Javier’s Bistro
2007 Miami St, South Bend, IN, 46613
Javier’s Bistro Menu
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Address :
2007 Miami St
South Bend, IN, 46613 - Phone (574) 222-2917
- Website https://www.javiersbistro.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Eric B.
Best breakfast in town!! My girlfriend and I had to go to a different local restaurant for breakfast on a Monday (that's when Javier's is closed) and it just didn't compare. The scrambled eggs have great flavor and the banger sausage is awesome! And those bistro chips! Better than any hash browns I've ever had. The biscuits and gravy are also a favorite of mine. We went for dinner once and it was just as amazing. I had the voodoo chicken and my girlfriend had the sancocho stew. Javier actually came out and talked to us and asked us how everything was. I thought that was a nice touch. I absolutely recommend this place. The atmosphere is great, the staff is friendly, and most importantly the food is excellent. It's American and Puerto Rican so there is something for everyone. If you're in the mood for the usual or want to try something new they have it. I also like the fact that this is a local place, not a chain. So, support your local restaurant scene and go here! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Jason H.
I revisited Javier's a twice this year, most recently for Fathers Day Brunch. The brunch Buffet was very well prepared, and in small amounts...which is nice. Theres nothing worse than a buffet of mediocre food that sits for hours because too much was prepared for the volume of service. I had the roast beef, the ribs, haricot verts w julienne pepper, oven roasted potatoes, biscuits and gravy, and fresh fruit. Everything was delicious, except the biscuits were average. The beef was top round, which is a difficult cut to work with, yet it was tender and juicy, had a great beef flavor and had a traditional seasoning of rosemary,thyme and cracked pepper. The ribs very good, tender enough to split with a fork, and although they weren't smoked had a nice flavor. The haricot verts had an interesting seasoning mix applied, and were neither mushy nor raw. The oven roasted potatoes..again seasoned very well...not too salty or strong and not boring either...starchy, semi crispy and not greasy at all. The gravy for the biscuits was house made, and not from a bag. It was tasty and well executed...not bland. The biscuits could have been better...but I am a biscuit snob and they can be difficult to pull off for buffet service. Javier dropped off some fried plantain at our table as an amuse bouche, it was garlicky and delicious...and a nice touch on Fathers day. Javiers still needs to work on service. Drinks are slow to get there and refills on coffee infrequent. I saw a 6 top come in, sit down and leave because no one showed up to take a drink order for 10 minutes. We had to hunt someone down just to pay our bill. Javier definitely has the food end of the business correct, he serves lovingly prepared food that is some of the best in South Bend, however Im reserving a star for slow, inefficient service.
(4)Tracey S.
Javier's is more unassuming than it appears in their website. When we were there it was understaffed. The service is rather unsophisticated - ie opening a bottle of wine before bringing it to the table. With all that said, though, we all thought our meals were quite good! A great deal for your money.
(4)Danielle G.
Loved it so much last week, had to come back and try it again! Great veggie skillet and added ham to it. Perfect blend of flavors. Excellent coffee and service was spot on. Looking forward to stopping in for lunch or dinner. They have the breakfast food covered!
(5)Dana G.
Came here with my dad over the Thanksgiving holiday. Anyone from the south side of South Bend knows options on this end of town can be a little limited, especially if you want fresh and at least sort-of healthy ingredients. We came here for breakfast and were not disappointed. I had the veggie omelet (with egg whites) and potato (they were kind of like thick potato chips). Lots of veggies in my omelet, the guacamole was good, coffee was re-filled rapidly. Fast, friendly service. Not very busy on a Tuesday AM so they were very attentive to us. Has a little bit of an upscale greasy spoon Mom and Pop feel, the decor has been updated since the last restaurant but still has a real nice throwback vibe. Good option for a breakfast on the south side of the Bend. I hope this place stays around and continues to thrive! Will be back for sure!
(4)Amy H.
I've been to Javier's Bistro twice now - once for lunch and once for breakfast and it's a solid four stars! My first visit was for lunch and I would rate the service five stars for that experience. We were warmly greeted upon entering, seated right away and asked what brought us here (that would be my foodie love for new, local restaurants). The lunch menu includes several salad and sandwich options. I ordered the reuben with their housemade corned beef. It was very good although the bread could have been toasted more since it was a little soggy. The sandwiches are served with your choice of side and I opted for their fried chips - a cross between potato chips and home fries, which were pretty good, but a little greasy. My friend ordered the smoked turkey reuben, which came topped with their housemade slaw - very good! We both ordered a cup of the Puerto Rican ham and bean soup they posted on their Facebook page and it did not disappoint. They recently added smoothies and gave us a sample of their caramel latte - yum! Had we not been so full from lunch we would have ordered one to go. My second visit was for Sunday breakfast with my husband. I couldn't resist the breakfast burrito with flank steak (hold the tomatoes). It was light on the flank steak, but the steak was very tender and flavorful. The burrito included rice, eggs, lettuce and cheese. It needed something else - avocado would have been a great addition, maybe a little more spice or a side of homemade salsa. Overall, very good. My husband ordered the sunshine breakfast with two eggs, bacon, sausage and fried chips. It was your standard breakfast and good. He's a huge corned beef hash fan and couldn't resist trying a side of it. The portion was very small - just a scoop in a dish for $3. He thought it was pretty good, but was missing the texture as everything was so finely mixed and smashed together (he's still in love with the Pile of Hash from Jeannie's House). The atmosphere is cozy, servers are dressed nicely and everyone is very friendly. The prices are very reasonable and the dinner menu looks great as well. We will definitely be back to try a few others items, particularly the ones with a little Puerto Rican flare.
(4)Emily B.
Veggie nuggets (kind of like chilequilles with potatoes!) were awesome and service was great!
(5)Gina C.
