paying for street parking. 8. Eat your damn heart out.
(4)
Louise L.
My boyfriend and I first heard about Jim Denny's on Man vs. Food and wanted to give it a try. So on a lazy Sunday morning, we decided to pay this joint a visit...plus, my boyfriend had a huge hankering for pancakes. This place is literally a hole in the wall. There's probably a 10 person counter seating area on one side of the restaurant and a pony wall that seats another 5-6 people on the other side. There are a few more tables outside but it's not as fun haha. There's an old time feel sitting inside. A great historical experience. The counters and cabinets definitely need some updating but I think that's what makes the restaurant. :) If I wasn't so cautious about my waist line and wasn't such a chicken about it, I would have totally ordered their hubcab pancakes...that's what they're famous for. It's a whopping 13" in diameter! That's ginormous! Sooooo instead, I ordered the AJ's small breakfast (came with one egg, 2 sausages/bacon, hash browns/homestyle potatoes, and a side of their mini pancakes - which aren't mini at all!!! It's at least 6"-8" in diameter!). The pancakes were exceptionally good and the rest were tasty. The boyfriend ordered the works (3-4 egg omelet with spinach, bell peppers, bacon, sausages, and a bunch of other stuff and their homestyle potatoes) ....with a side of their small stack! I didn't have any but I'm sure he liked it cause he finished the whole dang thing! If you come to expect "fast food"....it's totally not for you. I believe we waited at least an hour before our food came. But you don't really notice cause everyone is so nice and the pancakes itself makes it all worth it. Next time.....I'll tackle the hubcap!!!!!......ok....maybe not. :p
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Karen L.
Loved it. Its the kind of place retro style movies are made about telling the simple but heart-warming story of the depressing life of a resilient waitress. Yes its tiny, yes the staff don't offer restaurant quality service but the girl who looked after us was friendly and cheerful. We had a seat outside, its in the middle of town next to a main road and a car park so that again means it will never be a four or five star place. Twice we had beggars trying to panhandle from us while we were eating but one look from my husband and they cleared off quickly. (This seems to be a standard problem anywhere outside in central Sac though). The food is greasy and not at all suitable for a healthy diet but then you would be stupid to go there if that's what you are looking for. Its not quick but then again if you want fast food go to McDonalds. Our food was tasty, hot and the portions are huge. In a nutshell, its a fun experience but it is exactly what its supposed to be, an old-school greasy American diner. Don't go expecting anything other than that and you'll love it too. N.B. No credit cards accepted or restroom available!
(4)Jill J.
Worth going to for two big reasons: #1 the waitstaff is unbelievably friendly, and I mean genuinely friendly. #2 the building is historic and you just don't see many around anymore. Think about it, when was the last time you walked into a diner with just a row of seats along the lunch counter? The food was good too...just would not be my main reason for going there. When I go back it will be to rub shoulders (literally) with my fellow man/woman and be greeted like I was family.
(3)Aaron S.
I have been here a few times, but have never ordered their sweet potato fries until last week. I ordered the Old Fashioned Burger with sweet potato fries. The burger was great as usual. It had the right amount of every condiment. The bun wasn't soggy or overly toasted...it was just right and the burger was tasty. The sweet potato fries are worth the trip. When I've ordered sweet potato fries at other venues their either overly sweet or overly salted. These were perfect. I polished-off every fry.
(4)J. F.
Definitely worth visiting! It is a bit cramped, but they are quick to get your order. The food is wonderful. I will be back again!
(5)Kaycie L.
My niece and I were craving for breakfast and there was no better place than Jim-Denny's. i tried "The Stack" for the first time and it was delicious! It's layered with gravy, extra krispy hash browns, sausages, over easy eggs and cheese. I had wheat bread on the side. The portion was big enough for the both of us, but my niece ordered number 5. It was her first time there and here's her response as a 10 year old, "This place is soooo cool! It's like the oldies like on t.v... the people here are very nice. Can we come here again?"
(5)Bernadette R.
This place is horrible! My review is based on their hours of operation. I've tried going there twice, once on a Sunday, and the other on a Monday between their normal business hours of 7 AM to 3 PM. Both of those times I have tried calling before hand to pre-order, but there is no answering machine, so I just went to the location and they were closed both times. I needed to use my Groupon before it expired, but the place isn't even open half the time! They probably want people to go there after the Groupon expires to try and make more money so they're closing shop on purpose. I mean what are the odds of going twice during their hours of operation and having it be closed? They should at least have an answering machine that states if its closed or not. It was a complete waste of time going out there. Just call and make sure someone answers before you waste your time to discover that they are closed.
(1)Candace Y.
After many years of living in the area and hearing about the burgers here, I finally made it over to have one. (I'll give it a 3.5 in stars) At lunchtime, they seem to do a brisk business. On a hot midday, we walked in and were asked "here or to-go?" "To go". We were told to go outside to the window for to-go orders. We went out to the designated ordering location , ordered a 1/3 lb burger and a burger with a green pepper on it, fries, and strawberry lemonades. There're a couple of shade structures set up that aren't very cool because any heat is trapped underneath the shade area. We found it to be several degrees cooler to stand over near the tree and the grease/biodiesel recycling receptacle. The burgers were large & juicy with good flavor. The fries were of the shoe string variety and were crispy. The lemonade was good, but a trifle on the "too sweet" side. I'd definitely go back, but not on a hot day. I know it's too small inside to have people wait there. However, the waiting area needs a fan or something to make waiting in the heat a bit more comfortable.
(3)Alexandra P.
A little expensive but service was great. I was in Sacramento with my school and me and my friends were looking for something that wasn't a deli :P The service was wonderful (which is why I gave them an extra star) the lady was suuuper nice and wasn't at all annoyed with my pickiness of no tomatoes, lettuce, pickles...etc The food was delicious. I would come back but if I have extra to spend.
(4)Ken K.
A real local gem. Lunch menu is nice and it isn't hard to spot or get to know regulars, but breakfast is where its at. As seen on several TV shows both locally and nationally this place may very well have the biggest pancake on the planet. Their small pancake is the size of a dinner plate. Their "Hubcap" pancake is just that, the size of a hubcap. The place is small, in every respect, small counter style dinning area, small kitchen / cooking area. So I like getting there a little early or a little late to avoid the crowd. There has been owner and manager changes in the past couple of years including a management change a few months ago. The new management is really picking it up and bringing this place back to its former glory. If you've not been recently, I would highly recommend it.
(4)Lien V.
Loves the fluffy pancakes!! Overall the food is amazing! My friend and I are actually heading there for lunch today... cant wait! If you havent been to Jim-Dennys make sure you go real early or kinda late closer to 3pm. It does get busy and crowded because it is really small.
(5)Tiffany L.
I used to live around the corner...literally....While I was in the early and unknowing stages of preggo eggo, I was wondering why the hell I was so hungry....My favorite thing to get her is a "simple " ham and cheese croissant... huge you almost want to barf it up to eat it again...jkjk...Its not the best place to dine in, but shoot, its got history, and its original...You CAN order to go- and its ready in great time-I love that the person sitting at the end of the 10 seater bar has to answer the take out phone...Most the food is cooked right there in front of you behind the bar- and damn its hot/fresh! I love their early hours as well! this is probably the best greasy spoon in town-
(5)Christy M.
Grab one of the eight seats inside Jim Denny's and get ready for a damn great burger. The Joey burger, which I love for both its juicy tastiness and its name, is near perfect. The two members of the very exclusive and elusive Burger of the Month (BotM) club agreed - two thumbs up and likely one of the best burgers in Sacramento.
(4)Angela H.
Had a BLT with fries. It was good but not worth almost $10 not including a drink. One of the waitresses, if you want to call her that, was snotty and I didn't see the cook wash her hands. Won't be coming back. Hope this place goes out of business.
(1)Nicole J.
We finally made it here-- Tuesday morning right when they opened at 7am for breakfast. I ordered the mini? regular? breakfast--eggs (over med-hard) bacon, crisy hashbrownds and a pancake. Hands down the pancake was the best thing (and I'm more of a waffle girl myself). The rest of the breakfast was "good". I liked the 'homey' feel of it. There seemed to be alot of regulars cuz the two gals behind the counter greeted them by name. We could see the food being made right in front of us on a little grill and the cook made it look easy. she was also cool for listening and answering quetions from us while she was cooking. I'd come back to try lunch. One other note: They change $2 for coffee.
(3)Bryan J.
Ok, so I've been wanting to go here forever and a day and this morning I went. Good stuff. My brother and I went at 8am and had breakfast. Breakfast is kinda hard to f**k up and really, at a diner, one can't go in with expectations - so, I didn't. Now, I know darn good and well, I wouldn't be in a very good mood if I had to work 8 hours in a space the size of my laundry room and deal with the homeless all day, but, (here I go again...) if there is one thing that get's people to come back, it's making them feel welcome. Not that I didn't feel welcome, just like... NEXT! What do you want? Whatever. Like I said, no expectations. (Even though I tipped 35%) I suppose I wanted something along the line of the TV show from the 70's/80's "Alice"... where the hell is Flo when you need her??? Anyway, I ordered the breakfast burrito ($8.00) as I was starving. Two scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, home-style potatoes, salsa and choice of bacon, sausage or ham all wrapped up in a tortilla. No, I didn't get extra cheese, even though I wanted to. It was just as expected, gi-frigging-normous. Really good for what I paid - (I could only eat half.) But again, it's diner food so, no diatribe about earthiness and balance... My brother had the Breakfast Sandwich ($6.75) Two scrambled eggs with choice of bacon, sausage or ham served on choice of bread - white for him. And, that's exactly what he got. He enjoyed every last bite. Really want to go back and have a burger/chili burger. I'll have to starve myself again for that. I understand they are huge, too. There is room for about ten people in the whole place so, go early or bring your patience. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
(4)Michelle K.
I mean is a dive diner, so you can't come here expecting it to be something else. I'm ok with that part. Our food was just ok. My husband enjoyed the pancake. I had some and it was tasty. My omelet was, eh. The part that was frustrating was the service. We ordered at the walk up, the gal taking our offer wasn't very bright so it turned into a more painful ordering process than it had to be. We ordered water and coffee, which she said she'd bring out, but after 20 minutes I went and had to ask for our drinks. Then when our food finally came out (probably another 15 minutes later), my order was wrong. When I asked the server about it, she tells me they had run out of what I asked for so that's why I got what was on my plate instead. What? Who does that? Whatever. I mean I ate it, but it was unusual. Normally, you're told when they've run out of something...Right? The food wasn't good enough to justify the wait in my opinion. I'm not saying this place is horrible, I'm just saying I don't plan on going back for breakfast.
(2)Zizzle D.
I was staying at the Sheraton in downtown SAC and was looking for a good breakfast spot. I stumbled across Jim-Denny's. It's tiny with all counter seating with old swivel stools that are duck tapped together. Dude taking the orders asks for your name to put on the order ticket. He then proceeds to call you by name the rest of your stay, including a nice "Have a nice day Dean". That's just old school customer services. If you like greasy spoon breakfast joints, this is place is your spot. Portions are huge, food is good, service is great. The only complaint I have is that there is a For Sale in front. I hope somebody buys it and keeps it the exact same.
(5)Don F.
I need to set the stage for this experience. So we were staying in Sacramento for a competition my wife was involved with. She is a bikini competitor and has a very strict diet for months at a time. She gets very few opportunities to have a cheat meal so when she does it has to be GOOD! Her competition was Saturday night, and Sunday am we decided to go get pancakes. We asked our friendly staff at the hotel we were staying at ( Sheridan Grand 12th and J street ) where is the best place to have pancakes. They all immediately said Jim Denny's. So we started our walk for about 3 blocks. We came upon this very very small little burger joint that looks like a complete dive, no disrespect intended. only about 12 to 15 chairs butted up to 2 bars. One facing the cooking area and one the opposite. We proceeded to order our breakfast. my wife ordered the hubcap i believe. When the breakfast came out much to our surprise the pancake was the size of a hubcap, clearing up the thought process on the name. My wife was elated. Long story shorter, we ate our breakfast and was blown away. It was fantastic. I love the staff. I talked to the customer sitting on my lap, ( next to me lol ) and had a great time. This is not just a great place to eat but a must experience. Next time I'm in Sacramento, this is where i will be. Dieters don't bother, this is for foodies.
(5)Jay S.
The menu looks expanded since our first visit about 5 years ago...but I've dreamed of Jim-Denny since that visit...often. Add a star if you're into old diners or eateries. It's not as good as it was before...the burgers were so killer and retro ($7-10). When I say retro - I mean the fat content was really high & gave the burgers crazy flavour. When I say killer - they were enormous. The shakes were Jim Gaffigan- style, simply delightful "melted ice cream" in a huge cup. Those things changed by our last visit. Now it's not quite as decadent. But we're talking about going from epic to very good burger here. I don't really care about the other stuff....I don't take cues from food tv about these types of places. SUPER RESPECT to Jim-Denny's for keeping the interior & exterior so intact from...what looks like the 1930's-early 1940's. The wooden interior still has an old phone & architectural details in place. That alone makes it a must stop for those who worship mid-century eateries.
(3)Kym W.
Fun experience for my kids and I. I ordered one Big Breakfast for the kids to share and a bowl of oatmeal for myself since I am in a diet. We placed our order inside and went outside to sit at one of the two outside tables to wait for our food. We waited and waited and waited waited for what seemed like eternity. After about 30 mins they finally brought our food. It was a standard American breakfast with one huge pancake the size of the entire plate, 2 sausage links, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 eggs and hash browns. The kids were tickled to see such a big pancake and quickly went in on it. They enjoyed the sausage and the eggs, my son didn't care for the bacon because he said it had too much fat on it. The oatmeal was thick and hearty, I believe it was steel cut and it had some hidden taste in it, not sure exactly what, maybe a hint of cranberry or orange or something. Can't figure out exactly what it was, BUT, I didn't like it. Being that I am on a diet, I ate it anyway so that I would not be tempted to eat any of the kids food. Just before we left the owner Lee or Mom (as she told me she is referred to) came outside to sit at the other table outside and started talking to us. We sat and talked about life and raising kids and food for about 20 mins, very nice lady! Overall it was a fun experience, the kids enjoyed it and we can now say that we have been to jim- Denny's!
(3)Geraldine J.
There weren't many places open within walking distance near our hotel, so we decided to come here. It's a very small diner, with great service. Probably best to come early to snag a more comfortable seat. From the reviews, we had to try the pancakes which were amazing. I got a breakfast burrito which was super yummy, but a bit disappointed in the salsa because it was from a bottle. Definitely worth trying.
(4)Neil Z.
Visited from out of town. This is just what I wanted. The place is like out of a movie. real narrow and long bar with pretty much nowhere else to eat. Nothing commercial or tourist about this place. They make this pancake which you know by now is called the hubcap. I saw one being eaten. People were taking pictures of it. I am a little guy so needles to say, I was certain to make sure I did not get that. I found and ordered a Short Stack which was described as 2 Mini Pancakes. I literally just pasted the description from the website. It was clearly supposed to be small pancakes. I also got bacon. The bacon was good, the syrup was good, and the pancakes were pretty good. However, the cook plopped down not one, but two "hubcaps". I only got charged for the mini but I mean, come on. I had two throw out at least 2 pounds of food.
(4)Emily Z.
Pros: Best pancakesss Friendly servers Cute seating Pretty good eggs and hash browns. The bacon is rly nice too Cons: Everything is huge af
(4)Jeeno M.
I saw Jim-Denny's on the food network and was excited to see a local restaurant on television so I had to come here. I didn't realize how small the place is until I walked in. The diner seats maybe a good 15 people. I came here with my girlfriend during brunch hours and was lucky to be able to sit down. The service was slow and did not pay any attention to us. After a while of waiting, I realized that people that came in after us were receiving their food before us. I didn't think that was right. Maybe because they were regulars or because they had the opportunity to sit at the bar right in front of the kitchen might have been the reason, but we are still paying customers and would like to be treated equally. What I ordered was the combo platter. This was hash browns, toast, two over easy eggs, and sausages. Everything that I ordered was so poorly cooked. I felt like the ingredients were literally frozen minutes ago and bought from the local savemart store. If I wanted to make a breakfast that should have costed me $5 and under each, I would have done the shopping and cooking myself at home. The eggs were greasy, the toast was burnt, the sausages were barely warm, and the hash browns weren't salted and tasted like they were not fresh. Now after being dissatisfied with consuming my whole meal, I look over and my girlfriend is barely receiving her french toast meal. Her meal was also poorly made; as if they were in a hurry to close down and scraped the last of the bread into the 7 hour old egg batter which would be made into "french toast". The french toast was soggy due to too much oil and its presentation was sickly. Again, I could have easily made better french toast with a better presentation. It might have been that I came to Jim Denny's and ordered the wrong thing. Maybe I should have ordered the pancakes. The pancakes had reviews saying that they were fluffy and delicious from both yelp and the food network. If I ever decide to give Jim Denny's a second chance, the hubcap is probably what I will go for, but until then, I am very dissatisfied with my first experience there.
(2)Alyssa Mae C.
We ordered a couple of superburgers to-go. They tasted comparable to other local burger joints. I can appreciate the history behind this spot, but I'll have to pass from now on.
(3)Britt V.
My boyfriend '& I decided to try something new for lunch today. So he picked Jim Denny's. This restaurant is very small. Luckily there was only one family to be served ahead of us. I went with the veggie burger '& fries ..my boyfriend had a regular burger with chilli cheese fries. I wasn't expecting the food to be as delicious as it was. The portion was just right for my size. The taste was amazing. We will most definitely be returning !
(5)Anthony K.
Well sadly I'm disappointed in the hype. I ordered The Works omelet and it was underwhelming, unseasoned, and super greasy. I understand grease is amazing, but not when it covers the entire omelet and all the inside filling. I feel like I need a coronary. The hash browns were mushy also, I've had better at a Dennys (The chain restaurants). Well sadly, I won't be coming here again.
(1)Kim S.
Saw the giant pancake on Man Vs. Food and needed to make this a stop on our vacation to Sacramento! We were not disappointed! The food was yummy and the staff were very friendly!
(5)Ben H L.
It's kind of odd that Jim-Denny's gets some decent exposure through various cooking shows and it still has just a middle of the road review average. In essence, a lot of people expect way more than they should from what is essentially a greasy spoon diner. Do they do gluten free or egg substitute omelettes? I'm not exactly sure but I wouldn't count on it. The flat top that they use is small so the cook usually is preparing one ticket at a time. He or she is usually on their own too as I saw that deep fried stuff like fries or mixed ice cream shakes happened in another room. Is the coffee high quality or even at a Starbucks like standard? Having ordered some, I can definitely say no. But, again, I wasn't expecting it to be. I wanted greasy spoon food and they absolutely delivered. Out of the two things I tried, the breakfast burrito and a build your own omelette, I have to say that I liked the omelette best. When combined with the hash browns and toast, it really is a great meal. Mixing/matching bread, hash browns, and omelette was amusing! The breakfast burrito was huge and tasted great still melting hot cheese from the grill but the omelette was still my favorite. Now that I've been here, would I go back? Probably not likely as even waiting for a to-go order here is a bit of a challenge considering the lack of seating/standing room in here. I think any diner that I find will seem super spacious compared to Jim-Denny's but as always, the food always will determine all.
(3)Scott S.
I can see why Jim Dennys has been around since 1934... I'm sitting next to the biggest pancake I've even seen. It has to be 20 inches across and is known as the hub cap. You can get the hubcap with spokes if you dare.. the spokes are 8 finely cooked peices of bacon!!! This is a great place to go if your hungry but a bad place if your on a diet... Enjoy...
(4)Tuekeha H.
Waited for food here for an hour and fifteen minutes. The excitement around the food was gone and when I did get my food it was sub par from what I expected. There aren't more than 15 people in this place at any given time. Pancakes, eggs and hashbrowns should never take that long to make.
(1)Tracie C.
This is what a diner should be like. Friendly staff and old-school atmosphere make this a great find. Been here since 1934! Says a lot to be here that long. Simple, straight forward menu with everything cooked fresh. Good coffee too. Had the "Big Breakfast" and it was an excellent choice. Mostly the authentic atmosphere makes this place great and I will definitely be back.
(4)M A.
OK, I came here because the Man V Food show. It was great for what it was and what it claims to be. I ordered the big breakfast because I had to have one of their pancakes. It came with a "mini" pancake that covered the entire plate and was thick! I finished my whole breakfast because I'm no quitter! I was full for the rest of the day! While I was there I saw them make several different burger options and the pastrami burger made me want to stop eating my breakfast and order a burger! It looked and smelled awesome! So, bottom line, this is a great diner spot, it is very small, does not have a restroom, but has an awesome feel to it. I look at it as a novelty as I don't live downtown. I would eat here again if I am in the area as the food was great! But, I am not here often.
(4)Leslie B.
Unimpressed. Not my style. The seating is horrible here. It's uncomfortable, there's no restrooms and the food tastes like typical frozen diner food. There really isn't service either. You have to shout over the people sitting at the counter to order, nobody coming around to give refills and the prices are a bit expensive for the poor quality food. I get some people might find this place charming; however, I found it uncomfortable, over priced and the food is meh.
(2)Ashley H.
Super hot to eat here...temperature wise, but the food is great!!!! Waiting is not great though, they have very few places to sit.
(4)Samantha T.
AMAZING FOOD! Small but really cool vibe. I had a wonderful breakfast and a shake and let me tell you best breakfast I've had in a long time. This is a Sacto staple and after enjoying the food I know why!!!
(5)Rancher R.
Classic cafe. Opened in 1934 and it feels like they haven't changed a thing. Oh, you can get custom omelette switch healthy things and the simple stuff too.
(4)Jeff L.
The service wasn't as bad as i read on the reviews but their food handling is definitely lazy. I love the divey feel but I couldn't ignore the frozen patty taste and dryness in the inside and super-greasy on the outside. I ordered a double patty super burger. The fries were a bit on the greasy side too. Based on their food handling I only had half the shake. I ate $18 of food and I don't mean literally. It's a lot cheaper, cleaner, fresher and faster at in and out. So when I pay $18 I expect my food to at least taste better than in and out. I gave them a star for the banana they put in my bag since its the only thing I didn't toss.
(1)Elvia A.
Food was great, the place is adorable and the employees are very friendly and helpful! Wish they were closer to home. Very happy customer.
(5)Nicol M.
Food was fast and hot, great eggs. We had the big breakfast and the works. They were both great. The works had very light and soft eggs, and nice combo of flavors too. Service was very open and friendly. Tight fit cause location is small but worth the wait. Best omelet I've ever had.
(5)Phil P.
Best breakfast in town!! I Highly recommend this place if you're in the area and the prices are perfect. Totally worth it.
(5)Rion R.
Jim-Dennys is a solid local small tight knit breakfast and burger joint. I went in for breakfast and the area where food is cooked and where the bar is has no more than 15 seats. Great for someone traveling alone. I spent $11 before tip on the big breakfast and it was like being at home. Nothing out of this world but good food at a fair price. If you are big and tall you are going to have a difficult time at the bar. All in all a great small local place to get a solid meal.
(4)Rikki T.
Went here over the weekend with my family, and while the food was good I'm sad to say the experience as a whole was underwhelming. The staff: I get its a diner but we're still paying customer. No greeting at the door. Took over ten minutes to even get water and coffee. When we finally ordered, my boyfriend asked to leave out mushrooms from his omelette and the cook said, "I hate when people change things!" Calm down Emerill you make friggin pancakes and omelettes. The setting: This joint is not family friendly. One high chair, and no indoor seating that makes using the high chair easy to eat with your child. We sat on elevated bar seating while our child sat behind us without a place to eat his meal. This place is also located just on the cusp of where downtown gets really crappy. A scabby bum walked in, no one even batted an eye. It was gross, not what I wanted while eating. The food: Best pancake I've ever had. Omelette was great too, especially without the mushrooms! My coffee was so watered down I could almost see through it. So Man vs. Food had it right, the food is bomb but I doubt I'll go back because the rest of my experience was less than good.
(3)Anne W.
I really wanted to like this place but I've been twice. Once for breakfast and once for a burger. It was unimpressive and plain.
(2)Glenda M.
Saw this on "man vs food", great family restaurant. No public restrooms, so go before or wait until after. Great customer service and the food was amazing!!! The pic is of a "small" breakfast!!
(5)Jesse P.
Just had breakfast at this most awesome place. The pancakes we large and definitely in charge, the hash browns were so good, and the atmosphere was tight! You must make this a place to visit if you ever come through to Sacramento.
(5)Erik U.
A sign on their wall reads "Enter as strangers leave as friends." and that's exactly how I'd describe our recent breakfast at Jim-Dennys. When you walk in for the first time, it's hard to know what to expect. This is a small place - like really small - with only a few stools at the counter and along the opposing wall. I'd imagine it can get pretty crowded at peak breakfast times, but thankfully we found there was plenty of room on our recent Saturday morning visit. A few moments after we walked in the door, the ladies behind the counter welcomed us and our 2 1/2 year old son and chatted with him about Jake and the Neverland Pirates - after noticing the shirt he was wearing with characters from the show. From our stools opposite the counter, we shouted our orders: The small breakfast (pancake, egg, bacon/sausage), a breakfast burrito for my wife and the kids breakfast (pancake, bacon/sausage, milk). In such close quarters, you can't help but strike up a conversation with the other diners. We were lucky enough to meet some great people who kept us all entertained while we all waited for our food. As expected, the pancakes are huge and it's worth mentioning a "small" breakfast was plenty big enough to satisfy a decent appetite. The food was great, but it's really the people at Jim-Denny's that make the experience so memorable. Feeling stuffed and happy, we walked out the door to begin our day, We said goodbye to our new friends and they handed our son some candy for the road.
(5)Jen L.
