Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry visits a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
Breakfast.
Some of you do it up big. Eggs, Toast, Sausage.
Some of you grab an apple or granola bar on the way out the door.
Some of you hit a drive-thru and eat on the way to work.
Me? I drink a replacement meal shake every morning.
But not too long ago, a buddy of mine, Chuck Wagon, told me he had an excellent breakfast at
RJ’s Restaurant (9124 Mansfield, Road, Shreveport). So, on a recent Saturday morning, I invited a friend to join me for our first-ever visit.
Walking into RJ’s is like walking back in time. I referenced the 1970’s, but my friend said she would go back even farther. If you like dark colors, you will love RJ’s. Dark brick. Dark floors. Dark seat covers. The hanging lights scream way-back-when. At our booth—the one with the slightly slanted tabletop – there was a coin-operated juke box. It didn’t work, but fit in nicely with the rest of the building.
Our waitress was very nice and friendly. However, I am not going to mention her name because there were a few issues when it came to our service. When I was paying our bill at the counter, she thanked us for our patience, and tole me it was only her second day on the job. She will be good, in time, but unfortunately, on this day, we drew the short straw.
RJ’s is open 24 hours a day, serving breakfast all day long. You can choose from the likes of Eggs, Omelets, Pork Chops, Steak, Pancakes and Waffles. Here’s where I will tell you that I am not a breakfast person. When I do eat out in the morning, waffles are my go-to. Unfortunately, that brings up one of a few disappointments during our visit.
I ordered the number 53 (yes, each item has a number), which was a waffle, and added pecans for an extra $1.50. However, a few minutes later, our server told me that she had just found out the restaurant’s waffle machine was broken. She also had to break the news to a group at another table who had ordered.
So, after looking over the menu a second time, I went with the number 61 – French Toast ($9). I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a French toast machine, but I was hoping it wasn’t broken also. Upon the strong advice of my friend Chuck, I asked for a side order of biscuits and jelly ($3.50)
For my beverage, I ordered orange juice with ice. Now, here’s where our server was upfront, which I really appreciated. She told me the cost would be $5.50, and that I could not have a refill. Okay. Seemed expensive and restrictive, but whatever. The thing is, our server didn’t have to tell me, which makes me think she shared my thoughts. But that was really kind of her to let me know.
My friend chose the number 67 – One egg any style, with bacon, sausage, or ham ($10.75). Our server said the sausage was Down Home Sausage, which quickly ended the discussion about what to get. Down Home Sausage, in my opinion, is the absolute best sausage. My friend’s breakfast also came with her choice of grits, hash browns, or home fries (she chose grits because she knows I like them), and biscuits or toast (she chose biscuits, and asked for a side of gravy). My friend had coffee to drink.
We waited a long time to get our food, and at 10:30 am, RJ’s wasn’t that busy.
When my French toast arrived, it looked really good. As promised, there were six wedges, each sprinkled with powdered sugar. But anticipation quickly turned to disappointment, as the French toast was cold. If you are a frequent reader of these reviews, you know I am big on food which is supposed to be hot, being served hot. Same for cold food. My French toast was good – light and fluffy – but it being cold overshadowed the rest of its taste.
As for the biscuits, they were highly recommended by my friend Chuck. He raved about them. However, I can’t say the same. Mine were hard and gooey. When slicing them in half to spread the jelly, the bottom half was as hard as a rock. But my friend was more forgiving. She said her biscuits were good. But she loved, loved, loved the gravy. She said it tasted just like the gravy her mom used to make. That was high praise.
My friend said her egg, although I thought it to be very small, was cooked just as ordered – sunny side up. She and I shared her sausage, which I thought was overcooked. But again, nothing can ruin the taste of Down Home Sausage.
My friend’s grits, which turned out to be my grits, were the best of the food I ate. They were a hearty serving, were not clumpy, and were served hot – and stayed hot – throughout our meal.
The cost of our breakfast, before tax and tip, was $31.81. If you go to RJ’s, know that the restaurant bases its tip suggestion on the after-tax amount, and not the subtotal.
So, here’s the deal. Chuck had a great experience at RJ’s Restaurant. My friend and I, not so much. That just goes to show you that in the restaurant business – with a few exceptions – you never know what you’re going to get. But this writing is about my experience. Drab atmosphere. Shaky service (albeit from a new waitress), hit and miss food. I have to give RJ’s Two Forks. I would go back, but only if someone else is paying.
In the meantime, I will stick with my breakfast shake.
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit? Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