While visiting my mom we decided to try this little place. We were pleasantly surprised the service was fantastic the food was delicious and the price was very reasonable. We will definitely be going back there to get the porter Rican style tacos!
(4)Rachel S.
Tonight we tried the fried pickles and an original dish not usually on the menu. The fried plantains were great, I would like to see these more often, the beef beans and rice were again very good. My husband had a side salad with his steak, they serve a fried egg with it. apple crisp to go for dessert, this was good and would have probably been better had we stayed and had it warm. As for the negative review, that person has to be an ex employee or something. This food you can't buy from a can! I consider myself a foodie, that vacations around the country looking for regional food and this place is really unique to this area.
(4)Brian Z.
UDATE IN RESPONSE TO JAVIER'S REPLY: You are so full of it. First of all my brother in law is a devote Christian and I never heard him use vulgarity especially speaking to your staff. He questioned why anyone would put a hot burger on top of cold cottage cheese and asked it to be remade with it on the side and the burger at the proper temp. When the waitress brought it back still on top of the cottage cheese he asked for it on the side. She brought you the plate we saw you throw it and throw you're hands up. You know we have worked together and you have a temper in the kitchen when anyone complaints come back. He said he wanted to speak with you because it wasn't right the way you handled it. Your waitress was the only one who used vulgarity when I was calmly explaining that I know you and your temper. And she said she didn't "give a sh*t" that is when I first got upset because of the way she spoke to me, the customer. I wish you the best of luck in your business but you lost me and any future customers I would have taken there. Original review... I have waited to post this review because I was angry when this incident occurred and really didn't want to post anything out of anger or hurt his business. Enough time has passed and I can write this now without emotions driving it. I known Javier and been in his place a few times. Food is ok. Above average ingredients but just not that wonderful but was ok. I still wanted to get the word out about his new place I took my brother in law and one of his employees to lunch. My brother in law ordered a burger cooked med well done with no bun and side of cottage cheese. The hot bloody patty was served on top of a mound of cottage cheese, bleeding red juice in the now warm to hot cottage cheese. It was rare and he asked for it to be cooked more and to bring the cottage cheese on the side cold and minus the blood. I will say who puts a hot burger directly on top of cottage cheese? It did look gross with the blood running into the white cottage cheese. The server brought it back less than 2 minutes later and again on top of the same hot bloody cottage cheese. My brother in law sent it back again. As the waitress handed Javier the plate he saw him throw it as Javier was angry that it was sent back. The waitress, sporting "Latin Kings" Street Gang tattoo on her hand, refused my brother in law's request to speak to Javier saying "ain't happening dude" . He was explaining that no one wants to eat hot bloody cottage cheese while taking to her she said "Dude, don't waste your breath I don't really give a sh*t!." I was so offended now how she spoke and I told her I didn't have a problem but now I do! She said "there's the door! We aren't hurting for business." I wanted to speak to Javier and when I saw Javier walk to the front I asked him to speak to me. He said "don't talk to me" and walked off. Having known Javier for a long time I know is a stubborn hot head in the kitchen and easily gets offended if anyone sends back, complains or criticises his food. If you get a rare burger after ordering it well he will argue to the end that the red inside the patty is well done. Have heard him tell servers when they bring food back to the kitchen because something wasn't right, to tell the customer "not to order next time because that's how I make it!" outside the kitchen he can be a good guy. I just can't see stepping back in there because of his disrespectful server and his poor attitude. It's a shame because I live up the street and would have loved to find a great place in the neighborhood. I wish him well and hope he has learned since the incident and hope that waitress is not working there anymore. I'm giving two stars only because my food was ok but honestly based on the food and service to my guest was so grossly horrible I should have gave only one.
(1)Jessica C.
Three stars might seem a little harsh in an era of Yelp rating inflation, but I think that Yelp's own explanation of the rating - "A-OK" - is perfect for Javier's. This is a locally-owned, family-run establishment with reasonable prices, decent service, and quality food that is worth supporting. However, it still has a way to go before it becomes a favorite of mine. I have been to Javier's twice. Dinner, not long after they opened, was a disaster. Breakfast, just this past week, was much, much better, but far from five-stars. I'll begin with breakfast. After a long deliberation, I decided to order a skillet. I was excited about the fried potatoes that were coming with everything, and really looking forward to diving into my own plate of them. I could tell with the first bite that the dish had the potential to be wonderful, but it because clear - in part because of a very hot plate, but also the consistency of the food itself - that my breakfast must have sat under a heat lamp for a long time before it made it to me. I was also disappointed that it didn't come with toast. It ended up a bit greasy, and I would have appreciated something to help soak that up. My husband and son liked their food better. Like Amy H.'s husband, my own orders corned beef everywhere we have breakfast (and Jeannie's is also his favorite), so he tried it at Javier's as well. Because there isn't a corned beef meal, he ordered the two-egg breakfast with a side of corned beef. He described it as good and tasty, but apples and oranges compared to Jeannie's. The hit on his plate was the a bacon. Our teenage son, who was the diner from our party who was happiest with his meal - agreed. He also raved about the bacon and thought that the pancakes were some of the best he's had in town. The service was probably the biggest disappointment. It was incredibly spotty. When we first arrived, it was as though there couldn't be enough servers helping us - wiping down tables, asking about drinks, offering to refill coffee that had just been poured. Everyone was incredibly friendly. But then, it just dropped off. I watched our server leave to take a break while we waited for our food. Another server left in the midst of what seemed like an incredibly busy time. Coffee cups and water glasses went unfilled. Then we experienced a furry of service, only to have it die down again. One of our meals got lost in the kitchen, no one seemed to notice. It took an eternity to pay - but then all of a sudden, everyone wanted to fill our coffees. Despite a number of people working, they just didn't seem to have it together. I've said enough about our most recent experience, so I'll just briefly say that we won't be back for dinner until Javier decides to put more Caribbean flair in his menu. We chalked up issues with service to the restaurant being new, but we were shocked that a Puerto Rican restaurant had so few authentic dishes and the ones that claimed to be authentic - like sancocho - were incredibly disappointing for customers who are at all familiar with Caribbean food. I know that Javier has concerns about the demographics of South Bend and I heard that he has been trying specials that are more authentic, but I firmly believe that with service kinks worked out, he could easily support a restaurant that serves more of a niche in the city. If such a place existed, we would be regular customers. We'll give Javier's another chance, but they could really benefit from some increased attention to the front of the house and moving to make their menu distinctive from other restaurants in town.
