Cj’s Restaurant & Pizza

Very disappointing experience at CJ’s today. Stopped in, half the tables were empty and set up. Told 20 minute wait. Couldn’t even sit in the bar area.

The kid picked this breakfast location this morning because she remembered the Micky Mouse pancake from a previous visit. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated but waited about 15 minutes without seeing a server. Tables seated after us had drinks but no one had come our way. Went back to the hostess stand and mentioned that the server may not realize we are in the section. The hostess said she would check but was not friendly or apologetic at all. She came by the table a few minutes later to say the server would be right there, still unapologetic. After another five or so minutes a server finally arrived, taking our drink order and asking if we were ready to order our food as well. Since we were afraid she may not return for a while, we placed our food order of a Mickey Mouse pancake, biscuits and gravy with eggs over easy, and country fried steak with scrambled eggs, hash browns, and a biscuit. The server was not unfriendly but was not necessarily friendly either. The food did arrive quickly and the kid enjoyed the Mickey Mouse pancake, saying it was really good (some pancakes she will taste but then not eat, so that says something). The biscuits and gravy with eggs were fine. I’ve had worse biscuits and gravy so they were a bit above average — but nothing spectacular. When asked about what stood out, good or bad, about the country fried steak meal, my husband thought for a few minutes but then said nothing really stood out either way. Once we had our check, we waited about ten minutes before the payment was picked up and processed, which is a pet peeve of mine (when I’m ready to go, I’m ready. to. go.) I realize the place being so busy wasn’t the server’s fault — but not staffing up enough to avoid people having to wait forever between server visits is the fault of the establishment. In summary, nothing bad and nothing great with so-​so service. Friendlier and faster service could have garnered this place another star but without it, I’m giving it the equivalent of a «C».

We had a decent breakfast at CJ’s on a recent Saturday morning. I enjoyed my eggs benedict with spinach and bacon. A good breakfast was made less so, however, by mediocre coffee served with artificial creamer. I will go back, but only when I know that there is half and half available. Life is too short for bad coffee.

Best chicken fried steak I have ever had. The home fried American potatoes rocked. My wife had the California eggs Benedict and the eggs were perfectly poached. Our son had the Mickey mouse pancake always a crowd pleaser. CJ’s is always a great breakfast stop.

We had all but written off CJs after eating there quite often. Food wasn’t good and service was AWEFUL! We were talked into another visit against our will and what a surprise! Food was great but just as important was the great service. Our server Randy was fast, accurate and very sincere. What a turn around. I hope the keep him happy because he was fantastic.

I hate giving negative reviews but CJ’s needs better business practices. They close during the middle of the day on Sundays for no apparent reason. Then we go back and they won’t allow anyone to sit on their patio because it is a holiday weekend… This is the best part of their restaurant and We only went so my 3 year old could watch the planes while we were there. After a disappointed child we decided to just leave. Service is ok. Food tends to be greasy but decent. Really wish it was run better, could be such a cool place!

These guys do a nice job of everything.
Best kept secret is patio /​beer garden that allows for awesome view of private airport and planes taking off and landing.

Yummy pizza. Friendly service. Looks a little sketchy from the outside but beautiful inside!

I love places like this — but the food was a disappointment for me. However they are busy — so they must be doing something right!
They are a nicely setup restaurant next to a small airport — you can watch planes takeoff and land (a helicopter landed right next to us). And it is a local establishment.
However, the food was rather simple and uninspiring. I admit I wanted the food to match the rest of the experience.
— Fried mushrooms were ok
— Vegetable Beef soup was ok but mostly seasoned with salt
— Broiled Cod was ok however not much flavor
— steak fries were ok
Nothing bad and very reasonably priced — but nothing was exciting to eat either.
Will have to try their pizza.

Five of us stopped in for lunch; it is very spacious and we were seated immediately. Two in the party ordered breakfast that they enjoyed while two of us enjoyed salads that were fresh. Overall a nice selection at market prices with good service.

Got an omelette and asked for it with egg whites. Sounds easy enough? Wrong. It was runny falling apart and had enough oil to kill a few despite asking for none. I realize it’s a special ask of something not specified on the menu but I should think a breakfast place would be able to accommodate a simple egg white omelette. The place generally feels old and dirty but the service was good and the waitress gave us free orange juice.

