Mr. J's Original

Leaving this review as i’m still in the parking lot. Wow!! We were just driving around looking to grab a quick lunch as a family before an appointment we have here in Nashville. This place caught our eye because it looked so cool on the outside. And there was free parking. The vibes got even better when we walked inside! Impeccable music taste, modern diner style seating, great customer service, the diner was so clean (even the bathrooms!) and the food smelled great! We then got our food within a matter of minutes. The food was so yummy! Our picky toddler really enjoyed it too which is rare. Oh and the best part, they use beef tallow!! We will definitely be back!

After previewing rentals all day we stopped in last night at Mr. Js Restaurant in downtown Nashville. I had an excellent cheese burger with pastrami and avocado. My husband had a similar burger 🍔 smothered in pastrami. Chili cheese fries and ice cream for dessert. They will put pastrami, chili and cheese on any of their sandwiches. Yum.

Pretty good food, good staff, but the prices… eh, I think they can do better. Solidly overpriced. And not just a little bit. Not crazy high, but you’ll spend more here than the food is worth. We were just super hungry so we bit the bullet and paid the price anyway. I got the chicken strips and fries, and it was very delicious, and my wife said her burger was very good. If it wasn’t for the prices I’d definitely be coming back, but likely not unless they charge more reasonable fast food prices b/c that’s the vibe here. Fast food. Also, there was a guy that came in who reeked of cigarette smoke, which made it hard for me to breathe until he went to the other side of the restaurant.

Fresh meat, not frozen! This was a great little find! Great burgers and beers! My favorite was the fried zucchini! 😋 A great little local eat! If you're in town you should stop by! Tell J that Delia sent you!

I haven't been here since Hermitage Cafe closed, but the team here at Mr J's have done a nice job creating a modern diner atmosphere. Order through the iPad or from the counter. I got a cheeseburger and fries, add pickles, and a bottle of water. Pretty good cheeseburger. Fries were ok. The 3 workers in the kitchen and help at the counter and everywhere needed. Glad I visited.

Wife and I were in the mood for a burger, but we also wanted a small business, non corporate burger. We put it in the hands of a Google search. We found this place that was only 8 minutes from where we were running our errands that day. Let me just say, the burger was phenomenal, I had a double cheeseburger with all the extras and my wife had the western bacon burger, we split a side of onion rings. The burgers were sooo good. You can tell these are made with care. Cooked to perfection. The onion rings were also good. Not overly breaded. Just very well done. It’s a cute building that must be at least 60 years old. The fresh coat of paint on the exterior really brightens up the building. The interior pays respect to both a nostalgia burger joint with a modern flair. Really clean and brightly lit. It’s not a big place but it’s quaint. They advertise a pastrami sandwich and I vowed to try that on my next visit, but it’s going to be hard not to get that cheeseburger again. Great place, I’ll be back!

Came in with my buddy and we ordered the cheesesteak, cowboy BBQ burger, and chicken tenders. Sampled them all and it was AWESOME! Chef John went all out, adding fresh Gardenia to our cheesesteak per our request. He whipped up some dang good food! Will definitely be back for the good eats and classic diner vibe with modern upgrades.

It's a little bit of a walk ( you can park there if very lazy) but a traditional diner for u, not too busy but non tourist prices , freshly cooked food and very relaxing, worth the effort to go and avoids the crowds

Really good burgers, chili dogs and amazing pastrami sandwiches hand carved. Nice sized portions and free parking!

Mr.J's Original is a pretty solid choice for burgers or their pastrami sandwiches. The service is friendly and the place has a no-frills diner type ambiance and vibe. The pastrami is a bit expensive, about twenty bucks for a sandwich, but it was pretty good. I would say that it was a good overall choice.

I work across the street from this place and have been meaning to try it for a while. So when Burger Week rolled around, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to give it a shot. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the worst cheeseburgers I've ever had. If you're going to advertise "cheeseburgers" on your building, they should live up to the hype. I'm a burger purist...just give me a solid beef patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and ketchup/mustard. Nothing fancy, just quality ingredients that let the beef shine. Unfortunately, this burger completely missed the mark. It was so bland and flavorless I honestly couldn't even tell you what I was eating. Really disappointing. To make matters worse, the classic burger is supposed to come with onions...but mine didn't. I asked the young man behind the counter if they had any, and he told me they were out. I even clarified, just to be sure: "Does the burger not come with onions, or are you guys just out today?" He confirmed they were out, which I totally understood...these things happen. But as we were leaving, I noticed him in the back chopping onions. So they weren't out after all. I wasn't trying to be difficult. I just wanted what was supposed to come with the order. But being told something that wasn't true feels careless and unprofessional. I really wanted to give this place a chance, but that kind of interaction makes it hard to want to come back. I had high hopes that this could become my regular lunch spot during the workweek. I know others others working nearby felt the same. Unfortunately, after this experience, I won't be returning. Really disappointed.