(3)Nammyung L.
I had the fried pickles and the Puerto Rican beef stew - both were good. The service was friendly and attentive. I wish the menu had more items, like the stew or the fish dish that I mean to try next time, that are unique to the restaurant. Most of the menu items seemed like fare that didn't necessarily reflect a Puerto Rico / Caribbean origin. Well, no matter; the food was good, prices reasonable, and I had a good time. I'll try the fish next time.
(4)Steve L.
If you are looking for great food cooked to order that won't break the bank, this is the place! We frequent the Javier's and have never been disappointed; neither has anyone we have taken with us. Don't let reviews about service being slow bother you, everything is cooked to order from scratch! If you are hung up on "fast" food, go to McDonalds. Javier takes pride in every dish and the taste difference is clear. When time permits, Javier will come out and check to be sure your meal met your expectations. So slow down and enjoy an amazing meal at Javier's.
(5)Tina S.
We visited Javier's for Mother's Day Brunch. It was wonderful. The atmosphere was incredible.
(5)Jan R.
Really enjoyed our dinner at this new Southside restuarant. Everything tasted so fresh. The chef came by to see how everything tasted. The lemon butter sauce on my fish was amazing and I got Texas cake to go.
(5)Benjamin R.
Came back a third time for lunch. I had the El Latino burger--a juicy medium-rare patty, pico, house-made guacamole, cheddar and provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and house-made mayo on a hefty pretzel bun. Delicious! The gf once again had the Reuben, which was just as good as last time. The bill came to about $17, which is less than Chipotle or Panera for two. However, the service was back to its old sluggish pace even with two waitstaff. It took ten minutes to even get water or menus. Once again, we were really impressed with the food, but don't go unless you have plenty of time to wait!
(4)Sammi M.
Delicious menu options offering unique flavors! Excellent wine options, loved the Cabernet! The service was impressive as Gerard paid close attention to our table and Javier went above and beyond! Javier was genuine and took the time to get to know his customers! Javier is knowledgeable of his restaurant, also taking the time to thoroughly explain his menu options beyond our satisfaction! We arrived hopeful and left ready to return again soon! Excellent menu dishes, such as chicken marsala and truly attentive service and from the owner himself! Thank you for such a wonderful dining experience Javier and Gerard! The atmosphere in your restaurant is welcoming, elegant and creative! Thanks, again!
(5)Wink B.
This is exactly what we've needed in South Bend. Delicious, expertly prepared food available for low prices. No idea where the negative review comes from... Mister C obviously didn't eat at the same place... you may notice he doesn't even review any specific menu items. Breakfast is fantastic here, and it's obvious that word of mouth has spread... because the place is rather packed at 10 am on weekends. Some of the best sausage gravy you'll ever have at a restaurant around here (none of that powdered horseshit). Lunch is ridiculously good too. The latin-style steak sandwich was delicious, but my deep fried Monte Christo was just as awesome. Excellent coleslaw. I care very little about decor and service, but this place was very clean, comfortable, and the waitstaff was exceptionally polite. I cannot wait to have an excuse to hit this place up again.
(5)Robert E.
Tonights dinner was awesome. Latino Fondue and the soup of the day, Tomato Basil, for appetizers. Main course of Chicken Calvados for my wife and Caribbean Pork Loin for myself. Dessert was a delicious Bread Pudding and Apple Crisp. Javier is a flavor genius. You have got to try Javiers Bistro.
(5)Dana B.
This was our first trip today. We had been talking about it for a while after seeing some fairly good reviews and some pictures that looked amazing. We went on a lunch hour. That may have been our first mistake. Got there at 11:45 and ordered pretty quickly. Took 45 minutes for our food to come. The Tuna Nicoise salad was just plain awful. Tuna wasn't even recognizable. Was cold and hard. You could tell it wasn't freshly prepared. The person that ordered this said the worst meal she has had at an Azars was better than this salad. Wow. Another one in our group ordered the El Latino burger. It was described on the menu as coming with pico, salsa, guacamole, cheddar and provolone cheese. She ordered it medium well. It came very rare and no pico, salsa, guacamole or provolone. Cheddar and lettuce. Why order a specialty burger if it doesn't come as advertised. We did voice our concerns to the waitress who said she appreciated the feedback. However, nothing was done to try to "make it right". I would like to say I'll give it another try, but I rather doubt it.
(1)Renee S.
Want hot sauce or ketchup? Yes. Get the bill, got charged x3 for hot sauce. While only .50, should've been told upfront. Tiny lil cup, a lil thicker than just hot sauce so it doesn't go far. Surprise! It was good, just should've been told upfront. The bistro chips were like potato coins and just ok. All food good. Got to see a lil Gordon Ramsay in Javier, very good to see how involved he is and willing to go step in to step it up and make corrections when things were going a bit off his acceptable path. We'll come back for lunch or dinner. There's not really a brunch as another yelper posted.
(4)Tim B.
This review is for breakfast. I have not had lunch or dinner here yet but definitely will. Maybe today!!! I had the veggie nugget ( skillet) and it was the best breakfast dish I've had in South Bend/Granger/Mishawaka. Very fresh! Make it a point to come here!
(5)Jack F.