If you're a pancake fan and enjoy a home town diner atmosphere this is the place for you! I saw the Yelp reviews about their "Hubcap Pancake" and had to check it out. As other reviews have reported, the diner is a small establishment with about 10 stools at the diner bar, and some low seatng across the back wall with the same amount of stools. If you're not comfortable sitting next to a stranger or making friends with the locals, go somewhere else. I grew up going out to breakfast at places like this with my dad, so I love this kind of atmosphere. Not feeling up to the challenge of the famous Hubcap Pancake I opted for the "Small Breakfast" which included one of their "mini" pancakes. If you were Paul Bunyan you might see this as a mini pancake, but for the rest of us mere mortals this was a big awesome pancake! I quickly made friends with the woman doing the cooking and taking the orders. She asks for your name for the order and uses your first name like you live down the block. I told her I'd see her next time and fully intend to make it here for breakfast the next time I'm in town.
(4)Angie M.
Ummmmm malts! Had a chilli cheese burger and it was super good. I can't do spicy but they were nice enough to give me a sample of the chilli beforehand . Not a fan of the steak fries but that's more a personal preference. Very little seating so be prepared to eat and don't bring a huge group.
(4)Victoria H.
I wish i had listened to my husband when he said this place is not the same since it went under new ownership. I spent 47.00 on burgers i could have made at home and got same results for way less. Their burgers litterly reminds me of the burgers you would get for lunch in grade school. All quality left when orignal owner sold. And not to mention i was charged for added avacado and they didnt pay any attention to their ticket and i go home to find the avacado not there, cheap burger at expensive price. And husband said the sake had a chemically taste. This is sad when we would of had better quality at mcdonalds and saved money. Never again!
(1)Andrea A.
Great food! It is a bit tight space but the food and service make up for it. Also if you sit by the phone you must answer it:)
(5)Joshua B.
Love this little 10 seat diner it's such a neat historical place went for breakfast they cook it right in front of you and have been there since the 30s and still has all the personality of that time. The pancakes are delicious definitely going there for one of the legendary burgers
(5)lisa k.
The service is good, but this is not a relaxing eat in for family especially when it's busy. The food is a below mediocre. Coffee was really watered. This place is plainly overrated.
(2)Kimberli T.
Super friendly and cozy place to eat. The food was good and well prepared. They definitely make you feel like part of the family. We will definitely be returning!
(5)Stephany M.
The food was amazing. Comfort food. They made special dishes for my gluten free kids.
(5)Linz E.
The clerk at our hotel recommended this place to us so we thought we'd mosey on over. It's really a hole-in-the-wall, which is never necessarily a bad thing, but the small size of it was. It can seat only a few inside, and has a smattering of tables outside. We had to lurk over a dining family and wait for them to leave so we could get a table, which is rude, but even the staff told us it was the only way to insure a seat. The food was alright. The portions were large, particularly the pancakes. A mini-pancake here is much larger than your standard diner pancake. But it wasn't anything exceptional, and I'd say overall it wasn't worth the wait or the hassle. The service left something to be desired, but the place was hopping. I should clarify: the waitstaff was nice, just inattentive. I am not a coffee drinker, but the other three in my group were, and I'll just say they weren't upset that they didn't get refills.
(2)Joanna W.
Awful service. We were waiting for at least an hour and all the staff was ignoring us. There were lots of people who came in after us and got served before us. We asked where our food was and they looked baffled. We got our food right after we asked. Shocker! I always leave a tip but this place did not even deserve a tip, let alone our business ever again.
(1)Michelle H.
This place is wild! It's teeny tiny. Don't blink or you'll miss it. When the map says it's on the corner of 12th and I, you almost have to stop to see it - unless, of course, it's being swarmed at breakfast or lunchtime. It's appears quite unassuming, but it's a GEM! Yummy comfort food, made to order, right in front of you. If you can manage to go when the crowds die down, you'll get some honest-to-goodness we've-been-friends-forever treatment. I know I'm dating myself (no one else will - just a little joking), but it's a lot like the feel of Cheers, the old TV show. I'll be going back. Just not too often, as I'm trying not to get chubby.
(5)Chris K.
If I manage to drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn, this is the go to place for the best breakfast around and quick, delightfully sarcastic service. Seating is LIMITED, as in 10 small bar seats and 6 small back wall stools. Get here EARLY or eat outside and like it. They don't bring it outside, you have to order and wait by the door then take it out and bring it back. I always get an omelet or breakfast burrito, or if I'm really hungry I get the works, which is like the cook tripped holding a tray of all the ingredients, and they landed on the griddle, then she decided to cook it all in one massive pile. They don't ask and it's not on the menu, but you can sub a massive pancake for the choice of toast. Those who are culinary masochists can order the hubcap, a massive pancake that even two people could not consume in a sitting, I've never ordered it, but I've seen it made, good lord. It is actual hubcap size, puts an extra large pizza to shame. Honestly, go here for breakfast, you will be full.
(5)Chris K.
We shared the hubcap. It was huge and fantastic. Got in early Sunday and enjoyed watching the food get cooked. Best part was watching the massive pancake cook and then the flip. This is definitely my new favorite breakfast stop now. Can't wait to try the burgers and such. The only negative is the place is small but if you get there at the right time you will be happy. The service was excellent and everyone was nice and helpful.
(5)Mei W.
Came here on a weekend to try out their breakfast with my husband. I ordered their massive 17 inch pancake while my hubby ordered the traditional breakfast platter which consists of eggs, hash brown and ham. Pancake was okay; nothing spectacular other than the size. Hubby's breakfast tasted bland with no flavoring what so ever. Considering this place is super tiny (size of a trailer), it's bar-style seating where you can also see your food being cooked right in front of you. I was pretty grossed out when I saw the cook not washing her hands before digging into a plastic ice cream tub (I guess they stored the uncooked hash brown potatoes) and sprinkled the shredded potatoes onto the pan grill. Also, in between witnessing her writing down orders from patrons and clearing dishes off the counter - she walks back over to the grill and uses her bare hands to help move the pancake off the grill and onto my plate! Yek! Don't they have regulations on handling food in accordance to the health department?! She should have at least wore plastic gloves instead of handling food with her bare hands! Well, thank goodness I didn't get sick from eating at this place. Wouldn't risk another chance eating here again.
(1)Patti R.
VERY POOR SERVICE. 50+ minute wait for food after being told 20, and we were charged ahead of time so we couldn't just walk out. Talk about being held captive! Others who came in after us were served including a family from out of town who ordered a boatload of food after us. Plus we were sitting outside in 100 degree heat. Not good at all. I know a place cant be great all of the time, but this was ridiculous
(1)Helen H.
Limited parking and limited seating, but luckily my friend and I got here at a good time for breakfast. The only reason I wanted to come here was because it was featured on Man v. Food. I wouldn't want to order a "Hubcap" because the pancake spills over onto the counter, and I'm not sure how clean it is. I ordered "The Works" (3 egg omelet with cheese, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, green chilies, tomatoes, spinach, sausage, and bacon), which was also featured on the show. It came with a side of hash browns. It's big enough to share. The thing that makes it special is its size, but overall it was ok. On another note, when the woman was making my omelet, I saw her pick a piece of eggshell out with her bare hands. I don't know how I feel about that...
(3)Dan N.
Wonderful greasy spoon diner with a very vintage feel.. loved sitting at the old counter. Burgers are very good (much better than Squeeze Inn or Burgers & Brew)- I loved the patty melt. And the breakfasts! Whoa. So many choices in all different sizes. Great service too. This place is unique and definitely deserves a visit!
(4)Jodi B.
Absolutely the best pancakes we've ever had! And the staff are awesome and so friendly! We will definitely be back in our next trip to Sacramento
(5)Yvette G.
I like the limited space. It forces you to interact with the other customers. Staff is very nice. I read other yelp comments that complained that the workers used bare hands when handling food. The woman who made my breakfast used gloves. I ordered Katie's "Just Right" Breakfast. Potatoes, eggs, and sausage was good, but nothing to brag about. The mini pancake was nice and fluffy. I'm not a big pancake person, but the pancake was my favorite part of the breakfast.
(3)Sharon Y.
Great little place!! My family all liked the food. Really small inside but so homey!!! Loved it!
(4)Nikki R.
Really good food and service. The place is really small though and it got hot in there but other than that, really good!
(4)Kayla S.
This is a very small hole in the wall food joint but it's the best breakfast I've ever had. The portions are amazing and the hub cap, which is a pancake the size of a hub cap, is hugeeeeee and delicious! I recommend everyone to go early to get seats.
(5)Mitch R.
This breakfast looked good on yelp and yes the pancake was more impressive in person, as I soon found out looks can be deceiving. It was about an 4 on a 1-10 scale with 10 being the best. The thing that bothered me was if you want clean water or water cup, order bottled or ask to wash the cup yourself before hand. The cup had more grease in it that the sausage did. Don't let me forget to mention the utensils, nasty also plus the counter was dirty as the floor. With all that's said service was great but in this case the place was so filthy that great service couldn't carry it. So this is my first grade F for a yelp review.
(1)A W.
The service and food has went downhill ever since the previous owner who left.. (who were great by the way) the foods crappy now along with the service. ...ever since the badly cook food and service I got ive just stop going there all together and just taken my business else where!!
(1)Max P.
Cheap. Solid. That's about it.
(3)Corin I.
Classic burger joint! I love the old timey feel and the tiny location. Definitely a must try
(3)Cindi R.
I've been coming here every week for years! The staff are wonderful and make every effort to get to know you. The food is fabulous and cooked right in front of you. My favorite breakfast is biscuits and gravy with eggs and bacon. You never leave hungry and the menu has lots of good choices. The pancakes are also out of this world and the hubcap is a work of art!
(5)Elizabeth G.
We may very well be back. The food was incredible, the staff phenomenal, & the details made for an awesome experience. Every little detail made for a memorable lunch. The staff was amazingly attentive - from bread service to refilling water, describing the menu, drink suggestions, the staff works as an amazing team and nothing is left unattended. Bravo!
(5)Robert C.
We were looking for a good breakfast place near the hotel and this place popped up. Initial impression was a bit lackluster. It was a hot summer day in the 100s and as we approached the small restaurant was already packed. They offered us a chair outside which we weren't to excited for but took as we were hungry now and to lazy to walk anywhere else at that point. Their customer service was a good effort which I have to give props for. It's a mom and pop feel that has a grill with love. It's not a healthy bar for smoothies or any of that. That being said one of our friends has strict dietary needs and they really tried hard to meet our needs specifically for that. As for food quality I'll give it thumbs up but it didn't blow me away. We didn't get the hubcap but we still got a good helping of stuff. Eggs were eggs and hash browns were hash browns. Pancakes were pretty good though. Seems made from scratch vs some company instabatter. No surprises or delights. Overall ild say go but get a seat inside if possible and include the pancakes in your meal somehow.
(3)Julie H.
Total dive burger joint that sells pancakes Burger was good, fries weren't. Had cheeseburger and fries, fries were plain and soft. I think 10 seats inside and a few tables outside in the parking-lot
(4)Tomas X.
Enjoyed a nice breakfast at the outside seating area at this very cool retro diner. While the 10 stool counter looked fun and interesting, it is such a beautiful morning, outside was our choice. Really good bacon, eggs and hash browns grilled just the way we prefer. Unique and funky 1930's kinda place.
(4)Norma A.
Yes, this place is still the small hole in the wall cranking out some deliciously huge portions of food.. This is our first time back since the original owners old the place and let me say it is even better. You have an all gal crew running the show and friendly conversations are had while you wait. I really enjoy the tight quarters but be warned this place does have a wait. Well worth it. I enjoyed the omelet with everything! I loved it plus could visit this place without getting the famous "Hub Cap" (minus the spokes). It does spark conversations and I don't mind. I took the leftovers because yes there will be leftovers. I would suggest getting here early and don't forget to bring a bunch of quarters since parking is limited and street parking is metered parking.
(4)David S.
I'd been wanting to go to this place for a long time after seeing the pancake on Man vs. Food. Finally had an opportunity & I was not disappointed. The place is SMALL! Not allot of seats or elbow room, & the grill is small too, so expect a wait if there's a full counter when you arrive. Fortunately I was not in a hurry & I was warned my food would take @ 20 minutes. Had an excellent breakfast including 1 "mini" pancake that hung off the sides of my plate. Can't wait till I have a chance to tackle a "hubcap", the single largest pancake you're ever likely to see. Think Uncle Buck for those of you that remember that movie.
(4)Eric K.
This review is based mainly on the unique experience where you won't be able to get anywhere else in Sacramento. Had the Jim Denny's giant omelet and the hubcap pancake. I would just pay to watch the ladies make the giant pancake. The food tastes great and its nothing spectacular but its really about the specialty plates here. There are definitely many options out there in terms of good breakfast joints but where else can you get a pancake the size of a tire and an omelet that perfectly represents the letters U-S-A.
(4)Emmalouise B.
** As seen on Man V Food ** Come: For the huge ass Pancakes Stay: For the friendly staff and locals Leave: Completely stuffed! During our visit to the area my husband and I were staying at the local Sheraton and unimpressed with their Breakfast offerings I cracked out the trusty Yelp app to find somewhere to fill our belly's. A quick search for 'breakfast' brings this spot up first on the list showing that it was about a quarter of a mile away. Having a quick glance at the menu it looked like the sort of thing we were after so I made note of it as a possible spot... That was until I noticed that it was on Man V Food and they have a giant Pancake amongst it's offerings called ''The Hubcap'', sounds good right? The place is pretty small - inside has seating for 16 people plus one highchair ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… & yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ) with 5 additional tables outside. It's all open too ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ) so you can see the grill and watch your food being cooked which is a big plus for me. I hate not seeing what's going on with my food. Naturally my husband and I ordered The Hubcap with Spokes ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ) to share. Just to see if we could actually eat it all. As the grill is pretty small the food does take time, we waited about 45 minutes as the Pancakes are so big they can only fit one of the grill at a time. As for the food, the pictures really do not show just how big The Hubcap is! On the TV show they said it was 13 inches but comparing it to the size of the plate and cutlery I would say it's actually closer to 15, maybe even 16. That's a whole lot of Pancake! Despite the size it was cooked nicely, the side my husband was eating from was about half an inch thicker than the side I was but it was cooked properly all the way through, Kudos to the cook for that. The Bacon was really good too and not being much of a fan of 'American Bacon' (more fat than meat) I was really pleased to see it was thick cut with very little fat and was nice and crisply cooked. Although we were pretty damn hungry we didn't manage to eat it all despite our desperate attempts (see remnants: yelp.com/biz_photos/PlG4… ). I couldn't possibly see one person eating all of this and not feeling very sick afterwards as it can easily feed a family of 4. Drinks are a little pricey though as one small OJ was about $3:50 but you can't really complain when you're paying $12:50 for a ginormous breakfast. They have to make money somewhere after all. Side note - Since the Man V Food on which Jim-Denny's was featured On 29th Sept 2010 the diner went up for sale (on 18th oct 2010) and has therefore changed hands but they have still kept the same menu and serving what they became famous for. Well worth a visit if you're staying in the area, even if it's just to see the true size of the Pancakes in person. Just bring your appetite!
(4)L L.
It's alright for breakfast. Hubs ordered the big breakfast while I nibbled on a few bites. It's a small breakfast joint with no parking. One must park on the street, which is metered. Pancakes were a bit burnt. Overall, it works for a quick breakfast bite.
(3)Victor M. R.
The food was fabulous and the service was even better. A place to keep coming back to.
(5)Mike H.
I felt like I went back in time or transported to New York or Boston or something when I walked into this place. You can tell it has been here for a loooooong time!! Not so much in a bad way though... just a lot of history! We went to the Oktoberfest party on Friday night and found ourselves in desperate need of a breakfast burrito in the morning..... Yelp came through and found this gem for us!! YUM! They make everything in front of you..... even the potatoes in the burrito are freshly, cracks the eggs and cooks the bacon... all from scratch!! Wrapped it all up in a yummy tortilla and I walked it home! Happy we found this place... It says it has famous burgers so I am excited to go back and try it out again but if the burger is anything like the burrito I am sure it will satisfy! :)
(4)Jamie O.
Absolutely loved Jim Denny's!! We didn't have their famous Pancakes but the elected was really good and the portions were way more than I could eat. Most of all, the staff was friendly. Friendly enough for us to go back the second day before we left Sacramento.
(4)Robert F.
Great little old, charming greasy spoon breakfast Beware, the "mini" pancake is the size of a dinner plate.
(4)Jenneil P.
We intended to check out Jim-Denny's famous breakfast, but arrived too late. Their online information regarding breakfast hours are conflicting and appear to change often. They have 2 websites and I am not sure which one is the official or current one. ( jimdennys.net and jim-dennys.com ). Currently, the .net site states breakfast is served until 1pm, but the other one which I referenced prior to heading over there doesn't list breakfast hours at all. The first thing i noticed was the smell of the grill as we walked inside. It makes you drool. I ordered the Patty Melt and it was pure cheesy goodness. I will definitely be going back to try their breakfast. My friend ordered the Tj's California Dreamin' Sandwich and was not impressed, however. Also, be advised that parking in the rear is reserved for employees only. An employee putting away the outdoor furniture watched us park and go inside, but never advised us not to park there even after asking him if they were still open. About a half hour later when our food arrived, the kitchen staff told us we had to move our car. It might help if their signage was a bit more clear. Currently, the only parking signs are on the building and lead me to believe that you cannot park in those areas only.
(4)Brittany F.
I am a breakfast person and this place blew me away. Yes it is small space wise but the omelet the size of an elephants foot made up for that! Thank goodness we shared one!! I will definitely be back!
(4)John D.
Went there with 5 buddies and ordered breakfast burritos. 1 hr. later we walked out totally disappointed. Every 15 minutes the guy behind the counter said "5 min". Had high expectations of great food but this was horrible. Couldn't post without leaving a star. I would've gave a 1/2 star.
(1)Philip V.
MAN V.S. FOOD! Ever since I've watched that entertaining show on the Travel Channel, I've wanted to try one of their challenges. Jim-Denny's was featured on an episode and since I was in the area, I happily obliged... ----The Food---- Hubcap Pancake w/ Spokes ($12.50)- The name of these pancakes entail the size of it. They're ginormous. These griddle cakes are the size of a hubcap and comically, the eggs, bacon, and sausages are placed in a way to resemble the spokes. With such quantity, I was expecting the quality to be sacrificed, but it was a suprisingly soft and fluffy pancake. Love how they have crispy edges too. I enjoyed it!...at least a third of it...hahaha. MAN VS FOOD FAIL. Since these things are so huge, they get a little soggy once it sits there for a while. When that happens, it becomes unappealing to eat. This meal comes with one pancake, 6 sausages, 6 strips of bacon, and 1 egg. ------ Verdict: 3.5 Stars. Everything served here is titanic sized. Based on the pancake alone, I'd give it four stars, but wouldn't indulge in the challenge again. The reason for the deduction of a half-star is due to their fly problem. There must have been 20-30 flies buzzing around the tiny restaurant while I was eating at the stool bar. It became unappetizing to eat after a while and tiring to swat the flies. The restaurant only seats about 10-12 people inside and has a seating area outside too, but since the employees rush in and out so often, the door remains open. Solve that and this historic location will get 4 stars from me, easy. Extra Notes: -Accepts Credit Card -Takes a while for food to come out, but they only have one grill and a couple waitresses, so be patient! -Seats 10-12 people inside, 3-4 tables outside -Decor is homey -I feel restaurant could be cleaner--and flies are a problem -Closed at 3PM Daily -Restroom available
(3)Jess R.
I loved this place, and I usually don't post many reviews unless it's really good or really bad. I would come here once a year on a trip. Usually there's a wait to sit down but this year I waited over an hour for a breakfast burrito and we ended up walking out without getting food. Very disappointed in service and how un-prepared they were in stocking food to serve there customers. Tasty food but don't go hungry
(1)Jill P.
We went for breakfast, so that is all this review is for. It's very small, but it wasn't that crowded when we got there. We still waited about 45 minutes for our food after we ordered though. The food was just ok, your average breakfast, nothing special. Apparently their real stars are their hamburgers, so maybe we will give them another try. No extra hipster brownie points from me for being a greasy spoon. I'm from a small town where most places are greasy spoons, and being such is not a novelty, just the way it is.
(2)r k.
I think the breakfast is better than the burgers but I don't really come here for the food. I come here and sit at the counter because it's a throwback to another time. Food does the job and you won't leave hungry. I read a lot of service complaints below but severs have always been nice. The owners daughter is very nice and even offered to give me a drink to go. If your in a rush go to McJunk, etc.
(4)Patrick H.
Great place to get burgers downtown. They also make huge pancakes (size of a manhole cover) and gigantic omelettes that were worthy to be featured in the man vs. food show. The oversized proportions are a fun novelty but the actual food is just average.
(4)Luis M.
This place! I love this place I've had the omelette and the chicken fiesta sandwich and they are both aaamazing. I really wanna go back there again, they have very friendly staff , they make you feel at home :) I simply love this place when you feel like having some good breakfast come to this place, and have a shake for me, because I'm on a diet :(
(5)Annalissa C.
French toast!!!!!! To die for.... Worth the long wait! Family owned and they all were beyond helpful and entertaining! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Nichole G.
Great place for breakfast and/or lunch. Much of their food potions are so huge you can enjoy them for two meals. Their 'mini' pancakes are the size of a skillet. I have not been brave enough to try the Hubcap Pancake with spokes Challenge but one day I just might. The coffee is delicious with fresh cream. It is served in a variety of kitschy mugs. My favorite is the one with the hour glass on the handle and a clock at the bottom and it is says 'Time for Coffee.' The cheeseburger was pretty good too. I love the atmosphere. It feels like you are hanging out in a friend's kitchen, shootin the breeze while they cook your meal. Stop in sometime to this dive of a diner and you will be pleasantly surprised.
(4)Lou L.
Yummy! Ate a very tasty "old fashioned" hamburger with fries. So good! Can't wait to have hangover breakfast here on the weekends! Their pancakes are HUGE!
(4)The Fredster G.
This place was right around the corner from our hotel in Sac,... I have a 1/2 pound burger on a french roll, and fries..... I had to go to sleep right after eating...lol...
(5)Glen G.
This place was shown on Man vs Food and loved the idea of the huge pancakes and omelets. The pancake was so BIG, the butter was the size of my face. Great, for carb loading before a run. I had the 'Works' omelet and was equally enjoyable!
(4)Jeff C.
I've had Jim Denny's twice now. I wanted to make sure the first time wasn't a fluke. Both times, I've thoroughly enjoyed the food. I work downtown and the first time I tried take-away. The neat box packaging they do for your burger is nice, clean and smart. They make sure to separate everything (ingredients) allowing you to build the burger yourself so that the everything remains as fresh as possible when you open the box and chow down for lunch. The second time, I took a friend here for lunch. The diner is small, and the building is almost literally a shack. However, it was a nice hometown personal feel to eating at the small bar inside. The staff was very nice and friendly. Food was pretty prompt and very fresh. The Burgers are delicious and juicy. Ingredients are fresh, and the burgers come straight off the grill, nothing like cheap McDonald's Microwave burgers. This place definitely has one of the better burgers in town, definitely give this place a try.
(5)Alyssa A.
Today was my second time eating here. The first time i went on my lunch break and that wasn't a good idea because I ended up waiting for my food for pretty much my whole lunch hour. I got the 5 cent burger with fries. It was really good. It was the perfect size for how hungry I was. I also got the strawberry lemonade to me it was just too sweet. Today I decided to get the same thing but my experience was completely different. I called ahead so I wouldn't have to wait. They were actually really quick today. Maybe it's because I took a later lunch. I had the 5 cent burger again and the potato salad. I didn't like the potato salad at all. Im not a big fan of mustard and there was a lot in there. My burger was really oily and the patty was really small. I ended up having half of my bread and no more meat. I paid $7 and i really dont think what i got was worth $7. I think this place is really a hit or miss it depends on what time you go.
(3)Nicolette R.
First timer here, I've always heard such great things about this place I just never remember to eat there. Its only 3 blocks from my work! As pictured its very charming and I could tell the 'regulars' as they glared at me walking through the door - can be a little uncomfortable but hey I can handle it. The girls behind the counter were very kind and attentive and patient with my questions as to what kind of cheese they had and if I could get ketchup added to my burger. I looked over the menu as I waited and saw the breakfast items, if breakfast is as good as their burgers I will definitely be back! I got the Old Fashioned burger and I can't pinpoint what it was about it but it was just soooo delicious!!! The burger was definitely salty but i am a salt lover so that was A-okay with me. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try breakfast or lunch!
(4)Christopher N.
The epiphany of awesome, this place has a behemoth of a pancake for $4. If they had a pancake challenge, that would be it!! The atmosphere is very friendly and great fresh tasting breakfast. The waitresses and chef makes you feel as if you were family! This location is a small shack with little parking around it, but if you could find one nearby, cross your fingers for a seat inside! I would drive past 100 Denny's just to get to this one Jim-Denny's just because this place has never disappointed me!
(5)Christopher N.
Jim Denny's, thank you. Thank you for an awesome breakfast yesterday, I couldn't be more pleased. I'm sorry I didn't know that you were a mere 2 block from my house, I promise I will come visit more often. Are you hungry and want delicious food in a comfortable setting? ...come here. You wont be disappointed.
(5)E C.
We wandered in after 1 pm so the place was not crowded. All of us ordered burgers plus fries and a chocolate malt. The service was very friendly, helpful and quick. The burgers were great as were the sides and the drinks. Lots of bantering between the staff and customers which gave the place a lot of warmth. I am definitely coming back, in the off peak hours, as it takes a lot of time to finish off the meal. Meanwhile I won't even think of eating again for a couple of days. Enjoyed this place and it is a lot easier to get into than the Squeeze Inn.
(4)greg C.
Didn't even know about pancakes (missed the Man vs. Food episode) but JIm-Denny's are the best burgers in Sacramento. I've been to Squeeze-Inn, Nationwide Freezer Meats and all the popular chains but Jim-Denny's burgers are the juiciest, best flavored meat of all. If you go for a pancake, have someone order a burger at least to get a taste.
(4)Jessica G.
