Imo if you are going to call yourself a breakfast and brunch place, you should serve breakfast until at least noon! We showed up at 11:15 and were told they had already switched to the lunch menu when we had picked them specifically for a brunch selection. I, as a picky pregnant woman right now, was hugely disappointed. However there were three brunch-ish options on the lunch menu and the chicken and waffles were pretty yummy. Chicken tenders had a great texture, if not a little bland, but comboed nicely with the Chipotle mayo and cinnamon butter. Ingredients seemed high quality and the waffle was the best part. Staff was very friendly. I didn't leave feeling as sour as when I arrived. read more

Good vegan options. It's nice to be able to go there w/ non-vegan friends. Something for everyone.

Great atmosphere with big family tables. I got the cornmeal pancakes. The concept was great. The components worked well together. Make sure you ask for extra maple syrup, which is smokey and not too sweet. Coffee is a fruity, toasty breakfast roast. I want to try everything on the menu. Someone put a lot of time into developing that menu. Currently, this is the best place for breakfast in BloNo. I hope they keep up the good work, so I can come back again and again and again. read more

The food is really good here. But the $3.75 hot chocolate is just powdered hot chocolate you can buy in huge boxes at Sam's Club. I found powder all over the inside of my cup. read more

One of our favorites. Small, simple, inventive menu. Great, affordable food. And the servers - all of them - actually seem to enjoy being there, which makes us enjoy being there all that much more. Love this place. read more

Plan on your entire morning waiting to eat here. Unless you are planning on ordering something special like the shrimp and grits don't bother. Service is slow at best and it just seemed very unorganized. Our waitress went missing for 20 minutes and we didn't have drinks or anything. Won't ever go back unless there is no wait and I have lots of time. read more

I had chx and waffles for the first time. They were so good! The chicken was just perfect! I had a bite of the bruschetta skillet and it also was great- lots of flavor! Great staff! Everyone was very friendly. read more

I never write yelp reviews, but I can't NOT write one for Fort Jesse. This place is THE BOMB. Best breakfast in town, hands down. I could close my eyes and point to a menu item and be happy with whatever I get. You can't go wrong with ordering. The shrimp n grits is unreal, chicken and waffles are delicious, cajun and bruschetta skillets are inventive and so good. Staff is super friendly, coffee while you wait. It doesn't get better. read more

Still one of the best places for breakfast and lunch around. And now they have homemade onion rings.......DELISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just like many other folks in the Blo/No area, this is my favorite breakfast spot by far! If you've driven by during service hours, you know to expect to wait for a table, but in my opinion, it is absolutely worth the time (you can even get yourself a cup of coffee while you wait). The food is of the highest quality, often consisting of local products from around Central Illinois. My favorite happens to be the chicken biscuit, but I have never walked away from FJC feeling disappointed. The service has always been great - prompt and accommodating, even when it's a packed house. FJC has been a great addition to the B/N community, and I look forward to many more visits and many more chicken biscuits! read more

The food was very good, but the music blasting was bad, My friend and I came so we could talk while eating during our lunch break. My friend had a hard time hearing me and also the waiter could not hear us give our order; the music was that loud. Food was good, but could be improved a little better, by using blue cheese dressing instead of pure blue cheese which was too strong. Making sure tomatoes were fresher and so forth, only giving it 3 stars out of 5, Will come back when they lower the music. read more

You might have to wait for a table, but it will be WORTH IT! Everything here is superb - coffee is delicious! Try the BBQ shrimp skillet! Try the chicken waffles. Try it all; you cannot go wrong! The homemade jam is yummy. Top it all off with friendly staff and good prices. Best breakfast in town. read more

Awesome service - good coffee - can't go wrong with any of the featured items. Shrimp and grits are a must try. Fried chicken & waffle is big enough for two. read more

Tasty food at a great price!!!! although there was 25 min wait it went by fast! Loved the pulled pork sandwich the French toast looks amazing!!!!! Super friendly staff! read more

Aside from the wait on the weekend or during prime hours, there isn't anything bad at this establishment. The breakfast burrito can fead three and the specialty coffee drinks are delicious. read more

We visited Fort Jesse Cafe on a busy Sunday for breakfast. The staff was un-phased, polite, happy, and friendly! Everyone was smiling, it was awesome! I ordered the Harvest Skillet (a weekend feature) and it was perfectly prepared. I tried a biscuit instead of toast and it was life changing! The kids meals are wonderful. Perfectly portioned with fresh berries, plenty of bacon, and awesome pancakes. The rest of the table enjoyed their meals, also! Ray was our server and he was knowledgeable, kind, and efficient. Abby, the owner, stopped by the table as well and was awesome! I love FJC, we will be visiting for years to come. read more

Fantastic homeste food. Busy busy busy, simple decor. Great dinner, I'll return when in the area.

We were waiting on our car at the Subaru Dealer so we decided to walk down the street and grab a quick bite to eat. Amazing Cornmeal Pulled Pork Pancakes!!! Best I have ever had so I ordered them twice. We both highly recommended it. read more

Great breakfast for BN! Small location but worth the wait! They have big tables. Need more for parties of two then they will have a full house! read more

I went to Fort Jesse Café for the first time this weekend with a friend. It was a bit crowded, but well worth the 15-20 minute wait. I had a breakfast burrito and English muffin with coffee and she had the shrimp and grits with a biscuit. Both meals were outstanding! I highly recommend it! read more

Great breakfast/lunch place, show up early because there will be a wait...its their fault because ethe food is so good its worth the wait!