After living so close I finally made it to Mr. J's. I'm a vegetarian, so unfortunately the options are somewhat limited but breakfast is more doable. I had the breakfast sandwich (no meat) and pancakes. The breakfast sandwich was good but somewhat dry, specifically the fried egg. Perhaps the bacon or sausage version would have been better with the extra grease. I did like the flipped bread, and the large slice of cheddar cheese offset the dry egg. I much preferred the pancakes, which were HUGE. They were made fresh (I could hear the staff complaining about having to make them), so they were still steaming once I got home. They were fluffy and just sweet enough for my taste. Overall, the breakfast was good, but I don't think I'd make it a regular stop on my breakfast rotation. I wish they had a plant-based burger option as I'd definitely come back to try that.

Simple food can be so effective. I stopped by here for lunch and a burger was definitely what I was interested in. I hadn't been here before and wasn't sure what the vibe was going to be. This is a great breakfast or lunch spot. I saw multiple people stop in for to go or eat in lunches while I was there. I did the build your own burger which was perfect since I hate trying to find something that has everything I like on it. My food came out really fast and delicious. I got fries and a drink as well. They offer breakfast sandwiches and burritos which I may stop by and try sometime! Service was minimal as I ordered from the touch screen menu but I did watch them interact with other customers and they seemed very professional. This place is also xplr nash approved according to the sticker on the door! Can be on the pricier side for some of the menu items. I paid $21 for a burger, fries and soda but the food was delicious.

Heard of this joint, so tried it out. Whoa, an amazing lean and very tender pastrami sandwich with cheddar cheese on a nice toasted hoagie bun. Ordered chili fries as well. The service was great and got it going on. Small joint, nothing special but really good food!!!!! I will be back!!!

We spotted Mr. J's while driving by so we took a turn back to check it out. Me and my family are always down for a burger and I would have to say, we were well pleased! The burger and fries were fresh. I specifically liked their cheeseburger that consisted of angus beef, on a toasted potato bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and their burger sauce. Their burger sauce is a blend of mayonnaise, ketchup, and other secret ingredients! It was pretty tasty. The restaurant was clean and quick service.

I had the pastrami sandwich combo meal. The sandwich was delicious! I've never had pastrami before, however it was very tasty. The staff were helpful and the food was served hot, fresh, and quickly despite the ton of online orders they were also receiving. The nice diner atmosphere was clean and well kept. It was a nice place to enjoy a sandwich after just getting into town to start a nice vacation.

I had a morning meeting at the JW Marriott and wanted to find a quick and tasty lunch on my way home to Brentwood. I recalled that Mr. J's was on the way to Route 24, and so I decided to give it a try. It was a little weird to pull up to the beloved Hermitage Cafe building and see another venue, but there's plenty of parking and the place looked empty, so in I went. Service was super fast (no surprise given that I came in at 11:30 and was clearly the first customer of the day). It's a quick service restaurant; order at the counter, fill your own soft drink, and grab a table. No counter seating; again, it was a little nostalgic "cognitive dissonance" with that change. Coke Zero was completely out; they offered Diet Coke in the fountain machine as a sub. Since I'd already paid for the drink (this is a no-cash establishment, by the by), I drew a cup of the dreaded Coke Zero imposter. At least it was cold. I sat and waited a few quick minutes to receive my tray; I ordered a pastrami sandwich and chili cheese fries. The Sammy was solid; although the New Yorker in me yearned for the meat to be served on rye bread with brown mustard, the toasted hoagie roll and yellow mustard on the table didn't distract from the quality of the meat. It was the best pastrami I've ever had in Nashville; yes, I know it's a low bar, but it was absolutely fabulous. Tender, moist, smoky, with a proper coriander-forward spice rub. The dill pickle spear it was served with was a perfect foil to the rich meat. The chili cheese fries were magnificent. The fries were super-crispy and greaseless, and the portion was absolutely huge. 2 people could make lunch out of this. The fries were topped with a good portion of diner-style chili and shredded cheddar. It was wonderful. I would give this place 5 stars, but $32 for this lunch (plus a 7% tip; the square device offered 3, 5 and 7%; unusual, but true) at a fast-casual establishment was at the upper limit of the price I'd pay for food like this. Taste, quality and quantity were wonderful, so I give this place 4 stars and make it recommended for a pastrami Sammy lunch so long as you've got the cash for it.

