John’s Country Kitchen

Sadly it has closed. For good. 7÷4÷15 which is a loss for a place that has been apart of the landscape for 40 years. I have heard that reopened a new place in the burbs somewhere.

Five stars for the historical value. I’m a rare born and raised Charlottean and I’m saddened it’s closed. Seems to be the norm for the history of Charlotte.

It had been a while since I was here, but really should come more often. This place is great, a good yummy, sold no frills breakfast.
Started with a cup of coffee. Tasted great, smooth and not bitter. I had the fried egg, grits and bacon. My guy got the same but potatoes instead of grits. This came with 2 biscuits each. Everything was really tasty. Not overly greasy or salty, as I feel sometimes diners like this could be.
The people that work here are great and really nice. The place itself is quaint and I Loved sitting at the bar.
This place is also cash only.

Slow on Saturday. I’ve been seated 55 minutes and still no food. Finally got my food after 1 hour 10 minutes. The food is excellent! Fresh cooked to order which is good but the cook needs a sous chef. I sat at the counter twice on Saturdays and it was like this both times. I could easily see what’s going on at the grill. They need someone standing next to the cook chopping and prepping. He does everything and it slows him down. Love the staff but I don’t have 1−½ hours to eat breakfast.

Truly a unique experience. After a 40+ minute wait for food, I was able to peer over the counter and see our order was still not on the grill, with many tickets pending. When I complained and left, the hostess’s charming retorts included, «Go to McDonalds then, that’s your problem, we’ve been here for 38 years and it’s always been like this.».
In fairness, I heard the cook saying, «Tell them I’m sorry.». Somehow that message didn’t make it to the cash register.
«Wrong and strong» is no way to face the public.

This place is just the type of place that brings back the memories of me and my grandpa going to grab breakfast in the small town I was born. Cash only items and don’t expect a lot of flair here. In that same way this simple approach is totally refreshing and the food isn’t nothing short of great.
I got over easy eggs, bacon and ham and it might as well had been cooked right out of my own kitchen. Service was great and polite and the entire environment was just as cozy as you could get.
Can’t wait to go back.
PS. Parking around the side is probably best.

I just don’t get it. I don’t see what the others see in this.
Yes, it is outrageously cheap (which makes the cash only thing not so bad). However, it isn’t that great. It is outrageously greasy. I found a hair in my food (to be fair– that can happen anywhere). The coffee isn’t great.
Mind you, I’m conflicted now that I have read so many positive reviews. Maybe I have been missing something? My mission: to go back and see if I can make this review better.

JCK reminds me of the many diners I have frequented, especially in PA/​NY. Food is good and strictly focused on carnivores (Vegans and Veggies head to Fern or Zada Janes). Service was OK and surprisingly it took awhile to get our food, even though they weren’t slammed. Their cash only policy is antiquated and prevents me from visiting more often. Since their restaurant doesn’t rise to the level of «I must eat at John’s,» I go elsewhere especially when low on cash – I just don’t carry it any more.

I think this place is rated 4 stars because of all the hungover hipsters in Plaza, and waffle house isnt close by. Nothing special, and it’s cash only.

Where to start. first of all the place is tiny and crowded, the wait to be seated was long and our order was served to us after the people behind us got there food first.
As for the place itself it is really small and we had 3 different people bump into our table and spill a little of our coffee each time.
When we first arrived there were only 2 couples in front of us and yet it still took 45 minutes to seat us. After being seated and having our order taken we waited patiently and chatted for a bit… 30 minutes later the couple that was seated after us had received there food before us, needless to say i was getting frustrated by this time. When our food finally arrived the waitress did apologize for the wait, refilled our drinks and left us to enjoy our breakfast.
Overall the food was decent. The waitresses were very friendly. But the restaurant itself was just to small for the volume of business they receive. Will I return yes, just not as a regular.

