Jovi's Diner — Restaurant in San Bernardino

I've been here a couple times, and I plan to go back. On my most recent visit (Thursday, 1/11), I discovered that you can order a Chili Verde omelette and choose Biscuits and Gravy as a side... and being a So-Cal native with Southern roots, I naturally tried combining them in their warm flour tortillas (not handmade, I don't think, but still very high-quality).

The result? Legendary: the Verde is actually surprisingly spicy, and benefits from the buttermilk notes of the gravy (which is a unique hybrid between white and brown, including delicious sausage-crumbles that punctuate the experience as little flavor-bombs, lol). The biscuits are exactly the consistency you want, being crispy on the outside and oh-so-malleably doughy at the core, which elevates the tortilla considerably in the mix.

Every wall of the place is decorated with local kitsch (road-signs and posters galore, including easter-eggs for those who know San Bernardino well), and it pulls off the postmodern-'50s-diner vibe with aplomb, despite the slight uncertainty you might feel in terms of where to actually go when you're ready to pay the bill (pro-tip: just head to the register), and you definitely get the sense that it's a family-owned establishment that intends to be there for a long time, as I hope it does.

Shout-out to the service, too - it wasn't particularly busy, but the kitchen and front-end staff worked extremely well together in order to provide for all the various needs going on (several folks at the bar, three booths (of which I was one), and a to-go order being taken care of in the corner) without any lapse in check-ins. I only finished half my drink, and when I asked for a to-go cup for the rest, she returned with a full cup of fresh soda, along with friendly conversation that made me feel like I'd been going there for years.

tl;dr: Fantastic all-around diner, with humble prices and a vast selection of good-eats while being provided with the best service this side of Waterman Ave., lol - definitely recommend as a destination for both San Bernardino residents and anyone looking for a...

Please do not eat here. My friends and I went in for breakfast. Unfortunately the entire staff was late for their own opening. They eventually showed up but didn't seem concerned they were late. My buddies all had coffee. Both of them found insect parts floating in their cups. When we brought it to the attention of the owner she didn't seem to care. We actually had to ask for a fresh cup of coffee. Sadly the fresh cup had the same type of debris. She was neither concerned nor embarrassed. I had the ice tea, which was so thick it was undrinkable. Overall I just get a vibe from this place like they have never heard of food borne illness. I realize accidents happen, but to not be concerned that your customers are all finding insect parts in their coffee shows an extreme lack of cleanliness and professionalism. I'm...

This place just wasn't for me. I ordered the chilaquiles with steak. The steak was rubbery and the chilaquile sause tasted like it came from a can it even had a sweet taste to it. Unfortunately, It wasn't to my personal liking, for the $22 price I expected more therefore I was disappointed. The waitress was friendly and helpful, I know she noticed I didn't like my food especially when she asked if I wanted a box and I said, "No." A good waitress would have asked if I liked my meal especially when you can clearly see that I barely touched it and not once did she ask me; even nasty Denny's asks if you enjoyed your meal and if you don't they will gladly exchange it for something else. This is the reason for my rating. I really wanted to like my food but I just...