I have never eaten breakfast at Jim-Denny's so this review is entirely based on lunches I have eaten there. I live in Roseville. It's kind of a long way from Jim-Denny's. But my friends and I will drive all the way down just to have lunch here. The first time we went to Jim-Denny's was solely based on driving by on a day of cruising around in the area. I love how tiny it is and how ramshackle it looks. The food is great and the staff is super-friendly. We joked around with them and when I went back with one of my friends just recently, they even remembered who we were. It's always a good meal at a cool place with a ton of character.
(5)Jen B.
I am only giving 4 stars because I don't believe I can honestly give a 5 star after only one visit. But I want to. My bf and I just recently moved in a few blocks away and decided to go for breakfast this morning. Be warned the inside is *tiny*. Teeny-tiny. You get to watch most of your food being cooked 3 feet away. The portions are HUGE and tasty. As one of the waiters put it when we asked about lunch portions "There ain't nothin thrifty up in here." The staff was awesome, laughing and joking with customers. If it takes some time to get food, it doesn't seem like a big deal. Even the other patrons were friendly. I feel like too big of a dork going back for lunch today, but I will probably update this once we actually do. Update 06/14/08 Ok, so we went for lunch. I am upping this to 5 because I've had 2 meals and feel it's officially OK to do so. Staff, still awesome. Food, still awesome. Chili cheese fries, NUMMY. Bf had the patty melt, and I had the egg-cellent tuna salad. HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THIS MYSELF? My co-worker says they also sell this at Bon Air, but my two favorite types of salad on one sandwich. GENIUS! Anyway, they are still deserving of 5 stars IMHO. I think I will have to go back for a burger though. Maybe Friday night.
(5)Bill W.
Small, but very underrated in food quality.
(5)Rob R.
Simply the best diner in town! Scott's "Just Right" Breakfast plate ($9) is clearly enough for two people. I'll definitely get PJ's "Just a Little" Breakfast ($7) the next time I go.
(5)Sadie M.
Excellent pancakes! Great prices and friendly people! Call your order in ahead and pick it up, they are FAST. The actual restaurant is VERY small, it consists of one bar with approx 10 stools to sit at, no tables and max capacity is about 12-14 people (there is a stand up bar behind the real bar where you can stand and eat at). But the food is OUTSTANDING!!!
(5)Adam T.
I ate breakfast at Jim Denny's this summer. I was pretty hungry when I went in so ordered the short stack of pancakes, which I heard was huge. It comes out and is one giant pancake overlapping the plate, probably a foot in diameter, and thick! The flavor of the pancakes isn't anything to write home about, but it's absolutely a great place to carbo load. Don't expect to get in right away if things are busy, the place is about as big as the average home kitchen, if not smaller. They cook the food on the grill right there in front of you, so it's cool to watch. The people that work at Jim Denny's are friendly.
(4)Steve R.
I finally made it here to eat! After seeing this place on Man Vs Food i new i wanted to check it out. It was very good! Its a little pricey, not too bad but for the large portion size and the quality of food your getting thats expected. I got a chicken sandwich, with Jack cheese, avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato, and a side salad. My wife got the breakfast with 1 egg, hashbrowns, bacon, and a huge pancake the size of the plate. I have no complaints about the food, the restaurant is a little place, not very much seating and the parking sucks, but every waitress was VERY nice. We have a baby and they brought us out a highchair, and made sure we had everything we needed. I will definitely eat here again when im in the area!
(4)Linda W.
When my sister first took me here I was like this place looks ghetto. Its super small and they had cheap plastic tables and chairs. We sat outside because there wasn't any room inside the place. My sister ordered for me because i had no clue what to get. My sister ordered us some eggs, sausages and a small stack pancake. The food was great and it came out quickly! The pancake was super fluffy and huge! It was the size of my head and we couldn't even finish it! The place might look ghetto but the food is awesome!
(4)Raylan G.
Our Saturday visit was good, The Works omelet and pancake were cooked to perfection by a young lady at the tiny griddle. No homefries due to the upcoming Jazz Festival later in the day,so they deep fried frozen hashbrowns like you get at McD's, could have done without that. Sacramento has lots of breakfast choices,but this place is cool and has oldschool charm, keep your expectations reasonable and you'll like this place just fine, Warm syrup would have been a nice touch for a place known for pancakes. I counted 18 seats at this little joint.
(3)Hollywood V.
Have always had a soft spot for this place. Sad to see it's up for sale.
(5)Mike F.
I love this place. Delicious and greasy burgers. Cramped quarters with only 13 stools at the counter. Pancakes as big as an Irishman's head. The chili is bomb. And when they have the tortilla soup, order it, and then thank the owner, Patsy.
(5)Jim H.
Years and years of driving past Jim Denny's on 12th St. I mean years!! Each time I drive past I say, someday I'm going to have lunch there. Someday. Well, today my W and I finally did it. What a great experience it was. Sitting at the counter and absorbing the atmosphere. Watching the well experienced workers hustling and completing the many orders. Watching the burgers cook right in front of you is a wonderful experience as well. I ordered a cheese burger (pepper jack) grilled onions and some bacon with fries. W ordered old fashion burger with fries and diet pepsi. It was great seeing the bacon frying away on the flat top next to the burger patties. I guess even if you don't order bacon you can't help but get a little flavor from the bacon grease on the flat top. (extra bonus) The burgers hit the spot. Very good burger in deed. Gonna go back and give the pastrami sandwich a try and the milk shake. It looked pretty good to me. Now as I drive buy I know exactly what's going on in that little building! Good stuff!
(4)Ana M.
Havent been here in a while as the store hours close a bit early for me but they have the BEST fries in town. The best cheeseburger as well. Only other burger that i can compare it to is the one at J's Cafe....but nevertheless, last time i was there the atmosphere was fun and the employees were wonderful. The milkshakes are pretty damn good and gigantic too. Well worth the money.......the food is great!
(5)Don C.
Well the Weasel took a break from the tattoo convention Sat. and went with some buddies looking for food....Well kiss my grits....its Jim Denny's .....I've seen and heard of this place for ...well lets just say an awful long time.....A Sacramento landmark.... Don't get to excited with the size of this place....its small....but packs a lot of flavor.....I ordered the chili cheese dog....actually wanted a burger...butt after seeing the persons next to me eating this cheesedog..I just had to have one.... My buddies all ordered the burgers..... Food was served up rather quickly...And was I glad to get the cheesedog....it was great....one of the best ever.... My buddies burgers all looked good....but who cared....I had my Chili cheesedog... The staff was great....telling us about the history of this joint.... I couldn't ask for a better lunch....I was stuffed and wasn't hungry the rest of the day....I 'll be back as Arnold said... Chili Cheesedog with fries and ice tea....Apx. $10....not too bad for downtown....Stop in and tell them the Weasel sent ya.... This is a taste from the past....heart burn city....ya baby....its where all the doctors say not to eat....but the little person in your head says YES! This was my experience ...hope yours is as good... Weasel...
(4)Jim P.
Don't expect a whole lot when coming here... as far as space, décor or fanciness. As mentioned in prior reviews it's very small but fine for what it is (old school mom & pop style). Surely for the locals, I could just see that nearly everyone in the place was local and probably has the same breakfast at same time sitting on the same bar stool they did last week. I happened to stumble across this place because there's literally nowhere else to eat within a 5 mile radius. I drove up and down downtown looking for a place to eat on a Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. Is that asking too much? I guess so because this is where I ended up. And because it took so long to find a place to eat I was really pressed for time to be at a bike show that morning. So I ran in to Jim-Denny's, ordered two breakfast items to go and it took fooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrrrrrrr....... (yawn) Each order is literally prepared one at a time. No such thing as having 8 eggs going at once with 12 strips of bacon and 10 pieces of toast to get multiple orders out. Each meal is prepared in the order taken one at a time. After finally receiving the food it wasn't bad but nothing great either, and everything was very salty, looks as if they salt everything including the bacon... probably the old school local way. I'd normally rate 2 Stars here, but giving a 3 because they were actually open.
(3)Nicky L.
Deliciouso! I love this place from the decor to the food. Great big menu and good sized portions. The shakes are super good.
(5)Michael R.
Heres another joint I visited that I saw on the food network. Talking about a hole in the wall....this is a very small hole in the wall! Service is not that good, only about 8-10 chairs, little pricy, and parking is non existent. The food was good and the bad service was made up by very friendly servers. Been there twice and I would go again. The works breakfast was good both times. Maybe I will try them for lunch some time....Cool place and you should try at least once!!!
(3)Carol P.
Fast, friendly, no-nonsense service. My 1/3 pound beef "Joey" was around $8. My friend had the "old fashioned", priced around $5, which had the thinnest patty ever ( definitely go with a bigger burger). Seemed a little over-priced...but hey, that's ok...if it's good I don't mind paying more. Not greasy, juicy patty, good bun. The fries rivaled McDonalds (which I am a big fan of). I guess you're also paying for a bit of history and nostalgia. This is a real diner and a real dive (flies and all). It's also the most real burger you'll have in Sacramento.
(4)Tom L.
This very small place whips out the most rockin food from that corner griddle. And everyone is super friendly. We immediately felt comfortable to order anything and everything. The actually building has about 8 barstools where you can check out the cooking action. There's also about 4 stools that face the window. There are tables outside- cold in the winter, so bring a coat! This is breakfast comfort food at its best. Hash browns, french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, and the famous pancakes. We wanted to change our order every time we saw all this yummy food coming off the grill. The cook makes everything to order as she chats with everyone. How fun is that? Though it was hard to choose,we ended up ordering the spinach and mushroom omelette (fresh spinach and mushrooms). This was served with extra crispy hashbrowns and toast. We also had the 2 bacon/2sausage/2 eggs/hashbrown meal that came with a massive light and fluffly pancake. Load up the butter and syrup. needless to say- we were full for the rest of the day. We'll be back here for sure
(4)Robin T.
So a couple of friends and hubby and I decided to try out the Jim-Denny's burgers, head-to-head with Willie's. (We're doing Squeeze Inn vs. Nationwide next.) The burgers from Jim-Denny's were monstrously big but so was the price tag. $9.50 for a cheeseburger is too steep! Yes, it was scrumptious but I'm not sure it was worth the price tag. The burger: juicy, on a nice bun, cheese perfectly melted. Tomato sliced a bit too thick. Yummy grilled onions and nice, crisp lettuce. Price: Too high. It did beat the pants off the Willie's cheeseburger, but then again, the W's burger was 4 bucks less.
(3)Chelle M.
I can't really say enough good things about this diner. I dread Sundays and Mondays because Jim Denny's isnt open. If you are looking for down home diner grub in a friendly atmosphere, this is the place.
(5)NB B.
We had BREAKFAST: OK I'll give it a 5, why not? I mean where else do you get a pancake described by the waiter as 'it's as big as a hubcap,' no really it is! That alone deserves a 5 for novelty alone. Aside from the ginormous pancake my wife had -- my eggs and side of cottage cheese with hash browns was copious and tasty. We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed. The waiter was cool too. He looked like Morgan Spurlock from Supersize me and was funny and a good waiter. The place looks like it might fall over at any moment but that's part of it's charm.
(5)Lindsey S.
I think I just found my new favorite spot in Sacramento! I have driven by a hundred times and always looked at the dilapidated building and thought it probably has fantastic food, I was not disappointed. I was actually surprised by the quality of the food and the friendly ambiance. My boyfriend and I both ordered Chorizo breakfast burritos and I actually laughed when the waitress put the thing in front of me. It was HUGE! I only ate about half, but it was delicious and just as good heated up for lunch later on. The waitress and cook both suggested a few toppings for my burrito, and brought out samples of each. I was surprised that their recommendation of gravy on my burrito was really tasty. All of the food coming out of the kitchen looked delicious and all of the other diners seemed very impressed with their meals. Not only was the food awesome, but the service and ambiance were just as good. Family owned and operated, everyone working seemed genuinely happy to be there and were excited for new comers to try their food. A fellow diner ordered a chocolate malt and when the order was echoed back to the cook, he yelped with excitement. He then personally delivered the malt to the diner and asked him to taste it right away and let him know if it wasn't the best malt he'd ever tasted. The diner agreed that it was. I highly recommend Jim Denny's. A great restaurant to support and bring your local $$'s to
(5)Will N.
Saw good reviews of this place (but didn't realize they were mostly from when under previous ownership). I like going into a place where they offer a sincere smile- These new owners were over the top and not sincere. When I asked why no website, they trash talked in unsitely detail about the previous owners, which I found both off putting and unprofessional. They told me food would be ready in 20 minutes- took approx 40. Ordered an omelete- BLAND- Had veggies inside that looked like they just steamed inside the omelete. No salt or spices that I could detect. Later I realized that the good reviews are from when it was under previous ownership. I wish I could say something positive but there just wasn't anything. This place is not going to last. =(
(1)Lisa M.
Visited Sacramento for a conference and found this place on Yelp and had to try it. Our group went every morning and a few times for lunch tried something new each time. From the huge pancakes called the Hubcap, to the massive omelets or amazing french toast, everything was great in this little hole in the wall. We will be back next year.
(5)Michele J.
Originally wanted to eat here for breakfast but, they stop serving breakfast at 10 am. So I thought I would settle for a burger. The cook walked over to me and asked what I was craving. I told him breakfast. Sorry how about a hamburger? All of the sudden he named off all these different hamburgers he had made that were not on the menu. At first I thought, this Guy is pulling my leg. So I went along with him and ordered a cheeseburger with 4 different cheeses, sauted onions and mushrooms on a quarter pound burgar. When I took my first bite my husband told me to shoosh because I was moaning. If you want a burglary this little shack is the place to go for lunch. Ask the cook what kind of burgar does he recommend before you look at the menu.
(5)D. A.
jim-dennys.com A total dive that I'll be returning to. Side by side seating at the counter. On the last hour before closing on a Saturday, there were only a few customers sitting inside but the phone-in orders were all of a sudden surging. The counters, the bolt down stools, the walls, are all worn down, giving it character and a comfortable feel. Everything is wiped down but no matter what, slightly greasy to the touch. Regardless, if a few of my fries dropped onto the counter, I'd probably trust that I wouldn't die if I ate 'em. Not that I'd make this a habit! Not listed in the on line menu, I ordered the biggest thing they currently had on their PAPER menu... a Joanna Burger. At $8.50, you get 2 big patties in your burger. I ordered mine medium rare, with grilled onions, jack cheese and cheddar cheese. Fries or choice of other sides are included. The counter lady and cook were friendly. The patties, onions AND the buns were all cooked on that greasy grill. With the cook prepping all of the orders, it was fun observing the slow moving wave of grease being pushed into the grease trap by spatula. The burger order was delivered in a basket and dripping hot. On the side was 2 thick slices of tomatoes, a huge slab of lettuce and some pickles. The combination of burger patties, lettuce, bun, onions and cheese was so thick, that I could barely fit it into my mouth. I had to take a bite out of the burger first, then take a bite out of either a piece of tomato or pickle. The burger dripping scenes in the Carl's JR commercials have nothing on my Joanna burger. Getting to the end of the burger, the grease actually got the remaining pickle and tomato to stick to the bottom of the bottom bun. A 5 star rating for that wonderful burger experience. Highly recommended to warm and clog your heart. The best grease burger I've had in a long time. Negatives. - Fries. About the size of McDonald's fries (3/16" thick), I wasn't impressed with the combination seasoning and salt - there was too much of both. I'll see if it's possible the next time - I'll try to order the fries without any seasoning or salt, and salt them on my own. If it weren't for the seasoning and salt, I think I would've enjoyed the fries. - Room temperature. With the summer day at about 90 degrees, the ceiling mounted, old air conditioning unit was working at maybe, 75% efficiency. It was good enough to keep things bearable inside the diner though. - Parking. With the diner on a lot, all of the parking spots were taken up by the Jim-Denny's crew. Jim-Denny's shares the lot with a printing company - the majority of the parking spots are marked for the printing company. I had to find nearby metered parking on the street. Update 6/26/2007. I ordered the fries without seasoning or salt this time. It's safe to say that the fries were pretty good!
(5)kate r.
Perfect "nickel burger" and fries for about $4.50, cheese, mushrooms, are extras but thats ok. My boyfriend once tried a burger with peanut butter on it in Hawaii and we have been on the search to find another place that serves up a similar burger. When I checked the menu online it noted that peanut butter was a $.75 extra, just like cheese and mushrooms. I told him about it and that was the only motivation he needed. He was very happy with the burger, the cook even asked if he wanted the peanut butter on both sides of the bun and the burger itself.
(5)Jacob C.
I have a fetish for greezy hamburger stans an this is up their with the best, great burger, and the reuben is amazing. Plus it just looks cool, takes you back to the days grandpa used to talk about.
(5)Ang C.
With all of the hoopla surrounding Squeeze Inn especially after they were featured in an episode on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," it is a shame that Jim Denny's was not represented in Sacramento. First of all, despite that they use a local hamburger patty vendor that many Sacramento restaurants use, I find it amazing that they can take a bland manufactured hamburger patty and turn it into something extroridinary. In my book, no matter what flaws the restaurant has, there is no way I can knock any stars off because of the talent of the cook. I really cannot find any flaws with Jim Denny's. It is a nice cozy place with a very friendly staff that is family owned that followed the rich tradition of the establishment. On another note, they also serve breakfast and there is no better bang for your buck than breakfast at Jim Denny's. I have ordered a pancake and boy was it a massive pancake as it more than covered the plate that it was served in and on top of that there was a huge portion of hash browns, eggs, sausage and bacon. I swear, this is the first time in my life that I have not finished a breakfast meal ever. Forget what you know about breakfast diners in Sac, this is the place to go for a tasty and hearty breakfast. So now, my dilemma is whether to have breakfast or lunch on weekends here.
(5)Angie P.
I don't know if I'd call it the best best best burger I've had in Sacramento, but it's certainly enjoyable. Add a thick blackberry shake and I'll call it even. And the potato salad, chili and cole slaw were all big hits, too. Note to self: Must get over there for hubcap-sized pancakes ASAP!
(4)Desiree L.
Pancake heaven!!!! The mini pancakes.. aren't so mini. Everything is freshly made and the staff is great. This place only has about 20 seats but they make it work. I can't wait to be in Sacramento again :)
(5)C H.
A tiny little burger shack at 12th and H. I never got to try it because it was only open for lunch, but now they are open for dinner, until 9 on Saturdays... I went out with some hungover friends in search of some greasy hamburgers and found that Cookie's had already closed! So we drove around aimlessly looking for a great cheeseburger, but Willie's wasn't going to cut it. I drove and drove, cruising the grid for about 30 minutes until I saw a beautiful light in the distance. It was an "Open" sign at Jim-Denny's; I knew that fate had brought us there. We stepped inside and saw a long counter with room for about 10 diners. The menu had several sizes and varieties of burgers ranging from a little McDonalds happy meal sized burger to a one lb monstrosity. Most are priced around $6-$8 (including your choice of fries, potato salad, or mac salad. They also have milkshakes for $4. The menu details the long history of Jim-Denny's, dating back to the mid 1930's. I had the smaller burger with colby cheese; my friends had the 1/3 and 1/2 lb burger with bacon; they were beautiful, juicy, and perfectly cooked. The fries were nice and greasy. I wasn't too impressed with the potato salad.
(4)Rick D.
My Wife and I have been going here for over 3 years. They know us by name and treat us as one of the family. That is what makes this restaurant so special in my book. The food is also great but being part of the Jim Dennys family is much more important to us. I love the Eggselent tuna. It's the best.
(5)Marisa L.
Though billed as "the busiest 10 seats in Sacramento", the friendly owners-staff at Jim Denny's let you take your time savoring a meal. I stopped in here for a Saturday AM brunch on a recent weekend in Sac, on the recommendation of staff at the nearby hostel. Your meal takes awhile to be served if only because everything is cooked on one grill in the front window of this trailer-sized restaurant. But I was entertained by conversation going back and forth over the counter, as the staff talked and joked with the regulars. I had chicken apple sausage with two eggs and a side of biscuits and gravy... and yes, I managed to pack it all down, all of that heavy delicious comfort food. Biscuits and gravy were especially good. OJ wasn't fresh squeezed but I suppose that oranges are more $$ these days. Price was just about right for a breakfast of this size ($11 for my meal, w/o tip.) I'd love to come back for their pancakes, which are bigger than you'd believe... I watched the cook ladle melted butter onto the pancake as it cooked, so it must have tasted so rich. A lot of the regulars were ordering the "Morning Drew", which I didn't get b/c of the ham (I don't eat red meat) but looked delicious.
(4)A T.
Had breakfast over the weekend. Great service and great food. Pancakes were great and conversation pleasant.
(4)Tiffany D.
Wifey and I went to Jim Denny's for lunch. We lived in midtown for a little over a year and aways drove by this place when they were closed. (Their hours are a little un accommodating, but if you have a good place, then i guess you don't need to be open at all convenient times for the world). Anyway, came by when they were open, and were greeted by a really pleasant man outside who recommended this turkey sandwich (whose name i unfortunately do no not remember right now). Anyway, we went inside, wife got the burger, i got the turkey sandwich. The food was amazing! Greasy deliciousness. The lady who took our order could have been a little more pleasant to be around, but I'll just ignore that as she could have had a bad day... and the food made up for it. Great place... if you can make it there during one of their infrequent times of being open, then i definitely recommend coming here.
(5)Harrybobo L.
Good service, lousy food. Very pricey. Had biscuits and gravy, eggs, and bacon. Good Java City coffee and quick order up but food and atmosphere does not reflect high prices. The restaurant is located along 12th Street and I Street and consists of no more than an 9seat counter smaller than the former Squeeze Inn. Lunch menu comprised of burgers, sandwiches and salads.
(2)Rick N.
Cute place but underwhelming burgers n fries - service with attitude and frying pan to the back of the head smarts
(2)James W.
If you want to eat, DON'T GO HERE. I waited for an hour and my breakfast never came. However, people that came when I was at about the 50 minute mark got their food before me. Completely disorganized staff.
(1)Quani L.
Great breakfast! Fast and friendly service...pancakes are CRAZY big... Bring your Bunyan appetite! (Weekday in 9-11 a.m.)
(4)Daniel D.
Didn't realize this place was on man vs. food. Saw the episode yesterday, mvf visited when it was under the old management. After seeing how awesome the breakfast was in the "old days" I'm deducting another star. Sad...sad....sad...
(1)Dan N.
Best fries I've ever had in my life. Great burgers & chili too.
(5)Ryan L.
Went here for lunch for the first time a while ago, this place is my kinda place. Employees bantering everyone with joy, lots of laughs in this place. While up near Spokane WA over this past July 4th, I was in a brand new Zips (WA's Mcdonalds), which I saw a framed picture of this exact restaurant on the wall with the original owner standing out front. Pretty cool! I ordered a burger which I couldn't finish, was decent, the fries were good also, very large portions, come hungry. I'm wondering about the breakfast here, I need to get up early and just go!
(4)Rudy G.
We really looked forward to hitting Jim-Denny's for breakfast. We felt like we were let down. We chose to eat outside since the counter was full. We ordered a short stack and the 'just right' breakfast. I felt that the pancake was a disappointment. Despite the size, the flavor was miniscule. The 'just right' breakfast was also just so-so. Our entire breakfast experience took us an hour and a half to complete. Much too long for breakfast. We'll go back to try the burgers but will not return for breakfast.
(2)Hannah M.
I am currently in bed with my laptop perched on my belly, my belly that is full of only half the short stack. The other half waits in the fridge for when I wake up from the coma I'm about to slip into.
(5)Mustafa N.
I just ate here yesterday. I ordered the hubcap and it was literally the best pankcake everrrr! On top of that the customer service was amazing! Very very friendly people working there and I will def eat there again.
(5)Bob D.
Nothing more than a greasy spoon with slow (albeit friendly) service. Don't be fooled by the small diner atmosphere - the food here is nothing special. You'd be better off at Denny's. I won't be back.
(2)Brittany A.
I finally got a chance to go down to Jim-Denny's after seeing it on a national tv show (man vs food... or something.) My sister and I were so excited to try the big pancakes that they offer! The pancakes were awful. They weren't flavorful and they were "spongy" instead of "fluffy"... my sister didn't enjoy her hash browns either, they were frozen before cooking. And to top it off it was just expensive for what it was... possibly because they have gotten some national publicity. I have a hard time believing the "old" Jim-Denny's tasted like this... and if it did it had no business getting that type of attention! To say the least, we wished we would have just gone to IHOP.
(1)Lola D.
I went here this morning for hangover breakfast and couldn't have been more happy. I had the bee gees in a major way and desperately needed some grub to absorb the alcohol. We went in and thank god I wasn't having my claustrophobic hangover, because the place is tiny. I got simple food, but then, I'm a simple gal. Two eggs, home fries and toast. All the bomb, all made right in front of me. Bonus points to the chef giving me a sample of her new special of the week, the potato pancake. It was good, I hurt myself trying to cram it down. In fact, over 12 hours later, I'm still pretty full from breakfast. What more could a girl ask for. Greasy spoon style food made with love and a little sassiness. Definitely coming back.I only wish they had a little baileys for my coffee...
(4)Frank M.
Superburger is pretty huge. Probably the greasiest diner I have been to. A bit overpriced, check the menu online.
(4)Adam G.
Checked Jim Denny's out for breakfast a couple weekends back. My wife had read about the huge pancakes and massive everything omelet. She gave me instructions to order those items and they would be big enough for us to split. Well, it would have been big enough for FOUR people to split. Pancake was huge- about the size of a garbage can lid (Oscar the grouch garbage can). The omelet really did have everything in it and was also huge. Usually when there are too many ingredients the flavors of the items run together- but every item had a great flavor. This place obviously knows what it's doing in the kitchen and at the grill. The staff and customers are cool. When I called the order in I thought a new employee answered the phone; I could hear him double-checking everything I said with someone else. When I got there, I noticed a sign that proclaimed "If you sit next to the phone, you must answer and take orders". Now I think the guy did a pretty good job. Prices are very good. Anyways- I definitely would recommend checking this place out.
(5)Lyn D.