Straightly country breakfast place!
We went in around 10am on Saturday morning, and the wait is crazy bc the place is so small. After 30 minutes standing at the front door we r finally seated at the back.
The father and son is cooking behind the counter. I think the whole place is run by family members.
The food is decent, like most of country breakfast place. Really, nothing special. The price is good, but I think I would prefer Landmark than this place.

This place is exactly what everyone else has said… good old down home country cooking. When we first stepped in I felt like I was in a horror film… the little bell at the top of the door rang and the entire restaurant stopped to turn and stare. We were clearly the outsiders at this truck stop was the first thought I had and then quickly following that thought I started to wonder if I accidentally stepped into Waffle House… but then we were seated and I had the chance to take in the whole atmosphere.
It is a dive of a little place and you can tell that most of the people there are regulars. This place is NO frills whatsoever which I really enjoyed.
The food came out pretty quickly and it was very good – eggs, biscuits, bacon – all done very well and very fresh and very cheap.
The service was friendly and low key.
No credit cards or checks – cash only.
There was nothing outstanding about the menu and I can’t say I necessarily «fit in» but I would definitely return for just a good, basic, southern-​style, cheap breakfast.

OMG OMG OMG my stomach was jumping up and down with joy like a tweener at a Bieber concert.
More seriously, my son and I had enormous omelettes full of tasty veg and local sausage and cheese with real grits and home-​made biscuits off the grill and the owner (who was working the grill in front of us) turned around and said: «when you’re through with that, I will give you a treat. «
I was thinking that I’d be lucky to be able to stand up without my thanksgiving eating pants on, and he wanted to feed me some more. Luckily it was a 12» wide fluffy crispy (shush, it makes sense when you eat one) pancake, so I was able to sort of fold it around the crevices. I think I used my special Tardis eating powers to make it fit.
More seriously (really) this time: it’s a treasure of a local place. There were tons of regulars shooting the breeze but we were fully welcome. When the owner heard we were in CLT checking out schools he made sure his son met mine to talk about the local college scene. Oh, and the wait person was very friendly and kept our glasses full of fresh tea and water.
I am so going back next time I’m in town.

John’s Country Kitchen is THE place to go for a good old breakfast! John’s is like the awesome little breakfast joints I grew up going to. It’s not expensive, it’s not fancy, it’s just good! If you are looking eggs and bacon or yummy pancakes — go to John’s!
The service is always great and extremely attentive. Also, they are one of the only places in CLT still offering classic Southern breakfast options like liver mush.
This place is for a great breakfast, it’s not a brunch hot spot. So if you are looking for red velvet french toast and french press coffee, go to Bistro La Bön or Terrace Café. But if you want to go somewhere warm and friendly with consistently good breakfast, try out John’s Country Kitchen.

I’ve been to John’s a couple times before but am just now writing a review after today’s breakfast. I dined by myself and was told to sit at any table I would like, which I already knew was the protocol. However, I had not sat down because every single open table was dirty. I waited for a waitress (who was super sweet) to clean the table off and I then sat down to order.
After ordering, it dawned on me that they don’t accept credit/​debit cards even though it is 2013. I mean COME ON. I then had to walk down the block to the Wells Fargo ATM to take out cash just so I could eat the food that I had already ordered. Had I initially remembered this inconvenience before parking, I probably would have kept driving by. I do believe that the prices are very affordable here. My breakfast was about $ 6 and a soda was an extra $ 2 so it wasn’t bad. BUT my soda was a small 12 oz glass bottle and, of course, came with no refills, so I cherished what I had in that tiny bottle.
The food was very good but it was pretty disappointing that I had to wait more than 20 minutes for it. As I said, I was dining alone and the restaurant wasn’t too busy. I noticed there was only one person cooking for the 20 or so people in the restaurant at the time.
All in all I ended up paying $ 15 or so after tip and my $ 3 ATM fee. For that price, I’d rather go somewhere else that serves a larger brunch portion or offers more variety on the menu. I do love me a good country diner but today’s visit left me feeling a little less satisfied.

