Thoughts on Janko's: 1. Make the reservation now. 2. Be ready for the most no-frills casual steakhouse you've ever been to. Jeans are okay. Hats are okay. Come as you are but bring your appetite. 3. Steaks are good. Wife raved about her filet but I didn't love hers. I did really like my Pittsburgh-style ribeye. Daughter loved her ribeye. 4. Make the reservation. Don't bother calling though because they'll put you on hold for infinity. 5. Rolls served with every meal are not great. Salad served with every meal is standard. Same with the baked potato. You're coming here for the steaks anyway. 6. This is a great place for IU students to go on a special date. As potential one-time visitors to Bloomington, we liked the spot and would come back but it wasn't special or romantic or memorable. 7. The servers are nice but it's clear they're trained to get you in and out of there. Par for the course because it's popular but it is annoying. 8. Make the reservation already. They're popular. You will not get in otherwise. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - ribeye - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Wonderful meal, wonderful steak! It was my first time, despite having lived in Bloomington for 25 years.

Had to wait about 10 minutes past reservation time to be seated, there is no bar even any seats to wait at. There were three of us. Meatballs Bucharest were 4/5 , but our steaks were only about 2/5 on average, all overcooked, especially my wife's half filet which they sliced horizontally making it too thin IMO. To their credit, they did cook another filet . read more

No frills steakhouse, just wish they had a bar area for those of us who travel alone. The steaks are good and cooked well. Service was also good, worth a try. Enjoy!!! read more

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Really great Ribeye - the seasoning and char were done very well! It did come back a bit too rare but they were happy to throw it back on the grill for me. The grilled bread was also very tasty. The meatballs were just.. good - the sauce was good however the balls seemed to not be freshly made/rolled? Everyone was really pleased with their food. However, it was actually the atmosphere that was uncomfortable for us. The resturaunt is very tight so we were brushing past people while they ate as we left our table. We were cold while we ate too and some of us were quite uncomfortable squeezed into the tiny booths and tiny tables. When we made our reservation online, we were told that our dining time would be strictly 1 hour - I suppose this is fine for how busy they get but it was off-putting. I did not see them enforce this rule while we were there even though they were busy. Overall, the vibe and taste of the food was like being at your friend's house and their dad is really good at grilling. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Ribeye - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

First of all, rumor has it that when Indiana became a state in 1816, the founding fathers of Bloomington signed the statehood papers on a slab of ribeye as thick as a limestone brick. Naturally, Janko's must have been the caterer. I mean, how else do you explain steaks this perfectly charred? The restaurant must have discovered the secret of fire long before cavemen were rubbing sticks together. Some historians (aka me, after two glasses of house red) believe Janko himself invented fire on a cold winter night by angrily glaring at a stubborn matchstick until it burst into flames. The menu feels like it's been forged by centuries of indigenous hunters who, instead of feasting on fresh-killed deer and bison, decided, "You know what? We're throwing this on a grill, seasoning it like Zeus himself is stopping by, and serving it with a baked potato the size of a musket ball." The staff? They're friendly, but I'm 92% certain they're direct descendants of the brave souls who cooked the first celebratory steak when the pioneers beat the wilderness into submission and said, "Yep, this is steak country now." I even overheard a server telling someone that their porterhouse recipe was found etched on a cave wall somewhere near Brown County--between the handprints and a crude drawing of a mastodon. The atmosphere is cozy, like a pioneer cabin where the only thing you're hunting is which steak cut will make you happiest. You don't just eat at Janko's--you take part in a centuries-old ritual that likely made Indiana the strong, steak-loving state it is today. In short, Janko's Little Zagreb is less a restaurant and more a living (and wildly inaccurate) historical landmark, where steak is king, fire was probably invented yesterday, and statehood documents might still smell like grilled beef. (5 stars, because if this is wrong, I don't wanna be right.) read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Always enjoy dinner at Janko's. Steaks are great, as is everything else. Highly recommend and have never been disappointed. I read some of the reviews and just marvel at how people could have been disappointed. read more