The beer was warm, the service was incredibly slow. The amount of ketchup that you are given for a burger and fries is in the tiniest cup I've ever seen, and is only 1/4 filled. We also got the chips and queso like appetizer which was just really really bad. The burger was alright, but not worth everything else.
(2)Suzanna K.
I really loved this place. Will be back. Quick, tasty food. The homemade chips are fantastic.
(5)M. G.
Have tried Javier's twice, for breakfast and dinner. Both times the service was slow to the point that I considered walking out once. The food is tasty but I want my dining experience to be pleasant for other reasons as well. I'm hopeful that they will figure things out. Service is a problem across this entire town. It's why I typically don't spend money eating out in Michiana..
(3)Eric K.
A great surprise on the south side of South Bend, priced below where it should be for the quality and presentation of the food. The tuna salad is an actual tuna steak, cooked how you like (rare is best), with a runny egg on top of blanched green beans, mixed greens and capers. It's the best tuna salad I've ever had! The chef stopped by our table at lunch, that doesn't happen many places. He's very friendly, genuinely open to suggestions and feedback and constantly working to make the place better. They just added beer and wine and are open late on the weekends now. Highly recommended!
(5)Marc R.
The food here is amazing. I have been here for breakfast many times and while they offer the standards they also do many things with the kind of style you'd expect from a gourmet place. Friendly staff seal the deal. I have not been here for dinner. Also the "chips" are enough like typical potatoes that you won't need to find another starch source. I am a fan of the breakfast burritos. While the coffee service is odd - they bring out the vacuum decanter - if you tell them you are an addict they will bring it out every 2-3 minutes. Solid 3 star, but in the food desert of South Bend they deserve a 4 star review.
(4)Molly R.
Our favorite restaurant in south bend !!!! Chef is awesome ! Every meal has been delicious. Just discovered they have an outdoor patio. Looking forward to summer night dinner dates
(5)Patience P.
We were in South Bend for an ND game and decided to go to this place because of the other reviews. I love that it is a place off the beaten path. The art is really cool and makes the atmosphere pop. The servers are really friendly and most of our food was very good. The skillets are excellent. The stuffed French toast was not so great. Instead of making the French toast where they flip it and grill both sides it seems they made it like a grilled cheese. They put the jam between the pieces of bread then just flipped it. It made for a soggy inside. Other than the french toast our experience was really good. We will definitely go back while in South Bend.
(4)Kate V.
Everything about this place is amazing. The food, the service, the patio, the drinks. I am traveling from Seattle and needed a place to stop before performing in South Bend and this was the BEST! Go here.
(5)Adrian M.
Great Puerto Rican taste, a restored old restaurant wit style. Maybe they should work on organization. Worth your money.
(4)C L.
I don't write a lot of Yelp reviews but Javier's deserves the support and clientele. I was passing thru South Bend on my cross country motorcycle trip and someone local highly recommended Javier's. So I rode their for breakfast on my way out of town and I'm sorry I wasn't staying longer so I can go back for lunch and dinner! I had the oatmeal and it was great! But the bistro chips are where's it's at! Make sure to try them! Javier and the staff were all extremely nice and friendly. If I lived in South Bend, this would surely be a regular place. I hope I get to eat a full order of his bistro chips again!
(5)Ed A.
We were looking for a place to have lunch and we saw this place in south bend. upon arrival we were greeted with friendly smiles and great service. The food prepared by the staff and Chef Javier was awesome. Dishes from Puerto Rico were great! Over all it was a great experience, with a staff willing to please! Highly recommended !
(5)Brit B.
I was excited to try out this new place! The Yelp reviews looked decent and I was looking for a new flavor. The fondue and chips were delicious. I would highly recommend that. I had the angel hair pasta with vegetables and shrimp as an entrée. Pasta was cooked well, but my veggies were overcooked and there were three shrimp total. Taste wasn't bad, but it wasn't worth getting excited over. Our server, Gerard, was great! He was attentive, friendly, and joked with us. My friends really enjoyed him. Other staff also came over to check on us as well. I would go back to try their breakfast menu, as many people have raved about that, but would choose somewhere else for dinner.
(3)Kevin L.
The food was great! Definitely coming back to try other menu items. Had the ceviche salad which was really good. Javier and family are interested in making sure clientele enjoy their food and experience with them.
(5)Michael S.
The food was fantastic - the andouille sausage burrito, eggs, and bistro chips were all delicious. Everything was priced very, very well, too - 8 for a breakfast burrito and 5 for bacon, eggs, and toast. The coffee was delicious. The service staff does need a bit more training, I think, and we were not attended to very often even though the restaurant wasn't too busy. We never received the sauces we requested, I had to go hunt down salt and pepper at a service station myself, and our waitresses simply weren't all that friendly. I very much appreciated Javier coming out from the kitchen to wish me a happy Father's Day, though, and I hope the restaurant clears up some of the service issues so that it succeeds in our neighborhood.
(4)Matthew M.
What an awesome addition to the dining scene on the south side of South Bend! Javier's has a great menu, specializing in Puerto Rican fusion cuisine. A casual setting, really good food and attentive service. It was such a treat to come to find this gem on my latest visit to South Bend! Their straight forward menu has something for everyone, without getting lost in an overabundance of options. I highly recommend the "Nugget" breakfast skillets.
(4)Martin P.
Very good food there. Excellent service, even though they were swamped with large parties, we were still thoroughly taken care of. We will be going back for lunch meetings again.
(4)Matt S.
Not bad. They are becoming quite popular for weekend brunch. Unfortunately, the last few times I was there, the service was rather inattentive and the food was slow (35-40 minutes). The food on the other hand was above average. I suppose it is worth the wait.
(3)Brian L.
This place is awesome. The food is delicious. The chef takes his time preparing each entrée. He even takes the time to visit with patrons. The dessert is to die for. TX cake. This place is a diamond in the rough for South Bend, IN!
(5)Bruce C.
