I feel saddened.
While out running errands I thought I would stop in to the newly opened Jesse's Deli, located where the William's Coffee Pub on Ontario st. used to be. Though this is a new spot in town I have heard very little about it, they haven't created much of a buzz to launch their new venture. Despite this, the place was quite busy - almost full - and I felt a little excited as I was seated and given the menu.
The menu itself is the highlight; filled with breakfast options (served 7am-3pm): regular bacon and eggs, 'ecceptional french toast' (yes, I spelled it wrong but took it straight from the menu) which is served with cream cheese and fresh strawberries topped with strawberry sauce, and a variety of eggs benedicts (hollandaise not made in house but should be equal to Features). Lunch items are available from 11am until close and consist of mostly sandwiches and wraps in a variety of styles - great for a reasonably priced quick bite to eat in the afternoon.
The execution of the menu is where things start to fall apart. I really was hoping this could become a new staple as a breakfast joint to widen the variety in my life but the food is rife with disappointment. My breakfast sandwich has some shell left on the circular formed rubbery egg, the sausages beneath are greasy and overdone, like little pool-shrunk wieners. The square of cheese is desperately trying to be a sharp cheddar but leaves me actually longing for Kraft singles. Homefries seem to be an attempt at boiled potatoes, mushy texture, little seasoning - like my grandma makes at every family dinner (note: my grandma is a terrible cook). The side of cottage cheese tastes as though it has spent the last few days making love to the fruit cocktail, not completely unpleasant but certainly strange.
The coffee is undrinkable.
I want to like this place, and will consider giving it one more try but with so many strikes against it, there seems little reason to make the trek. Please, if you have had a good experience here do pass it along. Should I give it another try?
That is disappointing! It would be nice to have a casual sit-down restaurant where you can get a decent homemade soup and sandwich.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
My husband went for breakfast today and said he thought it was pretty good. I still will try for myself and get back to you!
I have been searching the continent for good home fries! Fresh cut, crispy on the outside, potato-y on the inside... salted with no weird seasoning. Restaurants have decided to cut corners with frozen fries and home fries... just because they look good doesn't mean they taste good!
ReplyDeleteCheck out PB's fries in Ingersoll.
DeleteCheck out PB's fries in Ingersoll.
DeleteI know it's just another Greek money laundering business, so I won't even support it in the first place!
ReplyDeleteThats the most blasphemous thing ive seen all year ROFL. Because all the greeks launder money right?? and oh yeah they drug deal in there too right buddy?
DeleteCasual sit down restaurant with decent homemade soup and a sandwich? It's called York Street Kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWhat Anonymous 4:07 said.........
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a good experience - popped in for a coffee and a bagel to go - took 10+ min to have it prepared - and it was not busy at the time. Coffee was watery and bagel wasn't toasted. Will try it for a sit down breakfast sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteWe've had some marvellous breakfasts at Pat's, down by Sobey's. What it lacks in ambience, it makes up for in quality and quantity. Local ingredients too!
ReplyDeleteThis place is terrible. I saw one of the cooks run outside every 15 mins to get a smoke in.
ReplyDeleteI really like this place, great food. It's new and I'm sure they are working out the kinks like any new place, they have only been open a short while, and from what I understand they lost the head cook due to a accident and he is seriously hurt, so I'm sure it must be hard, bu t I'm sure he will be back. Go Jesse's I'll be back and with others.
ReplyDeleteRegret this comment...
DeleteHey...been there several times as it's in the neighbourhood. Liked every one of the meals except I did have to send the homefries back to be actually cooked once. Other than that, it is always packed and the staff is very helpful and courteous. No complaints. Maybe now that it's got a little experience under it's belt people should give it another try. It's comfort food btw not upper class expensive little art projects on a plate.
ReplyDeleteLet Them Eat Cake has the best breakfast, good home fries, good coffee; Did have lunch at Jesse's and found it quite good.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Jesse's a couple of times and agree about the homefries - could use a little more spice. Everything else has been good - including the coffee! Other posters are right, this is not a place to go if you are looking for anything other than comfort food. Try the burgers!
ReplyDeleteWell the cook never came back, hurt at work seriously and was fired! what is that? how could someone do that?
ReplyDeleteI've been twice now with my boyfriend. They have definately worked out kinks since our first visit. We both had a cooked breakfast...I'm a little picky with what I eat and they had no problem accomidating my requests. The place was packed (Saturday morning just after 11) but it still only took about 10-12 minutes for our food to arrive. Wait staff was nice and attentive. Will try it out for lunch to see what that is like. Give it another try, and if you aren't satisfied, maybe say something? A business cannot improve if they don't know where they are going wrong. Sometimes a friendly word or two goes a long away.
ReplyDeleteJesses is the best i heard that they recently lost the son of the head chef that use to cook there, i love the food there me and my girls go in there all the time and we will continue supporting it......
ReplyDeleteNo they fired the head chef, when he was badly, or severely burned there in an explosion, he had only been there I think 2 weeks when this happened.The owner knew why the explosion had occurred but failed to release this information to anyone including the person who was burned, later to learn that the very reason this person was burnt was because the owner, did not remove an item in the kitchen that he knew was not safe. The owner told WSIB that he was laid off and continued to hire people for this position. From what I know they sought this person out to work for them, he quit his job and signed up with Jesses, they told him to get lost at Christmas time... who are these people?? not even an interest in him since he has been gone, he is still trying to recover, this happened in Oct, 8 months ago.
ReplyDeleteHave tried the eggs benedict at Jesse's, and they have been delicious and perfectly cooked every time. Made the traditional way on an english muffin, with peameal, ham or a veggie bennie, great hollandaise sauce, and nice soft yolks, mmm mmm good!
ReplyDeleteDon L.
Stratford
The worst home fries in the city! Everything else was decent. My favourite breakfast spot in Stratford is Joe's Diner.
ReplyDeleteI've had a lot of items off the menu and so far haven't been disappointed. my favorite item is the beef dip with fries.
ReplyDeleteHad an omelet recently. Not an omelet - plate of flat sandwich filling. Cold toast, cold everything, not bad coffee.
ReplyDeleteRE: Saddened. I don't know where this person ate but it certainly wasn't at Jesse's Deli. Having been in the buisness years ago I would like to think I know the difference between a good eatery or a bad one. His review sounds very much like a rival restaurant owner. We've eaten there many times, breakfast and lunch and have or heard nothing but rave reviews for this establishment. The food was always fresh and delicious. The service very friendly and as quick as possible considering it's not a fast food place.
ReplyDeleteHad brunch there a couple of weeks ago for the first time, with friends who often go there. Found everything entirely satisfactory. Perhaps the unfortunate cook who was burned was, in fact, a bad cook and they've improved on him. Don't know. At any rate, I will return.
ReplyDelete