My mom and I recently visited from Europe, and it was our first time in the United States. I was honestly pretty nervous about ordering because English isn't my first language, and my mom doesn't speak English at all. Justin was the one who helped us, and he made the whole experience so much easier. He introduced himself, was very patient with us, and never made us feel rushed. He gave us time to look through the menu and answered all of our questions with a smile. My mom was worried about not being able to communicate, but Justin made her feel comfortable and welcome from the start. That meant a lot to us. The restaurant itself also had a really warm and cozy atmosphere. We loved the country-style interior. It felt welcoming and relaxed, which made it even easier for us to enjoy our first restaurant experience in America. Justin also took the time to recommend some great places to visit on the island and even gave us some suggestions for Los Angeles. You can tell he genuinely cares about people and wants them to have a good experience. This was honestly one of the best customer service experiences I've ever had. Justin played a big part in making our first trip to America such a positive memory. Thank you, Justin! read more

Great restaurant! We came with a party of seven and quickly got our food. Service was amazing and we had a great time talking to our server. Highly recommend for anyone looking for Italian food while in Catalina! read more

The restaurant has a cozy and comfortable country-style interior with a charming old-fashioned feel. They offer a wide variety of breakfast options, so there is something for everyone. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. The food took a long time to arrive even though the restaurant was not busy. I also asked for extra plates, but they never arrived. To make matters worse, by the time the food was served, it had already cooled down. It was disappointing, especially considering it wasn't during a busy period. I really liked the atmosphere and menu selection, but the service and food timing definitely need improvement. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - exterior signage - American Near Me - Avalon, California

ORIGINAL JACK'S COUNTRY KITCHEN @ CATALINA ISLAND Parking is available right out front, especially if you have a golf cart, so it was super easy to find parking. My family and I came here on a Saturday afternoon after taking the ferry from Dana Point and we were seated pretty quickly. Unfortunately, we were seated right next to the bathroom, so there was constantly a line of people passing by our table the entire time we were eating. We ordered a couple of different items. I ended up getting their turkey bacon club sandwich with french fries, my mom got the tuna club sandwich, and my brother ordered one of their breakfast plates with waffles, eggs, and bacon. They do charge for water, but I think that's pretty common throughout Catalina Island since most places serve bottled water. The food came out within about 15-20 minutes and it was honestly pretty decent for what it was. You really can't mess up a turkey bacon sandwich, but the bread was crispy, buttery, and super good. I also loved the french fries they were super yummy and probably my favorite part of the meal. My mom's tuna sandwich was also really delicious, although both sandwiches leaned a little salty. I kind of wish they included a small side salad or lettuce with the meal, but overall everything was still really good. The service was pretty solid, especially considering how busy the restaurant was with people constantly coming in and out. The whole place has a very diner-style, old-fashioned vibe to it, which honestly fit the island atmosphere really well. Overall, I'd definitely come back here if I were visiting Catalina Island again. Solid food, quick service, convenient parking, and a classic diner feel. Definitely a 5/5 overall experience for me. read more

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Cutest little mom-and-pop diner on the island. Not food but I adore the little placemat they give you i had to scrapbook it. The food came out on time and the service we received was attentive. I was on the island during an off season so it wasn't as packed. Good solid break! read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - American Near Me - Avalon, California

Service 5/5 -friendly staff and food arrived quickly Food 4/5 -Sausage and eggs breakfast plate $19, standard breakfast quality, no notes -Portuguese French Toasts $13, comes with 4 pieces, good but not amazing Ambiance 5/5 -Old diner vibes, interior is cozy and a great place to enjoy breakfast, one of my preferred breakfast spots in the island read more

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We had breakfast at this place during our trip to Catalina Island, and overall, the experience was disappointing. The only thing I really liked was the lavender syrup we added to our cappuccino -- it was a nice touch and actually tasted good. However, the prices were surprisingly high for what you get. A small cappuccino was $8, while in Los Angeles a medium-sized (and usually much better quality) cappuccino is around $6. The food was underwhelming. I ordered an avocado toast for $18, and it was very basic -- just toasted bread with sliced avocado and a bit of sesame on top. No seasoning, no spread, no greens, no egg -- nothing that would make it feel like a proper avocado toast. Adding a sausage was another $6, which made the whole meal even more overpriced. I also ordered two eggs, which were charged separately. Another major issue was the quality and freshness of the food. Everything was served cold or barely warm, and my partner's meal and coffee were completely cold. The fruit plate was also disappointing -- the blueberries were clearly not fresh and already starting to go bad, with a sour taste. On top of that, even water is not complimentary -- you have to purchase bottled water, which felt unreasonable given the already high prices. Overall, the place is significantly overpriced for the quality, freshness, and overall experience. read more