Really nice lunch at an attractive cost. I am looking forward to dinner. Good staff and a menu that's varied and creative.
(4)Eric B.
Best breakfast in town!! My girlfriend and I had to go to a different local restaurant for breakfast on a Monday (that's when Javier's is closed) and it just didn't compare. The scrambled eggs have great flavor and the banger sausage is awesome! And those bistro chips! Better than any hash browns I've ever had. The biscuits and gravy are also a favorite of mine. We went for dinner once and it was just as amazing. I had the voodoo chicken and my girlfriend had the sancocho stew. Javier actually came out and talked to us and asked us how everything was. I thought that was a nice touch. I absolutely recommend this place. The atmosphere is great, the staff is friendly, and most importantly the food is excellent. It's American and Puerto Rican so there is something for everyone. If you're in the mood for the usual or want to try something new they have it. I also like the fact that this is a local place, not a chain. So, support your local restaurant scene and go here! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Tracey S.
Javier's is more unassuming than it appears in their website. When we were there it was understaffed. The service is rather unsophisticated - ie opening a bottle of wine before bringing it to the table. With all that said, though, we all thought our meals were quite good! A great deal for your money.
(4)Danielle G.
Loved it so much last week, had to come back and try it again! Great veggie skillet and added ham to it. Perfect blend of flavors. Excellent coffee and service was spot on. Looking forward to stopping in for lunch or dinner. They have the breakfast food covered!
(5)Renee S.
Want hot sauce or ketchup? Yes. Get the bill, got charged x3 for hot sauce. While only .50, should've been told upfront. Tiny lil cup, a lil thicker than just hot sauce so it doesn't go far. Surprise! It was good, just should've been told upfront. The bistro chips were like potato coins and just ok. All food good. Got to see a lil Gordon Ramsay in Javier, very good to see how involved he is and willing to go step in to step it up and make corrections when things were going a bit off his acceptable path. We'll come back for lunch or dinner. There's not really a brunch as another yelper posted.
(4)C L.
I don't write a lot of Yelp reviews but Javier's deserves the support and clientele. I was passing thru South Bend on my cross country motorcycle trip and someone local highly recommended Javier's. So I rode their for breakfast on my way out of town and I'm sorry I wasn't staying longer so I can go back for lunch and dinner! I had the oatmeal and it was great! But the bistro chips are where's it's at! Make sure to try them! Javier and the staff were all extremely nice and friendly. If I lived in South Bend, this would surely be a regular place. I hope I get to eat a full order of his bistro chips again!
(5)Ed A.
We were looking for a place to have lunch and we saw this place in south bend. upon arrival we were greeted with friendly smiles and great service. The food prepared by the staff and Chef Javier was awesome. Dishes from Puerto Rico were great! Over all it was a great experience, with a staff willing to please! Highly recommended !
(5)Brit B.
I was excited to try out this new place! The Yelp reviews looked decent and I was looking for a new flavor. The fondue and chips were delicious. I would highly recommend that. I had the angel hair pasta with vegetables and shrimp as an entrée. Pasta was cooked well, but my veggies were overcooked and there were three shrimp total. Taste wasn't bad, but it wasn't worth getting excited over. Our server, Gerard, was great! He was attentive, friendly, and joked with us. My friends really enjoyed him. Other staff also came over to check on us as well. I would go back to try their breakfast menu, as many people have raved about that, but would choose somewhere else for dinner.
(3)Tim B.
This review is for breakfast. I have not had lunch or dinner here yet but definitely will. Maybe today!!! I had the veggie nugget ( skillet) and it was the best breakfast dish I've had in South Bend/Granger/Mishawaka. Very fresh! Make it a point to come here!
(5)Jack F.
The beer was warm, the service was incredibly slow. The amount of ketchup that you are given for a burger and fries is in the tiniest cup I've ever seen, and is only 1/4 filled. We also got the chips and queso like appetizer which was just really really bad. The burger was alright, but not worth everything else.
(2)Suzanna K.
I really loved this place. Will be back. Quick, tasty food. The homemade chips are fantastic.
(5)M. G.
Have tried Javier's twice, for breakfast and dinner. Both times the service was slow to the point that I considered walking out once. The food is tasty but I want my dining experience to be pleasant for other reasons as well. I'm hopeful that they will figure things out. Service is a problem across this entire town. It's why I typically don't spend money eating out in Michiana..
(3)Eric K.
A great surprise on the south side of South Bend, priced below where it should be for the quality and presentation of the food. The tuna salad is an actual tuna steak, cooked how you like (rare is best), with a runny egg on top of blanched green beans, mixed greens and capers. It's the best tuna salad I've ever had! The chef stopped by our table at lunch, that doesn't happen many places. He's very friendly, genuinely open to suggestions and feedback and constantly working to make the place better. They just added beer and wine and are open late on the weekends now. Highly recommended!
(5)Molly R.
Our favorite restaurant in south bend !!!! Chef is awesome ! Every meal has been delicious. Just discovered they have an outdoor patio. Looking forward to summer night dinner dates
(5)Patience P.
We were in South Bend for an ND game and decided to go to this place because of the other reviews. I love that it is a place off the beaten path. The art is really cool and makes the atmosphere pop. The servers are really friendly and most of our food was very good. The skillets are excellent. The stuffed French toast was not so great. Instead of making the French toast where they flip it and grill both sides it seems they made it like a grilled cheese. They put the jam between the pieces of bread then just flipped it. It made for a soggy inside. Other than the french toast our experience was really good. We will definitely go back while in South Bend.
(4)Kate V.
Everything about this place is amazing. The food, the service, the patio, the drinks. I am traveling from Seattle and needed a place to stop before performing in South Bend and this was the BEST! Go here.
(5)Adrian M.
Great Puerto Rican taste, a restored old restaurant wit style. Maybe they should work on organization. Worth your money.