Went for lunch. Great hole in the wall kinda place. Great service, good food and good iced tea. Separate side window for outside and take out orders. Definitely going to make a point of coming back for breakfast soon.
(4)Donnie A.
You can't beat this place especially for breakfast (best in town), biggest pancakes I've ever seen. I have never ordered anything i didn't love, even my first peanut butter burger (that day's special). Totally the best french fries in town, (get em with the chili too). And the service, wow, the friendliest people in town!!!!! One warning, try not to go during lunch hour, with only a few seats in this wonderfully historic diner it fills up fast!
(5)Sunday M.
One word: PANCAKE! Ooooooooh they are gigantic & delicious! Went there for lunch one day & the burger was pretty good - but I love the breakfast. I dig the fact that everything is cooked right in front of you and the staff there are all super snarky with each other; it's absolutely entertaining! Go for breakfast!
(4)Grant R.
Visited J-D's the other day for the first time in years. It's a family-run operation now... nice people. The food was good, but kinda dear. $9.20 for my pastrami sandwich. I couldn't help thinking about the pastrami at Subway... a third larger, loaded with produce, and a buck or two less.
(3)Lauren L.
Wow! I am seriously impressed! Not only do they make everything to order right in front of you, but all the veggies for the scrams were fresh cut and all the eggs are cracked right then and there. I was able to order egg whites and they were real, instead of from a jar. They served us up fast, with good strong coffee. I would go back here again and again for breakfast!
(4)Sy D.
We bellied up to the bar on a crisp Saturday morning for a real breakfast, and we were tickled pink with the results. I had the works omelet with hash browns and a short stack, the wife had the standard eggs, hash browns, sausage and pancake. The portions were huge, well worth the $35 tab in my opinion. While it took almost 45 minutes to get our order we were able to chat, enjoy our coffee and watch the cook work her ass off on the grill - she deserves every penny she makes, awesome young lady. My omelet was perfect, not greasy and the vegetables were prepared so they did not cause the omelet to be runny and wet. The hash browns were crisp, flaky and right off the grill. The pancakes lived up to their hype - huge, fluffy and a wonderful flavor - served with just the right amount of butter. A wonderful dining experience - although I could have done without all the democrats who were in town spouting all their BS while I tried to enjoy my breakfast.
(4)Ian K.
I eat here one or two times a week for breakfast. I love it! The food is great, the staff is friendly, and the portions are huge. The best pancakes in Sacramento! Thank you, you have earned yourself a loyal customer for life! See ya soon.
(5)Jennfier Y.
Taste: 10 stars Ambiance: hahahahahaha Really really yummy, kind of expensive though. Doesn't stop me from walking 6 blocks for lunch though. Hard to find a seat, inside or outside. Had to listen to the lady screaming at some "non-customers" to get off her property cause they were cussing, but she did so like this "this is a f*****g family restaurant, get the f*** off my property"! to which my lunch buddies and I had a great laugh...
(4)Brandi S.
I had been passing this place for years and FINALLY made it inside. It completely lived up to it's reputation. The fries are good, service quick and friendly. A great little diner with a mean burger. Quite possibly the best in town.
(5)Keith D.
Wow is all that can be said. A great Greasy spoon seats about 7. I have only been there for breakfast which actually would keep one full for about a week which is why I have never gone for Lunch. I find it a great start to a weekend. Pancakes that would work as a manhole cover.
(5)Catherine F.
As advertised, a funky hole-in-the-wall diner with excellent, ample breakfast in the true diner style, down-home service. I was thrilled to find this on yelp during a business trip and was very happy with my breakfast here,
(5)Stacey W.
Had breakfast for the first time here and it was delicious. The french toast was wonderful. Love the atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)Terry G.
I love little places like this. A friend and I stopped by for an early lunch, but they only serve from the breakfast menu until Noon. So, I had the short stack - which is a single HUGE pancake!! Since we went for a burger I'll have to come back again.I loved the small cramped counter which allowed us to strike up a conversation with a couple from Mexico City that was travellng to the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The staff was very friendly anf helpful too.
(4)Joel Y.
Great deal on a great burger. Everything is cooked fresh to order and they do a great job. The new ownership (its been a while) has done a lot to make make it less crowded in the little box that makes up the eatery. Take outs have a separate window to order. Wasn't brave enough to try it, but any place that has a one pound burger is got to be good.
(4)melissa s.
we had the hugest pancake ever today! the wait was super long (probably because of the recent airing of MVF) the pancacke was so big, we didn't order anything else. next time i'm going to stick to the smaller cake and try something else too.
(4)Lysa S.
Only been here for breakfast twice. But it was good, typical greasy spoon. The chicken apple sausage is really good though. Pancake ridiculously huge, but good.
(3)Ben W.
Went in on a weekday and was told immediately upon opening the door to "get out of the way" by a blonde waitress who was trying to get outside with dishes. Was then shouted at over the counter by another waitress that they stopped serving breakfast 20 minutes early. Never coming back here again; no parking, no room in diner and the worst service I've ever had for only being inside a place under two minutes. Avoid like the plague.
(1)James L.
Don't let the size and look of the place deter you from eating here. Yes, it is small -- holds maybe a dozen people inside. But, after a long night of visiting my old watering holes, I head over here first thing in the morning. Since I don't eat pork, I like that this place offers different types of protein, like turkey and chicken sausages -- and these aren't the small breakfast sausage links, but jumbo size. Add three sunny side up eggs, crispy hashbrown, toast, and large cup of coffee, I'm ready to face the world.
(4)mahi m.
Amazing burgers. Not safe for vegetarians. Sure, they have veggie stuff on the menu, but it's all about the grill and you know that ain't tofu grease. A colleague turned me on to this after a long day walking the halls of "the building" and now it's the highlight of any trip to Sacto. Maybe not every trip, or my arteries won't make it to age 40.
(5)Rebecca C.
Jim-Denny's is a dive... but that's part of its charm. I came here based on a recommendation from a co-worker [and confirmed by yelpers] and I'm so glad I did! I've been driving past it for over 10 years and was never tempted to stop because it looks shady from the outside. I missed breakfast, but stayed for lunch because I was too intrigued once I got inside to pass it up. It was about half the size of a train car and seating is *limited.* Fortunately, the people who eat there seem pretty friendly and were willing to reconfigure to allow for me and my lunching companion to sit together. I ordered the "Old-Fashioned 5 Cent Burger" and my friend ordered the "Kevin's Unusual Rueben Sandwich" and a chocolate shake. My 5 Cent Burger was huge [I was told it was "small"] so I'm curious to see what a "large" is to them. I got it with grilled onions and sat right in front of the grill and got to watch it constructed up close. It was delicious. My friend's Rueben must have been good as well because he devoured it silently [he's normally a talker]. I did sample his chocolate shake however and it was delicious... beware however, if you order a shake its more like 'two shakes' because they give you the rest of it in the stainless steel cup it was made in [and it is a LOT]! I will definitely be back for breakfast... only downside to Jim-Denny's is the fact that they're closed Sunday:(
(5)Randy M.
A Sacramento institution, Jim Denny's is an unassuming, no-nonsense burger joint that serves up some of the very best American grub in Northern California, and a low price. The food portions are large, messy and delicious. A simple joint, serving simple food, at a great price. You will walk away and not feel hungry for hours.
(5)Heather W.
I've heard so many great things about this little 12th street hole in the wall, so I was really excited to try their burgers for the first time today. I decided to phone in my order and eat at home since i've heard the place is real small inside. The outside is adorable, a total 50's era burger shack. Gotta love that! Picked up my order at the side window and chatted with their really friendly staff. Shared a blackberry shake with my hubby while waiting for our food. It was very, very tasty. Nice and thick and had real blackberries in it. Not sure it's worth $4.50, but it was good. Got the burgers and fries home and was ready to dig in. The fries weren't bad. They were the thinner shoe-string type. Reminded me of McDonald's fries but not as heavy and greasy tasting. I like thicker cut fries, but these weren't bad. Next I tacked my burger. I got the 1/3 lb. Joey burger with grilled onions and cheddar. I must say I was underwhelmed overall. The best thing about my burger was the bun which had a sweetness to it that I really liked. The meat on my burger was on the thin side and slightly charred on the outside, creating a little bit of a smokey crust, which overpowered the taste of the meat. I like my burgers more on the well done side, but this seemed a bit overcooked even for me. Other than that, toppings include standard mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, which you assemble yourself. It just wasn't that impressive overall. I couldn't really taste the grilled onions or the cheese. For $8.25, I expected a lot more. For that price, I really prefer Nationwide Meats' burgers, which use much better, tastier meat. Plus, Nationwide serves the thickest fries in town, so I think I've determined my favorite burger spot now. I would go back to JD's if I was craving a thick, tasty shake though!
(3)Derek T.
Great burgers, and amazing fries! I've had their mushroom burger and just a cheeseburger and both were incredible. Their fries have always been fresh and perfectly cooked. not too thick, not to burnt. I got a breakfast burrito here too and it was little intimidating. I can put away a lot of food but this thing was made with at least 2 potatos, and the sausage wasnt like chorizo, it was whole links of sausage, which was pretty good. But yeah, watch out for breakfast, its insanely large. The only thing I didnt like about this place is I wasnt sure if I was supposed to order at the back door and pick up at the front, or order at the front and eat at the front, it was kind of confusing. I usually just play it by ear everytime I go there. anyway, enjoy if your on your way home on the 160 south.
(5)Victoria N.
Best burgers I've had to date. Since eating here, it has raised my standard. Thick, juicy, burgers full of flavor. As an indecisive person, it's hard to choose what to get, but it seems that no matter what you get, it turns out right.
(5)Reina M.
greasy spoon, love it! i've only been here for breakfast, and takeout all 3 times at that, but the service is fast and the portions are large. the omelette especially is huge (although i did finish it, since i was coming from an exhausting boxing workout). can't wait to try lunch there.
(4)Jessica H.
Ok, I know that people think Jim-Denny's is soooo good, but I cannot say the same. The first time I went, I loved my breakfast (not any better than Denny's, but still good) and Patsy was a great cook. Kinda expensive for what you got (It cost $30 for both of us). We went back for lunch the next week, and had a horrible service experience. The employees were completely rude. My burger was ok, but not very flavorful, and no better than In-n-Out, for about 4 times the cost (Again, about $30 for both of us). Hubby went to put ketchup on his fries and the ketchup was rancid. We thought we'd stick with breakfast, and went back for my birthday. We got there at 10:05, asked if it was possible to get breakfast. We were told that if we wanted breakfast, we should have gotten there 5 minutes earlier. Seriously? Like this is McDonalds and you "have" to change the menu over? The breakfast food wasn't even put away, and you're being rude? For the amount of money this costs and the quality of service, I'm going to find another greasy spoon.
(2)Mike G.
So from the outside this place looks like nothing more than shack. As soon as I walked inside though, I knew that the food would be good. I walk inside and there was a bar to my right, big enough for six people but probably sitting eight without a single inch to spare. That was just about it, so my buddy and I decided to order from the outside window and sit at some of the outside tables we had seen. The menu is pretty much what you would hope for from a little burger joint: about 6 different variety of burgers, maybe another six different types of sandwiches and a few other odds and ends. If it isn't clear by now, this is lunch time. I decide to go with the Rueben, fries and a strawberry lemonade. The lemonade was good but it was so sweet that once I stopped drinking it I am fairly certain I suffered from withdrawal symptoms. The fries were tasty, just a tad to thick to be called shoestring fries, but thinner than a standard french fry, and the seasoning they use is really tasty, I only wish they had put more on. And the rueben was good, really good. The pastrami was moist but not too fatty, which might sound like a weird comment but you would be amazed at how many reubens I've had with either really dried out pastrami or pastrami with more fat than meat. Everything was really good. The food really stood out and I am excited to go back. I guess the only real negatives to Jim Denny's were the fact that the strawberry lemonade was too sweet and I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon due to the food.
(4)Lydia R.
I am currently in a coma state of burger bliss after visiting this joint. Read about it here and had to try the open faced chili cheese burger once I saw the picture. My boyfriend and I decided to split that behemoth and good thing that picture didn't't lie, it's a MEAL. I was a little bummed about a $1.25 fee to split because I thought we might get less, but was totally wrong. They gave us just as much chili goodness on our separate plates as we would have received had we not split. For $15 bucks including drink we ate like kings and left felling more then satisfied. Just don't look at the grease coming off the grill behind the counter and the burger will go down much easier. While there, we heard good things about the 1/2 pound burger from some of the regular lunch crowd so that's next on the list to try. The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable considering it is a small place. They do a good job of cutting down on congestion by having people order to-go orders and patio meals outside at the side window. Definitely going back!
(4)Andi R.
Checked this place out after seeing they had top reviews. I don't regret it for a second! While this place is very quaint, the service is exceptional! Everyone there really make your experience a great one. Plus their food was really good!
(4)Candyce A.
Was visiting the best friend, and we decided to take a short walk to Jim Denny's, as her sister recommended it. I was a little hesitant going inside, as I was afraid to smell like burger grill all day, since I had just washed my hair, but I let it go, and I am glad I did. We all ponied up to the counter (granted, the 5 of us didn't get to sit all together- but i was just happy we got seats inside) and ordered. Boy did we come at the right time, as we got to take advantage of the secret Saturday special as part of their 75 year anniversary. 5 CENT BURGERS!!! We were informed later by the grill cooking grandma (and the cashier is her grand-daughter) that from noon to 3, the second Saturday of each month they are having different specials. And this month happened to be their Original 5 cent burger for... 5 cents. I was excited. The boy got 3 burgers, I wound up eating 2 (after one, I felt guilty, but asked for another), and he got a whopping $4.75 shake, and we spent $5.37! My bff's sister ordered the ortega burger and an iced tea (stupid- helllllooo? 5 cent burgers?) and she spent more than $11. Nuff said.... except that they were awesome, and the bun was my fav part. The banter of the ladies at the counter made it fun, nothing like a fun grandma throwing food at her employees.
(5)Ross C.
This place was great. I brought 3 kids and we sat at the counter. The staff was great. My 90 pound girls each ate one "mini" pancake in addition to the rest of their breakfast. This "mini" pancake was the size of a large pizza. I had a taste and it was perfection. Another group came in and got the regular pancake, which was the size of the entire grill. We had a great time at this place and would highly recommend!
(5)Michelle W.
jim denny's is in the top 3 cheeseburger spots. i can never choose what to order, and everything is delicious. you can sit outside, or you can sit in the small inside at the counter and watch your food being prepared. so so so good. im hungry just thinking about the delicious bleu cheese burger my bf got last time. it was a special and extra tasty.
(5)David C.
Best burger's I've had in Sacramento, hands-down. Opt for the burgers with the large patties - they are very juicy when cooked. Tiny place - you'll smell like grease if you sit next to the grill - sit outside if weather permits... Haven't tried anything but the burgers - sandwiches sound good, and breakfast menu looks decent. Only thing visibly lacking is onion rings. Oh - tried the chili-cheese fries once, and the chili was very watery - burger more than made up for it though.
(5)ellen c.
the BEST hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes i have ever had in my life, plus the service is good and the place is neat-o.
(5)Li M.
We'd been wanting to go here for a while, and we were not disappointed! Service is warm and friendly! Amazing place for a very reasonable price. Food is really delicious, thr sourdough toast was very fresh and yummy! Finally I found my little country diner! Make sure you stop by here, you will not regret it!
(5)Kara B.
100 reviews . . . Damn, I need to get a life, or some sleep. But, Yelp is so "fun, useful, cool . . . and cathartic" (acronym for ya?). 100th for a place that will make it to 100 years, soon enough. What other place in the area can boast damn-near 75 years of seasoning their grill . . .now that's some serious seasoning (I am only hoping my cast iron skillet will someday attain a fraction of that kind of seasoning). I will always have nostalgic memories of Jim-Denny's, when my mom would very rarely treat me to a day with her at work - an office job back in the days when you would see a big harvest-gold or avocado-green ashtray on every desk, and chain smoking in the office was the norm. The highlight of those smoke-filled days at work with mom, was firing all of her co-workers and then walking across the street to get a burger at Jim-Denny's. Today (some 20-odd years later), Jim-Denny's is starting to become part of my Sunday graze-fest. This place is tiny and will always be tiny, as it's on some kind of historical building list and cannot expand. Yet, somehow they were even able to fit a Christmas tree in there last month. And, food-of-unusual-size is getting grilled up nicely from such a matchbox of a place. Seriously. Hollow yourself out. Really. Make sure you're all good and empty (whatever it is you need to do *cough* colonic *cough*). Because I don't think there's a human alive that has ever finished the "Scott's Just Right Breakfast". "Just Right"? Just right for whom? Paul Bunyan or a small country, maybe. I have a friend who IS hollow, and can put a hurtin' on Bunyan-esque meals, but this hollow pal couldn't finish the Scott's "just right" breakfast, which includes that MONGO pancake. Yes, the pancakes are touted as being larger than your head. As I have a pinhead, that's not hard to accomplish. Butt, J Lo could make full-coverage bikini bottoms with this pancake. On my last visit, there was joint razzing of a fairly large dude that ordered this breakfast. I, and other strangers at the counter warned him. Luckily, Patsy (manning the grill) offered to hold off cooking the rest of his breakfast while he tried to make a dent in that pancake. . . Well, needless to say, Patsy didn't have to break a sweat and cook up the rest of his meal. And, another luckily . . . If you really want a pancake, without bustin a gut, you can add a mini (yeah, mini, as in Jim-Denny's skewed idea of mini) pancake for a buck. I am in love with the banana pancake, but they also have other changing flavors such as peach, pumpkin, chocolate chip, apple cinnamon - so be sure to ask what flavors they are doing that day. This is also a place that I can even feel comfortable dining alone - because it's so small, you'll never be quite alone here, and will eventually end up chatting with the owners and other customers. Love that I could pick out a cute little Christmas-themed mug for my coffee; it just adds to the warm-fuzzies I get eating a nice hot breakfast there. Check out the specials posted up behind the counter. I lust for the "Stack" (it may not be one of the specials, but they can still make it). It's a delicious sausage gravy, that I would love to swim in, topped with hash browns, 3 eggs - any style, 3 slabs of bacon, or sausage, and cheese. I also ask for some of their homemade salsa on the side - yummy. Then I add on a "mini" pancake for a buck - yeah, I usually end up noshing on these leftovers all day. Breakfast ONLY on Sundays, so don't go expecting to get a burger - just grub down on a delicious breakfast. Poor schmucks . . . I've seen a few customers leave after finding out they couldn't get a burger on Sunday - they don't know what they're missing - oh well, more room at the tiny counter. I'm gonna get out of my Sunday rut soon, and make an effort to go there when they're making burgers again, just for the sheer fact that you can add a side of bacon, and side of peanut butter to the burgers! Makes me wanna kiss that metal cock statue out in front - oh yeah, I did.
(5)Lesina G.
Wish we made it in time for breakfast! As far as the burgers go they were good but didn't blow either of us away. Staff was super nice and attentive. Overall good experience.
(3)Kimi M.
This is a great little dive diner with a nice nostalgic flair. The staff is friendly and make you feel at home. You also get to cozy it up with the other guests because the space is so tight inside. For more space you can sit outside and order from their outside window. I went on a Sunday about noon so there was definitely a brunch rush. I think we waited about 45min. for the food to come out so if you're looking for faster service come earlier or later. They are really good at keeping you hydrated at least. So I ordered The Works with hash browns & sourdough toast. The omelet was delicious. All of the ingredients that went into it melded together well. The hash browns were a little underdone but the servings were ginormous! The sourdough toast were nice thick pieces but they too could have been toasted a bit more. My hubby ordered the BLT sandwich. It was OK. The bacon was not crispy. He also asked for extra mayo on the side and they only gave him a knife-ful. Why not at least a dollop? All in all this is a good place to try at least once. I still want to go back to try their hubcap sized pancake and I would definitely order The Works again.
(4)Elizabeth O.
It's been yrs since my last time eatin here & they were great. So i brought my grandaughter in for bkft on a saturday. Got there bout 9:30AM & the place was packed. So we were told 2 order @ the 2go window located outside in the back of the building. I was warned our bkft would take bout 1/2 hr. waitress said she would set up a table 4 us when she was free which nvr happened. A table bcame clear aft bout a 10 mn wait.. Also they were out of ice tea, Go figure.1 waitress was already on break, smoking @ the employees table. The food was nothing i would be willing to come back for. The service was below acceptable, even my grandaughter was not pleased. Other then havin other customers taking pics of the building there is nothing outstanding bout this place.
(1)Lindsey Y.
I'm sorta disappointed. I was hoping for something original but the burger wasn't very fulfilling. It was boring, the meat was generic flavored and not juicy. So, think in-n-out, double the price, make it hard to get to = Jim Denny's and more hassle than it's worth. We got two burgers, they came with fries, the price was $20. This would be good if the food lived up to the hype. I've had much better. Don't get me wrong, it is totally edible. Just not special. Despite that... Maybe this is not the place for lunch...I may try breakfast before I make a final decision.
(2)Jennifer N.
I drove by Jim-Denny's a while back, totally taken a back by the fact I didn't know this place existed. Promised myself that one day I'd give it a go. Then totally forgot about it. Last month my daughter showed me a book that recommended it as a hamburger joint to try... further intrigued I mentally noted in bright bold flashing font to not forget. This morning my stomach signaled my brain that it needed a food adventure. The first thing to pop in my cluttered brain... Jim-Denny's. When we arrived we were the second group to order. Outdoor seating was plenty. With four kids in tow, we stood outside the building huddled around the order window inspecting the menu. A hubcap with spokes for me and my 14y/o son. Megaburger and a side of fries for my two daughters. And lastly for the finicky 8 y/o son an Old Fashion burger with only lettuce and a side of Macaroni Salad. Once we settled down to wait for our order, the place started getting busy. In no time flat, all the tables were spoken for. It took about twenty minutes for my ginormous pancake to make my acquaintance and another ten for the burgers to follow. Just as expected the pancake was huge, fluffy, and dense. The egg, bacon and sausage tasted like egg, bacon, and sausage. Four large burger patties and regular old hamburger bun with sparse veggies made up the Megaburger. All the food was nothing to be getting all hyped about. Well, apart from the big assed pancake. The damage to my wallet--- $35 with one cup of joe and a soda. A little steep for me, but now I can say we went there... All in all, I give the food 2 stars and 1 star for the wait staff who kept to their timely rounds and made sure we were enjoying our stay. Would I come back again? Imano...
(3)Rachel W.
THIS IS THEEEE BREAKFAST KING! HUGE pancakes..delucious everything ohhhh mannn.. Hole in the wall place but hekka awsome!!
(5)Vincenzo C.
Delicious food, the wait sucked but once we had the food it was well worth the wait. Parking is scarce, I mean come on it is downtown. Only one cook and it's the tinniest place ever but will be back for sure. First time there and wont be my last time.
(4)Jill M.
I will mourn the loss of Jim-Denny's in my life. So sad that the new owners fired Patsy and all the staff 2 weeks before Christmas, without any notice. This was after they asked Patsy to stay on, and that they had PROMISED that they wanted to keep everything the same. I will never return to Jim-Denny's. I will miss their great breakfasts and watching Patsy at the grill! Shame on you Ken!!!!!!!!! I love Jim Denny's for Breakfast. I always get the omelette, and it always comes with lots of veggies. I get the bacon on the side with hash browns. I get a dollar pancake instead of toast. I never can finish the breakfast and save it for the next day (or the last time when I ate it as a midnight snack!). I miss Patsy, but I know she is happy in her new home. Monica has done a great job for taking over for Patsy. I wish I could come there with my wheelchair. But since they are a historical landmark, they cannot make changes to the building. I don't begrudge them that. When it is warm, I can sit outside. Or when I am back out of the wheelchair, I will come to the counter.
(1)Mike P.
1 star for a good pancake. This place was not what I expected from the other reviews! I expected a small efficient operation with great food. What I got was a small place that had a staff that bordered on rude, was extremely slow and food that other than the pancake was lack luster and non descript. The grill person made one plate at a time and that was with a full time assistant prepping every thing for her. They never had coffee ready when you needed some and the staff talked as though they were at home in private complaining about other staff and their inadequacies. It was very uncomfortable and unprofessional. I do not know who holds the reins at this place but they better take off the blinders and pay attention before the notoriety of TV wears off and this little restaurant has to stand on it's own again. I also believe the sign notifying customers that they have no customer restroom facilities per court order is very classy. Sorry but this place was an huge let down!
(1)E P H.
It's small and good!!!!! Did i say it was small. The staff is wonderful and friendly. The small pancake is big also, beware! We got there real early so we could get a bench to sit on. I enjoyed the food and the best part...they cook the food in the front so you can see. One of the best breakfast I've enjoyed.
(5)D A.
We've visited this place a couple of times and this last experience will be our last. I'm a stickler for customer service and this joint lacks that completely. Food......I might as well stay home and cook myself. Potatoes were dry, to the point that they crumbled when I put my fork in them. Bacon was way over cooked and they forgot part of our order. When we finally got their attention to let them know, they brought it out with no apologies or anything. Worst biscuits and gravy I've ever had. They didn't even look appetizing. Pancakes were fine....but it's pretty hard to screw up a pancake.
(1)Halani X.
I love unpretentious burger places and this place is one of them. When you walk in be sure to check the board for the specials. Otherwise, the burgers are a great choice. Get them with your choice of cheese and a side. If you are going to eat outside or to-go, order from the back window.
(4)Wayne V.
Great service and good foods. The "Hubcap with Stokes" is the way to go when you are hungry or need a food challenge. "The Works" was something a coworker got and it was well worth the price. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was due to their lunch menu. I know they have lunch specials everyday but I've seen a mushroom burger on their menu forever. And I did order a Jim's Original Burger that was pretty much a 2-meat patty burger that could be made at home. Great omelettes and great pancakes to make up for their lack of originality in burgers. I am planning to go back when I get my next paycheck! - Vue
(4)Amanda Mae S.
Attempted hubcap with spokes with my hubby and failed. :( haha but good predictable breakfast and fun to watch them make the monster pancake! Fun experience :)
(4)Mark G.
