I wish I could do a real review. I was in Comanche Texas and decided to drive home early. I checked Yelp for somewhere open at a late hour. I read about this great place and it would be open until 2 a.m. I drove down some pretty dark streets . I thought my GPS was playing with me. It was dark and raining. I stuck with it and arrived a little after 12. Closed! Ok, this is just a sad story and should have no bearing on the quality of the restaurant. I though y'all would like a break from reading how great their CFS was. I don't get out that way often . I will try again. I am a sucker for a good CFS. PS I tried twice to stop at IHOP. Both times it was a fail due to the driving rain storm. Was I ever hungry when I got home. That's what I get for refusing fast food. read more

Keeping a family tradition a great quality, friendly service, and ample portions. This is home away from home for lots and lots of working people, and travelers who never drive through the Stephenville area without stopping in for at least a piece of pie! My favorite meal is breakfast here, because they serve you the crispiest bacon in town and everything is always consistently good. read more

This past year, Jake and Dorothy's Cafe went smoke free, so non-smokers no longer have to walk through the smoking section to the non-smoking area or to pay out. They still only take cash or checks. The baker is back! Fresh, amazing pies! And don't miss Tuesday evenings where hamburgers roll back in price to just $1each! I've moved back to Stephenville and eat at Jake and Dorothy's Cafe at least once a week. Not into chicken fried steak? Try their chicken friend chicken, a hamburger, late night steak and eggs from 10p to close on Friday and Saturday, and all you can eat sirloin on Fridays from 5p to 10p for just $17.95. This place is an institution in Stephenville and I've been going for over 40 years. Should be on your list of a place to stop and eat when visiting this area! read more

You could not talk me into going back to this place. Chicken fried steak was terrible, fries were burnt, and waitress was rude.

This is GREAT American food. Basic but FANTASTIC! If you want a good home-cooked meal, this is the place to come too. The people that work here are like friends! read more

This place is so old, they still have a smoking section. But don't let that stop you. One of my favorite chicken fried steaks in the state of Texas. I have grown bored with Mary's in Strawn, and J & D has taken its place. This is not one of those frozen patties, it's the real hand breaded and deep fried thing. Great gravy and they have waffle fries! I love waffle fries and gravy. The place is pretty old and some people might turn their nose up as they immediately walked back out, but if you want some hole in the wall good food, this is the place. Come try it, you'll like it. read more

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe - Don't it make you smile! - Cafes Near Me - Stephenville, Texas

I have somehow managed to live 40-something years without ever eating chicken fried steak ... until yesterday, at Jake & Dorothy's. I thought it was pretty awesome, but have nothing to compare it to. My H, on the other hand, has plenty of experience in steak of the chicken fried variety, and says it was the best he's had. Be hungry -- the portions are HUGE. And take cash, cuz they don't take credit cards. But if you're in the area, make time for Jake & Dorothy's. You'll be glad you did. read more

Awesome dive. Excellent food, fantastic service. Internet says they're the second best chicken fried steak in Texas, and I believe it.

The good: one of the best chicken fried steaks in Texas in a restaurant that a patron once remarked to me - "this place could be picked up and place entirely within the Smithsonian." The steak is good, crispy but not dry, with the appropriate amount of chew. I've had this many times but on my last visit just had the hot steak sandwich - chicken fried steak on top of gravy and toast. I always recommend what we call the Jason special - skip the salad and double the waffle fries. Coupled with a Dublin Dr. Pepper you will experience Texana heaven. Now the bad: there is smoking when you enter so if this bothers you walk to the back dining room; the tea - well, just avoid it; and they do not take credit cards so remember to take cash or a check (do they still make those?) Regardless, this is a place that has earned it's place in Texas history as a place to experience our culture and food. read more

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe - Hot Steak Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Stephenville, Texas

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Wow very good diner, I love their burgers. They are super good, I honestly didn't think they were going to taste good because I'm NOT a big fan of diners but my goodness was I wrong. I like how you get to choose sections the smoking section and non-smoking. We were in the non-smoking only because I CANNOT eat and smell smoke, its just not happening. Anyways, the fries were kinda off, and not that great. I heard that their pies are the bomb, only because my brother lives up here and he took me and my dad here. I heard on Tuesday nights they serve dollar burgers, and I do believe that also. The staff here is very sweet, and kind just like everyone in this small town or so. They also have a little sign in book you can sign and take record of, I thought that was neat'o. I would recommend this yummy place to anyone. If I had 1,000 thumbs, then they would have 2,000 thumbs up for the service, and quality of their food. read more