(4)Rachel S.
Tonight we tried the fried pickles and an original dish not usually on the menu. The fried plantains were great, I would like to see these more often, the beef beans and rice were again very good. My husband had a side salad with his steak, they serve a fried egg with it. apple crisp to go for dessert, this was good and would have probably been better had we stayed and had it warm. As for the negative review, that person has to be an ex employee or something. This food you can't buy from a can! I consider myself a foodie, that vacations around the country looking for regional food and this place is really unique to this area.
(4)Matthew M.
What an awesome addition to the dining scene on the south side of South Bend! Javier's has a great menu, specializing in Puerto Rican fusion cuisine. A casual setting, really good food and attentive service. It was such a treat to come to find this gem on my latest visit to South Bend! Their straight forward menu has something for everyone, without getting lost in an overabundance of options. I highly recommend the "Nugget" breakfast skillets.
(4)Martin P.
Very good food there. Excellent service, even though they were swamped with large parties, we were still thoroughly taken care of. We will be going back for lunch meetings again.
(4)Jason H.
I revisited Javier's a twice this year, most recently for Fathers Day Brunch. The brunch Buffet was very well prepared, and in small amounts...which is nice. Theres nothing worse than a buffet of mediocre food that sits for hours because too much was prepared for the volume of service. I had the roast beef, the ribs, haricot verts w julienne pepper, oven roasted potatoes, biscuits and gravy, and fresh fruit. Everything was delicious, except the biscuits were average. The beef was top round, which is a difficult cut to work with, yet it was tender and juicy, had a great beef flavor and had a traditional seasoning of rosemary,thyme and cracked pepper. The ribs very good, tender enough to split with a fork, and although they weren't smoked had a nice flavor. The haricot verts had an interesting seasoning mix applied, and were neither mushy nor raw. The oven roasted potatoes..again seasoned very well...not too salty or strong and not boring either...starchy, semi crispy and not greasy at all. The gravy for the biscuits was house made, and not from a bag. It was tasty and well executed...not bland. The biscuits could have been better...but I am a biscuit snob and they can be difficult to pull off for buffet service. Javier dropped off some fried plantain at our table as an amuse bouche, it was garlicky and delicious...and a nice touch on Fathers day. Javiers still needs to work on service. Drinks are slow to get there and refills on coffee infrequent. I saw a 6 top come in, sit down and leave because no one showed up to take a drink order for 10 minutes. We had to hunt someone down just to pay our bill. Javier definitely has the food end of the business correct, he serves lovingly prepared food that is some of the best in South Bend, however Im reserving a star for slow, inefficient service.
(4)Marc R.
The food here is amazing. I have been here for breakfast many times and while they offer the standards they also do many things with the kind of style you'd expect from a gourmet place. Friendly staff seal the deal. I have not been here for dinner. Also the "chips" are enough like typical potatoes that you won't need to find another starch source. I am a fan of the breakfast burritos. While the coffee service is odd - they bring out the vacuum decanter - if you tell them you are an addict they will bring it out every 2-3 minutes. Solid 3 star, but in the food desert of South Bend they deserve a 4 star review.
(4)Dana G.
Came here with my dad over the Thanksgiving holiday. Anyone from the south side of South Bend knows options on this end of town can be a little limited, especially if you want fresh and at least sort-of healthy ingredients. We came here for breakfast and were not disappointed. I had the veggie omelet (with egg whites) and potato (they were kind of like thick potato chips). Lots of veggies in my omelet, the guacamole was good, coffee was re-filled rapidly. Fast, friendly service. Not very busy on a Tuesday AM so they were very attentive to us. Has a little bit of an upscale greasy spoon Mom and Pop feel, the decor has been updated since the last restaurant but still has a real nice throwback vibe. Good option for a breakfast on the south side of the Bend. I hope this place stays around and continues to thrive! Will be back for sure!
(4)Benjamin R.
Came back a third time for lunch. I had the El Latino burger--a juicy medium-rare patty, pico, house-made guacamole, cheddar and provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and house-made mayo on a hefty pretzel bun. Delicious! The gf once again had the Reuben, which was just as good as last time. The bill came to about $17, which is less than Chipotle or Panera for two. However, the service was back to its old sluggish pace even with two waitstaff. It took ten minutes to even get water or menus. Once again, we were really impressed with the food, but don't go unless you have plenty of time to wait!
(4)Kevin L.
The food was great! Definitely coming back to try other menu items. Had the ceviche salad which was really good. Javier and family are interested in making sure clientele enjoy their food and experience with them.
(5)Michael S.
The food was fantastic - the andouille sausage burrito, eggs, and bistro chips were all delicious. Everything was priced very, very well, too - 8 for a breakfast burrito and 5 for bacon, eggs, and toast. The coffee was delicious. The service staff does need a bit more training, I think, and we were not attended to very often even though the restaurant wasn't too busy. We never received the sauces we requested, I had to go hunt down salt and pepper at a service station myself, and our waitresses simply weren't all that friendly. I very much appreciated Javier coming out from the kitchen to wish me a happy Father's Day, though, and I hope the restaurant clears up some of the service issues so that it succeeds in our neighborhood.
(4)Amy H.