Bruh!! This was straight FIRE No Cap. Listen, I was taking my wife out on a whim date night after I worked 13 hours because I'm not a piece of We have never been here before but let me tell you. EVERY.... SINGLE.... ITEM...... was delicious. First off, grilled rolls bro, come on. Next was meatballs with the spicy-ness, next was a salad with ranch. THE RANCH DRESSING DID NOT MISS. Steak was cooked perfect and seasoned like steak should be. Big AZZ shrimp cocktail, cocktail sauce insanely good. And let's finish it all off. Waitress said dessert? I said what you got, she said this bourbon cake. I said I'll try it with coffee please. Brooooo!!!! That CAKE bro! THAT CAKE. I can't go back to Texas Roadhouse after this. It would almost be a sign of disrespect. Pic is so you know this is real life. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

A great local staple in Bloomington! Been multiple times and have always had good service and food. Meatballs are a must. Sauce is a little spicy, but delicious. Would recommend a reservation if possible. read more

So...most people in Bloomington love this place, but I think it sucks. I hate that we bring visitors here because it looks like we're a bunch of unsophisticated hillbillies. Plastic table clothes, plastic salad bowls, tables crammed together. It's embarrassing. The food is ok. The meatballs are amazing and we get those for carry out often! But everything else is over priced and only average. If I pay Ruth Chris prices I want a Ruth Chris steak - and this ain't it!!! Service is usually slow because the place is packed with admirers. I'm just not one of them. read more

Going back to Janko's Little Zagreb after all these years was like reconnecting with an old friend--comforting, familiar, and just as incredible as I remembered. The spicy meatballs were and their wine selection? Absolutely unmatched. I can't wait to go back for their iconic steaks. If you haven't been in a while (or ever!), it's time to treat yourself. Don't forget to make a reservation--this Bloomington gem fills up fast (even on a Wednesday)! read more

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This. This is why I slowed my trip down and took a two day delay. I was told this steakhouse was worth it. And you know what? It absolutely is. A fancier restaurant with a high end feel, I was warmly welcomed despite my lack of reservation. I chose the sirloin and it was perfect. Cooked medium rare as requested, it was absolutely delicious and I love that my waitress was able to locate some horseradish to really bring out the flavor. The salad was very good, the baked potato was perfect. I opted against dessert because I was stuffed. This is a great spot to impress, whether a business meeting or a date or your parents coming to town for to visit you at University. Absolutely not cheap but well worth it. [Review 20562 overall - round number 100 in Indiana - 1543 of 2023.] read more

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Oh, my! Five stars are not enough! My husband and I say Janko's is a 5+++. We waited too long to try it! The food, service and atmosphere -- all wowed us. He ordered the 20-oz Ribeye and said it was the best Ribeye he's ever eaten (and he's had a lot of Ribeye experience). I enjoyed the pork chop dinner. It was the thickest, most tender, juiciest pork chop I've ever had! Both dinners were beautifully plated, and even the dinner rolls were delectable. Almost forgot -- one of the soup choices was Goulash, which was a flavorful delight. The servers (all women -- many dressed on-trend, which added to the vibe) seemed all to be attentive and cheery. Our table was across from the counter behind which is the grill where you can see the outstanding steaks and other meaty dishes being expertly prepared. The chef has a magic touch! Even the dinner rolls are warmed on the grill just before they're served. The overall atmosphere was comfortable, quaint, kind of supper-club-ish (have you been to Wisc?); yet the meals were definitely upscale. This was a moderately high-priced dinner ($97 for both of us + tip and without alcohol) that we'll save for special occasions, but it is definitely going on the top of our list when we're thinking of wonderful, extremely satisfying dining experiences. Long live Janko's Little Zagreb in Bloomington, IN! read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - 20-oz Ribeye Steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Loved Janko's...just an old school place that does things their way. Nothing upscale or fancy here. Just tasty steaks and baked potatoes. Pretty basic salad but the dressing was tasty. Also really enjoyed the grilled shrimp. Overall definitely a place to check out in Bloomington. read more

Steakhouse with reasonable prices. Great spot after IU sporting events. Split a bottle of wine with friends. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Ribeye w/ baked potato. Sauted Mushrooms for steak and cheese and chives for potato. - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