WOW ----the (enter superlative of your choice, ad infinitum) breakfast I've had, EVER!! I enjoyed a HUGE omelette with mushrooms, spinich and peppers. My daughter had a more standard eggs and bacon -- but everything was GREAT! Small, diner feel --- lotsa history here folks--A Must Visit.
(5)paul a.
This is a tiny little throwback diner with good greasy food. We went here for breakfast this morning and it was surprisingly empty. Just after we ordered, we found ourselves as the only two people in the 10 or 12 available indoor seats on a Saturday morning. I would expect it to be way more crowded. I got the breakfast burrito which was huge, but not amazingly flavorful. But the side of gravy was great. And my partner got the pancake which was again spectacular in size, but not taste. And the wait staff was a bit scatterbrained and seemed new, but I can deal with that since they were pretty genuine and friendly. Don't go here if you're a strict vegetarian. There's one tiny grill in front of the bar and there's only one set of grill utensils in use.
(3)Bill A.
I went to Jim Denny's for breakfast about eight o'clock on a Saturday morning. I lucky to find a seat at the counter, because shortly afterwards the place filled up with standing room only. I ordered a pancake breakfast for about eight dollars, and the friendly person on the counter told me I didn't want that. What? I wanted pancakes. Why wouldn't I want the pancake breakfast? Well, she said, it's really big, enough for at least two or three people. Wait a minute, when I'm hungry, I can eat enough for two or three people... Well, She convinced me to order another breakfast that included a side of pancakes. I was in the mood for some eggs anyway. This breakfast came with your choice of potatoes. I couldn't decide between hash browns and country potatoes, so she said I could have half and half. What service! Suggesting off-the-menu changes. When the meal came, I realized she was right. The pancake "side" appeared to be two large, thick pancakes that could have been a meal in itself. I saw them making the "medium sized pancake" and it appeared to be a foot in diameter. She told me the "big pancake" was much bigger. Well, the eggs, and potatoes were delicious, and I barely finished the pancake "side". Next time I come here for breakfast, I'll have to bring help. Maybe we'll try the pancake breakfast. One more thing, for which I added a star: When two seats opened up, the counter person asked us to slide down so two people could sit together at the end. It was like a party atmosphere, with all of us changing seats and sliding our plates and silverware down the counter. I ended up talking to the people next to me for the rest of my meal.
(5)Robert A.
The worst service ever. I walked in and there was one person and was told it would be 1 hour before she could cook anything for me. Really?? The place is 250 square feet with 10 customers and you only have one person working the grill. Wish yelp had a zero star because I would use that instead. Sorry but pass on this place.
(1)MIKE V.
One of the best diners in town. Portions are big and the food is great. The only thing was some of the waitresses seemed they hated their lives working there and the famous giant pancake was basically touching the dirty counter when it was served to me.
(4)China D.
Food was ok, the first time I went there in August they had a girl that worked there that was awesome, she greeted you and gave great service, but the couple times when I recently went back she wasn't there and the service was horrible. Recommend to look for the girl with the arm tattoo in a Cal hat, if she's not working go somewhere else.
(1)Jimmy P.
Was on business for a night and felt like having a good breakfast diner style. Very small place to eat, but the atmosphere is amazing. Only seating is at the counter, which makes this place even more enjoyable. I had the ham steak, with two eggs and hashbrowns. Food reminded me of a New Jersey diner....and thats a pretty good compliment. Definitely stop by if you are in the area!
(4)Aaron F.
Great food. Very nice people working there.
(5)Bonny T.
The one star is for the nice lady cooking. My experience was ok. The food wasn't that great. It said all breakfast come with a biscuit and I want to add gravy. The lady told me it didn't come with it. So I paid $3.25 for a half a biscuit and a side of gravy. The hash brown not crispy and way too much salt. Sausage is like what you get at denny. The eggs were undercooked. The best thing there was the bacon. Nice and crispy. And they say the pancake was good tasted like box mix. I'm never coming again. It was a rip off and nasty.
(1)Abel G.
Saw this on Man V Food and went with my wife. Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant. Parking is very limited but the food and staff were great. Helpful, courteous and delicious food. We had a great time and would go again. The patrons were also great. Small place, limited seating so everyone gets to talk with others.
(5)Albert W.
It reminds me a old soda fountain place. Is it good.. it's okay... but you really go there for the history. If you want a good burger, I'd go somewhere else.
(3)Ryan K.
This morning I decided to try Jim Denny's breakfast but got a little caught up at work, so I went back to try something else for lunch. I tried the Superburger and heavens to murgatroyd it was damn super! The fries were better this time but I am still curious to actually sit down at the place and eat to get fresh cooked fries (which i won't mind at all as long as the younger, hot waitress with the tattoo on her arm is there.) One of these days I will make it to get their breakfast though! *shakes fist* I'll get you next time pankcakes! neeexxxttt tiiimmmeee!
(5)Austin S.
3.5 stars Came in here for lunch on a pseudo whim. I was actually looking for a breakfast spot, but by the time we got there, it was too late for breakfast and the craving had already passed. The place is a small joint, with about 8 stools at the counter, about 4 seats at the back counter, and a handful of tables outside. We were able to snag 2 stools at the counter at the end, right in front of the griddle. The young woman (maybe early-mid 20s?) taking orders was very nice and cute I might add and the lady working the griddle was on top of her game, getting the food out with speed and accuracy. I ordered the famous "Superburger" which was a 1/2 lb patty with lettuce, tomato, onions (grilled or raw) and a choice of mayo and mustard, served with a side of fries, mac salad, potato salad or.... I forget if there was anything else. I got grilled onions and I added cheese, which was extra (boo!!!). The burger was in the shape of an oval yet the bun was round *shrug* The burger was hot and fresh, then again it should be because it was cooked just a mere 3 feet from me. The shoe string fries arrived straight from the fryer and were crispy. It wasn't THE best burger I've had, but it was hot and fresh, so how can you argue with that? Slightly overpriced IMO, but not outrageous.
(3)Bob K.
Just a more recent update. Burgers are still really good but I think the quality has slipped since the last visit..... I miss Jim : ( I have been going to Jim Denny's for about 30 yrs. God.... I can't believe its been that long. Anyhow the place has not changed much. There have been several owners. The burgers with each owner have been VERY good but will never be as good as Jim's. I used to get the super cheeseburger #1 . My mouth is watering as I speak. Things change a little in 30 years so now my wife and I split a #1 or get the smaller burger. Its important to strike up some conversations with the help. They have always been friendly and that has always added to the ambiance of this place. Also not that this is VERY casual dining and a real (not fake) throw back to the 30's and 40's. The place has the best hamburgers and buns in town.
(4)Moo N.
So, I'm sorry to say, that things have gone downhill at this place... I went there about a year and a half ago and had the most WONDERFUL experience. This last time was not nearly as wonderful... We sat outside (loved that but wish they could have put all of the tables in the shade instead of just two of them). We wanted to get a dessert for breakfast (why not, eh?)., but they were already out... I ordered a scramble instead of an omelette (I like a bite of everything all at once) but it was brought out as an omelette and with very little cheese. The hash browns were not very crispy or delicious, more like Denny's, not the Jim Denny's I have come to know and love. For almost $30.00 for my breakfast and my husband's I expected higher quality, faster service... I don't think I will be back.
(2)Sarah G.
I never listen. Why do I read reviews if I never listen??? I read yelp reviews and they all seem to say the pancakes are out of control. Do I believe them?? Nope! Jim-Dennys is pretty dive-y. A counter and some stools...thats about it....but thats the way I like it! When writing down your order they also ask your name (nice touch). Me and my husband both ordered the "mini breakfast". I mean it is called "mini" right??? How much food could there be. Let me just tell you, the single pancake that you get in the "mini" was humongous and oh so yummy. I don't think i can even describe how huge and thick it was...I mean it was bigger than the plate it was on! I honestly think i ate like 1/3rd of it....maybe less. The rest was all good too...eggs, bacon, good hashbrowns....it was all top notch. I have only had breakfast here but they were switching over to lunch as we were leaving and those burgers (esp the ones with chilli pilled sky high) looked delish.
(4)Miroslav B.
What can there be said the pancakes are well, very LARGE but other than that the food is alright and there is limited seating.
(3)R S.
I first went there in 1965 with my grandfather and he started in late 30s . This place should not be able to use the name Jim would have burnt the place down before he would leave it in hands like this !!! 3 or 4 owners after Jim and only the first that kept up the quality Jim had . I'm sorry people can not experience the original J D why ???? Would you change something that was sooo good for sooo long ?? It sucks
(1)Winston C.
Tiny crowded greasy spoon- the menu is surprisingly unique with a couple of variations to traditional fare. Be warned- there is no restroom!
(3)Flora D.
I've been meaning to write an update for a while now. It's time. I have not been back, but a while ago I did get a response from the owner herself! She explained some things and was very concerned with my experience. I have to express... after a recent bad experience with a really poorly run business, how refreshing and rare it is to be taken care of like that. Jim-Denny's is a small family run business and for many reasons is a great place. (Their breakfast is a greasy delight!) But best of all is the care they obviously have for their lil' diner and their family (extended family of customers included.) Thank you Jim-Denny's.
(3)Danny K.
If you saw this on tv like I did, don't believe the hype! The venue is old, filled with old americana antiques and photos of the og Jim and crew. It's small, seating maybe 10 people comfortably. That also means you'll likely be waiting for a while, especially over the weekend. The food was good and the porportions were very generous, prices seem to be a bit high. The reason for the two stars, I could make this at home any day, so can you. If I'm out for breakfast, I'd rather have something different. At least have a secret ingredient or an old grill that gives off that old flavor. It's just simple breakfast food, one step above Dennys, but double the price. I think something was lost with the new owners. I wish I was here when the og crew was, must have been something else.
(1)Drue C.
Let me start by saying I do not know too many restaurants that will let you walk in at 3 and serve you with no rush when they close at 3. If it was me I would be yelling that you have one minute to shove that food down your gullet and get the hell out. Maybe this is why I am not in the restaurant business and why this unassuming little landmark has been for so very long. This place has one damn good burger that comes in one "heart attack waiting to happen" size and style after another. You can pretty much get it exactly how you want it and most likely will not be able to finish it. You will then, hours later, be cutting your arm self mutilation style, possibly in hatch marks that spell out Jim-Denny's, to punish yourself for being so stupid as to let that third of a burger sit on your plate so lonely and rejected. Knock that shit off you lunatic. For a more productive self destruction you can go back and order another one as many times and as often as you want. You may die young, but it will be worth it.
(5)Hillery G.
The Pancake was very good. I would definately eat it again.
(3)Johnny K.
My name is jasoN and im a special needs person...I love jim dennys and the hubcap is my fave....I have a hard time reading and talking so its really nice how jessica and the other girls there take care of me and make sure im happy...I dont think i ever had a better,smarter waitress then jessica...I dont even have to ask for stuff and she just does it....I wanna open up my own jim dennys type spot some day and hire her and make a million bucks...Shes the best! I went in there today and to my suprise there was some new face there....KNowing how wonderfull they are there i was excited to meeet her....Her name was coke or crystal or something.....She was nice but jessica is my fave......................................ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
(5)Mere M.
Obviously, this place is amazing. The food is good. The price is right. And the dining area...sucks, which in some ways adds to its charm. I usually get take out because I hate the uncertainty of knowing if I'll be able to sit or not. I HIGHLY recommend the biscuits and gravy. The pancakes are delish. And my boyfriend recently had the works and he loved it.
(5)Mr. O.
Small, greasy to the senses, old, but not clean describes the facility. The food is from yesterday's all American diet. Big fat nasty hamburgers, fries and assorted crap. So if you have diabetes, heart disease or even cancer this place is where Americans go to remember why they are dying so fast from food we should all avoid.
(1)Lisa W.
Had breakfast here ... ordered the daily special --- THE STACK , consisted of toast (on the side), white gravy on the bottom with hash browns, meat (choice of 3 strips of bacon or 3 links of sausage), two eggs, and cheese on top. I split this dish with my hubby --- total enough for the both of us. We also ordered a little pancake that was the size of a steering wheel! Hubby and I also split that! Coffee is decent. The staff was entertaining! The lady (I think her name was Patty) cooking was a riot --- she had a salty attitude to her staff and made fun of customers --- but sooo funny! Our waitress Monica bantered back and forth with Patty. I loved it! It was a pretty long wait because poor Patty had this crazy to go order that she had to make. But the wait was fine because we were entertained by Salty Patty! Will come back to try the burgers!
(4)Kristin W.
Cramped space, but delicious breakfast food! The pancakes are among the best I've ever had, and they're gigantic. Everything else we ordered was great too (coffee, sausage, hash browns, eggs). I'd definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a semi-quirky breakfast spot.
(5)Susan F.
Greasy, tasteless food. Filthy, depressing decor. Incompetent, rude servers. DON'T EAT HERE! I'd give them fewer-than-zero stars, if that were possible.
(1)Julie D.
Jim-Denny's is great! Good food & great people! 15 seats in the entire joint make it that much more of an experience. Come strangers, leave friends.
(4)larry c.
It is a classic place to eat..enjoy the fact we still have places like this...I was there today and it was packed with college sports directors and one of the vendors bought the house breakfast...a nice random act....we need to preserve places like this because when they are gone we are left with chains
(5)Tiffany L.
Came here for lunch on a Friday. The girls were very business-y and not very welcoming. We sat outside which was nice; there are several bar stools inside. There are around 5-6 tables outside with umbrellas. There was a limited menu because of a festival that day. I had the breakfast sandwich with a side of hash browns and my friend got the breakfast burrito and a pancake. We split it up to share. The pancake was good and big. Moist and fluffy! We weren't able to finish it. The hash browns were tasty and crunchy the way I like them, but were soiled in oil! There was probably a teaspoon of oil left when I tried to drain it off the hash brown. The breakfast sandwich had a maple-y type of flavor. I think it was the croissant bread they used. There was nothing special about; cheese, egg and bacon. The breakfast burrito was decent, but I could have made it at home! Definitely nothing special about that either. Based on the food we ate today I would not go again. But the works omelet in the other Yelp pictures looks good! We'll have to go again when the menu isn't slimmed down. *Update* 9/22/2011 Went here again last week to try their famous The Works Omelette. My bf got one of the burgers and chili fries. Although my omelette was good, it wasn't anything special, as was the burger. It seemed like seasoning was lacking. Disappointingly, the fries were cold and the chili did not look appetizing, nor was it tasty. Lots of runny beans and no meat. A sad 2nd round, and there will not be a third.
(1)Stephanie W.
I went to Jim Denny's this weekend while visiting my family as we desperately searched on a Saturday morning for a good, traditional breakfast. While driving through downtown, we noticed that Jim Denny's, my father's favorite hamburger place from 20 years ago, is now open of breakfast. Of course, we had to stop inside. The 3 of us sat outside at the plastic picnic tables as there is nowhere to sit inside. It has about 8 barstools and nothing else. However, the morning was warm and the outside was pleasant with little traffic on 12th street. A waitress came out, took our order, and promptly returned with coffee and tea for the three of us. We split a Works omelet ($11) and a short stack of pancakes ($4.50). We considered getting the tall stack at first, but our waitress dissuaded us because she said the short stack would be enough for us, even if we were splitting. (First time someone has ever recommended that I don't buy something). The works omelet included EVERYTHING from the list of ingredients to build your own omelet. A 3 egg omelet becomes easily enough for 3 people when you stuff it full of bacon, sausage, pepper, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, cheese and a few other things I can't remember. It came with a mountain of perfectly crispy hashbrowns. The pancake was massive and we were so happy we ordered the short stack (1 single pancake). It was about an inch and a half thick and the size of a hubcap (I am not exaggerating about the size). We split this and still had a quarter of a pancake to bring home to my grandmother. The pancake was amazingly light/fluffy for being that size and was perfectly crispy on the outside. The service was exceptionally friendly and the price came out to $25 before tax and tip. Considering this included $1.75 for a plate split and $6 for our coffees, I consider that a pretty good price for our meal. I have yet to try their burgers, but I will be back again, guaranteed. However, I must dock them 1 star because the place is just so damn small and there's rarely ever parking.
(4)Serena Q.
Jim-Denny's breakfast makes an epic mockery of every other breakfast joint in the Sacramento-Placer-El Dorado-Yolo-Solano-Amador county area. Seriously - I dare you to tell me a better place to grab a big, old fashioned down home meal on the weekend. You can't. Hash browns are perfect. Absolutely perfect. Not soggy or too greasy. Crispy on top with a perfect consistency underneath. Eggs are like your grandma would make you when you were a kid - filled with TLC. The pancakes have been written about enough on here but let me add to the consensus that yes, they are huge. What has not been properly addressed is the fact that they are also really freaking tasty. Let's put it this was - I NEVER order pancakes (I am much more into the savory than the sweet when it comes to breakfast) but when I go to Jim Denny's I will oftentimes share a dollar pancake with my dining companion just because they are so damn good. As for lunch, you can't go wrong with any one of their awesome burgers. I quit eating meat about 4 months ago and recently had the veggie burger at Jim-Denny's and was equally satisfied. Now, I am not one of these crazy vegetarians who won't eat anything that even touches meat, so I could care less about the fact that they cook the veggie patty on their famed grill. The veggie patty is covered with perfectly grilled mushrooms and onions, and the whole wheat bun is smeared with avocado. I was feeling like a fatty, so I even ordered cheddar cheese. I ate every bite and walked out moaning about the deliciousness. They also do daily specials and these are oftentimes the way to go. The soups are always homeade and really, really good too.
(5)Jen L.
Jim-Denny's is a great place for breakfast AND lunch! My dining buddy and I made a nice leisurely visit last Wednesday morning. It wasn't too crowded, and the street parking was decent for a weekday (parking was metered). We sat at the counter, which is the only and the best seat in the house. (There's outdoor seating, but it was too cold that day.) JD's has an authentic "diner" feel to it. Servers/Cooks were nice and friendly - but mind your manners and don't give any sass. Any self-respecting patron of a diner would know that servers at places like JD's, which are old-school diners dishing good food - can also dish out something else too. :) It's part of the charm and locals like me appreciate it. (There was lively banter amongst the customers and the JD's staff - and it was HILARIOUS, warm, and family-like - which makes this place even better.) For breakfast - my friend and I ordered: ME: "Scott's Just Right Breakfast " - 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, potatoes, and 1 pancake. **WARNING** = Pancake is the size of a steering wheel. The other reviewers were NOT kidding about this one. The LARGE pancake was delicious and fluffy. Not doughy. I barely made a dent in it. My only criticism is that the potatoes were really bland. Everything else was perfect. Next time, I'll order the more manageable "PJ's Little Breakfast". FRIEND: Ordered an omelet. He chose his own fixin' which was spinach, apple-sausage, cheese, and mushrooms. My friend enjoyed the omelet and the portion was so bug, only 2/3 of it was eaten. Coffee is freshly brewed. One of the servers kindly chopped my pancake into quarters, so I can take it home. Yes, I barely made a dent in my pancake. :P Overall - friendly and fast service, awesome diner ambiance, and super solid food. Don't come here if you're on a diet and get easily tempted by the greasy menu items. Also, I'm not sure if the syrup for the pancakes is *real maple syrup*, but at a place like JD's - who cares?. This is not a place for the pretentious. 'll be back again for the burgers (it's been awhile) and will certainly do another review. :)
(4)Cranky Greg M.
This place is great, but very small. Inside dining is a bar and a very tight squeeze. I ate outside in what is basically the parking lot on plastic tables, but yesterday was such a gorgeous day, I sure as hell wasn't complaining. Our waitress was outstanding. She was very friendly and attentive. Jim-Denny's has the biggest pancakes I have ever seen. I got one pancake and couldn't eat it all, and I usually eat everything. My eggs were good and so was the bacon and coffee. Everyonein my party was satisfied. One word of warning: this isn't a place to hurry and eat and go. It takes a while for the food, and if you have a party of more than two, the food arrives when it is ready, not at the same time. That's not a problem with me if I am not in a hurry, and if it isn't a problem with you, I suggest you get on down to Jim-Denny's and have yourself a damn good breakfast!!
(4)T. C.
After a failed date attempt here (it would actually be a terrible place for a date, I don't know what I was thinking, even if you were trying for something original and kitchsy. You would either sit inside and walk out smelling like a grease trap or you could sit outside and dodge kids who were trying to play tag in the parking lot), I ended up going with a co-worker. The burgers are massive. My coworker and I got the "special" burger that was being feature which involved french fries in the burger, split an order of fries and chili beans (our brilliant idea was to make chili fries on our own). We couldn't even fit them in our mouths and like 5 year olds, had to ask the kitchen for a knife so we could cut the burgers in half. The chili was pretty darn good although too saucy to make proper chili fries ourselves. I went back to work and promptly fell asleep under my desk. I also didn't eat again for the rest of the week. Yum yum in my tum tum but be prepared to weigh an additional five pounds upon leaving. Also, bring wetnaps. Lots and lots of wetnaps.
(4)corrine b.
I went to this place thinking it would be awesome considering all the 5 star reviews on this website, but was very unimpressed when I went. While most of the employees were very friendly, the one cooking the burgers had an attitude with both the customers and his coworkers. I also saw him put one of the cooking utensils on the ground and kick it (hopefully he was not planning on using it again until it got washed...). Speaking of dirty, my boyfriend noticed lots of dirt and dust on the floor, windowsills, and ledge near the grill. I would have liked to know what kind of sanitation rating they got. They used what looked like frozen burger patties, and you could definitely taste something funky in the meat. I got a mouthful of gristle at one point in my meal. Honestly, if the burgers were at least good, I would have been able to look past all the other problems there, but they weren't. At all. We ordered 2 burgers and 2 fries to-go and it took- get this- 35 minutes to receive our meals! It was ridiculous! The cook was grilling a maximum of two burgers at a time on the grill when he could have easily fit at least five or six. No one tried at all to hurry things along. Not to mention, it was a little spendy. 25 bucks for two burgers and two fries. I will not go back to this place again.
(1)samantha s.
Well, things have changed a bit since the last time I was here. The food is good, but not great, and for the price, you'd expect great. Not a bad place though if you're in the area (which I am), but I wouldn't make a trek to get there. Now I haven't tried breakfast. If it's a great as I hear, I'll add another star for sure.
(3)Sarah T.
3.5 stars if I could - gets the 4 because of the potential. We headed to Jim Denny's today - hoping to get breakfast. Alas, they stop serving b-fast at 12pm and we rolled in at 12:20pm. We re-grouped quickly though and went for the Double Jack and the Pastrami Sandwich with Chili Cheese Fries. As an East Coaster I should have known better ordering a pastrami sandwich in CA, but for California Pastrami it was good enough and I was hungry. MB's burger was really great though. Save the burger, everything seemed a little underseasoned for my taste, especially the pastrami. Also, the roll was flimsy even though it was lovingly toasted by the woman preparing our food, and there was not enough cheese on the chili cheese fries. Pluses - the place couldn't be more adorable, the menu selection is varied and the service is attentive and lively. The Diet Coke comes in HUGE cups with the perfect amount of crushed ice. We had a great time and will absolutely go back to Jim Denny's.
(4)Food S.
The $11.50 'The Works' omelet didn't have the same ingredients as shown in the TV show. The hash browns were average at best. The same goes for the omelet. It tasted only average at best. Nevertheless, the large pancake was very good.
(3)Ryan R.
Good but overhyped. I'd probably give them a 3.5 if I could but I rounded up to 4 because of their supposed historical significance. My wife and I went there for breakfast and were immediately surprised at how small it is. Seriously its really, really small! Not a bad thing but something to keep in mind if you were thinking of bringing a large group. The food came really quickly and its cool that you can sit and watch them make it. The atmosphere was certainly unique and that gave it big points in my book. The problem was the food. It wasn't bad. It just didn't seem like anything special. My wife's breakfast burrito was good. But we've both had better at burrito shops. I had the "Just right" breakfast with a downgraded pancake. The pancake was fantastic. Better than pancake circus. Probably the best I've ever had honestly. The hash browns were crispy, the way I like them, but seemed to be lacking in flavor. The eggs were cooked softer than I ordered them and didn't taste like much. The sausage was mediocre and the bacon was good but not great. Overall the meal was solid all around but the only thing that stood out was the pancakes. This all would have been more tolerable if it weren't for the fact that the food seemed just a tad overpriced for what you got. Not ridiculous but we walked out with a bill of about 20 dollars. Frankly most of the reason I'm giving it 4 stars is for ambiance. It really is a pretty cool little place and its certainly worth going once. I'm not sure I'll be back.
(4)Lucius M.
Yummy Everything omelette. Ordered one for two of us and it was plenty. The staff was plenty attentive, but be patient because there's going to be a wait.
(5)Helena W.
Went here for lunch with two friends and it was very busy at 11am on a Wednesday. We all ordered regular cheeseburgers and milkshakes but I ordered my cheeseburger with grilled onions. Everything was cheesy, greasy, and good. I am picky about my grilled onions and I'm glad Jim-Denny's took the time to grill them until they were nicely browned and caramelized. The milkshakes were thick and they had a variety of flavors (I got peanut butter and it was just the right amount, not too overwhelming). You can eat inside at the counter but there are not that many stools. Outside they have wobbly patio tables with umbrellas. The portions were big, the staff was friendly, never hesitating to getting us extra napkins (which you will need!), but would I eat there more than once a week like most of the regulars? Probably not because I would hate to be the youngest in my family to die of a heart attack. But if you're looking good, greasy, diner food, this is a great find.
(4)Derek S.
the food was not only large, but very tastey as well. the tire spoke can definitely be shared with another person. the pancake was moist, fluffy and cooked to perfection. both the bacon and sausage were good, so you can't go wrong either way. the staff was friendly, funny and very entertaining. if you sit outside, be aware that the homeless people in the area will try to come up to your table and ask for money.
(4)A G.
