This place had a true hometown feel. The service staff were super friendly and calling everyone by name, it was packed, and the food was the centerpiece of it all! Homemade pie slices for $2.99 in this economy is WILD, but was the posted price with a whole laundry list of flavors! YUM! This is a breakfast/lunch spot and they close at 2pm except for a few evenings that they do dinner evidently. It is ABSOLUTELY WORTH making sure you get there even with the odd times!!! The French toast is amazing and I love french toast, I had some with my omelet. The omelet is a thinner version. Cooked on a flat top, folded and filled beautifully with all the goodies I requested. It was delicious! I ate far more of both the omelet AND the french toast! Yummmm. My partner had the sampler (top left on the menu). The server said you had to try it. It had eggs, meat, a side of French toast, AND a 1/4 biscuit with gravy! We took a bite of the sausage with a bite of the biscuit and gravy which was perfect! All the food was good as was the coffee (which had beautiful full flavor and wasn't watered down... momma likes some STRONG COFFEE and theirs was perfect! Our server was also wonderful, happy, helpful, and so nice. Wish I was better with names! They were packed but moved people in and out efficiently so go give them a try!!! read more

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What a great breakfast spot. The service was fast and friendly. The environment was clean and even toned. And the food was amazing. The Panther Plate is wonderful, a mix of omelet, hash browns, country fried steak, and biscuits and gravy in one GIANT 4 egg omelet. So stuffed! read more

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Apple fritter French toast and pancakes are both out of this world. Come very hungry as portions here are very generous. It's nothing fancy on the inside and service can be a little slow at times but it's so good I've been there on both visits to CF. They serve Pepsi products. Parking lot but it can get a little tricky when busy due to the layout. They serve lunch too which looks good if you want comfort food. read more

I've now graduated and J's will forever be engrained as a tradition for me and my family that visited! We always went for move in/move out days or a "we just want a good meal" without having to think about where we want to go. And of course this is where I had to go after the ceremony! 95% of the time the service was amazing 100% of the time the food was amazing I can never decide between breakfast or lunch. The French fries are amazing but so are their omelets! Can you please make a weird combo with those two so I don't seem crazy ordering it together? Parents and Freshman: if you're looking for a good hot meal - this is THE place to go! There's a reason it's packed at peak times! Thank you J's staff! You will forever be a memory for this alumni! read more

Typical diner fare; if that's what you're looking for, don't look any further. I'd recommend their J's sampler basket, as all of its contents are well-fried and quite tasty. read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - J's Basket - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

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As advertised. Great food. Great staff. Small town feel. You will spend $15-$20, $20 with tip, for one person but the portions are very large. Do skip this one. read more

Great food , service , and prices . Large portions . Short wait for party of nine . Server came often to check on us

First time ever going here, I ordered the J's breakfast with eggs, sausage, bacon and hash browns and French toast and 1/4th biscuit with gravy. While I was waiting a couple next to me had issues with their food, it happened so I didn't think much about it. The service was slow due to them being busier, but that's expected. The couple next to me stated issues about their ham and fish. It took about 30 minutes for my food to come, and when I got it the first thing I tasted was the French toast, it smelled like fish and didn't taste much like French toast. They didn't bring out the biscuit and gravy at all either. The eggs looked bad, overcooked and they were rubbery, it looked like they used the edges of fried eggs or something?!! The sausages were unevenly cooked, one of them looked cooked on one side more than the other, another one was burnt on one side. The hash browns looked normal but were greasy, normal I guess. Not sure if this was a one time mistake, but I wasn't the only customer who had issues with their food at the time I ordered. Overall, the food was inedible to my standards and honestly I could cook a way better breakfast at home with store bought ingredients! Scrambled Eggs should be soft and together not looking like rubber flaps! I was extremely annoyed because I was very hungry and expecting a nice home-cooked style breakfast. I decided not to order anything else and instead left the establishment. Service and employees were friendly, but the food just wasn't fooding today. Gravy's Diner on University would not disappoint, if you're looking for a good breakfast that is good every-time, go to Gravy's. Take my review as you please, as I said this is my first and only time eating here. I will not be giving them a second chance. I appreciate the effort in service and cooking, but this restaurant is not my type. I wish the best to J's Homestyle cooking in their future business. read more

