Time warp diner, yes! Too bad you can't smoke indoors Walk of shame? Eat here! read more

Zero vegan options here (and i don't consider fried potatoes or dry toast a vegan meal option). This is unacceptable in a neighborhood like Northside that's known to be vegan-friendly. It's not difficult at all to add a vegan breakfast meat or tofu scramble to your menu. read more

Great neighborhood diner! Get the Gyro omelette. Oh my why am I just now finding this!!

Love this place and I hope it never changes. Local, friendly diner with consistently good food and wonderful wait staff.

Great place for breakfast! Hadn't been there for a considerable amount of time due to zero healthy choices. Time was an issue and I was pleasantly surprised with addition of an egg white veggie omelette called the Ann Marie. The decor hasn't changed since the Fifties, but that's what makes the place special. I look forward to a return visit!! read more

Favorite diner in the city. They always have different pies that are really good. The place is like a typical diner but the food is really good. They do keep kind of short diner hours so it's definitely an early lunch/breakfast spot. I ate here almost daily when my stove was broken in my apartment and never ran out of things to try. I do recommend the egg, cheese, and goetta breakfast sandwich though. read more

I love Blue Jay. They have regular diner food in a super cool old school building. Great place

My favorite diner in Cincinnati. There is a great menu! Homefries loaded are amazing. Their goetta is also some of the best in the area. The traditional diner vibe makes the experience part of the meal. They do accept credit cards and make sure you get dessert. read more

Blue Jay is a cute, nostalgic diner that takes you back in time a few decades. You can get breakfast anytime of the day here. It's greasy spoon goodness that fills your belly right and it's cheap too! read more

As a connoisseur of breakfast food I was excited when a friend showed me an article in Cincinnati Magazine in which they reviewed some of the best breakfast spots in town. What ensued was the burning motivation to start a quest to visit as many of these establishments as possible! Our first stop brought us to the Northside area and the Blue Jay Restaurant. For those of you who have not been to Northside it is an area that reminds me of the downtown area of a small town with local businesses everywhere. Blue Jay offered and delivered exactly what I look for in a good breakfast: No frills, just good food at a reasonable price. Blue Jay definitely does not fit into the trendy category of restaurants serving waffles or crepes (which there is nothing wrong with that, breakfast is breakfast!) they just serve a traditional diner breakfast. As per my routine eating breakfast I ordered a ton of food, which consisted of every breakfast food imaginable and was napping shortly after the meal. The food at Blue Jay is good and the service is great. Our waitress was on top of coffee refills like it was her job (go figure). So if you are looking for a diner style breakfast with good food and great service Blue Jay is your spot for hangover cures served with a side of biscuits and gravy. read more

Food is awesome and has an authentic old diner feel. Great staff. Get in and get some!

I come to this place so frequently they know us by name. This place is very family oriented and friendly. The prices are amazing. My favorite thing to eat here is the Biscuits and Gravy, you can never go wrong!! read more

Oh I love this place so, so much. The staff is so friendly and the restaurant is so cute. I've been going here for quiet a while and I absolutely love it. The food is amazing and so are the people. Every time I go I get their coffee because it's so good. Definitely recommend going here - it's not expensive and it's great quality. read more

I love this place. This is the perfect little breakfast diner that everyone needs to go to. Nothing fancy, just the basics. Everyone needs a local diner and I have found mine in Cincinnati. read more

I go constantly for breakfast and brunch. Delicious, consistent, classic diner. The breakfast special is awesome, the goetta is fantastic, the double deckers are top-notch. Also has one of my favorite chilis in Cincinnati. Only complaints: The service tends to be slow, and wish they were open Sundays. read more

Great savory dishes....you'd get more business if you had some other options.....like fruit. And chocolate chips for pancakes ;)

Overall good experience. Coffee was week point. Typical Maxwell house with only non dairy creamer was why no 4 star. Breakfast was good however. BYOC... read more

Hangover breakfast FOR. THE. WIN. I got a burger, naturally, since I was hungover, it was Christmas Eve and my stomach was freaking out. And for a diner burger, it was nothing short of perfect. It wasn't disgustingly greasy, which was a silent blessing, because even though I wanted grease to cure my dehydrated hungry state, it would have wreaked havoc on my...well...dehydrated hungry body. The service was great and we felt like we weren't a nuisance, even on Christmas Eve. We ended up leaving satisfied and with a plate of some homemade cookies from the waitress. So nice! I really think this is the place to go on groggy mornings when you need a big breakfast. read more

If you need greasy, home cooked, hangover food, this is your spot. I actually like the Waffle House-esque atmosphere. It's clean and the servers are usually very nice. You'll be served quick and your food will be made to order. It may not be earth shattering, but it's solid. read more

Awesome neighborhood diner. The servers are extremely nice and welcoming. They make a point to remember your name and order. Quick and easy food for lunch. read more

Delicious breakfast special @ a delicious price. Makes me feel like I'm on a roadtrip and we stopes off @ a family diner.

