Let's start with the basics here: this is a stand-alone family-owned neighborhood diner. That being said, you outta expect some things. ' Namely, 1) It's gonna be a bit chaotic at times, especially so on the weekends which means that 2) Not everything's perfect. So there is an element of sloppiness here mostly due to miscommunication with the overwhelmed staff, who are otherwise 3) Very friendly, warm, and care a great deal about serving you, the guest 4) The food is above-average to very good and 5) They are, if nothing else, consistent My friend & I came in on the tail end of a busy Sunday rush, and were seated (almost) immediately at the counter by Paul Tyler, the managing partner who doubles as the host. Who, it needs to be pointed out, is the kindest fella you'll ever meet. There's a positive exuberance to that man - the kind that would normally irritate me - but from him, it's so transparently genuine, you cannot help but be pleased by the level of charm. There was a bit of a fumble between being seated and then served. It's quite clear that each server doesn't necessarily have their own sections and are expected to remember their tables. This system can be a bit frustrating but is understandable because the team is so small, servers are expected to run their own food. The food overall has its hits & misses, but as a whole is quite tasty. I did not take issue with the quality of food insomuch as I did the sequence of delivery: the kitchen makes what the kitchen makes and your order may not arrive entirely complete. Even still, it's worth the wait. We polished off darn near everything on our plates. All in all, these are small complaints. This place is a gem. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why it's been open since 1982 and has since become a neighborhood staple. I cannot imagine the west side without John O'Groats in it. And fortunately for us, I don't have to. Onto the next visit... My Scorecard Overall Food Quality: B+ Overall Service: B+ [Technical: C+, SOU (sense of urgency) & concern: A+] Environment: A Value: A-

The 5 is only for the friendliness and kindness of our host, who I believe is the owner, the deliciousness of my mushroom and goat cheese omelette, and my husband's amazing pancakes. This spot is definitely a neighborhood fave. It was packed when we arrived but our wait was only 5 minutes. After we were seated, we waited about 20 minutes before someone took our order. My husband asked for one orange juice but someone brought us two. My husband ordered two pancakes with scrambled eggs and hash browns. The pancakes were in our top 5 best pancakes EVER!!!! He had one regular and one buckwheat and they were fluffy and righteous. His scrambled eggs NEVER came and his potatoes were COLD. Our original server didn't come back to check on us because we would have asked about the eggs and whether the potatoes were supposed to be cold. My food was delicious. I loved my mushroom and goat cheese omelette. Everything was flavorful and delicate. My decaf latte with almond milk tasted burned. I did not like it. The host removed the eggs and potatoes from our bill and was very kind. Go for the PANCAKES. They are amazing!

Totally delicious and great service. And those biscuits! Craving them already! Can't wait to return.

When I moved to this part of town a few years ago I just remember feeling super homesick. One of the places that eased my transition into my new neighborhood was John O'Groats -- just a humble neighborhood spot with my favorite biscuits and gravy, hands down. I'd stop in here and get my biscuits, a cup of coffee and one of their omelettes. I'd leave absolutely stuffed and ready to get back to work. After our son was born, my wife and I tried to make it a weekly thing to come here. We both worked high demand jobs with long hours, so this was the place we would hit up on a weekend to slow the world down for a little bit. I spent a lot of time eating around the world for work, and yet John O'Groats has a way of connecting with me in an unpretentious-yet-buttoned-down way that I haven't experienced anywhere else. The ops here are efficient and top notch. The food is prepared to a consistent standard regardless of the day of the week. It's a step-and-a-half up from your typical diner food, and it's prepared in a very tidy way. Paul has always welcomed my family with a smile and a handshake. The service is consistent and warm. They're not going to knit you a custom napkin with your family crest on it, but they'll refill your coffee often. It's a family-run place you can rely on, something that's always been a rarity in this industry. Giving a neighborhood institution like this anything less than four stars tells me more about the reviewer than the place.... Favorite dishes: biscuits and gravy, cheddar biscuits, Señor Donn's Latino Heat (as a burrito is probably best but I usually get the scramble/omelette). Pancakes are big, good amount of browning and slight crunch on the edges. Coffee nothing to write home about but coffee, like a dry martini, is a beverage that serves physiological function for me.

Friendly staff but our visit they seemed understaffed and the service was erratic and slow. The food was GE - good enough - but not great and a little pricey. Maybe the egg effect?

Rating this a 5 because my goodness the family that owns restaurant was STELLAR. I normally rate primarily on the food taste and quality but I simply had to give this restaurant a 5 because the owner was so genuinely nice, understood the service industry so well and I would definitely use my 'voting dollars' to back him up. Such a lovely experience and ambiance as well. I came to this street originally looking for a breakfast burrito yelp spot. After walking the block and not finding it, the host at John O'Groats greeted me with a friendly smile, offered me a complimentary coffee and to lounge in his waiting area while I checked out their menu. He brought water & treats for my dog and after we decided to dine in, he showed us to a beautiful relaxing outdoor flower patio that had just the right amount of basking sun vs. shade. Such a relaxing brunch spot with great atmosphere. We ordered the food which was a standard corn beef hash and eggs Benedict which wasn't served on a biscuit but rather a flavorful sour dough. Admittedly nothing Michelin star quality but such a nice relaxing outdoor spot with great service. I would get the corn beef hash again which had generous portions. I would only get the eggs Benedict again if you didn't find anything else on the menu you'd like. As I left, the owner offered to top my coffee off and wished me a great day. Nothing over the top sales-y but rather just a great overall vibe. Parking - street parking. Dog friendly. If you want, For dogs, you can enter the patio area from the back as opposed to walking through the main dining room.

Hi. You will never be disappointed when visiting Pauli & his family @ John O Groats! The sincerity of the owner to honor his Dad our country his family you & his employees Is unbelievable. This neighborhood gem is a safe zone for Warmth cleanness excellent food bright lights & Sunflowers everywhere! You will be transformed upon entry & you will Feel like Dorthy or Duke in the Wizard of Oz as you enter enjoy & support this one in a million Small business with generations of loyal Customers who trust Paul to provide the best of the Best food service & safety . We love you Paul!! Thank you for revealing heaven on earth! Best biscuits best coffee yummy everything!

Came to John O'Groats for brunch today and ordered the Half (BLT) and half (chicken & veggies soup). I also tried the Cornesd beef & hash and thought that was tastier. Pros: - cute, family owned restaurant - short wait time even without a reservation - good service - front street parking was easy to find Cons: - the food was good but a bit overpriced in my opinion (maybe because of the location) - loud, hard to hear one another

I hadn't been in over 20 years, but I'm happy to say it is still good. I used to go on the weekends when it was very busy. I got lucky on a recent weekday as I was running an errand nearby around breakfast time. I had one egg with bacon and hash browns. It came with toast or biscuits for about $13. I hoped the biscuits came with gravy, but sadly they didn't. I have to agree with some of the other reviews that say they are dry. I only ate one with jam and left the other. Everything else was good.

I heard about this traditional breakfast spot in the heart of WLA and was curious to try it out. The ambience is nice with a nice country, down to earth vibe. Service staff is friendly and efficient replenishing my coffee and water in a timely fashion. My sourdough toast was great, the sausage flavorful and even though I only ordered one pancake it was very big. Prices are on the high side($23 including tip for one of each pancake, sausage, egg, toast and coffee); not a fast food type place with an upscale local crowd.