When I travel I prefer to support a local business, but it can be hard to judge a book by the cover - that's why I use Yelp. This morning I began searching for a good breakfast place, I don't really want anything fancy, just a good solid breakfast. I found it at J's Homestyle Cooking!!! When I pulled up the parking lot was packed in (hint that's a good sign) and a number of people were milling around talking. We were quickly greeted and taken to our seat. As I do when I travel I ask what they recommend. The menu is good sized without being overwhelming. I decided on a Western omelette without the mushrooms, My friend asked about the Corn Beef Hash. I have to say my omelette was about the best I've ever had. Full of ham, green peppers, onions and some tomatoes and a healthy serving on top. My friend said her hash was great as well. The place was busy, without being loud. The waitstaff were hustling and food came out fast. It is defiantly a hot spot for breakfast based on how busy it was, but as a non-local I felt just as welcome. I would (and probably will) come back again. Highly recommended. read more

Had the KIMI KAKES for breakfast. Excellent. Got my favorites all in one. Ate one and enough to take one home. Give it a try... read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Kimi Kakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

I traveled here for work. I was told that I HAD to go to Js and more specifically if I went to Js to order the panther omelette. This omelette was huge. Way bigger than expected. I walked in and loved it immediately lots of support to the local university, and felt right at home with my server greeting me immediately. I was served quickly and paid attention to the entire time and really enjoyed the old school vibe of a good morning coffee. I ate half of my omelette and ate the other half for my lunch later on. read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Half eaten Panther-Fried Omelet - Regular - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

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Dined on Monday late morning so kind of quiet. Got great service and food was amazing! The best fluffy pancakes and amazing hash browns! Also had lots of great looking baked goods. Great meal! read more

Breakfast was fine hash-browns were really good the place was busy. The waitress was fine. The eggs were not cooked the way they were ordered. The toast is made in house in small loaves.... You get one piece unless you order two..... weird.... The toast was good.... read more

I have literally never had a bad meal at J's. My Mom loves eating here every time they are here this is where we have lunch.

Really need to give it 5 stars for what it is....country kitchen cooking. Staff is ALWAYS busy but helpful! Full of locals (there's a sign of good food!) and a great menue of comfort food and PIE! Lots of pies. Love the staff here and the food. Punch card for frequent flyer discounts. . My ONLY complaint is their hours. Not open evenings on most weekdays. I drove there for dinner midweek and it is closed. My pie dreams dashed I moved on. Heading there now for late Saturday breakfast! Free! My punchcard is full! read more

We ordered via an online service and I am not sure how often they take these kind orders as it didn't seem well equipped. I eventually got a waitress take time to check on the order. I tend to not like to go orders as most places tend to either get things wrong or the food is less than idea BUT that was not the case here. The food was absolutely incredible and worth the slight wait trying to get a waitress to get our food. I can imagine eating there is even better. The hash browns even being to go were just the perfect mixture of crunchy and soft and a good portion size also along with a side of smoked ham. My girlfriend had the roast beef and mashed potatoes with gravy which I tried and was also very good. The atmosphere is of a small town diner and nothing wrong with that either if you are into that kind of thing. This would be 5 stars if their to go order system was a bit better. A very solid 4 stars and somewhere we will try again when in the area. read more

Great service, amazing environment and even better food. Nothing but good things to say about J's Homestyle cooking! read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - J's Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

This pancake was the best darn pancakes I've had in years! Omelette was delicious, hash browns were crisp and that English muffin almost stole the show. Butterfly, dense, chewy, toasty... read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Veggie omelette & a blueberry pancake. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Food was delicious, would definitely recommend! Wait staff was very helpful. Would go back again.

Neighborhood diner/deli Very popular at lunch Quick efficient service Very ample menu Note hours: closed after 2 pm

Really good food it taste like a homemade breakfast and the chicken is fresss and they give you big portions

Fabulous home cooked food....big portions, decent prices. Love the Panther Omelette...you'd better be really hungry, or share it. Great friendly service. What more could you ask for? read more

Best liver and onions I have ever had. I will be coming back solely because of that dish.