Born and raised in Stephenville Texas Jake & Dorothy's was a staple. If you happened to pass by on a weekday around noon you could sit at the counter and hear stories from some of the most amazing cowboys like George Brown. Stop by on a Monday night and get yourself a $1 hamburger. But don't forget to add a side of waffle fries that are SOOO good! (Even if they do leave a greasy layer on the roof of your mouth.) Jake & Dorothy's Café is famous for their chicken fried steak. Which is exactly what I order every time we go. Bottom line if you go thinking hey I think I'll order a salad.....don't waste your time. Order the chicken fried steak and waffle fries, leave the guilt at the door and enjoy. read more

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Stephenville, Texas

Great food and service!! Can't go to the Ville and not make a stop here, one of the best chicken fried steaks around!!

Visited Stephenville for the weekend and found this nice little diner for brunch. Got the breakfast special for about $5. Biscuits were really good, coffee was much better than I was expecting. They accept credit cards if the bill is over $10. read more

I had read an article in the Texas Monthly and Texas County Reporter...said they have the best chicken fried steak!! We all ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs, it was delicious!!!! It was so tender you could cut with a fork. Our service was fast and great! It's cash or check. Definitely worth the stop! read more

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe - Chicken Fried Steak and eggs.....delicious!!!! - Cafes Near Me - Stephenville, Texas

Small town dinner... to be blunt it's not great food or in a great location for everyone but if you live in town you can find it easy. Food is the same, that I can make at home myself. Down side the gravy, it was not edible the rest was blah at best. It feels like the original owner was just squeezing every dollar out of it as possible. We are not going to give it a second chance just mark this place off the stops options. I wish I had the same experience others had but we didn't! read more

Chicken fried steak and hamburger steak is delicious!!! Always nice quite place to sit down and eat. We will miss this place!!

I don't quite understand all of the 4 and 5 star reviews this place is getting. I have been here twice and both times and the breakfast and the food was very poor. Service is great everyone very friendly and kind hearted but the food is very bad. I really hope they can pull this place together but for now the food is very lacking. read more

They always come through. We love to eat there each time in town. It was very crowded , but order came out perfect

The food was excellent. We had breakfast. Pancakes were huge. The ladies were funny and my wife and I enjoyed the experience.

I'm only reviewing the Apple pie. I thought I hated apple pie. I always tell people the only good part of an apple pie is the sauce & crust. But, apparently the problem was I'd never tasted a damn good apple pie. I can't even explain the homemade crust! Perfection. Finely ground almonds or something?! Then the top has these fantastic sugar crystals. And the apples? Let's just say it's the 1st time I haven't dissected my slice to push the fruit to the side. Oh, and our waitress (can't remember her name but her boots were bigger than her tiny frame) was so kind & proud of her town & the history of the restaurant founded in 1948. read more

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe - Apple Pie - Cafes Near Me - Stephenville, Texas

We hadn't been here in several years and was looking forward to eating here again. But that soon changed. We ordered the chicken fried steak with choice of potatoes...now it's only 7:30pm and all they offered was their waffle fries. For $12.95 I believe we should of had a choice. Steak was lightly breaded which I like, tender but no seasoning, nada, and the thick white gravy also needed salt! Now come on, really? A cook that doesn't taste their food before sending it out? And also the so called white toast barely had any toasting, it was more like bread that sat out to long. We will think long and hard before stopping here again...what a shame. read more

Good service good coffee and food was really good! French toast was SUPER sweet maybe a little too much. But will def return! Nice down home cafe. read more

Stephenville original, old time greasy spoon. It's quirky and open late-ish. The food is tasty but definitely not fancy. If you're passing through or staying a while, I recommend making this little place one of your stops. The burgers are really good, and the personality of the wait staff, - and regular customers makes for some decent small town people watching. read more