My only complaint is that it isn't open all day!!! The food (and drinks) are INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!! Worth the wait and can't wait until they open the new, bigger location. Every great review and the notoriety they're getting is beyond deserved! A++++++!!! read more

the food was good. but the wait was wayyy too long. they said it'd be 40-45 mins and we ended up waiting an hour and a half. i didn't think the food was worth that long of a wait. if you plan on coming here check in and leave and do whatever else you need to do then come back. read more

I was in town for a conference and we stumbled upon FJC. It's very unassuming from the outside but it was packed (which was a great sign for a Thursday). We arrived at 10:57 am so we had to choose between the breakfast and lunch menu. 2 in our party wanted breakfast and only one wanted lunch but we couldn't have both (which I thought was odd). We chose breakfast and ordered the bruschetta skillet and French toast. Amaze-balls! Seriously. Great flavors and and top quality food. Service was great. read more

We love this place. Usually do a chicken and waffles and the cornmeal pancakes. Nice spicy bbq on those pancakes makes up for no tapatio (my beloved!). Truly the best in town! read more

The service was a 5 star! But this place is LOUD! Mt special ( brisket with sauce) was flavorful but greasy. $11+ for small amount of meat homade chips and ice tea was a bit steep. And it is LOUD! Also very small menu choices. read more

I'm OBSESSED with Fort Jesse Cafe! My whole friend group is in love with the breakfast here. I've tried eating here about six times but have only actually eaten three times because of the consistently long wait (which is for good reason -- FJC is worth waiting for if you are not in a rush!) The French Toast is peculiarly amazing. I don't even like French Toast normally but somehow it tasted like Heaven here. I've also had the waffles and the traditional egg and bacon breakfast (best part - toast with their special blackberry jam). My friends love the chicken and waffles and the cornmeal pancakes. I hope to become more adventurous with my choices here, but the classic stuff is just as good! :) If you are wiling to wake up extraordinarily early or wait for sometimes an obscene amount of time on the weekends, the breakfast of your life is waiting for you here in Normal! read more

Love the breakfast at this place! Super friendly staff and overall cozy atmosphere. Definitely recommend anybody to check this place lut

Update! Just as good as ever, but now with a diaper changing table in the restroom!

Really good food and great customer service. They have one vegan option but plenty vegetarian. Decent price.

One word.... yum! One of my favorites for breakfast. Great atmosphere and great/friendly staff. There's usually a line in the morning during breakfast hours but don't worry, help yourself to some free coffee while you wait... yes! read more

Great place to eat breakfast lunch or brunch. If it wasnt for yelp this would be the best kept secret in Normal. I had the waffle and chicken strips. Wife had the corn pancakes. Both delicious. They do have daily specials not on the menu. Great food, ok prices, hipsters serving you, coffee as you wait 30 to 45 minutes. Have an italian ice next door at Teresa's while you do. It is worth the wait. read more

The inside needs some improvements and updating...but look past that and the food is delicious. I am a student at ISU and my first time going was my senior year. I was so mad because I wish I had heard of this place as a freshman at ISU. Best breakfast in Bloomington, worth the wait! read more

This place is "ok" for my taste when it comes to breakfast in town. The menu is limited and they are trying to do too much in my opinion for breakfast food. Infused this and that.... not for me. I take my brunch money to other local places that I feel a better. Also, the wait times on the weekends are un-Godly. An hour for some breakfast?!? There isn't a breakfast in this world worth waiting that long for. read more

If you are ever in the area this is a great little restaurant. I had the corn meal pancakes topped with Cuban pork, they were excellent. The service was excellent! The staff was very friendly. We had to wait 15-20 minutes to be seated because the place was full which was a bonus because I got to see the food the locals ordered before I made my decision. Everything that came out of the kitchen look tasty, read more

I've heard such good things about Fort Jesse Cafe, but during my third try, I learned they don't serve omelets, did not have mushrooms or spinach, it smells like they may have a backed up grease trap and one of their waitresses did not have on a bra. Our waitress was very kind and apologetic, but it took ten minutes after we were seated to hear from her. I won't try Fort Jesse again. read more

Everyone warned about the wait and they were right. Stood in line for about 25 mins at 8 a.m. on a Saturday. The worst part was that after a table would leave, it would take 5 to 10 mins to get it bussed and set up for the next diners, all while 25 people stood in line. They could do 15-25% more volume if they hired just one busser for this time. At one point before we were seated, there were four dirty tables sitting there. If they could get that aspect tightened up, it would do wonders for their bottom line. Now, the food was VERY good and once we were seated we had food in front of us in about 10 minutes. Daughter said she had the best pancakes of her life. Creative menu and they do lots of food things right. A little pricey for breakfast, 45 bucks for three but we did all get fancy coffees. read more

Don't get me wrong, this place is good but too many people are obsessed and always a long wait... it's just a good home style breakfast that's consistent and reasonably priced... there are several around town just like it. read more

Fantastic food and GREAT SERVICE!! This place is a gem but it is hidden away so don't look past it or else you will be the real one left out! read more

Fantastic breakfast and lunch selection. I highly recommend the Blackened Shrimp and White Cheddar Grits with andouille sausage. Service is prompt and friendly. Prices are affordable and coffee is delicious! read more