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Very busy place. Ordered 2 eggs any style with hash browns and toast. The hash browns were had the texture of mashed potatoes fried. The taste wasn't bad, but not the best The eggs scrambled were exactly how I ordered them. Dry scrambled The breakfast sandwich was average. Diet Coke and water were $2:50 each with one refill on the Coke or breakfa read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - American Near Me - Avalon, California

Amazing service while busy. Everyone (6 of us) were happy with the food. Waffles, pigs in the blanket and best sourdough toast. Eggs were yummy and fluffy. Very good experience. Often in Catalina it is hard to find somewhere that can easily serve 5 or more. They did great! read more

Probably THE breakfast place to visit if you're on Catalina Island - it's the perfect start to a day on the idyllic island, offering classic diner food in a classic diner setting. Restaurant opens at 7 and closes by 1:30 PM after serving lunch. We beat the brunch rush, heading straight over after our ferry arrived in the morning, and seating was still aplenty. Standouts include serving Kona coffee with unlimited refills and the ability to build your own omelette, with as much or as little ingredients as you want. Food came out quickly, and servings are huge! Everything comes with hash browns (or fruit or cottage cheese) and your choice of toast or pancakes, although they do charge a hefty price of ~$20 per plate. My build-an-omelette was pretty forgettable in terms of taste, but I was definitely stuffed by the end, ready to take on the rest of the day. read more

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First time having breakfast at Original Jack's Country Kitchen at Catalina Island. This place was highly recommended to us by many people who stayed in Catalina Island. It was a beautiful Saturday morning around 8:35am we checked into the eatery for a table for 11 people. Our wait time was exactly 32 minutes. Original Jack's Country Kitchen was very busy. Many people waiting for table availability. As time goes by many more people are arriving for breakfast. We got called in for seating. Our party was split into a party of 4 and a party of 7. This was fine since we all wanted to eat and the little ones were getting hungry. Our waiter was great. He provided great customer service. He was attentive and when we informed him we have several people in our party with peanut and tree nut food allergies he informed us they don't normally serve anything with peanuts and tree nuts nor do they cook anything in peanut and tree nut oil. He also informed the kitchen to avoid any possible cross contamination. We appreciated the fact that they cater to families with food allergies and their menu has plenty of options for both children and adults as well as vegan options. We ordered Real Chicken Fried Steak with Hash Brown and Gravy, Fried Chicken and Waffles, the Breakfast Sandwich with fruits and Portuguese Sausage Breakfast with fruits. Along with Kona coffee and hot chocolate with whip cream. The Real Chicken Fried Steak with Hash Brown was really good. It was a thick chicken breast with golden brown breading. Hash Brown was crispy yet not over cooked. Gravy was creamy and but not too rich. The Breakfast Sandwich was warm and delicious. It had two thin slices of sourdough with mayonnaise, lettuce, scrambled eggs, and bacon. The bacon was crunchy. The scrambled eggs were thick and fluffy. Lettuce was a nice touch. The sandwich was cut in half. My little one only ate one half because it was filling. It wasn't huge, but the perfect size. We will definetly order this again. The fresh fruits were a mixture of grapes, cantaloupes, honeydew and pineapple. The Fried Chicken with Waffles came with 5 pieces of wings and drumettes. Waffle was tender and moist. Fried chicken was crispy and not over cooked. The Portuguese Sausage Breakfast was also yummy. This is one of Original Jack's Country Kitchen popular and favorite dishes along with their Kona coffee. Their Kona coffee tastes like your in Hualalai. Original Jack's Country Kitchen will be our go to for breakfast when we visit Catalina Island again in a few months. Can't wait. read more

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The food and service was 10/10. Ernesto did a wonderful job with our party of 6 and was helpful and kind. He was attentive and did above and beyond for us while visiting. He's the best! read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - nova scotia eggs benedict - American Near Me - Avalon, California