This is a Bloomington staple. Unfortunately CJ passed away a couple years ago but his restaurant remains his legacy. I’ve been there for drinks at the bar once, lunch once or twice, but breakfast countless times. This is a hot spot for the after church crowd.
We’ve been coming here for 15 years, starting back at the old location on the outskirts of town.
Everything is great. My favorite is the CJ’s Skillet, but every omelette is wonderful. Prices have been creeping up but the quality and service remain the same, very good. I recommend reservations.
If you are a pilot, you can literally land your plane at the Central Illinois Airport, taxi over to the restaurant and park. Pilots and their guests typically get priority service or at least it appears to be the case. They come in from the runway side and usually get seated quickly.

It’s been a while since we’d been and it will be an even longer while before we go back. While the restaurant itself and its location is fairly impressive, especially the large patio, our experience there was quite disappointing. Yes, there was something for everyone in our party (Mexican skillet, bacon-​avacado omelette, pancakes and crepes) and friendly service, but bit of a wait and nothing was overwhelmingly good. The ‘famous’ pancakes for instance were WAY too cake-​like for our liking. Can’t recommend.

We’ve been here a few times, and love their deep dish, stuffed pizza. If you’re from around here and have had Rosati’s Pizza deep dish, they are pretty similar. We’ve also had their burgers, which were decent
It’s pretty kid friendly, although the crowd in the restaurant always seems to be somewhat older. On nice summer evenings, you’ll need to make a reservation if you want to sit out on the patio and watch the planes land and take off. The bar area always seems lively, although I haven’t experienced it.

Pretty nice lounge/​bar for beer with the work gang. I was there on a Thursday and they had Sam Adams Alpine Spring for $ 4/​pint. Other specials that night were $ 1.50 domestic bottles and half price appetizers. Someone I was with ordered the King Platter (or something like that). It was literally a small mountain of fried goodness — onion rings, mushroom, cheese sticks, etc. for like $ 6 at half price.
The coffee at breakfast is decent — better than most places in town.

great local eatery: I have been going to this place for 5 years and have always enjoyed every meal that I got from them. The service is always good there and i never have to ask for a refill. I enjoy the chicken and also the pork chop dinner that CJ offers.
They also have a appetizer called «deep fried pickles“that is something to try as its very good. They also have plenty of desserts to choose from. In october Cjs also offers an Oktoberfest and has a few different german dishes to feast on. All his prices are reasonably priced.

this restaurant usually targets an older crowd.
but what the hell. i don’t give a crap.
i love the food here.
breakfast is bomb (skip the omlette). biscuits & gravy are superb along with rest of stuff.
THEIR stuffed PIZZA IS ORGASMIC.

Usually enjoy many things about CJ’s. Last couple of times I’ve been there I haven’t been overly impressed. Menu seems to keep shrinking and the service is just ok.
Wife ordered open face prime rib, for $ 12 you think you might get a little Au jus, but maybe not. She said it tasted good. My Reuben tasted good, chips came with sandwich fries were extra; a little pricey for $ 8. Ordered onion rings as an appetizer which never arrived. Never saw waitress again until food dropped off. Server asked if we needed anything, informed Server about the onion rings. Server apologized saying forgot to put in the order. Not overly upset was full from sandwich.
Best thing I have ever eaten at CJ’s is the liver and onions, have never eaten the pizza but everyone I know who has raves about it.
Older clientele so don’t go around early dinner time and right after church on Sunday.

Went to to CJ’s because the other place was closed. Wish the other place was open.
Ate outside because the inside smelled like a convalescent home. Yuck.
I wish I could say my breakfast was good. I ordered eggs and corned beef cash and got eggs and greasy potatoes. I asked the server if that was what I ordered and he said that maybe there was corned beef under the potatoes. No such luck.
The server had personality and the patio backing up the apron was cool.

This review is specific to breakfast only. Why? Cuz I’m a breakfast freak and this is my review, that’s why.
I haven’t found anything that I’ve fallen in love with, nor have I had a bad experience. Hence the A-​Ok review. I’ll keep going back to see if something stands out above the rest compared to my other restaurant reviews.
So far, I’m a fan of the breakfast sandwich and hashbrowns. Its nice to have an Egg McMuffin that actually tastes like breakfast and not back of a semi-​truck frozen microwave-​ed-​ness. The flavor is right on and the hashbrowns are cooked just right. Not raw and white… not burned to a crisp but that right blend of golden brown color.
Coffee goes down easy and the service is good. Plenty of seating options and in the warmer months you can sit out on the patio and watch the mini-​planes come in.
It can be PACKED on a Sunday after church so either come wicked early or come in a small group. If you’re open to sitting at the bar or high top tables you’ll get seated quicker.