I've been to Javier's Bistro twice now - once for lunch and once for breakfast and it's a solid four stars! My first visit was for lunch and I would rate the service five stars for that experience. We were warmly greeted upon entering, seated right away and asked what brought us here (that would be my foodie love for new, local restaurants). The lunch menu includes several salad and sandwich options. I ordered the reuben with their housemade corned beef. It was very good although the bread could have been toasted more since it was a little soggy. The sandwiches are served with your choice of side and I opted for their fried chips - a cross between potato chips and home fries, which were pretty good, but a little greasy. My friend ordered the smoked turkey reuben, which came topped with their housemade slaw - very good! We both ordered a cup of the Puerto Rican ham and bean soup they posted on their Facebook page and it did not disappoint. They recently added smoothies and gave us a sample of their caramel latte - yum! Had we not been so full from lunch we would have ordered one to go. My second visit was for Sunday breakfast with my husband. I couldn't resist the breakfast burrito with flank steak (hold the tomatoes). It was light on the flank steak, but the steak was very tender and flavorful. The burrito included rice, eggs, lettuce and cheese. It needed something else - avocado would have been a great addition, maybe a little more spice or a side of homemade salsa. Overall, very good. My husband ordered the sunshine breakfast with two eggs, bacon, sausage and fried chips. It was your standard breakfast and good. He's a huge corned beef hash fan and couldn't resist trying a side of it. The portion was very small - just a scoop in a dish for $3. He thought it was pretty good, but was missing the texture as everything was so finely mixed and smashed together (he's still in love with the Pile of Hash from Jeannie's House). The atmosphere is cozy, servers are dressed nicely and everyone is very friendly. The prices are very reasonable and the dinner menu looks great as well. We will definitely be back to try a few others items, particularly the ones with a little Puerto Rican flare.
(4)Emily B.
Veggie nuggets (kind of like chilequilles with potatoes!) were awesome and service was great!
(5)Gina C.
While visiting my mom we decided to try this little place. We were pleasantly surprised the service was fantastic the food was delicious and the price was very reasonable. We will definitely be going back there to get the porter Rican style tacos!
(4)Matt S.
Not bad. They are becoming quite popular for weekend brunch. Unfortunately, the last few times I was there, the service was rather inattentive and the food was slow (35-40 minutes). The food on the other hand was above average. I suppose it is worth the wait.
(3)Brian L.
This place is awesome. The food is delicious. The chef takes his time preparing each entrée. He even takes the time to visit with patrons. The dessert is to die for. TX cake. This place is a diamond in the rough for South Bend, IN!
(5)Bruce C.
Really nice lunch at an attractive cost. I am looking forward to dinner. Good staff and a menu that's varied and creative.
(4)Nammyung L.
I had the fried pickles and the Puerto Rican beef stew - both were good. The service was friendly and attentive. I wish the menu had more items, like the stew or the fish dish that I mean to try next time, that are unique to the restaurant. Most of the menu items seemed like fare that didn't necessarily reflect a Puerto Rico / Caribbean origin. Well, no matter; the food was good, prices reasonable, and I had a good time. I'll try the fish next time.
(4)Steve L.
If you are looking for great food cooked to order that won't break the bank, this is the place! We frequent the Javier's and have never been disappointed; neither has anyone we have taken with us. Don't let reviews about service being slow bother you, everything is cooked to order from scratch! If you are hung up on "fast" food, go to McDonalds. Javier takes pride in every dish and the taste difference is clear. When time permits, Javier will come out and check to be sure your meal met your expectations. So slow down and enjoy an amazing meal at Javier's.
(5)Brian Z.
UDATE IN RESPONSE TO JAVIER'S REPLY: You are so full of it. First of all my brother in law is a devote Christian and I never heard him use vulgarity especially speaking to your staff. He questioned why anyone would put a hot burger on top of cold cottage cheese and asked it to be remade with it on the side and the burger at the proper temp. When the waitress brought it back still on top of the cottage cheese he asked for it on the side. She brought you the plate we saw you throw it and throw you're hands up. You know we have worked together and you have a temper in the kitchen when anyone complaints come back. He said he wanted to speak with you because it wasn't right the way you handled it. Your waitress was the only one who used vulgarity when I was calmly explaining that I know you and your temper. And she said she didn't "give a sh*t" that is when I first got upset because of the way she spoke to me, the customer. I wish you the best of luck in your business but you lost me and any future customers I would have taken there. Original review... I have waited to post this review because I was angry when this incident occurred and really didn't want to post anything out of anger or hurt his business. Enough time has passed and I can write this now without emotions driving it. I known Javier and been in his place a few times. Food is ok. Above average ingredients but just not that wonderful but was ok. I still wanted to get the word out about his new place I took my brother in law and one of his employees to lunch. My brother in law ordered a burger cooked med well done with no bun and side of cottage cheese. The hot bloody patty was served on top of a mound of cottage cheese, bleeding red juice in the now warm to hot cottage cheese. It was rare and he asked for it to be cooked more and to bring the cottage cheese on the side cold and minus the blood. I will say who puts a hot burger directly on top of cottage cheese? It did look gross with the blood running into the white cottage cheese. The server brought it back less than 2 minutes later and again on top of the same hot bloody cottage cheese. My brother in law sent it back again. As the waitress handed Javier the plate he saw him throw it as Javier was angry that it was sent back. The waitress, sporting "Latin Kings" Street Gang tattoo on her hand, refused my brother in law's request to speak to Javier saying "ain't happening dude" . He was explaining that no one wants to eat hot bloody cottage cheese while taking to her she said "Dude, don't waste your breath I don't really give a sh*t!." I was so offended now how she spoke and I told her I didn't have a problem but now I do! She said "there's the door! We aren't hurting for business." I wanted to speak to Javier and when I saw Javier walk to the front I asked him to speak to me. He said "don't talk to me" and walked off. Having known Javier for a long time I know is a stubborn hot head in the kitchen and easily gets offended if anyone sends back, complains or criticises his food. If you get a rare burger after ordering it well he will argue to the end that the red inside the patty is well done. Have heard him tell servers when they bring food back to the kitchen because something wasn't right, to tell the customer "not to order next time because that's how I make it!" outside the kitchen he can be a good guy. I just can't see stepping back in there because of his disrespectful server and his poor attitude. It's a shame because I live up the street and would have loved to find a great place in the neighborhood. I wish him well and hope he has learned since the incident and hope that waitress is not working there anymore. I'm giving two stars only because my food was ok but honestly based on the food and service to my guest was so grossly horrible I should have gave only one.