The best meal that we had in Avalon! We arrived at 9am and we were told that it was a 20 minute wait for a table for 4, but it ended up being less than that. I really loved the chicken fried steak and the gravy that came with it was soooo good! If I ever come back to Catalina, will definitely go back here first. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Great food and great location! Boy does this restaurant get packed fairly quickly on a saturday morning! Arrived from the catalina ferry at 9:30am and there was a crowd. Next door for breakfast was crowded too but we decided to check this one out since it was a 50s style diner. The line moved pretty quickly and we were seated within 15 mins. We got a nice booth table by the mirrors and got to see some decorations. Service is quick as people ate their food, paid, and went on their merry way. I decided to go with the original scramble which had ground beef, mushrooms, onions, spinach and a side of salsa. It comes with toast and hash browns. Bf got the French toast combo which had sausage and scrambled eggs. He enjoyed the french toast and the eggs. The sausage was okay. He personally wasn't a huge fan of the thick skin for the sausage. Pretty good portion size. We loved their Kona coffee. It was hot and strong! We left with happy bellies for the rest of the day. Rented a goft cart and explored catalina island! read more

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Chicken marsala, chicken piccata and the veal marsala are the three dinner items that I have eaten here, and they all were very delicious. Also don't forget to order a dessert after your meal. The cheesecake is the bomb read more

Fast seating, okay food and service. Just a heads up this restaurant is not as spacious as some in the area. I highly recommend making any reservations in advance for larger parties. We had a party of 6 and it was a tight squeeze. We were sat in a booth with an extra chair at the end. We received our food before our drinks arrived. Our server blamed another guy that was helping for the inconvenience. He also blamed that same guy for forgetting our sausage but the server was the one who took our order. Unfortunately the lemonade tasted like straight water and lemons. Not sure if that was intentional. Food was good if you're considering a hole in the wall/diner vibe. I ordered corned beef hash and the server stated it was from a can. They are known for their pancakes but I wasn't in the mood for pancakes. Waffles were pretty good though! Crispy fries and hot food. Just note ALL water is bottled. read more

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We have a family tradition to have breakfast at Jacks on the first morning of our trip each time we visit the Island. I look forward to my Hawaiian breakfast with coconut syrup - a special treat saved for vacation :). We were seated quickly, missing the morning crowd and cruise ship visitors and our waiter was very responsive never letting my coffee get too low. One thing that stood out on this trip was how Jack's handled the bill delivery. They brought us the receipt and gave us time to review, then came back a few minutes with the credit card machine and then he made some space for us to enter the credit card and fill in the tip info without hovering over us. We appreciated that! Overall we're glad that Jack's food and service has stayed the same over the last few years and we look forward to keeping up this tradition in the future. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - Pancake breakfast - American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Ambiance is ok. The food, however, is underwhelming with high prices. When I told the manager, she said I was the first person who has complained! She should see the one star reviews on Yelp! read more

Diner vibes, island prices! Original Jack's is the kind of place that looks like a classic diner and functions like a classic diner--but with island pricing and a curious Italian alter ego at night. (Yes, apparently it moonlights as an Italian restaurant.) We rolled up at 7:45 a.m. on a Wednesday and there was already a line six people deep outside--so if you're not a morning person, caffeinate before you wait. Speaking of coffee: the Kona blend was decent and my breakfast plate of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and two chicken sausages was solid diner fare. Total before tip? $25.90. Ambiance is exactly what you want from a spot with "Country Kitchen" in the name--booths, bustling energy, and the comforting sound of clinking mugs. Service was fast--we were in and out in 35 minutes--but friendliness was...not part of the experience. Think efficient but emotionally unavailable. Bathroom could use some TLC, but hey, you're not here for a spa day. You're here for crispy hash browns and a seat at one of the busiest breakfast joints on the island. And on that front, Jack's delivers. read more

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We got seated immediately. The food was amazing, maybe because food is around $10-20 rather than $30-50 jams on the side. It was my most filling meal other than tacos but sit down restaurant wise, I would come back. read more

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During our port day at Avalon my youngest son became increasingly hungry. Almost hangry if you will. We decided to pick up something in town rather than eating back on the ship. We found this little quirky restaurant with a good number of people enjoying some comfort food. If they're busy, there's probably a reason why so many people are eating there. We were quickly greeted as we entered and placed a to go order for some chicken tenders and fries. I was going to order an adult portion, but the server, after realizing it was for my son offered a kids portion. Yes please! The chicken tenders were on the skinny side, but they were generous with the amount they served. They were very tasty and had a nice crunch to them. Of course I have to mention the fries. The fries were really good. The thickness was in the medium range with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. Seasoned nicely and honestly a really good French fry AND they totally loaded the container! Overall, a great little find. I'm already planning what to get next time I'm on Catalina. read more

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Came by on a morning stroll and this place was packed, so we gave it a try. Quick line, great service. Crab Benedict, avocado toast, and kid's meal were all fresh and tasty. Water costs extra, a bit annoying. read more

