J&J Bistro

Let me try to make a slightly more helpful review…
It’s hard to convince co-​workers to go to what someone will inevitably call a «nursing home» for lunch — and I’m happy that I now have the necessary information to confidently sell this place when I’m feeling some good food.
More than a meat-​and-​three, this place was for me a little bit more like going to Whole Foods for lunch, which I love to do. There was a cold deli case with a selection of about 10 cold salads (fresh fruit, waldorf, tortellini with broccoli and cauliflower, potato, maybe a three-​bean salad, two kinds of chicken salad — curry and «regular» [see important note about that below — and maybe another one or two that I’m forgetting.
Then there was a selection of four or five hot entrees. Today’s were meatloaf, teriyaki chicken and rice, salmon croquettes, shepherd’s pie, and chicken tetrazzini — along with 2 or 3 hot vegetables/​sides.
The pricing was set up something like this: meat and two for $ 5.50, meat and three for $ 6.50, cold salad sampler (choice of three) for $ 4.50 or $ 5.00. All of those «combos» included cornbread or roll and drink (fruit tea was maybe $ 0.50 extra). You could also purchase individual items very reasonably… I want to say $ 1.50 for a cold side, $ 2.50 for a hot side, and $ 3.50 for an entrée. Something close to that.
My shepherd’s pie was very good. The only thing that would have made it a little better, for me, was something gravy-​like to hold the meat together. As it was, it was more «loose-​meat» style on the bottom, but was well-​seasoned. The amount of meat was generous… there were onions in the mix and other than that only a few small pieces of potato that I remember. It was topped, of course, with mashed potatoes and the top was nicely and evenly browned with a garnish of a single bias-​cut scallion sliver on top. The macaroni and cheese was OK. A little loose and oily for my taste, but still good. (I would prefer it that way to the soupy, really rich style.) The broccoli, cauliflower, and tortellini salad I had was maybe day-​old but still tasted good.
One of my friends enjoyed the chicken tetrazzini, green beans, and corn I believe. All of it looked very good.
My other friend enjoyed the fresh fruit but couldn’t say the same for the chicken salad. After tasting it, I had to agree with her. It looked great — much like my mom made — fine ground and on the drier side with celery and maybe a nut or two. What I wasn’t able to tell until I tasted it though, was the addition of bleu cheese! I admit that I’m not a fan of the moldy stuff, but even so… it just didn’t feel right to me at all. AT THE VERY LEAST, this type of a «polarizing» ingredient that is not really visibly apparent should be called out on the menu — no excuses. I told her to take it back, but she was too «nice». I have no doubt that it was fresh and well-​prepared; if you’re a huge bleu cheese fan you probably would love it. But again, if you’re going to monkeying around with something like chicken salad, please make sure that you clue everyone in!
There were a few dessert selections in the case… a huge cheesecake brownie and something else — carrot cake, I believe. At the cash register were HUGE cookies that sounded great, but had the consistency of a very dry and stale biscuit. If I want something sweet next time I go (and it will probably be soon,) I’ll try one of the fresh made desserts in the case.
The employees (probably the owners, but I’m not sure) were very friendly. Judging from the people I saw there and its «off-​the-​beaten-​path» location, it seems like there were mostly regulars that like to go there for a quiet lunch and would like to keep it that way. We arrived at about 11:20…everything was hot and fresh, it was nice and quiet, and there was plenty of seating. (And no senior citizens to speak of, if anyone of your party is phobic of them for whatever strange reason.) If I find out that the seniors at the adjoining retirement home are getting this food every day, I think I’m going to make an early bird reservation for 2047 or so.
[Credit cards accepted; $ 4 minimum.]

Also known as Metro Café, this place offers great home style cooking at a great price. Neat and clean atmosphere. It is a favorite of those who know about this hidden gem attached to a retirement home.