Went in with my family after a long day, and was surprised to find a ribeye steak on their menu. I've had their burgers before, and was not disappointed, but I wanted to try something different. I ordered their 12 ounce ribeye, medium rare, with a baked potato and salad with blue cheese dressing. They filled my glass with so much ice that I finished my tea in one sip. Asked our waitress (who was very friendly) for a refill once she finished taking our order. The salad came, she wrote our orders down but brought extra salads and didn't know that 2-3 of the salads she had didn't even belong to us. she served the six of us from one end of the table, leaning over the two on the end and handing my family food to pass down. My salad had enough dressing for two bites then was dry. The lettuce tasted old, and like it had sat room temperature for 4-5 hours. Then came the entree. Still no refill, she once again played musical plates, I got my entree last. As soon as the plate hit my hand, I raised the other to let her know about my refill. But she had already rushed off. That was the last I saw of her before she brought the ticket. The ribeye was thin, about a centimeter.. no seasoning, salt, pepper, anything. The potato was just that... a baked potato cut in half. The toast was very good, the steak was GREY in the middle.. very well done, and cooked on a flat-top grill. The silver membrane was still on the bottom, was not trimmed properly and couldn't cut into most of it. I covered it in salt and pepper hoping to redeem the flavor, but it was a lost cause. Are about 1/4 of it before I gave up. Still no tea. I don't blame the kitchen if all they have is a flat-top to cook their meals on, but the waitress didn't inform me that the steak would come well-done when I requested medium-rare. I don't think I will be coming back here anytime soon for anything but burgers, but I will be watching reviews in hope of some redemption. read more

Just happened to see this place out of the corner of our eyes while driving through. Pulled in and parked for outside dinner (due to the virus). Staff was over the top helpful and full of information about the business and the local history. Huge menu. Service was fast and the food was plentiful. Actually way more then was able to eat. Would highly recommend this place. Especially when they are fully opened back up. This is their 70th year with no signs of slowing down. read more

Wonderful cheese/bacon burgers and stacked clubs! Had a great time here during the plannedemic. Hope they survived, we'll all jump in the truck and drive from FtW again! read more

Legendary spot on the Texas comfort food, diner trail! I'm a breakfast guy, and I'm never disappointed here! Great food, great service! Texas top 5 on the Chicken Fried Steak bucket list, and the waffle fries a nice touch! Save room for pie! read more

This is a solid diner with good bacon, eggs cooked properly, real butter, etc. They hand cut their chicken fried steaks and fresh grind their hamburger meat. Tons of pies to choose from too. We will come back! read more

I've traveled the country riding bulls, eating at cool cafè spots in some cool places. From beach huts to mountain cabins as well as high end restaurants. I like the feel , the food & the people. This stop is worth it. read more

Jake & Dorothy's Cafe - Chicken Fried Steak ON TOP of gravy...genius... & crispy. - Cafes Near Me - Stephenville, Texas

Charming diner built in 1948. Good service and breakfast was good. Plenty of seating available, especially for large groups. We'll try again in future for other things on the menu. ( restrooms need a scrub.yes people notice the corners) Outside walk and front doors immaculate. read more

Wow, I thought I'd reviewed this place a year ago. Anyway, get in the car and go here now. Yes, it's greasy. Yes' the smokers rule the restaurant, and you non-smokers get a little room to the side that's not even really closed off. HAH! Start smoking, it's good for you. We had chicken fried steaks, gizzards, onion rings, chicken fried chicken, burgers, and just about everything else on the menu and it's all wonderful. The notable thing is the waffle fries. Sometimes crispy, sometimes greasy and limp, but always edible! Oh, that's not it, there's also the pie. Save room for pie. They have more pie than anywhere else within ten counties probably. Get the triple delight, chocolate, cream cheese, and love. Or the blueberry cream, the coconut, the lemon, buttermilk, cherry, apple, triple chocolate, and so so so many more. If you're not sure which one to try, get one with the pecan crust . It's AMAZING. We'd drive at least 100 miles for this stuff. We have a similar greasy-spoon in Brownwood, but they quit selling pies years ago and it's never been the same. read more

Well. I came in and sat for 5 minutes while the waitress smoked a cig and chatted with the locals. I was in plain sight, I got up left. read more

Warning - read the other reviews here. There's a reason that everybody talks about the smoking section. If you do not smoke or live with a smoker, I doubt you will be able to stay in the place long enough to order. The food was average diner fare, but the place was really filthy (bathroom was a disaster). Avoid unless you want to enjoy your smokes with your meal. read more