Cheap with huge portions. I just got oatmeal and fresh fruit, but my boyfriend got an omelette packed with cheese and came with huge pieces of Texas style toast. The guys next to us got the dollar pancakes which spilled over the large plate they were on. Got there a few minutes after opening on a thursday and it was empty, which added to the cozy-comfortable vibe.
(4)Leticia M.
I see this place everyday on my way to work off the lightrail and have worked at the Cal/EPA for over 2 years now and finally had the courage to step in a couple weeks ago. I'll be honest, from the outside it looked a little shady. I've been there 4 times since then and love it. The inside is not what you would think it is, it's really nice and clean and had a classic diner feel to it. I had the double burger with a side of fries the first time around, and eventually got to eat the 5 cent burger with a side of chili the next 2 times, and a pancake just today. All their food is really flavorful and delicious. The staff is so friendly and fun, and although the food is a bit pricey (which is the only downside), it's extremely filling, which I think totally makes up for it. I also love all the choices of sides you are allowed to choose from with the burgers and sandwhiches. The options are a big cup of chili, potato salad, green salad something else I'm probably forgetting, and fries. The restaurant is EXTREMELY SMALL, and it sucks because EVERYWHERE downtown is crowded as hell if you eat anywhere from 11:30 to 1:00. I started going there at 1:45 or 2:30 for lunch and it is a huge relief not having to stand in line, so I advise to wait to eat later, especially with this place, during the week. I will be back at this place again and again I'm sure.
(4)Nina H.
I really like the atmosphere at Jim Denny's. It's such a small little place with only a couple of seat and the people working there are all pretty nice. The people eating there seem like they are all pretty relaxed. It's what a diner should be, just miniaturized. As for the food, it's pretty good. I've been here once for lunch and today for breakfast. I decided today was pancake day, I wanted to try these amazing pancakes at Jim Denny's. I went around my office and picked up order, I had about 5 total and phoned them in. One person had ordered the short stack, basically one of the normal- huge pancakes. When I listed this the person over the phone was like, "that's one pancake", and I was like yea that's what he wants. So then she was like, "you realize it'll take a long time right to make", I ask her how long and she says 20 min, and I tell her that's fine. And then she says "Are you sure, it's the size of a tire rim." So I asked the guy again if he wanted it, and so he went the next size down. The mini. She tells me the order should be ready in 45 min. I come in 45 min to pick it up and it is all bagged (Three bags. from the looks of it we looked like we could be feeding 10 ppl not just 5), they still need to tally the account, which they did, and I pay for the items. Now the food, I had the Mini Jim and a side of bacon. The pancake itself overflowed out of the styrofoam, it was huge. For $2, it was a great deal, but it was just an ok pancake, but what can you expect? You can't expect a $10 pancake for $2. It was a bit too dense for my liking but it was still good. I'd get it again if I wanted a quick pancake. The bacon was also surprisingly good, it was not the super thin wimpy kind I had expected. But a pretty thick crunchy piece that was not burnt. Yay! Co-workers got the one egg breakfast with an english muffin and potatoes (said it was good, but nothing special), PJ's just a little breakfast (It was huge- came in two boxes, I think he got like a pound of potatoes (and it says half order) I think he liked it..., biscuits and gravy (this looked actually surprisingly good to me country gravy with what looked like mushrooms over a biscuit), and the works omelette (I was disappointed when I saw this, it was supposed to be massive according to the reviews but it barely filled half the box, it came with a side of hash browns (in the same box), and a biscuit (But the biscuit wasn't there! We were shorted a biscuit!!! She told me she liked the omelet but also thought it would be bigger she had seen pics b4 so maybe the portion for takeout is just smaller? Cost is the same though...) I felt bad about the biscuit bc I hadn't checked the orders to verify if everything was there, too many bags and boxes. So for breakfast pretty good, but not mind blowing. Kind of sad co-worker was talked out of the regular size pancake there... I wanted to see it for novelty sake, esp since the mini was so huge. Next time... I've also tried the hamburger in the past, I had the small burger, like the 50 cent one that costs like $5.50. It was pretty good, very greasy and small. I like that they will grill onions on request and they come out really nice. The chili here was also really good. It's nice and thick with a good flavor and I like eating the melted cheese on the top. I'd def come back to this place since it is so close to work and convenient. But I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here and eat. I would def say a solid three stars.
(3)Jo E.
This place is small from the outside, and tiny from the inside. There are 10 seats at the counter, and a few more behind. My friend and I had arrived for a Saturday morning breakfast, and we were happy that there were 2 of the last seats available by the phone when we walked in. I ordered the #4, and the guy that took my order (one of 2 people who were working the joint) warned me that the size pancake that came with it would use up all the batter they had in the place (joking, of course.). I finished most of my meal, and was pleased that they ginormous pancake was still pretty light for being so huge- and it was cooked on the hot plate perfectly- slightly crispy at the edges, even, and not at all raw in the middle. The coffee was good and the refills came easily. My order was supposed to come with 2 bacon and 2 sausage, but I was mistakenly served all bacon. When I pointed it out, they cooked some sausage for me right away and fixed the problem without the typical eye-roll. Good thing, because the bacon was a little too limp for my liking. Even though the temperature of the establishment was a bit chilly, I figured that as the hours went on, the inside must get pretty warm. It's super tiny, and the one cooking surface is right there behind the bar- which I am sure heats up the joint pretty quick, especially in the summer months. I enjoyed watching the lady that runs the restaurant cracking eggs and flipping pancakes- it felt like I was at someones house and Mom was cooking up a tasty meal for me and my friends. Super casual ambiance, and the food's not so bad either.
(4)Charlie F.
A few months ago my most cherished dining partner and I were invited to a wedding in the great city of Sacramento (*snicker*). Since I'm far too cheap to pay $30 for the two of us to take a shuttle to our hotel, I had my good college buddy Joey pick us up with the lure of free food. Primarily hunting for brunch food in downtown Sacramento, we stumbled across a large sign. JIM- DENNY's Lunch The ragged looking shack filled with people sitting at a counter top pushed us to figure out why people were eating here (that and no other restaurant seemed to be open at 10am as well as an awesome looking metal chicken). This restaurant is a great example of a restaurant that lives on the idea of a short order cook. Greasy, big and hearty portions of food heaped on large heavy plates. Since the inside was completely packed (and smokey, greasy, and hot) we sat outside on a cool Sacramento morning. Yes, you're absolutely right, their outside looks like the outdoor furnishing section of a Target/Wal-Mart. These seats were not at all comfortable... which only got worse due to the food taking 30+ minutes to come out. Was the food worth the wait? I'm not going to lie to you dear reader, at a restaurant like this you will not be blown away by the complex layers of flavor or the teasing of your taste buds with ingredients that tickle your grain. What you get are big portions of decent food at a decent price. First up, the breakfast burrito. This burrito was so large, they couldn't fully wrap it up.. so you couldn't lift it up and bite into it. It's served with salsa, guac, and sour cream. The burrito is filled with sausage, ham, potatoes, egg, tomatoes, pepper, and cheese. Nothing was undercook/overcooked, it was properly seasoned. All check marks for your standard breakfast burrito. Next up, the oiliest dish I have ever laid my eyes on. A Breakfast Croissant sandwich. Stuffed with a 6 strips of bacon, egg, cheddar cheese and super buttery croissant, the sandwich made me fat just by looking at it. But what more can you ask for? When you want a breakfast sandwich it has all the ingredients necessary. I'd like a few slices of tomatoes, but *shrug* I think the purveyors of the restaurant would disagree and take away from the idea of "FATTENING LARGE PORTIONS". Now comes Jim Denny's version of Denny's Grand Slam breakfast. This is a major league grand slam, not a AA minor league one from Denny's. Heaps of crisp hash brown, thick sausage, perfectly runny sunny eggs that just drip over the has browns, and delicious thick bacon. To top it off, the largest pancake I have ever laid my eyes on. (Knife used to show how large it was) I could not even finish half of this pancake. It was so thick, doughy, and sweet.. mouthfuls of happiness. Mr. Pancake face approves of this large and filling meal!
(4)Larry P.
I waited in line for over a 1/2 hour because I wanted to try their "famous burger". What a huge let down. the burger tasted like grease and had absolutly no seasoning, not even salt and pepper. Just where did all the hype come from? All the reviews I read talked about the large portions but I didn't see this. the fries were the same size as a small fry at McDonalds and the lettuce,onion and tomato was almost non existant.
(1)Jason G.
Pretty good breakfast - the standard 2 eggs, 2 sausages, 2 bacon, potatoes, and a "mini pancake." The pancake was a little over done and not as fluffy and flavorful as last time.
(3)Samantha L.
Pros: -Humongous hubcap pancake (approximately 5 full pancake meals) -Large omelet with choice of add-ins (I chose chillies, peppers, mushrooms, onions) -Watching the meal being cooked right in front of you. Cons: -I saw the Krusteaz (pancake) mix; why don't they make them from scratch? -My toast was forgotten. When I got it, I wasn't offered jelly either. -Salsa (taste like Pace) was not brought out even when requested. -Limited seating, sticky also. -Staff talks/gossips about their personal lives while working and some of it doesn't seem very appropriate) My overall opinion is that there are much better breakfast options in Sacramento. But if you are going to come anyway, check-in on Foursquare for $5 off your purchase of $10 or more.
(2)Mike O.
This place is amazing. A true traditional spoon that is tiny, cramped, not open for business enough, filled with staff who are yelling at each other... but it's so worth it. The atmosphere alone would be enough to make this place the coolest place in town, but it turns out the food is mind blowing diner food, too. Be warned - the food does go down hard and will sit in your gut a while, but that's part of the charm. I love every single bit of this place. It kills me. Wish it was open more often, but I take what I can get!
(5)Robert H.
Don't waste your time horrible service, the person taking orders didn't know how a line works. Stood there for 10 minutes was totally ignored, then left when they took orders from people who came in after me.
(1)Jana C.
Mystery solved: under new management for half year now.. hence the reason why this is going *under* and sinking faster than the Titanic. Playing solely on the laurels of its long-standing history...that plus the fact that Man vs. Food stopped by for a showing once upon a time. TSK How can they get away charging Rudy's Cant Fail cafe prices when there's nothing to show for the rip-off, save an above average experience flapjack? Service was agonizingly slow (many walked out while waiting), place is so small, there isn't a bathroom to be had (total seating is about 15, *uncomfortably*... They messed up on my order, this after 23 minutes of waiting for a 'smaller order' breakfast. No apologies for giving me hash browns instead of the "extra crispy" home potatoes I ordered. The fired me up some, and by the time I held my bacon and soft egg at bay for it, they came to me BARELY EVEN COOKED THROUGH---forget the extra crispy! I'll not return again. Indubitably one of the places in my hometown which don't deserve anything but a scolding. Horrible experience...came away mumbling under my breath that I even left a tip above 10%.
(1)Natali K.
Very lazy staff. Came at 1pm and was told they stopped serving breakfast even though the sign says they serve breakfast until 2:30pm.
(1)Joseph C.
I thought the pancake was gonna b dry on the inside cuz of its size but it was moist and fantastic. Awesome hole in the wall joint
(5)Gerardo F.
Overall, i'd say that Jim-Denny's was a decent experience. As the mighty Adam Richman did in ManVFood, I went there for the ^pancakes. They were certainly big, but not as big as I'd imagined, but it was still pretty good. I also got coffee and orange juice (not the best I've had, but still tasty), as well as eggs and bacon that were ok. But what drags this joint down are the mediocre service, dirtiness of the table, and excruciating smel of grease that infests the entire restaurant.
(3)Sarah I.
Stopped by for lunch today at 2 an was super excited to try them. When we walked in you could immediately feel the tension of the staff not wanting to serve another customer. We ordered the turkey sandwich only to be told they ran out of turkey earlier in the day. How do you run out earlier in the day when 1/2 your lunch items have turkey? I worked in restaurants and we always went out and made sure we had the product needed to serve the customer. I would imagine if I had asked for a burger they would have told me they were out of beef. Poor staff attitude and poor service won't have me coming back here anytime soon.
(1)Caitlin S.
Time-warp! Places like this don't seem to exist around town anymore. Small place, one counter and some outside tables. Small menu - sandwiches and melts for lunch. Fries, of course. Shakes. I tried one of each and took a seat by the cook at the counter - right by the door. Call me anachronistic, but I like sitting practically shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers. It makes me feel part of the Sacramento community. The food was good too. Nothing incredible - but my BLT was very solid and the shake was a level more. Jim-Denny's is good for a casual lunch, great for people watching and essential for getting at Sacramento's vibe.
(4)Brian N.
Mmmmmm good. Got a 3 egg omelette that looked like 5 eggs. Me and my girl are stuffed. Took 25 min to get food but worth it sitting outside was nice.
(5)Ryan F.
This place has a nice, old school diner feel. Be warned that there's no air conditioning so while they do their best with tons of fans it gets pretty hot in the tiny little restaurant. Worth going to for the experience, but I don't see becoming a regular. The prices are reasonable and the food is good, but it's not spectacular or particularly noteworthy in any way.
(4)Sara B.
Amazing! I can't say enough good things about this place. Came for the first time and will be back many more! The staff are so friendly and personable. They have nailed customer service. Janice's jalapeño poppers (on Wednesdays) are a must! Such a fantastic addition to the menu. Best we've had. Whether you're in the mood for breakfast or lunch, you can't go wrong!
(5)Sam L.
Been here for 6 days and was frustrated because I could not find any farmer's market. Suddenly I looked up and saw some kid running around with happy parents around. then I parked my bike and opened the door of the rather small isolated building and it was full of people eating what seemed to be breakfast. so I figured that I would eat there. So I stepped outside (to keep an eye on my bike), and asked the extremely friendly patrons and workers, family and friends run business what was good (great!). Being American or some derivation of it, the food was amazingly tasty! The beans on my chili fries were freshly made (not canned) and the chicken strips tasted better, in the unique Bina sandwich. The only thing was the wait time between ordering and serving was long-- but it was well worth it.
(4)Kelly N.
Excellent food! The best breakfast we have had since moving to the Sacramento area almost 2 years ago.
(5)Jessica S.
I've now been to Jim-Denny's twice and both times the service was very personable and friendly. I ordered the Double Burger and the Patty Melt respectively, and on the most recent visit I also tried the Jalapeno Poppers. The Jalapeno Poppers were interesting. They were half a Jalapeno stuffed with Sausage and Cream Cheese and wrapped in bacon, then deep fried. Very tasty. The Double Burger had good toppings and the quality of meat was easy to spot, however the meat itself had no really good distinguishing flavor making the while thing rather tasteless. It was surprising since you could see the quality of the food was fairly high. The Patty Melt was two meat patties covered in cheese, onions, and thousand island sauce toasted on rye with vegetable toppings. Again the meat was flavorless and took away from the rest of the potential flavors of the meal. In the end the potential was there for greatness, but both times it came down to the seasoning used on the meat patties. I've heard better thing regarding their breakfast, so that might be a better bet, though I don't see me attempting the restaurant in the near future, except for some Wednesday Poppers.
(3)Ernestine B.
Such a dissapointment. My boyfriend and I have been excited to come and try the famous hub cap for quite a while now since seeing the restaraunt on Food Network, but this morning was a complete disaster for our brunch. We parked about a block away and fed the meter for an hour, which should have been plenty of time to get in and out and enjoy brunch on a thursday morning, right?... wrong! We didn't mind walking in to see a small family waiting and another young couple in front of us. We didn't mind the fact that we had to stand in a really small walkway that forced me into the back corner when people were trying to walk in and out the door. What we did not appreciate was the fact that we had been there for 20 minutes and no one behind the counter ever greeted us when the sign clearly states "Enter as strangers, leave as friends." There were no smiles to be seen the entirety of our dining experience. Before we even got seated we had to help get some seats bussed and cleared of dishes, which wouldn't have irked me if maybe there was a sign saying please help the staff by clearing your own dishes or if someone had spoken a word or two to us besides "what would you like?" After we sat down no one acknowledged us for a good 5 or 10 minutes... not even for a glass of water. When we finally were acknowledged the young girl who was taking our order was neither friendly nor polite and looked like she hated her job. That's too bad cause there are a lot of people who would love to have her job. Two ladies who were probably regulars because they were obviously state workers had come in behind us in line, and were getting their order written up before us when my boyfriend finally spoke up and said "hey do you mind taking our order, we were here before they were?" Normally we would'nt care about something like that but we are still on the meter outside and it had already been a half hour since we stepped inside. I ordered the Hub Cap and my boyfriend ordered the lasagna and asked if they could hold the onions but they were unable to accomadate his desire for no onions so he ordered the Breakfast burrito and a chocolate milkshake instead. Trying to make peace with the ladies behind us in line my boyfriend graciously bussed the seats in the back corner that had been unbussed by the patrons who had left their mess and hadn't bothered to take it to the front counter (the staff should have been on top of that anyways, not my boyfriend) he asked the 2 ladies if they would like to sit after he had cleared the table and they said "no we're not staying." Maybe they were the smart ones because a few minutes later their was a mix up between the young man serving us and them our milkshakes and it became a scene. Finally 20 minutes later the same 2 ladies that ordered after us had gotten their food and left. We were fuming by that point. My boyfriend got served his breakfast burrito 10 minutes before my Hub cap came. (which in our experience is a big restaraunt no no, we should have been served at the same time. I had to go back out to the car and feed the meter for another 45 minutes just to be sure we would have enough time. The food was only ok. The burrito contained hash browns that were'nt really browned but dark on one side and uncooked on the other and it was light on the bacon. My pancake was huge and wouldn't fit on any plate that they had (weird) but only ok but nothing to write home about. We paid as soon as we could fearing that it would take long time to get our boxes and go. My boyfriend wanted to speak to the manager but after he saw how disorganized and disaarayed he was, we decided to just let yelp do the talking. In short we will never come to Jim Denny's again. P.S.I get it that sometimes you get busy but it takes 1 second to smile at a brand new customer.
(1)Raf G.
Food was ok, I would give it 3 stars, but for a bacon cheese burger with avocado, fries and a cup of chili, $15 is more than most restaurants charge for a nice sitdown meal. For such a small place with outside plastic tables you'd think it'd be much less. Food was ok and good, but for those prices I think not... waaay too expensive for this ambiance... Pish Posh! LOL
(2)Lori I.
Lots of food. Too much hype. I arrived at 7:03am on a Saturday morning. At first we were the only ones there, so I thought I had the wrong place. When you walk into this tiny little shack, there are maybe only 10-12 seats total. This place has gone through many changes of ownership during its 77 year run, but my only experience was a few weeks ago and while it was pleasant and I enjoyed my food, I don't get why it was featured on the Food Network except that this place offers a TON of food, but no official food challenge (YET).... I ordered the BACON WITH EGGS AND HASH BROWNS which were good home cooking. Nothing fancy here. We also had THE HUBCAP WITH SPOKES, which is the largest fluffiest pancake I've ever seen, with your choice of bacon or sausage (or we chose 3 of each), and your choice of egg. You need to eat it "rip n dip" style so that your pancakes don't get soggy, because even for the largest eaters, you will end up taking most of this pancake home. There was a guy who stopped in and wanted to eat something to help him get to Lake Tahoe on his bike (!!) but this might be the wrong place to look for something like that because I just wanted to go back to sleep after I left this place.
(3)Valerie B.
I had terrible service when I visited the other day. I came in a little before lunch service so it was not extremely busy, but the whole 30+min I waited for my meal there were flies everywhere and the counters were not cleaned at all. I walked out before my food even arrived. I would like to try this place out again, but not anytime soon.
(1)Valerie L.
LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!!! Unfortunately I didn't even have the opportunity to eat at this burger joint because they were closed! My rating is based purely on Jim-Denny's false advertisement! Their website (and Yelp) clearly says they are opened seven days a week from 7am to 3pm, so when I arrived today (Monday) at 11:30am I was not expecting a sign on the door that said closed...waste of my time!!!
(1)Ryan H.
Decided to try it since we were in the area. The inside was so packed that there was no where to sit even with a few empty chairs there were just to many people at the counter to squeeze by. The employees were friendly and we ended up eating outside. I got the hubcap "huge" pancake with eggs and sausage. It was average nothing really special. My only complaint about eating outside were the people just staring at us waiting for us to leave so they can have our table. Kinda felt like we were at a zoo. It also kinda makes you feel like an ass when you see homeless people digging through trash cans across the way and people are eating a quarter of a pancake the size of a car tire then throwing the rest away.
(3)Kris S.
very small place, but it delivers with food. I had a really good breakfast burrito from this place, will return on my next visit to Sacramento.
(4)Luis S.
This place is a hidden gem! Don't be fooled by the exterior, this is high quality diner food. Had the Big Breakfast with hashbrowns and a mini pancake, & Small Breakfast with bacon and cheese home fries. Bacon was meaty and good. There is nothing "mini" about their flapjack. It was the circumference of a large plate. Fluffy and delicious. I'm coming back to take their Challenge!
(5)LeeLee L.
Where to start..... hmmm lets start with the rude ass server with red and black hair. She had no type of customer service and she had this bitch look on her face through our whole visit there which was about an hour and a half because it took them forever to even remember that we were ready to go. She seemed as if she was not happy about working and was super non enthusiastic. As far as the food, it was ok. Worth the wait, definitely NOT! I could of had a better meal at IHOP or even at Mcdonalds, on top of that they forgot about a part of my order so when it came to pay I let another know that I never got my potatoes and the red head looked at me crazy. I honestly felt like slapping her. Thankfully we finally got out of there. This was my first and ABSOLUTELY my last visit to Jim-Denny's I hope that place reads this and gives a training on customer service.
(1)Paul E. G.
Limited space food is worth the wait! The service SUCKS! But if your a hood it seems the girls will take care of you! lol Can you say cheeeeese burger!!!
(4)Josh E.
Just went here for the first time yesterday afternoon. A buddy of mine really digs the food, plus I had seen this place on Man Vs Food, so I was interested in trying it out. It really is a little hole in the wall, tiny little place. If there is more than 5 people in there, you are gonna be pretty much elbow to elbow. First off...the coffee was pretty good, which is the first thing I look for in a good breakfast place. I chose the big pancake with eggs, sausage and bacon. The portion is gigantic. They have to put down 4 different place mats for this meal, because the normal sized plates they use are nowhere near large enough to contain the huge portion. You are cutting your pancake up on a place mat, on the table. The pancake was nice and fluffy and they cooked my eggs perfectly. All in all, I was not blown away and really don't see what all the hoopla is about. It was ok. To me, the portion size thing is nothing but gimmick and I will never order it again. My buddy got an omelet (which was also quite large) that looked and smelled amazing. I also saw and smelled the dishes of other patrons around me, all amazing. For now I give the place 4 stars because I am eager to get back there and try some of these other dishes. The only other thing I would say about this place, is that if it is busy, I will definitely keep walking. Its just too small to handle any volume of customers
(4)Isaiah M.
This place sucks. Plain and simple. Terrible food, worst service imaginable, no pancake can salvage getting ignored in a tiny 8 seat restaurant! You can't edit your order at all, the potatoes and eggs I got were very sub par, and as I said before, the service was just absolutely unacceptable. The restaurant is set up for close, personal contact with the cooks and staff, but when they just leave you and acknowledge you only to give you the check (no coffee refills or anything!), I gotta say leaves a pretty bad taste in your mouth. Definitely worst dining experience I've had in a while.
(1)Jose Luis C.
This reminds me of the old Squeeze Inn location on Fruitridge. You are really packed in tight, and there's only seats for maybe 10 people at the bar. Quaint, but maybe get there a little earlier or later. My friend got the garlic swiss burger and liked it. I got the double patty "Super" with cheese and bacon add-ons, fries, and a Pepsi. Delicious! Confusingly, all the burgers are labeled "Super Burgers," so even though I ordered a single patty super burger, the waitress served me the double patty "Super" burger (especially named "super") and had no apologies for the confusion. And the customer service is generally that flavor:: "What can I get ya?" with no smiles or niceties. Frankly, that's expected at a greasy spoon. But they should really fix the menu. Only one burger is super. Also, I saw the leftovers of somebody's gigantic pancake. It was easily 20 inches in diameter, hanging over the sides of the plate like a limp sombrero hat brim. Crazy. This place probably got an extra star just because I LOVE the fine crushed ice they put in the sodas. It reminds me of old timey restaurants. They also offered me a to-go cup for my soda, a nice touch. Overall, they're a little brusk, but the food is great and I would go back.
(4)Caitlin R.
I went there for breakfast with my husband. The food was really good - good old fashioned breakfast. The pancakes were the best I have ever had, I have no idea what makes them so good, but they were fantastic. The portions are huge! My husband and I could could have shared one of our breakfast meals. My main problem with this place (and why they only got three stars) was because of the service. It took 45 minutes to get our breakfast - which was nothing fancy and shouldn't have taken that long. Another group of people had to ask for theirs to go because they ran out of time to sit and eat. They had good food and great pancakes, but nothing so fantastic that I want to spend an hour and half (minimum) having breakfast. They should at least warn about how slow they are. The server/woman at the window was very nice - she kept apologizing for the wait and it seemed like she was embarrassed abut how slow our food was being prepared. I doubt I will be coming back.
(3)Scott A.
Jim Denny's was fun. Saw a guy order a Hub Cap pancake and it was jaw dropping big....At least enough to feed a family of 4. I split a chili burger with my wife and my son loved his pastrami sandwich. I would go 5 stars, but the fries seemed like frozen ore-idas. This place was rocking on a Saturday morning. Incredibly small and old school. Wait was about 30 minutes, but worth it.
(4)Danielle A.
I understand that the service is, well, nonexistent, but at least toss a glance at us and maybe we can order. A glance! Please? I'm so hungry. (On another note, their breakfast is so-so.)
(2)Ryan T.
Showed up ordered our breakfast, after 45 min the cook started saying about 5 min left. Every 10 min he would come out and say almost ready. We waited 1 hour and 16 min and walked out. I literally thought we were being punked or something. Ridiculous service. So much for our annual tradition
(1)Arm-n-Meg H.
Great "the works" omelette. French toast was really good with peanut butter and banana.
(4)Dave S.