I love everything about this place - except for the puzzlingly slow service. Expect to wait 45 minutes for a plate of eggs (this has happened to me every time). The interior is charming, the waitresses are friendly, the prices are right, the food is okay - but you will invest time in a visit to Blue Jay. Not a big deal on a lazy weekend morning, but kind of a pain if you need to get in and out in less than an hour. read more

You want a neighborhood restaurant this is it. This is my dads dream. I have lived in Northside for more than a year and Cincinnati for 5. I have just now tried this place. I love it. It's literally write your order on a ticket, everyone knows everyone, greasy great hangover food. This is your home diner. Nothing more, nothing less. It might not be your thing but if is sounds great you will love it!! read more

Hands down a great place for all around diner food. Breakfast specials are incredibly affordable. A wide variety of pies. And lunch specials are yummy and fit the budget. When you're done, you can walk next door to Shake It Records and pickup some music or T-shirts with the money you might have saved at the delicious Blue Jay! read more

Basic breakfast . Liked the fact that they serve turkey sausage unlike most places . Potatoes are good along with pancakes and eggs. Cooked to serve . read more

This is a nice, casual affordable place to get a decent breakfast or lunch. Blue Jay is a family-owned dinner that knows how to get it done. They have good, friendly service & many different menu options. Comfort food awaits whether there for breakfast or a tasty lunch. Check out the breakfast special or the Big Jay with bacon & a side of fries for lunch. Breakfast is available anytime they are open. Keep in mind they are only open Monday-Saturday, for breakfast and lunch. No dinner here. read more

I come here at least once a week for lunch and often on Saturday for breakfast and I've never had a bad meal. The service is great and the atmosphere is terrific! They also have great lunch specials every day and the sausage gravy and biscuits are to die for! If you want a delicious meal in a nice, cozy environment this is the place to be. Not to mention the prices are hard to beat. One of the many gems of Northside. read more

I've only been twice and I've been impressed both times. Large portions. Reasonable prices. Fast friendly service. My only wish is that they would be open on Sunday. But I get it. Chick fil a. Church. It's cool with me. read more

This is a great place to get a basic breakfast. The staff is quick and courteous. I just wish they were open longer so I could try lunch! I have heard they have great pies. read more

Perfect place to go to for a greasy and filling breakfast after a night of hard partying.

Awesome kitschy diner! Could use a better salad. But great service and food!

Stopped in here for the first time ever although I've lived just down the street for 6 months. Did breakfast at lunch time and the service was great and the food was good. read more

Greasy spoon, plenty of seating, outdated yet cozy interior, and if you're sick of those pretentious blackboard menus eat here. They'll make it how you want it. I have no idea why they're not open on Sunday. read more

This place wasn't spectacular, but if ever I need some good hangover food (i.e. greasy and hella unhealthy), I'll consider Blue Jay. The chili was pretty good. I had it on a Coney Island with cheese. I ate that pretty much as a side dish. My main dish was the Tom's burger with cheese. It's a double cheeseburger with tartar sauce and pickles, not unlike a Big Mac. It was good, delicious, and greasy, just like you would expect any respectable diner's burger to be. But it wasn't a game changer. However, it was good. The menu is very extensive, so I'm sure there are some game changers on it. I'd recommend paying this place a visit. read more

Speedy service with a smile, and cozy atmosphere. I recommend the Cajun perch!

Went there just to get my breakfast fill, and it did the job! Large pancakes & a very cool vintage interior. Perfect if you are a fan of diners! read more

Great double deckers, old school service & atmosphere I would call it a diner & not a greasy spoon, tho read more

Food is good, home cooking. They are very consistent but get there early for the biscuits and gravy!

Thursday morning I met my family at the Blue Jay restaurant on Hamilton Ave. I had not been here for a long time. I received a friendly welcome and ordered hot tea with honey which was promptly brought to the table. At this time I ordered the Green Omelette with a biscuit. Within a few minutes I realized that I should have asked for a lemon for my tea. The restaurant became a bit more busy but even with the 2 waitresses passing by my table frequently it was difficult to get someone's attention to get the lemon. The wait for my Omelette seemed to be a little longer than I expected (more than 20 minutes). When the waitress brought it I asked for & quickly received my lemon. The Omelette looked so good! It was stuffed full of spinach with a lot of Feta cheese. It tasted great. I would order this again. The biscuit was full of flavor & golden brown on the outside. Although the wait to get my food was a little to long I would return here as the food is good and to see if the service is any better. read more

Since you need to eat breakfast this is the place! Real honest food, friendly folks both working and dining, prices that are reasonable and bottomless coffee. Everything is made from scratch and tastes like it. Especially the biscuits and gravy. They are super friendly ALL the time and you can take your kids without worrying that someone will be aggravated. No pretense, just good food at good prices made and served by good people. read more