AJ's Cafe — Restaurant in Omaha

We were introduced to AJ’s Café as part of the Omaha World-Herald's Breakfast Card deal. This was the first restaurant on the card that we chose since it was close by and we had never been there before. We have probably driven by it many times and never knew that it existed, since it’s sign gets lost in the other strip mall business listings.

When we got there, we chose a booth and I was a little apprehensive about the service because there was only one server on duty and one person in the kitchen, but that apprehension was quickly put to rest. Rachel quickly came to our table with menus and cups and asked if we wanted coffee. She quickly returned with fresh coffee and water. The refills were continuous and hot.

They have a fairly extensive menu ranging from French toast and pancakes to hashbrown casseroles, omelets, various types of scrambled eggs, various types of burritos, to build your own dishes. Between 6:30 and 8:00AM they also have an Early Bird Special menu with reduced prices.

I ordered their Husker Hashbrown Casserole which contained a large order of hash browns with your eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, onions, and mushrooms cooked right in, and covered with a 2-cheese blend. It was served with some of the best sourdough toast that I have had. It was well prepared and served hot, which again, with one person in the kitchen impressed me. Lois had their Cinnamon Raisin French Toast with a side of bacon. The toast was thick cut and cook just right. She forgot to ask to have her bacon cooked extra crispy, so I got to sample one piece, and I liked it.

By the time we left, our plates were empty, and we were so full that we planned our next meal to be a light dinner.

For me the only negative, was that you don’t have access to Wi-Fi while at the restaurant.

They also don’t accept credit or debit cards, so if you don’t want to pay ATM fees, bring cash.

For me the restaurant is definitely a keeper and I feel comfortable recommending it...

The service was mostly great, but the rest was a bit of a letdown - expectation management...

Given the reviews and the advertising, we expected a real greasy spoon breakfast diner with great (fatty) breakfast comfort food. Neither of us were satisfied with our meal. The worst? The coffee is weak.... unacceptable in this kind of diner that specializes in basic breakfasts.

EDIT: Given the response from the owners, I offer two additional points - the French toast was thin and gummy, and only one part of our order - there was barely a hint of cinnamon and virtually no raisins; maybe it was on the holding shelf too long or the bread was day-old, but it was bad enough that we only ate 1.5 slices out of three.

There is no excuse for weak coffee in a breakfast diner - it could be that your regulars enjoy the environment and simply don't complain about the coffee.

In any case, my original post was a generous account of our experience - the ONLY positive aspect of our visit was our server, and even she forgot to bring our water and coffee until I started for the counter and caught her attention.

We are only two customers who were visiting Omaha for the weekend, and we only ordered a single meal, so others' experiences are likely different. Instead of dismissing the critique or defending the indefensible, simply acknowledging that some customers were dissatisfied AND that MAYBE our order did not meet your normally high standards would reinforce the idea that you even care what your...

I stayed the night in Omaha and rather than have the breakfast at the hotel I decided to go out before Ieft the city. I opened up google maps and happened to find this place. I was not disappointed.

The food was just as I hoped it would be. I had a great hearty breakfast that tasted better than homemade. The bacon omelet, buttermilk pancake, and shredded hashbrowns were the perfect meal before I hit the road. The service was fast, faster than any restaurant and on par with a drive thru without the line up, even with as busy as the cafe was.

I went to pay and asked if I could get a cinnamon bun to go as they had been eyeing me the moment they were set down on the counter. Turns out that I was a couple dollars short (the cafe is cash/local cheque only) to cover breakfast and the cinnamon bun. I told the lovely waitress helping me that I only had enough to cover breakfast and she said in her slight southern accent "don't worry about it, hun." I then asked her if she was sure several times because I was worried about it. She was sure.

If you are not stopping here for a bite to eat whether you live in the city or are just passing through, then you are missing out on some great food and great people. I will make sure I stop here any time I pass through Omaha (with the appropriate...