Pufferbelly Station Restaurant — Restaurant in Grand Junction

Visited today for my sisters Birthday (1/19/2024) Heads up, long post So the last time I came here was when I was a kid, at which time I got food poisoning. I figured maybe things had improved? Its been like 20 years haha. My sister wanted to do breakfast, and she was referred to Pufferbelly. (Im assuming the people are just being faithful to an old town staple, regardless of the actual quality).

I was like COOL, Ive kind of avoided that place because of the food poisoning and I remember it being kinda older and dirty, and nothing spectacular. Her birthday though, so we gave it another chance! Our first waitress who seated us forgot to get us the honey and creamer we asked for our coffee. So we asked our new waitress for it. Everything was fairly dirty. We could tell no one had cleaned or touched the honey in forever. The waitress was NOT friendly. We couldnt even get her to smile. She was very short with everything she said to us. Not a very pleasant experience AT ALL. I asked for my bacon and hashbrowns to be well done. Bacon was great, all of our hashbrowns were not fully cooked. Top barely golden and the inner hash wasnt even soft it was crunchy from being kind of raw still. My sister got a hair in her pancakes, then also another hair in her hashbrowns, and then a crumb of something in her water. Our dad asked for jam, they said they had strawberry, they took forever he had to ask again for it, and the lady brought him raspberry (he cant have raspberry). The booth space was very cramped. We could tell much of the place (Glass displays of the trains, wooden parts of booths & front door handle spaces) had not been cleaned in a very long time. All waitresses didnt have their hair tied back fully and looked quite messy in general. I really hoped this place had improved but its still just as dirty and run down as it was before, and this time with hairs in our food and poor service. Food wasnt note-worthy either. My poor sister doesnt ever want to come back. Neither will I. Overall pretty gross. Definitely not worth $60 plus tip. Next...

The breakfast selection at this charming establishment is simply delicious.

One particular standout for me was their mouthwatering cinnamon roll. It's a true masterpiece that you won't want to miss out on. Freshly baked, light and fluffy on the inside, and generously coated with a delectable cinnamon glaze, it was a breakfast treat that left me wanting more. Each bite was like a warm hug, bringing a heavenly combination of sweetness and subtle spice that truly pleased my taste buds.

Apart from the unforgettable cinnamon roll, the breakfast menu at Puffer Belly Station offers a wide variety of options that cater to every palate. From savory classics like eggs benedict and fluffy pancakes to healthier choices like avocado toast and freshly squeezed juices, there's something to satisfy everyone's cravings.

Moreover, the service at Puffer Belly Station Restaurant was exceptional. The staff was friendly, attentive, and truly passionate about ensuring each guest had an enjoyable dining experience. The cozy and inviting atmosphere only added to the overall charm of the place.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, I highly recommend starting your day at Puffer Belly Station Restaurant. Their breakfast selection, with the unforgettable cinnamon roll as the highlight, will leave you with a smile on your face and a blissful food...

Now this is just based on a review of the second time I’ve gone here in comparison to the first time I’ve gone. The first time was phenomenal. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Bacon instead of Ham, crispy hashbrowns, and perfectly over-easy eggs. The waitress we had this time was lovely and checked on us just enough to make sure we had what we needed but also to have us enjoy our meal. I understood the name of the restaurant well enough by the end of the meal. We decided to go a second time based on this experience. Unfortunately, it felt like a complete opposite to what we had the first time. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon. The biscuits and gravy had little flavor and one of them had tasted undercooked/off. The eggs were just fine. The hashbrowns were undercooked. The bacon was just fine as well, but I do not remember that being an option of the meal. The waitress was kind and attentive, but I feel that, due to the seating by the hostess, we were less checked in on than previously. The seating was more tucked away in a corner, and the table itself was way too high in comparison to the seat.

I give it three stars still because, while this experience was not great, I wish to go back one day in the hopes that this was just a bad day to go and I can have a good,...