So excited this new restaurant opened at this historic location... The staff was very kind (I was super indecisive on what to order and they helped guide me through the menu). So happy with what I ordered... I got the pastrami sandwich and zucchini fries (talk about delicious)!! My boyfriend got a burger with fries and he was a happy camper. I'm also super picky with my drinks, thrilled they serve Coca Cola products with that pebble ice and good carbonation. Boyfriend got a shake and he said it was the best!! We also loved how great the atmosphere was, super clean and great for families. We can't wait to come back on Sundays after church!! Highly recommend this restaurant and thank you for the great service!

Amazing little spot not too far from broadway! It's very small inside but super cute. The burger was really big and suuuper good - I loved the sauce. Fries were also great. We got our food quickly - I want to come back and try the ice cream! Adorable little diner

We had an order of Chili Cheese Fries with Pastrami and a Cheeseburger. The pastrami is really tasty and was plentiful on the chili cheese fries. The burger comes on a delicious toasted bun and was served hot and juicy. We came a little after 2:00pm on a Sunday and there were 2 other customers, I am surprised it wasn't busier because this is a great place to grab a bite to eat. This was my first visit since the iconic Hermitage Cafe I was in this building.

Really cool spot, easy to park and get to, located next to Downtown Nashville. Ive tried a lot of pastrami sandwiches all over, and they are spot on with it. Really, really good meat and bun. Highly recommend for anyone near the downtown Nashville area!!

Very good diner food and relatively affordable. Also, I want to compliment the chef for making an off the menu grilled cheese for my picky eater of a daughter. It was greatly appreciated. We will be back!

I was really excited to try Mr. Js after looking at the menu. While there was a bright spot, I was mostly disappointed. The burger was extremely overcooked and dry although being quite hefty. The pastrami sandwich was served on some of the saddest most flavorless bread I've ever had. It is a disservice to serve juicy, fresh, thick cut pastrami of that quality in that way.

Drove by the old Hermitage Cafe, now Mr J's Original, and decided to double back after seeing the word deli in a description. It's not a deli, it's basically burgers and fried sides with the exception of a $20 Pastrami w/fries option. Better burgers for a comparable price at the original Pharmacy, and it is not a deli.

Yelp wants to know what went well! Everything. Everything went well. Let's start with the Pastrami sandwich. There's a reason it's a best seller. Plenty of meat, cooked perfectly. Only thing that could improve it is some Russian dressing. The fries were good. The rest of the family had very nice looking burgers. The restaurant has a great modern retro vibe.it's clean and bright.

Great food and clean environment. I ordered the cowboy burger combo and wasn't disappointed. I love the vibe of the restaurant. During my visit there was only 2 people working during a lunch rush but as everyone should I gave them grace as far as the wait time for my order. Will definitely be returning

This neighborhood eatery has a good burger and good chicken tenders. Their pastrami sandwich, however, is far too expensive for the amount of meat on it. I want this restaurant to succeed but every time I walk by it, it looks almost vacant. Perhaps some promotion and some special pricing on items would get more people in the door?

I have been to Mr. Js quite a few Saturday mornings mainly because of its proximity to my house...it's literally a minute or two walk. I have always got the Sausage and egg burrito for $8. Hands down the best burrito in the Nashville downtown area. It's big, real eggs and cheese, the tortilla tastes great and the sausage is favorable. In addition, the price point is spot on. I also this week tried the pancakes which were good quality and fairly priced at $5 for 2. The big issue with this place is the staffing. They are under staffed for the traffic they get. There should be 2 in the back of the house and 1 in the front of the house, at least. This would help them push out orders. Although my food was fantastic, I waited 40 min for it. Should be 10 min tops for this setup. I give them a 4 in hopes that they correct this because I really want them to succeed because I can see it from my house and the food is great!

Randomly passed by and saw pastrami on the side of the building, so I made a u-turn to go try it! I was not disappointed! I got it Reuben style with sauerkraut and thousand Island dressing. It's was great! Roll was soft and the meat was tender and juicy. Definitely recommend it! The place is laid back and service was great! Check them out!

Brilliant one off burger joint Another must visit spot in Nashville The rodeo burger was spot on. I loved it! The chocolate milkshake was perfect.

