Jim's Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Alameda

Eat at Jim's Homestyle Diner in Alameda? Never, ever again!

After years and years of many tasty breakfasts at Jim's, both solo and with various friends, I will never again patronize this establishment after the discrimination I experienced there on August 5, 2017.

Like many times before, I finished my breakfast and went to the register to pay. I walked out of Jim's and headed down the street to nearby Walgreens, down the block and across the street. Lourdes, my awful waitress, sent a teenager who worked there running to chase me down and say that I forgot to pay, as she stood outside of the restaurant glaring down the street at me, as if to make sure he caught me. I walked back only and especially to let her have it. How dare she accuse me of leaving without paying!

I told her I paid before I left. I asked her if she asked the cashier, as I pointed in his direction because she clearly had not. He could have confirmed that I'd already paid. Then I asked for a manager and proceeded to let him have it, expressing very passionately my outrage at the situation. (Yes, it turned into a scene.) And the whole incident was outrageous indeed. I've been coming there for many years. She has waited on me before. People pay at the register all the time and leave when their transaction is done. But Lourdes, with her bad attitude, her extreme arrogance and her clear racism jumped to conclusions in her small mind. She assumed that I am both an idiot and a thief, stupid and a criminal...that I would dine and dash and then casually walk down the street to shop.

Who on God's green earth goes out to eat alone and then forgets to pay for their meal? I call BS on that, Lourdes. You didn't think I forgot to pay. What you thought was, 'that Black lady walked out without paying.' So rather than doing the smart thing, the prudent thing, the simple thing of asking the cashier if I paid, you accuse me of not having done so and then lie and say you thought I forgot to pay. I don't want your empty apologies or your lies, Lourdes. You can keep all of that.

In all my 48 years, I have never had a restaurant send a child to chase me down and accuse me of not paying. And as a result, Jim's will never, ever see my face again. They have lost a good customer. And I will make sure to spread the word to my colleagues, family and friends not to patronize Jim's either. I'll spend my precious time and good money elsewhere and will encourage others to...

A slice of heaven hiding in Alameda.

I flew in to SFO from Tennessee last night, escaped San Francisco's lunacy in Siamese, it was my home 24 years ago.

This mourning, hungry, tired, grumpy. I found Jim's. A retro style diner, with a rich menu, unassuming facade, good coffee, and most of all good people. My cup was always full of coffee.

The meal, breakfast, the "Blackstone Bennedict," was tasty, accompanied by Jim's take on home fries. They are really good, with onions and other bits of good stuff.

I enjoyed the atmosphere, sweet jazz music playing softly, a fair number of diners. Not packed to standing room only, but enough traffic to keep the doors open, which gives the waitress that extra bit of time for the personal touch.

Customers around the restaurant, talking, eating, sipping coffee, the music and sounds of cooking, all mingled together, in a wonderful orchestra of peacefulness and comfort.

I shoot from the hip, literally as well as figuratively, being from Tennessee I carry a Desert Eagle on my hip daily. When I find a comfortable, good smelling, beautiful place like this, I tell it like it is.

This is the kind of business that we should be supporting, encouraging, enjoying, and looking for everyday. They are all too rare in these days of Massive Burger Feeding troughs that dish out fake food. I would have paid the same for a Double Whopper meal, instead I got real food, personal and prompt service. I enjoyed every bite and every minute.

Take a ride to the Island, free parking in the back, enjoy a pleasant meal, talk to your companion(s) over a hot cup of coffee, or sneak off for a quiet meal by yourself. You will not regret the drive.

It just doesn't get any better than this.

"Jim's" keep doing what...

Brought out of town guests here as we didn't want to wait in the line for Ole's Waffle Shop. We seated ourselves and the host promptly came to the table with menus, made small talk, and took our drink order.

After that it was all downhill. It wasn't very busy maybe 35% or less of the tables had customers. We waited for approximately 15-20 minutes for anybody to return to our table. Nothing. Crickets.

We became hangrier by the minute. We all had our heads on swivel looking for the host or a waitress (there appeared to be 2 working at the time - 10:30am Friday) to wave over.

Finally, one realized what was happening and that we were about to get up, pay for our coffee, and leave to go somewhere else.

She notified the waitress who was supposed to be waiting on us, who came over right away to take our order. The food came out in an acceptable amount of time.

Once the food was dropped, we seemingly no longer existed to our waitress. Coffee refills were needed, but not provided. It was probably another 15-20 until our waitress reappeared.

Some parts of the meal were not as ordered, but we couldn't afford to wait for it to be made right so we just dealt with it. The oldest member of our party (a Korean war veteran in town for fleet week) ordered the two hot links and eggs.

He had one bite and spat it out as it was so unappetizingly spicy. Everyone at the table tasted a bite and confirmed his initial reaction.

I like to support local businesses, and I've been to Jim's many times over the last 25+/- years. It is challenging to do with service and food like we received this past Friday.

Jim's could also use a thorough cleaning/dusting as even the fake plants have a thick layer of...