(1)Jessica C.
Three stars might seem a little harsh in an era of Yelp rating inflation, but I think that Yelp's own explanation of the rating - "A-OK" - is perfect for Javier's. This is a locally-owned, family-run establishment with reasonable prices, decent service, and quality food that is worth supporting. However, it still has a way to go before it becomes a favorite of mine. I have been to Javier's twice. Dinner, not long after they opened, was a disaster. Breakfast, just this past week, was much, much better, but far from five-stars. I'll begin with breakfast. After a long deliberation, I decided to order a skillet. I was excited about the fried potatoes that were coming with everything, and really looking forward to diving into my own plate of them. I could tell with the first bite that the dish had the potential to be wonderful, but it because clear - in part because of a very hot plate, but also the consistency of the food itself - that my breakfast must have sat under a heat lamp for a long time before it made it to me. I was also disappointed that it didn't come with toast. It ended up a bit greasy, and I would have appreciated something to help soak that up. My husband and son liked their food better. Like Amy H.'s husband, my own orders corned beef everywhere we have breakfast (and Jeannie's is also his favorite), so he tried it at Javier's as well. Because there isn't a corned beef meal, he ordered the two-egg breakfast with a side of corned beef. He described it as good and tasty, but apples and oranges compared to Jeannie's. The hit on his plate was the a bacon. Our teenage son, who was the diner from our party who was happiest with his meal - agreed. He also raved about the bacon and thought that the pancakes were some of the best he's had in town. The service was probably the biggest disappointment. It was incredibly spotty. When we first arrived, it was as though there couldn't be enough servers helping us - wiping down tables, asking about drinks, offering to refill coffee that had just been poured. Everyone was incredibly friendly. But then, it just dropped off. I watched our server leave to take a break while we waited for our food. Another server left in the midst of what seemed like an incredibly busy time. Coffee cups and water glasses went unfilled. Then we experienced a furry of service, only to have it die down again. One of our meals got lost in the kitchen, no one seemed to notice. It took an eternity to pay - but then all of a sudden, everyone wanted to fill our coffees. Despite a number of people working, they just didn't seem to have it together. I've said enough about our most recent experience, so I'll just briefly say that we won't be back for dinner until Javier decides to put more Caribbean flair in his menu. We chalked up issues with service to the restaurant being new, but we were shocked that a Puerto Rican restaurant had so few authentic dishes and the ones that claimed to be authentic - like sancocho - were incredibly disappointing for customers who are at all familiar with Caribbean food. I know that Javier has concerns about the demographics of South Bend and I heard that he has been trying specials that are more authentic, but I firmly believe that with service kinks worked out, he could easily support a restaurant that serves more of a niche in the city. If such a place existed, we would be regular customers. We'll give Javier's another chance, but they could really benefit from some increased attention to the front of the house and moving to make their menu distinctive from other restaurants in town.
(3)Tina S.
We visited Javier's for Mother's Day Brunch. It was wonderful. The atmosphere was incredible.
(5)Jan R.
Really enjoyed our dinner at this new Southside restuarant. Everything tasted so fresh. The chef came by to see how everything tasted. The lemon butter sauce on my fish was amazing and I got Texas cake to go.
(5)Sammi M.
Delicious menu options offering unique flavors! Excellent wine options, loved the Cabernet! The service was impressive as Gerard paid close attention to our table and Javier went above and beyond! Javier was genuine and took the time to get to know his customers! Javier is knowledgeable of his restaurant, also taking the time to thoroughly explain his menu options beyond our satisfaction! We arrived hopeful and left ready to return again soon! Excellent menu dishes, such as chicken marsala and truly attentive service and from the owner himself! Thank you for such a wonderful dining experience Javier and Gerard! The atmosphere in your restaurant is welcoming, elegant and creative! Thanks, again!
(5)Wink B.
This is exactly what we've needed in South Bend. Delicious, expertly prepared food available for low prices. No idea where the negative review comes from... Mister C obviously didn't eat at the same place... you may notice he doesn't even review any specific menu items. Breakfast is fantastic here, and it's obvious that word of mouth has spread... because the place is rather packed at 10 am on weekends. Some of the best sausage gravy you'll ever have at a restaurant around here (none of that powdered horseshit). Lunch is ridiculously good too. The latin-style steak sandwich was delicious, but my deep fried Monte Christo was just as awesome. Excellent coleslaw. I care very little about decor and service, but this place was very clean, comfortable, and the waitstaff was exceptionally polite. I cannot wait to have an excuse to hit this place up again.
(5)Robert E.
Tonights dinner was awesome. Latino Fondue and the soup of the day, Tomato Basil, for appetizers. Main course of Chicken Calvados for my wife and Caribbean Pork Loin for myself. Dessert was a delicious Bread Pudding and Apple Crisp. Javier is a flavor genius. You have got to try Javiers Bistro.
(5)Dana B.
This was our first trip today. We had been talking about it for a while after seeing some fairly good reviews and some pictures that looked amazing. We went on a lunch hour. That may have been our first mistake. Got there at 11:45 and ordered pretty quickly. Took 45 minutes for our food to come. The Tuna Nicoise salad was just plain awful. Tuna wasn't even recognizable. Was cold and hard. You could tell it wasn't freshly prepared. The person that ordered this said the worst meal she has had at an Azars was better than this salad. Wow. Another one in our group ordered the El Latino burger. It was described on the menu as coming with pico, salsa, guacamole, cheddar and provolone cheese. She ordered it medium well. It came very rare and no pico, salsa, guacamole or provolone. Cheddar and lettuce. Why order a specialty burger if it doesn't come as advertised. We did voice our concerns to the waitress who said she appreciated the feedback. However, nothing was done to try to "make it right". I would like to say I'll give it another try, but I rather doubt it.
(1)