In the mood for a good ol’ country style breakfast? Enter John’s. Nestled in the strip of Plaza’s main shopperies, eateries, and otherwise grungy greatness, lies this breakfast spot. As you’ve heard through the Unilocal grapevine, Cash ONLY in this joint. Grab a 10-​spot, grab of cup of coffee, and watch the sunshine peek into the windows of this Charlotte morning staple.
I was first introduced to John’s about 4 years ago, and it’s been the same each time I’ve visited. Even upon your first visit, you feel like a regular.
You name it, John makes it. Biscuits, eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, livermush… livermush? Yes, livermush. No shortage of go-​tos and comfort foods. I keep it pretty standard with each visit — two eggs over easy, toast, grits, and sausage. For the first-​meal purist, John’s is a win every time.
The staff is friendly with a heaping helping of southern hospitality. It’s an old-​fashioned diner set up with some counter seating, thick ceramic mugs with piping hot coffee, massive flat top grill, and tons of regulars. Your check is brought to your table and you walk up to the register to pay. I love the old glass case that houses hershey bars, mentos and other candies that have probably rested there for years.
If ever in the ‘Wood during breakfast time, John’s is choice. It’s a Charlotte landmark in my eyes.

CASH ONLY!!! Good Service!
As far as the food is concerned, I’ll just say I am not impressed. Its TOO cheap! I am not looking for the cheapest price for the cheapest food. I am not a college freshman anymore. Instead, I am looking for QUALITY food at a reasonable price. With that being said, you can taste the cheapness in the food.
The service was top notch however. I cannot say enough about how friendly the staff was. This might be the one and only place I would go back to DESPITE the food and simply for the service.

It’s a rarity to find a legit, family owned diner these days. You know, the one where mama is in the back cooking, her son is at the grill and plenty of teasing happens. That’s the epitome of John’s Country Kitchen. It’s definitely a family affair and it works really well (per an outsider’s view). Service is sweet and straight forward — they’ll take care of you and be sure to tell you how long you’ll be waiting.
The menu is pretty straightforward with a matrix of egg and meat combinations. I chose the veggie omelet with turkey sausage. It was a nicely cooked, sizeable fluffy omelet with oodles of tasty turkey sausage, plenty of veggies and served with an hearty side of potatoes and biscuits. While I’ve heard the biscuits are incredible here, they tasted off to me… just like biscuit mix (too much flour maybe?). Bad biscuit day, perhaps? No worries, though, I had so much food with my potatoes and omelet, I wasn’t lacking. I also tasted a pancake — thin, golden brown and delightful. Affordable deliciousness.
With a warm diner environment, solid coffee and good eats, John’s Country Kitchen is a great place to grab a bite. Cash only, folks!

There are only so many local places left in this world.
Even though not every establishment is a chain, most all of them think like a chain. It is not exactly that they have the intention of branching out, but they have that mentality that if it is good enough for Burger King, it is good enough for them.
Luckily, there are a few places that still do it old school.
One of those is John’s. There is nothing chain-​like here. The menu is a piece of paper, folder over multiple times (three?). If (all-​too-​faulty) memory serves, it is not even laminated. Chain-​like? Not at all. Cost-​effective? Absolutely. If a price changes (rarely) or something happens to one, print another, rather than expensive trips to a custom printer.
As to the service and the food? Again old school.
Food is served efficiently and quickly, and you get great value — though I will concede that this is probably not what some will consider their cup of tea. Still, it is definitely a great place. Check it out.

This place is cheap on price, great on eats. I was a little hungover and decided to go here with a friend — I was not disappointed. The wait was only a few minutes.
We ordered, 2 eggs, 3 slices bacon, hash browns, biscuits and country ham — all tasting like my grandma would have made them.
Enjoyed the coffee and plenty of hangover removing water. I left there with a stuffed belly and took a nice little nap afterwards.
The waitress was very friendly and the cook was nice too.
I AM GOING BACK!