Food is yummy, quick service, and easy! I really enjoy their burgers and will often order to go.

Stopped once for a burger and it was frozen cheap patty with no seasoning just terrible. Tried an again for a milkshake for me and a buddy and it was by far the worst I've ever had it was just milk barely frozen and just terrible. Plus it was really expensive for a shake never again.

My wife and I went for something quick to eat. He actually opened a few minutes early when he saw we were outside. He was kind and the food was amazing. He explained that the staff wasn't there because they had been slow during the holidays. He took the ordered, made a pot of coffee and fixed all of the food. If you are in the Nashville area you should definitely stop bye. The burger is elite!

Love this place . Great items on the menu , sadly I'm obsessed with the chili dog , so I haven't tried anything else

Clean establishment nice people great service good food the shakes are the best food is cooked fresh to order

The food was amazing and the people are very nice. It is very clean and inviting. We will be coming back soon for the burgers and fries.

The restaurant appeared to only have two people staffed that morning. Both were needed to staff the kitchen, leaving guests to order their food either through their mobile devices or with an iPad. However, if the staff noticed someone needed personal assistance, they were available to come and help. I had heard their onion rings were swell, but when they saw my order come in, they were quick to tell me that they likely would not have some ready for some time. My family ordered zucchini fries, hamburgers, a hot dog, and the pastrami sandwich. The hamburgers were underwhelming, the fries were solid, and the pastrami was absolutely excellent. The person who ordered hadn't realized I wanted my sandwich Reuben style, but the staff were quick to provide a generous amount of Thousand Island to compliment the generous helping of pastrami. The zucchini fries were well-seasoned and even my vegetable-hating wife enjoyed them. I had seen reviews that they were slow to get out food, but I felt like the food arrived in a timely manner. I love diners and plan to go back to try the onion rings. I would also be tempted by their breakfast burrito.

Got the chili cheese dog with fries. It was fresh, hot, on a toasted piece of bread. Maybe a bun, couldn't tell. Prices are set up for Broadway tourists. Diner style atmosphere but order at counter like a deli. No cash. Tap to sign register with a tip option.

Awesome service, and amazing pancakes! You're not leaving here hungry. Pastrami looked really good, but didn't get to try it. Next time!

I love this spot so much! The burgers are delicious and so is everything...however my one qualm with Mr. J's is that the soft serve is never ready to go lol all I want is their milkshake or a soft serve cone after my delicious milkshake!

So fresh and delicious. Definitely worth going. You won't be let down. Its not over done, heavy or greasy like most burgers in Nashville.

Stopped by this place after following the social media start to finish following. Everything was on point, with amazing food from presentation to delivery to taste.. you can hear the satisfaction from everyone who stopped by .. the owner Jason worked hard to get this up and going to bring something new to the area and he didn't miss. Cold drinks, fresh ice cream, hot burgers and fries both regular and chili cheese.. quick, easy and priced perfectly. Gotta make this a must when in town or this area.

This place is nothing like the previous Hermitage Cafe. It is a typical fast food place. Place your order, pick up your order, sit down and eat. I saw no breakfast items. I had the bacon, avocado chesseburger and it was very good

This place is fantastic! The pastrami was delish! Everyone in our group had something different and liked everything! I would highly recommend checking this place out!

Good food. Astronomical prices. I got six burgers( sandwiches only. No fries, no combos) for over $80 dollars.

Love love love this place! Simple menu but that's what I like coming to a place like this. Not a pastrami guy but was given a taste and it was very good. My favorites here cheeseburger and chili cheese fries!

The food was amazing! Fresh burger with avocado and bacon. The best part of my meal was the hand-breaded zucchini fries! Will definitely be back. Yum!

My salads, fries and burgers are always so litty and made fresh to order. When I call they already know its me Sha and literally have my order cooking when I walk through the door. The orange soda and root beer are my freaking fave so crisp and always fresh, plus they got the hospital ice and I am so in love!!!!

20 dollars for the tiniest little sandwich is robbery... do not order from here. everything is crazy overpriced for mediocre quality.

the burger hits the spot! great interior and the staff was really pleasant. stop in after work and you won't be disappointed.

stopped in with my husband because we were nostalgic for the hermitage cafe. It certainly was no hermitage cafe (they were way too nice!) but the food was great and really excited about this new spot being near my house! Will be coming back!

so far I've had the burger and fries, chili cheese dog, pastrami and milk shakes, all of which have been very good, definitely recommend