Unfortunately, this was a disappointing dining experience. The coffee was served lukewarm, and the omelette arrived only slightly warm as well. The avocado toast was particularly underwhelming -- it consisted of plain toast with a few slices of avocado on top, without any additional ingredients or presentation. Considering the prices, the quality and overall experience did not meet expectations. The menu felt significantly overpriced for what was served. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - American Near Me - Avalon, California

Believe it or not the best Mexican food on Catalina is actually at jacks country kitchen. The burrito and the chilaquiles are incredible. So if you want amazing authentic Mexican food when visiting Catalina island you have to stop in this amazing diner. If your friends want American food they also have great pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and other classics. My favorite is the delicious Mexican breakfast and will definitely come back. Also, they actually serve breakfast later than the terrible sand trap restaurant. Jacks country diner is my new favorite place when visiting Catalina island. The servers are friendly and you get a country home vibe from the decor. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - Chilaquiles - American Near Me - Avalon, California

This place is packed with people! But I give credits to the servers because it is moving fast. Food is mediocre, just like a standard ihop. The ambiance is low key like an ihop as well. Nothing memorable. And they charge for water. read more

Original Jacks is an adequate diner, open for breakfast and lunch, in the seaside town of Avalon. While the menu offers plenty of choices, we found the service to be slow and disconnected from its' guests. The food quality is average. The pancakes were dry and tasted of the burnt griddle on which they were cooked. The French toast was pretty tasty and moist. Strange note: the coffee mugs were so heavy, they were practically a chore to lift to your mouth with a porcelain edge so thick you almost couldn't comfortably drink from it. (Strange thing to include, I know, but that's how awkward it was.) All things considered, there aren't too many options for a decent breakfast diner in Avalon, and Pancake Cottage wasn't much better. Eat the free breakfast at your hotel or visit the Catalina Coffee and Cookie Company. read more

A solid breakfast diner in the heart of Avalon. Stopped in for my first time this morning and overall we had a nice breakfast. It's not quite as good as a lot of spots on the mainland, but given its location I feel they did a good job. It was quite busy on a Thursday morning, so I'm sure it can get even crazier on weekends. They have a very large menu filled with all sorts of classic dishes so choosing some thing was a bit of a challenge given how many options there were. Our server was polite, although we just saw him at the very beginning of our meal and not again. Our dishes arrived actually pretty slowly, but given that I'm sure the kitchen is smaller than a lot of mainland kitchens I won't fault them too much for that. Pricing is also pretty fair given that it's island food and feel it would be a good stop if you're in the area and looking for breakfast. For my breakfast I chose the Dungeness Crab Eggs, Benedict and thought it was pretty good. The sauce was more watery than I prefer, and the Dungeness Crab was very chopped, almost like burger meat, so I wish it would've been more in chunk form like you see in a Dungeness Crab Cocktail. Also the hashbrowns could have been a bit crispy but overall not a bad meal. They do have Kona Coffee so the coffee was very strong and tasty, which may have been my favorite part of the meal. I would suggest if you are in Avalon and looking for a nice place to have breakfast. read more

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Portions are great, the atmosphere is classic in a fun way, the coffee is excellent, and the fries are delicious. Overall, a good spot to sit for a bit and recharge before you continue on your Catalina expedition. Just a couple of hiccups during my experience here. First, I had ordered the patty melt, and I did feel like it was cooked too hard, so the patties definitely felt tougher/chewier than I expected. For me, that made the sandwich less standout than it should have been. Second, while the service was friendly, I don't feel like we're super "on it" during my visit. First, my wife ordered Cole slaw and there was no fork given to us until I specifically flagged down the server to ask for one. Then, I ordered Kona coffee, and I was excited to see free refills advertised for the coffee. While dining there for a little over an hour, the server asked me about the coffee once, topped it off, and then disappeared and never checked the coffee again. I really dug the coffee and would have had at least one more cup, so that was disappointing. I really would love to give more love to this place, because the vibe is fun and I'm sure they could do better on another day. But as it was, my experience was just so-so today. Till next time! read more

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Mediocre food with terrible service They even select tip for you. It's a joke. Why would they select tip for me when I am paying lol. Worst service ever read more

I had breakfast at Original Jack's Country Kitchen today. The omelette itself was fine, but the experience was very disappointing. We ate the bread and found the rest bread served with my meal had visible mold on it. One piece was only half a slice, and when I pointed it out, the staff insisted the bread was "fresh." Fresh bread should never have mold, and this raised serious food safety concerns for me. My husband had diarrhea afterwards. On top of that, after breakfast the tip was 18%. Given the quality and service issues, this felt inappropriate. I hope the restaurant takes food safety more seriously and is more transparent with customers about gratuities. read more