This place is awesome! The food is amazing, and the portions are just ridiculous. The pancakes are possibly the best plain pancakes I've had. I took off 1 star because the wait can be long if it's crowded, because they only have one cooking area. The prices are a little more than I would hope for, but still reasonable for how much you get. This is my favorite place to eat breakfast!
(4)Kyle H.
Great food and service. Never had problem or issue with the food. I recommend the breakfast burrito.
(5)Nancy M.
I went on January 4th around 10 am for breakfast, it was closed!
(1)M W.
My, my, this is a pretty good breakfast spot. It's a bit of a hole in the wall, but it adds to the character of the place. It serves gigantic sized pancakes that actually look pretty darn good. I haven't had their giant cakes, but the regular sized ones are darn good. Fluffy and moist. Their breakfast burritos are tasty too. Though the food isn't special - it tastes pretty good. It must be the old griddle or something. I'm not sure, but it is good wholesome food. The portions are big so it is a calorie breaker. The area isn't the best, but it is safe to eat outside. I've only been on a Sunday - so it is pretty empty downtown. During week, it is probably busy on the streets, so much more lively if that is something you'd prefer.
(4)Chrissie O.
So I read the reviews and noticed the mix between good and bad reviews and more bad reviews with the change of ownership. I still decided to give it a shot since this restaurant was right next to the hotel I was staying at. This place was made popular by man vs. food. I haven't seen the episode and I was not about to take that challenge. The pancake is huge. I saw them making a large pancake next to two little ones and that's just scary to eat. For the price, it's better to share pretty much anything on their menu.. I ordered the breakfast burrito. My mistake was that I didn't speak up. I told the girl that was making my food that I wanted sausage and not bacon in my food, but this other girl cooked it with bacon... I even saw it written on the order slip. I decided to eat it anyways and I wasn't a fan. Plus crunchy = broken egg shells. ugh gagg. Even if they were to remake it, I wouldn't want to eat it. It was just made very sloppy. I took a few bites then I was done. I think I would've been happier with a pancake. It did look good when I saw them making it and it didn't have eggs so I wouldn't have had to deal with broken egg shells.. I also thought it would be more popular on a Saturday morning. I slept in and woke up an hour after they opened so I went to the restaurant right away and it was dead. I thought to myself, "nobody likes breakfast in Sacramento?" I didn't get it and then I understood why. If you want to take the challenge then do it, if not then try to find another restaurant to have breakfast at.
(1)Kimberly G.
Worst experience of my life. Terrible service and the food isn't good enough to forgive it. My coffee cup sat empty for 20 minutes because the waitresses were more into their own conversation rather than my needs. I ordered a pancake to see what all the hoopla was about and it was just about the worse pancake I've ever had. I've made better batter fall-down drunk. It was dry, not blended all the way so I got a nice flour pocket, and the taste was ridiculously bland. They cooked their own personal pancakes faster than they got my order to me. I will absolutely never return and will deter others from wasting their tine and money.
(1)Scott S.
Cool spot, arguably expensive for what it was, but I did not leave hungry. Chile was good and the burger was above-average, but fast-foodish. The omelet they were making looked good. A good downtown option for less than $10. Surcharge for credit card (which I'm ok w/ if it keeps the cash price down).
(4)Chris C.
I had the insane large "massive" pancake along with basic breakfast sides (potatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage). You would think it's just a novelty to get a pancake the size of a manhole cover, but It was actually a pretty awesome pancake. Most of the side items were standard diner quality which is fine and pretty much what I expected. My friends got a hot turkey sandwich and a burger, both of which were REALLY delicious. On top of that, the service is fantastic. Super friendly, and funny people working behind the counter. It's a great experience.
(4)Mike E.
Jim-Denny's was featured on Man vs. Food. Jim-Denny's is a divey breakfast diner in Sacramento and one of the best breakfast spots I've been to. I ordered "The Works" omelet that I saw on Man vs. Food. The works omelet was massive and tasted amazing. It consists of spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomato, green chilies, ham, chicken sausage, pork sausage, bacon, three eggs, jack cheese, and cheddar cheese. The Works omelet also comes with a heaping helping of hash browns, and two slices of toast on the side. Jim-Denny's also makes some of the biggest pancakes that you will ever see. They have the mini-stack, which are far from mini or the hubcap, which is enormous. I'd love to go back and give them a try. Great food, huge portions, great prices, and friendly service, gives Jim-Denny's five stars.
(5)Chris N.
Like many other Yelpers, I recently stumbled upon an episode of Man vs. Food (not a great show, but it has its moments) that involved a visit to Jim-Denny's. I'd heard a lot about it from friends in the past, so I had to try it out for myself. However I was a bit discouraged when I noticed the "under new management" announcement on Yelp, coupled with reviews that seemed to have rapidly declined since that happened. It's a cute little diner, with an ambiance much like the old Squeeze Inn, where there isn't much room and everybody has to cram together. However I can't help but feel that it's a shadow of its former self... which is perfectly summed up by the picture on the back wall. Jim Denny (I assume) is standing with a big grin and a line of old waitress-type ladies. Then look across to the restaurant today, where you'll find a bunch of young women with neck tattoos and face piercings yelling at each other behind the counter. Something tells me this isn't the Jim-Denny's everyone used to know and love. The breakfast was decent... we didn't go for one of the comically large pancakes that made the place famous, but rather an omelet and hash browns. The omelet was solid, and sizable, but the hash browns were undercooked. Coffee refills were plentiful, and the waitress was friendly (if loud), but I felt that I could have found a better breakfast elsewhere in Midtown. I wish I had visited this place years ago, like I'd always meant to, so that I could give it a fair comparison. But after scanning through old Yelp reviews, I think I can safely say that this place isn't as great as it once was. If you've been searching the world for a big-ass pancake, this is the restaurant for you. If not, there's better food in the neighborhood. Oh, and parking is a bitch to find.
(2)Devo S.
In all my year's of living in Sacramento, and having passed Jim-Denny's hundreds of times, it took a combination of the place being featured on "Man vs. Food" and a Deal Ticket coupon to bring me in. My question? Why in the hell did I deprive myself of this fine dive before now?! If you haven't been here yet, you owe it to yourself to come and enjoy one of Sacramento's star eateries! I had the croissant breakfast sandwich (they serve breakfast all day, yay!), which was two eggs ( I chose fried) with bacon (I chose over sausage) on a huge, buttery croissant with cheese. I LOVED it!! Hubby had a hankering for pastrami, so he ordered the pastrami sandwich, which was HUGE and full of flavor; hubby loved it, as well as the accompanying beef barley home-made soup. To top it off, we ordered a shake to go, and how could when we not when the enthusiastic server said they were "magical"?! We got one chocolate shake to go, and she was kind/smart enough to split our one shake into two containers...bonus points on the tip for her! And, short of Suzie Burger's chocolate shake which I feel is the best in the universe, the Jim-Denny's chocolate shake was, indeed, magically delicious. I loved this place, and have every intention of frequenting it more often. It's a fun, funky little place, both on the inside and out...there are about 10 counter seats and a few wooden stools behind. It was fun to sit at the counter and watch all the food be made. Even saw a couple of those "The Works" omelets get whipped together....you have GOT to be HUNGRY to eat all that, and it was well-worth being featured on "Man vs. Food". I encourage everyone to eat here at least once. Once you've tried it, you'll want to come back. I know the hubby and I will! :)
(5)Tommy Nicholas V.
Don't miss this landmark burger joint. Clearly a locals spot for 40 years! Not the same burger Jim used to make - but, it's a good joint.
(5)Kristen O.
Such horrible service we canceled our order and left. 20+minutes to take our order after being asked twice by the cook if our order had been taken. Then 10 more minutes to get our coffee. Obviously not interested in my business
(1)Jess C.
BREAKFAST REVIEW: I left stuffed for only $6. $10 gets you a HUGE pancake and a 3-egg omelet. For an extra $2 you can upgrade to get all 12 toppings in your 3-egg omelet! The pancakes are gigantic - seriously like the biggest pancake I've ever seen in my life - and so are the omelets. They don't play around here. The pancakes were heavy and doughy, not light and fluffy like I prefer; maybe because everything is cooked on the same greasy griddle as the bacon, omelets and hashbrowns. I don't think I can come back here anytime soon. My arteries will need at least a month to unclog. Plus, I prefer Nopalitos pancakes and I like that I can order them with fresh bananas. I must admit, the omelets here are pretty legit paired with the home made salsa. Note: cash only. 2 free parking spots available outside their restaurant.
(3)Sam B.
What a complete and total disappointment. I gave it one shot for lunch under the new ownership, and I wasn't happy. Shot number two for breakfast, and it was even worse. Before I start breaking down the visit, I will provide a huge warning to anyone visiting this place based off of the Man v. Food feature: everything has changed. The menu, the pricing, the food itself. Everything. If you're expecting anything you saw on TV, throw those expectations away and find a new restaurant. This is the same restaurant in name only. Breaking down my visit, first off, same deal as before: this place is no longer the warm and friendly place it was. It's a forced smile, for lack of a better term. They TRY hard to act friendly, but I got my daily dose of eye-rolls from the folks behind the counter. I think the key word there is "act". Second, and probably most disheartening to me, is that the food has changed and it's MUCH worse. The portions were absolutely killed. Remember when the "mini pancake" was an ironic term? Not only is it now a regular pancake, but their breakfast prices increased. $7 used to get you potatoes, eggs, bacon and one of their "mini" pancakes that overflowed a plate. NOW, $7.50 gets you the same bacon and potatoes, about half of the eggs, and MAYBE 1/3 of the pancake. More money for less food? Sounds like a winner to me. Frankly, the taste is missing a lot of the magic it used to have, too. Lastly, multiple times we saw food handled WAY too much when coming off of the grill. French toast was picked up via fingers and placed on a plate, in one instance! Just not acceptable. This used to be my favorite overall burger place in Sacramento. No longer. The king is dead. I will not be back here.
(1)Phil P.
Great food. Huge 17 inche pancake wow!
(5)Patrick D.
Jim-Dennys is a Sacramento institution. "The 10 busiest stools in Sacramento." It is cramp and awkward for both employees and customers alike. That is what's cool about it. It brings togetherness and creates a community even if only for the short time you are dining there. The food is hearty, abundant and affordable.
(4)Mitch A.
Love me some "hole in the wall" joint! This place was great for breakfast, my buddy & I had some grub which was filling and amazing. Highly recommend if you want good all American food with plenty of portion...
(5)Rubin K.
I'm not sure how generalizable my review is since it is ONLY based on the pancake the size of my hub cap, but nonetheless, I am going to offer my 2cents. On our food adventure up California this became a list minute add-on after seeing the beautiful, gigantic pancakes on Man v Food. Luckily it wasn't too far out of the way (featured on DDD). We honestly were all stuffed after Putah Creek for bfast (also on DDD) then straight to Dad's Kitchen, so when we got to this place we just wanted a taste..a bite, an innocent little nibble just to see if it was worth the hype. So we simply put in a to-go order of a pancake...not the short stack, but the hub sized one. I don't think they knew what to do with it for a to go order, but they ended up folding it many times into one of the standard rectangular to-go containers. While it barely fit, the quality of the food was not sacrificed. I barely needed any syrup for this thing because the pancake itself was soooooo fluffy and delicious and sweet and fluffy (whoops already said that). I wish I was able to enjoy more of this thing, but I'm only one man who really enjoys pancakes. And having something that heavy on top of everything that came before was quite difficult. So here I am rating the pancake a 4. It's not quite a 5 just because I don't think I was able to enjoy it enough to even be a 5. Could it get to a 5 with a second trip, I'd have to try more food and have an empty stomach. It's not a 3 though (at least based off the pancake). There you go, my 2 cents. Take it or leave it.
(4)Peter P.
Total dive (no restrooms!), but the nicest staff in town. If you have a hankerin' for pancakes, don't miss out on the "Hubcap".
(3)DeAnna P.
Great little hole in the wall diner. Servers are friendly. Food is really good. Chili is seasoned perfectly, although a bit too many beans. The burger is really good, as are the pancakes. The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is that there is NO BATHROOM. None. Zero. Zilch. Wash your hands before you go and don't drink too much iced tea!!
(4)Chris H.
Fun atmosphere, vintage place for dining. Until I saw the place on "Man Vs Food," we'd always gone there for take-out hamburgers back when I worked downtown. Just as shown in the TV show, the "Wagon Wheel" is massive, their omelette is tough to eat in one sitting, (also with a "kid sized pancake" that fits the entire plate). Then My sons and I went in for breakfast! Portions were awesome and worth the price. We can eat and even I had to take home leftovers. This is NOT a fine dining establishment people, it's an old fashioned "greasy spoon" and dining in is for fun. I met one of the owners playing poker a few weeks later and he gave me a hand written coupon, (I used it to go with a long-time friend for breakfast later on) and we spoke with another owner on the occasion my sons and I ate. They are ALL friendly and their service is commiserate with the demands of the ordering. It picks up fast and their rush hours are long. (I feel for them as they are crazy busy!). This is a great, unique experience. If you're just looking for the food, get it to go...
(5)Tuyen L.
I've been hearing about this place for quite a while now. I work only a few blocks away from here and my coworkers and I decided to phone in a breakfast order. We order a few breakfast sandwiches and a breakfast burrito. When we went to go pick up the order it was so busy. The place is really small. I don't think I would personally go sit and eat there only because I don't like eating in small and cramped areas. I would definitely order here again. The breakfast sandwiches were about $7-8 depending on what bread you want it on, and I think they should come with a side of potatoes or hash browns with that price. Other than that everything was really good. I want to try their pancakes. They look soo good and big!! Yay I'm a fan!
(4)Michele B.
I had a mushroom, spinach and cheese omelette that was out of this world. I started craving one this morning again, unfortunately I am too far for one now. I would definitely return to this establishment again next time I am in town or passing through.
(4)Frank V.
I showed up with my family for lunch at this place and this place was so compact (no dining tables only bar stool seats) and with only 8 customers inside it's packed. We walked in and staff don't say or greet you. We waited for 30 seconds for any type of service then decided to leave No room to eat and no kind of customer service. The people who work there look like teenagers who don't want to be bothered. The area is ghetto too. Stay clear of this place. Not what you expect after seeing this place on the food network. Waste of time going there. Instead go to Tower Cafe. Much cleaner and better service.
(1)Rip M.
Ok went to Jim again to see how it was! I don't know if they changed owners again but at least the cook doesn't handle money or the dirty dishes. The same food but now different names. The order is small compared to the days. The cook is rude I didn't make a mistake with my order the waitress did so don't get snotty with me. The cook doesn't enjoy the job. In a bad mood and there was only 5 people in there. This place is going to go out of business. Take some pride or at least pretend to like the customers jeez. Learned my lesson until new owners come thru not ever going back. Can find better for the price.
(2)Ryan H.
It's okay but not at all great. There are no seats, they are very sticky, they are very slow. Only thing good was the pancakes. Other than that nothing good to say about this place.
(2)Warren N.
Giant pancakes size of the record player! The owner (Grandpa) was a blast. But the GIANT PANCAKE DOMINATES!!! This place is a hole in the wall that is dying out. Support these establishments.
(5)Chris C.
-- Nostalgic, mid-20th century atmosphere: Check -- Super friendly, cheerful staff: Check -- Best burger ever: Not so much I wandered in for a late lunch and the atmosphere was awesome. A narrow walkway with a counter and stools on the right with another
(3)Aimee M.
This is located downtown, and pretty accessible. Because they are family owned (been in the family for several generations) we enjoyed supporting them and contributing to the business. They do breakfast and lunch/dinners. I had the breakfast (which was ok) and my fiancé had their mushroom garlic swiss burger (which looked AMAZING if I ate hamburger). They could use better ranch for the fries (I prefer homemade ranch), but the service was very attentive and kind. They were very busy when we got there, so the wait was a little longer. We enjoyed it, just sat outside at one of their outdoor tables. It was early in the morning and the air was fresh and the sun was new. The owner is very friendly and will chat with you...making you feel like part of the family. Great family owned business!! Great service!! Very personable!!
(3)William M.
From the outside it's a small white and red building. Inside there's a counter, well scrubbed over the years, with a bunch of stools next to the wall. Home of the Hubcab, a gigantic pancake. Get one with spokes made of bacon... Great place for a quick bite, very atmospheric. Enjoy!
(4)Sam B.
It 's hard to give a review of this place when you're disgustingly stuffed. I came here with a party of 6 and we were lucky enough to have seats available. I came to find out that the dining capacity is no more than maybe 20 people. The interior isn't fancy, but when you walk in you feel like you have been transported backwards in time with its retro decor. I shared with 2 other people their "Works" omelette and a "Hubcap." The omelette was fairly delicious. There were no under cooked portions, despite its large size. This omelette had everything: cheese, mushrooms, spinach, and more that I can't remember. The omelette also came with potatoes on the side, which were very well cooked; I had not a single potato that was under cooked. I know I keep harping on things being under cooked, but I was expecting the dishes to be since they were so large. Overall, I was disgustingly satisfied with the dish. The "Hubcap" pancake was monstrous. It would have been nice the waitress actually gave us like a model or something to show how big it was because the pictures do NO justice. Despite its size, the "Hubcap" was PERFECTLY cooked. The pancake carried that unyielding outside, but the pancake's inside was moist and flaky. Again, I was expecting this thing to be under cooked, but my assumptions were laid to rest. This pancake was so monstrous, it would absorb every bit of syrup I poured on it. Even with 3 people sharing, we could not finish this monster of a pancake. I, again, was disgustingly satisfied. I would love to check out this place again for their lunch menu. If you do come here, expect food acoma. I also highly do not recommend coming here if you have problems controlling your blood sugar or are at risk for diabetes. Cheers.
(4)Rachel P.
YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! OMG - that was the worst experience I have ever had at a breakfast place. The service was pathetic (I am pretty sure the waitress was stoned and appeared to be only half awake). I ordered biscuits and gravy, a couple of eggs and bacon. The eggs were actually pretty good but everything else was so utterly lacking. The environment was hideous. It was freezing cold, there was NO bathroom (What if I needed to throw up the slop that they were serving? Where could I go?) No tables, only a bar with bar stools that were in such bad shape that the ripped plastic covering the mildewed, soiled cushions were sharp and sticking into my butt. To top off the most horrible morning of recent memory -- a very, old, smelly man came and sat down next to me... I still can't get that raunchy stench out of my nasal memory. Save yourself and stay away from this disaster. I will elaborate solely on the food. My biscuits were hard and cold. The bacon was basically fat and the gravy tasted like (what I would imagine) the butt paste would taste like that I put on my daughter's hiney when she has diaper rash.
(1)Lauren L.
Jim Denny's looks like a hole in the wall breakfast spot with potential to be out of this wold good. However, it's mediocre at best. My boyfriend ordered the pancake (which is the size of a hubcap) and I got a side of biscuits and gravy and we shared. The pancake was great-nice and fluffy with a good flavor but the biscuits and gravy were less than appetizing. There were chucks of what tasted like old sausage in the gravy and it almost made me sick. The wait staff were friendly to the customers but arguing in the kitchen and joking about how uneducated they all were and where they were going to get their next gang tattoos. Plus, there wasn't enough seating for all the guests. I really don't think a pancake is a good enough reason to come back.
(2)Mark S.
Here's the good and the bad... First the good: The food was OK, they give you large portions and their signature item is their pancakes that are the size of a large dinner plate and 3/4 of an inch thick. Now the BAD: First, you walk in and see there are only 16 seats in the place. Half of those seats are against the far wall BEHIND the counter seating. There is no access for the staff to get to those seats so when you order, you have to yell it over the patrons sitting at the counter. Since, the place is so small, everyone hears what you order. Bit weird. When your order is up, you have to reach over people eating at the counter to get your food. Practically leaning on them. Awkward to say the least. As for the food, it was just OK and the pancake that is what their known for is bland and a bit gooey. The grill is so small that your the pancakes came out 5min after the rest of our food. Finally, of the four women behind the counter one of the waitress and the cook were having a "Disagreement" and the whole counter had to be subjected to it. I think the people that like this place just like the nostalgia of this quaint little hole in the wall atmosphere. For a better breakfast, go to Pancake Circus, Fox & Goose or Cornerstone.
(2)Adam L.
Use to like this place. Women worker was not wearing belt and her pants kept falling down to the point where I almost couldn't even eat. Uncooked fries, asked for no mayo, they put mayo. It was a rough meal... I will not be returning after my past experience.
(2)Nancy T.
This place is a tiny diner. I came here with 2 of my friends and ordered the open faced chili burger. My friends ordered the superbuger? I think that's what it was called. Its a size down from the mega burger. And my other friend ordered the works. My chili burger was ok. The chili wasn't bad, but nothing special about them. Almost like they came straight out from a can. Would have been nice if it had a more homemade touch to it. The works was ok as well. That's only because I'm not a big fan of bell peppers. And there was a LOT of bell peppers in there! So if you like bell peppers then this is your dish! This dish just seemed a little dry. Would have been nice if there was melted cheese on top and more inside of the omelet or even some sort of gravy over it. The super burger was pretty big and came with fries. The patty was cooked to perfection. But I wouldn't call it the best burger in Sac. But still able to satisfy your craving. Next time I'll come back and try the HUBCAP! haha.... I'm probably going to need to be carried out after attempting to eat that!!!
(3)Amy B.
I was walking from the Convention Center to my hotel wondering what on earth I would eat for lunch before getting on the road to head home. This place caught my eye, mostly because it was directly on my route and I could eat it in my hotel room before I left without having to make an extra stop. I ordered a burger with avocado & cheese and sweet potato fries. Both were very good. I have to admit, I don't eat much meat these days, especially without knowing where it comes from and if it's organic. So considering that I hadn't had a burger in ages, you'll have to take my opinion with a few grains of salt. But overall, the burger had a good taste, wasn't too greasy, and was HUGE (wasn't sure if I could eat the whole thing). The sweet potato fries were also very good and very crisp--also not too greasy. It was a bit pricey for lunch, but it was a good lunch. It was A-OK in my book.
(3)Steve T.
Felt like I was stepping back in time. Sat at counter and watched my breakfast being cooked on a flat top. Terrific breakfast, generous portions, very friendly staff, great price. If I was staying another night I'd return again tomorrow. The place is cozy- well worth any wait.
(4)Alex G.
This place is awesome. Even if it wasn't close to my office (which it is) I would still frequent this gem. Yes, it's tiny (max capacity inside is about 20). Yes, you have to wait a while when it's busy. Yes, the food is delicious. Yes, the hubcap with spokes is GIGANTIC. I know that everybody will have varying experiences, but let me just say that I've been many times and the service has always been friendly. If you are having a hard time getting to order, wave them down to get your attention. It's not hard to do! I've always found the staff is friendly, talkative (if you do more than just tell them what you want), and frequently offers to top off my coffee, refill my water, etc. The everything omelet is truly that: spinach, peppers, mushrooms, onions, cheese, and meat. (I'm probably forgetting something). Their pancakes are delicious, and the hubcap with spokes is enough food for two (look it up online, a description doesn't do it justice). Their lunch is solid but unspectacular: burgers and sandwiches are competitively priced, and it's decent but nothing to write home about. I usually just go for breakfast. Don't expect a lavish interior. This place has been around since the Great Depression, and the inside is about as big as a walk-in closet. It's also a historical landmark, which means they don't have to make it wheel-chair accessible (which it's not) or add a bathroom (which they don't have). So be warned!
(5)huy n.
Went here based on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives or was it Man vs Food? Either way, came here because of them. Ordered the famous pancakes, lived up to the hype. It was delicious! We had our dogs with us so we sat outside... Not the best area to be sitting outside, a little sketchy (nothing the restaurant can do). Had to give it only 3 stars because the service was bad, they didn't seem like they were very happy to be there. Had to ask several times to get a refill and to get my check.
(3)Feuy S.
I've only been here twice and my most recent visit was a dissapointment. My first visit, I was greeted promptly by the cook/server and she was the sweetest! I ordered the french toast & it was the best french toast I ever had, no joke. She was also really clean, she always wore gloves when handling food. Jim denny's is really small and the server/cook is behind a counter the entire time so you get to see them prepare the food in front of you. My first experience there was great, hence the two stars. My second visit there, not so great. There were different cooks/servers. They coughed into their bare hands, never wore gloves, and burnt our food. It was a bad experience. They also seemed like they didnt wanna be there, which made me...not wanna be there. Honestly, I dont know if I'll be returning. It's too much of a hastle to try to time my visits to when the good server/cook is there.
(2)Ray C.
Best biscuits and gravy I have had since I was a kid.
(4)Christopher M.
What a fun little spot. During a business trip to Sacramento, I found this spot thanks to Yelp! It's literally about the size of my living room. Walked in and had to wait about 15 minutes to get a seat. I had a fantastic diner style burger and yummy chili fries! This is a must see joint if you're downtown!
(4)Jessica M.
So first off..let me say I am sorry for neglecting my duties as a Yelp-er for the past 9 months. It has been hectic! but I have managed to try a few places in this whole run around crazy time...and one of the first places I went after moving to Sacramento was Jim-Denny's.... It was packed...yes..the place is small but still, doesnt make it any less packed! Waited until they changed from breakfast to lunch...I was in the mood for some meat...so while I waited...listened to the chatter of the regulars with the people behind the counter...and enjoyed a very delicious chocolate malt...that magically appeared from the back of the place by a very cheerful man...who obviously..knows what he is doing!! It was a joy to have all that dairy goodness even tho I am totally lactose intolerant! As the crowed cleared and 2 spots opened up at the counter...and lunch time arrived... I went with a burger...my partner in crime went with...something that had a ton of chili on it...since I am not a fan of chili..I didnt even try it. I watched who turned out to be the grandmother of our counter girl, prep the grill and shout for her supplies from the seemingly endless group of people working in the back. She yammered on with everyone at the counter...our counter girl bitched and moaned as a teenager does...not in any sort of annoying way...I too was a teenage girl at some point... The argument escalated as I chomped on my way to huge burger...to a point where our counter girl..ended up walking out!! She threw down her stuff and quit...right then and there!! The grandmother then tells us that this happens a lot..and that she will be back when she needs money again...haha The feeling of being in someones home...with their drama...their food...able to forget your own...is a really nice experience...I would eat there any time..and all of them are more than welcome in my home... The burger was huge...juicy and covered with all the fixins... they even let me taste the soup of the day which was a stew actually..and it was amazing. Never been much into stew but this one was mmmmm So if you are in the mood...to feel like you are in someones home. Get some news from some locals and leave with about 10lbs added to your waistline... then you need to end up at Jim-Denny's ... Pay attention to their hours tho.. if you want breakfast...you gotta be there.. if you want lunch..you might have to wait.. its one or the other...never both =)
(4)Paul C.
