Hidden gem in Normal, IL but definitely not a secret. When we stopped mid week during brunch hours the Cafe was hopping! We still had great service and attentive staff. Food was delicious! I had a brunch burger and Cajun seasoned fries. We also sampled the cinnamon roll, so good. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Cinnamon roll - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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What an excellent place! Stay in Bloomington on trips from GA to northern WI. Ate here last November and had to make a point of it again on this trip. The food is excellent! Hearty portions , creative tasty takes on the old standards. The people who work here are so upbeat and customer service is 110%. Seriously, everyone is so nice that it was uplifting for my whole day We'll be back on our next trip to Bloomington! read more

Great service great food great tshirts will definitely go back again to try the burrito read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Cornmeal pancakes (subbed grilled pineapple for the pork) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

A wonderful breakfast spot in Normal. Small, local, and friendly service. The chicken and waffles Benedict was quite good, especially the chipotle maple syrup that brought a very unique flavor profile to the dish! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a good, unique breakfast in the Bloomington-Normal area. read more

Finally able to grab some breakfast at this amazing spot, Ask for Tay she was the absolute best read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Summer Peach Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

We can here while visiting family and enjoyed our meal. The food and service were both wonderful. They had a good selection on their menu, and our server was helpful in suggesting special coffees and popular items! Would definitely come back again! read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chicken & Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Awesome food and very friendly atmosphere!! I had the chicken pesto skillet and their special pancakes.... Everything was delicious. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chicken pesto skillet and pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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Nice place tucked away across from the Bridgestone plant in Bloomington. Service was prompt and friendly with a relaxed atmosphere. Food and menu was not what I expected for a small place like this. They pack a lot of flavor into their menu. I chose the Chorizo Burrito and it was excellent. Definitely will be back to try the Chicken and Biscuits. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chorizo Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

I love Ft Jesse Cafe. This is one of our favorite places for breakfast when my son visits from out of town. He often gets chicken and waffles and I get the bruschetta skillet. They are so good! The service is always really great too. The food comes out hot with a great presentation. They are always busy so if you know you are going make a reservation at least a day ahead or prepare to wait. The size of the building is not to FJC's advantage and the tables are a little bit too close together for my liking but the great food and service make up for that. I have been here multiple times and plan to go back. read more

We were just driving thru and it's a good thing we don't live closer or we'd spend all our money on matcha and lattes haha! Food and drinks were incredible and service was delightful! We'll def be stopping again next time we road trip thru! read more

We loved everything about our visits here. We were recommended by a local family while we were in town on vacation and this was the only place we went for breakfast each day!! read more

Great Cafe experience. Was a little worried when food was taking about 25-30 minutes, but totally acceptable when the food arrived and presented by the chef (thier business model). Amazing taste. Everyone's plate in the Cafe looked 5-star. Like my daughter says, "made with love". Definitely a stop and visit. Enjoy the time it takes for them to make the food. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chicken and Waffle Benedict. Out of this world! Every component was perfect. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

First impressions - 3 stars: arrived at 1:20ish. Tables were all full except one. Asked if we could be seated there but was told it was being saved for a reservation. Okay. Good to know they take and honor reservations. What I didn't like was that the hostess didn't seem welcoming. She told me it would be a 15-20 minute wait and just seemed like she would prefer we left. Nope. We will wait. The wait was only about 10 minutes. Service - 5 stars: Sage Owl (cool name) was super cool and made up for the hostess. The guy who brought our food was very friendly too. Food - 4.5: Avo Brekkie Burger - YUMMY! The soft sweet bread made it. Hash browns were good too. General Tso's chicken sandwich was delicious. They give an abundance of fries. Thumbs up for Grandpa's breakfast too. Decor 3.5: simple, tasteful decor. Wooden tables seating 2-4 people. Tables could be pushed together for larger parties. Stringed lightbulbs across the ceiling - nice touch. What I would change? The tables for the carryout orders are placed right when u walk in. Underneath the tables are large opened boxes with paper products. Maybe hide them with a tablecloth? Other: Easy to miss. Off a busy street. Adequate parking. No waiting area inside. But here is a small covered area outside the front door with a couple of benches read more

Grabbed lunch on the go today with Jr. We ate it in the car on the road. He ordered the Brunch Burger. I ordered the Shrimp n Grits and a side of Fried Onion Rings. Holy moly. Jr raved over the burger (the bacon inside) and also the tasty fries. No crumbs left. This was my 1st time eating Shrimp n Grits. This will not be my last. Grits covered with egg, shrimp, and andouille sausage. Some awesome sauce. Superb taste. There is so much more to try here. We both decided we are going back. And We can't wait. read more