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My go to place for breakfast or lunch on the island. It's got all the traditional American Cafe vibes galore- including a 6 sided pie fridge, amazing pork chops, thick smoked bacon.... They've got great breakfasts that are more customizeable than you'd find at a chain restaurant. Want an omelette with Swiss not cheddar? Chorizo? Hollandaise? Add an egg? No worries! Highly recommend. BTW Very nice people work here too- Please be nice to them! read more

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Came to the island for the camping trip and had breakfast at Jacks. The wait was a bit long since it was the weekend and there were a lot of travelers but the food still came out fresh and delicious. The scrambled eggs were banging and the bacon was crisp. The staff was very busy trying to get through all the tables but they were so on top of everything and very kind !! read more

Visited this spot for brunch while I was visiting Catalina for the weekend. We went around 11am on a Sunday and the place was fairly busy, but there was no wait. Staff were super friendly. I enjoyed the western-themed decor, I felt like I was in an old American diner. The food was hit or miss. I ordered the Catalina omelette and it was amazing! The omelette was PACKED with veggies and topped with a generous amount of cheese. They also gave a generous side of hash-- would 100% order again. My friend, on the other hand, ordered their fried chicken and waffle and was disappointed... the fried chicken was okay-- the serving was small and didn't have a lot of flavor. The waffle was not as crispy as he would've liked-- it seems like they used pancake mix to make the waffles. Overall, great place to stop for brunch while in Catalina esp if you're looking for an old-fashion diner vibe, I recommend ordering their omelette read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - Interior - American Near Me - Avalon, California

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3.5 rounded up. Cute diner vibes, good breakfast option. We got an omelet which came with hashbrowns and fruit and it was a good meal. We also got a side of sausage which was kinda overpriced they cut up one link and it was $9 so that was silly but besides that good joint read more

Our server was kind and easy going and that's the reason for 2 stars. Atmosphere was cute and retro. Food was okay until it wasn't and I found multiple little bugs/ roaches embedded in my waffle. Absolutely disgusting. I can't imagine the state of the kitchen if this was possible. There needs to be an inspection orrrr something because how. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - Bug / roach embedded in my waffle - American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Came here for brekky after the Catalina 50-mile race and was absolutely delighted. Dolly Parton was on, we sat outside to enjoy the fresh air and warm weather. They didn't have clear vegan options, but who can be mad when Better Get to Livin' is playing through the overhead speakers? No one, that's who. My wife ordered the biscuits and gravy for $15.95, and I ordered oatmeal $9.50 with added strawberries $3.00. We ordered two black kona coffees for $4.50 each. The meal was hot and arrived to our table quickly. I did knock off one star for the price of our meal, they gave me around 3.5 strawberries max, making then a $1.00 per strawberry which is beyond silly. We would absolutely return but I'd probably come caffeinated and skip the strawbs'. read more

Original Jack's Country Kitchen - Two eggs with biscuits and gravy ($15.95) - American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Hands down the best breakfast spot on the island. My go to is the monte cristo which is a monster of a sweet and savory sandwich. Another favorite is the pigs in a blanket. You truly do feel that country diner atmosphere when dining here. Can't recommend this place enough. The wait staff is very kind and attentive, for the fast pace environment that can be hard to find but this place nails it. read more

Overpriced basic breakfast. We got a traditional protein breakfast. 2 bacon, 2 sausage links, 2 small slices of ham, scrambled eggs, biscuit with gravy and burnt hash browns for $22 and chilli omelette with hash brown and 2 half bread slices for $19. It was expected for a tourist spot, I guess. We also order another dish, fried chicken and waffle for $19 to-go for family that didn't join. If I remembered correctly, I saw my total was about $72. I tipped 20% on the screen because the service was ok even though I ate less than half of my dish. The total should have been about $84-$86 with tips. But after checking my statement, it was over $90. Maybe my calculations were off but I asked for him to print receipt but he hit no receipt and I just let it go at the moment. But it was not as bad as the other table nearby. They were charged an extra $15 on their tab and the server could not explain the charges to them. I would beware of this place and check your receipt before paying anything, shady practices are here. read more

Great service from Ernesto! He was so attentive, friendly, and detail-oriented. I visited with my family for a classic American breakfast and the food was good but the service was even better! Overall, we are glad we visited because Ernesto was the best!! read more

Super fast and friendly service first time here highly recommend ,didn't know they close at 2:00 We are arrive at 1:30 and they still take us. Definitely coming back 10 out of 10 read more