WTF? This place is a five on the fun, unique, and crazy factors - but a one or two on the variety, healthiness, and cleanliness factors. I need to eat a breakfast here - the reviews look interesting - I have only had lunch three times over ten years. Big fat burgers, fries, and coke. Food served in troughs and buckets in a place smaller than a closet. Bring a fly swatter. If that's what you want then this is the place.
(3)Mary N.
Went here for lunch of Friday. Had a cheese burger with fries. The cheese burger was very moist with a soft bun. The grilled onions added extra flavor. The only reason I am not giving this place a 5 star is because of the service. They appear to have a bunch of young employees who are not very attentive. None of them were rude to the customers but they seem to be yelling at each other a lot; right in front of the customers sitting at the counter.
(4)Marja M.
Definitely a case of style over substance. I ordered the breakfast, and while I like the idea of 2 egg and 3 egg options, and the service was fine and ambiance was cool, I really found the bacon to be thin and flimsy, the English muffin bland, and the eggs flavorless. I ordered a cookie dough milkshake to go; a bit runny/thin for my taste but not bad. I would go back, but order something different. Besides the age of the joint, their current claim to fame is an episode of "Man vs. Food," and I believe it involved mondo sized pancakes. Doesn't take credit cards, but will take ATM debit cards. There is a counter with roughly 10 stools, and another bar on the other side, with an additional 5 or 7 stools. For handicapped accessibility, there's a small picnic table set up outside, around the corner from the front door.
(3)David P.
On my first visit, As I entered this eatery I noticed this place was no bigger than a voting booth [a slight exaggeration ]. There was no place to sit unless you got here once this placed opened at 7:00 in the morning and even then you don't dare leave your seat. I walked to the end of the snack bar and there up against the wall was a paid telephone and there I stood waiting for someone to take my order. Just then the wall phone starts to ring, I'm tossed a pad of paper and a pencil from one of the cooks and told to answer the phone and take their order, after doing so, and only then did the young lady take my order of a very good tasting hamburger cooked to my satisfaction. Because I did such a good job taking an order over the phone I was given a small dish of fries as payment. I continued to go there 6 out of 7 days of my vacation. On the seventh day I was flying back home. Pity. Of all the points of interest that is offered for tourist to visit I did suggest that this little hole in the wall restaurant should be included in places to visit and eat at. I was told at the Sacramento Visitors office that they would take it into consideration. " Enter as a Stranger - Leave as a Friend". This was and will continue to be a Great Place to eat at. Oh! You can bet on it, " I'll Be Back !"..
(4)Craig M.
They say there is a "first and last for everything." Well I went there for the first time and never going back. I know it was early and the place was busy but the service was horrible, there was no parking! It was not worth the hassle. Also the customers were even rude! Didn't think that was even possible! Then to top it all off, I had a small orange juice and they charged me $3.63! Never again will this business see my business! I recommend the same for other people wanting to check this place out.
(1)M S.
This is a place to have breakfast on Sunday mornings. I love coming here with my wife and friends. The omelet is great and massive. While the pancakes are awesome and GIGANTIC!!! Its more than enough for three people! This place will need some patience when its busy because of the small facility its hard to get seats.
(5)Shante E.
This place was a total experience! The pancake was totally like they showed on the food network. talk about ENORMOUS! It was so good--i mean it taste like a pancake from Denny's but only without the fake ingredients. But that was not mainly the reason why this place got 5 stars, it was because of the stories and the service. It's a perfect place if you just want to have a good time and lots of laughter. Everyone seemed such like a family, even though it looked like a shanty, it was a cool place. Me and the hunny bunny stayed and heared stories about how a bum tried to break in and steal some food. :P
(5)A S.
Nope...don't like this place. Food was nothing special, staff are all tatted up and not put together at all. Doesn't seem appropriate for work presentation. Won't visit again which is too bad since I live a block away!
(1)Shannon B.
I've been coming to Sacramento for 8 years for an annual conference. It wasn't until this year that I stumbled upon Jim-Denny's. I had my daughter along with me for the trip and we went in one morning for breakfast. I immediately felt comfortable as I have always had a soft spot in my heart for diners. We walked in and luckily there were two empty seats on the bar (the only other 8 seats in the place were taken). So, we ordered our breakfast. We had biscuits and gravy with eggs on top and it was outstanding. It was so good, that the next day we walked in for breakfast, and one of the gals behind the counter remembered my name and took our order. I ordered eggs, bacon and home fries. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. My daughter asked for a regular pancake and the lady, said, "honey, one of those pancakes can feed one or more grown men." So, I asked if they had smaller ones. Fortunately for us they had a "tiny" pancake which was still the size of a plate. My ten-year old daughter was able to finish just a little more than half. Then...later that afternoon I walked over to their pickup window where I got a burger and fries. It too was excellent. What can I say? There is a reason Jim-Denny's is rated as high as it is. The friendliness of the staff is non pretentious, the quality and taste of the food is as good as it gets, and the atmosphere inside is simply comfortable. I'll be back next year. Don't forget my name.
(5)Michelle L.
Bread too soft for pastrami, waitress's butt crack showing all thru lunch, forgot pickles, eating in a parking lot, tablecloth was sticky, fries not cooked through. Nice owner and food was "ok" but probably not coming back.
(2)Alex K.
What a gem! The lady at my hotel said this place was on man vs food, and I witnessed firsthand why. The person next to me got a giant pancake - literally as big as a hubcap (I think that's what it was called)! Anyway I opted for a combination omelette and it was fabulous. I'm so glad I found this place. I bet everything is very good here - a must go!
(4)Rcd M.
So heard about this place called jim-denny's that is really good.. why do i listen to people.. e-n how i give it a shoot. OMFG.. their "megaburger" was so freaken salty.. only took one bit and that was it.. and ther so calll fat fries was hardly cook at all and doesn't taste good. Why people why do you guys thinks it a good place to eat. what a waste. then i order the "The Works" omelets now that was ok.. that's all i got to say about that. e-n how i give my dog the megaburger at least he enjoy the saltiness. Oh yeah the works don't wear any cooking gloves or sandwhich gloves to perpare the food and they go into the backroom. Who's know what they do back there. i'm just saying. Oh yeah one last thing the most important thing is there is "No Bathroom" how are the customer suppose to wash their hands let alone the empolyee to wash their hands. I will not be going there every again... Till next time my food lover.. till next time.
(1)Paul O.
Awesome little diner the food and staff were great. Conversed with the some members of staff like I've been going there for years. Breakfast was affordable and very filling.
(5)Darren S.
I've only been to J-D's for breakfast and in a word, it was filling. I got the Works omelette and the Short Stack. If you haven't been, this order shouldn't seem imposing. In the Jim-Denny world a short stack is a single pancake that is larger than a dinner plate and is thicker than two slices of bread. The Works is truly a kitchen sink dish that has chunks, not diced pieces of the house meats and veggies. Over three days, I tried to finish the food that I took away from the diner, but couldn't finish it all. In addition to just being a ton of food, it was one of those meals that didn't taste good after the initial sitting. Besides the food, their coffee was excellent. While I've given them four stars, two of the stars are for the building, servers and crowd. The place has a ton of character and it was really fun to eat there. You can literally rub elbows with the diners next to you and I was able to fit in some conversation with the people around me. Parking's really easy, especially on the weekend as there's an auto shop next door. If you're staying in the Best Western on H Street, you MUST go.
(4)Carla C.
Great breakfast - we go before 10am and usually find a spot at the counter. My PJ's Junior breakfast was tasty and filling. One egg, 2 bacon, hash browns and plate-sized pancake. #1 daughter deemed her plate tasty too! Everyone pleasant - all around happy feeling (hey! close the door behind you, please!)
(4)ben b.
Preface: Been going here since I was born and My dad used to eat here after setting pins at the Alhambra Bowl. Lotta history with me and my family and My dad was a friend of the original owner, Jim. Stopped in today before the Jazz festival. Found room at the counter and sat there. For five minutes. No offer of menu, no water, no coffee, no nothing. Another person came in after me and got served and ordered right away while i was left there wondering where the menu was. Finnaly a woman came ot take my order. And it was like being stuck in every diner in America with an endlessloop of waitress salutations. Honey, sweetie etc adnaseum. Way to trying to hard. They shortened the menu (no Omlettes). I noticed chips with burgers, and the HASH BROWNS were the pattie kind that are frozen. Seeing that it got me off breakfast and i ordered a burger with jack cheese. Frozen patty. The waitstaff actually help up the cheese to the light to determine what kind of cheese it was. The burger was lousy. No flavor, It was 8 dollars, with no drink. WTF? for 8 bux the food had better be better than McDonald's. AND IT WASN"T! No FRIES? Frozen greasy hash browns? As more food came off the grill I noticed. The breakfast burrito? Teeny weeny thing and 8 bucks. The food looked terrible and all I could think of is that McDonald's has better breakfasts. And better burgers. And they suck I was really hoping that my experience was a one time thing but apparently it is the rule rather than the exception..
(1)Jeffrey K.
I saw this Jim Denny's on Man vs. Food a while back, yet I never had the opportunity to go on the various treks up to Nor Cal. After Skydiving one weekend in Acampo, I finally had the chance to stop by. My feelings are a little mixed about the place. First off I'll give a review of the food. I ordered exactly what I saw on Man vs. Food which was the Spoke (The Huge Pancake) and the omelette with everything in it. I will give the food a 4. The pancake was delicious and fluffy and the edges had a great crisp taste to them. I usually don't like pancakes, but I really enjoyed it, and it was impossible to finish. The omelette was good but nothing too special and I felt that there was too much cheese, which is odd considering I love cheese. Now I have to say that the service at this place is absolutely horrendous. First off, the place was not very busy, but a group of 4 had to wait over 45 minutes to get our food. Is there only one cook in the back while the others wait with their thumbs up their butts? When our food finally came, the server asked us if we wanted forks and knives. That would be nice..... Suffice it to say I did not tip very much, and I doubt I'll ever return to this place. For me, it was great to try once, but the service was inexcusable.
(3)Rob K.
Good food, but its bit of a pain to find a seat sometimes
(3)angela b.
Amazing, fluffy pancakes. Amazing, deflated prices. Diner feel, excellent service. Sitting outside, when the weather allows, makes this a 4 star joint for breakfast. Love.
(4)Anastacia C.
I was super excited to get to go to Jim-Denny's for breakfast. It isn't often that I have to avoid having a cocktail with breakfast, but when I must refrain from drinking at brunch, Jim-Denny's is the spot. Well, it was the spot. I am sad to say that the Jim-Denny's I once knew, is no more. I wish I had looked on Yelp before I went to see that it was under new ownership. Where do I begin? I ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of hash browns. The hash browns came to the table first. It took about 5 minutes for the server to return with silverware and napkin. When I asked if I could have new hash browns when my biscuits and gravy were ready, she didn't know the answer (she was about 16 by my estimation) and went to ask. A new server came out and she said she would have them reheated on the grill right before my food was ready. Fine. At this point my friend's breakfast burrito came out. It was ginormous. But she had to pick through about a pound and a half of potatoes to find any cheese or avocado. "I think I should have ordered this without potatoes," she said. My biscuits and gravy finally arrive with my reheated hash browns. The gravy was lukewarm, no flavor to speak of (though there were 4 slices of sausage on the plate amounting to about an ounce of sausage), and it was too sweet. Sweet gravy? Really? The whole meal was gross. I decided that it tasted too terrible to eat. When we went up to the window to pay, the guy had to ask us what we had. And, he finally asked the magic question,"Was it good?" He looked so sure that I would say yes. I just had to shake my head and say,"No. It was horrible." "You really didn't like it," he asked? "I left the whole meal on the table if you need to see it." "But my mom made it." Dude, I'm super sorry that you grew up with that sort of cooking. I'm even more sorry that you think it tastes good. At least they didn't charge me for my meal. I'll give them one star for that.
(1)Jason H.
First, I have to confess that I've only ever come to Jim-Denny's for breakfast. Their breakfast burrito is huge and adding the sour cream and avocado inside just make it incredible. The salsa's got a bite (albeit mild) and everything inside is just soft and warm and breakfasty with the scrambled eggs and potatoes. Also, often times breakfast burritos tend to get greasy, and at a diner you expect it as well. Not so much here. Then there's the pancake breakfast. Those legendary pancakes. Bigger than your head is probably an understatement. These things are huge and they're thick... a good 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick apiece. Oh so soft on the inside and they're crisp on the outside. If I could criticize anything about them is they don't provide enough butter to finish off a full stack (not as though I could finish both. I barely got through one, and that was with help) Also have to give kudos to the staff here. Always friendly, always a great attitude, they make what could easily become an exercise in frustration with how crowded the place is and the time it takes to get your order. Love it! What else can be said about Jim-Denny's other than it's making some of the greatest breakfasts downtown at very reasonable prices and with operating hours that rival the late Real Pie Company in inconvenient craziness. Is it worth it to work your schedule around that Wed-Sat 7-3 just to find out it's packed and you stand around waiting for a spot at the counter or outside? Absolutely!
(5)Bruce M.
Ok- it was a long morning in the Capitol- I had a craving for bacon n eggs- and my consultant Beau said we have to go here!! Now this is eating!! Portions were great- eggs perfect- hash browns good- biscuits n gravy- OK- but the over all experience was grrrrreat!!! It's all in the attitude of Krystal, Rocky, Jessica and Danielle. They made ya laugh- made ya feel good to be in their shop and cooked up some good food. Gonna try the burger next time!!! Yeh- it's a go back kinda place- !
(5)Leilani R.
I ordered the Patty melt with a single patty, and I'm glad I did so. It was sooo good, and I was only able to eat half. Their shakes/malts were very good as well, although I don't think they use flavored ice cream but syrup instead which is a bit of a disappointment. Their sweet potato fries are also very good, but their regular steak fries are a tad bit better so I may have to order those next time.
(4)Michael W.
I've worked near this dive for 3 years and just tried it. I've been meaning to, but it's always packed. However, today was the day. I had the ortega chili cheese burger, which was small and ended with a pool of grease. Don't get me wrong, the four bites it took to polish that burger off were good ones, but I don't think I'd pay $9 again for that and some steak frys - which were good. They came with low-grade ketchup that I almost wanna call catsup, but I have a hard time trusting the quality of a place who can't be bothered to get Heinz. The biggest plus was the ice in the soda, old-fashion shaved... makes a Pepsi slush almost. That drink was the highlight of Jim Denny's for me.
(3)Chuck N.
Charming lil' diner. Patsy works the kitchen magic. Tina handles the customers with gusto. The other staff members help them crank out the goods. Quickie: Yes, it's a shack and cramped. And yes, no restroom. Don't be so quick to judge foo! For the amount of food you get per buck, it's worth it. I mean, the grub fills ME up so you know it's legit (because I eat like a mofo, remember?). A lil' overboard on the oil in the food but that can be mitigated with a little hollar. Plus, the people that work there are nice n' cool. If you live in the area, you've got to at least check this place out. If you become a regular, I'll see you there! --------------------------------------------------Â------------------------------------------------- I heart: 1. Lots of grub for the $, lots of it and and most of it is packed with flavor, POW! 2. Nice people, great service - they're locals and attract a lotttta regulars. Constructive Criticism: 1. The lack of a restroom is killer! 2. Depending on the crowd, lag time of food can put a damp on the grubbin' mood. 3. Lighten up on the oil when cooking. Munchies: *Soup-of-the-day -Chile verde fresh ingredients packed with a chilllle bite need to thin out the pork chunks though *Pastrami sandwiches -I've had both, can you tell I like pastrami? Rueben is an acquired taste so I'd go with Sean's *Short stack pancake -Dude, it's bigger than my head and I've got a big head! *TJ's CA Dreamin' Sandwich -Turkey and avocado mixed just right *Monica's Fiesta Chicken Sandwich -Now that's good chicken breast! *Fries -Nice crisp - always takes good coming straight off the greaser. *Cole slaw -Not standard, it's got some zing to it (which is good).
(4)Nick G.
FAIL!!! Fool me once - shame on you, fool me twice - shame on me, but I was fooled into coming to this place three times in hopes that "maybe this time the food will be better." Well it wasn't. Actually it seemed to get worse every time. I went twice for breakfast, getting the "works" omelet and a pancake each time, and once for lunch, getting the "50's burger", and I didn't leave once thinking anything positive of the experiences. And also, it seems that under the new ownership, things have gotten even worse. The one time I went under the old ownership, I saw potential which then led me there three more times. Unfortunately, this place is now a dump. The prices have gone up, and the quality has gone WAAAAYYY down. For example, the "small" pancake you could order before, that was actually huuuuuuuge, is now not an option, replaced with one that is more than twice the price, for less than half the pancake. The new omelets are disgusting, the burgers are quite possibly the worst I've ever had (made from frozen patties that are put on the grill frozen and right in front of me without shame... definitely without pride). Just awful. This place is living on the reputation of the old ownership, which is long gone. I will not be back a fourth time... very sad... very disappointing.
(1)Keith R.
Not have again: I like this tiny dive, but their super burger and fries were devoid of flavor and not at all interesting. The Dr. Pepper freeze was good but, again, not all that interesting. Nevertheless, this was decent fare and I'd come back for another visit and try the Hub pancake. Two stars for the food, but an additional one because the staff was very friendly and it was a fun place to go.
(3)Tom W.
Made a mistake ... Read the old reviews and missed the new ones. Apparently, there is new management :-(( When we first drove up and saw that the Place is really a "hole in the wall" our thinking was that this was good sign. Typically these kind of places have to great to survive. Without going into too much detail ... Service was atrocious, no bathrooms and the food was poor and late. So late, that 40 minutes after 6 of our 8 meals arrived, two hadn't yet turned. Eventually, we cancelled the final two. I suppose it was positive that it was easy to get a refund and an apology for the missing food. This is a place to avoid.
(1)Brandon L.
I like places that ooze history and character, and this place is it! Old fashioned diner crammed into a little area the size of a closet. It feels like you're on a trains dining car. The help is all sassy young ladies who work in a kitchen that has been directed so similarly for so long that it operates like a Swiss watch. The breakfast is all very straightforward. Eggs served in every way and pancakes....big friggin' pancakes. It is all pretty good and sticks mightily to your ribs. They've got a giant pancake called the wagon wheel with spokes (bacon) and if you can finish it you get some prize like a T-shirt. Someday I just might try that. I liked everything about this place and plan to make it a regular stop for breakfast. I've heard the milkshakes are great....can't wait to try 'em when I stop in for lunch someday. Great service. Wholesome and Hearty meals. Classy and old fashioned. Right on....
(5)Heather M.
My hubby brought me here. I was speechless upon seeing this place and even more so seeing the size of the building and lack of seating. I like divey-type places and this was def that - a dive. I was open-minded though. Seating was too cramped very uncomfortable. I ordered eggs, bacon, potatoes, etc. It was pretty good. Very greasy though, toooo greasy which is a turn-off for me. I'm glad I tried it here though. A very interesting place - always willing to try whatever. I may give it a whirl again - not opposed, but probably not a place to take my baby with a stroller and all that. A good place for 2 getting a quick bite. Not family- oriented due to lack of comfortable space for a family.
(2)Thor S.
This was an okay breakfast diner. The owner was trying to be what she thought was helpful, but ended up just being annoying. She should stay out of the restaurant and let her employees take care of business. The food was decent quality but nothing made me want to go there again, ever. If you equate large portions with good food you might like this place more than I did.
(2)Pritika C.
This place is legit! After a long night of bowling and drinking with friends at Capitol Bowl, the dive bar of bowling alleys, there is nothing better to soak up the alcohol like the goodness that is Jim-Denny's. Good bye loaf of bread and hello HUBCAPs, crispy hash browns, sourdoughs, french toasts, you name it! I have always read great things about Jim-Denny's on Yelp, but my friends and I decided to come here after one of my friend's had seen this restaurant on Man. v. Food on the Food Network. The Location: Those that know me, know I'm a very uncomfortable person. I cannot picture myself coming here by myself, EVER! The restaurant...err, diner, is conveniently situated next to a light rail stop and is sprinkled with vagabonds at every corner. On one side, you have the views of beautiful high rise buildings on the other side, homelessness. It sounds weird to say, but it adds to the charm that is Jim-Denny's. The diner is rather small and looks a little dilapidated...but that's what I expect from an establishment that has been serving the community since 1934. The inside of the diner is elbow to elbow sitting room...I believe it may only sit about 10-15, uncomfortably. Today, my party and I chose to sit outside (because well...there wasn't any room inside for the 5 of us). The Food: Mmm, so good! I had ordered the three eggs (I subbed it with egg whites) with lots of cheese and w/salsa on the side, an English muffin, and crispy golden hash browns. The food was fantastic. I loved the hash browns...crispy, just the way I like it. The salsa w/my cheesy egg whites was great. The English muffin was great, as well. I was not disappointed with my dish. I had also tried the pancake and potatoes from my best friend's dish and I was in heaven. The pancake was as fluffy as a cloud and the potatoes were packed with flavor! All of my friends enjoyed their dish and one of our more ambitious friends had ordered the "HUBCAP" w/the spokes (6 strips of bacon w/one egg). The "HUBCAP" is what they are known for...it's ONE massive pancake that is bigger than your head. The waitress who took our order said the last person to order it, finished it within an hour and a half...our friend finished it within 20 minutes. I think it goes without saying, but I don't think he will be eating for the remainder of the day. We all had a great experience for our first time there. Every aspect of Jim Denny's diner was charming and I could not have envisioned this place to be any different. I look forward to going back...especially, enjoying breakfast outside under the sun in the summer.
(3)Leigh B.
Food was over-priced and gross. They should really institute a uniform because the cooks belly shirt was not appetizing. The burger took an hour but was some how under cooked. I do not recommend.
(1)Delilah B.
1 star for Jim Denny, who is very nice and personable. 1 star for the cool looking retro shack and feel. 1 star for outdoor seating. Let's put it this way, by the time we got our breakfast, it was already time for lunch. Was it worth the wait? Nah food was aaaight. We got the Katie Special and the 50's burger to share. Eggs were perfectly cooked, over easy, the hash was nice and crispy but the bacon was barely bacon! The burger meat had great flavor and was nice and juicy. Overall though I think the experience made me forget the food.
(3)Felicia J.
Saw this place on Man v. Food and since we were coming to the area, DH and I decided to give it a try. We walk in and we're shocked by how small the place is AND they don't have a restroom...hmmm ok. Then we're told it's going to be an hour and a half wait...wow, that's a long time. Well we order and go shopping. They call us when our food is almost ready...nice touch. We head back and of course, the place is still crowded and cramped! We take our plates outside, so we can have some elbow room and the tables aren't clean...sigh!!! I pull out the hand sanitizer and decide to give it a try. We both got #4, with a pancake as big as the plate (and this was SMALL). Well it was greasy and filling, and we decided then that we wouldn't be back. Off we go and within minutes, I'm feeling queasy...crap!!! We had to rush back to our hotel and I got sick, I HATE GETTING SICK.
(1)Allison C.
Jim Denny's Breakfast Survival Guide: 1. If going on a weekend morning, either get there before opening or bring granola bars to hold you over for the wait. 2. If you're in a group of 3+, bundle up in case you have to sit outside during the cold winter mornings. Gloves will be your best friend. 3. Among three people, you could split the omelet with the works and the "mini" pancake and still have leftovers. Yes, my dining mates do eat a lot so it's more than enough for three people. 3a. They charge for splitting. But for that cheap of a breakfast for three people, can you blame them?! 4. Don't mind bumping elbows with your neighbor at the bar; it all adds to the experience! 5. Say YES to the salsa they offer you for the omelet. 6. Chat with the workers behind the bar. They're nice people! 7. While it may not look like it, there is parking in the tiny lot the building is located. Try to park here before thinking of paying for street parking. 8. Eat your damn heart out.
(4)Louise L.
My boyfriend and I first heard about Jim Denny's on Man vs. Food and wanted to give it a try. So on a lazy Sunday morning, we decided to pay this joint a visit...plus, my boyfriend had a huge hankering for pancakes. This place is literally a hole in the wall. There's probably a 10 person counter seating area on one side of the restaurant and a pony wall that seats another 5-6 people on the other side. There are a few more tables outside but it's not as fun haha. There's an old time feel sitting inside. A great historical experience. The counters and cabinets definitely need some updating but I think that's what makes the restaurant. :) If I wasn't so cautious about my waist line and wasn't such a chicken about it, I would have totally ordered their hubcab pancakes...that's what they're famous for. It's a whopping 13" in diameter! That's ginormous! Sooooo instead, I ordered the AJ's small breakfast (came with one egg, 2 sausages/bacon, hash browns/homestyle potatoes, and a side of their mini pancakes - which aren't mini at all!!! It's at least 6"-8" in diameter!). The pancakes were exceptionally good and the rest were tasty. The boyfriend ordered the works (3-4 egg omelet with spinach, bell peppers, bacon, sausages, and a bunch of other stuff and their homestyle potatoes) ....with a side of their small stack! I didn't have any but I'm sure he liked it cause he finished the whole dang thing! If you come to expect "fast food"....it's totally not for you. I believe we waited at least an hour before our food came. But you don't really notice cause everyone is so nice and the pancakes itself makes it all worth it. Next time.....I'll tackle the hubcap!!!!!......ok....maybe not. :p
(4)