The food is very good! The service in my experience seemed rushed and 1 of the 2 times was a bit rude. The ambiance is alright... when you go it's not as much of fancy as it is historical. I think it's worth a try but isn't one of my favorite personally. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Waiting area - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Great place to eat in Bloomington. Crowded and very load, but the food was tasty. Make sure you have reservations

Food was delicious. Reservations recommended Salad and homemade dressing are wonderful and baked potato seasoned well. Definitely try the meatballs. They are spicy but well worth it. read more

As good as it gets. Perfect service and food. Our server was on top of her game. Meatballs were amazing as always. Split the NY steak and it was cooked perfectly and was delicious. Wine prices are great and we had a killer Merlot. All in all a great experience. Been coming here since the early 80's and it never disappoints. Keep it up. The service really makes it top notch. read more

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Little Zagrebs is the best steakhouse around all their food is great and so the atmosphere

Awesome steakhouse. Every steak I've had here has been amazing. The menu is the perfect size and offers options for all but isn't overwhelming with options. They also have a great wine selection. Service was good. This restaurant can get pretty crowded during busy IU Weekends, but hey that's because it's just that good! read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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I love the feeling of this little place. It's super cozy and makes you feel welcome right away. It's also way bigger on than inside than you would imagine. Our server was friendly and super attentive. I probably would have enjoyed the food better if I had ordered a steak. I ordered the meatballs Bucharest which came with a side salad and a potato. They were good, but way more spicy than I had imagined and didn't live up to the raving that I have heard about them. The ranch on their salad was really good. The rolls we got beforehand were absolutely delicious. I could have eaten those all day, but the butter that came out was hard as a brick. My partner got the burger that he wasn't impressed with. I tasted it and thought it was good. All in all, definitely not worth the price for the items we received. I'd come back to try steak and maybe that would change my mind. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Meatballs Bucharest - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This was a pricey place that I missed getting to try when I was a poor college student in Bloomington. I don't think the decor has changed in decades. I'm glad we went but I feel this place is definitely hit or miss. The spicy meatballs were recommended as a favorite appetizer. The sauce was spicy with red pepper flakes but the meatballs were kind of flavorless. Tender but no flavor other than they were meatballs. The steak and salad with house made dressing were both really good. We also had the spicy pork ribs for two which aren't shown. They were tender and tasty. The rolls were okay but the soup was horrible. It was bland and lumpy. I love cream of mushroom soup so this was very disappointing. I would definitely come back for a steak or chops but skip the appetizers and soup. read more

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You don't go here for the ambience, the tables are so close together. It's inevitable conversation has challenges. Now onto the food. You won't find a better steak in Bloomington. The service is quick to the point of almost feeling rushed, but don't let that keep you away. This place is a Bloomington tradition. read more

Be careful. House glass of wine... $19. Want blue cheese dressing, +$2 more for a "salad" which is mostly just lettuce. The environment is rugged, and not comfortable. The steaks are pretty good, but charging Las Vegas prices for a Motel 6 experience. The food prep staff walks around in dirty aprons and no hairnets with shaggy hair. The wait staff works hard and very friendly. That's the silver lining! read more

Came here with my little brother when I visited him in Bloomington. I made reservations two weeks in advance and the only slot available was at 4:30pm right when they opened. Despite the restaurant being extremely busy I appreciated that they never rushed us during our meal. Spicy Meatballs - These should come with more of a warning because they are extremely spicy!! I did not imagine that a small-town midwest steakhouse would be serving up anything so spicy but I was tearing up! Stuffed Peppers - my brother and I shared the stuffed pepper meal. It was a large dish with sauce fully covering the peppers and the entire plate. It reminded me of the stuffed peppers some of our relatives made growing up, so very homemade and unpretentious. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Punjene Stuffed Pepper (it's supposed to come with one but they gave us two!) - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Not wheelchair accessible. The ramp is too narrow and unusae because the door is locked by a table. The bathroom door is too narrow for a wheelchair to fit through and there are no accessible toilet stalls. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb - Narrow ramp with no guard rail and door blocked from the inside. - Steakhouses Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I still miss Jeff and Janko. Crazy, delicious times. Glad to see the joint still making great food. Best lamb chops ever!!