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Excellent, creative menu. Such good food! Very friendly, efficient service. Server Sage was awesome. Good coffee. Too bad we're traveling. We'd be regulars! read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Shrimp & Grits (GF) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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Best. Pancakes. Ever! And topped with orange mascarpone or Nutella... hello! This is a not-to-be-missed place to eat. I was visiting Normal and ate there everyday for breakfast. You will probably have to wait if you go on a weekend, but it's worth it! My daughter had the chicken and waffles. Life changing! read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chicken and Waffles Benedict! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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En route from Wisconsin to points south, my husband and I picked the Fort Jesse Cafe from yelp as a likely spot for a fast lunch. At 11 am on a Monday, the place was packed -- clearly this is a favorite spot for many local folks. It's hard to find because it's part of a strip mall, so I've included a couple of helpful photos. The staff was friendly and helpful, the coffee was hot and refills came along often. The menu features imaginative combinations of things and I think most people who eat here have their favorite menu items. My husband loved his turkey panini. My harvest bowl was not to my taste; too many flavors that didn't blend well for me. Next time we stop, I'll choose a few sides and make my own combination. I'm taking off a star for my biscuit and cinnamon roll, both of which had a reheated-in-a-microwave dry texture to me. Next time I'll try a pancake! read more

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The best breakfast in Central Illinois. The Shrimp and Grits is amazing, but so are the skillets.

Let me just start off with saying that Fort Jesse Cafe is an amazing place. The staff, the service, everything. I stepped in here and just could not help but feel like I was at home. The breakfast choices and the creative items that the Chef comes up with are a hoot. It took only a few seconds for a person to acknowledge me, so that's also a big plus. What I had ended up getting were the biscuits and gravy here. I loved the taste of the biscuits, and the gravy is also quite tasty and delicious. The hash browns also had been a great addition to my B&G. I had asked for gravy on it, or on the side. I ended up with gravy on the hash browns. Let me just say the first bite into the hash browns made me instantly fall in love. Overall, you cannot go wrong with what I had ordered and ate for to-go/pick-up at this fine place. read more

Great service and excellent food. Huge portions too. The breakfast burrito was giant. Lots of choices and great for families and kids. Not much ambiance, just a bunch of tables in an open room. But the food is the star. read more

I went in to fort Jesse cafe wanting biscuits and gravy I've been told amazing reviews about them when I bit into the biscuits I felt amazing. I felt warm and welcome as if this was at my server my second mom. The place look like a lovely hometown statement and a becon of beauty. read more

Love coming here! They just expanded which makes it feel so much roomier in there! Our server Jordan T was super nice and we received great service from him. Food was super tasty, very large portions so come hungry! The cold brew was great too! I would recommend getting a reservation... if not you may be waiting for a bit. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chorizo Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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Great spot for breakfast. Everything was cooked perfectly. Hash browns were just right. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Grandpa plate with an extra egg. Delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Food was good. Beer on tap was affordable and had a decent selection. I really enjoyed the General Tso chicken sandwich, but the other food my table ordered looked good as well. Service was also great as well. read more

The food here is really nothing special. It arrived barely warm. For the price I should have made my own at home. The biscuits and gravy were terrible and tasted just like flour water. I'm not sure if I would try this place again and don't understand the hype. read more

Hands down the best restaurant in town. I recommend the Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp and Grits, Avo Breakie Sandwich and Mojos. To save yourself disappointment, make a reservation. read more

We went here for my birthday and loved it! It's a small place so definitely make reservations, but it's so worth it! We had great food and fantastic service. The chorizo burrito could use more chorizo and less egg but was super tasty. The lemon blue berry pancakes were seasonal but awesome!! Also got cold brew coffee. Would definitely come back! A cute breakfast place for sure. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Best Breakfast in BNL. I was in town for a meeting and arrived early just so I could have breakfast at FJC. The Yelp reviews and recommendations from my cousin and his foodie friends had me sold on coming here. I arrived by train and quickly took a Uber ride over to FJC. My Uber driver during the ride, even sang the praises of this little cafe. She warned me I may have a wait, even on a Tuesday early morning. When I arrived, the crowd wasn't that bad and I was immediately seated at a two top near the windows. Knowing I was going to be pressed for time, I studied the menu ahead of time and knew what I wanted. When my waitress arrived, I shared with her that I was on a pressing schedule. She understood and told me they'd have me out on time. The service was friendly, fast and professional. I enjoyed an amazing breakfast and arrived to my meeting on time. Being a fan of Chicken & Waffles and with it being one of their most popular entrees, that is what I ordered. I also ordered a side of scrambled eggs. My usual drink to accompany C&W is a Bloody Mary, but FJC don't have a bar, so I had to go with a Cold Brew. My Cold Brew was flavored with Caramel. Hello, Starbucks, you need to send your Barista's here to learn how to make a quality Cold Brew. It was so refreshing, it had just enough caramel flavoring, making it not overly sweet. The scrambled eggs were light and fluffy. It's relatively easy to make scrambled eggs, but these were better then most. Scrambled are usually my method of choice and these impressed me - they were better then my favorite STL diner. The star of the breakfast was definitely the Chicken and Waffles with Maple Syrup. The chicken breast tenders were hand breaded and the buttermilk waffle was topped with a big scoop of cinnamon butter. The chicken was crispy and had a southern seasoning flavor. The waffle was thick, had a crisp outside and fluffy inside. If I lived in BNL, I'd be here almost everyday for breakfast. I know when ever I'm back in town, I'll be doing either breakfast or lunch here. The food and service are both 5 Stars. I'll be back? - When in town, I'll eat here. When: September 18, 2018 Why: Breakfast before meeting. read more

