Jo Jo's — Restaurant in Collinsville

So doing an update to this one since it's under new management and it deserves a second shot. Saw a post on Facebook the other day that this place was under new ownership/management and decided why not. Found myself most of the way there during lunch, so I stopped in for a try. The decor hasn't changed a lot since the last time I was in. Very much the small home town diner vibe. Nothing fancy, simple decorations in a small dining area, maybe seating 40 people in a pinch. Service was prompt and very friendly. I looked over the menu and special board and decided to go with my standard litmus test of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, white gravy and green beans. If you can't do those, you probably can't do anything. Food arrived very quickly and was hot and looked great. The green beans were outstanding. Lots of ham chunks in there along with what must have been diced bacon bites. A very good offering there. The mashed potatoes were scratch made, no doubt. Creamy and well seasoned. Gravy was smooth and had a decent flavor too, not thin, watery or bland. The CFS was probably one of the better ones I've had of late. Easily an 8 out of 10 compared to other places. I asked my server if it was a frozen job or scratch made, and she took pride in telling me it was hand breaded to order. Crust to meat ratio was spot on, with no crust slippage, which is the bane of many CFSs. Good flavor, cooked properly.... almost fork tender. There was a couple of places the connective fibers in the meat were a little too much for the fork, but with a knife, it all cut like butter. With a glass of iced tea and a $5 tip, total ran to just over $22. Maybe a tad higher than I would like, but I certainly feel I got my money's worth, so I ain't complaining. My CC receipt shows the new name as Tay's Place, so I'd recommend being on the lookout for them if you're in the C'ville area, between...

This is a very popular restaurant. At 10AM the parking up front was packed. Around behind the diner there was open parking spaces. It is small inside with lots of seating. This morning all the booths were filled. The tables were unoccupied. The rules are, pick your spot and get seated, BUT only at a table that has been bussed and has a fresh set up of tableware. Follow the rules and in a jiffy one of the friendly ladies will be there to get your order.

Coffees and glasses of Collinsville’s finest tap water on ice for my wife and I. The coffee is fair. And Karen’s has those thick little coffee mugs. They are perfect. They don’t hold a lot, but they do a superb job of keeping the brew hot. A waitress with a pot of coffee is on constant patrol. Your cup won’t go empty.

The usual for me (check the pictures). My wife had a wonderful blueberry short stack and a side of bacon XXcrispy. My meal was good. The décor is like every small-town diner in Oklahoma. Big menu, daily specials, fair prices. The service is excellent. Friendly welcoming small-town ambiance; everyone in the diner seems to know each other. Politics, the topic of the morning.

This is Karen’s Country Diner. Fair warning. With that name, if you have a problem, you probably don’t want to speak with...

Stopped by Tay’s Place during a bathroom remodel job and was thoroughly impressed! This local gem clearly knows how to take care of both their regulars and newcomers.

I ordered the 1/2 pound hamburger with fries - and wow, what a portion! The burger was loaded and huge, with fries practically overflowing the plate. My colleague went with the oatmeal and eggs (they serve breakfast all day, which is fantastic), and the oatmeal portion was generous to the point of overflowing as well. Great value for the money. The atmosphere here is what makes this place special - it’s a true local favorite where the friendly waitresses know practically everyone by name the moment they walk through the door. Some regulars don’t even need to order; their usual is already on the way. That kind of personal service is rare these days.

I understand the restaurant used to be called Karen’s, but the new owner has clearly put a lot of work into the place, and it shows. They have daily specials that keep things interesting too. If you’re looking for generous portions, friendly service, and that authentic local diner experience, Tay’s Place delivers. The kind of place that makes you want to become a...