We were a party of four. I had the ribeye, two had the filet and one had the ribs. All were amazing and cooked exactly how we ordered them. The meatballs for an appetizer were nice and spicy and tasted great. The dinner rolls were very good and the soup and salad were very good as well. The service was spot on. An absolutely wonderful evening. read more

I read all the reviews and decided for my one night in Bloomington we would eat at Janko's. While the food was very good and the service was excellent this place is a dump. I know it is an institution, but clean it up a little. I will never forget Janko's, but unfortunately what I will remember is how run down the place is. Food, service and wine list are excellent. read more

The spot gets very busy, so make a reservation! You can tell this place has been around for a while and has a good reputation because it was bursting at the seams with people. It's not very big and was cramped and loud inside. You could see everybody working really hard and moving around really fast. They seemed to be well staffed for how busy it was. There was a lot of interesting things on the walls and there's a real hometown feel to the place. Most importantly, the steak was absolutely delicious! Perfectly seasoned. The salad and bread rolls that they provide are very generic...VERY. I love bread and wasn't into their rolls which says a lot. Based on what you're getting, I do think it was a little bit pricey, but I feel like everything is these days. Just a few days later in a different city, I went to St Elmo's which is supposed to be amazing and was way more expensive and the food was so disappointing. I couldn't help but compare- this place was way better! I was visiting from out of town, so I don't think I ever will be back, but I would recommend this place to others if you're in Bloomington! read more

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My heart hurts writing this, as I've been a customer for decades. My last two visits have been less than I've known over the years. First off, don't bother making a reservation, as I've had to wait 45 and 20 minutes longer than the reservation time. read more

in my visit to this place, I've certainly enjoyed the service and the ambience. However, I have never felt the quality of the food quite lived up to the price point. I feel there are other places in the area where you can have a better meal for less money. read more

Janko's Little Zagreb has been a staple in Bloomington since I was born. I had only been a few times and decided to take my girlfriend when we were in town. I ordered the Ribeye and she ordered the NY Strip. Both were cooked and seasoned perfectly. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The sides that come with the meal or predetermined unless you want to order something else. They were okay. The service was excellent. At all times, there was someone coming by our table to either refill water, clear plates, ask if we needed anything. It was also never the same person which really told me that everyone there is looking after each other and the restaurant. It was a bit noisy, but they were pretty busy as well. Given the size of the place, it's the sign that this place is good. I would definitely recommend to anyone coming into Bloomington or locals alike. read more

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Service was excellent, the meat balls had a little spice and were very good. we enjoyed the bread, tasted fresh. I got the filet and was cooked perfect, the baked potatoes was good. Butter and sour cream is the only option. The salad dressing are homemade. The score was the stuffed bell pepper. If you like stuffed bell peppers, not sure it gets any better. Only complaint is the salad is boring. Needs tomatoes, onion ring, maybe cucumber, croutons. But hell I'm complaining about a salad read more

Steaks were incredible and perfectly cooked as the temperature requested. Service was a little slow but very friendly and courteous. The ambiance was old school, definitely wasn't expecting the quality of food we received when we first arrived. Venue is small and just regular tables or booths. Wine and beer only, they do not have a full bar. Will be back when I'm the area. read more

Had the ribs. They were drowning in sauce-I literally could t find them in the pool of sauce. So disappointed and sorry for spending so much on something so inedible. read more

Food was good, but atmosphere was terrible. No space between tables! The table next to us had an extra chair, and that lady was practically sitting in my lap. I had no space to move my hands to eat whatsoever. Also super noisy too. Think twice about this place. Service takes awhile. read more

Loved the comfy family vibe restaurant. Loud, cheerful conversations felt like a small restaurant in Europe with low cost tables chairs and decorations (IU themed of course) where they have obviously focused their attention is on sourcing their steaks and cooking expertise. With their Limited menu and decades of experience the food was outstanding. Meatballs, salads steak and potato's were cooked perfectly to order. They were able to clearly answer GF questions as well. Will be visiting again for amazing steak. read more

Generally a good food establishment. We all like our dinner. Unfortunately trying to enjoy a special family meal was impossible due to the rowdy nature of the place as this is a big drinking hole as well. Try going early to get in a good meal. read more

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