We usually split the twister because portions here are so generous! The cooks will put it on two plates for us which is always more than what other places do. I love the punch card system too. The servers are always super busy and so nice no matter what. Highly recommend J's, it'll always be worth the wait to sit! read more

Everything here was amazing including the service! Specialty omelette, cinnamon French toast, sausage, bacon, American fries... now I need a nap. read more

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Nice hometown restaurant! They have awesome breakfast food and have a lot of menu options. :) read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Fried cauliflower - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

well lock down day out for parts. we were hungry! so we decided to give this place a shot! small mom and pop place. good menu i went for the hot beef. 10 bucks. and that was all that was offered just the hot beef with mashed taters and gravy. ok home done roast beef! thick sliced maybe 1 inch to 1-1/4 thick! and plenty of it! inside texas toast. home made mashed potato's! yum! and brown gravy... well under cooked gravy it tasted like flour... they needed to make a roux first or at least boil the gravy... yea i am a gravy nut so in know good gravy.. value, yea ok! you will want more if you are starved! the great news is the water was good at this place! i should to have ordered more food...' they had cookies that looked good! that and milk or ice cream would to have made a perfect meal topper! yea stop in and give them a try! but bring plenty of cash if you are working man hungry! read more

In town for the weekend and was told this is the place to go!!! It is thee place to go. They love their UNI panthers. From purple and gold outside to the decor. Inside is a hometown diner cafe. Baked treats that all look so good it'll be hard to pick one! Their breakfast omelet was amazing!! read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Western omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Good food. I would have liked for my meal to be hot and not luke warm. I was asked and I told the waiter that and he offered to redo it but I was hungry and it did taste good. Prices for dinner are about $10 for an entree. It's not a home run but considering I'm in Iowa it will do. Had the Yankee pot roast and it was delicious. read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Easily the best diner in cedar falls/ Waterloo. The portions are huge, the food is excellent, the prices are great, the selection is amazing. They make you feel like you're at Grandmas house and you never leave Grandmas house hungry. It has a small dining area so make sure to allow yourself plenty of time as seating is limited and weekends are busy. But it's busy because it's good so this place is well worth the wait! read more

Once again they just cut up omelets for scrambled..... just shows the laziness or ineptitude of the cook. read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Dining - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Best. Biscuits. & Gravy I've ever had. Great food (only been for breakfast but I suspect it's always good)

Awesome, delicious. There were six of us in our party. Some had breakfast, a couple had lunch. Everyone was very happy with their meals. Portions are very generous and extremely good. The wait to get a table was a bit long, but well worth the wait read more

J's Homestyle Cooking is quite the hopping place! My party of five and I went on a Saturday around eleven or so and only had to wait five minutes or so. The staff was very accommodating and made sure to fit us all in. I had the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon, and while the gravy was a little too peppery for my tastes, the biscuits were delicious. My husband had some delicious-looking pile of food with hashbrowns, veggies, runny eggs. They serve breakfast all day! Update: Get the white raspberry French toast. It's all I eat there now. You will NOT regret it. The bread is made in-house--well, all of their bread products are--but this just took my French toast to a new level. read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Breakfast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

The only nice thing I can say about them is they have fast service. But I was very unimpressed with the food. I orders pancakes with bacon- and a side of hash browns. The pancakes were not cooked all the way. The middle was grainy and tasted like batter the hashbrowns were okay. And the bacon was over cooked. My friend got the biscuits and gravy. His biscuits were not homemade like it said in the menu. And they were cold and hard. I also got over charged for the breakfast. They charged me 26.00 for everything and it should have only been between 15-20 for everything. Defiantly will not be coming back. Very disappointed read more

Had a 3 egg cheese and sausage omelette with coffee. Do not plan to go back. Coffee was luke-warm with no flavor. Omelette was okay, the sausage was bland. This cost me $18 before tip, not worth the money. read more

I will first say that the service is phenomenal! You're treated like family and as if you've been known for years. We are there twice in 24 hours. The panther omelette is excellent! I highly recommend it! read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - The Panther Omelette is a must get! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

I had a large tenderloin about $13. LTO and Mayo are separate charges. was very big (14oz) came with one side. very lean breading was thin, not the crispy kind. read more

J's Homestyle Cooking - Large tenderloin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

My family went out to eat for breakfast here and the restaurant itself is small but it makes it feel homey and like a small town restaurant. The food had a wide selection for breakfast but some of our food was cold, it was very hectic that day but a couple of our plates were cold. read more

Great food. Friendly. Unpretentious. Good prices. Homemade breads and pastries too. Exactly what you want a diner to be.