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One of my favorite breakfast places when visiting Illinois. I'm not being bias also cause of the name of the place lol read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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That place is really good food and it's very nice drinks and it's nice if you want something it's goddess in there

Fort Jesse Cafe reminded my husband and me of a restaurant one would find on a college campus: a casual vibe and simple decoration, fun waitstaff, and outstanding food. I had the Eggs Benedict, which was fantastic with a perfectly poached egg, and creamy Hollandaise sauce. The hash browns were actually crispy and golden brown, which doesn't happen often in a restaurant breakfast. My husband selected shrimp and grits which he said was "The best breakfast I've ever had!" The fruit cup was fresh and ripe. We look forward to going back soon and trying some other dishes. read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Sorry, there is just one little close-up of the eggs Benedict as the rest was eaten before I thought to snap a picture. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

It's been a couple years since I'd last eaten brunch here, but they're still just as great as ever! The interior is always clean, the service excellent, and the food is inventive and very good. Highly recommend the chicken and waffle benedict! read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Chicken & Waffle Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

T unassuming brunch place in Normal is the absolute go to for casual yet eclectic dining! Families of all ages are welcome, and it has a bit of a "sit around your kitchen table" feel. Don't let that fool you, both the food and the service are excellent! This place has mastered the art of friendly service, and if you've been here more than once, you become family. Not to be missed are the monthly specials. There's almost always a pancake special, and a special beverage as well. Also, throughout the month they will have featured sandwiches. This morning I sampled the Irish cream cold brew, coffee, with a clove whipped cream on top. Not to be missed! Tasted like a dessert. This featured skillet is corn beef and cabbage, corn, hash browns, carrots, onions, hollandaise sauce, cabbage, fresh parsley, and topped with two eggs made the way you want them. This dish is often a "two-fer", and may well be tonight's dinner. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Seasonal corned. Beef skillet with poached eggs, fruit cup side, and Irish crème cold brew - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

4.5. Came here for breakfast while in town w/my daughter and breakfast hit the spot. Mo-Joe coffee was awesome! I should have ordered that for myself lol. We had the half order of biscuits and gravy and avo brekkie sandwich. Everything was hot, fresh, and delicious. I wish they had more meatless options, I only saw a few to choose from. While dining in it felt like a country home atmosphere where the tables even looked something out of your parents house back in the day. On the avo brekkie sandwich I took off the bacon because I don't eat pork, but my kid does so I gave it to her. I noticed they even sell clothing and a few branded other items which was cool and unique. Note, that the bathrooms are unisex and were kinda smelly. There's 2 bathrooms one was for family and the other unisex w/a toliet and urinal separate but in the same room. Our waitress was super sweet and inviting. Fort Jesse Cafe, hit the spot for breakfast! read more

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THE best restaurant for breakfast and lunch in B/N area. Very attentive staff, who seem to like working there, and the menu always has a few new items to try. Most importantly the quality of ingredients and meals are 5 star quality. 100% recommended for all locals and visitors! read more

Fort Jesse Cafe - Honey chicken sandwich special. Limited time special! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Omg this place was amazing. We didn't even think to get reservations and we're a little surprised when the hostess asked since it was 10 on a Monday morning, but that place was busy the whole time we were there. We got seated immediately, but I'd still def suggest reservations. My biscuit and chicken sandwich was so good. Everyone's food was amazing and perfectly cooked to order. Staff was very nice and helpful. read more

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I absolutely love this place and I'm going to miss it so much when I graduate. This is the best restaurant to get breakfast/lunch food at! I have gone here so many times and I've tried so many things on their menu and everything has been phenomenal. The staff are so friendly and super helpful when I can't decide what to get. The food is always great and I can see why this place is a local favorite! read more

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So great! Very local. If you did not know about Fort Jesse Cafe, you would drive by and never know it is there. Which doesn't actually mean much, because they were pretty busy when I went at 11 am on a weekday. We did not experience a wait time but others after us did. Staff is enthusiastic and polite. Decor is like Grandma's kitchen. Clean and simple. Food was great, I has a patty melt and fries. Patty melt was perfect. Husband had the shrimp and grits which was also excellent. Prices reasonable. read more

The service was great. The atmosphere is amazing. I had a small OJ which was delicious, it has pulp! I got the biscuits and gravy which were delicious and a half order of the French toast those were incredible. read more

This was a wonderful place to stop at for a quick and filling breakfast! The restaurant was packed but the friendly Staff made sure to seat people quickly while offering excellent and personal service. Our server offered suggestions for vegan options and the the food was amazing! read more